Alekhine's Brilliancy in Paris
Baden-Baden Tournament
Alekhine defeats hypermodern pioneer Réti with a spectacular queen sacrifice and bishop maneuver, producing a game Kasparov later described as 'the most beautiful ever played in the first half of the 20th century'.
Alekhine vs Réti, Baden-Baden 1925 — queen sacrifice leading to a bishop and rook mating attack. Kasparov called it the best game of its era.
📖 The Story
At the 1925 Baden-Baden tournament, Alekhine faced Richard Réti — one of the founders of the hypermodern school of chess — and produced a game of exceptional beauty. A queen sacrifice on move 26 exposed Réti's king to a coordinated bishop and rook attack. The end came quickly and elegantly. Kasparov later selected this game as one of the greatest of the pre-WWII era, calling Alekhine's calculation and foresight unparalleled for its time.
⚡ Key Moment — Move 26
Alekhine sacrifices the queen for rook and bishop, opening lines to the Black king. The two bishops and rook coordinate in a mating attack Réti cannot stop.
🎯 Tactical Themes
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Alexander Alekhine?
Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946) was the 4th World Chess Champion, holding the title from 1927 (with one interruption) until his death. He was famous for brilliant combinations and deep strategic play.
Who was Richard Réti?
Richard Réti (1889–1929) was a Czech-Austrian grandmaster and leading theorist of the hypermodern school, which challenged the classical center-control doctrine with flank openings and flexible setups.
What was the Réti Opening?
The Réti Opening (1.Nf3) is named after Richard Réti, who championed controlling the center from afar with pieces and pawns on the flanks rather than immediate central occupation.
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