How To Play Chess Like A Champion

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CampwoodsRD

For those who wish to discuss this specific Reinfeld book:


CampwoodsRD

From Chapter One: 'A Thing of Beauty', page 12:

Here, Fred Reinfeld discusses the difference between playing Chess for Fun and playing Chess for Blood; as well as, the murderous artistic genius of, Alexander Alekhine - "... the proverbial magician..." at the chessboard.

Reinfeld illustrates a particularly nasty Escape & Mate, where Alekhine - playing White - mousetraps the Black King - played by Reshevsky - while escaping having his Queen anchored to defense of his own White King against the threat of being mated by Black with: 1. ... g2+  2. Qxg2  Qxg2#

BLACK: RESHEVSKY


WHITE: ALEKHINE 

 

From the position above the game progressed, thus:

1. Rxb8+  Kxb8

2. Qxe5+  fxe5

3. Rf8+  Qe8

4. Rxe8+  Rd8

5. Rxd8#  

 

MY PERSONAL COMMENTS: 

As Reinfeld points out, it is indeed a very artistic escape and mate by Alekhine; however, it is based on capitalizing on a blunder when Reshevsky plays: 1. ...  Kxb8? Whereas, the better move for Black would have been to resist winning material; and instead, simply side-step the attack with: 1. ...  Kd7

HOWEVER, what deviltry and mayhem Alekhine might have committed upon Reshevsky from Black's still compromised position, one can only speculate!