A Hardman is Good to Find

Steynton B could only field three players against Aberystwyth at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Wednesday 11 April, meaning that we needed one and a points to seal the match. On top board, Rudy van Kemenade won a pawn early on against John Miller in a King's Indian and had a dominating position throughout, picking up more material as Black looked vainly for counterplay. I got good pressure in a Sicilian against David Pinch's King's Indian Attack setup, but missed a tactic which won him a pawn. I should still have been OK, but was thrown off my stride by my mistake and blundered to bring the game to a quick conclusion. Dan Hardman, playing his first game for the Club, got a dangerous passed pawn against Gwyn Evans's Sicilian, and Black's attempt at a kingside counterattack only blundered a piece, a good start for the new player against a higher rated opponent. Aberystwyth won the match 3-1 with the default on Board 4.

[Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.04.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Miller, John S"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E90"] [WhiteElo "2015"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2018.04.12"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 (5. f3 {Samisch} O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. Nge2 (7. d5 Ne8 8. g4 {Greatorex-Miller, Dyfed Open 2018,1-0}) 7... Nc6 8. d5 Ne7 {Hurn-Miller, Dyfed Open 2018,0-1}) 5... O-O 6. h3 {the Makogonov system, which seemed to surprise Bl} (6. Be2 {more usual}) 6... Nc6 {played quite often, but possibly incorrect} (6... e5 {main, also against 6. Be2}) (6... Nbd7 7. Bg5 h6 {disliked by Bronstein in pm analysis & by Kotronias in his theory book, as it weakens g6} 8. Be3 e5 9. d5 Nh5 10. Nd2 a6 11. g3 Qe8 12. Be2 Kh7 $5 13. Nb3 Ndf6 14. c5 Bd7 15. Na5 Rb8 16. Nc4 Bb5 {leading to a complex series of sacrifices by Bl & then countersacrifices by Wh} 17. cxd6 Bxc4 18. dxc7 Rc8 19. Bxc4 Rxc7 20. Bd3 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 f5 22. Bc2 f4 23. Bb6 fxg3 24. Bxc7 Qf7 25. Bb6 gxf2+ 26. Kd2 Ng3 27. Qg4 Nxh1 28. Rxh1 f1=Q 29. Rxf1 Qxf1 30. Qxg6+ Kg8 31. Qh7+ Kf7 32. Bg6+ Ke7 33. Qxg7+ Kd6 34. Qc7# {Bronstein-Van Kemenade, Manchester 1989,1-0}) 7. Bg5 e5 $2 {a mistake, similar to what can happen in a Bg5 line the Samisch} (7... h6 {weakens g6} 8. Be3 a6 9. Qc2 b5 10. cxb5 axb5 11. Bxb5 Nb4 12. Qd2 c6 13. Be2 Be6 14. a3 Bb3 15. Rc1 Na2 16. Nxa2 Bxa2 17. Bd3 {Van Kemenade-Stuttard, Liverpool Fide 2006, 1-0}) (7... Nd7 8. Qd2 f6 9. Be3 e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. O-O-O b6 12. g4 {Van Kemenade-Jeske, EU Seniors tm, Wales- Deutschland Frauen, Dresden 2013, 0-1 when Wh overpressed}) 8. dxe5 (8. d5 {played by 12 people who missed the tactic, though} Ne7 { 70 % for Wh} (8... Nd4 {however ! win ! loss})) 8... dxe5 (8... Nxe5 9. Nxe5 { leads to the same ; 4-1}) 9. Qxd8 {again 2 players missed this idea} Nxd8 (9... Rxd8 10. Bxf6 {2 draws} (10. Nd5 $1 {Komodo11; 4-0})) 10. Bxf6 (10. Nxe5 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Bxe5 $11 {Rauleac-Lupu, ROM ch U14, Calimanesti 2000,0-1}) 10... Bxf6 11. Nd5 Bg7 (11... Kg7 12. Nxc7 Rb8 13. Nd5 Re8 14. O-O-O $16 {Lonnee-Sileika, NED-LTU ICCF email 2016, 0-1}) 12. Nxc7 Rb8 13. O-O-O (13. Bd3 Ne6 (13... Nc6 14. Rd1 b6 15. O-O Bb7 16. b3 Rbc8 17. Nd5 $16 {Bagoly-Vizkeleti, Eger Tel op 2009 , 1-0}) 14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. b3 Rfd8 16. Rd1 Rd6 17. Ke2 {rated = by Komodo11; Dobosz-Klocker, AUT ch tm 2007,1-0}) (13. Rd1 Ne6 14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. Bd3 Rfd8 16. Ke2 f6 17. b3 Bf8 18. Bc2 {Spraggett-Sanchez Jerez, Portugal op, Oeiras 2015,1-0 - Komodo11 again rates position as =}) 13... Nc6 (13... Ne6 14. Nd5 Nc5 15. Nc3 $14 {Komodo11}) 14. Be2 (14. a3 f6 15. b4 $16 {Komodo11}) (14. c5 {at once might gain Wh a tempo if f5 as in the game, but Bl has an alternative in} Nd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Kb1 Bd7 17. Bd3 Rfc8 (17... Bc6 18. Nd5 Rfe8 $14) 18. Nd5 Rxc5 19. b4 Rc6 20. Ne7+ Kf8 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. a3 c5 23. Rd2 $16 {Komodo11}) 14... f5 15. exf5 (15. Nd2 fxe4 16. Nxe4 Bf5 17. f3 Bxe4 18. fxe4 Rf2 19. Bg4 (19. Bf3 Nd4 $11) 19... Rxg2 20. Be6+ Kh8 21. Rhf1 Nd4 22. Bd5 Rf8 23. Rxf8+ Bxf8 24. Ne6 Nxe6 25. Bxe6 Bc5 26. Rd7 b6 27. Rxa7 Rg1+ $11 { Komodo11}) 15... gxf5 (15... Bxf5 16. Nd5 Bh6+ 17. Ne3 Be4 18. Rd2 Nd4 $11 { Komodo11}) 16. c5 (16. Ng5 Nd4 17. Rhe1 e4 18. Nd5 Be5 (18... h6 19. Ne7+ Kh8 20. Ng6+ Kg8 21. Nxe4 fxe4 22. Nxf8 Kxf8 23. Bg4 Bxg4 24. hxg4 Re8 25. Kb1 $14 {Komodo11}) 19. Kb1 h6 20. f4 $14 {Komodo11}) 16... e4 17. Bc4+ Kh8 18. Ng5 Bh6 {the B looks to be on the wrong diagonal here} (18... Be5 {Komodo11} 19. Nce6 Rf6 20. g3 Bxe6 21. Nxe6 Re8 22. Nf4 Bd4 23. Rd2 e3 24. Re2 Bxc5 25. Nd5 Rg6 26. Nxe3 Bxe3+ 27. Rxe3 Rxe3 28. fxe3 Rxg3 29. Rf1 Rxh3 30. Rxf5 Rxe3 31. Rf8+ Kg7 32. Rf7+ Kg6 33. Rxb7 $11 {Komodo11, though the long range B cooperates with the R better than the N does}) (18... Ne5 {expected by Wh} 19. Be2 (19. Bb5 {provoking the next, which becomes a weakness} a6 20. Be2 Bf6 21. h4 Be7 22. Rd5 Nc6 23. a3 $16 {Komodo11}) 19... b6 $11 {Komodo11}) 19. h4 $16 Ne5 20. Be2 Bd7 (20... Nf7 21. f4 exf3 22. Bxf3 Nxg5 23. hxg5 Bxg5+ 24. Kb1 Be3 25. b4 $16 {Komodo11- Bl has reagained the pawn but his pieces are mainly undeveloped, while the Wh ones survey an open board}) 21. Rd5 (21. Rd6 {a strong candidate, considered- Bl is then virtually forced to give up his Bl squared B} Bxg5+ ( 21... Kg7 22. Rhd1 $18 {a N invasion on e6 is difficult to deal with} (22. Kb1 Bxg5 23. hxg5 f4 24. b4 $16)) 22. hxg5 Rbc8 23. Nd5 Rxc5+ 24. Kb1 Be8 25. Nf4 Rc6 26. Rd8 $18 {Komodo11}) 21... Bg7 22. Nce6 (22. Nge6 {pm analysis} Bc6 { Komodo11} 23. Nxf8 Bxd5 24. Nxd5 Bxf8 25. b4 b6 26. cxb6 axb6 27. Rd1 $16) 22... Bc6 (22... Bxe6 23. Nxe6 Rfe8 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Rhd1 $16 {Komodo11-looks better than the game continuation}) 23. Rd6 $18 Rfe8 (23... Rg8 $5) 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. Rhd1 Rbc8 26. Kb1 (26. b4 a6 27. h5 $18 {Komodo11}) (26. Kd2 Re7 ( 26... e3+ 27. fxe3 Bxg2 28. Rg1 Bc6 29. Kc3 Re7 30. Kd4 Kh8 31. Re6 $18) 27. Ne6+ Kh8 28. Nf4 Rg8 29. Ke3 $18 {Komodo11}) 26... h6 {still weakens g6} (26... Ng4 27. h5 Nf6 28. Ne6+ Kh8 29. Nd8 $18 (29. Ng5 $18 {Komodo11})) 27. Ne6+ Kh7 28. Nd8 (28. Nd4 Bd7 {considered, though Wh is winning after both} 29. b4 {&} ( 29. f4 exf3 30. gxf3 Rxc5 31. f4 Ba4 32. b3 Nf7 33. Rf6 Kg7 34. Re6 Nd8 35. Rd6 Nf7 36. Ne6+ Kh7 37. Nxc5 Nxd6 38. Bh5 $18 {Komodo11}) 29... Re7 30. f4 exf3 31. gxf3 $18) (28. Nf4 {is a good post for the N} Re7 29. b4 Ng4 30. Bxg4 fxg4 31. Rf6 g3 32. fxg3 e3 33. Rdd6 Rce8 (33... e2 34. Rxh6+ Kg8 35. Rdg6+ Kf7 ( 35... Rg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. Re6) 36. Rh7+ Ke8 37. Rxe7+ Kxe7 38. Re6+ $18) 34. Rxh6+ Kg8 35. Rdg6+ Rg7 36. Rxg7+ Kxg7 37. Re6 Rxe6 38. Nxe6+ Kf6 39. Nd4 Bxg2 40. Kc2 $18 {Komodo11}) 28... Bd7 $2 {based on a miscalculation that Bl would be able to pick up the N on d8} (28... Re7 29. Nxc6 Rxc6 30. R1d5 f4 31. b4 Kg7 32. h5 $18 {as Bl is running out of moves}) 29. Rxd7+ $18 Kg8 (29... Nxd7 30. Rxd7+ Kg6 31. Nxb7 $18) 30. R7d5 (30. Nxb7 {seriously considered by Wh, & marginally best for Komodo11} Nxd7 31. Rxd7 Kf8 32. Rd5) (30. R7d6 Rxc5 31. Rxh6 $18 {alternative}) 30... Rc7 31. Rd6 (31. Rxe5 {considered for a while as the Wh pieces get very active} Rxe5 32. Bc4+ Kh7 {other moves give back an exchange} 33. Ne6 Re7 34. Rd6 {looks fine for Wh, who couldn't see much further, though the Engine feels compelled to give up a R to get rid of the pesky N} Kh8 35. Nf8) 31... Ree7 32. Rxh6 Rxc5 33. Ne6 Rc8 (33... Rc6 {aiming to win a pinned ,N loses the K instead} 34. Rd8+ Re8 (34... Kf7 35. Rf8#) 35. Rxe8+ Kf7 36. Bh5+ Ng6 37. Rxg6 Rxe6 38. Rgxe6+ Kg7 39. R6e7+ Kf6 40. Rf7# { last variation Komodo11}) 34. Nf4 (34. Rd5 $1 {Komodo11, forces the N to move & wins another pawn}) 34... Rec7 {hoping for some R activity, but all points are guarded} 35. Re6 (35. Nd5 {Komodo11, considered} Rf7 (35... Rc2 36. Ne7+ Kg7 37. Nxf5+ Kg8 38. Ne7+ Kg7 39. Nxc8 Rxe2 40. Re6 $18) 36. Bh5 Rg7 37. Nf6+ Kf8 38. Rh8+ Ke7 39. Nd5+ Kd7 40. Nb6+ Kc7 41. Nxc8) 35... Nd3 36. Nxd3 (36. Bxd3 exd3 37. Rg6+ Kh8 38. Rd6 Rc2 39. Nxd3 {also safe}) 36... Rc2 (36... exd3 37. Bxd3 {covers c2}) 37. Nf4 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Steynton B - Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.04.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "1623"] [BlackElo "1762"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. d3 {going for a King's Indian Attack, though may be declaring intentions a little soon} (2. Nf3 {first?}) 2... Nc6 3. Nd2 {again it is better to delay this committal move. Playing Nf3, g3, Bg2 & 0-0 are all moves Wh is wanting to play. The e4 pawn is not under attack, & perhaps the N may be better on c3 or maybe moving the QB first is made possible.} e5 {now the N can't reach the d5 hole immediately & Wh has to spend a further 3 moves getting it there.} (3... g6 {main, also delaying showing his hand, maybe e6 is wanted}) 4. Ngf3 d6 5. g3 g6 (5... Be7 {alternative}) 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. O-O Nge7 8. Re1 {has been played, however , given the pawn structure, the R is misplaced here.e4 is not attacked, & e5 , the usual move the R supports , is not available in the near future. To have a companion to e4, Wh needs to play f4, & the R is required on the f file. If Wh wants to tsrget d5 ( & note, the N, if held in reserve, could have gone to c3 after Bl's early e5) then there is an alternative route} (8. Nc4 O-O 9. Ne3 (9. a4 {leaving the N is situ is attractive- the position has occurred in some 150 games, including ones by GMs} )) (8. c3 {700 games, prepares to open the centre in case Bl is considering f5} ) 8... O-O 9. Nf1 {the main idea, but scores only 25% for Wh. others don't fare much better} (9. c3 {27%}) (9. a4 {22%}) (9. h4 {2-0 after Bg4; but f5 nets Bl a win & a draw ( though these 4 games not played by any strong Wh players)}) 9... f5 {GMs are featured on the Bl side, but not on the Wh side with that R on e1} (9... h6 {a useful preparatory move, keeps both Ns & Bs away }) (9... d5 {Bl can happily advance in the centre, with Wh only getting 27%}) 10. Bg5 {the B removes a potential K side attacker} (10. exf5 {main,3 draws & 3 Bl wins}) 10... h6 (10... f4 $1 $17 {Stockfish9} 11. gxf4 exf4 12. c3 h6 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. d4 cxd4 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. cxd4 Be6 17. Qd3 g5 {Rieger-Reis, Landesliga Nord, Bayern 2000,0-1; Bl has 2 useful Bs & a pawn advance against Wh's weakened K side. ( the N is still not looking happy on f1}) 11. Bxe7 Qxe7 12. Ne3 (12. Nh4 Qf7 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Ne3 (14. Bf3 Ne7 15. Bh5 Qf6 16. Qe2 f4 17. Nd2 $11 {Stockfish9}) 14... Be6 15. Bh3 Ne7 16. c3 Rae8 17. Qe2 $11 { Stockfish9; although in strange looking positions, the Wh pieces are actively placed to counter Bl attempts at in vasion}) 12... f4 $17 13. Nd5 {remember it could have got here 3 moves earlier via c3} Qf7 14. Qe2 (14. c3 {looks much safer}) 14... Bg4 $17 (14... fxg3 {initial late night analysis by David & Rudy thought this could have won a piece for Bl, but Houdini & Stockfish soon dispell this idea} 15. fxg3 Bg4 16. Rf1 $11 Nd4 17. Nxd4 $16 Bxe2 18. Rxf7 cxd4 19. Rxb7 $16) (14... g5 $17 {Stockfish9}) 15. gxf4 Nd4 {doesn't achieve much, as the N will need to retreat from here} (15... exf4 {Rudy & Stockfish9} 16. c3 g5 17. h3 Bd7 $19 {a pawnroller on the K side will expose the Wh Kas the Wh pieces will be driven back, & the Bl ones come in}) 16. Qd1 Ne6 {hoping to force open the f file, but Wh escapes via a tactic} (16... exf4 17. c3 Nc6 18. Ng5 Qd7 19. Bf3 Bxf3 20. Nxf3 g5 21. Kh1 $17 {Stockfish9Wh has gained use of the g file but swapped off a key protector , the B}) (16... Bh5 17. c3 Nc6 18. Kh1 $17 Ne7 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Qb3+ Kh8 21. f5 gxf5 22. Nd2 f4 23. Bf3 Bf7 24. Qd1 Qh4 25. Qe2 Bf6 26. Rg1 h5 27. Nc4 Be7 28. a4 Rg8 $11 {Stockfish9}) 17. Nxe5 $1 Bxd1 (17... Bxe5 18. Qxg4 Nxf4 19. Nxf4 Bxf4 (19... Qxf4 20. Qxf4 (20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qg3 Qd2 22. Qh3 Rf6 23. Kh1 Rg8 $11) 20... Rxf4 21. c3 Raf8 22. Re2 $14) 20. c3 $11 {Stockfish9; Bl control the Bl squares , so the extra Wh pawn will be difficult to advance} h5 21. Qh3 Be5 22. Re2 Kg7 23. Rd1 Qf6 $11) 18. Nxf7 Rxf7 (18... Bxc2 19. f5 (19. Nxd6 Bxb2 20. Rab1 Bxb1 21. Rxb1 Bd4 22. f5 gxf5 23. exf5 Ng5 24. h4 Nf7 25. Nb5 Rad8 26. Nxd4 cxd4 27. Nf4 Ne5 28. Ne6 Nxd3 29. Nxd8 Rxd8 30. Rxb7 Nf4 $11 {Stockfish9}) 19... Kxf7 20. fxe6+ Kxe6 21. Nc7+ Kd7 22. Nxa8 Rxa8 23. Bh3+ Kc7 24. Re3 Bxb2 25. Rae1 Bd4 26. Rg3 g5 $11 { Stockfish9}) 19. Raxd1 Nxf4 20. Nxf4 Rxf4 21. c3 $14 Raf8 22. Re2 b6 {weakens the Q side for possible later K entry} (22... h5 $5 23. d4 cxd4 24. cxd4 R8f7 25. e5 Re7 26. e6 Rxd4 27. Rxd4 Bxd4 28. Bxb7 Kf8 29. Bd5 Rc7 30. b4 Ke7 31. Kg2 $14) 23. d4 R8f7 (23... cxd4 24. cxd4 Bf6 25. Rc2 Bh4 26. Rdd2 Kg7 27. e5 dxe5 28. dxe5 Re8 29. Rd7+ Re7 30. e6 Kf6 31. Bd5 (31. Rcc7 Bxf2+ 32. Kh1 Bc5 $11) 31... Rxd7 32. exd7 Ke7 33. Bc6 Rd4 $14 (33... a6 $14 {Stockfish9})) 24. e5 (24. dxc5 dxc5 25. e5 $16 {Stockfish9}) 24... Re7 25. dxc5 dxc5 (25... Bxe5 26. cxb6 axb6 27. Bd5+ Kg7 28. h3 g5 $14 {Stockfish9}) 26. e6 (26. Rd8+ Kh7 ( 26... Rf8 27. Bd5+ Kh7 28. Rxf8 Bxf8 29. f4 $18) 27. e6 Bf6 28. Bc6 Bg5 29. Ra8 Rf5 30. Kg2 Kg7 31. Bd7 a5 32. Rb8 Rd5 33. Bb5 Rd6 34. Bc4 $18 Bc1 35. a4 g5 36. Kf3 h5 37. h3 Kg6 38. Rh8 Kg7 39. Rc8 Rd1 40. Ke4 h4 41. Rb8 Rd6 42. Kf5 Bf4 43. f3 $18 {Stockfish9} Bc1 44. Re4 Bf4 45. Rxf4 gxf4 46. Ke5 Rc6 47. Bd5 Rcc7 48. Kd6 Ra7 49. Rd8 Kf6 50. Rf8+ Kg7 51. Rxf4 {& Wh keeps picking up stray pawns while the Bl Rs are tied down by the e6 pawn}) 26... Kf8 $2 { it ends suddenly} (26... Bf6 {one of several attempts in pm analysis by various people to save the game by blockading the pawn- best try (Stockfish9 & Komodo11)} 27. Rd7 Kg7 28. Red2 b5 29. Bc6 b4 30. Kg2 Rf5 {Stockfish9 not coming up with quick wins, trying nudging} 31. Bb5 Re5 32. Bc4 Re4 33. Bd5 Re5 34. cxb4 cxb4 35. Bb3 a5 36. f4 Re3 37. Bd5 Bh4 38. b3 Rxd7 39. exd7 Bd8 40. Bc4 g5 41. Rd6 gxf4 42. Rc6 Re7 43. Be6 Kf8 44. Kf3 Rg7 45. Kxf4 Rg6 46. Rc8 Ke7 47. Bg4 Rd6 48. Ke3 Rd5 $14 {Stockfish9 nudged}) (26... Rf8 {Rudy} 27. Rd7 (27. Re4 $18 {Stockfish9 & Komodo11}) 27... Bf6 (27... Rxd7 28. exd7 Bf6 29. Re8 Bd8 30. Bd5+ Kg7 31. f3 {further attempt on way home- Bl has stopped the pawn, but his pieces are so passive that Wh can just march the K up the board & capture Bl's Q side pawns}) 28. Red2 Kg7 29. Rxe7+ Bxe7 30. Rd7 Kf6 31. Bd5 Rd8 {holds for Bl}) 27. Rd8+ (27. Rd8+ Re8 28. e7+ Kf7 29. Bd5+ (29. Rxe8 { is even quicker according to Stockfish9}) 29... Kf6 30. Rxe8) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: SteyntonB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.04.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Hardman, Dan"] [Black "Evans, Gwyn"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1246"] [BlackElo "1429"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.04.12"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 (3. g3 {alternative}) 3... e6 4. Nf3 Bd6 {unusual, luring pawns forward to undermine later} (4... d5 {main}) 5. e5 (5. d3) 5... Bc7 (5... Bb8 6. Bb5 (6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 d6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. exd6 Qxd6 10. Be3 Nf6 {Le Clanche-Guidal, FRA ch tm, Bretagne 2003,0-1}) 6... Nge7 7. O-O a6 8. Bxc6 Nxc6 9. Ne4 d5 10. exd6 Bxd6 11. d3 {Urbaez Capote-Romagnone, Porlamar op 2011,1-0}) 6. Bc4 (6. Bb5 Nge7 {1 Wh win, 2 Bl wins}) 6... Nge7 (6... d5 7. exd6 Bxd6 8. d3 {3 Wh wins, 3 draws, 3 Bl wins} Nf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Ne4 Be7 11. Qe1 (11. Kh1) 11... b6 12. c3 Bb7 13. Qe2 Qc7 14. Bd2 Rad8 15. Rad1 a6 16. Bb3 Rd7 17. Bc1 {Udovicic-Saric, CRO ch U19, Vinkovci 2017,1-0}) 7. O-O O-O $11 8. Qe1 (8. Ne4 d5 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. d3 $11 {Komodo11}) 8... d6 (8... Nb4 9. Qd1 Nf5 10. d3 $11 {Komodo11}) 9. exd6 Bxd6 10. Ng5 (10. d3 $11) 10... h6 11. Nge4 Bc7 (11... Nd4 $15) 12. d3 Nd4 13. Qf2 Nef5 (13... a6 14. a4 Nec6 $15 {Komodo11}) 14. Nb5 (14. g4 Nh4 $15) (14. Nxc5 {is a risky pawn to take} Qe7 15. b4 a5 16. N3e4 axb4 17. Bb2 b5 18. Bb3 Nxb3 19. axb3 Rxa1 20. Rxa1 Bb6 21. d4 Rd8 $15 { Komodo11}) 14... Bb6 (14... Nxb5 $1 15. Bxb5 a6 16. Bc4 b5 17. Bb3 c4 18. dxc4 Bb7 19. Ng3 Nh4 (19... bxc4 20. Nxf5 cxb3 21. Nd4 bxc2 22. Nxc2 Rc8 23. Be3 Qd5 $17) 20. c5 Nxg2 21. c3 Nh4 22. Qe2 Qd7 $17 {Komodo11}) 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 (15... cxd4 16. Ng3 $11) 16. Be3 (16. a4 $14) 16... f5 (16... Nf5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Nxc5 $14 {Komodo11}) 17. Nc3 (17. Nxc5 Bxc5 18. c3 Qd6 19. cxd4 Bb6 {Komodo11- wins a pawn, but scarcely one that can be held}) 17... Bc7 18. Rac1 (18. a4 $14 ) (18. Na4 b6 19. b4 Qd7 20. bxc5 b5 21. Bxd4 bxc4 22. Nb2 cxd3 23. Nxd3 $16 { Komodo11}) 18... Qf6 19. Ne2 (19. b4 b6 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Na4 Rb8 22. c3 Nc6 23. Nxc5 $18 {Komodo11, the c5 remains a vulnerable point in Bl's position}) 19... Nxe2+ 20. Qxe2 b6 $11 21. Qf3 Bd7 (21... Rb8) 22. c3 Kh8 23. d4 b5 24. Bb3 (24. Qb7 $5 Rfc8) 24... c4 25. Bc2 Bb6 {Bl has a backward pawn on e6, but in such a blocked position , without Ns, its difficult to exploit} 26. Rfe1 Rac8 27. Qf2 Bc6 28. Bd1 Qg6 29. Bf3 Bd7 $6 {not a good idea, retreating & leaving the Wh B in control of the diagonal} (29... Bd5 $11 {if Wh exchanges, then the e6 weakness dissapears & Wh is left unable to get d5 in, to liberate his bad QB}) 30. Rcd1 (30. d5 $16 {Komodo11}) 30... a5 31. d5 Bxe3 32. Qxe3 ( 32. Rxe3) 32... exd5 33. Rxd5 Rce8 34. Re5 Rxe5 (34... Kh7 {its often better to let the opponent do the exchanging, as doing so brings up units from the rear}) 35. fxe5 $16 {the advancing pawn can be dangerous, as seen in board 2 alongside} f4 36. Qe2 (36. Qd4 Be6 37. Qb6 Qe8 38. Qxa5 $18 {Komodo11}) 36... Bh3 {there is no real threat here, Bl should instead stop the pawn from advancing further, though that is far from easy} (36... Be6 37. Qd1 Qd3 38. Be4 Qd8 39. Qd4 Kg8 40. Rd1 Qxd4+ 41. cxd4 Kf7 42. d5 Bg4 43. Rd4 Re8 44. d6 Ke6 45. Bc6 Rb8 46. d7 Ke7 47. Bxb5 Be6 48. Kf2 $16) (36... Bc6 37. e6 Bxf3 38. e7 Re8 39. Qxf3 Qb6+ 40. Kf1 Qd6 41. Qe4 Qd3+ 42. Kf2 Qxe4 43. Rxe4 Kg8 44. h4 g5 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. Kf3 Kf7 47. Kg4 $18 {will be zugzwang shortly}) 37. e6 $18 Bxg2 $2 {a miscalculation} 38. Qxg2 (38. Bxg2 {also wins, as Bl has no time for } f3 39. e7 $18) 38... Qxg2+ 39. Kxg2 Re8 40. Bc6 (40. e7 b4 41. Bc6 {wins quickly}) 40... Re7 41. Bxb5 g5 42. Kf3 Kg7 43. h3 Kf6 44. Bxc4 1-0

Drawing Ahead

At last, with the Dyfed League season approaching its climax, Aberystwyth's run of wins is over. We are not complaining, though, as a draw with Cardigan A after our win over them in the first leg only consolidates our lead. Here is team captain Rudy's summary of the match, which was played at Brynamlwg on 20 March.

Having managed a last-minute defeat of Cardigan in the first leg of the League, the Aberystwyth team strategy was keep the draw in hand on all boards, and push for more if possible. On Board 1, Brendan tried to keep very active by opening things up. This led to an unbalanced position, whuch Howard Williams could have won - a blunder that might have been a Black win was missed, then, despite engines being clear about a win for Cardigan, time pressure produced a repetition. On Board 2, preparation gave Rudy the chance to gain a persistent pressure to give Iolo a taste of what he does to others, but not enough to gain more than the desired draw. On Board 3, Adam got a promising position against Tony, but it petered out to a draw. Julie got a good position against Howard Leah and Black should have barricaded earlier. As it was there could have been a White breakthrough, but then it settled to equality. Result, Aberystwyth got its four draws

[Event "Dyfed League: Aberystwyth-CardiganA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.03.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Williams, AH."] [Black "Durand Le Ludec, Brendan"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A57"] [WhiteElo "2325"] [BlackElo "2183"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "89"] [EventDate "2018.03.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 (4. Nf3 g6 5. Qc2 d6 6. e4 Nbd7 7. cxb5 Bg7 8. Nc3 O-O {Williams-Morcom, Dyfed League 2017,1-0}) 4... a6 5. b6 (5. bxa6 Bxa6 (5... g6 6. Nc3 Bxa6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1 d6 9. Nf3 Bg7 10. g3 Nbd7 11. Kg2 O-O {Bauche-Durand Le Ludec, Avoine op 2017, 1-0}) 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 g6 8. g3 { Williams- Rees, WCC 2003,1/2-1/2}) 5... d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. e4 O-O 9. Be2 Bg4 (9... Nbd7) (9... Qxb6) 10. Nd2 Bxe2 11. Qxe2 Nbd7 12. a4 (12. b7 Ra7 13. O-O Ne8 14. Nc4 Ne5 15. Na5 Nf6 16. b8=Q Qxb8 17. f4 { Mikhalevski-Hendricks, Dieren op 1996,1-0}) (12. O-O Nxb6 13. a4 Ne8 14. Rd1 Nc7 15. a5 Nd7 16. Nc4 Nb5 17. Qd3 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Nxb5 axb5 20. Qxb5 Qb8 21. Qe2 Qb3 {Chiong-Shalumov, Dos Hermanas blitz 2003,1-0}) 12... Qxb6 { Komodo11} (12... Nxb6 13. a5 Nbd7 14. O-O Ne8 15. Nc4 Nc7 16. Na4 Nb5 17. Nab6 Ra7 18. Be3 e5 19. dxe6 fxe6 20. Nxd7 Qxd7 21. Rad1 Qc6 22. Qd3 Rd7 23. Nb6 Rc7 24. Qc4 Re8 25. Rd2 Bd4 {Ktyztofiak-Brzeski,Kochan mem op, Koszalin 2006,1/2-1/ 2}) 13. Nc4 Qc7 $11 (13... Qb4 $11 {Komodo11}) 14. a5 Rfe8 15. Bf4 (15. O-O) 15... Nh5 16. Be3 e6 {challenging, but also committal} (16... Rab8 $11 { Komodo11}) 17. O-O exd5 (17... Bxc3 18. bxc3 exd5 19. exd5 f5 20. Qd3 Ne5 21. Nxe5 Rxe5 22. c4 Rae8 23. Bd2 Re4 24. Rab1 Qe7 25. Rb6 Rd4 26. Qe3 Qf8 27. Qc3 f4 28. Bc1 Qe7 29. Rxa6 Qe2 30. Qf3 Qxf3 31. gxf3 Rd8 32. Bb2 Rxc4 $14 { Komodo11}) 18. Nxd5 $16 Qc6 19. Qd3 (19. f3 $16 {Komodo11}) 19... Ne5 (19... Nhf6 20. Rfd1 (20. Rad1 Nxd5 21. Qxd5 Qxd5 22. Rxd5 Rxe4 23. Nxd6 Ra4 $11 ( 23... Rb4 $11)) 20... Ng4 21. f3 Nxe3 22. Qxe3 Rab8 23. Qd2 $14 {Komodo11}) 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 (20... Rxe5 21. f3 $16) 21. Nb6 (21. f4 Bxb2 (21... Bg7 22. f5 $16) 22. Rab1 Bg7 23. Rb6 Qa4 (23... Qc8 24. Rxd6 $16) 24. Nc7 Rxe4 25. Nxa8 Rxe3 26. Qxd6 Bd4 27. Kh1 Kg7 $11 {Komodo11}) 21... Rad8 (21... Ra7) 22. Rab1 (22. f3) 22... Bf4 (22... Nf4 23. Bxf4 Bxf4 24. Nd5 Be5 25. Rfc1 Rb8 26. b4 Rb5 27. Rc4 $14 {Komodo11}) (22... Nf6 23. f4 Bd4 24. Bxd4 cxd4 25. Qxd4 Kg7 26. Nd5 Qc5 27. Qxc5 dxc5 28. Nxf6 Kxf6 29. b4 c4 30. e5+ Kf5 31. b5 axb5 32. Rxb5 Rb8 33. Rd5 Red8 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. g3 Ra8 36. Rc1 Rxa5 37. Rxc4 Ra2 $11 38. Rc7 Kg4 39. f5 Kf3 40. Rc3+ Ke4 41. fxg6 fxg6 42. Rc7 Ra1+ 43. Kg2 Ra2+ 44. Kh3 h5 45. e6 Kf5 46. e7 Re2 $11 {Komodo11} 47. Rc5+ Kf6 48. Rc6+ Kg5 49. Ra6 Kf5 (49... Rxe7 $11)) 23. Nd5 Bxe3 24. fxe3 $16 (24. Qxe3 f5 25. Rbd1 $16 {Komodo11} Rxe4 (25... fxe4 26. g4 Ng7 27. Nf6+ $16) 26. Qxe4 fxe4 27. Ne7+ $18) 24... Qc8 ( 24... Re5 25. Rbd1 Qb7 26. b4 cxb4 27. Rb1 $16 {Komodo11}) 25. h3 (25. b4 $18 { Komodo11 & Stockfish9} cxb4 (25... Qg4 26. b5 axb5 27. Qxb5 Qxe4 28. Qb7 Qe6 29. a6 $18 Rd7 30. Nc7 Qxe3+ 31. Kh1 Rf8 32. a7 Qe7 33. Rbe1 Qd8 34. a8=Q $18 { Stockfish9}) 26. Rxb4 Re5 27. Rb6 $18 {Komodo11}) 25... Re5 26. Kh2 (26. Rf3 Qb7 27. Rd1 Qxb2 28. g4 Ng7 29. Rdf1 $16 {Komodo11}) 26... Qe6 27. g4 (27. Qxa6 Rxd5 28. exd5 Qe5+ 29. Kg1 Qxe3+ 30. Rf2 Nf4 31. Rbf1 Nd3 32. Qb7 Nxf2 33. Rxf2 Qe8 34. a6 Rd7 35. Qb5 Re7 36. Qxe8+ Rxe8 37. b3 Ra8 38. Ra2 Kg7 $11 {Komodo11} ) 27... c4 (27... f5 28. gxf5 gxf5 29. Rg1+ (29. Rxf5 Rxf5 30. exf5 Qe5+ 31. Nf4 Nxf4 32. exf4 Qxf4+ 33. Qg3+ Qxg3+ 34. Kxg3 d5 $11 {Komodo11}) 29... Kh8 30. Qc3 Nf6 31. Nxf6 Qxf6 32. Rbf1 Rf8 33. exf5 Rf7 34. Rd1 d5 (34... Rxf5 35. Rxd6 $16) 35. Qxc5 Rxf5 36. Rg2 Qe5+ 37. Kg1 h5 $14 {Komodo11- still a complex set of moves to negotiate}) 28. Qd2 (28. Qc3 {this keeps up the persistant pressure that has been maintained ever since Bl sharpened up the game by opening up the e file while conceding Wh the powerful N on d5} Rxe4 29. Rbd1 Re5 30. e4 Ng7 31. Rf6 Rxd5 (31... Qd7 32. Rxg6 Qa7 33. Rf6 Rxe4 34. Rd2 $16 { Komodo11}) 32. Rxe6 Rxd1 33. Re7 Rc8 34. Rxf7 Kxf7 35. Qf3+ Ke7 36. Qxd1 Ne6 37. e5 dxe5 38. Qd5 Rb8 {other moves lose it seems} 39. Qxe5 Rb5 40. Qc3 Kd6 41. Qxc4 Rxb2+ 42. Kg3 Rb5 43. Qd3+ Kc6 44. Qe3 Nc5 45. Qe8+ Kd6 46. Qf8+ Kc6 47. Qf6+ Kd5 48. Qf7+ Kd4 49. Qxh7 $18 {Komodo11}) 28... Ng7 $14 29. Rf6 $2 { having finally dislodged the Bl N from its perch near the Wh K, Wh is overeager to occupy the f6 square} Qc8 $2 {& Bl misses his chance} (29... Rxd5 $1 {wins a N by detroying the anchor for the Wh R} 30. Qxd5 (30. Rxe6 Rxd2+ { is even worse}) 30... Qxf6 $19 {realised by both in the pm analysis}) 30. Rbf1 Rf8 31. Rxd6 $18 Re6 32. Rxe6 (32. Rb6) (32. Nf6+ Rxf6 (32... Kh8 33. Nd7 { wins more material, either an exchange or the f pawn}) 33. Rdxf6 $18) 32... Qxe6 33. Nf6+ (33. Qd4) 33... Kh8 34. Qd4 Qe7 35. Nd5 (35. Qxc4 $5 Qe5+ 36. Kg2 Nf5 37. exf5 Qxb2+ 38. Kg3 Qxf6 39. fxg6 Qd6+ 40. Qf4 Qxf4+ 41. Rxf4 hxg6 42. Rf6 $18 {Komodo11}) 35... Qd8 36. Qc3 (36. Nb6 Qe7 37. Rf4 f6 38. Nd5 Qd8 39. Qb6 $18 {Komodo11}) 36... Qd6+ (36... f5 37. gxf5 gxf5 38. Rg1 Rf7 39. Nf4 $18 {Komodo11}) 37. Kg2 Qc5 38. Rf6 Qb5 {Bl is struggling to keep his position together} 39. Rb6 Qe8 40. Qd4 (40. Qxc4 $18 h5 41. Nf6 {Bl is running out of moves} (41. Rxa6 $18) 41... Qc8 42. Qxc8 Rxc8 43. Rxa6 $18 {Komodo11}) 40... Qc8 41. Rf6 (41. Qc3) (41. Qe5) 41... h6 42. Qa7 (42. Nb6 Qe8 43. Nd7 Rg8 44. Rxa6 $18 {Komodo11- the simplest}) (42. Rb6 Qe8 (42... Kh7 43. Qe5 Qa8 44. Nf6+ Kh8 45. Qf4 g5 46. Qd6 $18) 43. Qxc4 $18 {Komodo11}) 42... Qe8 43. Qd4 Qc8 44. Qa7 Qe8 45. Qd4 {repeating moves in a won position- time shortage} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Aberystwyth-CardiganA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.03.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Jones, IC."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C24"] [WhiteElo "2015"] [BlackElo "2236"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "101"] [EventDate "2018.03.21"] 1. e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 d5 (4... Be7 5. O-O d6 6. c3 (6. Re1 O-O 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. c3 Nc5 9. Bc2 Ne6 (9... Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. Nbd2 Ne8 12. g4 Bg6 13. Nf1 {Van Kemenade-Jones, Dyfed League 2012, 1/2-1/2}) 10. d4 Qc7 11. Nbd2 Rd8 12. Nf1 g6 {Watkin-Jones vs Jones, Dyfed League 2015, 1/2-1/2}) 6... O-O 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. Nbd2 Qc7 9. Re1 d5 10. h3 {Van Kemenade-Jones, Dyfed Open 2013,0-1}) 5. Bb3 Bb4+ (5... Bd6 6. Nc3 (6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1 Re8 9. Nf1 Nc5 10. Ng3 Nxb3 11. axb3 h6 {Bukacek-Jones, EU Seniors tm , 2015,1/2-1/2}) 6... dxe4 7. Nxe4 Nxe4 8. dxe4 Bb4+ 9. Bd2 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 11. Nxd2 Ke7 {White- Jones, EU Seniors tm 2016, 1/2-1/2}) 6. Bd2 (6. c3 Bd6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Re1 Qc7 10. Nf1 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nc5 12. Bc2 Rd8 13. Qe2 {Ralphs-Jones,WCPL 2016,1/2-1/21}) 6... Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 Nbd7 (7... Bg4 {alternative}) 8. O-O O-O 9. Re1 Re8 10. d4 {Bl has a centre, but Wh is ahead in development, so destroy the centre & aim to give Bl a weak isolated QP.} exd4 (10... dxe4 $2 11. Ng5 Re7 12. Ndxe4 Nxe4 13. Rxe4 $16 {Bl has to worry about f7}) 11. exd5 Rxe1+ ( 11... c5 12. Rxe8+ Qxe8 13. d6 {is quite dangerous} (13. Qf1 Nb6 14. Re1 Qf8 15. Re5 Bd7 16. c3 {Urban-Polakovic,CZE ch corr 1989,1/2-1/2})) 12. Qxe1 cxd5 ( 12... Nxd5 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14. Nxd4 Nf6 15. Qe3 Qb6 16. Re1 {So-Torre, PGMA cup, Manila 2006,1/2-1/2}) 13. Nxd4 Nc5 14. Qe5 (14. c3 Bd7 15. N2f3 Qb6 16. Qd2 Ba4 17. Qc2 Bxb3 18. axb3 Re8 19. b4 Nce4 20. Re1 g6 21. h3 Kg7 22. Qc1 { Kasimdzhanov-Christiansen, Yerevan ol 1996,1-0}) (14. N2f3 Nce4 15. h3 a5 16. a4 Be6 17. Rd1 Qb6 18. Qe3 {Rublevsky-Safarli, Wld ch blitz, Berlin 015, 0-1}) (14. Qe3 Bd7 15. Re1 a5 16. c3 Qb6 17. Rb1 Re8 18. Qf3 Bg4 19. Qg3 Nxb3 20. axb3 Bh5 21. f3 {Schneider-Heinemann, Erfurt Young Masters 2017,0-1}) 14... Nxb3 (14... a5 15. Re1 Be6 16. c4 a4 17. Bc2 Qa5 18. Qe3 dxc4 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20. Nxc4 Qb4 {Flores-Lorenzini, San Luis 2013,1/2-1/2}) (14... Qa5 15. Nf1 Nxb3 16. Nxb3 Qb6 17. Qd4 Qc7 18. Ne3 Be6 19. Nc5 b6 {Ruefenacht-Hess, Biel Masters 1983,1/2-1/2}) 15. axb3 $14 Bd7 (15... Qb6) 16. h3 (16. Qd6 {Komodo11; considered} Qf8 17. Qc7 Qc8 18. Qxc8+ Bxc8 19. b4 $14) 16... Qb6 17. c3 Re8 18. Qf4 a6 19. b4 (19. Nf1 h6 20. Ne3 Be6 21. b4 $14 {Komodo11}) 19... Qd8 { anticipating Ra5-c5 & Qc7} 20. N2f3 (20. Qd6 Qb8 (20... Bc8 21. Qxd8 Rxd8 22. b5 $16 {Komodo11}) 21. Qxb8 Rxb8 22. N2b3 Kf8 23. Nc5 Ke7 24. Re1+ Kd6 25. g4 $14 {Komodo11}) 20... Qb8 21. Qxb8 (21. Qd2 Ne4 22. Qd3 $11 {considered in pm analysis} Qd6 $11) 21... Rxb8 22. Re1 {looks like Wh should have kept Rs on, as his is more active, & Bl has no penetration square on the e file} (22. Ne5 Re8 23. Nd3 h5 (23... Ne4 24. Ra5 Nf6 25. f3 g5 26. Nc5 Bc8 27. Ra1 $16 { Komodo11}) (23... Kf8 24. Nc5 Rb8 (24... Bc8 25. b5 axb5 26. Nxb5 Ne4 27. Nxe4 dxe4 28. Nd6 $16) 25. g4 h6 26. Kg2 Bc8 27. f3 $16 Ne8 (27... Ra8 28. b5 Nd7 29. Nxd7+ Bxd7 30. Ra5 Be6 31. bxa6 Rxa6 32. Rb5 Ra7 33. Rb6 $16 {Komodo11}))) 22... Re8 23. Rxe8+ Nxe8 24. Ne5 Bc8 25. f3 Nd6 $11 26. b3 {not neccessary yet, } (26. Kf2 Nc4 $2 (26... g5 $11) 27. Nxc4 dxc4 28. Ke3 Kf8 29. Ke4 $1 {Komodo11 } Ke8 30. Kd5 {wins a pawn, as Bl has no protection againstthe advanced Wh K entry on the bl squares} b5 31. Kc6 Kd8 32. Kb6 h5 33. Nc6+ Ke8 34. Na7 Bf5 35. Kxa6 Bd3 36. Nxb5 Bf1 37. g4 Bxh3 38. gxh5 $18) 26... f6 27. Nd3 Kf7 28. Nf4 { Bl comes close to losing his d pawn , but still has resources} (28. g4 { prepares, but Bl has several defences} g5 (28... Bd7 29. Nf4 Bc6 (29... Nb5 30. Nxb5 Bxb5 31. Kf2 Bc6 32. Ke3 Ke7 33. Kd4 {and the Bl K can't leave the K side because of Nh5}) 30. Kf2 g5 31. Nfe6 Ke7 32. Nc5 Bb5 $11) 29. Kf2 f5) 28... Nf5 29. Nc2 {Nontheless the position remains much easier to play for wh ( who was almost an hour up on the clock, because Bl has to calculate all these forcing variations, while Wh can just choose to pile on the pressure} (29. Nxf5 Bxf5 30. Nxd5 (30. Ne2 Ke6 31. Kf2 (31. f4 Be4 32. Nd4+ Kd6 33. Kf2 h6 34. g3 h5 35. Ke3 Bb1 36. g4 hxg4 37. hxg4 Be4 38. b5 (38. c4 b6 39. cxd5 Kxd5 (39... Bxd5 40. Nf5+ Kd7 41. Nxg7 Bxb3 42. Kd4 Bd1 43. g5 fxg5 44. fxg5 Bg4 $11) 40. Ne6 Kxe6 41. Kxe4 b5 42. Kd4 Kd6 43. f5 Kc6) 38... a5 $11) 31... Ke5 32. Ke3 g5 33. Nd4 Bd7 {& Wh can't easily shift the K from e5- even a K on d6 will hold even if Wh gets a K to d4}) 30... Be6 31. Ne3 Bxb3 $15 {liberates the B}) 29... Be6 (29... g5) 30. g4 Ne7 31. Nd4 Bd7 32. Kf2 g5 33. Nd3 b6 (33... Nc6 34. Nxc6 Bxc6 35. Ke3 Bb5 $11 {looks like holding as well, but there are risks in giving Wh access to d4}) 34. f4 h6 35. Ke3 Ke8 36. f5 Kd8 37. Nf3 (37. c4 dxc4 38. bxc4 b5 (38... a5 39. b5 Kc7 40. Nb2 h5 41. Na4 hxg4 42. hxg4 Bc8 43. Nb3 Bb7 44. c5 Nd5+ 45. Kd4 $16 {Komodo11 nudged}) 39. c5 Nd5+ 40. Kf3 Kc7 41. Ne6+ Kc8 $11 {Wh has no further entry squares}) 37... Nc6 (37... Kc7 38. Kd4 Kd6 39. c4 Nc6+ 40. Kc3 dxc4 41. bxc4 Be8 42. c5+ bxc5 43. Nxc5 Nb8 44. Ne4+ Ke7 45. Kd4 h5 46. Kc5 Bc6 47. Nfd2 hxg4 48. hxg4 Ba8 49. Kb6 Nc6 $11 {Komodo11}) 38. h4 (38. b5 {Komodo11; considered} axb5 39. Nd4 Ne7 40. Ne1 b4 41. cxb4 Kc7 $11) 38... Kc7 (38... d4+ {Komodo11} 39. cxd4 (39. Nxd4 Nxd4 40. Kxd4 gxh4 41. Ke3 Kc7 42. Ne1 Bc6 43. Nf3 h3 44. Kf4 Bb5 45. c4 Bc6 46. Kg3 Kd6 47. Ne1 Ke5 48. Kxh3 Kd4 49. Kh4 Be8 50. b5 axb5 51. cxb5 Bxb5 52. Kh5 Be2 53. Ng2 Ke5 $11 { Komodo11; but this is the kind of endgame where its difficult to calculate all the consequences of the moves to be made}) 39... Ne7 40. hxg5 hxg5 41. Nd2 Nd5+ 42. Ke2 Kc7 $11 {Wh's extra pawn is thoroughly blockaded}) 39. hxg5 {angling for a chance to sac a piece on g5 to push a pawn through} (39. h5 Be8 40. Nd4 Kd6 41. Nxc6 Bxc6 42. Kd4 Bb5 {gets Wh nowhere}) 39... hxg5 40. Nd4 Ne7 (40... Kd6 $11) 41. Ne1 (41. Nf2 Ng8 42. Nh1 Kd6 43. Ng3 Nh6 44. Kf3 Nf7 45. Nh5 Ne5+ 46. Kg3 Ke7 $15 {Komodo11}) 41... Kd6 42. Nef3 Bc8 43. Ne2 {Wh was also looking at the implications of getting a N to a4 , hopefully to force b5, but most likely the B would take it.when a subsequent b5 would gibe Bl the c5 square for the N} Nc6 (43... a5 44. bxa5 bxa5 45. Ng3 Bd7 46. Nh5 Ng8 47. Kd4 Be8 48. Ng7 Bb5 49. Ke3 a4 50. bxa4 Bxa4 $11 {Komodo11- Wh's g4 pawn is vulnerable}) 44. Ng3 Bd7 45. Nh5 Ke7 46. Ng3 Be8 47. Ne2 Bf7 48. Ned4 Nd8 ( 48... Nxd4 {also draws, but why risk K access by Wh}) 49. Ne1 Kd6 50. Nd3 Be8 51. Kd2 {(draw?) There is no reason for Wh to venture upon more complex lines. most likely drawn, but where a single slip could be fatal.} (51. Nb2 Bd7 (51... a5 52. b5 Nf7 53. Na4 Kc7 54. Ne6+ Kb7 55. Ng7 Bxb5 56. Nh5 Bxa4 57. bxa4 b5 58. axb5 a4 59. Kd2 Kb6 60. Nxf6 Kxb5 61. Nxd5 Kc4 62. Ne3+ Kb3 63. c4 Nd6 64. Kc1 Ne4 $11 {Komodo11.}) 52. Na4 Kc7 $11 (52... Bxa4 53. bxa4 Nf7 54. Nf3 Nh6 55. Nh2 Ke5 {just worsens the Wh position &} 56. Nf3+ Kd6 57. Nh2 Ke5 {is repetition})) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Aberystwyth-CardiganA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.03.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Haigh, A."] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D03"] [WhiteElo "1928"] [BlackElo "1957"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2018.03.21"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Nf3 (3. Bxf6 {has been Tony's invariable reply, though with a record of 2 wins, 5 draws & 3 losses in the databases. To avoid preparation, an offer to go to a more mainline Queen's Gambit}) 3... e6 4. e3 c5 (4... Be7 5. Bd3 (5. c4 O-O 6. Nc3 {transposes to main QGD})) 5. dxc5 (5. c3 {eg Carlsen-Xiong, Chess.com I o Man Masters, Douglas 2017,1-0}) 5... Bxc5 ( 5... Nc6) 6. c4 (6. Nbd2) (6. Bd3) 6... Qa5+ 7. Nbd2 Ne4 8. a3 $146 (8. Bf4 { Komodo11}) (8. cxd5 exd5 9. a3 Nxg5 10. Nxg5 Be7 11. b4 Qb6 12. Ngf3 a5 13. Qa4+ Bd7 14. b5 Bf6 15. Nd4 Na6 16. N2f3 Nc5 17. Qd1 a4 {Bilek-Zaitsev, Sochi 1963,0-1}) (8. Bh4 Bb4 9. a3 Bxd2+ 10. Nxd2 Qxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Nxd2 12. Kxd2 dxc4 13. Bxc4 Bd7 14. Rac1 O-O {Kiviaho-Nykopp, FIN ch tm 1988, 1/2-1/2}) (8. Bd3 Nxd2 9. Nxd2 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Bb4 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bg3 O-O 13. a3 Bxd2+ 14. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 15. Kxd2 Nc6 16. Ke2 $14 {Breskanu-Schankin, Ulyanovsk Povolje op 2015, 1-0}) 8... Nxg5 (8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 (9. Bd8 Kxd8 10. Bxc4 Ke7 11. b4 Bxb4 12. axb4 Qxb4 13. Rb1 Qc3 14. Rb3 Qa5 15. Rb5 $11 {Komodo11}) 9... Nxg5 10. Nxg5 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Qxg5 12. Qe2 O-O $15 {Komodo11}) 9. Nxg5 Qd8 (9... dxc4 10. Nge4 (10. Bxc4 Bxe3 $15) (10. Qf3 O-O 11. Qe4 g6 12. Qh4 h5 13. Nge4 Rd8 14. g4 Kf8 15. gxh5 Be7 16. Qh3 Qxh5 17. Qxh5 gxh5 18. Bxc4 $11 {Komodo11}) 10... Be7 11. Bxc4 O-O $15 {Komodo11}) (9... Qb6 10. cxd5 (10. Qf3 O-O 11. cxd5 Qxb2 12. Rb1 Qe5 13. Nge4 Nd7 14. dxe6 Qxe6 15. Bc4 Qg6 16. Nxc5 Nxc5 17. O-O $11) 10... Bxe3 11. Nge4 exd5 12. fxe3 dxe4 13. Qa4+ Nc6 14. Qxe4+ Be6 15. Bc4 O-O 16. Bxe6 fxe6 17. Qxe6+ Kh8 18. O-O-O Rfe8 $11 {Komodo11}) 10. Ngf3 O-O 11. cxd5 Qxd5 (11... exd5 $11) 12. Nb3 (12. Be2 Be7 13. O-O Bd7 $11 {Komodo11}) 12... Qxd1+ 13. Rxd1 Bb6 (13... Be7) 14. Be2 Bd7 15. Nbd4 Rd8 16. O-O (16. Bb5 $11) 16... a6 $11 17. Rd3 (17. Ne5 Ba4 18. b3 Be8 19. Bf3 Bc7 20. Nd3 Ra7 21. Rc1 b6 $11 {Komodo11}) 17... Nc6 18. Rfd1 Be8 19. Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Ne5 Rxd3 (20... Be4 { keeps the 2 Bs}) 21. Rxd3 Bb5 (21... Be4 22. Rb3 Bc7 23. f4 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Rc8 25. Rb4 Rc2 26. Bf3 Bxf3 27. gxf3 b5 28. a4 Rc5 29. f4 g5 30. axb5 axb5 31. Kf2 $11 {Komodo11}) 22. Rb3 Bxe2 23. Rxb6 Rd8 (23... Rc8 24. h3 Rc7 $11) 24. f4 ( 24. h3 f6 25. Nf3 e5 26. Rxb7 $14 {Komodo11}) 24... f6 25. Nf3 Bxf3 26. gxf3 Rd7 27. Kf2 $11 {(draw?)} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Aberystwyth-CardiganA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.03.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, J."] [Black "Leah, H."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1740"] [BlackElo "1467"] [Annotator "Rudy"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2018.03.21"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. f4 a6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 Qc7 6. d3 d6 7. Be2 Nf6 8. O-O Be7 9. Qe1 O-O 10. Bd1 Ne8 11. Ne2 (11. g4 $5 {Rudy}) 11... f5 {digging in} 12. Ng3 Nf6 13. c3 b5 14. Bb3 Na5 (14... c4) 15. Bc2 Ng4 16. h3 Nh6 17. Bd2 (17. Ng5 $16) (17. b4 Nc6 18. Be3 $16) 17... Qd8 (17... c4) 18. Rd1 (18. b4 Nc6 19. Qf2 $16) 18... Kh8 19. d4 cxd4 20. cxd4 (20. Nxd4) 20... Nc4 21. Bc1 (21. Bc3 d5 22. exd5 exd5 (22... Qxd5 23. Nxf5 Nxf5 24. Be4 Qd6 25. Bxa8 $16)) 21... Qc7 22. Bb1 (22. d5) (22. b3 Nxa3 23. Bd3 b4 24. Bb2 Nb5 25. Rc1 Qb7 26. Rf2 $14) 22... Bd7 $2 23. Ng5 (23. exf5 $18 {the e7 B is hanging}) (23. Nh5 g6 (23... Be8 24. Nxg7 Kxg7 25. b3 Nb6 26. d5 exd5 27. exf5 Bf6 28. Be3 $16 {Komodo11}) ( 23... Qd8 24. b3 Nb6 25. d5 exd5 26. Bb2 $18 {Komodo11})) 23... Rae8 (23... Qd8 24. b3 Nb6 25. d5 $18 {Komodo11}) 24. Nh5 (24. b3 {Rudy} Na5 25. Qe3 d5 $11 { Komodo11}) 24... Qd8 (24... d5 $11) 25. Qc3 (25. b3 $1 {Rudy; the K is on the long diagonal, so the B needs to take aim along it} Na5 (25... Nb6 26. d5 $18 ( 26. Qg3 $18)) 26. d5 $18 {Stockfish9 & Komodo11} Bf6 (26... exd5 27. Bb2 Bf6 28. Nxf6 Rxf6 (28... gxf6 29. Qh4 Kg7 30. Rxd5 Be6 31. Rd3 $1 (31. Nxe6+ Rxe6 32. Qg5+ Kh8 33. Qxh6 $18) 31... Qe7 32. Rg3 Bg8 33. e5 dxe5 34. Nxh7+ Kxh7 35. Bxf5+ Kh8 36. Qxh6+ Bh7 37. fxe5 fxe5 38. Bxe5+ Qxe5 39. Qxh7# {Stockfish9}) 29. Bxf6 gxf6 30. Qh4 fxg5 31. Qxh6 Re6 32. Qxg5 Qxg5 33. fxg5 fxe4 34. Rxd5 Nxb3 35. Ba2 Nc5 36. Rxd6 $18 Re8 37. Rd5 Be6 38. Re5 Kg7 39. Rf6 $18 { Stockfish9}) (26... e5 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 Nc6 29. exf5 Nxf5 30. fxe5 Qb6+ 31. Kh1 Ncd4 32. Bb2 d5 33. Nf6 $18 {Stockfish9} (33. g4 $18 {Stockfish9})) 27. Nxf6 Rxf6 28. dxe6 Bxe6 29. Nxe6 Rexe6 30. Bb2 Rf7 31. e5 d5 32. Qe3 Ng8 33. Bd4 g6 34. Qf3 Rd7 35. g4 $18 {Komodo11}) 25... Nf7 (25... d5 26. e5 Nf7 $11 { Komodo11}) 26. exf5 (26. d5 e5 27. Ne6 Bxe6 28. dxe6 Nh6 29. b3 Nb6 30. fxe5 Qc8 31. Qg3 Qc5+ 32. Kh1 Qxe5 33. Bf4 Qb2 34. Rf2 $18 {Ko odo11}) (26. Nxe6 Bxe6 27. d5 Bf6 28. Nxf6 Qxf6 29. Qxf6 gxf6 30. dxe6 Rxe6 31. b3 Nb6 32. exf5 Re2 33. Rfe1 $18 {Komodo11}) 26... exf5 27. h4 (27. d5 Bf6 28. Nxf6 Qxf6 29. Qxf6 gxf6 30. Ne6 Bxe6 31. dxe6 Rxe6 32. Bxf5 Re2 33. Bd3 Re7 34. b3 Ne3 35. Rfe1 Rfe8 36. Rxe3 (36. Bxe3) 36... Rxe3 37. Bxe3 Rxe3 38. Kf2 Re7 39. Rc1 Kg7 40. Rc6 Ra7 41. g3 $18 {Komodo11}) 27... Nxg5 (27... d5 $15 {Komodo11}) 28. hxg5 (28. fxg5 d5 29. b3 Nd6 30. Bf4 $14 {Komodo11}) 28... d5 $15 29. Qh3 g6 30. Ng3 Rf7 (30... Bd6 $19) 31. Rfe1 Bf8 $15 {(Draw?)} 1/2-1/2