[Event "Margate"] [Site "?"] [Round "0"] [White "Alekhine"] [Black "Book"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D26"] [Opening "QGA: 4.e3 e6 5.Bxc4"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 e6 5. Bxc4 c5 6. O-O Nc6 7. Qe2 a6 8. Nc3 {8.a4 would lead to more common lines.} 8... b5 9. Bb3 {Alekhine correctly keeps the bishop on the queenside, as the lack of a rook at d1 means that 9. Bd3 left d4 without sufficient protection.} 9... b4 {This came as a surprise to Alekhine, who expected Black to play 9...Be7, as in an encounter with Euwe. 9...Bb7?! 10.Rd1 Qc7 11.d5! exd5 12.Nxd5 Nxd5 13.Bxd5 followed by e3-e4 and the eventual placement of the Ra1 at c1 would be decisive.} 10. d5 {Alekhine's judgement is probably correct, though Taimanov's preferred 10.Na4 is a worthy alternative. White's goal is to advance the e-pawn, and to do this he must somehow release the pressure at d4.} 10... Na5 {10...exd5 11.Nxd5 Nxd5 12.Rd1 followed by e3-e4 gives a clear advantage to White.} 11. Ba4+ Bd7 {White has ac hieved quite a lot, but wouldn't it be great if he also had a rook on an open d-file? With this idea in mind, we can easily see how Alekhine creates one of his impressive combinations.} 12. dxe6 fxe6 {12...Bxa4 13.exf7+ Kxf7 14.Nxa4} 13. Rd1 {And here we are! The advance d4-d5 has borne delicious fruit! 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14.Rd1 Qc6! 15.Nb1 Be7=} 13... bxc3 { 13...Be7 14.Bxd7+ Nxd7 15.Ne5 Ra7 16.Qh5+ g6 17.Nxg6 and White wins.} 14. Rxd7 {Alekhine describes this as the highpoint of the combination. The main reason why the White attack is consequential is the position of the Na5 which cannot participate in the play.} 14... Nxd7 15. Ne5 Ra7 16. bxc3 {Taking stock of the position, it is clear that if the Bc1 can get into play then Black will be in serious difficulty.} 16... Ke7 {A strange looking move, but the alternatives are not pleasant. If 16...Be7 or 16...Bd6, then 17.Qh5+ is sufficient.} 17. e4 {This sets up tricks with Bg5+.} 17... Nf6 18. Bg5 {And now Qh5+ is in the air. } 18... Qc7 19. Bf4 Qb6 20. Rd1 g6 {20...Nb7 21.Nc4 or 20...Ra8 21.Bg5 Rd8 22. Nd7 Qc7 23.e5 or 20...Rg8 21.Bg5 h6 22.Qh5} 21. Bg5 Bg7 22. Nd7 { The decisive, thematic thrust that brings the game to a swift conclusion.} 22... Rxd7 23. Rxd7+ Kf8 24. Bxf6 Bxf6 25. e5 { and Black resigned, rather than walk into the obvious line:} 25... Qb1+ 26. Rd1 Qf5 27. exf6 Qxf6 28. Qxa6 Qxc3 29. Qxe6 {to which there is simply no defence.} 1-0