(1) Chris Fieber - Ray Birt
Westport Open Westport Flea Market (4), 23.09.2007



1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5
One of two variations vs. the French that I don't ever worry about. The other is the Advance.

3...exd5 4.c4 Bb4+ 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.Nf3 0-0 7.Be2 Qe7 8.0-0
The pin may be broken, but White is still in a little danger here.

8...Re8 9.Bg5
A terrible mistake. Once the c3 Knight is removed, there is only one piece holding the Bishop on e2

9...Bxc3 10.Bxf6 gxf6
Fieber said he didn't expect this recapture.

11.Bd3 Ba5 12.Nh4 dxc4 13.Bc2
The need to keep pieces pressuring the busted up K-side is understandable. But this really doesn't help much.

13...Qe2 14.Qb1 Qh5 15.g3 Bh3
Here he had had enough. 0-1. Minimally, Black can pick up an exchange, or drive off the Knight with B-d2-g5. This round was Sunday morning. I'm a morning person. (RB) 0-1