[Event "BCCC 2018"]
[Site "Mechanics Institute"]
[Date "2018-06-07"]
[White "Robert Bailey"]
[Black "Cassandra Barnett"]
[WhiteElo "1481"]
[BlackElo "1138"]
[Result "0.5-0.5"]

{This is our first very match. Bas would call it 'historic' : D (C.B.)} 1.e4 {I sat down to play the dreaded Cook Conqueror with some measure of trepidation. I've watched Cassandra's rapid improvement carefully over time and found it remarkable that this was our first ever meeting. (RB)} c5! {I give this an exclamation mark as it came as a surprise; the preparation I'd done was for her Modern Defence which has been a hallmark of her play in recent times. Perhaps I'll save that for another time! What follows is around 8 moves of theory. (RB)} 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nb5 d6 6.N1c3 a6 7.Na3 Be7 8.Be3 b5 9.Nd5 Rb8! {This is about as far as my knowledge of the theory went - this moved proved very useful for Cassie's queen-side play.} 10.Qd2 Nf6 11.f3 O-O {One observation I'd make about Cassie's improved sicilian play in this game is that she fully developed her king-side pieces and castled. This was in contrast to her game against Kevin where full development wasn't quite achieved. (RB)} 12.O-O-O? {Not very good and too ambitious. Better was c3 to safeguard b4 and give the knight the c2 square, which is more in line with known ideas. (RB)} Nxd5 13.exd5 Na5 {Nd4 looks possible too. If I take on d4 and win the pawn, Bf6 makes a very strongly posted bishop for black. (RB)} 14.g4 Bd7 15.Bd3 b4 16.Nb1? {An ugly move - the only idea behind it was keeping material on the board long-term and a dubious plan to install it on e4. (RB)} Bb5! {A nice active move which really slows down white's progress. Cassie's good intuitive sense of knowing when to trade pieces is quite evident in this phase of the game. Qc7 looks like a decent alternative too, putting pressure on white's king (RB)} 17.Qf2 Bxd3 {Qc7 also looks strong. (RB)} 18.Rxd3 Nc4 19.Nd2 Nxe3 20.Qxe3 Bg5! {Another nice probing move; keeping white on his toes, gaining a tempo.  (RB)} 21.Qf2 f5 {I liked a5 here for black; creeping forward on the q-side. The opening of the g file is in white's interest. (RB)} 22.gxf5 Rxf5 23.Kb1 Bxd2! {Another good piece trade; anticipating white's attempt to seek activity for his awkward steed. (RB)} 24.Qxd2 Qh4? {Qf6 (C.B.) Most definitely Qf6 - target those weaknesses! (RB) Black has an edge here.} 25.Rg1 Rf4 26.Qg2 Qf6 27.Qh3 Re8 28.a3 {I consumed a lot of time to find a3; looking at Qd7 for some time which appears to be the better move. One can't neglect king safety though! (RB)} e4 29.fxe4 Rexe4? {Rfxe (C.B.) Yes, I think this is the better idea, doubling on the e file. Although, white is ok after Rf1. (RB)} 30.Qc8+ Qf8 31.Qxf8+? {Qxa (C.B.) A tired, insipid trade which relinquishes a chance to get an advantage. I didn't observe that the Queen was holding the critical f1 square. (RB)} Kxf8 32.axb4 Rxb4 {Black offered a draw. (C.B.)} 33.Rc3 {Finally my rook is somewhat active looking! But sadly I don't take full advantage of that activity, missing one final chance.  (RB)} Rb7? {Rbc3 (C.B.)} 34.Rc6 Rfb4 35.b3 R4b6 36.Rxb6?? {Missing the last chance to achieve doubled rooks on the seventh or eighth with Rf1+ and Rb8. This costly mistake and the next weak move gives Cass equality. (RB)} Rxb6 37.Re1 {I would say this is the best sicilian I've seen Cassie play to date. After realising my final inaccuracy, I offered a draw. (RB)} Rb5 38.Rd1 {Dead draw. Thanks for the game, Rob. (C.B.) good game CB you're getting better  at your chess you have improve (jb) Thanks, Jamie. (C.B.) A really long arduous game where I lost the thread several times due to Cassie's active punchy play. I was quite lucky to get the draw though I rue the missed chances at the end. I certainly look forward to our next meeting! Thanks for the game Cassie.*handshake* (RB)} {#d}