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This was a rather fun game of 10+5 rapid that started with the Bishop’s Opening, where my intermediate level opponent decided to try their luck with the Wayward Queen Attack (1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nc6 3. Qh5)! I’ve recently made a video where I’ve pointed out that the Wayward Queen Attack is simply not any good, but you might have noticed that Stockfish doesn’t consider it to be terrible with an evaluation of [-0.3]. The thing is that White needs to be willing to abort the attack rather than double down if their trap is working.

In this game, this is what White did on move 6, un-developing their queen to d1. In that position, there were a bit behind on development, but otherwise, were “fine”; with the evaluation at around [-1]. At the intermediate level, the game is far from decided!

On move 7, I decided to play a tricky move with a forward knight attack (7. Ng4!?). This ended up working, but it is a bit unsound. It makes use of a particular trap that is often available for Black against the Wayward Queen Attack. After a trade in the centre, White had moved their queen back to g4. And now, I had (9… d5); the d-pawn directly attacks White’s bishop and opens the diagonal for my light square bishop to attack White’s queen! Against the double-attack, White will lose their bishop. In this game, I effectively traded one of my knights for White’s bishop, but where this tactic is available without first having lost a piece, it can result in straight up winning a piece in the opening.

We enter a somewhat complicated early middlegame position where both my opponent and I play somewhat inaccurately for a few moves. However, I managed to force White to make a concession and move their g-pawn forward to g3. Although I didn’t make the most of this, White’s options were limited in positions to singular good moves, so mistakes at those times were very impactful. After setting up a rook battery staring down the g-file, White cracked under pressure and played (23. Kf1??) trying to get away from the danger. This was a blunder as after a necessary queen trade to avoid immediate checkmate, White’s king was exposed and cramped, and at ever present risk of back rank checkmate.

Running low on time (this was a 10+5 game of rapid), I didn’t find the most elegant attack, but followed a general tactical heuristic that I knew was likely good. I brought both of my rooks on to the second rank, trapping White’s king. We traded one set of rooks, and then sacrificed the second one to deflect White’s king away from the d-file. This meant that my passed d-pawn on d3 could not be prevented from promoting!

Move 38, the stark reality struck: my queen was going to progressively gobble their remaining pawns (38. Qxf3) and there was nothing that their last piece, the bishop, could do to stop this. With all hope lost, White resigned, GG!

The big takeaway from this game is that at the intermediate level, you need to stop playing the Wayward Queen Attack, and even if you do, you must be willing to abort the attack early if it isn’t working.

Game: https://lichess.org/hVDGygBV

[Event "Rated Rapid game"]
[Site "https://lichess.org/hVDGygBV"]
[Date "2024.02.19"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Geraskin_Mikhail"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[UTCDate "2024.02.19"]
[UTCTime "11:49:39"]
[WhiteElo "1549"]
[BlackElo "1563"]
[WhiteRatingDiff "-5"]
[BlackRatingDiff "+19"]
[TimeControl "600+5"]
[ECO "C23"]
[Opening "Bishop's Opening"]
[Termination "Normal"]
[Annotator "lichess.org"]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry "116"]
[WhiteTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:10:00]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:10:00]} 2. Bc4 {[%clk 0:10:03] Bishop's
Opening} 2... Nc6 {[%clk 0:10:03]} 3. Qh5 {[%clk 0:10:05] Wayward Queen Attack $1
Perhaps a bit speculative at the intermediate level $1 I don't think that this is
a good opening, but in evaluation terms, it's not a disaster. White, however,
needs to be willing to abort the attack rather than doubling down if the traps
aren't working. [-0.3]} 3... g6 {[%clk 0:09:57]} 4. Qf3 {[%clk 0:10:07]} 4...
Nf6 {[%clk 0:10:01]} 5. Nc3 $6 {[%clk 0:10:09][%c_arrow
g1e2;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false] And we now see the
problem... the threat of the queen being chased results in White losing tempo.
This sensible looking developing move is an inaccuracy [-1].} 5... Nd4 {[%clk
0:10:03][%c_arrow
d4c2;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false,d4f3;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false,c2e1;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,c2a1;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;a1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,a1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a1;persistent;false]}
6. Qd1 {[%clk 0:10:11] White correctly aborts the attack. Effectively, they've
lost tempo in the opening, but certainly at the beginner-intermediate level,
they could gain this back with accurate play.} 6... Bg7 {[%clk 0:09:42]} 7. Nf3
{[%clk 0:10:06]} 7... Ng4 $5 {[%clk 0:08:40][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c7c6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false] I'm trying to play a
trap, where I win White's bishop for my knight. However, arguably, this
aggressive manoeuvre isn't actually that good $1 [-0.6 $37 +0.3] 😅 Stockfish thinks
a more conservative and principled approach is to play c6.} 8. Nxd4 $6 {[%clk
0:10:00][%c_effect d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] However, it
works $1 White thinks that I've hung the g4-knight and so snap captures with Nxd4,
with the discovered attack on my knight with their queen by opening the light
square diagonal. This, however, is an illusion and an inaccuracy $1 [-0.4]} 8...
exd4 {[%clk 0:08:41]} 9. Qxg4 $2 {[%clk 0:10:03][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c3d5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] And White now falls
into the trap $1 Can you see why this is a mistake $2 [-1.6]} 9... d5 $1 {[%clk
0:08:40][%c_effect d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false,c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d5c4;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false,c8g4;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false]
A common tactic that is sometimes available against the Wayward Queen Attack is
d5, with a double-attack; the d-pawn against White's bishop directly, and the
discovered attack on White's queen $1} 10. Qf3 {[%clk 0:09:53]} 10... dxc4 {[%clk
0:08:42]} 11. Ne2 {[%clk 0:09:43]} 11... O-O $6 {[%clk 0:08:33][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%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] I thought that
castling was a very reasonable thing to do here, and it is. However, there is an
opportunity to immediately trade down with d3, and Black wins a pawn in the
exchange and then opts to press that advantage in the middlegame.} 12. O-O $6
{[%clk 0:09:43][%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][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Luckily, White also didn't see
it $1} 12... Be5 $2 {[%clk 0:07:40][%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;Mistake;persistent;true] For both of us, d3 was the critical
move $1 [-1.5 $37 -0.5]} 13. c3 $2 {[%clk 0:09:42][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Mistake;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] Whew $1 [-0.5 $37 -3.1]}
13... d3 {[%clk 0:07:07]} 14. Nf4 {[%clk 0:09:43]} 14... Qf6 $2 {[%clk
0:06:35][%c_effect f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d8d6;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false] A mistake as White
has Nd5 with a fork of the queen and c7-pawn} 15. g3 $2 {[%clk 0:09:31][%c_arrow
f4d5;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Mistake;persistent;true] However, they don't see it, and this
is a mistake as it weakens the defence of the king and removes the only defender
of the queen [-4.8].} 15... Bh3 $2 {[%clk 0:06:21][%c_effect
h3;square;h3;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g6g5;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false] A miss and mistake $1
White's queen is no longer defended after g3 so the f4-knight is now pinned. g5,
placing pressure on the pinned piece is best $1} 16. Re1 {[%clk 0:09:33]} 16... g5
{[%clk 0:05:56] Now I saw it $1 😅} 17. Qh5 {[%clk 0:09:07]} 17... gxf4 {[%clk
0:05:37]} 18. Qxh3 {[%clk 0:08:59]} 18... fxg3 $2 {[%clk 0:05:40][%c_effect
g3;square;g3;type;Mistake;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] Difficult position.
It was more accurate apparently to keep the f4-pawn in location. [-3 $37 -1.7]}
19. hxg3 {[%clk 0:08:58]} 19... Kh8 $2 {[%clk 0:05:29][%c_effect
h8;square;h8;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5d6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false] Surprisingly, this
was also a mistake, but it isn't very clear to me why. The game now returns to
equality with some interesting pawn position imbalances [0.00].} 20. Kg2 $2 {[%clk
0:08:47][%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b2b3;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;b3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false] This move made sense
to me, but is a mistake according to Stockfish [-1.3]} 20... Rg8 {[%clk
0:05:28]} 21. Rh1 $2 {[%clk 0:08:50][%c_effect
h1;square;h1;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b2b3;keyPressed;none;from;b2;opacity;0.8;to;b3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b3;persistent;false] A very direct attack.
I think Stockfish labels this a mistake only because Black is quick enough to
defend against it. b3 does make sense as it allows White to develop their dark
square bishop, which also activates their queen's rook.} 21... Rg7 $6 {[%clk
0:05:28][%c_arrow
f6g6;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Qh6 was more forcing and
immediately sets up a battery with three attackers on g3 [-2.5 $37 -1.5]} 22. b3
{[%clk 0:08:39]} 22... Rag8 $5 {[%clk 0:05:27][%c_arrow
a8e8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false][%c_effect
g8;square;g8;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This returns the evaluation back
to [0.00], but White has to find an unintuitive move...} 23. Kf1 $4 {[%clk
0:08:09][%c_arrow
h3f5;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,h3h4;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;h4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,h4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h4;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false][%c_effect
f1;square;f1;type;Blunder;persistent;true] White cracks under pressure and
blunders $1 [-9]} 23... Bxg3 {[%clk 0:05:27]} 24. Qf5 {[%clk 0:07:31]} 24... Qxf5
{[%clk 0:04:59]} 25. exf5 {[%clk 0:07:29]} 25... Bh2 {[%clk 0:04:47] Note: the
bishop is immortal as Rxh2 would hang Rg1#. White's rook must defend the back
rank to avoid back rank mate.} 26. f3 {[%clk 0:07:12]} 26... Rg2 $6 {[%clk
0:03:44][%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g7g1;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false] I didn't see a
checkmate pattern with Rg1, making this inaccurate [-5.7]} (26... Rg1+ {If White
captures the rook...} 27. Rxg1 Bxg1 28. Ba3 Bb6 {[%c_arrow
b6g1;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,g8g1;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,d3e2;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false]
Almost checkmate...} 29. b4 {[%c_arrow
g8g1;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,b6g1;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,d3e2;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false]}
29... Rg1# {[%c_arrow
b6g1;keyPressed;none;from;b6;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,g1g2;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false,g1e1;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,d3e2;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;e2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g1;persistent;false,g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,e2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e2;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]
GG $1}) 27. bxc4 {[%clk 0:07:07]} 27... Re2 {[%clk 0:03:37] My logic was to put
both rooks on the second rank} 28. Ba3 {[%clk 0:07:03]} 28... Rgg2 $6 {[%clk
0:03:36][%c_effect g2;square;g2;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g8g3;keyPressed;none;from;g8;opacity;0.8;to;g3;persistent;false,g3f3;keyPressed;none;from;g3;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g3;persistent;false] A bit inaccurate as
Rg3 and then Rxf3 is more forcing} 29. Bc5 {[%clk 0:06:58]} 29... Rxd2 {[%clk
0:03:32]} 30. Re1 {[%clk 0:06:44]} 30... Rde2 {[%clk 0:02:11]} 31. Rxe2 {[%clk
0:06:30]} 31... Rxe2 {[%clk 0:02:13]} 32. a3 {[%clk 0:06:18]} 32... Ra2 {[%clk
0:02:00]} 33. Bd4+ {[%clk 0:06:01]} 33... Kg8 {[%clk 0:02:01]} 34. Bc5 {[%clk
0:05:53]} 34... Ra1+ {[%clk 0:01:51] Goal: force White the king away from the
d-file and promote the pawn to queen $1} 35. Kg2 {[%clk 0:05:53]} 35... Rxh1
{[%clk 0:01:56]} 36. Kxh1 {[%clk 0:05:57]} 36... d2 {[%clk 0:02:01]} 37. Kxh2
{[%clk 0:05:45]} 37... d1=Q {[%clk 0:02:05]} 38. Bxa7 {[%clk 0:05:48]} 38...
Qxf3 {[%clk 0:02:05][%c_effect g8;square;g8;type;Winner] White resigns. GG $1} 0-1