Illusions

So much of chess is trusting your own plans and being skeptical of your opponent's. Yet, misperceptions arise, and our play is often guided by "illusions" of what we expect or what we fear, instead of what actually is happening (or will happen) on the board.

 perrypawnpusher - yuriko
blitz, FICS, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 h6

The Semi-Italian Opening.

4.0-0 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bc5 6.Bxf7+

The Semi-Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

6...Kxf7 7.Nxe5+ Nxe5 8.d4

8...Bxd4 9.Qxd4 d6 10.f4 Nc6 11.Qd3 Re8 12.Bd2 Kg8 13.Rae1 Be6

This is an improvement over our earlier game, which continued 13...Nb4, perrypawnpusher - yuriko, blitz, FICS, 2010 (1-0,31). Black's pieces are developed, his King is safe, and he has the advantage.

14.Nd5

That move. I am sure that Rybka would be proud.

14...Bxd5 15.exd5 Ne7 16.Bc3

Simply an oversight. Necessary was to protect the pawn with 16.c4. Fortunately, my opponent either overlooked the capture, or took my error as deep thought.

16...Rf8 17.Bxf6 Rxf6 18.Qe4 Rf7 19.f5

Deciding that if there is any play for White (there isn't) it has to be on the Kingside.

19...Qf8 20.Qe6 Kh8 21.g4 h5 22.h3 hxg4 23.hxg4 Re8

At first glance it looks as if White's Queen is taking on the combined forces of Black's Queen, two Rooks and Knight.

In actuality, Black's dallying pawn moves on the Kingside (instead of re-positioning his Knight to f6, via g8) have given White an even game, and Black's last move has given White a clear advantage.

24.Qe4

Giving the Queen the chance to move to the h-file with Qe4-h1, an idea that only gets partial credit. 24.g5 was the correct move, with the plan of advancing to g6 if possible, setting up a mating net that will close when White doubles rooks on the h-file.

Or at least that's what Rybka suggested after the game.

24...Kg8 25.Qe6 Kh8 26.Qe4

Toying with the idea of a draw by repetition. This was underestimating my chances.

My opponent decided not to repeat, but keeps the position balanced.

26...g6 27.Qd4+ Kg8 28.f6 Nc8

29.g5

Logical, but 29.Re6 gave White an edge.

Time was getting short for both of us.

29...Rxe1 30.Rxe1 Nb6 31.Qe4

Aiming at the pawn at g6, a major weakness in Black's King's shelter.

31...Qc8

Having been sold on the illusion of my attack for many moves, my opponent now conjures an illusion of counter-attack for himself. While objectively this move is wrong, because it allows checkmate, it turns out to be a game-saver for yuriko.

Chess is strange.

There was a likely drawn Rook + pawns vs Rook + pawns endgame after 31...Nd7 32.Qxg6+ Kh8 33.Re3 Nxf6 34.gxf6 Qg8 35.Rh3+ Rh7 36.Qxg8+ Kxg8.

32.Qxg6+ Kf8 33.Qh6+ Kg8

Now all that I had to see was 34.g6, the triumph of the "Jerome pawns" (with f6-f7+, winning a Rook, and then checkmate, following) and the game was mine.

Instead, I worried that 34.g6 could be answered by 34...Qg4+ (that was why Black had played 33...Qc8) with either counterplay, or a draw, anyway – so with little thought (time was ticking) I forced the draw myself.

34.Qg6+ Kf8 35.Qh6+ Kg8 36.Qg6+ Kf8 37.Qh6+ Kg8 drawn.

The final position was the same as in the previous diagram.

Only – now add what I had missed, g5-g6 for White, and what I had feared, ...Qc8-g4+ for Black.

In response to the check White's King jumps to h2 – and Black has no more checks! White's checkmate is still forced.

Unbelievable.