Réti - Alekhine, Baden-Baden 1925
Réti - Aljechin, Baden-Baden 1925 is one of the most famous games in the history of chess . It was won by the 4th world champion Alexander Alekhine with one of the greatest combinatorial achievements in the art of chess against Richard Réti , also one of the most brilliant chess players in history.
It was played in the 7th round of the major international tournament in Baden-Baden in 1925 . Alekhine won the tournament.
Notes on the game
- 1. g2 – g3 e7 – e5!
Kasparov puts an exclamation mark on this first move by Alekhine.
- 2. Ng1-f3
“Leads to the Alekhine defense with reversed colors. Réti used the pace of the approach to prepare the flanking of the king's runner. The idea is interesting, but of dubious value, ”writes Alekhine.
- 2.… e5 – e4 3. Nf3 – d4 d7 – d5 4. d2 – d3 e4xd3 5. Qd1xd3 Ng8 – f6 6. Bf1 – g2 Bf8 – b4 +
"In an effort to provoke the move 7. c3, after which White cannot play well e2-e4 because of the weakness on d3." ( Kotow )
- 7. Bc1 – d2 Bb4xd2 + 8. Nb1xd2 0–0 9. c2 – c4!
"With this Réti secures a lasting initiative on the ladies wing." (Alekhine)
- 9.… Nb8 – a6 10. c4xd5 Sa6 – b4 11. Qd3 – c4 Nb4xd5 12. Nd2 – b3 c7 – c6 13. 0–0 Rf8 – e8 14. Rf1 – d1 Bc8 – g4 15. Rd1 – d2 Qd8 – c8 16. Nb3-c5
Position after White's 16th move |
- 16.… Bg4 – h3!
Kasparov gives Alekhine's move an exclamation mark.
- 17. Bg2 – f3 Bh3 – g4 18. Bf3 – g2 Bg4 – h3 19. Bg2 – f3 Bh3 – g4 20. Bf3 – h1
"If Réti had now played 20. Bg2, the game would have been drawn by repeating the move and we would never have seen the following brilliant combination." (Kotow)
- 20.… h7 – h5!
“With the aim of weakening point g3. The fight is now very sharp. "(Alekhine)
- 21. b2-b4 a7-a6 22. Ra1-c1 h5-h4 23. a2-a4 h4xg3 24. h2xg3 Qc8-c7 25. b4-b5
“Logical, but very daring.” Writes Alekhine and recommends instead 25. e4 Nb6 26. Qb3.
- 25.… a6xb5 26. a4xb5
Position after White's 26th move |
- 26.… Re8 – e3!
“The beginning of an interesting attack, which is concluded by an effective combination. This tower is condemned to stand in the fray for six moves before the decisive blow is struck. "(Kotow)
- 27. Nd4 – f3?
This move leads to loss. Alekhine is of the opinion that only 27. Bf3! could save the attractor. Kasparov joins his predecessor on the world championship throne.
- 27.… c6xb5! 28. Qc4xb5 Nd5-c3 29. Qb5xb7 Qc7xb7 30. Nc5xb7 Nc3xe2 + 31. Kg1-h2
Position after White's 31st move |
- 31.… Nf6 – e4 !!
Alekhine makes the winning move. "The rook e3 may still not be taken because it would be followed by 32 ... Nxd2 with an increase in quality." (Kotow)
- 32. Rc1-c4 Ne4xf2 33. Lh1-g2
Position after White's 33rd move |
- 33.… Bg4 – e6!
"The beginning of a ten-move combination that leads to a figure win." (Kotow)
- 34. Rc4 – c2 Nf2 – g4 + 35. Kh2 – h3 Ng4 – e5 + 36. Kh3 – h2 Re3xf3! 37. Rd2xe2 Ne5 – g4 + 38. Kh2 – h3 Ng4 – e3 + 39. Kh3 – h2 Ne3xc2 40. Bg2xf3 Nc2 – d4!
At this point, Réti gave up. It would be 41.Rf2 Nxf3 + 42.Rxf3 Bd5! followed by winning figures (see diagram).
Analysis position after Schwarz's 42nd move |
See also
Literature in which the game is examined (selection)
- A. Alekhine: On the way to the world championship , Berlin 1983 (5th edition), pp. 53–55.
- G. Kasparov: Moi welikie predschestwenniki [My great predecessors], Moscow 2003, pp. 414–417.
- A. Kotow: Alekhine's chess legacy. First part Berlin 1957, pp. 203–205.