1. c4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Qc2 {After some difficulties in the English against the Slav setup, I decided to try a more aggressive approach.} 4... Nbd7 5. b3 (5. Nc3 {may be better here when} 5... e5 {can be met by} 6. cxd5 Nxd5 ({now} 6... cxd5 {runs into} 7. Nb5) {with a reversed Sicilian which looks OK for White. One possibility is} 7. Bc4 N7b6 ({or} 7... Bd6) 8. Nxe5 Nxc4 9. Nxc4 Nb4 10. Qe4+ Be7 {and the computer seems to think Black has fair compensation for the pawn}) (5. d4 {heads for a semi-Slav}) 5... e5 6. Bb2 Bd6 7. Nc3 a6 8. g4 {The Corporal Jones variation. They don&#8217;t like it up&#8217;em. It can work (in a strictly chess sense) for the English against the Slav, but may not be right here when Black has got e5 in in a single move.} 8... e4 {My opponent had a long think here.} (8... h6 {is possible and if} 9. h4 {the computer gives Black a big advantage with} 9... e4 {e.g.} 10. Nd4 Ne5) (8... Nxg4 {can be met by} 9. cxd5 (9. Rg1 {, which I may have had in mind, runs into} 9... Ndf6 10. h3 Nh6 {when} 11. Rxg7 {is met by} 11... Bf5 12. Qc1 Bg6) 9... cxd5 10. Nxd5) 9. Nd4 h6 {My opening has successfully confused my opponent.Now White gets an advantage.} (9... Ne5 10. cxd5 cxd5 {looks threatening but seems OK for White after} ({or} 10... c5 11. Nf5 Nf3+ 12. Ke2) 11. g5 Nfd7) (9... Nc5 {is fine.}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> } (10... c5 {is strongly met by} 11. Nxe4 ({or} 11. Nf5)) 11. Nxd5 {Offering the knight, justifiably, for three pawns and an initiative.} 11... Nxd5 ({Not} 11... Ne5 12. Nxf6+ Qxf6 13. Qxe4) ({The computer recommends} 11... O-O {e.g.} 12. Nf5 Be5 13. Nde7+ Kh7 14. g5) 12. Qxe4+ Ne7 ({Again not} 12... Ne5 13. Qxd5) 13. Nf5 Nc5 14. Nxg7+ Kf8 15. Qf3 (15. Qc2 {is another possibility.}) 15... Rg8 (15... Nc6 {is better when} 16. Nf5 (16. Ne6+ Bxe6 17. Bxh8 {loses to} 17... Be5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 {and Black&#8217;s piece activity is overwhelming.}) 16... Be5 17. d4 Nb4 18. Be2 Nbd3+ 19. Kf1 Nxb2 20. dxe5 Bxf5 21. gxf5 Qh4 {is a murky computer line}) { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> Now I had seen I had Bc4 and felt very confident. Unfortunately I decided to make sure and had a long think.} 16. b4 {An awful move, intended as a refinement on the right line, but simply missing Black&#8217;s obvious reply.} ({Both players saw there was a perpetual after} 16. Bc4 {but I wasn&#8217;t sure if there was more. There is: White is probably winning with} 16... Rxg7 17. Bxg7+ Kxg7 18. Qxf7+ Kh8 19. Qf6+ Kh7 20. b4 {(only now)} 20... Na4 ({or} 20... Qh8 21. Qxh8+ Kxh8 22. bxc5 Bxc5) 21. Bd3+ Kg8 22. Bg6 Qf8 23. Bh7+) 16... Ne6 {Now Black is better, but the position is very fluid.} ({I had only looked at} 16... Na4 17. Bc4 Rxg7 18. Bxg7+ Kxg7 19. Qxf7+ Kh8 {transposing into the line above. I was planning to play into this and see whether a win materialised when I got there.}) 17. Nh5 Bxb4 18. O-O-O {A slightly extravagant way to defend d2.} (18. Rd1 {may be better though given that White needs to create complications my choice is reasonable.}) 18... Qd5 (18... Qa5 {gives a powerful attack, but Black decides to consolidate.}) 19. Qf6 {Another long think, and another mistake.} (19. Qxd5 {is necessary.}) 19... Qc6+ {Missing a chance, but keeping the advantage.} (19... Ng6 {shields h6 and leaves Black winning with the attack on the h1 rook and mating threats on the c file e.g} 20. Rg1 Qxa2 21. Bd3 Bd7 22. Bb1 Rc8+ 23. Bc3 Ba3#) (19... Qxh1 {loses to} 20. Qxh6+) 20. Kb1 Ng5 {Giving White a chance.} ({Black is better after} 20... Ng6 21. Be2) 21. Qxc6 ({Missing} 21. Bg2 Qxf6 ({not} 21... Qxg2 22. Qxh6+) 22. Nxf6 {and White is slightly better than in the game.}) 21... Nxc6 {White has only two pawns for the piece, but Black still faces some difficulties getting organised.} 22. Nf6 Rg7 (22... Rg6 {is better when Black can refute White&#8217;s idea of} 23. f4 {with} 23... Rxf6 ({or} 23... Nf3) 24. Bxf6 Ne4 25. Bh4 ({or} 25. g5 hxg5 26. fxg5 Bg4) 25... Bxg4 {and Black&#8217;s active pieces will win material back.}) 23. Bg2 Be7 24. Nd5 Rg6 ({The computer prefers} 24... Bxg4 25. Nxe7 Nxe7 26. Bxg7+ Kxg7 27. Rc1) 25. h3 Rd6 26. f4 {White is now doing OK, but both players are short of time.} 26... Nh7 27. Rc1 Be6 28. Nb6 { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> The fatal mistake, as the knight will be exposed on b6.} ({White is probably fine after} 28. Nxe7 Nxe7 29.d4 {when the two bishops and strong pawns compensate for the material disadvantage} ({not} 29. Bxb7 {when the threats of pins on the b file and second rank are too strong e.g.} 29... Rb8 30. Be4 Nf6 31. d3 ({or} 31. Bc2 Rdb6) 31... Nxe4 32. dxe4 Rd2 33. Rc2 Bxa2+ 34. Kc1 Rd3)) 28... Rad8 29. Bc3 (29.d4 {fails to} 29... Bxa2+ ({not} 29... Nxd4 30. Bxd4) 30. Kxa2 Nb4+) 29... Bf6 30. f5 (30. Bxc6 {is somewhat better}) ({or} 30. d4) 30... Bxc3 31. Rxc3 Bxa2+ {The rest is mopping up with some nice tactics from Black.} 32. Kc1 Nb4 33. Nc4 Bxc4 34. Rxc4 Na2+ 35. Kb1 b5 36. Rc2 Rxd2 37. Rxa2 Rxa2 38. Kxa2 Rd2+ 39. Kb3 Rxg2 40. Ra1 Rg3 41. Rxa6 Rxe3+ 42. Kb4 Rxh3 43. f6 Ke8 44. Kxb5 {and Black won.} *

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 {I have taken this line up recently.} 4... Bb4 5. Qc2 O-O 6. Nd5 d6 {A rare though natural move which scores well in a small sample.} (6... Re8 {is the main line, allowing the bishop back to f8 if need be}) 7. a3 Bc5 8. b4 (8. Bd3 g6 (8... Nxd5 9. cxd5 Ne7 10. Bxh7+ Kh8 11. Bd3 Nxd5 12. Nxe5 Qg5 13. Nc4) 9. b4 Bb6 10. Nxf6+ Qxf6 11. Bb2) 8... Bb6 9. Nxb6 {White gets the two bishops, but Black is compact, well-developed and free of weaknesses, and e4 and d5 are both supported by the f6 knight.} (9. Nxf6+ {may be better.}) 9... axb6 10. Bb2 Re8 11. d3 Bf5 12. b5 {Here I hatched a probably over-ambitious plan to play e4 and f4 opening the diagonal for my bishop, and decided I wanted to reduce the pressure on d4 first.} ({After} 12. e4 {I was worried about} 12... Bg4 {and Nd4 becomes possible.}) (12. Be2 {is reasonable}) (12. Qc3 {deterring e4 is possible, but Black looks comfortable with} 12... d5 ({Not} 12... Nd4 13. Nxd4) 13. cxd5 Nxd5 14. Qd2 Bg6) 12... Nb8 (12... Nd4 {fails to} 13. exd4 exd4+ 14. Be2 Qe7 15. Nxd4) 13. e4 Bg6 {More aggressive than it looks.} (13... Bg4) 14. g3 {This is too slow, I think.} (14. Be2 {is safer.}) 14... Nbd7 15. Bg2 Nc5 {Now I realised his knight could come to a4, and decided I wanted to preserve my dark-squared bishop, which was a large part of the point of my play.} 16. Ra2 { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> This is obviously a bit artificial, but I wrongly thought I could still find time to consolidate. Now my opponent had a long think and I noticed he was staring at the middle of the board. Suddenly I realised my structure might be a bit rickety.} ({If} 16. O-O {then} 16... Na4 {is annoying}) (16. a4 {ties the queen and rook to the defence of a4.}) 16... Nfxe4 {This sacrifice is good but not the best. It came as a relief because I was worried about something else and thought this didn&#8217;t work. But throughout the next few moves I continue to underestimate the urgency of getting my king off the e file, and my opponent misses some chances to take advantage.} (16... Nxd3+) (16... d5 {, which may have been what I feared, is very good.} 17. cxd5 Nfxe4 18. dxe4 Bxe4 19. Qd2 Nd3+ 20. Kf1 Qxd5 {, though not forced, illustrates the problem; the availability of d5 for the queen strengthens the sacrifice.}) 17. dxe4 Bxe4 (17... Nxe4 18. Qc1 {is better for White.}) 18. Qc3{ <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> } (18. Qd1 {is also possible}) 18... Nd3+ ({Better than} 18... Bd3 {e.g.} 19. Bf1) 19. Ke2 {Played too fast without sensing the danger. I wanted to free the rook, but it&#8217;s too risky.} (19. Kf1 {is better when} 19... d5 {can be met by} 20. Ne1) 19... Nc5 {Letting the advantage slip.} (19... d5 {is strong and if} 20. cxd5 {Black is winning with} 20... Qxd5 21. Raa1 Qxb5) 20. Rd1 {Defending against intrusions on d3.} 20... Na4 ({If} 20... Nd3 {then} 21. Rxd3 Bxd3+ 22. Kxd3 e4+ 23. Kc2) ({or} 20... Bd3+ 21. Rxd3 Nxd3 22. Kxd3 e4+ 23. Kc2) 21. Qe3 {Giving Black another chance.} (21. Qc1 {may be better}) 21... Nc5 {It was only after the game that I noticed Black had taken four moves to put his knight back where it started. White, meanwhile, has made some rather tentative progress.} ({Black gets good play with} 21... Bc2 22. Rc1 e4 23. Nd4 Bd3+ 24. Ke1) 22. Ne1 {Eight minutes here, but probably another mistake.} ({White can consolidate with} 22. Kf1 {e.g.} 22... Bc2 23. Rc1 ({not} 23. Rd2 Bb3) 23... Bd3+ 24. Kg1) ({not} 22. Rc1 Bd3+) 22... Bg6 {Missing his last chance.} ({After} 22... Bxg2 23. Nxg2 Ra4 24. Rc1 ({better} 24. Kf1) ({or} 24. Qc1 Qf6 {and White may have to ditch the c pawn anyway e.g.} 25. Kf1 ({if} 25. Ne3 {Black can go for the kingside pawns with} 25... Qh6 26. h4 f5) 25... Ne4 26. Qc2 Rxc4) {I had missed} 24... d5 {with good play for Black.}) 23. Kf1 {Now White consolidates without further excitement.} 23... Qd7 24. Bc3 Qe6 25. Bd5 Qh3+ 26. Kg1 Qd7 { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> Now Black&#8217;s queen has spent three moves returning to the same place. Black&#8217;s last nine moves amount to Bg6 and Qd7. Admittedly his position is very harmonious, but being material down with a temporary initiative, he needed something more swashbuckling.} 27. Bb4 c6 {Probably hoping that the diversion of the bishop to d5 has allowed his central pawns to start rolling, but White can restrain them.} 28. Bg2 (28. Bxc5 {is interesting but unnecessary.}) 28... Qc7 29. Rad2 Rad8 30. Bxc5 {I had to override my liking for this bishop, as Black&#8217;s knight is an important defender.} 30... bxc5 31. bxc6 bxc6 32. Nf3 f6 33. Nh4 Bf7 34. Nf5 { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> Somehow White&#8217;s pieces have arrived at a very harmonious arrangement.} 34... Bh5 ({I am not sure if I noticed} 34... Bxc4 {but} 35. Nxd6 {deals with it.}) 35. Bf3 Bxf3 36. Qxf3 Re6 37. Qg4 Kh8 ({I originally posted this game with} 39...Kf8 {but an alert teammate remembers Kh8 and my score sheet has an illegible correction, so an emendation seems justified.} ) 38. Nxg7 ({38.Nxd6 also wins as my teammate saw.}) 38...Re7 39. Nf5 Red7 40. Qh4 {and Black resigned.} *

1. Nf3 {I am playing Black for Pimlico. My opponent seems to be ungraded, but our opponents were generally graded rather below us.} 1... c5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e6 4. d4 (4. g3 {scores rather better}) 4... cxd4 5. Nxd4 b6 {Intending a hedgehog. But this move order is rare and probably dubious.} (5... a6) 6. Bg5 (6. Ndb5 {exploits Black&#8217;s move order and scores well e.g.} 6... d6 7. Bf4 e5 8. Bg5 {when Black has lost all six games in the chesstempo database. I saw the idea of attacking d6 but probably underestimated it.}) 6... Be7 (6... Bb7 {produces a more frequent position by an unusual order.}) 7. g3 {This leads to some awkwardness.} 7... Bb7 8. f3 a6 9. Bg2 (9. e4 {can now be met by} 9... Nxe4 10. Bxe7 ({or} 10. Nxe4 Bxg5 11. Nd6+ Kf8 12. Nxb7 Qc7 {though I had missed this line}) 10... Nxc3 11. Bxd8 Nxd1 12. Bxb6 Nxb2) 9... Qc7 10. b3 (10. Qd3 {looks better to me}) ({or} 10. Qb3) 10... d5 {Now Black has some edge.} 11. O-O dxc4 12. bxc4 O-O (12... Qxc4 13. Rc1 {looked a bit risky.}) 13. Qb3 Qe5 { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> I thought this won a piece.} 14. Bxf6 {Now it does.} ({Both players miss} 14. e3 {e.g.} 14... Qxg5 (14... Nbd7 {is better e.g.} 15. Bf4 ({not} 15. f4 Qxe3+) 15... Qa5) 15. f4 Qa5 16. Bxb7 Ra7) (14. Qxb6 {loses e.g.} 14... Bc5 15. Qxb7 Ra7 16. Qb3 Qxg5 {and the d4 knight will drop.} ({not} 16... Bxd4+ 17. e3)) 14... Bxf6 {From now on Black has a winning advantage, but my opponent puts up a good fight.} 15. Rad1 Qe3+ 16. Kh1 Bxd4 17. Rd3 Qe5 18. Rfd1 Nc6 (18... Bxc3 {seems to be best}) (18... Bc5) 19. f4 Qf6 (19... Qc7 {may be better}) 20. Ne4 {I had missed this when playing Nc6. My opponent rather optimistically offered a draw here.} 20... Qg6 (20... Qe7 {may be better}) 21. Qb1 {I think his idea was to avoid Na5.} (21. Rxd4 {is probably best e.g.} 21... Nxd4 22. Rxd4 e5) 21... e5 22. e3 f5 ({Missing} 22... Na5 {with a huge advantage e.g.} 23. exd4 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 Qxe4+) 23. Ng5 e4 {Now Black must settle for the exchange rather than a whole piece.} (23... Bc5 {runs into some counterplay with} 24. Rd7 Rab8 25. Bd5+ Kh8 26. Nf7+ ({or} 26. Ne6)) 24. Rxd4 Nxd4 25. exd4 h6 26. Nh3 {Black has some positional advantage as well as the exchange.} 26... Qc6 27. Qb3 Kh7 ({Since White has a light-squared bishop,} 27... Kh8 {would allow fewer tactical resources; one of those tiny points that sometimes make strong players&#8217; wins look easy.}) 28. Nf2 Rac8 29. Rc1 Rfd8 30. Qe3 {Unfortunately White has no time for Nd1-e3, which would make his position much harder to crack.} 30... Qa4 31. Bf1 Qxa2 32. d5 Qb2 {Fine, but not the sharpest.} ({I spent eight minutes here mainly on} 32... Rxd5 {which is indeed strong e.g.} 33. cxd5 Rxc1 34. Qxc1 Qxf2 {and White cannot defend against the combination of the diagonal and the passed pawn.} ({I had been thinking of} 34... e3 {?? not noticing that the d5 pawn was still on the board. When I saw this I backed off the whole line.})) 33. Rd1 a5 {Simply planning to run the a pawn, but the a3-f1 diagonal also proves useful.} 34. Rd2 Qc1 35. Kg2 ({or} 35. Qe2 {e.g.} 35... e3 36. Rd1 {when} 36... Qc3 {seems best}) 35... Ba6 36. g4 ({ <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> Against} 36. Nxe4 {at various points I had planned} 36... Re8 (36... Bxc4 {is better}) {missing} 37. Qc3) 36... Rxd5 {Starting the final attack, though it should merely achieve exchanges into a good ending.} 37. Nxe4 {The best response. With ten minutes&#8217; thought here my opponent caught up with me on the clock.} ({Against} 37. cxd5 {I planned} 37... Bxf1+ (37... Qxf1+ {also wins}) 38. Kg1 ({or} 38. Kg3 Rc3) 38... Be2+ 39. Kg2 Bf3+ 40. Kg3 Qg1+ 41. Kh3 {when my calculation petered out but Black has} 41... fxg4+ 42. Kh4 Qxh2+ 43. Nh3 Qxh3#) 37... Rxd2+ (37... Bxc4 {may be better}) 38. Nxd2 Rd8 39. Bd3 {I had missed this, thinking he was simply losing another piece. White&#8217;s position should be past saving anyway, but time was short.} 39... Bb7+ (39... Kh8 {reinvigorating the pins is probably the clearest.}) (39... Bxc4 {runs into} 40. Bxf5+) 40. Kg3 (40. Kf2 {gives a little fight when I think I had} 40... Be4 (40... Kh8 {is also possible}) {in mind e.g.} 41. Nxe4 Qxe3+ 42. Kxe3 fxe4 43. Bxe4+ g6) (40. Kh3 {is similar e.g.} 40... Be4 41. Bxe4 Qxd2 42. Bxf5+ Kh8 43. Qxb6 Qc3+ 44. Kh4 Qf6+ 45. Qxf6 gxf6 46. c5 Rd5 ({or even} 46... a4 47. c6 a3 48. c7 Rf8 49. c8=Q Rxc8 50. Bxc8 a2)) { <span class="PgnWidget-anchor-diagram">[]</span> With four minutes left plus increments, I was glad to see this. } 40... Rxd3 {The end.} 41. Qxd3 Qg1+ 42. Kh4 Qxg4# 0-1