Knowing Better

I failed my training regimen in the last round of the Inland Empire Open. In January, I studied Schulten -- Morphy, New York 1857 and had this game in my active memory when I played my last round on Sunday. Nonetheless, I ignored a lesson that I had extracted from that game when offered the opportunity to apply it to a new position. As a consequence, I lost more quickly than Schulten.

Stripes,James (1877) -- McCourt,Dan (1798) [C31]
Inland Empire Open Spokane (5), 17.05.2015

1.f4 e5 2.e4 d5 3.exd5 c6

White to move

While considering this position, I remembered that I had written that capturing the c-pawn had been Schulten's critical error. I knew that it would be a mistake even earlier in the game as well, but allowed myself to give in to the lure of material game.

4.dxc6?!

4.Nc3 was best with two main possibilities:

4...exf4 5.Nf3
4...cxd5 5.fxe5

4...Nxc6

This position is equal, according to Nigel Short's annotations in Chess Informant 41/359.

White to move

 5.fxe5?? 

5.Bb5 was played by Hans Ree against Nigel Short, Wijk aan Zee 1986. Both sides had chances for several moves.

5...Qh4+ 6.g3 Qe4+ 7.Qe2 Qxh1 8.Nf3

8.Qg2 Qxg2 9.Bxg2-+.

Black to move

White's only hope is to trap the queen. Alas, there is no real possibility of that.

8...Bg4 9.e6 Bxf3 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.Qc4+ Bd5 12.Qf4+ Nf6 13.c4 Re8+ 14.Kf2

14.Kd1 holds out longer. 14...Bf3+ 15.Kc2 Nb4+ 16.Kc3 Qxf1-+.

14...Qxh2+ 0–1

It is checkmate in one. Dan bought me a beer after the game, and we played more chess in the bar. I did better in those games.