After 3 rounds of the Basingstoke Major 2002 I had 1 point, so I was really just trying to get back to 50% with this game.
1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nc3
Nf6
4.Bg5
dxe4
5.Nxe4
Be7
6.Nxf6+
gxf6
[ 6...Bxf6
This is a more common move, but I was slightly worried about positions I have had before from Bxf6. For this reason I thought I would mix it up, by taking with the g pawn.]
7.Bh4
b6
8.Qf3
c6
9.0-0-0
f5
[ 9...Qd5
10.c4
Qxf3
11.Nxf3
This may be better, but did not really appeal to me.]
10.Bg3
Bb7
11.Bc4
Nd7
12.Qh5
This is a mistake, which allows me to get back in the game. Black wants to play his knight to f6 anyway, so this just loses a tempo. [ 12.Ne2
]
12...Nf6
13.Qe2
Nd5
14.Nf3
b5
[ 14...f4
I saw that f4 traps this Bishop, but was worried about 15.Bxd5
Qxd5
16.Bxf4
Qxa2
when White seems to be better.For this reason I though I would throw down my Queenside pawns and hope for the best.]
15.Bb3
a5
16.c4
[ 16.Kb1
Tucking the King away is stronger as the combination that follows favours Black, although the position gets very messy. I was also starting to drift into time trouble already.]
16...a4
17.cxd5
axb3
18.dxe6
bxa2
19.exf7+
Kf8
Fritz takes the Pawn, but I felt much safer hiding behind the Pawn, as I was worried about the Knight checks and then the Queen penetrating. [ 19...Kxf7
20.Ne5+
Kg7
21.Kc2
c5
]
20.Kc2
c5!
This took me a while to find and I was now getting into serious time trouble (no more than a couple of minutes to move 36.
21.Be5
Be4+
22.Kd2
cxd4
23.Nxd4
[ 23.Qxb5
Bg5+
24.Nxg5
Qxg5+
25.Ke2
]
23...Bg5+
24.f4
Bxf4+
This wins, but it is still easy to go wrong.
25.Ke1
This is better than taking the Bishop, especially in my time trouble. [ 25.Bxf4
Qxd4+
26.Ke1
a1Q
]
25...Qa5+
26.Kf2
Bxe5
27.Rhe1
Qb6
28.Qe3
Bxd4
[ 28...a1Q
29.Ne6+
Qxe6
30.Rxa1
Rxa1
31.Rxa1
Is an easier win.]
29.Rxd4
Rd8?
A bad mistake, which gives the piece back. Luckily my opponent did not see Rxe4, although I would still have an easy win in the ending.
30.Rxd8+?
[ 30.Rxe4
Rd2+
31.Kf1
Qxe3
32.R4xe3
Kxf7
]
30...Qxd8
31.Ra1
Qd5
32.Qa3+
Kxf7
33.Qa7+
Kf6
34.Rxa2
White wins the dangerous Pawn, but falls into a mating net.
34...Qd2+
35.Kg3
Qg5+
This was time trouble, I was just trying to get to move 36. [ 35...Qxg2+
]
36.Kf2
Qd2+
37.Kg3
Taking on g3 mates more quickly, but I only saw the other mate.
37...Rg8+
38.Kh3
Qh6#
After this I had a quick draw in the last round, which at least enabled me to finish on 50% 0-1