I think right here is the crucial point of the attack. Now appears to be a good time to exchange bishops: 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.h5 ... and now: [A] 12...Nxh5? 13.g4 Nf6 14.Qh6ch Kh8 15.e5!! ... attacks the defending knight, but this is to block the lateral communications the queen has to Black's left flank; 15...dxe5 16.g5 Nxh5?? (Better ...Rg8, though Black would still be on the back foot) 17.Rxh5 gxh5 18.Bd3 ... with a terrific attack; [B] 12...gxh5 13.g4 Qxa2 (or ...hxg4; Qh6ch) 14.e5 dxe5 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Qg4ch Ng6 17.h5 h6 18.Qg3 Nxh5 19.Rxh5 and things are again looking good for White.

Which is significant.

This type of exchange, one feels, requires exquisitely exact timing. Good a move ago, the timing looks 'off' here. I feel sure I would have played 12.g4 with hardly a thought. Black would no doubt reply 12...Ng3 13.Bxg7! Nxh1 (Not 13...Kxg7?? 14.Qh6ch) 14.Bxf8 Nxf8 15.Bc4. As from h1 there is no prospect of escape for the knight, White can mobilise his pieces whilst ensuring that Sir Brian the Black remains under lock and key.

Again, I was following the opening databases.

Although I agree with ION about exchanges, I think that Charles is taking the right approach here. I remember that in an opening that I wasn't used to, I told my student that it wasn't studied by masters or grandmasters, again. ION rightly pointed out that it is, and to be exact, it was with the Laskers Opening. Then, Ken gave advise to look at databases once in a while, as otherwise, I won't be prepared which will cause trouble later on. In fact, that's what he was trying to get to during our second training game.

Yes: the knight recapture looks correct. Can't have it flapping about loose where it can be harassed by g2-g4.

Well, I'm glad she asked for help because she's learning there.

Which is how I'd think.

Practically the 'only' move. The one alternative, 13...Nh5 would have been faced with 14.g4 Nhf6 15.Nh3!? Rd8! 16.Nh5 Nf8 17.Bc4 Be6 18.d5 cxd5 18.exd5 Bd7 19.Nd2 (...Qc5)... Bringing up the last reserve. White looks to have the initiative firmluy in his grasp in this position. I'd like to play 20.Nde4, but as that would be met by 20...Qe3ch, maybe a preliminary 20.Kb1 would be called for.

I can see how the text would be attractive. There is a kind of Dragon Defence look to the game. But 14.g4 fits into that scheme as well. I think I would have played the pawn move, myself, not so much to advance it to g5, but to provide a 'covered approach' for the advance Nh3. At once 14.Nh3 would have been axed by 14...Bxh3.

I missed something similar against my mentor on Friday. But, Jack won with his Knight in a similar way. That will be the first OTB game of several that I'll annotate. It's another example of what TA taught being, "Knight Visualization Count" and just how dangerous those N's can become.

I don't think White has any choice but to do so!

I feel sure I would simply have taken the bishop as played. Black suddenly has attacking resources of her own in this line.

I agree with ION.

I liked the look of 18...c3, here: 19.bxc3 Qxa2. Probably it is similar to the text.

19.gxf5 c3 (or ...BxN at once) 20.bxc3 Bxf5 21.cxb4 exf6 22.Nc3 Qa3ch 23.Kd2 Qxb4 and Black seems to have a lot of pawns and the initiative for the piece minus. +++++ 19.fxe7 Nxe7 20.gxh5!? g5 21.Qe5!? c3! 22.bxc3 Bf5 23.Rh2 b3!

She would probably have had to play ...g5 pretty shortly, though.

The knight recapture looks counter-intuitive, but it vacates some real estate for ecclesiastical purposes: ...Bf5.