Alekhine – Koenig

A move of doubtful value since Black will be unable to stop White from gaining control of the center with pawn e4. Better was 2… e6 which prepares for a future fight for the central square d5.

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Date: 1922.??.??
Location: ?
Tournament: Vienna
Round:
Opening:
Submitted by:
Published on: February 9, 2020

[Event "Vienna"] [Site "?"] [Date "1922.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Alekhine"] [Black "Koenig"] [Result "1-0"] [PlyCount "47"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 b6 {A move of doubtful value since Black will be unable to stop White from gaining control of the center with pawn e4. Better was 2... e6 which prepares for a future fight for the central square d5.} 3.Nc3 Bb7 4.Qc2 {After this move Black will be unable to prevent White from gaining control of the center with pawn e4.} d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.Nf3 {Before gainin g the pawn center with e4 White first stops any counterplay Black might get if he can advance his pawn from e7 to e5.} e6 7.e4 Nxc3 8.bxc3 Be7 9.Bb5+ c6 10.Bd3 O-O 11.e5 {White uses his better development to start a kingside attack.} h6 12.h4 {With the idea of bringing the rook into the attack with Rh3 followed by Rg3.} c5 {12...Nd7 13.Ng5 c5 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bg8 With the threat of mate on h7 would bring White material rewards.} 13.Rh3 {13.Ng5 cxd4 14.Bh7+ Kh8 15.Bg8 d3 would block the mate on h7 while winning the bishop trapped on g8.} Kh8 {Black removes his king from the g-file. However, it's not enough to save the king.} 14.Bxh6 {With no Black pieces to defend the king White removes Black's pawn cover.} f5 {14...gxh6 15.Qd2 By threatening 16.Qxh6+, White wins material for example 15...Kg7 16.Rg3+} 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.Bg5 {White has won a pawn while keeping his kingside initiative.} cxd4 17.Ne5 {This move takes advantage of Black's dark squared bishop being pinned to the queen.} Nc6 18.Qe2 g6 {18...Nxe5 would allow White a forced mate in four.} 19.Bxg6 Kg7 20.Bh6+ Kg8 {20...Kxh6 would allow White a forced mate in two.} 21.Nxc6 {White trades down to a winning ending.} Bxc6 22.Qxe6+ Kh8 23.Bxf8 Qxf8 24.Qxc6 {Black resigned since he is a rook down with no compensation.} 1-0