[Event "Spielvogel Memorial"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2017.03.02"] [Round "6"] [White "Patrick Cook"] [Black "Rodney Jacobs"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1641"] [BlackElo "1721"] [ECO "A01"] [Opening "Nimzowitsch-Larsen: 1...d5 2.Bb2"] 1.b3 {I was so sure that Pat would play b3 that, while waiting for him to come to the table, I, encouraged by a club member who will remain nameless, but whose initials are JB, put Pat's b3 pawn there.(RJ)} d5 {Rod told me after the game that he thought I might play the Larsen, and he prepared this...(P.C.) Yes, in all our previous Larsen games, including lightning games, I had played 1.....e5.} 2.Bb2 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 c5 {The most played move on Chessbase. Alternatives include Be7 or Bd6. (RJ)} 5.d4!? {The second most popular move on Chessbase, after c4. (RJ)} Nc6 6.dxc5?! {I felt this was an innacuracy, just helping Black develop his Bishop. It's not recommended on Chessbase. In these types of positions, it's not usual to take the pawn until the opponent has first moved the defending bishop - so as not to lose a tempo.(RJ)} Bxc5 7.Be2 O-O 8.O-O Qe7 9.a3 a6 10.c4 Rd8 11.Qc2 dxc4 12.Bxc4 e5?! {Just a bit over-anxious to liberate my white bishop. (RJ)} 13.b4 Ba7 14.Ng5! {Pretty much forces the R back to where it came from...(P.C.). Yes, the best move. (RJ)} Rf8 15.Nd2 h6 16.Ngf3 Bg4 17.h3 Bh5? {Bd7 is necessary. . (RJ)} 18.Bxa6! {Sorry Pat, but not the best move. Both programs give g4 for White as best. (RJ)} Nxb4? {Rc8!, although White still has the better of it. (RJ)} 19.axb4 bxa6 20.Nxe5 {The programs now give White a 1.15 advantage. (RJ).} Rfc8 {Best. (RJ)} 21.Qb3 Bb8 {Also best. (RJ)} 22.Nef3 Bd6? 23.Rfc1 Re8? {23...Rxc1+ 24.Rxc1 Bxb4 25. Bxf6 was acceptable to me...(P.C.) Stockfish 7 gives BcB4 as best. (RJ)} 24.b5! axb5 25.Rxa8 Rxa8 26.Bxf6 gxf6? {26...Qxf6 seems logical (P.C.) I knew that, positionally, this was a serious error. But I thought I would be able to generate some tactical threats with my 2 bishops. Alas, it was Pat who now works up those threats. (RJ)} 27.Qxb5 {Qd5! is very strong here. (RJ)} Bg6 {The engines give White a .9 advantage here. (RJ)} 28.Nd4 Ra2 29.N2f3 Qe4 {Qc7! is a bit stronger. (RJ)} 30.Qc6 {Qd7 is stronger. (RJ)} Qe7? {Qxc6 (RJ)} 31.Qc8+ Kh7 32.Nf5! {Getting rid of my White bishop, simplifying and heading towards an endgame where White will have a significant advantage with his extra pawn and my messed up pawn structure. (RJ)} Bxf5? {Qf8 holds out longer. (RJ)} 33.Qxf5+ Kg7 34.Nd4 Qb7 35.Qb5?! {Stockfish 7 recommends Qh5!, with a 2.67 advantage - obviously with Nf5 to come. (RJ)} Qxb5 36.Nxb5 Be7 37.Nd4 Kg6 38.g4 Ba3 39.Rc2 Ra1+ 40.Kg2 Rb1 41.h4 Bd6 42.Nf5 Bb8 43.Rc8 Kh7 44.Rc6 Rb4 45.f4 Rb2+ 46.Kf3 h5 47.gxh5 Rb5 48.Rxf6 Kg8 49.h6 Rb7 50.e4 Rb4 51.h7+! Kxh7 52.Rxf7+ Kg8 53.Rg7+ Kf8 54.h5 Rb2 55.h6 Rh2 56.h7 Rh5 57.Rg8+ {A convincing game by Pat - in front the whole way after his courageous sac on move 18. Due to my lack of time, and, yes, chess ability, my comments come from computer suggestions.(RJ)} {#r} 1-0