Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander vs Mikhail Botvinnik (1936)

Conel Hugh O'Donel Alexander vs Mikhail Botvinnik
Nottingham (1936) · Sicilian Defense: Closed. Fianchetto Variation (B24) · 0-1

[Event "Nottingham"]
[Site "Nottingham ENG"]
[Date "1936.08.10"]
[EventDate "1936.08.10"]
[Round "1"]
[Result "0-1"]
[White "C H Alexander"]
[Black "Mikhail Botvinnik"]
[ECO "B24"]
[WhiteElo "?"]
[BlackElo "?"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. e4 {Notes by Alekhine} c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 {Quite a
harmless variation, which offers Black many good possibilities
of defence.} g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nge2 e6 {Black already having
the control over d4 protects d5, thus obtaining a certain
advantage in the middle. A promising strategy which could be
successfully met only by very energetic play.} 6. d3 Nge7
7. O-O {? Too indifferent, he should make a demonstration on
the K-side by 7.h4 and 8.Bg5; if 7...h6 then Bf4 followed by
Qd2 and Black would have more difficulties in completing his
mobilisation than in the actual game.} O-O 8. Be3 {And here
8.Bg5 or Bf4 was better. White should leave himself the
possibility of taking the intruding Knight at d4 with his own
Knight.} Nd4 9. Qd2 d5 10. Nf4 {Comparatively better was
10.Nd1 in order to dislodge, as rapidly as possible, the
powerful Knight.} dxe4 11. dxe4 Qc7 12. Rad1 {Other methods
like 12.Rfc1 followed by Qe1 would have their inconveniences
too. The game is already very difficult to defend.} Rd8
13. Qc1 b6 14. Rfe1 Ba6 15. Kh1 {? This move, and not the next
one as was generally suggested, is the decisive
mistake. White's last chance of salvation consisted in 15.Nb1
with the intention 16.c3, and if 15...g5 16.Nd3 h6 then 17.f4
with some kind of counter-play. After the King's move the game
is strategically hopeless.} Nec6 16. Nfe2 {Only shortens the
end. The threats 16...Ne5 or eventually (in case of 16.Nb1 for
instance) 16...Nb4 were too strong.} Nxe2 17. Rxd8+ Rxd8
18. Nxe2 Bxe2 19. Rxe2 Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Rd1+ 21. Bf1 Rxf1+
22. Kg2 Rd1 23. Rd2 Rxd2 24. Bxd2 Qe5 {! Forcing an endgame in
which besides the extra Pawn he will possess a powerful Knight
against an anemic Bishop.} 25. Qxe5 Nxe5 26. Bc3 f6 27. Bxe5
{One has the impression that White wants to finish the game as
rapidly as possible; the Pawn endgame does not offer, of
course, any chance.} fxe5 28. a4 Kf7 29. Kf3 c4 30. Ke3 Ke7
31. f4 Kd6 32. c3 Kc5 33. fxe5 b5 34. axb5 Kxb5 35. Kd2 Ka4
0-1

To move:

Last move:

Given 17 times; par: 62 [what's this?]

Annotations by Alexander Alekhine. [76 more games annotated by Alekhine]

explore this opening	find similar games	4 more C H Alexander/Botvinnik games
	PGN: download \| view	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: You can step through the moves by clicking the

and

buttons, but it's much easier to simply use the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Pgn4web Quickstart Guide.

Mar-30-07		beatles fan: great notes

Aug-08-11		madhatter5: yes, and a very instructive game by Botvinnik, especially how after Be3 he went ...Nd4! because the other knight couldn't take it.

Sep-30-11		Mesterhakkeren: I love his notes!! What a bitter man!

Sep-30-11		keypusher: <If you play Botvinnik, it is even alarming to see him write his move down. Slightly short-sighted, he stoops over his score sheet and devotes his entire attention to recording the move in the most beautifully clear script; one feels that an explosion would not distract him and that examined through a microscope not an irregularity would appear. When he wrote down P-QB4 against me, I felt like resigning.> - Alexander

Apr-09-12		Ulhumbrus: An alternative to 10 Nf4 is 10 f4. Then after 10...dxe4 11 dxe4 the f4 pawn may support the advance e4-e5.

Apr-09-12		scormus: Instructive lesson by Botvinnik. And pentrating notes - my old English Lit. teacher couldn't have put it any more barbed. <.... an anemic bishop> what a perfect description!

Aug-19-12		Tigranny: Alekhine goes along with Raymond Keene as the best annotators. Very instructive notes.

NOTE: You need to pick a username and password to post a reply. Getting your account takes less than a minute, totally anonymous, and 100% free--plus, it entitles you to features otherwise unavailable. Pick your username now and join the chessgames community!

If you already have an account, you should login now.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, or duplicating posts.
No personal attacks against other users.
Nothing in violation of United States law.

See something which violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform an administrator.

NOTE: Keep all discussion on the topic of this page. This forum is for this specific game and nothing else. If you want to discuss chess in general, or this site, you might try the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.

Spot an error? Please submit a correction slip and help us eliminate database mistakes!
This game is type: CLASSICAL (Disagree? Please submit a correction slip.)

Featured in the Following Game Collections [what is this?]

zakir's favorite games
by zakir

49p_PAWN endgames
by whiteshark

White plays poorly, but Alekhine's annotations are really good.
from Favorite 01 by gchristopher

bot ann alek
from LIS SPECIAL COLLECTION by gmlisowitz

Round 1
from Nottingham 1936 by Hesam7

annotated by alekhine
from fav Botvinnik & Alekhine games by guoduke