1. e4 g6 2. c3 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Bg5 Nf6 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 Bg4 7. Bc4 Nbd7 8. O-O e5 9. d5

blocks in the White bishop

9... h6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. Re1 Nh5 12. h3 Bd7 13. Kh1 Qc8 14. Ng1 Nf4 15. Nf1

probably too passive and lets Black build up the pressure

15... g5 16. Be2 f5 17. f3 fxe4 18. fxe4 Rf6

I looked for a long time at the promising sacrifice Bxh3, but just couldn't see what to play after Rf4, i.e 18... Bxh3 19. gxh3 Nxh3 20. Nxh3 (20. Kg2 would in fact have been better, but swapping the Knights looks more instinctive) 20... Qxh3+ 21. Kg1 Rf4 .. and I did not realise that White is so restricted and there is plenty of time for Black to bring the other rook across... 22. Qd2 (22. Qd3 Rg4+ 23. Bxg4 Qxd3) 22... Raf8 and now White is -5.00 and in a tight spot with threat of Rf2

19. Bg4 Bxg4 20. Qxg4 Qxg4 21. hxg4 Nd3!

wins at least a pawn

22. Re2 Nf2+ 23. Kh2 Nxg4+ 24. Kg3 h5 25. Nh3 Bh6 26. Nd2 Kg7 27. Nf3 Kg6 28. Rc1 Raf8

28... Ne3 29. Rxe3 g4 30. Nh4+ Kh7 31. Nf5 Bxe3 32. Nxe3 gxh3 33. gxh3 Rg8+ 34. Kh2

29. c4 h4+??

impatient play by me. Thinking I had the king trapped, but missing the fact that h3 square now becomes free for the king's escape.

29... R6f7 30. c5 Nf6 31. cxd6 cxd6 32. Nd2 g4 33. Nf2 h4+ 34. Kh2 g3+

30. Kxg4 Rf4+

oh well, in for a penny...

31. Nxf4+ Rxf4+ 32. Kh3

ah - that escape square !

32... g4+ 33. Kxh4??

an unfortunate choice for White, who was just emerging from the pressure, as after this move it is all over. With less than 10 mins on the clock, after Kh2 the endgame could have gone either way.

33. Kh2 gxf3 34. gxf3 Rxf3 35. Rg1+ Kh5 36. Rg8 Bf4+ 37. Kg2 Rd3 and White's best bet is to repeat the checks as playing on probably ends badly, e.g 38. Rg7 h3+ 39. Kh1 Bg3 threatens mate with the rook 40. Rh7+ Kg4 41. Rg7+ Kf3

33... gxf3+ 34. Kg3 fxe2 35. Kh2 Rf1 36. Rxf1 exf1=Q 37. b4 Bf4+ 38. g3 Qf2+ 39. Kh1 Bxg3 40. c5 Qh2#

In summary, I had rejected one sound sacrifice, and later opted for another that was unsound. A lucky escape.

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