Vibi-Litovec

I know that some people will die from laughter just by reading the title. And the rest will die after going through the game. :D Anyway, this game was the very first I could think of, and it appears to me that there might not be a better one to start with. The game is just legendary (despite being 1,5 years old it's being brought up in whispers all the time, as well as in "vibi-Litovec Memorial Game of the Week Trophy"). There is nothing more to say, so just watch and enjoy. ;)

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O d6 5. Nc3 f5?! Extremely dubious, considering white's next reply. Nge7 or Bd7 would be a lot better here, but Litovec goes his own way (as usual).

White to move

6. d4! Correct! This move underlines the weaknesses created by f5. Unlike in Schliemann Defense (1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 f5) it also gains a tempo by attacking the bishop. 6... exd4 7. Nxd4 Bxd4 8. Qxd4 Qf6? And this is a serious mistake, which gives white a decisive advantage already. Rybka suggests 8... Kf7!? and seems that black holds (but is bad). Now black just loses material. 9. Qa4 Nge7 10. Nd5 Qg6 Probably the best decision from the practical point of view. Black is lost anyway, so he tries to create some counterthreats. 11. Nxc7+ Kd8 12. Nxa8 fxe4 13. Be3?! Definitely not the best, but white is so good he can lose the exchange without losing any part of the advantage. 13... Bh3 14. g3 Bxf1 15. Kxf1 Qh5 16. Bxa7 Qxh2 17. Re1 Nxa7 Allows mate in three, which white misses though. 18. Qxa7 The mate was 18. Qa5+ b6 19. Qxb6+ Kc8 20. Qc7#. 18... Qh1+ 19. Ke2 Qf3+ On 19... Qh5+ 20. Kd2 Qxb5 white still wins with 21. Qb8+, and black has to give up the remaining rook. 20. Kd2 Ng6 21. Qb6+ Ke7 22. Qc7+ Ke6 23. Qd7+ Ke5 24. Qxg7+ Kd5 Allows mate once again, and once again white doesn't use the opportunity. 25. c4+ Kc5 26. Qc7+ Kb4 27. a3+? The mate was extremely easy to find - 27. Qxd6+ Ka5 28. b4#. 27... Kb3 28. Re3+ Qxe3+ 29. fxe3 Rxa8 30. Qxb7 Rf8

White to move

After some serious blood-spilling events, white still finds himself winning. In fact, it's amazing that black king still breathes.
31. Bc6+ Ka2 "The King is a strong piece, which can stand for himself" - Wilhelm Steinitz. 32. Kc3 Rf2 33. Qb3+ Ka1 "Ille terrarum mihi praeter omnes angulus ridet" ("This spot smiles at me more than any other") - Horatio. 34. Qd1+ Ka2 35. Bxe4 Rxb2 Engines point out forced mates in 5 and 6 on every move 36. Qc1 And again white lets black go, 36. Bc2 was mate in 4. 36... Rb3+ 37. Kc2 Ne5 38. Bd5 Nd3 39. Qf1 Kxa3 40. c5? Here, white had the chance to end this once and for all with simple 40. Qxd3. 40... Nb4+ 41. Kc1 Rc3+ 42. Kb1 (Kd2 is better) Nxd5 43. Qa6+ Kb4 44. cxd6 Rxe3 45. Qb7+ Kc4 46. d7?

Black to move

Sometimes, obvious moves can be crucial mistakes, this is one example. Suddenly, it's a draw because of the famous R+N mechanism (Those unfamiliar with it: read Nimzowitsch's "My System"). 46... Nc3+ 47. Kc1 Re1+ 48. Kd2 Re2+ 49. Kc1 Re1+ White king can't break out. If he goes to a1 or a3, Ra2 is mate. Alternative way to draw this are knight checks on a2 and c3. 50. Kb2 Rb1+? Again, obvious, but not best. 50... Re2+ forces draw, while now black still has to struggle (but the resulting position is closer to drawn already). 51. Kc2 Rxb7 52. d8Q The Queen is dead, long live the Queen! 52... Nd5 53. Qh4+ Kc5 54. Qe4 Re7 55. Qh4 Kd6 56. Qh6+ Ke5 57. Qg5+ Kd4 58. Qd2+ Kc5 59. Qf2+ White has trouble finding a plan. 59... Kc4 60. Qf1+ Kc5 61. Qf2+ Kc6 62. g4? White finally pushes the remaining pawn, but at an inappropriate time.

Black to move

62...Rg7 63. Qd4 Rxg4! Rook is immune in view of 64. Qxg4 Ne3+. Having missed about 10 forced mates and numerous other ways to win, white suddenly finds himself as the defending side. Objectively, it is drawn (according to tablebases), however the psychological advantage is on black's side. 64. Qa7 h5 65. Qh7 h4 66. Qh6+ Kc5 67. Qf8+ Kd4 68. Qf3 Rg3 69. Qf2+ Ne3+ 70. Kc1 Black looks better and better with every move. 70... Ke4 71. Qh2 Rg4 72. Qh3 Kf4 73. Kd2 Ng2 74. Qh2+ Kf3 75. Qh3+ Rg3 Black coordinates his forces very well. 76. Qf5+ Nf4 77. Qf6 h3 78. Qc3+ Kg2 79. Qc6+ Rf3 80. Ke1

Black to move

The move that costs white the game, although it was very tough already. Only Qb7 and Qh6 here draw, according to Nalimov. I must say, for a game full of blunders and missed mates, Litovec played the latter part exceptionally well, although he gave white two more chances to draw. 80... h2 81. Qc2+ Kg3 82. Qh7 Re3+ First chance. 83. Kd1 Chess can be extremely hard to understand sometimes. Amazingly enough, Kd1 loses, and Kd2 draws. I don't see the difference, as well as I don't see the need to post all the corresponding analysis here. You can do it on your own. 83... Kg2 84. Qg7+ Kf1 85. Qh6 Re1+ Second chance. 85... Kg2 was necessary. 86. Kd2 Again, white makes the worst choice of all. 86. Kc2 draws (somehow). 86... Re2+ 87. Kd1 Rf2 88. Qh4 Kg1 89. Qg3+ Ng2 90. Kc1 h1Q 91. Qd3 Kh2+ 92. Qd1 Rf1 White resigned. And I see you grinning all the way from ear to ear. ;)