ANNOTATED GAME

The Knot!
jstevens1 (1816) vs. blitzkov (1897)
Annotated by: jotheblackqueen (1200)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B21), Grand Prix attack
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Pages: 12
1. e4
Hi everyone! In this game my opponent, William gambits a pawn early on. I manage to hold on to my advantage for a long time in this game but alas at a price - passivitis again sets in. I then find myself in a real tactical knot. However, due to some very passive but defensive moves, I manage to unravel the knot and avoid losing any material except the gambit pawn. William realised that after the trade off of knights, we would end up in a rook endgame with just our kingside pawns left. On that understanding he offered me a draw of which I gratefully accepted. So, how did this happen? Well, read on .......

 
1... c5 2. f4
2. f4 - the Grand Prix Attack.

 
2... d5 3. exd5 Nf6 4. Bb5+ Bd7 5. Bxd7+ Qxd7
5. ...... Qxd7 - after this plethora of exchanges I find myself a clear pawn up on the next move. William eschews playing into The Annotation Project which deals with a queen sac for two pieces. The player with the queen would find himself suffering from passivitis and must work out how to escape from the bind. However, this does not happen in this game.
4 comments
 
6. c4 e6 7. dxe6 Qxe6+ 8. Qe2 Qxe2+ 9. Nxe2
9. Nxe2 - and another plethora of exchanges - I am a clear pawn up, the queens are off the board. You would think I am sitting really pretty here, wouldn't you? However, the cramp comes within the next few moves.
2 comments
 
9... Nc6 10. a3
10. a3 - to prevent Nb4.
3 comments
 
10... Bd6 11. d3
11. d3 - opening up the c1-h6 diagonal for Fou Lenoir to defend my f4 pawn.
1 comment
 
11... O-O 12. O-O
12. 0-0 - both sides castle but I am a long way behind in development. This will allow my opponent to work up a strong attack.
2 comments
 
12... Rfe8 13. Nbc3
13. Nbc3 - already a threat down the e column. At least I defend with a developing move, but there is more aggro to come.

 
13... Rad8 14. Rd1 Nd4 15. Nxd4 cxd4
15. ...... cxd4 - a knight trade which gives William an IQP. However, my knight is en prise. I tried the most aggressive retreat but alas it did not cut the mustard.
1 comment
 
16. Nb5 Bc5 17. a4
17. a4 - to avoid my knight getting trapped.
4 comments
 
17... a6 18. Na3 Re2
18. ..... Re2 - Choke, splutter, choke! - William gives me a bone in the throat!
1 comment
 
19. Bd2
19. Bd2 - clearing the decks at last, but, oh boy, passivitis has now set in and things are gonna get a little stormy.
2 comments
 
19... Rde8
19. ...... Rde8, hubble, bubble, double, toil and trouble - for yours truly!

 
20. b4
20. b4 - a bid for freedom.
2 comments
 
20... Bd6 21. h3
21. h3 - to prevent Ng4. Alas, William's knight goes to h5 and foments a lot of aggro from there too!
1 comment
 
21... Nh5 22. f5
22. f5 - to avoid losing a pawn. At least immediately.
2 comments
 
22... Bf4 23. Ra2
23. Ra2 - backing up Fou Lenoir and attempting to get rid of one of those black choke bones in my pos.
3 comments
 
23... Be3+ 24. Kh1
24. Kh1 - Henry suddenly feels really cold, and a dark, dark shadow forms around him. He sees that if he lands on f1, that chessic grim reaper, Old Matey will descend on g3 wielding that scythe, so h1 it is.
3 comments
 
24... Nf4 25. Rc2
25. Rc2 - preparing to unravel the knot. Alas, it leaves my d3 pawn en prise.
1 comment
 
25... Nxd3 26. Bxe3 Re2xe3
26. ....... R2xe3! - if he takes with the other rook then the knight on d3 drops!
2 comments
 

Pages: 12