Most of this game is fairly dull, but there's a bright finish. Skip ahead to move 30 unless you want to see a lot of quiet piece shuffling.
1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.Bb5+
Nd7
4.0-0
Ngf6
5.Re1
e5
[The same opponent played 5...e6
against me at the Nottingham Congress earlier in the year.]
6.c3
Be7
7.d4
Qc7
The position is nominally a Sicilian Defence, but it has taken on all the characteristics of a Closed Spanish.
8.Nbd2
0-0
9.Nf1
a6
10.Bd3
Re8
11.Ng3
Nf8
12.h3
Bd7
13.Bd2
Rac8
14.d5
c4
15.Bc2
Qb6
16.Rb1
[16.b4!?
Probably better is 16...a5
17.Rb1
axb4
18.Rxb4
Qa6
19.a4
Bd8
20.Qb1+/=
with good queenside prospects.]
16...Qa5
17.a3?!
[Over-cautious. 17.b4
cxb3
(17...Qxa2?
is probably bad because of lines like 18.Bg5
a5
19.Qc1
Ba4
20.Rb2
Qa3
21.Nf5
Bxc2
22.Qxc2
N8d7
23.Reb1
axb4
24.Rxb4
b6
25.Bxf6
Nxf6
26.Nd2
b5
27.Rxb5
when Black has to shed material to hang on to the queen.) 18.axb3+/=
again with play on the queenside. During the game, I was more concerned that Black would get queenside counterplay.]
17...Ng6
18.Be3
Bd8
Threatening to exchange the weaker of his two bishops.
19.Qd2
Ba4?!
But this seems inconsistent. White now gains f5 for a knight.
20.Nf5
Bxc2
21.Qxc2
Qc7
22.Kh2
The product of lengthy thought.The idea is to prepare the g-file for an attack on the black king.
22...Ne7
23.g4
Nxf5
[23...Nd7
24.Rg1
Nc5
is a more active way to play. White cannot easily break through without Black's assistance.]
24.gxf5
Now White has the g-file, but Black can still hold comfortably.
24...Qd7
25.Rg1
Kh8
26.Rg2
g6
There's no need for this weakening move.
27.fxg6
hxg6
28.Rbg1
Nh5
[28...Kg7
is better, when after 29.Nh4
Rh8
30.Nf5+
Kf8
31.Nh6
Bb6
32.Bg5
Black's position is very secure. With the move in the game, Black is misguidedly trying to occupy f4.]
29.Qe2
Still White has only a small edge. But Black's inaccuracies are starting to mount up.
29...Bf6?!
[29...Kg7
30.Nd4
Nf6
31.Ne6+
Rxe6
32.dxe6
Qxe6
33.Bg5
d5
34.Bxf6+
Bxf6
35.exd5
Qxd5
is a surprising and solid defence.]
30.Ng5
[Eyeing the weakness at f7. But much stronger would have been 30.Nd2
Qb5
(30...b5
31.Rxg6
fxg6
32.Rxg6
Ng7
33.Rxf6
with a powerful attack.) 31.Rxg6
fxg6
32.Rxg6
Ng7
33.Rxf6+-
]
30...Nf4?
[Overlooking the strength of the knight sacrifice. Instead, 30...Re7
31.Rg4
Kg8
32.Rh4
Ng7
leaves White with just the initiative and a small edge.]
31.Bxf4
[31.Nxf7+
Qxf7
32.Bxf4
Rg8
33.Rxg6
Rxg6
34.Qh5+
Qh7
35.Qxg6
Rf8
36.Bh6
Qxg6
37.Rxg6
Rf7
also wins, but more slowly.]
31...exf4
32.Nxf7+!
Blows away the black king's pawn cover. The variations weren't hard to calculate.
32...Qxf7
33.Rxg6
Bg7
[33...Qh7
hands the piece back straight away to try to avoid immediate disaster, but White doesn't have any real problems: 34.Rxf6
Rg8
35.Rg4
Rcf8
36.e5
dxe5
37.Rxf8+-
; 33...Re7
attempts to cobble together a defence, but the king is too exposed: 34.Qg4
Ra8
35.Rh6+
Qh7
36.Rxf6
Rg8
37.Qxf4
Rxg1
38.Kxg1
Qg7+
39.Kf1
Kg8
40.Qxd6
Kh7
41.Qf4
Kg8
42.d6+-
]
34.Qg4
Rc7
[34...Rg8
leads to a quick mate: 35.Qh5+
Bh6
36.Rxh6+
Qh7
37.Rxh7#
; while 34...Qxg6
35.Qxg6
Re7
36.Qxd6
Rce8
37.Qg6
Kg8
38.e5
is hopeless.]
35.Qh5+
Kg8
36.Rxg7+
The black rooks have become disconnected and White wins material. 1-0