Ferocious, all out Kingside Assault: a gem

Elubas: Completely missed 21... Bxh2!  Give me some time to try to work out some of the other potential lines.

Sure.

Since 21: Rg5 is out of the question white has 21: Ne2 preparing F4 and extinguishing the threats against H2.

I just realized: by some messed up error of computation, Qh4 got switched from the sixteenth to the seventeenth move.  Sorry for the notational error.

Adamperfection: Perhaps it didn't deserve two exclamation points.  Still, I did think it was a rather beautiful move, considering the haste with which white must play at this point, to just move the king a square does have some aesthetic value, at least in my mind at least.

Ok, so 20 Ne2 then

Two good options for black would be ...Ne5 (intending a trade of the bishop maybe) or maintaining this tension (because it could be argued that black's knight actually has more potential than the blocked white bishop) with a rook move to e8 and starting to control useful squares on the e file, and then f4 could be met by ...bc5.

Elubas: well, the thing is, white's light squared bishop might be blocked, but it is performing an important role in the attack, so it's not like it's being useless.  It backs up the advanced F5 pawn, which in turn, does a lot to keep black's kingside locked up and vulnerable.

Either way, I think either of your responces would be best responded with 21: F4.  Anyway, after Ne2, I think you get a very double edged position where both sides develop a lot of activity, so your line is definately an improvement over the game line, but I still think white's attack is strong.

On a sidenote, two questions: what do you mean by bxc5?  White doesn't have anything on C5.  Secondly, what do you think about, after 20 Ne2 C5 threatening to trap the white bishop and forcing white to further play on the kingside to prevent this?  I know this was the continuation I was looking at when I speculated on Ne2.

sorry, I meant the bishop coming to c5 in response to f4, breaking up white's position on the g file. I guess you could play ...c5 as black but I thought it was unnecessary, and closes up the diagonal a bit for black's bishop.

Personally, I think black is better, because his pieces seem to be more harmonious in the center and he is holding with a better pawn structure. Yes, the f5 pawn is useful, but if white can't force ...g6 then I think white would prefer the bishop to be open

I can see what you mean about C5 vs. Bc5 but even after Bc5, white still has a dangerous position, threatening to transfer play to the H file or to continue play along the g file with Ng3 and Nh5.  My only question is whether the Queen is better suited to F1 or D1, her home base.

Maybe 24...Rfe8 25.Bc4 Nxc4 26.Rxg6+ Kf8 is better than 26...fxg6, as given in the movelist?

If Qf1 then ...Nf6 looks like a solid defense for black. Rg3 is strongly met by ...Re3!, making h file play very difficult.  If Qd1 Nf6, black can still meet Ng3 with ...Re3 (...Qxf4? would give white what he wants, and your dreamed of rook sac Rxg7+ followed maybe by f6 could easily become a reality), increasing pressure on the file which can be followed by the other rook moving to e8. I think here the central file is of more value as black is still holding well on the g file. In fact, I think black may start an attack of his own with ideas like ...Qh3 and ...Ng4.

It's a mystery alright.

Padman: My responce wasn't anything inflammatory, if that was what you were insinuating.

Anyway, to clear up this mystery, here's what occured.  I looked at your responce and thought I had seen a counter-variation but, immediately afterward, noticed that it contained a fatal, and somewhat embarassing, flaw.  Much too hasty posting without enough checkwork.

Damn it Gambitking!

You are a Brilliant man!

but please, stop playing against noobs
sure it s fun to slap them around, but really, whats the point?

With little effort most players can get "brilliant" games against noobs: