Max Euwe – Paul Keres

[#] Once again, the Steinitz Defence

Max Euwe
Paul Keres
Result: 0-1

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Date: March 2, 1948
Location: The Hague NED
Tournament: FIDE World Championship Tournament
Round: 1
Opening: C75 Spanish - Ruy Lopez, Modern Steinitz Defence
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Published on: June 11, 2023

[Event "FIDE World Championship Tournament"]
[Site "The Hague NED"]
[Date "1948.03.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Max Euwe"]
[Black "Paul Keres"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C75"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "1948.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 {[pgndiagram] Once again, the Steinitz Defence} 5. c3 {The third plan. c3-d4 is very common in various Ruy Lopez positions} Bd7 6. d4 Nge7 7. Bb3 h6 8. Nbd2 Ng6 {[pgndiagram] The typical maneouvre. Black knight supports e5 and eyes the f4 square} 9. Nc4 (9. d5 { Might be idea here} Nce7 10. Nc4 Ng8 11. O-O Nf6 12. Bc2 {[pgndiagram] With complex play}) 9... Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Ne3 {[pgndiagram] White should have a slight edge in this position, due to greater control of space. However, Black doesn't have any weaknessed and is fully developed} Bf6 12. Nd5 exd4 13. Nxd4 Re8 14. Nxf6+ (14. Bc2 {Maintaining the strong knight, came into consideration} Nxd4 15. cxd4 {[pgndiagram] With advantage to White}) 14... Qxf6 15. f3 Nf4 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Be3 Rad8 {[pgndiagram]The position is still good for White, due to his bishop pair.} 18. Qd2 Ng6 19. Bd4 Qe7 20. Rae1 Qd7 21. c4 Ba4 22. Bxa4 Qxa4 23. Qc3 f6 24. f4 {[pgndiagram] But this is unneccessary aggression} (24. b3 Qd7 25. h3 {Was perfectly playable, not weakening the e4 pawn and maintaning control over the position}) 24... Kh7 25. b3 Qd7 (25... Qxa2 {I naturaly, poisoned} 26. Rf2 Qa3 27. Ra1 {[pgndiagram] And the queen is trapped} ) 26. Qf3 b5 27. Qd3 bxc4 28. Qxc4 $2 {[pgndiagram] Blundering the centre away} (28. bxc4 {Was sad, but neccessary now} Qa4 29. Qe2 Rb8 {[pgndiagram] And White is the one hwo has to be careful now}) 28... Rxe4 29. Rxe4 d5 30. Qxa6 dxe4 31. Be3 {Now Black's pieces are quite active} Qg4 32. Qc4 Rd3 33. Bc1 Nh4 $1 {[pgndiagram] Keres in his element. He grabs the initiative and doesn't let go} 34. Qxe4+ f5 35. Qb7 c6 $2 {[pgndiagram] Too pretty} (35... Rc3 {Was probably stronger} 36. h3 Qe2 37. Qd5 Rc2 {[pgndiagram] And wins}) 36. Qxc6 Rc3 37. Qd5 Rc5 38. Qd2 Rxc1 $1 {[pgndiagram] Nevertheless, this combination is very beautiful and Black has a winning position} 39. h3 (39. Rxc1 Nf3+) (39. Qxc1 Qxg2#) 39... Qg3 $2 (39... Nf3+ {[pgndiagram] Was an immediate win} 40. Kf2 Rxf1+ 41. Ke3 Nxd2) 40. Qe2 Qxf4 41. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 42. Kh2 {Black is a piece up and rest is kinda easy} Qf4+ 43. Kg1 Ng6 44. Qc2 Ne7 45. a4 Qd4+ 46. Kh2 Qe5+ 47. Kg1 Nd5 48. Qd1 Nc3 49. Qc2 Kg6 50. Kh1 Qe1+ 51. Kh2 Ne2 52. Qc6+ Kh7 53. Qc5 Ng3 54. Qd6 Nf1+ 55. Kg1 h5 56. Qf4 {A dream beginning of the tournament} 0-1

Max Euwe – Paul Keres

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