[Event "MK Club Champ"] [White "Dominic Bartram"] [Black "Dominic Watson"] [Site ""] [Round ""] [Annotator ""] [Result "1-0"] [Date "2024.06.27"] [PlyCount "75"] 1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 d6 3. e3 Nf6 4. c4 Be7 5. d4 exd4 (5... Nbd7 )6. exd4 Bf5 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 O-O 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Nbd2 c6 11. h4 {largely tempted into it by the idea of Ng5 fishing pole tactics, but also looking for something like the following continuation} Nh5 12. g4 {sometimes I feel like the devil is whispering moves to me, and I do tend to listen.} (12. g3 {probably very safe and enjoyable as a position, buuut} )Nf4 13. Qf5 (13. Qe4 Ng2+ 14. Kf1 Nf6 15. Qf5 g6 16. Qd3 (16. Qc2 Nf4 )Nf4 {seems weak, so the queen must venture even further} )Ng2+ 14. Kf1 g6 15. Qd3 Nxh4 16. Nxh4 Bxh4 {he seemed to realise the following line here, but there's still a lot to do} 17. Qh3 g5 18. f4 {many ideas were possible here. I wanted d5, but couldn't see the knight being moved from e5, and many alternative knight and queen moves, different plans, and move orders came to mind, but this was what called out to me most of all.} Nf6 {perhaps Qf6 was a little more resilient, but seems to be tempting fate with the b2 bishop. other defences were available, but often could simply be responded to with f5 of my own, closing up shop before returning to the h file attack} 19. fxg5 Bxg5 20. Ne4 {got to blitz this out right away and thought I'd get a swift resignation, but it was not to be so simple :P} h6 21. Nxg5 Nxg4 {probably the best attempt to survive, but I believe the endgame would be winning after the knight trade and Rg1 forcing the queen trade without fixing his pawn structure, but this position needed an attack, and frankly, I wasn't certain I wouldn't draw that endgame.} 22. Ne4 f5 {had hoped for Qd7 instead, but he of course spotted it} 23. Nf2 Qg5 {I find it noteworthy how this game has constantly had this bishop threatening to open up and become the best piece on the board from b2-h8, but never did, and instead I just give up and put it back where it started!} 24. Bc1 (24. Nxg4 {hope you're not thinking of this one :P} fxg4+ )Qg7 {now my plan doesn't work. hoped to play Bxh6, but now I see I'm getting mated on f2 in that line :P} 25. Be3 f4 (25... Rae8 26. Re1 Rxe3 27. Rxe3 Qxd4 28. Re2 Qa1+ 29. Kg2 {this is how I saw that going, didn't feel too worried, but had to be careful} )(25... Nxe3+ 26. Qxe3 Rae8 {also should be fine, but I wasn't sure in the game. I see now, Qxe8 followed by Rg1 will trade to the winning endgame I already turned down, and the queen also could take h6 now} )26. Nxg4 {able to blitz most of this out, but I think I miss more critical mate stuff in doing so.} fxe3+ 27. Ke2 {prime location for the king} Qxd4 28. Nxh6+ Kg7 29. Rag1+ {thought this was mate, haha, almost tried to correct him as he played Kf6} Kf6 30. Qf5+ Ke7 31. Ng8+ {almost played Rg7+, losing a full rook! at least I see how I can play the same idea next though} Ke8 (31... Rxg8 32. Rh7+ )32. Qe6+ Kd8 33. Qe7+ Kc8 34. Qxf8+ Kc7 35. Qe7+ Kb6 36. Qxe3 Re8 37. Qxe8 Qb2+ 38. Kd3 1-0