Alexander Alekhine vs Carl Schlechter (1911)

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Alexander Alekhine vs Carl Schlechter
Karlsbad (1911), Karlsbad (Karlovy Vary) AUH, rd 5, Aug-26
Scandinavian Defense: Ilundain Variation (B01) · 0-1

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

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Jun-01-03		tud: It's Alekhine in 1911. A few years later he would not have had problems to find 28h4 for example.

Jun-02-03		drukenknight: I dunno, ALekhine always had some problems against Schlecter, but you are right Alek. went from being good to great after world war I. He claims he did it playing blindfold chess when he was in a prison camp. No one is really sure of his story in ww I.

Jan-10-05		darook: Question: Didn't Schlechter just steal Petrosians king walk Patent/(TM)?!

Jan-10-05		Shams: why not 32.Be4 first, and only then h5? I don`t see why white had to give up the bishop.

Jan-10-05		darook: I think that Alekhine thought he didn't need the bishop to win, he tought Black was finished at this stage. Obviously he didn't consider the "desperate" 36...Rxg2+!.

Jan-10-05		beatgiant: <Shams, darook> Also, if 31. Be4 Rd1+ 32. Kh2 Qd6+, Black slows White down with a counterattack (33. f4 Qd4, etc.) and staves off the attack down the h-file.

Jan-11-05		Shams: <beatgiant> your move numbers are off by one, not that it matters. but after: 32. Be4 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Qd6+ 34. f4 Qd4 35. Qg3 white has enough time for the decisive advance of the h-pawn.

Jan-12-05		beatgiant: <Shams> After the suggested 32. Be4 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Qd6+ 34. f4 Qd4 35. Qg3, Black has 35...Qxf6. With the pawn wedge gone, the attack with h5 no longer has any sting.

Jan-12-05		Shams: <beatgiant> yup, you`re right. an embarrassing oversight for me! what about 34.Rg3 instead ?

Jan-12-05		beatgiant: <Shams> After 32. Be4 Rd1+ 33. Kh2 Qd6+ 34. Rg3 Qd2, White is forced to exchange queens (otherwise Black's heavy pieces attack along the first rank), so 35. Qxd2 Rxd2 and White's attack is dead and Black's rook is forking two pawns. Schlecter was a hard man to beat!

Feb-03-09		Gypsy: <Schlecter was a hard man to beat! > Yup. E.g., <35.Qh4> Qe1+ 36.Kh2 Qe5+ and Black wins.

Jan-05-10		Tripler: "Defend Like Fritz with Karl Schlechter" - after 36...Rg2 Alekhine should've taken the draw. But it must've been hard when you think it's an easy . I wonder if he fell off his chair when that move was played?

Mar-02-10		Rama: A brilliant game. Black plays for equality all the way by seeking simplifying exchanges which ease his cramp. Bravely he accepts the piece sac 32. h5 Rxc2, and finds the way to stop white cold with 34. ... Qd2! and 36. ... Rxg2+! But now the ending must be won and it features a Heroic King March, a subtle pseudo-sac (61. ... Kc3, 62. Rxd5? a2, 63. Rxc5+ Kb4!, wins.), a dramatic change of front 65. ... Kxf6, and finally a Drive on Richmond in the style of U.S. Grant including Sheridan in the Valley (Pa2).

Apr-29-16		Mateo: 52.Re1 (?) looks strange. I wonder if Black can win otherwise.

Nov-03-16		m.okun: 35.f4? White won, continuing: 35.Qh4 Qd1+ 36.Kh2 Qh5 37.Qd4! Qa5 38.Qd6!

Nov-03-16		beatgiant: <m.okun> What would White do on 35. Qh4 Qe1+ 36. Kh2 <Qe5+>? Then 37. f4 Qh5 and the proposed attack is blocked by the f-pawn.

Nov-03-16		JimNorCal: Schlecter's 61. ... Kc3 is quite pretty!

Nov-03-16		AlicesKnight: For a later comparison, how about the classic from AVRO which "stopped the American in his tracks"... Fine vs Keres, 1938 - another great tussle where B+Ps defeats a R.

Nov-03-16		beatgiant: <Mateo> <52.Re1 (?) looks strange. I wonder if Black can win otherwise.> Great question. 52. Kf4 looks like a much tougher defense, then maybe 52. Kf4 Kc6 (prepares...b5) 53. a4 Kb6 54. Rb1+ Ka6 55. Rc1 Ka5 56. Ke3. click for larger view Although it looks good for Black, I'm finding it surprisingly hard to give conclusive proof that he wins.

Dec-26-18		DonChalce: love the B+P vs R endings.

Sep-24-20		nizmo11: A real struggle, with many ups and downs. Alekhine had a clear advantage after opening. On move 26. click for larger view Stockfish wants to play 26. Nxg7 followed by 27.Rd3!, and it seems Black has no defense against plan Rd6!, Qg5 (or Qd4 in some variations) and h2-h4-h5. After this White will eventually force Black weakening his Q-side and then will penetrate on dark squares. This would have likely won without any risks.

May-12-23		Honza Cervenka: <Mateo> <52.Re1 (?) looks strange. I wonder if Black can win otherwise.> AAA probably miscalculated tempi in ending after 54.Kh6 Bd5 55.Kg7 c4 56.Rxf7 Bxf7 57.Kxf7 c3 58.Kxg6 c2 59.f7 c1=Q 60.f8=Q, which is lost for white.

May-12-23		sudoplatov: A quick look using the local Stockfish (not very deep most likely) suggests that 45.Rc3 evaluates to -.79 with 45.Rd3 being +3.22.

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