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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
Richard Reti (2650) vs. Alexander Alekhine (2775)
Annotated by: tag1153
(1700)
Chess opening: Benko's opening (A00), reversed Alekhine
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15. Rd2 |
Maintaing the d file, while protecting e2 and allowing it to move. | ||||||
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15... Qc8 |
Alekhine is looking to dominate the light squares. | ||||||
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16. Nc5 |
Clearing room for the b pawn to start advancing. | ||||||
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16... Bh3 |
And here is where my meager analysis hits a brick wall. Numerous GM's agree that at this point, the game should be drawn. By making this move, Alekhine is preparing himself for drinks in the hotel bar, followed by chasing some frauleins. He sees that if white plays 17. BxB, he will play 17...QxB and then maneuver to play his Ng4, threatening mate on h2. | ||||||
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17. Bf3 |
Reti sees this as well, and sidesteps. | ||||||
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17... Bg4 |
"C'mon Richard! I'll buy the first round!" | ||||||
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18. Bg2 |
"Not on your life Alex....I say we play on." | ||||||
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18... Bh3 |
"But I want DRINKS!" | ||||||
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19. Bf3 |
"You're going to have to beat me. I won't just tamely surrender a draw." | ||||||
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19... Bg4 |
"OK! DRAW! This position has been repeated three times! Can we PLEASE get some liquor now?" At this point, Alekhine had actually gotten up and put on his coat. He signed his score sheet and gave it to the arbiter. Just as he is about to walk out of the room, Reti informs the arbiter that the position has only been repeated TWICE, and that he wishes to play on. A huge shouting match between Alekhine and Reti follows. Reportedly, after MUCH nose to nose screaming at each other, Alekhine is convinced by the arbiter that the game must continue. As they are sitting down again, Alekhine tells Reti "Once you retreat your bishop to g2, I will move my bishop to h3 and THEN this game will be drawn!" The clocks are restarted and then Reti plays................... | ||||||
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20. Bh1 |
?! Perhaps feeling compelled to further anger the World Champion. Now the REAL question must be asked. Is it possible that the reigning World Champion wouldn't know if a position had been repeated three times? Or was this whole episode merely a psychological ploy to get Reti to move his bishop to h1 (which makes a number of the tactics that follow possible)? We will never know for sure, but the attack that follows is simply brilliant. | ||||||
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20... h5 |
! Alekhine goes for the jugular. | ||||||
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21. b4 |
An attempt to undermine the strength of black's pawns on the queenside. | ||||||
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21... a6 |
Defensive. | ||||||
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22. Rc1 |
Loading up on the c file. | ||||||
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22... h4 |
Alekhine is already committed, so he presses on. | ||||||
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23. a4 hxg3 24. hxg3 Qc7 |
Fritz gives white a small advantage here. | ||||||
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25. b5 axb5 |
Virtually forced. | ||||||
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26. axb5 Re3 |
!! TWO exclamations! [27. fxR Qxg 28. Kf1 Bh3 #] A BRILLIANT move! | ||||||
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27. Nf3 |
? The majority of GM's in my research questioned this move, although it does sort of just "feel" right. Tactics abound from this point forward. | ||||||
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