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ANNOTATED GAME

Hypermodern complications...and a near fist fight.
Richard Reti (2650) vs. Alexander Alekhine (2775)
Annotated by: tag1153 (1700)
Chess opening: Benko's opening (A00), reversed Alekhine
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Pages: 123
In researching some of the most famous games in the history of chess, I ran across this jewel. Let me say up front that I will provide only the most elementary analysis, as the sheer volume of complications that occurs is far beyond my meager abilities. There are actually two very interesting features of this game. The first is the fighting tactics involved and the second is a near fist fight between the players! Alekhine (the 4th and 6th World Champion) claims a draw by three-fold repetition after move 19. When disputed by Reti (one of the strongest players to never hold the World Champion title), the two get into a screaming match and reportedly had to be seperated by the arbiters! After calmer heads prevailed, Reti was proven to be correct, and Alekhine was forced back to the board to continue the game. Evidently none too pleased with being embarrassed, Alekhine lets his pieces do the talking, and the game that he unleashed from that point forward was a strategic, tactical, complicated fireworks display that left Reti wishing that he had accepted the draw. I hope you enjoy:)
1. g3
Reti was one of the founding members of the "Hypermodern" approach to chess (and in particular, opening theory). Delayed control of the center by setting up flank attacks is the foundation of this theory.
1 comment
 
1... e5
A "Classical" response, staking a claim in the center.

 
2. Nf3
Unusual and provacative. Reti is enticing Alekhine to push his e pawn.

 
2... e4
Alekhine obliges.

 
3. Nd4
This knight is now roaming the board unsupported (not entirely unusual in the "hypermodern" train of thought).

 
3... d5
Black supports e4 and now apparently owns the middle of the board. He must be careful of over-reaching, however, as white was obviously planning to conduct flank attacks anyway.

 
4. d3
! An attempt to undermine black's strong central pawns.

 
4... exd3
?! Alekhine gives up his advanced e pawn, and control of the middle. I guess the "Classical" theme wasn't for him either......
2 comments
 
5. Qxd3
Apparently, Reti didn't want to open up the e file by playing 5. exd.
1 comment
 
5... Nf6
Attempting to catch up in development.

 
6. Bg2
Logical.

 
6... Bb4+
? In post mortem, Alekhine admitted this move was a mistake. In analysis, he preferred 6...c5. With this move and whites response, black basically trades a "better" bishop for a "good" one.

 
7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nxd2 O-O 9. c4
! Reti gets agressive. By mixing it up in this fashion, Reti declares that he will be the one to control the flow of this game. Even Alekhine gave this move a "!".

 
9... Na6
Black is looking to play Nc5 or Nb4 winning some tempo at the white queens expense.

 
10. cxd5 Nb4
Hitting the queen and d5.
2 comments
 
11. Qc4 Nbxd5 12. Nd2b3
This knight now anchors it's comrade on d4.
1 comment
 
12... c6
Almost forced (to preserve the strength of of his Nd5)

 
13. O-O Re8
With the plan of owning the weakened e file.

 
14. Rfd1
Rook to open file. I'm reminded of the old saying "When given the choice of which rook to move, spend extra time analysing every possible ensuing continuation. Evaluate the strength of every piece. Figure out which rook will do the most good on the open file. Then move the other one:)"

 
14... Bg4
Strong developing move, which prevents white from moving his e pawn.

 

Pages: 123