[Event "Import"] [Site "https://lichess.org/qgjCAFBr"] [Date "2017.06.30"] [Round "-"] [White "Beckett, Christopher J (2122)"] [Black "Dilleigh, Stephen P (2146)"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [TimeControl "-"] [Termination "Normal"] [Variant "Standard"] [ECO "C11"] [Opening "French Defense: Classical Variation, Steinitz Variation"] [Annotator "https://lichess.org/@/chrisbeckett"] [StudyName "Beckett-Dilleigh"] [ChapterName "Beckett, Christopher J (2122) - Dilleigh, Stephen P (2146)"] [Source "https://lichess.org/study/jhRQwwrD/tPjQ3pxg"] [Orientation "white"] { This was a game played at the 4NCL three years ago, a popular stomping ground for Battersea players. At the time I was skippering the Cambridge second team and very keen to bring home a point with the white bits...probably too keen. } 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 { Not my usual thing but having scoured my opponent's opening innards for an hour or so before the game I thought I had something I could surprise him with... } 2... Nf6 3. e4 e6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Qh5!? { ...and here it is! I blame Adrian for telling me about this slightly wacky and aggressive move - an idea cooked up by the strong and creative player (and former Battersea member) Robin Haldane. } 5... c5 6. Nf3 g6! { I won't go into the theory of this line too deeply but suffice to say this is a good move, already putting the question to the White queen. As other players of the "Haldane Hack" will testify, the move we're really looking to see is the more Frenchy 6... Nc6, which is a huge blunder after 7. Ng5 g6 8. Qf3 Qe7 9. Nb5!... when Black can storm off in disgust } 7. Qg4 a6!? $15 8. Bg5 Qc7 9. O-O-O { Well, structurally am a little worse and my Knight on c3 is misplaced but at least my development is going smoothly } 9... h6 { I seem to remember this was played quite quickly but it sent me into a deep think for the next 50 minutes or so - almost certainly the longest I've spent on a single move. } 10. Nxd5?! { And eventually I just couldn't resist. Anybody who's seen my games will know piece sacrifices like this feel about as natural to me as a Caesar salad would to a caveman, but the Haldane Hack demands a bit of derring do. Also h6 is more than a little bit provocative given Black's undeveloped state. } 10... exd5 11. e6 f5? { Am not sure if this was a slight wimp-out by my opponent (maybe disconcerted by my mega-long think) or he simply couldn't see anything better but this clearly puts White in the driving seat. Much better would have been calling my bluff with hxg5, when 12. exf7+ Kd8 13. Qxg5+ Be7 14. Qxd5 Qf4+ is yuge for Black } 12. exd7+ Nxd7 13. Re1+ $16 Kf7 14. Qf4?! { Not a very good move and perhaps a sign that I'm not totally comfortable with all this romantic piece play. Instead I should play 14. Qh4 where I keep a clear advantage - fortunately my opponent didn't want to trade queens either... } 14... Qa5? 15. Ne5+?? { This is a huge bungle that should have cost me the game. On paper getting the knight into the game is exactly the right thing to do but not as the expense of leaving another key piece (the rook on e1) undefended. 15. Qe3 was the way to go when with the threats of landing on e8 or e6 White's attack pretty much plays itself. } 15... Kg8! $17 { What a swine - I had only considered Nxe5 } 16. Bc4 $7 { Only move. In the words of the late, great Chess For Tigers author Simon Webb - when faced with a lost position - "Now I can try anything" } 16... hxg5 17. Bxd5+ Kh7! { Annoyingly accurate play by my opponent, preparing to meet Qxg5 with Bh6 } 18. Qg3 cxd4?! { A first sign of greed, taking off the knight makes it much easier for Black to defend against the wave of nonsense coming his way } 19. h4 $36 { Trying to crowbar open Black's position, g4 is now essential } 19... Qxd5?? 20. hxg5+ $18 Kg7 21. Rxh8 Kxh8 22. Qh4+ Kg8 { The last few moves have been pretty smooth but here 23. Nxg6 would have pressed home White's advantage. ...Qd6 24. Qh8+ Kf7 25. Qh7+ Bg7 26. Re7+ Qxe7 27. Nxe7 Kxe7 28. Qxg7+ is virtually game over as, despite a rough material balance, the g pawn is a monster } 23. Rh1? Bg7 24. Qh7+ $16 Kf8 25. Nxg6+ Kf7?? { Black needed to cut his losses escape to the e-file with Ke8 where there's still work to be done. } 26. Nh8+?? { I don't really have a defence for this. I was short of time but, more tellingly, after 16 moves of throwing pieces at my opponent like an angry toddler I was so relieved to have something to show for it that I simply didn't consider how good my position is. 26 Re1+ with the simple idea of Re7+ is crushing, instead I meekly pushed for the repetition... } 26... Kf8 27. Ng6+ Kf7 28. Nh8+?? { ½-½ The game is a draw. } { And we shook hands and went our separate ways to the bar, definitely my best "worst" game. Now let's see yours... } 1/2-1/2