Game reviewed at the Dayton Chess Club on September 18th, 2013.  G/15, names removed.  Game commentary and analysis by:  M. Kellie

1.  d3!?                e5

2.  Nd2                 d5

Position look:  I’m playing my “Grape” system once again (2.  Nd2).  Black responds with the logical choice of his two center pawns; essentially saying, ‘prove it’…!

3.  g3                    f5

4.  Bg2                  Nf6

5.  e4                    fxe4       …perhaps better here is 5. …Bc5

6.  dxe4                Bc5        …perhaps better here is 6.  …dxe4

7.  exd5                O-O

8.  h3?                  Bxf2+!   …I like my opponents idea here…can White survive?

9.  Kxf2                Ne4+

10.  Ke1               Nxg3

11.  Ngf3             Nxh1     …Black should play e4! here however, the rook is too tempting for him.

12.  Bxh1             Bxh3      …again, Black should play e4! here.

Position look:  Not a very good start for White here…Black has seemingly stripped White of positive outlook; for what can White do here but resign?  Chess is such an amazing game…and one reason is because of ideas.  Whites opening idea in this case has been easily ‘handled’ by the second player who must have felt quite smug with his…’work’.  Students, positions such as this one can be great learning tools, for in such a seemingly lost position as this one, I asked myself (during the game play)…”how do I fix this mess?  What ideas can I come up with…, how do I survive to win this?”  Again, chess is a game of many things and yet, much beauty can be found in the endless “ideas” which can be found in the game.  Current position evaluation is completely in favor of the second player…how to proceed?

13.  Qe2               Nd7       …perhaps greed is best here; either e4! or Qxd5…

14.  Qh2               Bg4

15.  Ne4!

Position look:  The beginning of an amazing idea!  Students, what is this idea?

15.                        …Bxf3

16.  Ng5!             h6

17.  Nxf3              Qf6?      …should not e4! be played here?  Instead, Black moves as hoped for…

18.  Be3               e4           …finally Black plays this move.  How should White proceed?

19.  Bd4!              Qf5        …Students, how should White proceed?

20.  Qg2               g5?         …Nf6 is much better…why?

21.  Nh4!             Qxd5

22.  Rd1               Qf7

23.  Qg4?!           Nf6?      …Black should play Qf1+ here…why?

24.  Bxf6              Qxf6

Position look:  Black is seemingly in complete control of this game.  An idea is needed…but will any idea be enough?

25.  Rd7               Qf1+      …perhaps, the best move (winning) here is simply…Rf7!

26.  Kd2               Rf2+?     …Black smells ‘blood-in-the-water’ and attacks

27.  Kc3                Qe1+

28.  Kb3               Qxh1??

Position look:  The second player gobbles up the help-less bishop and in so doing, proves true the old chess proverb…”greed kills”.  Students, what should Black play here instead of taking the Bishop?

29.  Qe6+             Kf8         …Black only now realizes his blunder on move 28.

30.  Qe7+?           Kg8        …White wants to checkmate with the lady in furtherance of the Rook idea, Rd7

31.  Qg7++

NOTE:  Despite the rather poor quality of play on both sides, I selected this game for several reasons.  First, the importance of ideas within the game, secondly, to give an example of why we fight!  How to win even when it’s hopeless, and thirdly, to show how even the slightest inaccuracies have consequences.