(1) James,Russ - Bennet,William [B22]
4NCL
[Russ James]



1.e4 c5 2.c3 d5
Black immediately challenges my setup. This leads to lively opening play as both sides battle for the center.

3.exd5 Qxd5 4.d4 Nc6 5.Nf3 cxd4 6.cxd4 e5
[6...Bg4 Is the alternative. 7.Nc3 Bxf3 8.gxf3 Qxd4 9.Qxd4 Nxd4 10.Nb5 Is the very interesting position that usually occurs in this line. White has the advantage due to Black's more exposed king.]

7.Nc3 Bb4
Thematically continuing to challenge for the center.

8.Be2!? e4 9.0-0!
White sacrifices a piece for the attack.

9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 exf3 11.Bxf3
For the piece invested, white has the two bishops, active piece play and an uncomfortable Black king .

11...Qd6 12.Qa4
White improves the position of the queen, prepares Ba3 and pins the knight. Good moves usually have more than one point to them.

12...Bd7
[12...Be6 occured in a previous game of mine. After 13.d5! Bxd5 14.Ba3 Qc7 (14...Qd7 15.Rfe1+ Nge7 16.Bxd5 Qxd5 17.Rxe7+ ) 15.Bxd5 0-0-0 16.Bxc6 Qxc6 17.Qxa7 White went on to win handily]

13.Ba3! Qc7
[13...Nxd4 14.Qxd4 Qxd4 15.cxd4 and the bishops give white a big advantage]

14.Rfe1+ Kd8
Now the king is misplaced, but [14...Nge7 15.Bxc6 Bxc6 16.Qb3 0-0 17.Rxe7 Gives white a decisive advantage]

15.Qb3 Nh6 16.Rab1
White's initiative is very strong.

16...Kc8 17.Bd6 Qb6 18.Qd5!
A superb square for the queen.

18...Qa6 19.Bf4
Clearing the h2-b8 diagonal

19...Rd8 20.Qc5
[20.Qd6 Is more direct, logical and good. 20...Qa5 21.Rxb7! Kxb7 22.Rb1+ Qb6 23.Qc7+ Ka6 24.Be2+ Ka5 25.Rxb6 axb6 26.Qd6 b5 27.Qa3+ Kb6 28.Qc5+ Kb7 29.Qxb5+ Kc8 30.Qa6+ Rxa6 31.Bxa6# my leetle friend Fritz says hello]

20...Bf5 21.Re7! Rd7 22.Re8+ Rd8 23.Rxd8+
[23.Qd6! leads to forced mate- 23...Qa5 24.Bxc6 Bxb1 25.Bd7# ]

23...Kxd8 24.Qf8+ Kd7 25.Qd6+ Ke8 26.Re1+
[26.Rxb7 also wins ]

26...Be6 27.Bxh6 gxh6 28.Rxe6+! fxe6 29.Bh5#
A nice checkmate to finish 1-0