Theory Wars

Aberystwyth fielded a strong B team against the formidable Dyfed League champions Cardigan at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes, on Wednesday 15th February. Playing White on top board, Robbie Wright took on Howard Williams in a sharp theoretical line of the Sicilian, a calculated risk that unfortunately ended in an early mate by Black. Adam Robinson, too, chose a very theoretical opening against Iolo Jones, but his King's Indian led to a blocked game rather than the usual fireworks. Iolo uncharacteristically missed a win in the manoeuvring, and eventually had to settle for a draw. Against Tony Haigh, I found myself facing a line of the Leningrad Dutch that I played myself in a match a few years ago. I couldn't remember the theory, but got as far as move 14 before misplaying it and getting an awful position, from which there was no escape. On Board 4, Conor McEwan's Steinitz Defence against Howard Leah's Ruy Lopez produced a cramped but playable position. Black got a bit of counterplay as White charged down the kingside with his pawns, but it wasn't enough. The match ended 3½-½ to Cardigan.

[Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B33"] [WhiteElo "1876"] [BlackElo "2342"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "40"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be3 (6. Bg5 {main}) 6... e5 (6... Ng4 {main}) 7. Ndb5 (7. Nb3) 7... a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Nxd5 (9... Nxe4 $2 10. Bb6) 10. exd5 Ne7 11. c4 {a very sharp line; sometimes the best tactic against a stronger player is to engage in tactics} Nf5 12. cxb5 (12. Bd2 {main, looks advisable, to the weak pawn structure; though the text appears quite playable}) 12... Nxe3 13. fxe3 Qh4+ 14. g3 (14. Kd2 {also played, when the Engines give} Be7 15. Qb3 O-O $15 {though Behnk-Enneper, Regionnalliga Nord1991 1-0}) 14... Qe4 15. Qc2 Qxe3+ (15... Qxc2 16. Nxc2 Bf5 17. Nb4 $16 { Rog-Chuprova, Liptovsky Mikulas Cup tm U20 2013,0-1}) 16. Be2 Bd7 $11 (16... Bg4 17. bxa6 Rxa6 18. Nc4 Qxe2+ 19. Qxe2 Bxe2 20. Kxe2 $16 { Karaklajic-Szilagyi, Bad Libenstein 1963,1-0}) (16... Qc5 17. Qxc5 dxc5 18. Nc4 (18. O-O) 18... axb5 19. Nb6 Rb8 20. Nxc8 Rxc8 21. Bxb5+ Kd8 22. O-O $14 { Gladstone-Sapozhnikov, Toronto PWC op 2009,0-1}) 17. bxa6 (17. Qd2 Qxd2+ 18. Kxd2 axb5 (18... g6 19. bxa6 Bh6+ 20. Kc3 Ke7 21. b4 $11 {Hertzog-Bressers, DAN ch int U20 1979,1-0}) 19. Nxb5 (19. Bxb5 {Komodo10}) 19... Ke7 20. Rhc1 g6 21. Rc7 Bh6+ 22. Kc2 Rhb8 $17 {Karaklajic-Denker, Hoogovens-B 1972, 1/2-1/2}) 17... Be7 18. Qc7 {too ambitious} (18. Qd2 $11 Qa7 (18... Bg5) (18... Qxd2+ 19. Kxd2 Bg5+ 20. Ke1 Ke7 (20... Bc8 21. Nc4 Ke7 22. Na5 Bxa6 23. Nc6+ Kd7 24. Bxa6 Rxa6 25. a4 $14 {Kotkov-Taimanov, RSFSR ch Perm 1960,1-0}) 21. b4 Rhc8 22. Bc4 Be3 $11 {Costa-Ayas Fernandez, Sitges op 2002,1-0}) 19. Bb5 (19. Nb5 $11) (19. Nc4 $11) 19... O-O 20. Bxd7 Qxd7 21. O-O Rxa6 $15 {Hubschmid-Malakhatko, Winterthur op 2002,0-1}) 18... Bd8 (18... Rc8 $19 {Komodo10} 19. Qb7 Bd8 20. Qb4 O-O 21. Qd2 Qe4 22. O-O Bb6+ $19 {Komodo10}) 19. Qb7 (19. Qc3 Qe4 20. Rf1 O-O $17 {Komodo10}) 19... Ba5+ 20. Kf1 (20. b4 {is more complicated} Ke7 (20... Qc3+ 21. Kf2 Bxb4 22. Qxa8+ Ke7 23. Qb7 Rb8 24. Qxb8 Qd4+ 25. Kg2 Qxd5+ 26. Kf2 Bc5+ 27. Ke1 Qxh1+ 28. Kd2 Qxa1 29. Nc2 Qxa2 $19 {Komodo10}) (20... Bb6 $1 { Komodo10} 21. Rd1 (21. Qxa8+ Ke7 22. Qb7 (22. Qxh8 Qc3+ 23. Kd1 Ba4+ 24. Nc2 Bxc2+ 25. Kc1 Be3#) 22... Rc8 23. Qxc8 (23. Rb1 Rc1+ 24. Rxc1 Qxc1+ 25. Bd1 Qc3+ 26. Kf1 Qe3 27. Qxd7+ Kxd7 28. Kg2 Qxa3 $19) 23... Bxc8 24. Nc2) 21... Qf2+ 22. Kd2 Be3+ 23. Kc3 Bd4+ 24. Rxd4 Qxd4+ 25. Kc2 Rc8+ 26. Bc4 Qe4+ 27. Kb3 Qf3+ 28. Kb2 Qxh1 $19) 21. bxa5 Qc3+ 22. Kf2 Qd4+ 23. Kf3 Rab8 24. Rad1 Qc5 25. Nc4 Rxb7 26. axb7 Rb8 27. a6 Bb5 $19 {Komodo10}) 20... Bh3# 0-1 [Event "DyfedLeague: Cardigan-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, IC."] [Black "Robinson, Adam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E67"] [WhiteElo "2219"] [BlackElo "1768"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "134"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. c4 g6 2. d4 Nf6 (2... Bg7 3. Nc3 (3. Nf3 d6 4. Nc3 Nd7 5. e4 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Bg5 f6 8. Be3 Nh6 {I Jones- J Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2009,1-0}) 3... d6 4. e4 Nd7 5. Be2 e5 6. d5 Ngf6 7. Bg5 {I Jones-J Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2008,1-0}) 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. g3 O-O 5. Bg2 d6 6. Nf3 Nbd7 7. O-O c6 (7... e5) 8. Qc2 (8. e4) (8. h3) 8... Re8 (8... e5) 9. Rd1 e5 10. dxe5 (10. e4 {main, keeps more tension on}) 10... dxe5 11. Ng5 {main, but seems to spend several tempi, moving a N 5 times to take an unmoved B; and thus falling behind in development. Even getting the 2 Bs doesn't seem worth the effort} (11. e4) (11. b3) 11... Qe7 (11... Qc7 {alternative}) 12. Nge4 Nc5 (12... Nxe4 {also played, but the text scores 65% for Bl}) 13. Nd6 (13. Bg5 Bf5 {delivered 50% over 5 games}) (13. Nxc5 Qxc5 14. Qb3 {Iolo & Fritz13 later comment- Be3 is a threat = 0.42 to Wh. Komodo10 gives the position as level after either} h6 {or} (14... Qe7 15. Bg5 Qc7 $11) 15. Be3 Qe7 $11) 13... Rd8 14. Nxc8 Raxc8 (14... Rxd1+ 15. Nxd1 Rxc8 16. Bd2 Nfd7 17. Bc3 f5 $11 {Euwe-Geller, Zurich cand 1953,0-1}) 15. b3 $146 (15. Bg5 Ne6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. e3 Bg7 $15 {Giertz-Gallagher, Zug 1991, 0-1}) (15. Be3 Bf8 16. Bh3 Rxd1+ 17. Rxd1 Rd8 18. Rxd8 Qxd8 19. b4 Ncd7 20. a3 a5 21. Qa4 $14 {Grivas-Apicella, Cannes op 1995,1/2-1/2}) (15. Bd2 Ne6 16. Qa4 a6 {Urban-Czarnota, POl ch Poznan, 2005, draw agreed}) 15... Nfd7 (15... Ne6 { Rudy} 16. Bb2 Nd7 17. e3 f5 $11) (15... Rxd1+ {before Wh can take back with the R; Komodo10} 16. Qxd1 Ne6 17. Bb2 (17. e3 Rd8 18. Qc2 e4 19. Bb2 Ng5 $15 { Komodo10}) 17... Rd8 18. Qc2 Nd4 19. Qc1 e4 20. Rb1 Ne8 21. Bxe4 Nxe2+ 22. Nxe2 Qxe4 23. Bxg7 Nxg7 24. Rb2 Qd3 25. Nf4 Qd6 26. Re2 $11 {Komodo10}) 16. Ba3 Qe8 {the Q looks slightly misplaced here, but bl squares are not quite right here either} (16... Qg5 17. h4 Qh5 18. Bf3 Qf5 19. Qxf5 gxf5 20. Bg2 $16) (16... Qf6 17. Bh3 $16) ({Komodo10} 16... e4 17. Rab1 (17. Nxe4 Bxa1 18. Rxa1 f5 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Qc3 h6 21. Re1 b6 22. e4 $11 {Komodo10}) 17... f5 18. Na4 b6 19. Nxc5 Nxc5 20. Rxd8+ Rxd8 21. Rd1 $11) 17. Rab1 (17. Bh3 Rb8 (17... f5 18. e4 $16) 18. Rab1 Ne6 $11 {Komodo10}) 17... f5 18. b4 (18. e4 f4 19. Bh3 Ne6 20. Bd6 Bf8 21. c5 fxg3 22. hxg3 (22. fxg3 Ng5 $15) 22... Ng5 23. Bg4 h5 24. Qc1 Bh6 25. f4 exf4 26. gxf4 hxg4 27. fxg5 Bg7 $15 {Komodo10}) 18... Ne6 19. e3 {a little passive} (19. e4 Nd4 20. Qd3 $11 {Komodo10}) (19. b5 e4 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. e3 Ne5 22. Rb7 Rc7 23. Rxc7 Nxc7 24. Bd6 Ne6 25. c5 Nf7 26. Qb3 Bf8 $11 {Komodo10} ) 19... e4 $15 {cuts off the g2 B} 20. Bb2 {gives up the 2 Bs, because otherwise Bl's B will be too powerful} Ne5 21. Ne2 Rxd1+ {Bl was aiming at a loose b pawn, but this temporarily cedes control of the d file} (21... Qe7 { Rudy, to have the Q as a replacement fianchetto}) 22. Rxd1 Nd3 (22... Rd8 { Fritz13, Komodo8 & Komodo10}) 23. Bxg7 Kxg7 24. Nc1 (24. g4 $14 {Komodo10}) 24... Nxc1 {Fritz13} (24... Ne5 {Komodo10} 25. Qc3 Ng5 26. Ne2 Kg8 27. c5 Rd8 28. Qb3+ Kg7 29. Nd4 Rd7 $11) 25. Qxc1 Rd8 $11 26. h4 b6 (26... g5 $5 {Rudy, trying to open up the Wh K; looks to be too loosening of the Bl K position} 27. Qc3+ Kg6 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. Qe5 Qf6 30. h5+ Kg7 31. Qb8 Qe7 32. g4 $16) (26... h6 $5 {preparing it} 27. Qc3+ Kf7 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. c5 Qf6 30. Qa3 a6 31. Bf1 g5 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. Bc4 f4 34. exf4 gxf4 35. Qb3 Qa1+ 36. Kg2 Kf6 37. Bxe6 f3+ 38. Kh3 (38. Kh2 Qf1 39. Bh3 Qxf2+ 40. Kh1 Qe1+ 41. Kh2 Qf2+ $11) 38... Qh1+ 39. Kg4 Qc1 40. Bf7 Qg5+ 41. Kh3 Qh6+ 42. Kg4 Qg5+ $11 {Komodo10}) (26... Rxd1+ 27. Qxd1 Qd8 {all 3 Engines} 28. Qb3 g5 29. hxg5 Nxg5 30. Qb2+ Kg6 31. Qe5 Qd2 32. Qe8+ Kg7 33. Qe7+ Kg6 34. Qe8+ $11 {Komodo10}) (26... c5 27. Rd5 cxb4 28. Qb2+ Kf7 29. Qxb4 Qe7 30. Qd2 b6 31. Bf1 $14 {Komodo10}) 27. Qc3+ Kf7 28. Rxd8 Qxd8 29. Bf1 {Fritz13} (29. c5 bxc5 30. bxc5 Qf6 31. Qa3 Qe7 32. Bf1 Qxc5 33. Qb3 Kf6 34. Bc4 $11 {Komodo10; judging an active B to be worth a pawn}) 29... c5 30. b5 {Fritz13, but does seal in the B} (30. a3 {Komodo10}) 30... Qf6 31. Qa3 Qe7 32. Be2 {a late middle game has arisen where the B has no scope; the N is perhaps a little better as it could choose to go to a square where the B would probably be forced to swap it off, though Bl could choose the moment to do so. Perhaps Bl can try to engineer h6, g5, f4, & f3 & get the N onto f3; but this doent look to be a forced win, even if the Q could come in.On the other hand, Wh has really only a Q to play with; and a Q on her own can never hope to cause any damage unless there are are loose pawns around. So a draw could have been agreed here.} Kg8 33. Qc3 Nd8 34. f3 {hoping to unbalance the position} Nf7 (34... exf3 35. Bxf3 Nf7 36. Bd5 h5 {still looks drawn, but Bl is best just staying put}) 35. f4 Qd7 (35... h5 {Komodo10; closes everything down}) 36. h5 Qd6 37. hxg6 hxg6 38. Kf2 Nh6 (38... g5 $11 {Rudy & Komodo10}) 39. Ke1 g5 40. Qa3 gxf4 41. gxf4 Qd7 42. Qc3 Qd6 (42... Qg7 {all 3 engines}) 43. a4 Kh7 44. a5 Kg6 45. axb6 axb6 46. Qh8 Qf6 $2 {a blunder , which Iolo fails to take advantage of} (46... Qe6 {keeps everything covered}) 47. Qe8+ $2 (47. Bh5+ $1 {wins the Q}) 47... Kg7 48. Qd7+ Kg6 49. Qd5 Kg7 50. Kf1 Qa1+ 51. Kf2 Qf6 52. Qb7+ Kg6 53. Kg3 Nf7 54. Qc8 Nh6 55. Qe8+ Nf7 56. Qg8+ Kh6 57. Qf8+ Kg6 58. Kf2 Qh4+ 59. Kg2 Qf6 60. Qe8 Kh6 61. Kg1 Kg6 62. Kf2 Qh4+ 63. Kg2 Qf6 64. Qg8+ Kh6 65. Kh3 Nh8 (65... Qg6 {Komodo10}) (65... Qd8 {Fritz13} 66. Qxd8 ( 66. Qxf7 Qh4+ 67. Kg2 Qg3+ 68. Kf1 Qf2+ 69. Kxf2 {stalemate}) 66... Nxd8 $11) 66. Qg3 Nf7 67. Qg8 Nh8 (67... Nh8 68. Bh5 $5 {Iolo} Ng6 (68... Kxh5 $2 69. Qh7+ Qh6 70. Qxf5+ Qg5 71. Qxg5#) 69. Bxg6 Qxg6 (69... Qh4+ 70. Kxh4 {stalemate }) 70. Qh8+ Qh7 71. Qf6+ Qg6 {still drawn}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Haigh, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A89"] [WhiteElo "1704"] [BlackElo "1903"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 {The Leningrad Dutch, a new addition to Tony's repertoire} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. c4 d6 7. Nc3 Nc6 {inviting a very sharp line} (7... Qe8) (7... c6 {main variations}) 8. d5 Ne5 (8... Na5 {is another way of playing this line}) 9. Nxe5 dxe5 10. e4 (10. Qb3 Kh8 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bc5 e4 13. h3 Ne5 {Botto-Van Kemenade, Leeds University-Huddersfield, 1992,1-0}) 10... f4 {an aggressive pawn sac offer} 11. gxf4 {main, Wh is not forced to take here though} (11. b4 {is a major alternative}) 11... exf4 (11... Nh5 { is yet another subvariation}) 12. e5 (12. Bxf4 Nxe4 {regains the pawn & has been considered good for Bl; though several GMs have successfully played this line for Wh in recent years} 13. Qc1 e5 14. Be3 Nd6 15. Bg5 Qe8 16. Nb5 Qf7 17. Nxd6 cxd6 18. c5 $11 {Simutowe-Nakamura, Cherry Hill op 2007, 1-0 one example}) 12... Ng4 13. e6 Ne5 14. f3 $146 {too passive an approach to the threat of f3 & makes the B bad} (14. Re1 $1 {is the correct theoretical response} Nxc4 ( 14... a6 15. Re4 f3 16. Bf1 {Haigh-E White, SW Autumn 2016,1/2-1/2}) 15. Re4 Nd6 16. Rxf4 c6 $11 (16... b6 $11)) 14... Nxc4 $17 15. Qd3 Nd6 16. Ne2 c6 ( 16... Be5 {Komodo10}) 17. Bxf4 (17. Nxf4 Be5 18. Ne2 Nf5 $17) 17... cxd5 (17... Nf5 18. Rad1 cxd5 $19 19. Qxd5 Qxd5 20. Rxd5 Bxe6 21. Rd2 Bxa2 {Komodo10}) 18. Qxd5 Qb6+ 19. Kh1 Nf5 (19... Rf5 20. Qd2 Bxe6 $19) 20. Rfe1 (20. Qe4 Bxe6 21. Ng3 Nxg3+ 22. Bxg3 Bf5 23. Qxe7 Rae8 24. Qh4 Qxb2 $17 {Komodo10}) 20... Bxe6 $19 21. Qe4 Bf7 (21... Rad8) 22. Be5 Bxe5 23. Qxe5 Qf6 (23... Rad8 $19) 24. Qb5 Ne3 $19 25. Qd3 Nxg2 26. Kxg2 Rad8 27. Qe3 Qxb2 (27... Bd5 28. Ng1 Qxb2+) 28. Reb1 Qd2 29. Qxd2 Rxd2 30. Kf2 Bc4 31. Re1 Bxa2 32. Ke3 Rfd8 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:Cardigan-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Leah, H."] [Black "McEwan, Conor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "1518"] [BlackElo "1339"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. c3 Bd7 5. d4 exd4 {giving up the centre cedes Wh a little more freedom of movement than Bl ( as Komodo10 shows to devastating effect in its comments)} (5... Nf6) 6. cxd4 a6 7. Ba4 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 (8... Nxe4 {is tricky but playable} 9. Re1 d5 10. Nbd2 Bb4 11. a3 Bxd2 12. Nxd2 O-O 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Rxe4 b5 15. Bb3 Bf5 16. Rf4 Qd7 $11 {Sawicki-Lucki, ICCF corr 2012,1-0}) 9. Re1 O-O 10. Nc3 b5 11. Bb3 (11. Bc2 {alternative}) 11... Bg4 12. Be3 Re8 (12... Na5 13. Bc2 Nc4 14. b3 (14. Bc1) 14... Nxe3 15. fxe3 b4 16. Ne2 c5 $11 {Skorna-Hentzschel, GER ch tm Seniors, Finstebergen 2009,1-0}) 13. h3 Bh5 14. a3 (14. Rc1 Rb8 15. Bc2 Nb4 16. a3 Nxc2 17. Rxc2 d5 18. e5 Ne4 $11 {Van der Auweraert-Bakker, NED ch U13 Rijswijk 2006,1-0}) (14. g4 $1 Bg6 15. e5 Nd7 16. e6 fxe6 17. Bxe6+ Kh8 18. Bd5 Nb4 (18... Ndb8 19. Ne2 Rf8 20. Nf4 Bf7 21. Bxf7 Rxf7 22. Ne6 Qc8 23. d5 $18) 19. Bxa8 Qxa8 20. Bg5 Nc2 21. Rxe7 Rxe7 22. Bxe7 Nxa1 23. Ne1 $16 {Komodo10}) 14... Rb8 (14... Na5 15. Ba2 Nc4 16. Bxc4 bxc4 17. g4 Bg6 18. Nd2 Bf8 19. Bg5 h6 20. Bh4 Bh7 21. f4 $16 {Komodo10}) 15. Qc2 $5 (15. g4 Bg6 16. e5 dxe5 17. dxe5 Qxd1 18. Raxd1 Ne4 19. Nd5 $16 {Komodo10}) 15... h6 (15... Bxf3 16. gxf3 Na5 17. Ba2 Nc4 18. Kh2 g6 $11 {anticipating an attack on the g file}) 16. Nh4 (16. e5 $1 $18 {Komodo10; using the mobility of the centre} dxe5 17. dxe5 Bxf3 (17... Nd7 18. Qf5 $1 Bxf3 (18... Bg6 $2 19. Qxg6 $18) 19. Bxf7+ Kh8 20. Bxe8 Qxe8 21. Qxf3 Ndxe5 22. Qe4 $18) 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. gxf3 $18 {Komodo10}) 16... Na5 17. Ba2 c5 (17... Nxe4 { Rudy, looked like winning a pawn, however} 18. Qxe4 Bxh4 19. Qf5 $1 {Komodo10} Rxe3 (19... Bg5 20. g4 $18) 20. Rxe3 Qf6 21. Qxf6 Bxf6 22. Rae1 $16 {& Wh is a comfortable exchange up}) 18. g4 (18. dxc5 dxc5 19. e5 Nd7 20. Qf5 c4 21. Qxh5 Bxh4 22. g3 Be7 23. Rad1 Bf8 24. Bb1 $16 {the Bl pieces are pinned down & Wh has excellent K side attacking chances} Rxe5 25. Qg4 Rb7 26. Be4) 18... g5 $6 { totally weakens Bl's K side, but there are no easy alternatives} (18... Bg6 19. Nxg6 $18) (18... cxd4 19. Bxd4 Nc6 20. Nf5 (20. Be3 Qd7 21. Nf5 (21. gxh5 Qxh3 22. Nf5 Ne5 23. Nd4 Nfg4 $11 {and Bl has attacking prospects-Komodo10}) 21... Bg6 22. Rad1 Bxf5 23. exf5 Ne5 $11)) 19. Nf5 {wins two pawns} (19. gxh5 $1 { even stronger, Komodo10} gxh4 20. e5 Nc4 (20... Nh7 21. Bxf7+) (20... Nd7 21. Qg6+ Kh8 22. Qxh6+ Kg8 23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 24. Qg6+ Kf8 25. Bh6#) 21. exf6 Bxf6 22. Bxh6 Bxd4 23. Kh2 $18 {the Bl K is unsafe in the wideopen spaces}) 19... Bg6 20. Nxh6+ (20. e5 $1 {Komodo10 even stronger} dxe5 21. dxe5 Nd7 22. Nxe7+ Kh7 ( 22... Qxe7 23. Qxg6+) 23. Nxg6 fxg6 24. Rad1 Qc8 25. Ne4 Rb6 26. Qd2 $18 { and the Bl pieces huddled on the Q side have no way of protecting both themselves & their K.}) 20... Kg7 21. Bxg5 (21. h4 Kxh6 22. hxg5+ Kg7 23. gxf6+ Bxf6 24. dxc5 $16 {Komodo10}) (21. Nf5+ Bxf5 22. exf5 $16 {Komodo10}) ({ However best is} 21. Nxf7 $1 Bxf7 22. Bxf7 Kxf7 23. e5 $18 {that move again- if the N moves the Q enters on h7 with devastation}) (21. Bxf7 $1 {transposes}) 21... c4 {blocking the B, yet seems Bl can almost survive with} (21... cxd4 $1 22. Bxf7 (22. Nf5+ Bxf5 23. exf5 dxc3 24. Qxc3 Rc8 $11) 22... Bxf7 23. Ne2 Nb3 24. Rad1 Rc8 25. Nf5+ Kg8 (25... Kh8 26. Qd3 Rg8 27. f4 $16) 26. Qd3 Nc5 27. Qf3 Ncxe4 28. Bh4 d3 29. Nh6+ Kg7 30. Nxf7 Kxf7 31. Rxd3 d5 32. Nf4 $16 { an enormously complex position; courtesy of Komodo10}) 22. Nf5+ $18 Bxf5 23. exf5 Nc6 24. Qd2 Rh8 25. h4 (25. Rxe7 Nxe7 26. Re1 Neg8 27. Nd5 Kf8 28. Nxf6 Nxf6 29. Bh6+ Rxh6 30. Qxh6+ $18 {is another way forward for Wh- Komodo10}) 25... d5 (25... Nxg4 26. Rxe7 Nxe7 27. f3 f6 28. fxg4 $18 {Komodo10}) 26. Qe2 ( 26. Rxe7 $1 {Komodo10 still the quickest} Qxe7 (26... Nxe7 27. Bxf6+ Kf8 (27... Kxf6 28. Qg5#) 28. Bxh8 $18) 27. Nxd5 Qe4 28. Bxf6+ Kf8 29. Qf4 $1 Qxf4 30. Nxf4 Rh6 31. Nh5 $18 {the Bl pieces are stuck in uncordinated places}) 26... Nxd4 (26... Ng8 27. Qe3 Bxg5 (27... Rxh4 $5 28. Bxh4 Bxh4 29. Kg2 $18) 28. hxg5 Qd6 29. f4 $18 {again Wh will slowly take over the board, bringing his QR & the KB into position}) 27. Qxe7 Nf3+ 28. Kg2 Nxe1+ 29. Rxe1 (29. Qxe1 Qd6 30. Bxf6+ Qxf6 31. Nxd5 {also good}) 29... Qxe7 30. Rxe7 Nxg4 (30... d4 31. Ne4 Nxe4 32. Rxe4 d3 33. f3 Rbe8 34. h5 {and although the B on a2 is of little use other than prodcing a sac on d3 ( maybe though after Bd2, b3 becomes a possibility) the pawn mass on the K side will decide against a R that has no open lines to get any activity at all.}) 31. Nxd5 Rbd8 32. Nc7 (32. f6+ Kg8 33. Bb1 {and Bl is close to running out of moves}) 32... Rd2 33. Bb1 (33. Bxd2 { but it no longer matters}) 33... Rxb2 34. f6+ Nxf6 35. Ne6+ Kg8 36. Bxf6 fxe6 ( 36... Rxb1 37. Ng5 (37. Re8+ Kh7 38. Ng5+ Kg6 39. Bxh8) 37... Kf8 38. Rxf7+ Ke8 39. Re7+ Kd8 40. Nf7+ Kc8 41. Bxh8 Rd1 42. Be5 Rd5 43. h5 {and the h pawn will deliver mate when it queens.}) 37. Bg6 1-0

Order Restored

Rudy has now had a chance to analyse the match between the A and B teams played at Brynamlwg on Tuesday 24 January, so order is restored in this blog. On top board for the A team, Robbie Wright was always ahead after Ian Finlay's miscalculation in a Sicilian Defence cost him a piece, and the end was not long coming. Adam Robinson had a complex struggle in a Modern Defence against Sam Holman, but emerged ahead after a series of exchanges and was able to push a passed pawn for the win. I caught Conor McEwan in an opening trap in the London System that I was familiar with from the internet, winning quickly. James Corrigan couldn't make headway against Kieran Judge's unusual but sound anti-Sicilian line; he might have had a significant endgame advantage at the moment he agreed a draw, but the result was a fair reward for Kieran's strong performance against a much higher-rated player. The A team won the match 3½-½.

[Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.01.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Finlay, I."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1876"] [BlackElo "1372"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "59"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 (5. Bc4 {also, now that Bl has played d6, then an e6-d5 sequence by Bl loses a tempo.}) 5... Bd7 6. O-O e6 7. d3 a6 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. e5 (9. Qe1 {alternative}) 9... Nd7 (9... dxe5 10. fxe5 Nd7 $11 {has been played, is a slightly more open position where Wh has chances against f7}) 10. Ne4 (10. exd6) (10. Qe2) (10. f5 {more frequent}) 10... Be7 $2 (10... d5 11. Ng3 Qc7 12. Rb1 Be7 13. Qe2 g6 14. a3 O-O $15 { Jaiswal-Apaydin, Wld ch U20 Gaziantep 2008,0-1}) 11. exd6 $16 Bxe4 $2 (11... Bf8 12. Ne5 Bxe4 13. dxe4 Nf6 14. Qe2 Bxd6 (14... Qxd6 15. Nxf7 Kxf7 16. e5 $16 ) 15. Rd1 Qc7 16. Nc4 Be7 17. e5 Nd7 18. f5 $16 {Komodo10; best try}) 12. dxe7 Qxe7 13. dxe4 $18 {just a piece up} O-O 14. Be3 Rad8 15. Qe2 Nf6 16. Bf2 Qc7 17. Ne5 (17. Bh4) 17... b5 18. Rad1 Rc8 19. Kh1 (19. Bh4 Rfd8 20. Ng4 {Komodo10 }) 19... c4 20. c3 Qb7 21. Rd4 g6 22. Rfd1 Kg7 23. Nd7 (23. Bh4) 23... Nxd7 24. Rxd7 Qb8 25. Bd4+ (25. f5) (25. Qg4 {Wh has several winning ways}) 25... Kg8 26. Be5 Qa8 27. Bf6 Qb8 28. Qg4 Qa8 29. Qh4 Qxe4 (29... h5 30. Qg5 Kh7 31. f5 { mating soon}) 30. Qh6 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythB-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.01.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Robinson, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "1334"] [BlackElo "1768"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. e4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. c3 (3. d4 {is simpler}) 3... d5 4. e5 c5 5. Bb5+ $146 ( 5. d4 {main}) 5... Bd7 6. Bxd7+ Qxd7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Re1 e6 9. a3 Nge7 10. d4 { at last} cxd4 11. cxd4 O-O $11 12. Nc3 a6 13. b4 (13. Na4 $5 {Rudy} Qc7 14. Bf4 h6 15. Rc1 b6 16. Qd3 Qb7 17. Rc2 Na5 18. b3 Rfc8 $11 {Komodo10}) 13... Rac8 14. Qd3 (14. Na4 {Rudy, Komodo8 & Komodo10}) 14... Rc7 15. Bd2 b5 {preventing Na4-c5, but Wh can bring it to c5 via e2-c1 & b3. In the meantime Bl can play a similar game with Nc8.b6,c4. The position is quite blocked , so slow manouevres are quite ok} 16. Reb1 Rfc8 (16... f6 {Komodo10; extends the range of Bl's B which currently bites on granite}) 17. a4 {looks the right kind of thing to do; even though it weakens b4; Komodo10} Na7 18. h3 {ruling out any backrank surprises} Rc4 19. Rb3 (19. axb5 axb5 20. Ne2 $11) 19... Nf5 (19... Nec6 $15 {Komodo10}) 20. g4 Ne7 21. axb5 axb5 22. Rba3 {again looks sensible, as it seems b4 can be protected comfortably} (22. Rxa7 $1 {is Komodo10's solution, setting up a dangerous passed pawn} Qxa7 23. Nxb5 Qb8 24. Nd6 R8c7 25. b5 (25. Nxc4 $2 dxc4 $19) 25... Nc8 26. b6 (26. Ne8 Rb7 27. Nxg7 Kxg7 28. Qe3 Nb6 29. Qh6+ Kh8 30. Ng5 Qg8 31. Nxh7 Qxh7 32. Qf8+ Qg8 33. Qh6+ {Komodo10; is an interesting way to gain a draw}) 26... Nxb6 27. Ba5 R7c6 28. Kg2 Bf8 29. Bxb6 Rxb6 30. Rxb6 Qxb6 31. Nxc4 Qb5 (31... dxc4 32. Qxc4 $11 {& Wh has won a pawn}) 32. Nfd2 Bb4 33. Qb3 dxc4 34. Qxc4 Qxc4 35. Nxc4 Bc3 36. f4 Bxd4 $11 { Komodo10}) 22... Nec6 23. Ne2 (23. Nd1 {prepares to chase the R away from c4where it is a nuisance}) 23... Bf8 $15 24. h4 (24. Qb1 {Komodo8 & 10} Rc7 25. Rb3 Nc8 26. Kg2 Nb6 $15) 24... Bxb4 (24... Rc7 {both Komodos, is safer, the b4 pawn can wait}) 25. Bxb4 Nxb4 (25... Rxb4 26. Qd2 Qe7 27. Qh6 {threat Ng5} Qf8 28. Qxf8+ Kxf8 29. Rxa7 Nxa7 30. Rxa7 h6 31. Nf4 Rb3 32. Kg2 Rb8 33. h5 g5 34. Nh3 Kg8 {and Wh has just enough going on the K side before Bl can organise a triumphal march of the b pawn} 35. Nhxg5 hxg5 36. Nxg5 Rf8 37. h6 b4 38. Rb7 Rb2 39. Kg3 b3 40. h7+ Kh8 41. Kg2 $11 {as Bl will run out of constructive moves} (41. Nxf7+ Kxh7 42. Ng5+ Kh6 43. Nxe6 Rfxf2 44. Nf4 Rf1 45. Rb6+ Kg7 46. Nxd5 Rd2 47. Rxb3 Rxd4 48. Ne3 Rg1+ 49. Kf2 Rdxg4 50. Nxg4 Rxg4 $11 {the extra p in the centre is easily held}) 41... Rd2 (41... Kg7 42. Nxe6+ $18) 42. Rxb3 Rxd4 43. f3 Ra4 44. Rb7 Ra6 45. Kg3 d4 46. Rd7 d3 47. f4 d2 48. Rxd2 Ra3+ 49. Kh4 Ra4 50. Rf2 $11 {Komodo10}) 26. Rxa7 $2 {a miscalculation} (26. Qd2 $1 $18 {Both Komodos; will win because of the weakness on the bl squares around the Wh K , after the departure of its protector B} Nbc6 27. Qh6 Rf8 28. Ng5 f6 ( 28... f5 29. h5 Qg7 30. Qxg7+ Kxg7 31. Nxe6+ Kg8 32. Nxf8 Kxf8 33. Rxa7 Nxa7 34. Rxa7 $18) 29. Rf3 $1 {difficult to foresee a sudden switch for human calculations} f5 30. h5 Nxd4 31. Nxd4 Rxd4 32. hxg6 Rxg4+ 33. Kf1 Rxg5 34. gxh7+ Qxh7 35. Qxg5+ Qg7 (35... Kh8 36. Rxa7 $1 {luring the Q offside to mate}) 36. Qxg7+ Kxg7 37. Rxa7+ $18) 26... Qxa7 {a desperado, winning material} 27. Qxg6+ hxg6 28. Rxa7 Nd3 $19 {Wh is an exchange down , and facing a menacing passed pawn} 29. Ng5 R4c7 (29... b4) 30. Ra3 Nc1 31. Nxc1 Rxc1+ 32. Kg2 b4 33. Rb3 Rb8 34. Nf3 Rc3 35. Nd2 Rxb3 36. Nxb3 Ra8 37. Kf1 Ra3 38. Nd2 b3 39. Ke2 b2 40. Kd1 (40. Kd1 Rd3 41. Kc2 Rxd2+) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythB-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.01.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "McEwan, Conor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "1704"] [BlackElo "1339"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "19"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 {pinching one of Tony Geraghty's openings ( following on along with Carlsen & other GMs)} Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. c3 Bg4 {always a little dangerous in QP openings as it leaves b7 vulnerable} (4... Bf5 {though is the main line because of tactics} 5. Qb3 Rb8) (4... e6 {is more circumspect}) 5. Qb3 (5. Nf3 {main ( & transpositional)}) 5... b6 {severely weakens the wh squares} (5... Rb8 6. Nd2 e6 {has been played , with Bl winning both games!} 7. h3 Bf5 8. Ngf3 Bd6 9. Bxd6 cxd6 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O b5 $11 {Garcia Palermo-Godena, ITA ch Sarre, 2009,0-1}) 6. Nd2 e6 $2 {cuts off the B} (6... Bd7 {had to be played} 7. Ngf3 e6 $14) 7. Bb5 $18 Qd7 8. Qa4 O-O-O {doesn't help much} 9. Bxc6 Qe7 10. Qa6+ {and the weak b7 shows up} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythB-AberystwythA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.01.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Judge, Kieran"] [Black "Corrigan, James"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B50"] [WhiteElo "1016"] [BlackElo "1449"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.02.15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bd3 {the Kopec system} Nf6 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bc2 Bg4 6. O-O ( 6. d3) (6. h3 {both anticipate Bl's next}) 6... Ne5 (6... e6) (6... g6 {main}) 7. Ba4+ (7. d4 Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 Bh3 9. Re1 {alternative}) 7... Bd7 (7... Nfd7 8. Nxe5 $1 $18 {3.5-0.5}) 8. Bxd7+ (8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. f4 Bxa4 10. Qxa4+ Qd7 11. Qc4 exf4 12. Rxf4 e5 13. Rf5 Bd6 14. Na3 $11 {Kraemer-Hoehne, Wld Ch Seniors 1998, 1/2-1/2}) 8... Nfxd7 (8... Qxd7 9. d4 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 Qg4 (10... Qc6 11. d5 Qc7 12. c4 g6 13. b3 Bg7 14. Bb2 O-O $11 {De Feijter-Dubbeldam, Haarlem Nova College op 2013, 1/2-1/2}) 11. Qxg4 Nxg4 12. f3 Nf6 13. Be3 e6 14. c4 $14 { Fusthy-Barczay, HUN ch tm 2000,1/2-1/2}) 9. d4 (9. Nxe5 dxe5 (9... Nxe5 10. d4 $14) 10. d4 $14) 9... Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 e6 (10... g6 $11) 11. Be3 (11. Bf4 $14) 11... Be7 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Rfe1 Rc8 14. Nf1 Qc7 15. Rac1 (15. Rad1) 15... Nf6 16. Ng3 b5 17. a3 Qb7 18. Bd2 Rc7 19. b4 (19. Be3) 19... cxd4 20. cxd4 Rfc8 21. Qe2 (21. Rxc7 Rxc7 22. Bf4 $11) 21... Rc2 (21... d5 22. e5 Nd7 $15 {Wh has the inferior B; Komodo10}) (21... Rxc1 22. Rxc1 Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1 Qc6 24. Bg5 h6 25. d5 $11 {Komodo10}) 22. e5 (22. d5 $11) 22... dxe5 23. dxe5 Nd5 $15 24. Rxc2 Rxc2 25. Ne4 Qc6 26. h3 a6 27. Qd3 Qc4 28. Qxc4 Rxc4 29. Nd6 $6 {leaves a weak d6 pawn} (29. Kf1 h6 $15) 29... Bxd6 30. exd6 Kf8 $17 31. Rc1 $17 {(draw?)} ( 31. Rc1 Rxc1+ (31... Ke8 32. Ra1 Kd7 33. a4 a5 34. bxa5 Rxa4 35. Rxa4 bxa4 36. a6 Kxd6 37. a7 Nc7 $17 {Bl is winning, but there are technical difficulties}) 32. Bxc1 Nb6 33. f4 Nc4 34. Kf2 Ke8 $19) 1/2-1/2

Out of Order

The title doesn't refer to the state of this blog, for once, but to the fact that I still haven't covered the match between A and B teams, which took place at Brynamlwg on Tuesday 24 January and resulted in a 3½-½ win to Aber A. The scores were put in the Club chest, and Rudy hasn't yet retrieved them for analysis, so meanwhile here is the report on the match between Aber A and Steynton A, played at Tanygroes on Wednesday 8 February.

On top board Rudy van Kemenade, playing Black in a Petroff, showed the patience necessary for a strong player, persisting in trying for a win in an ending where his advantage was slight. Eventually Martin Jones made the mistake that allowed him through. Robbie Wright took advantage of Gwyn Evans's inaccuracies, winning not so much through his typical White kingside attack in the Sicilian as the material his opponent let slip in defending it. I tried to play positionally against Scott Hammett's Bird's Opening, having the better bishop for most of the game, but my attempted breakthrough was a disastrous mistake. Luckily for me he missed the win, and I was able to force a draw in the ensuing queen ending. James Corrigan's game against Robbie Coles was another Sicilian, this time through a French move order. James's clever knight sacrifice, even though declined, opened the Black defences for a convincing win. Aber A won the match 3½-½.

If you are not yet entered for the Dyfed Congress, due to be played in the delightful setting of the Fishguard Bay Hotel on the weekend of 24-26 February, there is an entry form here. It's always a highlight of the chess calendar in Wales.

[Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, Martin C"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "1758"] [BlackElo "2009"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "142"] [EventDate "2017.02.09"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 {a notorious drawing variation against the Petroff,envisaging an early Q swap} Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 (7. Qxe7+ Bxe7 {helps Bl develop}) 7... Be6 {except that Bl has other ideas ( based on games by Marshall)} 8. Nc3 Nbd7 (8... c6 9. Nd4 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Bg7 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Nf5 {Suba-Van Kemenade, Scarborough 1990,1-0}) 9. O-O-O h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 (11... Bg7 12. Re1 Nh5 13. Nd5 Qd8 14. h4 Nxg3 15. fxg3 c6 16. Nc3 Qa5 17. hxg5 O-O-O $15 {J.Cast- Van Kemenade, 4NCL 2002,1/2-1/2 }) 12. Nd4 $146 (12. d4 Nxg3 13. hxg3 g4 14. Nh4 d5 15. Qb5 O-O-O 16. Qa5 $1 ( 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Qg5+ 18. Qxg5 hxg5 $17 {& Bl wins the N}) 16... a6 $6 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. Qxa6+ Kb8 19. Nb5 $18 {Lasker-Marshall, St Petersburg 1914, 1-0}) 12... Nxg3 13. hxg3 Bg7 (13... O-O-O) 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Nb5 {the start of an adventure that leads to the N being out of play most of the game} (15. Qh5+ Qf7 $11 (15... Kd8 $5 $11)) 15... Nb6 16. d4 a6 17. Na3 (17. Nc3 {is better, accepting the tempo loss in Nb5}) 17... Rf8 18. c3 O-O-O $11 19. f3 { Wh antipates Qf7, eyeing both f2 & a2. The problem is that the f3 pawn, however there is not much other option for Wh. obstructs the the wh B} Qf7 { Bl is confortably ahead in development, with an unbalanced position.} (19... e5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21. Rxh6 Qg7 22. Rh1 Bxg3 $15 {alternative, that fins favour with Komodo10,but Bl was playing to keep a superior pawn structure for the endgame.}) 20. Kb1 (20. Nc4 {relocating the N , must be better}) 20... d5 21. Qc2 Qf6 22. Bd3 e5 23. dxe5 Qxe5 24. g4 {and another pawn on the same colour as the B} Rfe8 25. Qd2 Qd6 (25... Qg3 26. Rh3 Qd6) 26. Rhe1 Be5 (26... Rxe1 { Komodo10} 27. Qxe1 (27. Rxe1 Na4 28. Re6 Nxc3+ 29. Qxc3 Qxe6 30. Qxg7 Qe1+ 31. Kc2 $11) 27... Kb8 28. Bc2 Qf6 $15 {Komodo10; but ceding the e file doesn't feel right}) 27. Bf5+ Kb8 28. Qd3 (28. Nc2 c5 $15) 28... Bg3 (28... Na4 $1 $17 {Komodo10, keeps more dynamism going by using the relative strenghts of the Ns} 29. Qc2 (29. Nc2 Qb6 $19 {Bl missed the power of this move} 30. Nb4 Nxb2 31. Kxb2 Qxb4+ {Komodo10}) 29... Nxc3+ 30. bxc3 Qxa3 $17) 29. Rxe8 Rxe8 30. Nc2 $11 {now Wh is able to hold on for the moment} Qe5 31. Nb4 c6 32. Bg6 Re7 33. Nc2 Qe2 {aiming for the g pawn, but missing that after Wh's next, there is no checkon f1} (33... Nc4 {the N must come in} 34. b3 Nd6 $15 35. Rd2 $2 {hoping to trade Rs} (35. Kb2 Nb5 36. a4 Nc7 $15) 35... Nb5 36. Kb2 Qd6 37. a4 Nxc3 38. Kxc3 Be5+ 39. Nd4 c5 $19 {Komodo10}) 34. Rd2 Qxd3 (34... Qe5 35. Rd1 Nc4 $15) 35. Bxd3 {(draw?)} c5 $11 {However Bl has a mobile pawn majority, while Wh can't activate his on the K side, so there is lots of play left in the position, despite the simplifications} 36. Re2 Rxe2 37. Bxe2 $15 Bf2 (37... Bf4 38. Ne1 Kc7 39. Nd3 Bd6 (39... Kd6) 40. Nc1 Nd7 41. Kc2 Ne5 $15 {Komodo10}) 38. b3 Kc7 39. Kc1 Kd6 40. Kd2 Ke5 41. Ne3 Bxe3+ (41... c4 {Komodo10} 42. bxc4 (42. Bf1 a5 43. Be2 cxb3 44. axb3 Kf4 45. Nf5 h5 46. g3+ Ke5 $15) (42. Nf5 h5 $15)) 42. Kxe3 $11 {The position may be equal objectively, but Wh has a bad Bagainst a good N, with a pawn majority unable to be mobilised on the K side;thus Bl has an extra pawn, albeit a centre one that is easily blockaded.But if anyone has winning chances, its Bl, since Wh has to be careful in defence especially given time constraints- Bl as usual was close to an hour ahead} d4+ 43. cxd4+ cxd4+ 44. Kd3 Nd5 45. Kd2 a5 (45... Kf4 {considered} 46. Bd3 (46. Kd3 Nc3 47. Bf1 Nxa2 48. Kxd4 b5 49. Bd3 (49. Kc5 {looks dangerous for Bl, but Komodo10 has everything under control} Nc1 $19 50. b4 Ke3 {and the B is lost} 51. Kb6 Kf2 52. Kxa6 Kxf1 53. Kxb5 Nd3 54. Kc4 Nxb4 55. Kxb4 Kxg2 $19 {the Wh K is too far away})) 46... Kg3 (46... Nb4 47. Be4 Nxa2 48. Bxb7 Nb4 49. Ke2 Kg3 50. Ba8 a5 51. Bb7 $11 {and Wh holds} Kxg2 $2 52. f4+ $18) 47. Be4 Nc3 48. Bxb7 Nxa2 49. Bxa6 Kxg2 50. Bb7 Kg3 51. Kd3 Nc1+ 52. Kxd4 Nxb3+ 53. Ke3 $11 {Komodo10}) ( 45... Ne3 {brief pm analysis} 46. g3 b5 47. a3 Nd5 48. b4 Nf6 49. Kd3 $11 { Komodo10} h5 $2 50. gxh5 Nxh5 51. f4+ $18) 46. a4 Nf4 (46... Ne3 $5) 47. g3 Ne6 (47... Nd5) 48. Bd3 b6 49. Bc4 Nc5 50. Bg8 Kd6 51. Bc4 $11 {(draw?)} Ke5 { Bl can still try some other ideas} 52. Bg8 Nd7 53. Kd3 Nf6 54. Bf7 {not allowing h5} (54. Bc4 h5 $2 {though allows Wh a way out tactically} 55. f4+ $1 {Komodo10} (55. gxh5 Nxh5 56. g4 Nf4+ $15 {and the clearance of the g3 pawn gives the Bl K accesss vhances via f4}) 55... gxf4 56. gxf4+ Kxf4 57. gxh5 Nxh5 58. Kxd4 Nf6 59. Bf7 $18 {as Wh will win both Q side pawns}) 54... Nd7 55. Bg8 Nc5+ 56. Kd2 (56. Kc4 {looks better}) 56... Na6 57. Bc4 Nb4 58. Bb5 Na2 59. Bc4 Nc3 60. Bd3 Nd5 61. Bc4 Ne3 62. Bd3 Kd5 63. Bb5 Kc5 64. Bd3 (64. Ke2 {Komodo10} Kb4 65. Kd3 Kc5 $11 (65... Nf1 $2 66. Kxd4 Nxg3 67. Ke3 {and the N is trapped}) ) 64... Kb4 65. Bc4 $2 {hoping to bail out in the pawn ending by getting his Kside moving at last, but allowing Bl find a way through} (65. Bb5 $1 {it seems is correct, though it also requires accuracy in calculation, and Wh's time was getting very low} Kxb3 66. Kd3 Nd1 $1 (66... Nf1 67. f4 $18 Nh2 68. Bd7 Nf3 69. Ke4 Nh2 (69... Kc3 70. Kxf3 d3 71. Bb5 d2 72. Be2 $18)) 67. f4 Nf2+ 68. Kxd4 gxf4 69. gxf4 Nxg4 70. Be2 Nf6 71. Ke5 Nd7+ 72. Kd6 Nf6 73. Ke6 Nh7 74. Bb5 Kc3 (74... h5 75. Kf7 h4 76. Kg7 h3 77. Kxh7 h2 78. Bc6 b5 79. axb5 a4 80. b6 a3 81. b7 a2 82. b8=Q+ $18) 75. Kf7 Kd4 (75... Ng5+ 76. Kg6 Ne4 77. f5 h5 78. Kxh5 Kd4 79. Kg6 Ke5 $11) 76. Bd7 Ng5+ 77. Kg6 Ne4 78. Kxh6 Nc5 79. Bc8 (79. Bc6 b5 80. axb5 a4 81. Be8 a3 82. Bf7 Nd7 83. Ba2 Kc5 84. Kg6 Kxb5 $11 { Komodo10;all very complicated & the reason why one should not use up all one's time in the opening})) 65... Nxc4+ 66. bxc4 Kxa4 $1 $19 {obtaining a crucial outside passed pawn, & calculating that the Bl K can get back in time to the K side} (66... Kxc4 67. f4 b5 68. f5 bxa4 69. f6 a3 70. f7 a2 71. f8=Q a1=Q 72. Qc8+ $11 {and Wh has a perpetual}) 67. f4 Kb4 (67... Kb3 {considered in the car on the way home; looks winning also, but there is a catch} 68. f5 a4 69. c5 $1 {Komodo10; exposes the Bl K} (69. f6 a3 70. f7 a2 71. f8=Q a1=Q $19 { because the Bl K is safe,while the Wh one will soon be in trouble.}) 69... bxc5 (69... b5 70. c6 a3 71. c7 a2 72. c8=Q a1=Q 73. Qe6+ Kb2 74. Qe2 Ka3 75. Qe7+ Kb3 76. Qe6+ $11 {perpetual}) 70. f6 a3 71. f7 a2 72. f8=Q a1=Q 73. Qb8+ Kc4 74. Qg8+ Kb5 75. Qb8+ {rather similar to what was to happen a little later on board 3 between Hammett & Francis}) 68. f5 Kc5 69. f6 {makes life a little easier to calculate for Bl} (69. Kd3 {keeping the pawn protected for one move more & forcing Bl to to unprotect his a pawn} a4 70. f6 Kd6 71. Kxd4 Ke6 72. Kc3 Kxf6 73. Kb4 Ke5 74. Kxa4 Ke4 {distant opposition} (74... Kd4 {is an alternative} 75. Kb4 (75. Kb5 Kc3 76. Kxb6 Kxc4 $19 {is easier}) 75... Ke3 76. Kb5 Kd3 77. Kb4 Kc2 78. Ka4 Kc3 79. Kb5 Kb3 80. c5 bxc5 81. Kxc5 Kc3 82. Kd5 Kd3 83. Ke5 Ke3 84. Kf5 Kf3 85. Kg6 Kxg3 86. Kh5 Kf4 87. Kxh6 Kxg4 $19 { Komodo10}) 75. Kb5 Kd3 (75... Kf3 76. Kxb6 Kxg4 77. c5 Kxg3 (77... h5 78. c6 h4 79. gxh4 gxh4 80. c7 h3 81. c8=Q+ {is check, & Bl is too slow}) 78. c6 h5 79. c7 g4 80. c8=Q h4 81. Qf5 {and Bl is again too slow ( however if both the Bl pawns were on the 6th with the K in front , then the position would be a draw! Rudy has had this endgame once.}) 76. Kb4 Kc2 77. Ka4 Kc3 78. Kb5 Kb3 { transposes to the above}) 69... Kd6 70. Kd3 Ke6 71. Kxd4 Kxf6 {the outside passed pawn decides matters in Bl's favour} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythA-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Evans, Gwyn"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B76"] [WhiteElo "1876"] [BlackElo "1436"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2017.02.09"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 (4... Nf6 {more usual, as Wh could now get the Maroczy bind} 5. Nc3 Nc6 (5... g6 {if a Dragon is required})) 5. Bb5 (5. c4 {the Maroczy, restricts Bl's natural counterplay down the c file & also holds up both d5 & b5}) 5... Bd7 6. Be3 g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. Qd2 (8. O-O {main }) 8... Nf6 9. f3 O-O 10. O-O-O a6 11. Bd3 {admitting that the B hasn't achieved much on b5} Rc8 (11... b5 {1-2}) 12. Nxc6 (12. Bh6 $2 Nxd4 {Alonzo Macias-Devesa Raris, Galizia ch U14 Santiago de Compostella 2002,0-1}) 12... Rxc6 (12... Bxc6) 13. Bh6 Qa5 (13... Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Qa5 15. Qd2 Be6 $11 { Komodo10}) 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. a3 (15. Kb1) 15... b5 16. Nd5 Qd8 (16... Qxd2+ 17. Rxd2 Nxd5 18. exd5 Rc5 $11 {is safer, avoiding the damage to the pawn structure }) 17. Nxf6 exf6 (17... Kxf6 18. Qh6 Rc5 19. f4 $16 {and the K looks rather exposed}) 18. h4 (18. g4) 18... h5 19. Rdg1 (19. g4 {is premature} hxg4 20. h5 Rh8 21. h6+ Kh7 22. Rdg1 gxf3 23. Qf4 Be6 $15) 19... Be6 (19... Rc5) 20. g4 $14 Rh8 21. Be2 (21. gxh5 Rxh5 22. f4 Bc4 23. f5 $14 {Komodo10}) 21... a5 (21... Qb6 $11 {Komodo10}) 22. Bxb5 Rc5 23. a4 Bc4 (23... Bb3 {Komodo10} 24. c3 hxg4 25. fxg4 Qe7 26. Bd3 d5 27. h5 (27. exd5 Rxd5 $17) 27... dxe4 28. hxg6 Rcc8 29. Re1 e3 30. Qe2 fxg6 31. Rxh8 Rxh8 32. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 33. Rxe3 Bxa4 34. Re7+ Kf8 35. Ra7 $14 {Komodo10}) 24. Bxc4 Rxc4 25. b3 Rb4 (25... Rc5 $14) 26. Qc3 (26. g5 $16 {Komodo10}) 26... Qd7 (26... d5 $5) 27. gxh5 Rxh5 (27... Qe6 $16 {Komodo10} ) 28. Rg5 $1 $18 Rh8 29. Rxa5 {Wh's Q side pawns will win the endings} Rbb8 30. h5 Rhc8 31. h6+ Kh7 32. Qxf6 Rg8 33. Rd1 (33. Rd5) 33... Qc7 34. Rb5 Rbc8 35. Rd2 (35. c4) 35... g5 {to eliminate the nasty h6 pawn} (35... Kxh6 $2 36. Rh2#) 36. Rxg5 Rg6 37. Rxg6 fxg6 38. Qg7+ {simplyfying to a won R & pawn ending} Qxg7 39. hxg7 Kxg7 40. Rxd6 Rc3 41. f4 Re3 42. e5 Re4 43. Rf6 (43. a5 {is even quicker according to Komodo10, but why complicate matters?} Rxf4 44. Rd7+ Kg8 ( 44... Kh6 45. e6) 45. a6 Rf8 46. a7 g5 47. Rb7 g4 48. Rb8 g3 49. Rxf8+ Kxf8 50. a8=Q+) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythA-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Hammett, S."] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A03"] [WhiteElo "1443"] [BlackElo "1703"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "107"] [EventDate "2017.02.09"] 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Be2 (4. h3 Bxf3 5. Qxf3 Ngf6 6. g4 h6 7. d4 e6 {R Van Kemenade-Francis, Aberystwyth Ch 2011,0-1}) 4... Bxf3 (4... Ngf6) 5. Bxf3 c6 6. b3 (6. O-O) 6... e5 7. fxe5 Nxe5 8. Bb2 Bd6 9. O-O Nf6 10. d4 $6 { creates a hole on e4} (10. Nc3) (10. d3) 10... Nxf3+ {Cloud Engines} (10... Ng6 11. Nd2 Qc7 12. h3 Nh4 13. e4 $11 {Bitinas-Gucaga, Palanga Batija op 2014,1/ 2-1/2}) 11. Qxf3 Qe7 $15 (11... O-O $17) 12. Nd2 O-O 13. Rae1 Ne4 {filling in the hole at e4. Bl was unduly worried about a possible weakness on f7} (13... Rae8 {Rudy & Komodo10} 14. Re2 Ne4 (14... Qe6) 15. Nxe4 Qxe4 16. Qf5 Qxf5 17. Rxf5 Re4 $15 {because e3 is far weaker than the temporary pressure on f7}) ( 13... Rfe8 $15 {also quite playable} 14. e4 $6 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Rxe4 $2 Qxe4 17. Qxf7+ Kh8 {and there is no backrank threat to Bl}) 14. Nxe4 Qxe4 ( 14... dxe4) 15. Qxe4 dxe4 $11 16. c4 Rfe8 (16... f5) 17. Re2 Rad8 18. c5 { looks premature, Bl gets the d5 square, while its another pawn on the same colour as the B. Better to keep the pawns flexible & maybe have d5 as a possibility} Bb8 19. b4 Rd5 20. Ref2 Re7 21. Rf5 Red7 22. a4 {these pawns shouldn't really get anywhere; but in the end they do} g6 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 24. a5 (24. Bc3) 24... a6 $15 25. Bc3 Rh5 26. h3 Rd5 (26... Kf8 $1 {Komodo10; the K needs to be used in the endgame- here it threatens to march into the Q side via d5, exploiting all the wh squares that Wh has left unattended}) 27. Be1 ( 27. g4 $5) 27... f5 28. g3 {Wh is being a hedgehog} g5 {this can wait- pawns cannot go backwards.} (28... Kf7 {brings up the K- any attempt by Wh to open up the position, should suit Bl's far more active pices} 29. g4 Ke6 30. Kg2 ( 30. gxf5+ Rxf5 31. Bf2 (31. Rxf5 gxf5 32. Bh4 Kd5 $19 (32... f4 $19)) 31... Rf3 32. Kg2 Kd5 $19)) 29. Bf2 f4 $6 {this can come at any time, no need to rush} ( 29... Kf7 30. Kg2 Ke6 $17) 30. Kg2 (30. exf4 gxf4 31. gxf4 Bxf4 32. Re1 e3 33. Bxe3 Bxe3+ 34. Rxe3 Rxd4 35. b5 $11 {Komodo10; when planning a pawn break, ensure that your pieces are the ones that will profit from the open lines that ensue. So place your pieces for maximum effect- the other side, usually with lack of space, will not be able to be as flexible.Here, the Wh pieces are just sitting there, so Bl should arrange for the K to be at d5 & the R either on the f or g file.}) 30... Rf5 (30... f3+ 31. Kg1 {Bl should create a protected passed pawn, & then get the K to d5 , looking for a sac to break in elswhere} Kf7 32. Rc1 Rf5 33. Kf1 Rf6 34. Kg1 Ke6 35. Be1 Rh6 36. Kh2 g4 {is one example} 37. h4 Rxh4+ $19) 31. g4 (31. exf4 gxf4 32. gxf4 Kf7 (32... Bxf4 33. Bg3 $18) ( 32... Rxf4 33. Re1 {and after the R is chased away, Wh wins the e4 pawn}) 33. Re1 Bxf4 34. Rxe4 Bd2 35. Be1 Bg5 $11 {Komodo10;Wh has an extra pawn, but it will bwe vey difficilt to get any movement into the Q sise pawnsif Bl keeps pieces on}) 31... Rf6 (31... f3+ $1 32. Kh1 Rf8 $19 {Komodo10} (32... Rf6 33. d5 cxd5 34. Rd1 Rh6 35. Rxd5 Rxh3+ 36. Kg1 Kf7 $17 37. Rd7+ Ke6 38. Rxb7 Bh2+ 39. Kf1 Be5 40. Kg1 h5 41. gxh5 g4 {and Wh's K is in trouble}) 33. Rb1 {eg} Bc7 34. Rd1 Kf7 35. d5 cxd5 36. Rxd5 Ke6 37. Rxg5 $2 Rd8 38. Bg1 Rd1 39. Rf5 Bg3 $19 {Wh's K is stuck in the corner}) 32. Rh1 (32. Rd1 $11 {Komodo10}) 32... h6 (32... f3+ 33. Kf1 Rh6 $17 {Rudy & Komodo10} 34. Ke1 (34. h4 gxh4 35. Rxh4 Rxh4 36. Bxh4 Bc7 37. Ke1 Kf7 38. Kd2 Ke8 39. Ke1 Bd8 40. Bf2 Kf7 41. Bg3 Kg6 42. Bf4 Be7 43. Bc7 (43. Kf2 Kf6 44. Bh6 Ke6 45. Bg7 Bh4+ 46. Kf1 Bg5 47. Kf2 Kd5 { and the bad B remains very bad, eeven though it has got out from behind the pawn chain. The protected pases pawn on f3 inevitably ties down a piece to f2}) 43... Kg5 $19) 34... Kf7 35. Kd2 Ke6 36. Kc3 Kd5 {Wh is rapidly approaching zugzwang} 37. Kb3 Bc7 38. Kc3 Bd8 39. Kb3 Re6 40. Kc3 h5 41. h4 (41. gxh5 Rh6 42. Rg1 Rxh5 43. Rh1 Rh6 44. Kb3 g4 45. h4 Bc7 $19) 41... hxg4 42. hxg5 Bxg5 $19) 33. h4 fxe3 (33... f3+) (33... gxh4) 34. Bxe3 Rf3 35. Rh3 $11 Rxh3 (35... gxh4 36. Rxf3 exf3+ 37. Kxf3 Kf7 38. Bxh6 h3 39. Bg5 Ke6 40. Bh6 Kd5 41. Bc1 Kxd4 42. Bb2+ Kd5 43. g5 Be5 44. Bxe5 Kxe5 45. Kg3 Kf5 46. Kxh3 Kxg5 47. Kg3 $11) 36. Kxh3 $16 Bf4 $2 (36... gxh4 37. Kxh4 (37. Bxh6 Bg3 $15) 37... Bh2 38. Kh3 (38. Bxh6 Bg1 39. Kg3 Bxd4 $11) 38... Bb8 39. Bxh6 Kf7 $16 {Komodo10} 40. Bd2 Kf6 41. g5+ Kg6 42. Kg4) (36... Kf7 37. hxg5 hxg5 38. Bxg5 Kg6 39. Bd2 Bc7 40. Kg2 Kf6 41. Kf2 Ke6 42. Ke3 Kd5 43. g5 $18) 37. Bxf4 gxf4 38. d5 $18 { now the unblockaded pawn provides an overlap for its Q side colleagues} cxd5 39. b5 e3 (39... axb5 40. c6 bxc6 41. a6 $18) 40. bxa6 $2 (40. Kg2 $18 { as Bl doesn't get a Q}) 40... e2 41. axb7 e1=Q $11 42. b8=Q+ Kg7 43. Qc7+ Kg8 44. Qd8+ Kg7 45. Qd7+ Kf8 {(draw?) not letting any pawns go with check} 46. Qf5+ Ke8 47. Qc8+ Ke7 48. Qc7+ Ke8 49. Qb8+ Ke7 50. Qxf4 Qh1+ 51. Kg3 (51. Qh2 Qf3+ 52. Qg3 Qh1+) 51... Qg1+ 52. Kf3 Qf1+ 53. Ke3 Qc1+ 54. Kf3 {(draw?) signalled by eyebrows} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: AberystwythA-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Corrigan, J."] [Black "Coles, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B48"] [WhiteElo "1449"] [BlackElo "1238"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2017.02.09"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 (6. Be2) (6. Be3) ( 6. Nxc6) 6... b5 (6... Qc7) 7. Bb3 (7. Nxc6 {more frequent}) 7... Qc7 8. Be3 Bb7 9. f3 Nf6 10. Qd2 (10. Qe2 {also played}) 10... Be7 (10... Bb4 {has been played}) 11. O-O-O O-O 12. g4 e5 {before chasing a N away from a square where it is a nuisance, its always worth making sure you don't drive it to an even stronger square. The move played not only allows a N in to f5, but also loses control over d5.} (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bc6 14. h4 b4 15. Na4 Rfb8 {Ingvason-E. Paehtz, Reyjkjavik op 2008,0-1}) 13. Nf5 $18 Bb4 14. Nxg7 $1 $18 (14. Bh6 $1 $18 {Komodo10}) (14. Nh6+ $18 {also}) 14... Rfc8 (14... Kxg7 15. Bh6+ Kh8 16. Qg5 Ne8 17. Nd5 $1 (17. Bxf8 Bxf8 18. Bxf7 Ne7 $14) 17... Qd8 18. Qxd8 Rxd8 19. Nxb4 $18 {because the R on f8 is hanging; Komodo10}) 15. Bh6 {almost all of the Wh pieces head towards the Bl K while the Bl ones have deserted to the Q side} (15. Nh5 Nxh5 16. gxh5 Kh8 17. Bg5 Be7 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Qg5 Qb6 20. Rxd7 Rg8 21. Qxe5+ Rg7 22. Qxe7 $18 {Komodo10}) 15... Ne7 (15... Kh8 16. Qg5 Nxe4 17. fxe4 Be7 18. Qh5 Nd4 19. Nf5 $18 {Komodo10}) 16. Nf5 (16. Qg5 $1) 16... Ng6 17. Qg5 Ne8 18. h4 Qd8 19. h5 Qxg5+ 20. Bxg5 Nf4 21. Rxd7 $1 Ne6 22. Bxe6 { Wh is spoilt for choice; almost anything wins} (22. Nh6+ Kg7 (22... Kh8 23. Nxf7+ Kg8 24. Bxe6) 23. Rxf7+ Kh8 24. Bxe6) 22... fxe6 23. Nh6+ Kh8 (23... Kf8 24. Rf7#) 24. Rxb7 Ng7 25. Bf6 Bf8 26. Rd1 Re8 27. Rdd7 1-0