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ANNOTATED GAME
Round 5 of San Francisco Championships
bakerbaker (1704) vs. Jerome S. (1456)
Annotated by: bakerbaker (1200)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B21), Smith-Morra gambit
bakerbaker (1704) vs. Jerome S. (1456)
Annotated by: bakerbaker (1200)
Chess opening: Sicilian (B21), Smith-Morra gambit
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13... Nxe4 |
This is the only way to stop Nxf6. 13...e6 doesn't neutralize the threat because it takes a defender from the f6-knight, allowing 14. Nxf6 Qxf6 15. Bxd5! winning a piece. You must always be aware of tactical threats when playing wide open positions like this. | ||||
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14. Qxe4 |
I'm happy with my position, because I'm ahead in development due to Black's wasted Nbxd5 and h6 moves, and my isolated d-pawn isn't really a weakness right now, because it has potential defenders, and it's controlling the centre. | ||||
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14... e6 |
Black has to defend his pinned knight, and Nxc3 doesn't work because after Qxb7, Black's knight will be under attack, but I will also be threatening Qc6 forcing Black's queen to leave the defense of the a8-rook, so Black wouldn't have been able to counter both threats, and I would win material. | ||||
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15. O-O |
I calmy castle while I am waiting for a chance to exploit my lead in development to get a winning advantage. This will probably take awhile to do, but Black's next few greedy moves give me that opportunity. | ||||
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15... Nxc3 |
This inaccuracy only worsens Black's position. Black should be defending and completing his development. | ||||
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16. Qxb7 |
My slight lead in development has turned into a bigger advantage due to Black's bad move. Black has made a simple piece trade, but now his knight is under attack and my queen is strongly placed on b7 where it controls the 7th rank. | ||||
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16... Ne2+ |
16...Na4 loses a pawn after 17. Bxa4 bxa4 18. Qc6 Ke7 (18...Qd7 hangs rook) 18. Qxa4, winning the pawn while stranding Black's king in the centre. And 16...Nd5 is totally losing, because I win material after Bxd5 exd5 Re1 Be7 Rxe7 !! Always look for tactics like that in wide open positions, especially if your opponent's position isn't solid and he is lacking in development. | ||||
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17. Kh1 |
Obviously forced. | ||||
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17... Nxd4 |
This move loses the game the fastest, but Black's position is already losing. Black will have complications after Nxc1 Raxc1, because I will have three very active pieces, against Black's passive undeveloped position, and he'll have trouble castling because if he tries Bg7, then I have a tactic: Bxe6! Black thought his only chance was to greedily take my pawn, hoping it would be enough compensation for his weak position, but taking the pawn is actually the fastest way to lose. Remember what I said about wasting a move to take a free pawn. | ||||
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18. Rd1 |
I activate another piece while making a tactical threat of Rxd4 Qxd4 Qxa8. | ||||
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18... Bg7 |
Stops my threat, but the deadly pin on the d-file will continue. | ||||
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19. Be3 |
I could've played Bxe6 here, with a more complicated win, but I thought Be3 wins much faster and easier, because now I'm still threatening to win a piece, and this time Black cannot defend the knight anymore. | ||||
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19... O-O |
Black has stopped my piece winning threat, because now his queen can defend his knight without leaving the defense of his rook. | ||||
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20. Bxd4 |
An extremely accurate move. It's the first move in initiating my tactic, now I will win at least a piece. | ||||
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20... Bxd4 |
Black still thinks he is up a pawn for nothing, but he cannot recover from the pin on the d-file. | ||||
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21. Qe4 |
Now Black has to swallow his pride and give up his bishop, which is his only chance to stay alive, but his next greedy move gives me a much faster and prettier win. | ||||
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21... e5 |
Black is determined to hold onto his bishop, and keep his extra pawn, but this is a horrible blunder, because Black has overlooked the weakness of his king's position. | ||||
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22. Qxg6+ |
Now Black is totally lost. This was why h6 turned out to be a weakening move earlier. | ||||
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22... Kh8 23. Qxh6+ Kg8 24. Rd3 |
After thinking for almost twenty minutes, Black finally resigned when he saw there was no way he could stop mate without giving up his queen. Black's mistake in this game was not developing and activating his pieces, allowing me to overcome his passive position with an array of tactical threats. | ||||
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