[Event "Spielvogel 2026"]
[Site "Ballarat"]
[Date "2026-02-28"]
[White "Scott Stewart"]
[Black "CM Declan Smith"]
[WhiteElo "0"]
[BlackElo "0"]
[Result "0-1"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 a6 
7. O-O Nf6 8. Qe2 Bg4 9. Rd1 e6 10. Bf4? 
{The first error of the game was played by me. I had already misplayed the opening—not terminally—and was trying to protect e5, but the attack that was coming after the next move scared me into admitting defeat and moving the bishop again.} 
(10. h3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Be7 12. Bf1) 
10... Nh5 11. Bg5 
(11. Bg3 Nxg3 12. hxg3 h5 {This looks very strong for Black.}) 
11... Qxg5 12. Nxg5 Bxe2 13. Bxe2 Nf4 14. Bf1 h6 15. Nf3 Be7 
16. Rac1 
{White has nothing for the gambit and Black begins to apply the screws, poking and prodding, applying the clamps.} 
16... Rc8 17. g3 Ng6 18. a3 O-O 19. Ne1 
{Rerouting the knight to help prevent d5. I am playing only for the half point now and trying to make life as difficult as I can for as long as possible.} 
19... Na5 20. Na4 Nb3 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Nb6 Rc6 23. Nc4 b5 
24. Ne3 
{I got a knight to e3 but not the languishing donkey sitting on e1. White is in full turtle mode but managing to hold the ship.} 
24... Bf6 25. Nd3 Ne5 26. Nb4 Rb6 27. Kg2 {Holding f3.} 
27... a5 28. Nbc2 Nd7 29. Ng4 Be7 
(29... Bxb2 {Is of course met by Rb1.}) 
30. Nd4 Nxd4 31. Rxd4 h5 32. Ne3 Bf6 33. Rd2 Nc5 34. f3 Kf8 
35. Rc2 a4 36. Kf2 Ke7 37. Ke2 Kd7 38. Bg2 Nb3 
39. Kd3 Rc6 40. Rxc6 Kxc6 41. Nd1 Kc5 42. f4 Na5 
43. Kc2 Bd4 44. h3 f5 45. exf5 exf5 46. Bf3 g6 
47. g4 hxg4?? 
{Lets White activate his bishop and balance the game with counterplay.} 
(47... fxg4 48. hxg4 h4 {The winning idea was to add the outside passed pawn to the equation.}) 
48. hxg4 Nc4 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. Bb7 Nb6 51. Bg2 Nd5 
52. Bh3 Ne7 53. Kd3 Bg7 54. Nc3 Bxc3 55. bxc3 Nd5 
56. Bxf5 Nxf4+ 57. Kc2 Nd5 58. Bd3 Ne3+ 59. Kb2 Nc4+ 
60. Ka2 Kd5 61. Bg6 Ne5 62. Be8 Kc4 63. Kb2 Nd3+ 
64. Kc2 Nf4 65. Kd2 Kb3 66. Bxb5 Kxa3 
67. Ke3 
{I went for the idea of sacking my bishop on a4 and attempting to trade pawns, but it was the wrong choice. I overlooked this beautiful box I had for his king.} 
(67. Kc2 67... Nh3 68. Bc6 Nf4 69. Bd7 Ng2 70. Bc6 Ne3+ 71. Kd3 Ng4 
72. Kc2 Ne5 73. Be8 Nc4 74. Bd7 Ne3+ 75. Kd3 Nd5 76. Kc2) 
67... Nd5+ 68. Kd4 Nc7 69. Kc4 Nxb5 0-1