A few days after Alexander Alekhine won the Capablanca - Alekhine World Championship Match (1927), both masters made a general agreement to play a rematch sometime within the next year, under the same rules as they had played the first match. Jose Raul Capablanca did not, however, issue a formal challenge at this time.<1> On February 10, 1928 Capablanca wrote FIDE president Alexander Rueb, explaining his ideas about future changes to the world chess championship. Capablanca recommended altering the playing times and reducing the number of games to 16. He also forwarded this letter to Alekhine.<2> Alekhine interpreted this as a wish to change the conditions for their planned rematch, and wrote Capablanca that he refused to play under any new conditions.<3> Capablanca answered publicly, explaining that he had been talking about future matches, not the match with Alekhine, which "he hoped to arrange... under precisely the same conditions as those which obtained at Buenos Aires."<4> In the meantime, on August 24, 1928 Efim Bogoljubov now challenged Alekhine to a world title match.<5> Alekhine accepted in principle, provided that Bogoljubov could "give the guarantees provided for under the rules of London of 1922," which included a guaranteed $10,000 purse.<6> On October 8, 1928 Capablanca now formally challenged Alekhine to a rematch.<6> Alekhine wrote Capablanca that he would give Bogoljubov until January 15, 1929 to "arrange for and give me the guarantees provided for under the rules of London of 1922... In case my match with Mr. Bogoljubov should take place.... I would then be ready to accept your challenge, after the end of that encounter."<6> In November 1928, American organizers offered Bradley Beach, New Jersey as a venue for an Alekhine-Capablanca rematch, but there exists no evidence that they ever raised the required $10,000 purse.<7> In January 1929, Alekhine announced that "The match with Bogoljubow interests me far more than the battle with Capablanca... Bogoljubow is a much more serious opponent."<8> In August 1929, when it became clear that Bogoljubov could not guarantee a $10,000 purse, Alekhine agreed to play him for a smaller amount.<9>
Efim Dmitriyevich Bogoljubov was born April 14, 1889 in Stanislavitsk, near Kiev, Russian Empire (today Ukraine).<10> During the 1920s he posted a series of strong results. He drew the Alekhine - Bogoljubov (1921) match, and finished first over Alekhine at Bad Pistyan (1922). After sharing first with Alekhine and Geza Maroczy at Karlsbad (1923), he won both the USSR Championship (1924) and the USSR Championship (1925). At Moscow (1925) he finished first over Emanuel Lasker and reigning world champion Capablanca. Bogoljubov was also the FIDE champion, a title he had won twice in succession: Bogoljubov - Euwe: First FIDE Championship (1928) and Bogoljubov - Euwe: Second FIDE Championship (1928).<11> At Bad Kissingen (1928) he triumphed over a group of very strong masters, including Capablanca. Despite these substantial successes, Bogoljubov's play and results also suffered from inconsistency. The "Wiener Schachzeitung" noted that prior to the match, no one in the chess world had even the slightest doubt about Alekhine winning, except for Bogoljubov himself.<12>
The match began September 6, 1929 under the following conditions: Alekhine would get $6,000 dollars win or lose, with any surplus going to Bogoljubov. A winner would be declared if he scored 15½ points with 6 wins from a maximum of 30 games.<9> Unlike the Capablanca - Alekhine World Championship Match (1927), which had been played in private, the Alekhine-Bogoljubov match would be played in public.<13> The organizers insisted on this, in order to raise money from ticket sales.<14> Only those cities that contributed to the purse would be allowed to host the match: Wiesbaden (games 1-8; 24-25), Heidelberg (games 9-11), Berlin (games 12-17), The Hague (games 18-19; 23), Rotterdam (game 20), and Amsterdam (games 21-22).<15> Emanuel Lasker served as arbiter in the Berlin games.<16>
Alekhine won the <1st game>-<insert game link here> Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1929, but Bogoljubov kept pace, evening the score 1-1 after a win in <game 4>-<insert game link here> Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929. The world champion won the <next game>-<insert game link here> Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1929, and Bogoljubov came right back again to win <game 6>-<insert game link here> Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929, tying the score at 2-2. Alekhine attributed this loss to an "enforced exchange of queens" on move 15 which produced a position that "could not be defended against by accurate play."<17> Capablanca was not impressed, writing to Norbert Lederer "...can you imagine B. winning two games from me or Dr. L. so early?"<18> The world champion now began to draw away with two consecutive victories. Alekhine regarded his win with the black pieces in <game 8>-<insert game link here> Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929 to be among his best, featuring an incisive mating combination beginning with 26...Ng3+!<19> The match was now interrupted by a scheduled two week break so that Alekhine could attend the 6th FIDE congress in Venice.<20> On resumption, Alekhine extended his lead to four games, but Bogoljubov clawed back to win games <13>-<insert game link here> Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1929 and <14>-<insert game link here> Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1929. This would be the challenger's last real resistance. Alekhine now won five of the next eight games, putting the match well out of reach. The <final game>-<insert game link here> Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1929 proved a fitting example of the whole match, which featured exciting, but risky tactical chess throughout. The "Wiener Schachzeitung" commented that the games were played in "Wild West style," and that Alekhine had won by adapting himself to Bogoljubov's specialty, "the field of tactics."<12>
After the match, the "Allgemeine Zeitung" asked Alekhine what he thought were the most significant aspects of the contest. The world champion addressed Emanuel Lasker's prediction that chess would eventually succumb to "draw death,"<21> explaining that the notion of "draw death in chess is senseless... that is the fault not of chess but the players concerned."<22> Asked to compare Capablanca and Bogoljubov, Alekhine reckoned that his most recent foe was "more dangerous, although it is much more difficult to win against Capablanca."<22> In an interview with a Düsseldorf newspaper, Bogoljubov maintained that "Now nobody has a chance to win a match with Alekhine." He went on to say that he "would not advise (Capablanca) to play a rematch, because after this new bout, his aura has completely darkened."<23>
NOTES
1 "American Chess Bulletin" (March 1928), pp.45-47. Edward Winter, "Capablanca: a compendium of games, notes, articles, correspondence, illustrations and other rare materials on the Cuban chess genius José Raúl Capablanca, 1888-1942 (McFarland 1989), p.209; "American Chess Bulletin" (July-Aug 1928), p.108. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" pp.211-212
2 "American Chess Bulletin" (May 1928), pp.86-87. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca," pp.207-299
3 "American Chess Bulletin" (March 1928), pp.45-47. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.209
4 "American Chess Bulletin" (July-Aug 1928), p.108. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" pp.211-212
5 "American Chess Bulletin" (Sept-Oct 1928), p.133. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.213
6 "American Chess Bulletin" (Dec 1928), pp. 174-175. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.213
7 W. H. W., "Daily Mail" (16 Nov 1928), p.17. In Edward Winter, <Chess Note 8193> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
8 "Deutsche Schachblätter" (1 Feb 1929), pp.35-37. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p. 215
9 "Wiener Schachzeitung" (Aug 1929), p.253. In <ANNO / Österreichische Nationalbibliothek> http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/a...
10 Jeremy Gaige, "Chess Personalia- A Biobibliography" (MacFarland 1987), p.44
11 The FIDE champion was not considered to be world champion. See Edward Winter, <"FIDE Championship (1928)"> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
12 "Weltmeister Aljechin." "Wiener Schachzeitung" (Nov 1929), pp.337-338. In <ANNO / Österreichische Nationalbibliothek> http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/a...
13 Edward Winter, <Chess Note 7567> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
14 Leonard Skinner and Robert Verhoeven, "Alexander Alekhine's Chess Games, 1902-1946" (MacFarland 1998), p.364
15 Skinner and Verhoeven, pp.364-371
16 "Wiener Schachzeitung" (Oct 1929), pp.311-313. <ANNO / Österreichische Nationalbibliothek> http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/a...
17 Edward Winter, <"Seven Alekhine Articles"> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
18 "The Russell Collection" Item 1494. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.217
19 Alexander Alekhine, "My Best Games of Chess 1924-1937" (Harcourt, Brace and Company 1948), pp.59-60
20 <"Tidskrift för Schack"> (Nov-Dec 1929), p.263 http://www.schack.se/tfsarkiv/histo...
21 Emanuel Lasker, "Mein Wettkampf mit Capablanca" (1926 ed.), pp.32-33. In Edward Winter, <Chess Note 5437> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
22 "Conversation with the world chess champion" "Allgemeine Zeitung." Reprinted in the "Aachener Anzeiger – Politisches Tageblatt" 30 Nov 1929. In Edward Winter, <Chess Note 7567> http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
23 Yuri Shaburov, <"Alexander Alekhine- The Undefeated Champion"> (The Voice 1992), p.43 (pagination from the online edition) http://www.litmir.net/br/?b=160451&...
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"American Chess Bulletin" direct quote of a letter sent to them by Alekhine about a "match revanche" with Capablanca: "It is perfectly evident that the match in question, in order to justify its denomination- revanche- must be played on <<<absolutely the same conditions>>> as the first one- namely the rules elaborated by Capablanca himself in London, 1922." <"American Chess Bulletin" Feb. 1928, p. 29.In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" (McFarland 1989), p. 207>
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On February 10, 1928, Capablanca wrote a letter to FIDE president Alexander Rueb, explaining his views on future changes to the world chess championship.
Capablanca wanted to alter the playing times and reduce the number of games...
Capablanca forwarded the letter to to Alekhine.
<"American Chess Bulletin" (May 1928), pp.86-87. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca," pp.207-299.>
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In a letter to Capablanca dated February 29, 1928, Alekhine reminded Capablanca that on December 12, shortly after the Capablanca-Alekhine 1927 match, both agreed that a rematch should be played under exactly the same conditions as the first match.<"American Chess Bulletin" (March 1928), pp.45-47. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.209>
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The July-August 1928 the "American Chess Bulletin" reported Capablanca's public reaction to Alekhine's letter: "Capablanca had written that letter (to Rueb), he said, not for the purpose of suggesting any new conditions for the return match, as to which he and his rival had had a thorough understanding before parting in Buenos Aires, but in order to outline his general ideas on the subject for the guidance of Dr. Rueb and his associates during the discussion of the world championship at the annual business meeting of the International Federation at The Hague later this month. Capablanca added that he hoped to arrange the match with Alekhine udner precisely the same conditions as those which obtained at Buenos Aires." <"American Chess Bulletin" (July-Aug 1928), p.108. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" pp.211-212>
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A few days after he had won at Bad Kissingen on August 24, 1928, Bogoljubov challenged Alekhine to a world title match. <"American Chess Bulletin" (Sept-Oct 1928), p.133. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.213>
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Alekhine accepted in principle, provided that Bogoljubov could "give the guarantees provided for under the rules of London of 1922." <"American Chess Bulletin" (Dec 1928), pp. 174-175. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.213>
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On October 8, 1928, Capablanca formally challenged Alekhine to a rematch <"American Chess Bulletin" (Dec 1928), pp. 174-175. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.213>
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On October 12, 1928, Alekhine accepted Capablanca's challenge with conditions. Bogoljugov would be given until January 15, 1929 to "arrange for and give me the guarantees provided for under the rules of London of 1922. In case these guarantees should not be forthcoming, I would hold myself readdy... to accept your challenge on the exact basis of the regulations of London... In case my match with Mr. Bogoljubov should take place.... I would then be ready to accept your challenge, after the end of that encounter." <"American Chess Bulletin" (Dec 1928), pp. 174-175. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.213>
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Alekhine held Capablanca to the London Rules stipulation that the world champion "need not defend" his title "for a lower purse than $10,000 U.S. dollars."<"American Chess Bulletin" Sept-Oct 1922, p.150. In Winter, "Capablanca" p.188> Capablanca's inability to raise this purse became the main obstacle to a rematch.
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Capa's inability to raise the funds- Winter "Capablanca" the Cuban government cancelling their $5000 dollar purse pledge in 1929
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November 16, 1928
In 1928, American organizers offered Bradley Beach, N.J. as a venue for the rematch, but there exists no evidence that they ever raised the required $10,000 purse.<W.H.W.,"Daily Mail" 16 November 1928 p.17. In Edward Winter, Chessnote 8193,http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...>
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Alekhine announced that "The match with Bogoljubow interests me far more than the battle with Capablanca... Bogoljubow is a much more serious opponent."<"Deutsche Schachblatter" 1 Feb. 1929, pp.35-37. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p. 215>
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when it became clear that Bogoljubov could not guarantee a $10,000 purse, Alekhine agreed to play him for a smaller amount.<"Wiener Schachzeitung" 29 Aug. 1929, p.253 >
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According to <Alekhine>, all of the games in this match were played in private, with no spectators. The games in <Alekhine's> next title match with <Bogoljubov> were played in public, before spectators.
From an interview with <Alekhine> after his 1929 match with <Bogoljubov>:
INTERVIEWER: ‘Are you satisfied overall with the course of the (1929 Bogoljubov) match?'
ALEKHINE: ‘Yes, the organization was quite good. There is just one thing that I should like to see changed. The games should not be played in public. Instead of a chessplayer, one becomes a performer. The impression given is that the public is more or less interested only in outward appearances, instead of focussing on the game. In this respect it was better in Buenos Aires, as we were not exposed to the eyes of spectators.'
-Edward Winter, Chess Note 7567: http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
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"In a letter to the <<<American Chess Bulletin>>>...Dr. Alekhine... confirmed the report that he had agreed to meet Capablanca during 1929 in a return match, or, as he termed it, a 'match-revanche.'"
<Alekhine: "It is perfectly evident that the match in question, in order to justify its denomination- revanche- must be played on <<<absolutely the same conditions>>> as the first one- namely the rules elaborated by Capablanca himself in London, 1922.">
-"American Chess Bulletin" Feb. 1928, p. 29.
In Edward Winter, "Capablanca"
(McFarland 1989), p. 207
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<Match is relocated to the netherlands and Dr. Rueb welcomes them on October 25 in the "National Schaakgebouw" in the Haag chess club (? <Schachheim>, "Heim" is home/asylum) where games 18, 19 and 23 were played. 20th game in the "Hotel Bristol" in Rotterdam. Games 21 and 23 in the "Militiesaal" in Amsterdam (the masters were welcomed there by Dr. M. Levenbock.Page 321 of the November 1929 'Neue Wiener Schachzeitung'
And then, on page 326 (after the game scores):
The farewell address was given by Jhr. H. Strick van Lindschoten. Both masters departed for Wiesbaden on November 8 and 9. In a short summary of what happened in the Wiesbaden games, Alekhine's victory is reported.
There follows a final report on pages 337-338 of the November 1929 'Neue Wiener Schachzeitung' which I will have a closer look at later. But it's mentioned that the public interest was not as great as could have been expected from WC match in Europe. And some remarks about Capablanca.>
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Course of the Match
First 8 games played in Wiesbaden
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1st game
Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1929 <1-0>
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...
-In <My Best Games Of Chess 1924-1937> p.54
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-<Karpova>:
After 21.0-0
Translation: It appears inconceivable, that such a position can occur in a World Championship match! Black cannot move at all, he is being butchered.
"After the second and third games of my match with E.D. Bogoljubow had terminated in draws after lively encounters, the fourth game again brought a decision and that in favor of the challenger for my title, who thereby evened the score."
"(Bogoljubov) selected..." an "active continuation on his 17th move, which threatened to expose him to danger on his king's wing. This menace became still more acute when he accepted my sacrifice of a pawn on the 21st move, and it is doubtful whether he could have withstood my attack if, for instance, on my 22nd move I had played knight to queen's knight three.<??> Instead, I committed a fundamental oversight in this promising position which cost me two pawns, Bogoljubow attending to the rest of the game in keeping with the accepted procedure."
After the 8th game the match had a scheduled break so that Alekhine could attend the 6th FIDE congress in Venice.
"After two successive defeats Bogoljubow suddenly pulled himself together and produced a genuinely good game- one which admittedly will afford friends of chess much pleasure. The mere fact that for the first time in... our match... the king's pawn opening was adopted serves to give this game a special significance."
Bogoljubov opened with 1.e4 in his remaining games with white.
Kibitzing
