Third row rooks

Hennie Schaper - 1Jack2 (Netherlands)

Sicilian defence

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nxc6

Not the most common move in this position, but I've had problems with complications arising from other moves in this line - so a simplifying move that is still sound appealed to me.

5. ... bxc6 6. Bd3 g6 7. Be3 Bg7 8. c3 Ne7 9. Nd2 d5 10. exd5 cxd5 11. Nf3 0-0 12. Bd4

Aiming to get rid of Black's main defender, the fianchettoed bishop. I was aware from now on that I had to keep being ready to deal with the threat e6-e5-e4 forking the minor pieces.

12. ... Nc6 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. 0-0 Qc7 15. Re1 e5 16. Bb5

The computer analysis after the game states that this is the only good move for white. The position is the way I like it, unbalanced with plenty of options.

16. ... e4 17. Bxc6

Objectively Qxd5 is probably better but I did not want to get into the line starting with exf3.

17. ... Qxc6 18. Nd4 Qf6 19. Re3 Ba6 20. Qd2 Bd3 21. Rh3

The attack against the weakened king position starts. The obvious threat that black has to deal with is Qh6+ followed by Qxh7 mate. Possibly h5 is the best way to encounter this, but it does weaken the pawn structure in front of the king further. Black chooses to prepare positioning the queen as surrogate bishop on g7.

21. ... Kh8 22. Re1 a6 23. Re3 Rfe8 24. Reg3 Qg7

25. Nf5

Not difficult to see as an attacking player. My opponent had not seen it I think, and took quite some time for the next move. During that time it occurred to me that e3 could be a good defence for black as white can not ignore the threat e2-e1=Q checkmate. After  25. ... e3 26. Nxe3 white is still winning though.

25. ... Qf8 26. Qg5 Re5 (losing this rook, but worse, white has a forced mate now) 27. Qf6+ Kg8 28. Rxh7 Kxh7 29. Rh3+ Qh6 30. Rxh6+ 1-0

Yes, 30. Qg7 is checkmate one move earlier, but when I see a forced mate, I don't go looking for a quicker one.