Alexander Alekhine v. Frederick D Yates (Queen's Gambit Declined: Orthodox Defense, Rubinstein Variation; Hamburg, 1910)

[Event "Hamburg (13)"]

[Site "Hamburg (13)"]

[Date "1910"]

[Round "13"]

[White "Alexander Alekhine"]

[Black "Frederick D Yates"]

[Result "1-0"]

After 20. Ne6

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Be7 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 b6 8cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. h4 c5 11. O-O-O {Opposite castling often means an

exciting attacking game.} 11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 Re8 13. Kb1 {It is dangerous to have both the king and queen in an open file.} 13... a6 14. g4 {White clearly shows his intention of destroying black's kingside with the familiar pawn roll.} 14... b5 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. g5 Ne4 17. Nxe4 dxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Bxg5 20. Ne6 {White has gained the advantage at this phase of the game. While material is equal, white's pieces are better positioned compared to black.} 20... Qe7 21. hxg5 h6 {Black seems to have no choice but to further weaken his kingside.} 22. gxh6 Qxe6 23. Qd4 Qe4+ 24. Qxe4 Rxe4 25. hxg7 Kxg7 {White has achieved a winning game being up in material.} 26. Rdg1+ Kf6 27. Rh6+ Ke7 28. Rc1 Ra7 29. Rcc6 a5 30. Ra6 Rxa6 31. Rxa6 {After the exchange of rooks, it is clear that winning is a matter of patience and technique.} 31... a4 32. Rb6 Re5 33. Kc2 Rc5+ 34. Kd3 Kd7 35. a3 Rf5 36. f4 Kc7 37. Rh6 Rd5+ 38. Kc3 f5 39. Re6 Kd7 40. Re5 Rxe5 41. fxe5 Ke7 {The side who gains the "opposition" wins.} 42. Kd3 Kd7 43. e4 f4 44. Ke2 Ke6 45. Kf2 {This is the winning move as white gains the opposition in this king v. pawn ending.} 45... Kxe5 46. Kf3 1-0