A couple of Saturdays ago, I played in a county match for Sussex away at Surrey. Unfortunately, as has generally been the case this season, Sussex has not been able to get out a particularly strong team relative to its opponents, and once again went down to a heavy defeat, this time by 3 point to 13.
I was White on board four and was up against Nigel Povah, a well-known player and organizer in English chess. The early stages of the game went in my opponent’s favour and he was close to consolidating a big advantage. However, he then played a series of inaccurate moves which allowed me to play a strong pawn sacrifice, seizing the initiative. A strong exchange sacrifice then allowed me to establish a passed pawn on d7. I had a chance to establish a big advantage at one point, but failed to take it and my opponent wriggled out with a draw.
I give the game below with some notes.