This was a high stakes game. Kevin and I were the only players with 2/2, as Jim Marfia took a half-point bye in round two. The winner of this game would be well poised to take the title.
1.e4
c5
2.Na3
Whatever its objective merits, this is a fun move to play and ideal for the tournament situation. I am familiar with the setups White can employ, while Black has to think from move 2 (!) how he wants to develop. Not easy when the time control is G/60.
2...Nc6
3.Bb5
Nf6
4.d3
g6
5.c3
Bg7
6.f4
One benefit of White's strategy is his flexibility to choose his pawn structure depending on what Black does. Here, the knight does not impede the c-pawn, and can reroute to c2 or c4. Basically, a Grand Prix Sicilian formation.
6...0-0
7.Nf3
d5
8.e5
Ne8
9.0-0
Nc7
10.Bxc6
bxc6
Black has gained the bishop pair at the cost of weakening his pawn structure.
11.Nc2
a5
If he develops his bishop to f5 or g4, White can play Ne3. So black opens the possibility of it going to a6.
12.Ne3
d4?!
Possibly a mistake. [12...Ba6
Would have been a logical continuation of ... a5. White cannot carry out his Qd1-e1-h4 attack. However, he might not have liked the fact I could play 13.f5
]
13.cxd4
cxd4
14.Nc4
Black is now committed to playing actively, since there is no way of repairing his pawn structure.
14...Be6
15.Bd2
a4
Since this pawn is so sickly, Kevin decides to pitch it to gain some open lines for his rooks.
16.Nb6
Ra6
17.Nxa4
The knight started on a3 and fifteen moves later it wound up on....a4! The f3-knight could only watch in amazement...
17...Qd5
18.b3
Rb8
19.Rc1
It turns ou t that Black has too little for the pawn. His pawn weaknesses are just as prominent as mine, the queen, bishop and knight all want the same squares, and the g7-bishop is blocked once by e5, and once by d4.
19...Rb5
20.Rc4
Bg4
21.Qc2?!
[Even better would have been 21.Qa1!
c5
22.Nxd4
cxd4
23.Rxc7
as noted by Rybka.]
21...Bxf3
22.Rxf3
Ne6
23.Rf1
f6
Aiming to free his bishop.
24.exf6
Bxf6
25.Qd1
The White queen takes note of new possibilities in the center and the kingside.
25...Qd6
26.Qe2
Nc7
27.Qe4
Nd5
28.f5
White is better placed to operate on both flanks.
28...Kg7
29.fxg6
hxg6
30.Rf3
Ne3
Black decides he must offer another pawn.
31.Bxe3
dxe3
32.Rg3?
This is a bad intermediate move. I should have simply taken the e-pawn. The clock is becoming a factor. I have 13 minutes to his 17.
32...g5?
[32...Bg5
We both missed this simple move during the game. Black blocks the attack on the g-pawn and protects the e3 pawn. Chances are roughly equal.]
33.Rh3
Once again, taking on e3 was a wiser decision...now things really heat up.
33...Re5
34.Rh7+
Kf8
[34...Kg8
35.Qg6+
Bg7
36.Qxg7#
]
35.Qg6
Threatening mate on f7.
35...Qd5
[35...Qe6
I was really worried about this move. 36.Rb4!
(36.Nc5
Kevin thought this was winning, but Black survives with 36...Rxc5!
37.Rxc5
Rxa2!
and Black threatens a mate of his own!) 36...Ra8
(36...Rb5
37.Nc5!!
Qd5
38.Nd7+
Qxd7
39.Qf7#
) 37.Nb6!!
A beautiful move! The threat is 38.Nd7+ Qxd7 39.Qf7 mate. If Black plays 37...Rd8
then 38.Nd7+!
Rxd7
39.Rb8+
Rd8
40.Rxd8#
]
36.Rd4
I played this instantly, missing Black's reply. I'm down to 8 minutes, he's down to 7. [36.Nc5!
is a forced mate, provided by Rybka. 36...Ra7
37.Rd4!
e2
38.Ne6+!
Qxe6
(38...Rxe6
39.Qf7#
) 39.Rd8#
]
36...e2
Now White must find the only winning path or lose! [36...Qg8
37.Rd8#
]
37.Rf7+!
[37.Qh6+
Ke8
38.Qh5+
(38.Rh8+
Kd7
39.Rxd5+
cxd5
Black is winning, though he still has to watch his step for a couple of more moves.) 38...Kd8!
39.Rxd5+
cxd5
and incredibly White has run out of checks and is lost.]
37...Ke8!
An amazing move, opening himself up to a discovered check. It seems as though Black can get away with sacrificing his queen to mate me! I had seen this king move before I played 37.Rf7+ and for a moment thought I was lost. [37...Qxf7
38.Rd8+
Qe8
39.Rxe8#
]
38.Rxf6+
Kd7
39.Rxd5+
cxd5
It was this position that had me worried on move 37. The hero of the game returns to save the day.
40.Nc5+!
Without this, white would be buttered and toasted. [40.Rxa6
e1Q#
; 40.Rf1
exf1Q+
41.Kxf1
Rxg6
]
40...Kd8
[40...Kc7
41.Nxa6+
it is vital that this comes with check.]
41.Rf8+
Kc7
42.Nxa6+
Kd7
43.Nb8+
And black resigned in view of [43.Nb8+
Kc7
44.Qc6#
] 1-0