Magazines Games 2008-2018 2014

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Ne7 7.Qg4 Qc7 The Poisoned Pawn variation of the Winawer. Black sacrifices most of his kingside in return for activity and pressure on the queenside. Richard was never afraid to accept material, trusting in his ability to beat off theattack.   8.Qxg7 Rg8 9.Qxh7 cxd4 10.Ne2 Nbc6 11.f4 Not (11.cxd4? Nxd4! ) 11...Bd7 12.Qd3 dxc3 13.Qxc3 13. Nxc3 looks more natural, unblocking the B on f1 and aiming at b5, but capturing with the Q is also popular, as it keeps more control over d4.  13...O-O-O 14.Rb1 Kb8 A quiet continuation, planning a redeployment with ...Bc8 followed by ... b6 and ... Bb7. The main line here is 14 ... Nf5. A later Sutton-Martin game continued (14...Nf5 15.Rg1 d4 16.Qd3 Be8 17.g4 Nfe7 18.Rg3 f6 19.exf6 Nd5 20.Bg2 Nxf6 21.Rb5 Bg6 22.f5 exf5 23.Bf4 Qd7 24.gxf5 White seems to have a good game, but his king is exposed and this eventually tells against him.  24...Bf7 25.c4 Nh5 26.Rxg8 Rxg8 27.Bg3 Nxg3 28.hxg3 Re8 29.Bd5 Re3 30.Qd2 Bxd5 31.Rxd5 Qh7 32.Kd1 Qh1+ 33.Kc2 Qe4+ 34.Kd1 Rd3 0-1 ) 15.Bd2 Rc8?! (15...d4 is more active, staking out some space in the centre. If  16.Nxd4 then  16...Nxd4 17.Qxd4 and now both  17...Bc6 and (17...Bb5 give Black strong pressure. After the text, Black's position becomes very passive. ) ) 16.h4 Nf5

17.Rh3! A strong, thematic move. White protects the sensitive squares g3 and e3, and prepares to double Rs on the b-file.  17...a6 18.h5 Rg4 19.h6 Ka8 20.Qc5! White probes the dark-square weaknesses on Black's queenside.  20...Rh8 21.Nc3 Qa5 To stop 22. Na4 and 23. Nb6+.  22.Nb5! Qd8 23.Nd6 Forcing the exchange of Black's best piece, the N on f5.  23...Nxd6 24.exd6 Qc8 25.Rhb3 Nd8 26.Qc7 Threatening 27. Bxa6.  26...b5 27.a4 Qxc7 28.dxc7 Nc6 29.axb5 Nd4 30.Bc3 Rxf4 31.Bxd4 Re4+ 32.Kf2 Rxd4 33.bxa6 Bc8 34.Rb8+ Ka7

35.R1b7+! The cleanest way to finish.  35...Bxb7 36.Rxh8 Rd2+ 37.Kg3 Rxc2 38.axb7 Kxb7 39.c8=Q+ 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 g6 3.Bd3 d6 4.h3 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.O-O Nc6 7.c3 a6 8.b3 e5 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.e4 Nd7 11.Ba3 Ne7 12.Qc2 c5 13.Nbd2 b5 14.Bb2 Bb7 15.Rfe1 Qb6 16.Rab1 Rfd8 17.c4 b4 18.Nf1 Nc6 19.Ne3 Nd4 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Nd5 Qd6 22.Qe2 Re8 23.Nh4 Rac8 24.Qd2 Nb6 25.g3 a5 26.Re2 Bxd5 27.exd5 Qd7 28.Kh2 Rxe2 29.Bxe2 Re8 30.Bd3 a4 31.Nf3 axb3 32.axb3 Nc8 33.Re1 Nd6 34.Rxe8+ Qxe8 35.Qf4 Qe7 36.h4 Bf8 37.Ng5 Bg7 38.Ne4 Be5 39.Qh6

39...Nxe4! 40.Bxe4 Bxg3+ 41.fxg3 Qxe4 42.d6 Qe6 43.Qf4 Kf8 44.d7 Qxd7 45.Qb8+ Qe8 46.Qd6+ Qe7 47.Qb8+ Kg7 48.Qf4 f5 49.Kh3 d3 50.Qf2 Qd6 51.Qd2 Qd4 52.Qg5 Qg4+ 0-1

1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Nbd2 Bg7 6.Bd3 O-O 7.Ne5 Nbd7 8.c4 Nxe5 9.Bxe5 Nd7 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.b4 b6 12.cxd5 e5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Qc2 Nxd3+ 15.Qxd3 Bb7 16.e4 Re8 17.O-O Re5 18.Nf3 Rh5 19.Rac1 Rc8 20.b5 Qe7 21.Rc4 a6 22.a4 f6 23.Nd4 Qd6 24.Ne6+

24...Kg8 25.g3 axb5 26.axb5 Bxd5 27.exd5 Rxd5 28.Rd4 c5 29.Rxd5 Qxe6 30.Rd8+ 1-0

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Nbd7 6.e3 c6 7.Nf3 Be7 8.Bd3 O-O 9.O-O Re8 10.Qc2 Nf8 11.Ne5 h6 12.Bh4 N8d7 13.Nxd7 Bxd7 14.a3 a5 15.Na4 b6 16.Rfb1 Qc7 17.Bg3 Qb7 18.Qb3 Bd8 19.Be5 Ng4 20.Bf4 Nf6 21.Re1 Be6 22.h3 Qd7 23.Be5 Ne4 24.Qc2 Nd6 25.Rac1 Rc8 26.Ba6 Nb7 27.Bd3 c5 28.dxc5 Nxc5 29.Nxc5 Rxc5 30.Bc3 Be7 31.Qd2 Rec8 32.Bd4 Rxc1 33.Rxc1 Qb7 34.Rxc8+ Bxc8 35.Qc3 Bf8 36.Qb3 Qc6 37.Qxb6 Qc1+

38.Bf1 Kibitzing, I just assumed that (38.Kh2 could be satisfactorily met with  38...Qd2 but not so:  39.Qd8 Qxd3 40.Qxc8 Qb5 41.Qd8 winning, as White will win one of the black queenside pawns. So the king move was better. ) 38...Bf5 39.Qb3 Bc2 (39...a4!? was the best try, when the win is not so clear. ) 40.Qc3 Qd1 41.Bb6 (41.f3!? Bf5 42.Kf2 a4 43.Be2 also looks good. ) 41...a4 42.Ba5 Bb3 43.Qe1 Qc2 44.Bc3 Qf5 45.Be2 Bc5 46.Bd1 Qe4?! (46...Bxd1 47.Qxd1 Qd7 48.b4 axb3 49.Qxb3 d4 50.Bxd4 Bxd4 51.exd4 Qxd4 52.a4 should be winning as the white king is not too exposed to possible perpetuals. ) 47.Bxb3 axb3 48.Qd1 Qc4 49.Qd2 (49.Qg4! was immediately decisive. ) 49...Qe4 50.Bd4 Qc2 (50...Qb1+! 51.Kh2 Qc2 52.Qc3 Bxd4 53.Qxd4 Qxf2 54.a4 Qe2 55.a5 Kh7 is dynamically equal. ) 51.Qc3 Bxd4 52.Qxd4 Qc4 53.g3 Kf8 54.a4 f6 55.a5 Kf7 56.a6! Qxa6 57.Qxd5+ Qe6 58.Qxe6+ Kxe6 (The king and pawn ending is clearly won.)  59.Kf1 Kd5 60.Ke2 h5 61.Kd3 g5 62.g4 (62.Kc3 does also win, but why bother calculating variations after 62...Ke4 etc. ) 62...hxg4 63.hxg4 Ke5 64.f3 f5 65.gxf5 Kxf5 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Qc7 6.O-O Nf6 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 Nc6 9.Nxc6 bxc6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Kh1 e5 12.f4 O-O 13.f5 Bb7 14.Bg5 Rfd8 15.Rac1 Re8 16.b3 Qa5 17.Rfd1 Rad8 18.Bd2 Qc7 19.Na4 Nd7 20.Qe1 Qb8 21.Ba5 Rc8 22.Qe2 Qa8 23.c5 d5 24.Bb1 Qa7 25.Nb6 Nxb6 26.Bxb6 Qa8 27.a4 a5 28.Qh5 g6 29.Qg4 Kg7 30.Rc3 d4 31.Rh3 Rh8 32.Rf1 Rcf8 33.Bc7 f6

34.Qh4! The passive 34.Rc1 is okay, too, but the text keeps up White's attacking chances.  34...Bxc5? (34...Kf7 was best but after  35.Bb6 White can continue with her attack on the kingside. ) 35.Qh6+ Kf7 36.Bxe5 Kibitzing, I thought this tempting but the unprotected rook on f1 is a problem. Therefore 36.Bd3!? when Bxe5 is a real threat. The machine also comes up with 36.b4!? allowing the light-square bishop to enter the game decisively.  36...fxe5 37.fxg6+ Ke7

38.Rf7+? (  If only that damn bishop was already on d3. White can, however, still win with  38.Qg7+! Kd8 (38...Ke6 39.Rf7 +- ) 39.Bd3 though the choice on move 38 was not easy with the clock ticking . . . unless you're a machine, of course. ) 38...Rxf7 39.gxf7 Bd6 40.Qg5+ Kd7 41.Bd3 Qd8 42.Qf5+ Kc7 43.Rxh7 Rxh7 44.Qxh7 Bf8 45.h4 Bc8 46.Qh5 Qd6 47.g4 Qf6 48.g5 Qf4 49.g6 Bg4 50.Qg5 Qxg5 51.hxg5 Bh5 0-1

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.d3 d6 6.O-O g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.a3 O-O 9.Ne2 Bg4 10.Bxc6 bxc6 11.Ng3 c5 12.h3 Bd7 13.Be3 Rb8 14.Qc1 Qe7 15.c4 Rb3 16.Nd2 Rb7 17.Qc3 Rfb8 18.Rfb1 Ne8 19.Nf3 f5 20.Bg5 Qf7 21.Bc1 Rb3 22.Qd2 f4 23.Ne2 h6 24.Qd1 g5 25.Nh2 Nf6 26.Nc3 h5 27.Nd5 Nxd5 28.cxd5 c6 29.dxc6 Bxc6 30.g4 Bb5 31.a4 Bxd3 32.f3 d5 33.exd5 Qxd5 34.gxh5 Qd4+ 35.Kg2 e4 36.h6 Be5 37.h7+ Kxh7

(Ed: A pretty picture)  38.h4 exf3+ 39.Kh1 Bxb1 0-1

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 f5 4.Nf3 c6 5.g3 Nf6 6.Qc2 Bd6 7.c5 Bc7 8.b4 Ne4 9.a4 Bd7 10.Nxe4 fxe4 11.Bg5 Qc8 12.Ne5 O-O 13.Bh3 Bxe5 14.dxe5 Qe8 15.Bf4 Qh5 16.Bg2 Be8 17.h4 Bg6 18.Qc3 Bf5 19.f3 exf3 20.exf3 Qe8 21.h5 h6 22.Qd4 Qf7 23.Bd2 Nd7 24.Bc3 Rae8 25.Ke2 b6 26.cxb6 axb6 27.a5 c5 28.Qf4 d4 29.Bd2 d3+ 30.Kf2 Rc8 31.a6 c4 32.Bc3 Rfd8 33.g4 Bh7 34.Qxf7+ Kxf7 35.f4 b5 36.Ra5 Nb6

37.Rxb5? Unfortunately, "greed is good" is an inappropriate policy here. The best way was the direct (37.a7 Nd5 (37...Na4 38.Rxa4 bxa4 39.b5 d2 40.Rd1 Rc7 41.b6 ) 38.Bxd5 exd5 39.Ke3 d4+ 40.Bxd4 d2 41.f5 c3 42.e6+ Ke7 43.a8=Q Rxa8 44.Rxa8 Rxa8 45.Bxc3 winning easily. ) 37...Na4 38.Bd2 The unlikely looking (38.Rc1! was the only way to keep any advantage and may still be winning, e.g.  38...d2 39.Bxd2 Rxd2+ 40.Kg3 Rxg2+! (the best try)  41.Kxg2 Be4+ 42.Kf2 c3 43.a7 Rc7 44.Ra5 with much the better chances after either  44...Nb2 or (44...Nb6 ) ) 38...c3 39.Be3? The d2-bishop has to be let go in order to maintain the blockade of the black pawns and either 39.Bb7 or 39.g5!? should be holding.  39...d2 Black is winning now.  40.a7 c2 41.Bxd2 Rxd2+ 42.Ke3 Rd1 43.Rb7+ Kf8 44.Rc7 Rxc7 45.a8=Q+ Ke7 46.Ke2 Nc3+ 0-1

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bxf3 5.Qxf3 e6 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bb4 8.e5 Nfd7 9.Qg4 Bf8 10.d4 c5 11.Ne2 cxd4 12.f4 Better was (12.Nxd4 with the idea  12...Nxe5 ( Black should play 12...Qb6 ) 13.Nxe6! fxe6 14.Qxe6+ Qe7 15.Qc8+ Qd8 16.Qe6+ Qe7 17.Qc8+ Qd8 18.Qe6+ with repetition. ) 12...Nc6 13.O-O h5 14.Qf3 Bc5 15.Kh1 Qe7 16.a3 a5 17.Qd3 Nb6 Fritz likes 17...h4 18.g4 0-0 believe it or not.  18.b3 g5 19.Bb2 Nd7 (19...gxf4 ) 20.Nxd4 (20.b4! ) 20...Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Rc8 (21...Bxd4 ) 22.c3 h4 23.g4 gxf4 24.Rxf4 Qg5 25.Raf1 Rf8 (25...O-O ) 26.Qh7 The other side was better: 26.Qb5!  26...Qe7 (26...Nxe5! 27.Bxe5 Qxe5 28.Rxf7 Rh8 29.Qg7 Qxg7 30.Rxg7 Bxa3 31.Rxb7 Rh6 32.Rff7 Rb8 ) 27.Qd3 Strange retreat. Better seems 27.g5  27...Bxd4 28.cxd4 Qxa3 29.g5 Qe7 30.g6 fxg6 31.Qxg6+ Kd8 32.Rf7 Rxf7 33.Rxf7 Qe8 34.Qg5+ Kc7 35.Re7 Qf8? (35...Qg8 was the only move:  36.Qxg8 Rxg8 37.Rxe6 Rg3 and Black is holding. ) 36.Rxe6 Kb8

37.Qxh4 (37.Rd6! and the connected pawns will decide.  ) 37...Rc1+ (37...Qb4! activating the queen, though  38.Qf4 keeps White on top. ) 38.Kh2 Rc2 39.Rg6 (39.Rd6! ) 39...Rc3 40.e6? (40.Rd6 ) ( or 40.Bxd5 and White is well on track for the full point. After the text, Black finally gets counterplay. ) 40...Qd6+ 41.Kg1 Rc1+ 42.Bf1 Nf8 43.Rg8 Rc2 44.Qg3 Qxg3+ 45.Rxg3 Nxe6 46.h4 Rc7 (46...Nxd4 was fine, too. ) 47.Rg4 Rh7 48.Bd3 Rh6 49.Bf5 b5 50.Bc2 Kc7 51.Kf2 Kd6 52.Ke3 Ke7 53.Bd3 b4 54.Bg6 Kf6 55.h5 Ng7 56.Rf4+ Kg5 57.Bc2 Rc6 ( or 57...Rxh5 ) 58.Rf7 Rxc2 59.Rxg7+ Kxh5 60.Rd7 Rc3+ 61.Kd2 Rxb3 62.Rxd5+ Kg6 63.Rxa5 Kf6 64.Rb5 Ke6 65.Kc2 Rc3+ 66.Kd2 Rb3 1/2-1/2

1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 c5 3.e3 cxd4 4.exd4 g6 5.c3 Bg7 6.Nf3 O-O 7.Bc4 a6 8.a4 d6 9.O-O Nbd7 10.Re1 b6 11.Qe2 Re8

12.Bxf7+ Kxf7 13.Ng5+ 1-0

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f4 Bg7 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Bd3 c6 7.O-O b5 8.e5 dxe5 9.dxe5 Qb6+ 10.Kh1 Ng4 11.Qe2 a5 12.Ne4 Na6 13.c3 Bf5 14.Nd4 Nh6 15.Be3 Qc7 16.Ng5 Bxd3 17.Qxd3 e6 18.Qe4 Rac8 19.c4 b4 20.b3 Rfd8 21.Rad1 White might also have considered (21.Ndxe6!? fxe6 22.Nxe6 Qd7 23.Nxd8 Qxd8 24.Rad1 +/- when he has a strong initiative ) 21...Nc5 22.Qc2 Qe7 23.Ndf3 Nf5 24.Bf2 h5 25.Nh4 Nh6??

(25...Nxh4 26.Bxh4 Rxd1 27.Rxd1 Rd8 28.Bf2 is better for White but not the disaster that the text move was. ) 26.Nxg6! fxg6 27.Qxg6 (27.Rxd8+ Rxd8 28.Bxc5 Qxc5 29.Nxe6 was another way. ) 27...Nb7 Or (27...Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Nb7 29.Nxe6 Qf7 30.Qxg7+ Qxg7 31.Nxg7 Kxg7 32.Rd7+ and Black can resign. ) 28.Nxe6 Rxd1 29.Rxd1 Nd8 Avoiding the loss of the b7-knight but worse is to come  30.Ng5 Ndf7 31.Qh7+ Kf8 32.Bc5 Qxc5 33.Ne6+ Ke8 34.Nxc5 Bf8 35.Ne6 Ng4 36.Rd2 Ngh6 37.Qd3 1-0

1.e4 Nc6 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 d6 5.c4 Nb6 6.exd6 exd6 7.h3 Be7 8.Nc3 Bf5 9.Be3 O-O 10.Be2 d5 11.c5 Nc4 12.Bf4 (12.Bxc4 has been played in half of the 16 games in my Mega database and Fritz has a clear preference for it over alternatives, yet it has performed poorly. Still, it looks the best way to me. But then what would I know about Alekhine's Defence? ) 12...Nxb2 13.Qb3 Nd3+ 14.Bxd3 Bxd3 15.Qxb7 Qe8 After (15...Qd7!? 16.Qxc7 Qe6+ 17.Be3 Rab8 king safety will likely be a major factor. ) 16.O-O-O Be4 17.Rhe1 Rb8

18.Qa6 Greed, in the form of 18.Qxc7 , might not have been very good here but the alternatives were, unfortunately, worse.  18...Bxf3 19.gxf3 Qd7 20.Qd3 Bf6 21.Be5 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Nb4 23.Qe2 Qc6 24.Qe3 Qa6 25.a4 Qc4 26.Re2 Qb3 27.Rd4 Qa3+ 28.Kd1 c6 29.Rg4 Qa1+ 30.Kd2 Na2 31.Qd4 Qc1+ 32.Kd3 Nb4+ 33.Qxb4 Rxb4 34.Rxb4 Qh1 35.Re3 Qxh3 36.Rb7 Qf5+ 37.Kd4 Qf4+ 38.Kd3 Qc4+ 0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 Nc6 5.Nf3 d6 6.Bd2 O-O 7.a3 Bxc3 8.Bxc3 a5 9.b3 Qe7 10.g3 e5 11.d5 Nb8 12.e4 Nbd7 13.Bg2 Nc5 14.Nd2 Bd7 15.O-O Nh5 16.Rae1 b5 17.Re3 Qg5 18.b4 axb4 19.Bxb4 Na6 20.Nf3 Qe7 21.cxb5 Bxb5 22.Rc1 Nf6 23.Bf1 Bxf1 24.Kxf1 Qd7 25.Kg2 Ng4 26.Ree1

26...f5 27.Qc6 Qf7 28.Rc2 fxe4 29.Ng5 Qh5 30.h4 e3 31.fxe3 Nxb4 32.axb4 Ra3 33.Rc3 Rf2+ 34.Kg1 Raa2 35.Qxc7 Rg2+ 36.Kh1 Rh2+ 37.Kg1 Rag2+ 38.Kf1 Rf2+ 39.Kg1 Rhg2+ 40.Kh1 Rh2+ 1/2-1/2

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 d4 3.e3 Nc6 4.b4 dxe3 5.fxe3 Nxb4 6.d4 e6 7.Nc3 Ne7 8.Rb1 Na6 9.Bd3 Ng6 10.O-O Be7 11.Rb5 c5 12.d5 exd5 13.Nxd5 O-O 14.Rb3 Nb4

15.Nxb4 (15.Bxg6 hxg6 16.e4 is probably better but it is doubtful whether White has adequate compensation for the pawn now. ) 15...cxb4 16.Bb2 a5 17.Bd4 Be6 18.Qa1 f6 19.Rbb1 Rc8 20.Rbc1 Bc5 21.Qb1 Bf7 22.Rfd1 Qe7 23.Re1 Rfe8 24.Kf2 b6 25.Kg1 Qd6 26.Kf1 Nf8 27.Bf5 Rc7 28.Red1 Qe7 29.Qd3 Bg6 30.Bxg6 Nxg6 31.Bxc5 Rxc5 32.Qd6 Qxd6 33.Rxd6 b5 34.Nd2 Ne5 35.Rd5 Rec8 36.Rxc5 Rxc5 37.Nb3 Rxc4 38.Rd1 a4 39.Nd4 Kf8 40.Ke2 Nc6 41.Nxb5 Ke7 42.Rd2 Rc1 43.Nd4 Nxd4+ 44.exd4 Kd6 45.d5 a3 46.Ke3 Rb1 47.Kd3 Rb2 0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Bg5 h6 4.Bxf6 exf6 5.g3 Bf5 6.Bg2 c6 7.e4 dxe4 8.Nxe4 Be7 9.Ne2 Nd7 10.O-O O-O 11.c4 Nb6 12.b3 Qd7 13.Qd2 Rfd8 14.Rad1 Bh3 15.Qf4 Bxg2 16.Kxg2 Rac8 17.g4 a5 18.a4 Qc7 19.Qf3 Bf8 20.N2g3 Re8 21.Nf5 Nd7 22.c5 Rcd8 23.Ned6 Re6 24.Rfe1 b6 25.cxb6 Nxb6 26.Ne4 Rde8 27.Qg3 (27.Nxh6+ gxh6 28.Nxf6+ Rxf6 29.Qxf6 Nd5 30.Qf3 Rb8 =+ ) 27...Qd8 28.f3 Nd5 29.Rc1 g6

30.h4? White was in serious trouble anyway, but the text should be fatal.  30...Kh7 -+ 31.Kh3 gxf5 32.gxf5 Bd6 33.Nxd6 Nf4+?? (33...Rg8 34.Qh2 Rxd6 and White can resign. Also winning was ) (33...Rxe1 34.Rxe1 Rxe1 35.Nxf7 Qg8 36.Ng5+ hxg5 37.Qxe1 -+ ) 34.Qxf4 Rxe1 35.Nxf7 (35.Nxe8!? Rxe8 36.Rxc6 may well be winning for White but it wouldn't be fun to play with eithercolour.  ) 35...Qd5 36.Qxh6+ (36.Rxe1 Rxe1 37.Nxh6 Rd1 38.Qg4 Kh8 39.Qh5 ) 36...Kg8 37.Qh8+ 1/2-1/2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Bd3 d5 6.Nf3 c5 7.O-O cxd4 8.exd4 dxc4 9.Bxc4 b6 10.Bg5 Bb7 11.Qe2 Nbd7 12.Rac1 Bxc3 13.bxc3 Qc7 14.Bd3 Rac8 15.Rfe1 Rfe8 16.Bh4 Qf4 17.Bg3 Qh6 18.Bb5 Red8 19.Bd6 Nf8 20.Be7 Rd5 21.Bd3 Rh5 22.Bd6 Ng6 23.Ba6 Bxa6 24.Qxa6 Rd8

25.Qxa7 Ne4 26.Bg3 Nxg3 27.fxg3 Ra5 28.Qxb6 Rda8 29.Ra1 Rxa2 30.Rxa2 Rxa2 31.d5 Nf8 32.dxe6 fxe6 33.Qb3 Ra8 34.Qb7 Rd8 35.h3 Qg6 36.Kh2 h6 37.Ne5 Qf5 38.Nc6 Re8 39.Ne7+ Rxe7 40.Qxe7 Qd3 41.Qc7 Kh7 42.Ra1 Qf5 43.Qf4 Qc5 44.Qe4+ Ng6 45.Ra6 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Qd2 Nf6 8.O-O-O Be7 9.f3 b5 10.g4 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Bb7 12.Kb1 Rc8 13.g5 Nh5 14.Rd2 Bc5 15.Qxc5 Qxc5 16.Bxc5 Rxc5 17.Rg1 Nf4 18.a4 b4 19.Na2 a5 20.Nc1 Ke7 Better was 20...Bc6 = as after the text move White is able to develop an initiative down the d-file.  21.Nb3 Re5 22.Bb5 Bc6 23.Bxc6 (23.Rgd1 Rxg5 24.Nxa5 Bxb5 25.axb5 Rxb5 (25...d5 26.Rd4 ) 26.Rxd7+ Kf6 27.Nc4 ) 23...dxc6 24.Rgd1 (24.h4 is another possibility, first protecting the g- pawn, but then Black can challenge on the d-file with 24...Rd8 and should be holding.  ) 24...Rxg5 25.Rd7+ Kf6 26.Ra7

26...Rg2 The machine comes up with the surprising 26...Ne2 27.Nxa5 but not many human beings would dream of such a move. (26...Ne2 27.Nxa5 Rd8 28.Rxd8 Rg1+ 29.Ka2 Nc1+ draw ) 27.Rdd7 Rf8 28.Nxa5 Ne2 (28...Rxh2 or maybe 28...h5 seem more natural to me. ) 29.Nb3 g5? Again 29...Rxh2 looks more logical, but Paul does have a devious plan.  30.a5 h5 31.a6 (31.h3!? would slow down (a little) Black's kingside play. ) 31...g4 32.fxg4 hxg4 33.Rxf7+! White had to be careful here and finds the move that gives him the best practical chances of a win.  33...Rxf7 34.Rxf7+ Kxf7 35.a7 Rxh2 36.a8=Q g3

Now the idea of ...Ne2 becomes clear.  37.Qa7+ Kg6 (37...Kf6!? ) 38.Qb8 Rf2? (38...g2 gives White the choice between 39. Qg8+ Kf6 40.Qd8+ Kf7 41.Qd7+ Kf6 with perpetual check, or 39.Qxh2 g1Q+ 40. Qxg1+ Nxg1 41.Nd4 c5 42.Nxe6 c4 43.Nd4 when the ending should be drawn. ) 39.Qg8+ Kf6 (39...Kh5!? was the best chance but the timer was doubtless playing a considerable role by this time. After 40.Qh8+ Kg4 41.Qg7+ the game goes on with the black king perhaps able to support his rook. ) 40.Qh8+ (40.Nc1! g2 41.Qf8+ Kg5 42.Qxf2 g1Q 43.Qxe2 +- ) 40...Kg6 41.Qh4 Rh2 (41...g2! 42.Qxf2 g1=Q+ 43.Qxg1+ Nxg1 transposes to the 38...g2 note after 40...Nxg1. ) 42.Qg4+ Finally an epic endgame is all over!  42...Kh7 43.Nc1 Nd4 (43...Nxc1 44.Qxg3 Rh1 45.Qg2 is winning too. ) 44.Qxg3 Rxc2 45.Qd3 e5 46.Qxc2 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.Qc2 d6 5.e4 bxc4 Presumably prep by Mike as Alphaeus had played the 4.Qc2 line at least a couple of times, in one of which games Black continued with 5...g6  6.Bxc4 g6 7.Nc3 Bg7 8.h3 O-O 9.Nf3 Ba6 10.Qe2 Qb6 11.O-O Nfd7 12.a4 Bxc4 13.Qxc4 Qb4 14.Qxb4 cxb4 15.Nb5 Na6 16.Nfd4 Bf6 17.Nc6 Nac5 18.Bh6 Rfc8 19.g4 Nxe4 20.Rfe1 Ndc5 21.f3 a6

22.Nba7? (22.fxe4 axb5 23.axb5 Re8 24.Rxa8 Rxa8 25.b6 Bxb2 (25...Ra6? 26.e5 Bxe5 27.Nxe5 dxe5 28.Rc1 Rxb6 (28...Nb7 29.Rc8+ ) 29.Rxc5 +- ) 26.Nxe7+ Kh8 27.Be3 Nb7 28.Kf1 += ) 22...Rc7 Black now gives up an exchange but will have two extra pawns.  23.fxe4 Bxb2 24.Rab1 Bc3 25.Re2 Raxa7 26.Nxa7 Rxa7 27.Be3 Rc7 28.Bxc5 dxc5 29.Kg2 a5 30.Rc2 Rb7 31.Kf3 Bd4 32.Rb3 g5 33.Ke2 Kg7 34.Kd3 Kf6 35.Kc4 Ke5 36.Re2 Rb6 37.Rf3 f6 38.Re1 Rb8 39.Re2 Kd6 40.Re1 Kc7 41.Re2 Kb6 42.Re1 h5 43.Rh1 Rh8 44.Rff1 Kc7 45.gxh5 Rxh5 46.h4 gxh4 47.Rh3 Kb6 48.Rf4 Rg5 49.Rfxh4 Be5 50.Rh7 Bd6 51.Rh1 Rg2 52.Kb3 Rg3+ 53.Kb2 c4 54.R7h3 Rg2+ 55.Kb1 Kc5 56.Rf3 Be5 57.Rhf1 Bd4 58.Rf5 Kd6 59.Rd1 Bc5 60.Rh5 c3 61.e5+ fxe5 62.Rh6+ Kd7 63.Re1 Bd4 64.Rc6 b3 65.Kc1 Ra2 66.Kb1 Ra1+ 67.Kxa1 c2+ 68.Rc3 Bxc3# 0-1

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Nfd7 6.h4 O-O 7.Bd3 f6 8.Qh5 f5 9.Nh3 Qe8 10.Qf3 Nc6 11.Nb5 Bb4+ 12.c3 Ba5 13.O-O-O a6 14.Na3 b5 15.Nc2 Bb6 16.g4

16...Ndxe5!? 17.dxe5 Nxe5 18.Qg3 Nxg4 19.f3 Nf6 20.Rde1 Nd7 21.Nd4 Bxd4 22.cxd4 c5 23.Rhg1 Rf7 24.Bh6 Nf6 25.Nf4 Raa7 26.Bxf5 Rae7 27.Bc2 cxd4 28.Nd3 Rc7 29.Ne5 Rfe7 30.Bg5 Qf8 31.h5 Kh8 32.Kb1 Ra7 33.Nc6 Qe8 34.Nxa7 Rxa7 35.Bxf6 gxf6 36.Qf4 Qf7 37.Qxd4 e5 38.Rxe5 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bb3 Be7 Unfortunately here I mixed up my variations and played Be7. During mypreparatio n, I expected my opponent to play 6.Bg5 instead so I didn't prepare for 6.Bc4. (7...b5 ) (7...Nbd7 are also playable. ) 8.g4 h6 9.Rg1

9...Nc6 This is invariably played. I think the reason 9...Nbd7 is not played as often is due to the Bxe6 sacrifice (although probably inaccurate), which is very difficult to calculate over the board. A sample lineruns (9...Nbd7 10.Bxe6?! fxe6 11.Nxe6 Qa5 12.Nxg7+ Kf7 13.Nf5 Nxe4 14.Qe2 Re8 15.Nxh6+ Kf8 the king must protect the e8-rook.  16.Qc4 d5 17.Qxd5 Qxd5 18.Nxd5 Ne5 =+ ) 10.Be3 Bd7 This move allows black to retain the option of recapturing on c6 with the bishop if white decides to exchange the knight. (10...Qc7 is also possible with a different pawn structure.  11.h4 h5 12.gxh5 Nxh5 13.Nxc6 bxc6 14.Qf3 ) 11.f3 This move protecting g4 may not be necessary as black wasn't really threatening to capture it anyway. (11.Qe2 Rc8 (11...b5!? 12.O-O-O b4? this is a mistake falling for a nice trick.  13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Qc4 += ) 12.O-O-O Na5 13.f3 b5 ) (11.Qd2 Rc8?! in this position is less accurate because the rook might be well placed on a8. (11...b5!? 12.f3 (12.O-O-O? now this is a mistake because white does not have the Qc4 resource compared with the 11.Qe2 variation.  12...b4 13.Nxc6 Bxc6 14.Ne2 Nxe4 15.Qxb4 d5 16.Qb6 Qxb6 17.Bxb6 Bb5 =+ ) 12...Ne5 13.O-O-O b4 ) ) 11...Nh7 12.Qd2 Bh4+ 13.Ke2

Here I started to realize that even though white lost the right to castle, the position is not that clear. Black's h4 bishop and h7 knight are misplaced and it is still not clear where to generate counterplay. I think the position is objectively dynamically balanced. (13.Bf2? fails to  13...Ng5 14.Bxh4 Nxd4 -/+ ) 13...Na5 Preventing the knight exchange and pressure on the d6 pawn.  14.Raf1 Rc8 15.Kd1 Nc4? releasing the tension too fast. (15...b5!? 16.a3!? (16.f4 b4 17.Nce2 (17.Na4 O-O 18.Qxb4 (18.g5 Bxa4 19.gxh6 g6 20.Bxa4 Nc4 21.Qc1 Qa5 -/+ ) 18...Rb8 19.Qc3 Bb5 ) 17...Be7 18.g5 Nxb3 19.axb3 hxg5 20.fxg5 g6 ) 16...Qc7 17.f4 Nxb3 18.cxb3 Qb7 ) 16.Bxc4 Rxc4 17.f4 Be7 18.g5? (18.Kc1 b5 19.a3 improving the position of the king is better. White has good chances on the kingside. ) 18...hxg5 19.fxg5

19...Nxg5 Perhaps white missed this?  20.Nf5? (20.h4!? I was worried about this move.  20...Rxc3 (20...Rxh4? 21.Qf2 Rh7 22.Rxg5! +- (22.Bxg5? Rxd4+ = ) ) 21.Qxc3 Nxe4 22.Qb4 ) 20...exf5 21.Bxg5 Bxg5 22.Rxg5 Rd4? (22...Qf6 23.Rg3 Rd4 24.Rd3 Rxd3 25.cxd3 Qe5 -+ clear pawn up. ) 23.Qxd4 Qxg5 24.Qxd6 fxe4 25.Qb8+ (25.Nd5 this move would have forced a draw.  25...Bg4+ 26.Ke1 Qc1+ 27.Kf2 Qd2+ 28.Kg1 Qd4+ 29.Rf2 Qd1+ 30.Rf1 Qd4+ = ) 25...Qd8 (25...Ke7? 26.Qxh8 Bg4+ 27.Ne2 += ) 26.Qe5+ Kf8 27.Kc1 Rh6 28.Nxe4 Qe7 29.Qb8+ Be8 30.Nc3 Re6 31.Qg3 Bc6

Black may have a slight edge here but we were both short on time at this point. In the end I was lucky to have won this game. The rest is not so important.  32.Rd1 Kg8 33.Nd5 Qc5 34.Nf4 Qe3+ 35.Qxe3 Rxe3 36.Rf1 Re5 37.Kd2 Rf5 38.Ke3 g5 39.Rg1 Kh7 40.Nd3 Kh6 41.Nb4 Rf3+ 42.Kd4 Rf2 43.Nd3 Rxh2 44.Ne5 Rh4+ 45.Kc5 f6 46.Nxc6 bxc6 47.Kxc6 Rc4+ 48.Kb6 Rxc2 49.Rb1 g4 50.Kxa6 g3 51.b4 Rxa2+ 52.Kb6 f5 53.b5 Kg5 54.Kc7 f4 55.b6 f3 56.Kd6 Ra8 0-1

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 O-O 8.O-O dxc4 9.Bxc4 c5

The position is similar to a Queen's Gambit Declined. White should have a slight edge here.  10.Qe2 a6 11.a4 b6 12.Rfd1 Qe8 (12...cxd4 13.Nxd4 Qe8 (13...Bb7 14.Nxe6 fxe6 15.Bxe6+ Kh8 16.Bxf6 +- ) 14.Nc6 Bb7 15.Nxe7+ Qxe7 16.Bf4 += ) 13.d5 At this point I thought I was going to win quickly but I was very wrong.  13...exd5 14.Bxd5 Ra7 My opponent has defended very accurately. (14...Nxd5 15.Nxd5 Bxg5 16.Nc7 Qe7 17.Nxa8 Bf4 18.Rxd7 Qxd7 19.Nxb6 +/- ) 15.Bc6? Although attractive, this is wrong. (15.Bf4 Nh5 (15...Nxd5 16.Nxd5 Bd8 17.Bd6 ) 16.Be5 Bf6 17.Bd6 Be7 18.Bc4 Bb7 19.Nh4 Bxd6 20.Rxd6 Nhf6 21.Rad1 +/- ) 15...Bd8

(15...Rc7 originally I wanted to meet this with  16.Ne5 This is why I played Bc6 but I did not anticipate black's next move. ) 16.Bxf6? (16.Bf4 Bc7 17.Bxd7 Nxd7 18.Bd6 Bxd6 19.Rxd6 Qe7 20.Rad1 +/- ) (16.Rd6!? Bc7 17.Rxf6 gxf6 18.Bh6 (18.Nd5? fxg5! 19.Bxd7 Qd8 =+ ) 18...Qe6 19.Bd5 Qg4 20.Bxf8 Kxf8 21.Qc2 Qh5 += is still better for white but less clear because the doubled pawns are offset by black's bishop pair which can become quite strong. ) 16...Bxf6 17.Ne4 Qe7 18.Rac1 Rc7 19.Bd5 Be5 20.h3 Nf6 21.Nxe5 Qxe5 22.Nxf6+ Qxf6 23.b3

Black is close to equality but the game is not over.  23...h6 24.Rd2 Rd8 25.Rcd1 Rcd7 26.f4 Kf8 27.Kh2 Re8 28.Qf3 Red8 29.Qf2 Qc3 30.Rd3 Qb4 31.Qc2 b5? 32.Bc6 Rxd3 33.Rxd3 Rxd3 34.Qxd3 Ke7 35.axb5 axb5 36.Bxb5 Be6 37.Bc4 Bxc4 38.bxc4 (38.Qxc4!? ) 38...g6 39.Qd5

I am not sure this position is winnable with correct defense from black.  39...Kf8 40.e4 Kg8 41.e5 Qb6 42.Qd7 Qa6 43.Qd5 Qc8 44.Qd3 Kg7 45.Kg3 h5 46.Kf2 Qe6 47.Ke3 Qa6 48.Kf3 Qb7+ 49.Kg3 Qc8 50.Qd6 Qf5 51.Kf3 (51.Qxc5 Qd3+ 52.Kh2 Qd2 = ) 51...Kg8 52.Qd8+ Kh7 53.Qd5 Kg7 54.Qe4 (54.e6! fxe6 (54...Qxe6 55.Qxe6 fxe6 56.Ke4 Kf6 57.h4 +- ) (54...Qxd5+ 55.cxd5 fxe6 56.Ke4 Kf7 57.Ke5 +/- ) 55.Qd6 h4 56.Qe7+ Kg8 57.Ke3 += gives better chances. ) 54...Qd7 55.Kg3 Qd2 Now the game is equal as the black queen is too active.  56.Kh2 Qf2 57.Kh1 Qf1+ 58.Kh2 Qf2 59.Qf3 Qd4 60.Qf1 Qe4 61.h4 Qd4 62.Kg3 Qe3+ 63.Kh2 Qd4 64.g3 Qe4 65.Kh3 Qf5+ 66.Kh2 Qe4 67.Kg1 Qd4+ 68.Kg2 Qe4+ 69.Kf2 Qd4+ 70.Kf3 Qc3+ 71.Kg2 Qc2+ 72.Kg1 Qc3 73.Kf2 Qd4+ 74.Kg2 Qe4+ 75.Kg1 Qd4+ 76.Kh2 Qe4 77.Kg1 Qd4+ 78.Kg2 Qe4+ 79.Kh3 Qf5+ 80.Kh2 Qc2+ 81.Kg1 Qe4 82.Qc1 Qd4+ 83.Kh2 Qf2+ 84.Kh3 Qe2 85.Qc3 Qf1+ 86.Kh2 Qf2+ 87.Kh1 1/2-1/2

is a sort of meta-fork, threatening two forks. I can't actually remember coming across anything similar before, and the extra piece meant that the game didn't last much longer (1-0, 28). After this I started to think that Olympiads might not be that difficult, a notion I was very quickly disabused of. 1-0

45...Rxf2+ 46.Kg1 Kf3 47.Rxa7?? This was the really embarassing part of the game, and I'm very glad that Kasparov wasn't around to see this as I played  47...Kxg3 rather than (47...Rg2+ 48.Kf1 Ne3+ 49.Ke1 Re2# and only drew (1/2-1/2, 61) ) 1/2-1/2

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 Be7 4.e3 b6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.O-O O-O 7.c4 d5 8.Nc3 Nbd7 9.cxd5 exd5 10.Rc1 c5 11.dxc5 Here I should really have kept the tension with (11.Bf5 , but I was worried about  11...c4 However, after the simple  12.b3 cxb3 13.Qxb3 d5 is really weak, so White would be comfortably better. I wanted to get on with the battle against the hanging pawns, but it was a lazy decision. ) 11...bxc5 12.Bb5 h6 13.Bh4 a6?! 14.Ba4?! (14.Bxd7 I missed this rather unintuitive and computery line which gives up both bishops for knights in order to exploit a random tactic.  14...Qxd7 15.Bxf6 Bxf6 16.Na4 Qe7 17.Nxc5 Bxb2 18.Rb1 Qxc5 19.Rxb2 and White is clearly better. ) 14...Nb6 15.Bc2 Ne4 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nxe4!? Another tricky decision to make. Capturing with the knight is the maximalist approach as my bishop is potentially a good piece, however my pieces do lose some coordination so capturing with the bishop would have been the easier option. (17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2 Rad8 19.Qc2 Rd3 20.Nb3 ~ ) 17...dxe4 18.Nd2 c4 19.Qe2 Rac8 20.Bb1 Bd5 21.Rfd1 Qe6?!

I 've nearly managed to unravel now, and if I can manage to play Nf1-g3 then the furture should be rosy with a few ways to increase the pressure, e.g. Rd4 and Rcd1, Qd2(e1)-a5 or Nf5-d4. Black could've thrown a spanner in the works here with (21...Na4 as the tactics work for him after  22.Nxc4 (22.Nf1 was necessary, but after  22...Qb7 Black is clearly more active than in the game continuation. ) 22...Bxc4 23.Rxc4 Rxc4 24.Qxc4 Nxb2 ) 22.Nf1 Na4 If Black can get in Nc5-d3 I have a problem, so I need to act quickly to stop that.  23.Qd2 Rfd8 24.b3 cxb3 25.axb3 Nc5?! (25...Nb6 was the safe and probably better option, but he saw no reason to change his plan of bringing the knight to d3. ) 26.b4 Nd3 27.Bxd3 Bb3? He had to accept that his plan hasn't worked and head for a pawn-down ending after (27...Rxc1 28.Rxc1 exd3 29.Qxd3 +/- ) 28.Bc4?! I thought t his was a really clever move when I played it, but the computer points out that (28.Bxa6 leads to the same sort of thing, but with an extra pawn.  28...Qxa6 29.Qxd8+ Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ Kh7 +- ) 28...Bxc4 There's nothing else, e.g. (28...Qf6? 29.Bxb3 Rxd2 30.Rxc8+ Kh7 31.Rxd2 +- ) (28...Rxd2? 29.Bxe6 Rxc1 30.Rxc1 Rb2 31.Bxb3 Rxb3 32.Rc4 +- ) (28...Qxc4? 29.Rxc4 Rxd2 30.Rxc8+ Kh7 31.Rxd2 +- ) 29.Qxd8+ Rxd8 30.Rxd8+ Kh7 31.Ng3 Bd3!?

In two rooks v queen positions who wins generally depends on who gets coordinated first. I have an advantage there because the bishop is struggling to find employment. To try to increase this to decisive proportions I decided to sac' a pawn in order to improve my rooks placement while putting his queen offside.  32.h4 Qe7 33.Rcc8 Qxh4 34.Rh8+ Kg6 35.Rc6+ f6 After the forcing sequence I have a target on g7 which I start ganging up on.  36.Rg8 Qg4 37.Rc7 Kh7 38.Re8 Obviously not (38.Rgxg7+ Qxg7 39.Rxg7+ Kxg7 with at best an equal ending ) 38...h5 39.Ree7 h4 40.Nh5 Qd1+ (40...Qxh5 41.Rxg7+ Kh8 42.Rgd7 and he has to give up the queen to avoid mate.  42...Qe8 43.Rh7+ Kg8 44.Rcg7+ Kf8 45.Rh8+ Kxg7 46.Rxe8 +- ) 41.Kh2 Kh6 42.Nf4 Qg4 43.Re8 g6 44.Rg8 45.Rxg6 would be a simple way of getting a winning ending against most moves, and 45.Nh3 intending 46.Rh8# may be a quick win. 1-0

A47:1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 b6: Torre, London and Colle Systems The team plan before the start of this game was for me to draw with Black against Sri-Lanka's best performing player.  1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 b6 3.e3 Bb7 4.Bd3 c5 5.O-O e6 6.Nbd2 cxd4 7.exd4 Be7 8.Qe2 (8.Ne5 O-O 9.f4 d6 10.Ng4 Nbd7 11.Qe2 Qc7 12.Nxf6+ Nxf6 13.Nf3 Rfe8 14.Bd2 Bf8 15.Rae1 g6 16.Qf2 Bg7 17.Qh4 a6 18.g4 Qc6 19.f5 exf5 20.Rxe8+ Rxe8 21.gxf5 b5 22.Bh6 Qd5 Siebrecht,S (2417)-Iordachescu, V (2603)/Port Erin 2006/CBM 114 ext/0-1 (32) ) 8...O-O (8...d6 9.Ne4 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Qc7 11.Neg5 h6 12.Ne4 O-O 13.h3 Rfe8 14.c3 Rad8 15.Rad1 Bf8 16.Bb1 Qc6 17.Rfe1 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Qxe4 19.Qxe4 Bxe4 20.Rxe4 b5 21.Re2 Nb6 22.Rc2 Rc8 23.Rdc1 Jaiswal,P (2234)-Ismagambetov,A (2523)/ Gurgon 2009/CBM 128 Extra/0-1 (42) ) 9.c3 Qc7

(9...Nc6 10.Re1 Nd5 11.Nf1 f5 12.c4 Ndb4 13.Bb1 Bf6 14.a3 Na6 15.Rd1 Rc8 16.b4 Ne7 17.Ba2 Kh8 18.Bb2 Ng6 19.Ng3 Nf4 20.Qe3 Nxg2 21.Kxg2 f4 22.Qe2 fxg3 23.hxg3 Bxf3+ 24.Qxf3 Filgueira,H (2376)-Godoy,C (2210)/Villa Ballester 2003/CBM 092 ext/ 1-0 (35) ) 10.Re1 Re8 11.Nf1 Nc6 12.Ng3 Rac8 13.Bg5 Given time, the plan is to play d6 and to re-route the knight to d7.  13...Nb8 (13...g6 14.Bb5 = ) 14.Bxf6 += Bxf6 15.Nh5 Qd8 16.Ne5 g6 17.Nxf6+ Qxf6 18.Ng4 Qg7 A fianchettoed bishop can be strong on offence and defence, I was hoping a fianchettoed queen would be even better!!!  19.Qe3 h5 20.Ne5 d6 21.Nc4 Red8 22.Qg3 Rc6 23.Rad1 Ba6 24.Ne3 Bxd3 25.Rxd3 d5

My opponent had been putting me under some pressure during the game, with this move I could feel the balance of the game shifting in my favour.  26.Nc2 Rcc8 27.Rde3 Nc6 28.R3e2 b5 29.a3 a5 30.Qd3 Rb8 31.b4 Quite a concession to make, however allowing Black to continue with his minority attack with b4 also wasn't that pleasant.  31...Rdc8 32.h3 Qf6 33.Na1 (33.Re3 Rb7 = ) 33...a4 -/+ I decided to wait for my opponent to put his knight on a1, before I committed to this move. Clearly I want to prevent him from getting his knight to c5 if I can.  34.Nc2 Ne7 35.Rc1 Nf5 36.Qd2 Nd6 37.Ne1 Qf5 (37...Nc4 38.Qa2 -/+ ) 38.Qd3 Ne4 Time pressure on both sides was having an impact at this point.  39.Rec2 Rb6 40.f3 Ng3 41.Qxf5 Nxf5 42.Kf2 h4 43.Nd3 g5 44.Nc5 White finally achieves what he has been trying to do for a number of moves.  44...Kg7 45.Re2 Rh8 46.Ke1 Rh6 47.Kd1 Nd6 48.Kc2 Nc4 49.Ra1 Rb8 50.Kb1 Re8 51.Ka2 Kf8 52.Rae1 Ke7 53.Nd3

My opponent offers a draw. What to do? I think I have a slight edge, however my opponent has a clear advantage on the clock. Puchen has already won his game. Luke and Anthony's games are still going, they are both very messy and any result is possible on both boards. In front of the match arbiter, I ask Hilton for his advice. He tells me it is my decision to make. I eventually decide to go with the team plan before the start of the game and take the draw. 1/2-1/2

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.Bc4 Be7 6.a4 O-O 7.O-O c6 8.Bb3 b6 9.h3 Bb7 10.Re1 Ne8 11.Be3 Nc7 12.Qe2 Bf6 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.Rd2 Rad8 15.Red1 Kh8 16.d5 c5 17.a5 g6 18.Ra1 Ra8 19.Rdd1 Bg7 20.Nd2 f5 21.f3 Nf6 22.Ra4 Ba6 23.Bc4 Bxc4 24.Qxc4 b5 25.Nxb5 Nxb5 26.Qxb5 Rab8 27.Qc4 fxe4 28.fxe4 Nh5 29.b3 Qh4 30.Raa1 Nf4 31.Bxf4 exf4 32.Nf3 Qg3 33.Rab1 g5 34.Qe2 g4 35.hxg4 Qxg4 36.Kf1 Rbe8 37.b4 Qg6 38.bxc5 Rxe4 39.Qa6 Re3 40.Rd3 Qh5 41.Rb4? Rfe8 42.Rxe3

42...fxe3? (42...Qh1+! 43.Ng1 fxe3 and Black's simultaneous threats of Rf8+ and e2+ are completely fatal ) 43.Ke2 dxc5 (43...Qg6 ) 44.Rh4 Qf5 45.Qd3 Qxd3+ 46.cxd3 Rd8 47.Re4 h6 48.Kxe3 Rxd5 49.Rc4 Bf8 50.Ke4 Rd7 51.Ke3 Kg7 52.Nd2 Kg6 53.Re4 Re7 54.Nc4 Rxe4+ 55.Kxe4 Kf6

56.a6? (56.Kd5 wins the a pawn and the game ) 56...Ke6 57.g4 Kd7 58.Kd5 Be7 59.Ne5+ Kc7 60.Nc6 Bf8 61.Nxa7 Kb6 62.Nb5 Kxa6 63.Nc7+ Kb6 64.Ne6 Be7 65.Nf4 Bg5 66.Ne2 Kb5 67.Nc3+ Kb4 68.Ne4 Be3 69.Kc6 c4 70.dxc4 Kxc4 71.Kd6 Kd4 72.Nf6 Bg5 73.Nh5 Ke4 74.Ke6 Kf3 75.Kf5 Bd2 76.Nf6 Bg5 77.Ne4 Bf4 78.Nc5 Bg5 79.Nd3 Bd2 80.Ne5+ Kg3 81.Nc4 Bc1 82.Ne5 Kh4 83.Nf3+ Kg3 84.Nd4 Bd2 85.Nc6 Bc1 86.Ne5 Bd2 87.Ng6 Bc1 88.Ne7 Kh4 89.Ng6+ Kg3 90.Ne5 Bd2 91.Nc4 Bc1 92.Nd6 Kf3 93.Ne4 Bf4 94.Nc3 Bc1 95.Nd5 Bd2 96.Nf6 Bc1 97.Nd7 Bd2 98.Nc5 Be3 99.Ne6 Bd2 100.Nc5 Be3 101.Ne4 Bf4 102.Nf6 Bd2 103.Nd5 Bc1 104.Nc3 Bg5 105.Ne4 Bc1 106.Nc5 Bg5 107.Nd3 Bd2 108.Nc5 Be3 109.Ne4 Bc1 110.Nc3 Bg5 111.Nb5 Be3 112.Nd6 Bg5 113.Ne4 Bc1 114.Nc5 Be3 115.Nd3 Bd2 116.Ne5+ Kg3 117.Nc6 Be3 118.Ne7 Bc1 119.Ng6 Bg5 120.Ne5 Bc1 121.Nd3 Bd2 1/2-1/2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.b6 Qxb6 6.Nc3 d6 7.a4 a5 8.e4 g6 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.Be2 Bg7 11.O-O O-O 12.Ra3 Rb8 13.Bc4 Ba6 14.Bxa6 Qxa6 15.Re1 Ng4 16.Nh4 Nge5 17.f4 Nd3 18.Re2 Bd4+ 19.Kf1 Nxb2 20.Bxb2 Rxb2 21.Nb5 Rxe2 22.Qxe2 Bg7 23.Kf2 Rc8 24.Nf3 Nb6 25.Qc2 c4 26.Nd2 Rc5 27.Nc3 e6 28.dxe6 fxe6 29.Ke2 d5 30.exd5 exd5 31.Qc1 d4 32.Nde4 Rc6 33.Nb5

33...d3+ 34.Kd2 Nxa4 35.Rxa4 Qxb5 36.Qa3 c3+ 37.Kc1 Qb2+ 0-1

See the "Recent Highlights" section for game annotations from John Nunn's Chess Course  1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 Nbd7 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bf4 c6 7.e3 Nh5 8.Bd3 Nxf4 9.exf4 Bd6 10.g3 O-O

11.O-O Re8 12.Qc2 Nf8 13.Nd1 f6 14.Ne3 Be6 15.Nh4 Bc7 16.b4 Bb6 17.Nf3 Bf7 18.b5 Bh5 19.g4 Bf7 20.bxc6 Rc8 21.Qb2 bxc6 22.f5 Qd6 23.Ng2 Bc7 24.Rfe1 h5 25.h3 Nh7 26.Rxe8+ Rxe8 27.Re1 Rb8 28.Qc1 Ng5 29.Ne5 fxe5 30.Qxg5 e4 31.f6 g6 32.f4 hxg4 33.Be2 gxh3 34.Bh5 Rb2 35.Nh4 Qxf4 36.Qxf4 Bxf4 0-1