Alekhine — Zubarev

Moscow, 1915

• Alexander Alekhine (1892–1946)The fourth world champion (1927–1935 and 1937–1946), the only one to die holding the title, celebrated for his brilliant combinative attacking play.
• Nikolai Zubarev (1894–1951)Soviet master and two-time Moscow champion who later became one of the country's leading arbiters.

Even though Black has two central pawns, White can still push through an advance in the center: the c- and f-pawns help. It also matters that White's four pawns take almost the whole fifth rank away from Black's pieces, so White can prepare the offensive without interference.

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1. 13.
2. The threat of e4-e5 was very unpleasant
3. 14.
4. 15.
5. 16.
6. The source has White carrying out the central offensive unopposed, but engine analysis shows Black could have equalized here through trades
7. 17.
8. 18.
9. No better, if only because of
10. 19.
11. 20.
12. As Alekhine pointed out, the pawn on e5 cannot be held:And White wins
13. 21.
14. White's central pawns on the fifth rank, and the active placement of all White's pieces, say enough. No surprise that a decisive blow turns up
15. 22.
16. And Black has no escape
17. 23.
18. 24.
19. 25.
20. 26.
21. Black resigned

The advance of the central pawns ended in a beautiful combination and a rout of Black's kingside.