Alexander Alekhine demonstrates crime and punishment in chess in "Alekhine vs Supico."
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| Alekhine Alexander A (RUS) - Supico |
[#]
1.e4
Notes by Chris Torres. 1...e5
2.d4
exd4
3.c3
dxc3
4.Nxc3
White Sacrafices one pawn for a pawn in the center and a developed knight. This is called the Half-Danish Gambit. 4...Bb4
5.Bc4
Qe7
A strong move which applies pressure on e4 and more importantly defends the bishop on b4 from tactics such as Bxf7+ followed by Qb3. 6.Nge2
Nf6
6...Qxe4 7. Qb3 Bxc3 8. Qxc3 Nf6 9. 0-0 d5 should be considered as a strong alternative for black's play in this game. 7.O-O
O-O
8.Bg5
White now has four pieces developed and a pawn in the center. 8...Qe5?
Black should have played c6 here to control b5 and d5. 9.Bxf6!
This is the punishment for black's crime. Now when black recaptures, white's knight can advance to d5 with initiative. 9...Qxf6
10.Nd5
Qd6
The squares "c7" and "b4" must be guarded and black would love to trade queens to play an endgame with the queen-side pawn majority. 11.e5
You should always analyse chess positions by looking at checks, captures and threats. This is the obvious threat. 11...Qc5
Still guarding "b4" and "c7." 12.Rc1
Placing your rook in the same file as your enemy's queen is a placement that creates tactics. Now Alekhine is indirectly threatening "c7" again. 12...Qa5??
Black needed to play 12... c6 13. Bb3 and then Qa5. This is a mistake that costs a piece. 13.a3!
The perfect punishment. 13...Bxa3
There was no safe location for the bishop. If Bc5 then white plays b4 with a fork. 14.bxa3
c6
Black finally plays the important pawn to c6 but it is much too late. 15.Ne7
The obvious continuation if you analyse checks, captures and threats. 15...Kh8
16.Qd6!
This is my favorite move of the game. This holds the d7 pawn in place making it impossible for black to develop his pieces, protects white's weak pawns and threatens 17Ng6+ which would win the rook on f8. 16...Qd8
If 16... Re8 then 17. Bxf7 Qd8 18. Bxe8 Qxe8 19. Rc4! 17.Nd4
White has a few other candidate moves here but Alekhine is now playing for an artful finish. 17...b6
18.Rc3
c5
19.Ndf5
Ba6
Now it is time to stop and find the mate in 4. 20.Qg6
Black resigns because of 20...fxg6 21. Nxg6 hxg6 22. Rh3 Qh4 23. Rxh4# Excellent play for by Alekhine especially considering he was blinfolded!
[1-0]
