1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
d6
6.Bg5
e6
7.Qd2
Be7
8.0-0-0
a6
9.Bxf6
gxf6
10.Nxc6
I'm still not sure if that was right. More common is 10. f4 but I was tempted by the idea of there being no shelter for the Black King on either wing. Plus I have basically exchanged off all his developed pieces which can't be a bad thing. In theory he could get some play down the open b file but in fact he never gets a chance due to his lack of development.
10...bxc6
11.Bc4
e5
12.Qh6
Bf8
I was very aware of my King and Queen on the same diagonal but if he tried to exploit it with 12... f5 then 13. f4 is very strong [12...f5
13.f4
]
13.Qh5
Qe7
14.Rxd6
My second exchange sacrifice in two days, and believe it or not they were both pretty sound.
14...Bg4
14... Qxd6 15. Qxf7+ Kd8 16. Rd1 Bh6+ 17. Kb1 and we both thought at the time that Black gets two Rooks for his Queen but White also picks up a hatfull of pawns, with an ongoing attack against the Black King. I will confess that neither of us saw 17... Bd2! and after the dust settles White once again has two pawns for the exchange and a slight advantage. [14...Qxd6
15.Qxf7+
Kd8
16.Rd1
Bh6+
17.Kb1
Qxd1+
(17...Bd2
) 18.Nxd1
]
15.Qxg4
Qxd6
16.Rd1
Qe7
17.Qh5
Crafty prefers 17. Bxa6 when Black can't play 17... Rxa6 due to 18. Qc8+ but of course he doesn't have to do that, and I wasn't sure if I wanted to open the a file for the sake of a pawn that I would probably win later on anyway. plus I liked the idea of tying his King and Queen down to the defence of f7. [17.Bxa6
Rxa6
18.Qc8+
]
17...Rg8
18.g3
Rg7
19.Qf5
Rd8
20.Rxd8+
Qxd8
21.Bxa6
Bb4
22.Nb1
Ke7
23.c3
Bc5
24.f3
With the idea of Qc8, exchanging Queens and running the a pawn. Probably better to bring the Knight back out with ideas of Nd2, b4, a4, Nb3 etc. Now for the first time in the game Black's pieces are getting rather active. Fortunately for me, his earlier problems have left him with very little time.
24...Be3+
25.Kc2
Rg8
26.Bc4
Qf8
27.b4
I thought this was a good move at the time, not fearing 27... Qh6 and given the situation on the clock it turned out as planned. Objectively 27. Qh3 was very better, preventing Qh6. [27.Qh3
]
27...Qh6
28.h4
Forcing him to decide if he can afford to play Rxg3 allowing Qc8 when his flag is hanging by a thread.
28...Rxg3
29.Qc8
Rg2+
30.Kb3
Qf8
A major error on move 30 but he had no time to think. He needs to defend f7 but Qg6 or Qh5 are much better ways to do it, leaving an escape route for the King.
31.Qc7+
Ke8
32.Qxc6+
Ke7
32... Kd8 would have prolonged his suffering but there was no escape 33. Qa8+ Ke7 (Or 33. Kc7 Qxf8 if you're a real desperado) 34. Qb7+ Kd8 35. Qb8+ Ke7 36. Qc7+ Kd8 37. Bb5# I won't claim that I had calculated that line to it's conclusion, but I was pretty sure his King wasn't going to get out of that corner alive. [32...Kd8
33.Qa8+
Ke7
34.Qb7+
Kd8
35.Qb8+
Ke7
36.Qc7+
Ke8
37.Bb5#
]
33.Qc7+
Ke8
34.Bb5#
1-0