Must Win!

Emanuel Lasker held the world championship for a record 27 years. He won nearly every tournament he played in during his reign. Furthermore, he played good chess into his late sixties. Despite his skill on 64 squares, he was considered a weak player early in his reign as world champion by many of the leading chess players of that time.

Harry Pilsbury, an American, had beaten Lasker in a previous tournament. This fueled the belief that the world champion Lasker could be beaten despite the fact that Lasker's poor performance was more likely due to his recovery at that time from a serious illness.

This game was a product of that time. Lasker felt he had to beat his nemisis decisively to prove to the world that he was a worthy holder of the title. Lasker's risky play resulted in a brilliant attack that so shakes Pilsbury that he lost the next four games he played in the St. Petersburg tournament.

White: Pilsbury, Harry/unknown
Black: Lasker, Emanuel/unknown
Event: St. Petersburg
Date: 1896.??.??
Opening: D40: Queen's Gambit Declined: Semi-Tarrasch with 5 e3
Result: 0-1

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Black (Lasker, Emanuel) Won

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