1.c4
c5
2.Nf3
Nc6
3.Nc3
g6?!
4.e3
Nf6
5.d4
cxd4
6.exd4
d5!
The best option here, which avoids a long and lifeless defense. [6...d6
7.h3
Bg7
8.d5
Nb8
9.Be2
is riskless and pleasant for White.]
7.cxd5
Nxd5
8.Qb3
Nxc3
9.Bc4!
A well-known, but still cute trick which makes Black's life very unpleasant.
9...Nd5
My opponent was doing a good job of figuring out the theoretical main line over the board, but his life is still not easy. [9...e6
10.bxc3
Bg7
(10...Be7
11.Bh6
) 11.Ba3
]
10.Bxd5
e6
11.Bxc6+
bxc6
12.0-0
Qb6?!
[12...Qd5
has been taken up by some GM's in latter years, with reasonable success. White's advantage is not so large.]
13.Qc3
Ba6?!
A tricky move, which I admit to having overlooked, convinced (quite rightly) that Black had to stop d4-d5. Black's alternative, however, was also unappealing. [13...Bg7
14.Bf4
c5
(14...0-0
15.Be5
is great for White.) 15.dxc5
Bxc3
16.cxb6
Bg7
(16...Bxb2??
17.Rab1
) 17.bxa7
Rxa7
18.Be5
should win.]
14.d5!
My "courage" was commended by onlookers after the game, but this move is actually forced! [14.Re1
Bb4
; 14.Rd1
Be2
15.Re1
Bb4
]
14...Rg8
15.dxe6
Again, there is no turning back. But it is nice to be compelled to play such powerful attacking moves!
15...Bxf1
16.Qf6!
After 35 minutes of brute-force analysis, I found clear wins with this move, but not the others. [16.exf7+
Kxf7
17.Ne5+
(17.Ng5+
Ke8
18.Qf6?!
Bc4
) 17...Ke8
isn't completely clear.; 16.Bg5
Bg7
is not so clear. (Nor is 16...Rg7
) ; 16.Ng5
fxe6
17.Qf6
Rg7!
; 16.Qe5
h6
]
16...Rg7
Ugly, but forced! [16...Qb7
17.exf7+
Qxf7
18.Qxc6+
wins.]
17.Bh6
[17.e7
also wins.]
17...Qd8
[17...Bc4
18.Bxg7
wins at least a piece.; 17...fxe6
18.Bxg7
Bxg7
(18...Be7
19.Qxe6
wins too.) 19.Qxe6+
Kd8
(19...Kf8
20.Ng5
mates next.) 20.Rd1+
was a variation which pleased me greatly, when calculating 16.Qf6!]
18.e7!
Splat! On move 16, I realized that at worst I had a technical win by taking the rook, but why work for a living? [18.Bxg7?!
Qxf6
19.Bxf6
Bc4
20.exf7+
would win, laboriously.]
18...Bxe7
19.Qxg7
Bb5
20.Ne5
Sometimes powerful moves come simply; the text forks the key sqauares d7 and f7. Black is hobbling here.
20...Qd6
21.Qg8+!
Even stronger than Qxf7+.
21...Bf8
22.Qxf7+
Kd8
23.Bxf8
Qxe5
24.Rd1+
Kc8
25.Qd7+
1-0