Hoback, Benjamin(1844)
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Ralls, Richard(2137)
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1.d4f52.Nc3Nf63.Bg5d54.f3!?...A combative approach! My instinct would be more positional:4.Bxf6exf6(4...gxf6?5.e4!+−)5.e3with play against the weakened pawn structure.4....e6?!Better is4...c55.e4Nc65.e4Be76.e5Nfd77.Bxe7Qxe78.f4O-O9.Nf3a6?!±9...c510.Nb5Nc611.c3cxd412.cxd4Nb613.Nd6Rb8and Black is slightly better off than after the text.10.Qd2c511.O-O-ONc612.Rg1...Announcing his intended target: the king!12....cxd413.Ne2Nc514.Nexd4Ne415.Qe3Bd716.g4fxg417.Rxg4g6?!This may look helpful now, but it turns out badly later!18.Bd3Nc5?+−18...Nxd419.Nxd4b520.Bxe4dxe421.Qxe4+−White has a clear advantage, but Black is still in the fight. The text is exactly what White was playing for.19.Bxg6!hxg620.Rxg6+Kf721.Rdg1Ke822.Rg7Rf723.Rg8+Rf824.R1g71-0 White wins.1-0