Alekhine's Odessa Secrets. Chess, War and Revolution

Yep, I have had my head in a book! Nothing unusual in that - I am a self - confessed chess bookworm.

The title of the book in question, is the title of this article.

it is a slightly unusual purchase for me - usually I buy books for the games. The history, facts and figures are not my thing, but I made an exception in this case.

Why? because I am a huge fan of the chess legacy of the Ukraine! Also Alekhine's  life was rather more interesting than that of many players.

I am glad I decided to buy it. It is just brilliant!

Before anything else, may I offer my congratulations to the author - Sergei Tkachenko - for producing one of the great books of it's type - and having read a few, you can take my word for it that I am not over rating it.

In the introduction Boris Gelfand says that he read pretty much all of it in one sitting - I can understand that. I was on page 70 before I knew where I was. it is absorbing and fascinating stuff, even for someone like me, who does not do biographies.

There is more in here about Alekhine (and many, many other characters) than I can start to explain.

From explanations of his war-time service with the Red Cross, and how that came about, to theories and autopsy report on his death.

And, a host of wonderful pictures, scans of documents, and background on just about everything covered. I will only give one of the pictures here - many have never been published elsewhere, so go buy the book to see them.

It is a magnificent book! My only quibble - at the risk of sounding like a gentleman with his own history website - is the lack of indexing to the names. For example; at one point he mentions that a photograph contains ' a certain figure who i will come back to later.' Knowing who that was - I have written an article on him - I wanted to go find that material straight away, but had to leaf through the  book to find it. I have the same problem with jimmy Adams' wonderful books. Minor point!

So, some chess from the book, and some pictures, as you would expect from me. 

First up a game and a position that those of you who have the first of Alekhine's 'My Best Games' will know.

It was played in this town.

 For the story of how and why Alekhine was there, and the game took place - err - buy the book!! You will also find out the real name of Alekhine's opponent, and the how and why of the name 'Feld'.

Next a position given in the Alekhine book. Tkachenko gives us a scan of the page from the Ukranian press where it was probably first published. He also provides some fascinating background, quoting Levenfish in 'Bulletin no. 5 of the Alekhine Memorial Tournament, 1956.' (I didn't even know that such a bulletin existed.)
''The fashionable Reiter Cafe opened in 1913... Alekhine spent many afternoons there.

There was nobody there who could challenge him playing a normal game, but he had an interesting opponent if he were to play a handicapped game - Vladimir Hofmeister, who was at best an average player..... The results were about even. Alekhine would give him a Knights start, and Hofmeister would also put up a stake three times higher than Alekhine's.The size of the stake depended entirely on Alekhine - Hofmeister would put up any........

Unfortunately, all of these games have been lost, although many of them were as good as Paul Morphy's handicapped games.....'

This position has been subjected too a mass of analysis - I shall just include a small part, for those who don't have all day to spare!!

I had better intersperse the one picture that I have sourced through the book - it led me to another nice find!

La Russie Illustree 11/02/1928. Alekhine and his wife in Paris - with Ossip Bernstein right of picture.

Two games from the book, featuring players that I have posted on.

Firstly Boris Verlinsky, posted here - in an article that received more attention than it deserved!!

https://www.chess.com/blog/simaginfan/boris-markovich-verlinsky-first-grand-master-of-the-u-s-s-r   

I did not include the game there., choosing a consultation game involving the players instead. However, it is a fascinating game!!

Tkachenko quotes Verlinsky as saying ''I scored a good result from my friendly games against Alekhine.'

Sadly only a few are known - and unsurprisingly most are from Alekhine's notebooks, where he preserved his better efforts. From the games we have, the guys just went at it streetfighter style!!

Both had a natural love of complications, but at that time Alekhine was a little unsure of himself in quiet, positional, games.

And finally a game that does not involve Alekhine at all. it was won by a player who you can find out about in one of my posts - in contradistinction it has probably received LESS attention that it deserved!!!

https://www.chess.com/blog/simaginfan/boris-maliutin-player-organiser-and-one-of-the-ww1-interned-russians   

The story behind the game is in the book! Cool stuff.   No notes - just enjoy the game - it is a beauty!

 Oops - nearly forgot whist making sure that the onion sauce didn't burn - . The full version of the header photo. From La Russie Illustree, as dated. - back to the cooker!!

As always, all polite comments welcomed.