1.c4
Nf6
2.Nc3
g6
3.e4
d6
4.d4
Bg7
5.f3
0-0
6.Be3
Nc6
7.Nge2
a6
8.Qd2
Rb8
9.Rc1
Bd7
10.Nd1
e6
11.Nf2
Ne8
12.g3
f5
13.Bg2
Nf6
14.0-0
fxe4
15.fxe4
Qe7
16.b4
e5
17.d5
Nd8
18.c5
Nf7
19.Nc3
Kh8
20.a4
Ng8
21.a5
Bh6
22.Bxh6
Nfxh6
23.Nd3
Kg7?
Careless play. [23...Rxf1+
would be better: 24.Rxf1
Rf8=
]
24.Rxf8
Rxf8
25.Rf1?!
White misses a very important opportuniy to clear up things on the queenside to his advantage. [It was: 25.b5!
axb5
26.c6!
bxc6
27.dxc6
Bxc6
28.Nb4
Qd7
29.Nxc6
Qxc6
30.Nd5
Qa6
31.Rxc7+
Rf7
32.Qc3+/-
and the passed a-pawn should decide the game in White's favour.]
25...Nf7
26.Qe3
Nf6
27.h3
h5
28.Ne1
Nh7
29.Nf3
Rc8
30.Kh1
Nfg5
31.Nxg5
Nxg5
32.Kh2
Nf7
33.Rf2
Nh6
34.Kg1
h4
35.g4
Bxg4!?
A very interesting sacrifice, especially when both sides are short of time for the remaining moves.
36.hxg4?!
[Here the intermediate exchange 36.cxd6!
cxd6
was well worth being considered. After 37.hxg4
Nxg4
38.Qh3
Nxf2
39.Qxc8
Nd3
40.Qc4
Nf4
41.Ne2+/=
White is no longer in any danger and he can try to go on to play for a win practically without risk.]
36...Nxg4
37.Qh3
Nxf2
38.Qxc8
Nd3
39.cxd6
[Of course not 39.Qxb7??
After 39...h3!
Black wins, e.g. 40.Bxh3
Qg5+
41.Kh2
Qd2+
42.Kg1
Qf2+
43.Kh1
Qg3-+
]
39...Qg5!
40.Qd7+
[The final acid test for Black's sacrifice consisted of 40.Nd1!
, but Black keeps things level. 40...Nf4
41.Qxc7+
Kh6
42.Qc2
h3
43.d7
hxg2
44.Nf2
Kg7
45.d6
Kf7
46.Qc4+
Kf8
47.Qc8+
Kg7!
]
40...Kh6[]
[40...Kh8??
41.Qe8+
Kg7
42.Qe7+
Qxe7
43.dxe7+-
Kf7
44.d6
cxd6
45.Nd5
Nf4
46.Bf1
Nxd5
47.Bc4
Kxe7
48.Bxd5
]
41.Qh3
Nf4
42.Qf3
cxd6
43.Kh2
Nxg2
and White is forced to give perpetual check.
44.Qf8+
[44.Qxg2?
fails to 44...Qf4+!
and the knight on c3 is lost. 45.Kh3
(45.Kg1
Qc1+
46.Kh2
Qxc3-+
) 45...Qe3+
46.Kg4
(46.Kxh4
g5+
47.Kg4
Qf4+
48.Kh3
Qh4#
) 46...Qxc3-+
]
44...Kh5
45.Qf3+
Kh6
So, the bishop sacrifice 35...Bxg4 led to an interesting, fighting final phase. But the position still remained drawish. So, the correct answer is "B"! 1/2-1/2