An Updated Classic
The 21st Century Edition of New York 1924 has been updated to be friendlier to the modern reader. Most notably, the descriptive notation originally used by Alekhine has been replaced with modern algebraic notation.
This book has long been considered a classic, and reading through the game annotations make it easy to see why. Alekhine offers a wealth of ideas in each and every game, preferring to describe ideas rather than give lengthy lines. Since his time, many opening lines have been improved or refuted, and certainly there are tactical shots and ideas computers and later players have found that he missed in his analysis, but his ideas come through clearly. For the vast majority of players, this is far more important than perfect tactical accuracy or the theoretical evaluation of an opening.
Weaving a Narrative
Alekhine does more than simply present the games as they were played. The book is organized by round, with each round's chapter beginning with a summary of that round, along with an overall view of the tournament situation. Reading these excerpts makes it much easier to understand the importance of certain games as the tournament progresses.
One other interesting addition made by Alekhine was the inclusion of an opening theory section at the end of the book. Each opening tried during the tournament is examined to see how the players pushed the theory of the time forward. While this section may not be nearly as relevant now as it was immediately after the event, it still makes for interesting reading. Again, Alekhine opts for more ideas and fewer concrete lines than many annotators, meaning that even if certain lines have fallen out of fashion, much can still be gained from his words.
A Highly-Recommended Classic
All said, it's hard not to recommend purchasing New York 1924. Playing through well-annotated master games is often recommended as a means of improvement, and this collection features nearly all of the greatest players of the era playing a wide variety of games. Alexhine's remarks are easy to read and filled with insight both into chess and the players themselves. If you enjoy tournament books, New York 1924 is a must have.
