Game of the Week

   1. e4 c5 2. b3 {This anti-sicilian can be surprisingly dangerous} Nc6 3. Bb2 d6   4. h3 {Played to prevent Bg4 and looking to push my kingside pawns at the   earliest opportunity} Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. g4 h6 7. Nge2 {My engine says that   Black stands very slightly better, but the bigger point is that I am getting   the style of game I like} a6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. d4 cxd4 10. Nxd4 Qc7 11. Nxc6 Qxc6 {   we are still level but my plan of queenside castling is straight forward,   Black has to decide what to do with his king} 12. Qe2 {Played to castle long   and defend the g2 Bishop after I play f4} e5 {This is a mistake, I want to   play f4 anyway, this just makes the move more attractive. The d5 square is   also much weaker now} 13. f4 Nd7 14. O-O-O {now it is too dangerous for Black   to castle kingside} b5 15. h4 Bb7 16. Nd5 {once my Knight made it to d5 I was   very confident} Bf8 17. Kb1 {I have time to play this standard defensive move,   my opponent has problems with his King and getting both Rooks into the game}   O-O-O {Almost inviting my attack} 18. Rh3 {a very easy Rook lift to spot but   actually difficult to defend against} a5 {The best try, otherwise I will win   the pinned Knight by playing b4} 19. Rc3 Nc5 20. fxe5 {Probably a waste of a   tempo, I am effectively a Rook up so a3 straight away was better} dxe5 21. a3   b4 22. axb4 axb4 23. Nxb4 {The engine prefers Rc4 but my move is ok} Rxd1+ 24.   Qxd1 Qb5 25. Na2 {with the threat of b4} Kb8 26. Qd8+ Ka7 27. Rc4 Ne6 28. Qd3 {   with a cheap threat, Black should now defend the Queen but of course I am much   better the Rook on h8 is playing no part in the game} Nc5 29. Qe3 {This pin is   very strong, I expected Bd6 here and had Bxe5 planned} Ka8 30. Nc3 {Bxe5 was   better but this is also good} Qd7 31. Na4 {sticking to my plan.but Nd5 is   nasty and probably better} Nxa4 32. Rxa4+ Kb8 33. Bxe5+ Kc8 34. g5 {I   calculated this to the end, however Qb6 was better apparently} hxg5 35. Bh3 g4   36. Qb6 {I was hoping to get the mate on the board but my opponent resigned   here ... gxh3, Ra8 Bxa8 Qb8 would have been nice} 1-0