Game 53 in the book: E. Rabinovitch—Alekhin, All-Russian Masters' Tournament at Moscow, October 1920. A Queen's Pawn Game annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black.
4.Nc3Rubinstein's system, 4. P—K Kt 3 and 5. B—Kt 2 here, or on the next move, is considered better.
4…Bb7This allows Black to occupy the square K 5 with effect, and thus to secure at least an equal game.
7…f5In this manner Black has brought about a position, favourable to himself, of the Dutch Defence.
8.O-OWhite could here have selected another line of play: 8. B—Q 2, B×Kt; 9. B×B, Castles; 10. Castles Q R, after which Black seizes the initiative by 10. ....P—Q R 4! and 11. ....Kt—R 3 (Sämisch—Alekhin, Pistyan, 1922).
10.Nd2The only way to enforce the advance of the K P.
10…Qh4An important developing move to which White cannot reply by 11. P—Kt 3 without disadvantage, because of 11. ....Kt—Kt 4! and if 12. P—K 4 then 12. ....P×P! and Black wins.
12…Nc612. ....P—B 4 would not be so good, because of 13. P—Q 5!
14.Bxe4White appears to over-rate the strength of his position. More correct was 14. P×P, P—K 4!; 15. P—Q 5, Kt—K 2; 16. P—B 5!, Kt—Kt 3 (not 16. ....P×P, because of 17. P—Q 6 and 18. Q—Kt 3 ch); 17. P×P, R P×P, with about an equal game.
14…Na5Securing a slight advantage, should White choose the best variation, 15. B×B, Kt×B; 16. K R—K 1, by reason of White's doubled Pawns on the Q B file.
15.Rae1This plausible move leads to the loss of a Pawn.
17.Qa4There was no satisfactory defence to the Q B P, e.g.: 17. R—K 5, R—B 4!; 18. R×R, Q×R; 19. Q×Q, P×Q, and Black has virtually a won end-game.
17…Nxc4Now Black has every justification for anticipating victory, yet in spite of his advantage in material it is not easy to achieve it, for the adverse position shows no weak point.
18.Re2Clearly, if 18. Q×Kt, P—Q 4; 19. Q—Kt 5, P—Q R 3 and Black wins.
23…Rbe8Having consolidated the dominating position of his Knight, Black now prepares an action in the centre which will enable him to shatter the hostile position, although allowing his opponent apparent compensations.
24…c5Although this temporarily increases the range of action of White's Q B, yet by this reason the Bishop later on becomes an object of attack. This plan demanded an exhaustive examination of the tactical possibilities of the position, and was not undertaken until Black was perfectly convinced that it would ultimately result in his favour.
26…e5The beginning of a series of extremely interesting complications. The Pawn cannot be captured by the Bishop, because of 27. ....P—Q 4!, and the variation 27. B—B 5, P—Q 4; 28. R×Kt, Kt P×R; 29. B×K, Q×B, would also be to Black's advantage.
27.f4Undoubtedly the best chance. White intends to answer 27. ....P—Q 4 with 28. R×P, Kt×R; 29. B×Kt, which would give him quite a defendable game.
27…d6Sufficing for the protection of the Pawn, because of the mate in two moves after 28. P×P, P×P; 29. B×P?, Kt×B; 30. R×Kt, R×R; 31. Q×R, etc.
28.h3Again threatening Black's K P, which he will at once defend in an indirect manner.
30.Bc5Not 30. B×P on account of 30. ....R(B 1)—K 1; 31. R—K B 1, Q—Kt 3; 32. R×Kt, R×B and wins. The text-move appears full of promise, seeing that the Black Rook cannot leave the K B file, e.g.: 30. ....R—Q 1; 31. R—K B 1, Q—Kt 3; 32. R—Kt 4, Q—R 3; 33. Q—B 3! and wins.
30…Rf7The initial move of a sacrificial combination intended to yield a decisive attack. As a mere defensive move, 30. ....K R—B 3 would be adequate, as White could not answer 31. R—Kt 1 because of 31. ....Kt—Q 7!
31.Rb1Seemingly recovering his Pawn with a good game, for 31. ....Kt—Q 7 is now impossible on account of 32. Q×Kt, threatening Q—Q 8 ch, etc.
31…h6This parries the threat of mate and compels the opponent to persevere on the perilous path on which he is proceeding.
33.Rxa4White has no longer any defence, for if 33. R—K Kt 4, Black would win in an analogous manner to that in the text. If 33. R—K 3, then 33. ....R—K Kt 3 (this diversion was the special point of playing the K R to B 2 instead of B 3 on the 30th move); 34. R—Kt 8 ch, K—R 2; 35. R—Kt 2 (or 35. Q×Kt, Q—B 8 ch; 36. K—R 2, R—B 7 and wins), Kt—B 6 ch; 36. K—R 1, Q×P ch! and mates next move.
33…Qc2After this move, which explains the foregoing sacrifice of two Pawns, White is lost, owing to inability to withdraw his Rooks to secure the defence of his first rank.
36…Rxg1+A pretty final combination.
39.Ke3If 39. K—Kt 3, Kt—B 5 ch. Now Black's next move wins the Queen or mates.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source