Once again, thanks to ICGM Arno Nickel for his sportsmanship, the time he spent answering questions after the game, and
for his professional efforts in this game:
1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Qd2 a6 8. O-O-O Bd7 9. f3 Be7 10. Be3 h5 11. Kb1 Qc7
12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Bd3 b5 14. Ne2 Rc8 15. Nd4 Nd7 16. h3 Bb7 17. Bg5 Bxg5 18. Qxg5 Kf8 19. c3 h4 20. Rhe1 Rh6 21. Bc2 Qb6 22.
Re2 Nf6 23. Bb3* Qc5 24. Qe3 Re8 25. Red2 Rh5 26. Bc2 g6 27. Qe1 Qc7 28. Ne2 d5 29. exd5 Nxd5 30. Be4 Kg7 31. Qf2 Qe7
32. Nd4 Nf6 33. Bxb7 Qxb7 34. Nc2 Qc7 35. Ne3 Qg3 36. Qg1 Rg5 37. a3 a5 38. Qf1 Re5 39. Rd3 Qf4 40. Re1 Nd5 41. Nxd5 exd5
42. Rxe5 1/2-1/2
*Arno Nickel has suggested the improvement 23.Qd2, but after 23. Qd2 a5 24. Qe3** Nd7 25. Nb3 Qc7 26. Bd3 Rh5 27. Red2
Nc5 28. Bc2 d5*** black has stopped any deeper white threats and is heading to a drawn ending.
Arno Nickel comments from chessgames:
**23.Qd2
I. 23...a5. Here the engines seem to have a hard time to find 24.f4! as the best. Only after 24...b4 25.cxb4 axb4 [JLJ
25...Qxb4 26.Qe3 (a critical position)
