The Pearl of Zandvoort

Max Euwe vs Alexander Alekhine

World championship · 1935 · 1-0

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0 / 93 half-moves

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The story behind the moves

A masterpiece, move by move

Known as the Pearl of Zandvoort, game 26 of the 1935 championship is a study in central pawns and coordinated pieces.

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21. Nxf5

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Collect central pawns. Euwe’s knight captures on f5, then goes to d6 and e4. Alekhine takes the bishop on c3 in between: watch the material balance alongside the changing pawn structure.

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28. e6

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A pawn on the sixth rank. The e-pawn attacks the knight on d7. This advanced pawn ties Black’s pieces to the center while White brings a rook to the g-file.

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47. Ne4+

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The final fork. The knight checks the king on g5 and attacks the rook on d2. Black’s king must move, allowing the knight to take the rook.