A RHP Feb 2011 game below against a strong player I had previously lost a few games without a win, and was craving a win against him. In this game below, I gained a pawn and intended to grind to the win but instead I did a grind to the draw. I am white and played 1.e4. He replied 1...c5.
A general question is what could I have done to avoid the draw. A more particular question is: was advancing my a-pawn down the a-file which I did, the thing to do.
[Event "February 2011 Banded Quartets I 1900+"]
[Site "http://www.redhotpawn.com"]
[Date "2011.03.03"]
[EndDate "2011.04.29"]
[Round "1"]
[White "moon1969"]
[Black "SteveWil"]
[WhiteRating "2135"]
[BlackRating "2067"]
[WhiteElo "2135"]
[BlackElo "2067"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[GameId "8237778"]
1. e4 c5 2. c3 {I have been playing 2.c3 exclusively against the Sicilian, just to learn the c3 Sicilian.} d5 {I like d5 here for black, and would do the same as black, a common variation.} 3. exd5 Qd8xd5 4. d4 Ng8f6 {4. . . cxd4 is more agressive. But I like better for black 4 . . . Nf6 which he did and is considered positional play, and black's most common choice.} 5. Ng1f3 Bc8g4 6. Bf1e2 {6.Be2 conservative, natural, and most common move here. I was tired of losing to this guy and wanted at least a draw. A popular alternative to 6.Be2 is 6.dxc4!?, and considered ok for white with decent possiblities for white even after black Qxd1+. 6.Nbd2 is also considered interesting.} e6 {Still in book.} 7. Nb1a3 {Contradictory to my conservative last move, I thought I would try a minor variation here with Na3 (arguably not generally a good move in any opening). More common here instead of 7.Na3 is 7.h3 to drive back the Black B to h5, or to castle 7.0-0 followed by 8.h3.} cxd4 8. Na3b5 {Nb5 is a reason for Na3. Also, in other variations, Na3 sets up white Bc4 on the black Q. I didn't necessarily like that he might do Bxa3, so now my N is at g5 and is in book} Qd5d8 9. Bc1f4 {By the way, a chess book I like is "starting out: the c3 Sicilian" by John Emms. First, I like the way he organizes the variations. Second, I like his simple explanation of the resulting pawn structures.} Nf6d5 {At some point here we're getting out of book though there is still book flavors.} 10. Bf4xb8 {Normally, I do not like exchanging a developed piece for an undeveloped piece, or giving up the bishop pair, but I guess I had reasons here} Qd8xb8 11. Nb5xd4 {Now take the pawn, but do not have an isolated queen pawn which can be common for white in the c3 Sicilian. I am still learning how to play with an isolated queen pawn and avoided it this game.} Nd5b6 12. O-O a6 13. h3 {Again, not in book but maybe some book "flavors."} Bg4h5 {In general, I like having my N at d4.} 14. Rf1e1 Bf8e7 15. Nf3h2 {I think I was working to deny him his bishop pair.} Bh5g6 16. Be2d3 Bg6xd3 17. Qd1xd3 {Now that the bishop pairs are gone, I usually like having two Ns to an opponent's N + B.} O-O 18. Ra1d1 Rf8d8 19. Qd3e4 Be7f6 20. Nd4xe6 {I thought about this move for a long time and use the analysis board extensively, thinking I could win his e-pawn, which I did. A key is that his N is hanging at b6.} Rd8e8 21. Qe4b4 {In general, a common strategy for me to gain the pawn and then grind to the win. I was pretty happy here.} Bf6e5 {Doesn't work for him. I had considered that.} 22. Nh2f3 Re8xe6 23. Nf3xe5 Re6xe5 24. Re1xe5 {Love it. Trading material, and will be pawn up.} Qb8xe5 {Knowing all along I could grab his N at b6 to regain the piece.} 25. Qb4xb6 Qe5e7 26. Qb6d6 Kg8f8 {I made some awkward indecisive moves here but ultimately looking to trade Qs. I think I didn't trade here because I didn't want his K to advance.} 27. Qd6d3 g6 28. Kg1f1 Ra8e8 29. Qd3d6 {Defintiely do not like him owning the e-file, and plus want to trade Qs anyway.} h5 30. c4 Qe7xd6 31. Rd1xd6 {Hoping it will not be a drawish rook end game.} Re8c8 32. b3 b5 33. Rd6xa6 {There were different ways to play this but I just kind of randomly chose this way with Rxa6.} bxc4 34. bxc4 Rc8xc4 35. g3 Rc4c2 36. a4 {My plan is to push my a-pawn down the file but there may have been a better plan. What do you think? I just like the pressure of an advanced pawn.} Kf8g7 37. h4 Rc2a2 38. a5 Kg7h6 39. Ra6a8 Kh6g7 40. a6 Kg7f6 41. a7 Kf6f5 42. f3 {Now I am becoming scared I will not win with the extra pawn?} f6 43. Kf1e1 {He is avoiding letting me get a check on his K with my R, which is not surprising because he is a good player.} Ra2a3 44. Ke1d2 {His rook is stuck to the a-file.} Ra3a2 45. Kd2c3 Ra2a1 46. Kc3d4 Ra1d1 {Unless of course he checks, but he has to go back to the a-file when he has no check to make.} 47. Kd4c5 Rd1c1 48. Kc5d6 Rc1d1 49. Kd6e7 {Out of somewhat desperation, I was thinking I would give up my advanced a-pawn in exchange for his g-pawn, and still be a pawn up.} Rd1a1 50. Ke7f7 Ra1a2 51. Kf7g7 Ra2a3 52. Kg7h6 Ra3a6 53. Ra8g8 {Going after his g-pawn.} Ra6xa7 {That probably felt good to him.} 54. Rg8xg6 Ra7a3 55. Kh6xh5 Ra3xf3 56. Kh5h6 {I kept thinking I could pull out the win.} Kf5e6 57. h5 {I think this pawn to h5 is my blunder. I should have instead Kb7 to get king position, or maybe go ahead and advance the g-pawn and not push the h-pawn, leaving he h-pawn at h5.} Ke6f7 58. Rg6g7 Kf7f8 59. Rg7g6 {Meaningless back and forth. Indecisive.} Kf8f7 60. g4 {I think I should have done this g4 move at some point earlier instead of h4, and maybe it would have been more dynamic and win instead of draw. At least that is what I have in my notes.} Rf3f4 61. Kh6h7 {Draw agreed.} 1/2-1/2
Openings sub 2000 continued
12 Mar '12 13:271 edit
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