|
>
Notes by Ian George
A fluctuating struggle from the last round of the Emigrant.
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nf6 4.0-0 Nxe4 5.Re1 Nd6 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.Nxe5 Be7 8.d4 0-0 9.Nd2 Bg5
9...f6 10.Nd3 Re8 is better. When the bishop is attacked he must either move it again or exchange it, in the latter case weakening the defence of his king.
10.Ndf3 Bxc1 11.Qxc1 Qf6 12.c4 h6
The purpose of this move is not clear. 12...Re8 is better.
This weakening of the pawn structure can't be a good idea. 14...b6 15.Qa4 c5 16.dxc5 bxc5 17.Qa5 Bb7 18.b3+/-
No need to hurry. 15.Rad1 b6 16.Qa4+/-
15...Ne8 16.Qa5 g4 17.Nd2 Rxd4 18.Ne4 Qd8 19.Qxd8 Rxd8 20.Rad1 Bf5 21.Ng3 Be6 22.b3 Nf6 23.Kf1 a5 24.Ne2
24.a4 is worth considering in order to prevent black from increasing the activity of the black rook with ...a4.
25.Nd4!? controlling the f5 square.
White is unnecessarily afraid of creating pawn weaknesses on the Q-side but this allows black to build up more pressure. 26.Rxd8+ Rxd8 27.bxa4 Ra8 28.Ne2 Rxa4 29.Nc3 Ra5 30.Re3 should hold.
The knight is now trapped. 27.Nc1 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 Nc3-/+
28.g4 Bh7 29.Re3 (29.Nf4 f2 30.Rxd8+ Rxd8 31.Ra1 a3-+) 29...axb3 30.axb3 Ra2
30...Nxa2 31.Rxa2 Bxd3+ 32.Kf2-/+
31...Ra2 32.Rxa2 Nxa2 33.Ra1 Bxd3+ 34.Nxd3 Rxd3 35.Rxa2 Rxf3+ 36.Ke2 Rxb3-+
32.Rxc3 fxe5 33.Ke2= e4 34.fxe4 Bxe4 35.Nc5 Rxd2+ 36.Kxd2 Ra2+ 37.Ke3 Bh1 38.h3 b5 39.cxb5 cxb5 40.Ne6+ Ke7 41.Nd4 b4 42.Rc4 Rh2 43.h4 Rh3+ 44.Kf2 Kd7 45.Rxb4 Rxh4 46.Kg3
½-½