This was a game played just yesterday in the Stella Niagara Quick/Scholastic tournament. It was round four. I had 2/4 so far and I was trying to make it 3/4. Games were 25 minutes with a two second time delay. Fast, but not so fast I couldn't think at all. Of course, I was playing the highest rated player in the tournament (I was third highest), so I knew it would be tough, but I had white, and I wanted to exploit that advantage.

My point of posting it here is because the game did end in a draw, but I want to know if I had any defensive resources I missed, or any way to generate counterplay in the end, where we finally agreed to a draw.

Anyway, here's the game:

I believe 30.Be2 would do the trick. I used program Fritz 11 to generate possible continuation.

I think white's position looks dubious after 25.Qe3 maybe black can play 25...g5 threatening to open up the h-file with pxp, followed by g4. Not sure where white's counterplay is.

                        The first 8 moves may have been theory, but it looks very unambitous. I've done similar against higher rated players so no shame it that, but there is a fine line between playing with draw in hand, and passively. Think black did a good job in building up advantage, until got carried away with nxpch. Good spot of Qa3 though.

 Bye John S

Perhaps I'm seeing things, but at the drawing point of the game, what happens on 40. Rd2(?)  instead of 40. Be3?  What I am seeing is 40...g3+, 41. fxg3 fxg3+, 42. Kg1 h2+, 43.  Kh1 g2+ 44.Bxg2. 

 Is that feasible?  I'm just not clear about this line that I see.

 Because he wouldn't play 42. ...h2+, he would play g2, my bishop moves, THEN h2+, and he queens.

 If you'll notice, I actually mentioned that in my analysis. Thank you for confirming it with fritz, though. I think it was perhaps the major mistake that "lost" me the game, in terms of losing the win.

 You know, I believe you're right. Qe3 was too passive and fairly useless. Do you have any suggestions for what other moves I could have played there?

Hello,

Think the main problem was your plan, rather than an individual move. You ended up with practically all your peices defending h3, with a pawn storm soon arriving. Usually in opposite side castling positions you defend by cracking opponents defenses before does same to yours.

                   Finding it hard to suggest moves that improve your chances. Thought maybe 16Qd2 iso Qb3, so that could play b4-b5 if black castles queenside, basically looking for some way to generate something against black, but then 16...Nf4 is immediately threatening Nxp, g2xh3 Rxh3. So it looks like Nxg6 wasn't a good idea. 

 There is a Fischer v Petrosian game in 60 memorable games which has a similar opening line. Maybe look at that one, to get ideas how to improve play for white.

Bye John S

If 40.  Rd2 g3+, 41. fxg3 fxg3+, 42. Kg1 g2, then either 43.Bxg2 or my preference, 43.Rxh3 should save the game for white.  I would consider giving back the material in this instance since I would still be up a pawn, but black's pressure would be lessened.

 Not eliminated, though. Why give back the material when I don't need to? If it gave me winning chances, then yeah, it'd be worth it, but I don't see a win there.

On June 10, 2008 I put the final position into Chessmaster 8000.  Chessmaster did suggest 40. Be2 as played, but it showed that white may have a winning position after 41.Bd1, threatening to play a4 and trading off the b5 pawn.

I also asked chessmaster about my suggestion and it showed that 43. Rxh3 would help, but further analysis of this line showed that black would be up a pawn after a trade of one of the rooks.  and I thought all this time that white would end up a pawn up from this line.

Just to let you know how chessmaster evaluated this position.

Hello,

Don't see why white isn't winning in final position.  Like already stated if play Kh4, which takes five moves anyay!, then Rxp mate. If try to hold up a-pawn with Ra8, have Rc5. So looks like Bd1 creating passed pawn going to win. If black try f3 followed by g3, always have pxp Rxg3 Bxf3. All this not so easy with time running out though.

Bye John S