Annotated chess game

A most peculiar decision. But White was in a spot of bother anyhow. To recover the lost piece by 11.axb4 ... would have led to this 11...Bxb4 (Now the Knight is pinned against the King, and has no defenders) 12.Qd2 ... (to protect the knight. The unattractive alternative would have been Kd2) 12...d5. The threat is to advance the pawn to d4, attacking and winning the pinned knight (and possibly more!). If White takes, 13.exd5, then 13...Nxd5 and the pinned knight can not find another defender. Probably White's best would have to be to give up the exchange by 13.Rb1 a5 (The bishop needs protection) 14.Rxb5 axb5. So 10...Nxb4 turns out to have been a pretty clever move!

Black had a very wide choice of strong moves here, and this, though not the VERY strongest, is still one of them. I think I would have chosen 13...Bd4, myself, and 13...dxe4 was also worth serious consideration. But this pawn advance will occasion White more problems he can handle...

An oversight. But 14.Na4 would not have been a whole lot better: 14.Na4 Qa5! 15.Nxc5 ... (OR 15.axb4 Bxb4ch 16.Kf1 b5, winning the knight that is now pinned to the a1-rook!) 15...Nxd3ch! (Double-check!) 16.Kf1 Nxc5, winning back the knight. After any other move, of course, 14...dxc3 simply walks away with the knight.

I would have taken with the knight - 14...Nxa2, with possibly ...Nc3 to come. The bishop take is still winning, but not as decisively.

Well, there's boldness for you! Note that this move is legal because the King doesn't have to cross or land on the b1-square that is covered by the a2-bishop. All the same the move looks perfectly dreadful.

The idea behind this move is great: White is threatened with an imminent forced checkmate. But there is a slightly better execution of the same plan: 15...Nb4-d5!! After 16.exd5 Bxa3ch 17.Kd2 Qa5ch 18.c3 Qxc3# - it's checkmate. Even after 16.Qe1 or Qf3 - to give the King an escape hatch - Black would have got a tremendous attack. As it is, the outlook for White is bleak... +++++++++++ Another good option would have been 15...Qa5, as after 16.axb4 Qa3ch 17.Kd2 Bxb4ch 18.c3 Qxc3#.

The art of living dangerously...

Caution is commendable when you have secured a big advantage and are not sure how to proceed. So there is much to be said for this retreat. But Black's advantage is so huge, and attacking resources so plentiful, that she could have gone absolutely all-out. Probably best would have been 16...Qa5 17.Kxa2 Qxa3ch with a lethal attack. But, even more spectacular, if objectively not quite as good, would have been 16...Bxa3ch. Whichever bishop White were to take, Black would have had an unstoppable attack.

I would have preferred 18...Rb8, here, upon a line upon which the White King is standing, and Black is already threatening to open up. So I would probably have played 18...b4, first, and if 19.a5, 19...b3, ready for the rook to jump onto b8.

Black had to count on this happening. It is harmless.

Good enough to retain a huge winning edge. But even stronger would have been 19...Qd6 or even 19...Bxa3ch 20.Kxa3 Qd6ch 21.Kb2 Qxe5 22.f4 Qc5, with enormous pressure against the White Q-side.

20...Rxc6 was surely indicated!