The following position is from the game Blumenfeld-Alekhine 1908. Here's the diagram, white to move.
White plays 11.Qc1, to which Alekhine writes, "The White Queen very reasonably evades the uncomfortable opposition of the adverse Rook. It would, however, have been more urgent to prevent the exchange of the [light squared bishop], which might subsequently have proved most useful, by first playing 11.Re1, followed by 12.Bf1. Black immediately exploits this slight strategic error". The game continues 11...Nf4 12.Re1 Nxe2+ 13.Rxe2, and so on.
My question is why is the light squared bishop so crucial for white? With the pawn on e4 and black likely maintaining a central pawn on e5, I don't see that bishop ever having too much activity, but Alekhine clearly thinks so. Could someone explain why Alekhine was so adamant about wanting that bishop?
Here's the full game link.
http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game...r.php?id=74010