1.e4
c5
2.Nc3
I haven't played against the Closed Sicilian very much so I was unprepared right from the start.
2...d6
3.f4
Nc6
4.Nf3
e6
5.Bc4
a6
6.a4
Be7
7.0-0
Nf6
8.Ba2
0-0
9.d3
Qc7
10.Qe1
Nd4
I was hoping here that my opponent would trade knights here as I wanted to drive his Knight from the c3 square.
11.Bb1
Bd7
12.Be3
e5
13.f5
At this point, I could kind of sense that my opponent wanted to launch a kingside attack so I decided I had better attack quickly on the queenside to try and diminish some of his forces and to distract him from his plans.
13...b5
14.Bg5
b4
15.Bxf6
Bxf6
16.Nd5
Qd8
17.a5
I was not expecting this move and I wasn't sure if it was a good one for White as it would be hard to defend later on.
17...Rb8
18.Nxd4
exd4
I didn't like taking with the c-pawn as I thought the position was worse and of course it simply drops the b-pawn.
19.Ba2
Bc6
20.Nb6
h6
With this move, I was hoping to create an impenetrable fortress for my King. I had visions of sacrificing my Rook for his Knight on b6 but I had to wait until the time was right.
21.Rf3
Kh7
22.Bd5
Rxb6
Here it goes! I am all committed now as I had around 20 minutes to make 18 moves in a complicated position.
23.axb6
Bxd5
24.exd5
Qxb6
Now my plan is to somehow get the d-pawn. I really like the setup around my King as I think it would be hard to break through. That was the main reason for my decision to sack the exchange (Rook for Knight).
25.b3
Qb7
26.Qe4
Qd7
27.Re1
a5
28.g4
a4
29.bxa4
Qxa4
Now my Queen is out of play but I am hoping that I will be able to bring it back in time to defend or that I will be able to take the pawn on c2.
30.g5
I was forced to study this move for quite some time as I had to see if I should take with the pawn or the Bishop. I ultimately concluded that I would be able to take with the Bishop and that my King was still safe even after the f6 discovered check move coming up.
30...Bxg5
31.f6+
g6
32.h4
Be3+!
I think my opponent underestimated this move as it now forces him to give back the exchange (his Rook for my Bishop)
33.Rfxe3
dxe3
34.h5
Rg8
I thought this move was better than Re8. I didn't like his pawn on f6 and was hoping to somehow get rid of it before I got mated.
35.Qe7
gxh5+
36.Kh1
Qxc2
37.Qxf7+
Kh8
38.Rg1
Rxg1+
This move is forced and now I thought that this game was drawn but because I had so many extra pawns, I thought I should play for the win.
39.Kxg1
Qf2+
40.Kh1
Qf3+
41.Kh2
Qf4+
42.Kh3
Qg4+
43.Kh2
Qg8
It was either this move or keep checking my opponents King and get a perpetual check draw (which happens if you can repeat the same position on the board 3 times)
44.Qxh5
What a relief. I thought I had messed up and was worried about him playing Qe7 with the threat of him pushing his pawn to f7 next. If he would have played that move, I thought I would have to draw the game by trying for the perpetual check draw that I talked about earlier.
44...Qf8
45.Qf3
e2
I saw the next 5 moves in this game before playing this move. I saw that I could safely get my King into the corner and that White would run out of checks. At that point, I was hoping to start advancing my b-pawn.
46.Qxe2
Qxf6
47.Qe8+
Kg7
48.Qd7+
Kg8
49.Qc8+
Qf8
50.Qe6+
Kh8
51.Qe4
b3
I had originally written down Qf7 but since I had lots of time on my clock, I decided to analyze whether or not it was the right time to advance the b-pawn. I concluded that it was.
52.Qe2
Qf4+
53.Kh3
Qf5+
54.Kh4
Qg5+
I thought I would drive the King back before taking the d-pawn. I felt I had enough to win at this point and my opponent agreed as he resigned after I took the d-pawn.
55.Kh3
Qxd5
0-1