Scottish Annotated Games

Last updated 11 July 2001

Lennox, C J - Onoda, H [E69]
ICCF World Cup 1999
[Notes by Jonathan Lennox]

1.Nf3 [This game is certainly not typical of my style of play, but Richard Beecham had shown me the vulnerability of Japanese players to all- out attack.]

1...Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 0-0 5.0-0 d6 6.d4 c6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.e4 e5 9.h3 Qa5 10.Re1 exd4 11.Nxd4 Ne5 12.Bf1 Re8 13.Rb1 Be6 14.b4 Qc7 15.f4 Ned7 16.Be3 a5 17.a3 axb4 18.axb4 Nf8 [I have refrained from commenting on the opening lest I infringe Colin McNab's copyright. Here he gives 18... h5, and the omission of that move proves highly significant.]

19.Bf2 Bd7 20.Qb3 Ne6 21.Nf3 Nh5? 22.f5 Nf8 23.g4 Nf6 24.Bg3 b6 25.c5 [Now the obvious 25.Rbd1 allows counterplay after 25... Qa7 26.Bxd6 Qa3. Instead, it's time to justify 20.Qb3.]

25...bxc5 26.Ng5 [My original intention here was not 26.bxc5 Qa5 27.Bxd6 Nxg4 but 26.Bc4 Reb8 27.Bxf7+ Kh8 28.e5 Rxb4 29.exf6 Rxb3 30.fxg7+ Kxg7 31.Bxb3 winning. That line is not entirely forced however, and a few days later I found something even better.]

26...cxb4 [He might as well, since after 26... Bc8 or 26... Re7 to defend f7, then 27.bxc5 would be really strong.]

27.Qxf7+ Kh8 28.Bc4 h6 [I hope you noticed the threat of mate in two!]

29.e5 d5 [No, this was not a clerical error! White would also win quickly after 29... dxe5 30.Nce4, eg. 30... hxg5 31.Nxf6 Nh7 32.Nxh7 Kxh7 33.Qg6+ mating. But now, with three pieces already en prise, White can allow the fourth to be captured with check!]

30.exf6 Qxg3+ 31.Kf1 Qf4+ 32.Kg2 Bxf6 33.Qxf6+ Kg8 34.Qf7+ Kh8 35.f6 Ra2+ 36.Bxa2 1-0