2017 Land of the Sky XXX Round 5 Garret Allen, 1853 - Anton Taylor, 1916 Dutch Defense (B80)

2017 Land of the Sky XXX Round 5 
Garret Allen, 1853 - Anton Taylor, 1916 
Dutch Defense (B80)

1. d4 f5 2. Bg5 Nf6 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. c4 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 c5 I didn't remember the book line against Bg5 but I felt the position before this move was fine. I spent a good bit of time here debating all of the options. It seems that there is no consensus among masters in the position either. Truthfully it is quite bad for Black. the most common move is the lackluster O-O which leaves nothing resolved and surrenders to white to decide things. 6. e3 Nc6 

This move does not appear anywhere in the database but I like the energy of it. It is probably an over-ambitious treatment but the method to take advantage of the move seems difficult for white to choose. How should he respond? 7. Ne2 Qe7 At the time this seemed like an interesting way of continuing to play against the white center. Now I am not so sure. the main problem is Black's d-pawn. This may be an argument for playing d5 on turn 5. 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 d6 10. Nf4 O-O 11. g3 Bd7 12. Bg2 Na5 13. Bd5+ Kh8 14. Qh5 (14. h4! Be8 15. h5 h6 16. Qf3 Rb8 17. Ne6 and Black is completely lost) 14. ... Qe8 15. Qe2? This is the losing move. The best option was the trade of queens. 15. ... Rb8 16. O-O b6 17. Qc2?

White continues to miss the right plan and this move is completely pointless. I was very happ to see this and now I have my turn to find the right plan. 17. ... g5! 18. Ng2 Be6 19. h4 Bxd5 20. cxd5 Qe4 21. Qxe4 fxe4 22. hxg5 fxg5 23. dxc5 bxc5 24. Rfb1 Nc4 25. a4 Nd2 26. Rb5 a6 27. Rxb8 Rxb8 28. Ne1 Rb1 29. Rxb1 Nxb1 30. Nc2 Nxc3 31. Na3 Nxa4 32. Nc4 Nc3 33. Nxd6 Nxd5 34. Nxe4 c4 35. Kf1 a5 36. Ke2 a4 37. Kd2 a3 38. Kc1 c3 39. Kb1 h6? After this Black's decisive advantage is slowed down but he is still completely winning. The simple h5! ends things. 40. g4 Kg7 41. Nc5 Nb4 42. Nb3 a2+ 43. Ka1 c2 44. Nc1 Kf7 45. f4 h5 46. gxh5 g4! and white throws in the towel with the impending pawn promotion. 0-1