[Event "RUS"]
[Site "Tournament Vilno"]
[Date "1909.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Fyodor Ivanovich Dus Chotimirsky"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "75"]
1.d4 {Notes by Alexander Alekhine from "Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie"
#88-89, 1909, and Leopold Hoffer from the "American Chess
Bulletin" 1910.} d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 dxc4 4.Nc3 c5 5.e3 a6 6.Bxc4
Nf6 7.O-O b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.dxc5 Bxc5 10.Qe2 {Alekhine: With the
obvious threat 11.Bxb5+.} Nbd7 11.e4 {Alekhine: There is much
to be said against this move. It not only closes an important
diagonal to the bishop, but it permits Black further to occupy
the d4- and c4-squares and to secure the better game. White is
at trouble to develop his bishop at c1. The move 11.a3 (with
the idea of posting the bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal) is
useless, in view of the reply 11...Rc8.} e5 {Hoffer: This
advance is forced. White is threatening to dislodge Nf6 with
e4-e5 and to clear the diagonal bearing on h7. Black must,
therefore, submit to the lesser evil of allowing White's
Nh4-Nf5.} 12.Bg5 h6 13.Bd2 O-O {Hoffer: "Deutsche
Schachzeitung" suggests here 13...b4, which seems the better
move in the circumstances.} 14.Nh4 {Alekhine: This move is the
consequence of Black's 12th, but the weakness of the move
e3-e4 begins to be felt immediately.} Bd4 15.b4 {Alekhine: To
stop 15...Nc5.} Rc8 16.Rac1 Nb6 17.Nf5 Nc4 18.Bxc4 Rxc4
19.Rfd1 Qc7 {? Alekhine: A mistake that costs the game. With
19...Qd7! (also not bad is 19...Bxc3 20.Rxc3 Bxe4, if 20.Bxc3
Qc7) Black retains his distinct advantage. If White answers by
20.Be3, then after 20...Rfc8, he loses a pawn without any
compensation. Also, 20.Qf3 would be disastrous, in view of
20...Nxe4!.} 20.Nd5 {!} Bxd5 {Hoffer: 20...Nxd5 21.exd5 Bxd5
would probably have been followed by 22.Bxh6.} 21.exd5 Rxc1
22.Rxc1 Qd7 23.Qf3 Re8 24.Nxh6+ {! Alekhine: White rightly
plays for simplification, as a result of which he is left with
a pawn extra - sufficient to win in an easy ending. If
24.Bxh6, then Black can, apparently, defend himself
satisfactorily by 24...Qxd5.} gxh6 {Hoffer: As Przepiorka
indicates, in "Munchener Neuesten Nachrichten", in case of
24...Kf8 White wins by 25.Rc6!, after which Black can not
capture the d5-pawn (25...Nxd5 26.Rd6! or 25...Qxd5
26.Rxf6!).} 25.Qxf6 Qxd5 26.Bxh6 e4 27.Qg5+ Qxg5 28.Bxg5
{Alekhine: With a passed and extra pawn, the better position,
and command of the open file, White wins easily.} Re6 29.Kf1
Kg7 30.Bd2 Kg6 31.Ke2 f5 32.Bf4 Kf6 33.g3 Bb2 34.Rc8 Ba3
35.Bd2 Rd6 36.h4 Ke6 37.h5 Kd7 {Alekhine: The last hope. If
38.Rf8? Rxd2+!} 38.Ra8 1-0
[Event "Hamburg"]
[Site "Hamburg GER"]
[Date "1910.07.20"]
[EventDate "1910.07.18"]
[Round "3"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Abraham Speijer"]
[Black "Alexander Alekhine"]
[ECO "C15"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "96"]
1.e4 {Notes by Alexander Alekhine.} e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 {This
move is far better than its reputation. Its object is to
simplify the position, at any rate in the variation usually
adopted by White, starting 4.exd5, a simplification which
allows Black more easily to evolve a plan of development. It
has been adopted with success at various times by
Neimzowitch.} 4.Bd2 {This idea is interesting but does not
produce any advantage if Black makes the correct reply. The
most usual move here is 4.exd5, the consequences of 4.e5 c5
appearing to be rather in Black's favor (compare
Dr. Lasker-Maroczy, New York, 1924).} 4...Ne7 {Simplest, for
the complications resulting from 4...dxe4 5.Qg4 would give
White attacking chances: e.g.: 1) 5...Nf6 6.Qxg7 Rg8 7.Qh6
Qxd4 8.O-O-O, threatening 9.Bg5. 2) 5...Qxd4 6.Nf3 Qf6 7.Qxe4
followed by O-O-O with good attacking chances for White.}
5.exd5 {White was threatened with: 5...dxe4 and 6...Qxd4.}
5...exd5 6.Qf3 {This is not a normal developing move. As the
sequel will show, most of the White pieces will find
themselves on unfavorable squares. It might have been better
to play 6.Bd3 followed by 7.Nge2; 8.O-O-O, etc.} 6...Nbc6
7.Bb5 {compulsory after the last move.} 7...O-O 8.Nge2 Bf5
{The Black pieces, on the other hand, are well placed for
concerted action.} 9.O-O-O {White's object in playing 6.Qf3
was to castle on the queenside; this is a strategic error,
however, for on the king's side White has no prospect which
might compensate for Black's attack on the queen's
side. 9.Rc1, followed by 10.O-O, was certainly not so bad.}
9...a6 {White's b5 bishop must be eliminated in order to allow
a black knight to occupy b5.} 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Na5 {!}
12.a3 {White takes advantage of the opportunity to force the
exchange of one of Black's attacking pieces, for 12...Bd6
fails on account of 13.Nxd5, unmasking the white bishop.}
12...Bxc3 13.Bxc3 Nc4 14.Rde1 Nc6 {Strategically, the game is
already won by Black, but the latter here makes a slight
tactical error, which allows his opponent to exchange
queens. The simple plan of attack to lead to an easy win would
be: a4 followed by b4-3, etc. The decision of the game could
and should have been brought about by a direct attack on the
king.} 15.Nf4 Qd6 {Against any other move, White's reply
16.Qf3 would have been still more awkward for Black.} 16.Qf3
Rad8 {The plausible Rfd1 would have been wrong, for then
17.Nxd5 and if ...Qxd5; 18.Re8+, etc. However, White now
succeeds in exchanging queens.} 17.Nd3 a5 {Better late than
never!} 18.Qf4 {Else Black's attack would become
irresistible.} 18...Qxf4+ {If 18...Qd2; White could already
try a counter-demonstration with 19.h4 followed by Rh3.}
19.Nxf4 b5 {This advance remains strong even after the
exchange of queens, for the white bishop is very badly
placed.} 20.Nd3 Rb8 21.Ne5 {There does not appear to be any
other method of saving the pawn. But after the exchange of
knights Black finds fresh resources for the attack, with the
aid of his c7-pawn.} 21...N6xe5 22.dxe5 c5 {Less good would
have been: 22...b4 23.axb4 axb4 24.Bd4 Ra8 25.b3, etc.} 23.b3
{again the only chance against the threat of b4, etc.} 23...d4
{The winning move, for this pawn will exert a decisive
pressure in the ensuing rook end-game. Should White avoid the
exhchange of pieces by 24.Bb2, Black obtains a winning
advantage by: 24...Nb6 followed by ...a4.} 24.bxc4 dxc3 25.Re3
{Compulsory, for after 25.cxb5 Rxb5 this move would not be
feasible because of 26...Rfb8.} 25...b4 26.a4 Rbd8 {For the
better appreciation of this end-game, it may be pointed out
that White cannot here offer the exchange of both rooks; e.g.:
27.Rd1 Rxd1+ 28.Kxd1 Rd8+ 29.Rd3 Rxd3+ 30.cxd3 g5 31.h3 h5
32.g3 (if f3 then ...h4) g4 followed by Kf8, Ke7, Ke6 and Kxe5
winning. White's subsequent moves are therefore forced.}
27.Rhe1 Rd4 28.Re4 Rxe4 29.Rxe4 Rd8 30.e6 {If 30.Re2 Black
would win a pawn by 30...Rd4.} 30...fxe6 31.Rxe6 Rd2 {After
this incursion by the black rook the remainder of the game is
purely a matter of technique.} 32.Re5 Rxf2 33.Kb1 Rf1+ 34.Ka2
Rc1 35.Rxc5 Rxc2+ 36.Kb1 Rb2+ 37.Kc1 Rxg2 38.Rb5 {to parry the
threat of ...b3.} 38...Kf7 39.c5 Ke6 40.c6 Kd6 41.c7 Kxc7
42.Rxa5 Rxh2 43.Rb5 Rb2 44.a5 Kc6 45.Rb8 Kc5 46.a6 Ra2 47.Rc8+
Kb5 48.Rb8+ Kc4 0-1
[Event "Moscow exhib"]
[Site "Moscow exhib"]
[Date "1910.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Akiba Rubinstein"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "78"]
1.e4 {Notes by Alexander Alekhine.} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6
4.Bxc6 dxc6 5.d3 f6 6.Be3 Bg4 7.Nbd2 c5 8.Nc4 Bd6 9.Qd2 Ne7
10.Qc3 Nc6 11.Nxd6+ cxd6 12.Nd2 Be6 13.f4 O-O 14.Nf3 Nd4
15.Qd2 d5 {!} 16.c3 Nxf3+ 17.gxf3 c4 {!} 18.f5 {If 18.d4 dxe4
19.fxe4 exf4 20.Bxf4 Qe8! 21.Bd6? Bd5! 22.Bxf8 Qxe4+ 23.Kf2
Qf3+ or 23...Qg2+ forcing mate.} Bf7 19.Rg1 Kh8 20.dxc4 dxe4
{!} 21.fxe4 Bxc4 22.Qg2 Rf7 23.Rd1 Qc7 24.Qc2 Rd8 {! Avoiding
the trap 24...Bxa2? 25.b3 Qa5 26.Ra1 Bxb3 27.Qxb3 Qxa1+ 28.Kf2
and White wins.} 25.Kf2 Rfd7 26.Qa4 Bd3 27.Qb4 b5 28.Rg4 Be2
{!} 29.Rxd7 Qxd7 30.Rg1 Bh5 31.Re1 Qd3 32.Qe7 h6 33.Kg1 Kh7
34.Bf2 {This loses quickly. Better is 34.Qc7.} Qh3 {!} 35.Bd4
Bf3 36.Kf2 Qg2+ 37.Ke3 Bxe4 38.Re2 exd4+ 39.cxd4 Qf3+ 0-1
[Event "St Petersburg"]
[Site "St Petersburg"]
[Date "1914.??.??"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "Sergey Nikolaevich von Freymann"]
[Black "Alexander Alekhine"]
[ECO "D30"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "48"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 {This
move is of doubtful value, for it allows the following reply,
hit upon by Duras. It is better to play Nc3 first.} h6 {!
After this move White has nothing better than to take the
Knight, leaving his opponent with two Bishops, for if the
Bishop retreats, the acceptance of the Gambit is in favour of
Black.} 5. Bh4 dxc4 {More precise would have been 5...Bb4+;
followed by dxc4; as then the Gambit Pawn could be held by
...b5, etc.} 6. Qa4+ {The only way of regaining the
Pawn. Black threatened 6...Bb4+; followed by 7...b5.} Nbd7
7. Qxc4 c5 8. Nc3 a6 {With the intention of developing the
Queen Bishop on the long diagonal, a plan which White, as the
sequel shows, will be unable to frustrate.} 9. a4 b5 {! Black
still persists, for if 10.axb5 axb5; the White Queen and Rook
would both be en prise.} 10. Qd3 c4 11. Qb1 Bb7 {! A Pawn
sacrifice, the object of which is to obstruct White's
development through pressure on c3.} 12. axb5 {It would have
been preferable to decline the offer of a Pawn. But in any
event, even after 12.e3 Qb6 White's position would have
remained distinctly inferior.} axb5 13. Nxb5 Bb4+ 14. Nc3 g5
15. Bg3 Ne4 16. Qc1 {All White's last moves were obviously
forced.} Nb6 {Threatening 17...Na4.} 17. Rxa8 Qxa8 18. Nd2
Nxd2 19. Kxd2 Qa2 {! Initiating the deciding manouver. Black
again threatens 20...Na4 and does not allow his opponent the
respite he needs to disentangle his position by 20.e3} 20. Kd1
Qb3+ 21. Qc2 {Now the Black c-Pawn will move straight on to
Queen.} Bxc3 22. bxc3 Be4 {! Simple and immediately decisive.}
23. Qxb3 cxb3 24. e3 {24.Kc1 Nc4 and mates in a few moves.} b2
0-1
[Event "New York"]
[Site "New York, New York USA"]
[Date "1924.03.23"]
[EventDate "1924.03.16"]
[Round "6"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Jose Raul Capablanca"]
[Black "Savielly Tartakower"]
[ECO "A80"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "104"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine and Reti.} e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. c4 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. Bd3 Bb7 8. O-O Qe8 9. Qe2
Ne4 10. Bxe7 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Qxe7 12. a4 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nc6
14. Rfb1 Rae8 15. Qh3 Rf6 16. f4 Na5 17. Qf3 d6 18. Re1 Qd7
19. e4 fxe4 20. Qxe4 g6 21. g3 Kf8 22. Kg2 Rf7 23. h4 d5
24. cxd5 exd5 25. Qxe8+ Qxe8 26. Rxe8+ Kxe8 27. h5 {! This is
the calamity--the Rook now enters the hostile camp. --
Alekhine} Rf6 28. hxg6 hxg6 29. Rh1 {White plays logically to
utilize his advantage on the K-side and very properly does not
concern himself with the weakness of the Q-side. Black, on the
other hand, makes a defensive move which he could perhaps have
omitted. -- Reti} Kf8 30. Rh7 Rc6 31. g4 {Anxious nature might
have moved the King towards the queenside, but Capablanca
adheres to the principle of aggression that governs rook
endings. -- Reti} Nc4 32. g5 {He gives his opponent the
opportunity of winning a pawn. But Capablanca has confidence
in the passed pawn which he obtains. -- Reti} Ne3+ 33. Kf3 Nf5
34. Bxf5 {Simple and compelling. -- Alekhine} gxf5 35. Kg3
{Decisive! White sacrifices material in order to obtain the
classical position with King on f6, pawn on g6, and Rook on
h7, whereupon the black pawns tumble like ripe apples. --
Alekhine} Rxc3+ {It is extremely instructive to see how
Capablanca is no longer in the least concerned about material
equality, but thinks only of supporting his passed pawn. --
Reti} 36. Kh4 Rf3 37. g6 Rxf4+ 38. Kg5 Re4 39. Kf6 {It is a
frequently available finesse in such positions not to capture
hostile pawns, but to pass them by in order to be protected in
the rear against checks by the rook. -- Reti} Kg8 40. Rg7+ Kh8
41. Rxc7 Re8 42. Kxf5 {Again the simplest. Kf7 would not yet
have been disastrous because of Rd8, etc. -- Alekhine} Re4
43. Kf6 Rf4+ 44. Ke5 Rg4 45. g7+ Kg8 {After exchanging rooks,
White would win still more easily. -- Alekhine} 46. Rxa7 Rg1
47. Kxd5 Rc1 48. Kd6 Rc2 49. d5 Rc1 50. Rc7 Ra1 51. Kc6 Rxa4
52. d6 {Capablanca's management of the endgame gives the
impression of being so natural that one easily forgets the
difficulty of such precise play. The difficulty is chiefly
psychological. In chess, as in life, one is so accustomed to
place value on the material factors that it is not easy to
conceive the idea of indulging in pawn sacrifices when there
is so little available material. --Reti} 1-0
[Event "New York"]
[Site "New York, New York USA"]
[Date "1924.04.02"]
[EventDate "1924.03.16"]
[Round "12"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Richard Reti"]
[Black "Efim Bogoljubov"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "50"]
1.Nf3 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2.c4 e6 {As for the merit of this
system of defence, compare the game Reti vs. Yates in the
sixth round.} 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Bd6 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 Re8 7.Bb2 Nbd7
8.d4 {To our way of thinking, this is the clear positional
refutation of 2...e6, which, by the way, was first played by
Capablanca (as Black) against Marshall and is based upon the
simple circumstance that Black cannot find a method for the
effective development of his Queen's Bishop.} c6 9.Nbd2 {In
the game referred to, Capablanca, in a wholly analogous
position, played ...Ne4 and likewise obtained an advantage
thereby. Of course, Reti's quieter development is also quite
good.} Ne4 {If the liberating move of 9...e5, recommended by
Rubinstein and others, is really the best here-then it
furnishes the most striking proof that Black's entire
arrangement of his game was faulty. For the simple
continuation 10.cxd5 cxd5 11.dxe5 Nxe5 12.Nxe5 Bxe5 13.Bxe5
Rxe5 14.Nc4 Re8 15.Ne3 Be6 16.Qd4, would have given White a
direct attack against the isolated Queen's pawn, without
permitting the opponent any chances whatsoever. Moreover, the
move selected by Bogoljubow leads eventually to a double
exchange of Knights, without moving the principal disadvantage
of his position.} 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Ne5 f5 {Obviously forced.}
12.f3 {The proper strategy. After Black has weakened his
position in the center, White forthwith must aim to change the
closed game into an open one in order to make as much as
possible out of that weakness.} exf3 13.Bxf3 {Not 13.exf3,
because the e pawn must be utilized as a battering ram.} Qc7
{Also after 13...Nxe5 14.dxe5 Bc5+ 15.Kg2 Bd7 (after the
exchange of Queens, this Bishop could not get out at all)
16.e4, White would have retained a decisive advantage in
position.} 14.Nxd7 Bxd7 15.e4 e5 {Otherwise would follow
16.e5, to be followed by a break by means of d5 or g4. After
the text move, however, Black appears to have surmounted the
greater part of his early difficulty and it calls for
exeptionally fine play on the part of White in order to make
the hidden advantages of his position count so rapidly and
convincingly.} 16.c5 Bf8 17.Qc2 {Attacking simultaneously both
of Black's center pawns.} exd4 {Black's sphere of action is
circumscribed; for instance, 17...fxe4 clearly would not do on
account of the two-fold threat against h7 and e5, after
18.Bxe4} 18.exf5 Rad8 {After 18...Re5 19.Qc4+ Kh8 20.f6, among
other lines, would be very strong.} 19.Bh5 {The initial move
in an exactly calculated, decisive manouver, the end of which
will worthily crown White's model play.} Re5 20.Bxd4 Rxf5 {If
20...Rd5 21.Qc4 Kh8 22.Bg4, with a pawn plus and a superior
position.} 21.Rxf5 Bxf5 22.Qxf5 Rxd4 23.Rf1 Rd8 {Or 23...Qe7
24.Bf7+ Kh8 25.Bd5 Qf6 26.Qc8, etc. Black is left without any
defence.} 24.Bf7+ Kh8 25.Be8 {A sparkling conclusion! Black
resigned, for, after 25...Bxc5+, he loses at least the
Bishop. Rightfully, this game was awarded the first brilliancy
prize.} 1-0
[Event "New York"]
[Site "New York, New York USA"]
[Date "1924.04.05"]
[EventDate "1924.03.16"]
[Round "14"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Efim Bogoljubov"]
[Black "Edward Lasker"]
[ECO "C60"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "113"]
1.e4 {Notes by Alexander Alekhine.} e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qf6 {A
defence that is rightly rarely played, as Black makes his own
development more difficult because of the early exposing of
his queen.} 4.Nc3 {Threatening Nd5 already.} Nge7 5.d3 Nd4
{More in the spirit of the continuation chosen was ...h6 with
the fianchettoing of the bishop later. Black now embarks on an
unfavorable variation of the inferior Bird's opening.} 6.Nxd4
exd4 7.Ne2 c6 8.Ba4 d5 9.O-O g6 {Else the king's side pieces
can hardly be developed.} 10.b4 {With this move White centers
his attack on the pawn at d4 and holds his advantage with an
iron hand. Black also always finds the only moves to hold his
compromised position. But his defence is not sufficient to
attain equality.} Qd6 11.a3 {This protecting move forces black
to compromise his position still further in order to hold his
exposed pawn.} Bg7 12.Bb2 b5 13.Bb3 c5 14.bxc5 Qxc5 15.Rc1
{Simple and conclusive. The consequent unavoidable opening of
the c-file promises white further advantages. Black would
hardly care to bet on his chances now.} O-O 16.c3 dxc3 17.Nxc3
d4 {At least 17...dxe4 18.Nd5! Qd6 19.Bxg7! Kxg7 20.dxe4 was
not better.} 18.Nd5 Qd6 19.f4 {Threatening e5.} Nxd5 20.Bxd5
Rb8 21.Rc6 Qd8 22.Qb3 {As so often happens, one weak move is
enough to lose the advantage gained by faultless play. Correct
would have been 22.Qc2 Bb7 23.Rc5 Bxd5 24.Rxd5 Qb6 25.e5 Rbc8
26.Qf2; or 23...Qb6 24.Bxb7 Qxb7 25.e5 Rfc8 26.Rfc1, etc.} Bb7
23.Rc5 Qd6 {This reply makes all the difference, Rxb5 is not
possible on account of ...Bxd5 and as the f-pawn is attacked,
White must lose a valuable tempo.} 24.Qc2 Rfc8 25.Rc1 Bf8
{Black is eventually outplayed during the following
maneuvers. Instead there was a chance here to save the
game. 25...Rxc5 26.Qxc5 Qxf4! 27. Bxb7 (or 27. Rf1 Qe3+ 28.Kh1
Bxd5 29.Qxd5 Qxd3 30. Q(or rook)xf7 Kh8, etc.)...Be5! and
White cannot avoid the draw; for instance 28.Qc2 (or 28. g3
Qe3+, etc.) Qxh2+ 29.Kf1 Qh1+ 30.Kf2 Qh4+ 31.Ke2 Qh5+!, etc.}
26.Bxd4 Qxf4 {With this move Black wins the exchange, but only
for a short time.} 27.Rf1 Bxc5 28.Bxc5 Qe3+ {If 28...Qe5
29.d4! Qh5(g5) 30.Bxf7+ Kg7 31.d5! But the following endgame
is also hopeless for Black.} 29.Bxe3 Rxc2 30.Bxf7+ Kg7 31.Bb3
Rc7 {Obviously forced, because of the terrible threat of
Rf7+.} 32.Bf4 Rbc8 33.Be6 {A bit fanciful but
sufficient. Simpler would have been 33.Be5+ Kh6 34.Bxc7 Rxc7,
then if 35...Rc3 36.Be6! with a winning position.} Re7 34.Bxc8
Bxc8 35.Rc1 Bb7 36.Rc7 {But this plausible move is a mistake
which gives the opponent a chance to obtain a difficult
draw. 36.Kf2 was now necessary, whereupon the united passed
pawns would have won without difficulty.} Kf7 {Black fails to
seize the lucky opportunity. After 36...Rxc7 37.Bxc7 b4!, a
draw would result despite the two pawns minus; for instance:
38.axb4 Ba6 39.d4 Bd3 40.e5 Bc4 41.Kf2 a6 42.Ke3 Bd5 43.g3 Kf7
44.Kf4 h6 45.Bd6 Ke6 46.Bf8 h5 47.Kg5 Be4, etc. After the move
in the text, no real fighting chances are left.} 37.Rxe7+ Kxe7
38.Bd2 Ke6 39.Kf2 Kd6 40.Ke3 Kc5 41.Ba5 Bc8 42.Bd8 Bd7 43.Ba5
g5 44.Bc3 h5 {Or 44...a6 45.Bf6 g4 46.Be7+ Kc6 47.d4 to be
followed by d5, etc.} 45.Bd4+ Kd6 46.Bxa7 h4 47.Bd4 Ke6 48.Bc3
Kf7 49.d4 Kg6 50.d5 Bc8 51.Ba5 Bd7 52.Bd8 h3 53.gxh3 Bxh3
54.Kd4 Bd7 55.e5 Kf5 56.e6 Be8 57.Bxg5 1-0
[Event "New York"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1924.04.27"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Abraham Frieman"]
[ECO "C21"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "51"]
1. e4 {Notes by Alekhine} e5 2. d4 exd4 3. c3 d5 {Doubtless
the best defence, permitting Black to obtain an even game.}
4. exd5 Qxd5 {But here 4...Nf6 is even better.} 5. cxd4 Nf6
6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Bxc3 {So far Black has
made the right moves, but this exchange is wrong as it
stregthens White's center. Correct was 9...Qa5.} 10. bxc3 b6
{This also is not good, because the White Pawns will now
advance with a win of both time and space. Better was
10...Bg4.} 11. c4 Qd8 12. d5 Ne7 13. Nd4 {Preventing an
effective development of the Black Bishop on the diagonal
h6-c1.} Bb7 14. Bb2 {Simpler was 14.Bf3 or 14.Bg5. Still the
idea of sacrificing the central Pawn in order to increase the
advantage in development was rather tempting.} c6 15. Bf3 cxd5
16. Re1 Re8 {Instead 16...Qd7 17.Nb5! was certainly not
better.} 17. Qd2 Rb8 18. Qg5 {Threatening 19.Ne6!} Ng6 19. Nf5
{After this attack can hardly be parried. White's next threat
is the simple 20.cxd5} Rxe1+ 20. Rxe1 dxc4 {If 20...h6 then
21.Qg3, threatening both 22.Bxf6 or 22.Ne7+, etc.} 21. Bxb7
Rxb7 22. Bxf6 Qxf6 {Or 22...gxf6 23.Qh6 Qf8 24.Re8, followed
by mate. White announces mate in four moves.} 23. Re8+ Nf8
24. Nh6+ Qxh6 25. Rxf8+ Kxf8 26. Qd8# 1-0
[Event "New York"]
[Site "New York"]
[Date "1924.01.13"]
[EventDate "?"]
[Round "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Leon Kussman"]
[ECO "D41"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "40"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine.} d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c5
5. cxd5 exd5 {? Nowadays "theory" considers-and rightly so for
once-5...Nxd5 as the only correct reply. But when this game
was played, even masters did not realize the danger of the
text move; for instance, Dr. Vidmar it against me in the
London Tournament, 1922.} 6. Bg5 {! Much more effective here
than 6.g3 which in the regular Tarrasch Defence (with the
Black Queen's Knight at c3 and the King's Knight undeveloped)
would be the most promising line.} Be6 7. Bxf6 Qxf6 8. e4 {!}
dxe4 9. Bb5+ Bd7 {Or 9...Nd7 10.Nxe4 Qg6 11.Bxd7+ Bxd7 12.O-O,
etc, with advantage.} 10. Nxe4 Qb6 11. Bxd7+ Nxd7 12. O-O cxd4
{Facilitating White's attack. A lesser evil would be to allow
the unpleasant ...d5} 13. Nxd4 Rd8 {After White's next move
Black's d6 will need further protection.} 14. Nf5 {!} Ne5
15. Qe2 g6 {Permitting an elegant finish; but the position,
was of course, lost.} 16. Qb5+ {!} Nd7 {The Queen could not be
taken because of 17.Nf6 mate.} 17. Rfe1 {Threatening mate
again.} Bb4 18. Nf6+ Kf8 19. Nxd7+ Rxd7 20. Qe5 {! Threatening
this time three different mates. That is too much!} 1-0
[Event "London"]
[Site "London (ENG)"]
[Date "1932.02.02"]
[EventDate "1932.02.01"]
[Round "2"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Philip Stuart Milner-Barry"]
[Black "Savielly Tartakower"]
[ECO "B12"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "81"]
1. e4 {Notes by Alekhine} c6 2. d4 Nf6 3. e5 {The most logical
way to meet Black's second move. In the Bled tournament, 1931,
I played against Dr. Tartakower 3.Bd3 but did not get any
appreciable advantage.} Nd5 4. c4 Nc7 5. Nc3 d6 6. f4 dxe5
7. fxe5 g6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. Be3 f6 10. exf6 exf6 11. Qd2 O-O
12. O-O-O Be6 13. Bh6 {White has played the opening very
soundly and obtained a clear advantage in the center. Here
however, the diversion on the King's side seems
unnecessary. Why not simply 13.d5, etc.} Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Qd7
15. Bd3 Nba6 16. h4 Nb4 17. Be2 Qf7 {? And now Black misses
his chance by losing a decisive tempo. In any case he must try
for counter-attack such as 17...b5 (18.a3 Na6 or even a5) with
considerable complications. After the text move White
practically forces the exchange of Queens which give him the
possibility of advancing the d pawn in a decisive manner.}
18. Rhf1 {!} Qg7 19. Qxg7+ Kxg7 20. a3 Nba6 21. d5 cxd5
22. cxd5 Bd7 23. Nd4 Rac8 24. Kb1 Nc5 25. Bf3 Rcd8 26. Rfe1
Rfe8 27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. b4 Na4 29. Nxa4 Bxa4 30. Rc1 Nb5 {This
loses a piece, but after 30...Na6 or Na8 31.d6 Black's
position would be quite hopeless.} 31. Ne6+ Kh6 32. Nc5 Nxa3+
33. Kb2 Nc2 34. Nxa4 Nxb4 35. Rc7 b5 36. Nc5 Re5 37. d6 {! The
British master finishes a really finely played game in a very
convincing way. His achievement was the sensation of the
second round.} Rxc5 38. d7 Nd3+ 39. Kb1 Rxc7 40. d8=Q Rc1+
41. Ka2 1-0
[Event "London"]
[Site "London (ENG)"]
[Date "1932.02.01"]
[EventDate "1932.02.01"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Savielly Tartakower"]
[Black "William Winter"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "50"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 b6 4. Nbd2 Bb7
5. Bd3 d5 {It is hardly logical to develop the Bishop on the
long diagonal and immediately after that to close it with d5
and in addition White's square on e5 now becomes very
strong. The usual line 5...c5 is doubtless better.} 6. Ne5 Bd6
7. f4 Nbd7 8. Qf3 c5 9. c3 Qc7 10. g4 {!} cxd4 11. exd4 Bxe5
{It is only to easy to understand that in his already
strategically compromised position, Black is trying to create
tactical complications. The following sacrifice is ingenious,
but by tyhe right answer (the 14th move of White) is proved
insufficient.} 12. fxe5 Nxe5 {If 12...Ne4 then simply 13.O-O
Ng5 14.Qe3 h6 15.h4 Nh7 16.Qf2, etc., with a tremendous
position for White.} 13. dxe5 d4 14. Qe2 {!} Bxh1 15. exf6
dxc3 16. Ne4 {This valuable gain of tempo definetly defeats
Black's combination.} Qe5 17. fxg7 Qxg7 18. Bb5+ Kf8 19. Nxc3
h5 20. g5 Qd4 21. Be3 Qh4+ 22. Qf2 Qb4 {Or 22...Qxf2+ 23.Kxf2
Bb7 24.Bd4 Rg8 25.Bf6 and Black has no defense against Bd3
followed by Bh7.} 23. Qf6 Rg8 24. O-O-O Bd5 25. Qh6+ {A good
game by Dr. Tartakower.} 1-0
[Event "London"]
[Site "London (ENG)"]
[Date "1932.02.01"]
[EventDate "1932.02.01"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Victor Berger"]
[Black "Georges Koltanowski"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "81"]
1.d4 {Notes by Alekhine} Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3
{The newer system inaugurated by 5.f3 seems to be preferable,
but even after the text move White could play more
aggresively, without any risk. For instance at his 7th move
(instead of O-O) h3 followed by Be3, Qd2, etc.} O-O 6.Be2 Nbd7
7.O-O e5 8.d5 a5 {Owing to the passive play of his opponent,
Black could try to take the initiative by playing here
8...Nh5, etc.} 9.Ne1 Nc5 10.Qc2 Nfd7 {Rather complicated and
not very convincing chess. Why not make at once the
unavoidable move 10...b6 (11.Be3 Ng4; or 11.f3 Nh5, etc.}
11.Be3 b6 12.Rd1 Nb8 13.a3 f5 14.f3 Nba6 15.Rb1 fxe4 16.fxe4
Rxf1+ 17.Bxf1 a4 {! The only continuation in this rather dull
game which permits Black to obtain a kind of harmless
initiative. By Buerger's accurate defensive play, of course,
the game has to end as it did.} 18.Nd3 {And not 18.Nxa4 Nxe4
19.Qxe4? Bf5, etc.} Bd7 19.Be2 Bf6 20.Bd1 Bg5 21.Qd2 Bxe3+
22.Qxe3 Nxd3 23.Qxd3 Qg5 24.Bf3 Nc5 25.Qe2 Rf8 26.Re1 Kg7
27.Qe3 Qxe3+ 28.Rxe3 h5 29.Bd1 Kh6 30.Rf3 Rxf3 31.Bxf3 g5
32.Be2 g4 33.Kf2 Kg5 34.g3 h4 35.Ke3 hxg3 36.hxg3 Be8 37.Bd1
Bd7 38.Bc2 Be8 39.Kd2 Bd7 40.Ke3 Be8 41.Bd1 1/2-1/2
[Event "London"]
[Site "London (ENG)"]
[Date "1932.02.01"]
[EventDate "1932.02.01"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Salomon Flohr"]
[Black "George Alan Thomas"]
[ECO "D51"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "86"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Nbd7
5. e3 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Nge2 Re8
10. Ng3 Nf8 11. O-O-O b5 12. Nf5 Bxf5 {Up to now Black has
followed the modern theoretical method and obtained a position
with good fighting chances. But this exchange was not
necessary. The logical line was 12...a5, followed by a4 and
eventually b4, etc.} 13. Bxf5 b4 {? Allowing the White knight
to get control of the important spot c5. 13...a5, and a4 was
still preferable.} 14. Na4 Ne4 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Kb1 Qf6
17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. Rc1 Rc8 19. Nc5 Re7 20. Ka1 a5 21. Nd3 Qd6
22. Qa4 Ra7 23. Nc5 h6 24. Rc2 Ne6 25. h3 Nd8 26. Rhc1 Qg6
27. Rd2 Rca8 28. Nd3 f6 {The situation is now cleared. Black
has no compensation for the weakness of his Queen's side
pawns. Flohr's method of exploiting his advantage is very
instructive. He finally succeeds in obtaining pressure on the
King's wing after having forced Black's move 28...f6, and the
combined attack on both wings puts Black in inextricable
difficulties. The final moves are pretty.} 29. Nc5 Qf5 30. Qb3
Kh8 31. a4 Re7 32. Qd1 Nf7 33. Nd3 Ra6 34. g4 Qc8 35. Nf4 Rd7
36. h4 Qe8 37. Rdc2 Rd6 38. Qd3 Ra8 {Or 38...Rb6 39.Rc5, etc.}
39. Rxc6 Rxc6 40. Rxc6 Nd8 {! The Rook cannot be taken on
account of 41.Ng6+, followed by 42.Ne7+} 41. Rc7 Qxa4+ 42. Kb1
Qe8 43. Re7 {! With the possible end 43...Qg8 44.Ng6+ Kh7
45.Nf8+ Kh8 46.Re8 followed by 47.Qh7+ Qxh7 48.Ng6 mate.} 1-0
[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "Nottingham ENG"]
[Date "1936.08.21"]
[EventDate "1936.08.10"]
[Round "10"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Max Euwe"]
[Black "Salomon Flohr"]
[ECO "D67"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "37"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
5. e3 O-O 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5
10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Ne4 N5f6 12. Ng3 e5 {Introduced by
Dr. Lasker against me at Zurich, 1934. Because of Black's loss
of that game the move had, as usual, a bad press. the present
game shows that it is as playable as Capablanca's
12...Qb4+.}13. O-O exd4 14. Nf5 Qd8 15. N3xd4 Ne5 16. Bb3 Bxf5
17. Nxf5 g6 {! This is the correct move. Dr. Lasker against me
played 17...Qb6? and lost speedily : 18 Qd6! Ned7 19 Rfd1 Rad8
20 Qg3 g6 21 Qg5 Kh8 22 Nd6 Kg7 23 e4! Ng8 24 Rd3 f6 25 Nf5+
Kh8 26 Qxg6 resigns.} 18. Qd4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 1/2-1/2
[Event "London"]
[Site "London (ENG)"]
[Date "1932.02.01"]
[EventDate "1932.02.01"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Geza Maroczy"]
[Black "Vera Menchik"]
[ECO "C13"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "65"]
1. e4 {Notes by Alekhine} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
5. exd5 exd5 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. Nge2 Nb4 8. O-O {I would prefer
here 8.Ng3 at once in order to keep (after 8...Nxd3+ 9.Qxd3)
the opportunity of castling on either wing.} O-O 9. Ng3 Nxd3
10. Qxd3 h6 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Qd2 Bxf4 13. Qxf4 c6 14. Rfe1 Re8
15. h3 Bd7 16. Rxe8+ Qxe8 17. Qd2 Qf8 18. Re1 Re8 19. Nb1
Rxe1+ 20. Qxe1 Qe8 21. Qd1 Ne4 22. Nxe4 Qxe4 23. c3 {White has
not the shadow of a winning chance and would have done better
to exchange Queens. After the text move Black obtains a slight
positional advantage.} Qg6 {The idea of putting the Bishop in
front of the Queen is not good and leads in a few moves to a
drawn position. Correct and simple enough was 23...Bf5 24.Nd2
Qd3 25.Qe1 Kh7, etc, and White would have to play very
carefully to obtain a draw.} 24. Kh1 Bf5 25. Nd2 Be4 26. Nxe4
Qxe4 27. f3 Qe3 28. Qb3 Qc1+ 29. Kh2 Qf4+ 30. Kg1 Qe3+ 31. Kh2
Qf4+ 32. Kh1 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 1/2-1/2
[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "Nottingham ENG"]
[Date "1936.08.12"]
[EventDate "1936.08.10"]
[Round "3"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "William Winter"]
[Black "Milan Vidmar"]
[ECO "D68"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "56"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7
5. e3 Be7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nd5
10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. O-O Nxc3 12. Rxc3 e5 13. Qc2 e4 {The
alternative 13...exd4 14.exd4 is not without danger for Black,
for instance: 14...Nf6 15.Re1 Qd6 16.Ng5 h6 (or ...Qf4 17.Nxf7
and wins as in the game Lowenfisch vs. Riumin, Moscow 1935)
17.Nxf7 Rxf7 18.Qb3 and wins. (Dr Alkhine vs. Petersen, Orebro
1935). But by playing in this variation 14...Nb6 (instead of
...Nf6) Black still seems to have an adequate defence.}
14. Nd2 Nf6 15. a3 {Too slow. The correct move, after which
White remains with a slight advantage is Bb3 with the idea of
answering ...Bf5 with f4 and eventually playing Rc5. By this
continuation Black could hardly avoid moving the Knight to d5
and the consequent exchange, which in the majority of cases
secures White the contrpl of the c-file.} Bf5 16. Rc1 {As
White cannot be sure in this position that he will need this
Rook at c1 and as he intends to play f4 anyhow, he should play
that move prior to the Rook move.} Rad8 17. b4 h5 {A good
positional move which would be useful, for instance if White
should play 18.b5 thus allowing a K-side attack after
18...cxb5 19.Bxb5 Nd5 followed by Qg5, etc.} 18. f4 g6 19. Qb3
Rd7 {! In expectation of the following reply. Otherwise he
could improve his game by the simple 19...Kg7.} 20. b5 {? This
advance must be based on a miscalculation. Agood move was
20.Nf1 after which the issue would still be uncertain.} c5
21. Qa4 {Or 21.d5 Rfd8 simply winning a Pawn. This was the
object of 19...Rd7.} cxd4 22. exd4 Qd6 23. Nb3 {Now all the
White pieces are concentrated without effect on the Q-side and
the King's position becomes very exposed.} Qxf4 24. Rf1 Qd6
25. Qxa7 {A meagre satisfaction, for the fight will be decided
by the positional, not the material, advantage.} b6 26. Qa4
Rc7 {Threatening 27...Nd5} 27. Rg3 Ng4 {!} 28. Be2 Nxh2 {! A
well played game by Dr. Vidmar.} 0-1
[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "Nottingham ENG"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[EventDate "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "William Winter"]
[Black "George Alan Thomas"]
[ECO "D50"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "58"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7
5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 {White can avoid the following
simplification by playing 6.Rc1 c6 7.Bd3; but this is hardly
necessary, for in the following endgame the chances of the
first player will be better on account of the greater freedom
in the center and the open b-file.} Ne4 7. Bxe7 Qxe7 8. Qc2 c6
9. Nxe4 dxe4 10. Qxe4 Qb4+ 11. Nd2 Qxb2 12. Qb1 {After 12.Rb1,
Black would do better not to take the a-pawn because of the
possible attack commencing by Bd3, Ke2, etc. but play 12...Qc3
after which White could hardly avoid the exchange of Queens.}
Qc3 {Black prefers to delay the exchange for one move in order
to have the opponent's Rook at c1 and not b1.} 13. Qc1 Qxc1+
14. Rxc1 c5 {After 14...e5 15.Nf3 the opening of the e-file
would be in White's favor.} 15. g3 {A good idea, as the Bishop
will have excellent prospects on the long diagonal. Still in
the following White omits to take full profit of the
positional advantage.} Ke7 16. Bg2 Rd8 17. Ke2 {Here was, for
instance, the right moment to force by 17.Nb3 the Pawn
exchange in the middle, as after 17...cxd4 18.exd4 White could
even Castle in order to occupy promptly the central files with
his Rooks. After the move selected Black succeeds through
accurate defence in avoiding further trouble.} Rb8 {Now he
will be able to answer Nb3 with ...b6.} 18. Rc3 cxd4 {Rather
surprising, but well calculated. Black has just time to
develop his Bishop.} 19. exd4 Nf6 20. Nf3 Bd7 21. Ne5 Be8
22. Ke3 Nd7 23. Ra3 {No more promising was 23.f4 f6 etc.} Nxe5
24. dxe5 a6 25. Rb1 {White's last hope to get some advantage
but the following move destroys such illusions.} b5 {Forcing a
speedy liquidation.} 26. Rxa6 bxc4 27. Ra7+ Kf8 28. Rxb8 Rxb8
29. Rc7 Rb2 1/2-1/2
[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "Nottingham ENG"]
[Date "1936.08.14"]
[EventDate "1936.08.10"]
[Round "5"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Reuben Fine"]
[Black "Milan Vidmar"]
[ECO "D48"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "48"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6
5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. e4 b4 {Thus
avoiding the main variation of the Meran defence which
continues 9...c5. The move seems to give Black quite a
playable game, especially in connection with his strong 14th
move.} 10. Na4 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. O-O Bb7 13. Qe2 Be7 {Black
could even Castle at once as the variation 13...O-O 14.e5 Bxf3
15.gxf3 Nd5 16.Nxc5 Nxc5 17.Bxh7+ Kxh7 18.Qc2+ Kg8 19.Qxc5 Qh4
20.Qc2 f5; etc. was certainly not to his disadvantage.}
14. Rd1 Qa5 {This is more convincing than Lasker's stratagem
in a similar position in the first round (after ...O-O; Bg5),
viz., ...h6 followed by ...Nh5.} 15. b3 O-O 16. Bg5 Rfd8
17. Nb2 Nc5 {The simplest; If now 18.Nc4 Qc7 19.e5 Nxd3 and if
exf6 gxf6; etc. with a good game.} 18. e5 Nxd3 {Definitely
eliminating any danger; if 19.exf6 then 19...Nxb2 (A) 20.Qxb2
Bxf3 21.Rxd1+ exd8; or (B) 20.exf6 Rxd1+ 21.Rxd1 Nxd1 winning
in either case.} 19. Rxd3 Rxd3 20. Nxd3 Nd5 21. Bxe7 Nxe7
22. Nf4 Rd8 {Black had some slight advantages in the middle
game owing to his well placed Bishop; but the text-move which
allows the opponent to exchange Rooks facilitates White's
task. A good move was 22...Rc8 threatening ...Bxf3
eventually.} 23. Rd1 Nd5 24. Nxd5 {The game has some
theoretical value.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "Nottingham ENG"]
[Date "1936.08.18"]
[EventDate "1936.08.10"]
[Round "8"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[White "Samuel Reshevsky"]
[Black "Salomon Flohr"]
[ECO "D26"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "46"]
1. d4 {Notes by Alekhine} d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 c5
5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 a6 8. Rd1 b5 9. Bb3 c4 10. Bc2
Nb4 11. Nc3 Nxc2 12. Qxc2 Bb7 13. d5 {This whole variation has
been exhaustively analysed in the course of the last few
years, and the text move has - since the games
Eliskases-Flohr, Hastings, 1933-34, and Vidmar- Grunfeld,
Warsaw, 1935 - been considered to give White a strong
initiative. Flohr's innovation in the present game seems to
rehabilitate the whole line of defence.} Qc7 {! The main idea
of this is to block the center by e5 in case White plays 14
e4. 13...exd5 instead , as played in the games mentioned
above, would be answered by 14 e4 with good effect.} 14. e4
{As 14 dxe6 fxe6 15 e4 does not work on account of b4 there is
nothing better than to complete the development of the
forces.} e5 15. Bg5 {If immediately 15 Be3 then Ng4.} Nd7
16. Be3 Bc5 {Black obviously considers the opening problem as
already solved, and does not intend to simplify. By 16...Bd6
he would have more chances of taking advantage of his majority
on the Q side, inasmuch as White could certainly obtain
nothing by a demonstration on the other wing, such as 17 Nh4
g6 18 Bh6 f6.} 17. Bxc5 Qxc5 18. b3 {! This is now possible as
b5 can be answered by 19 Na4.} O-O 19. bxc4 Qxc4 20. Nd2 Qc7
21. Qb2 Rfc8 22. Rac1 Nc5 23. Nb3 {After ...Nxb3 followed by
...Qd6, Black would still have the slightly better game
because of his Q side pawn majority.} 1/2-1/2
Event "London"]
[Site "London (ENG)"]
[Date "1932.02.08"]
[EventDate "1932.02.01"]
[Round "7"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Savielly Tartakower"]
[ECO "A51"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "63"]
1. d4 {Notes by A. Alekhine} Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ne4 {Less
usual, but not better than 3...Ng4 against which I have had
(excepting the Gilg game, Semmering, 1926) rather pleasant
experiences, too.} 4. Nd2 Nc5 {If 4...Bb4 then 5 Nf3 followed
by a3, in order to obtain the advantage of the two Bishops.}
5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. g3 Qe7 7. Bg2 g6 8. Nb1 {! This at first sight
surprising move is in reality perfectly logical. After Black
has clearly shown his intention to develop the King's Bishop
at g7, White has no longer to reckon with any action on the
diagonal e1-a5. There is no reason, therefore, for delay in
placing his Knight on the dominating square d5.} Nxe5 9. O-O
Nxf3+ 10. exf3 Bg7 11. Re1 Ne6 12. Nc3 O-O 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. f4
c6 {He has willy-nilly to dislodge the White Knight--thus
creating a dangerous weakness at d6--because after the
immediate 14 d6 the temporary sacrifice 15 f5, etc., would be
too dangerous for him.} 15. Nc3 d6 16. Be3 Qc7 17. Rc1 Bd7
18. Qd2 Rad8 19. Red1 Bc8 20. Ne4 Nc5 {This will be finally
refuted by the combination starting with White's 24th
move--but owing to the weakness mentioned above Black's
position was already very difficult. Unsatisfactory would be,
for instance, 20 d5 21 cxd5 Rxd5 22 Nf6+, followed by 23 Bxd5
etc., winning the exchange; or 20 ...c5 21 f5! gxf5 22 Nc3 Nd4
23 Nd5 Qb8 24 Bg5, etc. ; and after the comparatively safest
20 ...b6 White could also easily increase his advantage in
space by continuing 21 b4 etc.} 21. Nxd6 Na4 22. c5 Nxb2
23. Re1 b5 24. cxb6 {! A surprising but not very complicated
combination. The only difficulty consisted in the necessity of
foreseeing this possibility several moves before, when making
the capture 21 Nxd6.} Qxd6 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. bxa7 Bb7 27. Bc5
Rdd8 28. Bxf8 Kxf8 29. Bxc6 Bxc6 30. Rxc6 Ra8 {The last moves
of Black were practically forced and, his position being
absolutely hopeless, he prefers a quick end. If, instead of
this, 30 Bd4 then 31 Rd6, also winning immediately.} 31. Rb6
Rxa7 32. Rb8# 1-0
Related Posts:
Belajar Catur dari Partai Catur...
0 Comments