Miniatures 12

IN this occasional series I am going through my decisive games of 20 moves or fewer.

Spanton (151 BCF) - Chris Briscoe (155 BCF)

Barbican (London) Rapid 1989

Nimzowitsch

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 d5!?

Magnus Carlsen has played the text, which keeps the game in independent Nimzowitsch Defence lines, and has a strong affinity with the Scandinavian.

3.exd5 Qxd5 4.Nc3 Qa5 5.d4 Bg4 6.Be2

Stockfish17 and Dragon1 like 6.Bb5!?

6...e6

The engines reckon 6...0-0-0 equalises.

7.h3 Qh5?

The engines give 7...Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Rd8!? 9.Bxc6+ bxc6 10.0-0, with what they reckon is a slight edge for White.

8.Bf4

Even stronger is the simple 8.0-0, forcing 8...Bxf3 9.Bxf3, when White has more space, the bishop-pair and a lead in development.

8...0-0-0 9.Qd2

White is still better after this, but the engines give 9.Bh2 as best, whereas 9.0-0 allows 9...Qf5 10.Be3 Bh5, when 11.g4? Bxg4! 12.hxg4 Qxg4+ 13.Kh1 Qh3+ is a perpetual as 13.Nh2? loses to 13...Bd6 14.f4 (forced) Qxe3.

9...Bb4?!

Probably better is the engines' 9...Bxf3!? 10.Bxf3 Qa5, albeit they give White at least a slight edge.

10.0-0-0?

The wrong side.

After 10.0-0 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Qa5 White would be well on top

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10...Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Qa5

The same position as in the previous diagram, except here White has effectively castled into Black's attack instead of away from it

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12.Bxc6 bxc6 13.Kb1?

This somewhat natural-looking move is a mistake. White should unpin the knight, for example with 13.a3!? or 13.Qe3, or get on with development with 13.Rhe1.

13...Nf6 14.Bg5??

Correct is 14.Qd3, albeit Black is better after 14...Bxc3 15.bxc3 (15.Qxc3? Qxc3 16.bxc3 Ne4) and 15...c5 or 15...Nd5.

14...Ne4 15.Qc1?

White can more-or-less struggle on, at least at rapidplay time controls, after either 15.Qe3 Nxc3+ 16.bxc3 Bxc3 17.Rd3 Qb4+ 18.Kc1 or 15.Nxe4!? Bxd2 16.Bxd8 Rxd8 17.Rxd2.

15...Nxg5?!

Good enough for a winning advantage, but immediately decisive is 15...Nxc3+ 16.bxc3 (16.Ka1 Qxa2#) Bxc3, when White has nothing better than giving up the queen with 17.Qb2!?

16.Qxg5?? Qxg5 0-1

LESSON: I cannot recall what I was thinking during this game, but my moves have all the hallmarks of playing too quickly, and I am convinced more games are lost through playing too quickly than through playing too slowly.