1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. g3

This move was suggested to me by Dr. Euwe, the Dutch champion, who thought it might prove to be the best way of meeting the Niemzowitsch defence. The object is to try and hold the centre, and White plays consistently for this purpose throughout the game. I am not aware if the move had been previously tried in tournament play.

4... d5 5. Bg2 O-O

If 5... dxc4 6. Qa4+ wins a piece; and if Black captures the pawn at the 6th or 7th move, then White plays Ne5 recovering the Pawn.

6. Nf3 c6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. Qb3 Bxc3 9. bxc3 Re8 10. Nd2 dxc4 11. Qxc4

White could have prevented 11... e5 by 11. Nxc4; if 11... e5 12. Nd6 Re6 13. Ba3 threatening to win the exchange by 14. Bh3.

But instead of (11. Nxc4) 11... e5 Black could have played 11... c5 and it was to prevent this move that White played 11. Qxc4.

11... e5 12. e4 Nb6 13. Qd3 exd4 14. cxd4 Nfd7 15. Qc2 Nf8 16. Bb2 Ne6 17. Nf3 Nc7 18. a4 Be6 19. Nd2 Qd7 20. Rfe1

In order to be able to play 21.Bh1 if Black offered the exchange [of bishops], but it would have been better to have first played 20. a5 driving back the Knight and prevented the development of Black's a8-Rook. The neglect to play 20. a5 allows Black to get up an attack.

20... Rad8 21. f4 f6 22. Rac1 Na6 23. a5 Nc8 24. Red1 Nb4 25. Qb1 Ba2 26. Qa1 Qf7 27. Nf1 Bb3 28. Rd2 Nd6 29. Qa3 Na2 30. Re1 Nb5 31. Qc5 Qc7 32. Re3 b6

Best! If 32... Bf7 33. d5! Qxa5 (if 33... cxd5 34. Qxc7 Nxc7 35. exd5 and the passed pawn would win) 34. Ra3 wins a piece. [RR However Stockfish provides a way out here with 34... Qb4 when, to avoid a worse game White must play 35. Qxb4 and then the Knight escapes after the recapture 35... Nxb4.]

33. axb6 axb6 34. Qh5 Bf7 35. Qf3 Nd6 36. e5

The ending is very interesting, and it will be found that White wins in every variation.

36... Nc4 37. Qxc6 Qxc6 38. Bxc6 Re7 39. d5 Nxd2 40. d6 Rxd6

White expected 40... Nxf1 41. dxe7 Rd1 when the problem-like move 42. Ra3 wins.

[RR However Stockfish suggests instead 40... Re6! 41. Nxd2 Rdxd6 42. exd6 Rxe3 and a probable draw with best play.]

41. exd6 Rxe3 42. Nxe3 Nb4 43. Bb5 Be6 44. Bc3

1-0

Annotator(s): John J. O'Hanlon (see Source).

Source(s): Evening Herald, May 7, 1932, p. 13.

Event information: Cambridge Premier, BritBase (ed. John Saunders); Easter congress, Cambridge, Belgian Chess History web site (ed. Nikolaas Verhulst).

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