1. c4 b6

Owen's defence. This defence is probably better played by 1....e6 move order. It is also known as the English defence. It is played by several of the younger Netherton players (including their best player - Peter Shaw) - particularly against the English opening.

2. Nc3 Bb7 3. e4 e6

This defence is very playable. I have even played it myself several times. This position has scored 54% for Black in 511 games !

4. g3

Many set-ups are possible. This is one that I have used to defeat both Peter Shaw (180 grade) and Jonathan Arnott (180 grade) of Netherton. I first came across it in Heinbach - Spassky 1983. It is a very solid set-up with an iron clad centre.

4... Bb4

But White has prepared Nge2 in this line. This makes the Bb4 innocuous. Black may well suffer on the dark squares if he exchanges on c3 and have no compensation in the form of doubled pawns. This is one of the reasons I play this line. This position has only scored 39% for Black.

4... f5 is the best move. 5. d3 (5. Bg2 amounts to the same thing as fxe4 is answered by d3. 5... Nf6 6. d3 Bb4 7. Bd2 O-O 8. Nge2 d6 9. O-O Nbd7? 10. Nd4 Qe8 11. Ncb5! Black is in big trouble +2.14 White G.M.Peake - P. Shaw, Netherton 27/ 9/2000 Netherton A v HV Bd 1 Hndcp) 5... Bb4 6. Nge2 fxe4 7. Bg2 Nf6 8. O-O O-O (8... Bxc3 9. Nxc3 d5 10. cxd5 exd5 11. dxe4 dxe4 (11... d4 12. e5 Bxg2 13. exf6! Bxf1 14. fxg7 Rg8 15. Qh5+ Kd7 16. Qf5+ Kc6 17. Bg5 Qd6 18. Qf3+ Kd7 19. Qf7+ Kc6 20. Qxg8 Bh3 21. Qe8+ Kb7 22. Ne4 Qc6 23. g8=Q 1-0) 12. Qxd8+ Kxd8 13. Bg5 Re8 14. Rfe1 Nbd7 15. Rad1 Peake - J. Arnott) 9. dxe4 Nc6 10. h3 Rb8 11. f4 a6 12. a3 Bxc3 13. Nxc3 d6 14. Be3 Heinbuch Detlef 2425 - Spassky Boris V 2605 , Germany 1983 Bundesliga 1983/84

4... c5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. d3 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. exd5 Nxd5 (8... Bxd5 9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. Qa4+ Ke7 11. Qe4+) 9. Qf3 is a nasty surprise - recurring theme of pin on h1 a8 diagonal.

5. Nge2 Nf6

It was still not too late to play f5.

6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O d5?!

Instead I think that Black should change strategy by e5, and drop the Bishop back to e7.

8. exd5 exd5

The pin on the h1-a8 diagonal is often irritating for Black in this line.

9. Nf4

Pressure on d5

Pressure on the pinned pawn !

9... Bxc3?

This plays into White's hands. White now will control the dark squares, and the pressure on d5 will be intensified.

9... c6 was Black's only move, now even though both Black's Bishops look misplaced, White has only a small edge after 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. a3 Be7 12. d4 (12. Qb3 is also possible.)

10. dxc3 Re8?

10... Ba6 looks good but runs into 11. Re1 Bxc4 12. b3! Ba6 (12... Bb5 13. c4) 13. Nxd5 Nxd5 14. Qxd5 Qxd5 15. Bxd5 c6 16. Bg2 +1.86

11. cxd5 Na6

11... g5 is answered by 12. Nh5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 Bxd5 14. Qxd5!

12. Nh5

This is to remove Black's defending Knight, and free d1 for the Rook. It also has the nasty threat of Bg5.

12... Nc5

12... Nxh5 13. Qxh5 g6 14. Qd1 White is a safe pawn up and Black has a weakened K-side.

13. Bg5

Now pieces will be exchanged and Black's k-side pawns will be messed up.

13... Ncd7

13... Nce4? loses quickly. 14. Bxe4 Rxe4 15. Qf3

14. Qd4

Dark square pressure from Geoff

What did I say about dark square domination ?

14... h6

One cannot suggest another move.

15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qxf6 gxf6 18. Rfe1

Every school boy knows the golden rule when a pawn up. Email me if you don't know it heh heh.

18... Rad8 19. Rxe8+ Rxe8 20. Rd1

Another golden rule is Rooks belong behind (potential ) passed pawns.

20... Re2

Is this his first attempt at counterplay ?

21. d6!

Black must lose his Bishop or let the pawn queen.

1-0 [Geoff Peake]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Be3 Nd4

5... d6 6. Qd2 Nf6 7. Bh6 O-O 8. Bxg7 Kxg7 9. O-O-O

6. h4 e6 7. Qd2 h6 8. O-O-O Ne7 9. Kb1 Qa5

9... d5!

10. Ne2 Qa4? 11. Nexd4 cxd4 12. Bf4

12. Bxd4! Bxd4 13. b3 Qa6 14. Nxd4

12... Nc6 13. Bd6 Bf8 14. Bxf8 Kxf8 15. g4?! e5 16. Bg2 d6 17. b3 Qa3 18. Qc1 Qa5

18... Qxc1+ 19. Rxc1 Bxg4

19. Nd2 Bxg4 20. Nc4 Qc7 21. f3 Be6 22. f4 b5 23. Na3 Qb6 24. Bh3 Bxh3 25. Rxh3 a5

The rest of the game was not scored {Time trouble). Eventually drawn by perpetual check.

1/2-1/2 [Geoff Peake]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 f5

Exactly the same defence as his friend Tony Midgely played against me.

3. d4!?

The classis counterpunch 62% White in 222 games.

3... exd4

3... e4 4. Nh3 Nf6 5. e3 73% White 5... Bb4 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nf4 c6 8. Be2 d6 9. O-O Na6 10. f3 exf3 11. Bxf3 O-O 12. Rb1 Nc7 13. b4 g5 14. Nh5 g4 15. Nxf6+ Rxf6 16. Be2 d5 17. Bd3 Bd6 18. Qe1 Rh6 19. g3 Rxh2 20. Kxh2 Qh4+ 21. Kg1 Bxg3 22. Qe2 Ne6 23. Rxf5 Ng5 24. Rxg5+ Qxg5 25. cxd5 cxd5 26. Qg2 Qh4 27. Ne2 Bb8 28. Qh1 Qxh1+ 29. Kxh1 Be6 30. e4 1-0, Kamensky Vitaly (RUS) - Mikhalin (RUS), Moscow (Russia) 1972

4. Qxd4 Nc6

Here Nf6 first is better because of White's next move.

5. Qe3+! Qe7

5... Be7 6. Nd5 65% White in 13 games.

5... Kf7 6. Nf3 70% White in 10 games.

6. Nd5 Qxe3 7. Bxe3 Kd8

This has only scored 17% for Black.

7... Bb4+ is best. 8. Kd1 (8. Nxb4 Nxb4 9. Kd2 Nf6 10. Kc3 is playable.) 8... Bd6! is best.(8... Kd8 9. Bf4 (9. Nxb4! Nxb4 10. Bc5 a5 11. a3 Na6 12. Bf8! Ne7 13. Bxg7 Rg8 14. Bc3) 9... d6 10. Bg5+ Kd7 11. e3 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bg3 Nge7 14. h4 g4 15. a3 Bc5 16. b4 Bb6 17. Ne2 Nxd5 18. cxd5 Ne7 19. Nf4 a5 20. b5 Bc5 21. Bc4 b6 22. a4 Bb7 23. Kc2 Rag8 24. h5 Rh7 25. Bh4 Rf7 26. Rad1 Rgg7 27. Rhe1 Ng8 28. Ne6 Rh7 29. Nd8 Ba8 30. Nxf7 Rxf7 31. Re2 Nf6 32. Bxf6 Rxf6 33. f3 Rf8 34. Rf1 Re8 35. fxg4 fxg4 36. Rf7+ Re7 37. Ref2 Bxe3 38. Rxe7+ 1-0, G.M.Peake - A.G. Midgely, Huddersfield 19/ 9/2000 Hudd Knights v HV scr Bd 3) 9. Nf3 (9. c5 Be5 10. Nf3 Nf6 11. Nxe5 Nxd5) (9. Bc5 Bxc5 10. Nxc7+ Kd8 11. Nxa8 b6 12. e3 Bb7 13. Nxb6 Bxb6 14. Nf3) 9... Nge7 10. Nc3 f4 11. Bd2 a6 12. g3 fxg3 13. hxg3 Bc5 14. Ne4

8. Nf3 h6

8... Bb4+ is best. 9. Nxb4 Nxb4 10. Nd4 d6 11. g3 Nf6 12. Bg2 c5 13. Bd2

9. O-O-O Nge7 10. Nf4

Edgar fails to spot the danger

10... g5??

10... d6 11. h4 Threat c5

11. Ne6+ Ke8 12. Nxc7+ Kf7 13. Nxa8 Bg7 14. Nc7 Rd8 15. Nd5 d6 16. g3 Be6 17. Bg2 Ng6

And now a quick finish

18. Bxg5! hxg5 19. Nxg5+

Black resigns

1-0 [Geoff Peake]

1. c4 f5 2. d4 d6

This is normally played after fianchettoing and castling.

3. Nc3

3. d5!? g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 c6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Nh3 O-O transposes back to normal variation.

3... Nf6

3... e5 !? would be interesting. 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ Kxd8 6. Bg5+ Be7 7. Nf3 e4 8. O-O-O+ Bd7 9. Bxe7+ Nxe7 10. Ne5 Kc8 11. g4

4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. Nh3 O-O 7. d5 Na6

c6 is more usual here.

8. Be3

I was following Veingold's plan in his game against Coret (see below)

8... e5

8... Bd7 9. Qd2 (9. Rc1 c6 10. O-O Qe8 11. Qd2 Ng4 12. Bd4 Bh6 13. f4 c5 14. Bf2 Nxf2 15. Nxf2 Nc7 16. e4 fxe4 17. Ncxe4 b5 18. b3 a5 19. Rfe1 Qf7 20. Nh3 Rfb8 21. Nhg5 Qg7 22. Nxc5 dxc5 23. d6 exd6 24. Bd5+ Kf8 25. Bxa8 Bxg5 26. Qxd6+ Be7 27. Qxc7 Qd4+ 28. Kh1 Rc8 29. Qa7 Rd8 30. Rcd1 Qf2 31. Bg2 bxc4 32. bxc4 Ke8 33. Qc7 Kf7 34. Rxe7+ Kxe7 35. Qd6+ Ke8 36. Qe5+ Kf8 37. Qh8+ Ke7 38. Qxh7+ Kf8 39. Qh8+ Ke7 40. Qg7+ Ke8 41. Qxg6+ Ke7 42. Qg7+ Ke8 43. Bd5 1-0, Sokolov Sergey M (RUS) 2370 - Kalinitschew Sergey (GER) 2465, Wuerzburg (Germany) 1992) 9... Ng4 10. Bd4 Bh6 11. f4 c5 12. dxc6 bxc6 13. Nf2 (13. O-O-O Qa5 14. Nf2 Nxf2 15. Bxf2 Rfc8 16. h4 Bg7 17. h5 Nb4 18. Bd4 e5 19. Bxe5 dxe5 20. Qxd7 Qc7 21. hxg6 hxg6 22. a3 Na6 23. Qe6+ Qf7 24. Qxf7+ Kxf7 25. Rd7+ Kg8 26. Rd6 e4 27. Rxg6 Rc7 28. Rh5 Rf8 29. Bh3 Rcf7 30. Rhg5 1-0, Roghani Arash (IRI) 2276 - Mahjoob Mortez (IRI) 2366, Teheran (Iran) 2001) 13... e5 14. Nxg4 fxg4 15. Be3 exf4 16. gxf4 Qh4+ 17. Bf2 Qe7 18. Bg3 Nc5 19. O-O Rad8 20. Rad1 Be8 21. b4 Ne6 22. b5 cxb5 23. cxb5 Nc7 24. a4 Bf7 25. Bf2 Bb3 26. Rb1 Bc4 27. Bxa7 Nxb5 28. Nxb5 Bxb5 29. Bd5+ Rf7 30. axb5 Qxa7+ 31. b6 Qe7 32. Rfc1 1-0, Lautier Joel (FRA) 2630 - Bauer Christian (FRA) 2490, France 1998

8... Qe8 9. O-O h6 10. Qd2 Ng4 11. Bd4 Ne5 12. b3 c5 13. dxc6 bxc6 14. f4 Ng4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Rae1 Nf6 17. Nf2 Nc5 18. b4 Nb7 19. e4 Qd7 20. Qb2 e6 21. b5 cxb5 22. Nxb5 a6 23. Nd4 Rd8 24. exf5 gxf5 25. Nxe6+ 1-0, Ragozin Evgeni 2485 - Snijders Frans 1960 , Vlissingen 1999 It (open)

8... Ng4 9. Bd4 Ne5 10. O-O Qe8 11. Rb1 h6 12. b4 Qf7 13. c5 g5 14. f4 Ng4 15. Rb3 Qh5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Qd4+ Kg8 18. Nb5 b6 19. cxb6 c5 20. Qd3 Nxh2 21. Kxh2 g4 22. Nd4 gxh3 23. Bf3 Qg6 24. g4 Qf6 25. gxf5 Qh4 26. Be4 Nc7 27. Qxh3 Qxh3+ 28. Rxh3 Rf6 29. Rg1+ Kh8 30. Nc6 Na6 31. Rg6 Kh7 32. Rhxh6# 1-0, Krachler Guenther (AUT) 2160 - Buchegger Karl (AUT) 2196, Austria 1998

8... Nc5!? 9. Rc1 e5 10. dxe6 Nxe6 11. Rc2 Ng4 12. Bc1 Kh8 13. Nd5 c6 14. Nc3 f4 15. O-O fxg3 16. hxg3 Ne5 17. b3 Nd4 18. Rd2 Bxh3 19. Bxh3 Ndf3+ 20. exf3 Nxf3+ 21. Kg2 Nxd2 22. Qxd2 Qf6 23. Bb2 Rae8 24. Bg4 Qd4 25. Qxd4 Bxd4 26. Nd1 Bxb2 27. Nxb2 Re4 28. f4 Rd4 29. Rd1 Rxd1 30. Nxd1 Kg7 31. Nc3 Kf6 32. Kf3 Ke7 33. Ke3 Re8 34. Kd4 Rf8 35. Bh3 h6 36. Ke3 Re8 37. Kf3 Rd8 38. Bf1 d5 39. cxd5 cxd5 40. Bd3 Kf6 41. b4 g5 42. Bc2 gxf4 43. Kxf4 d4 44. Ne4+ Ke7 45. Bd3 Rd5 46. g4 b6 47. Ng3 Kf6 48. Nf5 Re5 49. Nxh6 Re1 50. g5+ Ke6 51. Bc4+ Kd7 52. g6 1-0, Veingold Aleksandr (EST) 2430 - Coret Frasquet Jose (ESP) 2315, Mislata (Spain) 1994

9. dxe6 c6 10. Nf4

10. Ng5 is better 10... Qe7 (10... Nc7 11. Nf7) (10... Ng4 11. Bf4 Qb6 12. O-O Qxb2 13. e7 Re8 14. Bd5+ Kh8 15. Nf7+ Kg8 16. Nxd6+ 1-0 Peake - Guest ICC) 11. Rc1 Nc7 12. O-O Nxe6 13. Nxe6 Bxe6 14. b3 Ng4 15. Bd4 Nf6 16. Qd3 a6 17. Rfe1 Rfd8 18. e4 Qf7 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qd2 h5 21. h3 Kh7 22. Re2 Qd7 23. Kh2 Re8 24. Rce1 Rxe2 25. Rxe2 Re8 26. Rxe8 Nxe8 27. Be3 Be5 28. f4 Bg7 29. Ne4 Qe7 30. Ng5+ Kg8 31. Qf2 Nf6 32. Bd4 Ne4 33. Bxe4 1-0, Rukavina Josip 2422 - Kuenitz Klaus 1974 , Basel 2004 It (open)

10... Nc7

10... Qe7 11. Qd2 Ng4 (11... Bxe6 12. Nxe6 Qxe6 13. Rd1 Rfd8 14. b3 Nc5 15. Bxc5 dxc5 16. Qxd8+ Rxd8 17. Rxd8+ Ne8 18. Nb1 Bd4 19. e3 Qe7 20. Ra8 a6 21. O-O Bf6 22. e4 Kf7 23. exf5 gxf5 24. Nd2 Nd6 25. Rd1 Qc7 26. Bh3 Nc8 27. Ne4 Nb6 28. Nxf6 Nxa8 29. Rd7+ Kxf6 30. Rxc7 Nxc7 31. f4 Ne6 32. Kf2 Nd4 33. Bf1 Nc2 34. Bd3 Nd4 35. Ke3 h5 36. b4 Ne6 37. bxc5 Nxc5 38. Be2 Kg6 39. Kd4 Nd7 40. c5 h4 41. gxh4 Kf6 42. h5 Nf8 43. Bc4 Nd7 44. h6 Nf8 45. Bg8 Ng6 46. h7 Kg7 47. Be6 Nxf4 48. Bxf5 Ne2+ 49. Kc4 Nc1 50. a3 a5 51. Bc8 a4 52. Bxb7 Nb3 53. Bxc6 1-0, Krueger Olaf (GER) 1980 - Brueckner Thomas (GER) 2375, St. Ingbert (Germany) 1989) 12. Rc1 Nxe3 13. Qxe3 Nc5 14. O-O Nxe6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Qd3 Qe7 17. Rfd1 Be6 18. b3 Rad8 19. e3 h5 20. h4 g5 21. hxg5 Qxg5 22. Ne2 h4 23. Nf4 Rfe8 24. gxh4 Qxh4 25. Qe2 Bf7 26. Qc2 Qg4 27. Kf1 Re5 28. Rd3 Bf6 29. Rcd1 Be7 30. Rd4 Qg5 31. Bf3 Kg7 32. Qb1 Rh8 33. Nd3 Re6 34. Ke2 Bf6 35. Rg1 Rh2 36. Nf4 Rxe3+ 37. Kxe3 Bxd4+ 38. Kxd4 1-0, Adamovski Jan (POL) 2095 - Hnydiuk Aleksander (POL) 2310, Wisla (Poland) 1998

11. Rc1 Nxe6 12. Rc2

Veingold's idea. The White Rook will come to d2. White may also play h3 to prevent Ng4.

12... Qe7 13. O-O h6??

A blunder. Now Black's position quickly becomes hopeless.

14. Nxg6 Qf7 15. Nxf8 Qxf8 16. Rd2 Ne8 17. f4!

White will play Bf2 and e4! to break open the position.

17... Bd7 18. Bf2 a5

What else? Black has no prospects.

19. e4!

Now c5 is threatened.

19... Bc8 20. Qc2 Ra6 21. exf5 Nd8 22. g4 Nf7 23. h3 h5? 24. g5 a4

Black is just waiting to get killed. Don't worry - I will oblige !

25. f6 Bh8 26. Qg6+ Ng7 27. Be4 Nd8

It's mate in SIX, but it's problematical

28. Qh7+ Kf7 29. Bg6+ Ke6

Now what ?

30. Qg8+!! Qxg8

30... Kd7 strings it out one more move 31. Qxf8 c5 32. Qe7+ Kc6 33. Qxd6#

30... Qf7 also strings it out one more move 31. Qxd8 Qxg6 32. Qe7+ Kf5 33. Qe4#

30... Nf7 31. Qxf8 Nxg5 32. Qe7#

31. Re1+ Kd7 32. Re7# 1-0 [Geoff Peake]

1. e4 Nc6

Nimzowitsch defence. I wanted to set him thinking in unfamiliar positions from the very first move.

2. Nf3

The book reply.

2... d6

A modern variation that I occasionally play.- There's hardly a mention of it in NCO but it has been played 1812 times !

3. d4 Bg4

443 times Nf6 is also playable.

4. Bc4

This has only been played 5 times. White does threaten Bxf7+ which probably attracted Jonathan. (then Ng5+ and Qxg4)

4... Nf6

Spassky played e5 as Black in this position.

4... e5 5. Bb5 exd4 6. c3 dxc3 7. Nxc3 Be7 8. O-O a6 9. Ba4 b5 10. Bb3 Nf6 11. a4 Ne5 12. Bf4 b4 13. Bxe5 dxe5 14. Nd5 O-O 15. h3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Nd7 17. Rfd1 Bd6 18. Ne3 Nc5 19. Bd5 Rb8 20. b3 Ne6 21. Nf5 1/2-1/2, Ciocaltea Victor 2460 - Spassky Boris V 2690 , Bucharest 1953 It

5. O-O?

Speculative but too ambitious.

5. c3 e6 (5... Nxe4? 6. Qb3) 6. h3 (6. O-O Be7 7. d5 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Ne5 9. Qe2 exd5 10. exd5 Nxc4 11. Qxc4 O-O 12. Nd2 Nd7 13. Nf3 Bf6 14. Re1 Nb6 15. Qb3 Qd7 16. Be3 Qa4 17. Rad1 Rfe8 18. Bxb6 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 Qxb3 20. axb3 axb6 21. Kf1 Kf8 22. Rd1 Ke7 23. Ke2 Ra2 24. Rd2 c5 25. dxc6 bxc6 26. Kd3 Kd7 27. b4 d5 28. Nd4 g6 29. Kc2 Ra1 30. Nf3 Kd6 31. Rd1 Rxd1 32. Kxd1 c5 33. bxc5+ Kxc5 34. Kc2 d4 35. Kd3 dxc3 36. bxc3 b5 37. Nd2 Kd5 1/2-1/2, Zendrowski J - Elieff Kosta, London (Canada) 1996) 6... Bh5 7. Qe2 Be7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bh4 O-O 10. Nbd2 a6 11. Bd3 e5 12. g4 Bg6 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nc4 Nd7 15. Bg3 Bd6 16. Nh4 Bh7 1/2-1/2, Pedersen Erik 2395 - Hoi Carsten 2405 , Denmark 1987 Ch Denmark1/2-1/2, Pedersen Erik (DEN) 2395 - Hoi Carsten (DEN) 2405, Denmark 1987

5. Qd3 e6 6. Bg5 Be7 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. Bb3 d5 9. e5 Bf5 10. Qe3 Ng4 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Qe2 Nb4 13. h3 Nh6 14. Rc1 a5 15. a3 a4 16. axb4 axb3 17. c3 Bc2 18. O-O Ra2 19. Ne1 Rxb2 20. Nxb3 Rxb3 21. Rxc2 Ra8 22. Nd3 b6 23. Rfc1 Rba3 24. Kh2 g6 25. g4 Kg7 26. f4 Qd7 27. Ne1 Qa4 28. Ng2 Qb3 29. Ne3 Ra2 30. Qg2 c5 31. f5 cxd4 32. f6+ Kh8 33. cxd4 Qxe3 34. Rxa2 Qf4+ 35. Kh1 Qxc1+ 36. Kh2 Qf4+ 37. Kh1 Rc8 38. Rc2 Rxc2 39. Qxc2 Qe4+ 40. Qxe4 dxe4 41. b5 Nxg4 42. hxg4 h5 0-1, Georges Sacha (SUI) 2340 - Brandics Jozsef (HUN) 2215, Kobanya (Hungary) 1988

5... Nxe4

Black accepts the challenge- Well Fischer would have wouldn't he ?

6. Qd3

6. Bxf7+ was the move that I expected. I didn't look at any other move. 6... Kxf7 7. Ng5+ Nxg5 8. Qxg4 h6 9. f4 Nh7 10. d5! Qc8! (10... Nb8 11. Qe6+ Ke8 12. Qg6+ Kd7 13. Qe6+ draws) 11. Qxc8 Rxc8 12. dxc6 bxc6 Black is better.

6... d5 7. Bb5 Bd7

Here Bxf3 was probably better.

8. Bxc6

Logical as now White gets a monster Knight on e5 - but he's still a pawn down.

8... Bxc6 9. Ne5 e6

Here Bd7 is safer.

10. f3

10. Nxc6!? bxc6 11. Qa6 is the logical way to proceed. 11... Qd7 12. Qb7 Rc8 13. Qxa7 c5 with interesting play.

10... Nf6 11. a4

A curious move. At this point I thought - He can't play extravagant moves like that. The only way I can lose here is if I lose on time.

11. Nxc6!? bxc6 12. Be3 (12. Qa6 c5 13. Qc6+ Nd7) 12... Qb8 13. b3 Qb6

11... Bd6

More aggressive than e7. Here the Bishop looks at the White K-side.

12. Bg5 h6 13. Bh4 g5

Okay it's a little risky and it weakens the K-side but it was the obvious way to go .

14. Be1

Again a strange choice. Perhaps he wants to regroup to the c1 h6 diagonal

14... Bd7

This frees the c pawn to advance.

15. f4

The logical attacking move, but White gifts Black the e4 square again for his Knight.

15... c5

Here Ne4 immediately looks better. But this is a Rapidplay folks ! All this analysis is taking up time !

15... Ne4 16. Qf3 (16. fxg5 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Qxg5) 16... gxf4 17. Qxf4 f5 18. Bh4 Ng5

16. c3

16. fxg5! is surely better. 16... Bxe5 (16... hxg5 17. Qf3 cxd4 18. Bg3 Be7 19. Ng4) 17. dxe5 Ne4 18. gxh6 Qg5

16... Ne4

-0.88

Black is certainly better. Jonathan sacrifices

17. Nxf7?

Perhaps Jonathan sacrificed as he felt he had to - he was in a worse position otherwise. Was he desperate ? Or was he over confident ?

17... Kxf7 18. fxg5+ Kg7 19. Nd2 hxg5 20. Nxe4?

He must be lost now.

20. h3 was a must. 20... Bc6

20... Bxh2+ 21. Kf2

21. Kh1 is a quick mate. 21... Bg3+ 22. Kg1 Rh1+ 23. Kxh1 Qh8+ 24. Kg1 Qh2#

21... c4

I threw this in as it helps to restrict White.

22. Qe3 Rf8+ 23. Ke2 Rxf1 24. Kxf1 dxe4

Here Bf4 could be played before capturing the Knight but I was not afraid of White's g3 move.

25. g3

White hopes to trap the Bishop,

25... Qf6+ 26. Bf2

26. Kg2 was White's only chance. 26... Rh8 27. Bd2 (27. Bf2 Qf5 and Qh3 check.) 27... Bc6! 28. Rf1 (28. Qxg5+ Qxg5 29. Bxg5 e3+ 30. Kf1 Bxg3) 28... Qh6 29. Kf2 Rf8+ 30. Ke1 Rf3 31. Qxg5+ Qxg5 32. Bxg5 Bxg3+ is easy.

26... e5

to free the Bishop to get to h3.

27. Qxe4?

27. dxe5 was the move I expected. 27... Bh3+ 28. Ke1 Qxe5 29. Rd1 Bg4 30. Rd4 Bf3 31. Rxc4 Bxg3

27... Bxg3 28. Qe2 Rf8 29. Kg1 Bxf2+ 30. Kg2 Bc6+ 31. Kf1

Jonathan's position is hopeless

31... Bg3+ 32. Kg1 Qh6

White might still have 12 minutes left on the clock to my 4 - but he cannot avoid mate.

0-1 [Geoff Peake]

1. d4 Nc6

A risky strategy.

2. g3

Here d5 is normal.

2... g6

2... d5!? is safest, 3. Bg2 (3. Nf3 Bf5 =) 3... Bf5 (3... Nf6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 g6 6. b3 Bg7 7. Bb2 Qd7 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Ng8 10. h3 Be6 11. e3 O-O-O 12. Qe2 f6 13. exf6 Bxf6 14. Bd4 Bf5 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. c4 c6 17. Rc1 Kb8 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. g4 Be6 20. f4 h5 21. g5 Ne8 22. Nf3 ...0-1, Naber Armin - Vandenbergen Nicolas, Hilden 2002 Tournament) 4. Nf3 e6 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Ne5 h6 9. a3 Rb8 10. b4 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ne4 12. Nxe4 dxe4 13. Be3 c5 14. b5 Qc7 15. Qc2 Rbd8 16. Bxe4 Qxe5 17. Bxf5 exf5 18. Rad1 Bg5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 20. Rd3 Rxd3 21. Qxd3 Re8 22. Rd1 ...1/2-1/2, Varejcko Josef 2320 - Vyhnalek Bohuslav 2220 , Czech Republic 1997 Czech League 1996/97 (1st) (b)

2... e5 is playable.

3. Bg2 Bg7

3... d5!? is still safest.

4. c3 d5

White was not tempted into d5 so Black establishes a pawn in the centre.

5. Nf3 Bf5

5... Bg4 6. Nbd2 Qd7 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Nxf3 e6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Ng5 f5 11. Qb3 Nd8 12. h4 Nf6 13. f3 h6 14. Nh3 exf3 15. Bxf3 O-O 16. Nf4 Kh7 17. Bd2 a5 18. O-O-O a4 19. Qc2 Nd5 20. Bxd5 exd5 21. h5 g5 22. Ng6 Re8 23. g4 Nf7 24. Rhf1 Nd6 25. gxf5 ...0-1, Dizdarevic Emir 2500 - Drazic Sinisa 2405 , Montecatini Terme 1995 It (open)

6. Nbd2 Qd7 7. O-O Bh3?!

Overambitious - but Black plans domination of the White squares.

8. e4 dxe4

This probably gives White the advantage. Safer is Bxg2 and e6, but I wanted to open the game up if I could.

8... Bxg2 9. Kxg2 e6 10. Re1 Nge7 11. Qe2 O-O 12. e5 f6 13. exf6 Rxf6 14. Ng5 e5 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. f4 N5c6 17. Nb3 Re8 18. Nc5 Qc8 19. Bd2 b6 20. Nd3 h6 21. Nf3 Qa6 22. a3 Nd8 23. Nb4 Qb7 24. Qa6 c6 25. Qxb7 Nxb7 26. Na6 Bf8 27. c4 Nd6 28. Bc3 Rf5 29. Nh4 Rf7 30. cxd5 cxd5 31. Bb4 Ne4 32. Nc7 Rc8 33. Rac1 g5 34. Nf3 gxf4 35. g4 Nc5 36. Ne6 Nd3 37. Rxc8 Nxe1+ 38. Nxe1 Nxc8 39. Nxf8 a5 40. Bd2 Rxf8 41. Kf3 Ne7 42. Nd3 Ng6 43. Nxf4 Kh7 44. Kg3 Nxf4 45. Bxf4 d4 0-1, Eslon Jaan (SWE) 2415 - Narciso Dublan Marc (ESP) 2390, Zaragoza (Spain) 1995

9. Nxe4 Bxg2 10. Kxg2 O-O-O

Again provocative strategy .

11. Bf4?

Now Blacks gains the advantage

This natural move runs White into trouble.

11. Nc5 Qd5 White is a little better.

11... Qd5!

This was the move I was relying on. White suffers from white square holes.

12. Nc5?!

This puts White in trouble.

12. Re1!? h6 13. Qb3 g5 14. Qxd5 Rxd5

12... e5! 13. c4?

-1.41 Tiger 15.0

13. Bg5 is better. 13... Bf6 (13... e4!? 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15. Bxd8 Nxd8) 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Qb3 Qxb3 16. Nxb3 exd4 17. Nbxd4 Nxd4 18. Nxd4 c5

13... Qxc4

13... Qxc5!? may be even better. 14. dxc5 Rxd1 15. Raxd1 exf4 -1.41 Tiger 15.0

14. b3

-2.38

? I don't understand this move, but this is Rapidplay. Perhaps he wasn't keen on throwing away a second pawn with Rc1.

14. Rc1 Qxa2 15. Qe2?! (15. Bg5 f6) 15... exf4 16. Qb5 Na5 17. b4 g5 18. bxa5 Qd5

14... Qd5

White is in a lost position. The best my computer can find is Nxb7 sack.

15. Bg5?!

-4.01 Tiger 15.0

15. Nxb7!? Kxb7 16. dxe5 h6 (16... Bxe5 17. Qxd5 Rxd5 18. Nxe5 Nxe5) 17. Qxd5 Rxd5

15... f6 16. Be3 exd4 17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Qxd4 Qxd4

18... Qxf3+ 19. Kxf3 Rxd4 20. Ne6 Rd7 is similar.

19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Ne6 Rd7

Here Re4 was playable, but not as good.

21. Rad1 Bh6

Now White has run out of threats. It's lost.

22. Rde1 f5 23. Nc5 Re7 24. f4 b6 25. Na6 Kb7 26. Nb4 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Nf6 28. Nd3 Re8 29. Ne5 Nd7 30. Kf3 Bg7

-5.50

White resigns.

0-1