[Event "Philidor Cup, Hyeres 1928"]
[Site "Hyeres FRA"]
[Date "1928.??.??"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Halberstadt, Vitaly"]
[Black "O'Hanlon, John J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[ECO "D63"]
[Opening "QGD"]
[Variation "Orthodox defence, Swiss, Karlsbad variation"]
[EventDate "1928.01.23"]
[Source "Belfast News-Letter 1 Mar 1928 p13"]
[Annotator "John J. O'Hanlon"]
[EventFullName "Philidor Cup, Hyères 1928"]
[URL "https://www.irlchess.com/games_archive/sundry_files_2025-09/halberstadt-ohanlon-philidor-1928.htm"]
[LastModified "Wed Sep 17 13:05:17 2025"]

{ Source: <em>Belfast News-Letter</em>, March 1, 1928, p. 13. } {
Annotator: John J. O'Hanlon (see Source). }

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Rc1 a6 {
Played by Janowski many years ago, and at that time it was thought that
8.c5 or cxd5 gave white the advantage. The Swiss player, W. Henneberger
analysed the defence and proved that in reality 8.c5 was a bad move and he
won a fine game from Alekhine in playing against the latter move. After
this game, Alekhine was so impressed with the possibilities of this defence
that he adopted it in a number of games in his match with Capablanca. } 8.
cxd5 ({ In the earlier games of the Capablanca - Alekhine match Capablanca
played } 8. a3 { without gaining any advantage, but he afterwards played
the text move, which is, undoubtedly, the only move which gives any
prospect of advantage. }) 8... exd5 9. Bd3 c6 { This move is necessary, and
at first sight it would seem that White has a very great advantage owing to
Black's weakness on the b6 and c5 squares, but in actual play it is very
difficult, if not impossible, to exploit this weakness. } 10. O-O ({ It
would probably have been better for white to have played } 10. Qc2 { as now
Black forces the exchange of Bishops and equalises the game at once. })
10... Nh5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Ne5 { Threatening to win a pawn by 13.Bxh7. }
12... Nhf6 13. f4 Re8 ({ A routine move whereas } 13... Nxe5 14. fxe5 Ne8 {
followed by f6 would have given Black practically a winning advantage. })
14. Qe1 Nf8 ({ Black gains nothing by } 14... Nxe5 15. fxe5 Nd7 16. Rf3 f6
17. Qh4 { with advantage. }) 15. h3 N6d7 16. Rf3 f6 17. Nxd7 Bxd7 18. Kh2
Rad8 19. Qf2 Be6 20. a3 Bf7 21. Na4 Qc7 22. Nc5 Ne6 23. Qc2 h6 24. Nxe6 ({
After this move, White offered a draw which, after some hesitation, Black
accepted. If } 24. b4 { then } 24... Ng5 25. Rg3 h5 26. fxg5 ({ If } 26. h4
Rxe3 27. Rxe3 ({ if } 27. hxg5 Qxf4 { wins }) 27... Qxf4+ 28. Rg3 Qxh4+ 29.
Rh3 Nxh3 30. gxh3 Re8 { winning }) 26... h4 { winning the Rook. }) 1/2-1/2