Annotated chess game: How not to win a game

« TAP TO LOG IN

ANNOTATED GAME

How not to win a game
Baron vs. Beauty
Annotated by: charleshiggie

(2222)
Chess opening: Guatemala defence (B00)

Interactive

•

Show all comments

•

All annotated games

•

View chessboard as:

I was playing the most beautiful girl in the world, with a mass of golden hair, bright, hypnotic emerald eyes. I was in a dilemma. If I beat her I knew that she would hate me. On the other hand, if I let her win too easily she would know that and not respect me. I had to play carefully. As we shook hands across the board, and I felt the gentle touch of her soft skin, I looked into her eyes and realised that I had to get this just right.

1. e4 b6	Oh dear, one of the weaker defences.



2. d4 Bb7 3. Bd3 f5	This is really interesting. In an old 1960s edition of the magazine "Chess" they ran a "How good is your chess" column and this move was given maximum marks. In fact latest theory considers it to lose quickly.



4. exf5 Bxg2 5. Qh5+ g6 6. fxg6 Nf6	Bg7 is a better move for Black, but after 7. gxh7, Kf8, 8. Nf3!! has been shown to give White a clear advantage in all lines.
	1 comment charleshiggie (2222) on 28-Jun-08: The Baron tells me "Yes of course I saw that pretty opportunity to mate, by playing 7. g6xh7! Nxh5, Bg6, but you must remember I was trying not to win!"


7. g7+ Nxh5 8. gxh8=Q Bxh1	And so we get to this strange position, where both sides have exchanged their king side rooks. Now White has several ways of winning now, taking on h7 with queen or bishop threatens mate, or Bh6 is also strong. Then I glanced across the board at my angel. I couldn't do it to her. I played 9.f3, which also seems a good move, trapping the Bishop on h1 in.



9. f3 Nc6 10. Be4	10. Be4 is again the perfect move for my strategy. Taking on h7 or Bh6 is still strong, but I wanted to play plausible moves, which didn't win, but didn't lose, but seemed reasonable.



10... Nxd4	And now 11. Qxd4 looks good, however......



11. Bxa8 Nxc2+ 12. Kd1 Nxa1 13. Be4 d5 14. Bxh7 Qd6	Preventing the killing check on g6



15. Bh6 Qf6 16. Qxf6 Nxf6 17. Bxf8 Kxf8 18. Bd3 e5	Although White is in theory a pawn down, I am still in control of this position, as the Na1 and Bh1 are out of play.



19. Nd2	I am pretty sure that this position is a win for White, and she can't stop me me playing K-c1-b1 and taking the knight on a1, but I didn't actually want to win, so I leaned forward and said "Well I know that I am a pawn down, but I think I have compensation. Do you want a draw and then we can see if we get a result with colours reversed?" She nodded her lovely little head and held out her soft warm hand. I once again had the pleasure of shaking it. I had done it! I had got the results I wanted!
	1 comment toiletduck1 (1200) on 29-Jun-08: I enjoyed it, but I think u need 2 make it clear to readers that it's actually not u playing this game! and that the baron is actually someone else. To really understand this annotation one needs to be on team england and to have read his wonderful accompanying story in the forum.