It took a while, but...

[alexpgp]

My most recent ladder game on the Magmic server has ended. It's not an immortal game, but I found it interesting how Black got into trouble so quickly, and it was a challenge to take maximum advantage of my opponent's several weak opening moves. (The problem with games like this, though, is that they contribute little or nothing toward my development as a player, but that's not really a concern.}

[Date "2007.07.05"]
[White "ALEXPGP"]
[Black "RCARBONELL"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.d4 e6 2.e4 Bb4+

{Up until this move, the game was developing along the lines of the French Defense. 2...Bb4+ is a beginner's move. It doesn't do anything useful and in fact, causes Black to waste time moving his Bishop away when White plays...}

3.c3 Ba5 4.Nf3 Nf6

{Sure, this develops the Knight, but the piece is vulnerable to the push e5, after which it has to either return to its home square or move onward, to a choice of mediocre squares.}

5.Bd3 O-O?

{Black's King side is easily attacked.}

6.e5! Ng4?

{Given the way this game turned out, the preferred alternative was 6...Nd5. On g4, the Knight can be chased with...}

7.h3 Nh6 8.Ng5!

{White now has both Bishops and a Knight breathing down Black's King side, and the pawn on h7 is feeling the heat.}

8...d5?! 9.Nxh7 Re8 10.Qh5!

{Now the Queen joins the fray. At this point, I think Black is lost.}

10...Nf5 11.Bg5! Qd7 12.Bxf5?

{The move merits a '?' because White misses a forced mate that starts with 12.Nf6+}

12... exf5 13.Nf6+!

{The mate is still on the board, and White doesn't miss it this time.}

13...gxf6 14.Bxf6

{...and, barring spite checks by the Bishop on a5 and the Rook on e8, it's mate on the next move.}

Cheers...