1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bc4
Be7
I had heard James was a sharp tactical player, so I decided to play solidly. Usually I play sharp too, but at the start of the tournament I played a bit cautiously. Who would have expected the sacrificial onslaught in the next game with Michael Bowersock?
4.c3
Nf6
5.d4
d6
6.Nbd2
0-0
7.h3
Allows a tactical operation by Black. So in this game I was the one calling the tactical shots.
7...exd4
8.cxd4
Nxe4
9.Nxe4
d5
10.Bxd5?!
[10.Bd3
preserving the bishop, was slightly better.]
10...Qxd5
11.Nc3
Qc4
12.Be3
Bf5
13.Rc1
Rad8
Pressuring d4.
14.a3
Bf6?!
Careless. Immediately after making the move, I noticed 15. Ne4! [14...Rfe8!
was good.]
15.Ne2?!
[15.Ne4!
Qa6
16.Nxf6+
gxf6
17.Rc3
Rfe8
]
15...Qb5
16.Rc5
Diagram Blunder in a worse position.
16...Qxc5!
17.dxc5
Rxd1+
18.Kxd1
Bxb2
19.Bc1
Rd8+
20.Ke1
Bc2
As Korchnoi says, "threatening something".
21.Nd2
Bf6
[21...Ne5
22.Bxb2
Nd3+
23.Kf1
Nxb2
Was immediately decisive, winning at least another piece.]
22.f4
Bh4+
23.g3
Be7
Black wins another pawn and has the initiative. The win is a matter of simple technique.
24.Rh2
Bxc5
25.Bb2
Rd3
26.Nc1
Re3+
27.Re2
Rxe2+
28.Kxe2
Nd4+
29.Ke1
b5
30.Nf1
Nf3+
31.Ke2
Be4
32.h4
Nd4+?!
A bit careless, but everything turns out OK for black.
33.Ke3
Bg2
34.Bxd4
Bxa3
35.Nb3
[35.Kf2
Bxf1
36.Kxf1
Bxc1
]
35...Bxf1
36.Bxa7
f6
37.Kd4
Kf7
38.Nd2
Bg2
39.Nb1
Bb4
40.g4
Be1
41.Bb8
Bf2+
42.Kd3
c6
43.Nd2
Bxh4
44.Ke2
Bd5
45.Bd6
Ke6
46.Bf8
g6
47.Ke3
Be1
48.Nb1
h5
49.f5+
Kf7
50.Bd6
hxg4
51.Ke2
Ba5
52.fxg6+
Kxg6
53.Ke3
Kf5
54.Na3
Bb6+
55.Kd3
Be4+
56.Ke2
Ke6
57.Bf4
Bc5
58.Bc1
g3
After this game, James went on to win three in a row. After starting this game cautiously, I became "inspired" and played wildly in my second game. 0-1