monkeymonkey: Researching the Lisitsin I came across the game today. I think I'll call it "How to lose with the Lisitsin."White repeatedly makes moves that display a complete lack of theoretical understanding of the opening they chose. A good lesson to be found in that.
4.Nxe4, 8.Bf4, 12.Qd2, 13.f3 - the hits just keep on coming. The sad thing is that Black appears to be desperate to lose this game as well. But every point where White could claim advantage is met by either a White error, a Black error or both.
This ending is fitting. This game is over after 17.Qe2 (well -- it was over after f3 and fxg4 to be most precise). Finished. Mate is lurking on the not too distant horizon for Black.
It's 10 moves out, but it is forced and reasonably easy to see. Black should have at least seen the start of the sequence - 17...Qh1+ 18.Kf2 Rf8+ 19.Qf3 exf3. There should have been no doubt that picking up the White queen at no cost in a forced sequence is the way to go.
I almost expected to see Black resign. Games likes this one are instructive though, and I think this one really highlights the importance of understanding at least the basic plan of the opening you choose to play before you play it. Why play this gambit if you're going to turn the knight around reclaim the pawn, and subsequently lose tempo and fall way behind in development?
