For me, it was the second time at the Corus/ Wijk aan Zee tournament. Of course, I have vistited more often, but only once before did I participate, Two years ago, I played as well in a 3 round tournament as in a nine round tournament, but since my boss keeps telling me she can't miss me, the nine round event was out of the question this year. Things started well, Friday night.. first round, against the highest rated opponent in my group, but I was white, and in a good mood... What could possibly go wrong?
1.e4
e6
2.d4
d5
3.Nd2
c5
4.exd5
exd5
5.Bb5+
Nc6
6.Qe2+
So far a common line in the Tarrasch French . Qe2 is not main line, but common enough. My opponent admitted after the game he was out of book now
6...Be6
Be7 is common and better
7.Ngf3
Bd6
8.dxc5
Bxc5
9.Nb3
Qd6
10.Nxc5
Qxc5
11.Be3
Qd6
12.0-0
Nge7
I have about everything one can wish for in the Tarrasch French: play against the isolated pawn, strong pair of bishops, control of the open lines, lead in development
13.c3
0-0
14.Rad1
a6
15.Ba4
Qc7
16.h3
oo fainthearted. I intended to prevent Bg4, but continuing to develop would have been better with Re1. Also aiming for a direct approach at the kingside with a move like Bc2 was good
16...Rad8
17.Bd4
b5
18.Bb3
Nf5
19.Bc2
Ncxd4
20.Nxd4
Nxd4
21.Rxd4
g6
22.Rfd1
Rfe8
23.Qf3
f5
24.Bb3
Qe5
Instead of going for the black kings throat, I have been aiming at the pawn at d5. Mission accomplished, one would say, but Qe5 was a clever defense. If 25. Bxd5 Rxd5 26. Qxd5+ Qxd5 27. Rxd5 Re2 black is better because of his rook on the 2nd rank. Sigh.. Back to the drawing board
25.g3
Rd6
26.Kf1
Red8
here my opponent offered a draw for the first time
27.Re1
Qf6
28.h4
h6
29.Qf4
Kg7
30.Qe5
Qxe5
31.Rxe5
Kf6
32.f4
g5
33.hxg5+
hxg5
Here he offered a draw for the 2nd time. This time I had to give it a thought. How can I make any progress? Perhaps, if the king can occupy the blocking square d4, I can get a rook penetrating the black defense
34.Kf2
g4
35.Ke3
Bf7
36.Rd2
R8d7
37.Kd4
Rc7
38.Rh2
Kg6
Well.. I can get my rook to h8 now, but what is it doing there anyway? Lets first try if I can create some havoc by switching attacks on both f5 and d5
39.Rhe2
Kf6
40.Bc2
Rc4+
41.Ke3
Be6
42.Rd2
Rc7
43.Rh2
Kg6
And again he offered a draw. Again I had to consider, for the idea Rh8 does not work because of d4+ and after cxd4 the bishop would have been en prise. But I still have some advantage, and I can't possibly lose this game, right?
44.Bb3
a5
45.a3
aargh! TOO much focus in restraining the black pawns to the white squares. Minutes ago I spent quite some time thinking about the d4+, and now it completely slipped my mind
45...a4
46.Ba2
d4+
47.cxd4
Bxa2
48.Rxb5
Re6+
49.Re5
Rxe5+
50.fxe5
Bb3
51.Kd3
Rc1
52.Ke3
Rc2
53.Rxc2
Bxc2
54.d5
Be4
55.d6
Kf7
A game I played well {at least, in my own opinion that is}, but zero points anyhow.. And afterwards, I stayed to long analyzing the game, so I missed my bus, the latest bus.. and had to take crazy detours to get home at all.. so I could not get to bed until 3 a.m. and the move 45. a3 haunted me even in my dreams .. .To put it mildly.. I would have wished for a better start...
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