Lasker's Defense Again

Lasker's Defense

I have posted notes to the recent game Puri-Stoyko, Las Vegas Masters 2006, featuring the Lasker's Defense to the Queen's Gambit Declined, which usually arises by 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e3 O-O 6.Nf3 h6 7.Bh4 Ne4. The opening has been very popular at our club ever since FM Steve Stoyko himself lectured on it last year. Among games between our members where it was featured, I can easily list Stoyko-Massey (KCC Ch 2006), Kernighan-Tomkovich (KCC Ch 2006), Kernighan-Tomkovich (Summer 2005), and Kernighan-Stoyko (Hackettstown 2005). I imagine these players could name several more...

Stoyko's game with Puri was very well played by both sides and features a very interesting endgame, where White's activity made it difficult for Black to win despite being a pawn up. NM Scott Massey, NM Mark Kernighan, and I analyzed it at the club last night and were unable to find a clear win for Black, though there are several interesting tries.

I will be looking at several more games by our New Jersey players from the Las Vegas Masters tournament early next week. I posted previously about this tournament on June 12 , June 13, and June 15.