Alekhine

Alexander Alekhine (1892-1946) was the fourth World Champion. He took the title from Capablanca in 1927, lost it to Max Euwe in 1935, and regained it in 1937, holding it until his death. His name is associated with calculation and complex attacks, but an essential part of his strength was creating the conditions in which those combinations could arise.

From challenger to champion

Born in Moscow, Alekhine reached the international elite before the First World War. He later left Russia and settled in western Europe. Third place at New York 1924 and victory at Baden-Baden 1925 were important stages in preparing a championship challenge. Under that system a challenger needed not only results but also agreed conditions and financial backing.

The 1927 Buenos Aires match against Capablanca demanded much more than tactical creativity. Alekhine demonstrated stamina, preparation, and the ability to compete in apparently quiet positions. Victory changed the chess hierarchy, but a rematch between them never took place. That fact should not be confused with a second victory that did not happen.

Building an attack in stages

Alekhine could apply pressure in one sector, provoke a concession, and then transfer pieces towards another target. A defender solved one threat only to find the reply had weakened a square or displaced a piece. The final combination often exploited several earlier decisions that had appeared minor when played.

To follow that logic, ask which piece is least effective and how it can join the action. A knight may need a manoeuvre lasting several moves; a rook may improve on a file that is not yet open. The plan becomes clear when a pawn break connects those pieces with the king or a material weakness.

His attacks did not always end in mate. If an opponent gave up material to escape, Alekhine could exchange pieces and convert a favourable ending. This transition teaches an important lesson: an attack aims to improve the game's outcome and may succeed by obtaining a lasting advantage rather than by continuing to seek checks.

Dominance and regaining the crown

During his first reign he defended the title twice against Efim Bogoljubov and scored major tournament victories, including San Remo 1930 and Bled 1931. Losing to Max Euwe in 1935 demonstrated that even a dominant champion could be outplayed in a long match. Alekhine won the 1937 rematch, so his two reigns must be counted separately.

He died in 1946 while still holding the world title. His death left the crown vacant and preceded the institutional change leading to the 1948 championship tournament. The proposed match against Botvinnik was never played.

Books and studying his games

His best-game collections and the New York 1924 tournament book circulated detailed explanations and concrete analysis. They are valuable records of how a great player explained decisions, although historical annotations remain open to revision. When studying them, separate what occurred on the board from illustrative variations and from what the author reports having foreseen. This allows appreciation of his imagination without turning every combination into a story of infallible calculation.

Annotated games

• Capablanca-Alekhine 1927