1. d4 d6 2. e4 e5 3. Nf3 exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f3 Bg7 7. Be3 Nc6 8. Bc4 O-O 9. Qd2 Nxd4 10. Bxd4 a6 11. O-O-O b5 12. Bd5 Rb8 13. Ba7 b4 14. Bxb8 bxc3 15. bxc3 Bd7 16. Ba7 c5

The critical position.

17. e5?

17. Bb3! The refutation to Black's enterprising sacrifice 17... c4 (only move). Black's best shot, now 18. Bxc4 Qc7 is very promising for Black, capturing the d-pawn is also bad since Black has a beautiful winning line, however there is a third possibility ... .

17... Qc7 18. Qxd6 Qxa7 19. e5 Bh6+ 20. Kb2 c4 21. Bxc4! Rb8+ 22. Bb3.

17... Qa5 18. Qxd6 Qxc3 19. e5.

(After 17. Bb3 c4) 18. Qxd6:

A) 18. Qxd6? cxb3 19. cxb3 Qa5! 20. Bd4 (20. Kb2 Nxe4!) [RR 20. Kb1!, so this is the strongest line for White after all] 20... Qxa2! (fortunately for Black - this works!) 21. Bxf6 Bh6+ 22. f4 Be6! 23. Qd2 [RR ?; 23. c4! Qxb3 24. Kd2 Bxc4 25. Rb1=, e.g., 25... Bxf4+ 26. Qxf4 Rd8+ 27. Kc1 Qa3+ 28. Bb2 Qc5 29. Bc3.] 23... Bxf4!! 24. Qxf4 Bxb3.

B) 18. Bxc4? Qc7 19. Bd4 [RR ?; 19. Qd4= e.g., 19... Ne8 20. Bb6 Bxd4 21. Bxc7 Be3+ 22. Kb2 Nxc7 23. Rxd6.] 19... Qxc4 20. Kb2 Rb8+ 21. Ka1 Be6.

C) 18. Kb2! (positional chess!) 18... cxb3 19. cxb3 Qc7 20. Bd4 [RR ] material stands R+2Ps v B+N, however the initative is now with White, a possible continuation is 20... Re8 21. g4 Be6 22. g5 Nd7 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Qd4+ Kg8 25. h4.

17... Nxd5 18. Qxd5 Bxe5 19. Bxc5

[RR ?? The losing move. 19. Rhe1.]

19... Qg5+!

The move I missed, White has no defence to Black's various threats.

20. Kb2 Be6 21. f4

21. h4 Qf6.

21... Qxf4 22. Qd2 Rb8+ 23. Kc1

23. Ka3 Qc4.

23... dxc5

0-1

Annotator(s): Joe Ryan, Irish Chess Journal, vol. 8, issue 4, August-September 1996 p. 18.

Event information: Tournament report.

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