Alekhine, Alexander VS Chajes, Oscar 1923.05.15

Annotations

1. 4…Nbd7 After this move White, apart from the text-move (5. B—Kt 5), could very well have replied 5. P×P, P×P; 6. B—B 4!, etc., with an excellent position. This is the reason why 4. ....B—K 2 is considered better.
2. 5…Be7 After 6. P—K 3, Q—R 4; 7. Kt—Q 2, B—Kt 5; 8. Q—B 2, Castles, White, should he wish to avoid the variation played in the game Grünfeld—Bogoljuboff (Mährisch-Ostrau, 1923), namely 9. B—K 2, P—K 4!; 10. P×P, Kt—K 5!, could continue simply 9. B×Kt, Kt×B; 10. B—Q 3, R—Q 1; 11. Castles K R, with a slight advantage in position, as played by Johner against Dr. Tarrasch at Trieste, 1923.
3. 8…a6 This example emphasizes once again the numerous resources afforded by the defence 8. ....P—Q R 3! in this variation.
4. 10.h3 In order to avoid the loss of a move by 10. B—Q 3, which would have transposed into a position in the game Grünfeld—Alekhin which is perfectly safe for Black (see Game No. 81) after 10. ....P—K R 3; 11. B—R 4.
5. 10…b5 A very interesting idea which may actually have some future for it. But its tactical realization here lacks precision. It is on the 9th move before 10. P—K R 3, if such was his intention, that Black should have played 9. ....P—Kt 4, for in that case he could have answered 10. P—B 5 by 10. ....P—K 4; 11. P×P, Kt—Kt 5, with a very promising game. On the other hand, should White, instead of 11. P×K P, open the Q B P file by 11. P×Q P or 11. P×Kt P, this would ultimately turn in Black's favour, White having to lose two moves to bring his King into safety.
6. 11.c5 Whereas now Black will not succeed in breaking through in the centre, and the weakness of his Q B P will make itself felt sooner or later. It is, however, without immediate consequences, on account of the blocked position of the two adversaries and the difficulties experienced by White in penetrating the hostile lines.
7. 11…Nh5 The only logical reply. White must at all cost retain control of the square K 5.
8. 14…g6 The best line of defence. Black guards against the possibility of P—B 5 and prepares a solid defensive position.
9. 15.h4 Not with the illusion of a mating attack, but simply to secure at the right moment the opening of the K R file which will later on become a winning factor for White.
10. 17.g3 Quietly strengthening a position which Black can scarcely modify appreciably.
11. 18.Nd1 Threatening to post this Knight on K Kt 4. Black's next move is intended to prepare the double advance of the K B P and thus to shut out White's Knight from the coveted square.
12. 19…f5 If this move has the advantage of further strengthening the Castled position, it does on the other hand leave Black with indifferent chances for the end-game.
13. 20.Qe2 Preparing to occupy the square K 5 with a White piece.
14. 20…a4 This is the only move of Black's in the game which can be criticized, seeing that without apparent reason it abandons the square Q Kt 4 to the adverse Knights. If Black had not modified the Pawn-position, White's right plan would have been Kt—B 2, K—B 1, Q Kt—K 1, B—Kt 1, Kt—Q 3 and Kt (Q 3)—K 5.
15. 21.Nc2 Now this Knight can at need be brought to K 5 via Q Kt 4 and Q 3, saving time.
16. 21…Rae7 In order to render innocuous the threat ....B—Q 2, should White play, e.g.: 22. Kt—Kt 4, Q—B 2.
17. 23.Ne5 This move to be sure compromises nothing, but the logical continuation was 23. Kt—Kt 4, followed by B—Kt 1, Kt—Q 3 and Kt (Q 3)—K 5. Had Black made the correct reply White would have been forced to return to this plan.
18. 23…Bxe5 Better was 23. ....Q—B 2! followed by 24. ....B×Kt, forcing White either to recapture the Bishop with the Queen, which would have led to an exchange of Queens, or else to recapture it with one of the Pawns; in both cases his chances of winning would have been reduced to vanishing point. In these circumstances White would have withdrawn his Knight to K B 3, intending to carry out in perfect safety the manœuvre sketched above.
19. 24.Qxe5 This exchange, provoking the weakening of the Black squares in the hostile position, yields White new winning chances.
20. 24…Qc7 An excellent manœuvre intended to create a new weakness at the adversary's K R 2.
21. 27.hxg6 The right moment for this exchange has come at last, for Black cannot recapture with the Pawn, which would allow him to oppose his Rooks on the K R file. Now White has a strategic advantage sufficient for victory, but its tactical realization is far from easy.
22. 28.Qh5 White must avoid every exchange which would simplify Black's defence.
23. 28…Qf6 White's following moves are intended to reduce to a minimum the mobility of the Black pieces, in order to undertake a long range manœuvre with his King.
24. 33.Bh5 This move leads to a curious position in which Black's Queen, both Rooks and the Bishop are immobilized. The problem still requires to be solved, for at present the doubling and even the trebling of the White pieces on the K R file would lead to nothing. The rather complicated plan which White will strive to pursue, which must, of course, be modified in accordance with his adversary's manœuvres, can be summarized as follows: 1st phase.—Bringing the King to the centre where, after the subsequent exchange of Queens and Rooks on the K R file, it will threaten a rapid penetration of the hostile camp via Q R 5. These tactics will logically induce a corresponding displacement of the Black King, the more plausible since its presence in the centre will consolidate the weak points Q B 3 and K 3. 2nd phase.—Compelling the Black pieces to remove themselves in succession from the King-side, by the tactical threats aimed either at the King himself or at the adverse Pawns (39th and 41st moves). The prospect of the occupation of the square K 5 by a White Knight, thereby immobilizing the Black Knight at Q 2, increases still more the difficulty of concerted action by the Black pieces, which is already difficult enough on account of the limited space available to them. 3rd phase.—Finally, at an opportune moment, namely, when the Black pieces are at their greatest distance from the King-side, doubling the Rooks on the K R file. The Rooks, after the forced exchange of Queens and Bishops, will penetrate into the heart of the hostile position. As we shall see by the sequel, the execution of this strategic plan requires not less than twenty-eight moves!
25. 34.Nd3 Not at once 34. K—K 2, on account of 34. ....P—K 4!
26. 36…Rb7 Making way for the King.
27. 39.Nb4 Threatening 40. B×P, etc.
28. 41.Qd2 Threatening, after 42. Kt—R 6!, the entry of the Queen at Q R 5.
29. 42…Rec7 In order to utilize the Bishop for the defence of the K R P when the Knight abandons it to guard the square K 4.
30. 44…Kc8 Black, in order to make his Rooks available for the defence of the King-side, proposes to defend his Q B P with his King, but this manœuvre demands far too much time, and White is now ready for the assault.
31. 48.Bh5 By this exchange of Black's best piece for the defence of his weak points, White takes an important step forward.
32. 49…hxg6 After 49. ....Q×B his K R P would later on prove difficult to defend.
33. 50…Rae8 For the moment Black's defence is still adequate, but White's next move discloses the difficulties of the hostile position.
34. 51.Ne5 The point of this move rests in the fact that for the first time in this game White can profitably consider the recapture at K 5 with a Pawn. In fact, if 51. ....Kt×Kt; 52. B P×Kt, Q—B 1; 53. Q—Kt 5! and White wins the K Kt P to start with. Black's reply is therefore forced.
35. 51…Nf8 Now the position demands exchange of Queens and not of Rooks.
36. 53.Nf3 To secure freedom of movement for the Knight, in case of need.
37. 54…Re7 Black is defenceless against White's next move.
38. 55.Qe5 After the compulsory exchange of Queens, the doubling of the Rooks on the eighth rank will be decisive.
39. 57…b4 In the hope of obtaining some last chance after R P×P, R (K 2)—Kt 2.
40. 61.Nf7 More energetic than the plausible move 61. Kt×P. White now goes straight for mate.

Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source