Horsham Club Knockout 2018-19: Mansson – Helliwell

I played my first competitive game of the chess season last Tuesday, against Peter Helliwell in the Knockout. The game itself was one-sided, as Peter chose an inferior line of the Dragon and soon went down in flames.

I give the game below with some brief notes.

Mansson, James C – Helliwell, Peter J, Horsham Club Knockout Round 1 2018.09.25

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
a6

This is too slow.

8… Nc6 is the normal and correct move, against which I have played 9. O-O-O a couple of times recently.

9. O-O-O Nbd7 10. g4 Ne5 11. h4 b5 12. h5

White has a strong attack.

12… Nexg4?

Black tries a desparate sacrifice, but this actually helps White by opening lines.

13. fxg4 Bxg4 14. Be2 Bxh5 15. Bxh5 Nxh5 16. Rxh5!

A standard anti-Dragon sacrifice: White opens lines on the queenside.

16… Bxd4

16… gxh5 17. Nf5 Kh8 18. Nd5 wins.

17. Bxd4 e5 18. Qh6 gxh5 19. Rg1+ Kh8 20. Qg7# 1-0

   [Event "Horsham Club Knockout"]  [Site "Horsham"]  [Date "2018.09.25"]  [Round "1"]  [White "Mansson, James C"]  [Black "Helliwell, Peter J"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B76"]  [Annotator "jmansson"]  [PlyCount "39"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]  [EventType "k.o."]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2  a6 $2 {This is too slow.} (8... Nc6 {is the normal and correct move, against  which I have played} 9. O-O-O {a couple of times recently.}) 9. O-O-O Nbd7 10.  g4 Ne5 11. h4 b5 12. h5 {White has a strong attack.} Nexg4 $2 {Black tries a  desparate sacrifice, but this actually helps White by opening lines.} 13. fxg4  Bxg4 14. Be2 Bxh5 15. Bxh5 Nxh5 16. Rxh5 $1 {A standard anti-Dragon sacrifice:  White opens lines on the queenside.} Bxd4 (16... gxh5 17. Nf5 Kh8 18. Nd5 $18)  17. Bxd4 e5 18. Qh6 gxh5 19. Rg1+ Kh8 20. Qg7# 1-0