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This game promised to be another interesting struggle. Thierry plays for the Drogheda Club and as it happens Drumlish, my club played Drogheda at home late January this year. I didnt play Thierry but Frank Pentony on that occasion on a lower board. So I was looking forward to this game but knew he was good... D02 Queen's Pawn Game: London System 3... c5! ... probably the best move but e6 quite ok too..I simply wanted to take him out of his comfort zone. Turns out I took both of us out of our comfort zone. I was afraid of Nb5 but as the 2nd variation below shows it wasnt neccessary.. Should have just broken up the centre something like..... 5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nd5 7. Qd2 e6 8. Rd1 Nxf4 9. Qxf4 Qd6 10. Qxd6.... and the game is pretty even really... 5... cxd4 6. Nb5 Qa5+...So a6 wasnt neccessary e6 is considered best and perfectly playable but I wanted to get my bishop out beyond my pawns.. 7... e6. 8. Ne5 e6 9. Nxc4 Bxc5 10. Bd6 Nbd7 ..Thierry was probably hoping for .... 10... Bxd6 11. Nxd6+ Ke7 12. Nxb7.... when he's definately ahead... 11. Bxc5 Nxc5 12. Nb6 Rd8 13. Rxd8+ Kxd8 14. g3 Kc7 15. Nc4 Nfe4 16. Bg2 Nxc3 17. bxc3 Be4 18. O-O Bxg2 19. Kxg2 f6 Rd8 was best. I was afraid of his knight coming into e5 attacking f7 and so on. But while he would be doing that I could be causing more damage to his position, something like... 19... Rd8 20. Ne5 Rd2 21. Nxf7 Rxa2 22. Ng5 h6 23. Nf3 Rxe2 24. Nd4 Rb2. 20. f3 Rd8 21. Kf2 b5 22. Ne3 Rd2 23. Ra1 Nd3+?! Na4 was best. I couldn't quite properly work out in my mind a clear win with either of the 2 possibilities and played a move which I knew didnt win but I wanted to see what he would do. Instead I drifted into an inferior position and was lucky to live to tell the tale. 23... Na4 24. f4 Nxc3 25. Rc1 b4 26. a3 a5 27. axb4 axb4 28. Nc2 Rxe2+ 29. Kf3 Na2 30. Kxe2 Nxc1+ 31. Kd2 Na2 32. Kd3 Kd6...Black is well ahead.. 23... Na4 24. c4?? Nc3 25. cxb5 Rxe2+ 26. Kf1 Rxe3....even worse for white... Wrong idea of trying to get to c4. Nc5 was best. Doesnt seem to achieve much if a draw is not acceptable... 25... Rb2. Blunder. Kc6 was best. The game had got complicated and finding the right way was going to be difficult. Instead I found about the worst possible move I could make. So I get to c4 after all! ...I simply missed this... 28... e5 ...to stop a further check on d4 or penetration to my king side pawns.. 29. Rxc4+ Kb6 30. Rb4+ Kc5 31. Ra4 Kb5 32. Ra3? (1.58 ? 0.43) Mistake. Rb4+ was best. 32. Rb4+ Kc5 33. Rb8 a5 34. Rc8+ Kb5 35. c4+ Kb4 36. c5 Kb5 37. h4 e4 38. c6 Re7. I expected Rb3+ where I can still hold on if I find the right moves... 33. Rb3+ Kc4 34. h4 h5 35. Kf2 Ra7 36. Rb6 Kxc3 37. a4 Kc4 38. Ke3. 33... a4 I felt a lot happier now and the engine agrees with me!... It's quite funny but his Rook is trapped in a self made cage... 34. Ke2 Ka5 35. h3 Kb5 36. Ke1 c4+ was best if he wants to go for a win as I'd still have to be careful and find the correct moves...There are certainly ways for Black to lose for example c4+ and if Black takes at the wrong time its game over then. But I'll leave that for others to analyse. That's under ....might have been... 36. c4+ Kb4 37. Rd3 Rb7 38. Kd2 Kxc4 39. Rc3+ Kd5 40. e4+ Kd4 41. Rd3+ Kc5 42. Rc3+. 36... Ka5 37. Ke2 Kb5 38. Ke1 Ka5 39. Ke2 Kb5 40. Ke1 The game is a draw. We both had chances and we both made mistakes. So a fair result I think. The Tournament is over now and in a week or so I'll be recovered. Depression will set in. Do I REALLY have to wait for a whole year before the next Sligo Tournament. Is there anyone or any way that someone could convince Craig to run a separate tournament later on in the year. We want more!! 1/2-1/2 Annotator(s): Dermot Earls. Source(s): Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. Event information: Tournament report. |
