Chris Bennett - J. McVicar (160) [A57]

Metropolitan I vs King's Head I 2002


1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 axb5 6. Bd2 Ba6 7. Nc3? b4 8. Bxa6?? A miscalculation! White loses a piece 8... bxc3 9. Bxc3 Rxa6 10. Qd3 Qb6 11. Nf3 d6 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Rfb1! The best chance of counter-play 13... g6 14. b4 cxb4 14... Bg7 15. bxc5! 15. Rxb4 Qa7 16. Bxf6 Nxf6?? recapturing with the pawn was essential. Now Black is lost 17. Rab1 17. Qc4 Qa8 18. Rab1 wins Black's queen or mates e.g. 18... Nd7 19. Rb8+! Qxb8 20. Rxb8+ Nxb8 21. Qc8# 17... Nd7 18. Qc3 Threatening mate, and black's rook! Another strong line is 18. Qc4 f6 19. Rb7 Qa8 20. Qb5 Rxa2 21. Qxd7+ Kf7 22. Qe6+ Kg7 23. Rxe7+!? seems to finish Black off also after 23... Bxe7 24. Qxe7+ Kh6 25. Qxf6 Rb8 26. Re1 Qxd5 27. g4 18... f6 Black's only move 19. Qc8+ Kf7 20. Rb7 Qc5 21. Qxd7 Qxd5 22. a4 Qa2 23. R7b4 Bg7 24. h3 safety first 24... Rha8 25. R1b2 Qa1+ 26. Rb1 Qa2 27. Rb8 Rxb8 28. Rxb8 Qxa4 29. Qc8 threatening mate again 29... g5 hoping to escape 30. Qf5 30. Nd4! here or on the next few moves takes advantage of Black's chronic light square weaknesses 30... h6 Black's pawns tell a story in themselves 31. Qd5+ Kg6 32. Qg8 Qa2 33. Qe8+ Qf7 34. Qb5 Ra1+ 35. Kh2 Qe6 36. Qd3+ f5 37. Rb4 threatening e4 37... d5 38. Rb5 Qd6+ 39. g3 e6 40. Kg2 clearing the way to advance White's g-pawn 40... Qc6 41. g4 Qc4 hoping for the exchange! 42. gxf5+ exf5?? Black's last and fatal error 42... Kf6 43. Qd4+ leads to a level ending 43. Rb6+ Kh5 44. Qxf5 Black cannot stave off mate 44... Qe4 45. Qf7+ 1-0

 

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