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(7) Miles,T (2560) - Ochkoos,Y (2370)
2001 Canadian Open (5), 2001
1.d4 d5 2.Bf4 Miles' opening repetoire is definitely not bookish. However, he realizes that often the game result has nothing to do with the opening, and if you take a look at his opening stats then you will see what I mean 2...c6 3.e3 Qb6 4.Qc1 Bf5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Nbd2 e6 7.Be2 c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.0-0 Be7 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Nb3 Be7 12.Nbd4 Bg4 13.Nxc6 Miles clearly has what he expected from the opening: nothing. However, as we will see, his opponent gets lured into a false sense of security. 13...bxc6 14.h3 Bxf3 Why this move? Retreating to h5 looks more ambitious. [14...Bh5!] 15.Bxf3 0-0 16.Qc2 Rfd8 17.Rfd1 Bd6 18.Bxd6 Rxd6 19.c4 Rdd8 20.Rac1 Rab8 I also don't like this. Why not simply a5 [20...a5! 21.cxd5 cxd5 22.Rd4 Rdb8 23.b3 h6=] 21.b3 h6 22.Qc3!? Black has a very solid position. Unfortunately, it is also quite passive. Miles' last move is one of those subtle probing moves that can often annoy his opponent. 22...Qa6 23.Rc2 Qa3 24.cxd5 cxd5 25.Qc5! Qxc5 26.Rxc5² white has a slightly better ending. As Miles mentioned after the game, in his vast experience he has often converted such tiny advantages. 26...Rbc8 27.Rdc1 Rxc5 28.Rxc5 Kf8 29.Kf1 [29.Rc7 Rd7 30.Rxd7 Nxd7 and the ending is not better for white] 29...Ke7 30.Ke2 Rd7 31.Kd3 [31.b4!] 31...Rb7 32.Ra5 Kd6 33.e4!? Ke5!? I like this move: it threatens nothing but has a certain aesthetic appeal to it. [33...Nxe4 34.Bxe4 dxe4+ 35.Kxe4 Rb4+ 36.Kd3 Rb7 37.h4ƒ Though probably drawn, this ending is sure to go a full 80 moves] 34.exd5 I would have waited a move or two before this 34...exd5! i think Miles was hoping to play a rook and pawn ending 35.g3 g5 36.Bg2 Rd7!? 37.b4 h5! 38.Rc5 h4 39.Bf3 [39.gxh4?! Nh5] 39...Nh7!? 40.Rc8 [40.g4?! Nf8! …Ng6,f4; 40.a4! f5 41.g4!?²] 40...Re7 41.Rc1 Rb7 42.a3 Nf6 One gets the impression that white has being making very little progress. Infact, I am beginning to like the Black side. 43.Rc5 Rb6 44.Ra5 Rb7 A tacit offer of a draw. 45.gxh4 gxh4 46.Ke3 Rd7 47.Be2 Re7 48.f4+ Kf5+ 49.Kf3 Kg6 50.Bd3+ Kg7 51.Rc5 [51.Ra6?! d4!] 51...Re1 52.Ra5 Miles would not mind a draw 52...Rg1!? 53.Bf5 Rg3+ 54.Kf2 Nh5! 55.Rxa7 Nxf4 56.b5 Kf6 57.Bc8 Here both players agreed to a draw. Miles later admitted that he stood worse. 1/2-1/2
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