Horsham Club Championship 2023-24: Taylor – Mansson

   [Event "Horsham Club Championship"]  [Site "Horsham"]  [Date "2023.12.19"]  [Round "3"]  [White "Taylor, Alex B"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A00"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [PlyCount "80"]  [EventDate "2023.09.01"]  [EventType "swiss"]  [EventRounds "9"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]   1. b4 e5 2. a3 (2. Bb2 {is more aggressive, but after} Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 {  Black has the initiative.}) 2... d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb2 Bd6 5. c4 c6 6. d3 {  This is a solid, but somewhat passive way of playing the opening.} O-O 7. Nf3  Re8 8. Be2 a5 {Black aims to swap off his passive rook on a8 and expose the  White queenside pawns to attack.} 9. c5 {This releases the tension in the  centre, which allows Black to build up slowly on the kingside.} Bc7 10. O-O  axb4 11. axb4 Rxa1 12. Bxa1 Nbd7 13. Qc2 Qe7 14. Rc1 Nf8 15. Na3 Ng6 16. b5 Bd7  {Up to this point, Black has built up slowly rather than try to force things,  but it is now time to take action. The move played is one option, putting  pressure on b5, but it was also possible to advance in the centre.} (16... e4 {  This seems to give Black the initiative, e.g.} 17. dxe4 (17. Nd2 exd3 18. Bxd3  Ne5 $15) (17. Nd4 exd3 18. Bxd3 Ne5 $15) 17... Nxe4 $15) 17. b6 $2 {This  should just lose a pawn. White should either capture on c6, or defend the  b-pawn, although Black still has a preferable position then.} Bb8 $2 {I  noticed that I could win a pawn here, but convinced myself that it was more  promising to keep the bishop pair and go for the attack. However, Black's  attacking chances are not quite as valuable as having an extra pawn.} (17...  Bxb6 $1 18. cxb6 Qxa3 {and it is hard to believe White has compensation for  the pawn, given the passivity of his position and the weak pawn on b6.}) 18.  Nd2 Ng4 19. Bxg4 $2 {White should not give up the bishop pair like this.} (19.  h3 Nf6 {Black is slightly for preference, but White is solid.}) 19... Bxg4 20.  Nf1 h5 21. f3 Bd7 22. Nb1 Nh4 23. Qf2 Bf5 $5 {Black provokes a weakening in  the White position.} 24. e4 Bh3 $1 {This exploits the loose rook on c1.} 25. g3  (25. gxh3 $2 Qg5+ $19) 25... Qg5 26. Bb2 d4 $5 {This is double-edged, as the  bishop on b8 is in danger of being locked out of the game.} 27. Na3 Re6 {  This isn't really necessary.} (27... f5 {at once looks dangerous for White.}  28. Nc2 (28. exf5 Rf8 29. Nc2 Bxf5 30. Qe2 Ng6 31. Kh1 h4 $17) 28... Ng6 29.  Ra1 fxe4 30. dxe4 (30. fxe4 Rf8 $19) 30... Nf4 $17) 28. Nc2 f5 29. exf5 Bxf5  30. Ne1 Rf6 $2 {This allows White to either force the exchange of queens or  induce Black to try a risky piece sacrifice.} (30... Ng6 31. Qd2 Qe7 $15 {  keeps up the pressure for Black.}) 31. Kh1 Qg6 $2 {Black did not like the look  of the position after the exchange of queens, and so decided to gamble on a  piece sacrifice, looking to exploit the fact that his opponent was down to  playing on not much more than the 30 second increment.} (31... Ng6 32. Qd2 Qxd2  33. Nxd2 {seemed unappealing, as it is difficult to bring the bishop on b8  into the game. However, the computer insists Black's position is fine and it  is not actually clear that White could exploit this in a positive sense, as it  is not clear how he might break through. Probably the position ought to be a  draw.}) 32. gxh4 Bxd3 33. Ng3 (33. Nxd3 $1 Qxd3 34. Nd2 {looks better,  eliminating the dangerous bishop. There is no obvious compensation for the  sacrificed piece.}) 33... Ba6 $1 34. Ne4 $4 {White cracks under the pressure  of the clock.} (34. Qc2 {is better, when I doubt Black has enough for the  piece.}) 34... Qxe4 $19 {Black regains the piece with a winning advantage.} 35.  Qg2 (35. fxe4 Rxf2 $19 {is hopeless for White.}) 35... Qf4 36. Ra1 Kh7 37. Bc1  Qf5 38. Bg5 Rf7 39. Qa2 e4 40. fxe4 $4 {White was lost in any case, but this  just loses in one move!} Qf1# 0-1