Queen and Bishop Mate

I recently played a game at letsplaychess.com in which I mated my opponent with my queen and bishop. My opponent was Stanway of the United Kingdom who played white. Here are the moves of the game with my commentary.

1. e4 c5
2. Bc4 e6

I play e6 so that white cannot target f7 with his queen and bishop.

3. Nf3 Nc6
4. d4 cxd
5. Nxd4 Qb6

I put my queen on b6 because I want white to capture my knight. My idea is then to recapture with my queen and force him to defend his e-pawn.

6. c3 Bc5

White's move protects his knight but takes away an ideal square for his knight on b1. I put my bishop on c5 to put even more pressure on the knight on d4.

7. Be3 Nf6

I can now capture the pawn on b2 with my queen but I completely miss this during the game. I decide to attack e4 and white defends d4.

8. b3 Nxe4

White decides to protect his b-pawn. I take his king pawn.

9. Bd3 Nxd4

I capture the knight, an impatient move. Better moves include d5 and castling. My move gives white more space for his pieces.

10. Bxe4 Nc6
11. Qd2 0-0
12. Bc2 Bxe3

White retreats his bishop, possibly in anticipation of d5. I decide to capture while the white king is still in the centre.

13. fxe d5

White decides to capture with his f-pawn to avoid an exchange of queens but the pawn shield around his king has been weakened. I establish greater control of the centre.

14. Qd3 g6

White makes an aggressive move which threatens mate with the queen on h7. I must defend against the threat.

15. h4 Ne5

White plays aggressively but his king is very exposed. I attack the white queen.

16. Qe2 Bd7

I finally move my light-squared bishop.

17. h5 Bb5
18. c4 dxc

The game is now very open. This favours me because the white king is so exposed.

19. b4 c3

The white queen is under attack again.

20. Qd1 Qxe3+

I expect white to play Qf2. His move is a blunder.

21. Qe2 Qxe2#

White's move is forced but is unable to prevent mate.

In this game white plays aggressively but loses because he fails to develop one of his knights, does not establish a strong presence in the centre and neglects to adequately protect his king. With my own failure to develop my light-squared bishop early and failure to develop my rooks, this game is clearly not one of my masterpieces. Nevertheless, I take control of my advantages to turn the game in my favour.