Wegemund/Brennert/Friedrich, VS Alekhine, Alexander 1921.11.28

Annotations

1. 5.Bd3 This allows Black to obtain at least an equal game by the advance of the centre Pawns. The correct move is 5. Kt—Q B 3 (see Game No. 60).
2. 8…h6 A good move. The threat 8. ....P—Q 5 compels White to weaken his position by the advance of his Q B P, unless he cares to abandon his centre immediately by 9. P×P.
3. 13.exd5 Practically forced, as Black threatens 13. ....P×P; 14. Q Kt×P, Kt×Kt; 15. B×Kt, P—B 4 with formidable attacking prospects.
4. 14…Na5 14. ....P—K B 4 was premature, since after 15. Kt—B 5, B×Kt; 16. B×B, Kt—B 5; 17. Q—B 1, Black would have no appreciable advantage, whereas after the text-move the threat P—B 4 becomes still more objectionable.
5. 15.Bd2 If 15. P—Q Kt 4 Black's Knight would simply withdraw to Q B 3, and White would merely have weakened his Queen-side. The text-move conceals a trap. If, for example, 15. ....P—B 4, then 16. Kt—Kt 3, P—K 5; 17. Kt×K P!, P×Kt; 18. Q×P and wins.
6. 15…Rae8 This move strengthens the position in the centre, and its purpose will soon become clear.
7. 17.Nf5 White, engrossed by the latent threat P—B 4, does not perceive another danger. The best move here was 17. Kt—R 4, Kt—K B 5; 18. B×Kt, P×B; 19. Kt—K 4, B—K 2; 20. Kt—B 3, B—K Kt 5!, after which Black would obtain the better game on account of his two Bishops.
8. 19.Nd4 If 19. B×K P, then 19. ....Kt—K B 3 wins a piece.
9. 20…Bf4 Black has won a Pawn, but the win is not without difficulties. White by his next move introduces fresh complications, and seeks to fish in troubled waters.
10. 21.c4 After 21. B×P victory would have been quite easy for Black: 21. B×P, B×B; 22. R×B, Kt—Q B 5; 23. R—B 2, Kt (Q 4)—K 6; 24. P×Kt, R×B; 25. Kt—B 5, Q—K 4; 26. Q—B 3, Kt×K P; 27. R—K 2, Kt—B 8! and wins. Whereas, after the text-move, Black is compelled to make lengthy and elaborate calculations before deciding upon the ensuing sacrificial variation.
11. 22…b5 The necessary preliminary to the following counter-attack. If now 23. Kt×P, Black is out of all his difficulties, with a Pawn ahead.
12. 23…e3 Saving the threatened piece, and at the same time imperilling the position of White's King, which allows him to undertake a mating-attack.
13. 26…Qg3 The point of the combination. On the contrary, 26. ....B—K 4 would be insufficient, on account of 27. R×Kt, Q×Kt; 28. B—Q 7, winning the Exchange; or 27. ....Q×B; 28. Kt—Q 6.
14. 27.Qxc4 It is manifest that if 27. R or P×Kt, Black's next move would win at once.
15. 27…Bf4 Now White is a piece ahead and Black seems to have only perpetual check by 28. ....B—K 6 ch; 29. K—R 1, B—B 5; 30. K—Kt 1, since 28. ....Q—R 7 ch; 29. K—B 2, B—Kt 6 ch; 30. K—B 3 is indecisive. By his next two moves Black, however, demonstrates the whole import of his sacrifice of the Knight.
16. 28…Re5 In order to occupy K R 4 with this Rook. White cannot prevent this plan without submitting to a decisive loss of material.
17. 29.Nd6 If 29. Q—Q 3, Q—R 7 ch; 30. K—B 2, B×R followed by 31. Q—B 5 ch and wins.
18. 29…g6 This quiet move wins at once. White is compelled either to leave the Bishop en prise (which would weaken Black's attack only momentarily) or to allow Black to continue the plan which he has mapped out for himself.
19. 31…Rh5 And White is defenceless against the threatened 32. ....R×B ch. If 32. Q—K 2 or Q—B 1, then 32. ....B—B 5; 33. K—Kt 1, R×B and mates in a few moves.

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