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This was a very fun quick win in an unrated game of 10-min rapid. I had the Black pieces and White played the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack, and then a double fianchetto setup (1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. g3?!). A couple of months ago in Quicks Wins #86, I covered a little bit of the history of (1. b3), including 19^th century Dutch chess master Maarten van ‘t Kruijs, who is recorded to have first played this unusual opening; Aron Nimzowitsch, one of the leaders of the hypermodern movement; and the relatively more contemporary Danish GM Bent Larsen, who played (1. b3) at the elite competitive level.

Although what is now known as the Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack was considered suboptimal for much of chess history, we now know that it is sound. Stockfish at high depth evaluates the opening at [0.00]. That said, hypermodern openings can be complicated and difficult to play for beginners.

For instance, White’s double fianchetto setup is inaccurate and arguably a mistake. Simply, it’s just slow and it gives Black the opportunity to launch a rapid attack while White is setting up. Indeed, on move 3, the most logical (and best) for Black should be (3… d5), following opening principles by taking the full centre with pawns when allowed. However, I instead played the less accurate (3… Bc5), to immediately prepare for an attack on White’s weak f2-pawn. If White continues the way I think they would, there might be enough tempo for a critical and crippling blow!

White’s tactical logic became apparent with (5. Bxc6?), trading their light square bishop for a knight, removing the defender of my e5-pawn, and then winning that pawn (5… dxc6 6. Bxe5?). However, although White does win a point of material, and I applaud the audacity, this was not a good attack. Simply, winning a pawn doesn’t mean much in the opening, and by losing their powerful light square (king’s) bishop, White now has a serious weakness along the light squares on their king side.

I see this, and there is a pattern to recognise as it can be exploited for a quick win!

First, the “knight attack” with (7… Ng4) and now two attackers on White’s f2-pawn. White attempts to win tempo on my queen with (8. Nc3), but I first have (8… Bxf2+). As White has not developed either of the central pawns, the king is forced to move (9. Kf1). Remember the weak light squares? If I can get my queen or bishop to h3, it’s checkmate!

I suspected that White didn’t see the danger in the position. On move 10, White’s dark square bishop gobbled my g-pawn (10. Bxg7) and attacks my h8-rook next. Here, I spent some time deciding the best next move. I saw Qh5, which threatens Qh3#. Stockfish rates this as the most accurate move. However, the problem with this move is that the checkmate threat is obvious. White would most likely consider why the queen moved this position, and then would see the checkmate possibility, and neutralise it.

I eventually settled on a tricky move, (10… Nf6!?) which Stockfish rates as a blunder. However, this was a psychological play. The knight move opens the light square diagonal, giving access to the h3 square to my light square c8-bishop across the board. My prediction was that White wouldn’t see the checkmate-in-one. The knight on f6 effectively offers White’s g7-bishop a choice – capture a knight for free or capture a rook for free! This obscures the decision White should be considering, which is whether they should be moving the bishop at all!

White, distracted, doesn’t see the trap, takes the rook, and blunders checkmate – (11… Bh3#), a beautiful double bishop mating pattern. Good game, GG!

Game: https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/58rUCW1YfG

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.06.28"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "Guest8440831431 won by checkmate"]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.50x50o.ab18600a8723@2x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry "225"]
[WhiteTitle ""]

1. b3 {[%clk 0:09:58.9][%timestamp 11] Nimzowitsch-Larsen Attack $1 This is an
uncommon but entirely sound Hypermodern opening for White [0.00]. However, for
beginners, it can be complicated and difficult to play...} 1... e5 {[%clk
0:09:54.3][%timestamp 57]} 2. Bb2 {[%clk 0:09:57.3][%timestamp 16]} 2... Nc6
{[%clk 0:09:53.9][%timestamp 4]} 3. g3 $6 {[%clk 0:09:53][%timestamp
43][%c_effect g3;square;g3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] White is going for a
double fianchetto setup. This is inaccurate [-0.6] as it's fundamentally a bit
too slow. This allows an opportunity for Black to launch a rapid attack, as we
shall see...} 3... Bc5 $6 {[%clk 0:09:42.9][%timestamp 110][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Stockfish rated this as
inaccurate, and indeed, opening principles would suggest d5 is best (and it is
the best move). However, I decided to play Bc5 immediately to prepare for a
possible attack against White's king. If White continues to play slowly, there
will be just enough tempo to make it work $1} 4. Bg2 {[%clk 0:09:51.2][%timestamp
18]} 4... Nf6 {[%clk 0:09:36.8][%timestamp 61]} 5. Bxc6 $2 {[%clk
0:09:45.2][%timestamp 60][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
This seemed to have been White's tactic - to trade away their light square
bishop, removing the defender of the e5-pawn to win a pawn. Although I applaud
the audacity, this is not a good attack [-1].} 5... dxc6 {[%clk
0:09:35.3][%timestamp 15]} 6. Bxe5 $2 {[%clk 0:09:43.9][%timestamp 13][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
The reason this doesn't work as I have Ng4, launching an immediate attack on f2,
which also forks White's bishop on e5.} 6... Qd5 $2  {[%clk 0:09:33][%timestamp
23][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6g4;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;g4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false] However, I didn't see
that immediately and blitzed out this move, thinking that I had a fork of
White's bishop and h1-rook. This was a mistake [-0.6] as Nf3 blocks the attack
on the rook and defends the bishop.} 7. Nf3 $1 {[%clk 0:09:40.4][%timestamp
35][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] The only good move
(that wasn't difficult to find)} 7... Ng4 {[%clk 0:09:25.5][%timestamp 75] I
smell a mating attack... $1} 8. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:31.4][%timestamp 90]} 8... Bxf2+
{[%clk 0:09:10.5][%timestamp 150]} 9. Kf1 {[%clk 0:09:26.9][%timestamp 45]
Forced move $1} 9... Qc5 $5 {[%clk 0:08:23.8][%timestamp 467][%c_arrow
d5e6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e6;persistent;false][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] This is a fairly complicated
position that White can defend against. Stockfish recommends Qe6, however, I
wanted the queen to defend my f2-bishop so that I can move my g4-knight, opening
the diagonal for my light square bishop...} 10. Bxg7 {[%clk
0:09:20.5][%timestamp 64]} 10... Nf6 $5  {[%clk 0:07:20.2][%timestamp
636][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5h5;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false] This is the second,
tricky, psychological move $1 Stockfish says that Qh5 is best, which threatens
Qh3#. However, the problem with that move is that the checkmate is obvious. So,
I eventually chose Nf6 as it seemingly gives Black two targets for their
\"rampaging\" bishop, now on g7. The opening of the light square diagonal for my
c8-bishop is more subtle, and I suspected that White wouldn't see the trap $1} 11.
Bxh8 $4 {[%clk 0:09:10.8][%timestamp 97][%c_effect
h8;square;h8;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
h8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h8;persistent;false,g2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g2;persistent;false,h3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f1g2;keyPressed;none;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;g2;persistent;false,e2e3;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false,h2h3;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false]
Distracted, White misses the impending checkmate $1} 11... Bh3# {[%clk
0:07:19.1][%timestamp 11][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Winner,f1;square;f1;type;CheckmateWhite][%c_arrow
h3f1;keyPressed;none;from;h3;opacity;0.8;to;f1;persistent;false,f2g1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;g1;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f1;persistent;false,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,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false]
Good game, GG $1} 0-1