Cat-and-Mouse

Bill Wall plays a cat-and-mouse game with his opponent's King as it tries to escape to its hole in the wall – er, castle-by-hand.


Wall - Hamilton
Chess.com, 2011

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Bc5

The Italian Four Knights Game.

5.Bxf7+

The Italian Four Knights Jerome Gambit.

5...Kxf7 6.Qe2

An interesting idea. The Database has over 30 games by "hinders" at FICS with this move, winning over 50% of the time, in the years 2000-2002. 

6...Rf8

The theme of the game: Black would like to move his King to safer quarters. White does not allow this.

7.Qc4+ Ke8

Black's King is spooked. Otherwise he would have played the thematic 7...d5. After 8.Qxc5 Nxe4 9.Nxe4 dxe4 10.Nxe5+ Nxe5 11.Qxe5 Kg8 a lot of attacking pieces have been exchanged, and Black's pawn at e4 is remarkably resilient. White would be up a pawn, but it will be a while before it means anything – and there is always the notorious Bishops-of-opposite-colors endgame for Black to aim for.

8.Qxc5 d6 9.Qe3 Be6

White has an extra pawn and a safer King.

10.d3 Kf7 11.Ng5+

Meow!

11...Ke7 12.Bd2 Qd7 13.0-0 h6 14.Nxe6 Qxe6

It's the same story: development is even (maybe better for Black, if you count his King as developed), while White has an extra pawn. Open lines will show which monarch is safer.

15.f4 Ng4

Irresistible as ever.

16.Qg3 h5 17.h3 Nf6

Now Wall wraps things up.

18.fxe5 dxe5 19.Nd5+ Nxd5 20.exd5 Qxd5 21.Qxg7+ Kd6 22.Rxf8 Black resigned