GeauxCool: So what happened to Flohr, that <Rookfile> and <Hesam7> would have such different views of him?In the years from 1929 to 1933, when Alekhine was at his peak, Flohr was universally recognized as his most serious challenger. Although he did poorly in individual games with Alekhine, his results were outstanding against the others. In 1929 he won 2nd behind Rubenstein at Rogaska Slatina. Then he began a long string of tournament successes which placed him second only to Alekhine. This period lasted until about 1935, when his style changed dramatically.
He became increasingly cautious, avoided complications and steered for the endgame as soon as possible. Although he did win the Leningrad-Moscow in 1939, he became more of a drawing master and content to win a high prize (4th) rather than to go for top honors. He was like an artist, that, after some magnificent painting, had lost his zest for art (as in Theodore Dreiser's book, "The Genius").
But in his early days, Flohr established a reputation as a master of the attack. See two beautiful victories from that golden epoch:
Flohr vs S Landau, 1930
Flohr vs Rellstab, 1931
-From Fine "The world's greatest chessgames".
1938 - Fine considered this game against a declining Flohr to be the best game he's ever played, in terms of overall strategic planning and tactical execution!
Compare this game's opening to Fine vs Botvinnik, 1938 which preceded this one in the same tournament.
sac: 21.Rxd7
