A02: Bird's Opening

1. f4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 Controls e5 3. d3 Covers e4 3... c5 3... e5 4. Nc3= 4. e4+/= g6 5. Be2 Bg7 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. Bd2 Rb8 8. O-O b5 8... O-O 9. Qe1= 9. Qe1 O-O 10. h3 Prevents intrusion on g4 10... Nd4 11. Bd1 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Nd1 Be6+/= 11... b4 Black threatens to win material: b4xc3 12. Ne2 Nxf3+ 13. Rxf3 Nd7 14. Rb1 Bb7 15. g4 15. Re3!?=/+ is noteworthy 15... f5-/+ 16. gxf5 gxf5 17. Ng3 e6 18. Nh5 Bh8 Loses material >= 18... Bd4+!? is worth looking at 19. Be3 Kh8=/+ 19. Rg3++/= Kf7 20. exf5 exf5 21. c3 White threatens to win material: c3xb4 21. Rg5 h6 22. Rxf5+ Nf6 23. Nxf6 Bxf6+/= 21... Rg8 22. Bb3+? 22. cxb4 Qb6= 22... d5?? forfeits the advantage >= 22... c4 23. dxc4 Qh4 24. Rg7+ Rxg7+ 25. Nxg7 Qxe1+ 26. Bxe1 Bxg7 (26... <= Kxg7 27. Rd1-/+) 27. c5+ d5 28. cxb4 Rg8-+ 23. cxb4?? throwing away the advantage >= 23. Kh2= was a good chance to save the game 23... Qh4-+ 24. Kh2 Qxh5 25. Bd1 Qh6 26. Qf2 26. bxc5 does not save the day 26... Bf6 27. Qg1 Rxg3 28. Qxg3 Nxc5-+ 26... Rxg3 26... >= Bd4 ends the debate 27. Re3 Rbe8-+ 27. Qxg3 Rg8 28. Qf3 Ne5 29. Qh5+ Qxh5 30. Bxh5+ Ng6 30... >= Ke6 and the result of the game is clear: Black will win 31. Be2 cxb4 32. Bxb4 Ng6-+ 31. bxc5 Ba6 32. b4? 32. Bf3 Ne7 33. Be2-+ 32... Bxd3 33. Re1 33. Rb3 Bc4 34. Ra3 a6-+ 33... Be4 34. b5 34. Rg1 is not much help 34... Bd4 35. Rg3 a5-+ 34... Ke6 35. c6 Kd6 35... Bd4 seems even better 36. h4 Nxh4 37. Re2-+ 36. Bb4+ 36. Rg1-+ 36... Kc7 37. Rg1 37. Ba5+ does not solve anything 37... Kc8 38. Bd2 Bd4-+ 37... Bd4 38. Rg5 38. Rg3 cannot change what is in store for ? 38... Bf2 39. Ba5+ Kd6 40. Bb4+ Ke6-+ 38... Bd3 38... Bd3 39. Bf3 Rh8-+ 38... >= Be3 it becomes clear that Black will call all the shots 39. Be1 Kb6 40. Rg3 Bxf4 41. a4-+ 0-1 [Fritz 9 (5s)]