1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 e6

With the d5 opening, I prefer to not meet the d-pawn head on but rather take a slightly more conservative approach with the Nimzo-Indian.

3. e3 d5 4. Nd2 Bd6

White declines my offer to trade bishops and retreats. With this response I did not want to hastily take the bishop on g3 myself even if that doubled white's pawns. This is because I was weary of hxg3 after Bxg3, opening up a file for white's rook which becomes active so early in the opening game, as they can still castle queenside. And also for the fact that I had played myself into castling kingside.

5. Bg3 O-O

5... Bxg3 6. hxg3 white's rook becomes active.

6. Bd3 c5

Now it was time to create some tension

7. c3 Nc6 8. Ne2 b6?!

8... e5.

9. Bh4 Be7 10. c4??

Discussion after the game, white did mention they immediately realised this blunder of the loss of their pawn.

10... dxc4 11. Nxc4 cxd4 12. Bxf6 Bxf6

12... Bb4+ 13. Nd2 Qxf6 this is an interesting line I missed.

13. Be4 Bb7

13... Ba6 14. Bxc6 Bxc4 15. Bxa8 Qxa8 16. O-O dxe3 17. fxe3 Bxb2 18. Rb1 Be5 19. Rc1 b5 20. Qc2 at the time of play, I calculated this line up to 15... Qxa8, but didnt think it was worth losing my rook. But the Bishop pair look way more active here with white's scattered pawns.

14. O-O dxe3 15. Nd6 exf2+

I felt black wanted me to take this pawn, so they could free their rook.. but the lure of another free pawn was too much and I felt for it.

16. Rxf2 Qe7

whites light squared bishop was beginning to give me trouble in its well placed position. Even with two pawns up, the threat of Rxf6 sacrifice or Qd2 was frightening. White was giving me a lot to think about.

17. Nxb7 Qxb7 18. Qc2 Rac8 19. Bxh7+ Kh8 20. Be4

at this point the only option was to threaten whites queen and bait a queen exchange as I was feeling some discomfort with this position.

20... Nd4

I had the option of Nd4 or Nb4. I rationalised the Nd4 had the protection of the bishop, and couldnt look past that while completely missing white's move that followed here.

20... Nb4 This would have kept my advantage and blocked Qd3.

21. Qd3 Nxe2+ 22. Rxe2 Rfd8

and this mistake sealed my fate, and I gave away a game I seemingly had some advantage. Credit to Noel who capitalised on my critical mistakes and got the win.

23. Qh3+

1-0

Annotator(s): Vladimir Mabhena.

Source(s): Vladimir Mabhena, via Craig DuBose.

Event information: Tournament report.