Rest Day (to make up for Game 11)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 {The Exchange Variation, I usually wait till Ng6 before playing this.} 4... dxc6 5. O-O {5...f6 or 5...Bg4 are the most common replies.} 5... Bd6 {But there is nothing wrong with this move.} 6. d4 {The best try for an opening plus.} 6... f6 {Could lead to trouble 6...exd4 is the most common choice here.} 7. dxe5 fxe5 8. Nxe5 {A tactically alert move. 8...Bxe5 9 Qh5+ is clearly winning for White} 8... Qf6 {With 0-0-0 coming and Black has tricks down the d-file.} 9. Nf3 {The wrong square. 9. Nd3 with e5 threats} 9... Bg4 {For the pawn Black has been allowed to build up an active position.} 10. Nbd2 {White needs to untangle before Black's attack becomes overwhelming.} 10... Qg6 {0-0-0 was a better option. Was the idea Bh3 or freeing f6 for the Knight and 0-0.} 11. g3 {A move Black wanted to see an unforced weakening of the Kingside. 11.Qe1 was better.} 11... O-O-O {Black is looking very good here.} 12. Re1 {12. Nh4 trying to get Queens off was a try here. Now Black has 12...Bf4.} 12... Qh5 {OK but Bf4 was much better.} 13. c4 {Trying to get some freedom with Qb3. Now. 13...Nh6 and Rhf8.} 13... Bb4 {Still keeping the pressure on but better to bring the g8 Knight and h8 Rook into the game.} 14. Re3 {Back to the wall defence. Unpinning the d2 Knight and covering f3.} 14... Nf6 {At last. White still has problems.} 15. a3 {This a mistake. 15. Qc2, or Qb3 to unpin the d2 Knight was better,} 15... Nxe4 {Black has been sucked in by the pin on d2. 15...Bxd2 first and then Nxe4} 16. axb4 Nxd2 17. Bxd2 {Black was possibly thinking of Rxd2 here but it does not work.} 17... Rhf8 {Blacks attack has peaked but it is a piece down White is now on top,} 18. Qc2 {White moved too quick. Black is back in the game, 18.Ra3 holds f3.} 18... Bxf3 {Qh3 and Qg2 mate can be seen by both players.} 19. h4 {19. Qc3 also stopped Qh3 because of the double hit on f3.} 19... Qg4 {19...g5 was much better, the Kingside is torn to pieces.} 20. Kh2 {White will have to play Rxf3 to stop the mate so Bc3 a better try.} 20... g5 {With the King on h2 this move is now winning.} 21. Rxf3 {Appears a bit desperate but there was nothing better.} 21... Rxf3 22. Bxg5 {Now 22...Re8 with Rxg3 and Re2+ coming would have been very good.} 22... Rdf8 23. Be3 {A defence 22...Re8 would have prevented.} 23... Qg7 {I think the idea is Qe5 and Rxe3. 23....Rg8 threatening Rxg3 was better.} 24. Bf4 {White jumps back into the pot. This move invites Rxf4 gxf4 Rxf4.} 24... Qd4 {Black does play Rxf4 yet. but it's still on the board.} 25. Rf1 {25. Kg2 holds out longer, now Black sacs the exchange on f4.} 25... R8xf4 26. Kg2 {Taking Rook and White is mated. Now pull the Rook back to f8 and White resigns,} 26... Qg7 {Pins the g3 pawn but no need for trickery. Rf8 was 0-1.} 27. Qe2 {Rather than resign White fires off a one move threat rubber arrow.} 27... Rf5 {OOPS! the rubber arrow scored a bull’s-eye} 28. Qe8 {These type of games and finishes happen everyday on Red Hot Pawn.} 1-0