A Few Strong Moves

Playing ten minute Arena on Chess.com, I often play terrible chess. But, sometimes I play okay, too. This weekend, I won a couple of games with some strong moves. I also drew one with a nice combination.

This position arose from a Stafford Gambit. It often surprises me when a player rated over 1700 thinks they can castle.

Black to move

Nxf2!

Best move.

8...Bxf2+ 9.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 10.Kh1 h5 is also winning.

9.Qf3 moves into forced mate.

9.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 10.Kh1 Be6-+

9...Nxh3+ 10.Kh2 Ng5+

10...Nf2+ was better. 11.Qh3 Bd6+ 12.e5 Bxe5+ 13.Kg1 Nxh3+ 14.gxh3 Qg3+ 15.Kh1 Qh2#

11.Qh3 Bd6+ 12.Kg1

12.Kh1 resists longer. 12...Nxh3 13.Rf3 Ng5+ 14.Kg1 Nxf3+ 15.gxf3 Bc5+ 16.d4 Bxd4+ 17.Be3 Bxe3+ 18.Kf1 Qf2#

12...Nxh3+ 13.gxh3 Qg3+ 14.Kh1 Qh2# 0-1

This game went back and forth and the engine thinks I should have taken White's c-pawn at one point.

Black to move

36...Qf5+! 37.Ke2

White moves into a mate in four, which I found.
37.Kd2 was necessary, and I probably would not have found the best move: 37...Kc8!

37.Qc2+ 38.Kf1 Rh1+ 39.Kg2 Qg6+ 40.Kxh1 Rh8#

My best move today was one of several that led to equality, but was the only forcing move. White could have gone astray and lost.

Black to move

32...Nf4! 33.gxf4 Rg6+ 34.Kf1

After 34.Kh1 Qh3, White must force a draw by repetition.

34...Qh3+ 35.Ke1 Qc3+ 36.Rd2 Rg1+ 37.Bf1 Qc1+ 38.Rd1 Rxf1+ 39.Kxf1 Qxd1+ 40.Kg2 Qg4+ 41.Kf1 Qd1+ 42.Kg2 Game drawn by agreement ½-½