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This was a game where I was very proud of finding a brilliant rook sacrifice in the middle game, which then resulted in a completely winning position.

It started with my opponent playing the unusual Van ‘t Kruijs Opening (1. e3) and it was clear on the evaluation with them being in the 1200s that they must have studied the opening. They played the opening really well, using barely any time, and entered the beginning of the middlegame with a clear advantage of around [+1] to [+2].

White castled kingside late on move 20, and this was a blunder. However, I didn’t see the tactic that allowed me to win one of White’s bishops and a move later we were back at [0.00]. On move 23, White attacks my queen with (23. Be3), a seemingly developing move that wins tempo. Except for (23… Rxe3)! I sacrificed the rook, and it was rated a brilliant move [-8.3]. We played a few more moves, but with my queen and bishops all staring at the king now trapped on h1, I captured the win on move 28. GG!

The big takeaway from this game is to look out for and calculate potential sacrificial moves. Usually they won’t work, but if you don’t look for them, you’ll never find the occasionally brilliant sacrifice.

Game on chess.com: https://www.chess.com/game/live/85300228905

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2023.08.09"]
[Round "-"]
[White "sahilbhatia"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Timezone "UTC"]
[ECO "A00"]
[ECOUrl "https://www.chess.com/openings/Vant-Kruijs-Opening-1...e5"]
[UTCDate "2023.08.09"]
[UTCTime "06:04:24"]
[WhiteElo "1264"]
[BlackElo "1350"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[StartTime "06:04:24"]
[EndDate "2023.08.09"]
[EndTime "06:24:08"]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/game/live/85300228905"]
[WhiteUrl "https://www.chess.com/bundles/web/images/noavatar_l.84a92436.gif"]
[WhiteCountry "69"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e3 {[%clk 0:15:06.7] Van't Kruijs Opening} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:15:06.4]} 2. a3
{[%clk 0:15:15.4]} 2... d5 {[%clk 0:15:14.7] Take the full centre if you're
allowed it [-0.2]} 3. d4 {[%clk 0:15:23.3]} 3... Nc6 {[%clk 0:15:15.1]} 4. Nf3
{[%clk 0:15:31.9]} 4... e4 {[%clk 0:15:02.7]} 5. Nfd2 {[%clk 0:15:40.8]} 5...
Nf6 {[%clk 0:15:05.4][%c_arrow
c6e7;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false] Interesting best move
according to the engine [0.00]} 6. Be2 {[%clk 0:15:49.6]} 6... Bd6 {[%clk
0:14:44.5]} 7. c4 {[%clk 0:15:56.6]} 7... Be6 $2 {[%clk 0:14:09.8][%c_arrow
d5c4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] Stockfish identifies that dxc4 is the
best move, but I wanted to keep the centre closed for the time being. Stockfish,
however, thinks that this is a mistake [+1.3] as White can push forward with
cxd5.} 8. Nc3 $6 {[%clk 0:15:54.6][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c4d5;keyPressed;none;from;c4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] However, White was
not playing in an aggressive style, which made my decision defensible [+0.6]}
8... O-O $2 {[%clk 0:14:09.3][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d5c4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] Stockfish again
believes that dxc4 is needed [+1.6]} 9. cxd5 $1 {[%clk 0:16:03.2][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 9... Nxd5 {[%clk 0:13:52.8]} 10.
Ncxe4 {[%clk 0:16:11.5]} 10... Be7 {[%clk 0:13:43.6]} 11. Qc2 {[%clk 0:16:11.9]}
11... f5 {[%clk 0:13:31.8]} 12. Nc3 {[%clk 0:14:26.9]} 12... Nf6 {[%clk
0:13:20.6]} 13. Nf3 {[%clk 0:14:30.9]} 13... Bd6 $2 {[%clk 0:12:53.4][%c_arrow
g8h8;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;h8;persistent;false,d8e8;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake [+2.8] as White has Ng5 and
then Qb3 with an attack on my king. However, I was thinking of a possible Greek
gift sacrifice type attack should White castle kingside.} 14. e4 $2 {[%clk
0:14:13.2][%c_effect e4;square;e4;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] White didn't see that
tactic and push their e-pawn and this is a mistake [+0.2]} 14... fxe4 {[%clk
0:12:48]} 15. Nxe4 {[%clk 0:14:21.2]} 15... Bf5 $6 {[%clk 0:12:33.4][%c_arrow
f6e4;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] An inaccuracy [+1.2]} 16. Nxf6+ $6
{[%clk 0:14:25.8][%c_arrow
c2c4;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] I think White was thinking that if
Rxf6, they'll have Bg5 with a pin. However, I saw this, and was thinking that
Qxf6 was better by developing the queen anyway, making this move an inaccuracy
[+0.4]} 16... Qxf6 {[%clk 0:12:23.8]} 17. Qb3+ {[%clk 0:13:39.4]} 17... Kh8
{[%clk 0:11:24.1]} 18. Qxb7 $2 {[%clk 0:13:45.6][%c_effect
b7;square;b7;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c1e3;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false] I was fairly sure
that this was fine for me, and didn't realise it was as big as a mistake as it
turned out to be on evaluation [-2.8]} 18... Nxd4 $6 {[%clk 0:11:21.7][%c_arrow
f5e4;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish preferred Be4 [-1.5]}
19. Nxd4 {[%clk 0:13:49.2]} 19... Qxd4 $6 {[%clk 0:11:27.7][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f5c8;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false] Stockfish sees a
complicated tactic which is apparently better [-0.3]} ({Machine line - difficult
to see and play for Black} 19... Bc8 20. Qe4 Bb7 21. Qxb7 Qxf2+ 22. Kd2 Qxd4+
23. Kc2 Qc5+ {... and chess continues at around [-1.5]}) 20. O-O $4 {[%clk
0:13:54][%c_effect g1;square;g1;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d4g1;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,d6h2;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false,f5h3;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false]
A blunder [-5.2] with the queen and bishop pair all looking at White's king
after it castles...} 20... Be4 $2 {[%clk 0:10:38.7][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d4e5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] A mistake [-0.7] as
Qe5 is a fork of h2 (checkmate) and the bishop on e2, winning the bishop} 21.
Qb3 {[%clk 0:13:58.1]} 21... Bd5 $6 {[%clk 0:10:22.7][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e4g2;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false] An inaccuracy [0.00]
with Bxg2 damaging White's defences and then Qe5 once again force winning the
bishop on e2} 22. Qc2 $2 {[%clk 0:13:53.7][%c_effect
c2;square;c2;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b3c3;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false] A mistake [-2.2] with
White insufficiently defending their king} 22... Rae8 {[%clk 0:08:08.2]} 23.
Be3 $4 {[%clk 0:13:49.5][%c_effect
e3;square;e3;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c2d3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false] A surprising blunder
as...} 23... Rxe3 $3 {[%clk 0:07:19.8][%c_effect
e3;square;e3;type;Brilliant;persistent;true] I sacrifice the rook $1 A brilliant
move [-8.3]} 24. fxe3 {[%clk 0:13:51]} 24... Qxe3+ {[%clk 0:07:22.8]} 25. Kh1
{[%clk 0:13:59.3]} 25... Rf2 {[%clk 0:05:58.1]} 26. Rxf2 {[%clk 0:13:56.6]}
26... Qxf2 {[%clk 0:06:05.1][%c_arrow
f2h2;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false,d5g2;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false,d6h2;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;h2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,h2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h2;persistent;false]
This is a super strong position for me now $1} 27. Rg1 $4 {[%clk 0:14:04][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e2f3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] White needed to
defend g2, but this was the wrong way [-M4]} 27... Bxh2 {[%clk
0:05:44.4][%c_arrow
f2f4;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false] This was the best
move [-M11]} ({This was the quickest route to checkmate...} 27... Qf4 28. Qxh7+
Kxh7 29. Bd3+ Kh8 30. Bb1 Qxh2#) 28. Bb5 $2 {[%clk 0:13:59.7][%c_effect
h8;square;h8;type;Winner,h1;square;h1;type;ResignWhite,b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f2g1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false] This hangs checkmate
with Qxg1# and White resigns. GG $1} 0-1