Still 100%

Aberystwyth has its strongest team for several years, and has started the season with an unbroken series of wins. On Monday 4 December we faced our toughest test so far, with an away match against champions Cardigan A. The top three boards produced high-level encounters which I admit to not understanding completely. Brendan-Budok Durand-Le Ludec, whose name is proving almost as much of a challenge to me as his chess (I think I have been misspelling it up to now), was never in trouble against the league's best player, Howard Williams, and reached a level ending with bishop against knight, where a draw was agreed. Pretty much the same happened on Board 2, where Rudy van Kemenade got the two bishops against Iolo Jones in a King's Indian, but no advantage resulted for either side. Adam Watkin-Jones and Tony Haigh both felt uncomfortable in an English Opening game on third board, but again no decisive attack materialised. On bottom board, I was facing Howard Leah, whose aggressive play has often given me problems in the past. That was the case again, as his unorthodox Polish Opening led to sustained pressure for White. After I lost a pawn, my position became a little less cramped, but still very complicated, with both sides short of time. Convinced that I was losing (though analysis shows I had a drawing option), I played for a shameless swindle and got away with it. Though I was now a rook ahead, I still had some difficulty converting in time trouble, till White walked into a second fork, and the game and match were won. Aber maintained their 100% record this season with victory by 2½-1½.

[Event "Dyfed League:CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Durand Le Leduc, Brendan"] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "2172"] [BlackElo "2323"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2017.12.05"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 c6 4. O-O Bg4 {although mainstream with some 8,000 games in the database, neither of the 2 players are listed in these} 5. d3 Nbd7 6. Nbd2 e6 (6... e5 {more frequent}) 7. h3 (7. e4) 7... Bh5 8. e4 Bc5 (8... Be7 ) (8... dxe4) 9. g4 (9. Qe1 {main}) 9... Bg6 (9... dxe4 10. dxe4 Bg6 11. e5 Nd5 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. a3 a5 15. c4 Ne7 16. a4 h5 {Stefanova-Dao, Ho Chi Minh City, HDbank op 2017,1/2-1.2 ; after 114 moves with R & N vs R}) 10. e5 ( 10. Nh4 {1 win each}) 10... Ng8 11. Qe2 (11. d4 Bb6 12. Re1 (12. c3 Ne7 13. Re1 O-O 14. Nf1 c5 15. Bg5 Re8 16. Ng3 $11 {Sochna-Pise, CZE ch tm 2011,0-1}) 12... c5 13. c4 Ne7 $11 {Acevedo-Patriarca, PAR ch, Mayor Asuncion 1999,0-1}) 11... h5 (11... Ne7 12. Nb3 Bb6 13. a4 a5 14. Be3 O-O $11 {Prudnikova-Sedina, SLO ch tm (women), Skofja Loka 2002,1/2-1/2}) 12. Nb3 hxg4 13. hxg4 Bb6 (13... Be7) ( 13... Bf8) 14. Bg5 Ne7 $11 {Wh has a slight space advantage, but the Bl pieces are flexibly placed} 15. Rae1 Qc7 16. a4 a6 {a series of complex manouevres is taking place, with nothing particularly clearcut for either side.} 17. Qd2 (17. d4 Be4 18. c4 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 f6 20. Bf4 fxe5 21. Bg3 Ba7 22. Qd3 O-O-O 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Bxd5 exd5 25. dxe5 Nc5 26. Nxc5 Bxc5 27. Rc1 Qe7 28. Kg2 $11 {is just one line of play found in Komodo11; the players' pm analysis looked at many more}) 17... Nc5 18. Nxc5 (18. Nbd4 $5) 18... Bxc5 19. b4 Ba7 20. Be3 (20. Nh4 $5) 20... a5 21. Rb1 (21. b5 $5) 21... Bxe3 22. Qxe3 (22. fxe3 $5 O-O 23. bxa5 Rfb8 24. Qb4 Rxa5 25. Qd6 Rc8 26. Ra1 Ra6 27. a5 c5 28. Qxc7 Rxc7 29. Rfb1 $11 {Komodo11}) 22... O-O {initially Komodo11 thought this gave Bl a slight advantage ( & keeps changing its conclusion)} 23. bxa5 Rxa5 24. Qb6 Rc8 25. Qxb7 Rxa4 (25... Qd8 $5 26. Ng5 c5 27. Rb6 Rca8 28. Rd6 Qf8 29. Rd7 Nc8 30. f4 R8a7 31. Qc6 R5a6 (31... R7a6 32. Qc7 Ra7 33. Qd8 $18) 32. Qb5 Ra5 33. Qc6 $11 {repetition}) 26. Qxc7 Rxc7 27. Rb8+ Nc8 28. Nh4 (28. Rfb1 Kf8 $11) 28... Kf8 ( 28... Bh7 $11) (28... c5 $11) 29. Nxg6+ (29. f4 {Komodo11; it makes sense to threaten on the f file now the K is there} Bh7 30. Bh3 c5 31. f5 exf5 32. Nf3 Bg8 (32... fxg4 33. Ng5 Ke8 34. Bg2 $16) 33. gxf5 f6 34. Kf2 $14 {Komodo11}) 29... fxg6 30. f4 Ke7 $11 31. Kh2 Ra2 32. Rf2 Raa7 33. c4 (33. Kg3 Rab7 34. Rxb7 Rxb7 35. Kh4 Kf7 36. Kg5 Rb1 37. Bf3 Rc1 38. Rd2 $14 {but Komodo11 now starts repeating moves for both sides.}) 33... Rab7 34. Rxb7 Rxb7 35. cxd5 (35. Bf1 Rb1 36. Kg3 Nb6 37. Kh4 Nd7 $11 {Komodo11}) 35... cxd5 (35... exd5 36. Rc2 Na7 37. Kg3 $14 {Komodo11}) 36. Rc2 (36. f5 $11) 36... Kd7 37. f5 (37. Kg3 g5 ( 37... Rb4 38. g5 Ne7 39. Bh3 Rb3 40. Rd2 Nc6 41. Kf2 $11) 38. f5 Ne7 $11) 37... gxf5 38. gxf5 Ne7 39. fxe6+ $11 {Draw agreed} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, IC."] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "E62"] [WhiteElo "2241"] [BlackElo "2040"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2017.12.05"] 1. d4 (1. c4 d6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. d4 Nc6 5. e3 e5 6. Nge2 Bg4 7. d5 Bf3 8. Rg1 Nce7 {Jones-Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2010,0-1}) 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 (2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 (5. Be2 O-O 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. Qd2 e5 8. d5 Nc5 9. f3 a5 10. h4 {Jones-Otami, Skopje ol 1972,1-0}) 5... O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. Qd2 Ne8 9. d5 Ne7 10. g4 {Jones-RG Taylor, WLS ch Swansea 1970, 1/2-1/2}) 2... g6 3. c4 (3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O Na6 7. Bf4 c5 8. d5 {Jones-Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2012,1-0}) 3... Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. g3 (5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 ( 6. Be2 e5 (6... Nbd7 7. e5 dxe5 8. dxe5 Ng4 9. e6 fxe6 10. h3 Nh6 11. O-O { Jones-JG Cooper WLS ch Cardiff 1980,1/2-1/2}) 7. d5 Nbd7 8. O-O Ne8 (8... Nc5 9. Bg5 h6 10. Be3 a5 (10... Nfxe4 $15) 11. h3 Kh7 12. Qc2 b6 13. Nd2 Ng8 $14 { Jones-Benitez, Skopje ol 1972,1/2-1/2}) 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 Bh6 {Jones-Hamed, Thessaloniki ol 1984,0-1}) 6... Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Nc6 9. Ne2 Nd7 10. Qe3 e5 11. d5 Nd4 {Jones-Van Kemenade,Dyfed League 2009,1/2-1/2}) 5... d6 6. Bg2 Nc6 (6... c6 7. O-O Re8 8. e4 e5 9. d5 cxd5 10. cxd5 Na6 11. Qe2 Bd7 12. Nd2 Rc8 13. Rb1 Qe7 14. Nb3 {Jones-Lutchman Singh, West Wales Open, Swansea 2016, 1-0}) 7. O-O e5 (7... a6 {invitation to a Yugoslav} 8. d5 Na5 9. Nd2 c5) 8. dxe5 {expected by Bl as a possibility in preparation} (8. d5 Ne7 9. e4 Nd7 { main}) 8... dxe5 9. Qxd8 (9. Bg5 {main as if then} Qxd1 (9... Be6 10. Nd5 Re8 11. Nd2 Bxd5 12. cxd5 Ne7 13. Bxf6 Bxf6 14. Ne4 Bg7 15. d6 Nf5 16. d7 Re7 17. Nc5 Nd6 18. Nxb7 Nxb7 19. Bxb7 Rxd7 20. Qxd7 Qxd7 21. Bxa8 {Perrett-Van Kemenade, WCPL2006,1/2-1/2}) 10. Rfxd1 (10. Raxd1 h6 11. Bxf6 (11. Be3 Be6 12. Nd5 Rfc8 13. Bxh6 Bxd5 (13... Bxh6 14. Nxf6+ Kg7 15. Nd5 e4 $14) 14. cxd5 $16 { Arkell-Van Kemenade, Scarborough 2001,1-0}) 11... Bxf6 12. Nd5 Bd8 13. e3 f6 { Heap-Van Kemenade, Dyfed Closed 2012,1/2-1/2}) 10... Re8 {Wh is a tempo up on the game continuation} (10... h6)) 9... Rxd8 10. Bg5 Re8 (10... Be6 {main} 11. Bxf6 (11. b3 h6 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Ne4 Be7 14. Rfd1 f5 {Konarski-Van Kemenade, Manchester 1990,0-1}) 11... Bxf6 12. Ne4 Be7 13. b3 h6 14. Rfd1 f5 15. Nc3 e4 16. Ne1 Bf6 17. Rac1 Rxd1 (17... Bxc3 18. Rxd8+ Rxd8 19. Rxc3 Rd1 20. Kf1 Ra1 21. f3 {Bergersen-Van Kemenade, EU Seniors tm, Rogaska Slatina 2011,1/2-1/2}) 18. Nxd1 Rd8 {Poulsen-Van Kemenade,EU Seniors tm , Dresden 2010,0-1}) 11. Nb5 { considered a sideshow by Bl, as the N belongs on d5.} (11. Bxf6 Bxf6 12. Nd5 Bd8 $15 {2 draws, 3 Bl wins}) 11... Re7 12. Rfd1 $146 (12. Rad1 Be6 13. Nd2 a6 14. Bxc6 bxc6 15. Nc3 Ree8 16. b3 Nd7 $11 {Roos-De la Torre, Saint Affrigue op 2000,1/2-1/2}) (12. Nc3 Be6 (12... Re8 13. Nb5 Re7 14. Nc3 Re8 15. Nd2 $11 { Izquierdo-Pinero, URU ch, Colonia delSacramento 2015,1-0}) 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. cxd5 Nb4 15. Nd2 Rd7 16. e4 h6 17. Be3 Nc2 18. Rad1 Nxe3 19. fxe3 Ne8 $11 { Philosoph-Freiman, Maccabiah op, Jerusalem 2013,0-1}) 12... Be6 13. Rac1 (13. b3) 13... a6 (13... h6 {considered & pm analysis; Komodo11 thinks OK for both sides} 14. Be3 a6 15. Nc3 (15. Bc5 axb5 16. cxb5 (16. Bxe7 Nxe7 17. cxb5 Ne8 $17) 16... Ree8 17. bxc6 b6 18. Ba3 (18. Bxb6 cxb6 19. Nxe5 Ra7 (19... Rxa2 20. c7 Ra7 21. Rc6 $11) 20. a3 Rc7 21. Nc4 Bxc4 22. Rxc4 Rxe2 23. Rb4 Bf8 24. Rxb6 Rxf2 25. Rb8 Rc2 26. Rdd8 Kg7 27. Rxf8 Rc1+ 28. Kf2 Rc2+ 29. Kg1 $11) 18... Bxa2 $11 {Komodo11}) 15... Bxc4 16. Nd2 Be6 17. b3 Ng4 18. Bc5 Rd7 19. Nc4 Rad8 20. Rxd7 Bxd7 21. Bxc6 Bxc6 22. Na5 $11 {Komodo11}) 14. Nc3 h6 (14... Bxc4 { both players thought would be losing, for different reasons, but Komodo11 just has Wh better} 15. Bxf6 {Iolo} (15. Ne4 {Rudy} Bxe2 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17. Nxf6+ Kg7 {transposes to Iolo's variation}) (15. Nd2 {Komodo11} Be6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 17. Nde4 Nxe4 18. Bxe7 Nxc3 19. Rxc3 Bd5 20. Ra3 e4 21. Rd2 $16 {Komodo11}) 15... Bxf6 16. Ne4 Bxe2 17. Nxf6+ Kg7 18. Nd5 Bxd1 19. Nxe7 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nxe7 21. Rxc7 Kf8 22. Rxb7 Rc8 $14) 15. Bxf6 Bxf6 $11 {but its Bl who has Iolo's favourite B pair} 16. Ne4 (16. b3 Ree8 $11 {Komodo11}) 16... Bg7 $15 17. Nc5 Bc8 (17... e4 $1 {Komodo11, considered} 18. Nxe4 (18. Ne1 Nd4 19. Rd2 Bg4 20. Kf1 e3 21. fxe3 Rxe3 $17) 18... Bxb2 19. Rb1 Bg7 20. Rxb7 Bf5 (20... Rae8) 21. Nfd2 (21. Nc5 Na5) 21... Rd8 $15 22. Rbb1 Red7 23. Re1 Na5 $15 {the position has been opened upfor the bl Bs to exploit Wh's weakpawns}) 18. e3 Kh7 { missing an opportunity} (18... e4 {Komodo11, considered} 19. Nd4 Nxd4 20. exd4 Bf5 $1 $17 {Komodo11} 21. Rd2 (21. Nxb7 Rb8 22. Na5 Rxb2 23. Nc6 Re8 24. Rb1 Rxa2 25. Rb7 Bg4 $17 {Komodo11}) 21... b6 22. Na4 Rd8 23. d5 h5 $17) (18... Rb8 {considered} 19. Nd2 Bg4 20. Re1 $11) 19. Nd2 Bg4 20. f3 {Bl was content with this as the B is blocked in; hence Komodo11 prefers} (20. Bxc6 bxc6 (20... Bxd1 21. Bxb7 Rb8 22. Rxd1 $18) 21. f3 Bc8 22. Rc2 a5 23. Kf2 f5 $11 {Komodo11}) 20... Bc8 $15 21. Nde4 b6 (21... f5 22. Nc3 b6 23. N5a4 Rf7 24. Nd5 Bb7 $15 { Komodo11}) 22. Nd3 Be6 (22... f5 23. Nc3 Be6 24. Nxe5 Nxe5 25. f4 Rf8 26. fxe5 Bxe5 27. Bd5 g5 $15 {Komodo11}) 23. b3 Rd8 24. Nc3 Red7 (24... f5) 25. Nf2 (25. Nd5 {pm analysis} a5 (25... Bxd5 26. cxd5 Ne7 27. e4 $11) 26. Kf2 f5 27. Bh3 a4 28. b4 Na7 29. Bf1 Bxd5 30. cxd5 Rxd5 31. Kg2 (31. Rxc7 Nb5 $19 32. e4 Nxc7 ( 32... fxe4 33. fxe4 Nxc7 34. exd5 Nxd5 35. Nb2 Rf8+ 36. Kg1 Nc3 37. Rd2 e4 $17) 33. exd5 Rxd5 34. Rc1 Rd7 $17)) 25... Nb4 {probing for more pawn moves to leave a weakness behind} (25... Rd2 {pm analysis, leads to nothing much afer} 26. Nd5 {initial Komodo11} (26. Rxd2 Rxd2 27. Nfe4 $1 Rd7 28. Nd5 Bxd5 29. cxd5 Nb4 30. Bh3 f5 31. Nc3 Bf8 32. Kf1 Bc5 33. e4 $11 Be3 34. exf5 Rf7 35. Rd1 Bd4 36. a3 gxf5 37. axb4 Bxc3 38. d6 cxd6 39. Rxd6 Bd4 40. Rd7 Kg7 41. Rxf7+ Kxf7 42. Bxf5 {the opposite colour B endgame should lead to a draw.}) 26... Rxa2 27. Nxc7 Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Bf5 29. Bf1 Bf8 $15 {Komodo11}) 26. Rxd7 Rxd7 27. Rd1 Rxd1+ 28. Nfxd1 f5 $15 29. Kf2 (29. Bf1) 29... Bf6 {to defend c7 if neeeded} (29... Bf8 $15 {Komodo11}) (29... c6 {pm analysis} 30. Ke2 a5 31. Nb2 $11 {Komodo11}) 30. Ke2 Kg7 (30... Be7) 31. Kd2 Kf7 (31... Be7 32. a3 Nc6 33. Nd5 Bd6 34. N1c3 b5 35. Bf1 Nd8 36. b4 c6 37. Nb6 Nb7 38. Kc2 Be7 39. f4 e4 40. Ne2 $11 { Komodo11}) 32. a3 Nc6 33. Nd5 $11 {at last a N appears on the square it has been aiming for all game} Bd8 (33... Na5 34. Nxf6 Kxf6 35. Kc2 Nb7 36. Nc3 Ke7 $11) (33... Bxd5 34. cxd5 Na5 35. Kc2 Nb7 36. Bf1 a5 37. Nc3 Nd6 $11) 34. N1c3 {the Ns reinforce one another , but also get in each others way} (34. Nb2 Ne7 35. e4 fxe4 36. fxe4 Nxd5 37. cxd5 Bd7 38. Nc4 Kf6 39. Kd3 $11 Bb5 {& opposite colour Bs}) 34... Na5 {comes close to winning a N.} 35. Kc2 Nb7 (35... b5 $1 $17 {Komodo11} 36. Bf1 (36. cxb5 axb5 37. Kb2 c6 38. Nb4 Bb6 39. e4 f4 (39... fxe4 40. f4 (40. Nxe4 Bd4+ 41. Nc3 c5 42. Nc2 Bxb3 $19) (40. fxe4 Bd4 $19) 40... exf4 41. gxf4 e3 42. Nxc6 Nxb3 43. Bf1 Nd4 44. Nxd4 Bxd4 45. Bxb5 Bd7 46. Bc4+ Kf6 47. Kb3 Bxc3 48. Kxc3 Kf5 $19)) 36... bxc4 37. Bxc4 Nxc4 (37... c6 38. Nb4 Nxc4 {transposes}) 38. bxc4 c6 39. Nb4 Bxc4 40. Nxc6 Bc7 41. Kd2 Ke6 $17 { Komodo11}) 36. Nb4 Nc5 (36... a5 37. Nc6 Bf6 38. Nd5 a4 39. b4 Nd6 40. Bf1 Bxd5 41. cxd5 e4 42. f4 $11 {Komodo11}) 37. Nc6 Bf6 38. Nd5 Bxd5 (38... Bd7 39. Nb8 Bd8 $11 {Komodo11; considered}) 39. cxd5 a5 (39... e4 40. f4 (40. b4 Nd3 41. Kd2 exf3 42. Bxf3 Ne5 43. Nxe5+ Bxe5 $11) 40... a5 $11 {Komodo11}) 40. b4 axb4 (40... Nb7) 41. axb4 Nb7 42. Kd3 Nd6 43. e4 fxe4+ 44. fxe4 Nb5 45. Bh3 Nd4 ( 45... Ke8) 46. Nxd4 (46. Na7 Be7 47. Kc4 Bd6 48. Nb5 Ke7 49. Nxd4 exd4 50. Kxd4 Bxb4 51. e5 Bc5+ 52. Ke4 Bg1 53. Bf1 Bxh2 54. Kf3 Bg1 55. Bd3 Bd4 56. Kf4 Kf7 57. Bc4 Ke7 $11 {Komodo11}) 46... exd4 {(draw?)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Black "Haigh, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A28"] [WhiteElo "1960"] [BlackElo "1875"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2017.12.05"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 (4. e4 Bc5 5. Nxe5 Bxf2+ 6. Kxf2 Nxe5 7. d4 Ng6 8. e5 Ng8 9. h4 d6 10. Bg5 {Heap-Haigh, Dyfed Closed 2012,1-0}) 4... d6 (4... Bb4 {main}) (4... Be7 5. d3 O-O 6. Be2 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. a3 a5 9. O-O Be6 {Heap-Danchevski, EU ch tm Novi Sad 2016,0-1}) 5. d4 exd4 (5... Bg4 {main}) 6. exd4 Bg4 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O (8. d5 $5 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Ne5 10. Be2 O-O 11. O-O $16 {and its transposed to an Alekhine , as in eg Barden-Cafferty, Hastings 1960, 1-0}) 8... d5 $146 {Cloud Engines} (8... O-O {almost invariably}) 9. c5 O-O 10. a3 {a bit slow} (10. Bf4 $14) (10. h3 Bh5 11. Be3 Ne4 12. Qb3 Nxc3 13. Qxc3 Bf6 $11 (13... f5 14. Rad1 $14)) 10... Ne4 11. h3 {Cloud Engines} Nxc3 ( 11... Bh5 $11) 12. bxc3 {from now on Wh thought he was a bit worse, however both Stockfish8 & Komodo11 give it as slight plus for Wh} Be6 (12... Bf5 { Stockfish8}) (12... Bxf3 13. Bxf3 Na5 {Komodo11}) 13. Bb5 (13. Bf4 {looks more natural & for a while is Komodo11 choice, until it goes with Stockfish 8 for}) (13. Qa4 $14) 13... Na5 $11 14. Ne5 c6 15. Ba4 (15. Bd3 {both Engines, controls more centre space}) 15... f6 16. Nd3 b6 $11 17. Re1 Bd7 18. Bf4 (18. Ra2 Rf7 19. Rae2 $14 {Komodo11 & similar lines for Stockfish 8}) 18... Re8 19. Bc2 (19. Qh5 $5 {Komodo11}) 19... Bf5 20. g4 Be4 21. f3 Bg6 $11 22. Bg3 (22. h4 {both Engines}) 22... bxc5 23. Nxc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 (24. Bxg6 $5 {Komodo11}) 24... Rxe1+ 25. Bxe1 Bxc2 26. Qxc2 Nc4 $15 {the Bl N is now a better beast than Wh's slightly bad B} 27. Bf2 Qc7 28. Re1 {running short of time, Wh now decided to gable on getting some K side play. Naturally neither Engine is impressed, but as often is the case in practice, the displacement of the pieces involved in the material gain may well give a sufficient initiative elswhere} Nxa3 $15 29. Qf5 Qc8 30. Qf4 (30. Qxc8+ Rxc8 31. Ra1 Nb5 32. Bd4 Ra8 33. Ra6 Kf7 (33... Rc8 34. h4 $11) 34. h4 (34. Rxc6 a5 $17 {is a dangerous pawn }) 34... Ke8 35. Kf2 {and Wh has a strong blockade}) 30... Qd7 31. Qd6 Qxd6 ( 31... Qc8 $5 32. Re7 {an Engine, looks very risky to human eyes}) 32. cxd6 Rd8 $11 {under time pressure its not easy to find the most accurate moves- attack is usually easier to play than defence- hence Wh's sacrifice of the a pawn to get the N offside.The Engines suggest it should return to duty in the centre} ( 32... Nc4 $1 33. Bg3 (33. Re7 Nxd6 34. Bxa7 Nb5 35. Bd4 Ra4 $17) 33... a5 ( 33... Ne5 34. Bxe5 fxe5 35. Rxe5 Rd8 36. Kf2 Rxd6 37. Re7 $11) (33... Rd8 34. Re7 Nxd6 35. Bxd6 Rxd6 36. Rxa7 d4 37. cxd4 Rxd4 38. Rc7 Rc4 39. Kf2 $11) 34. d7 Kf7 35. Bc7 Ne5 36. d8=Q Rxd8 37. Bxd8 Nxf3+ 38. Kf2 Nxe1 39. Kxe1 a4 40. Kd1 $15 {according to Engines, but few players would go down this line out of choice. Though it is certain that Bl can swapoff all of Wh's remainng pawns, while the Wh K has to go offside to attend to the ambitions of the a pawn.}) 33. Bxa7 (33. Re7 {both Engines; lays a trap for Bl} d4 $1 (33... Rxd6 $2 34. Bc5 $18) (33... Nc4 34. d7 Nd6 35. Bg3 Nb7 36. Bc7 Rf8 37. Kf2 $1 $18 a5 38. Ke3 a4 39. Kd2 a3 40. Kc2 a2 41. Kb2 a1=Q+ 42. Kxa1 Ra8+ 43. Kb2 Kf8 44. Re1 $18 {Bl is passively placed & Wh will pick up a Q side pawn or 2 later}) 34. Bxd4 Rxd6 35. Rxa7 Nb5 36. Ra4 $11) 33... Nb5 34. Bc5 Nxd6 35. Re6 Nb7 (35... Nb5 {forces Wh to play accurately to save the draw} 36. Rxc6 Nxc3 37. Kg2 (37. Be7 Ne2+ 38. Kf2 Nd4 $15) 37... Ne2 38. Kf2 Nf4 39. Kg3 Ng6 40. f4 $11) 36. Rxc6 Nxc5 {draw agreed} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Leah, H."] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1519"] [BlackElo "1756"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2017.12.05"] 1. b4 {N for Howard, almost invariably an e4 player.} d5 {a new position for both players} 2. Bb2 Qd6 (2... Nf6 {main}) 3. b5 (3. a3 {main}) 3... e5 { Komodo10} (3... Qb4 {going pawn hunting leads to a hand to hand fight early on} 4. Qc1 {Engines} (4. Be5 {most frequent} Nd7 {Komodo11} 5. Bxc7 (5. Bg3) 5... d4 $19 (5... e5 6. e3 d4 (6... f6 7. a3 Qe7 8. Ba5 Qf7 9. Nf3 $14 {Graf-Wiley, Staufer op, Leinzell, 2011,0-1}) 7. Nf3 Qb2 8. Nxe5 dxe3 9. Nxf7 exf2+ 10. Kxf2 Qf6+ 11. Qf3 Bc5+ $19 {Graf-Wiley, Deizisau op 2012,0-1})) 4... Qxb5 5. e4 Qd7 6. exd5 Qxd5 7. Nc3 Qa5 8. Nf3 $11 {Valenta-Kuchynka, CZE ch tm 2008,1/2-1/2}) 4. e3 Nf6 5. Nf3 e4 {Stockfish8 & Komodo11} (5... Nbd7 6. Be2 Qe6 (6... h6 7. O-O Be7 8. c4 c6 9. a4 O-O $11 {Mittelbachert-Kartsev, Dortmund Sparkassen, jul 2017,0-1}) 7. d3 Bd6 8. Nbd2 O-O $11 {Bach-Brunello, Politiken Cup Helsingor 2013,0-1}) 6. Nd4 Be7 (6... c5 $5 {Cloud Engines}) 7. c4 c5 (7... O-O $11) (7... dxc4 8. Bxc4 a6 $11) 8. bxc6 bxc6 (8... Nxc6) 9. cxd5 cxd5 (9... Nxd5 10. Qc2 Qg6 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12. Bxc3 O-O 13. Ne2 Bd6 14. Ng3 f5 15. Bc4+ Be6 16. Bxe6+ Qxe6 17. d3 exd3 18. Qxd3 Bxg3 19. hxg3 Nd7 20. O-O $14 {Komodo11}) 10. Nc3 (10. Bb5+ $16 Nbd7 (10... Kf8 $5) 11. Nf5 Qb6 12. Nc3 a6 13. Nxe7 axb5 14. Nexd5 Nxd5 15. Nxd5 Qd6 16. Qh5 $16 O-O 17. Qg5 f6 18. Ne7+ Qxe7 19. Qd5+ Qf7 20. Qxa8 Nc5 21. O-O Bh3 22. Qc6 Qg6 23. g3 Ne6 24. Ba3 Rd8 $11 {Komodo11}) 10... O-O 11. Be2 Ba6 12. O-O (12. Ncb5 Qb6 13. Nf5 Bc5 14. Rb1 Nbd7 15. O-O $14 {Komodo11; the Wh pieces have a bit more space to move in}) 12... Bxe2 13. Qxe2 (13. Ncxe2 {releases the B's power & aims towards the K side} Re8 14. Nf5 Qd7 15. Neg3 Nc6 16. f3 $16 {Wh has the makings of a powerful K side attack; Komodo11}) 13... Qa6 {avoids a K side attack, but its the Wh pieces that will be able to invade on the wide open spaces on the Q side.} (13... Nbd7 $11) 14. Qb5 {Wh was happy making this move to infiltrate, but it appears not to be the best available} (14. Rfc1 Qxe2 15. Ncxe2 Nbd7 16. Nc6 Bd6 17. Ned4 Be5 18. f4 exf3 19. gxf3 Rfe8 20. Rab1 $16 {Komodo11}) (14. Qxa6 Nxa6 15. Nf5 Bd8 16. Nb5 Nb4 17. f3 $16 {Komodo11}) 14... Qxb5 15. Ncxb5 Nbd7 $14 (15... a6 $1 16. Nf5 Bd8 17. Nbd4 g6 18. Ng3 Nbd7 19. Nc6 Ng4 20. Rab1 Bf6 21. Bxf6 Ngxf6 $11 { Komodo11}) 16. Nf5 Bd8 {the B is needed to keep an eye on f6.} (16... Bb4 17. Nc7 Rac8 18. Na6 g6 (18... Bxd2 19. Ne7+ $18) 19. Nxb4 gxf5 20. Rfc1 $16 { Komodo11}) (16... Bc5 17. Rfc1 Rfc8 18. Nbd6 Rcb8 19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. Rab1 Bxd6 21. Nxd6 Ne5 22. h3 Nd3 23. Rxb8+ Rxb8 24. Rc7 $16 {Komodo11}) 17. Ba3 Re8 18. Rac1 (18. Rfc1) 18... Nb6 (18... Ne5 {Rudy} 19. Nc7 Bxc7 20. Rxc7 Reb8 (20... Re6 21. Rb1 g6 22. Ne7+ Kg7 23. Rbb7 Ne8 24. Nxd5 $16) 21. f3 Nc4 22. Bc1 Ne5 23. fxe4 dxe4 24. Ba3 Nd3 25. h3 Rb6 26. Ne7+ Kh8 27. Nc8 Ra6 28. Be7 h6 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Kh2 Kg7 31. a4 $14 {Komodo11}) 19. Nbd6 (19. Bb2 Re6 20. Nbd4 Re5 21. f4 Re8 22. Nb5 Re6 23. Nbd4 Re8 24. Nd6 Re7 25. N4f5 Rd7 26. Rc6 Kf8 27. Bd4 $16 {Komodo11; but one gets the feeling here that is going around in circles}) 19... Re6 20. Rc6 {looks good to take space , but a self pin always poses some dangers} (20. Nd4 Re7 21. Nc6 Rd7 22. f3 $14 {Komodo11}) 20... Nc4 ( 20... Nfd7 21. Nd4 Rg6 22. Rc2 Ne5 23. Bc5 Nd3 $11 {Komodo11}) (20... Ne8 { Rudy, comes close to winning material} 21. Nd4 Re7 (21... Rg6 22. Nxe8 { loses as the R has now been proteted}) 22. f3 Nxd6 23. Bxd6 Re8 24. fxe4 dxe4 25. Nb5 Nd5 26. Rf5 Nf6 27. Bb4 Be7 28. Bc3 $14 {Komodo11}) 21. Bb4 (21. Rc1 $1 {Komodo11} Ne8 (21... Nxa3 22. Rc8 Rxc8 23. Rxc8 Ne8 24. Rxd8 Kf8 25. Nxe8 Rxe8 26. Rxd5 $16) 22. Nd4 Nexd6 23. Nxe6 Nxa3 24. Nf4 Be7 25. Nxd5 Bf8 $11) 21... Nxd6 (21... a5 $1 22. Bc3 Kf8 23. Rc8 Rxc8 24. Nxc8 g6 25. Nd4 Ra6 26. Rb1 Ne8 $11 {Komodo11}) 22. Nxd6 (22. Rxd6 $11 {safer}) 22... Bb6 (22... Be7 23. Rb1 Kf8 (23... a5 24. Ba3 Rd8 25. Rbb6 Nd7 26. Rb5 Ne5 27. Rcb6 h6 28. Rxd5 f6 29. f4 exf3 30. e4 Bxd6 31. Rbxd6 Rdxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Bxd6 fxg2 34. Kxg2 Kf7 $11 {Komodo11; Wh has survived the selfpin on the c6 R}) 24. Rbc1 g6 $11) 23. Rfc1 $16 h6 24. Rc8+ (24. a4 $16 {gains space with threats}) 24... Rxc8 25. Rxc8+ Kh7 26. Nxf7 $16 Kg6 (26... d4 27. h3 dxe3 28. dxe3 Nd5 29. Bd6 $16 { Komodo11} Nxe3 30. fxe3 Bxe3+ 31. Kh2 $18) 27. Nd6 Ng4 28. f4 (28. f3 {limits Bl's possibilities}) 28... exf3 (28... Nxe3 29. dxe3 Bxe3+ 30. Kf1 Bxf4 31. Nb5 Bxh2 32. Bc3 (32. Nxa7 d4) 32... a6 33. Nc7 Rd6 34. Bd4 $16 {but Wh is running out of pawns, so Bl might escape with a draw}) 29. gxf3 Ne5 (29... Nxe3 30. dxe3 Rxe3 31. Kf2 Ra3+ 32. Kg3 Rxa2 $16) 30. Kg2 (30. f4 $18 {Bl must take care that he doesn't lose a R to f5} Nf3+ 31. Kf2 Nh4 32. Rf8 Ba5 (32... Kh5 33. Nf5 Rc6 34. Nxg7+ Kg4 35. Nf5 Ng6 (35... Nxf5 36. h3+ Kxh3 37. Rxf5 Kg4 38. Rxd5 $18)) 33. Bxa5 (33. Bc5 Rf6 34. Rxf6+ Kxf6 35. Ke2 $18) 33... Rxd6 34. Bc3 Rd7 35. Be5 Nf5 36. Kf3 $18 {Komodo11}) 30... Nd3 (30... Kh7 31. f4 Nd3 32. f5 Rf6 33. Ba3 Ba5 34. Kf3 Bxd2 35. Ke2 Bb4 36. Kxd3 Bxa3 37. Nb5 Bb2 38. Nxa7 Rxf5 39. Rc2 Be5 $11 {Komodo11}) 31. Ba3 Rf6 (31... d4 32. e4 Rf6 33. Nf5 $16) (31... Ba5 32. Kf1 Bxd2 33. Ke2 Bb4 34. Kxd3 Bxa3 35. Nb5 Ra6 36. Rc7 Ra5 37. Rxa7 Rxb5 38. Rxa3 Rb2 39. Ra6+ Kh5 40. a4 Rxh2 41. Ra5 Kh4 42. Rxd5 Kg3 43. f4 Ra2 {heading for a draw, but with Wh chances; Komodo11}) 32. f4 (32. Kf1 $1 { Komodo11, protects the Wh centre pawn mass} d4 33. Ke2 Ne5 34. f4 d3+ 35. Kd1 Kh7 36. Ne4 Rg6 37. Ng5+ hxg5 38. fxe5 g4 39. Ke1 Re6 40. Bd6 Kg6 41. Rc3 $18) 32... Ba5 33. Nb5 (33. Kf3 Bxd2 34. Ke2 Bb4 $16 {as in several previous annotations}) 33... Bxd2 34. Re8 {by now both players were just surviving on increments} (34. Kf3 Ra6 35. Ke2 Bb4 36. Kxd3 Bxa3 37. Rc7 {Komodo11, another repeat from aearlier possbilities.}) 34... a6 (34... Rb6 $1 {Komodo11} 35. Nc7 (35. Nxa7 Ra6 36. Nb5 Ra5 37. Rb8 Bxe3 38. Kf3 Bxf4 39. Rb6+ Kh5 $17) 35... d4 36. exd4 Nxf4+ 37. Kf2 Rc6 38. Re7 Rc2 39. Bc5 Kf5 40. Rf7+ Ke4 41. Re7+ Kd3 42. Kf3 g5 43. Kg4 Rxa2 $17 {Komodo11}) 35. Nd4 Bc3 $11 36. Ne2 d4 (36... Bd2 37. Kf3 Ne1+ 38. Kf2 Nd3+ 39. Kf1 a5 40. Ng3 Bb4 41. Bxb4 Nxb4 42. a4 Rc6 43. Ra8 Rc3 44. Ke2 Nc6 45. Kd2 Rc4 $11 {Komodo11- preferably in an endgame one should have more time available in order to carefully calculate the complexities}) (36... Ba5 37. Nd4 Bc3 38. Ne2 $11) 37. Nxc3 (37. Kf3 a5 (37... Rb6 38. Nxd4 Bxd4 39. exd4 Nb4) 38. Nxc3 dxc3 39. Rc8 c2 40. Ke2 Nb4 41. Bxb4 axb4 42. Rxc2 Ra6 43. Kf3 $16 {Komodo11}) 37... dxc3 $11 {though both players thought that Wh was winning after the next move} 38. Rc8 Re6 39. Kf3 c2 $5 { Laying a trap. In endgames the B is often superior to the N , as it can both force its own pawns forward, while keeping a close watch on the advance of enemy pawns. The N, on the other hand, has a facility of dropping backwards & forwards on both colours with a multitude of forks that harass pawns at close quarters.} (39... Ne1+ {forces a draw, because of Wh's static centre pawns} 40. Ke2 (40. Kg4 h5+) 40... Ng2 41. Rxc3 Nxf4+ 42. Kf3 Nh3 43. Bb2 Ng5+ 44. Ke2 Rb6 $11) 40. Rxc2 $2 {missing thre threat} (40. Rc3 $1 {Komodo11 is the only way for an advantage; K or pawn moves again allow the N to weave its magic} c1=Q ( 40... Ne1+ 41. Kf2 Rd6 42. Kxe1 Rd1+ 43. Ke2 Rh1 44. Rxc2 Rxh2+ 45. Kd3 $18) 41. Bxc1 Nxc1 42. Rxc1 Rd6 43. a4 Rd2 44. Rc6+ Kf7 45. h4 Rh2 46. Rxa6 Rxh4 47. a5 $18) (40. Ke2 Nxf4+ $15) (40. e4 Ne1+ 41. Ke3 Ng2+ 42. Kd4 Nxf4 43. Rxc2 Rb6 $11 {Komodo11}) 40... Ne1+ 41. Ke2 Nxc2 $19 42. Bc5 Rc6 (42... Kf5 {sets up a barricade of Wh's only asset, the 2 centre pawns}) 43. Ba7 Nb4 (43... Kf5 44. Kf3 Rc4 {Komodo11}) 44. a4 Nd5 45. Kd3 (45. Kf3 $5) 45... Re6 46. a5 Kh5 { putting the K off side in order to pursue a distant pawn} (46... Kf5) (46... Nf6 {both first restrain, then immobilize & finally destroy the 2 centre pawns. If the h pawn is wanted, to create a distant passed pawn, then the R is the best piece to go & fetch it, as it can most easily return to the centre when needed}) 47. Bd4 (47. f5 Re7 48. Bc5 Rc7 49. Bf8 Rf7 50. Bd6 Rxf5) 47... g6 48. Be5 Kg4 49. Kd4 Ne7 50. Bc7 Kh3 (50... Kf5 51. h4 Ng8 52. Bb8 Nf6) (50... Nf5+ {even better, picks up the e pawn & the f pawn soon follows}) 51. e4 {the pawns could still be a danger} Rc6 (51... Kxh2 52. f5+ $18 {would not be a good idea}) 52. Bb8 Kg4 (52... Kxh2 {is quite safe, but its an exchange of pawns- when seeking to win & material up, its best to keep as many pawns on as possible.} 53. f5+ Kh3 54. fxg6 Rxg6 {and the h pawn will force the win of a B as the Wh K can't intervene.}) 53. Ke5 Nc8 54. Kd5 (54. f5 $5 {same principle as above, in reverse- get rid of them.}) 54... Rf6 55. Bc7 Ne7+ 56. Kc4 { speeds up the end} (56. Kd4 Re6 (56... Rxf4 {breaking the resistence by returning some material is very often efficient.} 57. Bxf4 Kxf4 58. e5 Nc6+ 59. Kc5 Nxe5 60. Kb6 Nc4+ 61. Kxa6 Nxa5 62. Kxa5 Kg4 {and the 2 extra pawns, after the demise of the Wh h pawn, are an easy win with the Wh K miles away.}) 57. f5 Rc6 58. Bb6 gxf5 59. exf5 Nxf5+ {and eventually the h pawn will get through.}) 0-1