Dedicated to my father

Hennie Schaper - Bozh_ko (Russia)

Modern Defence

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c3 d6 4. Nc3 a6 5. Bd3 Nd7 6. 0-0 Ngf6 7. Re1 e5 8. Nbd2 0-0 9. Nf1 c5

So far, things had gone pretty much as expected in this opening. White now has the choice between a more strategic game with d5 (which the computer in p.m. analysis prefers) or a more tactical game with dxc5. I did not have to think long which one I prefer....

10. dxc5 Nxc5 11. Bc2 b5 12. Ng3 Bb7 13. Bg5 Qc7 14. Qe2 h5 15. h4 Ncd7 16. Rad1 Nb6 17. Bb3 Rad8 18. Qe3 (Nh2 was an alternative) Rd7

So far, the computer had been preferring black slightly for the past 10 moves or so - but this natural move changes things completely. With Nc4 black would have an equal game. He did not see the attack coming - I did, even though I missed some opportunities to do better during the coming moves. 

19. Bxf6 Bxf6

The crucial position. White has a devastating king-side attack, and can even get away with some sub-par moves. Like now. Qh6 is winning, because black's Bg7 (which I considered a good defence at the time) allows Qxg6. Instead I sacrificed a knight for two pawns and a very promising attacking position.

20. Nxh5 gxh5 21. Qh6 Bg7 22. Qxh5 Nc4 23. Ng5 Re8 24. Rd3 Kf8

A costly mistake. With d5 black looks reasonable in all variations, even though white still will have ample compensation for the piece and is better. 

25. Nh7+ (Rg3 may be even stronger, but this works) Kg8 26. Rg3 Rde7

The final nail in the coffin. With Re6 black could have continued a fight, albeit with an advantage for white. Now it is mate in three, with a sweet queen sacrifice:

27. Nf6+ Kf8 28. Qh8+ 1-0 (after Bxh8 white has two mating moves: Rg8 or Nh7).

A win I was very happy with, not in the least because my opponent was ranked 100 points higher than me. My father would have loved this game.

The game as an animated gif can be found here.