2.Nf3With this move White secures the option sooner or later of advancing his Pawn to Q 4. 2. Kt—Q B 3, followed by P—K Kt 3, B—Kt 2, P—Q 3, K Kt—K 2, etc., has been successfully adopted on several occasions by Dr. Tarrasch.
2…Nc6Giving up the idea of playing the Paulsen variation (P—K 3 followed by P—Q R 3 and Q—B 2, etc.), in which Black’s Q Kt has no place at Q B 3. If 2. ….P—K 3, White would still have delayed P—Q 4, and would have played 3. B—K 2, in order to answer 3. ….Q—B 2 with 4. P—Q 4, P×P; 5. Kt×P, P—Q R 3; 6. P—Q B 4 !, thus obtaining a very fine game.
5.c4This system, which is aimed at contesting Black’s fianchetto in the Sicilian, was introduced about fifteen years ago by Maróczy, with the continuation : 5. ….B—Kt 2; 6. B—K 3, Kt—B 3; 7. Kt—Q B 3, P—Q 3; 8. B—K 2, upon which Black can secure a satisfactory game by 8. ….Kt—K Kt 5 !, as was shown by Breyer.
6.Nb3An innovation which seems to yield White a very good game; its main object is to suppress at once the pressure exerted by Black on the square Q 4. With the same idea 6. Kt—B 2, followed by Kt—K 3, was also worthy of consideration.
8…Be6The Q B is very badly posted on K 3, as White can discount the attack on his Q B P by the advance of this Pawn. However, even after 8. ….Castles; 9. Castles, B—Q 2; 10. B—K 3 followed by 11. P—B 3 and 12. Kt—Q 5 White’s game would also have been superior.
9…h5Ingenious, but hardly sound. Black intends to answer 10. P—B 4 with 10. ….Q—Kt 3 ch followed by 11. ….Kt—K Kt 5; and if 10. P—B 3 then 10. ….P—R 5 followed by 11. ….Kt—K R 4 (another of Breyer’s manoeuvres). But White, by playing simply 10. B—Kt 5 !, threatening 11. P—B 5, could have maintained the superiority in position which he had gained in the opening.
10.c5But this move is premature, for Black could obtain a satisfactory game by 10. ….P—Q 4 !, e.g. : 11. Kt—Q 4, Kt×Kt; 12. Q×Kt, P×P; 13. Q—Kt 4 !, Q—B 1; 14. Kt×P, Kt×Kt; 15. Q×Kt, Castles, after which White’s majority of Pawns on the Queen-side would have been largely compensated by the dominating position of the Black Bishops.
10…dxc5A decisive strategic error. Despite the exchange of Queens Black will be unable to ward off the direct attack against his King, which is fixed in the centre.
11…Bc8If Black avoids the exchange of Queens by 11. ….Q—B 1, White would secure a positional advantage sufficient for victory by 12. Kt—Q 5, Castles; 13. Kt×B, P×Kt (not 13. ….Q×Kt; 14. Kt—B 7); 14. Kt—B 4, etc.
12…Kxd8Black would equally lose by 12. ….Kt×Q; 13. Kt—Kt 5, Castles; 14. Kt—B 7, R—Kt 1; 15. B—K B 4.
13…Nd7He relies on being able to repulse the attack by 14. ….B×Kt followed by 15. ….K—B 2, or also by 14. ….Kt—Q 5, but White’s next move shatters this hope.
14.Bc4Decisive, for Black cannot defend his K B P, e.g. : 14. ….R—B 1; 15. Kt—Q Kt 5 !, P—Q R 3 (or 15. ….P—Q Kt 3; 16. B—Q 5 !, P×Kt; 17. B×Kt, R—Q Kt 1; 18. B—Q 2 ! and wins); 16. B×P !, R×B; 17. Kt—K 6 ch, K—K 1; 18. Kt (Kt 5)—B 7, mate.
14…Bxc3All other moves would likewise be inadequate.
15.Bxf7Not only winning a Pawn, but also completely demolishing the hostile position.
15…Kc7If 15. ….Kt—Q 5 White would continue 16. R×Kt and 17. Kt—K 6 mate.
20.Bg3Threatening 21. R—Q 5. Black therefore loses another Pawn after 20. ….P—R 5; or else the Exchange by 20. ….R—B 3; 21. B×Kt ch and 22. R—Q 8 ch.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source