[Event "British Chess Championships: Major Open"] [Site "Warwick"] [Date "2026.08.03"] [Round "3"] [White "Oki, Jonadab"] [Black "Freeman, Luke"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Oki, Jonadab"] [ECO "B36"] [WhiteElo "1847"] [BlackElo "2013"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2026.08.01"] [EventType "swiss"] [EventRounds "9"] [SourceVersionDate "2026.08.20"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. c4 Nf6 6. Nc3 Nxd4 7. Qxd4 d6 8. Be3 Bg7 9. f3 O-O 10. Qd2 {So far this was theory. One had to be careful to finesse it correctly. A slight error, whilst not losing, could have resulted in difficulties. I could tell that my opponent, a junior, was very confident and had made the exhanges at the right times.} Be6 11. Be2 {This kept things flexible, not revealing which side I was going to castle. I was considering castling long and going for a Kingside attack. And I wanted to see my opponent's level of understanding.} Qa5 {At this point I realised my opponent knew his openings and his attack on the Queenside would be faster than mine. Hence...} 12. O-O Rfc8 ({He moved the correct Rook to c8. If} 12... Rac8 13. Nd5 Qxd2 14. Nxe7+) 13. b3 ({Now} 13. Nd5 $2 {doesn't work because of} Qxd2 14. Nxe7+ Kf8) {At this point it was equal game. He had played very well, and I didn't have an Kingside attack. The game was to become a test of skill and understanding.} 13... a6 {This seemed to slow to me. Now I had the feeling there was something to play for.} 14. a4 Nd7 15. Bd4 Bxd4+ 16. Qxd4 Qc5 17. Qxc5 Nxc5 {I had to decide which Rook to defend the pawn.} 18. Rab1 {I thought the Queens Rook was appropriate to that task.} g5 ({I think} 18... a5 {was stronger.}) 19. a5 $1 {This looks innocuous, but I believe this was actually a very good move.} Nd7 {I think my opponent realised the danger.} 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. exd5 Rc5 22. Ra1 Re8 {Now I played} 23. b4 {as I didn't want to give him time to reorganise his pieces.} Rc7 24. f4 $1 gxf4 {Otherwise Black doesn't get Ne5.} 25. Rxf4 Ne5 26. Re4 Rec8 {Black had achieved his aim of a triple attack on White's c4 pawn.} 27. Rxe5 $1 dxe5 28. c5 {The point of the exhange sacrifice. Black's Rooks are now stuck, and White has a two pawn Queenside majority.} Rd8 29. Bc4 ({Not} 29. Bf3 $2 f5 $1) 29... Kf8 (29... f5 $4 30. d6+) 30. Re1 {It was time to start picking up the weak pawns.} e6 {My opponent played the only move, and was willing to give back the exhange.} 31. Rxe5 (31. dxe6 Rd4) (31. d6 Rxd6 32. cxd6 Rxc4 {And Black probably has the advantage.}) 31... exd5 32. Bxd5 Rcd7 33. Bf3 Re7 34. Rxe7 Kxe7 35. Bxb7 {I gained not just any pawn - this was a very important pawn.} Rb8 36. Bxa6 $2 ({I was still under the impression I was winning, but in fact, I had missed something important.} 36. c6 $3 {Now any move from Black loses to one or other of White's passed pawns.} {For example, if} Kd6 ({or} 36... Kd8 37. b5 $3 Kc7 38. b6+ Kd8 39. c7+) 37. b5 axb5 38. a6 Kc7 39. a7) 36... Rxb4 37. c6 Kd6 38. Bb7 Ra4 39. a6 {Although the position looks similar to the above note, Black's Rook is now behind White's passed pawns. White can no longer attack the Rook by playing a7.} Ra2 40. h4 Kc7 41. Kh2 Ra3 {Cutting off the King from advancing Kingside, whilst guarding a7.} 42. h5 h6 43. Kg1 Ra2 44. Kf1 f6 45. Ke1 {Ready to give up the g-pawn to play a7!} Kb6 46. Kf1 Kc7 47. Ke1 1/2-1/2