[Event "Ashby 1 v Wigston 2"] [Site "Ashby"] [Date "2023.11.16"] [White "Andy Morley"] [Black "Richard Vann"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B13"] [Opening "Caro-Kann: Panov-Botvinnik Attack"] {We have played several games, and I lost last time, in this line. In the previous game, he played c4-c5 at some point, and I couldn’t get out of a bind and was gradually ground down.} 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 {Seemingly an innocuous swap to an even game} 4.c4 {The Panov-Botvinnik attack. The open files and diagonals can make it sharp.} Nf6 5.Nc3 {Not 5Nf3 Nf6 6 Nc3, Bg4! The Bishop on c8 here avoids being boxed in. Drawish.} Nc6 6.Bg5 Be6 {What I had prepared earlier. It looks so weird that W spent some time here, and for the next few moves.} 7.c5 {Before the game, I was wondering about his move 7 reply, as 7.Bxf6 and 7.cxd5 are possible. This and the next two moves were prepared} Ne4 8.Bf4 g5 {An engine idea. Not my style, but W uses up his time} 9.Be3 f5 {B continues to be a little provocative} 10.Nxe4 dxe4 11.Qh5+ {Out of preparation. This is about 12th on engine preference and listed as -1. But it surprised me. Totally unexpected} Bf7 12.Qxg5 Rg8 {Here Qd7 is best, embarrassing the W queen. Missed that} 13.Qxf5 e5 {Desperation by me} 14.dxe5 Qa5+ 15.Bd2 Qxc5 16.Rc1 Qb6 17.e6 Bg6 {NB 17.Bc4 (+2) is much better. We both missed that} 18.Qb5 Qc7 {Minutes left: White 11, Black 53. Hence keep Q’s on!} 19.Nh3 Rd8 {Nearly played ...a6 here, but Rd8 is more Morphy} 20.Be2 Rxd2 {BAM!!!} 21.Kxd2 {Crash!! I was confident B was better, due to the attack} Bh6+ 22.Kc3 a6 {Time left in minutes: 3; 36. Some players get into clock problems, hence my plan for this game was to make it difficult for Morley to find the right move} 23.Qc5 b6 24.Qc4 {Qd5 is =, everything else -3 (B much better) ...b5!! ( - 4) Missed that!} Qe5+ 25.Kc2 e3+ 26.Kd1 {Amazingly 26 Bd3! is +2 for W. We both missed that!} Qd6+ 27.Ke1 exf2+ 28.Kxf2 {Kf1 is equal, but no-one would want an enemy pawn on f2! How convenient that the f file is open. Why’s that?} Rf8+ 29.Bf3 Qd2+ 30.Qe2 Be3+ {A lucky resource. One of the few moves I saw in advance.} 31.Kg3 Qd6+ {This looks like we’re near the end of the King hunt!} 32.Kh4 Qd4+ {Time left in minutes 1.5; 12.} 33.g4 Ne7 34.Ng1 {He slammed the clock button with only 1 second left! A few players were stood round, intrigued. This is now -9, but 34...Bd3! is even better.} Bxc1 35.Qxa6 {Gobbling pawns on the Q-side now. Find the mate in 7!} Qf2+ 36.Kh3 Rxf3+ 37.Nxf3 Qxf3+ 38.Kh4 Nf5+ 39.gxf5 Qf4+ {But 39....Qf2+, and mate in two. Missed that!} 40.Kh3 Bxf5+ 41.Kg2 Be4+ 42.Kh3 Bf5+ 43.Kg2 Qe4+ 44.Kf2 Qe3+ 45.Kg2 Be4+ {But 45... Bh3 mate. Missed that as well !!!But 45... Bh3 mate. Missed that as well !!! One of the most complicated games I’ve played. My preference is to put a positional boa constrictor on my opponent. To be honest, it was the clock that got him. As planned.} {#R} 0-1