One of my memorable sacrficing games. I played Black against my chess coach at the school's chess club. |
|
|
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O
|
A standard Dragon position of the d6 Open Sicilian. This opening is well known for being one of the most aggressive and crazy openings in chess theory. |
 
|
| |
|
|
8. Bc4
|
!? A different move order. Normal is 8. Qd2. |
|
| |
|
|
8... Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. O-O-O Ne5
|
Another variation is 10...Qa5 11.Bb3 Rfc8 12.h4, adopted by Dragon exponent Christopher Ward. |
|
| |
|
|
11. Bb3 Rc8 12. h4 Nc4
|
More common is 12...h5 13.Bg5 Rc5. |
|
| |
|
|
13. Bxc4 Rxc4 14. Nce2
|
!?!? Totally unknown variation in the Dragon. White usually sacs a pawn after 14.h5 Nxh5 15.g4 Nf6 and White has the solid options 16.Kb1, 16.Nb3 and 16.Nde2, or the aggresive options 16.Bh6 and 16.e5, however my coach has a materialistic mindset and did not want to sac the pawn. |
|
| |
|
|
14... Re8
|
To prevent the exchange of dark-squared bishops. |
|
| |
|
|
15. Bh6 Bh8 16. h5 Nxh5 17. g4
|
?! The sac of the pawn was good, but this move is not that accurate. Perhaps 17.Rxh5 Bxd4 18.Nxd4 e5 was better. |
|
| |
|
|
17... Nf6 18. Bg5 Nxg4
|
!?!? The first sacrifice. 18...e5 19.Nb3 Qc7 was much safer, but I wanted to spice things up and realised this idea was still a plausible way to complicate matters. |
|
| |
|
|
19. fxg4 Bxg4 20. Rdg1 Bh5
|
?? But now the blunder. 20...Bxe2 21.Nxe2 Qb6 22.c3 Rxe4 leads to a much better and balanced position. |
|
| |
|
|
21. Nf5
|
?!? 21.Rxh5 would have won on the spot, but this sacrifice is also very interesting. After this White definitely has the advantage. |
|
| |
|
|
21... Rxe4
|
Also possible is 21...Qb6. Taking on f5 is suicide. |
|
| |
|
|
22. Rxh5
|
!!? Another sacrifice! 22.Nh6+ was much safer, but after 22...Kf8 23.Qd5 Re6 24.Nf4 Qb6, Black has increased his hopes of defending the position. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
22... Bxb2+
|
!!!? A counter-sacrifice! If 23.Kxb2 then 23...Qb6 24.Ka1 Rxe2 and the board is on fire. |
1 comment
|
| |
|
|
23. Kd1
|
?! Accepting the sacrifice is probably better, but my coach decided to be cautious. |
|
| |
|
|
23... Qb6
|
?! 23...Qc8 was neccessary to remove the pin of the e7-pawn, which then 24.Qd5 Qxf5 25.Qxf5 gxf5 26. Bf6+ is still better for White, but Black can still hope to hang on. |
|
| |
|
|
24. Be3 Qa6 25. Nc3 Re5
|
? A mistake. 25...Re6 provides more resistance. |
|
| |
|
|
26. Bd4
|
! The move that seals the advantage. |
|
| |
|
|
26... Bxc3 27. Bxc3
|
1-0(?) I could have hoped to defend further with 27...Rxf5 28.Rxf5 Rc8, but the endgame should be winning for White. An exciting game of sacrifices and one of my most memorable games. |
|
| |
