(244) Lund,D Brett (2255) - Williams,Samuel G (2161) [A21]
4NCL/Div3/NWE2 vs. SLO2 West Bromwich ENG (1.3), 09.11.2002
[Annotations by Charlie Linford]
1.c4 d6 2.g3 e5 3.Bg2 f5 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.d3 Be7 6.e4 c6 7.Nge2 0-0 8.h3 Qe8 9.exf5 Bxf5 10.d4 Bd8 11.dxe5 dxe5 Diagram
I won't commentate on an opening I know nothing about, but a dynamic position has arisen here. Black has an isolated pawn but some useful open lines, and will also gain a slight lead in development. He does need a few things to happen in order for his position to be harmonious though - the d8-bishop needs to move in order to link the rooks, and the b8-knight must find a square (not d7, which would block the d-file). We are all set for interesting chess...12.Be3 Na6 13.g4 Qg6 14.Ng3 Bc2 15.Qd6 Qf7 16.Qd2 Bg6 Black is having the better of the skirmishes at the moment - that little queen shimmy has brought force to the f-file. 17.Qe2 Bb6 18.0-0 Bd4 19.Nce4 Rad8 20.Rac1 Rfe8 21.a3 Nxe4 22.Nxe4 Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Nc5 24.Bb1 Ne6 25.b3 Qf6 26.Rcd1 Nf4 27.Qf3 Rf8 28.Bxf4 Qxf4 29.Qxf4 Rxf4 A good choice, shwoing Williams' positional comprehension. Many players would hasten to to link the e-pawn back to the kingside with 29...exf4, but white would immediately take over the initiative by placing a rook on the e-file. In this line white must still be careful, and furthermore the dark-squared bishop has a useful support in the pawn on e5. 30.Kg2 Rdf8 31.f3 g6 32.Be4 R4f7 (=) A draw would have probably been fair here,but Lund is in no mood to lose precious ELO points, and plays on in an attempt to find something. 33.b4 Rc7 34.Rd3 Kg7 35.g5 Rf4 36.Rh1 h6 37.h4 h5 38.a4 a6 39.Kg3 Rf8 40.Rb1 Kh7 41.a5 Ra8 42.Kg2 Kg7 43.Ra3 Rd8 44.Kg3 Rdd7 45.b5 Lund has suceeded in making practically no progress, so he tries to break through on the queenside. 45...cxb5 46.cxb5 Bc5 47.Rab3 Bd4 Williams is happy to move forwards and backwards, feeling he has everything covered. 48.bxa6 bxa6 49.Rb6!? Diagram An excellent attempt to try to win, and it should certianly be rewarded. There is a little twist before the game finishes, however... 49...Bxb6 50.Rxb6 Rc1 51.Re6? This careless move throws away the win. 51.Rxg6+ Kf8 52.Re6 is sufficient for good winning chances, but now black has a forced draw at his disposal. 51...Rd2 52.Rxe5 This was necessary to prevent the draw after ...Rg1/h1+, but now Williams misses his last chance. 52...Rg1+?! 53.Kf4 Rh1? 52...Kf7! was right, keeping the white rook at bay and securing at least a draw. Now Lund is winning, an a desperate exchange sacrifice does nothing to change that assessment. 54.Re6 Rxh4+ 55.Ke5 Ra2 56.Rxg6+ Kf7 57.Rxa6 Rxe4+?! 58.Kxe4 h4 59.Rf6+ Ke7 60.a6 h3 61.Rh6 h2 62.Kf5 Ra5+ 63.Kg4 Rxa6 64.Rxh2 Ra4+ 65.f4 Lund was rewarded for his persistance, but had Williams spotted his last chance at move 52 it would have been for nought. 1-0
