MEMBERS' GAMES

I certainly hope that you had a pleasent and restful summer. I would like to continue to urge you to send me your games, preferably annotated, including a few words about yourself. To make it easier for me to read your notes, please type or send on a diskette in MS WORD format if possible, or text format. Also please use standard short hand algebraic notation that you see used in this column. This will save me time having to convert. Thank you again to those who have sent me games on a regular basis.

In the 5th QOCCC Preliminaries three qualifiers to the Final have emerged: Simon Berube, winner of section 15X-4 with 4-0; Michael Robidoux & Murray Marchant, sharing first and second respectively with 3½ - ½ & 2½ -1½ in section 15X-5.

IM Walter Muir who turned 92 on August 7th has recently published his long awaited autobiography. I am sure this book will become a hot selling item for CC as well OTB players alike. I have had the honor and privilege to do battle with him in the APCT vs. ASPCC 30 board match which started in February of this year. He has kindly submitted the following game from a 1995 Nation Wide Open prelims. section. He placed 2nd , scoring 5½ /7 behind Robert Giroux, who scored 6½ /7, both of whom have advanced to the next round.

White: Robert Bellerose
Black: IM Walter Muir
1995 Nation Wide Open 0-9502
Ruy Lopez/ Schliemann Defense C63

Notes by Walter Muir

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 f5!?

(The Schielmann defense, a very sharp gambit line, introduced into practice by the Russian theorist Jaenisch in the mid 19th century. Today it is a popular line in CC.)

4.Nc3

(Dyckhoff's move and according to Suetin poses the most difficulties for Black. Alternatives, though, are: 4.exf5, 4.d3, 4.d4 and 4.Qe2)

4...fxe4 5.Nxe4 d5 6.Nxe5

(The wild gambit line. 6.Ng3 would be the so-called "quiet line", the general plan being to attempt to establish pressure against Black's center. Theory, however, says Black can equalize fairly easily in all lines.)

6...dxe4 7.Nxc6 Qg5!

(7...bxc6; 7....Qd5)

8.Qe2 Nf6 9.f4! Qxf4!

(9...Qh4+ 10.g3 Qh3 11.Ne5+! c6 12.Bc4 Bc5 13.d3 Ng4 14.Nf7 Bf2+ 15.Kd1 e3 16.Qf3 Qxh2 17.Qe4+ Kf8 18.Bxe3 Bg4+ 19.Kd2 Re8 20.Ne5 and White is better according Suetin, Kavalek-Ljubojevic, Amsterdam 1975.)

10.Ne5+ c6 11.d4 Qh4+ 12.g3 Qh3 13.Bc4 Be6 14.Bg5!

(14.Bf4!? Bd6 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Kb1 Rhe8 17.Rhf1 Bxe5 18.Bxe6 Qxe6 19.dxe5 Rxd1+ 20Rxd1 Ng4 21.Re1! Popovic-Inkov, Palma de Mallorca (GMA) 1989 1-0 in 55 Inf 48/438.)

14...Bd6 15.Bf4

A new move, but loses a tempo. ECO recommends 15.0-0-0 0-0-0 16.Nf7 Bxf7 17.Bxf7, Judovic-Boey CC 1975; (the game continued: 17...Rhf8 18.Bc4 Rde8 19.Rhf1 h6 20.Bf4 Bxf4 21.Rxf4 Rd8 22.c3 Rfe8? 23.Bf7! Re7 24.Bg6 +/- {Judovic} and White won in 46, Inf 19/247.) On 15...0-0 16.Rhf1! +/=. In this position White has tried two other moves: 1)15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.Bxe6 Qxe6 17.Qg4 Qxg4 18.Nxg4 f5 19.Ne3 0-0=, Vogt-Kuzimin, Lennigrad 1977; 2)15.Rf1 Rf8 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Bxe6 Qxe6 18.Qh5 Kd8 19.Ng4 +/= Zaharov-Lipski, Lublin 1978. (After 15.0-0-0 0-0-0, the game Ernst-Inkov, Gausdal, 1989 continued: 16. Qf1 Rhe8 17.Qxh3 Bxh3 18.Nf7 Rd7 19.Nxd6+ Rxd6 20.Bf4 Rd7 21.Rhe1 Nd5 22.Be5 Bg4 23.Rd2 e3!? 24.Rd3 Nb6 25.Bb3 e2 26.Re3 a5 27.a4 c5! and Black won in 78, Inf 48/439.)

15...0-0-0 16.0-0-0 Rhe8 17.Kb1 h6 18.Bxe6 Qxe6 19.h4 Bc7 20.Rhe1 a6 21.c3 Qf5

Black threatens 22...g5, but in response White counters with a surprise sacrifice!

22.Nxc6!! Bxf4!

If 22...bxc6? 23.Qxa6+ wins.

23.Nxd8 Bxg3 24.Nf7!

(And White appears to have won the exchange. However Black's strong passed e-pawn plus well coordinated pieces give him complete compensation.)

24...e3+ 25.Kh1 Qh5!

(Forcing the exchange of Queens, something you would want to avoid when down material, but Black has judged the ensuing endgame to be in his favor.)

26.Qxh5 Nxh5 27.Re2 Nf4! 28.Nd6+ Kd7 29.Nxe8 Nxe2 30.Nxg7 Nf4 31.Nf5 e2 32.Rh1 e1=Q+ 33.Rxe1 Bxe1 34.Nxh6 Bxh4(see diagram)

An interesting endgane position has arisen: Bishop+Knight+2 Pawns vs. Knight+4 Pawns.

35.a4 Ke6 36.c4 Bg5 37.d5+ Kf6 38.Ng4+ Kf5 39.Nf2 Bh5 40.Nd1 Ke4 41.b3 Kd3 42.Kb1 Ne2 43.c5 Nc3+!(see diagram)

Black sent the following "if" moves" 44.Nxc3 {forced since 44.Kc1 loses the Knight to 44...Bg5+} 44...Kxc3 45.Ka2 Bf2 46.c6 bxc6 47.dxc6 Bg3 48.Ka3 Bd6+ 49.Ka2 a5 50.Kb1 Kxb3.

44.Nxc3 Kxc3 45.c6 bxc6 46.dxc6 Bg3 47.Ka2 a5 48.Ka3 Bc7 49.Ka2 Bd6 50.Kb1 Kxb3 0-1

and White resigns as Bishop+Queen Rook Pawn wins!

I would like to dedicate most of the remainder of this issue's column to Len Myers of Brockville, Ontario and Tim Knechtel of Drayton Ontario, both of whom took the time to send me quite a bit of information plus annotated games. Len who refers to himself as "Tazmanian Devil," no doubt in reference to his varied adventures and misadventures traveling about the world and of course his chess, writes: "I am 53, currently unemployed and single. I enjoy reading, in particular science fiction. I have dabbled in astronomy, photography and to the dismay of my listeners tried my hand at playing various instruments. I have a myriad of other interests as well, too numerous to list.

I have traveled a bit; actually a lot. (In the interest of saving space I am listing only a few of the more interesting places Len has visited plus some of his fascinating exploits.) I have seen the Northern Lights and Southern cross. I have been shakened, but not stirred by a minor earthquake; witnessed the destruction first hand, from a half a mile away, of a killer tornado and experienced the wrath of a hurricane. Among my other (mis)adventures has been floating in a blimp over Miami Beach. I caught a sailfish off the coast of Acapulco. I have been stung by a jellyfish while body surfing in Australia and torpedoed by a fish in Florida. I have climbed a waterfall and drifted down a river on a bamboo raft in Jamaica.

"When I was 13, I was on may way to lunch when I saw two boys hunched over a board in one of the high school rooms. Curious, I stopped, and the rest is history. I missed lunch, figured out the basic moves while watching them play and picked up a set after school. My first real taste of chess competition, though, was in 1974 when someone started a club in Barrie, Ontario. He held unrated swiss and speed chess tournaments soon afterwards. I won both, making me unofficial Barrie champion. Even with prolonged absences from tournament action, I have managed to place 1st , or tie for 1st , in about 20 OTB and postal sections. Despite a woeful tournament the last time I played in the CCCA, which dropped me below 1900, I am still in "A" class. A life member of the USCF as well, my postal rating is close to 2000. I have competed in the Higher class in the ICCF. I was even forturnate enough to qualify and play in K35 in 1978.

In OTB play, I have attended several World Open Tournaments , even winning a modest amount of money. My tournaments have spanned New York City, Philadelphia, Toronto, Ottawa, and many points between.

I am currently the highest rated player at the Brockville Chess Club, having moved down here about 10 years ago. I am also at the top of their chess ladder. In addition I am tournament Director. Besides club tournaments, in 1996 I directed two, one day rated events in Brockville, drawing players from such major areas as Ottawa, Kingston, Cornwall and even as far away as Montreal. I played in the 2nd tournament; had a performance rating of 2007 and pushed my rating up to 1823.

Now a selection of games from the "Tazmanian Devil".

White: Robert Cragg
Black: Len Myers
1987 Nation Wide Open OSF 374
King's Fianchetto Opening (Benko's Opening) A00

1.g3 e5 2.Bg2 d5 3.d3 c6 4.Nd2

(Normal here is 4.Nf3.)

4...Be6

(4....Nf6 would transpose to book line. The text appears to be new. ECO gives: 4...Nf6

5.e4 Bc5 6.Ngf3 Nbd7 7.0-0 0-0 8.h3 Re8 9.exd5{9.Kh2?! a5 10.exd5 cxd5 11.d4 exd4 12.Nb3 Bb6 13.Nbd4 Ne4 =/+ with Black winning in 40, Bilek-Geller, Havana 1971 Inf 11/2} 9...cxd5 10.d4 =.)

5.e4 Bc5 6.Nb3?!

(The Knight is badly misplaced here.)

6...Bb6 7.Be3 Nd7 8.Bxb6 Qxb6 9.Ne2 Ne7 10.Qd2 a5!?

I am threatening to win White's Queen Knight pawn after 11....a4.

11.a4?!

This move results in White losing a pawn anyway. (Perhaps White is forced to play 11.Rb1, but then Black plays 11....a4 gaining space on the Queenside. Black has the better game.)

11...dxe4! 12.dxe4

If 12.Bxe4 Bxc3 13.cxb3 Qxb3 White is saddled with an isolated pawn as well as being down a pawn.

12...Bxb3 13.cxb3 Qxb3 14.0-0 Qb4

Moving my Queen to a more flexible and active position while looking for a possible Queeh trade to simplify as much as possible to take advantage of my extra pawn.

15.Nc3

(White avoids the exhange of Queens.)

15...Nc5

Bringing my Knight into active play while looking to go to b3, forking White's Queen and Rook.

16.Rfd1!?

Mobilzing his Rook and meeting my immediate threat of Nb3 with Qd7+ and mate in two.

16...0-0 17.Qc2 Nb3

Manouvering to place my Knight at d4 where it is centralized and shuts down the Queen file.

18.Ra3 Nd4 19.Qb1 Rfd8

Developing my Rook while challenging the open Queen file before White gets a chance to use it.White's position is passive and I want to keep it that way.

20.Kh1? Ne6!

White has obligingly moved his King to h1. I now threaten Rxd1+. If White recaptures with the Knight I mate with Qe1 and if White recaptures with the Queen ,Qxb2 makes his life miserable. I gain command of the open file if White exhanges or moves his Rook away.

21.Rxd8+ Rxd8 22.Bf3 Rd2!

Using the open file to take control of White's second rank with my Rook.

23.Nd1

The only way White can protect both his b and f pawns.

23...Nd4 24.Kg2

Retreating the Bishop to g2 may have been better. I now remove a defender from around the King while still creating threats.

24...Nxf3 25.Kxf3 Qd4!

I am bearing downn on white's King position and threatening to win the Knight. The Knight cannot move as White loses at least a pawn to Rxf2+ (or Qxf2+) or Rxb2 threatening the White Queen depending on the Knight move.

26.Ra1

Forced if he dosen't want to lose material immediately.

26...Nc8 27.b3

White is running out of moves. If 27.Kg2 Nd7 threatens to win the e-pawn.

27...Nd6!

With the threat of Rd3+, winning the e-pawn.

28.Ne3?

This loses quickly, but White's game is miserable anyway.

28...Rb2! 0-1

White: Len Myers
Black: Barry Rasmussen
1987 Nation Wide Open OSF 374
Two Knight's Defense C59

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6 4.Ng5

(The most aggressive move, going for the immediate attack on f7. Other moves are: 4.0-0; 4.d3; 4.Nc3; and 4.d4.)

4...d5 5.exd5 Na5

( On 5....Nxd5 5.d4! leading to a plus for White. However, Hans Berliner played 5...b5!? to defeat Y. Estrin in the 5th World Corr Chess Championship Final on his way to winning the World title. This classic game is worth going over and it can be found in Tim Harding's The Games of the World Correspondence Chess Championship I-X, annotated in full by Berliner. 5...Nd4!? is attributed to Carl Schlecter.)

6.Bb5+

(The only move for White to try for the win.)

6...c6

(Or 6...Bd7)

7.dxc6 bxc6 8.Be2 h6 9.Nf3 e4 10.Ne5 Bd6!

(On 10...Bc5 11.c3 Qc7 12.f4 Bd6 13.d4 exd3 14.Qxd3 0-0 15.Nd2 Bxe5 16.fxe5 17.0-0 Re8 18.Bd1 Bg4 19.Nf3 Qc7 20.Nd4 c5 ½ - ½ Harding-Read, 12th OL Prelim. bd 4 1992/93 CCYB 11/237.)

11.d4

(11.f4)

11...exd3 e.p. 12.Nxd3 Qc7 13.b3 0-0 14.Bb2 Bf5

With his King already castled the text allows me to break open Black's King's position. He is already down a pawn. I get my King to a secure spot when I castle shortly. My lag in development is compensated by my opportunities to create threats against the various Black weakensses.

15.Bxf6 gxf6 16.h3!?

Proceeding with my plan to castle before Black can make effective us of his edge in development.

(16.Nc3 Rad8 17.Qd2 Rfe8 with a clear advantage for Black according to ECO, Kovacs-Kluger, Hungary 1965. )

16...c5

(Perhaps it was better to immediately play 16...Rad8 or 16...Rfe8.)

17.0-0 c4 18.bxc4

I prefer this move to retreating my Knight even though it isolates my a and c pawns. I need to develope and I will still maintain my pawn advantage with a better pawn structure.

18...Nxc4 19.Nd2 Rfd8 20.Nf3

I like this better than trying to simplify by 20.Nxc4 as Black will have an active Queen after 20...Qxc4.

20...Rac8

Developing while lining up against my isolated c-pawn.

21.Qc1!

Creating a threat against Black h-pawn while getting my Queen to open diagonal.

21...Kg7?!

(Interesting was 21...Bf8!?, if 22.Nf4?! 22...Na3 or 22...Ba3. The Black King simply becomes a target on this sqaure as will be seen.)

22.Nh4 Bh7?

Inaccurate by Black since it gives me the h3-c8 diagonal for my Bishop. On 22...Be6! his Bishop would still bear down on my Kingside, gets onto a central diagonal and supports his c4 Knight. (Black now threatens Na3 and it's diffcult for White to counter this threat.)

23.Bg4 Rb8 24.Nf5+! Bxf5

Forced, otherwise he loses his h-pawn and his Kingside is vulnerable. He has now lost his Bishop pair with open lines on the board and a defender near his King. This would not have been the case if he had played Be6 earlier.

25.Bxf5 Na3 26.Nf4!!(see diagram)

26... Bxf4

Virtually forced or Black is in deep trouble. If 26...Nxc2 27.Nh5+ Now if 27...Kh8 Qxh6+ and mates next move; or if 27...Kg8 28.Qxh6 and White soon mates; or if 27...Kf8 28.Qxh6 Ke8 29.Nxf6+ Ke7 30.Nd5+ Ke8 and White has the following options: 1) 31.Rae1+ Nxe1 32.Rxe1+ Be5 {on 32...Be7 Nxc7 mate} 33.Nxc7+ Ke7 34.Rxe5 mate or 2) 31.Qh8+ Bf8 32.Rae1+ Nxe1 33.Rxe1+ and mate next move. Finally if, 28...Ke7 29.Qxf6+ now if 1) 29...Ke8 30.Ng7+ Kf8 31.Ne6+ Ke8 32.Nxc7+ Bxc7 33.Qc6+ with Qxc2 to follow winning handily, or if 2) 29...Kf8 30.Qg7+ Ke7 31.Rae1+ Nxe1 32.Rxe1+ Be5 33.Rxe5+ Qxe5 34.Qxe5+ Kf8 35.Nf6 and White has a winning game.

27.Qxa3 Rd5 28.Be4

Attacking the Rook while keeping the rank free for my Queen to shift to the Kingside.

28...Ra5 29.Qf3 Qe5 30.Bd3 Bd2 31.Bc4

Protecting the a-pawn against Black's threat of Bc3. My Bishop move has the advantage of potentially shutting down the b-file against Black's penetration with his Rooks while also pressuring Black's weak pawn at f7.

31...Ra4 32.Bb3 Rf4 33.Qd5

Looking to win the Black's f-pawn or get Black to exchange Queens.

33...Rxf2! 34.Qxf7+

I didn't like the looks of 34.Rxf2 Qxa1+ or 34.Qxe5 Rxf1+ as they appear to give Black better chances than the text. Of course not 34.Kxf2?? Qe3 mate.

34...Kh8 35.Qe6

At this sqaure I have the potential to trade Queens if it is to my advantage since Black no lomger would have connected pawns; my Queen can readily swing to the defense of my Kingside if needed and I am still putting some pressure on Black's f-pawn.

35...Re2 36.Qf5

Avoiding trades. On 36.Qxe5 fxe5 Black gets a dangerous passed pawn in the center. On 36.Qxf6+ Qxf6 37.Rxf6 Bc3 Black's Bishop skewers my two Rooks.

36...Rd8 37.Qxe5!? fxe5 38.Rad1

The point behind my Queen exchange. The only way for Black to quickly get out of the pin is to play 38...Be3+ after which 39.Kh1 would give me command of the d-file. The Bishop check also blocks the passed pawn.

38...e4 39.a4 Re8

Black is trying to get rid of the pin on his Bishop and at the same time supporting the push of his passer. If 39...e3 40.Bc4 makes it unpleasent for Black.

40.Rf5

Placing my Rook on the off coloured square of Black's Bishop to avoid having my Rook threatened on the move. I have freed f1 for my King to attack his Rook. Not 40.Rf7 because of the dangerous reply 40...Rg8.

40...Re7??

This loses quickly. On 40...e3 41.Kf1 and I gain Black's Bishop to either 41...Rf2+ 42.Rxf2 or 41...Re1+ 42.Rxe1, etc. Black's best try was 40...Be3+ Kf1 41.Rd2 and I still have to work for the win. (Black also has the possibility of holding with 40...Re1+ 41.Rxe1 Bxe1 42.Kf1 Bb3 and White has to worry about Black's passed e-pawn.)

41.Kf1 1-0

Black's Rook is trapped and I win a piece on: 41...Re1+ 42.Rxe1 Bxe1 43.Kxe1; or 41...Rxg2 42.Kxg2 e3 43.Bc4 e2 44.Bxe2 Rxe2+ 45.Kf1 Rh2 46.Rf2 with a won game.

The next game is from an ICCF Higher Class section. Len effectively takes advantage of his opponent's tempo losing moves to rip open the Queenside to victory.

White: Helfied Hauswald (Germany)
Black: Len Meyers (Canada)
WT H/611 1986
Sicilian Defense/Narjdorf Variation B99

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5

( Nunn & Gallagher ,in their book, Beating the Sicilian Defense 3, recommend 6.f4 and feel it's the most flexible. The text, however, is seenmore often in OTB and in CC, though.)

6...e6 7.f4 Be7 8.Qf3 Qc7 9.0-0-0 Nbd7 10.g4 b5 11.Bxf6 Nxf6 12.g5 Nd7 13.a3

(13.f5!? is a popular alternative, avoiding the loss of time, the weakening of White's Queenside pawn structure, and initiating action against Black's King.)

Rb8 14.Bh3?!

If White is intent on attacking my Kingside, his last two moves were too slow. 14.h4 was more to the point. This Bishop much isn't doing much at this point and blocks the h-pawn. Tempos are important and White is losing valuable time as a result.

14...Nc5 15.b4?!

This opens his King position. I don't mind the trade of Knights coming up as it removes a White Defender and opens lines.

(On 15.Rhg1 we have 15...b4 16.axb4 Rxb4 17.f5 Qb7 18.f6 gxf6 19.gxf6 Bf8 20.b3 a5 21.Rge1? {ECO gives: 21.Qe3 h5 Rosinov-Falke as unclear} 21...a4 22.Nd5 Rd4 23.Rd4 axb3 24.Rb4 Qa7 25.cxb3 Qa1 26.Kd2 Qb2 - +, Stegman-Berndson, corr. 1979.)

15...Na4!? 16.Nxa4?

(16.Rd3! Bd7 17.Rg1 a5 18.f5 unclear, Palmiotti-George, Italy 1971, ECO. The text simply helps Black.)

16...bxa4 17.Rd3 Bd7 18.Bg4 0-0

While it looks as if I am castling into his pawn storm on the Kingside my King position is more defendable than his. By castling I can bring my King Rook into play.

19.h4 a5!?

No time to be faint hearted. I want to open up Black's Queenside as quickly as possible.

20.Rc3 Qb6 21.Rc4 d5!?

While the series of exchanges dosen't get me a material advantage it strips the White Queenside of defending pieces.

22.exd5 exd5 23.Bxd7

More or less forced, otherwise White will lose material.

23...dxc4 24.Nc6 Bd6 25.Nxb8 Rxb8 26.c3

It appears that White has shut down the lines against his King,... but!

26...axb4 27.cxb4 Bxb4!!(see diagram)

This creates two passed pawns for Black and the White King dosen't even have a fig leaf to cover his nakedness. White should be ready to shoot his troops for deserting his King.

28.axb4 Qxb4 29.Bf5 Qb2+ 30.Kd1 a3 31. Bc2??

While running out of options, this loses the Bishop. Perhaps White was trying to use it as a shield to get his King off the first rank. (Even without this blunder, White is lost. The passed pawns are too strong.)

31...Rd8+ 0-1.

White: Len Meyers
Black: Franco Manarin
Major Open A385 1987>
Caro-Kann Defense/4...Nd7 Variation B17

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7

(A line which has been played with success by such players as Petrosian, Speelman, Smyslov and Karpov, among others. It's been dubbed my some as the so-called "Quiet" or "Positional" variation. For those interested in a good study of this opening should consult Caro-Kann 4...Nd7 by GM Lenoid Shamkovich and Eric Schiller. 4...Bf5 would be the Classical line and 4...Nf6 was explored in the last issue's column (#524), see Marconi-Thomsen and Marconi-Trapp.)

5.Bc4

(The main line.)

5...Ngf6 6.Ng5 e6 7.Qe2!?

(A rather odd early foray for the Queen, but there is a tactical justification. The idea is 8.Nxf7.)

7...Nb6 8.Bb3

(or 8...Bd3!? if 8...Qxd4? ECO gives: 9.N1f3 Qd5 10.Ne5! Qxg2 11.Rf1 Be7 13.Nef3 Qg4 14.Nxf7 +/-, Arnson-J.Helmers, Reykjavik 1982. The pawn is essentially immune to capture regardless of where White retreats his Bishop.)

8...h6

(8...c5!? immediately is also possible.)

9.N5f3 c5 10.Bf4 Nbd5

(10...Nfd5!? ECO.)

11.Be5 Qa5+ 12.Nd2 b5 13.c4 bxc4 14.Bxc4 cxd4 15.Nf3

Developing and attacking the pawn , as I will be able to regain it anyway.

15...Be7 16.Nxd4 Bd7 17.0-0 0-0 18.a3

(And ECO stops here and evalulates the position as slightly better for White.)

18...Rfe8?!

A passive move for Black. Rooks are more effective on open or semi-open files. (With this in mind perhaps 18...Rfc8 or 18...Rac8 may have been better.)

19.b4 Qb6 20.N2b3 Nc3 21.Qd3 Nce4

While Black`s Knight manouvers centralize it and allows it bear down on my King position, the Knight proves to be a liability for Black later in the game.

22.Na5

Putting pressure on Black`s Queenside, while further hindering Black's Queen Bishop from using the long diagonal h1-a8; also giving my own King Bishop a line of retreat in the event Black plays Nf6.

22...Bd6 23.Nf3 Bxe5?!

Even though, this exchange allows the Knight to occupy an excellent post on e5, Bd4 would make it unpleasent for his Queen, forcing it to retreat.

24.Nxe5 Re7?

This moves leaves the Queen Rook undefended.

(24...Ba4!? with the idea of Rad8 or Red8, adhering to one of Purdy's maxims: "Don't support a threatened piece, move it.")

25.Qf3!?(see diagram)

Taking the initiative by pinning the Knight against the Rook on a8.)

25...Bb5?

This was Black's chance last to move his Queen Rook, avoiding the loss of material.

(Simply 25...Rc8.)

26.Rfe1!

With the idea of gaining the two Knights in exchange for a Rook.

26...Bxc4 27.Nexc4

Not 27.Naxc4 as I need to cover the b7 square, so Black can't use it for his Queen to help support the defense of his Knight.

27...Qb5 28.Nd6!

Instead of two Knights for a Rook this wins the exchange with the opportunity to exchange Queens with a winning endgame.

28...Nxd6 29.Qxa8+ Kh7 30.Qc6 Qxc6

Even though Black can avoid the exchange of Queens with 30...Qb8, 31.Red1 with Rac1 to follow would give me tremendous pressure. (Of course not 30...Qd3? 31.Red1.)

31.Nxc6 Rc7 32.Rac1

Protecting my Knight and denying the Black Rook from immediate command of the c-file.

32...Nd5 33.Nd4 Rxc1?!

Black's two Knights are no match for my Rook and Knight in the endgame. This trade makes things even easier.

34.Rxc1 g5 35.Rc6 Ne4 36.Ra6 Nec3 37.Rxa7

(Black could safely resign at this point.)

Kg6 38.Nc6 h5 39.a4

While I had considered 39.Nef6 + with Nxf7 to follow I figured my Queenside pawns would lead to a quicker win.

1-0.

Now that was quick!