Alekhine, Alexander VS Bogoljubow, Efim 1922.09.14

Annotations

1. 7…a6 This move is rightly held to be inferior, as White retains the option of blocking the opponent’s game. Somewhat better was 7. ….P—B 3.
2. 10.Bf4 Best, for each exchange of pieces would merely free Black’s position.
3. 10…g5 Energetic, but hazardous, quite in Bogoljuboff’s style. Black wishes at all costs to free himself of White’s dangerous Q B.
4. 12…f5 Now it is Black in his turn who threatens to block White’s position and thus repel the latter’s attack, e.g. : 13. Kt—K 5, Kt×Kt; 14. Q—R 5, R—B 2; 15. P×Kt, P—Kt 5, and Black’s position is still defendable. White’s next move is intended to foil this plan.
5. 13.g4 The only way to keep the initiative. White must already have foreseen the possibilities afforded him by the position arising from the exchange of Queens on the 18th move, despite his material inferiority.
6. 16…Rf5 The only logical answer; against any other developing or waiting move White would have secured a marked advantage by B—K 2 followed by B×P and P—B 4.
7. 18.Qxe5 Black, of course, hoped for 18. B×R, Q×B, with two Pawns for the Exchange and splendid attacking chances, but the text-move is a great disillusion for him.
8. 18…Rxe5 Black is temporarily a Pawn ahead, but his pieces are all so badly developed or situated that he will be compelled to submit to substantial loss of material.
9. 19…Bf6 The only move. If 19. ….B—B 1 ?; 20. R—Q B 7, with 21. Kt—R 4 and 22. Kt—Kt 6 to follow. It is interesting to observe that were it not for the unfortunate advance of the Q R P (6. ….P—Q R 3), which now allows of this Knight manoeuvre, Black would have nothing to fear.
10. 21.Rch1 Preventing the development of Black’s Q B, for if 21. ….B—Q 2 it is evident that White would win by 22. R×B ch and 23. R—R 7 ch.
11. 21…Rb8 The only means of developing the Queen-side. In spite of the gain of the Exchange White will experience some difficulty in improving upon his advantage.
12. 24.R7h5 Black is compelled to abandon the K Kt P, for if, e.g. : 24. ….B—B 3; 25. R—R 6, B—Kt 2 (or 25. ….K—Kt 2; 26. R×B, K×R; 27. R—R 8 and 28. Kt—Kt 6 wins for White); 26. R—Kt 6, etc.
13. 25…d4 Once again Black’s best chance; he thereby opens important diagonals for his Bishops and seizes the initiative for a time.
14. 27.Kc3 Not 27. K—K 3 because of 27. ….P—B 5 ch, etc.
15. 27…Kf8 If 27. ….K—B 2 at once, then 28. R—R 7.
16. 29.Nb6 White plans to give back the Exchange on his next move, remaining a Pawn ahead in an evidently superior end-game.
17. 29…Rh8 Threatening 30. ….B—B 3.
18. 33.d5 White by this move, which could not be prevented by his opponent, secures a passed Pawn on the left wing, which will shortly cost Black a piece. The remainder is merely a question of technique.
19. 40…Kd6 There is nothing to be done, e.g. : 40. ….R—R 1; 41. R—Q B 1, B—B 1; 42. Kt×B ch, R×Kt; 43. K×P and wins.

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