2022 Chess Christmas Quiz and Games

[FEN "8/8/8/5K2/7q/5k2/8/R1R5 w - - 0 1"]
1. Ra3+ Ke2 2. Rc2+ Kd1 {The c2 Rook is attacked and the Black Queen has Qh5+ or Qh7+} 3. Rh2 {3...Qxh2 4.Ra1+ and Ra2+ skewers the Queen.} 3... Qd4 {Black has to stop Ra1 mate.} 4. Ra1+ {Ra1+ anyway.} 4... Qxa1 5. Rh1+ {White skewers the Queen.}

1. Nc3 {Not too infrequent, seen on RHP 32,000 times transposing to many different openings} 1... d5 2. e4 {This goes into an Englund gambit reversed.} 2... dxe4 3. d3 exd3 4. Bxd3 Nc6 5. Qe2 {With 0-0-0 ideas and tricks down the d-file v the Black Queen.} 5... Nf6 6. Bf4 Nd4 {Tempting but leads to Black lagging in development.} 7. Qe5 Ne6 8. Bg3 c6 9. O-O-O {For the cost of a mere pawn White has a position loaded with ideas.} 9... Qb6 10. h4 {Making sure if Black 0-0 it will be an uncomfortable home for the Black King.} 10... h5 {Black stops that idea and grabs a base for the f6 Knight.} 11. Nf3 Ng4 12. Qe1 {White is now threatening 12.Na4 forcing 12...Qd8 when 13.Bc4 is clearly winning.} 12... Qa5 13. Ng5 {White gets the ball rolling this moves hides a wonderful idea...} 13... Nxg5 {....which Black has failed to see.} 14. Nb5 {With Nc7+ and Nd6+ Black has no choice to take off the Queens.} 14... Qxe1 15. Nc7+ Kd8 16. Rhxe1 {Saving the Rook meets 16...Rb8 17.Bf5+ Bd7 18.Rxd7+ Kc8 19.Rd8+ Kxd8 20.Rd1 mate.} 16... Bd7 {The mates are appearing16...Ne6 17.Bf5+ Bd7 18 Nxe6 fxe6 19 Rxd7+ Kxd7 20.Rd1+} 17. Nxa8 Ne6 18. Bf5 Kc8 {Black has to break the pin before something nasty happens....} 19. Rxd7 {....but it's too late.} 19... Kxd7 20. Rd1+ Kc8 21. Bc7 {With the charming threat of Rd8 mate, note all of White's piece are playing their part.} 21... b6 {Luft.} 22. Rd8+ Kb7 23. Rb8+ Ka6 24. Bd3+ Ka5 {White now wraps up this original game with a wee piece of magic.} 25. Nxb6 {There is no defence it's mate in all variations.} 25... Nxc7 {25....axb6 26.Bb6+ Kb4 27.c3+ Ka4 28.Ra8 mate.} 26. Nc4+ {White had all this worked out when he played 25.Nxb6.} 26... Ka6 27. Ne5+ {Black resigned here, we play on...} 27... Nb5 28. Nxc6 {And nothing can stop Bxb5 mate. A super game.}

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 {Probably best if White does not take this pawn as it gives Black the kind of game they want.} 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bg5 h6 {White should now drop back to h4 instead this move....} 7. Bxf6 {...just helps Black develop and gives them encouragement.} 7... Qxf6 8. e3 Bb4 {An awkward moment for White but 9.Qd2 and 10.0-0-0 should be OK.} 9. Qd3 {The wrong square, Black develops on the White Queen,} 9... Bf5 {It's still not too late for 10.Qd2 answering 10...Rd8 with 11.Bd3.} 10. Qc4 {This is just asking for trouble 10....b5 11.Qxb4 Bxc3+ is just winning,} 10... Be6 {11.Qd3 Rd8 12,Nd4 Nxd4 13.exd4 Rxd4 and Black is on top.} 11. Qb5 {Black is now winning, the White Queen is doomed.} 11... Bxc3+ {White might as well take back on c3 everything is just as bad.} 12. bxc3 Qxc3+ 13. Ke2 {Take the Rook....} 13... Bc4+ {...No the Queen is a bigger prize.}

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 d5 {Again White should probably just ignore the d-pawn and develop 4. Bf4 is OK.} 4. exd6 Bxd6 5. b3 {Too timid and slow. 5.e4 using the extra central pawn was better.} 5... Bb4+ {An annoying move to meet 6.c3 Qxd1+ and Bc5, Black is getting good play for the pawn.} 6. Nfd2 {A bad choice. It appears White rejected 6.Nbd2 because of 6...Qf6} 6... Nf6 7. Bb2 Ng4 {A fishing expedition, will White take the bait.} 8. Bxg7 {Yes. One trick here was if 8.Nc3 Nxf2 and Qf6+} 8... Rg8 {9 Bc3, two pawns up, seek exchanges though Black can still create problems with 9...Ne3.} 9. Bb2 Ne3 {Hinted at in the last note, this time it is very strong. 10.fxe3 Qh4+ and Rxg3 is winning.} 10. Qc1 Nxf1 {10...Nxg2+ was also playable.} 11. Kxf1 {Unpins the d2 Knight and holds g2} 11... Qg5 {11....Rxg2 was also on. White could not take it due to Qg5+, Bh3+ and Qg2.} 12. g3 {12. Rg1 was far better. White probably feared 12.Rg1 Bh3.} 12... Bh3+ 13. Kg1 {13.Ke1 0-0-0 and the pinned d2 Knight is in trouble.} 13... O-O-O {Bxd2 is a threat. White has to put up some kind of a defence with 14.c3.} 14. Nf3 {It got all too much for White, this move is a cave in.} 14... Qxc1+ 15. Bxc1 Rd1+ {Mate next move.}