1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 f5

This move surprised me as I was expecting Bb4. I usually play the Staunton Gambit when facing the Dutch Defence but Kevin's move order had prevented that. So I decided to simply develop my pieces and await developments.

4. Nf3 c6 5. e3 Nf6 6. Be2 Bd6

I didn't like this Bishop bearing down on h2 so decided to discourage it.

7. Ne5 O-O 8. cxd5 exd5 9. O-O Qe8 10. f4

Supporting my Knight and hoping to close the light squared Bishop's diagonal.

10... Nbd7 11. Bd2

Heading for f2 to support the backward e pawn.

11... Ne4 12. Nxe4

Sorry, you're definitely not a welcome visitor!

12... fxe4 13. Be1 Bc7 14. g4

I took a deep breath before playing this move, but I wanted to grab some of that wide open space on the kingside while two of Black's pieces were still at home.

14... Nxe5 15. dxe5

My position looked somewhat better now with a supported passed pawn and two good bishops.

15... Bb6 16. Bf2 Bc5 17. Kh1

Making the King a little safer and clearing space for the f1 Rook.

17... Qe6 18. Rg1 Bb6 19. Rg2

I had vague plans for doubling my Rooks behind the advanced pawns.

19... Qe7 20. Rc1 Kf7 21. Rc3

Change of plan! Black's King seemed to want to wander over to the queenside. Bh4 would discourage that so I had to protect the e3 pawn another way.

21... Ke8 22. Bg3 Qf7

This clears the way for Bh4, but why not shut out Black's Bishop first?

[RR ?; this is the losing move. 22... g6 leaves Black well in the game.]

23. f5 Qg8 24. e6 Ke7 25. Bh4+ Ke8

Black's last seven moves have been of King and Queen while two queenside pieces are still at home having a chat. It must be time to attack.

If 25... Kd6, which would have been safer, I'd planned 26. Qe1 - g3. To avoid mate Black would have had to play e4 or c4 when surely I'd be able to strip away the pawns and finish off the King. After Ke8, and a careful check that I wasn't making a dreadful blunder, I played -

26. Qxd5!!

Sorry about the immodesty, but I do think it's justified. After this move I couldn't bear to watch and left the playing hall for some fresh air. I was sure that Kevin would see that cxd5 led to Bb5+ with mate next move, but what would he play instead? Bxe6 loses a piece and the mate threat is still there. He chose -

26... g5 27. fxg6 Qxg6

Perhaps he hoped I'd forget the en passant rule?

28. Rxc6!! Qh6

White has put two major pieces en prise, neither of which could be taken as either capture led to an immediate mate.

29. Rxc8+

Black's light squared Bishop dies in his bed and this third sacrifice proves too much. It's mate next move on d7 so Black grinned and shook hands.

1-0

Annotator(s): Michael Burniston (see Source).

Source(s): Queen Sac Game.doc, Michael Burniston, January 9, 2025.

Event information: Tournament report.

Download pgn.