Annotated Game: Jerry vs. Anonymous

Apologies for my tardiness! Jerry sent in quite a game. Look at the tactics! There's a lot to be learned.

Ling - Anonymous [C47]

[Notes by Michael]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nxe5?! Don't try this at home, kids. 4...Nxe5 5.d4 Ng6 6.e5 Ng8 7.Bc4 White is objectively lost, but he has a strong initiative. 7...N8e7? when your first 6/7 moves have been knight moves, you know you are in trouble. [7...d6! 8.Qf3 Qd7 And black can easily defend.] 8.Qf3! d5! The only move, but now White has an edge. Not such a bad opening, after all! :D [8...f5? 9.exf6 gxf6 10.Ne4!+-] 9.exd6 Qxd6 10.Bxf7+ Kd8 11.Ne4Qxd4? Taking pawns with your king open in the center? NO. Avoid that pawn! [11...Qc6 12.0–0 Bd7±] 12.Be3 Qxb2 13.Rd1+ Bd714.Nc5? Jerry's only mistake this game(well, besides Nxe5 xD). He could win instantly with [14.Rxd7+! Kxd7 15.Nc5+ 15...Kc8 16.Qg4+ Kb8 (16...Nf5 17.Qxf5+) 17.Nd7+ Kc8 18.Nb6+ Kb8 19.Qc8+ Nxc8 20.Nd7#-Smothered mate! Learn this one!] 14...Qb4+?! [14...Ne5 15.Qh3±] 15.Ke2 Qb5+ 16.c4! Qb6 17.Rxd7+ Kc8

18.Rd8+! Nice 18...Kxd8 19.Rd1+ Kc8 20.Qg4+ Kb8 21.Rd8+ Nc8 22.Nd7#

Moral: don't end up on the Black side of this! To be fair, defending is much harder than attacking. Jerry's play is a perfect example of the power of the initiative. Be keeping up the threats(Qf3, Ne4, Rd1) he controlled the game throughout. Remember to always develop normally(Nge7 was too slow) and don't grab unsafe pawns(Qxd4)! When up material, you do not want to allow the opponent more chances than necessary.