The queen sac on d1

In last nights club game, I had the chance to sacrifice my queen on d1 early in the game, in return for a check on b5 and the start of an attack. It turns out the sacrifice was overly hopeful (ie unsound) and as a result I chose not to play it. However there have been plenty of examples where it has worked, and it is a useful idea to know.
The basic idea is to capture on e5 with a knight pinned by the bishop on g4, allowing the queen on d1 to be captured (an idea also seen in Legals mate). The f1 bishop then checks on b5, and if all goes to plan, White recoups the surrender queen with interest.
However the example I have chosen to show, does not end in a win for white, but only a draw. However it is still of interest as it shows the basic idea, and was played between to exceptionally strong players.


Renet,Olivier (2520) - Miles,Anthony J (2600) [B00]
Linares zt Linares (5), 1995

1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. d5 Ne5 6. Nxe5 Bxd1 7. Bb5+ c6 8. dxc6 dxe5 9. c7+ Qd7 10. Bxd7+ Kxd7 11. Kxd1 e6 12. f3 Kxc7 13. Ke2 Kc6 14. Nd1 Bc5 15. Be3 Nd7 16. Nf2 Bxe3 17. Kxe3 Nc5 18. Rhd1 Rad8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Rd1 Rh8 21. Nd3 Nxd3 22. Rxd3 h5 23. Rc3+ Kd6 24. Ra3 a6 25. Rd3+ Kc6 26. Rc3+ Kd6 27. a4 g5 28. Rd3+ Kc7 29. Rc3+ Kd6 30. a5 Rg8 31. Rd3+ Kc7 32. Rc3+ Kd7 33. Rb3 Kc7 34. Rc3+ Kd7 35. Rd3+ Kc7 36. Rc3+ 1/2-1/2