Back towards the end of January, Horsham played Bognor & Arun in the Paul Watson Trophy. Unfortunately, we ended up losing 3-1. My game was against Jaimie Wilson on top board. After getting the better of the opening stages, I missed an opportunity to consolidate my advantage. As we both ran short of time, things turned in my opponent’s favour. Eventually, I exceeded the time limit and so lost on time.
I give the game below with some notes.
Wilson, Jaimie – Mansson, James C, Paul Watson Trophy Horsham – Bognor & Arun 2019.01.22
1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 Nbd7
This prepares playing …c5 when Black can meet dxc5 with …Nxc5.
7. c5
This is White’s most aggressive approach, preventing …c5 by Black.
7…c6
7… Nh5 is the main alternative.
8. h3
It makes sense to preserve the bishop.
8. Bd3 has also been frequently played by White.
8… b6 9. b4 a5 10. a3 Ne4
10…Ba6 is more common. Then 11. Bxa6 Rxa6 and White has a choice of approaches.
- 12. b5 cxb5 13. c6 Qc8 14. c7 b4 15. Nb5
- 12. O-O Qa8 13. Rb1
11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Nd2
This allows Black to gain strong counterplay with his response.
12. Ne5! Nxe5 13. Bxe5 looks stronger.
12… e5! 13. dxe5 axb4 14. axb4 Rxa1 15. Qxa1 bxc5 16. Nxe4
16. b5
16… cxb4 17. Be2
17. Nd6
17… Nc5 18. Nxc5 Bxc5 19. O-O Be6 20. Rc1 Qb6 21. Qa6 Rc8 22. Bc4 h6 23. Kf1 g5! 24. Bg3 Bxc4+?
Now the game turns in White’s favour.
24… Qxa6! I didn’t consider this because of 25. Bxa6 but 25…Ra8! was the move I missed. Black’s passed b-pawn gives him a winning advantage.
- 26. Rxc5 Rxa6
- 26. Bb7 Ra5 27. Bxc6 b3 28. Rb1 Ba3 29. Be4 b2 30. Rd1 Bd5! 31. Bf5 Rc5
- 26. Bd3 26… Ra5
25. Qxc4 b3 26. e6 b2
26… f6
27. exf7+ Kf8 28. Rb1 Ra8
28… Qb5 29. Qc3
29. Qe6 Ra1 30. Rxa1 bxa1=Q+ 31. Qxa1 Kxf7 32. Kg1
32. Qa2+
32… Be7 33. Qh8
33. Qa2+
33… Qb1+ 34. Kh2 Qg6 35. Be5 Bd6 36. f4 gxf4 37. exf4 Bf8 38. Bc3 Bd6 39. Qd4 Ke7 1-0
Black lost on time.