(41) Gafni,Kevin (2020) - Pearson,Robert (1646) [B01]
Club Championship Qualifier (1), 03.04.2008



1.e4 d5 2.exd5 Nf6 3.Nf3 Nxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.c4 Nf6 6.h3!?
This move is unnecessary, but I thought I would play some unorthodox moves and see how he handled himself. White holds a firm edge in this position with normal moves.

6...Bf5 7.Be3 e6 8.Qa4?
[8.Nc3 is fine]

8...Bxb1 9.Rxb1 Bb4+ 10.Kd1 0-0 11.Ne5?
Another mistake, the tactics and opening the position are not in my favor. [11.Kc2 Black holds a slight edge but White should be able to equalize fairly easily, the space advantage and the two bishops provide longterm compensation for the position of the king, I just need to make it through the next few moves]

11...Bc5 12.Nxc6 bxc6 13.Kc2 Bxd4 14.Qxc6 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Qd6?
Black incorrectly heads to an endgame. This is not the way to exploit the position of the king.

16.Qxd6= cxd6 17.Be2 Rfd8 18.Rhd1 Rac8 19.b4 Nd5 20.e4??
I am blind. [20.Kd2 The king is completely safe on the d file. I am never going to let him open it up and even if he does I just tuck it away on e1]

20...Ne3+ 21.Kb3 Nxd1 22.Rxd1 Kf8 23.Rd2 Ke7 24.Rd1 Rd7 25.Rc1 Kd8
[25...Kf6!? invading with the king should be considered as it is difficult for me to defend the dark squares]

26.Rc3 Rcc7 27.Rg3 g6 28.Re3 Kc8 29.g4 d5 30.c5 d4 31.Rd3 e5 32.g5
I have found good compensation for the exchange. I was basically just waiting for Black to push the d pawn so that I could get a passed pawn. If Black does not push the d pawn I have to just sit and wait.

32...Kb8 33.Kc4 a6? 34.Ra3= Ra7?? 35.c6
All of a sudden I am building an initiative

35...Rd6 36.Kc5 Kc7?
[36...Rd8 can be met by 37.Bxa6 when white's three passed pawns on the queenside will win the game 37...Kc7 (37...d3? 38.Rxd3 Rxd3 39.Bxd3 Rxa2 40.b5 Black's king is not enough to stop the avalanche) 38.b5 Rb8 39.Rb3 ]

37.b5 1-0