Steiner, Endre VS Alekhine, Alexander 1921.09.15

Annotations

Game 58 in the book: A. Steiner—A. Alekhin, International Tournament at Budapest, 1921. An Alekhine's Defence annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black.

1. 1…Nf6 This new defence was played for the first time by myself in a consultation game at Zurich (August, 1921) and was introduced into master practice shortly afterwards at the Budapest Tournament in September of the same year. Its correctness now seems perfectly established. One of the most searching proofs of its vitality lies in the fact that Dr. Emmanuel Lasker, ex-champion of the world, although openly opposed to this defence, successfully adopted it against Maróczy at the New York Tournament (March-April, 1924), after having tried in vain to demolish it.
2. 2.e5 In a game Bogoljuboff—Alekhin (Carlsbad, 1923), White tried 2. Kt—Q B 3, upon which Black replied by 2. ....P—Q 4 (2. ....P—K 4, transposing into the Vienna Game, is also to be considered), leading to the continuation 3. P—K 5, K Kt—Q 2!; 4. P—Q 4, P—Q B 4!; 5. B—Q Kt 5, Kt—Q B 3; 6. Kt—B 3, and Black could have led into a very advantageous variation of the French Defence by 6. ....P—K 3, in place of the risky line 6. ....P—Q R 3; 7. B×Kt ch, P×B; 8. P—K 6!
3. 2…Nd5 In a game Sämisch—Alekhin from the same tournament, White continued by 3. Kt—Q B 3, P—K 3!; 4. Kt×Kt, P×Kt; 5. P—Q 4, P—Q 3; 6. Kt—B 3, Kt—B 3; 7. B—K 2, B—K 2; 8. B—K B 4, Castles; 9. Castles, P—B 3; 10. P×B P, B×P and Black has a slightly superior game.
4. 3…d6 After this move, whose object is to hinder the advance of the hostile K P, White loses his advantage, because of the difficulties he will experience in defending his K P. The most dangerous line of play for Black is undoubtedly 4. P—Q B 4 followed by 5. P—B 4.
5. 6…Bf5 Black is not concerned about the possibility of doubled Pawns. If 7. B×Kt ch, the possession of his two Bishops, the open Q Kt file and his better development would constitute a great compensation for the slight weakness on Q B 3.
6. 7…Nb4 The win of a Pawn by this last move required a minute examination of all its consequences.
7. 9.Rxd1 The best reply, for if 9. K×Q, Castles ch; 10. K—B 1, P—B 3, Black's game would be distinctly superior.
8. 12.Nd4 If 12. P—K 6, Black would have answered simply 12. ....P—B 3! followed by 13. ....Castles.
9. 13…O-O-O The point of the manœuvre initiated on the 7th move. Nevertheless, the material advantage of a Pawn which Black has succeeded in securing seems very difficult to utilize, because of his backward development.
10. 18…Bc5 How ought Black to strengthen his position now? For example, here are two plausible suggestions which give no satisfactory result against a correct defence: I.—18. ....P—Kt 3; 19. R (Kt 1)—Q B 1, R—Q 2; 20. B—K 3, K—Kt 2; 21. R (B 6)—B 3, B—Kt 2; 22. R—Kt 3 ch, K—R 1; 23. B×P!, B×P; 24. R—B 4 with the better game for White. II.—18. ....P—K Kt 4; 19. R×Kt P!, B—R 3; 20. R—Kt 4, B×B; 21. B×B, K P ch; 22. K—B 1, K—Kt 2; 23. R—Q B 3, and Black has no chance of winning. Whereas this move, which at first sight does not seem better than the preceding moves, is the only one enabling Black to maintain his advantage.
11. 19.b4 The right reply, permitting White to force a favourable exchange. It is clear that Black's Kt P cannot be taken at once, owing to 19. ....K—Kt 2.
12. 21.Be3 Black is once again faced with a very difficult problem. How is he to secure the defence of his weak Pawns on both wings? His lone Bishop is insufficient for this task, since if it be brought to Q Kt 3 via Q R 4, thereby adequately protecting his right wing, White would transfer his attack to the opposite wing and would eventually win at least a Pawn by R—B 4 followed by R—K R 4. On the other hand, if Black withdraws his Bishop to K B 1, in order to secure the protection of his left wing, White would take the Queen-side as his objective and would obtain a strong attack by R—Kt 4 followed by R—Q R 4. Black must therefore provisionally avoid the displacement of his Bishop, in order to be able to utilize it for the defence of whichever wing is threatened. His following moves are dictated by the above considerations.
13. 25…f6 Definitely maintaining his material advantage, which he is enabled to exploit by the following exchanges.
14. 29.Rh7 29. P—K R 4 would leave White some hope of a draw, but after the text-move Black forces the exchange of this dangerous Pawn.
15. 31.Rh5 Forced, since after 31. P—K R 4, R×P, Black's passed Q R P would be at least as dangerous as White's passed K R P.
16. 32.Rxa5 The ensuing end-game, although won for Black, nevertheless offers several technical difficulties, and is not devoid of interest.
17. 34.Bd4 Temporarily preventing 34. ....P—K 4, which Black now prepares by the following Rook-manœuvre.
18. 34…Rd2 Hindering K—Q 3—B 4, etc.
19. 37…Rc1 37. ....P—K 4 would still be premature, on account of 38. B—B 3.
20. 40…e5 At last it is playable!
21. 46…Bb4 Thereby securing for his King access to the square Q 4, which is clearly of great importance.
22. 47.Ra7 Or 47. R—R 4, K—Q 4; 48. P—Q R 3, P—K 5 ch; 49. K—B 2, B—Q 3.
23. 50.Ra8 In order to pin the adverse Bishop by R—Q 8, after ....K—Q 4.
24. 54.Ke2 If 54. K—Q 3, Black had foreseen the following pretty finish: 54. ....P—B 7; 55. R—Q B 8, B—K 2!; 56. R×P, B—Kt 4; 57. R—K 2, P—K 5 ch; 58. K—Q 2, R×B; 59. R×R, K—Q 5, and wins.

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