Game of the Week 14

It’s been a while since we had one of David’s games featured as Game of the Week so it is a pleasure to redress the balance with this fine victory in the knockout semi-final. Let’s hear what David has to say about his win:

‘My 13.Be2 and 14.Qe1 were quite subtle, threatening to trap Black’s queen. Nick could have escaped with just the loss of a pawn or two but he spotted a neat counter-trick with 16…Nb4, expecting that I would have to play 17.Bd3 in order to stop the mate on c2. Unfortunately for Nick, I had an even better move in 17.Nce4, after which he has to drop at least a knight in order to save his queen.’  

          1.h4 d5 2.d4 Nc6 3.Bf4 e6 4.Nc3 Bd6 5.e3 Bxf4 6.exf4 Qf6 7.Nge2 Bd7 8.Qd2 Nh6 9.O-O-O Nf5 10.g4 Nd6 11.Ng3 a6 12.Nh5 Qh6 13.Be2 Nc4 14.Qe1 O-O-O 15.g5 Qg6 16.Ng3 Nb4 17.Nce4 Nxc2 18.Kxc2 e5 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.fxe5 Ba4+ 21.b3 cxb3 22.axb3 Bc6 23.Kb2 Rd5 24.f4 f5 25.Nc3