Easter Saturday Lunch chess game, 2003.04.19
This is the 3rd of 4 games played on Easter Saturday at the Bersalona family get-together. Rich Bersalona played White, Mike DiCola played Black. Although Rich was able to grab a quick material advantage, the ending was a stunning surprise!
Bersalona, Richard -- DiCola,
Michael
Easter Saturday Lunch (3) Laurel Springs,
NJ
2003.04.19 0-1
1. | b3 |
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Rich likes to open by fianchettoing at least one bishop.
1. | ... | e5 |
2. | Bb2 | Nc6 |
3. | g3 | Be7 |
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At least Mike develops his kingside bishop, though I think going only to e7 is a bit timid.
4. | Bg2 (D) |
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Double fianchettoed bishops!
4. | ... | d6 |
5. | Nf3 (D) |
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Clears the way for a kingside castle.
5. | ... | Be6 |
6. | d4 | d5 |
7. | dxe5 | Bf5 |
8. | Nd4 | Nxd4 |
9. | Qxd4 | Qd7 (D) |
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Clears the way for a queenside castle.
10. | Bxd5 | c6 |
11. | e6 | fxe6 |
12. | Qxg7?? (D) |
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This seemingly looks good for Rich: he can capture the rook at h8 and lose only a bishop, giving him significant material advantage.
12. | ... | Qxd5 |
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Mike's queen captures the bishop at d5, threatens Rich's rook at h1 and disputes control of d1.
13. | f3 | O-O-O |
14. | Qxh8?? (D) |
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Rich gets greedy and doesn't see that, after Mike castles queenside, Mike's rook and queen form a battering ram to d1, threatening to check Rich and an x-ray attack on the rook at h1.
14. | ... | Qd1+ |
15. | Kf2 | Bc5+ (D) |
16. | Kg2 |
- ( 16.e3 Blocking the bishop with the e-pawn doesn't work. 16...Qxc2+ 17.Ke1 Rd1# )
- ( 16.Bd4 Blocking the bishop with the bishop doesn't work... 16...Bxd4+ 17.e3 ( 17.Qxd4 ...but if Rich had sacrificed his queen to capture the bishop, play might continue but he'd have a significant material disadvantage. 17...Qxd4+ 18.Kg2 Qxa1 ) 17...Qxc2+ 18.Ke1 Qc1+ 19.Ke2 Qxe3+ 20.Kd1 Bxh8+ 21.Nd2 Qxd2# )
16. | ... | Qxe2# (D) |
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And that's mate! The lesson? King safety and development of pieces are important goals of the opening. Note how Rich's rooks and knight haven't left their home squares.