Here's a game I played in the first round of the quick knock out tournament. Enjoy, and comments and suggestions welcome.

I don't have any advice to offer at this time, but if i may say, well done and ... great commentary! Really, that is brilliant thanks. Helps everyone learn, looking at both sides and alternate lines. It also probably helps ye when analysing the game yerself. Also  goes someway to being more of a game to be remembered than one without commentary. Cheers :)

Thank you! I try to add commentary to all my games. It not only helps me go through the game myself, but I know from experience that I like when other people add commentary. It makes the game easier to follow, and key points in the game can be pointed out.

thank you :D. great comments & a great learning game for me. please keep posting there games

"An interesting possability here is Bxf7, followed by Ng5+. I gave this some thought, but decided it doesn't lead anywhere productive."

 

I disagree with your final decision.  I think Bxf7 was better, winning a pawn and exposing the king. 

But the rook is hanging. I didn't see any way to resolve that issue.

Nice crush.  Rook sac was great.  How much of that series of queen checks did you see in advance?

 

Ah, I guess I have to be honest. I actually missed the f6 pawn push in my analysis. I was expected him to block with the queen, then I would rook check and grab it. I was very fortunate that the h5 square appeared to me.

If, in the final position, Kxh4, it is worse than a fork on the rook: g3 is checkmate.

Indeed it is, so mate next move regardless. Missed that.

very informative. Excellent commentary. I look forward to reading more.

Good game. By the 10th move, I'd say white already has a great position.

 

White has several ways of playing for a big advantage. 10.c3 is a nice way of obtaining a huge advantage, as is the cute Re4 (ep capture takes away the idea of f6, and makes sure white keeps a great position after ...d5.

...h5 is answered by h3...

 

But your 10.Bg5 is another good way (I'd have gone for 10.c3).

 

12.Nxd4? oh no... Ruins the beautiful play encountered so far. Black has the simple counterattack now - 12...Qh4

 

13.Qxd4 looked better to me than Qxg4, as it forces black to make some ugly moves (Nh6, Qg5 or h5), while developing and centralizing. I thought after Qxg4 Nxb3 black would have more chances of holding on.

Notice the past tense... Turns out the situation is more complicated than that.

 

As you've stated yourself, 14.Qxg7 looks odd, as after 14...Nxa1 15.Qxh8+ Qf8 things look ok for black, BUT, just 16.Qxh7... Qb4 17.Nc3! (Qxb2 ends in mate after Qg8+) Bb7 (black HAS to develop and keep the white knight out of d5)

18.Qg8+ (No castling for you sir!) Ke7 19.Qg5+ Ke8 20.Re3! (main idea: Qxb2? Rh3 defends while simultaneously crushing black) Qe7 and then simply 21.Qg8+ Qf8 22.Qh7 with Rg3-g8, the knight entering without exchanges through e2. Surprisingly, I can find no sufficient defenses.

 

When I initially analyzed this position, I kept playing the Rax1 move automatically... I think this is a much more powerful way to play.

After 15...d6, I believe black is done for quickly. He stopped his own development (after Nc3 The Bc8 can't develop. on e6 it's just a target. It wants to be on b7. d6 opens up the position when it is what black should fear).

 

After that, anything wins... What you played is winning, 18.Nxb5 is another way (not any stronger than what you played though...), I think 18.Ne4 wins with ease too, and I'm sure there are other ways.

Great game!

Wonderful energetic play.

 

I'd like to take a more sober look at black's defenses istead of 15...d6. could 15...Bb7 hold the position for black? It sure gives him a lot more counterplay (0-0-0 and Rg8 will start a nice counterattack. What do you think?