Annotated Chess Game 10141041

1. e4

A one day no time bank game played OTB style - my end at least.

1... e6

A French Defence.

2. f4

A move that goes back to the 1834 match between McDonnell and Labourdonnais. It has had a few airings in the last few years by Glek and Nakamura. I guess White says, "seeing that you intend d5 and play on the queenside, I'm going for the kingside straight away."

2... d5 3. e5 c5 4. Ng1f3 Nb8c6 5. c3

This prevents Nd4 or Nb4 and supports a pawn push to d4. It also contemplates the possibility of Na3-c2 supporting the centre, as in the game.

5... Qd8b6

Black follows the moves typical of an Advance French but as yet there is no pawn on d4 to try to fix and weaken.

6. Nb1a3 Bc8d7 7. Na3c2 Ng8h6

Aiming for f5 without blocking the f8 bishop.

8. d3

Holding back from d4 and hoping to tempt black forward. White's position looks a bit contrived but there are things he can do.

8... d4

Black pushes however e4 is now a good square for my knight.

9. Nf3d2 Nh6f5 10. Bf1e2

Dithering to some extent but it seemed clear this bishop will have to go to e2 and then maybe to f3. The d2 knight might go to c4 hitting the queen rather than e4 - hold that one in reserve for the moment.

10... g6

Presuming that Black figures the dark bishop will go to g7 rather than e7.

11. O-O

After looking at 11...dxc3 12. bxc3 c4+ and judging it OK.

11... h5

Ah, g7 was supporting h5 and a kingside pawn storm then rather than the fianchetto...

12. Nd2e4

f6 looks a nice target square.

12... O-O-O

In line with the kingside assault strategy black squirrels the king away on the queenside.

13. Kg1h1

To take the king off the diagonal of the black Queen.

13... Bf8g7

I thought he would go to e7 then bring the other rook over to g8.

14. Nc2a3

I need to get going on the queenside so this move aims at c4 and lets my Queen access to b3 or a4.

14... Nc6a5

He doesn't want me on c4 then...

15. cxd4

so I open the c file

15... cxd4

and he recaptures with the pawn so as to keep his knight on f5 and stop mine arriving on d6.

16. Bc1d2

reckoning that Qxb2 Bxa5 Qxa3 worked out in my favour with moves like Qc2+, Rb1 and Bxd8 all in the wings.

16... Kc8b8

Putting the King under cover. Here I needed to think for a bit and eventually decided on...

17. Qd1e1

Which hits the a5 knight and will hopefully allow my knight into c4 at the same time as sidestepping the threat of Ne3 forking rook and Queen if the d2 bishop moves. The position round here is wonderfully complicated although I am sure I didn't see the half of it!

17... Na5c6 18. Na3c4 Qb6a6

This gives White several tempi to drive forward his attack by hitting the Queen. Moves like Nd6 Nxd6 Nxd6 threatening the fork on f7 are also in the air.

19. Ne4c5 Qa6b5 20. b4

Protecting the knight and threatening a4 winning the Queen.

20... Nc6e7

Freeing c6

21. a4 Qb5c6 22. Nc4a5

A further attack on the Queen which nets a pawn.

22... Qc6b6 23. Na5xb7 Bd7c6

Black gives up a rook for knight to reduce the pressure.

24. Nb7xd8 Qb6xd8 25. Be2f3

and White offers an exchange as he is material ahead apart from the strategic importance of the h1-a8 diagonal.

25... Bc6xf3 26. Rf1xf3 Ne7d5

Black has maneuvered his knights to good outposts eyeing e3 and revival of his attack.

27. Ra1c1

A key development trying to gain control of c7 with Rook and Knight.

27... Qd8e7 28. Nc5a6 Kb8b7 29. b5

Now with Ba5, Rc6 or c7 and Qc1 it was possible to start thinking about a checkmate.

29... h4

This can be safely ignored I thought, in favour of reaching the key squares near his King.

30. Bd2b4 Qe7e8 31. Bb4a5 Nf5e3

This is no longer a fork but I am tempted into taking it because of if he takes back with knight I am in on c7.

32. Rf3xe3 dxe3

No luck! A vital defender of my kingside, had I but realised it, leaves the board.

33. Na6b4

I played here rather than to c7 because if he took it I can recapture with the Queen and come ever closer to his King.

33... Nd5b6 34. Ba5xb6 axb6 35. Qe1xe3

My rook is coming to c6 and then the Queen will take on b6 and it is all but mate...

35... Qe8d7

Holding his second rank and planning Rc8 or Bf8 I thought.

36. Rc1c6 Qd7d8

Holding the b pawn

37. Nb4a6

Angling for c7 which would block the Queen's protection on b6

37... Bg7f8

Looking for Bc5 at some point - doesn't stop me doing what I want to do...

38. Rc6c7 Qd8xc7

Otherwise it is mate after Ka8 Qxb6

39. Na6xc7 Kb7xc7 40. Qe3c1 Kc7b8 41. Qc1c6 Bf8c5

Holding the b pawn. Now I realised that a5 might fail to Rc8 with something like Be3 Rc1 mate threatened and even Rd8 was annoying as d4 would still lose the pawn.

42. Qc6d7

So I played here stopping Rd8.

42... Rh8c8

Now I see he has Bf2 threatening Rc1 mate and if h3 Bg3 is equally smelly.

43. Qd7xf7

Calculating that Bf2 can be answered with g3 then if hxg3 hxg3 Bxg3 my Queen is holding f4 or I can take on e6 and shepherd my e pawn home. Panic over.

43... Bc5f2 44. g4

Improving on my line in the last note by forcing him to take en- passant, which of course he has to do this turn. If not he faces the consequences of f5 gxf5 gxf5 exf5 e6, followed by e7 and e8=Q.

44... h3

Just because he can only take en-passant on his next available move doesn't mean it is his only available move! Especially when there was one that shuts door on my King's route to freedom and takes away the defence to Rc1 mate. As I resigned I could almost hear GP34 diluting his beverage of choice with tears of laughter. Never mind, an interesting and exciting game from an unusual opening line!