County Match (Open) 2016-17: Sussex – Surrey

   [Event "County Match"]  [Site "Hassocks"]  [Date "2016.10.8"]  [Round ""]  [White "Haldane, Robin"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [Eco "C44"]  [Annotator "Mansson, James C"]  [Source ""]   1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 { The biggest problem with this gambit, apart from the debate as to its soundness if accepted, is that Black can safely decline it and head for a dull endgame.} d5 {If Black wants to win, accepting the gambit is probably the better approach. However, I was unsure whether I could recall the theory; also, given that I was Black against a slightly higher rated opponent in a team event, a draw was an acceptable result.} 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.cxd4 Bg4 7.Be2 Bb4+ 8.Nc3 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 Qc4 {Capablanca's defence. White is prevented from simply castling.} 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 {Black allows his pawns to be ruined in order to continue to stop White from castling.} 11.Qe2+ Qxe2+ 12.Kxe2 O-O-O 13.Be3 Ne7 {This well-known endgame has long been regarded as fine for Black. The course of the game does nothing to change this verdict.} 14.Kd3 Nf5 15.Kc4 Be7 ( 15...Ba5 {is perhaps slightly better, but the move played is fine.} ) 16.b4 {This creates a weakness that allows Black to force a repetition.} ( 16.Rad1 Rhe8 17.g4 Nd6+ $10) Nd6+ 17.Kd3 Nf5 18.Kc4 Nd6+ 19.Kd3 Nf5 20.Kc4 {White offered a draw as he could see no sensible way to avoid the repetition.} 1/2-1/2