Perennial Contender?
At the time of this game Seth was the current Lansing City Champion. In fact, He had been for the last five years! In the past two years I finished second. Due to a pairing mix up, neither one of us was expecting to play each other in this round so there was no special preparation for the game. Regardless, I always enjoy playing Seth even if my record against him says otherwise! (5 wins, 8 draws, 15 losses)
1.d4
d5
2.c4
e5
The Albin countergambit. Black sacrifices a pawn to get rapid development. He hopes to win the pawn back later.
3.dxe5
d4
This is Black's idea. The d4 pawn has a cramping effect on White, While the e pawn is weak.
4.Nf3
Nc6
5.g3
Nge7
6.Bg2
Ng6
7.0-0
[The mainline runs- 7.Bg5
Qd7
8.e6!
fxe6
9.0-0
e5
10.Nbd2
h6
11.Bh4
Be7
12.Bxe7
Qxe7
13.Qc2
Qf7
14.Ne1!
0-0
15.Nd3
Kh8
16.b4+/=
]
7...Be7
8.b3
Ngxe5
I assumed that everything till now was theory. How to continue from here?
9.Ba3
[Also possible was- 9.Nxe5
Nxe5
10.Bb2
c5
11.e3
Bg4
12.Qd2+/=
]
9...Bf6
When I played Ba3 I expected Seth to play this. Indeed, Who could resist the long diagonal with my rook looking like a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow? [9...Bxa3
10.Nxa3
Nxf3+
11.Bxf3
Bh3
12.Re1~~
]
10.Nbd2
Nxf3+
11.exf3
I want to exploit the fact that Black's king is stuck in the center. [11.Nxf3
Bg4+/=
(11...d3
12.exd3
Bxa1
13.Qxa1
Qf6
14.Re1+
Be6
15.d4+-
I tried to calculate this at the board but things seemed far from clear to me. In fact, White is just winning.) ]
11...Be6
12.Ne4
Be7
13.Nc5
Bxc5
14.Bxc5
I thought that winning the bishop pair was significant.
14...Qd7
Black is going to caslte queenside. I started to regret my decision to play 11. exf3.
15.f4
0-0-0
16.Rc1?!
I wanted to play b4 without losing my c pawn. This amounts to a loss of a tempo which can have serious consequences in opposite side castling positions. [>=16.Re1
]
16...Bg4?!
Boy! I didn't expect this. Seth allows me to improve my postion. [16...Bh3!?=/+
]
17.Bxc6
bxc6
18.f3
Bh3
19.Re1
Rhe8
20.Qd2
Now a major question in the position is if Black's pawn is weak or strong.
20...d3
Seth didn't think I could afford to take the a-pawn. [>=20...a6
21.Rxe8
Rxe8
22.Rd1
(22.Qxd4
Re2
23.Qxd7+
Kxd7
Black's active pieces give full compensation for the pawn. Maybe, This is what Seth missed.) 22...d3+/=
The d pawn lives due to a simple tactic. 23.Qxd3
Re1+-+
]
21.Bxa7
c5
This is what Seth had prepared. It looks like White can't take the c pawn because Qc6 would be very strong. I believe him and play
22.Rcd1?!
[White can take the c pawn! 22.Bxc5!
Qc6
23.Be7
Qxf3
24.Re3
(24.Bxd8?
Re2
25.Rxe2
dxe2
26.Qd5
Qf1+
27.Rxf1
exf1Q#
) 24...Qc6
25.Rce1+/=
]
22...Qd4+
23.Qf2
Rxe1+
24.Rxe1
d2
25.Rd1
Qa1
26.Qe2
Qd4+
[26...Qxa2
27.Bxc5
Qxb3
28.Kf2~~
; 26...Qxd1+
27.Qxd1
Bf5
28.Kg2
Bc2
29.Qxc2
d1Q
30.Qf5+
Kb7
31.Bxc5
Rd2+
32.Bf2
Rxa2
33.Qb5+~~
]
27.Qf2
Qc3?!
[27...Qa1
is a draw]
28.Bxc5
Bf5
Now I try to gang up on the d pawn. [28...Qc2
29.Qe2
Qxa2
30.Qe4
Qxb3
31.Qa8+
Qb8
32.Qxb8+
Kxb8
33.Be3+/=
]
29.Be3
Re8?!
Now White has time to take the d pawn [Black is down two pawns but with the passed d pawn and active pieces he had a chance for an amazing draw. >=29...Rd3
30.Bxd2
Qc2
31.Qe1
Bd7
32.Qe2
Bc6
33.Kf2
Rxf3+
(33...Bxf3
34.Rc1
Qxd2
35.Qxd2
Rxd2+
36.Kxf3
Rxa2
37.h3+/-
) 34.Kg1
Rd3
35.Kf2=
]
30.Bxd2
Qd3
[30...Qc2
31.Re1
Rxe1+
32.Qxe1+-
]
31.Re1
Rd8
With the d pawn gone White can finally switch over to attack. The game does not last long now. [A long line shows that Black can't afford to simplify. 31...Rxe1+
32.Qxe1
Qxf3
33.Qe8+
Kb7
34.Qb5+
Ka7
35.Qxf5
Qd1+
36.Kg2
Qxd2+
37.Kh3+-
]
32.Ba5
Kb7
33.Kg2
Ra8
34.Re5
Be6
35.Rb5+
Kc8
36.Rc5
Ra7
37.f5
Ra6
[37...Bd7
38.Rd5
] Being short of time, I didn't want to allow counterplay by taking the bishop.
38.Rxc7+
[38.fxe6
Rxe6
I was concerned about Re2]
38...Kd8
39.Ra7+
Rxa5
40.Rxa5
Bd7
41.Qb6+
Ke7
42.Re5+
Be6
43.fxe6
A very exciting game! 1-0