Game 1 in the book: Alekhine's win over Bernhard Gregory at the All-Russian Amateur Tournament, St. Petersburg, February 1909. Alekhine's own annotations follow.

1. 3…Nc6 The best move is 3. .... Kt x P! (see Game No. 41).
2. 5…Nd4 This manœuvre is not to be recommended and, as the sequel shows, only results in the obstruction of the Q B. The best continuation is: 5. .... P—K R 3; 6. B x Kt, B x Kt ch; 7. P x B, Q x B, etc., with equal chances.
3. 6.a3 The simplest, for now 6. .... B—R 4 would be inferior because of 7. P—Q Kt 4, followed by 8. Kt—Q 5, etc. 6. P—B 4, P—Q 3; 7. Kt—B 3 was also worthy of consideration.
4. 8.h4 A strong move. If instead 8. B—Q 2, P—Q 4; 9. P x P, Kt x P; 10. Q—K 2, P—K B 3, whereas after 8. P—K R 4, P—K R 3; 9. B—Q 2, this manœuvre is not advantageous for Black, e.g.: 9. .... P—Q 4; 10. P x P, Kt x P; 11. Q—K 2, Q—Q 3 (if 11. .... P—K B 3; 12. Q—R 5 ch); 12. Kt—B 3, P—K B 3; 13. Q—K 4, Kt—K 2; 14. P—Q 4, and White has the better game.
5. 8…h6 Clearly not 8. .... Kt x B; 9. P x Kt, Kt—Kt 1; because of 10. P—Kt 6!
6. 10.Qf3 The plan to advance the K Kt P, initiated by the last move, is somewhat perfunctory and devoid of real sting. The simple development by 10. Kt—K 2 followed by 11. Kt—Kt 3 would have given White the better game without any complications.
7. 12…Ng8 Here Black should have availed himself of the opportunity to exchange his inactive K R, after which he would have had a satisfactory game. Black could have repelled his opponent's somewhat hazardous advance by a manœuvre both precise and energetic; but, on the contrary, he justifies it by the inferior tactics adopted here.
8. 14.Nh3 The unsatisfactory development of this Knight is the direct outcome of the risky moves preceding it.
9. 14…Kd7 There was indicated: 14. .... P x P; 15. P x P, Castles; 16. Q—K 3, K—Kt 1; 17. R—Kt 1, with a complicated position which held chances for Black. The Black King would be safer on the wing than in the centre, where he will soon be exposed to a successful attack.
10. 15.Qg4 The intention being to bring the Knight into the centre after an exchange of Pawns at K B 5.
11. 15…Rf8 Preparing the counter-attack 16. .... P—B 4, which White will however refute by a pretty sacrifice; in any case Black's game was already compromised in consequence of the mistake on his 14th move.
12. 16…f5 If 16. .... P—K R 4; 17. Q—Kt 3, P x P; 18. Kt x P, Kt x Kt; 19. B x Kt, B x P; 20. Castles! etc., with a winning attack.
13. 17.exf5 The basic idea of this sacrifice, the consequences of which were not easy to determine, is to lure away the Black Q B. Furthermore White aims at the advance of his Q P (21st and 22nd moves) which is to make Black's Q Kt P indefensible.
14. 18…Kc8 If 18. .... K—K 1 (K—Q 1 is evidently bad because of 19. Q—Kt 1, and 20. Q x P, threatening mate); 19. Q—Kt 1, P—Q 4; 20. B—Kt 5 ch, K—Q 1 (P—B 3; 21. B x P ch!), and White wins.
15. 19.Qg1 The White Queen will, without loss of time, penetrate into the vitals of the hostile position.
16. 19…c6 An ingenious resource. If now 20. Q x B, P—Q 4; 21. B—Kt 3, Q x K P; and Black assumes the initiative. It is clear that after 19. .... P—Q Kt 3 or K—Kt 1, White, having captured the B, would have retained the attack, in addition to material advantage.
17. 20…c5 The only way to prevent 21. R x P.
18. 21.d4 Only this manœuvre can clearly demonstrate the soundness of the combination initiated by White's 17th move. Black cannot capture the Pawn, for after 21. .... K P x Q P; 22. P x B P, P x P; 23. B—R 5! and mate cannot be prevented.
19. 21…Qc7 Now the threat 23. R x P is unanswerable. If 22. .... Q—Kt 1; 23. Q—R 4, R—Q 1 (or 23. .... Q—B 2; 24. R—Kt 5! followed by R—R 5, etc.); 24. R x P! K x R (if Q x R; 25. B—R 6!); 25. Q—R 6 ch, K—B 2; 26. Q—B 6 mate.
20. 25.c4 Winning another Pawn, the Black Bishop being held by the threat of 26. B—R 5 and mate next move.
21. 29.f5 The shortest way. Black is forced to capture the K B P, which involves the loss of a piece.