1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. h4 I was determined to grab the spotlight from Dave Stuttard; surely there was no way he could match this? Well, unfortunately, there was! This was the night that Dave chose to launch his sensational new anti-fianchetto counterattack. His game (Black v Frank Ryan) started 1.b3 e5 2.Bb2 d5! 3.Bxe5 d4! (the end of the fianchetto) 4.Nf3 c5 and eventually 0-1. For those amongst you struggling to come to terms with this method of play, let me sum it up by saying that Black's lack of development and pawn minus ensured that he would have to play very actively. 4... Bg7 5. h5 Nxh5 6. cxd5 This type of position is one of the ideas of 4.h4 White hopes to set up a central preponderance that will stifle Black's play. Black does not have to fall into this of course (4...h6, 4...c6 and 4...c5 for example are all reasonable alternatives). 6... O-O 7. e4 c5 8. dxc5 Qa5 9. Nge2 Na6 illicits another pawn move from White but this Knight finds it difficult to join in the action from here. 10. a3 f5?! very loosening but 10...Qxc5 11.Be3 is somewhat better for White. 11. Be3 f4 12. b4 Qc7 12...fxe3 13.bxa5 exf2+ 14.Kd2 Nxc5 (say) when Black will have some fun but White will surely have the point. 13. Bd4 e5 14. Nb5?! I was rather pleased with this at the time but 14.dxe6 was probably best 14.. . Bxe6 15.Nd5 would seem to force 15...Bxd5 and my pawn centre is massive but the open e file was a little worrying. All in all it must be good for White and if you are not sure look at the Knight on a6. 14... Qd7 15. Bc3 Qxb5 15...f3! was the move I missed 16.gxf3 Qxb5 17.Ng3 Qe8 17.Nxh5 gxh5 is unclear at best from White's point of view. 16. Nxf4 Qxf1+ This time 16...Qe8 17.Nxh5 gxh5 18.Qxh5 Qxh5 19.Rxh5 is very comfortable for White: 3 pawns and pressure for the piece: however the 3 pieces are never enough for the Queen: White's big centre is still the key factor. 17. Kxf1 Rxf4 18. Qd3 Bd7 19. c6 bxc6 19...Raf8 20.Rxh5 mops up fairly quickly. 20. dxc6 there are many wins from now on. 20... Bc8 21. Rd1 Rf7 22. Qd8+ Rf8 23. Qd5+ Rf7 24. Bxe5 Bg4 25. f3 Bxe5 26. Qxe5 Nc7 27. Kg1 Be6 28. Rxh5 I've been itching to play this since move 6 or so, here it just simplifies the winning process. 28... gxh5 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Rd8+ Rxd8 31. Qxd8+ Kg7 32. Qd4+ Kg6 33. Qxa7 h4 34. f4 Nb5 35. f5+ Kf6 36. Qc5 All very convincing, but just two weeks later John gained revenge but that's another story. 1-0 [JCarleton]