Notes marked TM are by Tim McGrew; other notes are by Joe Meyer.
1.e4
c5
2.Nc3
d6
3.g3
Nc6
4.Bg2
g6
5.d3
Bg7
6.Nf3?!
TM: Although this is a normal developing move, it is probably not the best way for White to handle a Closed Sicilian as the Knight tends to get in the way of the f-pawn here. [One popular and aggressive alternative is to line up for a Bishop swap immediatelywith 6.Be3
e6
7.Qd2
Nge7
White's attacking prospects here are bright, and in practice Black has struggled to hold the position. For example: 8.Bh6
0-0
9.h4
f5
10.h5
Rf7
11.hxg6
hxg6
12.Bxg7
Rxg7
13.Nf3
The open h- file here gives White excellent play even though there is no immediate knockout. 13...d5
14.exd5
(14.Qh6
Kf8
15.0-0-0
also looks convincing.) 14...exd5
15.d4
c4
16.Qh6
Kf8
17.0-0-0
Be6
18.Qe3
(18.Ng5
would be very hard to meet. But White's position is so overwhelming that he can choose from among many good continuations.) 18...Qd7
19.Ng5
Bg8
20.Rh8
b5
21.Re1
b4
22.Ne6+
Kf7
23.Qh6
1-0 Slovineanu,V-Jianu,V/Bucharest 1998 (23)]
6...Nf6
7.0-0
0-0
8.Ne2
I start a slow plan designed on putting pressure on Black's kingside [TM: A more popular move here at high levels is 8.h3
White's idea is to stop Black from making use of the g4 square. For example, this allows White to play Be3 and Qd2 unmolested by Black's Knight.]
8...Bd7
9.c3
Qc7
10.h3
Rac8
11.g4
Rfd8
12.Ng3
a6
13.Be3
b5
Here we both pretty much ignored each other till a breakthrough occured that was sadly faster for him.
14.Qe2
b4
TM: Black's play here is very thematic, opening lines on the queenside where his active pieces and space advantage must give him the initiative. Meanwhile, White needs his f-pawn on f5 -- but that Knight remains stubbornly in the way.
15.Rac1
Qa5
16.d4
bxc3
instead of chasing after a poison pawn he maturely pries open the queenside. [TM: Here Black cannot actually gain anything by 16...Qxa2
17.Ra1
Qb3
18.Rxa6
bxc3
19.bxc3
Qxc3
20.g5
Ne8
21.Rc1
and White gets back the pawn.]
17.bxc3
cxd4
18.cxd4
Na7
19.Rxc8
Rxc8
20.Qd2
Qxd2
21.Nxd2
Nb5
[TM: 21...Rc2
looks more natural here.]
22.f4
I thought there was a simple way to defend the a2 pawn but overlooked what was coming. [TM: The best way to try to hold the queenside may be 22.a4
Nc3
23.a5
]
22...Rc2
23.e5
Ne8
24.Bd5
[TM: In a position like this, one of the most important skills is to find the most tenacious defense. It may not -- it probably will not -- be an equalizing line. But a player who knows how to put roadblocks in his opponent's path to victory will often pick up half points and occasionally a whole point. Here, perhaps the grittiest defense is 24.Rf2
Rxa2
25.Nc4
when Black is still clearly better but at least White has maintained, for the nonce, the defensive in the center that makes it difficult for Black to activate his darksquare Bishop.]
24...Nxd4!
A simple tactic but I was surprised that there were suitable replies. He was playing bravely and I knew I had a fight on my hands.
25.Nge4
Nb5?!
[TM: A simpler way for Black to cash in here is 25...e6
26.Bb3
Nxb3
27.axb3
dxe5
28.fxe5
Bxe5-+
]
26.a4
Nc3
27.Bb3
Rc1!
Another nice move. After a long think I thought that resolving the center and playing a drawish endgame were my best options. Also the idea that getting a tactical player like Justin out of his element gave me chances.
28.exd6
[TM: Here is another chance to practice the art of tenacity. While it is true that the Rook is indirectly defended, that does not mean that everything goes Black's way in this position. After 28.Rxc1
Ne2+
29.Kf2
Nxc1
White can corral the Knight with 30.Bc4!
when the threat of Nf3 winning Black's trapped steed will force Black to do some fancy footwork. The best line appears to be 30...Bxa4
31.Nf3
Nb3
and now, in stead of trying to get fancy, White can simply snip off the passed pawn with 32.Bxa6
In the resulting position, all of the pawns are on the same side of the board, which lessens the significance of Black's extra pawn and gives White real drawing chances.]
28...Rxf1+
29.Kxf1
Nxe4?!
TM: This move is tactically careless and allows White to climb back into the game. [Black should instead keep control of the position with 29...Nxd6-/+
when White's threats against f7 disappear.]
30.Nxe4
exd6
This isolates the pawn and drops one to me. [TM: The right move is still 30...Nxd6
]
31.Ng5!
h6
32.Nxf7
Kf8
33.Nd8
TM: This means of extracting the Knight is a bit clumsy. [The elegant solution is 33.Ne5!
when Black has nothing better than 33...Bxe5
(33...dxe5?
34.Bc5+
Nd6
35.Bxd6+
Ke8
36.fxe5
leaves White much better -- a miserable transformation of the position, from Black's point of view.) 34.fxe5
dxe5
35.Bxh6+
and White has absolutely nothing to fear.]
33...Ke7
34.Nb7
h5
Makes sense. If he fractures my pawn majority than there is less to play for. [TM: Actually, it might make even more sense to give the semi-stranded Knight something to think about by playing 34...Bc3
The immediate threat is ...Bc6, and even if White manages to save the Knight, it will tie down his pieces to a defensive chore.]
35.Bd1
Nf6
36.Bd4
hxg4
37.hxg4
Ne8
38.Bb6
d5?
TM: This loosening move creates more opportunities for White.
39.Bd8+
Ke6?
TM: This is a simple tactical error of the sort that most of us are prone to now and again, especially after a long defense. [In truth, though, 39...Kf7
40.Nc5
Bc8
41.Bb3+/-
doesn't look all that great for Black.]
40.Nc5+
Allowing this fork gives me the option of removing the light square bishop or creating a passed pawn. I chose the latter.
40...Kd6
41.Nxa6
d4
42.Nb4
Nf6
43.a5
Nxg4
44.a6!
Ne3+
45.Ke1
If Nxe1 a7 wins.
45...Bc8
46.Bf3
Bxa6
47.Nxa6
Up a piece but is it a win?
47...Nd5
48.Ba5
Nxf4??
He fell into the only trap in the position! Now I'm definitely winning.
49.Bc7+
Ke6
50.Bxf4
Be5
51.Bd2
Kf5
52.Nb4
Bf4
53.Nd3
Bxd2+
54.Kxd2
He offered a draw. I knew the gist of the ending but was getting short of time. This is my first time having to prove this mate in a tournament game and I'll hopefully have it down pat for the next one.
54...g5
55.Ke2
g4
56.Bb7
Kg5
57.Kf2
Kf5
58.Kg3
Kg5
59.Be4
Kh5
60.Nf2
Kg5
61.Nxg4
d3
62.Bxd3
Kh5
63.Kf4
Kh4
64.Be4
[TM: Those of us (yes, gentle reader, there are a few) who have actually studied this rare ending will recognize that Black's King is already nearly trapped in the proper corner, which is the corner around the h1 square. Here, for the record, is an easily understandable and nearly optimal way of forcing mate. First, White wants to set up a position with his Knight on e4 and Bishop on e2, confining the King to the proper corner. 64.Nf6
Kh3
65.Ne4
Kh4
66.Be2
Stage 1 is now complete: the King cannot escape from the net constructed by the Knight and Bishop alone. The second stage is to squeeze Black's King back into the corner with the King, leaving the Knight and Bishop where they stand. 66...Kh3
67.Kg5
Kg2
68.Kg4
Kh2
Now White constructs a new and tighter net with King and Bishop alone -- the Bishop on h3 and the King on g3. 69.Bf1
Kg1
70.Bh3
Kh2
We are almost at the finish of the net. White needs to transfer the Knight to f3, and preparing to do this also forces Black's King away, allowing the second net to be completed. 71.Nd2
Kg1
72.Kg3
Now Black's King is trapped by the King and Bishop alone, and the mate is no longer difficult to see. 72...Kh1
73.Bg2+
Kg1
74.Nf3#
]
64...Kh5
65.Bf5
Kh4
66.Bg6
Kh3
67.Ne5
Kh4
68.Nf3+
Kh3
69.Nd4
Stopped recording. Got him down to the right corner but ran out of time. A disappointing result but the game was a tough fight from start to finish. I expect good things from young Justin in the future. 1/2-1/2