Game of the 2023-24 season - Bedford Chess Club

This is the short list for the Bedford Chess Club 2023-24 game of the season competition. Clicking on the links in the heading of each game accesses the source post for context.

Vote for your favourite published game from the 12 shortlisted hopefuls.

Your Name (required)

Your Email (required)

Your first choice (12 to choose from)

Your second choice:

Your third choice:

The reason for your choice (optional):

James Gardner v Dominic Bartram

James beats a strong opponent with some style.

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. h4 h5 10. Qd1 Qb6 11. Qd2 Nd7 12. O-O-O a5 13. Bd3 a4 14. Nge2 a3 15. b3 Bb4 16. Qc2 Rg8 17. g3 Qa5 18. Kb1 Rc8 19. Rc1 Nb6 20. Nf4 c5 21. Bxg6 cxd4 22. Qf5 Rxg6 23. Ncxd5 Rc5 24. Qe4+ Kd7 25. Qe7+ Kc6 26. Qc7+ Kb5 27. Rxc5+ Bxc5 28. Rc1 Bb4 29. Qxb6+ Qxb6 30. Nxb6 Kxb6 31. Nxg6 {I was particularly pleased to find queen f5 on move 22, even stronger than bishop takes f7. But not pleased with the finish which I’d like to have ended in a checkmate! (I think 29.Qxb7! forces mate in 4 but not sure many sentient beings are finding it - Ed)}

Steve Pike v Gary Kenworthy

Even strong players need to defend.

  [Event "Bedford C v Leighton Buzzard A, board 2"] [Date "2024.03.07"] [White "Steve Pike"] [Black "Gary Kenworthy"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. Nge2 Nf6 6. f3 O-O 7. Qd2 b5 8. Bh6 Nbd7 9. h4 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. h5 b4 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. exd5 {nobody's done anything too terrible yet, and White's caveman approach isn't very subtle, but Black already needs to guard against giving him a free hand …} 15… Qe7 16. O-O-O Rfb8 17. Re1 Qf8 18. Qg5 {… and suddenly Black's position is very uncomfortable} 18… Ned7 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. Bd3 ({note to self - don't play your usual flashy rubbish like} 20. Re7+ Kh8{which just helps Black}) 20… Ne5 ({Black can't afford to ignore this e.g.} 20… a5 $2 21. Rxh7+ $1) 21. Be4 (21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. f4 {is apparently best but my move is good enough i think}) 21… Kh8 22. f4 Neg4 23. Bxg6 Rb5 {bit late for the rooks to be relevant $1} 24. Bxh7 Nxh7 25. Rxh7+ Kxh7 26. Rh1+ Nh6 (Qh6 27. Rh6 Nh6 28. Nh5 Rg8 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. Qxh6++)27. Nf5 {and mate is inevitable} 1-0

Nick Collacott v Alex Potts

Alex plays a captain’s innings against a tough opponent.

  [Event "Bedford C v Bedford A, board 4"] [Date "2024.02.22"] [White "Nick Collacott"] [Black "Alex Potts"] [Result "0-1"]   d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 g6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. h3 c6 9. Be2 Be6 10. O-O Nc4 11. Bc1 Nb6 12. Bf4 Bc4 13. Bxc4 Nxc4 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. Rfd1 N8d7 16. a4 a5 17. d5 Qc8 18. Rac1 Ra6 19. Be3 ({the comp likes this mad line $1} 19. Nb5 Nxa4 20. Qxa4 cxb5 21. Qxb5 Rb6 22. Qxa5) 19… Qb8 20. dxc6 bxc6 Ne2 Rc8 22. Ned4 c5 23. Nb5 (23. Ne6 $1 {perhaps.. $2}) 23… c4 24. Qa3 Ne5 25. Bd4 Nd3 {Black has fought back well here and is now asking tricky questions} 26. Rc2 Bxd4 27. Nbxd4 e5 28. Nb5 Nb4 29. Rcd2 c3 {not really best but mixing things up nicely $1} 30. Re2 $2 (30. Qxc3 $1 {would have wrested back control but not easy to analyse in time trouble}) 30… c2 31. Rc1 Rd8 32. Rexc2 Nxc2 33. Rxc2 Rd1+ 34. Kh2 Nd7 35. Qe7 Re6 36. Qh4 Nf6 37. Rc7 Qa8 $2 {seems a bit misplaced,} (37… Qb6 {looks better}) 38. Ng5 Rc6 39. Rxf7 Nh5 40. g4 $2 (40. Rxh7 {looks hard to meet}) 40… h6 41. Re7 $2 (41. gxh5 hxg5 42. Qg3 $1 Kxf7 43. Qb3+ Kg7 44. Qxd1 {and it's hard to choose a side $1}) 41… Rcc1 42. gxh5 hxg5 43. Nc7 Rh1+ 44. Kg2 Rcg1+ 45. Kf3 Qf8+ 0-1

Andy Tinker v Rob Walker

Rob turns the table for a fantastic win.

  [Event "Leighton Buzzard A v Bedford B, board 4"] [Date "2024.02.20"] [White "Andy Tinker"] [Black "Rob Walker"] [Result "0-1"]   d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 O-O 6. Ng3 e5 7. d5 a6 8. Be2 Ne8 h4 h5 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Qd2 Qf7 13. O-O-O f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Nxf5 Qxf5 16. Bd3 Qf7 17. Ne4 Bf6 18. f3 Ng7 19. g4 Nd7 20. Rdf1 b5 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nb6 24. Bb3 a5 25. a3 c5 26. Ba2 Rfc8 (26… hxg4 {looks necessary}) 27. f4 Qe8 28. f5 Qb5 29. f6 c4 30. Bxb6 (30. Qf2 {is much better.  After the move played, White is still better but Black can make it complicated which Rob does with alacrity $1}) 30… Qxb6 31. fxg7 c3 32. bxc3 Qc5 33. Rf8+ Rxf8 34. gxf8=Q+ Rxf8 35. Re1 {this pretty much throws the advantage away,} (35. Kd1 {is a better try}) 35… Rf2 36. Re2 Rf1+ 37. Kc2 Qxa3 38. Kd3 Qc5 39. Qe3 Qb5+ 40. c4 Qa4 41. gxh5 ({no time for this,} 41. Rf2 {keeps things tight}) 41… Qa3+ 42. Kc2 Qxa2+ 43. Kc3 Qa3+ 44. Kc2 Qa4+ 45. Kc3 Qb4+ 46. Kd3 Rb1 47. Qf2 Rb3+ 48. Kc2 Qxc4+ 0-1

Ramsey Dairi v Callum Shields

Ramsey has fun with the Evans gambit.

  [Event "Bedford B v Bedford C, board 3"] [Date "2024.02.08"] [White "Ramsey Dairi"] [Black "Callum Shields"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {now Ramsey just has a lot of fun for the rest of the game $1} 4… Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. Qb3 dxc3 $2 (7… Qe7 {pretty much required here}) 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. O-O c2 $2 (9… Nf6 {and grovel maybe}) 10. Bxg8 Rxg8 $6 (10… Qf6 {still loses but poses a few questions at least}) 11. Ng5 $1 d5 12. Qf3+ Ke7 13. Qf7+ Kd6 14. Qxd5+ Ke7 15. Qf7+ Kd6 16. Na3 Nb4 $2 17. Bf4+ Kc6 18. Qc4+ Kd7 19. Qe6# (19. Rfd1+ {is what Captain Evans would have  played but it's probably bad form $1}) 1-0

Nick Collacott v Stephen Law

Nick takes his opponent’s king for a walk.

   [Event "Beds. Chess League Div 1"]   [Date "2024.01.18"]   [White "Nick Collacott"]   [Black "Stephen Law"]   [Result "1-0"]   [PlyCount "57"]   [WhiteTeam "Leighton Buzzard A"]   [BlackTeam "Bedford A"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. h3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 Na6 9. g4 Nc5 10. Nd2 c6 11. Be2 Qb6 12. Qc2 Nfd7 13. Be7 Re8 14. Bxd6 cxd5 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxd5 Qd6 17. O-O-O a4 18. Nf1 Qc6 19. Nfe3 Bh6 20. Kb1 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Kg7 22. Rhf1 Be6 23. Rf2 Bxd5 24. exd5 Qd6 25. Rdf1 Re7 26. g5 Qd8 27. h4 Qd7 28. h5 Ra6 29. e4 Qh3 30. Bf3 Qh4 31. Rg1 Qf4 32. Rg4 Qe3 33. Qd2 Qxd2 34. h6+ Kf8 35. Rxd2 Ke8 36. Rg1 Kd7 37. Kc2 Kd6 38. Rf1 b6 39. Rdf2 Raa7 40. Bg2 Na6 41. Rf6+ Kc5 42. Rc6+ Kd4 43. Rd1+ Ke3 44. Rf6 Rec7 45. Rd3+ Ke2 46. Bf1+ Ke1 47. Re3# {Nick - I was a bit inspired by James' game at the recent county match when he played this opening and thumped his opponent. The game wasn't as bad as I thought immediately afterwards though I did make a meal of converting it. An entertaining assisted suicide by the black king as it took a long road from g7 to its eventual demise on e1.}

Ramsey Dairi v Stephen Law

Ramsey plays beyond his years.

  [Event "Leighton Buzzard A v Bedford C, board 3"] [Date "2024.01.09"] [White "Ramsey Dairi"] [Black "Stephen Law"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 c5 2. Be2 Nc6 3. d3 Nf6 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. c3 c4 8. Kh1 Qb6 Na3 cxd3 10. Bxd3 O-O 11. Qe2 d5 {this looks like the start of Black's troubles …} 12. e5 Ng4 13. h3 Nh6 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Nb5 Qb8 16. Nbd4 Bf5 17. Nxf5 Nxf5 18. Bxf5 gxf5 19. Nh4 Qc8 20. Qh5 e6 21. g4 Ne7 22. Rg1 {should really have opened the file first, the move played is good but allows Black a squeak} 22… Kh8 {no time for this, Black must put something (N or P) on the g file} gxf5 exf5 24. Rxg7 $1 {never going to miss that - excellent!} 24… Kxg7 25. Qg5+ Ng6 26. Nxf5+ 1-0

James Gardner v Stephen Orton

James “…destroys the King’s Indian”

[Event "County Chess"] [Site "Newmarket"] [Date "2023.12.03"] [Round "?"] [White "James Gardner"] [Black "Stephen Orton"] [Result "1-0"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. g4 Na6 9. Nge2 Nc5 10. Ng3 h6 11. Be2 Nh7 12. h4 Nxe4 13. Ncxe4 f5 14. gxf5 gxf5 15. Nh5 fxe4 16. Qd2 (16. Rg1 Rf7 17. Bxh6 Qxh4 18. Bxg7 Qxf2+ 19. Kd2 {Got to here and got a bit spooked by ideas of e3+ and Bf5 coming, but really should have just played this}) 16... Rf7 17. O-O-O Bf5 18. Rdg1 Kh8 19. Rg2 Bf6 (19... Bf8 20. Rhg1 Nf6) 20. Bxh6 e3 (20... Bxh4 21. Bg7+ Rxg7 22. Nxg7) 21. Qxe3 Qd7 {ideas of counterplay with Queen a4 so played to shut it down straight away although doubling rooks straight away stronger} 22. Bd3 (22. Rhg1 Qa4 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 Qxa2 25. Qg6 Qxc4+ (25... Qa1+ 26. Kc2 Qa4+ 27. Kb1) 26. Kb1) 22... Re8 23. Rhg1 b5 {desperate for counterplay} 24. cxb5 (24. Nxf6 Nxf6 25. Bg7+ Rxg7 26. Qh6+ Rh7 27. Qxf6+ Rg7 28. Rxg7 {saw all these ideas but didn't put them together at right moment}) 24... Bxd3 25. Qxd3 e4 26. Nxf6 Nxf6 (26... exd3 27. Rg8+ Rxg8 28. Rxg8# {I believe this is called the Arabian checkmate $1}) 27. Qd4 (27. Qe3 {stronger, looking for Qh6+ later}) 27... Qf5 28. Rg6 {Now the idea is bg7+, winning the exchange, or if Kh7, then mate in 2 starting with Rh6+, also leaves the bishop covering f4} (28. Bg7+ Kh7 29. Qe3 {I missed Queen e3 in this line, was only looking at follow up rook moves}) 28... Re5 (28... Kh7 {missed this strong defensive idea but white remains better}) 29. Bg7+ Rxg7 30. Rxg7 Nxd5 (30... Rxd5 31. Rg8+ Kh7 32. R1g7+ Kh6 33. Qe3+ Kh5 34. Rh8+ Nh7 35. Rhxh7+ Qxh7 36. Rxh7+ Kg4 37. Qg3+ Kf5 38. Qg5+ Ke6 39. Re7# {would have been a nice finish, was hoping he'd fall for the trick of taking with the rook}) 31. R7g5 Qf4+ 32. Kb1 {Black resigned as rh5# is threatened and if you prevent it with the Queen then white liquidates in the centre with winning advantage} *

Nh6 42. e6 Nxf5 43. Qd7[/pgn]

A Jusufi v Steve Ledger

Steve has European success.

  [Event "European Team Championships"] [Date "2023.10.02"] [Round "2"] [White "A Jusufi"] [Black "Steve Ledger"] [Result "0-1"]   e4 c5 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} g6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 4. Bb5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nd4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 5. Nf3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Bg7 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 6. Bc4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} e6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 7. O-O {I think White's starting to drift from here, probably e5 is necessary to shut stuff down - Ed[%clk 0:00:00]} Ne7 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 8. Ne2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nxf3+ {[%clk 0:00:00]} 9. Rxf3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} O-O {[%clk 0:00:00]} 10. c3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} d5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 11. Bd3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} b6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 12. Qe1 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 13. e5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} d4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 14. Rh3 {Rg3 is better but Black is definitely on the front foot anyway[%clk 0:00:00]} Qd5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 15. Qf2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} c4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 16. Bb1 {[%clk 0:00:00]} d3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 17. Nd4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nf5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 18. Nxf5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} exf5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 19. b3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} b5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 20. Ba3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Rfe8 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 21. Re3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} f6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 22. bxc4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} bxc4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 23. exf6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Bxf6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 24. Bb2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Re4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 25. a4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Rxf4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 26. Rxd3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} cxd3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 27. c4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Rxf2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} *

Peter Gill v Alex Potts

Peter shows a certain flair.

[Event "Bedford Division 2"] [Date "2024.05.16"] [White "Peter Gill"] [Black "Alex Potts"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. d4 c6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bd2 Qc7 7. Be2 Bf5 8. Nh4 Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. g3 e6 11. Bf3 Bd6 12. Qe2 Na6 13. a3 O-O-O 14. O-O-O Nd5 15. Ne4 Be7 16. c4 Nb6 (16… Nf6 17. Ng5 {isn't very nice for Black but its better than the game $1}) 17. Bf4 Qd7 18. Nc5 Qe8 19. Nxa6 bxa6 20. c5 {Black's queenside is decidedly draughty!}  *

Mike Botteley v Adrian Elwin

Mike paves the way for his County Championship win against a strong player.

[Event "Beds County Championship "] [Date "2024.05.02"] [Round "4"] [White "Mike Botteley"] [Black "Adrian Elwin"] [Result "1-0"] [Termination ""]1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. e4 Nd4 7. h3 Bd7 8. Nge2 Qc8 9. Be3 e6 10. O-O Ne7 11. Rc1 e5 12. Kh2 O-O 13. f4 Qe8 14. fxe5 Nxe2 15. Qxe2 Bxe5 16. Bh6 Bg7 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Rf4 f5?! {I think this is dubious as it weakens squares around the black king} 19. Rcf1 Nc6 20. Qd2 Qe5 21. Rh4? {Attempting to further weaken squares around the king, but instead simply exploiting the exposed queen by using a plan like exf5, re1 and nd5 would have kept a secure advantage. Somewhat typically, I turned exf5 down in favour of the more flashy move} h5 22. exf5 Rxf5 23. Re4 Qf6 24. Nd5 Qf7 25. Qc3+ Ne5 26. Ref4 Rh8 27. Be4 Rxf4 28. Nxf4?? (28.gxf4 {was the point of my previous play and it would have maintained a winning position. Once again though, I quickly played a more flashy move believing it still to be winning, but with best play it does not}). Bf5? ({instead it appears that} g5! {would have put the game back in the balance}). 29. Nxg6! {What I'd originally been hoping for with 28.Nf4} Kxg6 30. Rxf5 Ng4+ ({I can't blame Adrian for trying some desperate measures. } Qxf5 {is better, but still lost}) 31. hxg4 hxg4+ 32. Kg2? {Played quickly once I'd briefly checked that I couldn't be mated - but a quick look shows the h8 rook is hanging!} Qh7 33. Rd5+? {Again quite lazy. There is a much better move which I will leave you to find!}

James Gardner v Mike Botteley

James digs deep to win the Club Championship.

  [Event "Bedford Club Championship"] [Date "2024.06.13"] [White "James Gardner"] [Black "Mike Botteley"] [Result "1-0"]   d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. a3 {bit strange but just a waiting move, stops bishop b4} 3… a5 {I personally don't like and think a little unnecessary} 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Be7 {in the county champs where Mike won the bishop went on d6 and a stonewall structure so quite a different game this time} 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 c6 8. c5 {computer not a fan which doesn't surprise me but I felt posed some practical problems with resulting pawn structures} 8… b5 $2 (8… b6 {best}) 9. Qf3 {many good options but this my favourite because pretty much forces the win of a pawn because it's very uncomfortable to deal with threat of knight/bishop takes b5} 9… d5 (9… Nd5 10. Nxd5 exd5 11. Bxb5 cxb5 12. Qxd5+ Kh8 13. Qxa8) 10. cxd6 Bxd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. Nxb5 Qe7 13. Nc3 Bb7 {suddenly black gets some initiative for the pawn and the time it took white to win it} 14. Nge2 c5 15. Qg3 Nc6 16. Bc4 {preparing defence of the pawn with Rd1} (16. O-O cxd4 17. exd4 Rad8 18. Rfe1 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Rxd4 20. Bxf5 {nice line shown by computer}) 16… cxd4 17. exd4 {the right way to recapture so as not to allow the knight on c6 to exchange and open the bishop, c6 knight now struggles for a good square} 17… Rac8 18. Ba2 {Bb3 felt natural but then noticed bishop a6 for black with rook b8 to come and pressure on both bishop and undefended b2 pawn} 18… Rfd8 19. Qe3 Re8 20. f3 {stop knight jumps and blunt bishop in compensation for the weakened e3 square and exposing the King} 20… Kh8 21. O-O e5 22. dxe5 $2 {turns out to be a big mistake as suddenly black generates a very dangerous attack with all of the minor pieces, queen and rooks contributing} (22. d5 Nd8 23. Qb6 Nf7 24. Rfe1) 22… Nxe5 23. Kh1 {stepping away from knight takes f3+ tactics} ({I had planned Nd4 but then suddenly realised I had tactical problems} 23. Nd4 Nxf3+ 24. Rxf3 Qxe3+ 25. Rxe3 Rxe3) 23… Nh5 {with Qh4 on the way and the defence is very difficult} 24. Bd5 {I thought I was solving my problems but Mike suddenly finds a really excellent move…} 24… Ba6 $1 25. g3 $2 {stopping Qh4, I could feel it was 'wrong' somehow but time was ticking…} ({my original plan was} 25. Rfd1 {but I missed that after} 25… Qh4 {I can play} 26. Qd4 {I only was considering} (26. Rd4 {but then I saw} 26… Ng4 $3 27. Qg1 (27. fxg4 Rxe3) 27… Nf2+ 28. Qxf2 Qxf2)) 25… Qf6 26. Qd4 Qh6 {a series of 4 excellent attacking moves in a row and I crack…} 27. b4 ({best was} 27. Rf2 {but still extremely uncomfortable for white}) 27… Rxc3 $1 ({I actually preferred} 27… Bxe2 28. Nxe2 Rc2 29. Qg1 (29. Rae1 Nxg3+ 30. Nxg3 Qxh2#) 29… Rxe2) 28. Qxc3 Bxe2 29. Rg1 f4 $4 {very natural but mistake, now things get very tactical and black also has problems due to back rank weakness} ({much better, opening the rook and bring another piece intothe danger zone} 29… Nd3) 30. Rae1 Nxg3+ 31. Rxg3 fxg3 Rxe2 Qf4 33. Re4 $2 (33. b5 $1) 33… g2+ $4 34. Kxg2 Qg5+ 35. Kh1 axb4 36. axb4 Qh5 37. b5 Qh3 (37… Qxf3+ 38. Qxf3 Nxf3 39. Rxe8#) 38. Kg1 Qf5 39. b6 h6 (39… Nxf3+ 40. Qxf3 Qxf3 41. Rxe8+ Qf8 42. Rxf8#) 40. Re3 (40. b7 $1 Nxf3+ 41. Qxf3 Qxf3 42. Rxe8+ Kh7 43. Bxf3) 40… Qg6+ 41. Kh1 Qd6 42. Qd4 Re7 43. f4 $4 (43. b7 $1 Rxb7 44. Rxe5 Rb1+ 45. Kg2 Qg6+ 46. Kh3) 43… Nc6 {massive problem $1 Black winning $1} 44. Rxe7 {both just playing on 10 second increment now} ({best was} 44. Bxc6 Qxd4 45. Rxe7 Qxb6 46. Re8+ Kh7 47. Be4+ g6) 44… Nxe7 $4 (44… Nxd4 $1 45. Re8+ Kh7 46. Be4+ (46. b7 $4 Qxd5+ 47. Kg1 Qxb7) 46… g6 47. b7 Nc6 $1 {we missed in a quick post game analysis that white can't take this knight and queen the pawn because black recaptures with check $1} 48. Bxc6 $4 (48. Bf3 {best but black winning of course}) 48… Qxc6+ 49. Kg1 Qxe8) 45. Qe5 $1 {was pleased to find this with no time, key line being black can emerge a minor piece up but can't stop pawn} 45… Qxb6 (45… Qxd5+ 46. Qxd5 Nxd5 47. b7) (45… Nxd5 46. Qxd6) 46. Qxe7 Qf2 (46… Qb1+ 47. Kg2 Qc2+ 48. Kg3 Qd3+ 49. Bf3) 47. Qf8+ Kh7 Be4+ (48. Bg8+ {quickest mate} 48… Kg6 49. Qf7#) 48… g6 49. Qf7+ {resigns} 49… Kh8 {eg.} 50. Qf6+ Kg8 51. Bd5+ Kh7 52. Qf7+ Kh8 53. Qg8# 1-0