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ANNOTATED GAME

Space City Open 07 (Reserve - rd #4)
Dennis D. (1215) vs. Thomas G. (1456)
Annotated by: tag1153 (1700)
Chess opening: Scandinavian defence, Lasker variation (B01)
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Pages: 123
1. e4
Welcome to day two of the Space City Open. After a night of tequila, a lumpy hotel mattress, and a roomate whose snores can be heard from space, I am sufficiently hung over, sore, and tired enough for some more chess. I enter the tourney room, and immediately check out the wall chart. I'm struck by two interesting facts - one, I have the black pieces yet again (I had figured on playing white in round 4), and two, my opponent is yet another kid of about 12. Believe me when I say I really want to win this game - for two reasons. The obvious - I need the full point to have any chance to cash; the other reason is that this kid yesterday exhibited some of the worse sportsmanship I've ever seen at a chess tournament. Some of the things that came out of this kids mouth were just shameful - especially comments directed towards opponents he had beaten (he was 2/3 entering round 4). I won't go into specifics, but suffice it to say that every player in the Reserve section was rooting for me. This kid needed to be put down hard, and I was just ornery enough on this morning to do it. He drops a rook early, and I tell myself that if given the opportunity I will give him a taste of his own medicine. Call me insensitive - or a bad guy - if you like, but circumstances dictated that I crush him to teach him a lesson. While I take no real pride in the quality of the game, it was satisfying to put him in his place. White opens with 1. e4.

 
1... d5
Once again, I play the Scandi.

 
2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5
My favorite Scandi variation, which I have seen 1000's of times.

 
4. d4
This is now REALLY my favorite line. Black's d pawn may very well end up being a target.

 
4... c6
Creating an escape route for my queen, which may give me the chance to pick up his d pawn.

 
5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Bd2 Qd8
I couldn't have scripted this any better. Little does my opponent know that of all of the opening variations possible in chess, this is the one that I am most familiar with.

 
7. Bf4
Moving a piece twice in the opening....another good omen for me.

 
7... Bxf3
A simple tactical victory.

 
8. Qxf3 Qxd4 9. Rd1
Ahead in development, white gains tempo with an attack on my queen. One of the intersting things about the Scandinavian is that white usually can gain a developmental edge, but black can neutralize it quite easily with correct play and just sit back and wait him out.

 
9... Qb6
Protecting my queen and keeping his DSB out of c7.

 
10. Qd3
White is apparently seeking a quick knockout down the d file, but he will come up short, as blacks developmental catch up protects his vulnerable squares.

 
10... Nf6 11. Na4
Trying to somehow trap or otherwise harrass my queen. However.....

 
11... Qa5+
Slows him down.

 
12. c3 Nbd7
Circles the wagons and introduces the idea of 0-0-0 that white must consider.

 
13. b3
Protects the hanging piece while giving it a new square to jump to.

 
13... e6 14. g3
I felt that his 10th was a little premature, and this move (in his mind IMHO) goes to answer the question of his LSB. However, it does open a line towards his Rh1.

 
14... Qd5
d5 is such a sexy square in the Scandinavian Defense. Blacks queen and both knights have access to it rather quickly, and here I utilize it to force an exchange of queens.

 
15. Qc2
?? Thinking this discovered attack on my queen is powerful, my opponent totally misses his hanging rook.

 
15... Qxh1
Being given the gift of such an enormous early advantage, I tell myself to refocus, get pieces off of the board, and put him away.

 
16. Qd3
? Is he focused on d7 for some reason? My opponent now gives me yet another gift as I can remove the queens.

 

Pages: 123