Recently, I’ve had almost a couple of weeks off work: the Easter long weekend, and then attending the WONCA (World Organization of Family Doctors) 2025 Asia-Pacific Regional Conference, held this year in Busan, South Korea. I’ve had a great time attending the academic program, especially listening to new research findings, as well as discussions on health policy issues and directions.
However, what I most enjoy from professional conference attendance, and what I would argue to be one of the most important benefits, is the opportunity to network with like-minded colleagues, especially leaders within the field.
As part of the trip, I had planned to record an “out and about” video with my travel Chessnut GO set at a really cool town in Busan, the Gamcheon Culture Village.
This is another must visit location, especially if you like cats! It’s a unique site with many whimsical artistic installations.
I’d found a wonderfully scenic location for the game, a table with benches surrounded by stylised feline murals, under the shade of a tree. I was a bit rushed as it was later in the afternoon, and it was starting to get a bit chilly. In my haste, I didn’t double check the framing of the camera screen before I recorded the video. Unfortunately, this rendered the footage unusable, as around half of the board in the angle was cut off… Oh well! 😅
Instead, I’m going to show a handful of recent “quick wins” type games over my break that celebrates the Romantic and whimsical spirit of Gamcheon Culture Village. Let’s go! 🤩👍
* * *
This was a very funny game of the Max Lange Vienna Gambit (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4) where my opponent with the black pieces decided to play snap “copy cat” responses, so (3… f5?) giving an interesting symmetrical pawn cube on turn 3!
They continued with the copy cat tactic (4. fxe5 fxe4 5. Nxe4 Nxe5) but a thing to know is that this approach will always fail for Black as White has the advantage of going first! The symmetry broke on turn 6 as I had (6. Qh5+), an absolute fork of Black’s king and e5-knight, a forcing move. Why forcing? Black has only a single correct move available, which was the backwards knight move (6… Ng6).
For reasons unclear to me, they didn’t play this and erroneously stepped their king out of check (6… Ke7??). As can sometimes be the case with the open centre files (a theme in this series of games) in the Vienna Gambit, this gives a cascade of attacks and the weaving of a mating net. In this game, a very lovely Royal Fork checkmate arrived on turn 10 with (10. Nf7#). Lovely! 😚🤌
The second game started as a Falkbeer Vienna Gambit Accepted (1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4?). However, in a moment of whimsy, rather than playing the correct and typical (4. e5), a winning move, I decided to try (4. Nf3), which transposes into the King’s Gambit Accepted: Schallopp Defense. This is a position that has been played by the 19th century masters including, of course, Schallopp, but also Chigorin, Steinitz, and Blackburne. In fact, Blackburne voluntarily entered this position from the Vienna Gambit!
Black doesn’t play confidently in the opening, with some hesitant moves (4… d6, and 6… a6), mixed with unbalanced aggression (5… Bg4). On turn 7, I saw the potential for a tricky attack (7. e5)! Stockfish didn’t like it, but I thought that it was forcing with a predictable transformation that was beneficial for me.
And it happened! After the central pawn trades (7… dxe5 8. dxe5), the d-file was fully opened with the queens staring at each other across the board (as noted before: open centre files are a theme of this article). After the queen trade (8… Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1), my d1-rook controlled the file and Black’s king is at risk of being trapped in the centre. There’s also the potential for an unexpected early checkmate!
This immediately became available after (9… Nh5 10. Bg5!?). My rook and bishop had created a mating net, but the repositioning of the bishop was seemingly “caused” by Black’s knight’s attack. An important part of playing “psychologically” is realising that people are not computers, even if they “calculate” positions. Rather, they create narratives in their mind, effectively, they tell themselves stories to provide explanations of why a piece is in a specific position. Black likely told themselves that my bishop had moved from the f4 to g6 square due to their knight move, and as such, looked no further into the significance of the move. Recognising that people can have these biases is the basis of traps!
Black indeed missed the checkmate-in-one and so with (11. Rd8#), I had a lovely combination with my rook and bishop. Good game, GG! 🤩👍
The Smith-Morra Gambit is one of the best approaches against the unprepared Sicilian player (1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3). My opponent wanted to play a Dragon Sicilian and attempted to continue down that structure (5… g6) but this led to their first understandable looking blunder with (8… d5??) attempting to challenge the centre. Just like the other games, this created a tactical opportunity for me with a very early opened centre file!
After the pawn trade (9. exd5 exd5), I played a rather tricky move (10. Rd1!?), seemingly pinning Black’s d-pawn to their queen, which Stockfish evaluates as a serious mistake. However, there was a method to the madness! What was Black’s tactical narratives to themselves? I had predicted that Black had seen that their c6-knight would be able to jump to the a5 square for an attack on my queen on b3, and that they were “holding it in reserve”. However, this erroneous belief meant that the step of tempo they believed they had, could instead be used by me, turning a powerful attack into a checkmate!
Black pulled the pin with (11. Na5??), hitting my queen, but in doing so, hung a very lovely checkmate-in-two! Firstly, (12. Bxf7+) a check and revealing the fully open d-file. Black’s king is forced to f8, and my rook flies across the board, capturing the queen to deliver a back rank mate (13. Rxd8#). 😚🤌
This last game is my favourite and the most recent from the list. I had the black pieces and like the other games, played off-beat whimsical moves in the openings to see whether I could get an edge, and to see where the game would take me!
It started with the Center Game (1. e4 e5 2. d4), but rather than capturing with the usual exd4, I played (2… Nc6) instead to take White out of their expectation, and transposing the game to the Nimzowitsch Defense. Rather than pushing the aggression, White opted to safely transpose the game back to a Scotch (3. Nf3), and after (3… exd4 4. Nxd4), I decided to once again play something different. Normally, I respond with (4. Qh4), the Steinitz Variation. But on this day, I just had a feeling, and so opted for (4… Nf6), the Schmidt Variation instead!
And I was rewarded with (5. Nxc5) and the opportunity to play the tricky (5… dxc6!?). The opening principle is that it’s better to capture towards the centre so (5… bxc6) is more accurate. However, like the other games, there is something unexpected, provocative, and Romantic to fully open the d-file on turn 5, have the queens look at each other, and force your opponent to react! 🤪
White blinked, and the manoeuvre successfully prompted them to make an error with (6. Qe2?)! My queen now controlled the open d-file and my tactic was to attack White’s weak f2 square. I was delighted to see and then successfully implement a rather lovely trap to capture White’s queen with a two-step dancing knight attack (8… Ng4!).
White had only a single move to save their queen (9. Be3) but didn’t see it. With (9… Bxf2+), White’s best option was to trade their queen for my two minor pieces (10. Qxf2 Nxf2 11. Kxf2), not something that is easy to accept.
Instead, they play the very human (10. Kd2??). This fails, as my knight leaps forward again with the surprising (10. Ne3+), which almost seems like checkmate! White’s only legal move is to trade their queen for the attacking knight… If the previous trade of the queen for TWO pieces was unacceptable, then this forced trade is emotional damage! White resigned, good game, GG!
* * *
Play for fun. Try unexpected whimsical moves in the opening. Play Romantic chess!
Learn how to play the best chess opening attacks in the Romantic style with my new book, “Become a Chess Assassin!”, and read more stories about interesting historical chess masters from the past! Available now on your local Amazon store:
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.04.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[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/library/4NK7eLJPeW"]
1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.3][%timestamp 7]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:58.8][%timestamp 12]}
2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:57.7][%timestamp 16]} 2... Nc6 {[%clk 0:09:57.2][%timestamp
16]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:09:56.1][%timestamp 16] Vienna Gambit (Max Lange) - Let's go
$1} 3... f5 $2 {[%clk 0:09:55.6][%timestamp 16][%c_arrow
e5f4;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false][%c_effect
f5;square;f5;type;Mistake;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
Interesting symmetrical pawn cube approach $1 Not correct, and this gives White
some fun $1} 4. fxe5 $6 {[%clk 0:09:50.6][%timestamp 55][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%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] The other way (exf5)
is better by both are completely winning when you look at the Lichess community
database} 4... fxe4 {[%clk 0:09:54.4][%timestamp 12]} 5. Nxe4 {[%clk
0:09:35.2][%timestamp 154]} 5... Nxe5 {[%clk 0:09:53.1][%timestamp 13] Black is
playing a whimsical symmetrical dance, but White always wins this tactic as they
go first $1} 6. Qh5+ {[%clk 0:09:32.1][%timestamp 31][%c_arrow
d2d4;keyPressed;none;from;d2;opacity;0.8;to;d4;persistent;false,h5e8;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,h5e5;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d4;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]
d4 is more accurate. But Qh5+, a fork of Black's king and knight is more winning
empirically, especially at the beginner level.} 6... Ke7 $4 {[%clk
0:09:40.4][%timestamp 127][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Blunder;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e5g6;keyPressed;none;from;e5;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false] The reason is
that it's a forcing move. Black must find the single good move, the backward
Ng6, and if they don't it's pretty much dead lost.} 7. Qxe5+ $1 {[%clk
0:09:20.4][%timestamp 117][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;GreatFind;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]} 7... Kf7 {[%clk
0:09:36.7][%timestamp 37]} 8. Ng5+ {[%clk 0:09:04][%timestamp 164][%c_highlight
c4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c4;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f1c4;keyPressed;shift;from;f1;opacity;0.8;to;c4;persistent;false] Bc4+ bringing
another attacker is \"technically\" better} 8... Kg6 $4 {[%clk
0:09:17.1][%timestamp 196][%c_effect
g6;square;g6;type;Blunder;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false,g5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d8g5;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;g5;persistent;false] \"Technically\"
is in quotation marks, as Black's only move that avoids immediate checkmate is
to trade their queen for the knight, which is inhuman} 9. Bd3+ $1 {[%clk
0:08:55.8][%timestamp 82][%c_effect
d3;square;d3;type;GreatFind;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d3;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d3;persistent;false,g6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g6;persistent;false][%c_arrow
d3g6;keyPressed;none;from;d3;opacity;0.8;to;g6;persistent;false]} 9... Kh6 $6
{[%clk 0:09:04.8][%timestamp 123][%c_effect
h6;square;h6;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g6h5;keyPressed;none;from;g6;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false] What does an
inaccuracy even mean when it's +M1 vs +M3 $2} 10. Nf7# {[%clk
0:08:53.3][%timestamp 25][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner;animated;true,h6;square;h6;type;CheckmateBlack;animated;true][%c_arrow
f7h6;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;h6;persistent;false,f7d8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h6;persistent;false,d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]
A very lovely, Royal Fork checkmate $1} 1-0
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.04.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[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/library/3qFeExB5KC"]
1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.7][%timestamp 3]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:58.6][%timestamp 14]}
2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:09:58.5][%timestamp 12]} 2... Nf6 {[%clk 0:09:28.9][%timestamp
297]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:09:52.1][%timestamp 64] Vienna Gambit (Falkbeer), let's go
$1} 3... exf4 $2 {[%clk 0:09:22.2][%timestamp 67][%c_effect
f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true]} 4. Nf3
{[%clk 0:09:50.4][%timestamp 17][%c_arrow
e4e5;keyPressed;none;from;e4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false] I would almost always
play the default e5 push. But on this day, I whimsically played Nf3 $1 This
transposes into the King's Gambit Accepted: Schallopp Defense} 4... d6 $6 {[%clk
0:09:16.5][%timestamp 57][%c_arrow
d7d5;keyPressed;none;from;d7;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false][%c_effect
d6;square;d6;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]} 5.
d4 {[%clk 0:09:46.6][%timestamp 38] Let's take the full centre} 5... Bg4 $6
{[%clk 0:09:13][%timestamp 35][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d6d5;keyPressed;none;from;d6;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]} 6. Bxf4 {[%clk
0:09:41.1][%timestamp 55]} 6... a6 $2 {[%clk 0:08:59.6][%timestamp 134][%c_effect
a6;square;a6;type;Mistake;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] Black is clearly
completely out of their comfort zone. This is a slow waiting move, which is a
mistake when White is rapidly developing and aiming for an opening attack $1} 7.
e5 $6 {[%clk 0:09:37.3][%timestamp 38][%c_arrow
h2h3;keyPressed;none;from;h2;opacity;0.8;to;h3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h3;persistent;false][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
Stockfish prefers h3 to kick the bishop, but I thought that e5 was more forcing
and predictable in its outcome} 7... dxe5 {[%clk 0:08:54][%timestamp 56]} 8.
dxe5 {[%clk 0:09:32.1][%timestamp 52]} 8... Qxd1+ $6 {[%clk 0:08:48.3][%timestamp
57][%c_effect
d1;square;d1;type;Inaccuracy;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
f6h5;keyPressed;none;from;f6;opacity;0.8;to;h5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
h5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;h5;persistent;false] I was pretty sure
this was going to occur. Note, however, I now get a fully open d-file controlled
by my rook $1} 9. Rxd1 {[%clk 0:09:31.1][%timestamp 10][%c_arrow
d1d8;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false]} 9... Nh5 {[%clk
0:08:40.9][%timestamp 74][%c_arrow
h5f4;keyPressed;none;from;h5;opacity;0.8;to;f4;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f4;persistent;false]} 10. Bg5 $5 {[%clk
0:09:24][%timestamp 71][%c_effect
g5;square;g5;type;Interesting;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d1d8;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,g5d8;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] A checkmate threat.
Will Black see it $2 As this move looks a response to Black's knight's attack,
the intent can be psychologically obscured $1} 10... Bb4 $4 {[%clk
0:08:28.3][%timestamp 126][%c_effect
b4;square;b4;type;Blunder;size;100%25;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
b4;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b4;persistent;false] They don't see the
threat and blunder $1} 11. Rd8# {[%clk 0:09:21][%timestamp 30][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner;animated;true,e8;square;e8;type;CheckmateBlack;animated;true][%c_arrow
g5d8;keyPressed;none;from;g5;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false,d8d7;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false,d8f8;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;f8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false,e7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e7;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]
Good game, GG $1} 1-0
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.04.30"]
[Round "?"]
[White "vitualis"]
[Black "Random Noob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[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/library/2boz1EaxPY"]
1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.5][%timestamp 5]} 1... c5 {[%clk 0:09:57.9][%timestamp 21]}
2. d4 {[%clk 0:09:57.3][%timestamp 22]} 2... cxd4 {[%clk 0:09:55.9][%timestamp
20]} 3. c3 {[%clk 0:09:55.8][%timestamp 15]} 3... dxc3 {[%clk
0:09:51.7][%timestamp 42] Sicilian Defense: Smith-Morra Gambit Accepted. Let's
go $1} 4. Nxc3 {[%clk 0:09:55.4][%timestamp 4]} 4... Nc6 {[%clk
0:09:49.7][%timestamp 20]} 5. Bc4 {[%clk 0:09:54.4][%timestamp 10]} 5... g6
{[%clk 0:09:46.7][%timestamp 30] Black trying to continue with a Dragon-ish
Sicilian} 6. Qb3 $6 {[%clk 0:09:52.4][%timestamp 20][%c_effect
b3;square;b3;type;Inaccuracy;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g1f3;keyPressed;none;from;g1;opacity;0.8;to;f3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f3;persistent;false] Not the most
accurate, but this is a tactical idea in the Smith-Morra. The battery targets
Black's weak f7 square $1} 6... e6 {[%clk 0:09:43.6][%timestamp 31]} 7. Nf3
{[%clk 0:09:50.1][%timestamp 23]} 7... Bg7 $2 {[%clk 0:09:36.8][%timestamp
68][%c_effect
g7;square;g7;type;Mistake;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
a7a6;keyPressed;none;from;a7;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,c6a5;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false]
Black continues their fianchetto set up} 8. Bf4 $2 {[%clk 0:09:45.1][%timestamp
50][%c_effect f4;square;f4;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c3b5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;b5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
b5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;b5;persistent;false] And I miss a tactical
idea: Nb5, with an aim for Nd6+} 8... d5 $4 {[%clk 0:09:28][%timestamp
88][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;Blunder;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,a6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a6;persistent;false,a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false][%c_arrow
a7a6;keyPressed;none;from;a7;opacity;0.8;to;a6;persistent;false,c6a5;keyPressed;none;from;c6;opacity;0.8;to;a5;persistent;false]
Black strikes in the centre, a blunder. I control the d5 square with four pieces
to Black's three. From my perspective, I smell a winning tactic down the open
d-file $1 I also had the intuition that Black saw a future Na5 as a \"winning\"
attack on their part, but had a sense that it wasn't going to work for them...}
9. exd5 $1 {[%clk 0:09:42.3][%timestamp 28][%c_effect
d5;square;d5;type;GreatFind;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false]} 9... exd5 {[%clk
0:09:26.6][%timestamp 14]} 10. Rd1 $5 {[%clk 0:09:41.3][%timestamp 10][%c_effect
d1;square;d1;type;Interesting;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
c3d5;keyPressed;none;from;c3;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;shift;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false] A very tricky move $1
I saw that I could have simply captured the pawn with probably Nxd5, but thought
that this was too straightforward $1} 10... Nge7 $2 {[%clk 0:09:24.8][%timestamp
18][%c_effect
e7;square;e7;type;Mistake;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_arrow
g7c3;keyPressed;none;from;g7;opacity;0.8;to;c3;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c3;persistent;false] Once can see what
Black is getting at, but a major mistake as there is now a back rank issue $1}
11. Bxd5 {[%clk 0:09:32.5][%timestamp 88] Capturing with the knight is more
accurate, but does Black remember the battery $2} 11... Na5 $4 {[%clk
0:09:10.4][%timestamp 144][%c_effect
a5;square;a5;type;Blunder;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
a5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;a5;persistent;false] Black finally
pressures the queen, but hangs checkmate-in-two $1} 12. Bxf7+ $1 {[%clk
0:09:20.4][%timestamp 121][%c_effect
f7;square;f7;type;GreatFind;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false,f7;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,d7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d7;persistent;false][%c_arrow
f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false,b3f7;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,d1d7;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d7;persistent;false]
Check with discovered attack down the open d-file $1} 12... Kf8 {[%clk
0:08:57.1][%timestamp 133][%c_arrow
b3f7;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,f7g8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false,f7e8;keyPressed;none;from;f7;opacity;0.8;to;e8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]}
13. Rxd8# {[%clk 0:09:19.3][%timestamp 11][%c_effect
e1;square;e1;type;Winner;animated;true,f8;square;f8;type;CheckmateBlack;animated;true][%c_arrow
b3f7;keyPressed;none;from;b3;opacity;0.8;to;f7;persistent;false,d8g8;keyPressed;none;from;d8;opacity;0.8;to;g8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f7;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f7;persistent;false,g8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;g8;persistent;false,f8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f8;persistent;false,e8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e8;persistent;false]
Back rank checkmate, chef's kiss $1} 1-0
[Event "Live Chess"]
[Site "Chess.com"]
[Date "2025.05.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Random Noob"]
[Black "vitualis"]
[Result "0-1"]
[TimeControl "600"]
[Termination "vitualis won by resignation"]
[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/library/ggPSx8HRx"]
1. e4 {[%clk 0:09:59.5][%timestamp 5]} 1... e5 {[%clk 0:09:59.2][%timestamp 8]}
2. d4 {[%clk 0:09:58.9][%timestamp 6] Center Game. Hmm...} 2... Nc6 {[%clk
0:09:58.7][%timestamp 5][%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] I almost always play
exd4 which is the logical and most accurate move. But on this day, I decided, on
a moment of whimsy, play Nc6 instead $1 This nominally transposes the game to the
Nimzowitsch Defense: Kennedy Variation.} 3. Nf3 {[%clk 0:09:55.7][%timestamp
32][%c_arrow
d4d5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;d5;persistent;false,d4e5;keyPressed;none;from;d4;opacity;0.8;to;e5;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d5;persistent;false,e5;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e5;persistent;false]
Sometimes you just get a feeling $1 At the beginner-intermediate level, many
players will suddenly play very conservatively when taken out of their
preparation. The Center Game is an aggressive approach and the switching of the
opening \"mood\" is like putting the foot full on the accelerator pedal for only
a moment, and letting go. It doesn't work $1} 3... exd4 {[%clk
0:09:48.1][%timestamp 106]} 4. Nxd4 {[%clk 0:09:54.2][%timestamp 15] Still,
White is \"okay\" and it's transposed into a Scotch Game} 4... Nf6 {[%clk
0:09:44.7][%timestamp 34] I normally play the Steinitz Variation (Qh4), but
decided to once again play something different in this game, the Schmidt
Variation.} 5. Nxc6 {[%clk 0:09:51.8][%timestamp 24]} 5... dxc6 $5 {[%clk
0:09:43.2][%timestamp 15][%c_effect
c6;square;c6;type;Interesting;persistent;true][%c_arrow
b7c6;keyPressed;none;from;b7;opacity;0.8;to;c6;persistent;false][%c_highlight
c6;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c6;persistent;false] The principal is that
capturing towards the centre is better, and so objectively, bxc6 is more
accurate. However, there is something unexpected, provocative, and Romantic by
WHIMSICALLY fully opening the d-file on turn 5, have the queens look at each
other and force your opponent to react $1} 6. Qe2 $2 {[%clk 0:09:49.2][%timestamp
26][%c_effect e2;square;e2;type;Mistake;persistent;true][%c_arrow
d1d8;keyPressed;none;from;d1;opacity;0.8;to;d8;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d8;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d8;persistent;false] And White blinked
first, and I successfully prompted them to make an error $1} 6... Bb4+ {[%clk
0:09:34.2][%timestamp 90] And now, immediately continuing poking $1 I'm trying to
provoke White to play c3 to gum up their development.} 7. c3 {[%clk
0:09:45.6][%timestamp 36] Stockfish thinks this is accurate, but it makes things
difficult for White} 7... Bc5 {[%clk 0:09:28.9][%timestamp 53] And part of the
idea is to obscure the pressure on White's weak f2 square} 8. e5 $2 {[%clk
0:09:42.3][%timestamp 33][%c_effect
e5;square;e5;type;Mistake;size;100%2525;animated;false;persistent;true]
Predictable, but a mistake} 8... Ng4 $1 {[%clk 0:09:24.5][%timestamp 44][%c_arrow
g4f2;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false,c5f2;keyPressed;none;from;c5;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false,g4;keyPressed;alt;opacity;0.8;square;g4;persistent;false][%c_effect
g4;square;g4;type;GreatFind;persistent;true] Note: this is an extremely strong
attack as my queen controls the d-file $1 Black's king is almost trapped in the
centre.} 9. Nd2 $4 {[%clk 0:09:35.7][%timestamp 66][%c_effect
d2;square;d2;type;Blunder;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d2;persistent;false,e3;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e3;persistent;false][%c_arrow
c1e3;keyPressed;none;from;c1;opacity;0.8;to;e3;persistent;false] White had to
play Be3 to avoid losing their queen} 9... Bxf2+ {[%clk 0:09:13.5][%timestamp
110][%c_arrow
f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,g4f2;keyPressed;none;from;g4;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false]}
10. Kd1 $4 {[%clk 0:09:32.3][%timestamp 34][%c_effect
d1;square;d1;type;Blunder;size;100%252525;animated;false;persistent;true][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,f2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;f2;persistent;false][%c_arrow
e2f2;keyPressed;none;from;e2;opacity;0.8;to;f2;persistent;false] White's best
response is to trade their queen for both my bishop and knight. Kd1 is very
natural but White will be forced to trade their queen now for only one rather
than both pieces $1} 10... Ne3+ {[%clk 0:09:07.2][%timestamp 63][%c_effect
e8;square;e8;type;Winner;animated;true,d1;square;d1;type;ResignWhite;animated;true][%c_arrow
e3d1;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;d1;persistent;false,f2e1;keyPressed;none;from;f2;opacity;0.8;to;e1;persistent;false,e3c2;keyPressed;none;from;e3;opacity;0.8;to;c2;persistent;false][%c_highlight
d1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;d1;persistent;false,e1;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;e1;persistent;false,c2;keyPressed;none;opacity;0.8;square;c2;persistent;false]
Knight check, and White's only legal move is Qxe3. They recognise that their
queen is lost, suffer emotional damage, and resign $1} 0-1
Adventures of a Chess Noob 