I woke up this morning with a rather dizzy head so what was the first thing that I did? Well turn on ICC of course! Sad but true! I try to stop myself from playing too much nowadays as I find it far too addictive and I don’t seem to achieve anything else in the day but I decided on trying out a couple of games.                                                                                         

To start I lost 2 games against Kharlov a strong Russian GM who I have beaten over the board in a tournament in Amsterdam but that is another story.

I prefer 3 minute chess as it requires minimum thinking. After these two loses I then played the next gem against a player known as ‘JamCat’.

Psycho-Cowboy(me)-JamCat

1 d4 Nf6 2 c4 g6 3 Nc3 Bg7 4 e4 d6 5 Nge2

I am quite found of this variation as White often gets a chance to launch his h-pawn up the board, which is a favourite weapon of mine. 5…0-0 6 Ng3 e5 7 d5 Nbd7 8 Be2 a5 9 h4

Here it comes! I am aiming at softening Black up on the kingside. 9…Nc5 10 h5 c6 11 Bg5 The most active square for my bishop. 11…Qc7?! The queen looks rather funny here and it does not really achieve anything on c7. 12 Qd2 Ne8 13 Bh6 f5

This opens up Black’s king but his position was difficult anyway. 14 hxg6 hxg6 15 exf5 gxf5 16 Qg5 Bd7?! Very calm! Black should be more concerned about looking after his king! 17 Nh5 Qd8 18 Qg6 Qe7

I had about 1min 30 left and my opponent roughly the same. I felt that there should be a finish somewhere and then I spotted it with 45 seconds left! A very beautiful finish it was too! 19 Bg5! Qf7 20 Qh7+!!

A good way to start the day!! 20…Kxh7 21 Nf6+ Kg6 22 Bh5+ Kxg5 23 Nh7+ Kh6 23…Kf4 24 g3++ 24 Bxf7++

I am off to play poker later so lets hope my luck runs that good!