Classical Game Recap: Black in the Four Knights Italian
Finishing off 2023 with a win.
I wanted to end my year on a high note, so I took a bye for the final round (having played 5 already), as I was already unsure whether I was in the mood to play one more game, so I let this be the last rated game I played at the club for 2023.
Time Control: 30 minutes + 5 second delay
White: 1577 USCF
Black: Me (1633 USCF)
The Opening
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6
My experience playing against the person who had the White pieces in this game was entirely based on blitz. Therefore, I had no idea what his actual repertoire was. However, he’s very tactically sharp and is unnervingly calm under time pressure. I was on my guard. So far, he hasn’t committed to what his plans are, but that usually comes on the fourth move in these Four Knights positions.
4.Bc4?!
This looks like a normal move, but because Black has played Nc6 and Nf6 (and not Bc5), this is a worse version of the Four Knights Italian that allows Black to immediately equalize with a temporary sacrifice. 4.d4 leads to the Four Knights Scotch variation. 4.Bb5 is the Spanish variation. Master play has also seen 4.g3, among others.
4…Nxe4!
The reason this move works so well is because Black can follow up with the move d5, opening up the queen’s bishop for action and establishing a strong central presence, all while ridding White of their central pawn. In the last year on chess.com I have won 18 out of 22 games from this position.
5.Nxe4
In online games I’ve often seen 5.Bxf7?! Kxf7 6.Nxe4 d5! 7.Neg5+ Kg8!
It may seem hard to believe, but this position is technically winning for Black (Stockfish 16 claims it is -3.5!). Black will eventually push h6 with tempo, followed by Kh7. Bd6/Qd6, Bg4, etc. and Black is doing well. I score well (100%) overall from this position.
5...d5!
The point. Black gets back a piece, and keeps the e5-pawn, whereas White’s has disappeared. Overall, Black will have more space and easier development.
6.Bb5?
Believe it or not but this natural pin makes the position lost for White. It’s based on a tactical idea, but Black’s refutation is straightforward.
6…dxe4 7.Nxe5
With a double attack on c6. It had been a while since I saw this line, so I had to sit and spend a few minutes to make sure my next move was correct. The idea came to me immediately, based on an analogous position from the Sicilian Pin Variation.
7…Qg5!
This puts all of White’s machinations into doubt.
The Middlegame(?)
8.Bxc6+
After this move, I’m out of book. White could also play 8.d4 (8.Nxc6 Qxb5! is the point of Qg5).
8…bxc6 9.d4
If 9.Nxc6??, then 9…Qxg2 followed by Bg4 and the White queen must sacrifice itself to prevent Black from promoting.
9…Qxg2
With tempo.
10.Kd2!?
10.Rf1 Bh3 was my idea here, winning the exchange, but Stockfish thinks Black has better with 10…f6 11.Nc4 Bg4. This line isn’t particularly clear to me and I prefer my idea.
10…Qxf2+
10…Bb4+ was another idea I considered for a long time. For instance: 11.c3 Qxf2+ 12.Qe2 Qxd4+!, taking advantage of the pin. After 13.Kc2 Qxe5 14.cxb4 O-O, Black has a three-pawn material advantage and should easily win.
11.Kc3
11…Ba6
I spent some time (15 minutes of my allotted 30) to consider the best way to play. My feeling was that this position was likely to simplify rather swiftly, but I wanted to make sure that I was making all the right choices. In the end I chose Ba6 for some prophylactic reasons (such as controlling f1), and missed the best continuation 11…c5. For instance, 12.dxc5 Qxc5+ 13.Kd2 Qxe5 is completely resignable. However, lots of other moves are good in this position.
12.b3 c5!
Now I find the move to threaten to open the position. One move later, it’s still very strong.
13.Nc4
This is superficially plausible, but fails for tactical reasons. I think my opponent didn’t see the issue until after my next.
13…cxd4
Setting a little trap.
14.Kb2
14.Qxd4?? Bb4+! wins the queen.
14…Bxc4!
Setting a larger trap.
15.a3
15.bxc4? Rb8# is a very aesthetic mate in my opinion.
15…Rb8
Anyway, pinning the pawn.
16.b4 a5
Stockfish finds a mate in 9 here.
17.Bd2 c5
17..axb4 is more direct.
18.Be1 Qf6 19.Bg3 Bd6
19…d3+ 20.Kb1 cxb4 would have mated.
20.Bxd6 Qxd6
20…d3 would still be good, if not quite mate.
21.Qg4
Pure desperation. All I need to do is withstand the few threats he has, and it’ll be over soon.
21…O-O 22.Rag1 g6 23.h4 cxb4 24.h5 bxa3+ 25.Ka1 Qb4 0-1 White resigns.
Takeaways from this game:
Fearsome opponents in Blitz may prove to be different in longer time controls.
Don’t defend in a panic. Keeping calm and making sure I was seeing all the important lines prevented me from defaulting to a defensive mindset.
Full gif of the game:
