Lasker's Greatest Tournament Victory?! - Best of the 20s - Reti vs. Lasker, 1924

Expectations for Emanuel Lasker in New York, 1924 were murky at best. He should have been rusty after a long chess hiatus, and in his match with Capablanca, the Cuban had been dominant, losing zero games.

Lasker shocked the world by winning in completely convincing fashion, scoring 16/20 in an elite field. He was a full point and a half ahead of Capablanca. Lasker's vigorous play inspired, but the brilliancy prizes went to Reti (a pretty and short victory over Bogoljubow), Marshall, and Capablanca (for his win over Lasker).

Perhaps the most famous game in the event though was Reti's hypermodern victory in round five over Capablanca, the first tournament victory in eight years over the World Chess Champion. In our chosen game, Reti attempts the same opening against Lasker in round 16, and although he lost, his opening ideas were vindicated again.

Top 10 Games of the 1920s

• #1: ????
  
• #2: ????
• #3: ????
  
• #4: ????
• #5: ????
• #6: ????
  
• #7: Reti vs. Lasker, 1924
  
• #8: Denker vs. Feit, 1929
  
• #9: Reti vs. Euwe, 1920
  
• #10: Torre vs. Banks, 1924
  
• See also: Top 10 of the 1930s, Top 10 of the 1940s, Top 10 of the 1950s, Top 10 of the 1960s, Top 10 of the 1970s, Top 10 of the 1980s, Top 10 of the 1990s, Top 10 of the 2000s, and Top 10 of the 2010s

Reti's innovative opening is actually a huge success—possibly even more so than in his game with Capablanca. However, Reti insists on holding to hypermodern principles (harass the center with pawns) for too long. He misses the constant strength of the e4-pawn break.

An omission by Lasker later allows another possibility, 22.N5g4! Nxg4 23.Bxd5! that could have possibly won. Once again, Reti plays unambitiously and misses his chance. Lasker rarely missed his chances though, and he gradually turns the table in the final phase, pressing with his pair of bishops and rook with incredibly accurate play that eventually earns the full point.

My annotations are below. Enjoy the game!

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