A Nostalgic Miniature

Here is a funny little 13-mover from back in 2006 that I played the black side of on a correspondence site. Through this whole game I thought I was winning. It is great how ignorance really is bliss when you are a class C/B player.

jkr333-MrMash (2006)

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. e4?!

Nothing too special until this move. This is strategically bad since it allows black to get a great game several ways. The most notable reason this is bad for white is that however the central tension is resolved, it benefits black, by either giving white an isolated pawn or placing a pawn on e5 that is very likely overextended. A better alternative is either 6. d3 or 6. Nf3 with a fairly equal position.


6. ...Be6?!

Responding in kind. A simple 6. ...d4 would suffice.

7. d3 Nc6 8. Qb3? Nd4

A better way to exploit this error was 8. ...d4!, which is -/+.

9. Qxb2 Nc2+ 10. Kd2 dxe4??

Slightly horrible. Threatens Qxd3#, but the drawback is that when white handles this properly, the lack of black development is quite apparent.


11. Bxe4??

The cavalcade of errors continues. 11. Nxe4! gives white the upper hand, since 11. ...Nd5 12. Qc6+ Ke7 seems forced, and things are quickly turning sour for black.

11. ...Nxe4+!

Only given an exclamation mark since somebody finally found a not bad move.

12. Kxc2 Nxf2 13. Nb5???

Yes, three ?'s. All white had to do was cover d3 once or make an escape square... and they failed.

13. ...Qxd3#

Here is a look at the final position to this gem:


I hope you enjoyed this poorly played, yet quite humorous game. Please leave comments and send me emails so I know how to improve the blog!