1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. h4 h6 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Ngf6 11. Bd2 Qc7 12. O-O-O O-O-O 13. c4 e6 14. Qe2

Knowing how Herbert plays the Caro-Kann (4..Bf5 instead of Nf6 and typically castling Queenside), I had anticipated this position before the game began. In my preparation, I had planned to meet 14...Bd6 here with 15.Rh4 (Black cannot win a pawn with 15...Bg3 16.ef Qg3 since the Queen is lost to 17. Bf4). 14... c5 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd7 17. f4 Be7 18. Ne4 Qc6? Here bette r was Nb6 aiming to swap off major pieces on the d file although White would have the better endgame. 19. Bc3 Rhg8 20. Nd6+ Bxd6 21. Rxd6 Qc7 21... Qa4 22. b3 Qa3+ 23. Bb2 and if 23... Qxa2 then 24. Kc2 and if 24... Qa5 25. Ra1 Qc7 26. Rxa7 Nb8 27. Ra8 Rxd6 28. exd6 Qxd6 29. Be5 wins. 22. Rhd1 Nb8 better was Nb6 making White lose a tempo on the game continuation with b3 to protect the c pawn before moving the Queen. 23. Qg4 Nc6 24. f5 Rxd6 25. Rxd6 Nd8 26. Qh3!!

One of my best moves in the tournament - a retreating move! However, it is a nice attacking move with threefold menace: 26. fxe6? Nxe6 27. Rxe6 Qd7 would have lost to Qd7! but this is now threatened since the White Queen is protected. 26... exf5 26... Kb8 27. g4 (or other moves) is met by 27.g4 with advantage to White. 27. Qxf5+ Ne6? 28. Rxe6 Qd7 29. Qh7 Qd8 30. Rd6 Qg5+ 31. Bd2

1-0 [Corbin P.]