Rabinovich, Ilya Leontievich VS Alekhine, Alexander 1920.10.21

Annotations

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.

1. 4.Nc3 Rubinstein's system, 4. P—K Kt 3 and 5. B—Kt 2 here, or on the next move, is considered better.
2. 4…Bb7 This allows Black to occupy the square K 5 with effect, and thus to secure at least an equal game.
3. 7…f5 In this manner Black has brought about a position, favourable to himself, of the Dutch Defence.
4. 8.O-O White 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).
5. 10.Nd2 The only way to enforce the advance of the K P.
6. 10…Qh4 An 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.
7. 12…Nc6 12. ....P—B 4 would not be so good, because of 13. P—Q 5!
8. 14.Bxe4 White 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.
9. 14…Na5 Securing 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.
10. 15.Rae1 This plausible move leads to the loss of a Pawn.
11. 17.Qa4 There 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.
12. 17…Nxc4 Now 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.
13. 18.Re2 Clearly, if 18. Q×Kt, P—Q 4; 19. Q—Kt 5, P—Q R 3 and Black wins.
14. 23…Rbe8 Having 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.
15. 24…c5 Although 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.
16. 26…e5 The 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.
17. 27.f4 Undoubtedly 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.
18. 27…d6 Sufficing 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.
19. 28.h3 Again threatening Black's K P, which he will at once defend in an indirect manner.
20. 30.Bc5 Not 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.
21. 30…Rf7 The 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!
22. 31.Rb1 Seemingly 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.
23. 31…h6 This parries the threat of mate and compels the opponent to persevere on the perilous path on which he is proceeding.
24. 33.Rxa4 White 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.
25. 33…Qc2 After 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.
26. 36…Rxg1+ A pretty final combination.
27. 39.Ke3 If 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