Annotated chess game: A Knight in Black

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ANNOTATED GAME

A Knight in Black
John vs. Nook (Hard)
Annotated by: johnmv1 (1686)
Chess opening: French (C15), Winawer, fingerslip variation

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1. e4 e6 2. d4	Since his first move didn't challenge the center, I pushed ahead to continue gaining a strong center.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 10-Aug-10: Standard (and probably best) response to Black's 'French defence'.


2... d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 dxe4 5. Nxe4	After Knight takes e4 I expect him to exchange dark square bishops, but instead...
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 10-Aug-10: Interesting line, associated with GM Alekhine, popularly known as the 'Fingerslip Variation'. The story goes that having seen Alekhine play this line (4.Bd2), another master queried it. 'My finger slipped,' quoth the great man.


5... Qxd4	Wins the hanging pawn but exposes Black's queen with only one minor piece developed.



6. Bd3	I develop my Bishop, and avoid a potential Queen trade in the near future.



6... Bxd2+ 7. Qxd2 Qxb2	Black takes the unprotected b2 pawn. Honestly I missed that move, but I like my overall position here much better than Black's, and I want to take advantage of his over-extended queen and lack of development.



8. Qd1	Protecting both the rook and c2 pawn.



8... Ne7 9. Nf3 Qb4+ 10. c3	The c3 push is protected by the knight on e4, and I'm preparing to castle kingside.



10... Qa5	A passive move on Black's part, and giving the queen little to do since once I castle kingside she won't be threatening my king any longer.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 10-Aug-10: Black's choices were very limited.


11. O-O O-O 12. Nfg5	I mount my attack on Black's king. My knight on g5 is protected by my knight on e4.



12... Nbc6	He finally decides to continue developing, but a little too late.



13. Qh5	I'm threatening queen takes h7 mate.



13... h6	An defensive move to the queen takes h7 threat. However, now the h7 square is opened up, and my bishop on d3 has a bead on it...



14. Nf6+	Continuing the attack and breaking open his kingside defense.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2334) on 10-Aug-10: (!!) Very strong. chessboard12 (1200) on 10-Aug-10: Exclam! This reminds me of a game I annotated some time ago. Look for : Trainer1 vs.Me I played a combination like this.


14... gxf6 15. Qxh6	Both the bishop on d3 and the knight on g5 protect the h7 square for queen to h7 checkmate. He can't deal with both in one move...
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 10-Aug-10: Black might have tried 14...Kh8, as mate-in-four is inevitable after 14...gxf6 in at most 4 moves. But after 14...Kh8 15.Nxf7ch Rxf7 16.Qxf7 Bd7 (ther only move to prevent a quick mate) 17.Rfd1! (17.Nxd7 keeps for White a big advantage, but the rook move decisively prevents Black's attempt at recovery by ...Qd5).


15... Ne5 16. Qh7#	I gave up a bishop, knight, and three pawns and he only lost a bishop and two pawns. But I was able to develop more pieces and have a strong jump in tempo.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 10-Aug-10: Nice piece attack. That Black couldn't stretch White a little more with a more robust defence, takes nothing away from White's attacking concept.