1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
e6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nc6
5.Nc3
Qc7
6.Be3
a6
7.Be2
Sicilian Defence Taimanov Variation.
7...Nf6
8.0-0
b5
9.Nxc6
dxc6
10.f3
Be7
11.a4
Bb7
12.axb5
cxb5
13.Bd3
0-0
14.Qe2
Bc5
15.Nd1
?! 15. Bxc5 is probably simplest.
15...Rfd8
?! 15... Bd6 may be a try for the initiative.
16.Bxc5
Qxc5+
17.Ne3
Rac8
18.Rac1
Qb6
19.Kh1
Nd7
20.c3
Ne5
20... Nc5 is better. Now Blacks gets into trouble.
21.Bb1
Rc7
?! 21... a5 is better.
22.Rfd1
Rcd7
23.Rxd7
Rxd7
24.f4
Ng6
25.f5
25. A bit too fast. Better is 25. Rf1.
25...Nf8
? A bad mistake. I pointed out after the game that I was expecting 25... Nf4 26. Qf3 e5.
26.Rf1
f6
? It was necessary to stop the White pawns with 26... exf5 27. Nxf5 despite allowing the White knight in.
27.Ng4
? I spent 20 minutes over this 27th move, and finally made a mistake. I had rejected 27. Ba2! Re7 but it is a sure way to open up the Black defence with 28. fxe6 Nxe6 29 e5. I spent most of that time considering 27. e5! Rf7 28. exf6 Rxf6 29. Ba2. But in the end I was using up valuable time, and I thought that I could win after 27. Ng4? e5 28. Ne3 and I could get my knight to d5.
27...e5
28.Ne3
Kh8
29.b3
Qd8
30.Rd1
Rxd1+
31.Nxd1
Qd6
32.Qd3
1/2-1/2