1.
d4
Nf6
2.
c4
e6
3.
Nf3
d5
4.
Nc3
Be7
5.
Bg5
O-O
6.
e3
Nbd7
7.
Rc1
c6
8.
Qc2
Re8
9.
Bd3
dxc4
10.
Bxc4
Nd5
11.
Ne4
f5
12.
Bxe7
Qxe7
13.
Ned2
b5
14.
Bxd5
cxd5
15.
O-O
a5
16.
Nb3
a4
17.
Nc5
Nxc5
18.
Qxc5
Qxc5
19.
Rxc5
b4
20.
Rfc1
Ba6
21.
Ne5
Reb8
22.
f3
b3
23.
a3
h6
24.
Kf2
Kh7
25.
h4
Rf8
26.
Kg3
Rfb8
27.
Rc7
Bb5
28.
R1c5
Ba6
29.
R5c6
Re8
30.
Kf4
Kg8
31.
h5
Bf1
32.
g3
Ba6
33.
Rf7
Kh7
34.
Rcc7
Rg8
35.
Nd7
Kh8
36.
Nf6
Rgf8
37.
Rxg7
Rxf6
38.
Ke5
1-0
Opening Explorer
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Site
London
Date
1922.08.12
Round
10
White
Black
Yates, Frederick Dewhurst
Result
1-0
- 9…dxc4 Reverting to Capablanca’s defence (see Game No. 79) with the sole difference that his K R is at K 1 instead of K B 1, which is not of much importance. If 9. ….P—Q R 3 White could now advantageously reply 10. P×P !, taking advantage of the fact that Black cannot at this point recapture the Pawn with his Knight. On the other hand, after 9. ….P—K R 3; 10. B—B 4 ! (see Game No. 80, note to Black’s 8th move) P—R 3, the exchange at Q 5 would be entirely to White’s advantage, e.g. : 11. P×P ! (but not 11. P—B 5, B×P !; 12. P×B, P—K 4 threatening 13. ….P—K 5, thus regaining the piece with a very fine game—compare the game Euwe—Spielmann, Mährisch-Ostrau, 1923). Kt×P; 12. Kt×Kt, K P×Kt; 13. Castles, Kt—B 3; 14. P—K R 3, etc., and White will be able to undertake an attack on the Queen-side by R—Kt 1, P—Q Kt 4, P—Q R 4 and P—Kt 5, leaving his opponent without appreciable counter-chances.
- 11.Ne4 The right move here was 11. B×B. Regarding the inadequacy of 11. Kt—K 4, compare Game No. 79. It should be noticed that in the variation 11. ….Q—R 4 ch, etc., the position of the Rook at K 1 is rather an advantage for Black.
- 11…f5 Among the various replies to be considered by Black this is undoubtedly the least worthy of commendation. Apart from the fact that it in no wise incommodes White’s Castling, it yields the splendid square at K 5 to the adverse Knight without the slightest compensation. From this point Black’s game may be considered strategically lost: which is not to say that the realization of victory will be an easy matter.
- 13…b5 This move, which aims at the liberation of the useless Q B, is worse than the disadvantage which it seeks to mitigate, for White will now seize control of the Q B file and especially the square Q B 5, which Black has just given up by the text-move. Black would have done better to occupy the opponent with the following diversion: 13. ….Kt (Q 4)—Kt 3; 14. B—Q 3, P—K Kt 3, preparing P—K 4; or 14. B—Kt 3, P—Q R 4; 15. P—Q R 4, Kt—Q 4 and Kt—Kt 5, although in these cases also his prospects were doubtful.
- 15.O-O White’s next moves are based upon simple but indisputable logic. By the occupation of the square Q B 5 by one of his Knights, he will force its exchange against the opposing Q Kt, after which he will be able to settle his second Knight on the same square without fear of molestation.
- 18.Qxc5 The exchange of Queens would ultimately have become inevitable. And now Black is entirely at the mercy of his opponent, who will be free to choose the best road to victory.
- 21.Ne5 The Knight arrives at the right moment to prevent Black opposing his Rooks on the Q B file, e.g. : 21. ….K R—Q B 1; 22. R×R ch, R×R; 23. R×R ch, B×R; 24. Kt—B 6, with the double threat 25. Kt—K 7 ch and 25. Kt×Kt P, which would make the win certain for White.
- 22.f3 Preparing the decisive advance of the White King.
- 24.Kf2 The starting-point of a mating-manoeuvre based on the following considerations: as Black must avoid the exchange of Rooks and as his pieces are kept on the Queen-side, to secure the defence of his Pawns, the Black King must sooner or later succumb to the combined assault of the four White pieces, including the King.
- 25.h4 Hindering ….P—Kt 4, after ….K—Kt 3 and ….K—R 4.
- 26…Rfb8 Black has to resign himself to complete inactivity.
- 27.Rc7 Threatening among other things 28. Kt—Q 7 and 29. Kt—B 5 or 29. Kt—Kt 6.
- 28.R1c5 In order to double Rooks on the 7th rank by 29. R—K 7 !, R—K 1; 30. R (K 7)—K B 7 and 31. R (B 5)—B 7.
- 30.Kf4 The doubling of the Rooks on the 7th rank by R—K B 7 being now assured, White brings his King to the centre.
- 30…Kg8 Foreseeing the final manoeuvre, for whose success it is essential to prevent Black’s King from emerging at K Kt 3 after 35. Kt—Q 7 !.
- 31…Bf1 It is curious to observe that the Q B, although having full liberty of action, cannot take any part in the defence.
- 32.g3 A waiting-move. 32. R—B 7 would now be premature, because of 32. ….Q R—B 1.
- 32…Ba6 If 32. ….B—K 7 White would have continued his attack by 33. Kt—Kt 6 followed by 34. Kt—R 4 and 35. K—K 5.
- 33…Kh7 Black is quite unable to forestall the mating attack by 33. ….R—K B 1, since White would have very speedily concluded the game after capturing the K P.
- 35.Nd7 This threat to win the Exchange forces the following reply.
- 36…Rgf8 In the hope of bringing about the exchange of one Rook at least.
- 37.Rxg7 This sacrificial combination forces mate in at most seven moves.
- 38.Ke5 The point of the combination. The Black Rook can neither retire nor can it be defended by the other Rook, without allowing a mate in two moves. But even after its capture by the White King, mate can only be delayed by problem moves. Black resigns.
[Event "British CF-15 London International"] [Site "London"] [Date "1922.08.12"] [Round "10"] [White "Alekhine, Alexander"] [Black "Yates, Frederick Dewhurst"] [Result "1-0"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Rc1 c6 8. Qc2 Re8 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nd5 11. Ne4 f5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Ned2 b5 14. Bxd5 cxd5 15. O-O a5 16. Nb3 a4 17. Nc5 Nxc5 18. Qxc5 Qxc5 19. Rxc5 b4 20. Rfc1 Ba6 21. Ne5 Reb8 22. f3 b3 23. a3 h6 24. Kf2 Kh7 25. h4 Rf8 26. Kg3 Rfb8 27. Rc7 Bb5 28. R1c5 Ba6 29. R5c6 Re8 30. Kf4 Kg8 31. h5 Bf1 32. g3 Ba6 33. Rf7 Kh7 34. Rcc7 Rg8 35. Nd7 Kh8 36. Nf6 Rgf8 37. Rxg7 Rxf6 38. Ke5 1-0