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