Annotated chess game: Challenge from anonymous 2

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ANNOTATED GAME

Challenge from anonymous 2
otakumadness (992) vs. (name redacted) (945)
Annotated by: otakumadness (1230)
Chess opening: Queen's pawn (D00), stonewall attack

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1. d4 d5 2. e3 e6 3. Bb5+ c6 4. Bd3 g6 5. Nc3 Bb4 6. Bd2 a5 7. a3 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 a4 9. Nf3 h5 10. Ne5 f6	So far this is a pretty typical opening. This is my second game against this opponent, so I already sort of knew what to expect. My opponent has a bad habit of leaving key pieces open, which happens again in this game, as well.
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: It's not quite as typical as I'd expect, but I've seen it before. So, neither is it uncommon, and the reason I posted my previous sentence is because there is something for me to learn. When I say not as typical as I'd expect, it doesn't mean that I expect, but rather, I'm not used to the opening. So, I've got to take a little more time studying. But, this is why, I would, in the future, appreciate if you annotated more in the intro, and not just wait until the 10th move to do so. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: In my view, White has played with more purpose than Black, after 10 moves having all his minor pieces deployed. Black has moved but one minor piece, and then exchanged it off. Far too many pawn moves! Where is Black to castle? Dare he castle at all? Finally, this pawn thrust to drive away the knight merely permits White to chop up Black's K-side.


11. Nxg6 Rh7 12. Nf4 h4	The mistake my opponent makes in both their games against me: leaving their pieces unguarded. I get a free rook with no threat to my bishop.
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: For the time being, that is not correct because he has both rooks and still has the chance to save one of them. But, he left the pawn en-prise, and this statement is about to become accurate since you will have discovered attack on his Rh7 which he'll miss. Having said that, stronger then 11.Nxg6, was 11.Bxg6+, where not only would he have an exchange, R for N, at the very least. But, right then and there, his K would be exposed and wouldn't be able to castle. This would've given you an edge even sooner. Having said that, he is, as you point out here, about to go terribly wrong. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: It is a pity Black made this oversight, as we could then have seen just how big an advantage he had conceded to White already. After 12...Rh6 13.Bg6ch ... the BK would have to move, after which he will be stuck, vulnerable, in the centre.


13. Bxh7 Nh6 14. Bg6+ Ke7 15. Qh5 Nf5 16. Qh7+ Kd6 17. Bb4+ c5 18. Bxc5+	I've just been checking the king multiple times and I pretty much have control of the board now.
	1 comment baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: Yes, and I would've just assumed that you placed him in check for the thrills of it which would be ill advised. So, I'd give you other suggestions, but your instincts were correct here, and it goes to show what your pieces can do when the opponent is poorly developed. I'm also alluding to space advantage since your pieces are much closer to the center then his. In fact, when I look, I'm surprised to see his Q side completely undeveloped.


18... Kc6 19. Bxf5 exf5	Last game against this opponent, the knights gave me no end of trouble, so I thought I'd take one out while I could.
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: Well, you didn't completely take it out since he didn't just lose an additional piece which is what, I believe, you're implying. But, otherwise, you're correct, and this favors you since you're liquidating while ahead which will give him less. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: The annotator's meaning was that he eliminated a knight that might have proved troublesome. That it was Black's ONLY active piece justified its exchange in this game. Now Black's entire Q-side remains undeveloped, all his pawns are weak, and the King is exposed and vulnerable. Even without his extra rook, White would have a winning advantage, here. His only problem now is that in all the excitement his position has become a bit disorganised and needs a little bit of regrouping.


20. Qxh4	But I get a free pawn out of the exchange, too.
	1 comment baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: Now, I see what you're alluding to, and this is spot on.


20... b6	This was a good move on the part of my opponent, trying to force my bishop back and open more space for their pieces.
	1 comment baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: Yes, but it's too little too late.


21. Bb4 Kb5 22. b3	Now my goal is just to get rid of as many of their pieces as possible and weaken the king's defenses.
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: That's what I thought in my last game. Although I was behind, and Master Nathan Resika told me that my thinking was flawed, in that game. But, you're correct here. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: White wants to open lines for his rooks to get at the Black King. This looks like a good way to go about it.


22... axb3 23. cxb3	Exchange of pawns



23... Qc7 24. Nxd5	I get a free pawn. Wasn't really expecting my opponent to fall for this--was expecting their next move to be moving the queen somewhere else, but...
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: He overlooked the trap because of what you note below. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: Instead of the immediate 24.Nxd5, I might have been inclined towards 24.a4ch, with the idea 24...Kxb4 25.Nxd5ch and a knight fork, or 24...Kc6 25.Rc1 and a skewer. Black's 'best' would have been 24...Ka6 after which 25.Nxd5 heralds a coming final assault.


24... Kc6	...now I get the queen.



25. Nxc7 Kxc7 26. Qh7+	And the game is pretty much decided at this point. Five moves away from checkmate.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: The game was decided long ago.


26... Bd7 27. Rc1+ Nc6 28. d5	Because the knight is protecting the king, I figure I might as well help myself, otherwise the king just has a perpetual wall around him and I don't have enough pieces to break it at this point.
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: This is how I would also think. More importantly is the fact that the Nc6 is directly pinned, which you take advantage of. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: Even without this pawn move - a typical attack against an immobilised piece, by the way - White has plenty of resources to break down Black's defences.


28... f4 29. dxc6 Kc8	Not too smart at this point; the king gets checked again on the next move. Might have been better to move the king to d8, but at this point, checkmate is inevitable.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: Instead of 29.dxc6, 29.Rxc6ch was also strong, but the pawn capture seems to be the more accurate method. After 29.dxc6 Kb8 29.Qxd7 ... Black can defend against Qb7# and Bd6# both only by 29...Ra7, but then comes 30.Qd8#.


30. Qxd7+ Kb8 31. Qb7#	And mate. I noticed that the rook on the a column never actually moved (well, neither did one of my rooks, but I never needed it). Black would have done well to keep a tighter hold on their pieces, perhaps even using the "analyze the board" option to play ahead several moves and see what works best.
	2 comments baddeeds (1609) on 22-Feb-20: I use analyze the board, and this was, very well annotated, Corrine. In fact, it's better then I've seen before, but I still would've liked it better if you had annotated more in the opening. As there was more that I could've learned. But, that's my only criticism here. archduke_piccolo (2355) on 03-Mar-20: A fair comment, methinks, Joe. White played the game with a lot more purpose than Black did!