1.e4 c5
2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6
This is my
big surprise. I have had three games out of 4 with black so far,
and they have all reached this position. OKay, it's still a bit
of a surprise because I have played lots of other things too.
6.Be2
Larry avoids the main complications. But that doesn't mean he doesn't
want to play it sharp.
6...Bg7
7.0-0 0-0 8.Nb3 I was unfamiliar with this move-order,
normally white waits until ...Nc6 (putting pressure on d4 or aiming
for a trade) before going this way.
8...a6
An interesting move, I was still considering putting my knight on d7,
and the inclusion of a6 a4 can be useful for black in some lines (for
example, the main line with Nc6, Be6, white plays f4 and Be3, and
black plays ...Na5-c4, well in this line (I hope I'm being clear!!)
this favors black.
9.a4 Nc6
I decided to revert to the normal path.
10.Bg5
Only to be slightly surprised by Larry's choice. Bg5 is a common
idea though, white often plays Re1, Bf1, Nd5, and the bishop puts
pressure on f6 and e7.
10...b6
Not the only scheme of development but a logical one.
11.f4
Re1, with Bf1 is also possible, but I believe black is OK in that type
of position. This move is more unusual and aggressive.
11...Bb7
12.Bf3 And here I could not decide whether e4-e5 was really
threatening or not, and decided that it was not.
12...Rc8
13.Re1 Larry prepares e5 [13.e5 dxe5 14.fxe5 Nd7 15.e6 fxe6
16.Bg4 Rxf1+ 17.Qxf1 Nf8 And I thought black was doing well here (and
I still think so).]
13...b5?
This was based on a miscalculation (and trying to be unnecessarily
fancy). [13...Nd7 is the solid move and should be about equal.
White has Nd5 but it does not create much of a threat, and black's
position is harmonious enough.]
14.axb5
axb5 15.e5
15...Qb6+
[15...b4 was my original intention, with the idea: 16.exf6 (16.Na4
However, this move ends my fun: 16...dxe5 17.fxe5 Nd7 18.e6 And I am
ready to resign here!) 16...exf6 and black is OK.]
16.Kh1
dxe5 17.fxe5 Rfd8
I had
decided to sacrifice a piece here, because I thought it was my best
practical chance.
18.Qe2
Nxe5 I heard that people thought this was a mouseslip...well,
I confess that it wasn't!
19.Bxb7
Qxb7 [19...Neg4 20.h3 offers no hope]
20.Qxe5
b4
Of course I
think white should be winning here somehow (how bad was b5!), but the
problems to solve are still there.
21.Na5
[21.Qb5 was suggested but is it so clear? 21...Qxb5 22.Nxb5 Rxc2
(22...Rd5 23.Na7 Rxc2 24.Rac1 Rxc1 25.Bxc1 ) 23.Rxe7 Rxb2 And Fritz
and the likes like white a lot, but in practice I think you're a bit
afraid black might give you problems in something like this.]
21...Qa8!
22.Qxe7? After this move nothing is clear.
22...bxc3
23.Nb7 Re8!
Maybe Larry
missed this idea. You always want to find ways to fight in team
matches, and so I was happy to have this 'trap' and saw it as a way to
thank my teammates for having good positions.
24.Rxa8
Rxa8 25.Qxe8+ [25.Bxf6 Rxe7 26.Bxe7 cxb2 With Ra1 could also
be what white missed when assessing Qxe7.]
25...Nxe8
I preferred to keep rooks as I thought I could give white problems
defending their c-pawns with the rooks on the board. Of course this is
a drawn endgame, but Larry felt obliged to try to win as Boston was
trailing 2-0.
26.bxc3
Bxc3 27.Rd1 Nc7 28.Nc5 Ne6 29.Nxe6 fxe6 30.g3 Ra5 31.Bh6 Bf6
I love to
play this, with dreams of playing g5 and eating the bishop on h6 for a
late game snack.
32.Rd6
Kf7 33.Rc6 g5 White is getting in some trouble here.
34.Kg2
Ra8 I am getting closer to the time of my snack.
35.h4
gxh4 36.g4 gxh4 keeps excellent drawing chances, but Larry
still had hopes to win.
36...Ra4
with the idea g5 Bxg5
37.c4 g5
was still the best chance. I played this part quite carelessly, as I
knew my team would win. On the other hand, I would not take a draw
here as I had a riskfree position, it's just kind of hard to play
these well, but we all know tiebreaks might matter later on.
37...Ra2+
38.Kf3 h3 39.Rb6 h2 40.Rb1 Bd4 Threatening to play Bg1
41.Rh1 e5
42.Bg5 Ke6 43.Bh4 Bg1 now the rook is jailed.
44.Bg3
Rc2 45.c5 Kd5 46.g5 e4+ 47.Kf4 e3 this is fine but easier
was [47...Bxc5 ]
48.Bxh2
Bxh2+ 49.Kxe3 Kxc5 50.Kd3 Rg2
Now there
are technical problems to keep the pawns on the board, although I have
had lots of success winning (and losing) R+B vs R.
51.Ke4
Kd6 52.Kf3 Rb2 53.Kg4 Ke6 54.Kh5 Kf7 55.Rd1 Rb7 56.Kh6 Ke6 57.Rf1 Be5
58.g6 hxg6 59.Kxg6 Rg7+ 60.Kh5 Bf6
I think
white can still set up a drawn position here but it's not the easiest
case.
61.Re1+
Kf7 62.Re4?
This allows
a pretty finish, because the rook is badly placed on the fourth.
62...Rg5+
63.Kh6 Rf5!
And the only
way to stop Bg7+ and Rh5 mate is:
64.Rg4
Rf1 White resigns When the rook gets in the way. 0-1
The
Canadian-born Charbonneau managed to win the Canadian National Championship
twice before the age of 20, finishing above experienced Grandmasters such as
Alexander Lesiege and Kevin Spragget. He has competed in numerous
Olympiad's for the Canadian national team, multiple World Youth Competitions
and has a wealth of chess experience for someone who's so young.
