In many ways this was my best game of the tournament, even though I lost. It was entertaining and lots of lessons learnt from it, in various stages of the game. It also was a further validation of my anti Tarrach and anti Winawer French Defence.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4

..Theory suggests this is not the best move as it abandons the centre. However if it's good enough for Akiba Kiwelowicz Rubinstein (1 December 1880 to 14 March 1961), considered to be one of the greatest players never to have become World Chess Champion, then it's good enough for me.

4. Nxe4 Nd7

C10 French Defense: Rubinstein Variation, Blackburne Defense. I have just avoided any prepared lines of the Tarrach or Winawar french Defence. Game on.

5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bd3 Nxe4 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bd3 c5!

We can have expert opinion of possibly best or better moves by either colour but essentially for average club players these are typically good move by both sides and the main thing is Black has achieved equality and it's just a game now.

11. dxc5 Qxc5 12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Re5 Qb6 15. Rb1 Bc6 16. Qc1?!

This weird move confused me. Had he something up his slieve that I couldnt spot ?

I expected something like.... 16. Qd2 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rfd8 18. Qe3 Qd6 19. Qg5 Qd4.

16... Rfd8?!

I really should have taken the bishop and I would have a definate advantage then...

16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rfd8 18. Qe3 Qd6 19. Re1 b6 20. Qg5 h6 21. Qg3 Qb4 22. Rb1 Rac8 23. a3 Qd4 24. f4 Nd5 25. Re4 Qf6 26. c3 Ne7 27. Re5 Rd7....White -2

17. Qf4 Rd5 18. Rxd5 Bxd5 19. Ng5?

Surely this attack is a bit premature and too optimistic for white..

19... h6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxa2 22. Rd1 Rd8?!

I really should have gone for it but with his bishop covering h7 and afraid his Rook might figure a way to get onto my back rank I chickened out. But it is complicated Play might proceed like ...... 22... Qxb2 23. h3 f5 24. Bf3 Rc8 25. Rd7 Rxc2 26. Qg3 Kh7 27. Bh5 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qg5 29. Rxb7 a5 30. Ra7 Bd5 31. Bf7 Black +3.7

23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. h4 Bd5 25. Bxd5 exd5!?

..Complicated things really

25... Qxd5! Much better and simpler for Black.. 26. Qb8+ Kh7 27. Qxa7 Qd1+ 28. Kh2 Qxc2 29. Qxb7 Qxf2 30. Qe4+.

26. Qd4 b6

..a simple move I missed. Once again in time trouble. 26... Qa5!! .

27. c4 Qd6

Maybe ... 27... Qf6 28. Qxd5 Qxb2 29. Qa8+ Kh7 30. Qxa7 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. Kg1 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qxc4 34. Qxb6.

28. cxd5 Kf8

28... g6.

29. f4?

Lets me back into the game ..

29... Qc5 30. Qxc5+ bxc5 31. Kf2 Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Ke4 a5

A bad move. Black is only drawing now.

Had I instead played... 33... h5!! .. This blocks off his g pawn and allows me to proceed with my plan... 34. g3 a6 35. Kf5 Kxd5 36. Kg5 a5 37. Kxh5 a4 38. Kg5 c4 39. f5 a3 40. bxa3 Wins easily

33... g6 34. g4 f6 35. f5 g5 36. h5 a6 37. b3 a5 38. Kd3 Kxd5 39. Kc3 Ke5 40. Kc4 Kf4 41. Kd5 c4 42. Kxc4 Kxg4 43. Kb5 Kxf5..also wins

34. g4 a4 35. g5??

.. h5 was best... With correct play, black wins easily...

White should have tried.... 35. h5 f6 36. f5 Kc7 37. Kd3 Kd7 38. Kc4 Kd6 39. Kb5 Kxd5 40. Kxa4 Ke5 41. Kb5 Kd6.

35... h5??

A bad blunder. hxg5 was best.

35... hxg5 36. fxg5 g6 37. Kd3 Kxd5 38. Kc3 Kd6 39. Kc4 Kc6 40. Kd3 Kb5 41. Ke4 c4 42. Ke5....and black wins easily.....

36. f5 g6??

Blunder. f6 or Ke7 was best and still draws

36... f6 37. g6 Ke7 38. Kd3 Kd7 39. Ke3 Kc7 40. Kd3.

37. f6 c4

Black was in Zugswang...game is lost totally now

38. Kd4 c3 39. Kxc3 Kxd5 40. Kb4 Kc6?!

Ke5 was best but still totally lost

40... Ke5 41. Kxa4 Kf5 42. b4 Kg4 43. b5 Kxh4 44. b6 Kxg5 45. b7 Kxf6 46. b8=Q Kf5 47. Qf8.

41. Kxa4 Kb6 42. Kb4

White wins easily as he get to my pawns as I'm stopping his b pawn from Queening. Interesting game with lots of mistakes and lots to study and learn from.

1-0

Annotator(s): Dermot Earls.

Source(s): Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose.

Event information: Tournament report.