Semyon Alapin vs James Mason (1901)

Members · Prefs · Laboratory · Collections · Openings · Endgames · Sacrifices · History · Search Kibitzing · Kibitzer's Café · Chessforums · Tournament Index · Players ·

Kibitzing

Semyon Alapin vs James Mason
Monte Carlo (1901), Monte Carlo MNC, rd 12, Feb-28
King Pawn Game: Alapin Opening (C20) · 1/2-1/2

ANALYSIS [x]

FEN COPIED

explore this opening	find similar games	2 more Alapin/Mason games
	PGN: download \| view \| print	Help: general \| java-troubleshooting

TIP: If you register a free account you will be able to create game collections and add games and notes to them. For more information on game collections, see our Help Page.

For help with this chess viewer, please see the Olga Chess Viewer Quickstart Guide.

PREMIUM MEMBERS CAN REQUEST COMPUTER ANALYSIS [more info]

Sep-21-20		KEG: A game of little interest. Alapin was virtually assured of fifth place. His only chance of tying for fourth was if he won this game and also his replay against Blackburne while von Scheve lost his replay against Winawer. Since von Scheve did not lose, it was a certainty that Alapin would finish exactly fifth. Meanwhile, Mason was far out of the running. So small wonder the players played a quick draw. The only interest in the game was the handling of Alapin's patented opening. 1. e4 e5 2. Ne2 click for larger view Alapin's Opening. By my count, he played it at least 24 times (including this game) in Tournament play. It is hardly a great theoretical line. But Alapin knew its ins and outs. 2... Nf6 2...Bc5 is another good response. 3. f4 click for larger view An Alapin favorite. For anyone else, 3. Nbc3 or 3. d4 are best. 3... Nxe4 4. d3 Nc5 4...Nd6 (and then 5. fxe5 Nf5) looks best. But the text was apparently played in every game in which the 3. f4 line was used. 5. fxe5 d6 Schwarz and Rubinstein here played 5...d5 against Alapin. The text looks simplest and best. 6. d4 Bcd7 7. exd6 Bxd6 click for larger view 8. Bf4 Alapin was obviously looking for exchanges and wasn't worried that Mason would make an serious effort to avoid a draw. Otherwise, he would have considered the better 10. Nbc3 or 10. g3. 8... Nf6 8...0-0 or 8...Nb6 were the best ways for Black to play for an edge. 9. Nbc3 c6 Again avoiding any real effort to seek an edge, as he might still have done with 9...0-0 or 9...Nc6. 10. Qd2 Be6 11. BxB Time to start trading off pieces. As a theoretical matter, the move is fine. But 11. 0-0-0 was the way to inject some life into the game. 11... QxB 12. Nf4 Nbd7 13. Be2 Alapin's lack of ambition is obvious. He could have played 13. 0-0-0 or 13. NxB had he any real interest in playing on, or if he thought Mason wanted to do anything other than agree to an early draw. 13... 0-0 14. NxB QxN 15. 0-0 15. 0-0-0 was obviously better, but the text allowed Mason a way to force the exchange of Queens. By this point, neither player seemed even remotely interested in trying to win or concerned that his opponent intended to do so. 15... Rae8 16. Bf3 click for larger view 16... Qe3+ Mason might have gotten the (slightly better game with 16...Qd6 or 16...Nb6. But by this point the players seemingly had a tacit understanding as to the outcome: 17. QxQ RxQ 18. Rae1 Rfe8 19. RxR RxR 20. d5 cxd5 21. Rd1 Nb6 22. Nxd5 NbxN 23. BxN NxB 24. RxN Kf8 25. Rd4 Re6 26. Rd4 Re7 27. Rd8+ Re8 Draw A result that clearly was entirely satisfactory for both players, especially since the game was short. They both had to come back the next day for another replay (though Mason wound up winning by default when Gunsberg chose not to appear.

NOTE: Create an account today to post replies and access other powerful features which are available only to registered users. Becoming a member is free, anonymous, and takes less than 1 minute! If you already have a username, then simply login login under your username now to join the discussion.

Please observe our posting guidelines:

No obscene, racist, sexist, or profane language.
No spamming, advertising, duplicate, or gibberish posts.
No vitriolic or systematic personal attacks against other members.
Nothing in violation of United States law.
No cyberstalking or malicious posting of negative or private information (doxing/doxxing) of members.
No trolling.
The use of "sock puppet" accounts to circumvent disciplinary action taken by moderators, create a false impression of consensus or support, or stage conversations, is prohibited.
Do not degrade Chessgames or any of it's staff/volunteers.

Please try to maintain a semblance of civility at all times.

See something that violates our rules? Blow the whistle and inform a moderator.

NOTE: Please keep all discussion on-topic. This forum is for this specific game only. To discuss chess or this site in general, visit the Kibitzer's Café.

Messages posted by Chessgames members do not necessarily represent the views of Chessgames.com, its employees, or sponsors.
All moderator actions taken are ultimately at the sole discretion of the administration.

This game is type: CLASSICAL. Please report incorrect or missing information by submitting a correction slip to help us improve the quality of our content.