[Event "USCF/WS/23W12"] [Date "2023.04.25"] [White "Brodhead, Matthew"] [Black "Raines, Jacob"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Irons,Robert"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C59"] [Opening "Italian Game: Two Knights Defense, Polerio Defense, Suhle Defense"] [StudyName "Check is in the Mail: September 2023"] [ChapterName "Brodhead, Matthew - Raines, Jacob"] [ChapterURL "https://lichess.org/study/5lK7nI0w/8fqmXPAv"] [Orientation "white"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Na5 6. Bb5+ c6 7. dxc6 bxc6 8. Be2 h6 9. Nf3 Bc5?! $16 { This is more common a move later, e.g.: } (9... e4 10. Ne5 Bc5 11. c3 Qc7 12. d4 exd3 13. Nxd3 Bd6 { as in Weil-Irons, ICCF 2018. }) 10. Nxe5 Ne4?! $18 { Some players would call this "coffee house" chess, or compare it to the play of the hustlers that play chess for money in Washington Square Park in New York. There is no doubt about Black's intent, and so the question is, what is White going to do about it? } 11. O-O? $19 { A move intended to protect the king instead puts him right in harm's way! This is even riskier than Black's play. } 11... Qg5? $18 (11... Nxf2 12. Rxf2 Bxf2+ 13. Kxf2 Qd4+ 14. Kf1 Qxe5 $19 { leaves Black in the driver's seat. The text opens the barn door before the horses are corralled. }) 12. Nxf7?! $16 (12. d4 Qf6 13. Bf3 Bf5 14. Bxe4 Bxe4 15. Re1 Bb6 16. Rxe4 O-O 17. Nc3 { White's material advantage is enough to win. }) 12... Nxf2 { This move is just enough of a counter-threat to throw White off his game. After this the winds switch, and Black quickly takes control. } 13. Rxf2? $17 (13. Nxg5 Nxd1+ 14. Kh1 Nf2+ 15. Rxf2 Bxf2 16. Bh5+ Ke7 17. Ne4 $14 { maintains a slight advantage for White. }) 13... Bxf2+ 14. Kxf2 O-O { Quite a position! } 15. Bf3?! $19 { This is the final straw. White can stay in the fight with } (15. Kg1 Rxf7 16. d3 Qe5 17. Nc3 c5 18. Bh5 Re7 19. Bd2 $15 { and White still has chances for a draw. Not after the text move though! }) 15... Rxf7 16. g3? (16. Kg1 Qh4 17. d3 Bg4 18. Be3 Bxf3 19. gxf3 c5 $19 { is somewhat better, but this position doesn't have much to offer White. }) 16... Bg4 17. h4?! Bxf3 (17... Qd5! { forces mate in no more than eight moves. The text takes a few moves more. }) 18. Qxf3 Rxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Rf8+ 20. Kg2 Qf5 { Mate follows in three moves or less. A turbulent game! } 0-1