Game 45. Yates—Nimzowitsch, London, 1927. In the following game two armies out of contact with one another operate in the centre and on a flank. It is interesting to see how contact is finally established between them.

1. 2…Nf6 The innovation introduced by me in 1911 at San Sebastian.
2. 3…Nd5 The relationship between the Alekhine Defence (1. P-K4, Kt-KB3) introduced in 1921 and my treatment of the Sicilian will be noted. (Cf., too, Bogoljubow's application of the idea in 1. P-Q4, Kt-QB3.)
3. 5…Nc6 White has lost a tempo with his B, on the other hand the Kt at QKt3 is not particularly well placed, so that the B manœuvre is not to be blamed.
4. 7.d4 We should have given 7. P x P e.p. the preference.
5. 11.Ne1 If the attack planned by this move, namely P-KB4 with P-KKt4 and P-B5 should really prove possible to carry out, this would be a proof of the incorrectness of 8. ... B-B4, and that would be an absurdity. In point of fact the matter stands thus: No particular result is achieved by 11. Kt-K1, and this diversion would better have been abandoned in favour of a systematic utilization of the QB file. For example, 11. B-K3, O-O; 12. R-QB1, followed by P-QR3, P-QKt4 and Kt-Q2-Kt3-B5, when the establishment of an outpost advocated by my system would have been attained.
6. 12.Bg4 Cleverly played. The answer to 12. P-KB4 would have been, of course, Kt x P; Q x Kt??, B-QB4. 12. B-K3 would also have been unfavourable because of 12. ... Kt(Q2) x KP; 13. P x Kt, P-Q5; 14. B-Q2, P x Kt; 15. B x P, Q-B2, with advantage in position for Black. By aid of the text move (12. B-Kt4) Yates is able in a quite startling manner to make the advance, P-KB4, at which he was aiming.
7. 14…Nc6 If 14. ... B-QB4, then 15. P-QKt4 would have been strong. 14. ... P x Kt would have also been bad because of B x Kt ch, followed by Q x Kt.
8. 17.Qa4 A typical sin of omission! In the face of Black's obvious plan to occupy the central points, White should, by himself centralizing, have disputed them with his opponent, thus: 17. Q-K2 (intending B-K3), 17. ... Kt-Q4; 18. B-B3, Q-B4; 19. B-Q2, Kt(Q2)-Kt3; 20. R-QB1, Q-K2, and White has more of the centre than Black. And even if such a 'more' were not attainable, what matter! Even in this case White ought to have fought for it. As it is a just punishment now overtakes him.
9. 18.Bh3 Forced, for if B-B3, then Kt-KB4 with a further gain of terrain in the centre; moreover, there would then be a mating threat in the air, namely P-R5 and Kt-Kt6 ch.
10. 19…Qb5 Making room for the Kt at Q2, which is aiming for Q4 via QKt3.
11. 23…Rc8 This move in conjunction with the one next following leads to a de-centralization of one of his R's, and so to a defect in his position which has been so harmoniously constructed. On the other hand the continuation 23. ... O-O-O! held out the promise of untroubled harmony; for after 24. ... K-QKt1 and 25. ... P-PKt3 nothing stood in the way of employing the two R's centrally, e.g., 26. ... R-Q2; 27. ... R-QB1. However, 23. ... B-KKt5 seems to be still better. For instance, 24. B x B, P x B; 25. Q x P, R x P; 26. Q x KKtP, O-O-O; 27. K x R, Q x R; 28. Kt-Q3, Q-K7, and Black must win. Or, lastly, it was also possible to combine the two plans, thus: 23. ... O-O-O; 24. B-R3 and now 24. ... B-Kt5. If then perhaps 25. R-QB1 ch, K-Kt1; 26. B-QB5, then 26. ... Q x B; 27. R x Q, B x Q; 28. R x B, R-QB1 with a victorious incursion via the QB file.
12. 24…Rh6 Interesting, for when all is said and done, Black's position, centralized even to the extent that it is, can support an adventurous raid; yet 24. ... O-O with P-KKt3 and KR-Q1 was certainly more correct.
13. 30…Nh4 Black's structure suffers under an inner discord. The position of the cut off R makes a mating attack seem desirable; but the disposition of the rest of the army is rather directed towards the end game, in which the KtQ4 would have enormous effect, while the white squares would be in Black's undisputed possession.
14. 31…Rc6 To draw the sting of the threat Q-R7 and Q-Kt8 ch, the R runs away betimes. Black has in fact to manœuvre very cautiously.
15. 33…Nf5 33. ... Kt x Kt ch; 34. R x Kt, R x R; 35. Q x R, P-KKt3, would not have been good because of 36. P-B5.
16. 35.Qb1 To threaten Kt-Q4.
17. 35…Qe7 He does not mind the threat, has his eye, moreover, on his QB4 (Q-B4).
18. 36.Nd4 Loses; R-QB1 was better.
19. 36…Qh4 As the detachments which have been cut off cannot get back to the army, the latter comes to them.
20. 37.Be1 If 37. Kt x R, then R x RP ch and mate in two moves.
21. 37…Nxf4 Again threatening mate, this time by R x KtP ch, etc.
22. 38…Rxh3+ Simplest.
23. 40…Ne3+ And mate in two moves. For this game I was awarded the special prize of £10 'for the best played game' in the tournament.