Prologue

ΕΧΊRΕΜΕ CHESS

C.}.S. PurdyAnnotates
the World Championships
AJekhine-Euvνei,1935
AJekhine-Euvνe Π, 1937
Fischer-Spassky Ι, 1972

Edited by

RalphJ. Tykodi

Thinkers' Press, Inc.

Davenport, Iovνa
1999

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 Extreme Chess

Copyright © 1999 by Thinkers' Press, Inc.

ΑΙ! rights reserved. Νο part of this work may be reproduced nor transmitted in any form nor by any
means, electronic nor mechanical, including photocopying and recording, nor by any information
storage nor retrieval system, except as may be expressly permitted by the 1976 Copyright Act or in
writing from the publisher. Included in these reserved ήghts are publishing on the lntemet or in
annotated databases.

Extreme Chess
First pήnting: April 1999

ISBN: 0- 938650-81·5

Requests for permissions and republication ήghts should be addressed in writing to:

Bob Long, Editor-in-Chief

Thinkers' Press, Inc.
Ρ.Ο. Βοχ8
Davenport, ΙΑ 52805-0008 USA
phone: 319-884-4027
e-mail: blong@chessco.com

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 Prologue

Aclαιowledgements

The publίsher and the editor are indebted to the following persons and organizations:

• Το the Cleveland Publίc Lίbrary for supplyίng the editor with photocopies of the pages of
the book by C.J.S. Purdy How Euwe Won (Australasian Chess Revίew, Sydney, 1936) and for
resolvίng an ambiguity in a citation of the game score for Flohr-Reshevsky, Semmeήng­
Baden 1 937. Those servίces were performed courtesy of the John G. White Chess Collection,
Special Collections, Cleveland Publίc Library.
• Το The Guardicιn for permission to reproduce the articles by Alekhine and Euwe that
appeared in The Mcιnchester Guardicιn after the World Champίonship match of 1937.
• Το Oxford University Press for permission to repήnt the bίographies of Alekhine, Euwe,
Fischer, and Spassky. Those biographies are © Davίd Hooper and Kenneth Whyld 1992.
Repήnted from The Oxford Companion to Chess Davίd Hooper and Kenneth Whyld (2 nd
ed. 1992 ) by permίssion of Oxford University Press.
• Το Mrs. Anne Purdy, owner of the copyήght, for permission to reproduce the mateήal
presented here from the books by C.J.S. Purdy How Euwe Won (Australasian Chess Revίew,
Sydney, 1936) and The Return ofAlekhine (Australasian Chess Revίew, Sydney, 1 938 }.
• Το E.J. Dwyer (Australia) Pty. Ltd. for permission to reproduce the mateήal presented
here from the book by C.J.S. Purdy How Fischer Won [E.J. Dwyer (Holdings), 1972].
• Το H.W.M. Lunney for preparing the biographical sketch of C.J.S. Purdy that appears at
the end of this work.
• Το Frank Ρ. Hutchings for supplyίng a copy of the Post-Mortem 1976 supplement to How
Fischer Won. And for the photo of Anne Purdy.

Other Sources

• The World-Championship Match Between Dr. Machgielίs Euwe (Champion) and Dr.
Alexander Alekhine (Ex-champίon and Challenger) October-December, 1937 by Baruch Η.
Wood, Chess, Sutton Coldfield, England 1 9 38 . Photos by De Telegrcιaf, Amsterdam.
• The paίnting ση page 21 is "The Company of Captaίn Jacob Pietersz Hooghkamer and
Lieutenant Pieter Jacobsz van Rίjn." Similar to Rembrandt's "Nachtwacht" (whίch caused a
roar since Rembrandt devίated from the accepted norm), there were hundreds of dίfferent
ones done for cities ίη Holland. The paίnter of thίs was Jacob Lyon, and it was done ίη 1 620
(2.54 m χ 4 .775 m). This valuable information was provίded by revίewer (Nederlcιnds Dcιgblcιd)
Dr. Bab Wilders of Amersfoort. In 1935 it was in the Rίjksmuseum in Amsterdam.
• Bob Long' s personal collection of photos from Fischer-Larsen, 1 971 Denver. Also, photo·
graphs of Spassky and Tal contήbuted by the Sovίet Press Bureau 1 972, Reykjavik, Iceland.

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Extreme Chess

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 Prologue

CONTENTS
ΤΗΕ CHESS WORLD CHAMPIONSHIPS

Foreword ..
....... ............... ............. .. .
........................... ................... ... . 9
History of the Championship . . ..... .. . .
...... .................... ............ . . . ... . .. 1 Ο .

FOUR WORLD CHBSS CHAMPIONS

Alekhine ............................................................................................................ 12
Euwe .
........................................... ............................... .. ............................... 15
Fischer ............................................................................................................ 16
Spassky . .
........ ................................ .................................................................. 19

ALBΚHINE-BUWE Ι, 1935
Preface ...
..... ... .
. . . . . . ............... . ... .. . . .... . 21
. . . ................. . . ... ............. . . . . ... .

Story Of The Match .. ..

....... .... . ... .
.................... ... ... . . 22 . . . .................. ... . .

Table Of Results . . . . . . 24
........... ........................... ....... .................. ..... ... . .

Alekhine' s Statement ... ..

............. ... .. .
...... .................. 25 . .................... ..

How The Match Finished . .. .

............. ......... ... .. 26
. . ............ ........ ... .........

Euwe On His Win . ..

........ ...... . . . . . . . 27
.............. .......... .... ......... .... .... .... . . .

More Remarks By Euwe .. .

................... . .. . .
29
....... . ........ ..... . . . .................

Echoes .. ..
.................. .... . . .. 29
.................... .......... .............. . ..................

What Spielmann Said .. . .. ..

. ........................ . ... . 29
......... ..................... ... .

Openings' Table ....

...... . ...
.......... .............. . . 30
..................... ........ .... ......

What Lasker Said ............................................................................. 31

What Lasker Said Later ..................................................................... 31
The Openings .. .... . ..
.......... ................. .. . 31
...................... ... ..................

First Phase (Ga.mes 1-9): Shock Tactics Ί'riumph

Game 1 QGD Slav Defense ................................................................................ 32
Game 2 Κing's Indian Defense .
.................................................. ........................ 34
Game 3 French Defense Winawer Variation .
.................... .................................. 36
Game 4 Κing's Indian Defense ................ ........................................................... 37
Game 5 French Defense Winawer Variation .................................................... .. . 39
Game 6 QGD Slav Defense . ....... ............................................................. .......... . 40
Game 7 French Defense Winawer Variation ....................................................... 42
Game 8 QGD Slav Defense .
.................................................. ............................. 43
Game 9 French Defense Winawer Variation .
.......... ..................................... ...... . 46
Second Phase (Ga.mes 10-15): Shock Tactics Collapse
Game 10 QGD Slav Defense ................................................................................ 47
Game 11 QGD Slav Defense .................................................... ..
.......................... 49

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 Extreme Chess

Game 12 Κίng's Indian Defense ........................................................................... 49

Game 13 Ruy Lopez ............................................................................................ 50
Game 14 Κing's Indian Defense ........................................................................... 52
Game 15 QGD Slav Defense ................................................................................ 54
Third Phase (Games 16-19): Alekhine Regaίns τwο Points
Game 16 QGD SlavDefense ................................................................................ 57
Game 17 Colle System ......................................................................................... 60
Game 18 Englίsh Openίng ................................................................................... 60
Game 19 QGD SlavDefense ................................................................................ 61
Fourth Phase (Games 20-26): Alekhine Caught and Passed
Game 20 QGD SlavDefense ................................................................................ 63
Game 21 QGD SlavDefense ................................................................................ 64
Game 22 Nίmzo- Indίan Defense .......................................................................... 66
Game 23 QGD SlavDefense ................................................................................ 67
Game 24 Dutch Defense ...................................................................................... 69
Game 25 QGD SlavDefense ................................................................................ 71
Game 26 Dutch Defense ...................................................................................... 74
Fifth Phase (Games 27-30): Alekhine's Great Final Effort
Game 27 Vίenna Game ........................................................................................ 75
Game 28 QGD Orthodox Defense ........................................................................ 77
Game 29 Alekhίne's Defense ............................................................................... 79
Game 30 Queen' s Gambίt Accepted ...................................................................... 80

ALBΚHINE-BUWEII, 1937
Preface ............................................................................................ 83
Story Of The Match .......................................................................... 84
T h e Players ...................................................................................... 84
When And Where ............................................................................ 84
T h e Seconds ..................................................................................... 84
T h e Management ............................................................................. 84
T h e Press ......................................................................................... 84
Condίtίons ...................................................................................... 85
The Tίme Lίmίt ................................................................................ 85
" The Mίlk Of Human Κίndness" ...................................................... 85
The Players Sum Up ......................................................................... 85
Alekhίne ......................................................................................... 85
Euwe ............................................................................................... 88
Phases ............................................................................................. 88
The Openίngs .................................................................................. 89
The Match Summarίzed ................................................................... 90
Ideals Of Annotatίon ........................................................................ 92
Openίngs' Table ............................................................................... 94
Index Το Openίngs .......................................................................... 95

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 Prologue

Phase Ι (Games 1-5): Euwe Leads

Game Ι Slav Defense Κrause Attack ................................................................... 95
Game 2 Slav Defense Κrause Attack ................................................................... 99
Game 3 Semi-Slav Defense .............................................................................. 103
Game 4 Slav Defense Κrause Attack ................................................................. 107
Game 5 QG Accepted ....................................................................................... 109
Phase 11 (Games 6-10): Alekhine's Shatteήng Run
Game6 QGD Slav Defense .............................................................................. 111
Game7 Slav Defense Normal Variatίon ............................................................ 112
Game 8 Nίmzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ 114
Game 9 Slav Defense ....................................................................................... 116
GamelO Nimzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ ll8
Phase 111 (Games 11-14): Alekhine Reaches His Sixth Win
Game 11 Slav Defense Κrause Attack ................................................................. 120
Game 12 Nίmzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ 121
Game 13 Slav Defense Normal Variatίon ............................................................ 123
Game 14 QG Accepted (ίη effect) ....................................................................... 127
Phase lV (Games 15-20): Fighting Chess
Game 15 Slav Defense Normal Variatίon ............................................................ 130
Game 16 QG Accepted (ίη effect) ....................................................................... 132
Game 17 Slav Defense Normal Variatίon ............................................................ 135
Game 18 Orthodox Defense .............................................................................. 137
Game 19 Nίmzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ 139
Game 20 Nίmzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ 142
Phase V (Games21-25): Debacle!
Game 21 Queen's Indian Defense ...................................................................... 143
Game 22 Retί Opening ...................................................................................... 145
Game 23 Queen's Indian Defense ...................................................................... 147
Game24 OrthodoxDefense .............................................................................. 149
Game 25 Nίmzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ 150
Phase VI (Games 26-30): Just Chess!
Game 26 Slav Defense ....................................................................................... 152
Game 27 Nimzo-Indian Defense ........................................................................ 153
Game 28 Slav Defense ....................................................................................... 154
Game 29 Orthodox Defense .............................................................................. 156
Game 30 Orthodox Defense .............................................................................. 157
The Openίngs ................................................................................ 159

FISCHER-SPASSΚYI, 1972
Preface 171
..........................................................................................

World Champίons Through 1000 Years ........................................... 172

The FIDE Era ................................................................................. 178
The Pre-Match Cold War ................................................................ 180
Game 1: The Suίcide Bίshop, Nimzo-Indian Defense ......................................... 182
Game 2: Bloodless Vίctory, ............................................................................... 187

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 Extreme Chess

Game3: Valiant!, Benonί Defense ..................................................................... 188

Game 4: The Mίssed τίde, Sίcilίan Defense ...................................................... 191
Game 5: Genίus Rampant, Nίmzo-Indίan Defense ............................................ 194
Game 6: Der Brave Damenbauer!, QGD Orthodox Defense ............................... 197
Game 7: "Poίsoned Pawn;' Sίcilίan Defense ..................................................... 200
Game 8: Vίctim of the Gods, Englίsh Openίng ................................................... 202
Game 9: Zwίschenzug, Queen's Pawn Tarrasch Defense Defeπed ....................... 204
Game 10: The Wrong Rook, Ruy Lopez Chίgorin Defense .................................. 206
Game11: Really Poίsoned Thίs Tίrne, Sίcilίan Defense Najdorf Varίant ................ 209
Game 12: Healing Balm, Queen's Gambίt Declίned ............................................. 211
Game 13: Spassky's Star Wanes, Alekhίne's Defense ............................................. 213
Game 14: The Trapper Trapped, Queen's Gambίt Declίned .................................. 216
Game15: Attack Is The Best Defense, Sίcίlίan Defense ......................................... 219
Game16: When Greek Meets Greek, Ruy Lopez Exchange Vaήant ....................... 221
Game 17: The Over-Rated Exchange, Pίrc Defense ............................................... 224
Game 18: The τίtans, Sίcilίan Defense ................................................................ 227
Game 19: Dίsplay of Pyrotechnίcs, Alekhίne's Defense ......................................... 230
Game 20: Sudden Rush of Caution to the Head, Sίcίlίan Defense .......................... 232
Game 21: Α Fascinating Fίnale, Sίcilίan Defense .................................................. 234
Summary ........................................................................... ............ 236
Openίng Theory and the Reykjavik Match . .
........... .. ....................... 23 7

FISCHER-SPASSΚYII, 1992 ................................................................................ 241

ΊΗΕΑΝΝΟΤΑΤΟR: C.J.S. PURDY (1906-1979) .................................................... 242

ΊΗΕ PURDYLIBRARYOF CHESS ....................................................................... 250

COLOPHON ................................................................................................... 251

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 Prσlσgue

FOREWORD
This wσrk is an all-iη-σηe-vσlume edited reissue (ίηνσlνίηg additiσns, deletiσηs, and rear·
rangemeηts) σf three bσσks by C.J.S. Purdy: Ησw Euwe Won (Australasian Chess Review, Sydney,
1936), The Return ofAlekhine (Australasian Chess Review, Sydney, 1938), and How Fischer Won
(E.J. Dwyer [Hσldiηgs], 1972).
The three World Champiσnship Chess Matches-Alekhine-Euwe Ι, 1935; Alekhiηe-Euwe
Π, 1937; Fischer-Spassky Ι, 1972 -detailed here were rnilestoηes ίη the histσry σf chess. The
participants were each, at σηe time σr anσther, World Chess Champiσns; and Alekhiηe and
Fischer are ηear the tσp σf almσst all prσpσsed lίsts σf the teη greatest chess players of all time.
The matches were great sportiηg eveηts, with firewσrks bσth ση and off the bσard. The
games were fierce head-tσ-head struggles, and the quality σf the play sometimes reached
awesσme levels.
Purdy is the ideal guide to it all. He commeηts ση the play, ση the players, ση the cήtics,
and ση the chess wσrld reactiση tσ each match. Purdy's anησtatiσηs are simultaneσusly eηter­
taiηiηg, iηfσrmative, and iηstructiσηal.
Purdy was lσηg σf the οpίηίση that an excelleηt way tσ imprσve σηe's σwn playing streηgth
is tσ play σver master games. Take the side σf the wiηηer, σr either side if the game was a draw,
and cσver the moves with a card. Wheη it is yσur player's turn tσ mσve, select a mσve based
upoη the pσsίtίοη ση the bσard; theη uncσver the actual game mσve. Cσmpare the advantages
and disadvantages σf yσur mσve versus the game mσve, and absσrb Purdy's commeηts where
they appear. Proceed ίη this way thrσugh the eηtire game.
Cecil Jσhη Seddση (C.J.S.) Purdy (1906-1979) was fσur times Champioη σf Australia, an
Intematiσηal Master, and the first Wσrld Cσπespσηdeηce Chess Champiση. He published
and edited what was arguably the premier chess jσurηal σf ίts day: Austrcιlasian Chess Review
(1929-1944), Check (1944-1945), Chess World (1946-1967)-a cσηtiηώηgjσurηal with an σcca·
sίσηal ηame change. Purdy's game annσtatiσηs and his writiηgs ση all aspects σf chess have
beeη widely praised. Fσr sσme σther bσσks devσted tσ Purdy's chess wήtiηgs, see the items
listed ίη The Purdy Library σf Chess at the eηd σf this wσrk.

Ν.Β. Withiη the text σf each bσσk, ίtalίcίzed mateήal ίη square brackets is editσήal cσm·
meηtary.

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 Extreme Chess

Purdy presented a history of the world chess championships in each of his books How EuweWon {1936),
The Return oJAleklιine (1938), andHow FischerWon (1972). The history ίn the Fischer-Spassky book is the
most complete and the most entertainίng; it is the only one reprίnted in this work. Sίnce the Fischer­
Spassky match is many pages away, here is a skeletal outline of the world chess championships.

History of the Championship

List ofCkιιmpions List ofMatches

(The title was not actually used until the late 1860s, Year Contestants Wins-Losses Draws
but may be confeπed retrospectively.)
1834-5 Labourdonnais-McDonnell
1747-1795 Philidor, France 44-27 14
1815-1820 Deschapelles, France 1843 Staunton-St. Amant 11-6 4
1820-1840 Labourdonnais, France 1858 Morphy-Anderssen 7-2 2
1843-1851 Staunton, England (Morphy also beat Harrwitz)
1851-1858 Anderssen, Germany 1866 Steinitz-Anderssen 8-6 ο
1858-1859 Morphy, USA 1876 Steintiz-Blackburne 7-0 ο
1862-1866 Anderssen, Germany 1886 Steinitz-Zukertort 10-5 5
1866-1894 Steίnitz, Austria 1889 Steinitz-Chigorίn 10-6 1
1894-1921 Lasker, Germany 1891 Steinitz-Gunsberg 6-4 9
1921-1927 Capablanca, Cuba 1892 Steίnitz-Chigorin 10-8 5
1927-1935 Alekhίne, France 1894 Lasker-Steinitz 10-5 4
1935-1937 Euwe, Holland 1896 Lasker-Steίnitz 10-2 5
1937-1946 Alekhine, France 1907 Lasker-Marshall 8-0 8
1908 Lasker-Tarrasch 8-3 5
After Alekhine's death ίη 1946, FIDE aπanged 1910 Lasker-Janowskί 7-1 2
a World Champίonship Tournament ίη 1948, 1910 Lasker-Schlechter 1-1 8
among Botvinnίk, Euwe, Keres, Reshevsky, and 1921 Capablanca-Lasker 4-0 10
Smyslov. The tournament was won by Botvinnik. 1927 Alekhίne-Capablanca 6-3 25
1929 Alekhίne-Bogoljuboff 11-5 9
1948-1957 Botvinnik, USSR 1934 Alekhίne-Bogoljuboff 8-3 15
1957-1958 Smyslov, USSR 1935 Euwe-Alekhine 9-8 13
1958-1960 Botvinnίk, USSR 1937 Alekhine-Euwe 11-6 13
1960-1961 Tal, USSR 1948 World Championship Tournament:
1961-1963 Botvinnik, USSR Botvinnik 10-2 8
1963-1969 Petrosian, USSR 1951 Botvinnik-Bronstein 5-5 14
1969-1972 Spassky, USSR 1954 Botvinnik-Smyslov 7-7 10
1972-1975 Fischer, USA 1957 Smyslov-Botvinnίk 6-3 13
1958 Botvinnίk-Smyslov 7-5 11
Fischer did not defend his title and FIDE awarded 1960 Tal-Botvίnnik 6-2 13
the title to the challenger, Κarpov. 1961 Botvinnik-Tal 10-5 6
1963 Petrosian-Botvinnik 5-2 15
1975-1985 Κarpov, USSR 1966 Petrosίan-Spassky 4-3 17
1985- Κasparov, USSR 1969 Spassky-Petrosian 6-4 13

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 Prologue

1972 Fίscher-Spassky 7-3 11 ln 1993 Κasparov and Short withdrew from

1975 Κarpov-Fίscher (forfeίt) FIDE and made theίr own match arrangements.
1978 Κarpov-Korchnoί 6-5 21 FIDE thereupon organίzed a "FIDE Champίon·
1981 Κarpov-Korchnoί 6-2 10 shίp" match between the "runner·ups" to Short,
1984 Κarpov-Κasparov 5-3 40 namely Κarpov and Tίmman.
(match aborted)
1985 Κasparov-Κarpov 5-3 15 Κasparov and Short founded the Professίonal
1986 Κasparov-Κarpov 5-4 14 Chess Assocίatίon (PCA), an organίzatίon of mas·
1987 Κasparov-Κarpov 4-4 16 ters and grandmasters, as a ήval organίzatίon to
1990 Κasparov-Κarpov 4-3 17 FIDE. In 1995 both PCA and FIDE sponsored
1993 Κasparov-Short (PCA) 6-2 13 elίrnίnatίon ladders leadίng up to separate World
1993 Κarpov-Tίmman 6-2 13 Champίonshίp play·offs: (PCA) Kasparov vs.
1995 Κasparov·Anand (PCA) 4·1 13 Anand, (FIDE) Κarpov vs. Κamsky. The two orga·
1996 Κarpov·Κamsky 6·3 9 nίzatίons stated that they would co·sponsor, at
1998 Κarpov·Anand 4·2 8 some tίme ίη the future, an "undίsputed World
Champίonshίp" match between the PCA cham·
pίon and the FIDE champίon.

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FOUR WORLD CHΈSS CHAMPIONS
Alekhine, Alexander Alexandrovich (1892-
1946) the only man to die whίle holding the wσrld
I tary servίce1 he was σfficίally released ση 14 Sep·
champίσnshίp. Νσt everyσne lίked hίs persσnal
character but all admίred hίs chess genίus. Ηίs fa·
therwas a landσwner1 a Marshal σf Nσbίlίty1 anda
member σf the Duma1 hίs mσther1 heίress σf an
ίndustrίal fσrtune. Both he and hίs brσther Alexeί
(1888-1939) were taught chess by theίr mσther.
Alexander became addicted tσ the game when
abσut 111 playίngίn hίs head durίng lessσns and by
the lίght of a candle when ίn bed. Whίle nσrnί·
nally studyίng law he develσped hίs chess talent.
He gaίned a master tίtle at St. Petersburg 19091
then played at Hamburg 19101 Carlsbad 19111
Vίenna 19121 and several lesser tσumameηts be·
fσre hίs first bίg test came ίη 1914: ίt was the hίs·
tσήc St. Petersburg tσumameηt1 wση by Lasker
half a pσίnt ahead σf Capablanca1 whίle Alekhίηe
lσst twσ games tσ each σf these masters and came a
pσσr thίrd (+6=8-4).
Arσund thίs tίme he gave seήσus thσught tσ
the wσrld champίσnshίp1 whίch he expected tσ
wίn1 and the prσblem σf hσw tσ beat Capablanca
dσrnίηated hίs thσughts fσr the ηext 13 years. Ηίs
first task1 tσ wίη strσng tσumameηtsl was checked
by the σutbreak σf war; whίle he was playίηg ίn
the Mannheίm tσumameηt σf 19141 and leadίng,
war began1 and he and a ηumber σf σther fσreίgn·
ers were ίηtemed. Accσunts σf hίs ηext few years
mίχ fact and fancy. He ίs saίd tσ have made a
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dramatίc escape frσm ίηtemmeηt1 feίgnίng mad·
ηessl usίng a false passpσrt1 and sσ ση. Certίfied by
a German medical comrnίssίση as unfit fσr rnίli·
tember. Retumίng tσ Russίa ίη Octσber 19141 vίa
Swίtzerland1 Italyl Έηglandl Swedeηl andFίnlandl
he completed hίs legal traίnίηg and theη served
fσr a tίme ίη the Unίση σf Cίtίes (a vσluntary ser·
vίce) ση the Austrίan frσηt.
After the revσlutίση he used hίs legal traίnίηg
tσ wσrk as a magίstrate. He played ίη a few tσuma·
meηts and ίη 1920 wση what was later called the
first Sσvίet champίσnshίp1 but he knew that he
ηeeded tσ play abrσad. Α ησtσήσus trίmmerίf any·
thίηg stσσd ίη the way σf hίs twσ lσves1 Alekhίηe
and chess1 he jσίηed the Cσmmunίst Party ίη 1921
and became an σfficίal ίηterpreter (he spσke sev·
eral languages); undeteπed by hίs marήage σf the
prevίσus year tσ a Russίan barσηess (whίch legίtί·
mίzed theίr seveη-year-σld daughter)1 he marήed
a SwίssCσmίntem delegatel Anηelίese Riieggl and
σbtaίned permίssίση tσ leave Russίa. They sσση
parted (she died ίn 1934) and Alekhίne settled ίη
Paήs tσ becomel ίn tίmel a ηaturalίzedFreηch cίtί·
zeη. Ιη 1928 he publίcly attacked the Sσvίet re·
gίme; realίzίηg1 hσwever1 the grσwίηg streηgth σf
Russίan chess (and1 perhaps1 the geηerσsίty σf Sσ·
vίet patrσηage)1 he later trίedtσ ίngratίate hirnself
wίth the Sσvίet authσήtίes1 reησuncίng the label
"White;" but the breach was ησt repaίred. He
ηever retumed tσ hίs hσmeland1 and he was reha·
bίlίtated σηly ίn the 1950s.
1
Alekhίηe s first σbjectίve ίη hίs quest fσr a
1
rnatch wίth Capablanca was tσ destrσy Rubίnstein s
claίrns. Wheη that was achievedl by 19251 a ηew
threat appeared ίη the shape σf Nίmzσvίchl and
he1 tσσl was clσsely studied. Frσm 1921 tσ 1927
Alekhίne wση σr shared first place ίη 8 σf the 15
strσηgest tσumameηts ίn whίch he cσmpeted. Ηίs
best vίctσry was at Badeη-Badeη 1925 (+12=8)�
ahead σf Rubίηsteίη and Bσgσljubσff. The twσ
strσηgest eveηts σf thίs peήσd were at New Yσrk:
ίn 1924 Alekhίne tσσk thίrd pήze (+6=12-2)1 after
Lasker and Capablanca; ίη 1927 he was secoηd
(+5=13-2)1 afterCapablanca. He fσund tίme tσ take
 Prologue
a thίrd wife, Nadezda Vasίlίeva, the wίdow of a
hίgh-rankίng Rus5ίan officer, and to commence
law 5tudίe5 at the Sorbonne. Ηί5 the5ί5 was on the
penal 5y5tem of Chίna, but he completed only the
fίrst two of four 5tage5 requίred. Although, lίke
Zukertort,he dίd not become a doctor,he was able
to pas5 hίmself unchallenged as 5uch.
Be5ίde5 playίng and 5tudyίng che55 ("eίght
hour5 a day on prίnάple") he prepared for hί5 chal­
lenge ίη other way5. He wrote My Eest Games σf
Chess 1908-1923 (1927), probably hi5 be5t book,and
The Εσσk σfthe New Yσrk Internatiσnal Chess Tσιmιa­
ment1924 (1925); the detailedannotatίon5 he made
were an excellent form of traίnίng. He also toured
the che55 world makίng hίmself popular wίth ίts
devotee5,e5peάally ίη South Ameήca,ίη the hope
of obtaίnίng finanάal backίng, the lack of whίch
had barred the wayfor many challenger5. He 5tud·
ίed the game5 of Capablanca, wίth whom he was
careful to maίntaίn cordίal relatίons. When Νίm·
zovίch'5 challenge expίred ίη January 1927, Capa·
blanca agreed to play Alekhίne for the world
champίonshίp, and the match began at Bueno5
Aίre5 ίη September.
The conte5tant5 dίffered ίη many re5pect5.
Capablanca was a man of hίs word,ab5temίous,a
non·5moker; po55e55ed of exceptίonal talent, he
rarely 5tudίed and he played confidently and,ap·
parently,wίth ease; away from the board he pur·
5ued the lίfe of a playboy. Alekhίne was devίous,
nervous, re5tle55, a heavy 5moker, and fond of
drίnk; he had great combίnatίve talent and had
5tudίed ceasele55ly for many year5 to make hίmself
the complete player. Α patron who took both play·
er5 to a 5how duήng the London Congre55 of 1922
noted: "Capablanca never took hί5 eye5 off the
chorus,Alekhίne never looked up from hίs pocket
che55 5et." Above all,Alekhίne learned to reίgn hί5
fertile ίmagίnatίon,for he knew thatagaίnst Capa·
blanca he would be unable to dί5turb the equίlίb­
rίum favorably by vίolent mean5, however
ίngenίous. Capablanca'5failure to 5tudywas of lίttle
consequence for hί5 talent 5ufficed,but hί5failure
to prepare p5ychologίcallywas fatal; Alekhίne won
the match (+6=25-3), playίng much of ίt ίη hi5
-13-
opponent'5 5olid po5ίtίonal 5tyle. Both ίη tίme and
ίη number of game5 ίt was one of the longe5t of all
champίon5hίp matche5.
Havίng 5pent 13 year5 before the match praί5·
ίng Capablanca and courtίng hίs frίendshίp, Ale·
khίne 5pent the next 13 year5 derogatίng hί5 ήval
ίη annotatίons,artίcle5,and books. Ηί5 purpo5e ίη
doίng 50 may have been to avoίd a return match.
"Somehow the match wίll never take place," he
remarked 5oon after he won the tίtle; and 50 ίt
happened. He used Capablanca' 5 own weapon,the
London Rule5, demandίng $10,000, but after the
Wall Street crash 5uch backίng was unobtaίnable.
Alekhίne al5o refused to play ίη any tourna·
ment wίth Capablanca,and the two dίd not meet
agaίn until1936, at Nottίngham,when Capablanca
won. There had been a po5itίve 5ίde to thί5 cam·
paίgn. Το prove the supremacy he claίmed, Ale·
khίne won five 5trong tournaments: San Remo
1930 (+13=2), Bled 1931 (+15=12), London 1932
(+7=4), Pasadena 1932 (+7=3-1), and Ziiήch 1934
(+12=2-1). He defeated Bogoljuboff ίη two
matche5: 1929 (+11=9-5) and 1934 (+8=15-3). On
15 June 1934, before the 5econd of the5e matche5
was finί5hed,he accepted a challenge from Euwe.
Perhap5 made complacent by hίs che55 5ucce55e5
he gave ίη to a long·5tandίng weakne55 for drίnk,
and when he came to play Euwe ίη 1935 he was ίη
poor condίtίon and he lo5t the match.
If Alekhίne loved alcohol, he loved che55 and
the champίonshίp more. Wίth determίnatίon he
regaίned much of hi5 fίtne55 and former playίng
5trength, and convίncίngly defeated Euwe
(+10=11-4) ίη the return match of 1937. In 1936
Alekhίne came fir5t ίη two very 5trong tourna·
ments,Bad Nauheίm (+4=5), a tίe wίth Kere5,and
Dre5den (+5=3-1). Ηίs re5ults ίη the two major
events of thίs tίme were le55 ίmpre55ive: Nottίng·
ham 1936, 5ίxth (+6=6-2), after Botvίnnίk, Capa·
blanca, Euwe, Fίne, and Re5hev5ky; and ΑVRO
1938 (+3=8-3), fourth equal wίth Euwe. In 1939
Alekhίne publίshed My Eest Games σf Chess 1924-
1937, a fittίng companίon to hί5 earlίer book of
game5.
Around June 1939 Alekhίne accepted a chal-
 Extreme Chess
leηge from Botvinηίk, but shortly afterwards the
Secoηd World W ar began. Alekhiηe was theη ίη
Bueηos Aίres, playίηg for France ίη the Olympίad;
as captain, he refused to allow his team to play
Germany. Returning to France, he joίηed the army
as an interpreter, and, wheη France fell ίη 1940,
fled to Marseille. Ιη the autumη of 1940 he sought
permissίoη to eηter Cuba, promising, ίf ίt were
granted, to play a match with Capablanca. This
gambit havίηg failed, he weηt to Lisboη ίη April
1941, seekίηg a vίsa to the USA. Meanwhile six
articles directed against Jewish chessplayers ap·
peared under Alekhine's ηame ίη the Nazi press.
This antί·Semitίsm brought a hostίle reactίoη, par·
tίcularly ίη Ameήca and Bήtain, possibly a reasoη
ηο vίsa was granted. Ιη an iηtervίew quoted ίη a
Madήd paper, El Alcazar, 3 Sept. 1941, Alekhίηe
spoke proudly of these articles. Wheη the tίde
turned he said, ίη December 1945, "there is ηoth·
ing that was wήtteη by me."
Ιη September 1941 Alekhίηe weηt to Munίch
and, somewhat out of practίce, could do ηο better
ίη a tournameηt than share secoηd place with
Lundin, a point and a half after Stoltz. From 1941
to 1943 he played ίη another seveη tournameηts
ίη Germany or German-occupίed countήes, wiη·
ηίηg or sharίng first place ίη all of them. After the
war the antί·Semitίc articles and his participatίoη
ίη these eveηts were cσnstrued as collabσratίση
with the eηemy. Perhaps he played because he
ηeeded the mσηey; he claimed tσ have beeη actίng
under duress, "the pήce of my wife' s liberty.''rhis
was hίs fσurth wife, the Ameήcan-bσrn Grace
Wishard; the widσw σf an Eηglishman, she re·
taiηed her Bήtίsh ηatίσηalίty. Ιη 1956 the manu·
scrίpts σf the six artίcles, ίη Alekhiηe' s σwη
handwήtίηg, were fσund amσηg her effects.
Frσm 1943 he livedin Spain andPσrtugal, earn·
ing ησ mσre than a pittance by chess; mσreσver,
he suffered frσm ciπhσsis σf the liver, duσdeηitίs,
and hardeηing σf the arteήes, and ίη 1945 his
health wσrseηed. He was asked to play ίη a tσur·
ηameηt ίη Lοηdση ίη 1946 but, largely ση accσunt
σfpressure frσm the USA, the iηνίtatίση was with·
drawn because σf his wartime record. Νσr cσuld
- 14 -
he return tσ France. He had resumed ηegσtίatίσηs
fσr a match with Βσtνίηηίk, and agreed coηdi·
tiσns. The match was tσ take place iη England,
under the auspices σf the Bήtίsh Chess Federa·
tίση, which coηfirmed the aπangemeηts ση 23
March 1946, so infσrmiηg Alekhine by telegram.
He died σf a heart attack the ηext day. Fσr three
weeks his bσdy lay unbuήed at Estσril, Pσrtugal. Α
few years after his death the Sovίet authσήtίes prσ·
claimed him the greatest star σf Russian chess, and
requested his rebuήal ίη Russia. His widσw σb·
jected, and ίη 1956 his bσdy was reiηteπed ίη
Mσηtparnasse cemetery, Paήs. The ceremσηy was
atteηded by Alekhine' s sση, by Anneliese Rίiegg,
whσ came frσm Switzerland, and by the Sσvίet
Ambassadσr. France, Russίa , and FIDE prσvίded a
tσmbstσηe. Alekhine had beeη anxiσus ησt to lσse
his tίtle tσ σηe σf his own geηeratίση, but realized
that he wσuld lσse tσ Bσtvinηίk, Keres, σr Fiηe.
He had called Mσrphy "the man bσrn tσσ sσση,"
and Pillsbury "the man bσrn tσσ late." Alekhine
died at the ήght tίme.
After gainiηg his master tίtle ίη 1909 Alekhίηe
had played ίη 44 strσηg tσurnameηts and wση σr
shared 25 first and 8 secσηd pήzes; and he had
come first iη all but 5 σf 39 mίnσr tσurnameηts.
His games remaiη universally admired. As well as
the game collectίσηs, he wrσte many σther bσσks,
ησtably ση his matches with Euwe, and ση the
tσurnameηts at New Yσrk 1924, New Yσrk 1927,
and Nσttiηgham 1936. Α.Α. Κσtσν, Alexa.nder
Aleklιine (1975) coηtains a biσgraphy and 75 games.
Ρ. Mσran,A.Aleklιine, Agony ofa ChessGenius (1989)
is an accσunt, translated and edited by F.X. Mur,
σf Aiekhίηe' s vίsits tσ Spain, and his last years, and
includes 148 games, mσstly unfamiliar.
Euwe, Machgielis (1901-81), Dutch player, Ιη·
ternatiσηal Grandmaster (1950), lηternatiσηal
Arbiter (1951), WσrldChampiση 1935-7. He grew
up ίη a hσme where his pareηts played chess. Ιη
1921 he wση the ηatίσnal champiσηship (fσr the
first σf thirteeη tίmes), drew a match with Marόczy
(+2=8-2), and played ίη his first strσηg interna·
tίσηal tσurnameηt, Vieηηa 1921, where he was
 Prologue
second after Samischι ίn front of Breyerι Griinfeldι
and Tartakower. Α student of mathematics at
Amsterdam Unίversίtyι he graduated wίth honors
ίn 1923ι became a teacher of mathematics and me­
chanίcs ίn 1924ι and gaίned a doctorate ίn 1926.
Chess took second place to hίs professίonι and he
remaίned an amateur throughout hίs chess career.
For many years Max Euwe largely confined
hίmself to small tournamentsι and ίn one of themι
Wίesbaden 1925ι he wasfίrst (+3=3)ι aheadof Spίel­
mann and Samisch. He narrowly lost matches to
Alekhίne (+2=5-3) durίng the Chήstmas vacation
1926-7ι and agaίnst Bogoljuboff (+2=5-3)ι Easter
1928. Thίs second match was only a few days after
he had defeated Colle (+5=1). In the summer of
1928 he won the secondι and lastι world amateur
champίonshίpι played at The Hague.
In the early 1930s Euwe had several good tour­
nament results: Hastings 1930-1ι fίrst (+6=2-1)
ahead of Capablanca; Bern 1932ι second (+8=7)ι
and Zίiήch 1934ι second (+10=4-1)ι both times
sharίng the pήze wίth Flohrι after Alekhίne;
Hastings 1934-5ι fίrst (+4=5) equal wίth Flohr and
Thomasι ahead of Capablanca and Botvίnnίk.
Euwe lost a match to Capablanca (=8-2) ίn 1931ι
drew wίth Flohr (+3=10-3) ίn 1932ι and played ίn
two traίnίng matches wίth Spίelmannι wίnnίng
+2=2 ίn 1932ι but losίng ίn 1935. In 1935 he de­
feated Alekhίne (+9=13-8) ίn match play and be­
came the world champίon.
While holdίng the title Euwe competed ίn fίve
- 15
tournamentsι of whίch four were strong: Zand­
voort 1936ι second (+5=5-1)ι after Fίneι ahead of
Keres; Nottingham 1936ι thίrd (+7=5-2) equal wίth
Fίne and Reshevskyι half a poίnt after Capablanca
and Botvίnnίkι ahead of Alekhίne and Flohr;
Amsterdam 1936ιfίrst (+3=4) equal wίth Fίne; and
Bad Nauheίm-Stuttgart-Garmίsch 1937ι fίrst
(+3=2-1)ι ahead of Alekhίne. Durίng thίs time he
had scored two wίns and a draw agaίnst Alekhίneι
yet ίn 1937 he was well beaten ίn the return title
match.
He won a tournament at Amsterdam­
Hίlversum-The Hague ίn 1939 (+4=6) ahead of
Flohrι another at Budapest ίn 1940 (+4=1)ι and
narrowly lost a match to Keresι 1939-40 (+5=3-6).
ι
Durίng the German occupation Euwe s chess ac­
tivίties were maίnly confined to the Netherlandsι
but he defeated Bogoljuboff +5=3-2 at Carlsbad ίn
1941. When peace returnedι Euwe achίeved hίs
finest tournament resultι at Grδnίngen 1946ι when
he took second place (+11=6-2)ι after Botvίnnίkι
ahead of Smyslovι Najdorfι Szaboι Flohrι and
Boleslavsky.
Wίth the death of Alekhίne ίn 1946 the world
champίonshίp title was vacant. Το deal wίth the
matter FIDE delegates assembled ίn 1947ι and at
the same meeting the Sovίet Unίon became a mem·
ber. The delegates decίded that Euweι as the prevί­
ous title-holderι and ίndeed the only ex-champίon
still alίveι should become world champίon pend­
ίng the next contest. The next day the Sovίet con­
tingent arήvedι havίng been delayed en routeι had
the deάsίon annulledι and the title left vacant.
Thus Euwe would saywryly that he had been world
champίon for one day ίn 1947. In the world cham­
pίonshίp match tournament of 1948 Euweι now
ίn hίs forty-seventh yearι fared badlyι andalthough
he continued playίng until the end of hίs days he
never equaled hίs earlίer successes.
From 1957ι when he gave up teachίngι he held
several appoίntrnents relating to the use of com·
puters. From 1970 to 1978 Euwe was presίdent of
FIDEι succeedίng Rogardι and thίs peήod was one
of the most active of hίs lίfe. On behalf of FIDE he
vίsίted more than 100 countrίes at hίs own ex-
-
 Extreme Chess
pense, and was largely responsible for the affilίa­
tίon of more than 30 new member countrίes. He
was supreme arbίter for the contentίous champί­
onshίp matches of 1972 and 1978; hίs decίsίons
there, and elsewhere, were often revίled, but he
steadfastly pursued what he belίeved to be the best
ίnterests of the game, not fearίng unpopularίty.
Α keen openίng student, Euwe made ίm­
provements to many known varίatίons; per­
haps hίs most ίmportant contrίbutίon was the
ίntroductίon of the Schevenίngen varίatίon. 'Ήe
ίs," wrote Kmoch, "logίc personifίed, a genίus
of law and order ... One would hardly call hίm
an attackίng player yet ... he stήdes confίdently
ίnto some extraordίnarily complex varίatίons."
Alekhine noted that Euwe was not an outstandίng
strategίst, but a fine tactίcίan who rarely made
an unsound combίnation.
Euwe wήtes: "Few people know that Ι had to
repeat a year at secondary school, and thίs un­
pleasant expeήence rnay have had a decisίve ίnflu­
ence on the whole of my lίfe. Convίnced as Ι was
of my own abilίty to pass through the school ίη the
mίnίmum fίve years, so that my faίlure was due to
my own ίndolence, Ι felt Ι had failed ίη my duty to
my parents and resolved to concentrate absolutely,
ίη future, on whatever Ι should happen to take
up." Ηίs lίfe was one of ceaseless activίty; "to be
busy," he saίd, "was to guarantee a good deal of
one's health." Besίdes chess, his farnίly, and hίs
professίon, he followed a wίde range of other ίn­
terests. In these drcumstances his wίnnίng of the
world tίtle must be accounted a great sportίng
achίevement
Euwe wrote more books, many of them ίη
collaboratίon wίth others, than any other great
master, and they have been translated ίnto many
languages. Among those ίη Englίsh are Strategy
and Tactics (1937), From My Games (1938), and
Meet the Masters (1940). The best bίography ίs
Max Buwe by Miinnίnghof, Euwe, and Welling
(1976), whίch also ίncludes 270 games.
Fischer, Robert James (1943- ), Intematίonal
Grandrnaster (1958), World Champίon 1972-5.
-16-
Bom ίη Chίcago, he was brought up ίη Brooklyn
by hίs mother, a dίvorcee. At the age of sίχ he
acquίred a chess set and soon became deeply ab­
sorbed ίη the game. Inattentίve at school,
unamenable to dίscίpline, he absented hίrnself
from home for long hours playίng chess. 'Άll Ι
want to do, ever, ίs play chess." What he leamed
of the world outsίde he gleaned ίnddentally from
his mother, a teacher, and hίs older sίster. Havίng
access to an excellent chess lίbrary he read vora·
dously. At14 he won both the US junίor and se­
nίor champίonshίps, at15 he became the youngest
ever candίdate by takίng fίfth place at the Portoroz
ίnterzonal1958. Early ίη1959 he left school, be­
lievίng he could leam nothing of value there.
Scomful of everythίng outside hίrnself and hίs
chess, he understood little of what he scomed. Re·
garded as anti-socίal, resentful of all authoήty, he
ίncreasίngly became alίenatedfromhis fellow men.
What he could do he would do for himself: 'Ίf Ι
wίn a toumament Ι wίn by myself. Ι do the play·
ίng, no-one helps me." He rejected his mother's
well-meant attempts to raίse money on hίs behalf
so that he rnίght play abroad.
At Ziiήch1959 he came third ( +8=5-2) equal
with Keres, after Tal and Gligoήc; at the Can­
dίdate' s toumament, Bled-Zagreb-Belgrade1959,
he sharedfifth placewith Gligoήc, afterTal, Keres,
Petrosίan, and Smyslov. At16 he was able to eam
hίs lίvίng from chess, and soon began to dress well,
with suίts tailored ίη London and New York. He
also began a lifelong habίt of dίctatίng the condί-
 Prologue
tίons under which he would play, and was not
backwardin demandingappearance money. 'Ί add
status to any tournament Ι attend," he remarked.
In 1960 his mother left home on a peace march
from Califomia to Moscow, married on the way,
and never came back. She had done what she could
for her son, but they were fast drifting apart. Later
he corresponded regularly with her when she
settled in England.
Fischer' s ambitίon was firmly set οη the world
championship, which he expected to win within a
year or so. In 1961 he played a match with Reshev·
sky. The score stood at +2=7-2 when playwas aban·
doned. Reshevsky wanted a change of schedule
but Fischer would not accept the new one. Fischer
played at Bled 1961, taking second place (+8=11)
after Tal, ahead of Gligoήc, Keres, Petrosian, and
Geller, and at the interzonal, Stockholm 1962,
where he took first place (+13=9), two and a half
points ahead of the nearest ήval. This excellent
result may have caused him to overrate his pros·
pects. Interzonals are qualifying events, and ίη this
case his chief ήvals needed only to finish among
the first six.
After a poor start at the Candίdates tourna·
ment, Curaςao 1962, Fischer played on wίth such
determinatίon that he finίshed ίη fourth place
(+8=12-7) after Petrosίan, Keres, and Geller. Five
of the eight competίtors were from the USSR, and
he belίeved, with some truth, that they had con·
spired against hίm. However, at 19, he was not yet
good enough to win such an event. Always objec·
tίve about his play, he was less self-cήtίcal regard­
ing extemal factors. He complaίnedabout noise, a
hidden camera, shiny chessmen, a movement in
the audίence, fidgety opponents, inadequate light·
ing, and so on; now it was a Russίan plot. Besίdes
his personal ambitίon to win the world champi·
onship, he came to believe ίt was his mission to
defeat the Russians who had for so long dorni·
nated the game. He was convinced that Soviet de·
ceptίon had kept him from the tίtle.
He blamedFIDE, too. Ifthe world was agaίnst
him he must learn to fend for himself, and for
three years he played no ίnternational tourna·
- 17-
ments. However, he made one notable success,
winning the US championshίp, 1963-4, with a
clean score (+ 11). He attempted unsuccessfully
to bypass FIDE and arrange a match dίrectly
with a Soviet player, perhaps even the world
champion. In 1965 he agreed to play at Ha·
vana. Outflanking the State Department, who
would not permit Americans to travel there, he
sat in New York and played his games by teletype;
he came second (+ 12=6-3) equal with Geller
and Ivkov, half a point behind the wίnner, Smys·
lov. At Santa Monica 1966 Fischer welcomed
the opportunίty to compete against the best two
Soviet players, and he came second (+7=8-3),
half a point after Spassky, and ahead of Petro·
sίan. By winning (+8=3) the US championship
1966·7 (his eighth consecutive victory) Fischer
qualified for the next interzonal, and he pre·
pared by winning two international events in
1967, Monte Carlo (+6=2-1), and Skopje (+12=3-
2). Almost all hίs special demands were met.
He seemed set to win the Sousse interzonal,
1967, having establίshed a comfortable lead af.
ter ten completed rounds, when he became in·
volved in a dispute. He withdrew from the
tournament, foregoing for another three years
his chances of being champion.
After winning at Natanya 1968 (+10=3) and
Vinkovci 1968 (+9=4) he withdrew from tourna·
ment play for a year and a half, devotίng himself
to study in order, he said, to plot his revenge. He
received many invitatίons, but organizers wereun·
able to meet his condίtίons. Many of these were
met when he went to the Lugano Olympiad, 1968,
where he hoped the Ameήcans would defeat the
Soviet team, but the lίghtίng in the hall was not up
to his requirements; refused permission to play all
his games in a pήvate room, he left abruptly. He
came back in 1970 to play at Rovinj-Zagreb and
took first pήze (+10=6-1), and he was first again
(+13=4) at Buenos Aires 1970.
Throughout the 1960s Fischer had been an
inspiration to players, especially those outside
the USSR, many of whom were anxious to see
hίm win the world title. He had clearly been
 Extreme Chess
the wσrld's best player ίη the secσηd half σf the
decade, aηd he easίly tσpped the σffίcίal grad­
ίηg lίst ίssued by FIDE ίη 1970. He σbjected tσ
the tσurηameηt cοηdίtίσηs σf the US champί­
σηshίp 1970, whίch was alsσ a zσηal tσurηa·
meηt, and by declίηίηg tσ play he faίled tσ qualίfy
fσr the ηext cycle σf champίσηshίp cσηtests;
but he was allσwed tσ play ίη the Palma de
Majσrca ίηterzσηal 1970, wheη Βeηkσ ceded
hίs place. He wσn the tσurηameηt by the as­
tσηίshίηg margίη σf three and a half pσίηts,
the last σf eίght successίve vίctσrίes, ίf Sσusse ίs
dίscσuηted. Ηίs fίrst Caηdίdates match was
agaίηst Taίmanσv at Vaηcouver ίη 1971. Wheη
argumeηts abσut playίηg cοηdίtίσηs reached aη
ίmpasse, Fίscher suddeηly saίd, "Let's play. I'm
wίllίηg tσ play aηywhere." He played wίthσut a
secσηd. The result was astσηίshίηg-vίctσrywίth
a clean score σf sίχ wίηs. Eveη mσre astσηίsh­
ίng was Fίscher's result ίη the semί-fίηal match
agaίηst Larseη, anσther cleaη scσre σf sίχ wίηs.
Theη he wση the fίηal match agaίηst Petrσsίaη
( +5=3-1} ίη 1971, earηίηg fσr hίmself the rίght
tσ be challeηger, and fσr Suetίη, Petrσsίaη's sec­
σηd, a bσχ rσuηd the ears frσm Petrσsίan's wίfe.
After exteηsίve ηegσtίatiσηs hίs wσrld cham­
piσηshίp match agaίnst Spassky was scheduled tσ
begίn at Reykjavίk ση 2 ]uly 1972. Οη that date
Fίscher was stίll ίη New Yσrk, wrangliηg frσm a
dίstance wίth the σrganίzers. Thίs may have beeη
bήnkmanshίp, but Fίscher may have feared the
pσssίbίlίty σf failure ίη the σηe task tσ whίch hίs
lίfe was dedίcated. Α pσstpσηemeηt was granted.
The English fίnander Slater seηt Fίscher a tele­
gram σffeήηg tσ dσuble the pήze fund, addίηg: 'Ίf
yσu areη't afraίd σf Spassky theη Ι have remσved
the elemeηt σf mσηey." Νσt lίkίng the ίmputa­
tίση σf cσwardίce, and mσllίfίed by the extra
mσηey, Fίscher suddeηly declared "ίt dσesη't pay
tσ be petty lihe they are" ( σur ίtalίcs) and prσmptly
flew tσ Iceland. Play began ση 11 ]uly 1972 and
eηded ση 1 September wίthvίctσry tσ Fίscher. Ηίs
scσre +7=11-3 ίηcludes σηe lσss by default. Νσ
match ίη the hίstσry σf the game receίved mσre
wσrldwίde publίcίty, and chessplayίηg was gίveη a
- 18-
tremeηdσus ίmpetus everywhere. The first bσσk
σf the match, and there were many, sσld mσre
than 200,000 cσpίes.
Fίscher theη wίthdrew frσm serίσus play.
Wheη challeηged by Κarpσv ίη 1975 he made ηu­
merσus cσηdίtίσηs; many σf these were accepted
but Fίscher was adamant; a.11 must be accepted.
Despίte ίηtense lσbbyίng, particularly frσm the
USA, FIDE stσσd firm. Fίscher declίned tσ play,
and Κarpσv was declared champίση by default.
Fίscher ηeeded tσ succeed at chess, hίs σηly re·
sσurce apart frσm relίgίση, and fear σf defeat may
have prσmpted his retίremeηt.
Sσme belίeved that Fίscher was always "dίffi­
cult," and were surpήsed ίη 1970 wheη he agreed
tσ play fσr the Rest σf the Wσrld ίη a match agaίnst
the USSR. They were eveη mσre surpήsed wheη
he played at secoηd bσard, cedίηg first place tσ
Larseη whσse receηt record was better than hίs;
but Fίscher wanted tσ see the Russίans defeated,
and he could accept lσgίcal argurneηt as tσ hίs plac·
ίng. (The USSR wση the match by the ηarrσwest
pσssίble margίn; Fίscher scσred +2=2 agaίnst Petrσ­
sίan.) Mσst σf hίs demands were seηsίble, and ίn­
teηded fσr the beηefit σf all, but Fίscher was ησt
equipped tσ persuade, σr tσ respσηd tσ persuasiση.
Ιη many ways he was a man σf pήηdple. He de­
clίηed tσ leηd hίs ηame fσr spσηsσrshίp because
thίs wσuld demean the game. Offered an eησr­
mσus sum tσ appear at Las Vegas, where all he
wσuldhave tσ dσ ίs sίtarσundand play a few games,
he declίηed, ησt wίshίηg tσ be part σf a sίde-shσw
ίη a fun-faίr. His champίσηshίp match ηegσtίa­
tίσηs ίη 1972 were ησt dίrected at hίs σppσneηt;
wheη he realίzed that they mίght have upset
Spassky he made a handsσme apσlσgy.
Absσrbed ίη the game and lίvίng alσηe, Fίscher
was ησt at ease ίη sσdety, σfteη getting a bad press
as a cσηsequeηce. He was prσbably mσre upset
than mσst masters by ησίse and dίsturbances. Fσr
thίs reasση he σfteη laίd dσwn cσηdίtίσηs under
whίch he wσuld play, but these were alsσ ίηteηded
tσ ίmprσve chess σrganίzatίση, an aίm whίch had
sσme success: playίηg cσηdίtίσηs were ίmprσved;
Candίdates matches were substituted fσr Candί-
 Prologue
dates tournaments; from 1975 world champion­
ship matches were decided by the winning of a
given number of games, untίl the Karpov­
Κasparov marathon of1984 forced a return to a
fixed-length match. Α legacy of Fischer's success is
the greater status of a world chess championship
match in the eyes of the general public; and as a
consequence the needs for detailedplanning make
a fixed length essential. After nearly twenty years
as a recluse Fischer suddenly emerged in 1990 to
promote a new idea for the timing of moves, made
possible by new technology. Every time a player
makes a move one minute is added to the available
time, thus avoiding the more extreme scrambles.
Fischer behaved well at the board. He never
complained with the object of upsetting an oppo·
nent, and indeed sometimes his concem was for
both players. His style was direct, vigorous, and
relentlessly aggressive: in every game he strove his
utmost to win, disdaining grandmaster draws.
People flocked to see him play; his games were
universally admired. Νot satisfied merely to win a
tournament, he needed to prove himself, to win
by the largest possible margin. In 1969 he pub­
lished My 60 Memora.ble Ga.mes, a classic of pains­
taking and objective analysis that includes three of
his losses. Frank Brady, Bobby Fίscher (1974), a re­
vised and enlarged edition of Profile of α. Prodigy
(1965), contains an extensive biography and 90
games; RG. Wade and Κ.J. O'Connell, The Ga.mes
of Robert ]. Fischer (1972) contains every traceable
game (totaling 660) from seήous play before the
Spassky match.
Spassky, Boris Vasiliyevich (1937- ), Interna­
tίonal Grandmaster (1955), World Junior Cham­
pίon 1955, World Champίon1969-72. Born in
Leningrad, he leamed chess in the Urals, where
he lived during the Second World War. Mean­
while his parents dίvorced and he returned af.
ter the war to live with his mother, sister ( later
to be USSR women's draughts champion), and
elder bother. Joining the chess section of the
Palace of Pioneers in1947, he spent about five
hours a day on chess, trained at first by Vladi-
- 19
mir Grigorievich Zak (1913- ) and from 1951
by Tolush. At university he dropped mathematics
forjournalism ('Ί am not a journalist by spirit")
in order to have more time for chess and out­
door sports (he could exceed hίs own height in
the high j ump). He believes that he wasted five
years by studying, but he also developed a wide
range of ίnterests outsίde chess.
In 1955 Spassky made the first of his eleven
appearances in the USSR championship, shaήng
third place ( +7=9-3), and at the Gδteborg inter­
zonal qualified as a can­
didate. ln the following
year he came first ( +7=9-
1) equal wίth Taimanov
(who won the play-off)
and Averbakh, ίη the
USSR championship,
and third ( +3=13-2)
equal with Bronstein,
Geller, Petrosian, and
Szabo, after Smyslov
and Keres, in the Can­
didates tournament at
Amsterdam. ln1959 he
came second ( +8=9-2) equal with Tal, after Petro­
sian, in the USSR championship, and first ( +4=6-
1), shared with Bronstein and Smyslov, in the
intemational tournament at the Moscow Central
Chess Club.
Notwithstanding these achievements Spassky
relates that at this time he had no thoughts
about the world championship. He noted wίth
dismay the extreme dedication needed for con­
tίnuίng success. Α pressing problem was the
breakdown of his young marriage. "We were
like Bishops of opposite color," he remarked,
and ίη1961 he was divorced. Nor had he been
able to make a satisfactory relationship with
Tolush, his trainer. 'Ί had no one to turn to at
this time except my mother:' He respected Tolush
who had shown him that, besides strategy, chess
had something extra, "attacks, sacrίfίces, cre­
ative ideas," but he needed a friend. He found
one in Bondarevsky, who became hίs trainer
-
 Extrem e Chess
in1961 and whose encouragement was the foun·
dation of Spassky's later successes. His climb
to the top began with five excellent firsts: USSR
championship, Baku1961 ( +10=9-1); USSR cham­
pionship, Leningrad1963 ( +5=14), equal wίth
Steίn (who won the play-off) and Kholmov;
Belgrade 1964 ( +9=8) ; Moscow zonal tourna·
ment 1964 ( +4=6-2), ahead of Stein, Korch­
noi, and Geller; Amsterdam interzonal 1964
( +13=8-2), equal wίth Larsen, Smyslov, and
Tal. Α Candidate for the second tίme, Spassky
defeated Keres ( +4=4-2), Geller ( +3=5), and Tal
( ( +4=6-1) to become challenger. He lost the
match against Petrosian ίη 1966 by the nar·
rowest of margins ( +3=17 -4).
At Santa Monica in the same year Spassky again
won a top-level tournament ( +5=13), ahead of
Fίscher, Larsen, and Petrosian. Victoήes at Bever·
wijk1967 ( +7=8) and Sochi1967 ( +5=10) were fol­
lowed by a seήes of Candidate matches in which
he defeated Geller ( +3=5), Larsen ( +4=3-1), and
Korchnoi ( +4=5-1); and in1969 he defeated Petro­
sίan ( +6=13-4) to become world champion.
Naturally polite, with a friendly dίspositίon,
Spassky Hked to meet people and became one
of the most popular of all champίons. Of ath·
letίc buίld, "the most handsome champίon sίnce
Capablanca," he charmed the ladίes, too. (He
had remarrίed in1966.) Ηίs style of play, which
has been compared to Alekhine's, was, Botvin­
nik said, unίversal: he played every kind of game,
and his games were often characterized by lively
tactίcs. In1970 he had two fine vίctories, Leiden
( +2=10) and Amsterdam ( +8=7), equal wίth
Polugayevsky. In the1972 world champίonshίp
- 20
match, however, he could not withstandFίscher's
fierce onslaught: although he fought valίantly
to the end, he lost the tίtle. In spίte of his out·
ward calm, hίs poker face at the board, he felt
keenly the heavy responsίbίlity of defending
his country's prestίge.
Faced with hostility ίη hίs homeland as a con·
sequence of losing his title he responded by again
winnίng the USSR champίonship in1973 ( +7=9-
1). ΑCandidate in1974, he defeated Byrne ( +3=3)
and then lost to Κarpov in the semi-final. Ηίs sec·
ond marrίage having ended in divorce, he marήed
a French diplornat in 1975 and went to live in
Paris, retaining his Soviet cίtizenship. Α Candi­
date for the fifth time in 1977, he defeated Hort
( +2=13-1) and Portisch ( +4=9-2), but lost the final
rnatch to Korchnoi.
Ηίs play may have lost some of ίts sparkle, and
his natural laziness inclined him to accept peace·
ful draws, but he remained a player of the highest
class. In 1980 he drew ( +1=12-1) a Candidates
match with Portisch but was elimίnated because
Portisch's victory was with the Black pieces whίle
his was with White. ln tournaments he was at
Bugojno 1978, first ( +6=8-1) equal with Κarpov;
Baden 1980 first ( +6=9) equal with Belyavsky;
Lίnares 1983, first ( +3=7); Brussels 1985, second
( +8=5), after Korchnoί; Reggίo Emίlίa1986-7, sec­
ond ( +1=10) shared with Chernin, Hort, and
Smyslov, after Ribli; Wellίngton1988, first ( +5=5)
shared wίth Chandler.
Spassky played for the USSR in seven Olympi·
ads from1962 to1978, and for France from1984.
Β. Cafferty, Spassky's 100 Best Games (1972) also
contains a biography.
-
 Euwe-Alekhίne1935

ALEΚHINE-EUWE ι 1935
An edited reissu.e of C.J.S. Pu.rdy's booh How Euwe Won (The Au.stnιlasian Chess Review, Sydney,
1936)

PREFACE

Much ίη thίs book has appeared ίη The Au.strιιlasian Chess Review, but everythίng has been
thoroughly revίsed to embody suggestions by Russίan and other Contίnental wrίters.
Great paίns have been taken. Inexact crίticίsm of master games harms players of all classes,
even tyros; ίt tends to falsίfy one's sense of posίtion and to make one eίther too darίng or too
cautίous ίη judgίng combίnatίons.
Conversely, nothίng ίs so helpful as exact crίticίsm and explanation. As Ι have had the work
of the world's greatest analysts at hand to prevent my strayίng-some ίnaccessίble to the
majoήty of Bήtίsh and Ameήcan players-Ι belίeve that thίs book wίll help students to take a
real step forward, and ίt wίll gίve enthusίasts a truer understandίng of one of the greatest chess
contests of all time.

C.J.S. Purdy
Sydney, May193 6

Painted by Jacσb Lyσn, this backdrσpfσr the match in the Rijksmuseum in

Amsterdam was σne σfthe settingsfσr the 1935 match (see page 3fσrmσre details).
 Extreme Chess
STORY OF ΤΗΕ MATCH
Max Euwe has wση the chess champiση·
ship σί the wσrld. Α great spσrtsmaη has
achieved his life's ambitiση-and if, as many
believe ση excelleηt evideηce, he has defeated
a greater player than himself, well, Alekhiηe
will have his chance σf reveηge.
Alekhiηe's style has gradually undergσηe
a change siηce he wση the wσrld champiση­
ship. Haviηg demσηstrated that he was the
greatest lσgician σί the chess wσrld-as well
as the greatest tactician-he began tσ tire σf
lσgic, fσr it meant makiηg himself tσσ much
the slave σί the bσard. Alekhίηe trίed tσ be­
come the bσard's master-tσ play deliberately
ίηfeήσr mσves merely tσ prσduce unfathσm·
able complicatiσns ίη whίch his ίmagiηatiση
could have full play. He cσuld see sσ much
further ahead than anyσηe else that his ex­
peήmeηts ση uncharted seas met wίth bril­
liant success-which gave him mσre and mσre
cσηfideηce iη his σwn pσwers.
It seems tσ us, frσm his games with Black
thrσughσut the first half σf his match with
left to right: Tegelιιar, Alehhine, Lιιndιιu, Mιιroczy, Euwe, Kmoclι
Euwe, that this self-cσηfideηce has passed be­
yσηd all reasσηable bσunds. Fσrmerly Ale­
khiηe wσuld σfteη play unsσund mσves iη
the σpeηiηg, but theywere always well sσaked
iη midnight σil. Ιη this match, ση the σther
hand, sσme σί his ecceηtricities have clearly
beeη uηpremeditated-he has deliberately
placed himself iη iηfeήσr pσsitiσns withσut
the compeηsatiηg advaηtage σf previσus
analysis, cσηfideηt that if bσth he and his σp­
pσηeηt were thrσwη ση their σwn resσurces
his σwn supeήσrity iη σver-the-bσard analy­
sis wσuld give him the better chance σί wiη·
ηiηg. The gambling style par excelleηce! -and
carried tσ leηgths that Lasker wσuld ηever
have dreamed σf attemptiηg. Fσr Lasker's per­
fect meηtal balance eηabled him tσ carry the
elemeηt σf psychσlσgy just sσ far and ησ far­
ther. There is mσre egσism iη Alekhiηe's
make-up.
Ιη his bσσk σf Alekhiηe's last match with
Bσgσljubσff, Lasker said, iη effect: Alekhiηe
has wση, but he will have tσ play better chess
than this tσ beat σthers.
It almσst lσσks as if Alekhiηe set σut tσ
prσve Lasker wrσηg. Αηd he has prσved
Lasker right.
The arrangemeηts fσr a return match are
already underway-tσ be played late iη1937.
It is certaiη that Alekhiηe will, at any rate,
mσdify his psychσlσgical teηdeηcy-at least
wίth the black pieces.
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935
In our ίntroductίon to the 10th game, we
detail Alekhίne's crίmes ίη hίs previous games
wίth Black up to that poίnt, and hίs openίngs
ίη the 12th and 14th games are sίmplyvillaίn­
ous. lt was wίth the 14th game that Euwe first
drew level, and from that poίnt Alekhίne's
handlίng of the black pίeces became much
sounder.
Α lίttle way ahead ίs a table gίving the
openίngs, resώts, number of moves, and
progress scores. We have thought ίt betternot
to crowd the table wίth dates and places. Suf­
fice ίt to say that the match ran from 3 Octo­
ber to 15 December, at the rate of three games
per week-not countίng four clear days be­
tween the 21st and 22nd games. Thίs sched­
ώe coώd not be descήbed as undώy stren­
uous.
The match was for the best ofthίrty games,
the wίnner's score to ίnclude at least 6 wίns.
Fίfteen of the games were played ίη Amster­
dam, and the rest ίη other Dutch cίtίes.
In the first nίne games, Alekhίne scored 5
wίns to 2. In the next sίχ games, Euwe scored
3 wίns to none! Thus the players were level at
half-way.
Alekhίne won the 16th and 19th games.
Euwe won the 20th and 21st; and the next
three were drawn. All square and sίχ to go!
Euwe won the 25th and 26th; Alekhίne
won the 27th. Euwe one up and three to play!
Euwe drew all the last three games (ίη the
final one he was content wίth a draw ίη an
easίly won posίtίon) and thus gaίned the
match by one poίnt.
Let us analyze the results. Three of
Alekhίne's five wίns ίη the fίrst nίne games
were gaίned by expeήmentίng wίth unusual
contίnuatίons agaίnst the Wίnawer Vaήatίon
of the French Defense. These games woώd
have had dίfferent resώts had Euwe taken
the trouble to swot up the defense properly.
But Euwe had evidently pήmed hίmself for
the maίn lίnes, whίch Alekhίne declίned to
play, and relίed ση natίve talent ίη case
Alekhίne chose to experίment. Α sad eπor,
for the perfect defenses are far too dίffίcώt to
find over the board and under nervous ten·
sίon.
In Alekhίne's next three games wίth
Whίte, no French Defenses occurred; and
Euwe drew all three-and shoώd have easίly
won the 13th, ίη whίch he defended a Ruy
Lopez.
Now, takίng Alekhίne's seven games wίth
Black ίη the first half of the match, we find
that he actually lost the 2nd, 8th, 12th, and
14th-and shoώd have lost the 6th as well! In
every one of these games, Alekhίne expeή­
mented wίth ίnfeήor moves quίte early ίη
the openίng; and Euwe rapίdly obtaίned wίn­
nίng posίtίons by flawless play. In the remaίn­
ίng game, the 4th, Alekhίne won because
Euwe hίmself erred ίη the openίng-whίch
made Alekhίne's shock tactίcs sound.
Thus, although Alekhίne may claίm that
he played carelessly from the 10th to the 14th
game, hίs play ίη these games-except for the
abysmal llth-was not markedly dίfferent
from hίs earlίer play. They were all ίη the
gamblίng style, except the first; and the gam­
blίng style necessaήly leads eίther to brίllίant
wίns or to crushίng defeats-and a haίr wίll
turn the scale!
In the 16th and 19th games, whίch Ale­
khίne won, Euwe hίmselfwas below hίs best,
though Alekhίne showed good form. The
20th game was perhaps Euwe's best wίn up to
that tίme as Alekhίne dίd not handίcap hίm­
self by wίld play ίη the openίng. In the 21st
game, Alekhίne was somewhat below form.
Then came three draws, ίη one ofwhίch Euwe
mίssed a wίn-hίs thίrd mίssed wίn of the
match. ln the fatal 25th game, Alekhίne
 Extreme Chess

Game Openίng Whίte Wίnner Moves Eu. Al. Dr.

1 QG (Slav) Alekhίne Alekhίne 30 ο 1

2 Grϋ.nfeld Euwe Euwe 45 1 1
3 French Alekhίne Alekhίne 41 1 2
4 Grϋ.nfeld Euwe Alekhίne 44 1 3
5 French Alekhίne Drawn 34 1 3 1
6 QG (Slav) Euwe Drawn 73 1 3 2
7 French Alekhίne Alekhίne 41 1 4 2
8 QG (Slav) Euwe Euwe 69 2 4 2
9 French Alekhίne Alekhίne 41 2 5 2
10 QG (Slav) Euwe Euwe 41 3 5 2
11 QG (Slav) Alekhίne Drawn 30 3 5 3
12 Grϋ.nfeld Euwe Euwe 36 4 5 3
13 Ruy Lopez Alekhίne Drawn 59 4 5 4
14 Grϋ.nfeld Euwe Euwe 41 5 5 4
15 QG (Slav) Alekhίne Drawn 61 5 5 5
16 QG (Slav) Euwe Alekhίne 65 5 6 5
17 QP (Irreg.) Alekhίne Drawn 23 5 6 6
18 Englίsh Euwe Drawn 16 5 6 7
Q?J QG (Acc.) Δlill.ine Alekhίne 57 5 7 7
20 QG (Slav) Euwe Euwe 41 6 7 7
21 QG (Slav) Alekhίne Euwe 40 7 7 7
22 Nίmzo-Ind. Euwe Drawn 17 7 7 8

� QG (Slav) Alekhίne Drawn 58 7 7 9

24 Dutch Euwe Drawn 33 7 7 10
25 Camb. Spr. Alekhίne Euwe 45 8 7 10
26 Dutch Euwe Euwe 47 9 7 10
27 Vίenna Alekhίne Alekhίne 40 9 8 10
28 QG (Orth.) Euwe Drawn 63 9 8 11
29 Alek. Def. Alekhίne Drawn 50 9 8 12
30 QG (Acc.) Euwe Drawn 40 9 8 13

Games won by Whίte, 13; by Black, 4! Each player won two games wίth Black. Thίs shows that
Alekhίne's shock tactics were as successful wίth Whίte as they were futίle wίth Black!
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935
adopted a gambling line against the Cam·
bήdge Springs and really lost the game ίη the
opening. This put him a point down and cost
him the match.
Euwe followed up with a brilliant win ίη
the 26th game-his best ίη the whole contest.
Then he looked a certainty; but Alekhine,
taking full advantage of his opponent's over·
anxiety, all but pulled the match out of the
fire. Alekhine won the 27th, missed a win ίη
the 28th, and had winning chances ίη the
29th!
Α section of the Dutch press is said to have
been extremely partisan, and defamatory ru·
mors about Alekhine were circulated. This
kind of assistance is certainly the last that
Euwe would have wished for.
Alekhίne
Rumor has been rampant over the 21st
game. Here are the facts ίη bήef:
The conveyance that was to caπy Alekhine
to the scene of play, at Ermelo, was two hours
late. Alekhine believed that play would be
postponed. When located by officials, he was
partaking of alcoholic refreshment. Newspa·
per reporters, annoyed at being kept waiting,
turned this into a story that the champion
was ίη an unfit condition to play. That such
was not the case is self-evident as Alekhine
did play, and ίη a style not unworthy of him
-insofar as any of a grandmaster's losses can
be said to be worthy of him. The game could
easily have come out differently, but for mag·
nificent play by Euwe. Alekhine certainly
played at least as well as ίη some of the other
games that he lost.
It is true that both contestants wished the
game to be postponed after the long delays;
but the match-committee ruled that, accord·
ing to the conditions of the contest, theywere
powerless to allow a postponement except ίη
the case of illness.
Alekhine declined to make such a claim at
the time, although it appears he might have
done so; his health was giving him suffίcient
concem to induce him to take a three·day
rest-acting under medical advice-between
this game and the next.
ALBΚHINB'S STATBMBNT
The following statement was made by
Alekhine ίη Chess after the match. We could
wish the first part ofit unsaid, or at least modi·
 Extreme Chess
fied, but fully sympathize wίth the second
part. We draw specίal attentίon, however, to
Alekhίne's sportsmanlίke remark quoted at
the end of our introduction to the 24th game.
Alekhine stated:
"Ι have no doubt that the course of this
match has astonished the whole of the chess
world. There is good reason for astonίshment,
not only at the way Ι have lost games, but at
the way Ι have played ίη some of these lost
games.
'Ί think Ι can gίve two reasons for my
comparative lack of success.
"During one period, from the 10th to the
14th games, Ι was falsely persuaded into a
belίef that the match was vίrtually over. In
consequence, Ι treated the openings of these
games with a carelessness unpardonable, and
committed errors whίch to anybody with a
knowledge of my powers seemed incompre­
hensible.
"Secondly, from about this period, Ι have
been the butt of a campaίgn of calumniation
and misrepresentatίon organized by a part of
the Dutch press and several of the soi-dίsant
Έuwe-Alekhine' committee.
"This campaίgn reached its clίmax wίth
the 21st game. This game was played abso­
lutelywίthoutanyunpleasantincident-con­
trary to press reports. This is officίally con­
firmed by my adversary, Euwe; by the dίrec­
tor of the match, Κmoch; and by both our
seconds, Marόczy and Landau.
"Such a campaίgn can hardly faίl to have
an unfortunate effect on a player engaged ίη a
strenuous match, ίη which his tίtle ίs at stake.
In comparίson with the atmosphere of this
match, the one at Buenos Ayres, ίη which Ι
gaίned my tίtle, and those agaίnst Bogoljuboff
ίη which Ι succeeded ίη retaίning it, were
ideal:' Ji. Jl-e..vr
v1u�.
(Signed) Α.Α. Alekhine
With regard to the third paragraph, we
must point out that it ίs incomprehensible ίη
one respect. Before the 13th and 14th games
Alekhine was only one point ahead, wίth
more than half the games to go; and we can­
not belίeve that at this partίcular stage a man
of his mentality belίeved the match was vίr­
tually over!
Furthermore, there ίs no evίdence of care­
lessness ίη the llth or 13th games (ίη which
Alekhine had White), while his style of open­
ing ίη hίs 10th and 14th games (with Black)
dίffers only ίη degree from that ίη prevίous
games wίth Black and is better designated by
the adjective "swashbuckling" than by "care­
less:'
In the return match, let us hope we see the
old Alekhine-the chess magician. And Ale­
khine, we feel sure, will meet a new Euwe­
an Euwe seasoned by the expeήence he has
gaίned ίη the first match. The return match
wίll probably arouse more antίcipatory inter­
est than any sίnce Capablanca's with Lasker
ίη 1921; for ίη all the matches since then, the
chess worldhas foretold the resultin advance,
even though the actual event has twice gone
the other way!
HOWTHE MATCH FINISHED
The followίng article by John Β. Snethlage,
from The Chess Reνiew (USA), will go far to
remove the unwholesome impression created
by certaίn less authentic reports conceming
the recent great match.
Bellevue Hall in Amsterdam was the scene
of the last match-game between Alexander
Alekhine and Max Euwe in the struggle for
world chess supremacy.
 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1935
At 5 Ρ.Μ. a lσηg lίηe began fσrmίηg ίη the
street, clamσήηg fσr admίssίση. Order was
maίηtaίηed uηder the able supervίsίση σf
mσunted and σrdίηary pσlίce.
At 6 Ρ.Μ. the hall quίckly filled tσ capacίty
wίth abσut 1500 tσ 2000 spectatσrs, and many
whσ desίred tσ atteηd cσuld ησt get ίη. These,
hσwever, were takeη care σf ίη an adjσίηίηg
buίldίηg where chess master Salσ Flσhr, the
Czechσ-Slσvak star, sketched and demση­
strated the prσgress σf the game ση a wall
bσard.
Alekhίηe appeared at 6 Ρ.Μ., ίmmacu­
lately dressed ίη evenίηg clσthes, and receίved
a great σvatίση frσm the audίeηce. He begged
fσr sileηce and passed sσme remarks ίη hσησr
σf hίs σppσηeηt.
At 6:45 Ρ.Μ. the game started. At Ale­
khίηe's thίrd mσve the excίtemeηt amσηg the
spectatσrs reached a hίgh pσίηt. Thίs mσve
hadηever beeη played befσre betweeη experts.
After 13 mσves had beeη recorded, equalίty
was repσrted; and the teηsίση was relίeved.
The cigar smσke filled the rσσm lίke a thίck
fσg, and thrσugh ίts haze the spectatσrs ίη the
back rσws cσuld hardly see the coηtestants.
As the game drew tσ a clσse, and rumσrs
begaη cίrculatίηg that Euwe had wίηηίηg
chances-that Master Flσhr was hίghly σptί­
mίstίc-the crσwd realίzed that a ηew chess
champίση wσuld prσbably be crσwηed and
had dίfficulty ίη restraίnίηg ίts eηthusίasm.
Fίηally, Alekhίηe waved fσr sίleηce and
complίmeηted hίs σppσηeηt ίη ashσrt speech.
Theη fσllσwed sσme addίtίσηal speeches and
the σfficial anησuncemeηt that Euwe had wση
the chess champίσηshίp σf the wσrld. Last σf
all, Euwe hίmself spσke a few wσrds, sayίηg
that he was 'Όverjσyed at wίηηίηg the cham­
pίσηshίp, but dίd ησt belίeve that he wσuld
remaίn champίση lσηg:'
Theη Euwe and hίs wίfe and fήeηds pre­
pared tσ wίthdraw tσ the Carltση Hσtel fσr a
quίet celebratίση. But fίrst he was called
away-by the pσlίce!
It seemed that Euwe's ηeίghbσrs expected
hίm tσ returη hσme. Sσ maηy σf them
crσwded abσut hίs hσme ίη an effσrt tσ pay
theίr respects that traffίc was σbstructed and
the pσlίce cσuld dσ ησthίηg wίth the thrσηgs.
Therefσre Euwe was requested tσ please put
ίη an appearaηce ίη σrder tσ appease the
crσwd. Willίηgly he bσarded a taxί and ac­
cepted the spσηtaneσus σvatίση σf hίs fellσw­
citίzens.
At last he was free tσ return tσ hίs fήeηds
at the Hσtel Carltση. Sσση after Euwe's ar­
ήval, Alekhίηe and hίs wίfe jσίηed the grσup
ίη a pleasant party lastίηg deep ίηtσ the nίght.
EUWE ΟΝ HIS WIN
(Frσm an artίcle by Euwe ίη Het Vσlk)
The labσr σf preparatίση was, ίη maηy
ways, eveη mσre arduσus thaη the match
ίtself, aηd ίt was a great relίef wheη the
cσηtest actually begaη. Eveη ίη the fίηal
weeks, wheη all the ηegσtίatίσηs had beeη
carrίed thrσugh tσ a successful cσηclusίση
and ησthίηg remaίηed but tσ awaίt the σpeη­
ίηg day, there was the jσb σf "traίηίηg" fσr
the eηcσuηter, a prσcess whίch Ι caη σηly
cσmpare tσ a fίght agaίηst aη ίmagίηary
eηemy. Advίce pσured ίη ση me frσm all
sίdes. Sσme saίd: "Theσretίcal kησwledge
ίs σf relatίvely small ίmpσrtaηce ίη cσm­
parίsση wίth preservatίση σf mσrale aηd
fίghtίηg spίrίt." Others argued ση practί­
cally σppσsίte lίηes. Straηgely eησugh, the
σutcome σf the match prσved, ίf aηythίηg,
that bσth lίηes σf argumeηt were equally
cσrrect.
Ιη the σpeηίηg stages, theσry was at a dίs­
cσunt and fightίηg spίήt at a premίurn. Tσ­
wards the eηd, ση the cσηtrary, my theσretί­
cal knσwledge became ίηestίmably valuable
tσ me. It was well knσwn at the begίnnίηg
thatAlekhίηe was my superίσr ίη tactίcs, eveη
ίf the stσry σf the match seems tσ shσw that
he ίs my ίnferίσr ίη strategy, and ησbσdy was
 Extreme Chess
surpήsed ίη the least wheη he set about creat­
ίηg wίld posίtίoηs ίη whίch tactίcal possίbίlί­
tieswere atamaxίmum. Manywere surprίsed,
however, at hίs choosίηg quίeter lίηes so of­
teη ίη the secoηd half of the match, and the
result has led to many coηjectures as to the
cause of thίs change of polίcy. Α thoughtful
comparίsoη of games 11 to 15 wίth the teη
that preceded them solves the ήddle.
Earηest study of Alekhίηe's games had
taught me that maηy of hίs most beautίful
coηceptίoηs are based ση hίs oppoηeηts
exhίbίtίηg traces of ηervousηess at the crίtί­
cal momeηt. So Ι kηew already, before the
match started, that oηly by fearlessηess could
Ι succeed.
However, ίη οηe qualίty Ι belίeve Ι was
defίcίeηt-the abίlίty to dίstίηguίsh wίth cer­
taίnty that ίnfίnίtesίmal dίνίdίηglίηe betweeη
the ίnspίred and the unsound, betweeη the
darίηgly complίcated and the merely rίsky.
My dίscήmίηatioη faίled me oηce or twίce ίη
the fίrst few rounds, and ίt was oηly ίη the
eίghth and teηth games that Ι was able to hίt
off the ήght balance betweeη the sharp and
the safe. Alekhίηe-ever a perfect judge­
showed that he realίzed thίs by remarkίηg to
Flohr, just before the eleveηth game, that he
ίηteηded to play quίeter chess from theηce­
forth. It was the rίght momeηt for such a
decίsίoη, and he was ίη the happy pοsίtίοη of
beίng able to start "sίttiηg tίght" wίth a lead
of two clear poίηts.
So the eleveηth game was a partίcularly
calm οηe. Had Alekhίηe adhered to hίs
decίsίoη, the result mίght have beeη very
dίffereηt; but habίt (aηd ίηclίηatίοη?) re­
asserted ίtself, aηd he commίtted the fatal
mίstake of revertίηg, ίη the ηext three games,
to the recίpe of the fίrst teη, thus gίνίηg
me aη excelleηt chaηce to show how well Ι
had learηed my lessoη. Now quίte aηother
sίtuatίoη arose. Where my oppoηeηt's
chaηge of plaη had beeη free aηd uηhίη­
dered before, ίt was ηοw forced ση hίm. Ι
must coηfess Ι was slow to perceίve the
sίtuatίoη. Ιη the games that followed, Ι
made the mίstake more thaη oηce of em­
barkίηg ση complίcatίoηs ίη posίtίoηs where
quίet strategίcal moves would have beeη
much more to the pοίηt. Masterly as was
the way Alekhίηe took advaηtage of these
mίstakes, he should ηever have had the
chaηce to regaίη, as he dίd, a lead of two
poίηts. Not uηtίl the tweηtίeth game dίd Ι
succeed ίη adaptίηg my style of play wίth
suίtable flexίbίlίty to the varίed types of
pοsίtίοη that were arίsίηg.
The quίet games 20, 21, 22, 23, 27, and29 Ι
played purely posίtίoηally. Ιη the somewhat
fίercer eηcounters 24, 25, 26, 28, and 30, Ι
usually managed to reply to complίcatioη wίth
counter·complίcatioη. Obvίouslyίt ίs ofpara­
mount ίmportance to be fίghtίηg wίth the
ήght weapoηs. But thίs aloηe canηot assure
vίctory; for that, you requίre ίηaccuracίes ση
the part of your oppoηeηt, and ίt ίs esseηtίal
ίη dangerous posίtίoηs to make ίt easy for
your opponent to make mίstakes-an aίm
whίch, ίη ίts turn, can be achίeved only ίf οηe
knows oηe's oppoηeηt through and through
and can base one's plan of operatioηs ση thίs
knowledge of hίm.
The psychologίcal element has been to the
fore ίη thίs match; Ι make no secret of ίt. It ίs
ίmpossίble to judge any one game by ίtself,
any more than you can judge a sίngle sen­
tence of a poem by itself. Το base one's estί·
mate of the match ση games such as the
twelfth or the twenty-fourth alone ίs as wrong
as ίt ίs to lavίsh undue eηthusίasm ση games
such as the first and the tweηty-sίxth. Takίηg
a sίngle game and studyίng ίt by ίtself, then
you can oηly examίne ίt from the poίnt of
vίew of cold technίque, whίch furnίshes a very
ίnadequate analysίs. Whoever looks at the
games as a whole must agree wίth Alekhίηe's
own statement that the match ίs well worth a
place ίη the annals of chess.
My oppoηent and Ι took our mίssίon
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935
serίously and fought wίth the utmost keen­
ness; ίt ίs our hope and belίef that our con­
test wίll have benefίted and enrίched the
cause of chess and advanced ίt ίη popular
esteem and popularίty.
MORE REMARΚS ΒΥ EUWE
(From Schach-Echo)
Before tacklίng Alekhine, Ι had to forget
the contrast between our general record-or Ι
should have been fήghtened. His record ίs
ίndisputably better than mίne .... But when Ι
thought of the result of my match agaίnst him
eight years ago, 5.5-4.5 ίη hίs favor (3-2 and 5
draws), my courage returned .... Alekhine
stated before the recent match that he did not
look upon me as his most dangerous chal­
lenger; he mentioned Flohr, whom he had
beaten 5-2 without a loss! (3-0 and 4 draws).
Ι had not the time for trainίng Ι should
have liked, owίng to the demands of mywork.
Ι had to await the end of the academic year,
which left me only two and a half months.
One can only study the newest developments
in openίng theorythrough actual contactwith
other leading masters.... So the Match Com­
mittee invited several intemational masters
to Amsterdam. Even then Ι was woπied about
my lack of match-training: only in the rough
and tumble of match chess itself can you pick
up the quick perception of tactical possibili­
ties you need. Ι soon "caught up" when the
match actually began, however....
Ι felt thatAlekhine's great tactical skill was
only a real menace in the opening. τime
proved me right. Six of my eight losses-the
1st, 3rd, 7th, 9th, 19th, and27th games-were
virtually sustaίned in the opening. Alekhine's
unsettling opening tactics in other games told
me he realized himself that he had to lay his
foundations from the very first few moves in
order to be able to exploit his tactical skill.
Ι made a great mistake in playing the
French Defense four times in the early stages.
It showed that all study is useless unless it
goes hand in hand with practical experi­
ence. (We haνe shown, howeνer, that Euwe's
study ofpublished analysis on the line he chose
was not as extensiνe as it could haνe been -
C.J.S.P.) Ι might easily have lost three games
in any case-I was not properly played in.
But it all had one good result: it made Ale­
khine fatally over-confident.
Alekhine became more and more rattled
and nervous as things began to tum out dif­
ferently from what he had expected ....
- BCHOBS -
WHAT SPIBLMANN SAID
(According to an interviewer of the
Dutch newspaper Tijdschrift)
Interviewer: Have you studied the games
of the big match �
Spielmann: Very deeply!
1: You know how widely opinions have
varied. What is yours�
S: Because Ι have made such a deep study
of previous matches for the world champion­
ship, Ι feel qualified to pass a judgment here.
Firstly, Ι can state with conviction that all the
games of the last match were, without excep­
tion, unusually interesting and excitίng.
Never was a delίberate drawing variation
played; never was there the least sign of fear
or unnatural caution on either side. Each
game was a fight to the death. Nobody will
deny that fewer mistakes were committed
than in the Alekhine-Bogoljuboff matches ....
Ι have been accepted as a master for thirty­
one years and can assure you that there were
fewer mistakes made ίη this last world-cham­
pionship match than in any that have pre­
ceded it.
1: What chances do you think Euwe has in
a retum match �
S: In May, Ι considered the chances even.
Ι thought the match would be won or lost by
 Extreme Chess

a verysmall margίn, and tίme has proved me
ήght. Euwe mίght as easίly have lost as won.
Very small, almost ίncalculable factors have a
decίsίve ίnfluence ίη such a match.
But now the sίtuatίon ίs radically differ­
ent. Apart from the questίon whether Ale­
khίne, at hίs tίme of lίfe, has the wίll-power
to submίt to the ήgorous traίnίng whίch has
proved ίmperative for such a long contest, ίt
ίs a moot poίnt whether he wίll overcome the
psychologίcal consequences of hίs defeat. Dίd
you ever know a heavy-weίght boxer regaίn
hίs title? Don't laugh-the psychologίcal fac­
tors are the same. Νο ex-world champίon of
chess has ever regaίned hίs title.... And there
ίs another factor. Euwe merely has to retaίn
hίs title. It ίs Alekhίne now who has to wίn
the match.
1: Do you thίnkAlekhίne will cease to take
first place so often ίη tournaments?
S: Ι never saίd that. Ι thίnk Alekhίne wίll
obtaίn many fίrst pήzes yet. Dίd not Lasker,
after hίs defeat by Capablanca, rejoίce the
hearts of everybody bywίnnίng at Mahrίsch­
Ostrau 1923 and New York 1924? But ίη tour­
naments quίte different factors are at work
from those ίη a match .... Alekhίne may very
easίly gaίn fίrst place at Nottίngham, but

Κing's Pawn
Played Wh Dr Bl
Alekhίne Defense (29) 1 1
French Defense (3, 5, 7, 9) 4 3 1
Ruy Lopez (13) 1 1
Vίenna (27) 1 1
Total KP 7 4 3

Queen's Gambίt

Accepted (30) 1 1
Orthodox (28) 1 1
Slav (1, 6, 8, 10-11, 15-16, 19-21, 23, 25) 12 5 4 3
Total QG 14 5 6 3

Queen's Pawn (non-Gambit)

Colle (17) 1 1
Dutch (24, 26) 2 1 1
Grϋnfeld (2, 4, 12, 14) 4 3 1
Nίmzo-Indian Defense (22) 1 1
Total QP (non-Gambίt) 8 4 3 1

Other Openings

Englίsh (18) 1 1
Grand Total 30 13 13 4
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935
against Euwe Ι do not think he has a chance!
WHAT LASΚER SAID
(From the British Chess Mι:ιgιWne)
In a lecture at Zίiήch, when only ten games
had been played andAlekhίne led 6-4, Lasker,
with his usual prescience, expressed an opin­
ion which the future justified.
"What has happened to Alekhine?" he
asked (Alekhine had just lost the tenth game) .
The answer Lasker gave was that the ex­
champion has had too much success. In his
long, uninterrupted career of victory, he has
got out of the habit of losing, and so has be­
come uncήtical; for loss alone fosters the cήti­
cal attitude. From inspired artistry Alekhine
has turned more and more to virtuosity, and.
already in his second match with Bogoljuboff
he had exceeded the bounds of the permis­
sible as a virtuoso of struggle-which ίnvolves
also the fading of the divine spark.
WHAT LASΚER SAID LATER
'Ί believe that after a needful rest to regain
his spiήt, Alekhine will give the chess world,
as of old, games as remarkable for their depth
and insight as for their beauty:' -Lasker in a
Russian paper.
ΤΗΕ OPENINGS
The recent match for the world champi­
onship was a scrap between a couple of two­
fisted he-men. It was not conducted for the
benefit of opening theoήsts-thank goodness!
Nevertheless, there were one or two definite
contήbutions to opening lore.
First of all, let us set out the usual statistics.
The parenthetical marks indicate which
games featured each opening. Alekhine had
White in all the odd-numbered games. (see
page 30)
In the first four French Defense games,
Euwe chose the Winawer variation 3 ... Bb4.
Safer is the classical vaήation 3 ... Nf6; and if
4. Bg5, then 4... Be7! The Winawer is per­
fectly sound, but Euwe made the mistake of
swotting up only the main lines-which
Alekhine avoided.
When Euwe was desperately anxious to
draw, in the second-last game, he chose the
Alekhine Defense!
In the Ruy Lopez (13), Alekhine intro·
duced a fine pawn sacήfice, but followed it up
wrongly; he did not try it again and went off
the Κing's Pawn Opening altogether until
dήven back to it in sheer desperation.
In the Queen's Gambit, only one Ortho­
dox Defense occurred. It was played by Ale·
khine, and the twist he gave it in order to
counteract ίts drawish tendency is of consίd­
erable ίnterest.
In the last game of the match, in which
Alekhίne had to play for a wίn or nothίng, he
chose to accept the Queen's Gambίt. Alekhine
would ίndubίtably have chosen the Dutch,
except for the fact that he had already played
ίt twίce (getting a draw and a loss) and Euwe
would be waiting for ίt. After 1 . d4 d5 2. c4
dxc4 3. Nf3, Alekhίne tήed the quaint idea of
3 ... Nd7. The poίnt ίs that ίf 4. e3 then 4...
Nb6; and although White regains the pawn
by 5. Bxc4 Nxc4 6. Qa4t, he has to concede
Black the two Bίshops. Euwe, however, played
4. Qa4!
SLAV DEFENSE
The Slav Defense was played five times by
Alekhίne and seven times by Euwe, and ίt
scored three out of the four Black wins ίη the
match. All these games started wίth:
Ι. d4 d5
2. c4 c6
 Extreme Chess
3. Nf3 Nf6
For the fourth move, Nc3 was choseη
seveη times and e3 five times. Hίtherto, the
maίη objectίoη to 4. e3 has beeη the Meran
Varίatioη. The Meran, however, ίs at preseηt
under a cloud or two, and both players studί­
ously avoίded veηturίηg upoη ίt. Uηtil thίs
match, however, there was thought to be ηο
quίte satisfactory alternative. Now ίt appears
that there ίs, ίη
4. e3 Bf5
5. cxd5 cxd5!
as played by Euwe ίη the 11th game and cop­
ίed by Alekhίne ίη the 16th game. Thίs should
be called the Euwe Defeηse, as he also tήed ίt
ίη hίs match wίth Bogoljuboff ίη 1928. After
these two games ίη whίch the whίte pίeces
faίled to make any ίmpressίoη, both players
abandoηed 4 e3 and resorted to 4 Ν c3.
Agaίηst 4. Nc3!, the reply 4 ... dxc4! was
adopted ίη sίχ games, whίle 4 ... e6 occurred
only ίη the 25th game. Ιη that game Alekhίηe
played 5. Bg5 and allowed Euwe to transpose
ίηtο the Cambήdge Spήηgs, but Whίte also
has the οptίοη of 5. e3, wheη Black ίs faced
wίth the problem of: Meran? Αηd ίf ηοt,
what?
Because Whίte has three optίoηs, 4... dxc4
ίs the more favored move; and although after
4. Nc3 cxd4
5. a4 Bf5
6. Ne5
Alekhίηe aηd Euwe each wοη a fίηe game
wίth Whίte (1 aηd20), ίt was through faulty
play by Black, as Euwe showed wheη he
carrίed the defeηse to vίctory ίη the 21st
game. The Bίshop-huηt 6. Nh4 was reη­
dered ηugatory by Euwe's ίηspίred retreat
6 . . . Bc8, so that altogether 4 . . . dxc4 came
out of the match wίth ίts reputatίoη slίghtly
eηhaηced. However, after 5. a4 Bf5, the
quίet but solίd move 6. e3 ! was uηtrίed. If
equalίty caη be showη agaίηst that also,
the Slav has a loηg lease ση lίfe.
The Dutch Defenses were hίghly ίηterest­
ίηg because Alekhίηe adopted the quaίηt ma­
ηeuver of. .. Bb4t, Bd2 Be7!?, afterreceηt Rus­
sίan models. Black loses a tempo, but the ίdea
ίs to prove that Whίte's c-Bίshop ίs worse than
useless at d2.
The Κίηg's Iηdίan Defeηse dίd ηοt show
up well. Euwe ίηvarίablypermίtted the Grίin­
feld varίatίoη and wοη three games to οηe;
and ίη the game he lost (the fourth) the black
pίeces were handled as ηο οηe ίη the world
but Alekhίηe could handle them, or would
ever dream of handlίηg them. The 4th game
stands out as οηe of the most dashίηg and
οήgίηal games ever played.
The maίη effect of the match ση world
chess wίll probably be a wave of popularίty
for the Slav Defeηse. The Κίηg's Pawn Opeη­
ίng, also, may gaίn a few more adhereηts, eveη
though the wίηηer of the coηtest dίd ηοt oηce
play ίt.
Fίrst Phase {GAMES 1-9):
SHOCK TACΏCS TRIUMPH
By shock tactics, Alekhίηe wίηs 5 games
to 2 ίη ηίηe games. But the eίghth game al­
ready foreshadows the turη ίη Fortuηe's
wheel.
Game l
(Amsterdam, 3 October)
QGD Slav Defense
Alekhίne-Euwe
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

1. d4 d5 Bogoljuboff.
1. c4 c6 14. Qcl!
3. Nf3 Nf6 Euwe now took 40 mίnutes over hίs next
4. Nc3 move-the lίmίt was 40 moves ίη 2.5 hoursι
Avoίdίng lίnes lately ίη fashίonι such as averagίng just under 4 mίnutes per move.
the Meran Varίatίonι Alekhίne decίdes to go 14. Rd8
back to one much favored by hίs bίtter ήval 15. Rfd1 0-0
Capablanca-doubtless remembeήng that ίt 16. Nb5!
secured Capa a wίn ίη hίs own match wίth
Euwe ίn 1931.
4. ... dxc4
5. a4
If 5. e3 b5 6. a4ι then 6 ... b4!; and Black ίs
well known to get at least equalίty (see the
23rd game) .
5. ... Bf5
6. Ne5
Keeps open the dίagonal of the c-Bίshop.
The sίmpler e3 ίs now more ίη favorι but was 16. ... Rxd1t?
eschewed by both players ίη thίs match. They
fought shy of anythίng quίet! Α necessaryprelude to the ίntended . . .Qa5 ι
6. ... Nbd7 e.g. 16 . . . Qa5? 17. Rxd8 Rxd8? 18. Bxe5 cxb5
7. Nxc4 Qc7 J.2. Bc7 wίnnίng. But the exchange cedes the
Vίtal. Black must enforce ... e5 ι to clear e6 d-file. Black could avoίd that by�-·· Qb8.
for hίs c-Bίshop when ultίmately hίt by e4. After 17. Νd4! Βc8ι atleastWhίte has no clear­
Otherwίse the Bίshop wίll get ίnto a backwa­ cut wίn. Also worth consίdeήng ίs ι�.· . . Qb6! .
ter at g6. Brίllίant analysίs b y Ragozίn runs: 16 . . . Qb6
8. g3 e5 17. Rxd8! Rxd8 18. Bxe5 cxb5 19. a5 Qc5 20.
9. dxe5 Nxe5 Qxc5 Bxc5 21. Bxb7 f6 22. Rc1 ! Bc4 23. Bc3
10. Bf4 Nfd7 Bxe2 24. Bxf6 Rd1 t 25. Rxd1 Bxd1 wίth good
11. Bgl Be6? drawίng chances through quίcker Κίng-devel­
Thίs ίs the move whίchι although played opment.
ι
on hίgh authorίtyι ίs the root cause of Black s 17. Rxd1 Qa5
dίfficultίes. Euwe evίdently has an obstίnate 18. Nd4 Bc8
streakι as he also faίled wίth thίs move agaίnst 19. b4!
ι
Capablanca. Vίdmar s sίmple untyίng move Euwe must have overlooked thίs when
11 . . . f6! ίs entίrely adequateι as proved up to choosίng a5 for hίs Queen. The Queen must
the hίlt ίη Capablanca-Vίdmarι Carlsbad retίreι for ίf 19... Bxb4H 20. Nb3 Qc7 21. Qe4
1929ι and Capablanca-Dakeι New York 1931. andapίece mustgo. If21 ... Βd6ι then22. Qd4;
After 12. Ο-Οι then 1J··· Be6! 13. Nxe5 fxe5! . or ίf21 . . . Βc3ι then 22. Rc1ι etc.
12. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qc7
13. 0-0 Be7 20. b5! c5
Suggested by Tartakower as an ίmprove­ 21. Nf5
ment on 13 ... Qa5ι whίch Euwe played on Black cannot take the Κnίght because hίs
Capablanca and Alekhίne hίmself played on b-pawn ίs vulnerable owίng to hίs forced
 Extreme Chess

20th. Observe the inexorable sequence. Indian against Kashdan at London 1932, for
21. ... f6? Κashdan can never resist the straightforward
Το ο late! White can now utilize the Κίηg's move.
diagonal through his command of d5. Better 3. Nc3 dS
would have been ... Bf6. 4. Qb3
11. Ne3 Be6 The latest from Russia. Preferable to the
23. Bd5 Bxd5 usual 4. e3 which shuts ίη the c-Bishop. If now
24. Rxd5! Qa5 4 ... c6, then 5. Bg5! Bg7 6. e3 0-0 7. cxd5 !
Ostήch! But back-to-the-wall heroics are Nxd5 8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. Ne2! and White stands
equally in vain; e.g. if24... Rd8, then 25. Qf5, well.
and the pressure ίs too heavy. 4 . ... dxc4
15. Nf5 Qelf 5. Qxc4 Be6
26. Κg1 Bd8 Α swashbuckling move that strikes the
11. Bxe5 fxe5 keynote of Alekhine's policy almost through­
18. Rd7! Bf6 out the match, namely, to throw Euwe ση his
19. Nh6t Κh8 own resources as early ίη the opening as pos­
30. Qxc5 Resigns sible. The ίdea is to compel the Queen to move
again, before White has a chance to avoid this
with e4. But the gain of time is ίllusory since
Game 2 Black's pίeces have to go to bad squares. See
the fourth move.
Griinfeld's Defense 6. Qb5 f Nc6
7. Nf3 Rb8
Surprise again, but this time without cir· 8. Ne5! Bd7
cumspection. Alekhine fatally overreaches 9. Nxd7 Qxd7
himself ίη the opening. He then surrenders a 10. d5! Nd4!
pawn to make the win hard, and Euwe is not Alekhine correctly takes the bold course.
happy till he has given ίt back for an attack­ If 10 ... Ne5, then 11. Bf4! If 10 ... Nd8, then
which, however, requires such finesse to carry ll. e4!
through that hectic excitement develops. ll. Qd3 e5
Euwe's play is magnificent throughout. 11. e3 Nf5
13. e4 Nd6?
Euwe-Alekhine Α fatal access of caution! Back into the
jaws by 13 ... Nd4! was the only hope ofequal·
Ι. d4 Nf6 izing. If then 14. f4 Qe7! 15. Be3 c5 and Black
1. c4 g6 threatens ... Bh6.
Alekhine rarely plays thίs, one of Euwe's 14. f4 Qe7
own favorίtes. Our guess ίs that Alekhine, af. 15. Be3! Ng4!
ter studying games ίη which Euwe has had to The only move to make a fight; for if 15 ...
play against hίs own defense, discovered that exf4, then 16. Bxa7 and Bd4-or if 15 ... a6,
Euwe had a predilection for the straightfor· then 16. fxe5 and Bd4 ίs too fierce.
ward move 3. Ν c3. That permίts the Grίinfeld 16. Bxa7 Ra8
Defense whίch suits Alekhίne because it gives 17. h3!
a fairly open type of game. The same explana· Black must not be given tίme to open the
tion would apply to Alekhίne's choίce of the long dark diagonal for his Bishop. The inter-
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

est now centers in Euwe's energetic pursuit of then 36. Nxe4 Qxe4 (if 36 ... Rxe4, then 37.
his advantage. Qb3t and38. Bf3, pinningthe Rook) 37. Qf7t
17. Rxa7 Κh8 38. Bf3 [Ed.: Thσugh 38. Bj3 αppeιm tσ mαke
18. hxg4 Bg7 life miserαble fσr Blαck, 38. Qcl seems mσre cer·
19. Qe3 Ra5 tain. Then 38... Rdd8, αnd here 39. Rb4!! is α
10. f5 Bf6 decσying thunderbσlt! 39 ... Qd5, 40. Rb5!.] Qe3
21. a4! [Ed.: Purdy's 38... Qe3 lσσks goodfor White's Rook
Schlechter·wise, White is going to press going tσ α2, but 38... Qd3 slows thαt down because
forward on both wings, taking advantage of it immediately αttacks the IVjl αnd "threαtens"
the target Rook. check. However, 39. Bc6 threatens 40. Be8 and αt
21. Bh4t the same time the Q/fl prσtects the IVjl. Νσw
11. g3 Bg5 Blαck has 39... Qc4! This would cσnfuse some plαy·
23. Qf3 0-0 ers ofwhite, butifthey continue with Purdy'sRa2!,
14. b4 Raa8 this time on move40, itwould win. 39... Qc4dσes α
15. Ra1 Ne8 lσt ofworkfor Blαck, butin the end, ittσσfails αnd
26. Rb2 Nf6 sσ dσes 38... Qd3.] 39. Ral with the Rook head·
17. Be2 ing for a7, wins.
Freeing the Queen. 35. ... Rd6
17. c6H 36. Nd5! Κg7
18. dxc6 b:x:c6 Not 36 ... Nxd5? because of 37. Bc4.
19. 0-0 37. Rcl!
Black's Knight has now stopped any Courageously rejecting the simple 37. Ral
chances for White in the h-file. because of 37 . . . Nxd5 ! 38. Ra7 Nxb6 39.
19. Rad8 Rxb7t Rxb7 and Black could make a strenu·
30. Κg1 Rd4 ous resistance (pointed out by Lδwenfisch).
31. b5 c:x:b5 Alekhine probably tempted 37. Ral deliber·
32. a:x:b5 Rb8 ately, by playing 36 ... Κg7 instead of ... Κh8.
33. f:x:g6 37. ... N:x:d5
An option worth reserving-better b6! 38. e:x:d5 Rxb6
(Lδwenfisch), If 38 ... Qxd5, then 39. Rc7t and 40. b7! is
33. ... f:x:g6 the winning line.
Opens lines for White. 39. Rc6 R:x:c6
34. b6 Qb7 If 39 ... Rb3, then 40. Bd3!; and the possi·
35. Κh3! bility of Qe4 and a sacήfice on g6 enters, be·
sides the threat of d6. Alekhine sealed his
next; and after adjournment analysis, in·
formed a fήend that Euwe could finish him
off in half-a-dozen moves.
40. dxc6 Qe7
41. Bc4! Κh6
41. Qh1 ! Rb2
43. Rf1 Qe8
If 43 ... Qc5, simplest is 44. Qd5. This
threatens mate in three by Rxh7t, so Black
Saving the e·pawn; for if now 35 ... Nxe4, must exchange Queens and then give up his
 Extreme Chess

Bishop by ...Bd8, remainingwithout chances. when it appeared ίη Russia-and last year ίη

44. c7 Rcl Sydne� independend�
4S. Qb7 Resίgns 4. Bxc3 f
If45 ... Rxc4, then 46. Rxh7t! S. bxc3 dxe4
6. Qg4 Nf6!
7. Qxg7 Rg8
Game 3 8. Qh6 cS!
The 1867 analyst gave 8 ... Rg6 first, but it
French Defense is better to reserve that option.
Winawer Variation See the note to move 10.
9. Ne1! Nbd7
There ίs beauty ίn the bellow of Lδwenfisch gίves 9 ... Nc6! with coun­
the blast, terpressure. If 10. BgS � 11. Qh4 cxd4 12.
There ίs grandeur ίn the growl· cxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 QxM14. BbSt Bd7! and
ίng of the gale, Black emerges with at least equal chances ίη
There ίs eloquent outpourίng all vaήations.
When the lion ίs a·roarίng, 10. Ng3 Rg6?
And the tiger ίs a·lashίng of hίs Now unnecessary and unwise as ίt only
taίl. throws whίte force onto the weak e-pawn.
Far better was 10 ... QaS; if then 11. Bdl, eί­
We reca11 these facts to notice, lest the im­ ther 11 ... Qa4 or 11 ... b6 gives a satisfactory
pression of wildness which this game creates game for Black. Aie- khίne claims a slίght posi­
deceive anyone into thinking it must be a sec­ tional advantage for White by !1 Qdl.
ond·rate exhibition. Alekhine is a Prospero Το smite a fixed weakness is nearly always
who has himself created the tempest that good. Το smίte a piece that can go to a good
howls about him and is turning it to his own square is frequendy bad.
ends with the utmost sureness. 11. Qe3 NdS
11. Qxe4 Nxc3
Alekhine-Euwe 13. Qd3 NdS
14. Be1! Qf6
Ι. e4 e6 1S. c3 cxd4
Now given the palm among the close de­ 16. cxd4 N7b6
fenses. 17. BhS! Rg7
1. d4 dS 18. Bf3
3. Nc3 Bb4 Alekhίne has gained a vital tempo sίnce
While 3 ... Nf6 may ultimately turn out to he now threatens NhS.
be soundest, Winawer's move has the meήt 18. ... Qg6
of permitting White only one reply of real If .. �, then a4 and Ba3.
.

meήt, theoretically speaking-viz. 4. eS! 19. Be4! fS

4. a3H 10. Bf3 Κf8
Therefore Alekhine will play anything BhS was threatened.
rather than that! The text move was analyzed 11. a4!
up to the 9th move ίη the Deutsche Schach­ Prevents Black from quίedy completing
zeitung ίη 1867, but we do not know of ίts hίs development by ...Bd7·c6 because of aS
having actually occurred ίη play until 1934- followed by NxfS! (with either Qa3t or Ba3t
 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1935

ίη reserve). carήes them through wίth a successίoη of ίη­

21. Rc7 trepίd fiηessesι culmiηatίηg ίη a beautίful sac­
11. 0-0! Bd7 ήfice. Α memorable game whίch transports
23. Ba3t Κg8 us back a hundred years-La Bourdoηηaίs re­
14. aS Rc3 ίηcarnated by ηaturalίzatίoη!
If 24 ... Νc4ι theη 25. Nxf5! The text also
loses a clear pawη. Thus Black ίs already lost. Euwe-Alekhine
Thίs game ίs an example of how a theoreti·
cally ίηfeήοr liηe for Whίte may ηeed oηly Ι. d4 Nf6
the very slίghtest assίstance from the oppo· 1. c4 g6
ηeηt to turn ίt ίηtο a wίηηer-gίveη an Ale­ 3. Nc3 d5
khiηe to squeeze the last drop out of the pοsί­ 4. Qb3 dxc4
tίοη at every move. 5. Qxc4 Bg7
15. Qbl Na4 Improvίηg ση hίs first essay.
26. Bxd5! exd5 6. Bf4
17. Q:xb7 Qc6 More exact was 6. e4! (as played ίη the
28. a6! Nb6 12th game); and ίf 6 ... Ο-Οι theη 7. Bf4!
If 28 ... Qxb7ι theη 29. axb7 Bc6 (or 29 ... (Lδweηfisch).
Nb6
......
30. Βb4ι etc. ) 30. Bd6; andBlad'is equally 6. ... c6
helpless. The rest ίs just desperatίoη. 7. Rdl
19. Bc5 f4 If 7. �.ι theη 7 . . . b5! 8. Qd3 b4 wίth good
30. Nf5 Κh8 chances; e.g. 9. Na4!? Ba6 10. Qe3 Bxf1 11.
31. Ne7 Qe6 Κχf1 Nh5.
32. B:xb6 Bc6 But 7. Νf3! was sίmple and good.
33. Nxc6 Rg8 7. ... Qa5
34. Ne5 8. Bdl b5H
Το stop the perpetual by ... Rxglt. Ηοποr of hoπors! Black voluntarίly sad­
34. ... Rg7 dles hίmselfwith a backward pawn ση an ex­
35. Qb8t posed file. Such moves were commoη a ceη·
Careless ηοw. Quίcker was 35. Bxa7ι offer- tury agoι before backward pawns were ίη­
ίng the Queeηι or 35. Bc7. veηtedι but are ηοw made oηly by begίηηers
35. Rc8 and genίuses. If quίetly 8 ... �6 9. Qd3 Na6
ι
36. Ng6t Rxg6 (Lδweηfisch) ι Whίte can show up Black s bad
37. Q#4 Q:xb6 layout by 10. Qb1 !
38. Qe5t Rg7 9 . Qb3 b4
39. Qxd5 Rd8 10. Na4 Na6
40. Qe5 Qxd4 ll. e3 Be6
41. Qxd4 Resίgns 11. Qcl 0-0!
Obvίously such aη οpeηίηg must be
brazeηed out wίth pawη sacήfίces.
Game 4 13. b3
Whίte could wίη eίther the b-pawn or the
Grίinfeld's Defense c-pawηι but prefers to leave Black wίth hίs
weaknesses to worry over-ηaturally eηough.
ι
Alekhίηe agaίη employs shock tactίcs and Howeverι after 13. Qxc6 Black s compensa-
 Extreme Chess

tion ίs doubtful sίnce 13 ... Bd5? ίs unsound

andhίs only move ίs 13 ... Nc7. Then !1· Nc5;
-
and ίf 14 ... Rac8, then 15. a3!
Feeble, however, would be U. Bxa6? Qxa6
14. Bxb4 Rfb8! for if 15. a3! Bf5 16. Nc5 then
Black recovers hίs pawn well by 16 ... Qxa3! !
(desperado motif).
13. ... Rab8
14. Bd3
If 14. Qxc6, then _Η . . . Nc7 15. Nc5 Bd5!
16. Qa4 Qb6! 17. a3 (forced) a5 ! wίth good 20. exd4!!
w
comp sation. 21. :fxg4 dxe3
11 14. ... Rfc8 11. Bxe3
15. Ne2 If 22. Bxb4, then 22 ... Nd5! 23. a3 (ίf 23.
(Either here or next move, Bxa6 and Nc5 Ba3, then 23 ... Qa5t) a5, regaίnίng the pίece
meήted consideration; but Whίtejίbs at swap­ wίth a winnίng posίtion.
pίng a Bίshop for a feeble Κnίght until he can 11. Nxg4
actually wίn a pawn thereb y.) 23. Bf4 Bc3t
15. ... c5! 24. Rd1 Rxc5!
The backward pawn ίs lίterallyworse than 15. Nxc5
useless to Black, and he must sacήfice ίt; oth­ If 25. Bxb8, then 25 ... Qe8t; and Black
erwise Whίte sίmply castles wίth a strategi­ wίns the Queen by a Κnight fork.
callywon game. Or if Q .. Nd7?, then 16. e4! 15. ... Qxc5
16. Bxa6 Qxa6 Black could have made the wίn clearer by
17. Nxc5 Qb5 25 . . . Re8t 26. Ne4 (if26. Kd1, then26 ... Bxdl)
18. Nf4?
.....
tl
Bxdlt 27. Κxdl Qd5 8. Kc1 Qxe4.
The start of White's trouble. Many sug­ 26. Bxb8 Qe7f
gestions have been made here, but commen­ 17. Κd1 Ne3 f
tators have agreed that none ίs clearly satίs­ 28. Kc1 Nxc1
factory. They have all mίssed the sίmple lίne 19. Rxc1 h5
of 18. e4! Nd7 19. Be3! Black can then no All that Alekhίne's bήllίance has brought
longer prevent Whίte from castlίng and ίs hίm ίs a supeήor endgame requίήng consίd­
forced to regaίn hίs pawn at the expense of erable care to wίn. Here he provίdes a flίght
swappίng hίs best Bίshop-thus 19 . . . Bxd420. forhίs Κing, sure to be neededwhen the Rooks
Nxd4 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 Nxc5 22. Nxe6 and come ίn.
White has at least an even endgame. 30. Rd1 Bg7!
Of course not Ί§. Qd3?? because of 18 ... So that the Queen can get ίη front of the
Rxc5. Bίshop for mating threats.
18. ... Bg4! 31. h3 a5!
Inίtίatίng a magnificent combίnatίon The next step: exposure of the enemy
against the uncastled Κing-a familίar "mo­ Κing-the only way to make full use of a
tif:' Queen.
19. f3 e5! 32. Bf4 Qe4!
20. Nfd3 33. Bc7 Qe3f
34. Κbl a4
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

35. bxa4 b3 and develop5 quietly.

36. axb3 Q:xb3t 10. Be2 Bb7
37. Kcl Bh6f 11. 0-0 Qd7
38. Rddl Qxa4 12. Qdl Rad8
39. Be5 13. Rfd1 Qc8
39. Kd1 prolong5 it. 14. Qe1 e5!
39. Κh7 The moment. Black ί5 now able to play
40. Bc3 Qb5 15 ... Nd4-finely calculated. Al5o good was
41. Bd4 Qe2 14 ... Rfe8, but Euwe had made up hί5 mind
42. g4 Qe1 f before the match that "only by fearle55ne55
43. Κb2 Bxdl could he 5Ucceed:'
44. Rc8 Bc1 f! 15. d5 Nd4!
45. Resigns. 16. Bxd4 exd4
17. �4 c5
If 17... Nxd5, then 18. Bg4!
Game 5 18. Ra4 Nxd.S
19. Bg4! Qc7
French Defense 20. Rxa7 Nxc3
Winawer Varίation 21. bxc3
Whίte has won "half a pawn," but hi5
Another "French:' While too canny to try queensίde pawns are 50 weak that he can do
4. a3 a 5econd time, Alekhine 5till avoίds the no more than hold the po5ίtion. If 21. Qxc3?,
probably be5t but too much analyzed 4. e5 by then 21 . . . Qb8 22. Ra4 Bf6 23. Qb3 Bc6 etc.
re5orting to 4. Nel. The game will probably [Ed.: "etc:' is always α dangerσus cσmment. What
become a model ίη this variation. happens after 24. Ra6?]
21. Ra8
Alekhine-Euwe 22. R:xb7 Q:xb7
23. Bf3 Qd7
1. e4 e6 24. Bxa8 Rxa8
2. d4 d5 25. Qe4 Ra4
3. Nc3 Bb4 26. Qe2 Bf8
4. Nge2 dxe4 27. h3 Qe6
5. a3 Be7! Or27... c4!
6. Nxe4 Nc6 28. Qxe6
The normal order i5 6... Nf6. The text de­ If28. Qb5, then 28... Qc4!
pήve5 White of the doubtful option of pin· 28. :&e6
ning the c-Κnight by Bb5. 29. Rb1 Rxa3
7. Be3 Nf6 30. Ne4 Ra6
8. N2c3 0-0 31. Κf1 Be7
9. Ng3! 32. Κe2 Κf1
Blackthreatened ...Nxe4andf7-f5-f4, win­ [Ed.: ChessBase giνes 32 ΚjΒ.]
••.

ning the d-pawn. 33. Κe3 Bd8

9. •.. b6 34. Rd1 Κe7
If9 ... e5, then 10. d5 compel5 10 ... NbB; 50 Drawn by agreement.
Black po5tpone5 hi5 challenge ίη the center If35. Ng5, then 35 ... Ra2!
 Extreme Chess

Game 6 19. Qxf3 Bg6

20. Nc3 Nb6
QGD Slav Defense Again the same predicament (if20 ... Qb6,
then 21. Qe2!, threatenίng f2-f4-f5!). So, in
Refuting an ίnferίor varίation of the Slav desperation, Black offers a clear pawn.
Defense wίth hίgh-voltage chess, Euwe wίns 21. Qe2
a pawn but falters just before the adjourn­ And Whίte declίnes ίt! His reason ίs that it
ment; and he ends up fightίng for a draw­ would free Black's imprίsoned lίght-squared
whίch he pulls off ίη a most ίngenίous style. Bishop-e.g. 21. dxe6 c4 (probably) 22. exf7t
Bxf7, wίth some ίnίtiative. Euwe prefers to
Euwe-Alekhίne retain his pressure.
21. ... e5
1. d4 d5 22. Be3 a6
2. c4 c6 Το "blockade" by ... Bd6 wίthout having
3. Nf3 Nf6 to fear the anti-blockader NbS and also to
4. e3 Bf5 prevent Qb5.
In the 11th game, Euwe proves this to be 23. h4! Bxh4
quite a sound answer to 4. e3. 24. Bxc5 Rfc8
5. cxd5 Nxd.5? 25. Be3 Be7
But 5 ... cxds! must be played. 26. Rfc1 Bd6
6. Bc4! 27. Nd1 Rab8
Betterthan the usual 6. Nbdl which blocks 28. Rxc8f Rxc8
the c· Bishop. 29. Bb1
6. e6 And wίns a pawn after all! White wίll then
7. 0-0 Nd7 have two passed pawns, justίfying hίs previ­
8. Qe2 Bg4 ous abstentίon.
9. h3 Bh5 29. Nc4
10. e4 N5b6 30. Bd3 Nxe3
11. Bb3 Be7
12. a4!
Smarting under Alekhine's shock tactics,
Euwe takes brilliant revenge.
12. 0-0
13. aS Nc8
14. a6! Qb6
15. axb7 �7
16. Bal c5
The weakened pawn must advance, giv·
ing Euwe the position he has played for. 31. Bxa6
17. d5 Ne5 But, as the pawn can wait, White should
Black cannot play 17 ... eS because of 18. have "reserved the greater option" here by
d6! and 19. BdS. And if 17 ... Qb6, then 18. 31. Nxe3 ! If then 31 ... BcS, there follows 32.
Νc3; and Whίte threatens g4 followed by Νdl! Bxa6 Qa? 33. Rc1. Or 31 ... Ra8 32. Rxa6 Rxa6
and f2-f4-f5 ! 33. Bxa6 Qb3 34. Qc4! Orfinally, 31 ... Rb8 32.
18. g4 Nxf3t Nc4 BcS 33. NaS Qb6 (not 33 ... Qxb2? be-
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

cause of34. Rb1 !) 34. Nc6 ( Ragozίn). In every and must struggle for a draw. Havίnghad time
case, Whίte emerges wίth a wίnnίng advan· for adjournment analysίs, he decίdes that he
tage. must play Ne3, gίvίng up the cheήshed b·
31. Qa7 pawn, and fίrst cushίons hίmself agaίnst
32. Qxe3 Bc5 ... Rxb2.
33. Qd3 41. Rb6
33. Qe2! to hίnder a kίngsίde counterat· 43. Ne3! Rxb2
tack by ...h5. 44. Qc4 Bxe3
33. Rb8 45. Rxe3 Rb6
34. Qe2 Qe7 46. Qc8t Κh7
35. Rcl hS! 47. Qf5t Qxf5
36. Rc3 Rb4 48. exf5 f6
49. Rd3 Rd6
50. Rdl Κh6
51. Κg3 ΚgS
51. Be4 g6
53. fxg6 f5
54. g7 Bf7

37. Bd3
Thίs and the followίng move relegate the
Bίshop to a backwater-the object of Black's
cunnίng Rook maneuver. By 37. Bc4!, fol·
lowed by b3!, Whίte coψd have freed all hίs
pίeces: e.g. 37 ... Bd4 38. Rg3 hxg4 39. b3 Bh5
40. Ne3 and although Black has regaίned hίs 55. Rhl ?
pawn, Whίte retaίns hίs passed pawns wίth Euwe spoίls thίs ίngenίous drawίng com·
wίnnίng chances stίll. bίnation by putting hίs Rook ση the wrong
37. ... Rb8 fίle. Coπect was 55. Rc1 !-whίch would have
38. Bbl gίven the same draw as the text after 55 ...
Stil1 38. b3, or 38. Ba6 for repetition. fxe4-but would have enabled Whίte to cope
38. ... Bd4 wίth the defense mentioned ίη our next note.
39. Rh3 55. ... fxe4?
39. Rg3! would have saved a tempo whίch Black could have won by 55 ... Rg6! But
would have enabled Whίte, at any rate, to not after 55. Rc1!: e.g. 55 ... Rg6 56. Rc7 Rxg7
draw wίthout much dίffίculty. Euwe was 57. d6 Κf6 58. Bd5 [Ed.: 58. Bxf5 Κχj5 assures the
pressed for time here. draw more easily becau.se Black has one less pawn
39. QgS to throw at White. 59. dl Rg8 60. Rc8 Be6 61. Rxg8
40. Κg1 hxg4 Bxdl.] f4t 59. Κh2 Rh7t 60. Κg1 Bg6! 61. d7
41. Rg3 BhS Ke7 62. Bg8! Rh8 63. RcB Κχd7 64. Be6t Κχe6
41. Bc1! 65. Rxh8 wίth a probable draw for Whίte
Whίte ίs now ίη danger by ...g6 and ...f5, (analysίs by Ragozίn up to move 60).

ι:='! 41 ι:='!
 Extreme Chess

There are two pήncίples behίnd 55. Rc1. 4. Nge2 dxe4

Fίrst, the Rook ίs freer on the queenside; sec­ 5. a3 Be7
ond, the c-file ίs adjacent to the passed d-pawn, 6. Nxe4 Nc6
a vital factor when the pawn wants to get It would have been more canny to revert
from the 7th to the 8th rank. to the normal order by 6...Nf6.
After the double blunder, the game is Alekhine now spήngs a tήcky move.
drawn. 7. g4!? b61
56. Rh8 Rg6 The only answer to be feared was 7 . . .
57. d6 Rx.d6 e5!, a n extremely complίcated lίne which
58. g8=Qt Bxg8 Alekhine could rely on Euwe avoίdίng, as
59. Rxg8t Κf5 all players have a horror of walking ίnto
60. Rf8t Κe6 an obviously prepared varίatίon. After 8.
61. Κχg4 Rd3 d5 Nd4 2,;.N2g3 (ίf9. Nxd4, then 9 ... Qxd5)
62. Re8t Κf6 Qxd5 ! Black has gaίned a pawn wίth a good
63. f4! exf3 e.p. game. If now 10. c3 ? Bxg4! 1 1 . Qxg4 Nc2t
64. RfSt Κe6 12. Ke2 Nxal 13. Qxg7 0-0-0 14. Bh3t
65. Rxf3 Rd2 Kb8 15. Be3 Nc2. White cannot yet play
66. Rf8 16. Qxh8? because of 16 . . . Nf6 ! ; and if 16.
And draws by continually threatenίng to Bf5, then 16 . . . Nxe3 17. fxe3 h5 18. Qxh8
get the Κίηg ίη front of the pawn. h4 and Black regains hίs pίece with advan·
66. Rd3 tage-for if 19. Nh5? , then 19 ... Nf6! (up
67. Rf3 Rd1 to move 13 ίs analysίs by Botvίnnίk) .
68. Κg3 e4 Second-best was 7 . . . Nf6 8. Nxf6t Bxf6 9.
69. Rf8 Rd2 Be3 Q 10. d5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Bxd4
70. ReSt Κf5 Qxd5 13. Bxf6 Qxd1 t 14. Rxdl gxf6 and Black
71. Re7 Ra2 should draw.
72. Re8 Rb2 Euwe's too cautious defense ίs now splen­
73. Re7 Drawn dίdly refuted.
8. Bgl Bb7
9. c3 Nf6
Game 7 10. N2g3 0-0
11. gS! Nxe4
French Defense 12. Nxe4 Κh8
Winawer Variation Το free his c· Κnight, Black must avoid
Nf6t.
Agaίn transposing hίs Κnίght moves as ίη 13. Qh5 Qe8
the 5th game, Euwe ίs confronted by a star­ 14. Nf6!!
tlίng pawn-push specially concocted ίη the
ίnteήm-it baffles hίm.

Alekhine-Euwe

1. e4 e6
2. d4 dS
3. Nc3 Bb4
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

(apparently a beautiful knock-out), then 25.

cxd4 Bxh1 26. Bh6! Rag8 27. Rxc7 Bb7 (only
chance) 28. e6! ! wίns.
11. ψe4 fx:e4
23. Bh4 h6
24. 0-0-0 Rae8
15. Bf6t Κh7
26. f4! exf3 e.p.
17. Bxf3!
Depήvίng Black of all chances, and there·
14. ••. Bxf6 fore better than the wίn of the Exchange by
If 14... gxf6, then 15. gxf6 Na5 (not 15 ... Bd3t.
Bxf6H�) 16. Bxb? Nxb7 17. fxe7 Qxe7 J,B. Bh6 17. Na5
wίth advantage to Whίte, owίng to Black's 28.Bxb7 N:xb7
weakened e-pawn. 19.Rd7 Nc5
15. gxf6 gxf6 30.Rxf7t Κg6
Α case where a pawn ίs better than a 31.Rx:c7 Nd3t
Bίshop. 32.Κb1 Κf5
16. Qh4! Qd8 33.Rd1 Nxe5
If 16 ... QeΠ�, then 17. Be4 wίns a pίece. 34.Rflt Ke4
Whίte's posίtion ίs well worth the pawn. 35.Rx:a7 Nc4
17. Bf4 e5 36.Rd7 Κe3
Or 17 ... f5, but Whίte exchanges Queens 37.Re1t Κf3
and regaίns hίs pawn wίth the supeήor end­ 38.Rx:e8 Rx:e8
game. 39.Rd4 Ne3
18. Bg3 f5 40.Rh4 NfS
19. dxe5 Rg8 Adjourned. Black resigned ση resump·
10. Bf3 Qd3 tion.
11. Be2
[Ed.: If White tries to gain material with 21.
Bxc6 heis met with ll . . Ba6!.]
. Game 8

QGD Slav Defense

Alekhίne tήes an unusual ίdea ίη the Slav,

but goes wrong ίη followίng ίt up. Euwe pur·
sues hίs advantage and wίns a dίfficult end­
game whίch both masters handle splendίdly,
avoίdίng all the oversίghts subsequently made
by annotators!

11. ••• Qe4 Euwe-Alekhine

Botvίnnίkqueήes thίs and gίves 21 ... Qcl,
but then probably 22. Qf6t Rg7 �: Bf4 Qxb2 1. d4 d5
24. Rc1 wίth a wίnnίng attack; for ίf24... Nd4 1. c4 c6
 Extreme Chess

3. Nf3 Nf6 27. a5

4. e3 e6
5. Nc3 a6
Sometimes played on the following move
(5 ... Nbd7, 6. Bd3 a6), but then it leads into a
line of the Meran, which Alekhine was evi·
dently determined to avoid. Played here, it
forces White's hand; for if 6. Bd3?, then 6...
dxc4, followed by 7 ... b5 and 8 ... c5 with an
obviously satisfactory game.
6. c5 b6
At his next attempt, Alekhine played 6 ... 27 . ... Kc7
Nbd7, reserving the option of the altemative White is threatening a6 and then Rxc5!,
breakthrough by ...e5. etc. Black must give up a pawn, but he obtains
7. cxb6! Nbd7 drawing chances with Bishops of opposite
8. Na4! Nxb6 color.
9. Bd2! Nxa.4 28. Bxc5 Bxc5
10. Qxa.4 Qb6? 29. Bxd5 Κd6
As ... Bd7 must come, Black should have 30. Bb7 Ba7
played it at once, leaving White nothing bet· 31. a6 Rd8
ter than 11. Ne5 c5 12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qxd7t 32. Rb2 Rd7
with a slightly supeήor endgame. 33. Rd2t Ke7
11. Rc1 Bd7 34. Rc2 Rd6
12. Ne5 Qxb2 35. Rc7t Rd7
13. Nxd.7 Nxd.7 36. Rcl Rd6
14. Bd3! Rb8 37. f4!
15. Ke2! Rb6 After a few clock moves, Euwe takes a
16. Rb1 Qa3 step toward winning. The text threatens
17. Qxa.3 Bxa.3 to cramp Black by e4-e5. Το stop that, Black
18. Rxb6 Nxb6 is induced to weaken his e-pawn. Νote that
19. Rb1 Nd7 both players follow the general strategical
20. Bxa.6 rule of keeping their pawns on squares of
Now White has the pawn he wanted- the color ΝΟΤ commanded by their own
giving him a remote passed pawn. Bishops.
20. Ke7 37. f5
21. Rb3 Bd6 38. RcS Rd8
22. Bb7 c5 39. Rc7t Rd7
23. a4 Bb8 40. Rc3 Rd6
Black must blockade the pawn. There is 41. Rc7t
nothing in 23 ... c4? 24. Rb5 as the Bishop Further repetitions have carried Euwe to
must still play to a7 shortly, and then White's the adjoumment duήng which he can plan
clark-squared Bishop enters at b4. out his win in peace.
24. Rb5 Ba7 41. Rd7
25. dxc5 Nxc5 42. Rc3 Rd6
26. Bb4 Κd6 43. h4!
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

Κχd8 47. e4!, with a simple win. But instead

of 45 ... Rd8, Black would transpose into the
actual garne by 45 ... Rb6!
However, there is a refinement ίη 45.
Rc7t! first. After 45 ... Rd7 (forced), then 46.
Rc8! If then 46... RdB?, we have Flohr's win;
and if46... Rd6, then 47. Bc6! and White wins
[Ed.: Purdyfinds α win and saves time by repeat·
ing, but 4 7. Ra8 wins easily.]: if 47... Bb6, then
48. Bb5! Rd5 49. Rb8 Rxb5 50. a7 etc.; and if
43. ... g6 47... Κf6, then 48. Rf8t Ke7 (or Kg7) 49. Ra8
Because of hίs weakness at e6, Black's Rook Bb6 50. a7!
can ηο longer afford to retire from d6, so long White would thus have obtained a clearer
as White's Rook stays back, because of Bc8: win than in the text, it seems, though not
e.g. 43 . . . Rd8? 44. Bc8! Bb8 45. Rc6 Rd6 46. necessarily a shorter one. [Ed.: And even the
a7! winning. clearest win with 47. Ra8!.]
Nor can Black move his Κing or Bishop! If 45. ... Rb6!
43 ... Kd8, then 44. Rc8t Ke7 (if 44... ΚdΠ, 46. Rc7t Κd6
then 45. Rg8) 45. Bc6 produces a wίnning The point: 46... Κf6 is no longernecessary.
variation discussed ίη the third paragraph of 47. Rg7 Rb2t
the note to garne-move 45. 48. Κd3 Ra2
Or 43 ... Bb6 44. Rc8-zugzwang! If Black If 48 ... Rb3t, then 49. Kc4 Rxe3? 50. Bf3
tries to stave off zugzwang via pawn·moves, wins.
he soon runs out of such moves, e.g. 44 . . . g6 49. Rxg6 Ra3t
I
45. Rh8 h5 46. Rc8! If Black tries 44... Rd8?, 50. Kc4 Bxe3
then 45. Rc6 Rd6 46. Rxb6!; and if 44 ... Ba7 51. Bd5 Bxf4
(or a Κing move), then 45. Bc6! again wins as 52. Rxe6t Kc7
ίη the note to garne-move 45. [Ed.: 45. Ra8! !.] 53. Rc6t Κb8
Finally, Black cannot attempt counterat· 54. Rg6!
tack by 43 ... Rb6 because of 44. Rc7t Κf6 45. Preventing 54 ... Bg3 because of 55. Rg7!
Bc8 Rblt 46. Κf3 Bb6 47. Rb7 followed by 48. 54. Bc7
Rxb6! [Ed.: Weirdly, 4 7. Rc6 is even stronger as it 55. Bb7
picks up the pawn on e6 and will soon win the
Bishop.]
Therefore, Whίte's plan ίs simply to ex­
haust Black's pawn·moves.
44. Rc1 h5
45. Rc3
And now it is zugzwang! But there ίs one
slight catch: because Blackhas cleared the sev·
enth rank of pawns, he ίs now able to venture
ση the counterattack by ... Rb6 which enables
him to make a great fight. 55 . ... Κa7
As an altemative to the pure waiting move This has been generally condemned, but
played, Flohr suggests 45. Rc8 Rd8 46. Rxd8 it actually gives the longest resistance: after
 Extreme Chess

55 . . . f4 56. Rg8t Κa7 57. Kb5 Rb3t 58. Kc6 equal chances. If 7. e5, then 7 ... cxd4 8. Bdl
Rc3t 59. Kd? Black ίs helpless-Whίte threat- dxc3 9. bxc3 [Ed.: Purdy gave 9. exf6 Qc7!.].
ens Rg5; and ίf59... Rc5, then 60. Rc8 Kb6 61. 7. Qe3 Nxe4
a7 etc. 8. Bd3! f5
56. Rg5 Bd8 9. Nge2
57. Rxh5 Bxh4
58. Rxf5 Κb6
59. Rb5f Kc7
60. Rb3 RaS
61. Κd4 Bf2t
62. Κe4 Κd6
63. Rd3 f Κe6
64. Bc8f Κe7
65. Rd5 Ra4f
66. Κf5 Bg3
67. Rd7f Κf8 9. ... c5
68. a7 Bf2 Romanovsky gίves 9 ... e5 !-freeίng the
69. Ba6! Resigns Bίshop-wίth a good game ίη all varίatίons. If
10. dxe5, then ... d4!
If 10. Bxe4, then 10 ... fxe4 11. dxe5 Nc6!
Game 9 If10. f3, then 10 ... f4 11. Nxf4 Qh4t. If10.
f4, then 10... exd4 11. Qxd4 [Ed.: Purdy had 11.
French Defense Nxd4 bιιtitlooks Hke α typo.] Qh4t.
Wίnawer Varίation 10. Bxe4 fxe4
10 ... dxe4! Now Whίte starts wίnnίng.
Alekhίne unearths yet another shock 11. Qh3! Nc6
move agaίnst Euwe's "French" and ίs once Euwe has been cήtίcίzed for thίs gamble;
more rewarded by early mίstakes. The won­ but ίf 11 ... Qe?, then 12. Nf4 Rg5 (must) 13.
der to us ίs that, when he deάded to use the a3! Bxc3t (ίf13 ... Ba5, then 14 dxc5) 14. Qxc3
Wίnawer Defense, Euwe omίtted to swot up and Whίte has too strong an ίnίtiatίve. These
the Russίan analysίs of ίts unusual vaήations. players don't dίscard obvίous moves wίthout
a reason. The gamble loses, but Euwe reck­
Alekhίne Euwe
- oned ίt was more worth tryίng than defense.
12. Qxh7 Qf6
Ι. e4 e6 13. Nf4 cxd4
2. d4 d5 Black must go on wίth hίs ίdea. Eίther 13 ...
3. Nc3 Bb4 Rg? or 13 ... Rh6 ίs knocked out by 14. Nh5.
4. Qg4! ? Nf6! 14. Nxg6 dxc3
Why the mίserable move 4 ... ΚfΒ whίch 15. b3 Ne7!
the crίtίcs say Euwe should have played? The 16. Nxe7 Bxe7
text move ίs chess. 17. h4 Qf7!
5. Qxg7 Rg8 18. Qh8f Qf8!
6. Qh6 Rg6 19. QxfSt
Russίan analysts have shown that the dί­ Of course not 19. Qxc3??
rect counterattack by 6 ... c5! gίves Black quίte 19. ... Κχf8
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

10. Bg5 e5 Game lO

21. f3! exf3
11. gxf3 Ba3! QGD Slav Defense
23. f4! Bf5
24. fxe5 Bxcl. This game was undoubtedly a poor exhi­
15. 0-0t Κg8 bition by Alekhine who was already lost after
26. Racl! nine moves. But it would be unfair to Euwe
By judiάously permitting Black to carry to conclude that this was due to a sudden lapse
out his ingenious scheme in toto, White can ofform on Alekhine's part. Looking back, we
now give back mateήal for a clear-cut win see that Alekhine's opening play was equally
(the two passed pawns will win despite the bad in three out of four of his previous games
Bishops of opposite color). with Black! In the second game, his 5 ... Be6?
26. B:xc1 was a swashbuckling thrust ίη the dark that
17. Rxc1 Bf5 met the fate it deserved. In the sixth, his open­
18. Rxc3 Rc8 ing also gave him a lost game; and it was only
19. Rf3 Rf81 the clock that saved hίm. In the eighth, Ale­
Black's only chance was to keep the file he khine made a serious mistake as early as his
had seized: 29... Be6 30. Rf6 Rc6, making the tenth move. Only in the glorious fourth, in
win much harder. which Euwe made the first error, did Ale­
30. Bf6 Be4 khine's wild play with the Black pieces suc­
Better was 30 ... Bg6. ceed.
31. Rg3t Κf1 Furthermore, it has to be admitted that
32. h5 Rc8 Euwe's play in the present game is perfect;
Not 32 ... Rg8 because of 33. e6t. andalthough he actuallymakes Alekhine look
33. Rg7t Κe6 rather sίlly, he could easίly have gone wrong.
34. h6 d4
35. h7 Rc1t Buwe-Alekhine
36. Κfl Rclt
.

37. Κg3 Bxh7 1. d4 d5

38. Rxh7 Rxal 1. c4 c6
39. Κf4 b5 3. Nf3 Nf6
40. Ke4 Relt 4. e3 e6
And Black resigned without resuming. 5. Nc3 a6
6. c5 Nbd7!
Probably an ίmprovement on the 8th game
in which Alekhine played 6 ... b6.
Second Phase (GAMBS 10-15): 7. b4 a5
SHOCK TACτiCS COLLAPSB In the Au.str&ιlι:ι.siι:ι.n Chess Review we gave
7 .. b6 now (followed by 8 ... a5, unless Whίte
.

Having gained a lead of 3 points in nine
games, Alekhine loses it completely in the
next six, scoήng three losses with Black and
only drawing with White.
anticipates thatwith 8. a3). We still thinkthis
would make the vaήation playable for Black
by giving him freedom ση the queenside.
Alekhine, however, was not looking for equal­
ity-just gambling.
8. b5 Ne41
 Extreme Chess

Α glaήng example of the delίberate choice 18. Nd6 Qg6

of an infeήor move ίη order to create chances 19. b6 Be7
for the opponent to go wrong. Alekhίne 20. Nc4
dίscards 8 . . . Be7 because ίt would lead to a Now wίth the threat ofNe5.
quίet positional game ίη Whίte's favor, and 20. ... Qg5
8 ... e5 probably because ίt would leave Whίte 21. Bd2! e5
such a clearly indicated course of proce· In this wretched posίtion, Alekhίne real·
dure (8 . . . e5 9. Be2! e4 10. Nd2, and we izes that ίt ίs no use trying to hold everything,
have a battle ofpawn·chains ίη whίch Black's so why not have a run for his money? The last
is vulnerable to f3) . 20 moves are just skittles on his part (he took
9 . Nxe4! dxe4 15 mίnutes over them) . That was logical
10. Nd2 fS enough, for it would not pay to fatigue him·
11. f3! Q.h4t self-especially if he felt stale-just for a hun·
Alekhίne has succeeded ίη infusing fire dred-to-one chance, whίle Euwe would have
into the game-to burn hίmself. to play wίth great care ίη any case.
12. g3 Q.h6 22. Nxe5 Be6
13. Q.e2! 23. Rf4! Q.h6
Here White had a good chance to go wrong 24. a3 gs
by playing the obvious 13. Qb3, whereupon 25. Rf2 Qg7
13 ... a4! would dήve the Queen either to c3 26. Rafi h5
(open to a smite by . . .Nf6-d5) or to a3 (dan· 27. Κh1 Q.h7
gerously on the lίne of the black f.Bishop). 28. Bc3 h41
13. ... Be7H 29. gxh4 Q.xh4
The inevitable pawn-sacrifice to brazen Oversight or delίberate? It doesn't matter.
out a precarίous opening-as in every one 30. Ng6 Q.h7
of his four prevίous games with Black! If 31. Nxf8 Rxf8
14. fxe4, then 14 . . . fxe4 15. Nxe4 0-0; 32. dS!
and White is prevented from kίngside cas· Ίypical of Euwe-sacήficίng a pawn for a
tling. Not full compensation, but Euwe feels dίagonal to make the wίn clear.
he has a positional win and does not care 32. Nxd5
to lose the ίnitiative for a pawn. Suppose 33. Rxf8t B:x:f8
Euwe had done so, and Alekhίne's tactical 34. Bd4 Be7
brίllίance had prevailed-then Alekhine's 35. Q.fl Q.h4
previous play would never have been called 36. Q.xh4 gxh4
bad, just "psychological! " 37. Bxe4 Bd8
14. Bgl 0-0 38. Bf5 BxfS
15. 0-0 Nf6 39. Rxf5 Ne7
16. Nc4! 40. Rf6 Nc8
Another pawn·offer ήghtly refused: if 16. 41. Rxc6!
fxe4, then 16... Ng4! Pretty. After this move, and before Ale·
16. ... Bd8 khίne had resίgned, some of the spectators
The lesser evίl was 1 6 . . . Bd7 17. Nb6 startedclapping; Alekhine ίs saίd to have asked
RadB-though White would soon wίn the a· Hans Κmoch, dίrector of play, to remove
pawn. them.
17. fxe4 &e4 41 . ... Resigns
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

Game l l Ι3. NbS Q.d7

Ι4. 0-0! a6
QGD Sia.vDefense Still Black cannot take the e·pawn (15.
Rc7!). Black could, however, have saved a
Apparently having run out of surpήse tempo by 14 ... Rfc8! (Flohr).
moves against the Winawer Vaήation of the IS. Nd4 Nxd4
French Defense or perhaps not feeling up to Here Black could have taken the e-pawn,
fireworks, Alekhine goes back to the Queen's but White would regain it with the better
Gambit-the opening he played in Game 1. position after 16. Nxf5 exf5 17. Bc3 or 17.
Being two games down, it is Euwe's turn to Rfd1. Euwe's move leads to clear equality. Any
spring a surpήse, which he does by playing improvement in White's play must be looked
the 4... Bf5 defense with which Alekhine got for between his 6th and 11th moves.
such a sorry opening in the sixth game. But Ι6. exd4 Rac8
Euwe demonstrates that there is a ήght way Ι7. Bb4 Bzb4
and a wrong way of playing that vaήation. Ι8. � Rcl!
What may appear a drawish position is
Alekhine-Euwe oftena volcano. Here, forinstance, mostama·
teurs would play 18 ... Rxc1 19. Rxc1 Rc8-
Ι. d4 dS whereupon White would crash in with 20.
l. c4 c6 Rc5. Then if 20 ... Rxc5, White would obtain
3. Nf3 Nf6 the majoήty of pawns on the queenside. Be·
4. e3 BfS ware oflosingan open file even for one move!
Το have proved this valid (in reply to 4. e3) Ι9. RΣcl BΣCl
is the main contήbution ofthe match to open­ 10. Rci Rc8
ing lore. ΖΙ. h3 Rc6
s. adS adS! zz. Q.aS h6
6. Nc3 e6 13. b4! Ba4!
7. NeS Nfd.7! 14. Rzc6 ψc6
The only move on the board-otherwise ZS. Q.d8t Q.e8
White wins by 8. g4 Bg6 9. h4 h6 10. Nxg6, 16. Q.c7 Q.c6
giving Black a hopeless pawn layout. 17. Q.b8t Κh7
8. Q.b3 Q.c8 18. Bd3t g6
Awkward. But if 8... Qb6, then the ex­ 19. ΚhΖ Κg7
change of Queens followed by Bb5 (checking 30. Q.d8 Bcl!
or pinning) gives White hot pressure. White threatened Qf6t and Bxg6!
9. BdZ Nc6 Drawn
Probably an improvement on the imme­ White can force a draw by Qf6-d8-f6 and
diate exchange of Κnights as in the 9th game so on, and has nothing better.
of Euwe's match with Bogoljuboff in 1928.
ΙΟ. Rci Be7
11. Bel Game 12
White is ahead in development, but his
pieces 1ack scope. Grtιnfeld's Defense
11. NdxeS
ΙΖ. dxeS ο-ο Alekhine's 7th and 8th moves m.ake this
 Extreme Chess

game a bad blσt ση the match. The game was ίη a ηet. By 12 ... Bg4 he might have prσlσηged
played ση Alekhίηe's 43rd bίrthday, 19 Octσ­ the agσηy.
ber 1935. Ι3. Nxe4 NxdS
Ι4. Qci Bf5
Euwe-Alekhine Ι5. Ng3 Rc8
Ι6. Qd1 N:xf4
Ι. d4 Nf6 17. Q:xf4 Bc1
1. c4 g6 Ι8. Qb4 Qd8
3. Nc3 d5 Ι9. Nei Ba4
4. Qb3 dxc4 10. Rbi Bd4
5. Qxc4 Bg7 11. Nf3 Bc5
6. e4! 11. Qh4 Bc1
Αvσίdίηg the premature 6. Bf4 whίch he 13. Rbci f6
played ίη the memσrable fσurth game. Must-tσ stσp Ng5. White cσuld ησw get
6. ... 0-0 twσ Bishσps fσr Rσσk and pawη, but he pre­
7. Nf3 fers sίmply tσ wίη a pawn.
Lδweηfisch ίs the σnly man tσ cήticίze 14. Bc4t bxc4
thίs mσve, pσίηtίηg σut the supeήσήty σf 7. 15. Qxc4t Κg7
Bf4 whίch gaίηs tίme by fσrcίng ...c6. The 16. Qxc1 QaS
pσsίtίση ίs quίte dίffereηt frσm that ίη Game 17. Qe1 e5
4 as Black has castled and ίs thus a mσve be­ 18. a3 Be7
hiηd fσr the purpσses σf the cσmbίηatίση 19. Nd4 Rxci
there adσpted. 30. Rxci Κh8
7. ••• a6H 'Ήere Black missed excelleηt resίgnίng
Οηe crίtic remarked that 'Όpίηίση ίs chances!" (Tartakσwer).
unanίmσus that ... c6 was better here." 3Ι. Nc6 Qc7
But Lδweηfίsch gives 7 ... b6!!; and ίf 8. 31. Qxa6 Rc8
Bf4, theη 8 ... c5! 9. dxc5 Ba6 10. Qd4 Qxd4 33. Nfl Rb8
11. Nxd4 Bxf1 12. Rxf1 Nxe4 and the lσηg 34. Nxe7! ψe7
fianchettσ dίagσηal tells ίη Black's favσr. The 35. Rc8t Resίgns
text mσve seems tσ be based ση an extraσrdί­
ηary mίscalculatiση.
8. Bf4 b5? Game 13
Fatalistically pursuίηg hίs ίdea. Hσwever,
the altemative 8 ... c6 wσuld leave Black vίrtu­ RuyLopez
ally lσst with sσ many tempσs gσηe west.
9. �c7 Qe8 Back tσ 1. e4. And Euwe, after lσsίng 3.5
Alekhίηe's σήgίηal ίηteηtίση was presum­ pσiηts ίη fσur tήals σf the "Freηch," decides
ably tσ play 9... Qxc7 10. Bxc7 b4 and wίn the tσ wήte them σff as a bad debt. He cσηducts a
e-pawη, σverlσσkίηg that 11. Na4 wσuld Mσrphy Defeηse tσ a Ruy Lσpez bήlliantly,
threateη Nb6! Evίdeηce σf sheer lassitude. but lets an easy wiη slip away.
ΙΟ. Be1 Nc6
11. dS! Nb4 Alekhiηe-Euwe
11. 0-0 Nxe4
Black has ησ gσσd mσve as hίs b-Κnight ίs Ι. e4 e5
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

2. Nf3 Nc6 21. Q.a3

3. Bb5 a6 The poίnt ίs that ίf 21. Qb3 then 21 ... dxc4
4. Ba4 Nf6 22. Qxc4 Ba6, etc.
5. 0-0 Nxe4 21. dx:c4
The more enterpήsίng of the two branches 22. Nc3 Nx:cS!!
of the Morphy Defense.
6. d4 b5
7. Bb3 d5
8. dxe5 Be6
9. c3 Be7
10. a4
Alekhίne revίves an old move whίch he
strengthens by a fίne pawn-sacrίfίce-evί­
dently not a prepared one as he makes a slίght
eπor ίη followίng ίt up.
10. ... b4! Settίng a bήllίant trap and probably at least
ll. Nd4! as strong as the more clear-cut wίn by 22 ...
The old move was Re1 whίch leads to very Nxc3! 23. bxc3 Re2 24. Ra2 Bxg2! 25. Rxe2
lίttle. Bxf1 andWhite comes out a pawn downwίth
ll. Nx:e5 an exposed Κing ίη all vaήatίons.
12. f4! Nc4 23. Be3
13. f5? If23. Nd6?, then23 ... Bd4t 24. Κh1 Bxg2t
But here ίt was better to leave the Bίshop 25. Κχg2 Qg4t!! 26. Κh1 Re1 ! and mate must
for the Κnίght to exchange off ίf hίt by ... c5 follow-beautίful!
andtoplay 13. Qe2!, threatenίngBxc4. If13 ... 23. Q.c6
Nc5, Rίumin (in the new Russian newspaper 24. Rf3H Nd3!
[Ed.: Purdy was probably refeπing to "64:']) gives 25. Rafi Rx:e3!
14. Bc2!, wίth a good attacking game; and ίf Here 25 ... Re5? has been suggestedas more
13 ... Na5, then 14. Bc2! c5 15. Nxe6 fxe6 16. "solίd," but the reply is 26. Rg3!
Νd2 agaίn wίth a good attacking game. 26. Nx:e3 Bd4
13. ••• Bc8 As this lets the white Queen in, 26 ... Qb6
14. Q.e1 was perhaps more decisίve. But the wίn ίs still
Threatenίng two points. Not 14. Nc6? be­ safe.
cause of 14 ... Bc5t. 27. Q.e7! Ne5
14. ... Bb7 28. Κh1! N:xf3
15. cx:b4 c5! 29. Rx:f3 Rf8
With this, however, Black shows a con- 30. h3
vίncing advantage.
16. f6 Bxf6
17. NfS 0-0!
18. bx:c5 Re8!
Euwe could take eίther pawn, but charac­
teήstίcally he prefers to pίle on pressure.
19. Q.b4H Q.c8
20. Bx:c4 aS!
 Extreme Chess

47. Rxc6 RaS

48. Rc7 RD4
49. Κd1 gS
so. Κc3 hS
S1. Κb3 Ra1
sz. Κc4 g4
Α better chance was consolidation by 52...
Κg6.
S3. hxg4 hxg4
S4. Κd4 Κg6
Not 30. Nxc4?? because of 30... Qxf3!!
30. ••• BΣe3 l
Α sadly mίstimed simplίfication. Flohr
pointed out a simple win by 30... Qb6 31.
Nxc4 (anything else loses at least a second
pawn) Qb4! Then, forexample, 32. Qxb4axb4
33. Rf4 bxc3 34. Rxd4 c2!.
31. � Qe6
31. Rg3 Re8
33. QgS QeS
34. Q.xeS RxeS SS. ΚeS l
3S. Rg4 Re3 The move to draw was 55. Κe3! If then
More invίting than 35 ... Rc5; it goes badly 55 ... Ra4, there would follow 56. Rc4! Ra3t
against the grain to use a Rook to defend a 57. Κf4 Κh5 58. Rc8!.
pawn. If35 ... Re1t 36. Κh2 Rc1, then not37. ss. ... f6tl
Rxc4?, because of 37... Rc2!, but rather 37. ButBlackmίsses the win: 55 ... Ra4! Ifnow
Rd.4! -probably drawing. 56. Rc4, then 56... f6t! 57. Ke6 Ra6t 58. Kd5
36. Κg1 Κg5 59. Rc7 f5 and the two black pawns are
Not 36. Rxc4? because of 36... Rxh3t 37. away.
Κg1 Rh6! S6. Κf4 Ra4t
36. Rd3 S7. Κg3 fS
37. Rxc4 Rd1 S8. Κh4 Κf6
38. b4! RxgZt S9. Rb7! Drawn
If Black takes the b·pawn, he cannot win The threats of lateral checks and the fact
the g·pawn! that Black must never allow White's Rook to
39. Κf1 Rb1 put itself en prise to Black's Rook with check
40. Rd4! g6 prevent Black from forcing a win. Rather
41. b:ι:aS Rc1 tragic.
Not 41 ... Bg2t? and 42 ... Bxh3, because of
Rd.St and a6.
41. NbS Κg7 Game 14
43. Κe1 RcS
44. Rd6 Bc6 Gιiinfeld's Defense
4S. a6 B:ι:bS
46. a7 Bc6 Alekhine stubbornlypursues hίs gambling
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

tactics with yet another cast in the dark (on 9... f5, then 10. cxdS! cxd5 11. g4! e6 (if 11 ...
his4th move), only to find himselfonce again 0-0, then 12. gxf5 wins in all variations) 12.
with a lost opening in the face of flawless play gxf5 gxf5 (if12... exf5, then 13. Qb3 wins) 13.
by White. After some exάting chess, Euwe QhSt and Black's Κing shoώd become too
finally extracts the full point and draws level, troublesome to him. Another suggestion was
whereat all Holland rejoices. 9 ... dxc4 10. Bxc4 e6; but then, as Black will
need at least two moves to develop his
Euwe-Alekhine c-Bishop, White is three tempos ahead, and
Black still has the weak h·pawn! Black must
Ι. d4 Nf6 not yield his share of the center. Finally, 9 ...
2. c4 g6 Κf1 allows White to gain further time by 10.
3. Nc3 dS Qc2, again threatening Rxh7!
4. Bf4 The text move loses a pawn; but White
For a change. must give back two of his ill-gotten tempos,
4 • ••• NhSJ so that Black at least gets a chance to free his
Assuming that Euwe had prepared against pieces.
the normal move 4... Bg7!, Alekhine follows 10. Rxh7! fS
his usual policy of surprise at any cost. He Not 10 ... Κχh7Η because of 11. QhSt.
gets the two Bishops, but a shoddy position 11. Rhl eS
otherwise. 12. dxe5 B:e5
5. Be5! f6 13. Nf3 Bw t
6. Bg3 Nq3 14. bw Qt6
7. hΣg3 c6 15. adS!
8. e3 This is the way to play chess. Euwe gives
back the pawn for only one tempo-to utilize
the exposure of the enemy Κing.
15. •.•
Q;Wt
16. ΚfΙ Qt6 !
ln the forlom hope that Euwe might be
content to win back his pawn. Euwe makes
the game look easy, but how many others
woώd have played exactly the same way?
17. Rcl! adS
18. Rc7 Nd7
19. Bb5! Qd6
8. ••• Bgn
The only move here was consolidation by
8... e6! If 9. Bd3 f5 10. g4, Black has time for
10 ... Qb6! If thereupon, say, 11. Rb1, then
11 ... Nd7 12. gxf5 gxf5! 13. QhSt Kd8, fol·
lowed by ... Nf6 with a playable game.
9. Bd3! 0-ΟΗ
This pawn sacήfice was probably deliber·
ate, forwe submitthatBlackhas alosinggame
in any case. White was threatening Rxh7! If
 Extreme Chess

10. Rc4? affords a practίcal justίficatίon of Black's des­

Here, however, Euwe's usua!ly bήllίant perate flίng ση hίs 9th move. Wίth a lost game,
combίnatίve powers faίl hίm, showίng that don't look for the slowest way of losίng-look
he was tίred after hίs heavy struggle ίη the for the best chance of not losίng!
13th game wίth ίts heartbreakίng result. 34. g4 Bg6
Crushίngwas20. Qd4!; for ίf20 ... Qxc7, then Whίte threatened 35. gxf5 Qxf5H 36.
21. Rh8t Κf7 22. Ng5t Ke7 (forced) 23. Rh7t Rxflt; and ίf 34... Rg8?, then 35. Rxflt!. Or
KeB 24. Qxd5! ! and Black can only delay mate 34... Rc7? 35. g5t.
byspίte checks. Andif20... Rf6, then21. Qh4! 35. Rxb7 Q.a1t
After thίs lapse, Euwe plays magnίfίcently 36. Κg1 Rh8
and wίns stίll. 37. g5t Κχg5
10. Nf6 38. Q.f4t Κf6
21. Rch4 Q.c5 39. Q.d6t Κg5
11. Ba4 Q.c3 40. f4t Κh6
13. Ng5 Κg7 41. Q.e7! Resigns
14. Nh7! Rd.8
15. Nxf6 Κχf6
16. Rh7 Be6 Gam.e 15
17. R1h6
Threatens Rxg6t!!-ίnstructίve to work QGD Slav Defense
out.
17. Bf7 The best struggle up to thίs poίnt. Euwe
18. Κg1! Rg8 mίsses hίs thίrd wίn. Had he struck ίt, the
19. g4! Rg7 game would have gone down as a masterpίece.
30. gxf5 Rx:h7
31. Rx:h7 gxf5 Alekhίne-Euwe
31. Bb3 Q.e5
33. Q.f3 1. d4 d5
1. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4
5. a4 Bf5
6. Nh4
The "new ΚrauseAttack;' whίch thίs game
wίll smash. The 'Όld Κrause Attack" 6. Ne5,
chosen by both players ίη other games ίη thίs
match, ίs better. Characterίstίcally, both ίg­
nore the quίet 6. e3, now generally consίd­
33. ... Rc8? ered soundest.
Thίs only drίves Whίte to play the move 6. ... Bc8!!
he wants to play. By 33 ... Qal t 34. Κh2 Qe5t Α brίllίant ίnnovatίon. The Κnίght ίs left
35. g3 Rd.8!, Black could have gaίned tίme for pawίng the aίr; and ίf he wίthdraws, natu­
consolίdatίon as the g-pawn ίs pίnned; and ίf rally Euwe repeats-havίng the Black pίeces
36. Kg2, then 36 ... Qe4. Whίte would then and a level score. However, after 7. Νf3! Bf5,
have been hard put to ίt to find a wίn. Thίs Whίte could then try Ne5! or e3!
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

7. e3 Observe how Euwe seizes every opportu·

If 7. e4, Black's reply is even stronger. nίty of making small sacήfίces of mateήal to
7. ... e5! secure the initiative. This is a sacήfice, for
8. dxe5? although Euwe comes out wίth the advantage
Once again Alekhine chooses a gamblίng of two pawns for the Exchange, he started off
lίne. Α Flohr would be content to accept the a whole pawn up.
fact that his opening had been refuted and 10. exd4 Rd8
would equalize simply by 8. Nf3! 21. Κf2.
8. Qxd1t If 21. Rhbl, then 21 . . . Nd3 22. Bxd3 cxd3
9. Nxd1 Bb4t 23. Rb4 a5 etc.
10. Bd.l 21. Rxd4
If 10. Nc3, then 10 ... Ne4 11. Bd2 Nxd2; 11. Κe3 c5
and Black has the two Bishops. 23. Ra3! Bf5!
10. Bxdlt 24. g4 Be4
11. Κχd1 Ne4t 15. Rf1
11. Ke1 Be6
13. f4
Now we have a fighting game such as
Alekhine likes on pήnciple-a heavy king­
side majoήty fights a heavy queensίde major­
ity. But White is so backwardίn development
that the dice are loaded against him.
13. Na6!
14. Nf1 N:xf1
15. Κχf1 0-0-0
16. Nf3 Nc5 15. ... Bc6?
11. Be2 Lasker demonstrated that the simple 25 ...
If 17. Nd4, then 17... Nb3! a5! (fix the weakness first!) would have won.
17. ... Nd3t Also 25 ... Bd3 (or on the previous move) has
18. Κg3! been analyzed out to a win. We may assume
Again gamblίng, andthis time logίcally, as that Euwe had taken much time over his 19th
18. Bxd3 would only simplίfy the game into a move and was already clock-worήed. That, of
quίet positional loss. In reply, certainly not course, only shows the wίsdom of Alekhine's
18... cxd3?, but 18 ... Rxd3! Then the Rooks choice on move 18.
crash in-for example, 19. Rhdl Rhd8 20. Ke2 26. aS Nd3
Rb3, and the weakness of Whίte's queenside 17. Rc3
pawns comes to lίght. The sequence 27. Bxd3 cxd3 28. Rxd3??
18. ... Nxb2 loses a Rook!
19. Nd4 Rxd4!! 17. Re4t
Only by this splendid bit of chess is the 28. Kd.l Nxf4
gamble refuted. 1t is surprising what chances 19. Bxc4 Rd4t
White can manufactιυe ίη any other lίne; but 30. Kcl Be4t! ?
a full analysis, while filling one wίth admira­ 31. Κb3 gS!
tion for Euwe's depth and jud.gment, would Sad. But if31 ... Bg6, then 32. Rcf3 Nd5 33.
look too much lίke a page of algebra. Rxf7!-returning the Exchange for a winning
 Extreme Chess

endgame. Now begi.ns Euwe's great fight for

the draw.
32. Bxf1 b6
33. Κa3! Κd7
34. Bb3 Κc6
35. Rc4! Rzc4
36. Bxc4 b5
The Exchange has ga.ined Black time, but
against that you must set the general discom·
fort of playing with minor pieces alone when
the enemy has a Rook. 46. Re7
37. Bf7 c4 If 46. Re5f, then 46 ... Kb4 47. Rxg5 Bg6
38. Κb4 and the c·pawn marches. {Ed.: But eιfter 48. Κe3
If38. e6, then38... Bd5 39. Rel b4t! (Flohr). Nc2t 49. Κe2 c3 50. Rd5 there doesn't eιppeeιr to be
38. Nd3t eιny weιy to progress. If48... Nb3, White gets rid of
39. Κc3 NxeS his interfering Bishop with 49. Be4 Bxe4 50. Κχe4.]
40. Be8t Κc5 And if46. Be4, then 46 ... Ncl!
41. B:xb5! 46. ... Κb4
Sealed move. Not 41. Re1, because of41 ... 47. Be4l
b4f! The text regains the pawn sacrificed; for White wins by 47. a6!-for example, 47. . .
if now 41 ... Κχb5?, then 42. Rel, and after Nb3t 48. Ke3 Nc5 49. Bc8! c3 50. Rb7t! Kc4
rega.ining the piece the Rook hunts the scat· 51. Bf5 (Flohr).
tered pawns. With every exchange, a Rook 47. Bxe4
gains in value. 48. Rxe4 Nf3t
41. ... Bd3! 49. Κe2 Nxhl
41. Re1 Ng6! 50. Κf1
Not 42 ... Nxg4, because of 43. Bxc4! Nor The move 50. a6 gives Blackno option but
42 ... Nf3, for then 43 . Re3 Nxhl 44. Re5f. 50 ... Kb5, etc., and a draw results. The text,
Black must not open up the board for the on the other hand, gives Black a good chance
Rook. to go wrong.
43. Ba6 Nf4 50. ... a6!
44. Bb7 The wrong move was 50... Κb3?, where·
The move 44. Re5tH loses quaintly. [Ed.: upon 51. a6! wins .

It must be very quaint! Ι ceιn't find the win for 51. Κe1
Bleιck eιfter44... Nd5t. Then, 45. Kdl Κd446. Re6 His bluffbeing called, White's last hope of
Nb4.] winning disappears. If51. Κg2, then 51 ... Kb3,
44. Nelt etc.-drawing easily, despite contrary asser·
45. Κd1 Nd4 tions.
51. �
51. Rzc4 Κb5
53. Re4 aS
54. Re5t Κb4
S5. R:qS a4
56. Κd3 a3!
57. Κc1 a1
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

58. ΚbΖ a1•Qt see that, after all, the match is deάded by
59. Κχa1 Κc3 chess, not psychology-that is, by chess and
60. Rg7 h6! the mental and physical condition necessary
61. Rg6 I<d.3 for chess. But that doesn't make such good
Drawn journalism!
Rook vs. I<night is a draw if the Κing and
· I<night can get together-here that is easy. Buwe-Alekhίne
Thus, the scores were still level at half·way.
1. d4 dS
l. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6
Third Phase (GAMBS 16-19): 4. e3 BfS
.ΑLΕΚΗΙΝΒ RBGAINS τwο POIN1'S Alekhine played this first. Then Euwe
showed how it ought to be played. Now
The second half of the match starts with Alekhine shows how well he has learned his
the scores level. Alekhine now discards shock lesson. After this game, both players avoided
tactics and regains a lead of two points in the 4. e3 against the Slav and resorted to 4. Nc3.
next four games. Euwe collapses incompre· This points to the important conclusion that
hensibly in a drawn ending; and the point 4... Bf5 is, after all, an equalizing defense
minus induces him to play an unsound de· (against 4. e3); and we may now expect the
· fense in the 19th game, which brings about analysts to start stalking it in mass formation.
his second loss. 5. adS adS!
6. Nc3 e6
7. QJJ3
Game 16 Euwe does not succeed in demonstrating
that this is any better than, or even as good as,
Q.GD Slav Defense 7. Ne5!-the move chosen by Alekhine in the
llth game.
Α most interesting game for opening 7. ... Qc8!
. theory: Euwe has to play against his own de· The case for the defense rests on the fact
· fense-one hitherto scomed bytheorists-and thatWhite's Queen at b3 will ultimatelyprove
not only fails to refute it, but gets into a mess. to be badly placed and on the immobility of
He fights brilliantly for the draw; but when White's c·Bishop.
he has got it all done up in a parcel, he pro· 8. Bdl Nc6
ceeds to fling it away. Some of Euwe's moves 9. Rc1 Be7
between 50 and 58 give us the impression that 10. Bb5 0-0
he must have dήven himself silly with ad· 11. 0-0 Qd8!
journment analysis in the small hours.
In his newspaper story of the match, pub·
lished elsewhere in this book, Euwe concen·
p
trates on the sychological viewpoint. That is
because it is the most interesting and under·
standable for the man in the street who does
not play chess. When you see a game thrown
awaysimplyby blunders in the endgame, you
 Extreme Chess

11. Na4 20. Nd4!

Cήtics suggest 12. Bxc6 first, but what If20. b3, then20 ... Rc7!; andWhite's diffi-
about the loss of the light squares? culties increase.
For example: 12. Bxc6? bxc6 13. Na4 Rb8! 20. Rxbl
14. Qc3 (if 14. Qd1, then 14 ... Bd3) Bb4 (or 21. N:xf5 exf5
14 ... Ne4) 15. Qxc6 Bxd2 16. Nxd2 Bd3 17. 22. BxdS Nc3!
Rfd1 Be2! 18. Re1 Bb5 etc. This self-pin is the only chance of win-
12. NaS! ning.
13. Bxa5 ψaS 23. Κh1 g6
14. Nc5 Bxc5 24. Bb3 Rc5!
15. dxc5! 15. f3! aS
White's scheme, however, must be faulty 26. e4! a4
somewhere as he now has a bad game. This 27. Bd5 Rbb5!
way he gets a queenside majoήty, but the ad­ 28. h3 Κg7!
vanced c-pawn proves seήously weak. And if The win of the pawn can wait one move.
1 5 . Rxc5 ? (which has been suggested as 19. Rcl Nxd5
"safer"), then 15 ... Ne4 16. Rcc1 (forced) Bg4!, 30. Rxc5 Rxc5
threatening ... Bxf3 and ... Nd2-a treble fork 31. exdS RxdS
against which White has no adequate defense. 32. Rfl Κf6
15. Ne4! 33. Re2 Re5
16. Qa4! Qxa4 34. Rcl Re3
17. Bxa4 Rfc8! 35. Κhl Ra3
18. c6! 36. Κg3 Κe5
Ιί 18. b4, then 18 ... a5 19. c6 b5!, etc.; and 37. Rdl h6
White is still in trouble. 38. h4 h5
18. bxc6 39. Relf Κd6
19. Bxc6! Rab8 40. Κf4 f6
Black's pawn-majority is fictitious, of
course, insofar as it can never create a passed
pawn under its own steam; but itproves handy
for tying up the white Κing.
41. Rcl ΚdS
42. g3! gSf H
This general break-up leads to an easy draw
for White; suggestions are 42 ... Kd4 and 42 ...

� 58 �
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

Kd6; but as thίs was only two moves after the before the pawn fell, ίnstead of only one. In
adjournment, one can assume that Alekhίne such endίngs, the number of files between
had gone ίnto them pretty fully overnίght. the pawn and the defendίng Κίηg ίs the chίef
43. hxg5 :fxg5t factor.
44. ΚxgS! Rxf3 55. Rb8 Ra1
45. Rg2 Κd4 56. Κf3 Rxa1.
46. Κχh5 f4 57. Ke3!
47. gxf4 Rxf4 Α usually relίable annotator calls thίs also
48. Κg5 Re4 a blunder and gίves 57. Ra8?
49. Κf5 Re5t Actually, Ra8 gίves Black a comfortable
wίn by 57 ... a3. If then 58. Ke3, there follows
58 ... Ra1 ! 59. Rc8t Kb4! Euwe's move must be
the best because ίt bήngs the Κίηg nearer, and
ίt shoώd have drawn still. If now 57 ... a3,
Whίte draws by58. Rc8t and59. Kd3 asBlack's
Κίηg wίll be drίven ίη front of hίs pawn.
57. ... Rh1
58. Rc8f H
Thίs seems to us the most ίncomprehen­
sίble mίstake of all, yet we have so far seen ηο
50. Κf4� comment onίt. Itίs so obvίous that 58. Ra8! ίs
Here Whίte coώdhave drawn wίth ήdίcu­ better than the text sίnce ίt gίves Black less
lous ease by 50. Κf6, threatenίng ... Rg4t. If choίce. If then 58 ... Rh4, Whίte sίmply checks
then 50 ... Ra5, there follows 51. Rb2 Kc4 52. until he dήves the black Κίηg ίη front of the
a3 Rb5 53. Rxb5 etc. pawn (the black Rook cannot afford to ίnter­
50. ... Re8 pose) and then approaches wίth hίs Κίngfor a
51. Κf3 � book draw. Lίkewίse, ίf 58 ... Kb3, then 59.
And here Euwe allows hίs Κίηg to be Kd3; and now 59 ... a3 allows Rb8t, and the
dήven a file further off, whίch he coώd avoίd same book draw resώts.
sίmply by 51. Rdlt Kc3 52. Rhl. If then 52 ... 58. ... Κb1!
Kd3, sίmply 53. Rgl; and the Κίηg has e5 ίf 59. Rb8t
checked. And ίf 52 ... a3, then 53. Rg2 Rb8 54. The poίnt ίs that 59. Kd3 ίs now useless
Ke3 Rb2 55. Re2! drawίng easily (Flohr). because after 59 ... Rh3t 60. Kdl a3 Black can
51. Κd3 ίnterpose hίs Rook to a check ίη the file and
51. Rbl Rf8t thus avoίd putting hίs Κίηg ίη front of the
53. Κg3 � pawn.
Here 53. Kg2! makes thίngs easίer. And ίt 59. ... Kc1 !
was just a matter of elementary logίc. The 60. Rc8t
text gίves Black two ways of wίnnίng the Whίte coώd resίgn now. If 60. Ra8, then
pawn-Kgl gίves only one. See the next note. 60... a3!
53. •.• Κc3 60. Κb1 !
54. Rb7 Rfl ! 61. Rb8t Rbl
If Whίte's Κίηg were at g2, Black coώd 61. Ra8 Rb3t
onlywίn the pawn by ...Rd8-d2, whίch woώd
enable the saίd Κίηg to get two files nearer
 Extreme Chess

63. Κd4 a3 10. c6

64. Κc4 Κb2 11. Bb2 Ne4
65. Rh8 Rc3t 12. Rfcl Rd8!
66. Resigns. 13. Qel Qe6
14. a3 Nc7
ιs. cS
Game 17 Black's overprotection of d5 (following
Nimzovichian principles) induces White to
Colle System abandon his pressure in the center and to try
to promote activity on the flank-an optimis·
Α game that may stand as a model in this tic procedure rather reminiscent of McDon·
vaήation for all time. Euwe's development is nell against Labourdonnais. Naturally Black
a poem. Euwe has wήtten a monograph on starts regrouping for counterplay.
the Colle System by the by. Alekhine's choice ιs. Re8
of this opening shows an unwillingness to 16. b4 f4!
risk losing his one·point lead. 17. exf4 Nxc3
18. ψe6 Nxe6
Alekhine-Buwe 19. Rxc3 Nxf4
20. Rb3 a6
ι. d4 dS 21. g3 Ne6
2. Nf3 Nf6 22. a4 Bf6
3. e3 BfS 23. Rdl
The simplest ofall the defenses to the Colle Here Alekhine offered a draw. The Direc·
System. Hitherto the objection to it has been tor of Play objected under the 30-move rule.
that White could advantageously transpose That rule was subsequently suspended for the
into the Queen's Gambit by 4. c4. Buwe, how· rest ofthe match by consent ofDr. Reub, Presi·
ever, would then transpose into his special dent of FIDE.
vaήation ofthe Slav Defense by 4... c6-Games 23. Nc7
11 and 16 of the match appear to have reha· 24. Κf1 Re4
bilitated that vaήation of the Slav. 25. Bcl Rae8
4. Bd3 e6 26. Bf4 Ne6
Logical, as it prevents the theme move of 27. Be3 Nc7
the Colle, viz. e4. And the game was drawn by repetition.
S. BxfS exfS
6. Qd3 Qc8
7. b3 Game 18
Merely for the sake of varying from his
game with Kostich at Bled 1931 in which he Bnglish
castled first.
7. Na6! Euwe goes back to his old favoήte, the
8. 0-0 Be7! English Opening; but he finds Alekhine all
9. c4 Ο-Ο pήmed up with a brand new equalizer.
10. Nc3
If10. cxdS, then 10 ... Nb4! A black Κnight Euwe-Alekhine
would be splendidly posted at d5.
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

1. c4 eS ventures on an unsound defense-buoyed up

1. Nf3 by a slight improvement he has found in it.
This game shows that the customary Νc3 The improvement avails him not; and Ale·
first is better. Euwe, however, does not again khine becomes two points up, though he
try the English, perceiving that Alekhine has misses the quick win.
been waiting for it all along. Euwe coώd hardly afford to wait for the
1. ... e4! white pieces to go for his wins as a one-point
Dubbed "inferior" after Rιιbinstein­ lead was virtually a two·point lead for Ale­
Sίίmisch, Breslaιι 1925. khine since a drawn match woώd leave the
3. Nd4 Nc6 title in Alekhine's hands. This factor is one
4. Ncl that always works rather unfairly in favor of
4. Nxc6 also loses a tempo as Black recap· the title-holder. The notes are by Alekhine as
tures with a developing move (4... dxc6). they appeared in Chess.
4. Nf6
S. Nc3 BcS Alekbine-Euwe
6. b3
If at once 6. g3, trouble comes from 6 ... 1. d4 dS
Ne5. 1. c4 c6
6. ... 0-0 3. Nf3 Nf6
7. g3 dS! 4. Nc3 dxc4
This is Alekhine's equalizer. Samisch s. a4 e6
�8, and Rubinstein got the better
played 7 ... This, in connection with the previous
game
. through his control of dS. move, looks unsound-and is. The logical
8. adS Nb4 move is 5... Bf5.
9. Nxb4 BD4 6. e4 Bb4
10. Bg1 Re8 1. eS Ne4
11. ο-ο BfS Bogoljuboffin our first match game (1929)
11. Bb1 NxdS played 7 ... NdS andlost quickly. The text move
13. NxdS � is slightly better, but is still not satisfactory.
14. d3 Rad8 8. Qcl QdS
15. dxe4 Bxe4 9. Be1 cS
16. � An alternative was 9... b5 10. 0-0 Nxc3
Drawn by agreement. 1 1 . bxc3 Be7, with excellent chances for
Obviously the game woώd continue 16 . . . White.
Rxd5 17. Bxe4 Rxe4 18. Rfd1 Rxd1 19. Rxd1 10. 0-0 Nxc3
Bd6 and a draw coώd hardly be avoided. 11. bxc3 ad4
11. ad4 c3
13. Bdl!
Gam.e 19 Simplest wayto bring the opponent's strat·
egy "ad absurdum:' White regains the pawn
Q.GD Slav Defense and remains with an appreciable advance in
development.
Agoodgame. Beinga pointdown through 13. .. . QaS
flinging away Game 16 and noting that Ale­ The !eastevil was 13 . . . Nc6 14. Bxc3 Bxc3
khine was showingsigns ofsitting tight, Euwe 15. Qxc3 0-0 etc.
 Extreme Chess

14. Bxc3! Bxc3

15. Ra3

14. aS?
This enables Black t o put up a compara­
15. . .. Nc6 tively long resistance. After 24. Rd1 Qxa4 25.
Black avoids a pretty trap. At first sight it Qxa4 Bxa4 26. Rdc1 g6 27. Rc8t Rxc8 28.
would appear that he could play 15 ... Bd7 Rxc8t Kg7 29. Ra8 Blackwould probably have
because of 16. Rxc3 Bxa4 17. Rc8t Kd? 18. resigned.
Bb5t Nc6! etc. But after 16 ... Bxa4, White 14. g6
would play 17. Bb5t!! and win easily in all 15. Rd1 Qb4
variations. 26. Qc4 Rb8
16. Rxc3 Bd7 17. Qxb4 Rxb4
17. Rb1 0-0 18. h3 Bb5
The pawn sacήfice is as good as hopeless. 19. Rd8t Κg7
But 17 ... Rb8 18. Bb5 0-0 19. Ng5, etc., was 30. Rcc8 Rb1t
also unsatisfactory. 31. Κh1 Rbl
18. Rc5 32. Κg3
Ι thought this simpler than 18. Rxb7 Nb4 More exactwas 32. g4as Blackcannot take
19. Rc5, etc., which, however, would also have the f-pawn because soon thereafter either the
sufficed for a win. white g-pawn or the white King would
18. ... Qd8 threaten to occupy g5 and generate thereby
If 18 ... Qc?, then 19. Ng5, etc. an unstoppable threat of mate.
19. Rxb7 Bc8 32. Rb3t
10. Rb1 Nxd4 33. f3 Rb2
Losing the Exchange. In any case, White's 34. Rg8f Κh6
extra pawn would have decided the game 35. Rc7 Bf1
without difficulty. 36. Rxf7 Rxglt
21. Nxd4 Qxd4 If 36 ... g5, then 37. f4!, winning.
11. Bf3 Bd7 37. Κf4 gSt
23. Bxa8 Rxa8 38. Ke3 Re2f
39. Κd4 Rdlt
40. Ke3 Re2t
41. Κd4 Rdlf
41. Kc3 Rd3 t
43. Kcl Ra3
44. f4
Doubtless the best, perhaps the only move.
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

The idea is to prevent the Bishop from occu· Game 20

pying the bl-h7 diagonal.
44. gxf4 QGD Slav Defense
45. Rxf4 Be2
46. Rf6t Κh5 His expeήence in his match with Capa·
47. Kd.l! Bc4 blanca and in the first game of the present
48. Rg7 h6 match having taught him the practical diffi­
49. Rgg6 culties of Black's game in the Κrause vaήa·
tion ofthe Slav (6. Ne5), Euwe decides to play
it himself. Sure enough, Alekhine goes wrong,
and Euwe crashes through to reduce his defi·
cit to the single point again.
This game scaredAlekhine off the Slav for
the rest of the match.

Euwe-Alekhine

Ι. d4 dS
The final touch. If now 49 ... Rxa5, then 1. c4 c6
50. Rx:h6t Kg5 51. Rfg6t Κf5 52. Rg4! and 3. Nf3 Nf6
wins. The remaining moves need no com· 4. Nc3 dxc4
ment. 5. a4 Bf5
49. Rd3t 6. Ne5 Nbd7
50. Kcl Rd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7
51. Rxh6t Κg5 8. g3 e5
51. Kc3 BdS 9. dxe5 Nxe5
53. Κd4 Ba8t 10. Bf4 Nfd7
54. Ke3 Bd5 ll. Bgl f6!
55. Rhg6t Κh5 For notes οη this and the previous moves,
56. Κf4 Rh7 see Game 1. There Euwe played 11 ... Be6 and
57. h4! Resίgns lost.
11. 0-0 Rd8
Α new move which Euwe copies in the
next game! Normal is 12 ... Be6.
Fourth Phase
(GAMBS 20-26): 13. Qcl ! Qb8?
ΑLΕΚΗΙΝΕ CAUGHT AND PASSBD Not liking 13 ... Be7 because of 14. Nxe5
followed by Nd5 and exchange of Κnight for
In the next seven games, Euwe scores 5.5- Bishop, Black utilizes his previous move to
1.5, which beats even Alekhine's burst of 5-2 remove the Queen from the dangerous file.
in the first seven. In several of these games, Euwe immediately proceeds to show up the
Alekhine's hankeήng for tactics reasserts it· move's defects, and in the next game shows
self with disasterous results. True, he should what Alekhine should have played.
have won the 24th game (drawn); but Euwe 14. Ne4! Be7
should have won the 23rd. 15. Qc3 ! 0-0
16. Radl Be6
 Extreme Chess

That Alekhine had. to play this move at 31. f4 μf4

last, to force an exchange and relieve the con· 32. μf4 Κf6
gestion, is proof that he shoώd have played it 33. e4 gS
on move 12 or 13. 34. fS hS
17. NxeS NxeS 35. h4 μ:h4
17 ... fxe5 was better, though White woώd 36. Κhl ΚgS
still force an exchange of Κnight for Bishop 37. Κh3 Ra.S
by 18. Ng5! 38. Bb7
18. NgS! &gsl 38. Bc6? woώd give Black a chance.
And here the lesser evil was 18. . . Bf7. 38. .. . Κf6
19. BxeS Bf6 39. BdS
10. B:xb8 Bxc3 White wins easily by 39. Bc8 Κg5 (forced)
21. Bd.6 Rf7 40. e5. Buwe postponed Bc8 until his sealed
11. bxc3 Rfd7 move for some unknown reason-he was not
23. Rbl! Rxd6 short of time.
24. R:xb7 R8cl7 39. ΚgS
lS. Rxd7 �7 40. Bb7 Κf6
26. Be4! 41. Bc8
The only move to win If now 26 ... Rdl,
. This was Buwe's sealed move, and Ale·
then 27. Bd3; and Black cannot play 27 ... khine resigned.without resuming.
Ra2H
26. cS
27. c4! Game 21

QGD Slav Defense

Despite his own success with the Κrause

AttackandAlekhine's success with it in Game
1 of the match, Buwe is not afraid to take the
Bla=k side of it again. After a slight eπor of
judgment, Alekhine ventures upon a specu·
lative attack as an altemative to losing the
initiative. The attack is refutedwith fiendish
Or 27. Bc2, but Buwe's sacrifice of the a· accuracy. Alekhine still has high hopes with
pawn is characteήstic and very chessy; for ex· Bishops of opposite color, but Buwe is relent·
ample, if 27 ... Rdl, then 28. Bd5t Κf8 29. e4 less. These two games show how easily a theo·
and the passed pawn is ίη action. If there· retically commanding lead. can be lost-as
upon 29 .. Ra2, then 30. Rb1 Rxa4 31. e5!,
. Flohr found against Botvinnik. Alekhine's
with decisive threats. play ίη these games is quite as good as in some
27. Bxa4l previous games that he shoώd have lost and
28. Bd.St Κf8 didn't. The difference is in Buwe who is now
29. Ra.1 Ra.6 playing like a cricketer to whom the ball has
30. Ra.l! started to 'Ίοοk like a pumpkin:' This was
Prevents ... Bb5! The pin decides the game. Buwe's first win with Black!
30. ... Κe7
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

Alekhine-Buwe 19. Nxb7! It looks as if Alekhine, when play·

ing 15. a5, had foreseen that he would force
Ι. d4 dS ... Bc8 and had oveπated the importance of
2. c4 c6 Black's loss of the long light diagonal. Ale·
3. Nf3 Nf6 khine nowproceeds, logically, with an attack.
4. Nc3 dxc4 18. BxeS
s. a4 BfS If 18. Qe3, then 18 ... Qe7!-as 19. Rfd? is
6. NeS Nbd7 killed by 19... Bdl. If18. Qcl orl8. Nb3, then
7. Nxc4 Qc7 simply 18 ... Qe7 followed by castling, with
8. g3 eS the sounder position.
9. dxeS NxeS 18• •• • &.es
10. Bf4 Nfd7 19. f4
11. Bgl Rd8 If19. Qc4, then 19 ... Rd4!
12. Qcl f6 19. Bdl!
13. ο-ο 20. Qc4 Rd4
Reaching the same position as in Game 21. Qb3 exf4
20; now comes the slight improvement for 22. μf4 Qe7!
Black that makes all the diference. Το take the pawn would be fatuous and
13. Be6! fatal. Black must concentrate on getting
14. NxeS NxeS castled.
IS. aS � 23. Nd3 Be6
Threatening a6. But the logical sequel to 24. Qa3 Bc4
Qc1 is Qe3; for example, 15. Qe3! a5 16. Rfd1, 2S. Κhl Qμ3
with about equal chances for both sides. 26. Ru3 0-0
IS. ••• a6 At last, and now White's numerous weak­
16. Ne4 Bb4! nesses can be exploited.
The idea of the early ... RdB is partly to 27. Ra4 Rfd8
reserve the option of this move instead of 28. Ra3 Β:ι:d3
... Be7 (as well as to force White's Queen to 29. exd3
dedare her intentions).
17. NcS

29. ••• Rb4!

17. ••• Bc8!
If 17 ... Bd5, then 18. e4 Bf7 19. Ra4 forces
19 ... Bxc5 as 19 ... Bxa5?? would lose by 20.
Rxa.S! And 17 ... Bf7?? loses by 18. Bxe5 fxe5
Dedining eitherthe d-pawn or the f-pawn
in favor of the b·pawn, chiefly to prevent an
attackonhis own b-pawn. If29 ... Rxd3?, then
30. Rxd3 Rxd3 31. Rd1 Rd6 32. Bh3! Bxf4 33.
Rxd6 Bxd6 34. Bc8 etc., probably drawing
 Extreme Chess

owing to Bίshops of opposίte color. Capablanca! Flohr has played 6. a3 Bxc3t

30. Rf2 Rxb2 7. Qxc3 0-0 8. b4 but Black caη couηter
31. Bfl Rd4 with Mίlηer·Barry's 8 ... eS! 9. dxeS Ne4!
32. f5 Rf4 6. 0-0
33. Rxf4 Bxf4 7. a3 Bxc3
34. h3 Bd6 8. Bxc3 Qe7
35. Ra1 Κf7 9. e3 e5
36. d4 Κf6 10. d5
37. Re1 Bb4 Capablaηca, agaiηst Mίlηer· Barry at
38. Ra1 Rd1 Hastiηgs 1935, preferred to opeη liηes by 10.
39. Bc4 Rxd4 dxeS NxeS 11. Bel, ίη order to utίlίze his two
40. Be6 Rd8 Bishops.
Το stop 41. Bc8. Alekhίηe sealed 41. Bb3; 10. Nb8
but afterwards decided that the game was too 11. Bd3 Nbd7
hopeless to be worth comίηg back to fiηίsh, 12. Ng5 g6
and resigned. 13. Ne4
Black threateηed 13 ... NxdS! White re·
fraiηed from 13. h4!? (prepariηg to advance
Game 22 later upoη Black's appareηtly weakeηed
kίηgsίde) because Black, after Whίte's dS, is
Nimzo·Iηdian Defense so secure ίη the ceηter that any attack ση the
black Κiηg ίs doomed to failure. Hereίη White
The Nίmzo·Iηdίan Defense for a change! acknowledges the iηefficacy ofhίs 1Oth move.
Against ίt, Euwe follows good models; but he 13. Nxe4
ίs unable to get gοίηg. Although the oηus ίs 14. Bxe4 Nc5
ση Euwe to play for a wίη, he ίs coηteηt wίth 15. 0-0
an early draw, probably resolvίηg to brew White's Bίshops are ηοt of much use to
somethίηg hot agaiηst the 4... Nc6 varίatίoη hίm wίth sίxteeη pawns ση the board!
ίη case Alekhίηe plays ίt agaiη-whίch he 15. Nxe4
doesη't. Thus, the score remaiηs all-square 16. Qxe4 Bf5
wίth eίght to go. 17. Qf3 Qh4
Plausίble is 17 ... Bd3? 18. Rfc1 Bxc4 19.
Euwe-Alekhiηe BxeS Qxe5 20. Rxc4 Qxb2 but theη simply 21.
Qd1!, threateηiηg either Rxc7 or Rb4, recov·
1. d4 e6 ers the pawn wίth advantage.
1. c4 Nf6 Drawn by agreemeηt.
3. Nc3 Bb4 Both players are appalled at the all too
4. Qcl Nc6 likely prospect of arrίvίηg after hours of hard
This move has loηg beeη recognized as work at an eηdgame with equal pawns and
good agaiηst 4. Qb3; it has oηly receηtly beeη Bishops of opposite color!
takeη seήously agaiηst 4. Qcl, although it
occurred ίη master play as early as 1931. The
idea is to play for ... eS.
5. Nf3 d6
6. Bdl
 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1935
Game 23
QGD Slav Defense
All square and eίght tσ gσ! Wίll Alekhίηe
sίt tight and playfσr a drawn match? Of course
ησt! He must gσ fσr wίηs wίth the Whίte
pίeces at any rate-eveη ίf σηly because σf the
ήsk σf lσsίng at least σηe σf hίs games wίth
Blacko Besίdes, Alekhίηe just wσuldn't play
fσr a drawη matcho
Hσwever, Alekhίηe's hσpes σf trίckίηg
Euwe ίη a dίsused vaήatiση agaίηst the Slav
Defense (Alekhίηe hίmself was the man whσ
kίlled ίt) are sσση dashed tσ the grσundo It ίs
Alekhίηe whσ strays (ση mσve 16), and he ίs
sσση reduced tσ σηe σf hίs bήllίant gambleso
Studeηts are ίηclίηed tσ ηeglect the art σf
savίηg lσst games (we dση't meaη dead
lσsses)-as thσugh ίt were eηtirely a matter σf
lucko It ίs luck plus skίll.
The ησtes are Euwe's ησtes frσm Schach­
Echoo
Alekhiηe-Euwe
1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6
The Slav Defeηsewas equallypσpularwίth
bσth σfuso
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3!
Defίηίtely strσηger than 40 e3, whίch-as
Games 11 and 16 shσwed-allσws Black tσ
coηtiηue wίth 4οοο Bf5 5ο cxd5 cxd5 6ο Qb3
Qc8 wίthσut dangero
4. ... dxc4
The Slav Defeηse "accepted:' Appareηtly
the best cσurse, as 4ο 00 e6 leads eίther tσ the
Meran vaήatiση, whίch has become rather
suspect σf late, σr tσ vaήatiσηs ίη whίch Black
ίs very crampedo
5. e3
Α mσve almσst fσrgσtteη σf late, sσ ha­
bίtual has 5ο a4 becσmeo
Sσ far the game has fσllσwed the 21st. It
was typίcal σfAlekhίηe tσ change hίs methσdo
5. ... b5
6. a4 b4!
Α system well knσwn tσ have beeη assσcί­
ated wίth the ηame σf Alekhίηe hίmself, and
σηe whίch has prσved sσ gσσd ίη practice as tσ
gίve the Slav Defeηse 'Άccepted" quίte a bad
reputatίση fσr Whίteo
7. Nb1
The usual retreat ίs tσ al; the Κnίght ίs
theη sσmewhat σut σf play, hσwevero
7. ... Ba6
Recommeηded by theσry as the best; Black
stήves tσ hσld the pawη as lσηg as pσssίbleo
8. Be2
Α ησveltyo Whίte ίηteηds tσ castle and σnly
after that tσ busy hίmself wίth the recovery σf
the pawno There ίs great uncertaίηty as tσ
what ίs best fσr Whίte hereo Νσt cσmmeηd­
able ίs 8ο Nbd2 because σf 8000 c3! Αgaίη, 80
Nfdl ceded the advantage tσ Black ίη a game
Grnnfeld-T&ιrrasch 1923; and 80 Qc2 and 8ο Ne5
are equally prσblematίcalo
8. ... e6
Sίmpler than the further attempt tσ hσld
σηtσ the pawn by 8000 Qd5o
9. Ne5 Be7
10. 0-0 0-0
1 1 . Nxc4 c5
The whσle system σf the defense stands σr
falls by thίs mσve; ση thίs σccasίση Black man·
ages tσ σbtaίη a gσσd free gameo
12. dxc5
Mσre σr less fσrcedo Whίte can hardly al­
lσw the ίsσlatiση σf hίs d-pawη ίη a pσsίtiση
σf thίs sσrt.
12. ... Nbd7
The pawn σffer ίs ησ mσre than a gesture
sίηce Whίte's c-pawn must fall sσσηer σr latero
The text mσve gίves mσre play than ίmmedί­
ate recapture σf the pawη σr exchaηge σf
Queeηso
13. c6
Causίηg Black tσ waste at least σηe mσve
 Extreme Chess

ίη recaptuήηg the pawn. Bb7 has beeη cίtedas best, and eveη 29... b3 as
13. ... NcS preferable to the text. Ι should have Hked to
14. Nbdl Q.c7 eηter ση deep analysίs; but tίme dίd ηοt allow
Attackίηg the pawn and preveηtίηg Ne5. ίt, so Ι coηteηted myself wίth a move that
1 S. Q.cl Rad.8 avoίded all uncertaίηties. The wίn was by ηο
16. Bf3� means easy. Ι was ηοt overmuch attracted by
Τοο good to be true! Thίs attempt to hold 29... Bb7 because after 30. Rd4 a5 31. Ndl
ση to the pawη merely 1oses tίme and posί· there was the threat of Nb3, and Black can
tioη. Whίte must play b3, whίch would 1ead only make further headway through a sacή·
to an eveη game. fice such as 31 ... f5 32. exf5 Bd5.
16. NdS 30. Rb2 Rc4
17. b3 Bf6 31. Ndl Rd4
18. Bb2 B:xb2 32. Nb3 Rxe4
19. Qx:b2 Q:Σc6 33. NcS Re1t
20. Rfd1 Q.c7 34. Κfl Rflt
By threatenίng ...Nc3, thίs forces the ex· 3S. Κe3 Bc4
change ση d5 and saves a move ίη doublίηg 36. R:xb4
Rooks. Whίte ίs ήd of hίs greatest danger, but he
21. BxciS ίs a 1οηg way from havίηg saved the game.
22. e4 36. BdS
37. Rb8t Κe7
38. Rg8 Κd6
39. Ne4t

23. Q.eS!
Realίzίng that he has a 1ost game, Whίte
goes ίη for darίηg complίcations. Although
thίs move gίves up a va1uab1e pawn and a1· 39. ... Bxe4�
1ows the play to pass ίηtο the eηdgame stage, Comp1ete1y throwίηg away all chance ofa
ίt offers the best means of makίηg matters wίn. Coπect was 39 ... Kc6 40. Nc3 (forced
dίfficult for Black. sίnce ...Re1fίsthreateηed) Bxgl 41. Rxg7 Rf3t
23. �s 42. Kdl Bf1 and ίf theη 43. Rxh7, there fo1·
24. NxeS Rxd2. 1ows 43 ... Rxf4 44. Rxa7 Rh4 etc.
2S. Rxd2. N:xb3 Alekhίηe certaίnly played excelleηtly to
26. Rad1 Nxdl. save the game, and the coηtίηuatioη ίs ηοt
27. Rxd2. Rc8 wίthout ίnterest from the practica1 poίnt of
28. f4 f6 vίew.
29. Nf3 Κf8 40. Κχe4 Ra1
Thίs was wίdely cήticίzed. Instead, 29... 41. Rxg7
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

Sealed. White cannot now lose with cor· such a blunder on his nerves and morale must
rect defense, but the position justified a few surely have been a handicap in his remaining
further attempts on my part to win. games.
41. Rxa4t This is why Alekhine says, in Chess, that
41. :κf3 hS the final margin of one point in favor of his
43. Rf7! adversary was "a fatality:'
Winning back the pawn. But if we are going to reason on mίght­
43. Ra3t have-beens, remember that this was the first
44. Κfl fS chance of a win that Alekhine is known to
45. Rh7 ΚdS have missed in the match, with the exception
46. ιαΙι5 Κe4 of Games 6 and 13, in which, however, Euwe
47. Rh6 Ra6 had clear wins earlier. Also, Alekhine did not
48. Κg3 Rd6 miss asingle dead draw, whereas Euwe missed
Threatening to get behind the passed pawn wins in Games 6, 13, 15, and23; andin Game
by ...aS and ...Ra6. 16 he missed the draw by a successίon ofweak
49. Rh7! moves just about as ίncomprehensible as
50. Κfl Alekhine's 32nd move in this game.
Το make use of the e·pawn. Exact play is Α win in the 15th game woώd have put
necessary on White's part, for his I<ing is very Euwe one·up at half-way. Again, a draw in
bad.ly placed. the 16th woώd have kept him level, so that
51. Rxa7 Rdlt he woώd not have needed to play a risky de­
52. :κf1 e5 fense in the 19th game.
53. Rg7! Κe3 . We must add that Alekhine also remarks:
54. Rg3t Κd4
55. h4! e4 This ίs in no way a contradiction
56. hS! of the fact that Buwe's victory
Three excellent moves have saved the was absolutely meήted. It will
game for Alekhine. Any other continuations be forme toprove thatl can play
woώd have at least involved him in great dif. a better game when the return
ficώties. match, for which Ι am impa·
56. Rdlt tiendywaiting, comes off.
57. Κel Rhl
58. RgS Drawn Euwe-Alekhine

1. d4 e6
Game 24 2. c4
Euwe must play for a win, and he does not
Dutch Defense fancy his chances against the French Defense.
2. ••• fS
"Blackcare sits even behind the galloping It was with the Dutch Defense that Ale­
horseman:' said sapient Horace. Just so will khine won the decider in his first match with
the memory of his fina1 move in this game Euwe in 1927. History nearly repeats ίtself!
shriek and gibber at Alekhine till his dying 3. g3 Bb4t
day. Not only did it miss him a one-point lead 4. Bdl Be7
with only six games to go, but the effect of From Russia. Is White's c-Bίshop really
 Extreme Chess

worse placed at d2 than at c1 ? Be that as ίt 20. Qg6?

may, the varίation has the meήt of beίng un· Here Whίte makes a tactical oversίght that
analyzed. should have cost hίm the game. Ηίs ίdea ίs to
S. Bg1 Nf6 kίll two bίrds wίth one stone-brίng the
6. Nc3 0-0 Queen well ίη and provίde support for ΝgS at
7. Nf3 the same time. Coπect, however, was h4! (still
ln the ordίnary Dutch ίt ίs uncertaίn better ση the prevίous move), wίth good at·
whether thίs Κnίght should go to f3 or to h3; tackίng chances.
but Κmoch's 7. Nh3 ίs certaίnly better here 20. ... Qf7!
because of Black's next move. 21. QgS
Euwe, however, may have delίberately What Euwe had prevίously overlooked
avoίded followίng the Κmoch game ίη order was that ίf21. Qg4 Rad8 22. NgSH, then Black
to steer clear of prepared analysίs. has a glorίous wίn by 22 ... Qxf2t!! And ίf22.
7. ... Ne4 Rxd8 first, then sίmply 22 ... Nxd8, makίng
Normally, an early ... Ne4 after Nf3 ίs an· thίngs safe.
swered by exchange of Κnίghts followed by 21. Rad8
Ndl, here ίmpossίble. 22. h4 R:x:d1
8. 0-0 Bf6 23. R:x:d1 Nd4!?
More developίngίs 8 ... b6, whίchAlekhίne Alekhίne poίnts out that 23... Nb4! gave a
played ίη Game 26. sure wίn.
9. N:x:e4 24. B:x:d4 c:x:d4?
Solίd was 9. Qc2. Thίs proves ίnsufficίent. The only way to
9. f:x:e4 wίn nowwas 24... Bxf3 25. BxcS bxc5 26. exf3
10. Ne1 B:x:d4 Qxf3 27. Rd2 c4! and Alekhίne says that the
ll. B:x:e4 B:x:b2H passed pawn "would fίnally decίde ίη favor of
Here Alekhίne decides to rίsk an exposed Black:' Wίth great dίffίculty, however-ίn·
Κing for the sake of gίvίng Whίte weak pawns deed, Flohr ends up the same analysίs wίth
for the endgame. Both players are out to wίn. "good drawίng chances for Whίte:'
12. Bxh7t Κ::χ:h7 25. R:x:d4 B:x:f3
13. Qclt Κg8 26. Rf4 QhS
14. Q:x:b2 Nc6 27. Rxf8t?
15. Nf3 But here Euwe chooses the wrong pawn·
Flohr suggests 15. Bc3 Qe7 16. f4!, and endίng. He could have drawn by 27. Rxf3!
then Nf3. That would hold eS and thus keep QxgS 28. RxfBt ΚχfΒ 29. hxgS. See the next
open the long dark dίagonal. note.
15. ... d6 27. Κ:χf8
16. cS 28. Qf4t Qf7
As ίt ίs, Whίte ίs reduced to thίs rίskypawn 29. Q:x:f3 ψί3
sacήfice as the only means of getting com· 30. e:x:f3 eS!
mand of eS, wίthout whίch he cannot pursue Had Whίte played as ίη the prevίous note,
hίs attack. hίs kίngsίde pawns would be at e2, fl, g3, and
16. d:x:cS g5-ίn whίch case he would stίll have a
17. Bc3 Qe7 doubled pawn, but not completely ίmmobίle
18. Rad1 b6 lίke the one he now has. That would have
19. Qcl Bb7 made all the dίfference. Probably Euwe hoped
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935
to eradicate the doubled f-pawn complex by
playing his Κing to e3 and then his pawn to
f4, with exchange of pawns.
Black's 30th move is played to keep the
doubled pawns immobile. There are many
exceptions to the rule that one should imme­
diately rush the Κing out in such endings­
often a prelirninarypawn-move may do good.
31. R11 b5!
32. Κel c5H
Here is the ghastly move that enables
White's hopes to mateήalize. Itwas obviously
impossible to win if White undoubled his
pawns as the position would then balance­
the only way to prevent the undoubling was
to threaten to make a passed pawn farther
away by 32 ... a5! If then 33. Ke3, Black plays
33 ... b4; and White no longer has time for f4
and Κχf4. From then on White's doubled
pawns are dead, and by careful play Black
must win.
33. Ke3! Drawn
So a world champion can mishandle a
pawn ending. And yet Capablanca said chess
was too easy.
This seems to be the only game in the
match in which a win was missed, given
back, and then missed again. Alekhine con­
fesses that his 32nd move cost him one or
two sleepless nights and "certainly had a
lot to do with his loss of the next two games:'
Game 25
QGD Slav Defense
This game has probably struck the death­
knell of the 7. cxd5 attack against the Cam­
bήdge Spήngs.
Alekhίne-Euwe
Ι. d4 d5
1. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 e6
Varyίng from 4... dxc4 for a change.
5. Bg5
Or 5. e3!, ίnviting the Meran.
5. ... Nbd7
6. e3
Permίts the Cambrίdge Sprίngs, whίch
"has no kίnd of fault or flaw:' It can be pre­
vented by 6. cxd5. If then 6... exd5, Whίte
proceeds wίth the queensίde attack known as
the Carlsbad system, against whίch ίt has not
yet been clearly proved that Black can equal­
ίze. The Carlsbad ίs drawish, however.
6. ... Qa5
7. c:xd5
Now ίnferίor-as thίs game shows once
and for all, ίη our οpίηίοη. The old 7. Νd2 ίs
best.
7. Nxd.5
8. Qdl N7b6!
Becker's move, whίch ίs much stronger
than ίt looks. Indeed, Whίte's only way to
avoίd disadvantage now ίs 9. Nxd5!-whίch
leads, after 9 ... Qxd2t 10. Κχd2 exdS, to an
even, rather drawίsh, endgame.
9. Bd3!1
Alekhίne had ίntended 9 . Rc1 Nxc3 10.
bxc3 NdS 11. Bc4 Nxc3 12. 0-0 Bb4 13. a3
Qxa3 14. Ra1 because Euwe claimed ίη the
book of Leningrad 1934 that Black then wins
with hίs two pawns plus by 14 ... Ne4. Actu­
ally, ίt ίs Whίte who wίns-by 15. Qe2-
through the compromίsed posίtion of Black's
Queen.
 Extreme Chess

But now, ίη hίs fίnal once-over, Ale·

khίne-as he recounts ίη Chess-saw wίth
horror the ίntermediate "biff" 11 ... b5!!
(Alekhine actually gives ... b5 on move 12,
but we think White can then recover his
pawn with at least equality. Thus 12. 0-0
b5!? 13. Qxc3 Bb4 (best) 14. Qc2 bxc4 15.
Ne5! ! Ba6! 16. Rbl ! c3 17. Rfcl Rc8! 18.
Qb3 ! c5 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Rxc3. At no stage
can Black afford to fork by ... f6.)
However, if played as the 11th move, ...b5 15. Bcl1
is undoubtedly a knock-out. White obviously Α better chance was 15. Ne5 (threat of
gets a positionally lost game if he plays 12. Bc4). Alekhine gives the following: 15. Ne5
Bxd5?, so he must withdraw the Bishop. Qd5 16. Rab1 c5 17. dxc5 Nxb1 18. Qxb4
Wherever the Bishop goes, e.g. 12. Bd3, White Qxe5 19. Bb5t Kf8 20. c6t Kg8 21. Qe7!
loses command of b3 which thus becomes a h6! 22 . Bd3 f5! 23. Rxb1 bxc6 24. Bf4 Qd5
sanctuary for the black Queen after 12 ... 25. Rd1 Qd7 26. Qc5 "with a prolonged
Nxc3! 13. 0-0 Bb4 14. a3 Qxa3 15. Ra1 as it initiative."
did ίη the game-and further, White cannot
later threaten Bc4 as ίη the note to White's
15th move.
As Euwe could not be trusted to overlook
this saving "biff," Alekhine had to abandon
the gambit 9. Rcl ? Now, he should have
thaDked his lucky stars that he had a drawing
line, 9. Nxd5!, to fall back on. Instead, Ale·
khine evolved a new gambit which he .subse·
quently claimed "should have kept the draw
well ίη hand:' We are quite sure, however, After 26. Qc5 inλlekltine's a.nalysis
that neither he nor any other masterwill ever
play it again ίη a seήous game! Brilliant analysis, but surely the draw is
9. ΝΣC3 "ίη the bush" rather than "ίη hand:' Black is
10. bxc3 NdS the Exchange and two pawns up and can soon
11. Rc1 free his Rooks, shedding only one pawn ίη
Το prevent Black taking the pawn with the process. Α win for Black may be difficult
the Queen. White soon has to give up the a· to force, butan adjudicator could give no other
pawn into the bargain, but it seems the only award. For example: 26 ... a5! 27. Be2 Qb7 28.
way to make chances. Bf3 Ra6 29. Rc1 (if 29. Be2, then 29 ... Ra7!)
11. ΝΣC3 Bd7 30. Qe7 Κh7 31. Be5 Bc8 32. Qc5 (or 32.
12. 0-0 Bb4 Qd6 Qd7!) Qb5! 33. Bxc6 Qxc5 34. Rxc5 Rd8
13. a3 Qxa3 and the win is only a matter of time.
14. Ra1 Qb3 Or (after 26 ... a5) 27. Bc2 Qf7!, and White
has no satisfactory continuation. If 28. Bb3,
then 28 ... Κh7 29. Qxc6 Ra6. If28. Rd6, then
28... Κh7 29. Rxc6 Bd7. If28. Ba4, then 28...
 Euwe-Alekhine 1935

Bb7 is ugly but adequate. And if 28. Qxc6,

then 28 ... Bb7 29. Qb5 BdS 30. Ra1 Qa7.
15. ... QdS
Good enough, we maintain; but crushing
was 15 ... Ne4!, gaining a fat tempo. After 16.
Qel or Qd1, then 16... QdS; and White has
no game.
16. e4
Α sacrifice of a third pawn to keep the
attack going. Alekhine says that a win for
Black, after ίts acceptance, is not to be proved; Ajter 26. ι/51 inAleklιine's ιιnιι.lysis
and we take up this general challenge ίn the
next note. But after 26 ... Κχc8 27. dxe6! Black has
16. Νκ4 27 ... a4 28. Bal(best) b5!! sacrίfίcίng the
17. � NigS Κnight. The following sequel is vίrtually
18. Ne5 aS forced: 29. f4 b4 30. Rae3 b3 31. fxg5 (if 31.
19. Qa3 f6 Bb1, then 31 . a3 32. Rxb3! Rxe6; and Black
. .

wίns with two pawns up) bxal 32. gxf6 gxf6

33. Ra3 (he must kill off the 2nd rank pawn)
c5 34. Rxal Rexe6 35. Rxe6 Rxe6 36. Rxa4 Kb7
and wίns easily because the white Κίng ίs shut
out. For example, 37. Rh4 Re7 38. Rf4 Kb6!
39. Rxf6t Kb5 etc.
Or, in the above, 31. Bxb3 axb3 32. fxg5 bl
33. gxf6 gxf6 34. Rb3 Ral leads to the same
win for Black.
20. ... hxg6
20. Bg6tH 21. Nxg6 Nf3t!
The worst oversight of the match. [Ed.: As The knockout-which White had mίssed.
is ΜSιιeι.l with sιιch statements, this is a.little ha.rsh.] 22. � Qxf3
The only move ίs 20. Bb3, and there would 23. μf3 RhS
follow 20 ... QdB! 21. Nc4 Qe7 11. Nb6 Qxa3 24. Nf4 RfS
23. Rxa3. Now Alekhine analyses 23 ... Rb8? 15. Nd3 Rxf3
to advantage for White, but the best move is It'sallover. After20 (!) more moves, White
23....Ra6! which Alekhine dismisses in a foot· resigned. [Ed.: According to one of my soιιrces it
note as follows: 'Ίf24. Nxc8 Kd7 25. Re1! Re8 wa.s only 15 more moves: 16. Nc5 b6 27. Κg2 Rf5 18.
26. dS! etc:' -Chess. Nb3 e519. dxe5Be630. Nc1 0-0-031. exf6Rg5t 32.
Κf3 Rf8 33. Κe3 Rxf6 34.f4 Rg4 35. Nd3 Bc4 36.f5
Rh4 37. Ra.d1 Rxhl 38. Κe4 Relt 39. Κf3 Re8 40.
!(&4 Rd8.]
 Extreme Chess

Game 26

Dutch Defense

After two interesting but bad games,

comes a real beauty. It gave Euwe a two­
point lead with only four to go.

Euwe-Alekhine

Ι. d4 e6 21. Nxf5!
1. c4 f5 Euwe takes the dare! The gloves are off.
3. g3 Bb4t 21. Bxc3
4. Bdl Be7 11. Nxd6 Qb8
5. Bg2. Nf6 23. Nxe4 Bf6
6. Nc3 0-0 24. Ndl!
7. Nf3 Ne4 White must play to utilize his pawns, by
8. 0-0 b6 e4, etc. Black, on his part, must try to utilize
Varying from Game 23. his pieces by opening Hnes.
9. Qcl Bb7 24. g5!
10. Ne5 Nxc3! 15. e4 gxf4
ll. Bxc3 26. gxf4 Bd4
Not 11. Bxb7 because Black then wins two 17. e5 Qe8
pawns for the Exchange. 28. e6 Rg8!
ll. Bxg2 19. Nf3
12. Κχg2. Qc8 Not 29. exd7?? because of29 ... Qe2.
13. d5 d6 19. ... Qg6!
14. Nd3 e5 Giving up two pieces for a Rook to break
15. Κhl up White's pawns.
Logical was 15. f4! at once since it must 30. Rgl Bxgl
come. 31. Rxgl
15. ... c6
16. Qb3
Black threatened ... Qc4 after exchanging
pawns.
16. Κh8
17. f4 e4
18. Nb4 c5
19. Ncl Nd7
10. Ne3 Bf6

31. ... Qf6?

The cήsis. Flohrpointedoutthat31 ... Qf5!
was the move, as then 32. Ng5 could be
smashed by 32 ... h6 (see the next note) .
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1935

Therefσreι after 31 ... Qf5ι White has ησth­ Fifth Phase (GAMES 27-30):
iηg better than the immediate recapture σί ALEΚHINE'S GREAT FINAL EFFORT
the secσηd piece. Theη Black swaps Rσσksι
grabs a pawηι and is safe. Hσweverι we think Euwe twσ-up and σηly fσur tσ play!
White can draw ηicely thus: 32. exd7 Rxg1 t Ιη thίs appareηtly hσpeless sίtuatiσηι Ale­
33. Κχg1 Qxf4 34. Qc3t Kg8 35. Qe5! Qg4t khίηe summσηs up all hίs σld will-pσwerι and
36. Qg3 Qxg3 37. hxg3 Rd8 (ifthe Κiηgmσvesι the last fσur games prσvide sσme real thrίlls.
theη 38. Ng5! Ke7 [fσrced] 39. Nxh7-and
White shσuld draw) 38. Ne5 Kg7! (the σηly
rσute tσ e7) 39. Κg2 Κί6 (mustι else the white Game 27
Κiηg suppσrts the Κnight) 40. Ng4t Ke7 41.
Ne5 R must mσve 42. d6t!! and the draw is Vίenna Game
fσrced prettily. [Ed.: Ιιm not sure what Purdy
had ίn mίnd ιifter41 ... RhB 42. d6t Ke6!.] Α Vieηηa! As will be explaίηed ίη the
32. NgS! Rg7 ησtesι we belίeve that Alekhίηe had psychσ­
If ησw 32 ... h6ι theη 33. exd7! hxg5 34. lσgίcal reasσηs fσr chσσsiηg hίs σld favσήte at
Qh3t; aηd White wίηs Queeη fσr Rσσk thίs cήsis.
shσrtly. Aηywayι ίt wσrks; aηd Alekhίηe brίηgs
Plausibleίs32 ... Rxg5 33. fxg5 Qd4!ι threat­ σff σηe σί his best wίηs σf the match. He is
eniηg perpetual check; but 34. Qc3! shσuld theη σηly σηe dσwη wίth three tσ gσ-a
gίve a difficult wiη. real chaηce!
33. exd7 Rxd7!
34. Qe3! Re7 Alekhίne-Euwe
35. Ne6 Rf8
If 35 ... Rae8ι theη 36. f5! 1. e4 e5
36. Qe5! �e5 2. Nc3 Nf6
37. fxe5 Rfs 3. Bc4 Nxe4
38. Re1 h6 Ιη My Eest Gamesι Alekhiηe writes: "It
Α chance seems 38... Κg8 39. Rg1t Κh8 ίs sσlely ση accσuηt σί this replyι which
(fσrced) ι aίmίng at repetitiση; but White can gίves Black aη easily equal gameι that Ι
theη try 40. Rg5! and prσbably wίη. have at the mσmeηt (1927) gίveη up the
ι
39. Nd8! Rf2 Vieηηa Opeηiηg:
40. e6 Rd2 But the varίatiση is sσ cσmplίcated that
41. Nc6! Re8 Alekhίηe prσbably felt that Euwe was unlίkely
42. e7 b5 tσ play ίt at a stage where it was all ίmpσrtant
43. Nd8! Κg7 fσr hίm tσ keep a draw ίη hand. Or if Euwe
Whίte threateηed Nf7-d6. did play itι Alekhίηe prσbably relίed ση hίs
44. Nb7 Κf6 gettiηg "jumpy" further ση-as Euwe actu­
45. Re6t ΚgS ally did ση mσve 11.
46. Nd6 Rxe7 4. Qh5 Nd6
47. Ne4t Resigns 5. Bb3 Be7
Ιη My Eest Gamesι Alekhίηe here applauds
the altemative 5 ... Nc6! He wήtes: "The ίη­
teηtiση is tσ sacήfice the Exchange ίη the fσl­
lσwίηg varίatiση: 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5
 Extreme Chess

Qf6 9. Nxc7t Kd8 10. NxaB b6! which ensures Black should lose with his weak d-pawn.
for Black a very strong and probably iπesist­ He feels he must exchange off the dominat­
ible attack:' ing white Κnight, but first makes sure that
But given the state of the score, Alekhine White will not then be left with two Bishops.
could be quite certain that Euwe would not 14. Bxc5 BxdS
venture on thiswild enterprise. The text move 15. BxdS NxcS
is quite adequate, but enables White to retain 16. Rxe8t Rxe8
the initiative-which was what Alekhine 17. b4 Ne6
wanted. 18. Bxe6 dxe6
6. Nf3 Nc6 19. Rd7 Rc8
7. Nxe5 Nxe5 30. Rxa7 Rxc3
As the way to equalize, Lasker gives 7 ... 31. RaSt Κh7
0-0! Black can then follow up with ... Ne8 32. a4
and ... d6, freeing his game.
8. Qxe5 0-0
9. NdS Re8
Now Black cannot safely free his game, as
9 ... Bf6 would lead to an isolated doubled
pawn.
10. 0-0 Bf8
11. Qf4 c6l
Fatally weakening. Euwe apparently
thought that White was threatening Nxc7, as
the Κnightcannotbe taken. But Flohrpointed 32. ... Rb3
out that Nxc7 would be smashed by ... Re4! We now come to the hardest part of the
Therefore, Black could safely have played 11 ... game. White has a big advantage because he
b6!, with a fair game. [Ed.: 11 ... b6, 12. Νχεl can force a remote pawn (i.e. remote from
Re4 13. Bxflt a.nd a.fter 13... Κlι8, tlιen 14. Qj3 the black Κing).
Qχε7 15. d3! Re7 16. Qxa8 a.nd it seems κnclea.r.] Black's only chance is to make a passed
12. Ne3 QaS pawn himself, to keep one of the white pieces
13. d4 Qh5 occupied.
All this to defend the f-pawn and thus free Gήgoήev, the Russianmaster, pointedout
the Κnight. that this could have been done by 32 ... e5!
14. c3 Ne4 The followinganalysis is given to show a draw:
15. f3 NgS 33. g4! g5 34. b5 g6 35. Ra6 Ra3 36. Ke2 f5 37.
If 15 ... Nf6??, Black loses off hand to 16. Kd2 e4. Then, after 38. fxe4 fxe4 39. Rxb6
Ng4! Rxa4 40. Kc3! the intention is evidently to
16. dS! (XdS play 40... Κg7 to meet 41. Re6 with 41 ... Κfl.
17. Nxd5 Ne6 [Ed.:A ha.llκcina.tion perlιa.ps? 40... Κgllosesriglιt
18. Qg4 Qg6 a.wa.y to41. Ra.6. Oκrwortlιy compiler, Mr. 'fykodi,
19. Be3 b6 sκggests 40... e3 a.s α. strong possibility, "forcing"
10. Rad1 Bb7 White to go a.fter it. Then the bla.ck Rook ca.n pick
21. �6 hxg6 o.ff tlιe g-pa.wnjoflowed by tlιe bla.ck Κing coming
11. Rfe1 Rac8 κp to Ιι6, a.nd then ...Rf4-f8 to stop the a.dνa.ncing b­
23. Κf1 Bc5 pa.wn. Ma.ybe Grigorieν's a.na.lysis stopped too soon.1
 Euwe-AJekhine 1935

chance to win the game and equalize the score.

Buwe-AJekhine

Ι. d4 Nf6
1. c4 e6
3. Nc3 dS
4. BgS Be7
s. e3 Nbd7
6. Nf3 0-0
After 41... Κf1 in tlιe Grigorieν line 7. Rcl c6
This interpolation, preferably at an ear·
With Black's King so shut away, one lier stage, was recommended in a seήes on
would expect the position (after 32. a4) to the Orthodox Defense in theAκstra.la.sia.n Chess
be a win for White even against the best Reνiew last year. It may be played in conjunc­
possible defense; Grigoήev's analysis, there· tion either with the ...c6 or the ...b6 defense,
fore, is well worth studying. [Ed.: Οκr com· the latter being the easier to master.
piler, Mr. Tykodi sκggests tha.t 42. h6!? coιιld AJekhine, however, is not looking for
ca.κse Bla.ck worries. Βκt Ι think if the hla.ck ease-his maίn problem is to get off the
Rook gets hehind the h-pa.wn, Bla.ck ca.n hold beaten track.
the dra.w. For exa.mple, 42 ... Ra.3f!. If43. Kc4, 8. Bd3 h6
then 43... Ra.4t, 44. Kh3 Ra.l !. If 44. Kc5, then 9. Bh4 dxc4
44. . Ra.5t 45. Kd6 Rh5 a.nd tha.t shoιιld dra.w.]
. 10. Bxc4 bS
33. bS gS Not entirely new, but at least unanalyzed.
34. Κe1 eS It is playable only if Black has previously in­
3S. Κd2 f6 terpolated ...h6 (see the next note). The spe·
36. Κc2 Rb4 cial value of fianchettoing by ...bs is that it
37. Κc3 Rd4 gives more space than ...b6. On general pήn­
38. Ra6 Κg6 άple, however, it is a mistake to play it where
39. R:ab6 Ru4 ...c5 has not already been played.
40. Ra6 Rd4 11. Bd3 a6
41. b6 Resipιs

Game 28

QGD Orthodox Defense

Euwe one-up and three to play-imagine

the tension! AJekhine, wίth Black, craftily se­
lects a defense calculated to take advantage of
Euwe's natural overanxiety. It works; but
when AJekhine begins to sense winning pos­
sibilities, he himself becomes the victim of
overanxiety, and a pawn grab loses him his
11. e4
If the defense is to be refuted, it can only
be byplayingtohinder ... cS. The obvious line
is 12. a4 b4 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe7, but then
 Extreme Chess

14... Nxfl!! gives Black a gσσd game. Black's 24th mσve.

Therefσre, the σηly way ίs tσ play Bxf6 11. ••• Bxc5
first; thus 12. a4 b4 13. Bxf6! fσllσwed by 14. 23. Rxc5
Ne4. Οηe pσssίble sequel wσuld be 13 . . . gxf6! � Νσt23. dxc5H because σf23 ... Qg5!
14. Ne4 f5 15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Qa5 17. Ο­ 23. ... Qd6
Ο Bxc5 18. Nh4!! � fσllσwed by Qh5, σffeήηg
pawηs fσr a pσwerful attack.
But giveη the state σf the score, Euwe could
be relίed upση tσ steer clear σf such complίca­
tiσηs.
If, hσwever, Whίte fσllσws ίηclίηatίση
wίth the quίet mσve 12. 0-0, Black can safely
play 12 ... c5-wίth quίte a prσmίsίηg game.
The text ίs an attempt at cσmprσmίse.
12. Nxe4
13. Bxe4 Bxh4 14. a4
14. Bxc6 Ra7 The σηly hσpe agaiηst Black's threat σf
15. 0-0 ... Rd8; fσr ίf 24. Rc1, theη 24 ... QdS wiηs the
This pσsitiση was undσubtedly fσreseeη a-pawn.
by Euwe wheη he played 12. e4 and ίs by ησ 14. ... bxa4?
means agaiηst him. His mσbilίty ίs supeήσr, Here we thίηk Alekhίηe mίssed a wίη
and the isσlated d-pawn will suppσrt Κnights by 24 . . . Rd8! That threateηs . . . f6 ! (see the
ση the fiηe squares c5 and e5 where they wίll last seηteηce iη the ησte tσ mσve 22); aηd
be quίte as strσηg as Black's Bίshσps. after the Kηight mσves, theη . . . Qxc5 ! Ale­
15. Nb6 khίηe ηaturally saw that after 24 . . . Rd8
16. Ne4 Be7 25. axb5 ! Whίte cσuld meet 25 ... f6 with
17. Ne5 26. Nc6! and was prσbably dίscσuraged. But
Buthere Νc5 first, tσ leave a retreat fσr the sίmply 25 ... axb5; aηd after 26. Qxb5 (what
Bishσp. It mίght have beeη still better tσ cσm­ else?), theη 26 ... Qxd4, aηd White's pσsi­
plete develσpmeηt quίetly by 16. Qe2 and 17. tiση is uηteηable.
Rfd1 befσre shίftίηg the Κnights at all. Over­ We have seeη a remark by Alekhiηe that
anxiety agaiη! thίs game "shσuld have beeη wση withσut
17. Rc7 dίfficulty;" butAlekhiηe dίdησtspecίfywhere
18. Qd3 Nc4 he mίssed the wίη. This is evίdeηtly the place.
19. Nxc4 Rxc6 But Euwe has tσ gσ all σut tσ save the game
10. Ne5 Rxc1 as it is.
21. Rxc1 Bb7 15. Nc4 Qf4
11. Nc5? 16. Qe3 Qg4
Barteriηg the wrσηg Κnίght! Cσrrect was 17. f3 Qg6
22. Nc6 Qd7 23. Nxe7t Qxe7 24. f3 as White 18. Nd6 Bd5
cσuld theη have established a Κnight ση c5, 19. Qc3 Κh7
whίch wσuld have beeη fair cσmpeηsatiση 30. Qcl! Qxcl
fσr the isσlated d-pawn. Whίte ησw has a If 30 ... f5�, theη 31. Nc4.
Κnight at e5, an iηfeήσr pσst because it can­ 31. Rxc1 Κg6
ησt be held permaneηtly-see the ησte tσ 32. Rc8!

1;:::::'9 78 ι::::::'9
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

Keep the Rooks on to draw ίs a faίrly relίable 54. Nf7 h5

maxim, but here Blackthreatens to tίe Whίte's 55. Ne5 Bf5
Rook by ... Rb8. 56. Nc4 Be4
31. Rxc8 57. Ndl Bgl
33. Nxc8 Κί6 58. h4 Κd5
34. Κf1 g5 59. Nc4 Κe4
35. Nb6 Bc6 60. Nd6t! Κd5
36. Nc4 Κe7 61. Ne8 Kc5
37. Ne3 61. Nf6 Bf3
Hίndeήng a break-up by ...g4 after Kel. 63. b3 Drawn
Not37. Ne5? because of37... Bb5.
37. Κd6
38. Κel fS Game 29
39. g3 Bb5t
40. Κd1 f4 Alekhine's Defense
Adjourned here.
41. gxf4 gxf4 Euwe's last bίg hurdle. If Euwe can draw
41. Ngl! thίs game wίth Black, he has the match nearly
The only move to draw. The rest of thίs won.
endίng will be understood by the student ίf Euwe's choίce ofAlekhίne's Defense ίs not
he keeps ίη rnίnd the ίdea at the back of the terήbly hard to understand. The French De­
players' heads. Euwe wants to reduce the fense has failed hίm three tίmes out of four,
pawns on the kίngsίde untίl Black has only and 1 ... e5 would gίve Alekhίne too free a reίn
one left, sacrίfίce hίs Κnίght for that one when for comfort. The Caro-Kann? Well, even
necessary, and produce the old book drawwίth Flohr-the Caro-Kann specίalίst-came to
lone Κίηg agaίnst a-pawn or h-pawn and a gήef wίth ίt agaίnst Botvίnnίk. And the Sίcίl­
Bίshop of the wrong color (ί.e. the Bίshop ίan ίs notorίously a wίn-or-lose openίng.
does not control the pawn's queenίng square). Alekhίne's Defense, beίng out of fashίon,
Alekhίne only agrees to a draw when thίs would at least have the meήt of surpήse.
outcome ίs clearly ίnevίtable. Alekhίne unearths a freak vaήatίon, of
Wίth stalemate abolίshed, as some thίnk course; and Euwe strays slίghtly-just as he
ίt should be, Alekhίne would have won! dίd ίη the French defenses-and ίt begίns to
41. e5 look as though Alekhίne may retaίn hίs tίtle
43. dxe5t Κχe5 by a dramatίc eleventh-hour vίctory. But an
44. Κc3 Bfl eπor ίη the endgame allows Euwe to force a
Alekhίne took 48 mίnutes over thίs move. draw-and mop hίs brow!
45. Nel Κd5
46. Ncl Kc5 Alekhίne-Euwe
47. Nd4 Bh3
48. Nel Bgl ι. e4 Nf6
49. Nxf4 Bxf3 1. e5 NdS
50. Nd3t Κb5 3. d4 d6
51. Ne5 Bh5 4. c4 Nb6
51. Nc4 Bg4 5. Nf3
53. Nd6t Kc5 Thίs ίs quίte a common lίne where Whίte
 Extreme Chess

has omίtted c4 and Black's Κnight ίs stίll at 33. Rb3 Κf8

d5. But here ίt rapidly gίves the game a wild 34. g4?
turn. White's Rooks are tίed, but White had
5. Bg4 good wίnnίng chances if he had utίlίzed his
6. Be2 dxe5 better advanced Κing. That, however, could
7. c5! e4 only have been done by 34. Κg4!
Safer was 7... NdS!, wίth easy equalίty. 34. Κe7
8. αb6 exf3 35. fS μfS
9. Bxf3 Bxf3 36. μfS f6!
10. Qxf3 axb6H 37. Κf4 &e5t
11. φb7 Nd7 38. Rxe5t Rxe5
12. Bf4 e5! 39. Κχe5 Rc5t
Thίs pawn-sacήfice secures a strong ίηίtίa· 40. Κe4 Κf6
tίve. Obvίously 12 ... Rc8? ίs no move for a 41. Ra3 Rc4t
chess player. 42. Κd3 Rh4
13. Bxe5 Nxe5 43. Rb3 ΚxfS
14. dxe5 Bb4t 44. Rxb5t Κe6
15. Nc3 Bxc3t 45. c4 Rxh3t
16. bxc3 0-0 Drawn
17. 0-0 Qe7 The game ίs now a book draw even with·
18. Rfe1 Qc5 out the black pawn because Black's Κίηg can
19. Re3 Ra3 reach the queenίng square.
10. Qf3 Re8
Here someone suggested 20... Qc4 for no
clear reason and was copίed by all and sundry. Game 30
Black ίs ίη some danger whatever he does.
21. h3 RaS Queen's GambitAccepted
But now the logical thίng to do was to
contίnue boldly with 21 ... Rxe5. After 22. Alekhine cuts a poor figure ίη this game,
Rd1 !, eίther 22 ... h6 or 22... f6 could be played but ίt ίs sίmply a case of a freak openίng not
wίth full expectatίon of a draw. For example, workίng.
22 ... h6 23. RdSt Κh7 24. Rxe5 Qxe5 25. Qxfl Alekhine may, of course, have been un­
Rxc3 and the attacks on the Κίngs balance. wίse in his choίce of that opening. Ηίs situa·
11. Rd1 Qe7 tίon was desperate, but there are old and trίed
23. Qc6! RcS resources for desperate men against the
If23 ... Rxe5??, then 24. Qxe8t! Queen's Pawn, above all the Dutch Defense.
24. Qd7 g6 Wίth ίt Alekhίne won the last game of his
15. f4 Rc4 other match wίth Euwe ίη 1927 and squeaked
16. Qxe7 Rxe7 to vίctory by the odd poίnt. Wίth it Botvinnίk
27. Rd4 RcS pulled hίs match wίth Flohr out of the fire ίη
28. ΚfΖ c6 1934. Andwhat a subtle revenge ίtwouldhave
29. a4 Ra7 been for Euwe's choίce of Alekhίne's Defense
30. Rb4 b5 ίn Game 29!
31. ax:b5 αb5 Euwe agreed to a draw ίη a wίnnίng
32. Κf3 Rac7 posίtίon-a move both prudent and mag-
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1935

nanίmous. Whίte's nextmovewas met by a great 'Άh"

from the huge crowd-it finίshes the match.
Euwe-Alekhine

Ι. d4 ds
1. c4 dxc4
3. Nf3 Nd7! ?
The ίdea ίs that ίf now 4. e3 then 4. . . Nb6!
After 5. Bxc4 Nxc4 6. Qa4t, etc., B1ack has a
cramped game, but two Bίshops. Euwe took
12 mίnutes over hίs next move-wίth good
resu1ts.
4. Qa4! c6 Euwe (White) to play his lltlι. move and become
S. �4 Ngf6 Clι.ampίon oftlι.e World
6. g3! g6
7. Nc3 Bg7 17. ψe6f Κχe6
8. Bg1 0-0 18. Nf4t Κf1
9. 0-0 QaS 19. NxhS Be7
Owίng to Whίte's carefully thought-out 30. Κh1 Ng6
pJan of deveJopment, B1ack ίs a1ready wίth­ 31. Rb2 Rac8
out any sound contίnuatίon that will at the 31. f4 Nf8
same tίme produce complicatίons. Alekhίne 33. fS Bgs
seJects the most enterprίsίng Hne-and prays! 34. BxgS RxgS
10. e4 QhS 3S. Nf4 Nh7
ll. Qd3 Nb6 36. Ne6 RhSt
11. Ne2! R.d8 37. Κg2. Nf6
13. a4! Nbd7 38. Κf3 Rg8
14. b4! gs 39. Nf4 Rhgs
Euwe, however, has been annoyίng 40. Rgl
enough to find the perfect moves, and B1ack Here Euwe agreed to a draw.
has to gίve up a pawn for nothίng.
IS. NxgS NeS
16. Qc1 Ng6
17. h3! h6
18. Bf3 Ng4
19. hxg4 Bxg4
10. Bxg4 Qxg4
21. Nxf7 Κχf7
11. Qc4f e6
13. f3! QhS
14. Be3 Rg8
1S. Rf1 Bf6
16. Rafl Nh4
And now B1ack must shed another pawn,
as Whίte threatened Rh2.
Extreme Chess
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

ALEΚHINE-EUWE Ιι 1937
An edited reissue of C.J.S. Purdy's book The Return of Alekhine, (The Australasian Chess Review,
Sydney, 1 938}

PREFACE

My best thanks are due ... to the reviewers of How Euwe Won, whose generous praise rewarded
me for many hours spent ση minor details that Ι expected would pass unnoticed and has
encouraged me to repeat my efforts.
Studying the garnes has certainly improved my own play and will, Ι trust, do the sarne for
my readers. At any rate, that is the first object of the book.
My predominant feeling is one of admiration for the two players who, having to average
one move every four minutes, so often outshone their cήtics both in depth and accuracy.

C.J.S. Purdy
Sydney, July 1938.

The great event

 Bxtreme Chess
STORY OF τΗΒ MATCH
τHB PLAYBRS
Alexander Alexandrovich Alekhine of
France was the challenger. He had formerly
held the title from 1927, when he defeated
Capablanca at Buenos Aires by 6-3 with 25
draws, until dethroned by Euwe ίη 1935.
The holder was Max (Machgielίs) Buwe
of Holland. He had been champίon sίnce 15
December 1935.
Before thίs contest, they had met 50 times
in match and tournament games with exactly
equal results: matches-1 1 wins each and 18
draws; tournaments-3 wins each and 4
draws!
WHBN AND WHBRB
The Match was played in various cίties in
Holland during the 10.5 weeks between 5
Octoberand 16 December 1937. Out of the 30
Absor&ed Specta.tors
games, 11 were adjourned, so that there were
41 playίng days and 32 rest days. Of course, a
number of the "rest" days would be devoted
partlyto adjournment analysίs or to the analy­
sis of openings.
THB SBCONDS
Each player was allowed a "second" who
analyzed openίngs with hίm before and dur­
ίng the match, and who was also permίtted to
assist hίm with adjournment analysίs!
1:::::""'1 84 1:::::""'1
Alekhίne's secondwas Eήch Eliskases, the
brίlliant Vίennese master; and Euwe's was
Reuben Fine, the youngAmeήcan grandmas­
ter and chess encyclopedίa.
Qώte early ίη the match, Fίne had to go to
the hospίtal with appendίcίtίs, so that Euwe
lost hίs servίces.
τΗΒ ΜΑΝΑGΒΜΒΝτ
The Match was managed by a committee
delegated by the Dutch Chess Federation.
Geza Marόczy, the popular Hungarian mas·
ter, acted as Controller.
τHB PRBSS
The match receίved a wonderful "press"
ίη Holland. The bίg Dutch papers vίed with
each other ίη securing the servίces of leadίng
masters to annotate the games and wouldusu­
ally gίve nearly a page of the paper to com­
ments on the match.
For example, Fίne represented the Nieuwe
Rotterdamsche Courant, Flohr the Handelsblad,
Tartakowerthe Telegraaf, Κmoch the Volk, and
Pήns, aDutchmaster, asyndίcate of72 Dutch
papers. Other masters were also present for
foreίgn papers, ίncludίng Emanuel Lasker for
the Russίan chess and checkers weekly 64.
The uninίtiated might ίmagίne that the
compiler of thίs book merely had to collect
the annotations of these mίghty ones and sίft
them down. Surely, hewould think, the com­
bined wits of so many chess wizards would
completely exhaust the possίbilities! The truth
ίs that there never has lived, and probably
never will lίve, a player who can accurately
annotate a game of chess in the few hours
that these men had. Theίr annotations were,
of course, immeasurably above ordinary
newspaperstandards; butnevertheless, always
contaίned analytical eπors. And one such er­
ror ίs sufficίent to dίstort the whole vίew of a
game (see the ίntroduction to Game 16).
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937
As Euwe has remarked, the ordinaryplayer
thinks that chess is a hard game; but he has ηο
coηceptioη of how hard it really is! It is true
that masters can play reasoηable chess at teη
secoηds a move, but "the little more, andhow
much it is!" Expert coπespoηdeηce players
will take days over a siηgle move and still be
iη doubt.
This is the justificatioη for the publicatioη
of a book seveη moηths after the eveηt!
CONDmONS
The match was to consist of 30 games, but
the winner's score had to include at least six
wins . final score was 11-6, 13 draws.
The set ηumber of games is an unfortu·
nate coηditioη that was imposed in order to
give each άty a certain portioη of the match,
in consideratioη of its coηtributioη to the ex·
penses.
The effect is that as sοοη as οηe player has
wοη 6 games every draw brings him ηearer
victory. His oppoηeηt is handicapped by hav·
ίηg to avoid drawish lines, and the final score
is ηοt ηecessarily an indicatioη of the true
relative streηgths of the coηtestants.
The only satisfactory coηditions are those
of the A1ekhine-Capablancamatch at Bueηos
Aires in 1927-first to score six wins with ηο
,
set ηumber of games to be played.
τΗΒ ΏΜΒ LΙΜΠ
Speakiηg roughly, the time limit was 16
moves an hour. More exactly, it was 40 moves
in the first2.5 hours, 64 (ηοt 66) moves in the
first 3.5 hours, and 80 moves in the first 4.5
hours. The loηgest game weηt to 68 moves.
· Five hours were allowed for the first ses·
sioη; but as sοοη as each player had made 40
moves, iπespective of the time takeη, White
had to seal his 41st move. This, by the way, is
the explanatioη of why ηο fewer than nine
games eηded in 40 or 41 moves. With an ad-
journmeηt ahead, a player will ofteη resign
or agree to a draw where he would play ση if
his oppoηeηt were still battling against fa.
tigue or the clock.
τΗΒ ΡLΑΥ
The story of the play is best told iη the
introductions to the various "Phases" of the
match and in the players' own articles.
Bήefly, A1ekhiηe had already scored his 6
wins after 14 games, wheη he led by 3 poiηts.
After 19 games, the differeηce iη favor of
A1ekhine was the same as in 1935, two points.
Alekhine theη ran away with the match-the
For accuracy combiηed with eηtertaiη·
meηt, the match was probably the best ever
played-the 1935 match comiηg a good sec·
οηd.
"τΗΒ MILK OF HUMAN ΚINDNBSS"
Νο match for the world champioηship has
ever beeη surrounded by so frieηdly and pleas­
ant an atmosphere. The players' summaries
were thoroughly fair and modest. The loser
had the harder part to play, and he has played
it like the true sportsman that he is.
τΗΒ PLAYBRS SUM UP
The Manchester Guardian commissioηed
the two players each to wήte an article sum·
ming up the match from his own point of
view. Both articles are repήηted here iη full
by permissioη of The Guardian.
ΑLΒΚΗΙΝΒ
Wheη Ι read the article by Dr. Euwe which
was published iη the Manchester Guardian
aloηgside my own ση the eve of our match, Ι
was struck by the seηteηce iη which he ex­
pressed the opinioη that there would certainly
 Extreme Chess
be many blunders ίη the games of the match.
So far as Ι was concerned, Ι was determined to
avoid the crude blunders which Ι made in
1935; and Ι felt sure, therefore, that this time
the issue of the contest would not depend on
elementary mistakes but, on the whole, on
the better play. Was Ι ήght? Ι think Ι was, and
here are my reasons.
Euwe's play, as a thorough and, above all,
an impartial examination of the games will
easily show, was not only not infeήor to but
slightly better than his play ίη 1935, at all
events ίη the first twenty games. This will
become perfectly clear from the following
consideration: it was unanimously agreed that
the quality of my play was greatly supeήor to
that of 1935, yet after the nineteenth game
the sίtuation was exactly the same as ίη the
firstmatch. The onlypossible ίnference is that
my adversary also succeeded ίη making a
greater effort than at the first time. It ίs true
that after the twenty-fίrst game, which virtu­
ally decided the fate of the title, Euwe played,
on the whole, rather passively. For all that, he
did his best ήght to the end (see, for instance,
his stubborn resistance, ίη spite of losing the
Exchange, ίη the endgame of the twenty-fifth
game), and even after the match was over, ίη
the five exhibition games which we were
obliged to play under our contract, he pro­
duced high-class play, winning ίη the twenty·
ninth his best game of the whole seήes. It is
therefore perfectly ήdiculous to say, as a sec·
tion of the local press said, that the ex-cham·
pion was "out of form:'
'Ά Psychological Shock"
His good form was all the more character­
istic and, may Ι add, all the more meritoήous
sίnce ήght at the outset of the match, after the
sixth, seventh, and eighth games, Euwe re·
ceived a psychological shock from which
many players would have been incapable of
recovery. Afterthese games, all three ofwhich
he lost, he realized that he had to do with an
opponent at the top of his form instead of a
completely "finished" player, as his friends,
flatterers, and admirers had been telling him
from morn to eve for months. The man who
could preserve his equanimίty ίη so unex­
pected a sίtuation ίs no mean fighter.
As for my opponent's style, the critίcs
made not a few mistakes, intentional and
unintentional, ίη their judgment of it.
Euwe's chess talent ίs ίη origin purely tac·
tical-unlike that of such masters as Stein·
itz, Rubinstein, Capablanca, and Nimzo­
vich. But he is a tactician who is deter·
mined at all costs to become a good strate·
gist, and by dint of a great deal of hard
work, he has had some measure of success.
The infallible criterion by which to distin·
guish the true from the would-be strate·
gist is the degree of originality of his con­
ceptions. It makes little difference whether
this originality is carried to excess, as was
the case wίth Steίnitz and Nimzovich. In
most of Euwe's games we find one and the
same picture-a plan based on the formal
data of the position, such as a majority of
pawns on the Queen's wing, an isolated
pawn on the opponent's side, combined
action of the two Bishops, and so on. Gen­
erally the plan is good, but there are excep·
tίons due to the tactical possίbilities of par­
ticular positions, and these exceptions are
by no means rare. Consequently, Euwe as
strategist stands at the opposite pole from
where Reti stood. Reti declared ίη his fa­
mous book New Idea.s in Chess that he was
interested only ίη the exceptions; Euwe
believes, perhaps a little too much, ίη the
immutabίlity of laws.
Dr. Buwe's Strength
What, then, ίη compensation for this
slight short-coming, are the assetswhich have
made Euwe one of the most redoubtable play·
 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1937
ers of our day? Ιη the first place, hίs gίft of
combίnatίoη. Does the geηeral public, do eveη
our frίeηds the cήtίcs, realίze that Euwe has
vίrtually ηever made an unsound combίηa­
tίoη? He may, of course, occasίoηally faίl to
take account, or to take suffίcίeηt account, of
an oppoηeηt's combίηatίoη, but wheη he has
the ίηίtίatίve ίη a tactίcal operatίoη hίs calcu­
latίoη ίs to all ίηteηts ίmpeccable.
Ηίs other, and hίs prίηcίpal, asset ίs un­
doubtedly hίs profound knowledge of the
opeηίηgs, combίηed wίth a sort of ίηtuίtίοη
ίη the fίrst part of the garne. Ιη vίew of thίs
formidable asset my pήηcίpal problem be­
fore the match was to try to eηter the areηa
wίth better or at least equal chances ίη the
οpeηίηg play. Το thίs eηd Ι had a) to make a
careful analysίs of all the garnes played by
Euwe durίηg the perίod betweeη the two
matches; b) to take ηote of all his artίcles and
commeηtaήes (both ση his own garnes and
ση those of other players) duriηg the sarne
Alekhine tr Euwe
period and to try to read betweeη the lίηes; c)
to prepare ηew lίηes of play specially for the
match, oηηo accountmakίηganyuse ofthem
ίη the tournarneηts precediηg it; and d) to
adapt myself durίng the actual match to the
prograrn of opeηiηgs prepared by my oppo-
ηeηt and, while tryίng as far as possible to
disprove his ίηveηtίοηs (which tumed out to
be particularly diffίcult, because these ίηηο-
vatίons had plaiηly beeη deeply studied), sim­
ply to steer clear of anythίηg that might show
itself to be particularly daηgerous, ίη the
garnes that followed. Thus, for iηstance, after
losiηg the first and fίfth garnes, Ι immediately
abandoηed the fashioηable variatίoη of the
Slav Defeηse and also the Queeη's Garnbit
Accepted.
While this system produced satisfactory
results, Ι admit that Euwe's loss of the match
was far from beiηg due to hίs choίce of opeη­
iηgs; ση the coηtrary, ίη the majoήty ofgarnes
he obtaίnedafter teη to a dozeη moves a thor­
oughly satίsfactory pοsίtίοη. So Ι firmly ίη­
teηd to study modem opeηiηgs more deeply,
ίη order to get more cliηchίηg results ίη the
future, especially as secoηd player.
A Good Match
With hίs characterίstic sportίng spirit, the
ex-charnpίoη has hίmself admitted that the
result of this match coπespoηds with the rela­
tίve streηgth of the players; οη the other hand,
Ι arn eηtίrely ίη agreemeηt wίth hίs other
statemeηt, that the differeηce of sίχ poiηts
gίves a rather exaggerated idea of our differ­
eηce ofform, andwas mainlythe consequeηce
of factors of a psychologίcal order ίη the last
garnes of the match. Thus Ι do ηοt ίη the least
grudge the slight advantage gaίned by Euwe
 Extreme Che55
in the five exhibition game5; let it 5erve, in·
deed, as a 5mall consolation for the Dutch
che55 world, which did 50 much for the orga·
niza.tion of the two matche5 and which (5ave
a very 5mall minoήty) 5howed 5uch perfectly
5porting in5tincts!
Since the end of the match Ι have fre­
quently been asked what are my plans, and
particularly my plan5 in regard to future con·
te5ts for the title. It is difficult to give a preci5e
answer to thi5 que5tion, for it i5 almo5t im·
po55ible to form defi·
nite plan5 in 50 5hort
a time. All Ι can 5ayi5 ι;;,,.,�i�;ω:.>
thatperhap5 in all my
career Ι have never
felt as champion 5uch
a feeling of re5pon5i·
bility toward5 the
che55 world: that it i5
with thi5 feeling that
Ι am ready to defend
my title with all my
5trength against any
challenger; and, fi·
nally, that Ι hope the
next match for the
title will be one which the majoήty of the
che55 community de5ire5 to 5ee.
BUWB
Playing this match withAlekhine has been
a 5omewhat thankle55 task for me, 5ίnce my
opponent'5 playing 5trength has been 50 vaή·
able. Mo5t of the experts belίeved Alekhine
had gone back consίderably, but there were a
few who con5idered Alekhine capable of re·
captuήng hί5 form of 1930 at San Remo. (In
that tournament he made the 5plendid 5core
of 14 out of 15 again5t vίrtually all the leading
master5 of the day.)
Thus our match had to 5olve the problem
pre5ented by Alekhine hίmself; it had to pro·
vίde an an5wer to the que5tion: ''15 ίt or is it
not true that Alekhine is very 5trong�" And
the outcome of the conte5t which has just
been finished has answered thί5 que5tion in a
completely convincing manner: Alekhine is
not onlyvery 5trong, but he must be regarded
as the be5t player ίn the world. On the basi5 of
game5 wίth one opponent ίt is ίmpo55ible to
judge whether he is again the Alekhίne of San
Remo. But there i5 5urely no great difference.
Alekhine has played wonderfully, and Ι cer·
tainly do not consider it a di5grace to be wor·
5ted by 5uch an op­
ponent. But Ι do de­
plore my collap5e at
the end. Τhί5 col­
lap5e was 50 bad that
Ι put up too little re-
5i5tance, 50 that the
numerίcal expre5·
5ion of the re5ult ί5
not a true reflection
o f our r e l a tίve
5tiength duήng the
match as a whole.
This collap5e had
phy5ical as well as
p5ychologίcal
cause5. Above all, Ι felt very tired in the 5ec­
ond half of the match, perhap5 as a re5ult of
the pretty 5trenuous exertion of the team tour·
nament in Stockholm, in whίch Ι had particί·
pated with the object of playing my5elf into
my be5t form. In the twenty-fir5t game Ι had
the ίmpre55ίon that my brain had begun a
50rt of "5it down 5trike;" Ι could form no rea-
5onable plan, and my lo55 must be attrίbuted
to illogical rather than to bad move5.
But even more important than the phy5ί·
cal cause5 were the psychological. When Ι di5-
covered, after the tenth game, what kίnd of
an opponent Ι had to contend with, Ι was
already three points behind. Then Ι appreci­
ated how 5eήous the 5ituation was, and ex­
erted my5elf with all the 5trength at my coni­
mand to reduce my opponent'5 lead. At fir5t ίt
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937
dίd not go very smoothly. But begίnnίngwίth
the fifteenth game Ι had all sorts of chances.
After seventeen games Ι was only two poίnts
behίnd, and ίf ίt had then gone well Ι mίght
have been able to save the day. But thίngs
sίmply would not go my way, eίther ίn the
eίghteenth, or the nίneteenth, or the twentί·
eth game. Thίs was due partly to my own
mίstakes, and partly to the fact that the posί ·
tίons offered my opponent hίdden resources
whίch had been dίfficult to foresee. All three
games were drawn, so that Ι was stίll two
poίnts behίnd when the twentίeth game was
over. Thίs check dίscouraged me to such an
extent that Ι played the rest of the match ίn a
depressed mood.
One can understand the course of the
match best by dίvίdίng the games ίnto
groups of fίve:
If Ι examίne the qualίty of my play from a
purely technίcal poίnt of vίew and look at
Alekhίne's wίth a magnίfyίngglass, Ι come to
the conclusίon that he excelled ίn all respects.
He not only had varίous ίnnovatίons ίn the
openίngs but also constructed the framework
of the game ίn the sίmplest strategίcal man·
ner whίch used to characteήze hίs play. Ηίs
tactίcal resourcefulness and combίnatίve abίl­
ίty are so well known and so typίcal of hίs
style that ίt ίs not necessary for me to enlarge
on them. Ηίs play ίn the endίng was also at a
hίgh level. But Ι must above all marvel at the
manner ίn whίch he treated adjourned posί­
tίons. Thίs ίs all the easίer sίnce Ι also had to
analyze the adjourned games, and thus knew
them through and through. When Ι thίnk of
the creatίve ίdeas whίch my opponent some·
tίmes ίnfused ίnto the posίtίons, of the unex­
pected turns whίch he was able to dίscover,
then Ι must express the greatest admίratίon
for hίs mastery of thίs phase of the game.
My own play ίs far less satίsfactory. If Ι
dίsregard the openίng, Ι must admίt that thίs
match has brought out the varίous defects ίn
my play clearly-lack of absolute precίsίon ίn
combίnatίons, occasίonal bad blunders, but
espeάally the complete absence of a drawίng
technίque. Thίs last defect turned out to be of
the utmost ίmportance; Ι dίd not know how
to hold the draw ίn posίtίons whίch were
left to riglιt: Euwes Motlιer and lιer pιuents
drawn. These were posίtίons where mateήal
equalίty was maίntaίned, but where my op·
ponent may perhaps have had a slight posί·
tίonal advantage. If Ι saw no clear drawίng
method Ι played aίmlessly, forced the posί·
tίon occasίonally, and thereby qώckly drίfted
ίnto a lost posίtίon. Thίs weakness ίs most ob­
vίous ίn the second, seventh, eίghth, twenty·
first, and twenty-fourth games. Thίs match
has set me on the track of a weakness ίn my
play, and Ι am determίned to elίmίnate thίs
weakness wίth all the energy and seήousness
at my dίsposal.
lt ίs not my ίntentίon to challenge my op·
ponent as soon as possίble, sίnce Ι am well
aware that the claίms of others for a match
for the hίghest tίtle have more weίght now.
Nevertheless, ίf my tournament results jus·
tίfy my doίng so, Ι may make an attempt to
recapture the tίtle four or five years from now.
For the tίme beίng such an ίdea ίs out of the
questίon, for my opponent ίs ίndίsputably my
better. May he successfully defend hίs tίtle ίn
the years to come! Long lίve the new world
 Extreme Chess

Game �.

· :Ji SlavDe� (fxause) .. Euwe {W) 50 0·1

2 Slav Defetl$e.(�.aιise} Alekhine {W) 41 Ι-Ι
3 .selni�S1a:VD�fdse .· Drawn 60 1.5-1.5

.6.
: ;t��ι�ec1 ····• ·· .
SΙav Defe�:(� Nd m4) .·.
Drawn
:E.uwe (W�
Al�e fW)
27
41
23
2·2
2-3
3 -3
4}ektι:φe (Β} 35 4-3

: ��
•·

·
�Imine (W} 2.6 ·· 5-3
S!a�pef� (fit�fJrial} Drawn 41 5.5-3.5
}Ο Nfu:l.zΘ•m- l>efense . Alekltine (W) 40 6.5-3.5
11 $lavD�� (��) . Drawn 30 7-4
12 Ni:mzo.Ιndlan Def�nse Dfa.wn 26 7.5-4.5
13 • S1avι>efense (Norni�� · EUWf: (W) 68 ].5..,.5.5
14 Catalan (3 g3} ... Alefdiliιe {Wj 52 8.5-5.5
ιs. s1av � (No��
· Drawn 62. 9-6
16 Catalan (3 g3) Drawn 65 9.5-6.5
17 SlavDefense (N�rm,al) Buwe. (W) 41 <J.5·7.5
1� �Variat;ωn · Drawn. 51 10...8
19 ,NinDι:ι.Indi:qp Def- Drawn 49 10.5-8.5
20 NinDo-lndilφDefensi �wn 41 11.-9
21 Q.ιιeen'$ IndianDefense Alektι:φe {Β� 32.. 12';'"9
22· Reti.Openmg 4lekhine. (W} 62 13-9
2.3 Q.ιιeen's lndlanDefense . Drawn 49 ιιs-9.5
24 J.>rague.VwtiOn Aleldnne (W} 41 14.5-9:5
2. 5 Nimzo"ΦtfiϊΦ I>efense Alekhme (Β) . 43 15.5-9.5
16 Slav Defq fNΌtmal) Dra%φ 30 16-10
27 N�I11� Defense .. Drawn 28 16.5-10.5
2.8 S1avDefense l3e3) . AΙe�:(WJ 37 · Ii\5-10.5
2.9 l'r�Vation Eu� (W) 41 17.5';'"11.5
30 P�eVa.da.tio� .. Ε� (Β) 40 17.5-12,.5 .

*Ev.ery gιune oμenedwith� dt:pa,wh, ineffect, meptthe �2nd. See a.ls!>, Index
to Openings.

� 90 �
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937
champion!
ΤΗΕ OPENINGS
Here ί5 merely a bird'5 eye 5ummary of the
openίng5 used bythe player5. Α detailedanaly·
5ί5 of the opening5 used in the match appear5
after the game5 5ection of the book.
Summaryand General Deductions
Both player5 5tart off with the Slav De·
fen5e-Euwe leave5 it after the 6th Game,
changing over to the Nimzo·Indian Defen5e,
which he play5 at every opportunity­
Alekhine leave5 the Slav after the 17th Game,
changing over to the Nimzo· Indian Defen5e,
which he play5 at every opportunity. Both
player5 gradually acquire a whole5ome re5pect
for the Nimzo·Indian Defen5e and de5cend
to playing the innocuous 1. Nf3 to avoid it.
In 5hort, a very good argument for 1. e4!
Ί'wο Το One On White?
Ι am not overlooking that White won 13
game5 to Black'5 4. The figure5 ίη the 1935
match were exactly the 5ame. Counting draw5
as half a point to each color, the majoήty in
favor ofWhite was 18.5 to 9.5 ίη both matche5,
a little under 2 to 1. But ίη the 1935 match
there were 5ίχ e-pawn game5, and ίη the5e the
majoήty in favor of White was 5 to 1 (4 win5
and 2 draw5).
By the way, it must not be as5umed that
the odds ίη favor of White are theoretically 2
to 1 just because it has worked out 50 ίη the
last two matche5 for the world champion5hίp.
One must fir5t take into account the 5tyle5
of the two player5. Alekhine i5 particularly
liable to win with White again5t Euwe be·
cause with the White piece5 one has far more
opportunitie5 of trying out original ideas.
Euwe ί5 highly vulnerable to the5e, pήnci·
pally because he gets 5hort of time ίη thinking
out the be5t replie5; and when he gets 5hort of
�;;:::""� 91 Ι:::::::=ι
time he i5 very prone to over5ights.
With Black, ση the other hand, opportu·
nitie5 for 5ound innovation5 are few and far
between, and the un5ound one5 permit clear·
cut knock-out5-which Euwe find5 with
deadly accuracy, for he i5 brilliant with the
initiative. Consequently, Euwe i5 particularly
liable to win with White again5t Alekhίne!
It must be admίtted, however, that in mas·
ter tournaments generally White nearly al­
way5 5core5 better than Black, even if the ma·
joήty ί5 5eldom as high as 2 to 1.
Τhί5 ί5 because Whίte, wίth hi5 oήginal
5light advantage to cover him, can afford to
make 5light mi5take5, while Black cannot.
Without mi5take5, it ί5 practically certain that
a game of che55 would be drawn. However, as
over-the-board che55 ί5 far too hard for any·
one to play con5ί5tently wίthout mi5take5, ίt
i5 an advantage ίη practice to have White.
Mσre absσrbed spectatσrs
Out of every three hour5 a player 5pends
ίη 5tudying the opening5, he i5 well advi5ed to
give two to Black and one to Whίte. Mo5t
player5 give more tίme to White because ίt ί5
pleasanter to plan way5 to exploit the advan·
tage of the move than way5 to 5ecure equality.
This ί5 another reason why White doe5 50
well ίη practice.
Why Alekhine Won
In both matche5, Euwe played the open·
 Extreme Chess
ίngs better than Alekhine, on the whole. Ale­
khine won the 1937 match maίnly because he
ίs able, at his best, to handle unfamiliar situa·
tions under a time limit more accurately than
Euwe. And that sums up most of the art of
over-the-board chess.
IDEALS OFANNOTAΠON
Game as a drama-art of criticίsm-distinc·
tion between absolute eπor and purely theo·
retical eπor-use of query-coπespondence
chess playedunder conditions allowίng artis­
tic expression, but over-the-board chess
should be appreciated rather as a fight than as
an artistic creation-importance of nailing
down decίsive eπors.
In annotating the games of this match, Ι
have kept in view two objects.
The first object is to show the match as a
whole, and each ίndividual game of it, as a
drama, a struggle between two wizards of the
chessboard.
Here we are-spectators to all intents and
purposes of the actual play. There are the
thirty-two chessmen, set out ίη four rows just
as they have been set out formillions ofgames
for over a thousand years. And here are the
two masters, sitting down to begin play. In a
very few moves, perhaps, they will reach a
position that has never before occurred on
sea orland. What are the causes thatwill brίng
this about?-and why will one player, at the
end, probably find himself forced to suπen·
der?-he who would be certain of defeating
all but a handful of the rest of the players in
the world.
The concentration-the nervous tension­
the teeming calculations-the remorseless
ticking of the clock-the occasional extrane·
ous thoughts that must creep in and dίstract
attention-the millions eagerly awaiting the
results (yes, millions)-all these are part of
the drama.
True, most of it can only be imagined; but
ίη some of the games the dramatic element
comes clearly to the fore and need not be
ignored by the annotator. Chess is a game,
not a dry-as-dust science.
The second object is to explain and cήti­
cize the games as fairly and precisely as lies in
the wήter's power. The chiefbusίness of cήti­
cίsm is to dίstinguish the true from the false.
If a cήtic succeeds ίη thίs, he succeeds in pro­
ducing a work that has a real chance of im­
provίng the play of students and of advancίng
the art of chess.
Alekkί.ne at tke demo boιιrd
But what ίs false? Annotators almost in­
vaήably forget that a move which analysis
may demonstrate as theoreticallyinfeήormay
quite well have been the best under the con­
ditions of play.
An example is Euwe's 17. Nxe5 followed
by 18. Νc5 in the first game. Close analysίs of
the sequel and of the altemative continua­
tion 17. Rxa6 ίndicates that 17. Rxa6 was theo­
retically supeήor-i.e. it would be the best
move ίη coπespondence playwhere there are
facilities, including almost unlimited time,
for accurate analysis many moves ahead.
But 17. Rxa6 would have left so many
pieces 'Ίoose" that it obviously could not be
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937
ventured upon without prolonged calcula­
tion. So Euwe would have to consider:
1 ) If Ι spend much time on 17. Rxa6 and
then find it unsound, it will mean so much
time wasted and so much more likelihood of
subsequent eπor due to time pressure.
2) Even if Ι find it to be sound, what tre·
mendous calculation wiH be necessary to
prove it supeήor (if it is supeήor) to 17. Nxe5
and 18. Nc5, a simple continuation which is
obviously good!
3) Even if Ι prove it theoreticaHy supeήor,
after a great expenditure of time, it may not
actually pay me to play it, as the other con·
tinuation may give my opponent more
chances of making an eπor.
On all these counts, one can say unhesi·
tatingly that the line Euwe adopted was fuHy
justified, seeing that he had to average ap·
proximately only four minutes a move. Actu·
aHy, A1ekhine did make an eπor, 19 ... g5, and
a very plausible one-seeing that Flohr, with
time for analysis, declared it to be Black's best
chance. And this 19 ... g5 1ost the game.
This 19 ... g5� comes under the heading of
absolute eπors: i.e. moves that are not only
demonstrably infeήor, but which cannot be
justified as being coπectunderthe conditions
ofplay.
Α11 moves considered to be absolute eπors
have been marked in this book with a query
to distinguish them from merely theoretical
eπors which are not necessarily eπors at aH
under the conditions of play.
1t follows from aH this that the ideal in
over-the-board chess is not absolute coπect·
ness, as it usually is in coπespondence play,
but correctness qualified by expediency-i.e.
by the state of one's clock (above all), by the
state of the opponent's clock, by the possible
proximity ofan adjournment, bypossible psy­
chological factors connected with your own
and your opponent's style, and by the state of
the score.
And so we should seek pure art rather in
coπespondence chess, which is played with­
out artifiάal restήctions. Just as a painter is
aHowed to try out his colors on a palette and
is not bound by a fixed time limit, so the
coπespondence player can try over his moves
and wήte them down to assist calculation­
and has plenty of time.
Over-the-board chess is played under ar·
tificial restήctions, the purpose of the restήc·
tions being to measure the comparative abili·
ties of two players under similar conditions.
All the conditίons are inίmίcal to the pro­
ductίon of accurate chess. Consequently, we
should treat eπor as part and parcel of over­
the-board play, however august the players
engaged. We should not be too smugly carp·
ing and captious, but should view the game
first and foremost as a struggle-a clash of two
minds under conditions which are, as far as
practicable, equal for both. If a player pro·
duces a flawless game under the handicaps
mentioned, he should receive all the greater
praise; but we should not regard a game as
unworthy of our attention just because it con·
tains several eπors by both players-though
we might be justified in doing so if it were a
coπespondence game. We must remember
that some games contain more difficult prob­
lems than others.
At the same time, aH the eπors should be
nailed down. Only in this way can the games
be made into valuable lessons for ourselves.
Another question Ι have kept always be·
fore me is:
What was the losing move �
Also, what move ought to have been the
losing move�
Thus, in the first game, 19 .. g5 was the
.
losing move (and not 16 ... bxa6, as has been
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

geηerally assumed). up, gaiη Euwe twσ pσiηts tσ Alekhίηe's σηe.

But itis pσssible that 16 ... bxa6 was a suffi­
cieηtly seήσus errσr tσ have caused defeat had
Euwe played 17. Rxa6.
The prσblem is complicated by the diffi­
culty σf recogηizίηg a decisίve advantage. The
purely practical expert ίs iηclίηed tσ regard a
slight disadvantage as sσmethiηg that may be
σvercome by a strσηg defeηse, while the ex­
pert whσ has played many correspσηdeηce
games agaiηst strσηg σppσηeηts and has σf­
teη expeήeηced the ίηexσrable crush that
gradually grσws and grσws σut σf the tiηίest
pressure ίs ίηcliηed tσ regard the same disad­
vantage as decisive, assumiηg best play ση
bσth sίdes.
Cσηstant practίce at recogηίzίηg wίηηίηg
pσsίtίσηs ίs σf ίηestimable beηefit-heηce the
ίmpσrtance σf distίηguίshίηg decίsίve errσrs
frσm slighter σηes. Thίs, hσwever, anησta­
tσrs very rarely dσ.
Game l
Slav Defense
Κrause Attack
Already a shσck fσr the cήtics! The Κrause
Attack agaiηst the Slav Defeηse was wσrked
tσ death ίη the 1935 match, and subsequeηt
researches seemed tσ exhaust ίt utterly. But
here ίt reappears, havίηg σutlived eveη its iη­
geηίσus iηveηtσr Dr. Κrause.
But the cream σf the jσke is that the varia­
tiση that rehabilitates the attack, which Euwe
fσllσws here, is the very σηe that Alekhiηe
iηtrσduced iη Game 21 σf the 1935 match, the
σηe ίη which a Dutch ηewspaper accused him
σf beίηg iηtσxicated! -a rumσr tσ which we
ηevergave the slightest credeηce. An ίηteηsely
difficult game, spleηdidly coηducted by Euwe.

Euwe-Alekhine
The fσregσiηg sets σut the ίdeals σf aηησ-
tatiση as Ι see them. Ησw well σr hσw badly Ι 1. d4 d5
have fσllσwed them ίη thίs bσσk is anσther 2. c4 c6
stσry. 3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3
Fσr remarks ση the early mσves ίη all the
INDEX ΤΟ OPENINGS games, see the sectiση ση ΤΗΕ OPENINGS
All the games except the 22ηd (a Reti) were fσllσwίηg after the games sectiση.
esseηtially d-pawηs andare iηdexed (see chart 4. dxc4
ση page 94) accσrdiηg tσ the Defeηse. Trans· 5. a4 Bf5
pσsitiσηs are ίgnσred. 6. Ne5
Ιη σdd-ηumbered games, Euwe had The Κrause Attack. Tartakσwer had prσph­
Whίte. esίed that ίt wσuld reappear ίη thίs match,
Drawη games are bracketed ίη pareηthe­ and Reshevsky had laughed at the idea. Sσ ίη
ses; games wση by Black are marked Β. De Telegraaf, Tartakσwer chίps him wίth:
"Νσw, Mr. Reshevsky, whσ was ήght?"
6. ... Nbd7
Phase Ι (GAMES 1-5): Thίs plan σf playίηg fσr ... e5 has beeη re­
EUWE LEADS garded as "prσved up tσ the hilt:' Chess al­
ways gets the last laugh ση chess thίnkers.
Prepared varίatiσηs, beautίfully fσllσwed 7. Nxc4 Qc7

1;:::9 95 1;:::9
 Extreme Chess
8. g3 eS
9. dxeS NxeS
10. Bf4 Nfd7
11. Bg2 f6!
11. 0-0 Rd8!
13. Qc1 Be6
The 1935 match establίshed the last three
moves as the perfect order of play for Black in
the position-ίf anything is ever establίshed
in the chess openings! The objection to 13 ...
Be7 or 13 ... Bb4 is 14. Nxe5 followed by 15.
Nd5!, getting Bishop for Κnight.
14. Ne4!
In Game 21 of the 1935 match, Alekhine
exchanged Κnights first: 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15.
a5 a6! 16. Ne4 Bb4. White is then slίghtly
incommoded by the attack on his a-pawn,
though it is true that at the Semmering-Baden
grandmasters' tourney (1937) it was shown
that White obtains at least equality after the
simple 17. Bdl (Fine-Cι;ιpι;ιblι;ιncι;ι andEliskι;ιses­
Cι;ιpι;ιblι;ιncι;ι).
However, by keeping his Κnight on c4 as
long as possible, Euwe has support for the
point a5 ready made. He got the idea from a
game Turn-Ojι;ιnen at the Stockholm Olympiι;ιd.
Alekhine was present neither at the Stock­
holm nor the Semmeήng-Baden event. It
would surely have paid him to engage some·
body to send him any new opening vaήa·
tions that occurred.
14. ... Bb4
Alekhine took ten minutes over this. If
14 ... Bxc4?, then 15. Qxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc7 Rc8
17. Bf4 with two Bishops and a clear pull in
development (if 17 ... R,!ι then 18. Rfc1 !­
Flohr).
If,li. .. Be7, probably not at once 15. Qc3,
when Black might venture on 15 ... Bxc4 with
a tempo gained; but first 15. Rd1 !, and after
15 ... 0-0 then 16. Qc3!, with grim pressure.
And ifil··. a5 to stop White's push to a5, then
still 15. Rd1 and 16. Qc3 with advantage.
Alekhine's move stops Qc3.
15. aS! 0-0!
The diagram probably represents the best
play on both sides after 6 ... Nbd7. White has
a marked initiative. In subsequent Κrause At·
tack games, both players reverted to the older
defense 6 ... e6. The disability of the ...e5 sys·
tem is the pin of the Κnight on e5.
Black would be justified in playing 15 ... a6
if he could keep White's a-pawn under pres­
sure (see the note to White's 14th move); but
here White would drive away the Bishop by
16. Ra4 and follow with !? . Qc3, with a grip.
And to play ...a6 merely to stop White's a6
would be uneconomical as it would create a
"hole" at b6 besides losinga tempo. Such con­
siderations are usually more relίable than be­
wildeήng calculations.
16. a6!1
Flohr did not like this, and close analysis
seems to show that he was technically ήght.
Less ambitious but surer was 16. Ra4 Be7 17 .
.Q.c3, piling pressure on the pinned Κnight
and keeping a6 in reserve.
16. ... bxa61
This smears Black's position with weak
pawns, and the opening of the b-file on
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937
Whίte's own ίsolated pawn ίs doubtful com­
pensatίon.
Alekhίne hίmselfsuggested that he should
have played 16 ... b6, offeήng the c-pawn for
attack. If 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Bxe5?, then 18 ...
Qxe5! Whίte, however, would sίmply pίle on
pressure wίth 17. Rd1!
Much mor;-ίn Alekhίne's style ίs 16 ...
bS! ση whίch he does not comment. Thίs
ίs analyzed by Horowίtz ίη the Chess Re­
view: 17. Nxe5 NxeS! 18. Nc5 to stop the
backward pawn advancίng, and not 18.
Bxe5? Qxe5 19. Qxc6? Rc8, etc., trappίng
Whίte's Queen. 18 ... Bc4! 19. Nb7 Bxe2
20. Nxd8 Rxd8 21. Bxe5 Qxe5 22. Qxc6
Bxf1 23. Rxfl Bc5! wίth equality.
Το thίs we add: ίf 18. Be3, then 18 ... Bc4
19. Qc2 c5! 20. b3 Bd5 21. Rfd1 Qc6! wίth a
balanced posίtίon, as 22. Rac1 ίs met by 22 ...
Ba3. Not 21. Nxc5? Bxg2 22. Κχg2 Ng4, and
Black wίns a pίece.
Only "nerves" couldhave causedAlekhίne
to choose the clumsy 16... bxa6.
17. NxeS
Sίmple and good. See 'Ίdeals of Annota­
tίon." But 17. Rxa6! was theoretίcally more
exact. Fίne gίves 17. Rxa6! Qb7 � Nxe5! And
now:
1: 18 ... Qxa6? 19. Nxc6 Rc8 20. Nxb4wίns.
Π: 18 ... fxe5? 19. Rxc6 Rc8! 20. NgS! wίns.
ΠΙ: 18 ... Nxe5! 19. Qa1 Rd7 20. Be3 wίth
clear advantage.
Or 1ι.··· BdS 18. Ne3!
17. ... NxeS
There are poίnts ίη 17... fxe5, but ίt leaves
Black equally cramped and creates another
ίsolated pawn. After J§.. BgS Rb8 19. Rxa6
BdS 20. Be3 Black has not ίmproved hίs
chances.
18. NcS
Stίll quίte good was 1.a. Rxa6; but now not
18 ... QbΠ, transposίng ίnto subvarίatίon ΠΙ
ofFίne's 17. Rxa6 lίne, but 18 ... BdS (now that
Ne3 ίs not available). Then, as soon as the
Κnίght leaves e4, Black exchanges offthe pow-
erful fianchetto Bίshop. And ίf 19. Be3, then
19 ... Ra8 20. Bc5 Rfb8 (threatenίng ...Bc4).
Or ίf20. Qc2, then 20 ... Bc4 21. R retίres 21 ...
a5, wίth a playable game.
18. .. . BxcS
If 18... Bc8H, then 19. Bxe5 wίns.
19. QxcS
19. ... gS �
The losίng move. Black ίs under heavy
pressure; hίs ίdea ίs 1) to unpίn and 2), after
Be3, to force offWhίte's fianchetto Bίshop by
. .. Bd5-at present answerable by e4. But the
move creates an ίrremedίable weakness.
Wίth 19 ... Qb6! (also unpίnnίng) Black
could have saved the game. After 20. Qxb6
axb6 21. Bxe5 fxe5 22. Rxa6 Tartakowerpoίnts
out that Whίte must wίn a pawn; but by 22 ...
Bc4! 23. Rxb6 Bxe2 �· Rc1 (ίf 24. Re1, then
24... Bb5) Rd2! 25. Bxc6 Bf3!. Black has an
assured draw through hίs pressure on the f­
pawn.
If, ίnstead of21. Bxe5, Whίte plays at once
21. Rxa6, then 21 ... Bc422. Rxb6 Rb8! draws.
Alekhίne admίts ίη Chess that the exchange
of Queens would have led to a draw, but says
that "Whίte would have kept hίs posίtίonal
advantage by 20. Qc3!!"
That comment, however, ίs hardly exact.
Thus, ]j. .. Qb6! 20. Qc3 BdS! 21. e4 (after 21.
Bxe5 Bxg2 22. Κχg2 fxeS 23. Qxe5 Rd2 Black
cannot lose) Bc4 22. Rfd1 Rxd1t 23. Rxd1
BbS and ag�l Black cannot lose.
The game ίs now "a wίn for Whίte," but
veryfewplayers couldwίn ίtagaίnstAlekhίne!
1t follows that the rest of the game ίs a valu-
 Extreme Chess
able lesson ίη technίque.
20. Be3! Bd5
21. Rxa6 Bxgl
11. Κxgl!
Thίs ίs where the common or garden varί­
etywoodshίfterwouldgailyplay22. Rxa7 first.
The replyίs a Queen sacrίfίce: 22 ... Bxfl ! ! 23.
Rxc7 Rdl. Then the plausίble 24. h4 loses by
24 ... Bxe2t 25. Κh2 Bf3! And after 23. Qc2!,
Black has at least a forced draw.
The ίdea that combίnatίons play lίttle
part ίη modern master games ίs an ίllu­
sίon. The combίnatίons are there, but the
opponent usually sees them comίng and
stops them ίf possίble.
11. ••• Rf7
23. Rfa1
Not 23. Rxa7, etc., for after the exchanges
Black seίzes the second rank.
23. ••. Qd6!
It ίs bad strategy to try to hang onto mate­
ήal that must ultimately be lost, unless the
opponent must damage hίs posίtίon ίη order
to wίn ίt. Alekhίne, ίη some rather hurrίed
notes, suggests that he should have played
23 ... Qb8. Then 24. Bd4, wίth the general
plan of an ίnexorable crush by Rla4 and Qa3.
Black must lose a pawn.
By jettίsonίng the pawn at once, Black ob­
taίns counterplaywίth hίs Rooks and Κnίght,
and has real fίghting chances-as shown ίη
our note to Black's 25th move.
14. Qxd6 Rxd6
15. Rxa7
As thίs could waίt, 25. b4 was a shade bet-
ter, avoίdίng the subsequent sίmultaneous at­
tack ση the b- and e-pawns.
15. ... RxaH
The only ίncomprehensίble move ίη the
game, yet ίt has hίtherto escaped adverse com­
ment! The pήncίple contravened ίs that you
should not bήng enemy force ίnto better play
by an exchange-rather let the opponent do
the exchangίng, and ίmprove your posίtion
ίnstead.
Correct was 25 ... Νc4!. Alekhίne has stated
that "Whίte would then maίntaίn hίs advan­
tage by 26. Ra8t Kg7 27. Bc5 Re6 28. b3 Ndl
29. Be3 Nxb3 30. Rbl etc.," ίmplyίng that the
Κnίght ίs trapped; but ίt gets out by 30 ... Rb7
followed by ... NaS!, and there ίs no wίn.
Το prevent thίs resource, Whίte would
have to exchange Rooks when he could no
longer shut Black's Κίηg out of the game, as
the text enables hίm to do. Thus, 25 . . . Nc4!
26. Bc5! Re6 27. b3 Ndl 28. Rxf7 Κχf7 29. Be3
and now not 29 ... Nxb3?? 30. Ra3, but 29 ...
Ne4-makίng the wίn for Whίte a terrίbly
dίfficult task.
16. Rxa7 Nc4
17. Bc5 Re6
If 27 ... Rdl, eίther 28. Be7 or 28. b3 Ne5
29. Be7 wίns. After the text, Whίte could stίll
have won by 28. b3 wίth much less dίfficulty
than ίη the last note. But Euwe's way, takίng
dίrect advantage of Black's 19th and 25th
moves, ίs sίmpler.
18. Bd4! Rxe2
19. Bxf6 g4
Threatenίng mate ίη two, and also wίn-
nίng ίf Rg?t and Rxg4??
30. Κf1 Rcl
31. Rg7t Κf8
32. Rxg4 Nxb2
33. Bxb2 Rxb2
34. Rc4 Rb6
Whίte ίs a pawn up; Whίte has unίted
pawns agaίnst ίsolated pawns; and Black's
Rook ίs tied. With these advantages, any rea­
sonably good endgame player would know
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

that he shσuld wίη. But the actual wίηηίηg ίs It must be explaiηed that the players' sec­
ησt sσ easy. σηds were giveη the right tσ assist their priη­
35. Ke2 Κf7 cipals ίη adjσurηmeηt analysis. Tartakσwer,
36. Rh4! σf cσurse, was iηdicating by ίηηueηdσ that
Black threateηed tσ cσme tσ the assistance Alekhiηe was "as dead as Julius Caesar:'
σf his passed pawn with ... Ke6 (and if theη If 40 ... KgS, theη 41. f3 Κh4 42. Κf4 Κh3
Rh4, there wσuld fσllσw ...Rb7). 43. KgS Κχh2 44. f4 wins. (Ragσziη.)
36. ... Κg6 41. f4 Κd5
37. Rf4 42. Rd4t Κe6
Shuttίηg σff Black and threateηiηg tσ ad­ 43. f5t Ke7
vance the Κίηg tσ g4 under cover σf the Rσσk, 44. Re4t Κf7
with the Rσσk simultaneσusly prσtectίηg the 45. h4 Rbl
f-pawη. If 37 ... hS, White wσuld get twσ 46. Κf4 Rcl
united passed pawns by 38. h3 and 39. g4. 47. Ra4 h6
37. Rb3 48. Ra7t Κg8
38. Rc4! Rb6 49. g5 Rc4t
39. Κe3! 50. Ke5! Resigns
White is takiηg advantage σf Black's Κίηg
beiηg ση the sίxth rank; fσrifησw 39 ... Rb3t,
theη 40. Ke4 and ... Rb2 is ησt ση because Game 2
White takes the c-pawn with a check.
39. Κf5 Slav Defense
40. g4t! Κrause Attack

Euwe misses a wίη ση his teηth mσve!

40. ... Κe6
Adjσurned. Tartakσwer eηds up his day's
cσmmeηtary ίη De Telegraι;ιj with a sardσηic
"pep talk" tσ Elίskases, Alekhiηe's secoηd. We
translate rσughly:
Mijnheer Eliskases! You're pretty
strong in Rook endings, aren't
you? You showed that against
Keres and CapablancaatBaden.
But here ίs a problem that may
defy even your powers.
What a scσσp fσr any σf the ηewspapers whσse
represeηtatives saw ίt! But they all missed it­
Flσhr, Fiηe, Lasker, Tartakσwer, everybσdy.
Later ση, it was discovered by Oscar Teηηer, a
Dutch player.
Οηe may well ask what might have beeη
the effect ση Alekhiηe σf lσsiηg the first twσ
games. Surely a distrust σf his σwn pσwers.
That wσuld have reacted ση him very unfa­
vσrably, especially after his many lapses ίη
the precediηg twσ years.
But Alekhiηe wση. Sσ the differeηce be­
tweeη all-square and twσ dσwn-a tremeη­
dσus differeηce bσth mathematically aηd
mσrally-was made by a simple little transpσ­
sitίση σf a mσve!
Alekhiηe-Euwe
Ι. d4 d5

1;:::::"9 99 ι::::::"9
 Extreme Chess
1. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4
5. a4 Bf5
What! Afterwiηηiηgsσ handsσmelywith
the Κrause Attack, Euwe will let Alekhiηe
play it ση him! Exactly the same thiηg hap·
peηed iη the 1935 match. Euwe played the
Κrause ίη the 20th game and defeηded it in
the 21st. He wση bσth. Ησw ηearly histσry
repeated ίtself!
6. Ne5 e6!
The cσπectness σf this defeηse depeηds
ση whether, after 7. f3 Bb4 8. e4, Black can
affσrd the sacήfice iηtrσduced by Mikeηas:
8 ... Bxe4! 9. fxe4 Nxe4. We may be sure that
Euwe and his sparήηg·partner Fiηe weηt ίηtσ
it thσrσughly and prσved that it was gσσd
eησugh tσ eηsure a draw. Οη that assump·
tiση, Alekhiηe steers clear σf 7. f3 which he
adσpted ίη his 1929 match with Bσgσljubσff.
7. Bg5 Bb4!
8. Nxc4
This puts White twσ tempσs behind in
develσpmeηt; and he has still failed tσ make a
start with his f3 and e4 maneuver-which was
the σήgiηal σbject σί 6. Ne5 (the Κrause At·
tack).
8. ... Qd5!
Α strσηg mσve σ η whίch Euwe speηt 2 5
Spectators, Press, Players
mίηutes. Quίet play wσuld permίt f3 and e4.
If 9. Ne3, theη 9 ... QaS 10. Nxf5 exf5; and
Whίte's Bίshσp must retreat tσ dl.
White's bestreplywas the σbvίσus 9. Qb3!,
simultaneously attackίηg and defeηdίηg; but
9 ... Na6! (Flσhr) gives Black a level game.
9. Bxf61 Qxc4!
This leaves Whίte wίth ησ satίsfactσry re·
ply-because σf the coηceηtratiση σί Queeη
and twσ Bishσps ση his weak pσίηts andlίηes.
If 10. Rcl, theη 10 ... gxf6 11. e4 Qal wίns.
Whίte chσσses the best chance.
10. Qd1
10. ... gxf61
Thίs was passed withσut cσmmeηt by all
the ηewspapers and magazines that we saw,
except the ChessReview (USA) whίch had heard
σί Oscar Tenner's dίscσvery σί 10 ... Qb3!!
As ... Qb3 had tσ be played ση the fσllσw·
ίηg mσve ίη any case, ίt shσuld ησt have beeη
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937
obscure. Why, theη, was it missed by the cοη·
testants, the grandmaster commeηtators, and
all the onlookers�
Evideηtly through a faulty way of think­
ing, commoη to all players! Το avoid such
eπors of transpositioη, which are being made
coηstantly, the writer has proposed the fol·
lowiηg as a routine precautioη to every chess
positioη.
If in the course of your calculations of
the consequeηces of a certain move, you
find that a certain other move wίll be ηec·
essary or desirable, try substituting that
othermove as the first move and see how ίt
works.
Here we have a simple case. Black sees
that if he plays 10... gxf6 theη he will have to
play 11 ... Qb3 ση the ηext move (iη answerto
11. e4). By our rule, Black would consider
playiηg 10... Qb3 first; for by doiηg so he
might "reserve the greater optioη:'
The poiηt of 10 ... Qb3! is that White can·
ηοt theη play 11. e4 with the same effect as
before (eliminatioη of Black's stroηg Bishop
οη the light squares) and that instead of LOS·
ING a tempo with 10... gxf6 Black GAINS a
tempo through White's having to move his
threateηed Bishop. And if 11. Bxg7, theη 11 ...
Rg8 (bήηging a Rook into play) gains further
time siηce the Bishop must agaiη move.
The gaiη of a little time is all-important to
Black because it will eηable him to take ad­
vantage of White's weaknesses (the pinηed
Κnight, the a· and b-pawns, and the white
Queeη ση an opeηable file) before White has
time to spoil everythiηgwith f3 and e4. Ιη the
followiηg key vaήatioη, we shall see how
Black accomplishes this in the ηick of time.
Ι: 10... Qb3! 11. Bxg7 Rg8 12. Bh6 {12. Be5
would only assist Black iη opeηing the d-file
after 12 ... Nd7 and 13 ... 0-0-0.) Nd7. Threat
...Nb6, etc. 13. f3 e5! {13 ... Nb6 is still very
stroηg, also.) 14. e4. (If 14. dxe5, theη 14 ...
0-0-0! 15. e4 Nxe5 16. Qc1 Rxg2!! wins.)
exd4 15. Qxd4 0-0-0! ! 16. Bc1 (If 16. exf5,
ι:::q
theη 16 ... Nc5 wiηs; and if 16. Qd2, theη
...Ne5 transposes ίηtο the subvaήatioη start­
iηg with 14. dxe5.) Nc5 17. Qc4 (If 17. Qe3,
theη 17 ... Nxa4 wins. [Ed.: For α tactician like
Euwe, Ι would tlrink he would prefer 17... Rd1t
followed by ... Qcl.]) Rd1t 18. Κf2 Qc2t 19. Kg1
Nd3! and Blackwiηs [Ed.: Black has al1 kinds of
ways ofwinning. For example, 19... Rxgl# or 19...
Qxgl#.].
Ιη the above, instead of 13. f3 White might
gaiη time by returniηg the pawn; thus 13. e4!
Bxe4 14. f3 Bf5-but White still canηot satis·
factorily meet Black's threat of either ...Nb6
or else ... 0-0-0 followed by the openiηg of
the d-file. White's minus iη developmeηt plus
his grave weaknesses must prove fatal.
Moves of the Bishop other than 11. Bxg7
would ηοt ηeed to be coηsidered by Black in
practice as they would represeηt a clear loss of
time-without eveη aη off-settiηg pawη.
However, it may be iηterestiηg to quote the
followiηgvaήations from the Chess Reνiew.
Π: 10 ... Qb3! 11. Be5 Nd7 12. f3 Nxe5 13.
dxe5 Rd8 14. Qc1 Bc2 and Black wins.
ΠΙ: 10 ... Qb3! 11. Bh4 Nd7 12. a5 (Else
... Nb6! deddes.) c5! 13. e3 Rc8 14. Rc1 [Ed.: Ι
wonder why no one considers 14. Bb5!. Tlris
zwischenzu.g seems critical. Wlrite also threatens
15. Ba4.] cxd4 15. exd4 e5 16. d5 Nc5 with a
winniηg positioη for Black.
Above all, Ι must remiηd the possibly ter·
rified studeηt that ηearly all this analysis
would be quite unηecessary iη practice. Euwe
did ηοt ηeed to prove that 10 ... Qb3 would
wiη, but only that it was at least as good as
10 ... gxf6. For this, two miηutes' thought
would have sufficed. The only trouble was
that Euwe-and everyoηe else but Teηηer­
gave 10 ... Qb3 ηο thought at all. This shows
the urgeηt ηeed for our rule giveη above in
heavy type.
11. e4 Qb3
11. exfS Nd7
13. fxe6 fx:e6
14. Be2 Ο-Ο-Ο
101 ι:::q
 Extreme Chess
15. 0-0
Technically, Whίte's bestwas 15. Bd1! Qc4!
16. Be2 Qb3, etc. (draw), but Euwe was rather
shσrt σf tίme.
15. ... e5
Sίmple and σbvίσusly gσσd, sίηce ίt fσrces
the retrσgressίve Qc1. Alsσ gσσd was 15 ... Νc5
(Tartakσwer) . Fίηe analyzed 15 ... Nb6 favσr­
ably, but faίled tσ coηsίder the gσσd reply 16.
a5! (Reiηfeld) . [Ed.: Why is 16. ι:ι5 good Cecil!
Fred?]
16. dxe5 Nxe5
17. Qc1
Νσt 17. Qe3? because σf 17 ... Qxb2 18.
Ne4 Be7.
17. ... Bxc3
Mσre ηatural appears 17 ... Rhg8 first, but
Euwe's idea ίs that thίs attack ση the g-pawn ίs
σf ησ use unless ίt can be reίηfσrced by ... Qd5-
sσ he first remσves the Κnίght. Euwe gives
Alekhίηe twσ ίsσlated pawηs; but wheη the
eηdgame cσmes, Euwe sadly mίsses hίs
Bishσp.
Iηstead σf attackίηg the g-pawn, sσunder
was ceηtralίzatiση by 17 ... Nd3! Thίs ensures
at least equalίty ίη all vaήatίσηs (ίf 18. Qe3,
theη 18 ... Nxb2).
Flσhr declared 17 ... Nd3 "ησ gσσd" be­
cause σf18. Bxd3 Rxd3 19. Qf4, andFlσhrwas
cσpied everywhere; but Black simply pursues
hίs ceηtralίzatίση with 19 ... Rhd8 and gets a
nice game. IfBlacklσses hίs f-pawnand Whίte
lσses hίs b-pawη, theη Whίte must dread an
eηdgame wίth Κnight agaίηst Bishσp-the
Bίshσp ίs much the strσηger where there are
pawηs ση bσth wίηgs and the pawns are ησt
eveηly balanced.
18. bxc3 Rhg8
19. Qe3 Κb81
Black cσuld have gaiηed at least σηe clear
tempσ ση the actual game by 19 ... Qd5! 20. g3
Qd2 (Wίηter). Whίte wσuld theη have ησ
preteηsίσηs tσ any advantage.
Black must play fσr an eηdgame ίη any
case tσ explσίt Whίte's weak pawns whίch
may σtherwίse be used as spearheads σf an
attack.
20. g3
If at σηce 20. Rab1, theη 20 ... Qd5 21. g3
Qd2-gaίηίηg a tempσ ση the actual game.
20. ... Rd7
Lσss σf tίme as the game gόes, but Black
wants tσ dσuble Rσσks ίη answer tσ Rfd1. If at
σηce 20 ... Qc2, theη 21. Rfd1 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 !,
wίth coηtrσl σf the σpeη file; and ίf 22 ... Qxa4,
theη 23. f4! fσllσwed by Qe6, with a strσηg
ίηίtiatίve fσr the pawn.
21. Rab1 Qcl
22. Rfe1 Qdl
At last! And White must exchange. Ofteη
σηe dσes ησt want tσ exchange Queeηs, but
must because the lσss σf tίme ίη avσidίηg the
exchange wσuld be a greater evίl; e.g. ίf 23.
Qc5, theη 23 ... Re8! threateηs ... Nf3t.
Hσwever, because σf the tίme lσst by Black,
Whίte has an "edge" ίη the ensώηg eηdgame.
The way Alekhίηe makes ίt cut ίs beyσηd all
praίse.
23. Qxdl Rxdl
24. f4! Ng6
Threateηίηg ... Nxf4 and guardίηg e7 frσm
Whίte's Rσσk. But the Κnίght ίs ησw deceη­
tralίzed. Sad tσ say, 24... Nd3 wσuld just faίl
because σf a counterattack ση Black's Κiηg:
25. Bxd3 Rxd3 26. Re7 b6 27. a5 b5 28. c4!
15. Bc4 Rgd81
It was a pίty tσ relίηqώsh the threat σf
... Nxf4; e.g. 25 ... Rg7! 26. Re8t Kc7 27. Be6
b6, and Whίte stίll has the threat tσ parry­
e.g. ίf 28. Rg8, theη 28 ... Re7 wίth a gσσd
game fσr Black.
The sequel seems tσ shσw that the plau­
sίble 25 ... Rgd8? was the lσsίηg mσve; but
wίthσut the eπσr ση mσve 19, Black's game
wσuld ηever have gσt tσ such a shaky stage.
26. Re6 R8d6
27. Rbe1 Kc7
28. Rxd6 Rxd6
29. h4!
Threateηiηg h5, ...Nf8, Re8, wίth advan·
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

tage. 38. Κχh6 Rd1

19. Κd7 If38 ... Nf5t, then 39. Κg6 wins.
30. Κf1 Ne7 39. Be6! Rd3
31. Κf3 40. g4 Rxc3
Alekhine sealed his next move; but when
Euwe returned to the hall a few minutes later,
Alekhine disclosed his move-and Euwe
called it a day.
41. g5 Resigns
Note the curious similarity of the endings
to the first and second garnes.

Game 3
31 . ... Nd5
Previous cήtics are almost unanimous in Semi-Slav Defense
preferήng the defensive 31 ... f5 (to stop Κg4);
and certainly if White replied with the obvi­ Α fine garne, marred only by annotators'
ous 32. Re5?, then Black might establish him­ blunders. These jackals pulled Euwe's excel­
selfwith 32 ... h5!, with always ... Rg6 ifWhite's lent endgarne play to shreds-and missed the
Κing showed a zest for travel. But first 32. h5! one mistake he actually made!
(Ragozin). Then Black is threatened with pa­ For the third garne in succession, Euwe is
ralysis by Re5; and if Black jumps free with in a winning position! Alekhine unwisely ex­
32 ... Rd2, then White wins by 33. Re5 Rc2 34. changes Queens, giving himself a bad end·
Be6t Kd6 35. Bxf5 Rxc3t 36. Κg4 Nx:f5 37. garne. Defending it brilliantly, he makes the
Rxf5 Ke6 38. RfB. White's h-pawn is too near win for Euwe as hard as possible; and the
queening after the fall of Black's h-pawn. single error mentioned is enough to give·Ale­
Euwe's move would have saved the day khine his draw.
easily, but for a master stroke.
32. Bd3! Euwe-Alekhine
White is willing to give both his queenside
pawns to obtain a passed pawn remote from Ι. d4 d5
Black's Κnight. This is where a Bishop scores. 1. c4 c6
Thejudicious advance already made by the h­ 3. Nf3 Nf6
pawn on move 29 is a big factor. 4. Nc3 e6
32. h6 The Semi-Slav Defense-so called because
33. Bf5t Κd8 it relinqώshes the possibility of developing
34. Κg4! Ne7 the Queen's Bishop on its own diagonal, the
If 34 ... Nxc3, then 35. Κh5 wins. Igno­ oήginal idea ofthe "Slav" (mentionedin 1590
rninious retreat gives the best chance. by Polerio!). Because of the blows recently
35. Bbl Ke8� struckat the Meran Variation, the Serni-Slav's
The only hope was 35 ... Rd5, but then 36. popularity has declinedsharply. ln this match
f5! (Flohr) wins. it appears just this once, and then not in any
36. Κh5 Κf7 of its usual forms.
37. Balt Κf8 5. e3 Nbd7

ι::::::=/ 103 ι::::::=/

 Extreme Chess

6. Bd3 Bb4!? 17. N:xb6 a:xb6

Νσt ηew, but rare. Hσlds White up ίη the 18. R:xa4 Bd7
ceηter by preveηtiηg e4, but allσws White tσ 19. R:xa8 R:xa8
σbtaiη "the twσ Bishσps:'
7. 0-0 0-0
8. a3
Fσrciηg the issue. Cήtics declared 8. Qb3
"mσre eηergetic;" but after 8... Qe7! 9. a3 Ba5!,
White is ησ further fσrward. Black might fσl­
lσw with ...dxc4 and ...e5.
Euwe himself suggests 8. Qcl (played ίη a
game Purdy-Coultas, Australian championslι.ip,
Melbourne 1930-1).
8. ... Bxc3 Α pσsitiση difficult tσ evaluate. Each side
9. b:xc3 Qc7 has a passed pawn, but White's is immσbile
Black can eηfσrce ... e5; White has the twσ and Black's is isσlated. Develσpmeηt is abσut
Bishσps. White's ηext is anticipatσry. equal, as it is ησw White's mσve. White has
10. Ndl! e5 an eηduήηg advantage ίη his twσ Bishσps,
11. Bb1! but his wίηηίηg chances are limited by his
This self-imprisσnmeηt is but tempσrary. being withσut pawns ση σηe flank.
Ιfησw 11 ... Re8 12. cxd5 cxd5 13. c4, the game 10. Qb1 ! Re8H.
is σpeηed fσr the Bishσps. 11. Rc1 Qd6
Νσt at σηce 11. cxd5 cxd5 12. c4 because σf 11. Qc1 h6
12 ... exd4. White wants tσ recapture ση d4 Black wσuld have tσ make a flight fσr his
with the Bishσp. Κing sσσηer σr later. If 22 ... Nd5, theη 23.
Black has a difficult prσblem-he deάdes Qb3 (threat Ba3), with advantage still. Of
tσ blσck the ceηter, which is usually gσσd strat­ cσurse ησt22 ... Rc8?H
egy against Bishσps. 13. Qc7 Q:xcn
11. ... e4 As Black cσuld quite well have avσided
11. Be1 b5 this, he must have beeη cσηfideηt σf his abil­
This iηgeηiσus mσve results, at any rate, ity tσ draw the ensuiηg eηdgame-appareηtly
ίη the easy cσmpletiση σf Black's develσp· undeπatiηg the difficulties. After 23 ... Qb4!
meηt, thσugh it fails ίη its piσus hσpe σf ham· 24. Bc3 Qa3 25. Ral Qb3 (threat ... Rc8) 26.
peήng White's c-Bishσp. An alterηative plan Bdl Qe6 Black stands quite fairly.
was 12 ... Nb6 tσ discσurage the σpeniηg σf 14. R:xc7 Rc8
the ceηter, but 13. c5 wσuld set back Black's If24... RaB, theη 25. Rb7.
develσpmeηt. 15. R:xc8t B:xc8
13. c:xb5 c:xb5 Black ησw hσpes tσ blσckade ηicely by
·

14. a4! ... Nd5 and ... f5.

If 14. Bxb5, theη 14... Rb8 15. a4 a6 16. 16. f3! Bb7
Bxd7 Bxd7 17. Rb1 Ng4 18. g3 Rb6! with an 17. Κf2. Ne8
attack worth far more than a pawn. Tbe attempt tσ develσp tbe Κiηg via {8,
14. b:xa4 recommeηded byvariσus cήtics, wσuldmere­
15. c4! d:xc4 ly make him a wallflσwer: 27 ... Κf8 28. Ba3t
16. N:xc4 Nb6 Ke8 29. Bb5t Nd7 (σr 29 ... Kd8 30. Bf8) 30.
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937
Κg3! (betterthanwinningapawnwith "Bish­
ops of opposite color"), and White's advan­
tage in Κing development should be decisive.
lnstead, Black aims at escape by ...f5.
28. Ba3 Bd5
Not yet 28... f5 because of 29. Bc4t. At-
tractive was 28... Nc7 29. Be7 NdS 30. Bd8 f5,
whereupon White could win the b-pawn­
but only after making "Bishops of opposite
color:'
Butinsteadof29. Be7, first29. Bd6!; andif
29 ... Ne6, then 30. Bc4! (threat dS!) would
practically force Black to play 30... exf3-giv­
ing White a mobile passed pawn to add to his
other solid advantages.
Black prefers to gain time by givingup the
b-pawn and to use the time so gained not
only to develop his own Κing but also to tie
up White's Κing by posting the Κnight on c4.
29. Be7 fS
30. fxe4 fxe4
31. Bd8 Nd6
32. Bxb6 Nc4
33. Bc7 Κfl
34. h4 gS!
White wanted to post his Bishop on f4,
thus freeinghis Κingandgivingacertain win;
but that Black has now prevented. If, how­
ever, White had played 33. Bd8 to hinder ... g5,
as suggested by Marόczy, Black would still
enforce it by ...Κf8·e8.
How is White to win? He can free his
Κing by exchanging off the Κnight, but then
"Bishops of opposite color" step in.
35. Bh5f ?
� 105 �
This was White's real blunder, on which
no one has commented! Uke Brer Fox throw­
ing Brer Rabbit into the bήar patch, White
forces the black Κing to centralize! Instead,
he should have made the Κing decentralize
by 35. Bd8! Then Black would ultimately be
forced to exchange pawns, leaving f4 un­
guarded; White's Bishop would get to f4 by a
devious route, and finally the white Κing
would march into the game-leaving Black
no further chance.
Το prove that Black would be forced ulti­
mately to play ...gxh4, let us suppose he per­
sistently tries to avoid it. For example: 35.
Bd8! Κg6 (If 35 ... Ke8, then 36. Bf6.) 36. Bg4
Nd6 (If 36 ... Bf7, then 37. Bd7 Κh5 38. Bc6
Bg639. Bc7! wins easily.) 37. Be7 Nc438. Bd7.
Threateningeither Be8t or g4 andBf5t-win­
ninga pawn in either case. 38 ... Κh5 39. Κg3!
Bfl (If 39... gxh4t, then 40. Κf4!.) 40. dS! !
Ne5. Forced. 41. Be6 Bxe6 (Not 41 ... Be8 be­
cause of42. Bf5.) 42. dxe6 Nc4. White's threat
was hxgS, ...hxg5, Bxg5! 43. Bc5 Κg6 44. e7
Κf7 45. Κg4 and White wins.
The mating threats used in this vaήation
show the wisdom of not exchanging pawns
ong5.
35 . ... Κe7
36. Bg4 Bb7!
In the preceding note, this would have
been met by Be6! The point of the move is
that in some of the vaήations in the next note
White would like to steal a march with Ke2,
which can now be answered with ... Ba6-
sending the Κing back. (See the diagram.)
 Extreme Chess

37. Be5!
This was irresponsibly slated by all and
sundry. Marόczy is said to have remarked that
White only had to make four non·committal
Bishop moves and then go home and work
out the win at leisure. But nobody has yet
demonstrated that there is a win!
If the position is a draw, then the only
hope was to give Alekhine a chance to go
wrong before the adjournment. Euwe's move,
by the threat of Bg7, forces the exchange of 39. Κgl !
the Κnight (thus freeing White's Κίηg) with· Euwe played much better than the ana·
out producing "Bishops of opposite color:' lysts. One master found a "win for White" by
The consequences could not be foreseen, 39. Ke2 BdS 40. Kd2 Be6 41. Bxe6 Κχe6 42 .
but at least the idea had a promising look Kc3 ΚxeS 43. Kc4 but i t is Black who wins (by
about it, which could not be said for the sug· 43 ... ΚfS, etc.).
gestions made by analysts. These were: Another cήtic wrote, with an air of re·
Ι: 37. g3. Το guard the h-pawn before play· strained grief coupled with qώet sympathy:
ing BeS. The logical Euwe naturally saw that "The whole game has been admirably played
this would limit his winning chances by pre· by White, but here-undoubtedly through
cluding the subsequent entry of his Κίηg via time pressure-the champion misses the win:
g3. After 37 . . . Bc6 38. BeS (if 38. Bh3, then 39. Ke2 BdS 40. Kd2 Be6 41. Bh3! Bxh3 42.
38 ... Bb7; and if 38. Bc8, then 38 . . . BdS 39. gxh3 Ke6 43. Kc3 ΚxeS 44. Kc4 wίns:' Wins
Kel Bc6 40. BeS BbS! and the white Κingmust the pawn, yes, but not the game. For White
return to f2) NxeS 39. dxeS BdS 40. Ke2 Be6. afterwards has to capture both the other
Black draws easily. pawns, and this gives Black time not only to
Π: 37. Bh2 followed by 38. Bg1. This frees take the White center pawn but also to pre·
the Κίηg, but coops up the Bishop. Euwe's vent the h·pawn from queening.
judgment told him that such a lugubrious 39. •.. Ba6!
maneuver could hardly offer serious winning 40. Κh1 Κfl
chances; e.g. 37 . . . Κf6 38. Bg1 Nd6 39. hxgSt The game was adjourned here. According
hxgS 40. Kg3 NfSt etc. Nor can the white to press cables, Black still has a loss!
Κίηg enter via the queenside against so much 41. Κh3 Bfl!
opposition. An example of the old saw that attack is
37. ... Nxe5! the best defense.
Not37 ... ΚfΠ because of38. BhSt Κg8 39. 42. Bf5 Ke7
Bf6! 43. Κh1 Be2
38. dxe5 gxh4 44. Κh3 Bfl
Forced, as Kg3 was threatened. 45. Bxe4 Κe6
46. Κχh4 Κχe5
47. Bf3 Κf6
48. Κh5 Κg7
49. e4 Bd3
50. e5 Bg6f
51. Κg4 Κfl

� 106 �
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

52. Bd5t Κe7

53. Κf4 Bh7
54. g3 Κf8
lt now becomes clear that the game is
drawn because all the pawns are on one side
of the board. The black Κing can perform two
defensive functions at one and the same time:
head off the passed pawn and prevent the
entry of the white Κing via e5 and f6. Picture
the white pawn on c5 instead of e5; and even
if the black Κing were on f6, the game could If 7 ... c5, not 8. dxc5 as in the 3rd game of
be won. the Alekhine-Bogoljuboff mat•h of 1929; but, af.
The narrower the field of battle, the fewer ter Tartakower, 8. e4! Bg6 (if 8 ... cxd4?, then
chances for the attacker. The force of the last 9. exf5 wins) 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 1 1 .
part of our note to the last diagram will now Bxc4 with clear advantage to White.
be clear. If now 8. e4! ?, we have already men·
55. Be4 Bg8 tioned that Black replies with the sacrifice
56. Bf3 Κe7 8 . . . Bxe4! . Play goes: 9. fxe4 Nxe4 10. Qf3 !
57. Κg4 Ke6 Qxd4 1 1 . Qxf7t Kd8 12. Bg5t! Kc8?. ln a
58. Κf4 Ke7 note in Chess (November 1937), Euwe leaves
59. Bg4 Bb3 off here with the rather one-sided com·
60. Bc8 Κf1 ment, 'Άnd Black gets a tremendous at·
Drawn by agreement tack." The fact is that both sides are attack·
ing each other's King, and Black's attack
no more than balances White's. As far as
Game 4 we can see, best play on both sides is: 13.
Qxe6t Nd7 (If 13 . . . Kc7 14. Qf7t Kc8 [if
Slav Defense 14 . . . . Nd7, then 15. Bf4!] 1 5 . Qf5t!; and
Κrause Attack now if 15 ... Kc7, then 16. Bf4! -while if
15 ... Ν d7, then White can at least play into
Alekhine-Euwe the main variation given below by 1 6 .
Qxd7t, etc. In n o line does i t seem that
1. d4 d5 Black can force a draw by fireworks. ) 14.
2. c4 c6 Qxd7t Qxd7 15. Nxd7 Nxc3! 16. bxc3! Bxc3t
3. Nf3 Nf6 17. Kd1 ! Bxa1 18. Nc5 . Black has Rookand
4. Nc3 dxc4 three pawns for two pieces, but can hardly
5. a4 Bf5 hope to maintain the third pawn perma·
6. Ne5 e6 nently in the face of White's two Bishops
So far the same as Game 2, which now and far superior mobility. Black has the
continued: 7. Bg5 Bb4 8. Nxc4. more difficult game, though he should draw.
7. f3 Bb4 But did Euwe really intend to play 12 ...
Kc8? in this variation? According to analysis
credited by MCO to J.H. Blake, Black can af.
ford 12 ... Nxg5. If then 13. Qxg7 Qe3t 14.
Kd1 Rf8 15. Nxc4 Qc5 16. Kc2 Nd7 17. Rd1

b""'i 1 ο7 b""'i
 Extreme Chess
Qe7 and Whίte has not much to show for hίs
pawn mίnus. Nenarokoff, the Russίan ana·
lyst, also quotes thίs lίne as favorable to Black.
Nenarokoff, however, dίssents from 10.
Qf3. Instead he gίves 10. Bdl Qh4t 11. g3
Nxg3 12. hxg3 Qxh1 13. Qg4 and although
Whίte ίs now the underdog ίη mateήal (two
pίeces agaίnst Rook and four pawns), hίs pow·
erful attack gίves hίm a clear advantage.
But Black has no need to go wίnnίng a
Τeιι timefor Euwe (lejt)-note the tιιblecloth
dead Rook for a lίve mίnor pίece-here, as
often, a dangerous polίcy. After 10. Bdl, sίm·
ply 10 ... Qxd4! Then 11. Nxe4 Qxe4t 12. Qe2
Bxdlt 13. Κxdl Qd5t 14. Ke1 Na6! 15. Nxc4
0-0-0 16. Rd1 Qc5. Black has three pawns
for hίs pίece, and Whίte ίs very backward ίη
development and ίs further handίcapped by
an unsheltered Κίng.
For the sake of completeness, we add that
ίf 10. Nf3 (ίnstead of 10. Qf3 or 10. Bdl) then
Black gets a good game wίth 10 ... Nxc3: 11.
bxc3 Bxc3t 12. Bdl Bxa1 13. Qxa1 b5. Nowίf
14. d5!, then 14 ... 0-0 15. dxc6 Qb6 16. axb5
Qxb5 17. Qc1 Qxc6 (vίrtually forcίng the ex­
change of Queens) 18. Qxc4 Qxc4 19. Bxc4.
Black has an endgame wίth Rook and three
pawns agaίnst two pίeces and should certaίnly
not lose, even ίf hίs wίnnίng chances are slen· .
� 108 �
der agaίnst the two Bίshops.
Summary: From Black's 12 ... Nxg5 ίη the
10. Qf3 lίne and from the vaήatίon we have
ίndίcatedagaίnst 10. Bdl andfinallyfrom the
vaήatίon just gίven, ίt appears that the sacri·
fίce ίntrόduced by Mίkenas, 8 ... Bxe4!, ίs
sound, though too dίffίcult to play wίthout
preparatory study. But οήe should be ready
to play the Mίkenas sacήfίce ίf one plays 4...
dxc4 at all.
8. BgS c5
9. dxc5 Qd5! 1
Looks stronger than ίt ίs. Suffίcίent for
equalίty ίs 9 ... Qxd1t; and ίf 10. Rxd1, then
10 ... Bc2 ση the lίnes of Game 11-but wίth a
tempo ίη hand. Perhaps stίll better ίs Ale·
khίne's 9 ... h6!, obtaίnίng "the two Bίshops:'
See Game 11.
10. ψd.S exdS
11. e4! dxe4
11. Nxc4! 0-0
Not 12 ... Bxc5 because of 13. Nb5.
13. Bxf6 gxf6
14. 0-0-0
Whίte was faced wίth a dίffίcult choίce
between two promίsίng lookίng lίnes
and chose the sίmpler. But the sequel shows
 Euwe-A1ekhine 1937

that the stronger was 14. Nd6! Bg6 15. Nxb7 Game 5
exf3 16. 0-0-0 Nc6 17. gxf3 andifl7... Rab8,
then 18. Ba6. 1t is hard to see how Black could QG Accepted
equalize.
14. ... Α smashing win for Euwe ends the first
Daring! But avoidance of complications phase of the match. All in all, one must admit
does not necessarily mean avoidance of dan­ that A1ekhine was lucky to be only a point
ger. If Black immediately dispenses with his down after the first fίve games, even though
two Bishops and plays 14 ... Bxc3 15. bxc3 exf3, he might have gained an extra half-point in
then White plays 16. Nd6 with an excellent the fourth.
game.
IS. Nd.S Euwe-Alekhine
With three threats, but they can all be met
with one move. White still had better win· Ι. d4 dS
ning chances with 15. Nd6! 2. c4 dxc4
IS. .•. Nc6 A1ekhine played this ad lib in his second
16. μf3 BxcS! match with Bogoljuboff in 1934. So low was
Again a daring move, but the art of de­ the move's reputation at the time, that many
fense is to sail as close to the wind as players suspected that the cables telling of
possible. A1ekhine's adoption of it were figments of
17. Nxf6t Κh8 journalistic inaccuracy!
Better than 17 ... Κg7 18. Nh5t Κh6 19. 3. Nf3 a6!
Rd5 Bg620. Rxc5 Bxh5 21. Nd6! withastrong In Chess (February 1937), the writer
initiative for White. courted deήsion by calling this suggestion of
18. RdS Becker's "Black's only coπect move:' Ι still
Anothernasty lookingmovewas 18. Nd7, hold to that opinion. For ...a6 always comes
but Black need not reply 18 ... Bxd?? Instead in; and by playing it at once, Black depήves
18 ... Be7!! 19. Nxf8 BgSt!, and White is in White of the option of the Qa4t line, which
serious d.ifficulties. is strong. For example:
If 18. Bd3, then ... Bd4! 3 ... Nf6 4. Qa4t, and now:
18. ... Nd4! 1: 4... Nbd7 5. Nc3 e6 6. e4! (Botvinnik),
Again a saver in all variations, e.g. 19. b4 with advantage to White.
Be7! 11: 4... Qd7 5. Qxc4 Qc6 6. Na3! (A1ekhine),
19. Ne4! Bxe4! with advantage to White.
Tempting but bad is 19... Be6. 111: 4... c6! 5. Qxc4 Bf5 6. g3.
20. fxe4 Rad8! Variation 111 is d.ifficult to judge, but Bogol·
21. NeS RxdS juboff won with White against A1ekhine in
22. exdS Re8! the 23rd game of the 1934 match.
Forcing the draw neatly. 4. e3 Nf6
23. Nxf7t Κg7 S. Bxc4 e6
24. NgS h6 6. 0-0 cS
25. Ne6t Nxe6 Reaching the "normal position" of this
26. dxe6 Rxe6 opening.
27. Bc4 Drawn 7. Q.e2 Nc6
Usual, but it looks as if the newer 7 ... b5

� 109 �
 Extreme Chess
shσuld replace it. Or perhaps the gambit
shσuld ηever be accepted!
8. Nc3!
Recσmmeηded by us iη the Aιιstrcιlasian
Chess Reνiew σf December 1936 as still strση­
ger than the ησrmal 8. Rd1. Euwe saw that
ηumber σf the ACR, thσugh whether σur re­
marks iηflueηced him will prσbably ηever be
knσwn.
8. . .. b5
Iηterestiηgwas Resheνsky-Fine, Semmering­
Eaden 1937: 8 . . . Bel 9. Rd1 Qc7 10. a4 (Reshev­
sky is keeη ση this} 0-0 11. h3 Rd8 12. d5
exd5 13. Bxd5! Nb4 14. e4 Nbxd5 15. exdS Bf5
16. Bf4! and White has sσmewhat the better
chances.
9. Bb3!
The lσgical mσve where bσth sides have
played their Κnights σut σηtσ the c-file, as it
bήngs iη the pσssibility σf d5 as astrσηg threat.
Otherwise, Bd3 is geηerally commeηdable,
with a view tσ a breakup by a4.
9. ... Be7
Ιη such pσsitiσηs, this always eηables
the σppσηeηt tσ play pawη captures pawη
(dxc5 iη this case} withσut lσsiηg a tempσ;
althσugh that is ησt ηecessarily bad, it here
gives White a clear-cut advaηtage thrσugh
the simplificatiση.
Reshevsky suggests a harum-scarum liηe
which might have giveη Euwe mσre chance
σf gσiηg wrσηg: 9 . . . Bb7 10. Rd1 Qb6 11. d5
exd5 12. e4 0-0-0!
10. dxc5! Bxc5
ll. e4!
Αηd ησt 1 1 . Rd1 Qc7 12. e4? because σf
. . . Ng4, attackiηg the f-pawη. It was prσb­
ably iη hσpes σf 1 1 . Rd1 that Alekhiηe chσse
9 . . . Bel.
ll. . . . b4H
Parryiηg White's threat σf e5 and Ne4
which wσuld give White an σbviσusly cσm­
mandiηg pσsitiση. Wiηter suggested 11 ... e5
as the least evil; but that σpeηs ηew liηes fσr
White, and 12. Rd1 leads tσ advantage iη all
vaήatiσηs. The coηsequeηces σf the text mσve
cσuld ησt be fσreseeη. Alekhiηe was justified
iη gambliηg ση it.
12. e5!
Temptiηg but iηeffective was 12. Qc4 Νd7!
13. Na4 Na5.
12. ••• bxc3
13. exf6 gxf6
Νσt 13 ... cxb2??, winniηg a pawη but giv­
iηg White an σverwhelmiηg advantage iη de­
velσpmeηt.
Α beautiful trap was 13 . . . Qxf6? 14. Qc4!
cxb2 15. Qxc5! ! !, wiηηiηg iη all variatiσηs.
[Ed.: E.g., 1 5... Ed7 1 6. Exb2 Qxb2 1 7. Rad1
Rd8 18. Rxd7, or 1 7. .. Rc8 1 8. Rxd7. In jact,
Rxd7 is the theme.] Or iη this, 14 . . . Qel 15.
Be3 !, wiηηiηg.
14. Qc4! Qb6
Νσt 14... Qel? because σf 15. Be3.
15. Qxc3
15 . ... Nd4
If 15 ... Kel, ησt the temptiηg 16. Bg5 !?
Nd4 17. Bxf6t Κχf6 18. Rc1 because σf 18...
Bb7!; but rather 16. Be3! Bxe3 17. fxe3 with a
wiηηiηg attack-fσr example, 17 . . . Bb7 18.
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

Ng5! Ne5 19. Rxf6! Κχf6 20. Rf1t etc. 23. Rg3 Ba3
16. Nxd4 Bxd4 Black is helpless. If 23 ... Rc8�, then 24.
17. Ba4t! Ke7 Rd8t! !
14. Rxa3 Rg8
15. Rg3
This wins easily enough, but 25. BcSt Kg7
26. Rd7 would leave Black still less excuse for
continώng.
15. Rxg3
16. hxg3 Bd5
17. Bb3 Bxb3
18. axb3 Ke8
19. b4 Rb8
The climax has arrived. If White must 30. Bc5 Rc8
move his Queen, then Black has time to com· 31. Ra1 Rc6
plete his development and is out of danger. 32. Κfl fS
The game hangs ση a tempo! 33. Κe3 f6
18. Be3! Bxc3 34. Κd4 Κf7
If 18 ... Rd8, there is a pretty forced win by 35. Kc4 Κg6
19. Rad1 ! Bxc3 20. Bxb6 Rxd1 21. Rxd1 Bb4 36. Rd1 Κh5
22. Bc6 Rb8 23. Bc7 catchingthe Rook (Flohr). 37. Rd6 Rxd6
Black also loses by 18 ... Bxe3 19. fxe3 e5 38. Bxd6 Κg4
20. Rad1! (or 20. Qa3t). 39. Be7 Κχg3
19. Bxb6 Be5 40. Bxf6 Κχf4
If 19... Bxb2, then 20. BcSt wins. 41. Kc5 Resigns
10. Rad1 Κf8
If20... Bd6, then 21. Rxd6! Κχd6 22. Rd1t
Ke5 23. Bc6 is sufficient. Phase 11 (GAMES 6-10):
If 20... f5, then 21. f4! wins in all varia­ ALEΚHINE'S SHATΊΈRING RUN
tions. For example:
Ι: 21 ... Bxb2 22. Bc6 Rb8 23. Ba7; and the Four wins and a draw to Alekhine in the
Rook is trapped like a rat, blocked by his own next five games! Such sudden reversals of for­
Bishops in two directions! tune savor of cήcket rather than chess.
Π: 21 ... Bg7 22. BcSt Κf6 23. Rd3, with a
winning attack.
ΠΙ: 21 ... Bd6 22. Rxd6! wins. Gam.e 6
The reason Black's game is so bad is first
and foremost because his Rooks are both un· QGD Slav Defense
developed and disconnected, i.e. they have
something between them. That is always a Alekhine hits back. The first of a tήο of
source of danger. smashing wins that will make chess history.
21. f4! Bxbl With this game the challenger leveled the
11. Rf3! Bb7 score.
At last! But now the Rooks are discon­ This game has persistently been called the
nected by the Κing! shortest win in a match for the world cham-

� 111 �
 Extreme Chess

pionship, but the 20th game of the Steinit:z­ ered. Ifthen 7. Ne5? dxc3! 8. Qxd8t Κχd8 9.
Zukertort match of 1886 (a Steinitz Gambit!) Nxf7t Ke7 10. Nxh8 Be6 and the Κnight can­
was resigned by Zukertort (Black) on the 19th not be extήcated.
move. The best reply to 6 ... Bc5! seems to be 7.
There have beenstill shortergames drawn. 0-0; but again Euwe considers that Black
The shortest is the 18th game ofEuwe-Alekhίne can probably afford 7 ... dxc3, the attack being
1935, agreedadrawafterWhite's 16th move­ less dangerous now that Ke7 will no longer
the "thirty move rule" having been waived block the Bishop.
by the Match Committee. Euwe's actual reply is an incomprehen­
sible blunder which leads to a rapid debacle.
Alekhίne-Euwe 6. ... b5H
7. N:xb5! Ba6
Ι. d4 d5 If7 ... cxb5, then 8. Bd5!
2. c4 c6 8. Q.b3! Q.e7
3. Nc3 Or 8 ... Bxb5 9. Bxf7t and 10. Bxg8, recov­
Α move that has been in the dustbin for eήng the piece with a decisive advantage in
several years. When Alekhine plays such a position. [Ed.: 'fru.e, but 9... Kd7 10. Nxd4 is
move with White, he usually wins. pretty tacticιιl, and strong.]
3.•.• dxc4 9. 0-0 B:xb5
Canal's move, supposed to ensure at least If 9... cxb5, then 10. Bd5 Bb7 11. Qxb5t
equality. Tarrasch gave the safer 3 ... e5 (Win­ wins.
awer Counter Gambit) as best; it gives White 10. B:xb5 Nf6
just a shade of an advantage. If 10... cxb5, then 11. Qd5.
4. e4 e5 11. Bc4 Nbd7
Best. Conceming 4... b5?, see ΤΗΕ ΟΡΕΝ­ 12. Nxd4 Rb8
INGS. 13. Q.cl Q.c5
5. Bxc4! exd4 Tempting 14. Nxc6!??, when 14... Rc8wins
6. Nf3!! for Black. [Ed.: After 15. Bxf7t Κχf7 1 6. Qb3t
Ke8 1 7. Qe6t and Whίte makes it difficu.lt for
Black.]
14. NfS! Ne5
15. Bf4!
Much better than 15. Nxg7t which could
be answered by 15 ... Kd7!
15. Nh5
16. Bxflt Κχf1
17. Q.xc5 Bxc5
18. Bxe5 Rb5
The point. A new Muzio! If6... dxc3, then Threatens ...Bxf2t. If18... Rbe8, thenstill
7. Bxf7t Ke7 8. Qb3! Nf6 9. Be3 (given by 19. Bd6.
Euwe as best, since 9. e5 is well met by 9 ... 19. Bd6 Bb6
Ne4), and White has an attack worth the 20. b4 Rd8
piece-though an absolute demonstration of 21. Radl c5
its soundness is hardly possible. 22. bxc5 Bxc5
However, there is 6... Bc5! to be consid- 23. Rd.S! Resigns
 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1937
Game 7
Slav Defense
Normal Vaήation
Επσrs ίη the σpeniηg by Euwe-Alekhiηe
wίns pawn-cσuld retaίη ίt at the cσst σf the
ίnίtίatίve-prefers a speculatίve sacήfice based
ση the tίme lίmίt-Euwe, ησt a great master
σf defense, duly cσηsumes much tίme, gets
clσck-wσrried, and blunders.
Euwe-Alekhίne
1. d4 d5
1. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4
s. a4 BfS
6. e3
Euwe ηaturally abandσηs the Κrause At·
tack, whίch he played ίη Game 1 because he
has shσwn Alekhίne the answer tσ ίt ίη Games
2 and4.
The altematίve Euwe chσσses here and ίη
Games 9, 13, 15, 17, and 26 may be called the
ησrmal attack agaiηst the Slav Defeηse. Be­
fσre the match, theσrίsts were thίnkiηg that
it shσuld gίve Whίte ησthίngmσre than equal­
ίty; but Euwe's ίηησvatίσηs duήηg the match
have quίte reσpeηed the questίση.
6. ... e6
There ίs ησthίηg ίη 6...Na6, a suggestίση
debίted tσ Lasker, because after 7. Bxc4 Nb4
8. 0-0 Black canησtplay8 ... Nc2 σηaccσunt
σf9. e4. Alsσ, after8 ... e6 9. Qe2 Be7 10. Ne5!
(better than the ίmmedίate 10. e4 Bg4) 0-0
11. e4 Bg6 12. Rd1. Whίte has tσσ much cση·
trσl σf the ceηter.
7. Bxc4 Nbd7
8. 0-0 Bd6
Lσηg agσ (Lσηdση 1922) Alekhίηe hίm­
self ίηtrσduced 8 ... Bb4 tσ hίηder Whίte's e4.
It has held the field ever sίηce as the equalίz­
ίηg mσve, but here he prefers a lίttle surpήse.
Alekhίne develσps the Bishσp ση ίts mσre
ηatural square and hίnders e4 by means σf
... Ne4.
9. Qel Ne4
10. Nxe4 Bxe4
11. Ndl Bg6
12. e4 Bc7
13. Bb3?
Black's threat was ...Nb6, attackίηg the
d-pawn and thereby gettίηg tίme fσr ... Nxc4-
depήvίng Whίte σf hίs "twσ Bίshσps:'
But 13. Nb3! wσuld prσtect the d-pawn
and advance White's develσpmeηt at the same
tίme. Black wσuld theη be at a clear dίsadvan­
tage, hίs lίght-squared Bίshσp beiηg shut up
ίη a backwater, hίs develσpmeηt slίghtly be­
hίηd White's, and hίs pσsίtίση ίη the ceηter
ίηfeήσr. Ιη the σther five games ίη whίch the
"ησrmal attack" was played, Alekhίηe always
develσped his dark-squared Bίshσp at b4,
shσwίηg that he dίd ησt cσnsίder 8 ... Bd6
wσrth anσther try.
13 . ... 0-0
14. f4?
Leads tσ ίmmedίate lσss σf a pawn fσr
dσubtful cσmpensatίση. Euwe still had quίte
a gσσd game wίth 14. Bc2! Prσbably he fσught
shy σf a secoηd mσve wίth the Bishσp, whίch
wσuld be an admίssίση σf eπσr.
14. Nf6
15. Bcl Qxd4t
16. Κh1 QJJ4 !?
Very deep. By antίάpatίηg Nb3 σr Nf3,
Black preveηts eίther mσve-as ίt wσuld lσse
the e-pawn. Uηable tσ develσp, Whίte ίs thus
fσrced tσ caπy σut hίs plan σf attackίηg the
lίght-squared Bishσp and tσ allσw Alekhίηe
tσ stage a bήllίancy. Characteήstίcally, Ale­
khίηe prefeπed thίs tσ the σbvίσus 16 ... BhS,
maίntainίng the pawn wίth a rather dίfficult
pσsίtίση.
The "bήllίancy," hσwever, ίs ratherspecu·
latίve, and 16 ... BhS was the cσπect mσve.
Hσwever, after 16 ... BhS! 17. Nf3! Whίte
wσuld certaίnly have chances σf a kίηgsίde
 Extreme Chess

attack, which would somewhat offset his 30. Κh4

pawn minus. As Euwe is more at home in The only chance was 30. Bxf6, reducίng
attack than in defense, Alekhine's choice was Black's mating power. Black mίght have been
perhaps psychologically justified-especially tempted to play 30... Rxh2t 31. Κg4 Rg2t 32.
when Euwe would be worried by his bad blun· Κh4 gxf6, whereupon 33. Bc4! draws at least
der ίη Game 6. (analysίs by Tartakower). But since ...gxf6
17. g4 Rad8! must be played and ... Rxh2t can wait, the
18. f5 exf5 ήght reply to 30. Bxf6 would be sίmply 30 .. .
19. exf5 Rfe8 gxf6! If then 31. Bc4, there would follow 31 .. .

10. Qg1 ψg4! Rxh2t 32. Kg4 fSt (the point) 33. Κg5 Rg2t
Exchange of Queens might seem to 34. Κf6 Re2!! 35. Κg5 [Ed.: Wι:ιita minute! White
weaken Black's attack, but the point is that sacsaBjshop:35. BxPt! Κf8 and36. Radl!.] Bd8t
...Re2 is now a threat. 36. Κh6 (or 36. Κf4, 36 ... Re4t, and Black
21. fxg6 hxg6 wίns on mateήal) Rh2t 37. Nxh2 Rh3#.
Black's three pawns for the pίece are ίη Α very instructive example of "reservίng
themselves inadequate as two are doubled, the greater option:' By applyίng this pήn·
but hίs attack ίs annoyίng. cίple, as very few players do, one would
11. Bdl Qxglt quickly see that ίf 30. Bxf6 then the reply 30...
23. Κχg2. Rd4! gxf6 must be at least as good as 30... Rxh2t­
14. Nf3 Rg4t and might be better. That would render fur.
15. Κh3 Rd8 ther calculation unnecessary.
16. BgS 30. ... Rxf3
Why not 26. Ra3!, developίng the Rook Sίmplest.
painlessly? All the other pίeces are already in 31. Rxf3 Rxhlt
play. Ifthen26 ... Rd5, sίmply27. Nh4. Whίte 32. Rh3 gSt
could not lose. 33. ΚxgS Rxh3
16. Rb4 34. Bdl Ne4t
17. Bdl Re4! 35. Resigns.
It is hard to know whether, ση hίs 16th
move, Alekhine is to be blamed for overesti·
mating hίs attackίng possίbίlίties or praised
for good psychological judgment. Probably ίt
should be a lίttle of each.

Game 8

Nimzo·Indian Defense
28. Bb3H
Α fatal slίp. Euwe was getting troubled The first two members of the tήad were
about his clock. Here again 28. Ra3! ensures merely "sensational:' The thίrd is bήlliant.
at least a draw.
28. ... Re2 Alekhίne-Euwe
19. Bc3 Rd3
Threatenίng ... Rxh2#! Ι. d4 Nf6

1:::::9 114 1:::::9

 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1937

1. c4 e6 13. Bdl! Rc8

3. Nc3 Bb4 14. Qb2 NfdS
From ηοw ση, Euwe plays the Nίmzo-Iη­ 15. Nxd5 exd5
dίan Defeηse at every opportunίty and ηever Improves Black's game ίη the ceηter. For­
agaίη the "Slav" -until Game 26, wheη the feίture of castlίηg ίs ηοt a major tragedy, for
teηsίοη ίs over. Alekhίηe asked, "Why dίd Black's f-pawn has legs.
Euwe abandoη a perfectly good defense?" 16. Bb4 Qe6
Α leadίηg questioη! Not eveη Alekhίηe 17. Κf1.
has the power to dub any defense "perfectly
good:' It would appear thatAlekhίne assumed
that Euwe was fήghteηed off the "Slav" by
Game 6; but Euwe may also have beeη ίnflu­
eηced by pήvate analysίs of hίs own gambίt,
whίch he plays ίη the ηext game agaίnst Ale­
khίηe's "Slav:'
4. Qcl
The most orthodoxmove-Alekhίne chose
ίt ίη every game ίη whίch he had to meet the
Nίmzo-Iηdίan Defense (8, 10, 12, and 20) . 17 . ... Na4
4. ... dS Blackhas played the defense eηergetίcally,
It ίs ηoteworthy that Euwe abstaίns from but stίll has the ίnfeήor game. If he leaves the
the ηewest favoήte 4... Nc6. Κnίght ση b6, trouble may aήse through 18.
5. cxd5 Bc5. If he plays 17 ... Nc4, Whίte gaίηs time
Euwe havίηg so receηtly praίsed 5. a3 ίη wίth a developίng move-e.g. 17 ... Nc4 18.
pήηt, Alekhίηe assumes that Euwe must be Bxc4 Rxc4 19. Rac1!, wίth a bίg pull ίη devel­
fully prepared for ίt. opmeηt. Fiηally, the text move takes the
5. ... Qx:dS Κnight away from the ceηter.
The possίbίlίties of 5 ... exd5 have ηever Οη prίηάple, ίt was safer to submίt to a
beeη thoroughly examίned. We feel that ίt weak queensίde (and get a Bίshop for a Κnίght
canηot be bad. ίη compeηsatioη) than to take a pίece out of
6. e3 c5 play, thus ίηdίrectly eηdangeήng the Κίηg.
7. a3 Bxc3 f Heηce, 17 . . . f5! 18. Bc5 Κf7! Iftheη 19. Bxb6,
8. bxc3 Nbd7 there follows 19 . . . Qxb6! 20. Qxb6 Rc2t! 21.
9. f3! Be2 axb6 22. Rhc1 (ίf 22. Rhb1, theη 22...
More elastic than 9. Nf3, Kmoch-Grunfeld, Re8) Rhc8 23. Rxc2 Rxc2 24. Rb1 b5 25. Κf1
Amsterdam 1 936. Rc3 26. Bxb5 Bc8! leadίηg to a draw.
Ενeη more exact, Alekhίne has poίηted 18. Qdl b6?
out, was 9. Ne2! (theη ίf 9 ... cxd4? 10. cxd4 Black's ίηgeηίοus ίdea ίs to enforce ...a5
followed by 1 1 . Nc3). and theη castle, but Black does ηοt see quίte
9. cιxl4 far eηough. The sίmple plan was 18 ... f5 fol­
10. cιxl4 Nb6 lowed by 19 ... Κf7, wίth a faίr game.
11. Ne2 Bd7 19. Ba6 Rb8
11. Nf4! Qd6
If 12 ... Qc6, theη 13. Qxc6 Bxc6 14. e4,
wίth a clear ίnίtiative.

1::::'9 115 1::::'9

 Extreme Chess

Euwe-Alekhine

Ι. d4 dS
1. c4 c6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4
s. a4 BfS
6. e3 e6
7. Bxc4 Bb4
Here Alekhίne returns to hίs own move,
20. e4!! ίntroduced by hίm ίη 1922, and stίcks to ίt ίη
Black had counted on the withdrawal of all hίs remaίnίng "Slav" games. The ίdea ίs to
the Bίshop from a6, and then 20... aS. Now hίnder e4. In Game 7 he trίed 7 ... Nbd7 and
the Bίshop can be trapped, but Alekhίne sees 8 ... Bd6.
that he can gίve ίt up. Sacήfices to keep the 8. 0-0 Nbd7
opponent's Κίηg ίη the center are frequent ίη There seems to be no advantage ίη cas­
Alekhίne's games. tlίng first (see Game 17), and the text move
20. . .
. bS prevents NeS, a move that ίs effectίve ίη cer­
Α move of the f-pawn woώd now be too taίn vaήatίons after 8 ... 0-0.
late to save the game; e.g. 20 ... fS 21. exdS 9. Qel
QxdS 22. Qe2t Qe6 23. Rhe1 Qxe2t 24. Rxe2t
Kd8 25. Be7t Kc7 26. Rc1 t wins (poίnted out
by Euwe ίη Chess).
21. Qf4! Rb6
If21 ... Rd8, then22. exdS Qxa6 23. Rhe1t
gίves a wίnnίng attack also.
11. exds Qxds
23. Rhelf Be6
24. Racl! f6
Whίte threatened mate. Now he can stίll
wίn by Rc8t ίf he lίkes. 9. ... Ne4
15. Rc7! Kd8 ln the Εσσk σf Nσttingham 1936, Alekhίne
26. Rxa7! Resigns commends thίs defense as completely satίs­
What a smash! factory, but Euwe's new gambίt agaίn throws
ίt ίnto the meltίng pot.
The ίmmedίate counterattack on the cen­
Game 9 ter by 9... cS can be well answered with 10.
Na2-Whίte thereby gets "the two Bίshops"
Slav Defense sίnce 10 ... BaS? succumbs to 11. dxcS, etc.
Two ίmportant games at Semmerίng­
Euwe spήngs a new gambίt agaίnst the Baden 1937 went as follows: 9 ... Bg4 10. Rd1.
Slav Defense, and a very strong one. The Α desίrable prelίmίnary to e4, on account of
crux of thίs game, as of several others, has ... Nb6. 10. . . 0-0 11. h3!. Another desίrable
been consίstently mίssed. prelίmίnary, to get the optίon of unpίnnίng.
11 ... Bh5 12. e4Qe7 13. e5 Nd5 14. Ne4. Whίte
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937

has retained hίs ίnίtίatίve. 10. Bd3!!

The Euwe Gambit, played here for the first
tίme. Black ίs virtually forced to accept the
pawn andhas to lose tίme ίη gettίng his Κnight
away from c3. White gets the two Bishops
and a very strong ίnίtίatίve. There ίs ηο ques­
tίon of the gambίt's soundness.
10. ... Bxc3
If 10 ... Nxc3, then 11. bxc3 Bxc3 12. Rb1;
and Whίte must regaίn the pawn with the
better game [Ed.: Isn't this ι;ι little strong? 12 ...
Anι;ι/ysis After 14. Ne4 Bxd3 13. Qxd3 Βtύ. Now whι;ιt? 14. Rxbl?, then
14... Nc5! See note ι;ιfter Blι;ιck's 1 7thin the game.].
Continuatίons were: For example, 12 ... Qc7 13. Bxf5 exf5 14. Qd3 .
Cι;ιpι;ιblι;ιncι;ι-Fine 14 ... f6 15. exf6 gxf6 16. 11. bxc3 Nxc3
Ng3 Bf7 17. Bh6 Rfe8 18. Ne1! Κh8 19. Nd3 12. Qc2 Bxd3
Bd6 20. Qf3 Rg8 21. Nf4 Nxf4 22. Bxf4 Bxf4 13. Qxd3 Nd5
23. Qxf4 Nb6 24. Bb3 Rad8 25. Re1! Nd5 26. 14. Ba3
Qh4 Bg6 27. Ne4 f5. Black decίdes to gίve up a Here thίs hίnders castlίng. In Game 17,
pawn and struggle for a draw. 28. Qxe7 Nxe7 where Black has castled on move 8, ίt gaίns a
29. Nc5 Rxd4 30. Rxe6 Nd5 31. Nxb7 Bh5 32. tempo by hίttίng the castled Rook to e8 and
Bxd5! Rxd5 33. Nd6 Rb8 34. Rc1 Rd1t 35. turns out equally well.
Rxd1 Bxd1 36. Re7 Bxa4. Here, ίnstead of37. 14. ... a5
Rxa7 Bc2-after whίch Black ultίmately Black returns the pawn and at least one
drew-we suggest that Whίte might have had clear tempo ίnto the bargaίn! However, ίt ίs
better winning chances with 37. Nxf5, utίliz­ doubtful whether the more tenacious 14...
ίng a matίng-threat (37 ... Rxb2H, 38. Re8#) . Ne7 offered better chances, and it ίs violently
If 37 ... a5, then 38. Ra7; and if 37 ... Bc2, then foreίgn to Alekhίne's style. Α possίble sequel
38. Nd4. mίght be: 15. Rab1 b6 16. Rfc1 Rc8 17. e40-0
Flohr-Resheνsky 14... h6 15. Ng3 Bg6 16. 18. Bd6 wίth a posίtίonal advantage outweίgh­
Ne1 f6. Has to come some tίme. 17. exf6 Qxf6 ίng the pawn.
18. Nd3 Bd6 19. Ne4 Qe7 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. 15. Rab1 Nb4
Bd2 ! ? 16. Bxb4 axb4
Thίs ίs dubίous. Α more forward move 17. Rxb4 Ο-Ο!
would be 21. Ra3!, whίch Whίte played later Each sίde has a weak pawn, but White is
on and which would vίrtually complete ahead in development and commands much
Whίte's development without movίng the more space. (Of course not 18. RxbΠ because
c-Bishop at all. White has the "two Bishops," of ...Nc5.)
and hίs isolated d-pawn ίs not as bad a weak­ 18. Qc2 Qc7
ness as Black's backward (and isolated) 19. Rfb1 Rfb8
e-pawn. Anyone would prefer Whίte. The ac­ 20. e4 Ra5
tual game ended ίη a draw ίη Whίte's favor.
All ίη all, ίt seems that Alekhίne's ίnnova­
tίon ίη Game 15 ( 9... Bg6!) ίs the most prom­
ίsing defense. See ΤΗΕ OPENINGS.

� 11 7 �
 Extreme Chess

iηgs with pawns ση σηly σηe wing can sel­

dσm be wση withσut a clear advantage bσth
iη mateήal and pσsitiση.
36. &g5 hxg5
37. Rd3 Nd5
38. Rc4 Rxc4
39. Nxc4 Ra8
40. Ne3 Nxe3
Drawn by agreement.

21. e5�
Sσ far, thίs iηfeήσr mσve has beeη passed Game lO
σver by all commeηtatσrs except G. Kσshηit­
sky iη the Sydney Morning Herald. Nimzo·Indian Defense
The idea is tσ gaiη a tempσ by NgS σr the
threat σf it and thus pσst a Κnight ση d6. But Α gσσd game spσiled by a terήble blunder
the mσve creates a seήσus weakness. The d­ iη a level pσsitiση. Alekhiηe σbtains a cσm­
pawη becσmes tied tσ the defeηse σf the e· mandiηg lead σf three pσiηts.
pawn, thus giving Black the pσssibility σf free·
iηg his game by ...cS. Alekhine-Euwe
Cσrrect, as Kσshηitsky pσiηted σut, was
21. Ndl!, with aclearpσsitiσηal advantage. It Ι. d4 Nf6
is theη extremely difficult tσ fiηd a wσrkable 2. c4 e6
plan fσr Black. There wσuld be ησthiηg iη 3. Nc3 Bb4
21 ... RhS? (22. h3). 4. Qcl d5
21. h6 5. cxd5 Qxd5
22. Ndl c5! 6. e3 c5
23. Nb3 Raa8 ! 7. a3 Bxc3t
24. Rc4 b6 8. bxc3 Nc6
25. f4 Qc6 Αη imprσvemeηt ση 8 ... Nbd7 which
26. dxc5 bxc5 Euwe played iη Game 8. The plan σf f3 and e4
27. Ral Qb6 wσuld ησw be difficult fσr White tσ carry σut
28. Ra3 because σf the pressure ση d4.
If28. NxcS, theη 28... NxcS 29. RxcS RaS; 9. Nf3 0-0
and the piη wiηs fσr Black. 10. c4 Qd6
28. Qa7 11. Bb2 cxd4
29. Qfl Nb6 Saddliηg White with hangiηg pawns­
30. Rxc5 Nxa4 which, σf cσurse, have streηgth as well as
31. Rcl Qxflt weakness. The chaηces are abσut equal,
32. Κχf2 Rb4 thσugh we lean tσwards Black.
33. g3 Rd8 12. exd4 b6
34. Κel Nb6 13. Bd3 Bb7
35. Ndl g5 14. 0-0 Rac8
Black has a shade σf advantage. He ησw 15. Qe2
saddles White with a weak pawn. But eηd-

ι:::::"7 118 ι:::::"7

 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

that he had a fσrced draw by 21 ... Qf5 22.

Qxf5 (else ...Nd7! fσrces σff the Κnίght) exf5
23. Bg5 Nxc4 24. Nxc4 Rxc4 25. Bxf6 gxf6 26.
Re7 Rcxd4. Euwe had justifiable hσpes σf σb­
tainiηg an advantage. Alekhiηe's ηext mσve,
hσwever, creates prσblems fσr Euwe.
22. Qe2!. Re8
Νσt22 ... Nd7 because of23. Nxf7!, with a
wίnniηgattack. Andσfcourse ησt22 ... Rxd4??
because σf23. Nf3. Νσr 22 ... Qh5 because 23.
15. ... Qf4 g4! Qxh3 24. Rd3 Qh4 25. g5 Nd7 26. Nxf7!
We thiηk Black shσuld have completed agaiη with a wiηniηg attack.
his develσpmeηt by 15 ... Rfd8 befσre dσiηg The mσve played is efficieηt as pure de­
this, waitiηg tσ see where White placed his fense, but tσσ retrσgressive tσ be attractive.
Rσσks. If15 ... Rfd8! 16. Rad1 (as in the game), Best was 22 ... h6!, creatiηg a flight square at
theη 16 ... Na5!-batteηiηg ση the c-pawn. h7 (e.g. 23. Nxf7? Κχf7 24. Qxe6t Kg6, etc.).
16. Rad1 Rfe8 After 22 ... h6! Black wσuld have beeη threat-
An example σf a "mysteήσus Rσσkmσve:' eηiηg 23 ... Nc6, with an easy game.
Black wσuld have liked tσ play 16 ... Qg4, 23. g4
threateηiηg ...Na5 and fσrcing exchange σf This is mσre trappy than strσηg; but it was
the Queeηs; but this wσuld have beeη met by gσσd psychσlσgically, as Euwe had 18 mσves
17. d5, against which 16 ... RfeB is a "prσphy­ tσ make ίη 30 minutes. Νσt exactly "clσck
lactic:' The alterηative 16 ... Rfd8 was alsσ trσuble," but rather wσrryiηg! White has the
gσσd, but better ση the previσus mσve. hσπible threat σf 24. Κg2 and 25. Nf3.
White's ηext preveηts ...Qg4. White wishes 23. ... Nc6H
tσ avσid an exchange σf Queeηs as the "hang­ Α terήble miscalculatiση. The mσve 23 ...
iηg pawηs" wσuld definitely be a weakness ίη h6 (first pσiηted σut by Kσshηitsky in the
an eηdgame. Sydney Monιing Herald) wσuld have met
17. h3 NaS White's threat easily. If theη 24. Κgl, simply
18. Ne5 Be4 24... Nh7!
19. Rfe1 Bxd3 24. Κg2 Nxe5
20. Qxd3 Red8 Nσthiηg is any use ησw. Previσusly Black
21. Bc1 had σverlσσked that his Κnight wσuld have
ησ flight square. The rest ίs a prσcessiση.
25. dxe5 Nh5
26. gxh5 Rxc4
27. Qf3 Rf8
28. h6 fS
29.Qg3
Quicker was 29. exf6 e.p.!, as 29 ... Rxf6??
wσuld permit mate.
29. Qxg3t
30. lxg3 Rfc8
21. ... Qh4 31. hxg7 Rclt
Here Euwe pσίηts σut ίη De Schcuιkwereld 32. Κf3 R2c3t
 Extreme Chess

33. Be3 Rxa3 Ιη Game 4, Euwe played 8 ... c5 9. dxc5

34. Rd7 Rc4 Qd5!?; and as σur ησtes tσ that game shσw,
35. Κfl Rclf I Alekhίηe had sσme gσσd wiηnίng chances.
36. Re2 Raa2 Α sίmpler lίηe ίs 8 ... c5 9. dxc5 Qxd1t!
37. Rxc2 Rxclf Alekhίηe, hσwever, tήes an ίηησνatiση, ση
38. Κf3 aS prίηcίple-and a gσσd σηe.
39. Bh6 Rc8 9. Bxf6 gxf6
40. Re7! Resigns But strσηger here was 9 ... Qxf6, a develσp­
ίηg mσve. Then 10. e4 Bh7, and ίf 11. Bxc4,
theη 11 ... 0-0; and Whίte will be seήσusly
embarrassed by ...c5. Or 11. Nxc4 0-0 12.
Phase lll (GAMBS 11-14): Qb3 c5 (say) 13. dxc5 Nc6, and agaίη Whίte's
ΑLΒΚΗΙΝΒ RBACHBS weakness ση the dark squares will tell. Euwe
HIS SΙΧΊΉ WIN ίηdίcates hίs preference fσr 9... Qxf6 ίη
LΈciV.quier, and hίs fear σf ίt wσuld explaίη hίs
After twσ draws, Euwe gets a wίη, but suc­ fiηal abandσnment σf the Κrause Attack.
cumbs tσ "shσck tactics" ίη Game 14. Thίs 10. Nxc4 c5!
gίves Alekhίηe sίχ wiηs and a lead σf three ΙΙ. dxc5 Qxdi f
pσίnts. 12. Rxdl Bcl!
The Bίshσp escapes the e4 shut σut. Hσw­
ever, thίs varίatiση wσuld be safer with ...h6
Game l l σmίtted, as the σdd tempσ gίves Whίte pσssί­
bίlίtίes σtherwise clσsed tσ hίm.
Slav Defense 13. Rcl Bb3!
Κrause Attack Νσt 13 ... Bxa4? because σf14. Ra1 Β mσves
15. Nb6!
Euwe gσes back tσ the Κrause Attack, evί­ After the mσve played, ίf 14. Nd6t, theη
deηtly havίngprepared sσmethίηg agaίnst hίs 14 ... Ke7 15. Nxb7 Bxa4; and Whίte canησt
σwn defense tσ ίt. But Alekhίηe prudeηtly hσld the pawn.
spήngs the surpήse first. 14. Ndl Bxc3
Α well-cσntested game, faίrly drawn. 15. Rxc3 Bxa4
16. e4 Ke7
Buwe-Alekhine 17. Bd3?
Marόczy suggested a subtle ίmprσvement
Ι. d4 dS ίη 17. Κf2! and 18. Ke3 first. Thίs wσuldhave
2. c4 c6 preveηted ... Nc6 sίηce Black's Bίshσp cσuld
3. Nf3 Nf6 be wση by b3, etc.
4. Nc3 dxc4 Still mσre ίmpσrtant ίs that Κf2-e3 wσuld
5. a4 Bf5 gίve Whίte the σptίση σf develσpίng hίs
6. Ne5 e6 Bίshσp at e2 ίηstead σf d3 where Black can
As ίη the 1935 match, Alekhίne ίs ησt tσσ gaίη a tempσ by hίttiηg ίt.
prσud tσ learn frσm hίs σppσηeηt. Thίs de­ Fσr example, 17. Κf2! Rd8, 18. Ke3 Nd7
feηse was played by Euwe ίη Games 2 and 4. 19. Bel!; and Black's pσsίtiση ίs awkward-he
7. BgS Bb4 has ησ gσσd place fσr hίs Bίshσp.
8. f3 h6 17. ... Rd8
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

18. Ke2 Α natural continuation, as the black Rook

If now 18. Κfl, then 18... Nc6 19. Ra1 is shut ίη, andBlackmustplay exactlyto equal­
Bb5! ize. Euwe was blamed (by himselfand others)
18. ... Nc6 for not ήsking 25. Nxb6; but he was getting
A finesse! Ifnow 19. Ra1, simply 19... Bb5! rather short of time, and in any case, analysis
(20. Bxb5 Nd4t). indicates that his winnίng chances wouldhave
However, 18 ... Nd7wasalso goodenough, been very slight.
e.g. 19. Ra1 Bc6 20. b4 Ne5, and 21. b5� is For example: 25 ... e5! (Alekhine) 26. g3
defeated by 21 ... Nxd3-showing the disad­ (Fine) fxe4 27. fxe4 Bd3 28. Rb3 (Or 28. Rcc1
vantage of having the Bishop exposed. Bxb1 29. Rxb1 Rd3t 30. Ke2 Rxb1 31. Rxb1
19. Κe3 Nb4 Rd4 and White cannot both hold his pawn
20. Bbl BbS and regain the initiative.) Rxb1! 29. Rxb1
21. Nb3 fS! Nclt! 30. Κfl Bxe4 with an attack worth the
Prevents 22. Nd4 (22 ... f4t). Of course, if Exchange.
22. exf5�, then 22 ... Nd5t. However, Black lS. Ba6
still has the harder game. 26. Rb3 Nd3!
11. NaS b6 21. exts
23. cxb6 axb6 Not 27. Rxb6� because of27... f4t!
24. Nc4 Ral!H 27. Nxbl
28. Rxbl Rxa3t
19. Κfl Rd6
30. fxe6 Rxe6
Drawn by agreement.
The draw is fairly dead. Black's passed
pawn is not far enough up to give real chances.

Game ll

Either 2 4. . . Bxc4 o r 2 4. . . Rab8 2 5 . Rb3! Nimzo·Indίan Defense

Bxc4 26. Rxb4 Ba6 27. exf5 leaves White ίη
command of the situation. This time Euwe gets such an easy game
The text offers a pawn and is probably good with the Nimzo-Indian Defense that Ale­
enough to draw. khine evades it for the rest of the match­
Jerochoff, ίη LΈchiqwier, suggested 24 ... except for one recantation in Game 20.
Nal as simpler, but gave only the easy varia­
tion 25. Bxal Rxal-with easy equality. In­ Alekhίne-Euwe
stead, 25. Rcl!; and if 25 ... Nb4�, then 26.
Rcc1 ! Nal 27. Nxb6 wins a pawn. Ι. d4 Nf6
However, after 24... Nal 25. Rcl, we sug­ 1. c4 e6
gest the temporary pawn-sacήfice 25 ... f4t! 3. Nc3 Bb4
26. Κχf4 Bxc4 27. Rxc4 Rdl; and Black must 4. Qcl dS
regain his pawn with a drawn position. If 28. s. cxdS QxdS
b3, not 28... Rxgl�, but 28 ... Rb2! draws. 6. e3 cS
lS. Na3 7. a3 Bxc3t
 Extreme Chess

8. bxc3 0-0 11. Bd3 Qxc2

Although not necessarily supeήor to 8... 13. Bxcl Ba6
Nc6, whίch gave Black a good posίtίon ίη As compensatίon for Whίte's two Bίsh·
Game 10, thίs ίs very logίcal. For Black must ops, Black must gaίn tίme through Whίte's
castle on the kίngsίde sometίme, and the op· dίffίculty ίη developίng hίs h-Rook.
tίon of ...Nbd7 may be worth reservίng. 14. Ne5 Nbd7
9. Nf3 cxd4 15. Nxd7 Nxd7
Black wίshes to proceed wίth ... b6, etc., 16. Bb2 Rac8
stίll reservίng the optίon wίth hίs b-Κnίght. 17. Rc1 Rfd8
Reshevsky makes a cuήous oversίght ίη 18. f3
suggestίng 9 ... b6 10. c4 Qd6 11. Bb2 Bb7. Whίte could have stopped ... e5 by 18. f4;
Instead, Whίte plays 11. e4!, forcίng eίther but by 1 8 ... Nf6 followed by 1 9 ... Bb7,
the Queen or the Κnίght to retreat and allow­ Black could hold e4 permanently and keep
ίng Whίte to forge ahead ίη development. It Whίte ίmmobίle.
ίs to avoίd thίs posίtίon that Euwe exchanges 18. ... e5!
pawns before playίng ...b6. 19. Κf1.
Euwe's lίne (9... cxd4 and 10... b6) proves If 19. dxe5, then 19 ... Nxe5 (also good ίs
an excellent "drawίng variatίon:' 19 ... Nc5) 20. Bxe5 Bd3; and Black recovers
However, ίt ίs doubtful polίcy to relίeve the pίece.
Whίte of hίs pawn ση c3, whίch gets ίη the 19. exd4
way of hίs pίeces, or, ίf pushed to c4, gίves hίm 20. Bxd4 Nc5
the "hangίng pawns" as ίη Game 10. There­ 21. Rhd1 Ne6
fore, to keep wίnnίng chances we prefer 9 ... 22. Bb3
Nc6, transposίng ίnto Game 10. Whίte has to submίt to an ίsolated d-pawn;
10. cxd4 b6 for ίf22. Bb2??, then22 ... Rxc2f wίns apίece.
ll. Bc4 Qc6! The d-pawn, however, will be a passed pawn
Threatenίng to exchange one of Whίte's and therefore strong as well as weak.
two Bίshops by ... Ba6. Α trap ίs 12. Qe2? b5!­ 22. Rxc1
wίns for Black! And ίf 12. Qd3, stίll 12 ... Ba6! 23. Rxc1 Nxd4
{13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. Qxa6 Qc3f). 24. exd4 Rc8
Whίte takes the only way to preserve hίs If24... Rxd4?, then 29. Rc7.
two Bίshops. 25. Rd1!

Reuben Fine (lejt)-Erich Eliskases (right)

Fine ha.d to lea.νe beca.use ofa.ppendicitis a.fter the second rou.nd
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

Game 13

Slav Defense
normalvaήation

What a game! Throughout 68 moves, the

bewildeήηg complicatioηs ηever slackeη.
Euwe wiηs and reduces his deficίt to two
poiηts. The chess world woηders ίf history
wίll repeat itself.
By this move, White makes his passed As iη all Euwe's wίns, except Game 30, he
pawn a lethal weapoη. After the exchange of had the White pίeces and got a wίηniηg ad­
Rooks, the pawn would be unable to go past vantage out of the οpeηίηg. Iηcreasίηg ίt wίth
d5 without beinglost, and ση d4 or d5 itwould a beautiful combίηatioη, he subsequeηtly
merely be an isolated pawn-a bad eηdgame made a few ίηexact moves; and Alekhiηe
weakness. looked like wrigglίηg out-theη a clock-slip
15. ... Rc3 ση Alekhίηe's 38th move gave Euwe hίs "sec­
Immediately demoηstratiηg the maiη oηd wίηd:'
poiηt ofWhite's previous move. Α suggestioη
was 25 ... ΚfΒ, but 26. d5 followed boldly by Euwe-Alekhine
27. d6! would rule out any wiη for Black.
Reshevsky suggests 25 ... Bc4 26. Bcl ΚfΒ, Ι. d4 d5
with wiηηiηg chances. But iηstead, White 1. c4 c6
could play simply 26. Bxc4! (ηοt 26. Rc1 be­ 3. Nf3 Nf6
cause of26 ... Be6); and theη 26 ... Rxc4 27. d5 4. Nc3 dxc4
Κf8 28. d6 Rc8 (if28 ... Ke8, theη Re1t·e7) 29. 5. a4 Bf5
Ke3 with a draw (Flohr). 6. e3
16. d5! Euwe returns to his stock attack ίη this
Drawn by agreemeηt. match, the οηe we expressed such surpήse at
Black is compelled to force the draw in both players ηeglectiηg ίη 1935.
οηe of two ways: 6. ... e6
Ι: 26 ... Rxb3 27. d6 Bc8 28. d7 Bxd7 29. 7. Bxc4 Nbd7
Rxd7 g6. Το avoid mate. 30. Rxa7. As ίη Game 7. But Euwe's ηext move (a
Π: 26 ... Κf8 27. d6 Rd3 (If27... Ke8, theη well-consίdered transposίtioη) preveηts any
28 Bxf7t!.) 28. Rxd3 Bxd3 29. d7 Ke7 30. Bxf7!. possίbility of Alekhiηe's coηtiηuiηg wίth 8 ...
Ι η spite of his exact play, Black ηever had a Bd6 as he dίd theη (because of e4-e5).
real wiηηίηg chance after hίs sίmplifίcatioη 8. Qe2 Ne4
oη move 9. 9. 0-0 Bb4
We are ηοw ίη Game 9 by a ηew route.
Alekhίηe shows his williηgness to defeηd the
Euwe Gambit a secoηd tίme, but Euwe dis­
closes a ηew and better way of playiηg it.
10. Bd3! Bxc3
11. Bxe4!
 Extreme Chess
Thίs ίs still strσηger than 11. bxc3 (Game
9) sίηce Whίte σbtaίns a demσηstrable ad­
vantage ίη all varίatίσηs.
11. ... Bb4
Or 11 ... Bxb2 12. Bxb2! (pursuiηg the
gambίtry) Bxe4 13. Ba3, wίth the grίslythreat
σf Νd2-c4 and an attack that easίly σutweίghs
the pawn.
Or 1 1 ... Bxe4 12. bxc3 Bxf3 (ίf 12 . . .
0-0, theη 13. Nd2 Bg6 1 4 . Ba3 Re8 1 5 .
Nc4-wίth a gσσd attack aηd η σ pawη
dσwη) 13. Qxf3 0-0 14. Ba3 Re8 15. Bd6 !
Nb6 (say) 16. Bg3 ! fσllσwed by Rfb 1 ! wίth
a strσηg queeηsίde ίηίtίatίνe. (The regrσup­
ίηg σf the Bίshσp ση mσve 16, σur σwη
ίdea, ίs tσ make ίt mσre dίffίcult fσr Black
tσ defeηd hίs queeηsίde, e.g. ίt stσps ... Qc7.)
12. BxfS exfS
13. dS! cxds
Whίte's last has dashed Black's hσpes σf
equalίzίηg. If 13 ... 0-0, Black gets a weak
c-pawη; and ίf 13 ... c5, theη he wίll be wσr-
ήed by a strσηg passed pawn-wίth hίs Bίshσp
σut σfplay.
14. QbS QaS
15. Q:xb7 Rb8
16. Qc6 QcS
Black ίs vίrtually fσrced tσ challeηge
Queens, despίte hίs wretchedlyweak pawns­
whίch shσuld mean a lσsίng eηdgame.
17. Nd4! Rb6
Alekhίηe's custσmary-and ση prίηciple,
cσmmeηdable-resσurce wheη ίη dίfficulties:
a pawn sacrίfice. If 17... g6, theη 18. a5!; and
Black ίs wretchedly cramped. Or 17 ... Qxc6
18. Nxc6 Rb7 19. Nxb4 Rxb4 20. Bd2 Rxb2 21.
Bc3fσllσwed by 22. Bxg7, leavίng Black wίth
five ίsσlated pawns (twσ dσubled).
18. QxcS NxcS
19. aS!
Cσmmeηcemeηt σf a fίηe cσuntercσm­
bίηatiση, a tempσrary sacήfice σf twσ pawns.
Wheη Euwe ίs the attacker, ησt the defeηder,
hίs cσmbίηative pσwers are prσbably secσηd
tσ ησηe.
The acceptance σf the weak pawn at f5
wσuld be cσmparatively feeble, as Blackwσuld
wrest the ίηίtiative wίth ... Nb3.
19. ... Ra6
If 19 ... Rf6, theη 20. Nc2 Na6 21. Nxb4
Nxb4 22. Bd2 Nc6 23. Bc3 wίth a decίsίve
advantage.
20. Ncl!!
Α pretty mσve, relίηquίshίηg the attack
ση the pawη at f5.
20. ... BxaS
Νσt20... RxaSH because σf21. Rxa5 Bxa5
22. b4.
If20... Nd3, theη 21. Rd1 ! Rc6 22. Nxb4!
Nxb4 23. Bd2 wίth a wίηηίηg advantage.
(Fίηe.)
21. b4! B:xb4
22. Bb2!!
The mσst surprίsίηg mσve σ f the whσle
combίnatiση, because sσ quίet.
22. ... BaS
If22 ....Rxa1, theη 23. Rxa1 Nd3 24. Bxg7
Rg8 25. Bd4; and agaίη Whίte regaίηs hίs twσ
pawηs wίth a wίηηίηg pσsίtiση.
If22 ... Rb6�, theη 23. Bd4 wίηs a pίece.
 Euwe-A1ekhίne 1937
23. Bxg7 Rg8
24. Be5! Nb3
Had Whίte played Bd4, he wσuld thus
have hadhίs dσmίηatίηg Bίshσp swapped σff.
25. Ra4
If 25. Ra3, theη Whίte's Bishσp wσuld
agaίη be fσrkable by 25 ... Nd2-c4.
25. ... Rag6
26. Bg3�
Euwe's first ίηexactίtude, after sciηtillat­
ίng play. It was unηecessary tσ self-pίη his
Bίshσp. Slίghtly strσηger was the ηatural 26.
g3, leavίηg the Black Rσσks "bίtiηg ση gran­
ite:' Hσwever, Black stίll has a very ίηferiσr
game-he must lσse hίs σdd pawn and will
have fσur weak σηes left.
26. ... Bb6
21. Rf4 h5
Black is faced with the tryίηg prσblem σf
hσw best tσ gίve backhis pawη. Ηίs idea ησw
is: ίf 28. Rxf5, theη 28 ... h4 29. Bxh4 Rxg2t.
Whίte cσuld have permitted thίs; fσr after 30.
Κh1, he ίs threateηiηg tσ trap a Rσσk by Bg3.
Therefσre, 30... R2g4 31. Re5t Κf8 32. Be?t
Κg7 33. Rxd5, and White has wση a pawn.
Hσwever, ίt ίs dσubtful ifhis wίηηίηg chances
wσuld be appreciably better than after the
safer lίηe he actually selects. There is sσme­
thίηg tσ be said fσr keepiηg his fσur pawns
united.
28. Rh4 a5
29. Rxh5�
Here, hσwever, a defiηίte slight ίmprσve­
meηt was pσssible with 29. Rb1 ! first, while
Black is unable tσ play ...h4 ίη reply.
29. ... Rc6
30. Na3 d4!
Had the Κnight beeη dήνeη away frσm its
command σf d4, this elimίnatiση σf σηe σf
the weak pawns wσuld ησt have beeη "ση:'
31. exd4 Nxd4
32. Rel t Κd.7
Slίght iηexactίtudes have whittled dσwn
White's advantage. Black cσuld eveη affσrd
tσ simplίfy here, if he wίshed, by 32 ... Re6.
33. ΚfΙ Rc3
34. Nbl Rc2
35. Rdl Kc6
36. Rh6t Rg6
Alekhiηe had three miηutes fσr five
mσves. Α shade mσre exact was 36 ... Kb7 at
σηce.
37. Rh8! Κb7
Fσr ησw the whίte Rσσk ίs a lίttle mσre
effectίvely pσsted fσr attack.
38. Rf8
38. ... Rg7!H
Wίth ίηsufficίeηt time tσ wσrk this right
σut, Alekhiηe shσuld have chσseη the path
σf safety-that is, played accσrdiηg tσ priη­
cίple. Αηd it ίs bad, ση prίηcίple, tσ waste
a Rσσk ση the prσtectiση σf a weak pawη.
By gίνίηg up the pawη-Alekhiηe's rσu­
tίηe sσlutiση tσ such prσblems!-Blackwσuld
have become the attacker iηstead σf the
attacked; aηd White wσuld prσbably have
beeη well satisfied with a draw, thus: 38 . . .
Rgc6! (Euwe) 3 9 . Rxf7t Ka6 aηd if ησw40.
Be5 (ησt 40. Nd2H because σf 40 . . . Rxd2.
[Ed.: While 40... Rxd2 definitely puts the ad­
vantage in Black's court, 40... Rcl basically ends
the game. 41. Kel Re6t.J) theη 40 . . . Nf3 ! !
4 1 . gxf3 Rxf2 t 42. Ke1 Rcc2 43. Rd2 Rc1 tetc.,
fσrciηg a draw by repetitίση. [Ed.: True, but
what about43. Nd2 ? Ij43 ... Be3, then44. Rf6t
with the idea ofRd6. Ij43 ... Rg2, then 44. Rj6.]
39. Be5 Nf3!
The pretty idea σfhis prevίσus mσve-ηeί­
ther Rσσk ησr Κnight can be takeη, and Black
threateηs mate ίη σηe. But there ίs a simple
 Extreme Chess

knock-out-ίn fact, two! Black's two weak pawns, ίt was suggested

40. Rb8t 1 that Alekhίne would have had better drawίng
Whίle not exactly short of tίme, Euwe chances by 45 ... f4, threatenίng to exchange
must have been slίghtly harassed by the off one ofthe pawns. For example: 46. Nd2
thought that he had to complete hίs 40th Rh7! 47. Kgl ! (47. h3 would permίt a pawn
move before hίs flag fell-he chooses the exchange by 47 ... f3) Rd7 48. Ra2 f3 ! 49. g3
second-best lίne. It gίves a probable wίn; (not 49. gxf3? because of 49 ... Rxd2!) Kc8.
but he could have gaίned eίther the Ex­ However, ίt would be extraordίnary ίfAle­
change or two pίeces for a Rook, wίth a khίne made a mίstake fίve moves after the
clear wίnnίng advantage, by: 40. Rd7t Kc6 resumptίon, especίally when the fίrst four
(forced) 41. Rd6t Kb7 (or41 ... Kc7 42. Rdlt, were easίly foreseen. And ίt looks as ίfWhίte
etc.) 42. Rxb6t Κχb6 43. gxf3!. should wίn by threatenίng to get hίs Kίng
40. ... Κa7 to g3 (when Black's outpost pawn would
41. Rd.7t become a bad weakness). For example: 50.
The sealed move. It looks a killer (41 ... h3! Kd8 51. Kh2 f5 (to stop g4) 52. Nfl Ke7
Κa6 42. Ra8t and 43. Na3t wίns a Rook). But 53. Ne3 and now the rear pawn becomes a
Blackhas a prettyresourcewhίch leaves Whίte decίsίve weakness.
nothίng better than the wίn of a pawn. 46. Ndl Rcl
41. ... Bc7!! 47. Rd.5
41. Rxc7t! Not 47. Ke2H because of47 ... Rxd2t!
Both players would have to devote some 47. Kc7
of their adjournment analysίs to the altema· 48. Κel Rbl
tive 42. gxf3 Κχb8 43. Bxg7 Rcl t 44. Kg2 Rxbl 49. h3!
45. h4! But Blackcan draw by 45 ... Rb4! If46. Whίte could not win a pawn by 49. f4
Κh3, then 46 ... Rbl ! And ίf 46. h5, then 46 ... because of 49 ... Kc6, forcίng the Rook off
Rh4 47. h6 Bf4. the rank (not 50. Ra5?? because of 50 ...
41. Κχb8! Rxd2t). Whίte's general plan ίη thίs dίffί.
43. Rxclt Nxe5 cult endίng must be to get hίs pίeces posted
44. Rc5 f6 ίη the best possίble posίtions before jeop·
If 44 ... Ng4, not 45. h3? Nh2t 46. Kgl ardίzίng his chances by advancίng pawns.
Nf3t 47. Κhl Nel 48. g3 f4 wίth a probable Α good general endgame rule (see Guide to
draw, but 45. Kgl! first. Good Chess, Part IV).
45. Rxa5 49. Kc6
50. Rd.4 Kc5
51. Κe3
The poίnt of 49. h3 is now clear.
51. ... Ng6
Threatens ...f4t!
51. Rd.8 Ne7
53. Κd3 1
Betterwas 53. Rd3 (Bernsteίn), as Whίte's
Κίηg ίs wanted on the kίngsίde.
53. ... Rb7
45 . ... Rc7 Atrapwas 53 ... Nd5? becauseof54. Rc8t­
As White's wίnnίng chances depend on Black's Κingwill be forcedonto a "fork" square

ι:::=ι 126 ι:::=ι

 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

in all variations, involving at least a fatal ex­ 66. Κf4 Nd6

change of Rooks. 67. Nc5t Κf7
54. Κe3 Rbl? 68. Nb3! Resigns
But here Black coώd have improved his For White must win a second pawn, e.g.
drawing chances with 54... Nd5t first. White 68 ... Kg7 (or 68 ... Ne4 69. f3) 69. Nd4 Kg6 70.
has been let off; he is back to move 53. Nxf5! (70 ... Nxf5? 71. h5t). With two pawns
55. Rd3! Nd5t down and still an isolated pawn to defend, to
56. Κf3 continue woώd be ridicώous.
Bemstein, in Schaakwereld, wήtes, "Thus
far the liveliest and most difficώt game of the
match. Both players have played most imagi­
natively, and the winner maywell be satisfied
with his achievement. That he made some
mistakes in the process shoώd not be held
against him; for expeήence has shown that
only by chance can even the greatest mas·
ters win such a complίcated game by flaw­
less play, over the board:'
56. ... Nb4 We have added the last three words our­
This permits an exchange, which auto­ selves, to complete Bernstein's meaning. The
matically betters White's winning chances; part we have put in heavy type is finely ex­
but Black must give ground somehow. White pressed and shoώd be remembered by all who
was threatening, for instance, 57. Nf1 Kc4 wish to appreciate chess properly.
58. Rdl Rb3t 59. Ne3t Nxe3 60. fxe3 with a
comfortablewin-Black's Κing beingshut off.
57. Rc3t Κd4! Game l4
58. Rb3 Rxb3t
Α choice of evils: the Κnight ending or the QG Accepted (ίn effect)
Rook ending? Both can be won because of the
weak Black pawns. Euwe is familiar with all Alekhine's onlywin between Game 10 and
types of Rook endings, hence Alekhine's Game 21!
choice-which actually hastens his end.
59. N:xb3t KeS Α real "psychological" game! Psychology
60. g3 Nc6 in chess is the excuse a master is allowed to
61. h4 Nd8 offer for a bad move if he wins the game.
61. Nc5 Nf7 Anyway, Alekhine regains his three-point
63. Nd3f Kd4 lead.
64. Ne1
Having to make his 64th move to beat the Alekhine-Euwe
time limit, Euwe plays safe. He had a forcing
line in 64. Κf4! 1. d4 Nf6
64. ... Κe5 1. c4 e6
65. Nd3 t Κe6 3. g3
It was useless to play 65 ... Kd4 again as An interesting evasion of the Nimzo-In­
Euwe had ample time to think. dian Defense.
 Extreme Chess

3. ... d5 the two Bίshops.

4. Nf3 Euwe was wίdely cήtίcίzed for not playίng
Or 4. Bg2 as ίη Game 16-just a transposί­ 13 ... Qc7 fίrst, reservίng the optίon; but Bot­
tίon. vίnnίk, ίη Chess in USSR, fully justίfίes Euwe
4. . . . dxc4! wίth the followίng varίatίon: 14. Bd2 Nbd5
Thίs varίatίon of the Queen's Gambίt Ac­ 15. Rfc1 ! Nxc3 16. Bxc3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3! Qxc3
cepted ίs quίte satίsfactory for Black ίf Whίte 18. Ne7t Κh8 19. Rxc3 and Whίte has the
fianchettoes hίs f-Bίshop. better endgame.
Black, however, cannot arrίve at ίt by 14. bxc3 B:xf5?
transposίtίon from the ordίnary Qa4t varίa­ But here most certaίnly 14 ... Qc7! sίnce ίt
tίon of the Queen's Gambίt Accepted. For had to come next move. If 15. Ba3?, then 15 ...
example: 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bxf5 16. Qxf5 Rfd8 17. Rab1 Rd2 or 17. Rfd1!
Qa4t Nbd7 5. Nc3 e6 and now not 6. g3 Nc4. Just another breakage of the sίmple old
(though recommended by Alekhίne), but 6. maxίm:
e4! (Botvίnnίk)-wίth a clear advantage to Reserve the greater optίon.
Whίte. Botvίnnίk gίves 14. . . Qc7! 15. Bg5 Nfd5
5. Qa4t Nbd7! 16. Rac1 f6 17. Bdl Be6, and Black has the
6. Qxc4 c5! better game.
7. Bgl Nb6 15. Qxf5 Qc7
Thίs sίmple and good defense was ren­ 16. Bh6H
dered possίble by Whίte's ίmmedίate recap­ "The begίnnίng of Alekhίne's Beunruhί­
ture of the "gambίt pawn" ση move 6. See gungstaktίk!" (shock tactίcs), says Becker. The
Game 1 6 for Whίte's more exact lίne. good, solίd move was 16. Bg5! If 16 ... Nfd5,
8. Qd3 cxd4 then 17. Be4 g6 18. Qf3 (Botvίnnίk), wίth
9. 0-0! Be7 good wίnnίng chances for Whίte. Compare
Not 9 ... Bc5 because of 10. b4. the strength of 16. Bg5 here and after 14...
10. Nxd4 0-0 Qc7! ίη the last note.
Not 10 ... e5 11. Qb5t Bd7? 12. Qxe5. Wίth thίs excellent contίnuatίon available,
ΙΙ. Nc3 e5 Alekhίne's choίce of a merelytrappy lίne, con­
11. Nf5 Bb4 taίnίng more danger for hίmself than for
Not 12 ... Qxd3? because of 13. Nxe7t. Black, ίs hard to understand-especίally as
13. Qcl Alekhίne was two poίnts up.
16. Nbd7
17. Qg5 Ne8
18. Rab1

13 . ... Bxc3
By closίng the c-file, Black makes c7 safe
for hίs Queen; and the weak pawn wίll offset
 Euwe-Alekhίηe 1937

18. ... Nc5 Quίte unηecessary. Wίth a couple of suc­

If 18 ... Qd6, theη 19. Rfd1 Qe6 20. Rxb7 cessίve slashes, Black could have completely
Νc5 21. Re7 wίηs-the Rook at a8 ίs "eη pήse:' freed hίs game and put Whίte ίη dίfficultίes,
Also ίηfeήοr ίs 18 ... Rb8 19. Rfd1 (threat as poίηted out by Βοtνίηηίk: 23 . . . Nd6! 24.
Qe7) Nb620. Qf5 ! ! ; and ίf20 ... gxh6, theη 21. QdS Nf5! 25. Bd8 (or 25. Qdl Rd6 26. Qc1
Be4 f6 22. Rxb6! axb6 23. Rd7, wίηηίηg. Rxd1 27. Rxd1 h6 and Whίte must lose mate·
But the text ίs oηly secoηd-best. By 18 ... ήal) Qb8! 26. Qxe5 Qxe5 27. fxe5 Ne3 wίηs
Nb6! at oηce, Black would make ίt ίmpossίble the Exchange. Also: 25. Κf2 Re8! 26. Qd8 Rxd8
for Whίte to free hίs h-Bίshop wίthout loss of 27. Rxd8t Qxd8 28. Bxd8 exf4! agaίη wίth
mateήal. advantage; for ίf 29. gxf4, theη 29 . . . Rxg2t
19. Qg4 30. Κxgl Ne3t 31. Κf2 Nxf1 32. Κχf1 Ne4
Extrίcatioη ίs made possίble by Black's last wίth a lίkely eηdgame wίη for Black. (All the
move; for if ηow 19 ... f5, theη 20. Qc4t. analyses were by Botvίηnίk.)
19. ... Rd.8 Thus the text move turns a good wίηηίηg
The clocks ηοw showed: Alekhίηe, 1 hour chance ίηtο a loss.
25 mίηutes; Euwe, 1 hour 20 mίηutes. Wίth 24. Bh4
respect to posίtioη, Whίte ίs preferable be· Το play f5. Not 24. Bxe4 because of 24 ...
cause of hίs two Bίshops, though Black's Nd6.
Κnίght ση c5 ίs stroηg. 24. ... b5!
20. Bg5 Rd.6 Not ίmmedίately 24 ... Nd6 because of
21. Qc4 b6 2 5 . Qd5 . But ίf ηοw 25. Qxb5, theη 25 ...
22. f4H Nd6 26. Qb4 Rb8 27. Qa3 Nc4, wίth a stroηg
Αίmίηg at utilίzίηg the file ση whίch a ίηίtίatίνe for the pawη. Whίte declίηes,
Rook already stands-always an ecoηomίcal preferrίηg a slίght strategίc retreat whίch
course. keeps up the pressure.
But the move leaves the dark-squared 25. Qb4! a5!
Bίshop badly placed and creates weaknesses. 26. Qa3! f5
Botvίnnίk ίηdίcates 22. Be3! Nf6 23. a4 as a Great claίms were made for 26 ... Rd6, but
solίd coηtiηuatioη yίeldίηg Whίte a good ίηί· the Hindu publίshed a knockout by S. Venka­
tiative. However, Alekhίηe's "psychologίcal" traman of Ροοηa, Ιηdίa, vίz. 27. Be7!! Thίs
play justifies ίtself by the result, eveη ίf ίt faίls wίηs ίη all varίatίoηs. If 27 ... Rxd1, theη 28.
to stand up to analysίs. Bxc5! wίηs.
22. Rg6! The best chance was 26 ... Nd6.
23. Rbd1 27. Bd8 Qa7
28. Κh1 Ra6
29. Rd.5! Ne6
30. Rfd1 Nxd8
31. Rxd8 Qfl
Not 31 ... Qe3 because of32. Qb3t Κh8 33.
Qf7! ! Rf6 34. Qxe8!!
Whίte's complete coηtrol ofthe oηly opeη
file decίdes, e.g. the threat was R1d7 (ηοw
met by ... Qc4).
32. R1d5 Rc6
23 . ..
. e4? At least οηe pawn must fall.
 Extreme Chess

33. Rxb5 Q.c4 Games 15, 17, 18, 19, and 20, he secured ad­
Perhaps an σversight, but there was ηο vantages that were prσbably sufficieηt tσ wiη
satisfactσry defeηse. the game; but he wση σηly Game 17.
34. Rxf5! Rd6 Α great fight, and it came ηear tσ being a
If 34... Rxf5, theη 35. Rxe8t Κf7 36. Qe7t glσήσus recovery.
Kg6 37. Bxe4 wins.
3 5. Rxf6 gx:f6
36. Rd41 Game 15
Pressed fσr time, Alekhine misses 36. Qb3,
which wσuld have hasteηed Black's death- Slav Defense
rattle. Normal varίatioη
36. Q.xe2
37. Q.b3t Κh8 Fσr "σpeηiηg theσry," the most impσrtant
38. Rxe4 Q.d2 game σf the match.
39. Q.bl Q.xc3
40. Q.el! Q.xel Euwe-Alekhine
41. Rxel Nd6
42. Bc6 Rb8 1. d4 d5
43. Re6 Rblt 2. c4 c6
44. Κg2 Rb2t 3. Nf3 Nf6
45. Κh3 Nf5 4. Nc3 dxc4
46. Rxf6 Ne7 5. a4 Bf5
47. Be4 Κg7 6. e3 e6
48. Re6 Κf1 7. Bxc4 Bb4
49. Rh6 Rxa1. 8. 0-0 Nbd7
Nσte the geηeral techηique σf the wiη: 9. Q.e2 Bg6!
dση't dσddeήηgly defeηd yσur weak pawns; Ιη Games 9 and 13, Alekhiηe stopped e4
go after yσur σppσηeηt's. with ...Ne4, met bythe Euwe Gambit 10. Bd3!
50. Rxh7t Κf6 The ηew mσve equally preveηts e4, because
51. Rh6t Κf1 of ... Bxc3 iη replyunless White is prepared tσ
52. Ra6 Resigns sacήfice the e-pawn fσr uncertaiη cσmpensa­
tiση. The reasoη 9 ... Bg6 has ησt beeη seeη
befσre is prσbably that players have habitu­
ally played 8... 0-0 instead σf 8 ... Nbd7, and
Phase IV (GAMES 15-20): iη that variatiση White wσuld meet 9... Bg6
FIGHΏNG CHESS with 10. Ne5.
Νσw, hσwever, apart frσmthe pawn sacή­
Frσm ησw ση, Euwe has tσ give Alekhiηe fice (10. e4!?}, White has ηο eηergetic coη­
"the σdds σf the draw:' True, Alekhiηe dσes tiηuatioη. If10. Ne5, theη 10 ... Nxe5 11. dxe5
ηοt "sit ση his lead:' Iηstead σf merely tryiηg Nd5! Or 10. Nh4 Bh5.
tσ wiη the match, he was evideηtly σut tσ 10. Bd3 Bxd3
scσre a crushiηg victσry and cσmpletely re­ 11. Q.xd3
stσre his prestige. This is as gσσd a pσsitiση as Black caη
Apart frσm Game 16, hσwever, Euwe was pσssibly hσpe fσr iη the variatiση, fσr
ση tσp all thrσugh the ηext six games. Ιη White cσuld briηg it abσut simply by playiηg
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

Bd3 ο η move 9.
But we suggest that White has a slight im­
provement in 10. Rd1 ! See ΤΗΕ OPENINGS.
11. ... 0-0

18. Nal
Α move so natural that it has hitherto been
passed by all commentators. Its purpose is to
advance the backward pawn. But a retrogres­
12. Rd1 sive move is always suspect; and we think,
White has nothing better, which is an ar­ after careful analysis, that 18. Qa6! was stron­
gument for Rd1 on move 10. ger. Ifthen 18 ... Nc5?, 19. Rxd8t wins a pawn.
If 12. e4!?, then 12 . . . Bxc3 (not 12 ... Nc5 Or 18 ... c5? 19. Rd6. Or 18 ... Qe6 19. Qb7.
because of 13. Qc4) 13. bxc3 Nc5 14. Qb1 After 18. Qa6, Black's weak pawns are under
Ncxe4 15. Qxb7 Nxc3 16. Ba3 Re8 17. Qxc6 pressure and White's are not, so White must
Ne2t etc., wins Black a pawn without much have the advantage.
compensation for White. In thίs, ίf 17. Ne5!, In the middlegame, an ίnitiative wίth the
then 17 . . . Qxd4! 18. Qxf7t Κh8 19. Nxc6 pieces is a surer advantage than a better pawn
Qxa4! again wins Black a pawn fairly safely posίtion, other things being equal.
(20. Bf8?? Rxf8). 18. Be7
12. ... Qe7 19. b4 a5
Clearly better is 12 ... Qa5! since it puts 10. Qc3
pressure on White's weak points. The text The logical sequel, attacking the e-pawn
move, Euwe remarks in Nieuwe Rotterdamsche and forcing Black to brίng back White's
Courant, enables White to obtain a "danger­ Κnight. If 20. Qc4, then 20 . . . Nb6 21. Rxd8t
ous initiative:' Bxd8 22. Qb3 (or 22. Qcl Be7) Qe7 23. bxa5
13. e4 e5 Rxa5 24. Nb4 Qe8! and White's a-pawn is
14. BgS h6 under pressure.
15. Bxf6 Qxf6 10. ... axb4
16. d.S! Rfd8 21. Nxb4 Nc5!
17. dxc6 bxc6 By some very pretty tactical finesses, Ale­
The least evil. Black has an exposed iso­ khine proceeds to save a strategically lost
lated pawn, but a file has also been opened on game.
White's backward b-pawn. If 17 ... Qxc6, then 11. Rxd8t Rxd8
18. Nd5 with clear advantage.
 Extreme Chess

(29. Rel, 29 ... Re2!) Qb2 threatens ... Rxfl!;

and White cannot win. Or 28. Qfl e4, also
threatening ... Rxfl!
28. ... Qd8!
Alekhine took half an hour over this.
29. a6 Rd4
30. Qal
Annotators have wasted much valuable
ink in pointing out various opportunities
Euwe had of forcing simple draws (e.g. 30.
23. Qc4 Qe2 here); but so long as a player has the draw
Α quaint fantasia is 23. Qxe5� Nb3! 24. in hand, he is justified in playing to win.
Rbl Bxb4 25. h3! Qxe5 (forced) 26. Nxe5 Bd6 30. ... Rd.S!
27. Nxc6 Nd2! and White cannot get enough The point of 28 ... Qd8! White cannot play
for his piece. Ral. Νο chance of winning remains.
The answerto 23. Qc2 (suggested by Flohr 31. Qc4 Ra5
and Tartakower) would be 23 ... Rb8!, and 32. Rb1?
White can obtain no advantage. Loses the passed pawn for nothing. Α bad
Again, if 23. a5, then 23 ... Nxe4 24. Qxc6 breakage ofthe elementarypήnάple (one that
Bxb4 25. Qxe4 Bc3; and the passed pawn falls. adrnits of no exception):
Or 23. h3 Nxe4 24. Qxc6 Nxf2! 25. Qxf6 Reserve the greater option.
Bxf6! 26. Κχf2 e4 and White can only draw. As White's Rook is powerless on any file
23. ... Nxe4!! until his Κing has an escape, he should first
Α beautiful saver. Not 23... Nxa4� because play 32. h3!, keeping the option of playing his
of24. Nxc6. Rook to another file; e.g. 32 ... Qa8 33. Rel!,
24. Nxc6 drawing easily. Or 32... Qb6 33. Rel Rxa6 34.
If 24. Qxe4, then 24... Bxb4, with at least Qc8t Κh7 35. Qf5t, etc. Or 32 ... Qd6 33. Qc8t
equality (25. Qxb4� e4). Κh7 34. Qb7!, again drawing easily.
24. ... Ndl! 32. Qa8
Again this Κnight eπant saves the situa­ 33. Qc7 Qxa6
tion. 34. Rb8t Κh7
25. Nxdl Rxd2 35. h3 Ra1t
26. Nxe7t Qxe7 With all the pawns on one side, the pawn
27. a5 Qf6! plus gives scant winning chances, but enough
Feeble would be 27 ... Qa7 because of 28. to warrant continuation.
Qc8t Κh7 29. Qf5t g6 30. Qf3, with good 36. Κh2 Qf6
winning chances. 37. Qc2t g6
The text is more attacking because the 38. Rb3 Qf4t
Queen now bears on al (per ... e4) as well as 39. g3 Qa4
fl. Only by forcing White's pieces into defen­ 40. Qd3 Ra2
sive positions can Black draw. Incidentally, if 41. Κg2 Qa7
White's passed pawn were a square farther 42. Qe3 Qc7
on, he would win easily. 43. Qf3 Κg7
28. Rfl 44. Qd5
Sad. But if 28. Qc5, then 28 ... e4 29. Rcl If at once 44. Rb7, then 44... Qc4.
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937

44. RaS Alekhine-E.uwe

45. Rb5 Rxb5
46. Qxb5 Qc3 1. d4 Nf6
47. Qe8 Qd4 1. c4 e6
48. Qc6 Qd3 3. g3 d5
49. Qc5 Qe4t 4. Bg1 dxc4!
50. Κgl g5 Thίs does not lose a tempo, as Whίte must
51. g4 Qd4 move a pίece twίce to recapture.
51. Qc2 Qf4 5. Qa4t Nbd7
53. Κg1 h5 6. Nc3 c5
54. gxh5 Κh6 7. Nf3 a6!
55. Qdl e4 8. 0-0 Be7
56. Qd4 Qf3 t By delayίng the recapture of the pawn,
57. Κgl Κχh5 Whίte also delays Black's ... b5-because of
58. Qh8t Κg6 Nxb5! ίη reply.
59. Qg8t Κf6 Also, the ...Nb6 lίne, whίch Euwe adopted
60. Qd8t Κf5 ίη Game 14, ίs ruled out altogether.
61. Qc8t Ke5 A good altematίve to 8 ... Be? was 8 ... cxd4
62. Qb8t and 9 ... Bc5; the Bίshop then hίts somethίng
Drawn by agreement. when ίt comes to c5, whίch compensates for
the gratuίtous openίng of Whίte's fianchetto
dίagonal.
Game 16 9. dxc5 Bxc5
10. Qxc4 b5
Catalan Opening 11. Qh4 Bb7
11. BgS 0-0
In spίte of havίng had an opportunίty for 13. Radl Qc7?
a lίttle swottίng, Euwe agaίn goes slίghtly Ifl3. Rfd1, then 13 ... Qb6, nowmet by14.
wrong agaίnst Alekhίne's Nίmzo-Indίan De­ b4. But after 13. Rad1, correct was 13 ... QaS !
fense evader. If 14. a3, then 14 ... b4! 15. axb4 Qxb4! 16.
The game ίs remarkable for a gruesome Qxb4 Bxb4; and Whίte's pressure ίs over.
double blunder, twίce repeated by both play­ The reason thίs sίmple move (13 ... QaS!)
ers. It must be the worst example of a double was mίssed by the players and prevίous anno­
blunder ever recordedίn a match for the world tators must be ίts "unsafe" look. Black's pίeces
champίonshίp. are temporarίly loose, but Whίte cannot gaίn
Curίously enough, the oversίght was also any advantage therefrom. For example: 13 ...
made by some of the grandmasters present Qa5 14. Ne5 Bxgl 15. Nxd7 Nxd? 16. Κχg2
as press representatίves. One of them rang Ra7; and ίf 17. Ne4, then 17 ... Qxa2! Or 17.
up hίs paper at 2 a.m., for he had lauded Rd2 f6! Or 17. a3 Rfc8! Black ίs quίte safe and
the "accuracy" of the play ση both sίdes! has an even game.
The presses were stopped, and the praίse 14. Rcl ! Qb6
was duly turned ίnto expressίons of horrί­ 15. b4 Be7
fίed amazement. If 15 ... Bd6, then 16. Rfd1 threatens Be3
wίth deadly effect.
16. Rfdl !
 Extreme Chess

Stronger than Be3. better than a draw by perpetual check.

17. ... Qb7!
Allowing White to win a pawn, but at the
cost of the initiative-therefore safer than the
cramping ... Qd8.
18. Rxd7! Bxd7
19. Ng5 ! Qb8
Not 19 ... Bc6?? because of 20. Bxc6 Qxc6
21. Nce4.
20. Bxa8 Qxa8
21. Nxh7 Rc8
16. ... Bc6 11. Ng5 Rc4!
The best chance. If16 ... Rfd8, White starts 23. Nce4
a decisive Queen-hunt with 17. Be3. If 16 ...
h6, then not 17. Rxd?? (recommended by
Flohr and Tartakower) because of 17 ... Bxf3!
18. Rxe7 hxgS 19. QxgS Bxg2 (Tartakower
examines only 19 ... Ng4?) 20. Κχg2 Rfc8! and
Blackwins. Rather, after 16 ... h6, White sim-
plyplays 17. Be3, forcing 17... Qd8 and giving
Black a cramped game-extremely hard to
handle under a time Hmit.
17. Be3
There were possibilities in 17. Rxd7!?, but 23. ... Rxc1t
in any case the importance of conserving time Here Black had a chance to win two pieces
fully justifies the simple and good text move. for a Rook by 23 . . . Rxe4 24. Nxe4 Qxe4 25.
Bήnckmann is said to have proved by exhaus­ Qxe4 Nxe4 26. Rc7 Nf6. White, already a
tive analysis that 17. Rxd7 Bxd7 18. NeS wins pawn plus, can win a secondpawn, thus equal­
by force, but we venture to claim (in spite of izing mateήal and getting the better endgame;
not having seen the analysis in question) that but Black's drawing chances are excellent.
Black would have good fighting chances with Vaήations are:
18 ... Ra7!, offeήng to return the Exchange. If Ι: 27. Bd4 Bd6 28. Ra7 eS! (if 29. Rxa6,
then 19. Ne4!, there follows 19 ... Rc8! 20. then 29 . . . . exd4 [Ed.: 29 ... Ne4! might be
Rxc8t (if20. Rd1, then20... Be8! [Ed.: Onecan sm&ιrter.1).
hardly blame Purdyfor missing this one, the det&ιil Π: 27. BcS! Κf8 28. Ra7 BxcS 29. bxcS eS!
is deep: 21. Nxf6t Exj6 22. Exf6 gxj6 23. Ng4 ΚjΒ 30. Rxa6 Ke7.
24. Qh6t Kel 25. Qxj6t ΚjΒ 26. Qh6t Kel 27. ΠΙ: 27. BgS Bd6 [Ed.: 27... Nd5! gives Elach
Qg5t Κj8 28. Nj6! or 21 ... gxf6 22. Be4 h5 23. Qxh5 some excellent chances.] 28. Ra7 Be8.
f5 24. Exel R>rel 25. Qg5t ΚjΒ 26. Qh6t Κg8 27. Euwe decides to remain a pawn down and
Ng4! or 22 ... f5 23. Exel etc. Remarhable!}) Bxc8 preserve his initiative and two Bishops-per­
21. Be3 Qc7! 22. Bxa7 QxeS!; and Blackstands haps influenced by the clocks which gave
well. Or, in this, 21. Nxf6t gxf6 22. Bxf6 [Ed.: Alekhine only half an hour for his next 18
As before in the lengthy note,
Purdy seems to miss moves.
22. Ee4! h6 23. Qxh6f5 24. Exel R>rel 25. Bxf5!.} 14. Bxc1 Qd5
Bxf6 23. Qxf6 Qd4, and White has nothing Driving back one of the attackers-safer

ι:::=ι 134 ι:::=ι

 Έuwe-Alekhίne 1937

than 24 ... Qc6H 25. Bb2 Qc2 26. Bxf6, etc. If 36 ... Nxh2, then 37. Nd5, with advan­
15. Nc3 tage.[Ed.: After 37. .. Ng4t it is hard tσ see any
advantagefσr White. Black hι:ιs ι:ι11 the mσbiHty.]
37. Nd4 Nxe4t
38. Nxe4 Bxe4
39. Ke3 Bb7
40. Nf5 Bc7
Euwe declined a draw because of hίs two
Bίshops, and Alekhine now sealed.
41. Bd4 Κf7
42. Bc5 Κg6
43. Bd6 Bd8
15. Qe5 � 44. Nd4 Bd5
An elementary oversight. Coπect was 25 ... 45. h3 Bb6
Qc6! 26. Bd2 (if26. Bb2, then26 ... Qd6! is still 46. Bc5 Bc7
stronger) Qd6 27. Νce4 Qd5, and Black should 47. Nel Bc4
have ηο diffiαιlty at all in drawing. 48. Nf4t Κf7
16. Bb2H 49. h4 g5
The simple combination 26. Qh8t! leads 50. hxg5 fxg5
to a winning endgame. Το avoid such slips, a 51. Nh3 Κf6
player should look at ALL checks. 51. Nfl Κf5
16. ... Bc6�H 53. g4t Ke6
17. a3 H H 54. Nh3 Κf6
This time 27. Qh8t would have been dev­ 55. Bd4t Κg6
astating. 56. Ke4 Bfl
17. ... Bd6 57. Nfl Bglt
The nightmare is over, and Black's well- 58. Κd3 Bd5
posted Bishops point to a draw. 59. Ndl Bf3
18. e3 Qf5 60. Nfl Bf4!
19. e4 Qg6 61. Be3 Bg3
30. f3 Nd7 61. Kd4 Bgl
31. Nh3 f6 63. Κd3 Be5
32. Nf4 Qf7 64. Bd4 Bf4
Better than 32 ... Bxf4. Bishops of op­ 65. Be3 Drawn
posite color are not the magical recipe for
a draw that many players think, if there
are other pieces ση the board. Game 1 7
33. Qg4
Better 33. Qh5, but then 33 ... Bxf4 34. Slav Defense
Qxf7t Κχf7 35. gxf4 Nb6; and White could Normal Variation
not hope to win against accurate play.
33. Ne5! Alekhίne has one last try at defending the
34. Qxe6 Nxf3 t Euwe Gambit. It fails, and the deficit is again
35. Κf1 Qxe6 reduced to two poίnts.
36. Nxe6 Ndl! Eleven Slavs ίη seventeen games, and it
 Extreme Chess

has netted White five wins to Black's one, In Game 9, Ba3 stopped castling. Here it
with five draws. But does this mean that the does not, but ίt gains time-enablίng Whίte
Slav is weak, or that Black is weak? to establίsh a big lead ίη development.
15. Rab1 b6
Euwe-Alekhine Other possibίlίties:
Ι: 15 ... QaS? 16. Rxb7 Qxa4? 17. Ng5,
1. d4 d5 smash!
2. c4 c6 Π: 15 ... Qc7 16. e4 Nf4 17. Qb3 b6 18. eS,
3. Nf3 Nf6 followed by Bd6 with heavy pressure.
4. Nc3 dxc4 ΠΙ: 15 ... Qc8 16. Ng5 Nf6 17. f4, with a
5. a4 Bf5 good king-sider ίη prospect (Rf3 mίght come
6. e3 e6 ίη).
7. Bxc4 Bb4 16. Rfc1 a5?
8. 0-0 0-0 The strange feature of this game is Ale­
9. Qe2 Ne4 khine's evίdent carelessness ίη the prepara­
This is the same position as ίη Game 9 tion of hίs openίng. This move is based on an
except that Black has castled instead of play­ oversight. The best defense seems to be 16 .. .
ing 9 ... Nbd7. In spite of that, Euwe still Νί6!; then ίf 17. Ne5, Black should play 17 .. .
springs the pawn sacήfice that he played then. Qc7, followed by 18 ... Nfd7 or 18 ... RdB or
10. Bd3! 18 ... Rc8 or 18 ... c5, according to White's re­
ply. White, however, has at least adequate
positional compensation for his pawn. But
Alekhίne does not care for cramped positions;
and ίf he had seen the flaw ίη his analysίs, he
would probably not have attempted the vaήa­
tion at all.
17. Ne5 Nb4
18. Bxb4 axb4
And now Alekhine hoped for 19. Rxb4,
which allows Black to equalize by 19 ... Na6!
10. ... Bxc3 20. R moves 20 ... c5!
Winter's suggestion of 1 Ο ... Nxc3 11. bxc3 19. Nxc6! Nxc6
Bxc3 12. Rb1 Qe7 13. Bxf5 exf5 is met, not by 20. Rxc6
14. Qd3, etc., but by14. Qc4! Ba5 15. Qb3! not
only regaining the pawn, but wrecking Black's
queenside. If15 ... b6, then 16. Ba3 c5 17. dxc5
bxc5 18. Qb5 wins.
11. bxc3
If 11. Bxe4, then 11 ... Bb4 12. Bxf5 exfS;
and 13. d5 (Game 13) ίs not "on:' Black can
blockade with 13 ... QdS and equalize.
11. Nxc3
12. Qc2 Bxd3
13. Qxd3 Nd5 20. ... e5
14. Ba3 Re8 The result ofthe mίscarήage ofAlekhίne's
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

prepared variatiση is a chσice σf evils: whether 26. Rb4 Ra6

tσ playfσran eηdgamewithfσurunitedpawns Νσt 26 ... QaΠ because of 27. Rxb6.
agaiηst five (which he can fσrce by 20 . . . Rxa4 17. �5! Qa8
21. Qb5 Qa8 22. Rxb6 Ra1 23. Qxb4 Qa2 24. Cost Alekhiηe 31 miηutes. White threat·
h3 Rxblt 25. Qxb1 Qxb1t 26. Rxb1) σr tσ eηed a5! If 27 ... Qc8, theη 28. Re4 gives the
play fσr three uηited pawns agaiηst fσur actual positioη a move sσσηer.
(which he can σbtaiη with the text mσve, prσ· 28. Rd4! Qc8
vided he can secure the dissσlutiσn of the The threat was Qd3 !
pawns on the queenside) . 19. Re4! Κh.7
The three-fσur eηdiηg wσuld certainly be If 29 ... Κf8, theη 30. Rc4 Qb7 31. Qf5!
drawη, but the fσur-five wσuld be very dσubt· (Reiηfeld) forces the exposure σf the black
ful, as White wσuld σbtain a passed pawη ση Κiηg.
the d-file; the fight wσuld thus be spread σver 30. Re7!
a larger area-always an advantage tσ the at· The temptiηg 30. Re8 is met by 30... Qc1t
tacker, with the siηgle exceptioη σf Κnight 31. Κg2 Ra5! 32. Qd7 Ra7!!, with gσσd draw·
vs. Bishop eηdiηgs. iηg chances. If 33. QxaΠ, theη 33 ... Qc6t [Ed.:
Alekhiηe decides to gamble. The gamble Overlooking the killer 33. Qj5t g6 34. Qj6!?]. An
fails because of the very superior mσbility σf exchange of Rooks means a draw. It is the
the white fσrces and the fact that Black's iso· combiηatioη σf Queeη and Roσk that makes
lated pawn is ση the sixth rank, while White's the wiη possible.
is οη the fσurth. That gives White a greater 30. ... RaS
amσunt σf the bσard tσ wσrk in ("advantage Siηce a pawη must fall (e.g. 30 ... f6 31.
iη space"). The result is that White wins the Qd3t f5 (fσrced) 32. Qd4 Qf8 33. Rb7), Ale·
black pawn while keepiηg his σwn-thσugh khiηe chσσses a way that gives some fight.
σnly by his marvelously accurate play. 31. Q:xb6 Qc1t
21. Rxb4 exd4 32. Κgl RfS
11. Rxd4 33. Qd4 Qcl
Νσt 22. Qxd4? because of 22 ... Qxd4 23. 34. e4 Rf6
Rxd4 b5!, and the pawn cannot be takeη be­ 35. Re5!
cause of mate. Black threateηed ... Qe2, ησw answerable
11. Qb8 by Rf5.
23. �5 Rc8 35. Rc6
24. g3! 36. aS Qe2
Euwe already had gσod chaηces σf let· 37. QdS Rc1
tiηg the wiη slip. For example: 24. Rdc4 38. Qxfl Qfl t
Rxc6 25. Rxc6 Qa7 26. Rxb6 g6!; aηd Black 39. Κf3 Qd1t
must wiη the a·pawη, thus realiziηg his 40. Κf4 Qdlt
hopes ση mσve 20. 41. Κg4 Resigns
The chσice of g3! iηstead of f3 or h3 is a Euwe's 41. Κg4 was sealed. Alekhiηe re·
wise σηe. Black canηot take advantage of the signed without resuming.
weakeηed light squares, e.g. 24 ... Qb7 25.
Rdc4 Rxc6 26. Rxc6, andif26 ... Ra6, theη 27.
Rxb6!
24. Rxc6
15. Qxc6 h6
 Extreme Chess

Game l 8 have had a wίηηίηg advantage.

Ιη thίs lίηe, Keres gίves 18. eS! fσllσwed by
Orthodox Defense Ng5-e4 as the ήght play; but the chances are
equal.
The Orthσdσx Defense, played ίη the Ale­ 12. 0-0 b6
khίne-Capablanca match untίl ίt became the Aηalyziηg this lίne ίη theAustrι:ιlι:ιsiι:ιn Chess
apσtheσsίs σf mσnσtσny, ίs here a freshenίng Review σf May 1936, Ι gave 12 ... QaS, the ίdea
breeze. beίηg tσ exchange Queeηs and tσ harass the
attackίng Bίshσp wίth the Κnίght ση aS. If 13.
Alekhine-Euwe Qf4, theη 13 ... Qb4! Or ίf 13. Qe3, theη 13 ...
Rd8 14. Rfd1 Ne7! 15. Rac1 Bd?. This gίves an
Ι. Nf3 dS easίer game than the lι:ιissezjι:ιire lίηe chσseη
1. c4 e6 by Euwe.
3. d4 Nf6 13. Rfdl Bb7
4. Nc3 c5! 14. Q.f4 Rc8
Α shade better than any σther mσve ίf 15. dS exd5
gίveη careful study, thσugh ησt σtherwίse. 16. Bxd5 Q.e7
See 'Έvasίσns σίthe Νίmzσ-Iηdίan Defense!" 17. Ng5
ίη ΤΗΕ OPENINGS.
5. cxd5 Nxd5
6. e4 Nxc3
7. bxc3 cxd4
8. cxd4 Bb4t
9. Bdl Bxdlt
10. Q.xdl 0-0
11. Bc4!

Whίte has beeη allσwed tσ carry σut hίs

plan and has the ίηίtίatίνe. He nσw threateηs
tσ exchange three tίmes ση f7 and then play
Rd?t. Only by a successίση σί brίllίant coun­
termσves dσes Euwe avσίd dήftίηg tσ perdί­
tίσn.
17. Ne5!
18. Bxb7 Ng6
Strangely enσugh, Be2, Bd3, and BbS were 19. Q.f5 Q.xb7
all trίed σut befσre thίs. The ίdea ίs tσ play dS 10. Rd7 Q.a6!
and retake ση dS wίth the Bίshσp. If 20 ... Rc?, theη 21. Rad1, wίth decίsίve
11. ... Nc6 contrσl σf the bσard. Νσw Black threateηs
Or, as ίη Keres-Fine, Ostend 1937: ll . . . Nd7 . . . Qxal! !
12. 0-0 b6 13. Rad1 Bb7 14. Rfe1 Rc8 15. Bb3 21. h4
Nf6 16. Qf4 Qc7 17. Qh4 Rfd8 18. Re3? bS 19. Εlίmίηatίηg the matίηg-threat and threat­
Rde1 aS 20. a4 and ησw by 20 . . . bxa4! (ίη­ enίηg hS. But σnce agaίη, Black just has a
stead σί 20 ... b4?) 21. Bxa4 h6, Black wσuld saver.
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937

21. ... Rc5 wίth a satisfactory game (Euwe).

22. Rd5 Rxd5 35. ... Κh7
Beίng two poίnts down, Euwe snatches at 36. Rc3 Qdl
a rather forlorn hope of playίng for a wίn by ''Black must bring hίs Queen to the rescue
givίng Whίte an ίsolated pawn. But ίt ίs also a of hίs kίngside:' (Euwe).
passed pawn and proves more strong than 37. f3 Qdl
weak. The rίght move was 22 ... Qc8!, wίth an 38. Rc4 Qg5
even game. 39. Rh4
23. exd5 Qc8 The coπect playwas Rg4-h4-g4, etc., wίth
24. Qe4 Re8 a draw by repetίtίon. Both players were faίrly
25. Qa4 Re7 short of tίme.
26. d6 Rd7 39. ... Qf6
27. Rdl Nf8 40. Qe4
28. Qf4 Qc6 And here the exchange of Queens would
29. Ne4 Qc2 have given a draw, accordίng to Euwe. At any
30. RclH rate, ίt was better than the move played.
Thίs pawn sacrifίce ίs good enough for a 40. ... Nc5
draw, as events prove, but was actually based 41. Qcl a5
on an oversίght. With 30. Rd2 Whίte would The fίrst move after the resumptίon, so
have preserved some advantage. there ίs not likely to be anythίng better!
30. ... Qxal 42. g3 a4
43. Rb4 g6
44. Nh4 Qxd6
45. hxg6t fxg6
46. Rd4!!
Α pretty move, the only way to keep go-
ίng, as Black threatened ... Qdl t.
46. Qe6
47. Rxd7t Nxd7
48. Qxa4
White has succeeded ίη exchanging hίs
31. h5 own passed pawn for one of Black's-a good
Alekhίne had thought to refute 30... Qxal bargaίn, for two united passed pawns are
wίth 31. Nf6t gxf6 32. Qg4t Κh8 33. Rc8 but much more than twίce as good as a single
then 33 ... Qa1t 34. Κh2 QeSt 35. g3 Qxd6 36. ίsolated passed pawn. Black, however, stίll
Rxf8t Qxf8 37. Qxd7 and Black remaίns two has good winnίng chances.
pawns up (Euwe). 48. h5
The text ίs to secure fS for the Κnίght. 49. Qcl Ne5
31. h6 50. Κg2 Nc4?
32. Ng3! Ne6! One of those elementary oversίghts that
33. Qe5 Qa6! Euwe does not seem able to elίmίnate. After
Whίte threatened to wίn by 34. Rc8t. 50... Qc4, Black has a posίtίon in whίch a
34. Nf5 Qd3 good adjudίcator, after several days of hard
35. Κh2 work, could perhaps demonstrate a wίn.
If 35. Rc8t, then 35 ... Κh7 36. Nxh6 Rd8!, 51. N:xg6!
 Extreme Chess

Drawn by agreement. 5. Qcl! d5

If he wiηs White's Queeη, Black loses his
own; and a dead draw remaiηs.
Game 19
Nimzo·Indian Defense
The laughiηg cavalier! Alekhiηe's play iη
this game is Bird to the life. Not only Bird's
favorite moves ...Κf1 and ... h5, but Bird's ro·
bust iηsouciance-Bird's geηius for gettiηg
iηto a mess iη the opeηiηg, and Bird's geηius
for gettiηg out of it.
This produces too opeη a game, iη which
Black's backwardηess iη developmeηt
(through moviηg a piece twice) will tell. Bet·
ter 5 ... f5, makiηg it a "Dutch:'
6. e3 c51
Black coηtiηues opeηiηg the positioη to
his disadvantage.
7. Bd3 Nf6!1
Α complete coηfessioη that Black real·
izes that his previous play has beeη bad. It
was a choice of evils. Probably he had iη­
teηded 7 ... Qa5, but ηοw saw that White
would get a very powerful attack for a pawη
with 8 . 0-0!; e.g. 8 .. Nxc3 9. bxc3 Bxc3
.

Το parody Noel Coward: 10. Rb1 , as iη Keres-List, Ostend 1 937.

Another evil was 7 ... f5 8. cxd5 exd5 9.
Mad dogs and Alekhine dxc5, and Black's positioη is hoηeycombed
Play tlιus witlι α two point lead! with weaknesses.
Objectively, Alekhiηe's choice is ηο less an
Euwe-Alekhine evil; for the loss of two clear tempos by Black
iη the opeηiηg should always be sufficieηt to
Ι. d4 Nf6 lose the game.
2. c4 e6 8. cxd5 exd5
3. Nc3 Bb4 9. dxc5 Bxc5
4. Nf3 10. 0-0 Nc6
This is frowned ση by "theory:' Beiηg still 11. e4!
two poiηts down, Euwe decides to give theory With such a pull iη developmeηt, to play
a miss and take his chance iη a rough-and­ quietly agaiηst the isolated d-pawn would be
tumble. coηtemptible.
4. . .. Ne4 11. ... Be7
The sequel shows thatAlekhiηe must have 12. e5
choseη this ση the spur of the momeηt, with By further opeηiηg up the game with
the idea of takiηg his adversary by surpήse. 12. exd5, White could have exploited his
However, surpήse packets do ηotworry Euwe advantage simply; but the text move is more
wheη he has the iηitiative. Ιη any case, Euwe forciηg.
may have beeη prepared, as the move is ηοt 12. ... Ng4
eηtirely ηew. 13. Rel
Α good liηe is 4... b6; or, as prefeπed by Uηder a time limit, it is dangerous to per­
Nimzovich himself, 4... Bxc3t and theη ... b6. mit eveη an unsound attack! Οη that score,
Equally good is 4 ... c5; and if 5. e3!, theη 5 ... 13. Qe2 was commeηdable.
0-0 6. Bd3 d5! 7. 0-0 dxc4! 8. Bxc4 a6! 9. a3 13. ... Nb4
cxd4! 10. exd4! Be7 11. Qe2 b5. 14. Bb5t Κf8!!
(See the full analysis iη the Austr&ιlasian Black avoids iηterposiηg the Bishop be­
Chess Reνiew of October 1935.) cause he wants it for f5, threateηiηg ... Nc2.

1;:::::9 ]40 1;:::::9

 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

He also wants to maintain his Κnight at g4.
Το do that, he must answer h3 with ...h5,
offeήng the Κnight as a sacrifice. So he does
notwant to castle.
Black has given up a piece for a pawn, but
he has a horήbte threatίn .. .g3, whίch cannot
be met by 23. g3 because of 23 ... Nf3t, win­
ning off hand. [Ed.: 23 . Rxh4! is hairy.]
..

15. <ιe2 Bc5 23. Na4 <ιc7

16. Nd1 Bf5 24. Rxe4
17. h3 h5! Α countersacrifice to ease the position.
18. Bg5 Becker has also shown a win by 24. NxcS
The capture ofthe Κnight is advisedlypost­ QxcS 25. Bd3. So many good moves all the
poned. way, but no easy ones; and the clock keeps
18. ... Qb6 ticking!
19. Nh4 24. dxe4
With the idea that if he played 19. hxg4 15. <ιc4 Rc8
he would have to play Nh4 next move. 16. Rc1 b6
Whether the preparatory Nh4 was really 17. Nxc5 bxc5
better was one of those oft-recurring prob­
lems that are practically insoluble over the
board. One ponders and ponders, but it is
a matter of chance whether one finally de­
cides on the better move.
The immediate 19. hxg4! has the meήt of
forcing 19... hxg4 in reply. Then20. Nh4; and
if 20... Be4, Becker proved a win for White in
all variations by 21. e6!, carrying the war into
the enemy's camp.
However, Euwe may have worήed about Not 27... QxcS because of28. Qxd4!
19. hxg4 hxg4 20. Nh4 g3! ! ? If then 21. NxfS, 18. Ba6�
there follows 21 ... gxf2t 22. Nxf2 Bxf2t 23. Winning material at the cost of time is
Qxf2 Rh1 t!! White gets Rook and two pieces always suspect. White still had a win with 28.
for Queen and has a win, but too hard to work e6! ! (threat e?t).
out over the board. If then 28... Nxe6 or 28 ... fxe6, there is a
ln this, 21. Be?t Bxe7 22. NxfS gxf2t 23. clear win by 29. Ng6t. Or if 28 ... NxbS, then
Nxf2 BcS 24. Rf1 also wins. White has a piece 29. QxbS Kg8 (if29 ... f6, then Ng6t wins) 30.
for a pawn; and although the pin is awkward, Qd7! wins.
it is not iπemediable. 18. ... <ιχe5!
19. Be4 Once more into the breach!
10. hxg4 Ncl 19. Bxc8 <ι:χ:g5
21. Nc3 Nd4!! And now White must give back his piece;
In the grand style. Nevertheless, forced. for if 30. g3, then 30... Qxc1 t!
The win of the Exchange would leave Black 30. <ιxc5 t <ιχc5
down in both material and position. 31. Rxc5 Rxh4
White could have simplified the game 32. Rc4 Nelt
with 22. Qd2, but could not be cήticized for 33. Κf1 Nf4
hanging on to his piece. Threatening a slight mate.
11. <ιfl hxg4 34. Κg1 g3!

f:::;:q 141 f:::;:q

 Extreme Chess

befσre Game 20 ίη 1935: Alekhiηe twσ up. Ιη

1935, Euwe wση Games 20 and 21; but ησw
histσry takes a turn fσr the wσrse. Fσr the
third successive time, Euwe σbtaiηs a big ad­
vantage and allσws it tσ slip.

Alekhine-Euwe

Ι. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
The beautiful threat is 35 ... Rh1t!! 36. 3. Nc3 Bb4
Κχh1 gxf2 37. Rc1 e3 38. Ba6 e239. Bxe2 Nxe2, After evadiηg the Nimzσ-Iηdian Defense
fσllσwed by ... Ng3t; and the pawη queeηs. ίη Games 14, 16, and 18, Alekhiηe ησw per­
And if 35. fxg3, theη 35 ... Ne2t; and 36. mits it-but fσr the last time ίη the match.
κω is met by 36... e3t. 4. Qc2 d5
35. Ba6 gxflt 5. cxd5 QΣd5
36. Κχf1 Rh6 6. e3 c5
3 7. Rxe4 Rxa6 7. Bdl
38. Rxf4 Rxal Α change frσm 7. a3, but ησt ηecessarily
39. Rb4 g6 better than it-σr eveη as gσσd.
40. Rb7 Κg7 7. ••• Bxc3
Adjσurηed. Οη resumptiση, Euwe fσrced 8. bxc3
the draw thus: The lσgical sequel tσ 7. Bd2 is 8. Bxc3; but
41. Κf3 g5 after 8 ... cxd4 9. Bxd4 Nc6, White has ησth­
42. b4 Κg6 iηg much. If he tήes tσ keep his twσ Bishσps
43. b5 f5 by 10. Bc3, theη 10 ... 0-0 11. Nf3 Ne4-bet­
44. b6 Ra3t ter tσ exchange with gσσd grace by 10. Bxf6,
45. Κf2 a6 with a miηute advantage thrσugh a supeήσr
If 45 ... axb6, the draw is dead-pawηs ση pawη pσsitiση.
σηe wiηg σηly, and the white Kiηg σbstructs 8. 0-0
the way tσ queeηiηg. 9. Nf3 Nc6
46. Rb8 Rb3 10. c4 Qd6
47. b7 Κg7 11. dxc5 Qxc5
Α terήble blunder wσuld be 47 ... Κf7 Η 48. White has σpeηed up the game, hσpiηg
Rh8! there� tσ help his twσ Bishσps; but the vaήa­
48. Ra8 Rxb7 tiση is unlikely tσ eηdure-the isσlated pawn
49. Rxa6 ση an expσsed file is ample cσmpensatiση fσr
Drawn by agreement. Black.
12. Rbl
Kmσch, whσ σrigiηally suggested the
Game 20 variatiση, fσllσwed up here with 12. Bc3,
which is mσre sσlid.
Nίmzo·Indian Defense 12. ••• e5!
Takiηg advantage σf White's Queeη and
The score is exactly the same as it was just Rσσkbeiηgση the same diagσηal: 13. Bd3? e4

� 142 �
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

140 Bxe4 Nxe4 1So Qxe4 BfSo 15. Qb3 Qa5

13. Ng5 After 25000 Qxb3 260 axb3 Rb2 270 Bd1,
Again, Bc3 was bettero Black probably has only a drawo
13. ... h6 16. a3 g6
Ashade strongerwas l3ooo e4! White would 17. h4 e4
lose either by 14ο Nxe4?? or by 140 RbS Qe7, Α good try, but it just fails to wino
followed by oooh6o Best would have been 140 18. Bxe4 QhS
h4, with, however, a clearly infeήor gameo 19. Qc3 Qe1
14. Ne4 Nxe4 30. Qf6 Bxc4
15. Qxe4 Rd8 31. Bxg6!
16. Rb5 Qe7 The savero
11. Be1 b6!! 31. Rd1 f
Very fineo If 180 Qxc6, then 18οοο Bb7 19o 31. Rxd1 Qxd1 f
RxeS QxeS 200 Qxb7 Qb2 winso 33. Κh1 fxg6
18. Bf3 34. Qxg6t Κf8
35. Qxh6f Κg8
36. Qg6f Κf8
37. Qh6f Κg8
38. QgSt Κf8
39. Qf4t Bf7
40. Qb8t Κg7
41. Qxa7
Drawn by agreement.
Black can force the draw by 410 ο ο Qd6t 42ο
Κh3 Qe6t 43ο g4 Qe4!.
18. ... Bb7
This Bishop really wants to come to a6 to
bear ση the weakpawn at c4, andFine pointed
out that it could have played there forthwith: Phase V (GAMESll-25):
180 0 0 Ba6 19o Qxc6? Rac8 20o Bb4 (if 20o Qe4, DBBACLE!
then 200 00 BxbS 210 cxbS Qd7 220 Qb4 Rc2
wins) QgS 210 h4 Rxc6! 220 hxgS Rxc4 and Accumulated disappointrnent, staleness,
Black must win the Exchangeo and the ever-increasinghandicap ofthe 'Όdds
The tempo might have made all the differ- of the draw" combine to break down Euwe's
enceo resistance at last. And Alekhίne wins the
19. Qc2 Rac8 match with five games to goo
10. 0-0 Ba.6 Naturally, Ι have annotated the games ίη
11. Rd5 Nb4! the last third of the match a little less compre­
11. B:xb4 hensively than the games in the earlier and
Bang go the two Bishopso more signίficant stageso But Ι have aimed at
11. ψb4 coveήng all the crίtical pointso
13. Rxd8f Rxd8
14. Rc1
240 BdS RxdS is to Black's advantageo
14. ... Rd1
 Extreme Chess

Game 21 9. N:xdl
10. Q:xdl Bf6
Queen's Indian Defense 11. Radl d6
12. dxe6
Thίs was really the decίding game of the Looks wrong and ίs. The natural move,
match, for ίt made the challenger three games whίch Euwe would probably have chosen ίf
up wίth only nίne games to go. not worήed by the score, was 12. Nd4! If 12 ...
e5, then 13. Nf5 g6 14. Nh6t Κh8 15. f4, threat­
Euwe-Alekhine enίng f5 (ίf 15 ... exf4, then 16. gxf4!) wίth a
fine game.
Ι. d4 Nf6 Alekhίne pointed out that Nd4 would have
1. c4 e6 been stίll stronger ση move 11, ίnstead of
3. Nf3 Rad1. lt had to come, so why not at the fίrst
"The wrong Κnίght" -evίdently Euwe ίs opportunίty� Wίth 11. Nd4! Whίte would
wίllίng to have a shot at the Prague Varίatίon. have had an almost decίsίve advantage.
But Alekhίne steers the game ίnto quίeter 12. fxe6
channels. 13. Nd4 B:x:gl
3. b6 14. Κxgl Qc8
4. g3 Bb7 Movίng the Queen to cB rather than d7
5. Bg2 Bb4t was probably to dίscourage 15. Ne4 by the
6. Bdl Be7 threat of the pίn ( ... Qb7) .
Alekhίne adopted thίs freakίsh maneuver 15. Qe3 Bxd4
ίη the Dutch Defense ίη the 1935 match. We Black avoίds handing the square d5 to
cannot belίeve that ίt has any meήt except Whίte by ...e5. Το ίnduce ... e5 was the maίn
novelty; but that weapon, ίη Alekhίne's strategίcal ίdea behίnd 12. dxe6.
hands, has proved hίghly effectίve agaίnst 16. Rxd4 Nc6
Euwe. 17. Re4�
7. Nc3 Ne4 Whίte stίll pursues hίs plan, even though
Better, as claίmed by Alekhίne-though ίt ίnvolves such a breakage of prίncίple as
not suffίcίent to equalίze-was 7... 0-0 8. Ο­ bήngίng a Rook ίnto mίdboard in the mίddle­
Ο d5. If 9. Ne5, then 9 ... Qc8. game.
8. 0-0 0-0 17. Rf6
9. d5 18. f4� Qd7
Αgood altematίve, but perhaps too sίmple­ 19. g4�
seemίng gίven the state of the score, was 9. The losίng move. Whίte wildly pursues
Nxe4 Bxe4 10. Ne1 Bxg2 11. Nxg2, afterwhίch hίs attack. Tartakower poίnts out that Whίte
the Bίshop can find a good square at c3-thus stίll had a chance to extήcate hίs Rook wίth
makίng use of the move Bd2. Whίte has a honor by 19. Qd2 followed by Re3-f3.
clear advantage in development, as Blackmust 19. ... Raf8!
make two pawn-moves to get fίles for hίs Alekhίne sees that he can ίgnore the threat
Rooks. ofg5.
Euwe's lίne has the merίt of forcίng Black 10. gS Rf5
to exchange off the awkward Bίshop wίth loss 21. h4
of tίme. Black, of course, gets the "two Bίsh­ Not 21. Rxe6 because of21 ... Ne5.
ops" ίη compensatίon. 21. ... Qf7
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

11. Rf3 Κh8!1 31. Qh3 Rg4t

This was given a note of exclamation by 31. Κf1 h6
Alekhine who claimed that it had been un­ 33. Resigns
justly criticized. The move generally com­ For if 33. gxh6?, then 33 ... Qf5t wίns the
mended was 22 ... d5; but Alekhine dismissed Queen.
it because after 23. Rxe6 d4 24. Qe4 dxc3 25. Α rather melancholy collapse. Euwe was
bxc3! (not Rxc6) Nd8 the move 26. Re7! gives evίdently rattled by three successίve failures
White fighting chances. to clίnch an advantage. Thίs was the begin­
But so does the text move-a fact which nίng of the end.
was overlooked by every annotator (includ­
ingAlekhine and Euwe) bar one. See the next
note. Gam.e 22
13. Qd.3 d5!
Reti Opening

Alekhίne now ίncreases hίs lead to four

poίnts, thus puttίng the issue beyond reason­
able doubt. Euwe made a great fight ίη thίs
game which bήstles wίth difficulties.

Alekhine-Euwe

Ι. Nf3 d5
14. Rx:e61 1. c4 d4
This sacήfice is suicidal. Tartakower, Ale­ Tarrasch always plumped heartily for this.
khine, Euwe, etc., say that 24. cxd5 exd5 25. White gets the Benoni with a move ίη hand.
Ra4 loses a pawn by 25 ... d4, but Koshnitsky 3. e3
points out that 26. Ne4 saves the pawn (26 ... Against the usual 3. b4, Tarrasch consίd-
Rxf4? 27. Nf6!!). And if 26... Qh5, then 27. ered 3 ... f6 (for ... e5) entirely satisfactory.
Ng3 Qg4 28. Qe4, hitting the Κnίght at c6. 3. ... Nc6
lnstead of 25 ... d4, Koshnίtsky poίnts out Or 3 ... c5 4. b4!
that the quiet move 25 ... a5 would maintain a 4. exd4 Nxd4
clear advantage. But the lίne chosen by Euwe S. Nxd4 Qxd4
does not give even the semblance of a chance. 6. Nc3 Nf6
14. Nb4 Anice, safe lίne occurredίn Blumich Becher,
-

15. Qe3 Nc1 Ba.d Liebwerda. 1934: 6 ... c6 7. d3 Bg4 8. Be2

16. Qd1 Qxe6 Bxe2 9. Qxe2. Black would then be very snug
17. cxd5 Qfl after 9 . . . e6! 10. Be3 Qd7 11. d4 Nf6 12. 0-0
18. Qxc1 Rx:f4 Be7.
19. Qd.3 But better still, perhaps, is 6 ... Bg4! at once.
Showίng that Black's tortuous way of ac­ 7. d.3
cepting the sacrίfίce (ίnstead of 24... Qxe6)
saved hίm a tempo.
19. QhS
30. Rx:f4 Rx:f4

� 145 �
 Extreme Chess

the a-file but kept the threat as a swσrd σf

Damσcles. Black's idea is tσ threateη cσunter­
play ίη the ceηter and thus fσrce the issue ίη
the a-file.
15. a5 Qc7
16. Qb3 Nd7
17. axb6 axb6
18. Ra7 Ra8
19. Rfa1 e6
10. Rxa8 B:xa8
7 . ... c6 If 20 ... Rxa8, theη 21. Rxa8 Bxa8 22. Qa3
This puts Black ση the defeηsive, fσr he Bb7 23. Qe7; and Black's cramp ίs acceηtu­
canησt fσllσw with ...Bg4 as ίη the liηe giveη ated.
abσve. We think Black could have equalized 21. d5 cxd5
with 7 ... Bg4!, wίth the fσllσwiηg pσssίble ll. cxd5 Nc5
variatiσns. If 22 ... Bxc3, theη 23. dxe6! σr 23. Rcl !
23. Qc4 exd5
Ι: 8. Qa4t Qd7 9. Qxd?t Κχd7 (ίt is σnly Ιη such pσsitiσns, a mσve such as 23 ... Bxc3
faίr tσ add that Euwe, unfσrtunately fσr hίm, is ησt wσrth consideήηg because σf the weak­
was cσmpelled tσ steer clear σf aηythiηg eηingσfthe darksquares ηearthe Κίηg. Here,
"drawish"). if23 ... Bxc3�, theη24. Qxc3; and White threat·
Π: 8. Bel 0-0-0!. ens Bh6.
ΠΙ: 8. f3 BfS 9. NbS Qb6 10. Bf4 Rc8 fσl­ 24. Bxd5
lσwed by ...a6 σr ... c6 (11. Qa4!� c6!). If 24. NxdS �, theη White lσses his b-pawn.
IV: 8. Be3 Qxe3t 9. fxe3 Bxdl 24. Bxd5
If7 ... eS, theη 8. Be3 Qd8 9. d4; andWhite's 15. Nxd.S Qe5
slight advantage ίη develσpmeηt might tell 16. Rb1 Na4
because the game has beeη σpeηed up. 27. b3 Nbl
8. Be3 Qd7 28. Qc6 b5!
9. d4 g6 19. Bf4! Qe6
10. Bel Bg7 Black prefers tσ lσse a pawη-fσrwhich he
Black ησw threateηs ...Ng4 (the pσίηt σf gets the ίηitiative-rather than save it by 29...
... Qd7). That ίηduces White tσ coηcede a
tempσ.
11. h3 0-0
12. 0-0 b6
13. Bf3 Bb7
14. a4!
Standίηg better ίη the ceηter, White can
affσrd a flank attack.
14. ... Rad8
Because this Rσσk had tσ come back later
ση, Euwe was blamed fσr mσviηg "the wrσηg
Rσok:' But if Black had left the a-Rσσk at
hσme, White wσuld ησt theη have σpeηed Mrs. Fine (rigktforeground)

&:::9 146 &:::9

 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937

Qel and be at a pσsitiσηal disadvantage after 48. Κh1 !

30. Nf6t.
30. Qxb5 Qe4
White's pieces are ησw very iηsecure, but
he has σηe saviηg mσve each time.
31. Rc1! Nd3
If 31 ... Rd8, theη 32. Bg5 Rxd5 33. Rc8t is
a witheriηg counter.
32. Qc4! Qe2
33. Rfi Nxf4
34. Qxf4 Qb5
Iηstead σf merely playiηg ση the weak Threatenίng tσ wiη the Bishσp by Ne2.
pawη, it was better tσ drive the Κnight frσm Black has σηe saviηg mσve, terribly difficult
its aggressive pσst with 34... Rd8 35. Qc4 Qd2 tσ fiηd.
36. Ne3-and ησw 36 ... Qb2, threateηiηg ei­ 48. ... Ra.l?
ther ... Rb8 σr ...Rd2 (Fiηe). White's wίηniηg Α blunder, ίt ίs true, yet Euwe had seeη far
chances wσuld be ίηfiηίtesimal. mσre iη the pσsitiση than did his cήtics-as
35. Qf3 Rb8 he shσwed iη a ησte iη De Schaakwereld.
36. Rb1 Qa.6 Euwe's first idea was tσ meet 49. Ne2 with
37. Rd1 Qa.3 49 . . . Rd1 50. Qb7t Κf8 51. Nxd4 Rxf1t 52.
38. Rb1 Qa.l Κh2 Bg1t! 53. Kg3 Bf2t 54. Κf3 Bxd4t takiηg
39. Qd3 Bd4 the piece with check and thus gaiηίng a vital
40. Rfi Qbl tempσ. Iftheη 55. Ke4, there fσllσws 55 ... Bg1
41. Ne7t (σr if 55. Ke2, theη 55 ... Rf5). The game is
The Κnight ησw becσmes anησyiηg. theη almσst a sure draw, as the Bishσp σnly
41. ... Κί8 ηeeds tσ sacήfice itself fσr the passed pawn­
41. Nc6 Bxflt prσduciηg an eηdiηg with Rσσk and three
White has fσrced Black tσ regaiη his pawn pawηs against Queeη and twσ pawns, all ση
at the cost σf pσsitiση. σηe side, which could be drawn.
43. Κhl! Ιη σrder tσ fσrce 54. Κf3 iη the abσve, the
If 43. Rxf2, theη 43 ... Qc1t 44. Qf1 Qxc6 ήght σpeηiηg mσve was 48 ... h5!
45. Rxflt Kg8; and Black has at least as gσσd Instead, Euwe changed σver tσ the idea σf
drawiηg chances as he has ησw. 50... Κf6 iη place σf 50... Κf8. Theη 54. Κf3
43. ... Re8 wσuld still be fσrced; fσr if (48 . . . [-] 49. Ne2
44. Qf3 Re2 Rd1 50. Qb7t Κf6 51. Nxd4 Rxf1t 52. Κh2
Had White played 42. Κh1, ησw here 44... Bg1t 53. Κg3 Bf2t) 54. Κg4, theη 54 ... h5t
Re1!-ηullifying the attack ση the f-pawn. and White canησt play 55. Kg5.
45. Nd4! Rd1 But iη answer tσ 50 ... Κf6, White wσuld
46. Ne6t Κe7 play 51. Qa6t! befσre Nxd4, thus prσtectiηg
47. Nf4! his Rσσk.
Very pretty, as it unpiηs the Bishσp. That Therefσre, Euwe decided tσ play the Rσσk
wretched wight, hσwever, has ησ mσve; fσr tσ anσther file first. Uηfσrtunately, there was
example, if 47... Bh4, theη 48. Nd3. [Ed.: 48. still a flaw.
Qblt is α real killer too!] Iηcideηtally, if48... Bh4, theη Whitewiηs
47. ... Qd4 by49. Qb7t Qd7 50. Qb4t Ke8 51. Nxg6 hxg6

� 147 �
 Extreme Chess

62. hxg6 Resigns

Black has saved his Bishop, but at ruinous
cost in pawns.

Game 23

Queen's Indian Defense

In a hopeless situation, Euwe plays with

great heart and cleverly draws a difficult Rook
ending.

Euwe-Alekhίne
G. νιιn Hιιrten is interested in Mrs. Alekhine's
knitting. Alekhine wore ιι white pullover with ιι 1. d4 Nf6
Hfe size blιιck cιιt on it, knitted by Mrs. Alekhine 1. c4 e6
from gιιme 6 onwιιrd. 3. Nf3 b6
4. g3 Bb7
52. Qxh4. White has a pawn plus position. 5. Bgl Be7
Another vaήation: (48 . . . Bh4) 49. Qb?t Alekhine omits the check this time.
Ke8? 50. Nxg6 fxg6 51. Qf7t Kd8 52. Qf8t 6. 0-0 0-0
Kc7 53. Rf7t and White can force the black 7. b3
King onto the d-file thereupon winning If 7. Nc3, then 7 ... Ne4 (forcing simplify­
Queen for Rook. ing exchanges) is supposed to lead to approxi­
49. Ne2 Ral mate equality.
50. Qb7t Κf6 Usual is 7. Qc2, in reply to which Ragozin
51. Nxd4 Rxfl t plays 7 ... cS 8. dxc5 bxc5 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. Rdl
51. Κh1 Bgl t d6-the position then is very complicated, but
53. Κg3 Bflt White is freer.
54. Κf3 Bxd4t The move chosen by Euwe is probably a
55. Ke4! shade infeήor to both the lines given above.
And now Black cannot play 55 ... Bgl, as 7. ... d5
he could have with his Κing ση f8, because of Safer was 7 ... c5!, avoiding the "hanging
Qa6t. The Bishop is trapped. pawns:' But both players are anxious to com­
55. ... Rdl plicate!
56. QdS 8. Ne5 c5
Simpler was 56. Qc6t and 57. Qc2, win­ 9. dxc5 bxc5
ning the piece at once. 10. cxd5 exd5
56. Ke7 ll. Nc3 Nbd7
57. g4 h5 11. Nd3 Nb6
58. gxh5 f5t 13. a4 a5
59. Κf3 Rd3t 14. Ba3 Rc8
60. Κel Re3 t 15. Nb5 Ne4
61. Kdl Re4 16. Qel Nd7

� 148 �
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937

17. Rd1 Nd6 remainder, played after adjournment analy­

18. Nf4 N:xb5 sis, is very interesting.
19. axb5 Nf6 41. ... Rf3
20. Nxd5 NxdS If 41 ... Rc3, then 42. Kd2 Rclt 43. Ke3 b2
21. e4! c4 44. f4 gives a draw. See the note to Black's
22. Bxe7 Qxe7 44th move.
23. exd5 Qxe1 42. Κe1 f5
24. Rfxe1 c:xb3 43. Rb6t Κf1
25. d6! 44. Rh6
Not 25. Re7 because of25 ... b2!
25. ... Bxgl
26. Κχg2 Rb8
The only move.
27. d7 g6
Or 27... Rfd8, but Black would still have to
play ...g6 to free his other Rook.
28. Ra11
This has popularly been accorded a note
of exclamatίon, but it loses a pawn and leaves
White struggling for a draw. Instead, White 44. ... f4
could have gaίned a pawn, as pointed out by An eπor, in that it makes the draw com­
Euwe, with 28. Rd4! Rfd8 29. Re3! a4 (29 ... paratively easy. Α better wίnning chance was
bl? loses) 30. Rxa4 Rxd7 31. Rxb3. Both play­ 44... Rc3! Then Euwe gives 45. Kd2 Rclt 46.
ers then double Rooks on the passed pawn, Ke3 b2 47. Rb6 Ke7 48. f4! Kd? 49. Kd3 Rg2
and the game is a draw ίη White's favor. 50. Kd4 Kc7 51. Rb3 Kc6 52. Rb8 Rxg3 (noth­
28. Rxb5 ing else remains) 53. Rxbl Rh3 54. Ke5 Rxh4
19. Re8 Rd5 55. Rgl!! Rh3 56. Κχf5 g3 57. Kg5 h4 58. f5!
30. RxaS! Rxd7 Rh2 59. Rgl Kd? 60. f6 Ke8 61. Kg6 Rf2 62.
31. Rxf8t Κχf8 Κg5! Rh2 63. Kg6 etc.-draw.
32. Rb5 Rd3 But it would have been hard for White
33. Rb7 over the board!
White's Rookis behind the pawn-a point 45. R:xb.5 Rc3
in his favor. If the pawn were on the 4th rank, Threatening ... Rclt. If45 ... fxg3, then 46.
draw-2ndrank, win for Black. Asit is, doubt­ fxg3 Rxg3 47. Κfl-again with a draw.
ful-apparently a difficult draw. 46. Rb5 f3
33. Κg7 If 46... Rcl t, then 47. Kdl Rclt 48. Kdl !
34. Rb6 g5 Rxf2 49. Rxb3 f3 50. Rb4! draws (Euwe).
35. h3 h5 47. Κd2 Rclt
36. h4 g4 48. Ke3 b2
37. Rb5 Κg6 49. Κf4! Rc4t
38. RgS t Κh6 Drawn by agreement.
39. Rb5 f6 Black is forced to force a draw.
40. ΚfΙ Κg6
41. Κe2
Sealed, after a race to beat his clock. The

� 149 �
 Extreme Chess

Game 24 development and submίttίng to an ίsolated

pawn: 11 ... Bd7! 12. Bg2 Nc6 13. Nxc6 Bxc6
Orthodox Defense 14. Bxc6t bxc6 1 5 . Rac1 0-0-0t 16. Ke3
Kc7. However, whίle even a thousand-to­
Here Alekhίne plays wίth the classίcal sίm­ one chance remaίned, Euwe had to play
plicity of Capablanca. for a wίn or nothίng.
12. Bg2 Rd8
Alekhine-Euwe 13. Κe3
Whίte's very obvίous advantage consίsts
1. Nf3 d5 chίefly ίη the dίfference between the Bίshops.
2. c4 e6 13. Na6
Euwe refraίns from 2 ... d4 not out of any 14. Rac1 Rb8
fear of Alekhίne's lίne agaίnst it ίη Game 22 15. a3 Bd7
but for the same reason that a cήcket captaίn 16. f4!
changes hίs bowlers agaίnst a well set bats-
man.
3. d4 Nf6
4. Nc3 c5
5. cxd5 Nxd5
6. g3
As Game 30 shows, thίs ίs harmless.
Whίte's only chance of gaίnίng an advantage
ίs 6. e4!, as played ίη Game 18.
6. ... cxd4�
In other games, Euwe avoίded sίmplίfica­ 16. ... f6
tion where ίt was good. Here he dήfts ίnto Thίs has been blamed for Black's defeat,
sίmplίfication where ίt ίs bad! Better to play but probably nothίng ίs good enough. If 16 ...
ση the same lίnes as where Whίte plays 6. e4. Rdc8, then 17. Rxc8 Bxc8 18. Rc1 Bd7 19. b4
Thus 6 ... Nxc3! 7. bxc3 cxd4 8. cxd4 Bb4t Rc8 20. Rxc8 Bxc8 21. NbS wίns a pawn (ίf
9. Bd2 Bxd2t 10. Qxd2, and now 10... b6!, 21 ... Kd7, then 22. Nxa7; and ίf 21 ... Kd8,
challengίng the fianchetto dίagonal. then 22. Nd6).
Whίte should gaίn nothίng by omίtting 17. Be4!
e4, as that move ίs really the basίs of what Above all, thίs stops ...eS because of fx.eS
attackίng chances he has ίη the "Prague:' and Nf3.
Completely adequate also ίs 6... Nc6, as 17. ... Be8
played ίη Game 30. Though unίnvίting, 17 ... fS was suggested
7. Nxd5 Qxd5 by Koshnίtsky as the best chance and agaίn
8. Qxd4 Qxd4 next move.
Το evade the exchange of Queens would 18. b4! Rd7
ίnvolve fatal loss of time. 19. f5! Nc7
9. Nxd4 Bb4t If 19 ... eS, then 20. Ne6 gίves a wίnnίng
10. Bd2 Bxd2f posίtίon. Gίvίng up a pawn ίs the better
11. Κχd2 Κe7 chance, as usual.
Alekhίne poίnts out that Black had a 20. fxe6 N:xe6
drawable Rook endίng by goίng for rapίd 21. N:xe6 Κ:χe6

� 150 �
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

11. Bxh7 f5 Game 25

23. Rc5! g6
14. Bg8t Κf6 Nimzo·Indian Defense
15. Rhcl Re7t
26. Κf1 Bc6 The deciding game-and sufficiently scin·
17. Bd5 Rbe8 tillating to be worthy of the occasion.
18. Rel
Euwe-Alekhine

Ι. d4 Nf6
1. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e3
This simple move can be met in only one
really good way, and that is Alekhίne's way
here.
4. ... 0-0
There ίs no need to fish ίη the troubled
waters of 4 ... d5 5 Qa4t.
5. Nge2
Τσp chess is hιιrd wσrk Rubίnsteίn's ίdea-to play a3 after first
For if 28. R1c2, then 28 ... Ba4 29. Rcl2 b6 "prophylacting" agaίnst ...Bxc3t. If first 5.
30. Rc3 Rd8 pins awkwardly. Black's better Bd3, then 5 ... d5 6. Nge2 dxc4 7. Bxc4 c5 8. a3
Rooks justify his pawn sacrifice, even though cxd4! 9. axb4 (ίf 9. exd4, then 9 . . . Be7) dxc3
the compensation is not complete. 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Nxc3 Nc6 12. b5 Nb4 13.
18. Bxd5 0-0 Bd7 14. Rd1 a6 and Black has at least
19. Rxd5 g5 equalίty.
30. Rd6t Κe5� Or 6 . cxd5 (gettίng ίη fίrst) 6 . . . exd5 7.
An absurd move. With 30 ... Κf7, Black Nge2 c6!; and Whίte has no pretensίons to
had a fighting chance. any advantage, hίs c-Bίshop havίng lίttle
31. Redl g4 future.
32. RidSt Ke4 5. dS!
33. Rd4t Κe5 6. a3 Be7!
34. Ke3! Re6 7. cxdS
If 34 ... f4t, then 35. Kd3! fxg3 36. R4d5t If 7. Ng3, then 7 . . . c5! 8. dxc5 dxc4! 9.
Κf4 37. Rf6#. Bxc4 {9. QxdB only develops Black) Qxd1t
35. R4d5t Κf6t 10. Κχd1 Bxc5 11. b4 Be7 12. Ke2 b6! 13. Bb2
36. Κf4 Κg6 Bb7 14. f3 Nbd7 15. Rhd1 aS! 16. b5 Rac8 17.
37. Rxe6t Rxe6 Ba2 Nc5 wίth at least an even endgame for
38. Re5 Ra6 Black (analysis by the wrίter). Note Black's
If38 ... Rf6, then 39. e4! order of moves: first the Q-fianchetto, then
39. RxfS Rxa3 ... Nbd7, then . . . a5, attackίng Whίte's ad­
40. Rb5! b6 vanced pawn.
41. Κχg4 Resigns 7. �5
8. Ng3 c5!

<:::::""� 151 <:::::""�

 Extreme Chess

9. dxc5 17. Bxa6 bxa6

Το isolate the d-pawn. If 9. Bd3, then 9 ... 18. 0-0 Bxb3
Nc6 10. 0-0 c4 11. Bc2 a6! 12. Nf5 b5; and 19. Qxb3 Rb8
Black has the initiative. 10. Qcl Qd5
9. ... Bxc5 21. e4 Qb3
10. b4 11. Qel Qb5
Not as good as it looks, because of Black's 23. Qf3 Qxc5
reply-as we pointed out in our article in the
Austral&ι.sian Chess Review of December 1935.
If 10. Na4, then 10... Bd6! (11. b4 Be5).
If 10. Be2, then ...d4.
In short, Black has a good game.
10. ... d4!
11. bxc5
Ifhere 11. Na4?, then 1 1 ... dxe3! 12. Qxd8
exf2t wins.
11. ... dxc3
12. Qcl 14. Nf5
Exchanging Queens, though best, would White still has virtually a pawn for the
not quite equalize because of Black's slight Exchange and would have preserved very
pull in development. Anyway, Euwe had to good fighting chances by developing his
plunge. pieces: 24. Bf4! Rbe8 (Alekhine) 25. e5 Nd7
12. ... Qa5 26. Ne4 Qc2 27. Rc1, and Black's game is far
13. Rb1 from won.
Threatens Rb5. If 13. Ne2, then 13 ... Nd5 Euwe, however, goes for an attack on
14. e4 Nb4! 15. Qb1 N4a6 (Stllilberg) gives Black's Κing. It was neck or nothing for him.
Black a winning advantage. 14. Rb1
13. ... Bd7!! 15. Qf4 Nxe4
14. Rb3 26. h4 Re8
Against the horήble threat of ...Ba4, there 17. Re1 Qc3
seems nothing better. [Ed.: Elack has the oblique 27... Nd6!.]
If 14. Rxb7, then 14 ... Ba4; and White still 18. Rd1 Ndl!
has nothing better than 15. Rb3-but then 19. Rxd1 Rxc1 f
Blackkeeps his passed pawn, besides winning 30. Κh1 Qc7
the Exchange. 31. Rd6! Rc5
If14. Bc4, then 14... Ba4 15. Bb3 Bb5! stops 32. g3! Rf8
castling. If32 ... Rxf5, then 33. Re6!!-a pretty trap.
Fine recommended 14. Rb4, but Alekhine 33. g4 f6
pointed out 14 ... Na6! 15. Bxa6 Qxa6; and 34. Κh3 h5!
White must in some way give up mateήal to 35. Qdl
overcome his positional difficulties. Not 35. gxh5 because of 35 ... Rxf5.
14. ... Ba4 35. hxg4f
15. Qxc3 Qd8! 36. Κχg4 Qf7!
The charming point of the combination. 37. h5 Rxf5!
16. Bc4 Na6! 38. Κχf5 Qxh5t

[::::q 152 [::::q

 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

39. Κf4 Qh4t Hne played against him by Samisch.

40. Κf3 Qh3t 10. g4H
41. Κe4 Re8t
41. KdS Qb3t
43. Kd4 Qxa3
44. Resίgns

Phase VI (GAMBS 26-30):

JUST CHBSS!

Some very good games were played in this 10. ••• Bg6!
last "exhibition" phase. The possibility of bet· If 10... Nxc3, then 11. bxc3 Bxc3 (if 11 ...
teήng their scores provided both players with Bxg4, then 12. cxb4 Qf6 13. Kg2 Qg6 14. Qd1!)
a sporting ίncentive. 12. Ra3 Bb4 13. Rb3 with a decisive advan­
tage.
11. Ne5 Nxc3!
Game 26 Against Samisch, Alekhine himselfplayed
11 ... Bxc3, which gave Whίte better chances
Slav Defense (12. bxc3 Nxc3? 13. Qb2).
11. bxc3 Bxc3
Lively play results in a draw in Euwe's 13. Nxg6! hxg6
favor. Not 13 ... Bxal? because the Bishop would
never get out wίth a whole skin.
Alekhine-Euwe 14. Rbl Qe7
15. f4
ι. Nf3 dS
1. c4 c6
The "Slav" is resuscitated when it doesn't
matter-a poor testimonίal. Note that Ale­
khine is unable to play the attacking Hne he
adopted in Game 6.
3. d4 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4
5. a4 Bf5
6. e3 e6
7. Bxc4 Bb4 To stop ...eS.
8. 0-0 0-0 15. ••. c5!
9. Qe1 Ne4 By returning the pawn, Black completely
Euwe offers to play against hίs own gam­ frees his game and secures the ίnίtiative.
bit (10. Bd3). Euwe has long been well known If thίs match ίnduces ordίnary players to
for his willingness to take either side in the sacήfice pawns more often, ίt wίll have done
Slav Defense. the chess world a great service.
However, Alekhine tήes a swashbuckling 16. dxc5 Nc6

1::::%'1 153 1::::%'1

 Extreme Chess

17. Ba3 a5 5. Bg5 h6!

18. Rbcl Bb4 Wheη ίη dσubt, "put the questίση:'
19. Bxb4 axb4 6. Bxf6
10. Bb5 Rfd8 If 6. Bh4, theη eίther 6... gS, 7 ... Ne4, and
21. Rfdl Rxdlt 8 ... fS, wίth a gσσd "Dutch," σr 6 ... Bxc3t 7.
11. ςιχdΙ e5 bxc3 Bb7 8. e3 d6, alsσ wίth a gσσd game.
Black underrates Whίte's defeηsίve re­ 6. ••• Bxc3t
sσurces agaίηst the cσmίηg attack. Euwe had As Whίte wίll ησt have a Bίshσp for the
slίghtly better wίηηίηg chances wίth the σb­ dark squares, Black has ησ qualms abσut gίν­
vίσus 22 ... Rd8. ίηg up hίs σwn -and he gίves Whίte a rather
23. ςιd6 ςιh4 ίmmσbile pawn fσrmatίση.
14. Bxc6 bxc6 7. bxc3 ςιχf6
15. ςιχc6 Rd8 8. e4 Bb7
After 25 ... Qxg4t 26. Qg2, Black wσuld 9. Bd3 d6
have tσ exchange Queeηs, lσsίηg any advan­ 10. 0-0 e5
tage tσ be deήved frσm Whίte's expσsed Κίηg. Or 10 ... Nd7; but ησt 10... 0-0, wheη 11.
26. Qg2 exf4 eS! wσuld gίve Whίte a gσσd game.
17. exf4 ςιe7 11. c5! 0-0!
18. ςιf3 ςιa7 12. Rbl Rd8
19. ςιe3 Νσt 12 ... Nd7?? because σf 13. Qa4.
Black threateηed ...Rd2, wίth wίηηίηg 13. ςιc1 Nd7
chances. Ιη aηy pοsίtίση where pawη exchaηges
19. ••• ςιχa4 are ση ίη the σpeηίηg, the geηeral maxίm
30. c6 ςιa3 ίs: gσ ση develσpίηg-let yσur σppσηeηt
Drawn by agreement. ίηterrupt hίs develσpmeηt fίrst. That ap­
The passed pawns cancel each σther σut. plίed here. Whίte, hσwever, ίs ησw cσm­
pelled tσ exchaηge.
14. cxd6 cxd6
Game 27 15. a4!
Whίte ησ lσηger has a dσubled pawn, but
Nίmzo·Indίan Defense he has a backward pawn ση an expσsed fίle.
He must try tσ gίve Black a weak pawn tσ
Alekhίηe shσws hσw he σught tσ have balance ίt. That ίs the way a gσσd player
played the σpeηίηg ίη Game 19. thίnks. Α weak player plays tσ defeηd hίs weak
pawn and gradually succumbs tσ paralysίs.
Euwe-Alekhίne 15. ••• Rac8
16. a5
Ι. d4 Nf6 The suggested Qb3 ίs just an altematίve.
1. c4 e6 Νσthίηg shσuld gίve Whίte mσre than an
3. Nc3 Bb4 eveη game ίη such a pσsίtίοη.
4. Nf3 16. d5!
Thίs ησηchalant mσve ίs ίηfeήσr tσ sσme 17. axb6 axb6
σthers σηly because Black has several ways σf 18. exd5 exd4
equalίzίηg agaίηst ίt, ίnstead σf σnly σηe. 19. Nxd4 Bxd5
4. ••• b6 10. Bf5!

b""'' 154 b""''

 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

Black's Κnight has great pσssibilities, if al­ Bishσp ση bS lσσkiηg silly.

lσwed tσ live. 8. ... Nxd7
20. g6 9. d4 Ngf6
2Ι. Bxd7 Rxd7 The game is ησw a straight-σut Slav De­
22. Qdl Κh7 feηse tσ the Queeη's Gambit.
23. Rfei Ra8 ΙΟ. Bdl a6
24. Rb2 Rda7 Black wants tσ play ... Bd6 iη prefereηce tσ
25. Ncl Ral! ...Be7, but the differeηce is ησt wσrth a whσle
26. Ne3 Rxb2 tempσ. Easier was 10 ... Rc8! 11. Rc1 Qb8 12.
27. Q:xb2 Be6 0-0 (if 12. Qa4�, theη 12 ... Rc4) Be7, fσl­
28. Rai lσwed by castliηg. Black is theη impregnable
Drawn by agreement. and has a shade σf an advantage because σf his
better Bishσp. Hσwever, the text is ησt actu­
ally disadvantageσus.
Game 28 ΙΙ. 0-0 Bd6
Ι2. Rfci �6
Slav Defense Νσw . . . Qb8, a better sanctuary, is ησt
available.
An illustratiση σf the cσmparative feeble­ Ι3. Qcl Rc8
ηess σf the early e3 fσr White agaiηst the Ι4. a4!
"Slav:' The game shσuld have beeη a draw. White uses the black Queeη's expσsure tσ
Euwe beat himself, but the fiηish was nice. gaiη time fσr a big space-gainiηg push ση the
queeηside.
Alekhine-Euwe Ι4. ... 0-0
Ι5. aS Qc7
Ι. Nf3 dS Betterwas 15 ... Qa7.
2. c4 c6 Ι6. �Ι Qb8
3. e3 Bf5 17. h3
Lσgical sequel tσ ...c6. Freeiηg his f-Κnight-agaiηst the pσssibil­
4. cxdS cxdS ity σf ... Ne4, Nxe4, ...dxe4.
5. Qb3 Qc7! Ι7. ... Rc6
Ιη similar pσsitiσns, the Queeη has fσr Or 17 ... Rc4 18. b3 Rc6-same thiηg.
many years beeη relegated tσ c8, but c7 is Ι8. b4 Rc4
better; fσr if White ever plays NbS, he will Or 18 ... Rfc8, wheη 19. bS wσuld preserve
subsequeηtly have tσ gσ back-withσut any White's iηitiative.
ηet gaiη σf time. Ι9. Na4 Rxcit
6. Bb5t Bd7 20. Bxci Ne4
White's check has beeη criticized, but a 2Ι. Nc5 Bxc5
develσpiηg mσve that iηduces the σppσηeηt 22. dxc5!
tσ make a ηση-develσpiηg mσve cannσt be Opeηiηg up a field fσr his Bishσp. Elis­
bad. If 6 ... Nc6�, theη 7. QxdS. And if 6 ... kases, Alekhiηe's "secσηd," tσld the iηside
Nd7, theη 7. Nc3 e6 8. NeS, with advantage. stσry iη the B.C.M. σf hσw Alekhiηe had
7. Nc3 e6 wσrked σut the whσle plan merely frσm a
8. Bxd7t defeηsive viewpσint, as he was wσrήed abσut
Fσrestalling ... Nc6, which wσuldleave the his Bishσp-σbstructed everywhere by pawηs

<:::::::ι 155 <:::::::ι

 Extreme Chess

on dark squares. Alekhίne hίmself, he told 36. Bc5t Κg8

Elίskases, was surprίsed to find how well hίs 37. Re8t Resίgns
plan worked. However, thatwas due to Black's
eπor on move 29.
11. Ne5 Game 29
13. Nxe5 (μe5
14. Bb1 Qc7 Orthodox Defense
15. Qd3 f6
16. Rcl! Qc6 Thίs ίs Euwe's best game ίn the match and
Whίte threatened c6. Now, however, the one of the best of all the games. Black loses
black Queen ίs offthe darksquares; andWhίte wίthout makίng any clearly bad move.
can safely "weaken" g3.
17. f3! NgS Euwe-Alekhίne
18. Rdl Nf7
Better was 28... Rd.B, aίmίng at ...e5 and Ι. Nf3 Nf6
...Ne6. 1. c4 e6
19. f4! Qb5H 3. Nc3 d5
4. d4 c5
For the thίrd time the Prague Varίatίon,
but thίs time wίth Alekhίne as Black.
5 . BgS
Not better than 5. cxd5, but welcome for
the sake of varίety.

How easy ίt ίs to lose a game o f chess! Still

29 ... Rd8, and Black ίs safe.
30. Qxb5 axb5
31. e4! Rd8
Or 31 ... dxe4 32. Rd7 Rb8 33. c6 bxc6 34.
a6, and Whίte wίns. In thίs, ίf32 ... Nd8, then
33. Rd6 followed by Rb6 wίns also; for ίf 33 ...
Nc6, then 34. a6.
31. exd5 exd5
If32 ... Rxd5??, then 33. Rxd5 exd5 34. c6! s. . .. cxd4
33. Rel Κf8 6. Nxd4
If 33 ... d4, sίmply 34. Bxd4! Or 6. Qxd4 Be7! 7. cxd5 exd5, followed by
34. Bd4 Ra8 ... Nc6; and Black gets an advantage ίn devel­
If 34... Rc8, then 35. c6! Rxc6 36. Bc5t opment to balance hίs ίsolated d-pawn.
Nd6 37. Re6 wίns. 6. ... e5
35. c6 Nd8 Long hίghly respected, but doubtful after
Or 35 ... bxc6 36. Bc5t Κg8 37. a6!, threat­ thίs game. Quίte good ίs 6... dxc4, but sίm­
ening a7, Re7-b7. plestseems 6... Be7-ίf7. cxd5, then 7... Nxd5,

ι:::::::=ι 156 ι:::::::=ι

 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

and if 8. Bxe7, then 8 ... Nxe7. Black is quite 18. cS! Ra3
safe. [Ed.: Ojten itis true that this tactic is safe. But If18... Bxd5, then 19. exd5 Qxd5 20. Bxh7;
after 9. Ndb5 White has some advantage.] and Black is terήblyweak οη the Hght squares
7. Nf3 around his Κing.
Until recently, 7. NdbS was played here; 19. Bc4 fS
but Fine Yudovich, Moscow 1 937, continued 7 ...
- 20. Nxe7!
a6! 8. NxdS axbS 9. Nxf6t Qxf6!!!-and Black Whίte gίves up hίs dominant Κnight, but
wins. only to substitute a proud prelate.
7 . ... d4 20. ψe7
If 7... e4?, then 8. NxdS! exf3 9. Nxf6t 21. BdS! Rc3
wins. 11. Qdl fxe4
8. NdS Nc6 23. Bxe4
Better, as V. Buerger poίnted out, would The outpost is destroyed, but Black now
have been 8 ... Be7! at once (threat ...NxdS). has a terήbly weak pawn.
Then 9. Bxf6 Bxf6; and ίf now 10. e4!?, then 23. BfS
Black can play 10 ... dxe3 e.p .. 24. BxfS RxfS
9. e4! lS. Rfe1
The outpost Κnight is so teπίfic that the
best Black can hope for is to exchange ίt off­
and thίs wίll gίve White a passed pawn just
Hke Black's. So there is no rίsk.
9. ... Be7
If 9 ... dxe3 e.p., then 10. Nxf6t wins.
10. Bxf6 Bxf6
11. b4!
Setting ίη motion hίs queensίde majoήty
before Black can stop him.
11. ... 0-0
12. Bd3 aS
V. Buerger suggests ίmmediate counterplay
on the kίngside with 12 ... g6 followed by 13 ...
Bg7 and 14... fS. Threatens ... d3!
13. a3 Be6 17. Re4 Qh3
Threatening the b-pawn. 18. Rg4! Qxf3
14. Rb1 axb4 19. Rg3 Qe4
15. axb4 Be7 30. Ra1 h6
16. 0-0! 31. bS Ne7
White could have won a pawn by 16. bS, If only Black had had time for ...d3!
but why spoil a winning position? 32. c6! Rf8
16. ... f6 If 32 ... bxc6, then 33. b6 wins.
Black could have won the b-pawn for his 33. Qb4 Re8
own e-pawn, but White would subsequently 34. c7! NdS
wίn the d-pawn. White threatened Qxe7.
17. Qcl! Κh8 35. Qd6 Nf4
Το avoίd Bxh7t after ...BxdS, exdS. 36. Qd8 Nelf

6:=9 157 6:=9

 Extreme Chess

37. Κf1 Nxg3t mak.e the further exchange ... Bb4t, etc.­
38. hxg3 Qhlt which would nowjust be an unnecessary loss
39. Κe2 QhSt of time.
40. Κd1. Qf7 12. a4
41. Kel ! Resigns More energetic is 12. Bf4!; but then, in­
If41 ... RfB, then42. Ral. If41 ... Qf8, then stead of 12 ... Bxf4 (Rubinstein- Tιιrtιιkower,
42. RaB Qb4t 43. ΚfΙ, etc. Cιιrlsbιιd 1 92 9), probably 12 ... Ke?!, keep­
ing a hold on c7. If then 13. Kd2, there
follows 13 ... Rb8 14. Rhc1 Bd7; and Black
Game 30 solves his problems, remaining with a slight
advantage because of his queenside major­
Orthodox Defense ity-as in this game.
12. Rb8
Euwe well deserved his win in the last 13. Ba3 Κe7
game-he played meticulously throughout; it 14. Bxd6 Κχd6
was his only win with Black. 15. Kdl Bd7
16. Rhcl Rhc8!
Alekhine-Euwe 17. Rxc8
Better was a5 .
Ι. Nf3 dS 17 . .•• Rxc8
2. c4 e6 18. Bxbn
3. d4 Nf6 This disposes of the queenside majoήty,
4. Nc3 cS but lets Black get too much control with his
S. cxdS N:xdS pieces. Again, a5!
6. g3 Nc6 18. Rc4
Euwe improves on 6 ... cxd4?, which he 19. aS Rxd4t
played in Game 24. 20. Kc3 KcS!
7. Bgl Nxd4! 21. a6 BbS
8. Nxd4 Nxc3 22. Ra2 Rc4t
9. bxc3 cxd4 Not at once 22 ... Ra4 because of 23. Rd2;
10. Qxd4 but now if 23. Kd2 (after 22 ... Rc4t), then
If 10. cxd4?, then 10 ... Bb4t (11. Bd2? 23 ... Ra4!
Qxd4). 23. Κb3 Rb4t
10. ••• Qxd4! 24. Kc3 Ba4!
Why relieve White of his exposed iso­
lated pawn? Because if, say, 10 ... Be?, then
1 1 . Rb1 ! -and 11 ... Rb8 is impossible due
to 12. Bf4.
In some of the earlier games, Euwe's over­
anxiety caused him to avoid simplification.
Now he is concerned only with playing chess,
and his better results are not surpήsing.
11. cxd4 Bd6!
With the Queens off, White's pawn-cen­
ter counts for nothing, so there is no need to With a view to edging up his King to

� 158 �
 Euwe-Alekhine 1937

pawn.
18. Bxh7 g6
19. Kcl
Black threatened ... Rd3t
Fine suggested 29. RaSt as a better draw­
ing chance. If then 29 ... Kb6 or 29 ... Kb4,
there would follow 30. Rg5, etc.
19. Rb8
30. Rb2 Rh8
31. Rb7 Rxh7
32. Rc7t
If 32. Rxa7, then 32 ... Kb6.
32. ... Κb5
b4, forcing exchange of Rooks by ... Ra3, 33. Kc3 Rxhl!
and ultimately winning the a-pawn. If now For if34. Rxc4?, then Blackgets two pawns.
15. RdlH, then 25 ... Rb3t wins off hand. 34. Rxf1 Bd5
If 25. Ra3, then 25 ... Rc4t 26. Kd3 (or 26. 35. Rxa7 Rxf1
Kbl, 16 ... Kb4) Bb5 27. Kdl Ra4-forcing 36. Rg7 Rf3!
the exchange of Rooks. And not 36. . . Κχa6?, as37. Rxg6 wouldset
15. e3 Rb3t Black a most laboήous task. The a-pawn can
16. Κd1 Bb5 wait, as its chance of queening is nil.
Threatens ... Kb4 and ... Ra3. If 27. Rclt, 37. Rxg6 Rxe3t
then 27 ... Bc4. White sees that the loss of his 38. Κd4 Re4t
advanced pawn is inevitable and decides-as 39. Κd3 Κχa.6
the best chance-to change the character of 40. g4 Κb5
the game completely by giving up his Bishop 41. Resigns
for pawns. Rook against Rook and Bishop, Alekhine sealed 41. g5; but as everything
without pawns, is a draw with best play-ex­ was prepared for the final ceremony, the com­
cept in some special positions. mittee urged him to resign-and after pro­
17. Be4 Bc4! longed persuasion, he consented.
Now better than 27 ... Kb4, which might Alekhine is the first player who ever be­
be met by28. Bc2-if then 28... Ra3 29. Rxa3! came Champion of the World by resigning a
Κχa3 30. Kc3, White can probably keep the game.
black Κing forever blocking the black passed

1:::="9 159 /::::"9

 Extreme Chess
ΤΗΕ OPENINGS
The match ίndubίtably added to the lore
of the chess openίngs. Ι now do my best to
show how, and Ι have set out the demonstra·
tion so that ίt can be studίed by students and
skίmmed by skίmmers wίth equal facίlίty.
Of the thίrty games, twenty·nίne were
Queen's Pawns (sίχ by transposίtίon after 1.
Νf3) and one a Reti.
Thίs studίed neglect of 1. e4 must not be
taken to heart. Perchance both Alekhίne and
Euwe agree wίth the young Ameήcan grand­
master Reuben Fίne that the Morphy Defense
to the Ruy Lopez ίs theoretίcally suffίcίent for
equalίty. But thίs hoary openίng ίs so terήfi·
cally complex that practice and theory can·
not be relίed upon to see eye to eye ίη ίt;
anyway, the dίscovery of new vaήations, al­
terίng present "theory," ίs nearly as certaίn as
tomoπow's sun.
And as for the close defenses to the Κίηg's
Pawn-French, Sίcίlίan, and that crowd-re·
cent results and analysίs favor Whίte pretty
consίstently.
But we must get back to the Match ίtself.
Ιη the Slav Defense there were several bombs,
but Whίte came outwell enough ίη the end to
drίve both players to gίve ίt up.
They both went over to the Nίmzo·In·
dίan Defense, whίch stood up so well that
they finally stopped lettίng each other play ίt.
Fίnally, the vaήous evasίons of the Nίmzo·
Indίan Defense strutted theίrlίttle hours upon
the stage, but remorseless dίssections show
up theίr ίnherent anemίas.
Ιη short, the match has strengthened a
faίrly ήfe οpίηίοη that the best defense to the
Queen's Pawn ίs 1 ... Nf6 and2 ... e6; then ίf3.
Nc3, the reply ίs 3 ... Bb4-to other thίrd
moves, the reply ίs 3 ... d5.
But tίme and chance happen to all, and
the "theory" of the chess openίngs ίs always
ίη flux. One may state the posίtίon today, but
[:::::9
not the truth for all time. Therefore chess
lίves.
Now for the dίssections! They are under
three headίngs:
Slav Defense
Nimzo·Indian Defense
Evasions: Nimzo·Indian Defense
Game 5, a Queen's Gambίt Accepted, ίs a
waίf or stray-banned here but analyzed ίn
the notes to the game.
Slav Defense
Our trunk lίne ίs Game 15 because ίt looks
most lίke the best play for both sίdes ίη the
"Slav" for the first ηίηe moves. Euwe agrees
wίth thίs vίew ίη an artίcle ίη the Nieuwe
Rotterdamsche Cour&ιnt.
Just before each move ίη the trunk lίne,
we usually gίve a dίagram showίng the posί·
tion as ίt was before the move. From the dίa·
gram the student can follow the vaήatίons
gίven ίη the notes, but a chessboard helps.
1. d4 dS
1. c4 c6
For no good reason whatever, thίs ίs gen·
erally known as the Slav Defense. Poleήo ca·
sually mentioned ίt ίη 1590. Its sίmple pur·
pose ίs to provίde pawn·support for the threat·
ened ίnfant ση d5, whίle avoίdίng obstruc·
tion ofthe c·Bίshop by ... e6.
Diιιgrιιm l
160 [:::::9
 Euwe-Alekhίne 1937
3. Nf3!
See Diagram 1 . The exchange νaήatίση 3 .
cxdS gives a symmetrίcaJ pσsitiση-favσrable
tσ White, but perhaps ησt very. See a cσηtrσ­
versy ίη Chess betweeη the wήter and Grand­
master Lδweηfisch (June & Octσber 1937,
March 1938).
Cσπespσηdeηce betweeη the wήter and
S. Ηίηdίη, schσσl fήeηd σfNimzσvich ίn Riga
and ησw champiση σf New Zealand, resulted
ίη agreemeηt that Black's best defeηse ίn the
exchange νaήatίση was prσbably: 3 . . . cxdS 4.
Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bf4 e6! {abandσniηg
the suspect symmetry) 7. e3 Bd6.
Cσmparatively harmless is 3. e3, σfteη
played by Rubinsteiη ίn his heyday. Α gσσd
answer is 3 ... Bf5! If theη 4. Qb3, prσbably
better than either 4... Qb6 σr 4... Qc8 is 4 ...
Qc7! The advantages σf this square were
shσwn by Ca.pa.bla.nca. agaίnst Resheνsky, Sem­
mering-Ba.den 1 937. See alsσ Game 28.
Anσther gσσd reply tσ 3. e3 is 3 ... g6, fσr
the Κiηg's Iηdian Defeηse is gσσd where
White shuts iη his c-Bishσp. Several games iη
the receηt match fσr the Russian champiση­
ship, Bσtνinnik-Lίίwen.fisch 1 937, weηt frσm the
"Slav" iηtσ the "Κiηg's Iηdian" and shσwed
equality fσr Black.
Fiηally, the "straightfσrward" mσve 3.
Nc3, played by Alekhiηe iη Game 6. The pσs­
sible replies are:
Ι: 3 ... dxc4. Played by Euwe and hithertσ
regarded as a refutatiση σf 3. Nc3. Whether
Alekhiηe's ηew gambit upsets it will require
several acres σf analysis tσ deάde. See the ησtes
tσ Game 6.
ΙΙ: 3 ... e6, makiηg it a "Semi-Slav," abσut
which Ι have wήtteη a bσσkful further ση.
ΙΙΙ: 3 ... e5, the Wίnawer Cσunter Gam­
bit-prσbably gσσd eησugh tσ equalize.
Ν: 3 ... Nf6. Iftheη 4. e3, Black's bestis 4 ...
g6! {already dealt with). But Alekhiηe wσuld
prσbably have played 4. Bg5!?, a line that has
received very Httle atteηtiση. If theη 4 ... g6?,
White wσuld wiη a pawn [Ed.: Beca.use σf 5.
� 161 �
Bxf6 exf6 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Qb3].
Summing up, 3. Νc3 cannσt be dubbed su­
peήσr σr infeήσr tσ 3. Nf3, but it sets a speάal
prσblem fσr Black sίnce Black is unable tσ
fσrce a transpσsitiση ίηtσ the trunk lίne σr
iηtσ the Κiηg's Iηdian Defense. Οη the σther
hand, it alsσ sets a speάal prσblem fσr White
because σf the 3 ... dxc4 and 3 ... e5 lίnes.
Diagram l
3 • ••• Nf6
See Diagram2. If3 ... e6, σbviσusly cσηtra­
dicting Ρσleήσ's σήginal idea {if any), we have
what the lσgical Freηch call, "la Defeηse
Demi-Slav:' Fσr a reasση thatwill be seeη later
ση, it is prσbably unwise tσ play the "Semi­
Slav" unless and until White has played Νc3.
Fσrif {frσm Diagram2) 3 ... e6 4. e3! Nf6 5.
Bd3! Nbd7 6. 0-0!, theη the Meran Vaήa­
tiση { ...dxc4 fσllσwed by ... b5, see further ση)
is ησ use: White can attack by a4 with impu­
ηity because his b-Κnight ίs ησt ση c3 tσ be hit
by ... b4. Α11 this is a bit subtle; but as the
preseηt wσrk is ησt a bσσk ση the σpeniηgs,
there is ησ space fσr fuller explσratiσns.
Νσte that after 3 ... e6 ίt is quite all ήght fσr
White tσ play e3. Sίnce Blackhas shut ίη his c­
Bishσp, White cannσt suffer by shuttίng ίn
hίs. Οη the σther hand, ifWhite plays 4. Nc3,
there are terήbly trίcky vaήatiσns startίng
with 4... dxc4 ίη which Black seeks tσ maiη­
taίn the gambit pawn-with the aid σf ... b5
and ... Bb4.
If Black plays the Stσηewall Defense {3 ...
e6 4. e3 f5), a sσund plan fσr White is 5. Ne5!
 Extreme Chess
followed by 6. f4 7. Bd3 8. 0-0 9. Nc3 10.
Bdl; and if Black has a Bίshop ση d6 to be
smίtten, ultίmately c5. Whίte's more ad­
vanced pawns give hίm a permanent advan­
tage ίη space.
The "Semί-Slav" bobs up agaίn a lίttle fur.
ther on.
Diagram 3
4. Nc3!
Thίs finesse is now much better than the
"prudent" 4. e3, ίη reply to whίch Black can
equalίze wίth eίther 4... g6 or 4... Bf5 (see the
notes to 3. e3 after Dίagram 1). For example
(from Dίagram 3): 4. e3 Bf5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6.
Qb3 Qc7! (after Capablanca) 7. Nc3 (or 7.
Na3) e6 8. Bdl Nc6 9. Rc1 Nd7! (to take any
stίng from Ne5). Black has a pίnned Κnίght,
but Whίte can do lίttle wίth the positίon-hίs
c-Bίshop compares badly wίth Black's.
Diagram 4
4. • •• dxc4
Threatenίng ... b5; or, ίf 5. a4, sίmple de­
velopment wίth the ίdea of makίng a4 a use-
� 162 �
less move. But there are several other defenses,
some of whίch the books treat wίth prudent
but hardly helpful silence or else very scant­
ίly. Most of the followίng recommendatίons
are, perforce, my own. Start ίη each case from
Dίagram 4.
Ι: 4... g6 5. Qb3! Bg7 6. Bf4!, and Whίte
has much the freer game.
Π: 4... Bf5 5. cxd5 ! Nxd5 (5 ... cxd5 ίs
spoίled by 6. Qb3) 6. Qb3 Nxc3! 7. bxc3 (If 7.
Qxb7, then 7 ... Nd5! wίth horrίble desίgns.)
Qb6 8. Bf4! Nd7 9. Ndl! e6 10. e4 Qxb3 11.
axb3 Bg6 12. b4! Blackwίll fίndίtvery hardto
upset White's strong pawn-center.
ΠΙ: 4 ... Ne4 5. e3 e6 6. Bd3 f5 7. Ne5!. The
system already recommended agaίnst the
Stonewall Defense ίη the dίscussίon after Dίa­
gram 2. 7 ... Qh4 (Whίte threatened Qh5t!)
8. 0-0 Bd6 9. f4 0-0 10. Bdl Nd7 11. c5!.
Black ίs cramped.
IV: 4... Qb6 (favored by Lajos Steίner, the
ίdea beίng to antίcίpate Qb3 before playίng
... Bf5) 5. c5.
If now 5 ... Qc7, then 6. g3 and 7. Bf4.
Better 5 ... Qd8! (Steίner), and nowWhίte has
the problem of makίng somethίng of hίs ad­
vantage ίη development. The closed center
makes thίs quίte dίfficult.
V: 4... e6.
Thίs move, whίch Alekhίne played ίη
Game 3, agaίn bήngs us ίnto the Semί-Slav
Defense. The "Semί-Slav" presents a queer
problem. Blackplays both ...c6 and ...e6, badly
obstructίng hίs c-Bίshop. How can thίs be
good?
Well, there ίs a poίnt. If, ίη Dίagram 4,
Black plays 4 ... e6, he ίs threatenίng to take
and maίntaίn the gambίt pawn. Whίte ίs thus
ίnduced to obstruct hίs own c· Bίshop by 5. e3.
Even then it would seem that Whίte should
have a pull; for in an otherwίse symmetrίcal
positίon, it must surely be better to have the
c-pawn advanced two squares (c4) rather than
one (c6}!
However, the extraordίnary Meran Varia-
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937

tίση bήηgs this reasσηίηg ίηtσ questίση. Start­ run ση "Meran" lines and ίs dealt wίth ad­
ίηg frσm Diagram 4ι The "Meran" is: equately ίη the ησtes tσ the game.
4 ... e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8.
Β retίres 8 ... a6ι fσHσwed by ... c5.
By smίting the whίte Βίshσpι Black gaίns
space ση the queensίde; and ίί hίs advanced
pawn ίs attacked by a4ι he pushes ση with
...b4-thus capίtalίzίηg ση the whίte Κnίght
at c3 as well.
Whether his space ση the queeηside com­
pensates Black fσr hίs slight weaknesses and
slίghtly backward develσpmeηt is a questίση
that has wσrήed analysts fσr fifteeη years­ Diιιgra.m 5
and is stίH wσrryίng them. At preseηtι the
"Meran" ίs under σηe σί its peήσdίcal clσudsι S. a4!
but ίt has emerged frσm many. It has beeη prσved ίηadvίsable tσ permίt
ι
Lajσs Steίηer s mσdificatίση σί the ... b5 ίη thίs pσsίtίση (Dίagram 5).
"Meran" ίs alsσ ίmpσrtant: S. ••• BfS!
4 ... e6 5. e3 Be7 (ίnstead σί 5 ... Nbd7) 6. Ιη thίs νaήatίσηι any attempt tσ maίηtain
Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Β retίres 8... b4! 9. Ν the pawn ίs dσσmed tσ mίserable failure be­
sσmewhere 9 ... Ba6! cause Black canησt pίη by ... Bb4. Cσmpare
ι
Thίs certaίnly sσlves the age-σld prσblem the "Semi-Slav: Blackmaytryι certaίnlyι with
ι
σf the c-Bishσpι and Black s σηly remaίnίηg 5 ... Nd5 6. e3 b5; but 7. Ne5 ! knσcks the at­
care ίs tσ advance hίs backward c-pawn. tempt σut. Whίte threatens Qf3; and after
After 4... e6 ίt ίs true that White can parry 7... Nxc3 8. bxc3 Bb7 (if 8 ... Qd5ι theη 9.
ι
Black s threat σί ...dxc4 by pίηηίηg: 5 . Bg5! ? Be2!) 9. Rb1!ι White has far tσσ many threats
Fσr i f 5 ... dxc4ι theη 6. e 4 threateηs t σ hίt the (Eu.we-Tartι:ιkowerι Pistyι:ιn 1922).
pίηηed pίece. But ίnstead 5 ... h6! fσrces ei­
ther 6. Bh4-wheη 6 ... dxc4! becomes gσσd­
ι
σr 6. Βχf6ι after whίch Black s "twσ Bίshσps"
cσmpensate hίm ίσr hίs sσmewhat cramped
pσsίtίση.
Curίσusly eησughι this varίatiσηι wίth
mσves transpσsedι crσps up agaίn under 'Ένa­
sίσηs σί the Nίmzσ-Iηdίan Defeηse" and ίs
dealt with there.
It remains tσ add that ίf Black ίηteηds tσ
play the "Semi-Slav" he may as weH start σff Diιιgra.m 6
wίth 2 ... e6 ίnstead σί 2 ... c6ι thus avσidίηg
the symmetήcal exchange νaήatίση. If 3. Νc3 ι 6. e3
theη 3 ... c6; but if Whίte plays 3. Nf3 ίnstead See Dίagram 6. If 6. Ne5 (Κrause Attack) ι
σf 3. Νc3ι theη 3 ... Νί6!ι playίηg ίηtσ Dίa­ ησ lσηger 6 ... Nbd7 7. Nxc4 �-fσrwhίch see
gram 13-dίscussed at leηgth under 'Έvasiσηs the ησtes tσ Game 1-but sίmply 6 ... e6.
ι ι
σί the Νίmzσ-Iηdίan Defense: Thίs defense hiηges ση Mίkeηas s sacήfice
ι
Alekhίne s "Semί-Slav" ίη Game 3 dίdησt (7. f3 Bb4 8. e4 Bxe4!) whίch appears tσ be

1::::::9 163 1::::::9

 Extreme Chess
sound. The student will find a bookful about
it in the notes to Game 4.
After 7. f3 Bb4, if 8. Bg5, then 8... h6! 9.
Bxf6 Qxf6!, with equal chances. See the notes
to Game 11.
6. ... e6
For remarks on 6 ... Na6?, see the notes to
Game 7.
7. Bxc4 Bb4!
We have now arrivedatwhatmay be called
today the "normal position" of the Slav De­
fense. See Diagram 7.
Dia.gra.m l
Black's 7 ... Bb4, introduced by Alekhine
at London 1922, is the most logical because it
hinders e4.
Ι η Game 7, Alekhine tried 7 . . . Nbd7
8. 0-0 Bd6; and Euwe got a pull, though
he spoiled it with his 1 3th and 14th moves.
See the notes to Game 7 .
8. 0-0 Nbd7
In Game 17, trying the "Slav" for the last
time in the Match, Alekhine played the hith­
erto more usual 8... 0-0. After 9. Qel (threat
e4!) 9... Ne4, Euwe's new move 10. Bd3!
provedvery strong. See the notes to Game 17.
9. Q.el Bg6!
Thίs was Alekhine's choίce in Game If. It
prevents the immedίate e4 except at the cost
ofa pawn. In Games 9 and 13, Alekhine played
9 ... Ne4; and ίη thίs posίtion also, Euwe's 10.
Bd3! proved very strong. See the notes to
Games 9 and 13.
1:::"'9 ]64 1:::""9
Dia.gra.m 8
In Game 15, starting from Diagram 8, the
play was:
10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 0-0 12. Rdl, and
now by 12 ... Qa5! Euwe considers that Ale­
khine would have shown equalίty.
However, in the Nieuwe Rotterdamsche Cou­
rant, Euwe suggests the pawnsacrίfice 10. e4! !?
He does not analyze it, but says that it "gives
good chances:'
Our own suggestion is less speculative­
simply to play Rdl before Bd3 ίnstead of
after it, thus keeping the option of recaptur­
ing on d3 with the Rook-this would avoid
exposing the Queen. For example, from Dίa­
gram 8: 10. Rdl 0-0 (If 10... Qa5, then 11.
Bd2.) 11. Bd3 Bxd3 12. Rxd3! QaS. Seems best.
13. e4. If now 13 ... c5, then 14. e5! cxd4 15.
Nb5. More natural ίs 13... e5, whereupon 14.
dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. f4! Qa5 (or 16 ...
Qe7) 17. e5!. White has the initiative.
Black cannot keep hίs Κnίght on f6 for
long and must gίve ground ίη some way. Our
suggestion has not yet been "through the
rnίll," but it is clearly worth examinίng. Con­
sequently, ίt would be premature to declare
thatAlekhίne's 9... Bg6 has established equal­
ίty. The contestants themselves would seem
to have been doubtful about ίt, as ίt was trίed
only once.
The ίnherent dίfficulty of the Slav Defense
ίs that although ...c6 permίts the c-Bishop to
develop on the kingside that development is
always attended by some dίsability-either
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937
through weakness at b7 and d5 or because the
Bishop itself becomes vulηerable to e4. The
"Semi-Slav" preseηts the reverse problem of
how to develop the c-Bishop at all.
Nίm.zo-Ind.ian Defense
Ι. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Bb4
The Nimzo-Iηdian Defense. Αrοη Nim­
zovich, the most origiηal thiηker siηce Steiη­
itz, prophesied that itwould ηever be refuted.
Lookiηg at Diagram 9, anyoηe can see that
the defeηse canηot be bad since Black has two
pieces developed to White's oηe-and that οηe
is piηηed. The oηly questioη is, What is the
effect ofWhite's pawη-ceηter�
Dia.gra.m 9
4. Qcl
Alekhiηe played this iη all the four games
iη which he permitted Euwe to play the
Nimzo-Iηdian Defeηse at all. It is geηerally
thought that if White ever demonstrates an
advantage it will be by this move.
Euwe played 4. e3 iη Game 25. This liηe,
agaiηst which Black must play with great
exactitude, is dealt with iη the ηotes to
Game 25.
Less difficult to meet ίs 4. Nf3, which Euwe
played ίη Games 19 and 27. See the ηotes to
those games.
4. ... ds
The ηewer move 4... Nc6 has also with-
b"'9 165 b"'9
stood all attempts to refute ίt, but Euwe was
coηteηt wίth the old and tήed liηe.
Dia.gra.m 1 Ο
5. cxd5
See Dίagram 10. Of some meήt, sίηce ίt
immediately procures for White the "two
Bishops," ίs 5. a3 Bxc3t 6. Qxc3. Black, how­
ever, can utilize the time gaίηed and equalize.
Rather amusίηg, as showίηg the rapίdity
wίth whίch chess theoήsts have to alter theίr
views as ηew discoveήes are made, are the
followίηgverdicts by Euwe ση 5. a3 published
ίη Chess.
January 1937: "Less rίsky ίs 5. cxd5:'
May 1937: "For loηg coηdemηed as waste
of time, thίs move (5. a3) is ηοw looked upoη
as very stroηg:'
November 1937: "Sίηce Whίte can obtaίη
ηothiηgvery eηcouragίηg from 5. a3, it seems
that 5. cxd5 ίs the only move to bήηg any
οpeηίηg advantage:'
Which oηly goes to show what a difficult
game chess ίs! Only experts realίze just how
diffίcult. Το them, Euwe's quick changes will
ηοt be at all astoηίshίηg.
After 5. a3 Bxc3t 6. Qxc3 Ne4 7. Qc2, suf­
ficίeηt for equalίty may be 7 ... c5; but more
eηergetic is 7 ... Nc6, iηtroduced by Alekhiηe
at San Remo 1930. Some games ίη 1937 cast
doubt ση 7 ... Nc6; but the wήter gave some
ηew analysίs ίη the Austr&ιlι:ιsiι:ιn Chess Review
of November 1937, ίη the course of a loηg
artίcle devoted eηtίrely to the vaήatioη, and
claίmed at least equalίty for Black iη all liηes.
 Extreme Chess
Ιη σηe σf them, Whίte could fσrce a draw­
and had tσ.
5. ... Qxd5
The altemative 5 ... exd5, whίch Euwe dίd
ησt try ίη thίs match, has ηever beeη refuted
and can be recσmmeηded ίf Black ίs anxίσus
tσ wίη. The maίη varίatiση ίs: 6. Bg5 Qd6 7.
e3 Ne4 8. Bf4 Qe7! 9. Bd3 f5 10. Ngel 0-0 11.
0-0 c6. Here Smhlberg-Alekhi.ne, Prague 1931,
weηt ση: 12. f3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bd6 14. Bxd6
Qxd6 15. e4 g6. Whίte's massίve pawn ceηter
dσes ησt gίve hίm rea1 cσηtrσl σf the ceηter.
Stllilberg played e5, but the passed pawn was
useless fσr mίddlegarne purpσses. Alekhίηe
bήllίantly wσrked up a kίηgsίde attack and
wση.
Diιιgrιιm ll
6. e3
See Dίagrarn 11. If6.- Nf3, still 6 ... c5; and
Whίte has merely gίveη up the σptίση σf f3,
played ίη Garne 8.
Liiwenfisch-Botvinnik, Match 1937, Garne 7,
weηt:
6. Nf3 c5 7. Bdl Bxc3 8. Bxc3 cxd4 9. Nxd4
e5!
6. ... c5
7. a3
Played ίη Garnes 8, 10, and 12. Fσr 7. Bdl,
prσbably a shade ίηfeήσr, see the ησtes tσ
Garne 20.
7. . .. Bxc3t
8. bxc3 0-0
As played by Euwe ίη Garne 12. Alsσ gσσd
ίs 8 ... Nc6, whίch Euwe played ίη Garne 10;
ι:::::"'!
and eveη 8 ... Nbd7, played ίη Garne 8, was
ησt quίte knσcked σut. Alekhίηe cσηsίders
castlίηg the mσst lσgίca1 sίηce ίt reserves the
σptίση σf develσpίηg the b-Κnight eίther at
c6 σr d7.
9. Nf3
There ίs ησt much ίη 9. f3 here. Black
wσuld reply wίth 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Nc6, pre­
veηtίηg e4.
9. ... cxd4
While ησt absσlutely ηecessary, thίs elimi­
ηates the cσmplίcatiσns σf Garne 10 where
Whίte was allσwed tσ hίt the Queeη by c4.
The cσmplίcatiσηs, hσwever, are ησt ηeces­
sarίly tσ Whίte's advantage.
10. cxd4 b6!
Still reservίηg the chσίce wίth the Κnight.
11. Bc4 Qc6!
12. Bd3
As explaίηed ίη the ησtes tσ Garne 12,
White had ησthίηg better.
12 . ... Qxcl
13. Bxcl Ba6
Level garne! Whίte has the twσ Bίshσps;
but Blackίs ahead ίη develσpmeηt, and White
has ησ satisfactσry square fσr hίs Κίηg except
f2-whίch means that he must lσse further
time ίη mσνίηg hίs Κnίght and hίs f-pawn.
The σnlypractica1 σbjectiση tσ thίs way σf
playίηg the Nίmzσ-Iηdίan Defense (after 4.
Qc2) ίs that Black must be fully prepared fσr a
draw, eveη agaίnst a slίghtly weaker σppσ­
ηeηt. If Black ίs anxίσus tσ avσίd a draw, he
shσuld play as ίη Garne 10 σr vary ση mσve 4
σr 5.
Evasions of the Nimzo·Indian Defense
Alekhίηe, ίη Games 14, 16, 18, 22, 24,
26, 28, aηd 30, aηd Euwe, ίη Games 21, 23,
and 29, delίberately avσίded the Nίmzσ­
Iηdίan Defeηse. What a cσηcessίση tσ hyper­
mσderηίsm!
The modus operandi cσnsίsted sίmply ίη
wίthhσldίηg the b-Κnίght until at least the
166 ι:::::"'!
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937
4th mσve-except in Game 29 in which Euwe
played Νc3 ση mσve 3 ι but withheld d4.
The mσst successful "evasiση" was Ale·
ι
khine s "Catalan" system which he adσpted
iη Games 14 and 16. Alekhine σbtaiηed wiη·
ning pσsitiσηs in bσth gamesι but he did ησt
try the system agaiη. Obviσuslyι he thσught
ι
that Euwe s defense cσώd be bettered and that
Euwe wσώd fiηd the way. Let us ησw dissect
ι
the "Catalan:
"Catalan" System
1. d4 Nf6
1. c4 e6
3. g3
At Barcelσηa 1929ι g3 was frequeηtly
played by White in cσηjunctiση with d4ι but
with c4 held back. Tartakσwer christeηed the
system the Catalan Opeηing; and althσugh
Alekhiηe plays it in a differeηt fashiσηι it is
cσηvenieηt tσ retaiη the ηame.
3. ... dS!
4. BgZ dxc4!
This eηables Black tσ free himself with
...c5 withσut fear σf an isσlated d-pawη. It is
quite wrσηg tσ say that ...dxc4 "gives up the
ceηterι" fσr Black sσση regains equilibήum
with ...c5. Νσ time is lσst as White must mσve
a piece twice tσ recapture the pawn.
S. Q.a4f Nbd7
6. Nc3!
There is ησ pσiηt in takiηg the pawn at
σηce siηce it can wait. lt is mσre lσgical tσ
maintain a useful piη. Ιη Game 14 Alekhiηe
did play 6. Qxc4ι and Euwe had the σptiση σf
transpσsiηg iηtσ the preseηt game if he
wished. Euwe chσse anσther liηeι which was
alsσ adequate.
6. ... cS!
7. Nf3
Tήcky is 7. Bf4!? ι played in a 1938 game in
theAustralίι:tn coπespondence chι:ιmpionship tσur·
ηameηt, G. Lindgren-C.].S. Purdy: 7. Bf4!?
Be7(fσrced) 8. Nb5 0-0 (fσrced). Black has
b:""9 16 7 b:""9
made his last twσ mσves under cσmpώsiσηι
but ησw has a satisfactσry answertσ anything.
If 9. Βc7ι theη 9 ... Qe8 10. Nd6 Νb6ι with at
least equality iη all vaήatiσns. Or if 9. Νc7ι
theη 9 ... Rb8 10. Nb5 (playing fσr a draw) a6!
ll. Bxb8 Nxb8! 12. Nc3 cxd4ι with twσ pawns
fσr the Exchange and a gσσd pσsitiση.
7. a6!
8. 0-0
Diι:ιgra.m ll
See Diagram 12. Here Euwe played 8 ...
Be7ι which he calls in the Nieu.we Rotterdι:tmsche
ι
Courι:ιnt a "lσss σf time: Mσre cσrrectι he
statesι was 8 ... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5.
Prσbably Euwe wσώd ησt have beeη sσ
censσήσus σf the mσve he actually played if
he had seeη the resσurce ση his unlucky 13th
mσve pσίηted σut iη the ησtes iη this bσσk.
Hσweverι the alternative Euwe indicates
is undσubtedlysatisfactσry alsσ. Fσr exampleι
startiηg frσm Diagram 12:
8 ... cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bc5 10. Qxc4 Qc7!ι fσl­
lσwed by either ...b5 and ... Bb7 σr else ...Nb6
and ...e5.
That White will lσse his Queeη by ...Bxflt
if his Κnight vacates d4 i.s an impσrtant tacti·
cal pσint. Blackhas atleast equality. Thewhite
Queeη turns σut tσ be ill-placed at c4.
Prague Variation
1 . d4 Nf6
1. c4 e6
3. Nf3
 Extreme Chess
Evades the Nίmzo-Indian Defense (3 ...
Bb4t would be answered by eίther 4. Bdl or
4. Nbdl) ι but the withholding of the b·Κnίght
permits Black to play ίnto an equalίzίngvarίa·
tίon of the Orthodox Defense. In some of the
ι
gamesι Whίte s fίrst three moves were trans·
posed.
3. ••• d5!
In Games 21 and 23ι Alekhίne played the
ι
Queen s Indian Defense 3 ... b6 ίηwhίch equal·
ίty for Blackίs not demonstrable. See the notes
to Games 21 and 23.
Diagram 13
We are now ίη the Orthodox Defense to
the Queen's Gambίt-ίn whίchι howeverι ίt ίs
better for Whίte to have played Nc3 rather
than Nf3 because Black can now avoίd the
Pillsbury Attack.
For ίnstanceι ίf at once 4. Bg5 ι then 4 ... h6!
Ifthen 5. Bh4 Bb4t 6. Nc3 dxc4! 7. Qa4t Νc6ι
Whίte cannot regaίn the pawn because Black's
Bίshop stands between ίt and the whίte
Queen.
In the Βοσk σf Nσttingham 1936, Alekhίne
states that according to hίs own latest re·
searches Black can safely play 4... Bb4t and
5 ... dxc4 at onceι ornίttίng ... h6. That ίs the
Vίenna Varίatίon. According to the latest
analysίs actually publίshed, howeverι the
"Vίenna Varίatίon" appeared to be unsound.
Consequently, one ίs safer ίη recommending
4... h6 fίrstι as played by Capablanca agaίnst
Vίdmar at Nottίngham.
Vidmar-Capablanca went: 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bxf6
� 168 �
(better than Bh4) Qxf6 6. Nc3 c6.
Thίs ίmportant posίtίon (Dίagram 14) can
also arίse from the Semί-Slav Defense thus: 1.
d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 6.
Bxf6 Qxf6.
Diagram 14
Ι have put ίη a lot of research ση thίs posί·
tίonandclaίm thatBlack's two Bίshopsshould
compensate hίm for hίs backward develop·
ment. When the varίatίon has actually oc·
cuπed ίη master playι weak moves have been
made by Black; and thίs has led to a general
vίew that Whίte has an advantage-a vίew
that Alekhίne hίmself expresses ίη the Βσσk σf
Nσttingham 1 936.
Α new way of handlίng the black sίde was
ίntroduced by Lajos Steίner ίη the Steiner Invi­
tatiσn Tourney, Sydney 1937. Startίngfrom Dίa·
gram 14ι Purdy-Steiner ran: 7. Qb3 (If at once
7. e4ι Black equalίzes by 7 ... dxe4 and 8 ...
Bb4t .) Nd7 8. e4. Alekhίne consίders thίs the
ήght move. 8 . . . dxe4 9. Nxe4 Qf4 10. Bd3
Nf6!. Steίner's strong ίnnovatίon. ll. Ng3 (Α
withdrawalι but 11. Nxf6t gxf6 would gίve
Blackgoodchanceswith the openg-ffie.) Be7!
12. 0-0 0-0 13. Rad1 RdB 14. Bb1 (Not 14.
Ne5? because of 14 ... Ng4.) Qc7! 15. Qc2 Bd7.
Black ίs ίmpregnable-ίf 16. Νe5ι then 16 ...
Βe8ι retaίnίng the two Bίshops.
The posίtίon ίs akίn to a well-known one
ίη the Cambrίdge Sprίngs Defense-quίte
good for Black.
More solίd than 4. Bg5 ίs 4. Νc3ι whίch
was played ίη all the four games of the
 Euwe-Alekhiηe 1937
Match iη which thίs variatiση σccurred.
With 4. Nc3 we ησw prσceed tσ deal-re­
turη tσ Diagram 13.
4. Nc3 c5!
The Prague Variatiση. It might be called
the Tarrasch Defeηse Defeπed. The pσiηt ίs
that White is ησw unable tσ get the Rubiη­
steiη Attack, which is the strσηgest line against
the Tarrasch Defense prσper. Because Black's
g-Κnight is already σut, he can answer 5 . cxd5
wίth 5 ... Nxd5!, avσiding an isσlated d-pawn.
If Black is williηg tσ play the Semi-Slav
Defeηse and ίs alsσ prepared tσ accept the
Black pieces in Diagram 14, he can play 4 ... c6
instead σf 4... c5 and thus avσid speηding tίme
ση a study σf the ίηtricacies σf the Prague
Variatiσn. Fσr example (frσm Diagram 13):
Ι: 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3, and Blackhas the "Semi­
Slav:'
Π: 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bg5 h6! 6. Bxf6 Qxf6, and
agaίη we have Diagram 14.
But the Prague Variatiση is a straίghtfσr­
ward line. It ησt σnly is gσσd, but it lσσks
gσσd. The Semi-Slav Defeηse, ση the σther
hand, depends ση subtleties that have defied
human braίns fσr fifteeη years, but may σηe
day be laίd lσw. We ησw return tσ the Prague
Variatiσn:
Diagram 15
5. cxd5
As played by Alekhiηe iη Games 18, 24,
and 30-i.e. iη all the games iη whίch he had
White in the variatiσn.
Euwe had White in the variatiση σnce;
ι:::::::'Ύ 169 ι:::::::'Ύ
and he chσse 5. Bg5, which ηeeds careful at­
teηtiση. See the ησtes tσ Game 29.
White cσώd gίve Blackan isσlated d-pawn
iη Diagram 15 by playing 5. dxc5 first, but
this wσώd lσse a clear tempσ as Black wσώd
recapture with a develσpiηg mσve 5 . . . Bxc5.
It is ησt a payiηg prσpσsitiση tσ sacrifice de­
velσpmeηt iη the σpeηiηg fσr the sake σf an
advantage iη an eηdgame that may ηever
cσme!
5. . .. Nxd.S!
6. e4!
As played by Alekhiηe in Game 18. In
Game 24 he tried 6. g3 and did well, but its
harmlessness was demσηstrated wheη he
tried it agaίη iη Game 30.
6. Nxc3
7. bxc3 cxd4
8. cxd4 Bb4t
9. Bdl Bxdlt
10. Qxdl 0-0
The exchange σf twσ σf Black's miησr
pieces has preveηted his army frσm becσm­
iηg cσηgested under the iηfluence σfWhite's
pawη ceηter. Black's asset is his majσήty σf
pawns ση the sίde remσte frσm Whίte's Κίηg.
It means that Black will have an advantage in
an eηdgame. Can he weather the mίddle­
game? By exact play, yes.
Diagram 16
Thίs impσrtant pσsitiση (Diagram 16) was
fully analyzed bythe wήterin theAustralasian
Chess Reνiew σf May 1936. The fσur pσssible
Bishσp mσves gίve the fσllσwiηg variatiσns,
 Extreme Chess
starting from Dίagram 16.
1: 11. Bel b6! 12. 0-0 Bb7 13. Qe3 Nc6!
14. Rfd1 Ne7!. Spoilίng eίther d5 or e5. 15.
Rac1 Rc8 16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qb8. Black
follows up wίth ...Rc8, and an endgame ίs ίη
prospect.
ΙΙ: 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. Bcl (say) QaS!
ΙΙΙ: 11. Bb5!? Bd7! 12. Bd3 Nc6 13. 0-0
QaS ! 14. Qe3 (or 14. Qf4) Ne7!.
Or ίf 14. QxaS, then 14... Nxa5 15. Ne5
Rfd8 16. Rac1 Bc6. Black has the better
endgame.
IV: 11. Bc4!
Thίs last ίs the most attackίng. Game 18
seems to be the best play for both sίdes ήght
up to move 22, and Black maίntaίns equalίty.
See the notes to Game 22.
The student wίll see that the bold 4... c5
sails close to the wίnd, but sailίng as close to
the wίnd as possίble ίs the whole art of de­
fense ίη chess! The closer you sail to the wίnd,
the more lίkely you are to get an opportunίty
of becomίng the attacker.
Reti Opening
1. Nf3
Το the old-school player, thίs looks
lίke the resource of a badly frίghtened
man. In others, ίt ίnspίres the terror of
the unknown. Actually, ίt sίmply amounts
to playίng the defense wίth a move ίη
hand. Black has the choίce of several good
lίnes, as one mίght expect; but the stu­
dent ίs advίsed to pίck out the one that
appeals to hίm most and to stίck to ίt.
1. ... dS
An entίrely dίfferent system ίs 1 ... Nf6 2.
c4 b6! 3. g3 Bb7 4. d4 (ίf 4. Bgl, then eίther
... c5 or ... e5, wίth an even game) e5! Here
Black offers a pawn and gets full posίtional
compensation ίί Whίte tήes to hold ίt.
1. c4
If thίs ίs played on the first move (Englίsh
Openίng), Black answers wίth 1 ... e5, whίch
looks good and ίs good.
Diιιgrιιm 17
Black now has three good systems of de­
fense, starting from Dίagram 17.
Ι
1. ... e6
In the Match, thίs always led to the
Prague Varίatίon (Games 18, 24, 29, 30) .
If Whίte stίcks to the Retί system, we have
eίther: 3 . g3 dxc4! 4. Qa4t Nd7 ! 5 . Bg2
c5 ! 6. Nc3 a6 7. 0-0 Ngf6 8. Qxc4 Qc7 ! .
Threatenίng eίther . . .b 5 and . . .Bb7 o r . . .Nb6
and ... e5. The posίtίon ίs the same as ίη
the "Catalan" except that Whίte has not
yet moved hίs e-pawn and so has the pos­
sίbίlίty of playίng ίt two squares ίη one
move.
Or 3. b3 Νί6 4. g3 Nbd7 5. Bg2 c6 6. Bb2
Bd6 7. 0-0 0-0 8. d4 (Else 8 ... e5 wίth a free
game.) Ne4!. Black follows up wίth ...f5, get­
ting a good vaήation of the Dutch Defense.
11
1 . ... c6
Thίs was chosen by Euwe ίη Games 26 and
28 ίη whίch ίt led to Slav Defense lίnes. If a
player lίkes the Slav Defense, 2 ... c6 ίs hίs
logίcal choίce.
111
1 . ... d4
Played ίη Game 22, thίs energetic move ίs
probably quίte sound. See the Game notes.
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

FISCHER-SPASSKY ι 1972
An edited reissu.e ojC.J.S. Pu.rdy's book Ησw Fίscher Wση [E.J. Dwyer (Holdings), 1972].

PREFACB

At least a thσusand rηίllίση peσple have heard σf the ηew Wσrld Chess Charnpίση, Bσbby
Fίscher. Mσst σf them, ίηcludίηg almσst all the ηση-players and mσderate players, are ίηcliηed
tσ dίslike what they hear. The eηthusίasts excuse what they dση't lίke because chess lσσms
large ίη their lίves, and Fischer plays chess that ίs σut σf this wσrld.
Ιη this bσσk Ι have trίed tσ shσw that there ίs really lίttle tσ dίslίke-and therefσre lίttle tσ
excuse.
Hσwever, the bσσk sets σut prίmaήly tσ give a detailed cσmmeηtary ση the garnes, authσri­
tative eησugh fσr the cσgnσsceηti, but fσr the mσst part fullyunderstandable tσ thσse whσ play
chess fσr fun. True, there are a few ησtes wίth lσηg strίηgs σf mσves shσwίηg what might have
beeη. Υσu can skίp these and still fσllσw the players' ίdeas. But ίf Ι left them σut, σther bσσks ση
the match that wίll appear subsequeηtly mίght be thσught tσ be better than miηe. Perίsh the
thσught!
Υσu may have already seeη cσmmeηtarίes ίη the ηewspapers σr ση televisiση. Many σf
these were excelleηt cσnsίderίηg they had tσ be dσηe ίη haste. But it was ίηevitable that they
wσuld σfteη be astray, eveη wheη wrίtteη by grandmasters. The Russian grandmaster David
Brσnsteίη was σηce asked, "What abσut the commeηtary tσ that garne yσu prσrnίsed? Yσu've
had ίt ηearly a mσηth:' He replίed, "What, yσu expect me tσ anησtate a chess garne ίη a
mσηth!" As a startiηg pσίηt, Ι had grandmaster cσmmeηtaήes by aίrmaίl frσm Mσscow and
Reykjavik. Great time-savers, but they ηecessarίly lacked depth. Ι hσpe Ι managed tσ sift the
graiη frσm the chaff-and added extra graiη.

[In 1976 Pu.rdy pu.bHshed α small pamphlet entitled Pσst-Mσrtem 1976 in which he pointed ou.t
su.ch eπors as he hadfou.nd in the text ofHσw Fίscher Wση (typographical eπors, misqu.otations, etc.).
Pu.rdy also reconsidered some of the analysis he had pu.bHshed in Ησw Fίscher Wση, and he com­
mented on the analysis pu.bHshed by others in their books ofthe Fischer-Spassky match.
The textu.al eπors pointed ou.t by Pu.rdy have been coπected, and his reconsiderations oj his own
analysis and his commentary on the analysis ofothers appear at the end oJeachgame u.nder the heading
Pσst-Mσrtem 1976.
In the pamphlet Pu.rdy said:]

� 171 �
 Extreme Chess

Ησw Fischer Won was the secoηd σί teη the firstvirtual wσrld champiση, al-Adli-rec­
bσσks ση the match that appeared ίη Eηglish σgnized as supreme arσund 830-840. He was
ίη 1972-74. Ι expected tσ have many secoηd succeeded by ar-Razi, the mid-ceηtury cham­
thσughts, and did. Nearly every bσσk cση­ piση. Ar-Razi was the subject σί a pσem by ar­
tributed sσmethiηg ηew, but ησt everythiηg Rσumi, eηtitled The Chess Champion which Ι ,

ηew was ήght; and the later bσσks repeated a quσte because it is uncannily apt fσr Fischer a
ηumber σf eπσrs σί analysis made ίη the ear­ thσusand years later! These σld Persian pσets
lier σηes....
The bσσk mσst frequeηtly drawn upση ίη eth ceηtury stuff. Ar-Rumi's first stanza was
my summiηg up has prσbably beeη fl� plaiη eησugh, but read ση.
Sp,.�-�skY and Fischer's 1971 Candidates Ma.tffαι_
.flp_m the SovietPoint ofView, translated by Κark­
liηs and coηtaiηiηg cσmmeηts by a hσst σί
__
masters and grandmasters. Published ίη 1973,
it was the secoηd-last bσσk ίη Eηglish. The
eveη later bσσk Both Sides of the C hessboard by
Grandmasters Rσbert Byrne (USA) and Ιvσ
Nei (USSR) is alsσ drawn ση cσηsiderably,
but the authσrs dσ ησt seem tσ have had the
advantage σf seeiηg the 1973 bσσk.
The first bσσk σί all, by Gligσήch, was
masterly if σηe makes allσwance fσrthe handi­
cap σf enfσrced high speed.
WORLD CHAMPIONS
THROUGH 1000 YEARS
Befσre there was a recσgnized wσrld cham­
piσηship title ίη chess, there were players ησw
recogηized retrσspectively as virtual σr prσb­
able wσrld champiσηs, begiηηiηg with Phili­
dσr abσut 1747.
Υσu can gσ back lσηg befσre that and be ση
firm grσund duήηg an σdd ceηtury. Ιη the
ηίηth and teηth ceηturies, the chess wσrld
was as yet fairly small. But its ceηter, Baghdad,
reached prσbably a higher degree σί sσphisti­
catiση ίη chess than was reached ίη Eurσpe
till the ηiηeteeηth ceηtury, althσugh the game
was theη played under the σld rules (differeηt
mσves fσr the pieces we ησw call the Queeη
and Bishσp, and ησ iηitial lσηg jump fσr a
pawn) .
Out σί several tσp-liηe prσfessiσηals, all
under the patrσηage σfthe Caliph, there arσse
wrσte iηcredibly sσphisticated, mid-tweηti­
Mild-handed, dandified, cere­
bral, arcane.
'fyphooning the giants, putting
the shrewd ση pins
With schemes finer than the
composition of winds,
Your record wrecks your man be­
fore the game.
Closer than lovers whom one in·
discretion
C autioned to dumbness, you
evoke machines
And file them for the tactical mo·
ment in
Your cabinet of swift assassina·
tion.
You play wίth your opponents'
souls for pieces.
The red board is awash with
blood. You move
Like extinction through the
ranks, ennui through love,
Strohes tltrough sHen'e at 'hosen
sa,rifl,es.
Fischer has the hands σf an artist, is very
clσthes-cσηsciσus, excessively cerebral (I.Q.
184!, they say), and decidedly arcane-he will
ησt discuss anythiηg persσηal, iηcludiηg his
religiση, will ησt reveal his address σr tele­
phσηe ηumber; and, very ηaturally, his σpeη­
iηgsurprises are reallytσp secret. He certainly

1:::::9 172 1:::::9

 Fischer-Spassky 1972
typhooned Taimanov and Larsen, and Ι sus·
pect that his record-especially in 1971-did
wreck Spassky before the title match.
The second stanza only amplifies the
point about Fischer's storing up of open­
ing surprises. The top Russians have now
joined his other victims in hίs cabinet of
swίft assassίnatίon.
Fiscker (1971)
What is the souH Probably, in modernjar­
gon, the ego. Fίscher does leave an opponent's
ego bleeding on the chess board-Taimanov,
mefully, 'Ί still have my music"; andthe ebul­
lίent Larsen slunk away with bowed head af.
ter his cmshίng defeat, 6-0.
And Fischer's moves do have the smooth
inevίtability of death. The last lines are rather
cryptic, but evidently ar-Razi's smooth play
reminded the poet of an expert but bored
lover. He didn't mean that ar-Razi was an
expert lover any more than one ίmagίnes ίt of
Fischer. It was mmored about eight years ago
that a crafty opponent induced a call-girl to
visίt Fίscher, adversely affecting hίs results ίη
the contest; and that, upon inquiry, Fischer
remarked that it "wasn't as ίnteresting as
chess:' When asked about marήage, he says,
"When God is ready, he'11 probably put a girl
in my lap:'
After ai·Razi, the next ace we hear of is
al-Mawardi, before and after the turn of
the century.
He was succeeded by a player whose name
was remembered in Eastern countήes for six
centuries: Abu-Bakr Muhammed b. Yahyaas·
� 173 �
Sulί. He was the greatest in the game's first
thousand years at least. He wrote books on
chess. He was also a histoήan, a versifier, and,
like Spassky, entertaining and a bon vivant.
He lίved a favorίte at court through the reίgns
of three Caliphs, but at last fell from favor,
fled, and died ίη poverty at Basra ίη 946.
Now jump six centuries. We are now un­
der the new rules. Α Spanish pήest, Ruy Lo­
pez, may have been the world's best around
1560. But an Italian, Gίovanni Leonardo di
Bona, defeated Lopez in 1574. And another
Italίan, Paolo Boi, was Leonardo's equal.
Deάdedly supeήor to these was another
Italian player who flourished later, about
1600, named Poleήo.
However, to get back onto ground as firm
as ancίent Baghdad, we start with the great
French player, Andre Danίcan Philidor. He
was also a musical composer-some of his
pίeces are still played. Philidor lίved much of
his life in London. From 1747 till he died in
1795, he had no ήval as a practical player. He
wrote a best-selling book on chess. Italian con­
temporaήes proved much ofPhilίdor's analy­
sis unsound, but theίr crίticisms were not
translated and did not affect his sales.
Philidorwas succeeded byanother French­
man, Α. Le Breton Deschapelles (heard of the
Deschapelles coup ίη whίst and bridge?).
Deschapelles, kίng of chess in Paήs, abdicated
when his pupil, Louίs Charles Mahe de
Labourdonnais, started beating him. Labour­
donnais was certainly the greatest player the
world had ever seen. In 1834 he came to Lon­
don and engaged in a long seήes of matches
with the Irish master, Alexander McDonnell.
Over the whole seήes, Labourdonnais won,
44-27 with 13 draws. Many ofthe games were
wonderful, especially "the immortal fiftieth,"
won by McDonnell with a sacrίfice of Queen
fortwo pieces that still defies analysis. Labour­
donnais died in 1840.
By 1843, an Englίshman, HowARD STAUN·
τοΝ, illegitίmate son of the fίfth Earl of
 Extreme Chess
Carlisle, had taken the chess scepter. ln that
year he played and won a celebrated match ίη
Parίs agaίnst P.C.F. de Saίnt-Amant. For the
fίrst and only tίme, an Englίshman was world
champίon, though still unoffίcίally. Messrs.
John Jaques and Son paίd Staunton for the
use ofhίs name for theίrnewly desίgned chess­
men, and the pattem has been adopted by the
whole world. Staunton's Handbook sold ίη
such enormous numbers (possίbly 200,000)
that ίts market value ίs less than a dollar even
today. It ίs the fashίon to belittle Staunton as
a Shakespearίan commentator, but just read
hίm and you may compare favorably hίs
commonsense approach wίth the hίgh­
falutin' and far-fetched commentarίes ofmost
modems.
Staunton allowed hίs chess to rust ίη favor
of Shakespeare, and hίs reίgn ended wίth a
crash ίη 1851, when he ίmprudently con'l·
peted ίη the fίrst ίntemational toumament.
The tournament was held ίη London and
Staunton was handίcapped by beίng the chίef
organίzer.
The wίnner of the London toumament
was the genίal German mathematics profes­
sor, ADoιF ANDERSSEN of Breslau. Anderssen
remaίned the world's leadίng player untίl
1866-wίth the shatteήng exception of the
years 1858 and 1859, when the heaven-born
Ameήcan genίus, ΡΑuι MoRPHY of New Or­
leans, vίsίtedEurope and defeated Anderssen
and other opponents wίth ease, at the age of
twenty-one.
Morphy's natίve genίus may have ex·
ceeded Fίscher's, for Morphy reached mas­
tery before he had met any strong opponents.
Fίscher has excelled Morphy ίη sheer fanati·
cίsm, whίch has enabled hίm to work tire·
lessly at studyίng the game nίght and day.
What a contrast between these two young
Ameήcan wίzards. Fίscher, reared ίη poverty
and therefore eager to become rίch through
hίs beloved art. Morphy, bom wίth a sίlver
spoon ίη hίs mouth, a "gentleman" and not a
chess professίonal. Morphy retired from com­
petitive chess after hίs European vίsίt; not
many years later, he became a recluse.
In 1866, the popular Aηderssen was de­
feated ίη a long match by WιιιΙΑΜ SτΕιΝιτz,
8-6 (no draws!).
Steίnίtz, an Austrίan Jew, had settled ίη
England. After hίs vίctory over Anderssen,
he defeated all opponents ίη matches for al­
most28 years. Steίnίtz ίs usually credίted wίth
havίng been World Champίon from 1866 to
1894, though the title of World Champion
dίd not have world-wίde recognitίon till 1886.
The occasίon was hίs match wίth Zukertort,
whίch Steίnίtz won, 10-5 wίth 5 draws. The
match was played ίη the Unίted States where
Steίnίtz had then settled.
Modern chess theory owes much to Steίn­
ίtz, though he hίmself dίd not formulate the
system of pήncίples credίted to hίm. The for­
mulation was not done until 1927, more than
two decades after Steίnίtz's death -ίt was done
by hίs successor, EMANUEL LAsΚER. Lasker was
a man of gίant ίntellect. He wίshed to honor
the man he had dethroned way back ίη 1894.
Lasker credίted Steίnίtz wίth theoήes that
were really hίs own, though hίs chess thίnk­
ίng had started wίth a profound study of
Steίnίtz's games and game annotations. Eίn­
steίn, the great physicίst, knew Lasker well;
and Eίnsteίn has saίd that ίt was ίmpossίble
for Lasker sίmply to record the ίdeas of an­
other man.
Lίke Steίnίtz, Lasker was a Jew. Born
German, he dίd not, like Ralph Rackstraw,
Able Seaman, of the Pinafore, resίst temp­
tatίons to belong to other natίons; for he
became Brίtish, Amerίcan, and-at seventy­
Russίan. Although Lasker wrote books on
phίlosophy, hίs Ph.D. was ίη mathematίcs
(awarded summa cum laude). At varίous
tίmes, he lectured ίη mathematίcs at Man·
chester Unίversίty.
Unlike Steίnίtz, who won matches but of­
ten fell below fίrst place ίη tournaments,
 Fischer-Spassky 1972
Lasker's supremacyiη bothwas clearthrough­
out his reign (27 years, οηe short of Steiηitz's
28); and he still remaiηed top ίη tournameηt
play for three years after losing his title.
Lasker was a delightful character, a hu­
morous racoηteur, aηd a good loser with a
real modesty that spraηg from sheer love
of truth.
Chess has beeη a traditioηal game amoηg
the Jews from medieval times, but these were
the first great Jewish players. The 55 years of
Jewish supremacy iηspired the whole race,
and a quarter-ceηtury of Christian champi­
ons (1921-1946) hardly dimiηished its chess
eηthusiasm.
Startiηgwίth Βοtνίηηίk ίη 1948, at least
two of the Soviet holders of the world title
have beeη partly Jewish, as was Fischer's
mother, who keeηly aided his early chess
efforts.
Lasker said, ''Ι have known many chess
players, but oηly οηe chess geηius-Capa·
blanca:' He did ηοt, of course, know Morphy.
This bήηgs us to the world's secoηd chess ge­
ηius, Jos:E RAouι CAPABLANCA Υ GRAUPERA of
Cuba, who defeated Laskerat Havana in 1921,
4-0 with 10 draws.
Before Castro, Capa was the most famous
Cuban in history. And before Fischer, he was
the most famous chess player ίη history. Α
haηdsome, suave, polished diplomat, his
ηame was familiar to every ηavvie-just as
Fίscher's ίs ηοw. My dear frίeηd W.A. Fair­
hurst, Champioη of Scotland eleveη times ίη
eleveη attempts, illustrates Capa's charm with
a little anecdote.
The Ameήcan Sammy Reshevsky had un­
expectedlywangled a wίη from Fairhurst ίη a
game adjourned overηight. Reshevsky fol­
lowed up by beatiηg the great Capablanca.
Capa, hand ση Fairhurst's shoulder, remarked
cheerfully, "Sammy ίs doing well-you this
morηiηgand ηοw me:' At that momeηt Fair­
hurst probably felt as proud as he did decades
later wheη the Queeη Mother officially
� 175 �
opeηed his superbly designed Tay Bήdge.
Here was οηe prophet hoηored ίη hίs own
country. Το free Capablanca from havίηg to
thinkabout moηey, hίs Governmeηt gave him
a special post of Ambassador to the World,
with ηο duties except to briηg such further
glory to Cuba as fortune might vouchsafe.
His fiftieth birthday (19 November 1938) was
a ηatioηal holiday, marked by a commemora­
tive issue of postage stamps [Ed.: Actuι;ιlly, it
wι:ιs 1951 .] . Less than four years later, his body
was brought home from New York to lie in
state, and hίs funeral drew a vast coηcourse
that blocked traffic ίη Havana for hours. Α
quarter-ceηtury later, wheη Castro speηt the
equivaleηt of two millioη Ameήcan dollars
of poor Cuba's reveηue οη hostiηg the 1966
Chess Olympiad ση the most lavish scale
imaginable, he had the people's approval­
partly because the eveηt hoηored the memory
of Capablanca.
Despite Capa's aura of invincibility, he held
the title only six years. Plotting hίs downfall
was a Russian exile, AιEXANDERALExANDROVIcH
ΑιΕκΗΙΝΕ. Sοη of an aristocrat, he was seη­
teηced to die by the Bolshevίks but was re­
pήeved because of hίs chess prowess. Escaping
from Russia by a ruse the same year that Capa·
blanca beat Lasker, he settled ίη France. Ιη
due course he acquired Freηch ηatioηality, as
well as a Paήs doctorate ίη law, though he
practiced ηο professioη but chess. [Ed.: 1t's been
nuted thι:ιt Alekhine didn't ι:ιctuι;ιllyfinish his lι:ιw
degree.]
Although Alekhiηe wοη tournameηt af.
ter tournameηt, he was still only Ν ο. 3 ίη the
worldiη 1924; for Lasker (aged 54) re-eηtered
the areηa. Ιη the greatest post-war tourηey
till theη, New York 1924, the placingwas Las­
ker, Capablanca, Alekhiηe.
Another landmark was the tourηey of
New York 1927. With Lasker agaiη ίη retire­
meηt, Capablanca wοη by so big a margin
ahead of Alekhiηe that the result of the
$10,000 title match to be played later ίη the
 Extreme Chess
year at Buenos Aίres was widely rated a fore­
gone conclusion. Alekhine was scintillating,
yes, but who could defeat the invincίble?
It was a match unHke a11 before it because
draws were not to count. First to score sίχ
wins was to be Champion.
Alekhine planned carefully. He had never
won a game from Capa; so he wouldnot press
for wins from move 1, hίs norma1 style. He
would play classίca11y, Hke Capa hίmself, and
try to wear Capa down. Capa 1ost the first
game, but buίlt up a 2-1 1ead. But after 30
games ίt was 4-3 to Alekhine. Missίng a
chance to equalίze at 4-4, Capablanca 1ost the
32nd and 34th games. Alekhίne had won 6-3
with 25 draws.
Ι spoke earHer of Lasker's modesty. He
discussed the games with both p1ayers-sepa­
rate1y, for unfortunately they were no 1onger
on speaking terms with each other-and gave
the world his opinίon that in thίs match chess
had reached a new height. Both players per­
sίstently played the Queen's Gambit, Ortho­
doxDefense. The ratherstereotyped openings
were a great contrast to those of the Fίscher­
Spassky match 45 years 1ater, featuring an
opening surprise in almost every game.
Strange paradox! In 1927, when so many more
opening Hnes were undίscovered, the world's
two greatest players produced re1ative1y few.
In 1972, with the codifίcation of openings
swollen twentyfold at 1east, Fischer has pro­
duced innovations with the prodigality of a
catheήne-whee1 tossing off sparks. Spassky
has produced a few innovations; and Ι suspect
he had ready some splendid ones in some of
Fischer's favorίte openίngs, whίch Fischer
craftily avoίded.
The 1927 match had more than a spήn­
klίng of featureless draws, the 1972 match
hardly a single one.
On the other hand, the 1927 match was
not disfigured by elementary blunders. You
may explain Spassky's three strange aberra­
tions ( Games 5, 8, and 14) , as Ι try to ίη this
� 176 �
book; but they remain blemίshes. How to
compare the best of the 1927 games with
the best of the 1972? Some of the 1927 ones
had grandeur. Butthe 1972 games were much
the more varied and the more entertaining
to the huge majority of chess foHowers.
Alekhine sti11 feared Capablanca, avoίded
a return match, and even avoίded meeting
hίm ίη tournaments by demanding double
hίs norma1 appearance fee ίf Capa were in­
vited. In two tournaments, San Remo 1930
and Bled 1932, without Capablanca but with
a11 the other greats competing ( except Lasker,
sti11 in retirement), Alekhine won by enor­
mous margins such as Capablanca admίttedly
never achίeved. [Ed.: This remark ι:ιbout Ale­
khine'sfear ofCι:ιpι:ιblι:ιncι:ι cι:ιn not be proven-good
grief, Alekhine won the mι:ιtch 6-3. He wι:ιs quite
ι:ιngry over Cι:ιpι:ιblι:ιncι:ι's terms, ι:ιnd ι:ιfter hι:ιving
won the mι:ιtch imposed the sι:ιme terms on Cι:ιpι:ι­
blι:ιncι:ι, who, ι:ιfter hι:ιving lost ι:ιnd formerly being
declared "invincible," hι:ιd troublefinding bι:ιckers
for the lι:ιrge stι:ιkes required. The detι:ιils ιυe not
triviι:ιl, but mι:ιny writers mι:ιke them so.]
With no more worlds to conquer, Ale­
khine could not find enough meaning in Hfe
and acquίred an addiction to a1coho1. In 1935
he met so strong a cha11enger, Max Euwe of
Holland, that he would have needed peak
form to win. Lacking it, he 1ost a great match,
9-8 with 13 draws. My book of that match,
How Euwe Won, received rave notices and was
out of pήnt in months.
Defeat turned Alekhine into a new man.
Το beat Capablanca he had given up smoking.
Now he gave up a1coho1 and Hved on sour
milk. In 1936 he at 1ast met Capablanca again
in a tournament. Capablanca beat him in their
individua1 game and tied for first with the
young Russian star, Botvinnik. Alekhine was
only sίxth. But he plugged οη with his prepa­
ration for hίs return match with Euwe, and
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
by 1937 he had reached such form that he
won grandly, 1 1-6 (wίth agaίn 13 draws) .
My book of the match, The Return ofAle­
khine, appeared sίmultaneously wίth Ale­
khίne's own book of the match. Ι was happίly
astounded at how closely my analysίs coίn­
cίded wίth hίs. Both books went out of pήnt
rapίdly and became collectors' pίeces.
The 1935-37 World Champίon, Dr. Euwe,
later Professor Euwe, a mathematicίan, ίs a
bήllίantly lucίd chess wrίter. Νow, at seventy,
he ίs Presίdent of FIDE. Α popular personal­
ίty wίth an ίrrepressίble sense of humor, he
has handled Fίscher's vagarίes wίth a superb
mίxture of tact and firmness.
Alekhίne remaίned Champίon from 1937
till hίs sudden death ίη 1946. World War ΙΙ
saved hίm from defeat, for ίη hίs last years he
suffered from hίgh blood pressure and hίs
chess deterίorated. One of hίs unsuccessful
challengers, Bogoljuboff, saίd, "Alekhίne
would rather dίe than not wίn:' Thίs boon
was granted hίm.
Lίke Fίscher today, Alekhίne was a chess
fanatίc. In a traίn, at breakfast, and any other
tίme he was not asleep, out would come hίs
pocket chess set, and ίt was open besίde hίm
when he was found dead ίη Lίsbon.
But Alekhίne was a man of culture and
wίt. In French the pίece that ίη Englίsh, Por­
tuguese, and Icelandίc (and those languages
alone!) ίs called a Bίshop ίs a court jester or
fool (lefou). Two weak players ίη Lίsbon had
just finίshed a game, and one claίmed that he
should have won because he had "the two
Bίshops:' Alekhίne murmured to a fήend,
"Deux foux gagnent toujours, maίs troίs foux,
non" ( two fools always wίn, but three, no).
In an Englίsh tournament, a retίred naval
officer ίnterrupted a dίscussίon of a game, not
knowίnghe was addressίngthe WorldCham­
pίon. "The book, sίr, gίves Castles there," he
protested. Alekhίne quίetly answered, 'Ί am
the book:'
Α traίn traveler saw an unknown fellow
ι:::=ι
passenger take out a pocket chess set and of­
fered hίm a game. Alekhίne, for ίt was he,
saίdhe wouldplayhίmfor lOOpounds. "Why!
Youdon'tknowme," saίdthe astonίshedman.
"That," saίd Alekhίne, "ίs why:'
Observe that all three wίtticίsms have a
lίttle bίte. By contrast, Capablanca was such a
stίckler for old world Spanίsh courtesy that ίf
a stranger offered to play hίm at the odds of a
Κnίght he thought ίt rude to refuse. Capa
would accept the handίcap, wίn the game,
and then polίtely offer to concede the same
odds to hίs opponent, agaίn wίnnίng.
Wίth both of these, contrast agaίn the fun­
lovίng Lasker. Offered the odds of Queen by a
stranger on a traίn, he contήved to lose, and
then saίd, 'Ίt's an advantage to play wίthout
your Queen, ίt saves worry; let me gίve you a
Queen and see ίf Ι wίn:' The stranger, taught
to humor madmen, agreed-and lost. "Test
mytheory further," saίd Lasker, "you gίve me
the Queen again:' Agaίn Lasker contήved to
lose, agaίn conceded a Queen hίmself, and
agaίn won. Nowthe strangerthought he hίm­
selfwas goίngmad-till Lasker kίndly revealed
that he was the World Champίon.
Not yet translated ίs a novel ίη Russίan by
Grandmaster Alexander Kotov entitled Blιιck
ιιnd White. Only slίghtly fictίonal, ίt ίs the
story of the lίves and loves of Lasker, Capa­
blanca, and Alekhίne.
Lasker was for many years a dear fήend of
a marrίed couple. The husband was an ίn­
valίd. When he dίed, the wίdow, Martha,
marrίed Lasker; and they were ίdyllίcally
happy.
Capablanca adored hίs first wίfe Glorίa.
She dίed and he next marήed a former Geor­
gίan prίncess, Olga Chagodalf, who recently
arranged some of hίs lectures for publίcatίon.
Alekhίne marήed three tίmes, always a
woman much hίs senίor. Mother-fixation?
Yes, thatwas ίt.
177 ι:::=ι
 Extreme Che55
THE FIDE ERA
Alekhine'5 death in 1946 was the birth of a
new era. The world title had been univer5ally
recognized for 5ixty year5, but the holder had
alway5 laid down term5 for challenger5. The
Federation Intemational de5 Echecs (FIDE),
founded in 1924, had not interfered.
With no Champion, the way was clear for
FIDE to as5ume control. After prolonged di5·
cus5iOn5, 5ίχ player5 were invited to conte5t
the fir5t and only toumament for the world
champion5hip. They were Botvinnik, Kere5,
and Smy5lov ofthe USSR, Re5hev5ky and Fine
of the USA, and Euwe of Holland, the ex·
Champion.
Reuben Fine, now Dr. Fine and about to
drop che55 for p5ychiatry [Ed.: Actu&ι.lly, psy·
chσanalysis.], declined. That left five, who
would each play five game5 with each of the
other5.
The fίr5t two rounds were played in The
Hague, March 1948, the next three in Μο5·
cow, April-May. As expected, Botvinnik won
convincingly, three points ahead of Smy5lov.
Kere5 and Re5hev5ky were 1.5 points behind
Sym5lov. Euwe, last, was 50 far below pre-war
form that hί5 failure proved nothing. Sheer
fatigue in the fifth hour continually beat him.
FIDE evolved a 5y5tem for finding a chal­
lenger every three year5. The world was di·
vided into Zone5. Each Zone would hold a
Zonal Champion5hip and would be entitled
to 5end at least one repre5entative to an Inter·
zonal Tournament the following year. From
thί5 event, a number ofplayer5 (nine in 1949)
would qualify for a Candidate5' Tournament
a year later; but thί5 event would al5o include
5eeded player5-for example, the "5eeds" in
the fir5t Candidate5' Toumey in 1950 would
be all the player5 invited to play for the title in
1948 ( except Botvinnik, of cour5e).
The clockwork precί5ίon of the new 5Υ5·
tem contrasted amusingly with the Rafferty
rule5 obtaining in the bad old day5, though all
� 178 �
the Champion5 from Steinitz to Alekhίne de·
5erve marks for good behavior con5ίdering
that there was no official control.
The fir5t Interzonal was at Saltzjδbaden,
near Stockholm, ίη 1948. Nine player5 qualί­
fied to play ίη the "Candidate5," ίη Budape5t
ίη 1950, but only eight did play. Of the five
"5eeds," Euwe declίned; and the U.S. Govem·
ment refused Hungarίan vi5as to Re5hev5ky
and Fίne. Smy5lov and Kere5 did play. The
toumey ended ίη a tie between two Ukraίni·
an5, Bron5teίn and Bole5lav5ky-Ukraίnίans
often get cro55 if called Rus5ian5. Bron5teίn
won a play-off, 50 he met Botvinnίk ίη 1951.
MrκHAIL BorvrNNIK, an electrίcal engίneer
ίη hί5 5pare time, has proved one of the mo5t
efficient player5 of all time. He was the world'5
out5tanding player for nearly two decade5 of
the po5t·war era. David Bron5teίn, then a very
young man, i5 a great che55 artί5t with a bril·
liant and oήgίnal attacking 5tyle. Botvinnik
5ucceeded in drawing a grand match, 5-5 with
14 draw5, thus retaίning hί5 title. Τhί5 match
was Rus5ίan V5. Ukraίnian, quίte intemational
from the Ukraίnian viewpoint.
The 5y5tem ran 5moothly ση. Zonal5 in
1951, Interzonal5 1952 (Stockholm again!),
Candidate5 in Switzerland 1953. Τhί5 last
event was won by 'lk.ssιιY SMYsιov (Rus5ίa). So
in 1954 two Rus5ίan5 battled it out. Again
Botvinnik halved the match, 7-7 with 10
draws, and retained hί5 title.
The next cycle produced Smy5lov as chal·
lenger for the 5econd time, for he won the
Candidate5 in Amsterdam, 1956. And thί5
time, in 1957, he deci5ίvely toppled Bot·
vinnik, 6-3 with 13 draws.
ln those days the Champion was allowed
a retum match the following year. This ήght
was aboli5hed in 1963; ίt is unfair if, after
dethroning the Champion, a challenger has
to 5tart trying to beat him again after a lap5e
of only nine months.
Botvinnik won the return match [Ed.:
Against Smyslσv.], 7-5 with 11 draws. He had
 Fischer-Spassky 1972
played six matches in his life, and this was the
first he had won! He had drawn four. Bot­
vinnik could ήse to heights when he had to
strain for full points, as in tournaments, but
was not suited by the safety-first pήnciple of
match play.
The 1958 Interzonal in Portoroz, Yugosla­
via, included the new Am.eήcan Champion,
Bobby Fischer. He qualified for the Candi­
dates, thus becominga grandmaster at fifteen!
The winner, however, was MrΚHAIL TAL of
Latvia, and he also won the Candidates in
1959. This event, too, was held in Yugoslavia.
Tal, a true chess artist like Bronstein, had
atthattimea thήllingstyle (age 23). Hewould
often sacήfice for an attack that looked theo-
retically inadequate, on
the grounds that defense
requires more calculation
than attack. The defender
has to thίnk. of everything
the attacker may do. Tal
had developed a marvel­
ous intuition for the sort
of attacks he could get
Tal
away with.
With this incredibly daring style, he be­
came at 24 the youngest world champion
since the inception of the title-Lasker had
won it at 26. Morphy, of course was younger
(21). For Tal crushed Botvinnίk, 6-2 with
13 draws, causing huge jubίlation in Latvia.
That was in 1960.
But the relentless Botvinnik was back ίη
nine months duήng whίch he had left off
engineeήng but was paid his full salary all the
time, and concentrated on the one problem:
Tal. And this time he had a more than com­
plete revenge, 10-5, 6 draws.
The next Interzonal, Stockholm 1961, was
won by Fischer with a margin of 2.5 points.
But in the Candidates at Curaςao 1962, ίη a
field of fίve Soviet players and three non-So­
viet, Fischer had to be content wίth fourth.
Content! I'm jokίng of course.
� 179 �
Fischer complained vociferously that "the
Russians" ( only one was truly a Russian) had
ganged up on him. They had, in fact, gained
virtual rest days when they met, by playing
short and non-combative draws. And the
world recognίzed the evident truth that re­
ally badgangingup by "throwίng" games was
a possίbίlity, given a preponderance of com­
petitors who were compatήots-sort of.
Young Fίscher's complaints, though ex­
pressed intemperately, produced a big reform.
FIDE abolished the Candidates' tournament
and substituted a seήes of matches among the
eight Candidates on the knock-out system,
the wίnner of the final was to become the
challenger.
The winner of the controversial Curaςao
1962 event was the canny Armenian grand­
master TrcRAN PEτRosiAN. In 1963 he met Bot­
vinnik with the happy knowledge that if he
beat him ίt would be for keeps. And he did
beat hίm, 5-2 with 15 draws.
Botvinnik had now met a Ukrainian, a
Russian (thήce), a Latvian (twίce), and an
Armenίan before at last bowing out. He de­
cίded not to use his ήght to play as a "seed" ίη
the 1965 Candidates' matches. He hadproved
hirnself one of the all-time "greats:'
Despίte the reform made for his benefit,
Fischer did not play in the 1964 Interzonal in
Amsterdam and therefore could not be one of
the 1965 Candidates. But the playwas on the
new Fischer system. The winner was Russia's
Βοήs Spassky.
Spassky duly met Petrosian in 1966 and
was narrowly defeated, 4-3 with 17 draws.
He had not reached his peak.
The 1967 Interzonal was held ίη Sousse,
Algeήa. Fischer was leading when he quar­
reled with the organίzers and walked out,
though he could have accepted the two for­
feits debited to him and still have qualified
with great ease, probably even taking first
pήze. Whydid he put off foryet another three
years an attempt on the world title� His fans
 Extreme Chess
began feelίng lίke Mariana ίη the Moated
Grange.
She only saίd, "My life is d.reary,
He cometh not:' she saίd.
She saίd, 'Ί am a-weary, a·weary;
would tltιιt Ι were deιιd:'
For the second timeι Spasskywon the Can­
ι ι
dίdates serίesι ίη 1968-thίs tίme very decί­
sίvely. And ίη 1969 ι at hίs second attemptι he
dethroned Petrosίan ("the τίger")ι 6-4 wίth
13 draws.
In 1970 Fίsch­
er refused to play
for hίs own na­
tίonal champίon­
shίp; he thought ίt
should be much
longer than amere
eleven rounds.
Sίnce he had won
ίt every tίme he
had competedι
why worry� An-
swerι because he ίs Spa.ssky
Fίscher-a perfectίonίst. By not competίngι
he forfeίtedhίs ήght to playίn the 1971 Inter­
zonal. But one of the Ameήcans who dίd
qualίfy was asked ίf he would stand down ίη
favor of Fίscher ίf compensated wίth $1000
(or was ίt $2000?). He would. And FIDEι
bendίng ίts rulesι allowed the substίtutίon;
for obvίously Fίscher was a unίque case-the
only player ίη the world wίth any chance of
breakίng the domίnatίon of chess by one na­
tίon. Ι have met ten Sovίet grandmastersι ίn­
cludίng three World Champίons. All were
charmίng fellows. But the Sovίet supremacy
dίd get monotonous.
Fίscherι the ήηg-ίηι won the Interzonal at
Las Palmas ίη 1971 [Ed.: 1 970] by the record
margίn of 3.5 poίntsι despίte an ίnexplίcable
lapse of form about mίdway ίη the tourney.
ι ι
Thenι stίll ίη 1971ι the Candίdates
� 180 �
matches had a staggerίngι almost ίncredίble
outcome. Fίscher defeated Taίmanov (Rus­
sίa) ι 6-0wίth no draws; and then Larsen (Den­
mark)ι Νο. 2 player of the Western Worldι
also 6-0 wίth no draws; and then even the
great Petrosianι World Champίon 1963-69ι
5-1 wίth 3 draws.
ι
Now do you see Spassky s trouble� Just go
back a thousand years to ar-Roumί-'Ύour
record wrecks your man before the game:
Spassky could cope wίth the Fίscher he knew.
Butsomehowι sίnce they hadlastmetι ίη 1970ι
Fίscher had quίte evίdently taken a sudden
leap-from Earth to Olympus. For such scores
had not hίtherto been consίdered humanly
possίble between grandmasters.
[For a.n up-da.ting of the Hst of World Cha.m­
pionsι see thefrontpa.rt of this combined νolume.]
ΤΗΕ PRE·MATCH COLD WAR
Before world champίonshίp matches ίη
days gone byι protracted and sometίmes acή­
monίous negotίatίons were quίte usual. After
FIDE took overι goodbye to all that-untίl
Fίscher became the challenger.
The purse ίη the tίtle match three years
ago (1969) was only about $US 2ι000ι ashήnk­
age sίnce the days of Capablanca who ίnsίsted
ση $US 10ι000 (gold!). Pίfflίng purses lower
ι
the game s prestίge. Fίscher ίs out to stop that
at all costs.
It was decίded to auctίon the Spassky­
Fίscher matchι the various bίds receίved by 30
January 1972 to be put before the contestants.
The three hίghest purses were:
Belgradeι Yugoslavίaι $US152ι000
Sarajevoι Yugoslavίaι $US130ι 000
Icelandίc Chess Federatίonι $US125ιΟΟΟ
Other bίds were from Chίcagoι Buenos
Aίresι Canadaι Hollandι West Germanyι
France; alsoι but much too lateι Australiaι
$200ι000.
ι
Spassky s preferences were 1. Icelandι 2.
Hollandι 3. West Germany. Fίscher s 1. Bel·
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
grade, 2. Sarajevo, 3. Chίcago.
Each contestant was allowed to veto one
venue. Spassky vetoed Yugoslavίa; Fίscher,
Iceland!
Impasse! FIDE asked ίts Presίdent, Profes­
sor Euwe, to arbίtrate. Decίsίon: 12 games ίη
Belgrade, the remaίnder (12 or fewer) ίη
Reykjavίk, Iceland. Belgrade won the toss for
the first twelve. Fίscher's favorίte cίty.
Α contract was sίgned ίη Amsterdam,
Fίscher beίng represented by Colonel Ed­
mondson of the U.S. Chess Federatίon. The
contract dίvίded the purse (whίch would be
the average of the Belgrade and Iceland of­
fers) between wίnner and loser 5:3, and gave
each player a percentage of proceeds from the
sale of televίsίon and film rίghts.
Next move: Fίscher "dίsmίsses" Edmond­
son and cables Belgrade and Iceland, ίnsίstίng
that the players also receίve a share of the
gate-money.
Belgrade ended up by wίthdrawίng com­
pletely ίts offer to hold the event. Iceland sίm­
ply refused the new condίtίon. Euwe sent an
ultimatum to Fίscher: agree to play the whole
match ίη Reykjavίk or stand down as chal­
lenger. Under protest, Fίscher agreed.
The openίng ceremony ίη Reykjavίk was
set for Saturday, 1 ]uly, Game 1 to start 2 ]uly.
The ceremony took place. Fίscher was still ίη
New York.
On 2 ]uly, telegrams were receίved from
the U.S. Chess Federation and Fίscher's doc­
tor requesting a postponement. Euwe ruled
the request out of order. However, he dίd al­
low a postponement till Tuesday, 4 July.
Then another reason for Fίscher's delay
came to Hght. He was agaίn askίng that the
players each receίve 30% of the gate receίpts.
The Icelandίc Chess Federation agaίn refused.
Then the London merchant banker, Jίm
Slater, a famous chess patron, offered to
double the purse!
On 2 ]uly, Fίscher landed ίη Reykjavίk at
6:55 a.m. The draw for colors was at noon,
ι==ι 181 ι==ι
but Fίscher was asleep and sent hίs second,
Father Willίam Lombardy.
Bombshell! The Sovίet team put ίη a wήt­
ten memo from the Champίon: "Publίc οpίη­
ίοη ίη the USSRand Ι personally are ίndίgnant
over Fίscher's conduct ... Fίscher must bear
just punίshment ... Only after thίs can Ι re­
turn to the question about the possίbilίty of
holdίng the match:' And Sovίet officίals ac­
cused Euwe of vίolating the rules. Apologίes
were demanded from both Fίscher and Euwe.
Fίscher ίssued a statement:
The problems ca.using the delay
were not with Spassky whom Ι
respect as a player, a man, and a
frίend. If Grandmaster Spassky
or the Sovίet people were in·
convenίenced or discomforted
Ι am indeed unhappy, for Ι had
not the slightest intentίon of
thίs occurrίng.
Euwe made an official apology, addίng that
he had acted as he dίd because ίt was the only
wayto bήngthe match about. The chessworld
owes hίm deep gratίtude.
Fίscher's statement was not an apology,
saίd the Russίans. Fίscher then sat up all nίght
wήtίng a real apology. He showed his first
draft to the journalist Brad Darrach. In it
Fischer mentίoned that he would have been
willίng to forfeit all pήze money. Darrach ad­
vίsed hίm to show the draft to his lawyer. The
lawyer saίd, "Leave that out:' Fischer's final
version read:
Dear Boήs,
Please accept my sίncerest apolo·
gίes for my disrespectful behav·
ίοr in not attendίng the open·
ίng ceremony. Ι sίmply beca.me
carried away by my petty dis·
pute over money with the Ice·
landίc organίzers. Ι have of·
 Extreme Chess

fended you and your country, GAME I

the Sovίet Union, where chess
has a prestigious position. Also, τΗΕ SUICIDE BISHOP
Ι would like to apologize to Dr.
Max Euwe, to the match orga· Oh, what a fall was there, my
nizers ίn Iceland, to the thou· countrymen!
sands of chess fans around the ]uHus Caesar
••.

world, andespeciallyto the mil·

lions of fans and the many
friends Ι have in the United The first game must have beeη felt by
States ... Fischer as a bitter humiliatioη. This wizard of
the game, whose powers of calculatioη ίη
Petty dispute! Possibly Spassky secretly for· chess exceed those of any other player who
gave pettiness that was goiηg to bήηg him at has yet lived, suddeηly made a move that
least another $US 45,000-odd (pre·tax). looked to every member of the audieηce and
Time priηted a hilarious story, but quίte to millioηs of players throughout the world
true, of how Fischer aηd Father Lombardy like a childish blunder.
weηt to Spassky's hotel, bribed a bellboy
to admίt them to Spassky's room, tiptoed
ίη like Father Christmas, aηd left the ηote
at the bedside.
At Spassky's request, a ηew startiηg date
was set, 11 July, to calm everybody's ηerves.
Α week loηger ίη delightful Reykjavik! And
ση 11 July, with the world ση its toes, the
match did start.

Naturally the immediately followiηg

thoughtwas, Fischermusthave calculated that
the appareηtly doomed Bishop could escape.
But it sοοη proved that his calculatioη was
hideously wroηg. It was probably the worst
move he had made siηce the age of teη or so.
Clearly, his miηd, usually a perfect chess
machiηe, was temporaήly out ofgear. Was he
distracted by suspicioηs of televisioη cameras
or affected by the ηervous tensioη which he
himself had built up with his demands and
complaiηts and his clashes with the officials?
It was fortunate that if the first game had to
be marred by a blunder it should be made by
Fischer and ηοt Spassky, whose supporters
could have attήbuted it to the upsettiηg effect

/:::::"'9 ]82 1;::::"'9

 Fίscher-Spassky 1 972
of Fίscher's pre-match behavίor.
Α blunder dίstorts a game from the poίnt
of vίew of sportίng ίnterest: a score that
should have been 0.5-0.5 went up as 0-1 .
But the game ίtself may contaίn hίghly ίn­
terestίng chess. So ίt was here. The end­
game that Spassky had the task of wίnnίng
after the blunder was a classίc.
Nίmzo-Indίan Defense
Spassky-Fischer
1. d4 Nf6
1. c4 e6
τwίce prevίously, Spassky had played 1.
d4 agaίnst Fίscherwho had each time replίed
wίth the Grίinfeld Defense, 2 ... g6 followed
by ... d5. But Fίscher's favorίte defense, by a
long chalk, is the Κing's Indίan, 2 ... g6 ΝΟΤ
followed by ... d5. Therefore, the Russίans
must have spent months preparίng agaίnst
the expected 2 ... g6. It must have been a cruel
dίsappoίntment when Fίscher refused to play
ίt throughout the match.
3. Nf3 d5
Fischer transposes ίnto an orthodox
Queen's Gambίt Declίned, the tradίtίonally
safest possίble play. In a match between two
players, there ίs no objectίon to a drawίsh
opening for Black. Statistics show that, speak­
ίng very roughly, Whίte wίns at least four
games out of ten, Black wίns three at most,
and about three are drawn. So ίt ίs sound
polίcy to try hard to wίn wίth Whίte but not
to take undue risks wίth Black.
4. Nc3
Thίs way of playίng the Queen's Gambίt
(both Κnίghts out first) is known as the Rago­
zίn system. Before the match, Fίscher had had
thίs posίtίon as Black only four tίmes ίη hίs
recorded career; and each tίme he played the
move he plays now, transposίng ίnto a varίa­
tion of the Nίmzo-Indίan Defense (usually
reached by 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4). The
<='I 183 <='I
Nίmzo-Indίan ίs generally regarded as a
sound equalίzer rather than as a prelude to an
all-out struggle for a wίn.
4. Bb4
5. e3 0-0
6. Bd3 c5
7. 0-0 Nc6
8. a3
Arrίvίng at the classίcal posίtίon of the
Nίmzo-Indίan. It has occurred thousands of
times; but, Ι belίeve, never before ίη a Fίscher
game. When Fίscher has used the Nίmzo be­
fore, he has always adopted one ofthe slίghtly
offbeat varίants of ίt. The routίne reply now
ίs 8 ... Bxc3. Oflate, however, 8... Ba5 has been
gίven preference. Why unnecessarίly ex­
change Bίshop for ΚnίghH
8. ••• Ba5
If now 9. dxc5, threatenίng b4, then of
course ... Bxc3, exchangίng nowthat ίtwίllno
longer strengthen White's pawn-center. The
usual lίne now ίs 9. cxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Bxc3
11. bxc3 Qa5, and Whίte can try to make
somethίng of hίs two Bίshops. Assumίng
Fίscher to be thoroughly prepared for that,
Spassky chooses a lίne whίch turned out well
for hίm ίη a game agaίnst Κrogίus.
9. Nel dxc4
10. Bxc4 Bb6
Better than 10 ... cxd4 whίch would gra­
tuίtously redevelop Whίte's e-Knίght for
hίm at d4.
11. dxcs Qxd1
An exchange of pίeces loses a tempo for
the ίnitίator of the exchange ίf the recapture
ίs a developίng move as here. However, after
b4 and Bb2, Whίte's pίeces wίll be bearίng
down ση Black's castled Κing-so ίt ίs reason­
able to reduce Whίte's attackίng chances by
swapping Queens. Besίdes, Black has an ίn­
novation ready, by means of whίch he wίll
regaίn the lost tempo.
11. Rxd1 Bxc5
13. b4 Be7
14. Bb2 Bd7!
 Extreme Chess

29. b5
Followίng the pήncίple of placίng pawns,
where feasίble, on squares of the opposίte
color to those of your Bίshop.
29. ... Bxh2H

Thίs ίs the ίnnovation. Black ίmproves οη

the earlίergame, Spassky-Κrogius, whίch went
14... b6 15. Nf4 Bb7 16. Ng5-wίth defense
problems for Black. Fίscher's move enables
the Rooks to hurry ίnto play, producίng a bal­
ance ίη development. Whίte could "wίn" a The mίscalculatίon ίs sίχ moves ahead, but
Bίshop now by Bxf6?, but would lose a Rook. ίt ίs easy to see sίχ moves ahead when there ίs
15. Rac1 Rfd8 only one lίne to look at. Truly an amazίng
16. Ned4 Nxd4 abeπation. One would thίnk Fίscher would
Sίmplίfίcatίon suίts Black, but evίdently ask hίmself, 'Ίf thίs ίs sound, why dίd Spassky
Spassky deάded there was no promίsίng way leave ίt on?" After all, Spassky ίs the world's
to complίcate. second-best player. And so Fίscher should
17. Nxd4 Ba4 have checked hίs analysίs.
18. Bb3 B:xb3 Fίscher blamed the televίsίon cameras,
19. N:xb3 Rxd1t hence hίs refusal to admίt them subsequently.
20. Rxd1 Rc8 Botvίnnίk poίnts out that the game would
21. Κf1 Κf8 be sure to end ίη a draw after 29 ... Ke7 30. h3
And ίf now 22. Bxf6 Bxf6 23. Rd7, then e5, followed by ... Ke6. In thίs, ίf30. Ke4, then
23 ... Rc3. 30... f5t; for ίf 31. Kd4?, then ...Bxh2 would
22. Ke2 Ne4 be a wίnner.
23. Rc1 Rx:c1 30. g3 h5
24. Bxc1 f6 31. Κe2 h4
On pήncίple, don't dίsturb an ίntact pawn 32. Κf3 Ke7
posίtion till necessary. Botvίnnίk suggested On move 29, Fίscher had certaίnly envίs­
as more natural 24... Ke8 25. Na5 Nd6 26. aged 32 ... h3 33. Κg4 Bg1 34. Κχh3 Bxf2-he
Kd3 b5. had mίssed that Whίte then plays 35. Bd2!,
25. Na5 trappίng the Bίshop. Thίnkίng that Whίte
Botvίnnίk prefeπed 25. f3 Nd6 26. Nc5. couldnotpermίt 32 ... h3, Fίscherpresumably
Probably Fίscher's 24th envίsaged thίs, and counted on 32. gxh4-whereupon Whίte ίs
Fίscher would have contίnued wίth 26 ... e5. handίcapped wίth an ίsolated pawn.
25. ... Nd6 33. Κg2 hxg3
26. Κd3 Bd8 34. fxg3 Bxg3
Elίmίnating a mίnor sword of Damocles. 35. Κχg3 Κd6
27. Nc4 Bc7 36. a4 Κd5
28. Nxd6 Bxd6 37. Ba3

� 184 �
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
37 . ... Κe4
The drawback tσ thίs ίs that Whίte ίs able
tσ establίsh a pawn ση b6, whίch leads tσ vic­
tσry. True, Blackmust elίmίηate Whίte's ceη­
tral pawn, ίf pσssίble; but a better way ίs 3 7 ...
e5! Ιη the Russian paper 64, Βσtνiηηίk sug­
gested 37 ... e5, but wίthσut gίviηg any analy­
sίs. My σwη analysίs ίs as fσllσws: 38. Κg4 g6
39. Be7 f5t 40. Kg5 Ke6 41. Bd8 (If 41. Bc5,
theη 41 ... b6 [see Post-Mortem. 1976for Gam.e 1];
σrίf41. Κχg6, theη 41 ... f4.) Kd5 42. Bc7 Ke4
43. Κχg6 f4 44. exf4 exf4 45. Κf6 f3 46. Bg3
Kd5 47. Bf2 b6 48. Ke7 Kc4 49. Kd7 Kb4 50.
Kc6 Κχa4 51. Bel Kb3 and draws (If52. Kb7,
theη 52 ... Kc4; and if 52. Kd5, theη 52 ... Κa4
53. Kc4 Κa3).
An altemative liηe, dίvergίηg at mσve 40,
ίs: 40. Κf3 Kc4 41. Bd6 Kd5 42. Bb8 a6 43. b6
g5 and clearly Whίte canησt wίη.
If 37 ... Kc4 38. Bf8 Kb3 39. a5 Ka4 40. a6
b6 41. Bxg7 Κχb5 42. Bxf6 Κχa6 43. Κf4 Kb5
theη Whίte wίns by 44. Bd4!, paralyzίηg the
pawns. Bσtviηηik's mσve ίs less cσmmίttiηg.
Hσwever, Ι belίeve that a clearer drawίηg
lίηe was 37 . . . a6 ! Whίte caηησt theη
reply wίth 38. b6 as ίη the game because σf the
ίmmedίate attack ση the b-pawn by 38 ... Kc6.
Fσr example: 39. Bf8 Κχb6 40. Bxg7 Κa5 41.
Bxf6 Κχa4 42. Κf4 b5 43. Ke5 b4 44. Κχe6 b3
45. Kd5 Kb4! (ησt 45 ... Κa3) 46. e4 a5 and
Whίte just faίls tσ wίη because he has tσ lσse a
mσve wίth hίs Bίshσp.
Ιη thίs, ίf 39. a5, theη Black draws ίη a
strange way. Sίmply 39 ... Kd5. The ίdea ίs tσ
exchange σffWhίte's e-pawη, careless σf hσw
� 185 �
many black kίηgsίde pawηs dίsappear, and
theη run wίth the Κίηg tσ c8. Frσm there he
can ηever be smσked σut-ίfWhίte gets clσse,
ίt's stalemate. It ίs ίmpσssίble fσr Whίte tσ
upset thίs plan.
If (after 37 ... a6) 38. Bf8 axb5 39. axb5 Ke4
40. Bc5 e5, theη agaίη the draw ίs easy. Ex­
change σff the whίte e-pawn and theη gσ fσr
Whίte's b-pawn.
Harder tσ meet ίs 38. Κf4. Theη 38 ... g5t
39. Κf3 axb5 40. axb5 g4t! 41. Κχg4 Ke4 42.
Bc5 e5 43. Κh5 f5 44. Kg6 f4 45. exf4 exf4 46.
Κf6 Kd5 47. Bf2 (must stay ση thίs dίagσηal,
else ...f3 cσmes ίη) b6! and Black wίns Whίte's
last pawn.
Fiηally, 38. bxa6? is quίte absurd as White
ίs left wίth an a-pawn queeηίηg ση the "wrσηg
cσlσr." Black agaίη elίmίηates the whίte
e-pawn, and theη hίs Κίηg runs tσ a8. If cση­
fiηed there, stalemate results.
Why did Fischer miss this? Well, he is
humaη; aηd 37 ... Ke4 ίs sσ temptiηg a mσve
that σηe wσuld ησt dίscard ίt uηless coη­
viηced that ίt wσuld lσse. It was hard tσ be
sure σf that-Spassky had tσ playwίth fίeηd­
ίsh accuracy tσ wίη.
Εηdίηgs iη whίch a draw ίs σbtaίηed wίth
σnly twσ pawns fσr a pίece are ησt terήbly
uncσmmση. Here Black's active Κίηg ίs a bίg
factσr. Had the game beeη drawn after the
blunder, ίt wσuldhave beeη σηe σf the memσ­
rable "saves" ίη chess hίstσry.
Eveη after Fίscher's mσve, Whίte can σnly
just cσηtrίve a wίη.
38. Bc5! a6
Νσt 38 ... b6 because σf 39. Bxb6, etc.
39. b6!
Thίs has gσt tσ be the wίηηίηg pawη, ίf
aηy. If Whίte ίs ever left wίth σηly hίs
a-pawη, he caηησt wίη because ίts queeη­
ίηg square ίs lίght.
39. ... fS
If 39 ... e5, theη 40. Bf8! Κχe3 41. Bxg7
Kd4 42. Bxf6 Kc5 43. Bd8! Kb4 44. Κf3 Κχa4
45. Ke4 Kb5 46. Kd5! e4 47. Kd6 a5 48. Kc7
 Extreme Chess

Κa6 49. Bg5! a4 50. Bc1! and Black ίs ίn zug· 51. Bd4 g5 52. Bf6 g4 53. Be5 a4 54. Bd6
zwang. zugzwang. Observe that Whίte always avoίds
If, alternatίvely (move 40) , 40 ... g6 41. blockίng the queensίde pawn posίtίon by
Bh6 f5 42. Kh4 f4 43. exf4 exf4 44. Kg4 f3 a5 ? (see the note to move 37).
45. Kg3 and Whίte wίns. 44. Κf5
40. Κh4 f4 45. Bh4 e5
If 40... Kd5, then 41. Bf8 g6 42. Kg5 Ke4 46. BgS e4
43. Κf6! Κχe3 44. Κχe6 Kd4 45. Kd7 f4 46. Bd6 47. Be3 Κf6
f3 47. Bg3 and Whίte wίns. Forced to free Whίte's Κίng at last. Νο
Whίte's next move ίs forced, but Spassky poίnt ίn 47... g6t 48. Κh4. The Bishop ίs on
sealed ίt. As the five-hour sessίon had not ίts ίdeal dίagonal, guardίng the vίctory pawn.
expίred, he had to allow hίs clock to be moved 48. Κg4 Κe5
on 35 mίnutes; he thought thίs worthwhίle 49. Κg5 KdS
so that he could make certaίn durίng the ad· 50. ΚfS aS
journment that 42. Κh5 was the wίnnίng The only hope. If 50 ... Kc4, then 51. Κχe4
move. Α player always has thίs ήght, once the Kb4 52. Kd5; and Whίte wίns.
tίme control has been reached (move 40). 51. Bfl gS
41. exf4 Κχf4 Black has to jettίson thίs valuable pawn as
41. Κh5 a decoy.
51. ΚxgS Kc4
53. Κf5 Κb4
54. Κχe4 Κχa4
55. Κd5 Κb5
56. Kd6 Resigns
Black can temporaήly protect hίs attacked
pawn; but after the forced suίcίde of hίs other
pawn (Whίte havίngplayed Bd4), "the rest ίs
sίlence:'

41 . ... ΚfS Post·Mortem 1976

If 42 ... g5, then 43. Κg6! e5 44. Bd6! wίns.
If 42 ... e5, then 43. Κg6 e4 44. Κχg7 e3 45.
Bxe3t Κχe3 46. Κf6 Kd4 47. Ke6 Kc5 and now
48. a5 wίns, as the refuge (a8 or c8) cannot be
reached.
43. Be3 Ke4
44. Bfl
Sίmpler, though sίmίlar ίn effect, was
Botvίnnίk's suggestίon of 44. Bc1. If then
44... Kf5, there follows 45. Bg5 e5 46. Bc1
e4 47. Be3 as ίn the game. Or 44 ... Kd3? 45.
Kg6 Kc2 46. Κχg7! Κχc1 47. Kf6, and White
wίns. Or 44 ... Kd5 45. Kg6 Kc5 46. Be3t
Kb4 47. Kf7! (47. Κχg7? ίs too slow to wίn)
Κχa4 48. Κχe6 Kb5 49. Kd7 a5 50. Kc7 Ka6
Subjectίvely, 29 ... Bxhl was a blunder be·
cause ίt was based on a mίscalculatίon. Objec·
tίvely, ίt was a blunder only because ίt made
an easy draw extremely dίfficult.
An ίmagίnatίve attempt to draw by 32 ...
g5?! was suggested by Latvίan commentators.
The ίdea ίs 33. Kg2 g4 34. Κxhl h3 Golombek,
ίn hίs book of the match, endorses thίs, over·
lookίng that Whίte can wίn by 35. f3 f5 36. e4
Κ moves 37. e5! ! settίng up an ίmpassable
barήer for Black's Κίng. At hίs leίsure, Whίte
plays hίs Κίng to f1, hίs Bίshop to g1, and then
hίs Κίng rίght out.
Golombek does claίm a wίn for Whίte af.
ter 32 ... g5, by 33. e4?, mίssίng that 33 ... h3

1=:""'9 186 1=:""'9

 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
draws at least. For exampleι after 34. Be3 Bg1
Black threatens to wίn offhand by ...g4t!ι so
35. g4 ίs forced. Then 35 ... a6ι and Black has a
safe pawn plus.
ι
The conclusίon ίs that Fίscher s 32 ... Ke7!
was sίmplest and best.
Ours was the only book to claίm a draw by
37 ... a6 (asuggestion byaSyd.neyplayerι Noel
Henderson) ι and other claίms of a draw later
ι
on have been refuted. Botvίnnίk s suggestion
of 37 ... e5 wίll not drawι and our analysίs sup­
portingίtίs faulty: after38. Kg4 g639. Be7 f5t
40. Kg5 Ke4 41. Bc5. Black obvίously cannot
reply 41 ... b6H (42. Bxb6!).
[Purdy sa.ys tha.t in his 1 9 72 note support­
ing Eotvinnikιs suggestion of 37... e5 the moνe
40... Ke6 wa.s α. misprint a.nd should ha.νe been
40... Ke4. Purdy went on to suggest 41. EdB.
The idea. is tha.t if41 ... b6ι then 42. Exb6!. And
if40. Ec5 a.nd 40... b6ι then still 41 . Exb6!.)
GAME 2:
BLOODLESS VICTORY
Α blank, my lord.
... τweljth Mght
Never before has a game been lost by de­
fault ίη a match for the World Champίon­
shίp. Fίscher had refused to allow televίsion
cameras ίnto the hall. But the organίzers were
dependίng largely on the sale of televίsίon
ήghts to recoup theίr expendίture. Learnίng
that the cameras had been ίnstalled despίte
hίs vetoι Fίscher sent word that he would not
appear.
ι
Meanwhίleι Fίscher s clockhad been start­
ed. The organίzers finally persuaded the tele­
vίsίon entrepreneur to remove the cameras.
He dίd sοι doubtless plannίng to sue for break­
age of contract after the match. By thίs timeι
� 187 �
Fίscher had lost 35 minutesι and he still re­
fused to play unless hίs clock was restarted
from zero.
There was ηο legal way that that could be
done. Under specίal condίtions ίt ίs possίble
for a game of chess to be postponedι but once
the clocks are started ίt ίs regarded as beίng ίη
progress even ίf one player ίs absent or both
ι
are. Fίscher s clock was the only one tickίng
because he had Whίte. After an hour had ex­
pίred (thίs ίs shown by the fall of a flag fitted
to every chess clock) ι the Match Arbίterι
Grandmaster Lothar Schmίdι declared the
game lost by Fίscher accordίng to Rule 17 of
the Laws of Chess.
Such a loss ίs iπevocableι just lίke check­
mate. The score was now 2-0 to Spassky-and
vίrtually 2.5-0 because of the provίso that the
Champion retaίns his title if he draws the
match.
What possessed Fίscher to place himself
in thίs ghastly situation? One has to under­
stand that Fίscher saw the whole thing as a
frightful dίlemma. If he forfeited the gameι
he faced perhaps insurmountable odds. But ίf
he once consented to playwίth televίsion cam­
eras presentι he felt he would have to go on
allowίng them. Convίncedas hewas that their
"evίl eyeι" as he called itι wrecked his concen­
tration-as they had ίη the first game-he
thought that meant losίng the match anyway.
Fischer now demanded that the forfeίture
be canceled. Otherwίseι he saίdι he would
wίthdraw from the match. But breaking the
laws of chess was just impossibleι as Fίscher
knew.
The unhappyyoungman bookedaseat on
a plane to New Yorkι was talked into cancel­
ίng but still booked a seat on the next planeι
was talked into cancelίng thatι but booked a
seat on yet a third plane.
The arguments ίη favor of continuίngwere
obvίous. Not only a great deal of moneyι but
ι
Fίscher s whole future was at stake. But Fisch­
er was not easίly convίnced.
 Extreme Chess
Who fiηally coηviηced him? Was it a coη­
certed effort, or is it-as hiηted by Newsweek­
a case of "cherchez la femme?" Betweeη 1967
and 1969, Fischer speηt a loηg time iη semi­
retiremeηt. Newsweek says that he stayed for
about eighteeη moηths iη the home of Mrs.
Leηa Grumette ofLos Angeles. Newsweek fur­
ther records that Mrs. Grumette flew iηto
Reykjavik duriηg the cήsis betweeη the sec­
oηd and third games, a most depressiηg pe­
ήod for millions of chess fans throughout the
world. Who knows? Perhaps those millioηs
have a Los Angeles lady to thank-at least
partly-for the joyful tidings that Bobby had
beeη persuaded to play the third game.
Meanwhile better have a diagram of the
fiηal positioη of the secoηd game.
The problem: White to playand lose with­
out making a move.
GAME 3:
VALIAN'f!
Sprίnger am Rande bringt
Schande.
...Germιιn proverb
And it means, "Κnight οη the edge ( of the
board) bήηgs trouble:' Trouble to the player
who puts it there. Ιη this game, Fischerputs it
there; and sure enough, it bήηgs trouble-but
to Spassky. One law for the player and an­
other for ΤΗΕ player.
b:""'/ ] 88 1;:::9
When Fischer coηseηted to play the third
game, he imposed a coηditioη. It must not be
played iη the auditoήum, but iη a back room.
Iηcideηtally, Fischer iηsisted ση a change of
chessboards; perhaps he found too much glare
in the marble οηe. The game was televised to
the auditoήum ση a closed circuit. That did
ηοt worry Fischer, the camera being fixed and
unobtrusive.
If he lost this game, Fischer could ηearly
wήte off his chances altogether. Should he,
therefore, play safe with Black iη the opeηiηg
as iη Game 1, hopiηg to draw, and reserve an
all-out attempt to wiη with the White pieces
iη Game 4?
Νο, Fischer decided that a deficit of virtu­
ally three games did ηοt permit him to be
coηteηt to draw with Black. There was great
excitemeηt when he completely reversed his
safety strategy ( Game 1) and played the tradi­
tioηally risky Βeηοηi Counter Gambit.
More excitemeηt wheη he suddeηly
played "Spήηger am Rande:' All the ama­
teurs shook their heads. How could οηe play
thus agaiηst the World Champioη? But the
grandmasters ηearly all very quickly espied
merit iη the move.
The difficulties of wiηηiηg a game with
Black against a great player are really formi­
dable. How did Fischer do it agaiηst the World
Champion, whom he hadηever oηce defeated
iη six previous attempts?
Valiant was the word for this game. Here
it is.
Benoni Defense
Spassky-Fischer
Ι. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
So far as iη the first game.
3. Nf3 c5
But ηοw Black transposes into the Βeηοηi
(1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 or eveη 1. d4 c5), ηοtοή-
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
ously a hίt-or-mίss type of openίng.
4. d5 exd5
5. c:xd5 d6
6. Nc3 g6
7. Ndl
Looks eccentrίc to chess students who
have been told not to move one pίece twίce
ίη the openίng tίll they have moved them
all once. But ίη thίs posίtίon ίt ίs routίne.
Fact ίs, the ίmportance of rapίd develop­
ment varίes greatly accordίng to the pawn
posίtίon. If there ίs an open (pawnless) or
readίly openable fίle, the tίme factor ίs vί­
tal; ίf not, ίdeal postίng of pίeces ίs more
ίmportant than gettίng them all ίnto play
ίη a mίnίmum number of moves. Here the
Knίght spends three moves gettίng to c4.
Then Bf4 wίth pressure on Black's d-pawn.
Admίttedly, the maneuver ίs usually defeπed
untίl after e4, Be2, and castlίng.
7. ... Nbd7
The fashίonable development for thίs
Κnίght ίs at a6, then c7. Fίscher often reverts
to old moves and follows wίth a new twίst. If
8. Nc4, he clearly ίntends . . .Nb6.
8. e4 Bg7
9. Bel 0-0
10. 0-0 Re8
11. Qcl
More usual ίs 11. ί3, even though Whίte
hopes to buίld a sίtuation where he can ulti­
mately attack advantageously wίth f4. One of
Spassky's ίdeas ίη avoίdίng ί3 was probably to
ίnhίbίt the verymove that Fίscher now plays.
11. ... Nh5!
<::::::=ι 189 <::::::=ι
Nobody has even dreamed before of sad­
dlίng hίmself wίth an ίsolated doubled h­
pawn here. When confronted by the ίdea,
Spassky pondered about 20 mίnutes before
accepting the gage. Other possίbίlίties are 12.
f4 Bd4t 13. Κh1 Ndf6, wίth ... Ng4 ίη vίew;
and 12. Rd1 Nf4 13. Bf1 NeS 14. Nc4 gS!
(Smyslov).
So often, ίη a posίtion where most players
would fίnd ηο equalίzίng move at a1ι Fίscher
fίnds one that ίs not merely equalίzίng but
has some devίl ίη ίt.
11. Bxh5 gxh5
13. Nc4 Ne5
Not a feasίble reply to Nc4 earlίer because
of NxeS. But now Black could recapture on e5
wίth hίs Bίshop, maίntaίnίng the long dark
dίagonal-hίs great asset.
14. Ne3 Qh4
15. Bdl
Whίte could temporarίly repulse Black
wίth 15. NbS Qe7, but Black ίs then threaten­
ίng ...a6 and ... bS. If 16. a4, then 16... a6 17.
Nc3 b6 and later on ... bS.
15. ... Ng4
16. Nxg4 hxg4
The doubled pawn ίs already eradίcated,
and Black can cheήsh good hopes of acquίr­
ίng two mobίle Bίshops after a duly prepared
...fs.
17. Bf4
Το try to exchange Bίshops, Smyslov sug­
gested 17. Ne2. If 17... fS, then 18. Ng3 fxe4
19. Rfelι plannίng Bc3. Instead of 18 ... fxe4,
try 18... BeS! Then ίf19. exfS (else ...f4! ) Black
 Extreme Chess

plays 19 ... Rf8. IfWhite tήes to hold on with 24. Qd3 Rb8
20. f4, then 20 ... Bd4t 21. Κh1 Rf6 (threaten­ 25. axb5 axb5
ing to sacrifice the Queen) 22. Be1 Rh6 wins. White's next is forced, as Black cannot be
Orif20. Bc3, then20... Rf6! 21. BxeS Rh6 also allowed ...b4 and ...BbS, etc.
wins. So 20. Rfe1 BxfS; and Black standswell, 26. b4 c4
as 21. NxfS gives Black a winning attack. [Ed.: 27. Qdl Rbe8
Ι confess, Ι do not see the win. After 21 ... Qxh2t 22.
Κj1 Qh1t 23. Ke2 Qxg2 24. Ne3 Qj3t 25. Kd3 c4t
26. Qxc4 Rj4 and itlooks drawn.]
17. ... Qf6

,�,���
�1� �1�1
''
-� """':� "Β' -�
� ""-�� '- �
�. jiJi��,,g��
jiJi� - � � White's e-pawn is lostas soon as Blackcan
'""'<i'Ji��""ψ"'"""�
��ξg��-� "� �����
bring himself to part with his fianchetto
rE!f'
'----·' :§-�- �- � Bishop. That produces "Bishops of opposite
color;" and if Black had not first set up the
18. g3 � delightful passed pawn, his pawn-win would
Spassky must have seen that this would produce only a draw. Now for some marking
isolate his e-pawn, for now he can never pro­ time. White cannot make progress, and Black
tect it with ί3. However, he allows this, not has no need to hurry.
foreseeing Black's long-range plan for win­ 28. Re3 h5
ning the pawn only after becoming strong οη 29. R3e2 Κh7
the queenside. Betterwas 18. Bg3 h5 19. ί3 h4 30. Re3 Κg8
20. Be1. Or 20. fxg4 Qe7. But Black remains Black decides that the Κίηg looks better
superior. Smyslov suggests the non-commit­ here after all.
tal 18. Qdl; but after 18 ... Qg6 and 19 ... fS, the 31. R3e2 Bxc3
two Bishops must tell. 32. Qxc3 Rxe4
18. ... Bd7 33. Rxe4 Rxe4
19. a4 b6 34. Rxe4 ψe4
In such positions, a hideous error is 19 ... 35. Bh6 Qg6
a6?, as 20. aS prevents the intended 20... bS. 36. Bcl Qbl
20. Rfe1 a6
21. Re2 b5!
Α finesse. Black does not need to play
21 . . . Qg6 first. If now 22. axbS, then 22 . . .
axbS 23. Rxa8 Rxa8 2 4 . e S Ra1 t 25. Kgl
dxeS 26. RxeS (if26. BxeS, then 26 . . . Qh6! .
[Ed.: But 26. . . Qj3# isfinal.]) b4. Then if 27.
Ne4, 27 ... Qa6 wins.
22. Rael Qg6
23. b3 Re7

&=! 1 90 &=!
 Fischer-Spassky 1972

Only this pin stands betweeη Fischer and have led him ση to fortune; but it would have
checkmate (by Bb2, etc.). You ofteη find that lit up his path. Haviηg emerged oηce from
a Fischer wiη hangs by a thread. the Slough of Despoηd, Fischer might well
37. Κf1 Bf5 have doηe it agaiη. But it would have lifted
38. Ke2 Q.e4f Spassky's coηfideηce had he regaiηed his lead
39. Q.e3 Q.c2f by really outplayiηg Fischer iηstead of beiηg
40. Q.dl Q.b3! handed points ση a plate.
And if ηοw 41. Bb2, theη 41 ... Qf3t and
mate iη three more unless White jettisoηs his
Queeη.
41. Q.d4 Bd3f
42. Resίgns.
Spassky resigned wheη he saw that Fisch­
er had sealed41 . .. Bd3t.
White's 18th was his losiηg move, but at
that stage Fischer had already wrested the iηi­
tiative. Fischer played with perfect precisioη,
appareηtly undaunted by the knowledge that
if he lost the game he would be virtually four
down after three games.
As he had already doηe ίη Game 3 aηd
Post·Mortem 1976 was to do several more times iη the match,
Instead of 18. g3�, 18. Bg3 is ηοt only bet­ Spassky paid the peηalty for thiηkiηg too
ter, as claimed, but would almost equalize, as loηg too sοοη.
the suggested reply 18 ... hS is well met by 19. 'Άnd thus," if Ι may say so, "the ηative hue
NbS! (Κholmov) . of resolutioη is sicklίed ο'er with the pale cast
At move 40 or 41, Kel would give some of thought; And eηterprises of great pith and
resistance. momeηt, With this regard, theίr curreηts turn
awry, And lose the ηame of actioη:'

GAME 4: Sicilian Defense

τΗΕ MISSED ΠDΕ Fίscher-Spassky

There is a tide in the affairs of Ι. e4 c5

men 2. Nf3 d6
Which, taken at the flood, leads 3. d4 cxd4
on to fortune; 4. Nxd4 Nf6
Omίtted, all the voyage of theίr 5. Nc3 Nc6
life Thίs makes more appeal to commoη seηse
Is bound in shallows and in mίs· than Fίscher's iηvarίable choice 5 . a6. Al­
..

eries. most always, it is true, Blackplays ...a6 shortly;

]ulius Caesιιr
•.• also you have to coηcede that ίt may be useful
to keep the optioη of ... Nbd7.
Had Spassky wοη thίs game, it might ηοt 6. Bc4

ι:::::"'9 191 ι:::::"'9

 Extreme Chess

Known as the Sozin Attack (Sozin is a because of 18... Qd5) a4 19. Qd3 Ba6 20. c4
Russian), this is a long-time Fischer favor­ Bxb5 21. cxb5 Bc5 22. Rad1 Qb6 23. Κh1 Bxd4
ite, so it was only to be expected that Spassky 24. Qxd4 Qxb5 and White has weak pawns at
would invite it. If you ask why he did not b2 and e5.
persist, the answer comes in Game 18 where 17. Bxc5f
Spassky does play the Sicilian again and 18. Κh1 QgS
Fischer plays the line that Spassky consid­
ers strongest-the Richter Attack.
6. ... e6
7. Bb3
The Bishop will soon have to withdraw
anyway.
7. Be7
8. Be3 0-0
9. 0-0 a6
10. f4 Nxd4
Black wants to play ...b5. Spassky took 20 minutes over this. Τοο
11. Bxd4 b5 long! The alternative was a drawing Hne start­
12. a3 Bb7 ing with 18 ... Qxd3.
13. Qd3 aS! 19. Qe2
If 19. Qg3, then 19 . . . Qxg3 20. hxg3 Ba6
21. a4 Bxb5 22. axb5 Bd4 23. c3 Bxe5 24. g4
Rfd8 25. Rfd1 Bc7. Α probable draw in Black's
favor {Smyslov).
19. Rad8
10. Rad1 Rxd1
21. Rxd1 h5
This pawn threatens wreckage.
11. Nd6 Ba8
23. Bc4 h4
Α terήfic move. Why was it not discov­ 24. h3
ered and enshήned in the books long ago? It White might have come near equalizing
came as a complete surprise to Fischer and with 24. Ne4 Qxe5 25. Nxc5 Qxc5 26. h3, but
may well be the theoretical knock-out to the 26 ... Rb8 leaves Black with an edge.
Sozin. If White declines the pawn, Black gets 24. ... Be3
easy equality at least. If 14. f5?, then 14 ... b4. Threatening ...Bf4 and ...Qg3.
14. e5 dxe5 15. Qg4 Qxe5
15. fxe5 Nd7 26. Qxh4 gS!
16. N:xb5 There is nothing in 26 ... Bg5 27 Qd4 Qg3
Not 16. Qxb5? because of 16 ... Ba6. If 16. 28. Ne4 Bxe4 29. Qxe4 Bf4 30. Kg1 !
Ne4, then 16 ... Bxe4 17. Qxe4 Nc5 18. Bxc5 27. Qg4 Bc5
Bxc5t 19. Κh1 Qd4! Stronger than the plausible 27... Rd8, an­
16. ... Nc5 swered by 28. Nxf7 Rxd1t 29. Qxd1 Qe4 30.
17. Bxc5 Nh6t Kg7 31. Qf1 ! (Smyslov). In this, if29 ...
Or 17. Qe3 Nxb3 18. Qxb3 (not 18. cxb3H Qg3 (Byrne), then 30. Qd8t Κχf7 31. Qd?t

� 192 �
 Fischer-Spassky 1972

Κf6 32. Qd8t [Ed.: Even here Whίte ma.tes with then32 ... Bg3; andMr. Meadleysays, "White
32. Qxe6t! instea.d]; and Black cannot escape can resign:' Hardlythat, but 33. Qel Qf4t 34.
perpetual check except by losing his Queen Κg1 Bhlt 35. Κh1 Rh8! (threatening ... Rxh3)
[Ed.: GM Eyrne is mista.ken here. After 29 ... Qg3, 36. Nf3 [Ed.:Agι:ιin, 36. Exe6!! protects h3, a.ndif
then 30. Nh6t! a.nd Whίte will ma.te in a.t most 8 the Eishop is ta.ken (?), then37. Nxe6t endsEla.ck's
moves.]. chesslife.] Rxh3! 37. Rd4 (the only hope) Qg3!
Also if29 ... Κχf7, then 30. Qd7t draws. Α and the attack wins [Ed.: Infa.ct, 37... Exf3!! IS
suggestion by Smyslov, 27 ... Kg7, is also infe­ the immedia.te threa.t.]. Black's immediate threat
ήor to Spassky's choice. is38 ... Bxf3 39. Qxf3 Bg1 t 40. Κxgl (40. gxh3?
28. Nb5 Κg7 allows mate) Qhlt, and the Queen ending is
29. Nd4 a win. If 38. Rd3, then 38 . . . g4 39. Ne1 (not
39. NgS? because of 39 ... Bxg2t!) Qh4 40. BdS
BxdS 41. RxdS Bf4t 42. gxh3 Qxh3t 43. Κg1
Be3t and Black wins.
In the line we are consideήng, altemative
tήes at move 36 are: 36. Rf1 Rxh3! ! 37. Rxf4
Bxf4t 38. Kg1 Be3t and Black wins. Or 36.
Qf1 Rxh3 37. Qxf4 Bxf4t 38. Κg1 Be3t 39.
Κf1 Rh1t 40. Kel Rxd1 41. Κχd1 Bxgl and
the ending is not hard to win.
Alas! The game that might have been!
29. ... Rh8? 30. Nf3 Bxf3
Here at last Spassky falters after hitherto 31. Q#3 Bd6
magnificently accurate attacking chess. Of 32. Qc3 Qxc3
course not 29 ... Bd6 because of 30. NfSt! And the game peters out in a dead draw
Spassky must have considered the ήght move with "Bishops of opposite color:'
a long time, namely 29 ... Rd8!, but did not 33. bxc3 Be5
have time to fathom all the variations. Curi­ 34. Rd7 Κf6
ously enough, the best analysis of the posi­ 35. Κg1 Bxc3
tion has been provided not by grandmasters 36. Be2 Be5
but by an obscure amateur in the New South 37. ΚfΙ Rc8
Wales country town ofNarromine, R. Mead­ 38. BhS Rc7
ley-he sent it in when Ι set the position as a 39. Rxc7 Bxc7
problem in the Sunda.y Telegra.ph (Sydney) . 40. a4 Κe7
After 29 ... Rd8 30. c3, the master choice 41. Κe2 fS
was 30 ... Rh8 31. Nf3 Bxf3, with the expecta­ 42. Κd3 Be5
tionof32. Qxf3. Mr. Meadleypoints out, how­ 43. c4 Κd6
ever, that32. gxf3 1eaves no clearwin for Black. 44. Bf7 Bg3
Instead 30 . . . Bd6! 31. Kg1 (forced [Ed.: see the 45. c5t
Post-Mortem 1 976.]) Qe3t 32. Κh1 Rh8 33. Nf3 Drawn by a.greement.
(forced) Bf4! (threat 34 ... fS) 34. Ng1 (if 34.
Re1?, then34 ... Bxf3) f5 35. Rd7t Κg6 36. Qe2 Post·Mortem 1976
Rxh3t 37. Nxh3 Qxh3t 38. Kg1 Be3t and Every book of the match was wrong in
Black mates or wins White's Queen. claiming a win for Black by 29 . . . Rd8 30. c3
In this variation, if White plays 32. Κf1, Rh8. But not because of 31. Nf3? Bxf3 32.

!:::::=ι 1 93 !:::::=ι
 Extreme Chess
gxf3, an eηtirelywrσηgsuggestiση ίη thίs bσσk
(Black can wίη a pίece by 32 ... Rh4).
Alsσ faulty ίs the analysίs we eηdσrsed σf
30... Bd6 (ίηstead σf30... Rh8): 31. Kg1 Qe3t
32. Κh1 Rh8. Νσw Whίte ίs ησt "fσrced" ίηtσ
33. Nf3, but ίηstead can draw by the sacήfice
33. Bxe6! ! -tempσraήly gίνίηg dσuble prσ­
tectiση tσ h3.
The σηly cσπect analysίs σf the pσsίtίση
was by Εrwίη Haag. It appeared as early as
August 1972 ίη the Hungarίan magazίηe Mag­
ψιr Sakkelet, but ησηe σf the wήters σf the
match bσσks saw ίt; and eveη the very last
bσσk, Eoth Sides of the Chessbolil.rd by R. Byrηe
and Νeί (1974), mίsses the ήght play.
After 29... Rd8 30. c3 Rh8, Whίte shσuld
play 31. Bd3!-ready tσ meet 31 ... Rh4 wίth
32. Nf5t! Whίte theη alsσ threateηs the de­
feηse Nf3! because thίs time Whίte can an­
swer ... Bxf3 wίth gxf3!, eηablίηghίm tσ guard
the matiηg square wίth Qgl.
Νeί, ίη the last bσσk meηtίσηed, ησ­
tίces 31 ... Bb6 as a strσηg aηswer tσ 31.
Bd3 ! Thίs ίs σf subtle ίηteηtίση; but ίt re­
ally ίs a "ησthίηg mσve," as Whίte sίmply
executes hίs threat σf 32. Nf3 (aηd ίf 32 ...
Bxf3, theη 33. gxf3!). Lίkewίse, ίf 31 ... Kf8,
theη 32. Nf3 ! ; aηd ησt Neί's 32. Rfl ? be­
cause σf 32 ... Bxd4 33. cxd4 (ίf 33. Qxd4,
theη 33 ... Rxh3t) Qe3 !, aηd Black wίηs.
Iηstead σf 31. Bd3!, bσth Haag and Νeί
analyze σther lίηes as gσσd fσr Black; and the
mσst ίηterestίηg ίs the cσmbίηatίση: 31.
Bxe6�! Bxd4 32. cxd4 Qxe6 33. Qxg5t Qg6 34.
Qe5t f6 35. Qc7t Κh6 36. d5 Rg8 37. Qf4t
Qg5 38. Qf3 Rd8, andBlackhas excelleηtwίη­
nίηg chances.
Glίgσήch's claίm that Spassky mίssed a
"gσldeη σppσrtuηίty" wίth 25 ... Qxg4 26.
hxg4 Bf4 was answered by Alexander's 27.
Be2! Bxe5 28. Nc4 Bf6 29. Bf3 wίth ησ wίη
demσηstrable-whίch at any rate puts sίlver
threads amσηg the gσld.
Reshevsky's bσσk ση the match dίd ησt
earn hίgh praίse, but Reshevsky must be gίveη
/;:;:'9
credίt fσr ηaίlίηg Fίscher's 22. Νd6 as an errσr
(22. Nd4!).
All ίη all, a better headίηg than ΤΗΕ
MISSED τΙDΕ wσuld have beeη ΤΗΕ
WEATHERED STORM; and fσr a quσtatiση:
Though hίs bark can not be lost,
Yet it shall be tempest-tost.
...Macbeth
GAME S:
GENIUS RΑΜΡΑΝτ
There are more thίngs ίn heaven
and earth, Horatίo, than are
dreamed of ίn your philosophy.
.. Hamlet
.
That applίes eveη ίη the mίηίature uηί­
verse σf 64 squares. Seldσm have the cσpy­
bσσk maxίms σf chess pedagσgues beeη sσ
successfully defίed. Spassky fίηds hίs σppσ­
ηeηt vσluηtarίly saddlίηg hίmselfwίth σηe
theσretίcal haηdίcap after aησther. Spassky
thίηks, thίηks, and thίηks; aηd ίt gradually
dawηs ση hίm that he caη make ησthίηg σf
them and wίll eveη have tσ struggle tσ draw­
wίth Whίte! Small wσηder ίf all thίs caused
"hίs knσtted aηd combίηed lσcks tσ part,
and each partίcular haίr tσ stand ση eηd,
lίke quίlls upση the fretful pσrpeηtίηe:' Was
thίs Fίscher humaη, σr aη ίηvader frσm
Olympus� Such perturbatiση assaίledSpassky
that he fell vίctίm tσ aη σld malady frσm
whίch a Wσrld Champίση shσuld be free­
chess blίηdηess. The great Rubίηsteίη had
σccasίσηal attacks σf ίt.
Yet, had Spassky ησt met a quίck death, ίt
ίs pσssίble that, lίke Lady Macbeth, he "shσuld
have dίed hereafter:'
The game wίll have a revσlutίσηary
effect ση chess theσry. It kίlls the vίew
fσrmerly expressed ίη Russίa that Fίsch-
194 /;:;:'9
 Fi5cher-Spas5ky 1972

er i5 not creative. 10. Nh4

An idea of Kere5, to an5wer . . . Νg6 wίth
Nimzo·Indian Defense Nf5. The immedίate threat ί5 the 5emi·
pίn Bg5 .
Spassky-Fίscher 10. ••• h6!
ll. f4
Ι. d4 Nf6 Τhί5 would probably have 5tarted Spas5ky
1. c4 e6 οη the road to vίctory again5t any other player
3. Nc3 Bb4 ίη the world. It i5 more aggre55ίve than either
4. Nf3 c5 11. g3 or 11. f3, both tήed here. If 11 ... exf4
In combinatίon wίth Nimzovich'5 3 ... Bb4, 12. Bxf4 g5, then White gets a 5trong attack
thίs Benoni·type move can now be played wίth 13. e5!
more confidently than ίη the opening of ll. ... Ng6!
Game 3; for example, if now 5. dS, then 5 ... Τhί5 ίn5pίred move flouts two maxims at
Ne4 6. Qcl Qf6! Then White, unable to ac· once, "Don't allow a 5ίtuatίon where your
cept the offered Κnίght, must play 7. Bdl, opponent can hold three pawn5 wίth two,"
forfeitinghί5 birthήght of "the two Bishop5"­ and "Don't give your opponent a 5upported
after whίch he could not aspire to more than pas5ed pawn:'
equalίty. 12. Nxg6 fx.g6
Ob5erve that Fί5cher now avoids the 5afety· 13. fx.e5 dxe5
fir5t 4... d5 whίch would tran5po5e ίnto Game See what Ι mean? "By no endeavor can
1. For he i5 5till one down-vίrtually two down magnet ever attract a 5ilver churn"; and no
as Ι have explained el5ewhere. more can Black, ίη 5uch a po5ίtίon, ever ob·
5. e3 Nc6 taίn a pas5ed pawn on the kingsίde.
6. Bd3 Bxc3t For imagine Black pushing hί5 pawn5 to
Fίr5t maxίm flouted, "Don't unnece5· g4 and h4. If then ...g3, 5ίmply hxg3 and
5arily give up the po55e55ίon of the two ...hxg3; and if ... h3, then g3. So that White'5
Bi5hop5." Nimzovich hίm5elf occa5ίonally two pawns hold Black'5 three and put White,
did thί5. White'5 doubled pawn ob5truct5 ίη a 5ense, a pawn ahead. And White'5 pas5ed
both whίte Bi5hop5 to 5ome extent and pro· pawn οη d5 i5 50 impregnably 5upported that
duce5 a degree of fixity that enable5 Black it hurts.
to ob5truct them further. The famou5 "two In che55, however, nothίng ί5 weak or
Bί5hop5" need mobility. 5trong unle55 there are mean5 of taking ad·
7. bxc3 d6 vantage of ίt. Fi5cher 5ee5 deep down beyond
8. e4 e5 the "prinάple5" that 5erve as prop5 for tho5e
9. d5 Ne7 below genίus clas5.
However, White gained nothing by 5wap·
ping pawn5 50 5oon. He could have castled,
thenh3, re5ervίngthe optίon-po55ίblywith·
out anythίng gained, but certainly without
anything lo5t.
14. Be3 b6
15. 0-0 0-0

� 195 �
 Extreme Chess
16. a4 a5!
Fσurth maxίm, "Dση't give yσurself a
backward pawη that ίs subject tσ frσηtal at·
tack:' Fischer dσes it because here it is σbliga­
tσry tσ stσp aS, which wσuld give White a
swσrd σf Damσcles σver Black's head-assur­
iηg White σf a durable ίηίtίatίνe and an al­
mσst sure wίη. Mσreσver, if White dσubles
Rσσks ση the b-pawn, it can be prσtected pro
tem with Rσσks ση b8 and f6; but later ση the
Rσσk ση b8 can be freed by marchiηg the
black Κίηg σver tσ c7! Because σf this, White
dσesη't use that plan. But ίt might have beeη
effective had White refraiηed frσm 13. fxe5.
With a pawη stίll ση d6, Black cσuld ησt prσ­
tectthe b-pawnwitha Rσσkσηf6. Blackmight
have had tσ fσrce the pawη-swap with ...Nh5.
Usiηg hiηdsight, we ησw see that 14. Be3
gaiηed ησthiηg-but could the tempσ have
beeη prσfitably used�
17. Rb1 Bd7
18. Rb2 Rb8
19. Rbfl Qe7
20. Bcl g5
Α rσugh and ready rule ίs that it ηearly
always pays tσ advance the frσηt member σf a
dσubled pawn. Spassky was takiηg very lσηg
σver his mσves, fiηdiηg it hard tσ fσrce him­
self tσ believe that ίη spite σf all his theσreti­
cal assets he has ησ prσgressive plan available.
21. Bdl Qe8
22. Be1 Qg6
23. Qd3 NhS
Black's 12th mσve relieved him σf σηe
mighty prσblem, the develσpmeηt σf his
� 196 �
Rσσks.
24. Rxf8t Rxf8
25. Rxf8t Κχf8
Ενeη this mσve helps Black, whσse Κίηg
always has the pσst c7 ίη view.
26. Bd1 Nf4
Spassky had thσught tσσ lσηgandwas ησw
wσrήed by his clσck. He undσubtedly busied
himself wσηdeήng if Black had a pσsitiσηal
wiη. Diviηg deep, Spassky missed sσmethiηg
flσatiηg ση the surface. It seems that eveη a
Wσrld Champiση shσuld ησt ηeglect my σft.
repeated rule:
ΕΧΑΜΙΝΕ ALL CHEC:ΚS
AND ALL CAPruRES
27. Qcl Η Bxa4!
28. Resigns.
IfWhite takes, he is mated. If ησt, he lσses
pawns galσre. Νσw return tσ the last diagram
and try 27. Qbl. Can Black win� Tal iη 64
suggests that Black wσuld first maneuver his
Κίηg tσ c7, but agaiηst this White sets up
cσunter-pressure by Bg3 and wheη ηecessary
h3 tσ allσw Bhl. Sσ it appears that the time
factσr counts. Heηce 27... h5 at σηce, fσllσwed
prσbably by ...h4-a liηe analyzed by F.P.
Hutchiηgs σf Sydney. If 28. Bg3, theη 28 ... h4
2 9. Bxf4 gxf4; and Black's attack shσuld wίη.
If28. h3, theη 28... g4 29. hxg4 Bxg4 30. Bxg4
Qxg4; aηd agaiη the attack lσσks very
wiηηish. Or if 28. Bdl, theη it may be best tσ
edge the Κίηg σver tσ c7; and ifWhite refuses
tσ cσmmit himself, prσbably tσ try ...g4. If
 Fischer-Spassky 1972
White exchanges then, Black will blockade
on e5 with his Queen and push ... g5, ...h4,
and ... h3.
ltis notlikelythat28. g3 is goodforWhite.
White's game is very hard. Spassky was
short of time, so it is odds-on that he would
have lost even if there is some adequate
defense.
Had Fischerwon without the blunder, this
would have been remembered as the greatest
game of the match, consideήng its startling
oήginality.
Post-Mortem 1976
Ours was the only book to discuss at length
the possibility of27. Qb 1 (in place ofSpassky's
27. Qc2??). Butnearlyall the annotators, Rus­
sians included, seem to agree that Blackshould
still win. Grandmaster Nei (Russian) [Ed.: Mr.
Nei is a.n Interna.tiona.l Ma.ster] says that the
position before the blunder was "objectively
already untenable:'
My usual dictum probably holds: 'Ίf this
position is not a win, there is something
wrong with chess-which is absurd:'
GAMB 6:
DBR BRAVB DAMBNBAUBR!
Unwillingly, but in the grip of
circumstances beyond my con·
trol, Ι decίded ίn the Carlsbad
tourney to venture ίnto the
camp of the Queen's Gambit
expert. The result was so strik­
ίng that Ι myself was almost
speechless. Ι have to thank my
victory over Capablanca to this
noble Queen's Pawn (dίesem
braven Damenbauern) !
...RudolfSpjelmιιnn jn the Wjener
Schιιchzdtung, 1929
� 197 �
For nearly twenty years Fischer, like
Spielmann, thought that any first move
for White but 1 . e4 was bloodless and con·
temptible, especially 1 . d4. ln the last few
years he has occasionally used 1. c4 (the
English Opening) and even Larsen's eccen­
tric 1. b3-for surprise value.
Here, too, Fischer plays the English; but
with the incredible intention of turning it
into the despised Queen's Gambit Declined if
allowed. Why? Clearly because he has noted
Spassky's addiction to Tartakower's Defense,
a system that is ήgid enough to allow White
to cook up prepared lines against it. Admit­
tedly, it has hitherto withstood attempts to
refute it.
Queen's Gambit Declίned
Orthodox Defense
Fischer-Spassky
Ι. c4 e6
2. Nf3 d5
So far it's a Reti Opening by White, but
now Fischer shows his hand.
3. d4 Nf6
4. Nc3 Be7
It is now a Queen's Gambit Declined, Or­
thodox Defense, with White playing the
Ragozin System so far. Now Fischer trans­
poses into the Pillsbury Attack, normal play
for 77 years.
5. BgS 0-0
6. e3 h6
7. Bh4 b6
 Extreme Chess

Tartakower developed this system afterthe

older way, 7 ... Nbd7 8. Rc1 b6 9. cxd5 exdS,
proved dubίous because of Capablanca's nuί­
sance move 10. BbS! The Κnίght, ίf he stays
home asyet, usefullyguards a6 andc6. There's
another purpose too.
8. cxdS
IfWhίte defers thίs, Black can contίnually
capture on d5 wίth pίeces.
8 • • .• NxdS
Thίs practίcally forces Whίte to make a 16. ... Ra7
tempo-losίng exchange of Bishops. lt ίs not Geller unpίnned wίth 1 6 ... Qb7, where·
playable on move 9 ίη the lίne gίven ίη my upon the problem of protectίng the c-pawn
note to move 7 because Black would lose hίs soon recurs. Fίscher may have had an ίm­
c·pawn-that's the otherpurpose. [Ed.: Pu.rdy provement on Furman's play (whίch led
is saying thatif9... Nxd5, then 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. to a draw) .
Bxel will cause Black to lose the c-pawn.] 17. Be2 Nd7
9. Bxe7 ψe7 Thίs doubly self-pίns the c-pawn. Tal, ίη
10. NxdS exd5 64, suggests takίng the bull by the horns wίth
11. Rc1 Be6 17 ... c4 18. Qxe7 Rxe7, when 19. Nd4 can be
Now that dS ίs plugged wίth a pawn, met head-on by 19... Nc6. Α possίble sequel ίs
the ίntended fίanchetto development ίs not 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. b3 NaS 22. bxc4 Nxc4 23.
so good. e4, when the obvίous 23 ... Rec7 ίs rather up·
12. Qa4 c5 set by 24. Bg4. Whίte has the edge.
13. Qa3 Rc8 18. Nd4!
14. Bb5!
Whίte has carefully wίthheld thίs Bίshop
tίll sure of ίts best square. Fίscher's move
may have been played only once before,
Furman-Geller, USSR Championship 1 969.
Fίscher consίdered ίt a long tίme, but he
may have been foxίng, ί.e. followίng the
Russίan game whίle pretendίng to be ίm­
provίsίng. Well, wouldn't you?
14. ... a6
15. dxc5 bxc5 18. ... Qf8
Black now has what are called "the hang­ Why so retrograde? More progressίve
ίng pawns," whίch have elements of strength seems 18 ... Κf8, also 18 ... Nf8. There is also
and weakness. They hold many central 18 ... Nf6 19. Nb3 c4. In all lίnes Whίte has the
squares, but are targets forpίeces. But neίther preference, but now ίt gets more decίded.
of the pawns can be blockaded-as an ίsolated 19. Nxe6! fxe6
pawn can be-unless and untίl ίts partner ad­ 20. e4! d4�
vances. The "hangίng pawns" are part and The weakenίng of the lίght dίagonal
parcel ofTartakower's Defense. proves fatal. Undoubtedly, both 20... Nf6 and
16. 0-0 20... c4 were better. Tal gίves some fasάnatίng

1:::"9 198 1:::"9

 Fischer-Spassky 1972

analysis in 64: (20... c4) 21. Qh3 Qfl 21. Bg4 36. Bd3 Qe8
Re8 23. exdS exdS 24. Rfe1 Ne5 (meήting con­ 37. Qe4 Nf6
sideration is 24 ... Rxe1t 25. Rxe1 Κf8 [Ed.: If 37 ... Rxe6, then White gives up both
Whoops. 26. Qι:ι3f! ιι.nd Blιι.ck drops ιι. Knight. Or, Rooks for mate.
if 26... KgB, then 27. Be6.]) 25. Bh5 g6 26. Qg3 38. Rxf6! gxf6
Rae7 27. f4 Nd3 (he suggests that 27 ... Κh7 39. Rxf6 Κg8
may be better) 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. Bxg6 Qxf4 40. Bc4 Κh8
30. Bflt! Κχf7 31. Rf1 Qxf1t 32. Κχf1 Re1t 41. Qf4 Resigns
33. Qxe1 Nxe1 34. Κχe1 and this pawn end­ Α tour deforce by Fischer, but Tartakower's
ing may be a win for White. Defense cannot be as bad as this game makes
21. f4 Qe7 it look.
11. e5 Rb8
Not 21 ... Nb6 23. f5 exf5? because of 24. Post-Mortem 1976
Qb3t. Furmιι.n-Geller occurred in the USSR
23. Bc4 Κh8 teams' tourney of 1970, and Geller did not
Α better chance was 23 ... Nb6. If then 24. play 16 ... Qb7; he suggested it.
Qxc5 Nxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxb2 26. Qxd4 (if26. f5, Fanciers ofTartakower's Defense should,
then 26 ... Qg5); and now not 26 ... Rxa2 27. however, be still more interested in an
f5! Rd7 28. f6!, but simply 26 ... Rab7. Tal sug­ earlier improvement for Black in a 1 971
gests 24. Qb3! instead of24. Qxc5. correspondence gιι.me, Zelinskis-Sichoν. That
14. Qh3 Nf8 game went: 14 ... Kf8 ! (instead of 14 ... a6)
15. b3 a5 1 5 . dxc5 (Black threatened 1 5 . . . c4) Rxc5 !
26. fS! e:xf5 16. Rxc5 Qxc5 ! 17. Kd2 (or 17. Qxc5 ! bxc5
Fischer handles the attack impeccably. 18. Kd2 Ke7 1 9 . Rc1 Kd6 with ... Nd7 to
17. RxfS Nh7 follow, said Zelinskis) Qxa3 1 8 . bxa3 Nd7
18. Rcfl 1 9 . Bxd7 Bxd7 20. Ne5 Be8 2 1 . Rc1 Ke7
Not 28. Rfl? because of28 ... Ng5. 22. Kd3 f6 23. Nf3 Kd6 24. Kd4 Bd7 25.
18. ... Qd8 Nd2 Re8 26. f3 g5. Α draw was agreed.
Coπespondence games are not sufficiently
chronicled.

GAMB 7:

"POISONBD PAWN"

Ι fearthe Greeks even when bear·

ing gίfts.
29. Qg3 Re7 ... Vergil, ΊΉΒ AENBID
30. h4 Rbb7
31. e6! Rbc7 Opponents have been offeήng this par­
32. Qe5 Qe8 ticular "Greek gift" of the b-pawn to Fischer
33. a4 Qd8 for some years. And Fischer has been blithely
34. R1f2 Qe8 accepting it, always either winning or draw­
35. Rlf3 Qd8 ing as a result. He also offers "the poisoned

/;:::q 1 99 /;:::q
 Extreme Chess

pawn" as White. When Fίscher ίs White, the ίdea that it is better to kίll a3 wίth the sίmple
poison works; when he ίs Black, it doesn't. 9... Qa3. The sequel shows that Spassky had
nothίng ready for that.
Sicίlian Defense 9. ... Qa3
10. Bd3
Spassky-Fίscher In Game 1 1 Spassky ίmproved with 10.
Bxf6!
1. e4 cS 10. Be7
1. Nf3 d6 11. 0-0 h6!
3. d4 cxd4 11. Bh4
4. N:x:d4 Nf6 Thίs cost Spassky half an hour. He decίdes
s. Nc3 a6 to offer a second pawn.
By playίng thίs move at once, the Najdorf 11. Nxe4
Vaήant, Black threatens ...e5 which, suφrίs­ 13. Nxe4 Bxh4
ίngly, gives Black a satisfactory game unless 14. f5! exfS
White plays 6. Bg5 (as here) or 6. Bc4 (Game If now 15. Nxd6t?, then 15 ... Qxd6 16.
4). Agaίnst either of these, Black plays 6 ... e6. Bb5t Ke7. Spassky prefers a temporary sacή­
6. Bg5 e6 fice of a piece.
7. f4 Qb6 15. BbSf axbS
Up till about sίχ years ago, Fischer played 16. N:x:d6f Κf8
the quieter 7 ... Be7. The 7 ... Qb6 line, whίch Not 16 ... ΚeΠ because of l7. Nxb5.
must logically be followed by a pawn-grab ίf 17. Nxc8 Nc6
White offers it, is very ήsky; but Fischer has
studied its ramifications for years now.
8. Qd1 Q:xb1

The move almost ίnvariablyplayed now ίs
9. Rb1, forcing 9 ... Qa3.
9. Nb3
Spassky trίes somethίng more unusual, but
strikes a suφήse reply immediately. The usual
answer to 9. Nb3 has been the finesse 9 ...
Nc6, with the ίdea of meeting 10. a3 (threat­
enίng to trap the Queen) with 10 ... NaS ! Or
else 9... Nbd7, to answer a3 with 10 ... Nc5.
Fischer's own homework has given hίm the
18. Nd6
Spassky had to go through some marvel­
ous analysίs before discarding the obvious 18.
Qd7, which he may have ίntended οη move
15 or even move 12. Thus, according to Tal,
18 . . . g6 19. Nd6 Ne5! 20. Qxb7 Qxd6! 21.
Qxa8t Kg7 22. Qb7 Rb8 23. Rad1 and now
the shock: 23 ... Bf2t!! wins (if24. Κχf2, then
24 ... Ng4t; orίf24. Κh1, then 24... Qxd1 !). In
this, if23. Qa7, then 23 ... Ng4 24. g3 Bxg3!
If 18. Qf4, then 18 ... Rxc8 19. Qxh4 Qe7.
18. Rd.8
19. N:xbS Qe7

ι:::::""! 200 /:::""'i

 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

Perhaps better than 19 ... Rxdl 20. Nxa3 37. N7d6 Bxd.6
Rd5. 38. Nxd.6 Rc1 t
20. Qf4 g6 39. Κg2 Nc4
21. a4 BgS 40. Ne8t! Κg6
Worth consίdeήng was 21 ... Kg7 at once-
to mobίlίze the Rooks.
22. Qc4 Be3t
23. Κh1 f4
24. g3 g5
Tal suggests 24... Ne5! If then 25. Qe4?,
there would follow 25 ... f5 26. Qg2 f3! So,
after 24 ... Ne5 !, Whίte would play 25. Qe2-
whereupon 25 ... g5, and Black's advantage
should be bίg enough to wίn.
· 25. Rae1 Qb4 Black's undeveloped Rook ίs shut ίη. Nev­
If here 25 ... Ne5, then 26. Qe4! ertheless, ίt was held that Whίte had only one
26. Q:xb4 N:xb4 sealed move that would ensure a draw-and
27. Re2 Κg7 he found ίt. However, some Sydney analysts
28. Na5 b6 thought 41. Rd5 mίght also have worked.
29. Nc4 Nd5 41. h4 f6
30. Ncd6 42. Re6 Rclt
43. Κg1
If 43. Kg3, a subsequent ... Ndl would
threaten mate.
43. .. . Κf5!
An adventurous way to force a draw-the
fruίt of adjournment analysίs.
44. Ng7t Κχf4
45. Rd4t Κg3
46. Nf5t Κf3
47. Ree4
30. ... Bc5 Whίte ίs threatenίng mate ίη one-there
Α slίghtly better lίne was 30 ... Κg6 (fore­ ίs only one escape. [Purdy is mistaken-there is
stallίng the forkίng check); and ίf 31. c4, then no threat of mate in one. Rather, White is threat­
31 ... Nf6. ening to win by 48. Rf4t Ke2 49. Rf2t, picking up
31. Nb7 Rc8 the black Rook (Fine). So,]
Black's last chance to wίn was probably 47. ... Rc1t
31 ... Ne3! (Tal). If 32. Nxd8, then 32 ... Nxf1. Drawn by perpetual check.
Or 32. Rfe1 f3! 33. Nxd8 Rxd8 34. Rf2 Ng4;
and ίf 35. Rxf3, then 35 ... Rdl. Post·Mortem 1976
32. c4 Ne3 "Worth consίderation" was a bίt mίld for
33. Rf3 Nxc4 21 ... Κg7. It shouldhave made a wίn for Fίsch­
34. gx:f4 g4 er faίrly easy, though the move he played
35. Rd3 h5 should have won also.
36. h3! Na5 The "Sydney analysts" were wrong about

� 201 �
 Extreme Chess

41. Rd5 (41 ... f6 42. h4 Rc3!, Glίgσήch). (Games 5, 8, and 14).
After the resumptίση, ίt was Spassky whσ
had the wίηηίηg chances. Α wίη was claίmed English Opening
fσr hίm by 47. Rel (Januss), refuted by 47 ...
Rg2t 48. Κhl g3! (Lehmanη). Fischer-Spassky
Α better claίm was fσr 47. Rd3t, where­
upση Black ηeeds quίte a serίes σf precίse 1. c4
mσves: 47 . . . Κf4 48. Ng3! Rclt! 49. Κf2 Rc2t If Fίscher has sσme techηίcal reasση fσr
50. Kel Rclt 51. Ke2 Rc2t!. Ivo Νeί has the ηever σpeηίηg wίth 1. d4, ίt ίs prσbably that
last wσrd: 52. Kdl Rd2t! "and σηe canησt he thίηks ίt dίfficult fσr Whίte tσ get any ad­
eveη begίη tσ speak σfWhίte wίηηίηg:' vantage ίη the Queeη's Gambίt Accepted (1.
d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4) .
1. .•• cS
GAME 8: Sσme theσήsts have argued agaίnst Black
playίηg symmetrίcally because ίt sίmply per­
VICτiM OF ΤΗΕ GODS petuates Whίte's ίηίtίatίve. Ι dσubt ίf such a
geηeralίzatίoη ίs valίd.
Whom the god.s wίsh to destroy, 2. Nc3 Nc6
they fίrst make mad. 3. Nf3 Nf6
LongfeHow (jrom an ancient
••. 4. g3 g6
Greehfragment, doubtfully S. BgZ Bg7
attributed to Euripedes) 6. 0-0 0-0
7. d4 cxd4
Sσme first-class hσmewσrk by Fίscher prσ­ There always comes a tίme wheη ίt seems
duces an ίηησvatίοη ίη the Eηglίsh Οpeηίηg. ίmprudeηt to coηtίηue the symmetry.
It lured Spassky ίηtσ takίηg 63 mίηutes σver 8. Nxd4 Nxd4
hίs reply. Gettίηg sσ far behίnd an σppσηeηt 9. Qxd4 d6
clσck-wίse ίs ίtself a pίece of ίηsanίty. It ίs ηοt 10. BgS Be6
reasσηable that σηe chess wίzard shσuld coη­
cede anσther a tίme handίcap of σηe hσur.
Lasker was World Champίση 27 years; and
hίs οpeηίηg playwas σbvίσusly based, thσugh
he ηever saίd sσ, ση the commσηseηse ίdea
that a gσσd mσve made quίckly ίs better than
the perfect σηe made at great cost ίη tίme.
And eveη after an hσur, yσu can seldσm be
sure that yσu have fσund the perfect mσve, ίf
the pσsίtίση ίs cσmplex.
The clσck usually takes ίts tσll. Eveη ίf yσu Temptίηg tσ depήve White σf hίs "twσ
ηever reach the panίc stage σfhavίηg tσ make Bίshσps" wίth 10 ... h6; but after ll. Bxf6 Bxf6
several mσves per mίηute, mere wσrry abσut 12. Qd2 Bg7 13. Radl, Black's backwardness
the lίkelίhσσd σf such a calamίty ίs ίtself a ίη develσpmeηt ίs embarrassίng. Fσr example,
dίstractίση. Sσ ίt prσves here. Spassky, ση ίf13 ... Qa5? 14. NdS Qxd2?, theη 15 ... Nxe7t!
mσve 19, makes the secσηd σf the three el­ Or ίf 13 ... Rb8, theη 14. c5!
emeηtary σversίghts he made ίη the match 11. Qf4!

� 202 �
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

Α sίmple and strong move, yet quίte new 16. Ba7 bxc4
ίη thίs posίtίon. It was now that Spassky pon­ 17. Bxb8 Rxb8
dered 63 mίnutes. 18. bxc4 Bxc4
11. Qa5 19. Rfd1
12. Rac1 Rab8
13. b3 Rfc8
14. Qd.l!
At first glance, 14. Rfd1 ίs appealίng; but
then 14 ... a6 ίs quίte strong, threatenίng ...b5.
What superb precίsίon!
14. a6
15. Be3!

Now comes the pathetίc blunder that

spoίls the game. Smyslov suggests 19 ... Qh5,
whίch seems to gίve good hope. If 20. Nd5,
Whίte loses hίs e-pawn. [Ed.: Ι admit, Ι don't
see t/V.s loss of α pawn as disadvantageous for
WIV.te.] If 20. Bf3, then 20 ... Qh6; and 21.
Nd5� loses to 21 ... Bxd5 and 22... Ng4 [Ed.:
Did Purdy overlook 23. Qxh6 ?]. And ίf20. Rb1,
15 . ... b5 then20 ... Rxb1 21. Rxb1 h622. Rb7 Qe5 holds
Though he undoubtedly sees what's com­ everythίng-and Black retaίns both Bίshops.
ίng, Spassky carήes out hίs plan. If he doesn't, 19. ... Nd7H
he forfeίts the ίnίtiative for good and all­ In such posίtions Nd5 ίs a routine move
Spassky hates that. Small sacrίfίces of mate- for Whίte, and ίt ίs almost ίncredίble that a
World Champίon could faίl to examίne it.
Once examίned, ίts effect here is obvίous.
20. NdS Qxdl
21. Nxe7f Κf8
The exposed c-Bishop ίs the fly ίη Black's
oίntment. The rest needs no comment.
22. Rxdl Κχe7
23. Rxc4 Rb1 t
24. Bfl Nc5
ήal to avoίd ίt and to take the ίnίtiative hίm­ 25. Κg2. a5
self are characteήstic of Spassky, ί.e. gίvίng a 26. e4 Ba1
pawn or gίvίng Rook for pίece and pawn. 27. f4 f6
Smyslov gίves 15 ... Bd7 16. Ba7 Ra8 17. Bd4 28. Re2 Κe6
Bc6 18. e4 b5, but Ι suspect that Spassky looked 29. Recl Bb2
at 18. Rfd1 ! (ίnstead of 18. e4) Bxg2 19. Κχg2. 30. Be2 h5
Whίte then threatens Bxf6! followed power­ 31. Rdl Ba3
fully byNd5! If 19 ... Qf5, then 20. f3 followed 32. f5f gxfS
by e4; and Black's game ίs terήbly dίfficult. 33. exf5f Κe5

� 203 �
 Extreme Chess
ι
34. Rcd4 Κ:xfS Fίscher s
35. RdSt Κe6 zwischenzug on
36. Rxd6t Ke7 move 9 here was
37. Rc6 Resigns hailed as an ίηηο·
vation. Actually ίt
Post·Mortem 1976 was ίntroduced ίη
Many have given queήes to 15 ... b5ι but a Sydney tourney
nobody has proved ίt ίnfeήor. ίη 1963 by John
Glίgorίchι Euweι and Najdorf all sug· Purdyι my sonι
gested 15 ... Rc7 as an equalίzer. Robert Byrne agaίnst the Rus·
makes a curίous error ίη Both Sides of the sίan grandmaster
Chessboeιrdι 1974ι ίη claίmίng advantage for Kotov. It passed
Whίte agaίnst 15 ... Rc7 by playίng 16. Ba7 almost unnotίced then because the posίtion
and makίng Black reply 16 ... Ra8�. He has after Whίteιs nίnth was not yet recognίzed as
overlooked that Black can sίmply double cήtίcal.
Rooksι threatenίng to shut ίη the Bίshop.
Thus 16. Ba7 ίs a wasted move sίnce 17. Queen's Pawn
Qe3 ι a very strong answer to 1 6 ... Ra8 �ι ίs Tarrasch Defense Defeπed
not so after 1 6 ... Rbc8ι as 17 ... Ng4 ίs effec·
tίve (ίfthereupon 18. Qb6�ι then 18 ... Bxc3). Spassky-Fίscher
Whίte canι howeverι obtaίn an advanta·
geous endgame after 15 ... Rc7 wίth 16. NdS Ι. d4 Nf6
Qxd2 17. Bxdl BxdS (vίrtually forced) 18. cxd5 2. c4 e6
Rbc8 19. Rxc7 Rxc7 20. Rc1. The four Rooks 3. Nf3 dS
gοι and Whίte ίs left wίth two good Bίshops. Havίng gaίned a two·poίnt leadι Fίscher
ι
Black s chances are no more "equal" than ίη reverts to the safety-first move that he played
the actual game had Spassky played 19 ... Qh5 ίn Game 1.
as suggested by Smyslov. The Russίan com· 4. Nc3 cS
mentator Fyodorov called 15 ... b5 "the only Havίng always prevίously played 4... Bb4
ι
actίve plan: hereι Fίscher decίdes to surprίse Spasskywίth
the Tarrasch Defense Defeπed.
GAMB 9: S. cxdS NxdS
6. e4 Nxc3
ZWISCHBNZUG 7. bxc3 cxd4
8. cxd4 Nc6!
Oh, the lίttle more, and how It has been customary to make the sίmplί­
much itίs! fyίng exchange firstι 8 ... Bb4t, etc. Thίs de­
And the lίttle less, and what pήves Black of the zwischenzug possίbίlίty. One
worlds away! of the very few chess pήncίples that you can
Robert Browning
••. always rely on ίs: Reserve the wίder choice .

(Ι prefer "wίder choίce" to the usual but less

Zwischenzug means an ίn-between-moveι
an ίnterpolatίon wίthίn a seήes of moves that
makes just the lίttle dίfference that ίs all the
dίfference ίη the world.
ι
clear phrase "greater option: )
9. Bc4!
Now ίf 9 ... Bb4t 10. Bdl Bxdlt 11. Qxdl
Ο-Οι we reach the normal lίneι consίdered as
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
level untίl Game 5 of the 1969 World Cha.mpi·
onshipMa.tch, Spa.ssky-Petrosia.n. There Spassky
introduced a new deployment of Rooks and
scored a smash wίn. The game contίnued 12.
0-0 b6 13. Rad1! Bb7 14. Rfe1! Rc8 15. d5!,
and Black has problems.
9. ... bS!
The zwischenzu.g! Fίscher ίs saίd to have
taken 20 minutes over it, so either he evolved
ίt independently or he remembered it but had
not fully checked it through. It kills an attack
based on an ultίmate d5; for if 10. Bb3, then
Black has not only gaίned a tempo for devel·
oping his c· Bίshop but has also gaίned c4 for
his Κnight-afterplayingatsome stage ...Na5,
inducing Bc2.
10. Bd3
As played by Kotov in the 1963 game
against J. Purdy. 1t costs Whίte a tempo,
later o.n, to protect hίs d-pawn. Seeίng that
White's strategy now must be to make some·
thίng of the weakness of Black's b·pawn,
Polugaevsky poίnted out ίη the Soviet Sports
Week the superίorίty of 10. Be2! For ex·
ample: 10 . . . Bb4t 1 1 . Bd2 Bxd2t 12. Qxd2
a6 13. a4 b4 (not much choίce now) 14.
0-0 0-0 15. d5 ! wίth at least a slίght ad·
vantage. Or 10 ... Be7 1 1 . 0-0 a6 12. a4 b4
13. d5, and the Knίght lacks a good square.
Το cope wίth thίs plan, Ι suggest 10 . . . Bd6
(no need to sίmplίfy after such a quίet move
as Be2) 11. 0-0 a6 12. a4 b4 13. d5 (if 13. e5,
then 13 ... Be7; and now d5 ίs ruled out) exd5
14. exd5 Ne7.
10. ... Bb4t
� 205 �
11. Bdl
Kotov, agaίnstJ. Purdy, played the tempt·
ing 11. Ke2! ? but was soon in Κing trouble.
11. ... Bxdlt
12. ςιχdl a6
Black has to return the tempo gaίned, but
White's Bίshop ίs off ίts best dίagonal. In mas·
ter practίce, however, Black's b-pawn-in the
type of positίon now reached-tends to be·
come a grave weakness. We shall soon see
how much Fίscher thought out in those 20
minutes.
13. a4 0-0
Νο worries yet. If 14. axb5?, then 14...
Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd4; and White's Bίshop
cannot check. If 14. e5!?, indίrectly guarding
the d-pawn, still 14... Bb7 as ίη the game.
14. ςιc3 Bb7!
15. axbS axbS
Νο worries even yet. If 16. Bxb5?, then
16 ... Rxa1t 17. Qxa1 Qb6; and Whίte will
have to return the pawn to avoid trouble. Or
16. Rxa8 Qxa8 17. Bxb5 Na7.
16. 0-0 Q.b6
17. Rab1 b4
That the pawn could always advance to
thίs square and be no longer seήously weak
has been Black's saving clause, as foreseen by
Fίscher on move 9. Α tactίcal finesse ίs that if
now 18. d5, then 18 . . . exd5 19. exd5 Qa5 20.
Qb3 (not 20. Qc4 because of 20 ... Ba6!) Ne7
21. d6 Nd5 22. Bc4 Rad8.
Ι don't mean that Fischer saw all that on
move 9-he just saw that the posίtίon should
hold. Whίte ίs now satίsfied to play into a
 Extreme Chess

clear draw. the other three beίng drawn. The chess world
18. Qdl Nxd4 began to fear another landslίde vίctory as ίη
19. Nxd4 ιμd4 the Candίdates matches.
10. Rxb4 Qd7 Thίs was the first Ruy Lopez. For 15 years
21. Qe3 Rfd8 Fίscher played nothίng but the Lopez if al­
11. Rfbl Qxd3 lowed; and as Spassky frequently answers 1.
23. Qxd3 Rxd3 e4 with 1 ... eS, there were fears that the Lopez
14. Rxb7 gS mίght occur ad nauseam. It was all part of
15. Rb8t Rxb8 Fischer's surprίse campaίgn that ίt dίdn't.
16. Rxb8t Κg7
17. f3 Rdl Ruy Lopez
18. h4 h6 Chigoήn Defense
19. hxgS hxgS
Drawn by agreement. Fischer-Spassky
Uneventful as a game, but eventful ίη the
hίstory ofthe chess openίngs. For, unless Polu­ Ι. e4 e5
gaevsky's 10. Be2 proves really strong, the 1. Nf3 Nc6
Defeπed Taπasch seems a genuίne equalίzer 3. Bb5
agaίnst the Ragozίn Attack ίη the Queen's The inventor of thίs opening, a sίxteenth
Gambit Declίned. If ίt ίs, ίt means that after 1. century Spanίsh pήest, had no ίnklίng of ίts
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 Whίte's only hope of advan­ subtlety. It carήes no threat. Its vίrtue ίs that
tage lies with 3. Nc3-so that ίf 3 ... d5 he can Black cannot freely develop without movίng
play the Pillsbury Attack, 4. BgS, or else the hίs d-pawn; but ίf he moves ίt, hίs Κnίght is
exchange varίation, 4. cxdS. In other words, pίnned-making d4 a strong move for Whίte.
White mustallow the Nimzo-Indίan, 3 ... Bb4, 3. ... a6
ifBlackίs so minded. However, Polugaevsky's 4. Ba4
move needs midnίght oil. In Game 16 Fίscher tήes the Exchange
Vaήant, 4. Bxc6.
Post-Mortem 1976 4. ••• Nf6
The note to move 17 requires amendment. 5. 0-0 Be7
After 18. dS exd5 19. exdS not 19 ... QaS {20. The Chίgorίn System. Black now threat-
Qd2), but 19 ... bxc3 20. Rxb6 NaS 21. d6 BdS ens 6... Nxe4.
(Byrne) and the game should be drawn. 6. Rel b5
7. Bb3 d6
8. c3
GAME IO: Το preserve "the Lopez Bίshop" (agaίnst
8... NaS) and at the same time support the
ΤΗΕ WRONG ROOK push d4.
8. 0-0
Why, man, he doth bestride the 9. h3
narrow world
Like a Colossus ...
Junus Caesar
.••

Fίscher scores hίs fifth win ίη eίght games,

� 206 �
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

10. d4 Nbd7

Remember what Ι saίd ίη the note to

Whίte's Ndl ίη Game 3? The tίme factor, vί­ At this point Spassky was undoubtedly ex·
tal where lίnes are open, ίs subordίnate wίth pectίng Simagin's pawn-offer 1 1 . Nh4!-in­
16 or even only 14 pawns ση the board. Black variably played by Fίscher at thίs point for
was not threatenίng to pίn this Κnight, but several years and probably White's best. Fίsch­
he would pίn it effectίvely ίf White were to er spήngs a negatίve surprίse by avoidίng it.
play 9. d4. That ίs a variatίon ίη which equal­ After 1 1 . Nh4 Nxe4 12. NfS Ndf6 13. Qf3,
ίty for Black has been fairly well establίshed. Blackhas a choice between 13 ... BxfS and 13 ...
The position now reached occurs ίη so Bb7. In either case, Whίte has good compen·
many thousands of games that you might satίon.
imagίne its consequences could be confi­ 11. Nbdl Bb7
dently mapped out. On the contrary, al­ 12. Bcl Re8
though there is a big and brilliant book all 13. b4 Bf8
about it (The Closed Lopez by Wade, Black­ 14. a4 Nb6
stock, and Booth), new follow-ups for both Wade, Blackstock, and Booth (see above)
Black and Whίte are constantly beίng trίed give as best 14 ... aS. Thίs led to a draw ίη
out. The possibilίties seem inexhaustible. Kaν&ιlek-Portisch, Wijk aan Zee 1969 after 15.
From the dίagram, Black has the choice of axbS axb4 16. Bb2 bxc3 17. Bxc3 c6. Requiήng
eight moves: two wins to equalize the score, Spassky doubt­
less sought a more complίcated lίne-provίded
9... Na5 (with many branches) it promised about equal chances.
9 ... h6 (Smyslov) 15. aS Nbd7
9... Be6 (Κholmov) 16. Bb2 Qb8
9... Nd7 (Chίgoήn) Givίngextrasupport to his e-pawn before
9... Nb8 (Breyer) venturίng ...cS.
9 ... Bb7 17. Rb1 cS
9 ... Qd7 18. bxcS dxcS
9... aS 19. dxes NxeS
20. NxeS QxeS
The last three choίces are uncommon. 21. c4 Qf4
9. ... Nb8 Black has ίndeed equal chances. Now he
This regroupίng maneuver, named after threatens the e-pawn so White parts with his
the Hungarian genius Gyula Breyer, once "two Bίshops:'
agaίn emphasizes the subordίnate role of the 22. Bxf6 Qxf6
tίme factor ίη this ήcWy complex vaήatίon. 23. cxbs Red8

1::::::=1 207 1::::::=1

 Extreme Chess

Where there is a choice of Rooks, an old If 29 ... Rad8, then 30. Bxf7t Rxf7 (ίf30 ...
joke is that the annotator can always wrίte Κh8??, mate ίη two) 31. Qxf7t Qxf7 32. Nxf7
"The wrong Rook," as he can always find Rxd1 33. Rxdl Bxe4 (ίf 33 ... Κxfl?, then 34.
somethίng better about usίng the other Rook. Rd7t) 34. Ng5 Bf5 35. Rd5 Bg6 (ίf 35 ... g6,
But ίη thίs case, ίt ίs genuίnely the wrong then 36. g4 Bc8 37. Rd8) 36. Rd8 Bf7 37. Nxh7!
Rook. The two Rooks ίη the center would Κχh7 38. RxfB and Whίte should wίn.
have helped protect the Κίηg. Spassky must 30. Bxf7t Rxf7
have looked at 23 ... Rad8 24. bxa6 Bxa6 25. 31. Qxf7t Q1d1
Ba4, but then 25 ... Re6 threatens to double 32. Nxf7 Bxe4
Rooks. If 25. Rb6, then 25 ... Qc3! wins for 33. Rxe4 Κχf1
Black. Α lot of bήllίancy for a small but useful
24. Qc1 Qc3 gaίn.
25. Nf3 34. Rd7t Κf6
35. Rb7 Ra1 t
36. Κh2 Bd6t
37. g3 b4
38. Κg2 h5
39. Rb6 Rd1
40. Κf3

25 • .• . Qxa5
Thίs haste to equalize the pawns ίs not
Spassky-ish. Both Botvίnnίk and Smyslov
poίnted out that 25 ... c4!, preventίng Bb3,
kills any Whίte attack and gives Black the
ίnίtίatίve. IfWhite can equalίze, it's hίs lίmίt.
If 26. e5, then 26... g6. 40 . . •• Κfn
26. Bb3! axb5 'Άlways unpίn" ίs a good general rule, but
27. Qf4 Rd7 here there ίs a prίoήty. Close analysίs of the
If27 ... c4, then 28. Bxc4. posίtίon shows that ίt ίs ίmportant for Whίte
28. Ne5 Qc7 to play f4. Therefore 40... g5! to counter f4
wίth sίmplίficatίon, and the game should then
be drawn. Fίscher now sealed the obvίous
move.
41. Ke2 Rd5
Whίte's wίnnίng way now ίs Rb5 to
threaten Rexb4, but that ίs not a threat as
long as Black's Rook can check. So,
42. f4! g6
Το meet Rb5 wίth ... Rf5, unpίnnίng. So,
43. g4! hxg4
29. Rbd1 ! Re7 44. hxg4 g5

/:::::""! 208 /:::::""!

 Fischer-Spassky 1972

Α desperate measure. GAMB II:

45. fS Be5
46. Rb5 Κf6 RBALLY POISONBD τΗΙS τΙΜΒ
For if46 ... Bd4 or46 ... Bc3, then 47. Rb?t
Κf8 48. Re6; and the Rooks win, aided by the ... He dίed
pawn. As one that had been studίed in
4 7. Rexb4 Bd4 his death,
48. Rb6t Κe5 Το throw away the dearest thing
49. Κf3 Rd8 he owed,
White threatened mate in one. As 'twere a careless trifle.
50. Rb8 Rd7 Mercbeth
• ••

51. R4b7 Rd6

52. Rb6 Rd7 Α lead of three points must have given
53. Rg6 ΚdS Fischer a feeling of euphoήa, for he blithely
54. RxgS Be5 ventured the "Poisoned Pawn" line again­
55. f6 Κd4 evidently without special preparation even
Re8 threatened. though it was certain that if Spassky played it
56. Rbl! Resigns again he and his team must have evolved an
If 56 ... Bxf6, White can choose between improvement.
two simple methodς. This was the only game of the match that
Spassky got a good opening as Black, Spassky won entirely by his own efforts, if
but failed to press his initiative on moves you regard the result of Game 1 as an Act of
23 and 25. God. His only win, but what a win!

Post·Mortem 1976 Sίcilian Defense

Some commentators dispute my "wrong NajdorfVaήant
Rook" claim, but Smyslov upholds it. After
23 ... Rad8, the reply 24. Qc1 is tήcky, as 24... Spassky-Fischer
Qc3 is then well answered by 25. Ba4! But
consider 24 . . . axbS 25. RxbS Ba6 26. Rb6 and Ι. e4 c5
now 26 ... Qc3. Now if 27. Ba4?, then 27 ... 2. Nf3 d6
QxaS. Orif27. Rxa6, then 27 ... Rxd2 28. Ba4 3. d4 cxd4
Qxc1 29. Rxc1 Rxe4. Νο better for White is 4. Nxd4 Nf6
27. Nb3 Re6 28. Rxe6 fxe6 29. Re3 for after 5. Nc3 a6
29 ... QeS, Black either regains his pawn or 6. BgS e6
gets powerful counterplay. 7. f4 Qb6
On my own showing, 23 ... Red8 was qώte 8. Qd1 Q:xb2
adequate (see the note to move 25), but 23 ... 9. Nb3 Qa3
Rad8 would have made Black's game easier. So far as in Game 7. After that game, it was
Our note to move 27, 'Ίf ... c4, then Bxc4," freely brώted about that Spassky should have
is ήght as far as it goes; but if Black continues played 10. Bxf6; and Fischer might well have
with 28 ... Rd7! (and if 29. NeS or 29. RxbS, done more homework on that than it seems
then 29 ... Qc7), he has "prospects for a draw" he did.
(Kotov). The move played, however, also gave 10. Bxf6 gxf6
drawing chances. 11. Be2

� 209 �
 Extreme Chess

play ση serίσusly? After 18 ... Rc8 it ίs still a

game.
19. Bg4 Nd6
20. N1d1 f5
21. a3 QJJ6
11. c5 Qb5
23. Qc3 :fxg4
Ιηfeήσrtσ "Resίgns," butappareηtly Fisch­
er did ησt want tσ lσse the shσrtest game σf
the match.
1 1 . ... h5 24. a4 h3
Preveηting Bh5 either at σηce σr later ση 15. axb5 hxglt
as a check after f5 and exchange σf pawns ση 26. Κχg1 Rh3
e6. But the mσve puts Black 3.5 mσves (σr 17. Qf6 Nf5
tempσs) behiηd iη develσpmeηt! 28. c6 Bc8
12. 0-0 Nc6 19. dxe6 &e6
White's ηext is crafty, elimίηatiηg a sub· 30. Rfe1 Be7
sequeηt ηuisaηce check. 31. Rx:e6 Resigns
13. Κh1! Bd7
14. Nb1!! Qb4 Post·Mortem 1976
15. Qe3 Fίscher σught tσ have answered Spassky's
iηησνatiση, 14. Nbl!, with 14 ... Qb2!, where·
upση it seems that White had ησthiηg better
than a draw by repetitiση with 15. Nc3 Qa3.
Fσr if 15. a4?! Rc8 16. Na3 (Glίgσήch), Larseη
and Keres iηdepeηdeηtly discovered 16 ... d5!
17. exd5 Nb4!, whereupση Black cσmes σut
better ίη all vaήatiσηs. [Ed.: Whιttifll. Rjbl ?
Then ifll Qxa3 18. Rxιt3 Bxa3 19. exd5.]
...

15 . ...
Thίs panicky mσve iηdicates that Fischer
was thrσwn by the ferσcity σf White's 14th,
almσst lίke a Sam Lσyd prσblem key. Admit­
tedly his Queeη was threateηed with extiηc·
tiση by a3 and Ν c3, but he cσuld have gσt σut
withσut breakίηg up his hσme. Sίmply 15 ...
Ne7! tσ escape via a4 and c6. Still a pawη plus
and with his tempσ defίcit reduced tσ 2.5,
Black mίght well survive and eveη flσuήsh.
16. exd5 Ne7 Hσwever, aη earlier imprσvemeηt fσr
17. c4 Nf5 Black ίs 9 ... Nc6 iηstead σf Fischer's 9 ... Qa3.
18. Qd3 h4? Fσr if 10. a3, threateηiηg tσ catch the Queeη,
Was Fischer tσσ disgusted with hίmself tσ Black has a complete let·σut ίη 10... Na5. If

� 210 �
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

Whίte first plays 10. Bxf6 gxf6, ίt makes no c6 sίnce the new sίtuation demands ...cS.
dίfference to thίs tήck. 9. Bd3 dxc4
After hίdίng ίts head for a year or two, the 10. Bxc4 b5
"Poίsoned Pawn" lίne began reappeaήng ίη 11. Bd3 a6
1974 and 1975, even though Fίscher dίdn't.

GAME 12:

HEALING BALM

Ι have supp'd full wίth horrors •

Mιιcbeth
...

After hίs drubbίng ίη Game 11, Fίscher 11. a4

doubtless lίstened to hίs pήestly advίser, Fa· Το hίnder ...cS as long as possίble.
ther Wίllίam Lombardy. After a bad beating, 12. bxa4
ίt ίs customary to take the next game quίetly, 13. Nxa4 Qa5f
keepίng the draw ίη hand. Although Fίscher's 14. Ndl Bb4
ίnclίnation may have been to try for a quίck 15. Nc3 c5
revenge, he heeded wίse counsel and once 16. Nb3 Qd8
agaίn played the formerly despίsed Queen's 17. 0-0 cxd4
Gambίt. 18. Nxd4 Bb7
19. Be4 Qb8
Queen's Gambit Declined 10. Bg3 Qa7

Fischer-Spassky

1. c4 e6
1. Nf3 d5
3. d4 Nf6
4. Nc3 Be7
5. Bg5 h6
6. Bh4 0-0
7. e3 Nbd7
If Fίscher hoped for another Tartakower 21. Nc6!
(7... b6), he ίs dίsappoίnted. Α Httle coup that secures Whίte the asset
8. Rc1 of "the two Bίshops:' Then Whίte ίs decίd­
The most orthodox move. Not yet 8. Bd3, edly to be preferred, but Black's posίtion does
as Black then plays 8 ... dxc4 wίthout losίng a not present targets for attack.
move ίη development. 21. Bxc6
8. ••• c6 11. Bxc6 Rac8
See Game 6 for a note ση 8 ... b6. Whίte 23. Na4 Rfd8
now plays 9. Bd3 because ίf 9... dxc4 then 14. Bf3 a5
Black hίmself wίll have lost a move wίth 8 ... 15. Rc6

/:::"""'� 211 /:::"""'�

 Extreme Chess

Thίs loses a move (tempo). Better seems The obvίous way to kίll Whίte's attack.
25. Qe2. 47. Κg1 Κg6
15. Rxc6 48. Rcl Ba3
16. Bxc6 Rc8 49. Ral Bb4
17. Bf3 Qa6 50. Rcl Be7
18. h3 Qb5 51. gxf5t exf5
19. Be1 Qc6 51. Rel
30. Bf3 Qb5 Το meet ... Bh4 wίth Re2. Also ίnvίtίng
Blackhas no justίficatίon for tryίng to wίn, Black to force the draw wίth a lίttle dίsplay of
and Whίte has not made up hίs rnίnd. "Curtsy fireworks-more soul-satίsfyίng than an ίm­
whίle you thίnk, ίt saves tίme," as the Red medίate agreement.
Queen remarks ίη Thrσugh the Looking-Glass. 51. Rxflt
31. b3 Be7 53. Κχf1 Bh4t
31. Be1 Qb4 54. Ke1 Qxf3t
33. Ba6 Rc6 55. Κχf3 Bxel
34. Bd3 Nc5 Drawn by agreement.
35. Qf3 Rc8 Α cast-ίron draw. Νot only ίs Black's pawn
36. Nxc5 Bxc5 plus ίllusory sίnce ίt resίdes ίη an ίsolated
37. Rcl Rd8 doubled pawn, but the notoήous ''Bίshops of
If37 ... Qxb3H, then 38. RxcS! opposίte color" rear theίr mίtred heads.
38. Bc4 Qdl From the adjourned posίtίon Ι can well
39. Rfi Bb4 ίmagίne Fίscher, ίη a tournament and agaίnst
40. Bc7 Rd7 a lesser opponent, maneuveήng round and
round wίth the two Bίshops and finally wan·
glίng a wίn.

Post·Mortem 1976
We gave 21. Nc6 an exclamatίon mark,
and ήghtly so; but several commentators have
mentίoned that Νc6 would have gίven Whίte
a more meanίngful advantage on move 20.
Black would then have had seήous dίfficulty
ίη equalίzίng.
Whίte sealed hίs next move.
41. Qc6 Qcl
41. Be5 Rd1 GAMB 13:
43. Qa8t Κh7
Whίte now cedes the asset ofthe two Bίsh­ SPASSΚY'S STAR WANES
ops to weaken Black's Κίηg. Comίng so soon
after the adjournment, we can assume that The fault, dear Brutus, is not in
adjournment analysίs could dίscover nothίng ourstars,
more promίsίng. But in ourselves ...
44. Bxf6 gxf6 Julius Ca.esar
• ..

45. Qf3 f5
46. g4 Qe4 Game 13, the greatest battle of the match
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

up to thίs poίnt, restoredFίscher's three·poίnt wίth 16 pawns alίve.

lead, temporarίly lost through hίs debacle ίη 8. ... a5!
Game 11. Fίscher adjourned wίth a wίnnίng
game, but for once hίs adjournment analysίs
seems to have been ίmperfect. The Russίan
team of grandmasters assίsting Spassky were
jubίlant next day; they saίd Fίscher had not
found the best lίne, and Ι thίnk they were
ήght. However, overnίght analysίs could not
carry Spassky ήght through the second ses·
sίon. Gettίng short of time, as so often duήng
the match, Spassky mίssed a forced draw on
move 69. In any case good, but ίη a sense respon·
sίble for Black's wίn-sίnce ίt goads Whίte
Alekhine's Defense ίnto an over-commίtting move ίη place of the
more prudent 9. a3.
Spassky-Fischer 9. a4 dxe5
10. dxe5 Na6
1. e4 Nf6 11. 0-0 Nc5
Although Fίscher has played Alekhίne's 12. Qe2 Qe8
Defense at least five tίmes, he has played the Accepting the pawn·offer whίch was al­
Sίcίlίan so many hundreds of times that he most ίnherent ίη Whίte's 9th-quίte ίη lίne
could count on most of the pre·match Rus· wίth Spassky's style and well adapted to a two·
sίan analysίs beίng devoted to ίt. Fίscher was poίnt defίcίt. Lίke Capablanca, Fίscher seems
wίse not to try the "Poίsoned Pawn" line agaίn to consίder ίt almost a poίnt of honor to ac·
so soon, though Ι am sure we shall see hίm cept gambίts and, ίη Capablanca's words,
playίng ίt agaίn after goίng through a cruse or "weather the storm:'
two of mίdnίght οίl. 13. Ne4 Nbxa4
2. e5 Nd5 14. Bxa4 Nxa4
3. d4 d6 15. Re1 Nb6
4. Nf3 g6 16. Bd2 a4
Fίscher played thίs ίη hίs marathon drawn Wίth Whίte to move, ίt seems he has 3.5
game wίth Australίa's W.S. Browne, Zagreb tempos for hίs pawn mίnus. The catch ίs that
1970. In Game 19 he reverts to the older 4... Whίte's development ίs already complete, so
Bg4. he cannot develop a new pίece. So Whίte
5. Bc4 Nb6 moves, and then Black need only count hίm·
6. Bb3 Bg7 self2.5 tempos behίnd. Besίdes, Blackhas "the
Whίte's nextwas thoughtto be an ίnnova· two Bίshops," quίte an asset ίη thίs posίtion.
tion. All ίη all, seeίng that the posίtίon ίs not yet
7. Nbd2 0-0 opened up, Black for choίce.
8. h3 17. Bg5 h6
Not needed yet; but Whίte plans Qe2 18. Bh4 Bf5
and a move wίth hίs d· Knίght, after whίch Now Smyslov suggests 19. Nd4! Bxe4
the pίn would be troublesome. Once agaίn (best) 20. Qxe4, wίth clearer compensatίon
Ι mentίon that the tίme factor ίs not vίtal for the pawn.
 Extreme Chess

19. g4 Be6 37. Rfl! Rh8!!

10. Nd4 Bc4
11. Qd1 Qd7
If 21 ... Bxe5, then 22. Qxh6 threatens Νg5.
11. Rad1 Rfe8!
The Queen cannot protect the e-pawn
permanently, but ίt would weaken Black
prematurely to play . . . e6 now.
23. f4 Bd5
24. Nc5 Qc8

White threatened Rf4-h4, wίth Rook,

Bishop, and pawn terrorizίng the black sίde
of the board. Black ίs happy to gίve Rook for
Bίshop and afterwards to stop White's passed
pawn or even to wίn it. Black also hopes to
unleash hίs own two passed pawns, the
a-pawn and the e-pawn, whenever possίble.
38. Bf6 a3
39. Rf4 a1
Black now threatens ... a3, but Smyslov 40. c4! Bxc4
suggests the strong attackίng move 25. e6! If 41. d7 Bd5
25 ... Nc4, then 26. Qe2 Nxb2 27. Nf5!-wίth 42. Κg3
hell let loose. The sealed move (threat Rh4) .
15. Qc3 e6! 42. ... Ra3t
16. Κh1 Nd7 Forcίng Whίte to obstruct hίs Bίshop's
11. Nd3 c5! guard on al.
18. Nb5 Qc6 43. c3
Almost forcίng the followίng bίg change
ίη the posίtίon. Whίte gets a mίghty Bishop,
but Black gets a valuable passed pawn.
19. Nd6 Qxd6
30. exd6 Bxc3
31. bxc3 f6
32. g5 hxg5
Fίrst 32 ... c4!, whίle the f4 square ίs
plugged. After 33. Nb4 hxg5, Black ίs hap­
pίer.
33. fxg5 f5 43 . ... Rha8
34. Bg3 Κf7 The obvίous move; yet Ι thίnk careful
Smyslov poίnts out the stronger 34... a3 ! analysίs wίll show-and probably dίd show
For example, 35. Ne5 Nxe5 36. Bxe5 Red8 37. the Russίan team-that 43 ... Rb8! was stron­
Rfl Ra4! 38. Kg3 al! ger, as wίll appear later. If then 44. Be5?, 44...
35. Ne5t Nxe5 Rd8 wίns. The plausίble 43... al=Q? 44. Rxal
36. Bxe5 b5 Rxal ίs marvelously refuted by 45. Rh4!! Rgl t

� 214 �
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

(ίf 45 ... Raa8, theη 46. Bxh8 Rd8 47. Bf6; and 51. Rd6t Κb7
Whίte gίves perpetual check) 46. Κf2 Rg2t 51. Rd7t Κa6
47. Κf1 Rxh4 48. d8=Q Rf4t 49. Ke1 Rg1t 50. 53. R7d1 Rxd1
Kdl Rf2t 51. Ke3 Rf3t 52. Ke2 Rg2t 53. Ke1 54. Κχd1 b4
and Black must take a perpetual check. 55. h4 Κb5
44. Rh4 e5 56. h5 c4
The σηly escape frσm a draw. Threateηίηg tσ check and queeη.
45. Rh7t Κe6 57. Ral gxh5
46. Re7t Κd6 58. g6 h4
47. Rxe5 If ησw 59. Bxh4, theη 59 ... b3 60. Kc3 Rg8
wίηs.
59. g7 h3
60. Be7 Rg8
Fσrced. Νσw 61. Rxa2� lσses Bίshσp σr
Rσσk.
61. Bf8 h1
61. Kcl Kc6
63. Rdl b3t
64. Kc3 hl =Q
Wίthσut thίs, Black caη make ησ head­
Stίll the σnly mσve if Black's Rσσk were way. If 64... f4, theη 65. Rd6t Kc7 66. Rd1
ση b8, as theη 47. Bxe5t Κχe7 48. Bxb8 a1=Q f3 67. Kb2; and Black's Kίηg caηησt emerge
wίηs easίly fσr Black. wίthσut queeηίηg σηe suίcίde pawη aηd
47. ... Rxc3t theη yίeldίηg the σther.
It ίs tragίc fσr Black that thίs shσuld be 65. �· ΚdS
ηecessary, as ίt remσves the σbstructiση tσ 66. Κbl f4
Whίte's Bίshσp aηd brίηgs Whίte's Κίηg 67. Rdit Κe4
ηearer the cήtical area Un the dίagram, pίc­ 68. Rcl Κd3
ture Black's Rσσk ση b8; Black theη wίns by
47 ... Κχd7 48. Rexd5t Ke8 49. Ra1 b4 50. Κf2
b3 51. c4, sίηce 51 ... b2, Rσσk-suppσrted, wίns
the Bίshσp. Or (wίth the black Rσσk ση bsj]
48. Rdxd5t Kc6 49. Rxc5t Kb6 50. Rxb5t Κa6
[χ. Rxb8 (fσrced) a1=Q 52. Ra8t (ησthίηg
better) Kb7 53. Rxa3 Qxa3 54. Re?t Kc6 and
Black wίηs easίly wίth the Queeη. Fσr ex­
ample, 55. Rg?? Qd6t 56. Κf3 Qd3t 57. Κf2
f4. Lίttle better ίs 55. Rh7, and 55. h4� ίs wσrse:}.
Ιη thι;,actual pσsίtίση,LtaldD.g the secσηd 69. Rdit?
varίatiση/Whίte wσuldplay 51. Rbd5!, threat· Lσsίηg a vίtal tempσ. The game has beeη a
enίηg Rd6t, etc.; and a wίη fσr Black wσuld draw ever sίηce mσve 47, and perhaps eveη
be hard tσ demσηstrate. sίηce mσve 43. It ίs almσst heartbreakίηg fσr
48. Κf1 Rclt me, let alσηe Spassky, tσ see the game thrσwn
49. Κel Κχd7 away here thrσugh clσck trσuble. The draw ίs
50. RexdSt Kc6 fσrced by 69. Rc3t Kd4 70. Rf3 c3t (ίf 70...

/::::'9 215 /::::'9

 Extreme Chess

Ke4, theη 71. Rc3; and Black must either re­ the answer.
peat mσves σr play 71 ... f3 and allσw 72. Rxc4t Realiziηg his mistake, Fischer, as usual­
fσllσwed by Rc1 and Κχb3, etc.) 71. Ka1 c2 72. thσugh nσt ίη Game 1 1-finds the very best
Rxf4t Kc3 (if 72 ... Kd3, theη 73. Rf1 threat­ way σf headiηg fσr a draw. He is rσbbed σf the
eηs Kb2, wίηηίηg) 73. Rf3t Kd2 74. Ba3 Rxg7 prσbable triumph σf fσrciηg the draw by an
75. Rxb3. A last trap wσuld be 75 ... Rc7 (say) σversight that hands him the draw ση a plate.
76. Κχa2Η (White shσuld play 76. Bb2 σr
shσuld mσve his Rσσk) Ra7!. Wσrth tryiηg Queen's Gambit Declined
with an σppσηeηt terήbly shσrt σf time.
69. Ke2 Fischer-Spassky
70. Rcl f3
71. BcS Rxg7 Ι. c4 e6
72. Rxc4 Rd7! 2. Nf3 dS
73. Re4t ΚfΙ 3. d4
74. Bd4 f1. Observe that Fischer had, with Game 13,
75. Resigns. scσred the six wins that he thinks are all that
If 75. Rf4, theη 75 ... Rxd4 76. Rxd4 Ke2 shσuld be required. Iηdeed, as a result σf his
77. Re4t Κf3 78. Re8 f1=Q. Black lσses this streηuσus urgings, the 1975 wσrld title match
Queeη, theη plays his Κing tσ d3 σr d2, queens is tσ be wση by the player first winning six
ση a1 tσ avσid stalemate, and theη plays ...Kc3. games, draws nσt counting-nσte that Fisch­
Simpler than 78 ... a1=Qt. alsσ wiηηiηg. This er will ησt be able tσ retaiη his title by draw­
ησte is fσr learners. iηg the match because a drawn match will be
impσssible.
Post-Mortem 1976
My suggestiσn σf 43 ... Rb8 was quite
wrσηg. After 44. Be5, Black does nσt wίη, as Ι
claimed, by 44... Rd8, as 45. Rh4 fσrces a draw
by perpetual check.
The nσte tσ Black's 47th, therefσre, is
pσintless, except fσr the first senteηce. It
is indeed tragic fσr Black that he shσuld
need tσ remσve White's pawn ση c3, but
he dσes ηeed tσ.
Frσm this pσίηt, it is significant that Fisch­
er plays it safe with the White pieces. The
GAMB 14: σnly reasσn he dσes nσt dσ the same with
Black is that there is ησ really safe way σf
ΤΗΒ TRAPPBR TRAPPED meeting 1. e4. Here we fiηd Fischer playiηg
the Queeη's Gambit fσr the third time-and a
Plots have Ι laid, inductίons dan· sσmewhat innσcuσus variatiσn at that.
gerous. 3. Nf6
. .. Richιιrd ΙΙΙ 4. Nc3 Be7
S. Bf4
Ησw did Fischer cσme tσ mσve his An σld line rather favσred by Steinitz.
Bishσp tσ the wrσηg square� Ι think Ι have s. ... 0-0

� 216 �
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

6. e3 c5 19. �4 Nc6
7. dxc5 Nc6 10. Bf4�
8. cxd5 ex:d5
Black has transposed ίnto the Tarrasch
Defense, of whίch the trademark is the iso­
lated d-pawn. In playίng agaίnst the ίsolated
pawn, a player lίkes to have as many pίeces as
possίble bearίng on the blockade square d4.
That asks for the whίte c-Bishop to be devel­
oped ίη fianchetto (meaning at b2), so ίf the
c-Bίshop ίs on another dίagonal Black can hug
hίmself with the thought that Whίte's pίeces
are not ίdeally posted for this specίal sίtua­ Nίmzovίch theory demands the blockade
tion. Nor does Black have to worry about the move Bd4, whίch leaves Whίte wίth a small
Rubίnsteίn Attack (g3 and Bg2). but unquestionable advantage. So why dίd
9. Be2 Bxc5 Fischer not play it? Ι am convίnced that he
10. 0-0 Be6 became fascίnated by the ίdea of setting a
11. Rc1 Rc8 deep trap. Naturally, with Fίscher, the oήgί­
nal ίdea of beίng happy with a draw would go
overboard ίf he got a posίtίon with wίnnίng
possίbilίties.
In the dίagram, ίt looks at first-and even
at second and at thίrd-that Black can wίn
outήght by 20 ... g5 21. Bg3 h5. How on earth
can Whίte cope wίth the ghastly threat of
22 ... h4? Not 22. Ne5H because of ...Nxg3.
Nor22. Bb5? because of22 ... h423. Be5 g424.
Bxc6 gxf3 25. gxf3 Qg5t. Nor 22. Nd4? be­
The posίtion contaίns a trap. If12. NxdSH, cause of22 ... Nxd4 23. exd4 h424. Be5 f6 25.
then 12 ... Qxd5 13. Qxd5 Nxd5 14. Rxc5 Nxf4 f3 Nd2 26. Rd1 Nc4.
15. exf4 Nd4!; and Whίte can resign. So is Whίte lost? Νο, try 22. Rd1 !!. Then
12. a3 h6 22 . . . h4 23. Be5 g4 24. Nd2! Nxf2! (24...
As 13. Bg5 could now ίrk Black. Nxd2H allows mate; and ίf 24... Nxe5, then
13. Bg3 Bb6 25. Nxe4) 25. Κχf2 Nxe5 26. Qf4! with too
14. Ne5 Ne7 much for the pawn-for example, 26 ... Re8
Exchange of Knίghts would transfer 27. Ne4! Re6 28. Bxg4. [Ed.: Isn't White lost
White's Bishop to ίts ίdeal dίagonal after all. here? 28. . Exe3t 29. Κχe3 Ng6 30. Exe6 Qb6t or
.

15. Na4 Ne4 30. Qj5 Qb6t 31. Kd3 Qxbl.]

16. Rxc8 Bxc8 Convίnced that 20 ... g5 would lose for
17. Nf3 Bd7 Black, Whίte dίd not thίnk there could be
18. Be5 B:xa4 anythίng else to worry about. And thίs was a
One of Fischer's reasons for preferrίng to gήsly oversight!
elimίnate thίs Bishop rather than the other 10. ... Qf6!
one could be that he vίsualίzed a subsequent By controlling e5 this makes ...g5 a ter­
attack on the isolated d-pawn. ήble threat and attacks a pawn at the same
 Extreme Chess

time. White finds the best defense. If21. Qb3, and he must now head for a draw- which is
then ... d4!-with a surer advantage to Black. easily done.
21. Bb5! �2 19. Bxd4 Nxd4
If21 ... g5�, then 22. Bxc6 gxf4 23. Bxd5. 30. exd4 Rb8
11. Bxc6 Nc3 31. Κf1 Rxb4
23. Qb4 �4 32. Rxc6 Rxd4
24. axb4 bxc6 33. Ra6 Κf7
15. Be5 Nb5 34. Rxa7t Κf6
26. Rc1 Rc8 35. Rd7 h5
17. Nd4! 36. Ke2 gS
37. Ke3 Re4t
38. Kd3 Κe6
39. Rg7 Κf6
40. Rd7 Κe6
Drawn by agreement.
Black's 27 ... f6� was the last of Spassky's
three attacks of "chess blindness" (Games 5,
8, and 14). Why no more, and why did the
three happen� The outwardly imperturbable
Spassky is inwardly emotional. Ι think that
17 . ... f6? Fischer's play in Games 3 and 5 afflicted
An absurdity that spoils the game­ Spassky with a mixture of nervous anxiety
Spassky's third and last spasm of "chess andawe, which somehow disturbed the chess
blindness:' The continuation envisaged by machinery of his mind. After Game 14,
Fischer was 27 ... Nxd4 28. Bxd4 Bxd4 (ση Spassky decided to accept the idea of defeat
28 ... Kf8 29. Kf1 f6 30. Ke2 Ke7 31. Bxb6 philosophically, just like the idea of death.
axb6 32. Ra1 White should probably draw From then on, he simply played chess-hop­
with his aggressive Rook) 29. exd4 Rb8 30. ing for as good an outcome as possible but not
Rxc6 Rxb4 31. Kfl . Now if 31 ... Rxd4, then allowing himself to worry about it. That had
32. Ra6, with a draw-type Rook endίng­ the effect of uncloggίng the machine.
Black's passed pawn is not remote enough The theory that Fischer's "antics" upset
for a win. Or 31 . . . a5 32. Rc5 a4 33. Rxd5 Spassky does not make sense to any hardened
a3 34. Ra5 Rb1t 35. Ke2 Rb2t 36. Ke3 a2 competitive player. Α champion is little af­
37. Ra7 and White draws. fected by extemal eccentήcities. But his bal­
In this, 36 ... Ra2 37. Ra7 Ra1 38. d5 a2 39. ance is really upset when, having become
Κf3 forces Black to take a draw by 39 ... Rd1. accustomed to defeating all foes, he meets his
If there is a win for Black somewhere, it is master.
a difficult one.
28. Bxf6! Bxd4 Post·Mortem 1976
If 28... gxf6, then 29. Nxb5. White's little In saying that 20. Bd4 would leave White
coup on move 28 is an elementary example of with a small advantage, we exaggerated­
a "desperado" combination. Before winning White, however, would have obtained equal­
the Κnight, the then doomed Bishop first sells ity. Νei exaggerates on the other side in saying
its life as dearly as possible. Net result: Black's that Black would stand "very well" after 20.
27th has simply thrown away his pawn plus, Bd4 Nxd4 21. Nxd4 Qf6. Another Soviet

b""'1 218 b""'1

 Fischer-Spassky 1972

grandmaster, Κrogius, gives the equalizing Sίcίlίan Defense

continuation22. Qd? (also 22. Bd3). Najdorf Varίant
Nei again exaggerates, and very wildly, in
claiming that the position was "clearly won Spassky-Fίscher
for Black" before 27 ... f6H.
Κrogius, again more accurately, claims 1. e4 c5
only "winning chances:' Larry Evans cau­ 1. Nf3 d6
tiously says White would "face prolonged tor­ 3. d4 cxd4
ture trying to draw:' 4. N:xd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. BgS e6
GAME 15: 7. f4
So far as in Games 7 and 11.
ATTACK IS ΤΗΕ BEST DEFENSE 7. ••• Be7
Fischer used to play this before he took to
Whereίn Ι spoke of most disas­ the "Poisoned Pawn:'
trous chances, 8. Q.f3 Q.c7
Ofmovingaccίdents byfloodand 9. 0-0-0 Nbd7
fίeld; 10. Bd3 b5
Of haίrbreadth scapes ί' the ίm­ Safe because if 11. eS, then 11 ... Bb7.
mίnent deadly breach. 11. Rhe1 Bb7
OtheHo
.•. White has the more aggressive setup, but
Black's must be held defensible until proved
This game sharply brings out the contrast otherwise.
between Fischer's safe opening play with 11. Qg3 Ο-Ο-Ο!
White in the second half and his relatively
daring ventures with Black.
Ι have already mentioned the explanation.
After Game 9, in which Ι think he played the
Queen's Pawn to quiet his nerves after their
laceration in Game 8, Spassky invariably
opened with 1. e4. Some players believe that
there is one safe defense to 1. e4: the Caro­
Κann-but that is not in Fischer's style. Herein
Fischer differs from Capablanca, though in
some respects their styles are comparable. It White having castled on the queenside, it
is ήsky to depart from one's style. Besides, is probably safer for Black to do the same. In
faith in the Caro-Κann is far from widespread. doingso, Blackis offeήnga pawn-verymuch
Starting with the premise that there is no in Spassky's own style.
"drawing" defense to 1. e4, evidently Black 13. B:xf6 N:xf6!
must simply fight against 1. e4 with any and If 13 ... gxf6, quite good is 14. Qg?; and if
every weapon at his disposal and never think 14 ... Rdf8, then 15. Nxe6! Not 13 ... Bxf6 be­
about a draw unless the game begins to point cause of 14. BxbS !, etc.
that way. 14. Q.xg7 Rdf8
15. Qg3 b4
 Extreme Chess

Black hasn't very clear compensation for who ίgnoreth ίt.

hίs pawn-just the ίnίtίative and a prospect of 26. Rxd8t Rxd8
getting Spassky to use up a lot of hίs 2.5 hours 27. Ng5
at an early stage. The game has become a maze of complίca­
16. Na4 Rhg8 tions. The nearest thίng to a sίmple lίne ίs still
17. Qfl Nd7! 27. Re3!, solίdίfyίng and envίsagίng further
More endurίng than ... Qa5, b3. Black ίs consolίdation by Qe2. Black would gravely
keen to get hίs least active pίece workίng-hίs weaken hίs lίght squares by 27... Bxf3.
e-Bίshop. Always a good pήncίple. 27. ... Bxe5!
18. Κb1 Κb8 Black eagerly seίzes the chance for a com­
19. c3 bίnation that promίses at any rate excellent
Openίng the c-fίle after castlίng queensίde chances for a draw.
ίs not unusual strategy. Get ίη fίrst ίs the ίdea. 28. Qxfl Rd7!
19. ... Nc5 29. Qxh5 Bxc3
20. Bc2 bxc3 Spassky finds hίmself cast ίη the unfamίl­
If20... Nxa4, then 21. Bxa4 bxc3 22. Rcl. ίar role ofpawn-grabber-hίs Κίηg is now the
21. Nxc3 Bf6 exposed one.
22. g3 h5 30. bxc3 Qb6t
31. Kc1 Qa5
. � �� ·· � � 32. Qh8t I<a7
�i.- "" %f�j� 33. a4 Nd3t
1� � 1 -- �
�� " "' '
" "��/ ��
���·;:/�""--)Ι ��- "
j�
Now ίt's Whίte whose lίght squares go up
ίn smoke.

� �"/ �
.r l�- 34. Bxd3 Rxd3
�""'�1[������ �- - -�!Jί-� 35. Kc2 Rd5!

� -� -� { "'� "'"'
����' �
Α hard game for both sίdes. You still can­
not say that Black has clear compensatίon for
hίs pawn mίnus; but he has the two Bίshops,
and ίt ίs hard for Whίte to concoct a plan for
turnίng hίs materίal to account. What Whίte
plays now ίs certaίnly hίghly attractive, as ίt
bίds faίr to wrest the ίnίtίatίve from Black.
But 23. Re3! ίs a good, solίd move-ίt con­ Playίng to wίn. Because Whίte's Rook ίs
serves Whίte's advantage wίthout makίng unprotected, Black threatens a mating attack
commίtments. wίth ... Qxa4t. If 35 ... Rd8, then 36. Qe5 pro­
23. e5 dxe5 tects the Rook; and 36 ... Rd5 ίs then met by
24. fxe5 Bh8 37. Qe3t.
Not 24... Bxe5 because of 25. Ndb5 axb5 36. Re4!!
26. Nxb5, and Whίte regaίns hίs pίece wίth a Α "haίrbreadth scape:' If now 36... Rxg5,
wίnnίng game. then 37. Qd4t Qc5 (ίf 37 ... Qb6, the reply ίs
25. Nf3 Rd8 the same; or ίf the Κίηg moves, then Qh8t,
Once there ίs an open file, woe betide hίm etc.) 38. Rxe6 Qxd4 39. cxd4 Ra5 (or39 ... Rd5
 Fischer-Spassky 1972
40. Kc3) 40. Kb3! . And if further 40 . . . Bd5t
41. Kb4 Rxa4t 42. Κχa4 Bxe6 the game is a
draw eveη with all White's pawns remσved
because Black's a-pawn's queeηiηg square is
σf the "wrσηg cσlσr:'
36. ... Rd8
Hard tσ meet is 36 ... Bc6! ? Best theη seems
37. Rb4 Bxa4t 38. Kb2, and ησw Black may
have ησthiηg better than perpetual check.
37. Qg7 QfS
The σther aspects σf the "hairbreadth
scape" are that Black's Bishσp is piηηed and
that White's piηηed Rσσk is guarded (pre­
cariσusly but adequately) by the Κnight.
38. Κb3 QdSt
39. I<a3 Qdl
40. Rb4! Qcl f !
If 40 . . . Rd7 (claimed by sσme as bet­
ter), theη White easily fσrces a draw by
41. Qe5; sσ Black may as well "make assur­
ance dσuble sure" by fσrciηg a draw at σηce.
White ησw sealed.
41. Rb2 Qalt
42. Ra1 Qcl f
If 42 ... Qd1, theη 43. Rb2 Rd7 44. Qe5-
with agaiη a draw as iη the ησte tσ mσve 40.
43. Rb2 Draw
Perpetual check. The expσsed Κiηgs bal­
ance. If Black decliηes perpetual check, he
must at best allσw White perpetual check.
Cσmpare Game 18 iη which a balance is prσ­
duced by an expσsed Κiηg and a coηfiηed
Κiηg. Such draws are twice as excitiηg as wiηs,
fσr twσ players are attackiηg iηstead σf σηe.
Post·Mortem 1976
Our suggestiση σf 23. Re3 was subse­
queηtly made by the late Paul Keres whσ
thσught it gave gσσd wiηηiηg chances.
Agaiη, ση mσve 27 σur suggestiση σf Re3
was echσed by Kσrchησi whσ thσught it
wσuld have maiηtaiηed winniηg chances fσr
White still.
We passed 29. Qxh5 withσut a ησte, but it
was infeήσr. Spassky σught by ησw tσ have
beeη playiηg fσr a draw with 29. Qe8t Rd8
30. Qfl. And agaiη, ση mσve 31. Κa1 was
better than Kc1.
Fischer's 35 ... Rd5 did ησt deserve the ex­
clamatiση mark that we gave it. We did meη­
tiση 35 ... Rd8, but gave 36. Qe5 as an adequate
reply. Hσwever, Rσbert Byrηe theη wσrks σut
a win fσr Black startiηg with 36 ... Qxa4t.
Ιη suggestiηg 36 ... Bc6, we gave it ! ?-but
it shσuld have had simply ! . After 37. Rb4
Bxa4t 38. Kb2 we said "ησw Black may have
ησthiηg better than perpetual check:' But
38 . . . Rd2t 39. Kc1 Rd1t 40. Kb2 Bb5 and
Black wins (Κrσgius).
Instead σf 38 ... Qd5t, sσme cσmmeηta­
tσrs claimed a win by 38 . . . Κa8 39. Qe5 Rg8
"whereupση White cannσt stσp the lσss σf a
piece" (Byrηe and Nei). It seems that these
authσrs did ησt see the earlier bσσk Fischer­
Spasskyfrom the Soνiet Point ojView (translated
by Karklins) where Κrσgius pσiηts σut that
White can prσbably save himself with 40. h4!
Fσrif40 ... Rxg5, theη 41. Qh8t Κa7 42. Qd4t
Kb8 43. Qd8t and Black canησt affσrd tσ
evade perpetual check with 43 ... Bc8? be­
cause σf 44. Rb4t.
Likewise, if 40 ... Bxe4, theη 41. Qxe4t
Qxe442. Nxe4 Rg4 43. Nc5e5 44. Nxa6 "with
a likely draw" (Κrσgius) .
Hσwever, Gligσήch's σrigiηal suggestiση
σf 38 ... Rd1 ! (and if 39. h4, theη 39 ... Qf2)
σffered Black gσσd chances σf wiηηiηg. [Ed.:
39 Qd5t gu&ιrantees the win!]
.••
GAME 16:
WHEN GREEKMEETS GREEK
Half a league, half a league,
Half a league onward.
. .. The Chιιrge of the Ljght Brigade
Fischer cσηtiηues his prσgressiση by half­
pσints; but agaiη the game is very lively and
 Extreme Chess

interesting, wίth the trifling exception of the perpetual check and bήngίng Fίscher another
last 30 moves-whίch Ι suggest you skip or half-poίnt nearer vίctory after only a dozen
else play through at lίghtnίng speed. moves. Fίscher had thίs ίη mίnd for certaίn.
Incίdentally, 10. Nxg4� subjects Whίte to a
RuyLopez terήfίc attack (e.g. 10 ... 0-0-0 11. Qf3H
Exchange Vaήant Rhlt!). [Ed.: However, 11. Re1 followed by 12.
Re3 should worry Ela.ck.}
Fischer-Spassky 6. d4 Bg4
7. dxeS Qxdl
Ι. e4 eS Νο altematίve.
1. Nf3 Nc6 s. Rxdi fxes
3. BbS a6 If 8 ... Bxf3, Black no longer has hίs two
4. Bxc6 dxc6 Bίshops-hίs tradίtίonal compensatίon
Fίscher revίved thίs wίth good results a for hίs queensίde pawn-posίtion (four pawns
few years ago. He played ίt for wίns, as dίd held by three) . And Whίte can qώckly un­
Emanuel Lasker, especίally ίη the memo· double his f-pawns wίth f4.
rable game La.sker-Cι:ιpa.bla.nca. whίch Lasker 9. Rd3 Bd6
sίmply had to wίn to have a chance of fίrst 10. Nbdl Nf6
prίze at St. Petersburg 1 914 (Lasker dίd win 11. Nc4 Nxe4
fίrst prίze ίη the greatest chess recovery ίη 11. NcxeS Bxf3
hίstory untίl Fίscher's at Los Angeles ίη Banggo "the two Bίshops" anyway. Whίte
1966). It ίs a good lίne for wίnnίng chances has emerged wίth an advantage.
wίth draw ίη hand. 13. Nxf3 0-0
Lasker usually continued wίth 5. d4 (not 14. Be3 bS
5. Nxe5� because of 5 ... Qd4), but Fίscher al­
ways castles fίrst.
s. 0-0

Admίttedly, Whίte has a tryίng taskto play

s. . .. f6
The most aggressίve contίnuatίon for
Black ίs the pίn 5 ... Bg4. If then 6. h3, there
follows 6 . . . h5 7. c3 Qd3! . Now ίf 8. hxg4
hxg4 9. Nxe5 then 9 . . . Bd6!!.
Here that lίne ίs vίrtually ruled out for
Spassky as Fischer would then blίthely play
10. Nxd3, forcίng Black to take a draw by
for a wίn sίnce ίt ίs dίffίcult to activate hίs
kingsίde majorίty. John Gray, a lecturer at
James Cook Unίversίty, Townsvίlle, and a
hίghly sensίtized openίng theoreticίan, sug­
gests the recondίte move 15. Rf1 !, overpro­
tectίng f1 and threatenίng at once Νg5. In
some lίnes the whίte Κnίght plays to d3, agaίn
protectίng f2; and Whίte plots to double
Rooks on the e-fίle, exchange off all Rooks,
and at last get the kingsίde majoήty movίng.
 Fischer-Spassky 1972

In normal άrcumstances, Fischerwould have 32. Rxd6 Rxf2.

thought hard about a winningplan andwould 33. Rxa6 Rxh2
not, Ι think, have indulged in the over-sharp
sortie that now follows. If White's idea is to
force a draw, his play can be regarded as a
display of virtuosity.
15. c4!� �8
16. Rcl bxc4
And if 17. Rxc4 Rxb2 18. Rxe4H, Black
mates. [After 18... Rblt, 1 9 Bcl returns materiιιl
and aνσids mate.-RT]
17. Rd4 Rfe8
18. Ndl Nxdl Ι looked toward Birnam, and
19. Rxd1 Re4 anon methought
While the precarious pawn can be held, it The wood began to move.
restrains White's b-pawn. ...Macbetlt
20. g3 Be5!
21. Rccl Κf7! Yes, if the pieces now started moving of
22. Κg2. Rxb2! their own volition, the players are excused.
The position is such an easy book draw that it
might as well be Κing versus Κing.
34. Κf3 Rd1
35. Ra7t Κf6
36. Ra6t Ke7
37. Ra7t Rd7
38. Ra2 Ke6
39. Κg2. Re7
40. Κh3 Κf6
41. Ra6t Re6
Had Black not first moved his King, 42. RaS h6
White couldplay 23. Rxb2 and Rb8t to evade 43. Ra2 Κf5
the pawn fork. 44. Rflt :κgs
23. Κf3! c3 45. Rf7 g6
24. Κχe4 cxdl 46. Rf4 h5
25. Rxd1 Rb5 47. Rf3 Rf6
Never before in my life have Ι seen so fas­ 48. Ra3 Re6
cinating a series of elegant drawn games. 49. Rf3 Re4
However, a draw couldhave been agreedupon 50. Ra3 Κh6
at once or at move 33 at latest. 51. Ra6 Re5
26. Rcl Bd6 52. Κh4 Re4t
27. Rxc6 RaS 53. Κh3 Re7
28. Bf4 Ra4t 54. Κh4 Re5
29. Κf3 Ra3t 55. Rb6 Κg7
30. Κe4 Rxa2 56. Rb4 Κh6
31. Bxd6 cxd6 57. Rb6 Rel

ι::::::'! 223 ι::::::'!

 Extreme Chess
58. Κh3 Rhlt
59. Κg2 Ral
60. Κh3 Ra4
Drawn by agreement.
Post·Mortem 1976
It ίs generally agreed that Whίte could
have obtaίned at least a mίnute advantage
either by 15. Ndl (Korchnoί) or by 15. Rc1
(Glίgorίch).
GAME 17:
THE OVΈRRAΊΈD EXCHANGE
Sweet knίght, thou art now one
ofthe greatestmen ίnthe realm.
. . . Henry Iv, Pιut ΙΙ
We all read ίn chess pήmers that a Rook ίs
worth a mίnor pίece and two pawns. Thίs
legend seems to dog most players through lίfe,
even if they reach master class. When they
find themselves wίth a Rook for a piece and
Fίscher (pen and ίnk by Hil1)
only one pawn, they somehow think nature
owes them a wίn; but the game wίll usually be
drawn unless the Rook ( or both the attacker's
Rooks if he has two) can break ίnto the en­
emy camp. Countless tίmes ίn my 40 years as
a chess master Ι have made thίs small sacήfίce
of mateήal and have rarely lost -sometίmes Ι
even won. My opponents have usually qua­
vered, "Where dίd Ι go wrong?" and my fa­
voήte reply ίs, "Thίnkίng you had a wίn:'
Here Fίscher makes the "sacήfice" agaίnst
Spassky; and at the end, world-wίde puzzle­
ment was expressed at Spassky's abandonίng
of any attempt to wίn when the game was
resumed. The fact was that Spassky ίs too
strong a player to make the almost unίversal
eπor of overratίng the Exchange.
Pίrc Defense
Spassky-Fίscher
Ι. e4 d6
Fίscher was ready to go to extreme lengths
to avoίd prepared analysίs. Thίs has not been
hίs practίce through lίfe. He has specίalίzed
ίn certaίn lίnes, knowίnghίs opponents would
analyze agaίnst those lίnes-he expected to
out-analyze the opponents. But to out-ana­
lyze fίve top-lίne Sovίet grandmasters ίs a tall
order, and Fίscher has a weίrd streak of practί­
cal common sense runnίng through hίs per­
fectίonίsm.
Fischer has never before played the Pίrc
Defense, but he has happίly and success­
fully played agaίnst ίt. The Pίrc ίs a great
labor saver as ίt can be played against any
fίrst move at all.
1. d4 g6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. f4 Bg7
5. Nf3 c5
Both sίdes were on classίcal lίnes up to 5.
Nf3, if you can talk about classίcίsm ίn an
openίng rarely seen before 1950. But Black
usually castles on move 5.
6. dxc5
Krogius-Polugαevshy, USSR Championship
1958, contίnued 6. Bb5t Bd7 7. e5 Ng4 8. e6!
Bxb5 9. exf7t Kd7 10. Nxb5 Qa5t 11. Nc3
cxd4 12. Nxd4 Qh5 13. Ne4! wίth advantage
to Whίte. But Black can contίnue more sol-
 Fi5cher-Spas5ky 1972

idly with 12 ... Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Nc6, followed 20. (LcSt
as 5οοη a5 po55ίble by ... Rhf8 with equal 21. Κh1 (LeS!
chance5.
6. (La5
7. Bd3 (Lxc5
8. (Le2 0-0
9. Be3 (LaS
10. 0-0 Bg4
11. Rad1 Nc6
12. Bc4 Nh5

Νο che55 player, however great, ever

managed to get through life without get·
tiηg ίηtο a ho5t of difficult pο5ίtίοη5. It fol­
low5 that fiηdiηg the be5t way out of
difficultίe5-"wriggliηg" -ί5 the hallmark of
greatηe55 ίη che55. Fi5cher uηerriηgly fiηd5
the way here. Gίve up the Exchaηge aηd ''. ..
Our ca5tle'5 5treηgth will laugh a 5ίege to
Thi5 move bήηg5 out the differeηce be· 5Corη:' The black Queeη i5 terrίfic ση eS,
tweeη the 5tyle5 of the two player5, ίη 5ome iηeradicable except by exchaηgiηg Queeη5.
way5 50 5imilar. Spas5ky would ηever go ίη Above all, White ί5 ab5olutely uηable to get
for thi5 pawη-grab at the co5t of time ίη devel­ hί5 Rooks οηtο the opeη file without ced­
opmeηt and the exchange of the powerful iηg a 5ecoηd pawη. Thi5 i5 the very heart of
dark-5quared Bi5hop for a Κnight. And ηο· the matter. If White'5 Rooks could take the
body except Fi5cher would dare to go ίη for it file, "the devil damη thee black," to cοη·
agaiη5t Spas5ky. Naturally Spas5ky make5 ηο tiηue Macbeth-wί5e.
attempt to 5ave the pawη. It i5 a real geηius case of the clas5ical Εχ·
13. Bb3 Bxc3 change 5acήfice.
14. bxc3 (Lxc3 But why give up the Exchange? Well, try
15. f5 Nf6 ηοt doiηg 5ο; and if you can't build a 5troηg
16. h3 Bxf3 attack for White, I'm a Dutchman. Black'5 f1
17. (Lxf3 NaS 5quare and his dark 5quare5 would be as weak
Black ήds him5elf of οηe of the turbuleηt as kitteη5. Although Black play5 geηius che55
prie5ts-he canηot allow both to live. here, the ηece55ίty for the 5acήfice rather cοη·
18. Rd3 (Lc7! demη5 the origiηal grab.
The further grab 18 ... Qc6 19. BdS NxdS 22. Bxf8 Rxf8
20. exdS Qxc2 21. Bh6 ί5 too perilous eveη for 23. Re3 Rc8
Fi5cher. There ί5 a poiηt at which the po5i· The 5aviηg clause. IfWhite can manage to
tioηal equilibrium ί5 50 up5et that mateήal 5wap Rooks, 5till a wίη. Νow read ση.
cease5 to have ηormal 5ίgnificance. 24. fxg6 hxg6
19. Bh6 Nxb3 25. (Lf4 (Lxf4
20. cxb3 26. Rxf4 Nd7
Not 20. Bxf8? because of 20 ... NcS. 27. Rf2 NeS
 Extreme Chess

The Κnight takes the place σί the Queeη This seemed tσ surpήse Spassky; but it
ση this glσήσus blσckade square. Νσw ησte keeps White's Κiηg frσm f4, fσrestalls a pos­
the iηtrσductσry quσtatiση. sible h4, and iηitiates a whσlesale pawη-push
28. Κh2 Rc1 iη case White gives up the Exchange and tήes
29. Ree2 Nc6! tσ run with passed pawns ση the queeηside.
The Κnight takes a ηew pσst, as White at The rest σf the game is iηterestiηg only fσr
last threateηs tσ get the file. Nimzσvich says what didn't happeη. White cσuld ησt fiηd
that a file iη itselfis ησt much -it's the squares wiηηiηg chances by any methσd at all, and
ση ranks 7 and 8 that matter, and the Κnight this after a whσle ηight σf analysis by five
shuts thσse σff. Sσviet grandmasters-sσ we can assume that
30. Rcl Re1 there just are ησηe.
Black must coηtiηually evade exchaηge 42. Rc1 Re2
σf Rσσks. Α Κnight σr Bishσp cσmbiηes beau­ 43. R1c2 Re1
tifully with a Rσσk, but is uηhappy as a 44. Rc1 Re2
lσηe wσlf. 45. R1c2
31. Rfe2 Ra1 And Fischer, wήtiηg dσwn his ηext mσve
32. Κg3 Κg7 as 45 . . . Re1, claimed a draw.
33. Rcdl Rf1 Α draw must ησt be claimed or offered
34. Rf2 Rel after yσu have mσved, as it might disturb yσur
35. Rfe2 Rf1 σppσηeηt whσ might be shσrt σf time. Actu­
White is playiηg fσr the adjσurnmeηt and ally the rule ought tσ be that yσu can claim
just manages tσ avσid a draw by triple recur­ after moviηg prσvided that you leave yσur
reηce σί pσsitiση. σwn clσck still runηiηg.
36. Re3 a6! Newspaper cables said that Spassky "ap­
Α far-sighted mσve. See the ηext ησte. peared thunderstruck" and staredwide-eyed
ιι

37. Rc3 Re1 at the bσard:' Thatwas allpσppycock. Itwσuld

38. Rc4 Rf1 be impσssible fσr any master tσ make a mis­
39. Rdcl Ra1 take abσut such a simple repetitioη σf mσves.
40. Rf2 Re1 The draw came as ησ surprise tσ Spassky,
Spassky sealed ηοw. The obviσus mσve is thσugh it may have amused him tσ preteηd it
41. Rb2 fσr b4 and b5. Theη 41 . . . Κί6 42. b4 did. Dση't fσrget that he eηjσys actiηg. Play­
Ne5! (said the spidertσ the fly) 43. Rc7 b5 44. ers σfteη sit staήηg at the bσard after a game
Ra7 Re3t! (ησt 44 ... Rxe4 [Ed.: Why not?]) 45. has eηded, wσηderiηg if they have dσηe the
Κί2 Ra3 and White's Rσσks are sσ hσrήbly ήght thing and sσ fσrth.
disunited that White could eveη lσse.
41. Rfcl gS ! Post·Mortem 1976
Giveη that Fischer was skatiηg ση thiη ice
with 12 . . . Nh5, what was his soundest liηe?
Κrogius suggests 12 ... Rac8 13. Bb3 b5. Byrne,
however, may be ήght iη sayiηg that the risky
12 ... Nh5 was the best chance. Black wσuld
have tσ submit tσ an attack anyway, sσ he
might as well have a pawη fσr it.
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

GAME I8: Whίte's thίrd ίs unusual. Nίmzovίch now

favored preventίng d4 wίth ...eS ! The only
ΤΗΕ ΤΙτΑΝS avaίlable break for eίther sίde then ίs wίth the
f-pawn; but while ...fS ίs readily playable by
... We could not stall together Black, f4 for Whίte ίs blocked. But Spassky
In the whole world: but yet let prefers to transpose; he lίkes the early 3 ...
me lament, Nc6, whίch Fίscher avoίds as Black.
With tears as sovereign as the 4. d4 cxd4
blood of hearts, 5. Nxd4 Nf6
That thou, my brother, my com· 6. Bg5 e6
petίtor 7. Qd2
In top of all desίgn, my mate in The Rauzer Attack. More up-to-date ίs 7.
empire, f4, as Spassky played ίη Games 7 and 11, invίt­
Frίend and companίon ίn the ίng the "Poίsoned Pawn" line.
front of war, 7. a6
... -that our stars, 8. 0-0-0 Bd7
Unreconcίlable, should divide 9. f4 Be7
Our equalness to thίs ... 10. Nf3
..•Caesιιr to Antony inANTONY Avoίdίng the freeίng exchange 10 ... Nxd4
AND CLEOPATRA. followed by ll ... Bc6.
10. .•• bs
Not for development of the c-Bίshop, as
Wίth both Kίngs ίη jeopardy, thίs game usual, but for attackίng purposes only.
ίs a companίon to Game 15 but exceeds 11. Bxf6 gxf6
that one ίη merίt. Thίs game reaches real Tempting ίs l l ... Bxf6 12. Qxd6 Bxc3, but
grandeur. Black has no strong way of followίng up the
pawn-sacrίfice because of having to guard the
Sicilian Defense d-Bίshop.
12. Bd3 QaS
Fischer-Spassky 13. Κb1 b4
14. Ne2 QcS
1. e4 cS 15. fS! aS
2. Nf3 d6 Το accept the pawn offer would wreck
3. Nc3 Black's game.
16. Nf4 a4

3. Nc6
 Extreme Chess

Black threateηs a break-up by ... b3. thιιt Pischer mιιy hιινe been "bluffed" by Spιιsshy's
17. Rc1 Rb8 offer of the Exchιιnge. It's ιιlsο lihely thιιt Spιιsshy,
18. c3 b3 ιιfter ιιnother looh, sιιw thιιt his offer might be
19. a3 Ne5 flιιwed, ιιnd on moνe 29 he decided it wιιs much
10. Rhfi Nc4 better to move his Rooh. The pιιwn mess would not
21. Bxc4 Qxc4 necessιιrily mιιhe it eιιsyfor White to win.]
11. Rce1 Κd8 30. fxe6 fxe6
Black's Κίηg ίs ίη somethίηg of a plίght. Το 31. Rf1 e5!
castle would ίηνίte worse trouble. Οη the Blackmakes a bold decίsίoη. He must opeη
queeηsίde the Κίηg at least has the protectίoη up for hίs dark-squared Bίshop, but ...d5 at
of hίs own pίeces whίch are attackίηg there­ oηce would ίnvίte trouble. So Black fίrst so·
he ίs ση a blasted heath, but ηοt aloηe lίke lίdίfίes hίs center, at the same tίme hopίng to
Κίηg Lear. decoy a whίte Rook wίth the baίt of the h-
13. Κa1 pawn.
So that ίf Black ever does grab ση f5 ίt 31. Nf5 Bxf5
woη't be check. Thίs Bίshop could ηοt joίn ίη the attack
13. Rb5 anyway.
14. Nd4 Ra5 33. Rxf5 dS!
15. Nd3 Kc7 34. exd5 Qxd5
16. Nb4 h5
Black canηot leave thίs pawn to ίts fate as
yet (ίf 26 ... Rb8, theη 27. Qh6). Black ηοw
threateηs ...h4, fixίηg Whίte's g-pawη.
17. g3 Re5
18. Nd3 Rb8!

35. Nb4
Not an ίmmedίate necessίty. Whίte could
play 35. Rxh5; for ίf 35 ... Bxa3, theη 36.
Rh?t!-whereupoη every move by the black
Κίηg has ίts own troubles. Whίte thίnks ίt
safe enough to have the c-file opened (onto
Offerίηg the Exchange. If 2 9. Nxe5, theη Black's Κίηg), but paradoxίcally ίt's Whίte's
29 ... dxe5 30. Nf3 Bc6-whereupoη Black own Κίηg that wίll suffer. Amazίηg!
threateηs both . . . Bxe4 aηd the sacrίfίce 35. Qd7!
... Bxa3. If 3 1 . Qe2, theη 31 ... Qxe2 32. Rxe2 36. Rxh5 Bxb4
Bb5; aηd Black regaίηs the Exchaηge [Ed.: 37. cxb4 Rd5
This is only tnιe if White doesn't plιιy 33. c4.]. 38. Rc1 f Κb7
Black's better developed Κίηg would theη 39. Qe4 Rc8!
become aη asset.
19. Qe1 Ra5
Here Nxe5 was a threat. [Ed.: It's possible
 Fίscher-Spassky 1972
Νσw comes a bίtter pίll fσr Whίte. Ηίs
Κίηg suffers frσm claustrσphσbίa, the σppσ·
sίte complaίηt tσ Black's, νίz. agσraphσbίa.
Ησw ίs Whίte tσ shίeld hίs Κίηg? Νσt 40.
Rdl? Kb8, whereupση Whίte caη wίη a
Rσσk-but theη gets mated.
40. Rbl Κb6!
41. Rh7 Rd4
41. Qg6
Keepίηg the Queeηs ση sσ as tσ make use
σf Black's expσsed Κίηg. Black ησw sealed the
σbvίσusly rίght mσve.
41. Qc6
43. Rf7 Rd6
Here many had predίcted a wίη fσr Whίte
by 44. Qf5, but that wσuld allσw Black tσ wίη
wίth 44... Qc2!-and ίf 45. Rxf6, theη 45 ...
Rcc6. Whίte plays the σηly mσve.
44. Qh6! Qf3!
And Black the σnly gσσd reply, fσr Whίte
threateηed Qe3t.
45. Qh7!
Stσps eίther σf the kίηgsίde pawns frσm
advancίng σr a Rσσk gσίηg tσ c6. Black ίs ίη a
sσrt σf zugzwang, except fσr σηe savίηg mσve.
45. Qc6!
46. Qh6! Qf3!
Eίther player wσuld lσse by dίvergίηg.
47. Qh7 Qc6
Drawn
Οηe σf the greatest drawη games σf all
tίme.
Post·Mortem 1976
We passed σver 20. Rhf1; but ίnstead σf
that, Whίte cσuld have σbtaίηed a sίgnίfίcant
advantage wίth20. Nd4! (Keres). Ifthereupση
20 . . . Nxd3 21. fxe6! Nxcl ? ! 22. exd7t Κχd7
23. Rxc1 theη the attack wίth the twσ Κnίghts
shσuld wίη eveη thσugh Whίte ίs the Ex­
change dσwη. Better wσuld be 21 . . . fxe6 22.
Qxd3 e5 23. Nfe6 Qc8 24. Ng7t Κf7 25. Ndf5
but Whίte wσuld stίll have an advantage.
Bσth Κrσgίus and Νeί (ίη agreement fσr
σnce) prefer 22. Rfe1 to Fίscher's 22. Rce1.
By mσve 34, Black had the better game;
but 34... Qxd5, ση whίch we σmίtted any
comment, was nσt Black's best mσve. Κrσ­
gίus and Νeί agaίn agree that Black shσuld
have played 34... Rd8, whereupση Whίte
wσuld have beeη hard pressed fσr a defeηse.
Fischer, iη hίs turn, missed a chance ση
mσve 36 (agaίn ησ ησte ίη this bσσk) wίth 36.
Qc4t. Then after 36 ... Kb6, he had the chσice
σf 37. Rxh5 (Byrne) σr 37. Rf3 (Κrσgίus) .
Accσrdίηg tσ Keres, Fίscher alsσ played
imprecisely on mσve 38-Rh4 was strσnger
than hίs 38. Rc1 t.
 Extreme Chess

GAMB 19: OPENING THEORY, after the games).

5. Be2 e6!
DISPLAY OF PYROTBCHNICS More flexίble than 5 ... Nc6.
6. 0-0 Be7
There is beauty in the bellow of 7. h3
the blast, "Putting the question" at once ίs best.
There is grandeur in the growl· 7. Bh5
ing of the gale; 8. c4 Nb6
There is eloquent outpouring 9. Nc3 0-0
When the lion is a·roaring, 10. Be3 d5!?
And the tiger ίs a-lashing of his Fischer has at times disparaged women's
tail. chess, but here he follows Alla Kushnir (chal­
.•. The Mihado lenger) ίη her 1969 match with Nona Gapήn­
dashvίlί, holder of the women's world tίtle
Both sides produce "sorties and surpήses" since 1 960. Usual is 10 ... Nc6, but then
in a profusion seldom seen in such rarefied Whίte gains a sure advantage with 1 1 . exd6
chess strata. Such fireworks are more associ­ cxd6 12. d5.
ated with coffee-house chess. 11. c5 Bx:f3
Naturally, as the Κnightwants to advance,
Alekhine's Defense not retreat.
12. Bx:f3 Nc4
Spassky-Fischer 13. b3!
Τοο slow is 13. Bc1 first (13 ... b6 would
Ι. e4 Nf6 equalize).
2. e5 Nd5 13 • ••• Nxe3
3. d4 d6 14. &.e3 b6
4. Nf3 Bg4 Black has acute problems. This is hazard­
Wisely not repeating 4... g6 which Spassky ous, but anything else leads to grave restήc­
this time mίght have answered as suggested tίon.
by Australia's Max Salm (see the section on 15. e4! c6
16. b4 bxc5
17. bxc5 Qa5 ?!

Ι am sure Fischer did not foresee the reply,

or he'd have played 17 ... Nd7; and if 18. Qa4,
then 18 ... Qc7-wίth a slίghtly cramped but

ι==ι 230 ι==ι

 Fίscher-Spassky 1972

probably tenable game. 22. Qxdl Bxdl

18. Nxd5!! 23. Raf1 Nc6
And Black ίs ίη trouble. If 18... exdS, then 24. exd5 exd5
19. exd5; and ίfthen 19 ... cxd5 20. Bxd5 Nd7, 25. Rd7 Be3 t
not 21. Bxa8, but 21. Rxf7! Rxf7 22. Bxa8- 26. Κh1 Bxd4
wίth three pawns for a pίece and wίth strong 27. e6 Be5!
threats. If22 ... Κh8, then 23. Qh5 [Ed.: Rιιlph It ίs ίmportant to stop Rd6
Tykodi's query ιιbout 23. e6 hιιs interest. Mιιteri­ 28. Rxd5 Re8
ιιlly speιιking things ιιre equιιl ιιfter 23 ... RjB 24. 29. Re1 Rxe6
exd7 Rχιι8. On 25. Qe2, then 25... Qd8, 26. Rel 30. Rd6!
Qxd727. Qxe7 Qxd4{. While Whitegιιins ιι pιιwn,
it isn't cleιιr whether this is enough to win.] RfB
[Ed.: 23 ... g6 is more likely. 24. Qg4 Nxc5.] 24.
Be4 wίns.
18. ... Bg5!!
Α Roland for Spassky's Olίver! Whίte ίs so
staggered by the move that he faίls to find the
strongest attack: 19. Qd3 !, keepίng the whίte
Bίshop where ίt ίs most dangerous. If 19 ...
Rd8, then 20. Bh5! (now) 20... g6 21. Qf3!­
how ίs the whίte hurrίcane to be wίthstood? 30. ... Κf7!
[Ed.: For exιιmple, 21 ... exd5 Π. Qxj7t KhB 23. Black heads for a clear draw because he ίs
Exg6 hxg6 24. Qxg6 Qd2 25. Qh5t (25. Rj7 Qxd4t sure he cannot wίn wίth 30 ... Rxd6 31. cxd6
drιιws by eventuιιl perpetuιιl check.) ιιnd ιι lot of Κf7 (not 31 ... Bxd6 because of 32. Re6) 32.
pιιwns.] Rc1 !-Whίte gets hίs Rook to the seventh
19. Bh5� rank.
Thίs looks lίke a wίnner, but Whίte has 31. Rxc6 Rxc6
mίssed Fίscher's 21st. 32. Rxe5 Κf6
19. cxd5 33. Rd5 Ke6
20. Bxf7t Rxf7 34. Rh5 h6
21. Rxf7 35. Κh2 Ra6
36. c6 Rxc6
Not36 . . . Rxa2 because of37. RcS, nor 36 ...
Kd6? because of 37. Rf5.
37. Ra5 a6
38. Κg3 Κf6
39. Κf3 Rc3t
40. Κf2 Rclt
Drawn by agreement.
Another mίght-have-been, lίke Game 4.
Α wίn by Spassky at thίs stage would have
21. ... Qd2!! thrίlled the world, though Fίscher would still
Takίng the Rook loses, but thίs saves the have needed only two poίnts and Spassky 3.5
day; for if22. Qh5?, then 22 ... Qxd4t 23. Κh2 wίth fίve to play.
QxeSt 24. g3 Qb2t!, etc.

� 231 �
 Extreme Chess

Post·Mortem 1976 5. Nc3 d6

Fίscher wasn't really ίη trouble ίη Game 6. Bg5 e6
19, and he dίd foresee 18. Nxd5; for he played 7. Qdl a6
18 ... Bg5 ίnstantaneously. If now 19. Qd3 as 8. 0-0-0 Bd7
suggested, then 19 . . . exd5 ! 20. exd5 Na6 21. 9. f4 Be7
dxc6 Rad8 and there is no win for White. NowWhitevaήes from Game 18's 10. Nf3.
Κrogίus gίves advantage for Whίte by 19. 10. Be2 0-0
h4!? Bxh4 20. Ne3 but 20 ... Qc3!. And ίf 21. Spassky ίs prepared for an adventurous
Nc2, then 21 ... Na6 ίs good for Black. game with opposίte castling.
Fίscher's 17 ... Qa5 ίs !, not ?!. ll. Bf3 h6
11. Bh4

GAME 20:

SUDDEN RUSH OF
CAUτiON TO τΗΕ HEAD

The House of Peers, throughout

the war,
Dίd nothing ίn particular,
And dίd ίt verywell.
... Iolanthe Whίte has ίntended to meet l l ... h6 thίs
way all along. Black must eίther accept an
Wίth the score at 11-8 and fίve to play, ίnferior posίtίon or else equalίze at the cost
Fίscher still needs 1.5 more poίnts; and once of wholesale simplίfication. At thίs stage
agaίn we find hίm usίng the advantage of first Spassky saw that it was unrealίstic to make
move ίη a drawish dίrection-gίvίng Black the a desperate attempt to save the match-to
opportunίty of equalίzing easily at the cost of go down wίth an honorable score was a fea­
allowing wholesale sίmplίficatίon. That ίs ut­ sible ambίtίon. So he plays correct chess.
terly foreign to hίs tournament style wίth 11. Nxe4!
Whίte and to hίs style ίη the first half of the 13. Bxe7 Nxdl
match. 14. Bxd8 Nxf3
If 14... Nxd4, then 15. Be7.
Sicilian Defense 15.Nxf3 Rfxd8
16.Rxd6 Κf8
Fischer-Spassky 17.Rhdl Κe7
18.Na4 Be8
Ι. e4 c5 19. Rxd8 Rxd8
When a draw ίs almost as bad as a loss, 20. Nc5
always the Sίcilίan.
1. Nf3 Nc6
Once agaίn the Spassky move, earlίer than
ever.
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6

� 232 �
 Fischer-Spassky 1972

ίs ίη Black's favor because he has an active

pawn majorίty, whereas White's majority is
much restrained.
37. Rxd7t Bxd.7
Black already threatens ...Νf3.
38. Nel e5
39. fxe5 fxe5
40. Kdl Bf5
41. Ndl!

10. ... Rb8

Black doesn't mind leaving the file to
White sίnce Black controls all the squares at
the business end of it.
21. Rd3 a5
Preparing ... b5. Advancing ση the mi·
nority sίde to gain space is sometimes good
strategy.
11. Rb3 b5
23. a3 Black sealed his next move. White must
If 23. Rc3, then 23 ... Nb4! threatens play very accurately to avoid weakening his
... Nxalt. structure. But White need not fear 41 ... Nf3t
23. a4 42. Nxf3 gxf3 43. Nc3 Bd7 44. Ke3 Bc6, after
14. Rc3 Rd.8 which the Κnight oscillates and the white
15. Nd3 f6 Κίηg cannot be displaced.
26. Rc5 Rb8 41. Κd6
17. Rc3 g5 ! 41. Ne3 Be6
Black is cleverly going very close to mak· 43. Κd3 Bf7
ing something out of nothing. White now 44. Kc3 Kc6
restrains Black's ambitious pawns. 45. Κd3 Kc5
18. g3 Kd6 46. Κe4 Κd6
19. Nc5 g4 47. Kd3 Bg6f
30. Ne4f Ke7 48. Kc3 Kc5
31. Nel Rd.8 49. Nd3t Kd6
32. Nd3 Rd4 50. Nel Kc6
If 32 ... Nd4, then 33. Rc?t Rd7 34. Rc8, 51. Kdl Kc5
with the threat of Nxf6 ( Glίgorich). 51. Nd3 t Κd6
33. Nefl h5 If 52 ... Bxd3 53. Κχd3 Nf3, sufficίent ίs 54.
34. Rc5 Rd5 Nf1 Kd6 (say) 55. Ke3 whereupon White
35. Rc3 threatens h3! If54... Kd5, then 55. Ne3t.
The player anxious to make sure of a 53. Nel Ne6
draw always hesitates to exchange Rooks. 54. Kc3 Nd4
35. ... Nd4 Drawn by agreement.
36. Rc7t Rd.7
Now White has little option. The ending

ι==ι 233 ι==ι

 Extreme Chess
Post·Mortem 1976
Fίscher's devίatioη from Game 18 at move
10 was ση the "safety first" pήηcίple-he dίd
ηοt ηeed to wίη.
GAME li:
Α FASCINAτiNG FINALE
Farewell, alongfarewell to all my
greatness.
... Wulsey in HENRY VIII
There was great drama about Spassky's
sealed move ίη the fiηal game. Euwe ίs saίd to
have declared that ίf Spassky had sealed the
ήght move he had an "easy draw"; and ίt ίs
axίomatic that Euwe, a former World Cham·
pίοη, ίs always rίght about eηdgames. But
marvelous to relate, Euwe was wroηg thίs
time. At the final banquet, Spassky saίd re·
gretfully to Fίscher, 'Άh!, Bobby, Ι ought to
have sealedthat Κingmove:' "Νο, Βοήs," saίd
Fίscher sadly, "that lost too:' And he took out
a pocket set whίle they ate roast suckίηg·pig.
Spassky was coηvίηced.
Theη Ι analyzed feverίshly wίth my sοη·
ίη·law, F.P. Hutchίηgs; and we worked out
what we thίηk Fίscher must have showη
Spassky. It was a wonderful eηdgame study to
fiηίsh off the match.
Fίηdίηg that hίs actual sealed move made
defeat certaίn, Spassky called ση Fίscher, ίη·
teηdίηg to resίgη and to coηgratulate hίm.
But Fίscher's prίestly guardίan, Father Lom·
bardy, would ηοt wake the ηew Champίoη
up [Ed.: Lombardy wι:.ιs gone before this. Kι:.ιvcιleh
wι:.ιs Fischer's new second.]. Spassky, ηοt to be
deηίed, then telephoηed hίs resίgηatίoη to
the match arbίter, Graηdmaster Lothar
Schmίd. Schmίd got a rulίng from Professor
Euwe that a telephoned resίgηatίoη was
valίd-Capablanca had telephoηed hίs resίg·
natioη of the last game of hίs match wίth
ι==ι 234 ι==ι
Alekhίηe ίη 1927.
Sίcilian Defense
Spassky-Fischer
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 e6
Thίs was really a bigger surprίse than al­
most anythiηg Fίscher could have sprung; for
although Fίscher has played the Sίcίlίan hun­
dreds of tίmes, he has ηever before played thίs
branch ofίt.
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 a6
Ι have descήbed Fίscher's style as classίcal.
Surely ίt ίs not ίη the classίcal tradίtίoη to get
so far behίηd ίη developmeηt ίη the first four
moves? Well, that's true, although the Paulsen
System, whίch Fίscher ίs playίηg for the first
tίme, ίs quίte oldenough to be classίcal-about
120 years. The late F.K. Eslίηg, who was
Australίa's fίrst Champioη (1885 to 1887), met
Louίs Paulseη ίη 1878. Paulseη had beeη a
coηtemporary and a rίval of Morphy (ίf you
can speak of Morphy havίηg ήvals). Paulseη,
lίke Fίscher, was teetotal. Ηίs style was ηοt
classίcal, for he had some very οήgίηal οpeη­
ίηg ίdeas-far more than Morphy-and many
have stood the test of time. Thίs partίcular
system has beeη deeply studίed by the great
Sovίet player Kan, who has wήtteη a whole
book ση ίt. Fίscher has the book, 1'11 wager.
Fίscher is really an eclectic, though wίth a
stroηg leanίηg toward classicism.
You canηot accurately evaluate a defeηse
by the ηumber of tempos ίt loses. If you can
keep the game closed and ίf your positίoη ίs
structurally sound, your oppoηeηt may fiηd
that he has ηο way of turniηg hίs plus iη de­
velopmeηt to account.
What ίs Whίte's best fίfth move? Some
say 5. c4, whereupoη 5 ... Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 ίs
crίtίcal. Others say 5. Bd3, but 5 .. Nc6 ίs aη
.
answer. Spassky prefers the most straίght-
 Fischer-Spassky 1972

forward way.
5. Nc3 Nc6

17. Be1 Rab8

This is the snag. If he did not have to
6. Be3 Nf6 weaken his darksquares with b3, White would
7. Bd3 d5 have the better game.
This makes the thing classical. Paulsen 18. b3 c4!
himself favored 7 ... Qc7, a romanticist move. White's 17th anticipated this. With ... Bb4
8. exd5 exd5 threatened, White feels forced into the fol­
Black may, if he wishes, avoid the isolated lowing combination-evidently already en­
d-pawn with 8 ... NxdS 9. Nxd5 Qxd5. But visaged ίη the position diagrammed-and it
playing as he does, Black well-nίgh catches up should have drawn for him. But all this says
ίη development. little for his 10th move.
9. 0-0 Bd6 19. Nxd.5! Bxd5
10. Nxc6 10. Rxd5 Bxh1t
Ι am sure that this plan ίs faulty. White 11. Κχh1 Rxd5
relieves Black of his ίsolated pawn ίη order to 11. Bxc4 Rd1
give him a bad doubled pawn. But "the two 13. Bxa6 Rxc1
Bishops," which White has to concede to Black 14. Re1 Rxe1
ίη theprocess, give Blacksuch a dynamicgame If 24... Rbc8, then 25. a4! Rxe2 26. Bxe2
that the weakness of the doubled pawns will Rc2 27. Bc4-whereupon 27 ... Rxf2? is refuted
not count for much. Some plan starting with by a5! as ίη the following note.
10. h3 should be better. 15. Bxe1 Rd8
10. bxc6
ll. Bd4 0-0
11. Qf3 Be6
13. Rfe1 c5!
Best to eliminate the sword of Damocles
at once.
14. Bxf6 Qxf6
15. Qxf6 μf6
16. Rad1 Rfd8

16. a4! Rd1

17. Bc4 Ra1
If27 ... Rxf2?, then28. a5 Ra2 29. a6. White
then threatens b4 followed by b5, giving up

� 235 �
 Extreme Chess

hίs Bίshop to get two pawns ση the 6th rank, Kg4. If42. b4, then 42 ... h4 43. a5 h3t 44. Kgl
whίch always beat a Rook. If 29 ... Rbl to stop Ral t 45. Κh2 Rfl; and Black soon forces mate.
that, then 30. Bd5 ! threatens a7; and ίf the If 42. Bc6, sίmply 42 ... Κχf5 ίs good enough.
Rook returns to the a-file, Bc4 produces rep­ The coπect sealed move was 41. Κh3! ! to
etίtion-the best that Black can hope for. stop 41 ... Kg4 and to threaten (ίf gίven the
28. Κg3 Κf8 chance) to go after the h-pawn. After 41 . . .
29. Κf3 Κe7 Rxf2 42 . a5 Κg5 43. a6! Ral 44. Bc4! (the long­
30. g4? est resίstance ίη the analysίs by Hutchίngs)
My book Guide to Good Chess remarks, Κχf5 45. Κh4! Ral 46. Kg3 [Ed.: 46. Ed3t ι:ιnd
"That the endgame begίns and ends wίth the Elι:ιck seemsfι:ιrfrom conclusively winning.] Ke5!
passed pawn cannot be too often reίterated:' 47. Κh4 Rhlt 48. Kg3 Kd4 49. Bel Kc5 50.
Thίs move loses the game, for ίt gίves Black Kgl Ral 51. Kg3 Kb6 52. Κh4 Rhlt 53. Kg3
the opportunίty to create a passed pawn. Black h4t 54. Kgl. Black must wίn. Or 54. Kg4 h3
could never have won had Whίte sat tight. 55. Kg3 f5, etc.
See the ίntroductίon to Game 17.
30. ... f5! Post·Mortem 1976
31. gxf5 Karpov, who later became World Cham­
If 31. g5, then 31 ... f6. pίon by default ίη 1975, poίnted out that after
31. f6 playίng 30. g4� Spassky eπed agaίn wίth 34.
32. Bg8 h6 Κf3� Spassky could have ίmproved wίth 34.
33. Κg3 Kd6 f4, preventίng an early ... Ke5. That would
34. Κf3 Ra1 probably gίve a draw still.
35. Κg2 Ke5 In the final posίtion, ίf 41. Κh3, then the
36. Be6 Κf4 shortest wίn ίs41 . . . Rxf2 42. a5 h4! 43. a6 Kg5
37. Bd7 Rb1 44. Bd5 (ίf 44. b4, then 44... Rf3t; and 45 ...
38. Be6 Rb2 Kg4 leads to mate) Ral 45. Bb7 Ra3 46. Κg2
39. Bc4 Ral Κχf5 47. b4 Κg4 48. b5 h3t 49. Κf2 h2 and ίf
Agaίn a5 threatened. 50. b6, then 50 ... Rxa6! (Byrne and Νeί).
40. Be6 h5

Anιιlysis: After 50 Rχι:ι6!

...

F.P. Hutchίngs of Sydney mentions that

40... Kg4 was a lίttle more precίse, for reasons
that wίll appear.
41. Bdn
Spassky sealed thίs move; and after ana­
lyzίngίt, resίgned. Blackwίns easίlywίth 41 ...

� 236 �
 Fischer-Spassky 1972
SUMMARY
The fiηal scσre was 12.5-8.5, made up σf
seveη wiηs tσ Fischer, twσ wiηs tσ Spassky
plus a pσίηt by default, and 11 drawn games.
Uηder the headiηg "Game 2," Ι meη·
tiσηed that a deficit σf twσ pσiηts agaiηst
Fischer was really a deficit σf 2.5 because
all Spassky ηeeded tσ retaiη his tίtle was a
score σf 12-12. Siηce it is impσssible tσ
gaiη a half-pσiηt ση yσur σppσηeηt with·
σut wίηηίηg a whσle game, Fischer-wheη
twσ games behiηd-was tσ all iηteηts aηd
purpσses three behiηd. Ιη the light σf this,
his takiηg the lead after σηly fσur mσre
games was a marvelσus achievemeηt. Af·
ter lσsiηg Game 1 aηd fσrfeitiηg Game 2,
Fischer wση five σf the ηext eight games,
with σηly three draws thrσwη ίη. It is im·
pσssible tσ deηy his superiσrity.
After the match, the σfficial Sσviet cσm·
meηt was very spσrtsmanlike: "We are disap·
pσiηted; but wheη yσu meet a better man,
what can yσu dσ?"
As agaiηst Spassky's missed wiηs ίη Games
4 and 19, Fischer missed a wίη ίη Game 7.
Fischer alsσ missed a fσrced draw ίη Game 1.
Spassky missed a fσrced draw ίη Game 13, but
Fischer missed fσrced wiηs earlier. Clearly
Spassky was ησt seeη at his best, fσr he made
three elemeηtary errσrs. And Ι believe that
Fischer did ησt unleash his full streηgth be·
cause σf wantiηg tσ coηserve his lead. Still, it
was the mσst eηtertaiηiηg match ίη the his­
tσry σf chess.
� 237 �
OPENING THEORY AND ΤΗΕ
REYΚJAVIK MATCH
Ι canησt remember any wσrld title match
that had mσre significance fσr the evσlutiση
σf 'Όpeηίηg theσry" than Fischer-Spassky
1972.
'Όpeηίηg Theσry" is a misησmer. Νσ
bσσk has yet made an attempt tσ theσήze ίη
geηeral abσut the chess σpeηiηgs except
Suetiη's Mσdern Chess Opening Theσry. Andper·
haps tσ a small exteηt, Fiηe's Ideι;ιs Eehind the
Chess Openings and Hσrσwitz's The Chess Open·
ings, Theσry and Practice.
What is called "Theσry" ίη this special
field is really Practice-a statemeηt σf curreηt
σpίηίση amσηg masters abσut vaήσus σpeη·
iηgs, based ση receηt tσurηameηts aηd
matches.
The fσllσwiηg geηeral σpίηίσηs were cση·
firmed:
1) Fσr White, 1. e4 gives the richest aηd
mσst cσmplex play, aηd mσst successfully
defies Black tσ "equalize." This was cση·
firmed ησt sσ much by the results Spassky
σbtaiηed wheη he played 1 . e4 (Games 7,
11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21) as by Fischer's achieve·
meηt σf fairly clear equality wheη Spassky
σpeηed with 1. d4 (Games 1, 3, 5, 9 ) . Game
3 was exceptiσηal ίη that Fischer was ησt
cσηcerηed with "equality" but with aη all·
σut attempt tσ wίη, which was successful.
Nσrwas it coηfirmed by Fischer's veηtures
σf 1. e4 ( astσηishiηgly few fσr him: Games 4,
10, 16, 18, 20) butratherby his frequeηt selec·
tίση σf 1. c4 wheη the score prσmpted him tσ
"keep the draw iη hand" (Games 6, 8, 12, 14).
Fσr a player whσ has chσseη 1. e4 ίη abσut
98% σf his games previσusly, a reductiση tσ
56% was highly significant.
2) Fσr Black, the safest play agaiηst 1. d4 is
the Nimzσ· Iηdian Defeηse ifWhite allσws ίt,
and the Orthσdσx Defeηse ifWhite side-steps
the Nimzσ·Iηdian. But Fischer turned σηe σf
his twσ Orthσdσx Defeηses (Game 1) ίηtσ a
 Extreme Chess
Nimzo-Iηdian and the other (Game 9) iηto a
Tarrasch Defeπed.
Not oηce did Fischer defeηd a Queeη's
Pawη with the Kiηg's Iηdiaη Defeηse, eas­
ily his favorite, or with the Grίiηfeld, his
secoηd favorite. However, do ηοt coηclude
that he thiηks them iηhereηtly uηsσuηd.
Clearly, Fischer avσided them because vir­
tually the whσle Sσviet Uηiση had beeη
prepariηg agaiηst them ση Spassky's be­
half fσr abσut a year.
3) Fσr playiηg agaiηst 1. e4, the Sicilian
Defeηse remaiηs the most impσrtant devia­
tiση frσm 1 ... e5 and gives Black better wiη­
ηiηg ( and lσsiηg!) chances than 1 ... e5.
Fischer played the Sicilian wheη Spassky
first tήed 1. e4 (Game 7) and agaiη wheη
Spassky reverted tσ it ( Game 11). Fischer met
with disaster iη Game 11, but agaiη used the
Sicilian iη twσ σf his remaiηiηg five games as
Black (15 and 21).
Spassky used the Sicilian iη three σf the
five games where Fischer played 1. e4 (Games
4, 18, 20) and 1 ... e5 iη the σther twσ (Games
10 and 16). Spassky had goσd reasση tσ be
happy about the first Lσpez (Game 10), thσugh
he lσst it; but he abandσηed the Lopez wheη
Fischer played the Exchange Variatioη iη
drawish veiη (Game 16).
Νσw we come tσ details.
ΟΡΕΝ GAMES (1. e4 e5)
The σηly twσ 'Όpeη games" were 10 and
16. Game 1 Ο was a Clσsed Lσpez, and it teηded
tσ uphσld the Breyer Vaήant (see the anησta­
tiσηs) as an equalizer for Black. Fischer re­
fraiηed frσm the sharpest liηe agaiηst it (the
pawn σffer 11. Nh4!?) to avoid prepared analy­
sis. Spassky σbtaiηed equal σr superiσr
chances, thσugh he afterwards lσst.
Game 16, ση the cσηtrary, was impressive
fσr the Exchange Vaήant (4. Bxc6). Fischer
had a theσretical advantage after 14 mσves;
and there must be sσmethiηg better than 15.
ι:=ι 238 ι:=ι
c4� ! , which was sharp and lively but allσwed
Black gσod counterplay.
Ιη my view, the best liηe agaiηst 5. 0-0
is 5 . . . Bg4, with very aggressive play fσr
Black. Spassky was barred frσm this because
σf White's possibility σf fσrciηg a draw (see
the aηησtatioηs). Theσretically, this shσuld
ησt wσrry Black, fσr whσm a draw is ησr·
mally a miησr moral victσry. Fσr statistics
shσw that White's score agaiηst Black is ap·
prσximately 54% tσ 46%, cσuntiηg draws as
half-pσiηts tσ each. Ιη grandmaster chess,
White wiηs abσut 28% of games tσ Black's
20%, the rest beiηg drawn.
Of the games played iη this match, White
wση 5-4 with 11 draws. Naturallyyσu canησt
expect the statistics fσr hundreds of eveηts tσ
show up iη any particular οηe.
SEMI·OPEN GAMES
(1. e4, not 1 ... e5)
Of the seveη Sicilians, five were Richter
Attacks (i.e. featured 6. Bg5), σηe a Sσziη (6.
Bc4), and oηe a Paulseη (2 ... e6 and 4 ... a6).
The Sozin Attack toσk a batteriηg from
Spassky's gambit iηησνatiση ...a5! See the
ησtes tσ Game 4. Spassky did ηοt rush iηtσ
the Sicilian agaiη till Game 18 because he
could ησt hσpe that Fischer wσuld agaiη play
the Sσziη.
The "Pσisoηed Pawη" liηe, successful
σpeηiηg-wise iη Game 7, canηot be cσηsid­
ered as smashed by Game 11. Fischer's play iη
Game 11 cσuld be improved-tσ put it mildly.
Black's "safe" altemative tσ the "Pσisσηed
Pawη" liηe, i.e. 7 ... Be7 iη Game 15, did ησt
iηspire coηfideηce. Fischer gave up a pawn as
the least evil, but White is clearly supeήσr if
23. Re3 !
Fischer, as White, did ησt iηvite the "Pσi­
sσηed Pawη" liηe, preferήηg the Rauzer At­
tack with Qd2 aηd queeηside castliηg. Ιη
Game 18 his play with White was impressive
and prσbably could have beeη imprσved fur.
 Fischer-Spassky 1972
ther to produce a convincing advantage for
White.
Fischer did very nicely with his surpήse
veηture into the Paulseη iη Game 211 and
much midnight oil will now be burned in a
search for somethiηg like a refutatioη of it.
And many will study it as Black1 with a view
to specializiηg iη it like Κan.
1
The two games iη Alekhiηe S Defeηse
(Games 13 aηd 19) were extremely inter·
estiηg.
Ιη Game 191 Fischer tried to rehabilitate
the old way1 an early piη1 ...Bg4. He did it by
copyingan expeήment introduced byAla [Ed.:
Alla.] Kushηir1 challeηger1 agaiηst the
1 1
Women S World Champion1 Νοηa Gaprin­
dashvili1 iη 1969. Fischer overlooked a com­
biηation by which Spassky should probably
have woη.
Ι can add here to my ηotes to Game 131
having siηce received an important commeηt
1
from Australia S Max Salm (iηterηatioηal
master iη correspoηdeηce chess). Here Fisch­
er played the lately fashionable 4... g6 5. Bc4
1
Nb6 6. Bb3 Bg7. Now1 iηstead of Spassky s 7.
Nbdl1 promisiηg is 7. Νg5! 1 recommeηded iη
Chess of December 19711 ηote to Karpov­
Grigorian.
Α curreηt World C.C. championslιip semi:fi·
nal game, Salm-N. Karker, has coηtinued: 7.
Ng5! d5 8. f4 h6 9. Νί3 Bg4 10. h3 Bxf3 11.
Qxf3 e6 12. Be3 Nc6 13. c3 h5 14. g3 Ne7 15.
Ndl and after queeηside castliηg White can
build slowly but surely for a kiηgside push
(Black will presumably castle queenside).
For the Pirc Defense (Game 17) Fischer
had evidently doηe some good homework.
After 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf31 he did ηοt
castle (routine) but fiηessed with the imme·
diate 5 ... c5! That allows some fireworks (see
the anηotations) by 6. Bb5t?!; but White gets
nothing1 so Black gains by forciηg White to
an early decisioη iη the ceηter. Ι refer stu·
deηts to Schwarz1s Skandinavisch und Jugosla­
wisch. The Pirc has an eηormous attraction as
� 239 �
a labor-saver.
All in all, the view that 1 ... e5 is after all
the really best defeηse to 1. e4 remaiηs un·
changed; and it will no doubt continue as the
favoήte in geηeral1 especially iη coπespon­
dence play.
CLOSE GAMES (Not 1. e4)
Most of the iηηovations produced iη the
1
match were iη the Queeη S Pawn and the En·
glish Opeηiηg. Fischer iηtroduced all his
1
Queeη s Pawηs by transpositioη from the Εη·
glish (1. c4). This was easily understandable
iη Game 61 in which he was hopiηg for
Tartakower s Defense (and got it) 1 but did ηοt
want to be too barefaced about his iηteηtions
and therefore played 1. c4 to disguise them.
Another poiηt was that Fischer was also
happy if Black side-stepped with the sym·
metήcal defeηse 1 ... c5 because he had a de­
lightfully simple inηovatioη ready (Game 8).
Fischer reaped a ήch reward iη the shape of
1
63 minutes ση Spassky s clock while Spassky
poηdered his reply-ηearly as good as win­
ηiηg a pawη! Always1 in actual practice1
1
White S maiη advantage over Black is that
Black is likely to consume more time ση his
opening moves.
Apart from Game 6 and Game 81 Fischer
did not produce inηovations ση the White
side. His experieηces iη Games 12 and 14 per·
haps brought back his former idea of the
1
Queeη S Pawn as a dead-and-alive sort of
thing1 and he then reverted to his ηormal 1.
e4 (essential for real chess1 in his thinkiηg).
Yet 1. c4 had gained him two wins and two
draws iη four games.
Οη the Black side1 wheη playiηg agaiηst
1 . d41 Fischer eηriched opeηiηg theory
mightily.
First there was his little inηovatioη of
14 . . . Bd7 ! iη Game 11 which completely
1
scotched White s attempt to get a real edge
out of the Orthodox Nimzo-Indian Defense.
 Extreme Chess
What a model of precision his play was,
up to the absurd miscalculation!
In Game 3, Fischer could not afford safety
play, but came up with a genius move in the
Benoni, starting with the 'Όut-of-date" 7 ...
Nbd7 instead of the fashionable 7 ... Na6.
Many have remarked that Spassky had no
need to play 12. BxhS in reply to 11 ... NhS!
But Smyslov showed that in all lines Black
can use 11 ... NhS effectively.
In Game 5, Fischer revived a very old Nim­
zovich idea, but followed it up with real ge­
nius. One of those games that compel revision
of chess theory.
And in Game 9, Fischer showed that
the Tarrasch Defense Deferred, reputedly
� 240 �
smashed by Spassky in 1969, is playable
after all. His move wasn't an innovation,
but in Reykjavik it was thought to be. In
Sydney the move is nine years old!
After Game 9, Spassky gave up the Queen's
Pawn in despair. And before the match, some
of Spassky's pals said that Fischer "did not
have a good answer to 1. d4:'
Now that the match is over, you'll find
Fischer returning to his good old Κing's ln­
dian Defense. After all, Hans Berliner (USA)
used it in winning the fifth World Correspon­
dence Championship with a record margin,
so it must be all ήght. But Fischer was not
prepared to play it against a probable five acres
of Russian analysis. Nor the Grίinfeld.
 Epilogue

FISCHER-SPASSKY Ιι 1992
The courses of the chess careers of Fischer and Spassky after their 1972 World Title match
are given ίη their respective biographies at the front of this combined volume.

Twenty years after the title match, ίη 1992, Fischer and Spassky met again for a rematch.
The entrepreneur Jezdimir Vasiljevic promoted a match between Fischer and Spassky for a
purse of 5 million dollars, the winner to get $3.35 million, the loser to get $1.65 million. The
winnerwas to be the player first winning 1 Ο games, draws not counting.

From September to November 1992, partly ση the Montenegran island of Sveti Stefan off
the coast of Yugoslavia and partly ίη Belgrade, Yugoslavia, Fischer and Spassky played their
rematch. Fischer won 17.5-12.5 (10 wins, 5 losses, 15 draws).

� 24 1 �
 Extreme Chess
ΤΗΕ ANNOTATOR: C.J.S. PURDY
(1906-1979)
An edited versian σf α biσgraphicιιl sketch σf
C.J.S. Purdy prepared speciflcιιllyfσr this bσak by
Η. W.M. Lunney aj Epping, New Sσuth Wιιles,
Austrιιlia. Lunney and Purdy were cσfleagues in
the Cσπespσndence Chess League σf Austrιιlia
(CCLA)-Purdy was President σfCCLAJrσm 1957
up tσ the time σf his death.
'Άnnotating the Euwe-Alekhine match
(Ησw Euwe Wσn, 1936) helped me to score con­
vίncing wins in the play-off matches for the
Australian Championship in 1937; and anno­
tating the return match (The Return σf Ale­
khine, 1938) helped me win the State Title by
my biggest margin in 1939. Writing these
books involved me in unearthing the errors
in the hurried annotations of the Grandmas­
ters at the time of the matches. This helped
me to become good at correspondence chess
later on:'
C.J.S. Purdy, Chess in Austrιιlia, October
1976.
CECILJOHN SEDDON (C.J.S.) PURDY
(1906-1979)
InJune 1953, the game with Malmgrenof
Sweden ended in a draw; and Cecil Purdy
thereby secured for himself a place in the chess
Hall of Fame: First World Correspondence
Chess Champion.
It had been a long, hard road. Purdy be­
gan with the odds against him-he is surely
the only champion not to have known the
game from childhood. At the age of 15, Cecil
struggled to learn the moves from an ency­
clopedia. As a result, chess was a learned
rather than a native language; and continu­
ally he had to force upon himself a system of
making final checks against elementary mis-
� 242 �
takes before moving. Not surprisingly,
throughout his life he was in "clock trouble:'
This had two big effects on Purdy's chess ca­
reer. It ensured that the correspondence
game, where quick sight of the board is not so
crucial, was his major sphere. And Cecil was
so aware of the problems of the average player
that he became, by his wήtings, an unparal­
leled teacher.
Cecil Purdy, Australian to the core, had
actually been born in Port Said on 27 March
1906 (misprinted sometίmes as 1907), the
family moving shortly afterwards to New
Zealand, then to Australίa. Ιt was ίη 1921 that
he learned the moves. Cecil's father, health
offίcer for the Cίty of Sydney, knew strong
player L.S. Crakanthorp and ίη 1922 asked
him to give the young Cecil some practice.
Australian chess was quite active in those days;
but ίt was "home-grown," wίth minimal op­
portunity for competίng ίntemationally. So
at the age of 16, when some these days are
already Masters, Cecil was receivίng rook odds
from Crakanthorp senior. He studied assidu­
ously-Edward Lasker's Chess Strategy is men­
tioned-and by the end of 1922 was on even
terms with his playing partner.
All the Crakanthorps, women and men,
were good natural players. Spencer, son of
L.S., won the Australian Champίonshίp
twice. There was a saying in the family that
a young man might "fall ίη love" wίth chess,
so the Crakanthorp family easily understood
Cecil's determination and supported hίs en­
try to the Australian Championship held
ίη Sydney 1926-Cecίl justίfied their sup­
port: Spencer came first, Purdy third. Again
Purdy was third and Spencer first ίη Perth
1928/29 (the split date because held over
the Christmas/New Year holidays) . Purdy
was second in Melbourne 1930/31, unplaced
in Sydney 1932/33-but at last ίη Melbourne
1934/35 he became Australian Champion.
 Epilσgue
Purdy weηt ση tσ wiη aησther three times,
aηd alsσ wση the New Sσuth Wales Cham­
piσηship eight times. Meaηwhile he had
takeη twσ steps tσward fame: chess jσur­
ηalism aηd cσrrespσηdeηce chess.
Ιη 1929 Cecil made a cσurageσus deci­
siση, sσme might say a fσσlhardy σηe-he
wσuld ruη a chess magaziηe. Α gσσd educa­
tiση behiηd him aηd already with sσme ex­
perieηce at jσurηalism, Purdy felt qualified;
but the prσspects were ησt eηcσuragiηg. Οld
stalwart J. Prσwse had ruη The Au.strιιl C hess
a.nd Dra.u.ghts ηewspaper fσr several years
("draughts" -the Eηglish ηame fσr "check­
ers" ) but always at a fiηaηcial lσss aηd was
abσut tσ give up. Cecil tσσk σver Prσwse's
expertise but made a fresh start with a ηew
fσrmat, a ηew style, aηd a ηew ηame. Ιη
mid-1929 appeared the first Au.stra.la.sia.n
Chess Reνiew (Au.strιιla.sia.n, a ησw σut-σf­
fashiση wσrd, meaηs Au.stra.lia. a.nd New
Zeιιla.nd) ίη magaziηe 6mσ fσrmat with aη
attractive frσηt cσver. Everybσdy called it
"The ACR:' It was gσσd frσm the first: games
and ηews, lσcal and σverseas; articles geηu­
iηely iηstructive; anησtatiσηs thatwere bσth
accurate aηd iηterestiηg.
As a fiηaηcial veηture, ACR barely sur­
vived-and ση!y because Cecil raη it frσm a
"hσme σffice" (his father's hσme) aηd did
everythiηg except the actual priηtiηg him­
self. Eveη tσ ruη a chess magaziηe, sσme
busiηess seηse is ηeeded-paradσxically Cecil
was ηeither tσσ gσσd ησr tσσ bad. He was
just systematic eησugh tσ ruη the magaziηe
fσr ηearly fσrty years; yet if he had beeη
mσre σf a busiηessmaη, he wσuld ησt have
bσthered -aηd yσu wσuld ηever have heard
σf him. The chief shσrtcomiηg, as the years
rσlled by, was tardiηess. As Purdy wσuld
ηever sacrifice accuracy σf anησtatiση tσ the
meetiηg σf deadliηes, issues σf the maga­
ziηe were custσmarily late. That mσre sub-
ι==ι
scribers might result frσm regular issues gσt
ησ respσnse frσm Cecil.
Australian chess has gaiηed much frσm
migrants frσm Eurσpe, but there were ησt
many befσre WWII. Prσmiηent was Gregσry
Kσshnitsky, a Russian bσm 1907, whσ arήved
in Australia via China in 1926. Κησwη every­
where as "Kσsh," gregaήσus by nature as well
as by name-in cσηtrast tσ Purdy-"Kσsh"
became a strσng, quick player. He became
Cecil's chief σppσnent in the early 1930s and
was an excellent publicist fσr chess. Perhaps
aided by their differeηce σf temperameηt,
Purdy and Kσshηitsky became lifelσηg
frieηds. At σηe stage they collabσrated ση a
25-ceηt bσσklet fσr beginners, Chess Ma.de
Ea.sy, which became what must be the mσst
successful chess bσσk ever-σver half-a-mil­
liσn copies sσld.
Ιη 1934 Cecil marήed Speηcer Crakan­
thσrp's daughter Anne. She tσσ was a gσσd
ηatural player, learniηg the mσves at the age
σf fσur; and her highest achievement was sec­
σnd in the Australίan Wσmen's Champίσn­
ship σf 1934/35. But Cecil (lίke Bσtvinnίk)
ηever played chess except very seriσusly,
whereas Anηe favσred the wίn-sσme-lσse­
sσme apprσach. Sσ, hσw was marital chess
harmσny preserved? Easy! They never played
against each σther! Cecil used tσ play seήσus
practice games against Spencer ση a Sunday
afternσσn-under Speηcer's cσnditίσηs,
which were: that Cecil cσuld take as Ισηg as
he liked σver his mσve, whereupση Spencer
wσuld reply rapidly and then be allσwed tσ
read the Sunday paper until Cecil mσved.
Cecil σpened a city σffice-shσp frσm whίch
he sσld chess ίtems and bσσks which he ad­
vertised in ACR. He alsσ fσund the time and
energy tσ wήte an excelleηt accσunt σf the
unexpected 1935 wiη by Euwe σver Alekhiηe
fσr the Wσrld Champiσnship. Called How
243 ι==ι
 Extreme Che55
Euwe Won, it drew ση ηew5paper account5
from many 5ource5 iηvolviηg anηotatioη5 by
master5; but it added Cecil'5 masterly as5e55-
meηt of tho5e 50urce5, all writteη iη hi5 lively
and iηtere5tiηg 5tyle. He publi5hed the book
himself, and eveη he 5aw the ηece55ity for it
to appear ηοt loηg after the eveηt. The book
5old 5teadily, but Cecil had oηly the capital to
priηt a thousand or 50 copie5. The retum
match was eagerly awaited, aηd Cecil pre­
pared him5elf. Agaiη came The Retιmι ofAle­
khine after the 1937 wiη, an equally 5ucce55ful
volume; but agaiη he had the re5ource5 to
pήηt oηly a thousand copie5.
Purdy'5 5ecoηd 5tep toward fame came
with hi5 discovery of Coπe5poηdeηce Che55,
or "CC" as it ί5 kηοwη iη Au5tralia-the
phrase "mail che5511 ηever caught ση. Aus­
tralia'5 vast di5tance5 and 5par5e populatioη
(almo5t the 5ame 5ize as the USA but fewer
than oηe-teηth the people) eηcourage the cor­
re5poηdeηce game. An organizatioη with the
familiar iηitial5 of CCLA ( Corre5poηdeηce
Che55 League of Australia) began iη 192 9. Be­
fore 1936 Cecil had played a handful of CC
game5, but all iη the 5tyle of cro55board che55
by po5t. Theη came the water5hed. He was
challeηged to a pήvate coπe5poηdeηce match
by philo5ophy 5tudeηt Gaius Mclηto5h. It
was, 50 to 5peak, unηece55ary; Mclηto5h was
a Sydney re5ideηt who 5aw Purdy regularly,
but "Mac" had a poiηt to prove. He was an
average iηterclub player but a CC 5pecialί5t,
and Purdy was astounded. Cecil wrote later
that after beiηg defeated by Mclηto5h iη οηe
game he 5aw that the cro55board che55 he had
beeη playiηg was "a tί55ue of 5uperficialitie5:'
Mclηto5h thus became the "guru" of Austra­
lian CC because he led Purdy to 5ee that it
was a world to be coηquered, ηοt merely a
poor relatioη of cro55board che55-and a world
that was extremely fήeηdly to Cecil'5 5tyle of
play.
Ι::::Ρι 244 Ι::::Ρι
Purdy'5 fir5t 5erious attack ση the ηew ter­
ritory was the CCLA'5 fίr5t Australian Coπe-
5poηdeηce Champioη5hip 1937. It was a 12-
player round robiη proloηged by the 5tart of
WWII iη 1939, but it fiηi5hed iη 1941 with
Purdy iη fir5t place with 10-1(ηiηe wiη5 and
two draw5). 'Ά hard man to beat" was how
οηe of hi5 oppoηeηts de5cήbed him. Mclη­
to5h was vanqui5hed thί5 time. Purdy'5 hard­
e5t game was a wiη against another CC 5pe­
ciali5t but oηly average cro55board player
Hallman. Οηe of Purdy'5 draw5 was against
"Ko5h," a dark hor5e-de5pite hi5 rapid cro55-
board 5tyle, Ko5hηitsky adapted well to the
corre5poηdeηce game and was 5ecoηd ση 8-
3. Ιη a way, Purdy'5 mo5t emiηeηt oppoηeηt
was chemi5try studeηt Johη Corηforth, a
CCLA Life Member. Comforth was called to
the UK iη WWII and became a Nobel prize­
winηer iη 1975. It i5 ηice to have a Nobel man
amoηg your member5hip.
Just before WWII came the 5troηge5t mi­
grant to Australia, Lajo5 Steiηer from Hun­
gary. Oηce he told Cecil that he did ηοt re­
member learηiηg the move5-he knew from
hi5 brother how to play before he leamed to
5peak. Thi5 aroused Cecil'5 eηvy, "Steiηer
play5 che55 like a fi5h 5wim5!" he 5aid.
World War Π po5ed problem5 for che55 but
also gave opportunitie5. Cecil, called iηto ηa­
tioηal 5ervice, coηtiηued the 5hop and the
magaziηe ίη hi5 5pare time-he hardly played;
but "Ko5h" became an Army educatioη officer
and 5pread the word for che55 and ACR, 50
that 5Ub5cήptioη5 actually iηcreased. Books
were iη 5hort 5upply, and almo5t anythiηg
would 5ell. Cecil lameηted that he had ηοt
beeη able to pήnt teη time5 the 5tock of Euwe
andAlekhine. But οηe copy of How Euwe Won
5tiπed him. Beloηgiηg to an Australian 501-
dier, it had goηe iηto captivity wheη
Siηgapore fell ίη 1942; it had beeη used ίη
Changhi POW camp, and it retumed to Aus-
 Epίlσgue
tralίa wheη the war eηded ίη 1945.
Purdy, coηvίηced that the σld ηame σf
ACR was ησ lσηger attractίve, changed tσ
Check! ίη 1945. The ηew ηame was shσrt­
lίved. Wheη WWII eηded, Purdy decίded
ση a ηew era, tσ cσver the whσle wσrld. Ιη
1946 the magazίηe had a brίght ηew cσver,
aηd bσth shσp aηd magazίηe had a ηew
ηame: Chess World. It kept thίs ηame uηtίl
the eηd. Cecίl ηever dίscσvered ίts true
ηame, the ηame peσple ησw knσw ίt by:
"Purdy's Chess Magazίηe."
The secσηd Australίan CC Champίσηshίp
began ίη 1945. Purdy agaίη prevaίled; but hίs
example had ίmprσved the geηeral standard,
and ίt was a clσser cσηtest. Cecίl wση 9-2 wίth
seveη wίns and fσur draws, but "Kσsh" agaίη
drew theίr game and was clσse behίηd hίm
wίth 8.5-2.5.
Αηd ησw, wίth aίrmaίl avaίlable and the
Iηterηatίσηal Cσrrespσηdeηce σrganίzatίση
gσίηg well, σverseas CC became pσssίble.
Australίa, thίrstίηg fσr ίηterηatίσηal cσm­
petίtίση, eηtered a team ίηcludίηg Purdy ίη
the fίrst CC Olympίad ίη 1946 and twσ play­
ers, Purdy aηd "Kσsh," ίη the fίrst Wσrld
Champίσηshίp ίη 1947. The team was just
elίmίηated ίη ίts sectίση by Swedeη, Purdy's
ίηdίvίdual scσre beίηg fίve wίηs and a lσss­
Gσηcalves σί Pσrtugal becσmίηg the fίrst
player tσ defeat Purdy sίηce Purdy tσσk up
CC serίσusly.
The Wσrld tίtle was mσre dramatίc; mσre­
σver, everybσdy was able tσ share ίη the
drama as ηews and sσme games were featured
ίη Chess World. There were 78 eηtrants ar­
ranged ίη sectίσηs; yσu had tσ wίn the sec­
tίση tσ eηter the fίηal. [It's wσrse ησw: fίrst a
semίfίηal sectίση, theη a 3/4-fίηal]. Purdy
wση hίs sectίση 4.5-0.5, but σηly after a huge
battle agaίnst Dr. Βίgσt σf France. By ησw
ι='Υ 245 ι='Υ
Purdy was well aware that, at CC, very small
advantages can be pushed hσme tσ a wίη; and
by mσve 32 he knew he had a lσst pσsίtίση.
'Όver the bσard, σηe wσuld hardly feel that
Black's plίght was desperate," he later wrσte,
"but fσr a CC game agaίnst a Master ίt ίs pretty
grίm ... Ησw ίs Black tσ save hίmself?" Purdy
set abσut takίηg rίsks tσ apply pressure tσ
Whίte's pσsίtίση whίle ησt lσsίηg hίs few as­
sets ση the bσard. It wσrked; and wίthσut Dr.
Βίgσt makίηg any σbvίσus errσr, Purdy knew
by mσve 56 that the draw was ίη hand. Νσw
the bσσt was ση the σther fσσt. The scσre
made ίt ηecessary fσr Dr. Βίgσt tσ try tσ wίη
frσm a drawη pσsίtίση; and, as sσ σfteη, an
errσr was made (ση mσve 60)-and Whίte re­
sίgηed at mσve 6 7. "The hardest game Ι have
ever played," wrσte Purdy. The CCLA runs
aηηual game prίzes; and ίη hσησr σf thίs
game, σηe σί the categσήes ίs "Best Save:'
Sσ, ίη 1950 begaη the 14-player fίηal
(σrίgίηally 15-player, but σηe had tσ wίth­
draw) . At σηe stage, Purdy was σηly 4-2.
Mσreσver, thίs ίηcluded a catastrσphe-a lσss
tσ Mίtchell σf Βrίtaίη caused by settίηg up a
pσsίtίση wrσηgly, upση whίch the blίηds
were drawn ίη the Purdy hσusehσld fσr three
days whίle glσσm prevaίled. The mσst hec­
tίc game σf cut-and-thrust was agaίηst Dr.
Napσlίtaησ, the result beίηg ίη the balaηce
fσr all but the last few σί the 45 mσves. Fί­
ηally hσpes rσse wheη σηly σηe game re­
maίηed, the game agaίηst Malmgreη; and
ίt was seeη that a draw wσuld suffίce. But
ση prίηcίple, Purdy played ση. The twσ stal­
warts cσηtίηued fσr mσηths, Purdy the mas­
ter at tryίηg fσr the wίη wίthσut cσmprσ­
mίsίηg the draw, Malmgreη the master at
defeηse. Fίηally there was ησ pσssίble wίη
remaίηίηg; aηd, as already ησted, ίη Juηe
1953 the draw was agreed. That ίt was a clσse­
ruη cσηtest ίs seeη by the scσres σί the tσp
fσur: Purdy 10.5-2.5, Malmgreη σf Swedeη
aηd Dr. Napσlίtaησ σf Italy 10, Barda σf
 Extreme Chess
Norway 9.5. And the crosstable reflects the
clifferences ίη style: Purdy 9 wίns, 3 draws,
and the terrίble loss; Malmgren 7 wίns, 6
draws, no losses; Napolίtano 10 wίns, 3
losses; Barda 9 wίns, a draw, 3 losses.
In mίd-1995, the name of the 13th World
CC Champίon has just been announced. The
name of Purdy stands at the head of thίs clis­
tinguίshed lίst. The world at large has real­
ίzed what Cecίl grasped early, that CC ίs a
separate world to be conquered. Only once
agaίn has the wίnner been outsίde Europe:
Hans Berlίner of the USA, a computer engί·
neer ίη contrast with the lίterary Purdy, won
the fifth Championship.
At Purdy's win, elation was hίgh ίη all of
Australίan chess. Publίcίty boosted Chess
World-both the magazine and the shop. Of
course ίt gave a great sense of achievement to
Cecίl hίmself, and automatically he was a CC
Grandmaster; but because "chess was a
learned rather than a native language," ίt had
been at teπίble cost ίη mental energy. Dur­
ing the tournament, Purdy had played cross·
board well, coming first in successive Austra·
lίan Championshίps of1948/49 and 1951. But
afterwards, his playwas never quite the same.
Cecίl decided not to defend hίs tίtle-ίt mίght
have killed him; he played only one more cor·
respondence game.
Ε. Hugolf of Sweden had entered a news­
paper competitίon, the first prize of which
was the fulfillment of your "dearest wish";
Hugolf won, and hίs wish was to play a CC
game agaίnst Purdy. It sounds lίke the 'Άra­
bian Nights," but ίt came true. Cecίl attacked
the task with hίs foπner intensity and won in
29 moves. Surely Elίs Hugolf treasured thίs
loss as much as any wίn he ever had!
Cecίl played ίη seven Australian cross­
board Champίonshίps after his CC win; but
ι::::::=ι 246 ι::::::=ι
only once was successful, tying with Hamίl­
tonin Hobartίn 1964/65 ( and losingthe play·
off) . Of course, wίth Australίa's unprec­
edented ίmmίgration post-WWII (ση a pro·
rata basis, equal to Ameήca's of the turn of
the century) there were many more strong
European immigrants.
Diffίculty of travel from distant Austra­
lίa, not lack of enthusiasm, had hampered
ίnternational crossboard competίtίon ίη
earlίer days. In 1960 Averbakh, accompa­
nίed by Bagίrov, vίsίtedAustralia-the stron­
gest player to do so up to that time. The
Russίan grandmasters played in the Austra­
lίan Championshίp in Adelaide; and the
chess strength, it seems, surpήsedAverbakh.
He saίd: 'Ύοu should compete in the Olym­
piads; you would do very well in the sec­
ond dίvίsion:' He spoke without irony. As
air travel became more practίcal, Australia
began to follow Averbakh's advίce. Cecίl
himself had two successes on the world
crossboard scene. In 1960 he won the Pa·
cific/S.E. Asia Zone section of the World
τitle, but lost to Μ. Aaron of India in the
All-Asίa play-off. In 1970 he scored, at age
64, 4.5-4.5 for the Australίan team ίη the
Sίegen Olympiad.
"Grandmaster doesn't know the moves;
the most amazing inάdent of my lίfe," wrote
Purdy in Chess World. In Averbakh-Purdy at
Adelaίde, Averbakh's Rook commanded the
b-fίle; nevertheless Purdy castled Q·side. 'Όf
course," continued Purdy, "many begίnners
think this illegal. But what was my astonish­
ment when Averbakh poίnted out to me that
my Rook had crossed an attacked square! Play·
ers gathered round, and Bagίrov (aίded by the
bίlίngual Koshnίtsky) explaίned the law of
castling ίη voluble Russian ... Averbakh made
a resigned gesture, then, very lίttle perturbed,
made a move faίrly soon which Ι think was
the best" -and Averbakh won in 47 moves.
 Epilogue
Cecil and Anne had two children: John,
born 1935, and Diana, born 1940. Both
learned the moves early. John when young
used to play grandmother Cra.kanthorp thus:
there was a board near the kitchen; grandma,
at a space in cooking, would make a move;
John would come in from playing and reply.
Anne once observed the family cat leap up
Anne Purdy (1998)
near the board, move a Rook with a swish of
its tail, and leap down. The game continued
with the cat's move incorporated. Such thίngs
are bound to drill you in coping with any­
thing, and John became a strong player in the
Cra.kanthorp style. He won the Australian
Championship twice, the first time in Perth
1954/55 while still young (19)-after which
he competed in the World Junior Champi­
onship. John often had occasion to play
against Cecil in tournaments, and it was al­
ways a ding-dong battle; but family harmony
was preserved bythe diplomatic formula that
John was the better tactical player, Cecil the
better positional player. John prospered in life
as well as his father might have done-had he
not given all to chess-and became a family
court judge. He also went into CC and almost
won, but came equal second, in the 1972 Aus­
tralian Championship. John had an amused
tolerance of his father's only-just-good­
enough business sense; nevertheless, in ap-
/:;::q 24 7 /:;::q
precίatίon of hίs father's gifts, John's eldest
son was chήstened C.J.S. Purdy. Open the
champagne if your son does as much as this
for you!
Dίana played regularly, but not at the same
level; however, she made her mark, first by
beίng the "anchor-person" at the shop Chess
World for many years, second, by marrying
strong New Zealand player Frank Hutchίngs.
Frank, a telecommunίcation engineer, discov­
ered a talent for CC late ίη hίs chessplaying
lίfe and succeeded ίη equalίng hίs father-ίn­
law's feat of wίnnίng the Australian CC
Championshίp twice, first ίη 1989 at the age
of 55, then again in 1993. Perhaps surpήs­
ίngly, although all the grandchildren know
the game, none have persίsted in it.
Cecil's wife Anne wίsely never helped ίη
the shop, seeing that better family advantage
resulted from working elsewhere for a steady
ίncome. For years she held an editoήal posί­
tion in a research establίshment. (Coinciden­
tally, Walter McLaughlίn, first world coπe­
spondence draughts champίon, also worked
there; it is belίeved that a second champion­
ship began but was never completed). There
was lunch-hour chess on the lawn, under the
tree. In thίs envίronment, an ίll-considered
move by a friend was not to be allowed to
spoil a game. Α typίcal dialogue followed at
the Purdy home:
Cecil: Why did you let him take back a
move?
Anne: Because he ίs such a gentleman.
Cecil: Α man who would take backa move
ίs not a gentleman!
Another classίcal dίalogue, at a works
evenίng soάal ίη the 1960s. Prof. Χ, husband
of one of the staff, had heard of the lunch­
hour games:
 Extreme Chess
Prof. Χ: Ι hear thatyour wife plays chess.
Cecil: Oh yes, she has beeη playiηg siηce
childhood.
Prof. Χ: Do you also play chess?
Anηe Purdy stands iη a unique relatioη­
ship to Champioηs of Australia: she is the
daughter of οηe (Speηcer Crakanthorp), the
wife of aηother (C.J.S. Purdy), aηd the
mother of a third (Johη Purdy).
Like aηy Australiaη, Cecil was foηd of
sport; aηd without doubt regular teηηis sus­
taiηed him wheη the midηight oil had to
burη. Of iηterclub staηdard, very active
though of slight build (perhaps 5 ft 8 iη
aηd 130 lb), he was at οηe stage "the best
teηηis player iη Australiaη chess" -though
others equaled him later. But iη the mid-
1960s his health began to fail; aηd although
he still played stroηg chess for another dozeη
years, the magaziηe faltered, ceasiηg pub­
Hcatioη iη 196 7-aηd sοοη thereafter he sold
the chess shop.
Ιη the aftermath of the World title wiη
occurred, iroηically, Cecil's greatest lapse.
Duriηg the tournameηt, Cedl had promised
a book about it. He had anηotated several of
the games iη Chess World, and a book simply
doiηg the same for all his games would have
amply satisfied his public. He worked ση it,
put it aside, and ultimately ηever wrote it.
Why? We may ask. Purdy had a persoηal
problem: it was goiηg to be the ultimate book
of iηstructioη ση how to play CC, and so it
became another victim to "The Tragic Pur­
suit of Perfectioη:'
Ultimately, iη 1983, soη-iη-law Frank
Hutchiηgs and Kevin Harrisoη (Australian
CC Champioη 1981) sifted through Cecil's
ηotes, produced the book that Cecil ηever
wrote, and called it How Purdy Won. It is a
good and thorough book, but ηaturally it
� 248 �
doesη'thave Cecil's inimitable style. Iηcluded
iη it is a remarkable discovery. About the loss
agaiηst Mitchell of Bήtaiη, they wήte: 'Άl­
though both players thought Purdy lost only
because of the blunder, it can be demonstrated
that Mitchell had a forced wiη iη any case:'
Paradoxically, meaηwhile, Cecil had a
strikiηg success: he wrote How Fischer Won
about the Spassky-Fischer match of 1972 with
the same style and verve as about Alekhiηe
and Euwe iη the 1930s. How did this book
get out ση time? He had a publisher who
twisted his arm!
We do ηοt know how maηy crossboard
games Cecil played-maηy thousands, quite
Hkely, because eveη at the height of his ca­
reer he played regular weekly iηterclub
games. But we do know how many CC games
he played: oηly a handful, but to what ef­
fect! After the watershed match agaiηst
Mclηtosh: 22 games iη two Australiaη
Champioηships; 6 iη the first Olympiad; 5
iη the World sectioη; 13 iη the World fiηal;
aηd Hugolf's "dearest wish" game.
Cecil died as he might have wished-play­
iηg chess. Ιη a miηor Sydney tournameηt, οη
6 November 1979, at the age of 73, he col­
lapsed with a heart-attack at the chessboard.
His funeral oratioη was by old fήeηd-oppo­
ηeηt "Kosh:' The Australian CC magaziηe
said: "The memory of this shy but frieηdly
man, with a will-of-the-wisp seηse of hu­
mor, slightly built but with an iηdomitable
will-to-wiη at correspoηdeηce chess, may
loηg survive:'
Α few Purdy quotes:
The Queeη: Care should be taken never to
exchange herfor less than nine pι;ιwns.
Chess Laws: There is no ι;ιttempt to sι;ιfegu.ard
the innocent jeflow who thinks he cι;ιn get ι;ιlong
 Epilogue

just by playing chess.

Two Bishops: Are ιιlways better than one
Eishop.
Advice to the beginner to play open games:
As ι;ιclose game can ιιlways be forced on you ιιs
Elack, this must mean the authorities recommend
neverplaying Elack ιιt ιιll. We should be interested
in hearingfrom any reader who succeeds in imple­
menting that policy.

� 249 �
 Extreme Chess

ΤΗΕ PURDY LIBRARY OF CHESS

Each vσlume σf the Library ίs a stand-alσne selectίσn σf materίal frσm the publίshed
wήtίngs σf C.J.S. Purdy.

Publίshed τίtles
1 . Guide to Good Chess (11th ed., 1996)
2. The Seι:ιrch for Chess Perfection:The Life, Games, and Writings of CJS Purdy (1997)
3. How Purdy Won: The Coπespondence Chess Cι:ιreer of α World Champion (2nd. ed., 1998)
4. CJS Purdy's FineArt ofChessAnnotation and Other Thoughts Vσl. 1: 100 Annσtated Games,
Purdyίsms, The Purdy Player (1992)
5. Extreme Chess: CJS Purdy Annotates the World Championships: Alekhine-Euwe Ι, 1935; Ale­
khine-Euwe Π, 1937; Fischer-Spassky Ι, 1972 (Αη all-ίn-σne-vσlume reίssue σf Purdy's
bσσks How Euwe Won, The Return ofAlekhine, How Fischer Won)

τίtles Under Consideratίon (all in algebraic notatίon)

6. CJS Purdy's "Stι:ιrter Set" Opening Repertoire (Αη edίted versίon σf the seήes σf artίcles
ΤΗΕ OPENINGS ΙΝ 10 HOURS plus materίal ση the Colle System)
7. CJS Purdy's Fine Art ... Vσl. 2: 120 Annσtated Games plus 31 Artίcles & Studίes and CJS
Purdy's FineArt ...Vσl. 3: Purdy ση Purdy. Annσtatίσns tσ 70 σver-the-bσard games of
CJS Purdy and tσ 30 games σfJσhn Purdy, Purdyίsms (revίsed), The Purdy Player, The
Rσad tσ 2000 (Ησw tσ becσme an Expert)
8. CJS Purdy on the End-Game
9. CJS Purdy's FineArt ... Vσl. 4: 200 Annσtated Games (15 Champίσnshίp, 40 Master, 145
Australίa & New Zealand) and CJS Purdy's Fine Art ... Vσl. 5: 135 Annσtated Games
frσm 1938-1945 & 1976-1979.
10. CJS Purdy: Caissa Remembers. Artίcles ση the Hίstσry σf Chess, Obίtuary Nσtίces fσr 14
Chess Masters (apprecίatίσn σf each master's chess career plus a few σf the master's
best games-68 annσtated games ίη all)

The prσpσsed multί-vσlume Library has 72 artίcles σf a general nature ( 41 ίη ίtem 2 and 31
ίη ίtem 7) that amply ίllustrate the themes Purdy returned tσ σver and σver agaίn. lt cσntaίns
mσre than 800 annσtated games. It has Purdy's 10 HOURS seήes σf artίcles ση the openίngs
(ίtem 6), and ίt has hίs thσughts ση the endgame (ίtem 9). The Library cσncludes wίth Purdy's
artίcles ση the hίstσry σf chess and hίs σbίtuary nσtίces fσr 14 well-knσwn chess masters.

� 250 �
 Epilogue

COLOPHON

Extreme Chess was set in Castellar heads with

Adobe's Κinesis body (10/12) . The diagrams
were from C.R. Horowitz, a chess type manu­
factured by Thinkers' Press, lnc. Adobe's
PageMaker 6.5 and Photoshop 4.0 prepared the
format and graphics while Mίcrosoft's Word
5.l a prepared the word processing.

Cover: Bass Long

Copy Editίng and Compiling: Ralph τykodi
Format and Editoήal Comments: Bob Long
Proofers: Bob Long, Ralph Tykodi, Mark
Donlan
Art Direction: Bob Long
Scans, Retouch: Bass Long

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� 251 �