A Gucco Piano (Quiet Game) Chess Game‏

I'm in training for the big Victoria Open chess tournament this coming Saturday! My chess compadre Ken Henkelman and I have played about ten games a week for the past several weeks, and I am winning about 1/3 of our games and drawing a few others. Tonight I scored an exciting win in the "Gucco Piano" (the quiet game) opening. I have basically abandoned my gambits with the White pieces against Ken, because I have learned that if you give Ken an extra pawn, even to gain more rapid development, you generally get smashed. So I have been using "normal" openings with White in recent games with Ken - hence the "Gucco Piano".

I gradually build up a substantial positional and material advantage, and the game ends with a beautiful discovered check position. I submit this game for your consideration.

DEVRIES vs HENKELMAN 03-22-2010

WHITE (DeVries) BLACK (Henkelman)


-1- e4 c5
Ken chooses the Scicilian Defense.
-2- Nf3 Nc6
-3- Bc4 Nf6
Ken chooses the "Two Knights Defense." I have played the first 3 moves for the Gucco Piano.
-4- d3 g6
-5- Bg5 Bg7
I ignore Ken's "King's Indian Defense."
-6- c3 0- 0
My pawn move keeps Ken's bishop from dominating the diagonal.
-7- 0 - 0 d6
-8- h3 Bd7
White's 8th move prevents pin of knight against White queen.
-9- QNd2 a6
-10- Re1 Re8
-11- Qc2 Qc7
-12- QRc1 e6
-13- a3 QRd8?
Black Rook would have been better placed on c8.
-14- d4 P x P
-15- P x P Qb6
-16- e5 P x P
-17- P x P Nd4
-18- N x N Q x N
-19- P x N Bh8
I have a minor piece advantage.
-20- Nf3 Qb6
-21- Ne5 Bc8
-22- Ng4 Qd4
-23- Qc3 Qc5
-24- Nh6 check Kf8
Forcing the exchange of queens when I am ahead in material.
-25- Qb4 Q x Q
-26- P x Q Rd4
-27- Ba2! R x P on b4 ?
A pawn sacrifice that wins the game for me.
-28- Rc7 Rd8
Black's 28th move saves him from checkmate, temporarily.
-29- R x P on f7 check Ke8
-30- Re7 check Kf8
-31- R x P on h7 check Ke8
Threatening R x B on h8 checkmate.
-32- f7 check Kd7
-33- B x R Bg7
-34- R x B Rf4
A beautiful discovered check finish.
-35- f8 queen check Resigns