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11. Qxe2
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White re-takes with the queen, as he wants to develop his Ng1 to the f3 square. |
 
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11... Ng4
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As planned - black claims the strong g4 post. It is worthy noting at this point that while black has the lead in development, BOTH sides are unusually under-developed for a game 11 moves old. I don't see this kind of thing too often, as was a little paranoid. The initial question of "Play it safe? Or get aggressive?" returned to my thoughts. As blacks position is currently stable, I figured getting better developed was probably the smart play. I didn't realize at the time that a very nice attack was about to play out. |
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12. Nf3
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As planned. White now has 0-0 available if needed, and a strong piece comes to the defense of the weakened kingside. I'm sure my opponent was working out variations involving the g5 square, as he is hitting it three times now to my two. |
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12... Nc6
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Black simply develops, and hopes that white does not force the issue on g5. |
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13. c3
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?! This move tortured me. White obviously intends to reinforce his center, but at the expense of a developing square for his Nb8 and some mobility of his Bd2. What's up his sleeve? |
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13... b5
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This was actually a "waiting" move, but it does claim some nice space on the queenside and supports the c4 square. |
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14. Nh2
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? This was the telling move of the game so far. White hopes to eliminate the solid Ng4, but in doing so opens himself up to....... |
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14... Bxh4
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! If 15. NxN then 15...Bxg . If 15. gxB then 15...Qxh . Either way, black can bring some pain to whites weakened position and still come out OK. One of the main reasons of making this play was to prevent white from being able to castle, therefor keeping his king in the middle of the board. Black is hoping for the continuation of 15. gxB Qxh 16. Kf1 Qh3 17. Qg2 Qxd3 with the compensation of three pawns for a bishop and white not being able to castle. |
1 comment
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15. gxh4
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It appears that white is going play along:) |
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15... Qxh4+
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As planned. |
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16. Kf1
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Obviously 16. Kd1 fails to the strength of 16...Nf2 ! (a nasty fork that loses a rook for white). |
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16... Qh3+
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Still part of the plan. |
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17. Qg2
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Here was the telling point of my plan. 17. Kg1 could be better defended, but I was hoping white would opt to try to eliminate the dangerous threat of my queen roaming around with impugnity in his back yard. White offers up a queen exchange to extinguish the immediate threats. |
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17... Qxd3+
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Obviously declined to maintain material equality, and the attack continues. |
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18. Ke1
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I had incorrectly assumed that white would once again offer to exchange queens. He chooses, however, to evade the check and maintain his own threats on my Ng4. I failed to see how dangerous these threats are however, and play..... |
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18... O-O-O
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....to secure my own king. |
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19. Qf3
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? White misses [ 19.NxN hxN 20. RxR RxR 21. Qxg winning a pawn] and once again offers up a queen exchange. |
1 comment
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19... Qxf3
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Black sees the opportunity white just missed, and opts to end this particular skirmish satisfied with achieving the initial goal of preventing white from castling and keeping his king in the center of the board - hopefully vulnerable to a future attack. |
1 comment
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20. Nxf3
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Naturally. |
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20... f6
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As the smoke clears from that last skirmish, I opt to instigate another. Realizing that I have basically exchanged a bishop for three pawns, I intend to use this pawn advantage to remove his e and f pawns, which will clear files for my rooks to attack on. |
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(1734)