[Event "Golden Knights"] [Site "Corr USCF"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Game "19"] [White "Bob Kettering"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B15"] 1.d4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e4 {USCF Tournament play seems to attract every weird opening} dxe4 4.f3 e5 $3 {4...e5!! is the refutation move for this mutated form of the Blackmar Diemer Gambit} 5.Be3 Qb6 $1 { Unfortunately, once committed to this strategy of confrontation, there is no retreat for black, but I'd been getting away like this for a long time.} 6.Qd2 Qxb2 {6...Qxb2 mainly to break up the queenside and to prevent 7.0-0-0! which leaves black too far behind in development.} 7.Rb1 Qa3 8.dxe5 exf3 {8...exf3 is pretty much forced since black cannot let white achieve central dominance by linking the e and f pawns.} 9.Nxf3 Bb4 10.Rb3 Qa5 11.Bc4 $1 {White immediately punishes black's lack of development (multiple queen & pawn moves). 11...Be6 is not advisable due to 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Ng5 with no way to prevent Nxe6 & 0-0 trapping the black king in the center.} b5 {11...Ne7 12.Ng5 Nd5 13.Bxd5 cxd5 14.O-O Bxc3 15.Rxc3 Nc6 16.Nxf7 O-O 17.Rxc6 Qxd2 18.Nh6+ gxh6 19.Rxf8+ Kxf8 20.Rf6+ Kg8 21.Bxd2 Little did I realize what Bob had up his sleeve} 12.Bxf7+ $3 {This move is virtually the game winner since black is not developed enough or in position to defend the king in the center. If I knew exactly how capable Bob was, I would've resigned here, but after trying many losing continuations, I found one, and only one, which offered ANY hope, and that is the continuation with 14...Nh6! 12.Rxb4 Qxb4 13.Nxb5 Qxd2+ 14.Nxd2 cxb5 15.Bd5 Ne7 16.Bxa8 Nbc6} Kxf7 13.O-O $1 Ke8 {13...Ne7 14.Ng5+ Ke8 (14...Kg6 15.e6 Qd8 16.Qf2) 15.Rxb4 Qxb4 16.Nge4 Nf5 17.Bc5 Qc4 18.g4 Nd7 19.gxf5 Qxf1+ 20.Kxf1 Nxc5 21.Qg5 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxf5 <<13...Ne7?! results in a decisive advantage for white. Of course, at this point, just about everything results in a decisive advantage for white>>} 14.Ng5 Nh6 $1 {14...Nh6! is the only adequate response to white's threat of 15.e6! 14...Na6 15.Nf7 Nh6 16.Bxh6 Bc5+ 17.Be3 Bxe3+ 18.Qxe3 Qb6 19.Qxb6 axb6 20.Nxh8 Be6 21.Ne4 Bxb3 22.axb3 Ke7 23.Ng5 ++Decisive advantage white} 15.Nxh7 {15.e6 Ng4 16.Qd4 Qb6 17.Nxb5 Nxe3 18.Qxb6 axb6 19.Nc7+ Kd8 20.Nxa8 Bc5 21.Nf7+ Ke7 22.Nxh8 Nxf1+ 23.Kxf1 Bxe6 Advantage black} Ng4 $1 {The knight must attempt to eliminate the critical dark square bishop & at the very least move the bishop & create a kingside threat. Black also cannot allow the knight to be exchanged for the bishop on the h6 square. Just to prove that black's position is hopeless, Smoke takes white against Gary Johnson who used Fritz3 via E-mail after the game is over (see 15...Be6 16.Qd3) (16.Rxb4 Qxb4 17.Qd3 Bf5 18.Rxf5 Nxf5 19.Qxf5 Kd8 20.Ng5 Re8 21.Nge4 Qf8 22.Qg5+ Kc7 23.Bc5 Qg8 24.Bd6+ Kb7 25.Nc5+ Kb6 26.Qg4 Na6 27.Qd7 Reb8 28.a4 Qe8 29.axb5 Qxd7 30.Nxd7+ Ka5 31.Nxb8 Nxb8 32.bxc6 Nxc6) 16...Nf5 17.Ng5 Bxb3 18.Qxf5 Bc4 19.Rd1 Qc7 20.Ne6 Bxe6 21.Qxe6+ Be7 17.axb3 Bxc3 17...Be7 18.Rd1 Kf7 (18...Nf7) 19.Nd5 Qd8 20.Rf1+ Ke8 21.Qg6+ Kd7 22.Nxe7 Qxe7 23.Bxh6 Kc8 24.Bxg7 Rd8 25.Bf6 Qe6 26.Ng5 Rg8 27.Qh7 (18.Qg6+ Kd8 19.Qxg7 Nf7) (19...Rg8 20.Qb7 Qc7 21.Bg5+ Rxg5 22.Rf8+ Kd7 23.Nf6+ Ke6 24.Re8+ Kf5 25.Qxc7 Bd4+ 26.Kh1 Bc5 27.Qc8+) (20.Rxf7 Qa1+ 21.Rf1 Bxe5 22.Qg5+ Kc8 23.Rxa1 Bxa1 24.Qf5+ Kb7 25.Nf8) Fritz3 15...Be6 16.Qd3 Bxb3 17.axb3 Bxc3 18.Qg6+ Kd8 19.Qxg7 Rg8 etc.} 16.Bd4 $1 {White preserves the critical bishop & protects the pawn at e5 (16.Ng5 Be7 17.Nce4 Qxd2 18.Bxd2 Rf8 19.Bf4 a5 20.Nd6+ Bxd6 21.exd6 Bf5 22.Re1+ Kd8 23.Re7 Nd7 24.h3 Ngf6 25.g4 Nd5 26.gxf5 Nxf4 27.Ne6+ Nxe6 28.fxe6 Nc5 29.Rc3 Nxe6 30.Rxe6 Kd7)} Bxc3 {Bxc3 is the lesser of two evils. The knight must be eliminated since it is a crucial piece in white's attack, but black also needs to control the a3/f8 diagonal which is not possible without the dark square bishop. Bxc3 must be played before white can play Qg5 or Rxb4. (16...Rxh7 17.Qg5 Rh6 18.Qxg7 Be6 19.Ne4 Be7 20.Bc5 Qd8 21.Rd3 Nd7 22.Be3) (16...Nxh2 17.Kxh2 Rxh7+ 18.Kg1 Rh5 19.Qd3 Rh6 20.Be3 Re6 21.Qh7 Kd8 22.Qxg7 Bd7 23.Ne4 Be7 24.Bg5 Bxg5 25.Nxg5)} 17.Rxc3 Nxh2 {Black cannot stop white. Nxh2 is debatably the best move among poor choices.} 18.Nf6+ $3 {The game winner ! Brilliant !} gxf6 {I resigned here because best play is mate in 10 (18...Kf7 19.Nd5+ Nxf1 20.Rf3+ Ke6 21.Qxa5 Kxd5 22.Qb4) or don't capture the knight} 19.exf6 Kf7 {Forced ! Else f7+} 20.Qg5 $1 Rh7 21.Re3 Be6 22.Rxe6 Kxe6 23.Qf5+ $1 Kd6 24.Be5+ Kc5 25.Bc7+ Kb4 26.Qf4+ Ka3 27.Qe3+ Qc3 28.Qxc3+ Kxa2 29.Qb3+ {Sometimes losing is more educational than winning. I learned a new perspective which came in handy in another Golden Knight's game against BryanD who had a Master's rating.} 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Game "20"] [White "Perez Jr Robert"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A03"] 1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 $1 Nf6 {Needless to say I did not have a clue on how to play Bird's Opening. So Bob Perez was kind enough to enlighten me by demonstrating how to control the center and place my King in peril throughout the entire game with a blazing Kingside attack.} 3.e3 Bg4 4.d4 e6 5.Nbd2 Nbd7 6.Bd3 c5 7.c3 Bd6 8.O-O Rc8 9.Qe1 Bh5 10.Qh4 O-O 11.Ne5 Qc7 12.g4 Bg6 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.Rf3 Be7 $6 15.Rh3 cxd4 16.cxd4 Rfd8 17.Ndf3 Qc2 18.Bd2 Qxb2 $6 19.Rf1 Nf8 20.f5 $1 exf5 {20...gxf5 21.g5 Ne4 22.Ng6 Nxg6 23.Qxh7+ Kf7 24.Rh6 Nf8 25.Ne5+ Ke8 26.Qxg7 Rd6 -- Decisive advantage white} 21.gxf5 gxf5 22.Rg3 g6 23.Qg5 Rc7 24.Qxf5 Rd6 25.Nh4 {(25.Nd3 Qxa2 (25...Qb5 26.Nfe5 Ra6 27.Nf4 Bd8 28.Nh5 Qe2 29.Bb4 Qxh5 30.Qxh5 Nxh5 31.Rxf8+ Kg7) 26.Bb4 Ne4 27.Rg4 Rf6 28.Qe5 Bd8 29.Nf4 Rcf7 30.Qxd5 Qxd5 31.Nxd5 Rxf3 32.Rxf3 Rxf3 33.Rxe4 Rf5)} Bd8 {(Qxd2 26.Nhxg6 Nxg6 27.Nxg6 Rc1 28.Nxe7+ Kf7 29.Ng8 Rxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Rc6 31.Nh6+ Ke8 32.Qe5+ Kd7 33.Rg7+ Kc8 34.Qf5+ Kb8 35.Qf4+ Kc8 36.Qf5+) Draw} 26.Ba5 {(26.Nhxg6 hxg6 27.Nxg6 Rg7 28.Qe5 Rdd7 29.Nxf8 Kxf8 30.Rxf6+ Bxf6 31.Qxf6+ Kg8 32.Qe6+ Kf8 33.Qf6+ Kg8) Draw} b6 27.Be1 a5 {(27...Qb5 28.Nhxg6 hxg6 29.Nxg6 Rg7 30.Nxf8 Kxf8 31.e4) (27...Qa3 28.Qb1 a5 29.Nf5 Re6 (29...Ne4 30.Nxd6 Nxg3 31.Bxg3 Qxd6 32.Nf7) 30.Nh6+ Kg7 31.Nf5+ Kh8) (27...Qc2 28.Qxc2 Rxc2 29.Nf5 Re6 30.Nh6+ Kg7 31.Nf5+ Kg8 32.Nh6+ Kg7)} 28.Nexg6 hxg6 29.Nxg6 Rg7 30.Qe5 Rdd7 31.Nxf8 Kxf8 32.Rxf6+ Bxf6 33.Qxf6+ Kg8 34.Qe6+ Kf8 35.Qf6+ Kg8 1/2-1/2 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Game "12"] [White "Brian Stewart"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D02"] 1.d4 c6 2.Nf3 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e3 {According to Brian white gives up the initiative and plays defense trying to lure black into a dead end, whereupon white then successfully counterattacks. There was a gaping black dead end waiting to ensnare me, and his counterattack would've been decisive, but I got lucky. Interesting approach.} e6 5.Bd3 Be7 6.O-O O-O 7.Bd2 b6 8.Ne2 Ba6 {White is in the process of transferring his knight to the kingside. Black must eliminate the white square bishop, or win the center, else he'll quickly lose.} 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.Nc3 c5 11.Qe2 Nb4 12.a3 Nc6 13.Qd3 a6 14.b3 Qc7 15.Rfe1 b5 16.Red1 Rfc8 17.Ne2 c4 18.Qc3 b4 19.axb4 Bxb4 20.Qb2 Bxd2 21.Nxd2 cxb3 22.cxb3 Nb4 23.Rac1 Qb7 24.Qa1 Nd7 {If black continues attacking down the queenside, the dead end will quickly be reached, and white will counterattack, driving black off the board.} 25.Nf3 Rc6 {White's pieces are perfectly placed to quickly go to either side. If black continues his queenside assault, white can fight a delaying action while the attack starts kingside, or he can withstand black's assault, and successfully counterattack queenside. This is the reason black chooses to force the rook exchange & withdraw the knight.} 26.Rxc6 Nxc6 27.Rc1 Nf6 28.Nf4 Ne4 29.Ne1 Qb6 30.f3 Nd6 31.Ned3 Ne7 32.Nc5 Qb4 33.Qb2 h6 34.Nfd3 Qb5 35.Ne5 Nb7 36.Na4 f6 37.Nc3 Qb6 38.Nd3 Nf5 39.Na4 Qb5 40.Qc3 Ne7 41.Nac5 Nxc5 42.Nxc5 Kf7 43.Qd2 a5 44.Qc3 Rb8 45.Qe1 Qb4 46.Qe2 Rb6 47.Rd1 h5 48.f4 g6 49.Rc1 Nf5 50.Qf2 Rb5 51.h3 h4 52.Qe2 Rb6 53.Qd3 Ng3 $1 54.Kf2 Qa3 55.Qd1 a4 $5 56.Kf3 $6 axb3 $1 {With 56...axb3, Brian wondered if I had made a mistake !} 57.Ra1 Qb4 58.Ra7+ Kg8 $1 59.Nd7 Rb7 60.Rxb7 Qxb7 61.Nc5 Qh7 $3 {The game winning move ! The pawn on b3 cannot be captured due to 62...Qh5! The white king must move. I had carefully calculated the sequence from 56...axb3! which was extremely difficult since he often crossed me up.} 62.Kf2 b2 {With 62...b2 black now occupies both the queen & knight with the b pawn} 63.Qc2 {This is the best move for white since the black queen must be kept from e2 and d1.} Qh5 64.Na4 {White cannot play 64.Qxb2 because of 64...Qd1! which results in a quick mate for black or loss of the white queen.} b1=Q $1 {Successfully deflecting the white queen from the second rank. 65.Qc8+ proves unsuccessful leaving black with an easy mate.} 65.Qxb1 Qe2+ 66.Kg1 Qxe3+ 67.Kh2 Qxf4 68.Qxg6+ Kf8 69.Qg4 {White is forced to exchange queens else mate follows starting with Ne2+} Qxg4 70.hxg4 Ne2 71.Kh3 Kg7 72.Kxh4 Kg6 73.Nc5 Nxd4 74.Kh3 {74.Kh3 trying to gain a tempo.} e5 75.Kg3 Ne2+ $1 {But instead, black loses a tempo and allows the knight to park at c3.} 76.Kf2 Nc3 77.Ne6 Kf7 78.Nd8+ Ke7 79.Nb7 $1 d4 80.Nc5 Kd6 81.Nd3 e4 82.Nf4 Nd5 $1 83.g3 d3 84.Ke1 Ke5 { 85.Ng6+ Kd4 86.Nh4 Kc3 87.Nf5 d2+ 88.Ke2 e3 89.Nxe3 Nxe3 90.Kxe3 d1=Q 91.g5 fxg5 This was not as easy as it looked since black had to continually guard against white exchanging the knight for the d and e pawns forcing a draw.} 0-1 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Game "14"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "RileyL"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C64"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 {Well, this started out as a Ruy Lopez} Bc5 4.c3 Nf6 5.d4 exd4 6.e5 Ng4 $6 {6...Ng4? allows white to literally drive black off his position while continuing to develop.} 7.cxd4 $1 {It's all downhill for black from here.} Be7 { Based on the eventual result, black's best course here was probably to sacrifice the knight (8...Nxf2), and bring the white king out onto the board.} 8.h3 Nh6 9.d5 a6 10.Ba4 Na5 11.O-O Nc4 12.Bxh6 gxh6 13.Bb3 Na5 14.Bc2 d6 15.Re1 dxe5 16.Nxe5 c5 $6 17.Qh5 $3 {17.Qh5!! merely highlights the black king's vulnerable position. I passed up a "free" knight to make this move which should place an exclamation point on the merits of position vs. material. Always choose superior position over material because the superior position will result in a win, or even more material. Qh5!! forces black to defend the pawn at f7 which stresses his position to the breaking point.} Qxd5 {Almost looks like black may be able to defend, but now the defending piece is vulnerable} 18.Nc3 $1 {Now white completes development by attacking the black queen as she tries to defend the pawn at f7.} Qe6 19.Nf3 Qf6 20.Nd5 $1 Qd6 21.Rxe7+ $1 Kd8 {Now if 21...Qxe7 22.Nxe7 Kxe7 23.Qxc5+ and black loses a queen, knight, and pawn for a rook and knight.} 22.Ne5 $3 Qxd5 $6 {Better, but not by much, is (22...Be6 23.Rxe6 Qxe6 24.Nxf7+ Kd7 25.Bf5)} 23.Nxf7+ Kxe7 24.Qxd5 Be6 25.Re1 $1 { (25...Rhe8 26.Nxh6 Kf8 27.Qe5 Reb8 28.Qxe6 Kg7 29.Qg4+ Kxh6 30.Re6++) ( 25...Kxf7 26.Qxe6+) (25...Kf8 26.Qxe6)} 1-0 [Event "?, E-Mail Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "GaryR"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B75"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.Nc3 Bg7 6.Be3 Nf6 7.f3 a6 {The Yugoslav Attack vs. the Sicilian Dragon} 8.Bc4 b5 9.Bb3 Bb7 $6 { 9...Bb7 a miscalculation?} 10.Qd2 Nbd7 11.O-O-O Nc5 12.Bh6 O-O 13.Bxg7 Kxg7 14.h4 Nxb3+ {After the game I played this variation via e-mail against Gary's Chessmaster 4000 playing black from this position. I love playing Sicilian against computers. (14...Rc8 15.h5 Nxh5 16.g4 Nf6 17.Nf5+ gxf5 18.Qh6+ Kh8 19.g5 Ncd7 20.e5 Rg8 21.gxf6 Nf8 22.Bxf7 exf6 23.exf6 Bxf3 24.Rdg1 Bg2 25.Bxg8 Rc7 26.Rxg2 Qe8 27.Bd5 Qf7 28.Bxf7 Rxf7 29.Qg5 Ng6 30.Qxg6 a5 31.Qg8++)} 15.Nxb3 Qc7 16.h5 gxh5 {Normally it's 16...Nxg5 followed by g4. White sacrifices the pawn to open the h file. A different approach by black, but is there a weakness?} 17.g4 Rg8 18.g5 {Not 18.gxh5. The whole idea is to move the black knight from f6.} Nd7 19.Rxh5 {Here's the weakness. A delayed capture, and the h file is white's.} Rh8 20.Rdh1 Nf8 21.Nd4 e6 22.Nd5 $1 Bxd5 {Black can't leave the knight at d5, but can't capture with the pawn as that is mate in four! (22...exd5 23.Nf5+ Kg8 24.Nh6+ Kg7 25.Qd4+ f6 26.Qxf6++)} 23.exd5 Re8 24.f4 Qd7 {if 24...Qc4 white unleashes a devastating attack. (24...Qc4 25.dxe6 fxe6 26.g6 Kxg6 27.b3 Qc7 28.f5+ Kf7 29.Nxe6 Rxe6 30.Qd5 Ke7 31.fxe6 Qc3 32.Qb7+ Kxe6 33.R1h4 Nd7 34.Qd5+ Ke7 35.Rxh7+ Kd8 36.Qa8+ Kc7 37.Qa7+ Kc6 38.Qxd7+ Kb6 39.Qxd6+ Qc6 40.Qd4+ Ka5 41.Rxh8 Qc5 42.b4+ (42.Qxc5) Qxb4 43.Qxb4+ Kb6 44.R4h6+ Kb7 45.Qe7++)} 25.dxe6 $1 fxe6 {Although any one of four pieces can take the pawn, only the pawn is expendable and can defend the f5 square against the threat of Nf5. For 25...Rxe6 and a spectacular ending see the variation. However, fxe6 further weakens black's defense around the king. You will notice that the theme of a great Sicilian attack always involves well placed pawns. It is move 25 and the white queen has only moved once, but she commands the entire board. (25...Rxe6 26.Nf5+ Kg8 27.Qd4 Re1+ 28.Rxe1 Qxf5 29.g6 Qxg6 (29...Qxh5 30.g7) 30.Rg5 Ne6 31.Qf63) A spectacular ending !} 26.g6 $1 {In the variation, after 31.Qf6!! the knight cannot move because of the threat Re8 mate. (Kg8 27.f5 exf5 28.g7 Qxg7 29.Nxf5 Qf6 30.Nh6+) (26...Nxg6 27.f5 exf5 28.Qh6+ Kf6 29.Qg5+ Kg7 30.Nxf5+) (26...Re7 27.f5 Kg8 28.fxe6 Nxe6 29.Nf5 b4 30.Qd5 h6) This is one of my absolute best games because every black contingency after 22.Nd5! was covered in spades...} 1-0 [Event "?, E-Mail Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "GaryR"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E43"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 b6 4.Nc3 Bb7 5.e3 Bb4 6.Bd3 c5 7.O-O O-O 8.Qe2 Bxc3 9.bxc3 Be4 10.Ba3 d6 11.Ng5 Bxd3 12.Qxd3 h6 13.Ne4 Nc6 14.f4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Qe8 16.Rf3 Na5 17.Bc1 f5 18.Qc2 Nxc4 19.Rf1 Rc8 20.Bd2 cxd4 21.exd4 Qc6 22.Rac1 Rf6 23.Rf3 Rg6 24.Rf2 Qe4 25.Kf1 Rg4 26.g3 Qh1+ 27.Ke2 Qc6 28.Rf3 Kf7 29.Be1 h5 30.h4 Na3 31.Qb2 Qe4+ 32.Kf2 Nc4 33.Qb3 Rg6 34.Rc2 Na5 35.Qb2 Qc6 36.Qb4 Nc4 37.Bd2 a5 38.Qb3 a4 39.Qb4 Qe4 $1 { Possible continuation (40.Qxa4 Ra8 41.Qxc4 Qxc2 42.Qe2 Rxa2 43.Rd3 d5)} 0-1 [Event "?, E-Mail Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "ChessGreat"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B56"] 1.e4 {The learning Sicilian student (black) runs into a buzz saw} c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.f3 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Be3 O-O 9.Qd2 a6 10.O-O-O b5 11.g4 b4 12.Nd5 Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5 {Best here is 13.....Nb8} 14.Qxb4 Nxb3+ 15.Qxb3 f5 {By playing 15.....f5, black commits to defending the pawn at d6.If that pawn is lost in a close or straight up exchange, black will almost surely lose the game. It's an interesting focal point as the game progresses. (Like a toddler stuck in a military crossroad during heavy troop movements.)} 16.Be2 Rf7 $5 17.f4 $6 {White is trying to open files for his attack, but the opened files are more helpful to black because the black rook is on f7, and white has no light squared attack diagonal.} exf4 18.Bxf4 fxg4 19.Rhf1 Bf6 20.Qg3 Rb8 21.b3 $1 {This simple pawn move prevented a ferocious attack ! For 21.c3 see variation} Bh4 22.Qe3 Bf5 23.Kb1 {Moving the king to b1 eliminates complex pinning possibilities.} Qc7 24.Bd3 Rbf8 25.Bg3 Bg5 $1 {The bishop is safe since the white queen cannot be deflected from defending d3.} 26.Qd4 Bxd3 {Black now has no choice but to exchange down.} 27.Qxd3 Rxf1 28.Rxf1 Rxf1+ 29.Qxf1 Qc5 30.Qe1 {White has to be concerned about black's mating possibilities.} g6 31.c4 h5 32.Bf2 Qc8 $1 33.Bd4 Bf6 $1 {Black is forced to pull yet another rabbit out of the hat.} 34.Bxf6 Qf5+ 35.Kb2 Qxf6+ 36.Ka3 Qf4 37.Qh4 Kf7 {White opts for the perpetual check (38.Qd8 Qxh2 39.Qd7+ etc.) since black will now queen before white. If, at some point, the white queen is on e7, the black queen on h2, and the black king is on g8, white tries to advance the c pawn, black plays Qf2 and should win from there.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "?, E-Mail Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "GaryJ"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B85"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Be2 e6 7.O-O Be7 8.a4 O-O 9.f4 Qc7 10.f5 Nc6 11.Be3 Ne5 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.Qc1 {Normally it's Qe1 then Qg3.} Bd7 14.Qd2 Nc4 {Eliminating white's light square bishop before it can cause problems.} 15.Bxc4 Qxc4 16.Rad1 Ng4 17.Nf3 Nxe3 { This, too, is a normal Sicilian strategy for black, trading knights for both white bishops.} 18.Qxe3 Rac8 19.Rd3 Qb4 20.Rfd1 Rc7 21.h3 Rfc8 22.Qc1 Be8 23.Nd4 Bf7 24.Nf3 Rf8 25.Qa1 e5 26.Kh1 Be6 27.R3d2 Rcc8 28.Rf1 Rf4 29.Rd3 Bc4 30.Rfd1 Rcf8 31.Rd5 R4f7 32.R5d2 Be6 33.Rd3 Qc5 34.b4 Qxb4 35.Rb1 Qc5 36.Rxb7 Bxh3 $1 37.Qa2 Kh8 {Freeing the pin on the rook at f7.} 38.Rxe7 Bxg2+ 39.Kxg2 Rxe7 40.Ne2 Qc8 41.c3 Ref7 42.Ng3 Rf6 43.a5 $1 Qc5 44.Nh5 Rg6+ 45.Ng3 h5 $1 46.Nh4 Rg4 47.Nf5 g6 48.Nxd6 h4 $1 49.Nf7+ Kg7 0-1 [Event "?, E-Mail Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "Chess007"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] 1.e4 {Chess007 is a player rated over 2100, and is using ideas from GM Soltis' book "Win With 1.....g6".} g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.Nc3 c6 4.Nf3 d5 5.e5 Nh6 6.h3 O-O 7.Bf4 f6 8.Be2 Nf7 9.exf6 exf6 10.Qd2 Na6 $1 11.O-O-O Nc7 12.g4 Ne6 13.Be3 a5 14.h4 a4 {The a pawn coupled with the b pawn would've been black's best attack strategy. The lone a pawn doesn't present white with many problems, and it's three move advance is countered by a single move.} 15.Rdg1 $1 a3 16.b3 {The pawn at a3 is a great block in the white king's defensive wall as long as black does not control the a1 / h8 diagonal. While the black a pawn was advancing, white did three things to make the pawn at d4 more secure thereby making black's attack on the diagonal more difficult. The probabilities of black's f5, Ng5, and Bg4 have been greatly reduced due, in part, to the threat to black's king.} Re8 17.Bd3 Nf8 18.Nh2 {This is the position for black's knights favored by GM Soltis. And right about now I (white) am regretting my decision to not play f4 prior to Nf3.} b6 19.h5 Ba6 20.hxg6 hxg6 21.Bxa6 Rxa6 22.Nf1 Ra7 23.Ng3 b5 24.Qd3 Rae7 25.Bd2 Qb6 26.Nce2 b4 27.Rg2 Nd6 28.Rgh2 Ne4 29.Be3 {Black is making an effort to eliminate white's dark square bishop.} Qb8 30.Nf1 {White is not yet ready to exchange knights. First, the king must be on b1} Qb6 31.Kb1 Nd6 32.Nfg3 Ne4 33.Nxe4 Rxe4 34.Nf4 $1 Qd8 35.Rh3 $1 Qb6 36.Qd2 Rb8 37.Nd3 { 37.Nd3 preparing for Nc5 to move the rook from e4 and block the black queen's diagonal to d4.It also clears the c1 diagonal for possible attack on black's dark square bishop. If black can gain the a1 / h8 diagonal, white is lost. Nd3 also makes black's rook sacrifice (Rxd4) after f5 less than probable. White isn't concerned with 37...Rxg4 because 38.f3 ! traps the rook.} g5 38.Nc5 Re7 39.Qd3 Qb5 {Black tries for a queen exchange, but now that white's attack is beginning that would be foolish.} 40.Qf5 Rbe8 41.Bd2 $1 {It looks like a wide open path into white's center for black, but it is really a dead end.} Qb8 $1 42.Kc1 $1 {If white doesn't move the king, black can play 42.....Qf4 ! which could result in mate, and, at the very least a queen exchange.} Qb6 43.f4 $1 {This is white's key attack move, and it is to black's credit that white couldn't safely play it until now.} gxf4 44.g5 $1 Rf7 45.Bxf4 Re2 {Better is 45...Qb5.} 46.Bd6 fxg5 $6 {Black must do something, else 47.Bxf8 and white has broken through. If the black queen had been at b5, black could've sacrificed the rook Rxc2+} 47.Qxg5 Rff2 48.Rh8+ Kf7 49.Rxf8+ $1 Bxf8 50.Qh5+ {At this point white could've declared mate in 18 (or less). This is a key move at the start of the attack as it prevents the black king from retreating to e8 and interposing his rooks between himself and the attacking pieces.} Kf6 51.Qh8+ $3 Bg7 52.Be5+ Rxe5 {Rxe5 is forced separating the black rooks. } 53.dxe5+ Kf7 {(53...Kxe5 54.Qxg7+ Kd6 55.Ne4+ dxe4 56.Rh6+ Kd5 57.Qd7+ Ke5 58.Qd6+ Kf5 59.Qf6+ Kg4 60.Rg6+ Kh3 61.Qh8++) All roads lead to mate} 54.e6+ Kf6 55.Rh6+ Kf5 {(55...Kg5 56.Qxg7+ Kf4 57.Rf6+ Ke3 58.Qg1 Qxc5 59.Qxf2+ Ke4 60.Qf4++)} 56.Qh7+ Kf4 57.Rh4+ $1 {57.Rh4! is a key move as demonstrated by what follows as the mating attack unfolds.} Ke5 {(57...Kg5 58.Qh5+ Kf6 59.Qf7+ Kg5 60.Rh5+ Kg4 61.Qg6+ Kf4 62.Rf5+ Ke3 63.Qg3+ Rf3 64.Qxf3+ Kd4 65.Qf2+ Kc3 66.Na4++) (57...Kg3 58.Rh3+ Kf4 59.Nd3+ Kg5 60.Qxg7+ Kf5 61.Rh5+ Kxe6 62.Re5+ Kd6 63.Qe7++)} 58.Qxg7+ Kd6 59.Qg3+ $1 Kxc5 60.Qxf2+ {(60...d4 61.Rxd4 Qc7 (61...Qa6 62.Rd8+ Kb5 63.Rb8+ Ka5 64.Qc5+ Qb5 65.Ra8++) 62.Rd7+ Kb5 63.Rxc7 Ka5 64.Rxc6 Kb5 65.Qc5++) (60...Kb5 61.Rxb4+ Kxb4 62.Qxb6+ Kc3 63.Qc5++)} 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "27"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "BryanD"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B13"] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qa5 7.Bd2 dxc4 8.Bxc4 e6 9.Nf3 Qd8 {This game is following a famous game with Tal as white} 10.Be3 Be7 11.O-O O-O 12.a3 b6 13.Qd3 Bb7 14.Ba2 a5 $5 15.d5 $1 exd5 16.Rfd1 Re8 17.Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 {Here are some of the possibilities for alternate play (17...Bc5 18.Ng5 Rxe3 19.fxe3 Ne5 20.Nxf6+ Qxf6 21.Qxh7+ Kf8 22.Ne4 Bxe3+ 23.Kh1)} 18.Bxd5 Ba6 $2 {Better for black is (18...Qb8 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qxh7 Qc8 (20...Rh8 21.Qf5+ Ke8 22.Qg6+ Kf8 23.Rd7 Bc8 24.Qxc6 Bxd7 25.Qxd7) 21.Rd5 Rh8 22.Rf5+ Bf6 23.Ng5+ Ke7 24.Qg6 Qf8 25.Bxb6 Kd7 26.Ne4 Ne7 27.Rd1+ Bd5 28.Rfxd5+ Nxd5 29.Qf5+) (18...Qc7 19.Bxf7+ Kxf7 20.Qf5+ Bf6 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Rd7 Qxd7 23.Qxd7 Bxg5 24.Bxg5)} 19.Bxf7+ $1 Kh8 {19.....Kxf7?! leads to an immediate loss. (19...Kxf7 20.Qf5+ Bf6 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.Rxd8 Raxd8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Qh5 Ne5 26.Bxb6) (19...Kf8 20.Qf5)} 20.Qc2 Qc7 $6 {This loses immediately and decisively. (20...Qc8 21.Rac1 Rd8 22.Rd5 Rxd5 23.Bxd5) Decisive advantage white+- if 19...Kh8 20.Qc2 Qc8 21.Rac1 Rd8 22.Rd5! (threatening Qxh7+!! / Rh5++) 22...Rxd5 23.Bxd5 & then an exchange down to a winning endgame for white if 19.....Kxf7 20.Qf5+ Bf6 21.Ng5+ Kg8 22.Qxh7+ Kf8 23.Rxd8 Raxd8 24.Qh8+ Ke7 25.Qh5 Ne5 26.Bxb6! if 19...Kf8? 20.Qf5! 20...Qc7?! leads to a quick and decisive ending 21.Rd5!! (if 21...h6 22.Bxh6!) 21...Ne5 (preventing 22.Qxh7+!! Kxh7 23.Rh5++) 22.Qxc7 and a long mating attack... but black misses the queen sacrifice/mating threat} 21.Rd5 $3 Rf8 $4 22.Qxh7+ $1 Kxh7 23.Rh5+ 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "41"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "JosephH"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B14"] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Qc2 Nc6 9.a3 Be7 10.Bd3 h6 11.O-O O-O 12.Rd1 Bf6 13.Nxd5 {I really disliked 13.Nxd5 because it removed white's discovered attack, but there was no way to force black to capture the pawn at d4 with advantage, and all attempts lead to a weakening of white's position. 13.Ne4 threaten- ing Nxf6 is doing exactly what black wants since his position is improved with the black knight at f6. (13.Be4 Qd6 14.Nb5 Qb8 15.Be3 Rd8 16.Rd2 a6 17.Nc3 Qd6 18.Rc1) (13.Bc4 Nce7 14.Ne4 Qc7 15.Rd2 Qb6)} exd5 { If 13...Qxd5 then advantage white.} 14.h3 Be6 15.Be3 Rc8 $1 { 15...Rc8 ! creating a discovered attack, and forcing the white queen to move prematurely. (15...Qb6 16.Rac1 Rfc8 17.Qb1 a5 18.Rc3 Be7)} 16.Qa4 {(16.Qd2 Na5 (16...Qb6 17.b4 (17.Bxh6 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 Bxd4 19.Be3 Bxe3 20.fxe3 Rfe8 21.Rf1 Bd7 22.Rf3) Ne7 ))} Qd7 {(16...Qb6 17.Rac1 Bd7 (17...Qxb2 18.Rb1 Qc3 19.Rxb7) 18.b4 Rfd8 19.b5 Ne7 20.Ne5)} 17.Qb5 Rfe8 18.Rac1 Re7 {18...Re7 weakens black's position and leaves the rook vulnerable.} 19.Bf4 $1 {White sacrifices the d pawn to gain the needed tempo to exploit the vulnerable rook at e7.The black queen is in cramped quarters, and is overworked defensively which is essential for white's success. Black cannot decline the pawn else white will play Ne5! with excellent winning chances. (19.Qb3 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.Ne5 Bxe5 22.dxe5 d4 23.Bxd4 Nxd4 24.Rxc8+ Qxc8 25.Rxd4 Rxe5 26.Qd1 Re8) ( 19.Rc3 Bf5 20.Bxf5 Qxf5 21.Ne5 Nxe5 22.Rxc8+ Qxc8 23.dxe5 Rxe5 )} Nxd4 {I believe that using the knight first to capture the pawn at d4 is a mistake because black needs the knight to consolidate the position after the exchange. (Bxd4 20.Nxd4 Nxd4 21.Rxc8+ Qxc8 22.Qa4 ) (19...g5 20.Be5 Bg7 21.Bxg7 Kxg7)} 20.Nxd4 Bxd4 {(20...Rxc1 21.Rxc1 Bxd4 22.Qb4 Bb6 23.Bd6 Re8 24.Bb5 Rc8 25.Bxd7 Rxc1+ 26.Kh2 Bxd7 27.Qd2 Rc6 (27...Rf1 28.Bc5 Bxc5 29.Qxd5) 28.Qxd5 Bxf2)} 21.Qb4 $1 Bf6 {21...Rxc1 and 21...Bb6 transpose to the previous variation.} 22.Bd6 {It is essential to white's plan that the black queen remains cramped. That is why 22.Rxc8 would not be a good move for white. Black also doesn't want white to control the c file, which is why black refrains from Rxc1.} a5 23.Qb6 Rxc1 {Better is 23...Rc6 24.Rxc6 Qxc6 25.Qxc6 bxc6 26.Bxe7 Bxe7 27.f4)} 24.Rxc1 $16 Bd4 25.Qxa5 $1 { 25...Qxd6? is not possible because after 26.Qa8+ black has nothing to block with.} Bxb2 $2 {(Re8 26.Qb4 Qd8 27.Bb5 Bd7 28.Qxd4 Bxb5 29.Qxd5 )} 26.Rc7 $1 Qxd6 $2 {With 26...Qxd6? black has no interprotected blocking scheme for white's next move 27.Qa8+!} 27.Qa8+ $1 {An immediate loss for black as 27...Re8 28.Qxe8+ Qf8 29.Bh7+ Kxh7 30.Qxf8} 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "39"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "DonaldB II"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C66"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.O-O d6 5.Bxc6+ bxc6 6.d4 Bg4 7.dxe5 {In all the GM games I could find, black never allowed dxe5, so even though the reason is not readily apparent (obviously has to do with prematurely opening the center), I'm playing it to see what develops.} Bxf3 8.Qxf3 dxe5 9.Nc3 Bd6 10.Qg3 Rg8 11.Be3 Rb8 12.b3 a6 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.f3 $1 {Leaving the white queen a back door, and preventing a two pronged attack with Bc5 and Ng4.} Bc5 15.Qf2 Nd7 $2 {Better is Bb6 forcing white to devise a plan to penetrate black's defense.} 16.Rxd7 $1 Qxd7 17.Bxc5 Rd8 {(17...f6 18.Qe2 Ra8 19.Qc4 Qf7 20.Qb4 Rd8 21.Qb7) (17...Qe6 18.Rd1 f6 19.Qe2)} 18.Qh4 f6 19.Rd1 Qe6 {(19...Qxd1+ 20.Nxd1 Rxd1+ 21.Kf2 Rd2+ 22.Kg3) (19...Qf7 20.Qxh7 Rxd1+ 21.Nxd1 g5 22.Qh3)} 20.Qh5+ g6 21.Rxd8+ Kxd8 22.Qxh7 Kc8 {(22...f5 23.Bb4) (22...a5 23.Be7+ Kc8 24.Bxf6)} 23.Bb4 {I can see no way for white to prevent black from taking control of the d file, so it looks better for white to come off the position letting black attack, with white looking for black to separate or overextend, then forcing an exchange down, since white, with the material advantage, should be able to win the endgame.} Rd8 24.Qxg6 Rd2 {(24...a5 25.Bxa5 Qd6 26.Na4 Qd4+ 27.Kf1 Qe3 28.Be1 Rd1 29.Qg3 Rc1 30.Qf2 Qxf2+ 31.Kxf2 Rxc2+ 32.Kf1)} 25.Na4 Rxc2 $6 {The rook needs to be on the d file, and can't afford to grab a "free" pawn.} 26.Nc5 $1 Qd6 $2 {Almost forced here, for black is 26...Rxc5, but he doesn't see the threat. All he can see is mate in 1 if he can get his queen to d6 then d1. He probably thinks that white is forced to play h3 or h4 to give the white king an escape route.} 27.Qf5+ $1 {Now white's plan is all too obvious ! Black cannot block, and his king has only two squares available to move to (b8 or d8), and his queen is then lost after the checking move by the knight. So near, and yet so far.} 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "34"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "RaymondD "] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B36"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 g6 5.c4 {The Marcozy Bind} Nf6 6.Nc3 d6 7.f3 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Bg7 9.Be3 O-O 10.Qd2 Be6 11.Rc1 Qa5 12.Nd5 Qxd2+ 13.Kxd2 $1 Nxd5 $6 14.cxd5 Bd7 15.Rc7 $1 Rfd8 16.Rxb7 Rab8 17.Rxb8 Rxb8 18.b3 a5 19.Bd3 a4 20.Rb1 axb3 21.Rxb3 {White decides to exchange the remaining rooks since he has a passed pawn.} Rxb3 22.axb3 e6 23.b4 exd5 24.exd5 Bc8 25.Bb5 $1 Kf8 26.Bc6 Ke7 27.b5 Kd8 28.Bb6+ $1 {Now the black king is prevented from reaching the b pawn which means that for black to stop the advance of the pawn, he'll have to exchange a bishop for it.} Ke7 29.Bc7 Bd4 30.b6 f5 31.b7 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "28"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "GaryG'F"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B89"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qe2 Qc7 9.O-O-O Bd7 10.Bb3 Na5 11.g4 e5 $6 12.Nf5 Nxb3+ 13.axb3 Rc8 {(13...Bxf5 14.exf5 Rc8 15.g5 Nd7 16.Nd5 Qc6 17.f4 g6 18.Bf2 gxf5 19.fxe5 Nxe5 20.Nf6+ Ke7 21.Rd5 Bg7 22.Rhd1 Bxf6 23.gxf6+ Ke6 24.c4 Rhe8 25.Bg3 Qc7 26.Qe3 Qb8 27.Rxd6+ Qxd6 28.Rxd6+ Kxd6 29.Qd4+ Kc6 30.Qd5+ Kb6 31.Bxe5 Ka7 32.Bd4+ Ka8 33.Qxf7) White has a winning position} 14.g5 $1 {(14.Bg5 Qa5 (14...Bxf5 15.exf5 Be7 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Nd5 Qa5 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 19.Kb1) 15.Kb1 Rxc3 16.bxc3 Bxf5 17.gxf5 Qxc3 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rhg1)} Nxe4 15.Nxg7+ Bxg7 16.Nxe4 O-O 17.Nxd6 {( 17.Nf6+ Bxf6 18.gxf6 Bf5 19.Rhg1+)} Bg4 $1 18.Qc4 Qxc4 19.bxc4 Bxd1 20.Nxc8 Bg4 21.Ne7+ Kh8 22.Re1 f6 23.h4 Rf7 24.Nd5 fxg5 25.hxg5 Kg8 26.f4 $1 {This opens the position up before black plays Bf3...} Bf3 $1 {Black gains the pawn back, but allows a passed pawn at d6 linked to the c pawn. I was expecting 26....exf4 27.Bxf4 Rd7....if black doesn't play Rd7 then white will play 28.Bd6! with excellent winning chances.} 27.f5 $1 Bxd5 28.cxd5 {Possible continuation from 14...Nxe4?! 15.Nxg7+! Bxg7 16.Nxe4 0-0 17.Nxd6 Bg4! 18.Qc4 Qxc4 19.bxc4 Bxd1 20.Nxc8 Bf3 21.Ne7+ Kh8 slight advantage white. 14.....Bxf5 can transpose to the variation at 13.....Bxf5.} 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1996.??.??"] [Game "46"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "JosephB"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B92"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 {By playing a6 prematurely black has exposure to the Marcozy Bind (5.c4) if white so chooses.} 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Be2 e5 7.Nb3 Be7 8.Bg5 Be6 9.f4 exf4 10.Bxf4 Nc6 11.O-O {The game, to this point, follows Karpov - Kasparov 1985 1:0} Qb6+ $6 {Black wastes a precious tempo since white normally plays an unprovoked Kh1, and allows 13.Nd5.} 12.Kh1 O-O 13.Nd5 $1 Bxd5 14.exd5 Ne5 15.c4 Rac8 16.c5 $3 {The Sicilian "pawn storm" comes at an unexpected place, but without the f pawn, it would be difficult for white to directly assualt the black king.} Qb4 {If 16...Qc7 then 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.d6 forking the queen and bishop. So the checking move Qb6+ weakens black's position and extremely limits the black queen's movement.} 17.Bxe5 dxe5 18.d6 Bd8 19.Rf5 $1 { The pawn at e5 is relatively safe for the moment unless white is ready to exchange queens for it (20.Rxe5 Qf4! then the only way to protect the white rook is 21.Qd4 Qxd4 22.Nxd4). But Rf5! is designed to cause black to move the pawn away from the perceived threat, thereby blocking the black queen's access to the kingside via the fourth rank. White stakes his claim to some of the unoccupied real estate.} e4 20.a3 Qa4 {The black queen's mobility is severely limited while she is trapped in front of her pawns. Black cannot play Ne8 or Re8 because of the white pawn at d6. Nd7 cuts the black queen off from her escape square.} 21.Rc1 b6 {This game now has so many dangerous and misleading paths, that it's like being in a well camoflauged minefield.} 22.Bc4 $1 bxc5 $1 {Probably best for black to exchange queens due to black's lack of mobility and white's ease of development. (22...Qd7 23.Qf1 b5 24.Be2 Qe6 (24...Re8 25.Nd4) 25.Nd4)} 23.Nxc5 {(23.Qf1 Qd7 24.Bxa6 Rb8 25.Nxc5 Qxd6 26.Rd1 Qc7 27.b4 Be7)} Qxd1+ 24.Rxd1 Bb6 {(24...g6 25.Rg5 a5 26.b3 Nd7 27.Rxg6+ hxg6 28.Nxd7 Kg7 (28...Re8 29.Rf1 Kg7 30.Rxf7+ Kh6 31.Nf8 Rc6 32.h4 Rxf8 33.Rxf8 Rxd6 34.Rh8+ Kg7 35.Re8) 29.Nxf8 Kxf8)} 25.d7 $1 Rc6 {Black cannot capture the knight at c5 because the bishop will be deflected from protecting d8 with a complete exchange. With a partial exchange it's rook for knight giving the white rook a more favorable square to occupy. (25...Rcd8 26.Rxf6 gxf6 27.Nxe4 a5 28.Nxf6+)} 26.Bxa6 $1 {Creating linked passed pawns for white. (26.b3 g6 27.Rff1 ( 27.Rxf6 Rxf6 28.Nxe4 Rf4 29.Nd6) e3 $1 $11 (27...Bxc5 28.d8=Q Rxd8 29.Rxd8+))} Ng4 27.Rc1 Bxc5 28.Bb5 $1 Rd6 $1 {Forcing Rxc5 and setting up the knight fork. However, Nf2+ allows the white king to g1 eliminating the one move mate threat, and the knight fork proves ineffective due to the pin after Rd1.} 29.Rfxc5 Nf2+ 30.Kg1 Nd3 31.Rd1 Rxd7 32.Rxd3 Rxd3 33.Bxd3 exd3 34.Rd5 Rb8 35.Rxd3 {Now it is the black king, locked behind his pawns, who faces the one move mate threat allowing white to eliminate the pawn at d3. Probably slightly better for black is f5 which advances a pawn and frees his king with one move.} Kf8 36.b4 Ke7 37.Kf2 {The solution for white is to get the king over to the linked passed pawns, and push them, leaving the pawns on g2 and h2 thereby creating as much separation between the two groups of pawns as possible forcing black to make all the closing moves.} Ke6 38.Ke3 f5 39.Kd4 h6 40.Kc4 Rc8+ {This is forced else b5.} 41.Kb3 f4 42.b5 g5 43.a4 { (43...g4 44.a5) (43...Rb8 44.Kb4 g4 45.a5) It is now fairly obvious that white will queen first even though black has some options to make it more difficult. The white rook has remained on d3 throughout, perfectly placed after 35.Rxd3.} 1-0 [Event "Individual Match"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "26"] [White "Robert Kettering"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D03"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d5 5.e3 O-O 6.Bd3 b6 7.Qe2 Bb7 8.e4 dxe4 9.Nxe4 c5 10.dxc5 $6 bxc5 11.O-O-O Nxe4 $1 12.Bxe4 Qb6 13.c3 Bxe4 14.Qxe4 Nc6 15.Rhe1 Rab8 16.Re2 Qa6 17.Kb1 Bxc3 18.Rc2 Nb4 $1 19.Rxc3 Qxa2+ 20.Kc1 Qa4 $1 {Creating the discovered attack on the white queen, and forcing the king to remain at c1 to protect the rook leaving white no good defensive squares to occupy.} 21.Qxe7 $6 {Now black is able to involve the rook at b8 in the assualt with disastrous consequences for white. Qxe7?! also creates the possible pin if the white king is forced to the e file. (21.Qb1 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.b3 Qa3+ 24.Qb2 Rd1+ 25.Kxd1 Qxb2)} Na2+ {(22.Kd2 Rxb2+ 23.Ke1 (23.Ke3 Nxc3 24.Rd2 ( 24.Rd8 Re2+ 25.Kd3 Qc2+ 26.Kc4 Rxe7 27.Bxe7 Ne4+ 28.Kd5 Qd3+ 29.Ke5 Rxd8 30.Bxd8 Nd2) Rb3 25.Qe5 Qc4) Nxc3 24.Qd7 Qe4+ 25.Be3 Qc4 26.Qd3 Rb1 27.Qxc3 Qxc3+ 28.Nd2 Rxd1+ 29.Kxd1 c4 30.Ke1 Rb8 ) For possible continuations see the above variations.} 0-1 [Event "?, E-Mail Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1996.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "DonaldB II"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B51"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.Bb5+ Nd7 4.O-O Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bxd7+ Nxd7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Qxd4 b5 9.Bg5 Bb7 10.Rad1 Rc8 11.Rfe1 Rc4 12.Qe3 Qc8 13.Nd2 Rc7 14.a3 h6 15.Bf4 e5 16.Bg3 Be7 17.Nb3 O-O 18.f4 f5 19.exf5 Rxf5 20.Qd3 Nc5 21.Nxc5 Rxc5 22.fxe5 dxe5 23.Qd7 Bf6 24.Qxc8+ Rxc8 25.Rd7 Bc6 26.Ra7 e4 27.Rxa6 Bd4+ 28.Kh1 e3 29.Ne2 Bxb2 30.c3 Bd5 31.Nd4 Rf7 0-1 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1996.??.??"] [Game "49"] [White "StephanH"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A29"] 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Bc5 5.Nf3 d6 6.d3 h6 7.O-O O-O { Probably better here is 7...a6} 8.Na4 Bb6 {Supposedly better for black is 8...Qe7, but I don't see it. 8...Qe7 9.Nxc5 dxc5 is not that hot for black, and he is in danger of tripling his pawns on the c file. White can easily prevent an effective e4.} 9.Nxb6 axb6 10.b3 Bg4 11.h3 Be6 12.Bb2 Qd7 13.Kh2 Ne7 14.d4 e4 15.Nd2 d5 16.e3 c6 17.cxd5 {(17.a3 Nh7 18.cxd5 cxd5 19.f3 Ng5 20.f4 Nxh3 21.Qh5 g6 22.Qxh6 Nf5 23.Qxh3 Nxe3 24.f5 Bxf5 25.Rxf5 Qxf5 26.Qxf5 Nxf5)} cxd5 18.f3 exf3 19.Nxf3 Ng6 20.a3 Rfc8 21.Rc1 Rc6 {Turning a weakness into a strength because if white plays Rxc6, then black undoubles the pawns on the b file.} 22.Qe2 Rac8 23.Nd2 $6 Rc2 24.Rxc2 Rxc2 25.Bc1 $2 {Much better is 25.Ba1.} Qc7 $1 { Now black has two pins, and white must defend the bishop at c1 which allows black to mobilize his attack. A possible continuation is 26.Qe1 Nh4 27.Rg1 Nh5 28.Bh1 Nf5! 29.Bf3 Nhxg3 30.Kg2 Nh4+ 31.Kf2 Ne4+ 32.Bxe4 dxe4 33.Rh1 Nf3!} 26.Qe1 Nh4 $1 27.Rg1 Nh5 28.Bh1 Nf5 $1 29.e4 {White is lost in a variety of ways. (29.Bf3 Nhxg3 30.Kg2 Nh4+ 31.Kf2 Ne4+ 32.Bxe4 dxe4 33.Rh1 Nf3 34.Qd1 Qc3 35.Re1 Nxe1 36.Qxe1 Rxc1 37.Qe2 Rc2 38.Nxe4 Rxe2+ 39.Kxe2 Qc2+ 40.Nd2 Bxh3) if 41.e4 mate in 7...if 41.d5 mate in 8} Nfxg3 {Expected continuation (30.e5 Nxh1 31.Kxh1 Qc3 32.Qf2 Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 34.Kh2 Qc3! 35.h4 Qh3+ 36.Kg1 Ng3! 37.Qh2 Qg4 38.Kf2 Nf5 39.Nf3 Qe4!)} 30.e5 Nxh1 {(31.Kxh1 Qc3 32.Qf2 Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Qxc1+ 34.Kh2 Qc3 35.h4 Qh3+ 36.Kg1 Ng3 37.Qh2 Qg4 38.Kf2 Nf5 39.Nf3 Qe4)} 0-1 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "33"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "JeffA"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B14"] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Nf3 Bb4 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bd2 Nc6 9.Bd3 O-O 10.O-O Be7 11.a3 Bf6 12.Qc2 h6 13.Rad1 Nxc3 14.bxc3 e5 {14...e5 leads to an exchange down and a drawish line.} 15.dxe5 Nxe5 16.Nxe5 Bxe5 17.Bf4 $1 Qf6 18.Bxe5 Qxe5 19.Bh7+ Kh8 20.Be4 Rb8 21.Bd5 {21.Bd5 blocking the black queen's direct access to c5, and exploiting her vulnerability while in the center. If 21...Bg4 22.Rd4! Be6 23.Rfd1 getting white's rooks out, and not spending time defending the a b pawns. With the black queen at e5, it is to white's advantage if black plays Bxd5} Bf5 22.Qb3 Qf6 23.Qa4 a6 24.Qf4 Qg6 25.Rfe1 Rfc8 26.g3 $1 {Making a forced queen exchange difficult.} b5 27.Re7 f6 28.Bb7 Rd8 29.Rde1 a5 30.a4 Bd3 31.axb5 Bxb5 32.c4 $1 {With black's rooks cramped on the eighth rank, the c pawn becomes a threat which black has to deal with.} Be8 {Slightly better is Ba4.} 33.c5 Qc2 $2 34.Qxb8 $1 {( 34.Qxb8 Rxb8 35.Rxe8+ Kh7 36.Be4+ Qxe4 37.R1xe4)} 1-0 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1994.??.??"] [Games "17"] [White "BalazsM "] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D18"] 1.d4 c6 2.c4 d5 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O Nbd7 9.h3 h6 10.Bd3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 O-O 12.Bd2 c5 13.Rac1 Nb6 14.b3 cxd4 15.Qxd4 Qxd4 16.Nxd4 Rac8 17.Ne4 Bxd2 18.Nxd2 Rfd8 19.f4 Rxc1 20.Rxc1 Nbd5 21.Kf2 Nxf4 22.exf4 Rxd4 23.Ke3 Rb4 24.g3 Nd5+ 25.Kd3 g5 26.fxg5 hxg5 27.Rc4 Rb6 28.Rg4 f6 29.h4 Kf7 30.hxg5 f5 31.Rh4 Kg6 32.Kd4 Kxg5 33.Ke5 $6 Nf6 $1 34.Kd4 Kg6 35.Kd3 e5 36.Rc4 Nh5 37.Rc8 Kf7 38.Rc7+ Ke6 39.Kc2 Nxg3 40.Nc4 Rc6 41.Rxb7 f4 $1 42.Rg7 Rc8 43.Kd1 Ra8 44.Rg5 e4 45.Rg4 Rf8 46.Ke1 Rf7 47.b4 Kd5 48.Nd2 e3 $1 {(48...e3 49.Rg5+ (49.Nf3 Rc7 50.Rg5+ Ke4 51.Rc5 (51.Nd2+ exd2+ 52.Kxd2) Rxc5 52.bxc5 Kxf3 53.c6 Nf5) (49.Nf1 Nxf1 50.Kxf1 f3) Kd4 50.Nf3+ Ke4)} 49.Rg5+ Kd4 50.Nf3+ Ke4 51.Ne5 Rh7 $1 {Creating the one move mating threat if the white king doesn't move. (51...Rh7 52.Kd1 e2+ 53.Kd2 Rh1 54.Nd3 Rd1+ 55.Kc2 Rxd3)} 0-1 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1996.??.??"] [Game "48"] [White "KevinT"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B87"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.O-O b5 8.Bb3 Be7 9.f3 {Strange combination...a Sozin Yugoslav with a short castle} O-O 10.Be3 Bd7 11.a3 Nc6 12.Qd2 {Normally played here is Nxc6, and black obliges by demonstrating why.} Na5 13.Ba2 Nc4 14.Bxc4 bxc4 15.Rfd1 Rb8 16.Rab1 Qc7 17.b3 Rb7 {Obviously, white can't allow black to double his rooks on the b file, so bxc3 is necessary. Conversely black doesn't want white to have linked pawns on a and b so doesn't play cxb3, but forces bxc3.} 18.bxc4 Rxb1 19.Rxb1 Qxc4 20.Rb7 Ra8 21.Nde2 Qc8 22.Rb3 Bc6 23.Bd4 Qc7 {This move sent in a notational error, but the resultant position works out the same with an extra move.} 24.Bb6 Qd7 25.Be3 d5 26.e5 Ne8 27.Nd4 Bc5 {Black decides to give up the light squared bishop, and force an exchange down, trying to take advantage of white's pinned bishop.} 28.Nxc6 Qxc6 29.Nd1 $1 {Nd1 prevents black from taking full advantage of the situation by relieving the forced Qxe3 after Bxe3+} Rc8 30.Rc3 Qb5 31.Bxc5 Rxc5 32.Rb3 Qa4 $1 33.f4 Qe4 34.Rb2 g5 $1 {Removing white's back rank threats with the black king trapped behind the pawns, and threatening the pawns at e5 and f4, and giving the black queen some operating room.} 35.g3 gxf4 36.gxf4 Qg6+ 37.Kf1 Rc4 38.Nf2 Nc7 39.Nd3 Nb5 40.Qa5 Kg7 $1 {Black picks up a tempo, and the advantage by not having to respond to Qd8+} 41.Qd8 {Qxa6 loses for white.} Ra4 42.Qh4 Rxa3 {Now white must be concerned about his back rank.} 43.Ne1 Nd4 $1 44.Qf2 Nf5 {Now black is in position to win the game by pushing the a and h pawns. White's h pawn is presently anchored at h2 unable to advance, and if black can advance the h pawn to h4 and the a pawn to a5 this will force white to exchange queens. Black doesn't want to exchange rooks because the white rook is poorly placed to deal with the advancing wing pawns. Expected continuation (44...Nf5 45.Rb3 Ra4 46.Rd3 h5 47.c3 h4 48.Rf3 a5 49.Qg2 Qxg2+ 50.Nxg2 Ra1+ 51.Kf2 a4 )} 45.Rb3 Ra4 46.Rf3 h5 47.c3 h4 48.Qd2 a5 49.Rf2 h3 50.Qd3 Qg4 51.Qf3 Kf8 52.Nc2 Qxf3 53.Rxf3 Nh4 54.Rxh3 Rxf4+ 55.Ke2 Ng6 0-1 [Event "Golden Knights"] [Site " Corr USCF"] [Date "1995.??.??"] [Game "44"] [White "JosephH"] [Black "Smoke"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A25"] 1.c4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.e3 Nf6 4.d4 exd4 5.exd4 Bb4 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qe7+ 8.Be3 d6 9.Be2 Bf5 10.Qb3 O-O 11.Qxb7 {The pawn at b7 is not "free" and comes with a large price tag.} Be4 $1 12.Bf3 Nxd4 $1 13.Bxe4 Rab8 14.Qxa7 {On the surface it looks best for white to give up the queen with adequate compensation, but black has a surprise waiting on that line. (14.cxd4 Rxb7 15.Bxb7 c5!) simultaneously exploiting the pinned bishop at e3 and creating the discovered attack on the bishop at b7 (16.dxc5 Qxb7 17.Nf3 dxc5 18.0-0 Ne4) with advantage black. (14.cxd4 Rxb7 15.Bxb7 c5 16.dxc5 Qxb7 17.Nf3 dxc5 18.O-O Ne4)} Qxe4 15.cxd4 Qxg2 16.O-O-O Qxh1 {This is the line I was expecting (16...Qxh1 17.d5 (17.Ne2 Qc6) Qe4 18.Qd4 Rb1+ 19.Kd2 Rxd1+ 20.Kxd1 Qb1+ 21.Bc1 Re8 22.f3 Nd7 23.Qc3 Nc5 24.h4)} 17.Qa4 Ra8 18.Qb3 Rfb8 19.Qa2 Qxh2 20.Nf3 Qh5 21.Nd2 d5 $1 {(21...d5 22.Re1 (22.Rg1 Ra4 23.Qa1 Qf5 24.Kd1 dxc4) (22.c5 Qe2 23.Kc2 Rb4 24.Rb1 Rc4+ 25.Kb2 Ne4 26.Ka1 Rc3 27.Nxe4 Rcxa3 28.Rb8+ Rxb8 29.Qxa3 dxe4 30.Bc1 Qc2 31.Bb2 Qxf2 32.Qc3 e3 33.d5 f6 34.Qc1 e2 35.Bc3 Qh4) (22.cxd5 Qe2 23.Rg1 Qd3) (22.Nb1 dxc4 23.Qc2 Rb3 24.Bd2 Rab8 25.Bb4 Nd5 26.Nd2 R8xb4 27.Re1 Kf8 28.Nxb3 Rxb3 29.Qe4 Qh6+ 30.f4 Qxf4+ 31.Qxf4 Nxf4) dxc4 23.Nxc4 Qb5 24.Rg1 Nd5 25.Bh6 g6 26.Ne5 c5)} 22.c5 Qe2 23.Qa1 Ra4 {There is virtually nothing that white can do to resurrect his position} 0-1 [Event "?, PCSI Corr"] [Site "AOL"] [Date "1996.??.??"] [Round "?"] [White "Smoke"] [Black "DonaldB II"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A00"] 1.e4 d5 2.Nc3 d4 3.Nce2 e5 4.f4 Bg4 5.fxe5 Qe7 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Ng3 Nxe5 8.Be2 Bxf3 9.gxf3 O-O-O 10.f4 Nc6 11.a3 f5 12.e5 g6 13.d3 a6 14.Bf3 Qd7 15.Qe2 Re8 16.Qg2 Nge7 17.Bd2 Rd8 18.O-O-O Nd5 19.Rde1 Qe6 20.Ne4 Be7 21.Nd6+ cxd6 22.Bxd5 Qd7 23.e6 $1 Qc7 24.h4 Rde8 25.h5 Rhg8 26.hxg6 hxg6 27.Rh7 Qd8 $2 28.Bxc6 $1 bxc6 29.Qxc6+ Qc7 30.Qxa6+ Qb7 31.Qa4 $1 Ref8 $4 {alternate line (31...Kb8 32.Bb4 Qb6 33.Qd7 Qc7 34.Kb1 g5 35.fxg5 f4 36.g6 f3 37.Rf1 f2 38.Rxf2 Kb7 39.Ba5 Qxd7 40.exd7 Kc6 41.dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 42.g7 Rg8 43.Rf7 Kb5 44.Rh5+ d5 45.Rxe7 Ra8 46.Rxd5+ Kc6 47.Bd8)} 32.Rxe7 $1{The winning move !! -- Black cannot play Qxe7 else mate in two!} 1-0