1.Nf3 f5
My performance in the futurity had been inconsistent to this point. I had lost my first two games, won the next two, then lost the next three, and one round had been eliminated due to Klemm's withdrawal. Before this game began, I knew I had to win my last three to break even. I nearly did it, scoring 2.5 in the last three rounds. This game was my only draw of the tournament, but perhaps the most important half-point I have ever scored. Psychologically I needed to turn the corner on my losing streak, and on my opening repertoire as well. This was the first FIDE-rated game in which I discarded my Fischer openings (Sicilian Najdorf, King's Indian, etc.) in favor of trying something different. I did the same thing with success two rounds later against Walker. I felt that one of the reasons I was 2-5 was that my opponents, having a week to prepare for me, were killing me in the openings because they knew in advance which variations I liked to play.
2.g3 b6 3.Bg2 Bb7 4.O-O Nf6 5.b3 e6 6.Bb2 Be7 7.d4 O-O 8.c4 Qc8 9.Nc3 Ne4 10.Qc2
After the game, Valvo suggested 10.d5 as a better try. The game Schmidt-Augustin, Halle 1976 proceeded 10.d5 Bf6 11.Nd4 Nxc3 12.Bxc3, and now ECO gives 12...Na6 with the idea of ...Nc5 as +/=.
10...d6 11.Rad1 Nd7 12.Ne1 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 Bxg2 14.Nxg2 Nf6 15.f3 d5
Now that Black's light-squared bishop has been exchanged, this move can be played without any worries about a problem bishop.
16.Qd3 Bd6 17.Bd2 Qd7 18.Bf4 Bxf4 19.Nxf4 g5 20.Nh3 h6 21.Nf2 Rad8?!
More accurate was 21...Kg7.
22.e4 fxe4 23.fxe4 Nxe4 24.Nxe4 Rxf1+ 25.Kxf1 dxe4 26.Qxe4 Qf7+ 27.Kg2, draw.
White is slightly better in the final position because of Black's weak e-pawn, but Black can defend.
{This article originally appeared in Atlantic Chess News in 1992}
