An early example of Alekhine’s mastery of active piece play, as his two Bishops prove far more impressive than White’s pawn majority.
Verlinski - Alekhine
St. Petersburg 1909
C68 RUY LOPEZ, Exchange Variation
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 c5 8. Ne2 Bd7 9. b3 c4 10. bxc4 Ba4 11. c3 0-0-0 12. Nd2 Bc2 13. f3 Bc5 14. a4 Nf6 15. Ba3 Be3 16. Nf1 Ba7 17. a5 Rd3 18. c5 Rhd8 19. Kf2 Nd7 20. Ne3 Nxc5 21. Nd4
Alekhine points out that 21. Nxc2 leads to mate after 21. ... Nxe4+, e.g. 22. Ke1 Rd1+ 23. Rxd1 Bf2+ 24. Kf1 Rxd1+ 25. Ne1 Rxe1 mate.
21. ... Bb3 22. Ke2
The c3-pawn cannot be defended, for both 22. Rhc1 and 22. Bb2 run into 22. ... R3xd4 and 23. ... Nd3+.
22. ... Rxc3 23. Bb2
(Diagram)
23. ... Rxe3+! 24. Kxe3 Ne6 25. Ra3
Defending the piece with 25. Rhd1 leads to a lost King and pawn ending: 25. ... Bxd1 26. Rxd1 Nxd4 27. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Kxd4 Kd7 30. Kd5 b6.
25. ... Nxd4 26. Kf4 Bc5 27. Rha1 Ne2+ 28. Kg4 Be6+, White resigns
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