1

d4

Nf6

2

c4

e6

3

Nf3

c4

An unusual and vigorous response from Black that doesn't work too well

4

d5

exd5

5

cxd5

d6

Instead of gaining space as advocated earlier, Black has allowed (rather easily) that luxury for White

6

Nc3

Be7

7

e4

0-0

8

Be2

a6

9

a4

Re8

10

0-0

b6

11

Nd2

Bb7

12

Nc4

One of those elements of 'style of play' mentioned above could be White's grasp of  manoeuvring pieces onto good squares!

…..

b5

13

Nd2

b4

At least Black has more territory on the Qs-wing.  Will this compensate for White's better grip in the centre?

14

Nb1

a5

15

f3

Nfd7

Taking the cue from White's play and moving over to the stronger Q-side

16

Nc4

Nb6

17

Bf4

Nxc4

18

Bxc4

Nd7

19

Nd2

Nb6

20

Bb5

Rf8

21

Qe2

Bf6

22

Nc4

Nxc4

23

Bxc4

Qb6

24

Qc2

Bd4+

25

Kh1

Ba6

26

Bxa6

Qxa6

27

Rac1

Rab8

28

b3

Bc3

The short comings of this game, and it affects both players, is that, due to the interlocking pawn formations, neither side can break through easily to force through a pawn.  Here, Black blocks off White's queen and rook, possibly with the intention of playing ..c4 when, hopefully, Black will have a passed pawn on the b-file.  With so little else to concern him, White spots this, of course, and takes remedial action ..

29

Bd2

Bxd2

30

Qxd2

The game is half played and already looking drawish – but, Black tries, with some risk, to force a more favourable result

…..

f5!?

31

Rfe1

fxe4

32

Rxe4

Rbe8

33

Rxe8

Rxe8

34

Re1

Qa8

35

h3

(sealed move at adjournment)

…..

Rxe1

36

Qxe1

Qf8

A difficult decision …. with good possibilities on the Q-side Black must, unfortunately, look to the defence of his king

37

Qe6+

Kh8

38

Qd7

White would like to get his queen among those q-side black pawns

…..

Qb8

39

Qc6

Qd8

40

Qa6

Kg8

Really, it is heading for a draw although both players are making a valiant attempt to get a full point.  Sometimes one can try too hard and gift away what should be shared honours.  It will take a bad mistake to resolve this conflict now, however

41

Kg1

Kf7

42

Kf1

Kf6

43

Qd3

g6

44

Qe4

Qe7

45

Qf4+

Kg7

46

Kf2

Qf6

47

Qe3

Qb2+

48

Kf1

Qf6

49

Qd3

Qe5

The white queen could certainly get among those black pawns now but, the cost would be too high.  With a couple of checks, the black queen would have the b3-pawn off the board and be all set to queen on the b-file.  White takes the safer drawing road

50

Kf2

Kf6

51

g4

Here again there is a tempter, this time for the black queen.  A check on h2 and it could pick up the h3-pawn – but at what cost?  With the black queen out of the action on the h-file, the opposing royal member could wreak havoc and White would almost surely have a good passed pawn (something the black queen would not achieve with its capture)

…..

h5

52

gxh5

Qxh5

53

Qe4

Qe5

54

Qh4+

Not, of course, 54.Qxe5 when ..Kxe5 wins for Black

…..

Qg5

55

Qh8+

Kf7

56

Qh7+

Kf6

Draws by repetition of moves (and perpetual check)

1

e4

e5

2

Nf3

Nf6

3

d4

exd4

4

e5

Ne4

This may look somewhat precarious to a player unfamiliar with Petroffs but it is one of the accepted lines

5

Qxd4

d5

6

exd6 ep

Nxd6

7

Nc3

The commencement of a line I did not know.  More usually met here is 7. Bd3

…..

Nc6

8

Qf4

g6

9

Bd2

Bg7

10

0-0-0

0-0

11

Bd3

Be6

12

h4

h5

Afterwards my opponent said this was wrong (it certainly turns out that way)

13

Rde1

Qf6??

White quickly spots his chance …

14

Qxf6

Bxf6

15

Bxg6!

Bg4!

A clever attempt to get something back out of the pawn loss

16

Be4

Trying to avoid having his pawns doubled

…..

Bxc3

The start of a risky combination which should have lost the game for Black

17

bxc3

Nxe4

18

Rxe4

Bxf3

19

gxf3

Kh7

20

Rf4

f5

A shrewd defensive move – but, Black should still lose

21

Rg1

Nd8!

Black not only gets the knight away from the black squares threatened by the bishop but, if White plays his intended R-check to win the pawn on c7, the knight could then fork White's two rooks

22

Rg7+

Kh6

23

Re7

Kg6

It is difficult for both sides to continue to find the right moves in this sort of position.  White has a big plus due to his initiative but could easily slip up…..

24

Rd4??

Intent on doubling his rook power on the seventh rank, he does exactly that with an outright blunder…..

…..

Nc6

25

Re6+

Kf7

26

Rxc6

As advocated previously, if you are going to lose material, do so at the highest price – White gains the bonus of doubling Black's pawns on the c-file

bxc6

27

Rd7+

Kg6

28

Rxc7

Rfc8

With this move, I offered a draw which was declined.  The reader may wonder at my offer ….  I assumed that White would exchange the rooks and that my superior rook v bishop would be nullified by White's extra pawns which his king and bishop should hold.  However …..

29

Rg7+

I had overlooked this (and White's next) continuation

…..

Kh6

30

Rg5

Rg8

31

Rxf5

Rad8

A rather obvious mating threat

32

b3

Rg1+

33

Kb2

Rg2

34

Be5

Rd5

35

Bf4+

Kg6

36

Rxd5

The extra tempo gained by White because of the re-take gives him the chance to protect all his pawns – and, given his pawn superiority, will he now win?

…..

cxd5

37

Bg3

Rg1

38

c3

Re1

39

b4

Re2+

40

Kb3

Re8

41

a4

Kf5

The king must lend a hand – the rook will not be able to stop those Q-side pawns on his own

42

b5

Ke6

43

a5

The situation would be critical for Black, maybe, if it wasn't for his pawn on d5.  As the position is, he should comfortably handle White's two-to-one pawn advance given the power of the rook

…..

Kd7

44

c4

A risky move – for both players!  If black is tempted  (and it is a strong temptation) to push the pawn onwards, he could lose it to a combined attack by the bishop and king.  White's Q-side pawns might then become a force to be reckoned with.   Black finds a clever rebuttal ….

…..

Rc8!

45

cxd5

Rc5

46

Kb4

Rxd5

(sealed move at adjournment)

47

Bb8

a6!

48

bxa6

White's chances of forcing a pawn through on this wing have now totally evaporated

…..

Kc6!

A much more commanding move than ..Kc8

49

Kc4

This seems to have no merit over the obvious-looking 49. a7 which would tie down either rook or king to stopping the pawn from queening and allow the white king some chance of trying to shepherd through a K-side pawn

…..

Rxa5

50

Bg3??

I would rate this move weird!  White has totally abandoned the poor little chap on a6, obviously to save the one on h4 after the check which comes.  Yet, he could still have protected his f-pawn's advance to f4 (blocking this capture) from the b8 square and  the rook could not prevent this because it could not immediately leave the a-file to take the pawn

…..

Ra4+

(Forcing the king backwards)

51

Kd3

Rxa6

52

Ke4

Ra5

53

f4

Kd6

Always use your king in end-game play

54

Kf3?

White probably has an impossible task but this backward step is no help with the g4 square denied to the king.  He should have grasped the nettle and played the pawn on to f5

…..

Ke6

Further moves up to the looming draw are now really irrelevant

55

f5+

Kxf5

56

Bf4

Ra3+

57

Be3

Ra4

58

Bg5

Rg4

59

Ke3

Rg1

60

f3

Rg2

61

Be7

Rb2

62

Bg5

Rb3+

63

Kf2

Draw agreed.  The only slight danger in these final moves was for White in that Black might have sacrificed his rook by taking the bishop on g5 to run through his h-pawn but this could not, of course, be attempted with the white king able to catch the pawn