G.Lilley - J.Hawkins [E68]
South Lakes Open, 06.06.2008


1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.Nf3 d6 5.g3 0-0 6.Bg2 Nbd7 7.0-0 e5 8.h3 Re8 9.e4 exd4 10.Nxd4 a6 11.Be3 Rb8
Black's development looks strange, but is a well known plan in this line. Black is coiling up, preparing to strike out with c5 followed by b5, with an option of flicking in Ne5. A counter-play-at-all-costs strategy, black is even prepared to lose the d6 pawn.

12.Qc2 Ne5
Black could also play c5 and b5 without this move, it seems the knight will simply be kicked by f4 at some point, so essentially black is giving white the moves b3 and f4 for free. But b3 and f4 tend to do white/^s position more harm than good, weakening dark squares and also f4 can leave the e4 pawn weak, unless white can arrange a good time to play e4-e5.

13.b3 c5 14.Nde2 b5
Usually the white queen stays on d1, so once black has reached this setup, white can play f4. Then Ne5-c6 would be impossible due to e4-e5, so black would retreat with Ne5-d7 and white would be able to play Qxd6. This isn't the end of the story though, because black would be able to play b5-b4 winning the e4 pawn. However this does suggest 12.Qc2 is not the best, since now with no pressure on d6, black gets all his play unhindered.

15.cxb5 axb5
It is not clear that this automatic exchange is a good idea, white might simply be exposing his a2 pawn for nothing.

16.Rad1 b4
Black is probably already better, white has two weaknesses on a2 and e4, white should try 17.Nd5 but after 17...Nxd5 18.Rxd5 Be6 black would still have a good position.

17.Nb1?
Quite a bizarre decision, but white was probably dreaming of Nb1-d2-c4 hitting d6 one day. It turns out this is far too slow.

17...Qe7 18.Nd2 Ba6 19.Rfe1 Bd3 20.Qc1 Ra8
There is simply no way to defend a2.

21.f4 Ned7 22.e5 Rxa2!
The pin on the e-file keeps everything under control.

23.Nc3
Desperately white tries to muddy the waters.

23...Rc2 24.exf6 Nxf6
Black goes a piece down temporarily, but after Qa1 bxc3 he wins it back with interest.

25.Bxc5 Rxc1
Trading into an ending, which should be easily winning for black. White makes it easier by losing a piece almost immediately.

26.Rxe7 Rxd1+ 27.Nxd1 Rxe7 28.Nf2 Re1+ 29.Kh2 dxc5 30.Nxd3 Rd1 0-1