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It is uncommon that I encounter the English Opening (1. c4) – less than 3% of the games that I’ve played with the Black pieces. This was an interesting game that came out of the Four Knights, Quiet Line variation! For an opening nominated as the “Quiet Line”, it was an extraordinary dynamic game with aggressive fireworks!

I know no theory in this opening so simply played according to opening principles. From this position, I played (4… d5). If you can take the centre with pawns, then it’s often good to do so. This immediate resulted in an opening of the centre with a series of trades. On move 7, I push my e-pawn (7… e4) threatening White’s knight on f3, and White attempted a dynamic defence by counterattacking with (8. Bc4), linking up their queen and bishop in a powerful battery looking at my f6. This aggressive move seems to make a lot of sense and dangerous for me. However, interestingly, Stockfish called this a blunder [-1.9] as the attack doesn’t work. I spent about a minute calculating and eventually decided to call White’s bluff! I ignored the battery and took White’s knight (8… exf3).

The next few moves are interesting as White smashes into my king’s defences with first the light square bishop (9. Bxf7+) and then double downs on the attack by bringing in their dark square bishop (10. Ba3+). However, my king manages to escape and by move 12, White’s attack has all but evaporated, losing both their bishops. I now counterattack with my knight – (13… Ne5) and then (14… Nxf3+) with a fork of the king and rook. White attempts to defend the rook with the king (15. Kf1) but this was a mistake. Knights are tricky and their moves can be hard to see. My next move (15… Nd2+) is a royal fork! White suffers emotional damage and resigns. GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/79933819841

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.06.08"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Loop9"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "A28"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/English-Opening-Four-Knights-Quiet-Line-4...d5-5.cxd5-Nxd5"]
[UTCDate "2023.06.08"]
[UTCTime "03:27:30"]
[WhiteElo "1476"]
[BlackElo "1426"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "03:27:30"]
[EndDate "2023.06.08"]
[EndTime "03:41:07"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/79933819841"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/63970594.200a9dff.50x50o.1670441704ae.jpeg"]
[WhiteCountry "2"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. c4 {[%clk 0:15:09.1]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:06.6]} 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:16]} 2...
Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:06.9]} 3. Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:18.5]} 3... Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:07.8]} 4.
e3 {[%clk 0:15:12.6] English Opening: Four Knights, Quiet Line [+0.05]. It's
interesting that this is the \"quiet\" line as fireworks are soon to start $1}
4... d5 {[%clk 0:15:10.8]} 5. cxd5 {[%clk 0:15:13.7]} 5... Nxd5 {[%clk
0:15:19.3]} 6. Qb3 {[%clk 0:13:59.2]} 6... Nxc3 {[%clk 0:14:51.1]} 7. bxc3
{[%clk 0:13:35.3]} 7... e4 {[%clk 0:14:45.7]} 8. Bc4 $4 {[%clk
0:12:48.4][%c_arrow
f3d4;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false][%c_effect
c4;square;c4;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A very aggressive move that seems to
make a lot of sense. However, Stockfish calls this a blunder [-1.9] as the
attack as it fundamentally fizzles out.} 8... exf3 {[%clk 0:13:33.6] After
thinking about a minute, I decide to call White's bluff $1} 9. Bxf7+ {[%clk
0:12:48.6]} 9... Ke7 $1 {[%clk 0:13:42.5][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Only move $1 Kd7 results in Qe6#.}
10. Ba3+ $2 {[%clk 0:12:39.5][%c_effect
a3;square;a3;type;Mistake;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] White double downs on
the attack $1 This move makes a lot of sense but the attack still doesn't work and
is a mistake [-3.6].} 10... Kf6 {[%clk 0:13:33.6]} 11. Bxf8 {[%clk 0:09:19.7]}
11... Rxf8 {[%clk 0:13:41.5]} 12. gxf3 $2 {[%clk 0:09:27.3][%c_arrow
f7d5;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [-6]. White needed to
rescue their bishop.} 12... Rxf7 {[%clk 0:13:46.7]} 13. Rg1 {[%clk 0:09:14.2]}
13... Ne5 {[%clk 0:13:07.3]} 14. d4 {[%clk 0:08:30.5]} 14... Nxf3+ {[%clk
0:13:10.9]} 15. Kf1 $2 {[%clk 0:08:34.8][%c_arrow
e1e2;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
f1;square;f1;type;Mistake;persistent;true] This allows a royal fork} 15... Nd2+
{[%clk 0:13:03.9][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Winner,f1;square;f1;type;ResignWhite] Emotional damage and
White resigns $1 GG $1} 0-1