1.e4
c5
2.Nf3
d6
3.d4
cxd4
4.Nxd4
Nf6
5.Nc3
a6
6.Be3
e6
7.Be2
Be7
8.0-0
0-0
9.a3
Qc7
10.Rc1
Nbd7
11.Qd2
b5
Before playing this move I looked at the Knight sac on b5 but thought that it looked harmless. I thought at the time that I should play b6 instead to eliminate the possibility of the Knight Sac on b5
12.Rfd1
Bb7
13.f3
Rac8
14.Ndxb5
This is an excellent move for White. White gives up his Knight for 3 pawns and winds up with 3 connected outside passed pawns. I knew I was in trouble here and was wondering if I was going to survive this game.
14...axb5
15.Nxb5
Qb8
16.Nxd6
Qxd6
17.Qxd6
Bxd6
18.Rxd6
h6
19.c4
Ra8
20.c5
I underestimated the strength of this c-pawn. The c-pawn is now threatening to simply go to c6 forking my Knight and Bishop.
20...Nb8
21.Bb5
Rc8
22.c6
Bxc6
23.Rdxc6
I had hoped that my opponent would take back with the Bishop so that I could play Ra6 pinning the Bishop against the Rook. I think I would have been better off had that happened. Of course, my opponent was too good for that and decided to simplify the position and go into a strong endgame with good winnng possibilities.
23...Nxc6
24.Rxc6
Rxc6
25.Bxc6
Rc8
26.Ba4
Rd8
27.Kf2
Nd7
28.Bxd7
Getting rid of this bishop was a mistake in my opinion as I thought that I could get my King to the a8 corner and White wouldn't have been able to queen those pawns because White has the wrong colour Bishop.
28...Rxd7
29.b4
Kf8
30.b5
Ke8
31.a4
Kd8
32.a5
Rd1
33.a6
Ra1
34.a7
Kc8
35.g4
Kb7
Now, I thought I could hold this position and get the draw.
36.Kg3
Ra5
37.b6
h5
38.Bd4
hxg4
39.Kxg4
f6
40.h4
Ra4
41.Bf2
g6
42.Bc5
Ra5
43.Be7
Rh5
I offered a draw here thinking that I actually had one. I thought that White wouldn't be able to advance the pawns if I had my Rook on this square. I think I miscalculated and actually this move loses. However, I had only 9 minutes on my clock at this point for the rest of the game and didn't have the time to analyze it too much.
44.Bxf6
Ka8
45.Bg5
Rh8
46.f4
I think that if White would have played Kf4 he would have won the game as he would have been able to infiltrate on e5 and then f6 where he could have taken either pawn. I got extremely lucky with the continuation that my opponent chose and was lucky to get the draw.
46...Kb7
47.Bf6
Rh5
48.Bg5
Rh8
49.f5
exf5+
50.exf5
gxf5+
51.Kxf5
Kxb6
52.Be3+
Kb7
This position is drawn as my King can safely stay in the a8 corner and White has no way of getting me out because he has the wrong colour Bishop. This was my premise from the beginning and I got really lucky this game.
53.Kg4
Rxh4+
I give up the rook here but get the draw. There was no way to play for a win in this position. I give great credit to my opponent in this game. I thought he played a fantastic game throughout! 1/2-1/2