---

In my last article, I wrote the following summary:

The big takeaway is that playing in the Romantic style in the opening is not just about relentless aggression. It is the weaving together of opening tactics to take advantage of your opponent’s mistakes and inaccuracies, and taking judicious risk by taking into account psychological factors in choosing moves!

A conceptual schema in many of the “best opening attacks” in my new book, Become a Chess Assassin!, is:

1. Start with a solid opening but choose a line where it is likely that the game will be tactical than positional (for instance, starting with the king’s pawn opening 1. e4 with White).
2. Use a probing or provocative move that is tricky for the opponent to navigate. The risk needs to be commensurate with the potential gain.
3. When the opponent plays an inaccuracy, strike assertively to capture the initiative, which should hopefully cascade towards a rapid win, or at least, a major advantage out of the opening.

A very common inaccuracy in the opening, especially at the beginner-intermediate level, is an early queen move. Now, there are opening lines where an early queen attack is accurate, or part of well understood theory. However, it can often be difficult to find the accurate queen moves, especially when the queen comes under attack by pawns and other less valuable pieces.

I’ve recently played three unrated games against Random Noob that demonstrate this well. From the perspective of playing in the Romantic style in the opening, the tactical notion is that one must punish the opponent for their early queen move immediately. A slower more positional approach might gift the opponent just enough time to consolidate, which then justifies their queen development to our detriment. Counterattacking our opponent’s intemperate queen often allows us to win tempo and developmental advantage, which becomes a fertile ground for setting up a beautiful winning combination!

Game 1: Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Queen Trap!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/kUeHV7qyQ

In the first game, I had the White pieces, Black plays the Sicilian Defense, and it was clear that they didn’t know how to respond the Smith-Morra Gambit, declining it with (2… Nc6). This is a mistake as Black’s knight can immediately be attacked by d5. However, just like in the game with ProfessorJ in my last article who made a similar move, sometimes one can launch a more powerful attack by taking a calculated risk to develop a piece first, before striking forth against a minor piece. This worked as (3. Nf3!? d5 4. exd5! Qxd5 5. Nc3!): I’d baited Black’s queen to develop to the centre of the board, and now started a series of attacks on Black’s queen with development!

On turn 5, Black plays (5… Qe6+?!), a move that doesn’t obviously look bad, but as we’ll see a powerful tactic suddenly becomes available for White. Simply, if I could get a knight onto the c7 square, it would be a family fork!

In the following few turns, I force/encourage some trades in the centre, develop my own queen, and with (9. Nd5), I’m threatening to make good Nc7+! Black recognises the tactic, but that doesn’t mean it is necessarily easy to navigate. They found (9… Qc6?), which makes sense. The queen defends the c7 square and counterattacks my c2-pawn. Danger averted right? NO! 🤩

I now had the brilliant move (10. Bb5!!), directly attacking the queen with a seemingly sacrificial move. However, if Black captures the “hanging” bishop with (10… Qxb5??), then once again Nc7+ would be a family fork!

More than that, there was a second layer to this attack. Again, Black saw the tactic, but probably thought that there were no problems as they could move their queen out of the attack with (10… Qxc2), winning my c-pawn. However, this was a blunder, and they didn’t see that their queen was going to be lost in a number of ways!

Turn 11, I capture Black’s bishop with check (11. Bxd7+) and Black’s best response is to accept that their queen is lost by capturing back the bishop (11… Kxd7) and allowing (12. Nb4+): the knight move reveals a discovered check, and the knight attacks Black’s queen on c2!

Black avoided the capture, having calculated the imminent loss of their queen and sidestepped with (11… Kd8?!), an understandable move, but to no avail as (12. Ba4!?), and I once again force Black to respond to an attack on their queen. The curious thing is that Black’s queen is basically trapped. Any move of their queen would result in some version of a knight move with discovered check and an attack on their queen! In the game, they ran their queen (12… Qf5??) which is [+M5]. I capture Black’s queen, and then with my queen and bishop pair, pluck Black’s king from the back rank, corral him to the a-file, and deliver checkmate. Good game, GG!

Game 2: Recovering from a mouse-slip in the Englund Gambit!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/Mirt13o7t

I had the Black pieces and play the Englund Gambit against White’s Queen’s Pawn Opening, which was Accepted (1. d4 e5 2. dxe5) and then “mouse-slip” (2… c6?)! Now, this wasn’t exactly a mouse-slip per se as I was playing on my tablet and had careless dragged the c-pawn rather than my b8-knight to the c6 square with my finger. I’m sure you get my point!

So, what to do? The way to consider this is that it’s like I lost a step of tempo while trying to play into the Englund Complex position. Nonetheless, building up an attack on White’s advanced e5-pawn in the centre is still the best approach, and this worked! On turn 7, I’d coaxed White to play the inaccurate and intemperate (7. Qd4?!) to which I could respond with (7… c5!?), counterattacking White’s queen while there was tension in the centre of the board.

White moved the queen (8. Qe4??), it looks okay but it’s a blunder as White’s e5-bishop is pinned. However, I don’t play the most accurate (8… f6) which wins the bishop but make a calculated risk to once again hit White’s queen with development and tempo (8… Ngf6!?). White moves their queen yet again, and another mistake (9. Qf5?).

And here, I had a nice tactic with (9… Nxe5!?), a double attack: my e5-knight attacked White’s f3-knight, and the knight move revealed my light square c8-bishop with an attack on White’s queen. White’s eye was drawn to the e5-knight as it appeared that they could win my knight for “free” as they had two attackers on the e5 square while I only had a single defender. After thinking for 13.8 seconds, they captured (10. Nxe5??) and hung their queen (10… Bxf5!). Keep an eye on those diagonals!

The remainder of the game proceeded smoothly. I force a trade of pieces, and castle my king out of the centre. However, on turn 16, I find a delicious Romantic finisher with (16… Bc5!!). Having already seen the tactic, I snapped moved my bishop, seemingly hanging my queen on b4, “oh no, my queen!”. White is unable to resist and captures the poisoned queen (17. axb4??) and falls to a beautiful checkmate combination with (17… Bxf2#)!

Game 3: Crushing the inaccurate Scandinavian Defense!

https://www.chess.com/analysis/library/4NghDSbASi

I had the white pieces in this game and Black played the Scandinavian Defense, one of the openings where an early queen move (1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5) is completely fine. However, after (3. Nc3), Black must play accurately. The historical Valencian Variation, the oldest opening with the black pieces described in Scachs d’amor from 1475, is to retreat the queen (3… Qd8). This was favoured by Joseph Blackburne, one of the two chess masters who developed the modern opening theory of the Scandinavian Defense. Jacques Mieses preferred to keep the queen active with (3… Qa5), and this is now considered the Main Line.

Commonly at the beginner-intermediate level, Black will now make a mistake and in this game, this was (3… Qe5+), and after blocking the check with the bishop (4. Be2), we can start hunting Black’s queen with development (5. Nf3)!

On turn 6, Black un-developed the queen after all (6… Qd8), but consider, four of the first six moves were queen moves, and the queen is back on her throne!

This now gave me significant latitude and my approach was simple. I castle my king to safety and then probe and poke at Black’s position looking for tactical possibilities. For instance, (8. Bf4) was potentially setting up an attack on Black’s c7-pawn; (10. Rb1) and (11. Re1) activated my rooks to control the two semi-opened files; (12. Bb5+!?) was to lure Black to play (12… c6?!) and undermine their fianchetto b7-bishop; and (14. Bg5) to pin Black’s knight to their queen.

Finally, with (17. Qf3!?), Black misses the attack on their a8-rook along the long light square diagonal. Keep an eye on those diagonals! After (18. Qxa8!) and (19. Nc6), I had a powerful attack on Black’s king. They stumble, possibly under-calculating and under-recognising the squares controlled by the combination of queen and knight, and blunder [+M2]. Good game, GG!

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.11.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl ""]
[BlackCountry "225"]
[BlackTitle ""]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:58.9][%timestamp 11]} 1... c5 {[%clk 0:09:56.4][%timestamp
36]} 2. d4 {[%clk 0:09:57.4][%timestamp 15]} 2... Nc6 $2 {[%clk
0:09:54][%timestamp 24][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5d4;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] Sicilian Defense:
Smith-Morra Gambit, Declined $1 This is a mistake.} 3. Nf3 $5 {[%clk
0:09:47.9][%timestamp 95][%c_arrow
d4d5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
d5 is the logical best move as Black's knight is then forced backwards to
un-develop. However, just like my game with ProfessorJ, when someone makes a
mistake of this nature, they don't know the position and it can be beneficial to
make calculated risk to develop a piece first $1} 3... d5 $2 {[%clk
0:09:47.6][%timestamp 64][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c5d4;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false] Black's best move is
to force a simplification, but they don't play it $1} 4. exd5 $1 {[%clk
0:09:39][%timestamp 89][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d5c6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false]} 4... Qxd5
{[%clk 0:09:45.1][%timestamp 25]} 5. Nc3 $1 {[%clk 0:09:37.9][%timestamp
11][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
c3d5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false] Winning tempo
on Black $1} 5... Qe6+ $6 {[%clk 0:09:34.8][%timestamp 103][%c_arrow
d5f5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,f5h5;keyPressed;none;from;f5;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false,d5d8;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false][%c_effect
e6;square;e6;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true] Finding the best queen moves can
be tricky in the opening $1} 6. Be2 {[%clk 0:09:35.2][%timestamp 27]} 6... cxd4
{[%clk 0:09:31.6][%timestamp 32]} 7. Nxd4 $6 {[%clk 0:09:32.4][%timestamp
28][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,b5c7;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,c7a8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false,c7e8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c7e6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] I saw Nb5 or Nd5 for
the family fork, and the engine thinks that this is the best move immediately. I
thought that simplifying first might have been better/safer, which was
inaccurate/mistake, but White is still comfortably ahead.} 7... Nxd4 $6 {[%clk
0:09:29.7][%timestamp 19][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e6e5;keyPressed;none;from;e6;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] And my hunch turned
out to be correct, as Black obliges the exchange.} 8. Qxd4 {[%clk
0:09:29][%timestamp 34]} 8... Bd7 {[%clk 0:09:25.1][%timestamp 46]} 9. Nd5
{[%clk 0:09:25.9][%timestamp 31][%c_arrow
d5c7;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,c7e8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c7e6;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e6;persistent;false,c7a8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false] Threatening a family
fork $1} 9... Qc6 $2 {[%clk 0:09:09.1][%timestamp 160][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a8c8;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,c6c7;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,c6c2;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false,c8;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false]
Natural move, but a mistake. The correct move Rc8 isn't obvious.} 10. Bb5 $3
{[%clk 0:08:58.1][%timestamp 278][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Brilliant;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
b5c6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false] A brilliancy $1}
10... Qxc2 $4 {[%clk 0:08:54.7][%timestamp 144][%c_arrow
c6c8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false][%c_effect
c2;square;c2;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
I expected Black to capture the c2-pawn, but this is a mistake/blunder as well $1
The only good move was Qc8 $1} (10... Qxb5 $4 {[%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] If Black is
greedy...} 11. Nc7+ {[%c_arrow
c7e8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c7a8;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false,c7b5;keyPressed;none;from;c7;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]
Family fork $1}) 11. Bxd7+ {[%clk 0:08:48.3][%timestamp 98]} 11... Kd8 $6 {[%clk
0:08:39][%timestamp 157][%c_effect
d8;square;d8;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8d7;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] Black is trying to
avoid losing his queen, but the engine thinks that's the best move $1} (11... Kxd7
{Perhaps surprisingly, Black must accept the lost queen $1} 12. Nb4+ {[%c_arrow
d4d7;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,b4c2;keyPressed;none;from;b4;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false]
Discovered check with an attack on Black's queen $1}) 12. Ba4 $5 {[%clk
0:08:16.3][%timestamp 320][%c_effect
a4;square;a4;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a4c2;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false]} 12... Qf5 $4 {[%clk
0:07:37.8][%timestamp 612][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e7e5;keyPressed;none;from;e7;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false] Black runs
their queen away, but this blunders their queen and checkmate [+M5] $1} 13. Ne3+
{[%clk 0:08:02.9][%timestamp 134][%c_arrow
d4d8;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,e3f5;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false]}
13... Kc7 {[%clk 0:07:19][%timestamp 188]} 14. Nxf5 {[%clk 0:07:58.7][%timestamp
42]} 14... e6 {[%clk 0:07:16][%timestamp 30]} 15. Qd7+ {[%clk
0:07:52.5][%timestamp 62][%c_arrow
a4d7;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,d7d8;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d7c8;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;c8;persistent;false,d7d6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,d7c6;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false,d7c7;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,c8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c8;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false,c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false]}
15... Kb6 {[%clk 0:07:12.8][%timestamp 32][%c_arrow
d7c7;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,d7b5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]}
16. Be3+ {[%clk 0:07:47.9][%timestamp 46][%c_arrow
d7b5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,d7c7;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,e3b6;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false,c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,c5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false]}
16... Ka5 {[%clk 0:07:01.8][%timestamp 110][%c_arrow
e3b6;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,d7a4;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]}
17. Qb5# {[%clk 0:07:46][%timestamp 19][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner,a5;square;a5;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
a4b5;keyPressed;none;from;a4;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,b5b6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;b6;persistent;false,b5a6;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,b5a5;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false,b5a4;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false,b5b4;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false,b6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b6;persistent;false,a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false,a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false]
Good game, GG $1} 1-0


[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.11.16"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[WhiteUrl ""]
[WhiteCountry "225"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[BlackCountry "17"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/2tSZ6FFgfp?tab=analysis"]

1. d4 {[%clk 0:09:45.9][%timestamp 141]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:58.7][%timestamp
13]} 2. dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:38.2][%timestamp 77]} 2... c6 $2 {[%clk
0:09:57.3][%timestamp 14][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8c6;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false] I played this game on
my tablet in bed, and accidentally dragged the wrong piece   $1 I intended to play
Nc6... oh well   $1} 3. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:34.7][%timestamp 35]} 3... d6 $6 {[%clk
0:09:48.2][%timestamp 91][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]
If exd6 then bxd6} 4. Bd2 $2 {[%clk 0:09:24.5][%timestamp 102][%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e2e4;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;e4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false]} 4... Qe7 $5 {[%clk
0:09:35.1][%timestamp 131][%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
e7;square;e7;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
5. Bf4 $2 {[%clk 0:09:17.9][%timestamp 66][%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][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
5... dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:27.7][%timestamp 74]} 6. Bxe5 {[%clk 0:09:11.7][%timestamp
62]} 6... Nd7 {[%clk 0:09:04.3][%timestamp 234]} 7. Qd4 $6 {[%clk
0:08:57.7][%timestamp 140][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e5d4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false]} 7... c5 $5 {[%clk
0:08:47][%timestamp 173][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d7e5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] Probe and poke   $1} 8.
Qe4 $4 {[%clk 0:08:48.4][%timestamp 93][%c_effect
e4;square;e4;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d4a4;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false,e4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e4;persistent;false]
I can be surprisingly difficult to find the best move for the queen when it is
attacked   $1} 8... Ngf6 $5 {[%clk 0:08:31.7][%timestamp 153][%c_effect
f6;square;f6;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%252525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f7f6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false] Stockfish suggests f6
is best, by putting pressure on the pinned piece. However, I didn't want to
weaken that diagonal in that way} 9. Qf5 $2 {[%clk 0:08:31.4][%timestamp
170][%c_arrow
e4a4;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;a4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]}
9... Nxe5 $5 {[%clk 0:08:27.6][%timestamp 41][%c_arrow
g7g6;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false,c8f5;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false,e5f3;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false,f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
A double attack   $1} 10. Nxe5 $4 {[%clk 0:08:17.6][%timestamp 138][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c8f5;keyPressed;none;from;c8;opacity;0.8;to;f5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f5;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]
And White hangs their queen   $1} 10... Bxf5 {[%clk 0:08:25.8][%timestamp 18] Keep
an eye on those diagonals   $1} 11. Nd3 {[%clk 0:07:53.3][%timestamp 243]} 11...
Bxd3 {[%clk 0:08:19.9][%timestamp 59]} 12. cxd3 {[%clk 0:07:40][%timestamp 133]}
12... O-O-O {[%clk 0:08:18.5][%timestamp 14]} 13. Nc3 {[%clk
0:07:31.9][%timestamp 81]} 13... c4 {[%clk 0:08:14][%timestamp 45]} 14. dxc4
{[%clk 0:07:27.3][%timestamp 46]} 14... Qb4 {[%clk 0:07:51.6][%timestamp 224]}
15. Rb1 {[%clk 0:07:12.3][%timestamp 150]} 15... Ne4 {[%clk
0:07:43.8][%timestamp 78]} 16. a3 {[%clk 0:06:42.4][%timestamp 299]} 16... Bc5 $3
{[%clk 0:07:41.8][%timestamp 20][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Brilliant;persistent;true][%c_highlight
c5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;c5;persistent;false,b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
a3b4;keyPressed;none;from;a3;opacity;0.8;to;b4;persistent;false] It's a queen
sacrifice $1 To make it work, snapped moved the bishop in only 2 seconds $1} 17.
axb4 $4 {[%clk 0:06:33.6][%timestamp 88][%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false] It's an \"oh no, my
queen   $1\" trap} 17... Bxf2# {[%clk 0:07:39.8][%timestamp 20][%c_effect
c8;square;c8;type;Winner,e1;square;e1;type;CheckmateWhite][%c_arrow
e4f2;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,d8d1;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false]
Beautiful checkmate $1} 0-1

[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2024.11.27"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[WhiteElo ""]
[BlackElo ""]
[Termination "vitualis won by checkmate"]
[WhiteUrl "https://images.chesscomfiles.com/uploads/v1/user/3711094.f52a0759.100x100o.671ef4f371ed@3x.png"]
[WhiteCountry "17"]
[WhiteTitle ""]
[BlackUrl ""]
[BlackCountry "225"]
[BlackTitle ""]
[Link "https://www.chess.com/analysis/game/pgn/5YsaZ39jwt?tab=analysis"]

1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:58.5][%timestamp 15]} 1... d5 {[%clk 0:09:58.7][%timestamp
13]} 2. exd5 {[%clk 0:09:56.3][%timestamp 22]} 2... Qxd5 {[%clk
0:09:57.3][%timestamp 14]} 3. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:55.9][%timestamp 4] Scandinavian
Defense. Very often at the beginner level, Black won't know what to do after
this position. Qa5 is the \"Main Line\". Qd8 is the historical Valencian
Variation and is \"fine\".} 3... Qe5+ {[%clk 0:09:56.3][%timestamp 10][%c_arrow
d5d8;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d5a5;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false,d5d6;keyPressed;none;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false,d6;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d6;persistent;false]
This move, however, is a mistake and pretty much flags that Black doesn't really
know what they are doing $1 Tactically, we can block the check and then hunt the
queen $1} 4. Be2 {[%clk 0:09:52.4][%timestamp 35]} 4... e6 {[%clk
0:09:55.5][%timestamp 8]} 5. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:51.7][%timestamp 7][%c_arrow
f3e5;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]} 5... Qd6 {[%clk
0:09:54][%timestamp 15]} 6. d4 {[%clk 0:09:33.9][%timestamp 178]} 6... Qd8
{[%clk 0:09:51.5][%timestamp 25][%c_arrow
d8d5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,e5d6;keyPressed;shift;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;d6;persistent;false,d6d8;keyPressed;shift;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d5e5;keyPressed;shift;from;d5;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false]
White is much better in development $1 Black eventually un-develops the queen, but
the detour has resulted in a loss of tempo.} 7. O-O {[%clk 0:09:31.6][%timestamp
23]} 7... Bb4 {[%clk 0:09:50.4][%timestamp 11]} 8. Bf4 {[%clk
0:09:20.5][%timestamp 111][%c_arrow
f4c7;keyPressed;none;from;f4;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false,c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false,b5c7;keyPressed;none;from;b5;opacity;0.8;to;c7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c7;persistent;false,b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false]
Targeting the c7-pawn} 8... Bxc3 {[%clk 0:09:48.2][%timestamp 22]} 9. bxc3
{[%clk 0:09:19.5][%timestamp 10] And after the trade, notice that Black has no
development $1} 9... Nf6 {[%clk 0:09:41.5][%timestamp 67]} 10. Rb1 {[%clk
0:08:58.5][%timestamp 210]} 10... b6 {[%clk 0:09:37.9][%timestamp 36]} 11. Re1
{[%clk 0:08:25.3][%timestamp 332]} 11... Bb7 {[%clk 0:09:36.1][%timestamp 18]}
12. Bb5+ $5 {[%clk 0:08:10][%timestamp 153][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Interesting;persistent;true] Move to lure c6, blocking in
Black's fianchetto bishop   $1} 12... c6 $6 {[%clk 0:09:32.9][%timestamp
32][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false]} 13. Bd3 {[%clk
0:08:02.4][%timestamp 76]} 13... Ba6 $6 {[%clk 0:09:29.6][%timestamp
33][%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]}
14. Bg5 $2 {[%clk 0:07:17.9][%timestamp 445][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c3c4;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false] Pinning Black's
king's knight. I was happy to trade bishops to develop my queen, but this wasn't
the best move as Black's light square bishop is \"bad\" so it is better not to
trade.} 14... Bxd3 $1 {[%clk 0:09:24.1][%timestamp 55][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false] Black trades away
their \"bad\" bishop. Stockfish likes it, but once again, Black has lost almost
all their development $1} 15. Qxd3 {[%clk 0:07:16.5][%timestamp 14]} 15... b5 $2
{[%clk 0:09:19.1][%timestamp 50][%c_effect
b5;square;b5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8d7;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false]} 16. Ne5 {[%clk
0:06:53.6][%timestamp 229]} 16... c5 $2 {[%clk 0:09:07][%timestamp 121][%c_effect
c5;square;c5;type;Mistake;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
h7h6;keyPressed;none;from;h7;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false]} 17. Qf3 $5 {[%clk
0:06:42.6][%timestamp 110][%c_effect
f3;square;f3;type;Interesting;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f3a8;keyPressed;none;from;f3;opacity;0.8;to;a8;persistent;false,g5f6;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;f6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false,f3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false,f6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f6;persistent;false]
Will Black see the long light square diagonal $2 The engine thinks that trading
away Black's only developed piece (a good tactic) is the best move in the
position. However, as the knight is currently pinned, I didn't think it was
necessary.} 17... cxd4 $4 {[%clk 0:09:05][%timestamp 20][%c_effect
d4;square;d4;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d8d5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false] This is a
blunder of the a8-rook as Black didn't have an eye on the diagonal} 18. Qxa8 $1
{[%clk 0:06:40.8][%timestamp 18][%c_effect
a8;square;a8;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
a8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;a8;persistent;false] Notice that Black's
king is potentially horribly exposed for a queenside attack $1} 18... dxc3 $6
{[%clk 0:08:55.9][%timestamp 91][%c_effect
c3;square;c3;type;Inaccuracy;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
e8g8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false] The engine calls this
an inaccuracy, but by arguably this is a major mistake. Black needed to
prioritise king safety and to get their king out of the centre $1 Castling was the
best move.} 19. Nc6 {[%clk 0:06:18.3][%timestamp 225][%c_arrow
c6d8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,c6b8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;b8;persistent;false,a8c6;keyPressed;none;from;a8;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false,c6e8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,b8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b8;persistent;false]
Threatening Black's position and pretty much forcing a knight trade. However,
how will they respond to the pressure  $2} 19... Qd7 $4 {[%clk 0:08:46][%timestamp
99][%c_effect
d7;square;d7;type;Blunder;path;null;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false] Blunders [+M2]   $1}
20. Qxb8+ $1 {[%clk 0:05:56.5][%timestamp 218][%c_effect
b8;square;b8;type;GreatFind;path;null;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b8e8;keyPressed;none;from;b8;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c6e7;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,b8;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;b8;persistent;false]}
20... Qd8 {[%clk 0:08:32.3][%timestamp 137]} 21. Qxd8# {[%clk
0:05:53.8][%timestamp 27][%c_effect
g1;square;g1;type;Winner,e8;square;e8;type;CheckmateBlack][%c_arrow
d8e8;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,c6d8;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d8d7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,d8e7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;e7;persistent;false,e8f8;keyPressed;none;from;e8;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false]
Good game, GG $1} 1-0