(1) Milman-CAR (2474) - LarryC-BOS (2596) [C85]
ICC 90 30 u Internet Chess Club, 14.09.2005



1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Qd6
I had prepared a bit for this game and took a look at this move as a "more active" alternative to the standard, dull ...Nd7. I think the move is a bit clumsy--Nd7 is inevitable and it puts the knight on a route to the desired e6 square.

8.Nbd2 Nd7 9.b3
A good move--the e5 pawn comes under siege. The main idea behind Qd6 is to avoid playing ...f6--and Milman's formation introduces the new possibility of d3-d4.

9...c5 10.Nc4 Qe6 11.Bb2 Bf6 12.h3! 0-0 13.Nh2 b5?!
This move weakens Black's pawn structure. Better was 13...Bg5 to stop f2-f4/

14.Ne3 Bb7 15.Neg4?!
I think 14 Qg4! was the way to go--when Rae8 15 f4 gives White a small but enduring advantage.

15...Be7 16.f4 exf4 17.Rxf4 f6
17...c4 was a good alternative, with a fine game for Black. Not good was 17...f5? 18 exf5 Rxf5 19 Nh6+! and wins.

18.Kh1?
Why put the king on the wrong end of the a8-h1 diagonal? 18 Ne3 Bd6 19 Rf1 c4!? 20 Nf3 looks rougly equal.

18...Bd6 19.Rf1 f5!
This blasts open the long diagonal and activates Black's bishop pair.

20.exf5 Rxf5 21.Rxf5
21 Nh6+ Qxh6 22 Rxf5 Qxh3 wins,

21...Qxf5 22.Qe2 Qg6 23.Nf3 Re8 24.Qd2 h5
Diagram

25.Nh4?
25 Ngh2 Qg3 gives Black a nice position but he is a long way from winning. In fact, the position is probably just slighly better for Black.

25...Qe6
If now 26 Nf2, Black invades decisively with Qf2 with the point of 27 Qg5 Qe1+!

26.Qc3 Re7
Now 27 Nf2 loses to Be5.

27.Nf5
The alternative was resigns.

27...Qxf5 28.Nh6+ gxh6 29.Qh8+ Kf7
White resigns 0-1