Adventures Into The QGA And Some Dubious Exchanges

Here's a game I just finished. I played my standard opening with White but then made some unnecessary exchanges that conceded a bit of space to Black. I had already entertained the possibility of offering a draw when Black missed a tactical attack that quickly won material and the game. Get the PGN here.

T.Lassila - N.N., Correspondence Game (D21 - Queen's Gambit Accepted)

1. d4 d5
2. c4 dxc4

Queen's Gambit Accepted. I'm at home with this opening and Black is going to have a tough time with keeping up with my development.

3. Nf3 e6
4. e3 b5

This is the only way for Black to hold on to his pawn on c4. But this is exactly what I wanted him to play since this slows down his development while allowing me to open up the queen side with 5. a4.

5. a4 Bd7
6. Ne5! Qe7?

This is a very good move which both secures an outpost and attacks the defender of b5. My opponent is scared of 7. Nxf7!? and blunders as a result.

7. Nxd7?! Qxd7

Better would have been 7. Qf3!. Now I give up the outpost to gain his bishop for a knight. Oh well.

8. Be2 c6

Here I had time to commit a developing move instead of charging at b5.

9. axb5 cxb5

Activating the rook. Now to tuck my king away and ferry the rest of my pieces over to join the battle.

10. Bf3 Nc6

The idea is not to attack the rook but the block the diagonal between b5 and the queen. If 10...Bb4+ then 11. Nc3 Bxc3+? 12. bxc3 and White has won the bishops and has connected his pawns.

11. O-O Rc8

Breaks the pin but does little for Black's development. Time to develop further.

12. Bd2 Nf6?

Better is 12...Nh6 and 13...Nf5. Now the bishop on f3 dominates the knight.

13. Nc3 Nd8

Challenging for d5... Black anticipates 14. d5, but better would have been 13...Nb4! since it allows Nd3.

14. Re1 Bd6
15. Bc1?! Bc7

If 15...b4! then Black regains some play. I do acknowledge that letting the pawns go unchallenged is an invitation for Black to push them and cause problems but here I was looking for a central attack before Black gets his stuff together.

16. Rxa7? Qd6

Black lays a trap but doesn't even realize it! 16...Bxh2! 17. Kxh2 Qxa7. If 17. Nxb5? Qxh2+ 18. Kf1 and the c4-pawn is isolated, but the cost is way too high as Black gets a dangerous attack.

17. g3 Qb6
18. Ra2 O-O
19. d5 exd5

I thought long and hard about this one but could not see anything better.

20. Nxd5 Qe6
21. Nxc7?! Rxc7

Another questionnable exchange, but now I have won the bishops which makes it about even with Black up a pawn.

22. Ra8 Rd7!

Saw this one coming but didn't think it was too bad.

23. Qc2 Nc6
24. Rxf8+ Kxf8

This exchange is justified since now the h7-pawn is only protected by the knight. Remember that it's still dominated by the bishop and now I'm threatening to push my e-pawn to drive it away. In fact this is exactly what happened next.

25. Bxc6 Qxc6

I'm afraid of Nb4 attacking the queen and decide to simplify things a bit.

26. e4 Rd8

Shutting out d5 and threatening e5 to win material. A sharp line for Black would have been 26...Rd3.

27. e5 Ng4?

Black had a save: 27...Qe6. Now he loses material as I can see the tactics already.

28. Qxh7 Qc5?

Threatening Qxf2+ and mate in one. But of course that's not going to happen. Instead Black should have saved the knight.

29. Qh8+ Ke7
30. Qh4+! Kd7

Now the game is won. Black might still try for perpetual with his queen but my king is too well positioned while his king has become a punching bag.

31. Qxg4+ Kc7
32. Bf4 Kb6??

Threatening discovered check and my opponent loses his nerves, blundering the queen.

33. Be3 1-0