Sunday, January 14, 2018

Victory With A Knight Sacrifice

In a game of speed chess, I sacrificed my knight to win. My opponent was Tomubone of the USA, who played black. Here are the moves of the game along with my commentary:

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. e5 Bxc3+
5. bxc3 c5
6. Nf3 c4

All the pawns on the c, d and e files are fixed.

7. Be2 b5
8. 0-0 h6
9. h3 Bd7
10. Ba3 a5
11. Bc5 Na6
12. Re1 Nxc5

Black captures my active bishop.

13. dxc5 Qc7
14. Qd4 Rc8
15. Qg4 g6

I prepare an attack.

16. Nh4 Qxc5

Black wins a pawn, but this is a mistake. A better move for black is Nd7.

17.  Nxg6 fxg6

It is better for black to decline the sacrifice with Rh7.

18. Qxg6+ Kd8

No matter where the king moves, the rook is lost.

19. Qg7 Kc7

Black connects the rooks, but it is too late.

20. Qxh8 Ne7
21. Qxh6

In a difficult position, black decides to resign. He wins a pawn on his sixteenth move, but fails to anticipate the knight sacrifice which leads to the loss of his rook. This is the turning point of the game.

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