I play Phil quite a lot and I know he likes the Benko. It's a fantastically irritating opening.
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
c5
3.d5
b5
4.cxb5
a6
5.f3
This used to be my secret weapon. Judging from my experience in internet blitz games Benko players don't have a system against it but I've played it a few times against Phil and he's booked up with assistance from Andy.
5...e6
Phil's book move and I couldn't for the life of me remember what happens next. [5...axb5
6.e4
Qa5+
7.Bd2
b4
8.Na3
d6
9.Nc4
Qc7
10.Bd3
g6
11.Ne2
Is one of many playable lines.]
6.e4
exd5
7.e5
Ceding a passed pawn but I was sure this was the line.
7...Qe7
8.Qe2
It's an unusual line. Both sides will have trouble developing. I remembered playing Kf2 as a joke in one line and then found out it was theory! Peculiar stuff.
8...Ng8
9.Nc3
Bb7
10.Nh3
I'd spent a long time finding these moves and payed for it later. I thought I had a good position though.
10...h6?
[10...c4
Fritz and Shredder both have this as the best move here. White seems to be struggling in this line. 11.Be3
(11.Nf4
Qc5
12.a4
d4
13.bxa6
Nxa6
14.Ne4
Qb4+
15.Kf2
Here it is. 15...d3
16.Qe3
Bc5
17.Nxc5
Nxc5
18.Nh5
Ne7
19.Nxg7+
Kd8
20.Rb1
Nb3
21.Qg5
d2
22.Bxd2
Qxd2+
23.Qxd2
Nxd2
) 11...Qb4
12.a3
Qa5
13.Bd2
Qb6
14.Nf4
Ne7
15.a4
axb5
16.Nxb5
Qxb5!
A queen sac! 17.axb5
Rxa1+
18.Kf2
Again. 18...Nf5
]
11.Nf4
d4
12.Ncd5
Qd8
13.b6!
This was actually quite fortunate. The pawn and the knight look after each other. I hadn't planned on this at all.
13...g5
14.Nc7+
Ke7
15.Nfd5+
Bxd5
16.Nxd5+
Ke8
17.Nc7+
Ke7
18.Nxa8
Nc6
19.Nc7
Bg7
20.f4
Kf8
21.g3
gxf4
22.Bxf4
Nge7
How do you lose a position like this? I was very short of time, Phil exploited this to the full, one obvious plan is b7-b8 but it doesn't seem to work. It took time I didn't have to figure this out.
23.Bg2
Nb4
24.0-0
Ng6
25.a3
d3
26.Qf3
Nc2
27.Rad1
[27.Bxh6
Nxe5
28.Bxg7+
Kxg7
I'd seen this and it didn't look good but... 29.Qe4
...this was the move. 29...d6
30.Rxf7+!
Not the kind of move you find on move 30 with 5s left - or at any other time. 30...Kxf7
31.Rf1+
Kg8
32.Ne6
]
27...Bxe5
28.Bxe5??
[28.Bxh6+
Is mate in 4 28...Ke7
29.Qxf7+
Kd6
30.Qd5+
Ke7
31.Rf7#
]
28...Nxe5
29.Qa8
Qxa8
30.Nxa8
Kg7
31.Rd2
f6
32.Nc7
Ne3
33.Rf4
N3c4
34.Rxc4
Nxc4
35.Rxd3
Nxb6
36.Nxa6
c4
37.Rd6
I stopped recording at this point. Phil picked up the a2(!) pawn - after I'd played the inadvertent intermezzo a3-a2 - with a nice tactic, after which I left a pawn and then a Bishop en prise and Phil ended up in a very strong/won position when my flag fell. In the post mortem Kev helpfully/gleefully pointed out another mate I'd missed. Congratulations to Phil for hanging on and taking advantage. Congratulations to Kev for being such a smarty pants. 0-1