More catching up…

My next two games then. The first, with white, played on April 30th, was against the same person I had this unfinished game with, and it was a repeat of the Pirc we saw in that one:

1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Be3 Nf6 5. f3 O-O 6. Qd2 c6 7. O-O-O Nbd7 8. g4 e5 9. h4 h5 10. gxh5 Nxh5 11. Nce2 Qc7 12. Bh6 b5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. Nh3 Ndf6 15. Rg1 Be6 16. Kb1 Rh8 17. Bg2 Rad8 18. f4 Bxh3 19. Bxh3 exf4 20. Nxf4 Nxe4 21. Rxg6+?! fxg6 22. Ne6+ Kh7 23. Qe3 Qe7 24. Qxe4 Rde8 25. Rg1 Rhg8 26. b3 Qf6 27. Rf1 Ng3 28. Rxf6 Nxe4 29. Rf7+ Kh6 30. Kb2 Rh8 31. Rxa7 Nf2 32. Ng5 Nxh3 33. Nxh3 Kh5 34. Nf4+ Kh6 35. Rc7 Rc8 36. Rd7 d5 37. Rd6 Rhg8 38. h5 Kg5 39. Nxg6 Kxh5 40. Ne7 Rcd8 41. Rxc6 Rge8 42. Ng6 Re4 43. Kc3 Ra8 44. Kd3 Rg8 45. Rd6 Re1 46. Nf4+ Kh4 47. Nxd5 Rd1+ 48. Kc3 Rg3+ 49. Kb4 Rxd4+ 50. Kxb5 Rg5 51. Kc6 Rg2 52. Ne3 Rxd6+ 53. Kxd6 Re2 54. Nf5+ Kg5 55. Nd4 Rd2 56. Kc5 Kf4 57. a4 Ke4 58. c3 1/2-1/2

I was very very low on time by this point and stopped recording moves. The time trouble was mainly caused while taking the decision to play my 21st move – it isn’t easy for me to play such sacrifices without concrete compensation. The computer says I have a 3.5 pawn advantage here. Of course in trying to deliver mate before time ran out, I allowed my opponent to first win my c-pawn, then give up his rook for my other two pawns and thus force a draw!

So, on to the next game, played on May 7th, with black:

1. e4 c5 2. Bc4 e6 3. a3 d5 4. exd5 exd5 5. Ba2 Nf6 6. d3 Be7 7. Ne2 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. c3 Bf5 10. Nf4 d4 11. h3 Qd7 12. c4 Bd6 13. Bb3 Rfe8 14. Ba4 Re5 15. Qf3 Qc7 16. Ne2 Bg6 17. Bf4 Rf5 18. Bxc6??

I was already much better coming out of the opening but this blunder puts me firmly ahead.

Bxf4 19. Nxf4 Rxf4 20. Qg3 bxc6 21. Nd2 Nh5 22. Qh2 Qe5 23. Rfe1 Qg5 24. g3 Bxd3 25. Qg2 Rf6 26. Nf3 Qf5 27. Ne5 Rg6?!

After a few very average moves, I have to give up the exchange to retain the advantage.

28. Nxg6 Qxg6 29. Re5 Bxc4 30. Rae1 h6 31. Rxc5 Bd5 32. Qf1 Nf6?

Missed the brilliant shot 32…Nxg3!!

33. Rd1 Ne4 34. Qd3? Nxc5 35. Qxd4 Qh5 0-1