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I suspect that for most of us, chess is largely online. However, I encourage everybody to find an opportunity to play some over-the-board chess. It doesn’t have to be competitive; it can simply be a few casual games for fun, and to catch up with a friend!

Today, I played a couple of casual games with my mate dr_magneto in the evening after work, at my local small bar Huelo, accompanied by a few glasses of wine and some charcuterie. I brought along my trusty Chessnut Air electronic chess board, which is nice and portable, just the right size for slightly cramped tables, and allowed me to record the game electronically with the Chessnut App in “clock mode”.

In this game, I had the white pieces and played a Vienna and Black responded with (2… d6). The simplest response is to take the full centre (3. d4), and after some trades (3… exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd3), I’m happy as I know that White has a small advantage. This position can be a bit tricky for Black and my mate made a mistake on move 6 with (6… Qe7?). This is often risky against the Vienna as White’s queen’s knight on c3 is always ready to leap to its powerful square (7. Nd5!), which now also wins tempo on Black’s queen!

On move 8, I miss a very winning attack (Qc3), which threatens Black’s exposed h8-rook down the open long dark square diagonal, and also places pressure on Black’s c7-pawn. Instead, I played a rather speculative tricky move (8. Bg5!?). My idea was to then play Bf6, with an attack on Black’s h8-rook down the same diagonal, and if Black captures the bishop with their g8-knight (Nxf6), I could then strike with my own d5-knight to recapture (Nxf6+), which would come with a very lovely royal fork!

With some wine in the system strengthening my tunnel vision (😅), I didn’t see alternate better lines even though I knew that Black could refute this attack with (9… Bg7), which they found and played. No matter, I thought! I was happy to trade away some pieces as I felt that I still had the initiative, better development, and the easily forgotten attack from the d5-knight…

We trade a pair of bishops, then knights, and then the queens. And when the dust settled, my powerful knight sitting on d5 leapt forward with (14. Nxc7+), an absolute fork of the king and a8-rook! At the end of the opening/early middlegame exchange, White was up a piece and ready to castle; very winning.

The strategy from this point was to force piece trades and simplify. Black’s delayed development allowed (21. Rd8), which pinned the knight to the rook on the back rank, taking away mobility of Black’s remaining two pieces. A few moves later, I managed to form a rook battery along the e-file and after (26. R1xe4), my mate opted to resign from the impossible position. GG!

Game: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/4MWYEaDv46

[Event "Casual match"]
[Site "Huelo Bar, Newtown NSW Australia"]
[Date "2024-04-09 18:07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "dr_magneto"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "0"]
[TimeControl "900+10"]
[WhiteElo "1291"]
[BlackElo "800"]
[WhiteTime "758800"]
[BlackTime "740000"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/game_analysis_self/5d20852e-d62b-11ee-81d6-49f99eba0d62.2cacdc74.160x160o.fbd82afc18a7@2x.jpg"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 {Vienna Game} 2... d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qd3 g6 6. Nf3
Qe7 $2 {[%c_arrow
f8g7;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] A mistake due to White having the
power Vienna knight move: Nd5...} 7. Nd5 $1 {[%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d5e7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;persistent;true]} 7... Qd7 $6 {[%c_arrow
e7d8;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 8. Bg5 $5 {[%c_arrow
d3c3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] A speculative move [+3.7 $37 +1.5]
planning for Bf6, and if Black plays Nxf6, then I have Nxf6+ royal fork $1 In the
game, as I had this idea and some tunnel vision, I didn't see Qc3 with a direct
attack on Black's h8-rook down the long dark square diagonal $1} 8... f5 $4
{[%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,g7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f8g7;keyPressed;none;from;f8;opacity;0.8;to;g7;persistent;false][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;persistent;true] This triggers Black to lash out with
f5, a blunder $1} 9. Bf6 $2 {[%c_arrow
e4f5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Mistake;persistent;true] However, again I have tunnel vision
and miss exf5, and Black can't recapture with gxf5 as Bf6 is then crushing $1
Black will need to play Bg7, and then we have the powerful move, f6, trapping
Black's bishop.} 9... Bg7 10. Bxg7 $2 {[%c_arrow
f6c3;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false][%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;persistent;true] I realised at this point that I had
made a mistake somewhere, so decided to simply trade down, make things easy, and
then hit Black with a Nc7+, absolute fork $1 I recognised in the game that this
might not be the most accurate move, but was still likely to be winning.} 10...
Qxg7 11. Qc3 $5 {[%c_arrow
d3e3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Not accurate, but a provocative
move asking Black to trade queens, which would then allow (Nxc7+)...} 11...
Ne5 $4 {[%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Blunder;persistent;true] However, Black wanted to retain
queens and opted to block with Ne5, which is a blunder... [+5.7]} 12. Nxe5 $1
{[%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;keyPressed;undefined;persistent;true]} 12... Qxe5
13. Qxe5+ dxe5 14. Nxc7+ {After the trades, Black couldn't avoid Nxc7+ $1} 14...
Kf7 15. Nxa8 {And, I'm up material and a piece. The goal is to trade down if
possible...} 15... fxe4 16. O-O-O Bg4 17. Bc4+ Kf6 $6 {[%c_arrow
f7e7;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 18. Rd6+ Kf5 $6 {[%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 19. Be6+ {Skewer, forcing a
bishop trade $1} 19... Kg5 20. Bxg4 Kxg4 21. Rd8 {This pins Black's knight to
their rook} 21... Kf4 22. Nc7 e3 23. fxe3+ Kxe3 $6 {[%c_effect
e3;square;e3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 24. Re8 $6 {[%c_arrow
c7e6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Although this might not be the
most accurate, it's direct. There is a potential [+M4]:  (24. Ne6 Ke4 25. Rf1 b6
26. Rd3 h6 27. g4 Rh7 28. Re1#)} (24. Ne6 {[%c_arrow
e6f4;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false]
Quickest route to checkmate} 24... Ke4 {[%c_arrow
e6f4;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false]}
25. Rf1 {[%c_arrow
d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,f1f5;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false]}
25... b6 {[%c_arrow
d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false]}
26. Rd3 {[%c_arrow
d3d8;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d3d1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c2d3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false,d3h3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false,f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]}
26... h6 {[%c_arrow
c2d3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false,d3d8;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d3d1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d3h3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false,f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]}
27. g4 {[%c_arrow
g4f5;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,e6f4;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false,f1f8;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false,c2d3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false,d3d8;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d3d1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d3h3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]}
27... Rh7 {[%c_arrow
d3d8;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d3d1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,c2d3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false,d3h3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false,g4f5;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,e6f4;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false]}
28. Re1# {[%c_arrow
e1e4;keyPressed;none;from;e1;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false,d3d8;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d3d1;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,d3h3;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false,c2d3;keyPressed;none;from;c2;opacity;0.8;to;d3;persistent;false,e6f4;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false,g4f5;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false,d3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]})
24... e4 $6 {[%c_effect e4;square;e4;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true]} 25. Re1+
Kf2 26. R1xe4 {[%c_effect c1;square;c1;type;Winner] Black resigns} 1-0