[Event "Bournemouth League"] [Site "Highcliffe CC"] [Date "2018.10.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Christian Westrap"] [Black "Michael Duggan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E04"] [Annotator "Christian"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2018.10.08"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 c5 {The position is very similar to The Tarrasch Defence and will probably transpose if White takes on d5. I wanted to keep the game in Catalan territory as I have been studying this opening.} 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. O-O dxc4 {The position is now an Open Catalan.} (6... Be7 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Nc3 {is a main line Tarrasch.}) 7. dxc5 {A simple positional line which I enjoy playing - White aims for a better endgame with his strong bishop on g2.} (7. Ne5 $5 Nxd4 $4 (7... Bd7 $44) 8. e3 $1 Nf5 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nxf7+ $18 {is a neat trap but of course Black doesn't need to take on d4.}) (7. Qa4 { is the main line - as recommended by Avrukh.}) 7... Qxd1 (7... Bxc5 {is also playable.} 8. Qxd8+ Nxd8 9. Ne5 {with about even chances.}) 8. Rxd1 Bxc5 9. Nbd2 Ng4 $6 (9... c3 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nb3 Be7 12. Nfd4 Bd7 $1 13. Bg5 Rfd8 { is better - White's minor pieces are more active but Black has managed to do some damage to the pawn structure on the queenside - an interesting battle lies ahead!}) 10. Ne4 (10. e3 $6 Nge5 {is good for Black, who has defended his pawn on c4 and may benefit from the weak square on d3.}) 10... Be7 (10... Bb6 11. h3 Nge5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Bd6 $14 {is good for White.}) 11. Nd6+ (11. h3 {is also good but the move I played looks advantageous for White as well.} Nge5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bf4 Ng6 14. Nd6+ Bxd6 15. Bxd6 {is similar to the last variation.}) 11... Bxd6 12. Rxd6 Ke7 13. Rd1 e5 14. h3 Nh6 $5 { This move surprised me as I was expecting the knight to retreat to f6.} (14... Nf6 15. Be3 Nd7 16. Rac1 Na5 17. Nd2 {looks good for White though so perhaps Black's decision is justified!}) 15. Be3 $1 {Playing for the initiative with 2 active bishops.} (15. Bxh6 gxh6 16. Rac1 Be6 17. Nd2 Na5 $44 {looked very unclear}) 15... f6 16. Bc5+ Kf7 17. Nd2 $14 {White's initiative and bishop pair are worth more than the pawn.} Be6 18. Ne4 Rab8 19. Nd6+ Kg6 20. g4 Rhd8 21. Rd2 (21. Be4+ f5 22. gxf5+ Nxf5 23. Kh2 {Doesn't really threaten Black since the king may go to f6.}) 21... Rd7 $2 (21... Nf7 {was better to challenge the strong knight.}) 22. Nxc4 $6 {Tempting, but this move allows Black to simplify.} (22. Rad1 $16 {was stronger - with a large advantage.} Nf7 23. Be4+ {being the point as the rook hangs on d7}) (22. Be4+ f5 23. gxf5+ Nxf5 24. Rad1 $16 {is also very good for white.}) 22... Rbd8 23. Rxd7 Rxd7 24. Nd6 Nd8 $14 {Black is ok now although my position is still nice!} 25. Be4+ f5 26. gxf5+ Nxf5 27. Kh2 Kf6 28. Bxf5 Bxf5 29. Ne8+ $2 {I had played well up to this point but this error hands Black an almost winning game - I miscalculated and thought that this move forced a repetition - I was happy with a draw since that would secure a draw for my team against strong opposition.} (29. Nxf5 Kxf5 30. Be3 $10 {was correct.}) 29... Ke6 $1 {Oh dear - I can't take on g7!} 30. Rg1 g6 $2 {We were both in time trouble now} (30... Bg6 $1 $17) 31. f3 Rd2 32. Rg2 e4 33. Ng7+ Kd5 34. Ba3 Bd7 35. h4 Ke5 36. Bb4 Rc2 37. Bc3+ $6 $15 { We agreed a draw in mutual time trouble since Michael said he couldn't calculate the consequences of taking on c3 with only 30 seconds on his clock. Turns out this would have been good for Black but I think we were both exhausted Mike from the opening and me from the middlegame! This was a (mostly) well played ding-dong battle which is one of my favourite games so far.} 1/2-1/2