Here is a fully annotated version of my round 1 game from tournament 54 of T45/45.

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[Event "Team 45 45 League T54"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2012.08.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Achelous"]
[Black "IshanR"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[BlackElo "1834"]
[Classes "0"]
[ECO "B59"]
[GameID "0"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]
[WhiteElo "1729"]

1. e4 {0:45:37} 1... c5 {0:45:42 I decided to mix it up by using the
Sicilian. In previous gmes I had always essayed 1...e5 and I thought my
opponent might have prepared something. Also, future opponents will now have
to guess what my reply will be to 1.e4 if they want to prepare, which is nice.}
2. Nf3 {0:46:19 Unexpected. My opponent had previously gone for the
c3-Sicilian.} 2... Nc6 {0:46:25} 3. d4 {0:47:01} 3... cxd4 {0:47:06} 4.
Nxd4 {0:47:45} 4... Nf6 {0:47:50} 5. Nc3 {0:47:52} 5... d6 {0:48:30 We are
now in a Classical Sicilian- my weapon of choice with the Black pieces.} 6.
Be2 {0:47:52 An unassuming move and a decent one. Alternatives are the far
sharper 6.Bg5 and 6.Bc4. } (6. Bg5 { Richter-Rauzer} 6... e6 7. Qd2 Be7 8.
O-O-O {With a very sharp battle in store.} )(6. Bc4 {Fischer- Sozin} 6... e6
7. Be3 Be7 8. O-O O-O {Not as sharp as the Rauzer, but black will need often
face an attack with f4. His endgame prospects if he survives are excellent.} )
6... e5 {0:49:07 The Boleslavski. This move weakens d5 but takes control of
d4. Black will aim for d5, equalising.} 7. Nb3 {0:46:55} 7... Be6 {0:49:40
An less common line and a pet of mine. The aim is for a quick d5. } 8. Be3
{0:46:20} 8... d5 {0:50:20} 9. exd5 {0:46:58} 9... Nxd5 {0:51:02} 10. Nxd5
{0:44:45 This move put me out of book. It is probably the reason not many
black players like this as it leads to quick simplification. } 10... Bxd5
{0:49:02 I figured that I should punish white's last move and aim for a small
plus as black. In retrospect I should have just captured with the queen,
leading to an equal ending. } 11. Bf3 {!? 0:44:53} (11. O-O Be7 12. c4 $1
12... Be4 13. Nc5 Bf5 14. Bf3 {with some pressure.} ) 11... e4 {0:41:42 I
wasn't happy to make this move, which reduces the scope of my reminaing
bishop. I felt I had to as swapping on f3 gives white a nice development
advantage.} (11... Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Be7 13. Rd1 Qc8 {White has no clear way of
using his development advantage. This was the way I probably should have gone.}
) 12. Be2 {0:45:01} 12... Bd6 {?! 0:33:29 I agonised over where to put my
king's bishop- does it belong on d6 or e7. I wanted to play the most active
move, but I don't think this is best as it allows white to pressurise my
position.} 13. c3 {0:44:58 Threatening to capture on d5 and avoiding
13.Qxd5?? Bb4+, picking up white's queen. 13.c3 blocks the possible check on
b4.} 13... Be6 {0:25:13} (13... O-O 14. Qxd5) 14. Nc5 {0:42:23} (14. Nd4 {!
With advantage to white in the form of the bishop pair and a possible
long-term target on e4.} 14... Qe7 15. Nxe6 Qxe6) 14... Bxc5 {0:25:52} 15.
Bxc5 {? 0:43:03 White wins the bishop pair, but allows black a nasty double
attack.} 15... Qxd1+ {? 0:26:17 I was in equalising mode, realising that I
had been slightly worse. I played this move very quickly (<30 seconds) and
missed my chance for more!} (15... Qg5 {! Attacking g2 and c5.} 16. Ba3 (16.
Qd6 Rd8 $19 )16... Qxg2 17. Rf1 Qxh2 $17 { Black is 2 pawns up, but won't be
castling any time soon. } ) 16. Bxd1 {0:43:20} (16. Rxd1 $5 16... Bxa2
{White's development gives him full compensation for the pawn.} )(16. Kxd1 b6
$1 17. Ba3 (17. Be3 O-O {=} )17... O-O-O+ {=} ) 16... O-O-O {0:26:43} 17.
Be3 {0:41:30} 17... Ne5 {0:22:08} 18. O-O {0:37:38} 18... Bc4 {0:15:48
gaining a tempo for harassment.} 19. Re1 {0:36:11} 19... Nd3 {0:15:59} 20.
Bg4+ {0:34:25} 20... Kb8 {= 0:16:17 White has the 2 bishops, but black has a
very nice outpost on d3.} 21. Reb1 {0:32:10} 21... g6 {0:15:14 preparing f5
to cement the position of the knight, but making the remaining (queen's)
bishop worse.} (21... h5 22. Be2 Be6) 22. b3 {0:32:17} 22... Bd5 {0:15:48}
(22... f5 23. Be2 Ba6 24. Rd1 {Looks like trouble for black.} 24... Nc1 {!! A
computer move saves the day.} (24... Nc5 25. c4 {! Now black's bishop is very
bad.} (25. Bxc5 Bxe2))) 23. a4 {?! 0:30:24 A strange move which ties his own
rook down by weakening b3.} (23. Rd1 {! Pressurising the rook.} 23... Bc6
24. Be2 Ne5 (24... Rd7 {?! loses a pawn.} 25. Bd4)25. Bg5) 23... f5 {0:14:24}
24. Be2 {0:31:03} 24... Rhe8 {0:11:00} 25. Bxd3 {0:28:26} (25. Rd1 Bxb3)
25... exd3 {0:11:43} 26. c4 {0:27:03} 26... Be4 {0:10:53} 27. b4 {0:23:56}
27... d2 {0:07:38 Again, scrambling for equality after earlier inaccuracies.}
28. Rd1 {0:24:27} 28... Bc2 {0:08:20} 29. Rxd2 {0:24:54} 29... Rxd2
{0:08:42} 30. Bxd2 {0:25:37} 30... Re2 {?! 0:09:07 With the idea of putting
the bishop on a vulnerable square and going to e4 next. White can stop this
plan though!} (30... Re4 {= Was the original plan, and best.} 31. c5 Rd4 32.
Bc3 Rc4 33. Be1 a5 $1 34. bxa5 Kc7) 31. Bf4+ {0:24:49} 31... Kc8 {0:09:50}
32. h3 {0:23:29} (32. f3 $14 { This ending will be tough to win for white
with opposite-coloured bishops. However, having the rooks on does give black
some ways to go wrong.} ) 32... Re4 {= 0:10:22 Now the game is dead equal.}
33. Be3 {0:23:49} 33... Rxc4 {0:11:00} 34. Rc1 {0:22:44} {Game drawn by
mutual agreement} 1/2-1/2

Interesting game, I really enjoyed reading your thought process regarding the early game. You really prepared for your opponent and threw a curveball for others who want to look at your openings, a nice idea.

I think you handled the game pretty well, giving him 2 bishops may have been risky but I feel the knight on d3 was significant compensation and he would have to trade a bishop for it anyway.
I'm not sure about the move 22.Bd5, maybe the computer gives this as best, but I don't like blocking the file with the bishop. It is arguable that moves like Bb5 or Ba6 give white free tempo gaining moves with his pawns or maybe it makes the bishop inactive, however maybe some manouever like Ba6, b6 and Bb7 would work, I just like the idea of retaking with the rook if white ever captures the knight.

Other than that good game and good analysis, look forward to next weeks game

A bit late in my annotations, but here's round 3! Hopefully R4 will be up soon! I was rested for R2.


[Event "Team 45 45 League T54"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2012.08.30"]
[Round "3"]
[White "toukon"]
[Black "IshanR"]
[Result "0-1"]
[BlackElo "1883"]
[Classes "0"]
[ECO "D32"]
[GameID "0"]
[TimeControl "2700+45"]
[WhiteElo "1740"]

1. d4 {0:45:05} 1... d5 {0:45:41} 2. c4 {0:45:48} 2... e6 {0:46:23} 3. Nc3
{0:46:32} 3... c5 {0:47:05 Beginning the Tarrasch Defence- black accepts
structural weakness for dynamic play!} 4. cxd5 {0:47:14} 4... cxd4 {0:47:43
I had seen a Boris Altermann video on this gambit and fancied giving it a
shot. I think the gambit may even be sound!} 5. Qa4+ {0:47:56} (5. Qxd4 Nc6
6. Qd1 exd5 7. Qxd5 Bd7 {Transposes to the game.} ) 5... Bd7 {0:48:25} 6.
Qxd4 {0:48:39} 6... exd5 {0:49:05} 7. Qxd5 {0:49:23} 7... Nc6 {0:49:47} 8.
Nf3 {0:50:07} 8... Nf6 {0:50:27} 9. Qd1 {0:50:50} (9. Qb3 {!? Also looks
intesesting. I wonder why it is more rare than Qd1.} ) 9... Bc5 {0:51:06} 10.
e3 {0:51:33} 10... Qe7 {0:51:49} 11. Be2 {0:52:17} 11... O-O {!? 0:52:05
This move is somewhat less common than long castling. My opponent had played
so quickly that I figured he knew what he was doing which I didn't! I had seen
this in the Altermann video and fancied a punt.} (11... O-O-O 12. O-O g5 13.
b4 {[%t bLon] Is the main line- extremely sharp stuff! However I didn't fancy
meeting a booked up opponent in this line.}) 12. O-O {0:52:58} 12... Rfd8
{0:52:47 I was out of book here and continued playing rather quickly. This
move is fine, however.} 13. Qb3 {N 0:47:30 According to my book, a novelty. I
do not like this move too much as it is a one-move threat on the b7 pawn which
simply encourages black to redeploy his light-squared bishop. This is
somethine black wants to do anyway.} 13... Be6 {0:50:50} (13... Bf5 {May
have been marginally better- keeping more pressure on the e-file and placing
the bishop on a diagonal which may be more useful: contolling the light
squares on the white QS.} ) 14. Qa4 {0:46:47} 14... a6 {0:51:01} 15. Qh4
{0:45:48 White's queen has done quite a bit of running around, but now finds
herself on a useful square.} 15... Bf5 {0:48:40 Redeploying the bishop after
all. It would have been slightly better to complete the development first with
Rac8.} 16. b3 {0:41:54} 16... Ne5 {0:47:25 Noticing that the white queen
lacks squares, I use the opportunity to redeploy my knight to the kingside.
Again though, I think getting the queen's rook into play should have been the
priority.} 17. Bb2 {0:33:24} (17. Nxe5 $2 17... Qxe5 18. Bb2 Rd2) 17... Ng6
{0:46:34 Playing too quickly, it takes me a while to spot that his queen
threatens my f5-bishop when if it goes to g5.} 18. Qa4 {? 0:32:45 After
white's first think of the game he comes up with a stinker! The queen has no
squares here and white loses a piece for 2 pawns.} (18. Qg5 $1 18... Qe6
(18... Be6 $14 { is probably most sensible.} )19. Bc4 Qc8 20. Nh4 $1 $16 { } )
18... b5 {! } $17 { 0:46:35 Punishing the white queen for her escapades!} 19.
Qa5 {? 0:33:05 Taking just 25 seconds on this move to go from bad to worse! }
(19. Nxb5 axb5 20. Qxb5 $16 { Although material is nominally even here, I
believe black to be superior due to his better minor pieces. White's extra
pawns are not yet making their presence felt.} 20... Bd7 (20... Rab8)21. Bxf6
$5 21... gxf6) 19... Bb4 {! } $19 { 0:46:39 I have more time on my clock than
when I started and a winning advantage.} 20. Ba3 {? 0:28:30 In this line
black's bishop comes back for seconds!} (20. Qb6 Rd6 21. Nd5 Nxd5 $19 ) 20...
Bxa3 {0:47:06 With nasty threats of Bb2 and Bb4, followed by trapping the
queen.} 21. Rad1 {0:29:02} (21. Nd1 {? Removing the knight from both threats
may appear sensible, but the cowardly steed would be condemning his lady to
the sword.} 21... Bb4 22. Qb6 Rd6) 21... Bb4 {0:47:29} 22. Rxd8+ {0:29:24}
22... Rxd8 {0:48:05} 23. Qb6 {? 0:30:01 I guess white wanted to keep pressure
on the d8 rook, but this line offers absolutely no counterplay. White is now
swiftly crushed.} (23. Qxa6 Bxc3 24. Qxb5 Ne5 25. a4 Bd7) 23... Bxc3 {0:48:28}
24. Rc1 {0:30:41} 24... b4 {0:45:46 a6 cannot be saved, but the pawn on b4
and bishop on c3 restrict white's pawns and rook.} 25. Bxa6 {0:29:37} (25.
Qxa6 Ne5 26. Nxe5 Qxe5 {Isn't much better.} ) 25... Qd6 {!? 0:45:55 Forcing a
trade of queens- a very human move. This is not the computer's choice but I
like it.} 26. Qb7 { ? 0:29:52 This is not an offer that white can refuse!}
(26. Qb5 Bd3 27. Qxd3 Qxd3 28. Bxd3 Rxd3) 26... Be4 {! 0:46:20} 27. Qa7
{0:30:18} 27... Ra8 {! 0:46:54 White resigns. I played the early middlegame
too quickly and white could have got a small advantage if he'd have spotted
Qg5, but after Qa4? things just fell off the cliff for my opponent. After that
point I did well in spotting just how to step on his fingers to stop him
clinging on. A good first outing for this interesting gambit!} 0-1

What happened in round 2?

I was rotated out by my captain.

Aha! Well I'll look forward to all the non-rotated games. How about video recaps?- we could use an influx of non-Curtains vids around here.

Interesting opening. I think you played well up until 16..Ne5?! which looks logical, but doesn't work as intended (because of 18. Qg5). Better is 16..Rac8 17. Bb2 Ba3! exchanging White's strong bishop and putting pressure on the pawns.

Btw is this your final analysis or do you take a closer look for yourself?

Yeah, I keep meaning to make a video or 2 but never seem to get round to it. I need to order a new microphone too as mibe broke. I'm playing a tournament inJanuary which I'll definitely make videos for.

Yeah, I agree with your comment on Ne5. I'm not planning on analysing the game again, why do you ask?

You did not mention in your game 3 notes that instead of 10.e3?! better is 10.a3! The point is that if black answers 10...Qe7 white can develop his bishop outside the pawn chain with either 11.Bg5 or 11.Bf4. A sneeky point is that say 10...0-0 11. Bf4/Bg5 Qb6 12.e3 ignoring the threat Qxb2 13,Na4 and a trap has sprung.

The above is critical and you must know it if you intend to repeat this opening line, or you could just simply lose before your opponent has even begun to think for himself.

Ah yes, that old cheeky! That's the kind of motif you should be aware of in general though It comes up in so many positions that you should know to always check twice before munching that b pawn.

Just curious. The variations end a bit early for my taste, but everybody has his own annotating style, obviously. I did enjoy the commentary. Looking forward to future games!