I use to play chess a long time ago. Picked up a FIDE rating in a grueling invitational in Washington, D.C., played 300 games over 2200 to receive my life master title and won the state championship with a clear first, well after you do that what do you do? I put the pieces back in the bag and left them there, not playing in almost 10 years. Recently I joined ICC (Internet Chess Club) and decided to see if I could find myself. At first it was up and down, I did not feel as sharp as I use to be. This game however made me smile, as I was happy to instantly play my 22 move and realize that maybe I can find a tactical idea or two. So a few notes around a very very simple speed game.
1.e4
c5
(The Sicilian Defense, always popular, most often double edged.)
2.Nf3
Nc6
(The text move is fine, however since I have in mind to play the Dragon Variation the more popular method is to play 2...d6)
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
g6
(The Accelerated Dragon Variation, in the old days I use to watch GM Dzindzichashvili win a lot of blitz games for cash with this line)
5.Nc3
Bg7
(Notice that White played 5. Nc3 protecting the e-pawn before it was attacked, white could instead play 5. c4 entering into the Maroczy, where White tries to strangle the life out of Black)
6.Be3
Nf6
7.Bc4
0-0
(White's Bc4 marks this as the Modern variation)
8.Bb3
d6
9.f3
Bd7
10.Qd2
Rc8
(Black has allowed the game to transpose back to a mainline Dragon Variation called the Yugoslav Attack)
11.0-0-0
Ne5
12.Bh6
Bxh6
13.Qxh6
Rxc3
(Black happily gives up the exchange. I did a lot of study with this line about 15 years ago for a correspondence game)
14.bxc3
Qa5
15.Kb2
Rc8
(at this point in the game I was sure that I recalled most of the ideas and this blitz game would be easy sailing)
16.Qd2
Rc4
(I was wrong, while my themes are similar later I recalled that in the correspondence game Kb1 has been played and white had never played Kb2, and the pawn on c3 was never truly free)
17.h4
Ra4
(now I'm moving my rook around with no clear plan)
18.h5
Qc5
(This is further foolish dancing, simply 18...Nxh5 would be a better plan, make him earn his way in)
19.hxg6
hxg6
20.Qh6
Nh5
(now black is in a world of hurting and did I realize that I'm dead lost)
21.f4
Nc4+
(I may be lost but as they say, always check it might be mate, and as long
as he finds the right square)
22.Ka1
Rxa2+
(He picked the wrong square, lights out!)
23.Bxa2
Qa3
{White resigns}
0-1
White can not stop mate at b2 (What if Rb1, can you find the move?)
Having said earlier the game was simple, I think there is a lot of study that
can be done in the Dragon. It's a great system to learn as it teaches you to
use your minor pieces and how to really fight with them. 13. Qxh6 Rxc3 is a
great place to due a study. You can find a great tool at www.chessgames.com
lots of
free games to play over, you can search by ECO code for the above game B35,
give it a shot!