The big clash between the top four saw Stephen deservedly beat me after the opening turned out to be virtually winning for White, even though during the game we both thought Black had the advantage in the opening phase. I should have contented myself in getting a draw but was too greedy.

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5

Although Stephen has been playing 3. Nd2 in recent times I was sure he would revert to the Advance variation owing to my extensive experience with the Tarrasch.

3... c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Be2 f6!?

An underrated move which I think ensures speedy equality. It has taken a few knocks though, notably Romanishin - Ivanchuk, Irkutsk 1986 and Ivanchuk - Short - Novi Sad 1990.

7. O-O fxe5 8. dxe5

Much more common is 8. Nxe5 but although at the time I understood that Nxe5 was in fact virtually mandatory, now I think a simple transposition to lines with Ne5 played is the best way to proceed for Black. There is no real drawback to 8. dxe5.

8... Qc7 9. Re1!

My only real knowledge of this position was that after 9. Na3 a6 10. c4 d4 11. Nc2 Nh6 Black has a good position, but 10. Re1 allows White to keep the option of putting his N on e4 via d2 should I play ... d4?. Afterwards I found a game Levitt - Lehtivaara.

9... O-O-O 10. c4 d4?

Amazingly both of us assumed Black was better from the opening, based on the perceived weakness of the e5 pawn. However this pawn is in fact a tower of strength simply because of the plan Bf4-Nd2-e4 with a3-b4 ideas.

[RR 10... d4= is best; Black's later problems arose from other sources.]

11. Bf4 Nh6

I find it difficult to recommend or criticise moves in this position as after 10... d4 I think Black's position is awful. neither one of us realized this during the game but having spent time looking at this opening I cannot find a good plan for Black.

12. Nbd2 Nf7 13. Bd3! Be7

I understand that if I had offered a draw in the opening Stephen would have accepted. I actually thought about this during the game but was too overconfident and incorrectly judged the position. A huge mistake in retrospect. If 13... h6 14. Bg6! and Black is totally tied up.

14. h4 Rdf8

14... Kb8 15. Ne4 a5 This might have been a better plan. Simply taken useful preventative measures for a few moves.

15. a3 h6 16. Bg6! Ng5

What else?

17. Bg3 Nxf3+ 18. Nxf3 Bd8

18... a5!? .

18... Kb8!? .

[RR 18... Bd8? (why?) is the main source of Black's difficulties. After the natural 18... Be8 19. Bxe8 Rxe8 20. Nd2, White has only a small edge.]

19. b4 Be7!

The best practical try, forcing White to make a critical decision. Unfortunately for me, Stephen chooses correctly.

[RR 19... Kb8!? 20. Nd2 Ne7 21. Be4 Bc6 22. bxc5 was worth considering (and is far from hopeless).]

20. Nd2!

A hugely powerful move which leads to a speedy and decisive king attack.

20. b5? Na5 unclear;

20. bxc5?! Bxc5 unclear.

20... cxb4 21. Ne4!

The point.

21... bxa3

I might as well grab as much as I can, as I am unlikely to get to do much of anything soon!

[RR 21... Kb8.]

22. c5 Qa5 23. Qc1 Be8 24. Bxe8 Rxe8 25. Rxa3 Qb4 26. Qa1 Qc4

26... Bxc5 loses to 27. Ra4.

27. Rc1 Qd5 28. Nd6+

Curtains!

28... Bxd6 29. exd6 Kd7

29... e5 30. Rxa7 Nxa7 31. Qxa7 with the idea of Rb1 and Qa8+.

30. Qb1!

The quickest way, but also winning was Rb1-b8, Rab3.

30... e5

Instead Rb8 allows the queen to penetrate with Qg6. 30... Rb8 31. Qg6 Rhg8 32. Qf7+.

31. Qxb7+ Ke6 32. Ra6 Nb8?

32... Rc8 33. Qxg7 wins anyway.

33. d7+ Nxa6 34. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 35. Qxa6+ Kf5 36. Qxa7 g6 37. h5 gxh5 38. Qh7+ Kg5 39. Qg7+ Kf5 40. Qxh6 Qf7 41. Qd2 Qd5 42. c6 Rc8 43. Re1 Re8 44. Rxe5+ Rxe5 45. Qf4+ Kg6 46. Qxe5 Qc4 47. c7 d3 48. Qe8+

1-0

Annotator(s): Colm Daly, Irish Chess Journal, vol. 9, no. 4, August-September 1997, p. 14.

Event information: Tournament report.