6…Bc5If it was Black's intention to develop his B at Q B 4, he should have done so before playing P—Q Kt 4, for after 5. ....P—Q Kt 4 he has nothing better than 6. ....B—K 2, which, however, gives him a satisfactory game. The text-move, on the contrary, needlessly exposes him to grave perils.
7.Nxe5The correct reply, yielding White in every variation an extremely dangerous attack.
10.f4This move, which would be bad if Black's Q Kt P were still at Kt 2 and White's K B at Q R 4, because of 10. ....B×Kt ch and 11. ....Kt×P, shows the error of Black's 6th move.
11…O-OForced now, for if 11. ....Kt×P; 12. B—Q 5.
12.e5White appears to have secured a decisive positional advantage, for the withdrawal of the Knight to K 1 is compulsory (12. ....Kt—K 5; 13. Q—Q 5 ! and wins): but my ingenious opponent succeeds in finding the only move to give him defensive chances, and in the sequel he shows in exemplary manner how to make the most of them.
12…c5The text-move threatens, should White capture the Knight, to shut off the hostile K B by 13. ....P—B 5, thereby leading into an end-game with Bishops of opposite colours.
13.Ba3The key-move of a deep combination whose principal variation consists of some ten moves and which results in the gain of a Pawn in a superior position.
13…Qa5The best reply. Black indirectly defends his Q B P whilst attacking the hostile Q B, but White's manœuvre initiated by 13. B—R 3 ! is based upon the temporary removal of the Black Queen from the centre.
15…c4Black is not excessively uneasy concerning the reply 16. Q—Q 5 (with the double threat 17. Q—Kt 5 and 17. Q×R), being convinced that he will save the situation by 16. ....Q—R 4 followed by the capture of the K B, which is cut off. But, as the sequel shows, this calculation is only partly correct.
17.fxg7Not 17. Q×R because of 17. ....Q—Kt 3 ch and 18. ....B—Kt 2, winning for Black.
18…Kxg7Once again the only move.
19.Bxc4The point of the whole combination ! This Bishop, which appeared hopelessly doomed, gains a fresh lease of life, for if 19. ....P×B, then 20. Q×R and 21. Q R—Kt 1, as in the preceding note. White, with his Pawn plus and considering the exposed position of Black's King, seems to have a comparatively easy win, but this is only a will-o'-the-wisp.
20…Qf6Equally after 20. Q—Kt 5 ch, Q—Kt 3; 21. B—Q 3, P—B 4 ! Black would have sufficient resources available.
21…Rfe8An excellent defensive move by which Black sacrifices a second Pawn in order to occupy the central files with his Rooks. After 21. ....Q×Q; 22. P×Q, Q R—B 1; 23. R—B 4, R×P; 24. R—Kt 4 ch, K—R 1; 25. R—R 4, etc. Black probably could not save the game.
26…Rd8Taking advantage of the fact that White's Q P cannot readily be defended, e.g.: 27. P—B 3, P—Kt 5 !; 28. P×P, R×P, followed by 29. ....R×Kt P, etc.
27.f5In order to secure an outpost by 28. P—B 6 after 27. ....R×P, with good attacking chances against the position of the hostile King, but Black prefers to temporize and to postpone the capture of the Q P until later, first taking a precautionary measure.
28.Rae1Reconciling himself to giving back one Pawn in order to exchange the formidable Black Bishop. 28. R—B 4, although temporarily preserving the advantage of two Pawns, would be insufficient for success, e.g.: 28. ....R—Kt 2; 29. B—B 1, R—Q B 1 !; 30. R—B 2 or R—B 1, R—B 6 followed by 31. ....B—Q 4 or R—R 6, and White cannot possibly defend all his Pawns.
28…Rg7Of course not 28. ....R×R; 29. R×R, R×P because of 30. R—K 8 ch and White wins.
31.Re6Winning a Pawn once again, but only momentarily.
32…Rc4Still more exact was 32. ....R—Q R 5 !, although the text-move is also adequate.
33.Rf3Obviously if 33. R—B 2, then 33. ....R (Kt 2)—B 2, and the Q B P could not be defended.
34…Kf7Forestalling the threatened 35. R—Kt 3 ch and 36. R—Kt 6.
38…b4After this move, which creates a permanent threat to dissolve the Queen-side Pawns, White's winning chances are reduced to vanishing point.
59.g4The supreme effort !
59…Rxg4At once forcing the draw.
61…Kg7Drawn game. Black's King arrives just in time to stop White's Q R P, e.g.: 60. K—B 4, K—R 3; 61. K—K 4, K×P; 62. K—Q 4, K—Kt 4; 63. K—B 4, K—B 4; 64. K×P, K—K 3; 65. K—Kt 5, K—Q 2; 66. K—Kt 6, K—B 1, etc. A splendid example of Réti's careful defence.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source