(703) Purton,Ben (2062) - Easton,Alex (2123) [A48]
4NCL/Div3/SLO2-BRI2 Brighton (11.3), 26.05.2003
[Annotations by Charlie Linford]
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.Bg5 Bg7 4.Nbd2 d5 5.c4 Ne4 6.Bf4 0-0 7.e3 c6 7...c5 is a tougher test of the white setup, but this supporting move is very solid as well. 8.Nxe4 dxe4 9.Nd2 Qa5 10.Rb1 Knowing he needed to win to ensure the teams survival, Ben embarks on an ambitious plan of queenside expansion. His opponent may have thought he had everything covered with his next move, but he was in for a shock... 10...c5 11.b4!? Naturally, Ben played this, at his own admission, "with almost no thought". In reality it is not so wild as it at first looks, and the position is still level. 11...cxb4 12.Qb3 e5 A neat equaliser. 13.dxe5 Bxe5 14.Bxe5 Qxe5 15.Qxb4 (=) True to form, Ben decides a long ending would be a bit much and offers the peace terms. His opponent though, wants more, and tries to exploit the white lack of development. 15...Na6 16.Qb2 Qa5 17.Be2 Rd8 18.Rd1 Bd7 19.0-0 Ba4?! Diagram
Not an obvious error, but it is swiftly punished by Ben. Black has four pieces on the a-file, so the natural reaction is too take aim at the kingside. Black was aiming to exploit the lack of development in white, but it soon becomes clear... 20.Nxe4! ...he only needs a few anyway! 20...Bxd1 21.Nf6+ Kg7 22.Ng4+ Kg8 23.Bxd1 White may be a pawn for the exchange down, but the queen and knight combine perfectly to land blows on the denuded king. 23...Qb6 24.Bb3 Nc5 25.Nf6+ Kf8 26.Nd5 A good practical decision. Giving up the knight for the rook might seem questionable, but it allows Ben to play risk free for a win a pawn up. Furthermore, the queen is still poised to infiltrate the black position, and the d-pawn that replaces the knight will be a monster. 26...Rxd5 27.cxd5 Rd8 28.Rd1 h5? 28...Kg8 had to be played. Now Ben finishes the game without mercy. 29.Qh8+ Ke7 30.Qe5+ Kf8 Diagram 31.d6! Kg8 32.Bc4 Qb4? 33.Bxf7+! To use the maestro's own terminology, "bonecrunching"... 1-0
