Strategy of Champions:
Euwe v. Alekhine Every game at chess is a collaboration, says "The Times." In the s0- called "brilliant" examples, in which the conclusion is reached by a sudden sacrifice of material, much more often than not the spectacular result is due to the weakness of the conquered rather than to the strength of the conqueror. On this fact is based the modern criticism of Morphy's masterpieces. He was the frst to develop his pieces, whether in attack or defence, in the modern style, and none of his opponents, who in other respects were not stronger than the average first-class amateur of today, had knowledge of this strategy.
Andersen, a combinationist of genius, was short of practice when defeated in a famous match; he complained, with good reason, that form in chess cannot be kept in a glass case, Had Morphy met Staunton, who had worked out the theory of scientific development, he might have found his Napoleonic instinct for bringing superior forces to bear on a weak point much more severely tested.
Over a far longer period and against stronger opponents our J. H. Blackburne made "pictures on the board" as memorable as any of Morphy's. This year is the centenary of the latter's birth, and it would be pleasant and not unprofitable (at any rate to chess players) to discuss the changes of style in the play of the grand masters during the last 100 years.
The idea was to create a barricade of pawns, a sort of wire entanglement, behind which the deployed pieces were ready for obtaining minute tactical advantages. It was a defensive-offensive form of warfare, which kept the draw in hand. Working on these lines the masters of the Vienna school produced innumerable games which seem inspired by Morphons rather than Morphy.
Chess as Exact Science Capablanca, who first became known as a brilliant young combinationist, later on strove to make chess an exact science. He looked for victory in the end-game, and, having secured a superior pawn-position, would ruthlessly simplify the struggle. A legend of his invincibility arose, which he "helped to maintain by a certain aloofness, Meanwhife, the neo-r tie school unbecoming, the principle of which was to seek in any position not so much for the best move as for the best plan, When the leading exponent of this style, Alekhine, declared "it may not be possible for me, but it is possible to beat Capa," he was accused of blasphemy. His victory by six games to three with 25 draws, was a shock to the chess-playing world. Many of the games in this wonderful match between artist and scientist are beyond the comprehension of the average amateur.
As a rule, the Russian master's defence was impregnable, but he was so able to oval subtle far-seeing stratagems in positions which, even to master analysts, seemed to offer nothing more than a dull draw. There s a mystical quality in Alekhine's finest victories which defies defini tion. It can also be discerned, far below the surface, in some of the games of Botwinnik, the young Russian champion. Similarly in Sultan Khan's play there is an uñ- usualness which must be Oriental in origin, The defeat in a recent world's championship match of Alekhine by Euwe was to some extent due to inability to stand the strain of the exacting encounter. A "comeback" 1s rare in championship chess as in first-rate boxing, and the majority of competent judges doubt whether Alekhine will regain the crown in the match which began on Oct. 7, Euwe is an expert in position play, who avoids the risks of romanticism. This at least is certain—the two combatants will collaborate in producing games which will be part of the age-long and wonderous history of toil in what Andersen called "the gymnasium of the mind."
At present, however, Alekhine is leading handsomely—Ed.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.