Key,H - Comrie,R
Edin Div.2 WR v DS, 1st Feb 1999

1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Nc3!? This move order was explained by GM Paul Motwani, only two days previously in the 'Scotsman'. 3...d6 [3...d5?! 4.exd5 exd5 5.Bb5+ Bd7? 6.Qe2+ White wins a pawn] 4.d4 cxd4 5.Nxd4 Bd7 Developing one of the kside pieces is possibly better. 6.Bc4 a6 7.Be3 Nf6 I always find this position awkward. Black may play ...b5, ...b4, chasing away the Nc3 thus leaving the e4-pawn undefended. But Black is sometimes advised not to capture because of the loss of tempo, and there is a complicated line involving Bb6 which supposedly gives White a slight advantage. Pf3 is possible, but apart from the loss of tempo, it blocks the diagonal, because if everything goes to plan her Ladyship may end up on h5. 8.Qe2 b5 9.Bb3 The computers prefer Bd3. 9...e5?! I think this is iffy because it weakens the f7 diagonal. [9...b4 allows Black to win the e-pawn.] 10.Nf3 Best; but Nf5 is also playable. 10...Nc6?! This allows the old Ng5 trick, threatening f7. I completely overlooked it because I was beginning to think how I could play Nd5, then maybe Bb6. Black should have played ...Be7. 11.0-0-0?! missing Ng5 11...Na5?! 12.Bd5 Rc8 13.Ng5 Nxd5 14.Nxd5= White is ahead in development but the position is not as good as it looks; Black doesn't really have any weaknesses. 14...Be7? [14...Nc4=] 15.h4? I missed a good move, but I played this with the idea of Bb6 next move. [15.Bb6! Bxg5+ 16.Kb1 Black loses the Queen for two pieces.] 15...0-0?? It would not be an exaggeration to say that I saw the rest of the game here (apart from Black being silly and throwing away a piece).