1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb5 Nf6 6. Qe2!? >= 6. e5 Nd7 7. O-O 6... Be7 7. Bxc6+ >= 7. O-O! O-O (7... d4 8. Bxc6+ bxc6 9. Nd1+/=) 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. d3 c4!?~~ 7... bxc6 8. e5 8. d3!? 8... Nd7 9. b3?! >= 9. d3 9... O-O 9... >= Qa5! 10. Nd1 Ba6 11. c4 Nb6 12. Nb2= 10. O-O Qa5! 11. Nd1 11. Qe1!? 11... c4! 11... Ba6 12. c4 12. bxc4 dxc4?! 12... >= Ba6! 13. d3 (13. Ne3 Nb6 14. Qf2 Nxc4 15. d3 Nxe3 16. Bxe3 c5=/+) 13... dxc4 14. Be3~~ 13. Bb2 Ba6 14. Bc3! Qd5?! 14... >= Qa4 15. Ne3 Bc5 16. Kh1 Bxe3 17. Qxe3!? (17. dxe3+/=) 17... Qxc2 18. Nd4 Qd3 19. Nxc6+/= and most people thought White had a slight edge. 15. Nf2 15. Ng5!? 15... Rab8 16. Ng5 White begins to threaten on the kingside. Given a chance he could play Qh5 and Ng4 with devastating results. 16... h6 16... Nc5 17. Qh5 h6 17. Nge4+/= Bb4 18. Ng4!? >= 18. Rae1! was suggested by Massey, who thought White needs to build up his forces on the kingside before launching an attack. >= 18. Bxb4! was favored by Stoyko 18... Rxb4 19. c3 Rb2 20. Qe3+/= with better prospects in the ending. 18... Kh8!? and here Scott offered a draw, which I accepted. Though White has the much better game there is nothing immediate. And I was satisfied with a draw, giving me a tie for third place with Kernighan. There are a number of ways for White to try to press his advantage if he continues. Steve Stoyko's idea of exchanging Bishops is probably the best: 19. Bxb4! One way of trying for a direct attack on the king is 19. Qe3!? Be7 (19... Bc5 20. Nxc5 Qxc5 21. Bd4+/-) 20. f5! exf5 21. Rxf5 (21. Nef6!? Bc5! 22. Nxd5 Bxe3+ 23. Ngxe3 cxd5 24. Nxd5+/=) 21... Qe6 22. Raf1|^ Scott suggests that White simply build up his game with 19. Kh1!? Be7 20. Rae1 and, as he puts it, "what's Black gonna do?" 19... Rxb4 20. Qe3 20. Nd6!? 1/2-1/2 [Michael Goeller]