Miles-Speelman
Mondariz Zonal 2000
Torre Attack A47
[Notes by John Emms]

1 d4 Nf6 2 Nf3 e6 3 c3 b6 4 Bg5 Bb7 5 Nbd2 Be7 6 e3 h6 7 Bh4 c5
Tony and Jon had reached this position twice before in recent NCL battles. On both occasions Jon had plumped for the simplifying 7...Ne4. The first time the players agreed a quick draw, while last season Tony pushed a little before suggesting peace. On this occasion, Jon tries an aggressive idea first played by Chris Ward.
8 Bd3 g5!?
An unsettling move to have to face, as many Torre players are unprepared for such early complications.
9 Bg3 g4 10 Ne5 h5 11 f3 d6 12 Bb5+
Bourne-Ward, St. Hellier 1999 continued instead 12 Nec4 b5 13 Na3 a6 14 Qe2 h4 15 Bf4 h3! and Black went on to win a fine game.
12...Kf8 13 Nd3 a6 14 Ba4 h4 15 Bf2 h3 16 e4 c4?!
Speelman criticises this move, suggesting instead the crude and material grabbing 16...hxg2 17 Rg1 Rxh2 as an improvement.
17 Nf4 e5 18 Ne2 hxg2 19 Rg1 gxf3 20 Ng3!
Speelman had missed this excellent move. Now White prepares Qxf3 and 0-0-0. Black is already in some trouble. At around this point Miles remarked to Speelman that "he could use his pieces too!" However, Speelman continued going "pawn happy".
20...d5?
Speelman described this move as "very loosening". Miles was expecting something like 20...b5 21 Bc2 Ng4 22 Qxf3 Nxf2 23 Qxf2 Bg5 which is not so bad for Black.
21 Qxf3 dxe4 22 Ngxe4 exd4
This must set some sort of record, being Black's eighteenth pawn move out of 22. By this stage Speelman had realised that he was facing a raging attack, for example 22...Nxe4 23 Qxg2 Bf6 24 Nxe4 Qd5? 25 Qg8+! Rxg8 26 Rxg8+ Kxg8 27 Nxf6+ with a clear advantage.
23 Bxd4 Nxe4 24 Nxe4 Rh4 25 Bc2 Bg5 26 Qxg2
26 Rxg2 also looks good.
26...Bxe4 27 Bxe4 Ra7!?
Setting a nasty trap. 27...Qe7 would have been a complete grovel by Black.
28 Kd1?
28 Qxg5 Rxe4+ 29 Kf2 Qxg5 30 Rxg5 gives White an excellent endgame, where the bishop is superior to the knight. 28...Nc6!! 29 Qxg5
29 Bxc6 Rxd4+! 30 cxd4 Qxd4+ 31 Ke2 Re7+ wins for Black. Miles' next move was accompanied by a draw offer, but the game was already swinging in Black's favour.
29...Qxg5 30 Rxg5 Nxd4 31 cxd4 Rxe4 32 d5 Rh4 33 Kc2 Rxh2+ 34 Kc3 Re7 35 d6?
According to Speelman 35 Rag1 is much stronger.
35...Re3+ 36 Kxc4 Rd2?
And here Speelman suggests the improvement 36...Rc2+ 37 Kd4 Re6 38 Kd3 Rxb2 39 Rd5 Ree2 40 Rd1 Ke8 41 d7+ Kd8 when Black should win.
37 Rf1 Rxd6 38 Rgf5 Re7 39 a4 Kg7 40 a5 Re4+ 41 Kc3 f6 42 axb6 Rxb6 43 Ra5 Rg4 44 Rfa1 Rg3+ 45 Kc2 Rg2+ 46 Kc3 Rbxb2 47 Rxa6
Although Black has only one pawn, the position remains difficult for White as his king is far away from the action and there are always tricks with two paitrs of rooks on the board.
47...Rbf2 48 Kd4 Rg3 49 Re1 Kg6 50 Re3 Rgg2 51 Ree6 Kg5 52 Ke3 Rh2 53 Reb6?
53 Rab6 holds according to Speelman.
53...Re2+ 54 Kf3? Kh4! 0-1
Suddenly White is caught in a mating net. A great fighting game which reflects credit on both players.