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Wilkinson, Ian - Bowen, Mark [B32]
Easter Ladder ???? [notes by Bowen]
1. e4
c5
The best weapon for fighting against e4.
2. Nf3
Nc6
This reply was favoured by Botvinnik and can lead into various Sicilian lines for instance the Dragon or Scheveningen.
3. d4
cxd4
4. Nxd4
e5
I figured that Wilkinson would have good ideas against a Najdorf or Dragon so I opt for a lesser known line in the Kalashnikov.
5. Nb5
a6?!
This move enjoyed some popularity in the Eighties but will never enjoy the popularity of the lines with an immediate d6.
6. Nd6+
Bxd6
7. Qxd6
Black lose s his bishop for a knight which is generally considered very dangerous in modern chess but it does require precision and patience from the opponent to exploit.
Qf6
8. Qd3
The queen swap offers no problems to black as his development is then unrestricted and quick.
Nge7
Control of the d5 square is always helpful in this type of opening.
9. c4
White has a wide choice of plans here.
O-O
10. Nc3
d6
11. Be3
Bg4
12. f3
Be6
13. O-O-O
Refusing the pawn sac may be prudent but the King gets under attack on this side of the board. Nd5 is a safe and strong move instead.
b5
Extremely active play. I disliked the thought of this move being prevented later on by Bb6.
14. Nd5
Bxd5
15. cxd5
Nb4
Opening the file to the king.
16. Qb3
Rfc8+
17. Kb1
Nc2
18. Rc1
Nxe3
Winning the strong bishop this way turned the game in my favour.
19. Rxc8+
Rxc8
20. Qxe3
Ng6
21. Qb6
Qg5
This mate threat is very powerful.
22. Bxb5
The best option.
axb5
23. Qxb5
White must come up with something dangerous here to have any chance.
Qxg2
24. Rc1
Logical since both QxR and Qc2 leading to mate were threatened. Qf1 is also possible.
Rxc1+
25. Kxc1
Qh1+
26. Kc2
Qxh2+
27. Kb3
Qf2
28. Qb8+
Nf8
29. Qxd6
Qxf3+
30. Kb4
Qxe4+
31. Kb3
Qd3+
getting out of the pawn's way.
32. Kb4
Now the e-pawn threatens to queen with a check.
e4
33. Qc5
e3
34. Qc3
Time trouble prevented me from seeing that Qe4+ is crushing.
Qxc3+
35. Kxc3
h5
my original intention was f5 which is more accurate. That allows my king to join the action.
36. b4
h4
Amazingly Wilkinson fails to step into the square of the pawn. Note that if he had tried 36. a4 instead the fact that I can push the e2 pawn becomes useful.
37. Kd3
h3
I'm just bringing home the bacon at this stage.
38. Kxe3
h2
39. Kd4
h1=Q
40. a4
Nd7
Accuracy even in a completely won position is important.
41. b5
Qh4+
42. Kc3
Qxa4
0-1
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Bowen, Mark - Wisdom, Daren [A27]
Easter Ladder ???? [notes by Bowen]
1. Nf3
Nc6
2. c4
e5
3. Nc3
Bc5
4. a3
a5
5. e3
d6
Wisdom plays this system (with colours reversed) against the Sicilian so his moves came as no surprise to me. His system is solid and often leads to a closed game in which he keeps his king centralised so as to attack with his pawns on the kingside.
6. Be2
Nf6
7. b3
O-O
He forgoes his patented strategy of playing h5.
8. Qc2
h6
9. Bb2
Re8
10. d3
Bf5
11. Nd2
My first creative move. White's system looks confusing till you realize it's just the Hedgehog in reverse.
Bh7
12. Nde4
using e4 as a jump off spot.
Bb6
Wisdom wants to keep active so he retreats the bishop.
13. Nxf6+
Qxf6
14. Nd5
the ideal outpost for a knight.
Qg6
Wisdom shows that he's a good counter attacker.
15. O-O-O
I stay true to my gambiteer nature.
Qxg2
16. Nf6+
This fork utilising the pin on the g file is quite aesthetic.
Kh8
I believe the position is still merely equal here.
17. Nxe8
Qxf2
Wisdom's understanding of the initiative is remarkable.
18. Nxc7
The knight as a desperado so I decide to grab something with it before it dies.
Bxc7
The bishop is diverted from it's target on e3.
19. Qd2
f6
Wisdom tries to build a fortress.
20. Bc3
Rb8
21. Rdf1
Qh4
22. Qe1
Fritz considers the position equal if queens are exchanged at this point.
Qh3
23. Qg3
Qd7
24. Rhg1
b5
Excellent play. Wisdom gets active.
25. Bg4
Qf7
26. Bh5
Qe7
27. Bg6
I was in slight time trouble with less than a minute each for my remaining moves. Wisdom is the National Juniour Blitz champion and one of the fastest players in Jamaica.
bxc4
28. bxc4
d5
This move unleashes a fierce counter attack which my forces are not well placed to deal with.
29. Qf2
trying to reorganise a defence.The immediate Bxh7 is strong.
Bxg6
30. Rxg6
Black has a big advantage now, Wisdom's use of the clock and shrewd counter attack got the better of me.
Qxa3+
31. Bb2
Qxd3
32. Rxh6+
if gxh6 I'd force a perpetual.
Kg8
33. Rxf6
gxf6
34. Qxf6
Qxe3+
35. Kb1
Black has huge advantage but I threaten to checkmate him or gain a perpetual if he doesn't play accurately.
Rxb2+
36. Kxb2
Qd4+
37. Kb1
allowing the knight to check me would be fatal. My defence is based on Bowen's Biological Rule : The queen alone cannot mate.
Qd3+
38. Kb2
Qd2+
39. Kb1
Qb4+
40. Ka1
Qc3+
41. Kb1
Qd3+
42. Ka1
Qd4+
43. Kb1
Qb6+
Instead of forcing the draw by perpetual check Wisdom decides to go for a win.
44. Ka1
Nd8
The critical position which had the spectators frantically trying to figure out what was happening. I now had 22 minutes to complete the game.
45. Qf8+
Kh7
46. Qe7+
Kg6
47. Qe8+
My opponent broke etiquette by offering me a draw at this point before making his move. I refused then told him I'd see what he played first.
Kh6
48. Qh8+
Kg5
this move loses by force.
49. h4+
The cruncher !
Kg6
50. h5+
Kg5
51. Qg7+
Stuck between a rock and a very hard place my opponent stopped the clocks and shook my hand.
1-0