1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 c5 4.d5 b5 I chose not to differ from our previous game and repeated the Blumfeld Gambit. 5.Bg5 [ 5.dxe6 Is the main line to accept the gambit, but I guess Morgan did not want to differ either.] 5...Qa5+ 6.Qd2 Qxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 [ 7.Nfxd2!? This move is not the most obvious, nor is it the most natural, but it is nonetheless effective as white's knights are better placed on d2 and c3 to support the center and possibly allow an f-pawn push later on.] 7...bxc4 8.e4 Bb7 9.Bxf6 gxf6 10.Bxc4 Na6 11.0-0-0 [ 11.Nb3 Intending to try and take advantage of black's temporarily unorganized pieces on the queen-side with Na5, fails to 11...Nb4, where immediate pressure is applied to white's center, and black will play a5 next.] 11...Nc7 12.Rhe1 [ 12.Nb3!? This is white's best possible try for an improvement to both this game and our last in California. 12...f5! 13.Na5 ( 13.d6 fxe4 14.Nxc5 ( 14.Ng5 Bd5!~~) 14...exf3 15.Nxb7 Rc8 16.Kb1 ( 16.dxc7 Rxc7-/+ 17.Na5 Bb4) 16...fxg2 17.Rhg1 Rg8 with unclear chances) 13...fxe4 14.Nxb7 exf3 15.d6 fxg2 16.Rhe1 Rc8 17.dxc7 Rg8! This move is important to prevent white from forcing trades. For example after: Rxc7 ( 17...Rxc7 18.Nd6+ Bxd6 19.Rxd6 Rg8 20.Rg1 Ke7 21.Rd2 d5 22.Bd3 f5 23.f3+/= white should win with correct play) 18.Rg1 d5 19.Bb5+ Ke7=/+ followed by Bh6-f4] 12...d6 13.Nf1 Griffiths decides to be the first to break off. This was probably a smart decision, for it is done at a favorable point. Morgan became aware that the white knight would be needed on the kingside more than the queenside [ 13.Nb3 Was our last meeting and it followed: 13...a5 14.a4 Ke7 15.Nh4 Ba6 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 17.g3 Bh6+ 18.f4 Rb8 19.Nd2 Rab6 20.Nc4 Rb4 21.Nxa5 Kd7 22.Nc6 Rc4+ 23.Kb1 Rb6 24.a5 Rb7 25.a6 Rb6 26.a7 Ra4 27.dxe6+ fxe6 28.Nb8+ Kc8 29.e5 fxe5 30.fxe5 d5 31.Rf1 Rxa7 32.Nd7 Kxd7 33.Rf7+ Kc6 34.Rxh7 Be3 35.Ng6 Bd4 36.Rd2 Rb8 37.h4 Rab7 38.Ne7+ Kb5 39.Ng6 Ka4 40.Kc1 Be3 0-1 Griffiths-Rensch, Western Class Championships, Los Angeles, California 2003] 13...h5?! [ Better was 13...Bh6+ 14.Kb1 Rg8 15.g3 This move is necessary to carry out the only real plan for white, to advance his kignside pawns, gaining space, and eventually breaking through with e5. ( 15.Ng3 Ke7 Here white would have problems developing a plan because his knight blocks the g3-pawn, which prevents him from supporting any kind of f-pawn advance.) 15...0-0-0 16.N3d2 Rge8 with pressure on the center. Possibly pawn f5 could come soon.] 14.g3 Continuing with the plan of f4. 14...Bh6+ 15.Kb1 0-0-0 16.Nh4 f5! The unexpected shot that Morgan missed! Although the timing had not been right to strike, I had been preparing this shot from move 11. I was aware, since move 11, that simply sitting would only help white, and allow him to prepare his break of e5, or fix my weak doubled pawns with f5 [ 16...Rhe8!? Simply asking white the question of how to defend the d5 pawn.] 17.dxe6 [ 17.exf5 exd5 18.Bd3 Rde8=/+ followed by Bg5-f6 where black's position is very solid because of his dominating center and the dynamic power of the waiting bishop pair, sitting and biding their time for the position to open; 17.f3 fxe4 18.fxe4 Rhe8=/+] 17...Bxe4+ 18.Rxe4 White must sacrifice the exchange or accept a pawn down forever worse (nearly losing) position. 18...fxe4 19.e7 [ 19.exf7? d5-/+ white will lose his only compensation, the f7-pawn, and then the game] 19...Rd7 20.Bxf7 Rxe7 21.Bxh5 d5? [ 21...Rd8! The simple and obvious move that will let black retain, at the minimum, a slight pull. The reason for missing such a move is purely psychological and, I believe, a common error, especially for amatuers. I missed this move because my feelings were too accurate. I know the first thing that you would ask now is, "How is it possible to blunder because your feelings, or intuition, were too accurate?" What I mean by this statement is that when I first started this combination of pawn f5 back on move 16, I had calculated enough to know that this combination was not losing; then, as it does for all players to different degrees depending on their level of skill, my feeling or intuition for the position took over. As soon as it did, the combination felt good and ripe to play at the time; therefore, naturally, I began to check and recheck everything I had just calculated to be sure that I was not blundering. Once I was sure I delved into the combination armed with my accurate analysis and a great feeling of calm as every chess player gets, almost as if the position was playing itself. But this is exactly where I, and everyone of you chess players who can relate to what I am saying, went wrong. My confidence of the position, although not faulty, got in the way of my ability to evaluate the position clearly. Although it was just as my intuition had predicted, my original calculation or move I had intended to play in this particular position (21..d5?) was inacurate. So long story short, I think the lesson or moral to be learned here is this: Calculate your combinations accurately, making sure that there are no blunders being missed, trust your feelings or intuition to be accurate, but, and I can not stress this enough, do not let them get in your way or fog your ability to asess each individual position as it appears with a fresh look. Now, I know this method is much easier said then done, but think of it this way: Your intuition was correct and you have not blundered so far. Next, as every new move appears, force yourself to have the patience to wait and recheck it impartially, because a little extra thought will not take away from that confidence of you feeling for the position and can only build and refurnish it, confirming your original thoughts... 22.Nf5 Re6 23.Bg4 ( 23.f3 e3 24.f4 Bxf4 ( 24...d5!?=/+ with two passed pawns) 25.gxf4 e2 26.Bxe2 Rxe2=/+) 23...Kb7 24.h4 d5=/+] 22.Ng6 The obvious threat I overlooked 22...Rhh7 After playing this move I offered a draw pretty much knowing he would accept. Although black and white both still have winning chances here, I believe white should be much better with correct play, and because of the team situation, I knew my team could not afford for me to play selfishly and eventually risk a serious chance of losing. 1/2-1/2