1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.0–0 Nxe4 <This is a surprise, and probably surprised Efimenko. I don't think Nigel's played the open Ruy Lopez with black before. Nigel's played the white side of an open Lopez 10 times (+3 –0 =7)> 6.d4 b5 7.Bb3 d5 8.dxe5 Be6 9.Nbd2 Nc5 10.c3 g6 < Korchnoi played this against Karpov (won) in their world championship match in Bagio city. Nigel here shows Korchnoi how to play the opening. Come to think of it, Nigel's come a long way in his chess career since he beat Korchnoi as a 10 year old in a simul.> 11.Bc2 <Karpov played 11 Qe2 in that game.> 11...Bg7 12.Re1 0–0 13.Nb3 Nd7 14.Bg5< This could be a new move.> 14...Qc8 15.Bf4 Ne7 16.Qd2 c5 17.Bh6 Qc6 18.Qg5 <Obviously threatening 19 Bxg7 Kxg7 20 Qxe7 >18...Rfe8 19.Bxg7 Kxg7 20.h4 <Not a new idea in this opening. White wants action on the kingside because black is already mobile on the queenside. The few games I've seen, this h4 pawn never seems to get going.> 20...a5< Continuing queenside play is the order of the day.> 21.a4 h6 22.Qf4 Reb8 23.Nbd2 b4 <Stops any counterplay by white with 23 axb5 Qxb5 24 Ba4> 24.c4 b3! <This move in conjuction with 25...Rb4 appears quite strong.> 25.Bxb3 Rb4 26.cxd5 Nxd5 27.Bxd5 Bxd5 28.Qe3 Nf8< Nigel is in no rush to regain his pawn just yet. He continues to put his pieces on strong squares.> 29.b3 Ne6 30.Rac1 Qb7 31.Rc3< So Nigel has his queen and bishop lined up on the a8-h1 diaganol, a strong rook on b4 controling central squares and hitting h4, and a knight on e6 blockading whites central pawn. All in all, nice manouevering by Short.> 31...Rd8 32.Rd3? <The resulting exchanges are better for black.> 32...Bxf3 33.Nxf3 <[33.Rxd8 Bxg2 34.Rd6 Rg4 35.f3 Bxf3+ 36.Kf2 Bd5 and black smashes open whites kings defences.]> 33...Rxd3 34.Qxd3 Rxb3 35.Qd1 Rb4 36.h5 g5 37.Qc2 Qc6 38.Ra1 Rg4 39.Qf5 Rf4 40.Qc2 Rg4 41.Qf5 Rf4 42.Qc2 Kg8 <Computers seem to like 42...Rxf3 but there's no need for heroics. It's probably much too risky to assess over the board. [42...Rxf3 43.gxf3 Qxf3 44.Qd1 Qh3 45.Qd5 Nd4 46.Qg2 Qxh5 47.Ra3 Qd1+ 48.Kh2]> 43.Qd1 Rb4< This has been the 'home' for this rook.> 44.g3?< Efimenko wants to stop the Nf4 invasion, but the queen invasion is more deadly> 44...Qe4 45.Nd2 Qxe5 46.Rc1 Qd5 47.Qc2 g4 48.Re1 Qxh5< Nigel's pieces have been in harmony throughout the game. A pleasure too watch> 49.Qd3 Rd4 50.Qe3 Ng5 <Threatening 51...Rxd2> 51.Qe8+ Kh7 52.Re2< [52.Nb3 Nf3+ 53.Kf1 Qh1+ 54.Ke2 Qxe1#]> 52...Rxd2 0–1

Bravo Nigel!! The perfect way to hit back after a loss. An astonishing display of flawless attacking chess. Chess authors should use this game as a perfect example of pieces working harmoniously together. Your rook on b4 controling central squares and attacking the a4 and h4 pawns, your queen and bishop dominating the long diaganol, your blockading knight ready to pounce into action via d4, f4 or g5. So enjoyable to watch the game unfold into a unstoppable attack.

Efimenko's attempted kingside play never materialised, whilst your queenside play was devastating.

In fact it is even better for Black, as the game will go: