[Event "Bournemouth League"] [Site "Highcliffe CC"] [Date "2019.01.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Christian Westrap"] [Black "Eddie Barker"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A57"] [Annotator "Christian"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2019.01.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. Qc2 {The second time I have played this move against the Benko. One of the ideas behind this move is to accept the pawn under more favourable circumstances, should Black allow it.} d6 5. e4 g6 $6 { This allows a favourable capture on b5, since the bishop on f1 now also controls that square.} (5... bxc4 $1 6. Bxc4 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O $44 { is better, with an interesting game. White has more space but Black has an open b-file and has not sacrificed any material. Black's game is fully playable in my opinion.}) 6. cxb5 $1 $14 {I believe White is better after this move as Black will struggle to get enough compensation for the pawn.} Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bf4 (8. Nf3 a6 9. a4 $14 {was also good.}) 8... a6 9. a4 axb5 10. Bxb5 Na6 $1 {A good move, the knight will find an excellent square on b4 - should White exchange it then the bishop will become powerful on a6.} 11. Nf3 Nb4 12. Qb3 Ba6 13. Bxa6 Rxa6 $6 (13... Qb6 $1 {threatening Nd3+} 14. O-O Qxa6 {gives better compensation.}) 14. O-O Qd7 {After the game we both felt that this move was awkward as it takes the d7 square away from the knight. My engine likes the move though!} 15. Qc4 {White is aiming to close up the queenside with Nb5 and b3.} Nh5 16. Bd2 Rfa8 17. Rac1 Qb7 $6 {I think Black should try to create some counterplay with f5 or e6.} (17... f5 18. Ng5 fxe4 19. Ngxe4 Qf5 {and White is still better but it's complicated!}) 18. b3 Rb6 $2 (18... Bxc3 {was necessary to prevent the above-mentioned clamp. I had intended } 19. Rxc3 $16) 19. Nb5 {Black is now losing another pawn since the knight cannot retreat.} Nf6 (19... Na6 20. Ba5 $18) 20. Bxb4 cxb4 21. Rfe1 Nd7 22. Qxb4 Nc5 23. Qc4 Qd7 (23... Rc8 {is unplayable as the knight is pinned.} 24. b4 ) 24. e5 $1 $18 {Now White begins to attack, breaking through in the centre!} h6 25. Re3 Bf8 26. e6 fxe6 27. dxe6 Qd8 (27... Qe8 28. Nc7 {is decisive.}) 28. Qf4 Bg7 29. Qf7+ Kh7 30. Ng5+ $1 {A nice finish, Black will be checkmated in a few moves - one of my best games!} 1-0