1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.d4 Bb4 This was a surprise in the opening for Almira, since Adams has not played it too often before.
5.Nxe5 Qe7 6.Nxc6 Qxe4+ 7.Be2 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Qxc6 9.0-0 Qxc3 This is not a common continuation, so Almira had little experience with this line.
10.Rb1 0-0 11.Rb3 Qc6 12.Bb5 Qd5 13.Bd3 d6 14.c4 Qh5 15.Be2 Qh4 16.h3 Re8 17.Rf3 Nh5 18.Bd3 Bd7 19.Be3 h6 20.Bc2 Rad8 21.Qd2 Nf6 22.Qd3 Kf8 23.Qb3 b6 24.Rf4 Qh5 25.Bd1 Qg5 26.Kh2 Bc6 27.d5 Bd7 28.g3 Qg6 29.Bc2 Qh5 30.Rh4 Qe2 In this position Almira, and the public in Lübeck, saw a clear draw after 31.Bd3 (see variation below)
31.Kg1 There was a big gasp in the audience when Almira, materially a pawn down, spurned the draw and decide to play for a win. This move threatens to trap the black queen with Bd1. [ 31.Bd3 Qf3 32.Rf4 Qh5 33.Rh4 Qf3 ( 33...Qe5 34.Bd4 Qe7 35.Qb2 is of course quite horrible for Black) 34.Rf4 Qh5 and draw.]
31...Rxe3 "I saw this move immediately after I played 31.Kg1," she told us after the game.
32.fxe3 Re8 33.e4 Qd2 34.Qd3 Qxd3 35.Bxd3 Now the position is objectively a draw. White cannot win, but the chances of losing are very remote. Adams, however, decided to test his opponents chess understanding (and nerves) and played on for 56 more gruelling moves. Play through them slowly if you want to know what it feels like sitting across a 2700 player on a fishing expedition.
35...Bc8 36.Kg2 Nd7 37.Rhf4 Ne5 38.Be2 Ke7 39.Rb1 a5 40.Rbf1 Rf8 41.Re1 Bd7 42.Rc1 f6 43.Rc3 Be8 44.Bg4 Bf7 45.Rf1 Rh8 46.Bd1 Rc8 47.Bg4 Re8 48.Bd1 Kf8 49.Re1 Bg6 50.Bc2 Kf7 51.Kf2 Re7 52.Ke3 Nd7 53.Kd4 Re5 54.Rce3 Nc5 55.Bd1 Kf8 56.Bg4 Be8 57.Rf1 h5 58.Bd1 Bd7 59.Rh1 Kf7 60.Bc2 h4 61.g4 Kg6 62.Rf1 Kh6 63.Rb1 Be8 64.Rbe1 Bg6 65.Rf1 Re8 66.Rfe1 Rc8 67.Rb1 Kg5 68.Bd3 Nd7 69.Rf1 Ne5 70.Be2 Kh6 71.Bd1 Re8 72.Bc2 Nf7 73.Bd3 Ng5 74.Rb1 Kh7 75.Rb2 Kg8 76.Rbe2 Kf8 77.Rf2 Ke7 78.Bc2 Kd8 79.Rfe2 Re7 80.Rf2 Re5 81.Rfe2 Be8 82.Bd3 Bd7 83.Rf2 Kc8 84.Rc2 Kb7 85.Rb2 Re8 86.Bc2 Ka7 87.Bd3 Rc8 88.Be2 Nf7 89.Rb1 Ng5 90.Rb2 Re8 91.Bd3 Ka8 1/2-1/2