Reckless Chess for Fun

Way back when I first started this blog, it was going to be a place where I shared my games of Chess.  Over the years, it's changed - the name has changed twice, and the content has changed constantly, although it does tend to gravitate towards maths and web analytics (and Star Trek).

Here's a recent one-off Chess game - five minutes of Blitz.  I was Black, and I was clearly in a reckless mood:



Starting with move 9. Bh5, where I deliberately allowed my bishop to become trapped.  Yes, it was deliberate.

1. d4 d5  
2. Nf3 Nc6
3.  e3 Nf6  
4. Bd3 g6  
5. O-O Bg7  
6. b3 O-O  
7. Bb2 Re8  
8. Nbd2  Bg4  
9. h3 Bh5 

Reckless, but with the deliberate plan of getting two pawns for the knight, then opening up White's king with ... e5 and Qg5 or Qh4

10. g4 Nxg4
11. hxg4  Bxg4  
12. Qe1 e5
13. dxe5 Nxe5
14. Bxe5  Bxe5  
15. Nxe5  Rxe5

Recapturing in the centre, with my queen now ready to sweep into the kingside.  I have, however, missed an opportunity since White's move 12 Qe2 to play Bh3 and trap White's rook.  This is blitz Chess, and such mistakes are not uncommon.
 
16. Be2 Bh3  (I saw it!)
17. Bf3 Qg5+
18. Kh2 Bxf1 (finally capturing the rook, bringing the game closer to material parity) 
19. Qxf1  Qh4+  
20. Kg1 Rg5+  
21. Bg2 Rh5
22. Nf3 Qf6
23. Qe2   Re8?  (missing the chance to play Qxa1, but bringing in reinforcements)

24. c3 Qxc3  
25. Rd1 c6  (I couldn't think of anything better than this solidifying move)
26. Qd3  Qb2  
27. Qd2 Qf6  
28. Qd4  Qf5  
29. Qxa7  Re4 

I have decided to play some more reckless Chess.  I don't need those pawns, I need to launch my pieces at White's King - now!

30. Qb8+ Kg7  
31. Qg3    Rg4  
32. Qe5+  Qxe5

I didn't want to exchange Queens, but I had to - White had been pushing to trade for several moves, and here he managed to force the exchange.
 

33. Nxe5  Rxe5  ... but I got an extra knight for it, and now I'm ahead on material, and have an outside passed pawn ready to roll.
34. Kf1 f5  
35. Ke2 Rxg2  a blunder from white, which I didn't miss.  This is now winning for me.
36. Kf3 Rg4  
37. Rc1 h5  
38. a4 h4    "Always push passed pawns"
39. Rh1 g5  
40. Rh2  Rge4  
41. Ke2 f4  
42. Rh3 d4
43. Kd3 dxe3
44. fxe3  fxe3
45. Ke2   Rd5 

A very pleasant position for me.  I'm going to play Rd2+ and keep pushing the e-pawn, and I've got the g- and h-pawns too.  My opponent's next move surprised me.

46. Rxe3  Rxe3+  
47. Kxe3  h3   and now, apart from dodging any stalemate traps, it's plain sailing.
48. Kf3 h2  
49. Kg2 Rd2+  
50. Kh1 g4  
51. b4 g3  
52. b5 cxb5  
53. axb5  Rd1+  
54. Kg2 h1=Q+  

I won't annotate the rest, but rest assured I wrapped up the game in the next five moves.

And here's the full PGN file of the game.

Reckless Chess - it's the way forwards!