Alekhine and Lasker

Emanuel Lasker and Alexander Alekhine met eight times in their career.  Seven of the games were from tournament games.  Their first game was considered an exhibition game.

Lasker and Alekhine first met in an exhibition game in Moscow on March 28, 1914.    The game was drawn in 16 moves as it led to perpetual check  Alekhine had White and played a Scotch Game.  Lasker proposed the draw and Alekhine accepted.  In 1914 Lasker was 45 (born in 1868) and world champion (1894-1921).  Alekhine was 21.

The two then met in the great St. Petersberg International tournament in April-May, 1914.  Their first encounter in the preliminary section of the tournament on April 30, 1914, was a draw in 25 moves.  Lasker had White and Alekhine played a Center Counter Defense.

Their next game was played in the finals or Winner’s Group on May 10, 1914.  Lasker had White and won in 35 moves.  Alekhine playd 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e5 and lost.  A week later, on May 17, 1914, Lasker won again with the Black pieces in a Ruy Lopez, Exchange variation that lasted 89 moves.  Lasker won the tournament, followed by Capablanca.  Alekhine took 3rd place.

The two did not play each other for another 10 years.  Then in March-April, 1924, they both played in the New York 1924 International tournament.  On March 18, 1924, Lasker won again with the Black pieces in 26 moves in a Queen’s Gambit Declined.  Their next game in the same tournament occurred on April 10, 1924, and the game was drawn.  Lasker had the White pieces and played a Queen’s Pawn opening.  The event was won by Lasker, followed by Capablanca and Alekhine.  Alekhine would become world champion three years later.

The two waited another 10 years before they played again.  On July 25, 1934, Alekhine had the White pieces  and finally won in brilliant style in Zurich, Switzerland.  The game lasted 26 moves with a queen sacrifice offer and is presented here.  Alekhine was current world champion (1927-1935 and 1937-1946).  The opening was a Queen’s Gambit Declined, Orthodox Defense, Alekhine Variation.

Their final encounter occurred on August 13, 1936 in Nottingham, England.  Lasker had White and the game was drawn in 18 moves.  Alekhine played the Nimzo-Indian Defense.  At the time, both players were former world chess champions.  The event was won by Capablanca and Botvinnik., who tied.  Alekhine was 6th and Lasker tied for 7th.