One game, twice

RMD - ALD, 12/11/2004 [D01]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 [=] 8. Nb5 [8. e4 is recommended in this type of position.] O-O 9. Nxd6 cxd6 10. O-O Qb6 11. Bxf6 [My wife second-guessed herself after playing this, but I don't see anything wrong with it.] Nxf6 12. Rab1 Rac8 13. Rfc1 Rc7 14. Nd2 Rfc8 15. c3 g6 [15. ... e5] 16. f3 Kg7 17. b3 Qa5 18. c4! dxc4 19. Nxc4?! [Setting a trap for Black.] Qxa2?? [The second I hit my clock I realized with horror the point of White's last move. I had fallen for the trap. The way to refute 19. Nxc4 is 19. ... Qa6 20. Re1 b5 21. Nd2 Qxa2 22. Ra1 Qb2 when the queen is able to escape with the extra pawn.] 20. Ra1 Black resigns

Given the interesting position and the idiotic nature of my loss, my wife and I decided to play the same position again.

RMD - ALD, 12/11/2004 [D01]

1. Nc3 Nf6 2. d4 d5 3. Bg5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 8. Nb5 O-O 9. Nxd6 cxd6 10. O-O Qb6 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. Rab1 Rac8 13. Rfc1 Rc7 14. Nd2 Rfc8 15. c3 g6 16. f3 Kg7 17. b3 Qa5 18. c4 dxc4 19. Nxc4 Qb5 [My second chance at this position, and still I could not find the right move. 19. ... Qa6 is stronger, retaining an edge for Black. Now the position is even.] 20. e4? [20. Qd2] d5 21. e5 dxc4? [Duh! Because the White Knight is pinned, there's time for 21. ... Nd7, capturing on the next move.] 22. exf6+ Kxf6 23. Rxc4 [23. bxc4] Rxc4 24. bxc4 Qxc4 25. Qxc4 Rxc4 26. Rxb7 Rc1+ 27. Kf2 Rc2+ 28. Kg3 Rxa2 29. h4 a5 [Better to first put a stop to White's ambitions on the queen side with 29. ... h6.] 30. f4 [30. Rb6] a4 [30. ... Rd2] 31. Rb1 [31. Ra7, behind the pawn!] a3 32. Kf3 [32. Rb3] Rd2 [32. ... Rb2] 33. Ra1 [33. Rb4 a2 34. Ra4] a2 34. g3 Rd3+ 35. Kg4 [35. Ke4 since the pawn on g3 can not be taken.] h5+ 36. Kh3 Ra3 37. Kg2 Kf5 38. Kh3 [38. Kf1 also loses.] f6 [Thinking of 39. Kg2 Kg5 when it's all over. But 38. ... Ke4 was faster.] White resigns