Game 25

An exciting game from the recent Glasgow Congress played by Jim Smalls on his way to winning the Major. The Frankenstein-Dracula variation of the Vienna was played in which White wins the exchange but must then defend against a strong attack. The White queen moves 6 times in 21 moves.

[Event "Glasgow Congress"]
[Date "5 Nov 2006"]
[White "Jim Smalls"]
[Black "Michael Roth"]
[Result "1-0"]
[White Grade "1649"]
[Black Grade "1765"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bc4 Nxe4 4.Qh5 [The alternative gives Black the Bishop pair and the centre 4.Bxf7+ Kxf7 5.Nxe4 d5 ] 4...Nd6 [Black must defend against mate] 5.Bb3 [A quieter alternative is 5.Qxe5+ Qe7 6.Qxe7+ Bxe7 ] 5...Nc6 6.Nb5 [threatens mate in 2] 6...g6 7.Qf3 [renews the threat of mate] 7...f5 8.Qd5 [and again threatens mate in 2] 8...Qe7 [Black is now forced to give up the exchange - but gets a good attack] 9.Nxc7+ Kd8 10.Nxa8 10...b6 11.Nxb6 [The Knight cannot escape] axb6 12.Qf3 [The Queen moves again to avoid being trapped] 12...Bb7 13.d3 e4 14.dxe4 Nxe4 15.Ne2 [avoiding discovered check and allowing castling] 15...Ne5 16.Qe3 Qb4+ [defending b6] 17.c3 Qa5 18.f3 [This was played to prevent ...Ng4, but 0-0 was better] 18...Bc5 19.Nd4 Nf6 [Both players missed 19...f4 20.Qe2 (Qxf4 loses the Queen) 20...Bxd4 21.fxe4 Ba6 22.Qd1 Nd3+ 23.Kd2 Nf2 24.Qf3 Nxh1, after which it seems Black is winning] 20.0-0 Ba6 21.Qxe5 1-0