Annotated chess game: Grob attack [Fritz gambit] mini-tournament

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ANNOTATED GAME

Grob attack [Fritz gambit] mini-tournament
dksrox (1209) vs. last_archimedean (1307)
Annotated by: last_archimedean

(1564)
Chess opening: Grob (A00), Fritz gambit

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Yep, another new mini. This time I'm going with the opening championed by the Swiss painter and chess player Henri Grob. [It became the favorite opening of, of all things, the dozen members of the Virginia Penitentiary Chess Club -- for 15 years they played nothing but 1 P-KN4 as their opening move in their games. Apparently one of the inmates had read Grob's booklet espousing the opening.]

1. g4 d5 2. Bg2 Bxg4 3. c4 c6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Qb3 Nf6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qxb7 Nbd7 8. Nb5 Rc8	The starting position for all the games.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 25-Jan-14: Personally I don't go much for such a long series of compulsory moves, but I have to acknowledge the position looks interesting. I think I prefer black's game in principle: more solid, and with more of a presence in the centre, but white looks to be having fun so far.


9. d4	White elects not to snap up the loose pawn on his QR7.



9... Be7	Clearing a route for castling.



10. f3 Bh5	Ducking clear.



11. Qa6 O-O	Placing my King into safety.



12. Nd6 Bxd6	If White wants to swap minor pieces, I'm agreeable.



13. Qxd6 Nb6	I offer to exchange Queens as well.



14. Qg3 Bg6	Shielding the White Queen's attacking line.



15. f4 h6	Creating a retreat, if it proves needed.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 25-Jan-14: I have a feeling White is starting to neglect his mobilization.


16. Nh3 Ne4	Placing my Knight on a strong outpost.



17. Qa3 Ra8	Hastily guarding the attacked Pawn.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 27-Jan-14: I was thinking that Black had much the better game - well centralized and solid. He can afford this de-centric move, but I would have preferred ...Rc7 here, I think.


18. Rg1	A useless move. 18 O-O or 18 B-K3 enabling 19 O-O-O were far better options. White has played well up to this point but now is the time to get the King out of the center.



18... Nc4	Placing my other Knight on a strong central outpost as well.
	2 comments archduke_piccolo (2355) on 25-Jan-14: Powerful, powerful knights! tulsatallguy (1553) on 26-Jan-14: Very strong!


19. Qb3 Qh4+	I exploit the fact that White failed to secure his King's safety by castling earlier.



20. Kd1 Nf2+	Now I force the win of a oiece.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 25-Jan-14: 20.Kf1 Ncd2ch 21.Bxd2 Nxd2#.


21. Nxf2 Qxf2	Either the Rook or Bishop must fall. 22 B-Q3 fails against ... NxB.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 25-Jan-14: If instead 21.Ke1, Black won a whole rook at least: 21.Ke1 Nxh3ch 22.Qg3 Qxg3ch 23.hxg3 Nxg1 24.Kf1 Nxe2 Kxe2 etc.


22. Re1 Qxg2	I now have a technically easy win.



23. e4	This blunder enables me to force mate.



23... Bh5+	White's fate is sealed.



24. Re2 Qxe2#	The end arrives.
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2355) on 25-Jan-14: A fine win by Black, but White has to be mindful at move 8 to keep developing his game as quickly as he can.