A pleasant mate

Hennie Schaper - jeffmulean (Philippines)

Sicilian Defence

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. 0-0 Nf6 8. Re1 Be7 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. e5

So far, things have gone in a pretty normal way for this opening. Black's response is a mistake that gives white an advantage.

10. ... Nd5 11. Bxd5 (directly Qg4 is better) cxd5 12. Qg4 Bf8 (also not the best) 13. dxe6 Qxd6 14. Bf4

White has a strong attack, with black's king still trapped in the centre. Black needed to play Qc5, but blunders instead.

14. ... Qb4 15. Nxd5 Qb7 16. Nc7+ Ke7 17. Rad1 h6 18. Bd6+ Kf6

A final inaccuracy (I would not call it a blunder, since black is totally lost anyway), but it does allow a neat finish.... I can't even remember the last time I mated with a knight.

19. Ne8 checkmate.