Exeter Chess Club:

N.Crickmore - P.C.Lane

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(2/9/96 PAIGNTON {2})

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f4 O-O 6. Nf3 c5 7. d5 e6 8. Be2 exd5 9. e5

  Just prior to the game I had seen a copy of Neil's game from the previous year posted in the hallway - but I only read this far!

9... Ne4

[9... dxe5 10. fxe5 Ng4 11. Bg5 and white retains a dangerous d-pawn.]

10. cxd5 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Nd7 12. e6 Bxc3+

  Apparently, I was following some analysis which concluded:

[12... fxe6 13. dxe6 Nb6 with good chances for black to win the e-pawn, and play against the weakened queenside.]

  I doubted my chances in this line against Neil, and went for a more direct `refutation'.

13. Bd2 Bxa1 14. Qxa1

White might try:

[14. exd7 Bg7 15. dxc8=Q Qxc8 but black's easy development and queenside majority keep the balance.]

14... fxe6 15. dxe6 Nb6 16. Ng5 Qf6 17. Bc3

White's previous two moves are natural ones, holding the long diagonal and the pawn on e6 to create a bind. Black must play actively to compensate for these. 17... Qe7

  Black disdains the draw, losing time but believing the e-Pawn must fall. [17... Qxf4 Both players saw that after 18. Bh8 Other 18th moves for white are bad, e.g.

[18. e7 Re8]

[18. Nf3 Bxe6]

[18. h4 Qf2+ 19. Kd1 Qxg2]

18... Qb4+ he can draw by perpetual.]

18. Bh8

  With the possible mate on g7, white indirectly guards the e-pawn, but the bishop's post on h8 removes the dangers to black in opening the h-file.

[18. Bg4 with a direct defence was refuted by 18... Rxf4]

18... h6

  Two other options for black are Rxf4 and d5-d4, although if the push of the h-pawn does not win for white, he can only retreat the knight and lose the e-pawn.

19. h4!?

  A most imaginative reply, and the only way to maintain the attack, although black comes out ahead after:

[19... hxg5 20. h5

[20. hxg5 Rxf4 21. Bc3

[21. Bf6 Qxe6 22. Rh8+ Kf7 23. Rh7+ Ke8 24. Re7+ Qxe7 25. Bxe7 Kxe7 26. Qg7+ Rf7 27. Qxg6 Bf5]

21... Qxe6 22. Rh8+ Kf7 23. Rh7+ Ke8]

20... Bxe6 21. h6

[21. hxg6 Bg4]

21... Qh7 22. Bg7

[22. Bc3 gxf4.]

22... Rxf4 DR]

  and in each case, the attack comes to an end, with decisive material gain to black

19... Rxf4? 20. g3

20... Rf8?

  This was the last chance to remove the knight. Only now does black have a lost position.

[20... hxg5 21. gxf4 Bxe6 22. hxg5 Bg4 is winning for black.]

21. h5! d5

[21... hxg5 now 22. hxg6 Bxe6

[22... Nd5 23. Rh7]

23. Rh7 wins]

[21... Nd5 also fails: it has two ideas: 22. hxg6 Nf6

[or 22... Ne3 23. Qc3 Ng2+ [23... Nf5 24. Nf7] 24. Kd1]

23. Nf7]

22. hxg6 d4 23. Nf7 Rxf7

[23... Qxe6 24. Rxh6 and Be5 wins]

24. gxf7+ Kxh8 25. Qc1!

  missed this one

[25. Rxh6+ Kg7 26. Qc1 Bxe6 lets Black escape]

25... Qxe6 26. f8=Q+ 1-0

  White played his attack in a bold and logical manner, although black avoided the most critical lines. Unless improvements can be found for white, the opening seems to be good for black.

 

 

 

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Dr. Dave