[Event "BCCC 2017"]
[Site "Mechanics Institutde"]
[Date "2017-06-01"]
[White "Rob Bailey"]
[Black "Bas van Riel"]
[WhiteElo "1524"]
[BlackElo "1872"]
[Result "0-1"]

1.d4 {After some nostalgic exploration of some of my first games with Bas over the years (dating back as far as 2001!) I decided to try playing into one of his known strengths and key defences - the King's Indian. If anything, this would be a learning experience! (RB) I appreciate your choice, Rob as I badly needed to refresh my knowlege of this opening, not having an opportunity to play it for quite some years. Your reason to do so reminds me of a simul-game I played as a teenager against the then world-champion Michael Botwinnik (my favorite player at the time) in the Netherlands. The title of the very first chessbook, I bought (I still have it!) was titled (in Dutch) That is how Botwinnik plays. So, I decided to try out the Dutch opening, his pet-opening and very aptly named for the occasion. With the idea to learn something from the master himself. Botwinnik systematically and without hesitation demolished me within 25 moves. After I recovered from the shock and disappointment, I did ask myself what I had learned from this lesson. My answer was: never do this again. I have not learned anything that I could have found in the books and by studying and playing more chess. This was just asking for troubles from someone, who knows and understands more than me about the subject. Too risky... (BvR)} Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Nf3 O-O 6.Be2 Nc6 7.O-O e5 8.d5 Ne7 9.b4 {And so we reach the mainline of what is considered the Bayonet Attack against the King's Indian Defence. My interpretation of the plan is fairly straightforward; queen-side expansion with a Nimzo-like intention of creating a pawn-weakness at d6. (RB)} Nd7 {The possible plans for black as Bas mentioned after the game are very flexible. Mainline continuations (which I'd looked at briefly) include Nh5 and a5. After the text, I was now basically on my own!} 10.a4?! {Bas was suspicious of this move but it appears reasonably well known.  The pawn sacrifice arising from the immediate c5 is also quite interesting as far as space goes (c5 dxc5, bxc5, Nxc5 and Ba3) I looked at this but somehow didn't trust the space. (RB)} f5! {Bas plays the signature thrust of the opening. Ironically the structure takes on a Leningrad Dutch-ish aspect!} 11.Nd2 {Ng5 looks the more active move; eyeing e6, but again I didn't quite trust it and continued to pursue the d6 weakening plan. (RB)} Nf6 12.f3 f4 13.c5 g5 {Both players going for expansion - with Black's being the more dangerous looking. At this point maybe I should keep mounting pressure with Ba3 and Nc4 rather than exchanging immediately. (RB)} 14.cxd6 cxd6 15.Nc4 Rf7! {A nice dual purpose move. The ability to defend the 7th rank and sweep across to h7 later on is very useful in some variations. (RB)} 16.Ba3 {I didn't see much in Nb5 after Ne8 and an eventual a6, but it could be a better try.} Ng6 17.b5 Bf8 18.Rc1 h5 19.Qb3 {Bas was critical of this move after the game and indeed it appears a little slow and perilous to leave the king-side. My plan was simply Bb4 and Qa3. 19. b6 with Nb5 looks to be the more energetic way of continuing. (RB) (BvR)My experience is that as soon as black can play g4, he usually will get an unstoppable attack. My feeling is that Rob has focussed too much organising his attack on d6. Without also securing a defence at the same time. For instance, first playing his c3knight somehow to f2. Where it will control g4, and, generally will be much better placed. Keep in mind that the weak pawn on d6 will never 'go away' Therefore one doesn't have to rush...} g4! {The black empire building marches on! The attack starts to look dangerous and serves to make me doubt my play. I'm starting to consume way too much time in variations at this point. (RB) (BvR) Yes, now the floodgate opens, and black has a number of options, including piece sacrifices to win.} 20.Bb4 Ne8! {I'd mainly anticipated gxf3 here. This move was very nice and introduced some fast mating plans with Q+P at h2. The beginning of the end as it turned out for white! (RB)} 21.Nd1?? {Quite simply a dreadful retreat that didn't justify the time sank into it. White loses any edge he might have had under the weight of doubt and the looming Qh4 threat. (BvR) Now Nf2 comes too late. Instead of 21...Qh4, 21...g3 would have been a good (better?) alternative.} Qh4 22.fxg4 hxg4 23.Be1? {Another poor choice - g3 seems to be a better defensive try. (RB) (BvR) Probably, but black would maintain the tension by playing Qh6 after which f3 sooner or later would cause white lots of defence problems. Whereas, g3xf4, exf4 is not a good option white.} Qh6 24.Rc3 {Nf2 is better but white is simply losing now. (RB)} Rh7 25.h3 gxh3 26.gxh3 Bxh3 27.Rxh3 Qxh3 28.Qxh3 Rxh3 29.Kg2 Rh6 30.Bg4 Be7 31.Bb4 Rd8 32.Rg1 Bh4 33.Bf5 Bg3 34.Be6+ Kg7 35.Kf1 Rh2 36.Nce3?? {Very instructive play from Bas on creating king-side threats in the King's Indian. He demonstrated his better understanding and familiarity of the positions that arose, attacking and defending in equal measure.  An enjoyable strategic game nonetheless despite the result. I'll have to study more Kramnik games in the Bayonet Attack before trying it again! (RB)  (BvR) Rob, your comments are very clear, and to the point. I very much enjoyed the game, and I am curious to hear if you learned much from our game, following my experience against Botwinnik.} {#R}