Holding on to hope

[Event "Three knights Winawer defence (Gothic defence)"]
[Site "http://www.playtheimmortalgame.com"]
[White "BigDoggProblem"]
[Black "Red House"]
[FEN "r1bqkbnr/pppp2pp/2n5/4pp2/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq f6 0 1"]
{
As is usual in Gambit Fantasy tourneys, I get a strange position instead of the usual comfortable order of the normal start position. OK, so what's going on here? Looks like Black's trying to play a Schliemann Defense even though white played 3.Nc3 instead of 3.Bb5. So how is this different? Well, for one, I haven't spent a move on Bb5, so maybe I can try a different square; one that takes advantage of the diagonal Black just opened by playing ...f5 in the first place.
}
1. Bc4
{
Hmm. 1...fxe4 is a stern test. Perhaps 2.Nxe5!? NxN 3.Qh5+ Ng6 4.Bxg8 Rxg8 5.Qxh7, but that does not seem like enough play for white given the material loss.
}
1... Nf6
{
Black plays it safer, ruling out any BxN ideas.
}
2. d3 d6 3. O-O fxe4 4. Ng5
{
?? This would be great if Black had no way to close the diagonal. Unfortunately, everyone watching this game can see that he does.
}
4... d5
{
One of those moments when you see the board and go back thru the move history of the game, asking 'Did I really just walk into...?' The perils of playing too fast!
}
5. Bb3 h6
{
He'd love Nh3 Bxh3 wrecking my K position.
}
6. Nxd5
{
Desperate times! If I'm going to make any attempt to reverse the course of the game, I have to confuse the issue. Meek moves like Nh3?? are merely submitting to the opponent's will. If I wanted to do that, I'd just resign!
}
6... hxg5
{
"The best way to refute a sacrifice is to accept it."
}
7. dxe4 Be6
{
Black keeps playing in a principled fashion. He continues developing and shores up the light squares near the King.
}
8. Bxg5 Bf7 9. f4
{
Another risky move, allowing ...Bc5+. But I don't have a choice. I'm losing, so I have to take risks.
}
9... Bd6 10. Qf3 Bxd5
{
I didn't like 11.exd5 e4, so I took with the Bishop.
}
11. Bxd5 Qd7
{
This looks like a misstep at first, but on further thought, I'm not sure. On the one hand, it allows me to delay his castling. On the other hand, I have to close the position a bit to do it.
}
12. f5 Qe7
{
Can't play 13.Be6 right away. 13...Nd4!
}
13. c3
{
Also prepares b4, anticipating that Black will castle.
}
13... O-O-O 14. Bxc6
{
Keeping a last glimmer of hope alive - weakens the black K position somewhat. He should be able to defend, but there is value simply in making him think more defensive thoughts.
}
14... bxc6 15. Qe2 Kb7 16. b4
{
White wants to "tear the roof off this sucker", in pro wrestling parlance.
}
16... Rh7 17. b5 Bc5+
{
Going to have to endure a counter-attack, I guess.
}
18. Be3
{
I was afraid of 18.Kh1 Rxh2+! 19.Kxh2 Rh8+, but perhaps after 20.Kg3 I can hold out.
}
18... Bb6
{
Shoring up the K position, but trading B's looks better, follwed by ...Ng4, crashing thru on h2.
}
19. bxc6+ Kxc6 20. Qc4+ Kb7 21. Rab1
{
Hard to say how I'm going to breach the defenses over there, but it's my only chance.
}
21... Ng4 22. Bc5
{
Desperate attempt to not trade.
}
22... Qh4 23. h3 Rd2
{
This looks wrong. 23...Qg3 and 24...Qh2+ flushes my King out, and should be decisive. I don't give him a 2nd chance to do it.
}
24. Rf3 Nf2
{
This almost works. I suppose black hoped for 25.Rxf2 Rxf2 26.Bxf2 Qxf2+, but that only seems to trade pieces?! Not a very lofty goal there, for someone who's winning.
}
25. Rxb6+
{
! A major psychological blow. White gets some material back by lopping off one of the defenders of the f2 Knight.
}
25... axb6 26. Bxf2
{
White has a pawn for the exchange and has secured his King. Black probably still should win, but it's going to be much much harder.
}
26... Rd1+ 27. Kh2 Qd8
{
Nice re-deploying idea; the d-file is the one place he can still get in.
}
28. Be3
{
Keeping pieces out of d2, but letting them in on d3.
}
28... Qd3 29. Qg8
{
A loose R on h7 and an R/B battery pointed at his Queen...gave me an idea.
}
29... Rh5
{
If 29...Rh4 30.Bg5.
}
30. Bxb6
{
See, I knew I'd get around to wrecking that K fort eventually.
}
30... Qxe4 31. Qf7
{
This was the idea from a couple moves ago. Black, to his credit, senses the game slipping away and comes up with a saving shot.
}
31... Rxh3+
{
! Very alert play. That Q and remaining R near my King has to count for something, right?!
}
32. Rxh3 Qf4+
{
33.g3? Qd2+ and I got mated.
}
33. Rg3 Qh4+ 34. Rh3 Qf4+ 35. Rg3
{
Draw agreed. Some might say "a better result than I deserved", but I think my mindset in the lost position makes this result as deserved as any could be. I don't really like the idea of 'deserved' applied to chess results. If you have a won game, but don't win it, whose fault is that? You only 'deserve' to win if you can ACTUALLY win. Barring cheating, 'deserved' is not a word I like to use to describe chess results. }

[FEN "r1bqkbnr/pppp2pp/2n5/4pp2/4P3/2N2N2/PPPP1PPP/R1BQKB1R w KQkq F5 0 1"]
{As is usual in Gambit Fantasy tourneys, I get a strange position instead of the usual comfortable order of the normal start position. OK, so what's going on here? Looks like Black's trying to play a Schliemann Defense even though white played 3.Nc3 instead of 3.Bb5. So how is this different? Well, for one, I haven't spent a move on Bb5, so maybe I can try a different square; one that takes advantage of the diagonal Black just opened by playing ...f5 in the first place.} 1. Bc4 {Hmm. 1...fxe4 is a stern test. Perhaps 2.Nxe5!? NxN 3.Qh5+ Ng6 4.Bxg8 Rxg8 5.Qxh7, but that does not seem like enough play for white given the material loss.} 1... Nf6 {Black plays it safer, ruling out any BxN ideas.} 2. d3 d6 3. O-O fxe4 4. Ng5 {?? This would be great if Black had no way to close the diagonal. Unfortunately, everyone watching this game can see that he does.} 4... d5 {One of those moments when you see the board and go back thru the move history of the game, asking 'Did I really just walk into...?' The perils of playing too fast!} 5. Bb3 h6 {He'd love Nh3 Bxh3 wrecking my K position.} 6. Nxd5 {Desperate times! If I'm going to make any attempt to reverse the course of the game, I have to confuse the issue. Meek moves like Nh3?? are merely submitting to the opponent's will. If I wanted to do that, I'd just resign!} 6... hxg5 {"The best way to refute a sacrifice is to accept it."} 7. dxe4 Be6 {Black keeps playing in a principled fashion. He continues developing and shores up the light squares near the King.} 8. Bxg5 Bf7 9. f4 {Another risky move, allowing ...Bc5+. But I don't have a choice. I'm losing, so I have to take risks.} 9... Bd6 10. Qf3 Bxd5 {I didn't like 11.exd5 e4, so I took with the Bishop.} 11. Bxd5 Qd7 {This looks like a misstep at first, but on further thought, I'm not sure. On the one hand, it allows me to delay his castling. On the other hand, I have to close the position a bit to do it.} 12. f5 Qe7 {Can't play 13.Be6 right away. 13...Nd4!} 13. c3 {Also prepares b4, anticipating that Black will castle.} 13... O-O-O 14. Bxc6 {Keeping a last glimmer of hope alive - weakens the black K position somewhat. He should be able to defend, but there is value simply in making him think more defensive thoughts.} 14... bxc6 15. Qe2 Kb7 16. b4 {White wants to "tear the roof off this sucker", in pro wrestling parlance.} 16... Rh7 17. b5 Bc5+ {Going to have to endure a counter-attack, I guess.} 18. Be3 {I was afraid of 18.Kh1 Rxh2+! 19.Kxh2 Rh8+, but perhaps after 20.Kg3 I can hold out.} 18... Bb6 {Shoring up the K position, but trading B's looks better, follwed by ...Ng4, crashing thru on h2.} 19. bxc6+ Kxc6 20. Qc4+ Kb7 21. Rab1 {Hard to say how I'm going to breach the defenses over there, but it's my only chance.} 21... Ng4 22. Bc5 {Desperate attempt to not trade.} 22... Qh4 23. h3 Rd2 {This looks wrong. 23...Qg3 and 24...Qh2+ flushes my King out, and should be decisive. I don't give him a 2nd chance to do it.} 24. Rf3 Nf2 {This almost works. I suppose black hoped for 25.Rxf2 Rxf2 26.Bxf2 Qxf2+, but that only seems to trade pieces?! Not a very lofty goal there, for someone who's winning.} 25. Rxb6+ {! A major psychological blow. White gets some material back by lopping off one of the defenders of the f2 Knight.} 25... axb6 26. Bxf2 {White has a pawn for the exchange and has secured his King. Black probably still should win, but it's going to be much much harder.} 26... Rd1+ 27. Kh2 Qd8 {Nice re-deploying idea; the d-file is the one place he can still get in.} 28. Be3 {Keeping pieces out of d2, but letting them in on d3.} 28... Qd3 29. Qg8 {A loose R on h7 and an R/B battery pointed at his Queen...gave me an idea.} 29... Rh5 {If 29...Rh4 30.Bg5.} 30. Bxb6 {See, I knew I'd get around to wrecking that K fort eventually.} 30... Qxe4 31. Qf7 {This was the idea from a couple moves ago. Black, to his credit, senses the game slipping away and comes up with a saving shot.} 31... Rxh3+ {! Very alert play. That Q and remaining R near my King has to count for something, right?!} 32. Rxh3 Qf4+ {33.g3? Qd2+ and I got mated.} 33. Rg3 Qh4+ 34. Rh3 Qf4+ 35. Rg3 {Draw agreed. Some might say "a better result than I deserved", but I think my mindset in the lost position makes this result as deserved as any could be. I don't really like the idea of 'deserved' applied to chess results. If you have a won game, but don't win it, whose fault is that? You only 'deserve' to win if you can ACTUALLY win. Barring cheating, 'deserved' is not a word I like to use to describe chess results.}