My final round game was against Chris White. Chris is the 2-Time defending Road Warrior Champion of Alberta (2007 & 2008) and has played in every Canadian Open since 2001. Chris was also my roommate at the Delta Edmonton City Centre Hotel during this tournament.
1.d4
d5
2.Nf3
Nf6
3.c4
e6
4.Nc3
Be7
Chris got me into a Queens Gambit Declined position which I know somewhat but not a lot. Normally, I like to play the Albin Counter Gambit as Black (1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5)
5.Bg5
h6
6.Bh4
0-0
7.h3
Chris told me after the game that he likes to play this move so that he can hide his dark-squared Bishop on h2 if necessary.
7...Nbd7
8.e3
c5
I don't like closed positions too much and I thought I would try and break open the center to make it a more open game.
9.dxc5
Nxc5
10.cxd5
Nxd5
11.Bxe7
Nxe7
12.Be2
b6
So far, this all according to my plan. I want to put my light-squared Bishop on b7 next where I will be able to attack his King once he castles Kingside.
13.0-0
Bb7
14.Nd4
Nd5
15.Nxd5
Bxd5
16.Bf3
Chris wants to trade off my strong Bishop!
16...Rc8
17.Bxd5
Qxd5
18.Nb5
I didn't like this move as it causes me some problems. I figured at this time I was going to have to trade Queens, kick out his Knight and then try to gain control of one of the open files.
18...Qxd1
19.Rfxd1
a6
20.Nc3
I was expecting his Knight to actually go to d6 at this point and was surprised when he brought it to c3. I thought it was weaker here but my opponent had plans to actually trade off both of my Rooks and try to get me into a Knight ending.
20...Rfd8
21.Rxd8+
Rxd8
22.Rd1
Rxd1+
23.Nxd1
Kf8
24.Kf1
Ke7
25.Ke2
Kd6
26.b4
Na4
27.Kd3
b5
At this point, I offered my opponent a draw as it looked pretty even. These types of endgames are hard to win. 1/2-1/2