April 9, 2001
Game One
White: Ty Davison
Black: Turguin
Opening: Opening: C68 Ruy Lopez, Exchange Variation
Excite Classic Games, April 3, 2001
1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 a6
4. Bxc6 bxc6
Ty: With 4. ... bxc6 Turguin jumps out of book. The correct move is 4. ... dxc6 which opens the lines for the Bishop and Queen.
5. Nxe5 Bd6
6. Nc4 Bf4
Ty: There was a temptation to play 6. Nxf7 just because it messes up Black's defense so severely. The King would then be out in the open very early on in the proceedings. Ultimately, though, I didn't feel like two pawns was adequate compensation for the Knight, especially since I had almost no other pieces developed. Another possibility, 6. Ng4, I rejected since it hemmed in the Queen a little too much—and Black would be castling kingside if at all.
7. O-O d5
8. Na5 dxe4
Ty: I wasn't worried about the d5 fork when I castled because taking the e-pawn meant Black would leave the doubled c-pawn unprotected and dxe4 hung the pawn anyway. In short, Black's pawn structure would be a mess and my Knight would be romping queenside.
9. Re1 Ne7
10. Rxe4 O-O?
Ty: Black opts to break the pin and sac the pawn which is probably the best option. 10. ... O-O was a blunder, though, since there was no compensation for the Bishop.
11. Rxf4 Ng6
12. Nxc6 Qg5
13. Re4?
Ty: Here's where I thought I was being tricky because 13. ... Qd5 14. Ne7+ Nxe7 15. Rxe7. However, 13. ... Bb7! and I'm hosed because of the pressure on the g-pawn. I'd have to sac the Knight just to escape. (13. ... Bb7! 14. Ne7+ Nxe7 15. Rxe7 Qxg2++ or 13. ... Bb7! 14. Rc4 Qd5 15. Ne7+ Nxe7 16 f3 Qxc4 and I'm out the Rook and Knight.)
13. ... Nf4?
14. g3 Nh3+
15. Kf1 Rd8
16. Ne7+
Ty: While 16. Nxd8 was tempting, I was a lot more worried about Black's kingside pressure than I was the d-Rook.
16. ... Kf8
17. Nxc8 Raxc8
18. d3 c5??
Ty: A nice double move with the pawn protecting the Rook and allowing the Bishop to threaten the Queen. Turguin misses the attack, and blunders the game away moments later.
19. Bxg5 Nxg5
Ty: It was after my winning 19. Bxg5 that Turguin in all seriousness (and rather uncharitably) offered me a draw.
20. Qh5? Rd5?
Ty: I was thinking of attacking with my Queen, the idea being I'd sac the Rook to gain to decisive advantage. I'll pick off a pawn for sure, but other than that, it's a terrible trade. Fortunately, Black opted to defend his Knight, which was puzzling even at the time. Because the Rook is without protection, Black has effectively pinned his own piece, which is a none-too-bright thing to do.
21. Nc3 Rf5?
Ty: Black's now on a firm path toward eliminating all his own major pieces.
22. f4 Nxe4
23. Qxf5 Nxc3
24. Qxc8+ Ke7
25. bxc3 Kd6
Ty: Turguin repeatedly asserted that the game would just end in a draw after he blundered his Queen away. I was happy to prove him wrong, though I would've been happier still if he'd properly conceded back on move 19.
26. c4 a5
27. a4 f5
28. Re1 g5
29. Re6++ 1-0
Ty: My first game under time control in quite awhile, I made a number of errors which will hopefully be corrected as I move forward. This is a fair example of the Spanish Opening Exchange Variation, an opening which I actually like quite a bit. Here, it's easy to see the Black's lousy pawn structure would've made his life difficult in the end game even if he hadn't blundered badly. Draw, indeed!
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