The Fastest Draw in the West- Of Ireland!
Martin Kelly reports from Galway Chess Congress 2019.
I scored five draws out of six at the Galway Major, one of which should have been a win but for the long journey I had undertaken from Belfast. I played the Marshall Attack against the Ruy Lopez and offered a draw after 24 moves, which my young opponent accepted after half an hour because he saw a win for me in all lines. Talking about Marshall, I felt a little peeved about the dropped half-point. It was like: "I shot the sheriff, but I didn't shoot the deputy"!
White: Patrick Brozynski (1521); Black: Martin Kelly (1223)(Galway Major Round 1, 22/3/19)
1.e4 e5; 2.Nf3 Nc6; 3.Bb5 a6; 4.Ba4 Nf6; 5.0-0 Be7; 6.Re1 b5; 7.Bb3 0-0; 8.c3 (a4 or d4 avoids Marshall) d5!?; 9.e×d5 Nxd5 (..e4 is the Hermann Steiner); 10.Nxe5 Nxe5; 11.Rxe5 c6; 12.d4 Bd6; 13.Re1 Qh4; 14.g3 Qh3; 15.Qf3 (or Qd3) Bg4; 16.Qg2 Qh5; 17.Bxd5 (better is 17.Be3) cxd5; 18.Nd2(again 18.Be3 is needed) Rfe8; 19.Re3 Rxe3; 20.fxe3 Bh3; 21.Qf3 Bg4; 22.Qf2 Re8; 23.b3 (too slow-23.Nf1 best) Re6; 24.c4 Rf6. 0.5-0.5! (if 25.Qg2 Bh3 and 26..Qd1 ch wins; or if 25.Qe1 Bb4 and 26..Bxd2, 27...Bh3, 28..Qf3 wins!).
Martin Kelly.
More details of the event: http://www.galwaychess.com/galway-congress-2019/
