Nicholas,Koichi - Krawczuk,Mike [B33]
Berks v Hants U180 London, 26.11.2005
[Krawczuk,Mike]



1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 e5 6.Ndb5 d6 7.Nd5
The previous two times I faced this variation resulted in heavy defeats at the hands of Martin Newbury. Lucky for me, Martin and I are on the same side on this occasion.

7...Nxd5 8.exd5 Nb8 9.c4 Be7 10.Be2 Nd7 11.0-0 0-0 12.Kh1 f5 13.f4 a6 14.Nc3 Bf6 15.Qc2 exf4 16.Bxf4 Be5 17.Rae1
[Theory gives 17.Rad1 Bxf4 18.Rxf4 Ne5 19.b4 Qg5 20.Rdf1 Qh6 21.c5+/- but I think 21...g5 22.R4f2 f4 23.Qd2 Bf5 24.c6 Rac8 25.cxb7 Rb8 26.a3 Rxb7 is about equal]

17...g5?! 18.Bd2
[18.Bxe5 Nxe5 19.Bd3 Qf6 20.b3 Bd7 21.Na4 Nxd3 22.Qxd3 Bxa4 23.Re6 Qd8 24.bxa4 is better for White]

18...Qf6 19.Bg4?
embarking on a dubious plan [19.g3 maintains White's edge e.g. 19...Qh6? 20.Rxf5 Rxf5 21.Qxf5 Bxg3 22.Qe6+ Qxe6 23.dxe6 Bxe1 24.exd7 Bxd7 25.Bxe1+/- ]

19...Qh6 20.Bh3 Nf6 21.Rxe5?
[I'd expected the other Rook to be sacrificed but 21.Rxf5 Bxf5 22.Qxf5 is still better for Black; 21.Na4 f4 22.Nb6 (22.Bxc8 Raxc8-/+ ) 22...Bxh3 23.Nxa8 Nh5 24.gxh3 Ng3+ 25.Kg2 Nxf1 26.Rxf1 g4 27.Bc3 Qxh3+ 28.Kg1 Qe3+ 29.Qf2 Qxf2+ 30.Rxf2 Rxa8 31.Bxe5 dxe5 32.Re2 Re8 33.d6 Kf8 34.d7 Rd8 35.Rxe5 Rxd7 36.Rf5+ Rf7 37.Rg5 seems to hold on; 21.c5 is probably best 21...Ng4 22.Qc1 Nxh2 23.Bxg5 Qg6 (23...Qh5? 24.Rxe5 Nxf1 25.cxd6+/- ) 24.Rg1 (24.Rf2 Bg3=/+ ) 24...Ng4 25.Rgf1= ]

21...dxe5 22.Bxf5 Ng4 23.h3 Bxf5 24.Rxf5 e4! 25.Rxf8+ Rxf8 26.Kg1 Qb6+ 27.Kh1 Rf1# 0-1