Horsham Club Championship 2018-19: Mansson – Higgs

   [Event "Horsham Club Championship (Rook)"]  [Site "Horsham"]  [Date "2019.06.11"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Mansson, James C"]  [Black "Higgs, Anthony RJ"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A56"]  [Annotator "jmansson"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]  [EventType "tourn"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e5 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 Be7 6. Bd3 Na6 7. Nge2 h5 $5 {  This is directed against Ng3, which could now be met by ...h4. However, it can  also be seen as a weakening, so it is a double-edged decision.} 8. O-O h4 $6 {  This isn't necessary yet and indeed seems to be a waste of time.} 9. a3 Bg4 $6  {This just provokes a move White is happy to play in any case.} 10. f3 Bh5 {  The bishop ends up out of play here, but it is not clear Black has a better  alternative.} (10... Bd7 {was rejected by my opponent on account of} 11. f4 $5  {After} h3 $5 12. g3 {White seems to be doing well, because of the threat of  both fxe5 and f5.}) 11. Be3 Nd7 12. Qd2 g5 $6 {Black was anxious to prevent f4,  but this just compromises his position further.} 13. Bc2 $1 {White finds a  clever way to activate his bishop.} Rg8 14. Ba4 Bf6 15. Rab1 Ke7 $6 {Black's  position is bad, but this makes things worse, as it reduces Black's control  over g5.} 16. b4 {This is of course logical and good, but White had an  immediate tactical blow that was even stronger.} (16. g4 $1 {wins the g-pawn  after} hxg3 (16... Bg6 17. Bxg5) 17. Nxg3 Bg6 18. Bxg5) 16... Rc8 17. Bb5 $1 {  Preparing Na4, increasing the pressure on c5.} Nab8 18. Na4 b6 (18... a6 19.  Bxd7 Nxd7 20. bxc5 Nxc5 (20... dxc5 21. Rxb7) 21. Nxc5 dxc5 22. Rxb7+ {wins.})  19. h3 {White decided to take a move to consolidate by preventing possible  Black counterplay with ...g4.} Nf8 (19... a6 20. Bc6 $1 Nxc6 21. dxc6 Rxc6 22.  Nec3 {is clearly very strong for White.}) 20. bxc5 dxc5 {This of course allows  White a protected passed pawn, but recapturing with the b-pawn allows White to  penetrate via the b-file.} (20... bxc5 21. Bc6 $1 {opens the way for the rook  to b7. Black has no defence.} Nxc6 22. Rb7+ Ke8 23. dxc6 Rxc6 24. Rfb1 {  and White will continue with Qd5 and Rxa7, against which Black can do nothing.}  ) 21. Rfd1 Qd6 22. Nac3 Ng6 23. Ba4 {White does not capture on g5 out of  caution, but in fact it was safe enough.} (23. Bxg5 $1 {and Black has no real  tactical tricks up his sleave.} Nf4 24. Bxf6+ Qxf6 25. Nxf4 Qxf4 (25... exf4  26. e5) 26. d6+ Kf8 27. d7 Rd8 28. Qd6+ Kg7 29. Nd5 Qg5 30. Kh1 {and Black has  nothing.}) 23... a6 $6 {This loses simply.} (23... Nf4 {should have been tried,  although White was still clearly on top after} 24. Qc2 (24. Nb5 Qd7 {gives  Black some possibilities against the White kingside.}) 24... Kf8 25. Nb5 Qd7  26. Nbd4 Nxh3+ (26... Nxe2+ 27. Nxe2) 27. Kh2 Qb7 28. Nc6 Nf4 29. Nxf4 exf4 30.  Bxc5+ Kg7 31. Bd4 Bxd4 32. Nxd4 {wins.}) 24. Qb2 Kf8 25. Qxb6 Qxb6 26. Rxb6 Bd8  27. Rb7 Nf4 28. Rdb1 {Black has no defence against Rxb8, and so resigned.} 1-0