Notes by David Levens
I had played and lost to Tony twice before, each time when I had the white pieces. The first of these was played a good few years back and was one that I held the advantage in for most of the game, until I got into time trouble and blundered it away. The second occasion was in the recent county championships when I was trying too hard to win. I was determined not to lose a third time!
1.d4
d5
2.Nf3
Nf6
3.Bf4
Signifying that White intends to play the London System.
3...c5
The idea behind this move is to follow up with Nc6 and Qb6, pressuring the d4 pawn and the b2 square, which has been abandoned by White's dark-squared bishop.
4.Bxb8?
I had never seen this played before, but it's a singularly bad move. Not only is White exchanging off a developed piece for one still in bed, but also this bishop is almost the raison d'etre for the whole variation: White normally hopes to keep some control over the dark squares in Black's position.
4...Rxb8
5.dxc5
Qa5+
[5...e6
(This is the suggestion of the silicon monster but, as a mere human, I didn't like the fact that White could then simply play 6.b4. This of course was faulty thinking, as Black then simply plays 6...b6!) 6.e3
Bxc5
7.Bb5+
Bd7
8.Bxd7+
Qxd7
9.Qd3
]
6.Nc3
Qxc5
[6...e6
7.a3
Qxc5
8.e3
Bd7
9.Ne5
Bc6
10.Qd4
Be7
11.Bd3
0-0=/+
]
7.e3
e6
8.Ne5
b5!
Fritz suggests 8...a6 here, but I much prefer my move, which must have come as a surprise to White. It gains valuable space on the queenside
9.Bd3
Bd6
10.Ng4
I'd only really considered 10.Nf3 here
10...h5!?
[10...Nd7
11.h3
f5
12.Nh2
Be5
13.0-0
0-0
14.Rb1
Bxc3
15.bxc3-+
]
11.Nxf6+
gxf6
I was very happy with my position after this: I have a lead in development, my king is quite safe in the centre, and White cannot be happy about castling either side!
12.Be2
Bd7!?
13.Qd4
[13.Bxh5
b4
14.Nb1
d4
15.Be2
dxe3
16.fxe3
Bg3+
17.Kd2
Be5
(17...Bf2!
18.Kc1
Bxe3+
19.Nd2
Rd8
is absolutely crushing) 18.Kc1
Black's attack is well worth the pawn sacrificed]
13...Ke7
14.Qxc5
Bxc5
15.0-0?
b4
16.Nb1
e5
17.Nd2
Rbg8
18.Rfc1
h4
19.Nb3
Bb6
20.c4
bxc3
21.Rxc3
Bh3
22.Bf1?
Missing the little tactic which probably wins the game [22.g3
f5
]
22...Bxg2!
23.Bxg2
h3
24.Rf1
Rxg2+
25.Kh1
f5
26.Nc1
Rg6
27.Ne2
Kd7
[27...Ke6
28.b4
Rg4
29.f4
Rg2
30.Re1
f6-+
]
28.Ng3
d4
29.exd4
Bxd4
30.Rd3
Ke6
31.b3
f4
32.Ne2
Bb6
33.Re1
Hoping to be able to play Nxf4+ winning the exchange
33...Kf5
34.Red1
It's difficult to hold onto this pawn because of the threats down the g-file
34...Bxf2
35.Rd7
f6
36.b4
Rg2
37.b5
Bb6
38.Nc3
Rhg8
White will soon be mated 0-1