[Event "ICCF - EU/H/1249"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Almarza-Mato, Carlos"]
[Black "Enderlein, S.."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D85"]
[Annotator "Fritz5"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 c5 7. Rb1  7...
Bg7 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Be3  (9. Be2 cxd4 10. cxd4 Qa5+ 11. Bd2 Qxa2 12. O-O Bg4
13. Be3 Nc6 14. Rxb7 Rab8 15. Rxb8 Rxb8 16. h3 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 e6 18. d5 Ne5 19.
Bg5 h6 20. Be7 Rb2 21. d6 Rd2 22. Qb1 Qa4 23. Qb8+ Kh7 24. Qc7 Qd4 25. Bg4 Kg8
26. Qc8+ Kh7 27. Qc7 Kg8 28. Qc8+ Kh7 29. Qc7 {
1/2-1/2 Wells,P-Rowson,J/Agency Int, London ENG 1998}) 9... Qa5 10. Qd2 cxd4
11. cxd4 Qxd2+ 12. Kxd2 {(In this line White has to accept some risks. The
king can be an attacking piece (Steinitz). The idea is to leave the King on
the Queen side to help in the control of Black's Pawns.)} 12... Rd8 13. d5 $1 {
(The first step of White's strategical plan: the creation of a pawn wedge.)}
13... Nc6 {(Taking advantage of the pin.)} 14. Bc5 e6 15. d6 {
(The second step.)} 15... b6 {(What about 15...e5? A good plan would be then
16.Bc4 with the idea of Ng5 or even Kc2 and Rd1. Black chose a dificult plan.)}
16. Ba3 Bd7 17. Ba6 Ne5 $1 {
(threatening 18...Nxf3 and a possible e5 isolating White's advanced pawn.)} 18.
Nd4 Nc4+  (18... Ng4 19. Nf3 Bc8 20. Bc4 Bb7 21. Ke1 Bxe4 22. Rd1 Rac8 $19)
19. Bxc4 $1 Bxd4 20. f4 Bc6 {(In positional games one has to decide among
plans which are far more clear. Intuition can play an important role. Black
decided to attack White's pawn, instead of basing his plans on a possible ...
e5.)} 21. e5 $1 {(A positional sacrifice. White decided that the pawn
configuration gives him a clear strategical advantage. But for now accurate
play is needed.)} (21. Kd3 Bc5 22. Bxc5 bxc5 23. e5 Bxg2 24. Rhd1 Bf3 25. Rd2
Rab8 $11) 21... Bxg2 22. Rhc1 Be4 23. Bd3 Bd5 24. Rc2 f6 25. Bb2 $3 {(The secon
d positional sacrifice based upon the following considerations:  a) White's
King can help to stop Black's pawns on the Queen side.  b) White must change
the dark squared Bishop's because his central pawns are on dark squares and
dark is the promotion square of White's Q-pawn.  c) A pair of Rooks must be
changed to tie Black down to his back rank. Then White will control the c-file
too.)  d) A fight for conjugated squares between the remaining Bishops will
appear.)} 25... Bxa2 26. Ra1 Bxb2 27. Rxb2 $1 {
(Following the established plan of battle.)} 27... Bd5 28. Rc1 Rdc8 29. Ba6
Rxc1 30. Kxc1 Rd8 31. Rc2 Bb3  (31... fxe5 32. fxe5 g5 33. Rc7 h5 34. Rxa7
Rf8 35. d7 (35. Rd7 Ra8 $11) 35... Rd8 $11) 32. Rc7 ({
} 32. Rc8 Rxc8+ 33.
Bxc8 Ba4 34. Bxe6+ Kf8 35. d7 Bxd7 36. Bxd7 Ke7 $16) 32... Ba4 (32... h5 $11)
33. Bc8 (33. Bc4 fxe5 34. Bxe6+ Kh8 35. fxe5 a5 36. Bd5 b5 37. Kb2 b4 $14)
33... Bb3 {(In connection with 32...Ba4 and 33...Bb3 and with the benefit of
hindsight I suppose black never knew how to play this position. Nethertheless
i suppose that in case of 31...fxe5 32.fxe5 g5 33.Rc7 h5 34.Rxa7 Rf8 the
correct plan would be 35.Re7! Black has many difficulties. White's Bishop
controls c8 and f1. black cannot attempt to bring hir king to e8 because White
would play Bb5 and Rh7 posing new threats. the position is very complicated
but White managed to show that those central pawns were very dangerous for
black. In chess simply you have to choose, so committing yourself to the
consequences. Black took his decisions and lost. He was bold enough (credit
should be given to him) to decide and play accordingly. chess is a complicated
game and i have always found it very difficult to annotate my own games.)} 34.
Bb7 (34. Ba6 $11) 34... a5 (34... fxe5 35. fxe5 a5 36. Kb2 Bd1 37. Re7 Bg4 38.
d7 Kf8 39. Rxh7 $11) 35. Re7 (35. Rc8 Rxc8+ 36. Bxc8 Ba4 37. Bxe6+ Kf8 38. d7
Bxd7 39. Bxd7 Ke7 $16) 35... fxe5 36. fxe5 Rf8 37. Bc6 Bd5 (37... Rf2 38. d7
Rc2+ 39. Kd1 $18) 38. Bxd5 
1-0

[Event "WT/M/GT/368"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pachman, Otakar"]
[Black "Langerack, Dick"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Annotator "B.Milligan"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]

1. d4 h6 2. e4 d6 3. Nc3 a6 4. f4 b5 5. Nf3 Bb7 6. Bd3 {
(Mabe 6.a3 is more circumspect.)} 6... c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. b3 g5 {#(A typical
Basman move, fights for e5, clears the h-file and gets the Bishop to g7, here
with tempi on Ktc3.)} 9. fxg5 Bg7 10. Bb2 hxg5 11. Nxg5 Nd7 12. Qf3 Bf6 $5 {
(To forestall 0-0-0 and tell Ktg5 not to be too optimistic about f7.)} 13. Nd5
$5 Bxd5 14. exd5 Qa5+ {(That came in handy. the game already plays itself in
that there is no going back on heavy measures.)} 15. Kf1 (15. Ke2 c4 16. bxc4
bxc4 17. Bxc4 Rh4 18. d6 Rc8 19. Bxf7+ Kf8 {(and Black has Rxc2 and Qxg5.)})
15... Rh6 $1 16. d6 Rb8 {#(Now how on earth will White save the Ng5 or Bb2?)}
17. Bh7 (17. h4 $4 Bxg5) (17. Ne4 Bxb2) (17. Bxf6 Rxf6 18. Bf5 Nh6 19. g4 Ne5
20. Qf4 Nhxg4 {(Withe the idea 21...Rxf5 and 23...Ne3+. The answer is an
unbelievable six move sequence by the White Bishop all by itself! Watch this...
)}) 17... Bxg5 18. Bxg8 Rxd6 $1 19. Bxf7+ Kd8 20. Be8 $1 Bf6 (20... Kxe8 $2 21.
Qh5+ {(And ...Qxg5.)}) 21. Bxd7 Bxb2 22. Bg4 $3 {
(With the idea 22...Bxa1?? 23.Qf8+ +-. saving Rook AND Queen.)} 22... Rf6 {
(I really didn't (and Don't) see anything better.)} 23. Rd1+ Bd4 24. Bf5 Kc7 {
(Probably short of winning, but it semed logical to walk out of the pin, the
more so as} (24... e6 25. g4 exf5 26. c3 Kc7 (26... fxg4 $4 27. Qxf6+) 27. g5
$1 {seemed impossibly difficult too.)}) 25. Re1 {
(Also 25.g4 proves very tough. I really would like to see a run from Fritz5.)}
25... e6 $5 {(A very nasty trap in which White falls, he had to play 26.Qf4+
to take away d2 from the Black Queen, in that case I don't see a win for Black,
but he played...)} 26. Rxe6 $2 Rxe6 27. Bxe6 Qd2 $1 {(White is in terminal
trouble but still manages to squeeze an endgame out of it.)} 28. g3 Re8 29.
Qf7+ Kb6 30. h4 Ka5 $5 {#(Black could have won the Be6 by Qd1+ and Qe2+, and
maybe this would have been the quicker course, in retrospect, because White
drums up some last nasty moves.)} 31. c3 Re7 $1 (31... Rxe6 $4 32. Qc7+ Rb6 33.
cxd4) 32. b4+ Ka4 33. cxd4 {(Best try.)} 33... Rxf7+ 34. Bxf7 c4 35. h5 c3 36.
Bb3+ Kxb4 37. Rh4 {(I was glad he played this instead of the prosaic 37.h6, c2
etc which also wins after many ++)} 37... a5 $1 38. h6 a4 39. d5+ Ka3 40. h7
axb3 41. h8=Q c2 {
(A fitting end don't you think. I hope you found this interesting.))} 0-1

[Event "Challenge Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saphire, Novag"]
[Black "Cumming, David R"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B99"]
[Annotator "David Cumming"]
[PlyCount "84"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 {#(In my postal games against Humans
recently, I have preferred 11...Bxf6 here. However, with myself owning a
Saphire I knew the machine's opening repertoire so I played the main line.)}
12. g5 Nd7 13. f5 Nc5 14. f6 gxf6 15. gxf6 Bf8 16. Rg1 Bd7 17. Rg7 Bxg7 18.
fxg7 Rg8 19. e5 O-O-O 20. exd6 Qb6 21. Ne4 Bc6 22. Nxc6 Qxc6 23. Qxf7 {
(The Saphire was still in book at this point. A superior alternative was} (23.
Qc3 Qxe4 24. Qxc5+ Kb8 25. Qc7+ Ka8 26. Qxf7 $1 {Which may well be White's
best according to Nunn and does indeed seem to be winning, hence my reason for
preferring  to play 11...Bxf6 against human opponents!)}) 23... Nxe4 24. Qxe6+
Kb8 25. Bg2 Rxg7 26. Bxe4 {#(Saphire had exhausted its known theory with this
move and had started to think for itself here.)} 26... Qc5 27. Bf3 $6 Rg1 28.
d7 Kc7 29. Qxa6 Rxd1+ 30. Bxd1 Rxd7 31. Qa5+ Kb8 32. Qe1 Qg5+ 33. Kb1 Qd2 {
#((In an OTB game which I used as a "dress rehearsal" for this postalencounter,
mt own Saphire, in TR8 mode, then played} 34. Qxd2 (34. Qg3+ $5 {
(The game finished as follows: -} 34... Ka7 35. Qg1+ Qd4 $1 36. Qxd4+ Rxd4 37.
Kc1 Rh4 38. h3 Rxh3 39. Bg4 Rh2 40. Bf5 h5 41. Kd1 h4 42. Ke1 Kb6 43. Kf1 Kc5
44. b3 $2 b4 $1 45. Kg1 Rd2 46. Kf1 Kd4 47. Kg1 Kc3 48. Kf1 Kb2 49. Ke1 Rh2 50.
Kf1 Kxa2 51. Kg1 Rd2 52. Kf1 Kb2 53. Be6 Rxc2 54. Bf7 Rc3 55. Ke2 Rxb3 56. Bg8
{(& Resigns. 0 1!!, played on Saturday, 17th of January, 1998.)}) (34. Qe5+ Ka7
{(and Black wins. Varlamov - Kirillov, corres 1989. 34.Qxd2 left me out of
book and was different to the 34.Qg3+!? as played in my OTB game vs. my own
silicon monster. I still figured that as near as damn it, Black should
effectively be winning, so time to start playing chess for myself.)}) 34...
Rxd2 35. Kc1 Rxh2 36. Bf3 h5 37. Kd1 h4 38. Be4 h3 39. Ke1 Kc7 40. a3 Kd6 41.
Bf5 Ke5 42. Bc8 Rh1+ {(and with that, David Salter decided to call it a day
for his Saphire. He said in his note "Novag is approaching a -5 evaluation and
it would probably take another 2 months to actually make it resign, si I'll
save us the agony!")} 0-1

[Event "Challenge Tournament"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Salter, David"]
[Black "Rutherford, Jim"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D07"]
[Annotator "David Salter"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nc6 3. c4 Bg4 4. Nc3 Bxf3 {
(Early departure from the usual. what's he up to.)} 5. exf3 dxc4 6. Bxc4 Qxd4
$6 {(Ah, pawn grabbing. But in common with a number of opening situations,
there's a downside. Black cannot hold onto the material without suffering
positionally. Capturing by 6...Nxd4 allows 7.Bd5 and there are a surprising
number of tricks in that line to keep White happy.)} 7. Qb3 Nd8 $6 {(White reje
cts 7.Bxf7+ Kxf7 8.Qb3+ e6 as there is greater scope for Black to muddy the
waters. retaining the threatening Bishop, and indeed the Bishop pair, looked
better. blacks responce defends the attacked pawns but clutters his back rank
with non-participants. A developing move at the cost of a pawn was advisable.)}
8. Be3 Qd7 {(White takes advantage of the Queen and deploys the second Bishop.
8.Nb5 Qe5+ doesn't look so convincing. Black's retreat may have been too
orientated towards stopping Nb5. 8...Qf6 may have been a lesser evil.)} 9. Rd1
Qc8 {#(Again White can bring more firepower to bear at the expence of the
Queen's vulnerable position. the reply 9...Qf5 may have been tried but that
White Knight would be ready to spring to b5 again.)} 10. Rxd8+ $1 Kxd8 {
(With such a lead in development and potential to embarrass the King, I was
happy to give up the Rook for the poor defending Knight. 10...Qxd8? 11.Bxf7+
Kd7 12.Qe6++.)} 11. Bxf7 Nf6 12. Be6 Qb8 {(White's Bishop imposes a blockade
as well as driving away the Queen. 12...Nd7 would invite 13.0-0 with Rd1 to
follow.)} 13. Qd1+ $6 Ke8 {(White was intent on using the d file for attacking
and so it seemed the King on e8 would stop Black's Knight from redeploying via
that square onto d6. However 13.Bf4 is unpleasant, as in 13...Ne8 14.Qa4 Nf6
15.Nd5.)} 14. O-O g6 {(With the same intent, White wants to get the Rook
available for the d file but even here 14.Bf4 is good.)} 15. Ne4 Qd8 {
(Despite the slower than necessary build-up White can now finish off. 15...Bg7
was another try but 16.Bh6 exposes the shortcomings of the Black position. (16.
..Bxh6 17.Nxf6+).)} 16. Qb3 Qb8 {(Again 16...Bg7 prolongs matters.)} 17. Bf7+
Kd8 18. Rd1+ $6 {
(Not bad, but innacurate as 18.Qd3+ is quicker. (18...Nd7 19.Nc5 Qc8 20.Ne6++.)
} 18... Nd7 19. Qd5 Qc8 20. Nc5 {(The "flashy" 20.Nf6 works just as well.
black tried to hold onto material for too long. The resulting positional
difficulties brought on by underdevelopment and allowing the Queen to be
harrassed, were too great even to survive some inefficiant latter moves by
White.)} 1-0

[Event "WT/III/956"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Macgregor, C.olin"]
[Black "Bogers, L.M.."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "B.Milligan"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]

{(Rubenstine Variation of 4 Knights with colours reversed.)} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nd5 $1 Nxe4 {(The only analysis of this line was
by I Glaskov in the 1970s in the Soviet weekly "64". his analysis showed that
the alternative)} (5... d6 {(allows)} 6. d4 $1 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 Bxd4 (7... Nxd5 8.
Bb5+ Kf8 9. Nb3 Bb4+ 10. c3 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Bxc3+ 12. Bd2 Bxa1 13. Qxa1 {
(with advantage to White)}) 8. Bg5 {(or)}) {
(The text move, however gets black into terrible trouble.)} 6. Qe2 Bxf2+ {
(The alternatives at move 6 are no better.)} (6... Nxf2 7. d4 {(wins material)}
) (6... Nd6 7. d4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. c3 {(is good for White)}) 7. Kd1 f5 8.
d3 Nd4 $2 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. dxe4 f4 {#(This blocks off the diagonal for the
Black squared Bishop. White's pieces have more space, however.)} 11. c3 c6 12.
cxd4 cxd5 13. Qh5+ {(Black's King is very exposed.)} 13... g6 $4 14. Qxe5+ Qe7
15. Qxh8+ Qf8 16. Qxf8+ {(To simplify things.)} 16... Kxf8 17. Bxd5 g5 18. Bd2
d6 19. Bb4 Bg4+ {(A delaying tactic.)} 20. Kd2 Rd8 21. Rac1 {(White is a Rook
and Knight ahead, and is threatening to get his Rooks into play, with
devastating effect.  I had played Leonardo bogers in a tournament some 3 years
ago, at the time of my marriage, and as a wedding present, he sent me a
beautiful clan crest and motto in wood!)} 1-0

[Event "EU/MSM/V/3-10"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1994.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ferreira, J M G."]
[Black "Thomson, T."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[WhiteElo "2235"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[Annotator "Tom Tomson"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Qd6 6. Na3 Be6 7. Qe2 f6 8.
Rd1 O-O-O 9. d4 Bg4 10. Be3 exd4 11. Rxd4 Qe7 12. Rxd8+ Qxd8 13. Rd1 Qe8 14.
Nc4 $1 Qh5 $2 (14... Qxe4 $2 15. Nd6+ $1) (14... Qg6 $2 15. Bf4 Be7 (15... Bc5
$2 16. Qd2 Ne7 17. Qa5 $18) 16. Qd3) (14... Be7 15. h3 Be6 (15... Bd7 16. Qd3
g5 (16... h5 17. Na5 Be6 18. Qd4 b6 19. Nc4 $16 Bc5 20. Qd3 Bxe3 21. Nxe3 a5
22. b4 axb4 23. a3 bxa3 24. Qxa3 Kb7 25. Ra1 c5 26. Qa7+ Kc6 27. Rd1 Nh6 28.
Nc4 Qa8 29. Nce5+ fxe5 30. Nxe5+ Kb5 31. Rb1+) 17. Nxg5 $1 $18 fxg5 18. Qd4 Bf6
19. Qa7 Kd8 20. Qb8+ Ke7 21. Bc5+ Kf7 22. Qxc7 Kg6 23. Qxd7) 16. Nd4 Bf7 $2 (
16... Bd7 17. Qd2 $16) 17. Qg4+ $18) 15. Qd3 $2 (15. Qd2 $1 Be7 16. Bf4 $1 Nh6
(16... g5 17. Bg3) 17. Bxc7) 15... Be7 16. Rd2 (16. h3 Be6 17. Rd2 c5 $11) (16.
Bf4 Nh6 17. Qb3 Bc5 $11) 16... c5 (16... Nh6 17. Nd4 Rd8 18. Qb3 $14) 17. Bf4
Be6 (17... g5 18. Bg3 Qe8 19. Qb3 $14) 18. a4 $6 (18. Qb3 Bxc4 19. Qxc4 Qg4 20.
Bg3 Kb8 21. h3 Qc8 22. Qf7) 18... Qg4  (18... g5 19. Bg3 Qf7 $2 (19... Nh6
$5 20. Qb3 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 Qf7 22. Qc3 $14) 20. b4 $1 cxb4 (20... Kb8 21. b5 Bxc4
$2 (21... g4 22. b6) (21... h5 22. b6) (21... Nh6 22. Na5 Rd8 23. Qf1 Rxd2 24.
Nxd2 Qe8 25. bxa6 $18) 22. Qd7 Bd6 23. Qd8+ Ka7 24. Bxd6 $18) (20... Bxc4 $4
21. Qd7+ Kb8 22. Qxc7+ Ka7 23. Qb8+ Kb6 24. Bc7+ Kc6 25. Bd8 Bf8 26. Qc8+) 21.
Qd4 Kb8 22. Na5 Bd6 23. Bxd6 cxd6) 19. Bg3 Nh6 (19... f5 20. Qc3 $16) 20. h3 (
20. Ne3 $5 Qh5 21. Qc3 Rd8 22. Nd4 Qf7 23. Nxe6 Qxe6 24. Rxd8+ Bxd8 25. f3 Qc6
26. b4 cxb4 27. Qxb4) 20... Qg6 21. Qb3 Bxc4 22. Qxc4 Qf7 23. Qe2 (23. Qc3 Qe6
24. Qa5 Qc6 25. c3 Rd8 26. Rd5 Rxd5 27. exd5 Qd7 28. b4 $14) 23... Qe6 (23...
Rd8 24. Rxd8+ Bxd8 (24... Kxd8 25. Qd2+ Kc8 26. Qa5 Bd6 27. Bxd6 cxd6 $11) 25.
Bf4 g5 26. Be3 Be7 27. Qd3 Qe6 $11) 24. Qe3 Re8 $11 (24... Rd8 25. Rxd8+ Bxd8
26. Qxc5 Qxe4 $11) 25. a5 $6 (25. b4 Bf8) 25... Nf7 $15 26. b3 (26. Re2) 26...
Kb8 (26... Bd6 27. Bxd6 Nxd6 28. e5 fxe5 29. Re2 e4 30. Qxc5 Qf6 $15) 27. Re2 (
27. Rd1 $5 Bd6 28. Bxd6 Nxd6 29. Qxc5) 27... Qc6 28. Qd3 (28. e5 Bf8 $15) 28...
Rd8 (28... Bd6 29. Bxd6 Qxd6 30. Qxd6 Nxd6 31. e5 $11) 29. Qc3 (29. Qc4 Qe8 (
29... Nd6 30. Qe6 Qd7 31. Qxd7 Rxd7 32. e5 Nf5 33. Bf4 $14)) 29... Qb5 (29...
Nd6 30. Qe1) 30. Rd2 Nd6 31. e5 (31. Qe3 Qxa5 32. Rd5 b6) (31. Bxd6 Bxd6 32. e5
fxe5 33. Nxe5 Qb4) 31... Ne4 32. Rxd8+ Bxd8 33. Qe3 Nxg3 34. fxg3 c4 35. Qd2
Be7 36. bxc4 Qc5+ 37. Kf1 Qxc4+ 38. Qd3 Qxd3+ 39. cxd3 fxe5 40. Nxe5 Kc8 41. d4
Bf6 42. Nf3 Kd7 43. g4 c6 44. Ke2 Ke6 45. Kd3 Kd5 0-1

[Event "SCCA Premiers"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kilgariff, Andrew"]
[Black "Lloyd, Geoff"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[Annotator "Geoff Lloyd"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1. b3 g6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e4 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nc3 {
(Tactics already, keep your eyes open at all times!)} 5... Nxe4 6. Bc4 Nxc3 7.
Bxc3 Bxc3 8. dxc3 O-O {
(Well my pawns look pretty healthy to me and the centres on a plate.)} 9. O-O
e5 10. Nd2 d5 11. Be2 f5 {#(I have been pushing the f pawn with a great deal
of success in OTB play in the Modern Defence, particularly when White responds
to Qb6 with Qb3 and an early exchange of Queens follows. The f file is a
dangerous file to occupy. just look at the centre now!)} 12. c4 d4 13. Nf3 Nc6
14. Qc1 e4 {(The moves play themselves.)} 15. Ne1 f4 16. Qb2 f3 17. gxf3 Qg5+
18. Kh1 Qd2 19. fxe4 Qxe2 20. Ng2 Bh3 21. Rae1 Bxg2+ 22. Kxg2 Qf3+ 23. Kg1 Rf4
0-1

[Event "Premiers"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Trennor, David"]
[Black "Lloyd, Geoff"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A01"]
[Annotator "G LLoyd"]
[PlyCount "44"]

{(The Modern can produce some lively play as the following game reveals. White
adopts a much more aggressive game than the previous game, kicks the King's
Knight around but still manages to lose.)} 1. b3 g6 2. Bb2 Nf6 3. e4 Bg7 4. e5
Ne4 5. d3 Ng5 6. h4 Ne6 7. h5 d6 {(A little prod at the centre.)} 8. d4 O-O 9.
hxg6 fxg6 {# Here's that f-file again.} 10. Nf3 dxe5 11. Bc4 exd4 12. Ng5 Rf5
$1 13. Qg4 b5 14. Nxe6 Re5+ 15. Kf1 bxc4 $1 16. Qf3 Rxe6 17. Qxa8 {(This at fir
st looks OK for White, however the Queen is out on a limb and I have ideas to
ensnare the crowned lady!)} 17... c3 18. Bxc3 Ba6+ 19. Kg1 dxc3 20. Na3 Re2 21.
Nc4 Bd4 22. Kh2 c6 $3 {
(White resigned. i don't think there's a way out after Qc7+ and Bb7!)} 0-1

[Event "Alan Shaw Memorial"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Craig (SCO), Tom"]
[Black "Anderton (ENG), David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[Annotator "Tom Craig"]
[PlyCount "57"]

{Tom says "I was aware that David was a devoted French Defence man, but his
7th move really took me by surprise. It was even more surprising to discover
that the variation has a name - the Eigom Variation.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3
Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Ne7 7. Qg4 Kf8 $5 8. a4 {In an OTB game, this
unusual variation would have more impact. Calmly, I was able to consider three
alternative replies.} (8. Nf3 Qa5 9. Bd2 Qa4 {with counterplay.}) (8. Qd1 $5) (
8. h4 {intending Rh3.} 8... Qc7 9. Qd1 $1 {Kasparov vP. Nikolic, Horgen, 1994.}
) 8... b6 (8... Qc7 9. Nf3 (9. Kd1 $1) 9... cxd4 {Eigom.}) 9. Nf3 Ba6 10. Bb5
$5  ({I did find one of David's OTB games with this line.} 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11.
cxd3 Nd7 12. O-O Kg8 13. Ba3 Rc8 (13... h6) 14. c4 h6 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Rab1
Kh7 17. Rb7 Rc7 18. Rxc7 Qxc7 19. d4 Rc8 (19... Rb8 $5) 20. Rc1 Qa5 21. cxd5
Qxa4 22. dxe6 Qxa3 23. Rf1 fxe6 24. Qxe6 cxd4 25. Qxd7 d3 26. g3 Rc1 27. Rxc1
Qxc1+ 28. Kg2 Qa3 29. Ne1 a5 30. Qxd3+ (30. Nxd3 $1) 30... Qxd3 31. Nxd3 a4 32.
Nb4 g5 33. f4 Kg6 34. Kf3 a3 35. Ke4 h5 36. Na2 h4 37. Nc3 h3 38. Na2 Nf5 39.
Kd5 Ne3+ 40. Kd6 Nf5+ 41. Kd5 Ne3+ 42. Kd6 Nf5+ {
1/2 1/2, Thomas Emst v David Anderton, Gausdal TM, 1992.}) 10... Bxb5 11. axb5
Qe8 $5 (11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Qc7 13. O-O Qxc2 $6 14. Bg5 $1) (11... Qc7) 12. c4
$5 {He suggested "If 12.Rb1 Nd7."} 12... Nd7 (12... cxd4 13. cxd5 Nxd5 (13...
Qxb5) 14. Qxd4 Nd7 15. c4 Ne7 16. Ba3 $16) (12... dxc4 13. dxc5 Qxb5 14. cxb6)
(12... h5 13. Qf4 Ng6 (13... dxc4) 14. Qe3) 13. cxd5 Nxd5 (13... exd5 14. O-O (
14. c4 $6) 14... Ng6 15. Bd2 (15. Re1)) 14. c4 (14. O-O $2 Nc3) 14... f5 $6 {
Black offered a draw!} (14... Nc3 15. Qf4 $16) (14... Ne7 15. O-O (15. Ba3)) (
14... Nb4 {intending a5.} 15. Qe4) 15. exf6 (15. Qg3 Nc3) 15... N5xf6 (15...
N7xf6 16. Qh4 Nc3 (16... Nb4 17. O-O) 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Ba3 Nfe4 19. O-O (19.
Ne5 $1) 19... g5 $6 20. Qg4 $4 (20. Nxg5 $1) 20... h5 $19) 16. Qg3 (16. Qf4
cxd4) 16... cxd4 (16... Ne4 17. Qf4+ Ndf6 18. O-O {intending Re1.}) 17. Nxd4 {#
} 17... Nc5 (17... Ne4 18. Qf4+ Ndf6 19. Qc7 $5) (17... Kf7 18. O-O Qb8 19. Bf4
$5 e5 20. Nf5 Rg8 (20... g6 21. Nh6+ Kg7 22. Be3) 21. Be3 $16) (17... Rc8 $2
18. Qd6+ Kg8 19. Nc6) 18. O-O Kf7 $6 (18... Kg8 19. Be3 Nce4 20. Qc7 $16) 19.
Nc6 Rf8 (19... a6 20. Be3 $1 Nfd7 $2 21. Bxc5 Nxc5 22. Qf3+ $1) 20. Be3 Kg8 {
Black has effectively taken four moves to castle!} 21. Bxc5 bxc5 22. Ra2 $1 Nd7
23. Qd6 $1 e5 (23... Rf6 24. Rd1 $1) 24. Rfa1 Qf7 (24... e4 $2 25. Rxa7 Rxa7
26. Rxa7 Rf7 27. Qd5 e3 28. Ra8 $1) 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Qxd7 Rae8 27. Qxa7 Rxe7 (
27... Qxe7 28. Qxe7 Rxe7 29. Ra8) 28. Qxc5 Rc7 29. Ra7 $1 1-0

[Event "SCCA Challenge"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "McIntee, Chris"]
[Black "Mackenzie, Paul"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "Chris McIntee"]
[PlyCount "35"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 f5 3. c4 Nf6 4. g3 e6 5. Bg2 Bb4+ 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. O-O Bxc3 {
(Black will soon regret this as my Bishop on C! becomes all powerfull.)} 8.
bxc3 dxc4 9. Qa4 h6 10. Ba3 ({(Better than)} 10. Ne5 Bd7 11. Nxc6 Bxc6 12.
Bxc6+ bxc6 13. Qxc6+ Kf7 {(Which looks more boring but it does win a pawn. Ba3
is now a monster with a bad toothache.)}) 10... Bd7 11. Qxc4 Ng4 12. Rae1 {
(I think this is a mistake. Instead Rfe1 looks healthier.)#} 12... Qf6 13. e4
O-O-O 14. e5 Qf7 15. Rb1 {(The b file looks tasty!!)} 15... a6 $4 {
(Black had to try Na5.)} 16. Rxb7 $3 {
(The Rook smashes in for the kill. Black cannot accept or refuse the Rook.)}
16... Be8 (16... Kxb7 17. Rb1+ Ka7 18. Bc5+ Ka8 19. Qxa6+ Na7 20. Qxa7#) 17.
Qxa6 Rd5 18. Rfb1 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lennox, Jonathon"]
[Black "Wallwork, George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A53"]
[Annotator "Jonathon Lennox"]
[PlyCount "97"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. c4 Bf5 4. Nc3 {(The traditional plan is 4...Nbd7 and 5..
.e5. The critical test of the move played is probably 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Qb3)} 4... e6
5. g3 Ne4 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 Nd7 8. O-O c5 9. d5 Qb6 10. b3 O-O {#(At this point
, not having achieved very much in the opening, I decided on radical action to
seize the initiative, Remember Fischer's 1...Nh5 against Spassky?)} 11. Nh4 $5
Nxd2 12. Qxd2 Bxh4 13. gxh4 e5 14. Qg5 Bg6 15. h5 f6 16. Qh4 Be8 17. e4 Qd8 18.
Bh3 f5 {(Black must play this to avoid strangulation, but it might have been
tried a move earlier.)} 19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Bxf5 Bxh5 21. Nb5 Nf6 22. f4 {
(Around here I began to feel optimistic: White aims to create a central passed
pawn.)#} 22... exf4 23. Rxf4 Rfe8 24. Re1 a6 25. Nc7 Re5 26. Be6+ Kh8 27. Rf5
Rxf5 28. Bxf5 Bg4 29. Be6 Bf3 30. e5 {(And after this move, the culmination of
White's strategy, optimism grew into confidence.)} 30... dxe5 31. Rxe5 Ng4 32.
Rf5 Be4 33. Rf4 Nf6 34. Bf5 Bxf5 35. Rxf5 Rd7 36. Ne8 $1 Ng8 37. Rf8 {
(Now it only remains to advance the White King in order to promote the d pawn.)
} 37... b5 38. Kf2 h6 39. Kf3 bxc4 40. bxc4 Rb7 41. d6 Rb1 42. Ke4 Rd1 {
(And George resigned, just as I was looking forward to)} 43. Ke5 Kh7 44. Ke6
Re1+ 45. Kd5 Rxe8 46. Rxe8 Nf6+ 47. Kxc5 Nxe8 48. d7 Nc7 49. Kd6 1-0

[Event "SCCA League Div 2 1998"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mackenzie, Stuart"]
[Black "Lloyd, Geoff"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "G Lloyd"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 {(Page 54 Winning with the Modern, Norwood. So
now its time to learn about the Pirc/Modern.)} 4. Nc3 Nf6 {(Standard.)} 5. Be2
{(Be3 is a good alternative.)} 5... O-O 6. O-O c6 $5 {(Interesting isnt it?)}
7. Re1 $2 {(I didn't really know how to deal with this at first so I did what
I thought was in keeping with hypermodern chess and played.)} 7... d5 {
(David Norwood's book TEACHES!! White can either IGNORE/CAPTURE or ADVANCE,
calculate each before moving.) I hoped he would advance. I had ideas on the
f-file.)} 8. e5 {(He advanced.)} 8... Nfd7 9. Be3 f6 {(Here we go again.)} 10.
exf6 Nxf6 11. Qd2 Bf5 12. Bh6 Bxh6 13. Qxh6 Re8 14. Nh4 $6 {#(Tough stuff.)}
14... Bxc2 15. Rac1 Be4 16. g4 e5 17. dxe5 Rxe5 18. f3 $2 Qb6+ 19. Kf1 Nxg4 $1
20. fxg4 Nd7 21. Bf3 Rf8 $1 {(At last.)} 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Rcd1 exf3 24. Qd2
Qb5+ {(The net soon tightens.)} 25. Kf2 Re2+ 26. Rxe2 fxe2+ {
(Discovered check. That f-file did it again.)} 0-1

[Event "Jiri Pelikan Memorial "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1997.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Olafsson, Hannes"]
[Black "Pyrich, George"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C82"]
[Annotator "B.Milligan"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "1997.??.??"]

{This event was, for me, very difficult. For the first time, I was paired
against some really top players and found it really hard going. Fortunately, I
did manage to win one game and achieve my first ever win against a CC GM.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 {The Open Variation, a
long-time favourite. In most lines, Black gets active piece play.} 6. d4 b5 7.
Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. Nbd2 Nc5 10. c3  10... Bg4 ({
There's nothing wrong with} 10... d4 {but I've always played the text}) 11. Bc2
Be7 12. Re1 Qd7 13. Nf1 Rd8 14. Ne3 Bh5 15. b4 Ne6 16. g4 Bg6 17. Nf5 O-O 18.
a4 Rfe8 ({I tried} 18... d4 {against D. Karlsson (ISD) in the SCCA Bulletin 10
tournament in 1990 continuing.....} 19. axb5 axb5 20. Be4 Rfe8 21. Be3 Bf8 22.
Qd2 h5 23. h3 Nxb4 24. cxb4 dxe3 25. Qxd7 exf2+ 26. Kxf2 Rxd7 27. Bc6 Rdd8 {
and here, we agreed a draw! I recollect that all this was a bit dodgy for
Black and was more than happywiththeresult!}) 19. axb5 axb5 20. Qe2 Rb8 21. Bd3
Ncd8  22. Ra7 ({In the same event, Tero Kokkila (FIN) played} 22. Be3 {After
} 22... Bf8 (22... d4 $6 {might be o.k., but}) (22... c6 {should have been
played. I recall that, at the time, I felt that it was too passive and,
fearing White's K-side pawn majority, played the text, in preparation for ....
d4. After 22... c6, there's nothing wrong at all. This was one of a number of
errors of judgement I made in this event.}) 23. Ra7 d4 24. cxd4 {
Now I should have played  rather than} 24... Qd5 $2 (24... Bxb4 25. Rb1 Nc6 26.
Bxb5 Bxf5 27. Bxc6 (27. gxf5 Nexd4 28. Bxd4 Nxd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Bxe8 Qxa7 {
is equal}) 27... Qxc6 28. gxf5 Qe4 {with an unclear position}) 25. Ra5 $1 {
Oops! Missed this!} 25... Bxb4 26. Rxb5 Rxb5 27. Bxb5 Bxe1 28. Bxe8 Bb4 29. Bb5
{and White duly converted his advantage on move 54}) 22... d4 23. Rd1 {
A new move. There were 2 alternatives:} (23. cxd4 Bxb4 24. Rd1 Bc3 25. Be3 Qd5
26. Rb1 b4 27. Rd1 Nc6 28. Ra6 Bxf5 29. Bxf5 Rbd8 30. Bxe6 fxe6 31. h3 Rf8 32.
Rxc6 Qxc6 33. Ne1 Qa4 {0-1, Noskowiewicz - Koralewski, Corr. POL, 1994 shows
some of the possibilities for Black.}) (23. N3xd4 Bxf5 24. gxf5 Nxd4 25. cxd4
Qxd4 26. Rxc7 Bxb4 {was unclear in Zarnicki - Sorin, Ch. ARG, 1996}) 23... dxc3
24. Bc4 $5 ({If he'd tried} 24. Nh6+ {
I felt that Black's resources were adequate e.g.} 24... gxh6 25. Bxg6 Nf4 $1 {
Without this, Black's in big trouble!} 26. Bxh7+ Kg7 (26... Kxh7 27. Qe4+) 27.
Bxf4 Qxg4+ 28. Bg3 Kxh7 29. Rxc7 Qxb4 30. Qc2+ Kh8 31. Rd4 Qb2 32. Rxc3 Qxc2
33. Rxc2 b4 {and it's about equal!}) (24. Be4 Qc8 25. Nxe7+ Rxe7 26. Bxg6 hxg6
27. Qe4 Rd7 {Doesn't offer White much either}) 24... Qc6 25. Bd5  25... c2 {
Inspiration, born of desparation. Instead} (25... Qb6 26. Nxe7+ Rxe7 27. Be3 {
wins immediately for White}) 26. Bxc6 cxd1=Q+ 27. Qxd1 Nxc6 28. Nxe7+ Rxe7 29.
Ra1 Rd8 30. Qf1 Be4 $1 {Now White is in trouble. After a series of almost
"only" moves, I'm now almost winning. I guess I got lucky.} 31. Ng5 Red7 32.
Nxe4 (32. Nxe6 fxe6 33. Bg5 (33. Bb2 Bf3 34. Re1 Nxb4 35. Qxb5 Nc2 36. Rf1 Rd1
{also wins}) 33... Nxe5 34. Ra3 Nf3+ 35. Rxf3 Bxf3 {wins for Black - if now 36.
Bxd8 then Black replies Rxd8! before playing Rd1 next move!}) 32... Rd1 33.
Qxd1 (33. Bb2 Rxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Nxb4 {is similar to the game}) 33... Rxd1+ 34. Kg2
h6 35. Ra8+ Kh7 36. Be3 Rb1 {##Now I simply have to hold things together to win
} 37. Nc5 Rxb4 38. Nxe6 fxe6 39. Rc8 Nxe5 40. Rxc7 Rxg4+ 41. Kf1 Rc4 42. Re7
Ng4 43. Rxe6 Nxh2+ 44. Ke2 Ng4 45. Bd2 Rc7 46. f3 Nf6 47. Rb6 Rc5 48. Bb4 Rf5
49. Rb7 h5 50. Kf2 (50. Bf8 {comes to much the same after} 50... Ne8 51. Bb4 h4
52. Kf2 Kh6 53. Rb8 Nf6 54. Rh8+ Nh7 55. Kg2 Kg6 56. Rd8 Ng5 {Now, after...}
57. Rd3 Kh5 58. Re3 Rxf3 $1 {
I was fairly certain that the 3 pawns were too strong for the B}) 50... h4 51.
Kg2 Kh6 52. Be7 Kh5 53. Bd8 Rd5 54. Ba5 g5 55. Bc3 Nd7 {##Here, White, rather
generously, resigned. Of course, Black is 2 pawns to the good but still has
some work to do.} 0-1

[Event "SCCA Championship 1997/98"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sprott, G R."]
[Black "Beecham, C R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A47"]
[Annotator "C R Beecham"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. e3 Bb7 {George and I have played many times. He usually
plays a Colle or Torre System of some kind so I play a line that has brought
me success against him in the past.} 4. Nbd2 g6 5. Bd3 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. b3 d6
{It is a matter of "taste" whether Blacks pawn goes to d6 or d5. I prefer d6
when the centre can be contested with either e5 or c5.} 8. Bb2 Nbd7 9. c4 e5 $1
10. Qc2 ({Whites d3 Bishop is lost after} 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 {etc.})
10... Re8 {Black has snatched a small initiative with the threat of 11...e4.}
11. d5 Nc5 {Renewing the e4 threat.} 12. Be2 {I felt 12.e4 was better. Black
is unlikely to exchange the c5 knight for a Bishop with little future.} 12...
Bc8 $5 {The Bishop threatens to come to f5.} ({Also interesting was.} 12... Qd7
13. b4 Na4 $5) ({but probably correct was} 12... a5 13. a3 Qe7 14. b4 axb4 15.
axb4 Ncd7 {When the Knight has to go back to d7 anyway.}) 13. e4 Nh5 {
White creates a new weakness at f4.} 14. b4 Nd7 15. Nb3 Nf4 16. Rfe1 Rf8 17.
Rad1 $6 {#This is not the correct plan. White should continue with 17.Rac1 and
c5 or 17.a4 and a5.} 17... f5 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Bc1 Nxe2+ 20. Rxe2 f4 21. Rde1
Qe8 $1 {
The exclamation mark is not for the move itself, but for the plan it initiates.
} 22. Ng5 {Threatening mate in one!} 22... Qh5 23. Ne6 Rf6 24. Nxc7 Rh6 25. h3
Nf8 $3 26. f3 ({The Rook is taboo as} 26. Nxa8 Bxh3 $1 27. gxh3 Qxh3 {mates})
26... Bf5 27. Qc3 Qg6 $1 {White was threatening 28.g4! and Rg2! winning.} 28.
Nxa8 Rxh3 29. Bb2 $1 {Good defence as Black was intending e4 next.} 29... Qg3
30. Rf2 {# Creating an escape square at e2 for the King.} 30... Bf6 31. Qd2 Bh4
{
With a deadly threat of 32...Bd3!! followed by 33...Qxf2 or 33...Qh2+ and mate.
} 32. Nc1 Ng6 {Bringing up the calvary.} 33. Nc7 e4 34. Rxe4 Bxe4 35. Qd4 Ne5
36. Kf1 ({Also taking the Bishop fails} 36. fxe4 f3 {
and there is no answer to Qh2+ and Qh1 mate.}) 36... Rh1+ 37. Ke2 Bxf3+ $1 38.
gxf3 ({if} 38. Rxf3 Qe1#) 38... Qg1 {With mate to follow White Resigns.} 0-1

[Event "SCCA Challenge"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "McAinsh, T."]
[Black "Hilton, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D10"]
[Annotator "S Hilton"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e3 Nbd7 5. f3 {
(This was a surprise to me as I had only started playing the Semi-Slav.)} 5...
dxc4 6. Bxc4 b5 7. Bb3 e6 8. Nge2 Bb7 9. a3 a6 10. e4 {(White is building a
very imposing centre which Black must try and breach at some point in the
future.)} 10... Be7 11. Nf4 Qb6 {
(I didn't appreciate the full force of Whire's next move.)} 12. Bxe6 $3 fxe6
13. Nxe6 Bf8 {(Is there an alternative move for Black here? There seemed an
Rg8 which didn't seem all that attractive but neither is my eventual choice of
Bf8 either.)} 14. Be3 c5 15. d5 Qa5 {(Necessary as White was threatening b4.)}
16. O-O Ne5 17. Nxc5 Bxc5 {# (White has gained a third pawn for his piece and
with a rolling pawn centre is clearly better, if not winning.)} 18. Bxc5 Qc7
19. b4 Ned7 20. Bd4 O-O 21. Rc1 Qd6 22. Qb3 Rfe8 {(Black is seeking to hold up
the inevitable movement of White's central pawns. Black threatens Nd3.)} 23.
Qb2 Ne5 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. Nd1 Qxb2 26. Nxb2 Rac8 {(With the Queens exchanged
White should be able to get his central pawns moving.)} 27. Nd3 Nd7 28. Nc5
Nxc5 29. bxc5 Rcd8 {(Necessary to vacate the c8 square for my Bishop.)} 30.
Rfd1 Bc8 31. g4 g5 32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Kg3 Kf6 34. c6 Ke5 {
(Black has at last stopped the White pawns from moving onwaeds.)} 35. Rc3 {
(The alternative is Rc5 which I expected.)} 35... h5 {
(With this move I'm trying to open the h-file for my Rooks.)} 36. h3 Rh8 37.
Kg2 Rh7 38. Rcc1 {# (Again Rc5 is playable though Black is developing some
chances to save the game.)} 38... Rdh8 39. d6 hxg4 40. Rc5+ Kf4 41. d7 {
(This seems natural but White I feel has lost a tempo somewhere which is
crucial.)} 41... gxf3+ 42. Kf2 Rxh3 43. Rg1 ({(If White had played)} 43. d8=Q {
then Black is winning with} 43... Rh2+ 44. Ke1 Rh1+ 45. Kd2 Rxd8+ {
(winning the Rook on d1.)}) ({(If)} 43. dxc8=Q {(then the continuation is the
same as above except after Kd2 Black takes the Rook on d1 before taking on c8
with a winning Rook and pawn ending for Black.)}) 43... Rh2+ 44. Kf1 Ra2 {
(If Rc1 then f2 wins. A tough game for Black to defend.)} 0-1

[Event "BCCS v NATCCR"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hilton, S."]
[Black "Carroll, P."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D44"]
[Annotator "S Hilton"]
[PlyCount "69"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bg5 dxc4 {
(This is without doubt the sharpest responce.)} 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9.
Nxg5 hxg5 {(The alternative for Black is Nd5 inviting White to play Nf7 with
fantastic complications.)} 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. exf6 Bb7 12. g3 c5 13. d5 Nxf6 14.
Bg2 Be7 15. O-O Nxd5 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Nxb5 Qb6 18. a4 a6 19. Na3 Rh4 $3 {
# (At first I thought this to be an error. I discovered afterwards that Shirov
has played it in a similar position. I came to the conclusion that White would
be losing after gxh4 as I would come under a vicious attack with Black playing
follow up moves like Rg8 and Nf4. I felt that White's best chance was to try
and add a few more complications with.)} 20. Re1 Nf4 $1 {(Again White cannot
afford to take for the same reasons to my notes on Black's previous move.)} 21.
Nxc4 $1 {(Black has three pieces en prise, the problem being White doesn't
have time to take any of them!)} 21... Nh3+ 22. Bxh3 Rxc4 23. Qh5 Qc6 {
(Threatening mate but I think its the wrong time to play it. Rg8 is necessary
for Black to hold the initiative.)} 24. Qg5+ Kd7 25. Rad1+ Rd4 26. Rxd4+ cxd4
27. f3 $3 Qxf3 {(Black now falls into the trap that White has set.)} 28. Bxe6+
fxe6 {(Black is forced to accept this sacrifice otherwise White has a winning
attack. e.g.)} (28... Kc7 29. Qe5+ Kb6 {(And mate in 8. Black has no option
but to accept the Bishop, which forces a draw for White.)}) 29. Qg7+ Kd8 30.
Qg8+ Kc7 31. Qg7+ Kb8 32. Qe5+ Ka7 33. Qxd4+ Kb8 34. Qd6+ Ka7 35. Qc5+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "EU/H/GT/263"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Di Lao, Riccardo"]
[Black "Cumming, David R"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[Annotator "David Cumming"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Re1 {(All that I could find on this move was in Suetin's "French Defence"
(circa 1988), in which he says "Definately playable is 8.Re1" with  with no
further suggestion on how play would continue. It is possible that I could've
looked for transpositions into "main lines" but no. I thought at this juncture
it was time to start playing chess...)#} 8... a6 ({BM - ChessBase 7 came up
with a number of games where 8.Re1 was played, including this one.} 8... Nc6 9.
Nb3 Bd7 10. Nbxd4 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Qc7 12. Bf1 O-O-O 13. Qe2 Bd6 14. g3 h5 15. Bg5
a6 16. c4 Rdg8 17. c5 Be7 18. Bf4 Qa5 19. Qe5 Kd8 20. Nb3 Qa4 21. Qb8+ Bc8 22.
Qc7+ {1-0 Remont,L-Vannerom,R/Huy 1991/EXT 97 (22)}) 9. a4 Nc6 10. Qe2 $5 {
(10.Nb3 might have transposed in the direction of the main line possibly.)}
10... Be7 11. Bb3 O-O 12. Nc4 {(Establishing a firm grip on the square e5, as
well as attacking the Black Queen on d6.)} 12... Qc7 13. g3 Nd5 {
(Guarding against a subsequent Bf4.)} 14. Bd2 Rd8 15. Ng5 h6 $1 {(Of course I
could not leave the Ng5 unmolested! White had threats of 16.Qh5, or 16.f4 (the
latter strengthens his grip on the e5 square).)#} 16. Nh3 $6 e5 17. Nxe5 Bxh3
$1 18. Nxf7 Qd7 19. Nxd8 Rxd8 20. c3 Qf5 21. cxd4 Nxd4 22. Qxe7 Rf8 23. Bxd5+
Qxd5 24. Qe4 Nf3+ 25. Kh1 Qxe4 26. Rxe4 Nxd2 27. Re2 Nb3 28. Rae1 Bd7 $1 0-1

[Event "SCCA Candidates Sec 'B'"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cumming, David R"]
[Black "Armstrong, Alan"]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "C05"]
[Annotator "B.Milligan"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ndf3 Qb6 8. h4 $5
{(Designed to prevent the ...g5 break so common in the 08/g3 main lines, or so
I read from my books!)} 8... cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+ 10. Kf2 f6 11. Be3 fxe5 {
(Against Paul McDonald in Section 'A' Alan played the alternative 11...Be7.)}
12. fxe5 O-O 13. a3 Be7 14. b4 a6 $6 {
# (The line that I was following continued} (14... Qd8 15. Bd3 Ndxe5 $1 16.
dxe5 Nxe5 17. Ke2 Ng4 $1 18. Qc2 h6 19. Nh3 $1 e5 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Nhg5 e4 $1
22. Bd4 exf3+ 23. gxf3 {
(Estrada - Watanabe, Barlioche 1991, and now Estrada gives ...} 23... Bxg5 24.
hxg5 Qxg5 25. Qg6 $1 Qxg6 26. Bxg6 Nf6 27. Rac1 Bd7 28. Rc7 Bc6 29. Kd3 $1 {
(Intending Re1-e7 with compensation for the material.)}) 15. Bd3 Qc7 $2 {
(Also planning to sacrifice on e5, but to recapture with the queen after d4xe5,
but...)} 16. Qc2 $1 {(Pinning the ...Nc6 to the ...Qc7, and also threatening
17.Bxh7+, thus effectively, if Black played 16...Ndxe5 although he is still
disolving the White centre, he will have a 2 pawn defecite, not just 1!)} 16...
h6 {("Chickening out" of liquidating the centre under my terms.)} 17. Kg3 $1 {
(Now the Nf3 is no longer pinned to the White King. the exchange sacrifice on
e5 is now impossible.)} 17... b5 $2 {(A weakening move, trying to connect his
Rooks with a subsequent ...Bb7, but this Bishop's power is blunted by it's own
prawns!)} 18. Nh3 Rd8 19. Rac1 $1 Bb7 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21. Nf4 Nf8 22. Ng6+ Nxg6
23. Bxg6 {#(I origionally intended playing 23.Qxg6 with what I thought was a
winning plan involving 24.Ng5, but 23...Rf8! 24.Ng5 Rf6! exploiting the
prawn's enpinment on the White king, rathet scuppers my plans.)} 23... a5 24.
Ng5 $1 Rdc8 25. Nxe6 Qb6 26. Bxh6 $3 gxh6 (26... Nxd4 $4 27. Bxg7+ Kg8 28. Bh7+
Kf7 29. Qg6# {(is an example of how Black could easily go wrong here!)}) 27.
Qd2 {(Resigns 0 1!! Not bad for my first shot at the White side  of the French
Tarrach eh? My annalysis now runs)} 27... Bf8 (27... Bg5 28. hxg5 axb4 29.
Rxh6+ Kg8 30. Rch1 ({(BM)} 30. Bf7+ Kxf7 31. Qf2+ Kg8 32. Rh8+ Kxh8 33. Qf6+
Kg8 34. Qg7#) 30... Nxe5 {
(BM 30...Rxa3 is better but only delays the inevitable.)} 31. Rh8#) (27...
Bxh4+ {(This move only serves to delay the inevitable.)} 28. Rxh4 Kg8 29. Qxh6
{(With mate to follow.)}) (27... Kg8 {(Or any other move by Black.)} 28. Qxh6 {
(With mate to follow.)}) 28. Qf4 {(Intending 29.Nxf8 with mate imminent... If}
28... Bg7 29. Nxg7 Kg8 30. Ne6 Nxe5 31. Qxe5 {
(and Black has to sacrifice  even more material to survive in the short term.)}
*

[Event "ICCF World Cup XI"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lennox, C J."]
[Black "Onoda, Hirokaz"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E69"]
[Annotator "C J Lennox"]
[PlyCount "71"]

{This game is certainly not typical of my style of play, but Richard Beecham
had shown me (see SCC 59) the vulnerability of Japanese players to all-out
attack.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. d4 c6 7. Nc3
Nbd7 8. e4 e5 9. h3 Qa5 10. Re1 exd4 11. Nxd4 Ne5 12. Bf1 Re8 13. Rb1 Be6 14.
b4 Qc7 15. f4 Ned7 16. Be3 a5 17. a3 axb4 18. axb4 Nf8 {I have refraimed from
commenting on the opening lest I infringe Colin McNab's copyright. Here he
gives 18...h5, and the omission of that move proves highly significant.} 19.
Bf2 Bd7 20. Qb3 Ne6 21. Nf3 Nh5 $2 22. f5 Nf8 23. g4 Nf6 24. Bg3 b6 25. c5 ({
Now the obvious} 25. Rbd1 {allows counterplay after} 25... Qa7 26. Bxd6 Qa3 {
Instead, its time to justify Qb3.}) 25... bxc5 26. Ng5 ({
My origional intention here was not} 26. bxc5 Qa5 27. Bxd6 Nxg4 {but}) (26. Bc4
Reb8 27. Bxf7+ Kh8 28. e5 Rxb4 29. exf6 Rxb3 30. fxg7+ Kxg7 31. Bxb3 {
winning. That line is not entirely forced, however, and a few days later I
found something even better.}) 26... cxb4 {He might as well, since after 26...
Bc8 or 26... Re7 to defend f7, 27.bxc5 really would be strong.} 27. Qxf7+ Kh8
28. Bc4 h6 {I hope you noticed the threat of mate in 2. BM For those of you
who missed it the answers at the end of the game.} 29. e5 d5 {
No this was not a clerical error! White would also win quickly after} (29...
dxe5 30. Nce4 {e.g.} 30... hxg5 31. Nxf6 Nh7 32. Nxh7 Kxh7 33. Qxg6+ {
mating. But now, with three pieces already en prise, White can allow the
fourth to be captured withcheck!}) 30. exf6 Qxg3+ 31. Kf1 Qf4+ 32. Kg2 Bxf6 33.
Qxf6+ Kg8 34. Qf7+ Kh8 35. f6 Ra2+ 36. Bxa2 {Black finally resigned in view of
36...Qd2+ 37.Re2 Rxe2+ 38.Nxe2 Qxe2+ 39.Kh1. The Ng5 plays a crucial role in
both attack and defence, despite having been en prise since move 28! BM The
threat was smothered mate with 29.Qg8+ Nxg8 30.Nf7. You really have to keep an
eye on these champions as they can come up with all sorts of nasty tricks!} 1-0

[Event "XXII WC/SF/11"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Thomson, Thomas"]
[Black "Stull, Norbert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B99"]
[Annotator "T Thomson"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3
Qc7 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 b5 11. Bxf6 Nxf6 12. g5 Nd7 13. f5 Nc5 14. f6 gxf6 15.
gxf6 Bf8 16. Rg1 h5 17. a3 Bd7 18. Bh3 Rc8 $146 {This  move  was  new  to  me 
and  I  could  not  find  any  other  games  in  my  database  with  this 
natural  looking  move.} 19. Kb1 {I  was  playing  safe  when  faced  with  a 
novelty  but  this  move  is  also  solid  tacticaly  and  positionaly.} 19...
Qb6 {Black would like to follow this up with ...b4.} 20. b4 Nb7 (20... Na4 {
This move was suggested by Norbert after the game.} 21. Nxa4 bxa4 22. Rg5 {+=}
22... h4 (22... Rc5 $2 23. Nxe6 $1) (22... Rc4 $2 23. Nxe6 $1) (22... Bc6 $2
23. Bxe6) 23. c3 Qc7 24. Rc1 (24. Kc2 $5 Rb8 25. Rh5 Rxh5 26. Qxh5 e5 27. Nf5)
24... Qd8 (24... Rb8 25. Ka1 Bc6 26. Nxc6 Qxc6 27. Bf1) (24... Qb7 25. Ka1 Bc6
26. Bg2) (24... Bh6 $2 25. Qh5 Bc6 26. Nxe6 $1) (24... Bc6 25. Bg2 Bb7 26. Qd1
Qd7 27. Rh5 Rg8 28. Qf3 {White has an advantage in all these lines.}) 25. Rc2
Rh6 26. Rf2 Qc7 27. Kb2 {+=}) 21. Rg7 $1 {The White Rook is well posted here,
it is always wise to look at this typical move when playing this variation of
the Najdorf.} 21... Nd8 (21... Qc7 22. Nd5 exd5 23. exd5 Bxh3 24. Re1+ Be6 25.
dxe6 {+-} (25. Rxe6+ $6 fxe6 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Nxe6 Rc4)) (21... Bxg7 $4 22.
fxg7 Rg8 23. Nd5 Qd8 24. Nf6+ Ke7 25. Nxd7 Qxd7 26. Rf1 {+-}) 22. Nd5 Qa7 (
22... exd5 $2 23. exd5 Bxh3 24. Qxh3 {+-}) 23. Ne7 Rc4 (23... Bxg7 $4 24. fxg7
Rf8 25. Qf6 {+-}) (23... Bxe7 $2 24. fxe7 Kxe7 25. Bxe6 Bxe6 26. Nxe6 {+-}) 24.
Qe3 Nc6 (24... Bxg7 $4 25. fxg7 Rf8 26. Qh6 {+-}) 25. Nexc6 Rxc6 26. Qg5 (26.
Qb3 $5 Rc4 27. Nxe6 Qf2 28. Nc7+ Rxc7 (28... Kd8 29. Bxd7 Rxc7 30. Bf5 {+-})
29. Qxf7+ Kd8 30. Qxd7+ Rxd7 31. Rxd7+ Kc8 32. Rh7+ Kb8 33. Rxh8 Qxf6 34. Rg8
Qf7 35. Rdg1 {This position is very difficult for Black.}) 26... Rc3 (26... Rc4
27. Nxe6 Qf2 28. Rd2 Qe1+ 29. Kb2 Qxe4 30. Nc5 $1 (30. Nxf8 $2 Bxh3 31. Rg8
Rxb4+ 32. axb4 Qxb4+ {=+}) 30... Rxc2+ 31. Rxc2 dxc5 32. Bxd7+ {+-}) 27. Bxe6
$1 Bxe6 28. Nxe6 {With the idea of Qe5.} 28... Qf2 29. Rd2 Qe1+ 30. Kb2 Rxa3 {
This is desperate but it allows Black to live in hope for a while. White still
has work to do.} 31. Kxa3 Qa1+ 32. Kb3 Qb1+ 33. Kc3 Qa1+ 34. Kd3 Qf1+ 35. Re2
Qh3+ 36. Kd2 Qxe6 37. e5 $1 {This move leads to the full point.} 37... d5 38.
Rg8 Rxg8 39. Qxg8 h4 40. c3 d4 41. cxd4 h3 42. Ke3 Qc4 43. Qg4 Bxb4 44. Qe4 1-0

[Event "BPCF Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hilton, Steve"]
[Black "Cadman, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[Annotator "S Hilton"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 {This line is known as Kramer's
Variation though the Hungarian GM Szabo did work this line.} 5... O-O 6. Ng3 c5
{I had lost a previous game to John where I had played the Averbakh variation
(5.Be2, 6.Bg5). This move was expected.} 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. exd5 {
cxd5 by White gives the position a Benoni type pawn structure.} 9... Re8 10.
O-O Nbd7 11. Bf4 {
The major alternative is f4 which can allow Black to sacrifice a pawn.} (11. f4
a6 12. f5 b5 13. fxg6 hxg6 14. cxb5 Qb6 15. Kh1 axb5 16. Bxb5 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Qxa6
18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Qd2 Rb4 {
As in Rembinger - Pendersen, Gausdal 1991.}) 11... Ne5 12. Qd2 Bd7 {
Now I'm out of the theory available to me.} 13. Bg5 Qb6 {This move for Black
is wrong as I felt that the Queen is better placed on a5 and on b6 it hampers
any Queenside counterplay with b5.} 14. f4 Neg4 15. f5 {
Necessary to try and deny the e3 square for Black.} 15... Rf8 $2 {
h6 is necessary for Black here now or on the next move.} 16. h3 Ne5 17. Bxf6
Bxf6 18. Nce4 Bh8 $4 {Where does this Bishop go? There is no active square for
it. I feel it cannot go to h4 as White plays Qh6.} 19. f6 Rfd8 20. b3 Bc8 {
This is necessary to allow the Black Knight access to f8 via d7.} 21. Qh6 Nd7
22. Ng5 Nf8 23. Bd3 Bd7 24. Nxf7 {If Black takes the Knight, White sacrifices
the Bishop with Bxg6+, If Black takes with the pawn the Bishop on h8 falls or
if Black takes with the Knight Qxh7+ kf8 Qxg6 is winning clearly fot White.}
1-0

[Event "BCCC Reserves"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Crane, K."]
[Black "Hilton, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[Annotator "S Hilton"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. e4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. a3 Bxc3 6. dxc3 d6 {Maybe Black
could have safely taken the pawn on e4 though this would cost him two tempi in
retreating the piece hence my reason for playing d6.} 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9.
h3 Be6 10. Qd3 O-O-O {Risky but worthwhile as Black has a lead in development.}
11. Be2 Na5 12. Nd2 Nc6 13. b4 Ne7 14. O-O Ng6 {An interesting position is
reached. White is trying for a Queenside attack whilst Black is trying for
play on the Kingside. However Black's pieces are supporting the attack whilst
White's are not and that is a crucial factor in what follows.} 15. Qe3 Kb8 16.
b5 Nf4 17. Kh2 g5 18. g4 {This unecessarily weakens the Kingside.} 18... h5 19.
gxh5 Nxh3 20. Qg3 Nf4 21. Bg4 Bxg4 22. Qxg4 Rxh5+ {
Black has won a pawn and maintains his initiative.} 0-1

[Event "Major 199?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Simpson, R."]
[Black "Beacon, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[Annotator "R Beacon"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 e5 {
A move designed to take advantage of White's passive opening.} 4. exd5 {
After this exchange it is difficult for White to "harass" the Queen on d5.} ({
More prudent would be} 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. c3 Nf6) 4... Qxd5 ({Interesting is} 4...
c6 5. dxc6 Nxc6 {with an improved version of the Scandinavian Gambit 1.e4 d5 2.
exd5 c6 3.dxc6 Nxc6 4.Bb5! (the "refutation")}) 5. Qe2 Nc6 6. Ngf3 f5 ({
Better would be} 6... Bg4) 7. c3 Nf6 8. Nb3 (8. Nc4 $5) 8... Be7 9. Nfd2 {
This is too passive. 9.d4 or 9.c4 would be more promising.} 9... O-O 10. Nc4 f4
11. d4 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. cxd4 Bb4+ 14. Bd2 Re8 15. Ne5 Qxd4 (15... Bc5 {
is even better!}) 16. Qc4+ Qxc4 17. Bxc4+ Be6 18. Bxe6+ (18. O-O-O $5 {
is an improvement.}) 18... Rxe6 19. Bxb4 Rxe5+ 20. Kf1 {Obviously Queenside
castling would have prevented this move which "underdevelops" White's game.}
20... Rae8 21. f3 (21. Re1 {had to be played.}) 21... Re2 22. Bc3 Nd5 23. Bd4
Rd2 24. Bxa7 b6 25. h3 Ne3+ 26. Ke1 Rxb2 27. Rc1 Rxa2 28. Rg1 Rxa7 29. Kd2 c5
30. g3 fxg3 31. Rxg3 Rd7+ 32. Kc3 Kf7 33. Kb3 Nf5 34. Rgg1 Nd4+ {The main merit
of this game is Black's third move ...e5. It is a rare move which looks
promising for Black.} 0-1

[Event "Premier"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Whitehead, S."]
[Black "Beacon, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[Annotator "R Beacon"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. e4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Qb3 d4 (4... Qe7+ {
disturbing White's development looks better.}) 5. c5 Bxc5 6. Bc4 Qe7+ 7. Kd1 (
7. Ne2 $5 {would be more circumspect.}) 7... Nf6 8. Nf3 O-O 9. Re1 Qd6 (9...
Ne4 $5 {threatening Nf2+ would be better.}) 10. Ng5 (10. Ne5 Nc6 11. Nxf7 Qxh2
12. Nd6+ Kh8 13. Nf7+ Rxf7 14. Bxf7 d3 {is better for Black.}) 10... Qxh2 11.
Bxf7+ (11. Nxf7 Ng4 12. Qf3 Nxf2+ 13. Qxf2 Bg4+ 14. Kc2 d3+ 15. Kc3 Bxf2 16.
Nh6+ Kh8 17. Nf7+ Kg8 18. Nh6+ Kh8 19. Nf7+ Kg8 $11) 11... Kh8 12. Be8 h6 {
12...Nxe8 and 12...Rxe8 are inferior.} 13. Nf7+ (13. Ne4 $5 {looks interesting.
}) 13... Kh7 14. Qc2+ g6 (14... d3 $5 15. Qxd3+ g6 {is better.}) 15. Qxc5 Rxe8
16. Rxe8 (16. Qxd4 Rxe1+ 17. Kc2 Kg7 {is taboo.}) 16... Nxe8 {Threatening d3.}
17. Qxd4 Ng7 18. Qd8 Qg1+ 19. Kc2 Bf5+ 20. d3 Qxf2+ (20... Nc6 $1 21. Qh4 Qf1
22. Qxh6+ Kg8 {probably leads to a quicker victory.}) 21. Kc3 $4 (21. Nd2 Bxd3+
$1 22. Qxd3 Qxf7 23. Ne4 {Black is still winning.}) 21... Qc5+ (21... Nc6 $1 {
as mentioned in a previous note.}) 22. Kd2 Qb4+ $2 (22... Nc6 $1) 23. Nc3 (23.
Ke2 $1 {looks like a draw.}) 23... Qf4+ 24. Ke1 Qg3+ 25. Kf1 (25. Kd2 g5 26.
Ne2 $1 {looks playable for White.}) 25... Qxd3+ 26. Qxd3 Bxd3+ 27. Kf2 Nc6 28.
Nxh6 Rf8+ {29.Kg3 Nh5+ 30.Kh2 Rf1 White obviously has problems develoing.
White's gambit is a rarity which I think could be dangerous in OTB play.} 0-1

[Event "Bernard Partridge Memorial SF"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Truyens, A."]
[Black "Christiansen, T."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B87"]
[Annotator "A Truyens"]
[PlyCount "71"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 b5 8. O-O
Be7 9. Qf3 Qc7 10. Qg3 Nc6 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 12. Re1 Bb7 13. Qxg7 Rg8 14. Qh6 O-O-O
(14... Rg6 15. Qh3 O-O-O 16. Nd5 Kd7 17. Re3 Qc5 $2 18. Rc3 Qd4 19. Rc7+ Ke8
20. Rxe7+ Kf8 21. Bh6+ {
1-0 Truyens,A-Guyot,C/corr VIII KO B 1986. (21...Kg8 22.Rxb7 exd5 23.exd5 +-)})
15. Qh3 (15. f3 Rg6 16. Qh4 Rdg8 17. Re2 Bd8 18. Qe1 Bb6+ 19. Kh1 Bd4 20. Bf4
Nh5 21. Be3 Bxe3 22. Rxe3 Qc5 (22... Rxg2 23. Nd5 Kb8 24. Ne7 Rg1+ 25. Qxg1
Rxg1+ 26. Rxg1 Qb6 $15) 23. Nd5 exd5 24. Rc3 Ng3+ 25. Qxg3 Rxg3 26. hxg3 Qxc3
27. bxc3 dxe4 28. Bxf7 Rxg3 29. Kh2 {1-0 Krason,J-Schurade,M/Olomouc 1989 (106)
}) 15... Kb8 16. f3 (16. a3 Rg6 17. f3 Rdg8 18. Re2 h5 19. Kh1 (19. Be3 Bd8 20.
Kh1 h4 21. Rg1 Qe8 22. Rd2 Bc7 23. Re1 Nh5 24. Kg1 Qd8 25. Kf1 e5 26. Bxf7 Bc8
27. g4 Qf6 28. Bxg6 Rxg6 29. Rf2 Be6 30. Nd5 Bxd5 31. exd5 Nf4 32. Bxf4 Qxf4
33. Qxh4 Rh6 34. Qg3 Qc4+ 35. Kg2 Bd8 36. Re4 Qxd5 37. g5 Rg6 38. h4 Qg8 39.
Rg4 Kb7 40. Re2 Be7 41. f4 {1-0 Kalod,R-Jirovsky,P/CZE-chJM U16 Svetla 1994.})
19... Qc7 20. Nd1 (20. Bf4 $5) 20... h4 21. Ne3 (21. Qxh4 $2 Nxe4) 21... Nh5
22. Ng4 Qd8 $1 23. Bd2 Bg5 24. g3 f5 $1 $17 25. Ne3 fxe4 26. f4 Bxf4 27. Bxe6 (
27. gxf4 Nxf4 28. Qf1 Rg1+ $19) 27... Rxg3 $1 28. hxg3 Nxg3+ 29. Kg2 Nxe2+ 30.
Bxg8 Qxg8+ 31. Kf2 Nd4 32. Nf5 Bxd2 33. Nxd4 e3+ 34. Kf1 Qc4+ {
0-1 Georgiev,K-Ivanchuk,V/Tilburg 1993.}) 16... Rg6 17. Be3 Rdg8 18. Re2 Bd8
$146 (18... Nd7 19. Nd5 exd5 20. Bxd5 Qc7 21. Bxf7 Bf6 22. Rd1 Bxb2 23. c4 Ba3
24. cxb5 axb5 25. Bxg8 Rxg8 26. Qxh7 Qc8 27. Rc2 Qe8 28. Rd3 Rh8 29. Qg7 Rg8
30. Qd4 Bc5 31. Rxc5 dxc5 32. Qxd7 Qxd7 33. Rxd7 c4 34. a3 Kc8 35. Rf7 {
1-0 Ivanchuk,V-Polugaevsky,L/Monaco blind 1993.}) 19. Kh1 b4 (19... Bc8 20. Nd1
h6 21. a4 b4 22. c3 bxc3 23. bxc3 e5 24. Qh4 Ng4 25. Qe1 Nxe3 26. Nxe3 $16) (
19... Ba5 20. Bd2 Bb6 21. Rd1 Qc7 22. Be1 h6 23. a4 b4 24. Na2 $16) 20. Na4 Bc8
21. Bd2 (21. Rd1 e5 22. Qh4 Ng4 23. Qe1 Nxe3 24. Rxe3 Rxg2 25. Qxb4+ Ka7 26.
Rc3 (26. Qc4 $11) 26... Qd7 27. Rxc8 Qxc8 28. Qxd6 $14) 21... a5 (21... e5 22.
Qh4 a5 23. Bxf7 (23. Qe1 Ba6 24. c4 $16) 23... Ba6 24. c4 bxc3 (24... Qxa4 25.
b3 Qd7 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. a3 bxa3 28. Rxa3 $16) 25. Nxc3 Bxe2 26. Nxe2 (26. Bxg8
Bxf3 27. gxf3 Rxg8 28. Rc1 $16) 26... Rxg2 27. Bxg8 Rxg8 28. Nc3 Qc4 29. Qf2
$16) 22. c4 (22. a3 e5 23. Qh4 Ba6 24. Rae1 (24. Ree1 Rxg2 25. Rg1 Rxg1+ 26.
Rxg1 Rxg1+ 27. Kxg1 Bb5 $17) 24... Bxe2 25. Rxe2 bxa3 26. bxa3 Qa6 27. Qe1 $11)
(22. g3 Ba6 23. c4 bxc3 24. Nxc3 Bxe2 25. Nxe2 Qb5 (25... a4 26. Rc1 $11) 26.
Nd4 $11) 22... bxc3 (22... e5 23. Qh4 Be6 24. a3 Bxc4 $16) 23. Bxc3 (23. Rc1 e5
24. Qh4 Nxe4 $17) 23... Ba6 24. Rd2 (24. Rc2 Bd3 25. Rd2 Bb5 26. Rc2 (26. Bxf6
Bxf6 27. Rc2 Qa6 28. g3 Bd3 29. Rcc1 Bg5 30. Re1 Rh6 31. Qg2 Bf4 $19) 26... Bd3
(26... Qd7 27. Bxf6 Bxf6 28. Nb6 $14) 27. Rd2 Bb5 $11) 24... Bb5 25. Rad1 (25.
Bxf6 Bxf6 26. Rc2 Qa6 27. Rac1 (27. Qh5 Bd3 28. Rd2 Bg5 29. Rdd1 Be2 $17) (27.
g3 Bd3 28. Rcc1 Bg5 29. Rg1 Be3 $17) 27... Bg5 28. g4 (28. f4 Bxf4 29. Qe3 (29.
Qc3 Qb7 $17))) 25... Bxa4 (25... Ne8 26. Be5 $16) 26. Rxd6 Bxb3 27. Rxc6 (27.
Rxd8+ Rxd8 28. Rxd8+ Kc7 29. Bxa5+ Kb7 30. Qh4 (30. Bc3 Qb5 31. g3 Bxa2 $17) (
30. Bd2 Qb5 31. Rd3 Bc4 $17) 30... Qc2 31. Bd2 Bxa2 $15) 27... Bxd1 28. Be5+
Kb7 29. Rc1 Ba4 (29... Be2 30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. Qxh7 R6g7 32. Qh5 Bxb2 33. Rb1
Rxg2 34. Rxb2+ Ka6 35. Qc5 Rg1+ 36. Qxg1 Rxg1+ 37. Kxg1 Bxf3 38. e5 $18) 30. b3
(30. b4 axb4 31. Rb1 Rxg2 32. Rxb4+ Bb6 33. Qxg2 Rxg2 34. Kxg2 Nd7 35. Bd4 Bc6
36. Kf2 Ka6 37. Bxb6 Nxb6 $15) (30. Bxf6 Bxf6 31. b3 Bd7 32. g4 Bg5 (32... h6
33. Qg3 e5 34. Qe1 $14) 33. Rc2 f5 34. Qxh7 R6g7 35. Qh3 $13) 30... Bc6 31.
Bxf6 (31. Rc2 h6 32. Rd2 (32. Qh4 Nxe4 33. Qe1 Rg5 34. fxe4 Rxe5 35. Qc3 Bxe4
36. Qc8+ Ka7 37. Qd7+ Ka6 38. Qd6+ Kb7 39. Qd7+ $14) 32... Be7 33. Qh4 Bb4 34.
Rc2 Nd7 35. Bg3 e5 36. Be1 Bxe1 37. Qxe1 $14) 31... Bxf6 (31... Rxf6 32. Qxh7
$16) 32. Qxh7 R8g7 (32... R6g7 33. Qh5 $16) 33. Qh3 a4 (33... Be5 34. Rc2 $16)
(33... Rxg2 34. Qxg2 Rxg2 35. Kxg2 $14) 34. bxa4 (34. Rc2 axb3 (34... Rg8 35.
Qh5 Rd8 36. g4 axb3 37. axb3 Bd4 $16) 35. axb3 Rg8 36. Qh5 Rd8 37. g4 (37. g3
e5 38. Qh3 Rd1+ 39. Kg2 Bd7 $14) 37... Bd4 (37... e5 38. Qh7 Bg7 39. Qh4 $16)
38. Qh4 Rd7 (38... Bf6 39. Qe1 $16) (38... Bb6 39. Kg2 $16) 39. Kg2 f5 40. Rd2
Rgg7 (40... fxg4 41. Rxd4 Rxd4 42. Qh7+ $18) 41. exf5 exf5 42. g5 (42. h3 fxg4
43. hxg4 Rgf7 44. Rd3 Bb5 45. Rd2 Bc6 $11) 42... Rxg5+ 43. Qxg5 Rg7 44. Qxg7+
Bxg7 45. h4 $16) 34... Bxa4 (34... Rxg2 35. Qxg2 Rxg2 36. Kxg2 Bxa4 37. Kg3 Bc6
(37... Be5+ 38. f4 Bg7 39. h4 Bc6 40. e5 $16) 38. h4 $16) 35. Rb1+ Kc8 (35...
Kc7 36. f4 $1 Rxg2 37. Qe3 $18) 36. f4 $1 (36. f4 Rxg2 37. Qe3 Rc2 38. Qb6 Bc6
(38... Bb2 39. Qa6+ Kd8 40. Rd1+ $18) 39. Qb8+ Kd7 40. Rd1+ Bd5 41. Qb7+ Ke8 (
41... Rc7 42. Qb5+ $18) 42. Qb5+ $18) 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship 1998"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mackintosh, I."]
[Black "Livie, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B75"]
[Annotator "I Mackintosh"]
[PlyCount "121"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2
{Up to here, I'd been following Karpov-Korchnoi 1974. Douglas now surprises me
with his reply - I'd expected 0-0 or Bd7.} 8... h5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bc4 Qc7 11.
O-O {With Douglas seemingly intent on not castling, I thought I'd be a touch
perverse and invite a further K-side advance.} 11... h4 12. h3 Bd7 13. Rad1 Nh5
14. Bd4 {Trying to be consistent with one of the original objectives of the
opening - removal of the fianchettoed Bishop.} 14... Bxd4+ 15. Qxd4 Rf8 16. Ne2
Rd8 17. Kh1 {To keep the Queens on.} 17... Nf6 {
Here I felt White had the better position.} 18. e5 dxe5 19. Qxh4 Bf5 20. c3 Nd5
21. Ng3 Ne3 22. Rxd8+ Qxd8 23. Re1 Qd2 {
But now Black recovers lost ground with some energetic play.} 24. Re2 Qc1+ 25.
Kh2 Kd7 26. Ba6 Rb8 27. Qa4 Rxb2 28. Qa3 {Reactivating White's Queen and
stirring up some tactical play was more important than the b2 pawn.} 28... Nc2
{#This seems a natural response to break the pin, but it is probably the
losing move. The Knight is now dangerously marginalised. Nd1 looks better.} 29.
Qc5 Rb6 30. Nxf5 gxf5 {1 defender gone.} 31. Bd3 Qf4+ {2 defenders gone.} 32.
Kg1 Rb1+ {3 defenders gone.} 33. Kf2 Qh4+ {
Douglas decides to give up the Knight and flushes out the White King.} 34. g3
Qxh3 35. Bxc2 {Qxa7+ looks more efficient with hindsight.} 35... Rf1+ 36. Ke3
Qh6+ 37. Kd3 Rxf3+ 38. Kc4 Qe6+ 39. Kb4 Qd6 {The White King has survived his
cross-country trek, and although Bishop for 3 pawns looks equal, White's
superior mobiity gives the edge.} 40. Rxe5 e6 41. Qxd6+ Kxd6 42. Ra5 f6 43.
Rxa7 Rxg3 44. Rf7 c5+ {Rg2 or Rg6 might be improvements here.} 45. Kc4 Rg4+ 46.
Kb5 Rg3 47. c4 Rg8 {If now Rg6, 48.Rb7 and the Black c-pawn goes.} 48. Rxf6
Rb8+ 49. Ka4 {The a-pawn needs to stay on.} 49... Rb4+ 50. Ka5 Ke7 {
If Rxc4, 51.Bxf5.} 51. Rh6 f4 52. a3 Rb8 53. Be4 Kd6 54. Bd5 Re8 55. Kb6 Rb8+
56. Bb7 {The a-pawn can't be stopped now.} 56... Ke5 57. a4 f3 58. Rh3 f2 59.
Rf3 Kd4 60. Rxf2 Kxc4 61. a5 {No brilliancy prizes, but good robust stuff!} 1-0

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Magazine 65"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "B Milligan"]
[PlyCount "0"]

 *

[Event "SCCA Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gillam, S."]
[Black "Mackintosh, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2385"]
[BlackElo "2295"]
[Annotator "Simon Gillam"]
[PlyCount "119"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 c6 4. e4 {This was the first time I had played the
Slav Gambit. I think that I was first made aware of the ideas behind the
opening 3 0r 4 years ago when Edinburgh West were preparing for a Richardson
Cup match, but I had never tried it OTB. My book knowledge was limited to the
final chapter of Peter Wells' 1994 book on the Complete Semi-Slav, which
featured the game Lautier-Gurevich, Biel IZ 1993.} 4... dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6.
Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 Na6 9. Bc3 Ne7 10. Bxg7 Rg8 11. Bf6 Qf4 12. Bc3
Rxg2 13. Nf3 f6 {Analysis by Lautier and Wells suggests that 13...Rg8 should
be looked at as an alternative to 13...f6.} 14. Qd2 Qxd2+ 15. Nxd2 e5 16. Ne4
Kf7 17. Rd1 Rg8 {Lautier and Wells analyse 17...Nc7 as better than 17...Rg8.}
18. f4 Nf5 {# Departing from the Lautier-Gurevich game, which continued} (18...
Ng6 19. Rd6 Ke7 20. Rxf6 Nxf4 21. Bxe5 Nxe2 22. Bd6+ Ke8 23. Kxe2 Bh3 {
with a large advantage to White, who won in 37 moves.}) ({Wells also gives} 
18... exf4 19. Bh5+ Ng6 20. Nxf6 {as "crushing".}) 19. fxe5 fxe5 20. Rf1 ({
Black had offered the conditional} 20. Bxe5 Nb4 {
but I thought that the extra tempo of 20.Rf1 was needed to keep control.})
20... Ke7 21. Bxe5 Nb4 {Black's plan of giving up the e5 pawn to mobilise the
Q-Knight is a reasonable try.} 22. Rd6 Nc2+ 23. Kd2 Rg2 ({I had analysed} 23...
Nce3 24. Bf6+ Kf8 (24... Kf7 25. Bh5+ Rg6 26. Ng5+) 25. Rd8+ Kf7 26. Bh5+ {
but 23...Rg2 looks much better than this line.}) 24. Bf6+ Kf7 25. Bc3 Nce3 26.
Rf6+ Kg8 27. Rf2 Rxf2 28. Nxf2 Bd7 29. Ne4 ({
Here I thought I had let much of my advantage slip, because lines like} 29. Ng4
Nxg4 30. Bxg4 {left me with very little (30...Rd8 and 30...Rf8 are both ok).
Had I missed a better attacking plan in the last 10 moves, or is White
supposed to be happy with this late middlegame position? If I am supposed to
be winning, then 29.Ne4 followed by 30.Nd6 looks the only serious try.}) 29...
Rd8 30. Nd6 Bc8 ({Black had several alternatives here, but I thought I
retained enough advantage to have good winning chances. Perhaps the best was
simply} 30... Nxd6 31. Rxd6 Nf5 32. Rd3) ({Other possibilities included} 30...
Be8 31. c5 Nxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6+ 33. cxd6 Nd5 34. Bg4 Nb6 35. Be6+ Kf8 36. Bd4 {
good for White}) ({or} 30... b5 31. c5 Nd5 32. Nxf5 Nxf6 33. Bxf6 Rf8 34. Nh6#)
31. c5 Nxd6 32. Kxe3 Re8+ 33. Kf3 Ne4 34. Bc4+ Be6  35. Rxe6 $3 ({When analy
sing the line played from move 31, I thought at first that I would have to try
} 35. Bxe6+ Rxe6 36. Rxe6 Ng5+ 37. Kf4 Nxe6+ 38. Ke5 Nxc5 39. Kd6 {when I still
have winning chances. Just before playing34.Bc4+ I realised that 35.Rxe6!! was
a killer. A good example of the power of two Bishops working side-by-side. A
move a computer would find hard to spot, as it relies on a zugzwang when Black
runs out of pawn moves.}) 35... Ng5+ 36. Kg4 Nxe6 37. Kf5 Kf7 38. Bf6 b5 39.
cxb6 axb6 40. a4 b5 41. axb5 cxb5 42. Bd5 b4 43. b3 Kf8 44. Bxe6 {I was sure
at 2B+2P versus R+2P ending should be winning, but it isn't as easy as I first
thought. I felt there should be a way to get at the Black b-pawn, using the 2
Bishops to fend off the Rook.} 44... Ra8 45. Bd4 Ra2 46. h3 Ke8 47. Kf6 Rc2 48.
h4 Rc6 {Manoeuvres to pick up the loose b-pawn are not so easy, as lines like
48.Bf5 Rd2 49.Bc5 Rd5 50.Bxb4 Rb5 demonstrate. I need to use the h-pawn as
well, to threaten mate if the Black King stays on the k-side, or to pick up
the h-pawn for the b-pawn and win the pawn race. The only thing to watch for
is by pushing the h-pawn to h6 to threaten mate, I could leave a stalemate if
Black sacs the Rook.} 49. h5 Kf8 50. Be3 Ke8 51. Ke5 Ke7 52. Bd5 Rc2 53. Bg5+
Ke8 54. Bc4 Rg2 55. Kf6 Kd7 56. Bd3 Rf2+ 57. Kg7 Rg2  58. Bxh7 $1 {
The final tactic, which I spotted after 55...Kd7. The threat of Bf5+ stops
Black winning the b-pawn and returning to h3.} ({The sac isn't essential, as} 
58. Kh6 Rg3 59. Bxh7 Rxb3 60. Bf5+ Ke8 61. Kg7 Rg3 62. Bg6+ Kd7 63. h6 {
also wins, but the game continuation is clearer.}) 58... Rxg5+ 59. Bg6 Ke6 60.
h6 1-0

[Event "ICCF TT/11/98/2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1998.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "McIntee, C."]
[Black "Felipe Martinez, Rubio"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D32"]
[Annotator "C McIntee"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "1998.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 cxd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Bd7 8.
Nf3 Nf6 9. Qd1 {
# Qb3 seems better to me now, but Qd1 shows how much fun the main line is.}
9... Bc5 10. e3 Qc7 11. Be2 O-O-O 12. O-O g5 {
# Ouch!! Clearly taking on g5 gives Black a gory g file attack.} 13. Nd4 (13.
Nxg5 Rhg8 14. Nf3 Bh3) 13... Qe5 {
# I start to feel this game slipping away after this move.} 14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15.
Qb3 h5 16. Qc4 {Qxf7 seems to give Black more space to attack.} 16... Ng4 17.
Bxg4+ hxg4 18. Qxg4+ f5 19. Qg3 Bd6 20. Qxe5 Bxe5 21. h3 g4 22. hxg4 Bh2+ {
Here I thought it was a draw with Kh1 Bh2+ Kg1 ect, but} 23. Kh1 Rh4 $3 {
Planning Be5 Kg1 Rdh8 and White is a goner.} 0-1

[Event "ICCF World Cup XI"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lennox, C J."]
[Black "Landeck, Gerhard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[Annotator "C J Lennox"]
[PlyCount "67"]

{My opponent didn't play very well in this game, but it had a number of
pleasing features for me. As my comments are a little in the style of Ian
Marks, I'm tempted to say it made me 'glad all over', but I'm not sure how
many of our readers will remember the Dave Clark 5.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 dxc4 3.
Na3 c5 4. Nxc4 Nc6 5. b3 Bf5 6. Bb2 Nf6 {'Black develops his pieces sensibly
but with no specific aims in view' - Ray Keene commenting on Andersson -
Radulov, Nice 1974. In that game Black played b6 and Bb7 but the salient
feature is the same. White's control of e5. Black's best plan involves f6 and
e5, as Alex Nisbet demonstrated to me in the SCCA Championship 1997-98.} 7. Rc1
e6 8. g3 Be7 9. Bg2 Qc7 10. O-O O-O 11. d3 Rad8 $2 {The Black Rooks surely
belong on c8 and d8, and his next move invites occupation of e5 with tempo.}
12. Rc2 Rd7 13. Qa1 {# The authentic Reti formation - see for example the
classic Reti - Rubinstein, Karlsbad 1923. But my favourite example, indeed my
all time favourite game is Larsen - Geller, Copenhagen 1960, culminating in
the wonderful move Qa1-h8!} 13... Rc8 14. Nce5 Nb4 ({After} 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5
Rdd8 16. e4 Bg6 17. f4 {White would have the makings of a formidable attack.})
15. Rcc1 Rd6 {
Presumably Black intended to play this Rook to a6, but see note at move 19.}
16. e4 Bg4 17. d4 {# 'This position would gladen the heart of Reti himself.
For his subtle opening has, ultimately, the same object as all the others -
the domination of the centre'. Peter Clarke on Tal - Botvinnik, 1960 match
game 11. Yes, tal was White!} 17... Bxf3 18. Bxf3 Qb8 19. dxc5 Rdd8 ({After} 
19... Ra6 20. a3 {either capture on c5 would cost a piece.} 20... Bxc5 (20...
Rxc5 21. Rxc5 Bxc5 22. Qc1 Bd6 23. axb4 Bxe5 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 25. Qc8+ {
A fitting punishment for a misplaced Rook.}) 21. Qb1 {or}) 20. Bd4 Nc6 {
This is equivelent to resignation, but 20...Nxa2 21.Rc4 would be even worse.}
21. Nxc6 Rxc6 22. b4 a5 23. b5 Rcc8 24. Rc4 h5 25. Rfc1 h4 26. c6 bxc6 27. bxc6
Qc7 28. Rb1 hxg3 29. hxg3 Rb8 30. Rxb8 Rxb8 31. Be5 Bd6 32. Bxd6 Qxd6 33. e5
Qd3 {Attacking c4, f3 and b1, but after} 34. c7 {
Black resigned since 34...Rc8 35.Rc3 wins a piece and 35.Rd4 is even stronger.}
1-0

[Event "PCC "All-play-all""]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1983.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Grimmer, A W."]
[Black "Stewart, D J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Annotator "D J Stewart"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nd4 {Way back in 1983 the
moves 5...Nd4 and 5...b5 looked worthwhile. I wonder what current theory says.}
6. c3 b5 7. cxd4 bxc4 8. dxe5 Qxd5 9. exf6 Qxg5 10. Qf3 $1 Rb8 11. Qc6+ Bd7 12.
Qxc7 Rc8 13. fxg7 Rxc7 {Why didn't I prefer 13...Bxg7. Maybe because of 14.Qg3.
} 14. gxh8=Q Qxg2 15. Qe5+ Kd8 16. Qf6+ Kc8 17. Qa6+ Kb8 18. Rf1 Bh3 19. Qb5+
Ka8 20. Qe8+ Kb7 21. Qb5+ Ka8 22. Qe8+ Rc8 23. Qe2 Rc6 {Incredibly all of
White's 10 or so moves have been forced! - now he's quite lost!} 24. Qe8+ Kb7
25. Kd1 Qxf1+ 26. Kc2 Bf5+ {I'm sure I enjoyed that one!} 0-1

[Event "SCCA Challenge"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Petrie, A R."]
[Black "Jack, J P E."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "A R Petrie"]
[PlyCount "43"]

1. d4 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 e6 4. Nd2 c5 5. c3 c4 6. Bc2 b5 {This is quite
common in the Stonewall Attack. White castles short and Black Long and once
the centre battle has been resolved a pawn race follows.} 7. Ndf3 Nc6 8. Ne5
Bb7 9. f4 {The Stonewall is established. Black can try 8...Nxe5 9.dxe5 Ne4.
This Knight can be a thorn in White's side as either the Kingside pawn
structure is weakened or the better hite squared Bishop is traded.} 9... Nxe5
10. fxe5 $5 {I decided it was better to keep the centre closed and try to
control the f-file.} 10... Nd7 11. Nh3 Qc7 12. Qf3 f6 $6 {
Weakening the King side.} ({Better was} 12... Be7 13. Qg4 g6 14. O-O O-O 15.
Nf4 f5 16. Qf3 Qc6 $14 {to White.}) 13. O-O O-O-O {# White has more space and
the idea of opening the f-file looks even more appealing.} 14. exf6 Nxf6 $6 15.
Ng5 {White normally plays Nf2 followed by e4. 15.Ng5 is a bit of a cheapo and
I was surprised by Black's reply.} 15... Kd7 $2 ({Better is} 15... Re8 16. Qh3
Bd6 17. a4 b4 18. cxb4 h6 19. Nxe6 $16) 16. Nf7 $1 {Charge!!!} 16... Bd6 17.
Nxh8 Bxh2+ 18. Kf2 Rxh8  ({Black could have tried} 18... Rf8 19. Qh3 Bd6 20.
Kg1 Rxh8 21. Rb1 Bg3 22. b3 cxb3 23. axb3 $16) 19. g3 h5 20. Qf4 ({Better is} 
20. Kg2 h4 21. Kxh2 hxg3+ 22. Kg1 Rh2 23. Bg6 g2 24. Rd1 Kc8 {
with a clear advantage to White.}) 20... Qd8 $6 ({Better was} 20... h4 21.
Qxc7+ Kxc7 22. gxh4 Rxh4 23. Rh1 Bg3+ 24. Kg2 Rxh1 25. Kxh1 $14) 21. Kg2 Ng4
22. Qf7+ {Note the QR and B never moved during the game. The Stonewall might
not be everyone's cup of tea but in the right circumstances it shows what can
be done with Queen and minor pieces.} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Premiers"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Knox, A."]
[Black "Lloyd, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "G Lloyd"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 $146 (3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. d5 Nd4 6. Be3 c5 7. Nge2
Nxe2 8. Bxe2 Qa5 9. Qd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Nf6 11. f3 O-O 12. Bh6 Re8 13. O-O b6 14.
Rfd1 Nd7 15. Re1 Ba6 16. Qc2 Ne5 17. Qb3 f6 18. Be3 e6 19. dxe6 Rxe6 20. Rad1
Rae8 21. Rd2 f5 22. Red1 Nf7 23. Bd3 Bb7 {
1/2 1/2 D Cumming-G Lloyd SCCA Premiers 1999.}) 3... c6 {Covers b5.} 4. Nf3 d6
{Controls e5.} 5. h3 {Consolidates g4.} 5... Na6 6. a3 {Covers b4.} 6... Nc7 7.
Be3 e6 $14 {Secures d5.} (7... d5 8. e5 $11) 8. Qd2 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5
cxd5 11. Bd3 Qb6 12. c3 Bd7 13. Ne5 Bb5 14. Bxb5+ $15 (14. Bc2 h6 $11) 14...
Qxb5 15. h4 Nf6 16. f3 {Prevents intrusion on e4 & g4.} 16... h6 {Controls g5.}
17. Ng4 Nxg4 18. fxg4 Qc4 19. Rf1 Rd8 20. Qf2 {
The mate threat is Qxf7 and is easily defended.} 20... O-O 21. O-O-O Rd6 22.
Bf4 Rb6 23. Be5 $11 {At this point White seems to have the advantage, however
you have to press it home or it can soon slip away!!} (23. g5 hxg5 24. Bxg5 e5
$11) 23... f6 24. Bg3 e5 25. Qc2 $17 (25. Rfe1 Qa2 26. Qc2 Rc8 $19) 25... exd4
26. Rf4 f5 27. cxd4 $2 $19 ({Better is} 27. Bf2 Be5 28. Rfxd4 Bxd4 29. Bxd4 $15
) 27... Qa2 $1 {The decision. White has to choose his next move with care.} 28.
Rd3 $4 {but even a better move would not have saved the game.} (28. Be1 Qa1+
29. Kd2 Qxb2 30. gxf5 Rxf5 31. Rxf5 gxf5 32. Bf2 $19) 28... Qa1+ (28... Qa1+
29. Kd2 Rxb2 $19 (29... Qxb2 $6 30. gxf5 Qa1 31. Ke3 $19)) 0-1

[Event "BPCF Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hilton, Steve"]
[Black "Cadman, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[Annotator "S Hilton"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 {This line is known as Kramer's
Variation though the Hungarian GM Szabo did work this line.} 5... O-O 6. Ng3 c5
{I had lost a previous game to John where I had played the Averbakh variation
(5.Be2, 6.Bg5). This move was expected.} 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. exd5 {
cxd5 by White gives the position a Benoni type pawn structure.} 9... Re8 10.
O-O Nbd7 11. Bf4 {
The major alternative is f4 which can allow Black to sacrifice a pawn.} (11. f4
a6 12. f5 b5 13. fxg6 hxg6 14. cxb5 Qb6 15. Kh1 axb5 16. Bxb5 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Qxa6
18. Bf4 Ne5 19. Rb1 Rab8 20. Qd2 Rb4 {
As in Rembinger - Pendersen, Gausdal 1991.}) 11... Ne5 12. Qd2 Bd7 {
Now I'm out of the theory available to me.} 13. Bg5 Qb6 {This move for Black
is wrong as I felt that the Queen is better placed on a5 and on b6 it hampers
any Queenside counterplay with b5.} 14. f4 Neg4 15. f5 {
Necessary to try and deny the e3 square for Black.} 15... Rf8 $2 {
h6 is necessary for Black here now or on the next move.} 16. h3 Ne5 17. Bxf6
Bxf6 18. Nce4 Bh8 $4 {Where does this Bishop go? There is no active square for
it. I feel it cannot go to h4 as White plays Qh6.} 19. f6 Rfd8 20. b3 Bc8 {
This is necessary to allow the Black Knight access to f8 via d7.} 21. Qh6 Nd7
22. Ng5 Nf8 23. Bd3 Bd7 24. Nxf7 {If Black takes the Knight, White sacrifices
the Bishop with Bxg6+, If Black takes with the pawn the Bishop on h8 falls or
if Black takes with the Knight Qxh7+ kf8 Qxg6 is winning clearly fot White.}
1-0

[Event "BCCC Reserves"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Crane, K."]
[Black "Hilton, S."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[Annotator "S Hilton"]
[PlyCount "44"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. e4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. a3 Bxc3 6. dxc3 d6 {Maybe Black
could have safely taken the pawn on e4 though this would cost him two tempi in
retreating the piece hence my reason for playing d6.} 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bxf6 Qxf6 9.
h3 Be6 10. Qd3 O-O-O {Risky but worthwhile as Black has a lead in development.}
11. Be2 Na5 12. Nd2 Nc6 13. b4 Ne7 14. O-O Ng6 {An interesting position is
reached. White is trying for a Queenside attack whilst Black is trying for
play on the Kingside. However Black's pieces are supporting the attack whilst
White's are not and that is a crucial factor in what follows.} 15. Qe3 Kb8 16.
b5 Nf4 17. Kh2 g5 18. g4 {This unecessarily weakens the Kingside.} 18... h5 19.
gxh5 Nxh3 20. Qg3 Nf4 21. Bg4 Bxg4 22. Qxg4 Rxh5+ {
Black has won a pawn and maintains his initiative.} 0-1

[Event "ICCF EU/III/1153"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Knox, Arthur"]
[Black "Spackova, Milena"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C62"]
[Annotator "A Knox"]
[PlyCount "116"]

{I am giving this game first as it was my only loss in the tournament. My
opponent played the Steinitz Defence to my Ruy Lopez. As it has a rather
passive reputation, I was immediately siezed with an insane confidence that I
was destined to win this game. It doesn't pay to be too cocky!!} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. d4 Bd7 5. d5 {At this point I got the idea referred to in
my introductory remarks that my opponent was going to play a cautious and
defensive game. This made me feel pretty good, as I said.} 5... Nce7 6. Qe2 a6
7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 8. c4 c5 {Either locking the centre for the moment or giving
herself the choice (after dxc6) of a central break with d5 at some point.} 9.
O-O g6 10. Bd2 a5 11. Nc3 h6 12. Qd1 Nc8 {The start of some complicated (To
me!) and patient manoevring. The Knight has access to better squares from d7
than from a7.} 13. Qa4 {
I don't know why an exchange of Queens seemed good at this point.} 13... Nb6
14. Qxd7+ Nxd7 15. b3 Be7 {Unexpected after preparing to fianchetto on g7.
Still the Bishop can support K-side pawn advances better from e7.} 16. Rfb1 b6
17. Ne1 Ngf6 18. f3 {
Establishing a very aesthetic looking pawn chain din't you think?} 18... g5 19.
Nc2 Nf8 20. a3 {Preparing to push b4 andd try to seize an open file.} 20... Ng6
{She's not worried by the prospect of b4.} 21. b4 a4 22. bxc5 bxc5 23. Rb7 O-O
24. Rab1 g4 $2 {Losing the h pawn.} 25. Bxh6 {I have won a pawn, am attacking
her Rook and have doubled my own Rooks. I'm feeling pretty good about now!}
25... Rfd8 26. R1b6 {
The start of an attempt to double Rooks on the seventh rank.} 26... Nd7 27. Rc6
gxf3 28. gxf3 Kh7 29. Bd2 {
Thinking there might be a use for the Bishop on the e1 - a5 diagonal.} 29...
Kg7 30. Rcc7 Nf6 31. Ne3 Ng8 {Defending the Bishop again.} 32. Nf5+ Kf6 {
Now the Bishop is adequately defended.} 33. Nxe7 N8xe7 34. Rd7 {
Hoping for a Rook exchange and the win of the d pawn.} 34... Rxd7 35. Rxd7 Ra6
36. Nb5 Nc8 {Defending the d pawn.} 37. Nc7 Nf8 38. Nxa6 Nxd7 {
Getting rid of the annoying Rook.} 39. Nc7 Ndb6 {Attacking the c pawn.} 40. Nb5
Ke7 41. Kg2 {Now I start trying to Queen the h pawn hoping the Knight will
keep the King tied to the d pawn and the Black Knights won't get across in
time. The Bishop might be able to help too.} 41... Nxc4 {
Now material is level and Black has  a passed pawn of her own.} 42. Bc1 Na5 43.
Kg3 Nb3 44. Be3 Nd4 45. Nxd4 exd4 {The Knight exchange was a very good idea.
Black now has two connected passed pawns against my one.} 46. Bd2 Nb6 47. Kf2
c4 {The pawn roller rolls!} 48. Ke2 {
The only chance now is to try to exchange the Bishop for the two passed pawns.}
48... Nd7 49. Bc1 Nc5 50. Bf4 Nd3 51. Bd2 Nb2 52. h4 c3 {If Bxc3 The King
can't approach to get the second pawn and will be tied down to guarding it
from Queening. This will leave the h pawn at the Black King's mercy.} 53. f4 f6
54. h5 cxd2 55. Kxd2 Nc4+ {Forking King and pawn.} 56. Kd3 Nxa3 57. Kxd4 Nb5+
58. Kc4 a3 {If 59.Kb3 a2 60.Kxa2 Nc3 and the pawns fall.} 0-1

[Event "ICCF EU/III/1153"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Knox, A."]
[Black "Rapp, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
[Annotator "A Knox"]
[PlyCount "103"]

1. e4 Nc6 {A Nimzovitch Defence.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 e5 4. exd5 Nxd4 {
No pawn centres in this game. Who heens them?} 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 Nxf3+ 7. Bxf3
Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Bb4 9. Bd2 Nf6 10. O-O-O O-O {I quite fancy White's chances here.}
11. Ne4 Be7 12. Nxf6+ Bxf6 13. Bb4 {Intending d6.} 13... Re8 {
Intending e4 in return.} 14. d6 e4 15. Qb3 cxd6 16. Rxd6 Qc7 17. Rhd1 {
Doubling Rooks.} 17... Rad8 18. Qd5 Rxd6 19. Qxd6 Rc8 20. Qxc7 Rxc7 21. Re1 Rc4
22. c3 Bg5+ 23. Kd1 f5 24. b3 Rc8 25. c4 Bf4 26. g3 Bg5 27. Ke2 Rd8 28. Rd1
Rxd1 29. Kxd1 Bf6 30. Kc2 Bd4 31. Be1 Kf7 {Now the endgame manoevring begins.}
32. b4 g5 33. Kb3 f4 34. c5 e3 35. fxe3 fxe3 {
Can anything be made of this passed pawn? That's the question.} 36. Kc4 Bb2 37.
Kd5 Bc1 38. Bc3 Bd2 39. Kd4 {The King's come back just in time. It was nearly
a square too far away if it had continued to attack the a and b pawns.} 39...
Bc1 40. Kd3 g4 41. Bd4 a6 42. a4 Bd2 43. b5 axb5 44. axb5 Ke6 {
Coming towards the potential passed pawn.} 45. Bxe3 Ba5 46. Ke4 {
Keeping his opposite number out of d5 and f5.} 46... Bb4 47. c6 bxc6 48. bxc6
Kd6 49. Kf5 Kxc6 50. Kxg4 Kd5 51. Kf5 Bd6 52. Bf4 1-0

[Event "Scottish Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ellis, DRR."]
[Black "Gillam, SR."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "Notes by Dave Ellis"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. e4 {[This is my first attempt at annotating a game and I feel nervous about
my analysis especially with Simon being the new champion!]} 1... g6 2. d4 Bg7
3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O c6 7. h3 Qc7 8. Bf4 Nh5 9. Be3 e5 10.
Qd2 Nd7 11. a4 Re8 12. Rad1 exd4 13. Nxd4 Nhf6 14. f3 a6 15. Rf2 d5 16. exd5
Nxd5 17. Nxd5 cxd5 18. a5 Ne5 19. Bf4 b5 20. axb6 Qxb6 21. b3 Bb7 22. Be3 Nc6 {
[Until here, I thought the position was equal, but after 22...Nc6 things
slowly go downhill for Black. Better was 22...Qc7 23.f4 Nc6 24.Nxc6 Qxc6 25.
Bf3 Qc7]} 23. Nf5 d4 24. Nh6+ Kf8 25. Bf4 Ne7 {
[If 25...d3 then 26.Bxd3 Bd4 27.Bd6+ Ne7 28.Bc4 Be3 29.Qc3 is good for White.]}
26. Ng4 Nd5 27. Bh6 Nc3 {
[Black might try 27...f5 28.Nh2 Nc3 29.Re1 Re3 30.Bxg7+]} 28. Re1 Nxe2+ {
[Better for Black is 28...Bxh6 29.Qxh6+ Kg8 30.Qd2]} 29. Rexe2 Rxe2 30. Rxe2
Rd8 31. Kh1 Bc8 {
[An improvement for Black is 31...d3 32.cxd3 Qd6 33.Qb2 Qd4 34.Qa3+]} 32. Qg5
Bxg4 33. Qe5 {[After this, Black's position is hard to defend with many
threatening checks against the exposed king.]} 33... Be6 34. Qxg7+ Ke8 35. Rd2
Rd5 36. Qxh7 Kd7 37. Qh8 Qb4 38. h4 Qd6 39. Bg5 Kc6 40. Bf6 Qf4 41. Qa8+ Kb6
42. Bd8+ Kc5 43. Rd1 Qd6 44. Ba5 Qc6 45. Qb8 1-0

[Event "SCCA Challenge"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lloyd, G."]
[Black "Dowell, C."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Annotator "G Lloyd"]
[PlyCount "55"]

{TROUBLE DOWNT MILL} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 b5 3. Bg2 Bb7 4. O-O e6 5. b3 Bd6 6. d4
O-O 7. Na3 a6 {Prevents any ideas White may have about b5.} 8. c4 bxc4 9. Nxc4
Bb4 10. Bb2 d5 11. a3 dxc4 12. axb4 cxb3 {Don't underestimate that pawn.} 13.
Qxb3 Qd6 14. Rfc1 Nc6 {Attacks the isolani on b4.} 15. Qc4 {
White is in command.} 15... Nd5 {
Increasing the pressure on the isolated pawn on b4.} 16. Ba3 Rfd8 17. Ng5 f5
$16 (17... Qd7 $14) 18. e4 fxe4 19. Nxe4 Qf8 20. Re1 Nb6 $18 (20... Qf5 $5 $16)
21. Qxe6+ Kh8 22. Ng5 Re8 23. Qa2 (23. Bxc6 {is clearly weaker.} 23... Rxe6 24.
Nxe6 Qc8 $11) 23... Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 g6 25. Qe6 Nd8 (25... Qf5 {
Doesn't make things any easier.} 26. Bxc6 Qxe6 27. Rxe6 (27. Nxe6 $6 Bxc6 28.
Rc1 Bb5 $18) 27... Bxc6 28. Rxc6 $18) 26. Qe5+ {
Theres TROUBLE DOWN AT MILL Mr ARKWRIGHT.} 26... Qg7 27. Qe8+ Qg8 28. Bxb7 (28.
Bxb7 Rb8 29. Bf3 $18) 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship 1999-2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lennox, C J."]
[Black "Milligan, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[WhiteElo "2300"]
[BlackElo "1965"]
[Annotator "Jonathan Lennox"]
[PlyCount "67"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. g3 c5 4. b4 cxb4 5. a3 e6 {[A reversed Benko. Personally
I wouldn't dream of letting my opponent play such a critical variation with an
extra tempo, but Bernard's play is nothing if not optimistic!]} 6. Bg2 Nc6 7.
O-O Nf6 8. Bb2 bxa3 9. Nxa3 Bc5 10. Ne1 $1 e5 11. Nd3 Bd6 {[Black makes the
critical decision to allow the capture of the black-squared bishop. 11...Be7
would of course permit White to regain his pawn by 12.Bxc6+, but it would by
no means clearly good to do so.]} 12. Nb5 e4 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14. Ba3 Qe6 15. Nf4
Qe5 {[15...Qxc4 16.d3 is awkward for Black. Now, my original intention was
also 16.d3, but after rejecting that and 16.Rb1, I fortunately settled on a
strong move.]} 16. Qb1 $1 h5 {[Watch this pawn!]} 17. Nd5 Nxd5 18. cxd5 Qxd5
19. Bxe4 Qe6 20. e3 dxe3 21. fxe3 h4 {[Now I had nned 22.Bf5 Qh6 23.Bxc8 hxg3
24.Bd7+! bt when I noticed that Black could play 22...Qd5 instead, I looked
for something better.]} 22. Rf4 $1 hxg3 23. Bxc6+ Qxc6 24. Qb4 gxh2+ 25. Kf2
Qc7 26. Rc1 a5 {[A better chance than either 26... h1Q 27.Rxh1 Rxh1 28.Qf8+ or
26...Qd8 27.Rxc8!]} 27. Qe4+ Be6 28. Rxc7 h1=Q {
[The h-pawn has done all that could be expected of it, but...]} 29. Re7+ Kd8
30. Qxh1 {[I don't recall ever capturing two queens in three moves before!]}
30... Rxh1 31. Rd4+ Kc8 32. Re8+ Kc7 33. Rxa8 Rh5 34. Re8 {[34...b5 35.Re7+
Kc6 36.Rd6# would be a fitting finish to the attack on the black squares!]} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Candidates"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bird, Graham"]
[Black "Cumming, David R"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D89"]
[Annotator "D R Cumming"]
[PlyCount "120"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Ne2 c5 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O Bg4 11. f3 Na5 12. Bd3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Be6 14. Qa4 a6
15. Nf4 $6 {My own opinion, not theory's!} 15... b5 $1 16. Nxe6 fxe6 17. Qa3
Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4+ 19. Kh1 Nc6 {
With a slight advantage to Black, as in Ji Y vs Deng k, China 1989.} 20. Rad1
Qb6 21. Qb3 Nd4 22. Qb2 Rfd8 23. e5 Rac8 24. Rd2 Qc5 {Planning to pressurise
the pawn on e5, hoping that White will feel oblidged to open the kingside up
with f4 & untimately g3.} 25. Rfd1 Nc6 26. f4 Qe3 27. g3 Qf3+ 28. Kg1 Nd4 29.
Bf1 $6 {29.Bxb5 was much better.} 29... Qxd1 30. Rxd1 Nf3+ 31. Kf2 Rxd1 32.
Kxf3 {Otherwise I was threatening the Rook fork from d2.} 32... Rxf1+ 33. Kg2
Rd1 34. Kh3 {Apparent safety for the White King.} 34... Kf7 {
Because White was now threatening 35.Qb3.} 35. Qe2 Rcd8 36. Qb2 R8d2 37. Qa3 h5
$5 {Instead of defending my queenside pawns, I decided to create mating
threats to White's "safe" King.} 38. Qf3 Ra1 39. Qe4 Raxa2 40. Kh4 {Otherwise 4
0...Rxh2 is +mate! But now if I play 40...Rxh2, White plays 41.Kg5 and the
position now looks extremely promising for White, so...} 40... Re2 $1 41. Qd3
Rad2 $1 42. Qb1 Rxh2+ 43. Kg5 Rc2 $1 {
Blocking the White Queen's attack on the g6 pawn.} 44. Kh6 h4 $1 45. g4 {
45.gxh4?? Rcg2 and very soon White gets mated!} 45... h3 {
Now it's an advanced passed pawn with a strong threat of promotion.} 46. f5 {
White's last card, he opens up the position around the Black King in order to
be able to do some damage with his Queen, winning a few pawns, hoping for a
blunder with a route to mate or failing that a perpetual check.} 46... gxf5 47.
gxf5 exf5 48. Qb3+ e6 49. Qe3 Rhd2 {I considered c2 & d2 the best squares for
my 2 Rooks, preventing the White Queen from having access to the c-file and
planning to block a future check with my d2 Rook.} 50. Qg5 {
Of course not 50.Qxh3??...Rh2 and it's a simple win for Black.} 50... h2 51.
Qf6+ Ke8 52. Qxe6+ Kd8 53. Qb6+ Kd7 54. e6+ Ke7 55. Qb7+ Kxe6 56. Qxa6+ Rd6 57.
Qa1 b4 58. Qb1 Rg2 59. Kh5 $4 {A blunder in a lost position.} 59... Rd8 60.
Qe1+ Kf7 {It's mate in 3. White cannot prevent both ...Rh8+ and h1=R+. He can
only stop one of those moves from mating (if for example he plays 61.Qa1)
thereafter the other move will give mate. 61.Qg3 Rxg3 62.Kh4 Rdg8 63.Kh5 and I
have a choice between  h1=R+mate and Rh3+mate and Rh8+mate. Alternatively he
could play 61.Qe6 7 or 8 check, but this only prolongs the game for one more
move and it's still mate on the next move, hence Graham's resignation.} 0-1

[Event "SCCA Candidates Sec B 98/99"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cumming, David R"]
[Black "Mackenzie, Stuart"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C51"]
[Annotator "David Cumming"]
[PlyCount "105"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Bc5 6. d4 exd4 7. cxd4 {
7.0-0 was the main line, but the text immediately creates a strong pawn centre
and steers the game away from better known lines.} 7... Bb4+ {
7...Bb6 was the alternative.} 8. Bd2 {"This move is relatively unanalysed but
has given good results so far," - Tim Harding.} 8... Nf6 {I was expecting 8...
Bxd2+. The text takes me out of theory altogether so I was now playing chess.}
9. e5 Qe7 10. O-O Ne4 11. Bxb4 Qxb4 12. Qe2 h6 13. a3 Qa4 14. Bxf7+ Kxf7 15.
Qxe4 {
White thusly regains his pawn and possibly emerges with a slight advantage.}
15... Re8 16. Qd5+ Kf8 17. Nc3 Ne7 18. Qb5 Qxb5 19. Nxb5 Nd5 20. Rac1 c6 {
An unavoidable positional concession, leaving White a nice knight outpost ond6.
} 21. Nd6 $1 Re6 22. Rfe1 b6 23. Nd2 Ba6 24. N2c4 Bxc4 25. Rxc4 b5 26. Rc5 Rb8
27. f3 {To make space for the White King to enter the frey.} 27... g5 28. Kf2
Rg6 29. Re4 Ke7 30. h4 Nf4 {Threatening 31...Nd3+ forking King and Rook so ...}
31. Rc2 Ke6 32. g3 Nd5 33. h5 Rg7 34. f4 $6 {Perhaps this was mistaken,
opening the g-file where Black's Rooks could quickly take advantage.} 34...
gxf4 35. gxf4 Ne7 {Guarding against 36.f5+.} 36. Kf3 Rbg8 37. Ree2 Rg3+ 38. Kf2
Rxa3 $2 {Greedy. This was opening the a-file to White's advantage! Preferable
was ...Rh3 intending 39... Rxh5.} 39. Ra2 Rh3 40. Rxa7 Rxh5 41. Ne4 Rh2+ 42.
Ke1 Rxe2+ 43. Kxe2 Rd8 44. Nc5+ Kf5 45. Kf3 Nd5 46. Nb7 $1 Rb8 47. Nd6+ Ke6 48.
f5+ $1 {At last this long awaited  move can be played with gain of tempo too!}
48... Ke7 49. Ne4 b4 {
Black vainly seeks counterplay by pushing his protected passed pawn, but ...}
50. f6+ Kf8 51. Nc5 $1 Nb6 52. e6 $1 b3 53. exd7 ({One possible finish could be
} 53. exd7 b2 54. d8=R+ Rxd8 55. Ne6+ Kg8 56. f7+ Kh8 57. Nxd8 Kg7 58. Ne6+ Kf6
59. f8=Q+ Kxe6 60. Qe7+ Kf5 61. Qe5+ Kg6 62. Rg7# {
Thus proving that Black's b pawn had become irrelivent.}) 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Teunisse, Dr A"]
[Black "Macmillen, A N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Annotator "Notes by Frank Teunisse"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. d3 c5 2. c3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 {[A Slav Exchange variation with
colours reversed. According to BCO2, this takes the fun out of playing the
Slav. Does it....?!]} 5. e4 $1 {[Thanks to Black having played Nc6 before Nf6,
it is possible to play this gambit].} 5... dxe4 6. d5 Ne5 $5 {[Although at the
time of the game I thought 6... Qa5+ would lose to 7.b4! I am not so sure now,
and think this may win for Black].} 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8. Nc3 Ngf6 9. Bf4 g6 10. Nb5
$1 Nxd5 {[I looked here at 11.Qxe4. Now 11... Nxf4 and 11... N5f6 both lose to
12.Nd6#. If 11... e6 then 12.0-0-0 seems fine for White. But 11... N7f6 solves
all Black's problems! So...]} 11. Be5 $1 {
[The bishop cannot be taken because of Nc7#]} 11... f6 12. Rd1 fxe5 13. Rxd5
Bg7 $2 {[Better was 13... e6]} 14. Qc4 $1 e6 15. Nc7+ Ke7 16. Rd2 Rb8 17. Qxe6+
Kf8 18. Bb5 $1 Qxc7 {[Whate else? If 18... Qf6 19.Qe8#, or 18... Qe7 19.Bxd7]}
19. Bc4 {[The clue to 18.Bb5!]} 19... Qxc4 20. Qxc4 b5 21. Qc7 Ke7 22. Nh3 Rd8
$2 23. Qd6+ {[Black resigns in view of 23... Kf7 24.Ng5+ Kg8 25.Qe6+ Kh8 26.
Nf7+ Kg8 27.Nh6++ Kh8 28.Qg8+ Rxg8 29.Nf7#. A nice 19th century knockabout!]]}
1-0

[Event "British CC Championships 1999"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Borwell, AP."]
[Black "Doye, PC."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[Annotator "Notes by Alan Borwell"]
[PlyCount "53"]

1. e4 {[I decided to emply a rather unusual line against the French, which is
designed to take the Black player into an open and tactical position, in which
he might not be entirely comfortable. It also has the considerable advantage
of gambiting an early pawn, which, in the days of computers, is quite a good
way of avoiding positions where piece valuation is an important factor. Of
course, I have no idea whether my opponent might have access to a computer
program, but I rather like the idea of an early departure into uncharted and
unbalanced positions.]} 1... e6 2. b3 {[This move is much better than its
reputation, for the reasons I have already given above.]} 2... d5 3. Bb2 dxe4 {
[Black is better to take the pawn because 3. ...Nf6 4.exd5 exd5 5.Qe2+!? Be6 6.
Nf3 Be7 7.Ng5 is promising for White.]} 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Qe2 Bb4 {[If 5. ... Be7
6.Nxe4 Nxe4 7.Qxe4 Bf6 8.d4 Qd5 9.Qe3 0-0 10.0-0-0 Nc6 11.Nf3 is good for
White. Totsky-Rapport, Minsk, 1996, saw White winning in 16 moves!]} 6. O-O-O
Bxc3 {[Here 6. ... Qe7 is playable but 7.Nxe4 or 7.Kb1 both give White
excellent chances.]} 7. dxc3 $1 Qe7 8. g4 {[White has two bishops, an
advantage in development, and a tactical initiative!]} 8... Qc5 {[This was unex
pected, but 8. ... h6 9.Bg2 e5 10.h3 Bd7 11.Qe3! Bc6 12.c4 Nbd7 13.Ne2 0-0 14.
Ng3 is promising for White. I think that 8. ... Qc5 is better and requires
White to play strongly for advantage.]} 9. h4 h6 10. Bg2 Nc6 11. Bxe4 {
[I was a little reluctant to exchange one of my bishops for a knight, but
White must open up lines quickly.]} 11... h5 12. g5 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Qxf2 {
[Here a computer would probably give a favourable assessment to Black, but the
position is clearly better for White.]} 14. Nh3 Qc5 {[If 14. ... Qf5, then 15.
Qxf5 exf5 16.Rhe1+ Be6 17.Nf4 Rd8 18.Rxd8+ Kxd8 19.c4 Rg8 20.Nxh5 g6 21.Nf6
Rh8 22.h5 gxh5 23.g6 fxg6 24.Rxe6 h4 25.Nd5 Rg8 26.Kd2 and White's extra piece
and greater activity will decide.]} 15. c4 e5 16. Nf4 Bg4 17. Ng6 $3 {
[Much better than 17.Rd2 0-0! 18.Nd5 Qe7 when, if White captures on e5, the
pin after Re8 is a real nuisance. If 17.Rd5 Qe7 18.Bxe5 0-0 19.Re1, then Black
has several plausible moves. White's position may look menacing, but there is
a lack of piece cohesion for attacking purposes. The move played is much more
dynamic and forcing.]} 17... Bxd1 18. Rxd1 fxg6 $2 {[Better is 18. .. . Rd8 19.
Rxd8 Nxd8 20.Nxh8 Qg1+ 21.Kd2 Qf2+ 22.Kd1 when Black may even escape with a
draw. However, White could have a better continuation! The finish now is
rather elegant.]} 19. Qxg6+ Kf8 20. Rf1+ Kg8 21. Qe6+ Kh7 22. g6+ Kh6 23. Kb1
Qe3 {[The only move to stop mate.]} 24. Bc1 Qxc1+ 25. Kxc1 Rhf8 {[It looks as
though Black may have escaped from immediate disaster and could still have
some chances despite the material, but...]} 26. Rxf8 Rxf8 27. Qf7 $3 {
[If the Black rook moves to another file, White mates the trapped king via f5/
g5. Capture of the queen simply allows White to convert the pawn into another
one - so it's allover!]} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Candidates"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cook, W M."]
[Black "Goodwin, B."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C27"]
[Annotator "W M Cook"]
[PlyCount "147"]

{How to lose at correspondence chess.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 {
According to the December 1999 edition of the British Chess Magazine, this
variation is known as the 'Frankenstein-Dracula' variation. This gamecertainly 
finished in a gruesome fashion!} 4... Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 {
In return for the exchange Black expands in the centre and White's position
becomes cramped.} 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6 11. d3 Bb7 12. h4 {
A one move threat which gains a little space.} 12... f4 13. Qf3 {
White has to retreat otherwise the Queen is lost after 13...Na5.} 13... Nd4 ({
In Ost-Hansen-Nunn (1974), Black played} 13... Bh6 14. Qg4 $2 e4 $1 15. Bxf4
exd3+ 16. Kf1 {Black has a winning attack, proving that in this variation, one
tempo lost can be disastrous. 14.Bd5 would be better.}) 14. Qg4 Bh6 {14...Bg7!?
is Ekebjaerg-Timmerman, corr. 1991 which Black won after extraordinary
complications.} 15. Bd2 Bxa8 16. O-O-O Nxb3+ 17. axb3 Ne8 {The position after
17.axb3 has been reached a few times before, but 17...e4 looks better here.
The Knight retreat allows White to complete his development.} 18. Nf3 Nf6 19.
Qh3 d6 (19... d5 20. Rhe1 e4 21. dxe4 dxe4 22. Bxf4+ Ke8 23. Bxh6) 20. Rhe1 Re8
21. d4 e4 {Black does play e4 but it is less effective now.} 22. Kb1 e3 23.
fxe3 fxe3 24. Ng5 {Blocks the Bishop and threatens to take the e-pawn.} 24...
Nd5 25. Qg3 Bxg5 26. hxg5 e2 27. Rc1 Nc7 28. Ka2 Nb5 {White maintains a
material advantage, but Black has a pesky passed pawn on the seventh rank, a
powerful Bishop, and is attacking the d-pawn. White now tries to deal with the
Bishop whilst protecting the pawn at the same time.} 29. d5 Nd4 (29... Bxd5 30.
c4) 30. Bc3 Nf5 31. Qf4 Qe4 32. Bf6+ Kc8 33. Qxe4 Rxe4 34. c4 {The position
has clarified. White plans to play to win the e-pawn oe exploit Black's
backward h-pawn.} 34... Kb8 $1 {I was baffled by this mysterious move at the
time, but it became clear soon enough!} 35. Rc3 $2 (35. Rc2 Ng3 36. Rc3 Rg4 (
36... Nf5 37. Rh3) 37. Re3) 35... Ne3 $1 36. Rxe3 {If 36.Rxe2 Nxd5! and now it
is no longer check if the Knight is recaptured by the c-pawn, the point of 34..
.Kb8. The Knight now has to be captured or the g-pawn will fall and the e-pawn
can queen.} 36... Rxe3 37. Kb1 b5 38. Kc2 Bb7 39. Bd4 Re7 40. Bg1 Kc8 41. Kd3
Ba6 42. Bh2 Rc7 43. Bxd6 bxc4+ 44. Kd4 Rd7 45. bxc4 $1 {Even after the Bishop
sacrifice, White still has very good drawing chances, but this is the only way
to continue playing for a win.} 45... Rxd6 46. Rxe2 Kd8 47. b4 {
White has connected passed pawns for the Bishop and an active Rook.} 47... Bb7
48. Re4 Rd7 49. Rf4 Ke7 50. Rf6 Ke8 51. g3 {
Removes the pawn from a white square and prevents a check at f4.} 51... Re7 52.
c5 Bc8 53. Rf4 Rb7 {Re1 may be better, to get behind the pawns.} 54. Kc4 Re7
55. c6 Re3 56. Rh4 Ke7 {
Black sacrifices two pawns in order to activate the King.} ({The alternative} 
56... Re7 57. d6 Rf7 58. Re4+ Kf8 {or d8} 59. Re5 {
leaves Black with little space, and White with passed pawns on the sixth rank.}
) 57. Rxh7+ Kd6 58. Rxa7 Re4+ 59. Kb5 Rg4 (59... Kxd5 60. Rd7+ $1 Ke6 (60...
Bxd7 61. cxd7) (60... Ke5 61. Re7+ Kd5 62. Rxe4 Kxe4 63. Kb6 Kd5 64. Kc7 Bf5
65. b5 {wins.}) 61. Rd8 {wins the Bishop.}) 60. Ra8 Bf5 61. Rd8+ Kc7 62. Rf8
Rxg5 63. Rf7+ Kd6 64. Kb6 Rg4 65. b5 Rxg3 66. Rf8 Kxd5 67. c7 Rc3 68. Kb7 Bd7
69. Rd8 Ke6 70. b6 Ke7 {Black offered a draw around here, and again a few
moves later. I thought that it wasn't heading for a draw.....} 71. c8=Q Bxc8+
72. Rxc8 Rg3 73. Rc5 Kd7 {To prevent Kc7.} 74. Rg5 $4 {Wins the g-pawn,
followed by the Rook wending its way to a5 either directly or via g8 and a8 if
Black plays Ra3 .......EXCEPT that Black's Rook is at g3 not b3, which is
where I was convinced it was, even though Rg3 was plainly written on the
scoresheet. White should have played 74.Ra5 threatening Ka8 quening the pawn,
and if 74...Rb3, 75.Rg5 and the plan is as above. Either way White is winning.
  I don't think there is a book entitled Zen and the Art of Playing Chess (if
not maybe there should be), but the end of this game is a veryzen moment.
White has just achieved a winning position for the second time in the game
after much effort (and after turning down two draw offers) and finally loses
after a bizarre clerical mistake. There must be better ways of spending my
time..........} 0-1

[Event "SCCA.Chall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1996.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Armstrong, A."]
[Black "Cumming, D."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Alan Armstrong"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "1996.??.??"]

1. d4 {
I want to play the Blackmar-Diemer Gambit so let's see if David will oblige.}
1... Nf6 2. Nc3 {All systems go...} 2... d5 3. e4 {If black declines the pawn
offer, we get into French lines i.e.3...e6 4.e5 Nfd7 5.f4} 3... dxe4 4. f3 exf3
5. Nxf3 e6 {The Euwe Defence, here white can play the line 6.Bg5 Be7 7. Bd3
Nbd7, but I like 6.Bc4 with idea's on e6, & f7.} 6. Bc4 Be7 7. O-O O-O {
Now that David has castled, white can concentrate on attacking the King-side
position.} 8. Qe1 {With this idea in mind I would like to play the bishop back
to d3, and then play Qh4, h6 by black results in Bxh6 & after gxh6 Qxh6 black
is struggling.} 8... c5 9. Be3 a6 10. dxc5 Qa5 {A lovely idea this, black
gives back the gambit pawn, with the idea of ..Bxc5 Bxc5 Qxc5+ picking up the
Bishop on c4!!} 11. Nd5 $3 {Oops, someone left the coral gate open, and the
stallion goes berserk. If black plays Qxe1 white gains a bishop by virtue of
the check on e7!} 11... Qd8 {Black's best reply} (11... Nxd5 12. Qxa5 Nxe3 13.
Ne5 Nxf1 14. Rxf1 Nd7 15. Nxd7 Bxd7 16. Qc7 $1 $18) (11... exd5 12. Qxa5 dxc4
13. Ne5 $3) 12. Nb6 {David threw in the towel to avoid further mutilation, as
12...Ra7 13.c6 Nxc6 14.c3 Ng4 15.Nxc8 Qxc8 16.Bxa7 Nxa7 17.Bb3!} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship 1999-2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hislop, Allan"]
[Black "Teunisse, Frank"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A81"]
[WhiteElo "2171"]
[BlackElo "2095"]
[Annotator "Notes by Allan Hislop"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nc3 {
[6.d5 is an alternative.]} 6... d6 7. Qd3 c6 {
[The book line, but I prefer d5!?]} 8. e4 d5 {
[If 8... fxe4 9.Nxe4 Nxe4 10.Qxe4 Bf5 11.Qh4 e6 12.Bg5 with a slight plus.]} 9.
exf5 {[With hindsight, e5 is better.]} 9... Bxf5 10. Qe3 Na6 {
[If 10... Bxc2 11.Qe6+ Kh8 12.Ng5 pressurising e6 and f7.]} 11. Qe2 Qb6 12. a3
Bg4 13. h3 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 Qxd4 $2 15. Qe6+ {[And Frank resigned, expecting to
have his queen entrapped. Some wriggling is possible however after 15... Rf7
16.Be3 Qc4 17.Be2 Nc7 18.Qxf7+ Kxf7 19.Bxc4 dxc4 though White is material
ahead. If 15... Kh8 16.Be3 Nc5 17.Qxe7 Ng8 18.Bxd4 Nxe7 19.Bxc5 Rxf3 20.Bxe7
Bxc3 21.bxc3 then Black's material deficit is larger.]} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship 1999/2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cumming, David R"]
[Black "Macmillen, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Annotator "D R Cumming"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1. d4 b5 2. e4 Bb7 3. e5 e6 4. Nf3 a6 5. c4 $1 {Believe it or not, this was an
origional idea of my own, developed ia a series of OTB games over the past
couple of years or so between myself and my local friend, George McRobert, so
I was not following theory. Much later during this game I was to discover that
this opening sequence of moves had indeed been played before by a number of
English Grandmasters from the early 1980's onwards. My own experience with
this opening led me to believe that this  was a very strong sequence for White
to play, and it actually caused  George McRobert to discard the St. George
from his repertoire, so overwhelming was my score against him with it!!} 5...
Bb4+ ({5...b5xc4 is normal here but 5...Bb4+ here serves as an inbetween move.
A GM game that I found ran as follows:: -} 5... bxc4 6. Bxc4 Ne7 7. Nc3 d5 8.
exd6 cxd6 9. d5 e5 10. Qb3 Qd7 11. a4 Ng6 12. a5 Qc7 13. O-O Nd7 14. Be3 Rb8
15. Rfc1 Bc8 16. Qa4 Be7 17. Nb5 axb5 18. Bxb5 Qd8 19. Bb6 Rxb6 20. axb6 O-O
21. Rxc8 Qxc8 22. Bxd7 Qc5 23. b7 Qxd5 24. Bc8 e4 25. b8=Q exf3 26. Qb7 Qg5 27.
g3 {Resigns 1-0 !! Julian Hodgson vs Keith Arkell, BCF ch 1989.}) {To illustrat
e my own ideas for this type of game I list the following: - 5...b5xc4 6.Bxc4
d5 7.Bd3 c5 8.Be3 c5xd4 (8...Nc6! 9.d4xc5 d4! 10.Bf4 as in Cumming vs Teunisse,
a postal friendly as yet to be concluded), 9.Bxd4 Nc6 10.Be3 Nb4 11.0-0 Nxd3
12.Qxd3 Ne7 13.Bc5! Rc8 14.Bd6 Qb6 15.N(b)d2! Ng6 16.Bxf8 Nxf8 17.R(f)c1 Rxc1+
18.Rxc1 Ng6 19.Qa3! h6 20.Qd6!! Qxd6 21.e5xd6 0-0 22.Rc7 Rc8 23. d7! Rb8 24.
Rxb7 Rxb7 & Resigns 1-0!! Game 6/7, OTB match, David R Cumming vs George
McRobert, Tues 15/12/98.} 6. Nc3 $1 bxc4 7. Bxc4 d6 {
Black wishes to test the soundness of my opening system.} 8. Qe2 Nd7 {
Threatening 9...Bxf3, which would either double my f-pawns or win a pawn,
liquidating the White centre in the process, so...} 9. Bf4 d5 10. Bd3 c5 {
So now what we have is effectively a Winawer French Defence, with thedifference
being that Black has exchanged his b-pawn for White's c-pawn and fianchettoed
his queen's Bishop, so now ...Bxc3 isn't really much of a threat because White
doesn't get doubled c-pawns and b2xc3 further supports the White centre, so
White would have no objection to this course of events.} 11. Be3 cxd4 12. Bxd4
Ne7 13. a3 Bc5 14. O-O $6 {14.Rc1 should have been preffered here.} 14... Bxd4
15. Nxd4 O-O $6 {Letting White off the hook, and simply transposing the game
back to what it should have been had I played the corrrect 14.Rc1. The correct
move for Black here was the immediate 15...Nc5!, and the Bishop cannot go to
b1 because it would block in the Rook, and so White would have to play 16.Bc2,
which would slow down his game a fair bit from what actually occured! There
was no urgency for either side to castle!} 16. Rac1 Nc5 17. Bb1 Ng6 18. b4 $1
Nd7 19. f4 Qb6 20. Qe3 Rac8 21. Na4 $1 Qa7 $5 {
21...Qd8 would've been answered with exactly the same move!} 22. Nc5 $1 Nb6 $2
{This is a strategic error. Black should've played 22...Nxc5 23.b4xc5 with
queenside play for White. To be fair to Black, he had his own ideas of
exchanging off his Knight for my Bishop and in the process opening up the long
diagonal for his Queen's Bishop, but I refuted this in the following manner....
} 23. Bd3 Qa8 24. f5 $3 exf5 25. e6 $1 Nc4 26. exf7+ Rxf7 27. Qg5 $1 Nd6 $1 {
The best move that Black could've made in the given position. The contemptable
27...Nxa3 would've witnessed my main idea, 28.Bxf5 attacking the ...Rc8, and
also threatening 29.Be6...h7.g6. On a3 the Black Knight is on the edge of the
board far away from where it would be needed, attacking, defending, and
influencing nothing on a3, therefore a waste of amove!} 28. Nxf5 Ne4 29. Bxe4
dxe4 30. Nd6 {Winning material. Note the change of emphasis, originally e6 was
the focal square for the White Knight, now it's d6!} 30... Rxf1+ 31. Rxf1 Rxc5
32. bxc5 $1 Bc6 $2 {32...Bd5 was correct here, when 33.h4 could've been
answered with 33...e3! 34.h5 e3 35.Re1 Qc6! (now that the White Rook no longer
controls the f-file it is safe for the Black Queen to move off the back rank),
36.Qd8+ Nf8 37.Rxe2 Qa4!!  and Black sacrifices his Bishop on g2 with check if
necessary, but in return attains at least perpetual check! S, it was my
renewedintention in the event that Black played 32...Bd5, to answer 33.Rd1.
However, with the Bishop now having been played to c6, the Black Queen no
longer has this important transit square, so it was now perfectly safe  and
strong for White to play...} 33. h4 $1 Nf8 $2 34. Qe7 Ng6 35. Qf7+ {This is a p
erfectly good, strong winning move and continuation. However, I missed a
forced mate here, which ran as follows: -} (35. Qe6+ Kh8 36. Nf7+ Kg8 37. Nd8+
Kh8 38. Rf8+ Nxf8 39. Nf7+ Kg8 40. Nh6+ Kh8 41. Qg8#) 35... Kh8 36. h5 Bd5 37.
hxg6 $3 Bxf7 38. gxf7 Qf8 39. Nxe4 g6 40. Nd6 Kg7 41. Re1 Qb8 42. Re8 Qb1+ 43.
Kh2 Qf1 44. Rg8+ Kh6 45. f8=Q+ Qxf8 46. Rxf8 {From the final position, White
leaves the Knight where it is, places the Rook on f7, and then pushes the
c-pawn all the wayto glory, and there's absolutely nothing that Black can do
about it!} 1-0

[Event "ICCF EM/C/AA079"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Salter, D."]
[Black "Fereira, A."]
[Result "*"]
[ECO "D91"]
[Annotator "D Salter"]
[PlyCount "75"]

{My first foray into the world of email international chess began in the
Spring of 1999. Most games needed only 3 or 4 months to complete. The one that
I have chosen for annotating took a bit longer, as my Brazilian opponent had
to sell his own computer and arrange to forward the email from a borrowed
machine! In the end I managed 4 wins 1 loss and 1 draw in the tournament.} 1.
Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. d4 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bf4 {So much for theory, as
far as my limited resources go. Though our wise database checkers may be able
to point out precedents..} 6... Nxc3 7. bxc3 e6 {I'm not sure whether this is
the right time for Black to play this, limiting the c8 Bishop.} 8. e3 O-O 9.
Bd3 b6 {
A less quiet possibility here would be 9 ... c5 or 9 ... dxc4 followed by c5}
10. cxd5 {I had decided Black would not want 10 ... Qxd5 11 Bxc7 but after 11 .
.. Qc6 he does OK. My main intention was to have a position with d5 blocked,
thus making a queen side fianchetto unattractive.} 10... exd5 {Black goes for
the pawn capture anyway. After all, the c8 h3 diagonal is available again.} 11.
O-O Bg4 12. h3 Be6 {The Bishop is driven back but it may still be a
sacrificial force to be reckoned with  if  there is a build up against h3.} 13.
Ne5 {A probing move, eyeing c6.} 13... f6 {A response that looks weakening} 14.
Ng4 g5 {An aggressive use of pawns in front of the King to keep me from
achieving results on the h6 square. It is surprising how well Black does with
this.} 15. Bg3 Nc6 16. Nh2 {This was prompted by the attractive opening of the
d1 h5 diagonal in an attempt to combine Bishop and Queen against h7.} 16... Ne7
{Bringing more defensive forces into the arena.} 17. Qc2 {The Qh5 line just
does not seem to break through. Black has enough defenders to ward off the
threats.} 17... h5 {Another pawn in front of the king! No battening down of
hatches here. I decided to respond with a pawn thrust of my own, to give my g3
Bishop somewhere to retreat and to break things up a bit.} 18. f4 h4 19. Be1
Qd7 {Now Black is building threats himself.  A well timed sac on h3 with
advanced pawns to follow.} 20. fxg5 fxg5 21. Rxf8+ Rxf8 22. Qe2 {
A bit of attack and defence. The Queen covers g4 and h5.} 22... c5 {A sudden sw
itch to the queen side which does not seem to be in keeping with all the
activity on the other wing.} 23. Nf3 c4 24. Bc2 Bf6 25. e4 g4 26. Nxh4 gxh3 {
The Knight looks a little odd on the edge but it has avoided being pinned and
the following pawn push provokes a piece exchange which may well be the
turning point.} 27. e5  27... Bxh4 28. Bxh4 Bg4 {
Harassing the Queen may not be the best here. Perhaps Bf5 instead.} 29. Qd2 Rf7
{Again Black's choice looks doubtful. The Rook may have some defensive role
and perhaps even have an attacking square on g7 but ..} 30. Bf6 Kf8 {
Trying to run before the Queen drops in.} 31. Qh6+ Ke8 32. Bxe7 {This took a
while to decide as I had kept thinking I needed to keep both Bishops. But no,
this wins material.} 32... Qxe7 {And not with the Rook, as then 33. Qh8+  Kf7 
34. Rf1+. And not with the King as 33. Bg6 Rf8 34. Qg7 or Qh4+} 33. Bg6 hxg2
34. Kxg2 Bf3+ {Bf5 may have made White work harder, forcing White to win the
exchange before his Rook can take up an active role.} 35. Kh2 Be2 {
Again, Black might prolong matters with Be4	} 36. Rg1 Bd3 {
Too late, and my opponent later admitted he had thought I'd played Kg1 here!}
37. Bxf7+ Qxf7 {Finally the Rook, pinned since move 33, is removed.} 38. Qh8+ {
In view of 38...Qf8 39. Rg8 or 38. Ke7 Rg7} *

[Event "ICCF EU/III/1153"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Knox, A."]
[Black "Morrissey, A E."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Annotator "A Knox"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. e4 {This game is against a fellow Brit, an Essex man.} 1... e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {
A Four Knights!} 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 {Or is it a Scotch?} 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6
bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. exd5 cxd5 9. Qe2+ Qe7 10. Qxe7+ Bxe7 11. Nb5 Kd8 12. O-O Bd7
13. Bf4 c5 14. Nd6 Bxd6 15. Bxd6 c4 16. Be2 {Only square left!} 16... Be6 17.
Be5 Ke7 18. Rfe1 Rhd8 {
Getting the Rook behind the pawn so the Knight can move if necessary.} 19. Rad1
{Opposing the pawn's advance.} 19... Kf8 20. Bxc4 {Don't understand this.}
20... dxc4 21. c3 Ke7 22. Bd4 Rd5 23. b3 cxb3 24. axb3 Rad8 25. Bc5+ {
Giving away another piece.} 25... Rxc5 0-1

[Event "ICCF EU/III/1153"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Muller, R."]
[Black "Knox, A."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "A Knox"]
[PlyCount "32"]

{This game was a bit of an unexpected win. I thought I stood worse when my
opponent resigned. Can anyone enlighten me?} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 {
A Giuoco Piano.} 4. O-O d6 5. c3 Bb6 6. b4 Nf6 7. d3 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Bxd5
Qxd5 {Now he can attack the Queen and trap the Bishop} 10. c4 Qd6 {
Now at least I get two pawns for the Bishop.} 11. c5 Bxc5 12. bxc5 Qxc5 13. Ba3
Qb6 14. Re1 f6 15. d4 Kf7 16. dxe5 Re8 {I don't really see what White is
frightened by in this position. I can't see any deadly threats in this
position. Perhaps that sys more about my chess-playing ability than anything
else! Anyway I received his resignation on Christmas eve, which was a nice
Christmas present for me.} 0-1

[Event "ICCF EU/III/1153"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Knox, A."]
[Black "Hansen, M."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B40"]
[Annotator "A Knox"]
[PlyCount "65"]

{Now we come to my favourite game in this tournament. I think I played in this
game with the sort of vigour and aggression that is needed against the
Sicilian Defence. I have to say that my opponent was prepared to slug it out
toe to toe and I just got there in the end.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 {
Trying to set up a Marcozy Bind.} 3... h6 {
I've never sen this move so early. Is it the latest theory?} 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. d4
cxd4 6. Nxd4 a6 7. Nxc6 {I prefer to exchange on c6 rather than go to b3.} 7...
bxc6 8. Bd3 Qc7 9. O-O Nf6 10. f4 Bc5+ 11. Kh1 O-O 12. Qf3 {
The White pieces are beginning to take up good positions.} 12... Bb7 13. e5 Ne8
14. Be3 Bb4 15. c5 {Keeping the long diagonal blocked.} 15... Qa5 16. Ne4 Qd8
17. g4 f6 18. exf6 Nxf6 19. Nxf6+ Qxf6 20. Rf2 Qe7 21. Rc1 d6 22. a3 Bxc5 23.
Bxc5 dxc5 {I've lost a pawn but I'm not worried.} 24. Bc4 Rad8 25. Re2 Bc8 26.
Rce1 Rd6 27. Re5 Rd4 28. Bxe6+ Bxe6 29. Rxe6 Rdxf4 30. Qxc6 Rf1+ 31. Rxf1 Rxf1+
32. Kg2 Qf7 33. Re8+ {A hard fought game. Just got there.} 1-0

[Event "European Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Giulian, P."]
[Black "Neuvonen, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A53"]
[Annotator "P Giulian"]
[PlyCount "73"]

{Old Indian A53)} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. d5 $6 {Not having
faced this opening for about 15 years I show my ignorance. Better is Nf3, Be2
and 0-0 which gives White a clear edge.} 5... h6 $5 {
Black intends Be7, Nh7 and Bg5 eliminating his bad Bishop.} 6. Be3 Be7 7. f3 {
To obtain any advantage it is important to avoid the Bishop exchange. My plan
is to meet a Bg5 with Bf2 and h4.} 7... O-O {Now I want to castle queenside
and use a pawn storm against the Black King. Unfortunately I can't play Qd2
because after Black plays Bg5 I could no longer play the necessary Bf2.} 8. Bd3
Nc5 9. Bc2 c6 10. Nge2 {
I was tempted by b4 but was unsure what to do with my King after it.} 10...
cxd5 11. cxd5 Qb6 $6 12. Qd2 $1 Nh5 $2 {This wastes two tempi. Better is Bd7.}
({Note that Black cannot play} 12... Qxb2 13. Rb1 Qa3 14. Nb5 Qxa2 15. Nc1 Qc4
16. Rb4 {winning.}) 13. O-O-O Nf6 14. g4 Bd7 15. Ng3 {
I was tempted to play the immediate h4 but became confused by Black's h5.}
15... Nh7 16. h4 Qd8 ({I had expected} 16... f6 17. Nf5 Rf7 18. Rdg1 {
with a promising attack.}) 17. Bxc5 $2 {I didn't like this move at the time
and like it even les now. I wanted to play Qh2 but felt Black could probably
reply with Qb6. However this is much better than what I played.} 17... dxc5 18.
Qh2 Bd6 19. g5 g6 $1 {Sacrifices the h-pawn but it is not clear how I proceed
afterwards. h5 is met by g5. Meanwhile Black has a queenside attack.} 20. h5 $5
Qe7 $1 {if 20...Qxg5+ 21.Kb1 and after Rdg1 White has a strong attack. After
Qe7 I am forced into winning a pawn, but giving up my attack because Black now
threatens to play hxg5 because the Queen defends the Knight on h7.} 21. hxg6
fxg6 22. gxh6 Kh8 $1 ({I had been hoping for} 22... Rxf3 23. Nf5 $3 gxf5 24.
Rdg1+ Kh8 25. Rg7 Qd8 26. Qh5 {
threatening the Rook and also Rxh7+ and Qf7 mating.}) 23. Qg2 Qg5+ 24. Kb1 c4 {
Now I was concerned. My attack seems to be going nowhere whereas Black's
attack is underway.} 25. Rh2 b5 26. Nf1 Rf6 27. Qf2 Bc7 28. Qe2 Bb6 $2 29. d6
$1 {I have no idea whether this is a good move or not! However if I do nothing
I will be swamped on the queenside. My idea is to vacate d5 for the Knight.
This together with Nd2, f4 and Nf3 seemed very promising albeit at the cost of
two or three pawns.} 29... Raf8 30. Rg2 $5 Qxh6 ({If} 30... Qh5 31. Nd5 {
and now} {(i)} 31... Rxd6 ({(ii)} 31... Rxf3 32. Ne7 {with a strong attack.})
32. Nxb6 Rxd1+ 33. Qxd1 Bh3 {
with an unclear position which I think probably favours White.}) 31. Rh2 Qg5 ({
The alternative is} 31... Qg7 32. Nd2 {threatening Rdh1} 32... R8f7 33. Rdh1
Qg8 34. Nd5 Rxd6 35. f4 exf4 36. Qg2 {with a strong attack.}) 32. Nd2 R8f7 $2 {
Possibly the losing move although I think I have a definite advantage. Better
to save a tempo with the immediate Rxd6.} 33. Nd5 Rxd6 34. f4 $1 exf4 35. Nf3
Qg3 {The alternatives seem no better.} ({(i)} 35... Qd8 36. e5 Re6 37. Rdh1 Be3
38. Qg2 {with the idea of Ng5.}) ({(ii)} 35... Qg4 36. Ne5 Qxe2 37. Nxf7+ {
winning.}) 36. Ne5 Be8 {Loses immediately but there is no defence.} (36... Rg7
37. Rg2 {and now} {(i)} 37... Qh4 ({(ii)} 37... f3 38. Nxf3 Qh3 39. Ng5 Qh5 40.
Qf1 {with a very strong attack.}) 38. Nxb6 {and the Bishop on d7 hangs.}) 37.
Rdh1 {and Black resigns because there is no way to meet the threats of Rg2 and
Nxf7 followed by Rxh7+.} 1-0

[Event "SCCA v Brazil"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "de Silva, P A P."]
[Black "Savage, D J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B02"]
[Annotator "D J Savage"]
[PlyCount "80"]

{Alekhin's Defence} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 Nxc3 4. bxc3 g6 5. d4 d5 {
This seemed a good idea at the time, aiming to immobolise White's pawn centre.
White's alternative of 6.exd6 en passaunt has the same effect.} 6. Nf3 Bg7 7.
Bd3 O-O $2 {This move looks illogical. With hind sight why not leave the King
behind a blocked pawn centre?} 8. Ng5 c5 $2 {Aiming to either destroy Whites
pawn centre if he opts for 9.dxc5 Bxe5 or immobolise it completely by playing
c4 next. But...} 9. Nxh7 $1 {Never saw it coming (not quite the words used at
the time). Now it is going to be a struggle just to survive.} 9... Kxh7 {
Looks no better a position than playing} (9... Re8) ({or} 9... c4 10. Nxf8 cxd3
11. Nxg6 {but at least a piece as compensation.}) 10. Qh5+ Kg8 11. Qh4 c4 12.
Be2 f5 {A desperate attempt to create space. I need to be able to move around
the blocked centre if I am to defend against White's kingside pawns.} 13. Bg5
Nc6 14. f4 Kf7 15. g4 Rh8 16. Qg3 Bh6 17. h4 Bxg5 18. fxg5 e6 {
At last, a gap to work through.} 19. h5 Ne7 ({Not} 19... Qxg5 {as} 20. hxg6+ {
and lose Rook.}) ({While} 19... Bd7 20. hxg6+ Kxg6 21. gxf5+ exf5 {
looks equally big trouble.}) 20. Kd2 Bd7 21. Bf3 Bc6 22. Rh4 Qd7 23. Rah1 
23... Raf8 ({Probably better to play} 23... Rag8 {when} 24. hxg6+ Nxg6 25. Rh7+
Rxh7 26. Rxh7+ Rg7) 24. hxg6+ Nxg6 25. Rh7+ Rxh7 26. Rxh7+ Ke8 27. Rxd7 {
White has regained the sacrificed piece, but can he capitalise on his passed
pawn?} 27... Bxd7 28. Kc1 f4 $1 {And White has missed the chance to play gxf5.
Now the locked pawns reduce the mobility of the White Queen, and help me hang
on.} 29. Qg2 Bc6 30. Kb2 Kd7 31. Ka3 a5 32. Kb2 Kc7 33. Kc1 b6 34. Kd2 Rg8 35.
Qh3 Rh8 {# The barrier is complete. With the Knight on g6 covering the pawn on
f4 and Rook on h8, with the King on b7 or c7, the Bishop on c6 covering Bxd5
and the Rook free to move to d8 to stop Qd6+, White has no way through without
sacrifising a piece. The only remaining problem is to convince White he can't
win.} 36. Qg2 Rg8 37. Ke2 Rh8 38. Kf2 Nh4 39. Qh2 Ng6 {
Nxf3 is fatal as it frees g5.} 40. Qg1 Kb7 {
A sense of both relief and achievement!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "WT/1/1293"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Heinze, B."]
[Black "Savage, D J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A12"]
[Annotator "D J Savage"]
[PlyCount "66"]

{Rete Wolf Gambit} 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. b3 Nf6 4. g3 Bf5 5. Bg2 Nbd7 6. cxd5
cxd5 7. Bb2 e6 {Nh4 (move 11) can be played anytime now.} 8. Nc3 Bb4 9. O-O O-O
10. Rc1 Rc8 11. Nh4 {This move forces some sort of Knight for Bishop exchange,
leaving me with doubled and/or isolated pawns. I try and pick the least
unatractive option.} 11... Nb6 12. Nxf5 exf5 13. e3 Ne4 $6 {Rose tinted
spectacle time. Nice would be Nxe4 dxe4 uniting my pawns. Even better d3 and
Nxc3 wins a piece. But...} 14. Qh5 $1 {So much for strategy and tactics. I
need some good ideas quickly now: the obvious g6 Qh6 leaves an Nxe4 mate
threat. Why not get rid of the Knight?} 14... Nxc3 15. dxc3 {The threat of
Ne2+ forces White to capture the Knight. This option leaves a fight for the
long diagonal. The alternative Bxc3 Bxc3 dxc3 destroys White's threat.} 15...
g6 16. Qh6 {# Now the problem is to deal withcxb4 (move it?) or c4. Time to
break all th rules of sensible places for a Queen (ie. get desperate).} 16...
Qf6 $1 17. Rc2 {White attempts to win a piece (as the game) by cxb3. But it is
a position of who "gets there firstest with the mostest".} 17... Bxc3 $1 18.
Ba3 {White declines the Bishop exchange, while setting up another mate threat.}
18... Rfd8 19. Rfc1 Be5 {Time to give up the isolated pawn.} 20. Rxc8 Nxc8 ({
Not} 20... Rxc8 {when} 21. Rxc8+ Nxc8 22. Qf8# {is mate.}) 21. Bxd5 b6 22. Rc6
Qg7 {Nd6 fails to Rc7.} 23. Qh4 {# I'm still wrigling like the proverbial worm,
but what now? Not Rxd5 as Rxc8 while if Re8  then Qc4 looks nasty.} 23... Bf6
$6 24. Bb2 $2 {Rxf6 better for White, when if Rxd5, Rc6 wins for White, but g5
might save Black. Now I can win a piece.} 24... Bxh4 $1 {Not Bxb2 when Qxd8.}
25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. Bc4 {If gxh4 Ne7 forks Bishop and Rook.} 26... Bf6 27. Rc7 {
If Ba6 Ne7 Re7 Rd1+ leads to an exchange of pawns.} 27... Nd6 28. Bd5 {
If Rxa7 Nxc4 bxc4 Rd1+ will regain the pawn. It is most enjoyable watching
White wriggle for a change.} 28... a5 29. Kg2 Bb2 {Aiming for Ba3 to free my
Rook, and also block the a pawn. # White has no good moves left, eg if Rc6 Nc8
Rc7 Rxd5. He tries to disrupt my kingside pawns.} 30. f3 Rc8 31. Rc6 {
This allows me to exchange Rooks, while if White plays Rd7, Ba3 and Black's
Rook is free.} 31... Rxc6 32. Bxc6 Ba3 33. Kf2 h5 {
And White has no viable options left.} 0-1

[Event "?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dullaert, C."]
[Black "Savage D J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D86"]
[Annotator "D J Savage"]
[PlyCount "76"]

{Grunfeld Defence} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3
Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8. Ne2 Qd7 9. O-O b6 10. Qd3 {Be3 is recommended as more
flexible (Baumbach, SCC no 29.). Whatever, as Black I don't like the threats
from White's d and e pawns advancing.} 10... c6 11. e5 b5 12. Bb3 c5 13. Qe3 {
c4 looks a viable alternative to leave a wide open queenside.} 13... c4 14. Bc2
e6 15. a4 {# Well, I've more or less imobilizes White's pawn centre. I've
driven the Bishop off the f7 diagonal, and his Queen off the g6 diagonal. Nc6
plus Nd7 should cover Kingside attacks. But I've neglected Bb7 first! Now I'm
forced to split the queenside pawns/ At least I get a passed pawn!} 15... Ba6
16. axb5 Bxb5 17. Qh3 {Now comes the kingside attack.} 17... Nc6 18. Bh6 Ne7
19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rfb1 a5 {a6 gives a strong defensive wall, but this pawn is
my only way to attack, so push it!} 21. Ng3 {Threatening Ne4 then Nf6. This
move would have been stronger played before Bxg7. I was more worried by Nf4
plus Be4 plus d5. So keep pushing that pawn.} 21... a4 22. Ne4 Ng8 23. Ra3 Rfb8
24. Nc5 Qe8 25. Rb4 {
Trying to win one of the isolated pawns. Fortunately Rb1 is mate! #} 25... Ne7
26. Qf3 Nd5 $1 {Blocking th a8 daigonal and threatening Nxb4 while the Rb1+
threat stope Rxb5 Rxb5 Bxa4.} 27. Rb1 Ra5 28. Be4 Bc6 {
Time to use the Rb1+ threat. I expected Rba1 and a struggle to keep the a pawn.
} 29. Qg4 Rxb1+ 30. Bxb1 Rb5 {Restores the Rb1+ threat. Now if Rxa4 Rxb1 is
mate, if Bc2 then Rb2 and if Be4 then Nxc3! So the only reply.} 31. Ba2 Qb8 $1
{If Nxa4 or Rxa4 then Rb1+ Bxb1 Qxb1 mate. If Nxe6+ fxe6 Qxe6 then Rb1+. If
Bxc4 Rb1+ Bf1 Rxf1+ Kxf1 Qb1+ Ke2 Qb2+. If g3 Rb1+ Bxb1 Qxb1 Kg2 Nc3+ wins
Queen. A probably viable option is h3 when Rb1+ Bxb1 Qxb1 Kh2 Qb2. White opts
for the other line that makes me work.} 32. Qe2 Rb2 33. Qe1 {If Qe4 Nb4!} 33...
Nxc3 34. Rxc3 {If Bxc4 or Qxc3 then Rb1 wins.} 34... Rxa2 35. Rxc4 Qb2 36. Nd3
{Threatens both Nxb2  and Rxc6. But my threat is bigger!} 36... Ra1 37. Nc1 {
Both Rxc6 Rxe1 Nxe1 Qxd4 and Rc1 Rxc1 Qxc1 Qxd4 Qxc6 Qxd3 look favourable to
Black.} 37... Bd5 38. Rc3 {If Qc3 a3 also wins.} 38... a3 {
And the isolated, vulnerable pawn of move 15 cannot now be stopped.} 0-1

[Event "SCCA Challenge 1998/99"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Armstrong, A."]
[Black "Cumming, D R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "D R Cumming"]
[PlyCount "90"]

{Pirc Defence} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 O-O 6. Qe2 Nc6 7.
d5 $6 {Taking me out of book. I was expecting 7.e5 or 7.h3. I didn't really
understand 7.d5?! at the time, it struck me as rather illogical to play 5.Bc4
and then voluntarily block off the c4-g8 diagonal, to say nothing of taking
away valuable support for the kind of move that he should've been thinking
about playing either immediately or sometime in the near future, namely e5.}
7... Na5 8. Bd3 c5 $1 9. O-O a6 10. a4 {
Played to prevent the obvious b5 & c4, winning the Bishop.} 10... b6 11. Bd2
Qc7 $1 {Intending 12...c4, winning the Bishop.} 12. b3 c4 $1 {Played anyway.}
13. Bxc4 Nxc4 14. Qxc4 Qxc4 15. bxc4 Nd7 {White's queenside pawn formation has
been broken up at the cost of a temporary pawn sacrifice, the Queen's have
been exchanged, and I believe that Black now has a slight advantage.} 16. Rab1
Ra7 $1 17. Nd1 Rc7 18. Ne3 a5 19. Bc1 Ba6 $1 20. Nd2 Bd4 21. Re1 Bxe3 22. Rxe3
Bxc4 23. Ba3 Ba6 24. c3 h6 {A suitable time for a little prophylaxis.} 25. f4
Rfc8 26. Rb3 $6 {
26.Rc1 was better. His actual 26th invited me to play the following...} 26...
Bc4 27. Rb1 Nf6 $1 28. Rxb6 $2 {Falling for it hook, line, & sinker. And what
about all of those tempi he has lost mooving his Rook up and down the b file?}
28... Bxd5 $1 29. Rb5 Ba2 $1 {Now his Rook can't go home to it's back rank.}
30. Rxa5 Rxc3 31. Rxc3 Rxc3 32. Bb4 Rc2 33. Ra7 e6 34. a5 $2 {White dreams of
promoting his a pawn, but in the process takes away a vital square from his
Bishop.} 34... d5 $1 35. e5 {35.exd5?? Nxd5 and White loses a minor piece.}
35... Ne4 $1 36. Ra8+ Kh7 37. Nxe4 dxe4 38. Ra7 Kg7 39. Be7 e3 $1 40. Bf6+ Kh7
({Of course not} 40... Kg8 41. Ra8+ Kh7 42. Rh8# {
At this stage of the game both sides were threatening mates.}) 41. h3 Rc1+ 42.
Kh2 g5 $1 {Thusly freeing my King.} 43. Rxf7+ Kg6 44. Rg7+ Kf5 45. Be7 $2 gxf4
(45... gxf4 {One possible finish could have been} 46. g4+ Kxe5 47. Bf6+ Kxf6
48. Rh7 Bd5 $1 49. Rxh6+ Kg7 50. Rg6+ Kxg6 51. a6 Rh1# {At any rate White's
King position, in tandem with Black's advanced f & e pawns and the
light-squared Bishop, which has a wonderfule square on d5, guarantee Black the
full point.  So, if you're scared of the 'ancient history' Blackmar-Diemer
Gambit quick win over me that Alan was bragging about in the Winter 99/00
games section (circa 1996), the moves that I've suplied here is one good way
to avoid it!}) 0-1

[Event "Reg Gillman "]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pyrich, George"]
[Black "Nightingale, Darrell"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

{In some games the variations which which aren't played are more interesting
than those which are. The following is one such game.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 {
The move order favoured by Kosten in his "The Dynamic English"} 2... c6 3. d4 {
Now we have a reversed Sicilian 2.c3 where White has the extra move 2.g3 I've
long held the view that 2...Nf6 is Black's best against 2.c3 so maybe I should
have played 3.Nf3here} 3... exd4 (3... Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Bxd2+ 5. Qxd2 d6 {
leads to an entirely different set-up}) 4. Qxd4 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Bg2 Be6 {
Kosten gives only 6.... Nf6} 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. Qa4 Bc5 ({I'd expected} 8... Nf6 {
when} 9. Nc3 {looks better for White, for example} 9... Qb6 10. O-O Bc5 11. Qc2
Nb4 12. Qa4+ Bd7 13. Qb3 O-O 14. a3 Nc6 15. Qxb6 Bxb6 16. Bg5 $14) 9. O-O {
Now we have a position similar to that in Tarrasch Defence where Black's easy
development and active pieces compensate for the supposedly weakpawnatd5} 9...
h6 {Another surprise.} ({Maybe he could have saved amove with} 9... Nge7 {when}
10. Nc3 O-O 11. Bf4 a6 (11... Ng6 12. Rad1 Nxf4 13. Qxf4 Rc8 14. a3 {
also looks o.k. for Black}) 12. Rad1 {is roughly equal}) 10. Nc3 Nge7 {
Again unexpected! After his previous I thought he was playing} (10... Nf6 {
when of course I can't play 11.Bg5 Instead} 11. Bf4 O-O 12. Rac1 ({Maybe} 12.
Rad1) 12... Rc8 13. a3 {is again about equal although White has always to
consider the agressive pawn advance g5!?}) 11. Bf4 ({Instead} 11. Ne5 {
looks to only help Black e.g.} 11... O-O 12. Nxc6 bxc6 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Rad1 Qb6
) 11... a6 ({If} 11... Ng6 {then} 12. Rad1 {looks good for White} (12. Nb5 $6 {
can't be good}) 12... O-O (12... Nxf4 13. gxf4 O-O 14. f5 $1 {
is excellent for White}) 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. e4 Nxf4 15. gxf4 Bb3 16. Qxb3 Qe7
17. Rd5) 12. Rad1 O-O (12... g5 $6 13. Be5 b5 14. Qb3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 {
must be good for White}) 13. a3 (13. Ne4 $5 {seems to only invite complications
} 13... Ba7 $1 (13... dxe4 $2 14. Rxd8 Raxd8 15. Qxe4 Bxa2)) ({Instead} 13. Rd2
b5 14. Qd1 Qa5 (14... b4 15. Ne4 dxe4 16. Rxd8 Raxd8 17. Nd2 f5) 15. Ne5 Nxe5
16. Bxe5 Rac8 {looks comfortable for Black}) ({whilst} 13. Nxd5 $4 {walks into}
13... Nxd5 14. e4 Nb6) 13... Rc8 ({if} 13... Ng6 {then} 14. e3 ({maybe} 14. e4
$5) 14... Re8 15. Rd2 (15. Ne1 {looks playable too} 15... Nxf4 16. Qxf4 Ne7 17.
Qe5 Bd6 18. Qh5) 15... b5 16. Qd1 (16. Qc2 Bb6 {should be o.k. for Black})
16... Nxf4 17. gxf4 b4 18. Nxd5 bxa3 19. Qc2 {
with 20.f5 to follow looks fine for White}) 14. Ne5 {
I was reluctant to play this but the alternatives didn't look too good} (14.
Rd2 $2 g5 $1 15. Be3 (15. Be5 g4) 15... Bxe3 16. fxe3 Nf5 17. e4 Qb6+ $17) (14.
e4 d4 {looks a bit messy}) ({However} 14. b4 {looks better with hindsight}
14... Bb6 15. Ne4 Ng6 16. Nc5 Nxf4 17. gxf4 Qe7 18. Rc1 (18. f5 $5) 18... Bxc5
19. Rxc5 d4 {offers chances for both sides}) ({but} 14. Ne1 {
looks very unclear after} 14... g5 $5 (14... Re8 {is more restrained!}) 15. Nd3
Ba7 16. Bd2 f5) 14... d4 ({Now} 14... g5 $2 {is clearly bad after} 15. Nxc6
Rxc6 16. Be5 b5 17. Qb3 d4 18. Qc2 Bf5 19. Qd2) ({but} 14... Re8 {
was what I'd expected. After} 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. Rd2 Qc8 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. Bxd5
Bxd5 19. Rxd5 Rxe2 20. Qd1 {it's about equal}) ({whilst} 14... Nxe5 15. Bxe5
Re8 16. Bd4 {is fine for White who would like to exchange the black-squared
B's and then attack the d5 pawn}) 15. Nd3 (15. Nxc6 Nxc6 16. Ne4 Be7 {
only helps Black}) ({as does} 15. e3 Qb6 16. exd4 Bxd4 17. Nxc6 Nxc6) 15... Ba7
16. Ne4 Nd5 (16... Ng6 {allows} 17. Bd6 {when one nice line is} 17... Re8 18.
Bc5 Bf5 $5 19. Nd6 Bxc5 20. Nxb7 Qb6 21. Nbxc5 Rxe2 22. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 a5
24. Be4 Bxe4 25. Rxe4 {and it's about equal}) 17. Rc1 {probably best as} (17.
Bd2 {leaves the Q short of squares after} 17... Nb6 $1 18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qb1 Nxd3
20. exd3 f5 $17) ({and} 17. Bd6 {also looks bad} 17... Re8 18. Bc5 b6 19. Bb4
Bb8 $1 20. Qxa6 Ndxb4 21. axb4 Bd5 {with strong compensation for the pawn}) ({
but} 17. Nd6 {is unclear after} 17... Nxf4 18. Nxc8 Nxe2+ 19. Kh1 Qxc8 20. Rfe1
Bg4 21. f3 Nxg3+ 22. hxg3 Bf5 {with 2 pawns for the exchange and attacking
chances with the 2 B's against the weakened WhiteK}) 17... Bg4 ({Now} 17... Nb6
18. Qc2 Nb4 19. Qd2 {is o.k. for White}) ({as is} 17... Nxf4 18. Nxf4 Qe7 19.
b4) ({but} 17... Re8 {is interesting} 18. Nec5 Bxc5 (18... Nxf4 19. Nxf4 Bxc5
20. Rxc5 Bd7 21. Qc2 Bg4 22. Re1 Qd6 23. b4 {is probably good for White}) 19.
Rxc5 {with equal chances}) 18. Rfe1 (18. Nec5 $2 {allows} 18... Bxe2 19. Nxb7
Qd7 20. Ndc5 Bxc5 21. Nxc5 Qf5 $17) 18... Nxf4 19. Nxf4 Qe7 {
protecting c5 Instead} (19... Re8 20. h3 Be6 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. Rxc5 $14) 20. b4
(20. Nd5 {was a better try} 20... Qe5 21. e3 Rfd8 $2 (21... Bd7 $1 22. exd4
Nxd4 23. Qd1 Rxc1 24. Qxc1 Kh8 25. Nec3 Qf5 26. Qf4 Bc6 27. Qxf5 Nxf5 28. Re5
Nd6 29. Re7) 22. exd4 Qxd4 23. Rc4 Qd3 24. Nef6+ {is winning for White!}) 20...
Rfd8 (20... Rfe8 {was tricky as White has to mind his back rank e.g.} 21. Nc5
Bxc5 22. Rxc5 Ne5 23. Rec1 Rxc5 24. Rxc5 $4 d3 $1 25. Rc7 (25. exd3 Nf3+ 26.
Bxf3 Qe1+ 27. Kg2 Qh1+ 28. Kxh1 Bxf3+ 29. Ng2 Re1# {is a nice mate}) 25... dxe2
$19) 21. Nd3 {seems best as} (21. Nc5 {is still risky} 21... Bxc5 22. Rxc5 $2
d3 23. Bxc6 d2 24. Rd1 Rxc6 $17) 21... Ne5 22. Nec5 {Better than} (22. Nxe5
Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qxe5 $17) 22... Bxc5 ({I was unsure about} 22... b6 {when} 23.
Nxe5 Qxe5 24. Nd3 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Qxe2 26. Qxa6 {
is unclear! The a7 B is "stuck" but the d4 might become a monster!} 26... Bf5 (
26... Bf3 $4 27. Re1) 27. Qxa7 Qxd3 28. Qxb6 Re8 $13) 23. bxc5 ({Again} 23.
Nxc5 {allows} 23... b6 24. Nb7 Rxc1 25. Rxc1 Rd7 26. Qxa6 d3 27. exd3 Nf3+ 28.
Bxf3 Bxf3 {and it's all over!}) 23... Nxd3 {Now things just fizzle out} 24.
exd3 Rxc5 25. Qb4 Re8 26. Bxb7 (26. Rb1 $2 Rb5 $1 $15) 26... Rxc1 ({if} 26...
Bh3 {simply} 27. Ra1 {gives Black nothing}) 27. Rxc1 Qf6 (27... a5 {
comes to nothing after} 28. Qa4 Bf5 29. Bd5 Bxd3 30. Qxd4 Bb5 (30... Qxa3 $4
31. Ra1 {wins!})) 28. Re1 {With a draw offer which was accepted} ({Instead} 28.
Be4 $4 Rxe4 $1 29. dxe4 Qf3 30. Qb8+ Kh7 31. Qf4 Qxf4 32. gxf4 d3 {
would have been a sad end!}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "MN69"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Lennox, C J."]
[Black "Giese, R."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[Annotator "C J Lennox"]
[PlyCount "66"]

{Bernard. As you were sporting enough to publish our game, here is my most
entertaining (if not enjoyable) game from MN69.} 1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. d4 Nf6
4. Nc3 dxc4 5. Ne5 {
I had played this before in OTB games, but this was my first CC opportunity.}
5... b5 6. g3 e6 7. Bg2 Nd5 8. e4 Nb4 {This was an unpleasant surprise, with
the tactical point 9.a3 Qxd4! 8...Nxc3 would have been similar to one of my
previous games.} 9. O-O Nd7 {In this position i spent some time trying to make
10.Nxc6 work, but without success.} 10. Nf3 Bb7 11. e5 Nd3 12. Ne1 Nxc1 13.
Rxc1 Qb6 14. b3 Ba3 15. bxc4 {Already getting desperate!} 15... Bxc1 16. c5 Qa5
17. Qxc1 O-O 18. Ne4 b4 19. f4 Qxa2 20. Nd6 {Who was it who said that with a N
on d6 or e6 you can go to sleep and let your game win itself?} 20... Ba6 21.
Rf2 Qa4 22. f5 b3 {I had anticipated 22...exf5 with some optimism, but after
Black's next move I couldn't find a way to continue the attack.} 23. f6 h6 24.
Qb2 Qb4 25. Rd2 Rab8 {Unfortunatly Black doesn't even need to defend c6, as 26.
Bxc6 can be met by either Nxe5 or Nxc5.} 26. fxg7 Kxg7 27. Be4 f6 28. Bd3 Qa4
29. Bxa6 Qxa6 30. Nd3 fxe5 31. dxe5 Nxc5 32. Nf4 (32. Nf4 {
Dreaming of the grand swindle} 32... Na4 33. Qb1 Rxf4 34. gxf4 b2 35. Rg2+ Kf8
36. Rg8+ Kxg8 37. Qg6+ {# This would have nicely echoed the finish of my game
with Nick Young from the 1975 Scottish OTB ch, at Aberdeen, the game which
made me ch leader for 24 hours. Diagram wKg1,Qd1,Nd5,f3,Ra1,e3,Pa2,b2,d6/bKg8,
Qg3,Nd3,Ra8,f6,Pa7,b7,c4,g6,h7 XABCDEFGHY   8r+-+-+k+(   7zpp+-+-+p'  
 6-+-zP-trp+&   5+-+N+-+-%   4-+p+-+-+$   3+-+ntRNwq-#   2PzP-+-+-+"  
 1tR-+Q+-mK-!   xabcdefghy   }) {But back in reality, the actual conclusion was
} 32... Rxf4 33. gxf4 Nd3 {Evidently it was my Nd6 that went to sleep!} 0-1

[Event "SCCA Candidates 1999"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Flockhart, H."]
[Black "Jessing, M."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[Annotator "M Jessing"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bd3 {Kopec variation which i am not familiar with.} 3...
Nc6 4. c3 Nf6 5. Bc2 d5 {...Ng4 not good because of doubled h pawns after Qd4
& ...f6 dubious, allowing scope for WBs.} 6. e5 Nd7 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 Be7 9.
Nc3 a6 10. Be3 Nb6 11. Nd2 h5 {I felt it was the only move to prevent WQ going
to g4 or h5. It meant BQ side castling likely.} 12. f4 Bh4+ {
Weakening W Kingside.} 13. g3 Be7 14. O-O $2 Bd7 15. f5 Qc7 16. Qf3 ({
fxe6 not good for White ie} 16. fxe6 Bxe6 17. Qf3 O-O-O 18. Bf5 Rdf8 19. Nb3 g6
20. Bd3 f5 21. Qe2 Nb4 22. Rfc1 Nxd3 23. Qxd3 Nc4 24. Nd2 Kd7 25. b3 Nxe3 26.
Qxe3 Qa5 27. Na4 Rc8 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Qh6 $2) 16... O-O-O 17. Rfc1 $2 Rdf8 {
Room for King. I was concerned about Na4 or a4 for W and the sacrifice of the
WB at a6.} 18. a3 f6 19. b4 fxe5 {
A complex position in which I wanted counter play quickly.} 20. b5 ({on} 20.
dxe5 d4 21. b5 Nxe5 22. Qf1 dxe3 {etc}) 20... Nxd4 21. Bxd4 exd4 22. Na4 axb5 (
{I chose not to play...} 22... Bxb5 {since} 23. Bd3 Bc6 24. Nxb6+ Qxb6 25. Rab1
Qa7 26. Qe2 Rf6 27. Bxa6 Qxa6 28. Qxa6 bxa6 29. Rxc6+ {
which I felt was unclear.}) 23. Nxb6+ Qxb6 24. Bd3+ Kd8 25. Qe2 Bg5 26. Rcb1
Rxf5 27. Nf3 Be3+ 28. Kg2 Rf7 29. Bxb5 Bxb5 30. Qxb5 Qxb5 31. Rxb5 Rhf8 32. Ne5
Rf2+ 33. Kh3 (33. Kh1 {not as good as text after...} 33... Rf1+ 34. Rxf1 Rxf1+
35. Kg2 Rf2+ 36. Kh1 Kc7 37. a4 Rd2 38. Nf3 Rd1+ 39. Kg2 d3 40. Rb2 d2 41. Rc2+
Kd6 42. a5 Rg1+ 43. Nxg1 d1=Q) 33... g5 34. Rh1 Rd2 35. Rxb7 (35. g4 {
loses quickly to...} 35... h4 36. Rhb1 Rff2) 35... Rff2 36. Rh7 g4+ 37. Nxg4 {
Only move to avoid mate.} 37... hxg4+ 38. Kxg4 d3 39. h4 Rc2 40. Rb7 d2 0-1

[Event "Scotland-CIF (7)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2000.05.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Armstrong, A."]
[Black "Stummerer, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B15"]
[WhiteElo "2176"]
[BlackElo "2143"]
[Annotator "Alan Armstrong"]
[PlyCount "35"]

{This game was played by e-mail at a not too hectic pace, the game on the
other hand was...} 1. d4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 {
Well my opponent might be playing a Caro-Kann, but I have news for him...B.D.G}
3. e4 dxe4 4. f3 exf3 5. Nxf3 Bg4 6. h3 {After this move Black can opt to play
the Bishop back, instead he decides to swop off the pieces.} 6... Bxf3 7. Qxf3
Qxd4 {Black is now up by 2 pawns, can White recover, yes by developing and
attacking at the same time.} 8. Be3 Qf6 9. Qg3 {
Black would love to swop off the Queen's, but that is not my poison.} 9... e5
10. O-O-O {White has now reached a safe castled position, and has much more
artillery at his disposal.} 10... Nd7 11. Bc4 {Eyeing up the weak f7 square,
the Rook on h1 will come to f1 and further embarace the black Queen.} 11... Nh6
12. Rhf1 Qg6 {This time I will oblige Black with the Queen swop, and then hack
away the remnants of the defence.} 13. Qxg6 fxg6  (13... hxg6 14. Bxh6 gxh6
15. Bxf7+ Ke7 16. Bxg6 {
In this variation, White regains the 2 pawns and gets the upper hand.} 16...
Rg8 17. Rf7+ Ke6 {Forced as Kd8 or e8 will lead to mate.}) 14. Bxh6 gxh6 15.
Ne4 {Now it starts to get very messy, the Knight on d7 is very vunerable now.
Black is still 2 pawns up, but the Bishop to e6 is too strong.} 15... O-O-O $6
16. Be6 {Followed by Knight to f6 Black will lose the piece or drop the pawns
on h7,h6 and g6.} 16... Kc7 (16... Be7 17. Rf7 Rhe8 18. Rxd7 Rxd7 19. Nf6 Bxf6
20. Bxd7+ Kd8 21. Bxe8 Be7 22. Bxc6 bxc6 23. Rxh7 {
Again White's position is much better.}) 17. Rf7 Kb6 18. Rdxd7 {
Alfred decided enough was enough, and so another bloody victory for the B.D.G.}
1-0

[Event "European Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Giulian, P."]
[Black "Neuvonen, O."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A53"]
[Annotator "P Giulian"]
[PlyCount "73"]

{Old Indian A53)} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. d5 $6 {Not having
faced this opening for about 15 years I show my ignorance. Better is Nf3, Be2
and 0-0 which gives White a clear edge.} 5... h6 $5 {
Black intends Be7, Nh7 and Bg5 eliminating his bad Bishop.} 6. Be3 Be7 7. f3 {
To obtain any advantage it is important to avoid the Bishop exchange. My plan
is to meet a Bg5 with Bf2 and h4.} 7... O-O {Now I want to castle queenside
and use a pawn storm against the Black King. Unfortunately I can't play Qd2
because after Black plays Bg5 I could no longer play the necessary Bf2.} 8. Bd3
Nc5 9. Bc2 c6 10. Nge2 {
I was tempted by b4 but was unsure what to do with my King after it.} 10...
cxd5 11. cxd5 Qb6 $6 12. Qd2 $1 Nh5 $2 {This wastes two tempi. Better is Bd7.}
({Note that Black cannot play} 12... Qxb2 13. Rb1 Qa3 14. Nb5 Qxa2 15. Nc1 Qc4
16. Rb4 {winning.}) 13. O-O-O Nf6 14. g4 Bd7 15. Ng3 {
I was tempted to play the immediate h4 but became confused by Black's h5.}
15... Nh7 16. h4 Qd8 ({I had expected} 16... f6 17. Nf5 Rf7 18. Rdg1 {
with a promising attack.}) 17. Bxc5 $2 {I didn't like this move at the time
and like it even les now. I wanted to play Qh2 but felt Black could probably
reply with Qb6. However this is much better than what I played.} 17... dxc5 18.
Qh2 Bd6 19. g5 g6 $1 {Sacrifices the h-pawn but it is not clear how I proceed
afterwards. h5 is met by g5. Meanwhile Black has a queenside attack.} 20. h5 $5
Qe7 $1 {if 20...Qxg5+ 21.Kb1 and after Rdg1 White has a strong attack. After
Qe7 I am forced into winning a pawn, but giving up my attack because Black now
threatens to play hxg5 because the Queen defends the Knight on h7.} 21. hxg6
fxg6 22. gxh6 Kh8 $1 ({I had been hoping for} 22... Rxf3 23. Nf5 $3 gxf5 24.
Rdg1+ Kh8 25. Rg7 Qd8 26. Qh5 {
threatening the Rook and also Rxh7+ and Qf7 mating.}) 23. Qg2 Qg5+ 24. Kb1 c4 {
Now I was concerned. My attack seems to be going nowhere whereas Black's
attack is underway.} 25. Rh2 b5 26. Nf1 Rf6 27. Qf2 Bc7 28. Qe2 Bb6 $2 29. d6
$1 {I have no idea whether this is a good move or not! However if I do nothing
I will be swamped on the queenside. My idea is to vacate d5 for the Knight.
This together with Nd2, f4 and Nf3 seemed very promising albeit at the cost of
two or three pawns.} 29... Raf8 30. Rg2 $5 Qxh6 ({If} 30... Qh5 31. Nd5 {
and now} {(i)} 31... Rxd6 ({(ii)} 31... Rxf3 32. Ne7 {with a strong attack.})
32. Nxb6 Rxd1+ 33. Qxd1 Bh3 {
with an unclear position which I think probably favours White.}) 31. Rh2 Qg5 ({
The alternative is} 31... Qg7 32. Nd2 {threatening Rdh1} 32... R8f7 33. Rdh1
Qg8 34. Nd5 Rxd6 35. f4 exf4 36. Qg2 {with a strong attack.}) 32. Nd2 R8f7 $2 {
Possibly the losing move although I think I have a definite advantage. Better
to save a tempo with the immediate Rxd6.} 33. Nd5 Rxd6 34. f4 $1 exf4 35. Nf3
Qg3 {The alternatives seem no better.} ({(i)} 35... Qd8 36. e5 Re6 37. Rdh1 Be3
38. Qg2 {with the idea of Ng5.}) ({(ii)} 35... Qg4 36. Ne5 Qxe2 37. Nxf7+ {
winning.}) 36. Ne5 Be8 {Loses immediately but there is no defence.} (36... Rg7
37. Rg2 {and now} {(i)} 37... Qh4 ({(ii)} 37... f3 38. Nxf3 Qh3 39. Ng5 Qh5 40.
Qf1 {with a very strong attack.}) 38. Nxb6 {and the Bishop on d7 hangs.}) 37.
Rdh1 {and Black resigns because there is no way to meet the threats of Rg2 and
Nxf7 followed by Rxh7+.} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Thomson, Tom"]
[Black "Mackintosh, Iain"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C25"]
[WhiteElo "2410"]
[BlackElo "2295"]
[Annotator "Notes by Tom Thomson"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "1999.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 {[2...Nc6 is the original symmetrical reply, whereas 2...
Nf6 is Falkbeer's recommendation. Tseitlin and Glazkov favour Nf6 for Black. ]}
3. f4 exf4 4. Nf3 g5 5. h4 {[The Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit.]} 5... g4 6. Ng5 d6 {
[6...h6 or 6...f6 are more usual.]} 7. d4 h6 8. Nxf7 Kxf7 9. Bc4+ Kg7 10. Bxf4
Be7 11. O-O Bxh4 {[This move had failed in 2 previous outings, however it is
not easy to see how White should take advantage of the tempo used by Black. An
alternative line is 11...Nf6 12.Qd2 Nh5 13.Be3 Bf6 14.Nd5 Bxh4 15.e5 Be6 16.
Nf6 Bxc4 17.Nxh5+ Kg6 18.Nf4+ Kh7 19.c3 Qe8 20.Qc2+ Kg7 21.Qf5 Bg5 22.d5 Bxf1
23.Ne6+ Kg8 24.Bxg5 Bd3 25.Qxd3 Nxe5 26.Qf5 hxg5 27.Re1 Qh5 28.Nxg5 Qh2+ 0-1 A.
Brenke-T.Halasz Dortmund 1990]} 12. Qd2 {[12.Bxd6 cxd6 (12...Qxd6! and I
cannot find a continuation for White that wins) 13.Rf7+ Kg6 14.e5 1-0 J.
Kirimaki-P.Lehtinen 1992; or 12.Be3 Nf6 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.g3 Bxg3? (14...Na5 15.
Bd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 c6 17.Nf4 Nc4 18.Qf2 Rf8 19.gxh4 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qxh4 and now
White is just a pawn down) 15.Bg5 Nxe4 16.Rf7+ Kg6 17.Nxe4 hxg5 18.Nxg3 Nb4 19.
Raf1 Rh3 20.Ne4 1-0 Claridge-Cody 1997]} 12... a6 $6 {[This move is slow and
White will be able to build some initiative before Black's play on the
queenside can become dangerous. I think Black's development should have been
taking priority.]} 13. g3 {[This was played to allow White's rooks to double
up on the f-file. Control of this file is the most important feature of the
game. All White's efforts are aimed at this goal.]} 13... Be7 14. Rf2 Nf6 15.
Raf1 b5 $6 16. Bd5 Bd7 $6 {[This move blocks the Black queen's power down the
d-file. The influence of the Black Queen had been preventing White pushing
onto e5. If 16...Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Be6 18.Nxe7 Qxe7 19.d5+= or 16...Bb7 17.Bg5!
Nxd5 18.Rf7+ Kg8 19.Bxh6+-]} 17. e5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 Be6 19. Rh2 $1 Bg5 {
[19...Bxd5 20.Bxh6+ Kg8 21.Qd3 Qe8 22.Qf5+-]} 20. Nxc7 Bc4 {
[If 20...Qxc7 (a deflection) 21.Bxg5!]} 21. exd6 Qf6 22. Rff2 Rad8 23. d5 Rxd6
{[23...Bxf4 24.Rxf4 Qxd6 25.Qc3++-]} 24. b3 Rc8 {[I had missed this move! It
came as a surprise and put doubts in my mind about my position. But after some
more analysis I was able to recover from the shock.]} 25. bxc4 Rxc7 26. c5 Rdd7
27. Rh5 Bxf4 28. Rxf4 Qg6 29. Rhf5 Kh7 30. Rf6 Qg5 31. Qd3+ Kg7 32. R6f5 Qg6
33. Qc3+ Kh7 34. Rf8 {[34.dxc6?! Rxc6 35.Rf8 Qg7=]} 34... Rg7 35. R8f6 {
[35.dxc6 Rxc6 36.R8f6 Rxf6 37.Qe4+-]} 35... Qg5 36. Qd3+ {
[36.Rxc6?! is no comparison! 36...Qxd5 37.Rxa6 Qxc5+ 38.Qxc5 Rxc5=]} 36... Kh8
37. dxc6 {[37.Rxc6?! Rxc6 38.dxc6 Qxc5+ 39.Qd4 Qxc6+=]} 37... Rce7 {
[37...Rg8 38.Qd6 Rh7+-]} 38. Kg2 Rg8 39. Rf7 {
[39...Rg7 40.Rf8+ Rg8 41.R4f7 Rxf7 42.Rxf7+-]} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship 2000/01"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beecham, C R."]
[Black "Mackintosh, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Annotator "C R Beecham"]
[PlyCount "63"]

{Trompowski} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 Bf5 5. f3 Nf6 ({
In the same tournament I Reeman played} 5... Nd6 {but after} 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qe2
Be7 8. O-O-O Bg6 9. e4 c6 10. h4 {White built up a strong initiative.}) 6. c4
e6 7. Nc3 c6 8. g4 ({
In th game J Hodgson - R Sukharisingh from the German League 1996, John played
} 8. Qb3 Qc8 9. Rc1 Nbd7 10. g4 Bg6 11. h4 h6 12. Nh3 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Nb6 14. Nb5
{and won quickly. After 8.Qb3, Qb6 looks satisfactory for Black.}) 8... Bg6 9.
h4 h6 10. Qb3 b6 {I was confident that Iain would not play 10...Qb6. In the
last two Championship tournaments Iain had given me a lesson on how to play
and literally ripped my Kings head off! I was sure he would want to keep
Queens on.} 11. Nh3 Be7 (11... dxc4 12. Bxc4 Nd5 13. O-O-O Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6
15. e4 Nxc3 16. Qxc3 Nd7 17. h5 Bh7 18. Kb1 O-O-O 19. Ka1 Kb8 20. Nf2 f6 21.
Ba6 c5 22. Qa3 Qg3 23. Rhf1 cxd4 24. Nd3 Ne5 25. Rc1 Rhe8 26. Qa4 Re7 27. Qxd4
Red7 28. Qc3 {1-0 Conquest,S-Xie Jun/Premier, Hastings ENG 1996 (28)}) 12. h5
Bh7 13. Nf2 O-O {Castling into the attack.} ({Better would have been} 13...
dxc4 14. Bxc4 Nd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. Bd3 Bxd3 17. Nxd3 O-O {
with at least a level position.}) 14. g5 hxg5 15. Bxg5 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Nd5 17.
Bxe7 Qxe7 18. e4 Ne3 19. h6 Rd8 ({Probably best as after} 19... gxh6 20. Kd2 $1
Nxc4+ 21. Qxc4 Bg6 22. Rag1 {White looks good.}) 20. Rg1 Bg6  21. Rxg6 $5 ({
Looking back on my notes I now think} 21. Ne2 $1 {was better viz.} 21... Nxc4
22. Qxc4 gxh6 23. Nf4 Kh7 24. Ng4 b5 25. Qc1 $1 {
In the heat of battle I felt that 21.Rxg6 would shake him up a little.}) 21...
fxg6 22. Bxe6+ Kh8 23. hxg7+ Kxg7 24. Ne2 Nc2+ {This was a surprise.} ({
I expected} 24... Ng2+ 25. Kf1 Ne3+ 26. Qxe3 Qxe6 27. Ng4 Rh8 (27... Nd7 28.
Qh6+) 28. d5 cxd5 29. Nf4 {When White's position is well worth the exchange.
My Q is better on c3 (as in the game) rather than on e3 as in this note.}) 25.
Qxc2 Qxe6 26. Qc3 Kg8 ({The move} 26... Kf8 {leaves h8 vulnerable viz} 27. d5
cxd5 28. Nf4 Qd6 29. Nxd5 Nd7 30. Qh8+ Kf7 31. Qh7+ Kf8 32. Nh3 $1 Qg3+ 33. Ke2
Qe5 34. Nhf4 {which is winning for White.}) 27. Ng4 Rf8 {Defending f6.} ({
Developing the queenside with} 27... Nd7 {is no better.} 28. Nf4 Qe7 29. Qc4+
Kg7 30. Ne6+ Kg8 31. Nxd8+ {and the game is over.}) 28. Kd2 {
I was concerned that if I castled long Black would take on a2 and then play d5.
} (28. O-O-O Qxa2 29. d5 Qa1+ 30. Kd2 (30. Kc2 Qa4+) 30... Qa5 31. b4) 28...
Nd7 29. d5 $1 {This looked wrong initially, it appears to open up the c file
for Black, but in reality it is to White's advantage with moves such as Qc7 -
h2 and Rh1.} 29... cxd5 30. Nh6+ {Forcing the King onto the open file.} 30...
Kh7 31. Rh1 Nf6 ({Closing the diagonal with} 31... Rf6 {comes up against} 32.
Nf4 Qe8 33. Ng4+ Kg7 34. exd5 Rc8 35. Qd4) 32. Qc7+ {If Qd7 (Too slow is 32...
Nd7 33.Nd4 Qe8 34.Nhf5+ Kg8 35.Qh2 Kf7 36.Qh7+ and mate in 3 moves.) 33.Ng4+
Kg7 34.Rh7+ Kxh7 35.Nxf6+ Rxf6 36.Qxd7+ Kh6 37.Qxd5} 1-0

[Event "SCCA League 2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Pyrich, George"]
[Black "Baker, Robert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Annotator "Pyrich"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2000.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 {I've suffered against this move in the past in OTB games and
so felt it was time to change sides!} 2... e6 3. e4 c5 ({Usual here is} 3... h6
{when} 4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. c3 {
followed by 6.Bd3, 7.Ne2 and 8.f4 is the currently favoured White set-up}) 4.
d5 Qb6 $5 ({Not} 4... exd5 {when after} 5. e5 Qe7 6. Qe2 h6 7. Bxf6 gxf6 8. Nc3
fxe5 9. Nxd5 Qd6 10. O-O-O {Black is already clearly worse}) 5. Nc3 Qxb2 {
The Trompovsky "Poisoned Pawn" ?!} 6. Nge2 ({Maybe} 6. Bd2 {
was better when after} 6... Qb6 {White has} 7. f4 {
but 6.... Nxe4 7.Nxe4 Qe5 8.Bd3 exd5 seemed very unclear}) 6... a6 {
Preventing 7.Nb5} ({Instead} 6... d6 {allows} 7. Rb1 Qa3 8. Qd2 Be7 9. dxe6
fxe6 10. e5 dxe5 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nb5 {winning immediately for White}) 7. g3 {
In preference to} (7. Rb1 {when} 7... Qa3 8. Qd2 d6 9. Ng3 b5 10. Be2 {
seems o.k. for Black. I felt it best to simply develop pieces and maintain the
pawn at d5}) 7... d6 (7... b5) 8. Bg2 ({
It was a difficult choice betwen this and} 8. Bh3 Be7 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. O-O O-O {
which seemed unclear}) 8... Nbd7 ({If} 8... Be7 {I'd prepared} 9. dxe6 fxe6 10.
Rb1 Qa3 11. e5 dxe5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Bxb7 Bxb7 14. Rxb7 {
when, with moves like Nd5 and Ne4 in the air, White must be better}) ({
however, I wasn't sure about} 8... e5 {when} 9. Rb1 Qa3 10. Bc1 Qa5 11. Bd2 Be7
{is difficult to assess}) ({Instead} 8... exd5 $2 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. Nxd5 {
is excellent for White}) 9. O-O Be7 10. Rb1 Qa3 11. dxe6 fxe6 12. Bd2 {
With the idea of 13.Nf4 and played in preference to} (12. Bh3 {when} 12... Ne5
13. Bc1 Qa5 14. f4 Nc6 {when Black seems to be o.k.}) ({and} 12. Bc1 Qa5 13.
Bd2 Qc7 14. Nf4 Ne5 15. Bh3 Kf7 16. Nd3 Nxd3 17. cxd3 {
which doesn't offer much for White}) 12... e5 {probably forced as} (12... O-O {
allows} 13. Nf4 Ne5 14. Rb3 Qa5 15. Ncd5 Qd8 16. Ba5 Qxa5 17. Nxe7+ Kh8 (17...
Kf7 18. Nxc8 Rfxc8 19. Rxb7+ $18) 18. Qxd6 {when White is clearly better}) 13.
g4 ({Played in preference to} 13. Rb3 {
as I felt I had to go after Black before he had time to consolidate}) 13... h6
{Forced as} (13... Nxg4 $2 14. Nd5 Bd8 15. Rb3 {is just what White wants}) 14.
Ng3 ({Again} 14. Rb3 {was discarded as} 14... Qa5 15. Nd5 Qd8 16. Nec3 b5 17.
f4 b4 18. Nxe7 Qxe7 {seemed unclear at best}) 14... g6 15. f4 {
White must open lines quickly} 15... exf4 ({I thought he might go for} 15... c4
{when I intended something like} 16. g5 hxg5 17. fxg5 Qc5+ 18. Kh1 Nh5 19. Nxh5
Rxh5 20. Qf3 Rh7 21. Nd5 {which must be good for White}) 16. Rb3 Qa5 17. Nd5
Qd8 18. Bxf4 ({Instead} 18. Nxf4 $2 Ne5 19. h3 O-O {lets Black off the hook})
18... c4 $2 {This must be wrong. Admittedly both} (18... Ne5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20.
Qa1 O-O 21. Qxe5 Nxd5 22. exd5 Rxf1+ 23. Bxf1) ({and} 18... Nxd5 19. exd5 Ne5
20. Bxe5 dxe5 21. Qd3 {are good for White but Black can still defend}) 19. Rbf3
{Now Black can never castle} 19... Nxd5 20. Qxd5 (20. exd5 $2 g5 21. Bxd6 Qb6+
{is disastrous for White}) 20... Nf6 {
Possibly the critical position of the game} ({No better were either} 20... Nb6
21. Qd4 Bf6 22. e5 $1 dxe5 (22... Bxg4 $2 23. Re3 $1) 23. Qe4 {
winning for White}) ({or} 20... Nc5 21. Qd4 Bf6 22. e5 dxe5 23. Qxc5 exf4 24.
Rxf4 {when Black can't survive for long}) ({but} 20... Qc7 {
leaves Black still in the game. After} 21. e5 $1 Qc5+ (21... dxe5 22. Be3 {
should be winning for White despite the 2 pawns deficit}) 22. Qxc5 dxc5 23. Ne4
Nb6 24. Nd6+ Bxd6 25. exd6 {White's advantage is still far from decisive}) 21.
Qd4 ({This seemed better than} 21. Qxc4 {although after} 21... Bxg4 22. R3f2
Rc8 23. Qb3 b5 24. h3 Bd7 25. e5 $1 {White's advantage is obvious}) 21... Bxg4
({If instead} 21... g5 {then} 22. e5 $1 gxf4 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Qxf4 {
when Black can't meet all the threats}) ({or} 21... d5 {when} 22. Be5 dxe4 23.
Rxf6 Qxd4+ 24. Bxd4 {is crushing}) 22. R3f2 Rh7 {The best line as} (22... g5 {
loses to} 23. e5 $1 {as before after} 23... dxe5 (23... gxf4 24. exf6 fxg3 25.
hxg3) 24. Bxe5 Qxd4 25. Bxd4 Rf8 26. Bxf6 Bc5 27. Bxb7 Bxf2+ 28. Rxf2) ({and} 
22... Rc8 {is met by} 23. Be3 O-O 24. Bxh6 Rf7 25. Bg5) 23. Bd2 ({Now} 23. e5 {
doesn't seem so good after} 23... dxe5 24. Bxe5 Qxd4 25. Bxd4 Nh5 26. Nxh5 Bxh5
27. Bxb7 {when Black looks set to survive}) 23... c3 {
Deflecting the B from h6 Instead} (23... Rf7 {
allows White a free hand, for example} 24. Bxh6 Be6 25. e5 Ng8 26. Rxf7 Nxh6 (
26... Bxf7 27. Bxb7 Qc7 28. e6 Bxe6 29. Bxa8 Nxh6 30. Be4 Qc5 31. Qxc5 dxc5 32.
Bxg6+ Kd7 33. Rd1+ Kc7) 27. Rxe7+ Kxe7 28. Qh4+ Kd7 29. Qxh6) 24. Bxc3 Rf7 25.
e5 {That move again! Instead} (25. Rxf6 Rxf6 26. Rxf6 Bxf6 27. Qxf6 Qxf6 28.
Bxf6 {is much less clearcut}) 25... dxe5 26. Qxe5 Rc8 {I think that Black is
now lost anyway but the text hopes for Rc5 which might be a bit awkward} (26...
Kf8 {loses fairly simply after} 27. Bxb7 Bh3 28. Bg2 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 Rb8 30. Ne4
Rb5 31. Qf4 Qa8 32. Kg1 Qxe4 33. Qxe4 Nxe4 34. Rxf7+ Ke8) 27. Bd4 {
this seemed better than} (27. Rxf6 {when after} 27... Rxf6 28. Rxf6 Rxc3 29.
Rf2 Qd1+ 30. Rf1 Qxc2 31. Re1 Rc7 32. Qh8+ Kd7 33. Qd4+ Kc8 34. Qxg4+ Kb8 35.
Ne4 {White is doubtless winning but still has some work to do}) 27... Qc7 {
Again the most stubborn defence} 28. Qxc7 {
Accepting the winning end-game. Instead} (28. Rxf6 $2 {
lets Black off the hook almost completely - after} 28... Rxf6 29. Rxf6 Qxe5 30.
Bxe5 Bxf6 31. Bxf6 Rxc2 {any White win would be problematic!}) ({However} 28.
Qe3 $1 {prepares Bxf6 and is more clearcut}) 28... Rxc7 29. c3 (29. Bxf6 Bc5 {
is awkward so the text prepares Bd4 after the capture on f6}) 29... Be6 (29...
Rd7 {was perhaps marginally better leaving White with the 2 R's pawns after}
30. Bxf6 Bc5 31. Bd4) 30. Bxf6 {
The rest requires no comment as White's material advantage is now decisive}
30... Bc4 31. Re1 b5 32. Ne4 Kf8 33. Bxe7+ Rcxe7 34. Rxf7+ Bxf7 35. a3 Re5 36.
Kf2 Bd5 37. Ke3 Be6 38. Bf3 {and here Black resigned. White will soon
penetrate with his R and then advance his K to go after the Black Q-side pawns}
1-0

[Event "Challenge 2000"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "A Petrie"]
[Black "T F McAinsh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Annotator "Petrie,A"]
[PlyCount "33"]

{I have always enjoyed my games with Tom McAinsh and this was the best of them.
} 1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 {out of book} 2... d5 3. Bd3 e6 {Secures f5} 4. Nd2 c5 5. c3
b6 6. Ndf3 $15 (6. Ngf3 Bb7) 6... c4 {Black wins space} 7. Bc2 Bd6 8. Ne5 O-O
9. f4 b5 10. Qf3 g6 {Consolidates f5} 11. Nh3 {
,but is creating weaknesses on the black squares around the King.} 11... Bd7 {#
} 12. Nf2 Be8 13. O-O Na6 14. e4 {Attacks the pawn chain,Ifelt that the time
was right for this move. The Bishops will soon be free to move to more
aggresive squares leaving the Black position cramped.} 14... Nc7 $16 (14...
dxe4 $5 {should be examined more closely} 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Rb8 $14) 15.
g4 $14 {White prepares the advance f5. The Black pieces are all tied to
defending the squares round the Kingand White is going to break open the
position in a few moes.#} (15. f5 $5 exf5 16. exf5 $16) 15... Be7 $16 (15...
Nxe4 $5 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Bxe4 Rb8 $14) 16. f5 Nxe4 (16... exf5 17. exf5 Kh8
18. Bh6 $16) 17. Nxe4 {And Black resigned, his King will have to go to h8 in
order to save his rook. The White pieces are well placed to break trough and
force a win.} 1-0

[Event "CC Olympiad XI Final RUS-HUN"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1999.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Umanskij, M."]
[Black "Glatt, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E69"]
[Annotator "Gabor Glatt and Jozsef Zoltai"]
[PlyCount "82"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. e4
c6 9. h3 exd4 10. Nxd4 Qb6 $5 {That time I only knew about my opponent, that
he was a very strong Russian player rated at 2690 elo points. He became the CC
World Champion simuktaneously with our game. The text is a rather rare move,
but not weak. Black aims his Queen at the squares b2 and d4. White either
withdraws his Knight from d4, or he has to face tactical threats.} 11. Nde2 {
More and more popular move.} (11. Re1 Re8 {After this classical move White has
a slightly better position. Beside 11...Re8 two other moves are worth
mentioning.} (11... Ng4 $6 {
Black can move his Knights into the centre, but he can't equalise.} 12. Nce2 $1
Nge5 13. b3 Nc5 14. Be3 a5 15. Rb1 Re8 16. Rf1 $1 $16) (11... Ne8 $5 {
Beginning of an interesting plan played among others by Akopian 2600 -
Damljanovic 2570 1-0 Tilburg 1993.} 12. Nc2 Nc5 13. Re3 a5 14. b3 f5 15. exf5
Bxf5 {=})) 11... Nc5 12. Be3 $6 {An active move, but it seems to be better to
defend first the pawn b2, and to play Be3 thereafter.} (12. Qc2 a5 13. Rb1 Ne8
14. Be3 Qc7 $2 {Hulak 2545 - Fracnik 2605 1/2, Vinkovci 1995.} (14... Qb4 $1
15. b3 f5 $132)) (12. Rb1 Re8 13. Be3 Qc7 14. f3 Be6 $5 15. e5 Bxc4 $5 $13 {
Donchenko 2435 - Novik 2460 1/2, St. Petersburg 1994.}) (12. b3 Re8 13. Be3 Qc7
$14 {Paehtz 2455 - Borik 2375 1-0, Germany 1991.}) 12... Qxb2 $1 {When I played
this move (at the end of 1993) I could not find any game with this position,
but since that time it has turned up in some games. The present game and also
the other ones prove, that Black can capture the pawn b2 safely. Although
White gets Black's weak pawn on d6, but he can't defend his pawn on c4. White
has some development and space advantage for his pawn, but Black's position is
defensible.} 13. Rb1 Qa3 14. Qxd6 Nfd7 15. Bd4 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 Ne6 17. Qd2 Ne5
18. Qh6 $1 {# The world Champion plays much more stronger, and prepares a new
sacrifice in order to start a huge attack.} (18. Nc1 $2 Nxc4 19. Qd3 b5 $17 {
happened in a similar position in the game Kirov - Barlov Smederevska Palala
1984, but White did not get enough chances for the pawn.}) 18... Nxc4 19. f4 $5
{Strike while the iron is hot!} 19... Nd2 {It was hard to decide, but I
thought it was better for me to defend my position with a material advantage
than to do so without it.} 20. f5 (20. e5 $2 Nd4 $1 $19) 20... Nxb1 21. Nxb1 (
21. fxe6 $2 Nxc3 22. Rxf7 Nxe2+ 23. Kh2 Qxg3+ 24. Kh1 Rxf7 $19) 21... Qc5+ 22.
Kh1 Ng7 23. g4 $1 (23. f6 $2 Ne6 24. Rf5 (24. Nf4 Qg5 $19) 24... gxf5 25. Nf4
Re8 $1 $19) 23... f6 $1 24. Nd2 $1 (24. fxg6 $2 hxg6 25. Nf4 Qg5 $19) 24... Bd7
 25. Nf4 $6 {White has proceeded with his attack very well so far. His
chain of pawns paralyses Black's King side, his minor pieces threaten with
dangerous manoeuvres, while Black's Rooks are powerless for the moment. But
White plays in too great hurry now. He should have played Nf3 or pushed his
pawn to h4. These moves would have controlled the square g5 taking it away
from Black's Queen and probably also forcing Black to capture the pawn on f5.}
(25. h4 gxf5 (25... Qc2 $2 26. e5 $1 fxe5 27. f6 Ne8 28. Be4 Qxa2 29. Bxg6 Rxf6
30. Qxh7+ Kf8 31. Qh6+ Kg8 {=}) 26. gxf5 Rf7 $17) {
Black prepares now a spectacular combination.} 25... gxf5 26. gxf5 Rf7 $1 {
The most difficult move of the game. Black defends the point g7 in advance,
and closes the diagonal a2-g8 at the same time.} 27. Rg1  27... Bxf5 $3 {
This move could have been played already instead of 26...Rf7, but it wouldn't 
have been as strong as now. After 26...Bf5 27.exf5 Nxf5 28.Ne4! Nxh6 29.Nxc5
Black has the better position, but to find a winning plan isn't simple at all.}
28. Bf1 {There is no better move!} (28. exf5 Nxf5 {and White's Queen is lost!
Thanks to Rf7 there is no double chess by Bd5. 29.Bd5+  (29.Qh5 Ng3+-+) 29...
Qxg1+!-+}) 28... Bg6 29. Nxg6 {The World Champion offered a draw here.} (29.
Bc4 Qe3 $1 30. Rxg6 (30. Rg2 Rd8 31. Bxf7+ Kxf7 32. Re2 Qg3 $19) 30... hxg6 31.
Bxf7+ (31. Qxg6 Qxf4 32. Qxf7+ Kh8 $19) 31... Kxf7 32. Qxg6+ Kg8 33. Nh5 Qxh3+
$19) 29... hxg6 30. Rxg6 b5 31. Be2 $1 Rd8 (31... Re8 $4 32. Bd1 $14) 32. Nf1 {
Although the power of the White pieces have been weakened, they have still
serious threats, for example Ng3-f5.} (32. Bd1 Qc1 $19) 32... f5 {With his last
move Black has thrown his Rooks on the files d and f into the fight, which
decides the game.} 33. Ne3 f4 34. Nf5 Qe5 35. Rg2 Qxe4 {
The simplest: Black gives the quality back for another pawn.} 36. Qg5 Rdd7 37.
Nh6+ Kf8 38. Nxf7 Rxf7 39. Qc5+ Ke8 40. Bg4 f3 41. Rf2 Ne6 0-1

[Event "BPCTC 1997/98"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Watson, J."]
[Black "Bell, I W."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E32"]
[Annotator "J Watson"]
[PlyCount "101"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Qc2 O-O 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Qxc3 b6 (6... Qe8 7. f3
d6 8. e4 e5 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Ne2 a5 11. b3 c6 12. Ng3 d5 13. cxd5 cxd5 14. dxe5
Qxe5 15. Bd4 Qe6 16. Bd3 dxe4 17. fxe4 b6 18. O-O Ba6 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. Nf5 Kh8
21. Rf4 b5 22. Raf1 b4 23. Qg3 Rg8 24. Rh4 g6 25. Qh3 h5 26. Rxh5+ gxh5 27.
Qxh5# {1-0 Watson,J - Allaria,CS/Pelican B O.}) 7. Bg5 Ba6 8. e3 d6 9. Bd3 Nbd7
10. Nf3 c5 11. O-O Rc8 12. Qb3 {Recommended in 'Beating the Indian Defences'.}
12... h6 13. Bh4 Bb7 14. Nd2 cxd4 15. exd4 e5 $6 16. Bf5 {Its always very
tempting to set up raking Bishops like this. Here Black is coerced into
playing his Rook to an awkward square to avoid White breaching the Black
Kingside defences by Bxd7 followed by Bxf6.} 16... Rc7 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Rad1
Qa8 (18... g5 19. Qe3 gxh4 20. Qxh6 Re8 (20... h3 21. gxh3 Re8 22. f3 Rc6 23.
Kh1 Ng4 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. hxg4 $18) 21. Nf3 Be4 (21... Bxf3 22. gxf3 Qa8 (22...
Qe7 23. Kh1 Nf8 24. Rg1+ Ng6 25. Bxg6 fxg6 26. Rxg6+ Kf7 27. Rd6 $18 Qxd6 28.
Qg7+ Ke6 29. Rxf6#) 23. Rxd7 Rxd7 24. Qg5+ Kf8 25. Qxf6 $18) 22. Nxh4 Rxc4 23.
f3 Bc6 24. Bd3 Rxh4 25. Qxh4 Kg7 26. Bf5 Qc7 27. Qg5+ Kf8 28. Rd3 (28. Rfe1
$142) 28... Bb5 $6 {Ke7 is better, but White is still a little better.} 29. Rc1
Qd8 30. Rd6) 19. f3 Re8 (19... g6 20. Bb1 {Now if Rfe8 21.Rfe1 transposes to
the Mantovani game. Re8  21.Rfe1 Back in the note to the previous moves.. Re6 
22.Qe3 Qf8 23.b4 a5 24.Qb3 Nh5 25.Be4 Bxe4 26.Nxe4 axb4 27.axb4 g5 28.Bf2 Nf4
29.Nc3 Qe8 30.Nb5 Rcc6 31.Be3 f5 32.Qc2 Qf7 33.Bxf4 gxf4 34.Qd3 Nf8 35.Qd5 Ng6
36.c5 bxc5 37.bxc5 Qf6 38.Nd6 Ne7 39.Qb3 Kh7 40.Qc4 Qg6 41.Re2 Rc7 42.Nb5 Rc8
43.Nd4 Rd8 44.Rde1 Rxd4 45.Qxd4 exd4 46.Rxe6 Qxe6 47.Rxe6 Nd5 48.Rd6 Nc3 49.c6
Nb5 50.Rd5 Nc7 +-}) 20. Rfe1 g6 21. Bb1 Re6 (21... Kg7 22. Qe3 g5 23. Bg3 g4
24. fxg4 Bxg2 25. g5 Ng4 26. gxh6+ Kh8 27. Qe2 Bh3 28. Bf5 Rg8 29. Ne4 $18) (
21... Kh7 22. Qe3 {A nice positional plus for White, per 'Beating the Indian
Defences', p35. This is Ig.Jelen-Mantovani, Cannes 1997.}) 22. Qe3 {
Hitting the h6 pawn, but mainly to get out of the way of the b pawn.} 22... Qf8
23. b4 a5 24. Qb3 axb4 (24... Nh5 25. Nf1 g5 26. Bf2 Nf4 27. bxa5 bxa5 28. Bf5
Rd6 29. Rxd6 Qxd6 30. Qa4 Nb6 31. Qe8+ Kg7 32. c5 Rxc5 33. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 34. Kh1
Nc4 35. Bh7 Qc8 36. Qxc8 Bxc8 37. Be4 f5 38. Rc1 Nxa3 39. Rxc8 fxe4 40. fxe4
$18) 25. axb4 Kg7 26. Bf2 {The Bishop has done its job on g5 and h4. From f2
it attacks the weak Black pawn onb6, ensuring that Black will need to keep a
protective eye on it constantly. If Black covers the weakness by moving the
pawn forward, he allows a vaery big passed pawn on c5.} 26... Qe7 (26... Nh5
27. Be3 Qe7 28. g3 f5 29. Bc2 f4 30. Bf2 fxg3 31. hxg3 Qg5 32. Kh2 Qe7 33. Be3
Qf7 34. Kg2 Re8 35. Qb1 Rcc8 36. Be4 Bxe4 37. Qxe4 Red8 38. Qb7 Rb8 39. Qc7 $16
) 27. Be3 Ne8 (27... Nh5 28. Be4 f5 29. Bd5 Rd6 30. Bxb7 Rxb7 31. g4 Nhf6 32.
gxf5 gxf5 33. Qc2 Qe6 34. Kh1) (27... e4 28. Bf4 Rc8 29. fxe4) 28. Bd3 {
Overprotecting the c pawn to allow the Queen freedom of movement. Ne4 was the
main alternative I considered.} (28. Ne4 Nd6 29. Nxd6 Rxd6 30. Bd3 Qh4 31. Qc3
f5 32. Bf2 Qf6 33. Bg3 f4 34. Bf2 e4 35. Qxf6+ Nxf6 36. fxe4 Nxe4 37. Bxe4 Rxd1
38. Rxd1 Bxe4 39. Rd4 Re7 40. Rd6 Rc7 41. Bd4+ Kg8 42. c5 bxc5 43. Bxc5 Bf5 44.
Rd8+ Kg7 45. Kf2) 28... Nd6 (28... f5 29. Nb1 Nd6 30. Nc3 Rc8 31. Nd5 Bxd5 32.
cxd5 Rf6 33. f4 Nf7 34. Bd4 Qd6 35. fxe5 Ndxe5) 29. Qa3 (29. Qc3 f5 30. Ra1 Nf7
(30... Nf6 31. Qb3 Nf7 32. Ra7 Rec6 $16) 31. Nb3 Qh4 32. Ra7 $16) (29. Qb2 f5
30. Ra1 Nf7 31. Nf1 Qh4 32. Bf2 Qg5 33. Ng3 Nd6 34. Qb3 Re8 $14) 29... Qh4 (
29... f5 30. Bf2 (30. Bxb6 {Not a good idea here or in analogous positions.}
30... Nxb6 31. c5 Nf7 32. cxb6 Rxb6 $15) 30... e4 31. fxe4 fxe4 32. Qc3+ (32.
Bf1 Nf5 33. Be3 Ne5 34. Bf4 g5 35. Bxe5+ Rxe5 36. Qc3 Qf6 37. Bd3 Rce7 38. Be2
e3 39. Nf3 Nh4 40. Rf1 Bxf3 41. gxf3 Ng6 42. Rfe1 Nf4 $17) 32... Kg8 33. Bc2
Nxc4 (33... Nf5 34. Nf1 Ne5 35. Bb3 Kh7 36. c5 Rf6 37. Ng3 Ng4 38. Nxf5 Rxf5
39. Bg3 Rc8 40. Bd6 Qe8 41. h3 Ne5 42. Rf1 Nd7 43. g4 $18) 34. Nxc4 b5 35. Bb3
$18 Ne5 36. Qxe5 Rxe5 37. Nxe5+ Kh7 38. Bg3 Qxb4 39. Nd7 Qxb3 40. Bxc7 Qb4 41.
Bd6 Qa4 42. Be5 {and White wins comfortably. Black's idea of sacing on c4
might work better without f5, or with the Black King on a square where he
avoids an early check on the diagonal from a1 to h8.}) (29... Nf5 30. Bf2 Rd6
31. Ne4 Bxe4 32. Rxe4 Qg5 33. Qc3 Rcc6 34. f4 Qf6) 30. Ra1 Re8 31. Bf2 (31. Qb2
f5) 31... Qg5 32. Qb2 {Pinning the e pawn and preparing to embarrass the Black
Queen. Also, there is a possible swap of Rooks coming up on the a file, and
White wants to initiate it so as to keep a Rook on e1. So the White Queen
comes off the a file.} 32... Ra8 (32... Rcc8 33. Bxb6 (33. Ra7 Ra8 34. Rxa8
Bxa8 35. c5 bxc5 36. bxc5 Nf5 37. Ne4 Qe7) 33... Nxb6 34. c5 Qd8 35. cxd6 Qxd6
36. Bb5) 33. Rxa8 Bxa8 34. Bg3 $1 {I like this one, the principle idea behind
White's 32nd. The idea is to force Black to defend his e pawn with f6, thereby
blocking in his own Queen, which White now keeps under constant threat.} ({
34.f4;} 34. h4 Qe7 35. Rxe5 Nxe5 36. f4 f6 37. fxe5 fxe5 38. Bxb6 Rd7 39. Bf2
Nf5) 34... f6 35. Bf2 {Back to harassing the pawn on b6.} 35... Nf5 36. Ne4 (
36. Be4 Bxe4 37. Nxe4 Qf4 38. Bg3 Nxg3 39. hxg3) 36... Bxe4 {
And White reaps the first reward of his strategy; the two Bishops.} (36... Qf4
$2 37. Bg3 Nxg3 38. hxg3 Nc5 $18) (36... Qh5 $2 37. g4 Qh3 38. gxf5 Qxf3 39.
Qd2 Qxf5 40. Ng3 Qg4 41. Be3 h5 42. Be2 Qe6 43. Ra1 Bb7 44. Ra7 $18) 37. Rxe4 (
37. Bxe4 Rxc4 38. Rd1 Rc7 39. g3 (39. Qb3) 39... Ne3 40. Rd6 f5 (40... Nf5 41.
Rc6 Ra7 $14) 41. Qd2 $18) 37... h5 {Creating a retreat for the Queen.} 38. Qc2
{White wants to bring the Rook down from e4, where it blocks the diagonal of
the Bishop on d3, and is also exposed to attack. But on e4 the Rook keeps an
important eye on h4, preventing the Knight from going there. The problem is
that Black then has a strong Knight sac on f3 which comes very close to
equalising for Black, since White probably has to whip it off for his
black-squared Bishop to prevent it.} (38. Be1 Nd6 (38... Qh6 39. Bd2 Qh7 40.
Re1 Nd6 41. Qc3 Nxc4 42. b5 Qg8 43. Rc1 Qd5 44. Bxc4 Rxc4 45. Bh6+ Kxh6 46.
Qxc4 $16) 39. Re2 Nxc4 (39... e4 40. Bxe4 Nxc4 41. Qc3 Qe5 42. Qxe5 Ndxe5 43.
f4 Ng4 44. h3 Nge3 45. Kf2 $14) 40. Qc3 b5 41. Bd2 Nxd2 42. Qxc7 $18) (38. h4
Qh6 39. g4 hxg4 (39... Nxh4 $5 40. Bxh4 hxg4 41. Bf2 gxf3 (41... f5 42. Rxe5
Nxe5 43. Qxe5+ Kg8 44. Qxc7 $18) 42. Rg4 g5 43. Bf5 $18) (39... Nd6 40. g5 Qh7
41. gxf6+ Kxf6 42. Bxb6 Rc8 43. Rxe5 Nxe5 44. f4 Ndf7 45. Bd4 Rd8 46. fxe5+ Ke6
47. Be4 Qh6 48. Bd5+ Rxd5 $8 49. cxd5+ Kxd5 $8 50. b5 Qf4 51. b6 Qxh4 52. Qb3+
Ke4 53. b7 Qe1+ 54. Kg2 Kxd4 55. Qa4+ Ke3 56. Qb3+ Ke4 57. Qf3+ Kd4 58. Qf4+
Qe4+ 59. Qxe4+ Kxe4 60. e6 $18) 40. Rxg4 (40. fxg4 Nd6 (40... Nxh4 41. Be2 (41.
g5 $2) 41... Ra7 (41... g5 42. Qd2 Ra7 43. Qd6 Qg6 {=}) 42. g5 (42. c5 f5 43.
gxf5 Nxf5 44. c6 Nf6 45. Rxe5 Qh3 46. Re6 Nd4 47. Re3 Nxe2+ 48. Qxe2 Ra1+ 49.
Be1 Qg4+ 50. Qxg4 Nxg4 51. c7 Rc1 52. Rc3 Rxe1+ 53. Kg2 Re8 54. c8=Q Rxc8 55.
Rxc8 Ne5 $14 56. Rb8 Nc4 57. Kf3 Kf6 58. Ke4 b5 59. Kd4 Na3 60. Ra8 Nc2+ 61.
Kc5 $18) 42... fxg5 43. Bxb6 (43. Rxe5 Nxe5 44. Qxe5+ Kh7 45. Bd4 Qf8 46. Qxg5
Nf5 47. Qf4 $17) 43... Nxb6 44. Qxe5+ Kh7 45. Qb8 Ra1+ 46. Kf2 Nf5 $19) 41. g5
Qh5 (41... fxg5 42. Rxe5 Nxe5 43. Qxe5+ Kh7 44. Bd4 Qf8 45. h5 $18) (41... Qh8
42. gxf6+ Kf7 43. Rg4 Nf5 44. Bxb6 Rc6 45. Rxg6 Kxg6 46. Qg2+ Kf7 47. Qxc6 Nxb6
48. Qb7+ Kg6 49. Qxb6 Qxh4 50. Bxf5+ Kxf5 51. Qf2+ Qxf2+ 52. Kxf2 $18) 42. Be2
Qh8 43. gxf6+ Kh7 44. Rg4 Qxf6 45. h5 $1 gxh5 46. Bd3+ Kh8 47. Rg6 Qe7 48. Qd2
$18) 40... Kf7 (40... Ne7 41. Qc2 Qh5 (41... Rc6 42. Bxg6 Nxg6 43. Qf5 Rd6 44.
h5 Ndf8 45. Kg2 Kf7 46. hxg6+ Nxg6 $15) 42. Kg2 Rc6 43. c5 bxc5 44. bxc5 Nf8
45. Qb3 Rc7 46. Qb8 Rd7 47. Bc4 Nc6 48. Qe8 Rc7 49. Bd5 Nd4 50. Rg5 $1 Qh6 51.
Rxe5 Nf5 52. Qb8 Rf7 53. Rxf5 gxf5 54. Bxf7 Kxf7 55. c6 Ne6 56. c7 Nxc7 57.
Qxc7+ Kg6 58. Qd7 Qf8 59. h5+ Kxh5 60. Qxf5+ Kh6 61. Bd4 Qg8+ 62. Kh3 $18) 41.
Qa2 Ke7 42. Kg2 $14 Rc8 43. Qa6 Rb8 44. c5 Qd2 45. Bxf5 gxf5 46. Rg7+ Kf8 47.
Rg6 e4 48. Qc4 exf3+ 49. Kg3 f4+ 50. Qxf4 Qxf4+ 51. Kxf4 bxc5 52. bxc5 Kf7 53.
Rh6 Kg7 54. Rh5 Ne5 $16 55. Rf5 Rb4+ 56. Kg3) (38. Re2 h4 (38... Nh4 {
Very interesting!!} 39. Be3 {either Bxh4 or Bg3 is safer.} 39... Nxf3+ 40. Kh1
(40. Kf2 $2 Qh4+ 41. g3 Qh3 $1 (41... Qxh2+ 42. Kxf3 Qh3 43. Bf2 Rc6 44. Re4
Rd6 45. Ke2 Qg2 46. Qc3 Re6 47. Re3 f5 48. Bc2 Qc6 49. Bb3 $16) (41... Qg4 42.
Kg2 h4 43. Qc2 hxg3 44. hxg3 f5 {and again Black is well on top.}) 42. Kxf3 e4+
43. Bxe4 Qf1+ 44. Rf2 Ne5+ 45. Qxe5 Qd1+ 46. Kg2 fxe5 $19 {
and the tables are turned completely!}) 40... Qg4 41. gxf3 Qxf3+ 42. Kg1 f5 43.
Re1 f4 44. Bxb6 Qg4+ 45. Kf2 (45. Kh1 Qf3+ 46. Kg1 Qg4+ 47. Kf2 Qh3 {
transposes, but White can opt out with a draw by 47.Kh1.}) 45... Qh3 46. Ke2 (
46. Rh1 Rc6 47. Bd4 Qxd3 48. Bxe5+ Kg8 49. Bh8 $19 {
Black looks to be winning comfortably.} 49... Qe3+ 50. Kg2 f3+ 51. Kf1 Nf6 52.
Bxf6 Rxf6 53. Rg1 f2) 46... f3+ 47. Kd1 f2 $17) (38... Ra7 39. Be4 h4 40. Bc6
h3 41. g3 Rc7 42. Bd5 b5 43. c5 Ne7 44. Be6 Nf5 45. Rd2 (45. Qd2 Qxd2 46. Rxd2
Nf8 47. Bxf5 gxf5 48. Rd6 Ra7 49. Kf1 Ra1+ 50. Ke2 Ra2+ 51. Rd2 $18 Rxd2+ 52.
Kxd2 Ne6 53. c6 Kf7) 45... Nf8 46. Bb3 Ne7 47. Qc3 Qf5 48. Bc2 Qc8 49. Rd6 Rd7
50. Qd3 Rxd6 51. Qxd6 (51. cxd6 Nf5 52. Bc5 Nd4 53. Bb1 Qc6 54. Kf2 Nde6 $18)
51... Nf5 52. Qd1 Ne6 53. Bxf5 gxf5 54. Qd3 Qc6 55. Qxf5 Ng5 56. Kf1 Nxf3 57.
Qxh3 $18) 39. Qd2 (39. Bxh4 Qxh4 40. g3 Qh3) 39... Qxd2 40. Rxd2 Kh6 41. Ra2 h3
42. gxh3 Nd4 43. Be3+ g5 44. Kg2 Kg7 45. h4 gxh4 46. Bxd4 exd4 47. f4) 38...
Ra7 (38... Rc6 39. Re2 Rd6 (39... Nh4 {
A blunder here, simply because the e4 square is firmly under White's control.}
40. Be3 Nxf3+ 41. Kh1 Qg4 42. Be4 $18) 40. c5 bxc5 41. bxc5 Rc6 42. Bb5 Rc7 43.
c6 Nf8 44. Bb6 Nd4 45. Bxd4 exd4 46. Qc4 h4 47. h3 Nh7 48. Re4 Qg3 49. Rg4 Qe1+
50. Kh2 Qe5+ 51. f4 Qe3 52. Qd5 f5 53. Rxh4 Nf6 54. Qd8 Ne8 55. Bc4 Re7 56. Bd3
Kf6 57. Bb5 Qe4 $18) 39. Qd1 Nd6 40. Re2 (40. Be3 Qf5 41. Rh4 Qe6 42. c5 Ra3
43. Bc1 Rxd3 44. Qxd3 bxc5 45. b5 c4 46. Qb1 Qd5 {=}) 40... Nf5 (40... e4 41.
Bxe4 {Simple and best.} (41. fxe4 Ne5 42. Bxb6 Ra3 43. Bb1 Ndxc4 (43... Nf3+
44. Kh1 Nxc4 45. Bc5 Nfe5 46. Ra2 Rc3 47. Ra7+ Nf7 48. Rxf7+ Kxf7 49. Qd7+ Kg8
50. Qe8+ Kh7 51. Qf7+ Kh8 52. Qe8+ Kh7 {=}) 44. Bc5 Ra1 45. Re1 Na3 46. Qd8
Nf3+ 47. Kh1 Qh4 48. Bf8+ Kg8 49. Bd6+ Kh7 50. Bg3 Qg4 51. Qe7+ Kh6 52. Qxf6
$18) 41... Nxc4 42. Bd5 (42. Bxg6 Qxg6 $19) 42... Nde5 (42... Nce5 43. g3 $1
Qf5 44. f4 Qd3 45. Rd2 Qc3 46. Bd4 Qxb4 47. fxe5 fxe5 48. Be3 Ra3 49. Bg5 Qa4
50. Bb3 Qxb3 51. Rxd7+ Kh8 52. Bf6+ Kg8 53. Rg7+ Kh8 54. Qd8+ Qg8 55. Qxg8#)
43. Qd4 Qc1+ 44. Re1 Qc2 45. f4 Nd3 46. Bxc4 Nxe1 47. Bxe1 Rc7 48. Bc3 Qf5 49.
Bd3 Qe6 $16) (40... Nc8 41. Be3 Qh4 42. Rd2 Nf8 43. Bf1 f5 44. Rd8 Rc7 $18) 41.
Kh1 {White is still worried about N-h4xf3 ideas. This is the first
prophylactic step to refutating the plan. But White must keep a close eye on
back rank tactics from Black now. For example, Black can play Ra1 in some
lines to rescue his Queen.} (41. Be4 Rc7 42. Kh1 (42. Bd5 h4 43. Be6 Nf8 44.
Bxb6 Rb7 45. Bxf5 Rxb6 46. Qd8 Rb7 47. Bc8 Qc1+ 48. Kf2 Ra7 49. Qd6 Qxc4 50.
Bh3 Rb7 51. Re4 {=}) 42... Nf8 43. Bd5 b5 44. c5 Ne7 45. Ba2 Rd7 46. Qb3 Rd5
47. Be1 Qc1) (41. Bxf5 Qxf5 42. Rd2 Qe6 43. Rd6 Qf7 44. Bxb6 Nxb6 45. Rxb6 Qxc4
46. Rb8 $15) (41. Bc2 Nh4 42. Be3 (42. Kh1 {; 42,Be4}) 42... Nxf3+ 43. Kh1 Qg4
44. gxf3 Qxf3+ 45. Kg1 Ra1 46. Qxa1 Qxe2 47. Qc3 Qg4+ 48. Kf2 Qh4+ 49. Kg2 Qg4+
50. Kf2 Qh4+ 51. Ke2 Qxh2+ 52. Bf2 f5 $18) 41... Rc7 42. g3 h4 $5 (42... Nd4 $2
43. Be3) (42... Rb7 43. h4 Qh6 44. Bxf5 (44. Kg2 Qh8 45. Bxf5 gxf5 46. Qd6 Qf8
47. Qc6 Qb8 48. Rc2 Nf8 49. Rc1 Rc7 50. Qxb6 Rb7 51. Qc5 Rxb4 52. Qe7+ Kg6 $18)
44... gxf5 45. Qd5 Rc7 46. f4 Qg6 47. fxe5 Qg4 48. Qe6 (48. e6 $2 Qxe2 49. exd7
Qe1+ {=}) 48... Qxc4 (48... Qf3+ 49. Kg1 Ra7 50. exf6+ Nxf6 51. Bd4 Rf7 52. Rd2
$18) 49. Qxc4 (49. exf6+ Nxf6 50. Bxb6 Rc6 51. Qe7+ Kg6 52. Bc5 Qg4 53. Qe5 Rc8
{=}) 49... Rxc4 50. e6 Ne5 51. Bxb6 Rxb4 52. Bc5 Rg4 53. Rb2 Re4 54. Rb7+ Kg6
55. e7 Nd3 56. Rb8 Nxc5 57. e8=Q+ Rxe8 58. Rxe8 f4 {=} 59. Kg2 fxg3 60. Kxg3
Kf5 61. Rh8 Kg6) 43. g4 h3 {
Saving the Queen, and the Knight, by tactical means.} (43... Ne7 $2 44. Be3) (
43... b5 44. gxf5 bxc4 45. Be4 Nf8 46. Bc5 $18) 44. Be4 Nf8 {A good all
move. Black frees his Rook from defending the Knight on d7. More importantly,
if this Knight  can reach f4 it blocks the black diagonal leading to the Queen
on g5.} 45. Bd5 Nd7 $5 46. Qe1 $1 {
Strengthening White's grip on the vital e1-h4 diagonal. Black is now lost.}
46... b5 (46... Ra7 47. Bg1 Nh4 48. Be3 Ng2 49. Rxg2 Ra1 50. Rg1 Rxe1 51. Bxg5
Rxg1+ 52. Kxg1 fxg5 53. Kf2 Kf6 54. Kg3 Ke7 (54... Nf8 55. Kxh3 Ne6 56. Bxe6
Kxe6 57. Kg3 {And its a simple win given the two to one majority on the
queenside, and the very weak Black pawns.} 57... e4 58. fxe4 Ke5 59. c5 $1 $18)
55. Kxh3 Nf6 56. Be4 Kf7 57. Kg3 Ne8 58. c5 bxc5 59. bxc5 Nc7 60. h4 gxh4+ 61.
Kxh4 Kg7 62. g5 Ne6 63. c6 Nc7 64. Bd3 Kf7 65. Kg3 Kg7 66. Kf2 Kf7 67. Ke3 Kg7
68. Ke4 $18) 47. c5 {
And Black resigned here. He is lost with best play, for example if ..} 47...
Nb8 (47... Ra7 48. c6 Ra1 49. cxd7 Rxe1+ 50. Rxe1 Ng3+ 51. hxg3 f5 52. gxf5 (
52. Bb6 $4 {Snatching a draw from the very jaws of victory.} 52... Qd2 53. Rg1
Qxd5 54. d8=Q Qxf3+ {and Black sneaks a draw!!}) 52... Qe7 53. Be6 gxf5 54. Rd1
Qd8 55. Bb6 $18) (47... Nf8 48. Bg1 Rd7 49. Be4 Nh4 50. Be3 Ng2 51. c6 $1 (51.
Rxg2 Rd1 52. Qxd1 hxg2+ 53. Kxg2 Qxe3 54. Qd3 Qe1 $16) 51... Rd4 52. Bxd4 Nxe1
53. Be3 Qh4 54. c7 {
and White can Queen at his leisure, leaving Black hopelessy behind in material.
} 54... f5 55. Bd5 Nxf3 56. c8=Q fxg4 57. Qc7+ Kh8 58. Qf7 $18) 48. Bg1 (48.
Rxe5 $2 {looks tempting, but its just a blunder.} 48... fxe5 49. Qxe5+ Kh6 {
and if} 50. Qxc7 Qc1+ 51. Bg1 Qd2 $19) 48... Nh4 49. Be3 Ng2 50. Rxg2 hxg2+ 51.
Kxg2 {and the Black Queen is trapped. 1-0} 1-0

[Event "SCCA Championship 00/01"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Milligan, Bernard"]
[Black "Beecham, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E17"]
[Annotator "C R Beecham"]
[PlyCount "88"]

{Queen's Indian.  Playing Bernard is something that every c.c. player should
experience, its a riot of fun from start to finish. For me our game faded into
a secondary role and thats how it should be, making c.c. a very special tool
and Bernard a very special friend.} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Bb7 5.
Bg2 Be7 6. Nc3 O-O 7. Qc2 c5 8. d5 exd5 9. Ng5 h6  ({
Now I thought long and hard about playing} 9... Na6 $5 {
with the idea of playing after} 10. cxd5 Nb4 11. Qd2 Nfxd5 12. Nxf7 $6 Ne3 $3
13. fxe3 Bxg2 14. Nxd8 Bxh1 15. a3 (15. Qd1 Raxd8) 15... Bg2 16. Qxd7 Rf1+ 17.
Kd2 Rxd8 {winning, but Bernard has a huge database and can play 12.Nxd5 Bxg5
13.Qxg5 Qxg5 14.Bxg5 Bxd5 15.Bxd5 Nxd5 16.0-0-0 with quite a good plus. I was
sure he would find this. I also had vague memories of Korchnoi-Karpov 1974
which went 9...Nc6 10.Nxd5 g6 11.Qd2 Nxd5 12.Bxd5 Rb8 13.Nxh7 Re8 14.Qh6 Ne5
15.Ng5 Bxg5 16.Bxg5 Qxg5 17.Qxg5 Bxd5 18.0-0 Bxc4 19.f4 Black Resigns. Also 9..
.g6 10.cxd5 d6 runs into 11.h4! Therefore by a process of elimination I came
to...}) 10. Nxd5 Bxd5 11. cxd5 ({Also possible was} 11. Bxd5 Nc6 12. Bxc6 dxc6
13. Nf3 Qd7 14. O-O {when I planned to play14.. Qe6 which is about equal.})
11... Bd6 $5 {#I think this is new. 11...d6 was played in van der Stemen -
Karner Tallin 1987 and 11...hxg5!? between Balashov - Tiviakov St. Petersburg
1993 which continued 12.d6 Nc6 13.dxe7 Qxe7 14.Bxg5 d5 but I didn't fancy ny
two N's v 2 B's!} 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Re8 14. O-O Na6 {A look at the pawn
structure suggests the future course of the game. Black has passed pawn Qside
and White should push the e and f pawns aiming to obtain a winning attack with
e5. Whoever executes his plan first wins.} 15. a3 b5 16. Be3 $6 {I think this
is wrong. He should go 16.b3! He has to play b3 anyway. The move played just
clogs up the e file and delays White's strategic play of e4-e5 etc which never
gets going.} 16... Qf6 17. Rad1 Rac8 18. b3 c4 19. bxc4 Rxc4 20. Bh7+ Kh8 21.
Qb1 Rb8 22. Bd3 Rc7 23. Rd2 ({I was hoping for} 23. Bxb5 $2 Nc5 24. Bd4 Be5 25.
d6 Qxd6 26. Qa1 Bxd4 {when Black has a slight plus.}) 23... Nc5 24. Bf5 a6 25.
Rd4 {With this move White anounces his intention to attack Black's King!} 25...
Rd8 26. Rg4 Na4 27. Qd3 Be5 28. Rc1 $2 {An understandable mistake, the c3
square is very weak. The correct way to defend was by 28.Bd4 viz 28...d6 29.
Rf4! # 28...Nb2.} 28... Nb2 $1 {Now White has real problems with the f5 Bishop.
With 29.Qe4 Nc4 30.Rxc4 Rxc4 31.Qb1 Rc3 Black is winning. Also 29...Qxf5 wins.
Therefore White is forced into...} 29. Qb1 Nc4 30. Bd3 Nxe3 31. fxe3 Rxc1+ 32.
Qxc1 Qd6 33. Be4 a5 34. Bg2 f5 35. Rh4 {The only square for the Rook! I spent
some time trying to find a way to win this piece, but was happy to leave it
well offside!} 35... Rb8 36. Rh5 Qf8 37. Kf2 {
Strange, especially when 37.e4!? looks a far better try.} 37... b4 38. axb4
axb4 39. Qb1 g6 40. Rh4 b3 41. d6 b2 42. Bd5 Qxd6 43. Ba2 Ra8 {# With Bernards
last move 44.h3 came the offer if 44...Qd4!! White Resigns. The Correspondence
Chess card also had a photograph of Bernard from the 70's, kipper tie and
Gorilla hair style. I questioned his parentage and accepted his resignation.
This game will always remind me of all that is good in Correspondence Chess.}
44. h3 Qd4 0-1

[Event "SCCA Championship 00/01"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Beecham, C R."]
[Black "Reeman, I."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Annotator "C R Beecham"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2000.11.18"]

{Trompowski.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 Bf5 5. f3 ({
The quiet approach with} 5. Nd2 {did not interest me. For example} 5... Nxd2 6.
Qxd2 e6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. c4 dxc4 $1 9. Bxc4 Nb6 10. Bd3 Nd5 11. O-O Bxd3 12. Qxd3
Nxf4 13. exf4 Qd5 $11 {as in Salov - van der Sterren, Biel izt 1993.}) 5... Nd6
{A rare continuation, which was played in the 1986 Soviet Union Ch. between
Efimov - Kuzmin. White continued with 6.g4 Bg6 7.Nc3 e6 8.Qd2 h5 9.g5 Nd7 10.
0-0-0 and had the edge.} 6. Nc3 e6 7. Qe2 ({I wanted to threaten the Black
Bishop with e4 rather than g4. If the Queen goes to d2 then the position is
rather unclear viz} 7. Qd2 Nd7 8. O-O-O c6 9. g4 Bg6 10. h4 h6 $13) 7... Be7 8.
O-O-O Bg6 {The prophilactic move against e4!} 9. e4 c6  10. h4 ({The move} 
10. Qe3 {also came into consideration. For example} 10... Qa5 11. h4 h6 12. Kb1
b5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Nxd5 $1 Nf5 15. Qc3 {wins a second pawn.}) ({
But Peter Lenko played} 10. Qe1 {
against M. Krasenko in the Rubinstein Memorial 1998, which continued with}
10... O-O 11. h4 h6 12. Bd3 b5 13. Bxd6 Bxd6 14. e5 Bxd3 15. Rxd3 Be7 16. f4
Qa5 {, when I prefered Black's position.}) 10... h5 11. Re1 Nc4 ({
With the rather transparent threat if} 11... Nd7 $2 12. exd5 {
followed by 13.Nxd5 and wins.}) 12. Qf2 Bb4 $5 13. Bxc4 dxc4 $6 ({
A far better try was} 13... Bxc3 14. bxc3 dxc4 {
which was the offered continuation, perhaps Black suspected something?}) 14.
Nge2 Nd7 15. Qg3 Nf6 16. Rd1 O-O {I had expected 16...Qd7 followed by
Queenside castling. With oposite side castling White will engage the Black h
pawn first.} 17. Bg5 Qb8 18. Qf2 Re8 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Qe3 f5  ({
A far better defence was} 20... Kh7 21. g4 Bf8 22. e5 fxe5 23. dxe5 Bg7 24.
gxh5 Bxh5 25. Rd6 Rh8 {but White still has a big plus.}) 21. g4 hxg4 ({
Loosing is} 21... fxe4 22. gxh5 Bxh5 23. Rdg1+ Kf8 24. Qh6+) 22. h5 Bh7 23.
fxg4 fxe4 24. g5 Bf5 ({No better was} 24... Bxc3 25. g6 $1 fxg6 26. hxg6 Bxg6
27. Qg5 Bxb2+) 25. Nxe4 Bxe4 {So two Knights are better than two Bishops!} 26.
Qxe4 c3 27. h6 cxb2+ 28. Kxb2 Qd6 29. g6 1-0

[Event "SCCA Premiers"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2000.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Murphy, George"]
[Black "Beacon, Robert"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D08"]
[Annotator "Robert Beacon"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2000.11.18"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 {The Albin Countergambit!} 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nbd2 {
#Normal here is 5 g3,but the game soon transposes.} 5... f6 {5...f6 is an
attempt to play the game as a "pure"gambit Alternatives for Black involve
playing the White squared Bishop to g4 or e6, the Queen to d7and o-o-o 
swapping off the Bishops once White has played g3 and Bg2,also in recent years
castling short and playing the game positionally has become popular!} 6. exf6
Nxf6 7. g3 Bg4 8. a3 Qe7 {Normal would be 8...Qd7 as mentioned The text is an
idea of Nikolay Minev in Inside Chess I'm following the game Lignell-Niemela
1941.} 9. Bg2 d3 $1 10. e3 Nd4 11. O-O {
11 h3 was obligatory according to Minev.} 11... Ne2+ 12. Kh1 O-O-O 13. Qa4 {
13 b4 was played in the above mentioned game (if 13 h3  h5! )I'm now on my own!
} 13... Kb8 14. b4 h5 15. Bb2 h4 16. Nxh4 Bd7 17. Qa5 Ng4 18. Ndf3 Qe8 19. Ne5
{#19 Qg5 wth the idea of 20 Qg6!?} 19... Rh5 20. Nxd7+ Rxd7 21. Qa4 g5 {
For me it is "all or nothing" in this position It is difficult to say what the
alternatives are.} 22. Bf3 Qe6 23. Kg2 $2 {The game now swings in Black's
favour Possibly 23 Qb5 to bring the Queen into the game would be better.} 23...
gxh4 24. h3 Nxe3+ {( forced )} 25. fxe3 Rg5 26. Bg4 Qe4+ 27. Rf3 Rf7 {
The pressure now builds on White.} 28. Raf1 Nxg3 {
With hindsight 28...Rxg4 followed by 29... h3+ looks stronger.} 29. R1f2 Nf5 {
Black throws away some of his advantage 29... Ne2 is the move!} 30. Kg1 Bd6 31.
Rxf5 {#This is probably the decisive mistake At this point the game was finely
balanced  31 c5!? looks better.} 31... Rfxf5 32. Rxf5 {
32 Bd4 prolongs the game.} 32... Qxe3+ (32... Rxg4+ 33. hxg4 Qxg4+ 34. Kh1 Qh3+
35. Kg1 Qh2+ 36. Kf1 Qh1+ 37. Kf2 Bg3# {would be more percise.}) 33. Kf1 Rxf5+
34. Bxf5 Bg3 $1 {In a lot of lines in the Albin White's Queen goes to a4 to
pressure Black's queenside In this instance it was his undoing as it remained
out of the game The back rank threat was an allusion!} 35. Bd4 {
The Bishop threat comes too late.} 35... Qe1+ 36. Kg2 Qe2+ 37. Kg1 Qh2+ 0-1

[Event "E-Mail Team Final"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Giulian, P."]
[Black "Gyimesi, Z."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[Annotator "Milligan,B"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2000.11.18"]

{Queen's Gambit. In the following game my opponent was an over the board
Grandmaster and obviously a much better player than me. The one advantage was
that I had access to a number of his games and was able to predict the opening.
I chose a wild complicated opening which would have been suicide over the
board, However in correspondence I reckoned that the abundance of theory would
enable me to obtain a safe edge. Of course this idea is a load of rubbish.} 1.
d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7. Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 ({The alternative is} 10... Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6
12. Qb3 a6 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O Qc7 15. Qa3 Rc8 {and White is slightly better.})
11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6 13. h4 a6 14. Rh3 Qa5 15. Be2 Ne5 $5 {#This came
a complete shock. The move is given as dubious in all the books which quote a
previus game from my opponent! That game (Maksimenko - Gyimesi 1997) continued
16.Qb3 b5 17.Qg3 Bd7 18.Qg7 Ke7 19.f4 Nc6 and White has a clear advantage.
Obviously my opponent must have an improvement, and the more I analysed this
game the less I trusted the line given in the books. I really didn't know what
to do in this position and eventually decided to centralise and hope!} 16. Qb3
b5 17. Rc3 Bd7 ({Not} 17... Bb7 18. Nxe6 {winning.}) 18. Rac1 O-O $5 {
A important decision. I had expected 18...Ke7 (with the idea of RHd8) 19.f4
Ng6 20.g3 which I thought was level, but my opponent thought was better for
White.} 19. Nf3 Qb6 $4 ({I had expected} 19... Qa4 20. Qxa4 bxa4 21. Nxe5 fxe5
22. Rc7 Bb5 23. Bxb5 axb5 24. R1c5 b4 {which may be drawn!}) 20. Nxe5 fxe5 21.
Qb4 $3 ({I had intended} 21. Qd1 Qd8 22. Qd6 Rc8 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Rd1 Rc7 25.
Qxe5+ f6 {and I am probably winning. However Qb4 is much stronger because it
keeps the d1 square for the Rook in some lines. The threat now is Rg3+ and Qd2.
}) 21... Rac8  ({I had been looking at} 21... Qd8 22. Rd1 f6 23. Bh5 a5 24.
Qc5 Rc8 25. Qa7 Rxc3 26. Rxd7 {winning.}) 22. Rg3+ Kh8 23. Rd1 Qd8 24. Rgd3
Qxh4 25. Rh3 Qd8 26. Qd2 {
and Black resigned because he must lose at least a piece.} 1-0

[Event "E-Mail Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Giulian, P."]
[Black "Terada, S."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D39"]
[Annotator "Milligan,B"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2000.11.18"]

{Queen's Gambit. My head swollen by the above win I decided to try the same
opening again.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. e4 Bb4 6. Bg5 c5 7.
Bxc4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qa5 10. Bb5+ Nbd7 ({The alternative is} 10...
Bd7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qb3 a6 13. Be2 Nc6 14. O-O Qc7 15. Qa3 Rc8 {
and White is slightly better.}) 11. Bxf6 Qxc3+ 12. Kf1 gxf6 13. h4 a6 14. Rh3
Qa5 15. Be2 {After my 15th move the position was the same as the previous game.
} 15... Qe5 16. Rc1 Rg8 $5 17. Bg4 $5 Nb6 18. Rb3 Qh2 $4 19. Nf3 $1 Qh1+ 20.
Ng1 Qxh4 21. Bf3 Nd7 22. Qd6 Qh6  ({If} 22... Ne5 23. Rxc8+ Rxc8 24. Rxb7 {
wins.}) 23. Rbc3 Kd8 24. e5 Qf8 25. Qc7+ Ke7 26. Rd1 fxe5 {
The threat had been Qd6+ and Rxc8+ mating.} 27. Bxb7 Ra7 28. Qd6+ Kf6 29. Bxc8
Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Ke7 31. Rdc6 ({Not} 31. Rxa6 $4 Rxc8 $1) 31... Rd8 32. Nf3 f6 33.
Nd2 Nf8 34. Ne4 Rd1+ 35. Ke2 Rg1 36. Rg3 Ng6 37. Rxe6+ Kd8 38. Rc6 {
and Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "ICCF World Ch 24"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Barnett, Dr Clive"]
[Black "Lennox, C J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B97"]
[Annotator "Milligan,B"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2000.11.18"]

{This game does not merit publication, but as my first result in the World Ch,
it has a little historical interest, and it might provide some light relief
from Joe Watson's games.} 1. e4 c5 {My opponent is a 67 year old semi-retired
GP, living at Bendi Junction, who quickly informed me that he had known Purdy.}
2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Qb6 8. Nb3 Nbd7 9.
Qf3 Qc7 {Trying to improve on 9...Be7 with which I had scored 0/2. My opponent
also favours the Najdorf.} 10. Bd3 b5 11. O-O-O Bb7 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. Kb1 Be7 {
#In reply to this I received an interesting letter which contained no moves;
my hopes rose accordingly.} 14. g4 Rc8 15. g5 Nd7 16. Qh3 b4 {At this point my
opponent took a month off to avoid distraction from the Sydney Olympics.} 17.
Ne2 d5 {Barnett repeated this move correctly but on his board he apparently
moved my e P instead (his comments had revealed a preference for descriptive
notation) so:} 18. Rhg1 $4 dxe4 0-1

[Event "BPCTC 1997/98"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "????.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bell, I W."]
[Black "Watson, J."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C06"]
[Annotator "?"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2000.11.18"]

{French Tarrasch.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 {The French Tarrasch, a favourite
of Anatoly Karpov, and the subject of a new book by John Emms published after
the start of this game.} 3... Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8.
cxd4 f6 {Thematic, and one of Black's most popular methods of combatting the
French tarrasch in the past 10 or so years. White normally exchanges on f6,
but a hardcore of Scandinavian and postal players prefer Nf4 here, leading to
an exciting struggle where Black drops an exchange (the Rook on h8) but gets a
strong centre and good development for it. John Watson prefers 7...Qb6 in Play
The French both editions), which is just as viable.} 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. O-O Bd6
11. Nf3 Qc7 12. Nc3 {An old line, but there is nothing wrong with White's plan.
Black is more or less forced to play a6 to stop the threatened Nb5, but this
weakens the Black squares on the Queenside, notably c5 and b6. White could
then settle a Knight on c5 (via a4). pressurising e6, b7, a6 and probably
Black's White-squared Bishop. On the other hand, moving the Knight from e2
means White has less control over the squares g3 and f4, allowing Black
counterplay on the Kingside.} 12... a6 13. Bg5 O-O 14. Bh4 {White's idea is to
reduce pressure alonge the b8-h2 diagonal by offering an exchange of Bishops
on g3. Black needs a good counter to this plan...} 14... Nh5 {... and this is
it. It is nearly always dim to stick a Knight on the rim, but here the trusty
steed intensifies Black's pressure on the key squares g3 and f4, allowing
Black to keep his Black-squared Bishop, his best minor piece.} 15. Re1  ({
In a Civil Service league match some years ago, my Home Office opponent tried..
.} 15. Qc2 {when I missed the thematic ...} 15... Rxf3 $1 (15... g6 16. Bxg6 $2
Nf4 17. Bd3 Nb4 {winning a piece (Emms).}) 16. Bxh7+ (16. gxf3 Nxd4 17. Qd1
Bxh2+ 18. Kh1 Qf4 $19) 16... Kh8 17. gxf3 Nxd4 18. Qd3 Bxh2+ 19. Kh1 Qf4 20.
Be7 Bg1 $1 21. Rxg1 Nxf3 22. Rg2 Qh6 23. Bh4 (23. Qg6 $4 Ng3#) 23... Nxh4 24.
Rh2 g5 25. Be4 dxe4 26. Qxe4 Nf6 {And White is in serious trouble as soon as
Black activates his Bishop, perhaps by e5, or with B-d7-c6 if White plays Qe5
himself.}) 15... g6 {h6 was good enough in Shmuter-Nosenko, Ukraine
Championship 1988, with Nf4 as a follow-up, but g6 instead is natural and good.
As well as blunting White's attack on h7, playing g6 clears the way for the
Black Queen to settle on g7 in some lines. In turn this intensifies the
pressure on the White pawn on d4.} 16. Rc1 Qg7 17. Bf1 Bd7 18. Bg5 h6 19. Be3
Nf4 {Nf6 and Rf7 are the other moves played here. Mestel played Rf7 against
Karpov in 1984, unsuccessfuly. Commentators suggested at the time that Nf4 is
probably better. It certainly seems best to me.} 20. g3 g5 21. Na4 {Both gxf4 a
nd Kh1 were the main alternatives. Black seems fine in these lines too.} (21.
gxf4 gxf4+ 22. Kh1 fxe3 23. fxe3 Qg4 24. Be2 Qh3 25. Rg1+ Kh8 26. Rg2 Rg8 27.
Qf1 Rxg2 $15 28. Qxg2 Qxg2+ 29. Kxg2 Rg8+ 30. Kf2 b5 31. Bd3 Be8 32. a3 Rf8 33.
Ne2) (21. Kh1 Ng6 22. Bg2 b5 23. Ng1 Rf7 24. Qh5 Raf8 25. Nf3 Rf5 26. a3 Nf4 (
26... Nh8 27. Qg4 e5 28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. Qd1 Ree8 30. Bxd5+ Nf7 31. Nxb5 axb5 32.
Bxc6 Bxc6+ 33. Rxc6 Qg6 34. Qf3 g4 35. Qd5 Qe6 36. Qxe6 Rxe6 37. d5 Re4 38. Kg2
Rfe8 39. h3 h5 40. hxg4 hxg4 41. Rh1 Rxe3 42. fxe3 Rxe3 43. Rc3 Re2+ 44. Kf1
Rxb2 45. Rh4 Ne5 46. Rh6 Bf8 47. Rb6 Ra2 48. Rxb5 Nf3 $11) 27. gxf4 gxf4 28.
Qh3 fxe3 29. fxe3 e5 30. Rg1 Kh8 $15) 21... Rf7 22. Nb6 Raf8 23. Nxd7 Rxd7 24.
Bxf4 (24. Bxa6 $2 g4 25. Nh4 Nh3+ 26. Kg2 Be7 27. Be2 (27. Bxb7 Rxb7 28. Rxc6
Rxb2 29. Qa1 Rbxf2+ 30. Bxf2 Rxf2+ 31. Kh1 Bxh4 32. Rcxe6 Bg5 33. Qb1 Qf7 34.
Qg6+ Qxg6 35. Rxg6+ Kf7 36. Rd6 Rxa2 37. Rxd5 Bf6 38. Rd7+ Kg6 {
And White cannot satisfactorily meet the threat of Ng5.}) 27... h5 28. Bd3 Bxh4
29. gxh4 Qf6 {0-1 Pantaleoni-Chapman. corr.} 30. Bb5 Rdf7 31. Bxc6 bxc6 32. Rc2
Qf5 33. Bh6 Nxf2 34. Qe2 Nd3 35. Rd1 Qf2+ 36. Kh1 Qxe2 37. Rxe2 Nf2+ 38. Rxf2
Rxf2 39. Bxf8 Kxf8 40. a4 Rxb2 $17) 24... gxf4 25. Bh3 (25. Rxe6 fxg3 26. fxg3
Qg4 27. Rxh6 Qxf3 28. Qxf3 Rxf3 29. Bg2 Rf5 30. Bh3 Nxd4 31. Kh1 (31. Rc8+)
31... Be7 {May be better than 31...Kd8.} (31... Rd8 32. Rd1 Be5 33. Rxd4 Rf2 $1
34. Rb4 Rxb2 35. Rxb2 Bxb2 36. Rb6 Bc3) 32. Bxf5 (32. Rd1 Rc7 33. Bxf5 Nxf5 34.
Re6 d4 35. Rd3 Ne3 36. h4 Kf7 37. Rxd4 Kxe6 38. Re4+ Kf5 39. Rxe3 Kg4 $19)
32... Nxf5 33. Rc8+ (33. Re6 d4 34. Rd1 Kf7 35. Re2) 33... Kg7 34. Rhh8 d4 $19)
25... fxg3 $1 {A sharp exchange sacrifice for long-term pressure and what soon
becomes a vicious attack against the White King.} 26. Bxe6+  (26. hxg3 Bxg3
27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Bxd7 Bf4+ 29. Kf1 Qxd7 30. Rxc6 (30. Rc3 Qh3+ 31. Ke2 Re8+
32. Ne5 Qh5+ 33. Kf1 Qh1+ 34. Ke2 Nxd4+ 35. Qxd4 Bxe5 36. Rxh1 Bxd4+ 37. Kd3
Bxc3 38. bxc3 Kg7 $17) 30... Qh3+ 31. Ke2 Re8+ 32. Ne5 bxc6 (32... Bxe5 33.
dxe5 Rxe5+ 34. Kd2 Rxe1 35. Rxh6+ Qxh6+ 36. Kxe1 Qe6+ 37. Qe2 Qf5 $11 38. Kd2
Kg7 39. Kc3 Qf6+ 40. Kd3 $14) 33. Qd3 Qxd3+ 34. Kxd3 Kg7 $1 (34... Kh7) 35.
Rg1+ Kf6 36. Nxc6 (36. Rg6+ Kf5 37. Rxc6 Bxe5 38. dxe5 Re6 39. Rc1 $11) 36...
Bd6 37. Rh1 Kg5 38. Ne5 Bxe5 39. dxe5 Rxe5 40. f4+ Kxf4 41. Rxh6 a5 42. Ra6
Re3+ 43. Kd4 Re2 44. Rxa5 Rxb2 45. Kxd5 Rd2+ 46. Kc5 Ke4) 26... Kh8 27. Bxd7 (
27. hxg3 Bxg3 28. Bxd7 Bf4+ 29. Kf1 Qxd7 30. Rc3 Qh3+ 31. Ke2 Re8+ 32. Ne5 Qh5+
33. Kf1 Qh1+ 34. Ke2 Nxd4+ 35. Qxd4 Bxe5 36. Rxh1 Bxd4+ 37. Kd3 Bxc3 38. bxc3
Kg7 {Three pawn islands each, but black's extra pawn should mean victory,
despite White's well-developed King.}) 27... gxf2+ {Only move.} (27... Nxd4 $2
28. Rc8 $1) (27... gxh2+ $6 28. Kh1 Qxd7 29. Nh4 $1 Rxf2 30. Qh5 Rf6 31. Qxd5
Qg4 32. Re4 Qg5 33. Re8+ Kh7 34. Qe4+ Kg7 35. Re1 Rf4 36. Qe6 Bf8 37. Ng2 Rf2
38. Qh3 Kh7 (38... Nxd4 39. R8e4) 39. R8e2 Rxe2 40. Rxe2 Nxd4 (40... Qf6 41.
Qd3+ $18) 41. Qd3+ $1 Qf5 42. Re4 $18) 28. Kxf2 Qxd7 29. Rg1  (29. Re3 Bf4
$15) (29. Rc3 Bb4 $15) (29. Rh1 Qg4 $1 30. Rg1 Qxd4+ 31. Kg2 (31. Qxd4+ Nxd4
$19) (31. Kf1 $2 Qxd1+ 32. Rxd1 Rxf3+ $19) 31... Qg4+ 32. Kf2 Qb4 33. Rg6 Kh7
34. Re6 Qxb2+ 35. Re2 Rxf3+ 36. Kxf3 Nd4+ 37. Kf2 Nxe2 38. Rc2 Qd4+ 39. Kxe2
Qg4+ 40. Kd2 Bf4+ 41. Ke1 Qg1+ 42. Ke2 Qxh2+ 43. Kd3 Qg3+ 44. Ke2 $4 (44. Kd4
Qg7+ 45. Kd3 Qg6+ 46. Kd4 Qe4+ 47. Kc5 Qe7+ 48. Kb6 Be3+ 49. Rc5 Bxc5+ $19)
44... Qg2+ 45. Kd3 Qe4+ 46. Kc3 Qc4+ 47. Kb2 Qb4+ 48. Ka1 Be5+ 49. Rb2 Qxb2#) (
29. Qd3 Qg4 30. Rcd1 (30. Rc3 Nxd4 31. Re3 Bxh2 32. Ke1 Be5 33. Ra3 Rc8 34.
Rxe5 Nxf3+ 35. Qxf3 Qg1+ 36. Ke2 Qh2+ 37. Kd1 Qxe5 $19) 30... Bxh2 31. Rg1 (31.
Rh1 Qg3+ 32. Ke2 Qg2+ 33. Ke3 Rxf3#) (31. Rf1 Bg3+ 32. Ke2 Re8+ 33. Kd2 Bf4+
34. Kc3 Re3) 31... Bxg1+ 32. Rxg1 Qxd4+ $19) 29... Qh3 (29... Bxh2 30. Rg2 Qh3
31. Rc3 Qh4+ 32. Kf1 $14 Nxd4 $2 33. Rc8 $1) 30. Rg2 (30. Rc3 Qxh2+ (30... Bxh2
31. Rg2 Qh4+ 32. Kf1 Nxd4 $2 33. Rc8 $1 $18) 31. Rg2 (31. Kf1 Qxb2 32. Qd3 Qa1+
33. Ke2 Qxa2+ 34. Kd1 Rxf3 35. Rg8+ Kxg8 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. Qxh6+ Kg8 38. Qg6+
$11) 31... Bg3+ 32. Kf1 Qh1+ $11) (30. Rg3 Qxh2+ 31. Rg2 Bg3+ 32. Kf1 Qh1+ $19)
30... Rf4 $1 {Simple chess. Black plans to gang up on the White pawn on d4, to
increase the pressure on the White Knight on f3, and improve the scope of
Black's Bishop. Surely the White King cannot survive long in such an open
position.} (30... Bxh2 31. Rc3 Bb8 {A)} 32. Qd3 (32. Qf1 Qh5 33. Qd3 Ba7 34.
Ke1 Bxd4 35. Rxc6 (35. Rb3 Qh1+ 36. Qf1 Qxf1+ 37. Kxf1 b5 38. Rd3 Bg7 39. Rf2
Rf5 $15) 35... Qh1+) (32. Kg1 Ba7 33. Qd3 Nxd4 34. Nxd4 Qh4 35. Re2 Rg8+ $19)
32... Ba7 (32... Ne5 33. Qe2 Qh4+ 34. Kf1 Nxf3 35. Rxf3 Qh1+ 36. Kf2 $11) 33.
Rg3 Qh2+ (33... Qh1 34. Qg6 $1 Bxd4+ 35. Ke2 Bf6 36. Rg1 Qh3 37. Re3 $14) 34.
Rg2 Qf4 $17 (34... Qh5 35. Ke1 Bxd4 36. Rb3 Qh1+ 37. Qf1 Qxf1+ 38. Kxf1 Rf7 39.
Rh2 Kh7 40. Rh5 Ne5 41. Ke2 Rxf3 42. Rxf3 Nxf3 $16 43. Kxf3 Kg6 44. Rxd5 Bxb2
45. Rd7 b5 46. Rd8 a5 47. Rd5 a4 48. Rxb5 a3 49. Kg4 Bf6 50. Ra5 Bb2 51. Ra6+
Kg7 52. Kf5 h5 53. Kg5 Kf7 54. Kxh5 Ke7 55. Kg5 Kd7 56. Kf5 Kc7 57. Ke4 Kb7 58.
Re6 Bc1 59. Kd5 Bb2 60. Kc5 Bc1 61. Kb5 Bb2 62. Re7+ Kc8 63. Kc6 Kb8 64. Rd7
Kc8 65. Rc7+ Kb8) 35. Ke1 Nxd4 36. Qg6 Nxf3+ 37. Rxf3 Qc1+ 38. Ke2 Qxb2+ 39.
Kd1 Qa1+ 40. Ke2 Qe5+ 41. Kd2 Qd4+ $11) 31. Rg3 (31. Rc3 Nxd4 32. Rg3 Qxh2+ 33.
Rg2 Qh4+ 34. Rg3 Rxf3+ 35. Rcxf3 Nxf3 36. Qxf3 Qxg3+ $19) (31. Rg6 $2 Nxd4 $1
32. Qxd4+ (32. Rxd6 $2 Rxf3+ 33. Kg1 Qg4+ 34. Kh1 Qe4 $19) 32... Rxd4 33. Rxd6
$19 Rd2+ (33... Rd3 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. Rc7+ Kg6 36. Rg8+ Kh5 37. Rf7 d4 38. Rf6
Rd2+ 39. Ke1 Rxh2 40. Nxh2 $18 Qe3+ 41. Kf1 Qc1+ 42. Kg2 $18) 34. Ke3 Rg2 35.
b3 (35. Rd8+ Rg8 36. Rxg8+ Kxg8 $19) 35... Rg7 36. Rf6 Rg4 37. Rd1 Kg7 38. Rf4
Rxf4 39. Kxf4 Qe6 40. Rd4 a5 $19) 31... Qxh2+ {Picking up a pawn for the
exchange, but more importantly removing a hiding place for the White King.} 32.
Rg2 Qh3  (32... Qh4+ 33. Kg1 Qf6 34. Rc3 (34. Ne5 Nxe5 35. dxe5 Bxe5 36.
Rc8+ (36. Qxd5 Qb6+ 37. Rc5 Qxc5+ 38. Qxc5 Bd4+ 39. Qxd4+ Rxd4 $17) 36... Kh7
37. Qd3+ Re4 38. Rc1 Qh4 39. Rf1 h5 $1 40. Rgf2 (40. Rd2 Kh6 $1 41. Rff2 Rg4+
42. Rg2 Qe1+ 43. Qf1 Bh2+ 44. Kxh2 Qxf1 $19) 40... Bd4 41. Kg2 Qg5+ 42. Kh1
Bxf2 43. Rxf2 Kh6 44. Qd2 Rh4+ 45. Rh2 Qxd2 $19) 34... Be7 (34... Bf8 35. Re3
Nxd4 36. Ne5 Kh7 37. Qd3+ Nf5 38. Nd7 Qd8 39. Nxf8+ Qxf8 40. Reg3 $15) (34...
Qe6 35. Kh1 Qf6 36. Qb3 Qf7 37. Rd3 Nb4 38. Re3 Nxa2 $15) (34... Re4 35. a3 Bc7
36. Rd3 Bb6 37. Rgd2 Rg4+ 38. Kh1 Qf4 39. b4 $15) 35. Qb3 (35. Rd3 Bf8 36. Rf2
Bg7 37. Qd2 Nb4 38. Rb3 Nxa2 39. Re3 Bf8 $15) 35... Nxd4 36. Qxd5 Nxf3+ 37.
Rxf3 Bc5+ 38. Kh2 Rh4+ 39. Kg3 Bd6+ 40. Kf2 (40. Qxd6 Qxd6+ 41. Kxh4 Qe7+ 42.
Kg3 Qe5+ 43. Rf4 $11) 40... Qxb2+ 41. Ke3 Qc3+ (41... Qxg2 42. Rf8+ Bxf8 43.
Qxg2 Bc5+ 44. Kf3 Rb4 45. Qg6 Bf8 46. Qf7 Bg7 47. Qe7 Rb5 48. Qe8+ Kh7 49. Qe4+
Kg8 50. Qe8+ $11) 42. Ke2 Qc2+ 43. Qd2 Qc4+ 44. Rd3 Qe4+ 45. Kd1 Rh1+ $19) 33.
Rg3 (33. Rc3 Nxd4 34. Rg3 Qh2+ 35. Rg2 Qh4+ $19) (33. Rg6 Nxd4 34. Qxd4+ Rxd4
35. Nxd4 Qh4+ 36. Ke3 Qe4+ 37. Kd2 Qxd4+) 33... Qe6 $1 {It is important to
combine defence with attack. Here the Queen polices Black's vulnerable back
rank, as well as commanding the e file.} 34. Qd3 (34. Rg1 Nxd4 35. Rg3 Nf5 $19)
(34. Kg1 Rf6 35. Rg2 Qe3+ $19) (34. Kg2 Re4 35. Ne5 Rxd4 36. Ng6+ Kh7 37. Qf3
Rd2+ 38. Kh1 Qe4 $1 $19 39. Qxe4 dxe4 40. Nf8+ $19) 34... Nxd4 35. Re1 Qf7 36.
Rh1 (36. Kg2 Nf5 37. Qc3+ (37. Rc1 $4 Nxg3 $19) 37... d4 38. Qc8+ Kh7 39. Rh1 {
Sneaky - threatening a big check on g5!} 39... Be7 40. Qc2 Qd5 41. Rh5 d3 42.
Qc3 Qf7 43. Rxf5 Rxf5 44. Qxd3 Qd5 45. Qc3 Bg5 46. Qc7+ Kg6 47. Qb6+ Rf6 48.
Qf2) (36. Rc1 {Probably White's best attempt now.} 36... Qf8 ({C)} 36... Re4
37. Rc8+ Kh7 38. Rg4 Qf5 (38... Nxf3 39. Qxf3 Qe6 40. Rxe4 dxe4 41. Qc3 Be5 42.
Qc4 Qf6+ 43. Ke1 Qh4+ 44. Kd2 Qf4+ 45. Ke1 Qg3+ 46. Kf1 Qf3+ 47. Ke1) 39. Rxe4
{Only move.} 39... dxe4 40. Qxd4 Qxf3+ 41. Ke1 Bg3+ (41... Qg3+ 42. Kd2 Qg2+
43. Ke1 $1 (43. Kc3 Qh3+ 44. Kd2 Bf4+ 45. Ke2 Qxc8 46. Qxe4+ Kg7 47. Qd4+ Kg6
48. Qxf4 Qc2+ 49. Kf1 Qf5 $19) 43... Qh1+ 44. Ke2 Qf3+ 45. Kd2 e3+ 46. Kc1 Qf1+
47. Kc2 Qf2+ 48. Kc3 Qf4 49. Qxf4 Bxf4 50. Kd3 (50. Rc4 $18)) 42. Kd2 Bf4+ 43.
Ke1 (43. Kc2) 43... Qg3+ 44. Qf2 Bd2+ 45. Kf1 Qh3+ 46. Qg2 Qxc8 47. Qxe4+ Kg7
48. Qd4+ Kh7 49. Qxd2 {is there a perpetual here?}) {A1)} 37. Rh1 (37. Qc3) (
37. Qc3 Rf6 (37... Be5 {is nothing special.} 38. Qc8 Rf5 39. Qxf8+ Rxf8 40. Rh3
Kh7 41. Rd1 Kg6 42. Rg1+ Kh7 43. Rd1 b5 44. Kg2 Nxf3 45. Rxf3 Rd8 46. Rf5 Bxb2
$11) (37... Rf7) 38. Rh3 Be5 39. Qc8 Nxf3 40. Qxf8+ (40. Rxh6+ Kg7 41. Rxf6
Qxf6 42. Qxb7+ Kg6 43. Rc6 Bd6 44. Rxd6 Qxd6 45. Kxf3 $11) 40... Rxf8 41. Rxf3)
(37. Qc3 Be5 38. Qc8 Rf6 39. Rh3 Nxf3 40. Qxf8+ Rxf8 41. Rxf3 Bd4+ 42. Ke2)
37... Bc5 38. Kg2 (38. Qc3 {Only move.} 38... Rf6 39. Kg2 Ne2 $19) 38... Nf5 $1
39. Rg6 (39. Ne5 Rf2+ 40. Kh3 Qf6 41. Ng6+ Kh7 42. Rg4 h5 43. Nf4 Be3 $1 $19
44. Nxd5 Qd6 45. Rg2 Rf3+ 46. Rg3 Qxg3#) (39. Rgh3 Qg7+ 40. Kf1 Ne3+ 41. Ke1
Bb4+ 42. Nd2 Rd4 43. Qxe3 Bxd2+ 44. Qxd2 Rxd2 45. Rxh6+ Kg8 46. Kxd2 Qxb2+ 47.
Kd3 Qxa2 48. Rh8+ Kf7 49. R8h7+ Kf6 50. R1h6+ Kg5 51. Rh5+ Kf6 52. R7h6+ Ke7
53. Rh7+ Kd6 $17 54. Rxb7) 39... Ne3+ 40. Qxe3 Rg4+ 41. Rxg4 Bxe3 42. Rh5 Qf7
$19) 36... Nf5 37. Qc3+  (37. Rgh3 Qe6 (37... Bc5+ 38. Ke1 $15) 38. Rc1 (38.
Re1 $2 Bc5+ 39. Kg2 Ne3+ 40. Kh2 Qxh3+ 41. Kxh3 Rxf3+ 42. Kh2 Ng4+ $19) 38...
Be5 (38... Bb8 39. Qc3+ Kh7 40. Qd3 Qb6+ 41. Kg2 Qxb2+ 42. Rc2 Qg7+ 43. Kh1
Qa1+ 44. Ng1 Qd4 45. Qxd4 Nxd4 46. Rch2 Nf5 47. Rd3 Kg6 48. Nf3 Kf6 49. Rc2 Bd6
50. Kg2 h5 51. Kh3 b5 $19) 39. Re1 Qb6+ 40. Kf1 Qe6 (40... Bxb2 41. Qxd5 Ne3+
42. Rxe3 Qxe3 43. Rxh6+ Kg7 {Perpetual check.}) 41. Kf2 Nd4 42. Reh1 Rxf3+ 43.
Rxf3 Nxf3 44. Qxf3 Bd4+ 45. Kf1 Bxb2 46. Rh5 d4 47. Qxb7 Qc4+ 48. Kg1 Qc1+ 49.
Kh2 $11) (37. Rg2 Nh4 38. Rg3 Re4 39. Rgh3 Bc5+ 40. Kf1 Re3 $19) (37. Rgh3) (
37. Qxf5 {is flashy but inadequate.} 37... Rxf5 38. Rxh6+ Qh7 39. Rxh7+ Kxh7
40. Rg2) 37... d4 38. Qc8+ (38. Qc2 Nxg3 (38... Qe6 39. Re1 Qf7 40. Rh1 Qe6 41.
Re1 Qxe1+ 42. Kxe1 Nxg3 43. Qc8+ Bf8 44. Nxd4 $18) (38... Qf6 $1 39. Rgh3 d3
40. Qxd3 Qxb2+ 41. Kf1 Qa1+ 42. Ke2 Qxa2+) 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 40. Rg6+ Kf8 41. Qc8+
Ke7 42. Qxb7+ Kf8 43. Qc8+ Ke7 44. Qb7+ $11) 38... Bf8 (38... Kh7 39. Rgh3 (39.
Kg2 Be7 40. Qc2 Qxa2 41. Re1 d3 42. Qc3 Bd6 $19 43. Re8 Nxg3 44. Qh8+ Kg6 45.
Rg8+ Kf5 46. Qh7+ Ke6 47. Re8+ Kf6 48. Qh8+ Kg6 49. Rg8+ Kf5 50. Qh7+ $11 Ke6
$11) 39... Nh4 40. Qc2+ Nf5 $4 (40... Qf5 41. Qb3 Be7 42. Rg3 Rxf3+ 43. Rxf3
Nxf3 44. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 45. Kxf3 $11) 41. Rxh6+) 
39. Rgh3 
{White defends very
actively, with his major pieces bearing down on the Black King. He has
succeeded in activating his Rooks aggressively, and has pinned the Bishop to
the King. So, how to proceed?} (39. Rhg1 Nxg3 40. Rxg3 d3 41. Qc3+ Bg7 42. Qxd3
Qxa2 43. Ke3 Rh4 $19 44. Ne5) 39... d3 $1 {A decoy, to tempt the White Queen
away from the back rank, which in turn frees Black's Bishop.} 40. Qd8 (40. Rd1
Qg7 41. Rxd3 (41. Rd2 Nd6 42. Qb8 Qg4 43. Rxh6+ Kg7 44. Rxd3 Ne4+ 45. Ke2 Kxh6)
41... Qxb2+ 42. Kf1 (42. Ke1 Re4+ 43. Kd1 Qb1+ 44. Kd2 Qxa2+ 45. Kd1 Qe2+ 46.
Kc1 Rc4+ $1 {This winning idea crops up in a couple of variations.} 47. Qxc4
Ba3+ 48. Rxa3 Qxc4+ 49. Kd1 $19) (42. Kg1 $1 Rg4+ 43. Kf1 Qg2+ 44. Ke1 Re4+ 45.
Kd1 Qe2+ 46. Kc1 Rc4+ 47. Qxc4 Ba3+ 48. Rxa3 Qxc4+ 49. Kd1 $19) 42... Qb1+ 43.
Ke2 (43. Kg2 Qxa2+ 44. Kf1 Qb1+ 45. Kg2 Rg4+ 46. Kf2 Qb6+ 47. Kf1 Qc5 48. Rc3
Qb5+ 49. Kf2 Rg8 $19) 43... Qxa2+ 44. Rd2 (44. Nd2 Kg8 45. Rd8 Qf7 46. Kd1 Qg7
47. Qe6+ Kh8 48. Rhd3 Nd4 49. Qe3 Qg4+ 50. Kc1 Nf3 51. Ra8 Nxd2 52. Kxd2 Kh7
$17) 44... Qg8 45. Ng5 $2 Nd4+ 46. Rxd4 Rxd4 $19) (40. Rc1 Nd4 41. Ke3 Rxf3+
42. Rxf3 Nxf3 43. Rf1 d2 44. Qd8 d1=Q 45. Rxd1 Ne5 $19) 40... Qg7 41. Qxd3 
(41. Ke1 Rc4 42. Qxd3 (42. Kd1 Ne3+ 43. Ke1 Kg8 (43... Rc1+ 44. Kf2 (44. Kd2
Nc4+ 45. Kxd3 Qg6+ 46. Kd4 Qg4+ 47. Kd3 Qf5+ 48. Ke2 Rc2+ 49. Kf1 Nd2+ 50. Ke2
Nxf3+ 51. Kd1 Rd2+ 52. Qxd2 Nxd2 $19) 44... Ng4+ 45. Kg3 Nf6+ (45... Nh2+ 46.
Kf4 Qg4+ 47. Ke3 Qe6+ 48. Kf4 Rc4+ 49. Kg3 Rg4+ 50. Kxh2 Qe2#) 46. Kf2) 44.
Qxd3 (44. Rxh6 $2 Qg3+ 45. Kd2 Qf2+ 46. Kxd3 Qc2+) 44... Qg2 45. Qxc4+ Nxc4 46.
Rg1 Bb4+ 47. Kd1 Nxb2+ 48. Kc1 Nd3+ 49. Kb1 Qxg1+ 50. Nxg1 Nf4 51. Rxh6 Bc5 52.
Rf6 Nd3 $18) 42... Rc1+ 43. Kf2 Bc5+ 44. Nd4 (44. Ke2 Qg2#) 44... Bxd4+ 45.
Qxd4 Qxd4+ 46. Kf3 Qe3+ 47. Kg4 Rc4+ 48. Kxf5 Qg5+ 49. Ke6 Rc6+ 50. Kd7 Qg7+
51. Kd8 Qc7+ 52. Ke8 Re6+ 53. Kf8 Qg7#) (41. Rb1 Re4 42. Qg5 (42. Ng5 Rg4 $19)
42... Bc5+ 43. Kf1 Ne3+ 44. Ke1 d2+ $19 45. Nxd2 (45. Ke2 Ng2+ 46. Kd1 Re1+ 47.
Kc2 Qh7+ 48. Kc3 hxg5 $19) 45... Qxg5 $19) 41... Qxb2+ 42. Ke1 (42. Kf1 Qxa2
43. Rg1 b5 44. Qc3+ Nd4 45. Qe3 Nxf3 46. Rxf3 Rxf3+ 47. Qxf3 Qc4+ 48. Qe2 Qxe2+
49. Kxe2 a5 50. Rb1 Bb4 51. Rh1 Kg7 52. Rh5 Kg6 53. Rxb5 $11) 42... Qa1+ 43.
Ke2 Qxa2+ {And this brings about a very unusual middlegame, with White having
a Queen, two Rooks and a Knight against Queen, Rook, Knight, Bishop and three
pawns. Barring a fluke, (eg if Black leaves Rxh6 tricks on) White can only
hope to pinch a draw through a perpetual check, or by holding an endgame
material down. Black does best to finish the game before an endgame, as
although he has three good passed pawns, the Bishop controls only one Queening
square, and his King is poorly placed to help them Queen. All Black's pieces
are working well, with the minor pieces doing sterling defensive duty as well
as playing their part in attack. The White King is dangerously exposed against
four good Black pieces, but actively placed should White get the Queen's off.
With a modicum of alertness on his part Black's King is safe where it is for
the present. These factors mean Black's best strategy is still to go for the
White King.} 
44. Nd2 (44. Ke1 {Tempting the Bishop away from protecting the
Black pawn on h6 is a recurring option for White, but a bad idea here.} 44...
Bb4+ 45. Kd1 Qa1+ 46. Kc2 Ne3+ 47. Qxe3 Rc4+ 48. Kd3 Rc3+ 49. Ke2 Rxe3+ 50.
Kxe3 Qc3+ 51. Ke4 $19) 44... Rd4 {Consistent chess. Black hammers away at the
weaknesses, currently the pinned Knight on d2.} (44... Nd4+ 45. Ke3 Qe6+ 46.
Ne4 Ne2 47. Kxe2 (47. Rh4 Rxh4 48. Rxh4 Be7 49. Rh5 Ng3 50. Qc3+ Kg8 51. Re5
Nxe4 52. Kxe4 Qg4+ 53. Kd3 Qf3+ 54. Re3 Qd1+ 55. Ke4 Qd7 $19) 47... Qxe4+ (
47... Rxe4+ 48. Kd1 b5 49. Qc3+ $19 Kh7 50. Qd3 Qg6 51. Qd7+ Kh8 52. Qd2 Qg4+
53. Kc1 Rc4+ 54. Kb1 Rb4+ 55. Kc1 Rc4+ 56. Kb1 Qe4+ 57. Qd3 a5 58. Qxe4 Rxe4
59. Rc3 Bg7 60. Rc7 $19 a4 61. Rf1 b4 62. Rg1 Bf6 63. Rh1 Bg5 64. Rd1 Re7 65.
Rxe7 Bxe7 66. Rd7 $19) (47... Rxe4+) 48. Qxe4 Rxe4+ 49. Kd3 Re7 50. Rh5 {
And Black ought to win easily.}) (44... b5) 45. Qc3 (45. Rxh6+ $2 Bxh6 46.
Rxh6+ Kg7 47. Rh7+ Kg6 $19) 
45... Qe6+ 
(45... Bb4 $2 46. Rxh6+ $14) (45... Kh7
46. Rd3 Bg7 (46... Re4+ 47. Kf3 Bg7 48. Qc8 Qe6 49. Qxe6 Rxe6 50. Ne4 Re7 51.
Kf4 Nd4 52. Ke3 Nc2+ 53. Kd2 Rxe4 54. Kxc2 b5 55. Rd7 Rc4+ 56. Kb3 Rc3+ 57. Kb4
Rc4+ 58. Ka5 Ra4+ 59. Kb6 Rd4 60. Rxd4 Bxd4+ 61. Kxa6 b4 62. Kb5 Bc3 63. Kc4
Kg6 64. Rg1+ Kf5 65. Rf1+ Kg4 66. Rg1+ Kf3 67. Rh1 Bd2 68. Rxh6 Bxh6 69. Kxb4
$11) 47. Rxd4 Nxd4+ 48. Kf2 Qf7+ 49. Nf3 b5 
(49... Qxf3+ 50. Qxf3 Nxf3 51. Kxf3
b6 52. Ke4 Bf8 53. Rd1 a5 54. Kf5 Bc5 55. Rd7+ Kg8 56. Kg6 Kf8 57. Kxh6 a4 58.
Rb7 a3 59. Kg5 Bd4 60. Ra7 Bb2 61. Kf4 b5 62. Ke3 b4 63. Kd3 Bc3 64. Rxa3 $11)
50. Qd3+ Qf5 51. Qxf5+ Nxf5 52. Rc1 a5 53. Rc5 Nd6 54. Rc6 Bf8 55. Nd4 a4 56.
Ra6 h5 57. Ra5 Kg6 58. Nxb5 Nxb5 59. Rxb5 a3 $11) 
46. Kd1 Bg7 47. Qb3 
(47. Qf3
Qa2 48. Qc3 Rd8 49. Qc2 Qa1+ 50. Qc1 Qa4+ $19 51. Qc2 Qf4 52. Kc1 Ne3 53. Rxe3
Qxe3 {It's a slaughter now.}) (47. Re1 Qd7 $19 48. Qc2 Rxd2+ 49. Qxd2 Qa4+ 50.
Kc1 Qa1+ 51. Kc2 Nd4+ 52. Kd3 Qa3+ 53. Qc3 Qxc3+ 54. Kxc3 Nf3+ 55. Kb3 Nxe1 $19
)
 47... Qd7 48. R1h2 Ra4 49. Kc1 (49. Qd3 Ra1+ 50. Ke2 Qe6+ 51. Qe4 Nd4+ 52.
Kf2 Qf6+ 53. Nf3 Ra2+ 54. Kg3 Qd6+ 55. Kg4 Qd7+ 56. Kg3 Nf5+ 57. Kf4 Ra4 $19) (
49. Ke1 Ra1+ 50. Nb1 Qe7+ 51. Re2 Qxe2+ 52. Kxe2 Nd4+ 53. Kd2 Nxb3+ 54. Rxb3
$19) 49... Ra1+ 50. Nb1 Nd4 {The cleanest kill.} 51. Qd3 (51. Qb2 Qc6+ 52. Rc3
Nb3+ 53. Qxb3 Bxc3 {winning easily.}) 
51... Qc8+  
({If} 51... Qc8+ 52. Kd2 (52. Kb2 Ne2+ 53.
Kb3 Nc1+ 54. Kb4 a5+ 55. Kb5 Qc6#) (52. Kd1 Qg4+ 53. Kd2 Ra2+ 54. Ke1 Rxh2 55.
Rxh2 Qg1+ 56. Kd2 Qxh2+ 57. Kc1 Qe2 $19) 52... Ra2+ 53. Ke3 Qc1+ 54. Nd2 Qe1+
55. Re2 Qg1+ 56. Rf2 Qg5+ 57. Rf4 Ra3 ({Even stronger is} 57... Ne6 58. Rhf3
Nxf4 59. Rxf4 Be5 $19) 58. Qxa3 Nc2+ 59. Ke2 Nxa3 $19 ))
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