Verlinsky, Boris VS Alekhine, Alexander 1909.02.25

Annotations

Game 2 in the book: Boris Verlinsky–Alekhine, also from the All-Russian Amateur Tournament, St. Petersburg, 1909. A Ruy Lopez Exchange annotated by Alekhine, who plays Black.

1. 9.b3 This move was played by Dr. Lasker in the first game of his match against Dr. Tarrasch (Düsseldorf, 1908). The latter continued: 9. .... B—B 3; 10. Kt—Q 2, B—K 2; 11. B—Kt 2, B—B 3; leading to an exchange of Bishops and the loss of his best chance—the combined action of the two Bishops.
2. 9…c4 If Black fails to regain the Pawn thus sacrificed, he will have sufficient compensation in the dislocation of the White Pawn-position on the Queen-side. But, as the sequel shows, White cannot long maintain his advantage in material, which tends to prove the insufficiency of his last move. I consider that the reply 9. .... P—B 5 demolishes White's 9th move.
3. 12.Nd2 Other moves would be no better; e.g.: 12. Kt—Q 4, P—Q B 4; 13. Kt—Kt 3, R—K 1; 14. P—B 3, P—B 4; 15. Kt—Q 2, Kt—B 3; and Black has the better game. Or 12. Castles, B—B 7; 13. Kt—Q 2, Kt—B 3; 14. Kt—K Kt 3 (if 14. P—B 3, B—B 4 ch; followed by 15. .... B—Q 6), B—B 4; and Black wins back his Pawn with an excellent game.
4. 13.f3 13. Castles leads into the second variation shown above.
5. 13…Bc5 Opposing 14. Kt—Q 4 (to which the reply is 14. .... R x Kt!, etc.) and forcing White to lose precious time to counteract the action of this Bishop.
6. 15.Ba3 The blockade of Black's K B will be seen to be insufficient. The following variation offered better chances of a draw: 15. Kt—Q 4, B x Kt; 16. P x B, R x P; 17. B—Kt 2, R—Q 6, although in this case Black's pressure on the Q file would have been very harassing.
7. 19.Kf2 White could have held out longer by: 19. B—Kt 4, R—Q 8 ch; 20. R x R, R x R ch; 21. K—B 2, Kt—Q 2; 22. Kt (B 1)—Kt 3, R x R; 23. Kt x R, Kt x P; 24. B x Kt (if 24. K—K 1, Kt—Kt 6; followed by 25. .... P—Q B 4), B x B ch; 25. Kt—Q 4, P—Q Kt 3; 26. P x P, P x P; but the issue would not have been in doubt, as Black remains with his two Bishops and a passed Pawn. The text-move gives Black the chance of an elegant finish.
8. 20…Nxc5 Threatening mate in 5 should White capture the B, e.g.: 21. Kt x B, Kt x P dbl ch; 22. K—K 1, R—Q 8 ch!; 23. K x R, B—B 7 ch!; 24. K—B 1, R x R ch; 25. Kt—K 1, R x Kt mate.
9. 21…Bb3 This wins the Q B P, for if 22. K R—B 1, or B—Kt 2, then 22. .... R (Q 6) x Kt (Q 5); followed by 23. .... Kt—Q 6 ch and Black wins.
10. 23.Bb2 White could have avoided the loss of a piece by 23. Kt (Q 4)—B 5, which, however, would not have influenced the result.
11. 25.Ra3 Or 25. K R—Q 1, B x R; 26. R x B, Kt x Kt; 27. B x Kt, B x B ch; 28. R x B, R x R; and the end-game is easily won for Black.

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