Game 43 in the book: a Queen's Gambit Declined, one of twenty simultaneous games played at Paris, September 1913, in which Alekhine has White against M. Prat.
3…e6Tchigorin's Defence is only playable if the Q B is developed at K Kt 5. The text-move which, on the contrary, obstructs this Bishop, can only create difficulties for Black.
4…dxc4A further renunciation. Black now abandons the centre, and it is not surprising that White, in a few moves, obtains an overpowering position.
11…h6Opposing the threat 12. P—K 5 followed by 13. Kt—Kt 5, but at the cost of a considerable weakening of the Castled position.
13…Re8In order to liberate the Queen. A catastrophe at K B 7 is already in the air.
16.Nxf7This can hardly be termed a sacrifice, as White is in a position to regain the piece with the superior position, but it is rather the initial move of the elegant final combination.
17…Neg8Here White could have regained his piece by 18. P x Kt, P x P! (if instead 18. ....Kt x P; 19. P x P ch, B x P; 20. R x Kt ch, etc.); 19. P x P ch, K—Kt 2! He quite rightly prefers to aim at the mate.
21.Rde1The sequel clearly shows the object of this move.
22.Qh5+Here White announced mate in 10 moves as follows: 22. Q—R 5 ch!, Kt x Q; 23. P x P dbl ch, K—Kt 3; 24. B—B 2 ch, K—Kt 4; 25. R—B 5 ch, K—Kt 3!; 26. B—B 6 dbl ch, K—Kt 4; 27. R—Kt 6 ch, K—R 5; 28. R—K 4 ch, Kt—B 5; 29. R x Kt ch, K—R 4; 30. P—Kt 3!, any; 31. R—R 4 mate.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source