GM Alexander Alekhine (2765) - GM Max Euwe (2740) 
  [A09]  
   The 17th World Championships (Match)  
  Netherlands (Game # 22) / 05,10,1937.  

  [A.J. Goldsby I]  

Perhaps one of Alekhine's most brilliant games, it is often mentioned by many authors ... 

Alekhine shows a combinational path in a position that extremely few players would have found. 

   *** *** *** *** ***     *** *** *** *** ***     *** *** *** *** ***     *** *** *** *** ***     *** *** *** *** ***   

Alekhine begins with a Reti Opening, showing that he both understood and embraced the (then) new ideas of the hyper-modern movement. 

 1.Nf3 d5;  2.c4 d4!?;  
Black avoids the consequences of the tension on d5 and pushes the foot-soldier bravely forward. 
(At the cost of a tempo.) 

While this might lead to several possible openings - with colors switched - this might not be the 
best approach for Black. 

     [ Perhaps Black should have tried the following continuation here:   
        (>/=) 2...c6;  3.b3 Nf6;  4.g3 Bg4;  5.Bg2 e6;  6.0-0 Nbd7;  7.Bb2 Bd6;   
        8.d3 0-0;  9.Nbd2 Qe7;  10.a3 a5;  11.Qc2,  "+/="  {Diagram?}   
        with just a slight edge for White.   

       A relatively recent contest is: 
       B. Cafferty - M. Devereaux; 4NCL 2005-06 / Birmingham, ENG; (8) / 2006. 
       {Black won this game, but; (a) He was much higher-rated, and (b) the opening   
        was hardly the reason for White's loss.}  

       [ See MCO-14, beginning on page # 704 ... for more details on this vibrant opening. ] ]  

 3.e3 Nc6; ('!?')   
Black develops simply, (I would have preferred to protect the d4-square with a Pawn.). 

     [ After the following moves:   
       3...c5!;  4.exd4 cxd4;  5.d3 Nc6;  6.g3 e5;  7.Bg2,  "/\"  
       we have reached a position ... that would be a reversed Benoni. ]   

Now Black attempts to give White a backward Pawn. (It fails, as Black is mainly using just the Queen.) 
 4.exd4 Nxd4;  5.Nxd4 Qxd4;  6.Nc3 Nf6;  7.d3 c6!?;  
This prevents any Nb5 by White.   

  r1b1kb1r/pp2pppp/2p2n2/8/2Pq4/2NP4/PP3PPP/R1BQKB1R w   

This is OK for Black, but the direct 7...e5! might have been a fuzz better. (Alekhine called this a "serious loss of time," however, its not really all that bad.)  

     [ After the moves: </= 7...Ng4!?;  8.Qe2 Bf5?!;  9.Nb5! Qd7;  10.f3 Nf6;  11.Qe5, '±'  
        White wins at least a Pawn. ]   

 8.Be3 Qd7!?;  (>/= 8...Qd6)   
The authors of a relatively recent book on Alekhine, <<A. Alekhine, Master of Attack>> by Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik, (AR & MC) question this, however, it looks OK to me. 

 9.d4 g6;  10.Be2 Bg7;  11.h3!? 0-0;  12.0-0 b6!?;  ('?!')  
Black tries to develop his QB on the long diagonal. This looks logical, but might be inferior to a simple plan like 12...Rd8; 13...Qc7, etc.   

 13.Bf3 Bb7;  14.a4,  "+/="  ('!')   
White has emerged from the opening with a slight advantage, and Fritz confirms this. (Also good for White was the simple Re1.) 
('!' - GM Alexander Alekhine.)  

  r4rk1/pb1qppbp/1pp2np1/8/P1PP4/2N1BB1P/1P3PP1/R2Q1RK1 b  

You cannot lay the blame on any one move in Black's opening, however half a dozen (rather tiny) inaccuracies add up to a solid advantage for White.  

 14...Rad8;  15.a5 Qc7;  16.Qb3 Nd7;  17.axb6 axb6;   
Note that Alekhine has begun immediate action out of the opening. If given enough time, Black would probably equalize. 

 18.Ra7 Ra8;  19.Rfa1 e6;  20.Rxa8 Bxa8;   
Black is trying to prevent his opponent from penetrating his position, yet after 20...RxR/a8, Alekhine would have still retained a slight advantage.  

  b4rk1/2qn1pbp/1pp1p1p1/8/2PP4/1QN1BB1P/1P3PP1/R5K1 w   

It is White to move in this position. 
 21.d5!,   
"Typically, Alekhine plays the most aggressive line." (- AR & MC)  

Alekhine also awarded himself an exclam for this move. Here, he was correct, however, many times he praised moves that were not always worthy or contained any real merit. 

 21...cxd5;  22.cxd5 Nc5;  
This is probably the safest move for Euwe, and with it, Black avoids a nasty trap. 
(E.g., 22...Bxc3!?; 23.d6!!)  

 23.Qc4 exd5;  24.Bxd5 Bxd5!?;  25.Nxd5 Qe5!?;  26.Rb1!,   
This seemingly passive move is White's best chance to maintain any advantage. 

White now wins a Pawn ... virtually by force. 

     [ </= 26.Nxb6 Qxb2; "=" ]  

 26...Na4!;  27.b3!,   
I think this is best, it is certainly a good practical decision. (If White places the Pawn on the dark squares, then it might become a target later in this intense struggle.) 

Also good for White was 27.b4.  

 27...Nb2;  28.Qc6 b5!;  
Rather than defend the Pawn, GM M. Euwe decides to sacrifice it for some play. 
('!' - Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik)   

  5rk1/5pbp/2Q3p1/1p1Nq3/8/1P2B2P/1n3PP1/1R4K1 w  

Its time for a close look at the position and a careful evaluation of the overall situation. 

 29.Bf4,   ('!' - GM A. Alekhine.)   
Seemingly a natural move, White tries to displace the BQ from the powerful central post.  

     [ Maybe (>/=) 29.Re1 Nd3;  30.Rd1 Nb2;  31.Rd2,  '±'  {D?}   
       was an improvement over the actual game? (- Fritz 9.0) ]  

Now 29...Qe2 is a decent looking try for Black ... (Alekhine awards his 30th move an exclam, but after many hours of study, I have decided that it was superfluous. There are a few alternatives for 
White on this 30th turn, yet the capture of the Pawn is the only one that deserves serious scrutiny.) 
 29...Qe6!?;  30.Qxb5 Qe4;  31.Rc1 Nd3;  32.Qc4!,  
Gaining a crucial tempo. ('!' - A. Raetsky and M. Chetverik)   

     [ </= 32.Qc6!? Qe6!; "<=>" ]   

 32...Qe2;  33.Rf1 Nxf4;  34.Qxf4 Qb5;  35.Qf3!,   
White keeps an eye on all the key squares, (b5, d5, f7); and prepares to utilize his passed Pawn. 
('!' - A. Raetsky and M. Chetverik)   

 35...Rb8;  36.Rb1 Qa6;  37.Rd1!?,   
This looks fine to me, but for some reason, our two previously mentioned authors assign this move a dubious appellation. (They recommend the move, >/= 37.b4 instead.) 

 37...Qa3;  38.Rb1 Qa2;  39.Qd3 Bd4;  40.Rf1 Qb2;  41.Ne7+!,  (Maybe - '!!')  
This is the most aggressive move and leads to a labyrinth of wild tactical complications. 
 ('!' - A. Raetsky and M. Chetverik) 

 41...Kf8[];  42.Nc6 Bxf2+!;  
Questioned by some, this shot might be Black's best practical try, and is the first choice of Fritz. (Of course not 42...RxP/b3?; and now 43.QxN/d4. "+/-")   

 43.Kh2!?,    ('!!' - A.J.G.)   
I like this, the pure heavy piece ending after RxB/f2 might offer Black more play and some distinct drawing chances.  ("43.Kh2!" - GM A. Alekhine.)  

  1r3k2/5p1p/2N3p1/8/8/1P1Q3P/1q3bPK/5R2 b  

Some GM's have appraised this position as OK for Black, while in reality, White might have a forced win from here.  

     [ The other main variation was:  
        43.Rxf2 Qc1+;  44.Qf1 Qxc6;  45.Rxf7+ Kg8;  46.Rf3,  '±'  {D?}   
        when White appears to be better, but after several hours with the computer;  
        I was unable to prove a clear, forced win for White. ]  

 43...Re8?!;  ('?' - A.R. and M.C.)   
This appears to be Black's most active move, yet playing the Rook to b7 (or even b6) would have been a superior defense for Euwe.  

 44.Qf3 Re2;  45.Nd4!,   
Now Black cannot capture the Knight on d4 without losing material or getting mated.  

     [ Not as effective was:  </=  45.Nd8!? f5!;  "~"  with some counterplay for Black. ]  

 45...Rd2;  46.Ne6+ Ke7;  47.Nf4!,  
Now White has the threat of Nd3, forking Black's Q and B, and winning.  

     [ After the moves: </=  47.Ng5 Qe5+;  48.Kh1 Qxg5;  49.Rxf2 Rxf2;   
       50.Qxf2 Qc1+;  this Q+P endgame might be difficult to win. ]  

The rest does not require a ton of comments from me, Alekhine wins brilliantly, not even a machine can find a successful defense for Black. (In other words, even with a perfect defense, Black must lose.) 

 47...Qd4;  48.Kh1!!,   
Tucking the White King safely away in the corner and avoiding any of his opponent's tricks.  

  8/4kp1p/6p1/8/3q1N2/1P3Q1P/3r1bP1/5R1K b   

This is the current situation.   

     [ </= 48.b4!?,  "+/="  48...g5!  "<=>" ]  

 48...Ra2!?;  ('?!' - AR & MC)  
Black gets the Rook to safety, the b2-square is off limits, due to the Knight-fork on d3.  

Our two distinguished authors condemn this move, but its far too late to be looking for any real improvements for Black. (Maybe Black can improve with >/= 48...Bh4!, however its all academic, as White has several ways to win.)  

 49.Ne2 Ra1;  50.Qb7+! Kf6!?;   
The most natural move. ("There was nothing better." - A. Raetsky and M. Chetverik.)  

Alekhine himself condemned this move, however, I think this was a somewhat superficial and esoteric comment by the great master. (See my comments before Black's 47th move.)  

     [ (>/=) 50...Kd8; - Fritz. ]  

 51.Nxd4 Rxf1+;  52.Kh2 Bg1+;  53.Kg3 Bf2+;  54.Kf3 Bxd4+;  55.Ke4 Rd1;  
This is the position after Black's 55th move.  

  8/1Q3p1p/5kp1/8/3bK3/1P5P/6P1/3r4 w  

 56.Qd5!?,   
This wins (easily), however Alekhine had a minor improvement here.  

     [ >/=  56.Qc6+!,  with the idea of Qc2 next. ]  

 56...Ke7;  57.g4 h5!?;  
This weakens Black's Pawn structure, but there was nothing much that Black could do here.  

     [ Or  57...Re1+;  58.Kxd4! Rd1+;  59.Kc5 Rxd5+;  60.Kxd5 Kd7;  61.g5 Kc7;  
        62.Ke5 Kc6;  63.Kf6,  "+/-"   which wins (easily) for White. ]  

 58.gxh5 f5+;  59.Kf3 Rd3+;  60.Ke2 Re3+;  61.Kd2 Re4;  62.hxg6,  "+/-"   
GM Max Euwe tenders his resignation, there was no point in playing on from here. 

An exceedingly brilliant game by Alekhine, I saw this game as a youngster and I understood almost nothing about it. Now as a master, (and with the help of several strong programs); I am able to make some sense of it ... but just barely!  

See the book, "Alexander Alekhine, Master of Attack," by Alexander Raetsky and Maxim Chetverik ... (beginning on page # 17); for a more complete and thorough analysis of this game. [This game is also annotated in GM A. Alekhine's collection of his best games, Volume Two. (1924-1937.)] (See also this book as well.) 

  Copyright (c) A.J. Goldsby, 2007. All rights reserved.   

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My biography of Alexander Alekhine.