1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Nxd4 exd4 5. O-O I don't know this line beyond here. I asume John knows the openings better than me, but he probably doesn't know this either. After the match he told me we had follwed the book for 9 moves. What I want to know is where is this book that people keep talking about?
5... a6 6. Bc4 d6 7. d3 Nf6 8. Nd2 Be7 9. Nf3 c5 This is the kind of setup I usually get with this line. It isn't brilliant, but seems playable.
10. Bf4 O-O I don't like castling the same side as my opponent, but it seems sensible in this case.
11. c3 I don't mind swapping that pawn, but let's cause some aggro first.
11... b5 12. Bb3 dxc3 13. bxc3 Bb7 14. Re1 Re8 15. a4 Qb6 I liked that move. Connect rooks, protect pawn and set up pin all in one go.
16. Qe2 h6 17. Qd2 This looks dangerous. e.g. Bxh6 gxh, Qxh6 followed by Ng5
17... d5 18. e5 Nh7 19. d4 c4 Phew. I think I've seen off his threats for now. The d5 move was partly to allow Q to protect h6.
20. Bc2 g5 21. Bg3 My defence seems to be working well.
21... Qe6 This is mainly to blockade the e pawn, and also bring my Q back into the game.
22. h4 Qg4 23. Re2 There are some complicated tactics around g5. I think this should save everything.
23... Bf8 24. Bxh7+ Kxh7 25. hxg5 A couple of moves ago I should have played Bd8, not f8. This error ultimetely decides the game, though I'm not dead yet.
25... Re6 26. gxh6 Bxh6 27. Qc2+ Kg7 28. axb5 axb5 29. Rxa8 Bxa8 30. Qa2 Bc6 This was the time control. My opponent had use all 75 minutes. I had used 40.
31. Qc2 Rg6 Threat Bf4
32. Nh4 Rg5 Adjournment. Opponent sealed. I was worried about e6. If ....fxe then Nf3 Rh4 and then Ne5
33. Re3 Bd7 Bring last piece into play, plus it helps with some of the tactics.
34. Re1 b4 35. cxb4 Qxd4 All I could see was a free piece. i.e. Rxg3
36. Nf3 Qd3 37. Qxd3 cxd3 All hopes on this pawn now.
38. Nxg5 Bxg5 39. f4 That was his saving move. I'm probably lost now. I do still have hopes of Ba4 and Bxb4 and d2, but may not have time.
39... Be7 40. Rd1 Bb5 41. Be1 Kg6 42. Bd2 In hindsight, that was the killer.
42... Bh4 43. Kh2 Kf5 44. g3 Be7 45. Re1 d4 46. Kh3 Bd7 47. g4+ This is crucial. Kg6 or Ke6? I think Kg6 may give me some chance of holding for a while but is ultimately lost. So try the other one.
47... Ke6 48. f5+ Kd5 49. Kg3 f6 50. e6 Bd6+ 51. Kf3 Bc6 52. Rb1 Ke5+ I'm trying to get my king round to support my passed pawns.
53. Kf2 Ke4 54. b5 Bb7 55. e7 Resigns because .....Bxe7, Re1 ch. Be8 would have held on a bit longer.
1-0
