manila rose: steve vs computer game 1

White: Steve
Black: Computer

1. e4 c5

Black chooses the Sicilian defence.

2. Nc3

White goes in for the closed variation of the Sicilian defense.

2... Nc6
3. g3 g6
4. Bg2 Bg7

The closed Sicilian is characterized by the fianchetto of the Bishops at g2 for White and g7 for Black.

5. Nge2 Nf6

Normal developing continues to get the Kings into safety.

6. O-O O-O
7. d3 d6
8. h3

To keep Black's Knight out of g4 when White's Bishop moves to e3.

8... e5

9. f4

Staking a claim in the center after Black's e5.

9... Be6
10. Be3 Re8
11. Qd2

Putting the Queen and Bishop on the same diagonal to harass Black's Bishop on g7.

11... Nd4
12. a3 Nd7
13. Rf2 f6

Supporting his center pawn, but blocking in his dark squared Bishop.

14. Raf1

White is starting to mass his pieces on the Kingside in preparation for a breakthrough with a pawn push to f5.

14... Nxe2+
15. Nxe2 a5
16. c3 b5

Black is trying to get some counter play started on the Queenside to offset White's play on the Kingside.

17. f5

Whites tries an f5 pawn break hoping to open a file on the Kingside for his Rooks.

17... Bf7

Black doesn't want to open any files for the White Rooks. Now if fxg, then hxg is OK for Black since the f6 pawn is defended three times, so White tries to get rid of one defender of f6.

18. Bh6 Bxh6

Bh8 might have been better, now White is going to eye the soon to be weak g6 pawn.

19. Qxh6 c4
20. d4 exd4

Black should've moved his a8 Rook off the White Bishop's diagonal, Ra7 or Ra6.

21. Nxd4 Qb8

Qb6 looks better to me, it would put Black's Queen on the diagonal towards White's King plus it would help defend the 6th rank. White now has a weak backward pawn on a half open file at e4.

22. e5

White pushes the e4 pawn attacking Black's a8 Rook and threatening a pawn fork with e6.

22... dxe5

Funny how White's Knight just sits here under attack by Black's pawn until the end of the game.

23. fxg6

Threatening Qxh7+ Kf8 Qxf7++

23... hxg6

Now if Bxa8, then exd4 Bg2 dxc3 bxc3 b4 looking to create a passed pawn on the Queenside, but White doesn't care about winning the exchange, he's going for Black's King.

24. Bd5

Now the g6 pawn comes under attack due to Black's Bishop being pinned, mate is looming in the air for Black's King!

24... Bxd5
25. Qxg6+ Kf8

If Kh8, then Rf5 and mate next move with Rh5.

26. Rxf6+ Nxf6

If Ke7, then Nc6+ (forking the King and Queen) Bxc6 Re6+ Kd8 Rxe8+ winning the Queen. White with Queen, Rook and a couple of passed pawns against Black's Rook, Bishop, Knight and pawns would win in the end, it's just be a matter of technique.

27. Qxf6+ Kg8
28. Rf5