1.d4
d5
2.c4
Nc6
3.cxd5
Qxd5
4.e3
e5
5.Nc3
Bb4
6.Bd2
Bxc3
7.Bxc3
I thought some 5 minutes over this decision (see the note to Black's 9th).
7...exd4
8.Ne2
Bg4
9.f3
Bxf3?!
My amiable opponent is not known for outstanding opening preparation, but this is one of those lines where you kind of need it. [ 9...0-0-0
10.Nxd4
Nf6!?
was the wild course of Topalov-Morozevich (1999).]
10.gxf3
Qxf3
11.Bxd4
Qxh1?
After this mistake it is already too late to save the game. [ 11...Nxd4
12.Qxd4
Qxh1
13.Qxg7
0-0-0
14.Qxh8
Qxh2
15.Qg7
Qh4+
16.Qg3
Qb4+
17.Kf2
Nf6
18.Bh3+
Kb8
19.Qf4
,with an edge for White, is the famous "main line."]
12.Bxg7
Qxh2
13.Qa4!
0-0-0
14.Bxh8
f6
It is true that the bishop is trapped, but the knight is also needed to keep it there! Furthermore, White can safely play for queen trades, since the bishop can't be surrounded and captured in an endgame.
15.Rd1
Re8
16.Qf4
Qh5
17.Nc3
Around here a befuddled teammate asked me how I was doing, and I said I should be winning objectively, but that didn't mean I'd be able to keep things together with heavy pieces staring at my open king! Fortunately, I did manage.
17...Ne5
18.Be2
(Bg2, Nd5 and Bxf6 all come into consideration, but the text is solid.)
18...Qf7
19.Qf5+
Qe6
20.Qxe6+
It was tempting to grab the pawn, hoping to save work later on, but I didn't want to take a senseless risk with an extra piece.
20...Rxe6
21.Bg7
c6
22.Bf8
Kc7
23.Kf2?!
My one real lapse in the game. 23.e4! is better.
23...f5
24.Bg7
Nf6
25.Bxf6
Rxf6
26.Rh1
h6
27.Rg1
b5
Trying to generate some nuisance play, and also trying to create some room for the king after Rg7+.
28.Rg7+
Kb6
29.a4!
This is my favorite moment in the game, when I worked out all the winning lines.
29...b4
(If 29. ..a6 30.b4!)
30.a5+
Kxa5
31.Rxa7+
Kb6
32.Nd5+!
An elegant point.
32...Kxa7
33.Nxf6
c5
Annoyingly enough, the endgame still poses some technical problems!
34.Nd5
Not the sharpest move, but with only about 14 minutes to reach move 50, it seemed sensible to restrict his counterplay, first and foremost. [ 34.Ng8
c4
35.Nxh6
b3!=
is a wicked trap.]
34...Kb7
35.Kg3
Ng6
36.Bd3
Ne5
37.Bb5!
This endgame, even before the elementary mate, shows a lot about the cooperation of bishop and knight. [ 37.Bxf5
Nc4
38.b3
Nd2
39.Bc2
c4
is another nasty trap.]
37...c4!
The best practical chance. 37. ..Ng6 38.b4! would be zugzwang!
38.Nxb4
Kb6
39.Be8
Kc5
40.Nc2
The knight is sublimely happy here.
40...Nd3
41.Bd7
Nxb2
42.Bxf5
c3
43.Kf4
Nc4
44.Bg6
Nd6
45.Bd3
h5
46.Be2
h4
47.Kg4
Kd5
48.Bd3
Nc4
49.e4+
Ke5
[ 49...Kc5
50.Kxh4+-
]
50.Bxc4
Kxe4
51.Kxh4
Kf4
52.Bd3
Kf3?!
[ 52...Ke5
]
53.Kg5
Kg3
54.Be4
Kf2
55.Kf4
Ke2
56.Ke5
Kd2
57.Kd4
Kc1?!
[ 57...Ke2
]
58.Kxc3
Kb1
This position is equivalent to Fine's famous mate-in-19 position that I already knew!
59.Bd5
Kc1
60.Ba2
Kd1
61.Nd4
Kc1?!
[ 61...Ke1
62.Kd3
Kf2
63.Ne2
Kg2
64.Be6
Kf3
65.Bh3
Kf2
66.Bg4
Ke1
67.Ng3
Kf2
68.Ne4+
]
62.Ne2+
Kd1
63.Kd3
Ke1
64.Ke3
Kd1
65.Bb3+
Ke1
66.Nf4
Kf1
67.Ba4
(67.Be6! would save a move, according to Basic Chess Endings.)
67...Ke1
68.Ng2+
Kf1
69.Kf3
Kg1
70.Kg3
Kf1
71.Bb5+
Kg1
72.Nf4
Kh1
73.Bc4
1-0