Nash, Warwick - Barry, Charles J., Irish Championship 1940

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. h3

This move, or alternatively Nb3 is necessary to prevent ... Ng4. Nb3 usually leads to queen-side complications; the text move to a violent attack with the advance of all king-side pawns. “You pays your money and you takes your choice.”

9... Bd7

Quite sound and good, but 9... d5! gives ... an easier game.

[RR - Nash had recent experience of this move in two games at the Buenos Aires "Olympiad". (9... d5) 10. exd5 Nb4 (10... Nxd5 11. Nxd5 Qxd5 12. Nxc6 Qxc6 13. c3 e5 14. Qc2 Bf5 15. Qb3 Be4 16. f3 Bd5 17. Qb4 f5 18. Rad1 a5 19. Qa3 Rfc8 20. c4 Bxc4 21. Rc1 Qe6 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. Qb3 Rc6 24. Qxe6+ Rxe6 25. Bc4 Kf7 26. Rd1 Re8 27. Bc5 Kf6 28. Rd7 b6 29. Bd6 Bh6 30. Kf1 Be3 31. Ba3 Rb8 32. Bxe6 Kxe6 33. Rxh7 b5 34. b3 Rb6 35. Re7+ Kf6 36. Rc7 b4 37. Bb2 Rd6 38. Ke1 f4 39. Ra7 Bxa7 0-1 Nash-Holowach, 14 September 1939) 11. Qd2 Nbxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Bf3 Qd7 14. Rfd1 e5 15. Nb3 Qf5 16. c3 Re8 17. Rac1 a5 18. a4 Bf8 19. Be2 Bd7 20. Bg4 Nxg4 21. hxg4 Qe6 22. Qxd7 Qxb3 23. Qb5 Qe6 24. g5 b6 25. Rd5 Rab8 26. Rcd1 Kg7 27. R1d2 Kg8 28. Rd7 Rec8 29. R2d5 Rc6 30. Ra7 Rd6 31. Rxd6 Qxd6 32. Rd7 Qe6 33. Qd5 Qf5 34. Kh2 e4 35. Qxf5 gxf5 36. Rd5 Kg7 37. Rxf5 Bd6+ 38. Bf4 Bxf4+ 39. Rxf4 Re8 40. Rf6 Rb8 41. c4 Rc8 42. b3 Re8 43. Rxb6 e3 44. fxe3 Rxe3 45. Rb5 Kf8 46. b4 axb4 47. Rxb4 Ke7 48. a5 Ra3 49. Rb5 Kd6 50. g3 Ra4 51. Rf5 Ke6 52. Rf6+ Ke7 53. Ra6 Rxc4 54. Ra8 Rg4 55. a6 Rxg5 56. a7 Ra5 57. Kg2 Ra3 58. Kf2 Kf6 59. g4 Kg7 60. Ke2 Ra2+ 61. Kd3 Ra3+ 62. Kc4 Ra4+ 63. Kc5 Ra1 64. Kd5 Rd1+ 65. Ke5 Re1+ 66. Kf4 Rf1+ 67. Kg5 h6+ 68. Kh4 Ra1 1/2-1/2 Nash-Karastoichev, 6 September 1939.]

10. Qd2 a6

There's a flavour of routine about this move. As long as Black's e-pawn stands unmoved his centre, if backward, is strong aand he is under no compulsion to play ... a6 defensively. Following proper preparations the move would fit into a scheme of minority-pawn side counter attack. 10... Rc8 is suggested.

11. f4 Qc7 12. Bf3 Rac8 13. Rac1

This unduly timid move succeeds better than it deserves.

13... Rfd8

This rook should stand fast and something should be undertaken on the queen-side. 13... Na5 threatening c4 looks very strong.

14. Qf2 Rf8 15. Rfd1 Ne8?

Losing.

16. Nd5 Qd8 17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. c4

“And now” I can imagine White asking “what has the carping critic to say about my 13th move?”

18... Bxd5 19. cxd5 Rxc1 20. Rxc1 Qa5 21. b3 Nf6 22. Qc2 Nd7 23. Qc7 Nc5? 24. Qxa5

Black's blunder shortens the game, but does nothing more, as White's position [was already] a winning one. Mr. Nash has played solidly and costrructively throughout. I consider this his best game in the tournament.