[Event "Rapid Play # 1"]
[Site "Mechanics Institute"]
[Date "2017-03-23"]
[White "Bas van Riel"]
[Black "Caitlin Barnett"]
[WhiteElo "1624"]
[BlackElo "688"]
[Result "1-0"]

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 d6 4.O-O Bd7 5.c3 Nf6 6.Re1 Be7 7.d4 exd4 {(BvR) In these types of Ruy Lopes opening variations it is not advisable for black to open the centre by cxd4, as it gives white a flexible and strong centre, with good attacking chances against black's king's. Instead, it is better for black to increase the pressure on white's d4 pawn, forcing white to either exchange the d4 pawn or play d5 at some stage. For instance; 7...a6; 8.Ba4, b5; 9.Bb3, Na4; 10.Bc2, c5; 11.Nbd2, Nc6; 12.Nf1..with a solid position for black.} 8.cxd4 a6 9.Ba4 b5 10.Bc2 Bg4! {(BvR) a good developing move, as it also tries to undermine white's centre, with the threat of 11...Bxf3, and creating a double pawn for white.} 11.Be3 O-O 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Rc1 Nb4 14.Bb1 c5!? {(BvR) Although black is losing a pawn, she will get some positional compensation for it. As explained before, this move is characteristic and crucial for this opening system.} 15.a3 Nc6 16.dxc5 dxc5 17.Bxc5 Bxc5 18.Rxc5 Ne5! {(BvR) A natural and (for white) complicating move. It caused me a fair headache, trying to find a sensible solution. I didn't like 19.h3, (as suggested by Fritz) Nxf3; 20.Nxf3, Qxd1; 21.Rxd1, Nxe4, or 20.gxf3...} 19.Qe2 Rc8 20.Rec1? {(BvR) Overlooking Caitlin's clever trap (see move 23). Instead, after 20.Rxc8, Qxc8; 21.h3.. my problems would have been solved..} Rxc5 21.Rxc5 Bxf3 22.Nxf3 Nxf3+ 23.gxf3 {If 23.Qxf3, Nxe4!;24.Bxe4, Rxe4!;25.Qxe4, Qd1 checkmate.} h6 24.Qc2 Nd7 25.Rd5 Qc8! {(BvR) Good tactics by Caitlin to simplify the position. After all, white's advantage is only a double pawn. Note that black is not going to lose a piece here!} 26.Kg2 Qxc2 27.Bxc2 Nf6 28.Rd6 Rc8 29.Bd3? {(BvR) A mistake, which fortunately was not spotted by black. 29..Nh5 with the threat of 30..Nf4 would have been a problem for white} Ra8? 30.a4 bxa4 31.Bxa6? {(BvR) A basic mistake, as black would be forced to swap the rooks after 31.Rxa6. It would result in a very favourable endgame for white, with a dominant bishop against knight. Moreover, black's a4-pawn would have been very weak, and an easy long-term target. With the limited time left, my oversight did make winning the game a lot harder...} Rb8 32.Rd2 Ra8 {(BvR) Caitlin threw the whole kitchensink at me to try and salvage the draw, which I feel she deserved, if only for her creativity in defending.} 33.Bc4 a3 {(!)} 34.bxa3 Rxa3 35.Rd8+ Kh7 36.Bxf7 Ra7 37.Bc4 Rc7 38.Bd3 Nh5 39.e5+ g6 40.Be4 {(BvR) Again a slip, as I missed 40.Rd4...This would have secured white's position, eg. 40...Rf7; 41.Bc4 and 42.e6..etc} Re7 41.Rd6 Nf4+ 42.Kg3 Ne2+ 43.Kh4 Nf4? {(BvR) Caitlin perhaps should have tried 43..Rxe5;44.Bxg6} 44.Kg4 Rf7 45.e6 Rf6 46.Rd7+ {(BvR) 46.e7.. would have been more efficient and quicker} Kg8 47.Rf7 Rxf7 {(BvR) After the game Rob L, suggested 47...Nh5; 48.Rxf6, Nxf6+;49.Kf4,Kg7, but white's king will walk to e5, and easily win with 2 extra pawns.} 48.exf7+ Kxf7 49.Kxf4 Kf6 50.h4 g5+ 51.hxg5+ hxg5+ 52.Kg4 Ke5 {(BvR) From here on the result is inevitable, (don't know why I didn't take the g5 pawn?!). Cailtin, obviously tried to force a draw on time... It was an interesting game. Cailtin played, and especially defended, very well, and she gave me a hard time..} 53.Kh5 Kf4 54.Bc6 Kf5 55.Bd7+ Kf4 56.Bg4 Ke5 57.Kxg5 {C.E.B: I stopped writing here because we were both low on time and I was going to try and get a draw on time if I could.} {#r}