Alekhine, Alexander VS Thomas, George Alan 1923.05.14

Annotations

1. 3…g6 This old defence is at present very fashionable in England. The two English champions, F. D. Yates and Sir George Thomas, have shown a predilection for it, justified by numerous successes.
2. 6…Nc6 This move, suggested by Burn in place of 6. ....Q Kt—Q 2, adopted up till then, is aimed at forcing White to disclose his intentions in the centre as soon as possible. Nevertheless, it does not seem sufficient to equalize.
3. 7.d5 The most energetic and also the best continuation. The defeat inflicted on me by Yates, in particularly sparkling style, during a previous round of the same tournament, did not in the least shake my opinion as to the value of this move, seeing that I lost an advantage in position which had been already acquired, solely on account of several tactical errors.
4. 8…e5 This apparently plausible move is certainly not best, for it allows White to open up the game by an exchange in the centre, and thus to profit by his superior development. More in accordance with the spirit of the opening was 8. ....P—Q R 4, followed by 9. ....Q Kt—Q 2 or Kt—R 3 and 10. ....Kt—B 4, as played by Yates in an analogous position in the game cited.
5. 9.dxe6 This frees Black's game only in appearance, for if he retakes with the Bishop, White replies 10. Kt—Q 4! with marked advantage; and if he retakes with the Pawn he will sooner or later be forced to play P—K 4, to free his Q B, which will weaken the square Q 4 and will give White distinct chances in the centre and on the Queen's wing.
6. 10.Bg5 In order to exchange Bishops by 11. Q—Q 2 and B—R 6, or else to provoke the reply 10. ....P—K Kt 3. In both cases the position of Black's King is weakened.
7. 12.Rad1 In order to meet 12. ....B—Q 2 with 13. P—B 5!
8. 15.Ng5 A very strong position for this Knight, which cannot be dislodged without compromising the position of Black's King. In addition, this move will be the prelude to an offensive in the centre, commencing with P—K B 4, which will bring about a contact of the Pawns, Black's reply P—K 4 being practically forced.
9. 16…Nd4 In order to provoke P—K 3 and thus to develop his Q B with the gain of a move.
10. 17…Nc6 After 17. ....Kt—K 3 the reply 18. P—B 4! would have been still stronger, e.g.: 17. ....Kt—K 3; 18. P—B 4!, Kt×Kt (Kt 4); 19. P×Kt, Kt×Kt; 20. B×Kt ch, K—R 1; 21. R×R ch, Q×R; 22. R—K B 1 and White has a winning position.
11. 20.b4 With the object of dislodging the adverse Q Kt, in order to give White's K B its maximum efficiency.
12. 20…h6 To defend his Queen-side successfully Black has nothing better than to expel the White pieces from their threatening positions.
13. 24.c5 Much better than attempting to win a Pawn by 25. Q—R 5, which would have yielded Black sufficient counter-chances, e.g.: 24. ....P×P; 25. Kt P×P, B—B 4; 26. Kt—B 2, B—K 3!
14. 26.a4 White now exercises strong pressure on the Queen-side, for which Black has no compensation. Nevertheless, had he on the next move played 26. ....K—R 2 he would have propounded a problem of great difficulty for his opponent, whereas against his actual reply White can undertake a forcible offensive.
15. 27.Qd6 This entry of White's Queen is very dangerous. White now threatens 28. Q—Kt 8!
16. 28…exf4 There is no longer any good move. 28. ....B P×P or 28. ....P—B 4, indicated by many annotators with surprising unanimity, would lead to an immediate catastrophe after 29. P×K P! threatening 30. Kt—B 6 ch.
17. 29.bxc6 This Pawn, defended by the K B, will decide the game in White's favour.
18. 30.Qd5 Threatening 31. B—R 3.
19. 31.Nd6 The winning move, of which the consequences, in the leading variation, had to be analysed twelve and fifteen moves ahead.
20. 31…Ba6 The reply creating most difficulty for White. If 31. ....Q—Q B 2, then simply 32. R—Q 1! retaining the passed Pawn, with a winning position.
21. 33…Qe7 As in Game No. 66, my opponent facilitated my task, and rendered superfluous my detailed analysis, which had taken more than half-an-hour. The principal variation considered by me was the following: 33. ....Q—B 6!; 34. R—Q 1!!, R×P! (if 34. ....R×Q P ch; 35. K—R 1 and wins); 35. Q—Q 2!, Q×Q (if 35. ....Q—B 4; 36. Q—K B 2); 36. R×Q, R—Q B 6; 37. Kt—K 4!, R—B 8 ch; 38. K—B 2, Kt×P; 39. R—Q 7 ch, K—Kt 1!; 40. Kt—B 6 ch, K—B 1; 41. B—Q 5, Kt—K 2; 42. R—Q 8 ch, K—Kt 2; 43. Kt—K 8 ch, K—R 2; 44. R—Q 7, R—B 7 ch; 45. K—B 3, R—K 7; 46. B—K 4 and White wins a piece and the game.
22. 36.Qe5 Winning at least the Exchange.

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