Christmas Break

Aberystwyth Chess Club is taking a break over Christmas and will resume on Tuesday 8 January. The last meeting of the year was a quiet one. Ian Finlay bounced back from his narrow defeat in the town versus gown match, winning a close game in the club championship when Dan Hardman's slip allowed him to break through in the centre with a mating attack. I lost a friendly game against Rudy, missing a chance to draw in the rook and pawn ending, which was not easy to see after being positionally strangled for 90-odd moves.

[Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Finlay, I."] [Black "Hardman, Dan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E14"] [WhiteElo "1363"] [BlackElo "1306"] [PlyCount "75"] [EventDate "2018.12.12"] {[%evp 0,22,19,31,14,-14,27,-4,14,16,65,19,16,10,25,16,31,38,27,31,18,26,18,-2, -1]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 e6 4. e3 (4. d5) (4. Nc3 {main lines}) 4... b6 ( 4... d5 {main}) 5. Bd3 (5. Nc3) 5... Bb7 6. O-O cxd4 (6... Be7) 7. exd4 Be7 8. Nc3 O-O (8... d5 {main}) 9. Re1 (9. d5 {main, as Wh has a Bxh7ch should Bl take the pawn on d5}) 9... d5 10. cxd5 (10. Bg5 {alternative}) 10... Nxd5 11. Nxd5 (11. a3) (11. Ne5 {main lines}) 11... Bxd5 (11... Qxd5 {trasposes to several more games} 12. Be4 Qd7) 12. Be3 {a bit passive, blocking the important e file , where the Wh pieces need to be as compensation for the isolated pawn.There is no real threat to the d pawn anyway} (12. Bf4 {endorsed by Komodo12} Nc6 (12... Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Nd7 14. Qh3 Nf6 15. Be5 $16) 13. Rc1 (13. a3 Rc8 14. Rc1) 13... Nb4 (13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 Nxd4 15. Qe4 f5 16. Qe3 Bc5 17. Bc4 $14 {Komodo12, rather like the game later on.}) 14. a3 Nxd3 15. Qxd3 $11) ( 12. Be4 Nc6 (12... Bxe4 $15 {Komodo12}) 13. Bxd5 Qxd5 14. Be3 Bf6 15. Qd2 Rfd8 16. b3 Nxd4 $17 {Rosmann-Rabenstein, Mittelfranken ch tm 2012,0-1}) (12. Ne5 Nd7 {transposes to 12 games, eg} 13. Qh5 f5 14. Bf4 Nxe5 15. Bxe5 Bf6 16. Re3 { Muse-Kiselev, Berliner Sommer 1994,1/2-1/2}) 12... Nc6 13. Ne5 Bd6 {a slight error that Wh could have seized upon} (13... Rc8 14. a3 f5 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. Qd2 Rf6 17. Rac1 Rg6 18. Bf1 Bd6 19. g3 $11 {Komodo12}) 14. Qh5 (14. Nxc6 Bxc6 15. Bxh7+ Kxh7 16. Qc2+ Kg8 17. Qxc6 $14 {its not the pawn so much as the slight weakening of Bl's K position. Though Wh is left with an inferior B}) 14... f5 {gains space on the K side, but leaves e6 potentially weak} (14... g6 15. Nxc6 Bxc6 16. Qh6 Qf6 $11) 15. Bg5 (15. Nxc6 {Komodo112} Bxc6 16. Bc4 (16. Bg5 Qd7 17. Bc4 Be4 $11) 16... Qe8 17. Qxe8 Rfxe8 18. Rac1 Kf7 $11 {both sides have a weak pawn to nurture}) 15... Qe8 {simplest} (15... Nxe5 16. Bxd8 Nxd3 17. Bg5 (17. Red1 Nf4 $19) 17... Nxe1 18. Rxe1 Rac8 $11 {Komodo12, but few humans would go down this track, even though the B on d5 is very powerful}) 16. Qh3 (16. Qh4 {guards the d pawn, but} Nb4 17. a3 (17. Bb1 Rc8 18. a3 Nc2 19. Bxc2 Rxc2 $17) 17... Nxd3 18. Nxd3 Qg6 19. f3 Rac8 $15 (19... Bxf3 20. gxf3 h6 21. f4 hxg5 22. Qxg5 Qxg5+ 23. fxg5 Kf7 $11)) (16. Qxe8 {Komodo12} Rfxe8 17. Bb5 Bxe5 18. dxe5 h6 19. Bf4 $11) 16... Nxd4 $17 {Wh retains attacking chances, but Bl's centre should hold firm & be an advantage in an endgame} 17. Nc4 Be7 ( 17... Bb4 {Komodo12} 18. Red1 e5 {looks good, but the centre is in danger of overextending} 19. a3 Bc5 (19... Be7 20. Be3 e4 21. Bf1 Nc2 22. Rxd5 Nxa1 23. Bf4 $11 {Wh has lost an exchange, but has very active pieces} Rd8 24. Rxd8 (24. Rxf5 Rxf5 25. Qxf5 Qg6 26. Qe5 Qf6 (26... Bf6 27. Qb5 {looks better} Nc2 $17) 27. Qxe4 Rd4 28. Qa8+ Qf8 29. Qxf8+ Kxf8 30. Bb8 Rd7 $15) 24... Qxd8 25. Ne5 Qd1 {humans would be worried about this possibility} 26. Qc3 g5 27. Nc6 Bf6 28. Be5 {and only now does Komodo12 decide that the whole variation is unsound & not drawn!} Nb3 $1 $19 29. Qc4+ Kg7 30. Qe6 Nd2 31. Bxf6+ Rxf6 32. Qe7+ Kg8 33. Qd8+ Rf8 34. Qd5+ Kg7 35. Qb5 Qxf1+ 36. Qxf1 Nxf1 37. Kxf1 Rc8 $19) 20. b4 Qe6 21. Ne3 Bd6 22. Nxd5 Qxd5 23. Bxf5 $14) (17... Qg6 18. Qe3 Bc7 19. Qxd4 Qxg5 20. Ne3 Bb7 21. Qd7 Qf4 22. Qxe6+ Kh8 23. Nf1 Rad8 $15 {Komodo12- relying on Bl piece activity & the 2 powerful Bs}) 18. Bf4 Nc6 {retreating a wellplaced N. If control over e5 was wanted then} (18... Bf6 {seems better}) 19. Re3 (19. Ne3 {eliminates the pesky B} Nb4 20. Nxd5 Nxd5 21. Be5 Rd8 $15 {but replaces it with a N}) 19... Rf6 {Bl defends against the R attack, but the Wh pices are a little tangled at the moment, so} (19... Nb4 20. Ne5 (20. Nd6 Qd7 $19) 20... Bf6 21. a3 Nxd3 22. Rxd3 Rd8 23. Re1 Qe7 $17 {Komodo12}) 20. Rae1 (20. Rg3) 20... Rg6 21. Rg3 Rxg3 22. Qxg3 Qf8 (22... Qg6 $17) 23. b3 Bc5 (23... Nb4 24. Bb1 Rd8 25. h4 Na6 26. Ne5 Bf6 27. Bg5 Nc5 $17 {Komodo12}) 24. Ne3 Bxe3 25. Bxe3 (25. Qxe3 $15) 25... Qb4 (25... e5 {again a pawn advance seems called for- but then the centre comes under fire} 26. Bd2 Rd8 27. Bc3 Rd6 28. Qh3 Rg6 29. Bf1 f4 (29... e4 30. Rd1 $11) 30. Bxe5 Nxe5 31. Rxe5 Bxg2 32. Bxg2 f3 33. Re3 fxg2 34. Qf3 Qxf3 35. Rxf3 $11 {Komodo12}) 26. f3 $6 {weakens the K side} ( 26. Rc1) 26... Rf8 (26... f4 {Komodo12} 27. Bxf4 Qd4+ 28. Re3 (28. Kh1 Qxd3 $19 ) 28... Nb4 29. Bb1 (29. Bf1 Nc2 $19) 29... Rf8 30. Bg5 h6 31. Bxh6 Rc8 32. Kf1 Bb7 (32... Rc1+ 33. Re1 Rxb1 34. Rxb1 Qd3+ 35. Kf2 Qc2+ 36. Ke3 Qd3+ 37. Kf2 Qc2+ {repetition}) 33. Qxg7+ Qxg7 34. Bxg7 Rc1+ 35. Re1 Rxe1+ 36. Kxe1 Kxg7 $17 {Komodo121}) 27. Bh6 (27. Qf2 e5 28. Rd1 Be6 29. Qc2 Ne7 30. Bf2 Rd8 $15 { Komodo12}) 27... Qd4+ $19 28. Kh1 Qf6 (28... Kh8 {leaves both Bs hanging} 29. Bxf5 Rxf5 30. Be3 Qb2 $19 {Komodo12}) (28... f4 29. Qg5 Kh8 {likewise}) (28... Rf7 29. Bb1 f4 30. Qg5 (30. Qg4 Ne5 31. Qh5 Nd3 $19) 30... Qc3 31. Rf1 Kf8 32. Bxh7 gxh6 33. Qxh6+ Qg7 $19 {Komodo12}) 29. Bd2 (29. Bf4) 29... e5 (29... Qd4 $19 {Komodo12} 30. f4 Rd8 (30... Qb2 31. Rd1 Rd8 32. Bf1 Qxa2 $19) 31. Rc1 Qxd3 32. Qxd3 Bxg2+ 33. Kxg2 Rxd3 34. Rxc6 Rxd2+ 35. Kg3 Rxa2 36. Rxe6 Rb2 $19) 30. Bc3 Nd8 $2 {Bl got tangled up in calculations & at one point touched his N before reconsidering} (30... Rd8 31. Qh3 (31. Bxe5 Nxe5 32. Rxe5 Bxb3 33. axb3 Rxd3 34. h3 Rd1+ (34... Rxb3) 35. Re1 Rxe1+ 36. Qxe1 h6 $17) 31... g6 32. f4 Qe7 33. fxe5 Be6 34. Bb5 Nb4 $15 {Komodo12}) (30... f4 31. Qh3 h6 $15) (30... Nd4 31. Qxe5 Qxe5 32. Rxe5 Bf7 33. Kg1 $16 (33. Bxd4 Rd8 34. Bxb6 axb6 35. Bf1 g6 36. Kg1 $14 {Komodo12})) 31. Bxe5 $18 Qh6 (31... Qf7 32. Bxf5 $18) 32. Bd6 Rf6 (32... f4 {last try} 33. Qh3 Qxh3 34. gxh3 Bxf3+ 35. Kg1 Bc6 36. Bxf8 (36. Bc4+ Nf7 37. Re7 {Komodo12 is even stronger}) 36... Kxf8 37. Bxh7 $18 {KOmodo12 }) 33. Re8+ Kf7 34. Rf8+ Ke6 35. Qe5+ Kd7 36. Bb5+ (36. Qe7+ Kc8 37. Qc7# (37. Rxd8#)) 36... Kc8 37. Qc3+ (37. Rxd8+ Kxd8 (37... Kb7 38. Qxd5# (38. Rb8#)) 38. Qe8#) 37... Kb7 38. Qc7+ (38. Qc7+ Ka8 39. Rxd8# (39. Qc8#) (39. Qb8#)) 1-0 [Event "Aberystwyth friendly"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.12.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D30"] [PlyCount "181"] [EventDate "2018.12.12"] {[%evp 0,22,27,-16,-14,-40,-30,-21,-24,-18,-1,-18,16,11,24,-33,-12,-13,-17,0, -17,-2,29,25,29]} 1. c4 e6 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 d5 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. d4 (6. b3 {main}) 6... c5 (6... dxc4) (6... c6) (6... Nbd7) (6... b6 {more frequent}) 7. Nbd2 {uncommon} (7. cxd5 {main}) 7... Nc6 8. cxd5 exd5 (8... Nxd5 {a little more frequent}) 9. dxc5 Bxc5 10. Nb3 Be7 (10... Bb6 {main}) 11. Nbd4 (11. Be3) 11... Bd7 $146 (11... Qb6 $11 {main, 29% for Wh}) 12. b3 (12. Be3) 12... Rc8 13. Bb2 Re8 14. Rc1 Ne4 15. Qd3 (15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Ne5 Bf6 17. Bxe4 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Rxe5 19. Bg2 Bf5 $11 {Komodo12}) 15... Bf6 16. Rfd1 Qb6 17. e3 Nxd4 (17... h5 $11 {Komodo12}) 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 (18... Bb5 19. Bxb6 Bxd3 20. Rxc8 Rxc8 21. Rxd3 axb6 22. Rxd5 $16) 19. Qxd4 (19. Nxd4) 19... Qxd4 (19... Nc3 $17 { Komodo12, because of the N fork on e2}) 20. Nxd4 Bc6 (20... h6 21. Ne2 Nf6 22. Nf4 Bg4 23. f3 Be6 24. Kf2 g5 25. Ne2 Kg7 26. g4 $14 {Komodo12}) 21. Nf5 $16 ( 21. Bh3 {Komodo12} Rcd8 (21... Rc7 22. Nb5 Rce7 23. Nxa7 $18) 22. Nxc6 bxc6 23. Rxc6 g6 $16) 21... Rcd8 22. Bxe4 Rxe4 (22... dxe4 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Ne7+ Kf8 25. Nxc6 Rc8 26. Rc4 Rxc6 27. Rxe4 Rc2 28. Ra4 a6 29. Rb4 Rxa2 30. Rxb7 Rb2 $16 {but the Q side pawns will exchange & 4 against 3 often draws in R endgames, but Bl must defend with care. Even Kasparov once went wrong on the defensive side.}) 23. Rd4 (23. Rc5 g6 24. Nd4 Rd6 25. Rdc1 $16) 23... Re6 24. Rg4 { creates a weakness, but does leave the R a little offside} g6 25. Nd4 $16 Red6 26. h4 Bd7 (26... f5 $2 27. Nxf5 $18) 27. Rf4 Kg7 (27... Rc8 {Komodo12} 28. Rxc8+ Bxc8 29. Nb5 Ra6 30. a4 Bf5 31. g4 Bd3 32. Nc3 Rd6 33. Rd4 Bc2 34. b4 f5 35. gxf5 gxf5 36. a5 Be4 37. Kh2 $16) 28. Rc7 Rb6 (28... Rb8 29. Nb5 { considered, but no more than a draw} (29. h5 a6 {seemed not to improve things much} 30. h6+ {Komodo12} Kg8 31. Nf3 f6 32. Rd4 b5 33. Rd2 Rc8 34. Rdc2 Rxc7 35. Rxc7 Kf7 36. Nd4 $16) 29... Bxb5 30. Rfxf7+ Kg8 31. Rg7+ Kh8 32. Rxh7+ Kg8 33. Rcg7+ Kf8 34. Rf7+ Kg8 $11) 29. Nc2 (29. Ne2 {original intention, to get the N to f4} h6 30. Rd4 Bc8 31. Nf4 Rc6 32. Rxc6 bxc6 33. Nd3 Bf5 34. Nc5 Rb8 35. b4 $14 {though Wh has still something to play for}) 29... Rc6 30. Rxc6 bxc6 31. Ra4 {still given as best by Komodo12} Ra8 (31... c5 {Komodo12- was a concern for Wh} 32. Rxa7 Bf5 (32... Bh3) 33. Ne1 c4 $11 {Bl suddenly gets a lot of play for the (backward a2 ) pawn}) 32. Ra5 {Now Bl has to be on the defensive for a long time} Kf6 33. b4 Ke7 34. a3 Kd8 35. Nd4 $16 Kc7 36. Nb3 ( 36. f3 {Komodo12}) 36... Kb6 37. Kf1 Rc8 38. Rc5 (38. Nc5 Rc7) 38... Re8 39. Ke1 Re6 40. Kd2 Rf6 41. f4 Re6 42. Nd4 (42. g4 $5) (42. Ra5 $5) 42... Rd6 43. Kc3 Bc8 44. Nb3 Ba6 {freedom at last? But nothing to attack} (44... Re6 45. Kd2 Re4 46. Nd4 Bd7 47. a4 a6 48. g4 h6 49. h5 gxh5 50. gxh5 Re8 51. Kd3 Rg8 52. Rc1 Rg2 53. a5+ Kb7 54. Nb3 Kc7 55. Nc5 Bc8 56. Kd4 $14 Rb2 57. Nd3 Rd2 58. Kc3 (58. Rg1 Bf5 $17) 58... Re2 59. Ne5 Bd7 60. Kd3 Rb2 61. Nxf7 Rb3+ 62. Kd2 (62. Kd4 Rxb4+ $14) 62... Rxb4 63. Nxh6 Rb2+ 64. Rc2 Rb1 65. Nf7 Rh1 66. h6 Be8 67. Ne5 Rxh6 68. Kc3 Rh3 69. Kd4 Kd6 $11 {Komodo12- Bl has to try for R sactivity}) 45. a4 Bc4 46. Nd4 f5 47. Nf3 $16 (47. h5 $16 {Komodo12- considered} Bf1 48. hxg6 hxg6 49. Nf3 Re6 50. Ne5 g5 51. a5+ Kb7 52. Kd4 gxf4 53. gxf4 Rh6 54. Rc2 $16) 47... h5 48. Ne5 Be2 49. Kd4 Bf1 50. a5+ Kb7 51. Rc1 Bb5 52. Kc5 Kc7 53. Rc3 $2 (53. Rd1 Re6 54. Rd2 Re8 55. Rb2 $14 {But Komodo12 just repeating itself }) 53... a6 (53... d4 $19 {because of the mate threat- Komodo12} 54. Nxc6 dxc3 55. Nxa7 Bd3 56. Nc8 Rc6+ 57. Kd5 c2) 54. Nf3 Re6 (54... d4 55. e4 fxe4 56. Nxd4 Rd5# {Komodo12}) 55. Nd4 Rd6 56. Nxb5+ cxb5 (56... axb5 57. Kd4 Re6 58. Kd3 Re4 59. Rb3 Kb7 {would be a draw, because Wh needs a second entry and there is none}) 57. Kd4+ Kd7 58. Rc5 Ke6 (58... Re6 {Komodo12- R activity stands a better chance of survival than just defensive measures} 59. Rxd5+ Kc6 60. Re5 Rd6+ 61. Kc3 Kd7 62. e4 Rc6+ 63. Kb3 fxe4 64. Rxe4 Rc1 65. Re5 Rb1+ 66. Kc3 Rc1+ 67. Kd3 Rc6 68. f5 gxf5 69. Rxf5 Rc4 70. Rxh5 Rxb4 71. Rg5 $16 { Komodo12 changes it to a Wh win after some further reflection- the Wh pawns are much further advanced}) 59. Rc8 (59. Rc7 $1 {is more accurate} Kf6 60. Kc5 Rd8 61. Rc6+ Kf7 62. Rxa6 Re8 63. Kxb5 Rxe3 64. Rd6 {and again Bl's counterplay is too slow}) 59... Kd7 60. Ra8 Ke6 (60... Rc6 {R activity- Komodo12} 61. Kxd5 Rd6+ 62. Kc5 Rc6+ 63. Kd4 Rd6+ 64. Kc3 Rc6+ 65. Kd3 Rd6+ 66. Ke2 Ke6 67. Rb8 Kd5 68. Rb7 (68. Rb6 Rxb6 69. axb6 Kc6 70. e4 fxe4 71. g4 a5 72. gxh5 gxh5 73. bxa5 b4 74. f5 b3 75. f6 b2 76. f7 b1=Q 77. f8=Q Qd3+ $11 { perpetual})) 61. Rg8 $18 (61. Kc5 $18) 61... Kf7 62. Rb8 Re6 63. Rb7+ $1 { drives the K to the backrank so that a pawn will Q with ch in some future scenarios} Ke8 64. Rb6 Re4+ 65. Kxd5 Rxb4 (65... Rxe3 66. Re6+ $18) 66. Rxa6 ( 66. Rxg6) 66... Rb3 (66... Ra4 67. Kc5 b4 68. Kb5 Ra1 69. Kxb4 $18) 67. Ke6 ( 67. Kc5 Ra3 68. Kxb5 Rxe3 69. Rxg6) (67. Rxg6) 67... Rxe3+ 68. Kf6 Rxg3 69. Rb6 Rb3 70. a6 Ra3 (70... Kd7) 71. Kxg6 b4 72. Kxf5 (72. Kxh5) 72... b3 73. Kg5 Ra5+ 74. f5 b2 75. Rxb2 Rxa6 76. Rb7 {Lomonosov tablebases. as good as the text } (76. Kxh5) 76... Kf8 77. Kxh5 Kg8 78. Kg5 Rc6 79. h5 Ra6 80. h6 (80. f6 { is a little faster- Nalimov tablebases}) 80... Ra1 81. Kg6 (81. h7+ Kh8 {draws} 82. Kg6 Rg1+ 83. Kf6 Rg6+) (81. f6 {best} Rg1+ 82. Kf5 Rf1+ 83. Ke5 Re1+ 84. Kd6 (84. Kd4) 84... Rd1+ 85. Ke7 Re1+ 86. Kd8 Rf1 87. h7+ Kh8 88. Ke7 Re1+ 89. Kf7 {the only move to win- Nalimov} Rc1 90. Rb5 Rh1 91. Kg6 Rh6+ 92. Kg5 Rg6+ 93. Kf5 Rg1 94. Rb8+ Kxh7 95. f7 Rf1+ 96. Ke6 Kg7 97. Rg8+ Kh6 98. f8=Q+ $18) 81... Rg1+ 82. Kf6 Rh1 83. Rb8+ (83. Rg7+ Kh8 84. Re7 Rxh6+ 85. Kf7 Ra6 86. f6 {quickest- Nalimov}) 83... Kh7 $11 {Nalimov tablebases} 84. Kf7 Rxh6 (84... Ra1 $1 {Draws}) 85. f6 (85. Rb1 {1 move quicker}) 85... Rh1 86. Rb2 $18 Kh6 87. Rg2 (87. Rf2 {1 move quicker}) 87... Ra1 88. Rh2+ Kg5 89. Kg7 Ra7+ 90. f7 Kf5 91. Kg8 1-0

Town and Gown

The new Aberystwyth University team is off to an excellent start in the Dyfed League. On Tuesday 27 November they took part in their first local derby against champions Aberystwyth Town (as we must call ourselves for the occasion). On top board for the Town team, Adam Watkin-Jones took a poisoned pawn with his queen in a Sicilian Grand Prix against Owain Davies, and instantly regretted it as his queen was sidelined and his newly castled king faced a devastating attack. His resignation may have been a bit premature, but he was in serious trouble. I got an advantage early on against Cameron Westwood when he accepted my Vienna Gambit (one that should always be declined) and, after dithering a bit, was able to consolidate it when he allowed a tactic that won the exchange. Ian Finlay was doing well after declining Jan Piotrowski's Morra Gambit, and entered the endgame a couple of pawns to the good. However, he overlooked the danger from White's advanced passed pawn till it was too late to stop it. Sam Holman won a piece in a French Defence Advance Variation after a complex queenside skirmish against Dan Hardman. However White was able to pick up some pawns as compensation, and a difficult ending was eventually drawn. The match finished 2½-1½ to the University, taking them to the top of the league, though Cardigan have a couple of games in hand.

The previous week had seen two more games in the Club Championship. Hardman-Holman was a dry run for their league game, in the same variation of the French, though this time Sam prevailed in the ending. I played my favourite Botvinnik English formation against Francis Headley's Sicilian and took advantage of Black's tactical error to win a piece, after which I was always comfortably in control.

[Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-AberystwythUni"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Davies, Owain"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1594"] [BlackElo "1940"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "31"] [EventDate "2018.11.28"] {[%evp 0,31,19,38,40,37,50,38,59,-2,2,-11,32,-11,-12,-6,55,50,42,44,52,40,15, 31,36,17,87,92,96,101,99,131,74,153]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Bb5 Nd4 ( 4... Bg7 5. Nf3 Nd4 {transposes}) 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. d3 {not the most usual & scarcely discussed in the theory books,(eg Kotronias- Beating the Anti-Sicilians 2015) which concentrate on} (6. O-O) (6. Nxd4) (6. Bd3) (6. Bc4) (6. a4) 6... Nxb5 $11 {the most frequent move, scores only 37% for Wh} (6... e6 $11 {next , where after} 7. O-O {Wh scores 41 %}) (6... Qa5 {though is the Cloud Engines' choice, with the Wh results at 14.3 % after} 7. Bc4 (7. Ba4 $2 Nxf3+ 8. Qxf3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Qxa4) 7... Nxf3+ 8. gxf3 b5 9. Bd5 Rb8 10. O-O e6 11. Bb3 (11. Qe2 b4 12. Nd1 exd5 13. exd5+ Kf8 $19 {Akiko-Vo, ASEAN ch U16 girls, Hue 2009,0-1}) 11... c4 12. dxc4 bxc4 13. Qd6 (13. Bxc4 Qc5+ $19) 13... Rb6 14. Qc7 Ne7 15. Bxc4 Qh5 16. Qxa7 Bd4+ 17. Kh1 Nc6 18. Qa3 Bc5 19. Nd5 Bxa3 20. Nf6+ Ke7 21. Nxh5 Bxb2 22. Bxb2 Rxb2 23. Ng3 Rxc2 24. Rfc1 Rxc1+ 25. Rxc1 Bb7 $15 {Komodo12 , after all that, Qa5 needs a re-look}) 7. Nxb5 Qa5+ (7... d6 $11) (7... a6 $11 {the preferences of the Cloud Engines}) 8. Nc3 $11 Bxc3+ { main move played, usuallyt stronger players risking things to go a pawn up} ( 8... b5 {Komodo12} 9. O-O Bb7 (9... e6 10. e5 f5 11. Bd2 b4 12. Ne2 Ne7 13. a3 $16 {Buiano-Schiappoli, Napoli Province ch 2011,1-0}) 10. e5 Nh6 11. Ne4 Qc7 12. a4 b4 $11 {Komodo12}) (8... d5 9. exd5 Nf6 10. O-O Qd8 11. Re1 O-O (11... Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Qxe7 Be6 15. Qh4 Rfe8 $11 {Komodo12}) 12. Re5 Nd7 (12... b5) 13. Re1 Nb6 14. Kh1 Re8 15. Bd2 Nxd5 $11 {Komodo12}) 9. bxc3 Qxc3+ {only move played} (9... d5 10. exd5 c4 11. Be3 Nf6 12. O-O Nxd5 13. Bd4 f6 14. g3 b5 15. a4 Bh3 16. Re1 O-O 17. axb5 Qxb5 18. dxc4 Qxc4 $11 {Komodo12}) 10. Bd2 $16 Qa3 (10... Qg7 {main; Komodo12 & Rudy} 11. O-O Nf6 {Komodo12} ( 11... Nh6 12. Qe1 d6 13. Bc3 f6 {digging in- Rudy, on the way back home} 14. a4 O-O $11 {Komodo12}) (11... e6 12. Qe1 d6 13. Bc3 f6 14. Qh4 (14. e5 $16 { Komodo12}) 14... e5 15. f5 (15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Nxe5 $18 fxe5 17. Qf4 exf4 18. Bxg7 {Komodo12}) 15... g5 (15... gxf5 $15) (15... Ne7 $11) 16. Qh5+ Qf7 17. Qxf7+ (17. Qh3 $11) 17... Kxf7 $15 {Galante-Castelli, Terre degli Elini op, Erice 2012,0-1}) (11... d6 12. Qe1 (12. e5 $16) 12... f6 13. Nh4 (13. e5 $16) 13... Nh6 14. f5 Nf7 15. Qg3 g5 (15... Rg8 $15) 16. c3 Bd7 (16... Ne5 $17) 17. Rab1 Bc6 18. Rfe1 Qg8 (18... Ne5 19. d4 Nc4 20. Nf3 b6 $15) 19. Nf3 Ne5 20. Nxe5 (20. d4 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Qxa2 $11) 20... dxe5 21. a3 b6 (21... Qa2 22. Qe3 Rd8 $17) 22. Be3 Rd8 {Smith-Jacobs,Redpath Mining Millionaire OPen 2016,1-0( after Bl finally let Wh into the K side despite an overwhelming position on the other side)}) 12. c4 $16 {Komodo12} (12. Bc3 {pm analysis} d6 (12... O-O $6 13. g4 d5 14. g5 d4 15. gxf6 exf6 16. Bd2 b6 17. f5 $16 {Komodo12}) 13. Rb1 b6 14. Qe1 O-O $11 {Komodo12- but only because it is prepared to give a piece for some extra pawns- so maybe the digging in variation is still to be preferred} 15. h3 Rd8 (15... Be6 16. g4 Qh6 17. g5 Qxh3 18. gxf6 exf6 19. f5 gxf5 20. Kf2 $18 {only now does Komodo12 begin to appreciate what its let itself in for.}) 16. g4 Qf8 17. f5 Ne8 {Engines may well be happy to defend positions like these , but humans would enjoy the White side much more.( Actually I think its the Engines which relish these kind of positions for both sides)} 18. Ng5 f6 $11 19. e5 dxe5 20. fxg6 hxg6 21. Qe4 Bd7 22. Bxe5 Qh6 23. Qd5+ e6 24. Nxe6 Qe3+ 25. Kg2 Qxe5 26. Qxe5 fxe5 27. Rf8+ Kh7 28. Rf7+ Kg8 29. Rf8+ {and its a draw! Proving that Bl's play is totally sound?})) 11. O-O Nf6 (11... d6 12. Qe1 (12. e5) 12... Bd7 13. Bc3 f6 14. e5 O-O-O 15. e6 (15. Ng5 $16 {Komodo12}) 15... Bc6 16. Ng5 Nh6 17. Nf3 Nf5 $17 {Chinasamy-Punongbajam, Tromso ol 2014,1/ 2-1/2}) 12. Qe1 (12. Be3 Ng4 (12... d5 $11) (12... O-O $11) 13. Bd2 d6 14. h3 Nf6 15. Rb1 c4 16. e5 Nd5 17. dxc4 Ne3 18. Bxe3 Qxe3+ 19. Kh1 Qxf4 20. exd6 Qxd6 21. Qxd6 exd6 22. Ng5 O-O $11 {Morales Fajarnes-Olvera Anton, Foment Martinenc op, Barcelona 2013,0-1}) 12... d5 {looks wrong now , as the lines are opened for the Wh Q facing the Bl K. But the game is probably gone already. The Bl Q is simply offside, & Bl is way behind in development.} (12... O-O 13. e5 Nd5 14. f5 $18 {just looks unsafe, ( there are too many Wh pieces aimed at the K) as confirmed by Komodo12 after a pause for reflection}) (12... b6 13. e5 Nd5 14. Qe4 e6 15. c4 Nc7 16. Rfb1 Rb8 17. Rb3 Qa4 18. Qe1 Bb7 19. Ng5 O-O 20. Qh4 h5 $11 {the Engine feels no danger, when humans would be hearing all the alarm bells ringing- eg f5 possibilities & d4 letting the b3 R in} 21. g4 Qc6 22. Ne4 $18 {yet another example of an Engine misjudging the longterm aspects of a position}) (12... c4 {tries to bring the Q back, but} 13. Bb4 Qa6 14. Rd1 $16 {when the best suggestion from Komodo12 is} d5 {anyway, though at leat the Q is available along the 3rd rank.}) 13. exd5 Nxd5 (13... O-O 14. Qe5 (14. Qxe7 Nxd5 15. Qg5 Be6 16. Qh6 f6 17. f5 Bxf5 18. Nh4 Ne7 19. Rae1 Rae8 20. Rf3 Qxa2 21. c4 Bd7 22. Rg3 Rf7 23. Nxg6 Nxg6 24. Rxg6+ hxg6 25. Qxg6+ Rg7 26. Rxe8+ Bxe8 27. Qxe8+ Kh7 28. Qh5+ Kg8 29. Qe8+ $11 {Komodo12}) 14... Bf5 15. Nh4 Ng4 16. Qe1 (16. Qxe7 Rfe8 17. Qxb7 $16) 16... Rfe8 17. h3 Nf6 18. Nxf5 gxf5 19. Bc3 Kf8 20. Bxf6 exf6 21. Qh4 Kg7 22. Rf3 Qb2 23. Rg3+ Kh8 24. d4 $1 $18 { Komodo121}) 14. Qe5 Nf6 15. Rae1 O-O (15... Be6 {Rudy, pm analysis} 16. Ng5 { unsure of what follows , but Bl might stand a chance of holding out} (16. f5 { Komodo12} gxf5 17. Ng5 Qxa2 18. Rxf5 Qd5 19. Nxe6 Qxe5 20. Ng7+ Kf8 21. Rexe5 Kxg7 22. Rxe7 Rhe8 23. Rxb7 $18 {Wh picks up pawns & the B is better than the N }) 16... Qxa2 17. Bc3 Rd8 (17... O-O-O $2 18. Qxc5+ Kb8 19. Ra1) 18. f5 gxf5 19. Rxf5 Rg8 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Qxc5 Nd7 22. Qb4 a5 23. Qxa5 Qxa5 24. Rxa5 Rc8 25. Bb4 (25. Ra3 e5) 25... Rxc2 26. Ra8+ Kf7 27. Rxg8 Kxg8 28. Rxe6 Nb8 29. Rxe7 Nc6 30. Re4 b5 $14 {but surely good winning chances for Wh, though there is a risk the d & b pawns will swap}) 16. Qxe7 (16. Qxe7 Kg7 {Rudy in pm analysis thought might cling on, however} (16... Nh5 {Komodo12 only way to last longer} 17. f5 Bxf5 18. Bh6 Qxa2 19. Ng5 Qxc2 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. g4 Qxd3 22. gxf5 Qd4+ 23. Kh1 Qd5+ 24. Ne4 b5 25. Rd1 Qa8 26. fxg6 hxg6 27. Rd7 $18) 17. f5 {Owain & Komodo12 breaks through} Bxf5 18. Nd4 $1 {Komodo12, blocks off the Bl Q return} (18. Nh4 {with the same idea looks more human}) (18. Bh6+ { initial idea in pm analysis} Kxh6 19. Qxf6 Qa6 20. Qg5+ Kg7 21. Nh4 Be6 22. c4 f6 23. Qxc5 Rfe8 $11 {Komodo12}) 18... Qb2 19. Nxf5+ gxf5 20. Rxf5 (20. Rb1 $1 {even better-Komodo12} Qd4+ 21. Be3 Qg4 22. Rxb7 c4 23. Rf3 (23. Bh6+ Kxh6 24. Qxf6+ Qg6 25. Qh4+ Kg7 26. Qxc4) 23... Rae8 24. Qc5 Qg6 25. Rxf5 $18) 20... Ng8 21. Qe3 $18 (21. Qxc5 $18)) 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-AberystwythUni"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Westwood, Cameron"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C29"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1598"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2018.11.28"] {[%evp 0,135,18,18,26,5,5,12,44,45,45,27,57,33,63,63,65,27,108,63,41,19,40,40, 53,50,66,66,71,71,73,67,71,73,56,51,51,42,40,40,43,33,86,2,3,-81,-39,-45,-43, -63,-62,-76,-71,-61,-74,-74,-34,-18,0,-88,-62,-62,-45,-40,-42,-42,-40,-180,-58, -47,-47,-28,-34,-29,-48,-50,-25,-85,-64,-58,-74,-176,-163,-177,-171,-180,-174, -281,-190,-197,-195,-198,-198,-190,-193,-193,-198,-259,-234,-232,-239,-255, -250,-309,-307,-342,-255,-261,-261,-332,-347,-371,-371,-381,-343,-371,-388, -419,-317,-365,-375,-375,-388,-388,-112,-388,-112,-100,-24,-24,-24,-3,-3,-3,0, 0,0,0]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 exf4 {loses space in the centre} (3... d5) 4. e5 {Black cannot contemplate [this] Tseitlin & Glaskov 1995:83; but the theory books then provide no further analysis or guidance.The variation may not be as bad as its reputation, because Bl does get chances to counter-attack the Wh centre.There are a number of short games in the collections; and nearly 900 games in the databases} Ng8 (4... Qe7 {makes things worse, as the Q herself becomes a target} 5. Qe2 Ng8 6. Nf3 (6. d4 {scores even better, however} Qh4+ 7. Qf2 Qxf2+ 8. Kxf2 Nc6 9. Nf3 Nb4 10. Bd3 d5 11. Nb5 Na6 12. Bxf4 c6 13. Nd6+ $18 Bxd6 14. Bxa6 bxa6 15. exd6 Nf6 16. Rae1+ Ne4+ 17. Kf1 O-O 18. Ng5 (18. c4 Bd7 19. c5) 18... f5 19. c4 h6 20. Nf3 dxc4 21. Ne5 Nxd6 22. Nxc6 Ne4 23. d5 Bb7 24. Ne7+ Kh7 25. d6 Rad8 26. Rc1 Nxd6 27. Rd1 Rf6 28. Be5 Re6 29. Nxf5 Rxe5 30. Nxd6 {Van Kemenade-Solarsh, South African Schools ch, Johannesburg 1963,0-1 }) 6... d6 $2 7. Nd5 Qd8 8. exd6+ Be6 9. Nxc7+ Kd7 10. Ne5+ $1 Kc8 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Qc4+ Nc6 13. Qxc6+ bxc6 14. Ba6+ Kb8 15. Nxc6# {Reinle-NN, Murau 1936, 1-0}) 5. Nf3 d6 {main} (5... d5 6. d4 g5 $11 {Komodo12}) 6. Qe2 {80% for Wh} ( 6. d4 {main 70% for Wh}) 6... Be6 7. d4 Be7 $146 (7... c6 8. Bxf4 d5 $16 {3-0}) (7... dxe5 8. dxe5 (8. Qxe5 Nd7 9. Qxf4 Ngf6 10. Bd3 Bd6 11. Qh4 Qe7 12. O-O O-O-O 13. Nb5 $16 {Antal-Spindler, Budapest Spring op 1997,1/2-1/2}) 8... Nc6 9. Bxf4 Bb4 10. Qe3 (10. Rd1 $14) 10... Nge7 $15 {Fischer-Storkebaum, BL2 West women 2008,1/2-1/2}) 8. Bxf4 (8. d5 Bg4 9. Bxf4 dxe5 10. Qxe5 Bxf3 11. gxf3 Nd7 12. Qxc7 Qxc7 13. Bxc7 $18 {Komodo12}) 8... d5 9. Qb5+ {initial suggestion of Komodo12, but the Q doesn't seem to be doing much here on her own, & has to run for her life a little later.} (9. O-O-O $16 {just relying on development & extra space}) 9... Nd7 10. Bd3 (10. Be2) (10. Qxb7 {at least follows through on the last move} Rb8 11. Qxa7 Ra8 (11... Rxb2 12. Nb5 Rxc2 13. Rc1 $18) 12. Qb7 Rb8 13. Qc6 Rb6 14. Qa4 Rxb2 15. Bb5 Nh6 16. O-O $16) 10... Rb8 (10... c5) 11. O-O c6 (11... a6 12. Qa4 c5 13. dxc5 Bxc5+ 14. Kh1 Ne7 $14 {Komodo12}) 12. Qa4 a5 13. Ne2 b5 14. Qb3 a4 (14... g5 15. Bg3 Nb6 16. a4 Nc4 (16... bxa4 17. Qa2 Nh6 18. h3 Nc4 19. Qxa4 O-O 20. b3 Nb2 21. Bxh7+ Kxh7 22. Qa2 Nc4 23. bxc4 dxc4 24. Bf2 $14 {Komodo12}) 17. Be1 Nh6 $14 {Komodo12}) 15. Qc3 Qb6 (15... c5 16. dxc5 b4 17. Qe1 Bxc5+ 18. Kh1 Ne7 19. Ned4 $16 {Komodo12}) 16. Qd2 Bg4 $2 { trying to undermine the Wh centre, but it opens Bl's up} (16... c5 17. c3 c4 ( 17... b4) 18. Bc2 a3 19. bxa3 Bxa3 20. Be3 $16) 17. e6 $18 Bxe6 18. Bxb8 Qxb8 19. Ng5 (19. Nf4) 19... Ngf6 20. Nxe6 (20. Nf4 $18) 20... fxe6 21. Nf4 Ng4 { trying to confuse matters on the K side} (21... Qd6 22. Rae1 e5 23. dxe5 Nxe5 24. Qe2 Nfd7 25. Bf5 $18) 22. Qe2 Ndf6 23. h3 (23. Qxe6 Qc7 24. Rae1) 23... g5 24. hxg4 gxf4 25. Qxe6 h5 26. Rae1 Ng8 27. Bg6+ Kd8 28. Bf7 (28. Qxc6) (28. g5) 28... f3 29. Bxg8 hxg4 30. Qxe7+ Kc8 31. Be6# 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-AberystwythUni"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Piotrowski, Jan"] [Black "Finlay, Ian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "1314"] [BlackElo "1363"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.11.28"] {[%evp 0,14,18,18,56,58,44,-1,19,-16,18,9,9,11,22,15,5]} 1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 e5 {a minority response, though still some 500 games in the databases} (3... dxc3 {19,000 games}) (3... Nf6) (3... d3) 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. cxd4 exd4 6. Nxd4 Nf6 7. Nc3 Bc5 {7 games} (7... Bb4 {155 games}) 8. Nxc6 {seems best} (8. Be3 Qb6 9. Ndb5 Bxe3 10. Nd6+ Kf8 11. fxe3 Qxb2 (11... Qxe3+ 12. Be2 $16) 12. Rc1 $15) 8... bxc6 9. e5 {commits to an advance that is difficult to support} (9. Bc4 $11 {I Wh win, 2 draws}) (9. Bd3 $11 {2 Wh wins}) 9... Qe7 $15 10. Qe2 Nd5 11. Nxd5 cxd5 12. a3 O-O 13. b4 (13. Be3 Re8 $17) 13... Bb6 (13... Bd4 {wins a pawn, the retreat may well be stronger because of all the weaknesses in the Wh position} 14. Ra2 (14. Bb2 Ba6 $1 {Komodo12} (14... Bxb2 15. Qxb2 d6 16. Be2 dxe5 17. O-O Bf5 $17 {seen by Rudy}) 15. b5 Bxb5 16. Qxb5 Qxe5+ 17. Qe2 Rfe8 18. Qxe5 Rxe5+ 19. Kd2 Bxb2 $19) 14... d6 (14... Bxe5) (14... Re8) 15. exd6 Qxd6 16. Qd3 Qf6 17. Be3 Bc3+ 18. Bd2 d4 $19 {Komodo12- the Wh K is still in the centre}) 14. Bb2 a5 (14... Bb7 15. Rd1 Rac8 $19 {Komodo12}) 15. Bc3 (15. b5 Bb7 16. Qg4 d6 17. Bd3 dxe5 18. O-O g6 $17 {Komodo12}) 15... d4 $19 (15... axb4 {Komodo12; Rudy, pm analysis} 16. Bxb4 (16. axb4 Rxa1+ 17. Bxa1 Qxb4+ 18. Qd2 Qb1+ 19. Ke2 (19. Qd1 Ba5+ 20. Ke2 Qe4# {even stronger than the analysis of} ( 20... Ba6+)) 19... Qxa1 $19) 16... Qxb4+ 17. axb4 Rxa1+ 18. Kd2 Ra2+ 19. Kc3 Rxe2 20. Bxe2 Bb7 $19) 16. Qb5 (16. bxa5 Qc5 17. Bd2 Bxa5 18. f4 Bc3 19. Ra2 Ba6 $19 {Komodo12}) 16... dxc3 (16... Ba6 {also}) 17. Qxb6 Qxe5+ 18. Be2 (18. Qe3 {best try} Qxe3+ 19. fxe3 axb4 20. Bc4 Bb7 $19 {Komodo12}) 18... Re8 19. Ra2 (19. O-O Qxe2 $19 {may be best}) 19... Ba6 (19... Qd5 20. Rc2 Qd3 21. O-O Qxc2 $19 {Komodo12}) (19... c2 {considered by Rudy} 20. Rxc2 Qa1+ 21. Kd2 Qxh1 $19) 20. Qe3 Qxe3 (20... Qd5 $19 {Rudy & Komodo12}) (20... Qc7 21. Qc5 Qb7 $19) (20... Qf5 21. Qc1 Bxe2 22. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 23. Kxe2 Re8+ $19) (20... c2 21. Rxc2 Qa1+ 22. Rc1 Qb2 $19) 21. fxe3 Rxe3 (21... Bxe2 22. Kxe2 (22. Rxe2 axb4 23. Rc2 Rec8 24. Ke2 (24. axb4 Ra1+ 25. Ke2 Rxh1 $19) 24... b3 $19 {Komodo12})) 22. Kf2 Bxe2 $2 (22... Re6 $19) (22... Rxe2+ {more accurate than the text}) 23. Rxe2 ( 23. Kxe3 $16 Bb5 24. Rc2 axb4 25. axb4 Bc6 26. Kd4 f5 27. Kxc3 $16 {Komodo12}) 23... Rxe2+ (23... Rd3 24. b5 f5 25. b6 Rb8 26. Rb1 Rb7 $17 {Komodo12}) 24. Kxe2 axb4 25. axb4 Ra2+ {a natural move, but the b pawn is dangerous & Wh's only chance; so needs taken care of as a priority. The most dangerous part of a game is when you know you have been winning comfortably all game, & relax, thinking anything will do- allowing just that one chance to the opponent} ( 25... Rb8 {keeps the R on the right side of the pawn} 26. Kd3 (26. Rb1 c2 27. Rc1 Rxb4 28. Rxc2 Kf8 $17) 26... Rxb4 27. Kxc3 Rb7 $17) 26. Kd3 Rxg2 {its often not the actual number of pawns that counts in endgames, but where they & the Ks are.} (26... Kf8) 27. Kxc3 g6 {the principle behind ensuring against a backrank mate is sound, but here , another, one,bringing the K towards the centre is a better one.} (27... Kf8 $15) (27... f5 $11 {candidate first , is also better than text}) 28. b5 Rg5 (28... Ra2 29. Rb1 Ra7 30. b6 Rb7 31. Kc4 Kf8 32. Kb5 f5 33. Ka6 Rb8 34. Ka7 Rd8 35. b7 Ke7 36. b8=Q Rxb8 37. Rxb8 f4 38. Kb6 Kd6 39. Rh8 $18 {but Bl has a better chance of holding}) 29. Rb1 Rc5+ 30. Kd4 d6 (30... Rc7 31. b6 Rb7 32. Kc5 f5 33. Kb5 Kf7 34. Ka6 Rb8 35. Ka7 Rf8 36. b7 Kf6 37. b8=Q Rxb8 38. Rxb8 f4 39. Kb6 $16 {Bl has some drawing chances}) 31. b6 $18 Rc8 32. b7 Rb8 33. Kd5 Kf8 34. Kxd6 Ke8 35. Kc7 (35. Ra1 $1 {Komodo12}) 35... Rxb7+ 36. Rxb7 Kf8 37. Kd6 Kg7 38. Ke5 h5 39. Kf4 Kf6 40. Rb6+ Kg7 41. Kg5 Kh7 42. Kf6 h4 43. Kxf7 g5 44. Rg6 (44. Rg6 g4 45. Rxg4 Kh6 46. h3 Kh5 47. Kf6 Kh6 48. Rxh4#) 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-AberystwythUni"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Hardman, Dan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteElo "1327"] [BlackElo "1306"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "130"] [EventDate "2018.11.28"] {[%evp 0,11,19,38,45,53,38,33,10,-19,2,-4,-13,-15]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Na3 {a less played line which has its GM supporters, which often transposes} (6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nge7 8. Na3 Nf5 9. Nc2 Bd7 10. O-O Be7 11. a3 Rc8 12. b4 {Holman-Hardman,Aberystwyth Challenge, 2018,1-0; the week before}) (6. a3 c4 {main line}) (6. Bd3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Bd7 8. O-O {is the Milner-Barry Gambit, still practised, even by GMs like Smerdon and also seen in Topalov-Morozevich, Wch blitz Astana2012,1-0}) 6... Bd7 (6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ {main}) 7. Nc2 Nge7 (7... cxd4 8. cxd4 Rc8 (8... Nb4)) 8. Be2 {transposes back to early Be2 lines} (8. Bd3 {is more active & can now be played, as the d4 is fully protected}) 8... Nf5 9. O-O Be7 (9... cxd4 $11 10. cxd4 {Komodo12} (10. Ncxd4 {Stockfish9 & Houdini4})) 10. b3 (10. Rb1 $11 {main, though not involving any players above 1700}) (10. dxc5 $16 {Cloud Engines & played by IMs & a GM, 3 Wh wins, 1 draw, 1 loss} Qxc5 11. b4 Qb6 (11... Qxc3 12. Bd2 Qb2 13. Rb1 Qxa2 14. Ra1 Qb2 15. Bc1 Qc3 16. Ra3 $18) 12. Bd3 $16 {Cloud Engines}) 10... Rc8 (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 Rc8) 11. Kh1 {a waiting move} (11. Be3 cxd4 12. Nfxd4 Nxe3 13. Nxe3 Nxe5 {Stoevesand (1387)-Thumulka (1638), \|GER ch U12 Willingen 2007,0-1}) (11. dxc5 {Cloud Engines} Qxc5 12. b4 $14 (12. Qd2 $14)) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 Nb4 $11 {Cloud Engines} 13. Nxb4 Bxb4 14. Bb2 (14. Bd2) 14... Bb5 15. Bxb5+ Qxb5 16. Rc1 O-O 17. a3 {gives Bl a target} (17. Kg1 $11 { Komodo12}) (17. g4 Ne7 18. a3 Rxc1 19. Bxc1 (19. Qxc1 Rc8 $17) 19... Bc3 20. Kg2 Rc8 $15 {Komodo12}) 17... Ba5 (17... Rxc1 18. Qxc1 Be7 19. b4 h5 20. Rd1 a5 21. bxa5 Ra8 22. Kg1 Rxa5 $17 {Komodo12}) 18. b4 (18. a4 Qb4 19. Qd3 h6 20. h3 $11 {Komodo12}) (18. Rc5 Rxc5 19. dxc5 Bc7 20. g4 Ne7 21. b4 (21. Kg2 Qxc5 $17) 21... a5 22. Nd4 Qc4 23. Qe2 Bxe5 $17 {Komodo12-makes constant use of the loose R on f1}) (18. g4 Ne7 19. a4 Qa6 20. Ba3 Rxc1 21. Qxc1 Rc8 22. Qb1 Rc3 23. Bxe7 Rxf3 24. b4 Rb3 25. Qc1 Rc3 26. Qd1 Bb6 27. b5 Qa5 $17 {Komodo12}) 18... Bb6 19. Qd2 a5 (19... Rc4 20. Kg1 (20. Rxc4 dxc4 $15) 20... Rfc8 $15 { Komodo12}) 20. g4 Ne7 21. Bc3 Nc6 22. Rb1 (22. a4 Qxa4 23. Ra1 Qb5 24. bxa5 Bc7 25. Rfb1 Qa6 26. g5 Ra8 27. Kg2 $11 {Komodo12}) (22. bxa5 Nxa5 23. Rb1 Qa6 24. Bb4 Rfe8 25. Kg2 $11 {Komodo12}) (22. Kg2 axb4 23. Bxb4 Nxb4 24. Rxc8 Rxc8 25. Rb1 Ba5 26. axb4 Bd8 27. h4 Be7 28. g5 Rc4 29. Qd3 g6 $15 {Komodo12}) 22... axb4 (22... a4 $15 {slightly prefered by Komodo12}) 23. Bxb4 Nxb4 24. axb4 { Wh would like to have taken back with the R , but that leaves the f1 R in the lurch} (24. Kg2 {best try} Ba5 25. axb4 Bd8 26. Rfe1 h6 27. h4 Be7 28. Qe2 (28. g5 h5 29. Rec1 g6 30. Ne1 Rc4 31. Nc2 Ra8 $15) 28... Qxe2 29. Rxe2 b5 30. Ra2 Rc4 31. Ra7 Bxb4 32. Rb7 Bc3 33. R1xb5 Bxd4 34. Nxd4 Rxd4 35. f3 h5 $17 { Komodo12}) 24... Rc4 25. Rfc1 Rfc8 26. Rxc4 (26. Kg2 Qc6 (26... Bd8 27. Qe2 Be7 28. Nd2 Bg5 29. Rxc4 dxc4 30. Ne4 Be7 31. f3 h6 32. Qd2 Rd8 $15) 27. Rd1 Rc2 28. Qe3 Qc4 29. Rd3 h6 $15 {Komodo12}) 26... Rxc4 (26... dxc4 $17 {is much stronger , as it opens up lines to the Wh K & leaves the d pawn backward} 27. Qe3 Qd5 (27... c3 28. Qe4 c2 29. Rc1 Qd5 30. Qxd5 exd5 31. Kg2 Kf8 32. Kf1 Ke7 33. Ke2 Rc3 {zugzwang- so Wh must lose the d & e pawns for the c pawn}) 28. Kg2 Bd8 29. Ra1 c3 30. Rc1 Qc4 31. Qe4 b5 32. Qb7 Kf8 33. Ra1 Rc7 34. Qa8 Rd7 35. Rc1 h6 $17 {Komodo12- Bl controls the board}) 27. Kg2 {the position is rather complex, hanging by a thread in many variations ( perhaps not what the players themselves, or Rudy spectating, envisaged?)} Kf8 (27... Bd8 28. Qd3 Qa4 29. Rb3 Be7 (29... b5 30. Ra3 Qxb4 31. Ra8 Qe7 32. Rb8 b4 33. Qb3 g6 34. Qa4 Rc7 (34... Kf8 35. Qa8 Ke8 36. h3 h5 37. Nd2 Rc7 (37... Rxd4 38. Qc6+ Kf8 39. Rxd8+ Qxd8 40. Qc5+ Qe7 41. Qxd4 $16) 38. Nf3 $11 {the Wh pieces are all active & the b pawn cannot advance})) 30. Ra3 Qe8 (30... Qxb4 31. Rb3 Qa5 32. Rxb7 $11) 31. Ra7 Qb8 32. Qa3 Rc8 33. Ra4 g6 34. Qa1 Kg7 35. b5 Qc7 36. Qb2 $11 {Komodo12}) 28. h4 (28. Qd3 g6 29. Nd2 Rc5 30. Qh3 (30. Qe3 Rc2 31. Ra1 Rc8 32. Qh6+ Kg8 33. Nf3 Bd8 34. Qd2 Be7 35. Ra5 Qxb4 36. Qxb4 Bxb4 37. Rb5 Bc3 38. Rxb7 Rc4 39. Ng5 Rxd4 40. h3 Rb4 41. Rd7 Rf4 42. Rd8+ Kg7 43. Rd7 Kf8 (43... Bxe5 $2 44. Nxe6+ $18) 44. Nxh7+ Ke8 45. Rb7 Bxe5 46. Ng5 Bd6 47. f3 Be7 48. h4 Rb4 $17 { Komodo12}) 30... Rc2 31. Ra1 Qe2 (31... Rxd2 32. Qh6+ $18) (31... Kg7 32. Ra8 Qe2 33. Qh4 Rxd2 34. Qf6+ Kh6 35. Qh4+ $11) 32. Qh6+ Ke8 33. Ra8+ Kd7 34. Qf4 f5 (34... Kc6 35. Rc8+ Bc7 36. h3 (36. Nf1 Qe4+ 37. Qxe4 dxe4 38. b5+ Kxb5 39. Ne3 Rc1 40. Rf8 Bb6 41. Rxf7 Rc7 42. Rxc7 Bxc7 43. d5 (43. f4) 43... Bxe5 44. dxe6 Kc6 45. Nd5 Bd6 46. e7 Kd7 47. Nf6+ Kxe7 48. Nxe4 b5 $17) 36... b5 37. Rxc7+ (37. Qxf7 Kb7 38. Rf8 Qxd2 39. Qe8 $11) 37... Kxc7 38. Qxf7+ Kb8 39. Nb3 Qe4+ 40. Kh2 Qe1 41. Qe8+ {perpetual} Rc8 42. Qxb5+ {is risky for Bl, though it seems still drawn} Ka8 43. Qa5+ Kb7 44. Nc5+ Rxc5 45. dxc5 Qxf2+ $11 { Komodo12})) 28... Ba5 $6 {what Bl was planning for- yet it should have led to a loss!} (28... h6 29. h5 Qa4 30. Rb2 Qe8 31. Ra2 Qc8 32. Qd3 Kg8 33. g5 Rxb4 34. gxh6 gxh6 35. Qe3 Kh7 36. Kh3 Qf8 37. Ra1 Rb2 38. Rg1 $11 {Komodo12}) 29. Ra1 $14 (29. Qd3 $1 $18 {Komodo12} Bb6 (29... Bxb4 30. Qxh7 Qa4 31. Qh8+ Ke7 32. Qxg7 Qc2 33. Qf6+ Ke8 34. Ra1 Rc8 35. Ra7 Qc7 36. Ng5 Qe7 37. h5 $18) 30. Qxh7 Bxd4 31. Qh8+ Ke7 32. Qxg7 Qa4 33. h5 $18) 29... Qxb4 {Komodo12's second choice for Bl, even though it loses a piece} (29... Bd8 30. Ra8 Qd7 31. Qd3 g6 32. Ng5 Rc8 (32... Kg7 33. Ne4 (33. Qf3 Bxg5 34. hxg5 Rc8 35. Ra1 $11 (35. Ra5 Kg8 36. Qf6 Rc4 37. Ra8+ Rc8 38. Ra5 b6 39. Ra1 Qb5 40. Rh1 Qe2 41. Qf4 Rc4 42. b5 Qe4+ 43. Qxe4 dxe4 44. Rd1 Rc3 (44... Rb4 45. Kg3 Rxb5 46. Kf4 Rb2 47. Kxe4 Rxf2 48. Rb1 Re2+ 49. Kf4 Rd2 50. Ke3 Rg2 51. Kf4 $11) 45. d5 exd5 46. Rxd5 e3 47. fxe3 Rxe3 48. Rd6 Rxe5 49. Rxb6 Rxg5 50. Kf3 h5 51. gxh5 Rxh5 {draw, Komodo12 & Lomonosov tablebases} (51... gxh5 $15 {Komodo12 preference, also draw-Lomonosov tablebases}))))) (29... Rxb4 {the apparently safest move is not what it seems either} 30. Qc2 (30. Qf4 h6 31. g5 Ke8 (31... h5 32. g6 $18) 32. gxh6 gxh6 33. Qxh6 Rb1 34. Ra2 Qf1+ (34... Rb2 35. Qh8+ Kd7 36. Rxb2 Qxb2 37. Qg8 $18 Ke7 (37... Kc6 38. Qxf7 Kb6 39. Qxe6+ Ka7 40. Qxd5 $18) 38. Ng5)) 30... g6 31. Qc8+ Kg7 32. h5 gxh5 33. gxh5 h6 34. Qa8 Rb3 35. Rg1 Rb1 36. Rxb1 Qxb1 37. Qxa5 $16 {Komodo12}) 30. Rxa5 Qxd2 31. Nxd2 Rxd4 {fortunately for Bl, the R can pick up a few extra pawns as compensation for the piece} 32. Nf3 Rxg4+ 33. Kh3 Rb4 34. Rc5 $14 {to threaten f7 quickly} (34. Ra8+ Ke7 35. Rg8 g6 36. Rh8 (36. Rg7 Kf8 37. Rxh7 Kg8 38. Ng5 Rf4 39. Rh6 d4 40. Kg3 d3 41. Kxf4 d2 42. Ne4 d1=Q 43. Nf6+ Kf8 44. Rh8+ Kg7 (44... Ke7 45. Re8#) 45. Rg8+ Kh6 46. Rh8+ Kg7 47. Rg8+ {perpetual}) 36... h5 37. Ng5 d4 (37... Rf4 38. Kg3 Rg4+ 39. Kf3 Rxh4 40. Rh7 Ke8 41. Nxf7 $16) 38. Ne4 (38. Rh7 d3 39. Rxf7+ Ke8 40. Rf6 Rd4 41. Nf3 d2 42. Nxd2 Rxd2 43. Rxe6+ Kd7 44. Rf6 Ra2 45. Rxg6 Rxf2 46. Kg3 $11) 38... Kd7 39. Rf8 Ke7 40. Rc8 Kd7 41. Rc2 b5 42. Kg3 $16 {Komodo12}) 34... Rb2 (34... h6 35. Rc8+ Ke7 36. Rc7+ Ke8 37. h5 $16 {Komodo12- the h pawn will win through in some variations} (37. Kg3 b5 38. Rb7 g6 $14)) 35. Kg2 (35. Kg3 { preferred by Komodo12, neither the B pawn nor the d pawn are a real threat}) 35... b5 (35... h6) 36. Kf1 {Wh is getting into defence mode, when the R & N should be used as an attacking force} (36. Rc8+ Ke7 37. Rc7+ Ke8 38. Ng5 $18 b4 39. Nxf7 b3 40. Rb7 h6 41. h5 d4 42. Nd6+ Kd8 43. Kf3 d3 44. Ne4 Kc8 (44... d2 45. Ke2) 45. Rb5 Kc7 46. Ke3 Kc6 47. Rc5+ Kb6 48. Rc1 Kb5 49. Kxd3 $18 { Komodo12}) 36... b4 37. Rc1 {Rs are usually best placed behind a passed pawn, whether an opponents or their own} (37. Rc8+ Ke7 38. Rc7+ Ke8 39. Rb7 (39. Ng5 {looks the last chance to attack Bl's base} d4 40. Nxf7 d3 41. Ke1 (41. Nd6+ Kd8 42. Rc1 Rc2 43. Rb1 d2 44. Rd1 (44. Ke2 $2 Rc1 $19) 44... b3 45. Ke2 b2 46. Ne4 Ke7 47. Nxd2 Rc1 48. Nb1 Kf7 49. Kd2 Rc4 50. Rh1 Rf4 51. Ke3 Rc4 52. Kd2 Rf4 53. Kc3 Rxf2 54. Na3 h5 55. Nc4 Rh2 56. Rg1 Rxh4 57. Nxb2 Rg4 58. Rxg4 hxg4 59. Nc4 {is a draw! Lomonosov tablebases} Kg6 60. Kd4 Kf5 61. Ke3 g3 62. Kf3 g2 63. Kxg2 Ke4 64. Kg3 Kd5 65. Nd2 Kxe5)) 39... h6 {but its rather difficult to make progress on further examination} 40. Nd4 Rb1+ 41. Ke2 Rh1 42. Nf3 Rb1 43. Ne1 g6 44. Nd3 b3 45. Rb4 Rh1 46. Kd2 (46. Ke3 Kf8 47. Kf3 Rh3+ 48. Ke2 Kg7) 46... Kf8 47. Nc5 b2 48. Rxb2 Rxh4 49. Rb8+ Kg7 50. Rb7 Kg8 51. Nd7 g5 52. f3 Kg7 $11) 37... Rb3 (37... b3 38. Nd4 Ra2 39. Nxb3 Ra4 40. Rc8+ Ke7 41. Rg8 g6 42. h5 gxh5 43. Rg5 Rh4 44. Nc5 h6 45. Rg8 Rg4 46. Rh8 h4 47. Rxh6 Kf8 48. Nd7+ Kg7 49. Rh5 Kg6 50. Rh8 Kg7 51. Ra8 Rc4 52. Kg2 $14 {Komodo12}) 38. Ke2 (38. Rc8+ Ke7 39. Rc7+ Ke8 40. Ng5 h6 41. Nxf7 Rh3 42. Nd6+ Kf8 43. Rf7+ Kg8 44. Rf4 b3 45. Kg2 Rc3 46. Rb4 h5 (46... Kf8 47. h5 $18) 47. f4 Kh7 48. Rb7 (48. f5 exf5 49. Nxf5 Kg6 50. Ne7+ Kf7 51. Nxd5 Rc5 52. Nf4 Rxe5 53. Rxb3 g5 {gets rid of Wh's last pawn}) 48... d4 49. f5 (49. Kf2 $18) 49... exf5 50. e6 d3 (50... Re3 51. e7 d3 52. Kf2 d2 53. Kxe3 d1=Q 54. e8=Q b2 55. Rxb2 $18 (55. Qb5 $18)) 51. e7 d2 52. Ne4 $3 Rc8 (52... fxe4 53. e8=Q d1=Q 54. Qxe4+ Kg8 55. Qe6+ Kh8 56. Rb8+ Kh7 57. Qf5+ g6 58. Qf7+ Kh6 59. Rh8#) 53. Nxd2 b2 54. Nc4 Re8 55. Nxb2 g5 56. hxg5 Kg6 57. Nc4 Kxg5 58. Nd6 $18 {Komodo12}) 38... Ke7 (38... f6 39. exf6 gxf6 40. Rc7 h6 41. Rb7 e5 42. Nd2 Rb2 43. Rb5 d4 44. Kd3 Kf7 45. h5 ( 45. f4 Ke6 46. fxe5 fxe5 47. Nc4 Rh2 48. Rxe5+ Kf6 49. h5 Rh3+ 50. Ke4 (50. Kxd4 Rh4+ 51. Kd5 Rxc4 $11) 50... Rh4+ 51. Kf3 Rh3+ 52. Kf4 Rh4+ 53. Kg3 Rh1 54. Rb5 b3 55. Nd2 b2 56. Kg4 Rg1+ 57. Kf4 Rh1 {and its repetition or Wh loses the last pawn}) 45... Ke6 46. Rb6+ Kf5 47. Ra6 Kg5 48. Ne4+ Kxh5 49. Rxf6 Kg4 50. Rxh6 Rb3+ 51. Kc4 Rf3 52. Rh7 Kf4 53. Rh4+ Kf5 54. Kxb4 Rf4 55. Ng3+ Kg5 56. Rh2 e4 57. Ne2 Rh4 58. Rxh4 Kxh4 59. Kc4 Kg4 60. Kxd4 Kf3 61. Ng3 Kxf2 62. Nxe4+ $11 {Komodo12}) 39. Nd4 (39. Rc7+ Ke8 40. Ng5) 39... Rh3 40. Nf3 f6 $6 41. exf6+ {makes life easier for Bl} (41. Rc7+ Kd8 (41... Kf8 42. Nd4 (42. exf6 gxf6 43. Rxh7 e5 44. Rb7 e4 45. Nd4 Rxh4 46. Rxb4 Kf7 47. Rb5 Rh5 48. Ke3 Rh3+ 49. Kf4 Rh2 50. Kg3 Rh5 51. Ne2 {Rudy} Rf5 52. Nf4 Rg5+ 53. Kh4 Rf5 {and Wh makes no further progress}) 42... Ke8 43. Nxe6 Rxh4 (43... fxe5 44. Nxg7+ Kf8 45. Ne6+ Ke8 (45... Kg8 46. Rc8+ Kf7 47. Ng5+ $18) 46. Rxh7 b3 47. Nc7+ Kf8 48. Nxd5 b2 49. Rb7 Rxh4 50. Ke3 Rd4 51. Nf6 Rd1 52. Rxb2 $18) 44. Nxg7+ Kd8 45. exf6 Kxc7 46. f7 Rf4 47. Ne6+ Kd7 48. Nxf4 Ke7 49. Nxd5+ Kxf7 50. Nxb4 $18 { Komodo12})) 41... Kxf6 42. Rc6 (42. Rb1 {Komodo12} e5 43. Rxb4 e4 44. Rb6+ Kf5 45. Nd4+ Ke5 46. Nc6+ Kd6 47. Na7+ Ke5 48. Nc6+ {repetition}) 42... Kf5 43. Rb6 e5 44. Rxb4 e4 45. Nd4+ Ke5 46. f3 (46. Nc6+ Kd6 47. Nd4 {repetition}) 46... Rxh4 (46... Kf4 47. fxe4 Rh2+ 48. Ke1 dxe4 49. Ne6+ Kg3 50. Rxe4 Rxh4 $14 { Komodo12, drawn-except the Engine thinks Wh is a little bit better}) 47. Ke3 Rh3 48. Rb7 exf3 49. Nxf3+ Kf6 {and again the Engine misjudges that Wh is better- if anyone has winning chances here- its Bl} 50. Rd7 g5 51. Kf2 g4 52. Ne1 (52. Ng1 Ra3 (52... Rd3 53. Ke2 $11 (53. Rxh7 $11)) 53. Rxd5 $11 Kg6 54. Ne2 {drawn- Lomonosov tablebases; the N gives itself up for 1 pawn, then the R &1 pawn with the K in front is a draw}) 52... Ke5 53. Rg7 h5 54. Rf7 h4 55. Rg7 g3+ (55... Kf5 56. Rf7+ Ke4 57. Rg7 Kf5 58. Rf7+) 56. Kg2 (56. Kg1 Rh2 57. Nf3+ Kf6 58. Rd7 Rf2 59. Nxh4 $11) 56... Rh2+ 57. Kg1 Ra2 (57... Kf6 58. Rg8 Rf2 59. Rf8+ (59. Rh8 Kg5 60. Ng2 d4 61. Rg8+ Kh5 62. Rh8+ Kg5 63. Rg8+ Kh5 64. Rh8+) 59... Kg6 (59... Ke5 $2 60. Nd3+ $18) 60. Rxf2 gxf2+ 61. Kxf2 $11) 58. Nf3+ Ke4 59. Nxh4 d4 60. Rxg3 d3 61. Kf1 (61. Rg4+ Ke3 62. Nf5+ Kf3 63. Rg3+ Ke4 64. Re3+ Kxf5 65. Rxd3 {Komodo12}) 61... Ra1+ 62. Kf2 d2 63. Re3+ Kd4 (63... Kf4 64. Ng2+ Kg5 65. Rg3+ Kf6 66. Ne3 d1=Q 67. Nxd1 Rxd1) 64. Nf3+ Kd5 65. Nxd2 Ra2 1/2-1/2 [Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Hardman, Dan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C02"] [WhiteElo "1327"] [BlackElo "1306"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "130"] [EventDate "2018.12.01"] {[%evp 0,23,28,31,45,36,42,11,11,8,15,2,2,-20,-19,0,0,-9,-9,-27,-2,-10,-2,-19, -19,-9]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 6. Be2 (6. Na3 { played a week later; Holman-Hardman, Dyfed League 2018,1/2-1/2}) (6. a3 {main}) 6... cxd4 {in the other game Bl delayed this, which could have been exploited by Wh} (6... Nge7 7. O-O Nf5 8. a4 cxd4 9. a5 $1 {Cloud Engines} Nxa5 10. Qa4+ (10. b4 Nc4 11. Bxc4 dxc4 12. g4 $1 Ne7 13. Na3 Nd5 14. Nxc4 Qc6 15. Qxd4 $11 { Komodo12}) 10... Nc6 $17 {Holman-Geraghty, Aberystwyth Ch 2015,0-1}) 7. cxd4 Nge7 (7... Nh6 {more frequent, mostly transposes}) 8. Na3 (8. Nc3 {close runnerup}) 8... Nf5 9. Nc2 Bd7 (9... Bb4+ 10. Kf1) (9... Be7) 10. O-O Be7 11. a3 (11. b3 {main, & played in the subsequent game, when a later b4 became a major battlefield}) (11. Rb1 {scores better}) (11. Bd3 {64% for Wh} Nfxd4 $2 12. Nfxd4 Nxe5 (12... Nxd4 13. Be3 $18) 13. Be2 $16) 11... Rc8 (11... a5 12. Rb1 a4 $11 {but 5 Bl wins & 2 draws}) 12. b4 a5 $146 (12... O-O $11) (12... a6 $11 {main}) 13. b5 $16 Nd8 14. a4 O-O 15. Bb2 (15. g4 Nh4 16. Nxh4 Bxh4 17. Ba3 Re8 18. Ne3 $16 {Komodo12}) (15. Bd3 f6 16. g4 Nh4 17. Nxh4 fxe5 18. Ba3 Bxa3 19. Rxa3 $16 {Komodo12}) 15... f6 $14 16. g4 Nh6 17. h3 (17. exf6 gxf6 18. Ne3 Ndf7 19. Bd3 Kh8 20. Kh1 $14 {Komodo12}) 17... fxe5 18. Nxe5 Qc7 (18... Be8 $11 ) 19. Rc1 Be8 20. Bd3 $16 Nhf7 21. f4 (21. Ne3) 21... Nxe5 22. dxe5 Bc5+ 23. Kh2 b6 24. Nd4 Qe7 25. Qe1 $16 {the Wh pieces have more activity} (25. f5) (25. Nb3) 25... Bxd4 (25... Nb7) 26. Bxd4 $18 Rxc1 27. Qxc1 Qb4 28. Qd1 (28. Bxb6 Qxa4 29. Bc5 $18 (29. Qb2) 29... Bxb5 (29... Rf7 30. Bd6 Bd7 31. b6 $18) 30. Bxb5 Qxb5 31. Bxf8 Kxf8 32. Rf2 $18 {Komodo12}) 28... g6 (28... Bg6 29. Bxg6 hxg6 30. Bxb6 Nb7 31. Qd4 Qxd4 32. Bxd4 Rc8 33. Ra1 $16 {Komodo12}) 29. Bxb6 $18 (29. Bc2 Nb7 30. f5 Nc5 31. f6 $16) 29... Nb7 30. Be3 Nc5 31. Bxc5 (31. Bc2 $18) 31... Qxc5 $16 32. g5 {takes away a pawn break for Wh} (32. f5 {Rudy- the isea is to open up the K side for attack, which leads to a general piece swap, so that the b5 pawn just walks through in the ending} Qd4 33. fxe6 Rxf1 34. Qxf1 Qxe5+ 35. Kg2 Qxe6 36. Qf2 Bd7 37. Qd4 Bc8 38. h4 Bb7 39. h5 gxh5 40. gxh5 h6 41. b6 Qf7 42. Bg6 Qg7 43. Qf4 Qb2+ 44. Kh3 Qb3+ 45. Kh4 Qb4 46. Qxb4 axb4 47. a5 b3 48. Kg4 Kf8 49. Kf4 Ke7 50. Ke5 b2 51. Bf5 Bc8 52. Bc2 Bb7 {but Komodo12 just holds on for Bl & starts repeating moves} 53. Kd4 {only try for a win} Kd6 54. Kc3 Kc5 55. Bd3 b1=Q 56. Bxb1 Kb5 57. Kd4 Kxa5 58. Kc5 Ba8 ( 58... d4 59. Bf5 Ka6 60. Bd3+ Ka5 61. Be2 Ba8 {gets nowhere for Wh}) 59. Bf5 Ka6 {not much further either}) (32. Bc2 Qb4 33. Qf3 Bd7 34. f5 Qb2 35. Qe2 Rc8 36. Rf2 $18 {is an improved Komodo12 line} exf5 37. e6 Rxc2 (37... Be8 38. gxf5 gxf5 39. Bxf5 Qxe2 40. Rxe2 Kg7 41. e7 Rc7 42. Kg3 Rc4 43. Bc2 $18 {Komodo12} ( 43. Rb2 Rc7 44. b6 Rb7 45. Be6 Kf6 46. Bxd5 Rb8 47. b7 Kxe7 48. Rc2 Kd8 49. Rc4 $18 {Komodo12}))) 32... Qd4 33. Bc2 (33. Bf5 {Komodo12} Qb6 34. Bg4 Bd7 35. Qc1 Rc8 36. Qa3 Rc2+ 37. Kg3 Kf7 38. Qd6 Qxd6 39. exd6 Ke8 40. Rf3 Bc8 41. Re3 Kd8 42. Bxe6 d4 43. Re5 Bxe6 44. Rxe6 Kd7 45. f5 gxf5 46. Re7+ Kxd6 47. Rxh7 d3 48. Rh8 d2 49. Rd8+ Ke7 50. Rd4 Ra2 51. Kf3 Rxa4 52. Rxd2 Rb4 53. h4 Rxh4 54. Rb2 Kf7 55. b6 Rh8 56. b7 Rb8 57. Kf4 a4 58. Kxf5 a3 59. Rb4 a2 60. Ra4 Rxb7 61. Rxa2 {and with the K in front of the passed pawn, its a draw}) 33... Rxf4 34. Qxd4 Rxd4 35. Rf2 $14 (35. Kg3 $16) 35... Rb4 (35... Kg7 36. Kg3 Rc4 $14) 36. Kg3 Bf7 37. Kf3 Kf8 38. Ke3 Ke7 39. Kd3 (39. Rf4 Rxf4 (39... Rb2 40. Kd3 Ra2 41. Kc3 $18) 40. Kxf4 $16 {Komodo12}) 39... Be8 40. Rf1 $6 (40. Kd2 Rh4 41. Rf3 Bd7 42. Rc3 Kd8 $14) 40... Kd7 (40... Rxb5 $1 $15 {Komodo12- ever alert}) 41. Rb1 (41. Rf8 $18 Rh4 42. Kd2 Ke7 43. Rh8 Rxh3 44. b6 Rh2+ 45. Kc3 Rh4 46. b7 Rb4 47. Rxh7+ Kd8 48. Rh8 Rxb7 49. Bxg6 $18 Re7 50. Kd4 Kd7 51. Bd3 Kc7 52. g6 Bxg6 53. Bxg6 Rg7 54. Rh7 Rxh7 55. Bxh7 $18 {Komodo12}) 41... Rxb1 {Bl , being a pawn down, should try & keep Rs on. The B pawn looks dangerous, but can be held, while the Bl R runs asbout causing confusion} (41... Rh4 $11) (41... Rf4 $11) 42. Bxb1 $16 Kc7 43. Kd4 Kb6 44. Ke3 {trying to tempt Bl into advancing the K too far, but Bl should be able to sit it out by just moving the B up & down. Both sides have a protected passed pawn which must be kept a careful eye on.} Bf7 45. Kf4 Be8 46. h4 Bf7 47. h5 Be8 48. Bxg6 $1 {an ingenious way of swapping Bs} Bxg6 (48... hxg6 49. h6 $18) 49. hxg6 hxg6 50. Ke3 Kc5 51. Kd3 d4 $2 {but this should lose. Bl must follow a course of retreat and give Wh the possibility of advancing too far with his K.} (51... Kb6 52. Kd4 Kb7 53. Kc5 Kc7 $11 54. b6+ Kb7 55. Kb5 d4 (55... Kc8 $2 56. Kxa5 $18 {gives Wh 2 runners}) 56. Kc4 Kxb6 57. Kxd4 Kc6 {and there is no entry for the Wh K}) 52. Ke4 Kc4 53. b6 d3 54. b7 d2 55. b8=Q d1=Q 56. Qb5+ Kc3 57. Qxa5+ $16 Kb3 (57... Kc2 { when there is a Q & P ending, its best to run your K as far away from the advanced pawn as possible, so that it doesn't interfere with the free movement of your Q in trying for a perpetual check} 58. Qc5+ Kb3 (58... Kb1 $2 59. Qb4+ Ka2 60. Qc4+ Ka3 61. Qd3+ Qxd3+ 62. Kxd3 Kxa4 63. Kc4 {and Wh wins both K side pawns with the opposition}) 59. Qb5+ Kc3 (59... Kc2 60. Qc4+ Kb1 61. Qd3+ $18) 60. Qc5+ Kb3 61. Qb5+ Kc3 62. Qc5+ {repetition} Kb3 63. a5 Qg4+ $11 {perpetual} ) 58. Qb5+ Ka3 $2 (58... Kc3 {as in previous note}) 59. Qd3+ Qxd3+ 60. Kxd3 Kxa4 61. Kc4 Ka5 62. Kc5 Ka6 63. Kd6 Kb7 64. Kxe6 Kc8 65. Kf7 Kd7 {Wh doesn't need the g pawn} 1-0 [Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Headley, Francis"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A36"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1182"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2018.12.01"] {[%evp 0,21,34,30,49,22,27,14,28,-27,-25,-25,-11,-14,-14,-10,-10,-10,-5,-20,12, -3,9,-15]} 1. e4 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. d3 O-O 7. Nge2 d6 8. O-O Rb8 9. f4 (9. h3) 9... e6 (9... a6) (9... Bg4) 10. h3 a6 11. a4 (11. Be3) (11. g4 {main lines}) 11... Bd7 12. g4 b5 $146 (12... Ne8 {main}) (12... h5 13. g5 (13. Bf3 hxg4 14. hxg4 Nh7 15. Kg2 g5 16. f5 Be5 17. Rh1 Kg7 18. Rh5 Rh8 $11 {Sertic-Vukovic, Zagreb op 2015,1-0}) 13... Nh7 14. h4 Re8 $15 { Komodo12}) 13. axb5 axb5 14. Nxb5 Qe7 $16 (14... Ne8 $14) 15. Bd2 (15. Be3) 15... Rb6 16. Qc2 Rfb8 17. Bc3 Nb4 18. Bxb4 cxb4 19. Nbd4 (19. e5 $16) 19... Qd8 (19... e5 {Komodo12} 20. Nf3 Be8 21. Qd2 Nd7 22. d4 exd4 23. Nexd4 Nc5 ( 23... Qxe4 24. Ne5 $18) 24. Rfe1 Rd8 $14 (24... Bc6 25. Nxc6 Rxc6 26. Rad1 Rd8 27. e5 $16)) 20. Nb3 $16 (20. e5 Ne8 21. Nf3 Ra8 22. d4 $16 {Komodo12}) 20... Ra8 $2 (20... e5 21. d4 exd4 22. Nexd4 Be8 23. e5 {Komodo12 first pick, but it seems to peter out in the end} (23. Qf2 Nd7 24. Rfd1 Qc7 25. Rac1 Nc5 26. Nb5 Qe7 27. Nxc5 dxc5 28. e5 $16) 23... dxe5 24. fxe5 Nd7 25. c5 (25. e6 fxe6 26. c5 Rc8 (26... Nxc5 27. Qxc5 Rc8 28. Ra8 Rxa8 29. Bxa8 Rd6 30. Nc6 Qc7 31. Rc1 Bxb2 32. Nca5 (32. Rc4 Bf6) (32. Rc2 Bc3) 32... Qb8 33. Rb1 Rd3 34. Bg2 Bf6 35. Rf1 Rc3 36. Qf2 Be7 37. Nd4 Qb6 38. Kh1 $16) 27. Ra8 Rxa8 (27... Rbb8 28. Nxe6 $18) 28. Bxa8 Qxa8 29. cxb6 Qd5 30. Rd1 Nxb6 31. Qc7 Nc4 32. Qc8 Kf7 33. Rf1+ Ke7 $14 34. Rd1 Kf7 {Komodo12}) 25... Rc8 26. Ra8 Rbb8 27. Rxb8 Nxb8 (27... Rxb8 28. Nc6 $18) 28. Re1 Nc6 29. Bxc6 Bxc6 30. Nxc6 Rxc6 31. Re4 Qd5 32. Qc4 Qxc4 33. Rxc4 Bxe5 34. Rxb4 Bxb2 35. Kg2 $11 {Komodo12}) 21. Rxa8 Qxa8 22. e5 $18 {which is why Komodo12 was wanting Bl to play this move instead} Qa7 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. g5 {not sure what this move gains- if anything as it fixes the Wh pawns more than the Bl pawns. Wh should retain f5 as an option} (24. d4 { looks more natural}) 24... Bg7 25. Kh2 Ra6 26. d4 Ba4 27. Qd3 (27. Ra1) 27... Bxb3 28. Qxb3 Bxd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Qxb4 Rb6 (30... Ra2 {a little better, but Bl is still a piece down} 31. Qc3 Qxc3 32. bxc3 Ra4 33. c5 d5 34. Rb1 Rc4 35. Rb3 $18) 31. Qc3 Qxc3 32. bxc3 Rb2 33. Rd1 Kf8 34. Rxd6 Ke7 35. Rd3 Rf2 36. Kg3 Rc2 37. c5 Rb2 38. c6 Rb8 39. Rd7+ Ke8 40. Rb7 (40. c7 Rc8 41. Bc6 {most efficient}) 40... Rc8 41. c7 Kd7 42. Kf2 Rxc7 43. Rxc7+ Kxc7 44. Ke3 Kd6 45. Kd4 Kc7 46. Ke5 Kd7 47. Kf6 1-0

Touch Wood

Chess-players should know all about touching wood, but I have been guilty of hubris in my last couple of posts and omitted the usual supernatural prophylaxis. The crunch match of the early part of the season for Aberystwyth, as so often in the Dyfed League, was against Cardigan A, at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes, on Monday 12th November, and, though we arrived feeling competitive, it did not end well for the club. On top board, Rudy van Kemenade played a sharp variation against Howard Williams's Sicilian and went on to open the centre on the principle that Black hadn't castled yet. It turns out that there was a winning line for him in the complications that ensued, but it was very hard to see, and he came out of them an exchange down, a deficit from which he was unable to recover. Adam Watkin-Jones was bamboozled by Iolo Jones's hypnotic manoeuvres in an English Opening, and allowed White a grip on d6, after which he, too, lost the exchange and the game. Against Tony Haigh, I found myself playing the White side of a French MacCutcheon, for only the second time in a rated game. Afterwards we both discovered that we only knew the theory as far as move 8. I cautiously exchanged out of danger, arriving at a knight-versus-bad-bishop endgame, which, according to Rudy's analysis, was winnable, but I could only find a draw. Finally, James Cook, after his good start to the season, had the worst of a Bogo-Indian against the rapidly improving Ben Brewer, dropping a pawn and allowing White's passed pawn to advance deep into his position for the win. Cardigan A's 3½-½ victory means they are now clear leaders of the League.

The club championship continued next day with a game between me and Sam Holman. Emerging from an O'Kelly Sicilian with a dangerous looking central passed pawn, Sam daringly sacrificed the exchange to foil my attempt to force a draw by repetition. In the difficult ending that resulted I failed to find the best defence and lost a tense and interesting game.

[Event "Dyfed League:Cardigan-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2030"] [BlackElo "2324"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2018.11.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg5 {a move championed by Gawain Jones, played by Morozovich, Glek & McShane} (5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nge7 7. c3 { main}) 5... Qc7 (5... Qb6 6. Nbd2 (6. Qc1 Bg7 7. c3 h6 8. Be3 d5 9. exd5 (9. Nbd2) 9... exd5 10. Bg2 Nge7 11. Nbd2 Nf5 12. Nb3 d4 13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Bd2 O-O 15. O-O {Glek-Triapishko,RUS ch tm rapid, Sochi 2015,1-0}) 6... Qxb2 {eg} 7. Nc4 Qg7 8. Rb1 d6 9. Bg2 Be7 10. e5 {G Jones-Snape, BCF ch, Scarborough 2001, 1-0}) 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. c3 e5 (7... Nge7 {main} 8. O-O d5 9. Na3 O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bd2 b6 13. Qc1 Kh7 14. Re4 f6 15. d4 {Glek-Short, Cap D'Agde rapid 1996,1-0}) 8. O-O d6 (8... Nge7 9. Na3 O-O 10. d4 d6 (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 exd4 12. Rc1 Qd8 13. Nb5 $11 {Libiszewski-Karr, FRA ch , Meribel 1998, 0-1}) 11. Nb5 Qd7 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Qe2 b6 14. Rfd1 Qb7 15. Nd6 Qa6 16. Qc2 $18 { Zakic-Vratonjic, YUG ch, NIs 1998,1-0}) 9. Na3 Be6 10. d4 {Wh felt that with the K in the middle, the game needed to be opened up} exd4 (10... cxd4 { Cloud Engines} 11. cxd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Qd3 (13. f4 $16 {Stockfish8 & Komodo12}) 13... a6 14. Rac1 Qd7 15. f4 Ne7 16. f5 gxf5 17. exf5 Nxf5 18. Nc4 Bxc4 (18... O-O 19. Nb6 Qb5 20. Qxb5 axb5 21. Nxa8 Rxa8 22. Bxb7 Ra7 23. Be4 Ne3 24. Rfe1 Rxa2 $14 {Komodo121}) 19. Rxc4 Ne3 20. Bxe3 dxe3 21. Qxe3+ Qe6 22. Qd3 O-O 23. Rh4 {Ansell-Nandhidhaa, London Classic Open2011,1-0}) 11. Nb5 { choice of Komodo12} Qd7 (11... Qb6 12. Nxd6+ Kf8 $16 {Komodo12} (12... Kd7 13. cxd4 (13. Bf4 $18) 13... cxd4 14. e5 $18 {considered by Wh & pm analtsis} (14. Bf4 $18 {Komodo12}))) 12. cxd4 $16 (12. Bf4 Be5 13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Nfxd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxf4 16. gxf4 Nf6 17. Nxe6 (17. Qe2 O-O 18. f5 $16 {Komodo12}) 17... fxe6 18. e5 Nh5 (18... dxe5 19. fxe5 Nd5 20. Qf3 O-O-O $14 {Komodo12}) 19. Qxd6 Nxf4 (19... Qxd6 20. exd6 Nxf4 21. Be4 Kd7 $11 {Komodo12}) 20. Qxd7+ Kxd7 21. Rfd1+ Ke7 22. Bxb7 Rad8 $11 {Horvath-Almasi, HUN ch tm, 2010,0-1}) 12... Bc4 { missed by Wh in earlier calculations, but Komodo12 finds the justification for Wh's decision to open up the game} (12... a6 {best try, Komodo12} 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14. d5 Bd7 15. dxc6 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Bxc6 17. e5 $16) 13. d5 (13. Bh3 $1 $16 {Komodo12- not seen in pm analysis either} Qxh3 (13... f5 14. exf5 $1 $18 Bxb5 (14... Bxf1 15. Qxf1 $18 Bf6 16. fxg6 Qg7 17. dxc5 $18 (17. gxh7 $18) (17. Re1+ Kf8 18. Bf4 $18)) (14... Nf6 15. Re1+ Kf8 16. Na3 Bd5 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rd8 20. Qe2 $18 {Komodo12}) 15. f6 Qc7 16. fxg7 Qxg7 17. Re1+ Nce7 18. Qb3 a6 19. dxc5 dxc5 20. a4 Bc6 21. Ne5 $18 {Komodo12}) (13... Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Rc1 $18 {Komodo12}) 14. Nxd6+ Kf8 15. Nxc4 Bxd4 (15... Nxd4 16. e5 $18) 16. Nd6 Qd7 17. Bf4 $16 {Komodo12}) (13. a4 Bxb5 (13... Bxf1 14. Qxf1 Nxd4 (14... a6 15. Bh3 $18) 15. Nfxd4 Bxd4 16. Rd1 Be5 17. f4 Bd4+ 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Rxd4 $14 {Komodo12}) 14. axb5 Nxd4 15. b6 ( 15. Be3 Nxb5 16. e5 $14) 15... a6 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Qd2 Ne7 (17... Bg7 18. e5 $16) 18. Bh6 $11 {Komodo12}) 13... Ne5 (13... Bxb5 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15. Bf4 $11 { Komodo12}) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc3 (15. Na3 {pm analysis & slightly preferred by Komodo12, a bit easier to play for Wh} Bxf1 16. Bxf1 a6 (16... Kf8 $11 { Komodo12}) 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Be3 (18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Rc1 $16 {Komodo12- pm analysis} (19. d6 f6 (19... h6 20. Qd5 hxg5 21. Qxe5+ Kf8 22. Qxh8 Qxd6 $14 { Komodo12}) 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Rc1 $16 {Komodo12}))) 15... Bxf1 16. Bxf1 (16. Qxf1 {looks to be better} h6 17. Be3 Nf6 18. Re1 Kf8 19. f4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Re8 21. e5 Ng4 22. Bc1 h5 23. c4 $11 {Komodo12}) 16... a6 $15 17. a4 (17. Na4 Qc7 { gets nowhere}) (17. Qe2 h6 18. Be3 Nf6 19. Bg2 b5 20. Nd1 O-O 21. Bxh6 Rfe8 22. Be3 Ng4 23. Bg5 f5 $17 {Komodo12}) 17... Ne7 (17... Nf6 18. Bh6 O-O-O $17 { Komodo12}) (17... Bg7 {Howard} 18. a5 Ne7 19. Na4 Nc8 20. b4 $11 {Komodo12}) 18. Bh6 (18. a5 O-O 19. Na4 Nc8 (19... Rae8 20. Nb6 Qc7 21. Nc4 $11 {Komodo12}) ) 18... f6 (18... Ng8 19. Be3 Nf6 $17 {Komodo12}) 19. Be3 (19. a5 Kf7 (19... g5 {Feared by Wh as it cuts off the B, butthere are resources} 20. Na4 Nc8 21. Be2 Kd8 22. Bg4 Qb5 23. Be6 (23. Qd2 Qe8 $17)) 20. Na4 Nc8 21. Be3 Kg7 22. f4 Bd4 23. Bxd4 cxd4 24. Qxd4 Re8 25. Rc1 Re7 $11 {Komodo112}) 19... f5 (19... O-O 20. f4 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Rae8 $17 {Komodo12}) 20. f4 (20. Bh6 O-O-O $17) (20. a5 O-O 21. Na4 Rad8 22. Nb6 Qc7 23. Nc4 fxe4 24. Nxe5 dxe5 25. Rc1 Nxd5 26. Bxc5 Rf6 27. Qe1 Rc6 28. b4 Nf6 $17 {Komodo12}) 20... Bxc3 21. bxc3 {at least Wh has obtained 2Bs vs R&N, which can often hold the fort in endgames} fxe4 22. Qc2 O-O $17 (22... O-O-O $17 {also, Komodo12}) 23. Qxe4 Nf5 24. Bf2 {looked better than} (24. Bd2 $19 {Komodo12 concurs}) 24... Rae8 25. Qd3 Re7 $19 {the R invasion will be too powerful} (25... c4 26. Qd2 {considered by both & pm analysis} Re4 $17) 26. a5 (26. g4 Nh6 27. h3 Rxf4 28. Qd2 Rxf2 (28... g5 29. Be3 Rxe3 30. Qxe3 Nf7 31. Qe6 $17 {is not as good}) 29. Qxf2 Nf7 30. Bg2 Ne5 $19 {Komodo12, the N dominates the defensive B( thus helping the other pieces gain in activity) & Bl has an extra pawn to play with on the Q side}) 26... Rfe8 27. Bh3 (27. Rb1 Ne3 $19) 27... Re4 (27... Re2) 28. c4 (28. Rb1 Ra4) 28... Qg7 (28... Re2 29. Rb1 Ra2 30. g4 Nh6 31. f5 Ree2 32. Bg3 gxf5 33. gxf5 Qg7 34. f6 Qxf6 35. Rf1 Qg7 36. Be6+ (36. Kh1 Ng4 $19) 36... Kh8 37. Qf3 Rxh2 38. Qf8+ Qxf8 39. Rxf8+ Kg7 40. Bxh2 Kxf8 41. Bxd6+ Ke8 42. Bxc5 Rxa5 43. Bb6 Ra1+ 44. Kf2 Nf7 $19 {though there are some slim hopes of a Wh survival as the Bs cooperate better than the R & N}) 29. Rb1 R8e7 (29... h5) (29... Nd4 30. Be6+ $11) 30. Rb6 (30. Rxb7 {Howard & pm analysis was Wh's last chance} Rxb7 31. Qxe4 Qa1+ 32. Kg2 Re7 33. Qd3 Qf6 (33... Qxa5 34. Bxf5 gxf5 35. Qxf5 $11 { the Bl K will face a perpetual}) 34. Qb3 Re2 35. Bxf5 Qxf5 36. Qb8+ Qf8 37. Qa7 Qe7 38. Qxa6 Ra2 $19 {Komodo12} (38... h5 $19 {Komodo12( provides escape routes for the Bl K as well as a source of attack)})) 30... Qa1+ 31. Kg2 (31. Rb1 Qxa5 32. Bxf5 gxf5 33. Qf3 Qa2 $19 {Komodo12}) (31. Bf1 Re1 (31... Qxa5 32. Rxb7 Rxb7 33. Qxe4 Qd2 $19 {a more immediate line}) 32. Bxe1 Rxe1 33. Kf2 (33. Rb3 Ne3) 33... Rd1 34. Qe2 Qd4+ 35. Kf3 (35. Kg2 Rd2) 35... Qc3+ 36. Kg4 Ne3+ 37. Kh3 Rd2 38. Rb3 (38. Qf3 Qg7 $1 {mating}) 38... Qxb3 39. Qxd2 Nxf1 40. Qe2 Ne3 $19 {Komodo12}) (31. Qb1 Re1+ $19 {seen by both}) 31... Ne3+ {Wh had missed that the N needed to be taken} 32. Bxe3 (32. Kf3 Qh1+ 33. Ke2 Nxc4+ 34. Be3 Rxe3+ 35. Qxe3 Rxe3+ 36. Kf2 Qf3+ 37. Kg1 Re1+ 38. Bf1 Qxf1#) 32... Rxe3 33. Qb1 Re2+ 34. Kf3 R7e3+ 35. Kg4 Qf6 36. Rxb7 (36. Bf1 Rxh2 37. f5 Rh5 38. fxg6 Qg5# {Komodo12 has some other typical Engine ways of postponing the mate by giving up lots of material first}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan A - Aberystwyth"] [Site "Tanygroes"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Jones, IC."] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "2225"] [BlackElo "1940"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 {main} (2... h5 {Heap-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed Closed 2018,0-1} ) 3. Bg2 g6 (3... d5 {main} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Be6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O) 4. Nc3 d6 5. e3 (5. Nf3) 5... Bg7 6. Nge2 Nbd7 (6... O-O {main, more flexible} 7. O-O c6 {main} (7... Nc6) (7... Re8 {alternatives to Nbd7})) 7. O-O O-O 8. d4 Re8 9. b3 {main} (9. Qc2 {next}) 9... a5 {uncommon} (9... e4 {main} 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. Ba3 Nf8 (11... c6)) (9... c6 10. Ba3 Bf8) 10. Bb2 h6 $146 (10... c6 {Cloud Engines} 11. Qc2 Qc7 (11... exd4 12. Nxd4 (12. exd4 {Cloud Engines, no games played yet}) 12... Nc5 $11 {transposes to 37 games, many by GMs})) (10... e4 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Nf4 c6 13. a3 h5 14. b4 Nf8 15. b5 Bf5 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. a4 N8h7 $11 {Wohl-Hausner, Prague op 1985,0-1}) 11. Rc1 Nh7 (11... e4 {Fritz12}) ( 11... exd4 12. exd4 c6 $14 {Komodo12}) 12. Qc2 (12. Qd2 $14 {Fritz13 & Komodo12 }) (12. h3 $14 {Stockfish9}) 12... h5 (12... exd4 13. exd4 Ndf6 {Fritz13 & Stockfish9} (13... c6 {Komodo12})) (12... f5 $2 {Rudy} 13. Bd5+ Kh8 14. Bf7 $18 ) 13. Nb5 {the Engines have all different moves for Wh} Nb8 {admitting that it was a mistake to put it on d7 in the first place? But a retreat looks worse as it leaves Bl very undeveloped} (13... exd4 {is what the Engines all agree on for Bl} 14. Bxd4 Ne5 {Fritz13 & Komodo12} (14... Bxd4 {Stockfish9 ( looks odd to exchange this good defender)})) 14. dxe5 {opening up the centre because Bl has just undeveloped} (14. c5 $16 {Komodo12}) 14... dxe5 15. Rcd1 $18 Qe7 ( 15... Nd7 {all 3 Engines, though then} 16. f4 $18) 16. Ba3 c5 17. Nd6 Na6 { Fritz13 & Komodo12} (17... Rf8 18. Bxc5 $18 {Stockfish9}) 18. Nxe8 Qxe8 19. Nc3 Bf5 20. Qd2 (20. e4 {all 3 Engines}) 20... Rb8 (20... e4 {all3 again}) 21. Nb5 b6 22. Nd6 Qe7 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Qd6 (24. Bb2 {all 3 wise Engines}) 24... Re8 25. Qxb6 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan A - Aberystwyth"] [Site "Tanygroes"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?.3"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Haigh, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C12"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1800"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 (6. Be3 Ne4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nge2 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba3 10. Rb1 Nd7 11. Nf4 Be7 12. h4 {Sims-Haigh,WCPL 2016, 1-0}) 6... Bxc3 7. bxc3 (7. Bxc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Qxd2 c5 10. Nf3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Nf3 Qc7 14. Re1 a5 15. g4 {Rousos-Haigh, EU cup Rhodes 2013,1-0}) 7... Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 (8... g6 {main}) 9. Nf3 {Aagard & Ntirlis 2013 consider this an inaccurate move order, as the N may well be better placed on f4} (9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 c5 11. h4 {is their preferred option }) (9. h4) (9. Qf4) (9. Bc1) 9... c5 10. Bd3 Nxd2 11. Kxd2 c4 {main} (11... Nc6 ) 12. Be2 Nc6 {presumably to clear the way for g4, but f4 is a more usual placement for the Q in these lines} 13. Qh3 $146 (13. h4 b5 14. a3 a5 15. Qf4 ( 15. h5) 15... Bd7 16. Rhb1 (16. g4 {main lines})) (13. a4 {played, Komodo12}) ( 13. Qf4 {played, New Engine & Komodo12}) 13... b5 $11 {Bl carries on with the standard Q side attack} 14. a3 a5 15. g4 (15. Rhb1) 15... Bd7 (15... Kg8 16. Qg3 Ba6 {Komodo12}) 16. Qg3 g6 17. Qh4 {Wh gives up on any chances of a K side attack, thus Bl is left with the initiative on the Q side} (17. h4) 17... Kg7 18. Qxd8 Rhxd8 $15 19. Rab1 Rdb8 20. Rb2 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. cxb4 Rxb4 23. Rxb4 Nxb4 24. Rb1 Rb8 (24... Nc6 25. Rb7 Be8 26. Kc3 (26. h4 Ra3 $15) 26... Ra6 27. Kb2 $11) 25. c3 Na6 26. Rxb8 Nxb8 {Bl still has a bad B, but it will be difficult for Wh to bring his K into the Q side- there is stasis on the K side} 27. Bd1 Nc6 (27... Na6 $5) 28. Kc1 (28. Ba4 Nxe5 $15) 28... Ne7 29. Nd2 (29. Kb2 g5 30. Bc2 (30. Ka3 Ng6 31. Kb4 Nf4 32. Ne1 Kf8 33. Kc5 Ke7 34. Bc2 Nh3 35. f3 Nf4 $15 {though neither side can undertake much}) 30... Ng6 {Komodo12 is quite happy to allow this- but it means a N vs bad B ending in which only Wh has winning chances ; & can torture Bl for ages- something that players like Iolo are vey happy to engage with. Bl does best not to try anything & have the N to preserve some control over the bl squares} 31. Bxg6 Kxg6 32. Ka3 h5 33. h3 hxg4 34. hxg4 Be8 35. Kb4 Bd7 36. Nd2 Bc6 37. Nf1 Bd7 38. Ng3 f6 39. Nh5 f5 40. Nf6 Bc8 41. gxf5+ Kxf5 42. Kc5 Kf4 43. Kd6 g4 44. Kc7 Ba6 45. Kd7 Kf5 46. Nh5 Bb5+ 47. Kd6 Ba4 48. Ng3+ Kf4 49. Kxe6 Kf3 50. Kxd5 Kxf2 51. Ne4+ Ke3 52. e6 $18 {to run a line through Komodo12}) 29... g5 30. Bc2 Ng6 {risky-see the above note} 31. Bxg6 fxg6 {weakens e6 & takes away the possibility of f6} ( 31... Kxg6 {safer}) 32. Kb2 h5 33. f3 (33. h3 $5) (33. Ka3 $1 {Komodo12- it leaves Bl with no targets for the B} hxg4 34. Kb4 (34. Nf1 Kh6 35. Ng3 (35. Ne3 $18 {is even stronger as g4 falls as soon as the Bl K takes h2 or f2} Kg7 36. Nxg4 Kf8 37. Nf6 Ke7 38. Kb4 Bc6 39. h3 Ba8 40. Kc5 Bb7 41. Kb6 Bc8 42. Kc6 Ba6 43. Nd7 Bc8 44. Nc5 {Zugzwang, Komodo12 nudged}) 35... Kg7 36. Kb4 Kf7 37. Kc5 Ke7 38. Nf1 Ba4 39. Ne3 Bb3 40. Nxg4 Bd1 41. Nf6 Bf3 42. Nh7 g4 43. Nf6 Be2 { outside the pawn chain , Bl can now just move the B backwards & forwards; however, Wh can still play on, because the B cannot control any squares to the rear., eg} 44. Kc6 Bd1 45. Kc7 Bf3 (45... Ba4 46. Nxg4 $18) 46. Nd7 {and now Komodo12 suddenly realises that Bl is lost} Bd1 47. Nb8 Bc2 48. Nc6+ Ke8 49. Kd6 Ba4 50. Na5 Kf7 51. Nb7 $18 {and e6 has fallen}) 34... Kh6 {this manouvre is much too slow- if Wh is worried about this the N can always keep the K out , then relocate later} 35. Kc5 Kh5 36. Kd6 Bc8 37. Kc7 Ba6 38. Kd7 Kh4 39. Kxe6 Kh3 40. Kxd5 Kxh2 41. Kc6 Kg1 42. e6 Kxf2 43. e7) 33... Ba4 34. Ka3 Bd1 35. h3 (35. Kb4 {may well be the last chance to win. With a pawn on h2 the doubled g pawns can't get through & again the Bl K moving to capture h2 is probably too slow. Lets just try out a possible line of play, rather than hope to be exhaustive. Again , it must be Wh who is in with a chance.} hxg4 36. fxg4 Bxg4 37. Nb1 (37. Kc5 Kf7 38. Nb1 Bd1 39. Na3 Ba4 {tries to keep the N out but Wh can try for Zugzwang to win e6} 40. Nb5 Ke7 (40... Bxb5 41. Kxb5 {Komodo12 quickly accepts that Bl is lost} Ke7 42. Kc6 g4 43. Kc7 g5 44. Kc6 Ke8 45. Kd6 Kf7 46. Kd7 $18) 41. Nd6 Bc2 {gets tricky} (41... Kd7 {seems a safer way} 42. Kb6 g4 43. Nb7 Bd1 44. Nc5+ Ke7 45. Kc7 Bc2 46. Nb7 Bf5 47. Na5 Bd3 48. Nc6+ Ke8 49. Kd6 Bf5 50. Nb8 Kf7 51. Nc6 (51. Na6 Ke8 52. Nc7+ Kf7 53. Kd7 Bc2 { and the threat of checks means the B just holds}) 51... Ke8 52. Nb4 Kf8 53. Kd7 Kf7 (53... Kg7 54. Ke7 Kh6 55. Nc6 Kh5 56. Nd8 Kh4 57. Nxe6 Kh3 58. Nf4+ Kxh2 59. e6 (59. Nxd5 g3 60. Ne3 Kg1 61. d5 Kf2 62. Nxf5 g2 63. d6 g1=Q 64. d7 Qg5+ 65. Ke8 Qxf5 66. d8=Q Qxe5+ $19) 59... Kg3 60. Kd6 Bxe6 61. Nxe6 Kf3 62. Ng5+ Kf4 63. Ne6+ $11 {the N just holds up the front g pawn}) 54. Nc6 $18)) 37... Kf7 38. Na3 {transposes to variations listed earlier.Overall, Wh retains very good winning winning chances, only losing in the odd line where he overpresses to avoid a draw.}) 35... Kf7 {now the N is tied to the defence of the f3 pawn (as Wh cannot allow Bl to get a passed Kside pawn, while his own K is away on the Q side))} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan A - Aberystwyth"] [Site "Tanygroes"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?.4"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Cook, James"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E11"] [WhiteElo "1431"] [BlackElo "1491"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 (4... Qe7) (4... a5) (4... Bxd2+) 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. e3 (6. g3 {main}) 6... O-O 7. Bd3 b6 (7... d6 8. O-O Nc6 9. Nbd2 e5 $14 {main}) 8. O-O Bb7 9. a3 (9. Nbd2 {main, transposes to 65 games}) 9... Qe7 {Deep Fritz13} (9... bxa3 {3 draws}) 10. Nbd2 (10. axb4 Qxb4 11. Nc3 d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne5 Qe7 14. f4 Nc6 15. Qf3 Nb4 16. Bb1 Ne4 {Ghabache-El Gindy, African ch , Oran 2017,0-1}) 10... bxa3 11. Rxa3 {Wh gets srong pressure down the a file} d6 12. Qa1 a6 (12... Nc6 $11 {Komodo12, uses the N to guard} 13. e4 e5 14. d5 Nb4 15. Bb1 a5 $11) 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Ng5 (14. b4 Nc6 15. Qb2 a5 16. bxa5 bxa5 17. e4 e5 (17... Nb4 18. Bb1 g6 $14 {Komodo121}) 18. d5 Nb4 19. c5 Rxc5 20. Rxc5 dxc5 21. Nxe5 $16 {Komodo12}) 14... h6 (14... Nc6) 15. Nge4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 d5 $2 {usually a counter in the centre is an antidote to a side attack, but here it leads to the loss of a vital pawn} (17... a5 $11) (17... f5 18. Nd2 a5 $11) 18. cxd5 $18 Rxc1+ 19. Qxc1 exd5 20. Qc8+ Kh7 (20... Qf8 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. Nc3 {and the pawn is still lost}) 21. Qf5+ Kg8 22. Qxd5 Ra7 23. Nc3 b5 24. Qc5 (24. Ne4 $18 {looks stronger- the Wh pieces are more effective & Wh has a strong centre that stops Bl activity}) 24... Qxc5 25. dxc5 b4 26. Rb3 Nc6 $11 {Komodo12-the extra Wh pawn is loose & Bl has a chance to threaten a Q side advance of his own} (26... a5 $11 {Komodo12} 27. Na4 Rd7 28. Kf1 Na6 29. Ke2 Rc7 30. Rd3 Nxc5 31. Nxc5 Rxc5 $11) 27. Na4 a5 (27... Rd7 { activity saves Bl} 28. Kf1 Rd1+ 29. Ke2 Ra1 30. Nb6 Rc1 31. Rd3 (31. Nd7 Rc2+ 32. Kf3 Rd2 33. Nb6 f5 $11 {the Wh R & K are both tied down in different ways}) 31... Rxc5 32. Kd2 Ne5 $11 {Komodo12}) 28. Rd3 $18 {now the Wh R has taken the open file & the c pawn is safe} Kf8 29. f4 Ke7 30. Nb6 Ke8 31. b3 Rc7 32. Rd1 ( 32. Nc4 Ne7 33. Nxa5 Rxc5 34. Nc4 $16) 32... Nd8 33. Rc1 (33. Na4 Rd7 34. Rc1 Nc6 35. Rb1 Rd2 36. Rb2 Rxb2 37. Nxb2 Kd7 $14 {Bl still has chances of regaining the c5 pawn}) 33... Rc6 (33... Nb7 {Komodo12} 34. Na4 (34. c6 Nd8 35. Ra1 Rxc6 (35... Nxc6 36. Rc1 Kd8 37. Rd1+ Ke8 38. Rc1 Kd8 {repetition?} (38... f5 39. Rc5 $16)) 36. Nc4 Nb7 37. Kf1 Nc5 38. Nd2 Nb7 $11 {Komodo12})) 34. Kf2 Nb7 35. Na4 Kd7 36. g4 (36. e4 {the candidate passed pawn is usually the best one to move forward}) 36... f6 {Bl should also not be moving the pawns on the side where he is under attack- it just creates possible entry points for the other side.} (36... Rc7 {Rs are not the best blockaders- they need open files & weak pawns to attack- so swapping the K & R round makes sense} 37. e4 Kc6 38. Ke3 Rd7 39. Nb6 Rd8 40. Nd5 Re8 41. Kd4 $16 {Wh most probably winning, but there is work ahead}) 37. Kf3 (37. e4 Rc7 38. Ke3 Kc6) 37... g6 38. e4 (38. Ke4 Nd6+ 39. Kd5 Nb5 40. f5 gxf5 41. gxf5 Ra6 42. e4 Kc7 43. Rg1 $18 {Komodo12} Nc3+ 44. Nxc3 bxc3 45. Rg7+ Kc8 46. Rg3 $18) 38... g5 (38... Rc7 39. Rd1+ Kc6 40. Rd5 Re7 $16 {and waiting}) 39. Rd1+ (39. f5 $18 {Komodo12} Rc7 40. e5 fxe5 41. Ke4 $18 {and Wh has forced a protected passed pawn}) 39... Ke7 40. Rd5 Nd8 (40... gxf4 41. Kxf4 Nd8 42. h4 Ne6+ 43. Kf5 Rc8 44. e5 fxe5 45. Kxe5 Rc7 46. Kf5 Rc8 47. g5 hxg5 48. hxg5 {and Wh has another runner, though Komodo12 thinks Bl can resist longer} Rf8+ 49. Kg4 Rf4+ 50. Kg3 Rf1 51. c6 Rc1 52. Rxa5 Rxc6 53. Ra7+ Kf8 54. Rb7 Nxg5 55. Rxb4 $14 {draw- Lomonosov tablebases}) 41. e5 (41. f5 $18) 41... Ne6 (41... gxf4 42. Kxf4 Ne6+ 43. Kf5 fxe5 44. Rxe5 Kf7 { very similar to previous note}) 42. exf6+ (42. f5 Nd8 43. e6 $18 {Komodo12-is simpler}) 42... Kxf6 43. f5 Rc7 (43... Nf4 44. Rd6+ Rxd6 45. cxd6 Nd3 46. h3 h5 47. Ke4 Nf4 48. Nc5 Nxh3 49. d7 Ke7 50. f6+ Kd8 51. Ke5 Kc7 (51... hxg4 52. Kd6 Nf4 53. Nb7#) 52. f7 $18 {mating soon}) 44. Rd6 1-0 [Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B28"] [WhiteElo "1327"] [BlackElo "1718"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2018.11.14"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {The O'Kelly var} 6. Nb3 ( 6. Nf3 {main, as it attacks the e5 pawn}) (6. Nf5 d5 7. Ng3 Bb4 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 O-O {James Thomas-Francis, Tom Weston Major 2008,1-0}) (6. Nde2 Bc5 7. Ng3 O-O 8. Be2 d6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 Nd4 { Ehsander-Francis, S Wales New Year, Bridgend 2018,1-0}) 6... Bb4 7. f3 (7. Bd2 {Connolly-Francis, Dyfed Open 2011,1/2-1/2}) (7. Bd3 {Cadden-Francis, Dyfed Open 2013,1/2-1/2}) 7... d5 8. a3 (8. exd5 {main}) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O (9... dxe4 $15 {wins a pawn, 0-3}) 10. exd5 {Cloud Engines} Qxd5 (10... Nxd5) 11. Bd3 (11. Qxd5 Nxd5 12. c4 Ne7 13. Be3 $14 {Komodo12}) 11... Be6 $15 12. Bb2 (12. c4 Qc6 13. Qe2 Nbd7 14. Be3 Rac8 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Rb1 Qc7 18. O-O Rfd8 $15 {Komodo12}) 12... Nbd7 (12... b5 {fixes the c pawn on c3}) 13. Qd2 ( 13. c4) 13... e4 (13... Qc6 14. O-O Nb6 $17 {Komodo12}) 14. c4 Qc6 15. fxe4 $11 Nxe4 (15... Rfe8 16. O-O Bxc4 17. Rad1 Rac8 $11 {Komodo12}) 16. Qe3 Ndc5 (16... f5 17. O-O $11) 17. Nxc5 (17. O-O $14 {the Wh pieces are actively placed}) 17... Nxc5 18. O-O Nxd3 19. cxd3 Bd7 (19... Rae8) (19... f6) 20. Qg3 Qg6 (20... Qb6+ 21. Qf2 Qxf2+ 22. Rxf2 Rfe8 $11 {Komodo12}) 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. d4 Rac8 23. Rac1 Rfe8 $11 {the presence of opposite colour bs means a lack of control by eith side of the non-colour of their B, despite the presence of Rs.Wh does have a passed pawn, but that should be easily blocked} 24. Rc3 (24. d5) (24. Rf2 {aims to keep Rs off e2, loses a pawn, but the B ending looks drawn} Rxc4 25. Rxc4 Re1+ 26. Rf1 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Bb5 28. Kf2 Bxc4 $15) 24... Be6 { attacking the centre pawns, buy using a R is a little better} (24... Re4 25. Rd1 Re2 26. Bc1 Bb5 27. c5 Bc6 28. Kf1 (28. d5 Rd8 29. Rcd3 Ba4 30. Rf1 Bc2 31. Rd4 Be4 32. Rf2 Re1+ 33. Rf1 Rxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Bxd5 $17 {but Bl is only a halfpawn ahead}) 28... Ra2 29. Rd2 Rxd2 30. Bxd2 Rd8 31. Be3 f6 $15 {Komodo12}) 25. d5 (25. Re1 Bg4 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. h3 Re1+ 28. Kh2 Bf5 $11 {Komodo12}) 25... Bf5 26. a4 Re2 27. Rf2 Re1+ 28. Rf1 Re2 {Bl is content with a draw- Wh stakes everything on his passed pawn; at least by eliminating the B he gains more chances on the wh squares. However it is double-edged as the 2 Rs might do damage long before the pawn gets going. Especially since Bl still has his K available to come & stop the pawn} (28... Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Bd3+ 31. Kf2 Bxc4 32. d6 Kf8 33. Bxg7+ Ke8 34. Be5 {is another way; draw with opposite colourBs}) 29. Rxf5 $5 gxf5 $19 {Komodo12} 30. Ba3 Rd2 31. d6 Re8 {should Bl be minded just to set up a barricade, then} (31... Rd8 32. Rb3 Rd7 {and Wh will be unable to shift the R from here- & Bl can bring the K up to take its place, when the R can go off to pastures new} 33. a5 {just running a few lines with the aid of Komodo12} f6 34. Rf3 g6 35. g4 Kf7 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. Rxf5 Ke6 38. Rf3 Rg7+ 39. Kf1 Rxh2 40. Re3+ Kd7 41. Rb3 Kc8 42. Re3 Rgh7 43. Re8+ Kd7 44. Rb8 Ke6 45. Re8+ Kf5 46. Re7 Rh1+ (46... Rxe7 47. dxe7 Rh8 48. Kf2 Ke6 49. Kf3 Rc8 (49... Re8 50. Ke4 Rxe7 {Rudy, is a simple K & P win}) 50. Ke3 Kd7 51. Kd4 Rc6 52. Kd5 f5 53. Ke5 Rxc4 54. Kxf5 Ra4 55. Bd6 Rxa5+ $19 {Komodo12}) 47. Kf2 R7h2+ 48. Kg3 Rh8 49. Kf2 Kf4 50. Ke2 R1h2+ 51. Kd3 R8h3+ 52. Kd4 Rxa3 53. Rxb7 Rxa5 54. d7 Rd2+ 55. Kc3 Raa2 $19 {Komodo12}) (31... b5 {also works} 32. axb5 axb5 33. c5 Rxd6 34. Rb3 Ra6 $19 {Komodo12}) 32. h3 (32. Kf1 Re4 33. h3 Kf8 34. Rb3 Ke8 35. Rxb7 Rxc4 36. Kg1 a5 {Komodo12} (36... Rxa4 37. Bb4 Rc2 38. Re7+ Kd8 39. Be1 g6 40. Rxf7 Rc1 41. Kf1 Rf4+ 42. Ke2 Re4+ 43. Kf2 Rcxe1 $19) 37. Re7+ Kd8 (37... Kf8 38. Rc7 $18) 38. Rxf7 Rc3 39. Rxf5 Rxa3 40. Rxa5 Rxd6 $19 {Komodo12}) 32... f4 {preventing a Rg3 in response to Bl doubling on the 7th, but Rs must be used in attack, rather than just as defensive machines} ( 32... Ree2 33. Kh1 {Komodo12} (33. Rg3 f4 34. Rg4 f3 $1 {Komodo12} 35. Kh1 (35. gxf3 Rd1#) 35... fxg2+ {wins a R, as} 36. Kh2 g1=Q+ 37. Kxg1 Rd1#) 33... Rxg2 34. Bc1 Rh2+ 35. Kg1 Rdg2+ 36. Kf1 Ra2 37. Kg1 Rhc2 $2 (37... Rhg2+ 38. Kf1 Kf8 39. d7 Ke7 40. Rd3 Kd8 41. Ba3 (41. Be3 Rgb2 42. Rd1 f4 43. Bd4 Rd2 $19) 41... Rgf2+ 42. Kg1 Rfe2 43. Kf1 f4 44. Bc5 Re6 45. Ba7 b6 46. c5 bxc5 47. Bxc5 Rxa4 {and, while Bl has to take care not to allow the wh pawn through, his own pawns on both wings will decide the game}) 38. Rxc2 Rxc2 39. Bg5 Rxc4 40. d7 Rd4 41. d8=Q+ Rxd8 42. Bxd8 b5 43. axb5 axb5 44. Ba5 g5 45. Kf2 Kh7 46. Kg3 Kg6 47. Bb4 f4+ 48. Kg4 f5+ 49. Kf3 Kh5 (49... g4+ $11) 50. Be1 g4+ $11) (32... Re1+ {also looks promising} 33. Kh2 Ree2 34. Kg3 (34. Rg3 f4 35. Rg4 f3 $19) 34... g5 35. h4 Rxg2+ 36. Kf3 (36. Kh3 g4#) 36... gxh4 (36... Rgf2+ 37. Kg3 f4+ 38. Kg4 Rg2+ 39. Kf5 Rg3 40. Bb4 Rxc3 41. Bxc3 f3 $19 (41... Rxd6 42. hxg5 f3 43. Be1 Re6 44. Bg3 Re2 $19))) 33. Kf1 f6 {to bring the K across, however} ( 33... Ree2 $1 {and at worst Bl forces a draw- Rudy , also Komodo12 first choice } 34. d7 (34. Rf3 Re4 35. c5 Rxa4 36. Rb3 Rc4 37. Ke1 Rcc2 $19 38. Rxb7 Rxg2 { mating} 39. Kd1 (39. Kf1 Rh2 40. Kg1 Rcg2+ 41. Kf1 f3 42. d7 Rh1#) 39... f3 40. Bc1 Rce2 41. Be3 Rh2 42. Bd2 Rxd2+ 43. Kc1 Rde2 44. Rb8+ Kh7 45. d7 Rh1#) 34... Rf2+ 35. Ke1 Rfe2+ 36. Kf1 {draw at least, Rudy; but Komodo12 goes for more} Rf2+ 37. Ke1 Rxg2 38. Kf1 (38. Bc1 Rxd7) 38... Rgf2+ 39. Ke1 Rfe2+ 40. Kf1 Rh2 41. Kg1 Rdg2+ 42. Kf1 Rd2 43. Kg1 Rhe2 44. Kf1 Re4 $19 {and again the pawn is lost}) 34. Rb3 Re6 {aiming to return the exchange?} (34... Re4 $19 {Komodo12} 35. c5 (35. Rxb7 Rxc4 36. Ke1 Rcd4 37. Bc5 Rd5 38. Bb4 Rxg2 39. d7 Rg1+ 40. Ke2 Rgd1 41. Ra7 Rxd7 42. Rxa6 R1d3 43. a5 Rxh3 {and Bl's K side pawns will win, even if the Rs don't manage it first}) 35... Rxa4 36. Ke1 Rd5 $19) (34... Ree2 $19 {Rudy, judgement by Komodo12} 35. Rxb7 (35. d7 Re3 $19) 35... Rf2+ 36. Ke1 Rde2+ 37. Kd1 Ra2 38. Ke1 Rxg2 39. Kf1 Rgf2+ 40. Kg1 (40. Ke1 Rae2+ 41. Kd1 f3) 40... Rfd2 41. Rb1 Rxa3 $19) 35. Rb6 (35. Rxb7 {gives Wh better chances than the text} Re4 (35... Rexd6 36. Bxd6 Rxd6 37. Ke2 $14 {Wh's C pawn is a little better than Bl's doubled f pawn} Rd4 38. c5 Rc4 39. Ra7 Rxc5 40. Rxa6 $11 { Wh's R is on the wrong side of the a pawn}) 36. c5 Rxa4 37. Bb2 Rc4 38. d7 Kh7 39. Ke1 Rcc2 40. Bc3 Rxd7 41. Rxd7 Rxc3 42. Rd5 Rg3 43. Rd2 (43. Kf2 {Rudy} Kg6 44. Rd6 Rc3 45. Rxa6 Rxc5 {is a theoretical draw})) 35... f5 (35... Re4 $19 36. Bb4 Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Rxc4 38. Rxb7 Kh7 39. d7 Rcd4 40. Rb6 Rxd7 41. Rxa6 Rc7 42. Re6 Rd4 43. Be1 Rxa4 $19 {Komodo12}) (35... Rd1+ 36. Kf2 Re4 $19 {transposes}) 36. Bb4 (36. Rxb7 $1 f3 (36... Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Rd2+ 38. Kf1 Rd1+ $11) 37. gxf3 Re3 38. Bb4 Rxf3+ 39. Ke1 Rd4 40. Bc5 Rxc4 41. Ke2 Rxh3 42. d7 Re4+ 43. Kf2 (43. Kd2 Rh2+ 44. Kd3 Rh3+ $11 {repetition}) 43... Rh2+ 44. Kf3 Rh3+ 45. Kg2 Rd3 46. Rb8+ Kf7 47. d8=Q Rxd8 48. Rxd8 Rxa4 {Komodo12 gives slight advantage to Wh, but Wh is unlikely to win even if there were no Bl pawns on the board, so practical winning chances lie with Bl}) 36... Rd3 {not the best place for this R} (36... Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Re4 38. c5 a5 39. Bxa5 Rxa4 40. Ke2 Rd5 $19 {the B is in trouble} 41. Bc3 (41. Rxb7 Ra2+ 42. Kf1 Rxa5 43. d7 Kh7 44. c6 Ra1+ 45. Ke2 Ra2+ 46. Ke1 (46. Kf3 Rd3+ 47. Kxf4 Kg6 48. Rb4 (48. c7 Ra4+ 49. Ke5 Re4#) 48... Kf6 49. d8=Q+ Rxd8 50. c7 g5+ 51. Kg3 Rd3+ 52. Kh2 Rc2 53. Rb7 Rdd2 { Komodo12} (53... Rdc3 {human safety}) 54. h4 Rxg2+ 55. Kh1 Rh2+ 56. Kg1 Rxh4 $19) 46... Rdd2 {with a mating net}) 41... Rc4 42. Bb4 Rc2+ 43. Kf1 (43. Kf3 g5 {mating}) 43... Rd1+ 44. Be1 Rcc1 45. Kf2 Rxe1 46. Rxb7 Red1 47. Ke2 Rd4 $19 { Komodo12}) 37. c5 $11 f3 38. gxf3 Rxf3+ 39. Kg2 Ree3 (39... Rd3 {Rs should preferably keep a little distance away from the K they are attacking} 40. Kf1 ( 40. Rxb7 Re2+ 41. Kf1 Rc2 42. Re7 (42. d7 Rd1+ 43. Be1 Kh7 44. Rc7 (44. Ra7 Rxc5 $17) 44... f4 $19 {Komodo12}) 42... Rxh3 $17)) 40. Be1 $1 {and Bl couldn't see a way to save the game} (40. Rxb7 Rg3+ {draws by repetition}) (40. Be1 Rf4 (40... Rd3 41. d7) 41. d7 Re2+ 42. Kg3 Rd4 43. Rd6 $18) 1-0

Ruthless Streak

It is still very early in the season, but the Aberystwyth team looks to have a ruthless streak about it at the moment. Steynton A were competitive in every game at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Monday 29th October but Aber scored another whitewash. Rudy van Kemenade won a pawn in a Reti against Martin Jones, and kept control of the endgame, though Black missed the chance to transpose into a drawish rook-and-pawn position. Adam Watkin-Jones had a complex struggle against David Pinch in a Modern / London hybrid opening, until White suddenly blundered, handing him a rook with mate to follow. Julie van Kemenade's King's Indian Attack against John Miller's French was also double-edged, with both sides having vulnerable kings, but White's attack proved more dangerous. Finally, James Cook could not find a way through in a major-piece battle against Scott Hammett's Bird's Opening, and offered a draw, which White should have accepted, as the position opened up for Black a couple of moves later. Another 4-0 win for Aber.

Meanwhile the club championship has started, and the first game was a solid positional win for Dan Hardman against Francis Headley in a King's Indian Defence.

[Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Jones, Martin C"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2023"] [BlackElo "1755"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2018.11.02"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O c5 (4... O-O) 5. d3 Nc6 6. c4 (6. e4) (6. Nbd2) 6... d5 (6... O-O) 7. cxd5 (7. Nc3 d4 (7... dxc4 8. dxc4 O-O 9. Be3 { if Wh is playing for a miniscule edge}) 8. Na4 {is a Reversed Yugoslav King's Indian}) 7... Nxd5 8. Nc3 (8. a3) (8. Qc2) 8... Nxc3 (8... O-O {transposes to 600 + games}) 9. bxc3 O-O {after some thought, Bl decines} (9... Bxc3 10. Rb1 { 4 Wh wins, 1 draw, 3 Bl wins} O-O (10... Bg7 11. Qc2 Qd6 12. Be3 (12. Ba3 { Martin & Komodo12}) 12... b6 13. Bf4 Qd7 14. d4 c4 (14... Qf5 15. e4 Qh5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Qxc5 bxc5 18. Rfc1 $14 (18. e5 $14 {Komodo12})) 15. Rfd1 $16 { Speelman-Ady, Commonwealth ch, London 1985,1-0}) 11. Qa4 Qa5 12. Qc4 (12. Qxa5 Bxa5 13. Be3 $11) 12... Bf6 13. Bd2 Be6 14. Qxe6 fxe6 15. Bxa5 Nxa5 16. Nd2 Rab8 17. Bh3 Kf7 18. Ne4 b6 19. Kg2 Nc6 20. Rbc1 Rbd8 21. f4 Nd4 22. Rfe1 h6 $17 {Kramnik-Mamedyarov, Geneve Masters KO Rapid 2013,1/2-1/2}) 10. Be3 { Cloud Engines} (10. Qb3 {transposes to some 40 games}) (10. Qc2 {to some 20}) ( 10. Rb1 {8 games incl Kramnik-Mamedyarov}) 10... Qd6 (10... b6 11. d4 Bb7 12. dxc5 Na5 (12... bxc5 13. Rb1 Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Ba6 15. Bxc5 Bxe2 16. Re1 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Rac8 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Rxe7 Rxc3 20. Bd5 $14 {Komodo12}) 13. Qa4 bxc5 14. Rfd1 Bc6 15. Qa3 Qc7 16. Qxc5 $14 {Diamant-Molner, USA tt ICC-INT 2012, 1/2-1/2 }) (10... Bxc3 11. Rc1 Qa5 12. Nd2 Be6 13. Ne4 Bb2 14. Rc2 Bd4 15. Nxc5 Bxe3 16. Nxb7 Qe5 17. Rxc6 Bb6 18. e3 Bxa2 19. Qa4 Be6 20. d4 $14 { Anastasian-Shirov, Frunze op 1989,1-0}) 11. Nd2 Bf5 (11... b6 12. d4 $11 { Komodo12}) 12. Nc4 (12. Rc1 b6 13. Qa4 Rac8 14. Rfe1 $11 {Komodo12}) 12... Qd7 13. Bxc5 Bxc3 14. Rb1 (14. Rc1) 14... Rab8 15. Ne3 (15. Qa4 Bh3 16. Bxh3 Qxh3 17. Rfc1 Bg7 18. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {Komodo12}) 15... Be6 (15... Bh3 16. Bxh3 Qxh3 17. Nd5 $14 {considered by both}) 16. Rc1 (16. d4 {briefly considered by Wh} Nxd4 17. Bxa7 Bxa2 18. Rc1 Bb2 19. Rc2 Bb3 20. Qb1 (20. Bxb8 Rxb8 21. Qd3 Bxc2 22. Nxc2 Qa4 $15) 20... Bxc2 21. Qxb2 Nxe2+ 22. Kh1 Bd3 23. Bxb8 Rxb8 24. Rd1 Qb5 25. Qa3 Bc4 26. Qxe7 Be6 27. Qf6 $11 {Komodo12}) 16... Bd4 (16... Bg7 17. Re1 Rfc8 18. Qa4 Rc7 $15 {Komodo12}) 17. Bxc6 {Komodo12} (17. Qa4 $11) (17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nc2 Nb5 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Ne3 Nd4 $11) 17... bxc6 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Rxc6 Bxa2 {Komodo12 doesn't like getting the pawn back this quickly} (19... Rb2 20. Qa1 (20. Rc2 Rfb8 21. Qa1 Qg7 22. Rfc1 h5 23. a4 a5 $14) 20... Rd8 21. Rc2 Rxc2 22. Qxd4 Rxd4 23. Nxc2 Ra4 24. Ra1 Rxa2 (24... Bxa2) 25. Rxa2 Bxa2 26. Nb4 Be6 27. Nc6 Bd7 28. Nxa7 $11 {though the N is trapped} Kf8 29. Kg2 Ke8 30. d4 Kd8 31. d5 Kc7 32. Kf3 e6 33. Nc6 Kd6 34. Nb4 exd5 35. Ke3 $11 {Komodo12}) 20. Qa1 $16 Qxa1 (20... Qd7 21. Rfc1 Be6 22. Rc7 Qd6 23. Rxa7 $16) (20... Rb2 21. Rc2 $1 {Komodo12} (21. Nd1 {seen by both players} Bd5 {missed} 22. Ra6 Rb4 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxa7 $16) 21... Rfb8 22. Nd1 R2b4 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxa2 $18 {Komodo12}) 21. Rxa1 Rb2 22. Rc2 Rxc2 (22... Rfb8 23. Rxa2 $18 {had been foreseen by Wh going into Bxc6, realised now by Bl that could not be played}) 23. Nxc2 Bb3 24. Nd4 {missed by Bl, again seen earlier by Wh} Bd5 25. Rxa7 $16 e5 {a strong move, which allows Bl to swap of a pair of pawns before Wh can stabilize his position} (25... e6 {not as good}) 26. Ra5 (26. Nb5 {in retrospect better, though Wh needs to be careful} Rb8 (26... Ra8 {Komodo12 plumps for this, though in the longrange Bl has better survival chances in a R & P ending} 27. Rxa8+ Bxa8 28. f3 $16 {the stability of the pawns helps the N rather than the B}) 27. Nc3 Bc6 28. Rc7 Bb7 29. f3 $16) (26. Rd7 Ba8 27. Nb3 Rb8 (27... e4 28. d4 $16) 28. Nd2 (28. f3 Bxf3 29. exf3 Rxb3 $11) 28... Kg7 29. Kf1 Rb2 30. Ke1 $16 {Komodo12}) 26... Rd8 27. Nc2 (27. Nb5 {again better} e4 28. dxe4 Bxe4 29. f3 Bf5 30. Kf2 $16) 27... e4 28. Nb4 (28. dxe4 Bxe4 29. Ne3 Rd2 30. Kf1 Kg7 31. f3 Bb1 32. Ke1 Rb2 33. Nc4 Rc2 34. Nd6 Rc6 35. Rd5 Ba2 36. Rd2 Be6 37. Kf2 $16 {Wh must keep Ns on but hope to swap Rs}) 28... exd3 29. Nxd3 Be4 30. Ra3 (30. Ne1 Rd1 31. Kf1 Bg2+ $1 32. Kxg2 Rxe1) 30... Rb8 (30... Bxd3 {is simplest route for Bl}) 31. f3 Bf5 (31... Bxd3 32. Rxd3 {Rook and Four Pawns vs Rook and Three Pawns. 'This is one of the best-known problems in endgame theory:is the attacker winning? Theoretically the answer is no, but in practice it is not at all easy to defend.First of all it must be sressed that just waiting passively is not sufficient' Mueller & Lamprecht- Fundamental Chess Endings 2001:212. They cite a game won by Botwinnik & one lost by Kasparov . Fine 1941 cites 2 wins by Capablanca. So Bl should have taken the chance given to him.} (32. exd3 Rb2 {is even less likely to manage to convert the extra pawn})) 32. e4 Rb1+ 33. Kf2 Be6 34. h4 h5 {all the pawns on the same colour as the B- Wh needs to come in using the bl squares} (34... h6) 35. Ke3 Kg7 36. Kf4 Rb3 {helps Wh , who now need not worry about the safety of his g & h pawns} (36... Bc4 37. Ne5 Be6 {and Komodo12 is rather clueless about what to do, spending all its move just waving the N about.} 38. g4 (38. Rc3 Ra1 39. Nd3 Bd7 40. Nc5 Rd1 41. Ke5 Bb5 42. f4 Be2 43. Ra3 Bc4 44. Ra7 Rg1 45. Kd4 Bb5 46. Ne6+ Kf6 47. Ng5 Rd1+ 48. Kc5 Bd7 49. e5+ Kg7 {Wh is trying to get access to f6 for K or N, or getting a passed e pawn} 50. Rc7 Kf8 51. Nh7+ Kg7 52. Nf6 Be6 53. Ra7 Rd3 54. Ne4 Bf5 55. Ng5 Bd7 56. Kc4 Rd1 57. Kc3 Kg8 58. Kc2 Rd4 59. Ra3 Bf5+ 60. Kc3 Rd3+ 61. Kb4 Rd7 62. Ra6 Rc7 63. Kb5 Rd7 64. Rf6 Kg7 65. Kc6 Re7 66. Nf3 Bc8 67. Nd4 Ra7 68. f5 Ra4 69. Kc5 Ra5+ 70. Kd6 Ra4 71. Kd5 Bb7+ 72. Kc5 Ra5+ 73. Kd6 Bh1 74. fxg6 Rd5+ 75. Kc7 Rxd4 76. gxf7 Kf8 77. e6 {and this position Komodo12 does accept is winning for Wh} Re4 78. Kd6 Rd4+ 79. Ke5 Rd5+ 80. Kf4 Rd4+ 81. Kg5 Rd5+ 82. Kh6 Re5 83. Rg6 $18 {long drawnout, with Komodo12 constantly nudged, involves several plausible lines of continuation.}) 38... Rh1 39. Kg3 hxg4 40. fxg4 (40. Nxg4 Bxg4 41. Kxg4 {assures the draw, one pawn less all on the same side is easy to hold}) 40... Rg1+ 41. Kf4 f6 42. Ra7+ Kg8 (42... Kh6 $2 43. g5+ fxg5+ 44. hxg5+ Rxg5 45. Re7 Ba2 46. Ng4+ Rxg4+ 47. Kxg4 {and with a passed pawn the R beats the B}) 43. Nc6 Rxg4+ 44. Kf3 f5 $11 ( 44... Rxh4 45. Ne7+ {wins the R}) 45. exf5 Bxf5 46. h5 Rg5 (46... gxh5 47. Ne7+ Kg7 48. Nxf5+ Kf6 {also draws, as the Bl K is not stuck on the back rank}) 47. Ne7+ Kf8 48. h6 Rh5 49. Nxf5 Rxf5+ 50. Kg4 Kg8 51. Rg7+ Kh8 52. Rxg6 Rf1 $11 ( 52... Ra5 $11)) 37. Rxb3 Bxb3 38. Ke5 {the B & K are unable to hold the bl squares against an advanced K & agile N} f6+ {this attempt helps Wh obtain a passed e pawn} (38... Bd1 39. f4 Bc2 40. Nb4 Bb1 41. Kd4 (41. Nd5 f5 42. Nf6 fxe4 43. Nxe4 Kf7 44. Nd6+ Ke7 45. f5 gxf5 46. Nxf5+ Kf7 {is a clear win- Lomonosov table bases ( a Stockfish8 has also exhaustively examined this position to a win)- Wh puts a N on f4, then outmanouvres the Bl pieces crowded in defence} 47. Ne3 Kg6 48. Ng2 Kh6 49. Nf4 Ba2 50. Kf6 Bc4 51. Ne6 Be2 52. Nd4 Bc4 53. Nf5+ Kh7 54. Kg5 Bd3 55. Ne3 Bg6 56. Ng2 Be8 57. Nf4 {to give one possible line by Rudy}) 41... f5) 39. Kd6 (39. Kd4 {perhaps}) 39... Bc4 40. Nf4 (40. Nc5 $18 {is much simpler}) 40... Kf7 41. Nd5 Be2 (41... Bd3 {holds up the pawn advance, but not for long} 42. Nc3 g5 43. f4 $18) 42. f4 $18 Bf3 43. e5 fxe5 44. fxe5 Bg4 45. Nf4 (45. Nc7 {again is more accurate, as it controls the queening square}) 45... Bf5 46. e6+ Ke8 47. Nd5 Bc2 {and Bl resigned while Wh was checking whether Nf6ch ( the N might get lost but it doesn't matter much or Nc7ch was best} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Steynton A- Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1940"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 g6 2. Bf4 Bg7 3. e3 d6 4. c3 Nd7 5. Nf3 e5 6. Bg5 {1 Wh win,6 draws & 13 Bl wins} (6. dxe5) (6. Bg3 {main lines}) 6... Ne7 {main} 7. Be2 (7. Nbd2 {main} ) 7... O-O 8. O-O {perhaps a little early, given that the Bl forces are ready to move forward in this area} (8. Na3 f6 9. Bh4 Nf5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Qb3+ Nf7 14. O-O-O Qe7 $11 {Wagenaar-Maes, NATO ch tm, Stetten Am Kalte Markt , 1999 ,1/2-1/2}) (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 f5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nbd2 Nb6 12. h3 Be6 13. Nh2 exd4 14. cxd4 f4 $17 {Nomalungelo-Sherif, Batumi ol women 2018,0-1}) 8... h6 (8... f6 {Stockfish9 & Komodo12}) 9. Bh4 (9. Bxe7) 9... Qe8 (9... g5 10. Bg3 f5 11. dxe5 dxe5 $11 {Rudy & Stockfish9}) (9... e4 10. Nfd2 g5 (10... Qe8) 11. Bg3 f5 $11 {Komodo12} (11... Nf6)) 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. e4 g5 12. Bg3 Ng6 $11 13. Ne1 (13. Nbd2) 13... Nc5 $17 14. Qd5 Qe7 $17 { Komodo12} (14... Ne6 15. Nd3 c6 16. Qb3 (16. Qd6 b6 17. Rd1 (17. Nd2 Ba6 18. c4 c5 19. Nxe5 Rd8 $19 {Komodo12}) (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 $19 19. Qxe5 Nf4) 17... c5 $17 {Komodo12} 18. Nxe5 Nef4 19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Bc4 Qxe5 $19) 16... Nef4 $17 {Rudy}) 15. Nd3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 {Bl has 2 good Bs & easier deployment} 18. Nd2 Re8 (18... Rd8 19. Qc2 g4 $17 {Komodo12 & Stockfish9 }) 19. Rfe1 Be6 $17 {Komodo12} (19... Bd7 $17 {Stockfish9}) 20. Qc2 c6 (20... g4 {both Engines}) 21. Rad1 b5 {giving Wh some targets on the Q side, when Bl's advantage lies in a K side attack} (21... g4 {Komodo12}) (21... h5 { Stockfish9}) 22. c4 (22. Nb3 $11 {Komodo12}) 22... a6 (22... b4 {Stockfish9, Komodo12 reckons this is =}) (22... Qb4 $15 {Komodo12}) 23. Nb3 Red8 (23... Rad8 $15 {both Engines}) 24. Na5 Rac8 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $17 26. b4 {Komodo12} (26. Nb3 {Stockfish9}) 26... c5 $6 (26... Qe7 {Stockfish9} 27. c5 g4 $15) (26... Qf6 27. Rd1 g4 $17 {Komodo12}) (26... Qd4 27. Rd1 Qc3 28. Qxc3 Bxc3 29. a3 c5 $15 { Komodo12}) 27. Rd1 {both players running low on time} (27. Nb7 $1 $11 {Iolo & both Engines} Qb6 28. Nxc5 bxc4 (28... Rxc5 29. bxc5 Qxc5 30. Rc1 $16 {pm analysis}) 29. Rd1 (29. Nxe6 {Komodo12 & Rudy} Qxe6 30. h3 $11) 29... c3 30. Bxa6 Rxc5 31. bxc5 Qxa6 32. Rd8+ Bf8 (32... Kh7 33. e5+ $18) 33. Qxc3 Qxa2 34. h3 f3 $11 {Komodo12}) 27... Qb6 $17 {both Engines} 28. Qd2 (28. Nb3 {both Engines} cxb4 29. c5 Bxb3 30. axb3 Rxc5 31. Qd2 Be5 $17 {Komodo12}) 28... bxc4 (28... cxb4 29. Qxb4 Bf8 $19 {both Engines}) 29. Nxc4 {Stockfish9} (29. Bxc4 { Komodo12}) 29... Qxb4 30. Qc2 Rb8 (30... Qc3 31. Qa4 Bd4 32. Qxa6 Rb8 $19 { Komodo12, going for the K side once more}) 31. Rc1 (31. e5 $15 {Komodo12-gains a bit of space for Wh & keeps the barricade of the bl pawns} Bxc4 32. Bxc4 $14 Bxe5 $2 33. Qg6+ Bg7 34. Bxf7+ Kh8 35. Bb3 $16) 31... Bd4 $19 {both Engines} 32. Nd2 Qa3 33. Nc4 (33. Nb3 $5 {both Engines} Bxb3 34. axb3 Rxb3 35. Rb1 Rxb1+ 36. Qxb1 Kg7 $19) 33... Bxc4 34. Qxc4 Rb4 35. Qxa6 $2 (35. Qc2 Rb2 36. Qd3 Qxd3 37. Bxd3 Rxf2 38. Kh1 Rxa2 $19) 35... Qxc1+ 36. Bf1 Qe1 (36... Bxf2+ {Komodo12} 37. Kh1 (37. Kxf2 Qe3#) 37... c4 38. Qc8+ Kg7 39. h4 Bg3 40. Kg1 Rb1 {and Wh has a few spite checks left before mate.}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, J."] [Black "Miller, John S"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "1755"] [BlackElo "1629"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.11.03"] 1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. g3 (3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 {Van Kemenade-Miller,Dyfed League jan 2018,1-0}) 3... Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 {turning the French into a Closed Sicilian} 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 Nge7 8. c3 e5 9. Nbd2 (9. a3 {to loosen the centre grip with b4}) (9. Be3 {aiming for d4}) 9... O-O 10. Nf1 h6 {main} 11. Ne3 {main} (11. Be3 f5 12. Qd2 Kh7 {& results favour Bl}) 11... Be6 12. Nh4 g5 $6 {not a good idea as it weakens f5 & other wh squares} (12... d5 $11 { main- the results favour Bl, but somehow the Bl player was also much higher rated}) 13. Nhf5 $16 Bxf5 14. exf5 d5 15. Qf3 {Fritz15} (15. Qh5 {Komodo12}) 15... e4 {hoping to distract Wh from the K side} 16. dxe4 Ne5 17. Qh5 $18 d4 18. cxd4 (18. Rd1 Qb6 19. f4 $1 {Komodo12} dxe3 20. fxe5 e2 21. Qxe2 Bxe5 22. Be3 $16) 18... cxd4 19. Ng4 (19. Rd1 Qb6 20. Ng4 $16 {Komodo12}) 19... Nxg4 20. Qxg4 Nc6 21. f4 f6 {more weaknesses on the wh squares & doesn't do much for the B} (21... d3 {Fritz15 & Komodo12- Bl must keep pushing in the centre to maintain his K side} 22. Rd1 Bxb2 23. Bxb2 Qb6+ 24. Kh1 Qxb2 25. e5 $16 Qe2 26. Bf3 Qe3 27. Qh5 d2 28. Bg2 $16) 22. Bd2 $18 (22. e5 $1 $18 {Rudy- Fritz15 & Komodo12} fxe5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Bxg5 Qd7 25. Be4 {Bl has no play because his bl square pawns get in the way, while Wh gets on to bring more reserves to bear onto the K eg} Rf7 26. Bd3 (26. Qf3) 26... Ne7 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. Bc4 (28. Rac1)) 22... Qd7 23. Qe2 (23. e5 fxe5 24. fxg5 Qxf5 25. Qxf5 Rxf5 26. gxh6 $18 {Komodo12}) (23. Bf1 d3 24. Re3 Qd4 25. Bxd3 $18 {Komodo12}) 23... Rad8 (23... d3 24. Qe3 Rfd8 25. Rad1 Bf8 26. e5 $18 (26. Qf2 $18 {Komodo12})) (23... Rfd8) 24. Qc4+ (24. Qd3 $18 {Komodo12}) 24... Qf7 25. Qxf7+ (25. Bf1 $18 {Rudy & Komodo12}) 25... Rxf7 (25... Kxf7 26. Bf1 $18) 26. Bf1 (26. Rac1 $16) (26. e5 fxe5 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Bxg5 Bf6 29. Bd2 d3 30. Be4 $16 {Komodo12}) 26... d3 27. Re3 Rfd7 28. Rc1 Bf8 29. a3 $16 a5 (29... Bd6 {Komodo12} 30. Rxd3 gxf4 31. gxf4 Bxa3 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. Bc3 Bc5+ 34. Kg2 Be3 35. Rc2 Bxf4 36. Bxf6 $16) 30. Rc3 $18 gxf4 31. gxf4 Nd4 32. Rg3+ (32. Rcxd3 Bc5 33. Kh1 Nxf5 34. exf5 Bxe3 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxe3 $18 {Komodo12- the 2 Bs normally are better than a R, but a little unclear here} Re7 37. Bb6 Kg7 38. Kg2 a4 39. Kf2 Rd7 40. Ke3 Re7+ 41. Kd3 Re1 42. Bg2 Rd1+ 43. Ke3 Rc1 44. Be4 Re1+ 45. Kd3 Rd1+ 46. Kc3 Re1 47. Bxb7 Re2 48. Bg1 Re1 49. Bf2 Re2 50. Bg3 {and Wh is slowly making progress}) 32... Kh7 33. Bxd3 (33. Rcxd3 {a little easier as Wh keeps the 2 Bs}) 33... Ne2+ 34. Bxe2 Rxd2 35. Bh5 (35. Rc7+ $18 {Komodo12} R8d7 (35... Kh8 36. Bc4 Bd6 37. Rxb7 Rc2 (37... Bxf4 38. Rgg7) 38. Bd5 Rdc8 39. Rgg7 R2c7 40. Rbxc7 Rxc7 41. Rg8+ Kh7 42. e5 fxe5 43. f6 $18 {Komodo12}) 36. Rxd7+ Rxd7 37. Kf2 Bc5+ 38. Kf3 a4 39. e5 $18 {Komodo12}) 35... Rxb2 {trying to mate while grabbing pawns} (35... Bd6 $1 {Komodo12 may hold} 36. Rb3 (36. Rgf3 Rxb2 37. Rfd3 Bc5+ 38. Kh1 Rxd3 39. Rxd3 a4 40. e5 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 Rb2+ 42. Kf3 Rb3 43. Ke4 Rxd3 44. Kxd3 Bxa3 45. Be8 Bc1 46. Bxa4 Bxf4 47. e6 Bd6 48. Ke4 Kg7 49. Kd5 Ba3 50. Kc4 Kf8 51. Kb5 Bd6 52. h3 Bc7 53. Bc2 Ke7 54. Be4 b6 55. Kc6 Bg3 56. Kxb6 Bd6 {draw- Wh cannot force the Bl K to move}) 36... b6 37. Rg2 Bxf4 38. Kf1 Bxh2 39. Rxd2 Rxd2 40. Rxb6 Be5 41. Rb7+ Kh8 42. b4 axb4 43. axb4 Rd4 44. Bf3 Rc4 45. Ke2 Rc2+ 46. Ke3 Rc3+ 47. Kf2 Bd4+ 48. Kg3 Be5+ $11 {as Wh has to stay protecting the B} 49. Kg4 $2 h5+ $19) 36. Rcd3 (36. Kh1 $1 $16 {Komodo12} Rb1+ (36... Rdd2 37. Rc7+ Kh8 38. Rc8 Kh7 (38... Rxh2+ 39. Kg1 Rxh5 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 41. Rf7+ Kh8 42. Rc3 {and Bl gets mated}))) 36... Rxd3 37. Rxd3 Bc5+ 38. Kh1 b6 {playing safe(guarding B & P) is not always the best} (38... a4 {is better according to both Engines, as it provides a support for the Bl R} 39. Rd7+ {must be played at once if Wh is to have any winning chances} (39. e5 Rb1+ 40. Kg2 Rb2+ 41. Kf3 Rb3 42. Ke4 Rxd3 43. Kxd3 Bxa3 44. Be8 Bc1 45. e6 Kg7 46. Bxa4 Kf8 {and Bl blockades as in a previous note}) 39... Kg8 (39... Kh8 40. e5 Bxa3 41. exf6 Bf8 42. Rd8 Kg8 43. f7+ Kg7 44. f6+ $18) 40. e5 Rb6 (40... Bxa3 41. Bf7+ Kf8 42. exf6 $1 Rb6 43. Be6 $18) 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. e6 Bxa3 43. Rd7+ Kf8 (43... Kg8 44. Kg2 (44. e7 Bxe7 45. Rxe7 a3 46. Bf3 Rb2 47. Bd5+ Kf8 48. Rf7+ Ke8 49. Rxf6 h5 50. Rf7 a2 51. Bxa2 Rxa2 52. Rxb7 Rf2 53. Rh7 Rxf4 54. Rxh5 Kf7 {is drawn}) 44... Bb4 45. e7 (45. Rd8+ Kh7 46. Ra8 a3 $11) 45... Bxe7 46. Rxe7 a3 47. Bf7+ Kf8 48. Rc7 Rb2+ 49. Kg3 a2 (49... b5 50. Be6 b4 51. Ra7 Ke8 52. h3 Kd8 53. Kg4 $18) 50. Bxa2 Rxa2 51. Rxb7 h5 52. Rh7 Rb2 53. Rxh5 Kg7 54. Kg4 Rb3 55. Rh3 Rb2 56. Kh4 Rf2 57. Kg3 {still looks drawn as neither the K nor thr R can get active} (57. Kg4 Rb2))) 39. Bg6+ (39. e5 Rf2 40. e6 Rxf4 41. Rd7+ Kh8 42. e7 Bxe7 43. Rxe7 Rxf5 44. Be2 b5 45. Rb7 b4 46. axb4 axb4 47. Rxb4 {and with the last pawn, wh will have great trouble winning- if Rs come off, its a draw as the B fails to control the Queening square}) 39... Kg7 40. Rd7+ Kf8 (40... Kg8 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. e5 Bxa3 43. Rd7+ Kg8 44. exf6 $18 Rc2 45. Rg7+ Kh8 (45... Kf8 46. Rh7 Kg8 47. f7+ Kf8 48. f6 {mating net}) 46. Rh7+ Kg8 47. f7+ Kf8 48. f6 { the same}) 41. Rf7+ Kg8 (41... Ke8 {running away seems to hold} 42. Rxf6+ Kd8 43. e5 Bxa3 44. Re6 Kc7 (44... Rf2 45. Rxb6 Kc7 46. Ra6 Bb4 47. e6 Rxf4 48. Ra7+ Kb6 49. Rd7 Re4 50. Kg2 (50. Bf7 Rf4 51. e7 Bxe7 52. Rxe7 Rxf5 {will draw} ) 50... a4 51. Rd1 a3 52. Kf3 Re5 53. Kf4 Bc3) 45. f6 Rf2 46. f5 Bc5 47. Re8 a4 48. Ra8 a3 49. e6 Bd6 50. h3 Re2 51. e7 Bxe7 (51... Rxe7 52. Ra7+ Kd8 53. fxe7+ Bxe7 54. Bf7 $18) 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Rxa3 $18) 42. Rxf6 Be3 {trying to break the centre pawns} (42... Bxa3 {leads to all sorts of complex lines} 43. e5 Bc5 44. Rc6 Rf2 45. Rc8+ (45. e6 Be7 46. Rc7 Kf8 47. f6 Bxf6 48. Rf7+ Ke8 49. f5 $1 (49. Rxf6+ Ke7 50. Rf7+ Kxe6 51. Kg1 Rf3 52. Kg2 Rb3 53. f5+ Ke5 54. Re7+ Kf6 55. Re6+ Kg5 56. Bh7 $18)) 45... Kg7 46. Bh5 Rxf4 47. f6+ Kh7 48. Kg2 a4 49. Kg3 Rf1 50. Be2 Rg1+ (50... Rxf6 {Komodo12} 51. exf6 Kg6 52. Rc6 a3 53. Bd3+ Kf7 54. Bc4+ Kg6 55. Kf4 $18) 51. Kf4 Rg8 52. Rxc5 bxc5 53. Bd3+ Kh8 54. e6 $18 {Komodo12 nudged several times}) 43. Rc6 $18 Bxf4 (43... Bd4 44. e5 Rf2 45. e6 (45. f6 Rf1+ 46. Kg2 Rg1+ 47. Kf3 Rxg6 48. Rc8+ Kf7 (48... Kh7 49. f7 Bc5 50. Rxc5) 49. Ke4 Rxf6 50. Rc7+ Kg6 51. exf6 Bxf6 52. Rb7 Bd8 53. Rb8 Bc7 54. Rc8 $18) 45... Bf6 46. Rxb6 Be7 47. Rb7 Bh4 48. e7 Bxe7 49. Rxe7 Rxf4 50. Kg2 $18) 44. f6 (44. f6 Rb1+ {Iolo} 45. Kg2 Rc1 46. Re6 $1 {Rudy; best Komodo12} (46. f7+ Kg7 47. Rf6 Kf8 48. Rxf4 {Komodo12 also wins, but more slowly}) (46. Rxc1 Bxc1 {gives Wh winning chances as Wh has 2 passed pawns, but should be drawn with care} 47. a4 (47. Kf3 Bxa3 48. Kf4 {might just work as Wh has mating chances, but must avoid the B giving itself up for the 2 centre pawns} a4 49. e5 Bb4 50. e6 Kf8 51. Be4 Bc5 52. Ke5 a3 53. Bb1 h5 54. Kd5 h4 55. h3 Ke8 56. Ba2 (56. Kc6 a2 57. Bxa2 Bd4 58. f7+ Ke7 {draws}) 56... Kd8 57. Kc6 Ke8 { and Bl holds}) 47... Bb2 48. f7+ Kf8 49. Kf3 Be5 50. h3 b5 $1 51. axb5 a4 52. Bf5 Kxf7 53. Bd7 Ke7 54. Bc6 Kd6 55. Kg4 Kc5 56. Kh5 Bf4 $11 57. e5 $2 a3 $19) 46... Bd6 {just delays the inevitable} (46... Rc8 47. Re8+ $1 {Komodo12} (47. f7+ {Rudy} Kg7 48. Re8 Rc2+ 49. Kf3 Bd6 50. Rg8+ Kf6 51. e5+ Kxe5 52. Bxc2 Bxa3 53. f8=Q Bxf8 54. Rxf8 {is slower}) 47... Rxe8 48. f7+ Kg7 49. fxe8=Q) 47. Rxd6 Rc8 48. e5 Rf8 49. Rd7 b5 50. Rg7+ Kh8 51. Rh7+ Kg8 52. f7+ Rxf7 53. Rxf7 b4 54. e6 bxa3 55. e7 a2 56. e8=R#) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Hammett, S."] [Black "Cook, James"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "1524"] [BlackElo "1491"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2018.11.02"] 1. f4 Nf6 (1... d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 (2... g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nc3 e5 5. fxe5 dxe5 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Na4 {Hammett-Haigh, Dyfed League 2016, 0-1}) 3. e3 c6 4. Be2 Nbd7 5. O-O Qc7 6. b3 e5 7. Ng5 h6 8. Nxf7 $5 {Hammett-J Van Kemenade,Dyfed League 2011,0-1}) 2. Nf3 d6 3. e3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O Nc6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. b3 (7. d3 {alternative}) 7... a6 (7... e5 {Cloud Engines} 8. fxe5 (8. d3 exf4 9. exf4 Nd5 10. Bd2 Nxc3 {Magarin-Price, World Schools ch Girls U17,2012,0-1}) 8... dxe5 9. Bb2 h6 10. e4 Be6 11. d3 Nd7 12. Qe1 Kh7 13. Qg3 Rg8 {Pirker-Wolfram, AUT ch U16, Saalfelden 2005,0-1}) 8. Bb2 (8. d4 $11 { Komodo12}) 8... b5 (8... e5) 9. Nb1 Bb7 10. Nd4 (10. a4 $11) (10. c4 $11) 10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 c5 $17 (11... e5 $17 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Bb2 (13. Bxe5 Qd5 14. Bf3 Qxe5 15. Bxb7 Rab8 $19) 13... Nd7 $17 {Komodo12}) 12. Bb2 Qd7 13. Bf3 d5 $15 ( 13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 d5 $15) 14. d3 Rfd8 15. Nd2 Rab8 (15... d4 $5) 16. Be5 Rbc8 {Bl controls more space in the centre, but the Wh pieces can be resilient in the face of any advance} 17. Rb1 Ne8 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 (18... Kxg7) 19. Bg4 e6 ( 19... f5 20. Bh3 Qd6 $15 {Komodo12}) 20. e4 f5 (20... dxe4 21. Nxe4 (21. dxe4 Qxd2) 21... Qd4+ {avoids Nf6 ch} 22. Nf2 (22. Rf2 f5 23. c3 Qe3 $19) 22... Qxf4 $19 {Komodo12- Bl has picked up a useful pawn, & his pieces dominate}) 21. exf5 exf5 22. Bf3 Ne6 23. g3 Nd4 24. Bg2 Re8 25. Rf2 Re6 26. Nf3 Nxf3+ 27. Bxf3 Rce8 (27... d4 28. Bxb7 Qxb7 29. Qf3 Qe7 $17 {Komodo12}) 28. Qd2 Qe7 29. c4 (29. d4 {keeps the Bl B locked in}) 29... d4 {Bl dominates the e file & has a jumping off point at e3} 30. Kf1 $2 (30. Bxb7 Qxb7 31. cxb5 Qxb5 32. a4 Qc6 $17) 30... Re3 $19 {missing a chance to infiltrate even further into Wh territory, though Bl should still be winning} (30... Bxf3 31. Rxf3 Re2 32. Qd1 Rxh2 33. Kg1 Rxa2) 31. Bxb7 (31. Bg2 Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Qb7+ 33. Kg1 bxc4 34. dxc4 Qe4 $19 {Komodo121} ) 31... Qxb7 32. Kg1 Qe7 (32... bxc4 33. dxc4 Qe4 34. Rd1 d3 $19 (34... h5 $19) ) 33. Rd1 b4 34. Qc2 Qb7 (34... h5 {Rudy & Komodo12, to create more open lines around the Wh K}) 35. Qd2 R8e6 36. Rg2 Qe7 37. Kf1 Kf7 {(draw?)} (37... h5 $19) 38. Qf2 {Wh should have accepted} Qb7 39. Qd2 (39. Kg1 h5 40. h4 Rf3 41. Qc2 Ree3 42. Kh2 Qe7 43. Kh3 (43. Rdd2 Rxg3 $1 {mating}) 43... Rxf4 $19 {Komodo12}) 39... Rf3+ (39... Qf3+ $1 {Komodo12} 40. Kg1 (40. Qf2 Qxd1+) (40. Rf2 Qh1#) 40... Re2 41. Rxe2 Rxe2 {wins the Q or mates}) 40. Rf2 (40. Kg1 Qe7 41. Kh1 Ree3 42. Qc2 h5 $19 {Komodo12}) 40... Rxd3 (40... Rxg3 {Komodo12 is even stronger}) 41. Rg2 (41. Kg1 Rxd2 42. Rdxd2) 41... Rxd2 (41... Qf3+ $1 {Komodo12 }) 42. Rdxd2 Qf3+ 43. Rdf2 0-1 [Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Hardman, Dan"] [Black "Headley, Francis"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "1306"] [BlackElo "1182"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2018.11.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 {the Smslov System, based on a restrained e3 so as not to give Bl e4 as a target} d6 6. e3 Nbd7 {main} (6... c5) 7. Bd3 (7. Be2 {doesn't obstruct the d file, so gives Wh an option of Rd1should Bl think of opening the centre}) 7... c5 (7... e5) (7... c6 { alternatives}) 8. d5 (8. O-O {main, keeping the pawns more flexible}) 8... h6 ( 8... Ng4 9. Qc2 Nde5 {main}) 9. Bh4 Ng4 (9... g5 10. Bg3 Re8 11. Nd2 Ne5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 13. O-O Bg4 14. Qc2 Qc8 15. f4 {AH Williams-RS Jones, WCPL 2012,1-0}) (9... a6 10. a4 Rb8 11. O-O g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Nd2 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Ne5 15. Be2 Bf5 16. Nf3 Bg6 {Colaco-Vieira, Pan American Amateur ch, Curitiba 2015,0-1}) ( 9... Nb6 10. b3 Bg4 11. O-O Nfd7 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bxc3 14. Rac1 Bg7 $19 { Letourneur-Grynblat, FRA ch tm U18, 2000,1-0!}) 10. O-O (10. h3 Nge5 11. O-O Re8 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Be4 Nxc4 {Sly-Moylan, Australian Capital City ch U18, 1993,0-1}) 10... Nge5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Be2 Qe8 (12... g5 13. Bg3 f5 {Rudy} 14. f4 Ng6 15. Bh5 Kh7 $14) (12... f5 13. Qd2 a6 $11 {Komodo12}) 13. f4 Nd7 14. e4 a6 15. a4 Nb6 {simply encourages the pawn forward} (15... b6 16. Bf2 Rb8 17. Qd3 Bb7 18. Rae1 Qd8 $14 {Bl needs to wait & see what Wh will do & then hope for a counter attack}) 16. a5 Nd7 17. Qd2 b6 18. axb6 (18. e5 dxe5 19. f5 g5 20. Bf2 Rb8 21. h4 $16 {Wh is probing various weaknesses & has e4 for his pieces}) 18... Nxb6 19. Bg3 (19. e5 $16) 19... Bd7 20. e5 Qb8 21. exd6 { clarifies the position- Bl should be pleased to see the end of a weak e7 pawn, & happy to get the e file for the Rs} (21. Bf2 dxe5 22. fxe5 Bxe5 23. Bxc5 $16 {Komodo12}) 21... exd6 $11 22. Bd3 Qc7 (22... f5 $1 {is neccessary to prevent Wh from playing there & opening up the Bl K side.It also restrains the Wh QB}) 23. Rac1 {Wh is being extra cautious, but it does give Bl time as well} (23. f5 $1 $16 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 gxf5 25. Qd3 Qd7 26. Rf3 $14) 23... Rae8 (23... f5 $1) ( 23... Rfe8 {is also a little better than using the QR}) 24. b3 a5 $2 {gives up the b5 square ( in any case, this move, with the aim of a4 , would be better (later) if it had the QR behind it} (24... f5 $1 $11) 25. f5 $18 Bxf5 (25... gxf5 26. Bf4 Kh7 27. Nb5 Bxb5 28. Bxf5+ Kh8 29. cxb5 $18 {Komodo12}) 26. Bxf5 ( 26. Nb5 {first prevents any Bd4 ch's}) 26... gxf5 27. Rxf5 $16 {this can be left till later} (27. Nb5 $18) 27... Nd7 (27... Qd7 28. Rcf1 a4 29. Nxa4 Nxa4 30. bxa4 Re4 31. Qd3 Re3 32. Qd2 (32. Qxe3 Bd4) 32... Ra3 33. Qf4 Rxa4 34. Bh4 $16 {Bl still has some resitance left & is not actually behind in material}) 28. Nb5 $18 Qd8 29. Bxd6 (29. Nxd6 {is also very strong}) 29... Qh4 30. Bxf8 Nxf8 31. Qf2 (31. Rcf1) 31... Qxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Ng6 33. d6 (33. Re1 {swapping down favours the side ahead in material}) 33... Rd8 34. Rxc5 Rxd6 $5 {but it shouldn't work anyway, even if Wh falls for it} 35. Nxd6 (35. Rc8+ {picks up a whole R}) 35... Bd4+ 36. Kf3 Bxc5 37. Ne4 (37. Nb7) 37... Bb4 38. c5 $18 Ne5+ 39. Ke3 Nc6 40. Rc4 Kg7 41. Nc3 (41. Ng3 Kf6 42. Ke4 Ke6 43. Nf5 {and Bl will be running out of good moves soon}) 41... Ne5 42. Rxb4 (42. Kd4 Nxc4 43. Kxc4 Ba3 44. Nb5 Bb2 45. Nd6 (45. c6 Be5 46. c7 Bxc7 47. Nxc7 {is good enough}) 45... Ba3 46. Kd5 Bxc5 47. Kxc5 {comes to the same}) 42... axb4 43. Nd5 Nc6 44. Kd3 Ne5+ 45. Kd4 f6 46. Nxb4 {with a comfortable win for Wh} 1-0