1.e4 e5
2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0-0 Be7 6.Bxc6 dxc6 7.d3 Qd6
I had
prepared a bit for this game and took a look at this move as a "more
active" alternative to the standard, dull ...Nd7. I think the
move is a bit clumsy--Nd7 is inevitable and it puts the knight on a
route to the desired e6 square.
8.Nbd2
Nd7 9.b3
A good
move--the e5 pawn comes under siege. The main idea behind Qd6 is
to avoid playing ...f6 -- and Milman's formation introduces the new
possibility of d3-d4.
9...c5 10.Nc4 Qe6 11.Bb2 Bf6 12.h3! 0-0 13.Nh2 b5?!
This move
weakens Black's pawn structure. Better was 13...Bg5 to stop
f2-f4.
14.Ne3
Bb7 15.Neg4?!
I think
15.Qg4! was the way to go--when Rae8 15 f4 gives White a small but
enduring advantage.
15...Be7
16.f4 exf4 17.Rxf4 f6
17...c4 was
a good alternative, with a fine game for Black. Not good was
17...f5? 18 exf5 Rxf5 19 Nh6+! and wins.
18.Kh1?
Why put the
king on the wrong end of the a8-h1 diagonal? 18 Ne3 Bd6 19 Rf1
c4!? 20 Nf3 looks roughly equal.
18...Bd6
19.Rf1 f5!
This blasts
open the long diagonal and activates Black's bishop pair.
20.exf5
Rxf5 21.Rxf5
21 Nh6+ Qxh6
22 Rxf5 Qxh3 wins.
21...Qxf5
22.Qe2 Qg6 23.Nf3 Re8 24.Qd2 h5
25.Nh4?
25 Ngh2 Qg3
gives Black a nice position but he is a long way from winning.
In fact, the position is probably just slightly better for Black.
25...Qe6
If now 26
Nf2, Black invades decisively with 26...Qf2 with the point of 27.Qg5
Qe1+!
26.Qc3
Re7
Now 27 Nf2
loses to Be5.
27.Nf5
The
alternative was - resigns.
27...Qxf5
28.Nh6+ gxh6 29.Qh8+ Kf7 White resigns 0-1
Final Position
While the next season begins in late August or early September, 2006,
according to League Commissioner IM Greg Shahade, the League has already
announced the two new expansion teams for the 2006 season - the Seattle
Sluggers and the Tennessee Tempo.
