Black to Play

Pete Tamburro on Apr 3, 2026

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The sixth in our series of instructional games. Albin,A. - Bernstein,O. (C50)Vienna, 1904. The game is pretty level for a while until White forgets a basic principle: get castled! 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Bc5 4.Nc3 d6 5.d3 Nf6 6.Bg5 Be6 7.Nd5 Bxd5 (Better was 7...Na5 To get the two bishops.) 8.Bxd5 h6 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.Bxf6 Qxf6 11.c3 Rb8 12.b4 Bb6 13.Qa4 d5! (So often the move Black has to get in when playing an 1.e4 e5 defense. White, on the other hand avoids playing a move White should be getting in by now--castling. The omission costs him the game.)14.exd5 e4! 15.dxe4?? (Much better was 15.Nd4 0–0 16.dxe4 cxd5 17.0–0 dxe4 but Black still has the initiative and better piece placement. He will also be able to hit the knight with c5.)15...Qxc3+ 16.Ke2 Qc4+ 17.Ke1 Qxe4+ 18.Kf1 0–0 19.Qxc6 Rfe8 20.Kg1 (20.Re1 Qd3+ 21.Kg1 Rxe1+ 22.Nxe1 Qe2 and mates in a few)20...Re6 21.Qd7 Rd6 22.Qa4 Qe2 23.Rf1(SEE DIAGRAM) The White king is surrounded by his pieces. What's your plan here as Black?

23...Qxf3 24.gxf3 Rg6 mate

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