0212  ALEKHINES DEFENSE
Smokehouse XXV, Rd:1, 3-16-02, Charlotte, NC
Chris Mabe (1767)  NM Daniel Liu (2010)
1 e4 Nf6 2 e5 Nd5 3 d4 d6 4 c4 Nb6 5 ed6!? cd6 (This is the exchange variation of the Alekhine's Defense- current theory suggests that 4 Nf3, the positional main line, is most difficult for Black to meet with White scoring over 60%.  However, the exchange variation is also a tricky sideline if Black is not prepared) 6 Nc3 g6 7 Bd3 Bg7 8 Be3 (Better is 8 Nge2-the idea behind white's 7 Bd3 is to delay the development of the dark-squared bishop and push the d-pawn once black plays Nc6) 8...O-O 9 Nge2 Nc6 10 a3?! (Wastes time- Better is 10 d5 Ne5 11b3=) 10...Bg4! (Deep Fritz gives this position as equal but this is doubtful-most masters would prefer Black's game as White's center becomes difficult to defend) 11 f3 Bf5! =/+ 12 Bf5? (12 b3 is a must though black retains the initiative) 12...Nc4! 13 Bc1 gf 14 Qd3 N4a5 15 d5? (creates further weak squares- 15 Be3 with 16 Rd1 was to be preferred) 15...Ne5 16 Qf5 Nb3 17 Rb1 Nc1 18 Nc1 Qb6! 19 Qe4 Rac8 20 N1e2 f5 21 Qc2 Qe3! 22 Rd1 a6?! (22...Bf6! wins promptly:  23 h4? Rc4! makes matters worse for white;  23 Qd2?? Nf3!! 24 gf3 Bh4 and mates;  23 Kf1 Nc4! when the double threat of ...Nb2 and ...Qc3 and ...Ne3  win for black;  23 Rf1 Bh4 24 g3 Bf6 25 Qf5 Nf3!! 26 Rf3 Bc3 27 bc3 Qf3-+;  23 f4 Ng4 24 Qd3 Qf2 25 Kd2 Rc5! 26 h3 Bc3 27 bc3 Ne3!! [Deep Fritz] 28 Qe3 Rd5-+) 23 Qd2 (Hard to criticize but the ending is lost for White) 23...Qd2 24 Kd2 Nc4 25 Kc1 Na3 26 ba Bc3 27 Kb1 Rc5 28 Nf4 Rfc8 29 Ne6 Rb5 30 Kc2 Bf6 0-1
(A great game by NM Liu, who illustrates that the Alekhine can be a dangerous defense if White over extends as in the game). [Notes by Justin Daniel]