OK here is the game. Time control is G/90 d5.
http://www.chessvideos.tv/chess-game....php?id=108816
Normally I'm not one to be psyched out by who my opponent is, but you have to admit there is some additional pressure playing an 8 year old wearing pajamas, in the form of embarrassment in the case of losing, or even drawing. Then he whips off 14 moves of the
Seville variation of the Grunfeld, including 14.Kxf1, which is only chosen over 14.Qxc1 by people who know what they are doing. And now I'm wondering if he's been working with Karpov or something.
Then he plays the unusual 15.Bxd4, and I'm thinking OK, back to reality. He memorized a bunch of theory but will likely blunder within a move or two now that he's on his own, but it didn't happen that way. He gives back a pawn, and then another, but finds a dangerous attack.
I only win because he gets greedy with 31.Bxb6, not seeing the follow-up tactic. He could have forced a draw with 31.Bg5 Qg4 32.Bxf6+ Rxf6 33.Qe7 Rxf5 34.Qe8+ Kg7 35.Qd7+ Kf6 36. Qd8+ Kg7 37.Qd7+ etc.
Sometimes I wonder if I should vary early when young players are so booked up, but I tend to rely on experience. After all, I've been playing this line 3 times longer than he has been alive.
Last edited by TimM; 12-02-2016 at 04:31 PM.