[Event "Simultaneous"] [Site "?"] [Date "1978.09.23"] [Round "?"] [White "Miles, Tony"] [Black "Peirson, Steve"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E98"] [Annotator "Martin"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2021.06.02"] {Steve Peirson recalls 'Tony Miles came to York to give a simul - he was a Grandmaster at the time but I don't remember his grade [he was 2565]. I was in my 2nd year at university - I must have gone home for the weekend, presumably specifically for this simul. He played 38 games, won 34, drew 3 and lost 1. I remember being very surprised when he played 20. c6 allowing me to close the queenside. If he'd played 31. Qf2 I would have repeated with Qh3 and he could have had a draw but I suppose he thought he was a pawn up (Fritz gives him a slight edge) and it was worth playing on. Unfortunately for him, 36. Qf2 was not a good move to say the least but I was quite pleased with the way I finished him off. '} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O e5 8. d5 Ne7 9. Ne1 Ne8 10. Bd2 f5 11. Nd3 f4 12. c5 g5 {Steve is the first player to deviate from latest theory but it seems a natural move to play although see note to move 14. Chess engines, which were not around when this game was played, always seems to prefer White but in practice, Black has good chances in these lines.} 13. Rc1 Ng6 14. Bg4 {One of the drawbacks of playing f4 early as White can swap off Black's 'good' light squared bishop which is often needed for any kingside attack.} Nf6 15. Bxc8 Rxc8 16. f3 Ne8 { It seems a bit illogical to move the knight back to the square it has just come from but it does overprotect c7 and d6 and perhaps deters White from queenside play.} 17. Qb3 g4 18. fxg4 Nh4 19. Ne1 (19. Qxb7 {looks like a good alternative as it is a safe pawn to grab but playing 38 simultaneous games, Miles understandably keeps things simple.}) 19... Kh8 20. c6 b6 {A natural response to close the queenside (and it worked) but} (20... bxc6 21. dxc6 Rb8 22. Qc2 Qg5 23. h3 h5 24. Nf3 Nxf3+ 25. gxf3 Qh4 {when Black recovers his pawn. }) 21. Nf3 Nxf3+ 22. gxf3 {White looks a safe pawn up but Black could start to have some fun if White plays inaccurately.} Qh4 {If Black had the light squared bishop rather than the dark squared one then he would have plenty of compensation. As it is, Steve is still in the game and he manages to coordinate all his pieces, swap off the troublesome dark squared bishop and generates a strong kingside attack.} 23. Qc2 Bf6 24. Be1 Qh6 25. Kh1 {Being a pawn up Miles focusses on defence but this way of playing probably helps Steve as he builds up good kingside pressure without fear that his queenside might collapse which often happens in King's Indian Defences.} Bh4 26. Qg2 Bxe1 27. Rcxe1 Rg8 28. Kg1 Qh4 29. Qf2 Qh3 30. Qg2 {Miles is intent on swapping off queens but Steve is having none of it!} Qh4 31. Kh1 {As is often the case when you try to hang on to what you have got (a pawn in this case) you start playing the wrong way.} Kg7 {Steve understandably looks to place his king on the safer f7 square before playing h5 but there is nothing to fear striking with this move straight away.} (31... h5 $1 32. Rg1 $2 (32. g5 {is better but very illogical.} Rxg5 33. Qf2 Qxf2 34. Rxf2 Nf6 35. Rg1 {when if Black pays careful attention to his queenside pawns, a draw should be the result.}) 32... Rg5 $1 33. Nd1 hxg4 34. fxg4 Nf6 35. Nf2 Rcg8 {may have turned the tables, especially in a simultaneous game}) 32. Nd1 Kf7 33. Nf2 h5 34. Rg1 hxg4 35. Nxg4 Nf6 {Black now has good drawing chances due to the kingside pressure but Miles misses a simple tactic which often happens when under the simultaneous spotlight and the pressure this brings.} 36. Qf2 $2 ({Miles should have probably taken the draw here by shuffling a rook on the back rank with} 36. Rd1 ) 36... Rxg4 $1 {Well spotted by Steve as the queen on f2 is no longer defended!} 37. Qe2 (37. fxg4 $2 Qxf2) 37... Rxg1+ 38. Rxg1 Nh5 39. Qe1 Ng3+ 40. Kg2 Rg8 {There is no defence. Well played Steve in reaping the rewards for putting Miles under pressure. The pawn sac on move 17 worked as it diverted Miles' attention from the queenside to the kingside where Black is strongest and in simultaneous circumstances, a tactic is often likely to be overlooked!} 0-1