Capablanca-Alekhine, 1913

Capablanca – Alekhine
Saint Petersburg, 12/14/1913
Exhibition Match Game 1
QGD Slav Defense (D30)

1. PQ4 PQ4 2. PQB4 PQB3 3. PK3 NB3 4. NKB3 PK3 5. QNQ2!? [With the idea of retaking with the Queen's Knight when Black plays ...PxP thus controlling e5. - Capablanca; However, 5. NB3 is the usual and best move.] QNQ2?! [5…. PB4! is best. The lost tempo is made up for in the bad position of White’s QN.] 6. BQ3 BK2 [Usually ...BQ3 is played, but I believe the text move is superior. - Alekhine] 7. O-O O-O 8. QB2 [This is not as strong as 8. PQN3, reserving the Queen for K2. – Golombek; Played on the spur of the moment to change the ordinary course of the game but not to be recommended, 8. PQN3 would be the natural way to continue. - Capablanca] PxP? [This move plays into White’s hands and gives him control of K5, correct was 8. … PB4. – Golombek; He should have played ...PB4 before ...PxP. - Capablanca] 9. NxP PB4 10. QNK5 PxP 11. PxP [A position similar to the Panov attack of the Caro-Kann defense now arises, White has the initiative by virtue of his advanced knight and greater space. - Alburt] NN3 12. NN5 [Compelling Black to play ...PKN3, which will weaken his Kingside and make holes for White's Queen's Bishop. - Capablanca] PKN3 [If 12. ... PKR3? 13. BR7+! - Alburt] 13. N(N5)B3 [Best, if 13. QK2!?, then not 13. … QxP? 14. N(N5)B3! with a violent attack but 13. … QNQ4!] KN2 14. BKN5 QNQ4 15. QRB1 BQ2 16. QQ2 NN1 17. BxB QxB 18. BK4! [White wants to exchange his bad Bishop for Black’s strong defensive Knight.] BN4? [Better was 18. … KNB3 19. BxN NxB 20. NN4 PB3 21. QR6+ KR1 with a fair defensive position. – Golombek] 19. KRK1 QQ3 20. BxN PxB [20. … QxB? – Golombek] 21. QR5! [The winning move.] PQR3 [21. … BB3 likewise leads to a lost endgame.] 22. QB7! QxQ 23. RxQ PR3 [White threatened NN5. - Capablanca] 24. RxP QRB1 25. PQN3 RB7 26. PQR4 BK7 27. NR4! [The knockout blow. - Capablanca] PKR4 28. N(R4)xP RK1 29. RxP+ KR3 30. PB4 PR4 31. NR4 RxN 32. BPxR KN4 33. PN3 KN5 34. RN7+ KR6 35. NN2 [Mate follows by 36. NB4. - Alburt] Black resigns