There is a tactical idea in chess that if you’re able to keep making credible threats, even if you’re down on material or in an otherwise disadvantageous position, you create opportunities where you might win. Conceptually, what you are trying to do is not only to induce errors in your opponent’s play, but for these errors to be potentially impactful on the direction of the game.

This concept is demonstrated in this game where I had the Black pieces and played the Englund Gambit against my opponent’s Queen’s Pawn Opening (1. d4 e5). White declined the gambit with (2. e3). The best response for Black is to simply take the pawn (2… exd4), but I couldn’t remember this in the game and opted to play (2… d5) instead.

The opening then headed into territory that I usually try to avoid – it transposed into a Queen’s Gambit Declined, first in one of the Albin Countergambit lines, and then into the Chigorin, Exchange Variation. I was a bit disoriented in the opening as I’m not familiar with the QGD lines.

On move 8, my opponent played the very solid (8. c4). They were developing a powerful diagonal of pawns and I had the distinct sense that not only did they have a good position, but that I was playing into what they were familiar with as a (1. d4) player. So, I decided to play in a hyperaggressive style for the rest of the game!

The interesting thing is that Stockfish very much disapproves of my approach with the evaluation generally from [+3] to [+6] for the next 20 moves! On move 11, an unbalanced infiltration by my knight forces a “concession” (though Stockfish didn’t think so) from White in that they were forced to move a pawn on the base of their chain and move their king. This meant that the king was going to be relatively stuck on the kingside, and the pawns on that side a little uncoordinated. However, this manoeuvre did mean that that knight was going to be lost.

I castled queenside, with the idea that I would focus an attack on my opponent’s king. Interestingly, despite White’s superiority in material and evaluation, I continued to have the initiative with White forced to defend. Part of the rapid attack is that White’s kingside pieces (bishop, knight, rook) were yet to develop and so their influence weren’t felt. Stockfish doesn’t believe in these unbalanced attacks, so many of their top recommended moves were to trade down pieces. However, it’s important to realise that doing so would nerf the attack. Stockfish’s perspective is that I was already losing according to perfect play and thus, its objective is actually to delay the loss as long as possible. However, I was still playing to win!

As White’s king is increasingly cramped and under pressure from my attack, I manage to win further concessions. Firstly, I regain material equality on move 23. On move 27, I manage to manoeuvre my rooks and queen into a triple battery. Stockfish is completely unafraid, giving a [+4] to [+5] advantage to White. However, my opponent is human and made a move that does make sense but was a blunder [-1.2].

According to Stockfish, on move 28, Black could potentially trade down to a rook and pawn endgame, that should technically be winning for Black due to an extra pawn. I didn’t see that line, and I’m not sure I would have played it anyway. Instead, with my pieces positioned for potential pins and forks, the less optimal but aggressive moves I played induced some further errors, which allowed me to trade down to an endgame where I had a queen, against my opponent’s rook and bishop. After the emotional damage from their loss of material, and then three consecutive checks from my queen, White opted to resign rather than to play on. GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/71286182585

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.02.28"]
[Round "-"]
[White "coolhandluke900"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "D07"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Queens-Gambit-Declined-Chigorin-Exchange-Variation...5.Nc3-Bb4-6.Bd2-Bxc3-7.bxc3"]
[UTCDate "2023.02.28"]
[UTCTime "01:16:57"]
[WhiteElo "1463"]
[BlackElo "1436"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "01:16:57"]
[EndDate "2023.02.28"]
[EndTime "01:46:22"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/71286182585"]
[WhiteUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[WhiteCountry "2"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.82046355.50x50o.c8c8e6b7296c.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. d4 {[%clk 0:29:55.2]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:29:49.7]} 2. e3 {[%clk 0:29:35.9]
Englund Gambit Declined: Reversed French Variation} 2... d5 $2 {[%clk
0:29:27.5][%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5d4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] This is a mistake
with gives the advantage to White [+1.3]} 3. c4 {[%clk 0:29:30.9] Though we now
transpose into a Queen's Gambit Declined: Albin Countergambit line [+0.16]} 3...
Nc6 $6 {[%clk 0:29:08.5][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5d4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] [+0.7]} 4. cxd5
{[%clk 0:29:24.6]} 4... Qxd5 {[%clk 0:29:03.2] Transpose into a QGD: Chigorin,
Exchange Variation} 5. Nc3 {[%clk 0:29:22.8]} 5... Bb4 {[%clk 0:28:24.3]} 6. Bd2
{[%clk 0:29:11.3]} 6... Bxc3 {[%clk 0:28:19.5]} 7. bxc3 {[%clk 0:29:08.8]} 7...
Bf5 $6 {[%clk 0:27:40.6][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g8f6;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] Knights before
bishops [+1.3]} 8. c4 {[%clk 0:29:03.5]} 8... Qe4 $2 {[%clk 0:27:14.4][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] And here I decide to play
hyperaggressive, \"Englund Gambit\" style $1 Stockfish, as usual, very much
disapproves [+2.7]} 9. d5 {[%clk 0:28:31]} 9... Nd4 $2 {[%clk 0:26:43.8][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c6d8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] Double down on the
aggression $1 [+4.5]} 10. f3 $1 {[%clk 0:27:12][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 10... Nc2+ {[%clk 0:25:57.6]} 11.
Kf2 $1 {[%clk 0:26:55.7][%c_effect f2;square;f2;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
11... Qh4+ {[%clk 0:24:58]} 12. g3 $1 {[%clk 0:26:50.4][%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 12... Qf6 {[%clk 0:24:13.7]} 13.
Rc1 {[%clk 0:26:41.6]} 13... O-O-O $6 {[%clk 0:22:54][%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g8e7;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] Technically, things
are looking bad but I feel good $1 [+6]} 14. e4 $6 {[%clk 0:26:36.3][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h2h4;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false] White blunders a pawn
[+4]} 14... Bxe4 {[%clk 0:21:54.6]} 15. Rxc2 {[%clk 0:26:35.2]} 15... Nh6 $6
{[%clk 0:21:30][%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e4c2;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false] Stockfish thinks I'm
lost so suggests capturing the rook. However, I need to keep my pieces as I
still think I might tactically get ahead... [+6.2]} 16. Bxh6 $2 {[%clk
0:26:13][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Mistake;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true] My opponent is
trying to liquidate pieces to nerf my attack [+2.9]} 16... gxh6 $6 {[%clk
0:21:23][%c_effect h6;square;h6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e4c2;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false] I'm holding onto my
pieces and potential for an attack [+6]} 17. Re2 {[%clk 0:25:45.1]} 17... Bg6
{[%clk 0:20:30.5]} 18. Qa1 {[%clk 0:24:27.2]} 18... Rhe8 {[%clk 0:20:14.9]} 19.
Re3 {[%clk 0:24:02.2]} 19... Qb6 {[%clk 0:19:34.8]} 20. Qc3 {[%clk 0:23:34.1]}
20... e4 {[%clk 0:19:15.7]} 21. Kg2 $6 {[%clk 0:23:02.8][%c_effect
g2;square;g2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy - White's king is
jammed into the king side [+4.5]} 21... exf3+ {[%clk 0:18:58.4]} 22. Rxf3 $6
{[%clk 0:22:54.3][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g2f3;keyPressed;none;from;g2;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] [+3.6]} 22... Be4
{[%clk 0:18:40.6]} 23. Be2 $2 {[%clk 0:22:45.5][%c_effect
e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] [+1.9]} 23... Bxf3+ $6 {[%clk
0:18:08.6][%c_effect f3;square;f3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] [+3]} 24.
Bxf3 {[%clk 0:22:43.4]} 24... Re3 {[%clk 0:17:50.2]} 25. Qc2 $2 {[%clk
0:22:24.2][%c_effect c2;square;c2;type;Mistake;persistent;true] My attack is
winning concessional errors from White [+1.8]} 25... Qd4 $2 {[%clk
0:15:54.6][%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b6g6;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false] Stockfish thinks that
trading material is the best approach, but that is the pathway to an eventual
loss} 26. Ne2 {[%clk 0:22:15.8]} 26... Qe5 $6 {[%clk 0:14:36.7][%c_arrow
d4d3;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] [+5]} 27. Rb1 {[%clk 0:21:18.5]}
27... Re8 {[%clk 0:14:23] Triple battery $1} 28. Kf2 $4 {[%clk 0:19:17.5][%c_arrow
e2f4;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f2;square;f2;type;Blunder;persistent;true] White finally made a key blunder and
my attack is now working [-1.2]. I think they had tunnel vision in that they
needed to \"defend\" the knight, and forgot that they could simply move it.}
28... Qf6 $9 {[%clk 0:13:43.5]} 29. Rb3 $4 {[%clk 0:18:59.9][%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;Blunder;persistent;true] The game-ending blunder [-15]} 29...
Rxe2+ {[%clk 0:13:33.8][%c_arrow
f6f3;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] The bishop was
straight up hanging, but removing White's queen causes \"emotional damage\" and
reduces the risk from the game [-5.2]} 30. Qxe2 {[%clk 0:18:53.3]} 30... Rxe2+
{[%clk 0:13:30.4]} 31. Kxe2 {[%clk 0:18:51.8]} 31... Qe5+ {[%clk 0:13:05.5]} 32.
Kf2 {[%clk 0:18:43.6]} 32... Qd4+ {[%clk 0:12:54.4]} 33. Ke1 $6 {[%clk
0:18:17.7][%c_effect e1;square;e1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b3e3;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false]} 33... Qa1+ {[%clk
0:12:39.4][%c_effect c8;square;c8;type;Winner,e1;square;e1;type;ResignWhite]
White resigns. GG $1} 0-1