Missing Tactics

In the last round of the Eastern Washington Open, I had the black pieces against John Walton. We each missed a chance to gain a decisive advantage and settled on a short draw.

Walton, J -- Stripes, J
Eastern Washington Open, Spokane, 28 Sept 2008

1.e4 e6 2.d3 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4
3...Nf6 or c5 would have been sensible

4.dxe4 e5
Abandoning the French for something resembling the Italian, but considerably behind in time was a terrible decision. If White's opening choice was intended to take Black out out his preparation, it succeeded far beyond reasonable expectations. White's lead in time gives him a substantial advantage.

5.Ngf3 Bc5 6.Bc4 Nc6 7.0–0 Nf6 8.Qe2 0–0 9.Nb3 Bb6 10.Bg5 Qe7 11.Rad1 Nd8?



12.Rd5
The e5 pawn will fall; I must find compensation.

12...Be6?!
12...Nc6 is better. Admit error.

13.Rxe5 Nc6



14.Bxf6?
14.Rxe6 fxe6 15.e5+- and White should win

14...Qxf6 15.Rh5 Bg4 16.e5



16...Qf4?
16...Qe7-+ and Black gains the upper hand

17.Rh4 Bxf3 18.Rxf4 Bxe2 19.Bxe2 Nxe5 ½–½

This game capped a weekend event in which I won no games, the second time I'd fallen to that fate in twelve years of tournament play. However, unlike the weekend in 1998 when I went 0-5, I had no losses this weekend. My tournament consisted of four draws and the "old man" bye Saturday evening. Walton and I split the prize money for second place in B class.