More NSW Blues

It is my melancholy duty to inform my New South Wales readers that the much-loved and admired Kerry Stead has decided to pack up and leave our beautiful state. Kerry will be moving to Victoria at the end of August. When asked why such a move, Kerry replied, "[I] need a change". We wish Kerry all the best and we do hope to see him back sooner than later.

Below is a game I played against Kerry and it is definitely one of my best, albeit a lost one. I hope you enjoy it.

1998 NSW State Championships
Rosario, Amiel
Stead, Kerry
ECO D44

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. Bg5 dxc4 6. e4 b5 7. e5 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Nxg5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 Nbd7 11. g3 Bb7 12. exf6 c5 13. d5 Qb6 14. Bg2 O-O-O 15. O-O b4 16. Rb1 The Uhlmann Variation. I believe that this was just around after the Solo - Rogers playoff for the Australian Championships title. In that match, this 16. Rb1 move was featured I think twice (I can't remember exactly). So, being a regular copycat, I decided to play it too. 16...Qa6 17. dxe6 Bxg2 18. e7 Bxe7 19. fxe7 Rdg8 20. Re1 Qc6 21. Nb5 Qxb5 22. Kxg2 Qc6+ 23. Kg1 Nb6 24. Qg4+ Kb7 25. Qf4 Qg6 26. Bf6 (26. h4 Rc8 27. Rbd1 White has an overwhelming position. All Black can do is defend helplessly). 26...Nd5 27. Qf3

After 27. Qf3

(27. Qxc4!? Nxf6 28. Qb5+ Ka8 29. Qc6+ Kb8 30. Qxc5 Rc8 31. Qxb4+ Ka8 (31... Kc7 will lead to a mate in 7) 32. Qd6 Qh5 33. h4 27...Qxf6 28. Qxd5+ Kb6 29. Re5 Rc8 30. Rbe1 Rhe8 31. Rf5?? (31. Qxc4 Qc6 (31...Rc7 32. a4 bxa3 33. Qb3+ Ka6 34. Qa4+) 32. Qxf7) 31...Qxb2 32. Qxc4 Qc3 33. Qe4 Qd4 34. Qxd4 cxd4 35. Rd5 Rc7 36. Rxd4 a5 37. h4 Rcxe7 38. Rxe7 Rxe7 39. Rd6+ Kb5 40. Rf6 a4 41. h5 b3 At this point, I suddenly realised that I was in big trouble! What have I done?

After 41...b3

42. axb3 axb3 43. Rf3 Kc4 44. Rf4+ Kc3 45. Rf6 Rb7 46. Rc6+ Kd2 47. Rd6+ Kc2 48. Rc6+ Kb1 49. h6 f5 50. Rg6 b2 51. Rg7 Rb8 52. h7 Ka2 53. Rg8 b1=Q+ 54. Kh2 Qb2 55. Kh3 f4 56. gxf4 Qb3+ 57. Rg3 Qe6+ 58. Kg2 Qd5+ 0-1

To play through this game, click here.