Game 15 in the book: H. Löwenfisch–Alekhine, All-Russian Masters' Tournament at Vilna, 1912. A Ruy Lopez annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black and wins by an announced mate.
5.Qe2Alapin's move. Without being bad it leaves Black various ways of equalizing the game.
5…Be7Equally good is 5. ....P—Q Kt 4 followed by 6. ....B—B 4 (see game No. 16).
7.h3This move, which is apparently played in order to prevent the pinning of the K Kt, by 7. ....B—Kt 5, would be understandable were it White's intention to play P—Q 4, which requires the free manoeuvring of the Kt. As will be seen later on, however, White has only P—Q 3 in view and so this precautionary measure is superfluous. The move would be more logical after Black's B—Kt 5, so as to be clear from the first as to that Bishop's intentions.
9…Kh8The timid manner in which White has played the opening allows Black at once to formulate a plan of attack.
10…Ng8Played, apparently, in order to continue with P—B 4. White prepares for this eventuality by placing the R on the King's file so as to obtain compensation in the centre by P—Q 4.
11…Qe8Black pursues his concealed objective.
12…f6In accordance with the principle that an advance on the wings is only possible after the position in the centre is stabilized.
13…g5The logical reaction against 7. P—K R 3 (see also game No. 18). The opening of the K Kt file after 14. ....P—Kt 5; 15. P x P, B x P; would evidently be to Black's advantage.
26…Bd8The entry of this Bishop into the game marks the turning point. Black now threatens 27. ....P—Kt 4 followed by 28. ....B—Kt 3; etc.
27…a5Securing the diagonal Q R 2—K Kt 8 for the Bishop. By attempting to counteract the threat B—Kt 3 and B—B 4, White allows his opponent to adopt a different line of play which leads to a win just as easily.
30.Nc4This move, which aims at giving up two pieces for a Rook, is White's best chance and can be refuted only by energetic attacking play. If 30. R—B 1, Black wins easily by 30. ....P—Kt 5; 31. P—R 4, B x Kt; 32. P x B, P—Kt 6; followed by Kt—Kt 5.
31…Rac8Black could also play 31. ....B x B followed by Kt x P, but the move in the text is more decisive.
34.Qc2White had based his hopes upon this position when giving up a piece. Indeed, after 34. ....B—Q 5; 35. R—B 7, R—Kt 2; 36. R x R, Q x R; 37. Q—B 8 ch, K—R 2; 38. R—Q B 1, etc., he had still some chances.
34…Nxf5The beginning of the end. Should White capture the Bishop, Black wins by 35. ....Kt—R 5 ch; 36. K—R 1, Q—Q 6; 37. R—B 3, Q x P ch; 38. P—B 3, Kt x P.
35…Qg6If now 36. Q x B, P—Kt 5; and Black wins.
36…g4The commencement of the mating combination.
39.Kxh3The flight of the King to B 1 would have allowed the following pretty ending: 39. K—B 1, Q—Kt 7 ch; 40. K—K 2, Q—K 5 ch; 41. K any, Q x R ch followed by P—R 7. After the text-move Black announced mate in five.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source