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1. e4
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This was one of the toughest game I've been involved in on this site. In addition, it was the last game in our tourney group. It was to decide who goes to the next round. I was half a pt behind to iamthundercat, so the only way I advance is if I win. He wins or we draw, he moves on, and I am out. So we begin... |
 
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1... b6 2. Nf3 Bb7
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Fianchetto... strenghtening the diagonal side attacks, and giving up the middle. |
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3. e5
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I take the opportunity. Playing aggressive is my style. Sometimes this backfires, but I was willing to take my chance here. I also like to jam the black's King side, with either Knight or Bishop often times risking to get stuck and undeveloped... |
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3... c5 4. d4 e6 5. Be3
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Typical attempts at development. I am hoping to mantain control of the middle, but it doesn't seem to work so well. He is pulling all the right moves so far. |
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5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Bc5
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Things are starting to get hairy. My Nd4 is not pinned, but the pressure on that diagonal is put. I have a feeling he'll exploit this somehow.... |
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7. Nc3
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But I continue to develop care free. I feel the d4 is protected adequately. |
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7... Ne7
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He is itching to develop king side pieces... preparing for something? |
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8. Qg4
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I am thinking pulling out Queen at this point is not too early. I don't see immediate threat that would at the same time develop black. So I shift the Queen on the side where I expect he will Castle. Also the Queen provides additional support to g2 pawn attacked by the black Bb7. |
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8... Ng6
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For some reason I failed to see this move as dangerous... so I intend to continue developing... |
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9. Bd3
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There it is, now I have Castling options as well, and I put pressure on his King side, attacking g6 as well. However, this was a weak move. It weakens protection to the g2 pawn, as well as it doesn't account for the following move by the black.... |
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9... Qh4
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Oops, I did not see that! Note that if I exchange Queens, his Knight assumes h4 position, which will cause either loss of pawn, or loss of Castling options (g2 pawn is then under the attack by both Bb2 and Kg4... I can't advance the pawn as it is protecting a Rh1 from Bb2 attack, and I am not hot about playing Kf1). If I move Queen in any other way, my Nd4 is history as it is attacked then by both Bc5 and Qh4. |
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10. h3
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I still have castling option on the other side, and maybe I can get my Rh1 involved early. I am losing my g2 pawn, but at this point I am at peace with this. It could be worse... |
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10... Bxd4
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Not too excited over how things are going so far. My hold on the center is not so important at this point, he is managing to develop as planned, he is attacking me in the middle of all places, and my development so far is fairly useless. My overagressive play seems to have backfired this time. |
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11. Bxd4 Qxg4
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I thought he had better alternatives, but can't fault him for this move either. His management of the game is good. |
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12. hxg4 Nc6
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However, after this move, I am thinking, I didn't lose g2 pawn, my h-file is opened, and now I can get my Rook involved early. Hey, I came out of this exchange great! |
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13. Bxg6
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Here I am hoping to disrupt his King side castling. |
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13... fxg6 14. O-O-O
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I was itchin to castle. |
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14... Nxd4
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Ok, so I did give up my g2 pawn... after the many worse alternatives I considered through this set of moves, this is no biggie. |
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15. Rxd4 Bxg2
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There we go! Finally! This is where the 40 is spilled for the fallen homie. |
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16. Rhd1
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Attempting to put pressure on his other castling option, while getting the other rook into the action. |
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(2025)