The queen is the most mobile piece on the chess board and hence is used more as an attacking piece. However in fluid positions where both players have chances, it is very important to check out all the possibilities before deciding that the queen should be used for attack. Then it is necessary to think of defensive measures with the queen even when an attack looks very tempting and promising.
The game which follows is a good example where both players are in each other’s territory, in aggressive mode. White however fails to sense danger at a critical time and employs his queen in attack whereas a defensive retreat could have maintained an equal balance. Thereafter the game suddenly swings Black’s way.
White: Pavel Blatny (2560) – Black: Michal Konopka (2445)
Czech Championship, 1998
Irregular Opening
1.Nf3 g6
Starting the game in an irregular way without the popular openings
2.e4 Bg7 3.d4 d6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.Be2 0–0 6.0–0
Both however decide to castle early as stressed by chess basics
6. ..c6 7.a4 Bg4
Can also try 7...a5
8.Be3 Nbd7 9.Qd2
If 9.h3 Bxf3 10.Bxf3 e5 11.Re1 Re8 12.Qd2 a5
9...Qc7
If 9...a5 10.e5 dxe5 11.dxe5 Nh5
10.Rfd1
Better appears 10.Rad1
10...Rfd8 11.Bh6
Wanting to exchange bishops. If 11.Ne1 Bxe2 12.Qxe2 e5 13.d5 (13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Nd3) 13...cxd5 14.exd5 leads to an unclear position
11...e5
If 11...Bh8 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Bxf3 e5 14.dxe5 dxe5 15.a5
12.Bxg7 Kxg7 13.Ng5 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 h6
Driving back the knight. If 14...a5 15.f4 exd4 16.Rxd4 Qb6 17.Qd2 h6 18.Nf3 d5 19.exd5 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 cxd5 21.b3 Nf6
15.Nf3 a5 16.Rd2 Re8 17.d5
Instantaneous response to Black bringing his rook onto what could possibly be an open file. White tries to keep things closed at center. If 17.Rad1 exd4 18.Rxd4 d5; 17.dxe5 dxe5 leads toe quality
17...Nc5
If 17...cxd5 18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Nf6
18.Qc4
Both are keeping the tension at the center by not going in for pawn exchanges. If 18.dxc6 Qxc6 19.Re1 Nxa4 20.Nxa4 Qxa4 21.Rxd6 Qb4 22.Rdd1 Qxb2 23.Rb1 Qc3 24.Rxb7 a4 with black in the driver’s seat and if 18.b3 Rad8 19.Rad1 then the position is more or less equal
18...Rad8
If 18...Qb6 19.dxc6 bxc6 20.Rxd6 Qb4 21.Qxb4 axb4 22.Ne2 maintains the balance
19.Rad1
Doubling rooks with the intention of controlling the file when it opens
19. ..Qb6 20.dxc6
Finally White decides to go in for pawn exchange and open the file. If 20.b3 Qb4 21.dxc6 Qxc4 22.bxc4 bxc6 23.Rxd6 Rxd6 24.Rxd6 Nfxe4 25.Nxe4 Nxe4 26.Rxc6 Rb8 27.g4 Rb1+ 28.Kg2 Rb2 29.Nxe5 Rxc2 30.Nd3 Rd2 31.Kf3 Rxd3+ 32.Kxe4 Ra3 with an equal game
20...bxc6
If 20...Qxc6 21.Re1
21.Rxd6 Rxd6 22.Rxd6 Qxb2! 23.g3
If 23.Qxc5 Nxe4
23...Ne6
A good move! The knight is on a good square to ward off any attack
24.Rxc6
If 24.Nxe5 Qxc2 25.Rxc6 Ng5 26.f4
24...Qxc2 25.Kg2
If 25.Nxe5 Ng5
25...Rd8
If 25...Ng4 26.Qe2 Qxe2 27.Nxe2 with White in a better position
26.h3
If26.Nxe5 Rd2
26...g5 27.Ne1
If 27.Ne2 Qxe4 28.Qxe4 Nxe4 29.Nxe5 Rd2 30.Kf3 N6c5 31.Nc4
27...Qd2 28.Nf3 Qc2 29.Qb5
Probably a mistake. He could have tried to take a draw with 29.Ne1 as this maintains the equality in position
29...g4 30.hxg4
If 30.Nxe5 gxh3+ (30...Nd4 31.Qc4) 31.Kxh3 Qxf2
30...Nxg4
Diagram 1
31.Qb6
Another mistake. The queen should have come back for defence with31.Qe2 Qxe2 32.Nxe2 Rb8
31...Rb8
Offering the rook as a bait to deflect the queen and catch the King into a checkmating net
32.Nd5
If 32.Qa7 Rb7 33.Qxb7 Qxf2+ 34.Kh3 Qxf3 35.Rxe6 Nf2+ 36.Kh2 Nh1
32...Qe2 33.Qxb8 Qxf2+ 34.Kh3 Qxf3–+ 35.Rxe6 Nf2+ 36.Kh2 Qh1 check-mate
Diagram 2
White to play and win
1.Qg4+
Sacrificing the queen
..Bxg4 2.Rxh6+ gxh6 3.Bf7 check-mate.