Gambiting with Black!

[Edit: There is a second game posted on the next page which is interesting to look at and consider as well. Whereas this first one is highly tactical and fast paced, the next one is more positional and ends with a nice tactical combo.

Also I need help with the analysis of the second game!]

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Who says only white can play those flashy gambits and sacs that give the much coveted initiative needed to set up killer tactics or mating nets?

Recently I've had a few nice games which employ this idea - that of great aggression, right from the onset of the game, as black, as means of balancing out the automatic initiative of white.

Here is a nice example of this in my latest win:

I just realized that I forgot to remove my oponents name and rating!

I did not mean to do this -does anyone know how to edit that after having put it all up? I have been unable to do so so far.

Edit your post, click on the puzzle itself and then click on the puzzle icon that you used to first create the puzzle.  It should come up in edit mode.

yeah, you edit your post and click on the placemarker and click the board icon again I think.  surely no need though, tis only a game and you are fairly equally rated. 

yes I know, but etiquette and all.... It's not considered proper.

Thanks guys.

BTW did you check out the game?

Just looking at it now.  I think as white I would put the knight back on f3.  I'm not sure about Qe7.  I think I'd develop a minor piece instead.  Probably Nc6.  b6 looks suspect with your bishop placement and also with trading your light-squared bishop.  That opens the a-file for white and gives white the 2 bishops so it's not all one way traffic.  After Nc6, c3 might be worth a look for white threatening b4 and cramping the knight.  I'd say at that point things are looking good for white.  I don't like Bf3 though.  That seems like a waste.  0-0 or c3 look better to me, with the knight entering the game via d2.  That's as far as I've got at the moment.  Looks like most of the punctuation is still to come. 

tarius i just have to say great game, one of the few i actually enjoy looking at. Analysis aside you won, and mistakes you played through them. Nice.

Just took a glance at your game.  What about 14Bf3? not h3? and then 15. Be3?  instead of 15.RxH7  with the material advantage it seems like bringing some pieces back to help the king would do the trick.

Yeah when I looked at the rest of the game 14.Bf3 seemed like the move.  Then you are all set to trade some pieces.  Also later on it looked like Rxf2 was the best move for white as I dont see a lethal continuation and it looks like white will come out ahead.  Fierce game though!

wow

youre opponent blundered a lot

16 Rxf2 and then what ?

In this game, 15. Rxa7?? looks like seriously bad judgment on White's part.  He is a rook up and certainly does not have to think about grabbing a rook pawn.  The issue at hand is Black's mating attack - stop that and the game is in the bag.

I'd suggest 15. Be3 as the simplest defense.  15...Nxe3 16. fxe3 is excellent for White.  Considering the game to this point, Black's may as well continue with his "keep attacking or die trying" approach and play 15...Nxc2, but then 16. Bc6+ Kd8 17. Bxc5 Nxa1 18. Be3 pretty much ends the game, as White is a piece up and has a second piece trapped.

By the way, if you like gambiting with Black, I think the Latvian Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5!?) is a great choice.  I've had good results with it, even at slow time controls.  The fact that many players think it is bad only makes it a better surprise weapon.

thanks for the comments guys, yes I see some of what you are saying, and I'll keep it in mind when planning my next 'wild game'.

You see I'm kind of in this phase right now where I'm going nuts with it, again!

The first time I went through it I learnt more than I thought possible about the game.

I'm hoping that this streak will leave me equally enlightened.

I will post one other game shortly which was also nice and vicious and I believe I was black - ends in checkmate as well! (plus less mistakes by my oponents)

keep an eye out for it, and please keep the feedback coming - it's extremely helpful!

Here's another recent win of mine with black, this time involving a more-or-less sound queen sacrifice at the end - which lead to a double rook mating combo.

It was a nice battle, with interesting positions and again it features good aggression on black's part, especially peratining to the h and g file attacks:

good attacking game.

Thanks Chessy...

BTW - does anyone know the name of the opening (pawn structure) in the last game I posted?

Is that what they mean by the 'dragon' ?

Yes, to complete my 'post-mortem' of this game I really need to know, anyone - was a win forced after 32. ... Qxg3+ !?    ?

That is, if my oponent had played 33. Rg2 instead of 33. hxg3?     ?

 the result is the same:

3.  b-g4!! followed by bxb5 when you are up a full rook.  Of course black can then exchange the rook for the bishop.  But then that leaves them with a rook and a queen vs.  a rook,knight and bishop.  The dark squared bishop was the only hope at this point for the dark side.  So simply force them to exchange it off