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ANNOTATED GAME

Playing with fear... pays!
Sajib_human_being (1577) vs. damafi (1636)
Annotated by: damalfi (1200)
Chess opening: Scandinavian defence (B01)
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Pages: 12
It was very funny. My opponent was rated... 1800! OMG! But let's see what happened. Then I'll explain why.
1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. dxe6 Bxe6 5. Nf3 c6 6. g3
First move that deviated from the usual lines. It's interesting, I can use the pin on Nf3 and press on f2. But I was playing with fear, so I take the tempo to cover my Be6.

 
6... h6
In this opening, Ng5 threats NxBe6, leaving me with a very weak, isolated pawn, and I have to prevent it. This means to castle (queenside, of course, since I plan a pawn attack on the Kside), and very quickly, so to be able to play Bf5 in case of Ng4. All that, taking care of Nxf7.

 
7. Bg2 Qc7 8. O-O Nbd7
If Re1, o-o-o, it is still possible for white to sac the exchange (RxBe6), and go on with a nice game.

 
9. d4 O-O-O 10. Bf4 Bd6
More accurate can be Qa5, then g5, and then Bd6, taking control of the diagonal.

 
11. Bxd6 Qxd6
The bad side of this exchange is that now I don't have anymore the Nc5 thrust, taking advantage of the pinned d pawn. Too bad.

 
12. a4
Going after my castled K.

 
12... Bg4
More accurate is g5, going for my own pawn storm.

 
13. h3 Bh5 14. g4
The known sac of a piece for two pawns was tempting me, but hey, against a 1800... I had to play with care! If he allows it, he must be sure it isn't sound.

 
14... Bg6 15. Nh4
Well... it doesn't sound like a 1800 move, isn't it? Still, I am wondering why he doesn't play d5 at once, which is the move I have to fear.

 
15... Bh7 16. Re1 g5 17. Nf3
Now I have to figure out how to play h5 without losing g5.

 
17... Rhe8
...but again, I was playing with fear, so I preferred to offer a R's exchange and see what happens.

 
18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. a5
What I am not seeing?

 
19... a6 20. Rb1 Qb4
My Q blocks his planned b4. Now he should play d5,

 
21. Ra1
Ok, he plans Ra4, and I have to be careful about where to put my Q. I thought that "of course" Qxb2 was bad, just opening columns for him to attack my castled K. As I said, "playing with fear", but it was sound.

 
21... Ne4
If Ra4, NxN. If he doesn't go for the exchange, Ne2+ and I'll win the R.

 
22. Nxe4 Bxe4 23. c3 Qe7
If Qc4, Nd2 and I lose my beloved lsb. Fear pays.

 
24. b4 f5
Alea iacta est: counterattacking.

 
25. gxf5 Bxf5 26. Kh2
? I expected some pawn advance on the Qside.

 
26... g4 27. hxg4 Bxg4
...can't be so easy. What am I missing?

 
28. Qd3 Bxf3 29. Qxf3 Qh4+ 30. Qh3 Qxf2
If Qxh6, Qb2.

 

Pages: 12