404MB, D3ZQ0VC1
1.Nf3
Nf6
This is normal.
2.Rg1
This is not. As most of the players in the tournament could tell, I chuckled uncontrollably when it was played. I've seen Brian's email on the Penguin and was amused by it. But in the hands of a master, just about anything can be a serious weapon.
2...d5
3.d4
e6
4.Bf4
Be7
5.e3
0-0
6.g4
Nbd7
As Brian correctly noted after the game, I play this against just about any d4-based opening. I found it amusing and somewhat instructive that Rybka doesn't penalized White much at all for the displaced kingside rook.
7.c3
c5
8.Nbd2
b6
9.Bd3
c4
10.Bc2
Re8
I consider this my best move of the game. Rybka doesn't give it much credit and prefers b5, but this is the first move in setting up what should have been an impenetrable fortress.
11.h4
Nf8
I was proud of this move, in keeping out of the attack, but I should have focused on offense rather than defense by pushing the b-pawn.
12.h5
Bd6
13.Ne5
[Rybka suggests 13.g5
Nxh5
14.Bxd6
Qxd6
15.Ne5
g6
16.Qf3
Qe7
17.Ndxc4
Ba6
18.Nc6
Qc7
19.N4e5
Bb5
20.Nb4
a5
21.Bd3
Bxd3
22.Nbxd3
]
13...Bxe5
Best according to the computer - get rid of that problem knight.
14.dxe5
N6d7
15.g5
g6
16.Qg4
[16.hxg6
fxg6
17.Nf3
Nc5
18.Nh2
Is unclear, but White seems to have the initiative.]
16...b5
17.Rh1
Qb6
18.a3
a5
We both played this series well. Brian pursues his attack and I defend, preparing my own.
19.Rh4
Re7
20.Ke2
Nc5
21.Qh3
Raa7
I have a rock solid fortress here and maybe e4 could have helped White crack it.
22.Nf3
b4
I begin my counter attack! For the first time, Rybka give me a slight advantage.
23.Rb1
Nb3
The computer does not like this move at all and prefers b3, but I stand by it and Rybka has yet to refute it.
24.Nh2
I didn't even see this coming. When I realized that the knight was headed for f6, I was sweating. The 7 or 8 minutes I had on the clock at this point didn't help.
24...Qc5
! The best defense is a good offense!
25.axb4
[25.hxg6
fxg6
26.a4
bxc3
27.bxc3
Qa3
28.Ng4
Qa2
29.Nf6+
Kh8
30.Kd1
Rab7
wins! the threat of Na1 is too much.; 25.Ng4
bxa3
26.bxa3
Qxa3
27.Nh6+
Kg7
28.hxg6
fxg6
29.Qf3
Qa2
30.Kd1
Na1
31.Rc1
Nxc2
32.Rxc2
Qb1+
33.Kd2
a4
34.Bg3
Nd7
35.Rc1
Qb2+
36.Kd1
a3
37.Rf4
Nxe5
38.Rf8
Qb3+
39.Ke2
Qb2+
40.Kd1
Black takes a perpetual draw here to avoid mate.; 25.Ng4
bxa3
26.Nh6+
Kg7
27.Bh2
Ba6
(27...a2
28.Qf3
Nd7
29.hxg6
fxg6
30.Rf4
! mate in 9.) 28.hxg6
fxg6
29.bxa3
Qxa3
30.Kd1
a4
31.Qf3
Rf7
32.Nxf7
Rxf7
33.Rf4
Rxf4
34.Bxf4
Qc5
35.Rb2
Qa3
36.Rb1
Likely drawn.]
25...axb4
26.Ng4
[26.hxg6
fxg6
27.Ng4
bxc3
28.Nf6+
Kh8
29.bxc3
Ra2
30.Kd1
Rxc2
31.Kxc2
Qa7
]
26...Na1
? The losing move. I thought I had time to take the bishop that was key to White's attack and I didn't. Black is winning after [26...bxc3
! 27.Nf6+
(27.bxc3
Ra2
28.Kd1
Rxc2
29.Kxc2
Qa7
30.hxg6
fxg6
Black wins; 27.hxg6
fxg6
28.Nf6+
Kh8
29.bxc3
(29.Rh1
cxb2
30.Bxg6
Qc7
31.Bb1
c3
32.Rxh7+
Rxh7
33.Nxh7
Ba6+
34.Kf3
Qxh7
35.Bxh7
Rxh7
36.Qxh7+
Nxh7
37.g6
Nd2+
38.Kg3
c2
39.Rxh7+
Kg8
40.Bh6
c1Q
41.Rg7+
Kf8
42.Rf7+
Ke8
43.Rf8+
Kd7
44.g7
b1Q
45.g8Q
Mate in 4 for Black.) 29...Ra2
30.Kd1
Rxc2
31.Kxc2
Qa7
32.e4
(32.Qf1
Rb7
33.Rb2
Qa3
34.Qb1
Na1+
) 32...d4
33.cxd4
Nxd4+
Black wins; But best for White and perhaps the KEY variation here is this outrageous 27.Bh2
!! 27...d4
28.Nh6+
! 28...Kg7
29.exd4
Nxd4+
30.Rxd4
Qxd4
31.Rd1
Qxd1+
32.Kxd1
Ra1+
33.Ke2
cxb2
34.Qf3
Nd7
35.Qc6
Re8
36.Ng4
Rc1
37.Be4
c3
38.Nf6
Rg8
39.Nxg8
c2
40.Qxc8
Re1+
41.Kf3
c1Q
42.h6+
Kh8
43.Qe8
Qd1+
44.Kg3
Qb3+
45.Kg2
Qb8
46.Qxf7
Qxg8
47.Qxd7
b1Q
48.Bxb1
Rxb1
49.Qe7
Qa8+
50.f3
Rb2+
51.Kg3
Rb7
52.Qxe6
After all of that, with best play by both sides it's a likely draw!) 27...Kh8
28.bxc3
(28.hxg6
fxg6
29.bxc3
Ra2
30.Kd1
Rxc2
31.Kxc2
Qa7
Black wins) 28...Ra2
29.Kd1
Rxc2
30.Kxc2
Qa7
Black wins]
27.Nf6+
Kh8
28.Nxh7
Nxh7
29.hxg6
fxg6
30.Bxg6
Black is toast.
30...bxc3
31.Bxh7
Rxh7
32.g6
Rxh4
33.Qxh4+
Kg8
34.Rh1
Kf8
35.Qh8+
1-0