(1) Matras,Agnieszka (2280) - Graham,Neil [C42]
Simultaneous Display West Nottingham Chess Club, 23.07.2005



1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Nxe5 0-0 5.Be2 Re8 6.Nd3 Bxc3 7.dxc3 Nxe4 8.Nf4 Nc6 9.0-0 d6 10.c4 Ne5 11.Be3 Bd7
This appears to be the first new move. Black has tried ...Bf5, ...Be6, ...b6 and ...c6 in other games.

12.Qd4 Nc5 13.b4 Ne6 14.Nxe6 Bxe6 15.f4
[An oversight. Fritz recommends 15.c5 with equality.]

15...Nxc4
[15...Bxc4 16.fxe5 Bxe2 17.Rfe1 Bh5 18.exd6 Qxd6 is also good for Black, although the opposite-coloured bishops might provide a getout clause for White if the major pieces come off.]

16.Bc1
[16.Bxc4 Bxc4 17.Qxc4 Rxe3 is obviously very good for Black.]

16...c5 17.Qd3 Qf6
[Fritz reckons that 17...Nb6 18.Bb2 Na4 19.Rfb1 Nxb2 20.Rxb2 Qf6 21.c3 Qxf4 22.bxc5 dxc5 23.Rxb7 Qg5 is stronger.]

18.c3 b5 19.Bf3 Bf5 20.Qd5 Rac8
White has made a series of small errors, and now Black is winning.

21.Bd2 Nxd2?
[Black misses his chance: 21...cxb4 22.cxb4 (22.Rad1 bxc3 23.Bxc3 Qxc3 24.Qxf5 Ne3 ) 22...Nb6 23.Qb3 Qd4+ 24.Kh1 Bc2 25.Qa3 Qxd2 ]

22.Qxd2 cxb4 23.cxb4 Rc2 24.Qd5 a6 25.a4?
[25.Rac1 is better.]

25...Bd7 26.axb5 Bxb5 27.Rfe1 Rxe1+
[As at move 21, Black exchanges too soon. Instead 27...Qc3 28.Rxe8+ Bxe8 29.Qd1 Qxb4 30.Qxc2 Qd4+ wins a second pawn. The position is still very good though.]

28.Rxe1 g6 29.Rd1 Rc4 30.g3 Qc3 31.Bg2? Ba4?
[31...Qe3+ wins outright: 32.Kh1 (32.Kf1 Rxf4# ) 32...Rc1 33.Qf3 Qe1+! 34.Rxe1 Rxe1+ 35.Bf1 Rxf1+ This kind of thing is hard to see when you're one of the last three games left and you're effectively playing blitz against a master.]

32.Rf1 Qxb4 33.Qa8+ Kg7 34.Qxa6 Qc5+ 35.Kh1 Bb5 36.Qa1+ Qd4
This is probably the wrong idea. White's king is vulnerable, so keeping the queens on and playing for mate is a better option.

37.Qxd4+ Rxd4 38.Rb1
Black still has a significant advantage, but the win is becoming difficult because so many of his pawns are on white squares, potentially vulnerable to attack by White's bishop.

38...Bd7 39.Bf3
White has seen the chance to force the rooks off, with good drawing prospects.

39...Be6 40.Rd1 Rxd1+ 41.Bxd1 h5
[41...d5 Fritz suggests a better way to make progress: 42.Kg2 d4 43.Kf3 Bd5+ 44.Ke2 Be4 45.g4 Kh6 46.Kf2 g5 47.fxg5+ Kxg5 This might still be drawn, but the chances are better than in the game.]

42.Kg2 Bd5+ 43.Kf2 Kf6 44.Ke3 Ke6 45.Kd4 Ba2 46.Bf3 Bb3
White has set up a fortress, and there's no way through for the black king. 1/2-1/2