One Way Trip

Francesco Rambaldi – Arkadij Mikhailovich Naiditsch
2nd PokerStars Isle of Man International Chess Tournament; Douglas, October 6, 2015
Réti Opening A05

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. b3 d5 4. Bb2 c5 5. c4 d4 6. b4 Nc6!? 7. b5 Na5 8. d3 b6 9. Bg2 Bb7 10. 0-0 Bh6 11. Bc1 Bxc1 12. Qxc1 Qd6. Intending to answer 13. Qh6 by 13. ... Ng4 14. Qg7 Qf6. 13. Nbd2 a6 14. bxa6 Rxa6 15. Nb3 0-0 16. Nxa5 Rxa5 17. Qd2 Rfa8 18. Rfb1 R8a7 19. Rb2 Kg7 20. Qf4 Nd7 21. Qxd6 exd6 22. Ng5 Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Kf6 24. Nxh7+. “It took 13 moves to capture it, but the White Knight never made it back alive! :)”, the editor-in-chief of chess24.com said. 24. ... Kf5

25. e4+. If 25. h4 then 25. ... f6. 25. ... dxe3 26. fxe3 g5 27. h4 gxh4 28. gxh4 f6 29. h5 Ra8 30. Rf2+ Ke6 31. Raf1 Rxa2 32. Rxa2 Rxa2+ 33. Kh3 Ra8 34. Rg1 Kf7 35. h6 Rg8 36. Rxg8 Kxg8. Finally, Black can capture the Knight. 37. Nxf6+ Nxf6 38. Kg3 Kh7 39. Kf4 Kg6 40. d4 d5 41. cxd5 Nxd5+ 42. Ke4 c4 0 : 1.

Rambaldi vs. Naiditsch. Photo: Fiona Steil-Antoni.