1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
g6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nc6
5.Be3
Nf6
6.Nc3
Bg7
7.f3
0-0
8.Qd2
d5
An important point behind Black's opening is that I didn't play an early d6. So we have arrived at a position that is often reached in the Sicillian Dragon but normally Black has played d6 and then d5 and White has castled Queenside. Now I need to put this extra tempo to good use.
9.exd5
Nxd5
10.Nxc6
bxc6
11.Nxd5
cxd5
12.Bd4
e5
13.Bc5
Bf5
Much more fun than 13... Re8? 14. Bb4 Re6 when White's pieces are developed and coordinating well. Then the position is about even and Black has nothing to show for his earlier lead in development.
14.g4
Taking the rook is dangerous as Black gets a strong attack on the dark squares, but this is even worse. I had in mind some thing like 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. g4 Be6 16. Be2 e4 17. c3 Qc5 which Crafty assesses as slightly better for Black. For a computer to give this assessment despite being the exchange down convinces me that the positional advantage was well worth the exhange sacrifice.
14...Rc8
15.b4
e4
16.0-0-0
e3
even stronger was 16... Rxc5 17. bxc5 Qf6 [16...Rxc5
17.bxc5
Qf6
]
17.Qxe3
d4
18.Qb3
Not 18. Bxd4?? Rxc2+ 19. Kb1 Re2+ and the discovered check wins the Queen. [18.Bxd4
Rxc2+
]
18...Be6
I spent a lot longer than I should have done considering 18... d3 19. gxf5 Qf6 which at first I thought created problems for White on the long diagonal, but actually it's a terrible idea. Still, seeing as I decided not to play it in the end I can look on it as time well spent avoiding an egregious error. This time last year I would probably have played it anyway, not wanting to have spent ages thinking before playing the most obvious move on the board. [18...d3
19.gxf5
Qg5+
20.Kb1
dxc2+
21.Kxc2
]
19.Bc4
Bxc4
20.Qxc4
a5
At this point we both needed to play quickly to reach the time control but I had a slight lead on the clock.
21.Qd3
Qg5+
22.Kb1
Rxc5
23.bxc5
Rb8+
24.Ka1
Qxc5
25.Rb1
Re8
26.Rhd1
26 Rhe1 was much stronger when Black has nothing better than 26... Rc8 [26.Rhe1
Rc8
]
26...h5
My plan is to play Re3, but I needed to make room for my King so that I could meet Rb8+ with Kh7. The simple h6 would have been very better, avoiding much of what follows. I think it was a simple rush of blood to the head just before the time control. I thought the "aggressive" h5 was more in keeping with the spirit of the game so far, and it gave me an extra option of Bh6 at some point.
27.Rb5
Qc6
28.gxh5
Re3
29.Rb8+
Kh7
30.hxg6+
fxg6
31.Qd2
Re2
I couldn't resist putting my rook en prise again. Much better was 31... d3+!! but after 32. Kb1 I couldn't work out how to follow it up. Crafty gives 32... cxb2+ 33. Qxb2 Qf6! 34. Rb2 Rxf3 35. a4 Rf4 36. Rd5 Qxb2+ 37. Qxb2 Bxb2 38. Kxb2 Rxa4 with a clear advantage for Black [31...d3+
32.Kb1
dxc2+
33.Qxc2
Qf6
34.Rb2
Rxf3
35.a4
Rf4
36.Rd5
Qxb2+
37.Qxb2
Bxb2
38.Kxb2
Rxa4
]
32.Qd3
Rxc2
It wasn't too late for 32... Re3 33. Qd2 d3+! [32...Re3
]
33.Kb1
Rc3
34.Qe4
Qc7
35.Rb7
Qxh2
36.Qxd4
He missed his chance, 36. Rxg7+!! Kxg7 37. Qxd4+ wins. It's easy to see why he was tempted into it though, the threat of Qxg7 looks devastating. [36.Rxg7+
Kxg7
37.Qxd4+
]
36...Qc2+
37.Ka1
Qxd1+
38.Qxd1
Rc1#
A thoroughly enjoyable and entertaining game. Some mistakes towards the end could have cost me the game, but in fact they simply helped set up a pretty finish. I'd seen it all of course and was playing to entertain the crowd. 0-1