1.d4
Nf6
The Hoss Oot Variation.
2.c4
d6
3.Nc3
Nbd7
Avoiding a Kings Indian set up for the time being.
4.e4
e5
Same colours, same players last week saw 5....g6?! but after dxe5
6. dxe5 White has an excellent game.
5.Nf3
c6
6.Be2
Be7
A solid set up for Black that I have played a couple of times, I would have preferred a Kings Indian however. White has cleverly stopped this by keeping the centre fluent
7.h3
A quiet waiting move that allows Be3 without fear of being chased by the black Knight moving to g4
7...0-0
8.0-0
Both players castle Kingside with a slight space advantage to white.
8...Re8
With my Bishop on e7 as opposed to g7 I am looking for other ways to create some play. I am hoping to tempt a closed centre and fight on the king side while weathering the storm on the Queen side. Typical of the set up with black pawns on d6 and e5.
9.Qc2
Standard stuff. Whites plan is to develop, retain space, get the rooks into play and put pressure on the Queen side of the board where it is potentially well in control.
9...Bf8
It looks like I am setting the pieces up again for the next game. If the centre is closed then move loss it is not so critical. If white decides to take on e5 then dxe5 leaves black in reasonable shape despite losing so many moves. Simply because the d5 square is inaccessible to white whereas d4 can be fought for by black in the future.
10.Be3
h6
A waiting move with long term ideas of expanding on the King side.
11.Rfd1
White plays the correct Rook to the Queen File, the other Rook will be used to support the expansion on the wing.
11...Qe7
Threatening to win a pawn e4. Note that without the h6 preparation there would be no threat due to a Bd3 skewer on the Queen and h7 pawn. after relevant exchanges.
12.d5
White takes up the challenge and finally closes the centre which is correct.
12...c5
Blacks game looks critical and cramped. The plan is quite simple here. There are two main breaks in the Kings Indian f5 or a N moving in to f4. Here the misplaced Re8 takes the edge off any possible f5 so I have only one goal. Also, getting the Bishop on f8 a job might be an idea!
13.a3
Nh5
The Hoss plan.
14.Qd2
Qf6
Nothing else can help break up the position. [14...g5?
15.Nxg5
Nf4
16.Bxf4
exf4
17.Nf3+-
]
15.b4
b6
16.b5?!
From the black side I was happy to see this move. It takes away the square for a White knight while blocking the position too much on the Queen side. a5 will be a big break, but I would rather defend 1 file than 2.
16...Nf4
Hoss in. Now my plan is g5 and move as many bits towards the White King as possible.
17.Bxf4
The Knight could not have lived on f4 forever, it is blacks main piece, the first to pass halfway.
17...exf4
Important to keep the heavy artillery on, while creating a lovely square on e5. Also, very important to note is the dark squares have suddenly come to life, remember that job the Bishop needed?
18.a4
White plays his top trump, it is turning into a Kings Indian with black play on the kingside, white on the queenside.
18...g5
19.Nh2
White decides to try to blockade the attack with domination of the light squares. This hands initiative slightly
to black as it is all about attacking unless a fortress can be built in time.
19...Bg7
At last a threat which white parries well
20.Ra3
Qg6
Designed to look like its threatening a pawn by zapping the Nc3 and taking on e4.
21.f3
White sets out his stall, very solid but is there a way to break it down. g4 is
the only break that black has, so the plan is geared to that.
21...h5
h5 brings a resource to the g4 square, several more are required before a push can be made.
22.a5
White can now get a move on the queenside.
22...Rb8
This move is intended to divert whites troops to the queenside while setting up a mini-fortress. It loses the 'a' file but I am
already eyeing some big attack.
23.axb6
axb6
24.Rda1
Looking for Ra8 with a fair bit of play I thought.
24...Bd4+
The bad bishop has come to life and gives white problems on the dark squares.
25.Kh1
Hiding in the corner away from harm. The correct choice!
25...Qg7
This was a very difficult move to make. It is nice the way it ties up white on the long diagonal and stops Ra8 due to Bxc3. However, my long term plan of Kg7 and Rh8 ideas are scuppered for the time being.
26.R1a2
Ne5
This brings an extra resource to g4, four attackers and four defenders. g4 is possible. Unfortunately for black the f4 pawn would be hanging so white is not too worried yet.
27.Nb1
Be3
I wanted to defend f4 prior to pushing on g4.
28.Qd1
What do you know, white has added another piece to defend g4. The battle continues, black needs to bring another piece into the equation before g4 can be played.
28...Bd7
Stopping Ra8 while waiting to see the intentions of white.
29.Nd2
Qg6
Back to the plan of getting an extra piece on g4.
30.Ndf1
Bd4
White would love the e3 bishop but it is not going to happen for a Knight!
31.Ra7
White rightly goes in at the 7th rank, he needs to conjure up some counter play and quickly.
31...Kg7
32.Nd2
White realises the knight is badly placed on f1.
32...g4
All of a sudden g4 is possible, how has black brought another piece into the fray to attack that square? It is merely the threat of a Rh8+ that does the damage.
33.fxg4
hxg4
Black has made progression the kingside.
34.Rxd7
White finds the correct move at the cost of the exchange. Something had to give. [Note here that white cannot win the pawn by... 34.Bxg4
Bxg4
35.Nxg4
Nxg4
36.Qxg4
Qxg4
37.hxg4
Rh8#
The 'invisible' resource for the g4 push.]
34...gxh3
A little tactic, the Rd7 is dead so I may as well utilise a desperado first.
35.gxh3
Nxd7
36.Bg4
Nf6
37.Bf5
Qh6
Keeping an eye on all the squares.
38.Ndf3
Be3
I want that bishop on the board!
39.Rg2+
White has his chance to throw everything at black, he needs a quick attack.
39...Kf8
40.Ng5
Ra8
Time to take advantage of the 'a' file, ideal for my extra exchange.
41.Ng4
Nxg4
42.Qxg4
Ra1+
43.Kh2
f3
The Qh6 and Be3 finally combine to issue major threats.
44.Qxf3
Not much alternative, white is lost.
44...Bxg5
Simple but effective, white has no major threats that cannot be parried. Whereas, Bf4+ is a tough move to meet especially with a deficit in material. 0-1