Chess

The winner of the Cafe Baroque International annotates his best game from the event.

White: McDonald

Black: Afek

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6

Unusual and provocative. d5.

6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. e5 Ng8 8. Bc4 Bg7 9. Qf3 f5 10. Bf4 e6 11. 0-0-0]

Now 11 . . . Ne7 is met by Bxe6.

11 . . . Qc7 12. h4

This is the only attacking plan. Now 12 . . . Bxe5 13. Bxe5 Qxe5 allows 14. Bxe6] when Qxe6 loses to Rhe1 and dxc6 allows Qxc6+.

12 . . . Nh6 13. h5 g5]

Instead 13 . . . Nf7 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Qg3 Rxh1 16. Rxh1 bxe5 17. Rh8+] Ke7 18. Qh4+ gives White a winning attack.

14. Bxg5 Nf7 15. Bf4 Nxe5 16. Qg3 Kf7 17. Rhe1 d6 18. Rxd6]

I felt this sacrifice was essential to continue the attack.

18 . . . Qxd6 19. Rxe5

A difficult choice, but I saw nothing clear after 19. Bxe5 Rxe5 20. Rxe5 Qe7 21. Rxf5+ Ke8. Now 19 . . . Bxe5 20. Bxe5 Qf8 21. Bxh8 Qxh8 22. Qc7+ Kf6 23. Qxc6 Rb8 24. Qd6] is good for White.

19 . . . Qd4] 20. Rxf5+ Ke8 21. Be3 Bh6] 22. Bxh6 exf5 23. Bb3] Rf8

The only resort against the threat of Bg7.

24. Bxf8 Kxf8 25. Qg8+ Ke7 26. Qxh7+ Kd6 27. Qh6+ Kc7 28. Qd2

Black has survived the attack; I must try my luck in the endgame.

28 . . . Qh4 29. Bf7 Bd7 30. g3 Qh1+ 31. Qd1 Qxd1+ 32. Kxd1 f4] 33. Ne2 Bg4

33 . . . fxg3 34. fxg3 Rf8 would have been more accurate, giving counterplay after 35. Bg6 Rf1+.

34. Ke1 fxg3 35. fxg3 Kd6 36. Nf4 Ke5 37. Kf2 Rd8 38. Ke3 Rd1

39. Bg6 Rg1 40. Nd3+ Kf6

41. Kf4 Be6 42. Be4 Rf1+ 43. Bf3] Bd5 44. Ne5 Bxf3

Otherwise I roll forwards with g4 and g5+.

45. Nxf3 Rf2 46. g4 Rxc2 47. g5+ Kg7 48. b3 Rxa2 49. h6+ Kh7

50. Kg4 Rb2 51. Kh5 Rxb3

52. g6+ Kg8 53. Ng5 c5 54. Ne4 (see diagram) Rb7?

The losing move. 54 . . . Kf8] would have drawn, keeping the rook behind the pawns. 55. g7+? Kf7] 56. Ng5+ (or 56. Nd6+ Kg8 57. Nf5 Kh7] 58. Ne7 Rg3) Kg8 57. Kg6 Rb6+ is good for Black, while 55. Nf6 Rh3+ 56. Kg5 Rg3+ 57. Kf5 c4 leads to a draw.

55. Nf6+ Kh8

55 . . . Kf8 loses to 56. Ne8] Rb1 (Kxe8 loses to h7) 57. h7 Rh1+ 58. Kg5 Kxe8 59. g7.

56. Ne8]] Rb6

56 . . . c4 is one move too slow: 57. g7+ Rxg7 58. hxg7+ Kh7 59. Kg5 c3 60. Kf6 c2 61. Kf7 and White's new queen gives mate.

57. Kg5 resigns.

The end would be 57 . . . c4 58. g7+ Kh7 59. Nf6+ Rxf6 60. Kxf6 c3 61. Kf7 and wins.