FIRST STEPS (July/August 1998)

92RF2 looks like it will be my best APCT Rook Final having scored four wins, one loss and four draws so far with one game remaining. I thought I would go over my games in this section to highlight some interesting critical positions. As you play through the games, keep in mind that my objective for this tournament was to win my games as White and not to lose with Black.

Arnold,R (2090) - Jones,W (2240) [A03]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 Bg4 3.e3 Nd7 4.Be2 e6 5.0–0 Bd6 6.d3 Ngf6 7.Nc3 c6 8.e4 Bxf3 9.Bxf3 d4 10.Ne2 e5 11.fxe5 Nxe5 12.Ng3 0–0 13.Be2 h6?! 14.Nf5 Bc7 15.c3!? dxc3 16.bxc3 Re8 17.Rb1 b5 18.Qc2 Bb6+ 19.Kh1 Ng6 20.Bb2 Re6 21.Nd4 Bxd4 22.cxd4 a5 23.Rf5 Qd7?! 24.Rc1 Qe8! 25.Rf2 Qd8 26.e5 Nd5 27.Bg4?! Ne3 28.Bxe6 Nxc2 29.Bxf7+ Kh8 30.Rcxc2 Qg5! 31.Rxc6 Qe3 32.Rf1 Rf8 33.Rcc1 Qe2 34.Rfe1 Qxd3 35.e6 Ne7 36.Rc5?! Rc8! 37.Rxc8+ Nxc8 38.Bc1 Qxd4 39.Be3 Qc3 40.Bf2 Ne7 41.Kg1 b4 42.Kf1 Qd3+ 43.Re2 a4 44.Bg3 Nd5 45.Kf2 b3 46.axb3 a3 47.Be5 Qf5+ 48.Kg3 a2 0–1

I now think that 13..h6?! was at best a dubious move that seriously weakens Black's kingside. As a result of 10..e5, Black has a glaring hole in f5. A position with the WKN on f5, the WQB targeting on h6 from c1, a semi-open f-file and the WQ and WKB lurking in the background should have triggered all sorts of alarm bells during my analysis. Even if the various lines with sacrificices on h6 do not work, I handed Robert a dream attacking position without gaining anything in exchange. More consistent with the e5 push would have been to reposition Black's pieces with 13..Ng6 14.Nf5 Be5 after which it is difficult to see how White makes progress.

White may have missed a strong attack when he played 17.Rb1. Instead 17.d4! poses very difficult defensive problems for Black based on sacrificing the WQB on h6, which in most lines wins three pawns for the piece and completely strips the BK of his pawn cover. One possible line is 17.d4! Ng6 (17..Ne4 18.Qb3! Bb6 (18..Ng6 19.Nh6+ is decisive) 19.Be3 Nd7 20.Bc4 should be winning for White) 18.e5 Nd5 19.Qc2 Nde7 20.Bh6! Nf5 (20..gh 21.Nh6+ and Black will be crushed) 21.Qf5 Qd5 (21..Qe7 22.Bg5) 22.Be3 when White is a pawn up and has good prospects for a winning attack or a at least favorable endgame.

27.Bg4?! was probably a miscalculation by White. Although material after 27.Bg4?! Ne3 28.Bxe6 Nxc2 29.Bxf7+ Kh8 30.Rcxc2 Qg5! 31.Rxc6 Qe3 32.Rf1 Rf8 seems to favor White (queen for rook, bishop and two pawns), White's pieces are uncoordinated and weak whereas Black's pieces work well together. The rest of the game is not necessarily easy but the position should be won for Black.

Jones,W (2240) - Barbre,S (2330) [C78]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 b5 6.Bb3 Bb7 7.c3 Nxe4 8.d4 Na5 9.Bc2 exd4 10.b4 Nc4 11.Bxe4 Bxe4 12.Re1 d5 13.Nxd4 c5!? 14.bxc5 Bxc5 15.f3 0–0 16.fxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Qd5 18.Rh4! Rad8 19.Qd3 f5 20.Bg5 Rde8 21.Nd2 Ne5 22.Qc2! h6 23.Be3 Ng4! 24.Rxg4 fxg4 25.Qb3 Qxb3 26.N2xb3 Bxd4 27.Bxd4 Re2 28.Nc5 Rd2 29.Nxa6 Re8 30.Nc7 Ree2 31.Kf1 Rxg2 32.Bg1 h5 33.Nxb5 h4! 34.Nd4 h3 35.Nf5? Rd8 36.Bc5 Rd3 37.Ne3 Rxh2 38.Nxg4 Rf3+ 39.Kg1!? Rg2+ 40.Kh1 Rxg4 41.Bd4 Rg2 42.a4 Rd3 43.a5 Rdd2 44.Bg1 Ra2 45.Rc1 Rxa5 46.c4 Raa2 0–1

Stephen's choice of the Open Spanish really surprised me as this opening is not that popular at the GM level (at least not before the Kasparov-Anand match). I was even more surprised when Stephen sacrificed a piece for what turned out to be a very strong initiative. Notice that after 11.Bxe4 Bxe4 12.Re1 d5 13.Nxd4 c5!? 14.bxc5 Bxc5 15.f3 0–0 16.fxe4 dxe4 17.Rxe4 Qd5 18.Rh4! Rad8 all of Black's pieces are developed and ready to pounce on White's position. In contrast White's queenside is completely undeveloped and his King and KR are exposed. This is a very sound piece sacrifice which I should have identified when I was reviewing the Open Spanish.

The game followed a book line through 22.Qc2!, which I believe was a theoretical novelty. I did not like the positions for White after 22.Qf1, all of which I judged as a clear plus for Black, so I had to find a better move. The logic of 22.Qc2! is to capitalize on Black's piece sacrifice after 22.Qc2! h6 23.Be3 Ng4! 24.Rxg4 fxg4 25.Qb3 Qxb3 26.N2xb3 Bxd4 27.Bxd4. In this position White has reduced Black's attacking potential by exchanging the queens as well as a rook and pawn for two pieces. I knew that Black would continue to have a strong initiative based on the penetration of his rooks to the seventh rank, but thought I could survive the onslaught by returning the two pieces for a rook and pawn at the right moment. After 27..Re2 28.Nc5 Rd2 29.Nxa6 Re8 30.Nc7 Ree2 31.Kf1 Rxg2 32.Bg1 h5 33.Nxb5 h4! 34.Nd4 h3 I started to think that I would survive the game because the lines starting with 35..Rh2 lead to draws. Unfortunately the euphoria inspired by my unexpected survival also inspired a feeling that I could now try to win the game by eliminating some of Black's kingside pawns. This led to the lemon 22.Nf5? which loses immediately. Forced was 35.a4! Which leads to at least a draw as follows:

35.a4! g3 36.Nf3 A) 36...Rdf2+?! 37.Bxf2 gxh2 38.Nxh2 Rxh2 39.Kg1 Rg2+ 40.Kf1 Rg6 41.Bg1 Ra6 42.a5 g5 43.Kf2 g4 44.Kg3 Kf7 45.Kxg4 winning; and B) 36...gxh2 37.Nxh2 Rxh2 38.Bxh2 Rxh2 39.Kg1 Rg2+ 40.Kh1 Rg6 41.a5 Ra6 42.Kh2 Kf7 43.Kxh3 Ke6 44.Kg4 Kd5 45.Kf4 Kc4 46.Kg5 Kxc3 47.Ra4 Kb3 48.Ra1 Kb2 49.Rh1 Rxa5+ 50.Kg6 Ra7 51.Rh7 with a draw.

As my game with Stpehen game shows, you must always be alert to the dangers inherent in any position.

Campbell,F (2135) - Jones,W (2240) [E42]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Nge2 cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.c5 Ne4 8.Bd2 Nxd2 9.Qxd2 Qe7! 10.a3 Ba5 11.g3 Bd8 12.b4 b6 13.Bg2 a5 14.0–0 0–0 15.f4 bxc5 16.bxc5 g6 17.Nc1 Ba6 18.Re1 Qd7 19.Nd3 Nc6 20.Ne5 Nxe5 21.fxe5 Bc7 22.Qg5 a4 23.Re3 Rab8 24.Nxd5? exd5 25.e6 fxe6 26.Rxe6 Rf5! 27.Qe3 Qb5! 28.Bh3 Rf7 29.Re7 Qb1+ 30.Qe1 Qxa1 0–1

This was also my second game with Franklin. I won the first one from the Black side of a Nimzo-Indian so I was curious to see if he would deviate or surprise me with an improvement.

Franklin replaced 5.Bd3 which he used in the first game with 5.Nge2, a system which is becoming increasingly popular. I like the line after 5...cxd4 6.exd4 d5 7.c5 Ne4 8.Bd2 Nxd2 9.Qxd2 Qe7! 10.a3 Ba5 11.g3 Bd8 12.b4 b6 13.Bg2 a5 because Black gains the bishop pair and counterattacks strongly on the queenside along the dark squares. Two features caught my attention in this position. The first is that White's pawns are overextended and without proper support, as would be the case with the WKR on c1 or b1. The second is that Black's pieces are "developed" along the back rank! The BQ, BQR and BKB are busy guarding the queenside black quare complex while the BQB and BQN are playing a similar role protecting the queenside white squares. White, on the other hand, is overextended on the queenside and badly developed with the scope of the WKB and both knights severely limited by the e6-d5 pawn chain. I believe Black is at least equal in this position.

Unfortunately White self-destructed with 24.Nd5?, an unsound sacrifice. I think Franklin missed 26..Rf5! which nets a piece for Black. 29..Qb1+ and 30..Qa1 were both neat tactical shots.

Jones,W (2240) - Edwards,J (2455) [B22]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 c5 2.c3 e5 3.Nf3 Nc6 4.Bc4! Nf6 5.Ng5 d5 6.exd5 Na5 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Qa4 Be7 9.d3 0–0 10.Bxd7 Nxd7 11.Nf3 f5!? 12.0–0 b6 13.Re1 Bf6 14.c4 Rf7 15.Nc3 g5 16.h3 h5 17.Bd2 g4 18.Nh2 Bg5 19.Qc2 Rg7 20.Kh1 Nb7 21.Ne2 Bxd2 22.Qxd2 f4 23.Ng1 Qh4 24.Nf1 Nd6 25.g3 Qg5 26.h4 Qf6 27.Ne2 Nf5 28.Nc3 Nxh4! 29.Ne4 Qe7 30.gxh4 Qxh4+ 31.Nh2 Kh8 32.Rg1 a5 33.Rae1 Rag8 34.a3 Kh7 35.Qe2 Rg6 36.Nd2 R8g7 37.b3 Kg8 38.Rb1 g3 39.fxg3 fxg3 40.Rg2gxh2 41.Rxg6 Rxg6 42.Qxh2 Qd4 43.Qxh5 Kg7 44.Nf3 Qxd3 45.Rg1 Rxg1+ 46.Nxg1 Qg6 47.Qh3 Nf6 48.Nf3 Qb1+ 49.Kh2 Qc2+ 50.Qg2+ Ng4+ 51.Kg3 Qxg2+ 52.Kxg2 a4!? 53.Nd2 axb3 54.Kf3 Nf6 55.Nxb3 Kg6 56.a4 Kf5 57.Ke3 e4 ½–½

I only give the moves from my game with Jon as we analyze the game together in a separate article in this issue. This was my most exciting game of the section. For the record, this was also my second game against Jon. Although I lost the first one, I felt proud of drawing with the highest rated player in the APCT!

Gilmour,K (2095) - Jones,W (2240) [B42]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Qc7 6.0–0 Nf6 7.Qe2 d6 8.c4 g6 9.Nc3 Bg7 10.Rd1 0–0 11.Bc2 Nbd7 12.Nf3 Ng4 13.Bf4 Nde5 14.Nd2 b6 15.h3 Nf6 16.Bb3!? Nfd7 17.Nf3 Bb7 18.Rd2 Nxf3+ 19.Qxf3 Ne5 20.Qe2 Rac8 21.Rc1 Rfd8 22.Bg5 Re8 23.Bf4 Red8 24.Bg5 f6!? 25.Be3 Kf7!? 26.f4 Nd7 27.f5 Nc5 28.fxe6+ Nxe6 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.exd5 Nc5 31.Bc2 Re8 32.Qf3 Kg8 33.Rf1 f5 34.b3 b5 35.cxb5 axb5 36.Re2 Nd7 37.Bb1 Ne5 38.Qf4 Qb7 39.Rd1 Nf7 40.Qf2 ½–½

Yet another "second" game against one of my opponents in this section. I lost my first game against Kent on the Black side of a Sicilian Paulsen. Having scored 14-7-2 with B42 I was anxious to prove that my favorite opening as Black was down but not out!

In our first game Kent played 7.c4. In this game he deviated in favor of the mainline starting with 7.Qe2. The only remarkable points about this game are 16.Bb3!? and 24..f6!?, 25..Kf7!?, both of which are unusual. 16.Bb3!? foregoes the more traditional formations with a pawn on b3 or b4 in favor of redeploying the WKB on the a2-g8 diagonal. If White manages to open this diagonal, the WKB can become deadly. However, this danger never materializes in this game so White has no better than to redeploy the WKB again with 31.Bc2.

21..Rfd8 begs for White to play 22.Bg5 after which a draw based on a repetition of moves could be agreed. The alternative is to play the ugly moves f6 to break the pin and Kf7 to defend e6. I decided the "reject" Kent's draw offer implicit in 24.Bg5 and try what at least for me was a new formation. Kent correctly plays f4 to displace the BKN and more importantly to open some lines with f5 and exchanging on e6. However, after 29.Nd5 Bxd5 30.exd5 Nc5 31.Bc2 Re8 White has to be careful not to end up with a worse position as would be the case after the impulsive 32.b4 Bh6 or 34.b4 Ne4 with a glaring weakness on c4. Although I felt that Black is at least equal and perhaps slightly better after 40.Qf2, I accepted Kent's draw offer. My position in the tournament led to accept the draw in a position where I would have normally played on because I could not afford to lose another game.

Jones,W (2240) - Nabours,P (2265) [B85]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nc6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.Be3 a6 7.Be2 Nf6 8.0–0 d6 9.a4 Be7 10.f4 0–0 11.Kh1 Re8 12.Bf3 Rb8 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.Nb3 b6 15.g4 Bc8 16.g5 Nd7 17.Bg2 Bf8 18.Rad1 Nc5 19.Nd4 Bb7 20.h4 Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Bc6!? 22.b3 b5 23.axb5 axb5 24.b4?! Na4 25.Nb1 Qb7 26.Rde1 d5 27.e5 Nb6 28.c3 Nc4 29.Qf2 g6 30.h5 Ra8 31.hxg6 fxg6 32.Bh3 Qf7 33.Re2 Ra1 34.Nd2 Rea8 35.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 36.Kh2 Ra3 37.Nxc4 dxc4 38.Rd2 ½–½

No, this was not my second game against Phil but it was my second consecutive game against him as White. I had foolishly lost the first game after pressing too hard for a win so again I was determined to hold the line.

This was another game that followed a book line deep into the middlegame. After 20.h4 the main characteristics of White's position are (a) the advanced position of the kingside pawns which carries the threat of a pawn storm on Black's castled kingside; (b) as a result of (a), a lose kingside pawn structure which implies that the WK may be difficult to defend if the attack on Black's kingside position does not win; (c) the prevension of a b5 pawn break by Black via control of b5; (d) the centralized battery of WQ and WQR on the d-file;(e) the threat of f5 supported by the WKR; and (f) the fianchetto of the WKB. The main characteristics of the Black position are: (a) the relatively defenseless kingside castled position (i.e. only the BKB in the immediate vicinity of the BK); (b) the weak pawn on d6 and the possibility of a d5 pawn break; (c) the possibility of a b5 pawn break supported by the BQR; (d) the fianchetto of the BQB;(e) the centralized position of both knights, especially the BKN; and (f) indirect pressure along the c-file exerted by the BQ. Based on these characteristics I evaluate the position as slightly favorable for White.

In this position it is relatively easy to generate a plan for Black. He cannot generate any activity on the kingside and the center breaks of d5 and e5 are better for White. It follows that Black's only possible activity has to be on the queenside and that the most promising continuation is the b5 pawn break. Black accomplishes it with 20..Nxd4 21.Bxd4 Bc6 22.b3 b5 23.axb5 axb5. With the benefit of hindsight, 24.b4?! is a terrible move because it creates wonderful holes in a4 and c4 for Black to exploit. As in my game against Barbre, this is another instance where I failed to appreciate the danger inherent in my position. Much better would have been to follow up 24.b4?! With 24..Na4 25.Ne2!? Nb6 26.Ra1 Nc4 27.Qc3 Ra8 28.Ng3 when White's position has improved or even to give up the bishop pair with 24.Bc5 dc when White can follow up with e5 and Ne4 at the appropriate time.

After 29.Qf2 g6 it is White who is trying to remain in the game given the threat that Black will take over the a-file combined with the excellent knight on c4. 30.h5 is practically forced as it is the only move that generates some counterplay for White. 31..hg? would have given the advantage back to White in the form of an attack down the h-file starting with 32.Qh4. Once Black is forced to capture31..fg, 32.Bh3 forces Black to defend which relieves the pressure on White's position. I offered a draw with 38.Rd2 because I was trying to avoid losses at all costs after my loss of Barbre.

Pimm,D (1920) - Jones,W (2240) [B43]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Bd3 Nf6 6.0–0 Qc7 7.Nc3 Bc5 8.Nb3 Be7 9.Be3 d6 10.f4 Nbd7 11.Qf3 b5 12.g4 h6 13.Bd4 Bb7 14.g5?! hxg5 15.fxg5 d5 16.Rf2 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bxe4 19.Qxe4 Rc8 20.g6 Nf6 21.gxf7+ Kxf7 22.Re1 Qc6 23.Qxc6 Rxc6 24.c3 Rh5 25.Be5 Rf5 26.Rfe2 Nd7! 27.Nd4 Nxe5 28.Nxf5 Nf3+ 29.Kf2 Nxe1 30.Nxe7 Kxe7 31.Rxe1 Kf6 32.Ke3 g5 33.Rf1+ Ke5 34.Rg1 Kf5 35.Rf1+ Kg4 36.Rg1+ Kh4 37.Kf3 Rc5 38.Ke3? Kh3 0–1

My game with Pimm is characterized by White's premature kingside attack. After 14.g5?! hxg5 15.fxg5 Black gains a monster tempo with 15..d5 (threatening mate in one) which equalizes for Black. The series of exchanges on e4 simplifies the position by reducing the attacking potential of White's pieces. I thought that White should have maximized his attacking chances by avoiding the exchange of queens so I was very happy with my position after 23.Qc6 Rc6. Black have an extra pawn island but the material is even and Black has a passed center pawn and the more active King.

The line beginning with 26...Nd7! allows further simplification of the position after 27.Nd4 Nxe5 28.Nxf5 Nf3+ 29.Kf2 Nxe1 30.Nxe7 Kxe7 31.Rxe1 Kf6. Although Black may have a slight advantage in the ensuing position due to the passed pawn, the game should be drawn. However, Pimm made a mistake with 38.Ke3?, which loses instantly by causing the loss of the h-pawn, when 38.Re1 maintains the draw.

Jones,W (2240) - Quigley,D (2065) [C12]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4 5.e5 h6 6.Bd2 Bxc3 7.bxc3 Ne4 8.Qg4 g6 9.Bd3 Nxd2 10.Kxd2 c5 11.Qf4 Qa5 12.dxc5 Qxc5 13.Ne2 Nd7 14.Nd4 a6 15.Nb3 Qc7 16.Rae1 b5 17.h4 Bb7 18.Rh3 Rh7?! 19.Qd4 h5 20.f4 Rc8 21.Rg1 Nb6 22.g4 hxg4 23.Rxg4 Kd7 24.h5! Rch8 25.Bxg6! fxg6 26.Rxg6 Na4?! 27.h6 Qc4 28.Qf2 Qe4 29.Qg3 Rf8 30.Rh4 b4 31.cxb4 Qxb4+ 32.c3 Qa3 33.Rg7+ Rf7 34.Rxf7+ Rxf7 35.Qg6 Rf8 36.Qg7+! Kc6!? 37.Na5+ Kb6 38.Qxb7+ Kxa5 39.Qb4+ Qxb4 40.cxb4+ Kb5 41.h7 Rh8 42.Kc2 a5 43.bxa5 Kxa5 44.Kd3 Nb6 45.Kd4 Nd7 46.f5 exf5 47.e6 Nf8 48.Kxd5 f4 49.e7 Ng6 50.Rh5 f3 51.Ke4+ Ka4 52.Kxf3 Nxe7 53.Kg4 ½–½

Another game in the collection of second games against my opponents in this section. I beat Dan with Black in the first game so now it was his turn to try to score the point. This was my second most exciting game of the tournament.

Dan adopts the MacCutcheon variation of the French Defense which I do not particularly like. I much prefer the tactics of the Winawer than the positional maneuvering of the MacCutcheon so this was a very good choice of an opening against me. Yet you will see that I still managed to make a tactical melee out of this game.

Dan chooses a more obscure line of this variation starting with 11...Qa5. I do not mind this variation because the early sortie by the BQ allows White to gain a whole on d4 and at least two tempi after 12.dxc5 Qxc5 (one) 13.Ne2 Nd7 14.Nd4 a6 (two) 15.Nb3 Qc7 (three). White is also making all sorts of progress through 18.Rh3 when Black basically has to sit tight and wait for White to reveal his hand. 18..Rh7?! does not seem correct if nothing else because of the pin on the g-pawn. I thought about exploiting this move with 19.h5!? after which a possible continuation could have been 19..g5 20.Qb4 (taking control of the dark squares on the queenside to prevent any counterplay by Black) Rg7 21.Na5 Rb8 22.Nb7 Rb7 but I could not see how White makes additional progress.

Instead I opted for a more subtle way of exploiting the pin starting with 19.Qd4 h5 20.f4 Rc8 21.Rg1 Nb6 22.g4 hxg4 23.Rxg4 Kd7 24.h5! Rch8. In this position White has a choice of sacrificing the WKB or the WKR. I suspect I may have missed a win starting with 25.hg!! as follows:

25.hxg!! Rxh3 26.gxf7 Rh2+ 27.Kc1

A) 27...Nc4 28.Bxc4 bxc4 (28..Rh1+ 29.Kb2 Qc4 (29..bc 30.Rg8) 30.Rg8) 29.f8(Q) Rxf8 30.Rg7+ Kd8 31.Rxc7 Kxc7 32.Qc5+; and

B) 27...Rh1+ 28.Kb2 Na4+ 29.Ka3 Rf8 (29..Ke7 30.Qb4+ at least draws) 30.f5 Rxf7 31.fxe6+ Kxe6 32.Rg6+ Ke7 33.Qb4+ Ke8 34.Rg8+ Kd7 35.Qg4+ winning.

After 25.Bg6! White has a strong passed h-pawn but I could not find a win. I also spent the rest of the game trying to find a drawing resource as it became more and more clear that I could not win. I finally found one starting with 33.Rg7+ Rf7 34.Rxf7+ Rxf7 35.Qg6 Rf8 36.Qg7+! Kc6!? 37.Na5+ Kb6 38.Qxb7+ Kxa5 39.Qb4+ Qxb4 40.cxb4+ Kb5 41.h7. Notice that the b-pawn is poisoned; if 40..Kb4? 41.f5+ Ka3 42.fe wins for White.

The only other insteresting resource in the remainder of the game is 46.f5 which breaks up Black's central pawns and finally allows White to reach the draw.

Riggs,B (1860) - Jones,W (2240) [B43]
APCT 92RF2, 1996
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Qc7 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bb4 8.Nde2 Be7! 9.0–0 Nc6 10.a4 0–0 11.h3 Rb8 12.Be3 Ne5! 13.Kh2?! b6 14.f4? Neg4+ 15.hxg4 Nxg4+ 16.Kg1 Nxe3 17.Qd3 Nxf1 18.Kxf1 d6 19.Bf3 Bb7 20.Kg2 Rfd8 21.Rh1 Bf6 22.g4 h6 23.Nd4 e5 24.Nf5 exf4 25.Nd5 Bxd5 26.exd5 b5 27.axb5 axb5 28.c3 Qc4 29.Qd1 b4 0–1

This was my fourth game against Brent having won one and drawn two. Unfortunately Brent self-destructed pretty early which makes the game less interesting although the tactics are pretty.

In all my games playing the Paulsen as Black, very few players have adopted a kingside fianchetto even though I think this line is decent for White. However, Brent misplays the line a bit by spending too much time making slow moves (6.g3/7.Bg2, 11.h3 and 13.Kh2?!). The losing mistake was unprotecting the WQB by advancing the f-pawn. After 14.f4? Neg4+ 15.hxg4 Nxg4+ 16.Kg1 Nxe3 17.Qd3 Nxf1 18.Kxf1 d6 White could have resigned being down an exchange and a pawn.

I do not give the moves of my game with David White because it is still in progress.

Did I meet my objectives for the tournament? Only half way. Of my five games as White I lost one, drew three and expect to win the remaining one for an even score. As Black, I won four and drew one! Ironically these results reflect my latest OTB results so I have to continue to work on my game as White, specifically on assessing the danger inherent in my opponent's position. If you undergo a similar exercise of analysing your games you will probably discover you weak points so you can try to improve them.