Almost Fried

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Almost Fried
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White: John C. Pratt
Black: John P. Pratt
Date: 19 Feb 1990
Location: Orem, Utah

This was my first game playing even with my oldest son, whom I began teaching very young. We had played for many years but not very often. He was now 18 and we had never played even yet (without me spotting him a piece). This was our first game in many years, so before we played it, I spent two hours reviewing openings, including Morphy's Fried Liver Attack. In this game I was supposed to be handicapped, but we forgot to remove my king's rook. Given all of that, he nearly won, and we've played even every since.

I really recommend the method of handicapping by spotting pieces to give the child the thrill of winning half of the games, and seeing his improvement as Dad has to keep adding pieces to keep up. See Handicap for Equality.

1. e2-e4, e7-e5.

2. Bf1-c4, Ng8-f6.

3. Ng1-f3, Nb8-c6.

4. Nf3-g5, Bf8-c5? White's move is the first step toward the Fried Liver Attack, which is to attack before allowing Black to castle. Black focuses on developing, hoping his son doesn't actually try what his Dad just showed him!

5. Ng5xf7, Qd8-e7. White did it, this should be interesting.

6. Nf7xh8, Nf6xe4. Black takes the king pawn, hoping to get revenge with a similar attacking ploy. Perhaps he should be thinking of castling queenside.

7. Qd1-h5+, g7-g6. Both have departed from the classic game, but it is getting interesting.

8. Qh5-h6, Bc5xf2+. Black counterattacks even though it looks dangerous at home.

9. Ke1-f1, Qe7-f6! Black's queen attacks the knight and lines up on the white king.

10. Bc4-f7+, Ke8-e7.

11. Qh6xh7, Bf2-d4+. Both sides attacking aggressively.

12. Kf1-e2, Qf6-f2+. White moves the king, hoping to play Rh1-f1 next, but Black prevents that and hopes for a swift win.

13. Ke2-d1, d7-d5. 13. Ke2-d3, Nc6-b4+; 14. Kd3-c4, Qf2-e2+, etc. looked too dangerous. Black develops his other bishop with a plan. Advancing the pawn two will give Black's king breathing room after White's next move.

14. Bf7xd5+, Ke7-d6. White takes the free pawn and continues the attack. But Black's move endangers his bishop. Kings are very powerful at close range.

15. Nb1-c3, Bc8-g4+. White can't check with queen or knight without losing his bishop, so he focuses on developing and protecting his bishop. Unfortunately he fails to see the checkmate threat. If he had, he might have played 15. c2-c4 which would both save the bishop and prevent the checkmate.

16. Nc3-e2, Qf2xe2 mate. Thus ends a very aggressive game on both sides!

1. e2-e4, e7-e5.
2. Bf1-c4, Ng8-f6.
3. Ng1-f3, Nb8-c6.
4. Nf3-g5, Bf8-c5?	White's move is the first step toward the Fried Liver Attack, which is to attack before allowing Black to castle. Black focuses on developing, hoping his son doesn't actually try what his Dad just showed him!
5. Ng5xf7, Qd8-e7.	White did it, this should be interesting.
6. Nf7xh8, Nf6xe4.	Black takes the king pawn, hoping to get revenge with a similar attacking ploy. Perhaps he should be thinking of castling queenside.
7. Qd1-h5+, g7-g6.	Both have departed from the classic game, but it is getting interesting.
8. Qh5-h6, Bc5xf2+.	Black counterattacks even though it looks dangerous at home.
9. Ke1-f1, Qe7-f6!	Black's queen attacks the knight and lines up on the white king.
10. Bc4-f7+, Ke8-e7.
11. Qh6xh7, Bf2-d4+.	Both sides attacking aggressively.
12. Kf1-e2, Qf6-f2+.	White moves the king, hoping to play Rh1-f1 next, but Black prevents that and hopes for a swift win.
13. Ke2-d1, d7-d5.	13. Ke2-d3, Nc6-b4+; 14. Kd3-c4, Qf2-e2+, etc. looked too dangerous. Black develops his other bishop with a plan. Advancing the pawn two will give Black's king breathing room after White's next move.
14. Bf7xd5+, Ke7-d6.	White takes the free pawn and continues the attack. But Black's move endangers his bishop. Kings are very powerful at close range.
15. Nb1-c3, Bc8-g4+.	White can't check with queen or knight without losing his bishop, so he focuses on developing and protecting his bishop. Unfortunately he fails to see the checkmate threat. If he had, he might have played 15. c2-c4 which would both save the bishop and prevent the checkmate.
16. Nc3-e2, Qf2xe2 mate.	Thus ends a very aggressive game on both sides!