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As team captain of Team World, I want all my team members to try their best when playing their matches. We, as a team, thrive to improve by doing so. This match was selected by me for August's Team Game of the Month for rekraparker's fighting ability, even when he goes down in material. |
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1. e4 e5
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Black responds symmetrically and we have a King's pawn game. |
  2 comments
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2. Qh5
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White attacks immediately in the opening with 2. Qh5, putting pressure on e5 and the weak spot at f7. Black loses material quickly if he plays 2... g6?? 3. Qxe5+ and 4. Qxh8. |
1 comment
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2... Bc5
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A mistake from Black as he misses the threat of Qxe5 and develops his bishop to c5. |
1 comment
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3. Qxe5+
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White takes the pawn at e5, providing a check and threatening the bishop just developed. |
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3... Ne7
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Black makes another error - possibly worried about 4. Qxg7, Black develops the Knight but leaves the Bishop all alone. |
2 comments
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4. Qxc5 b6
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Black attacks the White Queen and provides an avenue for his Bishop to develop into. I'd have preferred 4. d6 to prevent Qe5, but I don't mind this. |
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5. Qe5
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White chooses to attack the weak pawn at g7 again. |
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5... f6
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And Black responds with another pawn move, weakening a possible king-side castle, but attacking the Queen. |
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6. Qg3
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Five of the first six moves from White have been made by the Queen, but it has done some damage as it returns with a pawn and bishop. More pressure on g7. |
1 comment
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6... O-O
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Black chooses to castle here - given this choose of move, I think Black might have been better castling last move. |
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7. d4
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As it stands at this position, White has a very strong advantage - both materially and spatially. |
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7... Re8 8. Bh6
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White is relentless in attacking the Black King, by making use of the pin of the g7 pawn and threatening checkmate. |
1 comment
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8... g5
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Black tries to trap the White Bishop with a pawn push, but further weakens his castle. 8. Ng6 would have prevented the mating threat and forced the bishop to move away... However, Black would have won his piece back with Nf5, using the Rook on e8 to pin the pawn to e4. |
1 comment
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9. h4
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White attacks the weak pawn structure in front of the Black King, which will also release his rook. |
2 comments
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9... Nbc6
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Black finally develops a queen-side piece, but I wonder if Ng6 might have been more suitable in this situation... as well as providing some support to the king, it gives Black some counterplay with the threat on e4. |
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10. hxg5
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Black's defense is starting to crumble from under him. |
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10... Nxd4
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Black chooses to attack and takes back a pawn on d4, threatening the fork at c2. |
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11. Bc4+
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White develops another piece to the attack with a check. |
2 comments
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11... d5
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This is the best move for Black, giving up a pawn but opening up the Bishop's c8-f1 diagonal. 11... Kh8 12. gxf6 would lose for Black. 12... Ng6 13. Bg7# or 12... Rg8 13. Qg7+ Rxg7 14. Bxg7# or 12... Nf5 (either knight) 13. Qg7+ Nxg7 14. Bxg7#. |
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12. gxf6+
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Discovered check, attacking the knight and threatening checkmate. 12... Kh8 clearly loses. |
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