Comments by Ian Birchall: 5....e6 is better, as 6.Bxf5 exf5 leaves black with the better bishop and a half-open e-file. 6.cxd3 is the better capture as the d3 pawn supports white's e4. 9.0-0!? gambits the e-pawn. White has more than enough compensation in black's weak dark squares, black's difficulty in castling and a lead in development. 11...Nd6 blocking the a3-f8 diagonal and allowing king-side castling was an option although black will have to be careful to defend h7. 13...Nb6?!, intending to castle queen-side, is risky. Perhaps 13....b6, with c5 to follow, blocking off the bishop and allowing castling king-side. 17.Ne5, first, before pushing the a-pawn, would have been awkward for black as it prevents either knight going to d7 owing to the attack on the f7 pawn. 22...Nc5?! gives up control of e5 and allows 23.Nb5 Qe7 (23....Nxa4 24.Qa3 or 23....Nd3 24.Qd4 or 23...Qc6 24.Be3 threatening Nxa7) 24.Bf4+ Ka8 25.Bd6 with clear advantage to white. After 23.Qa3 a6, the c5-knight is now black's best piece and it may be worthwhile exchanging it with 24.Nb3. Activating the rook with 24...Rhd8 (25.Be3 Ng4 or 25.Bc3 Nd6 26.Red1 Ng4) looks strong for black. Unfortunately, black's plan of playing e5 to biff the knight only succeeds in pushing it to a better square on d5. 30....Qd8 31.Be3 Rcc6, using a rook to cover b6, offers a better defence. 31.Kb8 is best, but black is just holding on. 31....Rb8? loses a piece to 32.Nb6+, as the c5-knight will be pinned after 32....Ka7 33.Nxd7.