Mid-Sussex League Division 1 2021-22: Horsham 1 – Brighton 1

   [Event "Mid-Sussex League (Division 1)"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2022.04.05"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Batchelor, Paul A"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "E90"]  [Annotator "jmansson"]  [PlyCount "80"]  [EventDate "2021.??.??"]  [EventType "team-match"]  [WhiteTeam "Brighton"]  [BlackTeam "Horsham"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 {I decided on a more aggressive approach, as the team had  its best chance of gaining points on the lower boards, and also because of my  opponent's tendency towards an over-solid approach.} (2... d5 {is safer, but  also more to White's taste.}) 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. h3 {Although  this is a move I was aware of, this was in fact the first time I have faced it  over the board. Also, I have not played the King's Indian that often in recent  years, so my theory was a bit rusty. The plan I adopted was based on my vague  recollections of what I had read. As it happened, it worked very well!} Na6 {  Black normally plays ...e5 or ...c5 at once, but here he wanted to see what  White intended first before committing.} 7. Be3 e5 8. d5 Nh5 9. g3 Qe8 10. Be2  f5 11. Bc1 $6 {My opponent thought for a long time over this over-passive move.  White needed to find a way to exploit the weaknesses inevitably caused by  playing ...f5.} (11. exf5 {had to be tried, although the resulting position is  rather murky.} gxf5 12. Nh4 (12. Nxe5 $6 Nxg3 13. fxg3 Bxe5 {is rather too  loosening by White.}) 12... Nf6 $13) 11... Nf6 (11... Nc5 {is worth  considering.}) 12. Nd2 $6 (12. exf5 {again should have been tried.} gxf5 $13 (  12... Bxf5 $13)) 12... Nc5 {Now Black's pressure on e4 ties White up.} 13. Qc2  $6 (13. b4 {is a better idea, freeing White's positon, although it still looks  inferior after} Ncxe4 14. Ndxe4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 fxe4 16. Be3 Qf7 $15) 13... a5  14. Bf3 Qf7 {Black clearly has White tied up, and needs to decide whether to  build up slowly, or try to to force things. Unfortunately for him, he manages  to let things slip over the next few moves. The move played at this point is  fine, although possibly increasing the pressure on the White centre at once is  better.} (14... c6 $1 15. O-O cxd5 16. cxd5 (16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. cxd5 b5 $17 {  with play on both sides of the board.}) 16... fxe4 {Black is threatening ...  Bxh3, so White plays} 17. Bg2 {but is clearly worse after} Bf5 18. Ndxe4 Nfxe4  19. Nxe4 Rc8 20. Qe2 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxh3 $17) 15. Bg2 Nfxe4 $2 {This throws  away Black's advantage.} (15... a4 16. O-O Bd7 $17 {builds up the pressure  slowly.}) 16. Ndxe4 Nxe4 17. Nxe4 fxe4 18. O-O $1 {White doesn't need to  recapture on e4 at once, but can do so when convenient.} Bd7 19. Kh2 $6 {  White needs to develop his queenside first. He is too anxious to regain the  e4-pawn.} (19. Be3 {is solid for White.}) 19... a4 $6 (19... c6 $1 {breaks up  the White centre, which should free the Black bishops.}) 20. Be3 c6 21. Bxe4  Bf5 22. Rad1 c5 23. g4 $6 {This is an unnecessary weakning of White's position.  } (23. f3 {is solid.}) 23... Bxe4 24. Qxe4 Qf3 $6 {There is no need to  exchange queens.} (24... b5 $1 {gives Black good play.}) 25. Qxf3 Rxf3 26. Kg2  e4 27. Rd2 Rb8 28. Re1 $2 {This is a bad mistake, setting up a tactical blow  by Black.} (28. Re2 {is solid.}) 28... b5 $2 {Black misses his chance.} (28...  a3 $1 {wins material, as White cannot move the b-pawn.} 29. b3 (29. bxa3 Bc3  $19) 29... Bc3 $19) 29. cxb5 $6 (29. Rc1 b4 $15) 29... Rxb5 (29... a3 $1 $17)  30. Ree2 Rf7 31. Bg5 h6 32. Bh4 Rfb7 $6 {Black overlooked that the a-pawn  would be hanging after White captures on e4.} (32... Rb4 $11) 33. Rxe4 Rxb2 34.  Rxb2 Rxb2 35. Rxa4 {White now has some winning chances, but decide fairly soon  to bail out with a draw, due to the match situation.} Be5 $6 {This doesn't  really achieve anything.} (35... Rd2 {at once is better.} 36. Ra8+ Kh7 37. Ra7  g5 38. Bg3 Rxd5 {ought to hold.}) 36. Ra8+ Kf7 37. Ra7+ Kg8 38. Ra8+ (38. a4 {  is the winning attempt.} Rd2 39. a5 c4 40. a6 c3 41. Rc7 Ra2 42. a7 c2 {  ought to hold, however.}) 38... Kf7 39. Ra7+ Kg8 40. Ra8+ Kf7 1/2-1/2