Game 18 in the book: Dr. A. G. Olland–Alekhine, International Tournament at Scheveningen, 1913. A Ruy Lopez (Bird's Defence) annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black and wins.
3…Nd4This old variation is not quite correct from a theoretical standpoint. The best line of play for White seems to be: 4. Kt x Kt, P x Kt; 5. Castles, P—Q B 3; 6. B—B 4, Kt—K 2 (or P—K Kt 3); 7. P—Q 3 followed by 8. P—Q B 3!
4.Be2The fact that White yields the two Bishops to the opponent at the commencement of the game is certainly not calculated to refute Bird's variation, as he does not obtain the slightest compensation.
6.c3Even 6. P—Q 4 would not compel Black to surrender the centre, because after 6. ....P—Q B 3!; 7. P x P, P x P, his K P would be defended by the threat Q—R 4 ch.
9.Nbd2White has now developed all his minor pieces, but they have only a very limited range of action, whilst the white squares are weak on account of the premature exchange of the K B. On these grounds Black has already the better game.
10.h3In order to limit the action of Black's Q B. But, as experience has many a time shown, the advance of the K R P facilitates the formation of a direct attack on the King by the opponent. 10. Castles K R, and if 10. ....B—Kt 5; 11. Q—Q 3, etc., was comparatively better.
10…b6With the double object of opening the diagonal Q R 3—K B 8 for the Q B and, in the event of the obstruction of this diagonal, blocking the centre before undertaking operations on the King-side. The correctness of this plan is clearly shown in the course of the game.
12.c4If 12. K R—K 1, Black would be satisfied with B—R 3, followed by Q—Q 2, whereas he now avails himself of the opportunity to launch the attack which he intended.
12…c5The opening of the Q file would clearly be to Black's advantage.
14.a3A counter-attack on the opposite wing. It is not difficult to foresee that it will not materialize as quickly as Black's direct attack against the adverse King.
14…g5If 15. Kt—R 2, then 15. ....P—R 4; 16. B x Kt P, Kt x Q P; 17. B x B, Kt—B 5!, etc. with good attacking chances.
18…Qd7White's ensuing combination could have been prevented by 18. ....Q—B 1, but Black, having assessed it at its proper value, seeks, on the contrary, to provoke it.
19.Bxc5Ingenious and seemingly correct, for after 19. ....P x B; 20. Kt x P followed by P—B 4, White's Pawns would become formidable. Unfortunately for White, Black is by no means compelled to accept the sacrifice.
19…Bxf3Not at once 19. ....R—K Kt 1 because White could answer very energetically 20. Kt x P!, Black's Queen not having the resource of occupying the square K Kt 5. By the move in the text Black retains this option.
20…Rg8The quiet refusal of the Greek Gift sets off in striking fashion Black's superiority in position. If 21. B—K 3 (21. B—Kt 6, Q—R 6!) Black would have continued his attack in the following manner: 21. ....R x P ch; 22. K x R, Q—Kt 5 ch; 23. K—R 2, Q x Kt; 24. R—K Kt 1, Kt—Kt 5; 25. R x Kt, Q x R; 26. R—K Kt 1, Q—R 4 ch; 27. K—Kt 2, P—B 4!; 28. P x P, K—B 2, after which White's position would rapidly become untenable. This is the reason why White prefers by a fresh sacrifice to obtain two passed centre-Pawns whose advance will certainly threaten to become very dangerous.
22…Qg4It was very important not to concede White time to play P—B 3, thus allowing his Rooks to defend the Kt P. This would have rendered the prosecution of the attack very difficult for Black.
25…h5This advance of the R P comes just in time to thwart the intentions of the opponent.
26.Rad1Threatening 27. P—Q 7 followed by Q—Q 6 ch and Q x P, etc.
29.fxg3Or 29. R x P, Q x P, and Black wins easily.
30.d7There is nothing else to be done. For example, if 30. R—Q 2, Q—R 6; 31. R—K Kt 2, Q x R ch, and if 30. K—B 2, then 30. ....R—Kt 3!, etc. Nevertheless, the text-move loses still more rapidly.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source