1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 I was expecting 4. c4 which is a bit more active, but this is a fine selection for white. 4... Nf6 5. c3 e6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. Bg5 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Nbd2 b6 Both sides have developed smoothly and logically. I am comfortable with the black side of the game. 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. f4 Ne4!? A provacotive move. Black invites the exchange on e4. The idea is that a black pawn on e4 will cramp white's play and be difficult to dislodge after f7-f5. If white tries to avoid this with an early f5, black can exchange the second e pawn to clear his rook to support the advanced e pawn which creates interesting tactical opporunities. 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Ndf3 Ndf6 14. Qe1 a5 15. a4 Ba6 The point of 14. a5. While black will have to move the rook a second time, elimination of white's light squared bishop ensures the dominant post for black's knight. 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. Qe2 Raa8 18. Ng5 h6 19. Nxe4 Nxe4 I like black's knight over white's because it can't be kicked away by a pawn. 20. Qh5 Rfc8 Black begins to prepare counterplay even as white advances. I don't think white has enough to drive his attack home. 21. f5 Ra7 22. Rae1 Rb7 23. fxe6 Qxe6 24. Nd3 Qd6 25. Nf4 I had expected this move. it is consistant with white's plan. However, after 25. Nf6, it is increasing difficult for white to escalate the pressure on black 's d-pawn. However.... 25... Rd8?? I plead temporary insanity! This is not what I had planned, and after I made the move I couldn't believe I had done it. This loses the game. 26. Qxd5! Superb. White accurately capitalizes on black misstep. The double attack wins the queen pawn and forces the queen exchange moving into a won endgame. 26... Qxd5 27. Nxd5 Rxd5 This might not have been the best choice. Keeping more pieces on the bpard can help black defend. But, I felt white's knight was going to be stronger than black's. So, I took the exchange. 28. Rxe4 Kf8 This is inaccurate. After Rfe1, black cannot prevent white from coming in with his rooks. Black should try for some counterplay via b5!?. 29. c4 Rd6 30. Rfe1 f6 Now we see the full scope of the weakness of black's 28th move. Black can't cover all the points of incursion. This move creates a needed luft, but now black's e6 is a weak point. 31. Kf2 Kf7 32. d5 Rbd7 A horrible situation--black's pieces are now out of moves. I don't see much better though. The position is resignable. 33. R1e3 Rb7 34. Re6 Rbd7 35. Ke2 Kf8 36. Kd3 Kf7 37. Kc3 Kf8 38. b4 Kf7 39. bxa5 bxa5 40. Kd4 Rxe6 Forced in light of Kc5. I ran out of time here, but was going to reisgn anyway as there is no way to prevent the advance of the connected central pawns. 1-0 [J Todhunter]