(1) Krstev,Antonio (2086) - Spiller,Paul (2011) [A85]
Jenkins Auckland (1.6), 28.09.2016
[Paul Spiller]

621MB

1.d4 e6 2.c4 f5
Dutch Defence.

3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5
Unusual.

4...Bb4
Best response!

5.Qc2 h6
!

6.Bd2 0-0 7.0-0-0
!?

7...d5 8.e3 c5
Mixing it up and trying to open lines.

9.a3 Bxc3
Also 9... cxd4 was okay.

10.Bxc3 cxd4 11.Bxd4 Nc6
At this point I realised that White could win a pawn by exchanging on f6 then taking on d5 but that would be very dangerous and his King could get into trouble.

12.cxd5 Nxd4 13.Rxd4 exd5
I spent a long time thinking about 13... e5! giving Black a small plus but in the end opted for a safe move with 13... exd5. 13... e5! was stronger because Black can recover the pawn and can generate threats against the White Queen and King while the White Kingside is undeveloped.

14.Bd3 Bd7
14... Be6 was also playable but I didn't think so at the time.

15.Kb1 Rc8 16.Qd2 Be6
?!

17.f4
?

17...Qc7 18.Nf3 Ne4 19.Qe2 Qb6
?!

20.Rb4 Qc7 21.Nd4 Bd7 22.Rd1
?

22...a5 23.Nb5 Qb6 24.Rb3
?? There were improvements for both sides but after 24. Rb3 ? he was losing (24. Rd4).

24...Nc5
!

25.Qc2 Nxb3
There was no hurry - I could play 25... Rfe8 first.

26.Qxb3 Qxe3
?!

27.Qxd5+ Be6 28.Qxb7
?

28...Bb3
28... Rfd8 also. Now it is -+ for Black.

29.Nd6
?

29...Bxd1
Now Black is in an overwhelming position.

30.Qd5+ Kh8 31.Nxc8 Rxc8
?? Antonio thought that he was better if not winning during the game but Black was actually doing okay, and I missed a big chance on move 31... Qg1!! (Fritz says +11 for Black) or 31... Qe1 is equally good. 31... Qg1!! was not easy to see when only a few seconds left.

32.Qxf5
Amazingly White has nearly recovered.

32...Qc1+
?

33.Ka2 g6
33... Kg8 is probably better.

34.Qf6+ Kg8 35.Qxg6+ Kf8 36.Qf6+ Kg8 37.Qg6+ Kf8 38.Qf6+
White offered a draw but may even be better here? Draw agreed. Very interesting battle. 1/2-1/2