(1) Harris,David (2150) - Astrachan,Ed (1937) [A07]
MCC Championship Natick MA (2), 08.04.2008
[D.Harris]



1.Nf3 d5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 Bf5 4.0-0 e6 5.c4 c6 6.cxd5 cxd5 7.d3 Nc6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.Nc3 0-0 10.Rc1 Rc8 11.Re1
[11.Qb3 is more logical, completing development, although the threat on b7 is an illusion]

11...h6 12.Bd2 Qb6 13.Na4 Qb5 14.b3 Ba3
Annoying!

15.Rb1 a5 16.Bc3 Bb4 17.Rc1 Rfd8 18.Bxf6! gxf6 19.Rf1
Re1 was a waste of time!

19...e5 20.Nh4 Bh7
[20...Be6= Although Black has the two Bishops, and the White Knights are on the rim, the weak light squares on the K-side make thepositiondynamicallybalanced]

21.Bh3+/= Rc7 22.Bf5
The f5 square gives White a lasting grip

22...Bxf5 23.Nxf5+/- Kh7 24.e3 Rg8 25.f4
[Direct and to the point is 25.Qh5 ]

25...e4 26.d4 Rd7 27.Nc5
Having two annoying Knight outposts is too much for Black to handle

27...Bxc5 28.Rxc5 Qb6 29.Qh5 Rg6 30.Qh3
[Of course 30.Nxh6! Rxh6 31.Qf5+ Kg7 32.Qxd7+- ]

30...Qd8 31.Nh4 Rg7 32.Qf5+ Kg8 33.Rfc1! Qe7(+) 34.Qh5 Rh7 35.Rxd5 Rxd5 36.Qxd5 Qe6 37.Qb5 Qd7 38.d5 Nb8 39.Qxd7 Nxd7 40.Nf5
[Making the time control with a decisive advantage, but 40.Rc8+ Nf8 41.d6 is devastating]

40...Nb6 41.d6 Rh8
[I had hoped for a cute finish with 41...Kf8 42.Rc8+! Nxc8 43.d7 ]

42.Rc7 Kh7 43.Rxb7 Nd5 44.Rb5 Nc3 45.Rxa5 Rd8 46.Ra7 Kg6 47.g4 h5 48.h3 hxg4 49.hxg4 Nb5 50.Ra6 Kh7 51.a4 Nc3 52.Rc6 Nd5 53.Kh2 1-0