Tynemouth C vs Forest Hall D
White: Ryan Duff (77D) (Forest Hall)
Black: Joe Murray (114C) (Tynemouth)
1. e4 g6 2. d4 c6 3. Bd3 Bg7 4. c3 d6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 e5 8. Bc4 Qd7 9. O-O b5?
With my opponent’s king still in the middle of the board, this move, while gaining a tempo, weakens my opponent’s position unnecessarily. My opponent should have concentrated on development.
10. Bb3 exd4
As my opponent is lacking in development, I sacrifice a pawn to gain faster development, and open lines to my opponent’s king.
11. Rd1 dxc3??
This move only helps myself. It neglects my opponent’s development, while only helping myself develop faster. (Note that trying to protect the pawn with 11..c5 doesn’t help my opponent either. White can simply play 12.e5! This opens an attack on the Rook. If black plays 12..Nc6 to block the attack then, White has the move 13.Bxf7! and Black’s queen is overloaded and his position falls apart.
12. Nxc3 Na6
13. Rxd6!!
This, in my opinion, is the star move of the game. This must have been a huge shock to my opponent. Black could try move the queen with 13..Qb7 but White can continue with 14.e5 or 14.Rxc6. But of course, the critical test to any sacrifice, is to accept the sacrifice.
13..Qxd6 14. Qxf7+ Kd8 15. Bg5+
The engine prefers to play 15.Qxg7 simply winning back the material with interest. However, I chose to keep the initiative going.
15..Kc8
If Black blocks the check, White then continues with 16.Rd1, winning the queen.
16. Rd1 Bd4 17. Rxd4!
This move looks like another rook sacrifice. However, black can’t play 17..Qxd4, as this loses immediately to 18.Be6+ Kb8 19. Bf4+ and mate is inevitable.
17..Qc7 18. Be6+ Kb7 19. Rd7 Rc8 20. Bf4 Qxd7 21. Qxd7+ Rc7 22. Bxc7 Nxc7 23. Qc8+ Kb6 24. Bxg8
The game. at this point, is completely won. So now, I tried to close the game out without blundering away my queen. However, I don’t play the absolute best moves, which puts a small stain on a rather nice game.
24..Na6 25. Qd8+ Kc5 26. Qf8+ Kb6 27. Qg7 Rxg8 28. Qxg8 c5 29. Qxh7 Ka5 30. Qxa7 b4 31. Na4 b3 32. Nxc5 Kb4 33. Qxa6 Kxc5 34. axb3 g5 35. e5 g4 36. e6 Kb4 37. Qc4+ Ka5 38. e7 gxh3 39. e8=R Kb6 40. Rb8+ Ka7 41. Qc7+ Ka6 42. Qb6#
(Notes by Ryan Duff)