White: Melanie Buckley
Black: Carolin Umpfenbach
Round 6
Closed Sicilian B26
(Notes by Melanie Buckley and GM Peter Wells)

1 e4 e6 2 d3 c5 3 g3 Nc6 4 Bg2 g6 5 Nc3 Bg7 6 Be3 d6 7 Qd2 Rb8 8 Nge2 b5 9 0-0 b4 10 Nd1 Nd4 11 Nc1 Ne7
The alternative 11 ..Qa5 was tested two rounds later in Melanie's game against Anke Koglin. This move has good points directed against c3, but affords white the extra option of opening the a-file. The game continued 12 a3 Ne7 13 Ra2 Qc7!? 14 axb4 cxb4 15 c3 bxc3 16 bxc3 Ndc6 17 Bh6 0-0 18 Bxg7 Kxg7 19 Ne3 when I slightly prefer white who has chances of expanding in the centre with d4 etc.
12 c3 bxc3 13 bxc3 Ndc6 14 Bh6 0-0 15 Bxg7 Kxg7 16 Ne3 a5 17 Ne2 Ba6 18 Ng4 Ng8
18 ..f5!? was also possible when Melanie intended 19 exf5 exf5 20 Ne3 (20 Nf4?! Qd7 21 Ne3 g5 22 Nfd5 f4 allows black counterchances) 20...Ne5 (20 ..g5?! 21 f4) 21 Nf4 Qd7 with chances for both sides.
19 f4 Nce7 20 Ne3 f5 21 g4!? Bb7 22 Ng3 d5?!
This weakens black on the dark squares in the centre, a problem to which white's alert 24th move calls attention. It was the last possibility to play 22 ..fxg4!? 23 Nxg4 although white might claim to have some king-side threats on a good day with a prevailing wind.
23 exf5 exf5 24 d4! c4 25 Rae1 Nh6 26 Qe2! Re8 27 gxf5 Nexf5 28 Nexf5+ Nxf5 29 Nxf5+ gxf5 30 Qxe8
30 Qh5 Qd7 31 Re5 Rxe5 32 fxe5 Rf8 33 Bh3 Bc8 34 Qg5+ Kh8 35 Qh6 was also interesting but black might be getting a bit of comp down the g-file so going for the ending with the played line was probably best. 30...Qxe8 31 Rxe8 Rxe8 32 Kf2
White's superior bishop gives her an advantage which should have proved decisive, however, time-trouble seems to be one thing which some of the team have clearly picked up from their coach!
32...Kf6 33 Rb1 Bc6 34 Rb6 Re6 35 Rb8!
White had another plan available with Ra6 and Bd1 targetting the weak a-pawn, but the text is even better given white's improvement on move 36.]
35...Re7 36 Rd8
36 Rc8! Boensch. There is a loose piece, attack it. Might sound a bit simplistic, but in fact black is short of squares and this leaves her pieces rather tangled up, eg 36 ..Re6 37 Rf8+ Kg6 38 Rd8.
36...Ke6 37 Rc8 Kd6 38 Rb8
38 Rf8!? Rb7 certainly will not offer white entirely risk-free winning chances. (38 ..Ke6?! 39 Bh3!)
38 ..Ke6 39 Rc8 Kd6 40 Rb8 Ke6 41 Rc8
Time trouble is over, but with it the bulk of white's advantage too. 1/2-1/2