1988-01-31 - Humphreys, Jerry 1-0 Osborne, David
An intriguing English Opening by Jerry. However, he doesn't fare well and Osborne starts to build a menacing position.An error of Black timing gets Jerry back on a even keel, then he assumes the initiative in a messy position.Enough pressure is exerted so that, in time-trouble, Osborne throws it all away with one move.
[Event "BRISTOL LEAGUE CONGRESS"] [Site "?"] [Date "1988.01.31"] [Round "5"] [White "Humphreys, Jerry"] [Black "Osborne, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B20"] [Annotator "Mordue,Tyson"] [PlyCount "69"] {Originally annotated by Alex Easton (AE) in BCT Issue 71, May 1988.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e4 {"Pointless when it doesn't block Black's Bishop on b7 or can't be followed quickly by f2-f4 etc." AE.} Nc6 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Nge7 7. d3 O-O 8. Be3 Nd4 9. Bxd4 {Given an ?! by Alex but with no explanation. The text is in the database but the obvious drawback is the weakening of the dark squares.} cxd4 10. Nb5 Qb6 11. Qa4 $2 {"To 'threaten' 12 c5 perhaps? but a loss of time." AE. Also out of the database.} d6 12. Qc2 {12 Qa3 is more active and avoids the loss of a tempo.} a6 13. Na3 Bd7 {Deep Rybka says Black is now better by exactly +0.5.} 14. Qd2 f5 15. exf5 gxf5 {The engine prefers piece recaptures but this is okay.} 16. Nc2 e5 17. Rfe1 Nc6 18. Rab1 Rae8 $6 { "18...e4 looks storming: 19 Ng5 (19 dxe4 fxe4 and Black threatens 20...d3 after 20 Ng5) 19...Rae8 looks great for Black." AE. After 18...e4 19 Ng5 Deep Rybka prefers 19...h6 20 Nh3 e3.} 19. b4 e4 20. b5 $1 {"Puts a huge spanner in the works. Black now has to readjust quickly from a smooth attacking position to a messy one." AE.} e3 $6 {"20...axb5 first is better If 21 Rxb5 as in the game, 21...Qa7 keeps the position intact. So 21 cxb5 transposing into the next note." AE.} 21. Qc1 $1 {Deep Rybka now evaluates the position as even.} axb5 22. Rxb5 $1 {"22 cxb5 Ne5 and if 23 fxe3 (23 Nfxd4 exf2+ 23 Kxf2 Ng4+) 23...Nxf3+ 24 Bxf3 dxe3 with advantage. After the text Black's position is in ruins." AE. The analysis is accurate, Black's Pawn structure isn't great, but Deep Rybka says White is only better by +0.16.} Qa7 $6 {Deep Rybka doesn't like this and neither do I. Despite Her Majesty looking more active on this square it may be more useful to retreat it to c7.} 23. Qb2 Bc8 24. Rd5 {An intriguing move hitting d4 and d6 simultaneously. Even though the Rook has to go back to b5 in a moment the cost to Black of forcing it back is more discoordination.} Re6 25. Na3 $5 {Taking on d4 with either Knight just walks into 25...exf2+ 26 Kxf2 and whichever Knight is on d4 is pinned in two different directions. Never a good idea. Black can then play 26...Nxd4 27 Nxd4 Rh6. Amongst other ideas Black is about to play 27...Be5 and 28...Be6 winning material. The text regroups the Knight to b5 which is a nice idea but it never gets there.} exf2+ 26. Kxf2 Ne7 27. Rb5 Re8 {A slight improvement is 27.. .Ng6 because 28 Rd5 is met by 28...Nf4.} 28. Ng5 Re5 29. Qb4 {Tickling d6 and an additional defender to ... e1! A point to note is that had Black chosen 22.. .Qc7 he wouldn't now be spending a tempo defending it, and is b8 really any better than a7?} Qb8 $2 {Black was probably short of time so it's understandable he missed the interesting 29...Nc6 30.Qxd6 Rd8 31.Rxe5!? (not 31 Qc7 Re7 32 Qb6 Qxa3 costs a piece) 31...Rxd6 32.Re8+ Bf8 33.Nb5 Qa2 34 Nxd6 (if 34 Rxc8 Rd8) 34...Bd7 and the e8 Rook is trapped!} 30. Bf3 Rxe1 31. Qxe1 { That residual benefit of 29 Qb4, and it pays dividends.} Bh6 $4 {"Loses by force, but White has a million threats e.g. 32 Bd5+ Kh8 (32...Kf8 33 Nxh7 mate) 33 Nf7+ and wins or 32 Rxb7 Bxb7 33 Qe6+ Kh8 34 Nf7+ with a smothered mate." AE. Actually White has a couple of threats, as specified, but 31...Be5 deals with both of them and leaves Black just slightly worse.} 32. Bxb7 {32 Rxb7 is simpler and better but it doesn't matter.} Bxg5 {"But 32...Bxb7 33 Qe6+ Kh8 34 Qxh6 mates." AE.} 33. Bd5+ Kf8 34. Rxb8 Nxd5 35. cxd5 {White comes out a Rook up after 35...Rxe1 36 Kxe1 because the c8 Bishop drops.} 1-0
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