Game reviewed on 8 August 2013 by M. Kellie

Game reviewed at the Dayton Chess Club on August 8th, 2013. Game commentary and analysis by: M. Kellie

1. e4 d6

2. d4 Nd7

3. d5

Position look: White immediately strikes for ‘space’ within Black’s realm. While this move has its positive points, it neglects opening development of minor/major pieces; so, while White has seized space, he also has essentially given up the ‘first-move’ advantage. Students, please provide comments as to the pros and cons of this position.

3. g6

4. Bd3 Bg7

5. Nf3 e5

6. dxe6 e.p. fxe6

7. O-O Ne7

8. Bg5 h6

9. Bxe7 Qxe7

10. e5

Position look: White strikes at the immediate weak point in Black’s position, the g6 pawn!

10. O-O

11. exd6 cxd6

12. Bxg6 e5

13. Be4

Position look: White is a pawn up and only has two pawn banks or islands while Black has three pawn islands; advantage is to White.

13. Nc5

14. Bd5+ Kh8

15. c3 Bg4

16. Nbd2 e4

17. Re1 Rxf3?!

Position look: An idea! Students, what is this idea? Answer, Black knows the e-pawn will fall, thereby placing himself down two pawns for the end-game play with three pawn islands -vs- two…not good! So Black seeks to find an idea worthy of this position which may lead to tactical victory! If gxf3, Black will have ripped open the White King position with Black’s light squared bishop becoming a ‘monster’ bishop, worth double value (6 points or more). Perhaps a speculative idea,… for if White plays 18. Bxe4, the idea is…lacking. However, this game was played at a 3 minute blitz time control so Black felt the White player would respond as he did.

18. Nxf3 Rf8

19. b4

Seems the Black e-pawn will fall and White will have a serious advantage after the Knight moves…so,…

19. Rxf3!?

Position look: Wow! A double rook sac proposal is now on the board! Students, what is the idea? Answer, the monster bishop idea is still on Black’s mind and yet,…even more hidden is the real intent of this move. Students, please provide your thoughts on this position.

20. bxc5 Rg3!!

Position look: The point of this amazing move is still the same idea off the original; i.e.- mating the White King via the light squares, assuming the White Queen moves off. Perhaps White should simply take the Rook, give up the lady and then re-coup the bishop? The position would then be two rooks and a bishop (light squared) against a Queen and bishop (dark squared). Another interesting branch is Rxe4 however, blitz being blitz, White selects another branch in hopes of getting a strong passed pawn on d6…

21. Bxe4? Bxd1

22. Raxd1 Rxc3

23. cxd6 Qd7

24. Bxb7 Bf8! …This ends White’s dream of Queening the passed d-pawn.

25. Bd5? Bxd6

26. Be6 Qc7

27. h3 Bh2+

28. Kh1 Bd6

29. Bf5 Qc6

30. Be4 Qc7

31. Bd5 Kg7

32. Bf3 Rxf3 …Students, why? What is this?