Getting Back on the Horse

To continue the equine metaphor from my previous post, having fallen at the last fence in the Welsh Chess Union Online League, Aberystwyth had to get back on the horse in the next round of the Dyfed equivalent, in another match against Aberystwyth University, this time their B team. Accordingly we fielded a strong team, but the result, though not the whitewash of the previous match, was not as good as we hoped. Rudy van Kemenade used his experience in the Anglo-Dutch to build pressure against Cameron Westwood's weaknesses, first on d3, then on the kingside, and was clearly better when his opponent dropped a piece with a mouse-slip. Adam Watkin-Jones's game against Marcus Perry was another English, which went wrong for White when he missed a tactical point, leaving him material down with a worse position. I miscalculated my chances in another Dutch against Harry Fox, and all I got out of my intended kingside attack was a pawn deficit and a big loss of time. When he blundered just before the end I completely missed it, and made a blunder of my own in return. Tom Gunn won a couple of pieces early on in a Queen's Pawn Game against Patrick Bourne for a trouble-free win. A 2-2 draw was a slightly disappointing result.

[Event "DyfedL online:AberystwythSU-Aberystwyth"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.12.15"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Westwood, Cameron"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A25"] [WhiteElo "1675"] [BlackElo "1999"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,52,18,-5,45,45,33,-13,30,19,23,29,25,-2,4,-7,-16,-9,-3,-3,-5,-78,4, -58,37,-30,-55,-80,-59,-65,-40,-56,3,-120,-36,-91,-43,-89,-125,-116,-85,-91, -124,-108,-122,-122,-80,-90,-75,-125,-154,-132,-141,-583,-577]} 1. c4 f5 { A10 English Opening: Anglo-Dutch Defense} (1... d6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. e4 e5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nge2 {The Botwinnik System} O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. h3 Ne8 9. d3 f5 10. f4 {Westwood-J Van Kemenade, WCU U1800 online dec 2020,1-0}) 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. f4 (6. e4 {main} Nc6 7. Nge2 O-O 8. O-O h6 (8... e5 9. Rb1 a5 10. a3 Nh5 {Peacock-Van Kemenade, Bolton op 1997,1/2-1/2}) (8... e6 {Francis-Van Kemenade, Dyfed Closed 2014,0-1}) 9. h3 e6 10. exf5 gxf5 11. d4 e5 {Ellison-Van Kemenade, Isle of Man 2001,1/2-1/2}) (6. e3 O-O 7. Nge2 e5 8. O-O Nc6 9. Rb1 a5 10. a3 {another main line}) 6... Nc6 7. e3 (7. Nf3 e5 { transposes to 44 games}) 7... e5 8. Nge2 O-O 9. O-O Be6 10. h3 (10. Nd5 Qd7 11. Nec3 {main moves}) (10. Rb1) 10... Kh8 {allows B to drop back to g8 if required } 11. Kh2 d5 {positionally desirable for Bl , but a bit too soon} (11... Qd7 12. Nd5 Nd8 13. Qc2 c6 14. Nxf6 Bxf6 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Bd2 Qg7 17. Rab1 h5 { Kostic-Petrovic, YUG ch, women 1999,0-1}) (11... Bg8 {Stockfish12-R}) (11... e4 {Komodo10} 12. Nd5 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 12. cxd5 (12. fxe5 Nxe5 13. Nf4 Bg8 14. cxd5 (14. Ncxd5) 14... g5 15. Ne6 Bxe6 16. dxe6 Qxd3 17. Qxd3 Nxd3 18. Rxf5 Rae8 19. Bd2 Rxe6 20. Nb5 c6 21. Nd4 Ree8 22. Bc3 $16 {Stockfish12-the Wh pieces are more actively placed than the Bl ones-R}) 12... Nxd5 13. Nxd5 Bxd5 14. e4 Be6 {leaves the d3 as a target} (14... fxe4 15. Nc3 (15. dxe4 Bc4 { looked at by Bl is worse for Wh} 16. Qe1 exf4 17. gxf4 Qe7 $19 {Wh is way behind in development & his hanging pawns in the centre look precarious}) 15... Bg8 16. dxe4 Bc4 17. Rf2 Qxd1 18. Nxd1 Be6 $15 {Stockfish12-R}) 15. Be3 Qd7 ( 15... fxe4 16. dxe4 exf4 17. Nxf4 (17. gxf4 Bc4 18. Qe1 g5 $15) 17... Bc4 $15 { Stockfish12 still likes it , even with giving Wh an extra move-R}) 16. Qd2 (16. fxe5 {Stockfish12 thinks that Wh should now advance in the centre} Nxe5 (16... Bxe5 17. d4 $18) 17. Bc5 Rfe8 18. d4 Nf7 19. e5 (19. d5 Bxd5 20. Nc3 (20. exd5 Qb5 $17) 20... Be6 $11) 19... Rad8 $11 {Stockfish12}) 16... Rad8 (16... fxe4 17. dxe4 Qxd2 18. Bxd2 Bc4 $17 {Stockfish12- remains an option for Bl-R}) 17. Rfd1 Qf7 (17... fxe4 18. dxe4 Qxd2 {considered} 19. Rxd2 Rxd2 20. Bxd2 Rd8 21. Bc3 Bc4 22. Ng1 exf4 23. gxf4 Bxc3 24. bxc3 Rd3 $19) 18. exf5 (18. Nc3 { may be Wh's best bet here} exf4 19. Bxf4 Nb4 20. Qe2 h6 (20... Nxa2 21. exf5 gxf5 22. Re1 Rfe8 23. Nxa2 Bxa2 24. Qf2 b6 $15) 21. a3 Nc6 22. exf5 Bxf5 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Be5 h5 $15 {Stockfish12- the Wh K is a bit more exposed than the Bl one-R}) 18... Bxf5 19. Bxc6 {breaks up Bl's Q side, but the B is a key protector of the K-dangerous to exchange it if Bl keeps his wh square B.} Rxd3 20. Qc1 bxc6 (20... Rxd1 21. Qxd1 bxc6 22. fxe5 Bxe5 23. Bd4 Qf6 24. Bxe5 Qxe5 $17 {Wh has got rid of Bl's 2 Bs, bot on the open board, Bl's remaining B is far superior to the N, which is unable to threaten the Bl K,} 25. Qd2 Rb8 26. Nc3 Kg7 27. Qf2 (27. Re1 Rxb2) 27... h5 $17 {Stockfish12-R}) 21. Rxd3 Bxd3 22. Qd2 Be4 (22... Bxe2 23. Qxe2 Re8 $17 {Stockfish12;considered-R}) 23. Bc5 Re8 24. a3 (24. Nc3 Bd5 25. Bxa7 Kg8 26. Nxd5 Qxd5 27. Qxd5+ cxd5 28. Rc1 e4 29. Kg2 Bxb2 30. Rxc7 e3 31. Rc2 d4 32. Kf1 Bc3 $19 {Stockfish12}) 24... Qd5 $19 ( 24... exf4 {considered} 25. Nxf4 g5 26. Ne2 Qd5 27. Qxd5 Bxd5 28. Nc3 Rb8 29. Na4 a5 30. Re1 h5 $19 {Stockfish12- Bl's Bs control the board-R}) 25. Qxd5 cxd5 26. Bb6 {mouse-slip; however} (26. Bxa7 exf4 27. Nxf4 Ra8 {Stockfish12} (27... Bxb2 {looks simpler}) 28. Bc5 Rb8 29. Bb4 c5 30. Bxc5 Rxb2+ 31. Kg1 g5 { and all of Wh's pieces are badly placed}) (26. fxe5 Bxe5 27. Nd4 Kg7 28. Bxa7 Ra8 29. Bc5 Ra4 30. b4 h5 {and Wh is running out of moves}) 26... axb6 { Normal White resigns.} 0-1 [Event "DyfedOL:AberystwythSU,B-Aberystwyth"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.12.15"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Black "Perry, Marcus"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A25"] [WhiteElo "1918"] [BlackElo "1428"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "40"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,40,19,-17,-27,-42,-20,-46,-38,-33,-11,-24,-23,-12,-11,-17,-9,-9,18,13, 28,15,56,34,21,13,66,-76,-76,-75,-74,-164,-131,-162,-183,-193,-196,-332,-132, -130,-97,-230,-251]} 1. c4 {3 wins, 4 draws for the Wh player with this-R} e5 { A20 English Opening: King's English Variation} 2. g3 (2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. e3 d6 5. d4 exd4 6. exd4 Bg4 7. Be2 Be7 {Watkin-Jones vs Haigh, Dyfed League 2017,1/2-1/2}) 2... Nf6 3. Bg2 Bc5 (3... d5) (3... c6 {main lines-R}) 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e3 Nc6 $6 {(0.13 ? 0.67) Inaccuracy. c6 was best. Lichess at its usual pickyness'pricklyness- what it insists on is the 3rd most frequent response with some 500 games. The text it derides is the most popular with some 2,500 games, includingplayers like Adams & Movses} (5... c6 6. Nge2 d5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 cxd5 9. d4 exd4 10. Nxd4) 6. Nge2 $6 {(0.67 ? 0.13) Inaccuracy. a3 was best. [again the text has 10 times more supporters than the lichess preference in distant second place-R]} (6. a3 Bb6 7. Nge2 d6 8. d4 h6 9. b4 exd4 10. exd4 a5) 6... d6 $6 {(0.13 ? 0.68) Inaccuracy. d5 was best. [..d5 in 4th place with 151 games as opposed to d6 with 1,500 +. This is the 4th such judgement on the trot. Sometimes it seems to be following what has worked a bit better in practice, but not always. The variation it gives has just a single game, won by Bl after 11 Qb3 (not Qa4 as given.) Indeed Stockfish12 & Fritz11 SE long before it, have a very slight preference for Wh after 11 Na4.-R} (6... d5 7. cxd5 Nb4 8. O-O Nbxd5 9. d4 exd4 10. Nxd4 c6 11. Qa4) 7. O-O a6 8. a3 (8. d4 { at once also-R}) 8... Ne7 (8... Ba7 {main- R}) 9. b4 (9. d4 {4 Wh wins, 3 draws,3 Bl wins -R}) 9... Ba7 10. d4 {28 games, 46 % for Wh-R} exd4 11. Nxd4 { Stockfish8 examined this position in 2018-R} Bg4 12. Qc2 Qd7 13. Bxb7 $4 { (0.83 ? -0.91) Blunder. Nce2 was best.} (13. Nce2) 13... c5 {overlooked by Wh-R } 14. Bxa8 cxd4 15. Ne4 $4 {(-0.83 ? -4.27) Blunder. Bg2 was best.[ The wh squares around the K are now fatally weak. Often it is well worth Bl's while to give up a b pawn & the exchange, to lure the B away from the K- here Bl even gets 2 pieces in the bargain; that can easily get into the pawn defences of the K.-R]} (15. Bg2 dxc3 16. Qxc3 h5 17. Bb2 h4 18. Qd3 h3 19. Bh1 Ng6 20. Rad1 Bxd1 21. Rxd1 Qg4 $17) 15... Rxa8 16. Nxf6+ gxf6 $19 17. Qe4 $6 {(-4.17 ? -5.39) Inaccuracy. f3 was best.[f3 at least would allow the QR to come to the aid of its K via a2-R} (17. f3 dxe3) 17... Re8 18. Qd3 $6 {(-5.50 ? -8.18) Inaccuracy. Bb2 was best. [it's gone anyway-R} (18. Bb2 Ng6 19. Qd5 Ne5 20. exd4 Bf3 21. dxe5 Bxd5 22. cxd5 fxe5 23. Bc1 Bd4 24. Rb1 Qa4) 18... dxe3 $2 { (-8.18 ? -4.60) Mistake. Nc6 was best.} (18... Nc6) 19. Bxe3 Nc6 20. Bxa7 $6 { (-5.37 ? -7.80) Inaccuracy. Qc3 was best.} (20. Qc3 Ne5) 20... Ne5 {Normal White resigns.} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.12.15"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Fox, Harry"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A85"] [WhiteElo "1400"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "U. C. Aberystwyth B"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,65,26,37,20,-22,40,46,41,30,26,7,7,7,5,6,3,-25,-25,-21,-25,-34,-28, -25,-24,-24,15,-11,10,30,5,5,26,27,64,64,54,61,109,78,142,93,94,53,20,49,90,7, 120,121,163,170,176,185,185,189,193,147,167,127,136,110,110,-167,695,697,716, 648]} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 (4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bd2 O-O 6. d5 $5 d6 7. Ng5 e5 $15 {B Brewer-Francis, Dyfed L Online rd1,2020,0-1}) 4... Bb4 (4... Be7 {main}) 5. Qd2 (5. e3) (5. Qc2) (5. Nf3 {mainlines}) 5... O-O (5... h6 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3 b6 9. a3 Bxc3 10. bxc3 Bb7 11. f3 c5 12. Ne2 d6 { Garaschuk-Nalivajko, UKR ch U20 2004,0-1}) 6. e3 (6. f3 Qe8 7. Bf4 d6 8. a3 Bxc3 9. Qxc3 Nbd7 10. e3 e5 11. Bg5 Qg6 12. Nh3 a6 13. b4 b6 14. d5 Nh5 { Garcia de Murcia-Yafimchyk, San Pedro del Pinatar op 2010,0-1}) 6... b6 7. Nf3 d6 8. Be2 Bb7 9. Rd1 Nbd7 10. a3 Bxc3 11. Qxc3 Qe8 (11... Ne4 12. Bxd8 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Raxd8 $17 {Komodo10 & Stockfish12}) 12. Bxf6 Rxf6 13. b4 Rd8 {a waiting move, but the R doesn't seem well placed on this square} (13... Be4) (13... Rh6 {both Stockfish12}) (13... Rc8 {Rudy- perhaps hindsight, but anticipates Wh's indicated c5 thrust}) 14. c5 dxc5 (14... Bd5 {Stockfish12}) 15. bxc5 Bd5 16. O-O Rh6 (16... Rc8 {Stockfish12}) 17. cxb6 cxb6 18. Qc7 $16 Rc8 19. Qxa7 Rc2 20. Rd2 (20. Rfe1 $18 {Stockfish12 & Komodo10}) 20... Rc8 (20... Rxd2 21. Nxd2 Bxg2 22. Kxg2 Qg6+ 23. Kh1 Rxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Qh6+ {is a perpetual- a typical Engine find}) 21. Ra1 (21. Qa4 $18 {Stockfish12}) (21. Bb5 $18 {Komodo10- also Stockfish12 but not rated as high as above line} Bxf3 22. Qxd7 Qxd7 23. Bxd7 Rg6 24. g3 Rd8 25. Ba4 Ra8 26. Bd1 Bd5 (26... Bxd1 27. Rfxd1 Rxa3 28. Rb2 $18) 27. a4 $18) 21... Qd8 22. Qa4 Nf6 23. Ne5 (23. Rc2 $18 {both Engines}) 23... Ne4 (23... Ra8 24. Qb4 Ne4 $11 25. g3 {Wh must give up an exchange to protect the K} (25. Rc2 $2 Qh4 $19) 25... Nxd2 (25... Nxf2 $11) 26. Qxd2 Qd6 $11) ( 23... Bxg2 {is given by Komodo10 as leading to a slight edge for Bl, but Stockfish12 disagrees} 24. Kxg2 Ne4 25. Nf3 Nxd2 26. Nxd2 Qg5+ 27. Kh1 Qh4 28. Nf3 Qxf2 29. Qd7 Rf8 30. Rg1 Rf7 31. Qd8+ Rf8 32. Qg5 Rg6 33. Rg2 Qxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Rxg5+ 35. Nxg5 $14 {Stockfish12- the 2 pieces look far more effective than the R , as the potential passed b pawn will not get far}) 24. Rc2 Nc3 ( 24... Rxc2 {does give Bl more chances of Wh going wrong, but it's a quite tricky line} 25. Qxc2 Bb3 {Stockfish12 lures the Q away from protecting f2} ( 25... Rxh2 {gone for straight away by Komodo10, when} 26. Ba6 Rh6 27. Rc1 Nd6 28. Be2 {should be winning for Wh-Stockfish12}) 26. Qc1 $1 (26. Qxb3 Qh4 $19) 26... Rxh2 27. Nf3 Rh6 28. Bc4 Ba4 29. Rb1 $18 {Stockfish12- so the sacrifice of the a pawn to lure the Wh Q out of position should have given possible chances for Bl}) 25. Qd7 $18 {ends Bl's attacking chances, but the with only a pawn down & B vs N, the game is not yet over} Qxd7 26. Nxd7 Nxe2+ 27. Rxe2 b5 28. Nb6 (28. Ne5 {looks better}) 28... Rc3 (28... Rd8) 29. Rb2 (29. Nxd5 { logical followup to previous move, when ahead swap pieces, not pawns} exd5 30. Rb2 Rb6 31. g3 $18) 29... Bc6 30. a4 $6 (30. Nc8 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Rxc8 32. Rxb5 $18 {Stockfish12}) (30. g3 {Komodo10} e5 31. a4 $18 {now it's possible} (31. dxe5 Be4 32. Rxb5 Rhc6 {gives Bl play as Wh must return a pawn} 33. f3 Bxf3 34. Nd5 Bxd5 35. Rxd5 Rxe3 36. Ra2 $14)) (30. h3 {looks simpler so as not to worry about snap mates} Rg6 31. g3 e5 32. a4 Be4 33. Rxb5 exd4 34. exd4 Rd6 35. d5 Rh6 36. Rb4 (36. Kh2 Rc2 $19) 36... Rxh3 37. Rxe4 fxe4 38. d6 e3 39. Kg2 Rh6 40. d7 Rd3 41. Ra3 Rd2 42. Rxe3 Rxb6 43. Re8+ Kf7 44. d8=Q Rxd8 45. Rxd8 Rb4 $11 {in all of this the N on b6 is at risk, though in the end it does support the d pawn's journey}) 30... bxa4 31. Nxa4 $2 {this should lose the game} (31. Rb4 Rb3 32. Rxb3 axb3 33. Ra3 e5 34. Rxb3 exd4 35. exd4 Rd6 36. Rb4 g5 $14) 31... Rf6 $2 {and this definitely does} (31... Bxa4 $19) 32. Nxc3 Rf8 33. g3 ( 33. Rb6) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.12.15"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Bourne, Patrick"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D07"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1000"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "U. C. Aberystwyth B"] {[%evp 0,53,35,25,20,12,109,15,15,4,53,20,24,21,9,15,52,46,303,287,298,293,287, 255,323,321,308,326,423,304,370,387,682,692,735,686,697,723,736,694,747,729, 758,716,726,740,746,737,888,931,1128,931,29997,29998,29999,-30000]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 Nc6 {The Two Knights Tango} 3. e3 (3. c4) (3. d5) (3. Bf4) 3... d5 4. c4 h6 {only found in internet games, 4 Wh wins, 1 draw, 1 Bl win} (4... e6) (4... Bg4 {is a variant of Chigorin Defence}) 5. Bd3 (5. Nc3 {transposes to many more games}) 5... Bg4 $146 (5... e6 {1.5-2.5}) (5... e5 $11 {Stockfish12} 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. dxe5 dxc4 8. Qa4+ c6 9. Bxc4 Ng4 10. O-O Nxe5 11. Be2) 6. O-O e6 7. Nbd2 Bd6 (7... Be7 {Stockfish12}) 8. c5 Nb4 $2 {attempting complications, but it is usually unwise for Bl (often behind in development) to engage in these too early- especially with a K still in the middleto engage in these} 9. Qa4+ $18 {the loose N costs a piece} Nc6 10. cxd6 cxd6 11. Bb5 (11. Ne5 { Stockfish12 has seen a tactic that Wh also follows later} dxe5 12. dxe5 Ne4 13. Nxe4 dxe4 14. Bxe4 Bf5 {the B is loose} 15. Bxc6+ bxc6 16. e4 Bg6 17. Qxc6+ Kf8 18. Qd6+ Kg8 19. Qxd8+ Rxd8 20. Be3 Bxe4 21. Bxa7 {and the Q side pawns win comfortably}) 11... Nd7 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. Qxc6 O-O 14. Qa4 {retuning the Q back to base, with an eye to what Bl might try next} (14. Qxd6 Nb6 15. Qg3 { has the same plan of return}) 14... e5 $6 15. dxe5 dxe5 $2 (15... Bxf3 { bails out the additional piece, but all exchanges help Wh}) 16. Qxg4 Nf6 17. Qa4 (17. Qg3) 17... e4 18. Nd4 Qd6 19. Qd1 (19. h3) 19... h5 20. h3 Rfe8 21. f4 {gives Wh a bit more space on the K side} Qc5 22. N2b3 Qb6 23. Bd2 Nd7 (23... g6) 24. Qxh5 {the Q returns} Kf8 25. Nf5 (25. Qh8+ Ke7 26. Qxg7) 25... Nf6 ( 25... Kg8) 26. Qh8+ Ng8 27. Qxg7# 1-0

Falling at the Last Fence

A point ahead of our nearest rivals going into the last round of the U1800 section of the Welsh Chess Union Online League on Tuesday 8th December, Aberystwyth failed to clinch the title. My Rossolimo attack against Owain Davies's Sicilian followed a standard pattern for the first few moves, but I wasn't sure of the correct way to play against his formation, and became concerned that my intended f4 break would liberate his fianchettoed bishop on g7. Since I didn't have any other plan, I was then compelled to wait around while he attacked on the f file instead, after which my position collapsed quickly. Julie van Kemenade suffered a similar fate against Cameron Westwood's English Opening, a blocked position which suddenly expoded into a decisive kingside attack for White. Tom Gunn lost a pawn in the opening against Matthew Horhey in an irregular Queen's Pawn game; the resulting position was very open, and Tom came off worse in the tactical exchanges that followed. Finally, Sam Holman invited complications by playing the Najdorf Sicilian against Toby Bates, and was doing well for some time, but White finally managed to get his kingside attack going to force the win. A 4-0 defeat means that Aber finished fourth in the section, a good result which could have been so much better. First place went to North Cardiff Panthers, with Aberystwyth University second and Steynton A third.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.12.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Davies, Owain"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B31"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1762"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] {[%evp 7,48,27,60,57,75,58,88,58,57,56,51,33,42,0,26,0,-1,-92,-81,-284,-291, -293,-272,-371,-354,-455,-478,-474,-340,-446,-371,-477,-176,-480,-471,-551, -359,-510,-485,-757,-700,-1060,-1054]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {Cooke-Davies,Rd5 WCU online U1800,0-1 - R [others from centipawn analysis-R]}) 3... g6 4. Bxc6 (4. O-O {main} Bg7 5. Re1 Nf6 6. c3 O-O 7. d4 d5 8. exd5 Qxd5 9. c4 Qd6 10. d5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. Bg5 { Francis-Miles, Dyfed Open 2020,0-1 -R}) 4... dxc6 {Stockfish 12:} 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Qc7 (6... Nf6 {main-R}) 7. Nc3 {Inaccurate [ main move, as played eg by Muzychuk sisters & a top choice of Stockfish12 -R]} e5 8. Be3 {OK} b6 9. O-O { OK} (9. Qd2 {main-R}) 9... Ne7 {OK [Stockfish12-R]} (9... Nf6 {main, as played in Magsoodloo- Grandelius, Sigeman & Co, Malmo 2019,1/2-1/2 a more flexible square from where it can go to d7. Note , it stays on e7 for quite some time in the game-R}) 10. Nd2 {looks fine, Wh is prepared to bring up a pawn alongside his most advanced e4 one and opening up the f file} (10. Qd2 { main,3 Wh wins, 2 draws, 1 Bl win-R}) (10. a3 {Cloud Engines, 1 game each}) 10... Be6 {OK} 11. Qe2 {Inaccurate} (11. f4 $11 {just has to be played here-R}) 11... O-O {OK} 12. Nc4 {Mistake (0.9)} (12. a4 $11) (12. f4 $11 {Rudy & Stockfish12-R}) 12... f5 $17 {Best} 13. b3 $2 {[#] Loses game (2.0) [ Wh cannot allow Bl to get in ..f3-R} (13. f3 $17) 13... f4 $1 $19 {Strong} 14. Bc1 {OK} f3 {OK} 15. Qe3 {Inaccurate} (15. gxf3 {is better for Wh than what happened, though both Stockfish12 & Komodo10 then delay the oimmediare capture on h3, with ...Rf7-R}) 15... Qd7 {OK [the lichess analysis insists this is an inaccuracy, giving ..h6, Nd2, fxg2 instead -Yet Stockfish12 thinks it's okR} 16. Qg5 {[best move here Stockfish12- a mistake according to lichess anaysis.} fxg2 {OK} 17. Re1 Rae8 {given as inaccurate by lichess, which gives ...b5 as best- supported by Komodo10 & Stockfish12} 18. Qxg2 {Inaccurate [but lichess thinks it fine, no comment-R} Bxh3 19. Qg3 Qe6 $2 {Mistake (3.0) [Blunder- lichess, insisting on ...b5-R]} (19... Rf4) 20. Kh2 $2 {Mistake (3.0)} (20. Re3 ) (20. f3 {Komodo10& Stockfish12-R}) 20... Bg4 $19 {Best} 21. Rg1 Bh5 { Inaccurate[labelled blunder by lichess, all 3 Engines prefer h5, but Wh is in terrible trouble anyway-R} 22. Nd2 {Mistake (1.5)} (22. Bg5 $142) (22. Be3 { preferred by Stockfish12-R}) 22... Rf7 23. Bb2 (23. Rg2 $142) 23... Bh6 $19 24. Nc4 (24. Qh4 Bxd2 25. Qxh5 Rxf2+ {Stockfish12- doesn't save Wh either-R}) 24... Bf4 {Strong: Black=1 Best: Black=2 OK: White=3, Black=6 Inaccurate: White=4, Black=1 Mistake: White=3, Black=1 Loses game: White=1. Weighted Error Value: White=0.99/Black=0.31 Centipawn loss: w=100/b=40} 0-1 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.12.08"] [Round "6.2"] [White "Westwood, Cameron"] [Black "Van Kemenade, Julie"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A24"] [WhiteElo "1675"] [BlackElo "1641"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "U.C. Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 11,76,40,36,30,66,60,107,87,98,93,102,90,87,53,86,69,124,65,82,69,137, 121,121,107,122,56,247,254,264,239,244,211,321,282,484,463,759,742,736,735,759, 736,1535,1506,1901,678,675,623,859,730,917,898,848,655,717,584,685,555,847,662, 694,666,29996,29997,29997,29998,29999]} 1. c4 d6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. e4 e5 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nge2 {The Botwinnik System-R} O-O {Stockfish 12:} 7. O-O Nbd7 8. h3 (8. d3 {main} Ne8 9. f4 c6 (9... f5) 10. f5 $18 {Howells-Van Kemenade, West Wales open 2018,1-0 -R}) 8... Ne8 (8... c6 9. d3 a6 10. Be3 b5 11. Qd2 Bb7 12. f4 exf4 13. gxf4 Re8 $1 {1 Wh win, 3 draws,1 Bl win -R}) 9. d3 (9. d4 { Stockfish12 & Komodo10 -R}) 9... f5 10. f4 (10. exf5 {! Wh win, 1 Bl win- R} gxf5 11. f4 {1 Wh win, 1 Bl win}) 10... Ndf6 {OK} (10... fxe4 {Komodo10} 11. Nxe4 exf4 12. Bxf4 Ne5 13. Rb1 c6 14. N4c3 Bf5 15. Bxe5 Bxe5 16. g4 Be6 $11 { Jankowski-Kirsz, POL ch tm, Kujawo Pomorskie 2017,1/2-1/2}) (10... a5 11. Rb1 Nc5 12. Be3 Ne6 13. Kh2 c5 14. Nd5 Nd4 15. Qd2 Be6 16. Nec3 { Ovsiannikov-Shpagin, Tula Suetin memorial 2002,0-1 -R}) 11. Be3 c6 12. Kh2 { Inaccurate} (12. c5 {Stockfish12}) (12. Qb3 {Fritz17 -R}) 12... Qe7 {Inaccurate } (12... fxe4 $11 {Stockfish12}) (12... exf4 {Komodo10 - both Engines agree that Bl should open up the position a little-R}) 13. Qd2 Kh8 {Inaccurate} 14. Rf2 {Inaccurate} Be6 {Komodo10-R} 15. Raf1 {OK} a6 {Inaccurate} (15... Nc7 { Komodo10 gets ready to support d5 after an e xf4- R}) 16. b3 {OK} (16. c5 { Stockfish12 & Komodo10}) 16... Rd8 {OK} 17. exf5 {OK} Bxf5 18. Ne4 {Inaccurate} (18. Kg1 {both Engines-R}) 18... Nxe4 $2 {Loses game (1.9)} (18... exf4 $14) ( 18... Bxe4 19. dxe4 exf4 20. Nxf4 (20. gxf4 Nxe4 $15) 20... Nd7 $14 (20... Nxe4 $2 21. Nxg6+ (21. Bxe4 Qxe4 22. Bb6 Rd7 23. Re1 Qf5 24. Ne6 $18) 21... hxg6 22. Rxf8+ Bxf8 23. Bxe4 Qxe4 24. Rxf8+ $18 {Stockfish12- R})) 19. dxe4 $18 Bc8 {OK} (19... Be6 20. f5 Bg8 {extra defence of K, but after} 21. g4 {the pawn storm is still winning for Wh-R}) 20. f5 {OK- [the beginning of a winning K side advance for Wh-R]} Nf6 {OK} 21. g4 gxf5 {Mistake (1.1)} (21... d5 $142) (21... d5 22. g5 Nxe4 23. f6 $18 {still wins for Wh-R}) 22. exf5 $18 (22. exf5 h6 23. Kg1 (23. Bxh6 Nxg4+ $1 $11 {Stockfish12}) 23... Kh7 24. Bb6 Rd7 25. Qc2 Kh8 26. Ng3 $18 {The Bl pieces are passively placed & Wh has a predominance in space, but Wh stil has to find a way in-R} Re8 27. Qe2 Rg8 (27... d5 28. h4 Rg8 29. g5 $18) 28. Re1 Qf7 29. Qb2 Qf8 {and Stockfish12 does not yet come up with a decisive sequence- R}) 22... e4 $2 {Mistake (2.0)} (22... h6) 23. g5 $18 {OK} Nh5 (23... b5 $142) 24. f6 $18 Qe5+ 25. Kg1 Bxf6 26. gxf6 Ng3 (26... Rf7 $5 { Stockfish12-R}) 27. Nxg3 Qxg3 28. Bd4 (28. f7 $142) 28... Rf7 $18 29. Qf4 (29. Qh6 Be6 30. Qg7+ {Stockfish12 & Komodo14}) 29... Qg6 30. Qxe4 Qh5 31. Qe7 Rg8 32. Qe2 Qxh3 33. Qf3 Qh4 34. Qf4 {White is clearly winning} Rg4 35. Qe3 Rg8 36. Re1 h5 37. Qh6+ Rh7 38. f7+ Rgg7 39. Bxg7# {OK: White=5, Black=4 Inaccurate: White=3, Black=3 Mistake: Black=2 Loses game: Black=1. Weighted Error Value: White=0.49/Black=0.57 Centipawn loss: w=44/b=89} 1-0 [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.12.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Horhey, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D06"] [WhiteElo "1389"] [BlackElo "1750"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,48,19,31,14,30,27,9,8,-3,-8,-21,6,16,50,21,-14,5,5,-5,-13,-56,-60,-77, -40,-83,-112,-112,-18,-76,-52,-165,-99,-111,-102,-517,-532,-521,-525,-658,-621, -622,-376,-381,-388,-819,-804,-813,-819,-850,-840]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 Bf5 {D04 Queen's Pawn Game: Colle System, Anti-Colle} (3... e6 {Wh player 3 wins, 1draw, 1 loss}) (3... Bg4 {Wh player 1 draw,1 loss}) 4. c4 e6 5. Bd3 $6 { (0.56 ? -0.16) Inaccuracy. Nc3 was best.} (5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 dxc4 7. O-O Bd6 8. Nd2 Bg6 9. Nxc4 O-O) (5. Nc3 {main-R}) (5. Qb3 {targets b7 scores a bit better for Wh than main _R}) 5... Bb4+ (5... Bxd3 {main-R}) (5... dxc4 {Cloud Engines-R}) 6. Nc3 Ne4 $2 {(0.00 ? 1.05) Mistake. Bxd3 was best.} (6... Bxd3 7. Qxd3 O-O 8. O-O c6 9. Ne2 Be7 10. Nc3) 7. Bd2 $4 {(1.05 ? -0.53) Blunder. O-O was best.} (7. O-O) (7. Qc2 {Cloud Engines} O-O 8. a3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 Nc6 10. c5 Qe7 11. O-O e5 12. Re1 $14 {Lucas-Divardjian, Marseille op 1999,0-1} (12. c4 { Komodo14 MC & Stockfish12 -R})) (7. Bxe4 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Bxe4 9. O-O Nd7 $11 10. Ng5 $2 Qxg5 {Cropper-Mercedes, CServe 1993,0-1}) 7... Nxf2 8. Kxf2 Bxd3 9. cxd5 exd5 10. Qb3 $6 {(-0.73 ? -1.28) Inaccuracy. Nxd5 was best.} (10. Nxd5 Qxd5 11. Bxb4 Be4 $15) 10... Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Ba6 {Stockfish12-R} (11... O-O {Komodo10-R}) 12. Bb4 Nc6 13. Ba3 Ne7 $2 {(-1.55 ? -0.11) Mistake. Bc4 was best.} (13... Bc4 14. Qc2) (13... Qd7 {Komodo10-R}) 14. Qb4 $2 {(-0.11 ? -1.28) Mistake. Rhe1 was best.} (14. Rhe1 O-O 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. Qxd5 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 14... Nf5 15. e4 $4 {(-0.86 ? -2.71) Blunder. Rhe1 was best.} (15. Rhe1 Nd6) 15... dxe4 16. Rhe1 Nd6 17. Rxe4+ $4 {(-2.81 ? -6.67) Blunder. Qa5 was best. An interesting attempt, unfortunately when the N takes back it's with check. Wh would have had better chances , saving a move & leaving Q on b3, getting in Rhe1 & e4 threat quicker- if N goes to d6 the d pawn hangs.-R} (17. Qa5 O-O) 17... Nxe4+ 18. Kg1 Qd6 19. Qe1 Qd5 20. Qh4 f6 (20... g5 {Rudy & Engines even stronger-R}) 21. Re1 Bd3 22. Nd2 (22. Re3 {regains a piece but Bl stays an exchange & pawn ahead- R}) 22... Qxd4+ {again, it's a check-R} 23. Kh1 O-O-O 24. Nxe4 Bxe4 {Normal White resigns.} 0-1 [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.12.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Bates, Toby"] [Black "Holman"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B92"] [WhiteElo "1366"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] {[%evp 9,64,41,33,35,87,-6,-6,-8,20,23,71,6,95,108,137,173,163,62,73,79,96,84, 93,32,55,25,14,-47,-64,-103,-79,-108,209,215,208,217,260,247,253,185,329,136, 221,166,145,150,725,706,29993,29994,29994,29995,29995,29996,29998,29999,29999] } 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 {Stockfish 12:} 6. Be2 b5 (6... e5 {main- Najdorf's original idea, akin to Sveshnikov-R}) 7. a3 {main-R} (7. Nd5 $16) 7... Bb7 $11 8. f3 {OK} g6 {Inaccurate} 9. Be3 {OK} Bg7 { Inaccurate} 10. Qd2 {Inaccurate} O-O {Mistake (0.9)} (10... Nbd7 $11) 11. g4 $16 {OK [ lichess actually labels this a mistake! insisting on h4 instead . However any Yugoslav attack player will recognize that both these are theoretically standard.} (11. O-O-O {main, with 5 Wh wins, 1 draw & 5 Bl wins -R}) (11. h4 {1 game, as opposed to 6 games with g4-R}) 11... Re8 {avoiding B exchange} (11... Nc6 {Stockfish12- 2 games won each}) (11... Nbd7 {Komodo10- 2-0}) 12. h4 {OK} Nc6 {[#] Stockfish12, though considers that Wh is winning here} (12... h5 {another standard reply in these kinds of positions, is given as level by Komodo10, though Stockfish12 rates Wh as winning after 0-0-0- R}) 13. Nb3 {Mistake (1.0)} (13. O-O-O $1 $18) 13... Ne5 (13... Rc8 {is also possible-R}) 14. h5 Nc4 {OK} 15. Bxc4 {OK} bxc4 {[#]} 16. Nd4 {OK} e5 {Best (Easy)} 17. Nde2 {Inaccurate[backed by Komodo10- Stockfish 12 wants to play Nf5 for Wh} (17. Nf5 gxf5 18. gxf5 Kf8 19. O-O-O Ke7 20. Qf2 $11 {Stockfish12-R }) 17... d5 $1 {Strong} 18. exd5 {Inaccurate} (18. hxg6 fxg6 19. g5 d4 20. gxf6 Bxf6 $15 {Stockfish12-R}) 18... Nxd5 19. Nxd5 {Inaccurate} Bxd5 (19... Qxd5 { Stockfish12-R}) 20. Rh3 {Inaccurate} c3 $2 {[%mdl 8192] Loses game (3.2) (Bl in the end played it without quite thinking it through-R} (20... Be6 { Stockfish12}) (20... e4 $17 {Komodo10}) 21. Nxc3 $18 {Best (Easy)} Bc6 {OK} 22. O-O-O {OK} Qe7 23. hxg6 {OK} fxg6 24. Bg5 Qb7 {Mistake (1.4)} (24... Qf7 $142) (24... Qe6 {preferred by both Komodo10 & Stockfish12-R}) 25. Ne4 {Missed win (1.9)} (25. Qd3 $18) 25... Rab8 $16 {OK} 26. b3 {OK} Bxe4 {Best} 27. fxe4 Kh8 $2 (27... Qxe4 $16) (27... Qxe4 28. Qd7 Qb7 {both Engines} 29. Rc3 Qxd7 30. Rxd7 Bf8 31. b4 Rbc8 32. Rh3 Rc4 33. Rhxh7 Re6 (33... Rxg4 34. Bf6) 34. Kb2 Rec6 35. Rh3 $1 {a remakable Engine suggestion?!} (35. Rh2 Rxg4 $16 {but Bl is still fighting}) 35... Rxg4 (35... Rxc2+ 36. Kb3 Rf2 37. Ka4 $18) 36. Be7 Bg7 37. Kb3 $16 {Stockfish12}) 28. Rdh1 $18 Qxe4 29. Rxh7+ Kg8 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Qd7+ Kg8 32. Qh7+ Kf8 33. Bh6# {Strong: Black=1 Best: White=1, Black=2 OK: White=9, Black=3 Inaccurate: White=5, Black=2 Mistake: White=1, Black=2 Missed win: White=1 Loses game: Black=1. Weighted Error Value: White=0.30/ Black=0.68 Centipawn loss: w=26/b=57} 1-0

Brief Update

Just a brief update this time of the latest results in the Dyfed Online League. Aberystywyth won the match against Aberystwyth University on Tuesday 1st December by 3½-½. Surprisingly, the half point was conceded by Rudy van Kemenade on top board. In a King's Indian Attack French, Rudy created and attacked a weakness on Black's kingside but his own queenside-castled king was also vulnerable, and Dan was able to force a draw by perpetual check. The other game given here is Sam Holman's in a Sicilian against Kieran Judge; Sam's persistent pressure down the c-file led to a convincing win. James Cook won against Kieran Rafferty and the other game was a default.

[Event "DyfedLonline Aberystwyth-AberystwythSU"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.12.01"] [Round "3.1"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Hardman, Daniel"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C00"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "1937"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. e4 e6 2. d3 {C00 French Defense: King's Indian Attack} d5 3. Qe2 {Bl seemed surprised at this, though Rudy is on the record with this idea.-R The lichess commentary has been kept- -R signals other input.} dxe4 4. dxe4 Nc6 $6 { (0.00 ? 0.54) Inaccuracy. e5 was best.} (4... e5 {main- R} 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. a3 h6 8. Be3 Be6 9. h3) 5. Nf3 (5. e5 Nge7 {is ok for Bl, 1-2}) 5... e5 {The problem for the French Defence player is that they are now in an e4-35 position ( & one where Wh has good prospects on the wh squares-R} 6. c3 Bd6 { this could turn out a bad B, which was what Wh was hoping for} (6... Nf6 { main-R} 7. Qc2 Bc5 (7... Be7 8. Bb5 Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. h3 a6 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Rd1 Qe7 13. Nbd2 {Van Kemenade-Goodwin, GBR ch 65+, Llandudno 2017,1-0 [ the previous encounter bwteen these players had been Manchester 1977,1/2-1/2}) 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Qe7 11. Nf1 $6 Nb4 $1 $15 {Van Kemenade-Van Veelen, West Wales open 2019, 1/2-1/2}) 7. Qc2 Nf6 (7... a6 8. Be2 Nf6 9. h3 O-O 10. g4 b5 11. Bg5 Qe7 12. Nbd2 Nd8 13. Nh4 Ne6 14. Nf5 Qd8 15. Bh4 Nf4 16. Bf3 b4 17. O-O-O bxc3 18. Qxc3 $11 {Zhang-Ali Marandi, Doha 2015,1-0 -R}) 8. Bg5 { 64% for Wh- getting ambitious on the K side} (8. Nbd2 {main} O-O 9. Nc4 { 68% for Wh-R}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 {4 Wh wins, 4 draws, 1 Bl win} Bg4 (9... g5 $5 { 2-1 -R}) 10. Nbd2 $146 {Cloud Engines} (10. Be2 {2-0- R}) 10... Qe7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bb5 (12. Bc4 g5 13. Bg3 O-O-O $14 {Stockfish12 -R}) 12... O-O 13. g4 Bg6 14. g5 {in retrospect this might be held back, but it is Stockfish12's main choice} (14. Bxc6 {considered- in retrospect this would have been an improvent on the game (where the B has to swap the N on e6 instead), but at this point Wh was loath to open up the b file as Wh needs to 0-0-0-R}) 14... hxg5 15. Bxg5 Nd8 $6 {(0.36 ? 0.90) Inaccuracy. Bc5 was best.[ the Metzner unpin is a known resource in the Four Knights game-R} (15... Bc5 16. O-O-O) 16. Nh4 Ne6 17. Nxg6 fxg6 $16 18. Bc4 (18. h4 $16 {Stockfish12-R}) 18... b5 (18... Kh8 19. h4 Qe8 20. O-O-O Nh5 21. Be3 $14 {Stockfish12-R}) 19. Bb3 $6 {(0.71 ? 0.17) Inaccuracy. Bd5 was best.} (19. Bd5 c6 20. Bxe6+ Qxe6 21. Be3 a5 (21... Rf7 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 22. Rg1 Nh5 (22... Qxh3 23. O-O-O Qe6 24. Qb3 Qxb3 25. axb3 Kh7 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 23. Qb3 Qxb3 24. axb3 Rf6 25. Rg4 Bc7 $14) (19. Bxe6+ Qxe6 20. Qb3 Qxb3 21. axb3 $14 {Stockfish12- playing against the d6 B-R}) 19... a5 (19... Kh8 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 20. a3 {Wh was wary of this- aware the pawn could become a target for a B or a Bl pawn advance-R} (20. a4 bxa4 21. Rxa4 { considered, but then Nc5 will be coming-R}) 20... a4 21. Ba2 (21. Bd5 $5 { (insisted upon by lichess engine)} Rab8 22. f4 Kh8 23. Bxe6 Qxe6 24. f5 gxf5 25. exf5 Qf7 26. O-O-O Nh5 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 21... Bc5 $2 {(0.23 ? 1.33) Mistake. Kh8 was best.} (21... Kh8 22. Be3) 22. Nf3 (22. O-O-O Bxf2 {looks dangerous} (22... Kh8 23. h4 Qe8 24. Nf3 Nh5 25. Rd3 Nef4 26. Rd2 Ne2+ 27. Rxe2 Rxf3 28. Kb1 Rb8 29. Rd1 $16 {Stockfish12}) 23. Nf3 Bc5 24. Nxe5 Qe8 25. Bxf6 Rxf6 26. Nd7 Rf2 27. Nxc5 Rxc2+ 28. Kxc2 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (22. f4 {Julie} Kh8 23. h4 Nxf4 (23... exf4 24. e5 $18) 24. O-O-O Rad8 25. Nf3 $11 {Stockfish12 }) 22... Bd6 $6 {(1.66 ? 2.43) Inaccuracy. Rad8 was best.} (22... Rad8 23. Nxe5 {[ lichess judgement- Wh looks superior, but then the best Stockfish12 finds is a draw after} Kh7 24. Nxg6 Kxg6 25. e5+ Kxg5 26. Rg1+ Kh4 27. Qf5 Bxf2+ 28. Qxf2+ Kh5 29. Qg3 g5 30. Bxe6 Ne4 31. Qg4+ Kh6 32. Qxe4 Qxe6 33. h4 Qh3 34. Ke2 (34. hxg5+ Kg7 $19) 34... Rf2+ {perpetual} 35. Kxf2 Qh2+ 36. Rg2 Rd2+ 37. Ke3 Rxg2 38. Qc6+ Kh5 39. Qf3+ Kg6 40. Qf6+ Kh7 41. Qe7+ {Stockfish12-R}) 23. Nh4 $2 {(2.43 ? 0.90) Mistake. Rg1 was best. [ the problem with this is that, although it attacks g6, it blocks the h file. Bl's K can now find a safe haven there, as the Wh h pawn is unable to advance to open the file up for Wh-R]} ( 23. Rg1 {[considered-R]} c5 24. Bd5 Ra6 25. Qe2 c4 26. Bxf6 Qxf6 27. Ng5 Bc5 28. O-O-O Bxf2 29. Nxe6 Rxe6 $18) (23. h4 $18 {Stockfish12 eg} Qe8 24. Be3 Kh8 25. Ng5 Nc5 26. O-O-O Ra6 27. f4 {opening up lines for the Wh Q to enter} (27. Bd5) 27... Nb3+ 28. Kb1 exf4 29. h5 gxh5 30. Bd4 Be5 31. Bxe5 Qxe5 32. Rd8 Qc5 33. Rxf8+ {giving up the Q might be best} Qxf8 34. e5 Ne4 35. Rxh5+ Rh6 36. Rxh6+ gxh6 37. Nxe4 $18) (23. O-O-O $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (23. Be3 c5 (23... Nh7 24. Qe2 Kh8 25. h4 $18 Nf4 26. Bxf4 Rxf4 27. Ng5 Raf8 28. f3 $18) 24. Nh4 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) 23... Kh7 24. Bxe6 $6 {(0.74 ? 0.00) Inaccuracy. Be3 was best.} (24. Be3 Nh5 25. Rg1 Qxh4 26. Bxe6 Nf4 27. Bd5 Rad8 28. O-O-O Qh5 29. Kb1 Nxd5 30. exd5 Qf5 {lichess stops here- Stockfish12 carries on with} 31. Rg5 $18 { though it's not immediately clear-R} Qxc2+ 32. Kxc2 Rf3 33. Rdg1 Bf8 34. R5g4 Rxh3 35. c4 bxc4 36. Rxc4 Rxd5 37. Rxa4 {Wh is half a pawn down, but his Q side ones should be winning?-R}) (24. Nf3 $16 {Stockfish12-R}) 24... Qxe6 25. O-O-O (25. Rg1 {initially given as near winning by Stockfish12- then it settles to equal-R}) 25... Qa2 26. f3 (26. Rhg1) (26. Be3 {but Wh seems to have no advantage in these either-R} Ra6 27. Nf3 Rc6 $19 {Stockfish12-R}) 26... Rad8 (26... Nh5 $19 {Stockfish12-R}) 27. Qg2 (27. Qb1 Qc4 $15 {Stockfish12-R}) 27... Be7 $6 {(-0.82 ? 0.00) Inaccuracy. Rd7 was best.} (27... Rd7 28. Qc2 { (lichess- 28...c5 Bl is winning- Stockfish12-R}) (27... b4 $1 28. cxb4 c5 $19 { Stockfish12-R}) 28. Be3 (28. Rhg1 Bc5 (28... Bxa3 {draws again}) 29. Bh6 Qf7 $17 {-R}) (28. Bh6 Qf7 29. Be3 (29. Bg5 Qa2 {invites repetition}) (29. Bd2 Nh5 {Wh's N is hanging} 30. Qg4 Bxh4 31. Qxh4 Qxf3 $19 (31... Qa2 32. Kc2 Rd6 $19)) 29... b4 $19 {Stockfish12} 30. cxb4 (30. Rdg1 g5 31. Qxg5 Nd5 32. Qg6+ Qxg6 33. Nxg6 Nxe3 34. Nxf8+ Rxf8 35. cxb4 Rxf3 $19) 30... Nh5 31. Qg4 Bxh4 32. Qxh4 Qxf3 $19 {Stockfish12} 33. Bc5 Rxd1+ 34. Rxd1 Rf4 35. Qd8 Rxe4 {and Wh's K is far less safe than Bl's- R}) 28... Bxa3 (28... g5 29. Bxg5 b4 30. cxb4 c5 31. Bh6 Rxd1+ 32. Rxd1 Qf7 33. Qxg7+ Qxg7 34. Bxg7 Kxg7 35. Nf5+ Kf7 36. Nxe7 Kxe7 37. bxc5 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 29. bxa3 {Wh has to go for the draw- alternatives lose -R} Qa1+ (29... Qxa3+ 30. Qb2 {as envisaged would have held against the sacrifice}) 30. Kc2 Qa2+ 31. Kc1 Qa1+ 32. Kc2 Qa2+ 33. Kc1 { Normal The game is a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.12.01"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Judge, Kieran"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B50"] [WhiteElo "1217"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "U. C. Aberystwyth A"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,88,19,29,40,40,86,47,47,1,1,-2,41,12,11,13,33,-4,1,-12,9,-1,38,20,31, -11,-11,-15,-19,-79,-91,-81,-73,-75,-78,-85,-81,-115,-98,-98,-80,-120,-121, -121,-103,-97,-95,-101,-73,-134,-77,-141,-127,-161,-128,-128,-147,-347,-213, -216,-107,-114,-103,-142,-107,-142,-114,-506,-405,-416,-429,-641,-642,-646, -650,-675,-669,-814,-803,-909,-960,-1000,-1402,-1440,-1428,-29995,-29996, -29997,-29998,-29999,-30000]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bd3 {the Kopec System} g6 ( 3... Nf6 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bc2 Bg4 6. O-O Ne5 7. Ba4+ Bd7 8. Bxd7+ Nfxd7 9. d4 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 e6 $11 {Judge-Corrigan, Dyfed League: Aberystwyth B-Aberystwyth A, 2017,1/2-1/2}) 4. c3 Bg7 5. Bc2 e5 (5... Nc6) (5... Nf6 {main lines}) 6. O-O ( 6. h3 Nc6 7. O-O Nge7 {4 draws, 5 Bl wins}) 6... Nc6 (6... Bg4 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Qxf3 Ne7 9. d3 O-O 10. Nd2 Nbc6 11. Qe2 b5 12. a4 a6 13. Nf3 {Navorro Cabrera-Sanchez Quintero, Gran Canaria Santana Memorial, 2017,1-0}) 7. d3 Nge7 8. Nbd2 (8. Be3 O-O {3 Wh wins, 1 draw, 4 Bl wins incl Kopec-Damljanovic, Saint John op 1988,0-1}) 8... O-O 9. h3 (9. Nb3 b6 10. Re1 Ba6 11. Be3 Rc8 12. Qd2 d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Bh6 {Kopec-Kaplan, USCF op 1974,1-0}) 9... Qc7 (9... b5 10. Re1 a5 $11 {Gustafson-Wu, Keres memorial 2001,0-1} (10... b4 11. Nf1 a5 $11 {Jeffery-Goutor, Victoria op 2003,0-1})) (9... f5 10. Nc4 f4 11. Bb3 Kh8 12. a4 b6 13. Ncd2 Bf6 14. Bd5 g5 $15 {Nyberg-Brockway, Gordon Hoskyn memorial rapid 2008,1-0}) 10. Re1 {the position resembles a Ruy Lopez- where Bl has gained lots of time by not having to play Be7, Re8,Bf8-Bg7 to get this kind of position} Nd8 (10... b5 11. a3 a5 12. Nf1 d5 13. Ng3 d4 {Laaman-Disque, US ch email 2016,0-1}) 11. Nf1 Ne6 12. Be3 (12. Ne3 $11 {Stockfish12}) 12... f5 ( 12... d5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 13. exf5 Nxf5 (13... gxf5 $15 {is reputedly what every Russian schoolboy would play. (& Stockfish12)}) 14. Ng5 (14. Bb3 $11) 14... Nxe3 15. Nxe6 Bxe6 (15... Qf7 16. fxe3 Qf2+ 17. Kh1 Bxe6 $15 { Stockfish12- Bl controls the centre with superior development}) 16. Nxe3 Qf7 ( 16... d5) 17. Qe2 b5 18. b4 {hitting out, but destoying his Q structure. Since Bl is dominant here- both Bs aiming down with a space advantage. Wh has to sit and wait. Normally a Q side attack by one side leads to the other oening up on the K side, but Bl has this fully under control} cxb4 (18... c4 $17 { Stockfish12}) 19. cxb4 Bxa2 (19... a5 20. bxa5 Rxa5 21. Bb3 Bxb3 22. axb3 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Qxb3 $15 {Stockfish12}) 20. Nd1 (20. Ba4 $1 $11 {Engines seldom miss a tactic - Stockfish12 regains the pawn}) 20... Be6 (20... e4 $19 21. Rc1 a5 22. bxa5 b4 23. dxe4 Rxa5 $19 {Stockfish12- the b pawn will eventually force the win of a piece}) 21. Nc3 a6 22. Ne4 Qd7 (22... Qe7 {eyes the b pawn}) 23. Qe3 Kh8 24. Qg3 Rfc8 (24... Qa7 $19 25. Qe3 (25. Nxd6 Qc7 $19) 25... Qxe3 26. fxe3 Rfc8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 25. Re2 Rc6 $19 (25... Bg8 $19 {protects every thing and keeps the 2 Bs-Stockfish12}) 26. Ng5 {for the second time Wh goes to swap off a N, giving up all hope of anything on the K side to counter his shattered Q side} Rac8 27. Nxe6 (27. Qh4 {leads to rapid loss} Bf6 28. Qh6 (28. Bd1 Rc1 29. Rxc1 Rxc1 30. Re1 Qe7) 28... Bxg5 29. Qxg5 Rxc2 $19 {Stockfish12}) 27... Qxe6 28. Rc1 {selfpins are seldom to be recommended, though Wh has to be very careful of his backrank} (28. Bd1 d5 29. Qg5 Qf6 30. Qxf6 Bxf6 31. Bb3 e4 32. Rd1 exd3 33. Rxd3 d4 34. Rd1 Rc3 $19 {the activity of Bl's Rs enhances the power of his B , especially because of the opposite colours}) 28... Qa2 (28... Bh6 {forces the pace} 29. f4 Qf5 30. Qf2 Qxf4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 29. Qg5 (29. Bd1 Qxe2 (29... Qe6 30. Rxc6 Rxc6 31. Rc2 Rxc2 32. Bxc2 $15 {gives Wh good survival chances}) 30. Bxe2 Rxc1+ 31. Kh2 Rf8 32. Qe3 Rb1 $19 {the Q & B don't work well together here- meanwhile the Bl Rs escort the Q side pawns}) 29... e4 (29... Qa3 30. g3 h6 31. Qd2 d5 32. Kg2 Kh7 {Stockfish12- keeps Wh tied down}) 30. dxe4 Qb2 (30... Qc4 31. Rce1 Qxb4 32. Bb1 Rc5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 31. Qd2 ( 31. Rb1 Qd4 32. e5 Bxe5 33. Be4 $17 {Stockfish12-gives Wh some reprieve because the Wh B has found a bit of play- but b4 is still doomed}) 31... Bc3 ( 31... Rc3) 32. Qh6 Qxb4 {anything to get out of the pin, though the B is still badly placed} 33. Re3 (33. Bd1 $5) 33... Bd2 (33... Bg7 {also}) 34. Rb1 Qd4 ( 34... Bxe3 {also}) 35. Rd3 Qxd3 (35... Bxh6 36. Rxd4 Rxc2 {also}) 36. Bxd3 Bxh6 37. Kh2 Bg7 38. Be2 Be5+ 39. g3 Rc2 40. Bg4 Rxf2+ 41. Kg1 Rcc2 42. Rf1 Rg2+ 43. Kh1 Rh2+ 44. Kg1 Rcg2# 0-1

Noses in Front

Aberystwyth keeps finding ways to preserve our unbeaten record in the U1800 section of Welsh Chess Union Online League, On Tuesday 24th November we were outgraded on all boards but still managed a favourable result. The exchange variation of the French Defence is not as drawish as its reputation, at least at club level, and I was never quite comfortable with the open position in my game against Adrian Davies. However, he allowed things to resolve into equality and an early draw. James Cook played more agressively on the White side of another Exchange French attacking on Les Philpin's queenside. In an equal queenless middlegame with enough complexity to keep things interesting, James was able to exploit his opponent's back rank for the win. Tom Gunn played too passively against Huw Jones's Torre System, missing chances to break in the centre, and the white squares around his king became fatally weak, as White invaded to clinch the win. Sam Holman's game against Luke Williams began as a Najdorf Sicilian, but reached a middlegame typical of the Dragon, with players castled on opposite sides and a lot of complications. Sam emerged with an extra pawn and was able to create a winning passed pawn in the ending. After our 2½-1½ victory, and with our closest rivals, North Cardiff Panthers, drawing again, Aber is now in the sole lead with one round to play.

[Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.24"] [Round "5.1"] [White "Davies, Adrian"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1676"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Morriston Buccaneers"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,53,19,38,30,51,38,23,26,-7,13,24,28,49,58,32,62,15,45,7,34,35,51,25, 72,61,72,59,61,52,53,53,58,63,61,70,71,67,61,17,30,25,17,29,26,17,18,5,83,13, 150,12,4,19,12,0]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 (3... Qxd5 4. c4 Qd8 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Be7 {Davies-Horrell, WKO U1800 2014,1/2-1/2}) 4. Bd3 (4. Nf3 Bd6 5. Bd3 Ne7 6. O-O Bf5 7. Re1 Bg6 {Haigh-Francis, Dyfed League 2017,1/2-1/2}) 4... Nc6 (4... Bd6 5. Nc3 c6 6. Nge2 Ne7 7. Bg5 Qc7 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bf4 Bf5 { Orton-Francis, Dyfed Closed 2010,1/2-1/2}) 5. Nf3 (5. c3 {main}) 5... Bg4 6. c3 Nf6 (6... Bd6 7. O-O Nge7 {main}) 7. O-O Be7 (7... Bd6 8. Re1+ {82 % for Wh}) 8. Bg5 (8. Bf4 {also}) 8... h6 9. Bh4 {1 Wh win, 2 draws, 4 Bl wins} (9. Bxf6 { 1 Wh win, 2 draws}) 9... O-O (9... g5 10. Bg3 Ne4 {0-3 ( into a Petroff. with Wh's QB misplaced, Bl's pawn advances with expose the Wh K)}) 10. Nbd2 Re8 11. Re1 (11. Qc2 {main}) 11... Nd7 {2 Wh wins, 1 Bl win} (11... Nh5 {aiming for f4, 2 Wh wins, 2 draws,3 Bl wins}) 12. Bxe7 Rxe7 13. Qc2 Nf6 (13... Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Nf6 15. Rxe7 Qxe7 16. Re1 Qd7 17. Ne5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Ne8 19. Bf5 { Sramek-Trakaliuk, Orlova op 2011, draw agreed}) 14. Rxe7 Qxe7 15. h3 $14 (15. Re1 $14 Qd7 16. Ne5 Qe7 17. Qb1 Nxe5 18. Rxe5 Qd7 19. h3 Be6 20. Bf5 Qd6 21. Nb3 b6 22. Nc1 c5 23. Ne2 cxd4 24. cxd4 Bxf5 25. Qxf5 Re8 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 27. Qc8 Qe7 28. Nf4 $16 {Wolkow-Schuette, NRW ch U12, Bergneustadt 1999,1-0}) 15... Be6 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Ne5 Nd7 (17... Ne7 {Stockfish12}) 18. Nxc6 (18. f4 $16 { Stockfish12- gives Wh a reverse Petroff}) 18... Qxc6 19. Bf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Nf6 21. Nf3 Qc4 (21... Re8 $11 {simplest}) 22. Qb1 (22. Re7 {Rudy- could be tried if Wh wants to try for a win} Qxa2 23. Rxc7 Qxb2 24. Ne5 Rf8 25. Nxf7 Qc1+ 26. Kh2 Rxf7 27. Rc8+ Rf8 28. Qe6+ Kh7 29. Rxf8 Qf4+ 30. Kg1 Qc1+ $11) (22. a3 { looks better than the text}) 22... Ne4 23. a3 f6 {Stockfish12 dislikes this weakening of the K side} 24. Qc2 (24. Nh4 $1 $18 {Stockfish12- Wh threatens to drive the N away, then come in with Re7} Re8 (24... Qb5 25. f3 Nd6 26. Re7 Re8 27. Rxc7 Qe2 28. Qg6 Qe1+ 29. Kh2 Re7 30. Rxe7 Qxe7 31. Qg4 $18) 25. f3 Nd6 26. Rxe8+ Nxe8 27. Qe1 Nd6 (27... Kf7 28. Nf5) 28. Ng6 Kh7 29. Ne7 Qb5 30. Qe6 Qe8 31. h4 Nc4 32. g4 Nxb2 33. g5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 24... Kf7 (24... Qc6 $11) 25. Nd2 (25. Nh4 $18 {Stockfish12} Qb5 26. c4 Qd7 27. cxd5 Nd6 28. Qg6+ Kf8 29. Re6 Re8 30. Qg4 $18) 25... Nxd2 26. Qxd2 Qb5 27. Qe2 $11 1/2-1/2 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.24"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Cook, James"] [Black "Philpin, Les"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1476"] [BlackElo "1674"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Morriston Buccaneers"] {[%evp 0,119,33,33,33,30,33,30,30,30,30,23,55,63,63,63,73,41,54,14,87,73,76,78, 79,86,91,95,95,87,96,108,111,102,111,117,128,120,125,108,141,145,145,167,150, 140,165,178,204,126,143,152,129,107,60,61,44,43,52,64,43,60,60,42,140,64,105, 59,65,54,121,60,62,60,98,86,86,86,100,86,83,85,82,83,86,82,83,68,68,83,189,117, 124,124,317,340,333,342,353,358,357,358,770,811,811,621,636,643,657,569,571, 576,577,514,510,473,643,658,658,698,762,780]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 ( 3... Qxd5 4. c4 Qd8 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Nf3 Be7 7. Bd3 a6 {M Davies-Philpin, WCU U1800 online, sept 2020,0-1}) 4. Nf3 (4. Bd3 Nc6 (4... Nf6 5. Ne2 Bg4 6. Bg5 Be7 7. h3 {Cook-Griffiths, N Dyfed-S Dyfed ,2012,1-0}) 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. c3 { played on bd1 , Davies-Francis, 1/2-1/2}) 4... Nf6 (4... Bf5 5. Bd3 Bxd3 6. Qxd3 Nd7 7. O-O Be7 8. Qb5 c6 9. Qxb7 {Cook-Denham,Dyfed League 2012,1-0}) 5. Bd3 Bg4 6. O-O Be7 7. h3 Be6 (7... Bh5 8. Bf4 {main}) 8. Ng5 (8. Bf4) 8... Bd7 (8... Bc8 {1.5-0.5}) 9. c4 c6 10. Nc3 h6 11. Nf3 Be6 12. c5 $16 {Usually doubledged if tried too early, but Wh is wellplaced to support a Q side advance } O-O 13. Bf4 Nbd7 14. b4 a6 15. Re1 (15. a4 Re8 16. Qc2 Nf8 17. b5 $18 { though Abrantes-Felix, Brasilia State ch 2013,0-1}) 15... Re8 (15... Nh7 16. Bc2 Re8 17. Qd3 Ndf8 18. Ne5 Bf6 19. Na4 {Eames-Brouwer, Hastings Masters op 2019,1-0}) 16. a4 Nf8 17. b5 (17. Rb1) (17. Bc2 {alternatives}) 17... axb5 18. axb5 Rxa1 19. Qxa1 Qa8 (19... Bd7 20. Qa7 Ne6 21. Be5 Qc8 $16 {Stockfish12}) 20. bxc6 bxc6 $18 {the c pawn is a permanent weakness} 21. Ne5 Qxa1 22. Rxa1 Bd7 23. Ra7 Rd8 24. Nxc6 (24. Be3 Ne8 25. Nxc6 {preferred by Stockfish12}) 24... Bxc6 25. Rxe7 Ne6 26. Be3 (26. Ne2 $18) (26. Be5 $18 {are better supports for the advanced R-Stockfish12. After the text, Wh needs to return the pawn to let the R out}) 26... Bd7 27. c6 (27. f4 Kf8 28. Rxd7 Rxd7 29. f5 Ng5 30. Nb5 $11 {is playable though, as the 2 Bs are equivalent to R &N, plus Wh retains the c pawn}) 27... Bxc6 28. Ra7 $11 Rb8 (28... Ra8 $11 {simplest- the Wh R is better than the Bl one because it can call on the support of its pieces more effectively than Bl's, which are getting in each others way}) 29. Ra6 Be8 30. Bf5 $11 Rb3 31. Ne2 Ng5 (31... Nf8) 32. Ng3 (32. Bf4 $18 { Stockfish12}) 32... Kf8 33. Rd6 (33. Bf4 Bb5 34. Bd6+ Kg8 35. Ra8+ Ne8 36. Nh5 Bc6 37. Rc8 Bb5 38. Be5 f6 39. Bb8 Ne4 40. f3 Nc3 41. Bg6 Ne2+ 42. Kh2 Nxd4 43. Bxe8 $18 {Stockfish12- all of Wh's pieces join in on the attack}) 33... Rb4 ( 33... Nge4 34. Nxe4 Nxe4 35. Rxd5 Ng3 {Wh's backrank could be vulnerable} 36. Bc2 (36. h4 Nxf5 37. Rxf5 Rb5 38. Rf3 Rd5 {the presence of opposite colour Bs means that Wh cannot lift the occupation of the d5 square}) 36... Ra3 37. fxg3 Rxe3 $11 {Stockfish12}) 34. Ra6 Rb5 35. Bd3 (35. Bf4 $18 {Stockfish12 insists on this}) 35... Rb3 36. Bc2 Rb4 37. Ra8 Rb2 38. Bd3 Rb3 39. Bc2 Rb2 40. Bd3 Rb3 41. Be2 Nge4 42. Nf5 Rb1+ 43. Kh2 Rb2 44. Bf3 Nxf2 {this tries too hard, leaving the Bl K to come under fire again} (44... Nd2 45. Bf4 Nf1+ 46. Kg1 Rb1 47. Rb8 Ra1 48. g4 Ne3+ 49. Kh2 Nxf5 50. gxf5 Ra6 $14 {Stockfish12- Wh has retained the 2 Bs, but the K side pawns are isolated & immobile}) 45. Nd6 $18 ( 45. Bf4 $18 {is even better insists Stockfish12}) 45... N2e4 (45... Nd3 46. Bxd5 Re2 47. Nxe8 Nxe8 48. Bg1 Nf4 49. Bc6 {and Bl remains tied down while Wh prepares the advance of the d pawn}) 46. Bc1 (46. Bxe4 dxe4 47. d5 Ke7 48. Nf5+ Kd7 49. Bd4 (49. Ra7+) 49... Rb4 50. Bxf6 gxf6 51. Ng7 $18 {Stockfish12}) 46... Rb6 47. Nxe8 Nxe8 48. Ba3+ N4d6 49. Bc5 Rc6 50. Bxd5 Rc8 (50... Rxc5 {is about the best that Bl can manage here}) 51. Rxc8 Ke7 52. Bxd6+ Nxd6 53. Rc7+ Kd8 54. Rc1 (54. Ra7) 54... f6 55. Kg3 Nf5+ 56. Kf4 Nxd4 57. Bf3 (57. Rd1) 57... Ne6+ 58. Kf5 Nf8 59. Ra1 (59. Bc6) 59... Ke7 60. Ra7+ 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.24"] [Round "5.3"] [White "Jones, Huw"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A46"] [WhiteElo "1617"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Morriston Buccaneers"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,73,30,23,23,-3,14,12,31,26,18,28,28,24,24,14,24,28,40,28,28,28,36,45, 117,23,36,26,59,41,101,73,87,76,140,157,157,139,157,139,244,244,250,250,250, 250,258,165,171,168,218,213,218,196,196,192,297,358,245,241,489,155,386,270, 270,228,387,383,1166,1169,29985,29986,29987,29988,29991,29992]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. Nf3 (3. e4 {main} Be7 (3... h6) 4. Bd3 h6 5. Bxf6 Bxf6 6. e5 Be7 7. Nf3 d5 8. c3 c5 {Jones-Lutchman Singh, Tom Weston Major open, 2017,1/2-1/2}) 3... Be7 (3... c5) (3... h6) (3... d5 {other main lines}) 4. Nbd2 {main} O-O ( 4... d5) 5. e4 d6 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. h3 (7. O-O) 7... c5 8. c3 b6 9. O-O Bb7 10. Qe2 Re8 (10... e5 {stakes a claim in the centre}) (10... Ne8 11. Be3 Nc7 12. Nh2 {Huettemann-Siegl, Dresden ZMD op 2010,1-0}) 11. Rad1 Qc7 12. Bf4 (12. e5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 12... Rad8 (12... e5 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Bh2 Rac8 15. Nc4 Bf8 16. Rd2 a6 (16... b5) 17. Rfd1 b5 18. Ne3 c4 19. Bc2 g6 {Perdikis-Zeniou, CYP ch 1988,1-0} (19... Nc5 $19 {Stockfish12})) (12... cxd4 13. cxd4 e5 (13... Rac8 14. a3 Bf8 15. e5 dxe5 16. dxe5 Nd5 17. Bxh7+ $2 (17. Bg3 $18 {Stockfish12}) 17... Kxh7 18. Ng5+ Kg8 19. Qh5 N7f6 $19 {Cheslavskij-Jennings, London Chess Classic 2015,0-1}) 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. Bg5 h6 $11 {Werrn-Simon, Ruhrgebiet Verbandsliga 2012,1-0}) 13. Bh2 Bf8 14. a3 (14. e5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 14... h6 15. e5 $18 Nh7 16. Ne4 (16. Nc4) 16... Bxe4 17. Qxe4 f5 (17... g6 {looks better, but Bl's pieces remain in passive postions with no counterplay against Wh's space advantage}) 18. exf6 (18. Qe2 $18 {also}) 18... Nhxf6 19. Qe2 e5 { too late & now this leaves Bl with all his pawns on the colour of his remaining B. It also opens up the position for the Wh Bs to exploit.} 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bc4+ (21. Nh4) 21... Kh8 22. Nh4 g5 23. Ng6+ (23. Nf5 {may be even better}) 23... Kg7 24. Nxf8 {usually one would leave such a bad B well alone, though here it does act as some kind of protector of the K. Anyway Stockfish12 takes it.} Kxf8 25. Qf3 (25. Bb5) 25... Kg7 26. Rfe1 Re7 27. Qf5 Qc8 28. Rd6 ( 28. f4 {destroys Bl's pawn cover}) 28... Rf8 29. Red1 (29. h4) 29... Nb8 30. Qd3 (30. Be6) (30. Re6) 30... Rd7 31. Rxd7+ (31. Bxe5 {simplest; as in the game on bd2 (Cook-Philpin, 1-0) the 2 Bs on the open board outgun the two Ns}) 31... Nbxd7 32. Bb5 Rd8 33. Bxe5 a6 34. Bxd7 Qb7 35. Bxf6+ Kxf6 36. Qd6+ Kg7 37. Qe7+ 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.24"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Williams, Luke"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B94"] [WhiteElo "1386"] [BlackElo "1500"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Morriston Buccaneers"] {[%evp 0,111,19,38,40,41,66,77,66,55,55,20,79,39,64,-24,30,24,24,45,33,-18,-14, -56,-24,-35,-12,-8,42,-21,-38,-48,-14,-83,-52,-56,-19,-10,-78,-40,-21,-42,-42, -40,-47,-69,-54,-280,-287,-384,-204,-218,28,31,41,41,40,54,54,54,46,51,51,48, 53,10,66,33,51,52,57,38,44,43,30,53,80,53,92,56,93,78,143,57,171,78,122,77,138, 163,219,218,307,183,200,200,275,325,1449,442,659,1001,998,1010,1017,1028,1083, 1214,1279,1391,1867,1300,1524,1914]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 (5... g6 6. Be3 a6 7. Be2 Bg7 8. f3 O-O 9. Qd2 Nc6 10. Nxc6 bxc6 11. O-O-O Qa5 {Rafferty-Williams, WCU U1800 online, 02020,0-1}) 6. Bg5 Nbd7 (6... e5 7. Nb3 Be6 8. Qd2 Nbd7 9. Be2 Be7 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. O-O-O Qd7 12. h3 { Holman-Corrigan,Dyfed Closed 2016,1-0}) (6... e6 {main}) 7. f4 g6 (7... Qc7) 8. Qf3 Bg7 9. O-O-O O-O 10. f5 $146 (10. g4 {main}) 10... Ne5 $11 11. Qh3 (11. Qg3 ) 11... Re8 (11... b5) 12. Be2 Qa5 13. Kb1 (13. Nb3 Qd8 14. Bf4 Nfd7 15. fxg6 hxg6 16. Qg3 b5 17. h4 $16 {Stockfish12- the Wh attack develops faster than the Bl one on the other side}) 13... b5 14. Qe3 (14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd5 Bg7 16. Qh4 Ra7 17. Rhf1 $14 {Stockfish12}) 14... Bb7 15. a3 {this is best left- pawn moves on the side where under attack usually leave some other weakness behind. ere , it provides a target for a b4 move opening the b file; or the Stockfish12 line} Rac8 $19 (15... Rec8 {threatening Rxc3, even stronger-leaves the other R to go to b8}) 16. Nb3 Qc7 (16... Rxc3 $1 {Stockfish11} 17. Nxa5 ( 17. bxc3 Qxa3 18. Rd4 Nc6 19. Rhd1 (19. Rd3 b4 $19) 19... Nxd4 20. Rxd4 Bxe4 { threat Qxb3} 21. Rxe4 Nd5 {wins the Q; Stockfish12}) 17... Rxe3 18. Bxe3 Bxe4 19. fxg6 hxg6 $19 {Bl's central pawn mass is superior to the exchange , as the Wh Rs have little future.}) 17. Rd2 Nc4 (17... Rb8 $19 {Stockfish12- ready for ...b4}) 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. Nd4 Qa5 (19... Qb6 $19) (19... Rb8 $19) 20. Re2 (20. Ka2 $15) 20... Ng4 (20... Rb8) 21. Qd2 Qc5 (21... Qb6 {is where the Q belongs}) 22. h3 Nf2 23. Ne6 (23. Rxf2 Bxd4 24. Re2 Qe5 $17 {Stockfish12}) 23... fxe6 $19 24. Be3 Nxe4 (24... Bxc3 $1 {Stockfish12- even stronger} 25. Bxc5 (25. Qxc3 Nxe4 $19) 25... Bxd2 26. Bxf2 c3 $19 {emerging with an extra piece and a still virulent attack}) 25. Nxe4 c3 $2 {leaves a piece hanging at the end of the line; almost any Q move would win for Bl} (25... Qd5 $19) (25... Qe5 $19) ( 25... Qxf5 $19) (25... Qc6 $19) 26. Nxc5 cxd2 27. Nxb7 $18 {now Wh is the one with an extra piece for the moment ; but it is the extra pawns that will count} Rb8 28. fxe6 Rxb7 29. b3 Rf8 30. Bxd2 Rb5 31. Rhe1 Be5 32. Bg5 $6 {attacks a loose pawn, but the piece itself also is put on an unprotected square} (32. Ka2 $18 {prepares to roll forward with the Q side majority}) 32... Rb7 (32... Bg3 33. Bxe7 Re8 34. Bf6 Bxe1 35. Rxe1 Rf5 36. Bd4 $11 {Bl has regained some material- & it's not that the position is level, but that both sides would have chances}) 33. g4 (33. Bc1 $18) 33... Kg7 (33... Rf3 $5) 34. Bc1 Rb5 35. Bb2 Bxb2 36. Kxb2 Rf3 37. Re3 Rf2 38. R1e2 Rf1 39. a4 Rc5 40. b4 Rd5 41. Kc3 ( 41. Rd3 {Stockfish12} Rxd3 (41... Rg5 $2 42. Rxd6 $18) 42. cxd3 $18) 41... Rf4 42. Re4 Rf8 43. R2e3 (43. Rd4) 43... Rc8+ 44. Rc4 Rxc4+ {makes life a little easier for Wh} (44... Re8 45. Rf3 Re5 46. Rc6 a5 47. b5 Rxe6 48. Ra6 {though is scarcely inspiring}) 45. Kxc4 Rg5 46. c3 (46. Rf3 h5 47. Rf7+ Kh6 48. gxh5 Rxh5 49. Rxe7 {()tockfish12}) 46... Kf6 47. b5 axb5+ 48. axb5 d5+ 49. Kb4 (49. Kd4) 49... Re5 50. Rxe5 Kxe5 51. Kc5 (51. b6 Kd6 52. Kb5 {is also fine}) 51... Kxe6 52. Kc6 (52. b6 Kd7 53. Kxd5 {also}) 52... d4 53. cxd4 Kf6 54. b6 e5 55. dxe5+ Kxe5 56. b7 1-0

Counter and Counter-Counter

Following our brave but ultimately unsuccessful struggle against Cardigan in our first match in the new Dyfed Online League, Aberystwyth were looking for our first win against Steynton B on Tuesday 17th November. Adam Watkin-Jones played actively against Paul Orton on the Black side of a Ruy Lopez, and won material, but then White counterattacked and had chances of his own, as both players overlooked the capture of a rook, after which a counter-counter-attack ended things quickly: one of those games, perhaps, where the lower-rated player didn't really expect to win, and lost out as a result. I developed quietly against Jonathan Jones's Scandinavian and had a comfortable position when he tried a speculative pawn sacrifice. There was nothing there for Black in view of White's central control and good development, and he threw away too much material in an attempt to create tactical possibilities. Tom Gunn dominated the board when Keith Briggs played passively in a London system. White's attempt to find kingside counterplay led to nothing, and the capture of his problem bishop ended the game. Sam Holman, playing White in a Ruy Lopez, won the exchange against Gwyn Jones and was better for most of the game, but it's often difficult finishing in such circumstances, and Black belatedly got his two knights working together for a tactical coup. A 3-1 win for Aber, but with some adventures along the way.

[Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.17"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Orton, Paul"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "1612"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Steynton B"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,68,31,15,25,13,15,15,24,-6,7,-10,12,-28,14,-2,24,35,51,-22,-21,-36,22, 21,15,-24,0,14,9,15,64,70,51,-62,9,14,11,21,17,-81,-30,-38,-62,-87,-93,-74,-25, -3,1,0,21,0,51,43,15,29,0,5,1033,60,917,-4,27,-62,-54,-604,-914,-897,-1055, -1067,-1067]} 1. e4 e5 (1... c5 {usual Bl response}) 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 {as played by Alehine} (5... Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 9. c3 Be7 10. Be3 {Orton-Trombley, Dyfed Congress 2008,1/2-1/2}) (5... d6 6. Re1 Be7 7. h3 O-O 8. c3 b5 9. Bc2 Bb7 10. d4 {Orton-Geraghty, Dyfed Closed 2007,1-0}) 6. c3 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. d4 Bb6 9. h3 (9. a4 {main; a useful move for Wh, probes b5}) 9... O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. Be3 Na5 (11... Bb7 {main, the position has transposed to an Archangesk variation}) 12. Bc2 exd4 (12... Nc4 13. Bc1 exd4 14. cxd4 Bb7 15. b3 {3-0}) 13. cxd4 Bb7 $14 {3 Wh wins, 1 draw} 14. Nbd2 d5 $146 (14... Re8 {transposes to 31 games, including ones at elite GM level; 58% for Wh}) 15. e5 Ne4 16. Nxe4 (16. Bf4 $16 {Stockfish12}) 16... dxe4 17. Nd2 Bxd4 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Bxe4 (19. Nxe4 Qxe5 20. b4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 19... Bxe4 (19... Rfd8 $15 {improving piece activity}) 20. Rxe4 (20. Nxe4 Qxe5 21. Qc2 $11 {Wh has Q side pressure to compensate for the pawn}) 20... Qxb2 $17 21. Qe1 Rad8 22. Re2 Qd4 (22... Qb4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 23. Nf3 Qa4 24. e6 fxe6 25. Rxe6 $11 {Wh has better co-ordinated pieces now than Bl} Nb7 (25... Nc4) 26. Re7 Nd6 27. Qe6+ Kh7 28. Rxc7 $11 Rf6 $2 (28... Qf4 $11) 29. Qe7 (29. Qxf6 $18) 29... Rg8 (29... Nf7) 30. Re1 (30. Qxf6 $18) 30... Qf4 (30... Rg6 $11) 31. Rc6 (31. Qe2 $11) 31... Re8 $19 {now it's Wh's backrank that is the problem} 32. Qd7 ( 32. Qa7 Rg6 $19 {the Wh Q is offside}) 32... Rxe1+ 33. Nxe1 Qxf2+ 34. Kh2 Qxe1 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.17"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Jones, Jonathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B01"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1547"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Steynton B"] {[%evp 0,51,66,15,28,23,23,69,92,92,89,86,80,56,59,64,95,79,83,61,81,52,52,26, 40,25,38,37,113,106,138,173,355,240,266,233,291,230,266,260,605,634,638,566, 593,591,595,586,666,721,990,1089,1094,1094]} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 (2... Nf6 { 2-0 vs Jonathan Jones}) 3. Nf3 (3. Nc3 {main}) 3... c6 (3... Nf6) (3... Bg4 { main lines}) 4. d4 Bf5 (4... Bg4) (4... Nf6) 5. c4 (5. Be2) 5... Qd8 6. Nc3 e6 7. Be2 {4 Wh wins, 1 draw; Wh has a space advantage & easier development} Be7 ( 7... Nf6) 8. O-O Nf6 {transposes to 130 games} 9. h3 (9. Bf4) (9. Nh4) 9... Nbd7 (9... O-O) 10. Bf4 O-O 11. Bh2 (11. d5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 11... h6 12. Qd2 Bb4 (12... Ne4) 13. Qe3 e5 $6 {an attempt at freeing Bl's position, but the Wh pieces are better placed to deal with this. Bl just has to sit and wait with} ( 13... Re8) 14. dxe5 $18 Re8 15. Qf4 (15. Rad1 {even stronger- Stockfish12}) 15... Bxh3 {the tactics must be in Wh's favour with his better placed pieces} 16. exf6 (16. gxh3 {and Bl has nothing} Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nh7 18. Kh1 $18 { Stockfish12}) 16... Bxc3 17. bxc3 Nxf6 18. Rfe1 (18. Ne5) (18. Rfd1) 18... Re4 19. Qd2 (19. Qg3) 19... Qe8 20. gxh3 Rd8 21. Qc2 Qe6 22. Bf1 Qf5 23. Rxe4 Nxe4 24. Bg2 {there is no real weakness in Wh's position} Rd2 $5 25. Nxd2 Qxf2+ 26. Kh1 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.17"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Briggs, Keith"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A47"] [WhiteElo "1350"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Steynton B"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,76,19,31,14,23,29,35,49,40,38,32,59,49,45,42,27,18,2,4,43,40,84,56,41, 25,40,37,33,22,21,20,35,32,40,26,16,-9,46,15,33,-19,-25,-46,-5,-48,-42,-32,-15, -68,-69,-198,-206,-233,-258,-321,-107,-138,-130,-525,-238,-358,-251,-405,-390, -525,-595,-595,-594,-623,-610,-655,-624,-694,-540,-546,-540,-719,-712]} 1. d4 Nf6 (1... d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. c3 e6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. Bb5 O-O 9. Qa4 Nb8 10. Nh4 {Briggs-Ward, WCU U1800, 2020,1-0}) 2. Bf4 { The London System,akin to the Colle played by the Bl player} (2. Nf3 b6 3. e3 Bb7 4. Bd3 Ne4 5. O-O {Gunn-Paffard, Dyfed Major 2020,1/2-1/2}) 2... e6 (2... g6 {main}) 3. e3 b6 4. Nf3 Bb7 5. Nbd2 c5 6. c3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Qc2 (8. h3) ( 8. O-O) (8. Qe2 {main lines in elite GM practice of the now fashionable system, that once was only practised by a few diehards in clubs.}) 8... h6 $11 { this variation has worked out very well for Bl, with 5 wins and a draw against a single Wh win} (8... Nc6) (8... d5 {most frequent}) 9. h3 (9. g4 {is rather liked by Stockfish12, aiming to make use of the h6 hook for a rapid K side attack.}) (9. Rg1 Nh5 10. Bxb8 $11 {1.5-0.5}) 9... Re8 $146 {planning to counter in the centre with e5} (9... d5 {transposes, yielding 3 wins each side} ) 10. O-O Bf8 11. Be2 {A strange decision (perhaps Wh was worrying about a possible pawn fork if the Bl pawn gets to e4? But Wh is fully in change of the e4 square already.) The B is well placed enough on d3. Logical would be gaining space in the centre with} (11. e4 {threatening e5 ( Colle players would be content with the delayed occupation of e4} cxd4 12. cxd4 d6 13. Rac1 $14) 11... d6 12. Rad1 cxd4 13. exd4 Nbd7 14. Nc4 Qc7 15. Rfe1 Rad8 16. Ncd2 ( 16. Ne3 {is preferred by Stockfish12}) 16... e5 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Bh2 Bd6 { a bit passive} (18... Qc8 {Stockfish12- the position still gives both sides chances}) 19. Bb5 (19. Nc4 $16 {Stockfish12- gains the 2 Bs for Wh because of the threats against the e5 pawn}) 19... a6 20. Bd3 (20. Bf1) 20... Nc5 21. Bf1 {4th time for the unforunate B} Rd7 $6 {wishing to double Rs, but gives Wh a chance} (21... e4 $15) 22. Nh4 (22. b4 $1 Ne6 {d7 is no longer available} 23. Nxe5 b5 (23... Bxb4 $2 {tries to exploit a loose Q, but gives up a loose R}) 24. Nb3 Rdd8 25. Rxd6 Rxd6 26. Ng4 $18 {Stockfish12}) 22... e4 $15 23. Bxd6 Rxd6 24. b4 {too late now} Nd3 $19 25. Re3 Nxb4 26. Qb2 Nbd5 27. Rg3 Rc6 { Bl thought during the game that this was an error. It's not the best, but should be enough to keep Bl's advantage} (27... e3 $1) (27... Nh5) (27... Bc8 { all give Bl a bigger advantage than the text according to Stockfish12}) 28. Nf5 Nh5 29. Nxh6+ {this fails} (29. c4 {is a better try, when the only move to keep Bl's winning lead is} Ndf6 {then Wh's R has to move away eg} 30. Rb3 (30. Nxh6+ Kh7 {and again the N (or an exchange) is lost}) 30... Nd7 $19 (30... Nf4 $19)) 29... Kf8 (29... Rxh6 {looks simpler}) 30. Rg4 gxh6 (30... Rxh6) (30... e3 $1 {Preferred by Stockfish12 as gaining the most out of the position}) 31. c4 Ndf6 32. Nxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxe4 Nxe4 34. Qh8+ Ke7 35. Re1 Re6 36. Bd3 Nhf6 ( 36... Nf4 {Stockfish12}) 37. Qxh6 Qd6 38. f3 Qxd3 {the end of the B's adventures} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.17"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Evans, Gwyn"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "1386"] [BlackElo "1192"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "124"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Steynton B"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (3. Bc4 Be7 4. a3 a6 5. d3 b5 6. Ba2 Nf6 7. Ng5 d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Nxf7 {Holman-Narayan-Taylor; Dyfed League 2016,1-0}) 3... a6 4. Ba4 b5 (4... Nf6 5. Qe2 b5 6. Bb3 Be7 7. c3 Na5 $6 (7... O-O 8. O-O d5 { is an interesting gambit, akin to a Marshall.}) 8. Nxe5 {Leah-Evans, Dyfed League 2016,1-0}) 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. d3 (6. Ng5 d5 7. exd5 Nd4 {is a promising pawn sacrifice for Bl} (7... Nxd5 {though,walks into an inferior version of the ancient Fried Liver Attack (=Fegatello); usually encountered in an Italian opening as in the note above. Both} 8. Qf3 {and} (8. Nxf7 {then are excellent for Wh at nealy 90% in both cases.}))) 6... Be7 7. c3 d5 (7... O-O) (7... d6 { main lines}) 8. Qe2 (8. exd5 Nxd5 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Bg4 11. h3 Bh5 12. g4 Bg6 {is a complex line, where Wh gains an e pawn, but has a very weakened K side}) 8... dxe4 (8... O-O {leaves Bl with a bit more choice & is more usual at elite GM level, with Tiviakov the main deployer of the line for Wh}) 9. dxe4 O-O 10. O-O Bb7 (10... Bd6) (10... Bg4 {alternatives}) 11. Rd1 Qc8 (11... Qe8 {has been played, but 5 Wh wins, 1 draw}) 12. Bg5 Rd8 (12... Qg4 {3-2}) 13. Nbd2 h6 14. Bh4 Na5 (14... Nd7 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Nf1 Ng6 17. Ng3 Nc5 18. Bc2 Qe6 19. Qe3 Qe7 20. Nf5 Qf8 21. b4 Ne6 22. Bb3 Qe8 23. Bc2 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Qxd8 26. Qd2 Qxd2 27. Nxd2 {Rohmann-Marek, Kiel op 2003,1-0}) 15. Bc2 $16 { with the centre stable, Wh has more prospects of being able to make use of either the d5 or f5 square, than Bl has of getting an effective N onto f4.} c5 $2 (15... Nc6 16. b4 Nd7 {looks neccessary, though Wh then retains a clear edge }) 16. Nf1 {missing the error} (16. Nxe5 $18) 16... Qc7 17. b3 Nh5 18. Bxe7 Qxe7 19. Ne3 Nf4 20. Qf1 Bc6 21. g3 Ng6 22. Nf5 (22. Nd5 {alternative}) 22... Qb7 (22... Qc7) 23. Qe2 Rac8 $2 (23... Qc7) 24. Nd6 $18 Qa8 25. Nxc8 Qxc8 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Rd1 Qc8 28. Nd2 {the other N now goes to the advaced stepping stones of d5 & f5} Nb7 29. Nf1 Qe6 30. Ne3 Nd6 31. Nd5 (31. Qg4) (31. Nf5 { preferred by Stockfish12}) 31... Bd7 32. a4 (32. Qd3) 32... Qh3 33. axb5 (33. Nb6 {Stockfish12 forces the pace} Nf4 34. gxf4 (34. Qf1 {more cautious & leaves Bl with little} Qxf1+ 35. Kxf1 Bh3+ 36. Ke1 Ng2+ 37. Ke2 Nb7 38. Bd3 { and all of Bl's pieces are in useless positions}) 34... Bg4 35. Rd3 Bxe2 36. Rxh3 exf4 37. e5 $18 {and Wh is a R up}) 33... axb5 34. Qf1 (34. Nb6) 34... Qg4 35. f3 (35. Ne3 Qe6 36. Qd3 {Stockfish12- picks up a pice}) 35... Qh5 36. Qf2 ( 36. h4 {covers up the h3 square, though it virtually forces Bl into the desperation sacrifice (which should be no real risk to Wh, but care will be needed}) 36... Nb7 37. Nf6+ (37. Ne7+ {Stockfish12-is more accurate as it allows a skewer of 2 pieces} Nxe7 38. Rxd7) 37... gxf6 38. Rxd7 Na5 39. Ra7 ( 39. Qxc5) (39. Bd1) 39... Nc6 40. Ra6 Nce7 (40... Nge7 $5) 41. Rxf6 (41. h4 { preferred by Stockfish12}) 41... Qg5 42. Rb6 (42. Rd6) 42... Nf4 43. Qe1 (43. h4 Qg7 44. Kh2) (43. Qxc5 {both Stockfish12 choices, but the text should be fine as well}) 43... Nh3+ 44. Kh1 Qh5 45. Bd1 Ng5 46. Qf2 (46. f4 Nf3 47. Qf2 { would end all of Bl's hopes}) 46... Nh3 47. Qe1 {Wh has lots of good moves} ( 47. Qf1) (47. Qxc5) 47... Qg5 48. Rxb5 Qc1 49. Rb8+ (49. Kg2 {looks safest, driving the N away}) (49. Rxc5 {Stockfish12-trickier} Qxd1 (49... Nf2+ 50. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 51. Kg2 Qxb3 52. Rxe5 $18 {leaves Bl with little}) 50. Qxd1 Nf2+ 51. Kg2 Nxd1 52. b4 {Bl has 2 Ns for the R, but they are disconnected and the 2 Q side pawns are unstoppable}) 49... Kg7 50. Rd8 (50. Kg2) 50... Nc6 51. Rd6 (51. Qd2 Qa1 52. Rd6 {Stockfish12 & Bl is running out of moves}) 51... Na5 52. b4 (52. Kg2) 52... Nc4 (52... cxb4) 53. Rd3 (53. bxc5 Nxd6 54. cxd6 {is the Stockfish12 solution} Qxd1 (54... Nf2+ 55. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 56. Kg2 Qxd6 57. c4 { and the Q (unlike a R) can escort the pawn home.}) 55. Qxd1 Nf2+ 56. Kg2 Nxd1 57. d7 {and it's over}) 53... Nb2 {now a second N has come to the support of the Q & Wh is in a difficult position . He has a R, but Rs are bad defenders as a general rule} 54. Rd5 $11 (54. Rd2 {now is the only way that Wh can keep hold of the win according to Stockfish12} Qxc3 55. Qe2 Nxd1 56. Rxd1 cxb4 57. f4 Qc8 (57... exf4 58. Qg4+ Kh7 59. Rf1 (59. Qxh3 Qf3+ $19) 59... Ng5 60. gxf4 Ne6 61. Rg1 $18) 58. Rf1 b3 59. Qb2 Qc4 60. Qxe5+ Kf8 61. Ra1 Qxe4+ 62. Qxe4 Nf2+ 63. Kg2 Nxe4 64. Ra4 {and the R cdeals with the last danger on b3}) 54... cxb4 {this 'safety move'- better played at earlier moves eg 52...cxb4, should give one last winning chance} (54... Nxd1 {draws- Stockfish12} 55. Rxd1 Qxd1 56. Qxd1 Nf2+ 57. Kg2 Nxd1 58. bxc5 Nxc3 59. c6 Nb5 60. Kh3 Kf6 61. f4 { Wh has just enough entry space on the K side to stop the Bl K from collecting the c pawn, but Wh can't get his K to the Q side either.}) 55. cxb4 (55. Kg2 bxc3 56. Qe2 (56. Kxh3 c2 57. Qc3 cxd1=Q 58. Qxe5+ Kg6 59. Rxd1 Nxd1 60. Qd6+ { and Wh has to settle for a perpetual}) 56... Ng5 57. Bb3 $18 {Stockfish12}) 55... Nxd1 56. Kg2 {& now the move which earlier would have safeguarded the win for Wh, loses. Attacks with a Q & N are frequently dealy as the two pieces complement the squares they control. Q & 2 Ns are deadlier still.} (56. Rxd1 { and the distant passed pawn holds the draw for Wh, coming close to winning even!} Qxd1 (56... Nf2+ 57. Qxf2 Qxd1+ 58. Kg2 Qb1 59. Qc5 {is losing for Bl}) 57. Qxd1 Nf2+ 58. Kg1 (58. Kg2 {leads to a doublet} Nxd1 59. b5 Ne3+ $1 60. Kh3 Nc4 $11) 58... Nxd1 59. b5 Nc3 60. b6 Ne2+ $1 61. Kf2 Nd4 62. b7 Nc6 {just in time} 63. Ke3 $11 {Stockfish12}) 56... Ne3+ $19 57. Qxe3 Qxe3 58. Kxh3 f6 59. Kg4 Kg6 60. h4 h5+ 61. Kh3 Qxf3 62. Kh2 Qxe4 {One of those games that shows how difficult it can be to win a won game, given all the multitude of good moves available. And showing how a desperation attack can bring confusion & create enough chaos to turn round a lost position.} 0-1

Touch Wood!

Touching wood is generally all part of the game as far as chessplayers are concerned, but with competitive chess having moved online I had better make a special effort to touch some when reporting that Aberystwyth is still doing very well in the Under 1800 section of the Welsh Chess Online League In Round 4 on Tuesday 10th November we played the other leading team, North Cardiff Panthers, who were ahead of us on game points but like us had won every match. I thought I saw a quick win against Callum Smith's Pirc, but had to withdraw in confusion when it didn't work out. After that I had a long defence, tied to a weak pawn, but Black weakened his position trying to break through the solid centre and I regrouped for another unlikely win. Julie van Kemenade didn't manage to get her kingside counterplay going against Ellison Smith's queenside pressure in a Giuoco Piano, having to castle kingside not only slowed her down but left her vulnerable there too, and White overran her position. James Cook uncharacteristically sacrificed a piece early on in his Ruy Lopez against Bence Szakmany; it turned out to have been a mouse slip, but he did the right thing by keeping his pieces active, pushing his passed pawns and seeking to confuse matters, till his opponent lost his way in the complications. Sam Holman, heavily outgraded against Alun Smith, played vigorously in on the Black side of an Alapin Sicilian, and had good chances most of the way through a complex game, before the loss of a pawn allowed White to reach a won ending. A 2-2 draw means that we are still undefeated at the top of the League - touch wood!

[Round "4.1"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Smith, Callum"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1687"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 (3. Bd3 c5 4. dxc5 dxc5 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. h3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O {Cooke-Smith,WCU Online U1800 rd1, 2020,0-1}) 3... g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 b6 {a bit slow} (5... O-O {second most frequent} 6. Bh6 (6. f3 Nbd7 7. Bh6 c5 8. O-O-O {Francis-Spencer, Dyfed League 2011,1-0}) 6... c5 7. Nf3 { Francis-Weston, Dyfed Open 2015,1/2-1/2}) (5... c6 {main line}) 6. f3 {69% for Wh in databases} c5 7. dxc5 (7. Nge2) (7. O-O-O {both 70% for Wh}) 7... bxc5 8. Bc4 (8. e5 $16 {3-0} dxe5 (8... Ng8 9. Qd5) 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. O-O-O+) 8... O-O 9. Bd5 {hoping for gain} (9. Nge2 Nc6 $11) (9. h4 Nc6 $15) 9... Nxd5 10. Qxd5 ( 10. exd5 Re8 $17 {Stockfish12}) 10... Qb6 $19 {and Wh can't take the R} 11. Qb3 Nc6 {Bl has a lead in development & open lines} (11... Be6) 12. Qxb6 (12. Nge2 Qa6 13. Qa4 Rb8 14. Rb1 Nd4 15. Qxa6 Bxa6 16. Kd2 Nxe2 17. Nxe2 Bxb2 $19 { Stockfish12}) 12... axb6 13. Nge2 Nb4 (13... b5 $1 14. Nxb5 (14. Bc1 f5 15. a3 b4 16. Nd5 Ra7 17. O-O e6 18. Ne3 bxa3 19. Rxa3 Rxa3 20. bxa3 Ba6 21. Re1 Nd4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 14... Bxb2 15. Rb1 Rxa2 $19 {Stockfish12}) (13... f5 $19) ( 13... Be6 14. a3 b5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 14. Kd2 Be6 (14... f5 $19 { Stockfish12-Bl needs open lines}) (14... d5 15. exd5 Rd8 16. Bg5 Nxd5 17. Kc1 Nb4 18. a3 Bf5 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Nc6 21. c3 Ra4 22. Ng3 Be5 23. Re1 f6 24. Bd2 b5 25. Kc2 Rda8 $19 {Stockfish12- Wh is under terrible pressure on the Q side}) 15. a3 Nc6 16. Nf4 Ne5 (16... Na5 $19 {Stockfish12} 17. Rab1 (17. b3 Bxb3 18. cxb3 Nxb3+ 19. Kc2 Nxa1+ 20. Rxa1 b5 21. Ra2 Bxc3 22. Kxc3 b4+ 23. Kb3 Rxa3+ 24. Rxa3 bxa3 25. Kxa3 Rb8 $19 {the mass of Bl pawns, (2 extra) keep the two pieces from getting much actovity})) 17. b3 $11 Rfd8 18. Nfd5 Bxd5 19. Nxd5 (19. exd5 $11) 19... Nc6 $17 20. Rad1 (20. Ra2) 20... b5 $19 (20... Rxa3 21. Nxb6 Rb8 22. Nd5 e6 23. Nc3 Na5 $19 24. Rb1 c4 25. Rhc1 f5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 21. Nc7 Rxa3 (21... Ra5 22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Nd5 Rxa3 $19 {Stockfish12}) (21... Rab8 22. Rb1 Rd7 23. Nd5 Ra7 24. a4 bxa4 25. bxa4 Bb2 26. Kd3 Rxa4 $19 {Stockfish12} ) 22. Nxb5 Ra2 (22... Ra5 23. Nc3 Nb4 24. Nd5 Ra2 25. Rc1 e6 26. Nxb4 cxb4 27. Kd3 Rc8 28. Bd2 Bb2 29. Rcd1 Bc3 30. Rc1 h5 $19 {Stockfish12- but this looks less convincing than earlier lines, even though Bl must be far better}) 23. Nc3 Bxc3+ 24. Kxc3 Nb4 (24... Rda8 $17) 25. Rd2 Rc8 $17 26. Rb1 Kf8 (26... f6) 27. Rb2 (27. e5 d5 28. Bxc5 Na6 29. b4 Nxc5 30. bxc5 Rxc5+ 31. Kd3 e6 $17 { Stockfish12}) 27... Rca8 (27... Ra5) 28. Rxa2 (28. e5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 28... Rxa2 29. Bh6+ (29. e5 $16 {Rudy & Stockfish12} Ke8 30. Bf2 f6 (30... Kd7 31. Bxc5 Rxc2+ 32. Rxc2 Nxc2 33. exd6 exd6 34. Bf2 Na3 35. Kb4 Nc2+ 36. Kb5 $16) 31. exd6 exd6 32. Bg3 d5 33. Bf2 d4+ 34. Bxd4 Nd5+ 35. Kc4 cxd4 36. Kxd5 d3 37. Rxd3 Rxc2 38. g4 Kd7 (38... Rxh2 39. Ke6 f5 40. g5 $18) 39. h4 $16 {Stockfish12 }) 29... Ke8 $11 30. Be3 (30. e5 {Stockfish12} Kd7 (30... dxe5 31. Be3 Na6 32. Kc4 Ra5 33. c3 $16) 31. exd6 exd6 32. Bf8 Ra6 $11) 30... f6 $17 31. Bf2 Kf7 32. Be3 e5 $6 {this weakens d6; bl needs to try and open a second front on the K side without ceding the centre} (32... h5 $17) 33. Bf2 (33. f4 $11) (33. g3 $11 ) 33... Ke6 $17 34. Be3 f5 35. Bf2 g5 36. h3 h5 {at one point Stockfish12 thinks this is winning for Bl} 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 fxg4 {lets Wh off the hook as now g5 becomes exposed} (38... f4 $1 $19 {Stockfish12- It restricts the B to inactivity and leaves f3 as a target} 39. Bg1 Ra1 40. Bf2 Rc1 41. Kb2 Rh1 42. c3 Nc6 43. Rd3 Na5 44. b4 (44. Kc2 c4 45. bxc4 Rh2 46. Rd2 Nxc4 47. Re2 Rh3 $19) 44... c4 45. Rd5 Nb3 46. Bb6 Rh2+ 47. Ka3 Nd2 $19 (47... Rd2 $19 { Stockfish12})) 39. fxg4 $11 Ra7 (39... Ra1 40. Kc4 (40. Be3 Re1 41. Bxg5 Rxe4 42. Rg2 Kf7 $15) 40... Rh1 41. c3 Rc1 42. Be3 Re1 43. Bxg5 Rxe4+ 44. Kb5 Rxg4 45. cxb4 Rxg5 46. bxc5 dxc5 47. Kxc5 $11) 40. Be3 Kf6 $2 (40... Rh7 41. Bxg5 Rg7 42. Bh6 Rxg4 43. Bf8 Rxe4 $11 {Stockfish12}) (40... Ra1 41. Bxg5 Re1 42. Rg2 Rxe4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 41. Rf2+ (41. Rxd6+ $1 $18 {Stockfish12 simplest win, both sides getting short of time}) (41. Kc4 Rd7 42. c3 Nc6 43. b4 $18 { Stockfish12}) 41... Kg6 $2 (41... Ke6 {still draws, but its a tricky line of play to find even with plenty of time} 42. Bxg5 Rg7 43. Rf5 Nc6 44. Kc4 (44. Rf6+ Kd7 45. Bh6 Rxg4 46. Bf8 Rf4 47. Rxf4 exf4 48. Bg7 Ne5 49. Kd2 $11 { Komodo14 Endg}) 44... Ne7 45. Bxe7 Rxg4 46. Bxd6 Rxe4+ 47. Kxc5 Kxf5 48. b4 $11 {Stockfish12 & Komodo14 Endg}) 42. Rf5 {this looked as if it should win at the time} Ra2 {this though can be defended against} (42... Ra1 $11 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rf5+ Ke6 45. g5 {other moves also draw} (45. Rf3 Rh1 46. Kd2 Nc6 47. g5 Rh4 48. Ke2 Nd4+ 49. Bxd4 exd4 50. Rg3 Kf7 51. Kd3 Rh2) 45... Nd5+ 46. Kd3 c4+ 47. Kd2 (47. bxc4 Ra3+) 47... cxb3 48. cxb3 Ra2+ 49. Kd3 Rb2 50. Bd2 Rxb3+ 51. Ke2 Nc3+ 52. Bxc3 Rxc3 53. Rf6+ Ke7 $11 {Stockfish12}) 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rf5+ Kg6 ( 44... Ke8 {gives better chances of survival- the K guards d6, while the R gets itself behind the g pawn} 45. Rf2 Ra1 46. g5 Rh1 $16 47. Kd2 (47. Rg2 Rh3 $11) 47... Nc6 48. Rg2 Kf7 49. c3 Ne7 50. Rg3 Rh4 51. Rf3+ Ke8 52. Kd3 Nd5 { Stockfish12- Bl is still fighting}) 45. Rf2 $18 Ra7 46. g5 (46. Rd2) (46. Kc4) 46... Ra2 47. Rh2 Kg7 48. Rg2 Kg6 49. Rh2 Kg7 50. Bc1 (50. Rd2 Kf7 51. g6+ Kg7 52. Bg5 Kxg6 53. Be7 $18 {Stockfish12}) 50... Kg6 {Bl had been surviving on increments for some time now} (50... Nc6 51. Rf2 Nd4 52. Be3 $18 {Stockfish12}) (50... Ra8 51. Kb2 $18 c4 52. bxc4 Rb8 53. Ka3 Nc6 54. Bd2 Nd4 55. Bc3 Ne6 56. Rd2 Nxg5 57. Rxd6 Re8 58. Rd5 Kf6 59. c5 Nxe4 60. Ba5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 51. Rh6+ (51. Rf2 $18) 51... Kg7 52. Bb2 Ra6 (52... d5 $1 $11 {Stockfish12} 53. exd5 Nxd5+ 54. Kc4 Ne3+ 55. Kd3 Ng4 56. Bc3 Nf2+ (56... Nxh6 57. Bxe5+ Kg6 58. gxh6 c4+ 59. bxc4 Kxh6 $11) 57. Kd2 Ne4+ 58. Kd3 Nf2+ $11 {Stockfish12}) 53. Kd2 Ra2 54. Kc1 Ra6 55. Kb1 (55. Rxd6 {simplest- Stockfish12- seen by Rudy}) 55... Rb6 (55... Kf7 56. Bc3 Rc6 57. Kb2 {& Wh still has to find a way past Bl's resistence} Ra6 58. Bd2 Kg7 59. Rf6 Ra2+ 60. Kb1 Ra6 61. Bc3 Kg8 62. g6 Kg7 63. Re6 Rc6 64. Be1 Ra6 65. Bh4 Rc6 66. Be7 d5 67. exd5 Rxe6 68. dxe6 Kxg6 69. Bxc5 $18 {Stockfish12 nudged- in these kind of positions Engines often don't go for the simple kill, but spend ages maximising their advantage by minute amounts.}) 56. Bxe5+ (56. Rxd6 {again works as well}) 56... Kf7 57. Rxd6 Rb7 58. g6+ Kg8 (58... Ke8 59. g7 Rxg7 {is the Engine's last gasp}) 59. Rd8# 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.10"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Smith, Ellison"] [Black "Van Kemenade, Julie"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C53"] [WhiteElo "1714"] [BlackElo "1641"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 (3... Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. d3 h6 7. Bg6 hxg5 8. Bxg5 d6 {Smith-Langmaid,John Bishop minor 2018,0-1}) 4. c3 Bb6 ( 4... Nf6 5. d3 (5. d4 {main lines})) 5. d4 Qe7 6. O-O {main} (6. d5) 6... Nf6 ( 6... d6 7. h3 Nf6 8. Re1 {main}) 7. Bg5 (7. Re1) 7... d6 8. d5 (8. h3 { transposes}) 8... Nd8 {43% for Wh} (8... Nb8 {main, 39% Wh}) 9. Nbd2 h6 10. Bh4 Bg4 (10... g5 {is quite safe} 11. Bg3 {4 draws} (11. Nxg5 $6 hxg5 12. Bxg5 Rg8 13. h4 a6 $19 (13... Rxg5 14. hxg5 Ng4 (14... Nh7 15. Qh5 Nxg5 $17) 15. Nf3 f5 $19 {Stockfish12}))) 11. a4 (11. Bd3 a6 12. h3 Bd7 13. Rc1 g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Bh2 Nf4 $11 {avier Bonifay-Collin, Montreal Pere Noel U1600 op, 2004,0-1}) 11... a5 (11... a6 12. a5 Ba7 13. Be2 Rg8 14. Qa4+ Kf8 15. Kh1 Bd7 (15... g5 $11) 16. Qc2 (16. Bxf6 $18) 16... g6 (16... g5 $11) 17. Ng1 g5 18. Bg3 { Magezi-Notha, Africa ch U20, Lusaka 2005,1-0}) 12. b4 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 (13... h5 14. h3 h4 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 (15... dxe5 16. hxg4 Nxg4 17. bxa5 Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 g4 20. Ng1 $16) 16. hxg4 (16. Nxe5 Bxd1 $19) 16... Qf4 17. e5 Nxg4 18. exd6 h3 19. Qe2+ Kf8 20. bxa5 hxg2 21. Qe7+ Kg7 22. Kxg2 Nf6 23. Qe5 $11 Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Bxa5 $11 {Stockfish12}) (13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 (14. Nxf3 Nxe4) (14. Qxf3 h5 15. bxa5 Rxa5 16. h4 Ng4 17. hxg5 Qxg5 $11) 14... h5 15. h4 Rg8 16. Kh1 Kf8 17. hxg5 Nh7 18. Rg1 Qxg5 19. Be2 Qf6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 14. Be2 (14. Bb5+ Kf8 15. Kh1 Nf4 16. Nc4 Ba7 (16... f6 17. Nxb6 cxb6 18. h3 Bh5 19. Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nf7 21. Bg4 h5 22. Bf5 Kg7 23. Rb1 $16) 17. Nxa5 f5 18. exf5 h5 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Qe2 Nf7 21. Nb3 $18 {Stockfish12}) 14... f6 (14... Ba7 15. Kh1 O-O 16. Ne1 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. bxa5 f5 20. Nd3 Nf7 21. Rab1 $16 { Stockfish12}) (14... Nf4 15. Bxf4 gxf4 16. Kh1 Rg8 17. Nc4 Ba7 18. Nxa5 f5 19. Qd3 h5 20. Nb3 fxe4 21. Qxe4 Qg7 22. g3 Nf7 23. a5 Bh3 24. Qc4 Rc8 25. Nbd2 $16 (25. Rfd1 Bxf2 $19 (25... h4 $19))) 15. Nc4 Nxg3 (15... Ba7 16. Kh1 axb4 17. cxb4 O-O 18. Nfd2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. a5 Nf7 22. Rac1 $16 { Stockfish12}) 16. hxg3 Nf7 (16... Ba7) 17. Qb3 (17. Nxb6 cxb6 18. Nd2 $18 { Stockfish12}) 17... h5 (17... Ba7) 18. bxa5 Ba7 (18... Bc5 $11 {Stockfish12} 19. Qxb7 O-O 20. Qb1 Nh6 21. Qd1 f5 $11) 19. Qxb7 O-O 20. Rab1 Rfb8 {the B was intended to support this move} 21. Qc6 (21. Qxa7 $1 {Stockfish12- rather surprisingly} Rxa7 22. Rxb8+ Kg7 23. Ne3 (23. Rfb1 $18 {its initial idea}) 23... Rxa5 24. Nxg5 Nxg5 25. Bxg4 Qf7 26. Bf5 Rxa4 27. c4 $18) 21... Nd8 (21... Rc8 {preserves the Rs for the open lines to come on the K side.} 22. Qb7 (22. Qb5 h4 23. Nb6 cxb6 24. axb6 hxg3 25. a5 gxf2+ 26. Rxf2 Rxc3 27. Nh2 Rc5 28. Nxg4 Rxb5 29. Bxb5 $18 {Stockfish12- it's the rare human who goes in for variations like this one}) 22... h4 23. gxh4 gxh4 24. Kh1 Ng5 25. Ncd2 h3 $11 { Stockfish12- as so often, spending time taking a b7 pawn with a Q gives the other side K side chances}) 22. Rxb8 {other moves lose for Wh} Rxb8 23. Qa6 Bc5 24. Ncd2 $18 h4 (24... Bc8 25. Qd3 Qh7 26. Nh2 g4 27. Rb1 Ra8 28. Nhf1 $18 { Stockfish12}) 25. gxh4 gxh4 26. Nxh4 Bc8 27. Qd3 Qh7 28. Qg3+ Kf7 (28... Kf8 { may be better} 29. Bb5 $18 (29. Bg4 Qg7 30. Nf5 (30. Bxc8 $2 Qxg3 $19))) 29. Bg4 Qh6 (29... Qg7 30. Bh5+) 30. Ndf3 Ke7 {a quick exit} 31. Bxc8 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800: Aberystwyth - North C"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.10"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Cook, James"] [Black "Szakmany, Bence"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C66"] [WhiteElo "1476"] [BlackElo "1631"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] {[%evp 0,103,19,29,28,25,21,14,13,16,39,-249,-249,-312,-265,-314,-307,-315, -332,-333,-265,-304,-231,-240,-224,-226,-206,-218,-165,-174,-159,-187,-143, -131,-142,-113,-100,-101,-101,-114,-120,-113,-91,-89,-99,-105,-110,-90,-68,-71, -62,-41,-27,-34,-52,-45,-47,-56,2,0,-44,-73,-61,-79,-65,-93,-87,-136,-90,-87, -9,0,0,-36,-36,-36,-18,-39,-39,-62,-65,-64,37,43,4,-58,-79,-80,-53,-113,-107, -138,-92,-108,-95,-125,-121,-121,-122,-119,-66,-100,380,573,29997,29998]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 {Dwain Jones-Szakmany, WCU online U1800 rd1, 2020,0-1}) 3... Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. Nxe5 {mouse slip} dxe5 $19 6. c3 Be7 (6... Nxe4) 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 O-O (9... Nxe4) 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Re1 {too early to resign, may as well see what gives} Re8 12. f3 h6 13. Be3 Bb7 (13... c5 {opens lines for the QB, & offers to swap off a doubled pawn} ) 14. Qb3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 (15. Qxc3) 15... Rb8 16. Qa3 a6 17. Rab1 Qd6 18. Qxd6 cxd6 19. Bf4 Red8 20. Rb6 Nh5 (20... Ba8 21. Rxa6 Rb2 {activates a R}) 21. Bd2 Ba8 22. Reb1 Rxb6 23. Rxb6 Kf8 (23... a5 24. Ra6 Nf6 25. Rxa5 d5 26. e5 Nd7 27. Ra7 c5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 24. Kf2 Ke7 25. Rxa6 $17 {2 pawns for the piece and Bl has 2 pieces on the rim} Rb8 (25... Bb7 26. Ra7 Rd7 $17 {Stockfish12}) 26. Ra7+ {and with the R on the 7th , Stockfish12 rates it as =} Ke6 (26... Bb7 { might be a little better}) 27. Ke3 (27. g4 Nf6 28. a4 $11) 27... Nf6 28. a4 Ne8 (28... d5 29. e5 Ne8 $15 {Stockfish12, halts the advance of the pawns}) 29. a5 Bb7 30. c4 $11 d5 31. Kd3 {threatens Bf4, but Bl gets a bit of activity} (31. Bb4 {activates Wh's dormant B}) 31... dxc4+ 32. Kxc4 Nd6+ 33. Kd3 Bc8 (33... g5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 34. Bf4 Rb7 35. Ra8 Bd7 36. Bxd6 Kxd6 37. a6 Rb3+ 38. Kc4 Ra3 {the Bl R is well-placed; the extra B isn't} 39. Kb4 Ra2 40. a7 (40. h4) 40... Ke7 41. Kc5 Ra6 $17 42. h3 (42. g4 {Stockfish12}) (42. Rg8 {picks up a K side pawn, but as yet it's insufficient}) 42... g5 {Stockfish12, but leaves h6 very vulnerable} 43. g4 Be6 (43... Be8 {Stockfish12 gives as winning, but the followup remains unclear}) 44. Rh8 {has to be tried by Wh sooner or later} Rxa7 45. Kxc6 Bb3 $17 (45... Bc4 $19 {is winning -Stockfish, for some reason better than the text}) 46. d5 Ra6+ 47. Kc7 (47. Kb5 {because it would have prevented this move- the best according to Stockfish12} Rf6 48. Kc5 Rxf3 49. Rxh6 Rf4 50. Rb6 Ba4 51. Rb7+ Bd7 52. Kd4 f6 $19) 47... Bd1 (47... Rd6 {Stockfish12- hanging on to the h6 pawnand leaving the B to harvest the Wh pawns all on its colour} 48. Rh7 Rg6 49. Rh8 {but when it comes to it , Stockfish is very reluctant to move the B away from the centre- in fact just moving the R along the 3rd (while still saying- well, we are a B up after all, so must be winning} ) 48. e5 Ra7+ (48... Bxf3 49. d6+ Ke6 50. Rxh6+ Kxe5 51. d7 Ra7+ 52. Kc8 Ra8+ 53. Kc7 Ra7+ $11 {Stockfish12}) 49. Kb6 $11 Rd7 50. Kc5 $11 Bxf3 $2 {Bl needs to settle for a draw} 51. d6+ Ke6 (51... Rxd6 52. exd6+ Kd7 53. Rf8 $18) 52. Re8+ 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.10"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Smith, Alun"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "1651"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "127"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,127,19,38,72,6,6,-26,-22,-12,19,19,41,69,192,1,33,-11,27,17,20,1,0,0, 0,11,-13,0,-12,-18,21,-9,69,68,67,67,61,54,22,-19,12,-9,-1,13,14,2,7,-30,9,-62, -49,-65,-12,-55,-36,-41,-20,-31,-19,-12,27,41,38,41,100,89,181,114,109,32,261, 166,225,204,530,526,539,602,802,842,1400,548,671,164,186,179,217,238,239,241, 248,237,262,271,280,220,280,184,217,213,197,237,242,252,311,266,274,311,320, 325,325,325,384,409,411,427,451,466,591,536,656,801,986,1016,986,1127,1659, 1698,1698,1747]} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 (4... Nf6) (4... Nc6) (4... e6) 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be3 (6. Na3 {main}) 6... c4 $146 {risky as the pawn will need constant support} (6... cxd4 {main}) 7. Qa4+ {This however helps Bl considerably} (7. Nbd2 b5 8. b3 cxb3 9. Qxb3 Qxb3 10. axb3 $18) 7... b5 8. Qc2 Nd7 (8... Bf5 $11) 9. Be2 Nh6 (9... Ngf6) 10. O-O (10. a4) 10... Nf5 11. Bf4 O-O (11... Bb7 $11) 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. a4 a6 14. Rfe1 Rfe8 {ok, but a little slow } (14... e5 {Rudy & Stockfish12} 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxc4 Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 bxc4 19. Qe4 Qd6+ 20. Qe5 Qb6 $11) 15. Bf1 Bh6 (15... Nb6) (15... e5 { look simpler}) 16. Bxh6 Nxh6 17. axb5 (17. Ne5) 17... axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Ne4 (19. b3 cxb3 $11) 19... Ng4 20. h3 Ngf6 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Re5 Qd7 $11 { Bl has some K side chances with the a8 B} 23. Be2 (23. Nd2) 23... Nd5 (23... Bd5 $15) 24. Bd1 f6 25. Re1 Kg7 (25... Nf4 $17 {a perfect square for a N}) 26. Nd2 (26. Qd2 Qd6 27. g3 Qc6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 26... Nf4 $17 27. Bf3 Nd3 (27... Bxf3 28. Nxf3 Ra8 $17 {Stockfish12}) 28. Ra1 Bc6 29. b3 e5 {risky now} (29... Nf4 $11) 30. bxc4 bxc4 31. Nxc4 {finally winning the adventurous pawn} e4 ( 31... Nf4 $11 {the N belongs here}) 32. Be2 $18 {Bl has just insufficient compensation for the pawn} Qf5 (32... Bb5 33. Ne3 f5 34. Ra5 $18 {stockfish12}) 33. Bg4 (33. Ra7+ $1 Kh8 34. Bf1 $18 {Stockfish12}) 33... Qg5 (33... Qf4) 34. Qd2 (34. Ra7+ Kf8 35. Ne3 f5 36. Qb3 Re7 37. Qb8+ Be8 38. Rxe7 Qxe7 39. Be2 $18 {Wh always has the extra c pawn to win the ending, when Bl's attacking chances cease}) 34... Qd5 (34... Qxd2 {swapping Qs is now Bl's best chance} 35. Nxd2 f5 36. Be2 Nf4 37. Bf1 e3 38. fxe3 Rxe3 39. c4 Bxg2 {would be enough to hold the draw}) 35. Ne3 $18 {Wh consolidates with this move} Qb5 36. Ra7+ (36. c4) 36... Kh8 (36... Bb7) 37. Qa2 {now it's the Bl K under attack} Rf8 38. Qa3 Re8 39. Qd6 Qb1+ 40. Kh2 (40. Nf1) 40... Qb8 41. Qxb8 (41. Rc7 $18 {Stockfish12}) 41... Rxb8 42. Ra6 (42. d5) (42. Rc7) 42... f5 (42... Be8 43. Rxf6 {leaves Bl with little to play for}) 43. Rxc6 fxg4 44. Nxg4 Rf8 45. Re6 h5 46. Nf6 Nxf2 47. Nxe4 {the two connected Q side pawns win} Kg7 48. Nxf2 Rxf2 49. c4 Rc2 50. c5 Kf7 51. Rd6 g5 52. c6 Ke7 53. Rd7+ (53. Rh6) 53... Ke8 54. d5 Rc5 55. Kg3 Rc3+ 56. Kf2 Rc2+ 57. Kf3 Rc3+ 58. Ke4 Rc4+ 59. Kf5 (59. Ke5) 59... g4 60. hxg4 (60. Ke6) 60... hxg4 61. Rg7 Kd8 62. Ke6 Re4+ 63. Kd6 Ke8 64. c7 1-0

Another Online League

With the Welsh Chess Online League having made a successful start, Aber is now involved in another such contest, the online version of the Dyfed League. Time limits and rules are the same, as for the national competition. Our first match, on Tuesday 3rd November, was against old rivals Cardigan, who as usual fielded a strong team, though sadly missing Dyfed League Director Iolo Jones, who is ill. On top board Rudy van Kemenade's King's Indian Attack against Howard Williams's Sicilian led to a sharp position with both kings exposed. Howard declined Rudy's pawn sacrifice, wisely as it turned out, and the complications eventually ended in a draw. (This game has now been updated to include Rudy's latest annotations.) My Dutch worked out well against Ben Brewer, whose premature attack left him behind in development, and the game ended abruptly when he missed a tactic that lost him his queen. Julie van Kemenade's Veresov left her position rather congested against R. Gareth Williams, and his minor pieces, two collaborating bishops and a well supported knight, were powerfully posted, leading to a win of material and a decisive attack. Tom Gunn's early retreat of his pinning bishop in a Nimzo-Indian seemed a passive approach, and his position, too, looked cramped, but he maintained equality till quite late in the game, when the weak squares around his king allowed Joshua Brewer to break through with a kingside attack. 2½-1½ is not a bad first result for Aber, considering we were outgraded on every board.

[Event "Dyfed L Online: Aberystwyth-Cardigan"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A08"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "2340"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,72,19,38,40,41,41,18,32,6,-16,2,2,5,16,0,-10,-5,-4,-23,-21,-33,-62, -31,-21,-21,-7,-23,-23,-66,-66,-66,-41,-74,-105,-121,-88,-64,-44,-47,-47,-47, -23,-19,36,-30,-30,-1,53,4,52,27,39,22,17,17,21,9,3,0,-17,-46,-36,-40,50,-41, -8,-29,-25,-23,-23,-16,-30,-30,-30]} 1. e4 {Barcud9} c5 {Efnisien2} 2. Nf3 e6 { B40 Sicilian Defense: French Variation} 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 (4... g6 5. Bg5 { Gawain Jones} Qc7 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. c3 e5 8. O-O d6 9. Na3 Be6 10. d4 {Van Kemenade-Williams, Dyfed League 2018,0-1; Wh got a good position, but failed to find the tactics the Engines located.}) 5. Qe2 (5. Nbd2 {main}) 5... Nge7 ( 5... Nf6) 6. Bg2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. c3 (8. e5 {alternative}) 8... b6 (8... O-O { main}) 9. a4 {attempts to get a N to b5, but is a little slow- Gawain Jones 2011 prefers, in comparable positions} (9. Na3) (9. e5 {main}) (9. Re1 {next}) 9... Ba6 (9... h6 10. Na3 O-O 11. e5 a6 12. h4 Rb8 13. Bf4 {Djukic-Jovicevic, YUG ch , Nis 1996, draw agreed}) (9... d4 10. cxd4 cxd4 11. Na3 O-O 12. Bd2 a5 13. Rfc1 e5 14. Nc4 Rb8 {Abrahams-Merriman,Lonon Classic op 2015,0-1}) 10. e5 h6 (10... d4 11. c4 Bb7 12. Na3 h6 13. Nb5 {Fedorov-Mahjoob, Dubai op 2004,1-0} ) 11. h4 Qd7 (11... Qc7 {is where this Q normally goes to} 12. Re1 {transposes to 25 games; eg} g5 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15. Na3 Ncxe5 16. Nb5 Qd7 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Qf3 f6 19. Rxe5 {Sjugirov-Mista, World Open ICC, aug 2020,1-0}) 12. Bf4 (12. Nbd2 g5 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Nxg5 Nxe5 15. c4 Bb7 16. Ndf3 Nxf3+ 17. Nxf3 Nc6 18. Bf4 O-O-O $19 19. a5 bxa5 $11 {Horvath-Kiss,Koszeg IM 1996,1-0} ( 19... e5 $19)) (12. Na3 {both moves considered by Wh} Na5 13. Qd1 c4 14. dxc4 Nxc4 15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Re1 Nc6 17. b3 Ba6 18. Ba3 $18 {Kristiansen-Kalegin, EU ch Seniors 65+ Rhodes 2019,1-0}) 12... g5 13. hxg5 Ng6 14. Re1 (14. Nbd2 $11) ( 14. a5 $11 {both Stockfish12}) 14... hxg5 (14... Nxf4 15. gxf4 hxg5 16. fxg5 O-O-O $11 {Stockfish12}) 15. Bxg5 Ngxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. c4 (17. Rd1 $11 { Stockfish12}) 17... Bb7 (17... dxc4 {Stockfish12- Wh was concerned this might work for Bl} 18. Bxa8 Bb7 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qe4 Nf3+ 21. Kf1 Qxe4 22. Rxe4 Nxg5 23. Rh4 cxd3 24. Nd2 O-O 25. Rd1 $11 {Stockfish12- not that it is level, but that both sides have chances}) 18. Nc3 {after a pause for thought- at this stage Wh was about 25 minutes ahead on time} (18. f4 {looked promising, but worries about exposing the Wh K rather than the Bl K.} Nc6 (18... Nxd3 { is the Stockfish12 refutation} 19. Qxd3 Bd4+ 20. Kf1 dxc4 21. Qc2 Rh2 {and Wh is in terrible trouble} 22. Re2 Bxg2+ 23. Rxg2 Rh1+ 24. Ke2 Qc6 {and the Wh position falls apart#}) 19. cxd5 Nd4 20. Qe4 Nc2 {and this looked unclear.} 21. Nc3 (21. dxe6 {turns out to be no threat as taking with the pawn, threats against d7 & b7, releases a square for the Q to escape.} Qd4+ $19) 21... Nxa1 22. Rxa1 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Qxd5 $19 {there is not enough for the exchange}) 18... dxc4 19. dxc4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc6+ 21. Qe4 O-O (21... Qxe4+ 22. Rxe4 (22. Nxe4 { looked at by Bl} Nxc4 23. Rab1 (23. Nf6+ Ke7 $15 {given by Howard's older Fritz } (23... Bxf6 24. Bxf6 Rh6 25. Rh1 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Kd7 $17 {Stockfish12})) 23... Bd4 24. b3 $11) 22... O-O $11 (22... Rh5 23. f4 Ng4 24. Kf3 Rh2 25. Re2 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Rxe2 27. Kxe2 f5 28. Rd1 $11 {Stockfish12})) 22. f4 $16 (22. Rh1 { interesting, but} Qxe4+ 23. Nxe4 f6 24. Bd2 Nxc4 25. Bc3 Rad8 26. a5 $11 { Stockfish12}) 22... Qxe4+ 23. Nxe4 Ng4 (23... Nxc4 {expected by some spectators } 24. Rac1 $1 {Stockfish12} (24. Nf6+ {intended by Wh and avoided by Bl} Bxf6 25. Bxf6 Kh7 26. g4 Kg6 27. g5 {and now Stockfish12 claims that Bl must return the exchange} Rad8 $11) 24... Na5 25. Nf6+ Bxf6 26. Bxf6 Kh7 27. Re5 {the reason for driving the N away} (27. g4 Kg6 28. g5 Nc6 (28... Rad8 29. Bxd8 Rxd8 30. Rh1 $16) 29. Kg3 Rae8 30. Kg4 Ne7 31. Rh1 Ng8 32. Bc3 Rd8 33. Rh5 Rd3 34. Rch1 f5+ 35. Kh4 Rf3 36. Be5 Rd8 $11 {Stockfish12- looks a logical sequence}) 27... Kg6 28. Be7 f6 29. Rxe6 Rf7 30. Rce1 $16) (23... Nd3 {worried Wh a little when we got to this position, but then} 24. Re3 Nb4 25. Nf6+ Bxf6 26. Bxf6 Kh7 27. Re5 Kg6 28. Be7 f6 29. Rxe6 Nc2 30. Rh1 Kf5 31. Rd6 $16 { Stockfish12- Bl seems to survive the worst}) 24. Re2 (24. Kf3 {looked at} Nh2+ 25. Kg2 Ng4 {repetition}) (24. Kh3 $1 $18 {Stockfish12} Nh6 (24... f5 25. Nd6 $18 {either e6 or an exchange goes}) (24... Bxb2 25. Ra2 Bd4 26. Rae2 (26. Kxg4 f5+ 27. Kf3 fxe4+ 28. Rxe4 Kf7 29. Rae2 $16) 26... Rae8 27. Nd6 Nf2+ 28. Kg2 $18) 25. Nf6+ Bxf6 (25... Kh8 26. Rad1 Ng8 27. Nd7 Rfc8 28. Ne5 Bxe5 29. fxe5 Kg7 30. Re4 {Stockfish12- the Bl pieces have been driven into passivity}) 26. Bxf6 Kh7 27. g4 Kg6 28. Bc3 (28. g5 Ng8 29. Bc3 Rad8 $14 {is less clear}) 28... Rad8 29. Rad1 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 f5 31. g5 Nf7 32. Rd7 $18 {Stockfish12} e5 33. Bxe5 Nxe5 34. Rd6+ (34. fxe5 Kxg5 $11) 34... Kg7 35. fxe5 Re8 36. Kg3 Rxe5 37. Kf4 Re2 38. Kxf5 Rf2+ 39. Ke5 Rxb2 40. Rd7+ Kg6 41. Rxa7 Kxg5 42. a5 $18 {leads to a R P ending where the Bl K is cut off from the Q side}) 24... f6 25. Bh4 (25. Kf3 fxg5 26. Kxg4 gxf4 27. gxf4 Bh6 28. Ng5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 25... Rad8 26. a5 (26. Kh3 Nh6 27. a5 Nf5 28. axb6 axb6 29. Ra6 Nd4 30. Rg2 Rb8 31. g4 $14 { Stockfish12}) 26... Rd3 (26... Rd4 $11) 27. axb6 (27. Ra3) 27... axb6 28. Nf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 e5 (29... f5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 30. f5 {Stockfish12} (30. fxe5 fxe5+ 31. Kg2 $11) 30... Rfd8 31. Ra6 Rb3 (31... R8d4 32. Rxb6 Rxc4 33. Rb8+ Kh7 34. Rb7 Kh6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 32. Ra7 (32. Rxe5 {worth a try?} Rxb2+ ( 32... fxe5 33. Bxd8 e4 34. Rxb6 $18) 33. Kf3 Rd3+ 34. Re3 Rxe3+ 35. Kxe3 Rc2 $11 {Stockfish12}) 32... Rd4 33. Ra8+ Kf7 (33... Kh7 34. Ra7 Kh6 35. Rc2 $11) 34. Ra7+ Kg8 35. Ra8+ Kf7 36. Ra7+ Kg8 {Normal The game is a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A85"] [WhiteElo "1679"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "34"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Cardigan"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] 1. d4 e6 (1... f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 {Brewer-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2019,0-1} (5. Qc2 {Brewere-O Davies,Dyfed League 2020,0-1})) 2. c4 (2. Nf3 f5 3. Bg5 Nf6 4. Nbd2 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e4 d6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. e5 Qf7 { Pinch-Francis, WCU Online 2020,0-1 after complications}) 2... f5 3. Nc3 (3. Nh3 Nf6 4. f3 d5 {Miller-Francis, Dyfed League 2014,1-0}) (3. g3 {main} Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rb1 Nbd7 {T Brown-Francis, Dyfed Open 2017,1/2-1/2}) 3... Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4 {main} (4... d5 {alternative}) 5. Bd2 O-O 6. d5 $5 {often a good move against a Queen's Indian, even when sacrificing a pawn } (6. e3) (6. g3 {main lines}) 6... d6 7. Ng5 $6 {but now Bl gets a solid centre} (7. dxe6 {only move played here} Bxe6 8. Nd4 (8. e3 {Stockfish12-1/2-1/ 2}) 8... Bd7 {0-1} (8... Bxc4 {0-1})) 7... e5 $17 (7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 (8. bxc3 e5 $19) 8... Nxd5 9. cxd5 Qxg5 $17 {Stockfish12}) 8. Qb3 {The Q gets a bit displaced here} (8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 h6 10. Nf3 Ne4 $17 {Stockfish12}) 8... Bxc3 (8... a5 9. g3 Na6 $19 {Stockfish12}) 9. Qxc3 c6 10. O-O-O $2 {dangerous as Bl can open a file against the Q & K on there, & can get his pices into action quickly, while the Wh K side sleeps} (10. e3) 10... cxd5 $19 11. cxd5 Ng4 ( 11... Na6 $1 12. Kb1 Nc5 13. f3 h6 14. Ne6 (14. Nh3 Nxd5 $19) 14... Nxe6 15. dxe6 Bxe6 $19 {Stockfish12}) 12. Nh3 Na6 13. f3 Nf6 14. Bg5 Bd7 (14... f4 { even more incisive} 15. Kb1 h6 16. Bxf6 Bf5+ 17. Ka1 Qxf6 18. g4 Rac8 19. Qa3 Bh7 $19 {Stockfish12- all the Bl pieces co-operate; the Wh ones are scattered about}) 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Qa3 f4 (16... Qc7 17. Qb3 Nc5 18. Qc3 Qb6 19. Be3 Ba4 20. Rc1 Nxd5 {Stockfish12- when an Engine resorts to making unusua;l moves , it mostly means the position is very bad}) 17. Qxd6 $2 {grabbing pawns when behind in development is usually fatal, even if there is no immediate nemesis} (17. e4 {Wh badly needs to get his K side moving} fxe3 (17... Nc5 18. Bh4 Ba4 19. Rc1 Nfxe4 $1 20. Be1 (20. Bxd8 Nd2+ 21. Ka1 Ncb3+ $19) 20... Bd7 21. fxe4 Nxe4 22. Rd1 Bg4 23. Bd3 Nc5 24. Bc2 Bxd1 25. Bxd1 e4 $17) 18. Bxe3 Bf5+ 19. Ka1 h6 $17 {Stockfish12}) 17... Bf5+ 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Van Kemenade, Julie"] [Black "Williams, R Gareth"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D01"] [WhiteElo "1641"] [BlackElo "1643"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Cardigan"] {[%evp 0,74,24,20,60,60,54,26,26,-18,-27,-36,-23,-17,-12,-14,-14,-14,-14,-12, -10,-10,22,-5,1,3,3,-28,2,-33,-39,-59,-32,-40,-43,-59,-59,-60,-60,-70,-49,-70, -57,-64,-44,-71,-64,-104,247,22,23,-129,-131,-178,-153,-143,-81,-123,41,-177, -142,-187,-140,-228,-257,-281,-281,-294,-288,-291,-274,-893,-929,-29979,-29982, -29983,-2451]} 1. d4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 (3. e4 {transposes to a CaroKann}) 3... Nf6 {Now it's a Veresov} (3... Bf5) (3... h6) 4. f3 (4. e3) (4. Bxf6) (4. Qd3) (4. Nf3 {also played}) 4... h6 (4... Bf5 {main}) 5. Bh4 Qb6 (5... Bf5) 6. Qd2 Bf5 (6... Qxb2 {2.5-1.5}) 7. Na4 (7. e4 {Stockfish12} dxe4 8. fxe4 (8. Bxf6 $11) 8... Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. c3 {Muzzi-Strayer, Dos Hermanas Internet blitz 2004,0-1}) (7. O-O-O Nbd7 {4.5-0.5 eg} 8. g4 Bh7 9. e3 e5 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Bb4 {Derjabin-Remizov,RUS ch tm rapid, 2018,1-0}) 7... Qd8 8. e3 e6 9. g4 Bg6 10. Ne2 (10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. cxd3 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Nge2 O-O 14. O-O b5 $15 { Stockfish12}) 10... a5 11. a3 (11. Nf4 Bh7 12. Bg3 Bb4 13. Nc3 Nbd7 14. a3 Bd6 15. h4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 11... b5 12. Nac3 Nbd7 $17 {Wh is now deterred from 0-0-0} 13. Bg2 Be7 (13... Ne4 14. Bxd8 Nxd2 15. Kxd2 Kxd8 $17 {Stockfish12- Bl's Q side pawn advance will be more effective than Wh's possibilities on the K side; but this is very much an Engine choice} (15... Rxd8 $17)) 14. Bxf6 $6 { giving Bl a lot of bl-squared pressure} (14. Bg3) 14... Bxf6 $17 {Stockfish12 is hovering between this and winning for Bl} 15. Ng3 Bh4 {Why move the B from a most effective square? It does prevent h4 by Wh, but that will not be possible for quite a while} (15... Nb6 16. b3 Qe7 $19 {Stockfish12}) 16. Nce2 Nb6 17. b3 O-O 18. O-O a4 19. e4 (19. f4 {this looks a better chance for Wh} Rc8 20. f5 Bh7 21. e4 Bg5 22. Qd3 Re8 23. Rae1 $19 {Stockfish12 still holds onto the latent power of the 2 Bs, but to a human eye Wh has gained some counterplay}) 19... axb3 (19... dxe4 20. Nxe4 (20. fxe4 c5 $19) 20... Qe7 21. Kh1 Rfd8 $19 {the Bl pieces control more possible open lines; the Wh ones lack co-ordination}) 20. cxb3 Be7 21. Qb2 (21. e5 {when in a bad position, create chaos-is Speelman's advice} Bxa3 22. f4 c5 23. f5 Bh7 24. Nf4 {and it's an Advanced variation of the CaroKann, where Wh frequently goes for a sacrificial attack. After a bit of time to reflect Stockfish12 goes to equal; not that it is level, but that both sides have chances}) 21... Rc8 (21... dxe4 22. fxe4 c5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 22. Rfc1 c5 23. dxc5 (23. e5 $5) 23... Rc7 {a mouse slip} 24. b4 {Wh had expected the pawn to be retaken, but, surprised , failed to notice the full implication} (24. cxb6 $18) 24... Nc4 $17 25. Qc3 (25. Qb3) ( 25. Rxc4 {was considered by Wh, but Stockfish12 doesn't think that there is enough compensation( Wh has several pieces on the K side sitting idly by)} dxc4 26. Rf1 Rd7 27. f4 Rd2 28. Qc3 Bh4 {and Bl controls the centre- the c pawn is unable to move, so not an asset at this stage of the game}) 25... Bf6 $19 ( 25... dxe4) 26. Qe1 (26. e5 Bxe5 27. Nd4 {saves the exchange, but Stockfish12 continues} Qh4 $19) 26... Bxa1 27. Rxa1 Ra7 (27... dxe4) 28. Qc3 Qf6 $2 { but this move throws everything open again} (28... dxe4 $19) 29. Qc1 {an exchange down, Wh tries to keep something for a K side attack. However} (29. Qxf6 $1 gxf6 30. exd5 exd5 31. f4 Bd3 32. Nc3 Ne3 33. Bxd5 Nxd5 34. Nxd5 $18 { Stockfish12- Bl has problems with his K side against the 2 Ns while the protected passed c pawn is now another asset that will keep a Bl R within bounds}) 29... Rfa8 (29... d4) 30. exd5 exd5 31. f4 Rxa3 {now the Rs sweep in} 32. Rxa3 Rxa3 33. g5 hxg5 34. fxg5 Qe5 35. Qd1 Ra1 36. Nc1 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 Rxc1 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Brewer, Joshua"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "1481"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Cardigan"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,53,39,31,31,-13,-28,-29,-16,4,33,16,43,6,29,38,41,31,43,39,61,68,72, 63,63,51,90,88,88,60,119,9,-16,-41,111,86,81,75,82,82,79,88,327,334,468,500, 670,771,740,782,782,782,969,986,986,756]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 O-O 5. a3 Be7 {playable , the line with 4 Bd2 is a bit passive for Wh, who gets 41% from this position} (5... Bxc3 6. Bxc3 Ne4 {30% for Wh} 7. Qc2 Nxc3 ( 7... f5) 8. Qxc3 b6 {28% for Wh, Brewer-Paffard, Dyfed League 2019,0-1}) 6. e4 d6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 (7... b6 {transposes to 13 games, where Wh manages a slight edge }) 8. Bd3 (8. Bf4 {0-3}) 8... c5 {Stockfish12} (8... e5 9. d5 Nc5 10. Be3 b6 11. b4 Ncd7 12. O-O Bb7 13. b5 Nc5 14. Qc2 {Filios-Peppas, Christmas op Greece 2003,1/2-1/2}) 9. d5 e5 {transposes to a Czech Benoni structure, where Wh has more space, though Bl has a solid defensive wall.} (9... exd5 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. O-O Bf6 12. Bc2 Nge5 {Bl has a bit more activity with the staticWh centre pawns. A similar line of play can be found in Haigh-J Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2019,0-1. Here, an attempt to regain control over e5 with an f4, leads to K side fragility on the Bl squares, especially since the Wh F3 N needs to remove itself from there.}) 10. O-O a6 11. b4 (11. h3 Rb8 12. Re1 Nh5 13. Bf1 Nb6 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qxh5 {Tenninger-Petrov, Niedersachsen ch, Verden 2009, 1-0; it shows Bl trying to get some activity but failing}) 11... b6 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Nh4 {Wh's position is easier to play} g6 14. f4 $6 {but this opens the bl squares for Bl to exploit as in the Haigh-Van Kemenade game cited above, where Wh also played f4 against the Czech Benoni setup, though with a N on d2 rather than h4 (where it is hanging)} (14. Nf3 $16) 14... Nh5 (14... exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne5 16. Nf3 cxb4 17. axb4 Bg4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 15. g3 (15. Nf5 $1 {Stockfish12-a little tactic exploiting a 'hanging' Bl N} Bf6 16. Nh6+ Kh8 17. f5 $16 { and now Wh has got to the K side without ceding e5}) 15... Bxh4 16. gxh4 Ndf6 $6 (16... Nxf4 $17 {Bl needs to get rid of Wh's bl square B & gain e5 or else keep a pawn ifand a dangerous N near the Wh K is it doesn't it doesnt take}) 17. f5 (17. fxe5 dxe5 {looks even stronger- Wh gets an open f file, & still blocks the e5 square.} 18. Bg5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 17... Bd7 (17... cxb4 18. axb4 b5 19. Be2 Nf4 {Stockfish12- Bl must try and open some lines before all the action switches to his K side where Wh is superior.}) 18. Rf2 (18. Kh1 { Stockfish12-clears the g file for all the major pieces}) 18... Kh8 (18... b5 $11 {Wh has to distracted fom a slow buildup on the K side}) 19. Be2 Rg8 (19... Nf4 $11) (19... gxf5 20. Bxh5 f4 21. Kh1 Rg8 22. Bf3 cxb4 23. Rxb4 Bg4 $14 { not to everybody's taste, but 'creating chaos' Speelman cf also J Van Kemenade-R G Williams, same round.}) 20. Kh1 Ng7 $2 (20... Nf4 $11 {Engines are consistent}) 21. fxg6 $18 {and the Bl position falls apart} Qd8 22. Bg5 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qc7 24. gxh7 (24. gxf7 {also}) ({&} 24. Rxf7) 24... Rgf8 25. Bf6 Kxh7 26. Ng5+ Kg8 27. Qg1 1-0