Annotated chess game

Good game!

This moves looks so good at first glance that it is easy to see why the better move 27...Nc5 was overlooked. If 27...Nc5 28.Ra2 ... -(28.Nb1 Re1ch wins) 28...d3! with advantage to Black.

27...Nc5 was far better for black and undoes all the good work white has put in to escape defeat.

Instead, Black might have tried for more by 28...a5! 29.Nb1 Re1ch 30.Rxe1 Rxe1ch 31.Kh2 f6 with ...d3 and possibly ...b6 to follow. It was a good game, but one comes away with the impression that Black could have got more out of it...

28...a5 definitely maintains the chance of a win for black. I was indeed a good game but Jo should be sighing with relief and William reflecting on some missed opportunities I think. But, well done both of you for a game that made me study it from start to finish. What do you both think about my idea of 23...Re8e3?

The unusual Morra Gambit, if not played right, rather than help in the development of the center, can become complicated for white. In this case the black, with a great advantage and also well started to victory, gave a draw in which the white no longer hoped. 28. .... Rxa3 was the (wrong) decisive move. 28. ... a5 (followed by 29. NB1 Re1 + 30. Rxe1 Rxe1 31. Kh2 Kf8) was the best move. After this the white would have no more reason to continue.