(1) ICC Opponent (1307) - RookVanWinkle (1200) [A07]
1.Nf3
First time I've seen this...
1...d5
Following general principles here - put ting a pawn in the center and opening a diagonal for the Queen's Bishop.
2.g3
Look's like White is building a fortress...
2...Nf6
3.Bg2
Bg4
Either here I guess or f4.
4.0-0
e6
Wanting to open a diagonal for the King's Bishop. I decide on this rather than 4... g6 5...Bf7 as there seems like there's a lot of space on the Queenside to work with.
5.d3
c6
Just in case White plays c4.
6.Nbd2
Bc5
I considered the squares e7, d6, b4 but picked this as it aimed at the f2 square. I figure I can defend it after 7.Nb3 with 7...Nbd7.
7.e4
dxe4
I see no reason not to take it as I get the d-file open which is better than opening the e-file for White's Rook.
8.dxe4
Bd4
Seeing the Knight on g4 is pinned to the Queen, I want to take advantage of that by
maneuvering my Bishop to e4 - aiming at the Kingside and preventing the advance of the e4 pawn.
9.c3
No problem, my plan was to move the Bishop in the first place.
9...Be5
10.Qb3
Breaking the pin I had on the f3 Knight with the result being an attack on the e5 Bishop and on the b7 pawn.
10...Qc7
The only move to defend against both threats - I panic for a moment expecting 11. Nxe5 Qxe5 12. Qxb7 and fearing the loss of a pawn and a Rook. But can White safely grab the Rook? I fear he can but I can castle and maybe trap White's Queen by locking it in with ...Qc7 and perhaps I can threaten it moving the Knight with a discovered attack by my Rook?
11.Re1
Whew! For whatever reason White doesn't do 11. Nxe5. [11.Nxe5
Qxe5
12.Qxb7
0-0
13.Qxa8
Qc7
Fritz 6 Light:
14.f3
Bh5
15.g4
Bg6
16.h4
Nbd7
17.Qxf8+
Nxf8
18.h5
Nxh5
2.09/13 ]
11...Nbd7
Quickly bringing in a defender for the e5 Bishop and giving me an option to castle on either side.
12.h3
h5!?
My moment of genius or of folly. I see I have a strong attack potential with the Queen and Bishop on the b8-h2 diagonal. If he takes the Bishop I have an open attack with the Rook on the H-file when I retake with the pawn. I'll also gain a tempo since White's f3 knight will be attacked with that pawn. I'd rather attack and lose than play out a draw - so I go for it.
13.hxg4
hxg4
14.Nh2
Bxg3?!
If 15. fxg3 then ...Qxg3 and things look a little dicey for White - both the h2 Knight and e1 Rook come under attack and White's King is in a dangerous position.
15.Nhf1
[15.fxg3
Qxg3
] 15...Bh2+
But what can I do with the discovered check I'll get?
16.Kh1
g3?!
I thought a long time about this move. White can't take with the Knight. It seemed a good threat...
17.f3
I never even considered this possibility on White's part.
17...Ng4
Threatening 18...Nf2 mate - it probably won't happen but I reason that even if White does the sensible 18. fxg4 I might perhaps open things more for an attack after 18...Qf4 - I'm down a piece already so what 's another piece? If this attack fails I've lost completely anyway.
18.fxg4
Qf4
19.Nf3
Qxg4
20.N1xh2
At first I think it's probably all over - after I move my Queen out of the way of the attack (say 20...Qh5 perhaps - but with that f3 Knight protecting the h2 Knight the threat is empty). But wait - my Queen is NOT under attack - the h2 Knight is pinned! Can I remove the defender on f3 with 20...Ne5 instead?
20...Ne5
21.c4!
This move floored me - why was White giving me a free tempo? I was dumbfounded. Finally - after planning other things - I saw the point of 21. c4 - it adds the White Queen as a defender to the f3 Knight!
21...0-0-0
Since I can't take the f3 Knight now I might as well use the extra tempo to prevent White from
threatening Qxb7 and at the same time take the open d-file (and also allowing the possibility of the Queen Rook coming to h8 if I do ...Rxh2+) I've been wanting to do this for a long time and I have the tempo to do it now.
22.Rd1
Rxh2+
23.Kg1
Nxf3+
I need to press the attack - and I want the d1-h5 diagonal open for a possible coordinated attack of the d1 square with my Queen and Rook at some later point.
24.Qxf3??
Diagram Black to mate in four...
24...Rxg2+??
I see some options here - but I'm in big time trouble - I had less than a minute. It turns out I did have a forced mate here - If I had the time would I have found it? [Fritz 6 Light:
24...Rxd1+
25.Qxd1
Qxd1+
26.Bf1
Qd4+
27.Be3
Qxe3#
-#4/7 ]
25.Kxg2
Rd3
26.Qxg4
Black forfeits on time 1-0
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