The highlight of today's Berlin Individual Blitz was the 8th double round where I was paired with Lachmann (2191). Unlike many other adversaries he played basically normal chess and allowed me to get into some of my favourite variations.

My game with white started off 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 e4 4. Ng5 b5 which is already quite unusual, White should apparently play d3 if the database is anything to rely on, I was too out already and continued 5. Ngxe4 bxc4 6. Nxf6+ Qxf6 7. e4 Bc5 8. Qf3

My previous trainer GM Richter said that threatening a draw is the best way to force better players to make bad moves. This proved true because after 8... Qe6 9. Nd5 Qd6 10. Qg3 O-O (here 11. Nxc7 works immediately but I did not see it) 11. Qxd6 Bxd6 12. Bxc4 (very happy to get a pawn) Nc6 13. O-O Nd4 14. d3 Re8 15. Be3 Bc5 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Nxc7 (very happy to get a quality), I had no problems returning a bit of material to get into a won rook endgame.

My game with black started off 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. exd5 exd5 5. Qf3 Ne7 6. Bf4 c5 (now, this trap does not work against White's 6th move, since after 7. dxc5 d4 8. O-O-O the black queen is pinned), however 7. a3 Qa5 8. Bxb8 Rxb8 9. Rd1 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 O-O 11. Nh3 Bxh3 12. Qxh3 cxd4 13. Bd3 Ng6 14. O-O Qxc3

And apart from a mating attack that could be avoided by Re8 intending Nf8, the endgame was pretty smooth.