Povah, N. - Toon, J.
Guildford Internal
[D00]

1.d4 d5 2.Bg5 The Pseudo-Trompowsky - so called because the Trompowsky proper arises after 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bg5.
 2...h6 3.Bh4 c6 4.e3 Qb6 5.Qc1 Bf5 The alternative is 5...e5 when 6.dxe5?? loses a piece. After 6.Nf3 Be7 7.Bg3 Bf5 Black has a reasonable position. The advantage of 5...Bf5 is that it can be played after both 4.e3 as here and also 4.Nf3.
 6.Nf3 e6 7.c4 Be7 To allow the queen to retreat to d8 after White plays c5.
 8.Bg3 Naturally Wh ite wants to preserve the dark-squared bishop. His plan involves advancing the queenside pawns when controlling b8 with the bishop is very useful.
 8...Nf6 9.Nc3 Nbd7 10.h3 To keep the bishop. After 10.Be2 Nh5, Black manages to exchange the bishop and reduce the pressure on his position. However, a non-developing move like h3 costs a tempo, which Black can exploit later.
 10...O-ONew opening move This is a novelty, although in these positions the move order is quite elastic. White normally plays c5 first.
 11.c5 Qd8 12.b4 The point of White's unusual move order is to advance the pawns before Black can play ...a5. However, White hasn't castled yet. Play now becomes quite sharp.
 12...b5 13.a4 13.cxb6 Qxb6 is good for Black.
 13...a5 More interesting than 13...a6. Of course not 13...bxa4? 14.Rxa4 which favours White. 13...a5 introduces complications. I had seen it in a previous game and thought it was sound.
 14.axb5 axb4 15.bxc6 bxc3
[The alternative was
 15...Nxc5 16.c7 Qc8 17.Nb5 Nce4 which looks very unclear. I decided to stick with what I'd seen before.]
16.cxd7 c2 The play now centres on whether White can remove the dangerous black pawn on c2.
 17.Be2
[17.c6?? Bb4+ 18.Ke2 Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Qb6 20.Nd2 Qb5+- +]
[17.Ne5 Rxa1 18.Qxa1 Qa8 19.Qc3 Ne4 20.Qxc2 Qa5+ 21.Ke2 Nxg3+ 22.Kf3 Bxc2- +]
17...Ne4
[17...Rxa1 18.Qxa1 Qa5+ 19.Qxa5 c1=Q+ 20.Bd1 is one of the important tactics in this position but it doesn't quite work. Hence Black's next move which brings another piece into the attack.]
18.O-O Played after a long think. White decides it's more important to get his king into safety than preserve his dark-square bishop.
[18.Bf4 Nc3
(18...Rxa1 19.Qxa1 Qa5+ 20.Qxa5 c1=Q+ 21.Bd1 Bd8 22.Qb4 Nc3 23.O-O Nxd1 24.Bd6+ -)
19.Ba6 Qxd7 20.Ne5 Qe8 21.Bd3 Bxd3 22.Rxa8 Qxa8 23.Nxd3 Qa2 24.f3 Qc4]
18...Nxg3
[18...Nc3 19.Re1 Rxa1 20.Qxa1 Nxe2+ 21.Rxe2 Qxd7 22.Ne1 Qb5 23.Rxc2]
19.fxg3 Qxd7 20.Ne5 Qb7 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.Bd3 Bxd3 23.Nxd3 Qb3
[Better was the immediate ...Bg5 since White has no good way to defend the e3 pawn.
 23...Bg5 24.Qxc2
(24.Re1 Qb3 25.Nf4 e5 26.dxe5 Be7)
24...Bxe3+ 25.Kh2 Bxd4]
24.Ne1 Ra1! My opponent hadn't seen this move, which saves the game for Black.
[24...Ra2 25.Rf2]
[24...Bg5 25.Nxc2 Ra2 26.Rf2 Qc3 27.h4 Bxe3 28.Qxe3 Rxc2 29.Qf4 Qe1+ 30.Rf1 Qe4]
25.Qxc2
[25.Qxa1 Avoiding 25...Qxe3+ 26.Kh2 c1=Q when Black wins.]
25...Qxe3+ 26.Qf2 Qxf2+ 27.Kxf2 e5 28.Nd3 Ra2+ 29.Ke1 Ra1+ 30.Kf2 Ra2+ 31.Ke1 Ra1+ I decided to take the draw against my IM opponent.
[In order to continue the game Black would have to clarify the position in the centre.
 31...exd4 32.Rf5 Rxg2 33.Rxd5 Rxg3 34.Rxd4 and now Black could enter a risk-free ending with
 34...Bxc5
(34...Bf6 35.Rd7 Rxh3 36.c6 Kf8 37.c7 Re3+ 38.Kf1 Re8 39.Nb2 Be5 40.Nd3 Bxc7 41.Rxc7)
35.Nxc5 Rxh3]
[31...e4 32.Nb4 Ra4 33.Nxd5]


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