White: Ivan Myall
Black: Brian Donnelly, Sussex
BCF Counties' Semi-Final, 15.6.2002
ECO B22
Annotations: Ivor Smith

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb5

Sharper is 8. Bb3 dxe5  9. d5 (eg 9...Na5 10. Nc3 Nxb3 11. Qxb3 e6 12. Nxe5 exd5 13. Be3 Bd6 14. Qb5+ Kf8 15. O-O-O Bergez v Gallagher - Cannes 1998) 15...Be6 (not 15... Bxe5? 16. Nxd5 Bd6 17. Nxb6 etc.)

8... dxe5 9. Nxe5 Bd7 10. Nc3

10 Nxd7 or 10 Bxc6 are also possible here.

10... Nxe5 11. dxe5 Bxb5 12. Nxb5 Qxd1+

12... a6? 13. Be3!

13. Kxd1 O-O-O+

Not 13... Rd8+ 14. Ke2 a6 15. Nc7+ Kd7 16. Be3! (Myall-Stebbings, Essex League Feb. 1985, and White won in 29 moves).

14. Ke2 a6?

14... Rd5 15. a4 Rxe5+ 16. Be3 is considered equal.

15. Be3! Nd5 16. Rac1+ Kb8

17. Ba7+!!

An excellent move that required careful calculation.

17... Ka8 18. Rhd1 axb5 19. Bb6

19...Nxb6

There is nothing better.

20. Rxd8+ Ka7 21. e6! fxe6

Although White is still winning a better try would be ...f5.

22. Rc3

Threats 23 Ra3+ or Rf3.

22... g5 23. Ra3+ Na4 24. b3 Bg7 25. Rxh8 Bxh8 26. bxa4 bxa4 27. Rxa4+ Kb6 28. h4 h6 29. Re4 e5 30. hxg5 hxg5 31. Kd3 Bf6 32. Kc4 Kc6 33. a4 b6 34. f3 e6 35. g4 Bg7 36. Re1 Bf6 37. Rh1 Be7 38. Rh6 Kd6 39. Kb5 Bd8 40. Rh8 Kd7 41. Rxd8+ 1-0.