Alekhine, Alexander VS Tarrasch, Siegbert 1914.05.11

Annotations

Game 25 in the book: Alekhine's win over Dr. S. Tarrasch at the International Tournament at St. Petersburg, 1914. A Falkbeer Counter-Gambit annotated by Alekhine, who plays White.

1. 2.e4 From's Gambit accepted offers White at best only an equal game.
2. 4…Nf6 At the time the present game was played the variations springing from this move were considered advantageous for White, thanks especially to analyses by the late Simon Alapin. Recently, however, Dr. Tarrasch succeeded in invalidating this opinion, introducing in his game against Spielmann at Mährisch-Ostrau, 1924, an improvement of great importance (see note to Black's 6th move).
3. 6…Bf5 An innovation which the sequel shows to be insufficient. The correct line of play, demonstrated by Dr. Tarrasch in the game mentioned, is 6. ....B—Q B 4; 7. Q—K 2, B—B 4!, and if 8. P—K Kt 4? then 8. ....Castles!, with a winning sacrificial attack.
4. 7.Be3 This move deprives Black of his best chance on the diagonal Q R 2—K Kt 8, and leaves him without compensation for the Pawn he has given up.
5. 8…b5 Trying to keep his opponent busy lest he secure his position definitely by Castling.
6. 9.Bb3 White could play equally well 9. B—K 2, P—Q R 3; 10. P—Q R 4!, P x P; 11. P x P, Q x Q ch; 12. B x Q, Kt x P, etc., but the combination based on the text-move offered better prospects.
7. 10.d6 Bringing about an advantageous simplification in view of his extra Pawn. The Q P cannot be captured by the Black Queen on account of 11. Q x Q, followed by B—Q 5, etc.
8. 16…cxb3 Just in time, for White threatened 17. Kt x P, etc.
9. 17.axb3 White's advantage in material is in no way diminished by his having a doubled Pawn, for he will always be in a position to obtain a passed Pawn by advancing his Q B P.
10. 19…Qxe7 White has still a slight weakness in the centre, which he will subsequently eliminate by holding and strengthening his Q 4.
11. 23.Rad1 Intending to play P—B 3 once the Black Rooks are doubled on the Queen's file.
12. 25.c3 After this move White's position is invulnerable. Black is forced to adopt a waiting policy, which is all the more distressing as he is minus a Pawn. White's next moves aim at unpinning the Knight, which will take a decisive part in the final onslaught when the White Rooks are doubled on the King's file.
13. 27…Nh5 An inoffensive demonstration which cannot hinder White's plans.
14. 28…Nf6 Of course not 28. ....P—B 4, because of 29. R—K 6.
15. 31.Rfe1 To be able to play 32. R—K 5, in answer to 31. ....Kt—R 4.
16. 33.R1e2 A subtle preparation to the following attacking move.
17. 33…Kf8 Now Black cannot play 34. ....P x P; 35. P x P, Q x P; because of 36. R—Q B 2.
18. 37…Rxe5 A desperate move in an untenable position. Against 37. ....Kt—B 3, recommended by Dr. Tarrasch in the Tournament book as providing a sufficient defence for the time being, White had prepared the following pretty winning combination: 38. Kt x R P!, P x Kt; 39. R—K 6!, P x R (alternatives are: I.—39. ....R (Q 4)—Q 3; 40. Q x Kt, R x R; 41. R x R. II.—39. ....R (Q 1)—Q 3; 40. Q x P ch and mate in two). 40. Q x Kt ch, K—Kt 1; 41. R x P, R (Q 4)—Q 3; 42. Q—Kt 6 ch, K—R 1 (or 42. ....K—B 1; 43. Q—B 5 ch, K any; 44. R—K 7, etc.); 43. Q x P ch, K—Kt 1; 44. Q—Kt 6 ch, K—R 1; 45. Q—R 5 ch!, K—Kt 1; 46. R—K 7! and mate is unavoidable. Such a finale would have given the game a good chance of a brilliancy prize.
19. 39.Re3 White could also have captured the Kt and then brought his King to R 4. The text-move is still more simple and hinders 39. ....P—Kt 3, which would prove disastrous for Black after 40. Q—K 7 ch, K—Kt 1; 41. Q—K 8 ch, K—R 2; 42. Q x P ch, K—R 1; 43. Kt—K 7! and wins.

Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source