CHESS

BYRON JACOBS

Howell - Nunn, Mind Sports Olympiad, London 1999

Here the black position is much better coordinated than White's and this gives him a small advantage.

32 Rc1 Rxcl + 33 Bxcl Nc4 34 Bd3

Nunn, possibly rattled by not having got on top of the game, blunders and loses a vital pawn. He had to try 34 Bf4, when Black has only a small edge.

34 Bxd5 35 exd5 Rel+36 Kh2 Rxcl 37 Ne4 Ne5

Howell now regroups very nicely, exploiting the tactic 38 Nxd6 Nxd3 39 Rxd3 Be5+

38 Be2 Nd7 39 q3 Be5 40 Kg2 Nc5 41 Nxc5 Rxc5 42 Rd3 Rc3 43 Kf3 Rxd3+ 44 Bxd3 f5

Although opposite coloured bishop endgames are often drawn, White has little chance here. Black has a very active bishop and the white pawns on dark squares are very vulnerable.

45 Ke2 Kf7
46 Kf3 Ke7
47 Ke2 Kf7
48 Kf3 Bb2
49 a4 bxa4
50 Bxa6 Kf6
51 Ke2 Ke5
52 Bc4 Kd4
53 Ba2 Kc3
54 Kdl Ba3
55 Ke2 Bcl
56 Kdl Kb2
57 Bc4 Bh6
58 Ke2 a3
59 Kd3 a2
60 Bxa2 Kxa2
61 Kc4 Bd2
62 Kb5 Bel
63 Kc6 Bxf2
64 Kxd6 Bxg3+
65 Ke6 Bxh4
66 d6 f4
White resigns