1.e4
g6
2.d4
Bg7
3.Nc3
d6
4.Nf3
a6
5.Be2
This move is given an ! by GM Tiger Hillarp Persson in his 2005 book titled "Tiger's Modern." Strangely, this move isn't even mentioned by ECO. ECO only gives 5. Bd3, 5. a4, and 5. a3.
5...b5
6.a4
This move is not mentioned by Tiger but instead he follows the game Khalifman-Popov, St. Petersburg 1997, which continued 6.0-0
Nd7
7.Re1
c5
8.Bg5
Bb7
and now 9.a4!
This suggests that a4 is a good idea, but may be better after White develops first. Khalifman went on to win but Tiger suggests some improvements for Black later on in the game which may have improved Black's chances.
6...b4
7.Nd5
Bb7
I thought that this was a good move at the time and I don't think it is a bad move, but a search of my database showed that the stronger players (such as Larry Christiansen and Maurice Ashley) both responded here with 7...a5
8.Nxb4
A recent game went instead 8.Bc4
e6
9.Nxb4
a5
10.Nd3
Bxe4
and Black went on to win in Taple-Leon Hoyos, Mexican Open 2007.
8...Bxe4
9.0-0
a5
10.Na2
10.Nd3
seemed like a very logical move, controlling some nice central squares. But Seth has another idea in mind.
10...Nf6
11.Bd2
Targeting my somewhat weak a-pawn. I was actually more concerned about 11.c4
and then Nc3.
11...0-0
12.Nc1
Continuing with the idea of attacking the isolated a-pawn. But this pawn can be defended and this maneuvering is taking a lot of time, allowing Black to counter in the center.
12...Nfd7
I thought the knight configuration on d7 and c6 was better than d7 and f6. Also, my dark-squared bishop becomes uncovered.
13.Nb3
c5
14.Bc3
Nc6
15.dxc5
Somewhat of a surprise. I was expecting 15.Qd2
and after 15...Qb6
I was thinkin g the position was fairly even. Now, however, I think Black has the better chances.
15...Bxc3
16.bxc3
Nxc5
17.Ng5
Bf5
18.Bf3
Nxb3
It seems strange for Black to straighten out White's pawns, but I though White's new pawn configuration would actually be easier to attack with Black getting the nice half-opened b- and c-files. The alternative 18...Qc7
seemed OK, but the move I chose looked easier to play.
19.cxb3
Rc8
20.Qd2
Qb6
21.Bd5
e6
22.Bxc6
Probably more testing was 22.Be4
Qxb3
23.Qxd6
h6
but Black still seems to be on top.
22...Rxc6
23.b4
Rfc8
24.Rad1
After a long thought Seth played this totally unexpected move. I assume he just didn't want to subject himself to defending thepositionafter 24.Ra3
Rc4
25.bxa5
Qc5
24...d5
I really didn't spend much time on this natural-looking move. 24...Rxc3
25.bxa5
looked OK for Black, but this looked better to me.
25.h3
I don't think White has time for this move. White may be trying to trap my bishop, but I will always have the c2 square. I was more concerned about 25.Nf3
Rxc3
26.bxa5
Qxa5
27.Rc1
when I wasn't sure how I was going to proceed. However, looking at it now it looks like 27...Bd3
28.Rfe1
Qc5
is a simple enough plan to keep the edge.
25...Rxc3
26.bxa5
Qxa5
27.Qd4
Qd8
This move is fine, but I missed that 27...h6
28.Nf3
Bxh3
was possible.
28.Qh4
h5
29.Rd4
e5
30.Rb4
R8c4
31.Rxc4
Rxc4
32.Qg3
Rxa4
Here again there is a cute trick against the knight that I missed. After 32...h4
33.Qe3
e4!
traps the knight with f6 to follow.
33.Rd1
f6
34.Qb3
Ra5
35.Nf3
Kg7
This move is too cautious. I should have played 35...Qc7
to seize the c-file and cover the 7th rank.
36.Rc1
Ra7
37.Nh4
Be6
38.Rc6
Bf7
39.Qg3
Qd7
40.Rd6
Qc8
41.Kh2
Ra1
with the idea of Qc1 and a mating attack.
42.Qf3
Be6
43.Qb3
g5
44.Qb6
gxh4
A bad move. Seth showed me right after the game that 44...Qc1
won on the spot.
45.Rc6
I missed this zwischenzug. Now I have to find a series of best moves to hold the win.
45...Rb1
46.Qa7+
Rb7
47.Qa6
Rc7
48.Rxe6
Qxa6
49.Rxa6
Rd7
Black manages to win this endgame (although in the next round I found out against Atulya Shetty that being two pawns up in a rook ending is not necessarily an easy win for me!)
50.Kg1
d4
51.Kf1
Kg6
52.Ke2
Kf5
53.Ra8
d3+
54.Kd2
e4
55.Rh8
Kg6
56.Re8
f5
57.Rf8
Rf7
58.Rd8
Rg7
59.Ke3
Kf7
60.Kf4
Ke7
61.Ra8
d2
62.Ra1
Ke6
63.Rd1
Rd7
64.Ke3
Ke5
65.f4+
Ke6
66.Kf2
Rd3
67.Kf1
Kd5
68.Ke2
Kd4
69.Kf2
Kc3
70.Kf1
Kc2
71.Ke2
Re3+
0-1