1.
e4
e5
2.
Nf3
d6
3.
d4
Nf6
4.
Nc3
Nbd7
5.
Bc4
Be7
6.
O-O
O-O
7.
dxe5
dxe5
8.
Bg5
c6
9.
a4
Qc7
10.
Qe2
Nc5
11.
Ne1
Ne6
12.
Be3
Nd4
13.
Qd1
Rd8
14.
Nd3
Be6
15.
Bxe6
Nxe6
16.
Qc1
Rd7
17.
f3
Rad8
18.
Bf2
Nh5
19.
Ne2
c5
20.
b3
Nhf4
21.
Ndxf4
Nxf4
22.
Nxf4
exf4
23.
c3
Qe5
24.
Ra2
Rd3
25.
Rc2
b6
26.
Qe1
Qe6
27.
Qb1
Bf6
28.
b4
c4
29.
Qc1
g5
30.
h3
Be5
31.
Qa1
h5
32.
a5
g4
33.
axb6
axb6
34.
Bh4
f6
35.
Be1
g3
36.
Qa7
Qc6
37.
Qa3
b5
38.
Qb2
Qb6+
39.
Kh1
Rd1
40.
Rc1
Qe3
41.
Ra1
Rxa1
42.
Qxa1
Qe2
43.
Rg1
Rd1
44.
Qa8+
Kg7
45.
Qa7+
Kg6
46.
Qe7
Qxe1
47.
Qe8+
Kg5
48.
Qg8+
Kh4
49.
Qxg3+
fxg3
50.
Rxe1
Rxe1#
0-1
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Event
Match Alekhine-Everson +2-1=0
Site
Kiev
Date
1916.05.21
White
Evenson, Alexander
Black
Result
0-1
Score
Game 47 in the book: A. Evenssohn–Alekhine, a Philidor's Defence played in an exhibition at Kieff in May 1916. Alekhine's blockade leaves White's bishop smothered and ends in a mating attack.
- 3…Nf6 This move, introduced by Niemzovitch into Master play, is now thought stronger than 3. ....Kt—Q 2 (the Hanham variation, see Game No. 36).
- 5…Be7 The usual move. In my opinion 5. ....P—K R 3 is more prudent.
- 6.O-O For now White could have secured a slight advantage for the end-game by playing 6. P x P!, Q Kt x P! (not P x P, because of 7. B x P ch, K x B; 8. Kt—Kt 5 ch, K—Kt 1; 9. Kt—K 6, Q—K 1; 10. Kt x B P, followed by 11. Kt x R, and White has the advantage); 7. Kt x Kt, P x Kt; 8. Q x Q ch, B x Q; 9. B—Kt 5 followed by Castles Q R, and White, besides having the better development, has prospects of seizing the only open file. The immediate sacrifice, however, would be unsound, e.g.: 6. B x P ch, K x B; 7. Kt—Kt 5 ch, K—Kt 1; 8. Kt—K 6, Q—K 1; 9. Kt x B P, Q—Kt 3; 10. Kt x R, Q x P!; 11. R—B 1, P x P!; 12. Q x P, Kt—K 4, and Black has a winning attack.
- 7.dxe5 This exchange of Pawn only disengages Black's game. Better would be 7. Q—K 2, P—B 3; 8. P—Q R 4! and White has the advantage. See Game No. 9.
- 9.a4 This move is essential in this variation to prevent the possibility of a counter-attack eventually by ....P—Q Kt 4.
- 10…Nc5 Now Black's game is preferable, for he has the prospect of occupying the squares Q 5 and K B 5, without giving his opponent counter-chances on the King-side or in the centre.
- 11.Ne1 Without any necessity White assumes the defensive. 11. Q R—Q 1, followed by the doubling of Rooks on the Q file, was more likely to equalize the game. Broadly speaking, the retreat of a Knight to the first rank, where it cuts the line of communication of the Rooks, is only admissible in very exceptional cases.
- 13.Qd1 Or 13. B x Kt, P x B; 14. Kt—Q 1, B—Q 3; 15. P—K Kt 3, B—K R 6; 16. Kt—Kt 2, Q R—K 1; with a marked advantage for Black.
- 15.Bxe6 After the compulsory exchange of this Bishop, the development of which is the most serious difficulty of this variation, Black's game becomes far superior.
- 16.Qc1 In view of the threat 16. ....P—B 4; and also to prepare the eventual advance of White's P—K B 4. But Black, quite rightly, ignores this counter-attack and simply increases the pressure in the centre.
- 16…Rd7 For if now 17. P—B 4, then Kt—Kt 5!, and White cannot play 18. P—B 5, because of R x Kt, followed by 19. ....Kt x B and 20. ....B—B 4.
- 19…c5 This move prepares the following exchanges, the object of which is to weaken the Black squares in the adverse position.
- 20.b3 If 20. Kt—B 3, P—B 5; 21. Kt—Q 5, Q—Q 3; 22. Kt—B 1, Kt (R 4)—B 5; and this last move will be even more powerful than in the actual game.
- 20…Nhf4 Simple and decisive strategy. Black brings about the exchange of the two adverse minor pieces which might counteract his pressure on the Q file, leaving White with a Bishop only, the action of which is manifestly nil. The second phase of the game is a typical example of a regular blockade leading to the complete smothering of White's position.
- 23.c3 White was threatened with 23. ....P—B 5; 24. P—Q Kt 4, P—B 6; followed by R—Q 5.
- 26…Qe6 Freeing the square at K 4 with the intention of posting his Bishop there.
- 28.b4 A desperate bid for freedom. If Black takes the Pawn the White Rooks can occupy the Q B file.
- 28…c4 But Black opposes this plan.
- 29…g5 Before assaulting the enemy's entrenchments it is essential to block the King-side completely and to secure the command of the diagonal Q R 2—K Kt 8.
- 31.Qa1 Another attempt to free himself, this time by opening the Q R file. Like the preceding one it is doomed to failure.
- 34.Bh4 If 34. R P x P, R P x P; 35. P x P, Q x P; 36. B x P, R—Q 7; 37. R x R, R x R; 38. B—B 2, P—B 6; and Black wins.
- 35.Be1 Otherwise Black plays 35. ....P—Kt 6 and the White B would remain locked out for the rest of the game.
- 36.Qa7 This skirmish momentarily retards the Pawn's advance to Q Kt 4, followed by the entry of the Queen at K 6 via Q Kt 3.
- 36…Qc6 Threatening 37. ....R—R 1.
- 40…Qe3 Definitely maintaining one Rook at Q 8 after the exchange of the other, which settles the fate of White's Bishop and of the game.
- 43…Rd1 Winning at once, for there is no perpetual check.
[Event "Match Alekhine-Everson +2-1=0"] [Site "Kiev"] [Date "1916.05.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Evenson, Alexander"] [Black "Alekhine, Alexander"] [Result "0-1"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. Bg5 c6 9. a4 Qc7 10. Qe2 Nc5 11. Ne1 Ne6 12. Be3 Nd4 13. Qd1 Rd8 14. Nd3 Be6 15. Bxe6 Nxe6 16. Qc1 Rd7 17. f3 Rad8 18. Bf2 Nh5 19. Ne2 c5 20. b3 Nhf4 21. Ndxf4 Nxf4 22. Nxf4 exf4 23. c3 Qe5 24. Ra2 Rd3 25. Rc2 b6 26. Qe1 Qe6 27. Qb1 Bf6 28. b4 c4 29. Qc1 g5 30. h3 Be5 31. Qa1 h5 32. a5 g4 33. axb6 axb6 34. Bh4 f6 35. Be1 g3 36. Qa7 Qc6 37. Qa3 b5 38. Qb2 Qb6+ 39. Kh1 Rd1 40. Rc1 Qe3 41. Ra1 Rxa1 42. Qxa1 Qe2 43. Rg1 Rd1 44. Qa8+ Kg7 45. Qa7+ Kg6 46. Qe7 Qxe1 47. Qe8+ Kg5 48. Qg8+ Kh4 49. Qxg3+ fxg3 50. Rxe1 Rxe1# 0-1