Game 50 in the book: Alekhine–A. Rabinovitch (Vilna), Masters' Triangular Tournament at Moscow, May 1918 (first prize, without loss). A Petroff's Defence annotated by Alekhine, who plays White.
5…d5This ingenious sacrifice of a Pawn is not quite sound, but not for the reasons adduced in the eighth edition of the Handbuch and other works. The variation adopted by White in the present game seems to be the only one which secures the advantage.
9.Bc4Not 9. P—Q 4, to which Black can reply 9. ....R—K 1; which would now be useless because of 10. Kt—K 5.
10.O-OAn innovation. In the game Leonhardt—Schlechter (Barmen, 1905)—which according to the Handbuch refutes Black's fifth move—White continued 10. P—Q 4, R—K 1; 11. Kt—K 5, B x Kt; 12. P x B, Q—K 2!; 13. P—B 4, B—B 4; 14. Q x B, Q—Kt 5 ch; 15. B—Q 2, Q x B; 16. Q—Q 3, maintaining the Pawn with an excellent game. But by simply playing 12. ....Kt—B 3 (instead of 12. ....Q—K 2) Black could have obtained an even game, as the following main variation shows: 12. ....Kt—B 3; 13. B—B 4 (if 13. P—B 4, Q—R 5 ch; 14. P—Kt 3, Q—R 6; 15. B—B 1, Q—R 4, with a strong attack for Black), Q—R 5; 14. Castles Q R, R x P; 15. R—Q 8 ch, Q x R; 16. B x R, Q—K 2; 17. R—K 1, Kt x B; 18. Q x Kt, Q x Q; 19. R x Q, K—B 1.
11…Nc6At first sight Black's prospects seem very promising, for his opponent has to contend with serious difficulties of development. But thanks to the manœuvre which follows, and which alone explains the tactics adopted hitherto, White not only surmounts all obstacles, but secures in addition a lasting initiative.
13.Bb2An unexpected sacrifice which Black is compelled to accept, for if 13. ....Q—R 3; 14. K R—K 1, B—K Kt 5; 15. P—K B 3, he has no sort of compensation for the lost Pawn, e.g.: 15. ....B x P; 16. P x B, Q x R P; 17. B x P ch, etc.
14…Be6The following alternative is hardly better: 14. ....P—K Kt 3; 15. B x P ch, K—Kt 2 (or 15. ....K—R 1; 16. B x R, K x B; 17. Q R—K 1 ch, followed by 18. P—Q B 3! with a decisive attack for White); 16. B x R, Q—K 4; 17. Q—Q B 3, Kt—Kt 5; 18. P—B 4!! and White maintains the gain of the Exchange.
17.Rae1Immediately decisive would be 17. P—Q B 3, e.g.: I.—17. P—Q B 3!, Q x Q P; 18. Q—R 8 ch, K—K 2; 19. Q x P ch, K—Q 1; 20. Q R—Q 1, Q—B 5; 21. P—K Kt 3! and Black's Queen is trapped, for if 21. ....Q—B 4; 22. Kt—B 7 ch, K—B 1; 23. R x B! and wins. II.—17. P—Q B 3!, B—K 4; 18. Q—R 5!, K—Kt 1; 19. Q—B 7 ch, K—R 1; 20. P—K B 4, B—B 3; 21. R—B 3!, Q x R ch; 22. K—B 2, B x Kt; 23. P x B and White wins. The move in the text also leads to a win, but with somewhat greater difficulty.
17…Qf6Insufficient would be here 18. Q—R 8 ch, K—K 2; 19. R x P ch, K—Q 2!
18…Kg8The strongest continuation of the attack and at the same time setting a trap which takes Black unawares.
19…Bf4Relatively better would be 19. ....Kt—Q 5; 20. R—R 3, P—K Kt 3; 21. Q—R 7 ch, K—B 1; 22. Q—Q 7!, R—K 2 (the only move, for if 22. ....K—Kt 1; 23. R—R 8 ch! and White wins); 23. Kt—R 7 ch, K—Kt 2; 24. Kt x Q, R x Q; 25. Kt x R, R—Q 1; 26. R—Q 3, Kt—K 7 ch; 27. K—R 1, R x Kt (or 27. ....Kt—B 5; 28. Kt—K 5, etc.); 28. P—Kt 3, P—K 4; 29. P—Q B 3 and White has the advantage.
22…Qxe6Now compulsory, for if 22. ....K—Q 2; 23. R x Q, followed by 24. R x B, etc.
24…Rxe6Black's three pieces for the Queen are not a sufficient compensation, for in addition to White's extra Pawns, he has prospects of a direct attack on the adverse King.
28.Qf5Winning at least another piece. The only possible defence is 28. ....R (K 2)—K 3; after which there follows 29. Q—B 5 ch, and 30. P—Q 5. But Black selects the shortest way.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source