1.c4
c5
2.Nc3
Nc6
3.e3
g6
4.d4
cxd4
5.exd4
Bg7
6.d5
Things have clearly gone wrong already. In fact I think my problems started on move 2.
6...Nd4
7.Nge2
I don't know why he didn't play Nf3, this just blocks his bishop in.
7...Nf5
No point helping him to develop by swapping knights.
8.g4
The pawn thrust looks tempting but it creates a lot of weaknesses.
8...Nd6
Eight moves and four of them with my knight!
9.Ng3
I was half expecting b5 and was planning another tour with the knight. After this b5 is a real threat. The obvious move is b6 but that blocks the diagonal for the queen and such a cramped position would be no fun at all.
9...b5
A creative attempt to solve my problems, giving up a pawn for quick development.
10.cxb5
I thought knight takes pawn was probably better.
10...a6
11.bxa6
Bxc3+
12.bxc3
This is the position I was aiming for when I played b5. I'm two pawns down, but I can get one back on a6 pretty much at will. My priority now though is not pawns but development and coordination. Let him worry about trying to hang on to his booty and defend all his weak pawns (on a6, a2, c3, d5 and g4).
12...Nf6
13.Bf4
I thought Bd2 was necessary, but I had a strong feeling that there was a much stronger move to be found. Fortunately neither of us could find it. [13.g5
Nh5
14.Qd4
Rg8
15.Nxh5
gxh5
16.Bd3
Bxa6
17.Bxh7
]
13...Qa5
14.Be5
It still wasn't too late to play Bd2. Of course Bxd6 loses to Qxc3+
14...0-0
Another piece joins the party. If he takes on f6 now the rook can occupy the open e file.
15.g5
This does nothing to help his development. In fact it forces the exchange of one his two active piecs.
15...Nfe4
16.Nxe4
Nxe4
17.Qd3
Abandoning the g pawn, but that's just a diversion.
17...Nc5
18.Qb5
I guess he thought the exchange of queens would help, on the face of it he is two pawns up after all, but that's just an illusion.
18...Rxa6
Finally recapturing on a6 (8 moves later) but at a time when it doesn't help him develop his bishop, a small victory I thought.
19.Qxa5
Rxa5
20.c4
d6
A straightforward developing move but with gain of tempo, another reason the bishop would have been better placed on d2.
21.Bd4
Bf5
Black completes his development and white is still in a tangle. The a pawn can't be defended.
22.Bxc5
dxc5
23.Be2
Rfa8
24.Kd2
Rxa2+
Winning back the second pawn.
25.Rxa2
Rxa2+
26.Ke3
Ra3+
27.Kf4
Kg7
With ideas of f6 and trying to mate the white king where he stands.
28.Rd1
Rh3
29.d6
exd6
30.Rxd6
Rxh2
31.Kg3
Rh3+
32.Kg2
Rc3
Planning to meet Rc6 or Rd5 with Be4+
33.f3
Rc2
34.Kf2
He needed to break the pin.
34...Be6
35.Ke3
Bxc4
36.Bxc4
Rxc4
37.Rc6
h6
38.f4
h5
39.Kf3
Rc3+
40.Kg2
Kf8
41.Rc8+
Ke7
42.Rc7+
Ke6
43.Rc6+
Kf5
44.Rf6+
Kg4
45.Rxf7
Rf3
46.Rf6
Rxf4
47.Rxg6
Rf5
48.Rg8
Rxg5
49.Rf8
h4
50.Rf3
Rh5
51.Rf8
Rd5
52.Rg8+
Kf4
53.Rh8
Ke3
54.Rxh4
Rf5
The h pawn's done it's job. Now the white king is cut off on the g file. The rest is straightforward even if the black king's path is not.
55.Rh3+
Kd4
56.Rh4+
Kc3
57.Rh3+
Kb4
58.Rh8
c4
59.Rb8+
Kc3
60.Rb7
Kc2
61.Rb8
c3
62.Rb7
Kc1
63.Rb8
c2
64.Rb7
Kd2
65.Rd7+
Kc3
66.Rc7+
Kd3
67.Rd7+
Kc4
I was really pleased with that game. After a dodgy start I came up with a creative plan to turn things around. It took my opponent a while to realise that there was some method to my madness, by which time the balance had shifted.
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