Immortal chess games are a wonderful part of the game's history, and I suppose I could start with an immortal played by two grandmasters. And yeah, I suppose I'll be doing just that before long - but since this is my introductory post, I'll get started by showing you one of my own. I'm pretty proud of this game, actually. Should I be?
This was played online in 2008. I had the black pieces.
- 1. e4 d6
- 2. d4 Nd7?!
Not a wonderful move, but it's not so bad at a ten-minute time control between two not-so-highly rated players.
- 3. c4 c5
- 4. d5 b5!? - Inspired by the Benko Gambit (1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 c5 3 d5 b5!)
- 5. b3
5. cxb5 is simpler and better.
- ...b4
- 6. a3 bxa3
- 7. Nxa3
Take note of this knight's location for future reference.
- ...Ngf6
- 8. f3
Isn't the f1-bishop starting to get a little annoyed with all these "pawn to a light square" moves?
- ...g6
- 9. Bb2 Bg7
- 10. Rb1 O-O
And with that, black has almost completed his development; white still has his kingside pieces on their starting blocks.
- 11. g4?? - This ignores development and loses material
- ...Nxg4! - The most direct response and kinda cute, if I do say so myself.
- 12. fxg4 Bxb2 - My (soon-to-be) extra pawn means more with every trade.
- 13. Rxb2 Qa5+
- 14. Qd2 Qxa3
Remember what I said about the knight after white's 7th move? Now that the dust has settled, it should be obvious that black holds all the cards: I've got an extra pawn and I'm well ahead in development. I do have some weak dark squares on the kingside and my queen could become a target. In recognition of those two drawbacks, white should play...what? E-mail your suggested improvement for white's 15th move: goldencrescentchess@live.com
- 15. Be2 Ne5 - Tickling the g4 pawn and making full use of the new outpost.
- 16. h3 Bd7 - Black is fully mobilized.
- 17. Nf3 f6! - Unafraid of the doubled pawns and inviting 18 Nxe5 fxe5, with control of the f-file.
- 18. O-O Rab8 - More tickling, this time b3.
- 19. Rfb1 Qa6 - In case of Rb2-a2, with a possible follow-up of Qa6-c8, hitting g4 again.
- 20. Nxe5 fxe5
- 21. b4 Qb6! - Trading pawns is undesirable for white: 22 bxc5 Qxc5+ and 23...Rxb2
- 22. Kg2??
I'm being a little dramatic here, I suppose - but consider these two facts: 1) Black is staring at f2 with his queen and rook. 2) His e2 bishop has no future where it is. Why not play 22 Bd1! to take care of both issues? This move would allow white's queen and rook to defend f2 and could possibly get the bishop onto a much better diagonal via a4. At least the bishop would have something to do.
- 22...cxb4 - similar to the note after black's 21st move: 23 Rxb4 Qf2+ and 24...Rxb4
- 23. Bf3 - Qf2+ has been prevented, but black keeps the b4 pawn. And also, the bishop is useless on f3.
- ...a5
- 24. Qg5?! - one piece by itself, even a queen, hardly ever accomplishes anything.
- ...Rf7 - as much to protect e7 as to prepare ...Rb8-f8, doubling rooks.
- 25. h4 Rbf8
- 26. Rf1 Qd4! - The invasion begins...
- 27. Rc2 - doesn't white have bigger problems than the c4 pawn?
- ...b3!
- 28. Rd1
Now pretend you're me here. After a weird and slow opening, you won a pawn with a very nice four-move combination. And to not only maintain your pawn advantage but also win a second pawn, you played very strongly and accurately throughout the middlegame. Now you're pushing your opponent right off the board when he decides, in his last, desperate throes, to hassle your queen. Are you going to sheepishly move your queen out of harm's way now? Or are you going to play boldly, finishing the game with panache and trans-epochal brilliance?
- 28...Rxf3!! Go on, take the queen, see if I care!
- 29. Rxd4 bxc2
- 30. Qc1 - One of three Dreadful Possibilites. Dreadful Possibility #2) 30 Rd2 c1=Q; Dreadful Possibility #3) 30 Qd2 Rf2+ 31 Qxf2 [31 Kg1 {31 Kg3?? R8f3, mate} Rxd2 32 Rxd2 c1=Q+ and 33...Qxd2] Rxf2+ 32 Kxf2 c1=Q
- ...Rxf2+
- 31 Kg3 R8f3, mate
Similar to a line in Dreadful Possibility #3, the other try 31 Kg1 Rf1+ 32 Qxf1 Rxf1+ 33 Kxf1 c1=Q+ and 34...exd4. This may have been my finest game ever. What do you think?
