Curse of the Blogger

Once before this season I posted about how well Aberystwyth was doing and then immediately had to retract after an unexpected defeat. Now the same thing has happened again: our shock victory over Cardigan A was followed by an equally surprising loss to Steynton A, a serious setback in our attempt to retain the Dyfed League title. Rudy van Kemenade weakened his kingside against Martin Jones's Bishop's Opening, and found himself under pressure. Though he got back on terms at times during the game, he eventually lost a difficult ending. Adam Watkin-Jones's game against Mark Paffard was one of those where hostilities never really get started, and finished early in a draw. Julie van Kemenade found herself in an awkward pin against David Pinch, and only emerged in a losing ending. On the plus side for Aber, James Cook won a pawn early against Scott Hammett's Latvian Gambit, and picked up several more for a comfortable win. The match finished 2½-1½ to Steynton A.

As a reminder that chess is not all about matches, I throw in an entertaining club night game between Kieran Judge and myself.

[Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Jones, Martin C"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C24"] [WhiteElo "1733"] [BlackElo "2021"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "149"] [EventDate "2019.03.23"] {[%evp 0,11,22,15,25,23,9,9,13,24,38,36,30,18]} 1. e4 e5 (1... d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. Be3 c6 6. Qd2 Be7 7. Be2 h6 8. h3 Qc7 9. O-O Nf8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. a3 g5 12. Rad1 Ng6 {M Jones-Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2016,1-0}) 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 c6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. O-O d6 6. c3 (6. Re1 {main}) (6. a4 h6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Re1 Nf8 9. d4 Qc7 10. c3 {Kett-Van Kemenade, WLS ch 2018,1/2-1/2}) 6... h6 7. Nbd2 Nbd7 8. Bb3 (8. Re1 Qc7 9. Nf1 d5 10. Bb3 dxe4 11. dxe4 Nc5 12. Bc2 Bg4 {Heap-Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2015,1/2-1/2}) 8... Nc5 {Stockfish10} ( 8... Nf8 9. d4 Qc7 10. Re1 g5 11. Nf1 Ng6 12. Ne3 Nf4 13. Nf5 Bf8 14. g3 Ng6 { Kett-Van Kemenade, ECF blitz qual 2018, Cardiff 2018,1/2-1/2}) 9. Bc2 Ne6 10. Re1 Qc7 11. Nf1 g6 12. a4 Nh5 13. d4 Nhf4 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Ne3 Bf6 {leads to a slightly awkward position for Bl's K, but Stockfish10 thinks it should be OK, even though it as usual has some tactics to show} (15... O-O $15 {Stockfish10- Bl's first idea, but thought it lost a pawn after} 16. Ng4 {however Stockfish ignores this} (16. Nc4 Rd8 17. Bd2 Ng5 18. Ncxe5 {transposes}) 16... Rd8 17. Bd2 (17. Nd2 h5 18. Ne3 a5 $19) 17... Ng5 18. Ngxe5 Bf6 19. Qc1 Bxe5 (19... Rxd2 20. Qxd2 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Qxe5 $17) 20. Nxe5 Nfh3+ 21. gxh3 Nxh3+ 22. Kg2 Qxe5 $17 23. Bxh6 $2 Qh5 $19 24. Bd1 (24. Qe3 g5 $19) 24... Qh4 25. Be3 Bg4 26. Kf1 Bxd1 27. Rxd1 Qxe4 $19) (15... f6 {considered, but looked to be a bit loosening, though it does stabilize the e5 pawn. However Stockfish10 shows how Wh could exploit this.} 16. Nh4 {keeps threatening invasion on f5} (16. Nd5 { also} cxd5 (16... Nxd5 17. exd5 Nf8 18. a5 $18) 17. exd5 Kf7 (17... Ng5 18. Bxf4 Nxf3+ 19. Qxf3 exf4 20. d6 Qxd6 21. Rad1 Qc7 22. Bxg6+ Kf8 23. Qd5 Bc5 24. Bh5 Kg7 25. b4 Bf8 26. Re8 $18) 18. dxe6+ Nxe6 19. Nh4 Nf8 20. a5 Be6 21. Qf3 f5 22. Nxf5 gxf5 23. a6 Rb8 24. Bxf5 Bf6 25. axb7 Bxf5 26. Qxf5 Rxb7 27. h4 $11 ) 16... Kf7 (16... O-O 17. Nxg6 Nxg6 18. Nf5 Ngf4 19. g3 Nh3+ 20. Kg2 Neg5 21. Qh5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Bc5 23. f4 $18 {Stockfish10}) 17. Nef5 Rd8 {it seems other moves lose as well} (17... Qd8 18. Bd2 Kg8 19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Nxg6 Nxg6 21. Qh5 Bxf5 22. Bb3+ Kg7 23. exf5) 18. Nxh6+ Ke8 19. Qg4 Nd4 20. N4f5 gxf5 21. Qg8+ Kd7 22. Qh7 Nxc2 23. Rd1+ Nd5 24. Nxf5 $18 {Stockfish10}) (15... Ng5 { Stockfish10 is a path to equality} 16. Bb3 (16. Nc4 Bg4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. Qd4 O-O 19. Nxg5 hxg5 $15) 16... O-O 17. Nxg5 hxg5 $11) 16. Nc4 (16. Nd5 cxd5 17. exd5 Kf8 18. dxe6 Nxe6 (18... Bxe6 19. Bxf4 exf4 20. Bxg6 $16) 19. Qe2 Nf4 20. Qe4 Bf5 21. Qb4+ Be7 22. Qb3 Bxc2 23. Qxc2 Bf6 24. Qe4 Rd8 $14 {Stockfish10}) 16... Ke7 17. Be3 Rd8 (17... b6 18. Bb3 g5 19. g3 Nh3+ 20. Kh1 h5 21. Ng1 Nxg1 22. Kxg1 h4 23. Qf3 Rg8 24. Kh1 $16 {Stockfish10}) 18. Qc1 g5 19. g3 {the N needs shifting if Wh wants to put Rs on the d file} Nd3 $6 {an afterthought- Bl was too hopeful about being able to make some use of the weakenened wh squares around Wh's K} (19... Rg8 {considered for a while, when it is actually quite dangerous for Wh to take the piece} 20. Kh1 (20. Bxf4 gxf4 21. b3 Ng5 22. Qa3+ c5 23. Nxg5 hxg5 24. Rad1 Be6 25. Nd6 Rh8 $15) 20... Kf8 21. gxf4 gxf4 22. Bd2 Ng5 23. Nxg5 hxg5 24. Rg1 Be6 25. b3 g4 $11 {Stockfish10}) (19... Nh3+ { simplest} 20. Kg2 b6 21. Ng1 (21. Kxh3 $2 Nf4#) 21... Ba6 (21... Nxg1 22. Kxg1 Kf8 23. Bd1 Kg7 $14) 22. Nxb6 Nhf4+ 23. gxf4 axb6 24. f5 Nf4+ 25. Bxf4 exf4 26. e5 Bxe5 27. Nf3 f6 28. Nd4 Rd6 29. Be4 Bb7 $14 {Stockfish10}) 20. Bxd3 Rxd3 21. Qc2 {now Wh gains quick entry to the d file} Rd8 (21... Rd7 22. a5 (22. Red1 b6 23. Rxd7+ Bxd7 24. Rd1 Rd8 $14) 22... Bg7 23. h4 f6 24. hxg5 hxg5 25. b4 Kf7 26. Qe2 $16 {Stockfish10, but Bl is still with some hopes}) 22. Red1 g4 $2 { to relieve the pressure on e5, but Bl's K side pawn structure is now in ruins} (22... b6 23. Rxd8 Nxd8 24. a5 Rb8 25. axb6 axb6 26. h4 Ne6 27. b4 Bd7 $16 { but Bl is clinging on}) 23. Ne1 $18 Bg5 (23... Rh8 24. f4 Kf8 25. Nd3 exf4 26. gxf4 Be7 27. Kh1 $18 {the Bl pieces are huddled in corners, while the Wh ones take over the centre}) 24. Rxd8 Nxd8 (24... Qxd8 25. Rd1 (25. Nxe5 Bxe3 26. fxe3 Ng5 $11) 25... Qc7 26. Qe2 h5 27. h3 $18) (24... Kxd8 25. Rd1+ (25. Qd1+ Ke8 26. Qxg4 Nf4 27. Qd1 Nh3+ 28. Kg2 Be6 29. Nd6+ (29. Qd6 Qxd6 30. Nxd6+ Kd7 31. Bc5 b6 32. Ba3 Be7 33. Nxf7 Bxf7 34. Kxh3 $18) 29... Kf8 30. Bxg5 Nxg5 31. h4 Nh7 32. Qd2 Kg8 33. f4 $18) 25... Ke8 26. Qe2 Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Ng5 28. f4 $18 { Stockfish10-but both these recaptures are better than allowing access to d6.}) 25. Bc5+ Ke6 (25... Kf6 26. Bd6 Qd7 27. Rd1 Qe8 28. Bxe5+ Kg6 29. f4 $18 { Stockfish10}) 26. Rd1 (26. Nd6 $1 {preferred by Stockfish10} Bd7 27. f4 gxf3 28. Nxf3 Be7 29. Rd1 {when all of Wh's pieces are in action}) (26. Bd6 Qd7 27. Rd1 Qe8 28. Bc7 Be7 29. Nd6 Qf8 (29... Qd7 30. Nf5 Qxc7 31. Ng7+ Kf6 32. Ne8+ Kg6 33. Nxc7) 30. Nf5 b6 31. Nxe7 $18) 26... Be7 27. Bd6 (27. Rd6+ Bxd6 28. Nxd6 b6 29. Ne8 Qb8 30. Qd2 bxc5 31. Qxd8 f6 32. Nc7+ {and Bl has to give up the Q to avoid a mate in 14. However, there are many ways for Wh to proceed & humans are better off usually following simpler lines.}) 27... Bxd6 28. Rxd6+ ( 28. Nxd6 {Stockfish10, when Bl's best appears to be to give up the Q, as} Ke7 29. Qd2 b5 30. Qxh6 Be6 31. Qh8 {and Wh keeps picking up pawns}) 28... Ke7 29. Qd2 {this gives away all the advantage, though fortunately for Wh, Bl chooses the wrong move , & there still is a win for Wh.} (29. Rxh6 Be6 {simplest , should be a win , though Bl retains some hopes with only a pawn in arrears}) 29... f6 (29... Be6 $1 {Stockfish , is the accurate way to get a near level position.} 30. Rxe6+ (30. Qxh6 Bxc4 31. Qf6+ Ke8 32. Qh8+ Ke7 33. Qf6+ {draws} (33. Rd2 Rc8 $11 {Bl has compensation for the pawn})) 30... Nxe6 31. Qxh6 Rg8 32. Ne3 Qd7 {and compared with the game continuation, Bl has unravelled his position- Wh can still go for a repetition} (32... Qd8 33. Qh5 Qd2 34. Kf1 Qxb2 35. Qxe5 Kd7 36. Qf6 Rf8 37. Nxg4 $14 {Stockfish10}) 33. Qh4+ Kf8 34. Qh6+ Ke7 35. Qh4+ $11) 30. Qxh6 $18 Be6 31. Qg7+ Nf7 32. Rxe6+ Kxe6 33. Nd3 {if a Q & 1 N is a dangerous combination, then a Q & 2 Ns even more so. Although an exchange up, the Bl R is out of the game.} (33. Qxg4+ {Stockfish10- simplest} Ke7 34. Ne3 Nd6 35. Qg7+ Kd8 36. Qxf6+ Qe7 37. Qh8+ Qe8 38. Qg7 Rc8 39. Nf3 { and Bl has trouble holding} Rc7 40. Qf6+ Qe7 41. Qg6 Rd7 42. Nf5 Nxf5 43. Qxf5 Qf7 44. Qxf7 Rxf7 45. Nxe5 {4 pawns for the exhange is more than enough}) 33... Ke7 (33... b6 {keeps a N out of c5, however} 34. Qxg4+ Ke7 35. Ne3 Qd7 36. Nf5+ Kd8 37. Qg8+ Qe8 38. Qg6 Qe6 39. Qg8+ (39. Ng7 Qe7 40. Nh5 Kc7 41. Nxf6 Rd8 42. Nb4 Rd6 43. Nfd5+ cxd5 44. Nxd5+ Rxd5 45. exd5 Nd6 46. h4 $16) 39... Qe8 40. Qg7 Qe6 41. g4 Rc8 42. h4 $18 {the pawns will decide, Stockfish10}) (33... Rh8 {also considered} 34. Nc5+ Ke7 35. Ne3 Ke8 36. Nxg4 $18 {Stockfish10}) 34. Ne3 Re8 (34... b6 {Stockfish10, had to be tried} 35. Nb4 Rd8 36. Nf5+ Ke6 37. Qxg4 Qd7 38. Kg2 Rc8 (38... Rf8 39. Nxc6 $18) 39. Nh6+ Ke7 40. Qxd7+ Kxd7 41. Nxf7) 35. Nf5+ Kd8 36. Qxf6+ Kc8 {escape?} 37. Qxf7 $1 Qxf7 38. Nd6+ Kc7 39. Nxf7 { and Wh should have an easy win =- the Ns gobble up the remains of Bl's K side & the R has nowhere it can enter. However...} Kb6 40. Nfxe5 c5 {there are lots of ways forward for Wh} 41. f4 (41. Nxg4 Rxe4 42. Nde5 Re1+ 43. Kg2 Kc7 44. h4 {and the pawns surge through, the R is unable to get anything on the Q side} Kd6 45. f4 Rb1 46. h5 (46. Nc4+ Kd5 47. Nge3+ Ke6 48. h5 {keeps material if desired}) 46... Rxb2+ 47. Nf2 b5 48. h6 Rd2 (48... bxa4 49. Nc4+ Kc6 50. Nxb2 a3 51. Nbd3 a2 52. h7 a1=Q 53. h8=Q {and Bl gets mated soon}) 49. Nc4+) (41. h4 gxh3 42. f4 Rc8 43. b3 {Stockfish10, the R is barricaded out}) 41... gxf3 42. Kf2 Ka5 43. b3 (43. Nc4+ Kxa4 44. Nxc5+ Kb5 45. Nd6+ Kxc5 46. Nxe8 {ends all Bl's desperation hopes}) 43... b5 44. axb5 Kxb5 45. Kxf3 Rd8 46. c4+ Kb6 47. g4 Rf8+ 48. Nf4 {the N was doing a good job where it was on d3, preventing Bl entry on b4} (48. Kg3 Rf1 49. h4 {and the pawns march through together} (49. Nd7+ Kc6 50. N7xc5 {also} Rg1+ 51. Kf3 Rf1+ 52. Kg2 Rf8 53. h4)) 48... Rh8 49. h3 (49. g5 {as the R cannot return in time if it takes the pawn} Rxh2 50. g6 Rh8 51. Nd5+ Kb7 (51... Ka5 52. g7 {Stockfish10 goes for mate} (52. Nf6 { is goodenough}) 52... Rg8 53. Nd7 a6 (53... Rxg7 54. Nxc5 {mating}) 54. Ne7 Rxg7 55. Nc6#) 52. Nf6 {forces the pawn through}) 49... Ka5 50. g5 (50. Ned3 { ends all Bl hopes}) 50... Kb4 51. g6 Kxb3 52. g7 {this should still be fine for Wh, amongst many other possibilities} (52. h4 a5 53. h5 (53. Ned3 Kxc4 54. h5 a4 55. g7 Rg8 56. h6 a3 57. h7 (57. Nc1) 57... Rxg7 58. h8=Q Ra7 59. Nd5 { mate in 6}) 53... a4 54. g7 Ra8 55. h6 a3 56. Ned3 Kc2 57. h7 a2 58. h8=Q a1=Q 59. e5) 52... Rg8 53. Ne6 a5 {Ns have trouble stopping a R pawn when its K is near , as they can only come from one direction. Also, with scattered Wh pawns the R has the freedom of movement its powers need. Instead of an easy rollover, Wh must now be very careful} 54. Nxc5+ (54. Nd7 {Stockfish10-uses the other horse- there is no need to give up the pawn that has advanced so far.} Kxc4 ( 54... a4 55. Ndxc5+ Kb4 56. Nxa4 Kxa4 57. h4 {clearly useless}) 55. h4 a4 56. Nb6+ Kb4 57. Nxa4 Kxa4 58. h5 (58. Nxc5+ Kb5 59. Ne6) 58... c4 59. h6 c3 60. h7 (60. Nd4 {simplest}) 60... c2 61. Nc5+ Kb5 62. hxg8=Q c1=Q 63. Qb8+ Kc6 64. Qb7+ Kd6 (64... Kxc5 65. Qc7+) 65. Qb6+ Ke7 (65... Ke5 66. Nd3#) 66. Qe6+ Kd8 67. Qd7# {unless Wh wants to play with another Q?}) 54... Kb4 (54... Kc3 55. Ned7 Rxg7 56. e5 Kxc4 57. Ke4 $18 {Stockfish10}) 55. Ncd3+ (55. Ne6 { Stockfish10} a4 56. Nd3+ Kc3 57. Nc1 Kb2 58. c5 Kxc1 59. c6 a3 60. c7 a2 61. Nf8 a1=Q 62. c8=Q+ Kd1 63. Qd8+ Kc1 64. Qg5+ Kc2 65. Qc5+ Kd2 66. Qd5+ Ke1 67. Qxg8 (67. Ne6 {keeps the Q central & threatens mating net})) 55... Kc3 $16 56. Nc5 {both Ns now obstruct their pawns} (56. Nc1 a4 57. c5 (57. Ke3) 57... Rxg7 58. Ne2+ Kb4 59. Nd3+ Kc4 60. Nb2+ Kb4 61. c6 (61. Nxa4 Kxa4 {Drawn- Lomonosov tablebases}) 61... a3 62. Nd3+ Kb5 63. Ne5 Kb4 64. Nc1 Kc3 $11 {Stockfish10}) 56... Rxg7 $11 {Stockfish10} 57. Na4+ (57. h4 Re7 58. Kf4 Rh7 59. Kg5 Kd4 60. Kg6 Rh8 61. Ned7 a4 62. Nxa4 Rxh4 63. e5 Kxc4 $11 {Stockfish10, as 2 Ns & K vs K is drawn}) 57... Kb4 58. Nb2 Rh7 {perhaps Bl was trying to win here, getting the R to take the N on b2} (58... a4 $1 {Stockfish10} 59. Ned3+ (59. Nxa4 Kxa4 $11) (59. Nc6+ Kb3 $11 (59... Kc5 $11)) 59... Kc3 60. Nxa4+ (60. Nd1+ Kd2 $19) 60... Kxd3 61. Nc5+ Kxc4 $11) 59. Kg4 Rg7+ (59... Kb3 60. Ned3 Kc3 61. h4 a4 $11) (59... a4 60. Nxa4 Kxa4 61. Ng6 $18 {Wh mates in 39- Lomonosov tablebases} (61. h4 $18 {Wh mates in 45 -Lomonosov tablebases})) 60. Kf3 (60. Kf5 $18 { Stockfish10} Rg2 61. Ned3+ Kb3 62. e5 a4 (62... Rxb2 63. Nxb2 Kxb2 64. e6 { Wh wins the race}) 63. Nxa4 Kxa4 64. e6 $18) 60... Rh7 $11 (60... a4 $11) ( 60... Kb3 $11) (60... Kc3 $11) 61. Kg3 Rg7+ (61... a4 62. Nxa4 Kxa4 $11 { Lomonosov}) (61... Kc3 $11) (61... Rc7 $11) 62. Kf4 Rg2 $2 (62... Rh7 $11 63. Kf5 a4 $11) (62... Kb3 63. Ned3 Kc3 64. e5 a4 $11 {Stockfish10} 65. Nxa4+ Kxd3 66. e6 Kxc4 67. Ke5 Ra7 68. Nb6+ Kc5 69. Kf6 Ra3 70. e7 Rf3+ 71. Ke6 (71. Kg7 Rg3+ 72. Kf8 Rf3+ 73. Ke8 Kxb6 $11) 71... Rxh3 72. Nd7+ Kd4 $11 {Stockfish10}) 63. Nbd3+ $16 (63. h4 $18) (63. Kf5 $18) 63... Kc3 64. c5 (64. Nc5 Rh2 65. Kg3 Rh1 66. h4 Kd4 67. Ned7 Kxc4 $11) (64. Nc1 a4 $11) 64... a4 65. c6 Rg7 $2 { Bl worried about being cut off by a N from the backrank} (65... a3 $1 66. c7 ( 66. Ng4 $2 Kxd3 $19 {missed by Bl that the R can stop the pawn}) (66. Nc1 Rc2 67. Ne2+ (67. Ned3 Kd2 68. e5 Rxc6 69. h4 a2 70. Nxa2 Rc4+ 71. Kg5 Kxd3 72. h5 Re4 73. Kf5 Rh4 $11 {Stockfish10}) 67... Kb2 68. Nd4 Rc3 69. Nb5 a2 70. Nxc3 a1=Q 71. Nd5 Qf1+ 72. Kg3 (72. Nf3 Qc1+ 73. Kf5 Qxc6 {drawn-Lomonosov tablebases}) 72... Qg1+ 73. Kf3 Qf1+ $11) (66. Kf3 Rg1 67. c7 Rg8 68. Nb4 Kxb4 69. Nc6+ Kb3 70. Nd8 a2 71. c8=Q Rf8+ 72. Ke3 a1=Q {repeats an earlier variation}) (66. Ne1 Rg1 67. N5d3 a2 68. Nc2 Kxd3 69. Nb4+ Kc4 70. Nxa2 Rg6 $11 {Stockfish10}) 66... Rg8 67. Nb4 Kxb4 68. Nc6+ Kb3 69. Nd8 a2 70. c8=Q Rf8+ $1 (70... a1=Q 71. Qe6+ $18) 71. Ke3 a1=Q $11 {Stockfish10}) 66. Nc1 $18 (66. Kf5 $18) 66... Kc2 67. Ned3 a3 (67... Re7 68. Kf5 a3 69. e5 Rc7 70. e6 Rxc6 71. e7 Rc8 72. h4 a2 73. Nb4+ Kxc1 74. Nxa2+ Kd2 75. Kg6 Ke2 76. h5 Kf3 77. h6 Ke4 78. h7 Kd5 (78... Kf4 79. Nc3 $18) 79. Kf7 $18) 68. Ke5 Kb1 (68... a2 69. Nxa2 Kxd3 70. Nb4+ Kc4 71. Nd5 Kc5 72. c7 Rg8 73. Ne7 $18 {Stockfish10}) 69. Kd6 Rg3 70. c7 Rxd3+ 71. Nxd3 a2 72. c8=Q a1=Q 73. Qc1+ Ka2 74. Qxa1+ (74. Qc4+ Ka3 75. Qb4+ Ka2 76. Qa4+ Kb1 77. Qb3+ Qb2 78. Qxb2#) 74... Kxa1 75. e5 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Black "Paffard, Mark"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A50"] [WhiteElo "1928"] [BlackElo "1739"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2019.03.23"] {[%evp 0,15,19,13,8,-30,3,3,34,20,57,50,67,28,44,40,40,40]} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 {a little early . but fairly popular, , 4th choice} (3... d5) (3... Bb4) (3... c5) 4. e4 (4. g3 {main}) 4... d6 {74% for Wh} (4... Bb7 {main, 61% for Wh} 5. Bd3 (5. d3)) 5. d4 Bb7 6. Bd3 Be7 (6... Nbd7 7. O-O {68% Wh}) 7. O-O {main} (7. e5 {2-0}) 7... O-O 8. Qe2 $16 {72% Wh} (8. Qc2 $16 {72% for Wh}) (8. e5 $18 {9-0}) 8... Nbd7 9. h3 {main,55%} (9. Rd1 {78%}) (9. b3 {7-0}) 9... c5 ( 9... e5 $16 {3 Wh wins, 1 draw, 4 Bl wins}) 10. d5 e5 11. Bd2 (11. Nh2 h6 ( 11... Bc8 12. Bd2 Ne8 13. Rae1 Bg5 14. f4 (14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Bc2 $16) 14... exf4 15. e5 Nxe5 16. Bc2 g6 17. Bxf4 Bxf4 18. Rxf4 Qg5 19. Ref1 Bxh3 20. Ne4 Qxg2+ 21. Qxg2 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 f5 23. Ng5 Ng7 24. b3 h6 25. Ngf3 g5 26. Nxe5 gxf4 27. Ng6 $16 {Franzoni Ladron-Kyrkjebo, Barcelona San Marti op 2017,1-0}) 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 g5 14. Bg3 (14. e5 $18) 14... Ne5 15. Bxe5 dxe5 16. Qf3 $16 { Baumgartner-Moderegger, Bayern ch Seniors, Bergen 2010, 1-0}) 11... Ne8 12. Nd1 g6 13. Bh6 Ng7 14. Ne3 $16 Bc8 15. Nh2 (15. a4 Re8 16. g4 Nf6 17. Qc2 $16 { Komodo12} Kh8 18. Ra3 Ng8 19. Bxg7+ Kxg7 20. a5 Rb8 21. Rfa1 $14 {Bl is prevented from a K side break & Wh has a slight Q side initiative}) 15... Re8 16. f4 $6 {the Wh pawn structure indicates that pawn advances need to be on the Q side as d5 gives Wh space advantage there.} (16. Nhg4 Nh5 17. g3 Ndf6 18. a3 Bf8 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. b4 Bd7 21. Rfb1 $14 {Komodo12- last comment applies still}) 16... exf4 17. Bxf4 Nh5 $11 {Wh has lost control over the bl squares} 18. Qf2 (18. Nhg4 Nxf4 19. Rxf4 Bg5 $15 {Komodo12}) (18. Nf5 Nxf4 19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. Rxf4 Ne5 21. Raf1 $11 {Komodo12}) 18... Nxf4 19. Qxf4 Ne5 $15 { the Wh minor pieces are worse than their counterparts as they are restricted by their pawn structure} 20. Rad1 Bg5 21. Qf2 Rf8 (21... h5 $15) (21... Qe7 $15 ) 22. Nf3 (22. Nhg4) 22... Nxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Qe7 24. Ng4 Bxg4 25. Qxg4 Qe5 $15 1/2-1/2 [Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Van Kemenade, J."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E62"] [WhiteElo "1742"] [BlackElo "1761"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2019.03.23"] {[%evp 0,16,19,31,62,3,39,13,37,19,19,25,19,34,36,21,31,42,58]} 1. d4 d6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O Nd7 (7... a6) (7... e5 { main lines}) 8. a3 {uncommon} (8. e4) (8. b3) (8. Be3) 8... e6 {3-0} (8... e5 { 1-2}) (8... a6 9. e4 {0.5-4.5} (9. e3 {0.5-3.5})) 9. e3 (9. Bg5 f6 10. Be3 e5 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Qb3 Kh8 13. Rad1 Ne7 14. Bh3 c6 15. Bxd7 Bxd7 16. Qxb7 { Foisor-Skouvaklis, Geneve op 2010,1-0}) (9. d5 Nce5 10. Nd4 Nf6 11. b3 Re8 12. Bb2 a5 13. Rc1 Nfd7 14. h3 Nc5 15. Ncb5 g5 16. b4 axb4 17. axb4 Na4 18. Ba1 Ng6 19. dxe6 fxe6 20. c5 {Puraev-Khatoev, Izmailov mem 2012,1-0}) 9... Ne7 (9... e5 10. d5 Ne7 11. e4 {transposes, 4 Wh wins, 2 draws, 3 Bl wins}) 10. b4 h6 11. Bb2 f5 12. Qd2 Nf6 13. Qc2 a6 14. Rfd1 Qe8 15. a4 Rb8 (15... g5) (15... Bd7) 16. a5 Bd7 $14 17. Nd2 Bc6 {Komodo12} (17... g5 18. b5 (18. Re1 f4 $11 { Stockfish10} (18... Qf7 19. Rac1 f4 $11 {Stockfish10})) 18... f4 $14 {Komodo12} ) 18. e4 g5 (18... fxe4 19. Ndxe4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 Qf7 21. Ra3 Nf5 (21... g5 22. Qe2 Qg6 23. b5 axb5 24. cxb5 Bd5 25. Rc3 Rbc8 26. h3 Nf5 27. Ra3 Rf7 $11 { Stockfish10}) 22. d5 exd5 23. cxd5 Bxb2 24. Qxb2 Bb5 $14 {Stockfish10}) (18... Qf7 19. d5 exd5 20. exd5 Bd7 21. Ne2 g5 22. Nd4 Ng4 23. Re1 f4 $14 {Komodo12}) 19. d5 $16 exd5 20. Nxd5 Rc8 (20... Nfxd5 21. exd5 Bxb2 (21... Ba4 22. Rxa4 Bxb2 23. c5 Be5 24. Nc4 Ng6 25. Ra3 Qf7 26. Rb3 $16 {Komodo12- Wh has more initiative onthe Q side than Bl has on the K side}) 22. Qxb2 Bd7 23. c5 Ng6 24. cxd6 cxd6 25. Nc4 Qe7 26. Re1 Qf6 27. Qxf6 Rxf6 28. Rac1 Bb5 29. Na3 Ne5 (29... Bd7 30. Rc7 Nf8 31. Nc4 Bb5 32. Bf1 Bxc4 33. Bxc4 Rf7 34. Ree7 Rxe7 35. Rxe7 Ng6 36. Re6 Ne5 37. Bf1 Rc8 38. Rxd6 $18) 30. Nxb5 axb5 31. Red1 f4 32. Bf1 Rbf8 33. Bxb5 fxg3 34. fxg3 Rf2 35. Rf1 Rb2 36. Rxf8+ Kxf8 37. Rc8+ Ke7 38. Rc7+ Kf6 39. Rxb7 Nf3+ 40. Kf1 Nxh2+ (40... Rd2 {aims for a draw by perpetual, but gets stopped by} 41. Be2 Nd4 42. Bg4 $16) 41. Ke1 Rxb4 42. a6 $18) (20... fxe4 21. Nxe4 Nfxd5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. cxd5 Nxd5 24. Nxd6 cxd6 25. Bxd5 Qe5 26. Bxc6 Rbc8 27. Qd2 Rxc6 28. Ra3 $14 {Komodo12- Bl has some loose areas, but with only the heavy pices on looks like holding}) 21. Re1 $16 (21. Nxf6+ Bxf6 22. Bxf6 Rxf6 23. b5 axb5 24. cxb5 Bxb5 25. e5 dxe5 26. Bxb7 Rb8 27. a6 $18 { Komodo12 & Stockfish10}) 21... Bxd5 {gives away the e6 square to Wh} (21... Nfxd5 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. exd5 Bd7 24. c5 $16 Qf7 25. Qb2+ Kh7 26. Nc4 dxc5 27. bxc5 Bb5 28. d6 Ng6 29. Na3 Bc6 30. Bxc6 bxc6 31. Qc2 $16 {Komodo12}) 22. exd5 Qf7 23. Re6 $16 Nd7 (23... Ng4) 24. Bxg7 Qxg7 25. Rae1 Rce8 {selfpins are usually dangerous} (25... Rf7 26. c5 Nf8 27. R6e2 f4 $16 {Komodo12}) (25... Ne5 26. c5 N7g6 27. Nb3 f4 28. Be4 Ne7 29. Nd4 Kh8 30. Kg2 $18 {Komodo12}) 26. Nf3 (26. c5 $18 Ne5 (26... dxc5 27. bxc5 f4 28. d6 $18) 27. cxd6 (27. Nc4 Nxc4 28. Qxc4 Rf6 29. cxd6 cxd6 30. Qc7 $18) 27... cxd6 28. Rxd6 $18 {Komodo12}) 26... Nf6 27. Qd3 (27. Nd4 $18 Ng4 28. Qd1 (28. Nxf5 Rxf5 29. Rxe7 Rxe7 30. Rxe7 Qf6 31. Re2 Qa1+ 32. Bf1 Rf6 33. Re6 Kg7 34. Rxf6 Qxf6 35. c5 dxc5 36. bxc5 Ne5 37. Be2 $18 {but not as clear}) 28... Ne5 29. R6xe5 dxe5 30. Ne6 Qf6 31. Nxc7 Rc8 32. d6 $18 {Komodo12}) 27... Ne4 (27... f4 {still worth a try- Wh needs to respond accurately even now to a kingside attack} 28. gxf4 Nh5 29. fxg5 Nf4 30. Qe3 Nxe6 31. gxh6 Qg6 32. dxe6 Nf5 33. Qe4 Rf6 34. h7+ Kxh7 35. h4 Kg7 $11 { Komodo121}) 28. Nd4 $18 Qh7 29. Bxe4 fxe4 30. Qxe4 (30. R1xe4 Rf7 31. Qe3 Kf8 32. h4 $18 {Komodo12}) 30... Rf7 (30... Qxe4 31. R6xe4 Rf7 32. h4 $18 {Komodo12 }) 31. Qxh7+ Rxh7 (31... Kxh7) 32. Nf5 Kf8 33. Nxh6 (33. c5 {even stronger- Komodo12}) 33... Kg7 34. Nf5+ Kf8 35. Nxe7 {simplest- Wh has too many pawns} ( 35. c5 {Komodo12}) 35... Rhxe7 36. Rxe7 Rxe7 37. Rxe7 Kxe7 38. f4 Kf6 39. fxg5+ Kxg5 40. Kf2 Kg4 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:Aberystwyth-SteyntonA"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Cook, James"] [Black "Hammett, S."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C40"] [WhiteElo "1496"] [BlackElo "1533"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "107"] [EventDate "2019.03.23"] {[%evp 0,151,29,15,39,35,105,100,150,104,104,104,104,27,27,-16,36,26,26,-24, -23,-30,-1,12,35,-31,46,-20,-37,-92,-6,-6,-30,-30,-10,-29,20,-14,75,81,88,12, 40,15,15,42,44,33,33,-3,25,-9,37,7,90,94,113,46,63,72,95,16,134,130,149,159, 138,143,162,155,157,168,190,183,180,143,416,409,413,310,378,387,412,391,417, 417,458,458,481,477,491,485,493,512,515,515,611,621,620,628,637,632,662,617, 630,598,618,615,640,599,651,651,801,824,844,833,853,641,895,928,985,1023,1044, 935,1044,1479,1726,1391,29979,1012,29979,29980,29981,29984,29987,29984,29993, 29988,29989,29990,29995,29992,29993,29994,29995,29992,29993,29994,29995,29994, 29995,29996,29997,29998]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 {main} (3. Bc4 {next}) 3... Qf6 {main} (3... Nc6 {next} 4. Qh5+ (4. Nxc6 dxc6 5. exf5 Bxf5 6. Bc4 Qe7+ 7. Be2 O-O-O 8. O-O Bxc2 $2 9. Bg4+ {O Llywelyn-Hammett, Dyfed League 2015,1-0} ) 4... g6 5. Nxg6 Nf6 6. Qh3 hxg6 7. Qxh8 Qe7 8. Qh4 d5 9. Bb5 { Robinson-Hammett,Dyfed League 2016,1-0}) 4. d4 (4. Nc4 fxe4 5. Nc3 Qg6 6. Ne3 Nf6 7. Bc4 Bc5 8. O-O {Bonutto-Hammett, John Bishop Minor 2016,1-0}) 4... d6 5. Nc4 (5. Nf3 fxe4 6. Ng1 (6. Qe2) 6... Nh6 7. Bxh6 Qxh6 8. Qe2 d5 9. Nd2 Bd6 10. g3 O-O 11. O-O-O {Osinga-Hammett,Dyfed League 2018,0-1}) 5... fxe4 (5... Nc6 6. c3 Bd7 7. Bd3 Nge7 8. O-O fxe4 9. Bc2 O-O-O 10. Ne3 Qg6 11. Nd2 d5 {o Llywelyn-Hammett, Dyfed League 2015,1-0}) 6. Qh5+ (6. Nc3 {main} Qg6 7. Qe2 Nf6 8. Bf4 Be7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. g3 (10. h3) 10... Bg4 11. Qe3 Bf3 12. Nd2 Bxh1 13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. Rxh1 $19 {Chapman-Hammett, John Bishop Minor 2016,1-0}) 6... g6 7. Qd5 (7. Qe2 {is an old analysis by Bronstein cited in Lein & Pickard 1995:88} d5 $1 (7... Qxd4 8. Nc3 (8. Bd2 $18 {Cloud Engines}) 8... Be6 9. Be3 Qg7 10. Nxe4 $16) 8. Ne5 Bd6 (8... Nd7 9. f4 $17 {0-3 in internet games}) 9. c4 Bxe5 ( 9... c5 10. cxd5 cxd4 11. Qb5+ (11. Nc4 $16) 11... Nd7 12. Nxd7 Bxd7 13. Qxb7 Rc8 (13... Rb8 $19) 14. Nd2 e3 $19 {Nierman-Elburg, Training Game corr 1999,0-1 }) 10. dxe5 Qxe5 {Bronstein, with no evaluation} 11. cxd5 Nf6 12. Nc3 $14 { Stockfish10}) (7. Qg5 $15 {Stockfish10}) (7. Qd1 $11 {Houdini6 & Stockfish10}) 7... Ne7 {hoping to win a piece?} (7... Qe6 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Qxe6+ Bxe6 10. Bg5 Be7 {Bronstein seen as =; Stockfish10 evaluates as definite plus for Wh} (10... Bg7 11. O-O-O d5 12. Ne3 c6 13. Be2 Nbd7 14. f3 exf3 15. Bxf3 O-O-O $11 { Pecina-Kouba, Pardubice/Chrudim op 2001,1/2-1/2} (15... O-O $15 {Stockfish10})) ) (7... Qf5 8. Nc3 (8. Ne3 Nf6 9. Qxf5 gxf5 10. c3 d5 11. g3 Nc6 $14 {Cabanas Jimenez-Aziz Ortego, Madrid ch U20 1999,0-1}) 8... Nf6 9. Qb5+ Qxb5 10. Nxb5 Na6 11. Bf4 Nd5 12. Bd2 Bg7 13. Ne3 {Michalek-Melchor Munoz, Theme t corr , 1998,1/2-1/2}) (7... Bg7 8. Qxe4+ Ne7 9. Ne3 (9. d5 O-O 10. f3 Bf5 $19 { Brudnova-Tochor, CZE ch tm , 2003,0-1}) 9... Rf8 (9... O-O $15) 10. f3 $11 { Capone-Minerva, Cecchina 0pen - 1997,1-0}) 8. Qxe4 d5 (8... Nbc6 $1 9. Ne3 Qxd4 10. Nc3 Bg7 11. Bc4 Bd7 12. Bd2 O-O-O 13. Qxd4 Nxd4 14. O-O-O Rhf8 15. f3 c6 $11 {Stockfish10}) 9. Qe5 Qxe5+ (9... Bg7 10. Bg5 Qe6 11. Qxe6 Bxe6 12. Ne5 $14 {Stockfish10}) 10. Nxe5 Bg7 11. c3 (11. f4 Bf5 12. c3 Nbc6 13. Bb5 a6 14. Bxc6+ Nxc6 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. O-O Rb8 (16... c5 17. Be3 O-O 18. dxc5 Rfe8 19. Bd4 Re2 $11 {Stockfish10- development of 3 pieces is usually worth a pawn, but it's 2 here?!}) 17. Nd2 Bh6 18. Nb3 $16 {Knyazkov-Winkler, Canarias en Real blitz, playchess.com 2004,1-0}) 11... O-O (11... c5 {Stockfish10- Bl needs some rapid deployment to compensate for the pawn} 12. Nf3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nbc6 14. Be3 Bg4 15. Nbd2 O-O $14) 12. Be2 (12. Nd3 $16 {Stockfish10}) 12... Nd7 (12... c5) 13. f4 $16 Nxe5 14. dxe5 (14. fxe5 {may be stronger, as it lets the B out- the Wh R can always come to f1. It also avoids the Bl tactic in the next note}) 14... Bf5 (14... g5 {Stockfish10-is worth a try-breaking open the position while Wh is still behind in development} 15. fxg5 (15. g3 gxf4 16. Bxf4 Ng6 $15) 15... Ng6 16. Be3 (16. Rf1 Bd7 $14 (16... Re8)) 16... Nh4 17. Rg1 Bxe5 18. g3 Nf3+ 19. Bxf3 Rxf3 20. Ke2 Rf7 21. Na3 Bh3 $11 {Stockfish10}) 15. O-O (15. Nd2 $18 { as it aids e5}) 15... Rad8 (15... g5 16. fxg5 Rae8 $16 {Stockfish10- but Bl must try & prevent Wh from just consolidating his position with an extra preotected passed pawn}) 16. Be3 (16. Nd2) 16... b6 (16... g5 $5) 17. Nd2 c5 ( 17... g5 {Stockfish10 insists}) 18. Nf3 $18 h6 19. Rad1 Bg4 20. h3 Nf5 (20... Be6 $5) 21. Bf2 Bxf3 22. Bxf3 d4 23. cxd4 (23. Rfe1) 23... Nxd4 24. Bxd4 cxd4 25. Be4 Kh8 (25... g5 {last chance}) 26. Bxg6 d3 {Stockfish10 plays this for Bl as well- true, Bl gets a bit of play, but it is another pawn gone} 27. Bxd3 Rd4 28. g3 (28. Bg6) 28... Rfd8 29. Be2 Bf8 30. Rxd4 Bc5 31. Kg2 Rxd4 32. Rd1 Kg7 (32... Rb4 33. b3 {and it's the Wh pieces that threaten to become active , accompanied by a pawn surge.}) (32... Rxd1) 33. Rxd4 Bxd4 34. b3 (34. Kf3 { is faster according to Stockfish10- but there really is no need to rush in this kind of ending- Bl has no play at all}) 34... a5 35. Bc4 Bc5 36. Kf3 Kg6 37. Bd3+ (37. g4) 37... Kf7 38. Ke4 Kg6 39. g4 h5 40. Bb5 h4 41. Be8+ Kg7 42. Kf5 (42. f5 {lots of possibilities for Wh}) 42... Kf8 43. Bb5 Kg7 44. Ke6 Kf8 45. f5 Bd4 46. g5 a4 47. Bxa4 Bc5 48. f6 Be3 49. g6 Bh6 50. Kf5 Bg7 51. fxg7+ ( 51. e6 {forces mate 1 move quicker}) 51... Kg8 52. e6 b5 {perhaps Wh can be persuaded to allow a stalemate?} 53. e7 bxa4 54. e8=Q+ (54. Kf6 a3 55. e8=Q# { is one move quicker to fotce mate} (55. e8=R#)) 1-0 [Event "Friendly"] [Site "Microsoft"] [Date "2019.04.02"] [Round "?"] [White "Judge, Kieran"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B01"] [WhiteElo "1064"] [BlackElo "1712"] [Annotator "Matthew Francis"] [PlyCount "41"] [TimeControl "240+2"] {588MB, DFritz11.ctg, Matthew-study} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Bg4 4. Be2 { This variation is labelled The Wuss by David Smerdon in his book on the opening!} Bxe2 5. Nxe2 (5. Qxe2 {[%emt 0:00:00] is more common}) 5... Qxd5 6. O-O ({The pawn sacrifice} 6. Nbc3 {[%emt 0:00:00] has been played against me several times by Julie van Kemenade, a very unwusslike line in which she has beaten me every time}) 6... Nc6 7. Nbc3 Qd7 {proves to be a bad square for the queen, but I wanted pressure down the d-file} 8. Bg5 O-O-O 9. Nb5 a6 10. a4 $6 {A sacrifice that shouldn't work} Kb8 $2 (10... axb5 11. axb5 Nb8 $19) 11. c3 $1 axb5 $2 (11... Qd5 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Na3 $15) 12. axb5 Na7 13. Rxa7 $1 {I hadn't seen this} Kxa7 14. Qa4+ Kb8 (14... Kb6 {is even worse}) 15. Ra1 c5 $5 { The best defence, but it shouldn't be enough} 16. Bf4+ (16. dxc5 Qd5 17. c6 Kc7 18. c4 Qxg5 19. Qa5+ b6 20. Qa7+ Kd6 21. c7 Rc8 22. Qxb6+ Ke5 23. Qc5+ Nd5 24. f4+ {is one winning line given by Fritz}) 16... e5 17. Qa7+ (17. dxe5 Qe6 18. exf6+ Bd6 19. b6 Kc8 20. Qa8+ Kd7 21. Qxb7+ Ke8 22. fxg7 Rg8 23. Bxd6 Qxd6 24. Qe4+ Qe6 25. Qxh7 $18) 17... Kc8 18. Qa8+ Kc7 19. Qa5+ Kc8 20. Qa8+ Kc7 21. Qa5+ 1/2-1/2