1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Qc2 O-O Black is playing a simple, but solid setup 8. b3 b6 I also considered playing b5, but did not like the prospect of being cramped down with c5 and later b4. The text is better. 9. Nc3 Ba6 10. Nd2 Rc8 Black is perfectly OK 11. e4 A funny incident occured here. I left the board to wander around, and suddenly I bumped into my opponent! These moments (if it's ever happened to you, you'll know) are quite embarrassing, and usually neither party quite knows whether to say or anything. My opponent politely nodded, and said "e4". I was half-expecting this move, and prepared the counter-thrust e5, so I was seriously considering blurting out "e5" in response, but thought that other bystanders may think that we have started a blindfold game on the side :-) As it was, in this blindfold game I should have played the Sicilian, as 11... c5 is a better move in the game :-) 11... e5 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Qf5! My opponent tackles the e5 break and with this move questions the tactical underpinnings. A sharp battle ensues: 14... dxc4! 15. Qxe5 cxb3 16. Rd1 16. axb3 Bxf1 17. Nxf1 Nd7!-/+ 16... Nd7! 17. Qe3

17... Rxc3!! These are the moves we all dream of playing! :-) 18. Qxc3 Bf6 19. Qf3 A very very difficult decision, one that took my opponent nearly 20 minutes to make. As it turns out, it's quite a good decision! Let's have a look at the alternatives: 19. Qb4 Bxa1 20. Nxb3 Bf6 21. Ba3 Re8 22. Bc6 Bc8 23. Qa4 a6= 19. Qxb3 Nc5 20. Qb1 Be2! (20... Bd3 21. Nb3!+/-) 21. Re1 Bd3=/+ 19. Qc6! Nb8 (19... Bxa1 20. Nxb3+-) (19... 19... Nc5 20. Bb2! Bxb2 21. Nxb3 Nd3 22. Rab1+/-) 20. Qf3 Bxa1 21. Nxb3 Qe8 22. Nxa1 Be2~/= 19... Bxa1 20. Nxb3 Bf6 This is OK, but I missed the spectacular Q sacrifice variation: 20... Ne5 21. Qh5 (21. Rxd8 Nxf3+ 22. Bxf3 Rxd8 23. Nxa1 Bc4=) 21... g6 22. Rxd8 Rxd8!!-+ 21. Qc6! Bc8 It took me 8 minutes to find this forced move, and time is now becomign a factor! Of course losing was: 21... Ne5? 22. Rxd8 Nxc6 23. Rxf8+ Kxf8 24. Bxc6+- 22. Ba3? It took us a long time after the game to realise that this was the point where white went wrong. The accurate continuation is: 22. Bh3! Qe7! (22... Ne5? 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 (23... Nxc6 24. Rxc8+-) 24. Qxc8+-) 23. Bxd7 Rd8 24. Qxc8! Rxc8 25. Bxc8+/- But to find this over the board would be almost unthinkable 22... Be7 23. Bb2 Qe8 24. Re1 Qd8 25. Bh3? Another mistake by white. A fitting end to this exciting game would have been the forced repetition: 25. Rd1 Qe8 26. Re1 Qd8= 25... Ne5!! Whoa!! A move out of nowhere that frees black's game who is now winning! 26. Bxe5 Bxh3 27. Qe4 Bf6 draw agreed Looking at the team sheet, we were leading 5-3, so a draw would give us the crucial team victory. Given that we both had less than 5 minutes for the next 10 moves, it was not unreasonable, although I can probably adjourn and win this.... 1/2-1/2