Icannos/chess_studies huggingface dataset:
[Event "Wch16"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "26"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A84"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[PlyCount "93"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. g3 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Be7 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Nf3 Ne4 8. O-O b6 $6 ( 8... Bf6 { (game 24). } ) 9. Qc2 { Euwe should have played this move in game 24. } ( 9. Nxe4 $1 fxe4 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. Qc2 d5 12. Bh3 ) 9... Bb7 10. Ne5 Nxc3 11. Bxc3 ( 11. Bxb7 $2 Nxe2+ { and ..Nxd4. } ) 11... Bxg2 12. Kxg2 Qc8 13. d5 $1 d6 14. Nd3 e5 15. Kh1 { White controls more space. } 15... c6 16. Qb3 $1 { The threat is 17.c5! bxc5 18.Nxe5 dxe5 19.d6+ (Euwe). } 16... Kh8 17. f4 e4 18. Nb4 c5 19. Nc2 Nd7 20. Ne3 Bf6 $2 ( { A useful preparatory move is } 20... Qe8 ) 21. Nxf5 $1 { The centre is conquered by a positional sacrifice. } 21... Bxc3 22. Nxd6 Qb8 23. Nxe4 Bf6 24. Nd2 $1 g5 25. e4 gxf4 26. gxf4 Bd4 27. e5 Qe8 28. e6 Rg8 29. Nf3 $6 ( { Euwe's variation } 29. Qh3 Nf6 30. Nf3 Bxb2 31. Rae1 { is not convincing, because } 31... Bd4 { supports the defence. } ) ( { The prosaic } 29. Qc2 $1 Nf6 30. Nf3 { leads to a useful exchange. } 30... b5 31. Nxd4 cxd4 32. b3 $1 { and White has a wonderful pawn phalanx. } ) 29... Qg6 30. Rg1 $1 Bxg1 31. Rxg1 Qf6 $2 ( 31... Qf5 $1 32. Ng5 Rxg5 33. Qc3+ Nf6 34. fxg5 Qe4+ 35. Rg2 Qb1+ 36. Rg1 $11 ) 32. Ng5 $1 Rg7 ( 32... Rxg5 $2 33. fxg5 { and Black has no repetition of moves. } ) ( 32... h6 $2 33. exd7 hxg5 34. Qh3+ Kg7 35. Rxg5+ { is insufficient (Euwe). } ) 33. exd7 $6 Rxd7 $6 ( 33... Qxf4 $1 34. Qc3 Qd4 35. Qxd4 cxd4 36. Ne6 Rxd7 { It is probably drawn (Tartakower). } ) 34. Qe3 ( 34. Ne6 $1 Re8 35. Qc2 { gives a positional plus. } ) 34... Re7 35. Ne6 Rf8 ( 35... Qxb2 36. d6 $1 Rd7 37. Nc7 Rf8 38. Qe5+ { (Euwe) } 38... Qxe5 39. fxe5 Rxc7 $1 40. dxc7 Rc8 41. Kg2 { A difficult rook ending seems to be won for White. } ) 36. Qe5 Qxe5 37. fxe5 Rf5 ( 37... Rxe6 38. dxe6 Rf5 $1 39. Re1 Kg8 40. Re3 $1 Kf8 41. Ra3 Rxe5 42. Rxa7 Rxe6 43. b3 $1 $18 { (Euwe). } ) 38. Re1 h6 $6 { Alekhine makes the last error under time pressure. } ( 38... Rxe6 39. dxe6 Kg8 40. Re3 { (Euwe). } ) ( 38... Kg8 $1 39. b3 $1 ( 39. Rg1+ Kh8 40. Rg5 { (Euwe) } 40... Rf2 $1 ) 39... Rxe6 40. dxe6 h6 41. Kg1 $1 Kf8 42. Rd1 Ke7 43. Rd7+ Kxe6 44. Rxa7 Kxe5 { and White has an extra pawn. } ) 39. Nd8 Rf2 40. e6 Rd2 { 'The pearl of Zandvoort' was continued in Amsterdam. } 41. Nc6 Re8 42. e7 b5 43. Nd8 Kg7 44. Nb7 Kf6 45. Re6+ Kg5 46. Nd6 Rxe7 47. Ne4+ { A grand strategy in the centre led to victory. It was the decisive game. } 1-0
[Event "Wch16"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "27"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C27"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Be7 ( { Euwe avoids the complications of } 5... Nc6 6. Nb5 ) 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Nxe5 Nxe5 $6 ( { Lasker prefers } 7... O-O 8. Nd5 Nd4 $1 { After } 9. O-O Nxb3 10. axb3 Ne8 { the strong bishop has been exchanged. } ) 8. Qxe5 O-O 9. Nd5 $1 { The liberating move ..Bf6 is prevented. } 9... Re8 10. O-O Bf8 11. Qf4 c6 12. Ne3 Qa5 ( { Later Najdorf played } 12... Qe7 { White cannot prevent ..Qe5 and ..Qe4 at the same time. } ) 13. d4 { Alekhine does not allow the exchange of queens. } 13... Qh5 $6 { This move is premature. } ( { Development continues by } 13... b6 $1 14. Qf3 ( 14. c3 Ba6 15. Re1 Bd3 $11 ) 14... Bb7 15. Rd1 Qg5 16. Nd5 Qd8 { Black carries out a wonderful defence. } ) 14. c3 Ne4 $6 ( 14... b6 $1 15. Bd1 Qg6 16. Bc2 Qh5 17. Bd3 Nb7 $1 { (threatens ..Bd6) } 18. Nf5 d5 ) 15. f3 $1 Ng5 ( 15... Bd6 $2 16. Qxf7+ $1 ) ( 15... Nf6 $2 16. Ng4 { (Alekhine). } ) 16. d5 $1 { Threatens h4. Black has to make a big concession. } 16... cxd5 17. Nxd5 Ne6 18. Qg4 ( 18. Qg3 $1 { keeps more pressure. } ) 18... Qg6 $6 ( 18... Bc5+ 19. Be3 Qxg4 20. fxg4 b6 { and White has a weakness too. } ) 19. Be3 b6 20. Rad1 Bb7 ( { The last opportunity for } 20... Qxg4 21. fxg4 { is missed. } ) 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. Rfe1 Rac8 23. Kf2 Bc5 24. Bxc5 Bxd5 $6 ( 24... Rxc5 { (Alekhine) } 25. Nb4 Rc7 26. Ba4 Rd8 27. Nd5 Bxd5 28. Rxd5 Kf8 { and Black creates a new line of defence. } ) 25. Bxd5 Nxc5 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. b4 $1 Ne6 28. Bxe6 dxe6 29. Rd7 $1 Rc8 30. Rxa7 Rxc3 31. Ra8+ ( { Levenfish and Smyslov analyse } 31. Ke2 $1 Rc2+ 32. Kd3 Rxg2 33. Kc4 Rxh2 34. Kb5 Rf2 35. Kxb6 Rxf3 36. Kc5 g5 37. b5 Rc3+ $1 ( { They continue with } 37... g4 $2 38. b6 $18 ) 38. Kd4 $5 Rc2 $1 39. b6 Rb2 40. b7 Kh7 $11 ) 31... Kh7 32. a4 Rb3 $6 ( 32... e5 $1 33. Ke2 f5 34. Kd2 Rc4 35. b5 e4 { (Lasker and Grigoriev). } ) 33. b5 g5 34. Ke2 e5 $2 { Black is lost at last. } ( { The last chance is } 34... Rb2+ 35. Kd3 Rxg2 36. Ra6 g4 $1 37. fxg4 Rxg4 { Then } 38. Kc3 Rh4 39. Kb3 Rh3+ { draws elegantly. } ) 35. Kd2 f6 36. Kc2 Rb4 37. Kc3 Rd4 38. Ra6 Kg6 39. Rxb6 Rxa4 40. Ra6 Rd4 41. b6 { Comments by Alekhine and Euwe
suggest a decisive mistake on move 7. Actually, Euwe had to make many
inaccuracies, before he was completely lost. In the match he was one up. } 1-0
[Event "Wch16"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "28"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D66"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[PlyCount "125"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Rc1 c6 8. Bd3 h6 { This move prepares a fianchetto on the queen's side. } 9. Bh4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 b5 11. Bd3 a6 12. e4 $6 ( 12. a4 $1 bxa4 13. Qxa4 { (Euwe-Noteboom, Amsterdam 1931). } ) 12... Nxe4 $1 13. Bxe4 ( 13. Bxe7 $2 Nxc3 { loses a pawn. } ) 13... Bxh4 14. Bxc6 Ra7 15. O-O ( { Euwe needs a draw. } 15. d5 $1 { would be useful. } ) 15... Nb6 $1 16. Ne4 ( 16. d5 $2 b4 $1 ) 16... Be7 17. Ne5 Rc7 18. Qd3 Nc4 19. Nxc4 Rxc6 20. Ne5 Rxc1 21. Rxc1 Bb7 22. Nc5 $2 ( 22. f3 $1 Bd6 23. Nc5 Qg5 24. Re1 { and White is only slightly worse. } ) 22... Bxc5 $1 23. Rxc5 ( 23. dxc5 $4 Qg5 ) 23... Qd6 { Black threatens 24...Rd8. The isolated pawn has become a weakness. } 24. a4 $1 bxa4 25. Nc4 Qf4 ( 25... Qe7 $1 { prepares ..Rd8. } ) 26. Qe3 Qg4 27. f3 Qg6 28. Nd6 Bd5 29. Qc3 Kh7 30. Qc2 Qxc2 $2 ( 30... f5 $1 31. Nc4 Qg5 { avoids the exchange of queens and starts an attack. } ) 31. Rxc2 Kg6 32. Rc8 Rxc8 33. Nxc8 Kf6 34. Kf2 g5 35. Nb6 Bc6 36. Nc4 Ke7 37. Ne3 ( 37. g3 $6 { prepares f4. } ) 37... Kd6 38. Ke2 f5 $6 ( 38... h5 $1 39. g3 Bb5+ 40. Kd2 e5 { prevents f4. } 41. Kc3 f6 { is favourable for Black (Alekhine). } ) 39. g3 Bb5+ 40. Kd2 f4 41. gxf4 gxf4 42. Ng2 $1 e5 43. dxe5+ Kxe5 { If White is able to eliminate the f- and h-pawn, a theoretical draw is reached. } 44. Kc3 Bf1 45. Ne1 Kd5 46. Nc2 Kc5 47. Nd4 Bh3 48. Ne2 Bg2 49. Nxf4 Bxf3 50. Nd3+ Kb5 51. Ne5 Bh5 52. Nc4 ( 52. h4 Kc5 53. Nd7+ { and White sacrifices his knight for the h-pawn (Alekhine). } ) 52... Bg4 53. Nd6+ Kc5 54. Nf7 h5 55. Ne5 Bf5 56. Nc4 Be4 57. Nd2 Bg2 58. h4 Kd5 59. Nc4 Ke4 60. Nd6+ Kd5 61. Ne8 Kc5 62. Nf6 Bf3 63. b3 { The draw was achieved with great difficulty. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Wch16"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "29"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "B03"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[PlyCount "100"]

1. e4 Nf6 { Euwe shows his self-confidence after two difficult games. Alekhine froozes. } 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 $5 ( { Alekhine likes } 5. f4 { but he chooses an odd variation again. } ) 5... Bg4 6. Be2 dxe5 7. c5 $5 e4 $1 8. cxb6 exf3 9. Bxf3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 axb6 $5 { The strangest move of the match is made by Euwe. } ( { Has Max lost his courage? Firm is } 10... Nc6 $1 { White wants to play } 11. O-O axb6 12. d5 { Then } 12... Nd4 $1 13. Qd3 { (prevents ..Nc2 and ..Nb3) } 13... Qxd5 14. Nc3 Qd7 { Black has won two pawns without great risk. } ) 11. Qxb7 Nd7 12. Bf4 e5 $5 ( 12... e6 $1 { equalises easily. } 13. Nc3 ( 13. Bxc7 Qc8 14. Qxc8+ Rxc8 15. Bf4 Rc2 { and White has to sacrifice the b-pawn. } ) 13... Bd6 14. Bxd6 cxd6 15. Nb5 O-O 16. Nxd6 Ra4 $1 { Black wins the d-pawn. } ) 13. Bxe5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bb4+ 15. Nc3 Bxc3+ 16. bxc3 O-O { Euwe has sacrifices a pawn in order to weaken White's pawn structure. } 17. O-O Qe7 18. Rfe1 Qc5 19. Re3 Ra3 20. Qf3 Re8 $6 ( { The pawn regains } 20... Qc4 $5 21. h3 $1 Rxa2 22. Rxa2 Qxa2 23. Qc6 Qa7 24. Rg3 Qb8 25. Qf6 g6 { and Black seems to survive. } ) 21. h3 $1 Ra5 ( 21... Rxe5 $2 22. Rd1 h6 23. Rd7 Rf5 24. Qe4 { (Alekhine). } ) 22. Rd1 Qe7 ( 22... Rxa2 $2 23. Rd7 Rf8 24. e6 $1 fxe6 25. Qg4 ) 23. Qc6 $1 Rc5 ( 23... Rxe5 $2 24. Qxe8+ $1 Qxe8 25. Rxe5 Qf8 26. Red5 { (Alekhine). } ) 24. Qd7 ( 24. Qe4 Qe6 $11 ) 24... g6 25. f4 Rc4 26. Qxe7 Rxe7 27. Rd4 Rc5 28. Kf2 c6 29. a4 Ra7 30. Rb4 b5 31. axb5 cxb5 32. Kf3 $6 ( 32. Rb3 $1 Ra4 33. g3 Rac4 34. Kf3 { offers a better chance to win. } ) 32... Rac7 $6 ( 32... Ra3 $1 33. Kg4 Rcxc3 34. Rxc3 Rxc3 35. Rxb5 Kg7 { and a theoretical draw (Alekhine). } ) 33. Rb3 Kf8 34. g4 $6 ( 34. g3 $1 Rc4 $1 35. Ke2 { The aim is consolidation by 36.Kd2. } 35... b4 $1 36. cxb4 Rb7 37. b5 Rc5 38. b6 Rc6 39. g4 $1 Rbxb6 40. Rxb6 Rxb6 { White can play for a win, because ..h5 has become unfavourable. } ) 34... Ke7 35. f5 { (prevents 35...Ke6) } 35... gxf5 36. gxf5 f6 37. Kf4 fxe5+ 38. Rxe5+ Rxe5 39. Kxe5 Rc5+ 40. Ke4 Kf6 41. Ra3 Rc4+ 42. Kd3 Rh4 43. Rb3 Kxf5 44. Rxb5+ Ke6 45. c4 Rxh3+ 46. Kd4 Kd6 47. Rb6+ Kc7 48. Rf6 Rh5 49. Kc3 Kb7 50. Kb4 Kc7 { Fighting chess led to a draw. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Wch16"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1935.??.??"]
[Round "30"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D21"]
[EventDate "1935.??.??"]
[PlyCount "79"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nd7 $5 { Alekhine tries to confuse the opponent. } 4. Qa4 c6 5. Qxc4 Ngf6 6. g3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Qa5 10. e4 Qh5 11. Qd3 Nb6 $6 { This loses time. } ( { Euwe's } 11... e5 { is stronger. } ) 12. Ne2 Rd8 13. a4 Nbd7 14. b4 $1 { The threat 15.Nf4 is highly unpleasant. A ritual begins.
The looser becomes wild. } 14... g5 $6 15. Nxg5 Ne5 16. Qc2 Ng6 17. h3 h6 18. Bf3 Ng4 19. hxg4 Bxg4 20. Bxg4 Qxg4 21. Nxf7 Kxf7 22. Qc4+ e6 23. f3 Qh5 ( { The point is } 23... Bxd4+ $2 24. Qxd4 $1 Rxd4 25. fxg4+ { (Tartakower). } ) 24. Be3 Rg8 25. Rf2 Bf6 26. Raf1 Nh4 27. Qxe6+ Kxe6 28. Nf4+ Kf7 29. Nxh5 Be7 30. Kh2 Ng6 31. Rb2 Rac8 32. f4 Nf8 33. f5 Bg5 34. Bxg5 Rxg5 35. Nf4 Nh7 36. Ne6 Rh5+ 37. Kg2 Nf6 38. Kf3 Rg8 39. Nf4 Rhg5 40. Rg1 { At the end of the ritual
the winner gives a draw to the looser. The match ended in 14 1/2 - 15 1/2 (+8,
=13, -9). Euwe had become world champion on December 15, 1935. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E17"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

{ The young Stalinist Botvinnik had won the Soviet championships of 1931 and
1933. He did not participate in the following championships, and Levenfish
became divided first in 1935 and undivided first in 1937. The title was the
stake of their match for six wins. At 5-5 Levenfish remained champion.  On the
road Levenfish lost his money and passport. A fan helped out. } 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5. Bg2 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. b3 ( 7. d4 { leads to the main line of the Queen's Indian. } ) 7... d5 $1 $11 8. cxd5 exd5 9. d4 Nbd7 10. Bb2 Re8 11. Rc1 c6 12. Qd2 { Loses a tempo. } 12... Ne4 13. Qc2 Nxc3 ( { Botvinnik contemplated } 13... f5 { but feared } 14. Nxe4 ( 14. Bh3 { is even worse. } ) 14... fxe4 15. Ne5 ) 14. Bxc3 Bd6 15. Rfe1 Nf6 { Prevents 17.e4. } 16. Nd2 ( 16. Ne5 Rc8 { and ..c5 (Botvinnik). } ) 16... Bf8 17. Bb2 Rc8 18. Qd3 Rc7 19. Rcd1 g6 20. Nb1 Bc8 { The pieces at both sides operate at a distance. } 21. Ba3 $2 { Hereafter the strategic battle for the centre is lost. } ( 21. f3 { and possibly 22.e4 is needed. } ) 21... Bf5 $1 22. Qa6 Bg7 $1 23. Nc3 h5 24. Bc1 Ne4 $1 25. Nxe4 dxe4 { Black wants to start an attack on the king, but White takes measures. } 26. h4 Rd7 27. Bg5 Bf6 28. Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Qc4 ( 29. e3 g5 $1 ) 29... Red8 30. Rc1 Rd6 $5 ( 30... Rxd4 31. Qxc6 { is possible. } ) 31. Qc3 $5 ( 31. e3 g5 $1 { is avoided again. } ) 31... Qxd4 32. Qxd4 Rxd4 33. Rxc6 Rd2 34. a4 Rb2 35. Rc3 $6 ( 35. Rc4 e3 $1 36. b4 Be6 37. Rf4 Ra2 38. Bc6 { defends actively. } ) 35... Rd4 36. Re3 Rb4 37. Rc1 R2xb3 38. Rxb3 Rxb3 39. Rc4 Rb1+ 40. Kh2 Rb2 41. Bf1 { The favourite manoeuvred nicely in the middle game. } ( 41. Bf1 a5 { and ..Rb4 wins. } ) 0-1
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D94"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O e6 ( 7... Bg4 { is more active. } ) 8. b3 Nbd7 9. Qe2 ( 9. Ba3 Re8 10. Bd6 { (Kotov-Smyslov, Venice 1950). } ) 9... Re8 10. Bb2 b6 11. Rad1 Bb7 12. Ne5 ( 12. e4 { battles less impressive for the centre. } ) 12... Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. f4 Qe7 15. cxd5 exd5 16. e4 $1 d4 $1 { The confrontation is found. } 17. Nb1 c5 18. Nd2 g5 $1 19. g3 gxf4 20. gxf4 Kh8 21. Nc4 Rg8 22. Kh1 f6 23. Nd6 fxe5 $1 ( 23... Bc6 24. Bc4 { is weak. } ) 24. Nxb7 exf4 25. e5 $1 ( 25. Rxf4 Ne5 26. Ba6 { Black blockades the centre. } ) 25... Bxe5 26. b4 $6 ( 26. Rde1 Raf8 27. Be4 { Black has three pawns for the imprisoned knight. } ) 26... Nf6 27. Qf3 Ng4 28. Rd2 Rab8 29. Be4 d3 $5 { Levenfish sacrifices his best pawn for an open centre. } 30. Qxd3 ( { Botvinnik misses } 30. h3 $1 Ne3 $5 ( 30... Bxb2 31. hxg4 Bd4 $11 ) 31. Qxf4 $1 Nc4 32. Bxe5+ Nxe5 $13 ) 30... Rxb7 31. Bxb7 Qxb7+ 32. Qf3 Qxf3+ 33. Rxf3 Bxb2 34. Rxb2 Ne5 $1 { The f-pawn is protected indirectly. } 35. Rf1 ( 35. Rc3 $2 c4 36. Rg2 $1 Rd8 37. Rg5 Rd3 38. Rxd3 Nxd3 39. Rd5 Nxb4 40. Rd4 b5 41. a4 a6 42. axb5 axb5 43. Rd8+ Kg7 44. Rb8 { draws according to Kasparov, but } 44... c3 45. Rxb5 c2 46. Rc5 Kf6 47. Kg1 ( 47. Kg2 Nd3 ) 47... Ke6 48. Kf1 Kd6 49. Rc3 Nd5 $1 { wins. } ) 35... Nd3 ( 35... c4 36. Re2 Nd3 37. b5 Rg5 38. Rg1 $1 h6 39. h4 { does not win either. } ) 36. Rg2 $2 ( 36. Rc2 $1 Nxb4 37. Rd2 Rf8 38. a3 Nc6 39. Rdf2 $11 { (Soltis). } ) 36... c4 37. Rc2 b5 38. a3 f3 $1 39. Rd2 Rg2 $1 40. Rxg2 fxg2+ 41. Kxg2 c3 42. Kf3 { Again black's aggressiveness brings an advantage in the midle game. } ( 42. Kf3 c2 43. Ke3 c1=Q+ 44. Rxc1 Nxc1 45. Kd2 Na2 46. Kc2 Kg7 47. Kb2 Nxb4 48. axb4 Kf6 $19 ) 0-1
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E34"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "133"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 b6 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. c4 Qd6 11. Bb2 Bb7 12. Be2 cxd4 $1 { A novelty. } ( 12... Rc8 13. O-O Be4 $6 { (Euwe-Botvinnik, Nottingham 1936). } ) 13. exd4 O-O 14. O-O Ng4 15. h3 ( 15. Rfe1 Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Qxh2+ 17. Kf1 Ndf6 { battles hard. } ) 15... Bxf3 16. hxg4 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Rac8 18. Rfd1 Rc7 19. d5 e5 20. Re1 f6 $5 ( 20... Rfc8 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Qxe5 Qxe5 23. Rxe5 Rxc4 24. Rae1 h6 25. Re7 Rd8 26. Rxa7 Rxd5 27. f3 Rf4 $11 ) 21. a4 h6 22. a5 bxa5 23. Ba3 Nc5 24. Reb1 a6 25. Qe1 Rfc8 { The passed pawns are blockaded. } 26. Qxa5 Qd7 27. Rb6 $2 { Threatens 28.d6. } ( 27. f3 e4 28. Rb6 exf3 29. gxf3 f5 30. d6 fxg4 { is interesting. } ) 27... Nd3 $4 { The blockader goes to the wrong square. } ( 27... Ne4 $1 28. f3 Rxc4 ( 28... Ng5 $2 { (Levenfish) } ) 29. d6 ( 29. fxe4 $2 Qxg4 30. Qe1 Rc2 31. Qf1 Qxe4 $19 ) 29... Nc5 30. Bxc5 R4xc5 31. Qxa6 R5c6 32. Rd1 Rxb6 33. Qxb6 Rd8 { and White will make no progress. } ) 28. d6 Nf4 29. dxc7 Qxg4 30. g3 Ne2+ 31. Kh2 Nf4 32. Kg1 Ne2+ 33. Kh2 Nf4 34. Kg1 Ne2+ 35. Kg2 Nf4+ 36. Kg1 Ne2+ 37. Kg2 Nf4+ 38. Kg1 Ne2+ 39. Kh2 Nf4 40. Kg1 Ne2+ 41. Kg2 Nf4+ 42. Kg1 Ne2+ { The rule about the repetition of position did not apply during the match. } 43. Kh2 Nf4 44. gxf4 Qxf4+ 45. Kg2 Qg4+ 46. Kf1 Qxc4+ 47. Ke1 Qe4+ 48. Kd2 Qd4+ 49. Kc2 Rxc7+ 50. Kb1 Rc3 51. Rb4 Qd3+ 52. Ka2 Rc2+ 53. Bb2 Rxf2 54. Rc1 Kh7 55. Rb3 Qe4 56. Qxa6 h5 57. Rc7 Rg2 58. Qd3 Qxd3 59. Rxd3 Kh6 60. Kb3 h4 61. Rc2 Rg4 62. Rf2 Kh5 63. Kc2 Rg1 64. Ba3 e4 65. Re3 Kg4 66. Rxe4+ Kg3 67. Rff4 { The players made a prophylactic error by misjudging the effectivity of a
blockader in a counter. } 1-0
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D94"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 { Levenfish diverts from game two. Again he chooses a quiet move. } 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. e4 Nxc3 { Levenfish makes a move similar to the Gruenfeld Indian. } ( 9... Nc7 { (Johner-Treybal, Teplitz Schoenau 1922). } ) 10. bxc3 c5 11. Ba3 a6 ( 11... b6 $1 { develops faster. } ) 12. Rc1 Qc7 13. e5 b6 14. Qe2 ( 14. Ng5 $1 { (threatens Nxf7) } 14... Bh6 15. f4 Bb7 16. Qe2 { is more powerful. } ) 14... Bb7 15. e6 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 fxe6 17. Qe4 ( 17. Qh3 e5 18. Bc4+ Kh8 19. Be6 Rad8 { is the critical variation (Alatortsev). } ) 17... e5 18. dxc5 Nxc5 19. Qc4+ Kh8 20. Bxc5 Qxc5 21. Qxc5 bxc5 22. Be4 Rab8 23. Rb1 Bh6 1/2-1/2
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E34"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 c5 7. Bd2 { Levenfish diverts from game three. } 7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 Nc6 $6 ( 9... O-O { (Euwe). } ) 10. e3 $6 ( 10. Nxc6 Qxc6 11. Qd3 $1 O-O 12. Qg3 { utilises the slight error. } ) 10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bd7 ( 11... e5 $1 12. Bc3 O-O $11 ) 12. Qc5 Qxc5 13. Bxc5 Bc6 14. f3 ( 14. Rc1 Nd7 15. Ba3 f6 16. Be2 Kf7 $11 { (Ragozin-Botvinnik, Moscow 1936). } ) 14... Nd7 15. Bd4 f6 16. e4 { Levenfish tries to utilise the advantage of the two bishops by the centre. } 16... Ke7 17. Be2 a6 18. Kf2 Bb5 { Black's strange manoeuvres are very clever. } 19. Rhd1 ( 19. Bxb5 $1 axb5 20. a3 Rhc8 21. Bc3 Nb8 $1 22. Rhd1 Nc6 { and the black position is solid (Botvinnik). } ) 19... Bxe2 20. Kxe2 Rhd8 21. Rd2 Rac8 22. Rad1 Ke8 23. g4 e5 24. Be3 Nf8 25. Rxd8+ Rxd8 26. Rc1 Ne6 27. h4 Kd7 28. Rc3 Rc8 29. Rd3+ Kc7 30. Rc3+ Kd7 31. Rd3+ Kc7 32. Rc3+ Kd7 33. Rd3+ Kc7 34. Rc3+ Kd7 1/2-1/2
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A13"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 Be7 5. Bb2 O-O 6. Nc3 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. Bc4 Qd8 { This retreat gives Black a solid position (Reti-Mueller, Vienna 1935). } 10. O-O Nc6 11. Qe2 Bf6 12. Bxf6 Qxf6 13. Rac1 b6 ( 13... Ne5 14. Nxe5 Qxe5 15. d4 { White has the initiative (Lisitsin-Lilienthal, Tiblisi 1937). } ) 14. Bb5 Ne5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. d4 $1 cxd4 17. exd4 Qd6 ( 17... Qxd4 18. Rfd1 Qf4 19. Rc4 Qb8 20. Rh4 { (Botvinnik). } ) 18. Qe5 Qa3 $1 ( 18... Qxe5 19. dxe5 { is unfavourable. } ) 19. h4 Bb7 20. h5 h6 21. Rc3 Rfd8 22. Rg3 Qf8 { The queen does not capture a pawn, but is used in the defence. } 23. Qc7 Rab8 24. Qf4 $2 { A loss of time. } 24... Qd6 $1 25. Qxd6 Rxd6 26. Rc1 $5 { Botvinnik wants to counter. } ( 26. Rd1 Rbd8 { leads to a siege of the d-pawn. } ) 26... Rxd4 27. Rc7 $5 Rd1+ 28. Kh2 Rd5 $2 ( 28... Rd2 29. Bc4 Rxa2 30. Bxe6 Rxf2 { wins a second pawn and might win the game. } ) 29. Be2 Rd2 30. Bf3 Bd5 31. Rxa7 Rxf2 32. Kg1 $1 Rd2 33. Bxd5 Rxd5 34. Rf3 Rf8 35. a4 $1 Rd4 ( 35... Rxh5 $2 36. Rb7 b5 37. a5 ) 36. Rb7 Rb4 37. Kf2 ( 37. Re7 $1 $11 { Although Black has an extra pawn, he cannot do anything (Botvinnik). } ) 37... e5 38. Ke2 e4 39. Rc3 Rd8 40. g4 $1 Rf8 41. Rbc7 f5 { After the time trouble, Black attacks with his extra pawn. } 42. Re7 f4 43. Rcc7 f3+ 44. Kf1 Rd8 45. g5 $1 { White does not deliver perpetual check but sets a trap. } 45... Rd1+ $2 ( 45... Rxb3 $11 ) ( 45... Kh8 $11 ) ( 45... e3 $11 ) 46. Kf2 Rd2+ 47. Ke1 Re2+ 48. Kf1 hxg5 ( 48... Rxb3 49. Rc8+ Kh7 50. g6# ) 49. Rxg7+ { Botvinnik equalised with fighting chess. } ( 49. Rxg7+ Kf8 50. h6 ) 1-0
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E34"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nf3 c5 7. Bd2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 cxd4 9. Nxd4 e5 { Botvinnik improves on game five. } 10. Nf3 Nc6 11. Rd1 Qc5 12. e3 O-O 13. Be2 Bg4 14. O-O Rac8 { Both sides has completed the development quietly. } 15. Qb3 ( 15. Rd2 $1 b5 { (Botvinnik) } 16. a3 a5 17. Rc1 $1 ) 15... Qe7 ( 15... e4 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 Qc2 { exchanges to the endgame (Botvinnik). } ) 16. h3 Bh5 17. Qa4 Rfd8 18. Qh4 a6 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rxd1+ 21. Bxd1 Qd6 22. Bb3 Bxf3 23. gxf3 { Black has exchanged a lot in order to avoid disadvantage. } 23... b5 24. Kg2 Nd7 25. Qh5 $6 ( 25. Qe4 { keeps a plus. } ) 25... g6 26. Qh4 Nc5 27. Bc2 a5 28. Qg4 $6 ( 28. a3 $11 ) ( 28. b4 $11 ) 28... b4 29. Qc8+ $6 Kg7 30. Be1 Qd5 31. Qa8 Qc4 $2 { Botvinnik blunders under time pressure. } 32. Bb1 $2 ( { Levenfish misses } 32. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 33. Qxc6 Qc1 34. Bd2 Qxd2 35. Qxc5 Qxb2 36. Qxa5 { and the extra pawn has little importance. } ) 32... Qd5 33. a3 e4 34. fxe4 Nxe4 35. Ba2 $2 ( 35. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 36. Kg1 { (Botvinnik). } ) 35... Qd7 $1 36. axb4 Ng5 37. Bc3+ Kh6 38. Kf1 $2 ( { The crucial variation is } 38. Qf8+ Kh5 39. Qc5 $1 Qxh3+ 40. Kg1 Nxb4 41. Bxb4 f5 $1 42. Bd5 Qg4+ 43. Kf1 axb4 { Black has a material and positional advantage. } ) 38... Qd1+ 39. Kg2 Qf3+ 40. Kf1 Ne4 ( 40... Qh1+ 41. Ke2 Nd4+ { is funny. } ) 41. Qf8+ { Levenfish collapsed for the second time in a row. } ( 41. Qf8+ Kh5 42. Qxf7 $2 Ng3+ { and mate in one. } ) 0-1
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D94"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "135"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O b6 { Levenfish applies a fianchetto on the bishops in the Schlechter variation. It
leads to passivity. } 8. b3 Bb7 9. Ba3 Re8 10. Rc1 e6 11. Qe2 ( 11. Ne5 $1 Nbd7 12. f4 { (Botvinnik) } 12... Rc8 $1 ) 11... Nbd7 12. Rfd1 Qb8 $1 { The queen avoids the indirect influence of the white rooks. } 13. h3 a6 14. Bb2 { Waits for black's initiative. } 14... c5 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Bb1 Qa7 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Na4 d4 $1 { Black has created a passed pawn with great play. } 19. Nd2 ( 19. b4 $5 dxe3 20. Nxc5 Nxc5 21. bxc5 { attacks the advanced pawns. Complications bring } 21... Bh6 $1 22. Ne5 $1 Bf4 23. Nc4 Nd5 24. Rc2 ) 19... Nd5 20. Nc4 Bc6 21. Qf3 Nb4 $6 { It is a strategic mistake to open the position. } ( 21... Qc7 $1 { Threatens ..Nxe3. } 22. e4 ( 22. exd4 Ne3 $1 23. Qxe3 Rxe3 24. fxe3 Qg3 25. d5 Bxa4 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. bxa4 f5 { wins material. } ) 22... Nf4 23. Re1 Rab8 { gives a positional plus. } ) 22. Qg3 Bxa4 23. bxa4 dxe3 ( 23... Nc6 $1 { defends the centre. } ) 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 $2 ( 24... e2 $1 25. Re1 Kxg7 { (Botvinnik). } ) ( 24... exf2+ 25. Qxf2 Kxg7 26. Nd6 { is less strong. } ) 25. fxe3 $1 Nf6 26. a3 Nbd5 27. e4 Nb6 28. Nd6 Re6 29. e5 { White has taken over the attack in the centre. } 29... Ne8 $2 ( { Correct is } 29... Nh5 ) 30. a5 Na4 31. Nc4 $2 ( 31. Bf5 $1 Re7 32. Nc8 { wins an exchange. } ) 31... Rb8 32. Qf2 $6 ( 32. Rd2 { is better. } ) 32... Rxb1 33. Rxb1 Nc3 34. Rbc1 ( 34. Nb6 $1 Nxd1 35. Rxd1 Qe7 36. Rd7 Qf8 37. Rb7 $1 { keeps the attack going. } ) 34... Nxd1 35. Rxd1 Qc7 36. Rd5 Rc6 37. Qd2 Qe7 38. Rd7 Qe6 39. Qd5 Qxd5 40. Rxd5 Kf8 { White's active pieces compensate the poor pawn structure. } 41. Rd7 $1 Rc7 42. Rd8 Ke7 43. Rd6 $1 Ra7 44. Rc6 Kd7 45. Rb6 $1 ( 45. Rxc5 $2 Rc7 { spoils the restriction. } ) 45... Ke7 46. Kf2 f6 47. Ke2 Ra8 48. Rc6 fxe5 49. Rxc5 Nd6 50. Rc7+ Ke6 51. Nxd6 Kxd6 52. Rxh7 Rb8 $2 ( 52... Ke6 $1 53. g4 { and White wins according to Botvinnik, but } 53... Rb8 $1 54. Ra7 Rb3 55. Rxa6+ Kf7 56. h4 Rh3 57. g5 Rxh4 58. Rf6+ Ke7 $1 59. Rxg6 Ra4 60. Ra6 Rxa3 61. g6 Kf8 62. Ra7 e4 63. a6 Kg8 $1 64. Ra8+ Kg7 65. a7 { Black sacrifices the e-pawn and reaches a theoretical draw. } ) 53. Rg7 Rb2+ 54. Kf1 e4 55. Rxg6+ Ke5 56. Rxa6 Ra2 57. Ra8 Kf4 58. a6 Ra1+ 59. Ke2 Ra2+ 60. Kd1 Rxa3 61. a7 Ke3 62. h4 Rd3+ 63. Kc2 Rd7 64. g4 Rc7+ 65. Kb3 Rd7 66. Kc3 Rc7+ 67. Kb4 Rd7 68. Kc5 { Botvinnik took a lead of 4-2 in wins. } ( 68. Kc5 Kd3 69. Kc6 { breaks the defence. } ) 1-0
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "C02"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "115"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bd3 cxd4 6. O-O Bc5 7. Nbd2 Nge7 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Bf4 Ng6 10. Bxg6 $6 ( 10. Bg3 f5 11. exf6 gxf6 $13 ) 10... hxg6 11. Re1 { Pawn e5 is overprotected. } 11... Bd7 12. Bg3 $6 ( 12. Re2 Rc8 13. a3 ) 12... Rc8 13. Re2 Ne7 14. Nbxd4 Nf5 15. Nxf5 gxf5 16. Bf4 Bb5 17. Rd2 Rc4 $1 { Black fight for the control over d4. } 18. g3 Qe7 { The centre is consolidated. } 19. c3 Bd7 20. Rd3 Re4 $1 21. a4 f6 22. a5 Bd8 23. Rd4 Qf7 24. exf6 gxf6 25. Nd2 e5 $1 ( 25... Qh7 26. h4 Rxd4 27. cxd4 { has little effect. } ) 26. Nxe4 dxe4 $2 { Botvinnik allows exchange. } ( 26... fxe4 $1 27. a6 $1 ( 27. Rxd5 exf4 28. Qd4 Qh7 29. Rd1 Qxh2+ 30. Kf1 Qh1+ 31. Ke2 { (Levenfish) } 31... Bg4+ ) 27... b5 28. Bxe5 { seems stronger but } 28... Qh7 $1 29. h4 fxe5 30. Rxd5 Bxh4 $1 31. Rxd7 Be7 $1 32. Kf1 Qh3+ 33. Ke1 Qf5 34. Ke2 Bg5 { will mate White. } ) 27. Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 28. Qxd7+ Kxd7 29. Be3 a6 30. b4 Be7 31. Rd1+ Kc6 32. h4 $6 { Weakens the h-pawn. } 32... f4 ( 32... Bd6 $1 33. Kg2 f4 34. Bb6 f5 { restricts White (Levenfish). } ) 33. gxf4 exf4 34. Bxf4 Rxh4 35. Bg3 Rg4 36. Kf1 e3 37. Rd3 exf2 38. Kxf2 f5 39. Rf3 Rc4 40. Be5 f4 ( 40... Bd6 { avoids the loss of a pawn, but it does not matter. } ) 41. Bxf4 Re4 42. Bd2 Bh4+ 43. Kf1 Re6 44. Rh3 Re4 45. Rf3 Re6 46. Rf5 Rf6 47. Rxf6+ Bxf6 48. Ke2 Kd5 49. Kd3 Bh4 50. Be3 Bf6 51. c4+ Kc6 52. Kc2 Bh4 53. Kb3 Bf6 54. Ka4 Bh4 55. b5+ axb5+ 56. cxb5+ Kd5 57. Bb6 Bf6 58. Kb3 { Botvinnik could not crown his attack in the centre. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D94"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O b6 8. b3 c5 $1 { Levenfish chooses a more aggressive approach than in game eight. } 9. dxc5 Ne4 $1 10. Bxe4 $6 ( { The correct reaction to the idea of Alatortsev is } 10. Nxd5 $1 Nxc5 ( 10... Bxa1 11. Bxe4 ) 11. Rb1 e6 12. Nf4 e5 13. Ba3 $1 Nba6 14. Nd5 e4 15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxf8 { and a plus. } ) 10... dxe4 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Nd4 bxc5 13. Nde2 Bg4 { Black has pressure on diagonals and a file. } 14. f3 $2 { Opens too early. } ( 14. Rb1 Nc6 15. Ba3 $1 { The active defence prevents ..Nb4-d3. } 15... Rd2 16. f3 exf3 17. gxf3 Bh3 18. Rfd1 Bxc3 19. Nxc3 Rg2+ 20. Kh1 Ne5 21. Rb2 Rxb2 22. Bxb2 Nxf3 23. Ne4 { White gets the pawn back. } 23... Kf8 24. Nxc5 Ke8 $11 ) 14... exf3 15. gxf3 Bh3 16. Re1 Nc6 17. Ba3 Nb4 $1 18. Rab1 Bh6 19. f4 Nc2 { An exchange is gained. } 20. Bxc5 Nxe1 21. Rxe1 Bf8 22. Kf2 Bg4 23. Rd1 $6 ( 23. Nd5 $1 e6 24. Nf6+ Kg7 25. Bxf8+ Kxf6 26. Bb4 Bxe2 27. Kxe2 Kf5 28. Bc3 Ke4 29. Bd4 { The bastion will be hard to take. } ) 23... Rxd1 24. Nxd1 Rd8 $6 ( 24... e5 $1 { continues the exchanges. } 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26. Ndc3 Bxe2 27. Kxe2 exf4 28. exf4 Re8+ $19 ) 25. Ndc3 Rd2 26. Ke1 Rc2 27. Kd1 $6 ( 27. Bxa7 $1 Bxe2 ( 27... e5 { (Levenfish) } 28. Kd1 { is a strong answer. } ) 28. Nxe2 Rxa2 { tries to win. } ) 27... Rxc3 $1 28. Kd2 Bxe2 29. Kxc3 a6 { The rest is simple. } 30. a4 e5 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. b4 Ke7 33. fxe5 Kd7 34. Kd4 Kc6 35. b5+ axb5 36. axb5+ Kb6 37. Kd5 Bg4 38. Kd6 Be6 39. c5+ Kxb5 40. c6 Kb6 { Botvinnik did not handle the restriction of his position properly. } 0-1
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D93"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "155"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. dxc5 Qa5 8. Qa4 { A novelty leads to the exchange of queens. } ( 8. Rc1 { will become 'theory'. } ) 8... Qxc5 9. Qb5 Qxb5 10. Nxb5 Na6 11. Rd1 Be6 $1 12. Nfd4 Bd7 13. Be5 Rfc8 14. cxd5 Nxd5 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. e4 Ndb4 17. Nc3 Nc5 18. a3 Nc6 19. Be2 $6 ( 19. Nb3 Nxb3 20. Rxd7 Rab8 21. Bb5 Ncd4 22. Ba4 e5 23. Bxb3 Nxb3 24. O-O { completes the development. } ) 19... Nxd4 20. Rxd4 e5 21. Rd5 Be6 22. Rd1 Bb3 23. Rd2 Rd8 24. f3 Ne6 25. Rf1 Nd4 26. Bd1 Bc4 27. Rff2 Rac8 28. Bc2 a6 29. Bb1 b5 30. Ba2 Bxa2 31. Nxa2 { The pressure on the white position disappears slowly. } 31... a5 32. Rd1 f6 33. Rfd2 Kf7 34. Nc3 Ke7 35. Kf2 Rc5 36. f4 Rcc8 37. g3 Rc5 38. Rd3 Ke6 39. R1d2 Ke7 40. Ke3 Rcc8 $2 { A blunder under time pressure. } ( { Correct is } 40... Rc4 ) ( { or } 40... Rdc8 ) ( { or } 40... Rd6 ) 41. Nd5+ Kf7 $1 42. Nxf6 $1 exf4+ 43. gxf4 Nf5+ 44. exf5 Rxd3+ 45. Rxd3 Kxf6 46. fxg6 hxg6 { A difficult rook ending. } 47. Rd6+ Kf7 48. Rd5 b4 ( 48... Rh8 49. Rxb5 a4 $1 { sets great problems. } 50. Kd4 Rh4 51. Rb4 $1 Kf6 52. Kc5 Rxh2 53. Kb5 Kf5 54. Kxa4 Rf2 55. Ka5 $1 Rxf4 56. Rxf4+ Kxf4 57. b4 g5 58. b5 g4 59. b6 g3 60. b7 g2 61. b8=Q+ { wins. } ) 49. axb4 ( { Levenfish prefers } 49. Rxa5 bxa3 50. bxa3 { but } 50... Rh8 { is less clear. } ) 49... axb4 50. Rd4 b3 51. Rd3 Rh8 52. Ke4 Rxh2 53. Rxb3 Re2+ 54. Kd3 Rf2 55. Ke3 Rg2 56. Rb5 Rg1 57. Kd3 Rf1 58. Rb4 Rf2 $1 ( 58... Kf6 59. Rd4 $1 Kf5 60. b4 Rxf4 61. Rxf4+ Kxf4 62. Kd4 $1 Kf5 63. Kd5 $1 Kf6 $1 64. Kd6 g5 ( 64... Kf7 65. b5 ) 65. b5 g4 66. b6 g3 67. b7 g2 68. b8=Q g1=Q 69. Qf8+ Kg6 70. Qg8+ ) 59. b3 Rf3+ 60. Ke4 Rg3 61. Rb5 Rg1 62. Rd5 Rb1 63. Rb5 Kf6 64. Rb6+ Kf7 65. Rb8 Kf6 66. Rb6+ Kf7 67. Rb4 Kf6 68. Rb6+ Kf7 69. Rb8 $6 Kf6 $6 ( 69... Re1+ { gives a chance. } ) 70. Rb6+ Kf7 71. Rb7+ Ke6 72. Rb6+ Kf7 { The third time control has been passed. } 73. b4 Re1+ 74. Kd4 Rf1 75. Ke5 Re1+ 76. Kd6 $1 { White has to sacrifice a pawn. } 76... Re4 ( 76... Kf6 77. Rc6 $1 Re4 78. Kd5+ Kf5 79. Rf6+ $1 ) ( 76... Rd1+ 77. Kc7 Rd4 78. b5 Rb4 79. Kd6 $1 Rd4+ 80. Kc5 ( { or } 80. Ke5 $18 ) ) 77. b5 Rxf4 78. Rc6 { The score became 4-4. } ( 78. Rc6 g5 79. b6 g4 80. b7 Rb4 81. Kc7 g3 82. b8=Q Rxb8 83. Kxb8 { is mentioned in the book about rook endings by Levenfish and Smyslov. } ) 1-0
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "12"]
[White "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Black "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "A25"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "78"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e3 d6 6. Nge2 Be6 $5 7. d4 $1 { A novelty confuses Levenfish. } 7... Bxc4 $2 ( 7... exd4 8. Nxd4 Nge7 { (Saidy-Addison, New York 1963/4). } ) 8. d5 Nb8 $5 ( 8... Bxe2 $6 9. Qxe2 ) 9. Qa4+ b5 10. Nxb5 Bxb5 11. Qxb5+ Nd7 12. e4 Ne7 13. O-O O-O 14. Nc3 Rb8 15. Qe2 c5 $6 ( 15... f5 { takes the initiative. } ) 16. dxc6 Nxc6 17. Be3 Nc5 $6 { loses time. } ( 17... Nd4 18. Qd2 Qa5 { (Levenfish). } ) 18. Qd2 Ne6 19. Rac1 Ned4 20. f4 Qa5 21. f5 f6 22. Rf2 $1 Kh8 $6 ( 22... gxf5 23. exf5 Rfd8 24. Nd5 Qxa2 $5 25. Nxf6+ Bxf6 26. Rxc6 Rbc8 { counters. } ) 23. Qd1 $1 { After a rook has taken over the
protection of the b-pawn, the queen can swing to the king's side. } 23... Rbd8 ( 23... gxf5 24. exf5 Rfd8 25. Bxc6 Nxc6 26. Ne4 d5 27. Nxf6 $1 ) 24. fxg6 hxg6 25. Qg4 Ne7 26. Bf1 $1 d5 ( 26... Rc8 { protects c4 without a sacrifice. } 27. Qh4+ Kg8 28. Bh3 $18 ) 27. Nxd5 Nxd5 28. exd5 Nf5 29. Bc5 Bh6 30. b4 Qa3 { A direct attack on the king begins. } 31. Qxg6 Qxc1 32. Rxf5 Bg5 33. h4 Rg8 34. Qh5+ Bh6 35. Rxf6 Kh7 36. Qf5+ Kh8 37. Qh5 Kh7 38. Qf5+ Kh8 39. Qh5 Kh7 { Black overstepped the time limit. The challenger scored match point. } ( 39... Kh7 40. Rxh6+ $1 Qxh6 41. Bd3+ Kg7 42. Qxe5+ Qf6 43. Qc7+ Qf7 44. Bd4+ $18 ) 1-0
[Event "Soviet-ch"]
[Site "Moscow/Leningrad"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "13"]
[White "Levenfish, Gregory"]
[Black "Botvinnik, Michael"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "B14"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 O-O 6. Qb3 { Levenfish makes a more ambitious move than in game 11. } 6... c5 $1 { Botvinnik has prepared an extraordinary novelty. } 7. cxd5 cxd4 8. exd4 Nbd7 9. Be2 Nb6 10. Bf3 Bf5 ( 10... Bg4 { regains the pawn quickly, but Black playes ambitiously. } ) 11. Rd1 Qd7 12. h3 h5 13. Be5 Rfd8 14. Bxf6 exf6 $6 { The d-pawns become passed. } ( 14... Bxf6 15. Nge2 h4 16. O-O Rac8 { (Gulko-Tukmakov, Vilnius 1978). } ) 15. Nge2 Rac8 16. O-O Nc4 ( 16... h4 $1 { prevents 17.Ng3. } ) 17. Ng3 Nd6 { Blockades. } 18. Rfe1 Bf8 19. Be4 { Creates openness. } 19... Bxe4 20. Ngxe4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 Kg7 22. Qf3 $5 { White wants to attack the king. } ( 22. Nc3 Bd6 23. Rd3 { keeps the positional advantage. } ) 22... f5 23. Nc3 b5 24. a3 a5 25. Qg3 b4 26. axb4 axb4 { The action on the queen's side almost brought equality. } 27. Ne2 Kh7 ( 27... Bd6 { creates a fortress (Euwe). } ) 28. Nf4 Re8 $6 ( 28... Bh6 { wants to exchange. } 29. Nd3 $6 Qxd5 30. Nxb4 Qb7 31. Nd3 Rxd4 $11 ) 29. Qf3 Rcd8 $2 ( 29... Qd6 { forestalls the next move. } ) 30. Re5 $1 Bg7 ( 30... Bd6 $2 31. Nxh5 $1 Bxe5 32. dxe5 gxh5 33. Qxh5+ Kg7 34. Qg5+ Kf8 ( 34... Kh7 35. Rd4 ) 35. Qh6+ Kg8 ( 35... Ke7 36. d6+ ) 36. Rd3 $1 f4 37. Qxf4 { Black has no defence despite the extra rook (Levenfish). } ) 31. Rde1 $1 { An exchange is sacrificed for the attack. } 31... Rc8 $2 ( { The crucial variation is } 31... Bxe5 32. dxe5 Qc7 $1 { Threatens pawn e5. } ( 32... Qa7 33. Qd3 Qc5 34. Nxh5 $1 gxh5 35. Qxf5+ Kg7 36. Qg5+ Kf8 37. Qh6+ Ke7 38. d6+ Kd7 39. Rc1 $18 ) 33. Qe3 Qc4 $1 { (threatens ..Rxd5) } 34. e6 $1 Qc7 { (returns to the defence) } 35. Ra1 Ra8 36. Rc1 Qd8 37. Rc6 fxe6 38. Nxe6 Qb8 39. g3 { Black has a difficult defence. } ) 32. d6 $1 { Threatens 33.Re7. } 32... Rf8 33. Rd5 Rfe8 34. Rxe8 Rxe8 35. Nd3 Rd8 36. Nc5 ( 36. Nxb4 { is materialistic. } ) 36... Qc6 37. d7 Bxd4 { At last the pawn is regained. } 38. Rxd4 Qxc5 39. Qd5 Qxd5 40. Rxd5 Kg7 41. Kf1 { The match ended equal (+5, =3, -5). Levenfish kept
the title 'champion of the Soviet Union'. The games were fighting chess with
errors, like the world championship match of the same year.  Botvinnik became
the representative of the Soviet Union in AVRO 1938 by intrigues. Although he
became third, he was able to discuss a match with Alekhine. The war ended the
preparations. } ( 41. Kf1 Kf6 42. Ke2 Ke6 43. Rd4 Rxd7 44. Rxd7 Kxd7 45. Kd3 { White gains the distant passed pawn in a pawn ending. } ) 1-0
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D17"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "99"]

{ The rematch of the World championship was organised in the Netherlands two
years after the first match. This time the players visited nine cities.
Alekhine playing strength decreased slowly. Therefore Euwe started as the
favourite. } 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 Nbd7 7. Nxc4 Qc7 8. g3 e5 9. dxe5 Nxe5 10. Bf4 Nfd7 11. Bg2 f6 12. O-O Rd8 13. Qc1 Be6 14. Ne4 $1 { A theoretical duel is continued. Euwe plays a move of Tuern. } 14... Bb4 ( 14... Bxc4 15. Qxc4 Nxc4 16. Bxc7 Rc8 17. Bf4 { favours White (Euwe). } ) 15. a5 O-O 16. a6 ( { Alekhine's idea } 16. Ra4 $1 Be7 17. Qc3 { keeps a slight advantage. } ) 16... bxa6 $6 ( 16... b6 { does not ruin the queen's side. } ) 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Nc5 Bxc5 ( 18... Bc8 $2 19. Bxe5 Qxe5 20. Qc4+ { costs a piece. } ) 19. Qxc5 g5 $2 { The king's side is ruined. } ( 19... Qb6 $1 20. Qc3 { (Euwe). } ) 20. Be3 Bd5 21. Rxa6 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 ( 22. Rxa7 $2 Bxf1 23. Rxc7 Rd1 24. Qc2 Bxe2+ 25. Kg2 Bf3+ 26. Kh3 Nf7 { ends terribly. } ) 22... Rf7 23. Rfa1 $1 Qd6 ( 23... Qb8 $1 { tries to keep material equality (Alekhine) } 24. Bd4 { and pawn a7 will be lost anyway. } ) 24. Qxd6 Rxd6 25. Rxa7 ( 25. b4 $1 { (Euwe). } ) 25... Rxa7 26. Rxa7 Nc4 27. Bc5 Re6 ( 27... Rd2 28. Be7 $1 ) 28. Bd4 Rxe2 29. Bxf6 g4 $1 { Suddenly Black threatens 30...Ne3+ 31.Kg1 Re1#. } ( 29... Nxb2 $2 30. Ra2 { loses a piece. } ) 30. Kf1 $1 Rc2 31. Rg7+ Kf8 32. Rxg4 Nxb2 33. Bxb2 Rxb2 34. Rc4 Rb6 35. Ke2 Kf7 36. Rh4 Kg6 37. Rf4 Rb3 38. Rc4 Rb6 39. Ke3 Kf5 40. g4+ Ke6 ( 40... Kg5 41. f3 { (Euwe). } ) 41. f4 Kd5 42. Rd4+ Ke6 43. f5+ Ke7 44. Re4+ Kf7 45. h4 Rb1 46. Kf4 Rc1 47. Ra4 h6 48. Ra7+ Kg8 49. g5 Rc4+ 50. Ke5 $1 ( 50. Ke5 Rxh4 51. g6 { and 52.Kf6. } ) 1-0
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D17"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 { Bogoljubov played this move twice against Alekhine in Wiesbaden 1929. } 7. Bg5 Bb4 8. Nxc4 ( 8. f3 { is sharper. } ) 8... Qd5 $1 9. Bxf6 ( 9. Qb3 Na6 { is playable too. } ) 9... Qxc4 ( 9... gxf6 10. Ne3 Qa5 11. Qb3 { is good for White (Alekhine). } ) 10. Qd2 gxf6 11. e4 Qb3 12. exf5 Nd7 13. fxe6 fxe6 14. Be2 O-O-O 15. O-O e5 $1 { Euwe takes the initiative. } ( 15... Nb6 16. Rfc1 $1 { gives no advantage } ) 16. dxe5 Nxe5 17. Qc1 Bxc3 ( 17... Rhg8 $1 18. Ne4 Nf3+ 19. Bxf3 Qxf3 20. Ng3 Qg4 $11 { (Alekhine). } ) 18. bxc3 Rhg8 19. Qe3 Kb8 $6 ( 19... Qd5 20. g3 Qd2 { (Euwe). } ) 20. g3 Rd7 21. Rab1 $1 Qc2 ( { Avoids } 21... Qxa4 $2 22. Ra1 ) 22. Rfe1 Qd2 23. Qxd2 Rxd2 24. f4 Ng6 25. Bc4 Rgd8 $6 ( { A fine defence is } 25... Rg7 $1 26. Re8+ Kc7 27. Kh1 b6 28. Rbe1 Rgd7 ) 26. Re6 R8d6 27. Rbe1 Kc7 28. Rxd6 Rxd6 ( 28... Kxd6 $2 29. Bg8 { leaves the position open. } ) 29. h4 Kd7 30. Kf2 Ne7 31. Kf3 Nd5 $2 ( { Euwe finds } 31... f5 { necessary. White answers } 32. h5 { in order to prepare g4. } ) 32. Bd3 $1 h6 33. Bf5+ Kd8 34. Kg4 $1 Ne7 ( { Alekhine's great point is } 34... Nxc3 35. Kh5 Nxa4 36. Kxh6 { and the h-pawn decides. } ) 35. Bb1 Ke8 ( 35... Rd5 36. f5 Kd7 37. Rf1 { and Kh5. } ) 36. Kh5 Kf7 ( 36... f5 $1 37. Bxf5 Rd5 38. g4 Kf7 39. c4 $1 Rc5 40. Re5 { (Belavenets and Riumin). } ) 37. Ba2+ Kf8 38. Kxh6 Rd2 39. Be6 Rd3 40. g4 Rxc3 41. g5 { Euwe played wonderfully during the transition from the
opening to the middle game and collapsed thereafter. } 1-0
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D46"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "120"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 Bb4 { Chigorin's move avoids the Meraner. } 7. O-O O-O 8. a3 Bxc3 ( 8... Ba5 { and 8. ..Bd6 have become more usual. } ) 9. bxc3 Qc7 10. Nd2 e5 $5 11. Bb2 e4 { The closed centre restricts the two bishops. } 12. Be2 b5 $5 13. cxb5 cxb5 14. a4 $1 ( 14. Bxb5 Rb8 { is too greedy. } ) 14... bxa4 15. c4 $1 dxc4 16. Nxc4 Nb6 $1 17. Nxb6 axb6 18. Rxa4 Bb7 19. Rxa8 Rxa8 { White will take the initiative on the queen's side. } 20. Qb1 Re8 { The blockade ..Nd5 is prepared. } 21. Rc1 Qd6 22. Qc2 h6 ( 22... Nd5 $1 { Maroczy). } ) 23. Qc7 Qxc7 24. Rxc7 Rc8 25. Rxc8+ Bxc8 26. f3 Bb7 $1 27. Kf2 Ne8 $6 ( 27... Bc6 28. Ba3 b5 29. Bd1 g5 { keeps the opponent at a distance. } ) 28. Ba3 Bd5 $6 29. Be7 $6 ( 29. fxe4 $1 Bxe4 30. Bf3 Nf6 31. Kg3 { and the king enters (Euwe and Botwinnik). } ) 29... f5 30. fxe4 fxe4 $6 ( 30... Bxe4 $5 31. Bd8 ( 31. Bc4+ { does not refute. } 31... Kh7 32. d5 Kg6 33. d6 Nf6 34. Be6 Bc6 { and the pawn makes no further advance. } ) 31... Nf6 32. Bxb6 Nd5 { blockades the centre. } ) 31. Bd8 Nd6 32. Bxb6 Nc4 $1 33. Bc7 Kf7 34. h4 g5 $1 35. Bh5+ Ke7 ( 35... Kf6 $2 36. Bd8+ ) 36. Bg4 Bb7 37. Be5 $2 ( { Reshevsky analyses the potential way to win } 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Bh2 Bd5 39. Bg1 $1 { The protection of pawn e3 is taken over. } 39... Kf6 40. Ke1 $1 Ke7 41. Bf5 Kd6 42. Kd1 Kc6 43. Kc2 Kb5 44. Kc3 Nb6 45. Bg6 Nc4 46. Be8+ Ka5 47. Bf2 $1 Nb6 48. Be1 Nc4 49. Bc6 $1 { the defence has been taken. } ) 37... Nxe5 $1 { The strength of the exchanges surprised Euwe completely. } 38. dxe5 gxh4 39. Kg1 ( 39. Ke2 Bd5 40. Kd2 Be6 $1 41. Bh3 $1 Bxh3 42. gxh3 Ke6 { and the pawn ending is drawn (Euwe and Maroczy). } ) 39... Ba6 40. Kh2 Kf7 41. Kh3 Bf1 42. Bf5 Ke7 43. Kh2 Be2 44. Kh3 Bf1 45. Bxe4 ( 45. Kxh4 Bxg2 $11 ) 45... Ke6 46. Kxh4 Kxe5 47. Bf3 Kf6 48. Kh5 Kg7 49. e4 Bd3 50. e5 Bg6+ 51. Kg4 Kf7 52. Bd5+ Ke7 53. Kf4 Bh7 54. g3 Kf8 55. Be4 Bg8 56. Bf3 Ke7 57. Kg4 Ke6 58. Kf4 Ke7 59. Bg4 Bb3 60. Bc8 Kf7 { Alekhine escaped with great difficulty. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D17"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "53"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 e6 7. f3 Bb4 8. Bg5 ( { The witty } 8. e4 Bxe4 9. fxe4 Nxe4 { stems from Vidmar-Mikenas, Prague 1931. } ) 8... c5 9. dxc5 Qd5 $5 10. Qxd5 exd5 11. e4 $1 dxe4 $2 ( { The correct variation } 11... Bxe4 $1 12. fxe4 Nxe4 13. Bd2 Nxd2 14. Kxd2 Nc6 { is played after half a century (Winants-Ljubojevic, Brussels 1988). } ) 12. Nxc4 O-O 13. Bxf6 gxf6 14. O-O-O ( 14. Nd6 { is dangerous too. } ) 14... exf3 ( 14... Bxc3 15. bxc3 exf3 16. Nd6 $1 ) 15. Nd5 ( 15. Nd6 $6 Bd7 $1 16. Nd5 Bxc5 $1 ) 15... Nc6 16. gxf3 $2 ( { An advantage keeps } 16. Nd6 $1 Bg6 17. Nxb4 Nxb4 18. gxf3 { (Alekhine). } ) 16... Bxc5 $1 17. Nxf6+ Kh8 18. Rd5 Nd4 $1 19. Ne4 ( { White does not win a piece by } 19. b4 Be7 $1 20. Rxd4 Bxf6 21. Rf4 $4 Bg5 { (Euwe). } ) 19... Bxe4 20. fxe4 Rad8 21. Ne5 Rxd5 22. exd5 Re8 { Euwe fears the potential strength of the d-pawn and forces a draw. } ( 22... Bd6 $5 23. Nc4 Bf4+ 24. Kb1 Rd8 25. Bg2 Rc8 $1 { keeps the game going. } ) 23. Nxf7+ Kg7 24. Ng5 h6 25. Ne6+ ( { White does not like } 25. Nh3 $6 Re1+ 26. Kd2 Nf3+ 27. Kd3 Re3+ ) 25... Nxe6 26. dxe6 Rxe6 27. Bc4 { This time Euwe defended strongly in the endgame. } 1/2-1/2
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Euwe, Max"]
[Black "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D28"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "81"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bxc4 e6 6. O-O c5 7. Qe2 Nc6 8. Nc3 b5 9. Bb3 Be7 $2 { An important tempo is lost, according to Euwe. } ( 9... cxd4 10. Rd1 Bb7 { (Maroczy). } ) 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. e4 $1 b4 12. e5 $1 ( 12. Na4 Be7 13. Be3 { is great too (Botvinnik). } ) 12... bxc3 13. exf6 gxf6 ( { Maroczy analyses } 13... Qxf6 14. Qc4 $1 cxb2 15. Qxc5 bxc1=Q ( 15... bxa1=Q 16. Qxc6+ Ke7 17. Rd1 Qf5 18. Ba3+ Kf6 19. Rxa1 $18 ) 16. Raxc1 Bd7 17. Ba4 Rc8 18. Rfd1 { and White has a considerable positional advantage. } ) 14. Qc4 Qb6 15. Qxc3 Nd4 { Black wants to simplify. } 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Ba4+ Ke7 ( 17... Bd7 18. Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Rd1 e5 20. Be3 Rac8 21. Bxd4 $1 { (Euwe). } ) 18. Be3 $3 { Interference on diagonals crowns the combination. } 18... Bxc3 $6 ( { More resistance offers } 18... Rd8 $1 19. Rad1 e5 20. Bxd4 Rxd4 21. Rxd4 exd4 22. Qf3 Rb8 { (Euwe). } ) 19. Bxb6 Be5 ( 19... Bxb2 20. Bc5+ Kd8 21. Rfd1+ Kc7 22. Bd6+ Kb7 23. Rab1 $18 { (Euwe). } ) ( 19... Bb4 20. Rfd1 $1 Rb8 21. Bc7 Rb7 22. Rac1 { and a3 will win (Euwe). } ) 20. Rad1 $1 Kf8 ( { A nice end is } 20... Bd6 $2 21. Rxd6 $1 Kxd6 22. Rd1+ Ke5 23. Bc6 { (Euwe). } ) 21. f4 $1 Bxb2 22. Rf3 $1 Bb7 23. Rg3 { Black has no defence against the threat 24.Bc5#. } 23... Ba3 ( 23... Rc8 24. Rd8+ Rxd8 25. Bc5+ Rd6 26. Bxd6# ) 24. Rxa3 Rg8 25. Rg3 Rxg3 26. hxg3 Bd5 27. Bb3 Bxb3 28. axb3 Ke8 29. b4 Rb8 30. Bc5 Rc8 31. Ra1 Rc6 32. Kf2 f5 33. Ke3 f6 34. Kd4 Kf7 35. Kc4 Kg6 36. Rd1 Kh5 37. Rd6 Rxd6 38. Bxd6 Kg4 39. Be7 Kxg3 40. Bxf6 Kxf4 41. Kc5 { Alekhine was defeated brilliantly. } 1-0
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "D10"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "45"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 dxc4 4. e4 e5 5. Bxc4 $6 exd4 { Euwe gives a sound answer to a doubtful idea. } 6. Nf3 $3 { The turning point in Euwe's world championship has been reached. } 6... b5 $4 ( { The crucial variation is } 6... dxc3 7. Bxf7+ Ke7 8. Qb3 $1 cxb2 $3 ( 8... Nf6 { The variation is almost forced. } 9. e5 Ne4 10. O-O $1 Qb6 11. Qc4 $1 cxb2 12. Bxb2 Qxb2 13. Qxe4 Kxf7 14. Ng5+ Ke8 15. Qf4 Be7 16. Qf7+ Kd8 17. Rad1+ Bd7 18. Ne6+ Kc8 19. Qxe7 Qxe5 20. Rxd7 $1 Nxd7 21. Rd1 Kb8 22. Qxd7 a6 23. Rb1 { (Botvinnik) } 23... Ra7 $1 24. Nd8 Ka8 $1 25. Qc8+ Qb8 26. Qxb8+ Kxb8 27. Nxc6+ Ka8 28. Nxa7 Kxa7 $11 ) 9. Bxb2 Qb6 10. Ba3+ c5 11. Bxg8 Rxg8 12. Bxc5+ $1 Qxc5 13. O-O $1 Qh5 $3 ( { The timid } 13... Rh8 $2 { loses due to } 14. Rac1 Qb6 15. Rxc8 Qxb3 16. axb3 g6 17. Rd1 ) 14. Qxg8 Be6 15. Qh8 Nc6 $19 { (Goncharov). } ) 7. Nxb5 $1 Ba6 $6 ( { Poor Max had missed } 7... cxb5 8. Bd5 ) 8. Qb3 $1 Qe7 ( 8... Bxb5 $2 9. Bxf7+ Kd7 10. Nxd4 $1 ( 10. Bxg8 $2 Rxg8 11. Qxg8 $2 Bb4+ ) ) 9. O-O ( 9. Nd6+ Qxd6 10. Bxf7+ Kd8 11. Bxg8 { wins material. } ) 9... Bxb5 ( 9... cxb5 10. Bd5 Bb7 11. Qxb5+ $18 ) 10. Bxb5 Nf6 ( 10... cxb5 $2 11. Qd5 $18 ) 11. Bc4 Nbd7 12. Nxd4 Rb8 13. Qc2 Qc5 14. Nf5 Ne5 15. Bf4 Nh5 16. Bxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qxc5 Bxc5 18. Bxe5 Rb5 19. Bd6 Bb6 20. b4 Rd8 21. Rad1 c5 22. bxc5 Bxc5 23. Rd5 { The humiliation had a strong effect on Euwe. He lost the next game by blunders.
His superiority lasted from the 'Incident in Ermelo' til the 'Disaster in
Haarlem'. } 1-0
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[ECO "E34"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. e3 c5 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nbd7 { It is inconsistent to play the quiet Nimzo-Indian and choose a sharp variation. } 9. f3 $5 { A novelty starts the struggle for the centre. } 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 Nb6 11. Ne2 Bd7 12. Nf4 ( 12. e4 { might be better, but Alekhine wants active play by the pieces. } ) 12... Qd6 13. Bd2 { Threatens 14.Bb4. } 13... Rc8 14. Qb2 Nfd5 $1 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bb4 Qe6 17. Kf2 Na4 $5 ( 17... Nc4 $6 18. Bxc4 Rxc4 19. Rac1 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Bc6 21. e4 $1 Kd7 $1 { (Euwe and Botvinnik) } 22. exd5 Bxd5 23. Qc2 $1 { and a dangerous attack. } ) ( 17... f5 18. Bc5 $1 Kf7 19. Bxb6 Qxb6 20. Qxb6 axb6 { seems to be playable. } ) 18. Qd2 b6 $2 ( 18... f5 19. Bd3 Kf7 20. Rhe1 Rhe8 { and Black can defend
himself against the attack in the centre (Euwe and Alekhine). } ) 19. Ba6 Rb8 ( 19... Rd8 20. Rhe1 f6 21. e4 Kf7 22. Bb7 $18 ) 20. e4 $1 b5 ( 20... dxe4 21. Rhe1 $1 ) 21. Qf4 $1 Rb6 22. exd5 $1 Qxd5 23. Rhe1+ Be6 24. Rac1 f6 25. Rc7 Kd8 26. Rxa7 { Euwe was humiliated for the third time in a row. He recovered somewhat,
but the level of the games remained poor. } 1-0
[Event "Wch17"]
[Site "The Netherlands"]
[Date "1937.??.??"]
[Round "16"]
[White "Alekhine, Alexander"]
[Black "Euwe, Max"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "JvR"]
[EventDate "1937.??.??"]
[FEN "6k1/3bbpp1/p3pn2/1p1q2N1/1P2N2Q/6P1/P3PP1P/2B3K1 w - - 0 25"]
[PlyCount "6"]
[SetUp "1"]

{ Black has compensation for the pawn. } 25. Nc3 Qe5 $2 ( 25... Qc4 $1 26. Qxc4 bxc4 27. a3 Nd5 $11 ) 26. Bb2 $2 ( 26. Qh8+ $1 Kxh8 27. Nxf7+ Kh7 28. Nxe5 Bxb4 29. Nxd7 Nxd7 30. Ne4 { and the endgame is probably won (Alekhine). } ) 26... Bc6 $2 ( 26... Qf5 $1 { is correct. } ) 27. a3 $2 ( 27. Qh8+ $1 Kxh8 28. Nxf7+ Kh7 29. Nxe5 $18 ) 27... Bd6 { The game lasted 65 moves. } 1/2-1/2