4NCL Division 3 2013-14: e2e4.org.uk 3 – North East England 1

   [Event "4NCL (Division 3)"]  [Site "Daventry"]  [Date "2014.05.03"]  [Round "9"]  [White "Walker, David J"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A11"]  [WhiteElo "2271"]  [BlackElo "2102"]  [Annotator "Mansson,James"]  [PlyCount "111"]  [EventCountry "ENG"]  [WhiteTeam "North East England 1"]  [BlackTeam "e2e4.org.uk 3"]   1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Bg2 dxc4 5. O-O Nbd7 6. Na3 Nb6 7. Qc2 g6 {  This is a solid defensive system against White's gambit. Black returns the  pawn but exchanges a pair of knights, which frees his position. White finds it  hard to either make use of his extra central pawn or organise a minority  attack.} 8. Nxc4 Nxc4 9. Qxc4 Bg7 10. d3 O-O 11. Bd2 Nd5 {This is a good  square for the knight in this line.} 12. Rab1 a5 {Based on previous experience,  I felt that it was important to prevent the minority attack if possible.} 13.  a3 $6 {This allows Black to seal the queenside...} a4 $1 {...which he does!}  14. Qc2 e5 {Black switches to a reversed Sicilian set up, reckoning that the  weakness he has fixed on b3 will give him decent chances.} 15. Ng5 {I had not  considered this seriously, as I hadn't realised that Ng5-e4-c5 would hit the  pawn on a4! However, although I was worried during the game, actually my  position was not bad, and it was only later that I definitely went wrong.} h6  16. Ne4 Re8 17. Nc5 b5 {This leaves a weakness on c6, but it is not possible  to exploit it as long as the knight is on its best square c5.} 18. e4 $6 {I  don't think this is a good idea as not only does it weaken d4, it also  encourages ...Nc7-e6, exploiting that weakness.} (18. Rfc1 {is more natural,  although the Black position is still solid.}) 18... Nc7 19. Be3 Ne6 20. b4 $6 (  20. Nxe6 Rxe6 $11) 20... Nd4 $6 {Black should have taken en passant.} (20...  axb3 $1 {leaves the White position with more weaknesses, e.g.} 21. Nxb3 (21.  Rxb3 Nd4 22. Bxd4 Qxd4 $15) (21. Qxb3 Nxc5 22. Bxc5 Bg4 $15) 21... Bd7 22. Nc5  Nxc5 23. Bxc5 (23. Qxc5 Bf8 24. Qc2 Rxa3 $17) 23... Bg4 $15) 21. Qd2 Kh7 22. f4  Ra7 (22... Nb3 $1 {is a clever tactical blow that frees the Black position:}  23. Qe2 (23. Nxb3 axb3 24. Rxb3 Be6 {regains the material with a good position.  }) 23... exf4 24. Rxf4 Re7 25. Rbf1 Kg8 26. Qf3 Qc7 {=}) 23. f5 $14 {Now Black  is forced into a passive position. However, it is difficult for White to find  a way to break through.} g5 24. Qf2 Bf6 25. Bf3 Rc7 26. Bh5 Kg7 27. Kh1 Rf8 28.  Qa2 Qd6 29. Rf2 Bd7 30. Qd2 Be8 31. Qc3 Rh8 32. Rg1 Kf8 33. Qb2 Ke7 34. Re1 Kd8  35. Qc1 Re7 36. Rb2 Kc8 37. Qd1 Ra7 38. Qg4 Kb8 39. Kg2 Bd8 40. Qd1 Bb6 {Time  control} 41. Qc1 Bxc5 $2 {This allows White to open up the b-file to his  advantage. Black should have sat tight.} 42. bxc5 Qd8 43. Qc3 f6 44. Bd1 Bf7  45. Bxd4 exd4 (45... Qxd4 46. Qxd4 exd4 47. e5 fxe5 48. Rxe5 $16) 46. Qb4 Ka8 {  This avoids Bxa4, but runs into problems on the long diagonal.} 47. Bf3 (47. e5  $1 Bd5+ 48. Kg1 fxe5 49. Rxe5 $16 {intending Qxd4 is very strong for White.})  47... h5 48. Kf2 g4 49. Bg2 h4 50. gxh4 Rxh4 51. Kg1 Kb8 $2 (51... Rh8 {is the  best try, although White is still doing very well after} 52. e5 Bd5 53. Qxd4  Bxg2 54. Qxd8+ Rxd8 55. Kxg2 fxe5 56. Rxe5 Rf7 57. Rd2 $16) 52. e5 $1 {Now  White is clearly winning, as Black cannot defend against the various threats.}  Bd5 53. Qxd4 Qa5 54. Qf2 Rah7 55. Bxd5 cxd5 56. exf6 1-0