It was a 2nd round of the Thursdays tournament, played 3 weeks ago, before my vacation break. I got a high rated boy, lost to him half a year ago and as I found later also 5 years ago. I had Black and played Queen’s Indian Accelerated. We followed the book until the move 10, then book recommends 10… Qh4, I didn’t know that.

The move is a bit tricky, as it contains a trap, inviting White play 11. g3 instead of the right f3, then 11… Nxd2 and if 12. gxh4 then 12… Nf3+ 13. Kg2 Nxd4+ 14. Be4 Bxe4 15. Qxe4 cxd4 and Black has an advantage. He prepared and executed e4 and then played 18. Rf2 which looked somewhat scary to me, but in reality was an inaccuracy. I really didn’t like the perspective of him pressing on f6 and thought that I have to play g5, noticing that I will have Nh5 after it.

After a few moves the position simplified, I started to feel comfortable. Then he offered the queens exchange and right after it he suddenly offered a draw. I agreed right away, though on the way back home I thought that maybe I had some advantage. To the contrary computer said that the position was only -0.30 and all the shootouts ended up in a draw.