Annotated Chess Game 10933770

1. d4 e5

?! As we were playing two games simultaneously, with opposite colors, I wanted to steer the game differently from the other, and chose a line I thought a player of this strength might not know. This is not a good line, but has some traps for the unwary, including where Black mates on move eight!

2. dxe5 Nb8c6 3. Ng1f3 Qd8e7 4. Bc1g5 Qe7b4 5. Nb1d2

? Up to now, White has played a standard line. Here, though, he goes astray. Interposing the bishop is the correct move.

5... Qb4xb2 6. Ra1b1

? While he deploys a rook to chase my queen, he drops a pawn. Due to the error on the previous move, though, he is unable to do much to save the e-pawn. I would try Bf4, though Nb4 creates complications.

6... Qb2xa2 7. Rb1a1

? I considered this a waste of time. Just e4 seems okay. I then have to flee anyway, but he has a more comfortable development.

7... Qa2e6 8. e3

? He drops the pawn anyway! I think Bf4 should be played to guard it. Black already has a material advantage, but now must get his pieces out quickly.

8... Nc6xe5 9. Bg5f4 Bf8d6 10. Ra1a5

!? This is okay, though putting a rook out there this early is suspect. Now he must watch out how he recaptures, and I need to be wary of pins!

10... Ne5xf3 11. Qd1xf3

Capturing with g-pawn drops the B; with the N, loses to Bb4+.

11... Ng8f6

Surely you were not thinking I would blunder with ...Bb4???, when Re5 pins my queen!

12. Bf1c4 Qe6e7 13. O-O O-O 14. Bc4b3 Bd6xf4 15. Qf3xf4 d6 16. Nd2f3 Bc8e6 17. Bb3xe6 fxe6 18. Qf4h4 e5

I do not want that rook coming over to the K-side.

19. g4

? I feel this weakens his king position with no compensation. He has too few pieces to launch an assault on my fortress, and merely gives me the opportunity to attack his king.

19... Qe7e6 20. g5 Nf6d7

I wanted to check on g4 to pop off the queens, but saw that after we trade, he can play h3 and my poor horsey is trapped. I thus retreat the knight to be able to redeploy to c5 or maybe e5 if the pawn moves.

21. Qh4g3

I think he should have played 21. Nd2, looking to come out to e4.

21... Qe6f5

Piling on is a penalty in American football, but in chess, is usually a great thing. Now, of course, he must flee or play Kg2.

22. Ra5a2

?? Dropping the knight! While White is lost anyway, this would take me a while to win. Not now, though, as once I take the piece, my forces are concentrated enough to break through.

22... Qf5xf3 23. Qg3h4 Nd7c5 24. c3 Qf3e4

I considered moving the knight here, but still would like to trade queens. When he refuses again, I have my forces in position for an assault that he will have huge difficulties withstanding.

25. Qh4h5 Rf8f5 26. Ra2b2 h6

I go after this poor little weak pawn. The forces we amass to try to attack and defend it are enormous!

27. Rb2b4

He decides to get the rook back to the battleground. I could have returned to f3, but elected to go elsewhere as I had the feeling he would play Rg4.

27... Qe4c2 28. Rb4g4 Nc5e4

! Double attack on the f- and g-pawns. If he lets me take the f-pawn, I should be able to crash through his defenses.

29. Qh5g6

I thought f4 would come here, though that lets me pick off weak pawns. The text is played to threaten mate after gh, but I see a series that mates him first!

29... Ne4xf2

! With the attack on the rook and the threat of check on h3, this move is decisive. I thought he would give up his rook for the knight, but was pleasantly surprised when he did not.

30. gxh6

?? Whether desperation or singlemindedness, this move is suicide. Black now mates by force. Of course, White is doomed anyway, but this hastens the end.

30... Nf2h3

Ha, ha! You cannot mate me when you are in check!

31. Kg1h1 Rf5xf1 32. Rg4g1

Originally I set up the conditional 32. ...Rxg1+; 33. Qxg1, Nxg1. Before he replied, though, I saw the move I actually played, which not only is pretty, but wins at once!

32... Qc2e4

!! Yippie! I get to sac my queen!

33. Qg6g2

Oh, nuts. He declines the sac. Oh well, a smothered mate is still a nice way to end the struggle. (If 34. Qxe4, I mate with ...Rxg1.)

33... Nh3f2

An unusual smothered checkmate!