I have recently just returned from playing at the London Chess Classic, what an event! More on that later. To start with I thought that I would show a game that I had, with the Black pieces, against Robert Bellin.

I expect that most people reading this will know my love for the Dutch defence. Well the first book I ever read on this opening was by a certain character called Robert Bellin. His book, ‘The Classical Dutch’ was my bible against 1 d4.

In round four I found myself paired against Bellin with the Black pieces. An exciting prospect! It would have been rude not to play 1…f5 but the questions remained what would he play against the Dutch? Well there was only one way to find out!

1 Nf3 f5! There is no point being scared in Chess. Sometimes it is a good idea to be clever by surprising your opponent with a new opening but my choice of playing 1…f5 worked out perfectly here. I wanted to see what Belling had against his favourite opening! 2 d3!? This is a very dangerous choice and it has been played by Carlsen. White wants to play e4 which creates some pressure in the centre. Luckily I had an idea against this move. 2…d6 Aiming to meet e4 with …e5, I have wrote all about this in my book, ‘Play the Classical Dutch’ 3 e4 e5 4 Nc3 c5!?

An interesting plan that I saw Thomas Rendle once use. Black wants to stop White from ever playing d4. On the downside this does create a weakness on d5 and I do not believe that it solves all of Black’s opening problems. 5 g3 Be7 I played this in order to stop Nh4 which is annoying idea but I now get hit by another good idea. 6 Bh3!

A very good move. White takes aim at my light squares. Quiet development would have left me with an easy game. 6…g6 7 exf5

I had seen this coming and I was now worried about 7…gxf5 8 Nh4! which seemed dangerous to the health of my king, for example 8…Bxh4 9 Qh5+. So instead I played 7…h5!?

This move stops Qh5+. I am rather too fond on pushing my h-pawn, but what the hell! 8 Bg2? White would have played 8 Nd5 with an advantage. 8…gxf5 9 Bd2? This is too passive. Black has a space advantage but my pieces are behind in development. White should have played 9 h4. At least this takes control of the g5 square. 9…Nc6 10 Qe2 Nf6 11 h4 Be6 12 Ng5 Bg8 This keeps control of the d5 square. 13 f4

I was feeling very happy with my position here. As White’s king looked to be in some danger. My knights also take up some great squares. 13…Nd4 14 Qd1 Ng4! 15 Nd5

A peculiar position, just take a look at the knights! Shortly I will exchange my bishops off for White’s knights. This would be a good choice as White’s knights are clearly stronger than my bishop. I also had a nasty idea in mind… 15…e4!

Opening up lines towards White’s king. 16 dxe4 Bxg5 17 hxg5 Bxd5 18 exd5

A critical position. 18…Qe7+ looks obvious but is there a better move? 18…Qb6! I have to make it hard for White to castle and this moves does just that. I expect I am winning now. 19 c3 19 0-0 would run into 19…c4 when I was planning 20 Re1+

20…Ne2+ with a winning position, anyway back to the game. 19…0-0-0! 20 cxd4

The attack now plays itself, I just had to be a bit careful. 20…Rde8+ 21 Kf1 Qb5+ 22 Kg1

I was originally planning 22…Qd3 here but I could not see a win after 23 Be1 but then I found an easier option. 22…Qxb2! Threatening …Qxd4 and …Qf2++. White has only got one way to stop this. 23 Be1 Re2 24 Bf3

And now for a unique winning move. 24…Rh2! I am now threatening …Rxh1 …Qh2+ and then …Ne3++ White can not stop all the threats so he resigned. I was obviously very happy with the game, always nice to checkmate in under 25 moves!

I will do a video on another game very soon. For those of you who are interested the following link gives the final scores in the open.

http://www.londonchessclassic.com/festival_events/fide_rated_open.htm

Cheers for now!