ORIGINAL: Alekhine - Bogoljubov World Championship Rematch (1934)
<1 April - 14 June 1934>
Game Collection: WCC: Alekhine-Bogoljubov 1934 ARCHIVE Contenders
http://books.google.co.kr/books?id=...
NEGOTIATIONS
26 Feb 1929
"Jose Raul Capablanca, formerly chess champion of the world, told the Associated Press today that Alexander A. Alekhine of Russia, present title-holder, has sent him an invitation for a return match, which he has accepted."
Capablanca: "The Cuban Government has materially aided me so that I may continue with my playing and take part in forthcoming international tourneys. I am confident that the crown I lost to Alekhine at Buenos Aires will be regained."
-<"The New York Times" 26 Feb 1929, p.23. In Winter, "Capablanca" p.216>
===
6 Sept - 11 Nov 1929
Alekhine - Bogoljubov World Championship Match (1929)
===
8 Sept 1929
"Havana, 2 September. A credit of $5,000 recently voted by the Havana City Council to pay the expenses of J.R. Capablanca, former world's champion chess master, has been annulled by virtue of a decree signed at the Presidential Palace by General Muchado."
-<"The New York Times" 8 Sept 1929, Section 2, p.3. In Winter "Capablanca" p.216>
===
Late October 1929
Stock Market Crash
===
12 Nov 1929
(One day after the finish of the Alekhine - Bogoljubov World Championship Match (1929))
Capablanca letter to Alekhine:
"Dear sir... I hereby confirm my previous challenge to play a match for the Chess Championship of the World. I have deposited the sum of five hundred dollars with Dr. Lederer to guarantee the above challenge in accordance with the London Rules of 1922."
-<"L'Echiquier" July 1930, pp.859-860. In Winter "Capablanca" p.216>
===
28 November 1929
Alekhine Letter to Capablanca
"Dear Sir,- I hereby confirm that in Wiesbaden on 14 November last I received your challenge for a world championship match to be played according to the London Rules of 1922. I accept your challenge in principle and I set- in accordance with paragraphs 7 and 10 of the London Rules, 1922- the start of the match for the last months of 1930, i.e. between 15 October and 15 December. As regards the designation of the Referee and stakeholder, this formality should be carried out after I have been advised in which country and place the match is supposed to be held, and the names of those persons or groups who will be responsible for its organization."
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.218>
===
30 November 1929
Alekhine interview after the 1929 match:
‘And the match with Capablanca?'
Alekhine: ‘If I receive his challenge, I shall meet him in a year's time, probably in America, where it is an easy matter for him to acquire the money necessary.'
-<published in the Allgemeine Zeitung (Chemnitz) and reprinted in the Aachener Anzeiger – Politisches Tageblatt of 30 November 1929
http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...>
===
24 Dec 1929
Capablanca is relying on Norbert Lederer to set up the details and provisions for the rematch. However, Mr. Lederer now sends bad news to Capablanca:
"Dear Capa-... Referring to the match, I am of course perfectly willing to do my best regarding the organization of the same, but you will have to supply the main effort yourself as without your help it will be very difficult to raise the money. The recent Wall Street crash has hit some of our friends very hard indeed and we will find it quite difficult to get any substantial amounts from them.
...the date set for the match by A. is likewise very unfortunate and A. knows this perfectly well: it was carefully explained to him by the Mayor of Bradley Beach that their whole interest lies in the publicity which the town of Bradley Beach would get from the match and the publicity is only of value, of course, if it precedes the season, in which case the hotels would profit thereby. In the winter, everything is closed and they feel that publicity gained in December is of little or now value for the season starting the following July"
-<Archives of the Manhattan Chess Club. In Winter "Capablanca" p.219>
===
1 June 1930
Capablanca letter to Alekhine
Capablanca: "From the information I have received I gather it will be impossible to hld the match in the U.S. this year on the new date suggested by you. The match could have been held in Havana but as you have declared that you would not play there, I could do nothing about it...
However, if, as I expect, you really desire to play the match, I am ready to post a forfeit of five hundred dollars to guarantee the match for the Winter of 1930-1931 in some place outside Cuba...
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.219>
===
12 June 1930
Alekhine writes to Capablanca
Alekhine: "Dear sir,-From your letter of 1 June it follows that youare unable to organize the match between us at the time fixed by me... As regards the question of Cuba.... I have never received from you or from a person mandated by you any concrete proposals to play in Cuba...
...the last months of the Winter of 1930-1931, as requested by you- thus 15 February for the start of the match- would be the absolute deadline. Should the further sums referred to in paragraph 12 of the 1922 London Rules not be deposited three months before this date- i.e. by 15 November 1930- your challenge of 12 November 1929 will be considered cancelled and the sum of $500 to which I shall be fully entitled, will have to be paid to me by the stakeholder. "
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.220>
===
13 June 1930
Lederer writes to Alekhine
Lederer: "Mr. Capablanca informs me that the proposed championship will not take place in the fall of the year and has therefore requested me to withdraw the deposit of $500.000 which I have been holding..."
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.222>
===============
18 June 1930
Capablanca letter to Alekhine
Capablanca: "Dear sir,-I find a clerical error was made in my letter of 1 June 1930. My proposal for the match is for the Winter of 1931-1932... Of course, I shall have no objection to you playing anyone else before."
Capa doesn't want to lose his $500 forfeit-
Capablanca: "I... wish to call your attention to paragraphs 5, 6 and 11 which make clear the fact that the forfeit of the Five Hundred Dollars is only deposited as a guarantee of good faith after both the referee and stake-holder are appointed."
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.221>
===
3 July 1930
Alekhine writes Capablanca
Alekhine: "...Dr. Lederer has just informed me that... you have asked him to return the sum of $500 deposited by you...
This, together with your last two letters, is tantamount to the cancellation of your challenge of 1 October/12 November 1929. As a result, from today onwards I am again free both as regards yourself and others....
I shall not accept any future challenge from you unless it is formally supported by a Federation or a group known in the chess world guaranteeing the entire financial side of the match. In other words, I shall in future require from you the same guarantees I gave you from the outset of the organization of our match in Buenos Aires."
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.222>
===
25 Sept 1930
Alekhine visited Vienna and was interviewed by Hans Kmoch on September 25, 1930 (pages 257-258 of the September 1930 'Neue Wiener Schachzeitung'. Page 257: Alekhine just ended his European tour and wants to remain in Vienna for about 2 weeks to finish his book "Der Weg zur Weltmeisterschaft" (On the road to World Championship). On October 18 he will leave for America, to visit the USA and Mexico but just for journalistic purposes and it has nothing to do with a rematch against Capablanca. He will return to Europe around Christmas.
Page 258: No Match against Capablanca, who withdrew his challenge for financial reasons. According to London Rules, he had to deposit $500 "Reuegeld" (forfeit/fine) to Norbert Lederer. Alekhine is convinced that it expired, while Capablanca is entertaining the thought of demanding it back. If the matter is not settled amicably, Alekhine wants to appeal to the contractually stipulated arbitrary court. But he emphasizes, that he doesn't want the money for himself, but donated for a good cause. Alekhine's intention is merely to create a precedent. The World Champion shouldn't be challenged and thereby bound to certain obligations, maybe even financially harmed, and then quietly disbanded so to speak (<dann aber sang- und klanglos quasi entlassen wird>). So it's not directed against Capablanca but a matter of principle. Yet, Alekhine believes that there will be time for a rematch against Capablanca on a later point of time. The first among other candidates is Nimzowitsch but there are also younger ones like Kashdan and Flohr. Alekhine also heard the rumour that Bogoljubov was preparing for a second WC match but he doesn't know the full particulars. At the moment there's no challenge pending but he is ready to accept one any time.
-<"Wiener Schachzeitung" (Sept 1930), p.257-258>
===
20 Feb 1931
Capablanca now publishes an open letter to Alekhine
Capablanca: "...Whereas since the Buenos Aires match I have repeatedly challenged you to a return match and made every reasonable effort for an opportunity to regain my title, and whereas you have persistently delayed such a re-encounter with me in defiance both of the official rules and the tenets of good sportsmanship... I now hereby issue a final call upon you to accept my challenge for the playing of a match for the chess championship of the world, to be played under the London Rules of 1922- either in the United States or Cuba during the winter of 1932-32... in the event of your failure to accept this challenge to appear against me, I will be compelled to claim the Championship of the World by default, and will be prepared thereafter to meet all comers for the title in free and open competition."
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.225>
===
16 March 1931
Alekhine writes Capablanca
Alekhine: "I accept your challenge based strictly on the 1922 London Rules.... However, to bring such a challenge about ...You will have to submit to arbitration on the matter of the forefeit of the sum of $500 resulting from the fact that you did not realize your challenge of November 1929."
Alkehine demands arbitration on the forfeiture of the original $500 and the deposit of a new guarantee of another $500 before the proposed match can move forward, or "I shall consider your challenge null and void."
-<Winter "Capablanca" pp.227-228>
===
15 May 1931
Capablanca letter to Alekhine
Capablanca refuses to forfeit the original $500 he gave to Lederer, claiming that previously, Alekhine had no problem with this:
"...when Dr. Lederer wrote to you on 13 June 1930, about the forfeit, you raised to objection to his returning it to me, which would evidently imply that the matter thereby came to an end...
I once more remind you that it will be no easy task to make the necessary financial arrangements, especially under present economic conditions, and therefore stipulations increasing the difficulties could hardly fail to create... the unfortunate impression that you are not anxious to play."
-<Winter "Capablanca" pp.229-230>
===
9 July 1931
Alekhine response to Capablanca published in the "Times Weekly" 9 July 1931
Alekhine: "You say that you are not able to fulfil the conditions laid down in paragraph 10 of the London Rules. In addition, you have not paid to the stakeholder the sum of $500 (this would be a new $500 paid to a new stakeholder, in addition the forfeiture of the $500 already paid to Lederer) required by the aforesaid rules. Consequently- as I warned you in my letter of 6 March- I consider your challenge as formally annulled."
-<Winter "Capablanca" p.230>
===
Sept 18, 1933
Bogoljubow's challenge. From our chess correspondent.
A Reuter message from New York states that on the eve of his departure for his home in Paris Dr. A. Alekhine received a challenge from E. D. Bogoljubow for another match for the chess championship of the world. According to the message Bogoljubow will be ready to play next year under the London conditions, and one may assume that his recent win of the championship of Germany is one of the reasons for his fresh challenge. It will be rembered that he played his previous match with Alekhine at various places in Germany and Holland during the autumn of 1929, and that this match ended somewhat abruptly so soon as it was certain that Alekhine would win, though the stipulated number of games had not been played. Under the London conditions the challenger must find a purse of S10,000, travelling expenses for both players, and living expenses during the period of the match, which means probably about 40,000m. to 45,000m. at the present rate of exchange between Berlin and New York. (The London conditions were based on the American dollar.) One may assume that Bogoljubow consulted the new "Chess Leader" in Germany before issuing his challenge, besides informing him of the probable cost. The message announcing the formation of the All-German Chess League, and the appointment of the new "Chess Leader," published in The Times of July 11, indicated a strict control of the game in Germany, and I cannot see a match of this kind escaping that control.
-<"The Times" (18 Sept 1933), p.10>
===
October 1933
both Capablanca and Alekhine were in the United States, but the champion reported that he was "indisposed" to discuss a rematch with the Cuban.
-<"British Chess Magazine" (Oct 1933), p.423. In Edward Winter "Capablanca" p.233>
===
October 1933
"According to what's recently been reported, Bogoljubow has challenged Aljechin to a match about the world championship. Aljechin has accepted, with the reservation, that the economical conditions be met."
-<"Tidskrift för Schack" (Sept-Oct 1933), p.146 http://www.schack.se/tfsarkiv/histo...>
===
October 1933
p. 299 of the October 1933 'Wiener Schachzeitung', it is reported that Bogoljubov challenged Alekhine for the world championship and the latter accepted. Still, he would have to raise $10,000 which will be a hard task, despite of the dollar devaluation.
-<"Wiener Schachzeitung" (Oct 1933), p.299>
===
October 1933
British Chess Magazine:
"perhaps, in view of the reconstitution of the German Chess federation under Government patronage, Bogoljubow will find it easier to find sufficient backing.
-<"British Chess Magazine" (October), p.420>
With regard to an Alekhine-Capablanca rematch:
"...it is fairly plain that the financial situation is the great obstacle to a match for the championship."
-<"British Chess Magazine" (October), p.423>
===
19 Feb 1934
Alekhine Radio broadcast arranged by the "N.V. Philips' Omroep Holland Indie" <"British Chess Magazine" (April 1934), p.181> (correction)
The broadcast "On the occasion of Dr. Alekhine giving a simultaneous blindfold exhibition in Holland..."
-<This was on 19 Feb 1934 (Skinner and Verhoeven, p.488)>
"He considered that his most important opponents in matches have been Capablanca and Bogoljuboff. The first man was the more difficult to beat, but Bogoljuboff's play was more dangerous as he is very enterprising, and at times risks everything on a certain combination. His match with Dr. Euwe in 1926 h considered as being too short. He rather underestimated Dr. Euwe so he thought the result of 5 1/2 - 4 1/2 was a correct one, but Dr. Euwe of 1926 is not the same as Dr. Euwe of 1934. At present his chess is very deep and gives great promise for the future...
With regard to his match with Bogoljuboff which is commencing early in April and which is guaranteed by the State of Baden, the game will be played mostly in Baden Baden, Munich and Nuremberg. He was hoping to win this match, and if so it is quite likely that Bogoljuboff will not be able to find a backing for a return match. After him the following would come into consideration for further matches-- Dr. Euwe, (page break) Flohr, and Kashdan, since these three are the great masters of the future."
-<"British Chess Magazine" (March 1934), pp.97-98
In Edward Winter Chess Note 8868 http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...>
===
March 1934
TfS March 1934 p. 61:
"The match ... will be start in Baden-Baden 1 April. It will be of 30 games and played in in different places: Baden-Baden, Villingen, Karlsruhe, Mannheim, Pforzhlien, München, Nürnberg, Bayreuth and Wiesbaden. There will be 3 games a week ... According to what's been reported, the winner will meet Euwe in a match."
-<"Tidskrift för Schack" (March 1934), p.61 http://www.schack.se/tfsarkiv/histo...>
===
April 1934
-Völlig ernst zu nehmen ist das Projekt eines Matches Dr. Aljechin-Dr. Euwe, über welchen in Amsterdam Vorverhandlungen geführt wurden. Der Weltmeister hat sich grundsätzlich bereit erklärt, im Falle eines Sieges über Bogoljubow gegen Dr. Euwe anzutreten. Auch über die Kampfesdauer (30 Partien) und die damit zusammenhängenden Bedingnngen sic ist man sich bereits einig.>
The project of a match between Alekhine and Euwe, about which prenegotiations took place in Amsterdam, has to be taken completely serious. The world champion has agreed in principle to play against Euwe, if he beats Bogoljubov. The length of the match (30 games) and the interrelated conditions have been agreed upon already.
Source: Um die Weltmeisterschaft, Wiener Schachzeitung, April 1934, pp. 97-98 (this piece of information comes entirely from p. 98).
-<"Um die Weltmeisterschaft" "Wiener Schachzeitung"(April 1934), pp.97-98>
===
April 1934
"It seems... that the next match for the title will be between Dr. Alekhine and Dr. Max Euwe of Amsterdam, whose challenge was accepted by the former 'in principle,' pending the outcome of the match with Bogoljubow."
-<"American Chess Bulletin" (April 1934), p.66. In Edward Winter,
"Capablanca" pp.233-234>
===
May-June 1934
"Dr. Alekhine and Dr Max Euwe... have agreed to play the next match for the title the latter part of next year...
The champion has also announced that he will be prepared, within four months of the conclusion of this engagement, to play a return match with Jose R. Capablanca under the agreement of 1922, stipulating, however, that the amount of the purse must be guaranteed in gold dollars."
-<"American Chess Bulletin" (May-June 1934), p.75. In Edward Winter, "Capablanca" p.234>
===
February-March 1935
"During the Moscow tournament in February-March 1935 Capablanca gave an interview to the <Moscow Daily News>. 'He considered Dr. sic Alekhine's retention of the title without a match against a serious competitor unjustifiable... Alekhine should, in the first instance, play the promised return-match with himself."
-<"British Chess Magazine" (April 1935), p.189 In Edward Winter,
"Capablanca" p.234>
######################
CONDITIONS
"The conditions are the same as in the previous match five years ago"
-The Times, April 2, 1934, p.8
===
The match conditions were identical to those in 1929. There could be up to 30 games, but the winner had to score at least 6 wins and score 15 1/2 points, meaning that there was also a necessary minimum number of games that had to be completed before a winner could be declared.2 This feature was included in order to maximize the purse by spreading the match out over different German cities. Games 1-3 were played in Baden Baden, 4-5 in Villingen, 6-8 in Freiberg, 9-10 in Pforzheim, 11-12 in Stuttgart, 13-15 in Munich, 16 in Bayreuth, 17-18 in Kissingen, 19-20 in Nuremberg, 21 in Karlsruhe, 22-24 in Mannheim, and 25-26 in Berlin.
Games 1-3 in Baden Baden
Games 4-5 in Villingen
Games 6-8 in Freiberg
Games 9-10 in Pforzheim
Games 11-12 in Stuttgart
Games 13-15 in Munich
Game 16 in Bayreuth
Game 17-18 in Kissingen
Games 19-20 in Nuremberg
Game 21 in Karlsruhe
Games 22-24 in Mannheim
Games 25-26 in Berlin>
-<Leonard Skinner and Robert Verhoeven, "Alexander Alekhine's Chess Games 1902-1946" (McFarland 1998), p.364>
===================
De Telegraf:
"Games scheduled from 2-7 pm each day. Time control 40 moves in the first 2 1/2 hours."
-<"De Telegraaf" (20 March 1934) http://kranten.delpher.nl/nl/view/i...>
==================
Match Conditions and venues:
"The conditions were that there could be up to 30 games in the match, and the winner had to obtain at least six wins and score 15 1/2 points. To increase the financial return, it was decided that games should be played in a number of German cities and that publicity would be maximised by giving simultaneous exhibitions and displays with living pieces in these cities. Play was to start in Baden-Baden on Easter Sunday, 1 April."
-<Skinner and Verhoeven, "Alexander Alekhine's Chess Games, 1902-1946" (McFarland 1998), p.490>
----
Crawfb5:
There is a maximum number of games (30). By implication, there is also a <minimum> number of games (16 -- 15 wins and one draw=15.5). While six wins are <required> to win the match, a 6-0 score is not <sufficient> because the minimum number of games have not yet been played. Why specifically 15.5? The maximum score for the loser in a full 30-game match would be 14.5
-<crawfb5>
===================
It is clearly stated the the conditions were the same as in the 1st match: 30 games, the winner is the first to get the most points (15.5) if 6 wins are included therein.
-<"Wiener Schachzeitung" (April 1934), p.97>
=================
March 3 1934
"Als nl. de stand 5-5 mocht worden, wordt het match, nul en behoudt, dr. alekhine zijn titel."
If the match is drawn with each player having 5 wins, Alekhine retains his title.
-<"De Telegraaf" (20th March 1934, and the item was written on March 19) http://kranten.delpher.nl/nl/view/i...>
===
-<Arbiter> Albert Hild of the Thüringian Chess Federation.
-<"De Tijd" (27 March 1934) http://kranten.delpher.nl/nl/view/i...>
27-03-1934>
-<Seconds>
"Hans Kmoch was Alekhine's, Hans Mueller Bogoljubov's secundant. Arbiter: Hild, Wettkampfleiter (Wettkampf = match, leiter = leader (but not Führer) or head/chief/manager): Prof. Kraft. At the first game, April 1, Dr. Rueb, representatives of German Chess Federations, P. Biscay the president of the French Chess Federation and also Nimzowitsch among others were present.
-<"Wiener Schachzeitung" (April 1934), p.113>
===================
-<FUNDING>
October 1933
p. 299 of the October 1933 'Wiener Schachzeitung', it is reported that Bogoljubov challenged Alekhine for the world championship and the latter accepted. Still, he would have to raise $10,000 which will be a hard task, despite of the dollar devaluation.
-<"Wiener Schachzeitung" (Oct 1933), p.299>
---
19 Feb 1934
"With regard to his match with Bogoljuboff which is commencing early in April and which is guaranteed by the State of Baden, the game will be played mostly in Baden Baden, Munich and Nuremberg. He was hoping to win this match, and if so it is quite likely that Bogoljuboff will not be able to find a backing for a return match. After him the following would come into consideration for further matches-- Dr. Euwe, (page break) Flohr, and Kashdan, since these three are the great masters of the future."
-<"British Chess Magazine" (March 1934), pp.97-98)
In Edward Winter Chess Note 8868 http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/...>
---
Wikipedia article: Schachweltmeisterschaft 1934
"The prize fund approximately $ 10,000 were provided converted."
Original- "Als Preisfonds wurden umgerechnet etwa 10.000 US-Dollar bereitgestellt."
Sourced from the article to
-<"The Chess Review" (April 1934), p.50>
From <Paint My Dragon>:
The Chess Review article actually states: "According to our advices the stake is one of $10,000 in American money."
===================
S G Tartakower, Im Zeichen des ewigen Schachs, Wiener Schachzeitung, January 1934, p. 8, who notes that the forthcoming match sets 3 precedents:
1) You are allowed to challenge the world champion without a firm basis yet, and only after he accepted you look for / create such a basis somwhere and somehow.
2) Therefore, the financial basis of the London Rules is invalid.
3) The world champion agrees to play in his challenger's country.
-<S.G. Tartakower, "Im Zeichen des ewigen Schachs" "Wiener Schachzeitung" (Jan1934), p.8)
http://anno.onb.ac.at/cgi-content/a...>
The way Tartakower writes it, point 2 seems to follow from point 1.
-----------
-<Rainer Buland, Bernadette Edtmaier, and Georg Schweige, "The guestbook of the World Chess Cup 1934 in Germany: facsimile, research, history and environment" (Lit Verlag June 11, 2014)>
In the article of Rainer Buland,
Page 22: He quotes <Sauberer, Schach-Lang-Läufer (2013), pp. 91-97> saying that Bogoljubov was able to fulfill Alekhine's financial demands thanks to German patrons.
Page 27: The Badische Schachverband managed to organize the world championship almost by himself. that's why the GSB, but also the Berlin and the North German Chess Federations felt hurt. Berlin became a game location only very late, and had the highest risk - the last games may not be played at all.
Page 29: Quoting <Sauberer, Schach-Lang-Läufer (2013), pp. 91-117> again: 40,000 Reichsmark (about 200,000 Euros) - a lot of money for a chess event in the 1930s. But this sum appears to encompass the money necessary for the whole event.
Page 146: Raised cash 40,000 RM.
-In January 1934, 2.61 Mark were worth $1, so 40,000 Mark amounted to roughly $15,000.
http://www.history.ucsb.edu/faculty...
--
the Badische Schachverband is the Baden Chess Federation.
On page 146, it says that the Baden Chess Federation arranged the match (to be exact, the Baden Chess Federation in the GSB).
They say (p. 27) that the GSB was not the driving force behind the arrangement and financing of the world championship. The GSB was not too enthusiastic about it for a long time, also because it was possible to do it without them. They admit that there are no direct sources, but studying the contemporaneous chess periodicals leads to the strong implication that the Berlin and North German Chess Federations would have felt hurt, had the Baden Chess Federation managed all of this on his own.
Otto Zander is quoted on p. 28 and his words were harsh. The goal of the GSB was to promote chess among the German manual workers (? <Handarbeiter>), and the world championship match does not lay on the way to this goal. Zander was against promoting the match himself or even grant <Bundesmittel> for it.
However, he leaves it to the chairman of the Baden Chess Federation to arrange the match in the territory of the Baden Chess Federation. He goes on to say that Dr. Kraft tried so at first, but financial difficulties made him look for game locations outside of Baden - by doing so, he didn't act as a chairman, but as a private man and this led to conflicts with other Chess Federations.
Zander notes that it was considered inappropriate that Bohgoljubov was called a German Master or representative of Germany. Zander couldn't prevent Bogoljubov's participation in the Bad Pyrmont tournament, since it had already progressed to far, when he became chairman of the GSB. It could be misunderstood, that the opinion in Germany was today still that someone (e. g. here Bogoljubov) could become German via naturalization. In the future, the German Championship will only be open to players of German blood.
==================
De tribune : soc. dem. weekblad
30-06-1934
After the match, it was revealed that The organizers had lost twenty thousand guilders.
-<"De tribune" (30 June 1934) http://kranten.delpher.nl/nl/view/i...>
#################
PREDICTIONS
April 1934
I checked the Wiener Schachzeitung again (source 5), and found it's p. 97 (not 96). The sentence reads "Der Weltmeister erklärt, sich der Schwere seiner Aufgabe wohl bewußt zu sein, fühlt sich aber trotzdem seines Sieges sicher." when he says that he feels confident about winning the match. Perhaps, our earlier paraphrasing may be improved: "In the spring of 1934, Alekhine reported that he was aware of the difficulty of the task ahead of him, but felt nonetheless sure of victory." or something like that. I think that "feel confident" is a bit too weak for what he actually said - he didn't just have a good feeling, he was sure he would win.. (April), the match is announced/introduced and no scathing remark to be found. Several years had passed since the last WC match and Alekhine is quoted as saying that he was aware of the hard task ahead of him but feels confident. Bogoljubov is said to probably hope for having learned from his mistakes in their first match. Overall, a successful title defense was expected but also many exciting games rich in content (<Die ziemlich einheitliche Meinung der Schachwelt geht jedenfalls dahin, daß Dr. sic Aljechin den Weltmeistertitel behaupten wird. Man erwartet auch inhaltsreiche, spannende Partien und das wird wohl in Erfüllung gehen.>). Other masters: Flohr wants a match within 5 years, Capablanca has a long way to go to organize a rematch while the most serious other challenger (p. 98) is Euwe (they proved to be right).
===
Thanks to <Karpova, thomastonk and whiteshark> for translation of this passage:
"Die ziemlich einheitliche Meinung der Schachwelt geht jedenfalls dahin, daß Dr. sic Aljechin den <<<Weltmeistertitel>>> behaupten wird. Man erwartet auch inhaltsreiche, spannende Partien und das wird wohl in Erfüllung gehen."
In any case, the prevailing opinion of the chess world suggests that Dr. Alekhine will retain the WC title. The people's expectations to see substantial and exciting games will surely be met."
-<"Wiener Schachzeitung" (April 1934), p.97>
===
"In view of the forthcoming match between Dr. Alekhine and E.D. Bogoljubow... the Cuban (J.R. Capablanca)... predicted a second victory for Dr. Alekhine..."
-<"The New York Times" Sports Section (24 Dec 1933), p.2. In Winter, "Capablanca" p.233>
===
"With all deference to Bogoljubow's chess strength, it is difficult to imagine him testing the holder to the utmost."
-<"British Chess Magazine" (April 1934), p.152. In Winter, "Capablanca" p.234>
###############################
COURSE OF THE MATCH
##############################
1st game
Bogoljubov vs Alekhine, 1934 <1/2>
Karpova: The incident is reported on page 134 of the 1934 'Neue Wiener Schachzeitung':
<Hier reklamierte Dr. Aljechin, während seine Uhr lief, Remis durch Zugwiederholung, offenbar in der Annahme, daß sich nach 65....Kc3-d3 - was er dann auch aufschrieb - zum drittenmal dieselbe Stellung ergeben hätte. Bogoljubow überzeugte sich nicht selbst, sondern fragte den Schiedsrichter Herrn Hild. Dieser befand sich in dem Glauben, Aljechin hätte schon 61...Kd3 gezogen und bejahte Bogoljubows Frage. Der wieder gab sich sofort zufrieden und die Meister begannen zu analysieren. Das alles spielte sich in wenigen Sekunden ab. Von anderer Seite wurde dann sofort aufmerksam gemacht, daß die Züge erst zweimal wiederholt wurden, das automatische Remis daher nicht gegeben sei. Die Analyse zeigte, daß Weiß auf Gewinn steht. Es hätte 66. Tb8 Kc2, 67. g4! b2, 68. Ke4! geschehen sollen, Weiß opfert seinen Turm und gewinnt mit den Bauern. Auch 67. h4 b2, 68. Ke4 dürfte genügen. Bogoljubow erklärte sofort, er fühle sich in keiner Weise geschädigt; er habe nur an die Fortsetzung 66. Tb8 Kc2, 67. f5 gedacht, die ohnedies nur zum Remis führt, und zwar wegen 67.... b2, 68. Kf4 Ta4+! 69. Kg5 Ta3, drohend sowohl Txg3+ als auch Tb3. Zur Durchrechnung anderer Varianten fehlte ihm die Zeit, da er für 15 Züge nur etwa 7 Minuten zur Verfügung hatte.>
In short:
After 65.Rc8+, Alekhine claimed a draw via three-fold repetition while his clock was running.
Bogoljubov didn't check himself but asked the arbiter Hild instead who wrongly assumed that 61...Kd3 had been played and so answered Bogoljubov's question with yes.
Efim was contend and both started to analyse. All of this took just a few seconds.
Then, someone pointed out that it had only been a two-fold repetition. Analysis gave the following winning lines for White:
66.Rb8 Kc2 67.g4! b2 68.Ke4! with White sacrificing his rook and win with the pawns. But 67.h4 b2 68.Ke4 should also have been sufficient.
Yet, Bogoljubov didn't feel cheated as he had only seen the drawing line 66.Rb8 Kc2 67.f5 (67...b2 68.Kf4 Ra4+! 69.Kg5 Ra3 threatening Rxg3+ and Rb3). Furthermore, he hadn't had enough time to calculate other variations being down to about 7 min for 15 moves.
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2d game
Alekhine vs Bogoljubov, 1934 <1-0>
P-K4 (e3-e4)!
"A surprise for Black who most likely expected the half-suicidal P-K Kt 3. (g2-g3)"
"Now White has a difficult, strategically almost hopeless position. It is another matter that Alekhine begins somehow to defend himself and to wriggle, Bogoljubow is unable to find a forced win, and time-trouble interferes." (p.416)
Alekhine: "This exchange of his best-posted piece against the cripple at e2 definitely spoils Black's position." (p.417)
"He reported on a conversation he had with Bojoljubow after the eighth game, when he was asked by Bogoljubow: 'Do you believe tht one can by hypnotised.' Nimzowitsch went on to say: 'Apparently he believed that his performance in the match was being influenced by some hypnotic power brought about by Alekhine.' In spite of being assured by Nimzowitsch that this was impossible, Bogoljubow insisted that it could be done. He seemed unable to comprehend that Alekhine was deliberately playing on his well known sense of optimism in dealing with complicated tactical situations. Instead of defusing and simplifying the positions that Alekhine provoked, he aided and abetted Alekhine's strategy by entering into the tactics with great enthusiasm"
‘Bogoljubow, it seems, believes in the art of subjecting one person to the will of another by some extraordinary power. Can such an art exist? Decidedly no. If it did exist and someone set himself up as a teacher of this art, he would have the whole world for his customers and yet derive no advantage therefrom, because his pupils would hypnotize him and then suggest to him the return of the tuition fee.'
This comes from page 11 of Lasker's book Games Played in the Return Match for the World's Championship (London, 1935), and for the context we reproduce below the full page:
‘Bogoljubow, it seems, believes in the art of subjecting one person to the will of another by some extraordinary power. Can such an art exist? Decidedly no. If it did exist and someone set himself up as a teacher of this art, he would have the whole world for his customers and yet derive no advantage therefrom, because his pupils would hypnotize him and then suggest to him the return of the tuition fee.'
This comes from page 11 of Lasker's book Games Played in the Return Match for the World's Championship (London, 1935), and for the context we reproduce below the full page:
"This decidedly premature rejoinder can only be explained by the fact that Bogoljubow had again missed a win in the previous game, and was particularly anxious to make a better show in this one."
In the 1934 and 1935 matches Alekhine played bad moves like this expecting his opponent to fall for his tricks or to at least fail to find the best response.
The final score of the 1934 match should have been much closer than it actually was but Bogo failed to convert winning positions into full points. Euwe learned from this and made Alekhine pay the price in 1935. Alekhine in turn learned his lesson and played only solid chess in 1937. The result speaks for itself.
"This game – more than any other – proves how useless from the sporting point of view was the arrangement of this second match, and at the same time explains my indifferent play on a number of occasions. I felt sure that Bogoljubow was no longer able to take advantage of the opportunities my play might present to him, and – very unfortunately for the general artistic value of the present match – the score 7 to 1 in my favour after the 22nd game fully justified my sanguine outlook."
"With all due respect to Bogoljubow, who as a tournament player has attained the highest flights, this result is wholly in accordance with general expectations..."
"The result was, as we say, generally anticipated. It might indeed be called inevitable, nothing having occurred during the past five years to suggest that the challenger had any chance of defeating the holder of the title. this is no disparagement of so fine a fighter as Bogoljubow, but merely a necessary tribute to the present pre-eminence of Alekhine among the chess masters of the world."
Kibitzing
