Game 12 in the book: Dr. O. S. Bernstein–Alekhine, All-Russian Masters' Tournament at Vilna, 1912. A Queen's Gambit Declined annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black and wins.

1. 4.e3 In answer to 4. Kt—B 3, I have, on several occasions, successfully played 4. ....P x P; and if 5. P—K 3, P—Q Kt 4, followed by P—Kt 5; or if 5. P—Q R 4, B—B 4!, etc., as in the game against Rubinstein, London, 1922. After the text-move Black can play 4. ....B—B 4; 5. Q—Kt 3, Q—Kt 3; with a good game.
2. 4…g6 Played for the first time by Schlechter in a match-game against Lasker at Berlin, 1910. However, this system has little to commend it, as in this position the Bishop at K Kt 2 has for once not much scope, whilst the Q B, although not shut in by the K P, has no useful squares of development.
3. 8.a3 Up to now the position is identical with that in the game mentioned before. But on the next move Schlechter played 8. ....P x P; followed by P—Q Kt 4 and P—Kt 5, after which his Queen's side naturally became very weak.
4. 8…Nc7 After this move Black's position is constrained, but without any weak point. He can now hope to free his position by gradual stages.
5. 10.cxd5 If 10. P—Q Kt 3, R—B 1; 11. B—Kt 2, P—B 4; and if then 12. P x B P, P x B P, followed by ....Kt—R 3, and Black has a satisfactory game.
6. 10…Nfxd5 The correct reply. After 10. ....P x P; White would obtain the advantage by seizing the Q B file and by exploiting the lack of mobility of the Black pieces.
7. 11.h3 The object of this move is to prevent 13. ....B—Kt 5; after 12. P—K 4, Kt x Kt; 13. P x Kt. But Black takes advantage of this moment's respite to start operations in the centre on his own account.
8. 12.bxc3 The position now recalls a variation of Grünfeld's defence: 1. P—Q 4, Kt—K B 3; 2. P—Q B 4, P—K Kt 3; 3. Kt—Q B 3, P—Q 4; etc., which was in fashion in recent Master Tournaments, with this difference in White's favour, however, that the Black Knight is at Q B 2 instead of Q B 3 or Q 2.
9. 14.Rd1 If 14. P—K 4, then 14. ....P x P; 15. P x P, Q—Q 3!, etc., with a good game, e.g.: 16. P—Q 5, B—Q 2; or 16. P—K 5, Q—Q 2; followed by K R—B 1. It is clear that the capture of the Q B P either now or on the preceding move would not be to White's advantage, because of Q—Q 4.
10. 14…c4 With this move Black allows his opponent to dominate the centre squares in order to gain an advantage on the Queen-side. More prudent and sufficient to equalize would have been 14. ....Q—Q 3 followed by K R—B 1.
11. 15…b5 Not 15. ....P—B 4; because of 16. Q—R 4!
12. 16.Nd2 After this unnecessary withdrawal Black takes the initiative. It was essential to have played 16. P—K 4, which would have been followed by 16. ....Q—Q 3; 17. B—K 3, P—Q R 3, with chances for both sides.
13. 16…f5 Permanently taking hold of the centre, as his Q 4 is definitely secured. From the strategic point of view this consideration is of paramount importance.
14. 18.e4 Essential in order to develop the Q B at last, but too late to improve White's game.
15. 18…Ba8 In order to bring his Knight to Q 4 and to prevent the White Knight from reaching Q B 5 via K 4.
16. 20…Nd5 Now Black dominates the board and can, at will, undertake an attack on either wing. If White play 21. Kt—Kt 3 (if 21. Kt—K 3, Kt x P; etc., as in the game) Black would play 21. ....Q—Q 3, tying the Q B to the defence of the Q B P, and then P—Q R 3; followed by the doubling of the Rooks on the K B file with an overwhelming advantage in position.
17. 21.Bg5 This move, plausible as it may seem strategically, is refuted by the combinative play which follows.
18. 21…Nxc3 If White replies B x B, then follows: 22. ....Kt x Q R; 23. B—K 4, Kt x P; followed by P—Kt 5 and Black has won the Exchange. White therefore choses the better alternative.
19. 22…Qd5 Not 22. ....Kt x Q R; 23. B x P ch, K—R 1; 24. Q—Kt 6, Q—K 1; (otherwise Q—R 5, etc.); 25. Q x Kt, and White has a Pawn and prospects of an attack for the loss of the Exchange.
20. 23…Kh8 Evidently compulsory.
21. 26.Kh1 If 26. K—R 2, then 26. ....R x P; 27. B x B, Q x B ch; 28. K—R 1 (or 28. Kt—Kt 3, B x B; etc.) R—K B 1! (threatening Q x Kt ch and mate in three), with a winning position for Black.
22. 26…Qc3 The simplest way of forcing the exchange of Queens, as Black now threatens Q x P ch.
23. 28…e5 At first sight this appears to be risky on account of White's three passed Pawns on the King's side, but Black had worked out that his Queen-side Pawns would queen first. The variation 28. ....B—K B 3; 29. B—R 6, followed by P—Kt 4, and Kt 5 promised no more than the text-move.
24. 30.Bxf6+ If now 30. B—R 6, R—Kt 1; 31. P—Kt 4, P—R 4, and the White Pawns are stopped. White therefore decides to mobilize the Knight and to initiate a direct King-side attack with his remaining pieces.
25. 32.Rd1 If 32. Kt x P, Black wins easily by 32. ....R—B 3; 33. Kt—K 3, R—B 6; 34. R—K 1, R x P; etc.
26. 32…Rff8 In order to seize the Queen's file at once, White's few checks being of no consequence.
27. 36.Ng4 My opponent, who was in the running with Rubinstein for the first prize in this tournament, offers a maximum of resistance and discovers unexpected resources in a desperate position. Now mate in two is threatened.
28. 36…Rd2 This move, the climax of the manoeuvre initiated by 32. ....K R—B 1, not only parries the mating threat but unexpectedly wins the Q B, which has no flight-square. It is the end.