A Fun Attack Vs. The Slav

A Fun Attack Vs. The Slav - Opening Moves

I just played an instructive attacking game on Lichess, which I'd like to share with you. I will share the full replayable match at the end, allowing readers to practice and improve their visualisation skills. (Serious students may like to pause at the first three diagrams to decide what they'd play, then compare their answer with my analysis).

I started with one of my 'anti-theory' systems, 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.e3, which often transposes back into the Nimzo-Larsen with a later b3, but also provides flexibility with e.g. 2...d5 3.c4 to transpose back into the Keymer System.

The game continued 2...e6 3.b3 d5 4.Bb2 Be7 5.c4 0-0 6.Nc3 c6 7.Qc2 Nbd7, reaching the first diagram.

In a classical game, I'd probably transpose to a good 'pure' Semi-Slav with 8.d4, where the bishop would rather be on d6 than e7.

Starting The Kingside Attack

Because this was a bullet game, I went for 8.g4 - objectively a mistake, but I surmised that my opponent would defend imprecisely with so little time on the clock.

After 8...Nxg4 9.Rg1 Nf6 10.0-0-0, Black should immediately seek counterplay with either 10...a5 and ...a4, 10...a6 and ...b5, or in the centre with 10...e5. Instead, he played 10...g6, to which I continued the attack with the thematic 11.h4 (see second diagram).

The Decisive Mistake

It's still not too late for Black to revert to ...a5, ...e5 or ...b5, with reasonable chances. But he voluntarily added fuel to White's attack with 11...Kh8, escaping the g-file pin but running into another pin on the long diagonal. I played 12.cxd5 exd5 13.h5!, realising that Black cannot take back either way on h5 without tactical repercussions. However, allowing hxg6 and Bd3xg6 also leaves Black struggling to survive the attack.

After 13...Nxh5 14.Nxd5 Bf6 15.Nxf6 Ndxf6 16.Ng5 Bf5 17.e4 Be6 (see 3rd diagram),

White has a winning attack due to the monster b2-bishop and the long-term initiative.

A Precise, Satisfying Finish

But I'm still quite proud of my next move, 18.f4!, which was an intuitive pawn sacrifice (played in one second).

But the point becomes apparent after 18...Nxf4, 19.Qc3 N6h5, and 20.Be2, as Black has no good defence to Bxh5 (as 20...Kxg7, 21.Bxh5 gxh5, and 22.Nxe6 wins the house).

The game concluded 20...h6 21.Nxe6 fxe6 22.Rxg6 (see diagram 4)

22...Kh7 23.Bxh5 Nxh5 24.Rg7 Nxg7 25.Qxg7#.

Replayable Game & Conclusion

https://lichess.org/41CE9kuy/white

Let us know: What was your favourite part of this game?