1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Bc5 5. Nb3 Bb6 6. Nc3 Ne7 7. Bg5 O-O 8. f4 f6 9. Bh4 Nbc6 10. Qd2 d5 11. exd5 exd5 12. O-O-O Nf5

“A bit hasty; 12... Be6 is better.”

13. Bf2 d4 14. Na4 Ne3 15. Nxb6 Qxb6 16. Re1 Nxf1 17. Rhxf1 Rd8 18. h3

“If 18. Rd1, 18... Bg4.”

18... Qa6 19. Kb1 Qa4 20. Qd3 Kh8 21. Qe4 h6 22. Qg6?

“Overlooking Black's idea.”

22... d3! 23. Re8+

[RR The losing move, according to engines. 23. cxd3=.]

23... Rxe8 24. Qxe8+ Kh7 25. cxd3

“ Apparently White has prevented 25... Nb4 due to the pin, and he menaces 26. Qe4+.”

25... Bf5! 26. Qxa8

“If 26. Qe2 (26. Qe3 isn't much better) 26... Nb4 is very strong. One sample line: 27. Nc1 Bxd3+! 28. Nxd3 Qxa2+ 29. Kc1 Qc4+ regaining the piece with a pawn ahead (30. Kd2? Qc2+ 31. Ke3 Re8+).”

26... Bxd3+ 27. Ka1

“If 27. Kc1, 27... Qc4+ 28. Kd2 Qc2+ 29. Ke3 Qe2#.”

27... Nb4!

“There is no defence. If (27... Nb4) 28. Qxa7, 28... Nc2+ 29. Kb1 Ne3+ and Qxa7. [RR Or 29... Nd4+ 30. Kc1 Qc4+ and mate in three more moves.]

The prettiest is (27... Nb4) 28. Nc1 Nc2+ 29. Kb1 Na3+ 30. Ka1 Qc2 31. Nxd3 Qb1+! 32. Rxb1 Nc2#.

White takes the easy way out.”

28. a3 Qxb3 29. axb4 Qa4#

0-1

Annotator(s): John Griffin (see Source).

Source(s): CHESS, vol. 45, October 1980, pp. 294-5 (John Griffin).

Event information: Tournament report.