1.Nf3
d5
2.d4
Nf6
3.c4
e6
4.Nc3
Bb4
5.Bg5
dxc4
This should transpose into the Vienna game proper but as I could not recall all the variations I decided to play it safe and avoid the main lines. My opponent however ajusted poorly and soon was drifting into trouble.
6.e3
[6.e4
E4 is better]
6...h6?
It might seem harsh to gives this a blunder remark but I think it is serious mistake from Black can only struggle for equality. C5 or the more normal B5 were far bettter when the game is wide open and all to play for. Now Black is very passive because having ceded the center with dc4 he should be active. Instead he ends up losing tempo all over the place for no gain whatsoever.
7.Bxf6!
A simple choice for me. I seen that Black losses valuable tempos and is now totally passive.
7...Qxf6
[7...gxf6!?
Actually might have been better with Whites better development and better coordination being less pronounced.]
8.Bxc4
[8.Qa4+
Looks tempting but.. 8...Nc6
9.Ne5
Fails on account of... (9.Bxc4
0-0
10.Bb5
Bd7
When putting the Queen on a4 turns out to be a liability as compared with the game. The key difference being that White in the game has the optionof playing Bc6 and Ne5 straight away whereas with the Queen on a4 this would not be possible. 11.0-0
Bd6
Only a little better for White.) 9...0-0!
(9...Bd7?
10.Nxd7
Kxd7
11.Bxc4
Bxc3+
(11...a6
12.Be2
) 12.bxc3
a6
13.Be2
and White is well on top) 10.Nxc6
Bxc3+
11.bxc3
Bd7
And Black is even better.]
8...0-0
9.0-0
Bxc3?!
10.bxc3
Nc6
11.Bb5!
A simple but strong move that leaves Black with serious problems.
11...Ne7
[11...Bd7
12.Bxc6!
Bxc6
13.Ne5
Is interesting and it is oddly awkward for Black. White can develop pressure on a few fronts and has all the options. 13...Bb5
(13...Be4
14.Nd7
) 14.c4
Be8
15.Qb3
]
12.Qa4!
Diagram Another simple but effective move. All the more amusing considering the drawbacks of playing Qa4 previously. Black now has to contend with Bd7 when the White Queen would penetrate the Black position with good effect. While the Queen would be happy to go to a3 or b4 as an alternative feature available too. Meanwhile the natural devleoping move b6 by Black is now prevented on account of the suppurt the Queen gives the White bishop. Thus b6 is answered by Bc6 which again is awkward for Black.
12...Rd8
Prevents Bd7 but weakens the K-side
13.Ne5
Once again simple moves work well for White who now threatens Be8! I had thus assumed that Black would now be forced to play Ng6 when F4 keeps the White initiative going nicely. Instead he overlooked the threat and is soon forced into a lost ending a whole exchange down for nothing.
13...Nd5?
After the Game Mark confessed that he had just overlooked Be8 [13...Ng6
14.f4
Nxe5
15.fxe5
Qg5
16.Rae1
c6
17.Bd3
With plenty of Kside pressure for White]
14.Be8
Nxc3
15.Bxf7+
Qxf7
I now seriously considered going into a middlegame that looked winning too with best play based on the huge Knight I would have on E5 versus the lame Bishop on C8
16.Nxf7
[16.Qc2
Qe7
17.Qxc3
c6
Would also be awful for Black but why not take a free exchange for nothing?]
16...Nxa4
17.Nxd8
Kf8
18.Rfb1
Actually not the most accurate as Rc1 looks even better and far more decisive. [18.Rfc1
Ke7?
(18...c6
19.Rab1
Nb6
20.a4
) 19.Nxb7
Bxb7
20.Rxc7+
]
18...Nb6
19.a4
Ke7
[19...a5
20.Rc1
Would have been hopeless]
20.a5
Kxd8
21.axb6
cxb6
22.Rxb6
Kc7
23.Rb5
Around here I just turned off an sort of tuned out. I had an easy win on the board and a very big time advantage on the clock too. I was already thinking about the last round game and the various permutations which would most likely see me able to repair the damage done by my silly loss on the Saturday night and end up winning the tournament either outright or joint with one other player. Alas such lack of focus and attention are often punished harshly on the chess board and in a furious time scramble I played worse and worse until the point that I was actually losing!
23...Bd7
24.Rc1+
Not a mistake or anything but mot the most forceful either. Perhaps the simplest solution was just Rba5 followed by either f3 and e4 or and just running the White king over to the Qside with a possible d5 too? Either way it really should not take too lomng to execute a win here is ome pays attention properly [24.Rba5
a6
25.f3
Bc8
26.Kf2
b6
27.Rc1+
Kb7
28.Re5
]
24...Bc6
25.Ra5
a6
26.h4
A pretty absurd and irrelevant move, but I was in a truly care free mood at this stage.
26...b5
I am not sure if the move order I give here is exact but I think it is and at least the last few moves from the point in which Black plays Bb5 check is correct. It was a time scramble in which having had a big advantage on the clock I nevertheless failed to adjust to the situation and played truly sily moves. At the end Black had about one minute versus my 3 or 4
27.f3
Kb6
28.Ra2
b4
29.Kf2
a5
30.Rb2
Rd8
31.Ke2
Bb5+
Even here having played so lamely and allowed Black counterplay I was sure that I was winning easily enough.
32.Ke1
[32.Kd2?
e5
And Black is back in the game again.]
32...Bc6
33.Rc5
Rd5
34.Rxd5??
White is losing now [34.Rbc2
Keeps an advantage for White, and with a big time advanatge would surely have won easily?]
34...Bxd5
35.Kd2
[35.e4
Is given by Fritz9 as 2.9 or 1.9 advantage. I have my doubts 35...Bc4
36.Kd2
Kb5
]
35...Kb5
36.e4
Bc4
37.h5
a4
38.Kc2
a3
39.Rb1
Ka4
40.f4
a2
41.Rxb4+
Kxb4
42.Kb2
And Black mated White in due course. 0-1