Annotated chess game: Traxler with 5.Nxf7

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ANNOTATED GAME

Traxler with 5.Nxf7 - The ideal attack!
jstevens1 (1779) vs. x-machine (1607)
Annotated by: black_cat_hamlet (1531)
Chess opening: two knights defence (C57), Wilkes Barre (Traxler) variation

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This game highlights exactly what Black wants to achieve with this opening - a fast and brutal attack that leads to checkmate or [in this case] a big advantage! That doesn't always work, of course [see my game #2 with Etienne/a_random_guy; http://gameknot.com/analyze-board.pl?bd=14861915&fb=1&rnd=0.7008528529855037] but when it does...

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Nxf7	The starting position of the mini-tournament...



5... Bxf2+	...and the normal follow-up - Black has to do this if he wants to get anything out of this variation



6. Kf1	By far the safest option - the next two moves are also normal for this mini-tournament...



6... Qe7 7. Nxh8 Bb6	!? It seems that mainline here is 7...d5 but there has to be playability in this move - by allowing the dark-square bishop to stay on the board, Black can exert considerable pressure on the a7-g1 diagonal [I think I'll be playing more of this move as the mini-tournament goes on...]



8. Nc3	Naturally, Joanne needs to develop her pieces as fast as possible to repel any attacking attempts from Black
	1 comment damalfi (1200) on 12-Nov-10: She has to prevent Nxe4. d3 was another option, it "develops" the dsb, who has a good spot on g5 since h6 would allow Ng6, threatening the queen. The knight, here, cannot move (it is devoted to defend e4), so it's only half "ok" to me.


8... d5	Developing with a tempo attack on the bishop, and White has two pieces and a pawn to choose from in which to recapture, although GK analysis prefers Qc5



9. Bxd5	?! Not the best recapture, even though Black can't capture the queen with Bg4. I had considered that, but rejected it due to Bxc6+ [the knight pair can be a monster in this variation] That was, however, the best move according to the GK analysis, but I get confused by the line it gives - 9.Bxg5 Bg4 10.Bxc6+ bxc6... but then the line continues Ne2, which allows Nxe4... why Qe1 wasn't considered by GK analysis, I don't know.
	1 comment damalfi (1200) on 12-Nov-10: By exchanging the lsb, white is giving up the h8 knight... I think the plan was NxB, NxN Qf8+ Qf3 QxNh8, NxBb6. With this move, white is further protecting e4 in a weird way... tactically "yummy" position


9... Nd4	?! At any rate, I opt to keep my knight - however, Bg4 is a plan in the immediate future...
	1 comment damalfi (1200) on 12-Nov-10: Bg4 is a plan now, since Qe1 is not good due to Nxc2, forking Queen and rook.


10. h3	Joanne puts a stop to that right away...



10... Ng4	But the knight can't be stopped! It seemed such a strong move at the time, opening up the f-file for my queen while posting my knight on a strong square... but there was a refutation that the GK analysis picked up on; 11.Bf7+ Kf8 12.Nd5!, and the black queen has no squares for intrusion on the f-file. It is true, though, that the knight cannot be taken right now...



11. hxg4	?? As will be demonstrated in the next couple of moves!
	1 comment a_random_guy (1985) on 12-Nov-10: Ouch!


11... Qf6+	The attack begins, and White's next move is forced; 12.Kg1 Ne2+ [double check!] 13.Kh2 Qh4#



12. Ke1	Although exposed, the king seems safe enough here, but I'm going to hazard a guess that Joanne missed my next move...



12... Nxc2+	! Once again, this knight shouldn't be taken! [13.Qxc2 Qf2+ 14.Kd1 Bxg4+ 15.Ne2 Bxe2#] Unfortunately the only other move that White has walks right into a king/queen skewer!
	1 comment damalfi (1200) on 12-Nov-10: These two sacs are pure poetry. Specially the first one, with the only reward to open the f column for the queen. Smashing. Nobody can blame Joanne for not having seen all this earlier...


13. Ke2 Bxg4+	Here, Black's advantage is +6.66... ;)



14. Kd3 Bxd1 15. Rxd1	Rb1 saves material, but the king becomes dangerously exposed after Nb4+
	1 comment damalfi (1200) on 12-Nov-10: If NxB, after NxR white coud have tried something like Rxh7... but for Qf1#. Devilish position for black. I cannot see any good in Bf7+, Ke7 and the white knight is lost... wow, "it seemed such a quiet game"...


15... Nxa1	...and then the black knight captures White's rook - Black just went from -9 to +4! Joanne resigned at this point, and with Black's material and positional advantage, who can blame her? I'm going to have to be careful though - she'll be sure to be looking for revenge in our second game! :P
	1 comment a_random_guy (1985) on 12-Nov-10: Nice game!