The Missing Element

In the following game White clearly had his chances. In fact, had he figured out or recalled a particular move (Nc4+) on several occasions, he would have brought the game to an early conclusion, in his favor. Sometimes the risks of blitz cut both ways.


COMTIBoy - elmasgrande
blitz, FICS, 2012


1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nd4 

The Blackburne Shilling Gambit.


4.Bxf7+ 


The Blackburne Shilling Jerome Gambit. We have seen COMTIBoy play this before.


4...Kxf7 5.Nxe5+ Ke8 6.Qh5+ Ke7 

Almost asking to be checkmated.


7.Qf7+ Kd6 8.c3 


Leading to an even game. Instead, White had 8.Nc4+ Kc5 9.Qd5+ Kb4 10.a3+ Ka4 11.Nc3#, 


8...Nc2+ 9.Kd1 Nxa1 

Black cannot resist the bait. He could have escaped to a roughly equal game with 9...Kxe5 10.Kxc2,


10.d4


This leads to an advantage for White, but he overlooks the missing element: 10.Nc4+ Kc6 11.Qd5#.


10...Qf6 11.Qd5+ 


Or 11.Nc4+ Kc6 12.Qd5#. 


11...Ke7 12.f4 

Instead, 12.Bg5 wins the Queen. 


Now Black's counter-attack crushes, as he is a minor piece and a Rook ahead.


12...c6 13.Qc4 d6 14.Nf3 Bg4 15.Nbd2 Qxf4 16.Nf1 Bxf3+ 17.gxf3 Qxf3+ 18.Qe2 Qxh1 19.Bg5+ Kd7 20.Qg4+ Kc7 21.Qf5 Nf6 22.e5 dxe5 23.Qe6 Qxf1+ 24.Kd2 Ne4+ 25.Ke3 Qe1+ 26.Kd3 Nxg5 27.Qxe5+ Qxe5 28.dxe5 Bc5 29.b4 Rad8+ 30.Kc4 b5+ 31.Kxc5 Rd5 checkmate