---

This was a game against a super-friendly Kiwi, a New Zealander. They are quite a bit lower-rated than me, and I’m not sure how we were matched by chess.com, but I’m glad that we did! We had a complicated early game, and I had a massive time scramble at the end.

In the first game, I had the White pieces and I won quickly as it was a game of the Vienna Gambit, declined by Nc6. In the second game, my friend from across the Tasman Sea played a very solid Italian Game.

This was a good lesson in humility for me! I think I was feeling a bit cocky and arrogant having won the first match that I played relatively recklessly. After the opening where I was reasonably sure I was a bit ahead, I played an aggressive knight move (10… Ng4) against their king, even though I didn’t immediately have an attack. I knew that the more solid approach was to finish development and to castle first, but I was hoping to induce a blunder and then and find a mating tactic.

My opponent, however, played well, and an opportunity never came. Rather, I found myself reasonably sure that I was losing during the middle-game and Stockfish agreed. In parts of the game, it approached [+7] for my opponent!

Relatively closed and positional Italian middle-games can be difficult to navigate, and I had committed that knight to g4 – a liability. Stockfish recommended withdrawing that knight as the best move on analysis several times! Interestingly, chat from my opponent suggested that that knight did make them feel very uncomfortable, so there may be some value from a psychological perspective (though if anything, they may have played better!) White got a very nice position with a semi-open f-file controlled by their rook, and their light square bishop pinning my f7 pawn!

Move 29 was the turning point in the game. We had traded some material and the centre was opening up. I always play better with open positions and fewer pieces. I could feel the tide turning, and I knew I was winning.

Move 35, I formed a triple battery the rook pair and queen down the b-file and managed to further trade down a rook. I only had 36 seconds left on the clock, but I had a simple strategic idea that would require minimal calculation effort. My passed a-pawn was now my biggest asset and by pushing it to promotion, I would force White to trade another one of their pieces.

And this worked. I won by checkmate on move 49 and had made 15 moves in the final 30 seconds of the game, with 6.3 seconds left on the clock. Nonetheless, this was an amazing game by my 800 rated opponent – well done and GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/67749750165

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.01.18"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Kiwi_Thor"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C55"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Italian-Game-Two-Knights-Defense-4.O-O"]
[UTCDate "2023.01.18"]
[UTCTime "03:01:41"]
[WhiteElo "843"]
[BlackElo "1397"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[StartTime "03:01:41"]
[EndDate "2023.01.18"]
[EndTime "03:52:24"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/67749750165"]
[WhiteUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436@3x.gif"]
[WhiteCountry "102"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.78x78o.ebd68214df6f@3x.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 {Italian Game: Two Knights Defense - a very solid
opening for White, and a very solid defense using Black} 4. O-O {This is a
relatively suboptimal line, but still \"book\". Although the pawn on e4 is
hanging, White is potentially fine as they get more rapid development [-0.4] so
it's almost like a gambit.} 4... Nxe4 5. d3 Nf6 6. Bg5 $2 {[%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f1e1;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] This is a mistake
[-1.77]} 6... Bc5 $6 {[%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h7h6;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [-0.6].
Kicking the bishop is better.} 7. c3 h6 $6 {[%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8g8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false] With the impending
attack down the centre, castling is the more accurate move here [-0.5]} 8. Be3 $2
{[%c_effect e3;square;e3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g5f6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] Surprisingly to me,
this was a mistake [-1.9]. In the game, I thought that this was a good move as
White gets to open their f-file having already castled. Stockfish preferred
exchanging the bishop for the knight.} 8... Bxe3 9. fxe3 d5 10. Bb3 Ng4 $6
{[%c_effect g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e8g8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false] I was rated
quite a bit higher than my opponent, and I just defeated them in earlier game,
and this resulted in perhaps some arrogance $1 I knew that castling was the more
solid move, but opted to push an attack with the knight thinking I could induce
a blunder. This forward knight ends up being a liability that I don't
acknowledge for a few moves as I had \"committed\" to this strategy [-1.6]} 11.
Qe2 O-O 12. Nbd2 a5 13. a4 b6 $2 {[%c_effect
b6;square;b6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c8e6;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false] A mistake [from -1.7
to -0.3]. I always find the middle game of Italian Games to be tricky...} 14. e4
dxe4 15. Nxe4 Ba6 $4 {[%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g4f6;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] Apparently a blunder
[+4] as I lose material after a series of trades in the centre, though this is
not obvious. Stockfish recognises that the knight on g4 has no future and
suggests bringing it back.} 16. Rad1 b5 $2 {[%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish's evaluation of my tactic
of attacking down the queenside was that it was bad [+6.7]} 17. axb5 $1
{[%c_effect b5;square;b5;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true]}
17... Bxb5 18. Ba2 $2 $9 {[%c_effect
a2;square;a2;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3g5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] Though this was a
miss [from +6.7 to +3.5]. White had some good attacking chances on the kingside,
taking advantage of the semi-open f-file and the pressure on f7.} 18... Ne7 $2
{[%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g4f6;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] A mistake [+5.9]. I
had realised that my kingside was problematic but couldn't quite work out the
best way to fix the problem. I brought this knight over the the kingside and the
\"sunk cost\" of having advanced my knight prevented me from simply bringing it
back.} 19. Nh4 Qd7 20. Nc5 $4 $9 {[%c_arrow
h2h3;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Fundamentally, this attack on my
queen wasn't going to be effective. White loses their momentum and advantage
[-0.14]} 20... Qc8 $4 $9 {[%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7d6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false] At this point, I kind
of lost my confidence and was worried that I was going to lose this game to
someone rated almost 600 ELO points lower $1 I thought about the move for around 3
minutes, but eventually settled for a passive move which was a a blunder [+5.8].
The best move was d6 which is hard to see.} 21. c4 $4 $9 {[%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d1e1;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] A blunder [+2.8], but
only because it misses the winning aggressive line that Stockfish can see} 21...
Bc6 $6 {[%c_effect c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b5d7;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [+4.1].
Complex position makes it difficult to see trhe best moves $1} 22. h3 $2 {[%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d3d4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] A mistake [+2]} 22...
Nf6 {I finally bring my knight back, having given up on there being a strategic
advantage - this was the correct move.} 23. Qxe5 $6 {[%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d3d4;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] Surprisingly, taking
the hanging pawn was an inaccuracy [+0.8] and we're back near equality} 23...
Ng6 $2 {[%c_effect g6;square;g6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c8d8;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] This is a mistake as
after captures, my king's defences are quite weak [+4.8]} 24. Qg3 $4 $9 {[%c_arrow
h4g6;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false] But luckily, my
strategy worked. White wanted to preserve material rather than trade down, and
this queen move is an error that gives me the advantage [-1.5]} 24... Nxh4 $2 $9
{[%c_arrow
f6h5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false][%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Apparently chasing the queen was
better [from -1.5 to +0.2]. I considered this move but I couldn't convince
myself that this didn't eventually hang one of the knights.} 25. Qxh4 a4 $2
{[%c_effect a4;square;a4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a8b8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;b8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b8;persistent;false] Tricky position.
Stockfish didn't like this move [+2.1]} 26. Ne4 $2 $9 {[%c_arrow
f1f6;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-0.7]. Trading the rook
for the knight would crack open my king's defenses and was the best move.} 26...
Nxe4 27. dxe4 Qe6 28. Rde1 $2 {[%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h4f4;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false] A relatively passive
rook move which was a mistake [-2.1]} 28... Rab8 $6 {[%c_effect
b8;square;b8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e6e5;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] Stockfish didn't like
this, but the threat to the b2 pawn results in White making a blunder} 29. Rb1 $4
{[%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;Blunder;persistent;true] This second rook move was
a blunder [-4.9]} 29... Bxe4 $1 {[%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] As I now take the centre and the
game permanently moves in my favour} 30. Rbe1 Rfe8 $6 {[%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8b2;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;b2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b2;persistent;false]} 31. Bb1 $6
{[%c_effect b1;square;b1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h4f2;keyPressed;none;from;h4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]} 31... Qb6+ 32. Kh1
Bxb1 33. Rxb1 Re2 34. Rbe1 Rxb2 35. Re4 $6 {[%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_highlight
a1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a1;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e1a1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;a1;persistent;false] Arguably a
mistake as my triple battery can force piece trades. With only 1 min left on the
clock, my goal is to simplify as much as possible to win the endgame.  My
simple, low-calculation strategy is to push the a-pawn to promotion and force
White to trade another piece.} 35... Rb1 36. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 37. Kh2 a3 38. Qe7 a2
39. Qa3 $6 {[%c_effect a3;square;a3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e4e1;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] Inaccurate as White
now must trade the queen rather than the rook for the pawn} 39... a1=Q 40. Qxa1
Qxa1 41. Re7 c5 42. Rc7 {Whoops - White was playing rapid moves, hoping to run
down my time and cause me to flag. This doesn't work, however, if you hang your
own pieces...} 42... Qe5+ {[%c_arrow
e5h2;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false,e5c7;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false]}
43. Kg1 Qxc7 44. Kf1 Rb1+ 45. Ke2 Qe5+ 46. Kd2 Qd4+ 47. Kc2 Rb2+ 48. Kc1 Qc3+
49. Kd1 Qd2# {[%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Winner,d1;square;d1;type;CheckmateWhite] Checkmate with 6.3
seconds left on the clock $1 The final 15 moves were made in 30 seconds. GG.} 0-1