40th Olympiad 2012 Open1 Istanbul
(4), 31.08.2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.Nf3 Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 d6 8.0–0 e5 9.Nd2 0–0 10.Rb1 b6 11.Qc2 exd4 12.exd4< Novelty 12 cxd4 has been played before>. 12...h6 13.Ne4 Bb7< [13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Nxd4 15.Qb2 Nc6 16.Nxf6+ Qxf6 17.Qxf6 gxf6 18.Bxh6 Re8 Which is better for white] >14.Rd1< Threat is 15 dxc5 dxc5 16 Nxc5 >14...cxd4 15.Ba3 Nxe4 16.Bxe4 Na5 17.Bxb7 Nxb7 18.cxd4 Qc7 19.Rbc1 Rfe8 20.Qa4 Re4 21.h3 Na5 22.Qb5< With the idea 23 Qd5 >22...Rd8 23.c5 d5 24.Re1 Qc6 25.Qxc6 Rxe1+< [25...Nxc6? 26.Rxe4 dxe4 27.d5 Ne5 28.c6 ]> 26.Rxe1 Nxc6 27.cxb6 axb6 28.Rb1 Ra8 29.Rxb6 Nxd4 30.Bb2 Nc2 31.Rc6 Nb4 32.Rd6 Rxa2 33.Bc3 Nd3 34.Rd8+ Kh7 35.Rxd5 Nxf2 36.Rd4 Re2 37.Kf1 Re3 38.Kxf2 Rxc3 39.Rd7 <Nigel's fought well to be a pawn up in the endgame, but a draw was always the anticipated outcome from here.> 39...Kg6 40.Rd4 f5 41.Rd6+ Kg5 42.Rd7 g6 43.Rd6 f4 44.Rd5+ Kh4 45.Rd6 Rg3 46.Rf6 Kg5 47.Rf8 Rb3 48.Rf7 h5 49.Rf8 Rb2+ 50.Kf3 Rb3+ 51.Kf2 Rb5 52.Kf3 Rf5 53.h4+ Kxh4 54.Rxf5 gxf5 55.Kxf4 ½–½

Nigel had to be wary of a few opening tricks, but parried any threats, and even won a pawn in the endgame, but not enough momentum to trouble the Frenchman

A solid game from Nigel, without too much 'fire on board' but an interesting game nontheless for the England fans, who were hoping Nigel's extra pawn and advanced king, may just break through.

So a 2-2 draw with the strong French team keeps the momentum going.