The story behind the game
An early exchange sacrifice reshapes the third game of the 1927 championship. White obtains active minor pieces and a queen that can attack both flanks. The later knight capture on g7 is part of that coordination, rather than an isolated combination. Compare each material decision with the squares White’s pieces gain.
Take these ideas to your next game
- Evaluate an exchange offer with the follow-up capture.
- A central bishop can gain time against a king.
- An active knight can connect threats on both flanks.
- Check the queen’s entry squares before simplifying.
Read the complete annotated game
Full game transcript, including the result and the answers. Original explanations by chessgames.info; game score from the sources below.
b4 attacks the bishop and prepares a tactical change. Alekhine accepts the pawn with the bishop in the recorded game. White then has a capture on c6 that changes the material balance. Evaluate the pawn offer together with that follow-up, rather than treating it as an isolated attempt to gain time.
Rxc6 offers the exchange to remove a central defender. The recorded sequence continues with Black’s rook recapture and White’s queen taking the bishop on b4. Count the bishop as well as the knight and rook. White’s active queen and remaining minor pieces are part of the assessment after the immediate captures.
Be5 attacks g7 and brings the bishop toward the king. Black blocks the diagonal with f6. White’s knight then reaches e6, where it can threaten kingside squares. Follow the bishop and knight as a pair: the centralization matters because it improves the next threats, not because a check is always best by itself.
Nxg7 opens further possibilities around Black’s king. The knight is supported by White’s bishop on d4 along the d4–g7 diagonal. Black’s queen must consider both the knight and the pawn advance h5. Compare the saved lines before deciding which apparent captures of the knight are actually safe.
Result: 1-0. The recorded score ends here; it does not imply checkmate.
Think through the turning points
Move 14: Challenge the bishop
Which pawn advance attacks the bishop on c5? In the game: b4. b4 attacks the bishop and prepares a tactical change. Alekhine accepts the pawn with the bishop in the recorded game. White then has a capture on c6 that changes the material balance. Evaluate the pawn offer together with that follow-up, rather than treating it as an isolated attempt to gain time.
Engine-supported alternatives
b4 · +1.50 · depth 20
Rxc5 bxc5 Nd6+ Ke7 Nc3 Rb8 e4 Rb4 Qd1 Rd4 Nf5+ Qxf5 · +0.65 · depth 20
Nc7+ Ke7 Na6 Nd4 Qxd7+ Kxd7 Nc3 Rhe8 e3 Ne6 Nb5 Nxf4+ · +0.58 · depth 20
Move 15: Remove the c6 defender
Which rook capture removes the knight on c6? In the game: Rxc6. Rxc6 offers the exchange to remove a central defender. The recorded sequence continues with Black’s rook recapture and White’s queen taking the bishop on b4. Count the bishop as well as the knight and rook. White’s active queen and remaining minor pieces are part of the assessment after the immediate captures.
Engine-supported alternatives
Rxc6 Rxc6 Qxb4 Ne4 f3 g5 Be5 f6 Bd4 Nc5 Bf2 Ne6 · +2.49 · depth 20
Nc7+ Rxc7 Bxc7 Bc5 Bf4 h5 h4 O-O Nd2 Re8 Re1 d4 · +0.36 · depth 20
Nd2 Nh5 Be3 O-O Nd4 Bc5 N2b3 Ne5 Nxc5 bxc5 Qxd7 Nxd7 · +0.09 · depth 20
Move 28: Centralize with tempo
Which bishop move attacks the pawn on g7? In the game: Be5. Be5 attacks g7 and brings the bishop toward the king. Black blocks the diagonal with f6. White’s knight then reaches e6, where it can threaten kingside squares. Follow the bishop and knight as a pair: the centralization matters because it improves the next threats, not because a check is always best by itself.
Engine-supported alternatives
e4 · +2.51 · depth 20
h4 Qa6 Qd7 Qc8 Qxa7 Qa8+ Qxa8 Rxa8 Bc7 Ra6 Kf3 Kg8 · +2.20 · depth 20
Be5 Qa5 Bd6 Rg8 e4 Qg5 Nf5 Qf6 Qb7 Qe6 Ba3 a5 · +2.12 · depth 20
Move 32: Take on g7
Which knight capture removes the pawn on g7? In the game: Nxg7. Nxg7 opens further possibilities around Black’s king. The knight is supported by White’s bishop on d4 along the d4–g7 diagonal. Black’s queen must consider both the knight and the pawn advance h5. Compare the saved lines before deciding which apparent captures of the knight are actually safe.
Engine-supported alternatives
Nxg7 Rxg7 Qxf6 Qe4+ Kg1 Qg4 Qxh6+ Kg8 Bxg7 Qxg7 Qxg7+ Kxg7 · +4.32 · depth 21
e4 Qd3 e5 fxe5 Bxe5 Qg6 h5 Qf7 Nxg7 Rxg7 Qxh6+ Kg8 · +2.77 · depth 21
g4 Qg6 Kg3 Qf7 f4 Qe8 Qd5 Qa4 Qf3 Qc2 f5 b5 · +2.06 · depth 21
Every piece has a part to play.
An early exchange sacrifice reshapes the third game of the 1927 championship. White obtains active minor pieces and a queen that can attack both flanks. The later knight capture on g7 is part of that coordination, rather than an isolated combination. Compare each material decision with the squares White’s pieces gain.
Look a little deeper
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Accessible evaluation values & provenance
Stockfish 17.1 · 75,000 nodes per position; 1,000,000 at key moments. Actual depth 13–245. Positive centipawns favour White; mate scores remain separate. Selective search is evidence, not proof.
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