Hi there.
In this lecture, we see Alexander Alekhine playing against Hugh Alexander.
So he has a very interesting wiki page.
He works at Bletchley Park.
So cryptanalysis, not crypto cryptanalysis.
So yeah, encryption decryption rather.
Mostly decryption, presumably.
So anyway.
1936 Nottingham Thomas round 11 D4 from Alexander Alekhine.
So Knight f6 we have C4 e6 Knight F3 so Queen's Indian territory and actually it's a bow go Indian defense
here now Bishop b4 check we see Knight bd to be 6g3 Bishop B seven Bishop G to both sides.
Castle Bishop takes D2 so giving up the Bishop voluntarily here, not inflicting structural damage.
So how would you take here?
So we have now a bishop of our counterpart.
Ideally, we want either king, right?
That's the dance square around the king.
So how would you take care for ten points?
I believe this is absolutely logical.
Queen 62 So this means that we can play a subtle move and have a bishop looking at the king here.
So we have d6 b free knight Bd7 Bishop b2 so rook b8.
So there's a strategy of amplification when we have such a bishop, especially with our counterpart,
it's already basically naturally amplified that there's no counterpart Don't square.
Bishop We have Rook 81, 94 and now Queen E4, a very nice move, putting pressure on that knight learning
occupied E4.
But here now after F5 a really.
Interesting move indeed to find this bishop rather than it being locked in.
And then he points.
Guess what?
White Plains.
Okay.
D5 Yeah, D5 opens up the bishop and you might think, Well, isn't that a weak pawn on D5?
That's the interesting part here because of this Bishop counterpart.
Sometimes the weak pawn can be an illusion and we can prove that with variations.
First of all, if E5, let's say it isn't played, then Knight h4 and all of a sudden, well, Knight
takes F5 is on to undermine the knight if G6 F4 and we can try and amplify the bishop like this.
So this position takes E5 if Knight G4, Queen C one Knight takes e5 A3 and we try and break open that
diagonal.
This position is quite nice for White's and Queen G4 Queen G5 rather Bishop takes E4.
Leaves one with a very dominating position here.
After Rook takes a fake, rook takes F8 entry -86, 96.
And yeah, White's just got a huge advantage here.
And, you know, there's prospects to do all sorts of things.
We got pressure, we got a weak pawn here.
We got potentially four G for FFL.
It's just been four one.
So.
E5 Yeah.
Knight H for.
And just to show the threat, if a59 takes F five.
Yeah.
So just, you know, the E4 nine is a target.
So this variation is kind of critical with fall.
But anyway in the game though it takes was played so this leaves the bishop nicely looking at G7 sea
tanks and now Knight D six and now here really nice move.
Guess what won't plays.
So it looks as though, well, D5 is weak.
Why did Alekhine do this?
Well, my change for this bishop is lurking around being the kind of guardian of the white position
and indirectly this pawn.
We have Queen D7 If Knight takes D5 orders won't, do you think, at some points.
Yeah, it has here.
Rook takes D5.
And then we can amplify the Bishop of Quirindi for the battery threatening chat mates.
One is black do hair and also threatening D5.
If knights have sex, then Bishop takes D5 check.
So we're winning material and if Bishop takes the E5 instead, then wants the key move here.
At some points.
Yeah.
Bishop takes off six is winning a piece.
Not Route 65 here because this position has no def since I'm black, actually has a small edge.
So now rook takes the E5 is not the way but in this case.
Bishop takes offence undermines the bishop.
If Knight takes, we're taking.
Bishop, take 35.
That's the way to win material.
So.
Okay, so it's all kind of it's immune.
Diplomatic immunity at this point we have Quirindi seven, Bishop H free.
And again, this pawn is immune actually, even though the bishop's now on this diagonal because well,
black plate amplifying the bishop further really creating dance square weaknesses if Knight takes D5,
can you see what won't plays here.
You know, the power of the pin piece of -- is illusionary.
Queen SACS E4 is spinning material.
And if Bishop takes D5, yeah, Rook takes D5 here and then we get Queen takes E4 again, just winning
material.
This is just big for one huge point, huge position.
So G sinks F3, C five and now Queen G five.
Very direct play, very logical.
This bishop is just doing so much damage to Black's position.
It's just a major weapon here, a major attacking weapon.
We have Queen G seven if night 65 hair.
In fact Rook 65 is strong and then the follow up nine times G6.
This just destroys the king.
Really.
If h takes ouch what is plan to Queen G seven.
So yes, that is really devastating.
Rook takes D5.
It's the most devastating it seems, if 96.
There's no E seven double check for a moment.
So the king has to move.
Queen f six chink and then 1965 is clean.
Another way of playing it, though, instead of 65, even 90 6g6 immediately.
96.
F eight.
Check here is good this position.
Because if it's a freaking G2.
And.
One is going to be winning material.
Whatever happens.
If 95 broke, 65 is nice.
This position leaves white as an example, a whole bunch of up.
And if Rook eats, King takes this position, that's not enough compensation.
A whole World Cup.
So.
Yes.
So Queen G seven is played.
Okay.
Before 9d7.
And now E-4.
And this is really interesting.
We have actually what seems to be a very clever move, 9/10 E4 rebounding against the pinna and hitting
the queen.
Now a really powerful move is played here, just amplifying this bishop, wanting to keep this bishop
and finding one primary default thing.
You know, sometimes you want to keep that bishop, so that's the clue.
What would you play here?
Yeah.
Queen C one.
This is really the strongest move.
It creates just an enormous pressure on the diagonal.
And if we just look at an alternative for a moment, if tanks, queen tanks, there is it takes this
is better for white.
But there's a bit of work to do.
You know this position, it is clearly better for white as well.
But there's work to do.
It's not as crushing as Queen C one.
So the thing is here.
This position.
There's something very nice about this position.
Can you see what that is?
Why it's playing.
400 points.
What would you play here?
Yeah, there's a break.
You know, destroying the shelter of the king.
Bishop takes up five if King H.
Well, King responded If G takes, then nine takes five.
One is black.
Do Queen G 697 wins the Queen.
Queen H eight.
There's no ice age six taking away the king escape squares and queen you five is checkmate Brutal.
Yeah this this bishop can't be taken.
So.
KING H.A. now, Bishop Essex, strengthening that pawn huge pen.
Bishop Isaacs We have a look at 5195, and now this wonderful finish for just encouraging 93.
It's a really amplify.
This bishop in spectacular style rotates.
The free bishop takes the fray and now G4 with the big G5 and black actually resigned.
This is all about bishop amplification in this game and the bishop about the counterpart.
So black resigns here if H6 we just play G5 we're playing in with G5.
This is really crushing stuff.
Move the knight leave that nasty pin.
Yeah, this is absolutely crushing.
So G4 there's no real defensive G5 which is taking on Queens on C1 Thanks very much.
So yeah, what a brutal game.
This is really an emphatic game to say the least.
What an emphatic victory you might think.
Hold on.
There is a question which looks in my mind though, about this, and let's just see for a moments what
was the point of playing.
E forehand and.
Well, you know, at the moment.
Five was defended.
So what really happens with this E4 business?
It seems we get a position where.
Planks.
Committing to nine takes E4 and the Queen steps way, which means Bishop takes F5 was actually ignited.
It wasn't ignited here basically.
So we get a kind of kind of tempo position where our queen's on C one now instead of on G five.
So missing pawn, but our Queen's on C one protecting the bishop, very importantly protecting the bishop.
And this is just such a punishing move.
Yeah.
Without the Queen being on G five, because then G takes, you know, our queen would be here.
This is just a wonderful position of Bishop protected.
Yeah, absolutely.
Amazing stuff.
And G5.
You know, it looks just horrible.
Bishop F five as well.
I mean, so, yes, it's really interesting how this attack plays out and the amplification of the dot
square bishop.
So yeah, for me this is really an emphatic demonstration of the use of a bishop of our counterpart
amplifying that bishop against the opponent's king.
And everything seems to be mostly in service to this amplification strategy.
Okay.
I hope you enjoyed that and so much.