Annotated chess game: Let's play chess

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ANNOTATED GAME

Let's play chess
jamesxc (1458) vs. doolie (1443)
Annotated by: jamesxc (1513)
Chess opening: English opening (A21)

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1. c4	This is actually a very interesting game, right up until the last move. The English Opening. One of my personal favorites.



1... e5	The natural response, taking control of the center in response to the flank attack



2. Nc3 b6	The fianchetto often occurs in the English from both players, though not usually this early.



3. d3	Preparing the e4 push to limit the mobility of the light-squared bishop.



3... Bb7 4. e4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bb4	I have never been fond of this move. The c3 knight isn't protecting anything, it isn't exerting a particularly large influence over the center, and black is willing to sacrifice his bishop pair? Also, it allows white to develop his bishop to a good square that puts lots pressure on the center.



6. Bd2 Nf6 7. g3 Qe7	Preparing 0-0-0, which I think leads to very interesting games after 0-0 by white.



8. Bg2 Bxc3	Now black trades the pieces?



9. Bxc3 d6 10. O-O O-O-O	And here, things get interesting.



11. b4	The pawn flank attacking the king is often a good tactic when in a cross-castling situation. It means that often, the winner is the one who gets there first.



11... Nb8	Preparing to defend the potentially weak d7 square, or at least be ready to redeploy his knight where it can't be attacked directly.



12. Qa4	A signal that white is selling out everything for this attack.



12... Qd7	This move opens up some very enticing options with the bishop being able to attack the queen pinned to the King on the h3-c8 diagonal, though it requires protecting the h3 square first.



13. Qxa7 Na6	Trying to trap the Queen



14. b5 Qe6	A very good move, sacrificing the Knight in order to severely limit the usefulness of my Queen.



15. bxa6	I accept anyway.



15... Bc6 16. Ng5	Finally trying to protect the h3 square and skewer the Queen, but I waited to long, because Black sees it coming.



16... Qe7 17. Bh3+	I check anyway because it will win me a rook in exchange for the bishop. (Black can't block with the Bishop because Qa8#)



17... Rd7 18. Rab1	Setting up the rook sacrifice on b6 in order to free my Queen back up. I have enough material in hand to be able to afford this sac, even if it doesn't gain me a whole lot in terms of position.



18... Kd8	????? I suppose he was trying to break the pin on the rook, but of course, this allows...



19. Qb8#	checkmate. I told you that this game was good until the last move... Comments are read and appreciated, or you can PM me at jamesxc. Thanks for reading.