1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
Nc6
6.Be2
Ducking out of the theoretical lines with 6.Bg5 and 6.Bc4.
6...Nxd4?!
7.Qxd4
e6
8.Be3
Be7
9.f3
0-0
10.0-0-0
Bd7
11.g4
Bc6
12.g5
Nd7
[Interesting is 12...Nh5
It's actually quite difficult to dislodge this knight. For example, 13.f4 is met by ..Nxf4 and ..e5.]
13.Rhg1
Qc7
14.h4
a6
[Interesting was 14...b5
]
15.h5
Here, it just looks like White is faster. Not so straightforward...
15...Rac8
16.g6
Fritz recommends h6, which I'd thought (and still think) just closes the position up. But maybe there are real positional reasons why this is a serious move - particularly with it more or less forcing ..e5, allowing White later to play Nd5.
16...hxg6?!
17.hxg6
Bf6
18.Qd2
b5
19.a3
d5
20.exd5
Bxd5?!
21.Nxd5
exd5
22.gxf7+
Rxf7
23.c3
Nc5
24.Qc2?!
[I'd lost some composure by now - something of a problem for me when things get tense (on the chessboard)! Better was either 24.Kb1
eg 24...Na4
25.Bd4
Bxd4
26.Qxd4
; or 24.Bxc5
Qxc5
25.Qxd5
Qe3+
26.Qd2
]
24...Qe7
25.Bxc5
[Not having looked at 24...Qe7, I was now seriously flustered. we both only had 10 minutes to find 17 decent moves - and I now thought I was worse. I was concerned about 25...d4 after my bishop moves (eg 25.Bf2) - then for example 26.Bxd4 Bxd4 27.Rxd4 Qe3+ picking up my rook on g1. Of course I completely missed the intermediary 26.Rh1 threatening Qh7+ and Rh8 mate - a crazy oversight. Actually 25.Bf2 is a decent move, though with great complications: 25.Bf2
- eg 25...Na4!
(25...Bxc3
26.bxc3
Na4
27.Rd3
Qxa3+
28.Kd2
b4
29.c4
Nc3
30.c5
- what is going on here?!; 25...d4
26.Rh1
g5
(26...Qe6
27.Kb1
g5
(27...dxc3??
28.Qh7+
Kf8
29.Qh8+
Ke7
30.Bxc5+
) 28.Rxd4!?
Bxd4
29.Bxd4
Kf8
30.Rh5
with advantage for White) 27.Bxd4
(27.Rxd4
looks good but 27...Nb3+
28.Qxb3
Qxe2
29.Rd7
Rc4
is not so clear) 27...Bxd4
28.Rxd4
Qe5
29.Kb1
and White should be winning.) 26.Rd3
(only real move to guard against sacs on c3) 26...Nxc3
27.bxc3
Qxa3+
28.Qb2
Qa5
29.Bd4
b4
30.Bxf6
Rxf6
31.c4
Rxc4+
32.Kb1
Rc3
33.Rg5
Rfc6
34.Rxc3
bxc3
35.Qb8+
Kf7
36.Qb7+
Rc7
37.Qxd5+
winning, though there's absolutely no way in which I'd have found my way through this maze of complications.]
25...--
[After 25.Bxc5, which turns out to be a good alternative to 25.Bf2, I offered a draw which was accepted. Lots of lines of play - eg: 25...Qxc5
26.Rh1
d4
27.Qh7+
Kf8
28.Qg6!
Be5
(28...dxc3
29.Rh8+
Ke7
30.Qe4+
Be5
31.Rxc8
cxb2+
32.Kb1
Qxc8
33.Qxe5+
; 28...Kg8
29.Rh5
Qc6
30.Bd3
Kf8
31.Re1
; 28...Qg5+
29.Qxg5
Bxg5+
30.Kc2
Rd8
31.cxd4
) 29.Rh8+
Ke7
30.Rh5
Qd6
(30...dxc3
31.Qg5+
Ke8
(31...Ke6
32.Qg4+
Ke7
33.Rd7+
Ke8
34.Qe6+
) 32.Qxe5+
) 31.Bd3
Rc5
(31...dxc3
32.Qg5+
Bf6
33.Qe3+
Qe6
34.Qxe6+
Kxe6
35.Bf5+
) 32.Kb1
with a small advantage. Great game.] 1/2-1/2