Friday, January 13, 2012

Victory with Two Sacrifices

In a game of speed chess at chessgames.com, I defeated Tonito5402 from Bulgaria with two sacrifices. He resigned as black after only 19 moves. Here are the moves of the game along with my commentary:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 h6
4. a3 a6
5. Nf3 c5

Black wants me to play dxc so that he can develop his bishop to c5.

6. exd exd
7. Be2 c4
8. 0-0 Be6

Black finally develops a piece.

9. Ne5 Nf6
10. Kh1 Be7
11. f4 Qb6
12. f5 Bc8

The bishop retreats to the back rank.

13. Bh5 0-0
14. Bxh6 gxh6

I first sacrifice my bishop.

15. Qf3 Nxh5
16. Qxh5 Kh7
17. Nxf7 Rg8

Black can offer more resistance with Kg7.

18. f6 Bxf6

I now sacrifice my pawn to prevent the black queen from defending h6.

19. Qxh6#

In this quick game, I sacrifice my bishop to weaken the pawn shield around the king and sacrifice my pawn to cut the queen off from the defence of h6. Although black castles kingside to protect his king, my two sacrifices prove decisive. Also critical is black's lack of development. He has four pieces on the back rank at the end of the game.

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