Scottish Annotated Games

Last updated 11 July 2001

Thomson, T (2410) - Mackintosh, I (2295) [C25]
SCCA Championship, 1999-99
[Notes by Tom Thomson]

1.e4 e5 2.Nc3 Nc6 [2...Nc6 is the original symmetrical reply, whereas 2...Nf6 is Falkbeer's recommendation. Tseitlin and Glazkov favour Nf6 for Black.]

3.f4 exf4 4.Nf3 g5 5.h4 [The Hamppe-Allgaier Gambit.]

5...g4 6.Ng5 d6 [6...h6 or 6...f6 are more usual.]

7.d4 h6 8.Nxf7 Kxf7 9.Bc4+ Kg7 10.Bxf4 Be7 11.0-0 Bxh4 [This move had failed in 2 previous outings, however it is not easy to see how White should take advantage of the tempo used by Black. An alternative line is 11...Nf6 12.Qd2 Nh5 13.Be3 Bf6 14.Nd5 Bxh4 15.e5 Be6 16.Nf6 Bxc4 17.Nxh5+ Kg6 18.Nf4+ Kh7 19.c3 Qe8 20.Qc2+ Kg7 21.Qf5 Bg5 22.d5 Bxf1 23.Ne6+ Kg8 24.Bxg5 Bd3 25.Qxd3 Nxe5 26.Qf5 hxg5 27.Re1 Qh5 28.Nxg5 Qh2+ 0-1 A.Brenke-T.Halasz Dortmund 1990]

12.Qd2 [12.Bxd6 cxd6 (12...Qxd6! and I cannot find a continuation for White that wins) 13.Rf7+ Kg6 14.e5 1-0 J.Kirimaki- P.Lehtinen 1992; or 12.Be3 Nf6 13.Qd2 Bd7 14.g3 Bxg3? (14...Na5 15.Bd5 Nxd5 16.Nxd5 c6 17.Nf4 Nc4 18.Qf2 Rf8 19.gxh4 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Qxh4 and now White is just a pawn down) 15.Bg5 Nxe4 16.Rf7+ Kg6 17.Nxe4 hxg5 18.Nxg3 Nb4 19.Raf1 Rh3 20.Ne4 1-0 Claridge-Cody 1997]

12...a6?! [This move is slow and White will be able to build some initiative before Black's play on the queenside can become dangerous. I think Black's development should have been taking priority.]

13.g3 [This was played to allow White's rooks to double up on the f-file. Control of this file is the most important feature of the game. All White's efforts are aimed at this goal.]

13...Be7 14.Rf2 Nf6 15.Raf1 b5?! 16.Bd5 Bd7?! [This move blocks the Black queen's power down the d-file. The influence of the Black Queen had been preventing White pushing onto e5. If 16...Nxd5 17.Nxd5 Be6 18.Nxe7 Qxe7 19.d5+= or 16...Bb7 17.Bg5! Nxd5 18.Rf7+ Kg8 19.Bxh6+-]

17.e5 Nxd5 18.Nxd5 Be6 19.Rh2! Bg5 [19...Bxd5 20.Bxh6+ Kg8 21.Qd3 Qe8 22.Qf5+-]

20.Nxc7 Bc4 [If 20...Qxc7 (a deflection) 21.Bxg5!]

21.exd6 Qf6 22.Rff2 Rad8 23.d5 Rxd6 [23...Bxf4 24.Rxf4 Qxd6 25.Qc3++-]

24.b3 Rc8 [I had missed this move! It came as a surprise and put doubts in my mind about my position. But after some more analysis I was able to recover from the shock.]

25.bxc4 Rxc7 26.c5 Rdd7 27.Rh5 Bxf4 28.Rxf4 Qg6 29.Rhf5 Kh7 30.Rf6 Qg5 31.Qd3+ Kg7 32.R6f5 Qg6 33.Qc3+ Kh7 34.Rf8 [34.dxc6?! Rxc6 35.Rf8 Qg7=]

34...Rg7 35.R8f6 [35.dxc6 Rxc6 36.R8f6 Rxf6 37.Qe4+-]

35...Qg5 36.Qd3+ [36.Rxc6?! is no comparison! 36...Qxd5 37.Rxa6 Qxc5+ 38.Qxc5 Rxc5=]

36...Kh8 37.dxc6 [37.Rxc6?! Rxc6 38.dxc6 Qxc5+ 39.Qd4 Qxc6+=]

37...Rce7 [37...Rg8 38.Qd6 Rh7+-] 38.Kg2 Rg8 39.Rf7 [39...Rg7 40.Rf8+ Rg8 41.R4f7 Rxf7 42.Rxf7+-] 1-0