1.e4
e5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
f5
4.d3
fxe4
5.dxe4
Nf6
6.0-0
Bc5
7.Qd3
d6
8.Qc4
Bd7
9.Nc3
a6?
A mistake, but it was rather difficult to forsee the forcing variations that follow.
10.Bxc6[]
Bxc6
11.Nxe5
Bxf2+
Played after more than 20 minutes thought, and this is what I expected. [11...dxe5
12.Qxc5
White is a pawn up with no compensation for Black. 12...Nxe4?
13.Qxe5+
Qe7
14.Qxe7+
Kxe7
15.Re1+-
]
12.Rxf2
dxe5
13.Bh6!
A wry smile appeared on Chris's face. It is time to admit that this wasn't entirely my own invention. I had been out of book from move 11, but I had a vague recollection of seeing Bh6 before (indeed it was recommended in Andrew Greet's book on the Ruy Lopez). While Chris had been contemplating his 11th and 12th moves, I was busy analysing 13. Bh6.
13...gxh6
[13...Qe7
14.Bxg7!
Qxg7
15.Qe6+
Qe7
16.Rxf6+/-
; 13...Rg8
A very plausible move, but there is now a series of spectacular moves that refute it. 14.Rd1!
(14.Rxf6?
Qd4+
Black has nearly equalised.) 14...Qe7
15.Rxf6!
Qxf6
I hadn't seen this line during the game ! 16.Qxg8+
; 13...Qd4
14.Qe6+
Kf8
15.Bxg7+
Kxg7
16.Qxf6+
Kg8
17.Qf7#
]
14.Qe6++/-
Qe7
15.Rxf6
Qxe6
16.Rxe6+
Kd7
17.Rxh6
[17.Rxe5
Rae8
18.Rd1+
Kc8
19.Rxe8+
Rxe8
20.Rd4
White is still winning, but I preferred Rxh6 as I thought it was more important to keep Black tied to the defence of the h7-pawn, rather than defending the e4- pawn.]
17...Rae8
18.Rd1+
Kc8
19.Nd5
Bxd5
20.Rxd5
Re7
21.Rh5
Rd8
22.Rxd8+
Kxd8
23.Kf2
Kd7
24.Ke3
a5
25.g4
Kd6
26.Rh6+
Kc5
27.g5
Kc4
28.h4
a4
29.a3
It is impor tant to keep the Black king out of the dark-squares on the queen-side.
29...c5
[29...b5??
30.Rc6#
]
30.Rb6
Preventing Black any counterplay.
30...Rf7
31.h5
Rf4
32.Rxb7
Rg4
Now we both noted a potential stalemate trick, remove the Black Rook and if the h6-pawn can't move then it's stalemate, but it doesn't quite work.
33.Rg7
Rg2
34.Kf3
Rxc2
35.Rxh7
Rxb2
36.g6
Rb3+
37.Kg4
Rxa3
38.g7
1-0