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D02 Queen's Pawn Game: London System 3... e6 4. e3 Be7 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. c4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nbd7 9. Nf3 White already does need to be alert and not fall for something like ... 9. Nc3? e5 10. Bg3 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 dxe3 13. fxe3 Qb6...and despite whites best efforts will be well behind having lost a piece 9... Nc5 10. Be2 b6 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. cxd5 exd5 I assumed he would play.... 13. Nd4 Nce4 14. Rc1 Nxc3 15. Rxc3 Rc8 16. Qc2 Rxc3 17. Qxc3 Qd7 18. f3?! Apparently this is not the best move but I didnt want his knight getting into e4... More active would be something like ... 18. Bb5 Qc8. 18... Rc8 19. Qd2 h6 20. Rc1 Bc5 21. Nb3 I also considered ... 21. Bd3 Qe7 22. Nf5 Qd8 23. Rd1.... which may be better than what was played... 21... Kf8?! (0.29 ? 0.88) Inaccuracy. Nh5 was best. 21... Nh5 22. Be5 Qe7 23. Bd4 Rc6 24. Bb5 Bb4 25. Bc3 Bxc3 26. Rxc3 Rxc3 27. Qxc3 g6 28. Nd4. Attempting to attack with the idea of 24. Qxa7 ... Hadnt seen this possibility and it looks good to me. So I am forced to retreat and defend my e3 pawn ... The engine suggests ... 24. Qxa7 g5 25. Bd6..the crutial counter I failed to spot!!.... 25... Qxd6 26. Qxb7 Rb8 27. Qa6 Qe5 28. Qa3 Rxb2 29. Rxc5...Theres no way I could have managed all those without slipping up somewhere. ...Earlier in the game I'd been well ahead on time but in the last half dozen moves Maurice had been flying out the moves. Neither of us had much time left but now I was in worse time trouble than him... 25... h5 Maurice offered me a draw. I considered for half a minute and could see no clear way to attack or try for a win within the time left, so I accepted and shook his hand. Maurice smiled and said ....At least I have something on the board now... In fairness it was well played by Maurice and an enjoyable game. 1/2-1/2 Annotator(s): Dermot Earls. Source(s): Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. Event information: Tournament report. |
