1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 d6 6. N1c3 a6 7. Na3 b5 8. Nd5 Nf6 9. Bg5 Qa5+ 10. Bd2 Qd8 11. Bg5 Qa5+

A draw with the Black pieces against an opponent of Colm's strength would be quite a good result for me.

12. Bd2 Qd8 13. Nxf6+

Understandably a draw would not suit my opponent.

13... Qxf6 14. c4 Qg6 15. f3 Be7 16. g3

16. cxb5, 16. Kf2!?, and 16. Be3 are alternatives.

16... f5

In retrospect I think 16... O-O may be better.

17. exf5 Bxf5 18. cxb5 Nd4 19. bxa6

In my opinion 19. Bc4 offers a better fighting chance.

19... O-O

I can find no record of this move having been played before.

20. Bc4+ Kh8 21. O-O Bh3 22. Rf2 e4 23. f4

23. fxe4 Rxf2 24. Kxf2 Qxe4 25. Bf4 Qg2+ 26. Ke3 Bf6 and with White's King so exposed Black should win.

23... Nf5 24. Qe1

To prevent 24... e3.

24... d5

Black wants the g1-a7 diagonal for his Bishop.

25. Bxd5 Nxg3 26. hxg3 Qxg3+ 27. Kh1 Bc5 28. Qxe4

28. Qg1! is better. I had thought that I could answer this move with 28... Qh4 and that I would win because of the threats of 29... Bf2 or a discovered check with the bishop, however things are not so simple.

28... Qxf2 29. Bxa8 Bf1! 30. Rxf1 Qxf1+

30... Qh4+ 31. Kg2 Qg4+=.

31. Kh2 Bg1+ 32. Kg3 Bf2+ 33. Kg4 h5+ 34. Kg5

34. Kf3 Bg1+ 35. Kg3 Qf2+ 36. Kh3 Qh2#.

34. Kxh5 Qh3+ 35. Kg6 (35. Kg5 Qh4+ 36. Kg6 Rf6#) 35... Qh6#.

34... Qh3 35. f5

35. Qg2 Qf5#.

35. Qf3 Qf5#.

35... Bh4+ 36. Kxh5

36. Qxh4 Qxf5#.

36. Kf4 Qg3#.

36. Kg6 Rf6+ transposes into the game.

36... Be1+

36... Bf6+ 37. Kg6 (37. Qh4 Qxh4+ 38. Kg6 Qh7#) 37... Qh7#.

37. Kg6

37. Kg5 Bxd2+ wins.

37... Rf6+ 38. Kg5 Bxd2+ 39. Qf4

39. Rxf5+ 40. Kg6 Qh7#.

0-1

Annotator(s): Richard O'Donovan, Irish Chess Journal, vol. 6, no. 4, August-September 1994, pp. 19-20.

Event information: Tournament report.