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