I have played an interesting game using my regular off-beat openings (basically rubbish but good enough for a rapid game!). There was a moment in the game when I had felt something big was going on, and I spotted a chance to have a lot of fun. Will you?
gjl - Me! chess.com Jan 2022
1.e4 a6 2.d4 b5 3.Bd3 Bb7 4.Qe2 e6 5.Nf3 c5 6.c3
We started playing something that I would not seriously recommend to anybody, playing a6-b5, etc. But if you look at the position, it kind of reminds a Sicilian pawn structure, doesn't it?
6...Qb6 7.a3 Nf6 8.Nbd2 cxd4 9.cxd4 Nc6
In my experience, it is important to exchange in d4 only when White's knight has already moved to d2, so that he cannot develop to his more natural c3-square. Black is now attacking a pawn and White has to find a way to defend.
10.Qe3?! d5
10.d5 was probably more daring. After all, Black has not played kosher-chess so far and it must be punished somehow. Also, 10.Qe3 may have allowed a crazy follow-up after 10...Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Bc5, but I was not that convinced about it (the engine says I should have been).
11.e5 Nd7 12.0-0 Be7 13.Rd1 0-0
And now it kind of looks like a French! I really like 1...a6 because it does all this.
14.Nf1 Rae8 15.Ng3 f6 16.exf6 Bxf6 17.Bb1 g6
My last move was prophylaxis in case of an attack along the diagonal, but 17...e5 was already possible.
18.Qd3 e5!
White's centre is going to collapse and Black's light pieces are going to become alive!
19.dxe5 Ncxe5 20.Nxe5 Nxe5 21.Qb3
And here I smelled something. What about you? Take 5 minutes...Can you see any tactical pattern? Any weaknesses? No? Think more!
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21...Qxf2!
Showing off. Completely, but also justified.
22.Kxf2 Ng4 23.Kg1
23.Kf3 Nxh2+ 24.Kf4 Bh4+ 25.Nf5 g5# Have you ever seen such a mate?! So awkward isn't it?
23...Bd4+
This was the point of the queen sacrifice. White's back rank is weak. White is lost.
24.Kh1 Nf2+ 25.Kg1 Nxd1+ 0-1
White must return the queen with the interest...
Sometimes, when you can, don't be afraid to play a cool sacrifice! Occasionally you will get it wrong, but whenever you get it right...what a satisfaction!
Here is the link to the game https://www.chess.com/live#a=224581