Being new to the game of chess (playing now for a year and six months), I don't have much of an Opening Playbook. In fact I have one opening, which will utilize three similar opening strategies to borrow from or transmute into — in order to best respond to various elements of the game -- but the variations never wanders too far off the Italian/Ponziani/Lopez(or for black the Modern/PIRC). And, if I had progressed far enough to warrant the addition of a new opening, I don't believe it would be the Scandinavian.  Not at this point. Not today.

That said, why am I writing up a description of the Scandinavian, as if I understood something worthy of a blog post? And what hubris is required to suggest I post it?  These are fair questions. It does feel a bit like men discussing the experience of childbirth.

The answer is: I am a writer, and further—I don't like wasting effort—here's the deal…

I have become involved with a club of blogging players on chess.com, who have a blogging contest of which I have joined up and committed myself. As I have mentioned, I'm new to Chess, but I have many years as a writer. Mostly fiction. The crossovers between the two activities aren't difficult to discern. This is a solid resource and effective means of increasing comprehension, memory and imaginative usage of new knowledge. Honestly, if  you want to seat a lesson into long term active memory, then after the lesson, write the lesson up as a blog post.

I began creating blog posts for a number of reasons. The first I just described: to process and improve my understanding of all the lessons and experiences. I have been posting—well, anything really -- because as long as the content fell inside the territory of chess, then writing it would achieve my goal. The idea being: with improved understanding would come improved game play.

Another instructional training area, in which the blog has been effective, is the vocabulary of chess. I mean, I thought I understood terms like calculation and theory and sharp, but no, I didn't really.

The third purpose: To go through my games, step by step and idea by idea describing what I thought warranted: the moves, the captures, the sacrifices.  This self discovery and analysis has been a surprisingly strong influencer for mental fortitude, comprehension of confidence during the game, stress stripper, etc. It also calms my mind during critical positions.

But lately — for the last couple of months — I've wondered if the blog might evolve into something with longevity. Something with a knowledge nitch, Something I thought of as having a quality level. Because writing posts about how to play -- basically writing about skills I just found out existed -- just digested from a YouTube video thirty-two minutes ago -- doesn't actually appeal to me. And the writing is a touch dry. So, I have been wondering when an idea for a theme and format would come along; ideas for formalizing posts, form, framing, readers, expectations...

I've done a number of game annotations over the last year and read hundreds more, perhaps as many as a thousand. I enjoy going through them for my games and others. That and puzzles are my main source of *concept learning*(where I stumble across aspects of chess I don’t realize are a thing). Writing the algebraic annotations isn't all that fun—but it doesn't have to be. It is a great learning tool. In fact, I can’t think of a more effective memory trainer — or comprehension driver.

However, I came across an idea for annotations, they called it Story Narrative annotations*.* The idea is to consider chess games as activities capable of being dramatic and entertaining in their own domain. The suggestion is that Chess can inspire the same kind of audience reaction as novels, plays, and films. That chess is subject to the same kind of cultural intrigue.

Which of course is attractive to me, with my skill set.

Chess can inspire the same kind of audience reaction as novels, plays, and films.

The Scandinavian Defense, known for its audacious play and early queen deployment, the Scandinavian is like the opening salvo of a street brawl, where Black defies the traditional norms of chess by throwing down the gloves on the first move. It is the equivalent of walking up and whacking the opponent with a salmon. It's the throat punch before coffee. It’s bare-knuckles out in the snow on New Years eve.

A Simple Act of Regicide

An Annotation Narrative Story by ghefley

A Story of Hubris and Mayhem

As with most activities, it is better to Show, rather than Tell. With the above in mind, the following is what was on my mind.

It was a cold, quiet day in the virtual back alleys of chess.com, where shadows danced across squares, and every move was a dagger waiting to strike. The air was thick with tension, and both players knew that this wasn’t just a game—it was a duel. A misstep could mean the end. White and Black, faceless combatants, squared off, their pieces gleaming like the barrels of loaded guns.

1. e4 d5

The game opened with White’s pawn advancing to e4, like a lone figure stepping into the street, claiming space with authority. Black’s d5 came crashing forward—a direct confrontation, no subtlety, no hesitation. It was the kind of move that said, “I’m coming for you, and I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.”

2. exd5 Qxd5

White took the pawn without blinking, but Black’s queen swooped in to claim the open d5 square. The queen was out in the open, a bold move, like a detective walking straight into a crime scene with no backup. It was risky, but Black wasn’t here to play it safe.

3. Nc3 Qa5

White’s knight sprang to c3, eyeing the queen with suspicion. The queen backed off to a5, keeping watch over the board from a safe distance—a sniper perched on a rooftop, surveying the battlefield. Black had lost the initiative, but the queen still had lines of fire across the center.

4. d4 Nf6

White pushed the d-pawn forward, tightening their grip on the center of the board. Black’s knight slid out to f6, aiming to restore some order – an in-house security thug covering key exits. Both sides were assembling their forces; the tension simmered.

5. Nf3 Bg4

A pale knight settled into position and Black’s bishop, with an air of calm authority, walked right up to g4, catching the knight in an awkward position with the queen. The simmering tension continued toward a steady boil. Tension caused mistakes. Mistakes that cost cash at first, before demanding blood.

6. Be2 c6

White calmly broke the pin with Be2, disengaging Black’s attack, but Black wasn’t slowing down. They played c6, a slow build, but one that prepared for a future strike—like loading a gun and setting it on the desk. It wasn't exactly a threat, but then negotiation wasn't an exact science.

7. O-O e6

White castled, securing the king behind a wall of pawns. Black followed suit with e6, laying the groundwork for a quiet, calculated defense. It was the calm before the storm, both sides bracing for what was to come.

8. h3 Bh5

White played h3, pushing back on the dark-squared bishop, and Black retreated to h5. But this wasn’t a true retreat or anything like an action that word might imply—it was a strategic withdrawal, the kind where a villain lingers in the shadows, waiting for their chance to strike again.

9. Bd2 Qc7

White developed their bishop, aiming it at Black’s queen, but Black wasn’t fazed. They moved their queen to c7, keeping her out of the fray but still controlling key lines, like a mastermind pulling strings from a distance. The pieces were maneuvering, searching for weaknesses, probing for weakness and mistakes.

10. Ne5 Bxe2

White’s knight lunged to e5, ready for a direct confrontation. Black obliged by taking the knight with the bishop, and the exchange felt like the first crack of thunder before a storm. The fight was about to get brutal. The sharp metallic scent of ozone filled the air.

11. Qxe2 Nbd7

White retook with the queen, maintaining control. But Black’s knight on d7 came into play, tightening the defenses. It was a strategic move, preparing for an onslaught while keeping the king’s fortress locked down.

12. Bf4 Bd6

White’s bishop lined up on f4, staring down Black’s army like a gunslinger measuring the metal of his opponent. Black countered with Bd6, offering an exchange—a challenge thrown down. The pieces were circling each other now, the tension rising with every move.

3. Rfe1 O-O

White developed their rook to e1, with eyes on the center, preparing for the inevitable clash. Black castled kingside, tucking their king safely behind pawns. The board was primed, and both sides were ready for war.

14. Rad1 Rad8

The rooks joined the fray. White’s rook lined up on the d-file, like reinforcements. Black mirrored the move with Rad8. The forces were fully mobilized, and both players were ready to start shooting.

15. Bg5 Be7

White’s bishop swung to g5, pinning Black’s knight, daring it to move. Black coolly responded with Be7, breaking the pin and offering another exchange. The tension was like a coiled spring, ready to snap.

16. Nxd7 Qxd7

And snap it did. White’s knight took the bishop on d7 in a brutal skirmish, but Black’s queen retook without hesitation. The game had turned into a knife fight in a dark alley, and neither side was pulling their punches.

17. Qe3 Nd5

White’s queen slid to e3, aiming for a breakthrough, but Black wasn’t giving an inch. The knight jumped to d5, fortifying the defenses and threatening White’s position.

18. Nxd5 cxd5

White took the knight, but Black’s pawn recaptured, opening up the board. The streets were wide open now, and the real fight was about to begin.

19. Qg3 Bxg5

White’s queen swooped in, eyeing the g7 pawn, but Black wasn’t having it. The bishop cut down White’s knight, clearing the way for a deadly counterattack.

20. Qxg5 Rc8

White recaptured the bishop, and now the queen was out for blood. But Black wasn’t backing down. They lined up their rook on c8, like a rifleman taking aim.

21. c3 b5

White’s pawn crept forward to c3, trying to solidify the position. But Black responded with b5, a pawn thrust that felt like a shove into White’s chest. The lines were drawn, and it was clear neither side was backing down.

22. Re3 a5

White brought in reinforcements with Re3, but Black wasn’t waiting for them to get comfortable. The a-pawn surged forward, pushing the attack on the queenside. It was an aggressive move, the kind you make when you’re ready to finish the fight.

23. Rg3 f6

White’s rook slid to g3, threatening to pounce on Black’s king. But Black saw it coming and played f6, blocking the path like slamming a door in White’s face.

24. Qh6 Kh8

White’s queen darted to h6, a predator circling the wounded king. Black’s king scrambled to h8, but the danger wasn’t over—it was just beginning.

25. Qh4 Qd6

White threatened to strike again, but Black’s queen slid to d6, protecting the king like a bodyguard stepping in front of the bullet. The pressure was mounting, and both sides were moments away from the breaking point.

26. Re1 b4

White brought in the second rook with Re1, but Black wasn’t done yet. The pawn on b4 lunged forward, tearing into White’s defenses. It was a ruthless push, like a wrecking ball smashing through a wall.

27. Ree3 Rc7

White tried to shore up the defenses with Ree3, but Black’s rook on c7 was ready, loading the gun for the final assault. The pieces were in place, and the climax was imminent.

28. Qg4 f5

White’s queen circled back to g4, but Black wasn’t going to let her have free reign. The pawn pushed to f5, slamming the door shut once again. Black was playing for keeps, and it was all or nothing.

29. Qh5 f4

White’s queen tried to find another angle, but Black’s pawns were relentless. The f4 push was like a punch to the gut, leaving White gasping for air. The noose was tightening.

30. Rg6 fxe3

White’s rook lunged forward, desperate to break through. But Black took the rook with the pawn, fxe3, cutting down White’s attack like a knife through butter. The end was near.

31. fxe3 Rcf7

White tried to fight back with fxe3, but Black’s rooks were locked and loaded. Rcf7 came down like the hammer of a judge, sentencing White to defeat.

32. g3 Rf5

White’s last pawn pushed forward, but Black’s rooks were too strong. The rook on f5 was ready to deliver the killing blow, and White was running out of time.

33. Qh4 Rf1+

White’s queen tried to fend off the attack, but Black’s rook slammed into f1, checking the king. The game was over, but the pieces hadn’t stopped moving yet.

34. Kg2 R8f2#

With a final flourish, Black’s rook came down to f2, and it was checkmate. The king was trapped, surrounded by enemies, with no escape. White was out of moves, out of time, and out of hope.

... The game ended in darkness.

Thanks for reading and please leave comments! I love them.