1.g3
My understanding is that Morozevich was unhappy being White, so he decided to pass this privilege to me
1...d5
2.Bg2
Nf6
[ 2...e5
is the more principled move, but I decided to decline the invitation to play White.
Unfortunately, I was later inconsistent in the matter and started to advance my pawns, etc.]
3.Nf3
g6
4.c4
Now it was time for me to play two unnecessary moves
4...d4
5.d3
a5
I played a5 because I disliked 5...c5 6.b4 and Black has Volga without a tempo. I went backstage to drink some water and began to wonder what I should do after 6.Na3
6.Na3!
Nc6
7.Nb5!
Had Morozevich played 7.Bf4, I could choose between 7...Nd7 and 7...Nh5, and I would probably select the latter; forcing the bishop back and completing development. 7.Nb5 is stronger and it forces my next move
7...e5
Otherwise Black loses material and maintaining the material balance was already my major concern
8.0-0
Bg7
9.e3
dxe3
10.Bxe3
0-0
11.Re1
[ On 11.d4!?
Ng4
would be considered]
11...Be6
I had three candidate moves: 11...Re8 does not have any clear disadvantages, but for some mysterious reason I wanted to keep the e8-square for the knight; 11...Bf5 contains the idea 12.d4 e4 13.Nd2 Nb4, but I disliked the variation 13.Nh4 Bg4 14.Qd2 with an advantage; then I found the idea 11...Be6 with the ideal setup ...Qc8, ...Rd8, and ...Bh3. However, it transpired that it was not such a bright idea after all
12.b3
[ 12.Rc1
Nb4
is a tempting attempt at counterplay!]
12...Qc8
This move is linked with a series of miscalculations: 13.d4 exd4 14.Nfxd4 Nxd4 15.Bxd4 Rd8, but 16.Qf3 wins. So, I corrected my variation with 14...Bg4, but in both 15.Qd2 Rd8 or 15.Qc2 Nb4 White seems to keep the advantage.
13.d4
exd4
14.Bf4
Ne8
This position illustrates the defensive resources in chess. It is difficult to imagine that Black will not lose material because of his poor opening play, but Black holds nevertheless
15.Qd2
(other moves are closer to a draw)
15...Qd7
16.Rad1
[ I calculated 16.Ng5!?
Bf5
17.Ne4
and prepared 17...Rd8
18.Nc5
Qc8
followed by ...Nd6. Maybe it is not all that tragic for Black]
16...Bg4
it is a sin to ignore such a move
17.Bh6
Rd8
18.Qf4
a4
This was probably the only move in the game that contained a specific idea. I calculated a long line beginning with 18...Bxf3 19.Bxf3 Bxh6, etc similar to what happened in the game, but the resulting endgame was extremely unpleasant for Black. So I reasoned it makes sense to remove the a-pawns from the board. Their absence is useful to me in any endgame. Only I wasn´t sure what to do on 19.bxa4, but it is likely that Black holds. After 19.h3 my position significantly improved and I got the chance to exchange most of the pieces.
19.h3
Bxf3
20.Bxf3
axb3
21.axb3
Bxh6
22.Qxh6
Ng7
23.Re4
Nf5
24.Qf4
Nd6
25.Nxd6
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