lichess.org
Donate

Crazy Scandinavian Defense



Hello! As you may know, I've been playing several Classical games against AI Level 1. I think my rating is only a bit higher, but I have won quite a few of my games against it.

Back to the game, I think my opponent really blundered a lot, which gave me chances to fork and win material. Giving up your queen for a bishop is NOT the best idea, especially in the opening.

You may know from watching the game that right after the opening, it became a very clear middle-game with an obviously winning position for white.

So I started to trade of pieces and win material. Who knew my mate would be in an open space, not in a corner (you can see me struggling to use the Queen and Knights in the corner). I used a few minor pieces and a queen.

I think this game was actually interesting enough to share. Could I have exploited my opponent's weaknesses better, perhaps winning more material or delivering checkmate faster?

Oh yes, and on a side-note, I'll be sharing some of my losses too. :)
For a quick execution, "invite everyone to the party" (GW Yasser Seirawan), i.e. use all your pieces. Castle on the 10th or 11th move to use the h1-rook. Play Nc3, Bf4 and Qc4. Let him trade his bishops for your knights if he wants to, you're a queen up, any simplification is welcome. Don't worry about the c2-pawn : open lines will accelerate the winning process (you're a queen up, the pawn count is irrelevant). Bring the a1-rook to a central open file. And finally force more exchanges (or material gains) with a knight hop (Nb5 or Nd5) or a breakthrough (d5).
A material advantage won't be decisive if you don't use all your pieces or if the relevant lines stay closed.
26. Qxc6+ is absolutely better.

26. Qxc6+ Kb8
27. Qc7+ Ka8
28. Qc8#

It's a forced checkmate. Using the knight to defend the queen coming to c7 forces the king back into the corner, and then you can use your queen to give checkmate. The king is blocked in by his own pawn.

This topic has been archived and can no longer be replied to.