sleepkid: Sylvester: Exactly what book of Alekhine's do you have? I suggested the one which Alekhine authored, which does include this game. Morphynoman: Here are Alekhine's comments to the game, placed in order. I have not changed them except to correct the move numbering problem that occurs in the last variation.
After move 8:
Threatening now 9.....KtxQP
After move 9:
Right or wrong, this move is my invention, one of the ideas of which is to exert a frontal pressure on the K's file after ....B-Q1. Before it gets called by the name of a particularly hospitable city or a particularly generous patron of chess (as happened, with the "Kecskemet" move ....B-K1) I suggest calling it the "Timbuktu" variation. At least this will be the author's choice.
After move 10:
Black does not play yet 10. ....B-Q1, as there is still a hope of utilising this piece in a more active way. With the move in the text he prepares eventually ....Kt-K Kt 1, followed by ....B-KB3 or ....P-KB3, etc.
After White's move 11:
Not 11. Kt-B4, because of 11. ...PxP;12. PxP, P-Q4, etc. But comparatively better is the simplifying variation 11. R-K1, aiming at Kt-B1-Kt3, etc.
After White's 13th move:
Interesting enough, this normal-looking move creates - as will be shown in the course of the game - a slight weakness at QKt 3. Preferable was 13.B-B2 (threatening to gain space by means of 14. P-Qkt4, etc.) P-QR4; 14. B-K3, etc., with about even prospects.
After Black's 13th move:
Prophlactic. White's B-B2 must not be accompanied by the expansion threat P-QKt4!
After White's 14th move:
A rather superficial developing move. Instead, 14. B-K3 was still preferable.
After Black's 14th move:
With this energetic reply (instead of the tame 14. ....Kt-KKt1, probably expected by White), Black obtains a solid initiative. White's comparetively best reply was now 15. KKtxP, after which an endgame would be reached with better prospects for Black:-15.....KtxKt; 16. QxKt (not 16. KtxKt because of 16. ....QxKt followed by 17. ....P-KB3, with the win of a piece), KtxKt; 17. BxKt-and now not 17. ....QxKP (as suggested by the annotators) but 17. ....P-KB3! 17. QxQ, KRxQ; 19. B-K3, BxB; 20. PxB, RxP-with unpleasantness for White; if, for instance 21. B-Q5, then RxKP; 22.BxKt P, R-QKt1; 23. KR-Q1, B-K1 etc., with a clear advantage.
In view of these sad prospects it is not altogether surprising that Steiner chose a risky counter-demonstration, the consequences of which were by no means easy to calculate.
After White's 16th move:
If 16. BxKt, PxB; 17. Q-R5, Black would have had the good reply 17. ...P-KB4!
After Black's 16th move:
This is the move which probably was underestimated by White; after the following forced exchange, the Knight at R4 will be exposed to attacks and the domination by Black of his K4 will soon prove decisive.
After Move 18:
Wins an important tempo in comparison with the immediate 18. ...P-KKt4
After White's 20th move:
Black threatened 20 ....Q-Kt3; 21. Kt-Kt4, P-R4 and also-as it happens in the game- 20...B-K3, etc.
After Black's 20th move:
Planning 21. ...BxKt; 22. BxB, Kt-K4; 23. Q-K2,P-B6.
After White's 23rd move:
If this Bishop could have been protected by the QR's Pawn (compare the note to the 13th move of White), White would still have temporary defence in 23. QR-Q1. But now this move would simply be answered by 23. ....RxKt, etc.
After White's 24th move:
If 24. QR-Q1, then 24. ....R-Q6, followed by 25. ....KR-Q1 would win a piece.
After White's 25th move:
It is almost unbelievable that a position like this could occur in a modern master-game after 25 moves of a Ruy Lopez!
After Black's 25th move:
If now 26. K-R1, then 26. ...QxKP; 27. Kt-B7 ch, RxKt; 28. QxR, Kt-R5 disc. ch; 29. P-KB3, QxP ch. followed by mate in two.
Kibitzing
