Bogoljubow, Efim VS Alekhine, Alexander 1922.09.21

Annotations

1. 1…f5 A risky defence which up to the present I have adopted only very infrequently in serious games. But in the present game I had positively to play for a win in order to make sure of first prize, whereas a draw was sufficient for my opponent to secure third prize, and hence I found myself forced to run some risks which were, after all, justified by the result.
2. 3.g3 It is better to prepare the flank development of the K B in the Dutch Defence before playing P—Q B 4, because now Black can advantageously exchange his K B, which has only a very limited range of action in this opening.
3. 6.Nxd2 The recapture with the Queen, followed by 7. Kt—Q B 3, is a little better.
4. 9.Qb3 This manœuvre does not prevent Black from realizing his plan, but it is already difficult to suggest a satisfactory line of play for White.
5. 11.e3 If 11. P×P, P×P; 12. Kt×P !, Kt×Kt; 13. Q×Kt, White's Q Kt would be en prise to Black's Queen.
6. 11…a5 It was very important to prevent P—Q Kt 4 temporarily, as will be seen later.
7. 12.b3 Not 12. P—Q R 3 on account of 12. ....P—R 5.
8. 13…Qh5 Now Black has secured an attacking position, for White cannot answer 14. P×P, P×P; 15. Kt×P, Kt×Kt; 16. Q×Kt on account of 16. ....Kt—Kt 5, winning outright; nor can he play 14. P—Q Kt 4 ?, P—K 5; 15. Kt—K 1.
9. 14.h4 A good defensive move, which secures new squares for his K Kt and revives the threat 15. P×P.
10. 15.Ng5 White seeks to dislodge Black's Knight at once by 16. P—B 3, which, however, weakens his Pawn position still further. Possibly 15. P—Q Kt 4 would now be preferable.
11. 15…Bd7 If 16. B×Kt, B×B; 17. P—B 3, P×P !; 18. P×Kt, P×Q; 19. P×Q, P×Kt, with the better end-game for Black.
12. 18.Rfd1 In order to protect the K Kt P (which was threatened by 18. ....Q—Kt 5 and 19. ....Kt—R 4) by Kt—B 1. However, the preliminary advance 18. P—Q 5 !, preventing Black from forming a centre, would have yielded White more chances of a successful defence.
13. 19…d5 By this move Black completely wrecks his opponent's hopes in the centre, and shortly seizes the initiative on the Queen-side in quite unexpected fashion.
14. 21…Nc6 Now this Knight can penetrate into the hostile camp via Q Kt 5 and Q 6.
15. 23.Bh1 The fact that White had to conjure up this complicated manœuvre in order to create faint chances on the King-side shows clearly the inferiority of his position.
16. 23…Qe8 This very strong move yields Black a new advantage in every case: either control of the square Q 4 after 24. P×P, or the opening of a file on the Queen-side after 24. P—B 5, P—Q Kt 4 !, or lastly, as in the actual game, the win of a Pawn.
17. 24.Rg2 White is still trying for 25. P—K Kt 4, but even this weak counter-chance will not be vouchsafed him.
18. 27…b5 The renewal of the struggle for the centre squares, a struggle whose vicissitudes will culminate in a stirring and original finish.
19. 28…Nd3 Preparing the ensuing combination. 28. ....P×P would have been weak, for White's Knight would later have secured a good square at K 5.
20. 29.Rxa5 If 29. P×P, B×P; 30. R×P, Kt—Q 4; 31. Q—R 3, R×R; 32. Q×R, Q—B 3 and Black has a winning attack.
21. 29…b4 If 30. Q—R 1, R×R; 31. Q×R, Q—R 1 !; 32. Q×Q, R×Q, and Black's Rook makes an inroad into White's game with decisive effect.
22. 30…bxc3 As will be seen, this continuation is much stronger than 30. ....Q×R; 31. Q—Kt 3, B—R 5; 32. Q—Kt 1, after which White could still defend himself.
23. 31…c2 The point ! White cannot prevent this Pawn from Queening.
24. 33.Nf2 It is clear that this is the only possible move.
25. 34…Ne1 Threatening an unexpected and original "Smothered Mate."
26. 35…Qxc4 A new threat of mate in a few moves, commencing with 36. ....B—Kt 4, which compels White to sacrifice the Exchange.
27. 38.g4 The only chance for White to prolong his resistance; but Black retorts with a fresh surprise-move.
28. 40.gxf5 Forced, for if 40. P—Kt 5 Black would have obtained two united passed Pawns after 40. ....Kt—Kt 5.
29. 40…Qe2 This move leads to a problem-like position, wherein White cannot move any piece without exposing himself to immediate loss, for example 41. Kt—R 3 or Kt 4, Kt—Kt 5 ! or Kt×Kt; or 41. R—R 3 or R 1, Kt—Kt 5 and wins. Hence, after two unimportant moves, he must play P—K 4, which leads to an immediate liquidation, with a won end-game for Black.
30. 41…Kg8 Not, however, the plausible 41. ....P—R 4, upon which White could have saved himself by 42. Kt—R 3, followed by 43. Kt—Kt 5 ch.
31. 45.d6 Being unable to defend his Pawns White endeavours to dislocate those of his opponent, but his game is hopelessly lost.
32. 47…Qe2 A pretty finish, worthy of this fine game. Black forces a winning Pawn end-game.

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