Nicolas Croad 2012 Olympiad Games
Our Olympiad reps annotated more games than could be accomodated in the Oct 2012 issue, all the annotated games are available in these sections.
Khaled Hashem (Kuwait) - Nic Croad 2012 Istanbul 40th Olympiad Open
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.g3 b6 4.Bg2 Bb7 5.O-O c5 6.Nc3 Be7 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nb5
Moves are clickable
A rare side variation, though I was aware of it because I had spent roughly the last two weeks reading the complete Hedgehog by Sergey Shipov. The idea is to capture on d4 with a knight, without allowing the exchange of light squared bishops, however the knight is better placed on c3 where it controls the key b5 and d5 squares where a Black pawn break is likely to arrive. ( 8.Qxd4 is the best variation at this moment, eventually White will probably try to arrange e2-e4 and then Qd4-e3 and Nf3-d4. ) ( 8.Nxd4 Bxg2 9.Kxg2 Qc8 is considered mostly harmless, but Black must work quite hard to create decent winning chances here. ) 8...a6 On this move I realised I had a choice, it was also possible to castle and then to kick the knight back. ( I decided not to castle as after 8...O-O 9.Qxd4 d6 the pawn on d6 appeared a bit weak to me e.g 10.Rd1 Ne8 ( 10...Nc6 11.Qf4 ( 11.Qd3 Qc8 = ) 11...Ne8 and soon a7-a6 ) 11.Bf4 In fact the pawn is more hardy than it looks and even here Black has 11...Nc6 ( Not 11...e5? 12.Bxe5! +- ) 12.Qd2 e5 13.Be3 +/- White is very happy because of the chronic hole on d5. ) 9.Nbxd4 O-O 10.Be3 d6 11.Bh3 This move brings some originality to the game. The idea can be to create some kind of material imbalance with a capture on e6, though this didn't occur in the game. 11...Nbd7 12.b4 ( Its too early for the capture on e6 12.Nxe6 fxe6 13.Bxe6+ Kh8 14.Ng5 Ne5 -/+ ) 12...Re8 13.b5 ( 13.Nxe6?! fxe6 14.Bxe6+ Kh8 ( The position felt uncomfortable after 14...Kf8 though there was nothing clearly wrong, my intuition at the board was correct however and White has full compensation after 15.Nd4 ) 15.Ng5 Rf8 16.Nf7+ Rxf7 17.Bxf7 Ne5 18.Be6 Bc8 19.Bxc8 Rxc8 =+ and Black is better. ) 13...Bf8 14.Nc6?! Qc7 15.Bg2 Ng4 I didn't figure out the best plan yet, and was kind of searching around for what to do in this position. 16.Bd4 e5 17.h3
White wants to return the bishop to e3. This may not have been the best idea however as Black has a very strong plan coming. ( After playing e5, I noticed the tricky idea 17.Bb2 axb5 18.cxb5 Bxc6 19.Qc2 Nc5 20.Ng5 g6? ( In fact Black is ok after 20...e4! 21.bxc6 d5 -/+ but Its probably still better to avoid these complications all together on move 15. ) 21.Bxc6 +- so I didn't need to think long over my next move. ) 17...Ngf6 18.Be3 axb5 This was also the best plan on move 15 19.cxb5 Bxc6 I decided I could make this capture here and eventually round up the pawn on c6. It was also possible to avoid this capture however, and Black has quite a substantial advantage in this case thanks to the extra centre pawns. ( 19...d5 20.Qc2 Bc5 -/+ ) 20.bxc6 Nc5 21.Qc2 h6 22.Qf5 g6 White was threatening Bxh6 23.Qc2 ( 23.Qxf6?? Be7 -+ traps the errant queen. ) 23...d5 24.Rfd1 Qxc6 25.Nd2 Qa4 26.Nb3 Nxb3 27.axb3 Qxa1? A mistake which undoes most of the progress made by Black already. Of course this wins material but played this move quickly and when I stopped to think on move 29 it was clear that the rooks were not well coordinated and that this was a problem. ( The strongest way to realise the advantage was with 27...Qb5 after which Black's extra pawn should count eventually. ) 28.Rxa1 Rxa1+ 29.Kh2 Raa8 30.Qc6 Bg7 31.Bxb6?! ( White should have a pretty easy time making a draw after 31.Bxh6! Bxh6 ( 31...Rab8 32.Bxg7 Kxg7 33.Bxd5 = ) 32.Qxf6 Re6 33.Qh4 g5 34.Qg4 e4 = would be quite dubious over the board as Black's position is accident prone. ) 31...Rac8 32.Qb5 ( Not 32.Qd6?? Re6 33.Qb4 Rb8 -+ ) 32...Rb8 33.Qc6?? ( 33.Qc5?? Nd7 34.Qxd5 Nxb6 -+ ) ( 33.Qa6?? Re6 34.Qa7 Rexb6 -+ ) ( As was fairly obvious over the board the correct move was 33.Qa5 Re6 34.Be3 Rxb3 35.Bxd5 Nxd5 36.Qxd5 Rb8 =+ and the game could go on for a long time, but objectively one expects White should be able to hold on here. ) 33...Re6 34.Qc7 Rexb6 35.Kg1 Rxb3 36.Qxe5 Rb1+ 37.Bf1 ( 37.Kh2?? Ng4+ 38.hxg4 Bxe5 -+ ) 37...Re8 ( It turns out that the bishop on f1 can't escape, and after 37...Ra8 38.Kg2 Raa1 -+ it would be lost as well. ) 38.Qc7 Rxe2?! ( There was still 38...Ra8 39.Kg2 Raa1 -+ ) 39.Kg2 Rd2 40.Qd8+ Kh7 41.Qe7 Ne4 42.Qxf7 Rxf2+ 43.Qxf2 Nxf2 44.Kxf2 Be5 45.g4 Kg7 and White resigned. ( I guess he was praying for a miracle like 45...g5?? 46.Bd3+ Kg7 47.Bxb1 = ) 0-1
Nilssen (Faroe Islands) - Nic Croad 2012 Istanbul 40th Olympiad Open
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 This was a surprise. As far as I could gather from the record White had almost always played, the Kasparov variation of the Nimzo-Indian. From the course of this game I believe he selected the Classical variation in order to play some improvement over a previous game. 4...O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d6 The main reason I think White was targeting a previous game is that he started thinking about his moves around here. 7.Bg5 Nbd7 8.e3 b6 9.Ne2 Ba6?!
Moves are clickable
In retrospect the bishop is missplaced here. Yes, Black should put pressure on c4, but the bishop is not comfortable on a6, and on b7 it makes development with Bd3 difficult. ( The position would be roughly level after 9...Bb7 10.Qc2 c5 = ) 10.Qb3 c5 11.Rd1 Rc8 12.Qa4 Bb7 13.Nc3 ( Pawn looting simply loses of course 13.Qxa7?? Bc6! -+ and there is nothing to be done about Ra8. ) 13...Bc6 14.Qc2 ( The White queen is clearly missplaced after 14.Qa6 cxd4 15.exd4 ( 15.Rxd4?? Nc5 16.Qxa7 Ra8 -+ ) 15...Qc7 -/+ ) 14...cxd4 15.Rxd4 ( 15.exd4 d5 =+ Black has some positional advantages to play against. ) 15...Qc7 16.Qd1 Qb7?! Of course Black wants to create another weakness before breaking in the centre, however I missjudged the chances White gets in return. ( 16...d5 17.cxd5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Bxd5 19.e4 Bc6 = ) 17.f3?! ( Black needs to make some kind of compromise after 17.Rxd6 Bxg2 ( Or 17...h6 18.Bxf6 Nxf6 19.f3 Qe7 20.Rd2 Nh5 += and Black has some play for the sacrificed pawn, but White has every reason to have confidence. ) 18.Rg1 Bxf1 19.Kxf1 and Blacks king will come under a dangerous attack here. ) 17...d5 18.cxd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Bxd5 20.e4 Bc6 21.b4 ( White should restrain his ambitions to 21.Be2 e5 22.Rd2 Nc5 = and the bishop pair offers White a tiny edge. ) 21...b5 22.Be2 Nb6
It was just by accident, but I didn't anticipate White's next move so I didn't bother to oppose it. (Black clearly has equality after 22...e5 23.Rd2 Nb6 = ) 23.e5? At the time it appeared that this offers White some initiative, but in retrospect I think it creates too many holes in the White position. 23...Nd5 Of course Black would love to exchange the light squared bishops, but its not so simple to achieve this. ( After 23...Bd5 24.Bxb5 Bc4 25.Bxc4 Nxc4 += The position has lost so much structure, so exchanging the bishop loses its point. ) 24.Qd2 Qc7 25.f4 Bb7 26.O-O ( Not 26.Bxb5?? Qc1+ 27.Qxc1 ( 27.Kf2 Qxh1 -+ ) 27...Rxc1+ 28.Rd1 Rxd1+ 29.Kxd1 Nc3+ -+ ) 26...a6 27.Bd3 Qc3 Of course if Black can exchange the queens then its going to be hopeless for White, he can't defend his weaknesses. Whites game depends on developing a kingside initiative. 28.Qf2 h6! Exactly the right moment to kick the bishop. The unexpected opening had taken its toll and I was a bit short of time here. ( Black comes under a possibly deadly attack after 28...Qxa3 29.f5 += as the bishop is covering c1 here, preventing Black's main defensive idea. ) 29.Bxh6 ( After 29.Bh4 Qxa3 30.f5 is a much stronger prospect, as some rooks are exchanged after 30...Rc1 -/+ ) ( Its important that White can't leave the bishop in place with 29.Qh4?? Qxd4+ 30.Kh1 Qxd3 -+ ) ( Also quite harmless is 29.h4 hxg5 30.hxg5 g6 -+ ) 29...gxh6 30.f5 ( White would love to transfer the queen to the kingside, even at the cost of a rook, but the problem is all the bits are dropping off with check 30.Qg3+ Kh8 31.Qh4 Qxd4+ 32.Kh1 ( 32.Rf2 Rc1+ 33.Bf1 Rxf1+ 34.Kxf1 Qd1# ) 32...Qxd3 -+ ) 30...exf5 31.Qg3+? ( Black is much better after 31.Qxf5! Qxd4+ 32.Kh1 Qxd3 33.Qxd3 Rc3 -/+ though the material imbalance offers White chances here. ) ( During the game I spent a nervous moment looking at 31.Rxd5 Bxd5 32.Qxf5 Qd4+ 33.Kh1 as I had not noticed that its possible here to play 33...Rfd8 ( I incorrectly evaluated the variation 33...Qxd3 34.Qxd3 Rfd8 +- and White just is winning. ) 34.Qh7+ Kf8 35.Qxh6+ Ke8 36.Qh8+ Kd7! ( Over the board it would have taken some guts to select anything other than 36...Ke7 37.Qf6+ Ke8 = ) 37.e6+ Ke7! 38.Qxd4 Bxg2+ 39.Kxg2 Rxd4 -+ and Black is winning. ) ( The White attack collapses after 31.Bxf5?? Qe3 -+ exchanging queens. ) 31...Kh8 32.Qh4 Rc6!
While there were alternative defensive moves here, this was very clearly the best way to resolve Blacks difficulties, as the others tie up the Black pieces. 33.Bxf5 ( 33.Rxd5 Rg6 34.Bxf5 and the Black pieces come to life. 34...Rxg2+ 35.Kh1 ( 35.Kxg2 Bxd5+ 36.Be4 Qc2+! 37.Kf3 Qd3+! -+ ) 35...Qd2!! (suggested by Luke in our team post-mortem) 36.Rxd2 Rg4+! 37.Rg2 Bxg2+ 38.Kg1 Rxh4 -+ ) 33...Qe3+! 34.Kh1 Rc1 35.Rdd1 Rxd1 36.Rxd1 Qg5 At this poi nt White took a long forlorn look at his position. I think he was waiting for some of the games beside us to be resolved. Eventually he held out his hand in resignation. 0-1
Nic Croad - Bilal Samhouri (Jordan) 2012 Istanbul 40th Olympiad Open
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 b5 4.cxb5 a6 5.f3 e6 6.e4 exd5 7.e5 This opening variation leads to a highly forced position. 7...Qe7 8.Qe2 Ng8 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nh3 c4 11.Nf4 Qc5 12.Nfxd5 Bxd5 13.Be3 Qb4 14.a3 Qa5 15.Bd2 Be6 ( 15...Bb7 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Qxc4 Just leaves Black with fewer alternatives. ) 16.Nd5 Qd8 17.Qxc4 Ra7 18.Rc1 Bxd5 ( 18...axb5 19.Nc7+ Rxc7 20.Qxc7 Nc6 21.Qxd8+ Kxd8 22.Bxb5 Nxe5 23.Ba5+ Ke7 24.Rc8 +/- 1-0 Nakamura-Vaucher Lagrave,Cap d'Agde 2008 (41) ) 19.Qxd5 axb5 20.Bxb5 Ne7 21.Qe4 Nec6
Moves are clickable
This move was not anticipated in my opening preparation. Since I didn't see a point to hiding the fact that I was well prepared for this game, my clock showed roughly 5 more minutes than I had started the game with. ( 21...Nbc6 22.a4 Qb8 23.f4 +/- was the conclusion of my preparation for this game. ) 22.a4 Be7 23.O-O O-O 24.f4 Re8 25.Be3 ( Stronger was 25.b4 +/- not allowing the Black queen to develop on a5. ) 25...Rb7 26.Rfd1 Qa5 27.Qd5 Bb4 28.Kh1 Rc7 29.Qe4 Rb7 30.Rd5 Qa8 31.f5 ( 31.Bd3 g6 32.Bb5 Bf8 += ) 31...Bf8 32.Bc4 ( The computer identifies interesting, but obscure tactical ideas like 32.e6 dxe6 33.f6 g6 34.Rd3 Rc8 = however I didn't feel like taking risks at this moment in the game. ) 32...Qxa4! After this Black is no longer at real risk of losing the game. 33.Rxd7 Rxd7 34.Bxf7+ Rxf7 35.Qxa4 Rxe5 36.Bf4! Rexf5 37.g3! Otherwise White would be in trouble. 37...R5f6 38.b4 Rxf4 39.gxf4 Nxb4 40.Rc8 N4c6 41.Qc4 ( It was more exact to play 41.Qb3 but really makes no odds. ) 41...g6 42.Qb3 Kg7 43.Rxb8 Nxb8 44.Qxb8 Rf6 Here I realised that despite my best efforts I was losing the f4 pawn, and would have to defend a little. 45.Qc7+ Kh6 46.Kg2 Rf5 47.h3
I offered a draw, because I obviously didn't want to defend. Of course Black can play on but a draw remains by far the most likely result. 47...Bc5 48.Qd7 Be3 49.Qe7 Bxf4 50.Qh4+ Kg7 51.Qe7+ Rf7 52.Qd8 h5 53.Qd4+ Kh7 54.Qc4 Rf5 55.Qe6 Kh6 56.Qe7 Be5 57.Qd8 Bf6 58.Qf8+ Kg5 59.Qd6 Be5 60.Qd8+ Kh6 61.Qe7 Rg5+ 62.Kh1 h4 63.Qf8+ Kh5 64.Qf3+ ( Actually I noticed 64.Qh6+ = forces stalemate, but I wanted to see how far Black wanted to push his luck. ) 64...Kh6 65.Qf8+ Kh7 66.Qe7+ ( Or 66.Qh6+ = again. ) 66...Kh6 67.Qf8+ Bg7 68.Qf4 Kh5 ( 68...Be5 69.Qf8+ repeats the position. ) 69.Qf3+ Kh6 1/2-1/2
Noaman Omar (UAE) - Nic Croad 2012 Istanbul 40th Olympiad Open
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 d5 4.Nc3 Be7 5.Bg5 We played once previously in the 12th rough of the 39th Olympiad. Fortunately this time White was out for a little more than he got from our previous encounter. ( 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 c6 7.e3 Bf5 8.Bd3 Bxd3 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qxd3 a5 11.e4 dxe4 12.Qxe4+ Qe7 13.O-O-O O-O = 1/2-1/2 Omar - Croad, Olympiad Kanty Mansiysk 2010 (40) was our previous game. Black has roughly equal chances here. ) 5...h6 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.e3 O-O 8.Rc1 c6 9.h4
Moves are clickable
I was totally unprepared for this move, and White managed to give me the impression it was totally unprepared. I suspect given its pedigree he had prepared it however. 9...g6 10.h5?! ( During the game I was more concerned about the possibility of 10.g4 Nd7 ( 10...Bg7 11.g5 h5 12.Ne5 Looks a bit dubious as eventually White can always organise a sacrifice on h5. ) 11.g5 hxg5 12.hxg5 Bxg5 = when White has compensation for the sacrificed material. ) 10...g5 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Bd3 Re8 13.Qc2 Nd7 14.Bf5 Nb6! At this stage I was quite satisfied with the opening. Black gets a knight to d6, and this piece is so good in the queens gambit that there are really no more problems after this. 15.O-O Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Nc4 I tried to leave this knight on c4 as long as possible. Its not possible to capture on b2 in almost any situation, but on c4 it prevents counterplay by attacking e3. 17.Nh2 Bg7 18.Qc2?! ( The queen is well placed on the kingside, and it should have stayed there to tie the Black pieces up. 18.Ng4 Nd6 19.Qf3 Re6 =+ ) 18...Qd7 19.Na4 f5 20.Rfe1 Qf7 At this moment Black's plan is clarified. The h5 pawn is weak and can't be defended. 21.Nf1 Nd6 22.Qd1 ( White doesn't benefit from the weakened kingside pawns at all after 22.Ng3 f4 23.exf4 gxf4 24.Nf1 Qxh5 -/+ ) 22...g4 23.Nc5 Qxh5 24.Ng3 Qf7 25.Ne2 Bf8 This move looked a bit clumsy to me at the time. Maybe there is no real harm done. 26.g3 ( I thought Black might have trouble re-locating the queen in the variation 26.Nd3 Ne4 27.Ne5 Qh7 28.Nf4 but its obvious Black has retained most of his advantages here. ) 26...Ne4 27.Nxe4 Rxe4 28.Kg2 Bd6 The bishop on d6 keeps the knight under control. I didn't think White could offer to swap it, so it lacks good squares. 29.Rh1 Re6
Its fairly obvious Black should double rooks behind the h-pawn and threaten h6-h5-h4. 30.Qc2 Kg7 31.Rh2 Rh8 32.Rch1 h5 33.Kf1 Reh6 34.Qb3 Kg6 35.Ke1 R8h7 At first I didn't see where to place the Black king, but it still looks missplaced on the kingside, eventually I figured it out. 36.Qd3 Kg7 37.Kd2 Kf8 38.Kc2 Ke8 39.a3 Kd8 40.Kb1 Kc8 41.Qc2 Kb8 42.Nc1 h4! and now the break is prepared. 43.Rxh4 Rxh4 44.gxh4 ( 44.Rxh4 Rxh4 45.gxh4 Be7 is similar to the game. ) 44...Be7 45.Nd3 Rxh4 46.Rxh4 Bxh4 47.Ne5 Qe6 48.b4 ( A better try was 48.f3! and here Black has a difficult choice. Certanly the position is promising in all cases, but at the board it was not clear which path was best and if it was good enough. 48...gxf3 ( 48...Bg3 49.f4 -/+ ( 49.fxg4 fxg4 -+ ) ) ( 48...g3 49.f4 -/+ ) ( But not 48...Bf6? 49.fxg4 Bxe5 ( 49...fxg4? 50.Qg6 = ) 50.gxf5 =+ when Black has lost almost all his advantage. ) 49.Qh2 f2! 50.Nd3+ ( 50.Nxc6+? Kc8 51.Qb8+ Kd7 52.Qxb7+ Kd6 -+ ) 50...Kc8 51.Nxf2 Bg5 =+ ) 48...Be7 49.Kb2 Bd6 ( I noticed the impending sacrifice, but decided there was really nothing which could be done about it 49...Bd8 50.Qc5 Bc7?? 51.Qf8+ Qc8 52.Nd7+ +- ) 50.Nxc6+ It appeared quite likely White would try this sacrifice. ( There are few difficulties after 50.f4 Bxe5 51.fxe5 Qg6 -+ ) 50...bxc6 51.Qxc6 f4 I allowed the sacrifice on c6 because this move allows Black to take over the initiative. 52.a4 ( 52.exf4 Qe2+ 53.Kb3 Qc4+ 54.Qxc4 dxc4+ 55.Kxc4 Bxf4 -+ ) 52...fxe3 53.fxe3 ( 53.a5 exf2 54.a6 Qe2+ 55.Ka3 Bxb4+ -+ ) 53...Qf6 ( As it turns out Black's king escapes after 53...g3 54.a5 g2 55.a6 Qe7 56.Qb5+ Kc8 57.Qc6+ Kd8 -+ ) 54.a5 Be7 55.Qxd5 Qf2+ 56.Kb3 Qxe3+ 57.Ka4 Qg5 58.Qd7 a6! Threatening Qb5+ 59.d5 g3 60.Qe8+ ( 60.Qc6 Qf6 61.Qe8+ Bd8 62.Qe2 Be7 -+ ) 60...Bd8 61.Qc6 g2 62.Qxa6 Qxd5 More accurate than immediately queening as it prevents further checks. 63.Qg6 Qd1+ 64.Kb5 g1=Q and since White has no decent checks he simply resigned. 0-1
Joao Simoes (Angola) - Nic Croad 2012 Istanbul 40th Olympiad Open
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.c4 d5 4.g3 Be7 5.Bg2 O-O 6.O-O c6 7.Qc2 b6 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.e4 Bb7 10.e5 Ne8 11.cxd5 cxd5 ( Probably a better choice for this game would have been 11...exd5 and Black can always get some counterplay with c6-c5. ) 12.Re1 Reaching what could be described as a dull position of the Closed Catalan. However this game manages to get very, hot. 12...Rc8 13.Qd1 Nc7 ( Ideally Black would just develop the queen on the c-file, but after 13...Qc7 14.Qe2 ( I would have been satisfied with the book position 14.Nf1 Qc2 15.Qxc2 Rxc2 16.Ne3 Rc6 17.Bd2 = ) 14...Qc2 15.h4 Nb8 16.Qe3 += The queens are still on the board, White will finish developing and now the queen is missplaced on c2. ) 14.Nf1 Na6 15.a3 Nab8 16.Bd2 Nc6 17.h4 Na5 18.Ng5!
Moves are clickable
At this moment, something about the look in my opponents eyes, or maybe the course of Paul Garbetts game on board 3, something told me to be extremely nervous about my kingside. 18...Nc4 19.Bc1 ( Here 19.Qc2!? g6 20.Bc3 Bxg5 21.hxg5 Qxg5 offers lots of interesting compensation to White. ) 19...h6! Otherwise white plays Qd3, forcing g7-g6 a worse kingside weakness. 20.Nh3 Qe8! It turns out that the queen is very well placed here, in this position. The main point is to play f7-f5 at some moment when the White queen is on h5, avoiding en-passent capture. 21.Nf4 ( 21.Qh5? f5! =+ ) 21...Nb8 22.Nh2 Nc6 23.Bf1 Kh8 24.b3 N4a5 25.Ng4 Rg8 ( In the game, I was concerned with the impending assault on the kingside, and so I wanted to play 25...Nxb3 however at this moment it seemed that after 26.Nxh6 Black might just be lost, ( Its obvious that Black is equal to better after 26.Qxb3 Nxd4 27.Qd3 Nc2 28.Bd2 Nxa1 29.Rxa1 =+ ) 26...gxh6 ( Its too difficult to fathom positions like 26...Ncxd4 27.Qh5 ) 27.Qh5 = Of course it would be foolish to enter this position as White definitely has perpetual check already. ) 26.Be3 Nb8 27.b4 Nc4 28.Bc1 a5 29.bxa5 bxa5 30.Bd3 Ba6 31.Bb1 If white gets a queen to the b1-h7 diagonal, its game over. 31...Nb6 But fortunately this is not possible. 32.Ra2! White is still playing for the full point, and here he finds a use for the un-used rook which keeps the attack going. 32...Na4! 33.Rc2 Nc3 34.Rxc3 Rxc3 35.Qd2 Rc8 ( I also consid ered an immediate sacrifice of the exchange in return, but it was clear white would be better 35...Rxc1 36.Rxc1 Bxa3 37.Qc2 g6 38.Nf6 +- ) 36.Nh5 ( 36.Qxa5? Qb5! -/+ forces a queen exchange. ) 36...Qb5! 37.Bb2 ( After the game Hilton asked me what happens after 37.Nxh6 in fact I had noticed this shot 37...Qxb1! 38.Nxf7+ Kh7 -+ ) ( Or instead 37.Nxg7 Qxb1! 38.Nf6 Bxf6 39.exf6 Qg6 -+ and Black is winning. ) 37...Bf8 38.Kh2
I believed White was planning Re3-f3 here. I was beginning to feel in control of the game here, but after my next move 38...Nd7 he came up with 39.Qf4! and I chickened out with 39...g6? ( Black had to play 39...Qxb2 40.Qxf7 Rc2! which I saw, however this position is completely in-calculable, and I thought probably losing 41.Nf4 ( 41.Qg6 Rxf2+ 42.Nxf2 Qxf2+ 43.Kh3 Bf1+ 44.Rxf1 Qxf1+ 45.Kh2 = ) 41...Bb5 42.Ng6+ Kh7 43.Nf4 Kh8 = ) 40.Qxf7 Rg7 ( 40...Bg7? 41.Nf4 +- ) ( Equally hopeless now is 40...Qxb2 41.Nf4 Qb7 42.Nxg6+ Rxg6 43.Qxg6 Nb8 44.Qxe6 +- ) 41.Nxg7 Bxg7 42.Qxg6? ( Now winning was 42.Bc1!! Qxb1 43.Bxh6 +- I guess this was a good point to Kh2, don't allow a capture on e1 with check. ) ( 42.Qxe6 Nf8 43.Qd6 h5! += ) 42...Nf8 43.Qh5 Qxb2 44.Kg2 ( No good is 44.Nxh6 Qxf2+ 45.Kh3 Bf1+ 46.Rxf1 Qxf1+ 47.Kh2 Qxb1 -+ ) 44...Qd2! and now its over, Black has everything defended. 45.Nxh6 Qxh6 ( I wanted to play 45...Qxe1 but noticed after 46.Nf5+ Kg8 Black is mated, it turns out there was a defence, but actually I think its better not to allow unnecessary complications here ( 46...Nh7 -+ ) 47.Ne7# ) 46.Qd1 Bb5 47.f4 Be8 48.Rf1 Bg6 49.g4 Bxb1 50.Qxb1 Ng6 51.h5 Nxf4+ 52.Kg3 Rc3+ 53.Kf2 Nh3+ 54.Kg2 Qd2+ 55.Kh1 Rc2 and since there is no decent way to stop mate on h2, White resigned. 0-1