Scarpa, Mario – Wolstenholme, James

Scarpa, Mario (1354)
Wolstenholme, James (1522)
Result: 0-1
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1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 White is concerned about Nb4 or Bb4, so decides to prevent it. 5... Qb6 White planned to move Bc2 to add pressure on the pawn in d4. Now the black Queen threatens b2, should the Bishop go anywhere... 6. c3 Add support to the pawn in d2 while also opening the diagonals for Bishop and Queen. 6... g6 Black realises that the Bishop is pretty jammed and decides to open a way out on the other side... or at least this is what White is thinks. 7. b4 Black's idea is to exchange pawns, thus freeing the a-file for the Rook. 7... c4 Black refuses and no everything is really stuck. White figures that a sacrifice of a piece is needed to weaken the black pawns and gain room for maneuvre. 8. Nbd2 Nh6 White figures that Black plan is different than originally suspected. By lureing White's Bishop on the diagonal f8-a3, Bxh6 would be a good move. To lure the black Bishop, White must achieve Nd6+ (ideally forking the Queen, if Black blunders). The sacrifice seems to pay off eventually, and off it goes... 9. Bxc4 dxc4 10. Nxc4 Qd8 11. Nd6+ Bxd6 White realises that Bg4 would have been better, but it is too late 12. exd6 Maybe Bxh6 would have been better, but the pawn is dangerously forward. If Black takes it, then White can play the missed Bxh6 now. If the Knight escapes, the pawn is still there to cause troubles. 12... Nf5 13. d5 If exd5 then Qxd5. If Qxd5 (or Nxd6) then dxc6, granting White the material he previously lost. 13... Nb8 14. dxe6 Well then, let's gain momentum 14... Bxe6 15. Ng5 White thinks that Black is going to take d6. The plan is to move Nxe6 after the exchanges, thus forcing fxe6, which results in pawn isolation. 15... Bc4 16. Ne4 Nope... Plan B: let's support the pawn in d6 16... O-O 17. g4 White wants to move Bh6... The Knight has to go at any cost. 17... Ng7 18. Qd4 This way, not only does the Queen threaten the Bishop, but also g2... and Bh6 will be therefore be much deadlier. 18... b5 19. Bh6 f6 20. g5 The pawn in f6 cannot move or Qxg2#. White figures that Nf6 would be very tempting, but then Nxf6+ either Rook or Queen takes the Knight, Qxf6, the remaining piece takes the Queen and then gxf6 (which coupled with Bg2 or Bg5, puts another pawn closer to promotion). 20... Nd7 Didn't see that coming... White is now running out of time (as usual)... Figuring that it takes very little for Black to pin the Knight in e4, the only option is moving the King. 21. O-O-O Ne6 22. Nxf6+ White needs space for maneuvring the Queen. 22... Rxf6 23. Qe4 Rf4 24. Qe3 Rc8 25. Qxa7?? Massive blunder due to time pressure. White signs his own death warrant. 25... Ra8 26. Qe3 Rxa3 27. Rhe1 Qa8 28. Kb2 Ra2+ 29. Kb1 Ra1+ 30. Kc2 Qa2#