Annotated chess game: A Ponziani Opening

« TAP TO LOG IN

ANNOTATED GAME

A Ponziani Opening
NN (1215) vs. jstevens1 (1738)
Annotated by: jotheblackqueen (1200)
Chess opening: Ponziani (C44), Jaenisch counter-attack

Interactive

•

Show all comments

•

All annotated games

•

View chessboard as:


1. e4	Hi everyone! I thought I would talk about a recent game I won in the Barmy Army Tournament. Looking at the rating differential you would think it should be a piece of cake for me. I was aware of my opponent's optimum rating, however - 1330. Looking back through his profile he has an impressive array of wins over 1400 opposition and even a 1500 player. In those games he either delivered checkmate or his opponents resigned on the grounds of ruinous loss of material. His playing strength is therefore very similar to The Dentist - remember him, anyone? Well, I did manage to beat NN in 18 moves - Glenda struck again, but there was a stage in the game where I took 2 days to come back with a move for the want of a plan. I hope you have a good read as this is all about an unusual opening.
	1 comment rjacobs (1690) on 01-Nov-08: Entertaining little game White undoes himself with the kingside pawn advances, which you exploit neatly with the well-timed late intervention of Glenda. I'd hav spoilt my attack by introducing her too soon.


1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3	3. c3 - this move is the Ponziani Opening, this opening is very rarely played at Master Level and is not that well known. This move is intended to support d4, get dsb out onto e3 and then queen knight onto d2.



3... Nf6 4. h3	4. h3 - unusual continuation - probably to take me out of the database. I did see in the database, however that somebody had played a3 and the suggested continuation was Nxe4 with at least equality for black and then I could get to see what my opponent's endgame play was like! It didn't quite work out that way though!
	2 comments dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: 4. h3?! is inconsistent with the intent of 3 c3 and one too many pawn moves given that the e4 pawn can be taken. baltimoreboy (1548) on 20-Mar-12: you were looking in the database while playing this game? thats why i dont like playing slow games on the internet. too easy to cheat


4... Nxe4 5. d3	5. d3? - this is where white starts to go wrong. He blunders a pawn. 5. Qe2 then d3 must be played to regain the pawn.
	1 comment dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: 5 d3? is pointlessly losing a pawn. Qe2 is essential.


5... Nf6 6. Be2 Be7 7. Qb3 O-O 8. O-O d6	8. ....... d6 - after losing that pawn, white continues to develop sensibly and his queen exerts some pressure on b3 - on the b7 pawn and the f7 pawn is pinned. My move opens up the diagonal for Frere Leblanc who bears down on h3 with the possibility of a bishop sac on h3 to open up the white king.
	1 comment dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: White is playing passively, and black is ahead in development. 4 he3? has become a target.


9. g4 Rb8	9. ....... Rb8 - after white's loosening g4 I decide to back up my b7 pawn to enable a possible bishop sac on g4 - white advances his pawn further to g5 with his next move.
	2 comments dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: I see nothing wrong with ...b6 at this point as an alternative. That way black not only does not take a tempo to move the rook to defend a pawn, but can potentially attack on the diagonal if the pressure on the h3 g4 pawns does not suffice. archduke_piccolo (2332) on 02-Nov-08: I might have been tempted to play 9...Bd7 and invite White to take the pawn. If 10.Qxb7 Rb8 11.Qa6 Rb6 12.Qa4 Nd4! 13.Qd1 Nxe2+ 14.Qxe2 and Black can play 14...Bc6 with attack down the light long diagonal, or 14...Nxg4!? 15.hxg4 Bxg4 with at least an equal game.


10. g5 Nh5 11. h4 g6	11. ...... g6 - not sure I like this move but it does support my knight on h5 which controls g3 - this will become a deciding factor later on. Over the next two moves we have some sensible development from white but in between that Frere Leblanc goes to g4 first to enable Glenda to deposit herself on d7 and then later on he will go to h3 to menace the f1 rook and then Glenda will land a nasty check on g4. So how does this all materialise? Read on .....
	2 comments dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: I see nothing wrong with ...g6. It supports the N, offers a retreat square if needed, and locks white's kingside pawns to be exploited in a potential break after ...be6 drives away the queen. archduke_piccolo (2332) on 02-Nov-08: The move is fine if rather defensive. The attacking chances offered by 11...Bh3 are hard to assess.


12. Be3 Bg4 13. Nbd2 Qd7 14. Ne4	14. Ne4 - to protect g3 but after my reply Bh3 white is faced with a horrible choice, ruinous loss of material or copping Old Matey.
	2 comments dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: White is busted. White needed to have played 12 Nh2! to hold on. archduke_piccolo (2332) on 02-Nov-08: It's extraordinary, though, how such a well-centralised game as White has here is so utterly demolished so quickly.


14... Bh3 15. Rfd1 Qg4+	15. ........ Qg4 - after the rook duly moves out of the way ....... here comes Glenda!!



16. Ng3	16. Ng3 - blocks out Glenda but not for long. My h5 knight comes into play taking off white's knight and threatening a deadly Nxe2 double check.



16... Nxg3 17. fxg3	17. fxg3 - the pawn takes allowing mate in two.



17... Qxg3+ 18. Kh1 Qg2#	18. .......... Qg2# - which Glenda duly delivers! I know I often use her in a defensive role and she is not called Glenda the Defender for nothing, but underestimate her at your peril - she has struck quite a few times since my return from Devon in early September!
	1 comment dmaestro (1647) on 01-Nov-08: It seems white thought 4 h3!? justified advancing the kingside pawns, when it just accelrated the loss.