Sorry about having to but up just barebones, but here are some annotations of sorts to flesh it out:
-Firstly what was really nice about the opening is that is was a Bishop's Opening transposed into the King's Gambit Declined line after move 3. This set the pace of the game as a very fast and highly tactical one.
-My opponent's third move of Nf6 was a little quetionable I think, since black should try to make use of the e1-h4 diagonal and the d8-h4 diagonals but this move cuts it off. In compensation for this loss of potential, black has the initiative and attacks the e4 pawn. Since I wanted to develop my dark bishop early, I chose d3 instead of Nc3 - this was a little risky because it permitted Black's 4th move 4. ... Bc5! which claims the very important a7-g1diagonal, and now neither my d pawn or my c1 bishp can interpose. Interesting.
- 5. Nf3 puts immediate pressure on black since e5 is twice attacked now by virtue of the KG declined position chosen. Black chose to mirror my position with 5. ... d6 to develop the bishop on c8, though may have also considered activating his queen at this point since she is cut off on f6.
- f5! I love playing this move whenever possible b/c in KG games, either a vacated f file permits vicious attacks kingisde when KG is accepted, or an impressive pawn wall (usually followed up with a g and h file pawn storm) is achieved when the KG is declined. Here I deliberately waited until black had commited his d pawn to play this move keeping c4 safe, and preventing the annoying thematic pin on g4.
-Move # 7 : a tide turner - Nc3 is clearly meant to threaten Nd5 at some point or at the very least Nb5 and then perhaps going for a fork on c7. I always play this move when my oponent's queen comes just within range as black's has at this point in the game. Of course Black's response here indicated that he was unaware of the threat and was black's first real mistake of the game. Nd4, Nh5, or h6 (debately the best) were all far better than disturbing the kingisde pawn structure and allowing for the deadly pin on g5.
- 8. Nh4 : is a very good example of taking advantage of non-optimal piece placement by the opponent. the questioned 3. ... Nf6 is what has allowed this and the bisohp pin to come. Now black can not safely take f5 or advance to g5 due to the c1 bish - that is what inspired the rook move on the next move:
-Move #9 - enter the tactics! black threatens my bishop with a discovered attack and it seems that my pawn wall will perish, with me at the end. Also, if I moved the bishop, then Rxg2 could be a future threat once the knight is lured away... However, the tempo gain of Nxf5 makes this tactic pale in comparison.
- Nxf5!! because it launches a winning 4-5 move combo and incorporates what I have previously designated the 'Canadian Canon' structure, having a Knight protected by a bishop on the central squares, creating a potent attacking pattern via double, direct and discovered checks! (I have highlighted it in some of my other posts like the 9 move checkmate I posted not long ago. I will be making a separate thread on this soon.) In this game the kight achieves this sturucture twice in a row, using both bishops, on consecutive moves!! The resulting attacking net demonstrates its true power, especially when 2 are used in conjunction.
Though my opponent played the awkward Qf8 - if you reason it out, you'll see that all other moves also lead to the quick loss of the queen and a minor piece as well. I'd say that any move that can guarantee a 12 point jump ahead in material advantage with no obvious or immediate compensation for the opponent, deserves a !!. Also, the tactical setup involved was just really pleasing to look at and even more fun to unleash.
The game basically ends at this point, as afterwards black's quality of play diminishes a little allowing moves such as the terrible pawn fork of his rook and knight later. But let's face it - 12 point deficit - it's resign time!
Nice attack. As a more positionally oriented player, I tip my hat to you. Every game you post seems to have at least one stunning move or another. Nicely done.
