News - Newton Abbot Chess Club

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Date "2021.04.01"] [White "Alan Brusey"] [Black "Paul Brooks"] [Result "1-0"] [Opening "Sicilian Defense: Alapin Variation, Smith-Morra Declined"] 1.e4 c5 2.c3 Nf6 3.e5 Nd5 4.d4 cxd4 5.cxd4 d6 6.Bc4 Nb6 7.Bb5+ Bd7 {This was the first time I had played this variation in a serious game and Alan, of course, plays the most complicated line.} 8.e6 fxe6 ( 8...Bxb5 9.Qh5 Qc8 $1 {is supposed to be slightly better for black, but I'd forgotten it. } ) 9.Bd3 {This gives white a strong attack for the pawn.} 9...g6 10.h4 Nc6 $6 ( 10...Bg7 {is better with the idea} 11.h5 Bc6 12.hxg6 hxg6 13. Rxh8+ Bxh8 14.Bxg6+ Kd7 {and black is better.} ) 11.h5 Qc7 {I wanted to get my king safe, realising that Alan would get a passed pawn on the seventh, but hoping I could get counterplay against his open king.} 12. hxg6 O-O-O 13.gxh7 Bg7 14.Nf3 Nxd4 15.Ng5 $6 Rdf8 {Alan's last move was a mistake because I could now play 15....Ba4 and the complications work out in my favour. However, I was more worried about preventing 16.Nf7. } 16.Nc3 a6 17.Be3 Kb8 18.Bg6 {Typically Alan plays with purpose, and I thought this was an excellent move, homing in on my weakness on f7. But there is a flaw! } 18...Nf5 $1 {A good multipurpose move opening the long diagonal for my bishop and attacking Alan's dark-squared bishop which will open up the white king.} 19.Rc1 Nxe3 20.fxe3 Qc5 {Another good move attacking g5 and e3. I couldn't see how Alan could defend both threats so I thought I had the advantage.} 21.Nd5 $5 {An excellent practical decision (I hadn't seen it at all). White gives up a piece but forces the queens off, so his king is much safer.} 21...Qxd5 22.Qxd5 Nxd5 23.Rh3 Bxb2 24.Rc2 Bf6 ( 24...Bc3+ {was better. I thought about this move but rejected it because I was worried that at least one of my pieces would get trapped out of play on the queenside.} 25.Rxc3 ( 25.Ke2 e5 {I missed this! wins.} ) 25...Nxc3 26. e4 Rf6 {I also missed this} 27.Nf7 Rxh7 28.Bxh7 Rxf7 {wins easily.} ) 25. Nf7 Be8 $2 {Another mistake and I thought it was the only move!} ( 25...e5 {is correct .} 26.Rh2 {to keep the h pawn protected} 26...Nxe3 27.Re2 Ng4 28.Rh5 Be6 29.Nxh8 Rxh8 {is much better than the game.} ) 26.Nxh8 Bxh8 27.Bxe8 Rxe8 28.g4 {Now it's about equal according to the computer but Alan has an easy plan of pushing his g pawn.} 28...Rf8 29.g5 Rf7 $2 {This is the losing move. 29...Nb4 keeps black in the game, but this was quite hard to see.} 30.Rf2 $1 {I now realised I couldn't avoid a rook swap, allowing the pawns through, or I just lose a piece.} 30...Bc3+ 31.Ke2 Rxf2+ 32.Kxf2 Bh8 33.Rf3 Nf6 34.gxf6 exf6 35.Rg3 Ka7 36.Rg8 1-0