Cleanish Sweep

Aberystwyth was not quite able to raise the eight players required for the A versus B match on Tuesday 21 March, so the match took place on three boards only. Both James Corrigan and Rudy van Kemenade enjoy complex tactical positions, so it was no surprise when James, playing White for the B team, managed to conjure up an unexpected attack in a Three Knights' Game and Rudy found dangerous counterplay. Analysis reveals that James missed a couple of chances, but when the attack ran out of steam, Black had a big lead in material. I played quietly against Sam Holman's Sicilian, transposing to an English-type position, in which I was the first to break in the centre. Sam's counter with the f-pawn created a weakness on e6, allowing me to establish a knight there, which proved a decisive advantage. Damien Clarke was unable to maintain the White pawn centre against Tony Geraghty in a Slav Defence, and then compounded his difficulties by dropping a piece, leaving Black with an easy win. The unplayed game has been registered as a win for the A-team, no doubt under League regulations, so the result is a 4-0 victory for them.

[Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Corrigan, James"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "1449"] [BlackElo "2009"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "2017.03.22"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. d3 d6 5. h3 (5. Be2 {main}) 5... c6 (5... h6) 6. Bd2 Nbd7 7. a3 (7. Be2 Nf8 8. O-O (8. Nh2 Ng6 9. a3 Ba5 10. b4 Bc7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 O-O 13. O-O d5 {Canaviri-Cortes Orihuela, American Continental, Cochabamba 2013,0-1}) 8... Ng6 9. a3 Ba5 10. b4 Bc7 11. Bg5 h6 12. Be3 O-O { Illes-Lauk, Dos Hermanas Internet blitz 2003,0-1}) 7... Ba5 8. Be2 (8. b4 Bc7 9. d4 Qe7 10. Bd3 Nf8 11. O-O h6 12. Re1 g5 13. Bc4 Ng6 14. Be3 (14. dxe5 dxe5 15. b5 Nf4 {Mgurami-Hearthstones9, playchess.com 2012,0-1}) 14... Nf4 { simica-hearthstones9, chesscube.com 2013,0-1}) 8... Nf8 9. O-O (9. b4 Bc7 10. Nh2 h6 11. O-O g5 12. Ng4 Ng6 {J May-Van Kemenade, Arena 2016,0-1}) 9... h6 10. Re1 (10. b4 Bc7 11. Na4 (11. Nh2 {as above}) 11... g5 12. c4 Ng6 13. Nh2 Nf4 { niranjan2000-hearthstones9,chesscube, 2014,0-1}) 10... g5 11. d4 Qe7 $6 (11... Ng6 $11 {Deep Fritz13 & Komodo10;considered; looks more accurate as perhaps the Q can get to f6 in one go. Also it doesnt allow the next tactic spotted by both engines}) 12. dxe5 (12. Nd5 $1 $18 {both Engines} Nxd5 (12... cxd5 13. Bxa5 Nxe4 (13... dxe4 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 $18) 14. dxe5 Be6 15. Bb5+ Nd7 16. c4 O-O 17. exd6 Nxd6 18. Bxd7 Qxd7 19. Ne5 Qe8 20. cxd5 Bf5 21. Ng6 $18) 13. Bxa5 Nf4 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 $1 $18 Nxe2+ 16. Qxe2 Ne6 17. Qd2 O-O 18. Ng4 Kh7 19. Bc3 f6 20. e5 f5 21. Nf6+ Kg6 22. Qe3 $18 {Komodo10}) 12... dxe5 13. Bc4 (13. Nd5 $1 $18 {both Engines}) 13... Ng6 $11 14. b4 Bc7 {Komodo10} (14... Bb6 $5 {Deep Fritz13}) 15. Be3 Nh5 (15... Nd7 {considered}) 16. Bc5 (16. Nxg5 hxg5 $19) (16. Nxe5 Nxe5 $19 (16... Bxe5 $19) (16... Qxe5 $15)) 16... Qf6 17. b5 (17. Nb5 $1 {both Engines} Bb8 18. Nh2 Nhf4 19. Ng4 Bxg4 20. Qxg4 Ne6 21. Rad1 Ngf4 (21... Nxc5 22. bxc5 O-O 23. Nd6 Bxd6 24. Rxd6 Qg7 25. Rb1 Rab8 26. a4 $18 {Komodo10})) (17. Nd5 {considered by bl} cxd5 18. Bb5+ Bd7 19. Bxd7+ Kxd7 20. Qxd5+ Kc8 $19 {Komodo10; pm analysis}) 17... Ba5 (17... Bb6 {both Engines} 18. Qd6 Bxc5 19. Qxc5 Qe7 20. Qe3 O-O 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Rad1 Nhf4 23. Ne2 $14 {Komodo10}) 18. bxc6 (18. Re3 {James; pm analysis; both Engines} Bb6 ( 18... Bxc3 19. Rxc3 $18 Nhf4 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Rb1 h5 22. Rcb3 g4 23. Rb8 Rxb8 24. Rxb8 Ne7 25. Ne1 gxh3 26. Qd6 Qxd6 27. Bxd6 hxg2 (27... f6 28. g3 Nfg6 29. Be6 Kd8 30. Nd3 Nf8 31. Bxh3 Nd7 32. Ra8 a6 33. Nc5 $18) 28. Bxe5 Nh3+ 29. Kxg2 Rg8+ 30. Kf1 h4 31. Nf3 Rg4 32. Bd6 Rxe4 33. Bd3 Ra4 34. Bxe7 Kxe7 35. Rxc8 $18 {Komodo10}) 19. Bxb6 axb6 20. Rb1 Nhf4 21. bxc6 bxc6 22. Rxb6 O-O 23. Nd5 Qd6 24. Qd2 Rd8 25. Nxf4 Qxd2 26. Nxd2 exf4 27. Rd3 $16) (18. Bb4 {considered by both} Bxb4 19. axb4 O-O 20. bxc6 bxc6 21. Ra3 (21. b5 Nhf4 22. bxc6 Qxc6 23. Bd5 Nxd5 (23... Qxc3 24. Bxa8 Bxh3 {Komodo10 equal, briefly looked at , thought too risky; but Bl gets good chances around a weakened K side} 25. Re3 ( 25. gxh3 Nxh3+ 26. Kh2 (26. Kf1 Rxa8 27. Re3 Qc8 $17) 26... Nxf2 (26... Ngf4 27. Ng1 Nxg1 28. Re3 Qc8 29. Kxg1 Qxa8 $11) 27. Qe2 Ng4+ 28. Kg3 Nf4 29. Qa6 Nh2 30. Ra3 Qxc2 31. Ra2 Nh5+ 32. Kh3 Qc3 33. Kxh2 (33. Ra3 Qc5 34. Ree3 (34. Nxh2 Qf2 35. Qf1 Nf4+ 36. Kg4 Qxh2 $19) 34... Nxf3 35. Rxf3 Qg1 36. Qf1 Qxf1+ 37. Rxf1 Rxa8 $15 {Komodo10})) 25... Qc7 (25... Qc8 26. Ne1 Bxg2 27. Bd5 Bh3 28. Rxa7 Nxd5 29. exd5 Nf4 30. d6 Rd8 31. Rxe5 Qc6 $11 {Komodo10}) 26. Bd5 Bxg2 27. Ne1 Bh3 28. Rea3 Qc8 29. Rxa7 Nxd5 (29... Bg4 30. Bb7 Qe6 31. Bd5 $11) 30. exd5 Bg4 31. f3 Bf5 32. d6 Qc5+ 33. Kh1 Kg7 34. Qd2 Rd8 35. R7a6 Bc8 36. Ra8 Nf4 $15 {Komodo10}) 24. Nxd5 {pm analysis} Kh8 25. Ra3 f6 26. Rc3 Qd6 27. Rd3 Ne7 28. c4 Nxd5 29. cxd5 a5 $14 {Komodo10})) 18... Bxc3 19. c7 {considered = by Deep Fritz13} (19. cxb7 $11 {Komodo10} Bxb7 20. Rb1 $1 (20. Bb5+ Bc6 21. Qd5 Rc8 $19) 20... Bc6 21. Re3 Ba5 22. Nh2 (22. Nd4 Rd8 23. Bd5 Bxd5 24. exd5 Rxd5 25. Rb5 Bb6 26. Bxb6 Rxb5 27. Nxb5 Qxb6 28. Rb3 O-O 29. Qxh5 Qc6 30. Nxa7 Qxc2 $17 {Komodo10}) 22... Nhf4 23. Ng4 Qd8 24. Qf1 Bb6 25. Rd1 Bxc5 {other moves lose} 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Rc3 h5 28. Ne3 Bb6 29. Bxf7+ Kxf7 30. Rxc6 Rhe8 $11 { Komodo10}) 19... Bd7 (19... a6 20. Rb1 Ba5 (20... Bxe1 21. Rb6 $18) 21. Bb6 Bxb6 22. Rxb6 Qe7 23. Rxg6 fxg6 24. Nxe5 Qxc7 25. Bf7+ Qxf7 26. Nxf7 Kxf7 27. Qd5+ Kg7 28. Re3 Re8 29. Rc3 Be6 30. Qxb7+ Kg8 31. Rc7 Rab8 32. Qxa6 Bf7 33. Kh2 $11 {Komodo10}) 20. Qd5 {not the best} (20. Rb1 {both Engines} Bxe1 (20... b6 21. Re3 bxc5 22. Rxc3 Nhf4 (22... Rc8 23. Rd3 Rxc7 24. Rd6 Be6 25. Nh2 Nhf4 26. Ng4 Bxg4 27. Rxf6 Bxd1 28. Rb8+ Ke7 29. Rxf7+ Kd6 30. Rf6+ $11 {repetition, Komodo10}) 23. Rb8+ Ke7 24. Rcb3 Qc6 25. R3b7 Bc8 26. Rb3 Qxe4 27. Ba6 c4 28. Bxc8 cxb3 29. Bb7 Raxb8 30. cxb8=Q Ne2+ 31. Kh2 Qf4+ 32. g3 Rxb8 33. gxf4 Rxb7 34. Qxe2 b2 35. Nd2 gxf4 36. Nb1 $18 {Komodo10, which initially thought that b6 was best for Bl}) (20... Qc6 21. Re3 (21. Bb5 Qxc7 $19) 21... Qxc5 22. Rxc3 Ke7 23. Rxb7 Nf6 $15 {Komodo10}) 21. Rxb7 $11 {Deep Fritz13} Rc8 22. Rb8 Ne7 23. Bb5 O-O 24. Qxd7 Bxf2+ 25. Kxf2 Rxb8 26. Bxe7 Qb6+ 27. Ke2 Rbc8 28. Bxf8 Rxc7 29. Qe8 Nf6 30. Bc5+ Nxe8 31. Bxb6 axb6 32. Bxe8 Rxc2+ 33. Nd2 Kf8 34. Bb5 Ra2 35. a4 Ke7 $11 {Komodo10}) 20... Bc6 $19 21. Rad1 (21. Bb5 Bxb5 $2 { intended by Bl & seen by Wh; also pm analysis pm analysis; should actually lose} (21... Nhf4 $1 $19 {as in the game, holds everything.}) 22. Qxb7 (22. Rab1 Bc6 23. Rxb7 Bxd5 24. Rb8+ Kd7 $19 {calculated by Bl}) 22... Qc6 (22... Bc6 23. c8=Q+ Rxc8 24. Qxc8+ Qd8 25. Qxc6+ Qd7 26. Qa8+ Qd8 27. Qxa7 Bxe1 28. Rb1 $18 {Komodo10}) 23. Qb8+ $1 Kd7 24. Red1+ Ke6 (24... Bd4 25. Nxe5+ Ke6 ( 25... Nxe5 26. Rxd4+ Ke6 27. c8=Q+ Rxc8 28. Rd6+ Ke7 29. Rxc6+ Ke8 30. Rxc8+ Kd7 31. Qb7+ Ke6 32. Qe7#) 26. Nxc6 Raxb8 27. Nxd4+ Kf6 28. cxb8=Q Rxb8 29. Rab1 a6 30. a4 $18)) 21... Nhf4 {playing safe} (21... Bxd5 {best according to both Engines} 22. Rxd5 Bxe1 23. Bb5+ Qc6 24. Bxc6+ bxc6 25. Rd8+ Rxd8 26. cxd8=Q+ Kxd8 27. Nxe1 Nhf4 {leaves Bl a R up}) 22. Qxf7+ (22. Qd8+ {Komodo10} Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. cxd8=Q+ Kxd8 25. Re3 b6 (25... Bb2 26. Rb3 b6 27. Bxb6+ axb6 28. Rxb2 Bxe4) 26. Rxc3 bxc5 27. Nd2 Ke7 {leaves Bl a piece up}) (22. Qd6 {Deep Fritz13} Qxd6 23. Bxd6 b5 24. Bf1 Bxe1 25. Nxe1 f6 $19) 22... Qxf7 23. Rd8+ (23. Bxf7+ Kxf7 {& the h8 R protects against Rd8}) 23... Rxd8 24. cxd8=Q+ Kxd8 25. Bxf7 Bxe1 26. Nxe1 Bxe4 (26... b6 27. Be3 Bxe4 {Komodo10}) 0-1 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Holman, S."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A36"] [WhiteElo "1704"] [BlackElo "1334"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.03.22"] 1. e4 c5 2. c4 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. d3 g6 5. g3 Bg7 6. Bg2 e6 7. Nge2 Nge7 8. O-O O-O 9. Be3 b6 (9... Nd4 {occupies d4 before Wh can advance there; Bl scores close to 60% from this}) 10. Qd2 {now Wh scores 60%} Re8 (10... Bb7 11. Rae1 Nd4 {Sen-N.Jackson, Dyfed League 2013,1/2-1/2}) 11. d4 Ba6 (11... cxd4 12. Nxd4 Ba6 (12... Ne5 13. b3 Bb7 14. Rad1 a6 15. Nde2 Nc8 16. h3 Qc7 17. f4 Nc6 $14 { Faini-Marini, Viterbo op 2009,1-0}) 13. Ndb5 Na5 14. b3 d5 15. Rad1 dxc4 $11 { Stanetzek-Heedt, Lohmar 1998,0-1}) (11... Bb7 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Rad1 Qxd2 14. Rxd2 Ne5 15. b3 Ng4 16. Bf4 e5 17. h3 exf4 18. hxg4 fxg3 19. f4 Red8 $11 { Holicky-Lecky, SVK ch, Banska Stiavnica 2015,1-0}) 12. b3 Qc7 (12... e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. exd5 Nd4 $11 {Komodo10}) 13. Rad1 (13. Nb5) 13... Rad8 $11 14. Qc2 f5 {Bl needs to attack the centre, but this is the wrong pawn, as it weakens Bl's base} (14... e5 15. d5 Nd4 $11 {Komodo10}) 15. Nf4 (15. d5 $16 {Komodo10} Nd4 16. Bxd4 cxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 e5 19. Rd2 $16) 15... Qc8 16. d5 Nd4 17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Nce2 exd5 (18... e5 19. Ne6 b5 $1 20. Rc1 (20. Nxd8 Rxd8 21. Rc1 bxc4 22. bxc4 Rd7 23. f4 Rc7 24. fxe5 Rxc4 25. Qd2 Bxe5 26. Nf4 Rc3 27. Rfe1 fxe4 28. Bxe4 Bc4 $11 {Komodo10; Bl has activity & a passed pawn to compensate for the exchange}) 20... bxc4 21. bxc4 Rd7 $11 {Komodo10; Bl has a protected passed pawn}) 19. exd5 $16 Rd7 (19... b5 20. Rc1 bxc4 21. bxc4 Rd7 22. Ne6 Bh6 23. N2f4 Rb7 24. Qa4 Rb6 25. Nxd4 $18 {Komodo10}) 20. Nxd4 $18 b5 21. Nfe6 (21. Nde6 Be5 22. c5 dxc5 23. d6 Bxf4 24. gxf4 Bb7 25. Bxb7 Qxb7 26. Nxc5 Qc6 27. dxe7 $18 {Komodo10}) 21... Bxd4 22. Rxd4 Bb7 23. Qd2 f4 { trying to get some activity} 24. Rxf4 (24. Bh3 $18 {Komodo10}) 24... Nf5 25. Bh3 {Komodo10} (25. Re1 {Julie}) (25. Rxf5 {Rudy; Wh has 3 pawns for the exchange, a weakened K & Bl pieces all tied down. Also the KR can join in with lethal consequences} gxf5 26. Qg5+ (26. cxb5 Rf7 27. Rc1 Qd7 (27... Qb8 28. Bf3 Bc8 29. b6 axb6 30. Bh5 $18 {Komodo10}) 28. Qg5+ Kh8 29. Rc7 $18 {Komodo10}) 26... Kh8 27. Qxf5 (27. Rc1 Ree7 28. Qxf5 Qe8 29. Qf6+ Kg8 30. cxb5 (30. Bh3 { also}) 30... Qf7 31. Qh4 Re8 32. Rc4 Kh8 33. Rf4 Qe7 34. Rf6 Bc8 35. Qd4 Kg8 36. Rf4 h5 37. Rf5 {Komodo10, who considers Bl's best now is to give up the Q with} Qg7 38. Nxg7 Rxg7 39. Rxh5 $18) 27... bxc4 28. Rd1 Rg7 {Bl has to return the exchange( Komodo10)} (28... h5 {examined by Rudy in the train home, to hold up Rg4, but Wh can just prepare to take on h5, leaving the Bl K wide open. Wh has all the fun.} 29. Rd4 Rh7 30. Qf6+ Kg8 31. Qg6+ Kh8 32. Rh4 Qd7 33. Rxh5 (33. Be4 {just wins the exchange back}) 33... Rxh5 34. Qxh5+ Kg8 35. Qg6+ Kh8 36. Qf6+ (36. Be4) 36... Kg8 37. Be4 Rc8 38. Qg6+ Kh8 39. Ng5 Rc7 40. Bf5 Qg7 41. Qe8+ Qg8 42. Qh5+ Kg7 43. Qg6+ Kh8 44. Qh6+ Rh7 45. Bxh7 Qg7 46. Qh5 { wins the Q} (46. Nf7+ Qxf7 47. Bg6+ {wins Q})) 29. Nxg7 Kxg7 30. Qg5+ Kh8 31. bxc4 Qxc4 32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Qxd6 {and Wh is comfortably ahead- extra material, powerful passed pawn & an exposed Bl K}) (25. Rc1 $1 {best, after consideration by Komodo10} b4 26. Rxf5 gxf5 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. c5 dxc5 30. Rxc5 Qb8 31. Qg5+ Kh8 32. Qxf5 Rc8 33. d6 Rxc5 34. Nxc5 Rxd6 35. Bxb7 $18 {Komodo10}) 25... Rxe6 (25... Rf7 {Rudy & Komodo10; Bl can cling on} 26. Bxf5 gxf5 27. Qd4 (27. Rh4 {Matthew} Qd7 28. Rc1 b4 29. Rh6 f4 30. Qxb4 Bc8 31. Qc3 Qb7 32. Re1 Rfe7 33. gxf4 Bxe6 34. Rhxe6 Rxe6 35. Rxe6 Qf7 36. Rxe8+ Qxe8 37. Qf6 Qe1+ 38. Kg2 Qe4+ 39. Kg3 Qd3+ 40. f3 Qf1 41. Qxd6 Qg1+ 42. Kh3 Qf1+ 43. Kg4 Qg2+ 44. Kf5 Qh3+ 45. Kf6 Qh4+ 46. Ke6 Qh6+ 47. Kd7 Qg7+ 48. Kd8 { and Wh will be able to swap off Qs}) 27... Rxe6 (27... bxc4 28. Rxf5 Rxe6 29. Rxf7 Kxf7 30. dxe6+ Qxe6 31. Qf4+ Kg7 32. bxc4 $18) 28. dxe6 Qxe6 29. cxb5 Re7 30. f3 $18 {Komodo10}) 26. Bxf5 (26. dxe6 Qc6 (26... Re7 27. Bxf5 gxf5 28. Rxf5 Rxe6 29. Rg5+) 27. f3 Rg7 28. Bxf5 gxf5 29. Rxf5 $18 {Komodo10}) 26... Re5 27. Bxd7 Qxd7 28. Re1 Rh5 29. Qe2 (29. Rfe4 {Rudy & Komodo10}) 29... Re5 30. Re4 Rf5 31. Re8+ (31. Re7 {Komodo10}) 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague: AberystwythA-AberystwythB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Clarke, Damien"] [Black "Geraghty, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D11"] [WhiteElo "1177"] [BlackElo "1551"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2017.03.22"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 d5 4. c5 {it may be difficult to keep the pawn supported on this square} (4. Nc3) (4. e3 {main lines}) 4... Bf5 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. h3 (6. Bf4 {main, keeps control over e5}) 6... e6 (6... h6 7. Bf4 e6 8. e3 { transposes to quite a number of games}) 7. g4 {Deep Fritz14} (7. b4 b6 8. Ne5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Qd4 bxc5 11. bxc5 Bxc5 12. Qa4 Qb6 13. e3 O-O 14. Be2 Nxe5 {Gallo Ascensio-Poveda, Santander UDI University op U27 2012,0-1}) (7. Bf4 Be7 8. g4 {Komodo10}) 7... Bg6 8. Bg5 (8. Bg2 {Komodo10}) 8... Be7 9. Ne5 {loses a pawn} (9. b4) 9... Nxe5 10. dxe5 Nd7 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. b4 Nxe5 $19 13. Bg2 O-O 14. O-O Rad8 (14... a5) 15. e3 Qf6 16. f4 {trying to trap a B, but Wh's N & centre are loose} (16. Ne2 Nc4 17. Ng3 d4 $19 {Komodo10}) 16... Nc4 17. Qe2 ( 17. Qd4 {only try} e5 18. fxe5 Qxe5 19. Qxe5 Nxe5 20. Rf4 Nd3 21. Rd4 Rfe8 $19 {and Wh has several weak pawns in danger}) 17... Qxc3 18. Rac1 Qxe3+ 19. Qxe3 Nxe3 20. Rfe1 Nxg2 21. Kxg2 Be4+ (21... d4) 22. Kg1 f5 23. g5 d4 24. h4 d3 25. Rc3 Rd4 (25... Bf3 26. Rf1 Bg4 27. Rcc1 d2 28. Rcd1 Rd4 $19 {Komodo10}) (25... d2 26. Rd1 e5 {Komodo10, mobilises another passed pawn}) 26. a3 d2 27. Rd1 Rfd8 28. h5 Rd3 29. Rxd3 Rxd3 0-1

Across a Crowded Room

Aberystwyth's B team had a good evening on Tuesday 7 March, while the A team were losing narrowly to Cardigan in the cosy space of the small function room at the Brynamlwg Tavern. Julie van Kemenade, continuing her return to chess, played a typically enterprising piece sacrifice with Black against Iwan Griffiths to get a dangerous attack which he was unable to defend. James Corrigan dominated the centre against Owen Llywelyn's King's Indian, and the Black counterplay on the queenside was not enough compensation. Ian Finlay, playing another King's Indian, missed a chance to go a piece up, but Tegwyn Jones lost on time. On fourth board, Sam Holman did win a piece, and by the time Emyr Llywelyn had regained it, White's attack was unstoppable. A clean sweep for the B team, 4-0.

[Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Griffiths, I."] [Black "Van Kemenade, J."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1609"] [BlackElo "1743"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "60"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Qc7 5. h3 e5 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Be2 Be7 8. Qd2 {leaving castles options open} h6 (8... O-O 9. g4 Re8 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. g5 Be7 12. d5 Nf8 13. O-O-O Ng6 {Suliborski-Kubien, Wroclaw op 2011,0-1}) (8... b5 9. a3 a6 10. O-O O-O {Bhawoodien-Solomons, RSA ch Cape Town 2014,1/2-1/2}) 9. Bh4 Nf8 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. d5 c5 (11... Ng6) 12. Nb5 (12. Bb5+ Ke7 $11) 12... Qd8 13. c4 {the pawn structure makes it a Czech Benoni( usually reached in the first4 moves)} Ng6 14. g3 a6 15. Nc3 Bd7 16. Kf1 {keeping the R guarding h3} O-O 17. Kg2 Be7 $11 18. Nh2 {angling for f4} Bg5 19. Qd1 f5 20. exf5 Bxf5 21. Bg4 Qf6 {Komodo10} 22. Rf1 (22. h4 Bxh4 $15 23. gxh4 Nxh4+ 24. Kg3 e4 $19 { Komodo10}) 22... Ne7 (22... Rae8 {Komodo10} 23. Qe2 (23. Bxf5 Qxf5 24. Qg4 { Rudy} e4 25. Qxf5 Rxf5 26. Rae1 Bd2 27. Rxe4 Rfe5 28. Nf3 Rxe4 29. Nxe4 Rxe4 30. Nxd2 Rd4 31. Nb3 Rxc4 32. Na5 Rd4 33. Nxb7 Rxd5 34. Re1 Rd2 $11) 23... e4 24. Rae1 $14) 23. h4 {Wh gets tempted the second time round; however Bl gets chances & the Wh defence has to be accurate} Bxh4 24. gxh4 Qxh4 25. Bxf5 $15 { brings another Bl piece into play} (25. Kh1 Ng6 (25... Bg6 26. f3 Nf5 27. Bxf5 Rxf5 28. Qe1 Rh5 29. Qxh4 Rxh4 30. Rg1 Bd3 31. b3 Rf8 32. Rg3 b5 $14) (25... Rab8 26. Qf3 b5 27. cxb5 axb5 28. Ne4 Bxe4 29. Qxe4 Rf4 30. Be6+ Kh8 31. Qg2 Rbf8 $11 {Komodo10}) 26. Rg1 Nf4 27. Bxf5 Rxf5 28. Qg4 Qxg4 29. Rxg4 Nd3 30. Ne4 Nxf2+ 31. Nxf2 Rxf2 32. Rg6 Rd8 33. Rag1 Rf7 34. Rxh6 $16 {Komodo10}) 25... Rxf5 26. f4 (26. Ne2 Rh5 $19 27. Rh1 Qh3+ 28. Kg1 Rg5+ 29. Ng3 Rxg3+ 30. fxg3 Qxg3+ 31. Kf1 Rf8+) (26. f3 Raf8 27. Qe1 Qxc4 28. Kh1 Rh5 29. Qe4 Rf4 30. Qxc4 Rxc4 31. Kg1 Rd4 $15 {Bl is getting too many pawns for the piece}) 26... exf4 $19 (26... Rh5 $1 $19 {Komodo10} 27. Rh1 (27. Ng4 Ng6 28. Kf3 Rf8 29. Ke3 Rxf4 30. Rxf4 exf4+ 31. Kd2 Rg5 $19 {Komodo10; the N has no retreat}) (27. Nf3 Qxf4 $1 (27... Qg4+ {also wins} 28. Kf2 Rh3 29. Qe2 Qg3+ 30. Ke3 Qxf4+ 31. Kd3 Rf8 $19) 28. Ne2 Qg4+ 29. Kf2 Rf8 $19) 27... exf4 28. Qf3 Rg5+ 29. Kf1 Nf5 30. Ne4 Ne3+ 31. Ke2 Rg2+ 32. Kd3 Rxh2 $19 {Komodo10}) 27. Qf3 (27. Nf3 Qg3+ 28. Kh1 Rh5+ 29. Nh2 Rxh2#) (27. Ne4 f3+ 28. Rxf3 Qxe4 $19) (27. Qe1 Qg5+ 28. Kh1 Re5 29. Qf2 Nf5 $19 {all Komodo10}) 27... Rg5+ 28. Kh1 Nf5 29. Ne4 (29. Qxf4 Ng3+ { drops the Q}) 29... Ng3+ 30. Nxg3 fxg3 {Bl gets the piece back with interest} ( 30... fxg3 31. Qg2 (31. Qe2 g2+ 32. Qxg2 (32. Kg1 gxf1=Q+ 33. Kxf1 Rf8+ 34. Nf3 Qh1+ 35. Kf2 Rg2+ 36. Ke3 Rxe2+ 37. Kxe2 Qg2+ 38. Kd1 Rxf3 39. Rc1 Rf1#) 32... Rxg2 33. Kxg2 Qxc4 $19 {Komodo10}) 31... gxh2 32. Qe2 (32. Qxh2 Qe4+ {mates}) 32... Rg1+ 33. Rxg1 hxg1=Q+ 34. Kxg1 Rf8 35. Rf1 (35. Qg2 Rf4 (35... Qd4+ 36. Kh1 Rf4 {both win the Q for R})) 35... Qg3+ 36. Qg2 Qxg2+ 37. Kxg2 Rxf1 38. Kxf1 Kf7 {Komodo10; and the endgame is easy}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythB-Gwyddbwyll.co"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Corrigan, James"] [Black "Llywelyn, O."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E62"] [WhiteElo "1449"] [BlackElo "1513"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d4 d6 5. Bg5 (5. e4) (5. g3 {main}) 5... O-O 6. Qd2 (6. e3 {is the Smyslov, system, with Qc2 & Rd1 to follow}) 6... Nbd7 7. g3 (7. Bh6) 7... Re8 (7... c6) (7... e5) 8. Bg2 c6 9. O-O Qc7 10. e4 e5 11. b4 $146 {a little risky opening up the long diagonal/ this is usually prepared by Rb1or closing the centre} (11. Rfe1) (11. d5 {main}) 11... exd4 12. Nxd4 Ne5 $15 13. Qe2 (13. c5 dxc5 14. bxc5 Nfd7 15. Nb3 Nc4 16. Qe2 Nde5 17. Rad1 Be6 18. Bc1 Na5 19. Qc2 Bc4 20. Rfe1 Rad8 $15 {Komodo10}) 13... Bg4 (13... Qb6 $1 { attacks N & b4 pawn,} 14. Nc2 Bg4 {f pawn now pinned} 15. Qe3 Qxe3 16. Nxe3 Nf3+ 17. Bxf3 Bxf3 18. Bxf6 Bxf6 19. Rac1 Bxe4 $17 {Komodo10}) 14. f3 Bd7 ( 14... Qb6 15. Rad1 Bd7 $17) 15. Rab1 (15. Rfd1) 15... a6 16. Rfc1 (16. c5) 16... c5 {creates a d5 weakness} (16... b5 $1 17. cxb5 axb5 18. Rd1 (18. Ncxb5 $2 Qb6 $19 {unpinning with a counerpin}) 18... Ra3 $15 {Komodo10}) 17. Bxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. bxc5 dxc5 20. Nb3 {Bl has Q side pawn weaknesses as well} Be7 (20... b5 $1 21. Nxc5 Nxc4 22. Nxd7 Bd4+ 23. Kh1 Qxd7 24. Qd3 Qa7 25. a4 $14 {Komodo10}) 21. Nd2 (21. f4 Nc6 22. Qf2 b6 23. Rd1 Rb8 24. e5 $16 {grips the centre, Komodo10}) 21... Bc6 22. f4 Nd7 23. Nf3 (23. e5 $16 {creates an e4 invasion square}) 23... Bxd5 24. cxd5 Nf6 {drops a pawn} (24... b5 25. e5 c4 26. Kh1 Bc5 27. a4 {and the Wh centre pawns are better than the Bl Q side pawns ( the Wh pieces are in more aggressive positions, & can exploit both the strength of their own & the weakness og the opposition pawns}) 25. Rxb7 $18 Bf8 26. Ne5 Qc8 27. Rcb1 (27. Rxf7 {quite playable} Rxe5 28. Rxf6 $18) 27... Re7 28. Rxe7 Bxe7 29. Nc6 {a superb outpost for the N, supported at a distance by the B} Bf8 30. e5 Nd7 31. d6 (31. e6 {also strong}) 31... Qe8 32. Qe4 (32. Qc4 {Komodo10}) (32. Ne7+ Bxe7 33. Bxa8 Bxd6 34. Bd5 {Rudy, also possible, but the R is doing no harm}) 32... Kg7 33. Rb7 Qc8 34. Na5 (34. Rc7 Qe8 35. Bh3 { Komodo10 & Deep Fritz13}) 34... Rb8 35. Bh3 (35. Rc7 Qe8 36. Qc6) 35... Rxb7 36. Qxb7 Qxb7 37. Nxb7 c4 38. Bxd7 c3 {the pawn can be stopped by either B or N.} 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, Tegwyn"] [Black "Finlay, I."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "1197"] [BlackElo "1372"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bf4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e4 (6. e3 {more usual with this London system setup}) 6... Nbd7 7. Bd3 {obstructs the d file, especially if Wh is considering exchanging on e5} (7. Be2 {more positional}) 7... Re8 (7... Nh5 8. Be3 e5 {scores well for Bl, 66%}) 8. O-O e5 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Be3 (10. Bg5) 10... b6 {Komodo10} (10... Bf8 11. Qe2 c6 12. Rfd1 Qc7 (12... Nc5) 13. Rac1 a5 14. Na4 b6 15. c5 b5 {Ley-Meudt, Koblenz ch 1994,1/2-1/2}) 11. Qc2 Ng4 12. Bg5 Ngf6 (12... f6 13. Bd2 Nc5 14. Be2 c6 {Bl will try & get a N to d4 via e6}) 13. Rfd1 c5 $6 {gives away the d5 square} (13... c6 {keeps control}) 14. Nd5 $14 Re6 (14... h6 15. Be3 Nb8 16. Qc1 Kh7 17. Bc2 Nc6 18. Ba4 Bb7 19. Qc2 Qb8 20. a3 Rf8 21. Bxc6 Bxc6 22. b4 Qe8 $11 {Komodo10}) 15. a3 Bb7 16. Rac1 $16 Rc8 17. b3 Qe8 18. Be3 Nxd5 (18... Nb8 $5 {trying to put a N on d4 }) 19. cxd5 Rd6 20. Bc4 (20. Nd2 {is a better piece to put on c4; its not blocked by the pawns like the B}) 20... a6 21. Qd2 Nf6 22. Qe2 (22. Qc2 Ng4 23. Bd2 b5 24. h3 Nxf2 25. Kxf2 bxc4 26. bxc4 $16 {the Wh pieces are better placed} ) 22... Nxe4 $17 {a centre pawn is usually more valuable than a side pawn} 23. Bxa6 Bxa6 24. Qxa6 Rcd8 (24... f5) 25. Qc4 Nf6 26. Nxe5 Rxd5 (26... Qxe5 $19) 27. Rxd5 Nxd5 $17 {and Wh lost on time} 0-1 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythB-Gwyddbwyll.com"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, S."] [Black "Llywelyn, E."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B09"] [WhiteElo "1334"] [BlackElo "943"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bc4 {vey aggressive, though Bl can equalise with a tactic.} Nbd7 {dangerous} (6... Nxe4 $1 {breaks up the centre, & leaves the f4 pawn obstructing Wh's development} 7. Nxe4 (7. Bxf7+ Rxf7 {is also fine for Bl}) 7... d5) (6... c6 {is another way to limit the power of the B} 7. e5 dxe5 8. fxe5 Nd5) 7. e5 (7. O-O {also scores 70%+ for Wh}) 7... Ne8 (7... dxe5 8. fxe5 {is worse as it opens more lines}) 8. e6 Ndf6 (8... fxe6 {had to be tried} 9. Bxe6+ Kh8 10. Ng5 Nef6 11. Nf7+ (11. O-O { may be even stronger}) 11... Rxf7 12. Bxf7 $16 {though somehow Bl managed to win 2 games out of 3}) 9. exf7+ Kh8 (9... Rxf7 10. Bxf7+ Kxf7 11. O-O $16 { is the best bet}) 10. fxe8=Q $18 Qxe8 11. O-O e6 12. Qe1 Qe7 13. Qh4 Re8 14. Re1 c6 15. d5 (15. Ng5) (15. Bd3) 15... cxd5 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Ng5 {both Players had seen that} (17. Qxe7 Nxe7 {& Bl regains the piece}) (17. Bxd5 { though is still correct, because after} Qxh4 {breaking the pin against the Q} 18. Nxh4 {there is still a pin against the R}) 17... Nf6 {However , despite returning the piece, Wh still has a winning attack against the K as Bl's Q side pieces are unable to help in the defence} 18. Bd2 (18. Bd3 $1 Kg8 19. f5 h6 20. Nxe6 g5 21. Qd4 (21. Bxg5 hxg5 22. Nxg5 Qd8 23. Kh1 {is only a small advantage for Wh; Komodo10}) 21... Qf7 22. Qxd6 Ng4 23. Bd2 $18 (23. Bc4 $18 { Komodo10})) 18... Nh5 {hoping to use a pin on the Q} (18... d5 19. Bd3 Kg8 20. f5 gxf5 21. Bxf5 h6 22. Nxe6 Ne4 23. Qxe7 Rxe7 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Bc3+ Kg8 26. Bg6 Re6 27. Bxe4 Rxe4 28. Rxe4 dxe4 29. Bd4 b6 30. b3 Bf5 31. c3 $18 {Komodo10} ) 19. f5 $1 $18 Bxb2 20. Rad1 (20. Rab1 {may have been played}) 20... Bd4+ 21. Kh1 (21. Qxd4+ $18) 21... h6 {will the pin work?} 22. fxg6 (22. Qxd4+ {also}) 22... Bf6 23. Nf7+ Kg7 (23... Qxf7 24. gxf7 Bxh4 25. fxe8=Q+) 24. Qxh5 Bg5 25. Bxg5 Qf8 26. Qxh6+ Kg8 27. Qh7# 1-0

Standing Room Only

The capacity of the small function room at the Brynamlwg Tavern was tested to the full on Tuesday 7 March, when the A and B teams had matches at the same time. With the addition of another table, we were able to fit everyone in, and it is at any rate a cosier venue than the St David's Club was in its latter days. News of the B team match will follow in the next post. Cardigan were once again visiting, this time to play the A team. On top board Rudy van Kemenade had prepared carefully for his Leningrad Dutch against Howard Williams, but seemed to lose patience in the middle game, loosening his kingside in search of an attack that was not really there; instead it was White who broke into his opponent's castled position. Robbie Wright tried for pressure on the queenside in his London System against Iolo Jones, but ended up getting his rook pinned and losing the exchange, resigning rather prematurely when he still had some play. Adam Robinson also seemed to have pressure for a while against Tony Haigh's Trompowksy, but apparently missed a chance of an advantage just before the draw was agreed. I got a free gift from Awne Osinga when he dropped a piece on move 5 - not the first time that mistake has been made in the same postion in rated games, according to Rudy's database - after which I had no real problem clinching the win. As with last week's match, the top two boards secured victory for Cardigan, 2½-1½.

[Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythA-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Williams, AH."] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A87"] [WhiteElo "2342"] [BlackElo "2009"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. c4 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Nc3 c6 8. Rb1 a5 9. b3 (9. Qb3 Kh8 10. Rd1 Ne4 {Williams-Zeidler, WCPL 2016,1-0; which Bl had prepared against,but Wh had forgotten this & reverted to an earlier line against Sven}) 9... Na6 10. Bb2 Qe8 (10... Bd7 11. d5 Nc5 12. Nd4 cxd5 13. cxd5 Rc8 14. e3 Qe8 {Williams-Zeidler, WCPL 2015, 1/2-1/2}) (10... Qc7 {main} 11. d5 e5 12. dxe6 Bxe6 13. Ng5 Bd7 14. Qd2 Rad8 15. Rbd1 Bc8 16. Na4 h6 17. Nh3 Ne4 { Williams-L.Roberts, Dyfed Open 2016,1/2-1/2}) 11. d5 Bd7 (11... Nc7 {sideline}) 12. Nd4 Nc5 {transposes back into a main line from 7...Qe8 rather than 7...c6} (12... Nc7 {alternative, but better results for Wh, as in this line the a5 move doesn't help Bl}) 13. e3 (13. a3 e5 {main} (13... Rc8) 14. dxe6 Nxe6 15. Nxe6 Qxe6 16. Qd2 Rad8 17. Rbd1 Bc8 18. e3 Qe7 19. Rfe1 Ne4 {Ralphs-Fathallah, S Wales op Treforest 2010,1/2-1/2}) 13... e5 (13... Rc8 {main} 14. Qe2 Qf7) 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15. Nxe6 (15. Qc2 Bf7 (15... Ng4 16. Rbd1 Rd8 17. Rfe1 h6 18. a3 Bf7 19. Nb1 Ne5 20. f4 Ng4 21. Bc1 Qe7 {Fraczek-Szromba, POL ch U16, Bartkowa 2002, 0-1}) 16. Rbd1 Qe7 17. Rfe1 Qc7 18. Nde2 Rfe8 19. Nf4 Qe7 {Ehlvest-Nikolic, Erevan 1996,1/2-1/2}) 15... Qxe6 16. Ne2 (16. Qc2 Rad8 (16... Nfe4 17. Rbd1 Rad8 18. Nxe4 Nxe4 19. Bxg7 Kxg7 20. Rd4 Rfe8 21. Rfd1 Rd7 22. Bxe4 fxe4 23. Qd2 Red8 24. Qxa5 $16 {Goldenberg-Atzmon, Sydney op 2007,1-0}) 17. Rbd1 Rfe8 ( 17... Qe7 18. a3 Qc7 19. Ba1 Kh8 20. Rb1 Ne6 21. Ne2 Ng4 {Schenk=Bartel, Bundesliga 2016,0-1}) 18. Ne2 Nce4 19. Nd4 Qf7 20. f3 Nc5 21. Rfe1 Ra8 22. a3 { Safranska-Shchekachev, Bourbon Lacy op 1998,0-1}) 16... Nfe4 (16... Ng4) 17. Bd4 g5 $5 {hoping to start a K side attack, but this loosens Bl's own K side} ( 17... Be5 {Komodo10; considered} 18. f3 Nf6 19. Qd2 a4 $11 {Komodo10. similar to some pm analysis}) (17... Rfe8) 18. Qc2 (18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. f3 Nf6 20. Qd2 Qe5 21. Nd4 Kg8 22. Rbd1 Nh5 23. a3 $18 {Komodo10}) 18... Rae8 (18... g4 { Komodo10; considered & pm analysis} 19. Nf4 Qh6 20. f3 (20. h3 $1 {Komodo10} gxh3 21. Bxh3 Be5 22. Bg2 (22. Kg2 Qg5 23. Rh1 Rae8 $14 {Komodo10}) 22... Rae8 $14) 20... gxf3 $1 (20... Nf6 21. Rbd1 (21. fxg4 fxg4 {pm analysis} (21... Nxg4 22. h3 Bxd4 23. exd4 Ne3 24. Qc3 Nxg2 25. dxc5 Nxf4 26. Rxf4 dxc5 27. Qf3 Qg7 $11 {Komodo10}) 22. Bxc5 dxc5 23. Qf5 $16 {Komodo10}) 21... Nfd7 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. fxg4 fxg4 24. a3 Ne5 25. b4 $14 {Komodo10}) 21. Bxf3 Be5 22. Rbd1 Rae8 23. a3 Kh8 $11 {Komodo10}) 19. Rbe1 Qg6 (19... g4) 20. Bxg7 {Komodo10} Qxg7 (20... Kxg7 21. f3 Nf6 22. Nd4 Nfd7 23. e4 fxe4 24. fxe4 Rxf1+ 25. Rxf1 Kg8 26. Nf5 Ne5 27. Qc3 b6 28. a3 $14 {Komodo10}) 21. f3 $16 Nf6 22. Nd4 $16 f4 23. Nf5 Qd7 $2 {looks at the N, but lets the B in with an extra tempo.} (23... Qg6 { Bl had intended Qg6, pinning the N, but then Wh wins an exchange.}) ({pm analysis helps control e5 to put a r there perhaps} 23... Qc7 24. exf4 gxf4 25. Qd2 (25. Bh3 fxg3 26. hxg3 d5 27. Kg2 Kh8 28. Qc3 Ne6 29. cxd5 cxd5 30. Qxc7 Nxc7 31. Nd6 Rxe1 32. Rxe1 b6 33. Re7 $18 {Komodo10}) (25. Qc3 Ne6 (25... Nh5 26. Nh6#) 26. g4 d5 27. cxd5 cxd5 28. Qxc7 Nxc7 29. Kf2 $16) 25... d5 $16 { Komodo10; protects f4; Bl is not too worried if Wh gets 2 doubled f pawnsas the Wh B then is not a very good piece}) 24. exf4 (24. Bh3 g4 25. fxg4 fxg3 26. g5 gxh2+ 27. Kxh2 {isnt that good for Bl, but why allow complications?}) 24... gxf4 25. Bh3 Qd8 (25... Kh8 26. Qc3 b6 27. Rxe8 Qxe8 28. Nxd6 Qg6 29. Kg2 $18 { Bl has nothing for the pawn}) 26. Qc3 (26. Rd1 $18 {Komodo10; d6 is dead}) 26... h5 {trying to give the K some space ( though it takes a square away from the N} (26... Nh5 27. Nh6#) (26... Ne6 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Bxe6 Kxh6 29. Qd2 Nh5 30. Bg4 d5 31. Rxe8 Rxe8 32. Bxh5 Kxh5 33. Qxf4 $16 {Komodo10}) (26... fxg3 27. hxg3 Ne6 28. Nh6+ Kg7 29. Bxe6 Kxh6 30. g4 d5 31. Qe5 Kg6 32. Kg2 $18 {Komodo10 }) 27. Qd2 (27. gxf4 $18 {Komodo10}) (27. Rd1 $18 {Komodo10}) 27... Ne6 (27... Nh7 28. Rxe8 Rxe8 29. Qxf4 $18 (29. gxf4 Qf6 30. Kh1 $18 {Komodo10})) 28. Nh6+ (28. gxf4 Ng7 29. Qg2 Qc7 30. Rxe8 Rxe8 31. Qg6 Nh7 32. Kh1 $18 {Komodo10}) 28... Kg7 29. Bxe6 Kxh6 30. Qxf4+ Kh7 (30... Kg6 31. Qf5+ Kh6 32. c5 dxc5 33. Re5 Kg7 34. Qg5+ Kh8 35. Qh6+ Nh7 36. Bf5 Rf7 37. Rxe8+ Qxe8 38. Bg6 Qf8 39. Qxh5 $18 {Komodo10}) 31. Bf5+ (31. Bf5+ Kg7 32. Qg5+ Kh8 33. Qh6+ Kg8 34. Qg6+ Kh8 35. Re6 Rxe6 36. Qh6+ Kg8 37. Bxe6+ Rf7 38. Qg6+ $18 {Komodo10}) 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:AberystwythA-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Wright, Robert"] [Black "Jones, IC."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "1876"] [BlackElo "2219"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "83"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Bd3 (7. h3) 7... Nh5 (7... O-O) 8. Be5 {scores 62% for Wh, as opposed to} (8. Bg3 Nxg3 9. hxg3 {44%}) 8... Nxe5 9. Nxe5 Nf6 10. Ndf3 $146 (10. O-O {main}) (10. f4) 10... a6 11. dxc5 (11. O-O O-O 12. dxc5 Bxc5 13. c4 $11 {Komodo10}) 11... Bxc5 12. Qa4+ Nd7 13. Qg4 (13. Bb5 Bd6 14. Bxd7+ Bxd7 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Qxd7+ Kxd7 17. Rd1 Ke7 18. Ke2 $11 {Komodo10}) 13... Qf6 (13... Nxe5 $1 14. Nxe5 O-O 15. Qh3 g6 16. O-O-O Qc7 17. Qg3 f6 18. Ng4 Qxg3 19. hxg3 Kg7 $15 {Komodo10}) 14. Qh5 ( 14. Qg3 Bd6 (14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 O-O 16. O-O Qe7 17. e4 $11 {Komodo10}) 15. Nxd7 Kxd7 16. Qg4 Kc7 17. e4 dxe4 18. Qxe4 Bd7 19. Qc4+ Kb8 $11 {Komodo10}) 14... Nxe5 15. Qxe5 Qxe5 16. Nxe5 f6 $15 {Bl has 2 Bs & a centre} 17. Nf3 Bd7 18. Kd2 (18. O-O {safer}) 18... e5 (18... Kf7 {Komodo10}) 19. Ne1 O-O-O { gives Wh a target} (19... Kf7) 20. Nc2 Bc6 21. b4 $11 Bb6 22. a4 a5 23. Bb5 Bd7 24. bxa5 (24. Bxd7+ Rxd7 25. Rhb1 $11 {Komodo10}) 24... Bxa5 $15 25. Nb4 Bf5 ( 25... d4 $17 {makes the Wh Kinsecure}) 26. Bd3 Be6 27. Rab1 Kc7 (27... Rd7 $15) 28. Rhc1 (28. Ke2) 28... Rd6 (28... Rc8) 29. Ke2 Kb8 (29... e4 30. Bb5 Kb8 31. c4 $11 {Komodo10}) 30. Na6+ $1 Ka7 31. Nc5 $11 Bc8 (31... Bg4+ 32. f3 Bc8 33. Nb3 Bc7 34. c4 $14 {Komodo10}) 32. Rb5 (32. Nb3 b6 33. Rb2 Ba6 34. Nxa5 bxa5 35. Bxa6 Kxa6 36. c4 dxc4 37. Rxc4 Rb6 38. Rxb6+ Kxb6 39. h4 $11 {Komodo10}) 32... b6 $15 33. Rcb1 (33. f3 Rhd8 34. Kf2 d4 (34... h5) 35. cxd4 exd4 36. exd4 Rxd4 37. Rc2 h6 $15 {Komodo10}) 33... e4 (33... Bxc3 $19 {Komodo10} 34. a5 bxc5 35. Rxc5 Bg4+ 36. f3 Rc8 $19) 34. Bc2 (34. Rxa5+ bxa5 35. Bb5 Bg4+ 36. Kd2 (36. f3 Bf5 $19) 36... Rc8 37. Nb3 Bd7 38. Nd4 Rb8 $17 {Komodo10}) 34... Rc6 (34... Bxc3 35. Bxe4 Rc6 $19 {Komodo10}) 35. Nb3 Ba6 36. Nxa5 bxa5 $17 (36... Rxc3 37. Kd2 Rhc8 38. R5b2 bxa5 $17 {Komodo10}) 37. c4 (37. Kd2 Bxb5 38. Rxb5 Rd8 39. Rxa5+ Kb6 40. Rb5+ Kc7 41. Bb3 Rcd6 42. Kc2 Rb8 43. Rb4 f5 $17 {Komodo10}) 37... Rxc4 $19 38. Kd2 Bxb5 39. Rxb5 Rhc8 40. Rxa5+ Kb6 41. Rb5+ Kc6 (41... Ka6 42. Bb3 R4c5) 42. Bd1 {and Wh resigned, thinking Bl had Rxa4; however} (42. Ra5 {trying to activate the R} Rxc2+ 43. Kxc2 Kb6+ $19 {Iolo}) (42. Bd1 Rc5 43. Rb4 Rc7 44. Be2 Rb7 45. Bb5+ Kd6 {Bl should be winning, but its a long struggle, where Wh has holding chances. Bl will need to organise to push d4 & then get his majority moving on the K side}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythA-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Haigh, A."] [Black "Robinson, Adam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A45"] [WhiteElo "1903"] [BlackElo "1768"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 c5 4. f3 Qa5+ 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nd2 cxd4 7. Nb3 Qb6 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9. Qxb6 axb6 10. Nd4 e5 11. Nxc6 exf4 12. Nd4 {all main line so far} Nd5 (12... d5) (12... Bc5 {both more frequent, Wh scores 52% &62% against these.As opposed to 47% against the text} 13. Nh3 Nh5 {Haigh-Barnaby, Dyfed Open 2011,1/2-1/2}) 13. e4 (13. g3 {is an alternative though both} Ne3 ({&} 13... Bd6)) (13. Nh3 Bc5 {transposes}) 13... Ne3 (13... fxe3 14. Bc4 (14. Nb5) 14... Nc7 {eg} 15. Ke2 Bc5 16. Kxe3 O-O 17. Nge2 b5 18. Bb3 d6 19. Kd2 $11 { Walton-Jarmany, 4NCL op Wakefield 2016,0-1}) 14. Nh3 (14. Kf2 Bc5 15. Nge2 O-O 16. g3 (16. Nxf4) 16... Nc4 (16... d5) 17. b4 fxg3+ 18. hxg3 Be7 19. Nf4 $16 { Kulicov-Danin, RUS, Central region Tula ch 2007,1/2-1/2}) (14. g3 Nxf1 (14... Bd6) (14... d5) 15. Kxf1 Bd6 16. Nf5 Be5 17. gxf4 Bxf4 18. Nxg7+ Kf8 19. Nh5 $16 {Meszaros-Fabre, Geneve YM Masters 2010,1-0}) 14... Bc5 {Komodo8} (14... Bd6 {Komodo10} 15. Kd2 (15. Kf2 $16) 15... O-O 16. Nf2 Be5 17. Nc2 Nxf1+ (17... d5) 18. Rhxf1 d6 19. Nb4 Be6 20. Kc2 f5 $14 {Leroy-Le Quang, Bagneux op 2000, 0-1}) 15. Kd2 g5 {Komodo8} (15... Nxf1+ 16. Rhxf1 d5 17. Nxf4 dxe4 18. fxe4 O-O 19. Nd5 $16 {Komodo10}) 16. Nxg5 Rg8 (16... d6 $14 {Komodo10}) 17. Nh3 Nxf1+ 18. Rhxf1 Rxg2+ 19. Rf2 Rxf2+ 20. Nxf2 f5 (20... Ra4 {Komodo8} 21. Nd3 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Rxd4 23. Rc1 Kd8 24. Kc3 $16 {Komodo10}) (20... d5 {Komodo10} 21. exd5 Bxd4 22. cxd4 Bf5 $16) 21. exf5 Kf7 22. Nd3 (22. Kd3 $16 {Komodo10}) 22... d5 ( 22... d6 {Komodo10} 23. Nxf4 Bxd4 24. cxd4 Bxf5 25. a3 Rc8 26. Rc1 $16) 23. Ne6 $2 {Wh didn't much like this move either after it had been played- the idea was to get rid of the 2 Bs} (23. Nxf4 $18 {both Engines}) 23... Be3+ $11 { saves the pawn} 24. Kc2 Bxe6 25. fxe6+ Kxe6 26. Re1 Kd6 27. a3 Rg8 28. Re2 Rg1 29. Ne1 Rf1 30. Kd1 {selfpins are always dangerous} (30. Kd3 $11) 30... Rg1 { missing a chance} (30... Bf2 31. a4 Bxe1 32. Rxe1 Rxf3 33. Re2 Rd3+ 34. Ke1 Rh3 $17 {and Bl has acquired a dangous f pawn}) 31. Kc2 {(draw?)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythA-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Osinga, Awne"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "1704"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.03.08"] 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 Nc6 4. c3 (4. c4 {now that Bl has blocked his c pawn} ) 4... Nh5 $2 {hunting down the London system B is routine, but a move too early} 5. Qxh5 $18 g6 6. Qd1 e6 (6... a6 {Combina-Verniest, Lille Luce op 2010, 1-0}) (6... Na5 {Papalini-Russo, Ivrea Autumn cup 2012,1-0; are 2 previous examples}) 7. Nf3 {Wh needs to complete development & then open the position to make his extra piece count} Bg7 8. Bd3 (8. c4) (8. h4 {the Engine ( Komodo10) goes in for the kill much earlier}) 8... O-O 9. Nbd2 a6 10. O-O Re8 11. e4 Ne7 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Bg3 (13. Be5 $5) 13... Bf6 14. Ne5 c6 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Re1 {just centralising the pieces} f6 17. Nf3 {most humans would be content just to have forced another weakness on the K side; Engines like to exploit it immediately} (17. Nxg6 $1 {Komodo10; often when up in material, one can return some of it for a clear advantage elsewhere} hxg6 18. Qg4 Kg7 (18... Kf7 19. Nd6+ Bxd6 20. Qxg6+ Kf8 21. Qh6+ Kg8 22. Bh7+ Kf7 23. Qg6+ Kf8 24. Qg8+ Ke7 25. Qg7#) 19. Nxf6 Bxf6 20. Qxg6+ Kf8 21. c4 Nb6 22. Bd6+ Re7 23. Qxf6+ Ke8 24. Bg6+ Kd7 25. Bf7 Qf8 26. Bxe6+ Rxe6 27. Qxe6+ Kd8 28. Be7+ Ke8 29. Qg6+ Qf7 30. Bf6+ Be6 31. Rxe6+ Kf8 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Qh8# {Komodo10; most humans would play this last line more simply, but the Engine easily calculates mates}) 17... Rf8 18. c4 {drives Bl's best piece away} (18. h4 {further softens up the K side }) 18... Nb6 19. Bf4 Rf7 20. Be3 Nd7 21. Qc2 (21. c5) 21... Qf8 22. Nc3 { just reorganising things, no rush} (22. c5 {Komodo19}) 22... Bb4 23. a3 Be7 24. d5 {breaking open the middle} (24. Rad1 {brings the last Wh piece into the game }) 24... cxd5 25. cxd5 e5 26. d6 (26. Ne4 {Komodo10}) 26... Bxd6 27. Bc4 { transforming the piece into a R ahead} b5 28. Bxf7+ Qxf7 29. Rad1 Qf8 30. Qd3 Bc7 31. Qd5+ {and picking up another R. A winning game still has to be won.} 1-0

The Cardigan Season

There is a time in almost every chess season when one or other of the Aber teams seem to be playing Cardigan almost constantly (though, to be fair, this was truer in the days when Cardigan also fielded two teams). That time has now arrived, and on Tuesday 28 February, it was the B team's turn to host the League Champions, the first time we have played them at our new venue of the Brynamlwg Tavern. On top board, Adam Robinson could never quite match Howard Williams's piece activity in a constantly changing ending, and by the time it got down to opposite-coloured bishops the two-pawn deficit was enough to ensure his defeat. Julie van Kemenade, in her first match for some time, played an ingenious exchange sac against Iolo Jones, whose defence was ingenious enough to cope with it. Julie might have had a draw, but lost while trying for more. My game against Tony Haigh was a French Exchange that never looked like being other than a draw, a complete contrast to the game on Board 4, where James Corrigan played the wild Danish Gambit against Awne Osinga, and eventually got the attack he was seeking, winning a piece with more material to follow. The result was 2½-1½ to Cardigan.

[Event "Dyfed League:AberystwythB-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Williams, AH."] [Black "Robinson, Adam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B08"] [WhiteElo "2342"] [BlackElo "1768"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2017.03.01"] 1. Nf3 g6 2. e4 d6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 (6... c6 {main}) 7. e5 (7. h3 {main}) 7... dxe5 {allows a dangerous pawn thrust} (7... Ne8 {main }) 8. dxe5 Ng4 9. e6 {Wh scores 82% with this ( a similar line can occur in a King's Indian)} Nde5 (9... fxe6 10. Ng5 $18) 10. h3 {uncommon} (10. exf7+ Nxf7 11. Bc4 (11. Qxd8 Rxd8 12. Bc4 {also scores highly}) 11... Qxd1 12. Rxd1 { scores 95% for Wh}) 10... Nxf3+ (10... Qxd1 11. Rxd1 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 Ne5 (12... Bxc3 13. bxc3 Nf6 14. exf7+ Kxf7 15. Rb1 {Anbuhl-Windt, Hamburg U18 1978,1-0}) (12... Nf6 13. Nb5 Ne8 14. Rd8 a6 15. Rxe8 axb5 16. Rxe7 c6 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. Re8+ Rf8 19. Rxf8+ Kxf8 20. c3 {Blatny-Porter, World op Philadelphia 1995,1-0}) 13. exf7+ Nxf7 14. Nd5 Ne5 15. Be2 {Vidal Melendez-Nigro Monasterios, Falcon Garcia mem 2014,1-0}) 11. Bxf3 Ne5 12. exf7+ Nxf7 (12... Kh8 13. Qxd8 (13. Bd5) 13... Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Rxd8 15. Re1 $14 {Khazhipov-Protasov, Cheliabinsk ch 2010, 0-1}) 13. Qxd8 Rxd8 14. Re1 (14. Nd5 Rd7 15. Nf4 Rd6 16. Nd3 Rb8 17. Re1 e5 18. Nc5 $14 {Komodo10}) 14... Bxc3 (14... c6 $11 {Komodo10} 15. Rxe7 (15. g4 Ne5 16. Be2 Be6 $11) 15... Be5 16. Be3 Bf6 17. Re4 Bf5 18. Rb4 Nd6 19. Rd1 Bxc2 20. Rd2 Bf5 21. Bf4 a5 22. Rb6 Nc4 23. Rxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxb7 Nxb2 25. Rxb2 Bxc3 $14) 15. bxc3 e5 16. Be3 $14 c6 17. Rab1 Nd6 18. Bc5 Nb5 (18... e4 19. Bxe4 Nxe4 20. Rxe4 b6 21. Be7 Bf5 22. Re2 Re8 23. Rbe1 Kf7 24. g4 Bxc2 25. Bg5 Rxe2 26. Rxe2 h6 27. Re7+ Kf8 28. Bf6 a5 29. Kh2 $14 {Komodo10, lots of humans would be quite happy with Wh's position( though Bl can also get some R activity)}) 19. Rxe5 $16 Nxc3 20. Rbe1 Bf5 (20... Nd5 $5 {Rudy} 21. c4 $1 $18 {Komodo10} Nb6 22. Re8+ Rxe8 23. Rxe8+ Kf7 24. Re7+ Kf6 (24... Kg8 25. Bd4 $18) 25. Rxh7 $18) 21. g4 (21. Re7 b6 22. Ba3 Nd5 23. Rb7 Re8 24. Rxe8+ Rxe8 25. c4 Nc3 26. Bxc6 Rc8 27. Bf3 Rxc4 28. Bb2 Be4 29. Bxe4 Nxe4 30. Rg7+ Kf8 31. Rxa7 $16 {Komodo10} ) 21... Bd7 (21... Bxc2 $1 {looks fatal, but Komodo8.1 & 10 suggest its only slight advantage to Wh} 22. Re7 (22. Rc1 Rd3 $1 23. Bg2 (23. Kg2 Bd1 $1 24. Re3 Bxf3+ 25. Kxf3 Rxe3+ 26. fxe3 Nd5 $15) 23... Rd1+ 24. Rxd1 Bxd1 25. Re7 b6 26. Be3 Nd5 27. Bxd5+ cxd5 28. g5 Bc2 $11) 22... b6 23. Rc1 Rd3 24. Rxc2 Rxf3 25. Bd4 Nb5 (25... Nd5 26. Rg7+ Kf8 27. Rxh7 Rd8 28. Rxc6 Ne7 29. Rf6+ Rxf6 30. Bxf6 Rd1+ 31. Kg2 Nd5 32. Be5 a5 33. Kf3 $16) 26. Be5 Rf7 27. Rxf7 Kxf7 28. Rxc6 Re8 29. f4 g5 $11 {Komodo10}) 22. Re7 $18 Re8 (22... b6 23. Bd6 Re8 24. R1e3 Rxe7 25. Rxe7 Be8 26. Be5 Nxa2 27. Rg7+ Kf8 28. Rxh7 $18) 23. R1e3 (23. Bd4 $1 $18 {both Komodos} Na4 (23... Nxa2 24. Rg7+ Kf8 25. Ra1 Rad8 26. Rxh7 Be6 27. Bxa7 $18) 24. R1e4 Rxe7 25. Rxe7 Be8 26. Rxb7 $18 {Komodo10}) 23... Rxe7 24. Rxe7 Rd8 25. Bxa7 (25. Kg2 $18 {both Komodos}) 25... Bc8 (25... Rf8 26. Rxd7 Rxf3 27. Rxb7 Nxa2 28. Be3 Nc3 29. Kg2 Rf7 30. Rb3 (30. Rxf7 $16 { but human technique should wins this comfortably}) 30... Nd5 31. Bh6 Rc7 32. c4 $16) 26. Kg2 Nxa2 27. Be2 (27. Bb6 Rf8 28. Bc5 $18 {both Engines}) 27... b5 28. Bf3 (28. Bb6 Rf8 (28... Rd7 29. Re8+ Kf7 30. Rxc8) 29. Bf3 Rf7 30. Re8+ Rf8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Bxc6 $18 {Komodo10}) 28... Nb4 (28... Rd7 29. Re8+ (29. Rxd7 Bxd7 $14) 29... Kf7 30. Rxc8 Rxa7 31. Bxc6 b4 32. Bd5+ Ke7 33. Bb3 Nc1 34. Rb8 Nxb3 35. cxb3 Ke6 36. Rxb4 {again, Komodo10 only rates as definite plus for Wh. looks quite an easy win.}) 29. c3 Nd5 30. Bxd5+ cxd5 31. Bd4 Kf8 32. Rxh7 $18 Be6 33. f4 (33. Rb7 Bd7 34. Kg3 $18 {Komodo10; infiltrating with the K}) 33... Bf7 34. f5 (34. h4) 34... gxf5 35. gxf5 Ra8 36. f6 Rc8 37. Kg3 (37. Kf3 Rc4 38. Ke3 {Komodo10}) 37... Rc4 38. Be5 Ke8 (38... b4 39. cxb4 Ke8 40. Bd6 $18) ( 38... d4 $1 {Komodos} 39. cxd4 b4 40. Bd6+ Ke8 41. Rh8+ Kd7 42. Be5 b3 43. Rb8 Rc3+ 44. Kg4 Be6+ 45. Kg5 Rxh3 46. Rb6 Bf7 47. d5 Rh5+ 48. Kf4 Rh4+ 49. Kf5 Rh5+ 50. Ke4 Rh4+ 51. Ke3 b2 {and Bl is still fighting, as Wh's best looks likely to be a drawn R& B vs R ending} 52. Rd6+ Kc7 53. Re6+ Kd7 54. Re7+ Kc8 55. Bxb2 Bxd5) 39. Rh8+ Kd7 40. Rb8 Ke6 41. Bd4 b4 42. Rxb4 Rxb4 43. cxb4 Kf5 { the passed b pawn is too much} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: AberystwythB-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, J."] [Black "Jones, IC."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C00"] [WhiteElo "1743"] [BlackElo "2219"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "86"] [EventDate "2017.03.01"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. d3 Be7 5. Nbd2 O-O 6. O-O c5 7. e4 Nc6 8. e5 ( 8. Re1 {seems more popular amongst the super GMs ( waiting for b5 it seems)}) 8... Nd7 9. Re1 Qc7 10. Qe2 Nb4 (10... b5 {main}) 11. Nf1 d4 {gains d5 but cedes e4} (11... b6 12. c3 Nc6 13. h4 {more frequent}) 12. h4 {main} (12. a3 Nd5 13. h4) 12... Rb8 (12... Nd5 {main, eg} 13. N1h2 b6 14. Ng5 Bxg5 15. hxg5 Re8 16. Bf4 Bb7 17. Qh5 Nf8 18. Ng4 {Kabulov-Kornilov, Saratov Aratovsky mem 2006,1-0}) 13. N1h2 b6 {Bl is digging in rather than go for Q side expansion} ( 13... b5 14. Bf4 Bb7 15. Ng4 Nd5 16. Bd2 Rfc8 17. h5 {Tome Vasquez-Aguado Solana, Madrid San Viator op 2015,1-0}) 14. h5 (14. a3 Nc6 15. Bf4 b5 16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. hxg5 Ne7 18. Qh5 Bb7 19. Ng4 Ng6 20. Nf6+ $16 {Ruge-Ramirez, Bogota McGregor op 2011,1-0}) (14. Ng4 Bb7 15. Bg5 Bxg5 16. hxg5 $11 {Komodo10}) 14... Bb7 (14... h6 15. c3 dxc3 16. bxc3 Nd5 17. c4 Nb4 18. Bb2 $11 {Komodo10}) 15. Ng4 (15. h6 g6 16. Bg5 $14 {Komodo10}) (15. a3 Nd5 16. h6 $14 {Fritz13}) 15... Rfe8 16. Bf4 (16. h6 g6 17. c3 $14 {both Engines}) (16. Bg5 $2 Bxf3 $19) 16... Nd5 17. Bg5 (17. Bd2 h6 $11 {Komodo10}) (17. h6 Nxf4 18. gxf4 f5 19. exf6 Bxf6 20. Qd2 Nf8 21. Nfe5 Bxe5 22. fxe5 Re7 $15 {Komodo10}) 17... Bxg5 18. Nxg5 h6 19. Nf3 (19. Bxd5 Bxd5 20. Ne4 b5 (20... Nxe5 21. Nef6+ $16) 21. Qd2 Bxe4 22. Rxe4 Kh7 23. Rae1 $11 {Komodo10}) 19... Ne7 {Komodo10} (19... b5 {Fritz13}) 20. Nh4 (20. Nd2 $5) 20... Nf5 (20... Bxg2 21. Kxg2 b5 $15 {Komodo10}) 21. Qd2 (21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Nf3 b5 23. Nd2 $11 {Komodo10}) 21... Nxh4 22. gxh4 {Wh is planning on using the g file to attack} Bxg2 23. Kxg2 Qc6+ 24. Re4 Kh7 (24... Kf8 {both Engines} 25. Rg1 b5 26. Kh3 Qd5 27. Qf4 $11 {Komodo10} Qxa2 28. Nf6 Nxf6 29. exf6 e5 30. fxg7+ Kg8 31. Rxe5 Rxe5 32. Qxe5 Qe6+ 33. Qxe6 fxe6 34. Rg6 $16) 25. Rg1 (25. Qf4 Rf8 26. Rg1 f5 27. exf6 Rbe8 (27... Nxf6 28. Nxf6+ gxf6 29. Kf1 $18) 28. Kf1 Nxf6 29. Ne5 Nxe4 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Qg4+ Kh8 32. Ng6+ Kh7 33. Nxf8+ Rxf8 34. Qg6+ Kh8 35. Qxh6+ {perpetual; Komodo10}) 25... Rg8 26. Kf1 {Fritz13 ;turns out not to be the best square for the K} (26. Kh2 { Komodo10}) (26. Kh3 $5 {Komodo10}) 26... Rbf8 27. Qe2 $15 {Fritz13} (27. Qf4 $15 {Komodo10}) 27... Qd5 (27... b5 {both Engines; Bl has held the attack so could do with some open lines on the Q side for later}) 28. b3 (28. c4 { both Engines}) 28... Nb8 29. Nh2 (29. Rf4 $5) 29... Nc6 30. Nf3 Ne7 31. Reg4 { releases the pressure ( indirectly) on e6. allowing Bl's next; but given by both Engines} f5 (31... Kh8 32. Qe4 Qxe4 33. Rxe4 g6 34. hxg6 fxg6 35. Nd2 Nd5 $17 {Komodo10}) (31... Qb7 32. Nd2 Nd5 {Fritz13} 33. Ne4 Qc7 34. Nd6 Kh8 35. R4g3 f6 36. exf6 Rxf6 37. Qe5 $15 {Komodo10}) 32. Rg6 $5 {an interesting try ( which both Engines refuse to touch)} (32. exf6 {both Engines seen as best}) ( 32. R4g2 {and the e & h5 pawns feel the pressure, though the immediate attempt does'nt appear to work} f4 (32... Qc6 33. Rg6 Kh8 $17 {Komodo10}) 33. Qe4+ $1 Rf5 34. Qxd5 exd5 35. Rg4 Rxh5 36. Rxf4 Ng6 37. Rf7 Rf8 38. Rxf8 Nxf8 39. Kg2 Kg6 40. Kh3+ (40. b4 $11) 40... Kf7 41. Kg4 g6 42. b4 $11 {opening a second front while the Bl R is otherwise engaged}) 32... Nxg6 33. hxg6+ Kh8 34. Ng5 f4 {the only move, else Bl is in Zugzwang} 35. Qh5 $11 (35. Qe4 $1 $11 { both Engines} Qd7 (35... Qxe4 36. dxe4 f3 37. Rg3 Rf4 38. Nf7+ Rxf7 39. gxf7 Rf8 40. Rxf3 $16) 36. Rg4 b5 37. Nf7+ Rxf7 38. gxf7 Qxf7 39. Rxf4 Qh5 40. f3 $11 {Komodo10}) 35... Qd7 (35... a6 36. Nf7+ Rxf7 37. gxf7 Rf8 38. Rg6 Rxf7 39. Rxh6+ gxh6 40. Qxf7 Qxe5 41. Qf8+ Kh7 42. Qf7+ {perpetual} Qg7 43. Qxe6 $16) 36. Ne4 (36. Qg4 $14 {both engines} Qe8 (36... Rf5 $2 {move looked at in pm analysis, but Komodo10 just takes it} 37. Qxf5 $1 Rb8 (37... exf5 38. Nf7+ Qxf7 39. gxf7 Rf8 40. e6 $18 {and the centre pawns break through})) (36... Qe7 37. f3 Qd7 38. Kf2 {and Bl will be running out of moves}) 37. Nxe6 Qe7 38. Nxf8 Rxf8 39. Qh5 $14 {and Wh is a pawn up}) 36... Rf5 37. Rg5 $11 Rgf8 38. Nd6 Kg8 {both Engines & Bl is best returning the exchange} 39. Ne4 (39. Nxf5 $11 exf5 ( 39... Rxf5 $2 40. Rxf5 exf5 41. Qf3 $1 $18 Qe8 (41... Qd8 42. Qb7 Qe8 43. Qd5+) 42. Qd5+ Kf8 43. Qd6+ Qe7 (43... Kg8 44. e6 $18) 44. Qb8+ Qe8 45. Qxe8+ Kxe8 46. Kg2 {and Wh wins the pawn ending, capturing f4}) 40. Ke2 Qe6 41. Rg1 Qxe5+ 42. Kd2 c4 (42... Re8 43. Qf3 $11) 43. bxc4 Qa5+ 44. Kc1 Qxa2 45. Re1 $11 { Wh has active R}) (39. Qf3 $1 {both Engines, & Bl is safest returning the exchange} Rxe5 (39... hxg5 {leads to some fantastic variations} 40. Qh5 Re8 { ( it seems all other R moves lose)} 41. Qh7+ Kf8 42. Nb7 $1 {taking the N will lose the Q} Rb8 43. Qh8+ Ke7 44. Qxg7+ Ke8 45. Qh8+ Rf8 46. g7 Qe7 47. gxf8=Q+ Qxf8 48. Qh7 Rxb7 (48... Qe7 49. Qg8+ Qf8 50. Qxe6+ Qe7 51. Qg8+ Qf8 52. Nd6+ Kd7 53. Qd5 $18) 49. Qxb7 Qf5 50. hxg5 Qg4 {and both sides have a perpetual; Komodo10}) (39... Rxg5 40. hxg5 Qe7 41. Qh3 f3 42. gxh6 gxh6 43. Nf7 Rxf7 44. gxf7+ Qxf7 45. Qxh6 $11) 40. Rxe5 Qxd6 41. Qe4 Rf6 42. Qa8+ Rf8 43. Qe4 $11 { Komodo10}) (39. Qg4 {is also a draw according to Komodo10} f3 40. Rxf5 exf5 41. Qf4 Qe6 42. h5 a6 43. Nf7 b5 44. Qxf3 $11 {Komodo10; the R cannot go too far away because Q & N are a powerful attacking force.}) 39... Qd5 $19 {the e pawn will fall} 40. Nf6+ {a last throw, which does,t work because of the positionof the Wh K} R8xf6 41. exf6 Qh1+ $1 {other moves draw} 42. Ke2 (42. Rg1 Qh3+) 42... Rxg5 {and the h pawn is pinned, & the Wh Q has no access to the back rank } 43. f7+ Kf8 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League: AberystwythB-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Haigh, A."] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1903"] [BlackElo "1704"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2017.03.01"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 {Wh had a Tarrasch} (3. Nd2 c5 {at the Dyfed Open the weekend before that he didnt't enjoy}) 3... exd5 {the Exchange French has a drawish reputation; though of course the super GMs have been trying it out lately} 4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Bf5 (6... O-O) 7. Re1 Bg6 {not the most frequent, as it may lose a tempo since Bl wants to swap off Wh's best B anyway. However at 22 % Wh does worst of all the 3 moves cited. However , for the move played at this point, none of the players are in the top bracket.} (7... O-O) ( 7... Bxd3) 8. Nc3 (8. Bg5 f6 {provided Bl with 2 wins}) 8... c6 9. Ne5 (9. Bg5 O-O (9... f6 10. Bh4 O-O 11. a3 Nf5 12. Bg3 Nxg3 13. Bxg6 hxg6 14. hxg3 { Kipczak-Kuchyna, IPCA wld ch Wisla 2007,1/2-1/2}) 10. Nh4 Qc7 11. Bxe7 Bxe7 12. Nf5 Bxf5 13. Bxf5 g6 $11 {Kargoll-Borngaesser,FRG ch qual 1986,0-1}) 9... Bxd3 10. Qxd3 f6 11. Nf3 O-O $11 12. Ne2 Na6 (12... Ng6 {prevents Bf4, getting rid of Wh's baddish B}) (12... g5 $5 {Weakens the Bl K side} 13. h4 h6 14. Ng3 Bxg3 15. fxg3 Qd6 16. g4 Nd7 17. b3 $16 {and the B enters via a3;Komodo10}) 13. Bf4 Nc7 14. c3 Qd7 15. Bxd6 Qxd6 16. Ng3 Rfe8 (16... Rae8) 17. Re3 Qd7 18. Rae1 Ng6 19. Qf5 {alternatives also draw} Qxf5 20. Nxf5 Rxe3 (20... Kf8) 21. Rxe3 Kf8 ( 21... Re8 {Rudy; Bl was concerned about an invasion via d6, but Bl is fine} 22. Nd6 Rd8 (22... Rxe3 23. fxe3 b5 $14 {but no signs of Wh entry}) 23. Nxb7 (23. Nf5 Re8) 23... Rb8 24. Nc5 Rxb2 $11 {Komodo10}) 22. Kf1 Rd8 (22... Re8) 23. h4 Rd7 24. g3 Ne7 25. Nxe7 Rxe7 26. Ke2 Ne8 27. Nd2 {(draw?)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: AberystwythB-Cardigan"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.28"] [Round "?"] [White "Corrigan, James"] [Black "Osinga, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C21"] [WhiteElo "1449"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2017.03.01"] 1. e4 e5 2. d4 {leading to a Danish Gambit, to battle against Awne's usual safety first approach} exd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Bc4 cxb2 5. Bxb2 Nh6 {rare, & scarcely mentioned in the theory books eg Alterman Gambit Guide: White Openings 2010.} 6. Nf3 (6. Nd2 {pm analysis, anticipates the ch & aims at g7}) 6... Bb4+ (6... b6 {occured in 2 of the 5 games with Nh6, but don't quite see the point.} 7. Qe2 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O-O $16 {threatening g4 & h4; given in a footnote in Russian 'Encycopdia Modern Chess Opening 1994:467}) 7. Nc3 { Quite a few games can be found on chesscube & probably more on other Internet play sites. Its certainly been examined by other Chess Engines} (7. Kf1 Bf8 ( 7... O-O 8. Qd4 Qf6 9. Qxf6 gxf6 10. Bxf6 d6 11. Bc3 a5 $15) 8. Nbd2 d6 9. Qb3 Nd7 $15 {Luchetti( 2221)-Collas (2354), FRA ch qual Bescanon 1999,0-1}) 7... O-O 8. O-O $11 {although Bl has several extra pawns, his pices & especially the N on h6, are passive & so unable to help in pushing the pawns forward.} d6 9. h3 (9. Nd5 Bc5 10. Qc1 Ng4 11. h3 {various Cloud Engines}) 9... Nc6 (9... Nd7) 10. Ne2 Qe8 11. Ng3 Be6 {Deep Fritz13} (11... Kh8 $17 {Komodo10}) 12. Bd3 (12. Bd5 $11 {both Engines}) 12... f6 $17 {blunts the b2 B & gives the chance for the return of the h6 N to e5} 13. Nh4 Ne5 $19 {Komodo10} (13... Nf7 $19 { Deep Fritz13}) (13... Kh8 $17 {Komodo10}) 14. Bc2 Bc5 15. Kh1 Rd8 {Bl has mobilised his pices, though they are still in defence positions} (15... b5 16. Bb3 a5 $19 {Komodo10, starting to use the extra pawns as a roller}) 16. f4 Nc4 17. Bc1 (17. Bd4) 17... Ne3 18. Bxe3 Bxe3 19. Qd3 {wh is still angling towards the K} Qc6 (19... Bb6) 20. Rf3 Bc5 21. Nh5 Qd7 $2 (21... Kh8 {Komodo10 secures everything}) 22. Rg3 $18 Rf7 (22... Bf2 {Komodo10 suggests is the best bet} 23. Rxg7+ Qxg7 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Nf3 Bb6 26. g4 $18) 23. f5 {winning a piece} (23. Rxg7+ $1 {Komodo10} Rxg7 (23... Kf8 24. Nxf6 Qc8 25. Rxf7+ Kxf7 26. Nxh7 $18 { as the K is exposed and the Bl pices scatterred}) 24. Nxf6+ Kh8 25. Nxd7 Bxd7 26. g4 $18) (23. e5 $1 Nf5 24. Rxg7+ Rxg7 25. Nxf6+ Kh8 26. Nxd7 Ng3+ 27. Kh2 Bxd7 28. f5 {is even stronger; Komodo10. " Don't always look at the obvious (re) capture " Topalov;Gibraltar Masterclass 2017.}) 23... Bf2 (23... Bxf5 24. Nxf5 Nxf5 25. exf5 Kh8 26. Nf4 Re7 27. Ne6 Rde8 {al least gets another pawn, but the position doesn't look good for Bl}) 24. fxe6 {the obvious capture, but the other line is still there} (24. Rxg7+ Rxg7 (24... Kf8 25. Qd2 {Deep Fritz13 } (25. Rxh7 {Komodo10} Rxh7 26. Ng6+ Kf7 27. fxe6+ Qxe6 28. Rf1 Rg7 29. Bb3 d5 30. Ngf4 $18 {is mayhem}) 25... Rxg7 26. fxe6 Qe7 27. Qxf2 $18) 25. Nxf6+ Kf8 26. Nxd7+ Bxd7 27. f6 Rg3 28. Nf3 $18 {Komodo10}) 24... Qxe6 25. Bb3 d5 26. Bxd5 Rxd5 27. Qxd5 Qxd5 28. exd5 g6 (28... Bxg3 29. Nxg3 $16 {simpler, & although Bl has a couple of pawns for the piece, they are not advanced enough to be compensation}) 29. Kh2 (29. Rf1 {Rudy; also}) 29... Bxg3+ 30. Nxg3 Rd7 31. Rd1 (31. Ne4 Kf7 32. Rc1 {Komodo10, but why not keep pawns on?}) 31... c6 ( 31... c5 {to mobilise the Q side, but the centre pawn is too strong}) 32. Ne4 Kf7 33. d6 (33. Nc5) 33... b6 34. Nf3 c5 35. g4 a6 36. g5 fxg5 37. Ne5+ 1-0

GM Scalp

Here is a blitz win by Rudy van Kemenade against a German grandmaster, played at Gibraltar recently.He says he had a little help from the GM's IM daughter.

[Event "Pairs Blitz Gibraltar"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.01.29"] [Round "7"] [White "Van Kemenade- Paehtz, R & E."] [Black "The Fearless"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2017.01.30"] {Labyrinth in a Dark wood} 1. e4 {Rudy AGM 1955} d6 {Thomas Paehtz GM 2365 & Milan Kundic FM 2061} 2. d4 {Elisabeth Paehtz IM 2468} Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nge2 ( 4. Nf3 {played in a previous game}) 4... Nc6 5. Be3 (5. f3) (5. h3) 5... exd4 ( 5... Be7) (5... g6) 6. Nxd4 (6. Bxd4 Nxd4 7. Nxd4 Be7 {0-2}) 6... Ng4 (6... Be7 ) (6... Bd7) (6... g6) 7. Bf4 Qf6 8. Nde2 Be6 9. f3 (9. Qd2 g5 10. h3 gxf4 11. hxg4 Bxg4 12. Qxf4 Qg6 $11 {Zakrzewski-Urban, Poznan op 2016,1/2-1/2}) 9... g5 (9... Nge5) 10. Bd2 Nge5 11. Nd5 Bxd5 12. exd5 Ne7 13. Nc3 g4 (13... Bg7 14. Bb5+ c6 15. dxc6 bxc6 16. Ba6 d5 17. O-O $11 {Komodo10}) 14. f4 N5g6 (14... Nd7 ) 15. Qxg4 (15. Ne4 $18 {Komodo10} Qf5 (15... Qd4 16. Bb5+ Kd8 17. Nxd6 $18) ( 15... Qxb2 16. Rb1 Qg7 17. Rxb7 $18) 16. Bd3 Kd8 17. Ng5 Qxd5 18. Be4 Qc4 19. b3 $18) 15... h5 (15... Qh4+ 16. Qxh4 Nxh4 17. O-O-O $16) 16. Bb5+ {Elisabeth} c6 17. Ne4 $1 $18 {Rudy} (17. dxc6 bxc6 18. Qf3 $18 {Elisabeth idea}) 17... Qxb2 (17... Kd8 18. dxc6 Nxc6 19. Nxf6 hxg4 20. O-O-O $18) 18. Nxd6+ Kd8 19. Nxf7+ {Rudy played} (19. Nxb7+ {Elisabeth} Kc7 20. Ba5+ {analysis with Julie} ( 20. d6+ Kxb7 21. Qd7+ Kb6 22. Be3+ Kxb5 23. Qb7+ Kc4 24. Qxb2 {Komodo10}) 20... Kb8 21. Qd7 Nxd5 22. Qe8+ {Komodo10} (22. Nd6 Qxa1+ {Komodo10} (22... Bxd6 { Julie & Rudy} 23. Qxd6+ Kb7 24. Qxc6+ Kb8 25. Qd6+ Kc8 26. Ba6+ Qb7 27. Qc6+ Nc7 28. Qxc7#) 23. Ke2 Ndxf4+ 24. Kd2 Qd4+ 25. Bd3 Qe3+ 26. Kxe3 Nd5+ 27. Kd4 Bxd6 28. Rb1+ Nb6 29. Bxb6 Be5+ 30. Kc4 axb6 31. Rxb6#) 22... Kxb7 23. Qxc6+ Kb8 24. Qe8+ Kb7 25. Qd7+ Kb8 26. Qd8+ Kb7 27. Qxd5+ Kb8 28. Qd8+ Kb7 29. Qc7#) 19... Kc7 (19... Ke8 20. Nd6+ Kd8 21. Nxb7+ Kc7 (21... Ke8 22. Nd6+ Kd8 23. Ba5#) 22. Ba5+ {mating}) 20. Ba5+ Kb8 (20... b6 21. d6+ Kb8 22. Qd7 {mating}) 21. Qd7 Qxa1+ 22. Ke2 $1 {Elisabeth} 1-0