(463) McGowan,Daniel (2141) - Allinson,Julian (1872) [B13]
4NCL/Div3/GUI3 vs. SLO2 Telford ENG (6.6), 09.03.2003
[Annotations by Charlie Linford]
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 5.c3 Nf6 6.Bf4 A solid system against the Caro, intended not to claim any advantage but to reach a playable position without learning reams of theory. 6...Bg4 7.Nf3 e6 8.Nbd2 Bd6 9.Bxd6 Qxd6 10.Qb3 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 0-0 12.0-0 White can probably cliam a slight pull here with his good bishop, but black has the advantage of a clear plan in mind: a minority attack. 12...Rab8 13.Rfe1 Rfc8 14.Ne5 b5 15.Rac1 Rc7 16.Qd1 Slowing down the play with 16.a3 was worth considering. 16...b4 17.cxb4 Rxb4 18.Qc2 Rbb7 19.Qa4 Nb4 A little extravagent - 19...Ne7 was reasonably equal. 20.Bf1 g6? (=) Black is happy with a short draw, content that his minority attack has performed it's purpose. Daniel, however, can take advantage of the awkward positioning of the knight that black neglected to move after it's excursion. 21.a3 Na2 22.Rc2 Qb6 23.Ra1? Diagram
Too casual. 23.Nd3 keeps b2 and c1 under wraps and will almost certianly wrap up the knight in due course. 23...Rxc2 24.Qxc2 Rc7 Now after 25.Qb1 the knight will escape through c1, and white cannot hold the b2-pawn indefinetly. 25.Qd2 Ne4 26.Qf4? White would have had sufficient compensation for the pawn after 26.Qe1 Qxb2 27.Nd3, as the knight is still vulnerable. The text, however, allows black to pick up both the b and d-pawns. 26...Qxb2 27.Re1 Qxd4 28.Ng4 Rc2 28...Rb7 was better as it deprvies the white rook of any squares at which it might create counterplay. Black is still very much winning though. 29.Rb1 Black now has one move to prevent white's idea... 29...Rb2?? ...and this isn't it. After 29...g5! white has no tricks. 30.Nh6+ Kg7 31.Qxf7+ Kxh6 32.Qf8+ Kh5 33.Qf3+ Kh6 34.Qf8+ A lucky escape for the Scottish junior. 1/2-1/2
