I am small light in the world of chess. But on the rare occasion I can produce some great games.

In a lichess tournament (Bundesliga tournament which is twice weekly) I produced a brilliant game against GM Parligras from Romania. In all fairness my opponent – who is over 500 points “heavier” – did not play the best game however I still had to punish him for this.

Here is what happened including my anotations:

This is a blitz game in a lichess.org tournament and I was paired in one of the rounds against the strong Romanian chess player Mircea Parligras. At the time he was live streaming the event – which I discovered afterwards.
In a normal game I would have a chance winning or drawing against such a strong player however in blitz you can surprise your opponent – especially if you know the opening well enough. 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.f4 Kings-Indian Four pawn attack – I do play this sort of stuff in my normal over the board games (blitz, Rapid and standard games) and I am reasonably familiar with it.

7…Bg7 8.Nf3 0-0 9.Be2 Re8 10.e5 dxe5 11.fxe5 Ng4 12.Bg5 Qb6 Most critical move [12…f6 13.exf6 Bxf6 14.Qd2 Bxg5 15.Qxg5 Qxg5 16.Nxg5 Ne3 17.Kf2 Nc2 18.Rad1 Nd4 Is potentially one line which has been played against me before.] 13.0-0

Looks like a blunder however white’s compensation after “winning” the exchange is more than enough 13…Nxe5 [13…c4+? a blunder 14.Kh1 Nf2+ (14…Nxe5 15.Nxe5 Rxe5 16.Qd2 Bf5 17.Bxc4 Qb4 18.Be2 Nd7 19.Rae1 Nf6 and equal) 15.Rxf2 Qxf2 16.Ne4 Qb6 17.Nd6 Rf8 18.Nxc4 Qb4 19.a3 Qb5 20.Be7 Qe8 and white is winning] 14.d6 Nxf3+ 15.Bxf3 Qxb2 [15…Bd4+? 16.Kh1 Qxd6 17.Bd5 Be6 18.Bxb7 and white is winning] 16.Nd5 all forced moves 16…Qxa1 17.Qxa1 Bxa1 18.Rxa1

Ok, let’s take stock: I am an exchange down against a GM. I do have the bishop pair and I have a strong pawn on d6. Depending on blacks next moved I could win back the exchange straight away. Or if the rook moves I can try and capitalise on the advanced pawn – that’s what I thought. Remember this is a 3 0 blitz game 18…Nc6?? Played after 22 seconds and what a blunder. I am winning a piece and keep my strong pawn on d6 – awesome. 19.Nf6+! best and only sensible move.

19…Kh8 [19…Kf8?? fortunately for me not an option for black 20.Bh6#] 20.Nxe8 Be6 21.Nc7 [21.Bxc6 is what the computer wanted to play and I remember briefly considering it but I though the bishop was strong and decided to move the knight 21…bxc6 22.Nc7 h6 (22…Rb8 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.d7) 23.Bf6+ Kg8] 21…Rc8 22.Re1? [22.Bxc6 bxc6 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.d7 wins] 22…Bd7 23.Bf6+ Kg8 24.Bd5 Kf8 25.Rf1 Nb4?

With low on time the final nail in the coffin. 26.Be7+ Kg7 27.Rxf7+ Kh6 28.h4 forcing mate 28…Nxd5 29.Bg5+ Kh5 30.Nxd5 h6 [30…Kg4 31.Ne3+ Kh5 32.Rxh7#] 31.Nf6# I was pretty chuffed when I played this game and interestingly I lost straight away some other games. But it does show you if you run into an opening which your opponent (even 500 point lighter) does know well everything can happen.

A decent game – one I try to recreate everytime I play this opening