T. Lassila - N.N. (B01 - Scandinavian)

1. e4 d5

Scandinavian? I think not...

2. d4!? Nf6

Offering the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit but Black declines and we're back in a Scandinavian.

3. exd5 Nxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Be2

Also possible is 7. Bd3!? giving a pawn for an advantage in development after 7...Nxd4 8. O-O Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3.

7...h6 8. O-O Ne7 9. b3 c6 10. Bb2 Ng6 11. Ne5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Nd7 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Nd6+!

Getting a pawn on d6 is the start of a stranglehold on White's forces that ends up in a massive onslaught.

14...Bxd6 15. exd6

Position after 15. exd6

15...c5?

15...O-O holds for now (16. Bxg7?! Kxg7 and the compensation is unclear) but the Black position is still on the verge of collapse.

16. Bxg7 Rh7 17. Bc3 h5?!

The only way to save the exchange is Nd7-f8-g6, but this is hopelessly slow and White has everything pointed at the Black king. The loss of the rook weakens the king side drastically.

18. Bd3 Rh6 19. Bg7 Qg5 20. Bxh6 Qxh6 21. Re1

The first pin, more will follow soon.

21...Qf6?

Now the White queen infiltrates the vulnerable back rank along the h-file as Black has no immediate counterplay with the queen because of the threats Qh8+ and Qxf7+.

22. Qxh5

Second pin.

22...b6

This does look weakening, but what can Black do to relieve his position?

23. Be4 Rb8 24. Bc6! Bb7

This fails to the shocking response that follows, but Black is toast anyway. 24...Kf8 25. Rad1 Kg8 26. Rd3 Nf8 (Rg3+ is coming) 27. Rg3+ Ng6 28. d7 Ba6 and Black can safely resign.

Position after 24...Bb7

25. Rxe6+!! Kd8

25...Kf8 26. Rxf6 Nxf6 27. Qh8+ Ng8 28. Bxb7 Rxb7 29. Re1 Rd7 30. Re8+! Kxe8 31. Qxg8#

26. Rxf6 Nxf6 27. Qh8+ 1-0