4NCL Division 2 2012-13: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Oxford 1

   [Event "4NCL"]  [Site "Sunningdale"]  [Date "2012.11.3"]  [Round "1"]  [White "Zakarian, David (Oxford 1)"]  [Black "Mansson, James C (e2e4.org.uk 2)"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [Eco "D01"]   1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bg5 h6   {!? This is a double-edged idea: Black believes that the loss of tempo if White takes on f6 is not significant, while he wants to play ...e6 when he can meet e4 with ...g5.}   4.Bxf6   {4.Bh4 e6 and now White has to choose between playing 5 e3 and 5 Nf3 as 5.e4 g5 is clearly not attractive.}   4...exf6 5.e4 dxe4 6.Nxe4 Be7 7.Bc4 O-O 8.Ne2 Nc6 9.O-O f5   {! Black looks to place his bishop on the long diagonal where it is more active.}   10.N4g3 Bf6 11.c3 g6 12.b4 Qd6   {! This is a clever way to complete Black's development.}   13.Qb3 Bd7 14.Rae1 Rae8 15.Nc1 Rxe1   {! This is the correct positional decision, as the exchange of rooks relieves the congestion in the Black position, while White is in no position to exploit the open e-file, as Black controls the entry squares.}   16.Rxe1 b5   {! This initiates a forced sequence that fixes the White queenside and gives Black control of the a-file.}   17.Bf1   {17.Bxb5? Nxd4 18.cxd4 Bxb5 {gives Black a clear advantage.}   17...a5 {!} 18.a3 axb4 19.axb4 Ra8 20.Qb2 Ne7 21.Be2 Bc6 22.Nd3 Nd5 23.Bf3 Nb6 24.Bxc6 Qxc6 25.Nc5 Qd5   {Black now has a slight advantage because of the holes in White's kingside and his control of the a-file. However, his compromised pawn structure on the kingside reduces his winning chances.}   26.Nf1 Nc4   {?! This is a good square for the knight, but Black can (and probably should) proceed more directly by penetrating to a2 with the queen at once: 26...Qa2! 27.Qxa2 Rxa2 and 27.Qd2 Nd5 look strong for Black.}   27.Qe2 Kg7 28.Ne3   {?! This exchange helps Black, as the White king loses a defender, while the Black queen's route to a2 is reopened. 28.Qd3 is more solid.}   Nxe3 29.Qxe3   {29.fxe3? Ra2 gives Black a big advantage, as with the e-file closed, White is completely passive.}   Ra2   {?! 29...Bg5! 30.Qd3 Qc4 31.Qxc4 bxc4 32.g3 Ra3 33.h4 Bd2 34.Re7 Ra7 35.b5 Bxc3 leaves Black better.}   30.Qe8   {?! White launches a risky attack which leaves his kingside unattended. 30.Qg3 is safer.}   30...Bh4   {?! This is obvious, but not best as Black ends up losing time because of the threat to his bishop. Instead 30...Ra3! 31.Rc1 Bg5 32.Rd1 Bd2 33.Qxb5 Bxc3 34.Qd7 Qxd7 35.Nxd7 Bxb4 leaves Black a pawn up, although it will be tough to exploit.}   31.g3 Qf3   {!? This is risky, as White now has the option of grabbing a pawn. 31...Bg5 at once is clearer. Then 32.Nd7 Ra8 leads to the same kind of simplifications that occurred in the game, without allowing White the option of grabbing a pawn.}   32.Rf1   {32.Ne6+ fxe6 33.Qd7+ would force a draw by perpetual check.}   32...Bg5   {?! This may not be the best move here. 32...Re2! 33.Qxb5 f4 34.Qd3 (34.gxh4? Qg4+ 35.Kh1 f3 36.Rg1 Re1!! wins.) Qxd3 35.Nxd3 fxg3 36.fxg3 Bg5 37.Rf3 Rc2 38.Nc5 Bd2 39.Ne4 Be1 40.Kf1 f5 41.Kxe1 fxe4 42.Re3 Kf6=}   33.Nd7   {White should consider grabbing the pawn, if he wants to go for the win. 33.Qe5+ Kh7 34.Qxc7 Qd5 35.Nd7 Kg7 {however leaves Black with some compensation.}   33...Qd5 34.Qf8+ Kh7 35.Ne5 Ra8   {Black provokes a forced sequence that leads to a drawn endgame.}   36.Qxf7+ Qxf7 37.Nxf7 Bd2 38.Rd1 Bxc3 39.Rc1 Ra1 40.Rxa1 Bxa1   {Here the players reached the first time control.} 41.d5 Bc3 42.d6 cxd6 43.Nxd6 Bxb4 44.Nxb5 1/2-1/2