00023.5.07 Analyzed by National Master John Graves

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Nxe4 6. d4 b5

7. Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Bc2 Nxf2

12. Rxf2 f6 13. exf6 Bxf2+ 14.Kxf2 Qxf6 15. Nf1 Ne5 16. Be3 Rae8

17. Bd4

Okay now the real game can begin! 17.Bc5 is given as the

main line leading to equality according to NCO. The text

is also given as equal after 17...Bg4.

17... Qh4+ 18. Kg1 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 c6 20. Ng3 Qh3 21. Bd3

Be5 gives white a small advantage. The plan is to put the

pawn on f4 and to plug up both the open files. White will

put the queen on d3 and put the rook on e1 and prepare a

timely f5 with the attack.

21... Kh8 22. Be2 a5 23. Be5 Bc8 24. f4 Qe6 25. Bh5

I like 25. Qd4 alot better. Why declare your minor piece

configuration? What if the knight wants to go to f5? What

if the Bishop wants to eye the king on d3? Then the rook

will fufill its role and play to e1 to support the f5 pawn

break. Maybe white can play the rook to the "g" file with

an attack.

25... Re7 26. Qd4 Kg8 27. Rf1 Bb7 28. Qc5

The Queen is just fine on d4, it keeps the black bishop nice

and hemmed in.

28... Rd7 29. Kg2 d4 30. Bxd4 Qxa2 31. Bg4 Rdf7 32. Rf2

32.c4!! seems to give white a clear edge. 32... Rf4? 33. Be6 Kh8

34. Qf8! mating is one point. Any capture on c4 will lead to a

white Be6 with an easy win. Blacks best move seems to be 32...Re8

but 33. Bh5 g6 creates a nasty weakness on the dark squares.

White will play 34. Be2 with a clear advantage.

32... Rxf4 33. Rxf4 Rxf4 34. Kh3 Rxg4 35. Kxg4 Qxb2 36. Qe5 h5+

37. Kxh5 Qxh2+ 38. Kg4 Bc8+ 39. Kf3 Qh8 40. Nh5

Now black is just a piece down. White is clearly winning.

40... Bd7 41. Qg5 Qh6 42. Qd8+ Be8 43. Qxe8+ Kh7 44. Qf7 Qg5

45. Nf6+ Kh6 46. Be3 gxf6 47. Bxg5+

47. Qf6 is faster.

47... Kxg5 48. Ke4 a4 49. Qh7 a3 50. Qf5+ Kh4 51. Kf4 c5 52. Qg4#

1-0