I played an extremely fun game in our team championship today.
I have had a long-term relationship with my old love, the French defense, but I recently decided we shouldn't be exclusive anymore. As I was reasonably sure that my opponent today (1826 national rating which probably means about 1900 FIDE rating) would play the Exchange French for which I was not in the right mood, it was time for me to play 1..e5 for the first time in like 15 years (though I have studied it for some time now).
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Re1 d6 6. h3 O-O 7. c3
Here I thought for about 25 minutes. I had so many ideas but I find it hard to pick the right plan in a new opening. Be6, Ne7, Na5, a6 and Nxe4 were moves I considered. In the end I decided that a6 is too slow when he hasn't played d3, and I did not like Nxe4 because of 8. d4 so I opted for 7.. Bb6 (8. d4 doesn't attack the bishop now).
7.. Bb6 8. b4 Nxe4
b4 did nothing for him. Now I started to like my position, and he continued to play second-rate moves.
9. Rxe4 d5 10. Bxd5 Qxd5 11. Re1 e4 12. Nh2 Ne5 13. Na3 Nd3
Why did I ever play the French when I can have this kind of position with Black after just 13 moves with 1..e5?
14. Rf1 Qg5 15. g4 Qh4 16. Qe2
Here I stopped and looked for the mate. It seems I could play 16.. f5 because White is totally tied up and basically can't move. However, I also saw that the forcing line with 16.. Qg3+ was easily won for me so I just played it.
16.. Qg3+ 17. Kh1 Nxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Qxf2 19. Qxf2 Bxf2
Now would have been a good time for him to resign, but he continued. The rest was fun, but not interesting any more.
20. Kg2 Bb6 21. Nc4 Be6 22. Nxb6 axb6 23. a3 Rad8 24. Nf1 f5 25. gxf5 Rxf5 26. d4 exd3 27. Be3 Rdf8 28. Ng3 Bd5+ 29. Kh2 Rf3 30. Bd4 d2 31. Rd1 Rd3 32. Nf1 Rxf1 0-1
Variance:
My team lost 3.5-4.5 and will almost certainly be relegated now.
Code:
1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. Re1 d6 6. h3 O-O 7. c3 Bb6 8. b4 Nxe4 9. Rxe4 d5 10. Bxd5 Qxd5 11. Re1 e4 12. Nh2 Ne5 13. Na3 Nd3 14. Rf1 Qg5 15. g4 Qh4 16. Qe2 Qg3+ 17. Kh1 Nxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Qxf2 19. Qxf2 Bxf2 20. Kg2 Bb6 21. Nc4 Be6 22. Nxb6 axb6 23. a3 Rad8 24. Nf1 f5 25. gxf5 Rxf5 26. d4 exd3 27. Be3 Rdf8 28. Ng3 Bd5+ 29. Kh2 Rf3 30. Bd4 d2 31. Rd1 Rd3 32. Nf1 Rxf1 0-1