A21: English Opening: 1...e5 2 Nc3

1. c4 1. e4 e5= 1... e5 2. Nc3 Bb4 3. g3 Bxc3 3... Nf6 4. Nf3= 4. bxc3 White has the pair of bishops 4... Nc6 5. Bg2 Nge7 6. Nf3 O-O 7. Ba3 d6 Secures c5 8. O-O Rb8 9. Rb1 9. d4 Qe8= 9... b6 Controls c5 9... Bf5 10. d3=/+ 10. Qc2 Bf5 11. d3 Prevents intrusion on e4 11... Na5 11... Qd7 12. Rfd1= 12. Qd2 h6 Covers g5 12... Qd7 13. e4 Bg4 14. Nh4= 13. Nh4+/= Be6 14. f4 f5 14... exf4!? must definitely be considered 15. gxf4 Qd7+/= 15. fxe5+/- dxe5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Ng6 >= 17. Qe3!? Qf6 18. Bh3+/- 17... Qc5++/= 18. d4 White threatens to win material: d4xc5 18... Nxc4 19. dxc5?? White is ruining his position. >= 19. Qd3 is the best option White has 19... Qa5 20. Ne7+ Kh8 21. Nc6+/= 19... Nxd2-+ 20. Nxf8 Rxf8 21. cxb6 cxb6 21... Nxb1?! 22. bxa7 Nd2 23. Rf2-/+ 21... Nxf1? doesn't work 22. bxa7 e4 23. Bxf1+- (23. Rxf1?! Ra8=) 22. a3 >= 22. Rb5!? Nxf1 23. Rxe5-+ 22... Nxb1 23. Rxb1 Rc8 24. Rc1 e4 25. Kf2 25. g4 g6-+ 25... Kf7 25... Rc4 keeps an even firmer grip 26. Ke3-+ 26. Ke3 26. g4 g6-+ 26... g5 27. g4 fxg4 27... f4+!? and Black can already relax 28. Kxe4 Bxg4 29. Bf3-+ 28. Bxe4 Bc4 28... Kf6 29. Bd3-+ 29. Rf1+ Kg7 29... Ke7 30. Bd3-+ 30. Rd1 Bb5 31. Kd2 Rd8+ 32. Bd3 Bc6 33. Rf1 Rf8 33... Rd5 34. Kc2-+ 34. Rxf8-/+ Kxf8 34... Kxf8 35. Ke3 Ke7-/+ 1/2-1/2 [Fritz 9 (5s)]