This week's game is incredibly tactical and fun to watch. No one could have predicted the outcome of the game!
[Event "Aurora"]
[Site "Aurora"]
[Date "2015.10.03"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Vettese, Nicholas"]
[Black "Yu, Wenlu"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B41"]
[WhiteElo "2276"]
[BlackElo "2051"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2015.10.03"]
[EventRounds "5"]
[EventCountry "CAN"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 {We have reached
a common position from the e6 Sicilian where White has a Maroczy bind setup.}
7. Bd3 Bxc3+ $5 {This move does weaken White's pawn structure, but also
releases some pression and opens the b-file, so it's not clear it's Black's
best option.} (7... Nc6 {Is the most common move} 8. Nxc6 dxc6) 8. bxc3 Qa5 (
8... d6 {Is a much more solid option for Black}) 9. Qb3 d6 {While it may seem
like Black's queen is better in a5 than in d8, it no longer protects the d6
pawn and Black has one less tempo. So, playing d6 right away was probably
better.} 10. Ba3 Ke7 $2 {There is no way it can be good for Black to play Ke7
in this position, especially with the e5 threat.} 11. Bb4 Qh5 12. Qa3 {Missing
a much better move} (12. f4 $1 {It's risky, but it works!} e5 (12... Rd8 13. e5
) 13. fxe5 Qxe5 14. O-O $18) 12... Rd8 13. c5 (13. Rd1 {Would be a simple way
for White to put more pressure on d6.}) 13... a5 $2 (13... Kf8 {As ugly as it
may seem, this may be Black's best option...} 14. cxd6 Nbd7) 14. cxd6+ Ke8 15.
Nb5 (15. d7+ Nbxd7 16. Be7 {Would have provided White with a quick win.}) 15...
axb4 16. Qxa8 Nc6 17. O-O {Well, White is still clearly winning. So why is
this the game of the week? Because Black has not given up!} Ne5 $1 {An
exclamation mark for the perseverance, but White is still clearly winning.} 18.
Nc7+ (18. Rfd1 {Is a simple and effective way to protect the bishop while
maintening the pressure.}) 18... Kf8 19. Bb5 {White doesn't seem to realize
that Black could soon have a strong attack. White should have kept some pieces
to protect his king.} Nfg4 $1 20. h3 Nf3+ 21. Kh1 Ng5 $2 {Missing an
opportunity to get a draw!} (21... Qe5 22. g3 Ne3 23. fxe3 (23. Rfc1 Qh5 $19)
23... Qxg3 $11) 22. f3 $4 {White went from a winning position, to an equal
position and is now losing!} (22. Qa5 $3 {And White is winning} Nxh3 23. Nxe6+)
22... Nxh3 $1 23. fxg4 Nf2+ 24. Kg1 Nxg4 25. Rfd1 Qh2+ {There is nowhere to
hide.} 26. Kf1 Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Qxg2+ 28. Kd3 Ne5+ 29. Ke3 Qf3+ 30. Kd2 Rxd6+ 31.
Nd5 Qxc3+ 32. Ke2 exd5 33. Rac1 Qf3+ 34. Kd2 Qg2+ 35. Be2 Nc4+ 36. Ke1 Qg1+ 37.
Bf1 Qg3+ 38. Ke2 Qe3# {A nice finish to this incredible game.} 0-1
