Chess Course at Cardigan

Cardigan Chess Club are offering a 12-week chess course for players who already know the rules, but don't yet feel ready for club chess. This is an excellent opportunity to improve your skills, with guidance from some of the strongest players in the area. Information is below. (Use scroll bars to view it.)

Catching Up 4

Last instalment of my catching-up posts. Normal service will resume next year.

Carmarthen 1-3 Aberystwyth B Tanygroes, 5th December 2016

Paul Orton 0-1 Robert Wright

Richard Thomas 1-0 Anthony Geraghty

Robert Narayan-Taylor 0-1 Conor McEwan

Default 0-1 A.N.Other

[Event "DyfedLeague:Carmarthen-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Orton, P."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1906"] [BlackElo "1588"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "35"] [SourceDate "2016.12.07"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 (2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 5. O-O d6 6. h3 Nf6 7. Re1 e6 $6 8. e5 Nd7 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. Na3 $16 {R van Kemenade- Leah, Dyfed Closed, 2010, 1-0}) 2... Nc6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Bb5 a6 {a dubious move, losing a tempo as Wh is quite prepared todouble Bl's pawns anyway, as in the game cited above} (5... Nge7 {main, prepares a6}) (5... Nf6 6. e5 Nd7 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. d3 { has been played frequently}) (5... d4 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. Ne2 Nf6 8. d3 {and Bl has very weak c pawns, though also played}) 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. d3 g6 {a bit slow, leaving front c pawn at risk} (7... Nf6) (7... Be7) (7... Bd6) 8. Qe2 (8. O-O Bg7 9. Qe1 {main, Wh threatens a pawn sac on f5 to liberate the QB, & the Q often goes to h4}) 8... Bg7 9. O-O (9. e5 $16 {Cloud Engines} Nh6 10. Qf2 Bf8 11. h3 f6 12. g4 Nf7 13. Bd2 fxe5 14. fxe5 Qc7 15. O-O Bg7 16. Qxc5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Rae1 Bxc3 (18... Bd4+ 19. Qxd4 Qg3+ $11 {Komodo10}) 19. Bf4 Qa7 20. Qxa7 Rxa7 21. bxc3 {Loewe-Deacon, m London 1851, 1/2-1/2}) 9... Ne7 10. Qf2 (10. Rb1 Qb6 11. Na4 Qb4 12. b3 $16 {Lee-Rupel, Washington State ch Seatlle 2014,1-0}) 10... d4 {fixes the pawn structure which favours Wh's Ns} (10... c4 $5 {Cloud Engines}) (10... Qa5 11. Bd2 d4 12. Ne2 Qc7 $16 {Hoyos-Bustamente, COL ch Universities Bogota 2015,1-0}) 11. Na4 $18 Qd6 (11... Qa5 12. b3 O-O 13. Ba3 {Hickl-Yousif, Thessaloniki ol 1988, Bl resigned, 1-0}) 12. e5 Qc7 13. Nxc5 Qb6 (13... O-O {Deep Fritz13 & Komodo10}) 14. Ne4 Nf5 $2 (14... O-O {both}) 15. g4 (15. b3 {even stronger} Bb7 (15... h5 16. Ba3 $18 {Komodo10}) 16. Ba3 $18 { Deep Fritz13}) 15... Ne3 16. Nd6+ Ke7 (16... Kd7 17. Bxe3 dxe3 18. Qe2 $18 { both Engines}) 17. Nxd4 Nxg4 $2 (17... c5 18. Bxe3 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc6 20. Bc5 Kd7 21. Nxf7 $18 {both Engines}) 18. N4f5+ 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Carmarthen-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Thomas, Richard"] [Black "Geraghty, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D12"] [WhiteElo "1568"] [BlackElo "1567"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "147"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2016.12.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 c6 4. c4 (4. Bd3 {main}) 4... Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Qb3 ( 6. Nh4) (6. Bd3) 6... Qc7 (6... Qb6 {main}) 7. cxd5 (7. Bd2 {main, keeps options}) 7... exd5 8. Bd2 Bd6 (8... Nbd7) 9. Be2 (9. Rc1 a6 (9... Qe7) (9... Qb6 {main; all counter Nb5 threat})) 9... O-O (9... Nbd7 {6 games}) 10. Rc1 a6 11. h3 (11. O-O Nbd7 12. a3 Rae8 {Demac-Kvisla, NOR ch U20 , Bergen 2005,0-1}) 11... Nbd7 12. O-O Ne4 $2 {loses a key pawn} (12... Rfe8 13. a3 (13. Nh4 Be6 14. Qc2 Nf8 15. f4 Rad8 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. Qxf5 Qd7 $11 {Thomi-Palte, Biel op (women) 1991,0-1}) (13. Rfd1 Nf8 14. Be1 Qe7 15. Nh4 Be6 16. Qc2 g6 $11 { Iron-Ephemera, ICS chessnet 1999,1-0}) 13... h6 14. Qa2 Nf8 15. b4 Qe7 $15 { Lenaerts-Stern, Limburg op Maastricht 2010, 1-0}) 13. Nxd5 $16 Qb8 14. Nc3 Ndf6 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bb4 Bxb4 17. Qxb4 a5 18. Qe7 Re8 19. Qh4 Re6 20. Ne5 Rh6 21. Qe7 (21. Qf4 Rf6 22. g4 Bg6 23. Qh2 $16 {Komodo10}) 21... Qf8 (21... Nd6 22. Bc4 Qf8 $16 {Komodo10; keeps B pawn protected}) 22. Qxf8+ (22. Qxb7 $18 { Komodo10} Rb8 23. Qc7 Rc8 (23... Rxb2 24. Rb1 Rb4 25. Bd3 $18) 24. Qxa5 Ra8 25. Qe1 Rxa2 26. Bc4 Rxb2 27. Nxf7 $18 {Komodo10}) 22... Rxf8 (22... Kxf8 {keeps the a pawn protected}) 23. Bd3 $18 Nd6 24. Bxf5 Nxf5 25. Rc5 {threatens Nxc6 as well as the a pawn} Ne7 26. Rxa5 f6 27. Ng4 (27. Nd7 Rd8 28. Nb6 Nd5 29. Nxd5 cxd5 30. Rb5 Rd7 31. Rc1 $18 {2 pawns up & Bl's R on h6 is misplaced}) 27... Rg6 28. f4 {creates a weakness on e3} (28. Nh2 Nd5 29. Nf3 {puts the N on a better square}) 28... f5 29. Ne5 Rd6 30. Ra7 (30. g4 {Komodo10}) 30... Rb8 31. Rc1 Nd5 32. Kf2 g6 33. a3 Nf6 34. Nc4 Re6 35. Na5 Re7 $2 {loses another pawn} (35... Ne4+ 36. Ke2 Nd6 37. Rc5 $18) 36. Nxc6 Rc7 37. Nxb8 Rxc1 38. Rxb7 {4 pawns up} Rc2+ 39. Kf1 Ne4 (39... Nd5 40. Rb3) 40. Na6 (40. Nd7) 40... Ng3+ 41. Kg1 Re2 42. Rb3 (42. Nc5 Rxe3 $2 43. Kf2) 42... h5 43. Nc5 $2 (43. h4 $18) 43... Kf7 (43... h4 $1 $11 {threatens mate} 44. Nd3 Rd2 45. Ne1 Rd1 46. Kf2 Ne4+ 47. Ke2 Rd2+ 48. Kf1 (48. Kf3 Rf2#) 48... Ng3+ 49. Kg1 Rd1 50. Kf2 Ne4+ { repetition}) 44. Nd3 Kg7 45. Rb7+ (45. h4) 45... Kf6 46. Rb3 h4 $11 47. Rc3 ( 47. a4 Rd2 48. e4 fxe4 49. Ne5 Kf5 50. Ng4 Kxf4 51. Ne3 Ne2+ 52. Kf1 Nxd4 53. Ra3 Rxb2 $11 {Komodo10}) 47... Rxe3 $2 (47... Rd2 48. Ne1 Rd1 49. Kf2 Ne4+ 50. Ke2 Rd2+ {draws as above}) 48. Kf2 Re7 (48... Re6 49. d5 Rd6 50. Rc6 $18) 49. Ne5 $2 (49. Rc6+ Kg7 50. Ne5 $18) 49... Ne4+ 50. Ke3 Nxc3 51. bxc3 Ra7 $11 52. Nc4 Ke6 53. Kd3 Rb7 (53... g5 $1 {Komodo10; the R must get the vulnerable pawns before Wh can organize his pawn advance} 54. Ne5 Rg7 55. Nf3 g4 56. hxg4 Rxg4 57. a4 Rxg2 58. Nxh4 Rg4 59. Nf3 Rxf4 60. Ke3 Re4+ 61. Kd3 Rg4 62. a5 Rg2 63. Kc4 Ra2 64. Kb5 f4 {Komodo10 claims =, but almost impossible for humans to assess or calculate. Wh must have good practical chances of a win; though that f pawn can be dangerous in the absence of Wh's K ( the price paid for keeping the a pawn alive)} 65. a6 Kd6 66. Ng5 (66. Kb6 Rb2+ 67. Ka5 (67. Ka7 Rb5 68. Ka8 Kc7 69. Ka7 Ra5 $19 {Komodo10}) 67... Kc7 $19) 66... Ra3 67. Ne4+ Kc7 68. d5 f3 69. d6+ Kd7 70. Kb6 Rb3+ 71. Kc5 Ra3 72. Kb6 Rb3+ $11 73. Kc5 (73. Ka5 Kc6 74. d7 Rb5+ 75. Ka4 Rd5 76. Nf6 Rxd7 77. Nxd7 f2 $19 {Komodo10})) (53... Rg7 54. Ne3 g5 $11 {Komodo10}) 54. a4 Rb1 (54... g5 $11) 55. a5 $14 Kd7 $2 { makes life easier for Wh, who now wipes out Bl's last remaining pawns} (55... Kd5 56. Ne3+ Kc6 57. Nc2 Kc7 58. a6 Kb6 59. Nb4 Rg1 60. c4 Rxg2 61. d5 $16 { Komodo10}) 56. Ne5+ Kc7 57. Nxg6 $18 Ra1 58. Nxh4 Rxa5 59. g4 $1 fxg4 60. hxg4 {now the R has no counterplay} Kd7 61. Ke4 (61. c4) 61... Ke6 62. g5 {there are lots of ways of advancing the pawns} Rb5 $14 63. f5+ Kf7 64. c4 Rb1 65. Nf3 Rb4 66. f6 Kg6 67. Kd5 Rb3 68. Ne5+ Kxg5 69. f7 Rb8 70. Nd7 Rd8 71. Ke6 Kg6 72. f8=Q Rxf8 73. Nxf8+ Kg7 74. Ke7 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Carmarthen-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "McEwan, Conor"] [Black "Narayan-Taylor, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D91"] [WhiteElo "1300"] [BlackElo "1505"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "119"] [SourceDate "2016.12.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. c4 d5 (4... O-O) (4... d6 {more usual}) 5. e3 c6 {its a Schlechter-Gruenfeld, a cross between a Gruenfeld & a Slav} 6. Nc3 Qa5 (6... O-O) (6... Bg4 {alternatives}) 7. Bxf6 {the B runs from the Queen's gaze} Bxf6 8. Be2 (8. cxd5 {takes away any ideas of c5 by Bl} cxd5 9. Qb3 e6 { main}) 8... O-O 9. O-O Re8 {aiming to play e5} (9... dxc4 10. Bxc4 Bg4 11. h3 Bxf3 (11... Bc8 {2 games}) 12. Qxf3 Nd7 {7 games}) 10. cxd5 cxd5 11. Qb3 e6 { causes a logjam on the Q side} (11... Rd8 12. Rac1 Nc6 13. Bb5 Be6 $11 { Khozhaya-Kurochka, RUS ch U18 girls, Dagomys 2004,0-1}) 12. Qb5 Qxb5 {lets the N in} (12... Qd8 $11) 13. Nxb5 Re7 14. Rac1 (14. Ne5 Nc6 15. f4 $14 {Komodo10}) 14... Nc6 15. Nd6 (15. g4 $5 {Komodo10;constricting Bl on both sides}) 15... a6 (15... Rd7 16. Nxc8 Rxc8 17. Rc3 Bd8 18. Rfc1 $11 {Komodo10}) 16. a4 (16. Ne5 Bd7 17. f4 Be8 18. a3 $14 (18. g4 $14 {Komodo10})) 16... Kf8 17. b4 Rd7 18. Nxc8 Rxc8 19. b5 Na7 $2 {loses a vital Q side pawn} (19... axb5 20. axb5 Ne7 21. g4 h6 $11 {Komodo10}) 20. bxa6 b6 (20... bxa6 21. Bxa6 {is safer as then Wh has an a pawn extra not quite so far advanced}) 21. Rxc8+ Nxc8 22. Rc1 Nd6 23. Rc6 $18 Nc4 24. Bxc4 dxc4 25. Rxc4 {the c pawn is possibly more dangerous, but Komodo10 deals with it by using the K} (25. Kf1 $1 c3 26. Ke2 c2 27. Kd2 Ra7 28. Rxb6 Rc7 29. Rb8+ Kg7 30. Kc1 Be7 31. Rb3 Bd6 32. Ne1 Rc4 (32... Ra7 33. Rb6 Bxh2 34. Kxc2 $18) 33. a7 Rxa4 34. Rb7 Ra2 35. Nxc2 $18 {Komodo10}) 25... Ra7 26. Rb4 (26. Kf1 Rxa6 27. Nd2 {saves time}) 26... Rxa6 27. Kf1 Be7 28. Rb3 {allowing the swap of pawns gives the Bl R more freedom of action} (28. Rc4 {cuts off the Bl K , while letting the Wh K advance}) 28... Rxa4 29. Ne5 { to use the f3 square for his K} (29. Rxb6 {simplest} Ra1+ 30. Ne1 Bd8 31. Rb8 Ke7 32. Rb7+ Kd6 33. Ke2 $16 {Komodo10}) 29... Ra1+ 30. Ke2 Bd6 31. Nd7+ (31. Rxb6 Ra2+ 32. Kf3 Bxe5 33. dxe5 Ra5 34. Kf4 Ra2 35. Kg3 g5 $14 {there are technical problems with the pawns all on the same side}) 31... Ke7 32. Nxb6 Ra2+ 33. Kf3 Bxh2 $11 34. Nc4 Bg1 $2 {hoping for a pawn, but the B is in grave danger here.} (34... Bc7 $11) 35. Rb2 $18 Ra4 (35... Rxb2 36. Nxb2 g5 37. g3 { and the B is trapped- though Komodo10 thinks this is the best Bl can do}) 36. Nb6 (36. Ne5 $1 f6 (36... Ra1 37. Rb7+ Kf8 38. g3 Kg8 39. Rxf7 $18 {Komodo10}) 37. Rb7+ Ke8 38. Ng4 f5 39. Nf6+ Kd8 40. Rb1 Bh2 41. g3 $18 {Komodo10}) 36... Ra1 37. g3 h5 (37... Rc1 38. Kg2 e5 39. dxe5 Ke6 40. Rb4 Kxe5 41. Nc4+ Kf6 42. Nd2 $18 {Komodo10}) 38. Nc4 (38. Kg2 $18) 38... h4 39. Kg2 hxg3 40. Kxg3 $18 f5 41. Kg2 g5 42. Nd2 (42. Rb7+ Kf6 43. Rh7 g4 44. Rh6+ Ke7 45. Rh1 Ra4 46. Ne5 { another way; Komodo10}) 42... g4 (42... f4 {cuts down on the number of pawns remaining}) 43. Rb1 (43. Nb1) (43. Nf1) 43... Ra2 44. Rd1 Bxf2 45. Kxf2 $16 Kf6 46. Kg3 (46. Ke2 Kg5 47. Rb1 $16 {Komodo10}) 46... Kg5 (46... Ra3 $1 $14 47. Kf4 (47. Kf2 f4 48. exf4 Kf5 49. Ke2 g3 50. Nc4 Rc3 51. Nd2 g2 52. Rg1 Rg3 53. Kf2 Rd3 54. Ke2 Rxd4 55. Rxg2 Rxf4 $11 {Nalimov tablebases}) 47... Rd3 48. Ne4+ fxe4 49. Rg1 Rd2 50. Rxg4 Rh2 51. Kxe4 $14 {a likely draw with pawns all in the centre}) 47. Nc4 Rc2 48. Ne5 Rc3 49. Re1 $2 (49. Nd3 $1 Ra3 50. Rd2 Rc3 51. Kf2 Kf6 52. Ke2 Ra3 53. Rb2 $18 {Komodo10}) (49. Rd3 Rc1 50. Ra3 $18 (50. Nd7 $18 {Komodo10})) 49... f4+ $11 50. Kf2 (50. Kg2 Rxe3 51. Rxe3 fxe3 52. Kg3 e2 53. Kf2 g3+ 54. Kxe2 Kf4 55. Kf1 Ke4 56. Nc6 Kd5 $11 {Komodo10}) 50... f3 $2 { like the B move to g1, this is perhaps a mistaken way to try & win, when there was a draw to be had} (50... Rc2+ $1 {Komodo10, saves the game} 51. Re2 (51. Kg1 f3 52. Rb1 Kh4 {and there is the threat of a mating net, hence} 53. Nxg4 ( 53. e4 Kg3 54. Nd3 Rd2 55. Ne5 Rg2+ 56. Kf1 Rh2 $19) (53. d5 exd5 54. Rb4 Rc1+ 55. Kf2 Rc2+ 56. Ke1 Rc1+ 57. Kd2 f2 58. Rxg4+ Kh5 59. Rf4 f1=Q 60. Rxf1 Rxf1 61. Kd3 $11) 53... Kxg4 54. Rb5 Re2 55. Re5 Kg3 56. Rg5+ $11 (56. Kf1 Rf2+ 57. Ke1 Ra2 58. Rg5+ $11 {Komodo10})) 51... fxe3+ 52. Kxe3 Rxe2+ 53. Kxe2 Kf4 54. Kf2 Ke4 {and the last pawn goes}) 51. Rg1 (51. Kg3 {even clearer, though may well transpose}) 51... Rc2+ 52. Kg3 f2 (52... Kf5 53. Nxg4 Ke4 54. Rf1 Rg2+ 55. Kh3 Re2 56. Ra1 $18 {Komodo10}) 53. Rf1 Re2 54. Nxg4 {everything covered} e5 55. Rxf2 (55. dxe5 {simplest} Ra2 56. Rxf2 Ra4 57. Rf4) 55... Rxf2 56. Nxf2 exd4 57. e4 (57. exd4) 57... Kf6 58. Kf4 Ke6 59. Nd3 Kd6 60. Kf5 1-0

Catching Up 3

Here is the third instalment of my catching-up reports on the autumn's matches.

Cardigan 2-2 Aberystwyth A. Cardigan, 28 November.

Howard Williams ½-½ Rudy van Kemenade

Iolo Jones 1-0 Adam Watkin-Jones

Tony Haigh ½-½ Robert Wright

Howard Leah 0-1 Adam Robinson

A good result for the A team against the League champions.

[Event "Dyfed League:Cardigan-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B20"] [WhiteElo "1988"] [BlackElo "2364"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "81"] [SourceDate "2016.11.29"] 1. f4 g6 {after consideration; Howard was expecting a Sicilian after the last encounter where Wh had an overwhelming position from the opening , but still went onto lose.Dyfed League, feb 2016,0-1} (1... d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c5 5. d3 Nc6 6. O-O Nf6 7. c3 O-O 8. Qe1 b6 {was contested twice before, Dyfed League 2009, 0-1 & Wales Ch 2014,0-1}) 2. Nf3 c5 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. d3 e6 6. e4 Nge7 {& its become a Sicilian after all, of a closed variety ( though usually Wh has a N on c3 from move 2} 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 d6 (8... d5 {is a major alternative}) 9. Be3 b6 (9... b5 {also played, but much looser than the text}) (9... Rb8 10. d4 b6 11. Bf2 a5 12. Re1 Ba6 13. a3 Qd7 14. Nbd2 { McHane-Khalifman, Drammen Smartfish Masters 2005,1-0 ( featured in Lakdawala -Bird's Opening 2015:371-9 ( which had been part of Wh's advance preparation)}) 10. d4 {opening the game is preferred by Lakdawala} (10. Bf2 {main; keeping the position closed to prevent Bl counterplay on the Q side. when a game Movsesian-Belezky, German League 2008,1-0 went} Qd7 11. Re1 Ba6 12. Na3 Rac8 13. Qd2 Rc7 14. Rad1 Rd8 15. Nc2 Qc8 16. g4 {analysed in Lakdawala 2015:363-371 }) 10... Ba6 (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 (11. Nxd4 {also played})) 11. Re1 Qc7 (11... Rc8 12. Na3 {main}) 12. Na3 Rac8 (12... Rfd8 13. Bf2 d5 (13... b5 14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 b4 16. dxc6 (16. Nc2 bxc3 17. dxc6 cxb2 18. Rb1 Rab8 $11 {Komodo10}) 16... bxa3 17. Qa4 axb2 18. Rab1 Qxc6 19. Qa3 Bd3 20. Rxb2 Qc7 { Kristiansen-Fuglsang, DEN ch tm 1995,draw agreed}) 14. exd5 Nxd5 15. Qa4 Qb7 ( 15... Bb7) 16. dxc5 b5 17. Qc2 b4 18. Nb1 bxc3 19. bxc3 Rab8 20. Nd4 $11 { Winnemoeller-Klanert, Ruhrgebiet VL1 1997,1-0}) 13. Bf2 (13. Qa4 Bb7 14. Nb5 Qb8 {considered} 15. e5 cxd4 16. cxd4 Nf5 17. g4 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 dxe5 19. dxe5 Ne7 20. Nd6 $11 {Laurynaitis-Linauskas, LTU ch 1999,0-1}) (13. Rc1 Rfe8 14. b4 Nb8 15. Qa4 Red8 16. bxc5 bxc5 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. c4 $14 {Hasangatin-Kniest, Pardubice op 2005,1-0}) (13. Qd2 Rfd8 14. Rac1 d5 15. e5 cxd4 16. cxd4 Qb8 17. b4 Bb7 18. g4 $14 {Bachorczyk-Aliavdin, Chorzow op 2007,1-0}) 13... Rfd8 (13... cxd4 14. cxd4 Qb7 15. Qd2 Na5 16. b3 Rc7 17. f5 exf5 18. exf5 Qb8 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. Ng5 $14 {Brandner-Scheffknecht, AUT ch, Hartberg 2004,1/2-1/2}) 14. Rc1 ( 14. d5 exd5 15. exd5 Na5 16. Qd2 $14 {Komodo10}) 14... Qd7 15. Qd2 (15. Qa4 Bb7 (15... Nb8 $11 {Komodo10}) 16. Rcd1 (16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Rcd1 Nd4 18. Qxd7 Nxf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rxd7 20. Nc4 Rcd8 21. Na5 Ba8 22. Kg2 d5 $11 {Komodo10}) 16... Nxd4 $17 {pm analysis} 17. Qxa7 Ra8 18. Qxb6 Ra6 19. Qxd8+ Qxd8 20. cxd4 cxd4 21. Nxd4 Ra4 $17 {Komodo10}) (15. d5 exd5 16. exd5 Nb8 17. Nd2 $14 {Komodo10}) 15... Na5 16. b3 (16. d5 $14) 16... cxd4 17. cxd4 (17. Bxd4 {considered, pm analysis} e5 18. Bf2 exf4 19. gxf4 d5 20. e5 Nf5 21. Nc2 Nc6 22. Ng5 $16 { Komodo10} d4 23. c4 Na5 24. Nb4 Bb7 25. Nd5 $16) 17... Rxc1 18. Rxc1 Rc8 $11 19. h3 (19. g4 {considered & in pm analysis lead to complexities} Rxc1+ { Komodo10 just swaps off} 20. Qxc1 Bb7 21. Ne1 Nac6 22. Nac2 f5 23. gxf5 gxf5 24. exf5 Nxf5 25. d5 exd5 26. Bxd5+ Kh8 $11) 19... Bb7 20. Ne1 (20. Rxc8+ Qxc8 21. e5 (21. Nb5 Qc6 22. Nxa7 Qxe4 23. Ne1 Qb1 24. Qc2 Qa1 25. Nb5 Bc6 26. Nxd6 Bxd4 27. Kh2 Bxg2 28. Qc7 Bxf2 29. Qxe7 Qg7 30. Nxg2 Bc5 $11 {Komodo10}) 21... Ba6 $11 {Komodo10}) 20... f5 21. b4 (21. d5 Rxc1 22. Qxc1 exd5 23. exf5 Nxf5 24. Nac2 d4 25. g4 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qc6+ 27. Kh2 Ne7 28. Qd2 Qd5 29. Nxd4 Nac6 30. Nec2 Kf7 $11 {Komodo10}) 21... Rxc1 22. Qxc1 Nac6 {initially Bl thought this would give him an advantage} 23. exf5 {most accurate; Komodo10} (23. d5 exd5 24. exf5 Nxb4 25. fxg6 hxg6 26. Nb1 Ba6 27. Qa3 Nec6 28. Qa4 Bc4 29. Na3 Bxa2 30. Nac2 b5 31. Qxb5 Bc4 32. Bxd5+ Bxd5 33. Nxb4 Be4 $11 34. Qc4+ d5 35. Qxc6 Qxh3 36. Bxa7 Qxg3+ 37. Kf1 Qh3+ 38. Ke2 Qg4+ 39. Kd2 Qxf4+ 40. Be3 Qh2+ 41. Kd1 Qh5+ 42. Kd2 Qh2+ $11 {repetition; Komodo10}) 23... Nxf5 (23... gxf5 24. Qc4 Nd8 25. Bxb7 Qxb7 26. Nb5 (26. b5 $11) 26... a6 27. Nc3 (27. Nxd6 Qd7 $17 { traps N}) 27... b5 28. Qd3 Nd5 29. Nxd5 Qxd5 30. a4 Kf8 $15 {Komodo10}) (23... Nxd4 24. fxe6 Nxe6 25. Qc4 Bxg2 26. Kxg2 Qb7+ 27. Nf3 d5 28. Qd3 d4 29. Nb5 Qd5 30. Nxa7 Qxa2 31. Qe4 Nf5 32. Kg1 Ne3 33. Bxe3 dxe3 34. Qxe3 Nxf4 35. gxf4 Qxa7 36. Qe6+ Qf7 37. Qxb6 Qxf4 38. Kg2 Bf8 39. b5 Bd6 40. Qf2 g5 $11 {Komodo10}) 24. d5 Ncd4 (24... Nxb4 25. dxe6 Qc8 26. Qxc8+ Bxc8 27. Nb5 Bxe6 28. a3 Nd5 29. Nxa7 Nfe3 30. Bf3 Kf7 (30... Bxh3 31. Nc2 Nxc2 32. Bxd5+ Kf8 33. Nb5 Bd7 34. Be4 Bxb5 35. Bxc2 Bc3 36. Bxb6 d5 $11 {Komodo10})) 25. dxe6 (25. Qc4 {Komodo10} Qc8 26. dxe6 Qxc4 27. Nxc4 d5 28. Ne3 Nxe3 29. Bxe3 Nxe6 30. Nc2 Kf7 31. Kf2 $11) 25... Qxe6 (25... Ne2+ 26. Kh2 Qxe6 27. Qc4 Qxc4 28. Nxc4 Bxg2 29. Kxg2 d5 30. Ne5 (30. Ne3 Nexg3 $15) 30... Bxe5 31. fxe5 Nfd4 32. Bxd4 Nxd4 33. Nd3 Kf7 34. Nf4 Nc2 35. b5 Na3 36. Nxd5 Ke6 37. Nc7+ Kxe5 $15) 26. Qc4 Bxg2 (26... d5 27. Qc7 Qe7 $11) (26... Qxc4 27. Nxc4 $15 {as in note above}) 27. Qxe6+ Nxe6 28. Kxg2 $11 d5 29. Nac2 (29. Nb5 a6 30. Na7 {Komodo10} b5 (30... Bd4 31. Nc8 b5 32. Bxd4 Nexd4 33. Kf2 Nc6 34. Nd3 Kf7 35. Nb6 Ke6 36. Nc5+ Kd6 37. Nxa6 d4 38. a4 bxa4 39. Nxa4 Na7 40. N6c5 Kd5 41. Nb2 $14 {Komodo10})) 29... Kf7 30. Nd3 (30. a4) 30... Ke7 31. g4 (31. Kf3 Nd6 32. Nc1 Kd7 33. Ne2 Ne4 34. Be3 Kc6 35. a4 Kd6 36. Ncd4 Nxd4+ 37. Bxd4 Bxd4 38. Nxd4 a6 $11 {Komodo10}) 31... Nfd4 32. Ne3 Kd6 33. Bg3 Kc6 34. a4 b5 35. f5 (35. a5 Ne2 36. f5 Nxg3 37. Kxg3 gxf5 38. gxf5 Nd4 39. Kg4 Ne2 40. Kg5 Nc3 $11 {Komodo10}) (35. axb5+ Nxb5 36. f5 gxf5 37. gxf5 Nf8 38. Ng4 Nd7 39. Nge5+ Bxe5 40. Nxe5+ Nxe5 41. Bxe5 Nd6 42. f6 Kd7 43. Kf3 Nc4 44. Bc3 Ke6 45. Kf4 $11 {Komodo10}) 35... gxf5 (35... bxa4 { considered} 36. fxe6 Nxe6 37. Nc2 Nd4 38. b5+ (38. Na3 Nb5 39. Be5 Nxa3 40. Bxg7 Nc2 41. Kf3 a3 42. Nc1 (42. Kf4 a2 43. Nc1 a1=Q 44. Bxa1 Nxa1 45. Kg5 Nc2 46. Kh6 Nxb4 47. Kxh7 d4 48. Kxg6 d3 49. Nxd3 Nxd3 50. h4 a5 51. h5 Ne5+ 52. Kf5 a4 $17) 42... Kb5 43. Na2 Kc4 44. Ke2 d4 45. Kd2 Ne3 46. Nc1 Nd5 47. Ne2 Nf4 48. Nxd4 Nxh3 49. Nf3 Kxb4 50. Kc2 h5 51. gxh5 gxh5 52. Bf8+ Ka4 53. Bd6 $11 {Komodo10})) 36. gxf5 Ng5 37. axb5+ (37. Ne5+ {considered} Bxe5 38. Bxe5 Ngf3 39. axb5+ Kxb5 40. Bxd4 Nxd4 41. f6 Ne6 42. Nxd5 Kc4 43. Ne7 Kxb4 44. Nc6+ Kc5 45. Nxa7 Kd5 46. Kg3 Ke5 47. f7 Kf6 $11 {Komodo10}) (37. Be5 $2 {considered } Bxe5 38. Nxe5+ Kd6 39. Nd3 bxa4 $19) (37. a5 Ne4 38. Bb8 a6 $11 {considered; neither K can cross over the barricade of the Ns}) 37... Kxb5 (37... Nxb5 $11) 38. h4 {proves to a bit of weakness later} (38. Bh4 h6 $11 (38... Bh6 $11)) ( 38. Nf4 Kxb4 {looked too dangerous} 39. Nexd5+ Kc5 40. f6 Bf8 41. h4 Nf7 42. Ne7 a5 43. Bf2 Kc4 44. Bxd4 Kxd4 45. Ne6+ Kd3 46. Nxf8 a4 47. Nd5 a3 48. Nb4+ Kc3 49. Na2+ Kb2 50. Nb4 Kb3 51. Nd3 Kc2 52. Nb4+ Kb3 $11 {Komodo10}) (38. Bd6 Ne4 39. Bf4 Bh8 40. Bc7 {neither K can approach, the Ns are all on their best squares, so the Bs engage in a farewell dance}) 38... Nf7 39. Kh3 {hoping to provoke h5 when Nf4 has added point, but not the best} (39. Bf4 Bh8 40. Kf2 h5 41. Bg5 Nd6 42. Nxd5 Kc4 43. N3f4 N4xf5 44. Ne3+ Nxe3 45. Kxe3 Kxb4 46. Nxh5 $11 a5 47. Be7 Be5 48. Kd3 Kb3 49. Nf6 a4 50. Ne4 Nxe4 51. Kxe4 Bc3 52. h5 $11 {Komodo10}) (39. Nf4 Nh6 40. f6 Bxf6 41. Nfxd5 Bd8 $15 42. Bf2 Nf7 43. Kg3 Ne5 44. Kf4 Nd3+ 45. Ke4 Nxf2+ 46. Kxd4 Bxh4 $17) 39... Nh6 40. Nxd5 (40. f6 Bxf6 41. Nxd5 Bg7 42. Be5 Nhf5 43. Bxg7 Nxg7 44. Ne5 h5 45. Kg3 Ngf5+ 46. Kf4 Nxh4 47. Kg5 Nhf3+ 48. Nxf3 Nxf3+ 49. Kxh5 Kc4 50. Ne7 Nd4 51. Kg4 Kxb4 52. Kf4 { drawn, Nalimov Tablebases}) 40... Nhxf5 41. Be5 {(draw?)} (41. Be5 Kc4 42. Bxg7 Nxg7 43. N5f4 h5 44. Kg2 Nc6 45. Kf3 Nxb4 46. Ne5+ Kd4 47. Nd7 a5 48. Ne2+ Kd5 49. Nb6+ Kc5 50. Na4+ Kc4 51. Ke4 $19 {a very difficult endgame- probably Wh can give up both Ns for the pawns} Nc6 52. Nf4 Kb4 53. Nb2 Kc3 54. Na4+ Kb3 55. Nc5+ Kb4 56. Nfd3+ Kc3 57. Na4+ {doen't look as if Bl is making progress}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League:Cardigan-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, IC."] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D37"] [WhiteElo "2226"] [BlackElo "1987"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2016.11.29"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. e3 (5. Bg5 {Orthodox Queen's Gambit, ; at least gets the B out from behind the pawn chain}) 5... O-O 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 a6 8. a4 c5 {transposed to a Queens Gambit Accepted position , except that Wh has lost a tempo by moving his KB twice.} 9. O-O Nc6 10. h3 (10. dxc5 { main}) (10. b3) 10... b6 (10... Qc7 {alternative}) 11. dxc5 Qxd1 (11... Bxc5 $15 {Komodo10, 4 draws; 2 GM games}) 12. Rxd1 Bxc5 13. e4 Bb7 (13... Na5 { Cloud Engines} 14. Bd3 Nb3 15. Rb1 Nxc1 16. Rbxc1 Bb7 17. e5 Bxf3 18. gxf3 Nh5 19. Bf1 Nf4 20. Ne4 $11 {De la Fuente Gonzalez-Cortes Jurado, Madrid ch 2005,1/ 2-1/2}) (13... e5 14. Bg5 Bb7 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nd5 Kg7 17. Nh4 Nd4 $11 { Maidana Guerra-Morrison, IECG email 2001, 1/2-1/2}) 14. e5 Na5 15. Be2 (15. Ba2 Ne4 16. Nxe4 Bxe4 17. Be3 Nc6 (17... Bxe3 18. fxe3 Nc6 19. Rd6 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Nxe5 21. f4 Ng6 22. Rxb6 $11 {Komodo10}) 18. Bxc5 bxc5 19. Nd2 Bc2 20. Rdc1 Nd4 21. Bc4 $11 {Zhou-Lysyj. CHN ch tm 2015,1/2-1/2}) (15. Bxa6 {Cloud Engines} Bxa6 {Komodo10 & Stockfish7} (15... Rxa6 {Stockfish 101116}) 16. exf6 gxf6 $11) 15... Nb3 $15 {Fritz13 & Komodo10} 16. Rb1 Ne4 17. Be3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 Rfd8 19. Bd3 (19. Nd4 Nbc5 $15 {both Engines}) 19... Nec5 (19... Nxc3 20. bxc3 Nc5 21. Bc2 Rxd1+ 22. Bxd1 Bc6 23. Rxb6 Bxa4 24. Bxa4 Nxa4 25. Rb3 Nc5 $17 {both Engines}) 20. Bc2 $2 (20. Be2 Kf8 $15 {Komodo10} (20... Bc6 $15 {Fritz13})) 20... Bxf3 21. gxf3 Nd2 $19 22. Ra1 Nxf3+ 23. Kg2 Nxe5 24. b4 Ncd7 (24... Ncd3 {both Engines} 25. Rab1 Rac8 26. Bxd3 Rxd3 27. Rxd3 Nxd3 28. Rb3 Ne5 29. Ne4 h6 $19) 25. Be4 (25. Ne4 $5) 25... Rac8 (25... Rab8) 26. Ne2 Rc7 (26... a5 27. bxa5 bxa5 $19 {both Engines}) (26... Rc4 27. Rd4 f5 28. Bf3 Rc2 29. Kg3 Nxf3 30. Kxf3 Ne5+ 31. Kf4 Ng6+ 32. Kg3 Rxd4 33. Nxd4 Rc3 34. Kf2 Kf7 $19 {Komodo10} ) 27. Rd4 Rdc8 28. Rad1 f5 (28... g6 {Komodo10}) (28... g5 {Fritz13}) 29. Bb1 Kf7 (29... Nf6 {Fritz13}) (29... Nf8 {Komodo10}) 30. Rd6 (30. e4 {both Engines} g6) 30... Ke7 31. Nd4 (31. Ba2 Rc2 32. R6d2 Rxd2 33. Rxd2 Nc4 {both Engines}) ( 31. Nf4 {expected by Bl} Rc6 32. Rxc6 Rxc6 $19) 31... Nf8 (31... Kxd6 $2 32. Nxf5+ Kc6 33. Be4#) 32. Nxf5+ {Wh is forced into some kind sacrifice to stay afloat since the R is now threatened; though the one chosen is not the best available.} (32. Rxb6 $2 Nc4 {picks up a R}) (32. Nxe6 Nxe6 33. Bxf5 Rc6 34. Rxc6 Rxc6 35. Bxh7 {picks up an extra pawn, though Bl is still winning}) 32... exf5 33. Bxf5 Rb8 (33... Nc4 $1 34. R6d3 Nb2 35. Bxc8 Rxc8 36. Rd6 Nxd1 37. Rxd1 Rc4 38. Rb1 Ne6 $19 {Wh has nothing for the piece}) 34. R6d5 Nc4 35. Kf3 g6 36. Be4 Nd7 (36... Nb2 37. Ra1 Rc4 38. Rd4 Rxd4 39. exd4 Ne6 $19 {Komodo10}) 37. Ke2 Nf6 38. R5d4 Nxe4 (38... Nb2 {both Engines} 39. Ra1 Rd8 40. Rxd8 Kxd8 41. Ba8 Ke7 {Blis winning comfortably}) 39. Rxe4+ Kf7 40. b5 axb5 (40... a5 { keep pawns on, swap pieces if ahead}) 41. axb5 Re8 $2 {but not this way} (41... Ra8 $19) (41... Kg7 $19) (41... Rbc8 42. Kf3 Rc5 43. Rd7+ Kg8 44. Rdd4 Ne5+ 45. Kg3 Rxb5 $19 {Komodo10}) 42. Rf1+ $18 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Cardigan-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Haig, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B02"] [WhiteElo "1906"] [BlackElo "1913"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "102"] [SourceDate "2016.11.30"] 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 (3. Nf3 c5 4. b3 g6 5. Bb2 Bg7 6. c4 Nc7 7. Nc3 { Wright-Haigh, Dyfed Closed 2015,1/2-1/2}) 3... Nb6 4. Nc3 {main} (4. d4) (4. c5 ) 4... d5 {unusual in an Alekhine, where the e5 pawn needs challenging} (4... d6 {main}) 5. cxd5 (5. c5 {Cloud Engines} Nc4 (5... d4 6. cxb6 dxc3 7. bxc7 cxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Qxc7 9. Nf3 $14 {Cloud Engines}) 6. d4 c6 7. Qc2 g6 8. b3 Bf5 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 Na5 11. Nge2 $16 {Kosek-Tejcek, Karlovy Vary 2011,1-0}) 5... Nxd5 6. Bc4 (6. d4 {33 games, 75% Wh}) (6. Nf3 {3 -0}) 6... Nxc3 (6... e6 7. Nge2 Bc5 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 Be7 10. Bd3 $14 {Haider-Bleck, Niederbayern ch 1999, 1-0}) 7. Qf3 e6 8. dxc3 $14 Nc6 9. Bf4 (9. Qe4 $16 {Komodo10, lets the N go to f3 & B maybe elsewhere}) 9... g6 (9... g5 {Komodo10}) 10. Rd1 Qe7 11. Bb5 (11. Qe3 $16) (11. h4 $16) 11... Bd7 12. Nh3 h6 $11 13. Bg3 O-O-O 14. Qf6 $5 (14. O-O g5 15. Qe2 a6 16. Bc4 h5 17. f4 $11 {Komodo10}) 14... Qxf6 15. exf6 { is this pawn strong or a liability?} Ne5 (15... Nb8 16. Bd3 Ba4 17. b3 Bc6 18. f3 Bd6 $15 {Komodo10}) 16. Be2 (16. Bxe5 Bxb5 17. Rxd8+ Kxd8 18. f3 Bd6 19. Bg3 $11 {Komodo10}) 16... Bd6 (16... Bc6) 17. O-O (17. f4) 17... Bc6 18. f3 Bc5+ 19. Nf2 Nd7 20. b4 Bxf2+ 21. Kxf2 (21. Bxf2 Ba4 22. Rd4 a6 23. c4 Ne5 $11) 21... Ba4 22. Rd4 Nb6 23. Rc1 Rd5 (23... a6 $11) 24. Bd1 (24. Rxd5 Nxd5 25. Be5 Rd8 26. h4 $14 {Komodo10}) 24... Bxd1 25. Rcxd1 Rhd8 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. Rxd5 exd5 $15 {the K gets access to e6} (27... Nxd5 $11) 28. Bf4 h5 (28... Na4 29. Bxh6 Nxc3 30. a3 Kd7 31. Ke3 Ke6 32. h4 Nb5 33. a4 Na3 34. Kd3 c6 $15 {Komodo10 }) 29. g4 (29. Ke3 c6 30. Be5 Na4 31. Bd4 b6 32. b5 c5 33. Be5 Nb2 $17 { Komodo10; the B is restricted by its own pawns, esprcially thre one on f6}) 29... Kd7 30. gxh5 gxh5 31. Kg3 c6 (31... Ke6 32. Kh4 (32. Bxc7 Na4 $19 { Bl harvests the Q side pawns}) 32... Kf5 (32... Kxf6 33. Bxc7 $11 {the B can gain time on the K at f6}) 33. Be3 Na4 34. Kxh5 Nxc3 $15) 32. Kh4 $16 Ke6 33. Bg5 {the f6 pawn is irrelevant- the B is needed to protect the Q side} (33. Kxh5 $1 $16 {and sooner or later the outside passed h pawn will force a Bl piece away from the Q side, allowing the Wh K entry there} {eg} Na4 34. Bd2 Nb2 35. h4 Nc4 36. Bg5 a5 37. bxa5 c5 38. Kg4 Ne5+ 39. Kf4 Nd3+ 40. Ke3 Ne5 41. Ke2 Kf5 42. Be3 Nd7 43. h5 Kxf6 44. Kd1 {and the Wh K enters via b5 ( Komodo10)}) 33... Na4 34. Kxh5 (34. Bd2 Nb2 $11 {Wh has lost a tempo, so Komodo10 considers it drawn, but the h pawn must still favour Wh in practical terms}) 34... Kf5 (34... Nxc3 $17) 35. Kh6 (35. Bd2 $16 {Komodo10 & Rudy}) 35... Nxc3 36. Bd2 (36. h4 {Komodo10} d4 37. Kg7 Nd5 38. Kxf7 d3 39. Bd2 Nxf6 40. Ke7 Nh5 41. Kd6 Ng3 42. Kc7 Nf1 43. Bc1 b6 44. Kxc6 d2 45. Bxd2 Nxd2 46. a4 Nc4 47. Kb7 a5 48. bxa5 bxa5 49. Ka6 Kg6 50. f4 {if Bl loses the a pawn & have to give up his N for the Wh a pawn, then Wh wins as the 2 K side pawns can protect against the K- each time one is attacked, the other advances, so the K can't take its colleague} Kh5 51. f5 Kxh4 52. f6 Nd6 (52... Ne5 53. Kxa5 {loses, Nalimov tablebases}) 53. Kxa5 Kg5 54. Kb6 Kxf6 55. a5 Nc4+ $11) 36... d4 $17 37. Kg7 Nd5 38. Kxf7 d3 $11 {loses control over the Bl squares} (38... Nxf6 $17 39. Ke7 Ke5 40. h4 (40. Kd8 b6 41. Kc7 Kd5 42. Kb7 c5 43. bxc5 bxc5 $19 { as c3 is coming}) 40... Nh5 41. f4+ Ke4 42. f5 Kxf5 43. Kd7 Ke4 44. Kc7 Kd3 45. Bg5 Kc4 46. Kxb7 Kxb4 47. Kxc6 d3 48. Kb7 a5 {still runs out a draw in the long run, Komodo10 nudged}) 39. h4 Nxf6 40. Ke7 Nd5+ 41. Kd6 (41. Kd7 {could be tried, Wh is ensured of a draw if he can get rid of all the BL Q side pawns, & may even have some winning chances ( The Bl K has to catch the h pawn & the N needs to win the Bf or d pawn.)} Nb6+ 42. Kc7 Nc4 43. Bc1 b6 44. Kxc6 d2 45. Bxd2 Nxd2 46. Kb7 b5 47. Ka6 Nb1 48. Kxb5 Nc3+ 49. Ka6 Nxa2 50. b5 Nc3 51. Kxa7 Nxb5+ $11) 41... Nb6 (41... Nf4 42. Kc7 b6 43. Kxc6 Ng6 44. h5 Ne5+ 45. Kb7 Nc4 46. Bc1 a5 47. b5 $16 (47. bxa5 bxa5 48. Ka6 d2 49. Bxd2 Nxd2 50. Kxa5 Nxf3 $11 ) 47... a4 48. Kc6 a3 49. Kb7 Kf6 50. Kc6 Kf5 51. f4 (51. Kb7 {repeats}) 51... Na5+ 52. Kxb6 Nb3 53. Be3 Ke4 54. h6 Kxe3 55. h7 d2 56. h8=Q d1=Q 57. Qe5+ Kf2 58. f5 Qd8+ {hair-raising position for humans to judge or play; simple draw for Engines}) 42. Kc5 $14 Nd7+ (42... Kg6) 43. Kd4 Ne5 44. a4 (44. Ke3 Ng6 45. h5 Nh4 46. h6 Kg6 47. Kf4 Kh7 48. Ke4 Kg6 49. Be3 b6 50. Kxd3 Nxf3 51. Ke4 Ne1 52. Bd2 Nc2 {Bl has many more chances of going wrong in this position than Wh, who can decide at any time to sacrifice the distant passed pawn for making use of the B on the Q side} 53. Kd3 (53. a4 Nxb4 54. Bxb4 Kxh6 55. Ke5 Kg6 56. Bd6 (56. Kd6 a5 57. Be1 b5 {eliminates the pawn})) 53... Na3 (53... Nxb4+ 54. Bxb4 Kxh6 {probably still a draw, as Wh has the wrong colour Rs pawn, & Bl'K can scurry back} 55. Kd4 Kg6 56. Ke5 c5 57. Bc3 Kf7 58. Kd6 Ke8 59. Bf6 b5 60. Kxc5 Kd7 61. Kxb5 Kc7 62. Ka6 Kb8 {destination reached, though Komodo10 still thinks Wh is winning})) 44... Nxf3+ 45. Kxd3 Nxh4 46. Be3 a6 47. Kc4 Ke6 48. Kc5 Kd7 49. Kb6 Kc8 {again just in time} 50. b5 {ensuring the draw} cxb5 51. axb5 axb5 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League:Cardigan-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Leah, H."] [Black "Robinson, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B85"] [WhiteElo "1523"] [BlackElo "1765"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "132"] [SourceDate "2016.11.30"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 (6. Bg5) (6. Be3 { more frequent}) 6... e6 (6... e5 {Najdorf's original idea}) 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. f4 {its a mainline Scheveningen ( pronunciation test)} Qc7 10. Nb3 (10. Qe1 b5 11. a3 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nbd7 13. Qg3) (10. g4 d5 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 exd5 13. Bf3 Rd8 {more frequent ways}) 10... b5 (10... Nc6 {alternative}) 11. a3 Bb7 12. Bf3 Nbd7 13. Qe1 Nb6 (13... Rac8 14. Qg3 {main}) 14. Na5 e5 (14... Bc8) ( 14... d5) (14... Nc4) (14... Nfd7) (14... Rad8 {have alll featured with one game each- 3 draws, 3 Bl wins}) 15. Rd1 (15. Nxb7 Qxb7 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. Bxb6 Qxb6+ 18. Kh1 Rac8 19. Qe2 Qc7 20. Rad1 Bxa3 21. Nxb5 axb5 22. bxa3 Qa5 $15 { Antunovic-Bakri, Wld ch U12, Chalkidiki 2003,0-1}) 15... Nc4 16. Nxb7 (16. Nxc4 Qxc4 17. Rd3 Rac8 $11 {Komodo10}) 16... Qxb7 (16... Nxb2 $1 17. Rb1 Nc4 18. a4 Na3 19. Rb2 (19. Rb3 Nxc2 20. Qf2 Nxe3 21. Qxe3 exf4 22. Qxf4 Ra7 23. axb5 Rxb7 24. Kh1 axb5 $17 {Komodo10}) 19... Qxb7 20. axb5 axb5 21. Qe2 Qc6 22. Nxb5 Nc4 23. Rb3 Nxe3 24. Qxe3 (24. Rxe3 Rab8) 24... Qxc2 $17 {Komodo10}) 17. Bc1 (17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Bc1 Rad8 $11) 17... Rfd8 (17... exf4 $15) 18. b3 Na5 (18... Nb6 19. Rf2 $14) (18... Nxa3 19. Bxa3 b4 20. Bb2 bxc3 21. Bxc3 $14) 19. Bb2 (19. fxe5 dxe5 20. Nd5 Nc6 21. Be3 $16 {Komodo10}) 19... Nc6 20. Ne2 {a little passive} (20. Nd5 Re8 21. Qf2 $16 {Komodo10}) 20... Rac8 (20... exf4 21. Nxf4 Ne5 $11) 21. Rd2 (21. g3) 21... Qc7 22. Qf2 exf4 23. Nxf4 Ne5 24. Bxe5 $2 { the N makes the Bon f3 bad, but exchanging releases Bl's bl B , with control of those squares across the board} (24. Kh1 $11) 24... dxe5 $17 25. Nd3 Bxa3 { Bl now has a potential passed a pawn. The Bl B has plenty of entry squares, the Wh B is a big pawn} 26. Qe2 Bc5+ (26... a5) (26... Be7) 27. Kh1 (27. Nxc5 Qxc5+ {makes it good N vs bad B}) 27... Bd4 $19 28. Nb4 Qb6 29. Nd5 Nxd5 30. exd5 a5 {the d pawn is easily blockaded; the a pawn just marches on, helped by its B} (30... f5 31. g4 f4 {Komodo8 & 10}) 31. c4 bxc4 (31... a4 32. bxa4 bxc4 {Komodo10, the a pawn is lost; but just keeping the Bl a pawn is simpler to play}) 32. bxc4 a4 33. Qd3 Qc5 (33... Qb3) 34. Be2 Rb8 (34... Ra8 {preferred by Komodo10}) 35. Rb1 a3 36. Ra2 Rxb1+ 37. Qxb1 Bb2 {immuring the R} (37... Qd6 38. g3 Rb8 39. Qd3 Bc5 40. Kg2 g6 41. Qc2 Bd4 42. Qd3 Rb2 43. Rxb2 axb2 { Komodo10 is more convoluted}) 38. Rxb2 axb2 39. Qxb2 Qd6 (39... Qf2 40. g3 e4 $19 {Komodo10;but why risk things? The static pawns & B of Wh gives Bl all the time in the world to improve his position bit by bit}) 40. g3 g6 41. Kg2 f6 42. Bf3 Kg7 43. Qc3 Rc8 44. g4 Rc7 {covering all counterplay} 45. Be4 Qc5 {winning one pawn} 46. h3 (46. Bd3 Qxd5+ {followed by the advance of the centre pawns}) 46... Qxc4 47. Qxc4 {keeping Qs on is very dangerous with Wh's K exposed} Rxc4 48. Kf3 g5 {Bl has a plan} (48... f5 $1 {Komodo 8 & 10 is quicker} 49. gxf5 gxf5 50. Bb1 (50. Bxf5 Rf4+) 50... e4+ (50... Kf6) (50... Rd4)) 49. Bf5 Rd4 50. Be6 Kf8 51. Ke3 Ke7 52. Kf3 Kd6 53. Bg8 h6 54. Ke3 Rxd5 55. Bh7 Rd4 {next , force the K back} 56. Bf5 Ra4 57. Kf2 Kd5 58. Kg2 Ra3 59. Bc8 e4 {push a pawn, through , aided by the K& threatening a mating net ( Wh is still unable to control the bl squares} 60. Bb7+ Kd4 {Komodo8} (60... Ke5 61. Kf1 Kf4 {Komodo10 }) 61. Bc6 e3 (61... Kd3) 62. Kf3 Rb3 (62... Ra5) 63. Bd7 Rb2 64. Bf5 e2 (64... Rf2+ 65. Kg3 Rf1 (65... Rxf5 66. gxf5 Kd3) 66. Kg2 e2 {there is more than one way}) 65. Kf2 Kc3 66. Be4 (66. Ke1 {holds a little longer} Kd4 67. Kf2 Rb5 $1 { Komodo10} 68. Kxe2 (68. Bc2 Kc3 (68... Re5 69. Ke1 Ke3 70. Bf5 Ra5 71. Bb1 Ra1 72. h4 Rxb1#) 69. Bg6 Kd2) (68. Bg6 Re5 69. Ke1 Ke3) 68... Rxf5 69. gxf5 Ke4) 66... Kd2 0-1

Catching Up 2

Here is the second of my catching up reports.I have had to go to a format of one post per page as the replayer problem has come back. You can see older posts by clicking the link at the bottom. If the problem returns tomorrow, I shall have to try my work-around after all.

Aberystwyth A 3-1 Gwyddbwyll.com. St David's Club, 22 November, 2016.

Adam Watkin-Jones ½-½ Iwan Griffiths

Matthew Francis ½-½ Owen Llywelyn

James Corrigan 1-0 Tegwyn Jones

Ian Finlay 1-0 Emyr Llywelyn

[Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Griffiths, I."] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "1602"] [BlackElo "1987"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "40"] [SourceDate "2016.12.01"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 e6 4. e5 (4. Nc3) (4. O-O {mainlines}) 4... a6 5. a4 Qc7 6. Qe2 Nge7 (6... f6 {Cloud Engines} 7. exf6 Nxf6 $15) 7. c3 (7. O-O Ng6 ( 7... g5 8. Re1 (8. Nxg5) 8... Ng6 9. h3 Bg7 10. c3 Ncxe5 11. Nxg5 Nf4 (11... d5 12. Bb3 Nf4 13. Qf1 Ned3 $19 {Komodo10}) 12. Qe4 Nxc4 13. d3 d5 14. Qxf4 Qxf4 15. Bxf4 Nxb2 $19 {Bellay-Wirig, Nantes op 2006,0-1}) 8. Re1 d5 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. d3 O-O 11. Nc3 Nd4 $15 {Kamal-Ferrie, Evry op 2006,0-1}) (7. Nc3 Ng6 8. O-O Ncxe5 9. Re1 (9. Nxe5 Nxe5) 9... Bd6 10. Nxe5 Bxe5 11. h3 O-O $17 { Alexakis-Tsaknakis, Thessaloniki Vardaris op 2016,0-1}) 7... Ng6 8. d4 d5 (8... cxd4 9. cxd4 Na5 10. Nbd2 (10. b3 b5 $19) 10... Nf4 11. Qe4 Nxg2+ 12. Kf1 Ne3+ 13. fxe3 Nxc4 14. Kf2 d5 $17 {Komodo10}) 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. dxc5 Bxc5 11. O-O O-O $11 12. Rd1 Bd7 (12... b6 13. Be3 Bb7 14. Bxc5 bxc5 15. Nbd2 Rfd8 $15 {Komodo10 }) 13. b4 $5 {leaves a backward pawn on c3} Be7 (13... Ba7) 14. Be3 Bf6 15. Ra2 Rfc8 (15... Nce7 $15 16. Bb6 (16. g3 Bc6 17. Bb3 Bxc3 18. Nxc3 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Qxc3 $15) 16... Qxb6 17. Rxd7 Qc6 18. Rd1 Nf4 19. Qf1 Rfd8 20. Rad2 Rxd2 21. Nfxd2 Qxa4 $15 {Komodo10}) 16. Bb6 Qxb6 17. Rxd7 Nce5 (17... Na5 18. Bd3 Qc6 19. Rd4 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 Nf4 21. Bxh7+ Kh8 22. Nxc6 Nxe2+ 23. Rxe2 Nxc6 $19 { Komodo10}) (17... Nxb4 18. cxb4 Qc6 19. Bxe6 Nf4 20. Qe1 Nxe6 21. Rd1 Nf4 22. Qf1 Qe4 23. Nbd2 Qxb4 $17 {Komodo10}) 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Rd4 Nxc4 (19... a5 20. b5 Qc5 21. Nd2 Qc7 22. g3 Nd7 23. Rd3 Nc5 24. Re3 Rd8 $17 {Komodo10}) 20. Rxc4 Rd8 $15 {(draw?)} (20... Rxc4 21. Qxc4 Bg5 22. Nd2 Rd8 23. Nf1 g6 $17 {Bl has better pieces, & the c pawn still weak}) (20... Rd8 21. g3 (21. Rd2 Rd5 22. Rxd5 exd5 23. Rc5 Qd6 24. c4 d4 $17) 21... Rd5 22. Nd2 g6 23. Ne4 Bg7 24. Rc5 a5 25. Rb2 Qd8 26. Rxa5 b6 27. Rxa8 Qxa8 28. f3 Qxa4 29. Kg2 $11 {Komodo10}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Llywelyn, O."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1690"] [BlackElo "1546"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "74"] [SourceDate "2016.12.01"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 {the Fastasy variation} Nf6 (3... e6 4. Nc3 {main}) ( 3... dxe4 4. fxe4 e5 5. Nf3 exd4 6. Bc4 {main, but more like an e4-e5 opening than a Caro-Kann}) 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 (5. e6 {is a sharp line, hoping to restrict Bl's development ( however Wh's pawn is on f3, where the KN needs to be). A similar sacrifice occurrred in Francic- AH Williams, Dyfed League 2012, 1/2-1/2, though there the opening was an Alekhine.}) 5... e6 6. Nf3 c5 7. c3 { and Wh has a superior French, since he can support his centre without having to move a N from c3 first.} Nc6 8. Be3 (8. Be2 {main}) (8. Bd3 Qb6 9. Bc2 Be7 10. O-O Nf8 (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Nxd4 $2 12. Nxd4 Bc5 13. Be3 Qxb2 14. Bb3 Qxa1 15. Qd2 $18 {BezgodovThe Extreme Caro-Kann, 2014:20}) 11. a3 Bd7 12. b3 { Muzychuk A-Kharmunova, Gaziantep Ech 2012,1-0, analysed in Bezgodov 2014:19-22} ) 8... cxd4 (8... Qb6 9. Qc2 (9. Qd2 {main}) 9... cxd4 10. cxd4 f6 { Grabics-Nemeth, HUN ch women 1996,1-0; analysed in Bezgodov 2014:22-3}) 9. cxd4 Nb6 10. Nc3 a6 (10... Bd7 11. Bd3 Na5 12. O-O Nbc4 13. Bc1 $14 {is akin to a Lenigrad variation in the normal French; Meyer-Haselhorst,Muensterland op Senden 2005,0-1}) 11. Be2 (11. Bd3 {at once would save a tempo} Nb4 12. Be2 ( 12. Bb1) 12... Be7 13. a3 Nc6 14. Bd3 {gains it back}) 11... Bd7 12. O-O Be7 13. Bd3 Nb4 14. Bb1 Nc4 15. Bc1 h6 {may not be neccessary & does create a potential target} (15... Rc8 16. f5) 16. a3 Nc6 17. Kh1 (17. b3 Nb6 18. Be3 $14 {Komodo10}) 17... O-O {dangerous because Wh has Bs aimed at the K side} 18. f5 {the right idea, but could do with one preparatory move.} (18. Qc2 {Rudy & Komodo10} g6 (18... f5 19. exf6 Rxf6 20. Qh7+ Kf7 21. Bg6+ $1 {Komodo10} Rxg6 ( 21... Kf8 22. Qh8#) 22. Ne5+ N6xe5 23. fxe5+ Bf6 24. exf6 Qxf6 (24... Rxf6 25. Bxh6 Qg8 26. Rxf6+ Kxf6 27. Bxg7+ Ke7 (27... Qxg7 28. Rf1+) 28. Bf8+ Kxf8 ( 28... Ke8 29. Qe7#) 29. Rf1+ {Komodo10; mating}) 25. Rxf6+ Rxf6 26. Kg1 $18) 19. f5 $1 {threat f6 winning a piece} exf5 (19... Bg5 20. Nxg5 hxg5 21. fxg6 Nxd4 22. Qd1 fxg6 (22... Nc6 23. Qh5 fxg6 24. Qxg6+ Kh8 25. Qh7#) 23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. Qxd4 Nxe5 25. Bxg5 $18 {Komodo10}) (19... gxf5 20. Bxh6 (20. g4 $1 $18 {Komodo10} Kh8 21. Bxh6 Rg8 22. gxf5 exf5 23. Nxd5 Be6 24. Nxe7 Nxe7 25. Qc1 Rg6 26. Bg5 $18) 20... Kh7 21. Bxf8 Qxf8 22. Qe2 $18 {Komodo10}) 20. Nxd5 (20. Bxh6 Be6 21. Bxf8 Bxf8 22. Qc1 $14) 20... Be6 21. Nxe7+ Nxe7 22. Bxh6 Re8 23. Qf2 $18 {Komodo10}) 18... exf5 19. Nxd5 Be6 20. Nxe7+ $6 {Wh now loses control over d5, which seves as a pivot for all Bl's pieces} (20. Nf4 {Rudy, threatens d5} g5 {Komodo10} 21. d5 gxf4 22. dxe6 Qxd1 23. Rxd1 Rad8 24. Re1 N4xe5 25. Nxe5 Nxe5 26. Bxf4 Nd3 27. Bxd3 Rxd3 28. Bxh6 Re8 29. exf7+ Kxf7 30. g3 Bf6 31. Rxe8 Kxe8 32. Re1+ Kf7 33. Bc1 Rb3 34. Re2 $11 {Komodo10,but Wh does have an extra h pawn which will give some winning chances in an endgame}) 20... Nxe7 $15 21. b3 Nb6 22. Be3 Nbd5 23. Bg1 Rc8 24. Qd2 Qd7 25. Ne1 Rc6 (25... Nc3 26. Rf3 Ne4 27. Qb2 Nd5 $17 {Komodo10}) 26. Nd3 b6 27. Nb4 Nxb4 28. Qxb4 Nd5 (28... Rfc8 $17) 29. Qd2 Rfc8 (29... Rc3 30. Bd3 b5 31. a4 Rxb3 32. axb5 axb5 $17) 30. Bd3 b5 31. Rac1 (31. a4 Rc3 32. Rf3 Qb7 33. axb5 axb5 34. Qe2 Rxb3 35. Bxf5 Rxf3 36. Qxf3 Bxf5 37. Qxf5 Ra8 38. Rxa8+ Qxa8 $15 {Bl has a superior N to a bad B, plus in effect an extra Q side runner} 39. e6 Qb7 40. exf7+ Qxf7) 31... Nc3 (31... Rc3 32. Rxc3 Rxc3 33. Rb1 f4 34. Be4 Bf5 35. Qe1 Bxe4 36. Qxe4 Qc6 $17 {Komodo10}) 32. b4 R8c7 (32... Ne4 33. Bxe4 fxe4 34. Be3 Rc4 35. Kg1 Bd5 $15 {Komodo10; but maybe Wh can hold with the opposite colour Bs aiding a barricade}) 33. Qe3 Qc8 (33... Nd5 34. Qd2 Rc3 $17) 34. Rce1 (34. Qh3 {Komodo10 } f4 35. Qh4 Bd5 36. Rxf4 Ne2 37. Rc5 Rxc5 38. bxc5 Nxf4 39. Qxf4 Re7 40. Be4 Qc6 41. Bxd5 Qxd5 42. Qf3 Qxf3 43. gxf3 {the mass of pawns means Bl must tread carefully to hold the draw.} f6 44. d5 Rxe5 45. c6 Kf7 46. d6 Ke8 47. d7+ Ke7 48. Bb6 Rd5 49. Kg2 $11 {Komodo10}) 34... Nd5 $19 35. Qd2 Rc3 36. Ra1 Rb3 37. Rfe1 Rcc3 $17 {(draw?) Bl has a very powerful position, controlling all open lines; it just needs a bit more patience to squeeze out a win.} (37... Rcc3 38. Rec1 Qc6 (38... Rxa3 39. Rxa3 Rxc1 40. h3 g5 41. Kh2 Kg7 $17 {Komodo10}) 39. Rxc3 Rxc3 40. h4 (40. h3 Nf4 $19 41. Qxf4 (41. Bf1 Rxh3+) 41... Rxd3 42. Kh2 g5 43. Rc1 Qb7 44. Qf1 Rxa3 $19) 40... Ne7 41. h5 Bd5 42. Kh2 (42. Bf1 Rc2 $19) 42... Bxg2 $19 {Komodo10}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, Tegwyn"] [Black "Corrigan, James"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "1245"] [BlackElo "1458"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "46"] [SourceDate "2016.12.01"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. e3 c5 5. dxc5 (5. Be2) (5. Bb5+ {main lines}) 5... Bxc5 6. Bb5+ (6. Bd3) 6... Bd7 7. Bxd7+ Qxd7 {keeps c6 for the N} (7... Nbxd7 {main}) 8. O-O Nc6 9. Qe2 {Cloud Engines} (9. a4 O-O 10. b3 Rac8 11. Nb5 a6 12. Nbd4 e5 (12... Bd6 $15 {Komodo10}) 13. Nxc6 Qxc6 14. Nxe5 Qc7 15. Nd3 Bd6 16. g3 Qxc2 17. Qxc2 Rxc2 18. Ne1 Rc3 19. Bb2 Rxb3 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Nf3 $11 {Dragne-Nardelli, Dos Hermanas blitz 2004,0-1}) 9... O-O 10. b3 (10. e4 dxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Qxe4 Rad8 13. Ng5 g6 14. Qh4 f6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Be3 Nd4 17. Bxd4 Qxd4 18. c3 Qd5 19. Rfe1 e5 $15 {Komodo10}) 10... a6 (10... e5) 11. Na4 Ba7 12. Bb2 Rac8 (12... Qe7 13. c4 dxc4 14. bxc4 Rad8 $11 {Komodo10}) 13. Rac1 (13. Rfd1 $11) (13. c4 $11) 13... Qc7 (13... b5 14. Nc3 Qb7 15. Rfd1 Bb8 $15 {Komodo10}) 14. Rfd1 e5 15. h3 (15. c4 dxc4 16. Qxc4 b5 17. Qc2 Ng4 (17... bxa4 18. Nxe5 $16) 18. Nc5 Nb4 19. Qe4 f5 20. Qxb4 Bxc5 $11 {Komodo10}) 15... Bb8 (15... b5 16. Nc3 d4 17. exd4 Nxd4 18. Qd3 Rfd8 19. Ne4 Ne6 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qf1 e4 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8 23. Nh2 f5 $17 {Komodo10}) 16. Kf1 (16. g3 Rfe8 $15) 16... e4 (16... b5 17. Nc3 Rfd8 $17 {Komodo10; better to keep the threat on rather than execute it}) 17. Ng1 Qh2 {a Q on her own can seldom inflict much damage; unless the pawns are already scattered} (17... Ne5 18. Bd4 Qd6 19. Qd2 Rfd8 $11 {Komodo10}) 18. Bxf6 gxf6 19. Qg4+ {also going for the K} (19. Nb6 Rcd8 20. Nxd5 Qe5 21. c4 $16 {is a simpler way of retaining a central advantage }) 19... Kh8 20. Rxd5 {Wh has his eyes on h7} Rce8 {Bl has his eyes on using the g file, but} (20... Rg8 21. Qxe4 $18 {protects g2}) 21. Rh5 $2 (21. Qh4 $1 Rg8 (21... Be5 22. Qxe4 $16) 22. g3 $16 (22. Qxf6+ Rg7 23. g4 Re6 24. Qh4 Be5 25. Nc5 Reg6 26. Nd7 Rxg4 27. Qxg4 Rxg4 28. hxg4 f6 29. Rcd1 Qh4 30. Nxe5 Nxe5 31. g5 (31. Rc5 Nxg4 $15) 31... Qxg5 32. Nh3 Qg4 33. Nf4 Qf3 34. Ke1 $11) 22... Bxg3 (22... Rg7 23. Rcd1 Reg8 24. Nc3 f5 25. Nce2 $18 {the Bl Q is cut off from the rest of the army}) 23. fxg3 Qxg3 24. Qxg3 Rxg3 25. Nc3 Rxe3 26. Nce2 Nb4 27. Rd7 Nxa2 28. Rcd1 Nc3 29. Rd8 $18 {Komodo10}) 21... Rg8 $17 22. Rxh7+ { hoping for something, but Wh needs to keep running} (22. Qh4 Qxg2+ 23. Ke2 Rg7 24. Nc3 f5 25. Nd5 (25. Rxf5 Bh2 $19 (25... Ne7 26. Rh5 f5 $19)) 25... Bg3 26. Rxh7+ Rxh7 27. Qxg3 Rg8 28. Qc7 Qg6 $17 {Komodo10}) 22... Kxh7 23. Qh4+ Kg7 { but Bl can run away, keeping the booty} 0-1 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Finlay, I."] [Black "Llywelyn, E."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E90"] [WhiteElo "1369"] [BlackElo "941"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [SourceDate "2016.12.02"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Bd3 (6. Be2 {main; the text can leave d4 a little vulnerable}) 6... Nbd7 (6... e5) 7. O-O e5 8. dxe5 ( 8. d5 {main is stronger, because Bl can get a N into d4 via c5 & e6; whereas Wh's N can be kept out of d5 by c6}) 8... dxe5 9. Qc2 (9. Bg5 {main}) 9... Nc5 {Komodo10 first choice} (9... c6 {first, as played, is more cautious, to put the Q on e7 protecting e5.}) (9... Re8 {also strategic; the B often reroutes via f8 to control c5}) 10. Be2 (10. Nxe5 {unleashes a whirlwind of complications} Re8 (10... Ne8 11. Be3 Na6 12. Nf3 Nb4 13. Qb3 Nxd3 14. Rad1 Bg4 (14... Be6 15. Nb5 Nf6 16. Rxd3 Qe7 17. Bd4 Nxe4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Re3 Nc5 20. Qc3+ Kg8 21. b4 Na6 22. c5 $16 {Komodo10}) 15. Nb5 (15. Ne2 Qe7 16. Qxd3 Bxb2 17. Nfd4 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 b6 $14 {Komodo10}) 15... Nd6 16. Rxd3) ( 10... Nfxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Nxf7 Rxf7 13. Bxe4 $16) 11. b4 (11. f4 Qd4+ 12. Kh1 Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Qxd3 14. Nxd3 Nxe4 $17) 11... Na6 12. Nxf7 Kxf7 13. a3 Kg8 $17) 10... Ncd7 {why move a N from an excellent square? Far better to move the other N, to d7 , so it reinforces control over c5 & lets the B cover e5 & d4} ( 10... Nfd7 11. Bg5 Qe8 (11... f6 12. Be3 Ne6 {also good}) 12. Nd5 Ne6 13. Be7 c6 14. Bxf8 Qxf8 15. Nc3 Nd4 {Komodo10 gives enough compensation for the exchange by the control over the bl sqaures}) (10... Ne6 {Cloud Engines is fine for Bl} 11. Rd1 (11. Nxe5 Nd4 12. Qd3 Nxe4 13. Qxe4 Bf5 14. Qf4 Re8 (14... Nxe2+ 15. Nxe2 Qe8 16. Ng3 Bxe5 17. Qf3 Be6 $11) 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. Bd1 Kg8 $11) 11... Nd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Bg5 Qd6 14. Bh4 c6 15. Bg3 Qd8 16. Be5 c5 17. Bf4 b6 $11) 11. Rd1 a6 {doesn't fit in well with the overall plan for Bl in these kinds of positions} (11... a5) (11... c6 {are the structural moves}) (11... Re8 {though needs to be played to protect the e5 pawn}) 12. Nxe5 Re8 13. Nf3 (13. Nxd7 Bxd7 14. Bg5 h6 $2 (14... Qc8 15. f3 $16) 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 16. Bg4 {and Bl must give up the Q} Bxg4 (16... Re7 17. Nd5 {is worse}) 17. Rxd8 Raxd8 18. Nd5 $18 {Komodo10}) 13... Re6 14. b3 $6 (14. e5 Ne8 15. Bg5 f6 16. exf6 Nexf6 17. Nd5 $18 {staying a clear pawn up with Bl still struggling with development}) 14... b6 (14... Nxe4 {takes advantage of the long diagonal( though Komodo10 thinks things workout rather well for Wh)} 15. Nxe4 {other moves lose for Wh eg } (15. Bb2 $2 Nxc3 16. Bxc3 Bxc3 17. Qxc3 Rxe2) 15... Bxa1 16. Nfg5 Re7 17. c5 c6 18. Bc4 Qf8 19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Qxb2 Qg7 21. Qd2 $14 {Bl still is far behind in development- instead of an exchange up, Bl is in effect a R down in seeking to defend his K!}) 15. Bg5 (15. e5 $18 Ne8 (15... Ng4 16. Qe4 $18) 16. Bg5 f6 17. Nd4 $1 fxg5 (17... Re7 18. Nc6 {wins the Q})) 15... Bb7 $2 (15... Qe8 16. Bd3 Bb7 17. Nd5 (17. Rac1 Rc8 18. Nd2 h6 19. Bh4 Nc5 20. f3 Nxd3 21. Qxd3 Nh5 22. Nd5 g5 23. Bf2 Nf4 24. Qf1 $16 {Komodo10}) 17... Rc8 18. Rac1 Nxe4 19. Bf4 c5 20. Nc7 Rxc7 21. Bxc7 Nf8 $14) 16. e5 $18 h6 17. exf6 Bxf6 18. Bxf6 Rxf6 19. Ne5 (19. Qd2 Rd6 20. Qxh6 Qf8 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. Rxd6 cxd6 23. Rd1 $18 { Komodo10}) 19... Qe8 (19... Rd6 20. Rxd6 cxd6 21. Nxd7 Qxd7 22. Rd1 $18) (19... Rxf2 {Komodo10} 20. Kxf2 Qh4+ 21. Kg1 Nxe5 22. Nd5 $18) 20. Nxd7 Qe6 (20... Re6 21. Rd3 Bc6 22. Rad1 Kg7 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. Qc3+ Kg8 25. cxd5 Rd6 26. Ne5 $18 { as the N escapes}) 21. Nxf6+ (21. Bg4 {Komodo10}) 21... Qxf6 22. Ne4 (22. Rd7) 22... Qg7 23. Bf3 Re8 24. Nf6+ (24. Nd6 cxd6 25. Bxb7 {wrecks Bl's pawns as well as simplifying}) 24... Qxf6 25. Bxb7 a5 26. Re1 Rf8 27. Rad1 Kg7 28. Qd2 Rg8 29. Qd4 Qxd4 30. Rxd4 h5 31. Re7 Kf6 32. Rdd7 Rf8 33. Bd5 {too much heavy material} 0-1

Catching Up 1

Now the Christmas holidays here, I sat down to fix the game replayer problem that has prevented me from updating the blog for the last few weeks. I had thought up an elaborate work-around, and was just in the process of trying it out when I blundered on the real solution. The replayable games were not displaying properly because there was not enough room for them on the blog page. When I clicked on a blog entry, the games displayed properly because there was now only one entry on the screen. So I've set the blog to display three entries at a time instead of seven, and that seems to have solved it. Now to catch up with all the game reports I've missed. I'm going to do this a day at a time, like the twelve days of Christmas, only not so many.To save time,and because the matches were some time ago, I'll just give the match result in tabular form rather than a verbal report.

Aberystwyth B 3-1 Steynton B, Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes

Robert Wright 0-1 John Miller

Adam Robinson 1-0 Scott Hammett

James Corrigan 1-0 Gwyn Evans

Conor McEwan 1-0 Ray Greenwood

[Event "DCL 2016-2017"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Miller, John S"] [Black "Wright, Robert"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "1621"] [BlackElo "1904"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 d5 4. Nbd2 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. e3 Nh5 (6... Bd6) (6... Be7 {main}) 7. Bg5 Qb6 8. Qb3 (8. Rb1 {more frequent}) 8... Qxb3 $146 (8... h6 9. Bh4 g5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 Bg7 {main}) 9. Nxb3 (9. axb3 {is more usual in these Q swap positions- the a file is useful for Wh & the centre is strenthened a little}) 9... c4 (9... f6 10. g4 cxd4 11. cxd4 fxg5 12. gxh5 Bd6 13. Nxg5 e5 $11 {Komodo10}) 10. Nbd2 h6 11. Bh4 Bd6 (11... g5 12. Bg3 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Bg7 $11 {Komodo10}) 12. e4 (12. Be2 g5 13. Ng1 Nf6 14. Bg3 Ke7 $11 { Komodo10}) 12... Bf4 (12... f5 $1 {the Wh QB is in danger} 13. e5 Bc7 14. h3 f4 15. Be2 g5 16. g4 Ng7 17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 O-O $15 {Komodo10}) 13. e5 Bd7 14. Be2 f5 (14... g5 15. Bg3 Ke7 $11) 15. Bg3 (15. exf6 Nxf6 16. Bg3 Bxg3 17. hxg3 Ke7 $11 {Komodo10}) 15... O-O-O (15... O-O) 16. Ng1 Be8 (16... Bxd2+ 17. Kxd2 Nxg3 18. hxg3 Kc7 19. Nf3 b5 $11 {Komodo10}) 17. Nh3 (17. Nxc4 $1 dxc4 18. Bxh5 Bxh5 19. Bxf4 $14 {Komodo10}) 17... Nxg3 18. hxg3 Bxd2+ 19. Kxd2 g5 $2 (19... Bf7 {had to be tried, though Wh retains a small advantage as Bl's B is rather hemmed in by its pawns}) 20. Nxg5 $18 Bd7 $2 {and an exchange goes as well- when attacking Ns, always ensure they can't move to an even better square than the one they are on} 21. Nf7 Rh7 22. Nxd8 Nxd8 {an exchange & a pawn down, a weak pawn on h6 & a bad B makes survival seem unlikely.} 23. f4 {weakens g3 & blocks a square the K might want to use} (23. Rh4 b6 24. Rah1 Nf7 25. Bh5 Nd8 26. Bg6 Rg7 27. Rxh6 {simplest}) 23... Nf7 24. Rh3 (24. g4) 24... Be8 25. Rah1 Kd7 26. g4 fxg4 27. Bxg4 Ke7 28. Bh5 Rg7 29. R1h2 b5 30. a3 a5 31. Bxf7 Bxf7 32. Ke3 (32. Rxh6 {why not?}) 32... h5 33. Kf3 Kd7 34. Rg3 Rh7 35. Rg5 Kc6 36. Rh3 (36. Rh4 b4 37. g4 $18 (37. Ke3 bxa3 38. bxa3 Kb5 39. g4 Ka4 40. f5 exf5 41. gxf5 (41. gxh5) 41... Kxa3 42. Kd2 Ka4 43. e6 Be8 44. f6 $18)) 36... b4 37. axb4 axb4 38. f5 exf5 39. Rxf5 Be6 40. Rf6 Kd7 41. Rh4 Bg4+ 42. Kf4 Rg7 43. g3 (43. cxb4) 43... Ke7 44. Rh1 Rg8 45. Ra1 Bd7 46. Rh6 (46. Ra7) 46... Rg4+ 47. Kf3 Rg7 48. Kf2 (48. Ra7) 48... Be8 49. Ra7+ Kf8 50. Rxg7 (50. Rh8+ Rg8 51. Rxg8+ Kxg8 52. cxb4 {confines the Bl K to the back rank}) 50... Kxg7 51. Rd6 Bf7 (51... bxc3 52. bxc3 Kf7 53. Ke3 (53. Rxd5) 53... Ke7 54. Kf4 $18) 52. cxb4 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-SteyntonB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Robinson, Adam"] [Black "Hammett, S."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "1765"] [BlackElo "1468"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2016.11.22"] 1. e4 c5 {Scott has usually played the Latvian} (1... e5 2. Nf3 f5 {but found in a previous encounter, Dyfed League 2015-16,1-0 that Adam was wellprepared}) 2. Nf3 (2. c3 Nc6 3. d4 e6 4. d5 exd5 5. exd5 Nce7 $2 6. d6 {Martin Jones-Hammett, Dyfed League 2012,1-0}) 2... Nc6 3. Bb5 (3. c3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 e6 6. Nc3 Nf6 {Tegwyn Jones-Hammett, Dyfed League 2014, 1/2-1/2}) 3... e6 4. O-O Be7 (4... Nge7 {main}) 5. c3 (5. Re1) 5... a6 (5... Nf6 {main}) 6. Bxc6 (6. Ba4 {main}) 6... dxc6 (6... bxc6 7. d4 cxd4 8. cxd4 (8. Qxd4 Nf6 9. e5 Nd5 10. Nbd2 O-O 11. Ne4 {Offringa-Leenhouts, Hengelo U20 open 1996,1-0}) 8... d5 9. e5 c5 10. Nc3 Bd7 11. Be3 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Rb8 13. Rb1 Bb4 14. Qg4 g6 15. Rfc1 $14 {Bartsch-Schmidtke, Steinfurt Bezirtsliga 2007,1-0}) 7. Qe2 (7. Ne5 Nf6 8. Re1 Qc7 9. d4 Bd6 10. Bf4 cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O 12. Nc3 $11 { Hoffmann-Schuffenhauer, Sachsen ch U14, Sebnitz 2007,0-1}) 7... Nf6 8. e5 (8. c4 O-O 9. e5 Nd7 10. b3 {Espinosa Arbolay-Gomez Guardo, Bolivar Province ch , Cartagena 2013,1-0}) 8... Nd7 9. d4 O-O $11 10. Nbd2 cxd4 11. cxd4 Nb6 12. Ne4 f5 $5 (12... h6 13. Bf4 Nd5 14. Bg3 a5 $11 {Komodo10}) 13. Nc3 (13. exf6 gxf6 14. Bh6 Rf7 15. Rfe1 $14 {the Bl position is a little bit loose}) 13... Nd5 14. Be3 b5 $5 {creates a problem pawn at c6} (14... Nxc3 15. bxc3 Bd7 16. Qd2 Be8 $11) 15. Rac1 Bb7 16. Qd1 (16. Qd2) 16... Rc8 (16... Nxe3 17. fxe3 c5 $17 { Bl's QB has become effective}) 17. Ne2 Nxe3 18. fxe3 Bg5 {forestalling Nf4, but hands over the iniative to Wh} (18... c5 $1 19. Nf4 Qb6 20. dxc5 Bxc5 21. Nd4 Rfe8 $15 {Wh has to be very wary about the activity of the Bl Bs}) 19. Qb3 (19. Nxg5 Qxg5 20. Nf4 Rfe8 21. Qd2 Rcd8 22. Rf3 Qe7 23. Rg3 $1 $16 {Komodo10; the B is stuck and Wh controls all the bl squares ; & can play for a K side attack} c5 24. Nh5 g6 25. Nf6+ $18) 19... Re8 (19... c5 $1 {Komodo10} 20. Qxe6+ Kh8 21. Nxg5 Qxg5 22. Nf4 cxd4 $11 23. exd4) 20. Nxg5 Qxg5 21. Rc5 (21. Nf4 Qe7 (21... c5 22. Rxc5 Rxc5 23. dxc5 Qe7 24. Rd1 Qxc5 25. Nxe6 Qc4 26. Qxc4 bxc4 27. Nc5 Be4 28. e6 $16) 22. Qc3 $16 {Komodo10}) 21... Kh8 22. Nf4 Qh6 (22... Qe7 23. Nd3 a5 24. Qc2 a4 25. Qf2 Rc7 26. Rfc1 $16 {Komodo10}) 23. Rf3 $18 a5 24. a4 (24. Rh3 a4 25. Qc2 Qg5 26. Rh5 Qd8 27. g4 $18 {Komodo10}) 24... Qh4 25. Kf1 (25. Nxe6 $18) (25. Ng6+ $18) 25... Qe7 (25... Ba6 26. Qd1 bxa4+ 27. Kg1 Qe7 28. Rh3 Qf7 29. Rxa5 Bb5 30. Qh5 Qxh5 31. Rxh5 $14 {Komodo10}) 26. Rh3 Qf7 27. Kf2 Ba6 $14 28. Qc2 Qb7 (28... bxa4 29. Rxa5 Bb5 $11 {Komodo10}) 29. Qd1 ( 29. g4 {breaking the pawn chain} g5 30. Nh5 fxg4 31. Rg3 bxa4 32. Rxg4 Rb8 33. Rxa5 Qxb2 34. Qxb2 Rxb2+ 35. Kg3 Be2 36. Rxg5 Bxh5 37. Rxh5 Ra2 38. Ra7 Rg8+ 39. Kf4 Rg7 40. Ra6 $16 {Komodo10}) (29. e4 {breaking the pawn chain} bxa4 30. exf5 exf5 31. Qxf5 h6 32. Rf3 Qxb2+ 33. Kg3 Qxd4 34. Rxa5 Bb7 35. Rd3 Qg1 36. Ng6+ Kg8 37. Rd7 Qe3+ 38. Kh4 Qg5+ 39. Qxg5 hxg5+ 40. Kxg5 Ra8 41. Rxa8 Bxa8 ( 41... Rxa8 42. e6 $18) 42. Ra7 c5 43. Rxa4 Bxg2 44. Rc4 Bd5 45. Rxc5 Be4 46. Nf4 $16 {Komodo10}) 29... bxa4 $11 30. Qh5 h6 31. Rc2 (31. Qg6 Qxb2+ 32. Kg3 Re7 33. Nxe6 Bf1 34. Rxh6+ gxh6 35. Qxh6+ Kg8 36. Qg6+ Kh8 37. Qh6+ $11 { Komodo10}) 31... Qb5 (31... c5 32. Rd2 a3 33. bxa3 cxd4 34. exd4 Qb1 35. Rd1 Qe4 $17) (31... a3 32. bxa3 Qb1 33. Qf7 $11 {Komodo10} Qxc2+ (33... Qf1+ 34. Kg3 Qe1+ $11) 34. Kg3 Rg8 35. Ng6+ Kh7 36. Nf4 {threat Rxh6, Kxh6, Qg6 mate} Kh8 $11 {Komodo10}) 32. Re2 Qb4 $2 (32... Qb7 $11) 33. Qf7 $18 Rg8 34. Qg6 (34. Qxe6 $1 Rc7 35. Ng6+ Kh7 36. Qxf5 $18 {Komodo10}) (34. Ng6+ Kh7 35. Ne7 Kh8 36. Qxe6 Qxe7 {only move to stopmate} 37. Qxe7 $18 {Komodo10}) 34... Rc7 $11 35. Nh5 Bxe2 $2 {final error} (35... Qb5 $11) (35... Qc4 $11 {both Komodo10}) 36. Nf6 $1 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-SteyntonB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Evans, Gwyn"] [Black "Corrigan, James"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A46"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1458"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "20"] [EventDate "2016.11.23"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. dxc5 (4. d5) (4. Nc3) 4... Bxc5 5. Bg5 $2 (5. Nc3) 5... Qb6 (5... Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 {last chance} Ne4+ 7. Ke1 Nxg5) 6. Bxf6 $146 (6. e3 Qxb2 $2) 6... Bxf2+ 7. Kd2 gxf6 (7... Be3+ 8. Kd3 gxf6 {Wh is helping Bl's pieces get active}) 8. Qc2 (8. Qb3 Be3+ 9. Kc2 {to attack the K, but places both Rs awkwardly} (9. Qxe3 Qxb2+ 10. Ke1 Qxa1 {trying to get some play for the piece down}) 9... Qxb3+ 10. axb3 Nc6) 8... Nc6 (8... Be3+) 9. Qc3 e5 ( 9... Be3+ 10. Kd1 d5) (9... d5) (9... O-O) 10. e3 Qb4 (10... Bxe3+) (10... d5 11. c5 Bxe3+ 12. Kxe3 $18 d4+) 0-1 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-SteyntonB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.11.14"] [Round "?"] [White "McEwan, Conor"] [Black "Greenwood, Ray"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "1300"] [BlackElo "1186"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.11.23"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 {Obstructing the c pawn is seldom a good idea in QP openings ( pawns need a companion alongside , & since e5 is difficult to achieve; c5 is next best). As always, there are some exceptions as in the Chigorin defence[ Nc6 on move2], but then the QB needs to get out ,usually to g4} 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Bg5 h6 (5... Be7 {main}) 6. Bh4 dxc4 (6... Be7) 7. e3 g5 { weakens K side} (7... Be7 {safer}) 8. Bg3 Bb4 (8... Nh5 {2 draws}) 9. Bxc4 Ne4 10. Qc2 Nxg3 11. fxg3 (11. hxg3 {main}) 11... Qe7 (11... Qd6 12. O-O Bd7 $2 13. Nb5 $18 {Guliev-Parkhomenko, Saratov Shestoperov mem U11,2014,1-0}) 12. O-O Bd7 13. a3 $16 (13. d5 $16 {Komodo10}) 13... Bd6 14. e4 (14. b4 O-O-O 15. Ne4 $16 { Komodo10}) 14... f5 $6 {opens the centre while the K is still there} (14... g4 $11) 15. e5 (15. exf5 $18 exf5 16. Rae1 $18 {Komodo10}) 15... Bc5 16. Rad1 O-O-O $11 17. Qb3 (17. b4 Bb6 18. Na4 Kb8 $11) 17... g4 $17 18. dxc5 Qxc5+ 19. Nd4 (19. Rf2 $17) 19... Nxd4 $19 20. Qb4 Nc2+ $4 (20... Nf3+ 21. Kh1 Qxb4 22. axb4 Nxe5 $19) 21. Qxc5 $18 Kb8 22. Nb5 (22. Bxe6 {Komodo10} Bxe6 23. Nb5 $18) 22... Bxb5 23. Bxb5 a6 24. Rxd8+ (24. Ba4) (24. Qxc2) 24... Rxd8 25. Qxc2 (25. Bxa6) 25... axb5 26. Rd1 Rh8 27. Rd7 Rc8 28. a4 c6 29. axb5 cxb5 30. Qb3 (30. Qd2 {mate in 9 ; Komodo10}) 30... Rc5 31. Qxe6 (31. Qd3) 31... Rc1+ 32. Kf2 Rc2+ 33. Ke1 (33. Ke3) 33... Rxb2 34. Qb6 (34. Qd6+ Ka8 35. Qa3+ Kb8 36. Rd8+ Kc7 37. Qd6# {Komodo10}) 34... Rb1+ 35. Kd2 Rb2+ 36. Kc1 Rxg2 37. Qxb7# 1-0

New Venue from 13th December

Aberystwyth Chess Club is moving to a new venue. From 13th December, we will be meeting in Brynamlwg Bar and Restaurant at Aberystwyth University. As before, meetings will begin at 7.15 on Tuesday evenings. Meanwhile, apologies for slow progress on restoring the game replayer. I have come up with a solution to the problem, and normal service will be resumed on the blog over the Christmas holidays.

Game Replayer Problem

I'm sorry that the new Chessbase game replayer is not currently working on this site. I am trying to find out what the problem is - it worked a couple of weeks ago. We do not have the option of going back to the old system, as Dropbox no longer support it. I'd be grateful for any advice - please leave a message in the comments section.

Not Quite an Upset

The Dyfed League is off to a slow start this year, and, with several players about to take part in the European Chess Club Cup in Novi Sad, Serbia, this state of affairs looks likely to continue for a while. However, the A team has had their first match,at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Wednesday 26th October, against Carmarthen. In the absence of Carmarthen's formidable top board, Gerry Heap, Rudy van Kemenade was a strong favourite against Paul Orton, but things didn't work out that way. White had a strong attack against a Sicilian, but Black's efforts to find counterplay led to a very sharp position in which it was easy to go wrong. Rudy missed a win of the Black queen as he miscalculated a variation and walked into a mate for a rare defeat. Adam Watkin-Jones was also much higher-rated than his opponent, Richard Thomas, but again the result was unexpected: in a quiet middlegame with opposite-coloured bishops Black could see nothing more promising than a draw. Normal service was resumed on the bottom two boards. Robbie Wright got an advantage from Robert Narayan-Taylor's dubious opening, but it faded after a while. With the position still complex, though, Black eventually went wrong and lost material. Adam Robinson's Modern Defence brought him some kingside pressure against Steve Tanner, who lost a piece and was soon facing a mating attack. Not quite an upset, then and a strong Aber team will be relieved to have come through 2½-1½

[Event "DyfedLeague:Carmarthen-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Orton, P."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B52"] [WhiteElo "2051"] [BlackElo "1588"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2016.10.27"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. O-O Nf6 6. Qe2 (6. Re1) (6. e5 {alternatives}) 6... Nc6 7. c3 g6 (7... e6 {main}) 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bg7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. h3 (11. Rd1) (11. d5) 11... a6 12. d5 Nd8 {splits the R connection & gets in the way of other pieces ( the N never moves again in the rest of the game)} (12... Ne5 13. Nxe5 dxe5 {obstructs the B on g7, but the other N does get a good square on d6}) (12... Na5 {is possible} 13. Be3 (13. b4 Rfc8 (13... Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Bxc3 15. Rb1 $18) 14. Bd2 Nc4 $11) 13... b5 14. b3 b4 15. Na4 Qb5 16. Qc2 Rac8 17. Qb1 Rfe8 $11 {Komodo10}) 13. a4 $14 (13. e5 dxe5 14. Nxe5 Qe8 15. Re1 e6 16. Qd1 Nd7 17. Bf4 $16 {Komodo10}) 13... Rc8 14. Be3 (14. a5 Nh5 15. Na4 Qb5 16. Qxb5 axb5 17. Nb6 Rc2 18. Rb1 b4 (18... f5 19. exf5 gxf5 20. Rd1 Re8 21. Bd2 Kf7 22. b4 $16) 19. Re1 b3 20. g4 Nf6 21. Nd2 h5 22. f3 $16 { Komodo10;Bl's pieces lack coordination}) 14... e5 {aiming for a King's Indian type position with a pawn storm against the Wh K} (14... Rxc3 15. bxc3 Nxe4 16. Bd4 Nxc3 17. Qc4 Bxd4 18. Nxd4 Ne4 19. Rfe1 Nf6 20. Rab1 Re8 21. Ne2 Kg7 22. Nc3 $16 {Bl has 2 pawns for the exchange, but no space for his pieces}) 15. Nd2 (15. a5 {Komodo10, restrains the Bl Q side pawns}) 15... Ne8 16. Nc4 Qe7 (16... Rc7) 17. Nb6 (17. Rac1) 17... Rc7 18. Rac1 (18. Qd2 f5 19. exf5 gxf5 20. f4 $16 {Komodo10}) 18... f5 19. f3 f4 (19... Nf7 {looks more flexible} 20. a5 (20. Qd2 Nf6 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Ne2 Kh8 23. Rxc7 Qxc7 24. Rc1 Qe7 $14) 20... Bh6 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Bxh6 Nxh6 23. Qd2 Qg7 24. f4 $16 {Komodo10}) 20. Bf2 g5 {hoping to break through with an eventual g4, but this takes time. Bl is restricted by the inactivity of the d8 N & g7 B. The N can get to h6 to support g4 after h5, but Wh has a very useful open c file and weak Bl Q side pawns} 21. Na2 (21. b4 {alternative plan slightly preferred by Komodo10} h5 22. b5 g4 (22... axb5 23. Nxb5 $18) (22... a5 23. Nc4 $18) (22... Nf7 23. bxa6 bxa6 24. Qxa6 $18) 23. bxa6 bxa6 24. Qxa6 gxf3 25. gxf3 Bf6 26. Kh2 $18 {Komodo10; Wh has a winning a pawn & more than enough protection for the K} Bh4 27. Rg1+ Kh8 28. Qe2) 21... Nf6 (21... Nf7 22. Rxc7 Nxc7 23. Rc1 h5 24. Nb4 Nh6 25. Nd3 g4 26. hxg4 hxg4 27. fxg4 Bf6 28. Qc2 (28. Nc5 dxc5 29. Bxc5 Qd8 30. Bxf8 Kxf8 31. g5 Bxg5 32. Qh5 Nf7 33. Qg4 Ne8 34. Nd7+ Kg7 35. Nc5 Qb6 36. Rc3 Ned6 37. Kh2 Qb4 $11 { Komodo10}) 28... Ne8 29. Qc8 Bg5 30. Nd7 Rf7 31. Rc7 Qd8 32. Qxd8 Bxd8 33. Rxb7 Nxg4 34. b4 $16 {Komodo10}) 22. Rxc7 Qxc7 23. Rc1 Qe7 24. Nc8 (24. b4 Nf7 25. b5 axb5 26. Qxb5 Rb8 27. Qe2 h5 28. Rc4 g4 29. Bh4 $16 {Komodo10} gxh3 30. gxh3 Kh8 31. Qc2) 24... Qd7 25. Qc4 Rf7 26. Nb6 (26. Qb4 Bf8 27. Nb6 Qe8 28. Rc8 $16 ) 26... Qe7 27. Qb4 {the trouble with positions like this is that Wh is clearly superior,but its a question of deciding which of several options of further invasion is the right one. Komodo10 offers various suggestions , occassionally shading over into a claim for a Wh win, but offers nothing at all clearcut} (27. Qc8 Ne8 28. Nb4 Bf6 29. Be1 h5 30. Nd3 Rg7 31. Nf2 Kh7 32. Ba5 Kh6 {Komodo10 claims a win , but it looks as if a Bl collapse is still a long way off}) 27... Qe8 {anticipating Nc8 & hoping to get a bit of extra space for his pieces, but the passed pawn on d5 could be very powerful} (27... Bf8 28. Rc8 h5 29. Nc1 g4 30. Bh4 $16) 28. Qxd6 Bf8 29. Qb8 Nd7 30. Nxd7 Rxd7 ( 30... Qxd7 31. Bb6 (31. Rc8 Be7 32. d6 Bf6 33. Bb6 Rf8 34. Nc3 $18) 31... Qxa4 32. Qxd8 Qxa2 33. Qxg5+ Rg7 34. Qxe5 $18 {Wh has 2 running centre pawns}) 31. Rc8 Bd6 {drives the Q away from the e5 pawn} 32. Qa8 Kf7 (32... Bc7 33. Nb4 Kf7 34. Nd3 Qe7 35. Nc5 Rd6 36. b4 {and Wh can pick up the Q side pawns at leisure} Rg6 37. a5 (37. Nxb7 Nxb7 38. Qxb7 Bd6 39. Qxa6 Bxb4 40. Qc4 Bd6 41. a5) 37... h6 38. Nd3 Rg8 39. Bc5 Qd7 40. Rxc7 Qxc7 41. d6 Ne6 42. Nxe5+ Kg7 43. Qxg8+ Kxg8 44. dxc7 {Komodo10}) 33. Bb6 Be7 34. Nc1 Bf6 35. Nd3 Qe7 36. Nc5 Rd6 { time for a longish think, as there are now several forcing continuations (a dangerous positionas its easy to miscalculate when there are these several possibilities)} 37. Bc7 {not the best as Wh had overlooked the reply ( missing that the B interferes with the protection of the N)} (37. Bxd8 Rxd8 38. Rxd8 ( 38. Nxb7 $1 {Komodo10} Rxc8 39. Qxc8 Qf8 (39... Qb4 40. Kh2 Qe1 {looks like a perpetual, but Komodo10 has a mate prepared} 41. Nd6+ (41. Qg4 {also ends the perpetual as} Kg6 42. Nd6 h5 43. Qf5+ Kg7 44. Qd7+ {and Komodo10 now has a mate in 10} Kh8 45. Qe8+ Kh7 46. Qxh5+ Kg7 47. Qf7+ Kh8 48. Qxf6+ Kh7 49. Qf7+ Kh8 50. Qh5+ Kg7 51. Nf5+ Kf6 52. Qh6+ Kf7 53. Qg7+ Ke8 54. Qe7# {Komodo10}) 41... Kg7 42. Nf5+ Kf7 (42... Kg6 43. Qe8#) 43. Qe6+ Kf8 44. Qxf6+ Kg8 45. Nh6# (45. Ne7#) (45. Qg7#)) 40. Qe6+ $18 {Komodo10} (40. Qxf8+ Kxf8 41. b4 {looks much simpler})) 38... Qxd8 (38... Qxc5+ {Komodo10, gives better survival chances} 39. Kh2 Bxd8 40. Qxd8 b6 41. d6 {though the d pawn should win} Qf2 42. Qd7+ Kg8 43. Qe8+ Kg7 44. Qxe5+ Kh6 45. Qe6+ Kg7 46. Qd7+ Kg8 47. Qg4 $18) 39. Qxd8 (39. Qxb7+ {pm analysis also must be winning} Be7 40. Nd7 Ke8 41. Nxe5 $18 ) 39... Bxd8 40. Nxb7 {seen , as a simple 2 extra pawn ending}) (37. a5 { keeps Bl tied up, eg} Kg6 38. Rc7 Qf8 39. Nxb7 (39. Nd7 Qh8 40. Bc5 Rxd7 41. Rxd7 Kh6 42. Bb6) 39... Rxb6 40. axb6 Qb4 41. Qxa6 Qe1+ 42. Qf1 $18 {Komodo10}) (37. Rc7 {wins the Q, but may give Bl some piece activity, though this is indeed the best} Rxb6 38. Qxd8 {eventually found by Iolo; Komodo10 concurs ( & missed in Rudy's calculations)} (38. Rxe7+ Bxe7 39. Qc8 {must be winning, though Wh didnt want to give Bl the counterplay from what was a position where all of Bl's pieces are sitting in a huddle} Rd6 (39... Rxb2 40. Ne6 Nxe6 41. Qxe6+ Kf8 42. d6 {and the d pawn decides}) 40. Qf5+ (40. Nxb7) 40... Bf6 (40... Ke8 41. Qxh7 (41. Qxe5)) 41. Nd7 {both variations are quite conclusive though}) 38... Rb4 39. Ne6 $1 {mating soon, Komodo10}) 37... Rxd5 $1 {Bl's best chance of getting some activity} 38. exd5 (38. Bxd8 {had to be played to keep a Wh advantage} Rxd8 39. Rxd8 (39. Nxb7 $2 Rd1+ 40. Kh2 g4 41. fxg4 Bh4 $19 { Komodo10}) 39... Qxc5+ 40. Kh2 Bxd8 41. Qxd8 Qe7 $14 (41... Qf2 42. Qxg5 Qxb2 43. Qh6 Kg8 44. Qe6+ Kf8 45. Qf5+ Kg7 46. Qd7+ Kg6 47. h4 Qd4 48. Qe8+ Kg7 49. Qe7+ Kg6 50. Qxb7 Qxa4 51. Qb6+ Kg7 52. Qc7+ Kf6 53. Qd6+ Kf7 54. Qxe5 $18 { But too complex for a human to foresee ( Komodo10)})) 38... Qxc5+ {according to Komodo10, its now a forced draw} 39. Kh1 $2 (39. Kf1 Qc1+ {Wh now saw as a perpetual, though Komodo10 gives Bl a definite advantage} 40. Ke2 (40. Kf2 $2 g4 $19) 40... Qxb2+ (40... Qc2+ 41. Ke1 Qc1+ {perpetual}) 41. Kd1 (41. Kd3 $2 e4+ {mating} 42. fxe4 (42. Kxe4 Qc2#) (42. Kc4 Qc3#) 42... Qc3+ 43. Ke2 Qc2+ 44. Ke1 Bc3+ 45. Kf1 Qd1+ 46. Kf2 Bd4#) 41... Qa1+ 42. Ke2 (42. Kc2 Qxa4+) 42... Qa2+ 43. Kf1 Qc4+ 44. Ke1 e4 45. Bxf4 Qd4 46. Rxd8 Qg1+ 47. Kd2 Qxg2+ 48. Ke1 Qg1+ 49. Kd2 Qf2+ 50. Kc1 Qe1+ 51. Kc2 Qc3+ 52. Kd1 Qxf3+ 53. Kc2 Qc3+ 54. Kd1 Qb3+ 55. Ke1 Qb1+ {but this variation is going on too long- Komodo10 keeps checking & finding that Bl is well ahead, eventually coming up with a Q check that picks up the R on d8}) (39. Kh2 Qf2 40. Rxd8 Qg3+ 41. Kg1 Qe1+ {perpetual is correct}) 39... Qf2 (39... Qc1+ $1 40. Kh2 g4 41. hxg4 Bh4 42. g5 Bg3+ 43. Kh3 Qh1+ 44. Kg4 Kg6 {and theWh K gets mated with all his pices huddled helplessly on the Q side}) 40. Ba5 $2 {& this 'saving' move , should actually lose!} (40. Rxd8 Qg3 41. Kg1 Qe1+ {perpetual is best}) 40... Qf1+ (40... g4 { also strong, Komodo10 initial choice} 41. Bb6 (41. Rc1 gxf3 42. Rg1 fxg2+ 43. Rxg2 Qf1+ 44. Kh2 f3 45. Rg1 Qe2+ 46. Kh1 f2 47. Bxd8 Qf3+ 48. Kh2 fxg1=Q+ 49. Kxg1 Qg3+ 50. Kf1 Qxh3+ 51. Ke2 Qg2+ 52. Ke1 Qe4+ 53. Kf2 Qh4+ 54. Kg2 Bxd8 $19 ) 41... Qxb6 42. hxg4 e4 43. g5 e3 44. gxf6 e2 45. Rc1 Qxf6 46. Qc8 e1=Q+ 47. Rxe1 Qh4+ 48. Kg1 Qxe1+ 49. Kh2 {and Bl is winning, though of course has a perpetual in hand}) 41. Kh2 Qf2 (41... g4 $1 {forces mate} 42. hxg4 Bh4 43. g5 Bg3+ 44. Kh3 Qh1+ 45. Kg4 Kg6 46. Rxd8 Qh5# {as in an earlier note}) 42. Rc1 { trying to play safe, though the first move looked at is an easy win for Wh} ( 42. Rxd8 Bxd8 43. Qxd8 $18) 42... Qg3+ (42... e4 {at once is better, though Wh holds comfortably} 43. Qc8 exf3 44. Qg4 (44. Rg1 Qg3+ 45. Kh1 f2 46. Rf1 Qd3 47. Qd7+ Kg6 48. Rxf2 {also fine})) 43. Kh1 e4 {a last try, there are several winning moves} 44. Bxd8 $2 {based on an illusion} (44. Rf1 exf3 45. Rxf3 $18 { Iolo}) (44. Qc8 exf3 45. Rg1 $18) (44. Be1 $1 $18 {the best move, trapping the Q ( Rudy suddenly realised this on the way back from Tanygroes)}) 44... exf3 45. Qxb7+ Kg6 (45... Kg8 $1 {is correct, forcing mate} 46. Rg1 fxg2+ 47. Rxg2 Qxh3+ 48. Kg1 Bd4+ 49. Kf1 f3 50. Ke1 fxg2 {Komodo10}) 46. d6 $2 {suposedly guarding g2} (46. Rc2 {pm analysis} fxg2+ 47. Rxg2 (47. Kg1 Bd4+) 47... Qxh3+ 48. Kg1 Bd4+ 49. Kf1 f3 {Komodo10} 50. Qc6+ (50. Qxa6+ {is curiously enough listed as giving a Bl advantage of 250!}) 50... Kg7 51. Qc7+ Kh8 52. Qg3 fxg2+ 53. Qxg2 Qf5+ 54. Ke1 Qb1+ 55. Ke2 Qc2+ 56. Kf3 g4+ 57. Kg3 (57. Qxg4 Qf2+ 58. Ke4 Qe3+ 59. Kf5 Qe5#) 57... Be5+ 58. Kxg4 Qxg2+ {mating soon}) 46... Qxg2# 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League: Carmarthen-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Thomas, Richard"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D94"] [WhiteElo "1568"] [BlackElo "1987"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "46"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 {A Colle ? with Bd3 & c3} g6 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 { now its a closed version of the Grunfeld} O-O 6. cxd5 (6. Be2 {main}) 6... Nxd5 7. Bc4 Nb6 (7... Nxc3 {alternative} 8. bxc3 c5 {"poses difficult problems for both sides and is, perhaps slightly, in White's favour"Hartston 1971:142}) 8. Bb3 Na6 (8... c5 {covered in Hartston}) (8... Nc6 {more frequent alternatives}) 9. a3 $146 (9. O-O c5 10. h3) (9. a4 {main lines}) 9... c5 10. Na4 (10. O-O $11 ) 10... Nxa4 11. Bxa4 Bg4 12. O-O cxd4 (12... Rc8 $17 {Komodo10}) 13. exd4 Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Qxd4 15. Bb5 {Bl has won a pawn; but Wh has 2 Bs & counterplay} Qb6 ( 15... Nc5 {considered by Bl} 16. Rb1 (16. Be3 Qxb2 17. Bxc5 Qxb5 18. Bxe7 Bxa1 19. Bxf8 Bd4 $17) 16... Qe4 17. Qxe4 Nxe4 18. Re1 Nd6 19. Bf1 Rfe8 $15 { Komodo10}) (15... Qf6 16. Qxb7 Nc5 17. Qd5 Rfc8 18. Be3 e6 19. Qa2 Qxb2 20. Qxb2 Bxb2 21. Ra2 Bf6 $15 {Komodo10}) 16. a4 Nb4 (16... Nc5 {Rudy & Komodo10; considered by Bl} 17. Be3 a6 $1 {Komodo10} 18. Rac1 axb5 (18... Rac8 19. b4 axb5 20. bxc5 Qc6 21. axb5 Qxb5 22. Rb1 Qc6 23. Rxb7 Qxf3 24. gxf3 Bf6 $11) 19. Bxc5 Qf6 20. axb5 Qxf3 21. gxf3 Bxb2 22. Rce1 Rfd8 23. Bxe7 Rd5 24. Rb1 Be5 $15 {Komodo10}) (16... Nc7 17. Be3 Bd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Qxb7 Nxb5 20. axb5 (20. Qxb5 Rab8 $15) 20... e6 $15 {Komodo10}) 17. Be3 Qf6 18. Qxb7 Nc2 19. Rab1 (19. Rac1 $11) 19... Nxe3 20. fxe3 Qe6 21. Qf3 (21. Kh1) 21... a5 (21... Rac8 22. Kh1 Rc5 23. e4 a6 24. Bd3 Rd8 25. Qe2 a5 26. b3 Qe5 27. Qf2 Bf6 28. Bc4 Kg7 $15 {Komodo10}) 22. b3 Bf6 23. Bc4 Qb6 $11 {Wh offered a draw ( Wh has a lot of pressure down the f file, but not enough)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Carmarthen-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Narayan-Taylor, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C50"] [WhiteElo "1906"] [BlackElo "1505"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "75"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 f6 (3... Be7 4. a3 a6 5. d3 b5 6. Ba2 Nf6 7. Ng5 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nxf7 $1 {Holman-Narayan-Taylor, Dyfed League 2015-6, 1-0}) 4. O-O {Cloud Engines} (4. Nc3) 4... Na5 {rare} (4... Bc5) (4... d6) 5. Nxe5 $1 ( 5. Be2 {played in 2 previous games}) (5. Bxg8 Rxg8 6. Nxe5 {Rudy} fxe5 (6... d5 $16 {Komodo10}) 7. Qh5+ g6 8. Qxe5+ Qe7 9. Qxa5 $18 Qxe4 10. Qxc7) 5... Nxc4 6. Qh5+ (6. Nxc4 $16 {simplest}) 6... g6 7. Nxg6 hxg6 8. Qxh8 Nh6 (8... Kf7 9. Qh7+ Bg7 10. d3 Nb6 11. f4 $14 {Komodo10}) 9. d3 Nf7 10. Qg8 (10. Qh7) 10... Nce5 11. d4 (11. f4 Nc6 12. Qxg6 $18 {Rudy & Komodo10}) 11... Nc6 12. Be3 (12. Qxg6 Nxd4 13. Nc3 $16 {Komodo10}) 12... Ne7 13. Qh7 d5 $14 14. Nc3 Be6 15. f4 ( 15. Rfe1 Qd7 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 Qxd5 18. Qxg6 O-O-O 19. Bf4 $16 {Komodo10}) 15... Qd7 $15 16. Qh4 (16. f5 $5 gxf5 17. Nxd5 Nxd5 18. exd5 Qxd5 19. b3 O-O-O 20. c4 Qe4 21. Rfe1 Bb4 $17) 16... f5 (16... O-O-O) 17. e5 $11 O-O-O 18. a4 ( 18. Rab1) 18... Nh6 19. Qe1 (19. h3) 19... Nc6 20. Nb5 a6 21. Rf3 $5 { speculating on Q side attacking chances down the a file} Nb4 (21... axb5 $1 22. axb5 Nb8 $19 23. Qa5 Bg8 24. Bd2 Qe6 {and there is no easy way in for Wh}) 22. Nd6+ $5 (22. Na3 Qxa4 $15) 22... cxd6 (22... Bxd6 23. exd6 Nxc2 24. Qf1 (24. dxc7 Nxe1 25. cxd8=Q+ Qxd8 26. Rxe1 Ng4 $19) 24... Nxa1 25. dxc7 Qxc7 26. Qxa1 Ng4 $19) 23. Qxb4 dxe5 (23... Kb8) 24. Qc3+ Kb8 25. fxe5 Ng4 (25... Rc8 $15) 26. Bg5 Rc8 27. Qd2 $16 Qh7 28. Rh3 Qf7 29. Rh4 (29. Rb3 $16) 29... Be7 $11 30. Rf1 (30. Rh3 f4 31. Bxe7 Qxe7 32. Qxf4 g5 33. Qd2 Nxe5 34. dxe5 Bxh3 35. gxh3 Qxe5 36. c3 $11 {Komodo10}) 30... Bxg5 (30... f4 $1 {Komodo10} 31. Bxe7 Qxe7 32. Rxg4 Bxg4 33. Rxf4 Bf5 $17) 31. Qxg5 $16 Nxh2 (31... Qc7 32. h3 Qxc2 33. hxg4 Qxb2 34. gxf5 Bxf5 35. Qe3 $16 {Komodo10}) 32. Rxh2 $18 Rxc2 33. g4 (33. Rh6) 33... Rxh2 34. Kxh2 Qh7+ 35. Kg2 fxg4 36. Rh1 Qf7 37. Qf6 Kc7 38. Qxf7+ 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague: Carmarthen-Aberystwyth A"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Tanner, Steve"] [Black "Robinson, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A48"] [WhiteElo "1585"] [BlackElo "1756"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "54"] 1. d4 Nf6 (1... g6 2. c4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. e4 Nf6 5. f3 {Tanner-Browne, Carmarthen B- Newcastle Emlyn 2002. 1-0}) 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bg5 g6 4. Nbd2 Bg7 5. c3 O-O 6. e4 h6 (6... c5) (6... Nbd7) 7. Bh4 Qe8 (7... c5) (7... Nbd7) 8. Bd3 (8. Bc4) (8. Be2) 8... e5 9. h3 $146 {weakens the K side} (9. O-O) (9. dxe5) 9... Nh5 10. O-O Nc6 11. d5 (11. Bb5 a6 12. Bxc6 Qxc6 13. d5 Qe8 14. Ne1 f5 $15 { Zaitseva-Filippov, Kemerovo 1991,1/2-1/2}) (11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Nh2 Nf4 13. Bb5 a6 14. Ba4 b5 15. Bc2 Be6 $15 {Yurenko-Gelashvili, Wld University ch;, Golden Sands 2000,0-1}) (11. Nb3 exd4 12. Nfxd4 Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Nf4 14. Bc2 $11 { Gutsko-Nikolaeva, UKR ch girls U16 Kiev, 2001, 1/2-1/2}) 11... Ne7 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Re1 {a slow system for Wh- Bl has all the play on the K side, Wh none of the usual Q side counterplay available in normal King's Indians} Nf4 (13... c6) 14. Bc2 (14. Bf1 $5 {Rudy; offers a bit more K protection}) 14... f5 15. exf5 (15. Nf1) 15... gxf5 16. Nb3 Kh8 (16... Qf7 17. Kh2 Nxd5 $17) 17. Qd2 Qf6 (17... Qf7 18. Rad1 Qh5 $19 {Komodo10} 19. Kh2 Nxh3 20. gxh3 Qxf3) 18. Kh2 Rg8 19. Rg1 Bd7 (19... Qf7 20. Rad1 Qh5 21. Qe3 Bf6 22. Ne1 e4 $19 {Komodo10}) 20. Rae1 Rad8 (20... Rae8 {looks more natural}) (20... Qf7 21. Nc5 Bc8 (21... dxc5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxe5 Ng6 24. Qxh6+ Qh7 25. Qxh7+ Kxh7 26. Bxf5 Bxf5 27. Rxf5 Rgf8 $15) 22. g3 Nxd5 23. Bb3 c6 24. c4 Nb6 25. Qxd6 e4 26. Nh4 Qf6 27. Qf4 Qg5 28. Qxg5 hxg5 29. Ng6+ Kh7 30. Ne7 Bf8 31. Nxg8 Bxc5 32. Nf6+ Kg6 33. Nxe4 fxe4 34. Rxe4 Bf5 35. Re2 Kf6 $15 {Komodo10}) 21. Nc1 c6 (21... Qf7 22. Rd1 (22. Nd4 Ng6 23. Nde2 Nh4 24. Ref1 f4 25. Be4 f3 26. gxf3 Bf5 27. Rg3 Bxe4 28. fxe4 Nf3+ 29. Rxf3 Qxf3 30. Ng3 Kh7 $17) 22... Qh5 23. Ne2 Nxg2 24. Rxg2 Qxf3 $19 { Komodo10}) 22. c4 (22. dxc6 bxc6 23. Rd1 d5 24. Nb3 Ne6 25. Rde1 e4 26. Nfd4 c5 27. Nxe6 Qxe6 28. Kh1 Qd6 $17 {Komodo10}) 22... Ng6 $19 23. b3 {spotting the threat to the pawn, but not to the N} (23. Rd1 e4 24. Nd4 Ne5 25. Qe2 c5 26. Ne6 (26. Ndb3 Rde8 (26... Ng4+ 27. Kh1 Qh4 28. Rgf1 Bxb2 $19) 27. Rdf1 Qh4 28. g3 Qg5 29. Rg2 Nf3+ 30. Kh1 Qh5 31. Rh2 f4 32. Rg1 Bg4 33. Qf1 fxg3 34. Rxg3 Nxh2 35. Kxh2 Be5 $19 {Komodo10}) 26... Bxe6 27. dxe6 Ng4+ 28. Kh1 Qh4 29. Rgf1 Bd4 $19 30. Kg1 Ne5 {mating}) 23... e4 24. Qa5 (24. Bxe4 fxe4 25. Rxe4 Bxh3 26. Rge1 Bf5 27. R4e3 h5 $19 {Komodo10}) 24... exf3 25. Qxa7 (25. dxc6 Bxc6 26. g3 f4 27. g4 Ne5 28. Nd3 Qh4 29. Ref1 Bd7 30. Nxf4 Rdf8 $19 {just concentrating all available pieces onto the K}) 25... fxg2 26. Qxb7 {the Q straying doesn't help the Wh K} (26. Qe3 Rde8 27. Qg3 Rxe1 28. Rxe1 Qb2 {threat Be5} 29. Nd3) 26... Ne5 (26... Nh4 $1 {Komodo10}) 27. Rxg2 (27. Bd1 Qh4 28. Rxg2 Bf6 29. Qa7 f4 {and Wh has to give up the Q on d7 to avoid mate}) 27... Nf3+ (27... Nf3+ 28. Kh1 Qh4 $1 {mating; Komodo10} 29. Rg3 Nxe1 30. Ne2 Bd4 31. Qxd7 Rxd7 32. Bxf5 Rdg7 (32... Rf7) 33. Kh2 Bxf2 34. Rxg7 Rxg7 35. dxc6 Qf4+ 36. Nxf4 Nf3+ 37. Kh1 Rg1# {Komodo10}) 0-1

First Match

Aberystwyth's first match of the season took place at the St David's Club on Tuesday 4th October when the B team took on Gwyddbwyll.com. On top board, Robbie Wright was in trouble against Iwan Griffiths's French Defence but Black's unnecessary exchange sacrifice let him back into the game, and when Iwan gave up the two bishops as well the ending was simply winning for White. James Corrigan, returning to the team after a year's absence, won the exchange against Owen Llywelyn's Ruy Lopez, but went in for some complications that ended in him giving the material back. White seemed to be better when the draw was agreed. In another Ruy, Sam Holman had worked up a crushing kingside attack before Tegwyn Jones lost on time, the first victim of the new increment-based time controls. Conor McEwan reached a level ending against Emyr Lywelyn, but White then dropped a couple of pawns and allowed him to take control. The match finished 3½-½ to Aber B.

[Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Griffiths, I."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteElo "1906"] [BlackElo "1602"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2016.10.05"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 6. Bd3 (6. Be2) (6. a3) 6... Qb6 (6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Qb6 {is more accurate as it avoids a Whpossible reply}) 7. Bc2 (7. dxc5 Bxc5 8. O-O a5 9. Nbd2 a4 10. Rb1 Qc7 11. Qe2 Nge7 12. b4 axb3 13. Nxb3 Bb6 14. Nbd4 {Leon Hoyos-Rott, Fourmies op 2010,1-0}) (7. O-O cxd4 8. cxd4 Nxd4 9. Nxd4 Qxd4 10. Nc3 {is the sharp Milner-Barry gambit}) 7... Nge7 ( 7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Nb4 $15 { and Wh had to part with his wh square B in order to be able to 0-0}) 8. dxc5 ( 8. O-O {most frequent}) 8... Qxc5 9. Be3 Qa5 10. b4 (10. Nbd2 { is less committal}) 10... Qc7 $15 11. Bd4 Ng6 (11... Nxd4 12. cxd4 Ng6 13. O-O (13. a3 a5 14. b5 Bxb5 $17) 13... Bxb4 $17 {Komodo10}) 12. Bxg6 (12. O-O $5 { Komodo10}) 12... hxg6 13. a3 Be7 (13... g5 $17 {Komodo10}) 14. Qd3 (14. Nbd2 f6 15. Qe2 O-O-O (15... g5 $19 {Komodo10}) 16. b5 Na5 $11 { Sanchez-Benavides, COL Risaralda op 2015,0-1} (16... Nxd4 17. cxd4 Kb8 $17 { Komodo10})) 14... Rc8 (14... g5 15. g4 Nxd4 16. Qxd4 (16. cxd4 Qc1+ 17. Qd1 Qf4 18. h3 Rc8 $19) 16... Bb5 $19 (16... Rh3 $19)) 15. O-O a6 (15... O-O $15) 16. Nbd2 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 (17. cxd4 Bb5 $19) (17. Qxd4 {may be a better way to offer the pawn sac, as Blhas a better pawn to take than the weak c3}) 17... Qxc3 ( 17... Qxe5 18. h3 Qc7 $19 { as eventually the Bl centre pawns will roll forward supported by the 2 Bs}) 18. Qxc3 Rxc3 19. Rfc1 Rxc1+ (19... Rc8 20. Rxc8+ Bxc8 21. Rc1 Kd7 22. N2b3 b6) 20. Rxc1 Kd8 (20... Bd8 21. N4b3 (21. N2b3 Rh4 22. g3 Re4 $19 {Komodo10}) 21... b6 22. Nf3 Ba4 23. Nbd4 Kd7 $17 {Komodo10}) 21. N2f3 f6 (21... g5) 22. g3 g5 23. a4 (23. g4 {Rudy & Komodo10} fxe5 24. Nxe5 Rf8 25. Nb3 Bd6 26. Re1 Rf4 27. h3 b6 $17) 23... g4 (23... Bxb4 24. Rb1 a5 25. exf6 gxf6 26. Nc2 Bc5 27. Rxb7 Kc8 28. Rb1 Kc7 $19 {Komodo10, leaves the a4 pawn very vulnerable & the Bl centre still able to roll forward}) 24. Nh4 Rxh4 {there is no need for this, even though 2 Bs are mosly an equal match vs R & N, often cooperating better} (24... fxe5 $1 {may well be best} 25. Ng6 Rh5 26. Nxe7 exd4 27. Ng6 Bxa4 28. Nf4 Rh6 { and Bl has several extra pawns, Komodo10}) (24... Bxb4 25. Nc2 Bc5 26. Ne1 Bd4 $19) 25. gxh4 fxe5 $19 26. Nb3 Bxb4 27. a5 (27. Nc5 Bxc5 28. Rxc5 Bxa4 $19) 27... d4 28. Nc5 Bxc5 {gives up the power of 2 Bs too quickly} (28... Bc6 $19) (28... Bb5 $19) 29. Rxc5 d3 {an advance too far} (29... Ke7 30. Kf1 (30. Rxe5 Kf6 31. Re4 e5 $19) 30... Kd6 31. Rc1 Bc6 $11 { keeps the pawns together & has brought the K to teir aid}) 30. Kf1 $16 e4 ( 30... Bc6 31. Rxe5 Ke7 32. Rg5 Kf6 33. Rxg4 $18 {Komodo10}) 31. Rg5 $18 { now the Wh h pawn becomes really dangerous} Bb5 32. Ke1 Ke7 33. Rxg7+ Kf6 34. Rxb7 (34. Rxg4 Bc6 35. Kd2 $18 { The Bl pawns are firmly barricaded & the Bl K cut off from stopping the h pawn} Be8 (35... Kf5 36. Rg8) 36. Rxe4 Kf5 37. Re3 Kg4 38. Rxe6 Bf7 39. Re4+ Kh3 40. Re7 $18 {Komodo10}) 34... Bc4 (34... Ke5 35. Rxb5+ axb5 36. a6) 35. Rb4 Bd5 36. Rb6 Bc4 37. Rc6 Bb5 38. Rc5 Bd7 39. h5 (39. Rc7 Be8 40. Rb7 Kg6 41. Rb6 Kh5 42. Rxa6 Kxh4 43. Rxe6 $18 {Komodo10}) 39... Be8 40. Kd2 e5 41. h6 Kg6 42. Rxe5 Bf7 43. Re7 Bg8 (43... Kf6 44. Rc7 Bg6 45. h7 Bxh7 46. Rxh7) 44. Rg7+ 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Llywelyn, O."] [Black "Corrigan, James"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "1546"] [BlackElo "1458"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2016.10.07"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 (6... Be7 {main}) 7. O-O d6 8. Bg5 (8. c3 {is more usual, preserving the Ruy B ; the text also has its own particular dangers- inviting a pawn storm on the K side when the other side has not yet 0-0 can be very difficult to meet.}) 8... Na5 (8... h6 9. Bh4 (9. Be3) (9. Bxf6 {also played with good results for Bl}) 9... g5 (9... Bg4 {also played}) 10. Bg3 h5 $1 {is a very tricky move to meet} (10... Bg4) 11. h4 (11. Nxg5 h4 12. Nxf7 hxg3 {as indicated by Rudy in pm analysis} 13. Nxd8 Bg4 14. Qd2 (14. Ne6 Bxf2+ (14... Bxd1 15. hxg3 Bh5 $17 {Komodo10}) 15. Rxf2 gxf2+ 16. Kxf2 Bxd1 17. Nd2 Bg4 (17... Ng4+ 18. Kg1 Kd7 $19 {Komodo10}) 18. Nxc7+ Kd7 19. Nxa8 Rxa8 20. Rf1 Nd4 $17 { Hormiga Amador-Gonzalez, Teneriffe ch Santa Cruz de Teneriffe 2001, 1-0}) 14... Nd4 15. Nc3 (15. h3 Ne2+ 16. Qxe2 (16. Kh1 $2 Rxh3+ 17. gxh3 Bf3#) 16... Bxe2 17. Ne6 Bb6 18. Nc3 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 gxf2 $15 {Komodo10}) 15... Nf3+ 16. gxf3 Bxf3 17. Bf7+ Kxd8 18. Qh6 Rxh6 19. Bh5 Rxh5 20. h4 Rxh4 21. Nxb5 Rh1# { Garcia-Ventos Navarro, Santa Caloma op 2000, 0-1}) 11... Bg4 12. c3 Qd7 (12... Rg8 13. hxg5 Nh7 14. Bd5 Qd7 15. Bh4 Nxg5 16. Bxg5 Rxg5 17. Qc1 Rg6 $11 { Robles-Sanchez, San Mateo op 1992, 0-1}) 13. Nbd2 Nh7 14. Qc2 gxh4 15. Nxh4 Rg8 16. Kh2 Nf6 $11 {Ivanyi-Mate, HUN ch tm 2005,0-1}) 9. Nbd2 (9. c3 Nxb3 10. Qxb3 $15 {2-3}) 9... O-O (9... Bg4 10. c3 Nxb3 11. Nxb3 Bb6 12. h3 Bh5 13. d4 h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. Qd3 Bxf3 16. Qxf3 Qxf3 17. gxf3 $11 { Odehnal-Siroky, Tabor op 2012, 1-0}) (9... h6 10. Bh4 Nxb3 (10... g5 11. Bg3 h5 12. Nxg5 Nxb3 13. Nxb3 h4 (13... Bb6 14. Bh4 $16) 14. Bxe5 dxe5 15. Nxc5 Rg8 16. Nf3 Bh3 17. g3 Bxf1 18. Qxf1 hxg3 19. fxg3 Qd6 20. b4 $11 {Komodo10}) 11. Nxb3 Bb6 12. d4 g5 13. Bg3 Nxe4 14. dxe5 Nxg3 15. hxg3 d5 $11 { Miroscnichenko-Dobrotin, Moscow ch 1996,0-1}) 10. c3 (10. Re1 Nxb3 11. axb3 Bg4 12. Nf1 Qe7 13. Ng3 Qe6 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3 Nd7 16. Nf5 $14 { Poblet Puig-Viz Vasquez, ESP ch girls U16 Oropesa del Mar 1999,0-1}) 10... Nxb3 11. Nxb3 (11. axb3 {may well be better as the N does not belong on b3 , while the a file may be useful}) 11... Bb6 $15 12. h3 h6 13. Bh4 Bb7 (13... g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Nh2 $2 (15. Bh2 Nf4) 15... Nxg3 $19 { Benson-Fuatai, Nelson op 2007,0-1}) 14. Qe2 (14. Re1 {Komodo10}) (14. Nbd2 { Komodo8}) 14... Qe7 15. Rad1 Qe6 16. Nfd2 (16. Bxf6 $5) 16... a5 (16... Nd7 17. Kh1 f5 $17 { Rudy & both Engines; unleaahes the power of both Bs & open f file for an attack }) 17. d4 a4 18. d5 Qe7 (18... Nxd5 19. exd5 Qxd5 { Robbie, who thought it winning} (19... Bxd5 20. Nc1 f5 $11 {Komodo8}) 20. Nf3 Qc6 21. Na1 a3 22. b3 Qxc3 $11 {Komodo10}) (18... Qd7 {Rudy} 19. Nc1 (19. Bxf6 axb3 20. Bh4 bxa2 $19) 19... Nh7 20. Kh2 f5 $15 {Komodo10}) 19. Nc1 c6 (19... g5 20. Bg3 Kh7 $15 {Komodo10} (20... Rfc8 $15 {Komodo8})) 20. dxc6 Bxc6 21. Nd3 g5 22. Bg3 (22. Nb4 Bd7 23. Bg3 $11 {both Engines}) 22... Qb7 {Komodo8} (22... Qd7 23. Nb4 Bb7 $11 {Komodo10}) 23. Rde1 Rae8 24. Nb4 Bd7 25. Qf3 Kg7 26. Rd1 g4 27. hxg4 Bxg4 28. Qd3 Bxd1 29. Rxd1 $17 Re6 30. Qf3 d5 $5 (30... Bc5 31. a3 Bxb4 32. axb4 Ne8 $17 {both Engines}) 31. exd5 $18 e4 32. Qf4 (32. Qf5 $1 $18 { both Engines}) 32... Nxd5 33. Qg4+ Rg6 {not the best} (33... Kh8 $1 $19 { Rudy & both Engines; the g file beckons} 34. Nxe4 Ne3 35. fxe3 Qxe4 36. Qxe4 Rxe4 37. Nd5 Bxe3+ 38. Nxe3 Rxe3 $19) 34. Qxe4 Rxg3 35. Qe5+ Nf6 (35... Kh7 $1 {Komodo10} 36. Nxd5 (36. Qxg3 Nxb4 37. cxb4 Rd8 38. Qe5 Qd5 39. Qxd5 Rxd5 40. Kf1 Rd4 41. a3 Rd6 42. Ke2 Re6+ 43. Kf1 Rd6 $11) 36... Rg5 37. Qe4+ Kh8 38. Nf3 Rh5 39. g4 Rg8 40. Kf1 Rxg4 41. Qxg4 Rxd5 42. Rxd5 Qxd5 $11 {Komodo10}) 36. Qxg3+ $16 Kh7 37. Qd3+ Kh8 (37... Kg7 38. Nf3 $16) 38. Qh3 {(Draw?)} (38. Qf5 Qe7 39. Nf3 Qe6 40. Qf4 Ng4 41. Nd4 Bxd4 42. Qxd4+ f6 43. f3 $16 {Komodo10}) ( 38. Qh3 Nh7 (38... Rg8 39. Qxh6+ Nh7 40. Qh3 $18 {pm analysis & Komodo10; Bl has nogood square for the Q to force through an attack}) 39. Nf3 $18) 1/2-1/2 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, S."] [Black "Jones, Tegwyn"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C62"] [WhiteElo "1274"] [BlackElo "1245"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 (3... a6 {if Bl wishes to play a6 then now is the time to do it.Later, as in this game, often allows Wh to have some favourable alternatives.}) 4. O-O Nf6 5. Re1 Be7 6. c3 O-O 7. d4 (7. h3 { avoids a pin that will force Wh to clarify the situation in the centre}) 7... a6 {Wh can now win a pawn if he chooses} (7... exd4 8. cxd4 Bg4 { can be annoying}) (7... Bg4 {also}) 8. Ba4 (8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. dxe5 dxe5 (9... Ng4 {tries to suggest it a deliberate gambit}) 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. Nxe5 { when trying to win the pawn back because of the backrank, misfires} Nxe4 $2 12. Nxc6 Rd7 13. Nxe7+ Rxe7 14. f3 {wins a piece}) 8... b5 9. Bc2 {another drawback of a delayeda6 -b5 is that the Wh B can go to c2 in one go, rather than 2} Nd7 {has been played in similar situation-the aim is to reinforce e5} (9... Bg4 10. d5 Na5 11. Nbd2 c5 12. dxc6 Nxc6 {main}) 10. Nbd2 (10. a3 Na7 11. a4 c5 12. axb5 axb5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 14. b4 Ne6 15. Be3 $14 { Mueller-Kissel, RLPF ch Seniors, Herxheim 1993}) (10. a4 Bb7 11. Nbd2 Re8 12. d5 Na7 13. Nf1 c5 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15. Ne3 { Perunovic-Koprivica, Belgrade ch 2009, 1-0}) 10... Bb7 11. Nf1 Na7 {Bl is begin ninto bury his pices on the Q side;from whence they need to return to protect the K} (11... Re8 12. a4 Bf6 13. Ng3 g6 14. d5 Ne7 15. b4 Nb6 16. a5 Nc4 17. Bb3 $11 {Adams-Nunn, Oviedo Fischer blitz 1992,1-0}) 12. Ng3 (12. Ne3) 12... c6 (12... exd4 13. cxd4 $14 c5 $5) 13. Qd3 Bf6 14. Nf5 Qc7 15. b3 { there is no need for this; Wh can just continue with his K side build up} Nc8 16. Bg5 Bxg5 17. Nxg5 $18 { the Bl K side is exposed with all the defenders far away} Nf6 18. Qg3 Ne7 { bring back the troops, but Wh has several ways of breaking though} (18... g6 19. Nh6+ Kg7 20. Nhxf7 Qe7 (20... Rxf7 21. Ne6+ {wins the Q}) 21. Nxd6 Nxd6 22. dxe5 Nf7 23. exf6+ Qxf6 24. Nxf7 Qxf7 25. Rad1 $18 {Komodo10}) 19. Nxg7 $1 { neat, however Komodo10 comes up with a couple of even more powerful moves} (19. Nh6+ $1 Kh8 (19... gxh6 20. Ne6+ $18) 20. Nhxf7+ Rxf7 21. Nxf7+ Kg8 22. dxe5 dxe5 23. Qxe5 Qxe5 24. Nxe5 $18 {Komodo10}) (19. Nxh7 $3 Ng6 (19... Nxh7 20. Qxg7#) 20. Nxf6+ gxf6 21. Qh3 Bc8 22. Qh6 Bxf5 23. exf5 {winning a piece, as} Nf4 24. Re3 {mating(Komodo10}) 19... Ng6 (19... Kxg7 20. Ne6+ Kh6 21. Qg5# { loses the K as well as the Q}) 20. Nf5 $18 Bc8 21. b4 (21. Qh3 h5 22. Rad1 $18 {Komodo10}) 21... Be6 22. Re3 (22. Bb3 $5) 22... Kh8 23. Rf3 Rg8 24. Qh3 (24. Nxd6 Qxd6 25. Rxf6 Qe7 26. dxe5 {wins 2 pawns}) (24. Nh6 Qe7 25. Nxg8 Rxg8 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. Qh3 Nf4 28. Rxf4 exf4 29. e5 dxe5 30. dxe5 Nd7 31. Rd1 Nxe5 32. Rd6 $16 {Komodo10}) 24... Nf4 25. Qh4 Rg6 (25... Bxf5 26. exf5 Nxg2 27. Qh6 Qe7 28. dxe5 dxe5 29. Kh1 (29. Kxg2 Rxg5+ 30. Qxg5 Rg8 31. Qxg8+ Kxg8 32. a4 $14) 29... Rg7 30. Ne4 Nxe4 31. Qxc6 Rd8 32. Bxe4 $16 {Komodo10}) 26. Re1 (26. Nxd6 $1 Nxg2 (26... Qxd6 27. Rxf4 $1 $18 Rag8 (27... exd4 28. e5 Qxe5 29. Bxg6 Kg7 30. cxd4 Qxf4 31. Qxf4 hxg6 32. Nxe6+ fxe6 33. Qc7+ Kg8 34. Qxc6 $18 {Komodo10} )) 27. Kxg2 Qxd6 28. dxe5 Qxe5 29. Rg3 $18 {Komodo10}) 26... Rag8 27. Nxe6 $6 ( 27. Rg3 $16 {Komodo10}) 27... Rxg2+ $2 (27... fxe6 28. Ne3 Nxg2 29. Nxg2 Rxg2+ 30. Kh1 R2g6 $17 {Komodo10, suddenly the Bl forces are attacking, while the B & the R on e1 are both passively placed}) 28. Kh1 {and Bl is overstetched; And even lost on time- the first victim of the new League incremental time limits} (28. Kf1 $4 Rg1#) 1-0 [Event "?"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.10.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Llywelyn, E."] [Black "McEwan, Conor"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "941"] [BlackElo "1300"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "114"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. a3 (4. c4) (4. Bd3) (4. c3 {main moves}) 4... e6 {closes in the QB} (4... Bg4 {main}) 5. b3 (5. Bd3) (5. c4) 5... Bd6 6. Nbd2 (6. Bb2 {is consistent with the last move}) 6... O-O (6... e5 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Bb2 Qe7 $11 {Komodo10}) 7. Bb2 a6 (7... Re8 8. Ne5 Bd7 9. Bd3 a6 10. O-O b5 11. f4 Be7 12. g4 $16 {Ogurtzov-Mukhtarov, Kaluga Tsiolkovsky mem aug 2016,1-0}) 8. c4 (8. Bd3 Re8 9. Ne5 Bxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. f4 f5 { Parren-Van Bruxvoort, NED ch U15 girls, Haarlem 2011,1/2-1/2}) 8... b6 9. cxd5 Nxd5 (9... exd5 $11 {Komodo10}) 10. Bc4 (10. e4 Nf4 11. g3 Ng6 12. h4 f6 13. h5 Nge7 14. e5 fxe5 15. dxe5 Bc5 16. b4 Nd4 17. bxc5 Nxf3+ 18. Nxf3 Qxd1+ 19. Rxd1 Bb7 20. Ng5 Bxh1 21. Nxe6 $18 {Komodo10}) 10... Nce7 11. Bxd5 (11. e4 $18 { a piece is trapped, Komodo10}) 11... Nxd5 (11... exd5 $15) 12. O-O Re8 13. Ra2 Bb7 14. Nc4 Be7 15. Re1 a5 16. e4 Nf6 (16... Nf4 $15 {Bl has 2 lurking Bs}) 17. Ncd2 Rc8 18. a4 Bb4 19. Re2 Ba6 (19... c5 $17 {Komodo10}) 20. Re1 h6 21. Ba3 Bxa3 22. Rxa3 Qe7 (22... c5) 23. Ra1 Rcd8 (23... c5) 24. Qb1 (24. Qc2) 24... c6 25. Nc4 Qc7 26. e5 Nd5 27. Rc1 (27. Nd6 Rf8 28. Qc2 Nb4 29. Qd2 Rd7 $11 { Komodo10}) 27... Bxc4 28. bxc4 (28. Rxc4 Nb4 $11 { the 2 weak pawns, c & d match one another}) 28... Nb4 29. Qe4 c5 $15 { Wh;s c pawn will be weaker than the one on b6} 30. Rd1 cxd4 31. Nxd4 Re7 (31... Qxc4 $17 {because Wh gets little for the pawn} 32. Rac1 Qd5) 32. Nb5 Qc8 (32... Red7 $11) 33. Nd6 Qc6 34. Qxc6 Nxc6 35. f4 f6 36. Nb5 (36. c5 { Komodo10 ; Wh gets a bit of R activity for the pawn} bxc5 37. Rac1 (37. Rdc1 fxe5 38. Rxc5 Rxd6 39. fxe5 Nxe5 40. Rxe5 Rd5 41. Rae1 Kf7 $17) 37... fxe5 38. Rxc5 Nb4 39. fxe5 Ra7 40. g3 $11) 36... Rxd1+ (36... fxe5 37. Rxd8+ Nxd8 38. fxe5 Rd7 39. Nd6 Nf7 40. Nc8 Nxe5 41. Nxb6 Rd2 42. Rb1 $11 {Komodo10}) 37. Rxd1 fxe5 38. g3 (38. Rd6 $1 {active Rs are needed in endgames, not defensive ones} Nb4 39. fxe5 Rb7 40. Rxe6 Kf7 41. Rd6 Re7 42. Rxb6 Rxe5 $14 {Komodo10}) 38... exf4 39. gxf4 e5 (39... Rf7 40. Rd6 Nb4 41. Rxb6 Rxf4 42. Nd6 Kf8 43. Nb7 Rxc4 44. Rxe6 Nd5 $17 {Komodo10}) 40. Re1 $2 {thinking the pawn is pinned} (40. Rd6 {active R} Nb4 41. fxe5 Rxe5 42. Rxb6 $11 {Komodo10}) 40... exf4 41. Rxe7 Nxe7 {the Bl K side pawns decide} 42. Kf2 g5 43. Nd4 Kf7 44. h3 Kf6 45. Nf3 Nc6 46. Nd2 Ke5 47. Kf3 h5 48. Kf2 g4 49. hxg4 hxg4 50. Kg2 Nd4 51. Nf1 Ke4 52. Nh2 g3 (52... Nf5 53. Nxg4 Ne3+ 54. Nxe3 fxe3) 53. Nf1 Ne2 (53... Kd3) 54. Nd2+ Ke3 55. Nf1+ (55. Nf3 Kd3) 55... Kd3 56. Kf3 Nd4+ 57. Kxf4 g2 0-1

Meanwhile Cardigan have lost the first match of the season. A team augmented by three Aber players were beaten 4-2 by Nidum Knights in Neath on Sunday 2nd October.

Chess Resumes

The first club night after the summer break will be this Tuesday, 6 September. See you there!

Summer Break

Aberystwyth Chess Club is now closed for the summer. We will resume club nights in September.

Congratulations to Rudy

Congratulations to Rudy van Kemenade and the Welsh team on their performance in the European Seniors Team Championship in Halkidiki, Greece, in April. The team finished an excellent 4th, only narrowly missing out on the bronze medal, while Rudy scored 4/7, and came close to winning against a Grandmaster.

In Rudy's absence, the A team played a match against Gwyddbwyll.com at the St David's Club on Tuesday 26th May. Julie van Kemenade obtained a crushing kingside position against Iwan Griffiths with her King's Indian, while his queenside advance came to nothing, leaving him with a hopeless defensive task. Adam Robinson had a slight advantage in a Caro-Kann with a long way to go when Owen Llywelyn got a knight trapped and resigned. On fourth board, Tony Geraghty won a piece early on against Emyr Llywelyn, and clinched the game with a deadly pin. My game on Board 3 came to an early and unfortunate end when Tegwyn Jones was taken ill with a stomach bug. Happlily, he felt well enough to drive himself home after a while, and the game was abandoned. League Controller Iolo Jones, in Greece with the Welsh Seniors team, ruled that the game should be awarded to Aberystwyth, but neither player's grading should be affected by the result. Aberystwyth therefore won the match 4-0.

Iwan Griffiths - Julie van Kemenade 0-1

Adam Robinson - Owen Llywelyn 1-0

Tegwyn Jones - Matthew Francis 0-1 (default)

Tony Geraghty - Emyr Llywelyn 1-0

Too Complicated

The recent spate of matches between Aberystwyth and Haverfordwest continued on Wednesday 13th April when the two A teams met at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes. It is not often Rudy van Kemenade complains that a game is too complicated, but his game against Colin Denham seems to have bemused even him. Mind you, he was playing Black in a King's Indian (by transposition) in a line where he had once lost to the great Bronstein, who knew a thing or two about complications. If it was a bit much for Rudy it was even more so for Colin, who was the first to crack under the pressure of time and tactics. Julie van Kemenade's game against John Miller, by contrast, was a blocked French Defence, where it seemed neither side would be able to break through. Julie missed the point of Black's careful manoeuvring which threatened to win a pawn and dominate the position. She was still unaware of the danger when she offered a draw, and her opponent, somehow doubting his own success, accepted. I was once again playing Scott Hammett, whom I had beaten in the previous match. This time I got nothing out of the opening or the middlegame (and should have lost a pawn), but managed to take control in the knight and pawn ending, marching my king up the board and creating zugzwang. A temporary sacrifice of my knight in the corner opened up the centre for my king and passed pawn, allowing a transposition to a won pawn ending. Jamie Friel sacrificed his bishop on f7 in a King's Gambit against Gwyn Evans but neglected to secure the centre and lost quickly. A 2½-1½ win meant Aber A overtook their own B team to restore their traditional precedence.

Colin Denham - Rudy van Kemenade 0-1

Julie van Kemenade - John Miller ½-½

Scott Hammett - Matthew Francis 0-1

Jamie Friel - Gwyn Evans 0-1

Alphabetical Disorder

With the season drawing to a close, Aberystwyth B have turned the alphabet on its head by overtaking the A team in the Dyfed League. Following the latter's disastrous match against Haverfordwest B, it didn't look unlikely that the B team would do better against the same opponents, whom they outgraded on all boards. And so it proved when the teams met at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes, on Wednesday 6th April. The new Welsh Ladies' Champion Julie van Kemenade was under some pressure against Martin Jones on top board, with her king still in the centre, when he miscalculated his attack and lost material, and her passed pawn clinched the win. I had the advantage from an early stage against Scott Hammett's unorthodox defence to 1.e4, but found it difficult to get over the line, even missing a mate in two. However, my attack was good enough for a material gain that carried me through the endgame. Tony Geraghty, the only Aber player who had featured in the A team's defeat, got a French-player's dream position out of the opening, but, despite being a piece and several pawns up, he took rather longer to finish the game off than he would have liked. On Board 4, Sam Holman has been on good form recently and had no problems against Sandra Whitby, who showed her inexperience by moving her queen several times in the opening. A 4-0 whitewash for Aberystwyth B made a point to the A team not long before the second Aber derby match.

Martin Jones - Julie van Kemenade 0-1

Matthew Francis - Scott Hammett 1-0

Gwyn Evans - Tony Geraghty 0-1

Sam Holman - Sandra Whitby 1-0

Congratulations to Julie

Congratulations to Julie van Kemenade on winning the Welsh Ladies' Championship at the 2016 Welsh Chess Championships. Here she is with her trophy. There is a report on the tournament on the Welsh Chess Union site, from which all games can be downloaded. Rudy has annotated one of her games, a fighting draw with a higher-graded player, below.

Julie van Kemenade - Joe Fathallah ½-½

Blacker Wednesday

Having already called a recent post Black Wednesday, I am at a loss what to call my description of Aberystwyth A's match against Haverfordwest B at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Wednesday 16th March. It sometimes happens in chess that a player will lose to an opponent graded 3-400 points lower: it adds an element of unpredictability that helps make the game interesting. But it doesn't usually happen three times in the same evening. On top board, Rudy van Kemenade played a very sharp game against Martin Jones, and both players got a bit lost in the complications. Mating combinations were missed, before White eventualy emerged with an extra rook. Adam Robinson was the one Aber player who came out on top, keeping his cool as Scott Hammett plunged into more complications that never looked soundly based with his Latvian Gambit. Tony Geraghty tried to sacrifice his way out of trouble against Robbie Coles, and was soon a rook down without compensation. On fourth board, Jamie Friel dropped a piece against Ray Greenwood, but had a chance to draw the king-and-pawn ending, which would have made Aber's defeat a little less devastating. 3-1 to Haverfordwest B.

Martin Jones - Rudy van Kemenade 1-0

Adam Robinson - Scott Hammett 1-0

Robbie Coles - Tony Geraghty 1-0

Jamie Friel - Ray Greenwood 0-1