Icannos/chess_studies huggingface dataset:
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "19"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E21"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 Ne4 $5 5. Qc2 d5 $6 ( 5... f5 { is less compromising. } ) 6. e3 c5 7. Bd3 Nf6 $2 ( 7... f5 { does not lose two tempi. } ) 8. cxd5 exd5 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. O-O Nc6 11. e4 $1 { The position is opened rigorously. } 11... Be7 { Paries the threat 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Qxc5 and closes the e-file. } 12. e5 ( 12. Rd1 $1 { is more powerful (Konstantipolsky). } ) 12... Ng4 13. Re1 ( 13. Bb5 $1 O-O 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. h3 Nh6 16. Bxh6 gxh6 17. Nd4 { ruins Black's king's side (Euwe). } ) 13... Nb4 14. Bb5+ Kf8 $1 ( 14... Bd7 15. Qf5 $1 ) 15. Qe2 Bc5 16. Nd1 Bf5 17. h3 h5 $5 ( 17... Nxf2 18. Nxf2 Nc2 19. Bg5 Qb6 20. Bh4 { might be better for Black, but Alekhine wants to counterattack. } ) 18. Bg5 $1 Qb6 19. Nh4 Be4 20. hxg4 Nc2 ( 20... hxg4 21. e6 $3 Qxe6 ( 21... fxe6 22. Nc3 ) ( 21... f6 22. e7+ ) ( 21... g3 22. Rc1 ) 22. a3 Nc2 23. Qxc2 Bxc2 24. Rxe6 fxe6 25. Rc1 Bxd1 26. Ng6+ $18 { (Becker). } ) 21. Nc3 $1 Nd4 ( 21... Nxa1 22. Rxa1 hxg4 23. Na4 Bxf2+ 24. Kf1 { (Euwe) } 24... Qd4 25. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 26. Kxf2 Rh5 27. Rh1 Rxg5 28. Ng6+ $18 ) 22. Qf1 hxg4 $1 23. Na4 $1 Qc7 24. Rxe4 $2 ( 24. Nxc5 $1 Qxc5 25. Bd3 Ne6 26. Be3 Bxd3 27. Bxc5+ Nxc5 28. Re2 Rxh4 29. Qc1 $1 $18 { (Euwe). } ) 24... dxe4 25. Qc4 Rc8 26. Rc1 $2 ( 26. Rd1 Qxe5 $1 27. Nxc5 Rxc5 $1 28. Qxd4 Qxd4 29. Rxd4 Rxg5 30. Rd8+ Ke7 31. Rxh8 Rxb5 $11 ) 26... b6 $2 ( 26... Qxe5 27. Nxc5 Kg8 $1 28. Be3 Rxh4 29. Bxd4 Qh5 $1 { and Black has taken over the attack. } ) 27. Nxc5 bxc5 ( { Avoids } 27... Qxc5 28. Qxd4 $1 ) 28. Ba6 $2 ( 28. e6 $1 { wins by force } 28... Nxe6 ( 28... fxe6 29. Ng6+ Kf7 30. Bf4 Qb6 31. Nxh8+ { (Becker) } ) 29. Ng6+ Kg8 30. Ne7+ $1 { (Euwe). } ) 28... Qxe5 $1 29. Bxc8 Qxg5 30. Qxc5+ Qxc5 31. Rxc5 ( 31. Ng6+ $1 $11 ) 31... Rxh4 32. Rc4 $2 ( 32. Re5 $1 { and the next combination fails (Euwe). } ) 32... Ne2+ 33. Kf1 Nf4 34. Kg1 g3 $3 { Threatens 35.Rh1+! } 35. Ba6 ( 35. fxg3 Ne2+ 36. Kf1 Nxg3+ 37. Kg1 f5 { and Black wins (Euwe). } ) 35... gxf2+ 36. Kxf2 Rh6 $2 ( 36... Nd3+ { keeps the extra pawn. } ) 37. Rxe4 $2 ( 37. Rc8+ Ke7 38. Rc7+ { and White has a slight advantage (Euwe). } ) 37... Rxa6 ( 37... Nxg2 $4 38. Bb5 $1 { and White threatens 39.Re8# (Euwe). } ) 38. Rxf4 Rxa2 39. Rb4 g6 40. Rb7 Kg7 41. Kf3 g5 42. b4 Kg6 43. b5 f5 44. b6 Ra3+ 45. Kf2 a6 46. Rb8 Rb3 47. b7 Kg7 48. Ra8 Rxb7 49. Rxa6 { Euwe remained at a distance of two points, despite Alekhine's poor play. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "21"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E16"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 Ne4 $5 8. O-O O-O 9. d5 $1 { Euwe plays for a win naturally. } 9... Nxd2 10. Qxd2 Bf6 11. Rad1 d6 12. dxe6 ( 12. Nd4 Bxd4 13. Qxd4 e5 { (Alekhine). } ) 12... fxe6 13. Nd4 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 ( 14. Nxe6 $2 Bxc3 $1 15. bxc3 ( 15. Qxc3 Qe7 16. Nxf8 Bxf1 ) 15... Qc8 $1 16. Nxf8 Bxf1 17. Qd5+ Kh8 18. Qxa8 Bxe2 $19 ) 14... Qc8 $1 15. Qe3 ( 15. f4 $6 Nc6 $1 16. Nxc6 Qb7 { (Alekhine). } ) 15... Bxd4 16. Rxd4 Nc6 17. Re4 $2 { A wrong plan starts. } ( 17. Rd2 { is better. } ) 17... Rf6 18. f4 $6 Qd7 19. g4 Raf8 20. g5 Rf5 $1 21. h4 $6 ( { Euwe missed in his earlier calculations } 21. Rxe6 $2 Ne5 $1 ) ( 21. Qg3 Qf7 22. e3 { is a nice defence. } ) 21... Qf7 22. Rf3 Kh8 ( 22... d5 $1 23. Rxe6 d4 24. Qe4 dxc3 25. bxc3 $1 Nd8 26. Re7 { (Alekhine) } 26... Qh5 $1 $19 ) 23. Qd3 d5 $1 24. Rxe6 $5 ( 24. cxd5 exd5 25. Ra4 d4 $19 ) 24... Nb4 $1 ( 24... Qxe6 $6 25. cxd5 ) 25. Qe3 Nc2 $1 ( 25... d4 26. Qe4 { gives counter-play. } ) 26. Qd2 Qxe6 27. cxd5 Qf7 ( 27... Qd7 $1 { wins more quickly. } ) 28. Qxc2 Rxf4 29. Qd3 Qh5 30. Rxf4 Rxf4 31. Qh3 Rg4+ 32. Kf2 h6 $1 { An unprepared attack was punished. } 0-1
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "22"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A09"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "123"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 Nc6 4. exd4 Nxd4 5. Nxd4 Qxd4 6. Nc3 Nf6 ( 6... e5 { has become usual, but the text is okay. } ) 7. d3 c6 ( 7... e5 { keeps control over square d4. } ) 8. Be3 Qd7 9. d4 $1 g6 ( 9... Ng4 10. Bf4 g6 11. h3 { has little point. } ) 10. Be2 Bg7 11. h3 O-O 12. O-O b6 13. Bf3 Bb7 14. a4 $1 Rad8 $6 ( 14... Rfd8 { will appear to be smarter. } ) 15. a5 Qc7 16. Qb3 Nd7 17. axb6 axb6 18. Ra7 Ra8 { The rook has to return. } 19. Rfa1 e6 { Prevents d5. } 20. Rxa8 Bxa8 $6 ( 20... Rxa8 21. Rxa8+ Bxa8 22. Qa3 Bb7 $1 23. b4 { and White controls more space (Alekhine). } ) 21. d5 $1 cxd5 ( 21... c5 $2 22. d6 $1 ) 22. cxd5 Nc5 23. Qc4 $1 ( 23. Bxc5 Qxc5 24. dxe6 Bxf3 25. exf7+ Rxf7 26. gxf3 Bxc3 27. Ra7 Qg5+ $11 { (Alekhine). } ) ( 23. d6 $2 Nxb3 24. dxc7 Nxa1 { (Botvinnik). } ) 23... exd5 24. Bxd5 Bxd5 25. Nxd5 Qe5 26. Rb1 Na4 27. b3 Nb2 28. Qc6 b5 $1 29. Bf4 $6 ( 29. Bc5 $1 { and White wins the b-pawn. } ) 29... Qe6 $6 ( 29... Qe2 $1 30. Rf1 Nd3 { takes advantage of the error. } ) 30. Qxb5 $1 Qe4 ( 30... Rd8 $2 31. Rc1 $1 Rxd5 32. Qb8+ Bf8 33. Bh6 Qd6 34. Qxd6 Rxd6 35. Rc8 { (Alekhine). } ) 31. Rc1 Nd3 32. Qc4 $1 Qe2 ( 32... Bd4 $4 33. Nf6+ $1 ) 33. Rf1 Nxf4 34. Qxf4 Qb5 35. Qf3 $1 Rb8 36. Rb1 Qa6 37. Rd1 ( 37. b4 Qc4 38. Ne7+ Kf8 39. Nc6 Rb5 $1 { stops the passed pawn. } ) 37... Qa3 38. Rb1 Qa2 39. Qd3 Bd4 $1 40. Rf1 Qb2 41. Ne7+ $1 Kf8 42. Nc6 Bxf2+ $1 43. Kh2 $5 { Alekhine has developed a special plan. } ( 43. Rxf2 Qc1+ 44. Qf1 Qxc6 45. Rxf7+ Kg8 46. Rf3 { and the passed pawn makes no progress. } ) 43... Re8 $6 ( 43... Rb7 $1 { Alekhine has analysed } 44. Qf3 Bb6 45. Nd8 $1 { but } 45... Qe5+ 46. Kh1 Bxd8 $1 47. Qxb7 Bc7 { leads to a great escape. } ) 44. Qf3 Re2 45. Nd4 $1 Rd2 ( 45... Bxd4 $4 46. Qxf7# ) 46. Ne6+ Ke7 ( 46... Kg8 $4 47. Qa8+ ) 47. Nf4 { White threatens 48.Nd3. } 47... Qd4 48. Kh1 $1 { The threat has become 49.Ne2. } 48... Ra2 $6 ( 48... h5 $3 49. Ne2 Rd1 50. Qb7+ Kf8 51. Nxd4 Rxf1+ 52. Kh2 Bg1+ $1 53. Kg3 Bf2+ 54. Kf3 Bxd4+ 55. Ke4 ( 55. Ke2 Rf5 $11 ) 55... Bg1 { The position
even draws, if the bishop has to be sacrificed for the b-pawn (Euwe). } ) 49. Ne2 Ra1 $1 50. Qb7+ ( 50. Nxd4 $6 Rxf1+ 51. Kh2 Bg1+ $11 { (Alekhine). } ) 50... Kf6 $2 ( 50... Kf8 $1 51. Nxd4 Rxf1+ 52. Kh2 Bg1+ 53. Kg3 Bf2+ 54. Kf3 Bxd4+ { (Alekhine) } 55. Ke2 ( 55. Ke4 Bg1 $1 { If Black can play ..Re1-e6, a fortress is built. } ) 55... Rf2+ 56. Ke1 Kg7 { Maybe the passed pawn can be stopped at b8. } ) 51. Nxd4 Rxf1+ 52. Kh2 Bg1+ 53. Kg3 Bf2+ 54. Kf3 Bxd4+ 55. Ke4 { Threatens 56.Qa6+. } 55... Rd1 56. Qd5 $6 ( 56. Qc6+ Kg5 57. Qc2 $18 ) 56... Ke7 ( 56... Re1+ 57. Kxd4 Rd1+ 58. Kc5 Rxd5+ 59. Kxd5 Ke7 60. Kc6 $18 { (Alekhine). } ) 57. g4 h5 58. gxh5 f5+ 59. Kf3 Rd3+ 60. Ke2 Re3+ 61. Kd2 Re4 62. hxg6 { Alekhine played a great game. Euwe broke down. The
final score became 15 1/2 - 9 1/2 (+10, =11, -4). Alekhine had regained the
world title. } 1-0
[Event "Wch17 Exhibition"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.12.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D40"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1998.01.15"]

{ The last five games of the match were played as demonstration games. } 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 c5 5. Bg5 { An unusual variation of the Orthodox Queen's Gambit. } 5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 7. Nf3 d4 8. Nd5 Nc6 $5 ( 8... Be7 { is 'theory'. } ) ( 8... Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qd8 10. Bg5 $11 { (Alekhine). } ) 9. e4 $1 Be7 ( 9... dxe3 $2 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Qxd8+ Nxd8 12. Bxf6 { (Euwe). } ) 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. b4 O-O 12. Bd3 a5 13. a3 Be6 $6 ( 13... axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 Bg4 $1 16. b5 $5 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Nb8 { and Black has compensation for White's initiative in the centre. } ) 14. Rb1 axb4 15. axb4 Be7 $5 16. O-O $1 ( 16. b5 Bxd5 17. cxd5 Qa5+ 18. Kf1 Nb4 19. Nxe5 Rfc8 $13 { (Alekhine). } ) 16... f6 ( 16... Bxd5 17. exd5 Nxb4 18. Nxe5 { is less favourable (Euwe). } ) 17. Qc2 $1 Kh8 $6 ( 17... Bxd5 $2 18. exd5 Nxb4 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Qf5 { and wins (Euwe). } ) ( 17... b6 $1 18. Rfc1 Ra3 { stops the atvance on the queen's side. } ) 18. c5 $1 Ra3 19. Bc4 f5 $1 20. Nxe7 Qxe7 21. Bd5 $1 Rc3 $2 { Alekhine misses a great combination. } ( 21... fxe4 22. Bxe4 Raxf3 $1 23. Bxf3 Rxf3 $1 24. gxf3 Qg5+ 25. Kh1 Bd5 26. Qd1 Qf5 { Two rook sacrifices started an attack on the king. } 27. Rb3 Nxb4 $1 { A risky counterattack begins } 28. Ra3 b6 $1 29. Qa4 h6 $1 { Black wants more than perpetual check. } 30. Rg1 Nd3 31. Qe8+ Kh7 { Two rook sacrifices lead to a wonderful escape } 32. Rxd3 $1 Qxd3 33. Rxg7+ $1 Kxg7 34. Qxe5+ $11 ) 22. Qd2 fxe4 23. Bxe4 Bf5 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Rfe1 $1 { Black is lost. The threat is 26.b5 and 27.Nxd4. } 25... Rcxf3 $5 26. gxf3 Qh4 27. Re4 $6 ( 27. Ra1 $1 { takes over the attack. } ) 27... Qh3 28. Rg4 Qxf3 29. Rg3 Qe4 { Square d5 is even better for the queen. } 30. Ra1 h6 31. b5 Ne7 32. c6 Rf8 ( 32... bxc6 33. b6 c5 34. Qa5 { and the b-pawn decides the game. } ) 33. Qb4 Re8 34. c7 $2 { White threatens 35.Qxe7. } ( 34. Rb3 $1 { is correct. } ) 34... Nd5 $2 ( 34... Nf5 $1 35. Re1 Qc2 $1 36. Rf3 ( 36. Rxe5 Rxe5 37. Qf8+ Kh7 38. c8=Q Re1+ 39. Kg2 Qe4+ $11 ) 36... Nh4 37. Rf8+ Rxf8 38. Qxf8+ Kh7 39. c8=Q Qg6+ 40. Kf1 d3 $11 { (the second perpetual). } ) 35. Qd6 Nf4 36. Qd8 Ne2+ 37. Kf1 Nxg3+ 38. hxg3 Qh1+ 39. Ke2 Qh5+ 40. Kd2 Qf7 41. Ke1 $1 { At last Euwe played a good game. He won the exhibition with 3-2 (+2, =2, -1). } ( 41. Ke1 Rf8 42. Ra2 $1 Kh7 43. Rc2 ) 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C91"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "61"]

{ The winner of AVRO 1938, Paul Keres, did not play a match with world champion
Alekhine. A match between Euwe and Fine was cancelled, because Europe became
too dangerous for the Jew Fine. Instead Euwe played Keres. } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 $1 { This variation leads to equality. } 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 Ne8 { This flexible move origins from Suechting-Duras, Vienna 1908. } 12. Nbd2 g6 $6 { A weakening of the king's side gives White an advantage. } 13. a4 c5 14. dxc6 b4 $1 15. Nf1 Nxc6 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. Ne3 Be6 18. cxb4 $6 ( 18. c4 { fixes the favourable pawn structure. } ) 18... Rb8 $6 ( 18... Nxb4 $1 19. Bb3 Rb8 { benifits from the slight error. } ) 19. b5 axb5 20. axb5 Rxb5 21. Ba4 Rc5 { Although White has the initiative on all fronts, an advantage is difficult to
achieve. } 22. Qd2 ( 22. Nd5 $1 Bxd5 23. Be3 $1 ( { Euwe analyses } 23. exd5 Nb4 24. Be3 $1 Rxd5 25. Qb3 Qb8 26. Bd2 Rxd2 27. Nxd2 d5 $1 { and Black has sufficient compensation for the exchange. } ) 23... Nd4 24. Bxd4 exd4 25. b4 $1 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Rc8 27. Rxd4 { White has a positional advantage. } ) 22... Qb8 23. Rec1 Rc8 24. Rxc5 dxc5 25. Bxc6 Rxc6 26. Nd5 Bd8 ( 26... Bxd5 $2 27. Qxd5 Qxb2 $4 28. Ra8+ Bf8 29. Rxf8+ Kxf8 30. Qd8# { (Euwe). } ) 27. Bg5 Rd6 $6 ( 27... Bxd5 $1 28. Qxd5 Rd6 29. Qxc5 Ne6 30. Qc1 Bxg5 31. Nxg5 Nxg5 32. Qxg5 Qxb2 $11 ) 28. Bxd8 ( { Spinhoven proposes } 28. Bf6 $1 Rxd5 ( { The point is } 28... Bxf6 $2 29. Nxf6+ Kh8 30. Qh6 ) 29. exd5 Bxf6 30. dxe6 Nxe6 { (Euwe). } ) 28... Qxd8 29. Nxe5 Bxd5 30. exd5 Rxd5 31. Qe1 { A heavy battle ended in a draw. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C83"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Qe1 $5 ( { The usual continuation is } 11. Qe2 Nc5 12. Nd4 Nxb3 { (Botvinnik-Euwe, Leningrad 1934). } ) 11... Nc5 12. Nd4 Qd7 ( { The point of the queen on e1 is } 12... Nxb3 $2 13. Nxc6 $1 ) 13. Bc2 f6 14. Nxe6 Nxe6 ( 14... Qxe6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Qxe6+ Nxe6 { is less ambitious. } ) 15. Nf3 fxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Qxe5 Bd6 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qh3 Rf7 20. Bh6 Bf4 21. Rae1 Bxh6 22. Qxh6 ( 22. Qxe6 $11 ) 22... Nf4 23. g3 Raf8 $1 24. f3 $1 { White avoids a repetition of moves. } 24... Nh5 25. Qe3 Ng7 26. f4 Re8 27. Qd2 Rfe7 28. Rxe7 Rxe7 29. f5 $1 { White increases the activity of the bishop. } 29... gxf5 30. Qg5 Re5 { The rook remains on the e-file. } 31. Qf6 Qe8 $1 { Safe. } 32. Bxf5 Nxf5 33. Rxf5 Rxf5 34. Qxf5 Qe3+ 35. Kg2 c6 36. Kh3 Qh6+ 37. Kg2 Qd2+ 38. Qf2 Qd3 39. Kh3 Qc4 40. Qf6 Qxa2 41. Qxc6 { A subtle fight. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C87"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 Bd7 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 O-O { Pawn e5 is protected indirectly in a quiet variation of the Ruy Lopez. } 9. Nbd2 exd4 $5 { Keres starts counter-play. } 10. cxd4 Nb4 11. Bb3 { A small advantage keeps 11. Bxd7! } 11... c5 12. Nf1 Bb5 13. Ng3 d5 ( { A sharper line is } 13... c4 $1 14. Bc2 d5 15. e5 Nxc2 16. Qxc2 Ne8 17. Nf5 { (after Euwe). } ) 14. e5 Ne4 $6 ( 14... Nd7 $1 15. Nf5 ( 15. dxc5 Nxc5 { gives active play. } ) 15... c4 { and mutual chances. } ) 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Rxe4 Bd3 17. Re3 c4 18. a3 ( { The initiative captures } 18. Bd2 $1 Nd5 $1 19. Rxd3 $1 cxd3 20. Qf1 { and 21. Qxd3. } ) 18... cxb3 $1 19. axb4 Bc4 $2 ( 19... Bc2 $1 20. Qe1 Qd5 { and Black has compensation for the pawn (Euwe). } ) 20. Nd2 $1 Bd5 ( 20... Qxd4 $2 21. Re4 ) 21. Nxb3 Bxb4 22. Rg3 { White begins an attack. } 22... f6 23. Bf4 Kh8 24. Nc1 Be7 25. Qg4 g6 26. exf6 Bxf6 27. Be5 { Euwe increases his advantage by prosaic play. } 27... Rc8 28. Nd3 Rc4 $6 { The rook can go to the second rank immediately. } 29. h4 $6 ( 29. Rd1 $1 ) 29... Qb6 $6 ( { The last chance offers } 29... Bxe5 $1 30. Nxe5 Rc2 31. Nxg6+ $6 ( 31. Rf1 { keeps a slight advantage. } ) 31... hxg6 32. Qxg6 Rc7 33. Qh5+ Rh7 34. Qe5+ Qf6 $1 35. Qxd5 Qxf2+ 36. Kh2 { The weakening of the h-pawn becomes apparent. } 36... Rxh4+ 37. Rh3 Rxh3+ 38. Kxh3 { and a repetition of moves. } ) 30. Rd1 Rc2 31. h5 ( 31. Qg5 $1 Be4 32. Nc5 Bf5 33. Rb3 ) 31... Bxe5 32. dxe5 Be6 33. Qg5 Bf5 34. hxg6 Bxg6 35. Qh6 Rg8 36. Rd2 ( 36. Nf4 $1 Qxf2+ 37. Kh2 ) 36... Rxd2 37. Qxd2 Rd8 38. Qh6 $1 Qc6 $6 39. Nf4 Qc1+ 40. Kh2 Kg8 41. Rxg6+ $1 hxg6 42. Qxg6+ ( 42. Qxg6+ Kf8 ( 42... Kh8 43. Qf6+ Kh7 44. Qf7+ Kh8 45. Ng6# ) 43. Ne6+ Ke7 44. Qf6+ Kd7 45. Nxd8 { (Euwe). } ) 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C84"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "118"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Nc3 { The Four Knights Variation avoids the Open Ruy Lopez. } 5... Be7 6. O-O b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. Nd5 { Keres plays sharp. } 8... Na5 { Euwe answers solidly. He exchanges the king's bishop. } 9. Nxe7 Qxe7 10. d4 O-O 11. dxe5 ( 11. Bg5 { keeps light pressure. } ) 11... dxe5 12. Bg5 Bb7 13. Qe1 Nxb3 14. axb3 h6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Qe3 { White threatens 17.Qc5. } 16... Qc6 $1 17. Rfe1 $1 f6 ( 17... Qxc2 18. Re2 Qc6 19. Nxe5 { and White has the initiative (Euwe). } ) 18. b4 Qc4 ( 18... Qxc2 $2 19. Rac1 Qxb2 20. Rxc7 { (Euwe). } ) 19. c3 Rfd8 20. Nd2 Qf7 21. Ra3 $1 { A subtle knight
manoeuvre starts on the queen's side. Black finds counter-chances. } 21... Rd6 22. Nb3 Rad8 23. Nc5 Bc8 24. h3 { Prepares for 25.Rea1. } 24... Rd2 25. Re2 ( 25. b3 { takes less risk. } ) 25... Rd1+ 26. Kh2 Qh5 $1 27. b3 $6 ( 27. Re1 { remains equality. } ) 27... Rb1 { Black threatens 28...Rdd1. } 28. Nd3 ( 28. Rd2 $2 Rxd2 29. Qxd2 Bxh3 $1 30. gxh3 Qf3 ) 28... Be6 29. Rd2 Rd1 $6 ( { Euwe regards } 29... Qg5 30. Qxg5 hxg5 31. Raa2 $1 Bxb3 32. Nc5 { slightly better for White, but } 32... Rd6 $1 33. Rab2 Rxb2 34. Rxb2 Bc4 { nets a weak pawn for Black. } ) 30. Rxa6 Rxd2 31. Qxd2 Bxb3 ( 31... Bc4 $2 32. bxc4 bxc4 33. Qa2 $1 { (Euwe). } ) 32. Qe3 Qd1 33. Nc5 Bc4 34. Ra7 Rc8 35. Qg3 Qd6 36. Ra6 Qe7 37. Qe3 Rd8 38. Ra7 Kf8 39. Qc1 Qd6 40. Nb7 Qd2 41. Qxd2 Rxd2 42. Ra8+ Ke7 43. Rc8 Rxf2 ( 43... Kd7 $4 44. Rd8+ ) 44. Rxc7+ Kf8 45. Nd6 Bd3 { The game is adjourned in an equal position. The next day Keres wins the fifth
game. He overestimates his chances in the fourth. } 46. Kg3 Rc2 ( 46... Rf4 $2 47. c4 $1 ) 47. Kg4 $6 ( 47. Nf5 $1 h5 48. Rc8+ { and perpetual check ends the game in style. } ) 47... Rxg2+ 48. Kf5 Kg8 $1 49. Rc5 $2 ( 49. c4 $1 bxc4 50. b5 Rb2 51. Kg6 Rg2+ 52. Kf5 { just draws (Euwe). } ) 49... h5 $1 50. c4 ( 50. Nxb5 Rf2+ 51. Ke6 Bxe4 $19 { (Euwe). } ) 50... bxc4 51. b5 Rb2 52. Kg6 Rg2+ 53. Kf5 Bf1 $1 54. b6 $6 ( { A heavy fight begins } 54. Ke6 $1 Rb2 55. Kd7 c3 $1 56. Kc7 c2 57. b6 Bxh3 $3 58. b7 Bf1 59. b8=Q+ Rxb8 60. Kxb8 Bd3 $19 ) 54... Rb2 $1 55. Kg6 Bxh3 $1 { Keres had missed the control over c8. } 56. Kxh5 Be6 57. Nf5 Rxb6 58. Rc7 Bxf5 59. exf5 Rb2 { Perseverance brought victory to Euwe. } 0-1
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E32"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. Bg5 h6 6. Bh4 Nc6 ( 6... c5 7. dxc5 Na6 { becomes more usual later. } ) 7. e3 Re8 8. Bd3 $5 { Unexpected problems arise. } ( 8. Nf3 e5 { and exchange. } ) 8... e5 $1 9. d5 $5 ( 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Ne2 { leads to equality (Euwe). } ) 9... e4 $1 10. dxc6 $6 ( 10. Be2 Ne5 { is mentioned by Euwe. } 11. O-O-O Bxc3 12. Qxc3 d6 13. f4 exf3 14. gxf3 $11 ) ( 10. Bxe4 $2 Rxe4 $1 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qxe4 Bxc3+ 13. Kf1 Bxb2 14. dxc6 Bxa1 15. cxb7 Bxb7 16. Qxb7 Rf8 { and Black attacks. } ) 10... exd3 11. Qxd3 dxc6 $1 { The endgame is favourable. } 12. Qxd8 Bxc3+ $1 13. Qd2 { A weakening of the queen's side is avoided. } 13... Bxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Ne4+ 15. Ke2 { The king remains close to the centre. } 15... Be6 16. Rc1 ( 16. b3 { opens square c3 for the knight. } ) 16... g5 17. Bg3 Rad8 18. Nf3 c5 ( 18... g4 $5 19. Nd4 Rxd4 $1 20. exd4 Bxc4+ $1 21. Kd1 $1 ( 21. Rxc4 $2 Nxg3+ ) 21... Bxa2 22. Kc2 { and White is able to defend himself. } ) 19. Rhd1 ( { After } 19. Bxc7 { Keres intends } 19... Rd7 20. Ba5 b6 21. Be1 Red8 { followed by ..g4 and ..Rd2+. But } 22. Rc2 Bf5 23. Rc1 f6 24. h3 { leads to a difficult progress for Black. } ) 19... Rxd1 20. Kxd1 g4 $1 21. Ng1 $2 ( 21. Nh4 $1 Rd8+ 22. Ke1 Nxg3 ( 22... Rd2 23. f3 ) 23. hxg3 Rd6 24. b3 { (Euwe). The rook defends the queen's side. King
and knight guard the other flank. } ) 21... Rd8+ 22. Ke1 Rd2 $1 23. f3 Rxg2 $1 24. fxe4 ( { Euwe missed } 24. Kf1 gxf3 { in his previous calculations. } ) 24... Rxg1+ 25. Kd2 Rxc1 26. Kxc1 Bxc4 27. b3 Bd3 28. Bxc7 h5 $1 { Black wins the
endgame despite the differently coloured bishops, because he is able to create
distant passed pawns. } 29. Kd2 Bb1 30. Kc3 h4 31. a4 Bxe4 32. Kc4 b6 33. a5 bxa5 34. Kxc5 Bc2 35. Kb5 Bxb3 36. Kxa5 Kg7 37. Ka6 Kg6 38. e4 g3 39. hxg3 h3 { Keres played like a grandmaster. } 0-1
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1939.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E19"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 Be4 { Keres makes a less ambitious move than in game 9, because a draw is sufficient. } 10. Ne1 Bxg2 11. Nxg2 c6 12. d5 $1 { The Queen's Indian comes to life. } 12... cxd5 13. cxd5 Na6 $1 14. Nf4 Qc8 15. Qf3 e5 ( { The next year Keres plays } 15... Qc2 $1 { against Lilienthal. } ) 16. d6 $2 ( { Euwe sees no advantage in } 16. Nd3 d6 17. e4 f5 { and makes a silly move. } ) 16... Bxd6 17. Nh5 ( { Better is } 17. Rd1 Bc5 18. Nd5 ) 17... Be7 $1 18. Be3 ( { The intended } 18. Bh6 gxh6 19. Qg4+ { fails due to } 19... Bg5 ) 18... Qc6 $1 19. Qxc6 dxc6 20. g4 Bc5 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. Rac1 a5 23. Rfd1 { Keres offered a draw. Euwe was a pawn down and accepted.
As a result Keres won the match. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E33"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "109"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 { The Zuericher Variation presents White a slight advantage in space. } 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d6 ( 7... g5 8. Bg3 g4 $2 9. Nh4 Nxd4 10. Qd2 c5 11. Qxh6 $1 { (Montag-Goellner, correspondence 1996). } ) 8. e3 Qe7 9. Be2 e5 10. d5 Nb8 11. Nd2 $1 Nbd7 ( 11... Re8 $2 12. Bxf6 $1 gxf6 ( 12... Qxf6 $2 13. Qa4 ) 13. Bd3 ) 12. O-O a5 13. Rae1 Re8 14. f4 $1 { White wants to start an attack on the king. } 14... Bxc3 ( { Keres has calculated } 14... Bc5 $6 15. Kh1 $1 Bxe3 16. fxe5 dxe5 ( 16... Qxe5 17. Nb5 ) 17. Nb5 { The relatively best answer is } 17... Nc5 ) 15. Qxc3 Ne4 16. Nxe4 Qxh4 17. g3 Qe7 18. Bg4 { White exchanges the bishops, because his pawns will go to white squares. } 18... Nf6 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Bxc8 Raxc8 { An attack on the king is still imminent, despite the exchanges. } 21. Rf2 ( 21. Qxa5 $6 exf4 22. exf4 $2 Qd4+ { Black has taken the initiative. } ) 21... b6 ( 21... Ra8 { is more flexible. } ) 22. Ref1 Qg6 $2 ( { More useful is the immediate } 22... c6 23. dxc6 Rxc6 { and e.g. } 24. e4 Qe6 25. b3 exf4 26. Rxf4 f6 ) 23. f5 $1 Qf6 24. e4 c6 25. dxc6 Rxc6 26. a4 $1 Kf8 { The king has to escape from the attack. } 27. Rd1 Rec8 28. b3 Ke7 29. Qf3 Kd7 30. h4 Kc7 31. Kf1 Kb7 32. Ke2 R8c7 ( 32... Rh8 33. Rh2 h5 34. Rg1 { and White opens the g-file (Euwe). } ) 33. Rh2 Qd8 34. g4 f6 35. Rg2 Rc8 36. Rg3 Qd7 37. Qd3 Qf7 38. Rh1 Rh8 39. Rhh3 Rcc8 40. g5 $1 ( 40. Qxd6 $6 Rhd8 ) 40... hxg5 41. hxg5 Qc7 42. Qd5+ Ka7 43. Rd3 { The game is continued in Amsterdam after three days. } 43... Rxh3 $6 ( 43... fxg5 $1 44. Rxh8 Rxh8 45. Qxd6 Qxd6 46. Rxd6 Rh4 $1 { offers good drawing chances (Kmoch). } ) 44. Rxh3 fxg5 45. Rh7 Qe7 46. Kf3 Rf8 47. Kg4 Rf7 48. b4 $1 ( 48. Qe6 Qxe6 49. fxe6 Re7 50. Kxg5 Kb7 51. Kf5 { leads to a difficult rook ending (Kmoch). } ) 48... axb4 49. a5 { Keres sacrifices two pawns for the opening of the flanks. } 49... Qb7 $2 ( { Euwe misses the hidden chance } 49... Qf8 $1 50. axb6+ Kxb6 51. Qb5+ Ka7 $1 { White cannot deliver mate. } 52. Qxb4 Rb7 $1 53. Qa5+ Kb8 54. Qd5 { and the attack continues. } ) 50. axb6+ Kxb6 51. Qxd6+ Ka7 52. Qxe5 b3 53. Rh3 $1 Rf6 54. Qd4+ Rb6 ( 54... Qb6 55. Qd7+ Qb7 56. Qxb7+ Kxb7 57. Rxb3+ { ends quietly. } ) 55. Rxb3 { Euwe called this game a work of art by Keres. } 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C91"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3 O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Bc2 { So far the players follow game one. This time Keres plays the usual move. } 11... c6 $1 12. dxc6 Nxc6 13. Nbd2 b4 ( 13... Qc7 { (Treybal-Vidmar, Karlsbad 1929). } ) 14. Ba4 Rc8 15. Bxc6 bxc3 16. Bb7 cxd2 17. Bxd2 Rb8 18. Bxa6 d5 $5 ( 18... Qb6 { regains the pawn effortlessly. } ) 19. Be2 ( 19. exd5 $6 e4 20. h3 Bh5 21. g4 exf3 { and Black attacks. } ) 19... Bxf3 20. gxf3 $6 ( 20. Bxf3 dxe4 21. Bxe4 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Rxb2 23. Bc3 Qxd1+ 24. Rxd1 $11 { (Kmoch). } ) 20... Bc5 $1 21. Rb1 dxe4 22. Be3 Bd4 $6 ( 22... Bxe3 23. Qxd8 Rfxd8 24. fxe3 Rd2 { and Black has a favourable endgame. } ) 23. Bxd4 exd4 24. Bf1 Qd5 25. fxe4 Nxe4 26. Qf3 f5 27. b3 Qa8 28. a4 Rb6 29. Rbd1 Qa5 $4 { Keres blunders in time trouble. } ( 29... Rg6+ 30. Bg2 ( 30. Kh1 $4 Nxf2# ) 30... Qa5 { and pawn d4 is protected indirectly. } ) 30. Bc4+ ( 30. Bc4+ Kh8 31. Rxe4 ) 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D10"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4 e5 5. Nf3 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 ( { Avoids } 7... b5 8. a4 ) 8. Be3 Nf6 9. f3 b5 $6 { Euwe thought for half an hour. } ( 9... Nbd7 10. Bxc4 O-O ) 10. a4 b4 11. Nd1 Ba6 12. Rc1 ( { No advantage offers } 12. Nxc6 Nxc6 { (Kmoch) } 13. Bxc5 Nd7 ) 12... Nfd7 $1 13. f4 $1 { Forestalls ..Ne5. } 13... O-O 14. Bxc4 Re8 15. Nf2 Bxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxc4 17. Rxc4 c5 18. Be3 ( { A piece loses } 18. Bxc5 $2 Rc8 19. Nd3 Na6 ) 18... Nb6 $2 ( 18... Nc6 $1 19. Ke2 Rac8 20. Rhc1 Na5 21. R4c2 { (Kmoch). } ) 19. Rxc5 Nxa4 20. Rc2 Nd7 21. Ke2 a5 22. Rd1 Nab6 23. b3 a4 24. bxa4 Rxa4 $6 ( { The last stand is } 24... Reb8 $5 25. Rc6 b3 26. a5 Na4 27. Rxd7 b2 28. Rd1 b1=Q 29. Rxb1 Rxb1 30. a6 { and the passed pawn becomes strong. } ) 25. Rc6 $1 Ra2+ ( 25... Ra6 $2 26. Rxd7 $1 ) ( 25... Rb8 $2 26. Bxb6 Nxb6 27. Rxb6 $1 ) 26. Ke1 $2 ( 26. Kf1 $1 b3 27. Bxb6 b2 28. Bd4 { wins matter. } ) 26... f5 $1 27. e5 Nxe5 $1 28. fxe5 Rxe5 { Black has got counter-play on the e-file. } 29. Rd8+ $6 ( 29. Rxb6 Rxe3+ 30. Kf1 Ree2 31. Rd8+ Kf7 32. Rb7+ Kg6 33. Nd3 { gives better chances. } ) 29... Kf7 30. Rc7+ Kg6 31. Rd6+ Kh5 32. g4+ $5 Kh4 $2 ( 32... fxg4 $1 $11 33. Rc5 ( 33. Nd1 Ra1 $1 ) ( 33. Nxg4 Kxg4 34. Rxg7+ Kf5 35. Rf7+ Kg4 ) 33... Rxc5 34. Bxc5 Nc4 35. Rd5+ g5 36. Bxb4 Ne3 $1 { (Flohr). } ) 33. Rxg7 Rxe3+ 34. Kf1 h5 35. Rh6 ( 35. Rh6 fxg4 36. Rxg4# ) 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E19"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2 Nxc3 9. Qxc3 d6 10. Qc2 f5 { The fight for e4 is raging. } 11. Ne1 Qc8 ( 11... Bxg2 12. Nxg2 { and Black drew with difficulty (Alekhine-Keres, Buenos Aires 1939). } ) 12. e4 Nd7 13. d5 $6 ( 13. exf5 $1 Bxg2 14. Nxg2 Rxf5 15. d5 Nf8 ) 13... fxe4 $1 14. Qxe4 ( 14. Bxe4 Nf6 { was neglected by Euwe. In that case } 15. Bg5 exd5 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. cxd5 { is playable. } ) 14... Nc5 15. Qe2 Bf6 16. Bh3 Re8 $1 17. Be3 { White threatens 18.Bxc5 and 19.Bxe6. } 17... Qd8 $1 18. Bxc5 exd5 $1 19. Be6+ $2 ( 19. Be3 d4 20. Bg2 Bxg2 21. Nxg2 dxe3 22. Nxe3 Bd4 23. Rae1 { is a proper defence (Keres). } ) 19... Kh8 20. Rd1 dxc5 21. Ng2 ( { Previously Euwe missed } 21. cxd5 Bxd5 22. Rxd5 Qe7 ) 21... d4 $6 ( 21... Bd4 $1 { and ..dxc4 is even stronger. } ) 22. f4 $6 ( { Keres recommends } 22. Rfe1 $1 Qd6 ( { He continues with } 22... Bc8 { and the strong bishop will be exchanged. } ) 23. Qg4 Bg5 $1 ) 22... d3 $1 23. Rxd3 Qxd3 $3 { A brilliant positional sacrifice
unleashes an enormous activity by the black pieces. } 24. Qxd3 Bd4+ $1 25. Rf2 ( 25. Kh1 Rxe6 { followed by ..Rae8 and ..Re2 leads to a disaster. } ) 25... Rxe6 26. Kf1 Rae8 $1 { Restriction is more important than the exchange. } 27. f5 ( 27. Rd2 Be4 28. Qb3 Bf5 29. Qd1 Bh3 { and White is strangled. } 30. Rc2 g5 $1 { (Euwe). } ) 27... Re5 28. f6 gxf6 29. Rd2 ( 29. Rxf6 Bxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Re2+ { loses a rook (Keres). } ) 29... Bc8 $1 { Threatens 30...Bh3. } 30. Nf4 Re3 31. Qb1 Rf3+ 32. Kg2 Rxf4 $1 33. gxf4 Rg8+ 34. Kf3 Bg4+ ( 34... Bg4+ 35. Ke4 ( 35. Kg2 Bf5+ ) 35... Re8+ { and mate in two. } ) 0-1
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E33"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 Nc6 5. e3 e5 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Bd2 d6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 O-O 10. Nf3 $1 ( 10. c5 Re8 $1 11. Rd1 d5 $1 { Black has a solid position (Euwe). } ) 10... Nfd7 $1 { The g-file remains closed. } 11. Be2 Qe7 12. Rd1 Nxf3+ { The g-file is opened after White cannot castle on the queen's side. } 13. gxf3 $5 f5 $1 14. Rg1 Rf7 15. Qd2 Nf6 $2 { This blunder costs a pawn. } ( 15... Nc5 $1 16. b4 Ne6 { (Kmoch). } ) 16. c5 $1 d5 ( 16... dxc5 17. Qd8+ $18 ) ( 16... Ne8 17. Qd5 c6 18. cxd6 cxd5 19. dxe7 Rxe7 20. Rxd5 $18 ) 17. Bxf6 Qxf6 18. Qxd5 Be6 19. Qxb7 Raf8 20. f4 Re7 21. Rd2 Bf7 22. Qxa7 Qh4 23. Qb7 Rxe3 24. Qg2 g6 25. Qg5 Rh3 26. Qxh4 Rxh4 27. Rd4 Rxh2 28. Bf3 Be8 29. a4 Rf6 30. Rh1 Rxh1+ 31. Bxh1 Kf8 32. Bb7 Bc6 33. Bxc6 Rxc6 34. b4 Ke7 35. Kd2 h5 36. a5 Ra6 37. Kc3 Ra8 38. c6 Rh8 39. b5 h4 40. b6 cxb6 41. axb6 h3 42. b7 h2 43. Rd1 Rd8 44. Rxd8 h1=Q 45. b8=Q Qc1+ 46. Kb4 Qb2+ 47. Ka5 Qa3+ 48. Kb6 Qb4+ 49. Kc7 { The score in the match became 6-4 in favour of Keres. } 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D13"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "61"]

{ The Euwes gave flowers to Paul for his 24th birthday. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Qa5 $6 { This wild approach starts with Teichmann-Marshall, San Sebastian 1922. } 7. e3 Ne4 8. Qb3 e6 ( 8... e5 { was played in the mentioned game. } ) 9. Bd3 Bb4 10. Bxe4 ( 10. Rc1 { and White won in Botvinnik-Denker, radio match 1945. } ) 10... dxe4 11. Nd2 O-O $5 12. O-O ( { Euwe avoids } 12. Ndxe4 $6 e5 $5 13. dxe5 Be6 14. Qc2 Bc4 ) 12... Qf5 13. Ndxe4 Bxc3 14. Ng3 $1 ( { Keres expected } 14. Nxc3 $2 Nxd4 $1 ) 14... Qd5 15. bxc3 ( 15. Qxc3 $1 { wins a pawn without any problem. } ) 15... Na5 16. Qb4 b6 17. e4 Qc6 18. Rfd1 Rd8 19. Rd3 Ba6 20. Rf3 Rd7 21. Nh5 $5 ( { Useful consolidation would have been } 21. Re1 ) 21... f6 $2 ( { Euwe analyses } 21... Be2 22. Nf6+ $1 gxf6 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Bh6 Bh5 $1 25. Bg7+ Kg8 26. Bxf6+ Bg6 27. Re1 { White has a strong attack. } ) 22. Rg3 Kh8 23. Nxg7 $5 Qxe4 $2 ( 23... Rxg7 24. Rxg7 Kxg7 25. Qe7+ Kg8 26. Re1 $1 { and the attack continues. } ( { Euwe's } 26. Qxf6 { is answered by } 26... Qxe4 ) ) 24. Nh5 Qf5 25. Nxf6 $1 Rf7 26. Be5 Nc6 27. Qd6 ( { Keres hoped for } 27. Nd7+ $4 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Qxf2+ ) 27... Nxe5 28. dxe5 Raf8 29. h3 Bc4 30. Rd1 Bxa2 31. Qd8 $1 { The threat 32.Rg8+ is fatal. } 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A09"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. e3 c5 4. Bxc4 Nf6 5. O-O a6 ( 5... e6 6. d4 a6 { leads to Queen's Gambit Accepted. } ) 6. b3 b5 $6 ( 6... Nc6 7. Bb2 Bg4 { develops solidly. } ) 7. Be2 Bb7 8. Bb2 Nbd7 9. a4 $1 Qb6 $2 { A weakening of the queen's side is allowed. } ( 9... b4 $11 { (Kmoch) } 10. d3 g6 $1 11. Nbd2 Bg7 12. Rc1 O-O 13. Rc2 Nd5 $1 14. Nc4 ) 10. axb5 axb5 11. Rxa8+ Bxa8 12. Na3 Bc6 13. d4 e6 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Nd4 { White gains the pair of bishops. } 15... Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Qb7 $6 ( { Black faces a positional disaster. An exchange is necessary, but } 16... Qxd4 17. Bxd4 b4 18. Nc2 Nd5 19. Bc4 $1 O-O 20. e4 { offers little hope. } ) 17. Qb4 ( { White avoids } 17. Qd6 Bxg2 { but } 18. Rc1 Bh3 19. Bf3 { wins convincingly. } ) 17... Nd5 18. Qd6 Ne7 19. Rc1 b4 20. Nc4 Nf5 21. Qf4 Bxg2 ( 21... O-O { prolongs the game. } ) 22. Nd6+ Nxd6 23. Qxd6 1-0
[Event "Match"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1940.??.??"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D28"]
[EventDate "1939.??.??"]
[PlyCount "122"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O c5 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Rd1 b5 9. Bb3 c4 10. Bc2 Nb4 11. Nc3 Nxc2 12. Qxc2 Nd5 13. b3 $6 ( 13. e4 Nb4 14. Qe2 Nd3 $11 ) 13... cxb3 14. Qxb3 Bb7 15. Ne5 { Threatens 16.Nxb5. } 15... Nxc3 16. Qxc3 Rc8 17. Qe1 ( { White does not like } 17. Qd3 f6 ) 17... Bd6 { The two bishops become active. } 18. Nd3 Qh4 19. h3 ( 19. f4 Qxe1+ 20. Nxe1 Be4 { leads to an unpleasant endgame. } ) 19... O-O 20. a4 b4 $1 21. Nxb4 Bf3 $1 22. Nxa6 ( { Euwe has calculated } 22. gxf3 Qxh3 23. e4 $1 { After 23.Nd3 or 23.f4 follows 23. ..f5 and Rf6-g6. } 23... Bh2+ 24. Kh1 f5 $1 25. exf5 ( 25. Qf1 Qh5 26. Qg2 Rf6 ) 25... Bd6+ 26. Kg1 Rce8 $1 { The attach on the king becomes decisive. } ) 22... f5 $6 { Black hopes for ..Rf6-g6. } ( 22... Qg5 $1 23. Qf1 Bxd1 24. Qxd1 Qa5 { Euwe feared } 25. Qf1 $1 { but } 25... Rc6 26. Nc5 Bxc5 27. dxc5 Rd8 $1 { will win. } ) 23. Ba3 Bxa3 24. Rxa3 Bxd1 ( { Euwe notices } 24... Rf6 $2 25. Rc1 Rcf8 26. Kf1 { and White escapes. } ) 25. Qxd1 f4 26. e4 $6 ( 26. Nc5 fxe3 27. fxe3 Qf2+ 28. Kh2 { is even stronger. } ) 26... Qe7 27. Rb3 $2 ( 27. Rd3 f3 $1 28. Nc5 $1 fxg2 29. Qb3 Rc6 30. Kxg2 { can be played. } ) 27... Qd6 28. Qd3 ( 28. Nc5 $4 Rxc5 ) 28... Rfd8 29. Nb4 Qxd4 30. Qxd4 Rxd4 31. Nd3 g5 ( 31... Rxe4 { wins easily (Hannak). } ) 32. h4 Rxa4 33. f3 h6 34. hxg5 hxg5 35. Rb5 Kf7 36. Rb7+ ( 36. Rxg5 $2 Ra1+ 37. Kf2 ( 37. Kh2 Rh8+ ) 37... Rc2# { Black keeps the full advantage of an exchange. } ) 36... Kf6 37. Nf2 Kg6 38. Rb5 Rc1+ 39. Kh2 Raa1 40. Rb2 Rf1 41. Rc2 Kh5 42. Rb2 g4 $1 { The phalanx of pawns is crushed. } 43. fxg4+ ( 43. g3 gxf3 44. gxf4 Kh4 45. f5 Rg1 { and mate. } ) 43... Kg5 44. Rc2 Kf6 45. Rb2 Ke5 46. g5 Ra3 47. Nh3 ( 47. Re2 Rg3 48. Nh3 Re3 $1 ) 47... Kxe4 48. g6 Raa1 ( 48... Rg3 $4 49. Nxf4 $1 $11 ) 49. Nf2+ Kf5 50. g7 Ra8 51. Rb7 Rg8 52. Nd3 Kf6 53. Nc5 Rxg7 54. Rxg7 Kxg7 55. Nxe6+ Kf6 56. Nc5 ( 56. Nd4 Ke5 57. Nf3+ Rxf3 $1 58. gxf3 Kd4 59. Kh3 Kd3 60. Kg4 Ke3 $19 ) 56... Ke5 57. Kh3 Kf5 58. g4+ ( 58. Kh2 Rd1 { will loose the knight. } ) 58... Ke5 59. Nd3+ Ke4 60. Kg2 Rb1 61. Nc5+ Ke3 { Euwe had a great Christmas vacation full of fighting chess. Keres won with 71/
2-61/2 (+6,=3,-5). } 0-1
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Boleslavsky, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C09"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "97"]

{ The ambitious Botvinnik became Soviet champion in 1939. Thereafter, he became
divided fifth. Lilienthal and Bondarevsky would play a match for the title.
Botvinnik approached a certain Snegiryov and six players entered a match
tournament for the 'Absolute Soviet Championship'. Keres, Smyslov and
Boleslavsky benifited too. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Bb5+ Nc6 6. Ngf3 Bd6 7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O Ne7 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Be3 $5 { A novelty. } 10... Bxe3 11. fxe3 ( { Botvinnik will play } 11. Bxc6+ $1 { against Boleslavsky in the third turn. } ) 11... O-O 12. Qd2 Qb6 13. a4 Bf5 14. Nfd4 Nxd4 15. exd4 $1 { White has the majority on the queen's side. } 15... Rac8 $6 ( 15... Qg6 $1 16. Rae1 Be4 17. Nc5 Nf5 18. Nd7 { White has the initiative. } ) 16. Nc5 a6 17. Rae1 Rc7 18. Bd3 Bxd3 19. Qxd3 Qd6 ( 19... Qxb2 20. Rb1 Qa2 { (Botvinnik). } ) 20. c3 ( 20. Qb3 $1 { brings pressure all over the board. } ) 20... a5 21. Qf3 Ng6 22. Re3 b6 23. Nd3 Rd7 24. Rfe1 Qc6 25. g3 $1 Rd6 ( 25... Qxa4 26. h4 $1 ) 26. h4 f6 27. Qf5 Qc8 { Black has to enter a poor endgame. } 28. Qxc8 Rxc8 29. h5 Nf8 30. Re7 Rcd8 31. Nf4 R8d7 32. g4 Rxe7 33. Rxe7 { Black can do little. } 33... g5 $5 { If Black does not do anything, the white
king goes to d3 and a centre attack starts. } 34. hxg6 $2 ( 34. Ng2 $1 { (threatens Ne3-f5) } 34... Re6 35. Rb7 Re4 36. Rxb6 Rxg4 37. Rxf6 $18 { (Botvinnik). } ) 34... Nxg6 35. Nxg6 hxg6 36. Rb7 Kf8 37. Kf2 Ke8 38. Ke3 g5 $2 ( 38... Re6+ $1 39. Kd3 ( 39. Kf4 Re4+ 40. Kf3 Re6 ) ( 39. Kf3 g5 $1 { and Black only plays ..Kd8-e8 } ) 39... f5 $1 { The counterattack is strong,
because the black king protects the squares d7 and f7. } ) 39. Kd3 Re6 40. b4 $1 axb4 41. cxb4 Kd8 42. a5 $1 Kc8 $5 ( 42... bxa5 43. bxa5 Ra6 44. Rb5 Rd6 $1 45. Kc3 Kc7 46. Kb4 f5 47. gxf5 g4 48. Kc5 Rf6 49. Rb6 $1 Rxf5 50. Rg6 Rf4 51. a6 $18 ) 43. a6 b5 44. Rxb5 Rxa6 45. Rxd5 Ra1 46. Rc5+ Kb7 47. d5 Rf1 48. Rc4 f5 ( 48... Rd1+ 49. Ke4 Re1+ 50. Kf5 Re5+ 51. Kxf6 Rxd5 52. Rc5 { and the g-pawn brings the win. } ) 49. Ke2 $1 { Isaac's deception was great. } ( { Boleslavsky had prepared } 49. gxf5 $2 Rxf5 ) 1-0
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Bondarevsky, Igor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "B11"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "105"]

{ Keres participated in the Soviet championship of 1940, because Estland was
conquered. He started strong in the Absolute championship. } 1. e4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. h3 Bh5 $5 { Both players like a sharp opening. } 5. exd5 cxd5 6. Bb5+ Nc6 7. g4 Bg6 8. Ne5 Qd6 $6 ( 8... Rc8 { has become theory. Black will develop the king's side next. } ) 9. d4 f6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Qd3 O-O-O $5 { Black prefers active play. } ( 11... g5 12. Qg6+ Kd8 13. Be3 ) ( 11... Kf7 $4 12. Nxd5 $1 ) 12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13. Qxg6 e5 14. Qd3 Bb4 $6 ( 14... e4 15. Qb5 Qxb5 16. Nxb5 a6 17. Nc3 Ne7 { keeps the strong bishop. } ) 15. Bd2 e4 16. Qb5 Bxc3 17. Qxc6+ bxc6 18. bxc3 $5 { White makes a large concession for an open file. } 18... g5 $6 { Weakens pawn f6. } ( 18... Ne7 19. Rb1 Kd7 $1 20. Rb7+ Ke6 21. Ke2 Rd7 22. Rxd7 Kxd7 { is better. } ) 19. Ke2 Ne7 20. f3 exf3+ 21. Kxf3 Ng6 22. Be1 $5 ( 22. Kg3 { is more solid, but hinders the development of the bishop. } ) 22... Rd7 $6 ( 22... Rde8 $1 23. Rb1 Nh4+ 24. Bxh4 Rxh4 { consolidates. } ) 23. Bg3 Rb7 24. Rab1 $1 Rxb1 25. Rxb1 Rxh3 26. Rb8+ Kd7 27. Rb7+ Ke6 28. Kg2 Rh8 29. Rxa7 Rc8 30. a4 c5 31. Ra6+ Kf7 32. Ra7+ Ke6 33. Rc7 { The forced exchange weakens the attack on the queen's side. } 33... Rxc7 34. Bxc7 Kd7 35. Bb6 c4 36. a5 f5 $2 ( 36... Kc8 $1 37. Bc5 $1 ( { the point is } 37. a6 Nf8 38. a7 Kb7 39. Bd8 Nd7 ) 37... Kb7 38. Kf3 Ka6 39. Bb6 Nh8 ( { Botvinnik continues with } 39... Nf8 ) 40. Bd8 Nf7 41. Bxf6 Kxa5 42. Bxg5 Nxg5+ 43. Kf4 Nh3+ 44. Kf5 Ka4 45. g5 Nxg5 46. Kxg5 Ka3 $11 ) 37. a6 Kc6 38. a7 Kb7 39. Kf3 ( 39. gxf5 $1 { wins easier. } ) 39... Nh4+ 40. Kg3 fxg4 ( 40... f4+ 41. Kf2 Ng6 { White has the hard win } 42. Bd8 Kxa7 43. Bxg5 Kb7 44. Kf3 Kc6 45. Bxf4 ) 41. Kxg4 Ng2 42. Kxg5 Ne3 43. Kf4 Nxc2 44. Bc5 Ka8 45. Ke5 Ne3 46. Ke6 $1 Kb7 47. Kd6 Nd1 ( 47... Ka8 48. Kc6 ) 48. Kxd5 Nxc3+ 49. Kxc4 Ne4 50. d5 Ka8 51. Kd4 Nf6 52. d6 Kb7 53. Kc4 { Keres showed his expertise in the endgame. } 1-0
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Keres, Paul"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E35"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c5 { Botvinnik has analysed this variation after the championship of 1940. } 8. O-O-O $2 ( 8. dxc5 { (Najdorf). } ) 8... Bxc3 $1 { A novelty by Simagin. } ( 8... O-O $2 9. dxc5 Bxc3 10. Qxc3 g5 11. Bg3 Ne4 12. Qa3 { (Mikenas-Botvinnik, Moscow 1940). } ) 9. Qxc3 g5 10. Bg3 cxd4 11. Qxd4 $6 ( 11. Qd3 $1 Nc6 12. Nf3 Qa5 13. a3 O-O 14. Kb1 { White is still alive, because important lines remain closed. } ) 11... Nc6 12. Qa4 Bf5 13. e3 Rc8 { White is lost. Black's bishop hinders the king and an
opening of the c-file follows. } 14. Bd3 ( 14. Ne2 a6 15. Qa3 Nb4+ 16. Nc3 Qe7 { Black's attack becomes decisive. } ) 14... Qd7 $1 15. Kb1 Bxd3+ 16. Rxd3 Qf5 17. e4 $5 ( 17. Qb3 Nb4 $1 ) 17... Nxe4 18. Ka1 O-O 19. Rd1 b5 20. Qxb5 Nd4 21. Qd3 Nc2+ 22. Kb1 Nb4 { An important competitor was beaten. This awful defeat made
Keres uncertain in later games with Botvinnik. } 0-1
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lilienthal, Andor"]
[Black "Boleslavsky, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C15"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "99"]

{ Young Isaac became fourth. He had a great positional sense. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd3 $5 { This strange move gives no advantage. } 4... dxe4 5. Bxe4 Nf6 6. Bd3 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nbd7 9. Nf3 Qc7 10. O-O c4 11. Be2 Nd5 12. a4 $5 { White frears the blockade of the centre and sacrifices a pawn. } ( 12. Qe1 { followed by 12.a4 comes into consideration. } ) 12... Nxc3 13. Qd2 Nxe2+ 14. Qxe2 O-O 15. Ba3 Rd8 16. d5 $1 Nf6 ( { Boleslavsky does not like } 16... exd5 17. Qe7 Qb6 18. Bd6 { due to the threat of Rfb1 but } 18... Nf8 $1 19. Bc7 Rd7 20. Qxd7 Bxd7 21. Bxb6 axb6 { is good for Black. } ) 17. d6 Qa5 18. Qxc4 Bd7 19. Qh4 Bc6 20. Bb4 Qf5 21. Nd4 Qd5 22. Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Ra3 a5 $1 24. Bc3 { Blocks the road for the queen's rook to the king's side. } 24... Ne8 25. Bxa5 $1 Rxd6 26. Bb4 Rd7 $6 ( 26... Rdd8 { is a better square for the rook. } ) 27. Bc3 $2 { White is plagued by weaknesses. } ( 27. Rc3 $1 Qa6 ( 27... Qxa4 $4 28. Ra3 ) 28. a5 Qe2 29. Rd3 $1 Rxd3 30. cxd3 Nf6 31. Qd4 { The position is nearly equal. } ) 27... Rad8 28. h3 Rd1 29. Ra1 Rxf1+ 30. Rxf1 Rc8 $2 ( 30... Ra8 { wins a pawn. } ) 31. Bd2 Nf6 32. a5 Qd5 33. Qb4 h6 34. Rb1 Ne4 35. Be3 Nd6 36. Qa4 $6 ( 36. Bf4 $1 e5 37. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 38. Qg4+ Kf8 39. Rd1 $11 ) 36... Nc4 37. Bb6 Rc6 38. c3 f5 39. Rd1 $6 { The blockade c4 is awful. } ( 39. Qb4 e5 40. Qe7 { offers rersistance. } ) 39... Qe5 40. Rb1 Qxc3 41. Bd8 Nd2 42. Rd1 Qd3 43. Bb6 Rc4 44. Qa1 f4 45. Kh2 Kh7 46. Re1 Re4 47. Rxe4 Qxe4 48. a6 $2 { The wish for exchange causes a disaster. } ( { Correct is } 48. Qc1 ) 48... bxa6 49. Qxa6 Qb1 50. g4 ( 50. g4 Nf3+ 51. Kg2 Qe4 52. Kf1 e5 53. Qe2 Qb1+ 54. Kg2 Qg1+ 55. Kxf3 Qh1# { ends wonderfully. } ) 0-1
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Keres, Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C87"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "134"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O d6 6. Re1 Bd7 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 O-O 9. Nbd2 exd4 $5 { The centre is opened (Euwe-Keres, Utrecht 1939). } 10. cxd4 Nb4 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 12. Qb3 { (Wolf-Reti, Vienna 1928) } 12... a5 $1 13. a3 Na6 $1 14. Nf1 d5 15. e5 ( 15. exd5 Qxd5 16. Qa4 { strives for active play. } 16... b5 $1 17. Qxa5 Nb4 $1 18. Qxc7 Bd6 19. Qc3 Ne4 20. Qe3 Nc2 21. Qxe4 Qxe4 22. Rxe4 Nxa1 { is good for Black. } ) 15... Ne4 16. N1d2 a4 17. Qd3 Nxd2 18. Bxd2 c6 19. Ng5 $1 Bxg5 20. Bxg5 Nc7 21. Re3 Ne6 { The game is at a turning point. } 22. Qf5 ( { White misses the sacrifice } 22. Bf6 $1 Nf4 $1 ( 22... gxf6 $2 23. Qf5 Rfd8 24. Rg3+ Kf8 25. exf6 $18 ) 23. Rg3 $1 Ng6 24. Bg5 h6 25. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 26. f4 Kh8 27. f5 Nh4 28. Rf1 Rg8 { Keres concludes: "The attack is stuck". } 29. Rf4 $1 Rxg3 30. Qxg3 $1 Nxg2 31. Kxg2 Rg8 32. Rg4 Rxg4 33. Qxg4 { leads to a favourable endgame. } ) 22... Nc5 $1 23. g4 $6 ( 23. Qxd7 Nxd7 $11 ) 23... Qxf5 24. gxf5 f6 $1 25. exf6 $2 ( 25. Bxf6 $1 Nb3 26. Rg3 Rxf6 27. Rxb3 axb3 28. exf6 gxf6 29. Rd1 { escapes. } ) 25... Ne4 $1 26. fxg7 Rxf5 27. Be7 Kxg7 28. f3 Nd2 29. Kf2 Re8 30. Rae1 Ne4+ $1 31. Kg2 Rxe7 32. fxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 dxe4 34. Rxe4 Rb5 { Black attacks the weak pawns in the rook ending. } 35. Re2 Rb3 36. Kf2 Kf6 37. Ke1 h6 38. Rg2 ( 38. Kd1 Rd3+ 39. Rd2 Rxd2+ 40. Kxd2 Kf5 $19 ) 38... Ke6 39. Kd1 Kd5 40. Kc2 Rh3 $1 41. Rd2 Kc4 42. Kb1 h5 $1 { The aim is the conquest of pawn d4. } ( 42... Kb3 $2 43. Rc2 Rd3 44. Rc1 $11 ) 43. Ka2 Rh4 44. Rf2 Kxd4 45. Rf7 b5 46. Rf2 Rh3 47. Rd2+ Rd3 48. Rf2 Kc4 49. Rc2+ Kd5 50. Rg2 Rh3 51. Rd2+ Kc5 52. Rc2+ Kb6 53. Rf2 c5 $1 { The action starts. } 54. Rf6+ Ka5 55. Rf2 c4 56. Rg2 c3 57. b4+ axb3+ 58. Kxb3 c2+ 59. Kxc2 Rxa3 60. Kb2 Rf3 61. Re2 h4 62. Rd2 h3 63. Re2 ( 63. Rd4 Rf2+ 64. Ka3 Rxh2 65. Ra4+ Kb6 66. Rh4 Kc5 67. Kb3 Rh1 { does not pose great problems. The black king goes to g2 and the rest is simple. } ) 63... Ka4 64. Kb1 Rf1+ 65. Kc2 b4 66. Kd3 Rd1+ 67. Kc2 Rg1 { After a great start with two wins, Keres was beaten by Botvinnik. } 0-1
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bondarevsky, Igor"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C02"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bd3 cxd4 { A sharp variation. } 6. O-O Bc5 7. a3 $5 ( 7. Nbd2 { (Levenfish-Botvinnik, Leningrad 1937 (9). } ) 7... Nge7 8. Nbd2 $6 ( 8. b4 Bb6 9. b5 $1 Na5 10. Bb2 $11 ) 8... Ng6 9. Nb3 Bb6 10. Re1 Bd7 11. g3 $2 { This loss of time has a bad effect. } ( 11. Bxg6 hxg6 12. Bf4 { is playable. } ) 11... f6 $1 12. Bxg6+ hxg6 13. Qd3 Kf7 14. h4 Qg8 $3 ( 14... fxe5 15. Nxe5+ Nxe5 16. Rxe5 Qf6 17. Bf4 Bc7 18. Rae1 { White blockades the centre at the cost of an exchange. } ) 15. Bd2 Qh7 16. Bb4 g5 17. Qxh7 Rxh7 18. exf6 gxf6 19. hxg5 e5 20. gxf6 Kxf6 { Black could conquer the centre, because White overprotected e5 insufficiently. } 21. Bd6 Re8 22. Nh4 Rg8 23. Kh2 Bf5 24. Re2 d3 25. Rd2 dxc2 26. f4 Be3 27. Bxe5+ Nxe5 28. fxe5+ Ke7 29. Rf1 c1=Q $1 { Botvinnik's usual centre strategy was very successful. } 0-1
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Boleslavsky, Isaac"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C11"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "63"]

{ Young Vasily became third with solid positional play. } 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 dxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. g3 { White plays prophylactic in an open position. } 7... Bd7 $5 { Black fights for the long diagonal. } ( 7... f5 8. Nc3 c6 { is more solid. } ) 8. Nf3 Bc6 9. Qe2 Qd5 $2 { Provokes an attack on the queen's side. } ( 9... O-O { is wiser. } ) 10. Ned2 Na6 11. a3 O-O-O 12. Bg2 Nb8 $6 { Several passive moves are played. } ( 12... Rhg8 { gives a slight threat. } ) 13. O-O Qd7 14. Rfe1 Bf8 15. c4 h5 16. b4 b6 17. Ne4 Bg7 18. b5 Bb7 19. c5 $1 Bd5 ( 19... Bxe4 $5 20. Qxe4 Qxb5 21. Qa8 $1 Qa6 ( 21... Rd5 22. Bf1 { (Smyslov) } ) 22. c6 b5 23. a4 Qxc6 24. Qxa7 Rd5 { offers some resistance. } ) 20. Rac1 Rde8 21. c6 $5 { Smyslov chooses torture. } ( { He does not find } 21. Nd6+ $1 cxd6 22. cxb6+ Kd8 23. Rc7 axb6 24. Rxd7+ Nxd7 { sufficiently clear. } ) 21... Qd8 22. Qc2 a5 23. Rcd1 Bf8 $6 ( 23... f5 24. Neg5 Qe7 { reorganises the defence. } ) 24. Qd3 Be7 $6 25. Nc3 $1 Bb3 ( 25... Bxf3 26. Qxf3 f5 27. d5 $1 { (Smyslov). } ) 26. Rb1 a4 27. Nd2 h4 28. Nxb3 axb3 29. Qc4 $1 f5 30. Qa4 Bd6 31. Qa8 Qg5 32. Nd5 $1 { White delivers mate in three. } 1-0
[Event "Absolute ch"]
[Site "Leningrad/Moscow"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Smyslov, Vasily"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C77"]
[EventDate "1941.??.??"]
[PlyCount "120"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 { Lengthy manoeuvring begins. } 5... d6 6. c3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 b5 9. Bc2 d5 10. Nbd2 dxe4 11. dxe4 Be6 12. h3 h6 13. Nh2 Nh7 14. Ng4 Bg5 15. Qe2 Qd6 16. Ne3 Rfd8 17. Nf3 Bxe3 18. Qxe3 Qe7 19. Nh2 Nf8 20. Qf3 Rd7 21. Nf1 Nh7 22. Ng3 Rad8 23. Nf5 Qf6 24. g4 $6 { Suddenly Smyslov makes a wild move. } ( 24. Be3 { develops a piece. } ) 24... Ne7 25. Qg3 Bc4 26. f3 Bd3 27. Bb3 c5 28. Be3 c4 29. Bd1 Ng5 30. h4 Ne6 31. a4 b4 $5 { A pawn sacrifice keeps the a-file closed. } 32. cxb4 Nf4 33. Kh1 g5 $6 ( 33... Rb7 { restricts the queen's side. } ) 34. b5 $1 a5 35. Bc5 Nxf5 36. gxf5 Kh7 37. Qg4 ( 37. Bf2 { loses no pawn. } ) 37... gxh4 38. Rg1 h5 39. Qg5 Qxg5 40. Rxg5 f6 $2 { Time pressure. } ( 40... Bf1 41. Rg1 Bg2+ $19 ) 41. Rg1 Nh3 $6 ( 41... Bxe4 42. fxe4 Rd3 $1 43. Ra3 Rxd1 { gets a pawn. } ) 42. Re1 Rg8 43. Ra2 ( 43. b4 $2 axb4 44. Ra2 b3 ) 43... Bb1 44. Ra1 Bd3 45. Ra2 Nf4 $1 46. b4 $1 Rc8 { The battle in the endgame rages. } 47. b6 $1 { Continues the attack on the queen's side. } ( { The counter on the other flank } 47. Rh2 $2 h3 48. Rg1 { is refuted by } 48... axb4 49. Bxb4 c3 50. Bc2 Be2 51. Rf2 Rd2 52. Rc1 Bxb5 $1 53. Rxd2 cxd2 54. Bxd2 Ne2 55. Rd1 Ng3+ 56. Kh2 Nf1+ 57. Kxh3 Be2 58. Re1 Ba6 $19 ) 47... Rb7 $1 { Threatens 48...axb4. } 48. Be3 axb4 49. a5 b3 50. Ra3 $2 ( { Good and simple defends } 50. Rb2 $1 Ra8 { If the c-pawn advances, White sacrifices a bishop. } 51. Bd2 { and blockade (Botvinnik). } ) 50... b2 51. Ba4 c3 52. Rb3 Ne2 ( 52... Ba6 $1 { clears a square for the knight. } 53. Bxf4 exf4 54. Bb5 c2 $19 ) 53. Bb5 Bxb5 54. Rxb5 Nd4 55. Bxd4 exd4 56. a6 { White has powerful counter-play. } 56... Rxb6 $1 57. Rxb6 d3 58. Rg1 d2 59. Rxf6 Rc7 60. Rfg6 d1=Q $1 { The match tournament had
four rounds. Botvinnik ended 2 1/2 points before Keres and won all
mini-matches, a triumph like Capablanca, New York 1927. So Botvinnik became
the Soviet challenger of Alekhine. Operation Barbarossa stopped chess.
Alekhine was challenged after the war. He died soon. The ambitious Botvinnik
had no result. } ( 60... c2 $4 61. R6g5 $11 ) 0-1