A special treat for you. Mike Healey has annotated his typically exciting and creative game against Andrew Stone from the recent London League match between Richmond and Streatham.
1. e4
I’ve played Andrew several times over the years, including one classic where I resigned with no pieces removed to black bishop landing on d1. This game turns out to have a similar theme; don’t resign too early, there are always tricks! Some very interesting tactical patterns arise in this game, which might come under the heading ‘invisible moves’.
1… c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 e6
The semi-French variation – choice of GMs Arkell and Hawkins, which Stoyanov would also select the following night.
4. Nc3
4. Be3 was the young Smyslov’s choice
4… Bb4 5. a3 Ba5!?
5… Bxc3+ is the main line
6. b4?!
Already White goes wrong. The bishop is kicked back into use. I was confused by this unusual structure being desirable in other Fantasy lines.
6… Bc7?!
6… Bb6 must be more pertinent. Black is solid, White is not.
7. Be3?!
7. e5!? c5!? 8. Nb5 cxd4 9. Nxc7+ Qxc7 10. f4 Bd7 11. Bb2 Ne7 Very French advanced.
7… Ne7 8. Bd3 O-O 9. Nge2
9. e5 f6 10. f4 fxe5 11. fxe5 Nf5
9… e5!?
Black takes measures to relieve the cramping, and prevent White’s e5.
10. O-O
10. exd5 is unclear. 10. dxe5? Bxe5 11. f4?? (11. Bd4 Bxd4 12. Nxd4 dxe4 13. Bxe4?? f5) 11… Bxc3+ 12. Nxc3 d4
10… Nd7 11. Kh1
A slightly useful pass. 11. exd5!? Nxd5 12. Nxd5 cxd5
11… exd4 12. Bxd4 Ne5?!
12… dxe4 13. Bxe4
13. f4!
Now White gets something
13… Nxd3 14. cxd3 Bg4 15. Qc2
15. Qe1 is probably better
15… Bb6 16. Bxb6
16. Bc5!? appealed to me as an unbalancing move: 16… Bxc5 17. bxc5 Qa5 18. h3 Bxe2 19. Nxe2=
16… Qxb6 17. Ng3
Having done two days of chess camp looking at bishop versus knight endgames, I was very focused on the imbalance here. Despite the ‘open’ board Black’s minor pieces have some issues. f5 and trapping the g4 bishop is threatened.
17… Bd7 18. f5!? f6
19. Rf4?!
Far too ambitious. 19. Qb3! A sophisticated little Queen nudge suggested by FM Way
19… Be8 20. Raf1 Bf7 21. Rg4 Qc7 22. Nce2 Kh8 23. Nf4 Rad8 24. Qf2 b6?!
Qxa7 is a small nuisance, but this has drawbacks.
25. Ngh5 Bxh5
Intermezzo time?
26. Nxh5
26. Rxg7 dxe4 (26… Kxg7 27. Ne6+ Kh8 28. Nxc7 +- is a very good queen imbalance) 27. Nxh5 Rxd3 =)
26. Ne6 Qd6 27. Rxg7 =
26… Rf7 27. Nf4 Qe5?
27… Qb8 28. Qh4
28. d4?!
28. Qh4!
28… Qb8?!
28… Qxe4!? 29. Ng6+ hxg6 30. Rxe4 dxe4 31. fxg6 Nxg6 is a more balanced queen imbalance
29. Ne6?!
29. Qh4!
29… Rd7 30. e5!
30… Ng8
30… fxe5 31. Nxg7 (31. Rxg7?! Rxg7 (31… Rxf5? 32. Qxf5!! Nxf5 33. Rxd7 (pointed out by FM Way), 31… Nxf5! 32. Nxg7) 31… c5 (31… Rxg7?? 32. Rxg7 Kxg7 33. f6+ +-)
31. Qg3
Looking at the undefended Qb8, and threatening exf6 with the intermezzo fxg7+
31… Rb7 32. Rh4 Nh6
32… h6!?
33. Rh5?!
An even stranger place for the rook
33… a5 34. h3?
Too slow. Black now achieves some activity. (34. Qh3) (34. Qc3)
34… Ra7 35. Qc3 axb4 36. axb4 Qe8 37. Nxg7
Finally cashing in, as Black runs low on time
37… Rxg7 38. Rxh6 Ra2 39. Rg1?! Qg8 40. Qf3?
40. g4! +- The unsafe move is safest. White should be fine. (40. Qxc6 Raxg2 41. Rxg2 Rxg2 42. Rg6!! Rxg6 43. fxg6 Qxg6 44. Qxd5 +=)
40… Rg3
41. Qf1??
White has completely folded into passivity, a terrible series of moves from the transition. (41. Qh5 Rg5 (41… Rgxg2 42. Rxh7+! Qxh7 43. Qxh7+ Kxh7 44. Rxg2 +-) 42. Qh4 Rxf5 43. Rxf6)
41… Qg5 42. Rxf6 Qh4?
42… Qd2! 43. Rf8+ Kg7 44. Rf6 =
43. Rxc6 Qe4 44. Rc8+ Kg7 45. f6+??
45. Rc7+ or 45. Qf3!! (Of course!?!) Raxg2 (45… Rxf3 46. gxf3+) 46. Qxg2! Rxg2 47. Rxg2+ +-
45… Kh6 46. Kh2 Qh4??
46… Qe3 47. Kh1 Qe4 48. Kh2 =
47. Qf5??
With seconds ticking away Black resigns, missing the incredible (but uncovered by Caspar Bates) Rf2!! when Qe6/d7 both get mated by Rgxg2+! – White must concede the Queen with Qxf2 Rxh3+ gxh3 Qxf2+ and the game continues. (47. Qc1+ Kh5 48. Rc2! was correct) 1-0
You can play through the game here: click on any move for a pop-up window.