Annotated chess game: Challenge from mjberjillos

ANNOTATED GAME

Challenge from mjberjillos
mjberjillos (1129) vs. neilex (1110)
Annotated by: lord_shiva

(1925)
Chess opening: Petrov three knights game (C42)

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1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6	Petrov’s Defense. White typically takes the pawn.



3. Nc3	Petrov’s Three Knights.



3... Nc6 4. Bc4 Bc5	Black appears to be mirroring white. Better might be: 4. Bc4 Nxe4. Looks like black drops a knight, but… 5. Nxe4 d5 pawn forks white’s knight and bishop. Bc5 is off book.



5. Ng5	If black castles, white may trade knight and bishop for a rook and pawn.



5... Qe7	About the only piece black could play to protect the f pawn.
	2 comments nuntar (1702) on 20-Dec-25: But this doesn't protect it; 6. Bxf7+ wins a pawn now. (Not 6. Nxf7? Rf8! 7. Ng5 Bxf2+.) The right move was simply 5... 0-0 and if White goes in for the exchange, he is trading away two of his active pieces. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: Correct. Black should simply castle, and if White wants to trade 2 minor pieces for rook and pawn, that's his lookout.


6. d3 h6 7. Nf3 d6 8. h3 Be6 9. a3 O-O-O 10. b4 Bb6 11. b5 Na5 12. Qe2 Rhe8 13. Bd2 c5 14. bxc6 e.p. Nxc6 15. O-O Na5 16. Bb5 Ref8 17. g4 a6 18. Bc4 Qc7	The a knight isn’t doing much out there, taking the bishop doubles white’s pawns, plus queen and bishop are poised to pick up a point. After Qc7 white can’t defend the forward c pawn.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: So far it has been pretty much up and down until we arrive at this roughly level position.


19. Bxe6+	Now black’s pawns are doubled instead.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: Black won't mind this, as it goes towards reinforcing his centre, and opening the f-file.


19... fxe6 20. Nh4 g5 21. Ng6 Rf7 22. Na4 Bd4 23. Rab1 Qxc2	Bad error. This was NOT a free pawn. Always be nervous when king shares any horizontal, vertical, or diagonal with the queen or rook. This move was a disaster.
	2 comments nuntar (1702) on 20-Dec-25: 21. Ng6?? leaves the knight trapped after 21... Rg8. At move 23, this is still available. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: White had managed to get himself into a whole lot of bother, only for Black to let him well and truly off the hook with this horrible move. Instead 23...Rdg8 would have been winning for Black.


24. Rfc1 Qc6 25. Bxa5	Nope. Black can now play Bc5 to save the queen.
	2 comments nuntar (1702) on 20-Dec-25: But 25. Bxa5! was the better move! 25... Bc5 26. Nxc5 dxc5 (forced) 26. Nxe5 and White wins knight, bishop, rook and two pawns for both knights (+7) instead of queen for rook (+4). archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: 25.Rxc6+ would have been winning for White, right enough, but 25.Bxa5!! is absolutely crushing. A massacre ensues.


25... Kb8	Another blunder. After white slays the queen the rook is unguarded.
	1 comment nuntar (1702) on 20-Dec-25: Even worse, Black has self-pinned the b7 pawn, preventing himself from recapturing on c6.


26. Bxd8	Not how I would have played it.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: 26.Rxc6 was obvious and terminal.


26... Qxa4 27. Rc4 d5	Hello? The queen’s knickers were down. Qxa3 seemed almost too obvious. Black is forced to move the rook, and the obvious choice is Rxa4.



28. Rxa4 dxe4	Tripled pawns, plus Qxe4 puts the white queen where she wants to be for a Qxb7#. After Bxf6, of course.



29. dxe4	This is ok too, as Qxa6 is safe.



29... b5	Black responds to that threat.
	1 comment nuntar (1702) on 20-Dec-25: The king should have moved. This lets White knock down Black's pawn shield, and then it's all over.


30. Rxa6 Rb7 31. Bxf6 Bb6	Mystery move. The bishop sacrifices the b pawn, as well as e5.



32. Qd2 Ra7	Ouch. Mate in two.



33. Rxb6+ Ka8 34. Qd8#
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 10-Jan-26: Occasional highlights marred by lack of attention on both sides.