The Art of Attack on Chessmaniac #1

Trajan vs. Frodo

I'm back people. Did you miss me? I've been on hiatus for too long, but I'm back now, at least for the time being. Have you been spreading the word about the Trajan Variation of the Petroff? You better be. I want to start a (hopefully) monthly column on attacking and tactics using my own games from Chessmaniac. First up was a worthy opponent named "Frodo". Frodo didn't necessarily err in the opening with the Wilkes Barre Variation of the Two Knights Defense, but personally, I have little respect for it either way. The game quickly turned into a slugfest that would have proved that material advantage means nothing when you see mate. Unfortunately Frodo did not see that I had a few options, which quickly turned his "tactical advantage" into a liability, and eventually his downfall. I hope you enjoy this game as much as I enjoyed playing it.


1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bc4 Nf6
4. Ng5 Bc5


This starts the Wilkes Barre Variation. You can play it if you are feeling up for a fight, but I would avoid it, more for personal reasons than anything else.
5. Nxf7 Bxf2+
6. Kf1 Qe7
7. Nxh8 d5
8. exd5 Nd4
9. c3


MCO-14 recommends 9. d6 Qxd6 10. Nf7 Qc5 11. d3 e4 I however prefer the text as it opens up my back rank a bit, which I can utilize later, and allows for the trading of queens on my terms, if it comes to that. Not to mention it attacks the knight so it doesn't get a good outpost at d4.
9. ... Bg4
10. Qa4+ Bd7
Nd7 would be better here- 11. Kxf2 Qh4+ 12. g3 Qf6+ 13. Ke1 Qf3 14. Rf1 Qe4+ 15. Kf2 0-0-0 16. cxd4 Rf8+ V. Malada vs. N. Doric-Rijeka IM-2 2001 (White may be far ahead in material, but he’s got a horrible position. Black went on to win.)
11. d6
What was I saying about trading queens?
11. ... cxd6
12. Qb4 Ne4
13. Qxb7 Qf6

Black is hoping for the checkmate here (via Bg3+ Kg1 Qf2#), not realizing that I can easily sidestep his trap. 13. ... Bc6 14. Qxe7+ Kxe7 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. d3 Nf2 17. Rg1 Ng4 18. Bg5+ Kd7 19. Rh1 Rxh8 would have been better for Frodo.
14. Qxa8+ Ke7
15. cxd4 Bxd4+
16. Ke2 Qf2+
17. Kd1
Time for me to hand back some material, but with both our positions the way they are and where the black queen will most likely end up, I don't mind in the slightest.
17. ... Qxg2
18. Kc2
Remember my 9th move?
18. ... Qxh1
Someone erect a tombstone-here lays the queen. It plays no active part in the rest of the game. It's one thing to grab material, but not if it costs you weaknesses in your position, or overall attack capability.
19. Nf7
Threatening mate (Qd8)
19. ... Bb6
20. Ng5!


When going over this game with ChessMaster in preparation for writing this article, ChessMaster recommends Nc3 here. Don't get me wrong, developing pieces is almost always a good idea, but here I disagree. I have a good attack, which you will see more evidence of, and that knight isn’t needed in it. If this is the case, development isn't always the best way to go.
20. ... Bf5
I think 20. ... Nf2 21. Qxh1 Nxh1 would have been better for black, however, with ideas of Nxh7 followed by developing my other pieces, the position and material advantage would be more than enough for me to sail into an easy win in the endgame. The text allows for a new, more potent attack. Either way, it's not looking good for black at this point.
21. Qb7+ Kf6
22. Nxh7+ Bxh7
23. Qf7+ Kg5
24. Qxg7+ Bg6
Kf4 would be a little better.
25. d4+
Not d3+ with a weak attack at the knight, which blocks the light squared bishop.
25. ... Nd2+
I’ve sat in the discovered check long enough, but my previous move allows me to bring more pressure to bear on black's pinned bishop. This move also hangs the knight. I wondered for a time about 25. ... Qxc1+ (which Chessmaster recommends). I don't like the text, but sacrificing the queen like that might be a bit much. Neither move helps black much at all.
26. Bd3
Not Kxd2, which doesn't bring the bishop to aim at its counterpart and allows Qxh2, which gives me unnecessary trouble.
26. ... e4
Again Chessmaster recommends Qxc1+ and says the text moves into a forced mate (I however didn't see mate for a few more turns), so in this case I suppose sacrificing the queen is the better move.
27. Bxd2+ Kf5
28. Qd7+
Here I start one of my favorite things to do-the king chase. I'll chase the king around in hopes of picking up material, forcing them into mate, or both. As you can see, it worked here.
28. ... Kf6
29. Qxd6+ Kg7
30. Qe5+ Kh7
31. Qe7+
Right here is where I found mate.
31. ... Kh8
32. Qf8+ Kh7
33. Qh6+


Facing 33. ... Kg8 34. Qxg6+ Kf8 35. Bb4+ Bc5 36. Bxc5#, black resigns.