ANNOTATED GAME

The importance of tactics.
rafias (1804) vs. napehb (1823)
Annotated by: rafias (2066)
Chess opening: Nimzo-Indian (E48), 4.e3 O-O, 5.Bd3 d5
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1. d4
In this game we can study the importance of a strong tactical game.

 
1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4
Nimzo-Indian

 
4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d5 6. Nf3 Ne4
Strange move here for Black. It was better to develop the other pieces.

 
7. Qc2 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 f5 9. O-O Bd7 10. Ba3 Rf6
An attempt to place the Rook in position for an attack.

 
11. cxd5 exd5
Here white has all the pieces developed, but black has a well placed Knight.

 
12. c4
White tries to get rid of the weak back pawn.

 
12... c6
Another bad move in my opinion. Better was Be6 and later develop the Knight to c6

 
13. Qb3
Now Black is starting to feel the pressure and is beeing punished for not developing faster.

 
13... Be8
Black tries to leave a place todevelop the Knight. At this point I saw a wonderful tactical blow.

 
14. Qxb7 Nd7
Do you see it?

 
15. Be7
15. Be7 ! a superb blow right in the middle of Black defence. A Black Rook is gone.

 
15... Qxe7 16. Qxa8 g5
16... g3? Black tries to counter but at the same time weakens even further the position of its King. Here I had a number of options. I decided not to take the advancing pawn because it could pose a threat to my King since lines would open to the remaining Black Rook. That couls be dangerous for my King and Black still had a well placed Knight.

 
17. cxd5
So I went for the center where I was stronger.

 
17... Nb6 18. Qb8 g4 19. Bxe4 fxe4 20. Ne5
Now White has a well placed Knight.

 
20... cxd5 21. Rac1
Now is a matter of bringing the remaining forces.

 
21... Nc4 22. Nxc4 dxc4 23. Rxc4
Black resigned. Rc7 would follow and with the King in bad position it would be an easy win. Hope you learned something with this game.