Game 27 in the book: Alekhine's win over O. Duras at the International Tournament at Mannheim, 1914. A Ruy Lopez annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black.
4…bxc6Though unusual, this variation appears to me eminently practicable. In any case it has the advantage of not allowing White the majority of Pawns on the Queen-side as happens after 4. ....Q P x P; 5. P—Q 4, P x P; 6. Q x P, Q x Q; 7. Kt x Q, etc.
5.d4White would obtain no advantage from 5. Kt x P, Q—Kt 4; etc.
6…Qf6A new move and probably the best. Black concludes that his somewhat cramped position will be more easily defendable after the exchange of Queens, and the sequel confirms the correctness of his judgment.
7.O-OConforming to the preceding note, White should have avoided the exchange of Queens. There was, for instance, to be considered 7. P—K 5, Q—Kt 3; 8. Castles, for after 8. ....Q x P?; 9. Kt—B 3 he would have obtained an advantage in development compensating for the Pawn sacrificed.
7…Qxd4To hinder the development of White's Q B.
9.Nb3After 9. P—Q Kt 3, Black could have given up a Pawn by P—Q B 4 and P—B 5! as in game No. 2, with good attacking chances.
9…Ne7Far better than the plausible 9. ....Kt—B 3, after which White would have obtained a fine game by 10. B—B 4, P—Q 3; 11. R—K 1, with the threat of 12. P—K 5, etc.
10.Bd2An attempt to oppose the development of Black's K B, but Black circumvents this plan by the manoeuvre which follows.
11…Nf4Threatening 12. ....Kt—K 7 ch followed by Kt x B, thus gaining the necessary time for the development of the K B.
13.N1d2It can be seen that 13. B x P, R—Kt 1; followed by R x P ch would be to Black's advantage.
14…Re8Up to the present Black has played very carefully and obtained an entirely satisfactory game; but his last move is perhaps too risky, for it allows White to prevent the advance of Black's Q P for a long time. It is true that after 14. ....P—Q 3; White could force a draw (but no more) by 15. Kt (B 4)—R 5, B—Q 2; 16. Kt—Q 4, R—Kt 3; 17. Kt—B 4, Q R—Kt 1; 18. Kt—R 5, etc. But from the theoretical point of view, this result was not to be disdained for Black in a Lopez.
17.e5Again opposing 17. ....P—Q 3 (prepared by Black's last moves), to which White would now reply 18. P x P, R x R ch; 19. R x R, P x P; 20. R—K 8 with a winning position.
17…Ne6White has achieved his object, which was to prevent definitely the advance of Black's Q P. Black's position, though very restricted, is easy to defend, as it has no weaknesses. White's only threat would consist eventually in an advance of the King-side Pawns. By his next move Black seeks to obviate this danger.
18…h6Preparing P—Kt 4 which would secure the square K Kt 3 for the King.
19.h4After 19. P—Kt 3, Black would have obtained the advantage by 19. ....Kt—Kt 4; 20. R—K 3, B—Kt 2!; 21. R x P, Kt—B 6 ch; 22. K—B 1, Kt x P ch; 23. K—K 2, Kt—Kt 5; 24. K R—Q 3, Q R—B 1, etc. The text-move was played in the hope—shown to be illusory by the sequel—of developing an attack by doubling the Rooks on the K R file.
20…g5The two adversaries pursue their respective plans with consequence. However White, through not taking into account a very hidden resource of his opponent's, initiated by a Pawn sacrifice on the 24th move, will see his chances diminish.
24.Rh1As will soon be seen, 24. P—R 3! was necessary, after which, however, Black could have occupied the K R file and eased his defence by exchanging one Rook. The text-move gives him the long awaited opportunity to take the initiative.
24…Nd4An unexpected sacrifice which White is compelled to accept, for after 25. R—Q 2, Kt—Kt 4; 26. R—Q 3, Kt x B; 27. R x Kt, P—Q 4!, or 25. Kt—K 3, P—Q 3!, Black would have obtained the superior game without difficulty.
26…Bb4Indirectly threatening the K P and the Q Kt P. That is why White should have played 24. P—Q R 3.
27.Nb3The only move to preserve the extra Pawn temporarily.
28…c5Stronger than 28. ....R x P; 29. P—R 3, B—Q 3; 30. Kt x P, B—Kt 2; 31. K R—Q 1, with uncertain result.
29.Rxd5His best chance. If 29. R (Q 4)—Q 1, P—Q 5; 30. Kt—B 4, B—Kt 2 ch; 31. P—B 3, B—Q 4, followed by R x P, would secure a decisive advantage for Black.
30.c4Not 30. P—K B 4 because of 30. ....P—B 5; and Black wins.
31.a3An ingenious resource which allows White to save the Exchange, at first sight irretrievably lost.
33.cxd5After the excitement of the last moves the situation is clear at last. Black, although forced to give back the Exchange because of the threats Kt—B 6, Kt—B 4 or P x B, secures the gain of a Pawn and retains excellent chances for the ensuing ending.
35…f5The only move to preserve the advantage, for now White can neither play 36. Kt—B 4, because of 36. ....P—Kt 5 ch followed by 37. ....R—Kt 5; nor 36. P—Q 6, because of 36. ....P—Kt 5 ch; 37. K—B 4, P—B 5!; threatening B—Q 3 mate.
36.g4In order to bring his King into the centre and to obtain some chance with the two passed Pawns.
37.Ke4Not 37. K x P, on account of 37. ....P—B 5.
38.Kd3The alternative 38. K—K 5 would only occasion loss of time, Black continuing 38. ....P—B 5; 39. K—Q 4, B—Kt 7 ch, etc.
38…Bb2Black has just time to bring back the Bishop to stop the dangerous White Queen's Pawn.
40…g3The deciding move, based on the following variation: 41. P—Q 7, R—Kt 1; 42. Kt—B 6, P—Kt 7; 43. R x B ch (or 43. R—any, R—Kt 2!), K x R; 44. Kt x R, K—K 2; 45. Kt—B 6 ch, K x P; 46. Kt—K 5 ch, K—K 3; 47. Kt—B 3, P—Kt 5; 48. Kt—Kt 1, K—K 4; and Black evidently wins.
42.Rd1This offers no better chances for White than the preceding variation.
46.Rxg2The remainder is only a question of technique.
50…Kf5Now the Black King will move to the Queen's side and escort his passed Pawns to Queen.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source