Game of the Week

Played Fri May 26, 21:14 PDT 2006 on FICS

I have black again. I have also noticed my opponent has a 1400 rating, I was thinking to myself this could be a tough game, I hadn't been playing that hot lately.

1.Nf3

Looks like a Kings Indian defense. I don't know it very well, I usually try to develop and play to the best of my ability and see what happens.

1. ... d5 Yes, I am going to play the Tarrasch.
2.c4 e6

No I am not afraid of the pawn exchange, its not that bad for me. Because after the exchange it releases my light square bishop.

3.b3 c5

I think b3 is questionable, he is wanting to fianchetto his dark square Bishop.
4.Bb2 d4

I push d4 limiting the usefulness of the dark square Bishop and creating the powerful Tarrasch d pawn.

5.d3 Nc6
6.g3 e5





e5 not only supports my strong d4 pawn, but releases my light square Bishop. My d pawn is now firmly entrenched into his territory, it should be a feature for most of the game now. Notice how he is becoming constricted.

7.Bg2 Nf6
8.Nbd2 Be7
9.0-0 0-0
10.Re1 Bg4
11.e3

He wants to get rid of my d4 pawn real bad. So bad that he has pinned his Knight against his Queen. But if he exchanges pawns, I will just retake with my e pawn and still won't be rid of it.

11. ... Qc8
12.exd4 exd4
13.a3

I suspect a totally wasted move.

13. ... Re8
14.Qe2 Bd6
15.Qf1

A cute series of moves to get his Queen over to defend the King side and unpins the Knight.

15. ... Qf5
16.Nh4 Qd7
17.Nhf3 Ne5
18.Nxe5 Bxe5
19.Nf3 Bd6
20.Nd2 Rab8
21.h3

He finally kicks my Bishop. With his Queen down there I can't take the pawn.

21. ... Be6
22.Nf3 Nh5

I want him to kick my knight (pawn to g4), then I can place it on f4.
23.Re2 ???



Oh he tempts me. A rook is worth 5 points, but a Bishop and Knight are worth 6.5 points. But I am going to win at 2 pawns. The idea is B x g3 followed by fg. Then the Knight retakes the pawn forking the Queen and Rook. But wait, after the Queen retakes the Knight, she un-defends the h3 pawn. I will win a total of 3 pawns, ripping apart his King Cage!

23, ... Bxg3
24.fxg3 Nxg3
25.Qf2 Nxe2+
26.Qxe2 Bxh3
27.Ne5 ???




A really questionable move, purpousely pinning his Knight against his Queen; just to get an attack on my Queen which can just move away. He is just digging a deeper hole for himself.

27. ... Qe6
28.Bxh3 Qxh3
29.Re1 Qg3+
30.Kf1 f6
31.Qh5 Rxe5
32.Rxe5 fxe5
33.Bc1 Rf8+
34.Ke2 Qg1
35.Qxe5 Rf2

Check mate!!!