1.e4 Nf6 2.Nc3 d5 3.exd5 White gets more chances for an advantage with the line 3 e5. Nxd5 4.Bc4 Nxc3 With experience, players learn that 4 . e6, 4 . c6 and 4 . Nb6 are all sufficient for equality, as White gets no pressure on the a2-f7 diagonal and Black can adopt a "strongpoint" strategy on d5. In this pawn formation (exchange of White's e-pawn for Black's d-pawn), it is impossible for White to truly knock the knight away from d5 without using the pawn move c2-c4. 5.Qf3! An effective retort which allows White to recapture with the d-pawn and still avoid trading queens; this leads to a slight development advantage for White. e6 6.dxc3 Bd6 7.Nh3 Nc6 8.Bf4

e5 A fascinating struggle is developing. Black steers clear of 8 . Ne5 9 Bxe5 Bxe5 10 Rd1 where the idea Bc4-b5+ can be very annoying (e.g., 10 . Bd6 11 Bb5+ c6 12 Bxc6+!). However, the opening of the c4-f7 diagonal is dangerous, and technically White can reply to this with 9 Bxf7+! as if 9 . Kxf7 then 10 Bg5+. 9.Bg5 f6 10.0-0-0 h6 Black realizes that he cannot take the bishop because of mate on f7 so he attacks it again with a different pawn (but weakens the g6 square in the process). Developing his queen to e7 would renew the threat on the bishop and prepare to play . Bc8-e6. 11.Qh5+ Kd7 12.Qf7+ After suddenly getting a very strong position, White overplays his hand. 12 Be3 was correct. Qe7

White may have been planning 13 Be6+ here, but it just leads to more exchanges after 13 . Kd8 14 Qxe7+ Kxe7 15 Bxc8 (forced) Raxc8. 13.Qxe7+ Kxe7 Black gladly trades queens. This relieves the pressure on his position. 14.Be3 Be6 15.Bxe6 Kxe6 16.Rhe1 Black has a slight advantage due to his kingside pawn majority. 16...Rhd8 17.f4 Kf7 Black safely moves his king away from potential rook checks on the e file. 18.fxe5 Bxe5 It is also tempting to activate the knight with 18 . Nxe5 as squares such as g4 and c4 would be in its future. 19.Rd2 Both players felt there were more important things to do than worry about the h-pawn, but it is better to protect it right away with 19 g3. Rxd2 20.Kxd2 Rd8+ 21.Kc1 b5 Black has a plan to activate his pieces on the queenside. The alternate plan to capture the pawn on h2 was an easier route to the advantage. 22.g3 b4 23.cxb4 Nxb4

24.c3? White blunders into a knight fork, anticipating only 24 . Nxa2+? 25 Kb1. The right way was 24 a3 and Black would have to retreat. 24...Nd3+ 25.Kd2 Nxe1+ Black is winning. 26.Kxe1 g5 27.a3 a5 28.Nf2 h5 29.Ne4 Kg6 Black is making very steady progress here. 30.Nc5 h4 31.gxh4 gxh4 32.h3 Rb8 33.Bc1 Rb5 34.Nd3 c5 35.c4 Rb6 36.Nxc5

Rc6 This move is the beginning of trouble. The win was still in view with 36 . Bxb2, as the attempt 37 Na4 is met by 37 . Re6+ and Black dances away from the fork. 37.b4 Bc3+ Black plays for an exchange of bishops, a good strategy as he is still up material. Another continuation was 37 . axb4 38 axb4 Bd4, trying to win back the pawn and still up rook for knight. 38.Bd2 Bxd2+ 39.Kxd2 f5 40.Ke3 Kg5 41.Kf3 f4 42.Ne4+ Kf5 .

43.bxa5 A nice trick by White. The c-pawn is held up by a potential knight fork on d6. Still, 44 b5 might be a better way to utilize this motif, as White keeps the pawns connected. Ra6 The right way to break through the resistance was 43 . Re6! and the rook burrows its way through to e3. 44.c5 Rxa5 45.Nd6+ Ke5? Black returns the favor after a long battle, allowing a different knight fork. Correct was 45 . Ke6, still with winning chances, though White can try to make a draw by going for kingside liquidation of the remaining pawns. 46.Nc4+

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