(1) Seagal,Nico (1130) - Groeger,Andrew (1792) [D43]



1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.c4 e6 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bf4 Bd6 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.c5
[7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 (8.Be2 0-0 9.0-0 ) 8...0-0 9.0-0 e5 ]

7...Qc7 8.e3 0-0
[8...Nbd7 9.Be2 0-0 10.0-0 Re8 11.b4 ]

9.Bd3 Nbd7 10.0-0 e5 11.Bc2 e4 12.Nd2
Diagram

12...Re8
[12...b6 13.b4 a5 14.bxa5 bxc5 15.dxc5 Nxc5 16.Nb3 Nxb3 17.Bxb3 Rxa5 18.Rc1 Ng4 19.g3 Qd8 20.Na4 Qf6 21.Nb6 Bf5 22.Qc2 Ne5 23.Qe2 Nf3+ 24.Kh1 Qh6 25.h4 g5 26.Kg2 gxh4 27.Rh1 Kh8 0-1 Kosmowski,P-Niedzwiecki,J/Augustow 1997/EXT 2003]

13.Re1 Nf8 14.f3 exf3 15.Nxf3 Ng6
A bit too defensive with no real threat [I should finish my development with >=15...Bg4 16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Rad8 ]

16.b4
My opponent offers the initiative back to me with this move [16.e4 dxe4 17.Nxe4 Nxe4 18.Bxe4 Bg4 is about even]

16...Bd7
[and I still don't finish developing in a strong way since 16...Bg4 is still available to me]

17.a4
[Shedder still thinks this is best, my opponent felt that Q-side expansion is where it's at and I failed to capitalize in the center 17.e4 dxe4 18.Nxe4 Nxe4 19.Bxe4 Bg4= ]

17...a6 18.e4
Finally!

18...dxe4 19.Bxe4
Perhaps not as correct but decent enough

19...Nxe4 20.Nxe4 b6?
Perhaps time was begining to be a factore here because this has little point and now white effectively takes control of the center [Stronger would be 20...Bg4 ; or even 20...Qf4 ]

21.d5
[21.Qd2 Bg4 22.Ra3 b5 23.Nd6@ ]

21...cxd5 22.Qxd5 Bc6 23.Qd3
a weird square for the Queen but not fatal

23...Nf4
the Queen would be better on this square. The inaccuracies are piling up for both sides as we reach time pressure

24.Qc2 Rad8 25.Nd6 Rxe1+ 26.Rxe1 Ne6
[26...Bxf3 27.gxf3 Ne6 28.Qf5 bxc5 29.Rxe6 cxb4 30.Re8+ Rxe8 31.Nxe8 Qb8 with a sharp position]

27.Qf5 bxc5
Diagram

28.Nxf7 Qxf7 29.Qxe6
[White can maintain the equilibrium with 29.Qxf7+ Kxf7 30.Ne5+ ]

29...Qxe6 30.Rxe6 Bxa4?
[winning is 30...Bxf3! 31.gxf3 cxb4 32.Rxa6 Rb8 33.Rd6 ]

31.Rxa6 Bb3 32.bxc5
I stopped recording moves at this point as we were both nearly flagging. Even though I'm lost in this position White dropped the extra c pawn in the time scramble and I was able to hold the draw. An ugly (but lucky!) welcome back to tournament chess! 1/2-1/2