[Event "Ealing Juniors A v Richmond A "] [Date "2021.11.16"] [Round "0"] [White "Tombolis, Christopher"] [Black "Barlow, Bertie"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D32"] [Opening "QGD Tarrasch: 4.e3"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5 4.e3 { Looks passive to lock in c1 Bishop (BB). This is a move for White, just a very solid one (MH)} Nf6 5.Nf3 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5 Bd6 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Nd4 Qd6 10.a3 {I was expecting O-O (BB). This does indeed seem an overly ambitious loss of tempo (MH).} O-O 11.Bxc6 {Didn't expect him to give up the two bishops (BB)} bxc6 12.b4 Bb6 {White is investing time to chase the bishop to a more threatening square - c7. The queenside pawns are also potentially vulnerable to pawn breaks. (MH)} 13.Bb2 a5 (13...Ba6 {I considered Ba6, when he would have to place a knight passively on e2 for O-O to be eventually feasible. (BB)}) 14.Na4 Bc7 15.b5 {I didn't expect this, but if he allowed me to exchange a pawn on b4 I like Black's position (BB)} (15.Bc3? Ne4) (15.Qb3 Re8 {White's forces are not well coordinated, and Black can start thinking about attacking (MH)}) 15...c5 16.Nc6 {This is an outpost, but not a particularly useful one. The knight is a liability more than anything. (MH)} d4 {A pawn sacrifice to stop the threat of Be5. (BB) A really excellent move! (MH)} 17.exd4 Re8+ 18.Kf1 c4 {Black understands that White's bishop on b2 is locked in by the d4-pawn. (MH)} 19.Ne5 (19.d5 {This is the move White would like to play, opening up the b2-bishop, but Black has no reason to take yet. (MH)} Bf5! 20.b6 Bd3+! 21.Kg1 Nxd5!! 22.bxc7 Nf4 {The 'fishbone bishop' on d3 puts that white knight on c6 to shame - a proper outpost! (MH)}) 19...Bb7 20.f3 Bd5 {! - Sealing its rival on b2's fate. (MH)} 21.Rc1 Qe6 22.Nc5 {This could be criticised in view of the sequel, but it's difficult to suggest anything good. With the White King position, Black's two bishops and the offside a4 knight I think Black has more than enough for the pawn. (BB)} Qb6 23.a4 {A mistake in a difficult position. Again difficult to suggest moves but after Kg1 Bxe5 Qxc5+ Bd4 White can capture on f6 next move (BB)} (23.Kg1 Bxe5 24.dxe5 Qxc5+ 25.Bd4) 23...Bxe5 24.dxe5 Qxc5 25.exf6 c3 {Takes advantage of the opening of the e-file and wins material (BB). A lovely little move - good positions breed tactics. (MH)} 26.Rxc3 Bc4+ 27.Rxc4 Qxc4+ 28.Kf2 Rad8 29.Re1 Qc5+ (29...Qh4+! 30.Kf1 (30.g3 Qxh2+ 31.Kf1 Rxd1 32.Rxd1 Qh1+ 33.Kf2 Qxd1) (30.Kg1 Rxe1+ 31.Qxe1 Qxe1# {(MH)}) 30...Rxd1 31.Rxd1) 30.Qd4 (30.Kg3 {Kg3 was the only chance. I then can't see anything better than Qg5+ followed by gxf6. I think Black is much better then, but does not look an easy win. (BB)} Qg5+ 31.Kh3 (31.Kf2? Qh4+!)) (30.Bd4 Rxe1!) 30...Qxd4+ 31.Bxd4 Rxe1 32.Bb6 Rde8 33.Bxa5 Ra1 { And with Black having two rooks against a bishop the game is over (BB) Eventually 0-1