[Event "BCCC 2026"]
[Site "Ballarat "]
[Date "2026-04-30"]
[White "Oppenheim, Tom"]
[Black "Song, Sam"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. Nf3 d5 {Although Reti is one of my most commonly used weapons as white, I
know close to zero theory as black. Nevertheless, d5 is the most principled
approach, inviting QGD and other queen's pawn variations, which are territories
I am more familiar with.} 2. d4 Nf6 {Always meet Nf3 with Nf6 in queen's pawn
games.} 3. Nc3 c5 4. dxc5 {dxc5 is playable, if white doesn't focus too much on
keeping that extra pawn.} 4... Nc6 5. e3 a6 $2 {This was a significant opening
mistake. I made a mistake with the variations. The b6 square is immediately
weakened and white should capitalise on it.} 6. Nd4 {Unfortunate miss} 6... e5
7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. g3 $2 Bxc5 {I  couldn't be more content with the position I
achieved out of the opening. I have gained the lost pawn back with better
development and a dominant centre.} 9. a3 a5 10. Bg2 O-O 11. O-O Re8 12. Bd2 Bd7
13. Re1 $6 (13. Rc1 a4 14. e4 d4 15. Ne2 Qb6) 13... a4 14. e4 $2 {I was very happy
to see this move, as white has almost lost all counterplay in the centre as well
as on the queenside.} 14... d4 $9 (14... Bxf2+ {A tactic that I've missed, didn't
even think that way.} 15. Kxf2 Ng4+ $1 16. Kf1 Qb6 $1) 15. Ne2 Qb6 {16....d3 is a
huge threat.} 16. Bb4 $2 Bxb4 $1 17. axb4 Qxb4 18. Rb1 c5 19. f4 $6 Ng4 20. fxe5 Ne3
{Considered 20....Nxe5/Rxe5, thought that Ne3 was more straightforward.} (20...
Nxe5 21. Nf4) 21. Qc1 {The only way to not lose the queen.} 21... Qc4 $6 {Thought
for a while here, I didn't want to simply retreat my queen, also wanted to delay
the trade on g2.} 22. c3 $6 Nxg2 {Looked into 23. cxd4 for white, I liked the
position after 23....Qd3 followed by 24....Qxe4 and 25....Bc6} (22... Nxg2 23.
cxd4 {-4.87} 23... Qd3 {-4.98} 24. Kxg2 {-5.41} 24... Qxe4+ $1 {-5.41} 25. Kf2
{-5.59} 25... Bc6 {Black is close to checkmate.}) (22... d3 $4 {Briefly
considered, it was not too appealing.} 23. Qxe3 dxe2 $1 24. Qxe2) 23. Kxg2 d3 24.
Nf4 {Decided between Rxe5 and Bc6 here, both appeared to be very strong.} 24...
Bc6 25. Qe3 Rxe5 26. Qxd3 Bxe4+ $19 {White is destined to lose an exchange with a
completely lost endgame, thus resigning.} (26... Qxd3 27. Nxd3 Bxe4+ $1 28. Kf2
Bxd3 29. Rxe5 Bxb1 $1 30. Rxc5 Kf8 {This also looked nice, but I thought
26....Bxe4 was cleaner.}) 0-1