8…dxc4This move has been adopted by Capablanca on several occasions, amongst others against myself in the London Tournament of 1922. Without considering it bad we can affirm that it is certainly not the best, for there are numerous defensive resources available to Black which can later on yield him chances of a win. Here is the continuation of my game against Capablanca: 9. B×P, Kt—Q 4; 10. B×B, Q×B; 11. Castles, Kt×Kt; 12. Q×Kt, P—Q Kt 3; 13. Q—Q 3. In this position White has the choice between several continuations which give him an excellent game, and the most Black can hope for is a draw. The game continued 13. ....P—Q B 4; 14. B—R 6, B×B; 15. Q×B, P×P; 16. Kt×P, Kt—B 4; 17. Q—Kt 5 and White has still a slight advantage owing to the weakness of the square at his Q B 6. This superiority is, however, not sufficient to force the win.
10.Ne4This move, of doubtful value in the variation 8. B—Q 3 (see Game No. 87), is still less commendable in the present position, because of the presence of the White Queen at Q B 2. The only correct move is 10. B×B followed by 11. Castles.
10…Qa5+The position of White's King is not safe, but 11. K—B 1 has the disadvantage of shutting in the K R.
11…Re8A serious loss of time which allows the opponent to maintain his advantage in position. The line of play indicated was 11. ....Kt (Q 2)—Kt 3, forcing the exchange of the adverse K B, for 13. B—Kt 3 would evidently be bad because of 13. ....Kt—Kt 5, threatening Q—R 3 ch or Q—Kt 4 ch. Black by this manœuvre could have secured at least an equal game, which shows the inadequacy of 10. Kt—K 4.
13…Qb5+Now 13. ....Kt—Kt 5 would not cause White any inconvenience, e.g.: 14. Q—Kt 1, Q—Kt 4 ch; 15. K—K 1, etc.
14.Qd3The exchange of Queens is forced, but it is entirely to the advantage of White, who had continually to reckon with the threats of the dangerous Black Queen.
15…Bxg5The withdrawal of Black's K B to K B 1 would have prevented White's Knight from occupying Q 6, but in any case Black's game would have remained very cramped.
16…Nf6Grünfeld in the Teplitz-Schönau Tournament-Book recommends here first 16. ....P—K R 3. Nevertheless, it seems doubtful whether this transposition of moves can be of great importance for the general valuation of a position in which Black has no compensation for his shut-in Q B.
19…Rb8In order to develop his Q B and subsequently dislodge the Knight on Q 6 by ....Kt—Q B 1. White must therefore cast about for a very energetic line of play if he wishes to maintain his advantage.
20.g4This Pawn-sacrifice compels Black to modify his plan, for if now 20. ....B—Q 2; 21. P—Kt 5, P×P; 22. Kt×K Kt P, Kt—B 1; 23. Kt—B 4 with an overwhelming position for White. It would be comparatively best for Black to resolve to maintain his Bishop in its blocked position and to continue 20. ....R—Q 2; 21. P—K 5, Kt (B 3)—Q 4; 22. K—Q 2!, with 23. P—K R 4 and 24. P—Kt 5 to follow for White.
20…Nxg4On the contrary, the capture of the Pawn is rash, for the open lines of attack now available to White are heavy ransom for such sorry booty.
22.Ne5Threatening, if 22. ....B—Q 2, to win by 23. R—K B 3, K—B 1; 24. Kt (K 5)×K B P!, R×Kt; 25. Kt×R, K×Kt; 26. P—K 5.
22…Nbd7This move is not really an actual mistake. But in this laborious position all other moves would equally give the impression of being mistakes.
23.Nexf7Regaining the Pawn sacrificed with a strong attack.
23…Nh5If 23. ....R×Kt White wins by 24. B×P.
25.e5Threatening 26. B—B 2 ch followed by 27. Kt×P ch.
26…b6Indirectly defending the Knight by the threat of the Bishop's check at Q R 3.
28.Ke3Threatening 29. R—R 3.
30.Rg5After this move Black has no defence against the threatened 31. R×Kt! and 32. R—Kt 3 ch.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source