[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Flohr, Salo"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Bd2
{A "lapsus manus."  I intended to play 4. e5 and f4 as, for instance,
against Nimzovitch at San Remo 1930, but instead I made the move with
the Bishop first.}
4... dxe4
5. Nc3xe4
{5.Nc3xe4? After 5. Qg4 Qxd4 6. Nf3 or 5. ... Nf6 6. Qxg7
Rg8 7. Qh6 Qxd4 etc., White, as I have pointed
out already in "My Best Games of Chess,"
would obtain a sufficient positional equivalent
for the Pawn sacrificed, but the sacrifice of a
Pawn involved by the text-move is doubtless
incorrect.}
5... Qxd4
6. Bd3
{The alternative 6. Nc3 Bxc3 7. bxc3 Qe4+ followed
by Nf6 etc. was hardly more attractive.}
6... Bxd2
7. Qxd2 Qd8
{7...Qd8? The refusal to take the b2 pawn is based on a total
misappreciation of the position: for after the
retreat adopted White has the opportunity to get his
King into security and gain a tempo, thus obtaining an
advantage in development amply compensating him for
the slight material inferiority.  By 7. ... Qxb2
8. Rd1 Nd7 Black on the contrary would have reasonable
hopes, by careful play, of taking full advantage of
his two extra Pawns.}
8. O-O-O Qe7
{If immediately 8. ... Nf6 then 9. Bb5+.}
9. Nf3 Nf6
10. Rh1e1
{It was by no means easy to decide whether this rapid
mobilisation of all forces available was stronger than
10. Ng3 with the eventual threat of Rhe1 followed by
Nf5.  Both plans had their advantages, but the one
adopted appeared to be the more simple one.}
10... Nxe4
11. Rxe4 Nd7
12. Rg4!
{In order to induce Black either to Castle -- in which
case White would play 13. Re1 threatening Qh6 -- or,
as in the actual game, to weaken his Pawn position.}
12... f5
13. Rf4
{Threatening 14. Bxf5, etc.}
13... Nf6
14. Re1 Bd7
{14...Bd7? As Black's position will remain inferior anyhow he should
try to keep at least his material advantage as long as
possible.  The natural defensive move 14. ... g6 was
therefore also the best.  White would in that case
continue his attack by 15. h3 followed by g4.}
15. Rxf5 O-O-O
16. Ra5
{As the other pieces are not prepared to support a Q-side
attack this Rook had better remain in the middle.  The
simple 16 Rfe5 would enable White to institute an easy
attack against the backward KP.}
16... Kb8
17. Ne5 Be8
18. g3
{18. g3! White realises that a direct attack has no serious chances
of success (if for instance 18 Qe3 then simply
18. ... b6 followed by Nd5) so decides to exchange
Queens, after which the exploitation of the weakness
at e6 may bring some success.}
18... Nd5
19. Re4
{White does not prevent 19. ... Nb4 by 19. a3 as he
needs that square for his Rook.}
19... Nb6
20. Qe3
{Threatening 21. Nc4.}
20... Rd5
21. Ra3 Qc5
{Otherwise 22. c4.}
22. Qxc5 Rxc5
23. f4
{Threatening 24. c4 which at this moment would be
ineffective because of 23. ... Nd7.}
23... Rd5
{It is not hard to understand that Black tries to avoid
the variation 23. ... h6 24. c4 a5 25. Rd4 Bc6 26. Rc3
eventually followed by b3, a3 and b4, but the move in
the text loses another Pawn without improving his
position.}
24. Nf3! Bd7
25. Ng5 Re8
{Both Pawns could not be protected but by leaving the
KRP Black hopes to have the opportunity of
playing e5 which would relieve him of one of his main
troubles.  The object of White's next moves is to
prevent this possibility.}
26. c4 Rf5
27. Rd4 Rff8
28. c5
{Not immediately 28 Bxh7 because of 28. ... e5.}
28... Nd5
29. Bxh7 Bc6
30. Bg6 Re7
31. Nf3
{From now on White's plan is rather obvious.  He tries
to place his pieces in the best possible positions
in order to support the advance of his K-side Pawns,
which sooner or later will becom decisive.}
31... Nf6
32. Ne5 Bd5
{The control of the square d5 is certainly not a sufficient
compensation for White's material advantage.}
33. Re3 Rh8
34. h4 c6
35. Bc2 Rd8
36. Bb3 Rc7
37. Nf3
{More correct was at once 37. Bc4.}
37... Re8
38. Ne5 R8c8
39. Bc4
{It was important to have the possibility of playing
b4 in case of ... b6.}
39... Ka8
40. b4 Rb8
41. g4
{The beginning of the end.  The tactical justification
of this move is shown by the variation: 41. ... Bxc4
42. Nxc4 Nxg4 43. Nb6+ followed by 44 Ra3#.}
41... b6
42. g5 bxc5
43. bxc5 Nd7
44. Nxd7 Rxd7
45. h5 Rf7
{If 45. ... Rdb7 then 46. Bb3, etc.}
46. Rxe6
{One of the combinations that an experienced player does
not need to calculate to a finish.  He _knows_
that under given circumstances the King-side Pawns must
become overwhelming.}
46... Bxe6
47. Bxe6 Rfb7
48. Bb3 Re8
{Also to 48. ... Rb4 the answer would be the same.}
49. h6 gxh6
50. g6 Rg7
{Or 50. ... Rf8 51. f5 Rxf5 52. Re8+ followed by the
exchange of Rooks and by g7.}
51. f5 Rf8
52. Bc2 a5
53. Rd6 Re7
54. f6 Re1+
55. Kd2 Rf1
56. f7 a4
57. Rd7 1-0


[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Tartakover, Saviely"]
[Black "Capablanca, Jose Raoul"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Bg5 
{A harmless move which could also be quite well answered by 3... Bf5.}
3... e6
4. e3 c5
5. c3 Be7
6. Nbd2 Nbd7
7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O Qc7
{As 9.Ne5 would not be in White's favour after 9... Nxe5 10. dex5 Nd7 etc.,
Black had better play at once 8... b6 and if 9. e4 then 9... dxe4 10. Nxe4
Bb7 etc. as in the actual game.}
9. Qe2
{If white intended to play e4, he should do that at once.  After 9... dxe4
10. Nxe4 b6 11. Qc2 h6 12. Bh4 followed by Bg3 the black Queen would have no
suitable square.  After the text move Black finishes his development and
White has not the slightest chance to get an advantage.}
9... b6
10. e4 dxe4
11. Nxe4 Bb7
12. dxc5 Nxc5
13. Nxc5 Qxc5
14. Bxf6
{White -- it is obvious now -- only plays for a draw.  Under these conditions
it is generally difficult for the second player to complicate matters without
taking chances.}
14... Bxf6
15. Be4 Bxe4
16. Qxe4 Qb5
{16. Qb5! Practically dislodges the White Queen from her central position.}
17. Qc2 Rfd8
18. Rfd1 g6
19. h3 1/2-1/2
{In this kind of position the Bishop is worth more than the Knight, which
has not any permanent square in the middle.  Further play, beginning for
instance 19... Rac8 was therefore still possible.  Against a player of
Dr. Tartakover's experience, however, it is doubtful if it would prove
successful.}

[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site  "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bogoljuboff, Efim"]
[Black "Tylor, Sir Theodore Henry"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 c6
3. d4 d5
4. e3 Bf5
5. cxd5 Nxd5
{More aggressive, but also more risky than the usual 5... cxd5, which
is good enough for equality.}
6. Bc4 e6
7. O-O Be7
8. Nbd2 Nb6
{A good idea as e4 (in the near future) would only weaken White's
central position owing to the position of the Knight at d2.}
9. Be2 O-O
10. Ne5
{10. Ne5? What is the use of placing this Knight only to exchange it at the
next move?  Comparatively better was 10. Nb3 N8d7 11. Bd2 etc.}
10... N8d7
11. Nxd7 Qxd7
12. Nb3 Rad8
13. Bf3
{Wasting time again instead of developing the other Bishop.}
13... e5
{13...e5! }
14. a4
{Or dxe5 Qc7 followed by Qxe5 with obvious advantage.}
14... e4
15. Be2 Bd6
{Black has now good prospects of obtaining a dangerous King-side
attack.}
16. Bd2
{At last.}
16... Qe7
{In order to succeed with his attack Black needed here as many pieces
as he could possibly utilise, therefore he should not allow the
exchange of his Knight, which posted at d5 would greatly contribute
to the final assault.  16... Nd5 was the right move.}
17. Ba5 Qh4
{The combination inaugarated by this move is ingenious but finally
leads only to a drawish position.  The immediate 17... Qg5 (threatening
Bh3) 18. Qc2 Rfe8 followed by Re6 etc. would put before White a more
difficult defensive problem.}
18. g3 Qg5
19. Qc2 h5
20. Nc5
{White arrives just in time to exchange the most dangerous Black pieces.}
20... h4
21. Bxb6 axb6
{Insufficient would be 21... hxg3 22. Bxd8 etc.}
22. Nxe4 hxg3
23. hxg3 Bxe4
{If 23... Qg6 then 24 Bd3 threatening Ng6+ etc.}
24. Qxe4 Bxg3
{This had to be calculated many moves before.  After 25. fxg3 Qxg3+ 26.
Qg2 Qxe3+ Black would either give perpetual check or win a third pawn
for the piece, still keeping an attacking position.  Consequently White
has nothing better than to exchange Queens.}
25. Qg2 Bh4
26. Qxg5 Bxg5
27. b4
{In order to avoid a further simplification by ... c5.  Although White
has a slightly better Pawn conformation, the opposite coloured Bishops
should secure Black an easy draw.}
27... f5
{As White can prevent the further advance of this Pawn it had better
remain at his original place.  A safe plan was to occupy the open
h file by 27... g6 followed by Kg7 and Rh8.}
28. f4 Be7
29. Bc4+ Kh7
30. b5 g5
{Black seems to simplify at all costs.  Safer moves here were 30 ... c5
(31. d5 being perfectly harmless) or even 30 ... Rc8.}
31. Kf2
{31. Kf2! }
31... Kg6
{Of course not gxf4 because of 32 Rh1+, and wins, but 31... Rd6 was
still simpler.}
32. bxc6 bxc6
33. Rab1 Rb8
34. Rh1 Bf6
{In spite of White's desparate winning attempts Black is holding his
own.  He could even play here 34... g4 35. Rh2 Bf6 etc. with quite
sufficient defence.}
35. fxg5 Bxg5
36. Rh3 b5
{36...b5! Black realises that the exchange of one pair of Rooks will destroy
the last of his opponent's winning illusions and is willing to sacrifice
a Pawn to obtain the result.}
37. axb5 cxb5
38. Bd3
{If 38. Bxb5 R77 39. Rhh1 Rfb7 with an easy draw.}
38... Rfd8
39. Ke2 Rd5
40. Rf1 Ra8
41. Bb1 Re8
42. R3f3
{Allowing a further exchange and hoping for a miracle.}
42... Rxd4
43. Bxf5+ Kh5
{43...Kh5? More exact was 43... Kh6 in order to answer 44 Rg1 by Rf4! etc.}
44. Rg1 Rxe3+
{44...Rxe3+? Black underestimates the danger of the following situation in
which not only will his King occupy one of the worst possible
positions but also his Pawn will limit the defensive power of
his Rook.  He could still obtain a draw by playing 44... Rh4
45. Rg3 Rg8 etc.}
45. Rxe3 Bxe3
46. Kxe3 Rc4
47. Be4 Kh6
48. Kf4 Rc8
{48...Rc8? Instead 48... Ra4 49. Rg6+ Kh7 etc. offered a steadier defence.}
49. Rg6+ Kh5
50. Rg7 Rh8
51. Rg5+ Kh6
52. Rg6+ Kh5
53. Bf5 Rd8
54. Rg5+ Kh6
55. Rg6+ Kh5
56. Ra6 Rg8
{Or 56... Rd4+ 57. Be4 Ra4 58. Rd6 Rc4 59. Rd7 and wins.}
57. Ra1 Kh6
58. Ra7 Rg7
59. Ra6+ 1-0
{As White will force the mate by Ra1 etc.}


[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Alexander, Conel Hugh O'Donel"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Mikhail"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[Result "0-1"]
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. g3
{Quite a harmless variation, which offers Black many good
possibilities of defence.}
3... g6
4. Bg2 Bg7
5. Nge2 e6
{Black having already the control upon d4 protects d5, thus
obtaining a certain advantage in the middle.  A promising
strategy which could be successfully met only by very
energetic play.}
6. d3 Nge7
7. O-O
{7. O-O? Too indiferent, he should make a demonstration on the King-side
by 7. h4 and 8. Bg5; if 7... h6 then 8. Bf4 followed by Qd2 and
Black would have more difficulties in completing his mobilisation
than in the actual game.}
7... O-O
8. Be3
{And here 8. Bg5 or Bf4 was better.  White should leave himself
the possibility of taking the intruding Knight at d4 with his own
Knight.}
8... Nd4
9. Qd2 d5
10. Nf4
{Comparitively better was 10. Nd1 in order to dislodge, as rapidly
as possible, the powerful Knight.}
10... dxe4
11. dxe4 Qc7
12. Rad1
{Other methods like 12. Rfc1 followed by Qd1 would have their
inconveniences too.  The game is already very difficult to defend.}
12... Rd8
13. Qc1 b6
14. Rfe1 Ba6
15. Kh1
{15. Kh1? This move, and not the next one as was generally suggested, is the
decisive mistake.  White's last chance of salvation consisted in
15. Nb1 with the intention of 16. c3 and if 15... g5 16. Nd3 h6 then
17. f4 with some kind of counter-play.  After the King's move the
game is strategically hopeless.}
15... Nec6
16. Nce2
{Only shortens the end.  The threats 16... Ne5 or eventually (in case
of 16 Ng1 for instance) 16... Nb4 were too strong.}
16... Nxe2
17. Rxd8+ Rxd8
18. Nxe2 Bxe2
19. Rxe2 Bxb2
{19...Bxb2! }
20. Qxb2 Rd1+
21. Bf1 Rxf1+
22. Kg2 Rd1
23. Rd2 Rxd2
24. Bxd2 Qe5
{24...Qe5! Forcing an end-game in which besides the extra Pawn he will possess
a powerful Knight against an anemic Bishop.}
25. Qxe5 Nxe5
26. Bc3 f6
27. Bxe5
{One has the impression that White is anxious to finish the game as
rapidly as possible; the Pawn end-game does not offer, of course, any
chance.}
27... fxe5
28. a4 Kf7
29. Kf3 c4
30. Ke3 Ke7
31. f4 Kd6
32. c3 Kc5
33. fxe5 b5
34. axb5 Kxb5
35. Kd2 Ka5
36. 0-1

[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Winter, William"]
[Black "Thomas, Bart., Sir George"]
[PlyCount "58"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7
5. e3 Nbd7
6. Nf3
{White can avoid the following simplification by playing 6. Rc1 c6
7. Bd3 but this is hardly necessary, for in the following end-game
the chances of the first player will be better on account of the
greater freedom in the centre and the open b file.}
6... Ne4
7. Bxe7 Qxe7
8. Qc2 c6
9. Nxe4 dxe4
10. Qxe4 Qb4+
11. Nd2 Qxb2
12. Qb1
{After 12. Rb1, Black would do better not to take the Rook Pawn
because of the possible attack commencing by Bd3, Ke2 etc. but
play 12... Qc3 after which White could hardly avoid the exchange
of Queens.}
12... Qc3
{Black prefers to delay the exchange for one move in order to have
the opponent's Rook at c1 and not at b1.}
13. Qc1 Qxc1+
14. Rxc1 c5
{After 14... e5 15. Nf3 the opening of the King file would be in
White's favour.} 
15. g3
{A good idea, as the Bishop will have excellent prospects on the
long diagonal.  Still in the following White omits to take full
profit of this positional advantage.}
15... Ke7
16. Bg2 Rd8
17. Ke2
{Here was, for instance, the right moment to force by 17. Nb3 the
Pawn exchange in the middle, as after 17... cxd4 18. exd4 White
could not even Castle in order to occupy propmtly the central files
with his Rooks.  After the move selected Black succeeds through
accurate defence in avoiding further trouble.}
17... Rb8
{Now he will be able to answer Nb3 with b6.}
18. Rc3
{Rather surprising, but well calculated.  Black has just time to
develop his Bishop.}
18... cxd4
19. exd4 Nf6
20. Nf3 Bd7
21. Ne5 Be8
22. Ke3 Nd7
23. Ra3
{No more promising was 23. f4 f6 etc.}
23... Nxe5
24. dxe5 a6
25. Rb1
{White's last hope to gain some advantage but the following move
destroys such illusions.}
25... b5
{Forcing a speedy liquidation.}
26. Rxa6 bxc4
27. Ra7+ Kf8
28. Rxb8 Rxb8
29. Rc7 Rb2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Euwe, Dr. Machgielis"]
[Black "Reshevsky, Samuel"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 b6
4. g3 Bb7
5. Bg2 Bb4+
6. Bd2 Bxd2+
7. Qxd2 O-O
{Not the best, as it allows White to gain control of the important
square e5.  First 7... d6 and only after 8. O-O was O-O indicated.}
8. Nc3 d6
{8... Ne4 9. Qc2 Nxc3 would lead after Ng5 to the loss of the
Exchange.  Although in the two match games played with this variation
between Dr. Euwe and Capablanca Black succeeded in making a draw,
White's advantage was quite evident; the experiment starting with
8... Ne4 is therefore certainly not to be recommended.}
9. Qc2 Qe7
{In order to play c5, which would be premature here because of
10. d5 exd5 11. Nh4 etc.}
10. O-O c5
11. Rad1
{After the exchange of Bishops Black would not have much trouble
protecting his weakness, d6.  More promising and in accordance
with the previous moves was 11. e4.}
11... cxd4
12. Nxd4 Bxg2
13. Kxg2 Rc8
{An important tempo, as White cannot protect his Pawn by 14. b3
on account of 14... d5 etc.}
14. Qd3 Nbd7?
{An artificial move that turns to White's advantage.  The simple
14... Nc6 was good enough for a draw.}
15. Nf3! Ne5
{Instead of defending the Pawn by Ne8. he prefers to enter into
an end-game in which White has the distinct advantage of the Pawn
majority on the Queen-side.  Although both alternatives were
probably good enough to save the game, the former was doubtless
the safer.}
16. Nxe5 dxe5
17. Qf3
{17. Qf3! This very important move was probably overlooked by Black who is
thereby deprived of one of this centre chances, the control of the
diagonal a8-h1.}
17... Rab8
18. b3 a6
19. Ne4 Nxe4
{There is nothing better as 19... Ne8 (with the intention f5)
could be answered by 20. g4.}
20. Qxe4 b5
21. cxb5 Rxb5
22. Rc1 Rbc5 
23. Rxc5 Qxc5
24. Rd1 Qb5
{24...Qb5? Why not simply 24... f5 25. Qb7 Qc6+ 26. Qxc6 Rxc6 etc. ?
If then 27. Rd7 Rc2 with a sufficient counterattack, and
by other moves the Black King will approach the centre.
The Rook end-game should not be won by White.}
25. Rc1 Rd8
{Better at once 25... Rf8.}
26. Rc7 g6
27. Qf3 Rf8
28. Ra7 a5
29. Qd3
{29. Qd3? Both players produce inexact chess.  Here for instance 29. Qc3
was the natural maove in order to exchange the King Pawn against
the Queen Rook Pawn and obtain (as in the actual game, but in
a forceful way) two connected passed Pawns.}
29... Qc5
30. Ra6 Qb4
31. Ra7 Qc5
32. Qe3 Qd5+
33. Kh3
{33. Kh3? The only winning chance was 33. f3.  After the text move
Black should obtain an easy draw.}
33... h5
34. Qc3 Qd1
{It is extraordinary that such a specialist in "Skittle-Chess"
as Reshevsky could overlook, even though very short of time,
the excellent chance of Qh1!  After 35. Qf3 (best) Qf1+
36. Kh4 e4! White would have to play the correct moves in
order not to find himself in trouble, the most convincing
drawing possibility would be then 37. Qe3 Qg2 38. Kg5 Qxh2
39. Kf6 h4! 40. Qc5 (threatens mate in two) Re8 41. Rxf7
hxg3 42. Qc7 Qh5+ 43. Kxg6 Qg4+ 44. Kh6 and Black has nothing
better than perpetual check.}
35. Kg2
{And now!}
35... Qxe2
36. Rxa5
{Reaching the position he could have attained on his 29th move.}
36... Qe4+
37. Qf3 Qc2
38. h4?
{White did not need to allow the exchange of Rooks.  Simpler was
38. Ra7 Qc5 39. Rb7.  If then h4 (indicated by Dr. Euwe) 40.  h3
Qd4 41. Rb5 threatening Qe3 etc.}
38... Rc8
39. Ra7 Rc7
40. Rxc7 Qxc7
41. Qa8+
{More exact than 41. a4 Qa5 etc.}
41... Kg7
42. a4 Qb6
{42...Qb6? The last mistake, which cannot be explained by lack of time.
Correct was 42... Qc3 threatening e4.  White could hardly
prevent in that case the exchange of one of his passed Pawns
against Black's King Pawn and the resulting end-game would
still be very hard to win.}
43. a5
{The decisive tempo.}
43... Qxb3
44. a6 Qa3
45. a7 e4
{Too late.}
46. Qb8 Qf3+
47. Kg1 Qd1+
48. Kh2 Qe2
49. Qe5+
{If now 49... Kh7 then 50. Qf4 attacking also the King Bishop
Pawn.}
49... 1-0

[Event "Nottingham Tournament"]
[Site "Nottingham England"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Fine, Reuben"]
[Black "Lasker, Emanuel"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[Result "1-0"]
1. d4 d5
2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Nc3 Be7
5. e3 O-O
6. Bd3 dxc4
7. Bxc4 c5
8. O-O a6
9. Qe2 b5
10. Bd3 Bb7
{10...Bb7?}
11. dxc5 Bxc5
12. e4 Nbd7
13. Bg5 h6 
14. Bh4 b4
{14...b4?}
15. Na4 Be7
16. Rfd1 Nh5
17. Bxe7 Qxe7
18. Rac1 Ndf6
19. g3 a5
20. Nc5 Rfc8
21. Nxb7 Qxb7
22. Ne5 Rxc1
23. Rxc1 Rc8
24. Rxc8+ Qxc8
25. Qc2 Qb7
26. Qc6 Qa7
27. Qc8+ Kh7
28. Nc6 Qc5
29. e5+ g6
30. exf6 Nxf6
31. Qb7 Kg8
32. Be2 Nd5
33. Ne5 1-0