[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.03"]
[Round "1.1"]
[White "Rushe, Adam"]
[Black "Verlekar, Vivaan"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1494"]
[BlackElo "1202"]
[WhiteICU "1434"]
[BlackICU "1050"]
[WhiteClub "Strand"]
[BlackClub "North Kildare"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2511690"]
[BlackFideId "2516942"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1/2-1/2

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.03"]
[Round "1.2"]
[White "McCormick, Polly"]
[Black "Earls, Dermot"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1187"]
[BlackElo "1463"]
[WhiteICU "847"]
[BlackICU "1147"]
[WhiteClub "Curragh"]
[BlackClub "Drumlish"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2516292"]
[BlackFideId "2504715"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Opening "French"]
[Variation "advance, Euwe variation"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Source: Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. } { Annotator: Dermot Earls. } {
This is the second time I've played Polly. I played her last round in the
sligo tournament of 2022. I had the black pieces then as well. } { Event
information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 { C02 French Defense:
Advance Variation, Euwe Variation } 6. Be2 Qb6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Na3 cxd4 {
Now is the right time for Black to take the centre pawn as the knight will
have to move again to get back to c2 } 9. cxd4 Nf5 10. Nc2 Be7 11. a3 a5 {
I did this to stop a5 but a better move would have been Na5 with access to
b3 or c4 and also to release my light squared bishop and swap off if
desired. Wheres Simon Williams DVD when you need it lol. } 12. g4 Nh4 13.
Nxh4 Bxh4 14. Be3 Qd8 $6 { To support my bishop and meet g5 etc. The engine
doesnt particularily like this move. It recommends going back to e7....
Certainly not Qxb2 as thats way to risky. } (14... Be7 15. Bd3 a4 16. Rb1
Na5 17. Qe2 O-O-O 18. Na1 Kb8 19. b3 axb3 20. Nxb3 Nxb3 21. Qb2) (14...
Qxb2 15. Rb1 Qc3 16. g5 Ne7 17. Bd2 Qc6 { ...+1.8 for White }) 15. f4 h6
16. Qd2 { Polly offered me a draw and I immediately declined. Not because I
felt I had any advantage but because I felt I needed to test myself a bit
more. I spoke to her dad afterwards and he told me that if she finished
early she would get an early nights sleep and be more ready for the
following day ahead. Considering we ended up slogging it out till the very
end maybe I should have accepted lol. } 16... g6 { I figured g5 would open
the game up too much for white and allow a clear attack wheras I think g6
blunts that attack whether it's the best move or not. } (16... g5 17. f5 a4
18. Nb4 Qb6 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 { ...White +3.4 }) 17. g5 Ne7 { I figured a few
moves back that I could get here in time to stop any serious attack by
white } 18. Bf2 $5 ({ White can't really allow my knight to stay there for
ever. So I think Bd3 is better } 18. Bd3 Nf5 19. Bxf5 gxf5 20. Ne1 Bb5 21.
Rf3 hxg5 22. fxg5 Rh5 23. Ng2 Bxg5 24. Rg3 Bxe3+ 25. Qxe3 Rh8 { ...Black
should be ok here.. }) 18... Bxf2+ 19. Rxf2 Nf5 20. Ne3 hxg5 21. Nxf5 exf5
22. fxg5 Qb6 ({ I considered } 22... Rh4 23. Raf1 Rc8 { ...Black is doing
quite well here }) 23. Rc1 Rh4 24. Rd1 ({ This looks better to me. } 24.
Rc5) 24... Rc8 25. Rf4 Rxf4 26. Qxf4 Qxb2 27. Qe3 Rc3 28. Rd3 Qc1+ $6 { I
had a feeling this wasnt the best move, and it's not. But I wanted to try
to get Queens off the board as if I'm only a pawn up and white still has a
Queen it's usually very hard, or impossible to win that game. So Rc1 is
better. } ({ So I considered ... } 28... Rc1+ 29. Rd1 Rxd1+ 30. Bxd1 {
...However I hadnt worked out in my mind that I could at least win an extra
pawn with something like... } 30... Qa1 31. Qe1 Qxd4+) 29. Qxc1 Rxc1+ 30.
Rd1 Rxd1+ 31. Bxd1 Bb5 $2 { This is the wrong approach. I should advance
the pawns supported by the Bishop and whites task is tough. Perhaps the
game might go something like... } (31... b5 32. Kf1 a4 33. Ke1 b4 34. axb4
a3 35. Bb3 Be6 36. Kd2 f4 37. b5 Kd7 38. Kc3 f3 39. Bc2 f2 40. Bd3 Bh3 41.
Be2 f1=R 42. Bxf1 Bxf1 43. Kb3 a2 44. Kxa2 Bxb5) 32. Kf2 Bc4 33. Ke3 Kd7
34. Kf4 b5 35. h4 Ke7 $2 { Again the wrong approach. We were both in
terrible time trouble and this despite appearances is quite a tricky
position. } (35... b4 36. axb4 axb4 37. h5 gxh5 38. Bxh5 b3 39. Bd1 Ke7 40.
Kg3 b2 41. Bc2 Ba2 42. Bxf5 { ..and similar to my earlier king side pawn
advance variation }) 36. h5 gxh5 37. Kxf5 Bd3+ $2 { (-5.52 ? -3.32)
Mistake. b4 was best. } (37... b4 38. axb4 axb4 39. Kf4 b3 40. Kg3 b2 41.
Bc2 Ba2 42. Kh4 b1=Q 43. Bxb1 Bxb1 44. Kxh5 Kf8 45. Kh6 Be4 46. Kh5 Kg7 47.
Kh4 Kg6 48. Kg4 Bf5+ 49. Kf4 Be6 50. Kg3 Kxg5 51. Kf3 Bf5 52. Kg3 Bg4 53.
Kf2 Kf4 54. e6 Bxe6) 38. Kf4 Ke6 $2 { (-3.58 ? -1.58) Mistake. h4 was best.
} (38... h4 39. Kg4 a4 40. Kxh4 b4 41. axb4 a3 42. Bb3 Bc4 43. Bc2 a2) 39.
Bxh5 Bg6 $2 { Last chance to play b4. But any win would be extremely
complicated now. Time trouble makes us blind. } (39... b4) 40. Bg4+ Ke7 41.
Be2 b4 42. axb4 axb4 43. Bd1 Ke6 44. Bg4+ Ke7 45. Bd1 Ke6 { Polly offered
me a draw again and I gladly accepted. I was shattered lol. } 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.03"]
[Round "1.3"]
[White "Whelan, Niall P."]
[Black "Doolin, Nemhain"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1451"]
[BlackElo "1175"]
[WhiteICU "1263"]
[BlackICU "893"]
[WhiteClub "Ennis"]
[BlackClub "Blanchardstown"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2500809"]
[BlackFideId "2517230"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.03"]
[Round "1.4"]
[White "Brearley, Thierry"]
[Black "Doolin, Bedhbh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "1345"]
[WhiteICU "1130"]
[BlackICU "1116"]
[WhiteClub "Drogheda"]
[BlackClub "Blanchardstown"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2523930"]
[BlackFideId "2517221"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.03"]
[Round "1.5"]
[White "Coveney, Maurice"]
[Black "O'Sullivan, Oisin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1253"]
[WhiteICU "901"]
[BlackICU "1126"]
[BlackClub "Clonakilty"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2505940"]
[BlackFideId "2518082"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[BlackFullName "O'Sullivan, Ois&iacute;n"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Doolin, Bedhbh"]
[Black "Doolin, Nemhain"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1345"]
[BlackElo "1175"]
[WhiteICU "1116"]
[BlackICU "893"]
[WhiteClub "Blanchardstown"]
[BlackClub "Blanchardstown"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2517221"]
[BlackFideId "2517230"]
[PlyCount "34"]
[ECO "B21"]
[Opening "Sicilian"]
[Variation "Smith-Morra gambit"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/ifPY09Q4/3iql2VOd)"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d3 4. Bxd3 d6 5. c4 Nf6 6. h3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Be3 Nc6 10. O-O Bd7 11. Rc1 Rc8 12. a3 b6 13. Qd2 Na5 14. Qe2
Nb3 15. Rcd1 Nc5 16. Bc2 Bc6 17. Bxc5 bxc5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "O'Sullivan, Oisin"]
[Black "Rushe, Adam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "1494"]
[WhiteICU "1126"]
[BlackICU "1434"]
[WhiteClub "Clonakilty"]
[BlackClub "Strand"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2518082"]
[BlackFideId "2511690"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[ECO "C78"]
[Opening "Ruy Lopez"]
[Variation "5.O-O"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/ifPY09Q4/JJBLk2Mg)"]
[WhiteFullName "O'Sullivan, Ois&iacute;n"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. d3 O-O 8.
a4 Bb7 9. Nc3 b4 10. Nd5 d6 11. Nxe7+ Nxe7 12. Bg5 Ng6 13. Qd2 a5 14. h4 h6
15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Qxh6 d5 17. Ng5 Qd7 18. h5 Nf4 19. Qxf6 Qg4 20. g3 Qxg5
$4 ({ Presumably Black intended 21. Qxg5 Nh3+, overlooking the check. }
20... Qxh5 $1 $10) 1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "2.3"]
[White "Verlekar, Vivaan"]
[Black "McCormick, Polly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1202"]
[BlackElo "1187"]
[WhiteICU "1050"]
[BlackICU "847"]
[WhiteClub "North Kildare"]
[BlackClub "Curragh"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2516942"]
[BlackFideId "2516292"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "2.4"]
[White "Earls, Dermot"]
[Black "Whelan, Niall P."]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1463"]
[BlackElo "1451"]
[WhiteICU "1147"]
[BlackICU "1263"]
[WhiteClub "Drumlish"]
[BlackClub "Ennis"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2504715"]
[BlackFideId "2500809"]
[PlyCount "90"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Opening "Queen's pawn game"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Source: Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. } { Annotator: Dermot Earls. } {
Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 $6 3. e3 Nc6 4. Be2 e6 5. Nbd2 Bf5 6. c3 a6 7. Nb3 $6 {
For some strange reason I've started off in the wrong foot and now have a
type of London System with my dark squared bishop locked in behind my
pawns. I wasnt feeling comfortable } 7... Nf6 8. Nh4 Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10.
Nc5 $2 { Trying to rush things to attain my freedom. I saw his knight could
come to e5 attacking my pawn but I glibly thought I could protect it by b5.
} 10... Bxc5 11. dxc5 Ne4 { I now realised that his knight also attacks c3
and if I allowed that, not only would I lose a pawn but I'd also lose the 2
bishops advantage. } 12. a3 Nxc5 13. b4 Nd7 { I had assumed he'd move back
to e4 } 14. Bb2 O-O 15. c4 Ne7 16. cxd5 Nxd5 17. Qd4 Qf6 18. Qxf6 $6 ({
Despite being a pawn down white is not in a bad position. I should avoid
swapping pieces though. A far better move for white would be ... } 18. Qd2)
18... N7xf6 19. Bxf6 $6 { I should probably use my pawns to attack. g4 or
h4 The move I played is simply bad. } 19... gxf6 $1 { The best move by
Niall. White is at least 2 points down now according to the engines. } 20.
Bf3 c6 21. O-O f5 22. h4 Kg7 23. g3 Rad8 24. Rac1 e5 25. e4 fxe4 26. Bxe4
f5 { Niall is slowly and surely taking his time and advancing. I knew he
wasnt going to let this one slip. } 27. Bb1 Nb6 28. Rfe1 e4 29. Red1 $6
Rfe8 30. Kg2 Kf6 31. Bc2 Rxd1 32. Rxd1 Nc4 33. a4 Ke7 ({ I half hoped Niall
might try ... } 33... e3 { ...hoping for,,,, } 34. fxe3 Nxe3+ { ...and
white may resign there and then.. }) ({ Instead I could have played .... }
33... e3 34. Kf3 e2 35. Re1 Nd2+ 36. Kg2 Nc4 37. Bd3 Nb6 38. a5 Nd5 {
...and I might just hang on ... } 39. Rxe2 Rxe2 40. Bxe2 Nxb4 41. Kf1 { but
it's still very tough }) 34. Bb3 Ne5 35. Ba2 b5 36. axb5 axb5 37. Bb1 Ra8
38. Bc2 Ra3 39. Rb1 Rc3 40. Rb2 { This end is fast approaching. } 40... Nd3
41. Bxd3 exd3 42. Rd2 Ke6 43. Kf3 Kd5 44. Ke3 { d4 square is gone. Too late
to save anything now.. } 44... Kc4 45. Kf4 Rc2 { No matter what I do now
it's an easy win for white. Well played by Niall.....Take away from the
game. I rushed and was careless in the opening. Small minor mistakes were
punished mercilessy by a determined opponent. } 0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "2.5"]
[White "Brearley, Thierry"]
[Black "Coveney, Maurice"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "1253"]
[WhiteICU "1130"]
[BlackICU "901"]
[WhiteClub "Drogheda"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2523930"]
[BlackFideId "2505940"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "3.1"]
[White "Doolin, Nemhain"]
[Black "O'Sullivan, Oisin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1175"]
[WhiteICU "893"]
[BlackICU "1126"]
[WhiteClub "Blanchardstown"]
[BlackClub "Clonakilty"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2517230"]
[BlackFideId "2518082"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[ECO "B12"]
[Opening "Caro-Kann"]
[Variation "advance variation"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/nlx4gLtk/Mq1vKxgn)"]
[BlackFullName "O'Sullivan, Ois&iacute;n"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 Bg4 7. Bb5 e6 8.
O-O Ne7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Nf5 11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. Qc3 Qb6 13. Be3 Nxe3 14.
fxe3 Be7 15. Nd2 O-O 16. Nb3 a5 17. Rac1 Rfc8 18. Rf2 Rc7 19. Nc5 Qb4 20.
Qc2 Bg5 21. Qe2 Qb5 22. Qf3 g6 23. Rcf1 Bh6 24. g4 Qc4 25. h4 Bf8 26. b3
Qb5 27. h5 Bxc5 28. dxc5 Qxc5 29. hxg6 fxg6 30. Qf6 Re8 31. Qf4 Qb4 32. Qh6
Qxg4+ 33. Rg2 Qe4 34. Rff2 Qxe5 35. Kh1 Qg7 0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "3.2"]
[White "McCormick, Polly"]
[Black "Doolin, Bedhbh"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1187"]
[BlackElo "1345"]
[WhiteICU "847"]
[BlackICU "1116"]
[WhiteClub "Curragh"]
[BlackClub "Blanchardstown"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2516292"]
[BlackFideId "2517221"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[ECO "B76"]
[Opening "Sicilian"]
[Variation "dragon, Yugoslav attack, Rauser variation"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/nlx4gLtk/ZjKec5L8)"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8.
Qd2 Nc6 9. O-O-O Bd7 10. h4 h5 11. Bh6 a6 12. Bxg7 Kxg7 13. Nd5 Nxd5 14.
Nxc6 bxc6 15. exd5 c5 16. c4 a5 17. Qc3+ f6 18. g3 Qc8 19. Bg2 a4 20. Rde1
Re8 21. Re3 Bf5 22. Rhe1 Ra7 23. R1e2 e5 24. dxe6 Rxe6 25. Rxe6 Bxe6 26.
Re4 Bf5 27. Rf4 Rf7 28. g4 hxg4 29. fxg4 Bxg4 30. Qg3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "3.3"]
[White "Whelan, Niall P."]
[Black "Brearley, Thierry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1451"]
[WhiteICU "1263"]
[BlackICU "1130"]
[WhiteClub "Ennis"]
[BlackClub "Drogheda"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2500809"]
[BlackFideId "2523930"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "3.4"]
[White "Rushe, Adam"]
[Black "Earls, Dermot"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1494"]
[BlackElo "1463"]
[WhiteICU "1434"]
[BlackICU "1147"]
[WhiteClub "Strand"]
[BlackClub "Drumlish"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2511690"]
[BlackFideId "2504715"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[ECO "C10"]
[Opening "French"]
[Variation "Rubinstein variation"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Source: Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. } { Annotator: Dermot Earls. } {
In many ways this was my best game of the tournament, even though I lost.
It was entertaining and lots of lessons learnt from it, in various stages
of the game. It also was a further validation of my anti Tarrach and anti
Winawer French Defence. } { Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 { ..Theory suggests this is not the best move
as it abandons the centre. However if it's good enough for Akiba Kiwelowicz
Rubinstein (1 December 1880 to 14 March 1961), considered to be one of the
greatest players never to have become World Chess Champion, then it's good
enough for me. } 4. Nxe4 Nd7 { C10 French Defense: Rubinstein Variation,
Blackburne Defense. I have just avoided any prepared lines of the Tarrach
or Winawar french Defence. Game on. } 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Bd3 Nxe4 8.
Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Bxe4 Nf6 10. Bd3 c5 $1 { We can have expert opinion of
possibly best or better moves by either colour but essentially for average
club players these are typically good move by both sides and the main thing
is Black has achieved equality and it's just a game now. } 11. dxc5 Qxc5
12. O-O O-O 13. Re1 Bd7 14. Re5 Qb6 15. Rb1 Bc6 16. Qc1 $6 { This weird
move confused me. Had he something up his slieve that I couldnt spot ? } ({
I expected something like.... } 16. Qd2 Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rfd8 18. Qe3 Qd6 19.
Qg5 Qd4) 16... Rfd8 $6 { I really should have taken the bishop and I would
have a definate advantage then... } (16... Bxf3 17. gxf3 Rfd8 18. Qe3 Qd6
19. Re1 b6 20. Qg5 h6 21. Qg3 Qb4 22. Rb1 Rac8 23. a3 Qd4 24. f4 Nd5 25.
Re4 Qf6 26. c3 Ne7 27. Re5 Rd7 { ....White -2 }) 17. Qf4 Rd5 18. Rxd5 Bxd5
19. Ng5 $2 { Surely this attack is a bit premature and too optimistic for
white.. } 19... h6 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxa2 22. Rd1 Rd8 $6 ({ I really
should have gone for it but with his bishop covering h7 and afraid his Rook
might figure a way to get onto my back rank I chickened out. But it is
complicated Play might proceed like ...... } 22... Qxb2 23. h3 f5 24. Bf3
Rc8 25. Rd7 Rxc2 26. Qg3 Kh7 27. Bh5 Qc1+ 28. Kh2 Qg5 29. Rxb7 a5 30. Ra7
Bd5 31. Bf7 { Black +3.7 }) 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. h4 Bd5 25. Bxd5 exd5 $5 {
..Complicated things really } (25... Qxd5 $1 { Much better and simpler for
Black.. } 26. Qb8+ Kh7 27. Qxa7 Qd1+ 28. Kh2 Qxc2 29. Qxb7 Qxf2 30. Qe4+)
26. Qd4 b6 ({ ..a simple move I missed. Once again in time trouble. } 26...
Qa5 $3) 27. c4 Qd6 ({ Maybe ... } 27... Qf6 28. Qxd5 Qxb2 29. Qa8+ Kh7 30.
Qxa7 Qc1+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. Kg1 Qc1+ 33. Kh2 Qxc4 34. Qxb6 $11) 28. cxd5 Kf8
(28... g6) 29. f4 $2 { Lets me back into the game .. } 29... Qc5 30. Qxc5+
bxc5 31. Kf2 Ke7 32. Ke3 Kd6 33. Ke4 a5 $11 { A bad move. Black is only
drawing now. } ({ Had I instead played... } 33... h5 $3 { .. This blocks
off his g pawn and allows me to proceed with my plan... } 34. g3 a6 35. Kf5
Kxd5 36. Kg5 a5 37. Kxh5 a4 38. Kg5 c4 39. f5 a3 40. bxa3 { Wins easily })
(33... g6 34. g4 f6 35. f5 g5 36. h5 a6 37. b3 a5 38. Kd3 Kxd5 39. Kc3 Ke5
40. Kc4 Kf4 41. Kd5 c4 42. Kxc4 Kxg4 43. Kb5 Kxf5 { ..also wins }) 34. g4
a4 $11 35. g5 $4 { .. h5 was best... With correct play, black wins
easily... } ({ White should have tried.... } 35. h5 f6 36. f5 Kc7 37. Kd3
Kd7 38. Kc4 Kd6 39. Kb5 Kxd5 40. Kxa4 Ke5 41. Kb5 Kd6 $11) 35... h5 $4 { A
bad blunder. hxg5 was best. } (35... hxg5 36. fxg5 g6 37. Kd3 Kxd5 38. Kc3
Kd6 39. Kc4 Kc6 40. Kd3 Kb5 41. Ke4 c4 42. Ke5 { ....and black wins
easily..... }) 36. f5 g6 $4 { Blunder. f6 or Ke7 was best and still draws }
(36... f6 37. g6 Ke7 38. Kd3 Kd7 39. Ke3 Kc7 40. Kd3 $11) 37. f6 c4 { Black
was in Zugswang...game is lost totally now } 38. Kd4 c3 39. Kxc3 Kxd5 40.
Kb4 Kc6 $6 { Ke5 was best but still totally lost } (40... Ke5 41. Kxa4 Kf5
42. b4 Kg4 43. b5 Kxh4 44. b6 Kxg5 45. b7 Kxf6 46. b8=Q Kf5 47. Qf8) 41.
Kxa4 Kb6 42. Kb4 { White wins easily as he get to my pawns as I'm stopping
his b pawn from Queening. Interesting game with lots of mistakes and lots
to study and learn from. } 1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.04"]
[Round "3.5"]
[White "Coveney, Maurice"]
[Black "Verlekar, Vivaan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1253"]
[BlackElo "1202"]
[WhiteICU "901"]
[BlackICU "1050"]
[BlackClub "North Kildare"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2505940"]
[BlackFideId "2516942"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "O'Sullivan, Oisin"]
[Black "McCormick, Polly"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "1187"]
[WhiteICU "1126"]
[BlackICU "847"]
[WhiteClub "Clonakilty"]
[BlackClub "Curragh"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2518082"]
[BlackFideId "2516292"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Opening "Sicilian defence"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/bQBejdXB/35hEuv36)"]
[WhiteFullName "O'Sullivan, Ois&iacute;n"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 c5 2. Be2 d6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 h6 5. d3 Be7 6. O-O g5 7. fxg5 hxg5 8.
Nxg5 Bxg5 9. Bh5 Nh6 10. Nd2 b5 11. Nf3 Bxc1 12. Qxc1 Ke7 13. Ng5 f6 14.
Qf4 Qf8 15. Nh3 Qg7 16. Rf3 e5 17. Qh4 Bxh3 18. Rxh3 Qg5 19. Qf2 Nd7 20.
Bd1 Nf7 21. Rxh8 Rxh8 22. c3 Qf4 23. Qxf4 exf4 24. Bb3 Nfe5 25. d4 cxd4 26.
cxd4 Nc4 27. a4 a6 28. Bxc4 bxc4 29. Rc1 Rc8 30. Kf2 Nb6 31. a5 Na4 32. b3
Nb2 33. Rc2 c3 34. Ke2 Ke6 35. b4 d5 36. b5 axb5 37. a6 b4 38. a7 Ra8 0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "4.2"]
[White "Doolin, Bedhbh"]
[Black "Whelan, Niall P."]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1345"]
[BlackElo "1451"]
[WhiteICU "1116"]
[BlackICU "1263"]
[WhiteClub "Blanchardstown"]
[BlackClub "Ennis"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2517221"]
[BlackFideId "2500809"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[ECO "B21"]
[Opening "Sicilian"]
[Variation "Smith-Morra gambit"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/bQBejdXB/4Frj5o9O)"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 d6 4. cxd4 g6 5. h3 Bg7 6. Nf3 Nf6 7. Nc3 a6 8.
Bc4 O-O 9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bd7 11. Qd2 Rc8 12. Be2 Na5 13. e5 Ne8 14. Bh6
Nc4 15. Bxc4 Rxc4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Ne4 Bf5 18. Ng3 Qd7 19. Rac1 Rxc1 20.
Rxc1 dxe5 21. Nxe5 Qe6 22. Nf3 Nd6 23. Nh4 Rc8 24. Re1 Rc2 25. Nhxf5+ Nxf5
26. Qb4 Qxa2 27. Nxf5+ gxf5 28. Qxe7 Qxb2 29. Qg5+ Kf8 30. Qh6+ 1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "4.3"]
[White "Doolin, Nemhain"]
[Black "Rushe, Adam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1175"]
[BlackElo "1494"]
[WhiteICU "893"]
[BlackICU "1434"]
[WhiteClub "Blanchardstown"]
[BlackClub "Strand"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2517230"]
[BlackFideId "2511690"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "4.4"]
[White "Verlekar, Vivaan"]
[Black "Brearley, Thierry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1202"]
[WhiteICU "1050"]
[BlackICU "1130"]
[WhiteClub "North Kildare"]
[BlackClub "Drogheda"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2516942"]
[BlackFideId "2523930"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "4.5"]
[White "Earls, Dermot"]
[Black "Coveney, Maurice"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "1463"]
[BlackElo "1253"]
[WhiteICU "1147"]
[BlackICU "901"]
[WhiteClub "Drumlish"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2504715"]
[BlackFideId "2505940"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Opening "Queen's bishop game"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Source: Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. } { Annotator: Dermot Earls. } {
Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 { D02 Queen's Pawn Game: London System } 3... e6
4. e3 Be7 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. c4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nbd7 9. Nf3 ({ White
already does need to be alert and not fall for something like ... } 9. Nc3
$2 e5 10. Bg3 exd4 11. Nxd5 Nxd5 12. cxd5 dxe3 13. fxe3 Qb6 { ...and
despite whites best efforts will be well behind having lost a piece }) 9...
Nc5 10. Be2 b6 11. Nc3 Bb7 12. cxd5 exd5 { I assumed he would play.... } (
12... Nxd5 13. Be5) 13. Nd4 Nce4 14. Rc1 Nxc3 15. Rxc3 Rc8 16. Qc2 Rxc3 17.
Qxc3 Qd7 18. f3 $6 { Apparently this is not the best move but I didnt want
his knight getting into e4... } ({ More active would be something like ...
} 18. Bb5 Qc8) 18... Rc8 19. Qd2 h6 20. Rc1 Bc5 21. Nb3 ({ I also
considered ... } 21. Bd3 Qe7 22. Nf5 Qd8 23. Rd1 { .... which may be better
than what was played... }) 21... Kf8 $6 { (0.29 ? 0.88) Inaccuracy. Nh5 was
best. } (21... Nh5 22. Be5 Qe7 23. Bd4 Rc6 24. Bb5 Bb4 25. Bc3 Bxc3 26.
Rxc3 Rxc3 27. Qxc3 g6 28. Nd4) 22. Nxc5 bxc5 23. Qa5 $5 { Attempting to
attack with the idea of 24. Qxa7 ... } 23... Qe7 $1 24. Qd2 { Hadnt seen
this possibility and it looks good to me. So I am forced to retreat and
defend my e3 pawn ... } ({ The engine suggests ... } 24. Qxa7 g5 25. Bd6 {
..the crutial counter I failed to spot!!.... } 25... Qxd6 26. Qxb7 Rb8 27.
Qa6 Qe5 28. Qa3 Rxb2 29. Rxc5 { ...Theres no way I could have managed all
those without slipping up somewhere. }) 24... g5 25. Bg3 { ...Earlier in
the game I'd been well ahead on time but in the last half dozen moves
Maurice had been flying out the moves. Neither of us had much time left but
now I was in worse time trouble than him... } 25... h5 { Maurice offered me
a draw. I considered for half a minute and could see no clear way to attack
or try for a win within the time left, so I accepted and shook his hand.
Maurice smiled and said ....At least I have something on the board now...
In fairness it was well played by Maurice and an enjoyable game. } 1/2-1/2

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "5.1"]
[White "O'Sullivan, Oisin"]
[Black "Doolin, Bedhbh"]
[Result "1-0"]
[BlackElo "1345"]
[WhiteICU "1126"]
[BlackICU "1116"]
[WhiteClub "Clonakilty"]
[BlackClub "Blanchardstown"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2518082"]
[BlackFideId "2517221"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Opening "Sicilian defence"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/x7E5kL2g/KHhb1Ndt)"]
[WhiteFullName "O'Sullivan, Ois&iacute;n"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. e4 c5 2. Be2 d6 3. d3 h6 4. f4 Nc6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O e6 7. c3 Be7 8. Na3
a6 9. Nc2 O-O 10. a4 Bd7 11. Qe1 Rc8 12. Qg3 e5 13. f5 Nh5 14. Qg4 Nf6 15.
Qh4 Ne8 16. Qg3 Kh7 17. Ne3 Na5 18. Bd1 b5 19. Nd5 Rh8 20. Nxe7 Qxe7 21.
axb5 Qd8 22. b4 cxb4 23. cxb4 Qb6+ 24. Qf2 Qxf2+ 25. Kxf2 Nb7 26. bxa6 Nd8
27. Ba4 Bxa4 28. Rxa4 Nc7 29. Be3 Ra8 30. Rfa1 Nb5 31. Ra5 Nd4 32. Nxd4
exd4 33. Bxd4 Nc6 34. Rd5 Nxb4 35. Rxd6 Nxd3+ 36. Kf3 Nb4 37. Ra4 Nc2 38.
Bc3 Rhc8 39. Rd3 Rcb8 40. Ra2 Nb4 41. Bxb4 Rxb4 42. Rd7 f6 43. Rb7 Rxa6 44.
Rxg7+ Kxg7 45. Rxa6 Rb3+ 46. Kg4 Rb2 47. Kh3 Rb3+ 48. g3 Rb4 49. Re6 Rb5
50. Kg4 Rb2 51. h4 Rb7 52. Kh5 Rf7 53. g4 Kh7 1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "5.2"]
[White "McCormick, Polly"]
[Black "Doolin, Nemhain"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1187"]
[BlackElo "1175"]
[WhiteICU "847"]
[BlackICU "893"]
[WhiteClub "Curragh"]
[BlackClub "Blanchardstown"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2516292"]
[BlackFideId "2517230"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[ECO "A85"]
[Opening "Dutch with c4 & Nc3"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]
[Source "Lichess (https://lichess.org/study/x7E5kL2g/elx7CMYY)"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. d4 f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. h4 Bg7 5. h5 Nxh5 6. e4 fxe4 7. Rxh5 gxh5
8. Qxh5+ Kf8 9. Bh6 e6 10. Bxg7+ Kxg7 11. Qg4+ Kf7 12. Qh5+ Kf8 13. Qh6+
Kg8 14. Nxe4 Qf8 15. Qg5+ Kf7 16. Be2 Qb4+ 17. Kf1 Qe7 18. Bh5+ Kf8 19.
Qh6+ Qg7 20. Qf4+ Kg8 21. Nf6+ Kf8 22. Ne8+ 1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "5.3"]
[White "Whelan, Niall P."]
[Black "Verlekar, Vivaan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "1451"]
[BlackElo "1202"]
[WhiteICU "1263"]
[BlackICU "1050"]
[WhiteClub "Ennis"]
[BlackClub "North Kildare"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2500809"]
[BlackFideId "2516942"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

0-1

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Rushe, Adam"]
[Black "Coveney, Maurice"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "1494"]
[BlackElo "1253"]
[WhiteICU "1434"]
[BlackICU "901"]
[WhiteClub "Strand"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2511690"]
[BlackFideId "2505940"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1-0

[Event "Sligo Spring Tournament Major 2023"]
[Site "Enniscrone IRL"]
[Date "2023.02.05"]
[Round "5.5"]
[White "Brearley, Thierry"]
[Black "Earls, Dermot"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[BlackElo "1463"]
[WhiteICU "1130"]
[BlackICU "1147"]
[WhiteClub "Drogheda"]
[BlackClub "Drumlish"]
[WhiteNationality "IRL"]
[BlackNationality "IRL"]
[WhiteFideId "2523930"]
[BlackFideId "2504715"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Opening "Queen's bishop game"]
[EventSection "3/4"]
[EventDate "2023.02.03"]

{ Source: Dermot Earls, via Craig DuBose. } { Annotator: Dermot Earls. } {
This game promised to be another interesting struggle. Thierry plays for
the Drogheda Club and as it happens Drumlish, my club played Drogheda at
home late January this year. I didnt play Thierry but Frank Pentony on that
occasion on a lower board. So I was looking forward to this game but knew
he was good... } { Event information: <a
href="https://www.irlchess.com/sligomajor2023_allfiles/pairings_sligomajor2023.html">Tournament
report</a>. }

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 { D02 Queen's Pawn Game: London System } 3... c5
$1 { ... probably the best move but e6 quite ok too..I simply wanted to
take him out of his comfort zone. Turns out I took both of us out of our
comfort zone. } 4. c4 dxc4 5. Nc3 a6 $6 { I was afraid of Nb5 but as the
2nd variation below shows it wasnt neccessary.. } ({ Should have just
broken up the centre something like..... } 5... cxd4 6. Nxd4 Nd5 7. Qd2 e6
8. Rd1 Nxf4 9. Qxf4 Qd6 10. Qxd6 { .... and the game is pretty even
really... }) (5... cxd4 6. Nb5 Qa5+ { ...So a6 wasnt neccessary }) 6. dxc5
Qxd1+ 7. Rxd1 Bf5 { e6 is considered best and perfectly playable but I
wanted to get my bishop out beyond my pawns.. } (7... e6) 8. Ne5 e6 9. Nxc4
Bxc5 10. Bd6 Nbd7 ({ ..Thierry was probably hoping for .... } 10... Bxd6
11. Nxd6+ Ke7 12. Nxb7 { .... when he's definately ahead... }) 11. Bxc5
Nxc5 12. Nb6 Rd8 13. Rxd8+ Kxd8 14. g3 Kc7 15. Nc4 Nfe4 16. Bg2 Nxc3 17.
bxc3 Be4 18. O-O Bxg2 19. Kxg2 f6 { Rd8 was best. I was afraid of his
knight coming into e5 attacking f7 and so on. But while he would be doing
that I could be causing more damage to his position, something like... } (
19... Rd8 20. Ne5 Rd2 21. Nxf7 Rxa2 22. Ng5 h6 23. Nf3 Rxe2 24. Nd4 Rb2)
20. f3 Rd8 21. Kf2 b5 22. Ne3 Rd2 23. Ra1 Nd3+ $6 { Na4 was best. I
couldn't quite properly work out in my mind a clear win with either of the
2 possibilities and played a move which I knew didnt win but I wanted to
see what he would do. Instead I drifted into an inferior position and was
lucky to live to tell the tale. } (23... Na4 24. f4 Nxc3 25. Rc1 b4 26. a3
a5 27. axb4 axb4 28. Nc2 Rxe2+ 29. Kf3 Na2 30. Kxe2 Nxc1+ 31. Kd2 Na2 32.
Kd3 Kd6 { ...Black is well ahead.. }) (23... Na4 24. c4 $4 Nc3 25. cxb5
Rxe2+ 26. Kf1 Rxe3 { ....even worse for white... }) 24. Kf1 Ne5 $6 { Wrong
idea of trying to get to c4. Nc5 was best. } (24... Nc5 25. a3) 25. Ke1 Rd7
({ Doesnt seem to achieve much if a draw is not acceptable... } 25... Rb2)
26. Rb1 Nc4 $4 { Blunder. Kc6 was best. The game had got complicated and
finding the right way was going to be difficult. Instead I found about the
worst possible move I could make. So I get to c4 after all! } (26... Kc6
27. a4) 27. Nxc4 bxc4 28. Rb4 { ...I simply missed this... } 28... e5 {
...to stop a further check on d4 or penetration to my king side pawns.. }
29. Rxc4+ Kb6 30. Rb4+ Kc5 31. Ra4 Kb5 32. Ra3 $2 { (1.58 ? 0.43) Mistake.
Rb4+ was best. } (32. Rb4+ Kc5 33. Rb8 a5 34. Rc8+ Kb5 35. c4+ Kb4 36. c5
Kb5 37. h4 e4 38. c6 Re7) 32... a5 33. e3 { I expected Rb3+ where I can
still hold on if I find the right moves... } (33. Rb3+ Kc4 34. h4 h5 35.
Kf2 Ra7 36. Rb6 Kxc3 37. a4 Kc4 38. Ke3) 33... a4 { I felt a lot happier
now and the engine agrees with me!... It's quite funny but his Rook is
trapped in a self made cage... } 34. Ke2 Ka5 35. h3 Kb5 36. Ke1 { c4+ was
best if he wants to go for a win as I'd still have to be careful and find
the correct moves...There are certainly ways for Black to lose for example
c4+ and if Black takes at the wrong time its game over then. But I'll leave
that for others to analyse. That's under ....might have been... } (36. c4+
Kb4 37. Rd3 Rb7 38. Kd2 Kxc4 39. Rc3+ Kd5 40. e4+ Kd4 41. Rd3+ Kc5 42. Rc3+
) 36... Ka5 37. Ke2 Kb5 38. Ke1 Ka5 39. Ke2 Kb5 40. Ke1 { The game is a
draw. We both had chances and we both made mistakes. So a fair result I
think. The Tournament is over now and in a week or so I'll be recovered.
Depression will set in. Do I REALLY have to wait for a whole year before
the next Sligo Tournament. Is there anyone or any way that someone could
convince Craig to run a separate tournament later on in the year. We want
more!! } 1/2-1/2

