Anthony came into this game knowing that a win would take him back over 2000 restoring him to an expert.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.g3 c5 4.d5 Bg7 5.Nc3 0-0 6.Bg2 d6 7.Nf3 Na6 8.0-0 Bd7 9.h3 Rb8
Ratko is thematically going after the b7-b5 thrust to gain play on the queenside.
10.Nd2 Nc7 11.a4 a6 12.a5 b5 13.axb6 Rxb6 14.Nb3 Rb4
This is an odd decision by Ratko as it places the rook where it can be harassed later costing black precious time.
15.Na5 Na8 16.Qc2 h6 17.b3 Qc7 18.Bd2
Here we see the time that Black must spend retreating the rook.
18…Rbb8 19.Nc6
This is a very nice move by Anthony that gives him a strong passed pawn supported by the bishop on g2 and the move secures the bishop pair for white.
19…Bxc6 20.dxc6 Qc8 21.Rab1 Nc7 22.Nd5 Nfxd5 23.cxd5 Nb5 24.Qe4 Re8 25.b4 Bc3 26.Bxh6 cxb4
Here Anthony finds the exchange sacrifice that is also suggested by Rybka 3 and eliminating Ratko’s dangerous connected passed pawns.
27.Rxb4 Bxb4 28.Qxb4 Qf5 29.Qh4 Qc2 30.e3 Nc3 31.Kh2 Qd3 32.e4 Rb4
Threatening Nxe4 or Nxd5 using the pin on the queen.
33.Rc1 Nxd5 34.c7 Nb6 35.Be3 Nc8 36.Qg5 Qb5 37.Qg4 a5 38.h4 e6 39.Bd2
Here Anthony lures the black rook to b2 to set up a future threat.
39 … Rb2 40.Be3 a4 41.e5!!
41…Qxe5 42.Bd4 Qe2 43.Bf3 Qd2 44.Bxb2 Qxf2+ 45.Bg2 Qxb2 46.Qxa4
An excellent move that threatens to win 2 pieces making Qc1 impossible!
46...Kf8 47.Rf1 Qb6?
This blunder gives White the game. 47...Re7 gives equality.
48.Qd7 Re7??
This move drops the night on c8. Note that on 48 f5 then Bc6 forces Re7 again allowing 49. Qxc8+ . Additionally, Ratko was down to under 2 minutes on his clock for the last few moves of this game.
49.Qxc8+ Kg7 50.Rc1 Qb2 51.Qd8
1-0
A selection of games can be found here.
You can download a .PDF version of Jacob's very cool Round 3 tournament bulletin here. Also take a look at Jacob's blog, http://chesscoachfortuna.blogspot.com/.
You can find tournament director (and tournament winner!) Tony Nichol's Lansing Chess Club blog article here.