Very nice attack for the win.

This being the fourth game I played against this opponent, with the game score being even 1-1-1 (that is 1 win, 1 draw and 1 loss), this game started a little badly for me, but then I found a splendid plan of attack that won, though he might have been able to construct a better defense.


1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3

A34 English Opening: Symmetrical Variation, Fianchetto Variation



3...g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 O-O 6.e3 e6






This is techniquely a little awkward, but I wanted to play d5 and this is the only way to achieve such a move, the structure with e6-g6 in this position it is likely that my knight from f6 would be more at home on e7, this would possibly be more true if he had not blocked in his bishop on c1.



7.Nge2 d5 8.cxd5 exd5 9.d4 Bf5






This might be a tad to early now black has to defend a slightly inferior position lacking a pawn for a long time.



10.dxc5 Qa5






I think this is necessary otherwise white is just better.



11.Nd4 Ne4






Again this would be the only active move black has that can give him any chance for equality!



12.Bd2






[12.Nxf5 Bxc3+ 13.bxc3 Qxc3+ 14.Bd2 Nxd2

Analysis Diagram

This should be sufficient for black.]



12...Nxd2 13.Qxd2 Be6 14.Nb3 Qb4





I had a slight miscalculation here, I had hoped he would have to leave the king on d2, or that at the least that I would have some pressure against a queen staying on d2, but this never happened.



15.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 16.Nxd2 Nc6 17.O-O Rad8 18.e4 f5 19.f3 Bd4+





Taking a pawn so he only is one pawn ahead.



20.Kh1 Bxc5 21.Nb3 Bd6 22.Rad1 Bb8 23.Nc5 Bc8

Black is definately not better here, but not so much worse either.



24.exf5 gxf5

unfortunately this was necessary all the other captures lead to inevitable defeat Bxf5 would leave b7 undefended, Rxf5 would allow Ne7+ which would leave the rook on d8 in jeopardy, although this might not have been entirely forced it was a little hard to realize all this in the heat of battle.



25.f4 Bd6 26.Nb3 Kg7

This is both a precaution and a preparation for something, now I can move the knight on c6 since the check is not an issue anymore.



27.Rfe1 Rfe8 28.Rxe8 Rxe8 29.Kg1

This might be a little inaccurate, but not a big mistake.



29...Bb8

This looks rather innocent but it is a step in a plan that reaches across a sequence which leaves black with a better position.



30.Kf2 a5 31.Rd3 a4 32.Nd2 Ba7+ 33.Kf1 Nd4

This is an important piece in the attack, in fact black is beginning to make his pieces attack with a very nice coordination.



34.Nf3 Nc2

defending e1 which would be useful for a rook, in the case that white ceases the defense.



35.Ne5 Bd7

This piece cannot be taken, but also it really should be allowed to move to the desired b5 square since this bishop on b5 will be a death sentence to white.



36.Rc3 Bb5+ 37.Rd3 Rxe5

Instead of taking the exchange (although that would have been checkmate anyway (since the knight was pinned)



38.fxe5 Bxd3#

Black wins by checkmate. I liked the end to this game, proving what you can do with the right resources.



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