This was the decisive game in the British Senior Championship 2005 and the notes are provided by John Littlewood except where indicated *
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
g6
3.g3
Bg7
4.Bg2
0-0
5.Nc3
d6
6.Nf3
Nbd7
7.0-0
e5
8.e4
exd4
9.Nxd4
Re8
10.h3
a6!
Having lost a difficult variation in this line by allowing the unclear situation arising after White's knights occupied b5 and d5, I prepared this interesting Bronstein cum Gallagher line that perfectly suits my style. It proved extremely disappointing that I should ruin such excellent preparation ...
11.Be3
Rb8
12.b3
Nc5!?
the normal Gallagher line is to play ...c5 and ...b5 with wild play but I had seen a powerful game using a hybrid system that keeps the options open, as you'll see
13.Qc2
Bd7!
14.f3
[* 14.Rad1
Qc8
15.Kh2
Re5
16.b4
Rh5
17.bxc5
Bxh3
18.f3
Bxg2+
19.Kxg2
dxc5
20.Nde2
Qh3+
21.Kf2+-
would have been a possible way to keep the initiative. The text hands it to Black.]
14...Qc8!
15.g4!?
I've already forced David to make concessions that hand over to me a certain control of play that is unusual at such an early stage. The trouble with the obvious 15 Kh2 is that my rook can often join in the attack via e5 and h5 with tactics abounding
15...b5!?
Of course, a risky opening of the 'c' file for my opponent but I was wanting to combine the ...h5 idea with the key move ...d5 in some variations. There was no doubt in my mind that at this stage of the tournament it was vital to win this game ....
16.cxb5
axb5
17.b4
Ne6
18.Nce2!
h5!
I already stand reasonably well after a mere 18 moves but perhaps this made me over-optimistic (a perennial fault of mine) and a little casual in the next few crucial tactical decisions as David plays simple and direct positional moves in the hope that I'll overpress ... which I then proceeded to do!?
19.Rac1!
the obvious 19 g5 Nh7 20 h4 would allow the powerful 20...d5! exploiting the loose bishop on e3 and smashing up the centre. After David's superior move, I rush my next exchange of pawns, assuming that my opponent must retake with the positionally 'correct' h3 pawn to maintain control of the centre and the possibility of the f4 adavance. However, it may well have been better for me to delay this exchange a little longer if I intended my next tactical plan, because after the positionally 'incorrect' recapture White has pressure down the 'f' file, control of d5 and the possibility of opening up the white diagonal for his KB. All in all, then, I should definitely have spent more time at this crucial stage, a permanent fault of mine exacerbated by the impatience of old age when you are too scared of falling asleep at the board .... In fact, all my troubles arise from this premature release of tension, as we shall see
19...hxg4?!
20.fxg4!
with White's pawn on f3 my next tactical idea works fine but I should have carefully reassessed the new situation before plunging into this highly risky sacrifice of an important pawn
20...c5?
21.Nxe6
Bxe6
22.bxc5
dxc5
23.Bxc5
Bc4
24.Bd4!
the difference is now obvious ...
24...Re6
threatening to attack and defend from a6, but David's next move puts everything into perspective: I've mucked it up!
25.Qb2!!
a real ball-breaker, because 25...Qa6? is now met by 26 Rxc4 and 25...Qc6 by 26 e5, so I am compelled to perform contortions by playing my next defensive move so as to encourage a white rook to go to d1 and relieve a little of the tension ....
25...Qd8!
26.Rfd1
now 26 Rcd1 would remove the nasty possibility of taking my bishop, thus allowing me to play 26...Qe7
26...Qe8!
I am now threatening 27...Bxe2 but, with White's knight now unpinned, David has another powerful move at his disposal!
27.Nf4!
Ra6
28.a3
I was , perhaps wrongly, far more worried about 28 e5!? Rxa2 29 Qb1 when I would have had to sacrifice the exchange by 29....Rxg2+ followed by 30...Nd5. After White's move I still aim to sacrifice the exchange but for a much better bishop. Once again David forces the issue by a cunning move after which I have little choice in the matter
28...Rd8
29.a4!?
Rxd4!
30.Qxd4
Nd5!
forced but forcing; it is now David's turn to take stock and think about giving up his queen by 31 Rxc4!? Bxd4+ 32 Rcxd4 Rxa4 33 Rxd5 when he has rook, knight and bishop for the queen but I have counter-chances; or else I could try 32...Nxf4 33 Rd8 Qxd8 34 Rxd8+ Kg7 35 axb5 Ra1+! 36 Bf1 Nxh3+ with probably enough to draw
31.Qf2!?
Nxf4
32.Qxf4
Be5!?
once again, played far too quickly and missing White's next embarrassing move
33.Qg5!
f6?
but this is even more disastrous because it severely weakens the 7th rank; I could still play 33...Bf6 although 34 Qf4 would be a tacit offer of a draw I didn't want but perhaps my opponent didn't want either!? Now David comes up with yet another idea which induces me to make the final blunder ...
34.Qd2
Rxa4
35.Rxc4!?
[* 35.Bf1
was safer - it was not necessary to return the exchange]
35...Rxc4
taking with he pawn is better
36.Qd5+
Kf8
37.Bf1!?
Rxe4!
38.Bxb5
Diagram
38...Qe6??
blundering at the last fence because I saw that my intended 38...Qe7 could be answered by 39 Qa8+ Kf7 40 Rd7, completely missing the fact that I then have perpetual check by 40...Bd4+ 41 Kg2 Re2+! because 42 Bxe2 allows 42...Qxd7 drawing, whilst 42 Kg3 Re3+ 43 Kh4?? allows mate in 2
39.Qxe6
Bh2+
40.Kxh2
Rxe6
I now go through the motions but it is all over as David quickly demonstates. A tragedy for me after all the effort I had put into the game but (don't laugh ....) I really needed a win at this stage because David was now the only real contender in the final three rounds and in fact won the tournament comfortably and competently.
41.Rd7
Re3
42.Kg2
Rc3
43.Be2
g5
44.Rd3
Rc5
45.Rf3
Kg7
46.Bd3
Kf7
47.Kf2
Ra5
48.Ke3
Ra4
49.Rf1
Ke7
50.Rf5
Rb4
51.Rb5
Ra4
52.Rb7+
Kf8
53.Rc7
Rf4
54.Rc4!
1-0