Skip to main content.

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

Rich likes to open by fianchettoing at least one bishop.

1. ... e5
2. Bb2 Nc6
3. g3 Be7

At least Mike develops his kingside bishop, though I think going only to e7 is a bit timid.

4. Bg2 (D)


BR :: BB BQ BK :: BN BR
BP BP BP BP BB BP BP BP
:: BN :: :: ::
:: :: BP ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP
WP WB WP WP WP WP WB WP
WR WN :: WQ WK WN WR

Double fianchettoed bishops!

4. ... d6
5. Nf3 (D)


BR :: BB BQ BK :: BN BR
BP BP BP BB BP BP BP
:: BN BP :: ::
:: :: BP ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WN WP
WP WB WP WP WP WP WB WP
WR WN :: WQ WK :: WR

Clears the way for a kingside castle.

5. ... Be6
6. d4 d5
7. dxe5 Bf5
8. Nd4 Nxd4
9. Qxd4 Qd7 (D)


BR :: :: BK :: BN BR
BP BP BP BQ BB BP BP BP
:: :: :: ::
:: :: BP WP BB ::
:: WQ :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP
WP WB WP :: WP WP WB WP
WR WN :: WK :: WR

Clears the way for a queenside castle.

10. Bxd5 c6
11. e6 fxe6
12. Qxg7?? (D)


BR :: :: BK :: BN BR
BP BP :: BQ BB WQ BP
:: BP :: BP :: ::
:: :: WB :: BB ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP
WP WB WP :: WP WP WP
WR WN :: WK :: WR

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

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)


:: BK BR :: BN WQ
BP BP :: BB :: BP
:: BP :: BP :: ::
:: :: BQ :: BB ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP WP
WP WB WP :: WP :: WP
WR WN :: WK :: WR

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)


:: BK BR :: BN WQ
BP BP :: :: :: BP
:: BP :: BP :: ::
:: BB :: BB ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP WP
WP WB WP :: WP WK WP
WR WN :: BQ :: :: WR

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)


:: BK BR :: BN WQ
BP BP :: :: :: BP
:: BP :: BP :: ::
:: BB :: BB ::
:: :: :: ::
:: WP :: :: WP WP
WP WB WP :: BQ :: WK WP
WR WN :: :: :: WR

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.

0-1