This was a satisfying "live chess" blitz win, playing as White (QGD) against a "higher rated" (1922) player on Gameknot.
I was white and played the Queen's Pawn Opening that quickly developed into the Queen's Gambit Declined.
The situation after my 7th move:
In the video I mentioned that I don't think Black's 5... Be6 move is the most dynamic although I suppose he is intending to defend the d5 pawn (as the f6 Knight is pinned), enabling 6... Nbd7.
In this opening, John Watson, in A Strategic Chess Opening Repertoire for White, advocates for Bd3 or Be2 before committing the Knight on g1. That is the system I have studied, and frequently forget! Of course, Nf3 is an excellent developing move in itself; it is just a different style of play as it blocks the advance of the f-pawn.
He wants to double my pawns!
By move 12, I had managed to induce his kingside pawns to advance. Now, after 12.Bg3, it is my opponent's turn to disrupt my kingside pawns via an exchang e of Bishops:
Black Castles into Empty Space!
Black has lost castling rights on the queenside and has completely disrupted his kingside pawns to chase away both my Bishops. I was surprised to see this move - and quite happy too. I was expecting Black to advancd the h-pawn, supported by the Rook:
Is This a Trap, a Clever Idea... or Simply a Blunder?
I was expecting an exchange of Knights (22... dxc3 23.Bxd7), not 22... Ne5? It seems Black was aiming to give up more material in the hope of attacking my king with Ng4+, but I felt I my position was dynamic enough to fend off the attack, so I went ahead and played 23.Bxc8.
This Could Be Fatal...
I think Black's Qg5 move would have been more dangerous for White if he had got in the Ng4+ move first. Instead, I was able to play 25.Rxd4, which proved to be a crucial move...
Black Checks - and Loses
Okay, here's the situation... by playing Ng4+, Black instantly loses. Can you see why?
If you are not sure, all is revealed in the video, above, or in the game notation, below.
The Game
- d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 Be6 6. e3 Nbd7 7. Nf3 h6 8. Bh4 c5 9. Be2 Qb6 10. Qc2 Bd6 11. O-O g5 12. Bg3 Bxg3 13. hxg3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Bf3 g4 17. Be2 O-O 18. Rad1 Ne4 19. Qb3 Nxg3 20. fxg3 Qxe3+ 21. Kh2 d4 22. Bxg4 Ne5 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. Nd5 Qg5 25. Rxd4 Ng4+ 26. Rxg4 Qxg4 27. Nf6+ 1-0
Cheers!
David Hurley
#PubChessBluffer
Chess blog: https:easychesstips.com