A 10 Year Old Victory

I've just been going through some of my old games and spotted this one. Played nearly ten years ago, this game still stands out in my memory mainly because, well, it's a win and I still remember that feeling of sweet nervousness especially after white's 26. Nxa8. At that moment I'm not only a piece down, but a whole Rook down!

The nerves set in when you're just not sure about a plan or a move, but you take a little risk anyway and hope for the best.

1998 NSW State ch
Kordahi, Nicholas
The Closet Grandmaster
B46

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 Nge7 7. O-O Nxd4 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9. Qd1 Qc7 10. Kh1 b5 11. Bb3 Bb7 12. a3 Bc5 13. f4 O-O 14. f5 Nd4 15. Qg4 Nxb3 16. f6 g6 17. Qg5 Rfc8 18. cxb3 Bf8 19. Bf4 Qc5 20. Qh4 I think it s around about this time that I suddenly began to see the possibility of attacking g2 with Rook, Bishop and h-pawn. So I played 20...Qh5 21. Qxh5 gxh5 22. Rf3 b4 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. Na4 Rc2 25. Nb6 Bxe4 26. Nxa8

After 26. Nxa8

26...h4 27. Rg5 Bh6 28. Rg4 Bxf4 29. Rxf4 Bxa8 30. Rc4 (30. Rg4 bxa3 (30... h3? 31. axb4 (31. Rxb4 Rxg2 32. Rb8+ Rg8+ 33. Rxa8 Rxa8 is similar to the game.) 31... hxg2+ 32. Kg1 Bd5 33. Rg7) 31. bxa3 h3 and Fritz calls it even. See diagram).

Analysis diagram

30... Rxg2 31. Rc8+ Rg8+ 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. axb4 h5 34. b5 a5 35. Kg2 (35. Ra4 Rb8 36. Rxa5 (36. Rxh4 Rxb5) 36... d5) 35... Rg8+ 36. Kf3 Rg4 37. Rxa5 Rb4 38. Ke3 Rxb3+ 39. Kf4 Kh7 40. b6 Kg6 41. Rg5+ Kxf6 42. Rxh5 Rxb6 43. Rxh4 Rxb2 44. Rh6+ Kg7 45. Rh5 Rb4+ 46. Ke3 Kg6 47. Ra5 d5 48. Ra1 Re4+ 49. Kf3 Kf5 50. Ra5 Rb4 51. Ke3 Kg4 52. Ra7 f6 53. Ra6 Kf5 54. Ra2 Rb3+ 55. Kf2 e5 56. Ra5 d4 57. Ra2 Kf4 58. Ra6 f5 59. Ra2 e4 60. Ra1 Rb2+ 0-1