6…Ne4A defence practised on several occasions by Dr. Em. Lasker, and subsequently by Capablanca, in their respective matches with Marshall. It is doubtless no worse than other defences, and has the advantage of simplifying the game, without creating weaknesses in Black's camp. In the London Tournament of 1922 Maróczy tried against me 6. ....P—B 4, recommended by Rubinstein in Collijn's Lärobok, and obtained a very inferior game. Here is the instructive continuation of the game. 6. ....P—B 4; 7. B P×P, K P×P; 8. P×P, B—K 3; 9. B—Kt 5!, B×P; 10. Castles, Kt—B 3; 11. R—B 1, B—K 2; 12. B×Q Kt!, P×B; 13. Kt—Q R 4, R—B 1; 14. Kt—Q 4, B—Q 2; 15. B×Kt!, B×B; 16. Kt—Q B 5, B—K 1; 17. Q—Kt 4, R—Kt 1; 18. P—Q Kt 3, P—Kt 3; 19. R—B 2, Q—Q 3; 20. K R—B 1, B—K 4; 21. Kt—B 3!, B—Kt 2; 22. Q—Q R 4, Q—K 2; 23. Kt—Q 4, R—Kt 3; 24. P—K R 3, B—K 4; 25. Kt—Q 3!, B×Kt; 26. P×B, R—Kt 2; 27. R—K 1, Q—Kt 4 and by 28. R—K 5 White could have easily maintained a winning advantage in position.
8.Qb3In order to avoid the variation 8. P×P, Kt×Kt; 9. P×Kt, P×P; 10. Q—Kt 3, R—Q 1; 11. P—B 4, Kt—B 3!, which seems to yield Black equality. But with this idea 8. Q—B 2 is certainly preferable, for after the text-move Black need not have captured the Knight, and could first have played 7. ....P—Q B 3, and continued by 8. ....P—K B 4, etc.
9…c6At New York, 1924, in an identical position, Maróczy played against me 9. ....P—Q B 4, but after 10. B P×P, B P×P; 11. Kt×P, White has an evident advantage owing to the weakness of Black's Q P and control of the open Q B file.
11…f5The "Stonewall" formation is here quite without value, for even supposing that Black's Q Kt were to occupy the square K 5, it could be dislodged by P—K B 3, or else exchanged against White's K B. On the other hand, the square K 5 will furnish White with an impregnable position for his K Kt, Black's Q B being of a different colour from that of the square mentioned.
12.Rac1Anticipating the manœuvre 12. ....Kt—B 3 followed by 13. ....Kt—K 5, to which he would have replied 13. Kt—K 5, White seizes his moment's respite to complete his development.
12…g5But this attack, quite astonishing from a master of Maróczy's reputation, hopelessly compromises the already insecure position of the Black King.
13…Rf7As inexplicable as the previous move. Comparatively better was 13. ....Kt—B 3 followed by 14. ....B—Q 2, etc.
14…e5In the hope of forcing exchange of Queens on the 18th move, but without sufficiently appreciating the reply 19. Q—B 7!, although in any case the game was lost for Black.
18…exd4Still reckoning on 19. Q×P, Q—B 4, etc. But White's next move shatters this last illusion.
19.Qc7Paralysing in a single move all the Black pieces, after which Black's position becomes hopeless.
21…Qb4Surrendering to the inevitable. If 21. ....P—K R 3 White wins easily by 22. P—R 3, followed by 23. K—R 2 and 24. Kt—Q 6.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source