1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. e5 Nc6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 Nh6 8. Qb3 e6 9. Nf3 Nf5 10. Bb5 O-O 11. O-O Na5 12. Qc2 Bd7 13. Bg5 f6 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Bxf6 Rxf6 16. Bd3 Nc6 17. Bxf5 Rxf5 18. Qd2 Qf6 19. Rad1

In this French-type position from Stephen Brady v Mark Orr in round 3, Black seems to have a promising position. What should be play?

He could continue with 19... Rf8 with the idea of sacrificing the exchange on f3 and taking on d4 if given the opportunity. White is tied to the defence of d4 and lacks an active plan. However the move he plays allows White to gain the initiative with an unexpected manoeuvre:

19... g5

[RR 19... Rf8=.]

20. Ne2! g4

[RR Better 20... Be8.]

21. Ne1 Ne7 22. Ng3 Bb5?

22... Rg5 [RR . After the move played, White is winning.]

23. Nxf5 Nxf5 24. Nd3 Rf8 25. Rfe1 Bxd3 26. Qxd3 Nh4 27. Qg3 h5 28. Re5 Nf5 29. Qf4 Qg6 30. Rde1 Ng7 31. Qd2 Rc8 32. Rc1 Rxc1+ 33. Qxc1 Qd3 34. Qc3 Qb1+ 35. Re1 Qxa2 36. Qc8+ Kh7 37. Qxb7 a5 38. g3 Kg6 39. Qb5 Kf6 40. Qe2 Kg6 41. h3 gxh3 42. Kh2 Qb3 43. Kxh3 a4 44. Ra1 Kf7 45. Kg2 Qb4 46. Qf3+ Kg8 47. Qc3 Qb5 48. Qc8+ Kf7 49. Qc2 h4 50. Rxa4 h3+ 51. Kxh3 Qf1+ 52. Kh2 Nf5 53. Qc7+ Kg6 54. Qf4 Qd1 55. Ra8

1-0

Annotator(s): Anon., Irish Chess Journal, vol. 11, no. 4, September-October 1999, p. 15 (excerpted here).

Reference(s): Tournament report.