Monday, October 11, 2010

Winning the Queen with a Sacrifice

It seldom happens that I win my opponent's queen with a sacrifice. However, it happened in a recent game of speed chess that I played at chess.com. My opponent was Gattacci of Italy who played black. Here are the moves of the game along with my commentary:

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. Bc4 h6

Black wants to prevent my bishop from going to g5.

4. 0-0 Nf6
5. Re1 Nc6
6. c3 a6
7. d4 exd
8. cxd Be7

Black can now castle.

9. e5 dxe
10. Nxe5 0-0
11. Nxc6 bxc6
12. Nc3 Bd6
13. Be3 Re8
14. Qc2 Be6
15. Bd3 Nd5
16. Nxd5 Bxd5
17. Qd2 Qf6
18. a3 g6

Black makes a bad move. Qh4 is a better move because it forces me to weaken the defence of my king.

19. Bxh6 Kh7
20. Bg5 Qxd4

Black is now equal in material but he fails to see my next move.

21. Bxg6+ Kxg6
22. Qxd4 Rh8

I sacrifice my bishop to win the black queen. With Rh8 black threatens to capture my pawn on h2.

23. Bf4 Bxf4
24. Qxf4 f5
25. Qg3+ Kf6
26. h4 Rag8
27. Qc3+ Kg6
28. g3 Kf7
29. Qe5 Rxh4

Black makes a move that takes me by surprise. I cannot take his rook because this puts me in check.

30. Qxf5+ Kg7
31. Re7+ Kh8

The black king is now trapped in the corner.

32. Qf6+ Rg7
33. Qxg7#

Black threatens mate with Rh1 but I do not give him the opportunity to play it. My bishop sacrifice which wins the black queen is the turning point of the game. It gives me a decisive material advantage which I convert to victory.

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