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1. c4
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The English Opening. A personal favorite of mine that I enjoy because it is sound and avoids some of the tactical traps of more common openings. |
 
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1... e6
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A strange response, though not outside the realm of playability. |
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2. Nc3 d5 3. e3
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Protecting c4 with the bishop and preparing a counter with ...d4 |
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3... c5
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Preventing d4 from white and supporting a d4 push from black |
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4. Nf3 d4
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Black takes the initiative on d4, gaining tempo after the exchange. |
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5. exd4 cxd4 6. Nb5
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Ne4 loses even more tempo to ...f5, and Nc5 puts extra pressure on d4. |
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6... Bc5
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The only viable way to protect the pawn. |
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7. b4 Bxb4 8. Nbxd4
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White is now winning with superior development and better opportunities for well-positioned bishops on b2 and d3 |
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8... Nc6
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Challenging White's lead in development. |
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9. Nc2
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Bb2 loses badly to ...e5 since black would be forced to retreat the knight, leaving d2 undefended for Bxd2 , preventing white from castling. |
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9... Nf6
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Preparing 0-0 and fighting for control of the still-contested center. |
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10. Bd3
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Positioning the bishop and setting up 0-0 |
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10... O-O 11. O-O b6
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? ... A wasted move that doesn't seem to accomplish anything except restricting his own dark-squared bishop after white plays a3. |
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12. a3 Bc5 13. Qe2
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Setting up an attack down the center after Bb2 and Ra-e1 |
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13... Re8 14. Bb2 Bb7 15. Rad1
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? ... puts the rook in a position that is no more useful than the one it moved from. |
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15... Qc7
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Setting up an attack on White's King side with the all four minor pieces and the Queen |
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16. Be5
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Gaining tempo and blunting the attack through exchange |
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16... Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bd6 18. Rfe1 Bxe5 19. Qxe5 Qc6
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Threatening mate on g2, with only passive defense possible for White. |
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20. f3 Rad8 21. Be4
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Forcing another exchange, hoping for white to further blunt the attack. |
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21... Nxe4 22. Rxe4 f6 23. Qg3 Qc5+
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A good move by black, discovering the attack on the rook. |
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