David's Queen and Knight sacrifice
With one game to play in the 1972-73 Exeter Club Championship, I had scored 8 points out of 9, but Dr David Richards had 81/2, and I had the Black pieces in the deciding game. — RAL
Benoni
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. e3
As I expected, David seemed to be playing cautiously, keeping the draw in hand.
3...g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Nc3 b6
The double fianchetto as Black was one of Emanuel Lasker's deliberately inferior ploys to tempt the opponent to attack.
6. Be2 Bb7 7. d5 O-O 8. O-O e6 9. e4 exd5 10. exd5
I had hoped for cxd5, giving a dynamic imbalance.
10...d6 11. Bf4 h6 12. Qc2 Nh5 13. Bd2 f5
Playing actively and consciously weakening g6. I've met sacrifices here before!
14. Rae1 Nf6 15. Nh4 Kh7
16. Nxg6
Fine! at least we aren't going to draw now.
16...Kxg6 17. Qxf5+!!
This, however, was a bombshell!
17...Kxf5 18. Bd3+ Ne4
Giving back material to make room for the King.
19. Nxe4 Bc8
The light-squared Bishop is desperately needed.
20. Nxd6+ Kf6 21. Bc3+ Kg5 22. Ne4+ Kg6 23. Nd6+ Kh5 24. Bxg7 Qxd6 25. Bxf8 Qf6
[25...Qxf8 26. Re5+]
26. Re8 Bd7 27. g4+ Bxg4 28. Rfe1 Nd7 29. Rxa8 Nxf8 30. Rae8
30...Nd7
At the cost of the exchange, the remaining pieces are utilised.
31. Be2 Qf4 32. b3 Nf6 33. Re3 Ne4 34. Rf1 Bxe2 35. Rxe2 Qg4+ 0-1
[Notes by Bob Lee]