Alekhine — Vasilevsky
Simultaneous exhibitionTula, 1910
- Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946)The fourth World Champion (1927–1935, 1937–1946) and the only one to die holding the title. He won it from Capablanca in 1927, and Alekhine's Defence bears his name.
- VasilevskyOne of Tula's strongest players in the early 1900s. He shared first in the Tula Chess Society's first championship (1909–1910) and won the play-off.
Although the following game was played in a simultaneous exhibition (given by the future world champion), it is still quite instructive.
Black's last move was 9...c4, which only helped White carry out their plans:
- 10.
- "The bishop is very well placed here: it supports the e3-e4 advance and eyes both the kingside and the queenside"
- 10.
- 11.
- A programmatic move
- 11.
- 12.
- Black has won the d5 square, but White has an excellent post on e5 and plenty of room for action — the e- and f-files
- 13.
- 14.
- This would not have made Black's position any easier
- 15.
- The undermining begins
- 15.
- 16.
- 17.
- 18.
- 19.
- 20.
- 21.
- Black has to leave the center for defensive positions — otherwise the a-pawn cannot be held
- Followed by 23. ♖fb1, Black would be in very bad shape
- 22.
- 23.
- 24.
- 25.
- 26.
- White's other knight heads into the attack through its "own" square
- 26.
- 27.
- 28.
- 29.
- 30.
- The c4 pawn is practically impossible to defend
- 31.
- 32.
- 33.
- After this simple blow, which wins material, Black is helpless
- 33.
- 34.
- 35.
- Black resigned a few moves later