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| This was a team match between the captains of Southern Chess and the New York Lovers. My good friend Janis played his usual great game against me, but this time I had enough to hold on for the win. For the record, manhattan's record against me is an awesome 13-5-4. | 
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| 1. d4 
 | My standard. | 
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| 1... Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 a6 
 | Unorthadox, but solid. | 
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| 4. Nf3 h6 
 | More defensive posturing. | 
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| 5. e4 d6 
 | Black has committed himself to defending, and hopes to counter-attack later on. | 
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| 6. Bd3 Nc6 7. a3 
 | 0-0 was probably better. I made this move to prevent Nb4 saving my light squared bishop from moving again. | 
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| 7... Bd7 8. h3 
 | Now I get defensive......my ex-wife used to say that about me all the time.........:) | 
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| 8... Be7 9. Be3 O-O 10. O-O 
 | And we are both developed and castled........ | 
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| 10... e5 
 | Black starts the fighting........ | 
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| 11. d5 
 | With hopes of doubling his pawns after 11...Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Bxd4. | 
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| 11... Na7 
 | Janis is far too crafty for that..........I can see he is wanting to expand on the queenside........ | 
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| 12. b4 
 | So I step up....... | 
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| 12... c6 13. a4 cxd5 14. cxd5 
 | The c file is now up for grabs...... | 
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| 14... b6 
 | ? The telling move of the game. I don't know if black saw me capturing a6 or not. This weakness will be exploited severely for the next 49 moves (the rest of the game). | 
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| 15. Bxa6 Nc8 
 | I think he realizes his error........ | 
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| 16. Bd3 
 | White's light squared bishop retreats back to where he was, and my mindset is to start eliminating everything in sight - pressing my new found pawn advantage into a quick endgame. manhattan is no pushover though, and he struggles fiercely to resist. | 
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| 16... Qc7 
 | Staking a claim on the c file....... | 
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| 17. Qb3 
 | Protecting my knight, and setting up to load the c-file. | 
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| 17... Bd8 18. Rfc1 Qb7 19. b5 Ne7 
 | This knight continues to try find a place to live. | 
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| 20. Ne2 Ng6 
 | I'm thinking black wants to start a riot on the kingside. | 
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| 21. Nd2 Bc7 22. Nc3 Rfc8 23. Nc4 Ne8 24. Na2 
 | Preparing Nb4 and pushing on the queenside..... | 
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