[Event "4NCL Season 3 Div 1 Round 2"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.02.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Wilson, Jamie"] [Black "Chan, Neville"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B00"] [WhiteElo "2158"] [BlackElo "1985"] [Annotator "peter"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bg4 5. Bb5 a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. h3 Bh5 { This the main line of this offbeat opening and in practice Black scores around 50% from here, though much less well at GM level} 8. O-O e6 9. Qd3 Be7 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 d5 13. Be5 Rb8 14. Rab1 Rb7 15. Qd3 Ra7 16. a3 Nd7 17. Bh2 {So far so normal. This looks slightly better for White but it not easy to find a really convincing plan for him. Black is passive but should probably accept this, sit tight and respond flexibly to whatever White does. Psychologically easier said than done.} f5 $2 {An attempt for some activity but it hands White the e-file, gives his heavy pieces access to the weak c6 pawns, and destabilises Black's kingside.} 18. exd5 exd5 19. Re6 (19. Qe3 { intending Qe6 is also strong}) 19... Nb8 (19... Nb6 20. Rbe1 Bd6 21. Ne2 { White can proceed with Be5 and Nf4 and it becomes difficult for Black to defend against White's kingside activity, which is perhaps not surprising as he is effectively two peices down on that side of the board.}) 20. Rbe1 Bd6 { alternatives are no better} (20... Bf6 21. Na4 Nd7 (21... Ra8 {passive defence fares no better} 22. Nc5 Ra7 23. R6e2 Qc8 24. Ne6 Re8 25. Qxf5 Bxd4 26. Qg4 Bf6 27. Ng5 $18) 22. Rxc6 {White wins a pawn and it can easily be followed by more material}) (20... Rf7 21. Qe3 Kf8 22. Bg3 {threatening Bh4} h6 23. Bh4 g5 24. Rxh6 gxh4 25. Rh8+ Kg7 26. Qh6#) 21. Na4 Bxh2+ (21... Nd7 22. Bxd6 cxd6 23. Rxd6) (21... f4 22. f3 Nd7 23. Qc3 Nf6 24. Nc5 (24. Qxc6) 24... Ra8 (24... Qc8 25. Nd3) 25. Nd3 {and White can start mopping up a pawn or two}) 22. Kxh2 { Quite picturesque. Material is level but White has an absolute grip and it is hard to suggest a good move for Black. Rather than prolong the agony he resigned.} (22. Kxh2 h6 {just to show what might happen against a mundane move here are a couple of illustrative lines} 23. Nc5 Ra8 (23... Nd7 24. Re7 Nxc5 25. dxc5 Ra8 26. R1e6) (23... Kh7 24. Re7 Qc8 25. R1e6 Ra8 26. Rxg7+ Kxg7 27. Qg3+ Kh7 28. Re7+) 24. Re7 Qd6+ 25. Kg1 Kh8 26. R1e6 Qf4 27. Re8 Rxe8 28. Rxe8+ Kh7 29. Ne6 {etc}) 1-0