C22 Centre Game (1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qd1)

It may have taken awhile but I did find yet another opening variation that has not been covered here before. The game below is just one of the 216 correspondence games I have played at Red Hot Pawn. I have also managed to get a bit closer again to my peak rating there, now only 9 points away. Talking about peak ratings, I did manage to get a new one at Queen Alice Internet Chess Club today as my opponent had enough of the game and resigned. Now my new peak rating there is 2201!! I thought I would never see this day when one of my ratings would go so high. I will post that milestone game tomorrow after I have analysed it. I have added one mate in one, one mate in two, one mate in six and two mate in seven puzzles today.

Game number two. The game below was played in the second round of the 2014 August Banded Threesomes I 1700-1800 tournament held at Red Hot Pawn. This is my only loss on second round and if I do not lose my last game in this round, I will win my group and advance to the third round. My last game is also the last game of the round. This game was full of mistakes on both sides but I ended up messing up the ending that at one point could have been drawn and instead I lost.

[Event "Corr game 4.7.2014-31.7.2014"] [Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"] [Date "2014.07.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Purity"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C22"] [WhiteElo "1475"] [BlackElo "1853"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 {C22 Center Game: Normal Variation} 4. Qd1 { C22 Centre Game} Nf6 5. Nc3 Bb4 {Hoping for ...Nxe4.} 6. Bd3 $1 (6. a3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nxe4 8. f3 Qh4+ 9. g3 Nxg3 10. Rb1 Nxh1+ 11. Ke2 Qf2+ 12. Kd3 Ne5+ 13. Ke4 d5+ 14. Kf4 Ng6+ 15. Kg5 Qh4# {0-1 (15) Guerrero Caseres,M-Barco Cardona,J (2064) San Cristobal 2015}) 6... d5 {-0.33/19} (6... Bxc3+ $17 {-0.90/20} 7. bxc3 O-O) (6... O-O 7. Nf3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 h6 9. O-O d6 10. h3 Be6 11. Nd4 Qd7 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bf4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 Rxf4 15. Re1 Raf8 16. Qe2 Qf7 17. Bf3 Ne5 18. Bxb7 Rxf2 19. Qd1 c6 20. Ba6 Qg6 21. g4 {Mollet Soldevila,E (1336)-Pujol Pina,R (1693) Igualada 2017 0-1}) 7. exd5 $15 Nxd5 {0.17/20} (7... Qxd5 $15 { -0.69/19} 8. Nf3 Bg4) 8. Qe2+ $146 {-1.04/17} (8. Nge2 $11 {0.17/20}) (8. Bd2 Nxc3 9. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Ne2 b6 12. O-O Bb7 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Qg5 15. f3 Qe3+ 16. Kh1 Qxd4 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qxd4 Kh8 19. Qf4 {1-0 (19) Pilipaviciute,A-Pavliukovec,N Panevezys 2012}) 8... Be6 $17 9. Bd2 {-1.52/17} ( 9. Qd2 $142 {-0.99/20}) 9... O-O {-1.10/20} (9... Nxc3 $142 {-1.52/17} 10. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qf6) 10. Nf3 {-1.92/20} (10. Qd1 $17 {-1.10/20}) 10... Nxc3 $2 { -0.10/20 [#]} (10... Re8 $1 $19 {-1.92/20 White must now prevent ...Bg4.} 11. O-O Bxc3 12. Bxc3 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Bg4) 11. Bxc3 {-1.31/20} (11. bxc3 $11 { -0.10/20 remains equal.} Qf6 12. O-O Bxc3 13. Bxc3 Qxc3 14. Ng5) 11... Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Qf6 {-0.41/17} (12... Re8 $17 {-1.57/19} 13. O-O Bd5) 13. Qd2 $2 { -2.27/20} (13. O-O $15 {-0.41/17}) 13... Rfe8 $2 {-0.69/19} (13... Bd5 $19 { -2.27/20} 14. O-O-O Rad8) 14. O-O $15 Rad8 15. Rfe1 Bg4 {-0.19/21} (15... g6 $17 {-0.97/19}) 16. Ng5 {-0.81/20} (16. Rxe8+ $11 {-0.19/21 keeps the balance.} Rxe8 17. Nd4) 16... h6 17. Ne4 Qe5 18. Ng3 Qa5 19. Qf4 {-1.18/18} (19. Rxe8+ $15 {-0.37/20} Rxe8 20. Be4) 19... Be6 {-0.19/21} ({Black should play} 19... Bd7 $17 {-1.18/18} 20. Re3 Rxe3 21. Qxe3 Ne5) 20. Rab1 $11 Rb8 {0.33/20} (20... Qxc3 $11 {-0.19/21} 21. Re3 Rd4 22. Qxc7 Rb4) 21. Qe4 {[#] And now Qh7+ would win.} g6 22. Qf4 Kg7 ({Avoid the trap} 22... Qxc3 $2 23. Ne4 $18 (23. Qxh6 Bxa2 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 $11)) 23. a4 {-0.77/21} (23. h4 $11 {0.00/22}) 23... Qxc3 $17 24. Ne4 {-1.36/22} ({White should try} 24. Qxc7 $15 {-0.39/20} Bd5 25. Ne2) 24... Qe5 25. Qd2 {-1.63/18} (25. Qc1 $17 {-1.04/22}) 25... Qa5 {-1.17/20} ({ Better is} 25... Qd4 $19 {-1.63/18} 26. Re3 Bf5) 26. Nc3 {-1.91/17} (26. Qc1 $17 {-1.17/20} Bf5 27. Qa3) 26... Qc5 {-0.87/22} (26... a6 $19 {-1.91/17} 27. Ne4 Qxd2 28. Nxd2 a5) 27. h4 b6 28. Ne4 {-1.56/21} (28. h5 $142 {-0.83/22}) 28... Qh5 $2 {5.37/19} (28... Qa5 $17 {-1.56/21 keeps the pressure on.} 29. Qc3+ Qxc3 30. Nxc3 Red8) 29. Qc3+ Ne5 {5.61/20} (29... Qe5 $142 {3.57/22} 30. Qxc6 Bd5) 30. Ng3 Qxh4 {intending ...f6.} 31. Qxe5+ {Accuracy: White = 21%, Black = 20%.} 1-0 [Event "Banded Threesomes"] [Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"] [Date "2015.03.07"] [Round "2"] [White "ParShooter"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C22"] [WhiteElo "1555"] [BlackElo "1889"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (5s), TV"] [PlyCount "147"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 exd4 3. Qxd4 Nc6 {C22 Center Game: Normal Variation} 4. Qd1 { C22 Centre Game} d6 (4... Nf6 5. Bg5 d6 {1-0 (10) Rostami Chaijan,I-Asghari,A Bandar Abbas 2012}) 5. Nf3 Nf6 {0.56/18} (5... h6 $11 {-0.05/21}) 6. Bg5 { -0.27/19} (6. Nc3 $14 {0.56/18} Be7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 Nb4 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 c6 15. Qb3 Rc8 16. Qxb7 a5 17. c3 c5 18. Qd5 Re8 19. Rfd1 Re5 20. Qxd6 Qxd6 21. Rxd6 {Evangelista,A (1196) -Tibes,M Sao Bento do Sul 2017 1-0 (54)}) 6... Be7 $146 (6... Bg4 7. Be2 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. a3 Re8 10. O-O {1-0 (10) Rostami Chaijan,I-Asghari,A Bandar Abbas 2012}) 7. Nbd2 {-0.97/20} (7. Nc3 $11 {0.03/20}) 7... O-O {-0.10/23} (7... h6 $17 {-0.97/20} 8. Bxf6 Bxf6) 8. a3 {-1.59/18} (8. Bc4 $11 {-0.10/23}) 8... Bg4 {-0.24/21} (8... d5 $17 {-1.59/18} 9. e5 Ng4 10. Bxe7 Qxe7) 9. Be2 {-1.04/20} ( 9. Be3 $1 $11 {-0.24/21}) 9... Nd7 $2 {0.57/21} (9... d5 $17 {-1.04/20} 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Bxe7 Qxe7) 10. Bxe7 {-0.32/20} (10. Be3 $1 $14 {0.57/21}) 10... Qxe7 $15 11. c3 {-1.25/19} (11. O-O $11 {0.00/21}) 11... Nc5 {-0.54/21} (11... f5 $1 $17 {-1.25/19} 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Bxf3 d5) 12. Nd4 {-1.37/20} (12. O-O $15 { -0.54/21}) 12... Bxe2 {-0.39/25} (12... Nxe4 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Nxe4 $15) (12... Nd3+ $1 $17 {-1.37/20} 13. Kf1 (13. Bxd3 Bxd1) 13... Nxd4 14. Bxg4 f5 15. cxd4 fxg4 16. Qb3+ Qf7 17. Qxf7+ Rxf7) 13. Qxe2 Ne5 {0.69/20} (13... d5 $1 $15 { -0.67/23}) 14. O-O $14 Rae8 {0.69/19} (14... Rfe8 $11 {0.10/23}) 15. b4 { 0.25/23} (15. f4 $14 {0.69/19} Ned7 16. Rae1) 15... Ne6 $11 16. Nf5 {0.00/23} ( 16. f4 $16 {0.94/18}) 16... Qd7 {0.63/20} (16... Qf6 $11 {0.00/23}) 17. f4 { 0.00/19} (17. g3 $14 {0.63/20}) 17... Nc6 {1.31/19} (17... Ng6 $1 $11 {0.00/19 keeps the balance.}) 18. Qg4 {0.65/21} (18. Ne3 $16 {1.31/19}) 18... Kh8 { 1.19/20} (18... f6 $14 {0.65/21}) 19. Rf3 {0.00/23} (19. Ne3 $16 {1.19/20}) 19... Ne7 $2 {2.27/19} (19... f6 $11 {0.00/23 and Black is okay.}) 20. Rg3 $2 { 0.20/22} (20. Rh3 $1 $18 {2.27/19}) 20... Rg8 {1.24/18} (20... g6 $11 {0.20/22} ) 21. Rh3 {0.00/22} (21. Ne3 $16 {1.24/18}) 21... Nxf5 {0.58/20} (21... Nf8 $11 {0.00/22}) 22. exf5 {[#] Intending Rxh7+! and mate.} (22. Qxf5 {is more complex.} h6 23. Rf1 b6 24. Qh5 f6 25. Qd5) 22... Nf8 23. Nf3 {-0.32/25} (23. Qh5 $1 $14 {0.31/23}) 23... g6 {0.27/24} (23... h6 $15 {-0.32/25}) 24. Qg5 { -0.81/23} (24. Rd1 $11 {0.27/24}) 24... gxf5 $2 {1.07/19} (24... Qxf5 $17 { -0.81/23} 25. Qxf5 gxf5) 25. Qf6+ $16 Rg7 26. Rg3 {0.41/23} (26. Nd4 $16 { 1.04/21} Qd8 27. Qxd8 (27. Qxf5 Qe7 $14) 27... Rxd8 28. Re3 (28. Nxf5 Rg6 $14)) 26... Ng6 {0.91/23} ({Better is} 26... Ne6 $14 {0.41/23}) 27. Ng5 $2 {-1.94/20} (27. Nd4 $16 {0.91/23 is forced if you want to stay better.} Qd8 28. Qxf5) 27... Qe7 $2 {0.32/21} (27... Nxf4 $19 {-1.94/20} 28. Rf3 Nxg2 $1 29. Kxg2 Re6 30. Qxf5 f6) 28. Qd4 $2 {-1.68/20} (28. Qxf5 $14 {0.32/21 is the one way to stay ahead.} f6 29. Nh3 (29. Nxh7 $2 Kxh7 30. Rf1 Qf7 $19)) 28... b6 {-0.75/24} (28... h6 $1 $19 {-1.68/20} 29. Rh3 Kg8 30. Rxh6 Nxf4 31. Qxf4 Qxg5 32. Qxg5 Rxg5) 29. c4 {-1.63/22} (29. Rf1 $17 {-0.75/24 might work better.}) 29... f6 30. Nf3 Qe3+ {-1.01/24} (30... Qf8 $19 {-1.74/21} 31. Re1 Rge7 32. Rxe7 Qxe7) 31. Qxe3 $17 Rxe3 32. Kf2 $2 {-2.59/21} (32. Nd4 $17 {-1.07/26} Re4 33. Nxf5) 32... Re4 $19 33. Re1 {If White can now play Rxe4 this consolidates a bit.} Rge7 ({Resist} 33... Rxc4 34. Re6 $19) ({Not} 33... Nxf4 34. Rxe4 fxe4 35. Nd4 $17) 34. Rxe4 fxe4 {-1.37/28 Endgame KRN-KRN} (34... Rxe4 $19 {-2.49/22} 35. Nd2 Rxf4+ 36. Rf3 Rxf3+ 37. Kxf3 c5) 35. Nd4 Re8 $2 {0.35/22} (35... Nxf4 $19 { -1.69/23} 36. Nc6 Re8 37. Nxa7 f5) 36. f5 $2 {-1.19/22} (36. Ke3 $14 {0.35/22 keeps the upper hand.}) 36... Ne5 {-0.37/23} (36... Nh4 $1 $17 {-1.19/22}) 37. Ne6 {-1.56/20} ({White should play} 37. Nb5 $1 $15 {-0.37/23}) 37... Re7 $2 { 0.61/23} ({Stronger than} 37... Nxc4 38. Rc3 $11) (37... c5 $17 {-1.56/20} 38. Rc3 Ng4+ 39. Kg3 Rg8) 38. Ke3 {0.00/25} (38. Rc3 $1 $14 {0.61/23}) 38... Nxc4+ $11 39. Kxe4 c6 $1 40. Rc3 d5+ 41. Kd4 Re8 {0.47/23} (41... Rd7 $15 {-0.34/25}) 42. a4 {-0.12/25} (42. g4 $14 {0.47/23}) 42... Nd6 {1.12/23} (42... Rg8 $11 { -0.12/25 remains equal.} 43. g3 Rg4+ 44. Nf4 Rg5) 43. g4 $16 Rc8 $2 {2.20/24} ( 43... Rg8 $1 $14 {0.68/24}) 44. h4 $2 {-0.85/25} (44. b5 $1 $18 {2.20/24} c5+ ( 44... cxb5 45. Rxc8+) 45. Kxd5) 44... Nf7 $2 {2.07/23} (44... h5 $1 $17 { -0.85/25} 45. b5 (45. gxh5 Nxf5+) 45... cxb5 46. Rxc8+ Nxc8 47. axb5 hxg4 48. Kxd5 Ne7+ 49. Ke4 g3) 45. b5 $18 c5+ 46. Kxd5 Nh6 {2.55/20} (46... h6 {1.97/24 is a better defense.} 47. Ra3 h5) 47. Rc4 $1 Kg8 48. Rf4 {1.58/27} ({White should try} 48. Kd6 $18 {2.76/21}) 48... Nf7 {2.14/23} (48... c4 $16 {1.58/27}) 49. g5 fxg5 50. hxg5 Nd8 {4.14/23} (50... c4 $142 {2.62/24} 51. Rxc4 Rxc4 52. Kxc4 h6 53. gxh6 Nxh6) 51. Nxd8 {2.23/23} (51. Kd6 $142 {4.14/23 Threatens to win with Kd7.} Nf7+ 52. Kd7) 51... Rxd8+ {KR-KR} 52. Kc4 $2 {0.09/27} (52. Ke6 $18 {2.38/22}) 52... Kg7 {1.53/22} (52... h6 $1 $11 {0.09/27}) 53. f6+ $2 { 0.00/30} (53. Re4 $16 {1.53/22 Hoping for Re7+.} Rd7 54. a5) 53... Kf7 54. a5 Rg8 $2 {1.70/23} (54... Kg6 $11 {0.09/27 and Black has nothing to worry.}) 55. axb6 $2 {0.09/26} (55. Rh4 $18 {1.70/23} Kg6 56. Rh6+ Kxg5 57. Rxh7 Kxf6 58. Rxa7) 55... axb6 $11 56. Rh4 Rxg5 {[#] ...h5 is the strong threat.} 57. Rxh7+ Kxf6 58. Rb7 Rg4+ 59. Kd5 Rd4+ 60. Kc6 Rb4 $2 {47.64/20} (60... c4 $11 {0.09/26 } 61. Kxb6 Ke6) 61. Rxb6 $18 Ke7 62. Kxc5 Rb1 63. Rb7+ Kd8 64. Rh7 {16.69/27} ( 64. Kc6 $142 {46.05/27} Rc1+ 65. Kb6) 64... Kc8 65. Kc6 Rc1+ 66. Kb6 $1 Ra1 $2 {153.04/26} (66... Rb1 $16 {1.22/27} 67. Rc7+ Kb8) 67. Rh8+ Kd7 68. Kb7 Ra2 69. b6 Ra1 70. Ra8 {White mates.} Rb1 71. Ra6 Rb2 72. Kb8 Kd8 73. b7 Kd7 74. Ra7 { Accuracy: White = 26%, Black = 19%.} 1-0