Horsham Chess Club Championship 2024-25: Mansson – Stimpson

   [Event "Horsham Club Championship"]  [Site "Horsham"]  [Date "2025.03.11"]  [Round "7"]  [White "Mansson, James C"]  [Black "Stimpson, Philip M"]  [Result "1-0"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [ECO "B01"]  [PlyCount "45"]  [GameId "2154403109204144"]  [EventDate "2024.09.01"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "11"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]   {Time control: 65 minutes plus 30 second increment} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 {This is Black's second most common choice here. He creates the possibility of recapturing on d5 with the knight rather than the queen.} (2... Qxd5 {is the main line.}) 3. Nf3 (3. d4 Bg4 $13 {is rather murky.}) 3... Qxd5 {This is an interesting move order, switching to the 2...Qxd5 lines with White committed to an early Nf3.} (3... Nxd5 {is the independent try.}) 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. d4 c6 6. Bc4 Bf5 7. Bd2 {This is a typical development in the ...Qa5 line of the Scandinvian, setting up a discovery on the queen.} e6 8. Nd5 Qd8 9. Nxf6+ gxf6 {Black accepts the worse pawn structure, rather than place his queen on an awkward square.} (9... Qxf6 {Here the queen is vulnerable to a later Bg5.} 10. Qe2 Nd7 (10... Bxc2 $2 11. O-O $1 {intending d5 is very strong.}) 11. O-O-O $14) 10. c3 {White wants to prepare both Qe2 and Nh4 with this move. The pawn on c3 is no longer threatened by the bishop on f5, while d4 is covered.} (10. Bb3 {is the main alternative.}) 10... Bd6 $6 {The bishop is not well-placed here.} (10... Nd7 {is more sensible.} 11. Nh4 Bg6 12. O-O $14) 11. Nh4 Be4 $2 {The bishop is vulnerable here, while the White queen is allowed to the excellent h5 square.} (11... Bg6 {is the lesser evil.} 12. g3 $16) 12. Qh5 $1 {The pin on the f7-pawn proves to be very awkward for Black. White now appears to be winning.} Qe7 13. O-O-O Nd7 14. Rhe1 $1 {White now has a decisive attack in the centre.} Nb6 (14... Bg6 15. Nxg6 fxg6 16. Qh3 $18) 15. Bb3 {White has a choice of good lines. The move played seems the simplest.} (15. Rxe4 {is also good, but messier.} Nxc4 16. Nf5 Qd7 17. Rxe6+ Qxe6 (17... Kd8 18. Rxf6 $18) 18. Ng7+ $18) (15. Bxe6 Qxe6 16. Rxe4 Qxe4 17. Re1 Qxe1+ 18. Bxe1 $16 {is the least clear of the options.}) 15... Bd5 16. Bxd5 cxd5 (16... Nxd5 17. Nf5 Nf4 $5 18. Bxf4 (18. Qf3 $18) 18... Bxf4+ 19. Kb1 Qd7 20. Rxe6+ Qxe6 (20... Kd8 21. Rxf6 $18) 21. Ng7+ $18) 17. Nf5 Qd7 18. Rxe6+ $1 Qxe6 19. Ng7+ Ke7 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Re1 {White has a decisive advantage, and all that is required is some precise play. This as White's following move bring his other two pieces into the attack.} Rae8 22. Bh6 {This threatens Bg7.} Rhg8 23. Qf5 {Black now resigned as White wins more material.} 1-0