Magazines Games 2008-2018 2015

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 Possibly the most famous of all opening variations: Sicilian Defence, Najdorf, Poisoned Pawn variation,B97  8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5

This and 10.f5 are the main moves here. In the recent and well reviewed book "The Sicilian Najdorf 6.Bg5" Kevin Goh Wei Ming puts this move into historical perspective: "10.e5 was first played in the game Keres-Fuderer 1955 after which there were some spectactular wins with the white pieces. Then in the sixties, one Robert James Fischer came along and dampened White's spirits with three important victories with the black pieces. The line faded somewhat into oblivion until it re-exploded on to the the chess scene in 2007 when some fresh attacking ideas were found. For the next five years the variation became the hottest topic in practically all top events."  10...Nfd7?! Goh Wei Ming says this is a mistake which led to a brilliant White win in the Keres-Fuderer stem game! (see below) (10...dxe5 is the main line, a line which Goh Wei Ming illustrates with a brilliant correspondence game from our very own Michael Freeman! Apparently the incredible complexities of this variation make it a favourite correspondence battleground and well prepared over-the-board players take a keen interest in the top level correspondence games (and similarly engine games). In the following, quoted comments are from Goh Wei Ming's book  11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 h6 13.Bh4 Qxa2 14.Rd1 Qd5 (14...Qb2 15.Qe3 Bc5 16.Be2 Qa3 17.c3 Nc6 18.O-O Nxd4 19.Rxd4! Bxd4 20.Qxd4 O-O 21.Nf6+ Nxf6 22.Bxf6 Re8 23.Qg4 Qf8 "Black's position looks very suspicious, but still a direct breakthrough is lacking and the game eventually finished in a draw after more fireworks in M. Noble-T. Gildred correspondence 2009". Continuing the Kiwi connection! ) 15.Qe3 Bc5!? "15...Bc5 scored well in its first few outings, but now appears to be relegated to the critical trashbin". (15...Qxe5 is apparently now the main move ) 16.Nxe6 Bb4+ 17.c3 Qxe6 18.cxb4 O-O 19.Rd6 Goh Wei Ming believes this wins by force, not an evaluation that can be confirmed simply by computer  19...Qxe5 20.Bc4 Qh5 21.Bg3 Nc6 22.O-O Nde5 23.Bxe5 Qxe5 24.Rd5

"It may not be obvious why White is winning in this position. He certainly has a lot of open lines to work with, but Black at least has exchanged some pieces and is only one move away from completing development. Again, concrete tactics are extremely important and here that one tempo proved enough for White to win the game." By now the computer can provide confirmation, although it is one of those position where it is initially enthusiastically excited by Black's material advantage, before changing its mind completely after a minute or two. The next phase of the game, including Black's desperate piece sacrifice on move 26, seems almost pre-ordained according to the computer. The position is wide open and seems to offer a lot of choice, but this is an illusion and almost all moves are essentially forced. Black has only moves to avoid immediate disaster and White has only moves to maintain his advantage. At the end of this phase White's advantage has transformed from 'more than sufficient compensation' to a small but winning endgame material plus.  24...Qb2 25.Nf6+ Kh8 26.Kh1

26...Ne7 27.Qxe7 Be6 28.Rh5 Qc2 29.Bd5 Qd3 30.Rg1 Qg6 31.Bxe6

31...fxe6 (  A pretty line Goh Wei Ming attributes to Richard Palliser is 31...gxf6 32.Bf5 Qxh5 33.Qxf6+ Kg8 34.h4!! trapping the queen ) 32.Nd7 Qxh5 33.Nxf8 Re8 34.Qd6 Qf5 35.Nd7 e5 36.Nc5 White has now overcome any difficulties associated with Black's piece sacrifice and wins on material  36...e4 37.Qd7 Qxd7 38.Nxd7 Rd8 39.Nc5 Rd4 40.Nxb7 Rxb4 41.Nc5 a5 42.Ra1 1-0 M Freeman -T Schmidt 2008 ) 11.Be2 Missing an opportunity to follow a great player in one of the classic line opening games (11.f5! Nxe5 12.fxe6 fxe6 13.Be2 Nbc6 14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.Ne4 d5 16.O-O Qa4 17.Bh5+ Kd7

18.Rxf8 1-0 Keres Fuderer 1955 ) 11...dxe5 12.fxe5 We have now transposed into a sideline usually reached by 10...dxe5 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12. Be2  12...Be7 A perfectly plausible novelty  13.Rb3 Qc5 14.Ne4 Bxg5

15.Qxg5? Leading to an ending with a material advantage for Black ( The computer likes  15.Nxg5 when it looks as if White's kingside attack is worth the pawn ) 15...Qxe5 16.Qxe5 Nxe5 17.Nd6+ Ke7 18.Nxb7 Nbc6 19.Nxc6+ Nxc6 20.c3 Ne5 21.O-O Ra7 22.Rfb1 Bd7 23.c4 Rc8 24.c5 Rc7 25.Rb6 Bc6 26.Nd6 Nd7 27.Bxa6 Nxb6 ( not 27...Nxc5? 28.Nc8+ ) 28.cxb6 Kxd6 29.bxc7 Kxc7 30.Bc4

Black has neutralised all complications and should go on to win, but of course it is never easy against a skilful and determined opponent.  30...Kd6 31.Kf2 Bd5 32.Bxd5 exd5 Regular correspondent Russell Hosking of Henderson has pointed out to me that my fondness for quoting Tarrasch as the originator of the joke "All rook endings are drawn" is dubious since there is no evidence Tarrasch said any such thing, but it's still a good joke. (I just noticed Bob makes the same point in the same way in his report).  33.Rb2 Kc5 34.Ke3 d4+ 35.Kd3 Ra3+ 36.Kd2 Kd5 37.Ke2 Ke4 38.Kd2 f5 39.Ke1 g5 40.g3 f4 41.gxf4 gxf4 42.Rb7 Rxa2 43.Rxh7 Kf3 44.h4 Rh2 45.h5

45...Rh1+? Now the game peters out to a draw ( After 45...d3? 46.h6 d2+ 47.Kd1 there is no way to make progress since f2 isn't available to the Black king ...  ) ( ...which suggests doing it the other way 45...Ke3! 46.Re7+ Kd3 47.Rh7 f3 48.h6 f2+ 49.Kf1 Kd2! and this way around Black can advance his second pawn as well. It's much easier when Stockfish is pointing out the best moves ) 46.Kd2 Kf2 47.h6 f3 48.Rh8 Rh2 49.h7 Kf1+ 50.Kd3 f2 51.Kxd4 Rh3 52.Kc4 Kg2 53.Rg8+ Kh2 54.Rf8 Rxh7 1/2-1/2

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Nf3 Bg4 4.h3 Bh5 5.exd5 cxd5 6.g4 Bg6 7.Bb5+ Nc6 8.Ne5 Rc8 9.d4 e6 10.h4 f6 11.Nxg6 hxg6 12.Qd3 Ne7 13.Ne2 a6 14.Bxc6+ Rxc6 15.f4 Kd7 16.Bd2 Qb6 17.b3 Kc8 18.c4 dxc4 19.bxc4 Qc7

An interesting double edged position. Black is cramped but White's position is already showing signs of being over-extended - the cramping pawns might well be a source of weakness rather than strength  20.Rc1 Kb8 21.Kf2 Ka8 22.Ng3 Qd7 23.Be3 f5 24.g5 Nc8 25.Ne2 Bc5 26.Qc3 Nd6 27.Ng3 Ba7 28.Qd3 Rhc8 29.c5

29...Nb5 (29...Rxc5! wins material since  30.dxc5? Ne4+ ) 30.Rhd1 Rd8 31.Qc4 Bb8 32.Ne2 Nd6 33.Qb3 Ne4+ 34.Kg2 Rcc8 35.Rb1 Qc6 36.Qb6 Qd5 37.Qb3 Qd7 38.Rh1 Rh8 39.Ng1 Qc6 40.Nf3 Bc7 41.Rh3 Rb8 42.Rc1 Rbd8 43.Rhh1 Rd5 44.Rc2 Rb8 45.Rcc1 Qe8 46.Qc4 Qh8 47.Rh3 Qh5 48.Nh2 Rbd8 49.Qf1

Black has clearly won the manoevring battle and now breaks through with a nice exchange sac  49...Rxd4 50.Bxd4 Rxd4 51.Nf3 Ra4 52.Rc2 Qg4+ 53.Kh1 Ng3+ 54.Rxg3 Qxg3 55.Qg2 Qxf4 56.Rc3 e5 57.c6 b5 58.Ng1 e4 59.Rh3 Rd4 60.Ne2 Rd1+ 61.Ng1 Bb6 0-1

1.e4 c6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.Be2 e5 5.Ngf3 Nbd7 6.O-O Be7 7.c3 O-O 8.h3 Qc7 9.Qc2 b6 10.Re1 Bd6 11.Nf1 Bb7 12.Ng3 dxe4 13.dxe4 c5 14.Bc4 Bc6 15.a4 Qb7 16.Bg5 a6 17.Nf5 Bc7 18.Ne7+ Kh8 19.Nxc6 Qxc6 20.Qe2

Whi te's pressure yields an extra pawn which is preserved throughout a series of simplifying mini-combinations  20...h6 21.Bxf6 Nxf6 22.Bxa6 Nh5 23.Nxe5 Bxe5 24.Qxh5 Rxa6 25.Qxe5 Rxa4 26.Rxa4 Qxa4 27.Qd6 Re8 28.Qxb6 Rxe4 29.Rxe4 Qxe4 30.Qxc5 Qb1+ 31.Kh2 Qxb2

This type of ending is impossible to defend since the Queen alone can support the passed pawn's advance.  32.Qc8+ Kh7 33.Qf5+ Kg8 34.c4 Qd4 35.c5 g6 36.Qc2 Kf8 37.c6 Qd6+ 38.g3 Qc7 39.Qe4 Qd6 40.Qc4 Qc7 41.Qc5+ Ke8 42.h4 h5 43.Kg2 Qe7 44.Qb6 Qd6 45.Kh2 Ke7 46.c7 1-0

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O e6 5.a4 Be7 6.a5 Interesting, but White will later regret this adventure  6...b5 7.d3 O-O 8.Nbd2 c5 9.e4 a6 10.e5 Nd5 11.Qe2 Nc6 12.Nb3 Rc8 13.c4 Ndb4 14.Be3 Nb8 15.Rfc1 bxc4 16.dxc4 Qc7 17.Bf4 d5 18.exd6 Bxd6 19.Bxd6 Qxd6 20.Rd1 Qc7 21.Rd2 Nd7 22.Rad1

22...Bc6! Heading to a4  23.Qe3 Ba4 24.Ra1 Bxb3 25.Qxb3 Nb8 26.Qe3 Rfd8 27.h4 Rxd2 28.Qxd2

See the first comment  28...N8c6 29.Ng5 Rd8 30.Qe2 h6 31.Ne4 Nxa5 32.Bf1 Nb3 33.Ra3 Nd4 34.Qh5

34...f5! 35.Nc3 The Knight doesn't have a lot of squares and hangs on d2. Nc3 avoids immediate (further) material loss but now White's Rook is cutoff and his pieces aren't co-ordinating, which quickly proves fatal  35...Nbc2 36.Ra2 Ne1 37.Bg2 Nxg2 38.Kxg2 Qc6+ 39.Kh2 Nf3+ 40.Kh3 Ne1 41.f3

41...Kh7! Threatening ...g6  42.Nd5 exd5 43.Qxf5+ Kh8 44.Ra1 Qe8 45.cxd5 Qe2 46.d6 Qg2+ 47.Kg4 Nxf3 48.d7 Nh2+ 49.Kh5 Qe2+ 50.g4 Nxg4 51.Qxg4

51...g6+ Pretty 0-1

1.c4 c5 2.Nc3 b6 3.Nf3 Bb7 4.e3 Nf6 5.Be2 g6 6.O-O Bg7 7.Rb1 O-O 8.d4 cxd4 9.exd4 d5 10.b3 Nc6 11.Bf4 Rc8 12.Re1 Ne4 13.Rc1 Nxc3 14.Rxc3 dxc4 15.Rxc4 Qd5 16.Be3 Rfd8

Not an IQP position you'd recommend to your friends  17.Rc2 h6 18.Bc4 Qd6 19.Rd2 Na5 20.Bf1 e6 21.Ne5 Nc6 22.Nc4 Qc7 23.Qg4 b5 24.Nb2 Nb4 25.Bxb5 Nc2 26.Red1 Qc3

27.Bd3? White expects to win back his piece but Black's superior co-ordination means the tactics don't quite work out for him (27.Nd3 is prudent ) 27...Qxb2 28.Qe2 Nxd4! (  A computer brilliancy is 28...Nxe3!! 29.Rxb2 Nxd1 30.Qxd1 Rxd4 and material gain is inevitable ) 29.Rxb2 Nxe2+ 30.Rxe2 Be4 (30...Bc3! preparing ...Ba6 or ...Be4 is actually even better ) 31.Rc2 (31.Red2! Bc3 32.Ba6! Bxd2 33.Bxc8 Rxc8 34.Bxd2 Rd8 35.Kf1 and White is alive (just) ) 31...Bc3!

A simple but attractive winner  32.Rxc3 Rxc3 33.Be2 Rxd1+ 34.Bxd1 Bb1 35.Kf1 Bxa2 36.Bxa7 Bxb3 0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 O-O 5.Nf3 d5 6.Bd3 c5 7.O-O dxc4 8.Bxc4 cxd4 9.exd4 Nbd7 10.Ne2 b6 11.Qb3 Be7 12.Nf4 Bd6 13.Ng5 Bxf4 14.Bxf4 Nb8 15.Be5 Nc6 16.Qg3 h6 17.Ne4 Nxe5 18.Nxf6+ Qxf6 19.dxe5 Qe7 20.Rad1 Bb7 21.Rd6 Rac8 22.b3 Rfd8 23.Rfd1 Bd5 24.Bxd5 exd5 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.f4 Qc5+ 27.Qf2 d4 28.h3 Qd5 29.Rd3 Qe4 30.Qf3 Qf5 31.Kh2 h5 32.g4 hxg4 33.hxg4 Qe6 34.Qg3

34...Rc8! After this Black's pieces penetrate and White has to walk a tightrope to survive  35.Rxd4 Qh6+ 36.Kg2 Rc2+ 37.Kg1 Rc1+ 38.Kf2 Qh1 39.Rd8+ Kh7

White has a large choice of plausible moves, but surprisingly only one of them avoids immediate catastrophe  40.Qd3+ (  After 40.Rd3! The rook and queen defend each other and the queen is still guarding the kingside ) 40...g6 41.Rd4 Qg1+ 42.Kf3 Rf1+ 43.Qxf1 Qxf1+ 44.Ke4 Qe2+ 45.Kd5 Qxa2 46.f5 Qxb3+ 47.Kd6 Qa3+ 48.Kd5 Qf3+ 49.Kd6 gxf5 50.g5 Kg6 51.Ke7 Qb7+ 52.Kf8 Qc8+ 0-1

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Be3 Bg7 5.f3 O-O 6.Qd2 e5 7.dxe5 dxe5 8.O-O-O Qxd2+ 9.Rxd2 Be6 10.Bb5 c6 11.Ba4 Nbd7 12.Nge2 Nb6 13.Bb3 Bxb3 14.axb3 Rfd8 15.Rhd1 Rxd2 16.Rxd2 Kf8 17.Kd1 Ke8 18.Nc1 h5 19.Ke2 Nfd7 20.Nd3 f5 21.Rd1 a6 22.h3 Bf6 23.g4 f4 24.Bf2 Nc8 25.Na4 Nf8 26.Nac5 b6 27.Na4 c5 28.c4 Ne6 29.b4 Nd4+ 30.Bxd4 cxd4 31.gxh5 gxh5 32.b3 Ra7 33.Rg1 Kf7 34.Ra1 Ke6 35.c5 b5 36.Nb6 Ne7 37.Rg1 Kf7 38.Nd5 Nc6 39.Nxf6 Kxf6 40.Rg8 a5 41.bxa5 Rxa5 42.Rc8 Ra2+ 43.Kd1 Ra6 44.Rc7 Kg5 45.Rb7 Kh4 46.Rxb5 Kxh3 47.Rb6 Rxb6 48.cxb6 Kg3 49.b7 h4 50.Nxe5 Nb8 51.Ke2 h3 52.Ng4 d3+ 53.Kxd3 Kxf3

54.Nh2+!! Other moves lose, this wins  54...Kg2 55.Ke2 Kxh2 56.Kf2 Nailing Black's king firmly into his coffin  56...Nd7 57.e5 Nxe5 58.b8=Q Nd3+ 59.Ke2 Kg3 60.Kxd3 h2 61.Qh8 f3 62.Ke3 Kg2 63.Qxh2+ 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 The Poisoned Pawn again  8.Qd2 Qxb2 9.Rb1 Qa3 10.e5 dxe5! It looks like the players have been hitting the books since Leo's (10...Nfd7? in round 1 ) 11.fxe5 Nfd7 12.Ne4 Qxa2 13.Rd1 Qd5 14.Qe3 Qxe5 This is the main move as described by Kevin Goh Wei Ming in the notes to Hague-Zhang, except that Black has omitted ...h6 to kick the bishop to h4. Goh Wei Ming considers this omission favourable to White, since the White bishop can now go to f4, a theme that shows up in this game.  15.Be2 Bb4+ Not consid ered by Goh Wei Ming. He comments that White scores well after 15.Be2 and that Black has difficulties co-ordinating here-abouts. Especially in a non-correspondence game, it must be much easier to play White in this position with a huge development advantage and open lines everywhere. Actually Stockfish already signals a winning advantage for White after 15...Bb4+ (see below)  16.c3 Bc5 17.O-O

( Stockfish's win involves some sparkling tactics 17.Bf4 Qd5 18.Bd6!! Bxd6 19.Nf5! Bc5 20.Ned6+ winning the Queen since if  20...Kf8? 21.Qg5 mates ) 17...O-O 18.Bf4 Qd5 19.c4 Bxd4 20.Rxd4 Qa5 21.Bd6 Nc6 22.Rdd1 Re8 23.Qg3

23...f5? 24.Bh5! f4 25.Bf7+ Kh8 26.Qxf4 Rd8 27.Bc7 e5 28.Bxa5 exf4 29.Bxd8 Nxd8

30.Be8! 1-0

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.O-O O-O 5.d4 d6 6.c4 Nbd7 7.Nc3 e5 8.e4 Re8 9.d5 Nc5 10.Ne1 a5 11.Rb1 Bd7 12.b3 Nh5 13.Be3 b6 14.Rb2 Rf8 15.a3 Qe8 16.b4 axb4 17.axb4 Na4 18.Nxa4 Rxa4 19.Nd3 f5 20.f3 Qa8 21.Re1 Nf6 22.Nf2 Ra2 23.Qb1 Ra3 24.Qc1 f4 25.Bd2 g5 26.g4 Qa4 27.c5 Ra8 28.cxd6 cxd6 29.Qc7 Ne8 30.Qc2 b5 31.Rc1 Qxc2 32.Rbxc2 Bf6 33.Kf1 Bd8 34.Ke2 Bb6 35.Nd3 Bd4 36.Rh1 Ra1 37.Nc1 Kg7 38.h4 h6 39.hxg5 hxg5 40.Nb3 Rxh1 41.Bxh1 Bb6 42.Na5 Kf6 43.Bg2 Rc8 44.Ra2 Ra8 45.Kd1 Nc7 46.Bf1 Rh8 47.Be2 Rh1+ 48.Kc2 Rh2 49.Kd3

White is a little tangled up  49...Rh1 (49...Be8! Threatening Nxd5 is very strong ) 50.Rc2 Na6 51.Nc6 Nc7 52.Bc3 Rb1 53.Rd2 Rh1 54.Kc2 Be3 55.Rd3 Bb6 56.Kb2 Rh2 57.Rd2 Rh1 58.Rc2 Rg1 59.Bd3 Rh1 60.Rg2 Be3 61.Kb3 Bb6 62.Ra2 Rh3 63.Be2 Rh1 64.Nb8 Bc8 65.Nc6 Bd7 1/2-1/2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Ne4 5.Qc2 f5 6.Ne2 b6 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.Nxc3 Bb7 9.b3 O-O 10.Bb2 d6 11.O-O-O Nd7 12.f3 Nxc3 13.Qxc3 a5 14.Bd3 Qg5 15.Qd2 a4 16.b4 c5 17.b5 d5 18.Kb1 Rfc8 19.h4 Qe7 20.Be2 Nf6 21.Rc1 Ne8 22.h5 h6 23.Rhg1 Rd8 24.g4 dxc4 25.Bxc4 Bd5 26.gxf5 Bxc4 27.Rxc4 Nd6 28.Rcc1 Nxf5 29.e4 Nxd4 30.Qxh6 Ra7 31.Rg6 Rf8 32.f4 Qh4 33.Rcg1 Rff7 34.Bxd4 cxd4 35.Rxe6 Rae7

36.Rxe7 ( Simply 36.Rxb6! Is very strong, with the threat of  36...-- 37.Rb8+ Rf8 38.Rxf8+ Kxf8 39.Qh8+ Kf7 40.Rxg7+ and wins ) 36...Qxe7 37.Qg6 Qxa3 38.h6 Qb3+ 39.Kc1?? (39.Ka1 holds the balance ) 39...Rc7+ 0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b5 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O Be7 6.Nbd2 O-O 7.Re1 d5 8.a4 a6 9.Nb3 c6 10.axb5 axb5 11.Rxa8 Bxa8 12.Bg5 Nbd7 13.Qa1 h6 14.Bxf6 Bxf6 15.Qa7 Qb6 16.Ra1 Rd8 17.e3 Be7 18.Ne1 Bb7 19.Qxb6 Nxb6 20.Ra7 Rd7 21.Nd3 Bc8 22.Ra2 Na4 23.Ne5 Rc7 24.Bf1 Bd7 25.Na5 Nb6 26.Nb3 Na4 27.Na5 Nb6 28.Nb3 Na4 29.Bd3 Be8 30.Kg2 f6 31.Ng6 Bd6 32.f4 Kf7 33.Nh4 Ke7 34.Nf3 g5 35.Kf2 g4 36.Ne1 c5 37.dxc5 Nxc5 38.Nd4 Nxd3+ 39.Nxd3 e5 40.Nf5+ Ke6 41.Nxh6 Rxc2+ 42.Kf1 e4 43.f5+ Ke7 44.Nf2 b4 45.Nhxg4 Bb5+ 46.Kg2 Bc5 47.Ra5 Be2 48.Kh3 Kd6 49.Kh4 Rxb2 50.Nxf6 b3?

51.N2xe4+ dxe4 52.Nxe4+ Ke7 53.Nxc5 Bc4 54.h3 Ra2

55.Nxb3! Bxb3 56.Rxa2 Bxa2 Black is effectively staked out in the sun to be eaten by ants.  57.Kg5 Bb1 58.Kf4 Kf6 59.g4 Bc2 60.h4 Bd3 61.e4 Bc4 62.e5+ Kg7 63.g5 Be2 64.e6 Bh5 65.Ke5 Bg4 66.f6+ Kg6 67.Kd6 Bd1 68.Ke7 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 d6 6.Be3 Nf6 7.Be2 Be7 8.O-O O-O 9.Kh1 a6 10.a4 Qc7 11.Nb3 b6 12.f4 Rb8 13.Bf3 Na5 14.Nd2 Nd7 15.Ne2 Bb7 16.c3 Rfc8 17.Nd4 Nc4 18.Nxc4 Qxc4 19.Re1 Bf8 20.Qd2 Nf6 21.Bg1 e5 22.Nf5 Nxe4 23.Qc2 Nc5 24.Bxb7 Rxb7 25.fxe5 Qd3 26.Qf2 dxe5 27.Rad1 Qc4 28.Rxe5 Nd3 29.Qf3 Nxe5 30.Qxb7 Re8 31.Qd5 g6 32.Ng3 Qxd5 33.Rxd5 Ng4 34.Rd1 Bc5 35.Bxc5 bxc5 36.Kg1 f5 37.h3 Ne5 38.Rd6 Nc4 39.Rxa6 Nxb2

40.Kf2? Nd1+ 41.Kf1 Nxc3 42.a5 f4 43.Nh1 Ne4 44.Rc6 c4 45.a6 Re7 46.Rc8+ Kg7 47.Kg1 c3 48.Nf2 Ng3 49.Nd3 g5 50.h4 Rd7 51.Nf2 h6 52.hxg5 hxg5 53.Rc5 Kg6 54.Kh2 Rh7+ 55.Nh3 Ne4 56.Rc6+ Kf5 57.Kg1 Rd7 58.Nf2 Nxf2 59.Kxf2 Rd2+ 60.Ke1 Rxg2 61.Rxc3 Ra2 62.Rc6 g4 63.Kf1 g3 64.Rb6 f3 0-1

1.e4 Nf6 2.d3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.c3 d5 5.Nbd2 Bc5 6.Be2 O-O 7.Qc2 Re8 8.h3 Bb6 9.Nf1 Nh5 10.g3 g6 11.Bg5 Qd6 12.N3d2 Ng7 13.exd5 Qxd5 14.Ne4 Kh8 15.Bf6 Bf5 16.Nfd2 Bxe4 17.Nxe4 Re6 18.O-O Kg8

19.Bf3 Qd7 20.Bg4 Nf5 21.Bxf5 gxf5 22.Qd2 f4 23.Qe2 Kf8 24.Qg4 Qc8 25.Qg7+ Ke8 26.Qg8+ Kd7 27.Qxf7+ Ne7

28.Bxe7 Rxe7 29.Nf6+ Kd8 30.Qf8+ 1-0

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 a6 8.Qd2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Bc5 10.O-O-O Nxd4 11.Bxd4 b5 12.Ne4 Be7 13.Nc3 Bc5

14.Ne4 Be7 15.Nc3 Bc5 16.Ne4 Be7 1/2-1/2

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Bf4 a6 8.Nd2 Nh5 9.Qa4+ Qd7 10.Qe4+ Kd8 11.Nc4 f5 12.Qe3 Ra7 13.Nb6 Qf7 14.Bg5+ Kc7 15.Rc1 h6 16.Bf4 Nxf4 17.Nxc8 Nxg2+ 18.Bxg2 Kxc8 19.b4 b6 20.O-O Be7 21.Na4 Bd8 22.bxc5 bxc5

23.Nxc5! White prises open the lines to Black's king and has a lot of fun for the rest of the game  23...dxc5 24.Rxc5+ Kd7 25.Qb3 Bc7 26.Rfc1 Qf6 27.Qa4+ Kd8 28.Qc4 Qd6 29.Qc3 Rh7 30.Qb2 Nd7 31.Rc6 Qxh2+ 32.Kf1 Qe5

33.Qa3! Threatening d6!  33...Nb8 34.Rxg6 Qe8 35.Rf6 Nd7 36.Rfc6 Nb8 37.Rf6 Rf7 38.Rxh6 Bf4 39.Qa5+ Rac7

40.Rxc7? (40.d6! Bxc1 41.dxc7+ Rxc7 42.Rd6+ Nd7 43.Bc6 followed by Rxd7 wins ) 40...Bxc7 41.Qb4 Qf8 42.Qh4+ Qe7?

43.Rh8+ Kd7 44.Qa4+ Kd6 45.Re8! Qg5 46.Re6+ Kc5 47.Qc2+ Kb5 48.d6 Qf4 49.Qb2+ Ka4 50.Re3 Bxd6 51.Qb3+ Ka5 52.Qxf7 Bc5

53.Qd5! A nice finishing touch to the tournament 1-0

1.Nf3 d6 2.d4 Bg4 3.Nbd2 Nf6 4.h3 Bh5 5.g4 Bg6 6.Bg2 c6 7.a4 a5 8.Nc4 Nbd7 9.Bf4 Nb6 10.Nfd2 Nfd5 11.Bg3 Nxc4 12.Nxc4 Nb6 13.Nd2 e6 14.e4 d5 15.O-O dxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Bd6 18.f4 Qc7 19.h4 g6 20.Qe2 h5 21.g5 O-O 22.Kg2 Nd5 23.Qd2 Ne7 24.c4 Rad8 25.Qe3 Nf5 26.Bxf5 exf5 27.c5 Be7 28.Rfe1 Rd7 29.Re2 Rfd8 30.Be1 Bf8 31.Bc3 Re7 32.Qd2 Rxe2+ 33.Qxe2 Qxf4 34.Qf2 Qg4+ 35.Kh2

35...Re8 (35...Bxc5! 36.dxc5 Rd3 wins ) 36.Re1 Rd8 37.Rg1 Qe4 38.Re1 Qd3 39.Qg3 Qxg3+ 40.Kxg3 Bg7 41.Rd1 Be5+ 42.Kf3 Bc7 43.Rb1 b6 44.cxb6 Bxb6 45.Re1 Bxd4 46.Bxa5 Ra8 47.b4 c5 48.Bb6 Bc3 49.Rc1 Bxb4 50.a5

50...Kf8? (50...Bxa5? 51.Ra1! = ( not 51.Bxc5? Rc8! ) ) ( so 50...Ra6! preparing  51.-- Bxa5 52.Bxc5 ( or 52.Ra1 Rxb6! ) 52...Rc6 ) 51.Bxc5+ Bxc5 52.Rxc5 Ke7 53.Kf4 Kd6 54.Rb5 Rc8 55.Rb7 Rc4+ 56.Kg3 Rc7 57.Rb6+ Rc6 58.Rb7 Ke6 59.Ra7 Rc3+ 60.Kf4 Rc4+ 61.Kg3 Ra4 62.a6 Ke5 63.Re7+ Kd5 64.a7 Ra3+ 65.Kf4 Ra4+ 66.Ke3 Ra3+ 67.Kd2 f4 68.Ke2 Kd4 69.Kf2 Kd5 70.Ke2 Kd4 71.Kf2 Kd5 72.Ke2 Kd4 1/2-1/2

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Ne2 dxe4 5.a3 Be7 6.Nxe4 Nf6 7.N2g3 O-O 8.c3 Nbd7 9.Bd3 e5 10.Nxf6+ Bxf6 11.d5 g6 12.Bh6 Re8 13.O-O a6 14.Ne4 Nb6 15.Qb3 Bf5 16.Rad1 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 Qd6 18.Be3 Bg7 19.c4 Nd7 20.Qb4 Qxb4 21.axb4 f5 22.Bc2 f4 23.Bd2 Nf6 24.Rfe1 Rac8 25.Ba4 b5 26.cxb5 axb5 27.Bxb5 Red8 28.Rxe5 Nxd5

29.Rxd5! Rxd5 30.Bc4 c6 31.Bxf4 Bxb2 32.b5! Kf8 33.Bxd5 cxd5 34.b6 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bg7 6.Nxc6 bxc6 7.Bc4 Qc7 8.O-O Nf6 9.Re1 O-O 10.Bg5 d6 11.Bxf6 Bxf6 12.Qc2 Rb8 13.Nd2 Rd8 14.Nf3 d5 15.exd5 cxd5 16.Bb3 Bg4 17.Qe2 Rb6 18.Rad1 Rbd6 19.Qe3 e5 20.Rd2

20...d4 21.cxd4 exd4 22.Qf4 Bf5

23.g4! Bc8 24.g5! Bg7 25.Rde2!

25...R6d7 26.Re8+ Rxe8 27.Rxe8+ Bf8 28.Qxc7 (28.Ne5! Re7 29.Bxf7+ Rxf7 30.Qxf7+ Qxf7 31.Nxf7 Kxf7 32.Rxc8 and wins ) 28...Rxc7 29.Nxd4 Kg7 30.Re1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 g6 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 Bg7 6.Be3 d6 7.Nc3 Bd7 8.Be2 Nf6 9.h3 O-O 10.O-O a6 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.Rad1 Qc7 13.Ne1 Na5 14.Rc1 Qd8 15.b3 b5 16.Nd3 Bc6 17.f3 Nd7 18.Nb4 Bb7 19.Ncd5 e6 20.Rxc8 Bxc8 21.Nf4 e5 22.Nfd5 Nf6 23.dxe5 dxe5?? (23...Nxd5 +/- ) 24.Bb6

. . . 1-0

1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.g3 Nf6 4.Bg2 Be7 5.O-O O-O 6.b3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bb2 Nc6 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nxd4 11.Bxd4 Nb4 The knight is heading to c2 to obtain the two bishops in an open position  12.Nc3 ( Ed: It's important to make sure that ...Nc2 doesn't win the exchange 12.Bb2?? Qxd1 13.Rxd1 Nc2 ) 12...Nc2 13.Qxc2 Qxd4 14.Rfd1 Qe5 15.Rd3 Rb8 16.Rad1 White gets a development lead as compensation for the bishop pair, but doubling on the d file seems harmless with advanced entry points covered  16...b5 17.Ne4 b4 18.Nd6 Ba6 19.Re3 Qa5 20.Be4 g6

21.Bxg6?! fxg6! ( If 21...hxg6? 22.Rxe6! And White has the draw in hand and can play for more if Black is not very careful. But with Russell a half point ahead a draw would presumably suit him ) 22.Rxe6 Bf6 23.Qe4 Rbd8 24.Rd5 This looks good but (24.Rc1! Is a nice computer resource, eg  24...Qg5 25.Rc6!

And play is incredibly sharp, but White apparently has equal chances, eg  25...Bg7! holds the balance since  26.Rxa6? loses to a brilliancy ( better is something like 26.Re7 Qf6 27.Qd5+ Kh8 28.Nf7+ Qxf7 29.Qxf7 Rxf7 30.Rxf7 and the comp evaluation is still 0.00 ) 26...Qc1+ 27.Kg2 Rxf2+!! 28.Kxf2 Rf8+ and Black recovers the sacrificed rook with interest ) 24...Qxa2 25.Ne8 Qa1+ With the very important point that the Queen covers f6  26.Kg2

Black to play and win  26...Bb7! A rare triple pin/skewer  27.Nxf6+ Qxf6! Possible since the long diagonal pin means Black wins the queen back with interest  28.Rxf6 Bxd5 0-1

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Nf3!? This little system can be useful to get French Defence devotees off the beaten track. 5 f4 is standard.  5...c5 6.dxc5 Nc6 7.Bf4 Be7 8.Bg3 Nxc5 9.Bd3 Qb6 10.O-O Nxd3 11.Qxd3 Bd7 12.a3 O-O 13.Rfe1 Rfc8 14.Bf4 Na5 15.b3 Qc7?

Allowing a series of sacrifices that will cost Black his queen.  16.Nxd5! exd5 17.e6 Qd8 No doubt expecting White to simply regather his material with exd7 (17...Qxf4 18.exd7 Rd8 19.Rxe7 Nc6 20.Re8+ Rxe8 21.dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 22.Qxd5 with a healthy extra pawn for White is preferable if unappealing ) 18.exf7+! Kh8

19.Rxe7 Qxe7 20.Ng5 Qxg5 21.Bxg5 Be6 22.Qf3 Rf8 23.Re1 (23.Re1 Rxf7 24.Qc3 ) (23.Re1 Bxf7 24.Be7 Rae8 25.Re2 ) 1-0

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Qd7?! 7.Bb5 c6 8.Ba4! With this novelty White avoids the swap of light-squared bishops, and inhibits the black ...c5 break. Later the bishop may return to kingside duty with Ne2, c3 and Bc2.  8...Ba6 9.Ne2 h5 10.O-O Nh6 11.Re1 Be7 12.c3 g6 13.Nf4 Nf5 14.Nh3 Bb5 15.Bc2 c5 16.Bg5 Nc6

17.Bf6! Bxf6 18.exf6 Qd8 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Nf4 Qxf6 21.Qxd5 Rc8 22.Qxc5 a6 23.a4 Nce7

24.Nd5!! -- This pretty finish surprised even my tactically gifted opponent. The variations go (24...exd5 25.Qxc8# ) (24...Nxd5 25.Qxc8+ ) (24...Rxc5 25.Nxf6+ Kd8 26.axb5 ) ( That leaves only 24...Qg7 25.Nc7+ Kd8 when White has multiple wins, including  26.Nxe6+ fxe6 27.Qb6+ Rc7 28.axb5 ) 1-0

1.d3 Nf6 2.e4 d6 3.f4 Nc6 4.Nf3 e5 5.g3 Bg4 6.h3 Bxf3 7.Qxf3 d5 8.c3 dxe4 9.dxe4 Bc5 10.f5 Playing with fire a bit here, but needed him to start playing chess and do something.  10...Qd7 11.Nd2 O-O-O 12.Be2 Always have to be wary, an obvious move like Nb3 would be bad! (12.Nb3 Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Qd1# ) 12...Kb8 13.a3 g6 This was it, my opponent had thought for a long time and I had a feeling he was looking at this piece sacrifice. I couldn't see a direct win, so took the risk.  14.fxg6 fxg6 15.Qxf6 Rhf8 16.Qg5

16...Rf2? The follow-up was not so good. Better and the line I was worried about was (16...Bf2+ 17.Kd1 Na5 18.Kc2 Qa4+ 19.Kb1 Rxd2 20.Bxd2 Qxe4+ 21.Ka2 Qxe2 and White can't help repeat for a draw. But my gamble paid off and he wasn't up to it.  22.Rad1 Qc4+ 23.Kb1 Qe4+ 24.Ka2 ) 17.Qg4? (17.Bc4 Same idea as the game, just leaving the Queen where it was is the best. ) 17...Qf7 18.Bc4 Qf8 19.Bd5 Ne7 20.b4 h5 21.Qg5 Nxd5 22.exd5 Bb6 23.Bb2 This is what my opponent had missed, White is threatening to castle Queenside and just be a piece up.  23...Rf5 24.Qxg6 Bf2+ 25.Ke2 Rd6 26.Qh7 Bxg3 27.Raf1

Now the last piece is in action and the game is over - some risks pay off :-)  27...Rf2+ 28.Rxf2 Qxf2+ 29.Kd1 a5 30.Rf1 My turn and my lines are simple to see...  30...Qe3 31.Rf8+ Ka7 32.Qxc7 Rxd5 33.Qb8+ Ka6 34.Rf6+ 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 O-O 5.Be2 d6 6.Be3 Played this a lot in NZ and a bit creaky, but Black needs to know what to do. Decided to try it as Igor couldn't know I would play it.  6...Nc6 Never seen this and seems to want White to chuck his pawns forward which is what I normally do anyway...  7.d5 Ne5 8.h3 e6 9.g4 Idea of this move is to be able to force the Knight to e8 so that he could not get normal Benoni pressure based around Re8 and Qe7 etc.  9...exd5 10.cxd5 c5 11.Qd2 Rb8 12.a4 a6 13.f4 Ned7 14.g5 Ne8 15.Nf3 Qe7

This is the kind of position I had seen. Normal Steadman type game, burn the bridges and just get on with it.  16.Bd3 b5 17.axb5 axb5 18.Nxb5 c4 19.Bxc4 Qxe4 20.Qe2 Bxb2 21.Rd1 Things have changed, but I was still OK with my game, f2 seemed like a good square for my King.  21...Ba6 22.Kf2 Bh8 23.Rhe1 Nb6 24.Nxd6 Won a pawn, but very hard to win from here.  24...Nxd6 25.Bxa6 Na4

This had a point which I missed completely.  26.Bd3? (26.Bd4 Qxe2+ 27.Bxe2 Nc3 28.Rd3 Bxd4+ 29.Nxd4 Rb2 30.Kf3 Nxd5 Players could calmly agree a draw here. ) 26...Nc3 27.Bxe4 Ndxe4+ 28.Kg2 Nxe2 29.Rxe2 Nc3 30.Red2 Nxd1 31.Rxd1 Now White is an Exchange down for a pawn. My plan was to swap the dark squared Bishops, stick the Knight on e5 and push the pawn to d7, and we have a draw again.  31...Rfe8 32.Bd4 Bxd4 33.Rxd4 f6 34.gxf6 Rb2+ 35.Kg3 Kf7 36.d6 Kxf6 37.d7 Rd8 38.Ne5 Ke6 39.h4 This is a draw, Igor plays on for a few moves for some tricks.  39...Rc2 40.Rd3 Rc1 41.Kg4 Rg1+ 42.Kf3 Rf1+ 1/2-1/2

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4 c5 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Qd2 O-O I forgot to castle against Anton and Bb5 pretty much stuffed me.  9.Be2 b6 This is the new way of handling this opening. Idea is to follow up with a6 and swap the light squared Bishop, Without Fisher's Bishop, White finds it tough to mount any kind of attack and endgames start to favour Black.  10.O-O a5 11.Nd1 Ba6 12.Bxa6 Rxa6 13.a4 f5 14.Qe2 Ra8 15.c4 I had my first think here, saw a way to easy equality and went for it, I had a plane to catch!  15...cxd4 16.cxd5 dxe3 17.dxc6 Nb8 18.Nxe3 Nxc6 19.Rfd1 Qc8 20.Nc4 Bc5+ 21.Kh1 Nb4 22.Nd6

This was the only scary bit, until you realise that there are no great discoveries with the Knight, the f4 pawn is loose.  22...Qd7 23.Nb5 (23.Nxf5 Nd5 24.N5d4 Rxf4 I think Black is fine here, but a draw is a reasonable result again. ) 23...Qe7 24.Nc3 Rfd8 25.Rxd8+ Rxd8 26.Rd1 h6 27.h3 Kf7 28.Kh2 Rd7 29.g4 g6 30.Kg3 Rxd1 31.Qxd1 Ke8 I offered a draw here, I was certain even I could draw this one. Moulthun thought for a while and we shook hands. For those French players, an easy drawing line for you against McLaren as this is the line he plays. 1/2-1/2

At first glance White's material advantage and cluster of advanced passers seems to guarantee an easy win. But it is not so easy, White's king is misplaced, Black's pieces are holding the pawns and Black also has an advanced passer that has a comparitively free run in.  1.Bf8 White protects his threatened pawn and seeks to disrupt the defenders and force a pawn home by repositioning the Bishop to e7. ( Another try is the decoy attempt 1.Bg7? but Black stays strong with  1...Bd8 2.Be5 White can only try to bring the King around but this is too slow (2.e7 is clearly insufficient  2...Bxe7 3.dxe7 Kxd7 4.Bf6 and after  4...a3 = the King is too far away and the 'a' pawn will cost White his last pawn ) 2...a3 3.Ka7 a2 4.Kb8 a1=Q 5.Bxa1 Kxd6 Now the 'e' pawn falls and the Black bishop can never be driven from defence of the d8 queening square  6.Kc8 Be7 7.Bd4 Kxe6 = ) 1...a3 It looks as if this might be sufficient, since Black threatens to queen not only with check, but mate!  2.Be7 Bxe7 3.dxe7 a2

White has only one good way of addressing the mate threat  4.d8=Q (4.d8=N+ allows perpetual check after  4...Kc7 5.e8=Q a1=Q+ 6.Kb5 Qe5+ =

with a draw. Black can check forever on the 'e' file and a1 or even allow interposition  7.Kb4 Qe4+ 8.Ka5 Qe5+ ( or 8...Qe1+ with perpetual check ) 9.Qb5 Qxb5+ 10.Kxb5 Kxd8 11.Kc6 Ke7 draw ) 4...a1=Q+ 5.Qa5

Black's ideal King dominates White's passive King apparently giving him good drawing chances  5...Qf1+ (  reverting to passive defence with 5...Qh8 fails immediately and drastically to  6.e8=Q+ Qxe8 7.Qa4+ ) 6.Ka7 Qg1+ 7.Ka8! Hiding behind Black's king (7.Kb8?? even loses to  7...Qb1+ and mate follows ) 7...Qh1!

Black plays his final trump, introducing a hidden stalemate theme!  8.e8=N!! +- The star move, paralysing Black's King and thwarting a saving discovery. Black now has no checks and White can co-ordinate next move with Qc7+ followed by an easy win on material. (8.e8=Q+? Fails spectacularly  8...Kd6+ 9.Ka7 Qb7+! 10.Kxb7 = stalemate ) (8.e8=R? Has the same problem   8...Kd6+ 9.Ka7 Qb7+! 10.Kxb7 = stalemate ) (8.e8=B+? Kd6+ Fails more prosaically  9.Kb8 Kxe6 = White loses all winning chances with his last pawn ) (  Giving check is a particularly bad idea 8.Qa6+?? (similarly Qa4+??)  8...Kc7+ 9.Ka7 Qg1+ 10.Ka8 Qg8+ and mates ) 1-0

1.Bf7 A mate threat not only averts immediate disaster but sets up a kind of reciprocating meat grinder to digest the swarm of pawns  1...Kh8 2.Rh2+ Rh7 3.Re2 Rg7 4.Re8+ Kh7 5.Re4 Kh8 6.Rh4+ Rh7 7.Rxd4 Rg7

8.Rh4+ White must capture on c3 and b3 with a mate threat along the rank, NOT the file, so not (8.Rd8+ Kh7 9.Rd3 Kh8 10.Rh3+ Rh7 11.Rxc3? c1=Q! ) 8...Rh7 9.Rc4 Rg7 10.Rc8+ Kh7 11.Rxc3 Kh8 12.Rc8+ (  as discussed above, not 12.Rh3+ Rh7 13.Rxb3 b1=Q ) 12...Kh7 13.Rc4 Kh8 14.Rh4+ Rh7 15.Rb4 Rg7 16.Rb8+ Kh7 17.Rxb3 Kh8 18.Rh3+ Rh7 19.Rd3 Rg7 20.Rd8+ Kh7 21.Rd2 Kh8 22.Rh2+ Rh7 23.Rxc2 Rg7

A final subtlety at the end  24.Bxa2! ( not 24.Rxb2?? a1=Q! pins and wins ) 1-0