Luke Barker vs Damien Henderson, Phones Tournament, Round One, 1.4.2007

1 e4 e6

2 d4 d5

3 Nd2 c5

I hadn't read up on the Tarrasch so played a system more ususally used against the French advance, with Nc6 and Qb6. Probably not best but I think playable.

4 Nf3 Nc6

5 c3 Qb6

6 exd5 exd5

7 Qb3 Nf6

8 Qxb6 axb6

9 Bb5 Bd6

10 0-0 0-0

11 dxc5 dxc5

12 Bxc6 bxc6

 

 

 

 

 

White has doubled black's c pawns but this doesn't seem to be much of a plus as they can't be blockaded or attacked. Black now has the bishop pair, more room to manuveur and half-open a or b files to attack down.

13 Re1 Bf5

14 Nf1 c4

15 Nd4 Bd7

16 h3 Ra4

17 Be3 Rfa8

18 a3 c5 (Nailing the backwards b pawn, which can now be attacked)

 

 

 

 

 

19 Nf3 Nh5

20 N1d2 Nf4 (aiming for the outpost on d3)

21 Bxf4 Bxf4

22 Re7 Be6

23 b3 cxb3

24 Nxb3 Bd6

25 Rb7 c4

26 Nd4 Rxa3

27 Rxa3 Rxa3

28 g4(creating an escape square for the king on g2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

28 ...h5

I was pretty pleased with this move. The idea is that if black can munch up white's g and h pawns, he threatens a mate on the back rank, while also solving his own backrank problems. Ie 29 Nxe6 hxg 30 Ng5 gxh! 31 Nxh3 (or 31 Nd4 Ra1+ leads to mate), winning a pawn. Or 29 Ng5 hxg 30 Nxe3 gxh is similar. 29 gxh Bxh3 also threatens a backrank mate. That said, I haven't run this past Fritz and am not at a board, so have probably missed something obvious.

29 Nb5 Ra1+

30 Kg2 hxg4

31 hxg4 Bf8

32 Ne5 Rb1 (pinning the knight)

33 Rb8 (pinning the bishop) g5

34 Nc6 Kg7

35 Nd4 Rxb8

36 Nxe6+ fxe6

37 Nxb8 Kf6

38 Kf3 Bg7

39 Ke3 Ke5

40 Nc6+ Kd6

41 Nd8 e5

42 Nf7+ Kc5

43 Nxg5 Bh6 (Luke was under considerable time trouble here and didn't see the pin)

 

 

 

 

44 f4 exf4+

45 Kxf4 Bxg5+

46 Kxg5 d4

47 cxd4 Kxd4

48 Kf6 c3

White resigns 0-1

(49 g5 c2

50 g6 c1Q

51 g7 Qc6+

52 Kf7 Q e6+

53 Kf8 Qf6+

54 Kg8 Ke6

55 Kh8 Qh6+

56 Kg8 Kf6

57 Kf8 Qf7