Annotated chess game: The Great Escape

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ANNOTATED GAME

The Great Escape
georgieta (1530) vs. wildtofurkey101 (1639)
Annotated by: wildtofurkey101 (1200)
Chess opening: Ruy Lopez (C65), Berlin defence, Kaufmann variation

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An exciting game that I figured deserved annotation. After a fairly blocked, complex opening, White eventually develops a menacing attack on the kingside. After initially missing a chance to gain a large advantage, White gets a big chance to eventually mate on the queenside. Despite a late rook sacrifice to force a draw, White could have still won through the right moves, however crucially slips, and can only come away with a draw.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bc4 O-O 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 d6 8. Nc3 Nd4 9. O-O Qd7	Now Black's pawn island becomes separated. 9...Nxf3+ would have been easier, where 10. Qxf3 would have met with 10...Bg4, gaining tempo and maintaining control of the centre.



10. Bxf6 gxf6 11. Nd5 Qd8 12. c3	Trying to drive the pesky knight away, but taking with the knight may have been simpler; still, White retains his small advantage.



12... Ne6 13. b4 c6 14. Ne3 Bxe3 15. fxe3 b5 16. Bb3 Ng5 17. Nh4 Kh8 18. Qh5 Kh7 19. Rf2 Rg8 20. Bxf7	The first important moment of the game, where White misses the obvious pin on his pawn, to which Black takes advantage of. 20. Kh1 was safer, eliminating Black's next move and keeping the pressure on. Now a fork comes.



20... Nh3+ 21. Kf1 Bg4	Here Black figured he had trapped the Queen, but misses a gross oversight. 21...Rg5 was the best move, driving the queen away and eventually taking the exchange afterward, Black would have a slight advantage. Now White's attack develops in spades.



22. Bg6+ Kg7 23. Qxg4 Nxf2 24. Kxf2 Kf8 25. Qh5 Rh8 26. Bf5 Rg8 27. Qxh6+ Ke8 28. Bg6+	White is trying to get his bishop into the attack, but its job at f5 covers important territory that it was not necessary to leave its post. 28. Qh5+ was strong, and against perfect defence White's attack is powerful. Black gets a break here.



28... Kd7 29. Nf5 Rh8 30. Qg7+ Kc8 31. Ne7+ Kb7 32. a4 Qd7	Black doesn't like the idea of a discovered check on his Queen, but now makes a mistake that could cost him. 33. axb5 cxb5 34. Bf7 would have more impact, as White's rook will eventually come into the fray, and Black is stuck and lost.



33. a5	White makes a bad error here, instead of going for the aforementioned 33. axb6. If Black goes 33...Rag8 it will be defeated by 34. bxc6+. Now if Black goes 33...Rag8 he will cause White all sorts of problems and neutralise his attack. However....



33... Rxh2	?? - Black decides to go for a desperate attack, and thinks the lone a-file rook will defend along the back rank, however now will lose at least a rook and almost lose here. As mentioned before, 33...Rag8, almost trapping the Queen, then 34. Qxg8 Rxg8 35. Nxg8 will give White at least decent compensation for the queen, with a fairly trapped position will make it difficult to make progress.



34. a6+ Kb8	34...Kb8 runs into 35. Nd5+. 34...Kc7 loses also to 35. Nd5+ Kb8 (35...Kd8 36.Qf8 Qe8 37.Qxe8#; 35...Kc8 36. Bf5) 36. Qf8+ Qc8 37.Qxd6+ Qc7 38. Qxc7#.



35. Qf8+ Kc7 36. Qxa8 Rxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Qg4+	It was this move Black had been planning on for a draw, and White in any case will force mate if Black runs out of checks. If White can get cover behind the barrage of pawns and get across to the queenside, he will win, however, White missed his opportunity.



38. Kf1	Now Black forces the draw. 38. Kf2 forces Black to push away to 38...Qh4+ and White will eventually escape to the Queenside and eventually force mate.



38... Qf3+ 39. Ke1 Qxe3+ 40. Kf1 Qf3+ 41. Kg1 Qe3+ 42. Kg2 Qe2+ 43. Kh3 Qf3+ 44. Kh4 Qf4+ 45. Kh3	Certainly not 45.Kh5?? Qg5#.



45... Qf3+ 46. Kh2 Qf2+ 47. Kh1 Qf3+ 48. Kh2 Qf2+ 49. Kh1 Qf3+ 50. Kg1 Qe3+ 51. Kg2 Qe2+ 52. Kg3 Qe3+ 53. Kh2 Qf2+ 54. Kh1 Qf3+ 55. Kh2 Qf2+ 56. Kh1 Qf3+ 57. Kg1 Qe3+ 58. Kg2 Qe2+ 59. Kg3 Qe3+ 60. Kg2 Qe2+ 61. Kh1 Qf3+	Draw Agreed. White won't escape the checks. However, Black escapes a loss.