1.e4
c5
In the context of this game, it might be worth reminding people that this, the most popular of black's moves, was once considered dubious because the only piece that it activates is the Q - and there's a rule about not moving your Q too soon. How times change!]
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Bb5
Nf6
4.Nc3
Qc7
5.0-0
on auto-pilot. This is actually book - but, given what happens now, I'm not sure why!
5...Nd4
6.Re1
Ng4
my opponent told me that Peter Leko had played this with success. Black has ignored the rules about not moving your Q and not moving the same piece twice - but you couldn't say he's worse] 7 h3 [7 Nxd4 Qxh2+ 8 Kf1 Qh1+ 9 Ke2 Qxg2 leaves B threatening ...Qxf2+ and ....Ne5# - so much for rules! I can't see anything better than 10 Nf3 here, to cover e5. But, if he doesn't have better, B can regain his piece with 10 ...Qxf2+ 11 Kd3 c4+ 12 Kxc4 Qxf3. So W has three realistic moves - 7 g3 is usual, 7 e5 looks interesting but I went for the last (and worst?).option
7.h3
[7.Nxd4
Qxh2+
8.Kf1
Qh1+
9.Ke2
Qxg2
10.Nf3
Qxf2+
11.Kd3
c4+
12.Kxc4
Qxf3
13.Qxf3
Ne5+
; 7.g3
; 7.e5
]
7...Nxf3+
8.Qxf3
Qh2+
9.Kf1
Ne5
10.Qe3
a horrible square for the Q but you want to punish your opponent's impudence - so moves like 10 Qg3, although in reality the right choice, just don't do it for you! [10.Qg3
Qxg3
11.fxg3
e6
]
10...Qh1+
11.Ke2
Qxg2
12.Nd5
I'd been intending 12 b4, planning 12...a6 13 Bb2 axb5 14 Nxb5 and I thought I was doing very well - but there's no need for B to play like that. Indeed, I figured that, whatever I did, moving the K to d8 would be good for Black. Having decided against b4, I just played the first move to come into my head [12.b4
a6
(12...cxb4
13.Nd5
Rb8
14.Bb2
) 13.Bb2
axb5
14.Nxb5
Nc4-+
]
12...Kd8
13.d3
Oh dear. After this I may be doomed - I am a move slow in the game and this is no way to catch up. Matt Ludbrook still advocated 13 b4 - it's certainly no worse than my choice and may give better prospects of counterplay. Probably best though is Mike Krawczuk's suggestion of 13 Nf4 Qh2 14 d4 [13.b4
; 13.Nf4
Qh2
14.d4=/+
]
13...d6
14.Nf4
Qh2
15.Bd2
g5
16.Nd5
Bxh3
17.Rg1
Bg4+
18.Rxg4
Nxg4
19.Qf3
Ne5
20.Qf5
Qh5+
21.Kf1
b6
0-1