[Event "Irish Championship 1940"]
[Site "Dublin IRL"]
[Date "1940.07.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "O'Hanlon, John J."]
[Black "Bourke, Austin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteClub "Dublin"]
[BlackClub "Cork"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[ECO "D22"]
[Opening "QGA"]
[Variation "Alekhine defence"]
[Venue "Dublin C.C., 20 Lincoln Place"]
[EventDate "1940.07.15"]
[URL "https://www.irlchess.com/irlch1940_allfiles/games_irlch1940/g12.htm"]
[LastModified "Thu Jun 26 19:41:11 2025"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/irlch1940_allfiles/pairings_irlch1940.html">Tournament
report</a>. } { Annotator: John J. O'Hanlon and Baruch H. Wood (see
Source). } { Source: <em>CHESS</em>, September 1940, volume 5, p. 268. "J.
J. O'Hanlon's best game in the Irish Championship, according to himself."
(BHW) } { Other information: A <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/IRL-ch-1940-OHanlon-DeBurca-Round-4.png">photo</a>
of the game in progress appeared in the irish Independent, July 17, 1940 p.
10. }

1. d4 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3. Nf3 a6 { A Swedish variation which was tried a few
times by Alekhine. In my opinion, the usual method of accepting the gambit
is much superior. (JJOH) } 4. e3 Bg4 5. Bxc4 e6 ({ If } 5... Nf6 6. Bxf7+
Kxf7 7. Ne5+ { and wins. Or even 6 Ne5, threatening mate. (BHW) }) 6. Qb3
b5 ({ Black's original idea was to reply to 6 Qb3 by } 6... Nc6 { ; if } 7.
Qxb7 ({ But White can play } 7. d5 { and if } 7... Na5 8. Qa4+ b5 9. Bxb5+
axb5 10. Qxg4 { with a fine position. }) 7... Na5 { wins a piece (JJOH) })
({ The best for Black is } 6... Bxf3 { (BHW) }) 7. Be2 Nd7 8. a4 b4 9. O-O
Ngf6 10. Rd1 Be7 11. Nbd2 O-O 12. Nc4 Qc8 { Black absolutely fails to see
the strategical necessity of the position, which is to play ... c5. Unless
he gets in this move at once, challenging White's centre, he is in grave
danger of succumbing to pressure along the c-file. (BHW) } 13. Bd2 a5 14.
Rac1 Qb7 15. Be1 Bd6 { Black is embarrassed to find a good move, but this
gives White the opportunity to take possession of the c-file with
advantage. (JJOH) } 16. Qc2 Bf5 ({ The only good defence was } 16... Rfc8 {
(JJOH) }) 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. Qc7 Qb6 19. Rc6 Qxc7 20. Rxc7 Rfc8 21. Rdc1 Nb6
22. Bb5 Nfd5 { Black has fought back well to neutralise the open file but
is left with a fatal weakness - his queen's side pawns are immobilised by
the white bishop. (BHW) } 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Rxc8+ Nxc8 25. Nd2 Nc7 26. Nc4
{ There is no defence against this, which wins pawn and game. (BHW) } 26...
Nxb5 27. axb5 Be4 28. f3 d5 29. Nxa5 Bd3 30. Bxb4 Bxb5 31. Bc5 { Putting
the black knight to sleep. (BHW) } 31... f6 32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Ke1 Ke8 34. Kd2
Kd7 35. Kc3 g5 36. Kb4 Ba6 37. Ka4 Nd6 38. Bxd6 { Eliminating the bishops
on oppositely coloured squares. (BHW) } 38... Kxd6 39. b4 Bc8 40. b5 ({
Even stronger is } 40. Kb5 { preventing the black king getting to b6. (BHW)
}) 40... Kc7 41. Nb3 Kb6 42. Nc5 { 42...Bd7 is prevented and the passed
pawn, after 43 Kb4 and 44 Na4+, will resume an irresistible advance. (BHW)
} 1-0