Do not do this OTB

There are some openings which are so complicated that either one has either to memorize the lines by heart or avoid them altogether in OTB games. One such opening is the 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5. Black first offers a bishop (which if white accepts too early leads to instant mate), then a rook in exchange for a knight (which if accepted leads to a highly complicated fierce attack where black finally mates white, queens g-pawn, or gets back the material with better position). White can decline the materials for an even game. Statistics show white's higher win rate in OTB.

White departed from theory (book/database line) on the 13th move. Thenceforth I took 1-2 days per move to analyze out the positon (I was no Capablanca or Morphy!). I  started thinking of fighting for a draw on the 18th move (even offered draw, which was refused), as I could not figure out a mate or win! On 21st move white made a blunder, after which I was confident of winning. Finally white made the last inaccuracy on the 23rd move, which led to a rapid mate.

Cool game! Congrats! I'm waaaayyyy to bad at openings to understand any of the first part, but I am strong enough to click the mouse on the "next move" button and that's really all that matters

why not the immediate 13...Qxf2  ?

why not 22. Kc1  

23. Be3 looked pretty strong. Probably could have kept things evenish. 

Bondiggity, I agree with you on all counts... 13...Qxf2 was probably better than Qh4+ as the King's escape route would have been blocked; 22.Kc1 is probably an alternative to 22.Kb3 (Bd2 was a blunder), and 23.Be3 could have stopped black's mating threat - black gets back the material for an even game.

Alright. Great game though and very interesting line. I might try using that once :D

Oh, that's real disaster for the white. Obviously you are a good butt kicker Sarkar! hehehe,,,,,

Thanks Susanti!

Here's one of the earliest and most famous games with this idea. It's actually the opening game from the book GM-RAM. I've found opportunities to try it out in blitz but never over-the-board... some day, when Neptune and Jupiter align. :)

White resigned due to 13.Rxf2 Rh1+ 14.Kxh1 Qd1+ with mate to follow.

great game, like forest!

dsarkar> great game, like forest!

I wish it were mine. It was brave of you to try this strategy out in a rated game against a strong opponent. Well done.  :)

excellent game . i somehow saw that coming.Thats one of the variation i usaully lose to.Anyhow nice moves, the biggest mistake he made was to break his defence and play h3.

whoa.  As White, I avoid the Exchange variation.  And as Black as you said, that little h5 follow-up is not for the faint of heart.  I saw that Black does well with it at high levels, but I've never been able to comprehend what sort of advantage it gives so I avoid such moves - as my opponent would end up with a bishop extra and I'd be perplexed as to what to do to turn that into an advantage.  

if black plays 7.hxg4?? he faces a mating attack: 7...hxg4 8.Nh2? Qh4

white can give back a piece but still black retains the upper hand:

8.other gxf3 (followed by 9...Qh4 in most cases)

Interesting attacking games, but I wanted to scream at the White player for his poor defense.  #1 Don't take the bishop in that situation unless you want to be attacked ferociously.  #2 Don't open lines for the attacker with moves like d4.  #3  When your King is being chased, run for cover.  Don't run to the open board.

good points, DrLuft! Actually his downfall began from 13th move... there are variations in the book where white can refuse the sac with equality.

It seemed easy to follow along... but now that I think about it, I would never really be able to play like that in a real game...

cool

good article

haha..just passing.....