Complete games collection with his own annotations. Volume I 1905−1920 by Alexander Alekhine
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Edited by Kiril Kuznetsov Translated by Reilly Costigan Design by Alexey Belov
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ISBN 978-5-94693-690-3
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Foreword ......
Part I GAMES PLAYED IN TOURNAMENTS, MATCHES AND CORRESPONDENCE PLAY
Early years. Moscow tournaments, ...... ! " "# ...... #$ Beginning of % & ' ( ") $% ...... % Tournament in Stockholm. Games & # ...... Tournament in Wilno. Games ) # ...... "$ Consultation and * ! + - / 01 #" & ... $% 2 / + 3 4 - 0 %& ... %$
Part II ALEKHINE — THE STRONGEST CHESS PLAYER IN RUSSIA
! % && ...... ) Petersburg and + & $ ...... $ ( 1 5 ( 5 6 "%...... ) - 2 $& $) ...... "
Index of Openings ...... "")
Index of Opponents...... "" FOREWORD
The great Russian chess champion Alexander Alekhine had such a charis- matic personality that any book about him should arouse incredible interest. The Russian Chess House, by no means trying to take advantage of this fact, is publishing a greatest works collection of this outstanding player, i. e. all the games commented by him. The idea is hardly new. In 1954, the publish- ing company Fizkultura i Sport came out with the book called 300 Selected Games of Alexander Alekhine (compiled by V. Panov) where Alekhine himself authored most of the commentary. Over the course of the next few decades this great games collection was astoundingly popular. The present edition, in all its volumes, features over 700 games commented by Alekhine. Additionally, numerous mix-ups in the dates of the games and their texts have been cleared up. A. Alekhine has authored games collection books of six tournaments (Hast- ings 1922, New York 1924 and 1927, London 1932, Zurich 1932 and Notting- ham 1936) and two matches (vs Max Euwe in 1935 and 1937). He has also co-authored numerous similar publications. Throughout his life, A. Alekhine collaborated with various Russian and foreign periodicals. The first such publications can be found in the Moskovskie Vedomosti newspaper in January and February, 1909. That same year his chess commentary often appeared in the Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie magazine. While in 1912 he headed up the chess section of the Novoe Vremya newspaper. One should also mention that he actively contributed to his brother Alexey’s magazine, Shakhmatny Vestnik (1913−1916). Nevertheless, Alekhine’s early development as a chess player is largely unknown. The majority of his games from that period have been forgotten. Also results of certain tournaments have vanished into oblivion. It is well-known that Alekhine’s chess career started with correspondence chess. Having played chess seriously since the age of 12 (according to Alekhine himself), he first took part in a correspondence tournament in 1905. This was the XVI Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie Correspondence Tournament, which lasted for roughly a year (although not all the games were finished). Alekhine came 5 in first. Then the 1st Annual Count F. Shakhovskoi Tournament ensued, at which Alekhine came in 4th place with 6.5 points (6 of his games were not completed). Alekhine’s first tournament over the board was at the Spring Moscow Chess Club Tournament. The crosstable from this tournament has been lost, although the scoresheets of certain games were preserved. The Autumn Moscow Chess Club Tournament was a total fiasco for Alekhine who tied for 11th−13th place out of 15 players (however impossible that may seem). Alexander Alekhine along with his brother Alexey was on the entry list of the 2nd Annual Count F. Shakhovskoi Tournament, but no other information besides the participant list remains from that competition. Having learned from his first mistakes and tournament mishaps, Alekhine made a breakthrough and became one of the top Russian chess players by winning the next two Moscow Chess Club Tournaments. A few games from that period, includ- ing certain correspondence games, became well-known thanks to the efforts of Eduard Dyckhoff, editor and chief of Fernschach, who published 8 games he received from Alekhine (without commentary) in his magazine and especially thanks to Edmond Lancel, the head editor of the Belgium magazine L’Échiquier and the head of the chess section in La Nation Belge newspaper, which from 1936 through 1939 published Alekhine’s earlier games with his notes. In between the aforementioned Moscow tournaments, Alekhine took part in the main tournament of the VI DSB Congress in Dusseldorf where he tied for 4th−5th place while beating two of the top three in impressive fashion. This helped him to gain recognition on the international chess scene. Shortly after this event he tied a small match against H. Fahrni (1.5−1.5) and won a quite peculiar match against Bardeleben. Upon returning to Moscow, he played matches against B. Blumenfeld (+4−0=1) and V. Nenarokov (+0−3=0). At the All-Russian Amateur Tournament, being held at the same time as the M. I. Chigorin Memorial Tournament in February-March 1909, Alekhine achieved even greater success while also gaining the title of maestro. Other victories came pouring in. But as is sometimes the case, a sharp spike is followed by a fall. At the annual spring tournament in Moscow, which incidentally used to be considered the city championship, the young master managed to come only in 5th. Moreover, he lost his game against the tournament winner, A. Goncharov. Alekhine wasn’t able to take revenge against him in the XVII Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie Tournament, as both of their games ended in a draw. Nevertheless, Alekhine’s devotion to chess and self-improvement coupled with incredible natural talent did the trick. Victories at the next Moscow tournaments ensued (however not all these results have been preserved), although the results from large international-scale tournaments in Hamburg 6 in 1910 and Carlsbad in 1911 are a testament to the fact that a top-notch Rus- sian player had emerged on the world chess scene. After moving to St. Petersburg to study at the Imperial School of Jurispru- dence, Alekhine began playing (with much success) in Petersburg tournaments. However, in the Moscow-Petersburg matches in 1911 and 1912 he played first board for the Moscow team, drawing twice against E. Znosko – Borovsky. Also in 1912 after a marvelous victory at the Nordic Championship Alekhine hits a road bump. In the All-Russian Championship in Vilnius in August-September he only ties for 6th and 7th places (with G. Levenfish) in a pool of 10 players (A. Rabinovich dropped out after the first round). However, the next year, 1913, the young master established himself as one of the strongest players in the world. After a convincing victory in Scheveningen, and sharing first prize with A. Nimzowitsch at the All-Russian Chess Tournament, Alekhine reached the peak of his career before the Russian Revolution in 1917. He came in 3rd at the international-scale tourney in St. Petersburg in April-May 1914 behind Emanuel Lasker and Capablanca! Just a week later, the bronze medal winner at this large chess competition graduated from the school of jurisprudence with the title of titular advisor. Roughly around this time Alekhine first tried his hand at chess journalism. In 1912, he headed up the chess section in the Novoe Vremya newspaper, and then (as already mentioned above) he started contributing to his brother Alexey’s magazine, Shakhmatny Vestnik. The onset of WWI had a devastating impact on the world and Russian chess community. A large tournament in Mannheim, in which Alekhine was awarded first prize, ended prematurely. Some Russian chess players were interned. After returning to Russia and holding various charity events in support of his colleagues who remained in Germany, in October-November 1915 Alekhine took part in the Moscow Chess Club Tournament (called the Moscow City Championship in certain sources and actually having such stature). In 1916, after going on tour in April and May in Odessa in Kiev he joined the army as a volunteer on the Galician Front. In the Tarnopol hospital, the famous blindfold game against Feldt (M. Fischer) was played. After this a blank page follows in biographical resources on Alekhine’s career. Only a few games remain from that period. Alekhine’s book and his journal make note of results from a Triangular in Moscow in April-May 1918 and a few games that were played during the Odessa tour in October-November 1918. However, the next year went down in the chess history books, as the Moscow Championship was officially held in the Soviet Union for the first time. Alekhine won the tournament in stunning fashion, overpowering all 12 of his opponents (including M. Gennika who withdrew from the tournament). Finally, many 7 consider Alekhine’s victory at the All-Russian Chess Olympiad in 1920 (later recognised to be the 1st USSR Championship) to be his finest accomplishment while he lived in the Soviet Union. In the near future, after a short match with N. Grigoryev, emigration was on the horizon.
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Alekhine’s games appealed to and continue to appeal to chess players, pro- fessional and amateur alike. Naturally, over the past few decades (especially after the dawn of the computer era in chess) many variations and evaluations of certain positions have been corrected. The most significant analytical dis- coveries from the past years are provided (in italics) as part of the updated commentary. PART I
GAMES PLAYED IN TOURNAMENTS, MATCHES AND CORRESPONDENCE PLAY
ski played in England in 1902 which Giese – Alekhine was drawn. XVI Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie (Gambit) C C Correspondence Tournament, 6. b1-c3 g8-e7 E ) ! %& "& : / ! %&# 7. d2-d4 f8-g7 8. Cg1-f3 Ih4-h5 P. Bobrov, the editor and publisher 9. h2-h4 h7-h6 of Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie, when pre- 10. e4-e5 … senting Alekhine to his readers after the latter became a master in 1909, Black’s previous moves were more wrote that ‘he made his debut in our 16th or less obligatory, but now it is possible Annual (Gambit) Correspondence Tour- to demolish White’s attack by simply nament that was held in 1905−1906 by playing f6, since after 11.ef Exf6 coming in 1st place’. the f-pawn can easily be defended and Black’s king’s position would be 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 no more exposed than White’s. 2. f2-f4 e5xf4 3. Ef1-c4 d7-d5 10. … Cb8-c6 4. Ec4xd5 Id8-h4+ Blindly copying Janowski’s play in 5. Ke1-f1 g7-g5 the aforementioned game. What else The classical system of defence, would you expect from a 12-year old? rather neglected at present. After 11. Kf1-g1 g5-g4 Abbazia 1912, 3…Cf6 is gener- ally preferred. I was influenced in A double-edged move after which the adoption of this old system by the pawn on f4 is definitely con- the exhibition game Lasker – Janow- demned. However, Black hopes to řŒŜřŞŒťş 'œ ū şŚ ŒŞœŚť + Ťš ş şŔ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť2 3 9 obtain some compensation from Better than 15.Cxf4 If5 16.c3 the insecure position of White’s centre. 0-0-0 17.Ie2 f6! with a strong attack More solid, but less promising, was for the pawn. 11…Ig6. 15. … Ih5-f5 12. Cf3-e1 Ec8-f5 But not 15…0-0-0 16.Cg3 Ig6 Now if 13.Exf4, then 13…0-0-0 17.h5 followed by 18.Ixg4+. 14.Exc6 Cxc6 immediately regain- If Black continues with 17…Ie6 in ing the pawn, therefore White decided this position, then White should opt for not to rush things. the solidifying 18.c3 since the complica- 12…0-0 is the right move. After tions ensuing after 18.Cxe4 Gxd4 are the move played in the game, White can not to his benefit. achieve a palpable advantage. 16. Id1-d2 … 13. Ed5xc6+ Ce7xc6 Or 16.c3 0-0-0 17.Ic1 f6 18.Cg3 Ih7 19.ef Exf6, and White’s position /@?@7@?0 is compromised owing to the unfor- $#$?@#,? tunate position of the knight on e1. ?@'@?@?$ White has a good position after @?@?"+@3 16.Ee3 followed by Cg3 and Cd3, ?@?"?$#" improving the placement of his knights. @?&?@?@? 16. … 0-0-0 C !"!@?@!@ 17. e2-g3 … .?*1&?6- If 17.Ie3, then simply 17…Exc2 18.Gc1 Eb1 19.Cg3 Ih7 or 18.Cxc2 Ixc2 19.Gc1 Ixb2, etc. 14. Cc3-e2! … In the first line White can win the bishop After this move Black’s position by playing 19.d5 Gxd5 20.Gxb1 (20… seems highly compromised. Well, Ixb1 21.Cc3), however Black receives I guess the devil is not so black as he compensation in the form of his opponent is painted. having awkwardly placed pieces. If the strongest move, 14.Cd5! (with 17. … If5-h7 a double attack on f4 and c7), is played, 18. Id2-e2 … then Black loses material. Because of this fact a slightly better move for Giving back the pawn and remain- Black would be 13…bc. ing with a clearly inferior game. It was necessary to play 18.c3 f6! (but not 18… 14. … Ef5-e4 Cxe5? 19.Ie3), transposing to the vari- 15. Ec1xf4 … ation given after White’s 16th move. 10 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť 18. … Cc6xd4! met by the simple 22…Ghe8 followed 19. Ie2-c4 … by Cxf4) Black finishes the game in Making a transition to an endgame a simple, but energetic manner. after19.Ixe4 Ixe4 20.Cxe4 Ce2+ is 22. … Eg7xe5! no good and the prospect of being 23. Eg5xd8 Ee5xg3 under attack along the g-file after 24. Ed8-f6 Ih7-e4! 19.Ixg4+ Ce6 is just as gloomy. This is the essence of the sacrifice. 19. … Ee4-c6 If Black retreats his rook, White can 20. c2-c3 … defend with 25.Id3. Weakening d3-square and further 25. Ce1-d3 … restraining the White pieces. The only chance of prolonging the struggle was Now if 25.Id3, then 25…If4 20.Kh2 followed eventually by а2-а4 26.Ed4 Eb5 27.Ixb5 Cxd4, and Black and Gf1. wins. 20. … Cd4-e6 25. … Ce6-f4! 21. Ic4-f1 … The knight on f4 is untouchable A passive move of despair. If because of the mate in two. 21.Ch5, then 21…Ef8, threatening 26. Gh1-h3 … 22…If5. Or 26.Gh2 Exh2+ 27.Kxh2 g3+, 21. … h6-h5! winning. Stripping White of even the most 26. … Ie4-e3+ miniscule of chances. 27. Cd3-f2 Cf4xh3+ 22. Ef4-g5 … 28. g2xh3 … Mate in four. ?@70?@?0 28. … Eg3-h2+ $#$?@#,3 K I ?@+@'@?@ 29. g1xh2 e3-f4+, etc. @?@?"?*# ?@?@?@#" Alekhine – Zhukovsky @?"?@?&? XVI Shakhmatnoe Obozrenie (Gambit) !"?@?@!@ Correspondence Tournament, .?@?&16- ! %& " ; (1 %&# 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 After this move (pretty much the only 2. f2-f4 e5xf4 one possible since 22.Kh2 would be řŒŜřŞŒťş 'œ ū şŚ ŒŞœŚť + Ťš ş şŔ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť2 3 11 3. Cg1-f3 g7-g5 is winning after 14…0-0 15.de Cf2 4. h2-h4 g5-g4 16.Kf1 Ih1+ 17.Cg1 Ch3! Therefore 5. Cf3-e5 Cg8-f6 White doesn’t have anything better 6. Ef1-c4 d7-d5 than this assault. 7. e4xd5 Ef8-d6 8. 0-0 … 14. Id1-a4+ Ec8-d7 15. Ia4-a3 … This move suggested by Rice doesn’t have theoretical significance In Lipschutz – Nepir there fol- because of the fact that Black can lowed 15.Ib4 Cc6! 16.dc Exc6 17.Eb5 transpose into the favourable Kie- 0-0-0 18.Exc6 bc 19.de Cf2 20.Kf1 seritzky Gambit by playing 8…0-0. Ih1+ 21.Cg1 Ch3! 22.Ic5 (or 22.gh Moreover, he can accept the tempo- f3) 22…f3! 23.gf Cxg1, and Black won. rary knight sacrifice since White, as However, on a3 the queen remains tournament practice has shown, can a spectator for awhile. hardly count on anything more than 21…Ch3 is bad since after 22.gh a draw. f3 now 23.Ig4+ wins immediately. The game referenced by Alekhine, 8. … Ed6xe5 which was played in the Manhat- 9. Gf1-e1 Id8-e7 tan Chess Club in September 1901 in 10. c2-c3 … actuality continued in the following But not 10.d4 because of 10… manner: 20.Kf1 Cd3 21.Ie4 Ghe8 Exd4+. 22.Gd1 Ih1+ 23.Cg1 Gxe5 24.Ixc6 Gd6 25.Ia8+ Kd7 26.If3 Ge1 10. … g4-g3 27.Gxe1 Cxe1 28.Ie4 f3 29.Ig4+ An attempt to refute the knight Ge6 30.Ixg3 fg+ 31.Kf2 Gf6+. White sacrifice with a sharp counterattack. resigns In addition to the move in the text Black could have chosen between /(?@7@?0 10…f3 (Lasker – Chigroin analytical $#$+@#@# match, Brighton, 1903) and 10…Ch5! ?@?@?@?4 (Yasnogrodsky’s move). @?@!,?@? 11. d2-d4 Cf6-g4 ?@)"?$'@ 12. Cb1-d2 Ie7xh4 2?"?@%$? C I 13. d2-f3 h4-h6 !"?@?@!@ 14…Cf2 is threatened, winning .?*?.?6? the queen. If 14.Gxe5+ Cxe5 15.de Eg4, White doesn’t have enough com- 15. … Cb8-c6! pensation for the sacrificed exchange, 16. d5xc6 … while if 14.Ie2 (14.Id2 Ce3!), Black 12 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť
There’s no other option. If 16.de given White excellent drawing chances. Ccxe5 followed by 0-0-0, Black’s However, Black has another trick up attack would become unbeatable. his sleeve. It would have been better to take 16. … Ed7xc6 the rook. After 22…c5 23.Cf3 Cd3, 17. d4-d5 … Black stands better. This is obviously forced. 20. … Gd8xd5! 17. … Ec6xd5 A very deeply calculated combi- This is quite clever, however nation hopefully allowing Black to the simple variation of 17…Ed7 force a win despite being down a rook 18.Ic5! f6! 19.d6 c6 leaving Black with and bishop. two extra pawns and a quite solid posi- 21. Ge5xd5 Ib6-h6 tion may have been better. 22. Cd4-f3 … The move played in this game leads to some extraordinarily interesting After 22.Ixa7 Ih2+ 23.Kf1 complications that by no means can Ih1+ 24.Ke2 Ixg2+ 25.Kd3 be calculated easily. Ixd5 26.Ia8+ Kd7 27.Ixh8, Black not only had a draw by per- 18. Ec4xd5 Ih6-b6+ petual check: 27…Ce5+ 28.Kc2 19. Cf3-d4 0-0-0 Ie4+ 29.Kb3 Id5+, but also he The king is safe and Black has could take a risk by trying to use a wonderful attacking position. In his dangerous passed pawns with order to avoid losing in a hurry, White 27…f3! is forced to start sacrificing. After 30.Ka4, there is no perpetual check and it looks as though White 20. Ge1xe5 … wins. If 27…f3, White’s huge mate- rial advantage should be enough to ?@70?@?0 win. $#$?@#@# 22. … Cg4-f2 ?4?@?@?@ 23. Kg1-f1 Gh8-e8! @?@).?@? Threatening 24…Ih1+ 25.Cg1 ?@?&?$'@ Ixg1+ and 26…Ge1 mate. 2?"?@?$? E !"?@?@!@ 24. c1xf4 … .?*?@?6? The only saving grace. 24. … Ih6-h1+! Counting on 20…Cxe5 21.Ib3 25. Cf3-g1 Cf2-g4 Ixb3 22.Exb3, which would have řŒŜřŞŒťş 'œ ū şŚ ŒŞœŚť + Ťš ş şŔ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť2 3 13
can’t simultaneously defend his king ?@7@/@?@ and pawns on the queenside. $#$?@#@# White can play for the win with ?@?@?@?@ 30.Ke1 Ig2 31.Ed4. @?@-@?@? 26. … Ih1xh5 ?@?@?*'@ 27. Cg1-h3 … 2?"?@?$? !"?@?@!@ ?@7@/@?@ .?@?@5&3 $#$?@#@#
G ?@?@?@?@ 26. d5-h5! … @?@?@?@3 The simplest and most full-proof ?@?@?*'@ way of salvaging the game! If White were to play 26.Ge5, he 2?"?@?$% would have put himself under fire !"?@?@!@ (without the slightest chance of win- .?@?@5@? ning), as the following interesting variations show: 27. … Ih5-b5+ 26.Ge5 Ch2+ 27.Ke2 Gd8! (pre- venting the king from fleeing to The tempting maneuver of 27… the queenside) 28.Exg3! Ixg2+ Ch2+ 28.Kg1 Cf3+ 29.Kh1 Gg8! 29.Ef2 Ig4+ 30.Ke3 (or 30.Ke1 threatening 30…Ixh3+ and 31… Ig2! 31.Ke2 Ig4+, and Black has g2 mate would only lead to a draw a guaranteed draw) 30…f5!, and White if White were to play it correctly: can only defend against the threat 30.Exg3 Gxg3 31.If8+ Kd7 32.Gd1+ of 31…Ig5+ 32.Ke2 Id2 mate in Kc6 33.Ie8+ Kb6 34.Ie3+ Ka6 the following ways: 35.Id3+! (but not 35.Ie2+ b5! I. 31.Ie7 f4+ 32.Ke4 Ig2+ 36.If1 Ch4, and Black should win) 33.Kxf4 Ixf2+, and Black at least 35…Kb6! (but not 35…b5 because has perpetual check since White of 36.Id7! threatening mate in can’t move his king to g5 because 3) 36.Ie3+ Ka6! (if 36…c5, then of 34…Ig3+, 35…Ig4+ and 36… 37.Gd6+ Ka5 38.Gh6 If5 39.Cg1, Ig6 mate. and Black loses) 37.Id3+, draw. II. 31.Ib4 Ig5+ 32.If4 Cg4+! In the variation with 36…c5, Black (stronger than 32…Gd3+) 33.Kf3 can salvage the game by playing 39… Cxe5+ 34.Ixe5 Ig4+ 35.Ke3 f4+ Ig5!, while 35…b5 36.Id7 doesn’t 36.Ke4 Ig2+ 37.Cf3 Ixf2 with lose since Black at least has 36…Ce5, good winning chances since White but a much more significant remark 14 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť can be made. Black could have won the game! Lyubimov – Alekhine Alekhine failed to see 27…Cf2! 1st Annual Count Shakhovskoi forcing mate: 28.Cxf2 Ie2+ 29.Kg1 Correspondence Tournament, Ie1+! 30.Gxe1 Gxe1 mate, or 28.Ge1 %&# $ %&) Gxe1+ 29.Kxe1 Id1 mate, or 28.Cg1 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 Ib5+, or 28.Exg3 Cxh3 29.gh If3+ 2. Cg1-f3 Cb8-c6 30.Ef2 Ie2+, 31…Gg8+, etc. 3. Ef1-b5 a7-a6 28. Kf1-g1! … 4. Eb5-a4 Cg8-f6 5. 0-0 Cf6xe4 By continuing 28.с4, White could 6. Id1-e2 … have held onto his material advantage, but Black had winning chances too: A rather comfortable variation for 28.c4 Ixc4+ 29.Kg1 Id4+ 30.Kh1 Black, because after a few more moves, Cf2+ 31.Cxf2 gf 32.Eg3 (or 32.Ig3 the position is similar to that arising Ixb2 33.Gf1 Ixa2) 32…If6 33.Gf1 from the defence by 3. … Cg8-f6, but Ih6+ 34.Eh2 Ge1 35.Id3 Ic1, where White has not played the most and Black wins. exact moves. 28. … Ib5-b6+ 6. … Ce4-c5 29. Kg1-h1 Cg4-f2+ 7. Ea4xc6 d7xc6 30. Ch3xf2 Ib6xf2! 8. d2-d4 Cc5-e6 9. d4xe5 … But not 30…gf 31.Gf1 If6 32.g3, and White wins. If Black had responded to this move by 9…Cd4 10.Cxd4 Ixd4 (11.Gd1 or 31. Ef4xg3 If2xg3 11. c3 11…Eg4), the position would 32. Ia3xa7 … be identical to that of the well-known This heated battle ended peacefully variation 1.e4 e5 2.Cf3 Cc6 3.Eb5 with both players having equal mate- Cf6 4.0-0 Cxe4 5.d4 Cd6 6.Exc6 dc rial. Black settles for perpetual check 7.de Cf5 8.Ie2 Cd4! 9.Cxd4 Ixd4 since the only move promising a win etc. with only the insignificant differ- (32…Ge4) is easily refuted by 33.Kg1! ence that the a-pawn would be at a6 instead of a7. 32. … Ge8-e1+ 33. Ga1xe1 Ig3xe1+ 9. … Ef8-e7 34. Kh1-h2 Ie1-e4 On the other hand, in avoiding 35. Ia7-a8+ Kc8-d7 the exchange of knights, he allows 36. Ia8-g8 Ie4-h4+ the adversary to exert pressure 37. Kh2-g1 Ih4-e1+ on the d-file that should result in Draw. an advantage for him. Ťť şşŦŒŝ + Ŧşť řŒŜř ŧŤŜ Ś + Ťš ş şŔ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť2 : 15 10. Ec1-e3? … 17. Ce4xf6 Ig6xf6 18. Gf1-e1 … An indifferent move that should have been replaced by 10.Gd1 Ed7 Now Black is not able to play 11.Cc3 0-0 12.Ce4, after which Black either 18…c5 (because of 19.Id5), is not able to advance his f-pawn, on nor 18…Cf4 because of 19.Ec5 Gg8 account of 12…f5 13.ef Exf6 14.Cxf6+ (if 19…Ch3+, then 20.Kf1) 20.Ee7 Gxf6 15.Ce5 and consequently with If5 21.Ixg8+ Kxg8 22.Gd8+ Kf7 having to contemplate the possibility 23.Gf8+ Kg6 24.Ch4+, and wins. of some serious difficulties. In the second variation by playing 19…Ee6! Black can avoid any mate- 10. … 0-0 rial losses. 11. Cb1-c3 f7-f5 18. … Ec8-b7! Naturally! White should now exchange the central pawns in order As one will see, this is the begin- to avoid f5-f4, but after which Black’s ning of an interesting manoeuvre two bishops would have provided which finally saves the compromised interesting possibilities. game. 12. e5xf6 Ee7xf6 19. Cf3-d4 … 13. Ga1-d1 … After 13.Ic4 Kh8 14.Gad1 Ie8, /@?@?0?8 Black would have had the initiative. @+$?@?$# 13. … Id8-e8 #@#@'4?@ 14. Ie2-c4 b7-b5 @#@?@?@? 15. Ic4-b3 Kg8-h8 ?@?&?@?@ Black in turn is playing inexactly. @1@?*?@? It was important that this timid move !"!@?"!" of the king should be replaced by 15… @?@-.?6? Ig6, stopping Cc3-e4 and preserving for a long time the advantage of the White now threatens to bring two bishops. about a winning endgame in spite of the bishops of opposite colour, for 16. Cc3-e4 … example: 19…Gae8 20.Cxe6 Ixe6 After the exchange of his oppo- 21.Ixe6 Gxe6 22.Ec5 Gxe1+ 23.Gxe1 nent’s king’s bishop, White will have Gd8 24.f4 Kg8 25.f5! easy play on the black squares of the Black’s following move, prepared board. by the development of his light-square bishop, appears to suddenly give 16. … Ie8-g6 the struggle a very different aspect. 16 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť 19. … Ce6-g5! 24.Gxe8 Gxe8 25.If7 White would With the almost inevitable threat have the initiative. Therefore, one can of sacrificing this knight, after which conclude that Alekhine’s 21…c5 is the opening of the long diagonal to the strongest continuation. the bishop by c5 will become very 22. Ib3-e6 … dangerous for White. Insufficient fur- thermore, would have been 19…Cc5 This is obviously the only possible 20.Ia3 Ce4 21.f3 Cd6 22.Ic5 with move. advantage. 22. … If6xh4 20. h2-h4 … Black can afford to not take Insufficient also was 20.Exg5 the knight immediately because Ixf2+ 21.Kh1 c5 22.Cf3 Gxf3, etc. it can’t move because of the threat After the text move, White depended of 23…Gf6. on 20…Ce4 21.Ce6 Cxf2 22.Ed4. 23. Ie6-g4 Ih4xg4+ 20. … Cg5-h3+ This exchange was forced since 23… This sacrifice would have been If6 can be met by 24.Ce2 and then more effective if White had played Kh2 and White can possibly defend 20.f4, but all the same his position is the position. sufficiently threatened. 24. h3xg4 c5xd4 21. g2xh3 c6-c5 25. Gd1xd4 … This move certainly does not merit a question mark. Very few players /@?@?0?8 would not have made it, especially as it @+$?@?$# assures Black the draw. But with a little #@?@?@?@ more confidence in the strength of the @#@?@?@? position and especially with more experience, Black would be able to ?@?.?@!@ discover the correct move — 21…Gae8! @?@?*?@? If 22.Ia3, then 22…c5. On the other !"!@?"?@ hand, if 22.Ge2, then 22…Ixh4 (not @?@?.?6? 22…c5 23.Eg5!) 23.Ce6 Ixh3 24.Cxf8 c5 25.f3 (or 25.Gd5) 25…c4! followed 25. … Gf8-f7! by If3, and Black wins. In the 22.Ge2! variation White Preventing White from occupying easily wins by playing 24.Ed4 instead the 2nd rank for good (for example, after of 24.Cxf8. 22…c5 23.Eg5 Id6 is 25…Gad8? 26.Gxd8 followed by 27.Eg5). relatively better, but in this case after Draw. Ťť şşŦŒŝ + Ŧşť řŒŜř ŧŤŜ Ś + Ťš ş şŔ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť2 : 17
It seems as though Alekhine made Again not having finished his devel- a mistake when he recalled how this opment, Black seeks to exchange game played out. Actually play followed: the pieces already active and as a result 25…Gad8 (but not 25…Gf7) 26.Gxd8 of this erroneous tactic is obliged to Gxd8 27.Eg5 Gc8 28.Ge7 Kg8 29.Ef4 give up the e-file to his opponent. Kf8 30.Gxc7 Gxc7 31.Exc7 Ef3 32.g5 Preferable was 11…Eg4 12.Ig3 Eh5. Kf7 33.Kh2 Kg6 34.Ed8 Kf5 35.Kg3 12. Eg5xe7 Id8xe7 Ke4 36.c3 Eh5 37.f4 Ef7 38.a3 g6 13. Ga1-e1 … 39.Ef6, and Lyubimov offered a draw that Alekhine agreed to. White has the intention of utilising the other rook on the f-file. ! "# #$ !% Alekhine – Manko 13. … Ie7-d6 I 1st Annual Count Shakhovskoi 14. f3-g3 … Correspondence Tournament, With the intention in the case of 14… " %&# ; %&) Ixg3 of recapturing with the f-pawn and then using the two rooks (one 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 via e7 and the other via f4) against 2. Cg1-f3 Cb8-c6 the weak pawns on the queenside. 3. d2-d4 e5xd4 4. Cf3xd4 Cg8-f6 14. … Id6-f6 5. Cd4xc6 … Insufficient was 14…Ib4 because Rather better at first seems to be of 15.Ih4 followed by h2-h3. But 5.Cc3, because after 5…Eb4 6.Cxc6 bc the move chosen is equally inferior 7.Ed3 d5 8.ed cd 9.0-0 0-0 10.Eg5 Black because the black queen obstructs the nat- withdraws his bishop to e7 in order to ural retreat square of the knight. Not so unpin the knight. But as in other games bad was 14…Id8 and 15…Cf6 to follow. played at this time, I attempted to copy 15. h2-h3 Cg4-h6 blindly grandmaster practice, in this case, Maróczy – Janowski, London 1899 and Rubinstein – Bernstein, Kiev /@+@?07@ 1903. $?@?@#$# 5. … b7xc6 ?@#@?4?( 6. Ef1-d3 d7-d5 @?@#@?@? 7. e4xd5 c6xd5 ?@?@?@?@ 8. 0-0 Ef8-e7 @?&)@?2! 9. Cb1-c3 0-0 10. Ec1-g5 c7-c6 !"!@?"!@ 11. Id1-f3 Cf6-g4 @?@?.-6? 18 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť 16. Ge1-e5! … the rook to the back rank would have Preventing 16…Cf5 (in view of the been better. response 17.If4) and preparing not 20. f4xe5 If6-h4 only the doubling of the rooks, but 21. Ce2-d4 Ef5xd3 also Cc3-e2. 22. Gf1-f4! … 16. … g7-g6 Again better than 22.cd c5 23.Cc6 Weakening the castled position as d4 with some possibility of defence well as the knight. This soon has disas- by Black. trous consequences. Black’s position 23.Cf3, winning the c5-pawn, is was however greatly compromised. If stronger. for example 16…Ed7, then 17.Gfe1 22. … Ih4-e7 followed by Cc3-e2-f4-h5. If 22…Ig5 23.cd c5, then 24.Ce6! 17. Cc3-e2 Ec8-f5 Cf5 25.Cxg5 Cxe3 26.Gxf7 h6 27.Gf3 The other alternative also favoured with White being up a pawn. White: 17…Cf5 18.If4 Ig7 19.Exf5 If Black were to play 24…Ie7 Exf5 20.Cd4 Ed7 21.Ge7 Gfd8 22.b4. 25.Cxc5 Cf5 26.If2 Ixe, here he would have had a chance of defending 18. f2-f4 … the position. This change of plan is justified by 23. c2xd3 Ga8-c8 the fact that 18.If4 is insufficient 24. Gf4-f6! … because of 18…Gae8 19.Gxe8 Gxe8 20.Ixh6 Exd3 and then Gxe2. Finally taking advantage of the By playing the text move White weakness created by 16…g6. retains control of the e-file or 24. … c6-c5 assures himself other positional advan tages. Kotov pointed out that 24…Kg7 Actually in that variation White wins 25.Ixh6+ Kxh6 26.Cf5+ is unplayable. with 20.g4. Black should have stuck to 25. Cd4-c6 Ie7-e8 the simple 18…Kg7. One can believe at first glance 18. … Gf8-e8 that Black’s last moves had just If 18…Exd3, then 19.Ixd3 Cf5 about restored equilibrium, because 20.Cd4 Cxd4 21.Ixd4 with advantage. 26.Ixc5 for example, would not be entirely sufficient on account of 26… 19. Ig3-e3 Ge8xe5 Ixe5 27.Ce7+ Kg7, etc. But in fact, Forced. White can immediately force the win It’s hard to tell. One can’t rule in the same way as that given previ- out the possibility that any retreat by ously after the move 22.Gf4. Ťť şşŦŒŝ + Ŧşť řŒŜř ŧŤŜ Ś + Ťš ş şŔ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť2 : 19 6. e4xd5 Cf6xd5 ?@/@3@7@ 7. Ec4xd5 Id8xd5 $?@?@#@# 8. 0-0 Id5-d8 ?@%@?.#( This retreat is better than the con- @?$#"?@? tinuation of 8…Exc3 9.Cxc3 Id8 10.f4 ef 11.Exf4 0-0 12.Cb5!, with ?@?@?@?@ White having an advantage. @?@!2?@! C !"?@?@!@ 9. e2-g3 … @?@?@?6? In Mieses – Chigorin (Monte Carlo, 1902), White continued 9.f4 0-0 (9…ef 10.Exf4 0-0 11.Ce4 Ee7 is 26. e5-e6! Ch6-f5 stronger) 10.f5 with better play. Or 26…Kg7 27.Ie5 Kg8 28.Ixd5, 9. … 0-0 winning easily. 10. f2-f4 … 27. e6xf7+ … Now this move isn’t as strong But not 27.Gxf5 fe!, etc. since Black responds by pushing his pawn, thereby gaining the initiative 27. … Ie8xf7 on the kingside. 28. Gf6xf5. 10. … f7-f5 Black resigned. 11. Cc3-e2 Id8-h4 & ' 12. Kg1-h1 Eb4-d6 Vyakhirev – Alekhine Preventing Ce2-g1-f3. 1st Annual Count Shakhovskoi Correspondence Tournament, 13. d3-d4 … ) = ! %&# # ! %&) White, whose position is already In his book titled My Best Games worse, tempts Black by offering 1908−1923, Alekhine dated this game the chance to get a passed pawn. This as being played in 1908. would give White counterattacking possibilities in the centre. 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 2. Cb1-c3 Cg8-f6 13. … e5-e4 3. Ef1-c4 Cb8-c6 Nowadays I would undoubtedly 4. d2-d3 Ef8-b4 choose a simpler continuation of 13… 5. Cg1-e2 … ed 14.Cxd4 Cxd4 15.Ixd4 Ee6 or 5.Eg5 is stronger. 15…Ed7 and Ec6. But at that time my lack of experi- 5. … d7-d5 ence just couldn’t allow me to turn down 20 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť 21. … Ee6-d5 a possible attack with stunning sacrifices. Well, my plans only materialised because Threatening 22…е3 followed by of my opponent’s faulty strategy. Gxh3+. Black occupied d5 with his bishop 14. c2-c4 Gf8-f6 because his knight is intended to play 15. c4-c5 Gf6-h6 a different and very important role. 16. h2-h3 Ed6-f8 17. Id1-b3+ Kg8-h8 22. Ef2-e3 Ce7-g6 18. Ib3-c3? … 23. b2-b4 Cg6-h4 24. Kh1-g1 … This is a serious positional mistake. White gives up the key d5-square to Black. No matter what Black would have 18.d5 Ce7 19.Ee3 with a good position played 24…Cf3, trapping the king in in the centre should have been played. the corner where it is under the greatest Now Black clearly has an advantage. danger like Ih4 threatening Ixh3+. /@+@?,?8 24. … Ch4-f3+! $#$?@?$# 25. Kg1-f2 … ?@'@?@?0 Capturing the knight would have @?"?@#@? led to an immediate loss: 25.gf ef 26.Cc1 Gxh3 27.Kf2 (or 27.Ef2) 27… ?@?"#"?4 Ih4, and Black wins. @?2?@?&! !"?@%@!@ /@?@?,?8 .?*?@-@5 $#$?@?$# ?@?@?4?0 18. … Cc6-e7! @?"+@#@? Of course not 18…Ee6 because ?"?"#"?@ of 19.d5. "?2?*'&! 19. Ec1-e3 Ec8-e6 ?@?@%6!@ 20. Ee3-f2 Ih4-f6 .?@?@-@? 21. a2-a3 … 25. … If6-h4! Pushing pawns on the queenside doesn’t help White’s cause since A rather odd position: Black is it doesn’t pose any threats. But his threatening Gg6 and Ee7! followed by position has already been weakened so Gxg3, Cxg3 Ixg3+!, Kxg3 Eh4 mate, much by his mistake on move 18 that against which White has no defence. it’s nearly impossible to come up with As one can see from the commentary the correct plan for defence. on move 29, White needs to free up f1 š ŚşŘ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť Œť ťř ŤŔ +ř ŤŤ +ŝŦœ2 ŤŔ 2 : 21 for his king, while defending against the knight check on h2. He could have ?@?@/@?8 put up more resistance with 26.Gh1 Gg6 $#$?@?$# 27.Gad1! Ee7 28.Kf1, and if 28…Gxg3, ?@?@?@?@ then 29.Ef2 (27.Kf1Gxg3 28.Ef2 is E @!"+@#@? worse because of 28. c4!). ?@?"?"?, 26. b4-b5 Gh6-g6 "?2?@#@! 27. Gf1-c1 Ef8-e7! 28. Kf2-f1 … ?@?@?@?. .?@?@5*3 Being incapable of fending off the attack cited in the previous com- 35. … Ih1-g2+! mentary, White looks for some com- 36. Gh2xg2 f3xg2 mate. pensation in capturing the knight, but Black’s attack remains unbeatable. ( "# #$ !& 28. … Gg6xg3 Alekhine – Rozanov C 29. e2xg3 … Spring Tournament at If 29.Ef2 Ch2+ 30.Kg1 (or 30.Ke1 + 4 ( ! + 4 %&) Gxc3), then 30…Gxg2+ 31.Kxg2 e3+ In 1937, Alekhine published an arti- 32.Kg1(h2) Ixf2 mate. cle in which he reminisced about his first tournament game played at the age of 15 29. … Ih4xg3 in one Moscow tournament. 30. Ee3-f2 Ig3-h2 Alekhine wrote that in this game he 31. g2xf3 e4xf3 followed a book line he knew by heart. 32. Gc1-c2 Ga8-e8! He managed to gain a slight edge, how- The beginning of the mating com- ever his lack of experience kept him from bination. Black will not allow the king capitalising upon this. His inability to to escape to the queenside. select the right game plan made him waste valuable tempos (moves 13−20). 33. Ef2-e3 … According to Alekhine, his queen If 33.Eg1, then 33…Ig3! followed manoeuvres in this game hint at his by Eh4. obvious (albeit forgivable for a begin- ner) anxiety. 33. … Ih2-h1+ By move 21 Alekhine found himself 34. Ee3-g1 Ee7-h4! in a tough position and he had to muster 35. Gc2-h2 … up all his strength to find the rescuing Now Black’s queen is trapped, but continuation. Alekhine’s 23rd move was by sacrificing it Black makes the final a saving grace. His opponent was clearly blow. demoralised by this turn of events. 22 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť 13. Ig3-e5 … Alekhine believes that the difficult final stage of the game (starting at The idea of this was to prevent Black move 26) he wouldn’t be able to play from recapturing with the bishop’s any better even thirty years later. pawn after 13…Eg6 14.Exg6 because At the end of the article Alekhine of 14…fg 15.Ie6+ and 16.Ixc6. Black pointed out that that game had a strong gets the initiative now. 13.Gae1 should impact on his subsequent development have been played. as it made him want to perfect his play 13. … Eh5-g6 and honed his appreciation of chess. 14. Ed3xg6 h7xg6 At the same time this game gave rise to 15. Ga1-d1 … a faulty psychological outlook – Alekh- ine became convinced that he’d always Here the right move was 15.Gfe1, be able to find a salvaging combination preventing in the variation 15…Ed6 in a bad position. Alekhine wrote that 16.Id4 Ic7 17.Exf6 gf 18.Ixf6 Exh2+ for a very long time he wasn’t able to 19.Kh1 the important move 19…Ee5! overcome this feeling and even when If 15…Ge8, then 16.Gad1 with some the article was published he still wasn’t chance of exploiting the weakness sure whether he had nipped that danger- of Black’s queenside. ous misconception in the bud. 15. … Ee7-d6 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 16. Ie5-d4 Id8-c7 2. Cg1-f3 Cb8-c6 After this Black has decidedly 3. d2-d4 … the better game, as the variation above This is considered old-fashioned would be in his favour. now! 17. Id4-h4 … 3. … e5xd4 As the rest of the game shows, 4. Cf3xd4 Cg8-f6 the h-file is only to be exploited by 5. Cd4xc6 b7xc6 Black. But if 17.h3, then 17…Ee5, 6. Ef1-d3 d7-d5 followed by 18…Gab8 with a clearly 7. e4xd5 c6xd5 superior game. 8. 0-0 Ef8-e7 9. Cb1-c3 0-0 17. … Cf6-h7 10. Ec1-g5 c7-c6 18. Eg5-e3 … 11. Id1-f3 Ec8-g4 As White is intending to play f4, With the obvious intention he protects the dark-square diagonal of exchanging off White’s light- of g1-a7, preventing Ib6+. squared bishop. Not a bad idea. 18. … f7-f5 12. If3-g3 Eg4-h5 19. f2-f4 Kg8-f7! š ŚşŘ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť Œť ťř ŤŔ +ř ŤŤ +ŝŦœ2 ŤŔ 2 : 23
Most energetic play. White’s He is ready to devour his victim position looks highly compromised as the next move is going to win and considering how weakly he has the queen it seems. Without this very played up to now, one could hardly excusable mistake, Black would still expect that he would safely emerge have had the best of things, though from all his difficulties. Of course if White has distinct possibilities of resis- 20.Ixh7 Gh8, Black wins the queen. tance. For example: I. 22…Gh5 23.Ig3 g5 24.Ee5; 20. Ee3-d4 Gf8-h8 II. 22…Ee7 23.Ig3 Cg4 24.h3 Eh4 If White plays now 21. h3, the con- 25.If3 Exe1 26.Cxd5 Id8 27.Gxe1 sequence would be 21…Cf6 22.If2 cd (or 27…Ixd5 28.Ixd5+ cd 29.hg (22.Ig5 would be met by 22…Cg4!) fg 30.Ge3) 28.hg Ge8 29.Ge5, and in 22…Ch5 23.Ee3 g5 favouring Black. spite of the fact that he has only one Realising that only in counterattack pawn for the exchange, White’s posi- lies any hope of salvation, White looks tion with his strongly posted bishop deep and finds he can set a well con- is at least solid enough for a draw. cealed trap. Another interesting line after 22… Ee7 is 23.Ge5!? Ce4 24.Cxe4 Exg5 21. Gd1-e1! … 25.Cxg5+ Kg8 26.Gfe1, and White Apparently even worse than 21. h3 should win. But! Black would play because after 21…Cf6 the queen can’t 23…Ch5! go to f2 (22…Gxh2!) or g3 (22…Ch5). III. After 22…Gae8, Black would Therefore White’s next move is forced. prevent the important defensive move Ee5 and retain control of the e-file. 21. … Ch7-f6 White would then be compelled to 22. Ih4-g5 … sacrifice a pawn and remain with Right into the lion’s den! an unsatisfactory position. /@?@?@?0 23. Ge1-e6! … $?4?@7$? This pretty move not only takes ?@#,?(#@ all the sting out of Gh5 and Ee7, but @?@#@#2? it launches a counterattack which is not easy to meet. If for instance ?@?*?"?@ 23…Gh6, then 24.Gfe1 (threaten- @?&?@?@? ing to play 25.Exg7 or 25.h3) 24… !"!@?@!" Exf4! 25.Ge7+ Kg8 (after 25…Kf8 @?@?.-6? Black loses the exchange) 26.Gxc7 Exg5 27.Gxg7+ Kf8 28.h3 Ef6 (or 28…Ee3+ 29.Gxe3 Cxe3 30.Gc7, 22. … Cf6-g4 and White wins) 29.Exf6 Cxf6 24 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť
30.Gc7, and White wins at least with a slightly better position for a pawn. Black. While 31.Ie5+ (instead of 31.Ee5+) 31…Ed6 32.Cb5+! cb 23. … Kf7xe6 33.Ic3+ and 34.Exh8 gives White 24. Ig5xg6+ Ke6-d7 an advantage. But not 24…Cf6 because 29. Ge1-e3 … of 25.Ge1+ Kd7 26.Ixg7+. So as to prevent Black’s king get- 25. Ig6xf5+ Kd7-d8 ting to safety on the queenside. 26. If5xg4 … 29. … Kc7-b7 White now has two pawns for 30. Cc3-a4 Ga8-e8 the exchange and the position 31. Ge3-b3+ Kb7-a8 of Black’s king is anything but secure. One would never think when look- 26. … Ed6-f8 ing at this position that Black once If 26…Gg8, then 27.Ge1 threaten- castled on the kingside! ing 28.Ef6+. 32. Ig5-g3 … 27. Gf1-e1 Ic7-d7 The queen hurries to take part in 28. Ig4-g5+ Kd8-c7 the new attack. Besides, her pres- ence on g3 is important in the varia- /@?@?,?0 tion 32…Gb8 33.Gxb8+ Kxb8 34.f5+ $?83@?$? Ka8 35.f6 gf 36.Exf6, and White has ?@#@?@?@ two connected passed pawns. @?@#@?2? 32. … Gh8-h6 ?@?*?"?@ 33. Ig3-d3 Gh6-e6 @?&?@?@? After 33…Gb8 34.Gxb8+ Kxb8 !"!@?@!" 35.Ee5+ Kc8! (but not 35…Ed6 @?@?.?6? 36.Cc5 or 35…Ka8 36.Cb6+, White winning in both cases) 36.Id4! White Black in his turn tries a swindle, would still have excellent wining if 29.Exg7 hoping to win a pawn chances, but Black could avoid losing through the threat of the rook going immediately. to e7, then 29…Ec5+ 30.Kh1 Gag8 34. Ed4-e5 … 31.Ee5+ Kb7 32.If6 Gxh2+ follows with mate in 2. Threatening 35.Ia6. White isn’t necessarily going to 34. … c6-c5 get mated. Instead of 32.If6 it’s 35. Gb3-b5 … best to play 32.Exh8 Gxg5 33.fg š ŚşŘ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť Œť ťř ŤŔ +ř ŤŤ +ŝŦœ2 ŤŔ 2 : 25
With numerous new threats. If for condemned. A complicated, double- example 35…Ic6, then 36.Gb6! edged position has arisen. In this variation after 36…Id7 11. Ce4-g5 … 37.Gxe6 Gxe6 Black can still defend. Therefore, 35…Gс8? is the decisive A dubious idea. 11.Cc3 Ef6 12.Ig3 mistake. is more sound followed by 0-0-0. 35. … Ge8-c8 11. … Ee7-f6 36. c2-c4! … 12. Ig7-h6 Id8xd4 13. Ga1-d1 Id4-e5+ After this there is no defence. For 14. Ke1-f1 Ef6-g7 instance: 36…d4 37.Cxc5! Exc5 38.If3+ Gec6 39.Gxc5 followed by This is a mistake. After 14…Cd7 Gd5, with White winning easily. or 14…Gg8 15.Ixh7 Gg7 Black has excellent play. 36. … a7-a6 37. Ca4-b6+ Ge6xb6 15. Ih6-h5 h7-h6?? 38. Gb5xb6 Ka8-a7 An error, which should lose 39. Id3-g6 Id7-a4 the game. Black could have played 15… 40. Gb6-b3 Ia4-c6 Cd7 and met 16.Ge1 with 16…Cf6. 41. Ig6-f7+ Ka7-a8 42. c4xd5. 16. Gd1-e1 Eb7-e4 17. Ed3xe4 f5xe4 Black resigns 18. Ge1xe4 Ie5-d5 % )** + * , - Budberg – Alekhine /(?@70?@ Spring Tournament at $?$?@#,? + 4 ( ! + 4 %&) ?$?@#@?$ 1. e2-e4 b7-b6 @?@3@?&1 2. d2-d4 Ec8-b7 ?@?@-@?@ 3. Cb1-c3 e7-e6 @?@?@?@% 4. Ef1-d3 Cg8-f6 5. Ec1-g5 Ef8-e7 !"!@?"!" 6. Cg1-h3 d7-d5 @?@?@5@- 7. Eg5xf6 g7xf6? 8. Id1-g4 d5xe4 19. Cg5xe6? … 9. Ig4-g7 Gh8-f8 White immediately misses 10. Cc3xe4 f6-f5? an immediate win. Play could follow This move, just like capturing 19.Gxe6+! to meet 19…Kd7 with with the pawn on f6, should not be 20.Ge3 with a winning position. 26 4Œ ť 5 ŝ ŜřŚş 7Ť Œ ŝŪ ŒŞ Ť
After 20…Ic4+ 21.Gd3+ Kc8, endgame would have arisen in which the position is unclear. 19.Cf4! Black would have had to fight for the win. Ixg5 20.Cxe6! Ixh5 21.Cxg7+ and 22.Cxh5 is stronger with an extra ?@?@?0?@ pawn in the endgame. $7$?@#@? 19. … Id5xe4 ?$?@?@?@ 20. Ce6xg7+ Ke8-d8 @?(3@%2? 21. Ih5xh6 Cb8-d7 ?@?@?@?@ 22. Ch3-f4 Kd8-c8 @?@?@%"? It was better to just capture on c2. !"!@/"5" 23. Cf4-d3 Kc8-b7 @?@?@?@- 24. Ih6-f4 Ie4-g6 25. Cg7-f5 Ga8-e8 31. … Ge2xf2+ 26. g2-g3 … 32. Kg2-h3 Gf8-h8+ 33. Cf5-h4 Id5xf3 This is a weak move. By playing 34. Gh1-e1 f7-f6 26.h4 White could have developed good counterplay. White resigns 26. … Ig6-c6 . , !! 27. Kf1-g1? Cd7-c5! Alekhine – Isakov C 28. d3-e5 … Spring Tournament at One can’t say that the previous move + 4 ( ! + 4 %&) was a blunder since the alternative 1. e2-e4 e7-e5 of 27.Gg1 is no better. In this position 2. Cg1-f3 Cb8-c6 White should have played 28.Cxc5+ 3. c2-c3 d7-d5 Ixc5 29.Ce3. 4. Id1-a4 … 28. … Ic6-d5 This premature queen sally is abso- 29. Ce5-f3 Ge8-e4 lutely against the principles of modern 30. If4-g5 Ge4-e2! theory. Black can answer by simple 30…Ce6 31.If6 Cf4! 32.gf Ge6 won developing moves 4…Cf6 5.Cxe5 immediately in impressive fashion. Ed6, sacrificing one or even two pawns for a very strong attack. 31. Kg1-g2? … 4. … f7-f6 An error, but White’s game is already lost. If this move was necessary, it could After 31.C5d4 Ixg5 32.Cxg5 be deduced that the preceding move Ge1+ 33.Kg2 Gxh1 34.Kxh1, a sharp was premature. In fact after 3.c3, š ŚşŘ 0 Ŧ şŒŞ şť Œť ťř ŤŔ +ř ŤŤ +ŝŦœ2 ŤŔ 2 : 27
Black could also obtain a good game who demonstrated their outstanding by simply playing 3…Cf6 4.d4 d5!, etc. play!) 13.Cc4 Ia6 14. Eg5+ Kxf7 15.Cd6 mate. 5. Ef1-b5 Cg8-e7 This whole defensive system was /@?@7,?0 proposed by Steinitz. The least one $#$+(?$# can say about it is that it is old-fash- ?@'@?@?@ ioned and bizarre. @)@3@#@? 6. e4xd5 Id8xd5 1@?"#@?@ 7. 0-0 Ec8-d7 @?"?@?@? 8. d2-d4 e5-e4 !"?&?"!" This has been more rarely played .%*?@-6? than 8…ed. But on what can Black count on in this last variation? Set 10. Cd2-b3 … aside that it is illogical in itself (the defence of the centre by f6 fol- White is threatening 11.Ef4 fol- lowed by the almost immediate con- lowed by Eс4. Now if 10…Cg6, then ceding of it). One has to ask oneself 11.Ec4 Id6 12.Cc5, while if 10…Cс8, where, after the exchange of the centre, then 11.c4 If7 12.c5! Ee7 13.Cc3. In will the poor black king find a quiet both cases with advantage for White. place? He is obviously exposed in 10. … Cc6-e5 the middle, and in the case of castling on the queenside, the c-file will serve In the hope, which is not going to as an easy basis for White’s attack. be fulfilled, of exchanging the danger- After the advance of the e-pawn, ous enemy bishop. Black’s position remains more solid, 11. Cb3-c5! c7-c6 although the weakening of the light 12. Eb5-e2 … squares in his position will be felt some time. 12.Cxd7 cb 13.Cb6 ba 14.Cxd5 Cxd5 15.de does not promise White 9. Cf3-d2 f6-f5 any sort of advantage. More logical in any case, than 12. … Ed7-c8 Gossip’s move (against Chigo- rin, New York 1889) 9…Cg6 with Slightly better than 12…b5, because the continuation 10.Ec4 Ia5 11.Ib3 in that case White would have, after f5 12.Ef7+ Ke7?? (one can see who the retreat of the queen, threatened was let into international tourna- Cа6. ments in old days; this obviously is 13. Ec1-e3 … a sharp contrast to the real masters