1.e4
c6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
dxe4
4.Nxe4
Nd7
5.Nf3
Ngf6
6.Bd3
e6
[6...Nxe4
7.Bxe4
Nf6
8.Bd3
is normal here (but I intended 8.Qe2
Nxe4
9.Qxe4=
) ]
7.Qe2
Be7
[After 7...Nxe4
8.Bxe4
Nf6
9.0-0
Nxe4
10.Qxe4
Qd5
11.Qd3
, White's lead in development and control of the centre compensate for the loss of the bishop pair.]
8.Neg5
This position is very similar to a line in the French Defence - put the c8 bishop on c6 and the c6-pawn on c7, and castle White's king. The idea of sacrificing on e6 is quite strong in that position, so I decided to try it out here.
8...h6
[8...0-0
9.Ne5
gives White a nice advantage, since 9...Nxe5??
(9...Qb6
10.c3+/-
) 10.dxe5
Nd5
11.Bxh7+
Kh8
12.Qh5
wins for White]
9.Nxe6
fxe6
10.Bg6+
Kf8
11.Qxe6
[In two GM games (Chandler-Arkell, Lloyds Bank Open 1988) and Almasi-Kumaran, Kopavogur 1994) 11.0-0
was preferred. Chandler lost; Almasi won. Objectively, White has compensation for the sacrifice, but no more.]
11...Bb4+
[The threat of mate at f7 limits Black's options. The alternative is 11...Qa5+
12.c3
Qd5
13.Qxd5
Nxd5
14.0-0
Bd6
15.Re1
Kg8
16.Bd2=
]
12.Kd1?!=/+
[Only now did I spot that after 12.c3
Black can play 12...Qe7
, when I can't take the bishop and must exchange queens. Even so, that would have been a better choice, as Black remains tangled up: 13.Qxe7+
Bxe7
14.0-0
c5
15.Re1
cxd4
16.cxd4
Nb6
17.Ne5
Bb4
18.Re2
Nbd5
19.a3
Ba5
20.Bc2
Rg8
21.Ng6+
Kf7
22.Ne5+
Kf8
23.Ng6+=
]
12...Qe7
13.Qb3
Now Black probably has a small edge, but he has to solve some awkward problems in order to develop his pieces. The h8-rook is locked away, and it's not easy to find a way to bring the c8-bishop into play.
13...Nb6
14.c3
Bd6
15.Re1
Qc7
16.h3
[Played to prevent the bishop from moving. The computer wants to be more direct: 16.Ne5
Nbd5
(16...Bxe5
17.Rxe5
Nbd5
18.Kc2
Qb6
19.Qa3+
with attacking chances for White) 17.Nf7
Kg8
(17...Rg8
18.Nxd6
Qxd6
19.Bf4+-
) 18.Nxh8
Kxh8
19.Kc2
Bd7=/+
]
16...c5
17.dxc5
Bxc5
18.Bf4=/+
[As appealing as this is, maybe 18.Kc2
is better: 18...a5
19.Be3
Bxe3
20.Rxe3
Nc4
21.Re2
Bd7
22.Rae1=
]
18...Qd7+
19.Kc1
[19.Ke2
Qd5
20.Kf1
Qxb3
21.axb3
Nbd5
22.Bh2=
; 19.Kc2
Qa4
bothered me at the time, but 20.Qxa4
Nxa4
21.Rad1
Bd7
22.Ne5
Nb6
23.Bg3+/=
is OK]
19...Qd5
20.Qc2
[A little too keen to keep the queens on: 20.Bg3
Qxb3
21.axb3
Nbd5
22.Ne5=
]
20...Bxh3
A surprise.
21.Re5
[Not 21.gxh3
Qxf3
, when White is in serious trouble.]
21...Qc4
22.Bg3
Bxg2
23.Nd2
Overlooked by Jonathan.
23...Qa4?
Draw offer. I could have taken the draw and won the championship, but Jonathan hadn't moved when he made the offer, so I asked to see his move. It turned out to be decisive. [After 23...Qb5
24.b4
the bishop is still lost, but Black holds a small edge in a complicated position. We were both a little short of time by now; Jonathan more so. 24...Bd5
25.Bd3
Qc6
26.bxc5
Qxc5
27.a3
Rc8
28.c4
Qd4=/+
]
24.Rxc5
Qxc2+
25.Kxc2
Material is level, but my active pieces are more than enough to win.
25...Rc8
26.Bd6+
Kg8
27.Re5
Bd5
28.Rae1
Nbd7
Draw offer.
29.Re7
h5
30.Bf5
Rc6
[Resignation was slightly premature - Jonathan thought 30...Rc6
31.Re8+
Nxe8
32.Rxe8+
was mate, overlooking that f7 is now free: 32...Kf7
33.Rxh8
Rxd6
34.Rxh5+/-
However, White can just retreat the bishop to somewhere safe and pawns will soon start to fall.] 1-0