[Event "Dorset Rapidplay 2022"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2022.03.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Moore, Gillian"] [Black "Pegg, Russell"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1979"] [BlackElo "2135"] [Annotator "peter"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2022.??.??"] [EventType "rapid"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.03.01"] [TimeControl "900+3"] 1. d4 {A nicely played game by Russell, where he got to a level position and gradually took control by finding a good plan and following it through.} d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bg5 Be6 7. O-O-O+ Nbd7 8. Nf3 Bd6 9. Nb5 Ke7 10. Nxd6 cxd6 {We have ended up with a Sicilian structure. White has the bishop pair but Black does not have to worry about a minor piece appearing on d5 and perhaps has the more obvious plans.} 11. Nd2 Rac8 12. Kb1 h6 13. Bh4 g5 14. Bg3 a6 15. Be2 b5 16. a3 Rc6 17. c3 Rhc8 18. f3 Nb6 19. Bf2 Na4 20. Rc1 h5 $6 {this leaves g5 weak} (20... d5 $15) 21. Bd3 ({White should take the opportunity to break up Black's pawns} 21. Be3 Nh7 (21... g4 22. Bg5) 22. h4 g4 23. fxg4 hxg4) 21... Nd7 22. Bc2 (22. Be3 {is now too late to be effective} f6) 22... Ndc5 {The position is about equal. White could consider 23.Nf1 followed by Ne3} 23. Bxc5 {I am not sure this is a good swap as the bishop had good long term potential, and removing it seems to leave White with a more defensive position.} Nxc5 24. Rhd1 a5 {the start of a good plan, intending to play b4 in due course and to target b2.} 25. Nf1 Rb6 {a natural move but there were a couple of stronger options} (25... Nb3 26. Bxb3 Bxb3 27. Rd3 b4 28. Nd2 Be6 29. axb4 axb4 {leaves Black with some pressure}) (25... Ra8 26. Ne3 (26. b4 {this does not work so well here as the pressure down the a-file is too strong.} Nb3 27. Bxb3 Bxb3 28. Rd2 axb4 29. cxb4 Rca6 $17) 26... b4 27. cxb4 axb4 28. axb4 Ba2+ 29. Ka1 Rca6 $17 {threatening bishop somewhere and Ra1 mate, which forces disruption in the White camp.}) 26. Ne3 (26. b4 $1 { had to be played} Nb3 27. Bxb3 Bxb3 28. Rd2 {Black is still better but without the immediate threats on the a-file, White is much safer than in the 25...Ra8 line.}) 26... b4 {the logical culmination of Black's play and it is very strong!} 27. cxb4 axb4 28. axb4 Rxb4 29. Bd3 (29. Rd2 {indirectly defending b2 would have been more tenacious}) 29... Rcb8 30. Rc2 Rb3 {very nice, exploiting the loose knight on e3} 31. Rcd2 Nxd3 32. Rxd3 Rxb2+ 33. Kc1 Re2 34. Nf5+ (34. R1d2 Rxd2 35. Kxd2 (35. Rxd2 Rb3 36. Nd5+ Bxd5 37. Rxd5 Ra3 38. Rd2 g4 $1 $19) 35... g4 36. fxg4 hxg4 $19 {with the weak h-pawn and the possibility to creating to connected passers by playing f5, this is won for Black, though of course there is still some work to do}) 34... Bxf5 35. exf5 Rbb2 {the threat of Rec2 mate means the d6 pawn does not need to be defended} 36. R3d2 Rbxd2 37. Rxd2 Rxd2 38. Kxd2 d5 39. Kd3 g4 40. fxg4 hxg4 41. h4 gxh3 42. gxh3 Kf6 43. Ke3 Kxf5 44. Kf3 Kg5 {Russell finished on 5 points and won the veteran's prize.} 0-1