Alekhine
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nc3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Rc1 0-0 9.b3
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| Some of White's moves will probably have looked odd to those unfamiliar with Alekhine's Defence, but there are 2,660 examples of this position in ChessBase's 2023 Mega database |
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One of the points of White's play is Black at some point may want to grab a bigger share of the centre by playing ...d5. If that happens it is often desirable to reply c5, and White wants to do this without allowing Black in turn to reply ...Nc4. Whether White's somewhat artificial-looking manoeuvres are worth it is another matter, but Stockfish16 and Komodo14.1 reckon the diagrammed position is slightly better for White.
9...Bf5!?
More popular are 9...e5 and especially 9...Nc6, but the text is easily the most successful percentagewise, scoring 53% in Mega23 against 9...e5's 41% and 9...Nc6's 34%.
10.Bd3!?
This is something of a sideline, the most popular moves being 10.Be2 and 10.Nf3.
10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 d5!?
As advertised, although after ...
12.c5 Nc8
... White is ahead on development and has more queenside space. On the other hand Black has the better bishop and perhaps has hopes of forcing through the lever ...e5. The engines slightly prefer White.
13.Nf3 Nc6 14.Bf4!?
This may be a novelty. The known move is 14.0-0, when Nodirbek Abdusattorov (2608) - Javokhir Sindarov (2513), Central Asia U20 Championship (Tashkent, Uzbekistan) 2019, continued 14...e6 15.a3 N8e7 16.b4 a6 17.Na4, after which Komodo14.1 at first gives White the upper hand, while Stockfish16 gives White a slight edge. However, the more time the engines are given to look at the position, the more they like Black's chances, albeit preferring White, who went on to win in 49 moves. Note that meeting 14.0-0 with 14...e5?! runs into 15.dxe5, uncovering the weakness of d5.
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| How should Black respond to the apparent novelty? |
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14...Nxd4!?
The engines suggest 14...e6.
15.Nxd4 e5 16.0-0!?
Best, according to the engines, is 16.Bxe5 Bxe5 17.0-0, after which Black's IQP is passed but well-blockaded, and meanwhile White has a fairly mobile queenside pawn-majority.
16...exf4 17.Rfd1 Re8
Black equalises with 17...Ne7, according to the engines.
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| How should White proceed? |
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18.c6!?
This leads to interesting play, but the engines prefer 18.Qf3.
18...Bxd4?
Better are 18...Rb8 and 18...Ne7.
19.cxb7 Bxf2+ 20.Kf1?!
This is good enough for an advantage, but there was no need to be so cute. After 20.Kxf2 Qb6+ 21.Qd4 Qxb7 White has 22.Nxd5, threatening two deadly forks (at f6 and c7), and Black cannot prevent both.
20...Rb8 21.bxc8=Q Rxc8 22.Kxf2
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| White is up a knight for two pawns, but Black has practical chances based on the passed d pawn, the weakness of the white king, and the outpost at e3 |
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22...Re3 23.Qd2!
This is best as 23.Qxd5? loses to 23...Qh4+ 24.Kg1 Rcxc3, the point being 25.Rxc3?? fails to 25...Re1+ 26.Rxe1 Qxe1#. If White tries 24.Kf1!?, hoping for 24...Qxh2 25.Ne2, after which White is at least equal, Black wins with 24...Rce8.
23...d4! 24.Nb5?
Also incorrect is 24.Qxd4? as 24...Qxd4 25.Rxd4 R(either)xc3 26.Rxc3 Rxc3 draws. But note that 24...Qh4+ can be met by 25.Kf1!, when 25...Rce8? fails to 26.Nd5, while 25...Qxh2 26.Ne2 is at least slightly better for White.
24...Qh4+?
The engines reckon 24...d3 25.Rxc8 Qxc8 26.Kf1 Qc5 27.Nc3 f3 is completely equal, and also 24...Rxc1 25.Rxc1 d3, albeit both lines involve sharp play.
25.Kg1 Rxc1 26.Rxc1
Not 26.Qxc1? Re2 27.Rf1 f3!
26...d3 27.Nd4 Qd8 28.Qc3 Qd5 29.Qb4 Kg7 30.Rd1?
Both 30.Rc8 and 30.Nf3 are winning.
30...Qe4 31.Qc3 Kh6?
The engines reckon Black is worse, but not losing, after 31...f6.
32.Nf3?
Strong is 32...Rf1.
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| Black to play and win |
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32...Rxf3!
The rook cannot be taken, eg 33.gxf3? Qe3+ results in a very easily won queen-and pawn-ending.
I struggled on with 33.Qd2 Qd4+ 34.Kh1 Rf2 35.Qe1 Qe3. 36.Qb4, but eventually lost on time as I was about to be mated (0-1, 51 moves).
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