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Cascla (K'=|Q=) or (<<'=|>>=): White castles first on the Kingside, Black castles Queenside, game is drawn.
Ron Brice of Hamilton was a regular player in Ontario events for over 20 years, and reached a peak rating of 2237. I met him several times, and always found him a very tough competitor. In this last-round game from an EOCA Grand Prix Kingston Open, Ron was in the hunt for a top place, while I was needing a win to make the prizes. Some highly original opening play by Black against Ron's favorite Botvinnik System in the English was followed by a middlegame where Black sacrificed first a pawn, and then a piece, for strong Kingside attacking chances. Black may have missed possible wins, but Ron, down material after giving up his Queen, found an exceptional fortress defence in the endgame (R+B vs Q) to hold the draw! Ron and I played an even more dramatic game in the Ontario Open at Brantford a few weeks later, which he won, but for which I have unfortunately misplaced my scoresheet, so if Ron is reading this, perhaps he can dig that out, with thanks! :)
Ron Brice vs Frank Dixon
Kingston Open (5), 2004-02-08
English, A13
1.c4 e6 2.g3 Ne7 3.Bg2 d6 4.Nc3 Nd7 5.d3 c5 6.e4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Nge2 a6 9.Qd2 Qc7 10.f4 b6 11.O-O Bb7 12.f5 Nce5 13.fxe6 fxe6 14.Nf4 Nf8 15.Bh3 Bc8 16.b3 h5 17.d4 Ng4 18.Bxg4 hxg4 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Rad1 Bd7 21.Nd3 Nh7 22.e5 O-O-O 23.exd6 Bxd6 24.Ne4 Nf6 25.Nxf6 gxf6 26.Rxf6 Bxg3 27.hxg3 Qxg3+ 28.Kf1 Bc6 29.Rh6 Rxh6 30.Bxh6 Be4 31.Qf2 Bxd3+ 32.Ke1 Qe5+ 33.Qe3 Qf5 34.Bg5 Rd4 35.Bh4 Re4 36.Bxd4 Rxe3+ 37.Rxe3 Qb1+ 38.Kf2 Qc2+ 39.Kg3 Qf5 40.a4 Kd7 41.Kg2 e5 42.Bg3 e4 43.Bh2 Ke6 44.Bg3 Qh7 45.Kg1 Kf5 46.Kf2 Qd7 47.Ke2 Qd4 48.Bc7 Qb2+ 49.Ke1 Qc1+ 50.Ke2 Qc2+ 51.Ke1 Kg5 52.Bg3 Qg2 53.Kd1 Qf1+ 54.Kd2 Kf5 55.Kc2 Qg1 56.Kd2 Qg2+ 57.Kd1 Ke6 58.Kc1 Kd7 59.Kd1 Kc6 60.Kc1 Kb6 61.Kd1 Qh1+ 62.Kc2 Qg1 63.Kd2 Qg2+ 64.Kd1 Ka5 65.Be1+ Kb6 66.Bg3 Qb2 67.Be1 Qd4+ 68.Ke2 Kc6 1/2.
Ron Brice of Hamilton was a regular player in Ontario events for over 20 years, and reached a peak rating of 2237. I met him several times, and always found him a very tough competitor. In this last-round game from an EOCA Grand Prix Kingston Open, Ron was in the hunt for a top place, while I was needing a win to make the prizes. Some highly original opening play by Black against Ron's favorite Botvinnik System in the English was followed by a middlegame where Black sacrificed first a pawn, and then a piece, for strong Kingside attacking chances. Black may have missed possible wins, but Ron, down material after giving up his Queen, found an exceptional fortress defence in the endgame (R+B vs Q) to hold the draw! Ron and I played an even more dramatic game in the Ontario Open at Brantford a few weeks later, which he won, but for which I have unfortunately misplaced my scoresheet, so if Ron is reading this, perhaps he can dig that out, with thanks! :)
Ron Brice vs Frank Dixon
Kingston Open (5), 2004-02-08
English, A13
1.c4 e6 2.g3 Ne7 3.Bg2 d6 4.Nc3 Nd7 5.d3 c5 6.e4 Nc6 7.Be3 Be7 8.Nge2 a6 9.Qd2 Qc7 10.f4 b6 11.O-O Bb7 12.f5 Nce5 13.fxe6 fxe6 14.Nf4 Nf8 15.Bh3 Bc8 16.b3 h5 17.d4 Ng4 18.Bxg4 hxg4 19.dxc5 bxc5 20.Rad1 Bd7 21.Nd3 Nh7 22.e5 O-O-O 23.exd6 Bxd6 24.Ne4 Nf6 25.Nxf6 gxf6 26.Rxf6 Bxg3 27.hxg3 Qxg3+ 28.Kf1 Bc6 29.Rh6 Rxh6 30.Bxh6 Be4 31.Qf2 Bxd3+ 32.Ke1 Qe5+ 33.Qe3 Qf5 34.Bg5 Rd4 35.Bh4 Re4 36.Bxd4 Rxe3+ 37.Rxe3 Qb1+ 38.Kf2 Qc2+ 39.Kg3 Qf5 40.a4 Kd7 41.Kg2 e5 42.Bg3 e4 43.Bh2 Ke6 44.Bg3 Qh7 45.Kg1 Kf5 46.Kf2 Qd7 47.Ke2 Qd4 48.Bc7 Qb2+ 49.Ke1 Qc1+ 50.Ke2 Qc2+ 51.Ke1 Kg5 52.Bg3 Qg2 53.Kd1 Qf1+ 54.Kd2 Kf5 55.Kc2 Qg1 56.Kd2 Qg2+ 57.Kd1 Ke6 58.Kc1 Kd7 59.Kd1 Kc6 60.Kc1 Kb6 61.Kd1 Qh1+ 62.Kc2 Qg1 63.Kd2 Qg2+ 64.Kd1 Ka5 65.Be1+ Kb6 66.Bg3 Qb2 67.Be1 Qd4+ 68.Ke2 Kc6 1/2.