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I consider the following game as my first masterpiece. It was played in the rapid tournament of my club 'De Rode Loper' in 1994. It is a game that does not need much explanation. Black's route to victory is clean and efficient. It seems like there's no way for white to escape from defeat...
In 1994 the white player was the reigning club-champion and I just started experimenting with Owen's Defence... and... became the proud father of my first-born : Isa
It is to her that I dedicate this game...
White: Marcel Singelenberg
Black: Jos Heesen
1.e4 e6 2.d4 b6 3.c4 Bb7 4.Nc3 Bb4 5.Bd3 f5 (diagram)
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This is, in my opinion, the key position of Owen's Defence. Black wants to control the a8-h1 diagonal and e4. He does this by undermining the defenders of e4. You can imagine that, after this game, I started to play this line whenever given the chance. That is why my club-mates call this line : The Heesen System.
It is very dangerous for white to take the pawn on f5 : 6.exf5 Bxb2 7.Qh5 Kf8 and there is no way white can save his rook on h1...
6.Qe2 Nf6 7.f3 Bxc3 8.bxc3 fxe4 9.fxe4 Nxe4 (diagram)
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If white takes again on e4 he gets a nasty surprise : 10.Bxe4 Qh4! and black gets at least his piece on e4, and perhaps more...
10.Nf3...
A new move (at least : that's what my database says...). One hunderd years ago James Mason played : 10.Qh5 g6 11.Qg4 Nf6 12.Qh3 O-O 13.Bg5... etc.
10...Nxc3 11.Qe3 Bxf3 12.Qxf3 Qh4 13.g3...
On 13.Qg3... would follow 13...Qxd4 14.Bb2 Nc6 with a similar advantage for black as in the game.
13...Qxd4 (diagram)
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White can not accept the rook offer : 14.Qxa8 Qxd3 15.Qg2 Qd1 16.Kf2 Qe2 17.Kg1 Qe1 with destruction...
14.Rf1 Nc6 15.Bb2 Qe5
To pave the way for the knight on c6...
16.Kd2 Ne4 17.Kc2 Nb4 (diagram)
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But the knight goes the other way and says : 'It is all over now...'
18.Kc1 Dg5
White resigns : he loses his queen... [0-1]