Game 1 in the book: Alekhine's win over Bernhard Gregory at the All-Russian Amateur Tournament, St. Petersburg, February 1909. Alekhine's own annotations follow.
3…Nc6The best move is 3. .... Kt x P! (see Game No. 41).
5…Nd4This manœuvre is not to be recommended and, as the sequel shows, only results in the obstruction of the Q B. The best continuation is: 5. .... P—K R 3; 6. B x Kt, B x Kt ch; 7. P x B, Q x B, etc., with equal chances.
6.a3The simplest, for now 6. .... B—R 4 would be inferior because of 7. P—Q Kt 4, followed by 8. Kt—Q 5, etc. 6. P—B 4, P—Q 3; 7. Kt—B 3 was also worthy of consideration.
8.h4A strong move. If instead 8. B—Q 2, P—Q 4; 9. P x P, Kt x P; 10. Q—K 2, P—K B 3, whereas after 8. P—K R 4, P—K R 3; 9. B—Q 2, this manœuvre is not advantageous for Black, e.g.: 9. .... P—Q 4; 10. P x P, Kt x P; 11. Q—K 2, Q—Q 3 (if 11. .... P—K B 3; 12. Q—R 5 ch); 12. Kt—B 3, P—K B 3; 13. Q—K 4, Kt—K 2; 14. P—Q 4, and White has the better game.
8…h6Clearly not 8. .... Kt x B; 9. P x Kt, Kt—Kt 1; because of 10. P—Kt 6!
10.Qf3The plan to advance the K Kt P, initiated by the last move, is somewhat perfunctory and devoid of real sting. The simple development by 10. Kt—K 2 followed by 11. Kt—Kt 3 would have given White the better game without any complications.
12…Ng8Here Black should have availed himself of the opportunity to exchange his inactive K R, after which he would have had a satisfactory game. Black could have repelled his opponent's somewhat hazardous advance by a manœuvre both precise and energetic; but, on the contrary, he justifies it by the inferior tactics adopted here.
14.Nh3The unsatisfactory development of this Knight is the direct outcome of the risky moves preceding it.
14…Kd7There was indicated: 14. .... P x P; 15. P x P, Castles; 16. Q—K 3, K—Kt 1; 17. R—Kt 1, with a complicated position which held chances for Black. The Black King would be safer on the wing than in the centre, where he will soon be exposed to a successful attack.
15.Qg4The intention being to bring the Knight into the centre after an exchange of Pawns at K B 5.
15…Rf8Preparing the counter-attack 16. .... P—B 4, which White will however refute by a pretty sacrifice; in any case Black's game was already compromised in consequence of the mistake on his 14th move.
16…f5If 16. .... P—K R 4; 17. Q—Kt 3, P x P; 18. Kt x P, Kt x Kt; 19. B x Kt, B x P; 20. Castles! etc., with a winning attack.
17.exf5The basic idea of this sacrifice, the consequences of which were not easy to determine, is to lure away the Black Q B. Furthermore White aims at the advance of his Q P (21st and 22nd moves) which is to make Black's Q Kt P indefensible.
18…Kc8If 18. .... K—K 1 (K—Q 1 is evidently bad because of 19. Q—Kt 1, and 20. Q x P, threatening mate); 19. Q—Kt 1, P—Q 4; 20. B—Kt 5 ch, K—Q 1 (P—B 3; 21. B x P ch!), and White wins.
19.Qg1The White Queen will, without loss of time, penetrate into the vitals of the hostile position.
19…c6An ingenious resource. If now 20. Q x B, P—Q 4; 21. B—Kt 3, Q x K P; and Black assumes the initiative. It is clear that after 19. .... P—Q Kt 3 or K—Kt 1, White, having captured the B, would have retained the attack, in addition to material advantage.
20…c5The only way to prevent 21. R x P.
21.d4Only this manœuvre can clearly demonstrate the soundness of the combination initiated by White's 17th move. Black cannot capture the Pawn, for after 21. .... K P x Q P; 22. P x B P, P x P; 23. B—R 5! and mate cannot be prevented.
21…Qc7Now the threat 23. R x P is unanswerable. If 22. .... Q—Kt 1; 23. Q—R 4, R—Q 1 (or 23. .... Q—B 2; 24. R—Kt 5! followed by R—R 5, etc.); 24. R x P! K x R (if Q x R; 25. B—R 6!); 25. Q—R 6 ch, K—B 2; 26. Q—B 6 mate.
25.c4Winning another Pawn, the Black Bishop being held by the threat of 26. B—R 5 and mate next move.
29.f5The shortest way. Black is forced to capture the K B P, which involves the loss of a piece.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source