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This was a rapid game that I played using my Chessnut Air. On the video reviews, I’m going to experiment with reviewing games played on the Chessnut Air using the 3D chessboard view as it gives a better sense of how the game “looked” and “felt” live!

This was an interesting game of the Vienna Game: Max Lange Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6) where my opponent played an aggressive early “Zhuravlev” bishop (3… Bb4), which allowed me to play the “Giraffe-ish Queen” counterattack (4. Qg4) (https://adventuresofachessnoob.com/2022/10/08/awesome-giraffe-ish-response-to-the-zhuravlev-countergambit/).

My opponent played well and played a great move 7 (7. Nxe4). In this position, I had only one move that maintained equality. Can you find the move White needed to play?

The move to find was (8. Nxe5), seemingly hanging the queen! However, the line continues where White is able win Black’s queen with a skewer, or, force a draw through perpetual check! (8. Nxe5 Nxg3 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 10. Bh6+ Ke7 11. Bg5+)

Needless to say, I did not find this move and played (8. Qh4), which was the second-best move, trading queens. However, Black has a substantial advantage of almost [-3].

However, the Giraffe-ish Queen did it’s job by inducing a permanent dark square weakness on Black’s kingside; jamming my dark square bishop on h6 (10. Bh6) prevented Black from castling kingside. A few moves later, Black lost sight of the dark square diagonal backwards with the bishop in an unusual position, and hung their knight making forward progress (12… Nd2 13. Bxd2).

With opposite-side castling, my strategy was relatively clear. Queenside pawn storm and attack! Black’s bishop ended up getting trapped against the advancing pawns. With Black down two pieces and the evaluation at better than [+9], it was simply my game to win. The position was still relatively closed – Black had seven pawns remaining while I had six. The late-middle game start was my knight, who made four consecutive moves to infiltrate Black’s position.

On move 34, Black, about to lose one of their rooks without compensation, opted to resign. GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/70066973431

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.13"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "calessa"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C25"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vienna-Game-Max-Lange-Defense-3.Bc4"]
[UTCDate "2023.02.13"]
[UTCTime "22:37:27"]
[WhiteElo "1447"]
[BlackElo "1448"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "22:37:27"]
[EndDate "2023.02.13"]
[EndTime "23:07:07"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/70066973431"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[BlackCountry "32"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:29:54.4]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:29:57.8]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:29:44.1]}
2... Nc6 {[%clk 0:29:52.3]} 3. Bc4 {[%clk 0:29:38.9] Vienna Game: Max Lange
Defense} 3... Bb4 {[%clk 0:29:31.3]} 4. Qg4 {[%clk 0:28:01.8][%c_arrow
g4g7;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false] With the bishop
coming out early, we have the \"Giraffe-ish Queen\" as a counterattack with
similar ideas to the Giraffe Attack in the Anderssen Defense [+0.4]} 4... g6
{[%clk 0:28:25.8]} 5. Qg3 {[%clk 0:27:31.1]} 5... Nf6 {[%clk 0:27:59.4]} 6. Nf3
{[%clk 0:27:17]} 6... Bxc3 {[%clk 0:27:41.8]} 7. dxc3 {[%clk 0:26:47.4]} 7...
Nxe4 $1 {[%clk 0:27:18.7][%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A
great move by Black [0.00]} 8. Qh4 $2 {[%clk 0:25:05.5][%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3e5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] There was only one
good move that I didn't see. This was the second best move but a mistake [-2.7]}
({This was the extraordinary best move where White seemingly hangs their queen $1 
And yet, the evaluation is [0.00].} 8. Nxe5 Nxg3 9. Bxf7+ Kf8 10. Bh6+ Ke7 11.
Bg5+ {[%c_arrow
g5e7;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,e7d8;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] An amazing line $1  And
chess continues...}) 8... Qxh4 $1 {[%clk 0:27:13.1][%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true]} 9. Nxh4
{[%clk 0:24:59.9]} 9... d6 {[%clk 0:26:42.3]} 10. Bh6 {[%clk 0:24:45.3]} 10...
Bd7 $6 {[%clk 0:25:15.9][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h8g8;keyPressed;none;from;h8;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [-2.2]}
11. O-O {[%clk 0:24:29]} 11... f5 $2 {[%clk 0:24:39.8][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8e7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] Apparently a mistake
[-1.2]} 12. f3 $1 {[%clk 0:23:59][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 12... Nd2 $4 {[%clk
0:24:36.3][%c_effect d2;square;d2;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Black
unfortunately blunders their knight [+3.3] perhaps forgetting the uncommonly
placed dark square bishop} 13. Bxd2 {[%clk 0:23:53.3]} 13... O-O-O $6 {[%clk
0:24:09.7][%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f5f4;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [+4.4]}
14. Bh6 {[%clk 0:23:34.6]} 14... Na5 {[%clk 0:23:36.3]} 15. Bb3 $6 {[%clk
0:22:15.2][%c_effect b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c4e2;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false] Stockfish didn't
think that the exchange was the right approach [+3.4]} 15... Nxb3 {[%clk
0:23:31.8]} 16. axb3 {[%clk 0:22:06][%c_arrow
a1a7;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a7;persistent;false,b3b6;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,c3c6;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false,c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false,c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false,b2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b2;persistent;false]
The strategy now is the pawn storm with my pawn cube $1 [+3.8]} 16... a6 {[%clk
0:23:30.8]} 17. b4 {[%clk 0:21:32.3]} 17... Bb5 {[%clk 0:23:18.4]} 18. Rfe1
{[%clk 0:21:05.8]} 18... Rhg8 {[%clk 0:23:14.2]} 19. Bg5 {[%clk 0:20:27.7]}
19... Rd7 {[%clk 0:22:55.6]} 20. b3 {[%clk 0:20:10.9]} 20... f4 $6 {[%clk
0:21:48.9][%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish
called this an inaccuracy [+5.6] though the idea seems reasonably sound. My
bishop and knight seem trapped on the kingside.} 21. c4 {[%clk 0:19:54.6]
However, Black's bishop is trapped first...} 21... Bc6 {[%clk 0:21:40.8]} 22. b5
{[%clk 0:19:29.7][%c_arrow
b5c6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false,b5a6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,a1a6;keyPressed;none;from;a1;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,a6a8;keyPressed;none;from;a6;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false]
And the bishop is lost. Black can't capture with the a-pawn as it is pinned to
the a8 square by my rook (back rank mate); place pressure on the pinned piece.}
22... Bxf3 $6 {[%clk 0:20:12.2][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c6b5;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [+9.4]
as this allows my knight to escape from the cage on the kingside} 23. Nxf3
{[%clk 0:19:24.8]} 23... Kb8 {[%clk 0:19:58.8]} 24. bxa6 {[%clk 0:19:11.5]}
24... b6 {[%clk 0:19:49.1]} 25. c3 {[%clk 0:18:12.5]} 25... Ka7 {[%clk
0:19:38.6]} 26. b4 {[%clk 0:17:56.2]} 26... c6 {[%clk 0:19:26.8]} 27. b5 {[%clk
0:17:22.4]} 27... c5 {[%clk 0:19:19.1]} 28. Nd2 {[%clk 0:17:03.9]} 28... Re8
{[%clk 0:17:56.7]} 29. Ne4 {[%clk 0:16:57]} 29... Re6 {[%clk 0:17:42.7]} 30. Nf6
{[%clk 0:16:47.7]} 30... Rf7 {[%clk 0:17:26.1]} 31. Nd5 {[%clk
0:16:35.8][%c_arrow
f3d2;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;d2;persistent;false,d2e4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false,e4f6;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false,f6d5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false,e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]
Four consecutive knight moves demonstrating how powerful the knight can be in a
congested position $1 [+17]} 31... Rf5 {[%clk 0:17:05.1]} 32. Bd8 {[%clk
0:16:12.3]} 32... f3 {[%clk 0:16:20.4]} 33. Bxb6+ {[%clk 0:15:32.2]} 33... Ka8
{[%clk 0:16:12.7]} 34. gxf3 {[%clk 0:15:02.8]} 34... Re8 {[%clk
0:15:40.4][%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Winner,a8;square;a8;type;ResignBlack]
Black resigns as the position is hopeless [+M8]} (34... Re8 35. Nc7+ Kb8 36. a7+
Kb7 37. Nxe8 Rg5+ 38. Kf2 Rg2+ 39. Kxg2 Kc8 40. a8=Q+ Kd7 41. Ra7+ Ke6 42. Qc8#)
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