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(Or 48...Rb1 49.h7+ Kh8 50.Kg6 Rg1+ 51.Kh6 Rh1+ 52.Kg6 = ) 49.Rg7+ Kh8 50.Ra7 b5 51.Ra5 Rd5+ 52.Kg6 Rd6+ 53.Kg5 And the draw was agreed as Black cannot avoid the checks after  53...Rb6 54.Ra8+ Kh7 55.Ra7+ Kg8 56.Ra8+ Kh7 1/2-1/2

a3. This is not correct because, instead of 48.h6? White can play (48.Rc7+! After this, Black can escape the checks only by playing  48...Ke6 when  49.h6 draws, e.g.  49...Rb1 50.h7 Rh1 (50...Rg1+ 51.Kh5 Rh1+ 52.Kg6 a3 53.Rc6+ Kd5 54.Rxb6 a2 55.Ra6 ) 51.Rc6+ Kd5 52.Rxb6 Rxh7 53.Ra6 My apologies for extreme tardiness in writing about this, but that endgame has been bothering me for some time. ) 48...a3 1/2-1/2

1.Nf3 b5 2.e3 a6 3.a4 b4 4.d4 e6 5.c4 Nf6 6.Nbd2 Bb7 7.Bd3 c5 8.Nb3 d6 9.O-O Be7 10.Qc2 Bxf3 11.gxf3 O-O 12.Kh1 Qb6 13.Rg1 Kh8 14.Qe2 Nbd7 15.f4 Rac8 16.f3 cxd4 17.exd4 Qc6 18.Bd2 Rfe8 19.Rgc1 e5 20.fxe5 dxe5 21.d5 Qa8 22.Na5 Bd6 23.Nc6 Nc5 24.Bf5

24...Rxc6! A typical defensive exchange sacrifice.  25.dxc6 Qxc6 26.Rg1? (26.Rf1 was better, and after  26...Nb3 27.Rad1 Nd4 28.Qd3 Bc5 Black has enough compensation. ) 26...e4! 27.Qg2 Bf8?! (27...g6 was better, maintaining maximum activity for his own pieces and keeping the white forces relatively passive. ) 28.Raf1 e3 29.Bxb4 g6 30.Bc3 Bg7 31.Bc2 Nxa4 32.Bxa4 Qxa4 33.Qe2 Qc6 34.b4 Nh5 35.Bxg7+ Kxg7 36.Rg4 f5 37.Rd4 g5 38.b5 axb5 39.cxb5 Qf6 40.Rd7+ Kh8? (40...Kg6 was best but the white pieces are becoming more active and the passed pawn is a danger for Black so White has to be better. After the text move things rapidly get worse for Black.  ) 41.Qc4 Nf4

42.b6! Qb2 Not enough but there's nothing better now.  43.Qd4+ ( Swapping queens to eliminate the mate threat forever had to be tempting but best was 43.Rg1 keeping his own possible mate threats with Qc7 or Qf7, e.g.  43...Nh3 44.Qc1 Qxc1 45.Rxc1 e2 46.Re1 and Black's best, but insufficient, try is  46...g4 47.fxg4 f4 48.Kg2 Rf8 (48...Re3 49.Rf7 ) 49.Kf3 Re8 50.Rd3 and the b6-pawn will win the game. ) 43...Qxd4 44.Rxd4 Rb8 45.Rd6 e2 46.Rc1 Re8 The active white rooks look too strong but the e-pawn is still a nuisance!   47.Re1 Re7 ( It was (past) time to get the king into play, so 47...Kg7 was the last chance. ) 48.Rc6 Nd5 49.Kg1! Rb7 50.Rc5 Rd7 51.Rxe2 Nxb6 52.Rxf5 h6 53.Re6 Rd1+ 54.Kg2 Nd5 55.Kf2 Kg7 56.Rd6 Nc3 57.Rxd1 Nxd1+ 58.Ke2 Nc3+ 59.Kd3 Nd1 60.Ke2 Nc3+ 61.Kd2 Na4 62.Rb5 Kg6 63.Kc2 Kh5 64.Kb3 Kh4 65.Kxa4 Kh3 66.Rb2 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 d6 5.d3 Be7 6.O-O Nf6 7.Ng5 O-O 8.f4 Surprisingly, to me anyway, there are more than 500 games in my Mega database reaching this position with White scoring a very impressive 63% despite having little if any advantage. Not so surprising when you look at the rating differences between white and black players though.  8...Na5 (8...Bg4!? ) 9.Bd5? (9.Nf3 was necessary. ) 9...exf4 10.Nf3 g5! 11.a3 h6 12.Ba2 Nc6 13.h4 Bg4 14.Ne2 Bxf3 15.Rxf3 Ne5 16.Rf1 Qb6 17.hxg5 hxg5 18.g3 f3 19.Nc3 g4

20.Bh6 Rfe8 21.Qd2 Ng6 22.Kf2 d5 23.Nxd5 Nxd5 24.Bxd5 Bf6 25.c3 Rad8 26.Be3 Rxd5 27.exd5 Rxe3 28.Rae1 Rxd3 29.Qxd3 c4+ 30.Qe3 Qxb2+ 31.Re2 fxe2 32.Rc1 Ne5 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qe7 8.Qd1 Nf6 Around 300 games reached this position in Mega database. Black has a lead in development but White has the bishop pair and a target in the backward black d-pawn. I think I'd rather be Ben.  9.Nc3 d6 10.Bg5 Be6 11.Nd5 Bxd5 12.exd5 Nb8 So the backward pawn has gone but White has a space advantage as well as bishop pair versus knight pair.  13.c4 Nbd7 14.Be2 h6 15.Be3 O-O 16.O-O Rfe8 17.Rc1 Nh7?! If Kirill's aim was to play ...f5 then he must have changed his mind because the knight soon returns to f6 with the pawn still on f7; two tempi sacrificed.  18.Bg4 e4 (18...Nhf6 may be best but it's a hard move to make for a human. ) 19.Bxd7 Qxd7 20.b4 Nf6 21.Qd4 b5 (21...Kh7 was the safer move. Did Kirill overlook White's next move or did he expect to obtain enough counterplay on the queenside? ) 22.Bxh6 bxc4 ( After 22...Re5!? 23.Bf4 Rf5 24.Be3 Rc8 all the black pieces are active and he probably has enough play for the pawn. ) 23.Bg5 Ng4 24.Bf4

24...Ne5? (24...a5! 25.a3 axb4 26.axb4 Qf5 27.Bxd6 Rad8 28.Bg3 Rxd5 29.Qxc4 and the active black pieces provide at least some compensation for the missing pawn. ) 25.Bxe5 Rxe5 26.Rxc4 (26.Qxc4 was better, allowing White to respond to 26...a5 with the strong 27.b5! ) 26...Qa4 (26...a5 was again best, e.g.  27.a3 axb4 28.axb4 Qb5 and the white d-pawn is a goner. ) 27.Rc6 f6 28.Rxd6 Rb8 (28...a5 attempting to muddy the waters was a better try but White still has a big advantage. ) 29.Rb6 (29.Qa7 Rxb4 30.Rd7 Rg5 31.h4 Rg4 32.Rd8+ Kh7 33.Qf7 and the attack wins quickly. ) 29...Rxb6 30.Qxb6 Qxa2 31.d6 (31.Rd1!? is also fine as 31...Rxd5 is met by 32.Qe6+ winning the rook. ) 31...Rd5 32.h3 Qd2 (32...Kh7 avoids some annoying checks and the d-pawn will not run away. ) 33.Qxa6 f5 (33...e3!? 34.fxe3 Qxe3+ 35.Kh1 Qe6 and White still has work to do. The b-pawn is obviously critical but the white king is no longer so invulnerable. ) 34.Qc8+ Kh7 35.Qe6 Qd4 36.d7 Rxd7 37.Qxf5+ g6 38.Qc5 Qb2 39.Qc6 Re7 40.b5 Qe5 41.Re1 Re6 42.Qc4 Kh6 43.Qb4 Qb8 44.Rb1 Qb6 45.Qf8+ Kh7 46.Rd1 Qa7 47.Rd8 Qa1+ 48.Kh2 Qe5+ 49.g3 Re7 50.Qg8+ Kh6 51.Qh8+ Qxh8 52.Rxh8+ Kg7 53.Rc8 e3 54.fxe3 Rxe3 55.h4 Rb3 56.Rc5 Kh6 57.Rg5 Kg7 58.h5 Kh6 59.hxg6 Kg7 60.Kg2 Rc3 61.Kf2 Rc8

62.b6?? ( Careless! The resulting ending with just the doubled g-pawns and the black king in front of them is drawn. Getting the king into play was the simplest way to win, e.g. 62.Ke3 Re8+ (62...Kf6 63.Rg4 Kf5 64.Rb4 +- ) 63.Kd4 Kh6 64.Rd5 Rb8 65.Kc5 etc. ) 62...Rc2+ 63.Kf3 Rb2 64.Kg4 Rxb6 65.Kh5 Rb3! The only move, tying down the white rook for a few moves.  66.Kh4 (66.Ra5 Rxg3 67.Ra7+ Kg8 68.Kh6 Rh3+ 69.Kg5 Rf3 with an easy draw . ) 66...Rb4+ 67.g4 Rb6 ( Okay, but simpler is 67...Rb1 (or Rb2 or Rb3 or Rb8) when White is in zugzwang as 68.Kh5 allows mate, any rook move allows ...Kxg6, and any other king move does nothing. ) 68.Kh5 Rb2 69.Ra5 (69.Rf5 Rb1 70.Rf7+ Kg8 and White can make no progress. ) 69...Rb7 70.Rf5 Rb6 (70...Ra7?? 71.Rf7+ swapping rooks for a winning pawn ending is White's big hope. ) 71.Rf7+ Kg8 72.Ra7 Rb8?? (72...Rb1! is drawing as the white king can do nothing with the black rook able to check on the files. ) 73.Kh6 Now the black rook is stuck on its back rank preventing mate.  73...Rc8 74.Rg7+ (74.g5 Rd8 75.Ra6 (75.g7? Rd6+ 76.g6 doesn't work because of stalemate after 76..Rxg6+! Kxg6. ) 75...Rb8 76.g7 Rc8 77.Rf6 Rb8 78.Rf8+ Rxf8 79.gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 80.Kh7 +-. ) 74...Kh8 75.Rf7 Kg8 (75...Rb8 76.g7+ Kg8 77.Rf8+ Rxf8 78.gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 79.Kh7 +- ) 76.Re7 Rb8 77.Rf7? (77.Re6! Ra8 78.g7 Rb8 79.Rf6 and the rook swap follows. ) 77...Rc8? (77...Rb1! re-activating the rook is holding as in notes above. ) 78.Rf6 (78.Ra7 Rb8 79.Ra6 Rc8 80.g7 Rb8 81.Rf6 and White gets the wanted rook swap. ) 78...Rc1

79.Ra6? (79.g7! Rh1+ 80.Kg6 Rh6+! 81.Kg5 (81.Kxh6? stalemate ) 81...Rh7 (81...Rh1 82.Ra6 Kxg7 83.Ra7+ Kg8 84.Kg6 Kf8 85.Ra8+ Ke7 86.g5 Rg1 87.Rg8 Rg2 88.Kh7 Rh2+ 89.Kg7 Rg2 90.g6 Rg1 91.Ra8 and White will reach the Lucena position. ) 82.Rf8+! Kxg7 83.Ra8 Rh1 84.Ra7+ Kf8 85.Kg6 Rb1 86.Ra8+ Ke7 87.g5 and again White can reach the Lucena position. ) 79...Rc8? (  This allows White to engineer the exchange of rooks. Instead, after 79...Rh1+! 80.Kg5 the white king has nowhere to hide around his pawns except g5 where nothing is achieved. ) 80.g5 Rb8 81.g7 Kf7 ( Or 81...Rc8 82.Rf6 Rb8 83.Rf8+ Rxf8 84.gxf8=Q+ Kxf8 85.Kh7 and the pawn queens. ) 82.Rf6+ Ke7 83.Kh7 1-0

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.exd6 exd6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Bd3 Bf6 9.Nge2 O-O 10.O-O Nb4 11.b3 Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Re8 13.Rad1 g6 14.Ng3 Bg7 15.Rfe1 f5 16.Qd2 Be6 17.d5 Bf7 18.Bd4 Nd7 19.Nb5 Ne5 20.f4 a6 21.Nc3 Ng4 22.Rxe8+ Bxe8 23.Bxg7 Kxg7 24.h3 Nf6 25.Nce2 Bf7 26.Nd4 Qd7 27.Qc3 Re8 28.a4 c5?

29.dxc6 bxc6 30.Ndxf5+! gxf5 31.Rxd6! Qa7+ 32.Kh2 Re6 33.Rxe6 Bxe6 34.Nh5+ Kg8 35.Nxf6+ Kf8 36.Qe5 Qf7 37.Nxh7+ Ke7 38.Ng5 Qg8 39.Qxe6+ Qxe6 40.Nxe6 Kxe6 41.g4 1-0

1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.c4 Nb6 5.f4 dxe5 6.fxe5 c5 7.d5 e6 8.Nc3 exd5 9.cxd5 c4 10.Nf3 Bg4 11.Be2 Bb4 12.d6 Nc6 13.Bf4 O-O 14.O-O Qd7 15.Nd5 Nxd5 16.Qxd5 Be6 17.Qe4 b5 18.Ng5 Bf5 19.Bg4!

19...Bc5+ (19...Bxe4 20.Bxd7 Rad8 21.Nxe4 Rxd7 22.Kh1 Re8 23.a3 Ba5 24.Nc5 Rdd8 25.e6! fxe6 (25...Rxe6!? 26.Nxe6 fxe6 27.Rad1 +/- ) 26.d7 Re7 27.Bd6 Rf7 28.Rxf7 Kxf7 29.Rf1+ Kg6 30.Nxe6 +- is a computer line. ) 20.Kh1 Nd4 (20...Bxe4 21.Bxd7 Bd5 22.e6 fxe6 23.Nxe6 Bxe6 24.Bxe6+ Kh8 25.Bd5 Rf6 (25...Rac8 26.d7 ) 26.Bxc6 Raf8 27.d7 +- ) 21.Bxf5 Qxf5 22.Qd5 Bb6 23.Be3 Qg6 24.Rxf7! Rxf7 25.Nxf7 Rf8 26.Rf1 ( Even better was 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 27.Nh6+ Kh8 28.e6 Qxh6 29.e7 with an overwhelming advantage. ) 26...Ne6 27.Bxb6 axb6 (27...Rxf7 28.Rxf7 Qxf7 29.Be3 was a slightly better try but Black is still doomed. ) 28.d7 Qd3 29.Nh6+! gxh6 30.Qxe6+ Kg7 31.Qe7+ Kg6 32.Qxf8 Qxd7 33.Qf6+ 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Bf5 5.Be3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Nf6 7.Na3 O-O-O 8.Bc4 Qe4 9.O-O cxd4 10.cxd4 Bg4 11.Be2 ( The pawn is not poisoned, e.g. 11.Bxf7 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qxf3 13.gxf3 Nxd4 14.Bxd4 Rxd4 15.Nb5 and White's development advantage is already decisive. ) 11...e6 12.Rc1 Kb8

13.Nb5 (13.Rxc6! bxc6 14.Ng5 Qg6 15.Qb3+ Ka8 16.Ba6 gives White a winning attack. ) 13...a6 14.Ng5 Bxe2 15.Qxe2 Qf5 16.Nxf7 axb5 17.Rxc6 (17.Nxh8 Nd5 18.Qf3 Qxf3 19.gxf3 Rd7 and the knight remains trapped but White should win a second pawn for it with a roughly equal position. ) 17...bxc6? (  The natural "no thought" reply but the only move was 17...Rd7! when  18.Nxh8 bxc6 19.Rc1 Kb7 20.a4! gives White enough initiative for the trapped knight but no more. ) 18.Nxd8 (18.Nxd8 Kc7 19.Nf7 Rg8 20.Ne5 Nd7 21.Rc1 Nxe5 22.dxe5 Kb7 23.a4!? is hopeless for Black. ) 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.g3 e6 7.Bg2 Be7 8.O-O Qc7 9.Be3 Nc6 10.f4 Bd7 11.Nb3 Na5 12.Nxa5 Qxa5 13.a3 Rc8 14.h3 Bc6 15.Qd2 b5 16.g4 Qc7 17.f5 Qb7 18.Qd3 exf5 19.Rxf5 Nd7 20.Bd4 f6 21.Nd5 Ne5 22.Bxe5 dxe5 23.g5 Bd7? (23...O-O 24.gxf6 Bxf6 25.Nxf6+ Rxf6 26.Rxe5 Qb6+ 27.Kh1 Qc7 ) 24.Nxe7 (24.gxf6 Bxf6 25.Nxf6+ gxf6 26.Rxf6 +/- ) 24...Kxe7 25.gxf6+ gxf6

26.Rxf6! (  The best chance for a full point. After 26.Rf2 Black is a tiny bit better; White has too few pieces to really embarrass the black king. ) 26...Be6? (  Black had to be brave and capture the rook. Calculating the correct defence with the timer ticking away would not have been at all easy for either player. So 26...Kxf6! 27.Qd6+ (27.Rf1+? Ke7 -+ ) 27...Kf7 28.Rf1+ Kg8 29.Qf6 Bxh3! The only move, and things become clear now.  30.Bxh3 Qg7+ The point - the queens come off.  31.Qxg7+ Kxg7 32.Bxc8 Rxc8 with a drawn ending. ) 27.Raf1 Rhg8 28.Qf3 (28.Rh6 Rg7 29.Qf3 was more accurate and the attack seems clearly winning. ) 28...Qb6+ 29.Kh1 (29.Rf2! Rg7 30.Kh2 and the attack continues. ) 29...Rg7? (29...Rxc2! and the only way to play for any advantage is  30.Rf7+ Kd8 31.Qd1+ Ke8 32.Qxc2 Bxf7 33.Rf5 but Black should be able to hold. ) 30.Rf8 Now the win is clear.  30...Rc7 31.Qf6+ Kd6 32.Rd1+ Kc6 33.Qxe6+ 1-0

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 h6 (10...Bb7 is normal. ) 11.Bh4 Bb7 12.Qe2 Re8 13.Rfd1 Nbd7 14.Ne5 g5 15.Bg3 Bf8 16.f4 Qe7 17.fxg5 hxg5 18.h4 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Nh7 20.Bd3 Bg7 (20...gxh4 21.Bxh7+ Kxh7 22.Qh5+ Kg8 23.Bxh4 Qc5+ 24.Bf2 Qe7 25.Rd4 gives White a surely winning attack. ) (20...f5 21.exf6 Nxf6 22.Rf1 (22.hxg5 Qc5+ ) 22...Bg7 leaves White with a strong initiative but maybe Black can defend. ) 21.Qh5 Nf8 22.hxg5 Bxe5! 23.Bf2 (  Avoiding the exchanges in the hope of chances to play on for a win. After 23.Bxe5 Qc5+ 24.Kh1 Qxe5 Black is surviving. ) 23...Rad8

24.Ne2?! ( White should probably bail out with 24.g6 f5 25.Bb5 Rxd1+ 26.Rxd1 Rd8 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Bc4 with equality. ) 24...Rd5 (24...Bxb2 also looks better for Black. ) 25.Bc4? (25.Bc2 Rc5! 26.Rac1 Bxb2 27.Bd4 Bxd4+ 28.Rxd4 Rxg5 29.Rg4 f6 and Black can play for the win if he wishes. ) 25...Rxd1+ (25...Rc5! 26.Bd3 Bxb2 27.Bxc5 Qxc5+ 28.Kh1 Bxa1 29.Rxa1 Qf2 -+. ) 26.Rxd1 Rd8 27.Rxd8 Qxd8 28.Bb3 Qd3 29.Nc3 Ng6 30.Qd1 Qxd1+ 31.Nxd1 Nf4 Black still has a considerable advantage and played on for the win but Alphaeus eventually exchanged down to a dead draw.  32.Ne3 Bxb2 33.Nc4 Bd4 34.Bxd4 Ne2+ 35.Kf2 Nxd4 36.Nd6 Nxb3 37.axb3 Bd5 38.Nc8 Bxb3 39.Nxa7 Bd5 40.g3 Kg7 41.Ke3 Kg6 42.Kf4 Bc4 43.Nc6 b5 44.Ne5+ Kg7 45.Nc6 Bf1 46.Nb4 Bc4 47.Nc6 Bd5 48.Nb4 f6 49.gxf6+ Kxf6 50.Nd3 Ba8 51.g4 Bd5 52.g5+ Kg6 53.Ne5+ Kh5 54.Nd3 Ba2 55.Nb4 Bb1 56.Ke5 Kxg5 57.Kxe6 Kf4 58.Kd5 Bg6 59.Kc5 Be8 60.Nd5+ Ke5 61.Nc3 Bd7 1/2-1/2

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Be2 Nf6 5.O-O Bg4 6.h3 Bh5 7.Nc3 Qa5 8.a3 O-O-O 9.d3 e5 10.Bd2 Qc5 11.b4 Qd6 12.b5 Ne7 13.Ng5 Bg6 14.Bf3 h6 15.Nge4 Nxe4 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Bxe4 f5 18.Bf3 Kb8 (18...e4!? ) 19.Qe1 g5

20.g4!? Looking to take complete control of the white squares while maintaining a nice open diagonal for his own light-square bishop.  20...e4?! ( This doesn't quite work, so safer was 20...Qf6 ) 21.dxe4! Bg7 (  Black has lost a pawn. The point is that 21...Qxd2? loses because of 22.Rd1. ) 22.Bc3 Bxc3 23.Qxc3 fxg4 (  I'd rather leave White with a backward f-pawn than a passed e-pawn, so 23...fxe4 24.Bxe4 Nd5 25.Bxd5 (Else the knight finds a nice post on f4.)  25...Qxd5 and Black has good drawing chances as White will find it difficult to make any use of his extra pawn. ) 24.hxg4 Qf4 The awkwardly placed f3-bishop gives Black some compensation for the pawn.  25.Rad1 Ng6 26.Qe3 Rdf8 27.Qxf4 ( Another trick was 27.Rd5!? when 27...Qxf3? would lose to 28.Rd8+. ) 27...Rxf4 28.Bg2 Rxg4 Black is certainly not worse now.  29.f3 Rf4 30.Rd7 b6 31.Kh2 Ne5 32.Rd5 Nc4 33.Rfd1

33...Nxa3? (33...Rhf8 or 33...Kb7 were about equal. ) 34.Bh3? (34.Rd8+ Rxd8 35.Rxd8+ Kb7 36.e5! and the passer is unstoppable except at too great cost, e.g.  36...Nxb5 ( Or 36...Rf7 37.f4+ c6 38.bxc6+ Kc7 39.Ra8 Re7 40.Rxa7+ Kd8 41.Rxa3 +- ) 37.e6 Rf6 38.e7 Re6 39.e8=Q Rxe8 40.Rxe8 +-. ) 34...Rff8 35.R1d2 Nc4 36.R2d3 Nd6 37.e5 Nc8 38.Rd7 h5? (  Attacking White's precious passer first was correct, e.g. 38...Re8 39.e6 and now 39...h5 is much more effective. ) 39.Rc3 g4 40.Bg2 gxf3 41.Bxf3 Rxf3?! (41...Rhg8 42.Bd5 Rf2+ 43.Kh3 Rd2 and Black is still alive, if in considerable pain. ) 42.Rxf3 Re8 43.Rf5 h4 44.c4 Ne7 45.Rf7 Nc8 46.Kh3 Rxe5 47.Rd8 Kb7 48.Rff8 Rc5 49.Rxc8 c6 50.Rb8+ Kc7 51.Ra8 Rxc4 52.Rxa7+ Kd6 53.Rf6+ Kd5 54.Rd7+ Kc5 55.bxc6 Kb5 56.c7 Ka6 57.Rf8 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.f3 O-O 6.Be3 e5 7.d5 Nh5 8.Qd2 f5 9.O-O-O Nd7 10.Bd3 Nc5 11.Bc2 a5 12.Nge2 Bd7 13.Rhg1 f4 14.Bf2 Rf7 15.Kb1 Qf8 16.Nc1 Kh8 17.Rdf1 a4 18.Qd1 Qe8 19.g4 fxg3 20.hxg3 b5 21.Bxc5 dxc5 22.cxb5 Bxb5 23.Bd3 c4 24.Be2 Rb8 25.a3 Bf8 26.f4 Bc5 27.Rg2 Bd7 28.f5 Bd4 29.N1a2 Qe7 30.Ka1

30...Ng7 31.fxg6 Rxf1 32.Qxf1 hxg6 33.Rh2+ Kg8 34.Bxc4 Qd6 35.Nb4 Nh5 36.Qc1 Qc5 37.Ne2 Rf8 38.Nxd4 Qxd4 39.Rd2 Qxe4 40.d6+ Kg7 41.dxc7 Qg4 42.Qc3 Re8 43.Be2 Qe6 44.Bxh5 gxh5 45.Qe3 Qf5 46.Rf2 Qg4 47.Rf1 Kg6 48.Nd5 Bf5 49.Qb6+ Re6 50.c8=Q 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bf4 Bg7 4.c3 d6 5.h3 O-O 6.Nbd2 Nbd7 7.e4 c5 8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.Qc2 Bd7 10.Be3 Qc7 11.Rc1 a6 12.Be2 Rac8 13.O-O Rfd8 14.Qb1 d5 15.exd5 Bf5 16.Qa1 Nxd5 17.Bxc5 Qxc5 18.Nb3 Qb6 19.Nbd4 Nf4 20.Rfe1 e5 21.Nxf5 gxf5 22.Bf1 e4 23.Nh4 Qf6 24.g3 Nd3 25.Bxd3 Rxd3 26.Rcd1 Rcd8 27.Rxd3 Rxd3 28.Re2 Qd8 29.Qf1 Qd5 30.a3 Bh6 31.Ng2 Qd6

32.Ne3 Bxe3 33.fxe3? Rd1 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4 e6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Nde2 Qc7 10.Bb3 b5 11.a3 Bb7 12.O-O Nc6 13.Qd2 O-O 14.Ng3 Ne7 15.Nh5 Bxc3 16.bxc3 Rfd8 17.Rfe1 Rac8 18.Re3 Qc5 19.Nf4 Qe5 20.g3 Nc6 21.Qe2 Na5 22.Qd3 Nc4 23.Ree1 Qf6 24.Bxc4 Rxc4 25.Re3 Qe5 26.f3 Rdc8 27.Ne2 Qc5 28.Kg2 Ra4 29.Rd1

29...d5 30.exd5 Bxd5 31.Nf4 Rxa3 32.Nxd5 exd5 33.Rde1 g6 34.Qe2 Rxc3 35.Re8+ Rxe8 36.Qxe8+ Qf8 37.Qd7 Rxc2+ 38.Kh1 Rc8 39.Qxd5 Qc5 40.Qa2 Qc6 41.Qb3 Kg7 42.Qe3 Qc3 43.Qf2 Rd8 44.Re2 Qd4 45.Qf1 Qc4 46.Qa1+ Qd4 47.Qf1 Qa4 48.Re1 Rd2 49.Rc1 Qa2 50.Ra1 Qc2 51.Rc1 Qd3 52.Qxd3 Rxd3 53.Kg2 Ra3 54.Rc6 b4 55.Rb6 a5 56.Kf2 b3 57.Ke1 a4 58.Kd2 Ra2+ 59.Kc1 Rxh2 60.Kb1 Rf2 61.Ra6 Rxf3 62.Rxa4 Rxg3 0-1

1.e4 g6 2.d4 Bg7 3.c3 I decided on a cautious consolidating approach, as I wasn't really sure what I wanted to do  3...d6 4.Bd3 Nf6 5.h3 O-O 6.Ne2 c6 7.Ng3 e5 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Be3 Re8 10.Nd2 d5! Equalizing  11.Qc2 exd4 12.cxd4 Nxe4 13.Ndxe4 dxe4 14.Nxe4 ( Now I prefer 14.Bxe4 Ed: The computer feels quite differently. It's interesting to get a player's notes that are clearly not computer assisted at all, almost a throwback to a different age. Many coaches recommend analysing your games without the computer first, so in a way it's partially best practice! ) 14...Nb6 15.Qc3? To try to hold the d pawn, however...  15...Nd5! 16.Qd2 Nxe3 ( Ed: 16...Bf5! wins  17.Nc3 Nxe3 18.fxe3 Bxd4 19.exd4 Qxd4+ with two healthy extra pawns ) 17.fxe3 Bf5 18.Nc5 b6 19.Nb3 Bxd3 20.Qxd3 Rc8 21.Rac1 Qd5 22.Rf3 c5

23.Qc4 Qxc4 24.Rxc4 Rcd8 25.Kf2 cxd4 26.exd4 Re7 27.a3 b5 28.Rb4? Locking up my own rook  28...a6 29.a4 Trying to break out  29...Rc7 30.Rc3 Rcd7 31.axb5 Bf8 32.Ra4 axb5 33.Ra5 Rd5 ( I didn't mind 33...Bb4 34.Rxb5 Bxc3 35.bxc3 because I liked the two passed pawns ) 34.Ra7 Bd6 35.Rf3 f5 36.Rb7 b4 37.Ke2 Bf8 38.Re3 Rc8 39.Kd3 h6? Self weakening  40.Re6! Rd6 41.Rxd6 Bxd6 42.Rb6 Rd8 43.Na5 Threatening Nb7  43...Bc5 44.Rxg6+ Kf7? I didn't understand this  45.Rc6 (  I also don't know why I didn't take the free h pawn! 45.Rxh6 ) 45...Rxd4+ 46.Kc2 Bf8 47.Rc4 Rd6? Simpler to exhange rooks  48.Nc6 Kg6? Meekly accepting a pawn loss  49.Nxb4 Kh5 50.Nd3 Bg7 51.b4 Rd4??

52.Nf4+! ( or 52.Rxd4! Bxd4 53.Nf4+ ) 52...Kh4 53.g3+ Kxg3 54.Ne2+ 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Bd2 O-O 6.Qc1 Nbd7 7.Bh6 e5 8.Bxg7 Kxg7 9.Be2 Re8 10.dxe5 dxe5 11.O-O Nh5 12.Rd1 Nf4 13.Qe3 c6 14.g3 Nxe2+ 15.Qxe2 Qf6 16.Rd2 Nb6 17.Rad1 Bh3 18.Ne1 h5

19.Ng2 Bg4 20.f3 Bxf3 21.Qe1 Bxd1 22.Rxd1 Rad8 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Nh4 Qd6 25.Qe3 Qd4 26.Qxd4 exd4 27.Ne2 d3 28.cxd3 Rxd3 29.Kf2 Rd2 30.Kf3 Rxb2 31.e5 Nc4 32.Kf4 Rxe2 33.Nf3 Rxa2 34.g4 b5 35.g5 b4 36.Nd4 Rxh2 37.e6 fxe6 38.Nxe6+ Kg8 39.Nd4 a5 40.Nxc6 b3 41.Nd4 b2 42.Kf3 b1=Q 43.Kf4 Rh4+ 44.Kf3 Qe4+ 45.Kf2 Qe3+ 46.Kg2 Rf4 47.Kh2 Qf2+ 48.Kh3 Rh4# 0-1

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.e3 c5 5.c3 Nc6 6.Nbd2 Qb6 7.Qb3 c4 8.Qxb6 axb6 9.Be2 e6 10.O-O Be7 11.h3 h6 12.a3 O-O 13.Ne5 Rfd8 14.g4 Bc2 15.Rac1 Ba4 16.g5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 Kf8 18.f4 Nh7 19.Bxe7+ Nxe7 20.e4 g6 21.Kh2 Nf6 22.exd5 exd5 23.Ndf3 Ne4 24.Ng5

24...Nxg5? 25.fxg5 Nf5 26.Bg4 Bd7 27.Nxd7+ Rxd7 28.Bxf5 gxf5 29.Rxf5 Kg7 30.Re1 Rh8 31.Ree5 Rh4 32.Kg3 Re4 33.Rxe4 dxe4 34.Re5 Kg6 35.h4 f5 36.gxf6 Kxf6 37.Rxe4 Rg7+ 38.Rg4 Re7 39.Rf4+ Kg6 40.Rf2 Re1 41.Rh2 Kh5 42.Rf2 Rg1+ 43.Kh2 Rg4 44.Rf6 Rxh4+ 45.Kg3 Rg4+ 46.Kf3 Kg5 47.Rxb6 Rf4+ 48.Ke3 Rf7 49.Rb4 Re7+ 50.Kd2 Rc7 51.Rb5+ Kf4 52.Re5 Rc6 53.Kc2 Rc7 54.Rc5 Rxc5 55.dxc5 Ke4 56.b3 Kd5 57.b4 Kc6 58.a4 b6 1-0

1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.cxd5 exd5 5.Bg5 Be7 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 h6 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Qc2 Re8 10.O-O-O b6 11.Nf3 Bb7 12.g4 c6 13.h4 Nd7 14.Rdg1 g6 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 (16.h5 looks more dangerous ) 16...Bg7 17.Rh3 Nf8 18.Rgh1 c5 19.Qd1 cxd4 20.exd4 Qd6 21.Kb1 a5 22.R1h2 Ne6 23.Qh1 Kf8 24.Nb5 Qd8 25.Qc1 Rc8 26.Qd2 Nc7 27.Be2 Nxb5 28.Bxb5 Bc6 29.Bd3 Qd6 30.Bc2 Bb5 31.Ng1 Bd7 32.Rg3 Re6 33.f4 Rce8 34.Nf3 Bb5 35.Ne5 Bxe5 36.dxe5 Qc5 37.Bd3 Bxd3+ 38.Qxd3 Rc8 39.Rh8+ Ke7 40.Rxc8 Qxc8 41.Qxd5 Rc6 42.Rg1 Qe6 43.Qd3 Qc4

44.Qf3?? Qc2+ 45.Ka1 Qc1+ 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 a6 3.c4 e6 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Qc7 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Bd3 b6 8.Qe2 d6 9.O-O Bb7 10.Be3 Nbd7 11.Rac1 Be7 12.b3 O-O 13.Bb1 Rfe8 14.Rfd1 Rac8 15.f3 Qb8 16.Qf2 d5 17.cxd5 exd5 18.exd5 Bd6 19.g3

19...Rxc3 20.Rxc3 Nxd5 21.Qc2 (21.Nc6 is better here but with all the white pieces lined up for the black knight to take, I didn't calculate accurately ) 21...N7f6 22.Bf2 Nxc3 23.Qxc3 Be5 24.Qc2 g6 25.Nc6 Qc7 26.Nxe5 Qxe5 27.Re1 Qd5 28.Rxe8+ Nxe8 29.Qd3 b5 30.Qxd5 Bxd5 31.f4 f5 32.Bd4 Kf7 33.Kf2 Ke6 34.Ke3 Nd6 35.Bc2 Nb7 36.Bc3 Nd6 37.Kd4 Nb7 38.a4 Nd6 39.Bb4 Ne4 40.axb5 axb5 41.Bd3 Bc6 42.Be1 Kd6 43.Bb4+ Ke6 44.Be1 Kd6 45.Bb4+ 1/2-1/2

1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Qxd5 3.Nc3 Qa5 4.d4 Nf6 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.h3 Bf5 7.Bd2 c6 8.Bc4 e6 9.Nd5 Qd8 10.Nxf6+ Qxf6 11.Qe2 h6 12.O-O-O Nd7 13.g4 Bh7 14.Ne5 Nb6 15.Bb3 Bd6 16.f4 O-O-O?

17.Nxf7 Qxd4 18.Qxe6+ Kb8 19.Be3 Qe4 20.Nxd8 Rxd8 21.f5 Qf3 22.Rdf1 Qg2 23.Bxb6 axb6 24.Qe1 Bg3 25.Qc3 Bg8 26.Bxg8 Rxg8 27.Qf3 Qxf3 28.Rxf3 Bd6 29.h4 Kc7 30.c3 Re8 31.Kd2 Re4 32.Rg1 Rf4 33.Rxf4 Bxf4+ 34.Kd3 Kd6 35.Ke4 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 Nf6 4.Qc2 g6 5.d4 cxd4 6.cxd4 e6 7.Be3?

7...Nb4! 8.Qc1 Nxe4 9.Nbd2 Nxd2 10.Qxd2 Qa5 11.Kd1 b6 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.Nc4 Qf5 14.Bf4 Qg4+ 15.Ke1 Nc2+ 16.Qxc2 Qxf4 17.Qd2 Qe4+ 18.Qe3 Qc2 19.a3 Qe4 20.Qxe4 Bxe4 21.Rc1 Ke7 22.f3 Bd5 23.Ne3 Bc6 24.Be2 Bh6 25.Kf2 Rac8 26.Rc3 Bxe3+ 27.Kxe3 Bd5 28.Rhc1 Rxc3+ 29.Rxc3 Bc6 30.b4 Rc8 31.b5 Bb7 32.Rxc8 Bxc8 33.g4 h6 34.h4 f5 35.g5 h5 36.f4 Kd6 37.Bc4 Bb7 38.Kd3 1/2-1/2

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Qb6 5.Qc1 Definitely not the best move (5.Nc3 is probably what I should have played. If the queen takes with  5...Qxb2 then  6.Nb5 Na6 7.a3 with the threat of Rb1, Qc1 and Ra1 trapping the queen ) 5...Nc6 6.c3 Bf5 7.h3 h6 8.Nbd2 e6 9.dxc5 This was a mistake on my part  (9.Be2 Be7 (9...Rc8 10.O-O ) 10.dxc5 Thus making black lose a tempo  10...Bxc5 ) 9...Bxc5 10.Nb3 (10.Be2 O-O 11.b4 Be7 12.a3 Rac8 ) 10...Be7 11.Nbd4 Bh7 12.Be2 O-O 13.O-O Rac8 14.Ne5 Nxe5 15.Bxe5 Nd7 16.Bh2 Nc5 17.Rd1 Ne4 18.f3 Nc5 19.Qd2 Na4 20.Nb3 Bf6 (20...Bg5 straight away was also possible  21.f4 Bf6 22.Kh1 Ed: 22.Kh1 deserves a ?, since the computer points out that now Black can win material by chasing the queen which runs out of squares  22...Nxc3 23.bxc3 Bxc3 24.Qc1 Bb4 25.Qb2 Rc2 ) 21.Rac1 Bg5 22.f4 Bf6

Now I was stuck in a rather uncomfortable position  23.Kf1 Be4 (23...Rfd8 Was probably better, moving her pieces to better squares ) 24.Bg1 Rfd8 25.Bg4 Qc6 26.Qe2 Qb6 27.Rd2 Rc7 28.Nd4 a6 29.Bf3 Nc5 30.Bf2 Rdc8 31.Bxe4 Nxe4 32.Rdc2 Rc4 33.Be1 Qa5 (33...Bxd4 34.exd4 f5 ) 34.b3 R4c7 35.c4 Qb6 36.Qd3 Qd6 37.cxd5 Rxc2 38.Rxc2 Rxc2 39.Nxc2 Qxd5 Pawn takes is likely to be better  40.Qxd5 exd5 41.Ke2 Kf8 42.Kf3

42...h5? Blunder (42...Bc3 43.Bxc3 Nxc3 This was the variation I was considering. This should be roughly equal, or maybe a bit better for black ) 43.Nb4 Bc3 44.Nxd5 Ng5+ 45.Ke2 (45.fxg5 Bxe1 46.Nf4 h4 47.Nd3 Bc3 48.Nc5 wins another pawn. I however didn't see this and played Ke2 instead ) 45...Bxe1 46.Kxe1 Ne4 47.g4 hxg4 48.hxg4 Ke8 49.g5 Kd7 50.Nb4 a5 51.Nc2 Nc3 52.a4 b5 53.axb5 Nxb5 54.Kd2 Nd6 55.Kd3 (55.Nd4 might have been a better option  55...Ne4+ 56.Kd3 Nf2+ 57.Kc4 Ng4 58.e4 Nf2 59.Kd5 Nh3 60.f5 Nf4+ (60...Nxg5 61.Nc6 Nh3 62.Nxa5 ) 61.Kc5 ) 55...Kc6 56.e4 Kc5 57.Nd4 Kb4 58.e5

58...Ne8 (58...Nb7 With the threat of Nc5  59.f5 Nc5+ 60.Ke3 Is still a win for white though] ) 59.f5 a4 60.bxa4 Kxa4 61.Kc4 f6 62.gxf6 gxf6 63.e6 Ka3 64.Nb5+ Kb2 65.e7 Kc2 66.Kd5 Kd3 67.Nd6 Ng7 68.e8=Q Nxe8 69.Nxe8 Ke3 70.Nxf6 Kf4 71.Ke6 Kg5 72.Ne4+ Kh6 73.f6 Kh7 74.Ke7 1-0

1.e4 e6 Playing e4 is always tricky for Black or White as you never know how it can go due to various lines, but I felt I was in control until the 7th move.   2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Nf3 Ngf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bd3 Well, I th ink at this stage a better move was c3, c5 and Ne5 but I didn't consider playing it.  7...Be7 As soon my opponent moved her kingside Bishop, I knew she wanted to castle, and so I took the lead at my end. I also thought of moving my Queen to Qe2 but then I settled to castle on the shortside.  8.O-O O-O 9.c3 At this stage Ne5 could have been a good move but I settled for a quiet move of c3.  9...c5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nd4?! Maybe I should have developed my Bishop and pinned the Knight with Bg5 but moving to Nd4 did not achieve as much as I hoped.  11...Re8 Was it the best move by the opponent, possibly or moving the Bishop to Be2. Anyway it went on  12.Nb3 Be7 13.Qf3 Still my unde veloped Bishop and my thought to attack or to exchange the Queen after her 13th move  13...Qd5 I soon exchanged the Queen  14.Qxd5 After the exchange my thoughts were heading into the endgame. I'm looking at my clock to see if I have enough time as I'm still on the 14th move.  14...Nxd5 15.Be4 Nf6 16.Bf3 e5 17.Re1 Nd7?! I thought the Nd7 wasn't a good move from my opponent and at this stage I'm looking to take advantage  18.Na5! My mum says a Knight on the rim is dim but I'm heading for the pawn and in the bargain we had a some quick moves and attacks.  18...Rb8 19.Be3 Bc5 20.Rad1 Bxe3 21.Rxe3 Nf6 22.Nc4 Bg4 23.Bxg4 Nxg4 24.Re4 Nf6? Possibly she could have done something like Rbd8  25.Rxe5 Rxe5 26.Nxe5 h6 27.Nd7 Nxd7 28.Rxd7 After all the pieces were exchanged we headed for a Rook and Pawn end game.  28...Kf8 29.Kf1 Ke8 30.Rc7 g6 31.b3 Kf8 32.c4 a6 33.f3 Kg7 34.Ke2 Kf6 35.Kd3 Ke6 36.Kc3 f5 37.Rg7 I ensured my King was in the middle of the board leading the pawns or protecting them.  37...Kf6 38.Rc7 Ke6 39.Kb4 b6 40.Rc6+ Kf7 41.Ka4 b5+ 42.cxb5 axb5+ 43.Ka5 Rd8 44.Kxb5 Rd2

With her Rook on d2, I planned to move my pawns as she got rid of my pawns on the second rank. I just had to save a pawn to queen and whoohoo I got it as I planned.  45.a4! Rxg2 46.a5 Rxh2 47.a6 Ra2 48.Rc4 Ke6 49.Ra4 Rd2 50.a7 Rd5+ 51.Kc6 Rd6+ 52.Kc7 Rd7+ 53.Kc8 Rxa7 54.Rxa7 She had to decide what she wanted to do with the game but she slowly put her hand up (at one stage I thought does she want a draw ? as I was playing for the first time against a deaf person) but then she smiled and resigned. 1-0

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 c6 6.e3 O-O 7.Qc2 Nbd7 8.cxd5 exd5 9.Bd3 Re8 10.O-O Nf8 11.Rab1 a5 12.a3 Ng6 13.b4 axb4 14.axb4 Ne4 15.Bxe7 Qxe7 16.b5 Ra3 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nd2 f5 19.Nc4 Ra7 20.bxc6 bxc6 21.Na4 Be6 22.Nc5 Bd5 23.Nb6 Nh4 24.Nxd5 cxd5 25.Kh1 Qg5 26.Rg1 Rf7 27.Qa4 Rc8 28.Qa6 Qd8 29.Qe6 Kf8 30.Qb6 Qe7 31.Ne6+ Kg8 32.Nf4 Rc2 33.Rb2 Rxb2 34.Qxb2 Qd6 35.Qa2 Rd7 36.Rc1 g5 37.Qa8+ Kg7 38.Nh5+ Kf7 39.Rc6 Rd8 40.Qb7+ Rd7 41.Qb6 Qa3 42.Rf6+ Ke7 43.h3 Qc1+ 44.Kh2 Qc7+ 45.Qxc7 Rxc7 46.Rh6 Rc2 47.Rxh7+ Ke6 48.Kg3

48...Rc3 49.Rh6+ Ke7 50.Ng7 f4+ 51.Kg4 fxe3 52.fxe3 Nxg2 53.Nf5+ Kf7 54.Kxg5 Nxe3 55.Rf6+ Ke8 56.Nxe3 Rxe3 57.Rd6 Rxh3 58.Rxd5 Rf3 59.Kg4 Rf8 60.Re5+ Kd7 61.Rxe4 Kd6 62.Rf4 Rxf4+ 63.Kxf4 Kd5 64.Ke3 Kd6 65.Ke4 Ke6 66.d5+ Kd7 67.Ke5 Ke7 68.d6+ Kd8 69.Kf6 Kd7 70.Ke5 Kd8 71.Ke6 Ke8 72.Kf6 Kd7 1/2-1/2

After Djibouti defaulted in the 1st round, we faced the all-GM Kazakhstan team. It was my turn to rest and so I went to bed early as I'd arranged a mountain adventure in the Caucasus. But at 5.30am my phone went off and I was summonsed to Hilton's room. Scott was feeling sick so I was to play. The mountains had to wait for another day!  1.d4 e6 2.c4 Nf6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.g3 d5 6.Qc2 I wasted too much time pondering 6 Bg2 here, as well as other moves in this fairly simple opening. In fact the entire team played too slowly and our coach GM Dejan Bojkov rightly explained how this was showing too much respect to our opponents. We had to try to put pressure on even when facing GMs! It turned out Scott took this lesson to heart with his fine double IM norm  6...O-O 7.Bg2 c6 8.O-O Be7 9.Bf4 Nbd7 10.Ne5 Nxe5 11.Bxe5

11...g5! Well I didn't consider that in a million years! A very unusual thrust that targets Be5 with Ng4 / Nd7 and f6 to come. I blew more time looking at combinative tries before playing what was really the only move.  12.Bxf6 Bxf6 13.Rd1 Bg7 14.e3 Qe7 15.Nc3! A good move that provokes the GM into activity that backfires  15...dxc4 16.Na4 e5 17.Nb6 Ra6? Black possibly had better options the last couple of moves but this seems a definite mistake  18.Nxc8 Rxc8 19.dxe5 Not bad, but (19.d5! cxd5 20.Rxd5 Bf6 21.Be4 h6 22.Rad1 is very promising - white is a pawn down but black is in a horrible bind ) 19...Qxe5 20.Qxc4 Rb6 21.b3! A very nice concept  21...Rb4 (21...Qxa1 loses after  22.Rxa1 Bxa1 23.Qg4! with Qg5 and Qa5 to follow and black is lost ) 22.Qc2 Bf6 23.Rab1 Rb5 24.Rd7 Rc5 25.Qe2 25 Qd3 and 25 Qd2 were also good options - white is clearly better with control of the d file, a better attacking bishop, and the holes created by g5  25...Qf5 26.Rbd1 Rc2

I saw that 27 Qf3 was strong (and safe!), then I noticed 27 Bh3 and thought it was better, which it might have been but for black's reply.  27.Bh3?? After (27.Qf3 Qxf3 28.Bxf3 Rxa2 29.Rxb7 Ra1 30.Rxa1 Bxa1 31.Be2 followed by Bc4 I can torture the GM forever with good chances of a win ) 27...Qxd7! Oh shit  28.Bxd7 Rxe2 29.Bxc8 b5 30.Rd6? With about 4 minutes left blind panic was the order of the day. (30.Bd7 Rxa2 31.Bxc6 a4 32.bxa4 bxa4 33.Rd7 followed by Ra7 and Bd5 looks a clear draw ) 30...Be7 31.Rxc6 Rxa2 32.Rb6?? Hopeless play - 32 Ra6 or 32 Bc6 were most probably still drawn, though the GM would've tortured me for many moves  32...a4 33.bxa4 bxa4 34.Bb7 a3 35.Bd5 Rd2 36.Bb3 Rb2 37.Kg2 Kg7 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 g6 5.Na3 Rare move. 5.Nf3 is the most popular continuation. However, 5.Na3 suprised Andersen. He spent 23 minutes for his next 3 moves  5...Bg7 6.Nb5 Na6 7.Be3 cxd4 8.Bxd4 Bxd4 9.Qxd4 Qxd4 Played after some hesitation. Perhaps, the Danish GM tried to find where he has more chances to play for a win. After 9...Qxd4 the endgame is almost equal and the White's play is easier.  10.Nxd4 Nc7 11.Ngf3 f6?!

(11...Nf6 was better. Now, the g8-Knight needs some time to enter the game. ) 12.Nb5! White has a small lead in development and must act quickly. Otherwiswe, after Bc8-d7 Black will not have any problems.  12...Ne6?! This leads to an unpleasant endgame for Black. Instead, (12...Nxb5 13.Bxb5+ Kf8 14.O-O-O Nh6 is only slightly better for White ) 13.Bc4 a6 14.Bxe6 axb5 15.Nd4 Bxe6 16.Nxe6 Rc8 17.a3 pinning the weak b-pawn to the b5-square  17...Rc6 18.Nd4 Rb6 19.f4 e5 20.fxe5 fxe5 21.Nb3 Nf6 22.O-O-O O-O 23.Rhe1 Re8 24.Nc5 Re7 25.Ne4 Nxe4 26.Rxe4 Rf6

The endgame is clearly better for White. Black is trying to get some counterplay on the f-file  27.g3 (  Better was 27.Re2 Kf7 (27...e4 28.Kd2 e3+? 29.Rxe3 Rf2+ 30.Ke1! ) 28.Rd5 e4 29.Rxb5 e3 30.Kc2 but I tried to stop Black's activity. Obviously, my endgame technique could be better. ) 27...Rf2 28.Rd2 Rxd2 29.Kxd2 Rd7+ 30.Ke3 Rd5 31.Rb4 Rc5 32.Ke4 b6?

( Black didn't want to allow capture on b7 with check. Although, 32...Kf7 33.a4 bxa4 34.Rxb7+ Kf6 35.Rxh7 a3 36.bxa3 Rxc3 is most likely drawn. ) 33.a4? ( Both players missed the amazing 33.Rxb5!! winning two pawns as  33...Rxb5 loses after  34.b4 trapping Black's rook. White wins the pawn endgame after  34...Kf7 35.a4 Rxb4+ 36.cxb4 Ke6 37.a5 +- Perhaps, 33. Rxb5 move would remain unnoticed without a chess engine. It spotted this tactic immediately when we looked at the rook endgame with Dejan. After the game I was quite upset I couldn't convert a better endgame. Needless to say, this shocking discovery didn't help. ) 33...bxa4 34.Rxa4 b5 35.Ra8+ Kf7 36.Rb8 Kf6 37.Rb6+ Ke7 38.h3 Kf7 39.Rb7+ Ke6 40.Rb6+ Ke7 41.g4 Kf7 42.Rb7+ Kf6 43.Rxh7 b4 44.Kd3 (44.cxb4 Rc4+ 45.Kd3 Rxb4 46.Kc3 Rb8 is also drawn ) 44...bxc3 45.bxc3 Rd5+ 46.Ke4 Rc5 47.Kd3 Rd5+ 48.Ke4 Rc5 49.Kd3 1/2-1/2

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e6 6.Bg5 Bb4 7.Rc1 h6 8.Bxf6 Qxf6 9.e3 O-O 10.Be2 Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Qxd4 12.exd4 b6 13.a3 Be7 14.Bf3 Rb8 15.a4 Bf6 16.Rd1 Ba6 17.b3 d5 18.cxd5 exd5 19.Nxd5 Rfe8+ 20.Ne3 Rbd8 21.Be2 Bxe2 22.Kxe2 Bxd4 23.Rd3 Bxe3 24.Rxd8 Rxd8 25.Kxe3 Kf8 26.Rc1 Rd7 27.g4 Ke7 28.h4 Kf6 29.f4 Re7+ 30.Kf3 Rd7 31.Ke4 Re7+ 32.Kf3 Rd7 33.Rc6+ Ke7 34.Ke4 Kd8 35.Rc4 Re7+ 36.Kf3 Rd7 37.Ke4 Re7+ 38.Kf3 Rd7 39.Ke3 Re7+ 40.Kf2 Kd7 41.h5 g6 42.hxg6 fxg6 43.b4 Re6 44.b5 Rd6 45.Kg3 Rd3+ 46.Kh4 Rf3 47.Rc6 Rxf4 48.Rxg6 Rxa4 49.Rxh6 Ke7 50.Rh7+ Kf8 51.Kh5 Rb4 52.Rxa7 Rxb5+ 53.g5

At around this point we were 1.5 each, and I knew that if I could hold this then we'd draw the match. This is the critical position and my best chance of a draw. The standard method for drawing a rook and pawn v rook ending is the Phildor position where I put my rook on my third rank, wait for his pawn to reach my third rank, put my rook on the back rank and just keep checking. So here if I could take my own b-pawn it's an easy draw.  53...Rb1?! (  As that's not possible I started off looking at trying to get to the third rank  53...Rc5 54.Kh6 Rc6+ which is just too slow. (54...Rc8 heads for the second drawing position I was aware of, with the Black king directly in front of either a rook's, or knight's pawn, and the rook on the first rank. E.g.  55.g6 ( Of course the problem here is 55.Kh7 Rc1 56.Ra8+ Ke7 57.g6 Rh1+ 58.Kg8 Rg1 59.g7 (although as Black still has the b-pawn Kd6 is just enough to draw. ) ) 55...Kg8 56.Rg7+ Kh8 57.Rh7+ Kg8 = if the pawn is further towards the centre then the rook can move right with an easy win, but here that's obviously not possible. ) 55.g6 Rc1 56.g7+ Kg8 57.Ra8+ Kf7 58.g8=Q+ +- ) (  Sadly I missed the immediate draw with 53...Ra5! I suppose I didn't consider it because it's completely the wrong way to get to the third rank, so I didn't consider in the context of getting to the first rank either.  54.Rb7 Ra8 55.Rxb6 Kg8 = ) 54.Kg6 b5 55.Rf7+ Kg8 56.Rb7 Kf8 57.Rb8+ Ke7 58.Kg7

Here I got the wrong idea. I assumed that pushing the b-pawn would be a certain draw, because if his king went to either side I'd be able to give check and queen my pawn. I thought bringing the king over to the b-pawn should also draw, but would be trickier. Actually he has a cunning plan to get his rook to the h-file and block the checks.  58...b4?! (58...Kd6 59.g6 Kc5 60.Kf8 Kc4 61.g7 Rg1 62.g8=Q+ Rxg8+ 63.Kxg8 b4 64.Kf7 b3 65.Ke6 Kc3 66.Kd5 b2 67.Ke4 Kc2 = ) 59.g6 b3 60.Kg8 b2 61.g7 Kd7 62.Rb3

62...Ke7? This was my last chance to bring the king towards the b-pawn, but I still didn't see his idea. (62...Kc6 63.Rc3+ Kb5 64.Rc2 Kb4 65.Rh2 Kc3 66.Kh7 Rg1 67.Rxb2 Rxg7+ 68.Kxg7 Kxb2 = ) 63.Re3+ Kd7 64.Re2 Kd6 65.Rh2 Now it's just over.  65...Ke7 66.Kh7 Rg1 67.Rxb2 Rh1+ 68.Kg8 Ra1 69.Rh2 1-0

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nf6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.Bd3 c5 6.c3 Nc6 7.Ne2 cxd4 8.cxd4 f6 9.exf6 Nxf6 10.Nf3 Bd6 11.O-O O-O 12.Bf4 Bxf4 13.Nxf4 Ne4 14.Ne2 Qb6 15.Qc1 Nb4 16.Bb1 Bd7 17.Nc3 e5 18.Nxe4 dxe4 19.Nxe5 Bb5 20.Rd1 Be2 21.Rd2 Rac8 22.Qe1

22...e3!? Initiating some fireworks  23.Rxe2 exf2+ 24.Rxf2 Rxf2

It looks as if Black's enterprise is paying off, either capture on f2 is fine for him  25.Bxh7+! Turning the tables. This allows Ra1 to protect c1 so that White can capture on f2 with the Queen and remain two pawns up with a safe position and an attack on the weakened Black king  25...Kxh7 26.Qxf2 Nc2 27.Rc1 Kh8 28.Nf7+ Kg8 29.Ng5 Qg6 30.h4 1-0

1.d4 d5 2.c4 c6 3.Nf3 Nf6 4.Nc3 dxc4 5.a4 Bf5 6.e3 e6 7.Bxc4 Bb4 8.O-O Nbd7 9.Qe2 Bg6 10.e4 Bxc3 11.bxc3 Nxe4 12.Ba3 Qc7 13.Rfc1 Nb6 14.Bb3 O-O-O 15.Ne5 Nf6 16.a5 Na8 17.a6 b5 18.c4 b4 19.Bb2 Nd7 20.d5 Nc5 21.Bd1 exd5 22.cxd5 Rxd5 23.Qg4+ f5 24.Qxb4 Qb6

25.Nxc6! Qxc6 26.Bf3 A pin extravaganza  26...Rhd8 27.Rxc5 Qxc5 28.Qb7# 1-0

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 a5 5.g3 d5 6.Bg2 dxc4 7.Qc2 O-O 8.O-O b5 9.a4 Bxd2 10.Nfxd2 Ra7 11.axb5 Qxd4 12.Nxc4 Qc5 13.Nca3 Nbd7 14.Rc1 Qb4 15.Nc3 Nb6 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 h6 18.Rab1 Bb7 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Qc6 Rfb8 21.Rc2 Nd5 22.Rc4 Qd2 23.Rc2 Qd4 24.Qc4 Qe5 25.Rd2 Nf6 26.Rbd1 Ne4 27.Rd8+ Kh7 28.Rxb8 Rxb8 29.Rd7 Nd6

30.Qd3+ ( White can safely grab a piece here, although evacuating the King to h3 looks dangerous 30.Qxc7 Rc8 31.Qxd6 Rc1+ 32.Kg2 Qe4+ 33.Kh3 and if  33...Qf5+ 34.g4 vacates the g3 square for the Queen  34...Qxf2 35.Qg3 and White wins ) 30...f5 31.Rxc7 Nxb5 32.Nxb5 Rxb5 33.Qc3 Qxc3 1/2-1/2

It has been 14 years since my last Olympiad and I wanted to take the opportunity to play one more time while I still had a good chance on making selection. It was a chance to see the world's top players - since my last Olympiad there is a whole crop of new chess stars. For many chess players this is just one event in a continuous stream of events where they will see each other again, but for a player from a remote nation like NZ it is a great experience being part of the global chess community, even if for such a brief moment. As a chess fan, I was hoping to see the US team win with their trio of stars: Caruana, Nakamura and Wesley So. As for the NZ team (my second favourite to win) we were all of the same generation. Whereas this might attract some criticism - where are younger players? - it did have the positive of the players knowing each over many years and a good team spirit. Looking at the final standings the result can seem somewhat disappointing, 95th place. My take on it is that our individual results were slightly out of sync meaning we were losing by 1.5:2.5 or drawing 2:2 in the close matches. Everyone knows that Swiss events don't rank the mid-table places very accurately, yet when the time comes everyone judges their success on this. We came close to defeating an all GM team in round 3, Alexei was in contention for an IM norm until his loss in round 10 and picking up an extra match point at certain times would have jumped us up the standings - so there were a few things that didn't quite happen that would have made this a very successful Olympiad. But overall the event was a great education. In particular working with a coach for the first time was very beneficial, this new and more serious approach will help strengthen NZ chess for the future. The game that I would like to annotate is my first win over a grandmaster in a standard time control game. I've had quite a few draws, wins in rapid, blitz and simuls (please don't get agitated Nigel, if you are reading this [Ed (in his capacity as a Wellington Chess Club official): And Nigel, next time you tell the story of how amateurish organisation misled you on the strength of the players you faced - check the tape on Youtube and notice the professionally printed Elo labels we provided for all the players!]). Even wins against IMs that would later become GMs. But finally the real thing!  1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Bc5 5.Nb3 De la Riva has played different versions of the Scotch, but most recently this was the line he had played.  5...Bb6 6.Nc3 Nf6 7.Qe2 O-O

By castling now, Black retains the option of d5 in one move. "When will you play d5?" was Dejan's response when I showed him the line that morning.  8.Be3 (  Last year I had a game in this position that went 8.Bg5 h6 9.Bh4 a5 10.a4 Nd4 and now my opponent fell for a common tactical trick by putting his Queen on the wrong square.  11.Qd2? (11.Qd3 ) 11...Nxb3 12.cxb3 Nxe4! 13.Bxd8 Nxd2 14.Kxd2 Rxd8 -/+ Perry - Wastney, Wellington Club Championship 2015. ) 8...d5 This is when d5 is played!  9.O-O-O d4 10.Bg5 Bg4! The idea is to get White to play f3 so that his Queen is cut of from the King-side. (  I showed the following game to a chess student earlier in the year when I was advocating the 5.Nb3 line to him. At the time I was considered taking up the Scotch myself, but that was mainly because my name is Scott: 10...Be6 11.e5 Re8? this idea doesn't work here  12.exf6 Bxb3 with a discovered attack on white's queen.  13.Qh5! Bxc2 (13...Be6 14.fxg7 is winning for White ) 14.Kxc2 Nb4+ 15.Kb3 d3 16.Qh3 (16.Kxb4?? a5+ 17.Kb3 a4+ and it is White that gets mated ) 16...Nc6 17.a3 White is a piece up and with his king finding refuge it is the right time for Black resign. 1-0 (17) Arribas Lopez,A (2549)-Karthik,V (2385) Dubai UAE 2016 ) 11.f3 Be6 12.e5 Re8 13.exf6 Bxb3

Here is the difference, no Qh5 with the pawn on f3.  14.Qb5 (  I had only considered 14.Ne4! here in my preparation. The 5.Nb3 variation hadn't worried me so much in my pre-game preparation, and I spent most of the morning looking at other lines of the Scotch or other things he may play. ) 14...Bxa2! I was pleased to find this idea involving the sacrifice of my Queen in the following note.  15.Nxa2 (15.fxg7 Qxg5+! 16.Qxg5 dxc3 and Black is winning since White has no way to keep the Queen because of the threat of Be3+. ) 15...Re5 16.Qb3 Rxg5 17.fxg7 The pawn on g7 can be captured in due course leaving Black a pawn ahead.  17...Qf6 (17...a5! was a move I seriously considered, but opted instead to centralise my pieces. ) 18.h4 Re5 19.Bd3 Re3 20.Nb4 Nxb4 21.Qxb4

It was around here that I was regretting not playing 18...a5. We now have a middle game with King's castled on opposite sides, opposite coloured Bishops and all the major pieces still on the board. As is well known, the key idea for both sides is attack the King's position, since it will be hard to defend an attack on squares controlled by the other's Bishop.  21...Qxg7 22.Kb1 Rae8 23.Be4 c6 24.g4 Qe5 25.g5 Qc5 26.Qa4 Re5 27.Rh2 Qb5! A good practical decision. I spent some time deciding between this and 27...Qe7!? (27...Qe7 now I thought he should play  28.Qc4 (28.Rhd2? Ra5 29.Qc4 Rc3! 30.bxc3 Qa3 -+ was the tactical idea I was angling for. ) 28...Ra5 29.g6 hxg6 30.Bxg6 Now I see the chess engine gives Black a clear advantage, but this position wasn't at all clear to me during the game - I wasn't happy to see the open lines opening to my King. ) 28.Qa2? This move surprised me - I thought he was obliged to swap off Queen's, which I thought leaves Black still a little better.  28...Kg7 29.Rhd2 Qb4 30.Rd3 Rxd3

31.cxd3 Forced ( I have a confession to make. I was poised to make a blunder after 31.Bxd3? Qd2?? being too clever ( I had also seen 31...Re1! 32.Kc1 Ba5 -+ ) 32.Qxf7+! completely missed by me during the game, but rather obvious now I've seen it!  32...Kxf7 33.Rxd2 not only does White escape he is even better with his more mobile pawn majority. I hope one move deeper into the variation I would have spotted 32.Qxf7+! but we'll never know. ) 31...Rb5 32.Rc1? I thought he should play 32.f4 before I could get in Bc7  32...Bc7! Finally my Bishop finds an active role!  33.Rc4 Qe1+ 34.Rc1 Qd2 35.Rc2 Here I consulted with Dejan whether I should I take a draw by perpetual check. I fully expected him to say "no", but just by doing so it gives me aconfidence boost! I haven't mentioned Dejan in the introduction to the game, so I should say something here. I found his help very benefical in several ways. In indentifying weaknesses in my calculation skills and getting me to change my chess study to work on this prior to the Olympiad. Chess preparation and ideas on what to play pregame. Telling me to play something different because there are games in the database in particular openings (I would love to see Anthony's response to this if he was in the team!), Postgame comments and overall confidence. I can't help but feel this would have been even more benefit when I was younger and some good guidance could have paid greater dividends. It sounds like the NZCF are putting plans in place and it may not be too long before Dad's army (Russell's name for our team) are knocked off the top of the NZ rating list. With a combination of new players coming through and coaching for our Olympiad team, NZ chess is making a positive step forward.  35...Qe3 ( I wanted to keep White's pieces tied up to the defence (which is good enough). Dejan expected me to round up the h-pawn, and the computer engine agrees with Dejan, of course. 35...Qe1+ 36.Rc1 Qxh4 -+ ) 36.Qxa7 Qe1+ 37.Rc1 Qb4 38.Qa2 Bf4 39.Rd1 Bd2 40.h5 Bc3 41.h6+? It is important that Black puts the King on the right square, but I am happy to say this wasn't a blunder I was poised to make. I took my time to make the move because the time control had been reached and I wanted to settle my nerves in a position that must be winning for me. It occurred me just before I did actually move that my team mates may have been worried that I didn't see 42. Qa8 was possible. ( The last chance to put up some resistance was 41.g6! -/+ ) 41...Kf8 42.Kc2

42...Bxb2 Dejan thought 42... Rc5 was quicker, but that is splitting hairs. The computer agrees with Dejan, of course.  43.Rb1 Rxg5 44.f4 Qc3+ 45.Kd1 Rg1+ 46.Ke2 Qc2+ 47.Kf3 Qg2# I was happy arriving back at the hotel, but even happy when I found out Manchester City beat Manchester United at old Trafford! A good day all round for the good guys! 0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Nbd2 c5 4.dxc5 Qa5 5.a3 Qxc5 6.b4 Qb6 7.Bb2 Bg7 8.e3 O-O 9.c4 d5 10.cxd5 Nxd5 11.Bxg7 Kxg7 12.Bc4 Nf6 13.Qb3 Nc6 14.h3 Bf5 15.O-O h6 16.Rfd1 Rad8 17.Be2 Be6 18.Qb2 Kg8 19.Nc4 Bxc4 20.Bxc4

20...Ne4?? 21.Qc2! I suspect Stephen's comment to 27...Qxd7! in his game with Kostenko in Round 2 arose here too. The errant is Knight is attacked, can't be defended and can't move because it is skewered against the the pawn on g6  21...Rxd1+ 22.Rxd1 Nxb4 23.axb4 Ng5 24.Ne5 Re8 25.Qxg6+ Qxg6 26.Nxg6 Kg7 27.Ne5 f6 28.Nf3 Ne4 29.Rd7 Nd6 30.Be6 Kf8 31.Nh4 Kg7 32.Nf5+ Nxf5 33.Bxf5 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 a6 6.Nd6+ Bxd6 7.Qxd6 Qf6 8.Qxf6 Nxf6 9.Nc3 Nb4 10.Bd3 h6 11.f4 d6 12.O-O Nxd3 13.cxd3 Be6 14.h3 Rc8 15.Rf2 b5 16.Be3 Rc6 17.d4 Rc4 18.Rd1 b4 19.fxe5 dxe5 20.dxe5 Nxe4 21.Nxe4 Rxe4 22.Bc5 Rxe5 23.Bxb4 f6 24.Rd6 Bc8 25.Rc2 Kf7 26.Rc7+ Kg6 27.Bc3 Rb5 28.a4 Rg5 29.Bd2 Rg3 30.Kf2 Rb3 31.Bc3 Re8 32.Rd3 Kh7

33.Bxf6! A nice shot to win two pawns  33...Rxd3 34.Rxg7+ Kh8 35.Re7+ Kg8 36.Rxe8+ Kf7 37.Rxc8 Kxf6 38.Rc6+ Kg7 39.Rb6 a5 40.Rb5 Rd4 41.Rxa5 Rd2+ 42.Kf3 Rxb2 43.Rb5 Ra2 44.a5 Ra4 45.g3 Kf6 46.h4 Kg6 47.Rb6+ Kg7 48.a6 h5 49.Rb7+ Kg6 50.a7 Kf5 51.Ke3 Kf6 52.Kd3 Ke6 53.Rh7 Ra3+ 54.Kc4 Kd6 55.Rh6+ Kc7 56.Rxh5 Kb7 57.Rb5+ Kxa7 58.Rb3 Ra1 59.Kd4 Re1 60.g4 Rh1 61.Ke5 Rxh4 62.g5 Rg4 63.Kf6 Rg1 64.g6 Rf1+ 65.Kg7 Rg1 66.Kf7 Rf1+ 67.Kg8 Rg1 68.g7 Ka6 69.Rh3 1-0

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nh3 e6 7.Nf4 Bd6 8.h4 Qc7 9.Nxg6 hxg6 10.Ne4 Bf4 11.Bxf4 Qxf4 12.Ng5 Nd7 13.g3 Qc7 14.Bg2 The opening has followed my preparation.  14...Nh6 15.O-O Nf6 16.c3 Nf5 17.Qf3 O-O 18.Rfe1 a5 19.Rad1 Rab8 20.Qe2 b5 21.Nf3 c5 (21...Rfd8 22.Ne5 Rd6 23.Bf3 += ) 22.dxc5 (22.Qe5!? Qxe5 23.dxe5 +/- ) 22...Qxc5 += 23.Qe5 Qb6 24.Nd4 Nxd4 25.Rxd4 (25.cxd4?! Rfc8 = ) 25...Rfd8 26.Red1 b4 A double-edged move, it might be better to leave this pawn on b5.  27.c4 Rxd4 28.Qxd4 Qxd4 29.Rxd4 Rc8 30.b3

White's protected passed pawn gives him a clear advantage.  30...Kf8 31.Rd6 Rc5 32.Ra6 Ne8 33.Bc6 Nc7 34.Rb6 Ke7 35.Kf1 Kd6 (35...g5 36.hxg5 Rxg5 37.Ke2 += ) 36.Ba4+ +/- Ke5 37.Ke2 Kd4 38.Rd6+ (38.Rb8 Kc3 39.Rf8 Na6 40.Rxf7 Re5+ 41.Kf1 Nc5 +- ) 38...Kc3 39.Rd7 Re5+ 40.Kf1 Na6

41.Bb5? As so often happens after making the time control, my opponent's concentration relaxes and this allows me back into the game. (41.Rxf7 with a clear advantage to White  41...Nc5 42.Be8 +/- (42.Rxg7?! Nxa4 43.Rxg6 Nc5 = ) ) 41...Nc5 = 42.Ra7 Nxb3?! (42...Nd3 = Nxb3 is a good "shock" move, particularly if my opponent can't find his way through the complicated choices. ) 43.axb3 +- Kxb3 44.f4?? (44.Rxf7 would have given White a clear advantage  44...Kc3 45.Ba4 +- ) 44...Rc5 += 45.Ke2 ( Worse is 45.Rxf7 a4 46.Rxg7 a3 =+ ) 45...Kc3 46.Rd7 b3 47.Rd3+ (47.Rxf7?? b2 -+ ) 47...Kb4 48.Kd2 g5 (48...e5 49.Rd7 exf4 50.gxf4 = ) 49.hxg5 += Rc8? (49...f6 += ) 50.Kc1?? There were better ways to keep up the pressure (50.Rd7 Ka3 51.Kc3 +- ) 50...Rh8 51.Rd2 Kc3 52.Bc6 (52.Rd1!? = ) 52...a4 -/+

Finally I'm better!!!  53.Bxa4 Ra8 54.Re2 Rxa4 55.Re3+ (55.Kb1!? -/+ ) 55...Kb4 -+ 56.g6 Ra1+ 57.Kb2 Ra2+ 58.Kb1 fxg6 59.Rxe6 Rg2 60.c5 (60.Rxg6?? Kc3 61.Rd6 Rg1+ 62.Rd1 Rxd1# ) 60...Rxg3 61.c6 Ka3?? Allows White a saving resource. (61...Rg1+ and Black is winning with the rook on g2.  62.Kb2 Rg2+ 63.Kb1 Ka3 -+ ) 62.Re1 = Rc3 63.Re7?? White lets it slip away (63.Rc1 would keep White alive  63...Rxc1+ 64.Kxc1 = ) 63...Rxc6 -+ 64.Rxg7? (64.Ra7+ Kb4 65.Kb2 -+ ) 64...Rf6 65.Ra7+ Kb4 66.Rg7 Kc3 67.Rc7+ Kd4 68.Kb2 Ke3 69.Kxb3 Kxf4

70.Kc4 (70.Rc4+ does not solve anything  70...Kg3 71.Rc1 Rb6+ 72.Ka4 g5 73.Rg1+ Kf4 74.Rf1+ Ke4 -+ ) 70...g5 (  Ed: I had a play with 70...Rd6 to maximise the King cut-off and head to the Lucena position. It does win of course, but the Rook can harass the king and make it hard to advance the pawn  71.Rf7+ Kg4 72.Rf1 g5 73.Rg1+ Kf4 74.Rf1+ and Black has to reorganise ) 71.Kd5 g4 72.Rc4+ Kf3 73.Ke5 Rf8 74.Rc3+ Kg2 75.Ke4 g3 76.Rc2+ Kg1 77.Ke3 g2 78.Rc7 Rf1 79.Rg7 Ra1 80.Ke2 Ra2+ 81.Ke1 Ra5 82.Ke2 Ra2+ 83.Ke1 Ra8 84.Ke2 Re8+ 85.Kf3 (85.Kd3 doesn't do any good   85...Rh8 -+ ) 85...Kf1 A game of ups and downs that could have had any result. 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 Nbd7 7.Qe2 e6 8.f4 Qc7 9.O-O-O b5 10.a3 Be7 11.g4 Rb8 12.Bg2 Bb7 13.Rhe1 O-O 14.f5 e5 15.Nf3 Rfc8 16.Bxf6 Nxf6 17.g5 Nh5 18.Rd2 Bf8 19.f6 Nf4 20.Qd1 Qa5 21.Na2 b4 22.fxg7 Kxg7 23.Kb1 bxa3 24.b3 Rc6 25.Bf1 Bc8 26.Re3 Be6 27.Nh4 Qc7 28.Ng2 a5 29.Nxf4 exf4 30.Red3 a4 31.Bh3 axb3 32.cxb3 Bxb3 33.Rxb3 Rxb3+ 34.Qxb3 Rb6 35.Nb4 d5 36.Ka2 Bxb4 37.Rc2 Bd6 38.Qd3 Rb2+ 39.Rxb2 axb2 40.exd5 Be5

This is the position after move 40. My position is terrible, but as it'd been close to resignable for the last twenty moves or so I wasn't too unhappy with terrible. I could tell that my opponent had been expecting the game to be over by now, and he wasn't too pleased to still have some work to do. I don't remember the exact match situation at this point, but I think all the games were still in progress and it looked like it was going to be a close match.  41.Bf5 Qa5+ 42.Kb3 Qb6+ (42...f3 is the easiest win  43.Qxf3 Qb5+ 44.Ka2 b1=Q+ 45.Bxb1 Qb2# ) 43.Ka2 Qb4 44.Qa3 Here I saw I could get mated in all sorts of different ways so I felt I had to try to get the queens off. (44.Qb1 Qa4# ) (44.Qe4 b1=Q+ 45.Qxb1 Qa4# ) (44.Qa6 b1=Q+ 45.Bxb1 Qb2# ) 44...Qxa3+ (44...Qc4+ 45.Qb3 Qa6+ 46.Qa3 b1=Q+ 47.Bxb1 Qe2+ 48.Kb3 Qd1+ 49.Ka2 Qxd5+ 50.Qb3 Qa5+ 51.Qa3 Qd2+ 52.Kb3 Qd1+ 53.Ka2 Qe2+ 54.Kb3 f3 is a long, but forced line which reaches a completely winning position as the f pawn is unstoppable. Can't criticise him too much for missing this one. ) 45.Kxa3 Now I had some real hope, with opposite coloured bishops and the wrong rooks pawn as drawing motifs.  45...f3 46.Ka2 f2 47.Bd3

My only drawing plan is to give the d-pawn up for the b-pawn and hope my king makes it across in time, so my moves are fairly easy to play. He has several plausible moves but I believe that only one of them actually works. Luckily for me that wasn't the one he played.  47...Kf8 (47...f6! 48.d6 fxg5 49.d7 Bf6 50.d8=Q Bxd8 51.Kxb2 g4 52.Kc2 Bc7 53.Kd2 Bxh2 54.Ke2 Bg1 and three connected pawns must be too many. ) (47...h6!? 48.h4 (48.gxh6+ Kxh6 49.d6 Bxd6 50.Kxb2 Kg5 51.Kc2 Kg4 52.Kd2 Kh3 53.Bf1+ Kxh2 54.Ke2 -+ ) 48...h5 49.d6 Bxd6 50.Kxb2 Bg3 51.Kc2 Bxh4 52.Kd2 Bxg5+ 53.Ke2 Bh4 54.Kf1 Kf6 55.Be4

Despite what the computer thinks I believe this position is drawn. My king stays on the f1 square and the bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal and I don't think Black can make progress. If he pushes the pawn to f3 then I take it with stalemate and otherwise what can he do? Chess can be unfair sometimes. ) 48.d6 Bxd6 ( His last chance was 48...Ke8 49.Bb5+ Kd8 50.h4 It appears that I must get my pawn to h5, so that he can't win it while keeping my king away from f1. (50.d7? f6 51.gxf6 Bxf6 52.Kb1 Ke7 53.h4 h5 54.Kc2 Ke6 55.d8=Q Bxd8 56.Kxb2 Ke5 57.Kc2 Kf4 58.Kd2 Kg3 59.Bf1 Bxh4 -+ ) 50...f6 51.gxf6 Bxf6 52.h5 Kc8 53.d7+ Kd8 54.Kb1 Ke7 55.Kc2 Ke6 56.d8=Q Bxd8 57.Kxb2 Kf5 58.Kc2 Kg4 59.Kd1 Kg3 60.Bf1 Kh2 61.Ke2 Kg1 62.Bh3 = ) 49.Kxb2 Bxh2 50.Kc2 Bf4 51.Kd1 Bxg5 52.Ke2 Kg7 53.Kxf2 h5 54.Kg2

With an easy draw. At worst I can put the king on h1 and sacrifice bishop for f-pawn. 1/2-1/2

1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 c5 3.c3 e6 4.Bf4 Qb6 5.Qb3 Nd7 6.e3 Ngf6 7.Nbd2 Be7 8.Ne5 Qxb3 9.axb3 Nh5 10.Nd3 Nxf4 11.Nxf4 cxd4 12.exd4 O-O 13.Nf3 Bd6 14.Nd3 Re8 15.Be2 f6 16.O-O-O e5 17.Nde1 e4 18.Nh4 Nb6 19.g3 Be6 20.Nc2 a5 21.f4 f5 22.Ng2 Rec8 23.Nge3 g6 24.Kd2 a4 25.b4 Kf7 26.Na3 Be7 27.Nb5 Bd7 28.h3 Nc4+ 29.Bxc4 dxc4 30.Na3 b5 31.Ke2 Bd6 32.Nec2 g5 33.Ke3 gxf4+ 34.gxf4 Rg8 35.Rhg1 Rg6 36.Rg5 Rxg5 37.fxg5 Kg6 38.d5 Re8 39.Nd4 f4+ 40.Kf2 Bxh3 41.Rh1 e3+ 42.Ke1 Bg2 43.Rh6+ Kxg5 44.Rxd6 f3 45.Nxf3+ Bxf3 46.Nxb5 Bg4 47.Nc7 Rg8 48.Ne6+ Bxe6 49.dxe6 Kf4 50.e7

50...Rg1+?? This is an exception to the rule that in Rook endings you need to avoid passive defence with your Rook. (50...Re8! was essential ) 51.Ke2 Rg2+ 52.Kf1 e2+ 53.Ke1 Rg8 too late  54.Rd8 Rg1+ 55.Kxe2 Rg2+ 56.Kf1 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.O-O Qc7 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 Nbd7 9.f4 b6 10.Nc3 Be7 11.Kh1 Bb7 12.f5 Nf8 13.Be3 Rb8 14.Rac1 h5 15.Bc2 N6d7 16.Ba4 Bf6

17.Nd5!! A temporary sac, White gets everything back with a winning dose of interest  17...exd5 18.cxd5 Qd8 19.Nc6 Bxc6 20.dxc6 Ra8 21.c7 Qc8 22.Bc6 Ra7 23.Bxb6 Rxc7 24.Bxd7+ Nxd7 25.Bxc7 Qb7 26.Bxd6 Be5 27.Rc7 Qa8 28.Rxd7 1-0