Rubinstein, Akiba2596–Alekhine, Alexander26640–1E16Semmering Panhans8Semmering17.03.1926
The Players Akiba Rubinstein (1882-1961) was one of the
world’s best players in the period 1907-22. Born in the small Polish town of
Stawiski, he learned chess at the age of 16 - unusually late for one who goes
on to become a great player. A few years later he moved to Lodz and his chess
developed rapidly. By 1907 he was already recognized as one of the leading
masters and in the following five years he won a whole string of major
international events. Rubinstein challenged Lasker for the World Championship
and a match was arranged, but a poor performance by Rubinstein at St
Petersburg 1914 followed by the outbreak of the First World War dashed his
hopes of a title match. After the war years Rubinstein’s career continued
successfully and in 1922 he agreed terms with Capablanca, who had taken the
title away from Lasker the previous year. However, he was unable to raise the
necessary finance and his hopes of becoming World Champion faded for ever.
Rubinstein effectively retired from chess in 1932, with his mental health in
poor shape. Destitution and the Second World War cast a further shadow over
his declining years and he became one of the many great masters who suffered
poverty and deprivation in later life. Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946) was one
of the greatest players of all time and held the World Championship from 1927
to 1935 and from 1937 until his death in 1946. Born into the Russian
aristocracy, he was taught chess by his mother and soon displayed a remarkable
talent for the game. After some successes in relatively minor tournaments, he
was invited to play in the famous 1914 St Petersburg tournament, which
included all the world’s leading players. Alekhine’s third place indicated
that he had arrived among the chess elite. The First World War and the
Revolution interrupted Alekhine’s career, but after he left Russia in 1920
he started a run of impressive tournament successes, which led to a challenge
for the World Championship in 1927. Few expected the almost unbeatable
Capablanca to lose, but Alekhine’s preparation was better and, aided by his
ferocious will-power, Alekhine gained the title after a marathon battle of 34
games. Unlike many world champions, actually gaining the title did not
undermine his determination and over the next few years Alekhine dominated the
chess world. He successfully defended his title twice against Bogoljubow, but
Alekhine seemed reluctant to face his most dangerous challengers and never
allowed Capablanca a return match. A fondness for alcohol cost Alekhine the
title in 1935 when he faced the Dutchman Euwe. The gentlemanly Euwe offered
Alekhine a return match and, after giving up the bottle, Alekhine regained his
title in 1937. Alekhine’s results just before the Second World War were
definitely less impressive than formerly, and had a projected match with
Botvinnik taken place he might well have lost the title. The war intervened,
and during the war years Alekhine played in a number of (not very strong)
tournaments in German-occupied territory. After the war, negotiations for a
match with Botvinnik resumed and terms were agreed, but Alekhine died of a
heart attack before the match could take place. Alekhine had a preference for
attacking play and tactics, but he could handle all types of position well.
The games produced while he was at his peak are models of attacking play; he
had the rare ability to confront his opponents with all sorts of problems
without risking his own position. The Game Just as in the game (Réti –
Alekhine), most commentators have been intimidated by Alekhine’s own
annotations, but it turns out that these annotations are not especially
accurate. The opening line chosen by Rubinstein is not thought to cause Black
any real problems; indeed Alekhine’s vigorous response seems to lead to
clear equality. Alekhine misses a chance to gain an advantage, but then
Rubinstein goes wrong in turn. The result is a dazzling display of tactics by
Alekhine. 1.d4 f6 2.c4 e6 3.f3 b6 At the time of this game, the Queen's
Indian Defence was a relatively new and popular line, introduced by
Nimzowitsch as part of the Hypermodern revolution. Rather than occupying the
centre with pawns, Black seeks to control it by piece play from afar. 4.g3 b7 5.g2 b4+ 6.bd2 0-0 7.0-0 d5 QUESTION: What do you think of this
position? ANSWER: Black has no problems at all. I have actually played this
position as Black a number of times myself and never experienced any
difficulties. The rather passive white knight on d2 does not exert any
pressure against d5, which makes Black's development simple and
straightforward. 8.a3 e7 9.b4 c5! This counter-attack in the centre
ensures Black good play. 10.bxc5 bxc5 The position is equal. 11.dxc5 11.b1 c8 12.e5 11...xc5 11...bd7 12.b2 White should try 12.b1 e7 13.b3 12...bd7= 13.e5?! QUESTION: What is wrong
with the text? It looks natural enough. ANSWER: It leads to the loss of the
initiative. xe5 14.xe5 g4! From here on, Black's attack builds up with
remarkable speed. QUESTION: So are you saying White is already worse here?
ANSWER: Objectively, no, but he already needs to be careful. Rubinstein, who
always seemed to have a lot of trouble against Alekhine in the 1920s, fails to
cope with the task on this occasion. 15.c3! b8 QUESTION: What is that
for? ANSWER: Black defends his b7-bishop, so as to be able to push ...d5-d4. 16.b1?! QUESTION: Why don't you like this? It seems like a logical attempt
to prevent Black's intended ...d5-d4 advance. ANSWER: Yes, it is a logical try,
but as we will see, it does not necessarily succeed in stopping the pawn
advance. Having said that, White still should be able to maintain equality, so
Alekhine's criticism of the move is possibly exaggerated. 16.b3 keeps
more tension. xf2 17.xf2 xf2+ 18.xf2 dxc4 19.d4 16...d4 17.xb7? This is the real mistake. 17.b4= xg2 18.xg2 17...xb7 18.xb7 18.a5 was necessary. xa5 19.xb7 18...xf2!? This is the move Rubinstein had overlooked, and it is
indeed good for Black, though Alekhine's double exclamation marks are
misplaced. 19.xf2 QUESTION: Wow! That looks pretty desperate! ANSWER: It
is, but White has no good alternative. 19.a5 was the only chance. xd1 20.xd8 d3+ 21.e3 xe3 22.c7 19...dxc3+-+ 20.e3 cxd2 21.e2 b8 21...xa3 22.xd2 c7 23.e4-+ 22.f3 d8 Black obviously has a
decisive advantage – a huge extra passed pawn on d2 and a hopelessly exposed
white king. The opposite-coloured bishops are no help in the presence of
queens and rooks; indeed, they only serve to strengthen the attack. Don't do
22...xa3 23.xd2 b3 24.e4-+ 23.b1 d6 Black goes
for the king. Not 23...xa3 24.xb8 xb8 25.xd2 24.a4 24.d1 24...f5 25.d1 b4 26.c2 c5 27.f2 a5 28.e2 g5 29.d3? Monday, June 25, 2018
Akiba Rubinstein X Alexander Alekhine - Semmering Panhans 1926
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