1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5

I don't usually play this but I felt that a change of opening might inspire me to play more carefully.

4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. a3 c4 7. Nbd2 f6

I think the standard 7... Na5 is best here.

8. Be2 fxe5 9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Bc5 11. O-O Ne7 12. b4 cxb3 13. Nxb3 O-O 14. Nxc5 Qxc5

Things don't look so bad for Black at first sight. However the bishop pair and kingside majority are potent enough. The weak c-pawn can be liquidated easily enough in most positions that arise.

15. Qd3!

An accurate move as the natural 15. Qd4 is well met by 15... Qc7 planning ... Nc6 or ... Nf5.

15... Ng6 16. Be3 Qa5 17. f4 Bd7 18. g3 Rac8 19. Bd4 a6 20. a4 Ne7 21. g4 Nc6 22. Be3 g5?!

In keeping with Tom's style. Best was 22... Ne7 when White would have to find some way to keep the struggle going apart fom 23. Bd4 Nc6 24. Be3 Ne7 etc.

Possibly (22... Ne7) 23. Bd4 Nc6 24. Ra3!? However full credit to Tom for trying to spice things up. Also of course a win would put him in with a chance of sharing first place.

23. Rab1 gxf4 24. Bxf4

Not 24. Rxb7 when there was a chance Black might bail out with 24... Nxe5 25. Qd4 Nc6 26. Qd3 Ne5 etc.

24... Be8 25. Rxb7 Bg6 26. Qe3 Nd8 27. Rb4

Here 27. Rg7+ looks like a shot but after 27... Kh8 White would be regretting it.

27... Qc5 28. Qxc5 Rxc5 29. Bd2

The question was which pawn to keep. The pawn on e5 only gets in the way.

29... Nc6 30. Rxf8+ Kxf8 31. Rb6 a5

Trying to prevent White creating a passed pawn, but overlooking the strength of the response.

32. Rb5!

White now wins material by force. The power of the two bishops in the endgame becomes readily apparent.

32... Rxb5 33. axb5 Nxe5 34. b6 Nd7 35. b7 e5 36. Be3 d4 37. cxd4 Be4 38. d5! Bxd5 39. Bb5 Bxb7 40. Bxd7 Bf3 41. Kf2 Bd1 42. Kg3 a4 43. Bf5 Kg7 44. Bc5 h6 45. h4 Bb3 46. Be4 Be6 47. Bd6 Kf6 48. h5 Bf7 49. Kh4

1-0

Annotator(s): Colm Daly, Irish Chess Journal, vol. 6, no. 5, October 1994, pp. 21-22.

Event information: Tournament report.