| On Keene's p.102 he gives his recommendations for best chess books. Favorite chess positions:
1) "As part of a chess program on television an extract from Kotov's book 'The White and the Black' was shown. The scene depicts Alyekhin giving a simultaneous display against 30 German officers of the General Staff in occupied Prague in 1943. The last game to finish is against Obersturbannfuhrer Spak. 'I resign,' declares the German officer, 'my position is hopeless.' Alyekhin turns the board round, and takes the Black pieces himself, and says, 'Play on!' Two moves follow and the German again declares that, believe it or not, he must resign as White's game is hopeless. Alyekhin again turns the board around and now announces mate in three on White's behalf." 
click for larger view"It is Black to play and he can see no defence against the threat of mate on h8 since after 1 ... g6 2. Qh7+ Kf8 3. Qh8+ he is mated. Alyekhin takes Black and plays the rejoinder 1 ... Rh4 when White can only take the Rook with the Knight; 2. Rxh4? Qe1+ mates. So 2. Nxh4 Qc3 and White can see no defence to the mate at b2, since if 3. Kc1 Qa1+ winning the Rook and then the pinned Knight. Once again Alyekhin takes White and plays 3. Qh8+ Kxh8 4. Ng6+ and mate next move." (from Benzol) 2) 
click for larger viewLasker wanted this position on his tombstone. White to play, wins; Deutches Wochenschach, 1890. 1.Kb8 Rb2+ 2.Ka8 Rc2 3.Rh6+ Ka5 4.Kb7 Rb2+ 5.Ka7 Rc2 6.Rh5+ Ka4 7.Kb7 Rb2+ 8.Ka6 Rc2 9.Rh4+ Ka3 10.Kb6 Rb2+ 11.Ka5 Rc2 12.Rh3+ Ka2 13.Rxh2 see also Jansa vs Geller, 1970 (from gypsy) |
Kibitzing
