Here’s a game I played on the Internet Chess Club this morning. I played an opening system I mentioned in my Openings for Amateurs books and have played hundreds of games with this line. It started out like this: ptamburro(a) - guest [C41] ICC Internet Chess Club, 2024 (10 minute game). 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.g3 Bd7 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.0–0 Nxd4 9.Qxd4 0–0 10.h3 c8 11.Kh2 h6 12.f4 Bc6 13.b3 Nd7 14.Nd5 Bd8 15.Bb2 Nf6 16.c4 Bxd5 17.cxd5 Re8 18.e5 dxe5 19.fxe5 Nh7 (See Diagram) What is the best continuation from this point? White is obviously better, but we’ve done a lot on attacking skills here, so put your attacking brain in gear.

Here’s how it ended 20.Rxf7! Be7 21.Qd3 Kxf7 22.Qxh7 Bf8 23.Rf1+ Ke7 24.Ba3+ c5 25.dxc6+ Kd8 26.Qd3+ Kc7 27.Rxf8 Rxf8 28.Qd6+ Kb6 29.cxb7+ Ka5 30.Bb4+ Kb5 31.a4# Once the king is exposed on f7, it’s all pretty easy. White owns all the open files and diagonals. Did your attacking brain sense that the poorly defended f7 square was ripe for a typical sacrifice. Usually, it’s with a knight or bishop, but rooks can work, too. From moves 23 to 32 it was pretty much forced. Check, check, check, etc….Mate.

Send questions and comments to PTamburro@aol.com.