1988-01-31 - Weeks, C 0-1 Binks, M

From the last round of the 1988 League Congress, but it's a short win, not a draw. Chris Weeks misplays the opening and loses a Pawn. His attempt at recovering it allows Mike Binks to seize on a small but vital tactical nuance to win in just 13 moves.

[Event "BRISTOL LEAGUE CONGRESS"] [Site "?"] [Date "1988.01.31"] [Round "5"] [White "Weeks, C"] [Black "Binks, M"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D17"] [Annotator "Mordue,Tyson"] [PlyCount "26"] {Originally annotated by Alex Easton (AE) in BCT Issue 71, May 1988.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Ne5 {"The sharpest. 6 e3 is the sounder alternative." AE.} e6 7. Nxc4 $2 {"Bad but obvious. 7 f3 Bb4 8 Nxc4 is more usual so if 8...c5 9 dxc5 Qxd1+ 10 Kxd1 Bxc5 Black is a tempo down and 11 e4 puts his Queen's Bishop out of play." AE.} c5 8. Bf4 $2 {"Now 8 dxc5 (best) 8...Qxd1+ 9 Kxd1 Bxc5 10 f3 Nc6 is very equal." AE.} cxd4 9. Nb5 Bb4+ 10. Nd2 $2 {"10 Bd2 is necessary, with some advantage to Black in development." AE. Actually Black may well get to keep his extra Pawn, not just have a developmental plus. Three other White players have been here before and they all played 10 Bd2.} O-O $1 {"Goodbye!" AE.} 11. Nc7 $2 {Going down quickly. Either Chris didn't see the refutation or he fancied an early bath.} e5 $1 {Returning the Pawn for a tempo gain that proves fatal to White.} 12. Bxe5 Ne4 13. Bf4 Nxd2 {Instead of resigning some people would have played 14 Nxa8 allowing 14...Nf3 mate.} 0-1

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