Annotated chess game: A smothering defeat....

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ANNOTATED GAME

A smothering defeat....
leonenko (2164) vs. mistindantacles (1649)
Annotated by: mistindantacles (1804)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B30), Nimzovich-Rossolimo attack (without ...d6)

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1. e4 c5	black opts for Sicillian Defense...



2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O d5 6. d3 Ne7 7. c4 Bb7 8. Nc3	White continues to avoid initiating the pawn exchange, as that will allow black to un-double his c-pawns.



8... d4	Black decides to play for space, and pushes the pawn.



9. Na4 Ng6	Black opens a lane for his bB, protects the weak doubled pawn, and has brought his king-side N into the fray.



10. Nd2 e5 11. Nb3	White is bringing more pressure on the weak doubled pawn than black can protect against.



11... Rb8 12. f4 Nxf4 13. Bxf4 exf4 14. Rxf4 Bd6 15. e5 Be7	if black plays 15....BxP, then 16.Re4 (pinning the B), and black must decide between delegating his Q to guard duty, or pushing the f-pawn forward to support the B, leaving the K vulernable to check from white's Q at h5, forcing black to move his K into the center of the board, or push the g-pawn forward, causing further weakening of possible king-side castle. black opts to retreat.
	1 comment intotherainbow (2616) on 11-Jun-09: If black plays 15....Bxe5 it would be disaster for black. Why? 16. Re4 O-O 17. Rxe5 f6 18. Re1 [Re8 or Rf7 or f5] 19.Naxc5 Do u agree with that? Let's better talk about 14....Bd6 I would better play 14....Be7 15.Qf3 O-O or 14....Qc7 15.e5 Be7 16. Naxc5 O-O Think on these lines


16. e6 O-O 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. Rxf7 Kxf7 19. Naxc5 Bxc5 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Qxc5 Qd7 22. Qxa7 Rd8	better would have been 22....Ra8, forcing white to respond to the threat to his Q.
	2 comments blake84120 (1200) on 10-Jun-09: But, since that response would be 23. Qxd4, black would only lose a pawn. Still, that would be preferable to losing a bishop. intotherainbow (2616) on 11-Jun-09: Heh. Nope. Of course 22....Ra8 would be better than 22....Rd8 but it would lead to 23.Qxd4 and threat to black Q. 23....Qe7 24.Qc5 again. Far from optimal result. So IMO better would be 22....Re8 23.Nc5 Qe7


23. Nc5 Qe7 24. Nxb7 Qe3+	black cannot play 24....Rd7, hoping to win the N since 25.Qb8 has devastating effects - black cannot intercede with his R because d8 is controlled by the N!
	1 comment intotherainbow (2616) on 11-Jun-09: Oh man. Just look at the posibility of 24....Rf8


25. Kh1 Re8	black lines up for a back-rank mate.



26. Rg1 Qxd3	white takes the opportunity to gobble up a pawn, paving the way for what is now a past pawn.
	2 comments blake84120 (1200) on 10-Jun-09: I think black is the one gobbling pawns here, not white. And, fyi, it's a "passed" pawn because it has passed all the opposing pawns. It is not a past pawn because that would imply that it used to be a pawn but isn't anymore. Just so you know. intotherainbow (2616) on 11-Jun-09: Totaly agree with black84120 comment ))))


27. Nd6 Rf8 28. Qb7 Qe2 29. Qxc6 d3 30. Qd5+	black has 1 recourse, and white has sealed the victory.
	2 comments blake84120 (1200) on 10-Jun-09: It's a beautiful (but unforced) checkmate, and a well-known theme. One would hope an expert player would see this right away, and evidently, your opponent did just that. tulkos (1946) on 11-Jun-09: Not quite accurate, the checkmate is clearly forced, as pointed out by leonenko.


30... Kh8 31. Nf7+	step two, and white moves in closer for the kill.....
	1 comment stephenbrady (1200) on 04-Oct-09: this is one of the most well known mates in the book


31... Kg8 32. Nh6+	double check! and black MUST move his K .
	2 comments blake84120 (1200) on 10-Jun-09: 31. ... Rxf7 was called for here to remain in the game. 32. Qxf7 h3 gives black an escape hatch and robs white of a checkmate. However, white still remains ahead by a rook and two pawns and will win easily with his three passed pawns on the queenside. intotherainbow (2616) on 11-Jun-09: 2 Blacke84120: 31....Rxf7 was called only for 32. Qa8 Qe8 33. Qxe8 Rf8 and again last 34 move Qxf8# checkmate. There was no way to survive


32... Kh8 33. Qg8+	Brilliant! wait for it.....



33... Rxg8 34. Nf7#	White has smothered black with a Queen sacrifice.
	3 comments intotherainbow (2616) on 11-Jun-09: I love this checkmate. Nothing to add stephenbrady (1200) on 04-Oct-09: this is not a new checkmate, any gradeschooler knows it elyhim (1200) on 02-Oct-12: There something special about smother mates though