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I had this rather exciting game today where we had a battle in the middlegame and endgame! I had the Black pieces and White opened with the Bishop’s Opening (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4). The Bishop’s Opening is potentially quite a tricky opening. As I’ve not familiar with the tricks in this opening, I usually play conservatively in a manner that typically steers the game back into a Two Knights, Italian. This often works as if White refuses, they often end up in a significantly worse opening.

In this game, we did end up into a typical Two Knights, Italian position and in the early middlegame, I delay castling with some semi-aggressive moves to try to have some centre trades. By move 10, I get what I was hoping for – a reasonably strong centre of pawns, White has traded away their relatively strong light square bishop that was looking at f7, and I have a semi-open f-file which I can now take advantage of with kingside castling, and the evaluation is even equal [0.00].

On move 16, White strikes out with the knight (16. Kf4), which was a mistake, but I didn’t see White’s tactic. One move later, (17. Ng6) White had a fork of my queen and rook – oh no! This was a great move. My approach at this point was to make the best of my position: accepting that the rook on f8 was lost. So, the tactics: create as many threats as possible, and to act fast. White trades away their most active piece and I replace the rook with a previously undeveloped rook. As White’s own rook on a1 has yet to be developed, the loss of material won’t immediately be felt. Moreover, as we each still have 7 pawns on the board, the rooks at relatively weaker and the knights relatively stronger at this phase of the game.

In the latter part of the middlegame, I’ve managed to mostly bind up the position, so that it wasn’t easy for White to find a way to take advantage of their rook pair. At the same time, I used threats – pawn pushes and a check to create a sense of psychological discomfort. The knight seemed to hold the position together, so this was a bait, and an invitation, for White to trade one of their rooks for my knight. And on move 34, White cracked under the pressure and decided to get rid of my pesky knight with a trade! However, this meant that I have survived a losing middlegame, and we now entered an equal rook and pawn endgame!

On move 38, it was clear to me that White’s best move was probably to repeat moves, and so, I offered a draw. I personally would have been happy with a draw here. However, White refused, and this resulted in a relative concession. I say “relative” as Stockfish on high depth thinks that the position was still drawn [0.00], but at lower depth, gives an advantage to Black. The interpretation here is that the position is simply easier to play with Black. This can be understood as I have a couple of tactical advantages – my pawns are closer to promotion and my rook has cut off the White king, while my own king was developed.

What this means is that where my mistakes would potentially lead to draws, White’s mistakes could result in a loss! Rook and pawn endgames are complicated! On move 51, I thought I had a winning position, but curiously, Stockfish still called it a draw. White played a completely human move (51. Rd7). On the surface, this makes sense as White needs keep vision on the d-file, where my passed pawn might promote, and keep vision on their pawn on b7, one step away from promoting. This move, however, was a blunder. That tactical resource of their king being trapped on the back rank by my rook? One of the consequences of this is the risk of back rank mate of forward movement is also restrained by a king and/or pawns! So, (51. Rb1#)! GG!

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/83893828433

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.07.23"]
[Round "-"]
[White "Freestyle100"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "C24"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Bishops-Opening-Berlin-Defense-3.d3-Nc6"]
[UTCDate "2023.07.23"]
[UTCTime "23:29:45"]
[WhiteElo "1419"]
[BlackElo "1429"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[StartTime "23:29:45"]
[EndDate "2023.07.23"]
[EndTime "23:57:45"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/83893828433"]
[WhiteUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[WhiteCountry "2"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:15:09.7]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:05.4]} 2. Bc4 {[%clk 0:15:01.3]
Bishop's Opening - potentially very tricky and I usually try to steer it back
towards an Italian} 2... Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:13.2]} 3. d3 {[%clk 0:15:10]} 3... Nf6
{[%clk 0:15:13] This very solid and conservative approach gives a small
advantage to Black and also steers it towards Italian Game: Two Knights Defense
lines [-0.1]} 4. h3 {[%clk 0:15:16]} 4... Bc5 {[%clk 0:15:12.1] And we arrive at
a common Two Knights, Italian position. Although I don't normally prefer
positional games, in this circumstance, taking the Bishop's Opening player out
of their tricky aggressive lines that I am unfamiliar with is probably a sound
strategy.} 5. Nf3 {[%clk 0:15:23.8]} 5... h6 {[%clk 0:15:12.2]} 6. O-O {[%clk
0:15:29.7]} 6... d6 {[%clk 0:15:20]} 7. Nc3 {[%clk 0:15:35.9]} 7... Be6 {[%clk
0:15:13.2] And now entering the middlegame, I play one of my usual tactics of
enticing my opponent to trade bishops to allow me to open the f-file. It's
slightly suboptimal evaluation-wise [0.00 $37 +0.3], but creates a long-term
tactical resource.} 8. Bb3 {[%clk 0:15:30.2] White doesn't bite [0.00]} 8... Nd4
{[%clk 0:14:29.2] Again, I push aggressively to try to create a potential
imbalance [+0.4] and have opted to delay castling} 9. Nxd4 {[%clk 0:15:21.9]}
9... Bxd4 {[%clk 0:14:20.4]} 10. Bxe6 {[%clk 0:15:17.6]} 10... fxe6 {[%clk
0:14:28.4] And I get what I was hoping for - a reasonably strong centre of
pawns, White trading away their relatively strong light square bishop that was
looking at f7, a semi-open f-file, and evaluation equality [0.00]} 11. Be3
{[%clk 0:15:24.1]} 11... O-O {[%clk 0:14:11.7]} 12. Bxd4 {[%clk 0:15:17.5]}
12... exd4 {[%clk 0:14:20]} 13. Ne2 {[%clk 0:15:26.5]} 13... e5 {[%clk
0:14:08.5]} 14. f4 {[%clk 0:15:24.3]} 14... Qe7 {[%clk 0:11:54.7] Here, I wasn't
sure what was the best move and spent about 2.5 minutes on the position.
Although Qe7 was fine (developing the queen and connecting the rooks), Stockfish
thinks that Nh5 is slight better.} 15. fxe5 {[%clk 0:15:04.7]} 15... Qxe5 $2
{[%clk 0:11:58.3][%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
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Here, I suspected that the move was
suboptimal [+1.4] and that according to principles, dxe5 would be better as it
undoubles the d-pawns. However, I was a bit impatient and thought that I might
be able to make the queen development to the centre of the board work.} 16. Nf4 $2
{[%clk 0:14:55.9][%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f1f5;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false] White strikes out
with their knight, which is technically a mistake [-0.1], but I simply didn't
see the impending fork with Ng6...} 16... c6 $4 {[%clk 0:11:55.2][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Blunder;persistent;true] A blunder [+3.5] as White now has a
powerful rook and queen fork} 17. Ng6 $1 {[%clk 0:14:55.5][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g6e5;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false,g6f8;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false]
Great tactical move by White, who took advantage of my blindness to the knight
advance. I was distracted by a bit of tunnel vision.} 17... Qg5 {[%clk
0:11:22.7] My approach here was to make the best of my position accepting that
the rook on f8 was lost. So the tactics: create as many threats as possible, and
to act fast. White loses their most active piece and I replace the rook with a
previously undeveloped piece on a8. White's own rook on a1 has yet to be
developed so the loss of material won't immediately be felt. More over, with 7
pawns each still on the board, the rooks are relatively weaker while the knights
are relatively stronger.} 18. Nxf8 {[%clk 0:14:59.7]} 18... Qe3+ {[%clk
0:11:08.5]} 19. Kh1 {[%clk 0:15:02.6]} 19... Rxf8 {[%clk 0:11:15.8]} 20. Qf3
{[%clk 0:14:55.6]} 20... Qg5 {[%clk 0:10:54.5]} 21. Kg1 {[%clk 0:14:27.6]} 21...
Kh7 {[%clk 0:10:40.5]} 22. Qf5+ {[%clk 0:14:24.7]} 22... Qxf5 {[%clk 0:10:38.4]
White manages to force trade queens} 23. Rxf5 {[%clk 0:14:32.9]} 23... g6 {[%clk
0:10:44.9]} 24. Rf3 {[%clk 0:14:33.3]} 24... Kg7 {[%clk 0:10:39.5]} 25. Raf1
{[%clk 0:14:26.5]} 25... g5 {[%clk 0:10:40.7]} 26. Kh2 {[%clk 0:13:56.1]} 26...
Rf7 {[%clk 0:10:44.6]} 27. c3 {[%clk 0:13:56.4] Although the rook pair is
definitely stronger than rook and knight [+5.2] as we move towards the endgame,
at present, the large number of pawns makes forward progress with their rooks
difficult. I needed to force/encourage White to trade off one of their rooks...}
27... c5 {[%clk 0:10:47]} 28. cxd4 {[%clk 0:13:54.5]} 28... cxd4 {[%clk
0:10:54.4]} 29. Rc1 {[%clk 0:14:00.7]} 29... g4 {[%clk 0:10:46.6] An aggressive
push - new threats are useful from a psychological perspective...} 30. Rg3
{[%clk 0:12:53.4]} 30... h5 {[%clk 0:10:43.5]} 31. hxg4 {[%clk 0:12:48.3]} 31...
Nxg4+ {[%clk 0:10:26.6]} 32. Kg1 {[%clk 0:12:14.6] Check $1 White is completely
winning, but this creates a sense of psychological discomfort [+4.7]. My rook on
the f-file seemingly creates a cage around their king, but this is mostly
illusory.} 32... Kh6 {[%clk 0:10:34.4]} 33. Rf1 $2 {[%clk 0:11:46.1][%c_effect
f1;square;f1;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c1c4;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] White couldn't find
the entry point and attempts to trade rooks. This move is a mistake [+1]} 33...
Rc7 {[%clk 0:10:11.9]} 34. Rxg4 $2 {[%clk 0:11:38.3][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g3f3;keyPressed;none;from;g3;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] Yes $1 White cracked
under the pressure, deciding to get rid of my pesky knight with a trade. I
survived the losing middlegame position and we now enter a rook and pawn endgame
that is currently drawn [0.00].} 34... hxg4 {[%clk 0:10:19.8]} 35. g3 {[%clk
0:11:30.3]} 35... Rc2 {[%clk 0:10:11.4]} 36. Rf2 {[%clk 0:11:36]} 36... Rc1+
{[%clk 0:10:14.6]} 37. Rf1 {[%clk 0:10:49.6]} 37... Rc2 {[%clk 0:10:23.2]} 38.
Rf2 {[%clk 0:10:55.6]} 38... Rc1+ {[%clk 0:10:32.1] Here, I offered my opponent
a draw. It looked like an obvious draw to me as White's best option is to repeat
moves.} 39. Kg2 {[%clk 0:10:42.8] However, White refused to draw, which is
reasonable. At high depth, Stockfish still thinks that the game is [0.00],
however, it's easier for Black to play. At lower depth, Stockfish gives an
advantage to Black.} 39... Rd1 {[%clk 0:10:40.2]} 40. Rf6+ {[%clk 0:10:31.5]}
40... Kg7 {[%clk 0:10:40.8]} 41. Rxd6 {[%clk 0:10:37]} 41... Rxd3 {[%clk
0:10:49.7]} 42. Rd7+ {[%clk 0:10:43.5]} 42... Kf6 {[%clk 0:10:47.3]} 43. Rxb7
{[%clk 0:10:50.7]} 43... Rd2+ {[%clk 0:09:50.5]} 44. Kf1 {[%clk 0:10:42.1] This
is technically [0.00], however, I have a tactical advantage in that my pawns are
closer to promotion, and my rook has cut off the White king, while my king is
developed.} 44... Ke5 {[%clk 0:09:09.1]} 45. Rxa7 $4 {[%clk 0:10:41.6][%c_effect
a7;square;a7;type;Blunder;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 completely
natural move, but it's a blunder [-6.6]} 45... Kxe4 {[%clk 0:09:08.2]} 46. b4
{[%clk 0:10:21.5]} 46... Kf3 $2 {[%clk 0:09:17.2][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d2b2;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;b2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b2;persistent;false] A mistake as we move
back to a drawn position [0.00], however, note that Rd1 is mate, and I'm
threatening to capture the g3 pawn} 47. Rf7+ {[%clk 0:10:25.6]} 47... Kxg3
{[%clk 0:09:25.5]} 48. b5 {[%clk 0:10:23.1]} 48... Rxa2 {[%clk 0:09:24.5]} 49.
b6 {[%clk 0:10:28.6]} 49... Rb2 {[%clk 0:09:20.8]} 50. b7 {[%clk 0:10:33.2]}
50... d3 {[%clk 0:08:46.6]} 51. Rd7 $4 {[%clk 0:10:38.8][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Blunder;persistent;true] An understandable move, but a
blunder.} 51... Rb1# {[%clk 0:08:47.1][%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Winner,f1;square;f1;type;CheckmateWhite] GG $1 White's king
being trapped on the back rank is at risk of mate $1} 0-1