[Trent A vs. Derby & Mickleover B]
[White R. Anderson]
[Black D. Cheale]
[Result 0 - 1]

[Comments by Richard Anderson]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Be3 O-O 9. O-O Bd7 10. f3 a6 11. Qd2 Re8 12. Rfd1 Rc8 13. Rac1 Qa5

Upto this point, all of these moves are 'book' and have been played before in top level chess.

14. a3 Nxd4 15. Bxd4 Be6 16. b4 Qd8

I (White) was seeking to strangle black's position. This variation of the Sicilian Defense (and similar lines) is known as the Maroczy Bind. Black is struggling for space and needs to time his counter-attack well in order to break free. The problem for White is deciding when to try and convert an advantage in space into something more concrete. The Maroczy Bind used to be considered as very strong for White (hence the more usual 4 . . . Nf6 for Black, when after 5. Nc3 the White c-pawn is prevented from advancing to c4). In top level chess, analysis and match experience have now refined Black's counterplay options, reducing the potency of the idea.

17. Na4 Nd7 18. Be3

(18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. c5 may have been a superior continuation)

18 . . . Ne5 19. Nb6 Rc6 20. Nd5 Qc8 21. b5

21 . . . axb5

The alternative for Black was to play 21 . . . Nxc4 22. Bxc4 Rxc4 23. Nb6 Rxc1 etc. when after all of the exchanges, Black has Rook, Bishop and Pawn for Queen, with an unclear position.

22. cxb5 Rxc1 23. Rxc1 Qb8 24. Nc7 Rc8 25. Nxe6 fxe6

White has forced a weakness in Black's position (the pawn on e6) and Black's position is still somewhat cramped. Objectively speaking, White's position should be won at this point.

26. f4 Nd7 27. Bc4 Nf8 28. Qa2

This looks to be a very effective move. Unfortunately, I had failed to see Black's 31st move in the upcoming continuation. I was convinced that I could win the e6 pawn while still retaining the initiative. In retrospect, there was no need to force the issue.

29 . . . Kf7 29. f5

There was no need to rush like this; I could have played 29. b6 and continued to build pressure on black's cramped position. What constructive moves can he make?

29 . . . gxf5 30. exf5 d5 31. fxe6+ Kg8(!)

This is the move that I had missed; I had only considered Nxe6 when looking at this position at move 28. Suddenly I have two pieces (Queen and Bishop) on a diagonal that is blocked by one of my own pawns! Black's pieces can now break free from the stranglehold.

32. Bxd5 Rxc1+ 33. Bxc1 Bd4+ 34. Kh1??

After this move, White's position is lost. After 34. Kf1 Qxh2 35. Qc4 White's position is probably still better. The blunder 34. Kh1 illustrates how difficult it can be to make the transition in a game from attacking to defending. For the whole game up to this point, White had had all of the space, all of the piece play. Making the mental change to a situation where Black's pieces are suddenly also free and threatening is psychologically difficult . . . . . it was a test that I failed.

34 . . . Qe5 35. Bd2 Qe2 36. h3 Qf1+ 37. Kh2 Be5+ 38. g3 Qf2+ 39. Bg2 Bxg3+ 40. Kh1 Bf4

The Bishop on d2 is pinned (it can't move without losing the Queen) and is therefore lost.

41. Qd5 Qxd2 42. Qxd2 Bxd2

And black went on to win without any difficulty. A very frustrating game!