Horsham Club Knockout 2021-22: Thorndyke – Mansson

  [Event "Horsham Club Knockout"]  [Site "Horsham"]  [Date "2021.11.23"]  [Round "2"]  [White "Thorndyke, Alexander"]  [Black "Mansson, James C"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B86"]  [Annotator "jmansson"]  [PlyCount "68"]  [EventDate "2021.??.??"]  [EventType "k.o."]   1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 {This is a tricky move, as White is neither  committed to the Open nor the Closed Sicilian.} a6 {Black chose this move as  he intended to play the Najdorf should White play an early d4.} 4. Bc4 (4. d4  cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 {transposes to the starting position of the Najdorf.}) 4... e6  5. a4 {White prevents ...b5, but creates a hole on b4.} Nc6 {This is the most  logical square for the knight, now that a4 has been played.} 6. d4 {White  transposes to a quiet line of the Open Sicilian. This is the most sensible  approach at this point, as if he plays quietly, his bishop on c4 will end up  out of play completely.} cxd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 {A more straightforward move order  for reaching this position is 3 d4 cxd4 4 Nxd4 Nf6 5 Nc3 a6 6 Bc4 e6 7 a4.} 8.  Bg5 {This does not seem an especially effective scheme of development. However,  Black's position looks fine in any case.} (8. O-O Be7 9. Be3 O-O 10. Kh1 {  is more normal, when Black has a choice of decent approaches, e.g.} Qc7 $11 (  10... d5 11. exd5 exd5 $11)) 8... Be7 9. Nxc6 {This is not a move White  usually wants to play in this kind of Sicilian line, unless there is a  concrete idea behind it, as it strengthens Black's centre. However, White has  the problem that his queen is tied to the defence of the knight on d4. That is  why putting the bishop on e3 rather than g5 is more effective.} bxc6 10. O-O  Qa5 $5 {Black provokes the following exchange, believing it to be in his  favour.} 11. Bxf6 gxf6 {This is a typical Rauzer pawn formation, where the  weaknesses of the Black pawns are compensated for by the bishop pair and a  strong centre.} (11... Bxf6 $2 12. Qxd6 {is good for White.}) 12. Qf3 Bb7 {  This is an active post for the bishop, but it also reduces the defence of e6.}  (12... Bd7 {is a more solid development.}) 13. Rab1 {White threatens b4...} Qc5  14. Ba2 a5 {...which Black prevents.} 15. Rfc1 O-O {While castling earlier may  have been risky, it is not now, since White's potential attacking force is  greatly reduced as his pieces are bunched on the queenside. Black wants to  make it easier to bring both rooks in the game. His immediate plan is ...Kh8  and ...Rg8.} 16. Ne2 Kh8 17. c3 Qe5 18. Ng3 c5 19. Qe3 {White threatens f4,  trapping the queen, so Black needs a good response.} Qg5 (19... Rg8 $5 {  is an interesting tactical may to meet the threat.} 20. f4 Rxg3 21. hxg3 (21.  fxe5 $2 Rxe3 $19) (21. Qxg3 $2 Qxe4 $19) 21... Qxe4 22. Qxe4 Bxe4 $44) 20. Re1  $6 {This is a mistake, as going into an endgame favours Black.} (20. f4 {  was better, with attacking chances, although the position is rather murky after  } Qh6 $13) 20... Qxe3 21. Rxe3 Bc6 22. Bb3 Rg8 23. Bc2 Rab8 {White is under  pressure, but can still resist if he stays on the defensive. However, he tries  to force matters, which backfires.} 24. b4 $2 {This just loses material.} cxb4  25. cxb4 axb4 26. a5 d5 27. Bb3 dxe4 28. Nxe4 f5 29. Bc2 (29. Ng3 f4 {wins a  piece.}) (29. Nd2 Rxg2+ 30. Kf1 (30. Kh1 Rbg8 $1 {threatening ...Rg1# is  decisive.}) 30... Bh4 {and there is no defence against ...Rxf2+.}) 29... Bxe4  30. Bxe4 fxe4 31. Rxe4 Rg5 32. Ra1 b3 33. a6 b2 34. Rb1 Ra5 {Black will take  the a-pawn, then play ...Bf6 and ...Ra1, with a simple win.} 0-1