The bishop bluff

Hennie Schaper - Kimsan15 (Kyrgyzstan)

Ruy Lopez

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. 0-0 Bf6 5. d3 Be7 6. c3 Bd7 7. Qe2 0-0 8. Rd1 Qe8 9. Nbd2 a6 10. Ba4 b5 11. Bc2 h6 12. Nf1 Nh7 13. Ng3 f5

So far it had been pretty straightforward opening play, but black's 13th move is dubious. It sacrifices the bishop's pair and weakens the kingside, where white is already preparing for attack, and gives white chances in the center as well..

14. exf4 Bxf4 15. Nxf4 Rxf4 16. d4 Rf8 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Qxe5 Bd6 20. Qxe8 Raxe8 21. Be3 Ng5 22. Rd4

White is a pawn up and even with the queens off the board, black needs to worry all the time about the king's position given the strength of the bishops.

22. ... Ne6 23. Rg4 Kh8 24. g3 Be7 25. Rd1 Bd6 26. Rd5 Be7 27. Re5 Bd6 28. Rh5 Rf6 29. Bg6 Rd8 

The computer (hindsight analysis) sees this position as a clear win for white, with about a rook's worth of advantage. It suggest Bc2 and gradually press home the advantage. Instead I went for a tempting but unsound sacrifice....

30. Bxh6 gxh6 31. Rxh6 Kg8

And black returns the favour. After Kg7 white's attack fizzles out, but now black is lost.

32. Bh5+ and black loses a rook in an awful position. 0-1.