Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2019-20: Horsham 1 – Brighton 1

   [Event "Mid-Sussex League (Division 1)"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2019.11.20"]  [Round "?"]  [White "James, Geoffrey H"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "A20"]  [Annotator "jmansson"]  [PlyCount "77"]  [EventDate "2019.??.??"]  [EventType "team-match"]  [WhiteTeam "Brighton"]  [BlackTeam "Horsham"]   1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d4 e4 5. Nc3 d5 6.  cxd5 cxd5 7. f3 Bb4 8. Nh3 O-O 9. O-O h6 10. fxe4 Bxc3 11. bxc3 dxe4 $6 {  Black should give up his other bishop to establish his knight on e4.} (11...  Bxh3 12. Bxh3 Nxe4) 12. Nf2 Re8 13. Qc2 Nc6 14. e3 Bf5 15. Rb1 Rb8 16. c4 Bg6  17. Bb2 Nb4 18. Qc3 $6 {This looks attractive, but White is unable to create  any real threats.} (18. Qa4 $1 {is more awkward for Black.}) 18... Nd3 19. Ba1  b5 $1 20. Rxb5 $2 {This allows Black to establish a knight on d5, which gives  him excellent compensation for the pawn.} (20. d5 $1 {was better, to prevent ..  .Nd5.}) 20... Rxb5 21. cxb5 Nd5 22. Qd2 Nxf2 $2 {Black lets his advantage slip.  } (22... Qg5 $1 {is stronger, e.g.} 23. Nxd3 (23. Nd1 f5) 23... exd3) 23. Rxf2  (23. Kxf2 $5 {was interesting, providing extra cover for e3.}) 23... Qg5 24.  Re2 Bh5 25. Re1 Bf3 26. Bf1 (26. Bxf3 $2 exf3 {exposes e3 to too much pressure.  }) 26... Rc8 27. Bb2 h5 28. Rc1 Rd8 29. Re1 $2 {This is too passive.} (29. Kf2  {had to be tried.}) 29... h4 {Now White is in big trouble.} 30. Qf2 Rd6 31. Bg2  Rf6 32. Bc1 (32. gxh4 Qh6) 32... hxg3 33. hxg3 (33. Qxg3 Rg6) 33... Bxg2 (33...  Nb4 $1 {and White cannot handle the threat of ...Nd3.}) 34. Qxg2 Rf3 35. Kh2  Qh5+ 36. Kg1 Qg4 37. Kh2 Qh5+ 38. Kg1 Qg4 39. Kh2 {White offered a draw. Black  accepted as he was very short of time and he could not see anything clear;  also, a draw was a good result in view of the team position.} (39. Kh2 Nc3 $1 {  (with the simple threat of ...Nxb5) was winning, but this is not easy to  visualise when short of time. White's problem is that he is tied to the  defence of g3, while Black can take pawns and improve his position. For  instance} 40. Bd2 Qh5+ 41. Kg1 Qg5 42. Kh2 Nxb5 43. Rc1 Nd6 44. Rc5 Qh6+ 45.  Kg1 g6 {followed by ...Nf5 leaves White unable to defend g3 and e3.}) 1/2-1/2