I never recapture with the queen. I do not like having the queen under menace on the center.

Common variation - I like the Scandinavian but this one I sometimes try instead of the queen recapture EDIT: Usually the case but mainline has her moving to a5 where she's perfectly safe (barring a mistake)

Well, the "classical" reply is 2...Qxd5, but black is playing very cool here (I think) making the opening a "Scandinavian Gambit".

You must know very well what you're doing when playing this. Particularly, you have to know which are black's attack lines against 3. c4. Plus, black has to be prepared to play 4. e6 (Icelandic Gambit), but this is not a preferred line at higher levels.

Black is one pawn late but has 2 pièces out against one for white, normal situation after a gambit.

I doubt 3. c4 here. Better to develop than to defend an extra pawn (e.g.Nf3). Then...I like 3.....c6 much more than 3....e6. Both of which are OK.

Bb5+ keeps the pawn while developing a piece. Bd7 is met with Bc4.

3. c4 is to be considered a third choice. White has to be very careful with the black squares and Ne4 by black.

White is threatening the c4 pawn with the discovered check. White threats Qa4+, winning back the bishop. So a lot of tactic fuzz here. Qe2 prevents Bxc4. Of coursse black doesn't go for it, taking advantage of having cramped white lsb developement.

Yes, I saw that in the DB If 8. d5 Bg4 (pinning the knigh to the queen and white has several dangerous attacking posibilities (by Qb4+ Re8 etc.) I found this edge t edge situation funny.

Before that, I think 7....0-0-0 is at least a mistake. However, white plays 8. Be3, but could have played 8. d5!

I don't have time to analyze it right now, but I am convinced black can get an edge letting white forking the pieces. As for black, anyway, Nc6 is a little questionable since black has to manage very carefully his c pawn in order to keep white's pawns under control.

To menace 11. ... Bxf3 if 12. gxf3 it weakens white's pawn structure on the kingside. If 12. Qxf3 Qb4+ 13. Bd2 Re8+ With other possibility : Qxb2

Black has definitely an edge, here, but the situation can be easily reverted if black plays passively.

But white sees the danger of 11. ... Qb4 and wisely plays a3 so that black plays Qd7 to enable Re8 and/or Qa4

11....Qd7 is a definite mistake, and 12. d5 capitalises on it immediately!

a3 was a good profilactic move. Black can capitalize on it at once by Na5, aiming to b3.

I agree: 11.a3 was more purposive than might at first have appeared. Now, 12.d5 opens up the fascinating prospect of this kind of thing: 12...Ne7 13.Bxa7 b6 14.c5 (of course 14.Qxe4 is much better, but it can be useful to explore these possibilities as something that might soon crop up as real opportunities) 14...Qxd5 15.Qa6ch Qb7 16.cxb6 ... and White has a distinct advantage (even though not as much as he would after 14.Qxe4).

12. ... Na5 was a mistake. I was to obsessed by my plan : attack on the queenside. I should have changed it and plaid 12. ... Bxf3 13. ... Ne5

I agree with ptitroque about Na5 and that Bxf3 was the correct move here. Joanne plays wonderfully here!

Fancy as it seems, Bc2 by black has to be carefully considered. True is that black has Nb3 and Qa4. After the latter, it becomes possible Bxb4, since Ra1 is hanging. You can't blame black for trying it. Of course, it is a very double edged way to attack.

I don't think 12...na5 was much better than ...Ne7, or ...Nb8, sure; but Black also has an uphill fight after 12...Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Ne5 14.Qd1, with moves like f4, Be2/0-0, Rc1, b4, c5 - even Bxa7 - all clamouring for White's attention. White must have a big edge after this: extra pawn, bishop pair, central control... all the 'small advantages' dearly beloved of the Neo-Steinitz School of which Dr S. Tarrasch was the doyen. (I'm not saying Jo has been playing 'shopkeeper' chess; far from it: she has played good, sensible stuff, and is reaping the benefits).

I still stick to my plan : quick attack on the queenside, thinking that with one pawn less and white's pawn far more Advanced, I would have no chance on an endgame. But Joanne counters everythink I try.

Even if the Ra1 is defended, black can consider Bxb4+, axB, Qxb4+, based on possible tactics if white goes Bd2. Then, black can Rh-e8+, Be2, Qxc4. Of course white has Rxa7, so it is all "food for thoughts"... probably, some theory book contains all this already analyzed.

Unlikely - you must be well out of the book by this. It seems to me that 17.Be2 is sufficient to put 17...Bxb4ch out of court.

Now the situation is getting very bad for black.

Black can think about c5, here, as a way to delay white's castling. If dxc6e.p. the power of the d8 rook is manifested. I won't say black has the edge anymore, but if he wants to survive, has to be very, very accurate. White already threats to trap black's queen with b5.

I do believe the b3-Bishop has to get outta Dodge, and right smart too, that is to say: now. If not sooner. The move 17...Bc2 is clearly indicated.

I have to say that I don't understand 18....f6.

@stalhandske: maybe to allow the bishop to develop (otherwise Qxg7 follows).

White is up in material, controls the center, has a better pawn structure (more advanced pawns) and his pièces are better connected (rooks). Black is in serious trouble (@ l-d-j: yes, although it obviouly seems a mistake)

As I said, black had to play very energically to get out of this. Instead, black is taking it calmly, with profilactic moves like Kb8 and f6. I've played similar games many times, and I already know the defensive way won't work for black against an accurate attack. White has completely untangled his pieces, something black must struggle to avoid at all costs.

At move 18, castling could have waited a bit in favour of 18.Rc1! Thenceforth, Black's LSB (light-square bishop) would have been in close custody on Death Row. Subsequently, White should not have exchanged LSBs, but played 19.Rac1, and you could have called this rook 'Jack Ketch.'

I assumed this was to prevent 21...Be5 if it werent for that possibility I'd think white would rather play Qd4 or c5

I hoped that Joanne was greedy enough to oversee it but it was no the case.

Another slightly better sequence had been: 24. Bxa7+ Kxa7 25. Qd4+ and black loses his DSB

  Very clever!

definetly liking whites prospects in this endgame

I couldn't find any efficient attack and thought that I was doomed if I let the initiative to my opponent playing solidly with a better position. The exchanges where a bit complex (white had to take with the proper pièces to avoid the loss of the c pawn or worse) but Joanne mad no mistake and my position went worse.

In my opinion, these exchanges have benefited Black more than White - at least from the objective point of view. However, as Jo tends to like 'simple' endgames - especially with a clear cut advantage - heading for her comfort zone does bring her certain psychological benefits. Black could go for just one more exchange here, heading for the 'pure' rook and pawn endgame, e.g.: 28...Qe8!? 29.Re1!? Qxe3 30.Rxe3 b5! 31.cxb5 Rxd5 32.Re7 g5 33.Rxh7 Rxb5 after which White still has work to do to bring home the win.

No, I wouldn't... So that I totally oversaw this (c.f. next move).

a simple pawn to h6 would heve been much better.  

Lovely move!!

Very pretty. A great example of how understanding theory can determine an entire game.

Exactly. Clever move ! And a good lesson for me.

this excellent move wins the game

The problem was not recognizing the pattern at once. True, it happens very rarely on live games... but sometimes it does!

Jo seems to have built a high security incarceration complex on the Q-side light squares!

30...b6 looks like a blunder, surely the pawn should remain on b7 so that black can get in the liberating c6 thus freeing his intrapped queen from the prison? maybe ...c6 should have even been played immediatly

I was looking for a stalemate (with very little chance on gameknot because of the time one has to think about the moves)

indeed b6 is not very good. the white Queen should move. so better offer here something so she gets moving. Or take action for the upcoming thread true the center. Suggestion > Say Kc8 or pawn to f5 --- Joannes move 31.Kf2 move is also not the best move to make. the also simple 31. pawn to d6 would lead to a total failure of blacks position. if you look good you will see that black have to give up a rook to keep alive. in the moves after

right, 30....b6 is the final nail in black's coffin

Entering a very unusual Queen and Pawn end game. In normal circumstances, this would be very difficult for white to win, not having a passed pawn. But with the enemy Queen locked up in the Tower at a4, White's task will be a lot easier.