1. e4 {When this long forgotten second round tournament game popped up I wasn't really in the mood. I'd not long moved house, had plenty else to do and had just a half dozen or so games on tick over. Nevertheless I have had some fun games with this opponent so chose to play on.} 1... Nf6 {Despite the direct first move the Alekhine's Defence can lead to some quite sinuous positions.} 2. e5 {You either have to support it, shove it or sac it, so we may as well dislodge the knight from it's theoretical best square.} 2... Nd5 {Some master level mavericks have made Ne4 playable but it's a tightrope not many are prepared to walk.} 3. Nc3 {I quite like this move and have had some interesting games OTB with it. It gets a couple of lines in NCO and not much more in full works on the Alekhine's. If Black exchanges knights White has easy development after dxc3 in return for doubled pawns. Alternatively after bxc3 he can set up c3, d4 and e5 in the centre and aim for the Southwest to Northeast flow of pieces towards Black's kingside.} 3... e6 {Previously he played Nxc3 which is the usual move. I've no idea if this was the result of research, preparation or improvisation at the screen.} 4. Nxd5 {In the hope that I can keep some fluidity in the centre as much as anything else. I don't believe the doubled d pawn is a serious drawback for Black.} exd5 5. d4 {White now has unobstructed development for his Bishops and a slightly shaky pawn head in the centre.} 5... d6 {Immediately challenging the head of the pawn chain and looking to dissolve the doubled pawn.} 6. Nf3 {If exd6 then Bxd6 leaves White one move behind in development.} 6... Bg4 {This is a thematic Alekhine's Defence move which seeks to undermine White's support for his theoretically over-extended centre.} 7. Be2 {Pretty much obligatory.} 7... Bxf3 {This looks like a loss of tempo to me so I'm not sure it's the right decision. He probably didn't like dxe5 Nxe5 Bxe2 Qxe2 when the King looks weak on the e file, but he could play Nc6 or d7 before this exchange perhaps.} 8. Bxf3 dxe5 9. dxe5 {And now Black loses a further tempo in having to protect his d pawn.} 9... c6 10. O-O Bc5 {An aggressive piece placement which also prepares castling. I think he foresaw my next move and was looking to support a pawn advance to d4.} 11. c4 {Putting a few kicks in while he is still has his hands in his pockets. The d pawn is attacked 3 times and defended only twice. It shields Black's position through the centre and on the h1 to a8 diagonal.} 11... d4 {Pushing on aiming to keep it closed} 12. b4 {In the old chess books I read as a teenager there was much talk about bayonet attacks, nowadays it's pawn breaks. Correspondence chess should be about setting the board up, stirring a cup of tea and letting the imagination run wild. Black's passed d pawn looks as if it hangs by it's fingernails on a clifftop over White's position. 12. a3 followed by b4 c5 and Bb2 suggest themselves. Black's King remains in the centre and may be broken open with a move like e6 and tunneling action down the e file. Then you try to flesh out the bones with some analysis. If a3 then a5 stops b4. Realizing that b4 can be played without preparation because after Bxb4 Rb1 threatens b7 subsequently weakening the c6 pawn as well is useful. The e6 idea can wait in the wings.} 12... Bxb4 {I thought if 12. ...Bb6 13. c5 Bb7 14. Bb2 Bxe5 15. Re1 looked very promising for White.} 13. Rb1 a5 {I didn't really look at this. My line had gone 13...Bc5 14. Rxb7 Bb6 (hoping to trap the rook with Qc8) 15. Ba3 stops Black castling and gives e7 as a way out for the rook.} 14. a3 {Another pawn push to open the b file.} 14... Bc3 {Black has spent a lot of time in the maintenance of the passed pawn. At this stage I was hoping he was considering the endgame to the detriment of the middlegame a strategic error we read about into the books.} 15. Rxb7 O-O 16. e6 {This threatens a pawn fork on e7 as well as opening the King with exf7+. I couldn't see anything much with Bd2 or f4 so went for this feeling that I could win the pawn back on e6 or c6 easily enough if Black tried to untangle his queenside.} 16... fxe6 {But now I realized I may have been over exuberant. The f file is partly open giving the rook more scope and if white moves too many pieces chasing pawns then the passed d pawn might show it's hand.} 17. Be4 {Looking to bring the Queen to h5.} 17... Qh4 {Stopping that idea and attacking the Bishop at the same time.} 18. Qe2 {Now Bxc6 Nxc6 Qxe6+ forking King and Knight comes into the mix but even then f2 looks shaky and Be1 might then even be playable for Black. Worry about that next move...} 18... Rf6 {Black decides to hold e6 but with the lurking threat of Rh6 if the c1 Bishop should vacate the diagonal.} 19. g3 {Another pawn push hits a piece and reduces the nightmares of the previous note. The Queen has limited options and Bg2 can cement White's kingside.} 19... Qh3 20. Bf4 {Now White threatens the knight hoping to win the c pawn. Also Rfb1 becomes a possibility if White should dare to leave the f file.} 20... Na6 {Black moves the knight and now has a fork on c5 available as well as freeing the a8 rook for action on the d or f file presumably.} 21. Bg5 {So I hit the rook on f6 hoping to force it's retreat and preventing doubling on the f file.} 21... Raf8 {Something of a surprise. Then I saw that he had an attacking chance on h2 after giving up the exchange based on Rh6. Oh I can just play f4 I thought, the Queen protects it.} 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. Bxc6 {Of course one of the annoying features of the position is that Rb8+ is prevented by the N on a6. Add to that the Black Queen also protects e6 and it difficult to find killer blows. Nevertheless it seemed fine to grab the pawn and perhaps come back with Bg2. If Rh6 then f4, if Nc5 Rb8+.} 23... d3 {A moment of trauma! If Qxd3 then Rh6 and how do I defend h2? And even if I can what about the fork Nc5? Can the d pawn abseil into my position from the clifftop and cause havoc?} 24. Qxd3 {Whoever said "Sit on your hands" gave good advice. Of course if Rh6 then Qd8 is mate. Nc5 is also refuted with a mate. The tea is stirred, calm returns.} 24... Nc5 25. Rb8+ {It's nice to leave a Queen hanging even if the rules prevent Black taking it.} 25... Kf7 {If Rf8 which Black does not want to play anyway, then Rxf8+ Kxf8 Then Qd8 Kf7 Be8 followed by Bg6 mates.} 26. Be8+ {White has a forced mate, Black resigned.}
