Game 4944749 (with self-analysis)
If ya'd like to share your own thoughts, shoot. I'm always open to other folk's input.
(me-black)
[pgn][Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"]
[Date "2008.05.01"]
[EndDate "2008.05.09"]
[Result "0-1"]
[GameId "4944749"]
1. d4 Ng8f6 2. Ng1f3 e6 3. e3 g6 4. Bf1d3 Bf8g7 5. O-O d6 6. Nb1d2 Nb8d7
7. Qd1e2 b6 8. c3 a5 9. e4 Bc8b7 10. e5 dxe5 11. Nf3xe5 Nd7xe5 12. dxe5 Nf6d5
13. Nd2f3 O-O 14. Bc1g5 f6 15. exf6 Bg7xf6 16. Qe2xe6 Kg8g7 17. Bg5xf6 Qd8xf6
18. Qe6h3 Nd5f4 19. Qh3d7 Rf8f7 20. Qd7d4 Bb7xf3 21. Qd4xf6 Rf7xf6
22. Bd3b5 Bf3xg2 23. Rf1e1 Bg2d5 24. Re1e5 Nf4h3 25. Kg1f1 Rf6xf2
26. Kf1e1 Rf2xh2 27. Re5xd5 Rh2h1 28. Bb5f1 Ra8e8 29. Ke1d2 Rh1h2
30. Kd2d1 Nh3f2 31. Kd1c2 Nf2g4 32. Kc2b3 Re8e7 33. Ra1d1 Ng4e3 34. Rd5d7 Ne3xd1
35. Rd7xe7 Kg7h6 36. Re7xc7 Rh2xb2 37. Kb3a3 g5 38. Bf1d3 Kh6h5 39. Bd3f5 h6
40. Rc7d7 Rb2b5 41. Bf5d3 Rb5e5 42. Ka3b3 Nd1f2 43. Bd3c2 g4 44. Rd7g7 Re5g5
45. Rg7f7 g3 0-1[pgn]
Analysis:
1. d4 Ng8f6
2. Ng1f3 e6
3. e3 g6
4. Bf1d3 Bf8g7
5. O-O d6
6. Nb1d2 Nb8d7
7. Qd1e2 b6 -- If my knight were on e7, it would be a pure Hippo defense. After having used this system in quite a few games, especially blitz games, I have grown to like it a lot. When played correctly, it gives black a solid position with few weaknesses. It also lends itself to vicious counter-attacks, provided black patiently waits for an opportunity and then aggressively seizes it when the chance comes. Furthermore, an unconventional opening like the hippo can fluster an opponent who has not faced it before.
8. c3? a5? -- c3 was a wasted move on his part. Moving one of his rooks to e1 would have helped more in his attack. As for me, a5 did not help my position at all, either. I would have done better castling or moving my bishop to b7.
9. e4 Bc8b7
10. e5 dxe5
11. Nf3xe5 Nd7xe5
12. dxe5 Nf6d5
13. Nd2f3 O-O -- Castling in the nick of time.
14. Bc1g5 f6 -- I saw the ensuing combination would cost me a pawn and bring his queen up. But I felt that I had enough material to drive his queen back and then take control of the center, which would slightly tilt the game in my favor.
15. exf6 Bg7xf6
16. Qe2xe6 Kg8g7
17. Bg5xf6 Qd8xf6 -- The climax has come.
18. Qe6h3?? -- Fatal mistake on white's part. Qe6e5 was the correct move, forcing the exchange of queens and giving him a chance to keep the game even. Now both his queen and bishop will be forked.
18...Nd5f4! -- The bishop on the long diagonal is unveiled; its pressure will be keenly felt.
19. Qh3d7 -- Forced move on the part of white.
19...Rf8f7
20. Qd7d4 -- Forced again. This sets up an exchange of queens, but it is too late to help white much.
20...Bb7xf3
21. Qd4xf6 Rf7xf6
22. Bd3b5 Bf3xg2
23. Rf1e1 -- Rf1d1 was better. Then on the next move, white could have put the rook on the second rank, defending the f-pawn.
23...Bg2d5
24. Re1e5 Nf4h3
25. Kg1f1 Rf6xf2
26. Kf1e1 Rf2xh2 -- I decided it was better to keep the initiative by taking white's last pawn on the king's side, then checking him on the back rank, rather than defending my bishop.
27. Re5xd5 Rh2h1
28. Bb5f1 Ra8e8
29. Ke1d2 Rh1h2
30. Kd2d1 Nh3f2
31. Kd1c2 Nf2g4
32. Kc2b3 Re8e7
33. Ra1d1 Ng4e3
34. Rd5d7 Ne3xd1
35. Rd7xe7 Kg7h6
36. Re7xc7 Rh2xb2
37. Kb3a3 g5?? -- Big mistake. Rf2 was called for.
38. Bf1d3 Kh6h5
39. Bd3f5?? h6 -- Why he did not take the pawn, I don't know. That was his last chance to get counter-play.
40. Rc7d7 Rb2b5
41. Bf5d3 Rb5e5
42. Ka3b3 Nd1f2
43. Bd3c2 g4
44. Rd7g7 Re5g5
45. Rg7f7 g3 0-1