chess

Fifty years ago this month, Alexander Alekhine died, the only world champion to carry the title to his grave. With imagination, competitiveness and technique all of the highest calibre, Alekhine was perhaps the most complete player who ever lived. He was also a part-time alcoholic and probable bigamist, but, taking neither wine nor women as seriously as chess, these activities rarely affected his successes.

The following game is a lightweight from a simultaneous display given in 1924. After characteristically energetic play in the opening, Alekhine polishes off the game very neatly with 16.Qxb5+! and 17.Rfe1! ready to mate with Nf6 if the queen is taken on either occasion.

White: Alekhine

Black: Kussman

1 d4 d5 2 Nf3 Nf6 3 c4 e6 4 Nc3 c5 5 cxd5 exd5 6 Bg5 Be6 7 Bxf6 Qxf6 8 e4 dxe4 9 Bb5+ Bd7 10 Nxe4 Qb6 11 Bxd7+ Nxd7 12 0-0 cxd4 13 Nxd4 Rd8 14 Nf5 Ne5 15 Qe2 g6 16 Qb5+ Nd7 17 Rfe1 Bb4 18 Nf6+ Kf8 19 Nxd7+ Rxd7 20 Qe5 resigns.