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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16.dxc3 *[/pgn]
Spoiler---->
Too early. First thing I notice is after dxc3 Qxd1 Rxd1, I can play Be3. My plan is to play b3 so weakening the support of c4 pawn by attacking the Nb6 looks sensible. Okay, I think I'm still probably lost 
but now I have something to do.
Getting optimistic now, if queens come off I might actually have something! Still worse as I said earlier but now I'm thinking I can win this one. Change a pair of rooks, B-e3xb6, b3, R-d4 and Kf1 and I'm probably winning. Tonnes of moves, I know, but at least I'm hoping for something.
Interestingly, I shouldn't play a4 at any point because with rooks on I'm not threatening to take b5 ever as the Ba2 becomes really weak and trapped.
Hopefully he'll take the queens off this move and just believe I'm gone. There's fight in this one yet... <----Spoiler
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1[/pgn]
Spoiler here>>
OK I have to admit, in retrospect, that Bxc3 is probably a bit rash. I completely missed a resource that he has.. in Bb1. It's ridiculous!
So Qxd1 as mentioned before, and his pieces are just so uncoordinated - a bit like his dancing from New Year's!
After Rxd1, I'm going Bf5! Beautiful move. What's he gonna do?
If 18. Rd6 then black can go Na4!
If 18. Be3 then 18...Na4!
And funnily enough, If 18. Bb1 (his best move imo) then yes, you guessed it... 18...Na4!?
Bb1 is so unnatural. Bet he goes Be3 thinking it's all VALID and what not and gets countered with Na4! Also, from his last post the smiley face showed up! HOW CAN HE BE HAPPY!!! HOW!!!?
<<Spoiler here
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Probably should take that one back.
Rxd1 and look up with quizical eyebrows
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17.Rxd1 Bf5[/pgn]
*folds arms and stares menacingly*
Posts: 112
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bf5 18. Rd2 *[/pgn]
Spoiler---->
Ahh. Just noticed another pretty unpleasant resource he has, Na4. Not only does this hit the b pawn but after b3 the c pawn is under attack. Yuck. I can barely allow him to play Na4 unless I've got a line that breaks the position up.
So, 18. Be3 Na4 19.b3 Nxc3 20. Rd5 comes to mind with the idea that after Nxa2 21. Rxa2 cxb3 22. cxb3 Ra-d8 I have Ra-d2 and opposite coloured bishops might let me hold that. OOOOOOOPS, Rd5 is on to the Nc3 
. Surely a generic rook move (Rd2 maybe).
But I want to win! Can hardly play b3 though. Bxc2 is quite serious.
Maybe 18. Rd2 is okay, with the idea rf-e8 19. Kf1 and a lot of squares are covered. 18.Rd2 Ra-d8 19. Rxd8 Rxd8 20. Be3 Na4 21. b3 Nc3 (cxb3 develops my bishop and Bxc2 lobs the knight on a4) 22. bxc4 Nxa2 23. Rxa2 bxc4 looks like a draw because of OCB. Meh, I have a feeling that I've missed something but I can't be fussed thinking what it is. Probably some accuracy about Re8 Kf1 then Rd8 so he has a check on d3 at some point. No way he'll figure that one out though. <-----Spoiler
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bf5 18. Rd2 Na4[/pgn]
Spoiler here>> Rd2 looks a bit silly to me. It does a job and all, but doesn't quite cut the mustard (probably results in a draw).
My previous plan of Na4 seems adequate here... however an immediate b3 is possible now for white. In further consideration it's possible for white to go b3 regardless of my next move. I've lost my small advantage and I think this is going to be a draw. Sad times.
An example line to show how this is a drawn end-game is:
18... Na4 19. b3! Nxc3 20. bxc4 Nxa2 21. Rxa2 Be6!
Be6! is a lovely move for me at the end of most combinations here pinning the pawn to the piece/rook on a2. It allows me to not split the queen side pawns and give me a slightly better end-game - but still drawn!
...22. a4 Bxc4 23. Ra1 Rfd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. Be3. At this point I'll probably offer a draw (Not sure how draw offers work in correspondence chess, but there's nothing left to play for).
On the other hand, if after 19. b3! Nxc3 20. Bb2?
Black has some chances: 21. Nxa2 Rxa2 22. Bxc2!! (White cannot take back as rooks are forked with cxb3) This is pretty much winning for black. As you can see, if he goes b3 immediately the moves are virtually forced to a drawn end-game, unless he blunders with a move like Bb2.
<<Spoiler here
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bf5 18. Rd2 Na4 19. b3 *[/pgn]
Spoiler----> Acht. I've been trying to avoid this but guess I have to give him the draw now. 19. b3 Nxc3 20. bxc4 Nxa2 21. Rxa2 bxc4 is just a draw because of OCBs, no matter what Sreeves tells you. I'll pop a draw after Rxa2 I think.
Can't believe I'm going to draw against this clown... <-----Spoiler
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bf5 18. Rd2 Na4 19. b3 Nxc3[/pgn]
Spoiler here>>
The move previous planned. It's a shame that game has whittled away to a draw. 
<<Spoiler here
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3 d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bf5 18. Rd2 Na4 19. b3 Nxc3 20. bxc4*[/pgn]
Spoiler---> Also might be important to note that 20...Be6 is met by Bb2 with a draw.
Posts: 152
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[pgn]1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. Re1 O-O 8. h3
d5 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Rxe5 Nb6 12. Nc3 c5 13. a3 c4 14. Ba2 Bf6 15. Re1 Bxc3 16. dxc3 Qxd1 17. Rxd1 Bf5 18. Rd2 Na4 19. b3 Nxc3 20. bxc4 Nxa2[/pgn]
Offers draw.
