A00 Irregular Openings (1.b4 e5 2.Bb2 Bxb4 3.Bxe5 Nf6 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb2 O-O)

The variation looks very close to the one that was played in the game that I shared yesterday, the only difference being the 4th move from White. That being said, both games reach the same exact position after White's 7th move. The only difference then why they are in different posts is that 4th move and the fact that the last move that Deep Fritz 14 classifies as being theory is the position after Black's 5th move in both games. The game below was played on the third round of a tournament called Taraus-turnaus at Tampere in 2006. My worst chess playing year to date was getting to its end, I only played at one tournament after this and one team match in the last part of 2006. In the first two rounds I had only been able to get one draw and one loss. Losing this game only increased the downhill that my rating had experienced the whole year. Actually this tournament was actually my best over the board tournament in 2006 since I only dropped my rating six points... There was only one moment in this game where one of the players made a huge mistake that was enough to decide the game, unfortunately it was me on move 18, when I played 18...Nxf3+??

In this particular position making an in-between move like 18...Nxf3+ does not work because Black has too many pieces hanging. I tried my best to hang on, but after the reply 19.Qxf3 it should be clear that there is only one result that can come out of this game. I did play a few more moves, but I had to resign after 25.Rxd3 in a completely hopeless position.

[Event "Taraus"] [Site "?"] [Date "2006.08.19"] [Round "3"] [White "Koivumäki, Marko"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1772"] [BlackElo "1606"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (30s)"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "2006.08.19"] {[%evp 9,49,0,0,-13,0,2,6,-6,6,8,21,0,33,27,29,35,43,33,33,26,29,26,28,17,61, 76,70,69,264,254,257,169,179,194,174,117,457,446,535,537,2326,2177]} 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb2 O-O {A00 Irregular Openings} 6. a3 Ba5 (6... Be7 7. e3 Ne4 8. c4 Bf6 9. Qc2 d6 10. d3 Ng5 11. Nxg5 Bxb2 12. Qxb2 Qxg5 13. Nc3 a6 14. Nd5 b5 15. Be2 bxc4 16. dxc4 Rb8 17. Qc3 Qxg2 18. O-O-O Ne5 19. Rdf1 Qe4 20. Qc2 Qxc2+ 21. Kxc2 {Miltner,A (2310)-Schmidt,S (2270) Germany 1995 0-1 (43)}) 7. e3 d5 $146 (7... Re8 8. Be2 d5 9. O-O Bg4 10. d3 Qe7 11. Nbd2 Rad8 12. h3 Bc8 13. Nb3 Bb6 14. d4 Nb8 15. a4 c6 16. Ba3 Qe6 17. Rc1 Ne4 18. c4 Qh6 19. Ne5 dxc4 20. Nxc4 Bc7 21. Bf3 Bxh3 22. gxh3 {Koerner,H (1965) -Solhdjou,M (1961) Berlin 2010 0-1}) (7... d6 8. Be2 Re8 9. O-O a6 10. c4 Bb6 11. d4 d5 12. Nbd2 Ne7 13. Rc1 c6 14. Re1 Bc7 15. Qc2 Bf5 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Ng6 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. e4 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nf4 21. Nxf6+ Qxf6 22. Rxe8+ {Nebe,L (1622)-Schaefer,F (1517) Koblenz 1998 0-1 (32)}) 8. Be2 {The position is equal. } Bf5 9. O-O Qd6 10. d3 Ne7 11. Nbd2 c5 12. c4 {Hoping for cxd5.} Bxd2 13. Nxd2 {[%mdl 32] Strongly threatening cxd5. [%tqu "En","","","","d5d4","",10]} d4 $1 14. exd4 cxd4 15. Nb3 Nc6 16. Bf3 Ne5 {0.61/24} (16... Rfd8 $11 {0.17/28 might be stronger.}) 17. Nxd4 $14 Bxd3 {[%tqu "En","","","","d4b5","",10]} 18. Nb5 $1 $36 {[%mdl 2048] White is pushing. [%tqu "En","","","", "d6e6","",10]} Nxf3+ $2 {2.64/29 [#]} ({Black should play} 18... Qe6 $1 $14 {0.69/29}) 19. Qxf3 $18 Qd7 20. Rfd1 ({But not} 20. Bxf6 $6 gxf6 21. Rad1 (21. Qxf6 Bxf1 22. Qg5+ Kh8 $11) 21... Rfd8 $16) 20... Rfd8 21. Bxf6 gxf6 22. Qxf6 {1.17/29} (22. Qg3+ $18 { 1.74/27} Kh8 23. a4) 22... Qg4 $2 {4.57/27 [%mdl 8192] [#]} (22... Qc6 $16 { 1.17/29 is tougher.} 23. Qe5 Rd7) 23. Nc7 {White is clearly winning.} Rac8 24. Nd5 Rb8 25. Rxd3 {Accuracy: White = 83%, Black = 18%.} 1-0 [Event "Rated game, 3m + 0s"] [Site "Official B"] [Date "2008.03.19"] [Round "?"] [White "Axt"] [Black "Vierjoki, Timo"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1579"] [BlackElo "1747"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 2.10 (30s)"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2008.03.19"] [SourceTitle "playchess.com"] 1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb2 O-O {A00 Irregular Openings} 6. e3 d5 7. Be2 Be6 $146 {0.30/24} (7... Bg4 {0.19/23 7...Re8 -0.27} 8. h3 Be6 {0.23/28} (8... Bf5 $142 {-0.18/28}) 9. O-O Re8 10. d3 Qe7 11. c3 {-0.16/28} ( 11. Nbd2 {0.30/24 is superior.}) 11... Bd6 12. Nbd2 Rad8 13. Qa4 Nd7 {0.10/29} (13... Ne5 $1 $15 {-0.44/26}) 14. Rae1 {-0.50/23} (14. c4 $11 {0.10/29}) 14... Nc5 15. Qd1 {-0.75/24} (15. Qc2 $11 {-0.28/27}) 15... Qd7 {-0.30/29} (15... Bf5 $17 {-0.75/24} 16. Qb1 Qe6) 16. d4 Ne4 17. Nxe4 $1 dxe4 18. Ng5 Bxa2 19. Qa4 Bd5 20. c4 {-1.30/27} (20. f3 $1 $11 {-0.22/29}) 20... Nxd4 $1 21. Qxd7 Nxe2+ 22. Rxe2 {Voboril,P (2155)-Pribyl,M (2200) Prague 1989 0-1 (44)} Rxd7 23. cxd5 h6 24. Nxe4 Rxe4 25. f3 Re8 26. Rc1 Bg3 27. Rd1 c6 28. e4 cxd5 29. Red2 Be5 30. exd5 Bxb2 31. Rxb2 Re5 32. Kf2 g5 33. g3 b6 34. Rbd2 Rd6 35. f4 gxf4 36. gxf4 Re7 37. Kf3 {Voboril,P (2155)-Pribyl,M (2200) Prague 1989 0-1 (44)}) (7... Bf5 8. O-O Qe7 (8... Re8 9. d3 Re6 {0.68/24} (9... Nd7 $11 {-0.10/27}) 10. Nbd2 { 0.27/24} (10. Nh4 $14 {0.68/24 should be considered.} Bg6 11. a3) 10... Bd6 { 1.35/22} (10... Nd7 $11 {0.27/24}) 11. Nb3 {0.16/24} (11. Nh4 $16 {1.35/22} Bg6 12. Nxg6 hxg6 13. c4) 11... Re8 12. Nfd4 {-0.20/26} (12. Qc1 $14 {0.40/24}) 12... Nxd4 $1 13. Nxd4 Bg6 {0.19/25} (13... Bd7 {-0.22/24 is more appropriate.} ) 14. Nf3 {-0.28/26} (14. Nb5 $142 {0.19/25}) 14... Nd7 {0.25/23} (14... h6 $142 {-0.28/26}) 15. Qd2 {-0.18/25} (15. g3 $142 {0.25/23}) 15... Ne5 $2 { 2.33/28} (15... c5 $11 {-0.18/25}) 16. d4 $2 {-0.91/21} (16. Nxe5 $18 {2.33/28} Rxe5 17. Bxe5 Bxe5 18. Rab1) 16... Nxf3+ {-0.35/24} (16... Nc4 $1 $17 {-0.91/21 } 17. Bxc4 dxc4) 17. Bxf3 c6 18. Rac1 {-0.70/26} (18. a4 $11 {0.00/31}) 18... b5 19. Be2 {-1.14/25} (19. c3 $15 {-0.37/28}) 19... Qc7 {-0.59/27} (19... Qh4 $17 {-1.14/25} 20. g3 Qh3) 20. h3 {-1.02/23} (20. g3 $15 {-0.59/27}) 20... Re6 21. Bg4 {-1.08/28} (21. a4 $15 {-0.62/27 was preferrable.}) 21... f5 22. Bf3 f4 23. Rce1 {Nemsadze,D-Vagman,R (1288) Prague 2016 0-1 (42)} fxe3 24. fxe3 Bg3 25. Bg4 Ree8 26. Re2 Qd6 27. Rf3 Be4 28. Rf1 Rf8 29. Rxf8+ Rxf8 30. Qc1 g6 31. c3 Bd3 32. Ba3 Qc7 33. Be6+ Kh8 34. Bxf8 Bxe2 35. Qd2 Bc4 36. a3 Qd8 37. Bc5 Qf6 38. Qd1 {Nemsadze,D-Vagman,R (1288) Prague 2016 0-1 (42)}) 9. d3 Rfe8 10. Nbd2 Rad8 11. Re1 {-0.25/22} (11. c3 $142 {0.23/25} Bd6 12. c4) 11... Ne4 12. dxe4 dxe4 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. exd4 e3 15. c3 $2 {-3.32/23} (15. Nf3 $1 $11 { 0.00/29} exf2+ 16. Kxf2) 15... Rxd4 $1 16. cxd4 {-4.78/24} (16. Bf3 $142 { -3.39/31} Rxd2 17. Rxe3 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1) 16... exd2 17. Rf1 Qxe2 18. Qb3 Ba5 $2 {-0.35/31} (18... Bd6 $19 {-4.61/23} 19. d5 Bd3) 19. Qd5 Bc2 20. Qxa5 d1=Q 21. Raxd1 Bxd1 22. Bc3 {Michna,M (2399)-Dworakowska,J (2350) Glogow 2001 1-0 (44)} b6 23. Qxa7 Qc4 24. Qa3 Ba4 25. d5 h6 26. Rc1 Re2 27. h3 Rxa2 28. Qe7 Qf4 29. Qd8+ Kh7 30. Rf1 Bb5 31. Qf8 Qg5 32. h4 Qg4 33. Re1 Rc2 34. Be5 f5 35. Bxg7 Re2 36. Qh8+ Kg6 37. Qxh6+ {Michna,M (2399)-Dworakowska,J (2350) Glogow 2001 1-0 (44)}) (7... Be7 {0.24/24 7...b6 -0.29} 8. O-O Bf5 {0.29/23} (8... Na5 $142 { -0.14/26}) 9. c4 {-0.19/27} (9. d3 {0.29/23 might be stronger.}) 9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 Nb4 11. Nd4 {-0.68/26} (11. Ne5 $11 {0.09/26}) 11... Bd3 {0.19/25} (11... Bg6 $1 $15 {-0.68/26}) 12. Bxd3 Nxd3 13. Qb3 Nxb2 14. Qxb2 c5 15. Nf3 b6 16. d4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Rc8 18. Nd2 Bc5 19. N2b3 Qe7 20. Rfd1 Ba3 21. Qe2 Ne4 22. Nb5 { Purczynski,A (1432)-Jarmuzek,K (1767) Poznan 2015 0-1 (55)} Nc3 23. Nxc3 Rxc3 24. Rd3 Rxd3 25. Qxd3 Rd8 26. Qe2 g6 27. Rd1 Qc7 28. Rxd8+ Qxd8 29. g3 Bf8 30. Nd4 Bg7 31. Qc4 Qd7 32. a4 h5 33. h4 Bxd4 34. Qxd4 Qxd4 35. exd4 Kf8 36. Kf1 Ke7 37. Ke2 {Purczynski,A (1432)-Jarmuzek,K (1767) Poznan 2015 0-1 (55)}) (7... Bf5 $142 {-0.12/27}) 8. O-O $11 {The position is equal.White has an edge.} Ne4 {0.38/25} (8... Qe7 $11 {-0.22/27}) 9. d3 $14 {Threatens to win with c3.} Nd6 { 0.53/26} (9... Ng5 $11 {-0.08/24}) ({Better is} 9... Ng5 $11 {0.00/28}) 10. a3 {0.21/28} (10. Qc1 $14 {0.00/26 10.a4 0.51 deserves consideration.}) 10... Ba5 $11 11. Nbd2 Bb6 {0.65/23} (11... Re8 $11 {0.12/26}) (11... Bxd2 $11 {0.15/29} 12. Qxd2 f6) 12. c4 $14 dxc4 {0.76/27} (12... Na5 $14 {0.34/26}) 13. Nxc4 { -0.08/25} (13. dxc4 $16 {0.76/27} Na5 {0.95/26} (13... Nb8 $14 {0.43/28}) 14. Qc2) (13. dxc4 $16 {0.77/26} Nb8 14. Nd4) 13... Nxc4 $11 14. dxc4 Qe7 {0.46/26} (14... Qxd1 $11 {-0.02/27} 15. Rfxd1 Na5) 15. Qc2 $14 Rad8 16. Rad1 {0.04/30} ( 16. Bc3 $14 {0.42/25}) (16. Bd3 $14 {0.52/24 deserves consideration.}) 16... Rxd1 $11 17. Rxd1 $40 {White has some attack.} Rd8 {0.44/25} (17... Bc5 $11 { 0.00/29 might be stronger.}) 18. Rxd8+ $40 {White attacks.} Qxd8 {0.94/30} ( 18... Nxd8 $11 {0.10/27} 19. Bd3 h6) (18... Nxd8 $11 {0.08/28} 19. Nd4 Bc5) 19. Qc3 {0.27/28} (19. c5 $1 $16 {1.31/24 Strongly threatening Qc3.} Ba5 20. Bb5) ( 19. c5 $16 {0.94/30 Black must now prevent Qc3.} Ba5 20. Bb5) 19... f6 $11 20. c5 Ba5 21. Qc2 Ne7 {0.80/29} (21... Bf7 $11 {0.20/31}) (21... h6 $11 {0.17/30 remains equal.}) 22. h3 {0.33/26} (22. e4 $16 {0.79/26}) (22. Nd4 $16 {0.80/29} Bd5 23. e4) 22... c6 $14 23. Nd4 Bf7 24. Bc4 {0.00/28} (24. Bc3 $14 {0.45/25}) 24... Nd5 $2 {2.37/31} (24... Bxc4 $11 {0.00/28} 25. Qxc4+ Qd5) (24... Bxc4 $11 {0.08/31} 25. Qxc4+ Qd5) 25. Qe4 $2 {0.15/27} ({White must play} 25. e4 $18 { 2.72/23}) (25. e4 $18 {2.37/31}) 25... Bc7 {1.04/26} (25... Qd7 $11 {0.11/31}) (25... Qd7 $11 {0.15/27}) 26. g3 {0.00/30} (26. Bd3 $1 $16 {1.01/25} Bg6 27. Qe6+ Kh8 28. Bxg6 hxg6 29. Qf7) (26. Bd3 $1 $16 {1.04/26} Bg6 27. Qe6+ Kh8 28. Bxg6 hxg6 29. Qf7) 26... Ne7 $2 {1.69/29} (26... Be5 $11 {0.05/28}) (26... Qd7 $11 {0.00/30 and Black has nothing to worry.}) 27. Ne6 $2 {0.08/36} (27. Bxf7+ $16 {1.44/24} Kxf7 28. Qe6+ $1 (28. Qxh7 {0.95/28 28.Qe6+ 1.59} Qd7 $16 { 1.36/26} (28... Qd5 $142 {0.95/28})) 28... Kg6 29. Nf3 {1.04/33} (29. e4 $18 { 1.99/29})) ({Only move:} 27. Bxf7+ $18 {1.69/29} Kxf7 28. Qe6+ (28. Qxh7 Qd5 $16) 28... Kg6 29. h4) 27... Qd7 {0.94/33} (27... Qd1+ $11 {0.08/29 remains equal.} 28. Kg2 Bb8) (27... Qd1+ $11 {0.08/36} 28. Kg2 Bb8) 28. Nxc7 $16 Qxc7 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Kg2 {0.00/40} ({White should play} 30. Qxh7 $16 {0.87/24} Qd7 31. Qh5+ Kf8 32. Bd4) ({White should play} 30. Qxh7 $16 {1.03/27} Qd7 31. Bd4) 30... g6 $2 {2.70/29} (30... Qd8 $11 {0.00/40 and Black stays safe.}) ( 30... Qd8 $11 {0.00/40 and Black stays safe.}) 31. Qc4+ $2 {0.60/27} (31. Qh4 $18 {2.22/26}) (31. Qh4 $18 {2.70/29}) 31... Kg7 $14 32. e4 {0.23/28} ({ White should try} 32. Qd4 $16 {0.81/27} Ng8 33. Bc3) 32... Qd7 $11 33. Bc3 { 0.00/33} ({Better is} 33. h4 $14 {0.56/26}) (33. Qc3 {keeps more tension.} Qe6 34. Qd4 Kf7 35. h4 h5 36. Kg1) 33... Qe8 {0.92/31 [#]} (33... g5 $11 {0.00/33 keeps the balance.}) (33... g5 $11 {0.00/33 keeps the balance.}) 34. Qd4 { 0.56/30} (34. Qa4 $1 $16 {1.11/25}) 34... Qf7 35. g4 {Hoping for g5. Threatens to win with g5.} Qe6 {1.76/30} (35... g5 $1 $14 {0.50/28}) (35... g5 $16 { 0.90/32}) 36. Kg3 $2 {0.08/33} (36. g5 $1 $16 {1.24/27} Ng8 37. f3 {1.09/31} ( 37. Kg3 $142 {1.53/31})) (36. g5 $1 $18 {1.76/30} Ng8 37. f3) 36... Nc8 $2 { 5.00/30} (36... g5 $11 {0.08/30 and Black is okay.}) (36... g5 $11 {0.08/33}) 37. f4 $2 {1.97/34} (37. g5 $142 {3.98/27}) (37. g5 {5.00/30}) 37... Kf7 { 2.65/25} (37... b6 $142 {1.79/31}) (37... b6 {1.97/34 keeps fighting.} 38. g5 Kf7) 38. f5 $1 $18 gxf5 {3.14/25} (38... Qe7 $142 {2.00/28} 39. Kf3 g5) 39. exf5 Qe7 40. Qc4+ Kg7 41. Qd4 b6 $2 {7.26/31} (41... Kf7 {2.57/31} 42. Kh4 h6) (41... Kf7 $142 {2.55/32} 42. Kf3 b5) 42. cxb6 $2 {1.21/30} (42. g5 $1 $18 { 4.83/28 is the precise move to win.} Kf8 43. gxf6 (43. Qxf6+ Qxf6 44. Bxf6 bxc5 $18)) (42. g5 $1 $18 {7.26/31 is the precise move to win.} Kf8 43. gxf6 (43. Qxf6+ Qxf6 44. Bxf6 bxc5 $18)) 42... Nxb6 $16 {[#]} 43. Bb4 $1 Qe5+ $2 {5.68/30 } (43... Qe8 $16 {0.86/32}) (43... Qc7+ $16 {1.16/34 is tougher.} 44. Qd6 Nd5) 44. Qxe5 $18 fxe5 {Endgame KB-KN} 45. Kf3 Nc4 46. Bc3 Kf6 47. h4 $2 {0.08/36} ( 47. Bb4 $18 {2.93/29}) (47. Bb4 $18 {3.05/39}) 47... Nxa3 $2 {14.95/28} (47... h5 $1 $11 {0.08/34}) (47... h5 $11 {0.08/36}) 48. Ke4 Nc4 49. g5+ Kf7 {[#]} 50. Bd4 $4 {-#27/30} (50. h5 $1 $18 {12.44/35} a5 51. Kd3) (50. h5 $18 {16.77/31} a5 51. Kd3) 50... exd4 {KN-K3P. Black mates.Black mates.} 51. h5 a5 52. g6+ hxg6 53. Kd3 Nd6 54. Kc2 Nxf5 55. Kb3 gxh5 56. Ka4 d3 {Zeit (Lag: Av=0.39s, max=1.1s) . Accuracy: White = 26%, Black = 22%.} 0-1