The First Move
McHenry Area Chess Monthly Bulletin
Volume 1 Number 6                                 August 2004                                             Page 5 of 13

bit more forgivable. Though the game is close, in principle Black has the edge. In practice, White is the better bet.

24. Ng5 Re7
25. Qh2 Nf8
26. Nge4 Nce6 This move is weak. Perhaps Black was concerned about 27. Bg5 28. Bf6, or perhaps Black was focused on getting the knight to d4. Unfortunately, he overlooked that the move played leaves the pawn on d6 hanging.

27. Nxd6 Nd4
28. Be4

28… Rd8? Black wins a piece with the natural 28... Nc2+ 29. Kd1 Ne3+ 30. Bxe3 Qxe3 31. Rxb2 Qd4 and one of the white knights must fall. Seemingly better
 

for White after the knight check is the scarier looking 29. Kf1 Na3 30. Bg5 Rg7 31, Bf6 and it looks like the Black rook and defense of the kingside is about to fall, but there is still plenty of play for Black in 31... Nxb1 32. Bxg7 Nd2+ 33. Kg2 Nxe4 34. Ndxe4 Bxg7 and White's attack fizzles while Black's ...Rxa2 and ...b1=Q are serious threats that are hard to meet. Now White is better.

29. Bg5 Rg7
30. Bh6? Why not just take the rook on d8 or the pawn on e5? Either move would have given White an ever increasing advantage with the win of at least the exchange. Perhaps White thought there was a mate in the attack, but all it gets is a pawn. When the attack fizzles on move 36, White is left without enough material to force the issue, while Black still have the powerful threat of the pawn promotion.

 

30... Rxg4
31. Bxf8 Kxf8
32. Qxh7 Bg7
33. Rf1+ Ke7
34. Nf5+ Nxf5
35. Bxf5 Bxf5
36. Qxf5 Rf4
37. Rxf4 exf4
38. Qe4+ Kd7
39. Kd2

Necessary to meet the two threats of ...Bxc3 and ...Qg1+. At this point, although material is even, White is in serious trouble because the pawn on b2 ties down his rook and knight.

39... Qa5
40. d4 Kc8
41. Rxb2? There was no way to shore up the d4 square, but the fork of queen and king could have been avoided. Although the crippling pawn is finally gone, the cost is high. White would still be in trouble after