Annotated chess game: Running into a Stonewall

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ANNOTATED GAME

Running into a Stonewall
E.Horowitz (?) vs. Amateur (?)
Annotated by: tomwhufc (1200)
Chess opening: Queen's pawn (D00), stonewall attack

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11. Qf3

! Now Black's threat of ...NxN fades into an oblivion, as White's Queen move has re-established his control of the centre and has consequently assured the continued progress of his attack. If 11...NxN; 12.fxe5 Ne4?(note how in my last comment this move was given !); 13.NxN dxe4 and Black has lost a valuable Pawn without compensation.

11... a6

?! This is a strange yet curious move, how does 11...a6 enhance Black's prospects? Is Black just marking time? Is he waiting to see how White's plan unfolds? I think there is some reason behind blacks last move: The Kingside isabout as well-defended as it can be, and a regrouping of his forceswould not improve his defenceve positon. Black therefore prepares a Queenside counter-attack. I think he plans to advance his Queenside pawns in the hope of opening a file in that sector and in that way diverting Whites attenton from the Kingside. This plan seems logical, although theoretically the plan is harmless for White. For on the Kingside White attacks the Black king yet on the Queenside Black pursuesa purely positional objective, which can't harm White's King. In fact, White's attention now becomes so pressing that Black never gets any further with this intended pawn storm!

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12. g5

White decides this is the moment to inleash his violent bloodthirsty attack, in doing this driving off the knight.

12... Ne8

After 12...Nd7 the game would take a similiar course. White can now continue with 13. Qh5 or 13.Qh3threatening mate and thereby provoking a weakening pawn advance in front of the balc king.I the long run this would probably result in a winning position for white. but as it happensWhite has a more forceful and more enteratining way of penetrating immediately and smashing up the position of Black's King. Try and work out what.

13. Bxh7+

!!! Did you get it. If you did you're a better player than me becasue I didn't see it first time. This entertaining sacrifice is the logical outcome of the Bishop's manacing position on the diagonal. Black's castled positionnow becomes so vulnerable that his knig is exposed to a mating attack.

13... Kxh7

13...Kh8 is even worse, because of 14. Qh5 threatening 15.Bg6 discovered check and 15. Qh7 Checkmate!

14. Qh5+

Naturally.

14... Kg8

Forced

15. Rf3

Note how White's forces are taking up the posts invisaged by Horowitz's initial attacking plan. Now his idea is 16.Rh3 threatening 17.Qh7checkmate.

15... g6

This holds out longer than the alternative of 15.f6

16. Qh6

Still threatening 16.Rh3 17.Qh7checkmate.

16... Ng7

Valiantly trying to shield king.

17. Rh3 Nh5

Now Black's intentions become clear. His Knight blocks the all important h-file, preventing the executionof White's mating threat.White is a piece behind, Horowitz starts feeling queezy he cannot afford to let up his pressure now or 'He's doomed doomed i tells yer!'

18. Nxg6

! This great move breaks Black's position wide open. The availability of the Knight for the sacrifice is a tribute to this piece dominating the e5 square. The threat now is 19. Qh8 CHECKMATE. Black is left with no choice...

18... fxg6

...Forced

19. Qxg6+

This move unhinges the support of Black's Knight ON h5. Black must do something because if 19...Kh8?? then 20. RxN checkmate.

19... Ng7

Now white is two pieces down. Is he digging himself into a hole deeper and deeper or can he continue the attack?

20. Rh7

Threatens 21.QxN mate

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20... Bd6

This allows the Black Queen to guard mate along the 7th rank. This is forced.

21. Qh6

With Black's position absolutely destroyed, White has no trouble thinking up ways of prolonging the attack.

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