We were like bishops of opposite color.
If you are reading this instead of viewing a chess puzzle or game, then you must enable JavaScript on this website.
[Event "Hastings"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1922.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bogolyubov, Efim"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Hayes, David"]
[BlackElo "unknown"]
[ECO "A90"]
[TimeControl "0"]
[WhiteElo "unknown"]
{ Like too many of the game's best players Alexander Alekhine was a mess. In
short, he was a political opportunist who seemed to favor whatever power
would allow him to play chess for a living. He is also known to consumed too
much alcohol on more than one occasion. That said, he was also a very good
chess player as we see in this game.|In summary, Efim Bogolyubov was a rotund
optimist. He defected from the USSR, and was branded a traitor. However, his
character and chess skill survived the brand. His chess play was natural and
full of innovative concepts. He was the only man to ever hold both the German
and Soviet Championships at one time.|This game between two Russian Grand
Masters was over shadowed by the war years of the early 20th century. Still
it remains one of the more remarkable games in that black sacrifices two
rooks and his queen with check to promote a single pawn. A pawn to
remember... } 1. d4 { A90: Dutch Defence: Miscellaneous and Modern Stonewall } 1... f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Bb4+ { The Dutch Defense is always a
controversial opening. Black's early advance of the f-pawn weakens the king
side, but affords a strong center if he can survive the opening. } 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Nxd2 { The knight is best placed on c3 for maximum influence on the
center. Therefore, the queen should have recaptured the bishop. } 6... Nc6 7. Ngf3 O-O 8. O-O d6 9. Qb3 Kh8 { The black king feels the heat from white's queen,
and moves to avoid complications that could evolve in the center. } 10. Qc3 { 10. d5 is a more natural continuation. } 10... e5 { The awkward knight on d2
prevents the pawn winning capture 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Qxe5 Qxd2. } 11. e3 a5 12. b3 Qe8 { The queen begins maneuvers against the white king. } 13. a3 { Secures b4 against a potential Nb4. This move also prepares counter play
on the Queen side with a timely b4. } 13... Qh5 { Again white is unable to win the
pawn on e5. 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. Qxe5 Ng4 attacks both the queen
and threatens mate on h2. } 14. h4 Ng4 { An excellent post. } 15. Ng5 Bd7 16. f3 Nf6 17. f4 e4 { With only this one move, black gets more space, locks the
center, blocks white's bishop, and prepares a king side pawn storm. } 18. Rfd1 h6 { Evicting the Knight. } 19. Nh3 d5 20. Nf1 Ne7 21. a4 Nc6 { The knight snaps
back to take advantage of the hole on b4 with an eye on d3. } 22. Rd2 Nb4 { The
knight dominates. } 23. Bh1 Qe8 24. Rg2 dxc4 25. bxc4 Bxa4 26. Nf2 Bd7 27. Nd2 b5 28. Nd1 Nd3 { Black apparently returns the pawn, but... White cannot refuse
the offer by allowing b4 where two connected passed pawns crush white's queen
side. } 29. Rxa5 b4 30. Rxa8 bxc3 31. Rxe8 c2 $1 { The point of this
combination. } 32. Rxf8+ Kh7 33. Nf2 c1=Q+ { If the two rooks are not
coordinated (as is the case here), then their combined value is not greater
than the queen. } 34. Nf1 Ne1 35. Rh2 Qxc4 { Black threatens Bb5. } 36. Rb8 Bb5 { Threatening mate: Qxf1 } 37. Rxb5 ( { White dare not try: } 37. Nd2 Qc1 38. Bxe4 fxe4 39. Nfxe4 Nc2+ 40. Kf2 Ng4+ 41. Kg2 Ncxe3+ 42. Kf3 Qd1+ 43. Re2 Qxe2# ) 37... Qxb5 { Black's threats force a material advantage while white's forces are
still tangled in the corner. } 38. g4 { White prepares h5 } 38... Nf3+ 39. Bxf3 exf3 40. gxf5 Qe2 41. d5 Kg8 42. h5 Kh7 43. e4 Nxe4 44. Nxe4 Qxe4 45. d6 cxd6 46. f6 gxf6 47. Rd2 Qe2 { Black plays for the crowd. This queen sacrifice is
unforced. The sacrifice does lead to a simplified won end game position.
Instead, 47... Qxf4 is solid. } 48. Rxe2 fxe2 49. Kf2 exf1=Q+ 50. Kxf1 Kg7 51. Kf2 Kf7 52. Ke3 Ke6 53. Ke4 d5+ { White resigns in the face of 54. Kd4 Kd6.
White must give ground while black marches his passed pawn forward to
promotion. If black finds a way to stop the advancing pawn, then black shifts
his attention to win white's two pawns. One way or the other black will
promote a pawn. } 0-1