4NCL Division 3 2013-14: e2e4.org.uk 2 – Iceni 1

   [Event "4NCL (Division 3)"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2014.03.23"]  [Round "8"]  [White "Mansson, James C"]  [Black "Botham, C Paul"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D70"]  [WhiteElo "2104"]  [BlackElo "2038"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [PlyCount "53"]  [WhiteTeam "e2e4.org.uk 2"]  [BlackTeam "Iceni 1"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 $5 {This move aims to bypass the normal Gruenfeld,  while allowing a transposition to the Saemisch Variation of the King's Indian.}  d5 {As my opponent plays the Gruenfeld, he preferred the normal Gruenfeld move,  but it leads to positions unlike the normal Exchange Gruenfeld lines.} 4. cxd5  Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Qd2 c6 (8... e5 9. d5 c6 10. Rd1 {  (suggested by Svetushkin) is the more normal route to the game position.}) 9.  Rd1 {White chose this over long castling in anticipation of ...e5 by Black.} e5  10. d5 cxd5 11. exd5 {This position is recommended by Svetushkin as being  promising for White.} f5 12. h4 N8d7 13. h5 f4 14. Bf2 Nf6 (14... g5  $2 15. h6 $1 {looks very strong for White, e.g.} Bf6 (15... Bh8 16. d6 $18) 16.  Ne4 $18) 15. h6 $1 {White not longer has anything to gain from opening the  h-file, so opts for this constricting move instead. As well as cramping Black,  there is always the concern that White will somehow find a way to advance the  d-pawn and arrange a deadly check on the b2-g8 diagonal.} Bh8 16. Bh4 (16. Nh3  {intending Ng5-e4 was worth considering.}) 16... Bf5 17. Bd3 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 Qd7 19. Nge2 a6 20. O-O Rac8 {Following a sharp opening, the position has now resolved and White looks to have a positional advantage because of his passed d-pawn, his control of the e4  square and the general passivity of Black's pieces.} 21. b3 $1 {White starts  by preventing the knight on b6 from coming into the game.} Qd6 22. Bxf6 $1 {  This is a clearly favourable exchange for White. His bishop on h4 was not  doing much, while the Black knight was contesting e4.} Bxf6 (22... Qc5+ {is  perhaps better, looking to exchange queens, but White still has the superior  position after} 23. Kh2 Bxf6 24. Ne4 Qc2 25. N2c3 Qxd3 26. Rxd3 $14) 23. Ne4  $16 Qe7 24. d6 $1 Qe6 $2 {This seems to lose by force.} (24... Qf7 {was better,  but White is still on top after} 25. Rc1) 25. d7 $1 Rc7 (25... Rcd8 26. Qd6 $1  Qxd6 27. Rxd6 Nxd7 28. Rfd1 $18) (25... Ra8 26. a4 {intending a5} a5 27. Qb5 {  intending Rd6} Be7 28. Rd3 $18 {followed by Rfd1 is decisive.}) (25... Rb8 26.  a4 Be7 27. a5 Na8 28. Rc1 $18 {leaves Black completely tied up. White can  slowly improve his position, while Black has no sound way to break out.}) 26.  Nxf6+ Qxf6 27. d8=Q {Black resigned as White wins a rook.} 1-0