Budapest 1921 Brilliancy Prize: Alekhine - Sterk

The following position occurred in a tournament game in 1921 between then future world champion Alexander Alekhine and Karoly Sterk. This game was awarded the brilliancy prize in that tournament.

After the moves 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nbd7 5. e3 Bd6 6. Nb5 Be7 7. Qc2 c6 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 c5 11. dxc5 Bxc5 12. O-O b6 13. e4 Bb7 14. Bg5 Qc8 15. Qe2 Bb4 16. Bd3 Bxc3 17. Rfc1 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 Nc5 20. Qe2 Ba5 21. Rab1 Qa6 22. Rc4 Na4

Black has won a pawn but his pieces are badly placed on the Queen side. Alekhine finds a brilliant move. 23. Bf6! Rfc8

Let's check Black's other options. If 23....gxf6 Rg4+ wins Black's Queen. 23....g6 Qe3 is winning. 23...h5 is a good try but 24. Rg4! Qxe2 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Ng5 leads to mate.

The game continued with 24. Qe5 Rc5

Black's other choices are not as good. 24....Rxc4 25. Qg5 leads to mate. 24....Qxc4 25. Qg5 Kf8 26. Qxg7+ Ke8 27. Qg8+ Ke8 28. Ne5+ Kd6 29. Nxc4 wins the Black Queen.

The game went on 25. Qg3 g6 26. Rxa4 White wins a piece and Black resigned a few moves later.