Material: Even. White has a spatial advantage from the wedge Pe5, and Qh5 is aggressively placed against the Black K-side. The Rf1 is placed for a R lift, while Ne5 exerts pressure on Pe6 and can support the P push f5. Ironically, White's main strength is not piece activity, but Black's cramped passivity and the consequent absence of ready K-side defense. In fact, the White Bb3, Nc3, Be3, and Ra1 all require activation. Accordingly, the conjunction of Bb3 and Kg8 on the a2-g8 diagonal suggests a sacrifice to liquidate the central P-chain, to capitalize on Black's backward development.

Candidates (13.): Nxd5, Nxe6

13.Nxd5 (threatening 14.Nxe7+, winning a P)

Because 14.Nxe7+ is check, Black must recapture immediately or passively suffer the loss of a Pd5.

13…exd4

I went for 14.Bxd4, missing

14…Ndxe5 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Be4 g6 17.Qxe5 <Bf8> 18.Rad1 Rxe5 19.Rxd8 Rxe4

This is certainly a pleasant way of describing the combination.

I have a habit to break: missing K decoys with the Q, e.g., Hsu Li Yang vs Nunn, 1992.

Fri 2008.08.29 (White to play. 16. ?)
Alekhine vs Van Mindeno, 1933

After looking at what he played out, I think he could have had mate faster if he swung his knight into e5 on his 18th move. That would allow his dark bishop to mate on f2 (if he makes a dumb move, like move the queen to safety), or the bishop could go on g4, then g3 pawn check followed by knight f4 mate.

The caliber of the chess played is pretty strong for the most part.

The link is below.

13 Nxd5 Nxd4
14 Nxe7+ Qxe7
15 Bxd4 Nc5

This, Rybka 3 assigns a value of +1.22 at depth 18.

The real kicker is that in the game line, 15 ... Kg6?? is a total blunder (leads to mates - one even faster than the game line). The only alternative, 15 ... Kf8, gives a position which is valued by Rybka 3 at depth 14 as +2.51. That it takes more than a half hour for Rybka to get to depth 14 indicates a lot of complexity, and no likelihood of a single very strong line for either side. So Kg6?? is suicide.