1. Nf3 g6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e3!

This move order favours White.

4... Nf6 5. d4 O-O 6. d5 d6 7. Bd3

Controlling rather than occupying e4.

7... e6 8. h3 exd5 9. cxd5 Re8 10. O-O a6?!

10... Na6.

11. a4 Nbd7 12. Re1 Ra7?!

Better 12... Rb8 or 12... Ne5.

13. e4 b6 14. Bf4 Ne5 15. Nxe5 dxe5 16. Bg5 Qd6 17. Nb1 h6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Na3 Bd7 20. Qe2 Rea8 21. Nc2 Bf8 22. Ra2 Bd6 23. Rea1 Kg7 24. Ne3 Bb8 25. Rc1 Qe7 26. b3 Bc7 27. Rac2 a5

Stopping a5 but accepting a permanent, probably losing, strategic disadvantage.

28. Bb5 Qd8 29. Bxd7 Qxd7 30. Rd1 Bd6 31. Nc4 Qc7 32. Na3 Qd7 33. Qb5 Qxb5 34. Nxb5 Rd7 35. Kf1 Kf6 36. Ke2 Ke7 37. Kd3 Rdd8 38. Kc4 f5 39. f3 Rd7 40. Re2 f4 41. Rg1 Rf8 42. h4 Rf6 43. Rh1 Kf7 44. Rh3 Kg7 45. Re1 Kf7 46. Rg1 Kg7 47. Nc3 Rc7 48. Nd1 Be7 49. Nb2 Kf7 50. Rc1 Rb7 51. Kb5 Bd6 52. Nc4 Rb8

Kc6! winning was threatened.

53. Rg1 Bc7 54. Rd1 Ke7 55. d6+! Bxd6 56. Rd5 Re6 57. Rh1 Bc7 58. Rhd1 Rd8 59. Rxd8 Bxd8 60. Rd5 Bc7 61. Ka6 Kf6 62. Kb7 Re7 63. Kc6 Ke6 64. Na3 Bb8 65. Nb5 Re8 66. Kxb6 g5 67. hxg5 hxg5 68. Kb7 g4 69. Rxc5 gxf3 70. gxf3 Kd7 71. Rd5+ Ke6 72. Kb6 Rc8 73. Rc5 Ba7+!?

A shot but Black's position is beyond saving.

74. Nxa7 Rb8+ 75. Kxa5 Rxb3 76. Nb5 Rxf3 77. Rc1 Rb3 78. Rc6+ Kd7 79. Rc3 Rb2 80. Kb6 Rb4 81. a5 Rxe4 82. a6 Ra4 83. Ra3 Rc4 84. a7 Rc8 85. Rd3+

Simpler was 85. a8=Q.

85... Ke6 86. Kb7 Rf8 87. Nd6 f3 88. Ne4 Rf7+ 89. Kb6 Rf8 90. Nf2 Ke7 91. Rxf3 Rg8 92. Ra3

1-0

Annotator(s): John Hurley, Sunday Tribune, August 4, 1996 p. 64 (M30).

Event information: Tournament report.

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