1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5 transferring from the Ruy Lopez into the Bulgarian variation of the Schliemann Defence for anyone who's interested. 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d4 ( 5.exf5 is stronger. ) ( but certainly not 5.O-O As fxe4 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nxe5 Qd4! wins a piece, cheaply ) fxe4 6.Nxe5 Bb4 to avoid Nd5 or a possible Nxe4 later 7.Bg5 O-O ( I was thinking of threatening the knight with d6 as he had 3 well-advanced pieces and not losing out to 8.Nxc6 bxc6 9.Bxc6+ winning the rook but in retrospect I would still have lost a pawn. ) 8.O-O Bxc3 again to avoid the advance of the knight now there is no longer a pin against the king. 9.bxc3 a6 10.Ba4 Qe8 threatening the exchange on d5 11.Bxf6? Rxf6 12.Bb3+ Kh8 13.Ng4 checking and losing 2 minor pieces for a rook isn't a good idea Rg6 14.Qe2 d6 15.h3 Qe7 with the idea of 16 a3 h5 17 Ne3 Bxh3 18 Qxh5+ and Rh6 doesn't allow the exchange of queens and the loss of a piece with gxh3 16.Rae1 h5 17.Ne3 Bxh3 18.Bf7! To lure my queen onto f7 then 19 Qh5+ and I can't play Rh6 so I end up losing my bishop as well and we're equal Rg5 19.Bxh5 Rf8 20.Bg4 Bxg4 21.Nxg4 Rf4 22.f3 d5 even though fxe4 can't be played or the knight goes. 23.Qe3 Rf8 ( Perhaps Qf7 is stronger then if 24.g3 Rxf3 but I was scared of boxing the rook in. ) 24.fxe4? Rxf1+ Taking the knight straightaway loses materially to Rxf8+ Qxf8 Qh6+! 25.Rxf1 Rxg4 26.e5 Qh4 27.Qf3 ( Does 27.Rf8+ go anywhere ? ) Ne7 en route to f4 28.Qf8+ Kh7 29.Qf3 second thoughts Ng6 30.Qf5 Kh6 releasing the pin and allowing me to use my extra piece 31.Rf3 Why? If Rh3? Qxh3 Nf4 and Terry resigned in view of Rxg2 + Qh1 mate. Rf2 fails to Nh3+ If 32 Kf1 Qh1+ 33 Kf2 Qxg2+ and either escape square can't prevent Qe2 mate. Trying g3 is no better as 33...Rxg3+ 34 Rxg3 Qxg3+ and mate or 33...Rxg3+ 34 Kf1 Qh1+ and Qg1 mate or even 33..Rxg3+ 34 Kf2 Qg2+ and Qe2 mate |