1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 e6 3. g3

John Gibson, ICJ 8/89: Tony (Irish Champion over-the-board in 1975) does not use opening books but prefers to work out lines himself. This policy suits him and since he never lost an international CC game until the 1990s this policy was quite successful for him. Opening specialists would play 3 b3 to render less effective continuations with ... dxc4 and also to assist the play against an early ...b5.

3... Nf6

Black can equalise by 3... dxc4 4. Bg2 Be7 5. Qa4+ Nd7 6. Qxc4 a6 or(6... c5 7. O-O b6) 7. O-O b5

4. Bg2 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4

Tony favours the Catalan rather than the English/Reti line 6 b3.

6... dxc4?!

Gibson: Not best. If Black wishes to capture the c4-pawn he should delay ... Be7 and capture on move 4 when the Qc2 idea is not viable.

6... Nbd7

6... c5

7. Qc2! a6 8. a4 b6

8... Nbd7 9. Nbd2

8... Nc6 9. Rd1 Na5 10. Nbd2 b5 11. axb5 axb5 12. b3!

9. Ne5 Ra7 10. Rd1 Bb7 11. e4 Nc6 12. Nxc6 Bxc6 13. Nc3 Ba8 14. d5!?

A. O'D: I haven't seen any games with this. It seems logical to prevent ...c6.

14... e5

14... exd5 Better is 15. exd5=

15. Qe2 Bc5 16. h3 Nd7 17. Qxc4 Qe7 18. Rb1 Bb7 19. b4 Bd6 20. Bd2! Raa8 21. Rdc1 Kh8 22. Nd1 Rfc8

Black changes plans

22... f5 After 23. exf5 Rxf5 24. Ne3 Rf7 followed by ...Raf8, Black has a slightly inferior position.

23. Ne3 g6 24. h4 c6 25. dxc6 Bxc6

25...Rxc6 meets the same sacrifice as in the game.

25... Rxc6 meets the same sacrifice.

26. Nd5 Qf8 27. Qxc6! Rxc6 28. Rxc6 Kg7 29. Bh3 Nf6? 30. Nxf6 Kxf6 31. Rd1!

The inescapable threat is Rxd6+.

1-0 [Gibson/O Duill]