What went wrong?

A neat tactical blow by White (Paul Keres) brings victory against the great Alekhine. I am not a big expert on Alekhine's career, but I have never seen him being demolished in such a petty fashion as in this game.  In this game, Alekhine was playing in the Margate tournament at this time yet only placed 3rd behind Fine and Keres. He wons 6 games and lost 3. If you were wondering where his losses came from, it came from Fine, Keres and a little known master named Victor Berger (who placed 9th in the tournament).

Keres,Paul - Alekhine,Alexander [C71] Margate (7), 1937

1. e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 d6 5.c4

   

This was first played by Keres( if I am not mistaken).

5.c3 This is the modern way of playing it for White.

5...Bd7 6.Nc3 g6?!

      

6..Be7 in my humble understanding is better.

7.d4 Bg7 8.Be3

Alekhine goes wrong here, under estimate his opponent who is just 21 yrs. old at that time.

8...Nf6?

      

Better is  8...exd4 to avoid the text move, which cramps Blacks's position. 9.Nxd4 then only after  9...Nf6 with equal play.

9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Bc5! Nh5?!

   

Or better is 10...b6 11.Be3 (11.Ba3 Bf8) 11...0–0 12.0–0 with minimal advantage to White.

11.Nd5 Nf4

Again  11...b6 is better.

 12.Nxf4 exf4 13.e5

   

Now 13.Qb3 is an excellent move, for example 13...b6 14.0–0–0! Na5 15.Qb4 bxc5 16.Qxa5!

13...g5?

     

If you don't look at the names of the players, you won't believe Alekhine is playing the Black side here. 13...Nxe5 Better is  14.Qe2 Bxa4 15.Nxe5 with equal play for both sides.

14.Qd5

14.Qb3 is an alternative.

 14...Bf8 15.Bxf8 Rxf8 16.0–0–0 Qe7 17.Bxc6 Bxc6 18.Qd3 Bd7

If  18...h6 19.h4 g4 20.Nd4 Rd8 21.Qf5 I prefer White here.

19.Nxg5 0–0–0 20.Nf3 f6 21.exf6

21.Rhe1 Bringing the last piece into play is better, but the text is simpler.

21...Rxf6 22.Rhe1 Qb4?? see diagram below

The losing move, even great players like Alekhine can go wrong, he is still human.

23.Qxd7+!

Just like an amateur. 1–0

by Sans Riumin