PGN

[pgn height=400 layout=horizontal autoplayMode=none] [Event "Harvey League"] [Date "2013.03.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Thompson, Keith"] [Black "Le Breton, Paul"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C68"] [WhiteElo "121"] [BlackElo "130"] [Annotator "Thompson,Keith"] [PlyCount "72"] [SourceDate "2005.07.14"] {This was the first game that I can say that I played reasonably well in, although I lost where I had chances to have won it. I was thinking well about the game and had an enjoyable game. Annoyed that I did not win, disappointed for the team that did not at least get the draw that they needed, pleased that I was in with a chance.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 {These are standard opening moves for me with white on e5 and Nc6} a6 4. Bc4 {I usually play Ba4 here but I have looked at a few games with Bc4 and they seem to come out as well as playing Ba4 and also gives an immediate attack on the f7 square. Fritz says the best move is BxN and whte has a half pawn advantageI will have to look at this at somepoint in the future. I like to keep the bishop although it is easy enough for black to attack and capture it .} Nf6 5. d3 ({I did look at the following sequence but thought that white does not come comes out of it too well. White has too many weak pawns on c2 and g2} 5. Ng5 d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. Qh5 g6 8. Qf3 Qxg5 9. Bxd5 Nd4 10. Qxf7+ Kd8) 5... Be7 6. O-O { Decided on a safe castle.} O-O 7. Nbd2 $2 {Not a very impressive move the knight stands better on c3 in this position. But my plan was to move the knight to either g3 or e3. It seems that this is the wrong tactics, if it is allowed to happen.} d5 {Playing for a strong centre which I cannot allow so that has to be taken.} 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Re1 Bg4 {As I suspected black pins my knight to the queen which has to shifted.} 10. h3 Bh5 {Black as usual keeps the pin by moving to h5} 11. Ne4 {My plan was here to move my knight to g3 and chase the bishop to g6 then I will have a double attack on e5 so he will probably have to take on f3.} Nf6 12. Ng3 Bxf3 {This is forced because of my last move.} 13. Qxf3 Nd4 14. Qd1 ({Not} 14. Qxb7 $4 Nxc2 {I may well have fallen to this a few weeks ago.}) 14... b5 15. Bb3 a5 {a4 will be his next move have to give my bishop a square in case he plays this move on NXB I want to retake with my a pawn so I do not like a4 stopping this move so I think c3 is the stronger move. as he is going to take . I have notice now that his e pawn is there to be taken after the the capture of his knight.he will have to play Bd6 or Nd8 his centre pawn is looking a bit fragile.} 16. c3 Nxb3 {As supected. The queen is needed for the moment covering the d pawn so the a pawn taking the knight is virtually forced.} 17. axb3 Nd7 {his knight looks out of place here and my knight has a nice square on f5 and I also have threats on queen going to g4. So I think I have a good position here. and one I should have gone on to win.} 18. Nf5 g6 {I am thinking that the knight is good so I want to keep it for a while so NxB and QxN I do not like. I can play Qg4 but he can play Nf6 Qg3 which does not look that well for me I must have something better. Then I saw Nh6+ Ng4 attacks his centre pawn and I have 2 pieces on the pawn, which must be OK} 19. Nh6+ Kg7 20. Ng4 Kg8 {Surprising move. Maybe he wants a draw Nh6 again taking the pawn must be better.} 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. Rxe5 Bf6 $2 {missed my chance here decided to keep the roook in the centre and the e file when going 2 pawns up was much better.} 23. Re4 {Is an Ok move but as stated before it is not the winning move which I could have made.} (23. Rxb5 {and the game was there for the taking} c6 24. Rc5 Qb6 (24... Be7) 25. Be3 Be7 26. Rcxa5 Qxa5 27. Rxa5 {this is the best continuation for black and it leaves black with a losing game.}) 23... Qd7 24. Qf3 Bg7 25. Bf4 Rfd8 26. d4 b4 {was kicking myself here a bit as he could not have played this move if I had taking it.} 27. Be5 Bxe5 28. Rxe5 bxc3 29. bxc3 a4 30. Rxa4 {There not much between taking this with the a pawn we are going to exchange anyway.} Rxa4 31. bxa4 Qxa4 {I go from here a winning position to a losing position in 4 moves from here my game decends into one dreaful move after another.} 32. Qf6 $2 { why not play the simple move Re7 the queen was doing a good job on f3.} Rd6 33. Qe7 {I was getting tired here and not thinking right it, which must come from lack of playing. In defence of thy thought process here I was trying to attack the plan should have been to sit and push my pawns and wait till his clock run out as I had the advantage of about 10 minutes to his 4 minutes.} Qa1+ 34. Kh2 Qxc3 35. Rc5 (35. Qe8+ Kg7 36. Re4 Qc6 37. Qe5+ Kg8 {and the position is =}) 35... Qxd4 {now my thinking can only see Qf4+ g4 Qxf2+ Kh1 Rd1 looking at this now I can see any numbe of moves Qe5 that are better than the losing move I played.} 36. f3 $4 Qxc5 0-1 [/pgn]

Keith Thompson