Flamberg, Alexander Dawidowic VS Alekhine, Alexander 1914.07.29

Annotations

Game 28 in the book: Alekhine's win over A. Flamberg at the International Tournament at Mannheim, 1914. A Ruy Lopez annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black.

1. 10.Re1 The best line of play for White is, in my opinion: 10. Q Kt—Q 2, Castles; 11. B—B 2 or 11. Kt—Q 4.
2. 11…Nc5 In order to reply to 12. B—B 2 with Tarrasch's move, 12. ....P—Q 5!
3. 12.Nd4 But this is hardly better than 12. B—B 2. Speaking generally, in this variation 10. R—K 1 appears to be loss of time.
4. 14…Nf4 Much better than 14. ....Kt x B; after which White is able to exercise a pressure on the open Q B file, which would justify the line of play he has adopted.
5. 15.Bc2 With the intention of preventing 15. ....P—Q B 4 by the threat: 16. P x P, followed by 17. B x P ch, and 18. Q—B 2 ch.
6. 15…c5 Yet as the following variation shows, the move is quite playable: 16. P x P, B x P; 17. B x P ch, K x B; 18. Q—B 2 ch, K—Kt 1; 19. Q x B, P—Q 5; 20. R—K 4, R—B 1; 21. Q—R 3, Q—Kt 4!; 22. P—K Kt 3 (or 22. Q—K Kt 3, Q x Q; followed by 23. ....Kt—Q 6; and wins); 22. ....Kt—R 6 ch; followed by 23. ....R x B, and Black wins.
7. 16.Nb3 In order to block up the position in the centre (for 16. ....P x P; 17. Kt x P would not be to Black's advantage) and then to attempt a King-side attack. But the majority of Pawns on the Queen-side which Black secures with his next move constitutes, as will be seen later, a far more potent weapon than his opponent's problematic chances on the King-side.
8. 17…f5 This and the following move are dictated by motives of a purely defensive character. Black wishes to consolidate his King's position before attempting a decisive action on the Queen-side.
9. 18.Nf1 18. P x P e.p., B x P; 19. Kt—B 3, B—Kt 5 would be insufficient.
10. 18…Rf7 An excellent defensive move which, in case of need, reserves the square K B 1 for the Black Knight and which, at the same time, protects his K Kt 2. 18. ....Kt—Kt 3 would be less good, for after 19. R—K R 3, Black could not have played 19. ....P—B 5 because of 20. R x P!
11. 22…Qb6 Opposing for the moment 23. Q—R 5, because of the reply: 23. ....Kt x B P; 24. B x Kt, Q x P ch; 25. B—K 3, Q x Kt P, with the better game.
12. 23.Nf3 Of course not 23. Kt x P, P x Kt; 24. P—Q 5, B—B 4; and Black wins.
13. 23…Bd7 Preparing 24. ....P—R 5, and aiming eventually at posting the Knight at K 3.
14. 24.Ng5 After 24. B—R 4, B x B; 25. Q x B, Kt—B 1, followed by 26. ....Kt—K 3, Black's game remains preferable.
15. 24…Bxg5 This exchange implies further loss of time and brings the Rook still farther away from the threatened sector.
16. 26.Kh1 In order to play 27. Q—R 5, impossible hitherto because of 26. ....Kt x B P, etc. It would have been better, however, for White to retire the Rook to Kt 3 and to resign himself to the defensive.
17. 26…Ne7 Providing once and for all against White's 27. P—Kt 4, which, if played on the previous move, would have been disastrous for White, e.g.: 26. P—Kt 4, P x P; 27. P—B 5, Kt x P.
18. 27.Qh5 A last attempt which will be refuted by an energetic counter-demonstration by Black on the other wing.
19. 29…a3 The passed Pawn which Black obtains by this temporary sacrifice wins the game in a few moves.
20. 32.Qd1 White begins a general retreat, but it is far too late!
21. 36…Ba4 The final manoeuvre. This Bishop is to be posted at Q Kt 4 without loss of time.
22. 37.Qd3 Or 37. Q—K 1, B—Kt 4.
23. 38…Qa6 White has no resource against the threat: 39. ....R x B!; 40. Q x R, Q—R 8. If 39. R—Q Kt 3, Q—R 5!; if 39. R—B 2, B—R 5; and if 39. R—K 3, B—R 5 followed by 40. ....B—B 7 and wins.

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