1.e4
e5
2.d4
The Center-Counter, which is sort of a Scandinavian with colors reversed.
2...exd4
3.Qxd4
Nc6
4.Qe3
Nf6
5.Nc3
Bb4
6.Bd2
0-0
7.0-0-0
Re8
Black continues focusing on the e-pawn.
8.Bc4!?
An interesting decision. White brings out another piece at the cost of a pawn. (My reaction: So?)
8...Bxc3
9.Bxc3
Nxe4
10.Qf4!
Target: the f7-pawn. This gives Black no time to get rid of White's Bishop pair and shatter his pawns with ...Nxc3.
10...Nf6
Grab your popcorn, turn down the lights, and get ready for Attack of the Killer Bishops from Mars.
11.Nf3
But first finish developing.
11...d6
12.Ng5!
There's that f-pawn again.
12...Be6
13.Bd3!
Black blocks one weakness, so White shrugs, packs his bags and moves to another one.
13...h6
This is exactly the kind of move White has been trying to provoke for the past few moves. Now he has a hook to grab onto.
14.h4!?
It's quite entertaining to watch Fritz's reaction to this move. First he indignantly dismisses it as rubbish and raps out a "Black is winning" after ...hxg5. After roughly 30 seconds to a minute, he backs that down to a "Black has a strong advantage." Then, if you follow his variation, he eventually eats his humble pie and offers up an equals sign.
14...Nd5?
But Black chickens out, and we are treated to a delightful demonstration that Fortune really does favor the brave. [White can maintain equality after 14...hxg5
15.hxg5
Ng4
16.Bh7+
Kf8
17.Be4
, though Fritz is already bumping the evaluation down to equals over plus if Black doesn't play the very topmost move. 17...Nce5
18.Bd4
Rc8
19.f3
c5
20.Bc3
Nf2
21.Bxe5
dxe5
22.Rxd8
Rcxd8
23.Qh4
Nxh1
24.Qxh1
Ke7
25.Bxb7=
with a wild, complex ending.]
15.Bh7+
Kh8
16.Rxd5!
Eliminating a key defender. Oh by the way, the position is balanced now according to Fritz.
16...Bxd5
17.Be4!
Of course Black cannot capture with the Bishop due to the fork threat.
17...f6??
[17...Rxe4
giving back the exchange is best with approximate equality.]
18.Bxd5
fxg5
19.hxg5
Open that file!
19...Ne5
20.g6!!
And death follows on h6. 1-0