jprimero
5 ( +1 | -1 )
The Best Chess Game What is the most exciting game ever?
More: Internet Chess Club
cyrano
20 ( +1 | -1 )
Personal favourite
Kopylov,N - Korolev,S
correspondence 1983
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.Nc3 e6 5.Ne4 Nc6 6.c4 Ndb4 7.a3 Qa5 8.Qb3 d5 9.exd6 e5 10.Rb1 Na6 11.g4 Qd8 12.d4 exd4 13.Bf4 Qd7 14.Bg3 h5 15.Kd2 hxg4 16.Re1 Kd8 17.Ne5 Nxe5 18.Bxe5 Qc6 19.Ng5 Rh5 20.Bxg7 Bxd6 21.Nxf7+ Kc7 22.Nxd6 Qxd6 23.Bg2 Rg5 24.Bh8 Qh6 25.Qg3+ Kb6 26.Kd1 Qxh8 27.Qd6+ Ka5 28.Kd2 Bf5 29.Bxb7 Rg6 30.b4+ Ka4 31.Bc6+ Kb3 32.Qg3+ Kb2 33.Rb1+ Bxb1 34.Rxb1+ Kxb1 35.Qb3+ Ka1 36.Kc1 1-0
ir0nh0rse
49 ( +1 | -1 )
Pure entertainment... I just found this game, it's not the best but it is the most entertaining. This is Morphy vs. Count Isouard in Paris 1858. Morphy shows his brilliance, the power of sacrafice, and just plain exploits a weaker player, mating on 17. He sacrafices and trades almost all his pieces before a simple mate. This game is worth going over...
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 Bg4
4. dxe5 Bxf3
5. Qxf3 dxe5
6. Bc4 Nf6
7. Qb3 Qe7
8. Nc3 c6
9. Bg5 b5
10. Nxb5 cxb5
11. Bxb5+ Nbd7
12. O-O-O Rd8
13. Rxd7 Rxd7
14. Rd1 Qe6
15. Bxd7+ Nxd7
16. Qb8+ Nxb8
17. Rd8# 1-0
More: Chess App
myway316
63 ( +1 | -1 )
Personal Favorite Lasker-Capablanca,St.Petersburg 1914. The ultimate "psyche-out job" in the annals of chess. Capa leading Lasker by a pt.,Lasker absolutely must win. Everyone expects Lasker to attack from the word go,but instead he plays the Exchange Variation of the Ruy,a notorious drawing line. Lasker sitting there like a rock,Capa,sweating bullets, wondering what kind of prepared line the old fox has conjured up. Capa soon went wrong,and was blown off the board. The next day,still in shock,he blundered a piece to Tarrasch on the 7th move,tho he played on to move 82 before resigning. Lasker ended up winning the tnt. by half a point.
More: Chess Openings
myway316
63 ( +1 | -1 )
Personal Favorite Lasker-Capablanca,St.Petersburg 1914. The ultimate "psyche-out job" in the annals of chess. Capa leading Lasker by a pt.,Lasker absolutely must win. Everyone expects Lasker to attack from the word go,but instead he plays the Exchange Variation of the Ruy,a notorious drawing line. Lasker sitting there like a rock,Capa,sweating bullets, wondering what kind of prepared line the old fox has conjured up. Capa soon went wrong,and was blown off the board. The next day,still in shock,he blundered a piece to Tarrasch on the 7th move,tho he played on to move 82 before resigning. Lasker ended up winning the tnt. by half a point.
More: Learn How To Play Chess
allkarlos
186 ( +1 | -1 )
The Best Games of Chess Informant Spassky - Petrosian
Moscow (m/7) 1966 - 1/61
D 03
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 d5 4.Nbd2 Be7 5.e3 Nbd7 6.Bd3 c5 7. c3 b6 8.0-0 Bb7 9.Ne5 [9.a4!?] Ne5! 10.de5 Nd7 11.Bf4?! [11. Be7!? Qe7 12.f4 0-0 13.e4!=] Qc7 12.Nf3 h6! 13.Bg3 g5! 14.b4! h5! unclear [14...cb4?! 15.cb4 Bb4 16.Nd4!±] 15.h4! gh4 16.Bf4 0-0-0 17.a4? [17.bc5!?] c4! 18.Be2 a6! 19.Kh1 Rdg8 20.Rg1 Rg4 21.Qd2 Rhg8 22.a5 b5 23.Rad1 Bf8 24.Nh2 Ne5! 25.Ng4 hg4 26.e4!? Bd6 [26...de4?? 27.Be5!+-] 27.Qe3 Nd7 [27...g3!? 28.f3!] 28.Bd6 Qd6 29.Rd4?? [29.f4!] e5! 30.Rd2 f5!! 31.ed5 [31. ef5 h3!±] f4 32.Qe4 Nf6 33.Qf5 Kb8 34.f3 Bc8 35.Qb1 g3 36.Re1 h3 37.Bf1 [37.gh3 g2 38.Kg1 Qd7!+-] Rh8 38.gh3 Bh3 39.Kg1 Bf1 40.Rf1 e4!! 41.Qd1 [41.fe4 f3!-+] Ng4!! 42.fg4 f3 43.Rg2 fg2 0:1
Larsen - Fischer
Monte Carlo 1967 - 3/745
E 97
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Be2 0-0 6.Nf3 e5 7.0-0 Nc6 8.Be3 Re8 9.de5 de5 10.Qd8 Nd8 11.Nb5 Ne6 12.Ng5 Re7= 13.Rfd1 b6! 14.c5?! Nc5 15.Rd8 Bf8 16.Na7 Ra7 17.Rc8 Kg7 18.f3 Ne8 19.a3? [19.Bc5=] Nd6 black stands slightly better 20.Rd8 h6 21.Nh3 Ne6 22.Rb8 Re8 23.Re8 Ne8 24.Bb5? [24.Nf2 Bc5 25.Bc5 Nc5 black stands slightly better] Nd6 25.Bf1 Nb7 26.Nf2 Bc5 27.Bc5 Nbc5 28.Rd1 h5 29.Rd5?! Kf6 30.h4 Ke7 31.Bc4 [31.Re5? c6] c6 32.Rd2 Nd4 black stands slightly better 33.Kf1 f5 34.b4? [34.Nd3] b5! 35.Bg8 fe4 36.fe4 Nd7 black has the upper hand 37.Rd3 Ra6! 38.Rc3? [38.g3 Nf6 black has the upper hand] c5 39.g4 c4-+ 40.gh5 gh5 41.Bd5 Nf6 42.Rg3 Nd5 43.ed5 Rf6! 44. Kg2 Nf5 45.Rh3 Rg6 46.Kf3 Nd4 47.Ke3 Rg2! 48.Rh1 Kd6 49.Ne4 Kd5 50.Nc3 Ke6 51.Rc1 Rh2 52.a4 Rh3 53.Kf2 Nb3 54.Kg2 Nc1 55.Kh3 ba4 56.Na4 Ne2 57.b5 c3 58.b6 c2 59.Nc5 Kd5 60.Nb3 Kc6 61.Kg2 Kb6 0:1 [Matanovic]
Botvinnik - Portisch
Monte Carlo 1968 - 5/44
A 29
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cd5 Nd5 5.Bg2 Be6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0-0 Nb6 8.d3 Be7 9.a3! a5?! 10.Be3 0-0 11.Na4 Na4 [11...Nd5 12.Bc5 white stands slightly better] 12.Qa4 Bd5 13.Rfc1 Re8 14.Rc2! Bf8 [14...Bd6!?] 15.Rac1 Nb8? [15...e4 16.de4 Be4 17.Rd2 Qf6 18.Rc4!±] 16.Rc7 Bc6 17.R1c6 bc6 18.Rf7! h6 [18...Kf7 19.Qc4+-] 19.Rb7 Qc8 20.Qc4 Kh8 [20...Qe6 21.Ne5+-] 21.Nh4! Qb7 22.Ng6 Kh7 23.Be4 Bd6 24.Ne5 g6 25.Bg6 Kg7 26.Bh6 1:0 [Portisch]
Smyslov - Liberzon
USSR (ch) 1968 - 6/53
A 25
1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.Rb1 d6 6.b4 a6 [6...Nh6] 7.e3 f5 8.Nge2 Nf6 9.d3 0-0 10.0-0 Bd7 11.a4 Rb8 12.b5 ab5 13.ab5 Ne7 14.Ba3! Be6 15.Qb3 b6 [15...Nd7] 16.d4! e4 17.d5 white stands slightly better Bf7 18.Nd4 Qd7 19.Bb2 g5 [19...Rbe8] 20.Nce2 Kh8 21.Ra1 Ng6 22.f4! ef3 23.Rf3 Ne7 24. Nc6 Rbe8 25.Ned4 Nfd5!? 26.cd5 Bd5 27.Nf5! Rf5 [27...Bb3 28. Bg7 Kg8 29.Nce7±] 28.Bg7 Kg8 29.Rf5 Bb3 30.Rg5 Ng6 31.Bh6! Qe6 32.h4! Qe3 33.Kh2 Qc3 34.Rf1± Bc4 35.Rf2 Qe1 36.Rgf5 Bb5 37.Bd2 Qb1 38.Bd5 Kh8 39.Bc3 Ne5 40.Ne5 de5 41.Re5 1:0 [Yudovich]
Larsen - Spassky
Beograd 1970 - 9/25
A 01
1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.Nf3 e4 5.Nd4 Bc5 6.Nc6 dc6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Qc2 Qe7 9.Be2 0-0-0 10.f4? black has the upper hand [with the idea 11. Bf6 Qf6 12.Nc3] Ng4! 11.g3 h5 [11...Rd2 12.Nd2 Ne3 13.Qc3 Rd8 unclear] 12.h3 [12.Nc3 Rd2!-+] h4! 13.hg4 [13.Bg4 Bg4 14.hg4 hg3 15.Rg1 Rh1! 16.Rh1 g2 17.Rg1 Qh4 18.Ke2 Qg4 19.Ke1 Qg3 20.Kd1 (20.Ke2 Qf3 21.Ke1 Be7-+) Qf2 21.Qe4 Qg1 22.Kc2 Qf2-+] hg3 14.Rg1 Rh1 15.Rh1 g2 16.Rf1 [16.Rg1 Qh4 17.Kd1 Qh1 18.Qc3 Qg1 19.Kc2 Qf2 20.gf5 Qe2 21.Na3 Qd3 (21... Bb4-+) 22.Qd3 ed3 23.Kc3 a5 (23...Be3 24.de3 d2 25.Rd1 Rh8-+) 24.Nc2!] Qh4 17.Kd1 gf1Q [18.Bf1 Bg4] 0:1 [Spassky]
Karpov - Spassky
USSR 975 - 20/601
E 18
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Bb7 5.Bg2 Be7 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Qc2 d5 8.cd5 Nd5 [8...ed5!?] 9.0-0 Nd7 [9...Nc3 10.bc3 Nd7 11.Ng5 Bg5 12.Bb7±] 10.Nd5 ed5 [10...Bd5 11.e4 Bb7 12.Rd1 c5 13.d5! (13.dc5 Qc8! 14.c6 Bc6 15.Nd4 Bb7 16.Qc8 Rfc8 17.Ne6 Nf6=) ed5 14.ed5 Bf6 15.h4±] 11.Rd1 Nf6 [11...c5 12.dc5 bc5±] 12.Ne5 c5 13.dc5 Bc5 [13...bc5 14.Bg5! with the idea Nd3_f4] 14.Nd3 Bd6 [14...Rc8 15.Nc5 Rc5 16.Qa4 white stands slightly better] 15.Bf4 white stands slightly better Re8 16.e3 Ne4 17.Bd6 Qd6 18.Nf4 Rac8!? [18...Rad8] 19.Qa4 Qe7 20.Qa7! [20.Be4 Qe4 21.Rd4 Qc2 22.b3] Nf2 21.Nd5! [21.Kf2? Qe3 22.Kf1 Rc2-+] Bd5 22.Qe7 Nd1 [22...Re7 23.Rd5 Ng4 24.Bh3 (24.e4 Ne3 25.Rb5±) Ne3 25.Bc8 Nd5 26.Rd1±] 23.Rc1! Rb8 only move [23...Rcd8 24.Qd8 Rd8 25.Rd1; 23...Ra8 24.Bd5 Re7 25.Ba8 Re8 26.Bc6] 24.Qb4 Bg2 25.Kg2 Ne3 26.Kg1 Re6 27.Qf4 Rd8 28.Qd4 Rde8 29.Qd7 Ng4 30.Rc8 Nf6 [30...Re1 31.Kg2 R1e2 32.Kh3 Nf2 33.Kh4 R2e4 34.g4 Rg4 35.Qg4+-] 31.Re8 Re8 32.Qb7 Re6 33.Qb8 Ne8 34.a4 g6 35.b4 Kg7 36.Qb7 h5 37.h3 Kf6 38.Kg2 Rd6 39.a5 ba5 40.ba5 Re6 41.a6 Nc7 42.a7 Re7 43.Qc6 Ke5 44.Kf3 1:0 [Karpov]
Tal - Velimirovic
USSR - Jugoslavija 1979 - 27/64
A 30
1.c4 c5 2.b3 Nc6 3.Bb2 e5 4.g3 d6 5.Bg2 Be6?! [5...g6] 6.Nc3 Qd7 7.Nf3 Bh3 8.Bh3 Qh3 9.Nd5! white stands slightly better Qd7 [9...0-0-0 10.b4!] 10.e3 [10.b4?! Nb4 (10...cb4 11.d4±) 11.Nb4 cb4 12.d4 e4 13.Nd2 d5 black stands slightly better; 12.Qb3 black stands slightly better] Nce7 [10...Nge7 11.d4 cd4 12.ed4 e4 13.Nd2 Nd5 14.cd5 Nb4 15.Ne4 Nd5 16.0-0 Be7 17.Qh5 white stands slightly better; 11.0-0 white stands slightly better] 11.Nc3! Nf6 12.0-0 e4 [12...Ng6 13.d4±] 13.Ng5!? [13.Nh4 Qh3 14.f3 Ng6 unclear 15.Ng2? ef3 16.Qf3 Ng4 17.Qf7 Kd8-+; 13.Ne1!?] d5!? [13...Qf5 14.Nb5! Rd8! (14...Qg5 15.Nd6 Kd7 16.Nf7±) 15.Nc7 Kd7 16.Nf7 Kc7 17.Nh8 with the idea f3! white stands slightly better] 14.cd5 Qf5 15.Nf7! [15.Nb5?! Ned5; 15.f4 h6 16.g4 Qg6 17.Nge4 Ne4 18.f5 Nc3! black has the upper hand; 15.d6 Nc6 16.Nb5 Qg5 17.Nc7 Kd7 18.Na8 Bd6 black has the upper hand] Kf7 16.f3! Ned5 [16...ef3 17.Rf3 Qe5 unclear; 17.e4!] 17.fe4 Nc3 18.Bc3 Qe4 19.Qh5 [19.Rf4?! Qc6] Ke6 [19...Kg8 20.Bf6 gf6 21.Rf6 Qe7 22.Qd5 Kg7 23.Qg5; 19...Qg6 20.Qd5+-] 20.Qh3 Kd6 [20...Kf7! 21.Rf5! unclear] 21.b4!! [21.Bf6 gf6 22.Rf6 Kc7 23.Re6 (23.Rf7 Be7 black has the upper hand 24.Rf8) Qd5 24.Rf1 Rd8! 25.Rf7 Rd7±] Kc7 [21...Nd5 22.bc5!? (22.Rf7 Nc3 23.Qd7 Ke5 24.Re1!? Bd6 unclear) Kc6 23.Bd4!? white stands slightly better] 22.Rac1± Rc8 23.Rf5!! Qg4 [23...Kb8 24.Be5 Ka8 25.Rf6+-] 24.Be5 Kd7 only move 25.Qf1 Qe4? time [25...c4!±] 26.Rc4 Qc6 27.Qh3 [27.Bf6 gf6 28.Rf6 Qd5 29.Qh3 Kc7 30.Rf8+-] Qe6 [27...Kd8 28.bc5+-] 28.Bf6 gf6 [28...Qc4 29.Rd5? Kc7! 30.Qd7 Kb8 31.Be5 Bd6! white stands slightly better; 29.Bg7!!+-] 29.Re4!+- Qa2 30.Rc5 1:0 [Tal]
Kasparov - Andersson
Tilburg 1981 - 32/590
E 12
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.a3 Bb7 5.Nc3 Ne4 6.Ne4 Be4 7.Nd2!? [7.e3 - 31/577] Bg6!? [7...Bb7 8.e4 Qf6 9.d5 Bc5 10.Nf3 Qg6 unclear] 8.g3! [8.e4? Nc6!] Nc6?! [8...c6 9.Bg2 d5 10.0-0 Be7 11.e4 0-0 12. b3 white stands slightly better] 9.e3! a6 10.b4! [10.b3 d5 11.Bb2 Be7 12.Rc1 Qd7 white stands slightly better] b5 [10...d5 11.Bb2 Be7 12.Rc1 Qd7 13.Bg2 0-0 14.cd5 ed5 15.Qb3±] 11.cb5 ab5 12.Bb2 [12. Bb5? Nb4 black has the upper hand] Na7 13.h4! h6?! [13...h5!?] 14.d5! [14.e4 d5!=] ed5 15.Bg2 c6 16.0-0± f6 [16...f5 17.Nf3! Qe7 18.Ne5 Qe6 19.a4!±] 17.Re1! [17.e4 de4 18.Be4 Bf7! unclear] Be7 18.Qg4 Kf7 19.h5 Bh7 20.e4 de4 21.Be4 Be4 22.Ne4 Nc8 [22...Rf8 23.Rad1 d5 24.Nf6!+-; 22...Re8 23.Qg6 Kf8 24.g4! with the idea Ng3_f5+-] 23.Rad1 Ra7 24.Nf6!!+- gf6 25.Qg6 Kf8 26.Bc1! d5 27.Rd4! [27.Bh6 Rh6 28.Qh6 Kg8! 29.Rd4 Bf8! unclear] Nd6 28.Rg4 Nf7 29.Bh6! Ke8 30.Bg7 [30...Rg8 31.h6+-] 1:0 [Kasparov]
bluebabygirl
34 ( +1 | -1 )
best game or ?most exciting game Rubinstein vs. Lasker a queen's gambit declined ST.PETERSBURG 1909 A VERY BEAUTIFUL AND MOST DIFFICULT GAME PLAYED MASTERFULLY BY RUBINSTEIN IN EVERY PHASE. RUBINSTEIN DEFEATED THE GREAT LASKER IN THIS GAME. AND IT MUST HAVE BEEN A VERY GREAT SHOCK TO LASKER !!!! GETS MY VOTE . yours bluebabygirl
More: Chess World
ughaibu
37 ( +1 | -1 )
Most exciting game Lasker-Schlechter 10th match game, Lasker had to
win to save the match. Also Lasker-Napier 1904. Of
Rubinstein games his white against Tarrasch and his
black against Thomas, both from Hastings 1922 are
exciting games. Best game is a different question,
the famous Lilienthal-Ragozin game has a lot in it
without being one-sided.
atrifix
11 ( +1 | -1 )
Lasker-Schlechter There is reason to believe that Lasker only had to draw the last game to retain the title.
ughaibu
37 ( +1 | -1 )
Lasker-Schlechter In the 1960s there was considerable correspondence
in Chess about the match conditions. It was stated
by a contemporaneous witness that there was no
doubt that Lasker needed the win. I find it surprising
that there are no contracts or similar that can settle
the question. Nevertheless, from a perusal of the
game it's not so difficult to understand how the
legend could have come about.
atrifix
48 ( +1 | -1 )
By all means, please cite the correspondence. Schlechter played unusually hard to win in the last game, even more so considering that he was often content to draw. There is rumor of a secret contract--the only other "acceptable" explanation is that Schlechter was so much of a sportsman that he wanted to win the last game, but this seems laudable given his previous draws. Schlechter claimed after the game that he saw the easy draw with ...Qh4+, but avoided it.
ughaibu
112 ( +1 | -1 )
Atrifix I'm afraid I cant offer any details about which issues
of Chess featured this correspondence, or even
which year they were from, as I'm in Japan and the
magazines, if still in my possesion, are in the UK. I
remember that the match is dealt with in a book
entitled Classical Chess Matches published by Dover.
I think the reports in that book were taken from
newspaper reports of the time but I dont remember
what was said about the conditions regarding the
score. I have read somewhere that this wasn't
actually a world title match, which is another
unsatisfactory addition to the mystery. Presumably
when Schlechter rejected the draw he did so
because he thought he was going to win so the
choice of queen move doesn't strike me as strange,
however the advance of the b-pawn in the opening
is out of style. I believe that Tchigorin missed a
mate in one in a decisive match game with Steinitz
and have wondered if these cases dont illustrate a
desire to lose. After all the burden of being world
champion maybe too much for some people.
bluebabygirl
38 ( +1 | -1 )
TO ANYONE !! can anyone deny that CARL SCHLECTER came the closest to defeating the great LASKER in a match when LASKER was in his PRIME , meaning not old like when CAPA beat him????? and i state that LASKER in his prime in " MATCH PLAY" was virtually unbeatable !!!!!!!! I AWAIT ANY REPLIES ,,, all replies are much welcome even if they prove me wrong !!! yours bluebabygirl
ughaibu
81 ( +1 | -1 )
St Petersburg 1909 Lasker and Rubinstein came equal first at St
Petersburg 1909, in the case of a tie the winner was
to be decided by a four game match. Lasker refused
to take part in the play-off match with Rubinstein,
it's quite understandable because had he lost it
would have been very difficult for him to have
refused Rubinstein a world championship match while
retaining his credibility. As Lasker can be considered
to an extent to have been a gambler the only
conclusion I can reach is that he thought Rubinstein
would probably win. In this sense it might be
possible to say Rubinstein came as close to winning
a match with Lasker as anyone, after all the rules of
the tournament required such a match. Really
Rubinstein should have been promoted to sole winner
by Lasker's refusal.
bluebabygirl
66 ( +1 | -1 )
to ughaibu yes rubinstein would have won!! i stated that in my other thread ( rubinstein the greatest player to have never won world title ) and yes lasker knew he would, else why would he have avioded match with AKIBA as I stated in the other thread. but now Carl Schlecter did play a match for title and as i stated came closest to beating LASKER in match play while LASKER WAS IN HIS PRIME !!!! of course if SCHLECTER could come that close, then the great Rubinstein would easily have beat LASKER , GOING ON THE GIVEN KNOWLEDGE THAT Schlecter was certainly no match for RUBINSTEIN !! yours bluebabygirl
tonlesu
9 ( +1 | -1 )
ughaibu A four game playoff for the championship---very interesting, cite your sources.
ughaibu
25 ( +1 | -1 )
Tonlesu I think you'll find the mention of a four game match
in the tournament book but without any comment
about why it didn't take place. I just tried a Google
search, here's the first result: http://
web.inter.nl.net/hcc/rekius/stp1914.htm
tonlesu
42 ( +1 | -1 )
ughaibu Just looking at the tournament book. In the preface
there are listed 15 rules and regulations. here is an excerpt of #7. ..."if there is a tie for first place, and the two competitors agreeing, they can decide first prize by a match of four games."
As you can see, this is somewhat different from your interpretation. As to why the match didn't take place there may have been legiimate reasons other than he was afraid of Rubinstein.
ughaibu
baseline
187 ( +1 | -1 )
bluebabygirl "...but in the third round he came up against the stiffest test of all: Akiba Rubinstein, the most dangerous representative of the young generation. Here was an opponent with whom 'psychological warfare' would cut less ice than with anybody else, and there was indeed a great deal of ice to be cut; for one could aptly compare that modest young man to an iceberg: not only on account of his cool and quiet demeanour, but also because, however little of him appeared superficially, there was a great deal more below the surface, (and that applies to the man no less than to his style in chess). Hailing from the humble background of a Polish ghetto and educated in the stern sophistry of a Talmud school, Rubinstein was by tradition, circumstances and character an introvert devoting all his immense powers of reasoning to chess; he lived for chess, studied chess and thought of chess all his waking hours (and, as likely as not, in his dreams). His style was of the utmost lucidity and almost crystal clarity, his knowledge of opening theory stupendous, and his end-game technique unequalled by anybody except, perhaps, Lasker. This was the man Emanuel was up against in the third round, and young Rubinstein, fully conscious of the great occasion, played what was probably the greatest of the many great games he was yet to play. ... but , more significant is the fact that, just as he lost to Rubinstein on this their first encounter, so he had lost to Tarrasch as well as to Marshall in the first games ever played against them, whereas not one of those three great master ever managed to repeat his initial triumh; Lasker never lost another important tournament game to any of them." Dr. J.Hannak for Emanuel Lasker The Life of a Chess master. I might also point out that Lasker got his revenge by beating Rubinstein in a Rook and Pawn endgame in the very same room at St. Petersburg 1914.
bluebabygirl
113 ( +1 | -1 )
re- to baseline thanks very much for that info, both lasker and rubinstein are worshipped by me !!!!! but i identify with akiba most for reasons i can not explain and do not care to reveal .i have that book on LASKER , ok well my dad does , he has over 400 chess books and about a hundred different chess sets . so i been reading books on chess even before i could play . mostly asorbing the info on the players (especially about them personally) later after i started playing better(thanks to dad and my worshipping AKIBA) i started studying more on the actual games , now i have about 4 years study on both. you stated LASKER got his revenge by beating Akiba in a ROOK and PAWN endgame in the very same room at St.Petersburg 1914 . I JUST WENT OVER THAT PARAGRAPH AND I SAW NO REFERENCE TO TO THIS REVENGE GAME IN 1914 can you please give me your source , admittedly i am very busy and may have not looked hard enough , yours with much thanks , bluebabygirl . p.s. evrytime i discuss chess with you guys i learn a lot -- a very very big thanks to all !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
baseline
82 ( +1 | -1 )
bluebabygirl "It was only in the fourth round that Lasker reached his best form by beating the great Rubinstein in a beautiful game and with consummate mastership, thereby takeing his revenge for the defeat he had suffered from the same crafty opponent five years earlier in that same Petersburg Club room." p.170 & 171 "Emanuel Lasker The Life of a Chess Master" by Dr.J.Hannak
Lasker,E - Rubinstein,A [C82]
St Petersburg prel St Petersburg, 1914
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Nxe4 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.c3 Bc5 10.Nbd2 0-0 11.Bc2 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 f6 13.exf6 Rxf6 14.Nd4 Nxd4 15.cxd4 Bb6 16.a4 Rb8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Qc3 Qd6 19.Be3 Bf5 20.Rfc1 Bxc2 21.Rxc2 Re8 22.Rac1 Rfe6 23.h3 Re4 24.Qd2 R8e6 25.Rc6 Qd7 26.Rxe6 Qxe6 27.Qd3 Qe8 28.Qc3 Kf7 29.Qd3 Kg8 30.Qc3 Qe6 31.Ra1 Qe8 32.Kf1 h6 33.Qd3 Kf7 34.Rc1 Kg8 35.Qb3 Qf7 36.Rd1 c6 37.f3 Qf6 38.Qd3 Re7 39.Bf2 Qd6 40.Qc2 Kf7 41.Rc1 Re6 42.Qf5+ Rf6 43.Qe5 Re6 44.Qxd6 Rxd6 45.Ke2 Ke7 46.Kd3 Rg6 47.g3 Rf6 48.f4 Kd7 49.Re1 Rf8 50.Ra1 h5 51.Be3 g6 52.Rf1 Kd6 53.g4 hxg4 54.hxg4 c5 55.dxc5+ Bxc5 56.Bxc5+ Kxc5 57.f5 gxf5 58.gxf5 Rf6 59.Rf4 b4 60.b3 Rf7 61.f6 Kd6 62.Kd4 Ke6 63.Rf2 Kd6 64.Ra2 Rc7 65.Ra6+ Kd7 66.Rb6 1-0
I also suffer the burden of so many chess books and so little time!
allkarlos
64 ( +1 | -1 )
The Best Chess Game Chess diamond. Always controversy"which is the most beautiful"
Nimzowitsch,A - Tarrasch,S [D30]
St Petersburg preliminary St Petersburg, 1914
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.c4 e6 4.e3 Nf6 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.b3 0-0 8.Bb2 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.Rc1 Qe7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Nh4 g6 13.Nhf3 Rad8 14.dxc5 bxc5 15.Bb5 Ne4 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Qc2 Nxd2 18.Nxd2 d4 19.exd4 Bxh2+ 20.Kxh2 Qh4+ 21.Kg1 Bxg2 22.f3 Rfe8 23.Ne4 Qh1+ 24.Kf2 Bxf1 25.d5 f5 26.Qc3 Qg2+ 27.Ke3 Rxe4+ 28.fxe4 f4+ 29.Kxf4 Rf8+ 30.Ke5 Qh2+ 31.Ke6 Re8+ 32.Kd7 Bb5# 0-1
Capablanca,J - Bernstein,O [D51]
St Petersburg preliminary St Petersburg, 1914
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 c6 7.Bd3 dxc4 8.Bxc4 b5 9.Bd3 a6 10.e4 e5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.Bf4 Bc5 13.0-0 Qc7 14.Rc1 f6 15.Bg3 fxe5 16.b4 Ba7 17.Bxb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 Qd8 19.Nd6+ Kf8 20.Rxc6 Nb6 21.Bh4 Qd7 22.Nxc8 Qxc6 23.Qd8+ Qe8 24.Be7+ Kf7 25.Nd6+ Kg6 26.Nh4+ Kh5 27.Nxe8 Rxd8 28.Nxg7+ Kh6 29.Ngf5+ Kh5 30.h3 Nc8 31.hxg4+ Kxg4 32.Bxd8 Rxd8 33.g3 Rd2 34.Kg2 Re2 35.a4 Nb6 36.Ne3+ Kh5 37.a5 Nd7 38.Nhf5 Nf6 39.b5 Bd4 40.Kf3 Ra2 41.a6 Ba7 42.Rc1 Rb2 43.g4+ Kg6 44.Rc7 Rxf2+ 45.Kxf2 Nxg4+ 46.Kf3 1-0
-----------------------------------------------
How is their opinion?
allkarlos
32 ( +1 | -1 )
How is their opinion? Nimzowitsch,A - Tarrasch,S
www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1102384
Capablanca,J - Bernstein,O
www.chessgames.com/perl/chessgame?gid=1260576
lhunter
2064 ( +1 | -1 )
One of my favorites (with annotation!)
The following was obtained from:
www.geocities.com/lifemasteraj/bogo-alek1.html
Enjoy!
Efim D. Bogoljubow (2700) - Alexander A. Alekhine (2735)
[A90]
Hastings, England (Rd. #11), 1922
1. d4 f5; ('!?') The Dutch Defense.
Alekhine had not previously used this [risky] defense very much in 'serious' games.
(Alekhine was trailing Rubinstein by half a point in this tournament, and
needed to score a full point to try to catch up in the standings.)
[ The traditional way to meet the Queen's Pawn is: 1...d5; which is Classical theory.
(Traditionally, [formerly] Pawns are [were] primarily used to control the center.);
The Hyper-modern way to meet the QP, is with the move: 1...Nf6; which keeps
more of Black's options open. (And if he is so-minded, he can transpose back to
a Queen's Gambit Declined.) {With 2.c4 e6; 3.Nc3 d5; etc. }
(The move 3...Bb4; here leads to a Nimzo-Indian Defense. ) ]
2. c4 Nf6; 3. g3, Why the fianchetto now?
Rubinstein was first player to demonstrate that the best defense to the
Dutch Defence for White was a fianchetto of the King-side Bishop.
Alekhine notes that it is best to play g3 before Nc3, as it was discovered
that it is good for Black to play the pinning move, ...Bb4.
[3.Nc3!?]
3...e6; The Classical Dutch.
One of the main ideas for Black in the Dutch, as he captures space on that side of
the board, is to later attack on the King-side. This is seen in many lines of the Dutch.
[ The move 3...g6!?; is known as, "The Leningrad Dutch."
Many modern Masters prefer this line.
(This line is more in the hyper-modern vein.)
This line continues: 4.Bg2 Bg7; 5.Nf3 0-0; 6.0-0 d6; 7.Nc3 Qe8; etc. (7...c6!?;)
8.Re1 h6; 9.b3 Qf7; 10.Qd3 Nc6; 11.Ba3 Ne4; 12.Nb5 e6; 13.Rad1 Re8;
14.d5 Nd8; "=" (Maybe - "+/=") The end of the column. (Col. # 4, page # 483.)
Farago - Mainka; Altensteig, 1994.
"Now 15. dxe6, instead of 15. Nd2, [as played in the game] would leave White
with slightly better chances." - GM N. DeFirmian.
[ See MCO-14; pg.'s 483-484, col's 01-06, (Mainly column # 04 here.),
and notes (a.) through (u.). {Mainly note # (m.) here.} ]. ].
4. Bg2 Bb4+; (Maybe - '!?') Why does Black check here?
The line of 4...Be7+; is much preferred today.
There is nothing fundamentally wrong or unsound with the move, 4...Bb4+!?.
It is just that 4...Be7; is probably more flexible and a little more dynamic.
The exchange of the Bishop MIGHT leave Black with minorly weakened dark-squares.
But the main reason modern theory avoid this line today is that the exchange robs Black
of many of his options and leaves him with a less dynamic and slightly sterile game.
(But its a good line if a lower-rated player is looking for a draw.)
[ A sample line of a modern variation runs: 4...Be7; "The Ilyin-Zhenevsky Variation."
5.Nf3 0-0; 6.0-0 d6; 7.Nc3 Qe8; 8.b3, (Or 8.Re1!?) 8...a5; "~" etc. {Unclear.}
MCO gives the line: 9.Bb2, "+/=" 9...Na6; (Or 9...Qh5!?) 10.a3 Bd7; 11.Ne1,
(Or 11.Qd2!?); 11...c6; 12.Nd3 Bd8; "~" (Maybe - "+/=")
"After 12...Bd8; the chances are roughly even, as Black has the possibility of
advancing in the center." - GM N. DeFirmian.
Farago - Lucaroni; Marostica, 1997.
[See MCO-14; pg.'s 487 - 488, col's 13-18, (Mainly column # 18 here.),
and notes (a.) through (r.). {Mainly note # (r.) here.} ].
***
Another very popular line runs: 4...d5; The so-called "Stonewall Variation."
5.Nf3 c6; 6.0-0 Bd6; 7.b3 Qe7; 8.Bb2 b6!?; 9.Ne5 Bb7; 10.Nd2 0-0; 11.Rc1 a5;
12.e3 Na6; The end of the column of MCO. (MCO-14, pg. # 487, col. # 13.)
13.Qe2 a4!?; 14.bxa4!? Bxe5; 15.dxe5 Nd7; 16.a5!, "+/="
Sturua - Vaisser; Yerevan Olympiad, 1996.
[ See MCO-14; pg.'s 487-488, col's 13-18, (Mainly column # 13 here.),
and notes (a.) through (r.). {Mainly note # (c.) here.} ].
Or 4...c5!?; 5.d5 exd5; 6.cxd5 d6; 7.Nf3 Nbd7; 8.Nc3 Be7; 9.0-0, "+/="
Analysis line. {A.J.G.} ]
5. Bd2 Bxd2+; Black prefers to exchange, than retreat and lose time.
GM A. Soltis writes:
"In the 1920's White began to avoid Nc3 in the Dutch because of the effectiveness
of the pinning move, ...Bb4. (See Game # 27.) Black's fourth move was a counter -
finesse, trying to misplace White's QN after 6. Nxd2."
6. Nxd2!?, Natural looking, but probably incorrect!
White's Knights will have difficulty for the rest of the game.
"This move decentralizes the Knight, and blocks the queen-file." - Irving Chernev.
[ Better is: 6.Qxd2!, - Irving Chernev. (And GM A. Alekhine.) ].
6...Nc6; 7. Ngf3 0-0; 8. 0-0 d6; 9. Qb3 Kh8; Run and hide.
A nice piece of preventative medicine. White occupies the a2-g8 diagonal
with his Q, so Black naturally hides his King in the corner.
10. Qc3!?, This looks rather artificial.
White makes seemingly logical-looking moves, but winds up (eventually) with a very incoherent position.
"Bogolyubov may have thought he was preventing 10...P-K4; (...e5) as he had
three pieces trained on that square." - Irving Chernev.
[ Maybe White should play : 10.Rfc1, (Maybe - '!') when Black would play: 10...e5; "=" ].
10...e5!, A nice center break.
GM A. Soltis writes:
"This equalizes play in the center. White cannot capture three times on e5
because his d2-Knight would hang."
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
[ 10...Ne4!?; ].
11. e3, (I don't know about this.)
This looks - and is - a little clumsy.
[ The line: 11.dxe5! dxe5; 12.Rfd1, (Not 12.Nxe5?? Nxe5; 13.Qxe5 Qxd2; "-/+")
12...Qe8; This looks best. And now 13.e3, produces a totally equal,
but sterile position. "=" ].
11...a5!; Well-played.
"This restrains any counteraction on the Q-side by 12. P-QN4. (b4)" - Irving Chernev.
(Soltis does not give Black's 11th move an exclam.
But I don't dare disagree with Chernev. Not here, anyway.)
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
12. b3, (Maybe - '!?') Hmmm.
Supports c4, but maybe White ought to be thinking
about playing the pawn advance, e3-e4.
[ 12.Rae1!?; Not 12.a3?! a4; and White cannot advance his
pawns on the Q-side without breaking them up. ].
12...Qe8!?; (Maybe - '!') Nice ... and typical at the same time.
(It's normal for Alekhine to play brilliantly ... to find the best move, however well hidden.
Also - Black normally plays aggressively on the K-side in the Dutch.)
Black positions his Queen to hit a4 and also move to the K-side, if necessary.
(Many annotators have given this move an exclam.).
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM Salo Flohr.
'!' - GM Alexander Alekhine.
[ 12...Bd7!?; ].
13. a3 Qh5!; Here he comes!
Soltis writes:
"Black intimidates his opponent with thoughts of 14...e4; and/or 14...Ng4."
"To build up threats on the other wing." - GM R. Fine.
"A very thematic move for this variation of the Dutch." - J. Scott Pfeiffer.
(A good friend of my early playing days, and at one time, THE strongest player
on the U.S. Gulf Coast. And a strong proponent of the Dutch.).
Soltis does not give this move an exclam, but several other annotators, such as
GM R. Fine, do award this move an exclamation point.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
14. h4!?, Hmmm, again.
I am not sure if this weakening of White's Kingside is wise.
(I also think that White was concerned with long-term threats to his KRP.)
"Threatening PxP." - GM R. Fine.
"A good defensive move... " says Alekhine.
[ Best is: 14.dxe5! Nxe5; ( Or 14...dxe5!?; 15.Nh4!?, "="
(Definitely NOT: 15.Nxe5? Nxe5 ; 16.Qxe5 Ng4!; "-/+"
threatening mate on h2 ... and White's Queen on e5.) )
15.Nd4!, "=" This position is equal, White has no real worries.
E.g., 15...Neg4!?; (Maybe - '?!') 16.h3 Ne5; 17.Nb5!, "+/="
Maybe 14.Nh4!?, "~"
Not 14.b4? e4; 15.Ne1 axb4; 16.axb4 Rxa1; 17.Qxa1 Nxb4; "-/+" - GM A. Alekhine. ].
14...Ng4; (Maybe - '!') A sharp response by Black.
No less an authority than GM R. Fine wards this move an exclam. ('!' - Fine.)
Black makes an exploratory foray into White's King-side.
(Having Alekhine beginning to mass pieces around your King would be
enough to make anyone nervous!)
[14...e4!?].
15. Ng5!?, (White is preparing f3.)
GM Ruben Fine provides the following penetrating, and very telling, comment:
"This is a game where it is all too easy to criticize White's play but difficult to
suggest satisfactory alternatives."
"White seeks to dislodge Black's Knight's at once by 16. P-B3."
- GM A. Alekhine.
[ 15.dxe5!? dxe5; 16.Rfd1 e4; "+/=" ].
15...Bd7; (Maybe - '!') Black continues his development.
Many players want to play the move ...e4; here, but Alekhine shows
admirable restraint.
[15...e4!?].
16. f3!?, (Maybe - '?!') White boots the troublesome piece.
White weakens his King-side. This move will have grave consequences.
Many players have said White was obligated to this course of action, but I disagree.
[ Probably best for White was 16. Bxc6. ('!') 16.Bxc6 Bxc6; 17.f3 exd4; '!' - GM A. Alekhine. 18.fxg4!?, (Maybe - '?!') ( A better line seems to be: 18.exd4! Nf6; 19.Ne6 Qg6; "= "
and according to the computer, this position is completely equal. (White can play Kh2,
or g4!?, or even Rf2.) ) 18...dxc3; 19.gxh5 cxd2; "=/+" - line by GM Soltis.
("With the better endgame for Black." - GM A. Alekhine.) ].
16...Nf6; "=/+" 17. f4!?, (Maybe - '?!') White prevents Black from
advancing his f-pawn.
After this move, White's King-side becomes VERY porous.
(Yet many players felt this move was forced!).
"Played to prevent ...f5." - GM R. Fine.
(Chernev made a similar comment to this, in his book, "The Golden Dozen.").
"Already compulsory, in view of the threatened 16...P-B5!" - GM A. Alekhine.
(The computer program, Fritz 6; after over 10 minutes of thought,
also picks the move 17. f4.)
[ I think the best line for White is: 17.dxe5!, (trying to, or) transposing to the note above.
The continuation: 17.d5!? Nd8; 18.Rae1 h6; "=/+" 19.Nh3 Qg6; "--->" leads to a
very strong attack for Black. ].
17...e4; Black slams the door.
White's King Bishop is now shut out ... Black's advantage grows with every move.
18. Rfd1!?, Rooks belong in the center.
(Normally, anyway.)
Soltis writes:
"White's most serious error in this game is failing to change the pawn structure for the benefit of his rooks and minor pieces, which he could do with 18. d5!" - GM A. Soltis.
(Alekhine made a similar comment in his book of his games.)
Not withstanding what GM Soltis has said, Black still has a clear edge.
[ Probably the move, 18.d5!?, (Probably - '!') is the most accurate. ].
18...h6; 19. Nh3, "A Knight on the rim is grim."
Almost imperceptibly, White manages to always choose a 'second-best' continuation.
[ White must make the best of a bad situation and play: 19.d5!, - GM A. Alekhine. ].
19...d5!; Black grabs some center.
Soltis also gives this move an exclam.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
Many players subsequently thought this move (19...d5) was a mistake,
as Black makes his QB a very bad-looking piece indeed.
But the move is the correct one, as it bolsters Black's center and gains space.
20. Nf1 Ne7; Where is he going?
"Preparing 21...P-R5!" - GM A. Alekhine.
21. a4!?, More concessions.
Soltis writes:
"To prevent 21...a4; White had to allow Black's Knight to reach b4."
[21.Nf2!?].
21...Nc6!; (Maybe - '!!') Black re-deploys.
Soltis also gives this move an exclam.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
This move is very nice. Even today, I might be tempted to play ...c6; here.
(The Knight is now headed for b4.).
Soltis writes:
<< Most of the praise for this game has been heaped on Black's combination
at moves 28-31. But that misses Alekhine's achievement in the opening and
early middlegame: despite having made his Queen's Bishop "Bad," he has
reached a strategically won game - with Black in the much maligned Dutch Defense -
against a world-class opponent.
"Very interesting in both a strategic and tactical way,"
Siegbert Tarrasch said of the game. >>
I concur with GM Soltis. Alekhine's method of getting a very advantageous position,
against a player who for the period from 1922 until the end of the decade -
was probably # 2 or # 3 in the world; was an impressive accomplishment.
Additionally, Alekhine was Black, and he has done all this in less than 25 moves!
As another player once commented:
<< Alekhine's combinations are not that hard to find; if I had the positions he gets,
I would find the combinations as easily as he does. The real trick to his games is:
"How does he get the positions he manages to wind up with?" >>
(I believe it was Bogolyubov that said this!)
22. Rd2, Prevention?
I am not at all sure what White is doing here, unless he wanted to
cover the e2-square against an invasion by the Black Queen.
[ 22.Nf2!? ].
22...Nb4!?; (Maybe - '!') Nice.
The most precise.
Several annotators have praised this move.
(And even awarded it an exclam.)
Soltis does not award this move an exclamation point.
I do not think it really deserves an exclam. The Knight just
occupied a somewhat obvious square.
[ 22...Qg6!?; or 22...Ra6; ].
23. Bh1, Poor Bogo.
"Bogolyubov is going through the exertions of a contortionist to
get some counterplay; but it is in vain." - GM R. Fine.
[23.Nf2].
23...Qe8!; (Maybe - '!!') Richochet.
Just when it looks like Black has something cooking, he drops the ball and runs home.
(And starts the war on a new front.)
Soltis also gives this move an exclam.
"Virtuosity in attack." - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - GM V. Smyslov.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
Soltis writes:
"Black transfers the attack to a4 and c4. White now begins contortions
that appear aimed at engineering the advance g3-g4."
24. Rg2, Hmmm.
Preparing g4.
[ 24. c5!? ].
24...dxc4; "/+" (Black is much better.)
Very nice.
Black opens up the game and changes the pawn structure favorably.
He is also preparing an invasion - via the Q-side squares.
[24...c6!?].
For the next few moves, both sides are trying to implement their plans.
White tries to get some play for his pieces by getting ready to advance g4,
while Black methodically continues on the Queen-side.
25. bxc4 Bxa4; 26. Nf2 Bd7; Strategic retreat.
"Alekhine is a pawn ahead. For other Masters, there would still be a note
on 'technical difficulties,' but he is in his element." - GM R. Fine.
27. Nd2 b5!; An explosion.
Black continues his Q-side play. (And blows open a few key lines.)
"Opening lines on the Q-side and trying to clear the d5-square for his N's."
- GM V. Smyslov.
Soltis also awards this move an exclam.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
[ I checked this game against some of the best computer programs in 1998.
... None played ...b5. (!)
Most machines wanted to play: 27...Qh5!?; or 27...Qg6; or 27...b6. ].
28. Nd1, Those poor Knights!
White is struggling mightily in this game. One of his biggest problems is
a lack of quality maneuvering space - and useable squares - for his Knights.
[28.Nf1].
FM Graham Burgess notes that:
... "Alekhine has established a commanding position." ('!')
(To say the least!)
28...Nd3!; Outpost ... and indirectly menacing the White King.
Soltis does NOT give this move an exclam, but (former) World Champion,
Garry Kasparov does.
"Alekhine of course doesn't allow any activity on the part of his opponent. Now
White can restore the material balance, but his forces are doomed to die inside
their own camp." - GM Garry Kasparov.
"This begins a winning combination." - GM A. Soltis.
"Preparing for the ensuing combination." - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM G. Kasparov
[ The primitive: 28...bxc4!?; allows counterplay after ... 29. Nxc4, says Kasparov.
Or Black could try: 28...Qg6!?
The computer wants to play: 28...Qh5!?; 29.Nb3 bxc4; "-/+" ].
29. Rxa5!?, (Maybe - '?!') Is this forced?
(Several annotators have said that 29. Rxa5, is now forced.)
But I am not sure if this move is the best.
[ The computer prefers 29. cxb5[], as forced. ]
As far as I know, no other annotator questioned this move. (!)
[ 29.cxb5!?, (This looks forced.) 29...Bxb5; 30.Rxa5 Nd5!?; .........
" gives Black an overwhelming attack." - GM Soltis. (30...Qh5!? "-/+")
Or 31.Rxa8 Qxa8; 32.Qb3 Ba4; "/+" etc. (Maybe - "-/+") ].
29...b4!; Very nice, sharp and accurately calculated.
Soltis gives this an exclam, as does GM Ruben Fine.
Soltis writes:
"This is based in part on White's inability to safely play 30. Qa1, Rxa5; 31. Qxa5, Qa8!;
since Black's Rook would invade powerfully in the ensuing endgame."
'!' - FM G. Burgess.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
[ Many players I have shown this game to want to pick the move: 29...bxc4?!; here ...
which is VASTLY inferior to the pretty little move that Alekhine picked at this point
in the game.
A great many players may have chosen the move: 29...Rxa5!?; 30.Qxa5 Qa8; "-/+"
and Black is clearly better. ].
30. Rxa8, Not much choice here.
White's course of action is pretty much forced.
(He eats as much material as he can.)
[ Too simple is: 30.Qa1?! Rxa5; 31.Qxa5 Qa8; "/+" (Maybe ... "-/+")
and Black should win without any problem. ].
The average player would NOT find the next move.
30...bxc3!!; A pretty move that even the computers don't find.
GM Soltis did NOT award this move any mark at all.
'!!' - GM Garry Kasparov.
'!!' - GM Ruben Fine.
'!!' - GM Salo Flohr.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
"The Alekhine touch. This and the following moves, he must of course
foresaw some moves back." - GM R. Fine.
"It is not often that one distinguishes the capture of a Queen by awarding it
an exclamation mark, but in this case Black sacrifices his Queen and both
Rooks in Return." - Irving Chernev.
This move, (30...bxc3;) is so brilliant that many of the best computer programs,
even in the year 2001, do NOT immediately find this move.
(Fritz 6, after nearly ten minutes of computing time, does not give this
move in its top 2 choices.)
[ "Jetzt hätte 30...Qxa8; - GM G. Kasparov. 31.Qb3, (Or 31.Qc2 Ne1; "-/+")
31...Qa1; 32.Qb1 Ra8; "-/+" would have forced White's resignation in a few moves. But Alekhine was not satisfied with this prosaic demolition - he was after something immortal!"
- GM Garry Kasparov. ].
31. Rxe8 c2!!; (Maybe - '!!!') Super Brilliant. Ultra - Brilliant.
(A move that nearly transcends the written words' ability to describe them!)
'!!!' - GM Ruben Fine. (A TRIPLE exclam was awarded here by Fine.)
'!!' - GM A. Soltis.
'!!' - GM Vassily Smyslov.
'!!' - GM Salo Flohr.
'!!' - GM Irving Chernev.
'!!' - GM A. Alekhine.
(To the best of my knowledge, nearly 2 dozen other
annotators have given this move a double exclam.).
"The point of Alekhine's wondrous combination. The pawn cannot be prevented from queening, and a new phase begins." - The (late) [great] Irving Chernev.
GM A. Soltis writes:
<< "The triumph of the soul over material, " Vassily Smyslov said of this game.
This move is the final sparkle to the combination that Alekhine calculated with 28...Nd3.
He will temporarily be TWO (!) rooks down but the c-pawn must promote. >>
"The point. Black must queen." - GM R. Fine.
[ 31...Rxe8?; 32.Nxc3, "=" ].
32. Rxf8+ Kh7; 33. Nf2 c1Q+; 34. Nf1 Ne1!; Cute.
Soltis also awards this move an exclam.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
"Threatens a picturesque smothered mate." - Irving Chernev.
"White's Rooks are helpless." - GM A. Soltis.
"Theoretically the material is still even: White has two Rooks and a pawn for
the Queen, but Black's attack is decisive." - GM R. Fine.
35. Rh2 Qxc4; 36. Rb8, (Forced.) Deeee - fence.
Soltis writes:
"White must find a way to give up the exchange before Black crushes
through with 36...Bb5; and 37...Qxf1+."
[ Not 36.Rd8?? Bb5; 37.Bg2 Nxg2; "-/+" and resignation is in order. ]
36...Bb5; 37. Rxb5, Forced.
"Alekhine has played this game with great foresight." - GM R. Fine.
[ If 37.Nd2 Qc1; 38.Rxb5 Nf3+; 39.Kg2 Qg1+; 40.Kh3 Qxh2# - line by GM R. Fine. ].
37...Qxb5; 38. g4; Poor White.
"Desperation." - GM R. Fine.
[ 38.Nd2 Nd5; 39.Nd1 Qd3; "-/+" ].
38...Nf3+!; Nice.
This leaves a Black Pawn on f3 that could become a target, but Alekhine is unafraid.
(Plus Alekhine will have to sacrifice more pawns.)
Soltis does not award this move an exclam, but Chernev does.
"Another surprise move, and there is more where that came from." - Irving Chernev.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
39. Bxf3 exf3; 40. gxf5 Qe2!; (Maybe - '!!') Cool.
Soltis gives no comment here, but also awards this move an exclam.
The idea behind 40...Qe2; is to restrain all of White's pieces and keep them bottled up.
"Ties White up completely." - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Soltis
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!!' - Irving Chernev.
'!!' - GM A. Alekhine.
[ Fritz 5.32 wanted to play the move: 40...c5; "=/+" with a small, but fairly
secure advantage to Black. Or 40...h5!?, "/+" ].
41. d5, Give-away?
Soltis writes:
"Or 41. Nh3, Ne4!; and wins. Note how Black does not try to use his Queen to
break into White's position but instead runs his opponent out of pawn moves."
[ 41.h5, Now Junior 6.0: 41...c6; Black is winning. Now 42.e4 Nxe4; "-/+" - 2.47/16 ].
41...Kg8!; (Zugzwang.)
Soltis provides no comment here, but does award this move an exclam.
"Care is needed when you have a won game." - Irving Chernev.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
[ Not 41...h5!?; when White nearly escapes with:
42.Nh3 Ng4; 43.Ng5+ Kg8; 44.Rxe2 fxe2; 45.Nf3!, "~" - Irving Chernev. ]
42. h5 Kh7; 43. e4, Too late!
Soltis writes:
"If the Rook goes to h3 or h4, then 43...Ne4; 44. Rh2, Nd2; decides."
[43.d6].
43...Nxe4; 44. Nxe4 Qxe4; 45. d6 cxd6; 46. f6, He's flailing.
"Unable to save his pawns, White sells their lives dearly, by breaking
up his opponent's pawns." - Irving Chernev.
[46.Rf2!?].
46...gxf6; 47. Rd2, Trying to activate the Rook.
The experienced player knows that such simplified positions present a great danger,
in that with inaccurate play - White may draw.
[ 47.Kf2 Qxf4; "-/+" ].
Many/most players would probably [now] capture on f4 in this position.
47...Qe2!; (Maybe - '!!') The great Alekhine amazes the audience.
Soltis also awards this move an exclam.
Soltis writes:
"Black, who sacrificed a second Queen, does it again to create a third."
"Exact to the end!" - GM R. Fine.
"A pretty finish, worthy of this fine game." - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM R. Fine.
'!' - Irving Chernev.
'!' - GM A. Alekhine.
'!' - GM A. Soltis.
[47...Qxf4!?].
48. Rxe2, White is in complete Zugzwang.
Although he does not want to, he is bullied into taking the Black Queen.
[48.Rxd6?? Qg2#].
48...fxe2; 49. Kf2 exf1Q+; 50. Kxf1 Kg7;
51. Ke2 Kf7; 52. Ke3, Sad. (Hope burns eternal?)
White is completely lost.
[ 52.f5 Ke7; 53.Ke3 d5; 54.Kd3 Kd6; 55.Kd4 Kc6; "-/+" - Chernev. ]
52...Ke6; 53. Ke4 d5+; White Resigns. 0 - 1. (53 actual moves.)
(Black has a fairly simple K+P endgame win.)
[ "Bogolyubov does not care to see the continuation:
53...d5+; 54.Kd4 Kf5; 55.Kxd5 Kxf4; 56.Kd4 f5; 57.Kd3 Kg3; and Alekhine
will soon have a fourth Queen on the board." (The witty) - Irving Chernev. ]