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Each month I put up one game from the club and one game from the history books. Notes on club games are by the players themselves unless it says otherwise. We all run our games through Fritz afterwards, and we all argue with it.

From the club: Brannock vs. Ptarmigan
August round robin, 45 15. Notes by Brannock.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Bd2 Bxd2+ 8. Nbxd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qb3 Nce7 11. O-O O-O 12. Rfe1 c6

All book so far. Ptarmigan and I have played this Giuoco Piano line so many times we could do it in our sleep, and I think one of us once did.

13. Ne4 Bg4 14. Ne5

Hitting the bishop on g4 and looking at f7.

14... b5?

Kicking my bishop. It looks natural, but it gives me the moment I'd been waiting for.

15. Bxd5 cxd5 16. Nf6+! gxf6 17. Nxg4

Material is even again, but look at Black's king. No g-pawn, doubled f-pawns, my knight right next door, and my queen one move from joining it.

17... Kg7 18. Qh3 Qd6? 19. Qh6+ Kg8 20. Nxf6+

If 20...Kh8, then 21.Qxh7 is mate. So the queen has to take, and I take back.

20... Qxf6 21. Qxf6   1-0

Queen against a knight. Ptarmigan resigned like a gentleman and then beat me in September, which he'd like everyone to know. Fritz says 20.Rxe7 first was even stronger. Fritz wasn't there.


From the history books: the Opera Game
Paul Morphy vs. the Duke of Brunswick and Count Isouard, Paris, 1858. Notes by MiriamK.

If you only ever play through one old game, make it this one. Morphy played it in a box at the opera, against two noblemen consulting together, and the story goes that he'd rather have been watching the stage. It's the best lesson I know in why you develop your pieces quickly and get your king out of the middle.

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Bg4 4. dxe5 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 dxe5 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Qb3 Qe7 8. Nc3 c6 9. Bg5 b5

Count the pieces. White has four out and ready; Black has two, and Black's king hasn't moved.

10. Nxb5! cxb5 11. Bxb5+ Nbd7 12. O-O-O

White gave up a knight to open lines, and now the rook joins in against the pinned knight on d7.

12... Rd8 13. Rxd7 Rxd7 14. Rd1 Qe6 15. Bxd7+ Nxd7 16. Qb8+!! Nxb8 17. Rd8#   1-0

The queen sacrifice at the end is famous, but the part to study is moves 10 through 14. Every White move is a piece joining the attack. Every Black move is a piece that's already stuck.


Send me your games! Especially ones you lost in an interesting way. Those are the ones we learn from.
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Last updated Thursday, September 23, 1999