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This was a very interesting game where my opponent used the Modern Defense (1. e4 g6). As I have little preparation against hypermodern systems (and don’t really like them), this meant that I knew practically no theory from move 2 and so it is an interesting game to review from the point of view of tactics and strategy!

Against an unfamiliar opening, I try to play according to opening principles – take the centre with pawns, develop the minor pieces, generally knights before bishops, and then castle. If there is an opportunity, don’t necessarily castle early create the opportunity to castle both short and long. Try to avoid opening the centre before castling unless there is an obvious opportunity.

And that’s pretty much what happened in the opening with a little bit of spice. On move 5, I played (5. Bb5) pinning Black’s knight to their king. I kind of knew that this was probably unnecessarily provocative and on evaluation, this was the case. My advantage dropped from [+0.4 → +0.2] and Stockfish rated that developing the other knight with (5. Nc3) was best. Knights before bishops!

On move 8 I developed my queen, and on move 9, had an opportunity to castle either side. As it turned out, the engine believed in alternate moves as optimal, but nonetheless, I entered the middle game in a perfectly good place with a small advantage [+0.3]. Opening principles work!

We both castle kingside, so I use the strategy of launching a kingside attack, marshalling my pieces to the kingside. Although my execution was far from perfect, the strategy was largely successful. By move 22, I was encroaching into Black’s kingside position with an evaluation of up to [+6] and then on move 24, a surprising mating net of [+M12]! Now, I couldn’t see this during in game, though I had an intuition that a mating line might exist somewhere. These are complicated positions!

Not able to see an obvious way to break through and finding myself down on time (around 11 min to Black’s 20 min), I use another tactical approach. Black’s queen was relatively exposed and isolated, so I pulled back some of my attacking pieces and started attacking the queen! Creating complications where you hold the threats is a good way of creating errors and opportunities. And we did! From move 27, my opponent and I make five consecutive blunders! However, my blunders created opportunities while Black was scrambling to defend. Tactical ideas? Attack down the h-file with an h-pawn push. Entice/compel Black to move the king’s defensive pawns forward. And of course, attack the queen with lesser pieces!

By move 33, we had entered a rook pair and queen endgame and Black makes a terminal tactical error [+6] which might not be immediately obvious. They brought their rook back onto the back rank (3… Rff8) to form a connected rook pair to attack my queen. However, this immediately allowed me to advance my rook to the seventh rank (34. Re7). A tactic – rooks are powerful on the second and seventh ranks – and in this case, I’ve “delaminated”, effectively peeled off the black king’s defensive pawns! They had both advanced only one step to the sixth rank, but in this context, it was one step too far! With the rook a forcefield holding Black’s king on to the back rank, the queen could now dance around the f- and g-pawns. First check on the e-file and then check on the open h-file, and then striking on h7 with mate. GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/78804725441

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.05.26"]
[Round "-"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "brokenarm2008"]
[Result "1-0"]
[CurrentPosition "2r2rk1/4R2Q/p4pp1/3P4/8/2p5/P2q1PP1/5RK1 b - -"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "B06"]
[UTCDate "2023.05.26"]
[UTCTime "01:51:47"]
[WhiteElo "1410"]
[BlackElo "1370"]
[TimeControl "1800"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[StartTime "01:51:47"]
[EndDate "2023.05.26"]
[EndTime "02:37:05"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/78804725441"]
[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 "2"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:29:56.8]} 1... g6 {[%clk 0:29:59.3] Modern Defense. I personally
find the hypermodern systems complicated to play against $1} 2. d4 {[%clk
0:29:47]} 2... Bg7 {[%clk 0:29:57.9]} 3. Nf3 {[%clk 0:29:32.4]} 3... d6 {[%clk
0:29:56.9]} 4. Bf4 {[%clk 0:29:07.6]} 4... Nc6 {[%clk 0:29:41.5]} 5. Bb5 {[%clk
0:28:41.5] This move is probably unnecessarily provocative and I lose some of my
advantage [+0.4 $37 +0.2]. The best move follows opening principles and is Nc3.}
5... Bd7 {[%clk 0:29:34.3]} 6. Nc3 {[%clk 0:28:25.5]} 6... a6 {[%clk 0:29:27.9]}
7. Bxc6 {[%clk 0:27:44.1]} 7... Bxc6 {[%clk 0:29:25.4] I was happy with how the
opening had progressed [+0.3]} 8. Qd3 {[%clk 0:26:07.4] I had an intuition that
a developing move for the queen was good, but wasn't sure which was the best
square for the queen. This move was suboptimal [+0.1] and Qd2 was best.} 8...
e6 $6 {[%clk 0:29:04.6][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b7b5;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] This was an
inaccuracy [+0.7]} 9. O-O {[%clk 0:25:15.9][%c_arrow
e1c1;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;c1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c1;persistent;false] I couldn't decide
which side to castle and eventually chose kingside after about a minute [+0.3].
Stockfish thinks that castling long is a bit better but this isn't a mistake.}
9... Nf6 {[%clk 0:28:58.9]} 10. e5 {[%clk 0:24:56.4][%c_arrow
d4d5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] I wasn't sure which
of the central pawn pushes was better. This was suboptimal [0.00] - d5 was
better as it is more forcing, capturing space as the bishop is forced back to
d7.} 10... Nd5 {[%clk 0:28:31.3]} 11. Bg5 {[%clk 0:23:17.3]} 11... Qc8 {[%clk
0:27:33]} 12. Nxd5 {[%clk 0:23:04.6]} 12... exd5 $6 {[%clk 0:27:30.6][%c_arrow
c6d5;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] A relative inaccuracy as Black
doubles their pawns [+0.75]} 13. b3 $6 {[%clk 0:22:02.8][%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f1e1;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,e5d6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false]
I played this move to defend against a Bb5 skewer, but Stockfish called this an
inaccuracy [+0.2]. This is as dynamic defence is possible with either exd6,
opening the e-file, or by simply taking the e-file with Rfe1.} 13... O-O {[%clk
0:26:30.8]} 14. Bf6 $2 {[%clk 0:21:23.4][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish calls this a mistake
[-0.9]. My logic was to trade off Black's fianchetto bishop, but if they play
correctly, Black will win a clean pawn.} 14... Re8 $2 {[%clk 0:25:51.6][%c_arrow
g7f6;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Mistake;persistent;true] However, Black didn't want to trade
off their bishop and this was a mistake [+0.6]} ({If Black played accurately,
they could have won a pawn...} 14... Bxf6 15. exf6 Qe6 {[%c_arrow
e6f6;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] The pawn on f6 cannot
be defended...}) 15. Bxg7 {[%clk 0:20:44.1]} 15... Kxg7 {[%clk 0:25:49.7]} 16.
Rae1 {[%clk 0:20:21.8]} 16... Bb5 {[%clk 0:24:20.2]} 17. c4 $1 {[%clk
0:20:15.7][%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] As it turned
out, my previous prophylactic b3 became useful $1} 17... dxc4 {[%clk 0:24:10.2]}
18. bxc4 {[%clk 0:20:11]} 18... Bd7 {[%clk 0:24:02.1]} 19. d5 {[%clk 0:18:23.6]}
19... b5 $6 {[%clk 0:23:55.6][%c_arrow
d6e5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] This was an inaccuracy but the
position is complex [+1.1]} 20. Qd4 {[%clk 0:17:58.4]} 20... bxc4 $4 {[%clk
0:23:52.1][%c_effect c4;square;c4;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6e5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] This move is
understandable, but a blunder [+5.6] as it gifts me a discovered check with a
capture} 21. exd6+ $6 {[%clk 0:17:46.7][%c_arrow
e5e6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An obvious inaccuracy in hindsight
though I'm still winning [+5.6 $37 +4.7] $1 Moving the pawn forward with e6+ will
also result in winning the bishop on d7.} 21... Kg8 {[%clk 0:23:38.6]} 22. Qf6 $2
{[%clk 0:16:03.6][%c_effect f6;square;f6;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] Stockfish doesn't
agree with my approach [+4.7 $37 +2.4] however, my idea was to try to prevent
Black from activating their queen. I recognised that I now could infiltrate into
Black's position with a powerful attack on their king.} 22... cxd6 $2 {[%clk
0:23:14.3][%c_effect d6;square;d6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8e1;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false] And against a human,
my approach is working [+6]} 23. Ng5 $1 {[%clk 0:15:20.3][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 23... Rf8 {[%clk 0:22:47.9]} 24.
Re7 $1 {[%clk 0:14:56.8][%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]}
24... Be8 $6 {[%clk 0:22:31.2][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Surprisingly, this is actually a
mistake as there is a complicated [+M12] $1 Black's only move to avoid checkmate
is to sacrifice their queen with Qe8 $1} 25. h4 $2 {[%clk 0:12:56.4][%c_effect
h4;square;h4;type;Mistake;persistent;true] However, as a human, I don't see the
[+M12] which makes this a mistake [2.3]...} ({The incredible [+M11] line $1} 25.
Ne6 Qxe6 26. dxe6 h5 27. Re1 Kh7 28. exf7 Ba4 29. R7e6 Bc2 30. Re8 Be4 31. Qe7
Kg7 32. Qxf8+ Kf6 33. Qe7+ Kf5 34. f8=Q+ Kg4 35. Rxe4# {Wow $1}) 25... Qf5 {[%clk
0:22:29.2]} 26. Qxd6 {[%clk 0:11:23.6]} 26... c3 $6 {[%clk 0:19:48][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e8b5;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false] Somewhat
inaccurate but a difficult position to see [+2.8]} 27. Re5 $2 {[%clk
0:10:47.3][%c_arrow
g5e4;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] At this point, I had convinced myself
that I was no longer winning and so opted for a tactic of trying to chase
Black's relatively isolated queen, hoping to induce an error. Stockfish, which
can't conceive of making mistakes doesn't agree with these tactics, of course
[0.00].} 27... Qf4 $4 {[%clk 0:17:57.9][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Humans are not engines, and my tactic
immediately bears fruit with Black making a blunder [+4]} 28. h5 $4 {[%clk
0:08:42.1][%c_arrow
g5h7;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;h7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h7;persistent;false][%c_effect
h5;square;h5;type;Blunder;persistent;true] But I'm not an engine either and miss
a beautiful attack where I win Black's queen... [-0.3]} ({Beautiful engine
line...} 28. Nxh7 {The knight cannot be captured, so the rook is lost. If the
king captures the knight...} 28... Kxh7 29. Rh5+ gxh5 30. Qxf4 {nice $1}) 28...
f6 $4 {[%clk 0:17:06][%c_arrow
a8d8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] I wasn't worried about this fork
because even though it looks bad, Black's position is too dangerous for them to
make use of it $1  This was actually a blunder [+5.2].} 29. Qe6+ $4 {[%clk
0:08:18][%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] Blundertastic $1
[-3.3]} 29... Bf7 $4 {[%clk 0:16:07.3][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g8h8;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;h8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false] Five blunders in a
row $1 [+1.5] and as I calculated this line, I knew I was now winning $1} 30. Nxf7 $1
{[%clk 0:07:53.4][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true]} 30... Rxf7
{[%clk 0:16:04.1]} 31. hxg6 {[%clk 0:07:43.3]} 31... hxg6 {[%clk 0:15:43.5] Now,
this transformation wasn't the most accurate, but with the simplification I saw
that we had material equality, but my king was in a safer position in the
endgame [+0.6]} 32. Re4 {[%clk 0:06:19.4]} 32... Qd2 {[%clk 0:13:31.4]} 33.
Qc6 $6 {[%clk 0:05:46.2][%c_arrow
e4h4;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish believes that capturing
the open h-file was important [0.00]} 33... Rff8 $2 {[%clk 0:13:05.8][%c_effect
f8;square;f8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a8d8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] But I predicted this
mistake [+6] by Black $1 I expected that Black would try to place their rooks on
the same rank to attack my queen. However, this gives me the opportunity to
\"delaminate\" Black's king from the defence of its pawns $1} 34. Re7 $1 {[%clk
0:04:18.8][%c_effect e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] A blunder as
it's now too late... [+M4]} 34... Rac8 $4 {[%clk 0:11:40.8][%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d2d3;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]} 35. Qe6+ $1 {[%clk
0:03:55.5][%c_effect e6;square;e6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 35... Kh8
{[%clk 0:11:31.3]} 36. Qh3+ {[%clk 0:03:50.2]} 36... Kg8 {[%clk 0:11:14.4]} 37.
Qh7# {[%clk 0:03:46.1][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner,g8;square;g8;type;CheckmateBlack] Black's pawns having
taken only one step, but it's one step too far allowing my rook and queen to
infiltrate on the second 7th rank $1 GG $1} 1-0