Game 33 in the book: a Vienna Game played by correspondence in Russia (given as 1908 in the book), in which Alekhine wins with the Black pieces against A. Wjakhireff.
5.Ne2This game was played before the stronger move 5. B—Kt 5 was introduced into master practice by Mieses.
8…Qd8This retreat is preferable to 8. ....B x Kt, as played by Dr. Bernstein against myself in Paris (February, 1922). The continuation was 9. Kt x B, Q—Q 1; 10. P—B 4, P x P; 11. B x P, Castles; 12. Kt—Kt 5! by which White obtained the advantage and ultimately won.
9.Ng3In a game Mieses—Tchigorin (Monte Carlo, 1902) White continued 9. P—B 4, Castles; (better is 9. ....P x P; 10. B x P, Castles; 11. Kt—K 4, B—K 2); 10. P—B 5, with advantage for White.
9…O-ONow this move is not so good, for Black by his reply will assume the initiative on the King-side.
12…Bd6Opposing the manoeuvre Kt—Kt 1—B 3, etc.
13.d4White, with the inferior game, tempts Black to play for a passed Pawn, which would give White chances of counter-attack in the centre.
13…e4Nowadays, I should have adopted the simple variation: 13. ....P x Q P; 14. Kt x Q P, Kt x Kt; 15. Q x Kt, B—K 3; or 15. ....B—Q 2, followed by B—B 3. But my lack of experience was a poor shield against the temptation of an attack with brilliant sacrifices; and though my anticipations were realized, it was solely due to the defective strategy adopted by my opponent.
18.Qc3A grave error of position judgment, which gives up the very important square at Q 5. 18. P—Q 5 was absolutely necessary, e.g.: 18. ....Kt—K 2 or Q 1; 19. B—K 3, with a good position in the centre. The move in the text leaves Black with a marked advantage.
18…Ne7Of course not 18. ....B—K 3 because of 19. P—Q 5!, etc.
21.a3The Pawn advance on the Queen-side (see also White's 23rd and 26th moves) leads to nothing, as there is no threat. But White's game is so much compromised by his 18th move that it is hardly possible to suggest a valid plan of defence.
21…Bd5Threatening 22. ....P—K 6, followed by R x P ch, etc. The square Q 4 has to be occupied precisely by the B, as the Knight has another and a very important rôle to play.
24.Kg1To any other move Black would reply, as in the game, with 24. ....Kt—B 6, blocking up the King in the corner square, exposed to most violent attacks, such as Q—R 5, threatening Q x P ch!, etc.
24…Nf3+For the capture of the Knight spelt disaster, e.g.: 25. P x Kt, P x P; 26. Kt—B 1, R x P; 27. K—B 2 (or B—B 2), Q—R 5; and Black wins.
25…Qh4A rather peculiar position; Black's intention is to play R—Kt 3 and B—K 2, followed by R x Kt!; Kt x R; Q x Kt ch!; K x Q, B—R 6 mate, and White has no satisfactory defence against this threat!
27…Be7As White sees it is impossible to oppose the threat shown above, he seeks compensation in the capture of the Black Knight. But Black's attack still remains strong and will lead to a new mating position.
29.Nxg3If 29. B—B 2, Kt—Q 7 ch; 30. K—Kt 1 (or if K—K 1, R x Q), R x P ch; 31. K x R, P—K 6 ch; 32. K—Kt 1 (or B 2), Q x B mate.
32…Re8The initial move in the combination which is to prevent the White King from taking refuge on the Queen-side.
33.Be3If 33. B—Kt 1, Q—Kt 6; followed by B—R 5, etc.
35.Rh2Now Black's Queen is lost, but the loss allows the Black Pawn to administer the coup de grâce.
Alexander Alekhine, My Best Games of Chess 1908–1923 (1927) · Public domain · source