Magazines Games 2008-2018 2017

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5 3.dxe5 Ng4 4.e4 Nxe5 5.f4 Ng6 6.a3 a5 7.Be3 b6 8.Nc3 Bb7 9.Bd3 Na6 10.Qd2 Nc5 11.Bc2 a4 12.Qd1 Bd6 13.Nge2 Qe7 14.Nd5 Bxd5 15.Qxd5 c6 16.Qd4 O-O 17.Rd1 Bc7 18.O-O d6 19.Ng3 Rfe8 20.f5 Ne5 21.f6 gxf6 22.Nf5 Qe6 23.Bf4 Nxc4 24.Qf2 Kh8 25.Qh4 Rg8 26.Rf3 Nxe4 27.Re1

27...Ng5!? 28.Bxg5 fxg5 29.Qxh7+! Kxh7 30.Rh3+ Qh6 31.Rxh6# 1-0

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Nd7 7.Be2 e6 8.O-O Bd6 9.b3 Ngf6 10.Bb2 h5 11.Nh4 Nf8 12.Nxg6 Nxg6 13.Bd3 Nf4 14.c4 Ng4 15.Re1

15...Qh4 16.h3 Nxh3+ 17.gxh3 Qxh3 18.Qf3 h4 19.Bf5 hxg3 20.Bxg4 gxf2+ 21.Kxf2 Qh2+ 22.Kf1 Qxb2 23.d5 Bg3 24.dxe6 Rh1+ 0-1

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 exd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Be7 6.f3 O-O 7.Be3 Nc6 8.Qd2 Nxd4 9.Bxd4 a6 10.O-O-O b5

11.g4 Be6 12.h4 b4 13.Nd5 Nxd5 14.exd5 Bxd5 15.Bxg7 Bxf3 16.Qh6 Bxh1 17.g5 Be4 18.Bf6 Bxf6 19.gxf6 Qxf6 20.Qxf6 Rfe8 21.Bh3 Re5 22.Rg1+ Bg6 23.h5 Rxh5 24.Qf3 Rxh3 25.Qxa8+ Kg7 26.Qxa6 Rh2 27.Qc4 c5 28.a4 bxa3 29.bxa3 Kf8 30.a4 Ke7 31.a5 Rxc2+ 32.Qxc2 Bxc2 33.Kxc2 Kd7 34.Rg7 Kc6 35.Rxf7 Kb5 36.Rd7 1-0

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6 5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 Bb7 7.Bd3 c5 8.dxc5 bxc5 9.O-O Nc6 10.Bg5 Qb8

11.Re1 a6 12.Na4 Qc7 13.c3 h6 14.Be3 c4 15.Bc2 g5 16.b3 cxb3 17.Bxb3 Bg7 18.Bb6 Qb8 19.Bc5 Nxe5 20.Nb6 Nc6 21.Qxd5 Qd8 22.Rxe6+ Nge7 23.Rxe7+ Nxe7 24.Qxf7# 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 g6 3.f4 Bg7 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bb5 a6 6.Bxc6 bxc6 7.O-O d5 8.d3 Bg4 9.h3 Bxc3 10.hxg4 Bg7 11.Qe1 Rb8 12.f5 Nf6 13.g5 Nd7 14.e5 e6 15.f6 Bf8 16.c4 Qc7 17.g4 h6 18.gxh6 g5 19.b3 Bxh6 20.Bd2 Nf8 21.Kg2 Ng6 22.Rh1 Kd7 23.Rh2 Rbg8 24.Qe2 Nh4+ 25.Kf2 Rg6 26.Rah1 Rhg8 27.Nxh4 gxh4 28.Bxh6 Rxh6 29.Rxh4 Rhg6 30.Rh7 Kc8 31.Rh8 Qd8 32.Rxg8 Qxg8 33.Rh4 Kb7 34.Kf3 Kb6 35.Qh2 Rg5 36.Rh8 Qg6 37.Qh7 Rxg4 38.Qxg6 Rxg6 39.Kf4 Rg2 40.Rh7 Rxa2 41.Rxf7 Rf2+

42.Ke3?? Oh no, everything else wins (  In particular 42.Kg5 Wins easily, White just queens the 'f' pawn and Black has no time to generate a passed pawn and counterplay, eg  42...Re2 43.Re7 Rxe5+ 44.Kg6 Re3 45.f7 Rg3+ 46.Kf6 Rf3+ 47.Kxe6 Re3+ 48.Kd7 Rf3 49.Ke8 ) 42...Rf5 = 43.Re7 Rxe5+ 44.Kd2 d4 45.Re8 Rf5 46.Rxe6 Kc7 47.Re7+ Kd6 48.Rf7 Ke5

49.Ra7? Now Black gets winning chances. As the Editor can attest from many painful personal experiences, Ker (and his partner in crime Dive for that matter) enjoys nothing more than mercilessly erasing the drawing fantasies of weaker players in apparently equal endings. (49.Re7+ Puts a stop to any funny business  49...Kxf6 (49...Kd6 50.Rf7 ) (49...Kf4? 50.Re6 ) 50.Rc7 ) 49...Rxf6 50.Rxa6 Rh6 51.Ra8 Rh2+ 52.Kc1 Kf4 53.Re8 Kf3 54.Re6? (54.Kd1 ) 54...Re2

55.Rxc6? The final mistake (55.Rh6! and White draws using side checks ) 55...Ke3 56.Rxc5 Kxd3 57.Rh5 Kc3 58.Kd1 d3 59.c5 Rb2 60.Ke1 Rb1+ 61.Kf2 d2 0-1

1.e4 e6 2.Nf3 d5 3.e5 c5 4.b4!? Big bad Mike likes sacrificing material and running over the top of people himself, so this gambit could well be a shrewd psychological approach.  4...cxb4 5.a3 Nc6 6.axb4 Bxb4 7.c3 Be7 8.d4 a6 9.Bd3 Rb8 10.h4 h5 11.Ng5 g6 12.Qf3 Bxg5 13.Bxg5 Nce7 14.Rh3 Qc7 15.Nd2 Bd7 16.c4

16...dxc4? Mike wants to activate his bishop, but pays too high a price.  17.Nxc4 Bc6 18.Qg3 Nf5 19.Bxf5 gxf5 20.Nd6+ Kf8 21.Qa3! Ne7 22.Rg3 Rh7 23.Bf6 Rd8 24.Rc1 Rd7 25.f4 DIagram # A picturesque position. The threat of d5 and then Nxf5 if e6xd5 is too strong, so 1-0

1.b4 d5 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 a5 4.bxa5 c5 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.Bb5 Rxa5 7.c4 Bg4 8.h3 Bd7 9.Bc3 Ra7 10.O-O e6 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Bd6 13.cxd5 exd5 14.Bd3 O-O 15.Nb5 Bb8 16.Nxa7 Bxa7 17.Na3 Bb8 18.Rc1 Qc7 19.g3 Qd6 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Kg2 Ne5 22.Nc2 Rc8 23.Qe2 Rc3 24.Nb4 Nxd3 25.Nxd3 g6 26.Qb2 d4 27.Rxc3 dxc3 28.Qe2 Bc6+ 29.e4 Qd4 30.f3 Bb5 31.Rd1 Qc4

32.Nc1 (32.Qc2! = holds because  32...Ba4 can be met with  33.Nb2 ) 32...Qxe2+ 33.Nxe2 Bxe2 34.Rd8+ Kg7 35.Rxb8 Bc4! 0-1

1.Nf3 c5 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.g3 d6 5.Bg2 Nc6 6.O-O e5 7.Ne1 Be6 8.d3 Nge7 9.Nc2 Rb8 10.a3 O-O 11.b4 e4

12.Nxe4! One pawn for the exchange  12...Bxa1 13.Nxa1 f5 14.Ng5 Bd7 15.Bf4 Nc8 16.bxc5 Two pawns  16...h6 17.Nf3 g5 18.Bxd6 Nxd6 19.cxd6

Three pawns  19...Qa5 20.d4 Qxa3 21.c5 Rbe8 22.Nc2 Qc3 23.e3 f4 24.exf4 gxf4 25.Nh4 Kg7 26.Qb1 f3! Fighting back  27.Nxf3 Rxf3 28.Bxf3 Qxf3 29.Qxb7

What a fantastic position. Computers try to take the fun out of chess by somehow evaluating it as 0.00 but for humans it doesn't get any better than fighting out something like this.  29...Ne5 30.d5 Qc3 31.c6 Rd8 32.cxd7 Rxd7

33.Qb4! Winning back his piece and remaining pawns up. Smith fights hard, but the result is no longer in doubt.  33...Qxb4 (33...Qxc2 34.Qd4 pins and wins the knight ) 34.Nxb4 Rxd6 35.Ra1 Rd7 36.Ra6 Nc4 37.Nc6 Rxd5 38.Rxa7+ Kf6 39.Rh7 h5 40.h4 Rc5 41.Nd4 Kg6 42.Rd7 Ne5 43.Rd6+ Kf7 44.Kg2 Ng4 45.f3 Nf6 46.Kf2 Ra5 47.Rc6 Ra4 48.Nc2 Ra7 49.Ne3 Ra4 50.Rc4 Ra2+ 51.Rc2 Ra4 52.Kg2 Ra3 53.Re2 Ra4 54.Kh3 Ra3 55.Kg2 Ra4 56.Nf5 Ra6 57.Nd4 Rd6 58.Nc2 Ra6 59.Kf2 Ra4 60.Ne3 Rd4 61.Ng2 Nd5 62.Re5 Rd2+ 63.Kg1 Nf6 64.Nf4 Ra2 65.Nxh5 Nd7 66.Rb5 Ke6 67.Nf4+ Kd6 68.Rd5+ Kc6 69.h5 Nc5 70.Re5 Nd7 71.Re2 Ra1+ 72.Kg2 Ra4 73.Ng6 Ra5 74.g4 Kd6 75.Kg3 Nf6 76.Ne7 Kd7 77.Kh4 Ra3 78.Ng6 Kd8 79.f4 Ra1 80.Kg5 Ng8 81.f5 Rg1 82.Nh8 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Be3 Bf5 6.Nf3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Bxb1 8.Qxb1 e5 9.dxe5 Bb4+ 10.Bd2 Bxd2+ 11.Nxd2 Rd8 12.Nb3 Qxe5+ 13.Be2 Nge7 14.Qc2

14...Nb4! Black wins a pawn, and the remainder of the game is a very impressive conversion  15.Qc4 Nd3+ 16.Kf1 Nxb2 17.Qb5+ Qxb5 18.Bxb5+ Kf8 19.Ke2 Nd5 20.Rhc1 a6 21.Rab1 axb5 22.Rxb2 b4 23.Kf3 Ke7 24.Rd2 Nc3 25.a3 Rxd2 26.Nxd2 Rd8 27.axb4 Rd3+ 28.Kg4 Rxd2 29.Rxc3 Rd4+ 30.Kf5 g6+ 31.Ke5 Rxb4 32.Rc7+ Kf8

I am not sure whether Black should be expecting to win this, given that White's king is more active and his rook is going to get behind the passed pawn. It's a bit above the Editor's pay grade and chess skill level. Suffice it to say Daniel makes it look routine.  33.g3 Kg7 34.h4 h5 35.Rd7 Rb2 36.f3 b6 37.Rb7 Rb3 38.Kf4 Kf6 39.g4 Rb4+ 40.Kg3 Ke6 41.Rb8 Rb3 42.gxh5 gxh5 43.Rh8 Rb5 44.Rh6+ f6 45.Kf4 Rf5+ 46.Ke4 Rc5 47.Kf4 b5 48.Rh7 b4 49.Rb7 Rc4+ 50.Kg3 f5 51.Rb5 Kf6 52.f4 Rc3+ 53.Kg2 b3 54.Rb6+ Ke7 55.Rb5 Rc2+ 56.Kf3 b2 57.Ke3 Kd6 58.Kd4 Rd2+ 59.Kc3 Rf2 60.Kd3 Kc6 61.Rb8 Kc5 62.Ke3 Rh2 63.Rc8+ Kd5 64.Rd8+ Kc4 65.Rc8+ Kb3 66.Rb8+ Kc2 67.Rc8+ Kd1 68.Rb8 Kc1 69.Kd4 b1=Q 70.Rxb1+ Kxb1 71.Ke5 Rxh4 72.Kxf5 Rg4 73.Ke5 h4 74.f5 Rg1 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be2 a6 7.O-O b5 8.Re1 Bb7 9.Bf3 Nbd7 10.a4 b4 11.Nd5 Nxd5 12.exd5 Ne5 13.Nc6 Bxc6 14.dxc6 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Qc7 16.Bg5 Rc8 17.Re2

17...Qxc6? 18.Qf6 Rc7 19.Qxh8 Qc4 20.Rae1 e6 21.Bh6 Rc5 22.Qxf8+ Kd7 23.Qxf7+ Kc6 24.Qe8+ Kb6 25.Be3 Ka5 26.Bxc5 dxc5 27.Qd8+ 1-0

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.Nc3 Nxc3 6.dxc3 Be7 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Qd2 O-O 9.O-O-O Nc5 10.Kb1 c6 11.Nd4 Ne4 12.Qe1 Re8 13.f3

13...Bg5?? 14.fxe4 Rxe4 15.Bxg5 Rxe1 16.Rxe1 f6 17.Bf4 d5 18.Bd3 Bd7 19.Ne6 Qa5 20.Nxg7 1-0

1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5 3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 Bf5 6.Be3 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nxd4 8.Qxd4 Qxd4 9.Bxd4 Nf6 10.Nd2 a6 11.Nc4 e6 12.O-O-O Be7 13.Bxf6 gxf6 14.Nd6+ Bxd6 15.Rxd6 Ke7 16.Rd2 Rhg8 17.Be2 Rad8 18.Bf3 Rxd2 19.Kxd2 e5 20.Ke3 b6 21.g3 Be6 22.b3 Rc8 23.Rc1 a5 24.c4 f5 25.Be2 Kd6 26.Kd2 f6 27.Rd1 Ke7 28.Ke3 h6 29.Rd2 Rc7 30.Bf3 Rc5 31.Bb7 b5 32.Ba6 bxc4 33.Bxc4 Bxc4 34.Rc2 Kd6 35.Rxc4 Rxc4 36.bxc4 Kc5 37.Kd3 Kb4 38.a3+ Kc5 39.Kc3

39...h5? This loses, whereas ( each of 39...Kc6 ) ( and 39...Kd6 ) ( and 39...Kb6 draws. The problem is that White can now sacrifice a pawn to force a distant second passed pawn with h4, f3, then g4, a manoeuvre that is not available with the h pawn further back. Maybe this is a reflection of the endgame principles of not rushing and not making unnecessary pawn moves. Although I think Bob is a bit harsh in the main report when he suggests Daniel needs to work on the endgame, if that comment is based on this alone (see the McLaren endgame earlier for example). Black doesn't have to worry about White going after the 'a' pawn  40.Kb3 Kc5 41.Ka4? Kxc4 42.Kxa5 Kd3 43.a4 e4 44.Kb6 Ke2 45.a5 Kxf2 46.a6 e3 and White gains nothing from Queening first and is in fact seriously worse. ) 40.Kd3 Kd6 41.f3 Kc6 42.h4 Kd6 43.g4 e4+ 44.Ke3 fxg4 45.fxg4 hxg4 46.h5 f5 47.h6 g3 48.h7 f4+ 49.Ke2 f3+ 50.Kf1 g2+ 51.Kg1 Kc5 52.h8=Q Kxc4 53.Qe5 Kd3 54.Qd5+ Ke3 55.Qxa5 Ke2 56.Qb5+ Ke3 57.a4 Kf4 58.a5 Kg3 59.Qg5+ Kh3 60.Kf2 e3+ 61.Kxf3 0-1

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 c6 4.a4 a5 5.Nf3 Bg4 6.Be3 d5 7.e5 Nfd7 8.h3 Bxf3 9.Qxf3 e6 10.Qg3 Na6 11.Be2 Nb4 12.Rc1 Nb6 13.O-O Nc8 14.Nb1 Ne7 15.c3 Nf5 16.Qf4 Na6 17.Bd3 g6 18.g4 Bh6 19.Qf3 Nh4 20.Qg3 Bxe3 21.fxe3 Qg5 22.Qf4 Qxf4 23.exf4 Nc7 24.Nd2 Ke7 25.Kf2 h6 26.Kg3 g5 27.f5 Rhf8 28.Rce1 Rad8 29.b4 axb4 30.cxb4 Ra8 31.a5 Rfb8 32.Rc1 Na6 33.Bxa6 Rxa6 34.Nb3 Raa8

35.fxe6! fxe6 36.Rf6 Rf8 37.Rcf1 Ng6 38.Rxf8 Rxf8 39.Rxf8 Kxf8 40.Nc5!

The point, this is simply game over  40...Nf4 41.Kf3 Ke7 42.Nxb7 Kd7 43.Nc5+ Kc7 44.h4 Kc8 45.h5 Kc7 46.Ke3 Ng2+ 47.Kd2 Nf4 48.Nd3 Nxd3 49.Kxd3 Kb7 50.Kc3 Ka6 51.Kb3 Kb7 52.Ka4 Ka6 53.b5+ cxb5+ 54.Kb4 Ka7 55.Kxb5 Kb7 56.Kc5 Ka6 57.Kd6 Kxa5 58.Kxe6 1-0

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 b6 3.g3 Bb7 4.Bg2 c5 5.O-O g6 6.Nc3 Bg7 7.Re1 d6 8.e4 e5 9.d3 O-O 10.Nh4 Nc6 11.Bh3 Nd4 12.a3 Bc8 13.Bg2 h6 14.b4 g5 15.Nf3 Bg4 16.Be3 Qd7 17.Rb1 Nh7 18.Bxd4 cxd4 19.Nd5 Nf6 20.Nxf6+ Bxf6 21.Qc2 Rac8 22.Nd2 Be6 23.a4 h5 24.Qd1 Kg7 25.b5 h4 26.Ra1 Rh8 27.Qe2 Rh6 28.f3 hxg3 29.hxg3 Rch8 30.g4 Bd8 31.Nf1 Qe8 32.Ng3 Qg8 33.Kf2 Kf8 34.Rh1 Rxh1 35.Rxh1 Rxh1 36.Bxh1 Qh8 37.Kg1 Qh4 38.Qf2 Be7 39.Bg2 Bc8 40.Bf1 Bd7 41.Be2 Qh3 42.Bf1 Qh4 43.Kg2 Bd8 44.Be2 Qh6 45.Bd1 Qf6 46.Ne2 Bc7 47.Qe1 Qd8 48.Qd2 Qf6 49.Nc1 Qf4 50.Nb3 Bc8 51.Qxf4 gxf4 52.Na1 Ke8 53.Nc2 Bd8 54.Kh3 Kd7 55.Nb4 Bb7 56.Bb3 Be7 57.Nc2 Ke8 58.Ba2 Bc8 59.Kg2 Bb7 60.Kf2 Bh4+ 61.Ke2 Be7 62.Kd2 Bh4 63.Kc1 Bf2 64.Kd1 Ke7 65.Bb3 Be3 66.Na1 Bc8 67.Bc2 Kd8 68.Nb3 Kc7 69.Ke1 a5 70.Bd1 Be6 71.Be2 f6 72.Bf1 Bd7 73.Bh3 Bc8 74.Kf1 Kd8 75.Kg2 Bb7 76.g5 fxg5 77.Bf5 Ke7 78.Kh3 Bf2 79.Kg4 Bh4 80.Kh5 Kf6 81.Nd2 Be1 82.Nf1 Bg3 83.Bd7 Ke7 84.Bh3 Kf6 85.Kh6 Bh4 86.Kh7 Kf7 87.Nh2 Be1 88.Ng4 Ba8 89.Nh6+ Kf6 90.Ng8+ Kf7 91.Bg4 Bb7 92.Nh6+ Kf6 93.Kg8 Bb4 94.Nf7 Ba3 95.Nd8 Ba8 96.Ne6

96...Bxe4? 97.fxe4 f3 98.Ng7 Sadly for Black, who was probably completely exhausted, the journeyNe6-g7-h5-g3 comes just in time because there's a check along the way.  98...f2 99.Nh5+ Kg6 100.Ng3 Bc1 101.Bf5+ Kf6 102.Kh7 Bd2 103.Kh6 g4+ 104.Kh5 Bf4 105.Nf1 g3 106.Bh3 Kg7 107.Kg4 Kf6 108.Nxg3 Bxg3 109.Kxg3 Kg5 110.Kxf2 Kf4 111.Bd7 1-0

1.d4 d6 2.e4 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Nc6 5.Be3 e5 6.dxe5 Nxe5 7.c5 dxc5 8.Qxd8+ Kxd8 9.Bxc5 c6 10.O-O-O+

10...Bd7? In these kinds of positions Black normally wants c7 for his king, but the strong bishop on c5 makes that impossible. Black needed to hold his nose and play Ke8, it's very ugly, but it's a better chance of getting out of the opening alive.  11.f4 Ng4 12.Be2 h5 13.h3 N4h6 14.g4 hxg4 15.hxg4 f6 16.g5 fxg5 17.fxg5 Nf7 18.Rxh8

Mike has a talent for making the Editor work by resigning before the smoke clears. Top players never think of the fans who want to see the fatal blow land! (18.Rxh8 Bxh8 19.Bg4 Ne5 20.Be6 Ne7 21.Bd6! Bxe6 22.Bxe5+ Ke8 23.Bxh8 Finally secures the piece that's been on the brink since move 10 ) 1-0

At the time of writing this column Shak Mamedyarov is perhaps the form player of the world's top echelon - threatening to break through the 2800 barrier on the live rating list (Ed: That barrier has subsequently been breached). He has just recently claimed first prize in the strong Gashimov Memorial event in Azerbaijan, ahead of Kramnik and So amongst others, and scored 4/4 for the winning Siberian Team in the Russian Teams Event in Sochi. So it is appropriate that I present one of his games. But to be honest it is no great burden. Mamedyarov is one of the most dynamic and entertaining players in the word and his games are frequently full of energy and tactical mazes. It was also very easy to pick his recent game from the Sochi event against Evgeniy Najer, another no nonsense player.  1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.f3 c5 4.d5 Bg7 5.e4 d6 6.Nc3 O-O 7.Bg5 h6 8.Be3 e6 The opening is a King's Indian Saemisch of course, but Mamedyarov now effectively converts it to a Modern Benoni - an opening for which I have considerable affection. In the past the Benoni featured often in the repertoires of tactical wizards such as Tal, Kasparov and Nunn, but in recent years the Benoni has fallen away as an opening choice of the top players in the world. I am pleased to say it seems to be creeping back into fashion and often with some success. I would have thought the opening would suit Mamedyarov down to the ground.  9.Qd2 exd5 10.cxd5

It is interesting to compare the characteristics of the different white structures against the Benoni. The opening has a number of key themes. Black has potential play on both sides of the board, looking to play b5 to mobilise his queenside majority or, amazingly, h5, g5 or f5 to generate activity on the kingside. White on the other hand has one primary goal and that is to break through the centre with the e5 advance. For this reason I find the f3 structures against the Benoni somewhat static for White.  10...Nh7 It is moves like this that make the Benoni such a rich opening. The move has two clear goals, one is to indirectly protect the h6 pawn through the queen check on h4, and the second is to free the 'f' pawn to attack the White strongpoint at e4. But you have to say it probably isn't the first move to come to mind!  11.Bd3 Nd7 Where would you choose to place White's king's knight? There are two options, develop it rapidly to e2 or take an extra tempo and end up with the beast on f2. To be honest I'm not crazy about either of these squares. The knight belongs on f3 to support the e5 break in my book, but that option is lost in this Saemisch structure.  12.Nh3 Ne5 13.Nf2 f5 Black begins his kingside activity. His goal is to grab black square control if he can by advancing his f pawn to f4, thus consolidating the beautiful outpost on e5.  14.Be2 g5 15.exf5 Bxf5 Now things get exciting. White has lost his strategic plan of breaking in the centre but Black has loosened his kingside and White tries to capitalise on this immediately.  16.h4 b5!?

And how does Black respond? In an apparently random way, by kicking out on the opposite side of the board. But there is method in his madness. Black is happy to sacrifice a pawn in order to open operations on the 'b' file. White's king is safe enough for now but neither the kingside or queenside look particularly inviting.  17.hxg5 hxg5 18.Nxb5 Rb8 19.Nc3 The engine reckons that White is significantly better here but the point from Black's perspective is that he has dynamic play all over the board and with that comes plenty of opportunity to muddy the waters.  19...Qe8 20.Rc1 c4 21.O-O The engine is more enthusiastic about grabbing the 'a' pawn as well, but understandably White is more interested in giving his king some security. Strangely it is probably less safe on the kingside than in the centre.  21...Qh5

22.g4? We reach the critical position. Najer must have relied on this response to the queen sortie when choosing to castle. ( A possible alternative 22.f4 Qh4 23.fxe5 Bxe5 also gives Black plenty of play. Not to belabour the point, but the knight on f2 does a particularly poor defensive job. ) 22...Qh4 23.Kg2 (23.gxf5?? Qg3+ 24.Kh1 Rf6 is a disaster for White, but White has a more devious plan - to trap the Black queen. ) 23...Nxf3! This is the move that Najer must have missed. It destroys White's kingside defensive screen.  24.Bxf3 There is nothing else ( both 24.gxf5 Qh2+ 25.Kxf3 Rxf5+ -+ ) ( and 24.Rh1 Nxd2 25.Rxh4 gxh4 -+ are losing for White. ) 24...Be5 25.Rh1 Qg3+ 26.Kf1 Bd3+! ( Not 26...Qxf3 27.gxf5 Rxf5 28.Rg1 when Black's initiative dissipates. ) 27.Be2 Rxb2! Excellent! The latent potential along the 'b' file allows Black to break through White's fortress. As these tactics develop it almost looks as if the position has been artificially created so that all Black's pieces (except the knight on h7) are perfectly placed for every tactic.  28.Qxb2 Qxe3 29.Bxd3 (29.Nd1? Rxf2+ 30.Nxf2 Bxb2 is even worse. ) 29...cxd3

Black is a rook down and many pieces have been exchanged but his initiative roars on. The threat of d3-d2 is overwhelming  30.Rc2 (30.Re1 Qf3 31.Rh6 Bd4 32.Rh2 Bxf2 33.Qxf2 d2 leads to a substantial material advantage for Black even though he is still a rook down! ) 30...dxc2 31.Qxc2 Rxf2+ 32.Qxf2 Qxc3 33.Kg2 Qc4 0-1

1.d4 d6 2.c4 e5 A la Ker, White must play early Nf3 if he doesn't like these types of setups.  3.e4 exd4 4.Qxd4 Nc6 5.Qd2 f5 Typical aggressive play from Daniel, just get the bits out and attack. The Kings are going to opposite wings and the race is on.  6.Nc3 Nf6 7.exf5 Bxf5 8.Nf3 Qd7 9.Be2 O-O-O 10.O-O h6 11.b3 g5 12.Bb2 Bg7 13.Rad1 Kb8 I think most of us wood pushers would prefer to be Black here, his position requires less thought, the pawns are going to roll. ..  14.Nd5 When you play moves, you should check what weakness it leaves. In this case the Knight was guarding e4. When Black moves his Knight there, his knight on e4 will be more threatening than the White one on d5.  14...Ne4 15.Qc1 h5 16.Nd4 Nxd4 17.Bxd4 Bxd4 18.Rxd4 Qg7 19.Rfd1

19...g4!? (  More conservative is 19...Rde8 20.Bf3 g4 21.Bxe4 Bxe4 22.Qf4 Bc2 23.Rc1 Rhf8 24.Qd2 Bh7 Black is slightly better and all these endgames with the Bishop vs the Knight are good for him. ) 20.Ne3? (20.Qf4 Qe5 21.Qxe5 dxe5 22.R4d3 This was White's one chance to get back into the game, it's probably even again. ) 20...Bh7 21.c5 Qf6 ( or 21...Rdf8 22.cxd6 cxd6 23.Rb4 Nxf2 24.Rdd4 a5 25.Ra4 g3 ) 22.f3 gxf3 23.Bxf3 Ng5

24.Bxb7? (24.Bxh5 Be4 25.Ng4 Nf3+ 26.gxf3 Qxf3 27.Rxe4 Qxe4 Even here Black is better and probably just winning. ) 24...Kxb7 25.Rb4+ Kc8 26.c6 Nh3+ 27.Kh1 Nf2+ 28.Kg1 Nxd1 29.Qc4 Qf2+ 30.Kh1 Qe1+ 31.Nf1

31...Bd3!! Beautiful move that Paul had not seen. A nice game showing just how dangerous Daniel is becoming. 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 g6 Straight out of Bob Smith's playbook.  3.d4 cxd4 4.c3 I was looking to try something against Alexei, I guess he smelled a rat and surprises me first. A Morra and it's not a bad idea with Black already committed to ...g6 (not the usual antidote)  4...dxc3 I had to win, so took the pawn, but I wasn't happy. Maybe declining with d3 is the best option.  5.Nxc3 Bg7 I had no idea what to do in this line, but I was a pawn up, so just needed to knuckle down and absorb some pain.  6.Bc4 a6 (6...Nc6 7.e5 Nxe5 8.Nxe5 Bxe5 9.Qd5 Bxc3+ 10.bxc3 e6 11.Qd6 This has been played before and has scored badly for Black, not a good place to be. I thought I would be better off just trying to get my King safe and give up some squares if I had to. ) 7.O-O Nc6 8.Qd5 e6 9.Qd6 Nge7 10.a4 O-O 11.Bf4 h6 12.h4 f5

Ugly, but all part of my plan. It seemed to me that if White played e5 and followed up with N-e4-d6 then Black is strangled. By f5 I took this away and helped my dreams of a Kingside attack :-)  13.e5 Kh7 I saw the b4 plan and could have played to stop it, but I saw these lines where I just left him to it on the Queenside and just split open the Kingside with g5, and my Bishop on f8 would later target the b4 plan. No real calculation, just ideas...  (13...Qa5 14.Rac1 Qb4 15.b3 g5 16.hxg5 hxg5 17.Bxg5 Ng6 18.Rfd1 Qxd6 19.exd6 This kind of position just looked hopeless to me...) ) 14.b4 Qe8 15.a5 I thought this fell into my line. I was more worried about the other pawn. (15.b5 and bad things can happen, eg  15...Na5 16.Be2 Rg8 17.Rfb1 Qf8 18.Qb6 Qd8 19.Be3 axb5 20.axb5 d6 21.Rd1 and White dominates ) 15...Rg8 16.Na4 Bf8 17.Qd2 g5 18.hxg5 Ng6

This is what I had envisaged, the b4 pawn is weak and I have chances down the g file.  19.Rad1 Nxf4? Just after I get the position I was looking for, a mistake. (19...Bxb4 20.Qe3 Bxa5 21.Be2 Nxf4 22.Qxf4 Qh5 23.Qe3 hxg5 24.Nd4 Qh6 25.Nxc6 dxc6 Black is three pawns up and after a few consolidation moves, should win comfortably. ) 20.Qxf4 Qg6 21.Nb6 Rb8 22.Qd2? (22.Nxc8 Rxc8 23.Rxd7+ Rg7 24.Rxg7+ Kxg7 25.Rd1 Now White is a pawn up and comfortably winning. I guess White took so long to get the Knight to b6 he was reluctant to exchange it for a dead piece. A let-off for me. ) 22...Rg7 23.g3?

Never move pawns on the side your opponent is strongest on unless you have to. (23.b5 axb5 24.Bxb5 hxg5 25.Bxc6 bxc6 26.Nxc8 Rxc8 27.a6 g4 28.Nd4 Black is a pawn up but cramped. Alexei has lost the thread.) ) 23...hxg5 24.g4? Bad moves follow bad moves.  24...Kg8 25.Bd3 d6 26.exd6 Bxd6 27.Kg2 Qf6 28.Rh1 fxg4

29.Bh7+? Desperation, Black just wraps up the point now.  29...Rxh7 30.Nxg5 Rxh1 31.Rxh1 Bf4 32.Nd5 Bxd2 33.Nxf6+ Kg7 34.Nge4 Bxb4 35.Nh5+ Kg6 36.Kg3 e5 37.f4 gxf3 38.Kxf3 Nd4+ 39.Ke3 Bf5 40.Nef6 Ne6 41.Rg1+ Ng5 42.Rc1 Bxa5 43.Kf2 Bd8 0-1

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 e5 4.Bc4 Be7 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nd2 With the idea of targetting d5 with both knights  6...O-O (6...a6 7.a4 d6 8.Nf1 Bg4 9.f3 Be6 10.Ne3 Nb4 11.Qe2 O-O 12.O-O Ne8 This type of line seems more promising to me, the key is the Knight on b4 helps defend the d5 square against this one trick pony opening (Ed: Is it a one trick pony or a two pony trick?). Castling as Ben did seems to give White a target. ) 7.Nf1 d6 8.Ne3 Nd4 9.a4 Be6 10.O-O Ne8 (10...Nd7 11.Ncd5 Nb6 12.Nxb6 axb6 13.c3 Nc6 14.Bxe6 fxe6 15.Qb3 Rf6 16.Nf5 h6 17.Nxe7+ Nxe7 18.Be3 ) 11.Ncd5 Bg5 12.c3 Nc6 13.f4 exf4 14.Nxf4 Bxc4 ( Better is 14...Bxf4 15.Rxf4 Nf6 16.b3 Re8 17.Ba3 Ne5 18.Qc2 a6 19.Bxe6 Rxe6 = ) 15.Nxc4 Nc7 16.Qg4 Ne5 17.Nxe5 dxe5 18.Nh5

You can't give these juniors a sniff, Ben is in trouble.   18...Ne6 19.Nxg7! Kxg7 20.h4 h6 21.hxg5 Nxg5 22.Bxg5? (22.Be3 b6 23.Rf3 f6 24.Rg3 Qc7 25.Rc1 Qd6 26.Rf1 Rad8 27.Rf5 Qe7 28.Bxg5 fxg5 29.Rxg5+ hxg5 30.Qh5 Rxd3 31.Rxg5+ Qxg5 32.Qxg5+ Is similar to the game, but more forcing. ) 22...hxg5 23.Rf3 f6 24.Raf1 Qd6 25.Qf5 Rad8 26.Rh3 Rh8 27.Rff3 b6 28.g4

28...c4? Just after he has recovered, Ben relaxes and misses the danger, he needed to swap the Rooks and accept a draw. (28...Rxh3 29.Rxh3 Rh8 30.Rxh8 Kxh8 31.Qg6 c4 32.dxc4 Qd1+ 33.Kh2 Qd2+ 34.Kh3 Qe3+ White can't escape the checks, draw... ) 29.Rh5 Rdf8 30.Rxg5+! fxg5 31.Qxg5+ Qg6 32.Qxe5+

32...Kh7 (32...Rf6 33.g5 Re8 34.Qxf6+ Qxf6 35.gxf6+ Kf7 36.Kf2 cxd3 37.Rxd3 White wins the endgame comfortably. ) 33.Rh3+ Qh6 34.Rxh6+ Kxh6 35.d4 Kg6 36.Kg2 Rh7 37.d5 Rhf7 38.Qh5+ Kg7 39.Qg5+ Kh7 40.Qh4+ Kg6 41.e5 Rf3 42.e6 Rd3 43.Qh5+ Kg7 44.Qg5+ Kh7 45.e7 1-0

1.e4 e6 2.b3 I have tried this as White myself in my day, but decided that it is basically not challenging and so I shelved it. I was happy to see it in a must win game.  2...b6 3.Bb2 Bb7 4.d3 d5 5.Nd2 c5 6.f4 Nf6 7.e5 Nfd7 8.Ngf3 Nc6 This is just a good French, the bishop does not want to be on b2, but Black is OK with his on b7, it has chances of getting alive.  9.c4 Ne7 10.Qe2 h5

Securing f5 for the knight. White correctly decides he can't allow this in conjuction with d4 and then Ne3 but giving up the bishop is a concession.  11.g3 Nf5 12.Bh3 g6 13.Bxf5 gxf5 14.d4 (14.cxd5 Bxd5 15.Nc4 Be7 16.Nd6+ Bxd6 17.exd6 f6 18.d4 h4 The computer is slightly trending to Black and I agree. A good rule of thumb in the French is that when the white squared bishop gets good, Black is doing well. ) 14...cxd4 15.Bxd4 Nc5 16.Rd1?

White does not see the danger. Although close to equal, Blacks game is easier to play.  16...h4 17.Rg1 (17.Nxh4 Rxh4! I had an annoying loss to Jack James in Wellington (Ed: See the July issue for the grisly details) when I chickened out of saccing the change, I was determined to try to do it as often as I could after that. ) 17...hxg3 18.Rxg3 Qc7 19.Rc1 Rd8 ( Or 19...Ne4 20.Nxe4 dxe4 21.Ng5 O-O-O 22.Bc3 Rh4 23.Nh3 Bc5 Blacks pos ition is just winning, the Rooks will get doubled and White is slaughtered down the h file. ) 20.Be3 dxc4 21.Bxc5 Bxc5

The 2 Bishops are just massive, White's King in the middle, this is horrible.  22.Nxc4 Qd7 23.Qg2? Bb4+ 24.Kf1 Qd3+ 25.Qe2 (25.Kg1 b5 26.Nb2 Qe3+ 27.Kh1 Qxc1+ ) 25...Bxf3 26.Rxf3 Qxe2+ 27.Kxe2 Rxh2+ 28.Rf2 Rxf2+ 29.Kxf2 b5 30.Nd6+ Bxd6 31.exd6 Rxd6 It's over, two pawns up, just mop up and get the King into the game.  32.Rc7 Rd2+ 33.Ke3 Rxa2 34.Kd4 Kf8 35.Rb7 a6 36.Rb6 Kg7 37.Kc5 Kg6 38.Kd6 Rb2 39.Rxa6 Rxb3 40.Ke7 Rc3 41.Rb6 Rc7+ 42.Kd6 Rc4 43.Rxb5 Rxf4 44.Ke7 Ra4 45.Rb8 Ra7+ 46.Kd6 Kf6 47.Rb6 Ra5 48.Kd7 f4 49.Ke8 Rf5 0-1

1.b3 Nf6 2.Bb2 d6 3.d4 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Nbd2 (5.c4 ) 5...d5 (5...e5!? 6.dxe5 Ng4 ) (5...O-O 6.e4 ) 6.g3 Bf5 7.Bg2 Qc8

8.O-O Bh3 9.c4 Bxg2 10.Kxg2 O-O 11.cxd5 Nxd5 12.e4 Nb6 13.Qc2 Na6 14.Rac1 Qd7 15.a3 c6 16.Rfd1 f5 17.Ne5 Qe6 18.Ndc4 Nxc4 19.Qxc4? (19.bxc4 ) 19...Qxc4 20.bxc4 fxe4 21.Re1 Bxe5 22.dxe5 Nc5 23.Rc2 Rad8 24.Bc3 Rf5 (24...Rd3 ) 25.Bb4 Rxe5 26.Bxc5 Rxc5 27.Rxe4 e5 28.Rce2 Rd4 29.f4 Rdxc4 30.fxe5 Rxe4 31.Rxe4 Kf7 32.Rh4 h5 33.Rf4+ Ke7 34.Rf6 Rxe5 35.Rxg6 Kd7 36.Rg7+ Re7 37.Rg5 Rh7 38.Kf3 Ke6 39.Kf4 h4 40.g4 Rf7+ 41.Ke3 Rf1 42.Rh5 Ra1 43.Rxh4 Rxa3+ 44.Kf4 Kf6 45.Rh6+ Kg7 46.Rd6 Ra4+ 47.Kf5 Ra5+ 48.Ke6 1/2-1/2

1.d4 d6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Qd2 Nf6 5.Rd1 O-O 6.Bh6 Nbd7 7.Bxg7 Kxg7 8.f4 c5 9.e4 cxd4 10.Qxd4 Qa5

11.Nf3 e5 12.Qd2 Re8 13.f5 a6 14.a3 Nb6 15.Be2 d5 16.Nxd5 Qxd2+ 17.Rxd2 Nbxd5 18.exd5 e4 19.Nd4 e3 20.Rd1 Nxd5 21.Rf1 Nf6 22.Rd3 b5 23.Bf3 Ra7 24.Ke2 Rae7 25.g4 Ne4 26.Ne6+ fxe6 27.Bxe4 exf5 28.Bc6 Rf8 29.gxf5 Bxf5 30.Rxe3 Rc7 31.Be4 Bxe4 32.Rxe4 Rxc2+ 33.Kd3 Rxf1 34.Kxc2 Rf2+ 35.Kc3 Rxh2 36.a4 Kf6 37.Rb4 Rh5 38.a5 Ke5 39.Rg4 Rf5 40.Rg1 Rf4 41.Rg5+ Kf6 42.Rd5 Re4 43.Rd6+ Re6 44.Rd8 h5 45.Kb4 h4 46.Kc5 h3 47.Rh8 Re5+ 48.Kb6 Rh5 49.Rd8 h2 50.Rd1 h1=Q 51.Rxh1 Rxh1 52.Kxa6 g5 53.Kxb5 g4 0-1

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bg4 3.Nf3 Bxf3 4.exf3 Nf6 5.d4 g6 6.Bd3 Bg7 7.O-O O-O 8.Nd2 a5 9.a3 Nh5 10.g3 Nc6 11.c3 e5

It appears black is doing rather well but it is all an illusion.  12.dxe5 Nxe5 13.Be2 The threat of f3-f4 forces black to retreat  13...Nc6 ( After 13...Qg5 white can simply respond with  14.Kh1 and the threat of f4 remains (14.h4 Qf6 ) ) 14.f4 Nf6 15.Nf3 Ne4 16.Qc2 Qe7 17.Rae1 f5 18.c4 d4 19.Bd3 Rae8 20.Ng5 Nxg5 21.Rxe7 Rxe7 22.fxg5 Ne5 23.Bc1 Rfe8 24.Kg2 Bf8 25.Re1 Nxd3 26.Rxe7 Rxe7 27.Qxd3 c5 28.Bd2 b6 29.b4 axb4 30.axb4 Rd7 31.bxc5 Bxc5 32.Bf4 Re7 33.Qf3 Re4 34.g4 d3 35.Qxd3 Rxf4 36.Qd5+ Kf8 37.Qd8+ 1-0

1.d4 d6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Nc3 Bg4 5.e3 c5 6.d5 Nf6 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O Na6 9.e4 Nc7 10.h3 Bxf3 11.Bxf3 Rb8 12.Be2 a6 13.a4 e5 14.a5 Nfe8 15.Bd2 f5 16.Qb1 f4 17.b4 cxb4 18.Qxb4

White has a strong queenside initiative and is ready to hit me with c4-c5. I am already desperate. What to do?  18...Rf7 (18...f3 is hopeless as black cannot get his pieces across to the kingside  19.Bxf3 Rxf3 20.gxf3 Qh4 21.Kg2 Bh6 22.Bxh6 Qxh6 23.Ne2 -+ ) 19.Na4 The immediate  (19.c5 gives me a little much-needed breathing room  19...dxc5 20.Qxc5 Bf8 ) 19...Bf8 The standard defensive setup in a King's Indian.  20.Rfc1 Now if I can just get a knight to d7 I might be able to hold up c4-c5  20...Nf6 21.f3 (21.c5 has a surprising comeback  21...Nb5! 22.Bxb5 axb5 23.Nc3 (23.Qxb5 Nxe4 ) 23...f3! 24.gxf3 (24.Qxb5 fxg2 with compensation ) 24...Ne8 and miraculously black has some counterplay on white's king. ) 21...Nd7 IM's tend to feel the right things to do. With the e4-pawn secured the Nb5 idea just doesn't work any more.  22.Be1 This is the true intent of f3 - the bishop can come to f2 and then Ba7 is always in the air embarrassing the b8-rook. So how to defend this new threat? Well the b7-pawn will be in danger so how about use my rook on f7 to at least get some counterplay?  22...Ne8! 23.Bf2

23...Rc8 I have no idea what happened but I found myself putting the rook on c8 a move earlier than I intended. I remember Karpov recounting such an incident in a game against Kasparov playing the 2nd move of a variation. But looking at it I started thinking hey this isn't so bad after all! Instead of ...Rc8, I had analysed something like (23...Ng7 24.Ba7 Rc8 25.Qxb7 Nc5 26.Qb6 Nxa4 27.Rxa4 Qd7 and black is better! ) 24.Qxb7 Anything else and black stops the c5-break and managed to hold for a while.  24...Nc5 25.Qb6 Rb7

I thought if I can control the b-file at least I have compensation for the pawn lost.  26.Qxd8 Surprisingly my esteemed opponent misses a golden opportunity! (26.Bxc5! Rxb6 27.Bxb6 is a picturesque sight - all of black's pieces are on the back rank. Fischer-random anyone? With a rook, bishop and pawn for the queen and total domination of the position white is winning here. ) 26...Rxd8 27.Bd1 White would love to neutralise the b-file with 27. Nb6 but then Nb3 wins the change  27...Rdb8 I was much happier now - this was the position I was aiming for when "accidently" playing Rc8.  28.Bc2

A clever move preventing Nd3 and preparing to challenge the b-file at the same time. Some time ago when preparing for a game with Daniel Runcan I reached an endgame position from the Benko where black was a pawn down but white had no way to win. The structure was very similar to this position. All I had to do was control c5 and swap the pieces off.  28...Nf6 Heading to d7 and my desired drawn position.  29.Nb6 Kiss misses his last real opportunity to avoid the drawish position (29.Nxc5 dxc5 is good for white ) 29...Nfd7 30.Nxd7 Rxd7 31.Rcb1 (31.Bxc5 doesn't work now due to the opposite coloured bishop ending ) 31...Rdb7 Not seeing any way to break through my opponent took off the knight and offered a draw which I accepted gratefully and delightedly. The question remains, is this really a draw? IM Kiss was of the view that his light squared bishop remains a hopeless bystander against the powerfully placed knight on c5.   32.Bxc5 Draw offered and accepted. (  White's attempt to activate the bishop 32.Rxb7 Rxb7 33.Ba4 is met with  33...Nxa4 34.Rxa4 Rb1+ and it is difficult to see how white makes progress. ) 1/2-1/2

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2

2...Nc6 I noticed my opponent was moving extremely quickly - clearly he had prepared for my 1.b3. So after consideration I decided not to tread down the beaten path.  3.e4!? I have played this move before and found I could get a good game  3...Bc5 4.Nf3 d6 5.Bb5 Nf6 6.Nc3 a6 7.Bxc6+ bxc6 8.d4 exd4 9.Nxd4 Bd7 10.O-O O-O 11.Qd2 Re8 12.Rfe1 d5?! 13.Rad1!? After a deep thought I decided the best course of action was to sacrifice a pawn for the initiative. The basis for my decision was that I already had a development advantage and even if I didn't secure the pawn back, black's pawns on c6-c7 will be weak in the endgame. Unfortunately there was a flaw in my plan. (  The path to advantage was difficult to find 13.e5! Ng4 14.Na4! (14.f4? Qh4 15.h3 Nxe5! -/+ ) 14...Ba7 15.Qf4 I saw this idea over the board but I didn't think to combine it with Na4  15...c5 16.Nf3 += as the g4-knight will be forced offside and white should be able to pressure black's centre ) (13.exd5 offered white nothing great  13...cxd5 14.Nf3 Be6 = ) 13...dxe4 14.Qg5 Bd6 ( Answering 14...Qe7 was probably the most difficult challenge when it isn't obvious how white should proceed  15.Na4! (15.f3 e3 -/+ ) (15.Nf5 fails to  15...Bxf2+ -/+ ) 15...Bb4 (15...Ba7 16.c4 ) 16.Bc3! Bxc3 (16...Nd5 17.Qxe7 Bxe7 18.Ba5 ) 17.Nxc3 ) 15.Nf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Re5! White is now forced into an endgame slightly favourable for black. So the opening can be assessed as somewhat of a failure for white - but it is good to know how to deal with ...d6-d5 in the future  17.Qxe5 No choice but to go into this endgame. Despite being a pawn down and black controlling the only open file, I felt I could hold this endgame but probably not more than this. (17.Qf4 Rh5 18.Qe3 Ng4 19.Qxe4 Qh4! -+ is crushing ) ( And 17.Qh3 Rh5 18.Qe3 transposes to the previous losing line ) 17...Bxe5 18.Rxd8+ Rxd8 19.Rd1!? The move leads to a highly curious anomoly (19.Kf1 was also good  19...g6 (19...Rd2 fails to  20.Nxe4! +- as Josef pointed out after the game (  I thought 20.Nb1 was also good enough but black can save both his bishop and rook with  20...Rd5 Nevertheless, white can win material and gain an equal game  21.c4! Bxb2 (21...Rc5 22.b4 +- ) 22.cxd5 cxd5 23.Re2 Be5 24.Rc2 ) ) 20.Na4 Bxb2 21.Nxb2 Rd2 22.Re2 = ) 19...Rd6! Now amazingly white has nothing better than to return to e1! So did white just waste two moves? Well it turns out appearances are quite deceiving sometimes. The rook on d6 now becomes a target and white can force a favourable exchange  20.Re1! h6 Black doesn't really have anything better than creating a rabbit hole for his king. The alternatives ..g6 and ...g5 don't alter what now follows ( If 20...Rd2 21.Nb1! is the most accurate  21...Rd5 22.c4 Bxb2 23.cxd5 cxd5 24.f3 exf3 25.gxf3 = ) 21.Nxe4! An accurate move that leaves black with little opportunities to create winning chances (21.Na4 leads to a long forcing variation where black comes out on top  21...Bxb2 22.Nxb2 Rd2 23.Rc1 This looks bad for white but Nc4 is coming  23...Nd5 (23...Ng4 doesn't lead anywhere good for black  24.Nc4 Re2? 25.h3! Nxf2 26.Kf1 +- ) 24.Nc4 Re2 25.Kf1 Nc3 I saw up to this position over the board and assessed it quite rightly as better for black.  26.Na5 c5 27.Nb7 c4 28.bxc4 Rd2 29.Nc5 Rd6! 30.Re1 f5 -/+ ) 21...Bxb2 22.Nxd6 cxd6 23.Re7 White is very active now and black just cannot hold all his pawns  23...a5 (  I knew during the game 23...Nd5 was black's best try but even so white can hold  24.Re8+! (24.Ra7 Nb4 is good for black  25.Ra8+ Kh7 26.c3 Bxc3 27.a3 Nc2 28.Rxa6 c5 29.Kf1! (29.a4 d5 30.Rc6 Bb4 -/+ ) 29...d5 30.Rc6 Nxa3 31.Rxc5 d4 32.Ke2 Nc2 =+ ) 24...Kh7 25.Rd8! Be5 26.a3! = e.g.  26...g5 27.Rd7! (27.Ra8 Nc7! -/+ ) 27...Kg6 28.Ra7 ) 24.Ra7 Bc3 25.Ra8+! A little accuracy even at the end - pushing the king further away from the action first ;-)  25...Kh7 26.Ra6 One of black's pawns must fall and with it any hope of a win  26...c5 Here Black fered a draw which I accepted. So it took 13 accurate moves to gain back equality after my enterprising Rad1 - not a particularly pleasant way to play Chess. Here neither player has any advantage so a draw is a fair result. Overall the game was played to a high standard by both players with no significant errors on either side. 1/2-1/2

1.Nf3 d6 2.e4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.d4 Bg7 5.Be2 O-O 6.O-O Bg4 7.Be3 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Nxe5 Bxe2 10.Nxf7 Bxd1

11.Nxd8 Bxc2 12.Ne6 Rfc8 13.Rac1 Bd3 14.Rfd1 Ba6 15.b4 c6 16.a4 Bc4 17.f3 cxd5 18.exd5 Bb3 19.Re1 Nxd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Nc7 Rxc7 22.Rxc7 Bf6 23.a5 Bc6 24.a6 Bxf3 25.gxf3 bxa6 26.Rec1 1-0

1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Bg4 3.Nf3 Nd7

I hadn't considered this move in my preparations for the game  4.c4 c6 5.Nc3 (5.h3 is more accurate  5...Bh5 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.Nc3 Bxf3 (7...e6 8.e4 ) (7...Ngf6 is not possble because of  8.g4 Bg6 9.g5 Nh5 10.Nxd5 ) 8.exf3 e6 9.Bb5 += ) 5...Ngf6 6.d4 e6 7.g3 Bd6 8.Bg2 O-O 9.O-O Rc8 Andre offered a draw here which I declined on principal. I didn't travel half way across the world to have a short draw.  10.Nd2 Bb8 11.f3 Bh5 12.e4 dxe4 13.Ndxe4 Nxe4 14.Nxe4 f5 15.Nf2 Nf6?! ( I expected 15...f4 ) ( or 15...e5 with only a slight edge for white ) 16.Nd3 Qb6 17.Kh1 Rfe8 18.Qc2 Bf7 19.Bc3 Qc7 20.Rfe1 h5 21.Ne5 h4 22.Bd2?! (22.g4! ) 22...hxg3 23.hxg3 Qd8 24.Be3 (24.Bg5?! Qxd4 25.Rad1 Qc5 26.Bxf6 gxf6 27.Nd7 Qe7 didn't provide enough compensation ) 24...Nh5 25.Qf2 g5 26.f4 (26.g4! ) 26...g4 27.Bf1?! ( The simplest defence is just to play 27.Kg1 and Black has nothing to speak of. It is important to keep the bishop protecting the h3 square ) 27...Kg7 28.Kg2?! Rh8 29.Bd3?? Rh6 (  Black misses a key opportunity now 29...Nxg3!! 30.Qxg3 Rh3 31.Qf2 Bxe5 (31...g3 32.Rh1! gxf2 33.Rxh3 =+ ) 32.fxe5 Rf3 33.Qg1 Qh4 34.Qh2 Qxh2+ 35.Kxh2 Rh8+ 36.Kg2 Rhh3 -/+ ) 30.Rh1 Qe7 31.d5!? Time to move to a new level  31...cxd5 32.Bd4! Bxe5 (32...Kg8 was ok for black ) 33.Bxe5+ Kg6 34.Qe2 (34.cxd5 Qd7! ) 34...Rg8 Here I ran into significant time trouble and I managed to spoil a game I had played very well. It is so soul destroying when this happens. I promised myself I would never get into time trouble again.  35.Rh4? ( After 35.cxd5! black is essentially busted  35...Qd8 (35...exd5?? 36.Qxg4+ Kh7 37.Bxf5+ +- ) (35...Qc5 I had to find the lovely move  36.Be4!! +- Not easy to find a move like this when in serious time trouble. The clever idea is if black continues  36...Qb4 white responds with  37.Bc2 clearing the d-file for the a1 rook  37...Qc5 38.Rad1 +- ) 36.d6 +/- ) 35...Be8 (35...dxc4 = ) 36.Rah1?? (36.cxd5 +- ) 36...dxc4 37.Qxg4+? (  White best was 37.Rxh5 Bc6+ (37...Rxh5 38.Qxg4+ Rg5 39.Qh4 Bc6+ 40.Kf1 cxd3 41.Bd6!! d2!! 42.Ke2 d1=Q+ 43.Rxd1 Qd8 44.Qxg5+ Qxg5 45.fxg5 Kxg5 46.Be5 and black should be able to hold the draw here ) 38.Kf2 Rxh5 39.Qxg4+ Rg5!! 40.Rh6+ Kxh6 41.Qh4+ Kg6 42.Be2!! Qc5+ 43.Kf1 Kf7 44.Qh7+ Kf8 45.Qh6+ R5g7 46.Bxg7+ Rxg7 47.Qh8+ Kf7 48.Bh5+ Rg6 49.Qh7+ Ke8 50.Qxg6+ Kd7 51.Qg7+ Kc8 52.Qc3 Bd5 -/+ ) 37...Kf7! (  I completely overlooked Kf7 and expected 37...Kh7?? 38.Bxf5+ exf5 39.Qxf5+ Rgg6 40.Rxh5 +- Bc6+ 41.Kf1 Bxh1 42.Rxh6+ Kxh6 43.Qh3+ Qh4 44.Qxh4# ) 38.Qh3?? I had one second on my clock here ( White's best was 38.Rxh5 Bc6+ 39.Kf1 Rxg4 40.Rxh6 Bxh1 41.Rh7+ Ke8 42.Rxe7+ Kxe7 43.Bxc4 Rxg3 -+ ) 38...Rxg3+ (38...cxd3! 39.Rxh5 Bc6+ 40.Kf1 Qa3 -+ ) 39.Qxg3 Bc6+ A really silly move to reach the time control as is often the case  40.Qf3?? (40.Kh3! although still losing would have thoroughly tested my opponent  40...Nxg3 41.Rxh6 In order to win black would need to find a series of only moves  41...Qc5 (41...Bxh1 42.Bxc4 = (42.Rh7+ = is also good enough ) ) (41...Qb4 42.Rg1 +- ) (41...Nxh1 42.Rh7+ Ke8 43.Rxe7+ Kxe7 44.Bxc4 = ) 42.Rh7+ Kg6 43.Rg7+ Kh6 (43...Kh5?? 44.Rh2! +- ) 44.Rxg3 (44.Rh2 Nh5 ) 44...Bxh1 45.Bxc4 Bd5! 46.Bg7+ Kh7 47.Be5 Qf2! -+ ) 40...Bxf3+ 41.Kxf3 cxd3 42.Rxh5 Rxh5 43.Rxh5 Qb4 44.Rh7+ Kg8 45.Rh8+ Kf7 46.Rh7+ Ke8 47.Rh8+ Kd7 48.Rh7+ Ke8 49.Rh8+ Kf7 Finally my opponent finds the right way  50.Rh7+ Kg6 White cannot do anything to hold the position  51.Rh2 Qe4+ 52.Kg3 Qe1+ 53.Kh3 Qf1+ 0-1

1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 d6 3.e4 Nf6 4.Nc3

4...Nbd7 Viktor shows his intention of playing the Hanham variation of the Philidor defence. I managed to forgot all my preparation against this and as a consequence I really struggled just to survive. It is such a powerful black weapon against the unprepared.  5.Nf3 Be7 6.d4 c6 7.a4 Ensuring black doesn't have the expansive move, ...b7-b5. My repertoire is actually to allow b7-b5 and instead play Bd3.  7...Qc7 8.Be2?! h6 9.O-O Nf8 So black will leave his king in the centre for some time. It is extremely difficult to take advantage of this as any central exchanges typically favour black.  10.Re1 g5?? 11.Bf1?? Missing a simple tactical idea - I saw it over the board but failed to calculate it correctly (11.dxe5 dxe5 12.Nxe5! Qxe5? 13.Nd5 Qd6 (13...Qxb2 14.Nc7# is pretty ) 14.Nxf6+ +- ) 11...Ng6 12.g3 Sacing a pawn ( I missed the possibility of 12.Ne2 here also but this one was a lot more difficult to calculate  12...Nxe4 13.dxe5 dxe5 14.Ng3 Nxg3 15.hxg3 Bg4 16.Qd3 Rd8 17.Nxe5!! Rxd3 and now the very calm  18.Bxd3 and black cannot save the g4-bishop and even worse white has a strong initiative due to his raking bishops.  18...O-O (18...Be6 19.Nxg6 Rg8 20.Nxe7 Qxe7 21.Bh7 Rf8 22.Rad1 +/- ) 19.Nxg4 Rd8 20.Nxh6+ Kf8 21.Bxg6 fxg6 22.Re3 and somehow black is losing! ) 12...Bg4 (12...g4 13.Nd2! (13.dxe5?! dxe5 (13...gxf3 14.exf6 +- ) 14.Nd2 wasn't as strong ) 13...exd4 14.Ne2 c5 15.c3 d3 (15...dxc3 16.Nxc3 ) 16.Nc1 += ) 13.Bg2 Qc8 ( If 13...Qd7 white has  14.dxe5 Nxe5 (14...dxe5 15.Qxd7+ Nxd7 16.Nd1 += ) 15.Nxe5! dxe5 (15...Bxd1?? 16.Nxd7 Bxc2 17.Nd5! +- ) 16.Qxd7+ Nxd7 17.a5 += ) 14.Qd3 Rg8 15.dxe5 ( I had planned 15.Nd1 but was concerned about  15...Bh3 It looks very scary when a bunch of pieces are gathering around your king! (  White can successfully defend against 15...Nf4 16.gxf4 gxf4 17.Kh1 Bh3 18.Rg1 Bxg2+ 19.Rxg2 Rxg2 20.Kxg2 Qg4+ 21.Kh1 +- ) 16.dxe5! Bxg2 17.exf6! A courageous move  17...Nf4 18.Qc3 Qh3 19.Nd2! and remarkably black's threats are all addressed with Ne3 ) 15...dxe5 16.Ne2 Not taking any chances (16.Nd1! again was a ballsy play  16...Nf4 17.gxf4 gxf4 18.Kh1 Bh3 19.Rg1 Bxg2+ 20.Rxg2 Rxg2 21.Kxg2 Qg4+ 22.Kh1 and white defends ) 16...Qe6 17.Qc3!? Completely overlooking the fact that my e-pawn is hanging but as it turns out this move fits the needs of the position very well - even with the pawn sacrifice. In fact, it turns out this move and the next won me the game! After taking the free pawn my opponent sunk into deep thought for close to an hour ending up with less than 5 minutes on his clock! don't quite understand what was going on. Ok, yes the position is complicated but managing your time effectively is a critical skill in tournament chess.  17...Nxe4 18.Qa5?! This was the move that gained me so much time on the clock. Of course, it isn't a great move and it has a very simple punishment but for some reason Viktor couldn't keep things simple (18.Qe3 was correct of course. Black has to be careful  18...Bxf3 (18...f5?! 19.Nfd4! exd4 20.Nxd4 Qf6 21.h3 Bh5 22.Nxf5! +/- ) (18...Nc5?! 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Nd4! +/- ) (18...Nf6?! 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Nd4! +/- ) 19.Bxf3 Nf6 20.Rad1 ) 18...b6! Played after over 30 minutes thought it is indeed the best move (18...Qd5? 19.Qxd5 cxd5 20.Nxe5 +/- ) (18...Qf5 doesn't impress after  19.Ned4! exd4 20.Qxf5 Bxf5 21.Nxd4 Nd6 22.Ba3! Be6 23.Nxc6!! ) (18...Qf6 also doesn't achieve any advantage  19.Nc3 Nxc3 (19...Bxf3 20.Nxe4! +/- ) 20.Qxc3 = ) 19.Qa6 Qf6? ( Black should of course continue with 19...Nc5! forcing a queen exchange and weakening white's queenside pawns. Black is just a pawn up and white has no compensation.  20.Qc4 Qxc4 21.bxc4 f6 -/+ ) 20.Qd3! Now things get very interesting (20.Qb7 Rd8 = ) 20...Nc5 (20...Bf5 leads to very sharp play  21.Ned4 (21.Nfd4 is also possible and the move I intended during the game  21...O-O-O (21...exd4 22.Nxd4 +- ) 22.a5! Bc5 23.g4! Bxg4 24.Qxe4 Bd7 25.Nf3 g4 26.Nxe5 Qxf2+ 27.Kh1 +- ) 21...Rd8 (21...exd4 22.Nxd4 O-O-O 23.Qa6+ Kb8 24.Nxf5 Qxf5 25.Bxe4 +- ) 22.g4! +- ) 21.Qe3 White has now consolidated and has central pressure compensating for the pawn deficit  21...Bxf3 (21...Nd7 allows white a remarkable piece sacrifice  22.Ned4!! exd4 (22...Bc5 23.Qe4 ) 23.Nxd4 Kf8! 24.h3 Be6 (24...Bf5 25.Rad1 Bc5 26.Nxf5 Qxf5 (26...Bxe3 27.Bxf6 +- ) 27.Qf3 Qxf3 28.Bxf3 and remarkably black with a whole extra piece has no defence to white's threats even with the queens off the board  28...Re8 29.Bxc6 Rxe1+ 30.Rxe1 +/- ) ) 22.Bxf3 Nd7 (22...a5 seemed more sensible ) 23.Qe4?! I knew this would allow the knight to return to c5 with tempo but I was quite happy as I was aware I can always kick the knight at the right moment. ( I wanted to play 23.Nc3 but couldn't find an answer to  23...Bc5 but the answer was right in front of my nose!  24.Ne4! Bxe3 25.Nxf6+ Nxf6 26.Bxc6+ Ke7 27.Bxa8 +- ) 23...Rc8 24.Red1 In some lines the a4-pawn needs protection if the black knight comes to c5 and white wants to kick it with b3-b4. And I also wanted to retain the possibility of a4-a5, axb6 and Ra7. As it turned out, everything I wished for came into being ( In any case 24.Rad1 was still more accurate  24...Nc5 I missed the possibility of  25.Qg4 The point is  25...Qe6 is met with  26.Nd4! +- taking advantage of the pin of the e5-pawn. ) 24...Nc5 25.Qe3 (25.Qg4 is met simply by  25...Qe6 ) 25...Qe6 26.a5! Kf8 27.axb6 axb6 28.Ra7! Threatening b3-b4 winning a piece  28...Qf5 The knight needs an escape square  29.b4 Ne6? ( It turns out the only decent move here is 29...g4 30.Qxh6+ Ke8! (30...Rg7 has a remarkable refutation  31.Nf4!! gxf3 (31...Ne6 is met by  32.Nxg6+ fxg6 33.Rdd7! Qxf3 34.Qh8+ Rg8 35.Qxe5 +- ) (31...Nxf4 32.Bxe5 f6 33.Rxe7! +- ) 32.Nxg6+ Qxg6 33.Qh8+ Rg8 34.Qxe5 The point is  34...Ne6 is met by the wonderful  35.Rxe7!! Kxe7 36.Qd6+ Ke8 37.Qd7+ Kf8 38.Qxc8+ Ke7 39.Rd7# ) 31.Bxc6+! Rxc6 32.Ra8+ Rc8 33.Rxc8+ Qxc8 34.bxc5 Bxc5 35.Qd2 += ) 30.Be4 Qf6 (30...Qg4 was more testing  31.Rdd7 (31.f3 was also good and the move I intended in the game  31...Qh3 32.Bxg6 ) 31...f5 32.Bd3 Qxb4 33.Bc3 Qc5 34.Qf3 +- ) 31.Qxb6 (31.Rdd7 was good ) (31.Bxg6 Rxg6 32.Rdd7 was also great ) 31...c5 32.b5 All endgames are now good for white ;-) ( I couldn't quite work out the line 32.Rdd7! Rd8! 33.Nc3 Rxd7 34.Rxd7 ) (32.Nc3 was good too ) 32...c4 33.Ba3 Keeping safe ( I couldn't quite figure out if 33.Rdd7 Bc5 34.Rxf7+ Qxf7 35.Rxf7+ Kxf7 36.Qb7+ Ne7 was good for me ) 33...Bxa3 34.Rxa3 Kg7 35.Rd7 Threatening Rf3 (35.Nc3 was more accurate ) 35...g4?! (  Viktor should have played 35...Rb8! 36.Qe3 Rxb5 37.Nc3 Rbb8 38.Raa7 Rgf8 39.Kg2 +/- (39.Nd5? has a surprising refutation  39...Rb1+ 40.Kg2 Nef4+!! 41.gxf4 Nh4+! 42.Kh3 Qe6+ 43.f5 Nxf5 44.Bxf5 Qxf5+ 45.Kg2 Qg4+ 46.Qg3 Qe4+ 47.f3 Qxc2+ ) ) 36.Raa7 Rgf8 37.Nc3! Setting a little trap just before the time control  37...Qg5?? To which my opponent falls  38.Qxe6 Qc1+ 39.Kg2 Kh8 40.Qxg6! A pretty fin ish. I thought after the game that play was really poor and I was a bit disappointed but in reality this was an outstanding game that was full of complexity that both players navigated through very well. Viktor had tears in his eyes after the game. I told him with all sincerity that he played very well. He is only 12 years old playing mostly 2000+ players. He ended up on 2.5 points from 9 so it was a tough experience full of hard lessons. 1-0

1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3 This system is fairly innocuous. Fortunately I had studied the system just a few days ago in preparation for my game with IM Alexander Chudinovskikh.  3...e5 4.c3 g6 I knew (4...d5 was possible too but my analysis in the past didn't convince me to play this way. It is important to know this idea however as it is a possibility of great importance as it was in this game.  5.dxe5 Nxe4 is possible ( Or even 5...dxe4 ) ) 5.Nf3 Nbd7 6.O-O Bg7 7.h3 O-O 8.Be3 Re8 I was reluctant to play this move because if white plays d4-d5, black's rook is really better on f8 looking for f7-f5. I figured that the loss of one tempo to encourage white to close the position was not too much to lose. I don't think I would play this way again as a tempo is a tempo and everything counts. For a long time I considered the move (8...d5 See my notes at the beginning of this game. I chose Re8 in the end, but soon after playing Re8 I realised with ...d6-d5 was indeed the best way to continue. The reason I decided not to play the move was because after  9.Nxe5 (9.exd5 e4 -+ ) ( or 9.dxe5 Nxe4 10.e6!? fxe6 11.Bxe4 dxe4 12.Ng5 Ne5 unclear ) 9...Nxe5 10.dxe5 Nxe4 11.f4 I thought f6 would be great with my rook on e8 hitting the e3-bishop. The truth is ...f7-f6 is fine for black here and secures an equal game. ) 9.Nbd2 b6 (9...d5 now isn't quite as good as it was before  10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Nxe4 (11...Rxe5 12.f4 Re8 13.e5 is bad for black ) 12.f4 f6 The difference here is white can take the knight on e4 and then quickly clear the d-file with Bc4+. The opening of lines favours white because he has the better development.  13.Nxe4 dxe4 14.Bc4+ Kh8 15.Qxd8 Rxd8 16.Rad1 Bd7 17.f5! gxf5 18.e6 Ba4 19.Rxd8+ Rxd8 20.Rxf5 with advantage for white ) 10.Qb3 I was surprised by this move. It essentially means white is not going to play d4-d5 as the knight can come into c5 with tempo. Riha's idea is to force the rook to f8 with Bc4 and Ng5 and I don't really mind as my position isn't any worse after this because of the pressure on the e4-pawn.  10...Bb7 11.Bc4 Qe7

12.Rae1 (12.Ng5 Rf8 13.f4 The only way to justify white's play  13...h6 14.Ngf3 Nxe4 and black is better ) 12...h6 Ok, finally I am ready to play d6-d5 again  13.Nh4 Riha shows his aggression. The immediate threat is Nxg6 which looks difficult to counter. The idea I found over the board was quite surprising - how about we just ignore the threat!  13...Nxe4! The sharpest response. Another option I considered was 13... Kf8 which looks strange but is fine for Black. 13... Nf8 is ok too, I actually didn't even consider this move over the board. Petrosian must be turning in his grave!  14.Nxe4 ( The point is that 14.Nxg6? is met by  14...Qf6! trapping the knight ) (14.Nhf3 Nxd2 15.Nxd2 just leaves white a pawn down with no compensation ) 14...Bxe4

This is already the critical position of the game. If you were White what would you choose? You will need to analyse deep and hard to find the answers.  15.f4 A poor choice that just loses material. The only way to continue is (15.f3! And there is only one move for Black that keeps an edge.  15...Bc6! (15...Bb7 fails to  16.Nxg6 Qf6 17.Qc2 and now  17...d5 doesn't work here  18.Nxe5 dxc4 19.Nxd7 ) 16.Nxg6 Qf6 17.Bd3 (17.Qc2 d5 ) 17...exd4 (17...d5 18.Nxe5 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Rxe5 20.Bd4 Qf4 21.Bxe5 Bxe5 ) 18.cxd4 (18.Bxd4 Qg5 ) 18...d5 19.Ne5 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Rxe5 and Black is clearly better. This is complex stuff that I have to admit I didn't see over the board. ) ( Another option is 15.Bxh6 d5 16.Bxg7 (16.Rxe4 dxc4! 17.Qxc4 Bxh6 18.Nxg6 Qe6 and black is in the drivers seat ) 16...dxc4 17.Qxc4 Qxh4 18.dxe5 (18.Bxe5 Bxg2!! -+ ) 18...Kxg7 19.Rxe4 Qh5 and black is clearly better again ) 15...exd4! 16.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 17.cxd4 The whole point of 13...Nxe4 was to win two pieces for a rook and a pawn. I felt this would give me a clear advantage in the endgame and as we soon find out, it turns out I was correct. Another key reason why Black is better is the bishop on e4 is a monster piece with no equal. White almost would be wise to sacrifice his rook for it but never gets the chance to do so under good circumstances.  17...Qxh4 18.Bxf7+ Kg7 An opportuni ty for greater discipline on my part. I didn't consider all the alternatives and if they differed in value. 18... Kf8 was better keeping the king less exposed  19.Bxe8 Rxe8 20.Qc3 The best move in the circumstances but insufficient for equality all the same  20...Qf6 21.Qxc7 Qxd4+ The tempting (21...Re7 fails to  22.Rxe4 = ) 22.Kh2 Re7

23.Qd8 I don't know why Riha didn't take the a7-pawn here. 23.Qxa7 Black should still be better but it wouldn't be easy to win this game. I intended to continue with d5 securing the monster bishop. White is under pressure here because the b2-pawn is hanging and Qd2 is threatened with an attack on g2 and f4.  23...Kf7 (23...Rf7 was also good. ) 24.f5 This line forces the win of black's queen but white has to give up both rooks - the price is too high.  24...Qe5+ 25.Kg1 gxf5 26.Rxf5+ Qxf5 27.Rf1 Qxf1+ 28.Kxf1 White does his best now to harass the black king but in reality once black coordinates his minor pieces the game is already decided. Actually black's strength lies in the passed d-pawn that cannot be stopped from advancing all the way to queen.  28...d5 Starting the pawn push.  29.Qh8 Attacking the h-pawn but also preventing the d-pawn from advancing  29...Re6 White tries desperately to seek counterplay by pushing his own pawns.  30.g4 Ne5 After waiting patiently for 25 moves, the knight finally comes into the game with decisive effect. It's purpose is not to attack the king but rather to support the passed d-pawn advancing further  31.Qd8 Riha desperately tries to prevent the d-pawn pushing forward but it is a hopeless task  31...Nf3! Supporting the d4 and d2 squares so the pawn can be pushed. Laser focus logic - I felt this is what a GM must think like.  32.h4 d4! I knew 32... Nh2+ won a pawn but I decided that queening my d-pawn whilst not allowing my opponent to improve his king was strategically best  33.g5 hxg5 34.h5 d3 35.h6 d2 The pawn marches forward relentlessly! What a wonderful piece the knight on f3 is!  36.h7 More desperation. Riha sacrifices his h-pawn to try and expose my king  36...Bxh7 37.Qd7+ A key juncture. White is absolutely lost but black still needs to be very careful as a piece can easily be dropped or perpetual check is in the air.   37...Kf6 Not taking any chances. (37...Re7 was also good enough but difficult to calculate when you have less than 3 minutes on the clock! ) 38.Kf2? (38.Qd8+ was a better practical try. ) 38...Bc2 The power move to leave no doubt on the outcome of the game.  39.Qd8+ Kg6 Getting myself closer to the 40 move mark when a 30 minutes bonus is given to both players.  40.Qg8+ Kf6

Ok. I made 40 moves! - now I can relax and find the path to victory!  41.Qf8+ I found a solution to get out of all the checks. Can you find it?  41...Kg6 (41...Ke5 was very tempting but a move that has to be played on intuition more than anything because of the myriad of checking possibilities. It is hard to believe the purpose of Ke5 is to bring the king to the safe square g7!  42.Qb8+ Kf5 43.Qf8+ Rf6 44.Qc8+ Ke5 45.Qc7+ Ke6 46.Qc4+ Ke7 47.Qc7+ Kf8 48.Qd8+ Kg7 49.Qd7+ Rf7 and finally the checks run out. I suspect most humans would struggle to see all of this. ) 42.Qg8+ Kh5 (42...Kf5 43.Qh7+ Rg6 44.Qd7+ Ke4 is another crazy line that defies human intelligence ) 43.Qf7+ Kh4 The king finds safety! It is in fact the only move that wins.  44.Qxf3

What would you play here? Can you secure an easy victory?  44...Rf6! A nice move to play but surprisingly it wasn't the most creative move. The point is Black's rook will be lost anyway so why not do so under favourable circumstances. (44...d1=Q 45.Qg3+ allows more counterplay. The stunning move was ) (44...Re3!! It would have been a wonderful find but I already found Rf6 and it was good enough. Still I wished I had found this move - it is quite beautiful.  45.Qh1+ (45.Kxe3 d1=Q ) (45.Qxe3 d1=N+ ) 45...Rh3 ) 45.Qxf6 d1=Q I had calculated the checks will run out  46.Qh8+ Kg4 47.Qc8+ Bf5 48.Qc4+ Kh3 49.Qc3+ Qd3 50.Qh8+ Kg4 And this is the point - with no more checks available, white finally decided to resign. 0-1