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ANNOTATED GAME

Bishop - Knight end game Mate! Rare/Interesting/Tough!
berbatov (1793) vs. e-motion (1616)
Annotated by: jugoslavija (2013)
Chess opening: QGD Slav defence (D10), exchange variation
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Pages: 123
1. d4
A very interesting end game. The Bishop and Knight Mate is the most difficult of the so-called "elementary" mates and there is nothing elementary about them for a beginner player.... or even a more experienced one. It is a very rare ending but it is a very useful to learn how to do this, otherwise the game will sure to be thrown into a draw either due to 50 move rule, or a stalemate. This would be off course unfortunate because it is a won game, but one must know exactly what to do. I will deal with this more in detail toward the end but for right now lets begin:

 
1... d5
I am dealing clearly with a superior player so my strategy in such matches is always the same: MUST TAKE RISKS or else I won't stand a chance. (I will probably lose either way, but if I take a risk I have at least a remote chance of surprising my opponent and create an interesting game).

 
2. c4
In all of my wins against 1800 players (berbatov was ranked over 1800 at the time we started), it always happened in the same way: Develop a board "feature" and then take advantage of it. You will see what I mean by that in the coming moves.

 
2... c6 3. cxd5 cxd5
So far standard opening. I was going for a Slav defense since that seems to be a less played game around here, and it takes some people by surprise. Exchange variation.

 
4. Nc3 Nc6
Not fully familiar with this development but again, I am willing to take chances against berbatov.
2 comments
 
5. Nf3 g6 6. Qb3 e6 7. Bg5
Awkward move for me. I did not like it, but there it was and I had to deal with it. I took my time to play my next move.

 
7... f6
I was forced to ruin my king side protection for the castling. The bishop position was so dangerous, that I felt I had no option.
3 comments
 
8. Bf4 Bg7 9. e3
After this move, I started feeling better about that development. Fianchetto in place, his dark bishop squeezed, my castling options still alive.

 
9... a6
Passive, but against a stronger players, I put more emphasis on developing than attacking. I really don't want his Nb5.

 
10. a3 Nge7
Preparing to castle.

 
11. Bd3
berbatov developing further. Again, something I noticed a higher ranked players tend to do. More emphasis on a development. It usually creates a richer and more complex game, with greater number of possibilities. That makes sense considering that a higher number of strong pieces are involved in the game.

 
11... e5
I am starting to exploit the Bishop's position, and I am pushing my pawns. Pawn game is in general not a good strategy against a stronger player, but that Bishop was asking for it. In addition I get to push my pawn in the center.

 
12. dxe5 fxe5 13. Bg5
Darn, I knew that that Bishop will be a pest.

 
13... e4
I really wanted to gain some center control and some piece advantage. I sacrificed my King's protection to do this, and I knew this. I was willing to take that chance. Note that he has a lot of heavy artillery pointed in the direction of my King's area.

 
14. Bxe4 dxe4 15. Nxe4
I am a pawn up, but my King seems naked. I am sure berbatov was fine with this. I am a bit underdeveloped to boot.

 
15... Qa5+
Here I gain a tempo move. I figured I gained a pawn advantage, but he had position on me. If I could gain a tempo move, maybe I make up for the position disadvantage and perhaps retain my piece advantage.
1 comment
 
16. Ned2 Qb5 17. Qxb5 axb5
This was another result of Qb5 I was aiming for. I wanted to develop a "feature", namely an early a-file opening. And this is the formula I have followed in the past against superior opponents. Now my job is not to let that feature go to waste, and hopefully take advantage of it. I might end up sacrificing few pieces on the way, but I need to be on a look out to maximize this a-file opening. This now becomes my sole focus.

 
18. O-O-O
berbatov didn't seem to be concerned with the a-file threat.... I wonder why, because now my mission is starting to crystallize.

 
18... b4
You see where I am going with this.

 
19. Nc4
I didn't like this move. It was threatening my King with Nd6. Also, his rook is poised to strike since d-file is clear. I had to abandon my attack temporarily and castle immediately.

 

Pages: 123