Touch Wood

Chess-players should know all about touching wood, but I have been guilty of hubris in my last couple of posts and omitted the usual supernatural prophylaxis. The crunch match of the early part of the season for Aberystwyth, as so often in the Dyfed League, was against Cardigan A, at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes, on Monday 12th November, and, though we arrived feeling competitive, it did not end well for the club. On top board, Rudy van Kemenade played a sharp variation against Howard Williams's Sicilian and went on to open the centre on the principle that Black hadn't castled yet. It turns out that there was a winning line for him in the complications that ensued, but it was very hard to see, and he came out of them an exchange down, a deficit from which he was unable to recover. Adam Watkin-Jones was bamboozled by Iolo Jones's hypnotic manoeuvres in an English Opening, and allowed White a grip on d6, after which he, too, lost the exchange and the game. Against Tony Haigh, I found myself playing the White side of a French MacCutcheon, for only the second time in a rated game. Afterwards we both discovered that we only knew the theory as far as move 8. I cautiously exchanged out of danger, arriving at a knight-versus-bad-bishop endgame, which, according to Rudy's analysis, was winnable, but I could only find a draw. Finally, James Cook, after his good start to the season, had the worst of a Bogo-Indian against the rapidly improving Ben Brewer, dropping a pawn and allowing White's passed pawn to advance deep into his position for the win. Cardigan A's 3½-½ victory means they are now clear leaders of the League.

The club championship continued next day with a game between me and Sam Holman. Emerging from an O'Kelly Sicilian with a dangerous looking central passed pawn, Sam daringly sacrificed the exchange to foil my attempt to force a draw by repetition. In the difficult ending that resulted I failed to find the best defence and lost a tense and interesting game.

[Event "Dyfed League:Cardigan-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "2030"] [BlackElo "2324"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2018.11.13"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg5 {a move championed by Gawain Jones, played by Morozovich, Glek & McShane} (5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nge7 7. c3 { main}) 5... Qc7 (5... Qb6 6. Nbd2 (6. Qc1 Bg7 7. c3 h6 8. Be3 d5 9. exd5 (9. Nbd2) 9... exd5 10. Bg2 Nge7 11. Nbd2 Nf5 12. Nb3 d4 13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Bd2 O-O 15. O-O {Glek-Triapishko,RUS ch tm rapid, Sochi 2015,1-0}) 6... Qxb2 {eg} 7. Nc4 Qg7 8. Rb1 d6 9. Bg2 Be7 10. e5 {G Jones-Snape, BCF ch, Scarborough 2001, 1-0}) 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. c3 e5 (7... Nge7 {main} 8. O-O d5 9. Na3 O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. exd5 Nxd5 12. Bd2 b6 13. Qc1 Kh7 14. Re4 f6 15. d4 {Glek-Short, Cap D'Agde rapid 1996,1-0}) 8. O-O d6 (8... Nge7 9. Na3 O-O 10. d4 d6 (10... cxd4 11. cxd4 exd4 12. Rc1 Qd8 13. Nb5 $11 {Libiszewski-Karr, FRA ch , Meribel 1998, 0-1}) 11. Nb5 Qd7 12. dxc5 dxc5 13. Qe2 b6 14. Rfd1 Qb7 15. Nd6 Qa6 16. Qc2 $18 { Zakic-Vratonjic, YUG ch, NIs 1998,1-0}) 9. Na3 Be6 10. d4 {Wh felt that with the K in the middle, the game needed to be opened up} exd4 (10... cxd4 { Cloud Engines} 11. cxd4 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 exd4 13. Qd3 (13. f4 $16 {Stockfish8 & Komodo12}) 13... a6 14. Rac1 Qd7 15. f4 Ne7 16. f5 gxf5 17. exf5 Nxf5 18. Nc4 Bxc4 (18... O-O 19. Nb6 Qb5 20. Qxb5 axb5 21. Nxa8 Rxa8 22. Bxb7 Ra7 23. Be4 Ne3 24. Rfe1 Rxa2 $14 {Komodo121}) 19. Rxc4 Ne3 20. Bxe3 dxe3 21. Qxe3+ Qe6 22. Qd3 O-O 23. Rh4 {Ansell-Nandhidhaa, London Classic Open2011,1-0}) 11. Nb5 { choice of Komodo12} Qd7 (11... Qb6 12. Nxd6+ Kf8 $16 {Komodo12} (12... Kd7 13. cxd4 (13. Bf4 $18) 13... cxd4 14. e5 $18 {considered by Wh & pm analtsis} (14. Bf4 $18 {Komodo12}))) 12. cxd4 $16 (12. Bf4 Be5 13. cxd4 cxd4 14. Nfxd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bxf4 16. gxf4 Nf6 17. Nxe6 (17. Qe2 O-O 18. f5 $16 {Komodo12}) 17... fxe6 18. e5 Nh5 (18... dxe5 19. fxe5 Nd5 20. Qf3 O-O-O $14 {Komodo12}) 19. Qxd6 Nxf4 (19... Qxd6 20. exd6 Nxf4 21. Be4 Kd7 $11 {Komodo12}) 20. Qxd7+ Kxd7 21. Rfd1+ Ke7 22. Bxb7 Rad8 $11 {Horvath-Almasi, HUN ch tm, 2010,0-1}) 12... Bc4 { missed by Wh in earlier calculations, but Komodo12 finds the justification for Wh's decision to open up the game} (12... a6 {best try, Komodo12} 13. Nxd6+ Qxd6 14. d5 Bd7 15. dxc6 Qxd1 16. Rfxd1 Bxc6 17. e5 $16) 13. d5 (13. Bh3 $1 $16 {Komodo12- not seen in pm analysis either} Qxh3 (13... f5 14. exf5 $1 $18 Bxb5 (14... Bxf1 15. Qxf1 $18 Bf6 16. fxg6 Qg7 17. dxc5 $18 (17. gxh7 $18) (17. Re1+ Kf8 18. Bf4 $18)) (14... Nf6 15. Re1+ Kf8 16. Na3 Bd5 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Ne5 Nxe5 19. Rxe5 Rd8 20. Qe2 $18 {Komodo12}) 15. f6 Qc7 16. fxg7 Qxg7 17. Re1+ Nce7 18. Qb3 a6 19. dxc5 dxc5 20. a4 Bc6 21. Ne5 $18 {Komodo12}) (13... Be6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. dxc5 dxc5 16. Nd6+ Kf8 17. Rc1 $18 {Komodo12}) 14. Nxd6+ Kf8 15. Nxc4 Bxd4 (15... Nxd4 16. e5 $18) 16. Nd6 Qd7 17. Bf4 $16 {Komodo12}) (13. a4 Bxb5 (13... Bxf1 14. Qxf1 Nxd4 (14... a6 15. Bh3 $18) 15. Nfxd4 Bxd4 16. Rd1 Be5 17. f4 Bd4+ 18. Nxd4 cxd4 19. Rxd4 $14 {Komodo12}) 14. axb5 Nxd4 15. b6 ( 15. Be3 Nxb5 16. e5 $14) 15... a6 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Qd2 Ne7 (17... Bg7 18. e5 $16) 18. Bh6 $11 {Komodo12}) 13... Ne5 (13... Bxb5 14. dxc6 Bxc6 15. Bf4 $11 { Komodo12}) 14. Nxe5 Bxe5 15. Nc3 (15. Na3 {pm analysis & slightly preferred by Komodo12, a bit easier to play for Wh} Bxf1 16. Bxf1 a6 (16... Kf8 $11 { Komodo12}) 17. Nc4 Rb8 18. Be3 (18. Nxe5 dxe5 19. Rc1 $16 {Komodo12- pm analysis} (19. d6 f6 (19... h6 20. Qd5 hxg5 21. Qxe5+ Kf8 22. Qxh8 Qxd6 $14 { Komodo12}) 20. Be3 Rc8 21. Rc1 $16 {Komodo12}))) 15... Bxf1 16. Bxf1 (16. Qxf1 {looks to be better} h6 17. Be3 Nf6 18. Re1 Kf8 19. f4 Bxc3 20. bxc3 Re8 21. e5 Ng4 22. Bc1 h5 23. c4 $11 {Komodo12}) 16... a6 $15 17. a4 (17. Na4 Qc7 { gets nowhere}) (17. Qe2 h6 18. Be3 Nf6 19. Bg2 b5 20. Nd1 O-O 21. Bxh6 Rfe8 22. Be3 Ng4 23. Bg5 f5 $17 {Komodo12}) 17... Ne7 (17... Nf6 18. Bh6 O-O-O $17 { Komodo12}) (17... Bg7 {Howard} 18. a5 Ne7 19. Na4 Nc8 20. b4 $11 {Komodo12}) 18. Bh6 (18. a5 O-O 19. Na4 Nc8 (19... Rae8 20. Nb6 Qc7 21. Nc4 $11 {Komodo12}) ) 18... f6 (18... Ng8 19. Be3 Nf6 $17 {Komodo12}) 19. Be3 (19. a5 Kf7 (19... g5 {Feared by Wh as it cuts off the B, butthere are resources} 20. Na4 Nc8 21. Be2 Kd8 22. Bg4 Qb5 23. Be6 (23. Qd2 Qe8 $17)) 20. Na4 Nc8 21. Be3 Kg7 22. f4 Bd4 23. Bxd4 cxd4 24. Qxd4 Re8 25. Rc1 Re7 $11 {Komodo112}) 19... f5 (19... O-O 20. f4 Bxc3 21. bxc3 Rae8 $17 {Komodo12}) 20. f4 (20. Bh6 O-O-O $17) (20. a5 O-O 21. Na4 Rad8 22. Nb6 Qc7 23. Nc4 fxe4 24. Nxe5 dxe5 25. Rc1 Nxd5 26. Bxc5 Rf6 27. Qe1 Rc6 28. b4 Nf6 $17 {Komodo12}) 20... Bxc3 21. bxc3 {at least Wh has obtained 2Bs vs R&N, which can often hold the fort in endgames} fxe4 22. Qc2 O-O $17 (22... O-O-O $17 {also, Komodo12}) 23. Qxe4 Nf5 24. Bf2 {looked better than} (24. Bd2 $19 {Komodo12 concurs}) 24... Rae8 25. Qd3 Re7 $19 {the R invasion will be too powerful} (25... c4 26. Qd2 {considered by both & pm analysis} Re4 $17) 26. a5 (26. g4 Nh6 27. h3 Rxf4 28. Qd2 Rxf2 (28... g5 29. Be3 Rxe3 30. Qxe3 Nf7 31. Qe6 $17 {is not as good}) 29. Qxf2 Nf7 30. Bg2 Ne5 $19 {Komodo12, the N dominates the defensive B( thus helping the other pieces gain in activity) & Bl has an extra pawn to play with on the Q side}) 26... Rfe8 27. Bh3 (27. Rb1 Ne3 $19) 27... Re4 (27... Re2) 28. c4 (28. Rb1 Ra4) 28... Qg7 (28... Re2 29. Rb1 Ra2 30. g4 Nh6 31. f5 Ree2 32. Bg3 gxf5 33. gxf5 Qg7 34. f6 Qxf6 35. Rf1 Qg7 36. Be6+ (36. Kh1 Ng4 $19) 36... Kh8 37. Qf3 Rxh2 38. Qf8+ Qxf8 39. Rxf8+ Kg7 40. Bxh2 Kxf8 41. Bxd6+ Ke8 42. Bxc5 Rxa5 43. Bb6 Ra1+ 44. Kf2 Nf7 $19 {though there are some slim hopes of a Wh survival as the Bs cooperate better than the R & N}) 29. Rb1 R8e7 (29... h5) (29... Nd4 30. Be6+ $11) 30. Rb6 (30. Rxb7 {Howard & pm analysis was Wh's last chance} Rxb7 31. Qxe4 Qa1+ 32. Kg2 Re7 33. Qd3 Qf6 (33... Qxa5 34. Bxf5 gxf5 35. Qxf5 $11 { the Bl K will face a perpetual}) 34. Qb3 Re2 35. Bxf5 Qxf5 36. Qb8+ Qf8 37. Qa7 Qe7 38. Qxa6 Ra2 $19 {Komodo12} (38... h5 $19 {Komodo12( provides escape routes for the Bl K as well as a source of attack)})) 30... Qa1+ 31. Kg2 (31. Rb1 Qxa5 32. Bxf5 gxf5 33. Qf3 Qa2 $19 {Komodo12}) (31. Bf1 Re1 (31... Qxa5 32. Rxb7 Rxb7 33. Qxe4 Qd2 $19 {a more immediate line}) 32. Bxe1 Rxe1 33. Kf2 (33. Rb3 Ne3) 33... Rd1 34. Qe2 Qd4+ 35. Kf3 (35. Kg2 Rd2) 35... Qc3+ 36. Kg4 Ne3+ 37. Kh3 Rd2 38. Rb3 (38. Qf3 Qg7 $1 {mating}) 38... Qxb3 39. Qxd2 Nxf1 40. Qe2 Ne3 $19 {Komodo12}) (31. Qb1 Re1+ $19 {seen by both}) 31... Ne3+ {Wh had missed that the N needed to be taken} 32. Bxe3 (32. Kf3 Qh1+ 33. Ke2 Nxc4+ 34. Be3 Rxe3+ 35. Qxe3 Rxe3+ 36. Kf2 Qf3+ 37. Kg1 Re1+ 38. Bf1 Qxf1#) 32... Rxe3 33. Qb1 Re2+ 34. Kf3 R7e3+ 35. Kg4 Qf6 36. Rxb7 (36. Bf1 Rxh2 37. f5 Rh5 38. fxg6 Qg5# {Komodo12 has some other typical Engine ways of postponing the mate by giving up lots of material first}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan A - Aberystwyth"] [Site "Tanygroes"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Jones, IC."] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "2225"] [BlackElo "1940"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nf6 {main} (2... h5 {Heap-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed Closed 2018,0-1} ) 3. Bg2 g6 (3... d5 {main} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Nc3 Be6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. O-O) 4. Nc3 d6 5. e3 (5. Nf3) 5... Bg7 6. Nge2 Nbd7 (6... O-O {main, more flexible} 7. O-O c6 {main} (7... Nc6) (7... Re8 {alternatives to Nbd7})) 7. O-O O-O 8. d4 Re8 9. b3 {main} (9. Qc2 {next}) 9... a5 {uncommon} (9... e4 {main} 10. Qc2 Qe7 11. Ba3 Nf8 (11... c6)) (9... c6 10. Ba3 Bf8) 10. Bb2 h6 $146 (10... c6 {Cloud Engines} 11. Qc2 Qc7 (11... exd4 12. Nxd4 (12. exd4 {Cloud Engines, no games played yet}) 12... Nc5 $11 {transposes to 37 games, many by GMs})) (10... e4 11. Qc2 Qe7 12. Nf4 c6 13. a3 h5 14. b4 Nf8 15. b5 Bf5 16. bxc6 bxc6 17. a4 N8h7 $11 {Wohl-Hausner, Prague op 1985,0-1}) 11. Rc1 Nh7 (11... e4 {Fritz12}) ( 11... exd4 12. exd4 c6 $14 {Komodo12}) 12. Qc2 (12. Qd2 $14 {Fritz13 & Komodo12 }) (12. h3 $14 {Stockfish9}) 12... h5 (12... exd4 13. exd4 Ndf6 {Fritz13 & Stockfish9} (13... c6 {Komodo12})) (12... f5 $2 {Rudy} 13. Bd5+ Kh8 14. Bf7 $18 ) 13. Nb5 {the Engines have all different moves for Wh} Nb8 {admitting that it was a mistake to put it on d7 in the first place? But a retreat looks worse as it leaves Bl very undeveloped} (13... exd4 {is what the Engines all agree on for Bl} 14. Bxd4 Ne5 {Fritz13 & Komodo12} (14... Bxd4 {Stockfish9 ( looks odd to exchange this good defender)})) 14. dxe5 {opening up the centre because Bl has just undeveloped} (14. c5 $16 {Komodo12}) 14... dxe5 15. Rcd1 $18 Qe7 ( 15... Nd7 {all 3 Engines, though then} 16. f4 $18) 16. Ba3 c5 17. Nd6 Na6 { Fritz13 & Komodo12} (17... Rf8 18. Bxc5 $18 {Stockfish9}) 18. Nxe8 Qxe8 19. Nc3 Bf5 20. Qd2 (20. e4 {all 3 Engines}) 20... Rb8 (20... e4 {all3 again}) 21. Nb5 b6 22. Nd6 Qe7 23. Nxf5 gxf5 24. Qd6 (24. Bb2 {all 3 wise Engines}) 24... Re8 25. Qxb6 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan A - Aberystwyth"] [Site "Tanygroes"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?.3"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Haigh, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C12"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1800"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "70"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 e6 2. e4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 (6. Be3 Ne4 7. Qg4 Kf8 8. Nge2 Nxc3 9. bxc3 Ba3 10. Rb1 Nd7 11. Nf4 Be7 12. h4 {Sims-Haigh,WCPL 2016, 1-0}) 6... Bxc3 7. bxc3 (7. Bxc3 Ne4 8. Bd2 Nxd2 9. Qxd2 c5 10. Nf3 cxd4 11. Nxd4 O-O 12. O-O-O Nc6 13. Nf3 Qc7 14. Re1 a5 15. g4 {Rousos-Haigh, EU cup Rhodes 2013,1-0}) 7... Ne4 8. Qg4 Kf8 (8... g6 {main}) 9. Nf3 {Aagard & Ntirlis 2013 consider this an inaccurate move order, as the N may well be better placed on f4} (9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 c5 11. h4 {is their preferred option }) (9. h4) (9. Qf4) (9. Bc1) 9... c5 10. Bd3 Nxd2 11. Kxd2 c4 {main} (11... Nc6 ) 12. Be2 Nc6 {presumably to clear the way for g4, but f4 is a more usual placement for the Q in these lines} 13. Qh3 $146 (13. h4 b5 14. a3 a5 15. Qf4 ( 15. h5) 15... Bd7 16. Rhb1 (16. g4 {main lines})) (13. a4 {played, Komodo12}) ( 13. Qf4 {played, New Engine & Komodo12}) 13... b5 $11 {Bl carries on with the standard Q side attack} 14. a3 a5 15. g4 (15. Rhb1) 15... Bd7 (15... Kg8 16. Qg3 Ba6 {Komodo12}) 16. Qg3 g6 17. Qh4 {Wh gives up on any chances of a K side attack, thus Bl is left with the initiative on the Q side} (17. h4) 17... Kg7 18. Qxd8 Rhxd8 $15 19. Rab1 Rdb8 20. Rb2 b4 21. axb4 axb4 22. cxb4 Rxb4 23. Rxb4 Nxb4 24. Rb1 Rb8 (24... Nc6 25. Rb7 Be8 26. Kc3 (26. h4 Ra3 $15) 26... Ra6 27. Kb2 $11) 25. c3 Na6 26. Rxb8 Nxb8 {Bl still has a bad B, but it will be difficult for Wh to bring his K into the Q side- there is stasis on the K side} 27. Bd1 Nc6 (27... Na6 $5) 28. Kc1 (28. Ba4 Nxe5 $15) 28... Ne7 29. Nd2 (29. Kb2 g5 30. Bc2 (30. Ka3 Ng6 31. Kb4 Nf4 32. Ne1 Kf8 33. Kc5 Ke7 34. Bc2 Nh3 35. f3 Nf4 $15 {though neither side can undertake much}) 30... Ng6 {Komodo12 is quite happy to allow this- but it means a N vs bad B ending in which only Wh has winning chances ; & can torture Bl for ages- something that players like Iolo are vey happy to engage with. Bl does best not to try anything & have the N to preserve some control over the bl squares} 31. Bxg6 Kxg6 32. Ka3 h5 33. h3 hxg4 34. hxg4 Be8 35. Kb4 Bd7 36. Nd2 Bc6 37. Nf1 Bd7 38. Ng3 f6 39. Nh5 f5 40. Nf6 Bc8 41. gxf5+ Kxf5 42. Kc5 Kf4 43. Kd6 g4 44. Kc7 Ba6 45. Kd7 Kf5 46. Nh5 Bb5+ 47. Kd6 Ba4 48. Ng3+ Kf4 49. Kxe6 Kf3 50. Kxd5 Kxf2 51. Ne4+ Ke3 52. e6 $18 {to run a line through Komodo12}) 29... g5 30. Bc2 Ng6 {risky-see the above note} 31. Bxg6 fxg6 {weakens e6 & takes away the possibility of f6} ( 31... Kxg6 {safer}) 32. Kb2 h5 33. f3 (33. h3 $5) (33. Ka3 $1 {Komodo12- it leaves Bl with no targets for the B} hxg4 34. Kb4 (34. Nf1 Kh6 35. Ng3 (35. Ne3 $18 {is even stronger as g4 falls as soon as the Bl K takes h2 or f2} Kg7 36. Nxg4 Kf8 37. Nf6 Ke7 38. Kb4 Bc6 39. h3 Ba8 40. Kc5 Bb7 41. Kb6 Bc8 42. Kc6 Ba6 43. Nd7 Bc8 44. Nc5 {Zugzwang, Komodo12 nudged}) 35... Kg7 36. Kb4 Kf7 37. Kc5 Ke7 38. Nf1 Ba4 39. Ne3 Bb3 40. Nxg4 Bd1 41. Nf6 Bf3 42. Nh7 g4 43. Nf6 Be2 { outside the pawn chain , Bl can now just move the B backwards & forwards; however, Wh can still play on, because the B cannot control any squares to the rear., eg} 44. Kc6 Bd1 45. Kc7 Bf3 (45... Ba4 46. Nxg4 $18) 46. Nd7 {and now Komodo12 suddenly realises that Bl is lost} Bd1 47. Nb8 Bc2 48. Nc6+ Ke8 49. Kd6 Ba4 50. Na5 Kf7 51. Nb7 $18 {and e6 has fallen}) 34... Kh6 {this manouvre is much too slow- if Wh is worried about this the N can always keep the K out , then relocate later} 35. Kc5 Kh5 36. Kd6 Bc8 37. Kc7 Ba6 38. Kd7 Kh4 39. Kxe6 Kh3 40. Kxd5 Kxh2 41. Kc6 Kg1 42. e6 Kxf2 43. e7) 33... Ba4 34. Ka3 Bd1 35. h3 (35. Kb4 {may well be the last chance to win. With a pawn on h2 the doubled g pawns can't get through & again the Bl K moving to capture h2 is probably too slow. Lets just try out a possible line of play, rather than hope to be exhaustive. Again , it must be Wh who is in with a chance.} hxg4 36. fxg4 Bxg4 37. Nb1 (37. Kc5 Kf7 38. Nb1 Bd1 39. Na3 Ba4 {tries to keep the N out but Wh can try for Zugzwang to win e6} 40. Nb5 Ke7 (40... Bxb5 41. Kxb5 {Komodo12 quickly accepts that Bl is lost} Ke7 42. Kc6 g4 43. Kc7 g5 44. Kc6 Ke8 45. Kd6 Kf7 46. Kd7 $18) 41. Nd6 Bc2 {gets tricky} (41... Kd7 {seems a safer way} 42. Kb6 g4 43. Nb7 Bd1 44. Nc5+ Ke7 45. Kc7 Bc2 46. Nb7 Bf5 47. Na5 Bd3 48. Nc6+ Ke8 49. Kd6 Bf5 50. Nb8 Kf7 51. Nc6 (51. Na6 Ke8 52. Nc7+ Kf7 53. Kd7 Bc2 { and the threat of checks means the B just holds}) 51... Ke8 52. Nb4 Kf8 53. Kd7 Kf7 (53... Kg7 54. Ke7 Kh6 55. Nc6 Kh5 56. Nd8 Kh4 57. Nxe6 Kh3 58. Nf4+ Kxh2 59. e6 (59. Nxd5 g3 60. Ne3 Kg1 61. d5 Kf2 62. Nxf5 g2 63. d6 g1=Q 64. d7 Qg5+ 65. Ke8 Qxf5 66. d8=Q Qxe5+ $19) 59... Kg3 60. Kd6 Bxe6 61. Nxe6 Kf3 62. Ng5+ Kf4 63. Ne6+ $11 {the N just holds up the front g pawn}) 54. Nc6 $18)) 37... Kf7 38. Na3 {transposes to variations listed earlier.Overall, Wh retains very good winning winning chances, only losing in the odd line where he overpresses to avoid a draw.}) 35... Kf7 {now the N is tied to the defence of the f3 pawn (as Wh cannot allow Bl to get a passed Kside pawn, while his own K is away on the Q side))} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Cardigan A - Aberystwyth"] [Site "Tanygroes"] [Date "2018.11.12"] [Round "?.4"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Cook, James"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E11"] [WhiteElo "1431"] [BlackElo "1491"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. d4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 c5 (4... Qe7) (4... a5) (4... Bxd2+) 5. Bxb4 cxb4 6. e3 (6. g3 {main}) 6... O-O 7. Bd3 b6 (7... d6 8. O-O Nc6 9. Nbd2 e5 $14 {main}) 8. O-O Bb7 9. a3 (9. Nbd2 {main, transposes to 65 games}) 9... Qe7 {Deep Fritz13} (9... bxa3 {3 draws}) 10. Nbd2 (10. axb4 Qxb4 11. Nc3 d5 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Ne5 Qe7 14. f4 Nc6 15. Qf3 Nb4 16. Bb1 Ne4 {Ghabache-El Gindy, African ch , Oran 2017,0-1}) 10... bxa3 11. Rxa3 {Wh gets srong pressure down the a file} d6 12. Qa1 a6 (12... Nc6 $11 {Komodo12, uses the N to guard} 13. e4 e5 14. d5 Nb4 15. Bb1 a5 $11) 13. Rc1 Rc8 14. Ng5 (14. b4 Nc6 15. Qb2 a5 16. bxa5 bxa5 17. e4 e5 (17... Nb4 18. Bb1 g6 $14 {Komodo121}) 18. d5 Nb4 19. c5 Rxc5 20. Rxc5 dxc5 21. Nxe5 $16 {Komodo12}) 14... h6 (14... Nc6) 15. Nge4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bxe4 17. Nxe4 d5 $2 {usually a counter in the centre is an antidote to a side attack, but here it leads to the loss of a vital pawn} (17... a5 $11) (17... f5 18. Nd2 a5 $11) 18. cxd5 $18 Rxc1+ 19. Qxc1 exd5 20. Qc8+ Kh7 (20... Qf8 21. Qxf8+ Kxf8 22. Nc3 {and the pawn is still lost}) 21. Qf5+ Kg8 22. Qxd5 Ra7 23. Nc3 b5 24. Qc5 (24. Ne4 $18 {looks stronger- the Wh pieces are more effective & Wh has a strong centre that stops Bl activity}) 24... Qxc5 25. dxc5 b4 26. Rb3 Nc6 $11 {Komodo12-the extra Wh pawn is loose & Bl has a chance to threaten a Q side advance of his own} (26... a5 $11 {Komodo12} 27. Na4 Rd7 28. Kf1 Na6 29. Ke2 Rc7 30. Rd3 Nxc5 31. Nxc5 Rxc5 $11) 27. Na4 a5 (27... Rd7 { activity saves Bl} 28. Kf1 Rd1+ 29. Ke2 Ra1 30. Nb6 Rc1 31. Rd3 (31. Nd7 Rc2+ 32. Kf3 Rd2 33. Nb6 f5 $11 {the Wh R & K are both tied down in different ways}) 31... Rxc5 32. Kd2 Ne5 $11 {Komodo12}) 28. Rd3 $18 {now the Wh R has taken the open file & the c pawn is safe} Kf8 29. f4 Ke7 30. Nb6 Ke8 31. b3 Rc7 32. Rd1 ( 32. Nc4 Ne7 33. Nxa5 Rxc5 34. Nc4 $16) 32... Nd8 33. Rc1 (33. Na4 Rd7 34. Rc1 Nc6 35. Rb1 Rd2 36. Rb2 Rxb2 37. Nxb2 Kd7 $14 {Bl still has chances of regaining the c5 pawn}) 33... Rc6 (33... Nb7 {Komodo12} 34. Na4 (34. c6 Nd8 35. Ra1 Rxc6 (35... Nxc6 36. Rc1 Kd8 37. Rd1+ Ke8 38. Rc1 Kd8 {repetition?} (38... f5 39. Rc5 $16)) 36. Nc4 Nb7 37. Kf1 Nc5 38. Nd2 Nb7 $11 {Komodo12})) 34. Kf2 Nb7 35. Na4 Kd7 36. g4 (36. e4 {the candidate passed pawn is usually the best one to move forward}) 36... f6 {Bl should also not be moving the pawns on the side where he is under attack- it just creates possible entry points for the other side.} (36... Rc7 {Rs are not the best blockaders- they need open files & weak pawns to attack- so swapping the K & R round makes sense} 37. e4 Kc6 38. Ke3 Rd7 39. Nb6 Rd8 40. Nd5 Re8 41. Kd4 $16 {Wh most probably winning, but there is work ahead}) 37. Kf3 (37. e4 Rc7 38. Ke3 Kc6) 37... g6 38. e4 (38. Ke4 Nd6+ 39. Kd5 Nb5 40. f5 gxf5 41. gxf5 Ra6 42. e4 Kc7 43. Rg1 $18 {Komodo12} Nc3+ 44. Nxc3 bxc3 45. Rg7+ Kc8 46. Rg3 $18) 38... g5 (38... Rc7 39. Rd1+ Kc6 40. Rd5 Re7 $16 {and waiting}) 39. Rd1+ (39. f5 $18 {Komodo12} Rc7 40. e5 fxe5 41. Ke4 $18 {and Wh has forced a protected passed pawn}) 39... Ke7 40. Rd5 Nd8 (40... gxf4 41. Kxf4 Nd8 42. h4 Ne6+ 43. Kf5 Rc8 44. e5 fxe5 45. Kxe5 Rc7 46. Kf5 Rc8 47. g5 hxg5 48. hxg5 {and Wh has another runner, though Komodo12 thinks Bl can resist longer} Rf8+ 49. Kg4 Rf4+ 50. Kg3 Rf1 51. c6 Rc1 52. Rxa5 Rxc6 53. Ra7+ Kf8 54. Rb7 Nxg5 55. Rxb4 $14 {draw- Lomonosov tablebases}) 41. e5 (41. f5 $18) 41... Ne6 (41... gxf4 42. Kxf4 Ne6+ 43. Kf5 fxe5 44. Rxe5 Kf7 { very similar to previous note}) 42. exf6+ (42. f5 Nd8 43. e6 $18 {Komodo12-is simpler}) 42... Kxf6 43. f5 Rc7 (43... Nf4 44. Rd6+ Rxd6 45. cxd6 Nd3 46. h3 h5 47. Ke4 Nf4 48. Nc5 Nxh3 49. d7 Ke7 50. f6+ Kd8 51. Ke5 Kc7 (51... hxg4 52. Kd6 Nf4 53. Nb7#) 52. f7 $18 {mating soon}) 44. Rd6 1-0 [Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B28"] [WhiteElo "1327"] [BlackElo "1718"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2018.11.14"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 {The O'Kelly var} 6. Nb3 ( 6. Nf3 {main, as it attacks the e5 pawn}) (6. Nf5 d5 7. Ng3 Bb4 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Bd2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 O-O {James Thomas-Francis, Tom Weston Major 2008,1-0}) (6. Nde2 Bc5 7. Ng3 O-O 8. Be2 d6 9. O-O Nc6 10. Re1 Nd4 { Ehsander-Francis, S Wales New Year, Bridgend 2018,1-0}) 6... Bb4 7. f3 (7. Bd2 {Connolly-Francis, Dyfed Open 2011,1/2-1/2}) (7. Bd3 {Cadden-Francis, Dyfed Open 2013,1/2-1/2}) 7... d5 8. a3 (8. exd5 {main}) 8... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O (9... dxe4 $15 {wins a pawn, 0-3}) 10. exd5 {Cloud Engines} Qxd5 (10... Nxd5) 11. Bd3 (11. Qxd5 Nxd5 12. c4 Ne7 13. Be3 $14 {Komodo12}) 11... Be6 $15 12. Bb2 (12. c4 Qc6 13. Qe2 Nbd7 14. Be3 Rac8 15. Nd2 Nb6 16. Bxb6 Qxb6 17. Rb1 Qc7 18. O-O Rfd8 $15 {Komodo12}) 12... Nbd7 (12... b5 {fixes the c pawn on c3}) 13. Qd2 ( 13. c4) 13... e4 (13... Qc6 14. O-O Nb6 $17 {Komodo12}) 14. c4 Qc6 15. fxe4 $11 Nxe4 (15... Rfe8 16. O-O Bxc4 17. Rad1 Rac8 $11 {Komodo12}) 16. Qe3 Ndc5 (16... f5 17. O-O $11) 17. Nxc5 (17. O-O $14 {the Wh pieces are actively placed}) 17... Nxc5 18. O-O Nxd3 19. cxd3 Bd7 (19... Rae8) (19... f6) 20. Qg3 Qg6 (20... Qb6+ 21. Qf2 Qxf2+ 22. Rxf2 Rfe8 $11 {Komodo12}) 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. d4 Rac8 23. Rac1 Rfe8 $11 {the presence of opposite colour bs means a lack of control by eith side of the non-colour of their B, despite the presence of Rs.Wh does have a passed pawn, but that should be easily blocked} 24. Rc3 (24. d5) (24. Rf2 {aims to keep Rs off e2, loses a pawn, but the B ending looks drawn} Rxc4 25. Rxc4 Re1+ 26. Rf1 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Bb5 28. Kf2 Bxc4 $15) 24... Be6 { attacking the centre pawns, buy using a R is a little better} (24... Re4 25. Rd1 Re2 26. Bc1 Bb5 27. c5 Bc6 28. Kf1 (28. d5 Rd8 29. Rcd3 Ba4 30. Rf1 Bc2 31. Rd4 Be4 32. Rf2 Re1+ 33. Rf1 Rxf1+ 34. Kxf1 Bxd5 $17 {but Bl is only a halfpawn ahead}) 28... Ra2 29. Rd2 Rxd2 30. Bxd2 Rd8 31. Be3 f6 $15 {Komodo12}) 25. d5 (25. Re1 Bg4 26. Rxe8+ Rxe8 27. h3 Re1+ 28. Kh2 Bf5 $11 {Komodo12}) 25... Bf5 26. a4 Re2 27. Rf2 Re1+ 28. Rf1 Re2 {Bl is content with a draw- Wh stakes everything on his passed pawn; at least by eliminating the B he gains more chances on the wh squares. However it is double-edged as the 2 Rs might do damage long before the pawn gets going. Especially since Bl still has his K available to come & stop the pawn} (28... Rxf1+ 29. Kxf1 Rxc4 30. Rxc4 Bd3+ 31. Kf2 Bxc4 32. d6 Kf8 33. Bxg7+ Ke8 34. Be5 {is another way; draw with opposite colourBs}) 29. Rxf5 $5 gxf5 $19 {Komodo12} 30. Ba3 Rd2 31. d6 Re8 {should Bl be minded just to set up a barricade, then} (31... Rd8 32. Rb3 Rd7 {and Wh will be unable to shift the R from here- & Bl can bring the K up to take its place, when the R can go off to pastures new} 33. a5 {just running a few lines with the aid of Komodo12} f6 34. Rf3 g6 35. g4 Kf7 36. gxf5 gxf5 37. Rxf5 Ke6 38. Rf3 Rg7+ 39. Kf1 Rxh2 40. Re3+ Kd7 41. Rb3 Kc8 42. Re3 Rgh7 43. Re8+ Kd7 44. Rb8 Ke6 45. Re8+ Kf5 46. Re7 Rh1+ (46... Rxe7 47. dxe7 Rh8 48. Kf2 Ke6 49. Kf3 Rc8 (49... Re8 50. Ke4 Rxe7 {Rudy, is a simple K & P win}) 50. Ke3 Kd7 51. Kd4 Rc6 52. Kd5 f5 53. Ke5 Rxc4 54. Kxf5 Ra4 55. Bd6 Rxa5+ $19 {Komodo12}) 47. Kf2 R7h2+ 48. Kg3 Rh8 49. Kf2 Kf4 50. Ke2 R1h2+ 51. Kd3 R8h3+ 52. Kd4 Rxa3 53. Rxb7 Rxa5 54. d7 Rd2+ 55. Kc3 Raa2 $19 {Komodo12}) (31... b5 {also works} 32. axb5 axb5 33. c5 Rxd6 34. Rb3 Ra6 $19 {Komodo12}) 32. h3 (32. Kf1 Re4 33. h3 Kf8 34. Rb3 Ke8 35. Rxb7 Rxc4 36. Kg1 a5 {Komodo12} (36... Rxa4 37. Bb4 Rc2 38. Re7+ Kd8 39. Be1 g6 40. Rxf7 Rc1 41. Kf1 Rf4+ 42. Ke2 Re4+ 43. Kf2 Rcxe1 $19) 37. Re7+ Kd8 (37... Kf8 38. Rc7 $18) 38. Rxf7 Rc3 39. Rxf5 Rxa3 40. Rxa5 Rxd6 $19 {Komodo12}) 32... f4 {preventing a Rg3 in response to Bl doubling on the 7th, but Rs must be used in attack, rather than just as defensive machines} ( 32... Ree2 33. Kh1 {Komodo12} (33. Rg3 f4 34. Rg4 f3 $1 {Komodo12} 35. Kh1 (35. gxf3 Rd1#) 35... fxg2+ {wins a R, as} 36. Kh2 g1=Q+ 37. Kxg1 Rd1#) 33... Rxg2 34. Bc1 Rh2+ 35. Kg1 Rdg2+ 36. Kf1 Ra2 37. Kg1 Rhc2 $2 (37... Rhg2+ 38. Kf1 Kf8 39. d7 Ke7 40. Rd3 Kd8 41. Ba3 (41. Be3 Rgb2 42. Rd1 f4 43. Bd4 Rd2 $19) 41... Rgf2+ 42. Kg1 Rfe2 43. Kf1 f4 44. Bc5 Re6 45. Ba7 b6 46. c5 bxc5 47. Bxc5 Rxa4 {and, while Bl has to take care not to allow the wh pawn through, his own pawns on both wings will decide the game}) 38. Rxc2 Rxc2 39. Bg5 Rxc4 40. d7 Rd4 41. d8=Q+ Rxd8 42. Bxd8 b5 43. axb5 axb5 44. Ba5 g5 45. Kf2 Kh7 46. Kg3 Kg6 47. Bb4 f4+ 48. Kg4 f5+ 49. Kf3 Kh5 (49... g4+ $11) 50. Be1 g4+ $11) (32... Re1+ {also looks promising} 33. Kh2 Ree2 34. Kg3 (34. Rg3 f4 35. Rg4 f3 $19) 34... g5 35. h4 Rxg2+ 36. Kf3 (36. Kh3 g4#) 36... gxh4 (36... Rgf2+ 37. Kg3 f4+ 38. Kg4 Rg2+ 39. Kf5 Rg3 40. Bb4 Rxc3 41. Bxc3 f3 $19 (41... Rxd6 42. hxg5 f3 43. Be1 Re6 44. Bg3 Re2 $19))) 33. Kf1 f6 {to bring the K across, however} ( 33... Ree2 $1 {and at worst Bl forces a draw- Rudy , also Komodo12 first choice } 34. d7 (34. Rf3 Re4 35. c5 Rxa4 36. Rb3 Rc4 37. Ke1 Rcc2 $19 38. Rxb7 Rxg2 { mating} 39. Kd1 (39. Kf1 Rh2 40. Kg1 Rcg2+ 41. Kf1 f3 42. d7 Rh1#) 39... f3 40. Bc1 Rce2 41. Be3 Rh2 42. Bd2 Rxd2+ 43. Kc1 Rde2 44. Rb8+ Kh7 45. d7 Rh1#) 34... Rf2+ 35. Ke1 Rfe2+ 36. Kf1 {draw at least, Rudy; but Komodo12 goes for more} Rf2+ 37. Ke1 Rxg2 38. Kf1 (38. Bc1 Rxd7) 38... Rgf2+ 39. Ke1 Rfe2+ 40. Kf1 Rh2 41. Kg1 Rdg2+ 42. Kf1 Rd2 43. Kg1 Rhe2 44. Kf1 Re4 $19 {and again the pawn is lost}) 34. Rb3 Re6 {aiming to return the exchange?} (34... Re4 $19 {Komodo12} 35. c5 (35. Rxb7 Rxc4 36. Ke1 Rcd4 37. Bc5 Rd5 38. Bb4 Rxg2 39. d7 Rg1+ 40. Ke2 Rgd1 41. Ra7 Rxd7 42. Rxa6 R1d3 43. a5 Rxh3 {and Bl's K side pawns will win, even if the Rs don't manage it first}) 35... Rxa4 36. Ke1 Rd5 $19) (34... Ree2 $19 {Rudy, judgement by Komodo12} 35. Rxb7 (35. d7 Re3 $19) 35... Rf2+ 36. Ke1 Rde2+ 37. Kd1 Ra2 38. Ke1 Rxg2 39. Kf1 Rgf2+ 40. Kg1 (40. Ke1 Rae2+ 41. Kd1 f3) 40... Rfd2 41. Rb1 Rxa3 $19) 35. Rb6 (35. Rxb7 {gives Wh better chances than the text} Re4 (35... Rexd6 36. Bxd6 Rxd6 37. Ke2 $14 {Wh's C pawn is a little better than Bl's doubled f pawn} Rd4 38. c5 Rc4 39. Ra7 Rxc5 40. Rxa6 $11 { Wh's R is on the wrong side of the a pawn}) 36. c5 Rxa4 37. Bb2 Rc4 38. d7 Kh7 39. Ke1 Rcc2 40. Bc3 Rxd7 41. Rxd7 Rxc3 42. Rd5 Rg3 43. Rd2 (43. Kf2 {Rudy} Kg6 44. Rd6 Rc3 45. Rxa6 Rxc5 {is a theoretical draw})) 35... f5 (35... Re4 $19 36. Bb4 Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Rxc4 38. Rxb7 Kh7 39. d7 Rcd4 40. Rb6 Rxd7 41. Rxa6 Rc7 42. Re6 Rd4 43. Be1 Rxa4 $19 {Komodo12}) (35... Rd1+ 36. Kf2 Re4 $19 {transposes}) 36. Bb4 (36. Rxb7 $1 f3 (36... Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Rd2+ 38. Kf1 Rd1+ $11) 37. gxf3 Re3 38. Bb4 Rxf3+ 39. Ke1 Rd4 40. Bc5 Rxc4 41. Ke2 Rxh3 42. d7 Re4+ 43. Kf2 (43. Kd2 Rh2+ 44. Kd3 Rh3+ $11 {repetition}) 43... Rh2+ 44. Kf3 Rh3+ 45. Kg2 Rd3 46. Rb8+ Kf7 47. d8=Q Rxd8 48. Rxd8 Rxa4 {Komodo12 gives slight advantage to Wh, but Wh is unlikely to win even if there were no Bl pawns on the board, so practical winning chances lie with Bl}) 36... Rd3 {not the best place for this R} (36... Rd1+ 37. Kf2 Re4 38. c5 a5 39. Bxa5 Rxa4 40. Ke2 Rd5 $19 {the B is in trouble} 41. Bc3 (41. Rxb7 Ra2+ 42. Kf1 Rxa5 43. d7 Kh7 44. c6 Ra1+ 45. Ke2 Ra2+ 46. Ke1 (46. Kf3 Rd3+ 47. Kxf4 Kg6 48. Rb4 (48. c7 Ra4+ 49. Ke5 Re4#) 48... Kf6 49. d8=Q+ Rxd8 50. c7 g5+ 51. Kg3 Rd3+ 52. Kh2 Rc2 53. Rb7 Rdd2 { Komodo12} (53... Rdc3 {human safety}) 54. h4 Rxg2+ 55. Kh1 Rh2+ 56. Kg1 Rxh4 $19) 46... Rdd2 {with a mating net}) 41... Rc4 42. Bb4 Rc2+ 43. Kf1 (43. Kf3 g5 {mating}) 43... Rd1+ 44. Be1 Rcc1 45. Kf2 Rxe1 46. Rxb7 Red1 47. Ke2 Rd4 $19 { Komodo12}) 37. c5 $11 f3 38. gxf3 Rxf3+ 39. Kg2 Ree3 (39... Rd3 {Rs should preferably keep a little distance away from the K they are attacking} 40. Kf1 ( 40. Rxb7 Re2+ 41. Kf1 Rc2 42. Re7 (42. d7 Rd1+ 43. Be1 Kh7 44. Rc7 (44. Ra7 Rxc5 $17) 44... f4 $19 {Komodo12}) 42... Rxh3 $17)) 40. Be1 $1 {and Bl couldn't see a way to save the game} (40. Rxb7 Rg3+ {draws by repetition}) (40. Be1 Rf4 (40... Rd3 41. d7) 41. d7 Re2+ 42. Kg3 Rd4 43. Rd6 $18) 1-0

Ruthless Streak

It is still very early in the season, but the Aberystwyth team looks to have a ruthless streak about it at the moment. Steynton A were competitive in every game at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Monday 29th October but Aber scored another whitewash. Rudy van Kemenade won a pawn in a Reti against Martin Jones, and kept control of the endgame, though Black missed the chance to transpose into a drawish rook-and-pawn position. Adam Watkin-Jones had a complex struggle against David Pinch in a Modern / London hybrid opening, until White suddenly blundered, handing him a rook with mate to follow. Julie van Kemenade's King's Indian Attack against John Miller's French was also double-edged, with both sides having vulnerable kings, but White's attack proved more dangerous. Finally, James Cook could not find a way through in a major-piece battle against Scott Hammett's Bird's Opening, and offered a draw, which White should have accepted, as the position opened up for Black a couple of moves later. Another 4-0 win for Aber.

Meanwhile the club championship has started, and the first game was a solid positional win for Dan Hardman against Francis Headley in a King's Indian Defence.

[Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Jones, Martin C"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "2023"] [BlackElo "1755"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2018.11.02"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. O-O c5 (4... O-O) 5. d3 Nc6 6. c4 (6. e4) (6. Nbd2) 6... d5 (6... O-O) 7. cxd5 (7. Nc3 d4 (7... dxc4 8. dxc4 O-O 9. Be3 { if Wh is playing for a miniscule edge}) 8. Na4 {is a Reversed Yugoslav King's Indian}) 7... Nxd5 8. Nc3 (8. a3) (8. Qc2) 8... Nxc3 (8... O-O {transposes to 600 + games}) 9. bxc3 O-O {after some thought, Bl decines} (9... Bxc3 10. Rb1 { 4 Wh wins, 1 draw, 3 Bl wins} O-O (10... Bg7 11. Qc2 Qd6 12. Be3 (12. Ba3 { Martin & Komodo12}) 12... b6 13. Bf4 Qd7 14. d4 c4 (14... Qf5 15. e4 Qh5 16. dxc5 Qxc5 17. Qxc5 bxc5 18. Rfc1 $14 (18. e5 $14 {Komodo12})) 15. Rfd1 $16 { Speelman-Ady, Commonwealth ch, London 1985,1-0}) 11. Qa4 Qa5 12. Qc4 (12. Qxa5 Bxa5 13. Be3 $11) 12... Bf6 13. Bd2 Be6 14. Qxe6 fxe6 15. Bxa5 Nxa5 16. Nd2 Rab8 17. Bh3 Kf7 18. Ne4 b6 19. Kg2 Nc6 20. Rbc1 Rbd8 21. f4 Nd4 22. Rfe1 h6 $17 {Kramnik-Mamedyarov, Geneve Masters KO Rapid 2013,1/2-1/2}) 10. Be3 { Cloud Engines} (10. Qb3 {transposes to some 40 games}) (10. Qc2 {to some 20}) ( 10. Rb1 {8 games incl Kramnik-Mamedyarov}) 10... Qd6 (10... b6 11. d4 Bb7 12. dxc5 Na5 (12... bxc5 13. Rb1 Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Ba6 15. Bxc5 Bxe2 16. Re1 Bxf3 17. Bxf3 Rac8 18. Bxe7 Nxe7 19. Rxe7 Rxc3 20. Bd5 $14 {Komodo12}) 13. Qa4 bxc5 14. Rfd1 Bc6 15. Qa3 Qc7 16. Qxc5 $14 {Diamant-Molner, USA tt ICC-INT 2012, 1/2-1/2 }) (10... Bxc3 11. Rc1 Qa5 12. Nd2 Be6 13. Ne4 Bb2 14. Rc2 Bd4 15. Nxc5 Bxe3 16. Nxb7 Qe5 17. Rxc6 Bb6 18. e3 Bxa2 19. Qa4 Be6 20. d4 $14 { Anastasian-Shirov, Frunze op 1989,1-0}) 11. Nd2 Bf5 (11... b6 12. d4 $11 { Komodo12}) 12. Nc4 (12. Rc1 b6 13. Qa4 Rac8 14. Rfe1 $11 {Komodo12}) 12... Qd7 13. Bxc5 Bxc3 14. Rb1 (14. Rc1) 14... Rab8 15. Ne3 (15. Qa4 Bh3 16. Bxh3 Qxh3 17. Rfc1 Bg7 18. Nd2 Rfc8 $11 {Komodo12}) 15... Be6 (15... Bh3 16. Bxh3 Qxh3 17. Nd5 $14 {considered by both}) 16. Rc1 (16. d4 {briefly considered by Wh} Nxd4 17. Bxa7 Bxa2 18. Rc1 Bb2 19. Rc2 Bb3 20. Qb1 (20. Bxb8 Rxb8 21. Qd3 Bxc2 22. Nxc2 Qa4 $15) 20... Bxc2 21. Qxb2 Nxe2+ 22. Kh1 Bd3 23. Bxb8 Rxb8 24. Rd1 Qb5 25. Qa3 Bc4 26. Qxe7 Be6 27. Qf6 $11 {Komodo12}) 16... Bd4 (16... Bg7 17. Re1 Rfc8 18. Qa4 Rc7 $15 {Komodo12}) 17. Bxc6 {Komodo12} (17. Qa4 $11) (17. Bxd4 Nxd4 18. Nc2 Nb5 19. Qd2 Rfc8 20. Ne3 Nd4 $11) 17... bxc6 18. Bxd4 Qxd4 19. Rxc6 Bxa2 {Komodo12 doesn't like getting the pawn back this quickly} (19... Rb2 20. Qa1 (20. Rc2 Rfb8 21. Qa1 Qg7 22. Rfc1 h5 23. a4 a5 $14) 20... Rd8 21. Rc2 Rxc2 22. Qxd4 Rxd4 23. Nxc2 Ra4 24. Ra1 Rxa2 (24... Bxa2) 25. Rxa2 Bxa2 26. Nb4 Be6 27. Nc6 Bd7 28. Nxa7 $11 {though the N is trapped} Kf8 29. Kg2 Ke8 30. d4 Kd8 31. d5 Kc7 32. Kf3 e6 33. Nc6 Kd6 34. Nb4 exd5 35. Ke3 $11 {Komodo12}) 20. Qa1 $16 Qxa1 (20... Qd7 21. Rfc1 Be6 22. Rc7 Qd6 23. Rxa7 $16) (20... Rb2 21. Rc2 $1 {Komodo12} (21. Nd1 {seen by both players} Bd5 {missed} 22. Ra6 Rb4 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxa7 $16) 21... Rfb8 22. Nd1 R2b4 23. Qxd4 Rxd4 24. Rxa2 $18 {Komodo12}) 21. Rxa1 Rb2 22. Rc2 Rxc2 (22... Rfb8 23. Rxa2 $18 {had been foreseen by Wh going into Bxc6, realised now by Bl that could not be played}) 23. Nxc2 Bb3 24. Nd4 {missed by Bl, again seen earlier by Wh} Bd5 25. Rxa7 $16 e5 {a strong move, which allows Bl to swap of a pair of pawns before Wh can stabilize his position} (25... e6 {not as good}) 26. Ra5 (26. Nb5 {in retrospect better, though Wh needs to be careful} Rb8 (26... Ra8 {Komodo12 plumps for this, though in the longrange Bl has better survival chances in a R & P ending} 27. Rxa8+ Bxa8 28. f3 $16 {the stability of the pawns helps the N rather than the B}) 27. Nc3 Bc6 28. Rc7 Bb7 29. f3 $16) (26. Rd7 Ba8 27. Nb3 Rb8 (27... e4 28. d4 $16) 28. Nd2 (28. f3 Bxf3 29. exf3 Rxb3 $11) 28... Kg7 29. Kf1 Rb2 30. Ke1 $16 {Komodo12}) 26... Rd8 27. Nc2 (27. Nb5 {again better} e4 28. dxe4 Bxe4 29. f3 Bf5 30. Kf2 $16) 27... e4 28. Nb4 (28. dxe4 Bxe4 29. Ne3 Rd2 30. Kf1 Kg7 31. f3 Bb1 32. Ke1 Rb2 33. Nc4 Rc2 34. Nd6 Rc6 35. Rd5 Ba2 36. Rd2 Be6 37. Kf2 $16 {Wh must keep Ns on but hope to swap Rs}) 28... exd3 29. Nxd3 Be4 30. Ra3 (30. Ne1 Rd1 31. Kf1 Bg2+ $1 32. Kxg2 Rxe1) 30... Rb8 (30... Bxd3 {is simplest route for Bl}) 31. f3 Bf5 (31... Bxd3 32. Rxd3 {Rook and Four Pawns vs Rook and Three Pawns. 'This is one of the best-known problems in endgame theory:is the attacker winning? Theoretically the answer is no, but in practice it is not at all easy to defend.First of all it must be sressed that just waiting passively is not sufficient' Mueller & Lamprecht- Fundamental Chess Endings 2001:212. They cite a game won by Botwinnik & one lost by Kasparov . Fine 1941 cites 2 wins by Capablanca. So Bl should have taken the chance given to him.} (32. exd3 Rb2 {is even less likely to manage to convert the extra pawn})) 32. e4 Rb1+ 33. Kf2 Be6 34. h4 h5 {all the pawns on the same colour as the B- Wh needs to come in using the bl squares} (34... h6) 35. Ke3 Kg7 36. Kf4 Rb3 {helps Wh , who now need not worry about the safety of his g & h pawns} (36... Bc4 37. Ne5 Be6 {and Komodo12 is rather clueless about what to do, spending all its move just waving the N about.} 38. g4 (38. Rc3 Ra1 39. Nd3 Bd7 40. Nc5 Rd1 41. Ke5 Bb5 42. f4 Be2 43. Ra3 Bc4 44. Ra7 Rg1 45. Kd4 Bb5 46. Ne6+ Kf6 47. Ng5 Rd1+ 48. Kc5 Bd7 49. e5+ Kg7 {Wh is trying to get access to f6 for K or N, or getting a passed e pawn} 50. Rc7 Kf8 51. Nh7+ Kg7 52. Nf6 Be6 53. Ra7 Rd3 54. Ne4 Bf5 55. Ng5 Bd7 56. Kc4 Rd1 57. Kc3 Kg8 58. Kc2 Rd4 59. Ra3 Bf5+ 60. Kc3 Rd3+ 61. Kb4 Rd7 62. Ra6 Rc7 63. Kb5 Rd7 64. Rf6 Kg7 65. Kc6 Re7 66. Nf3 Bc8 67. Nd4 Ra7 68. f5 Ra4 69. Kc5 Ra5+ 70. Kd6 Ra4 71. Kd5 Bb7+ 72. Kc5 Ra5+ 73. Kd6 Bh1 74. fxg6 Rd5+ 75. Kc7 Rxd4 76. gxf7 Kf8 77. e6 {and this position Komodo12 does accept is winning for Wh} Re4 78. Kd6 Rd4+ 79. Ke5 Rd5+ 80. Kf4 Rd4+ 81. Kg5 Rd5+ 82. Kh6 Re5 83. Rg6 $18 {long drawnout, with Komodo12 constantly nudged, involves several plausible lines of continuation.}) 38... Rh1 39. Kg3 hxg4 40. fxg4 (40. Nxg4 Bxg4 41. Kxg4 {assures the draw, one pawn less all on the same side is easy to hold}) 40... Rg1+ 41. Kf4 f6 42. Ra7+ Kg8 (42... Kh6 $2 43. g5+ fxg5+ 44. hxg5+ Rxg5 45. Re7 Ba2 46. Ng4+ Rxg4+ 47. Kxg4 {and with a passed pawn the R beats the B}) 43. Nc6 Rxg4+ 44. Kf3 f5 $11 ( 44... Rxh4 45. Ne7+ {wins the R}) 45. exf5 Bxf5 46. h5 Rg5 (46... gxh5 47. Ne7+ Kg7 48. Nxf5+ Kf6 {also draws, as the Bl K is not stuck on the back rank}) 47. Ne7+ Kf8 48. h6 Rh5 49. Nxf5 Rxf5+ 50. Kg4 Kg8 51. Rg7+ Kh8 52. Rxg6 Rf1 $11 ( 52... Ra5 $11)) 37. Rxb3 Bxb3 38. Ke5 {the B & K are unable to hold the bl squares against an advanced K & agile N} f6+ {this attempt helps Wh obtain a passed e pawn} (38... Bd1 39. f4 Bc2 40. Nb4 Bb1 41. Kd4 (41. Nd5 f5 42. Nf6 fxe4 43. Nxe4 Kf7 44. Nd6+ Ke7 45. f5 gxf5 46. Nxf5+ Kf7 {is a clear win- Lomonosov table bases ( a Stockfish8 has also exhaustively examined this position to a win)- Wh puts a N on f4, then outmanouvres the Bl pieces crowded in defence} 47. Ne3 Kg6 48. Ng2 Kh6 49. Nf4 Ba2 50. Kf6 Bc4 51. Ne6 Be2 52. Nd4 Bc4 53. Nf5+ Kh7 54. Kg5 Bd3 55. Ne3 Bg6 56. Ng2 Be8 57. Nf4 {to give one possible line by Rudy}) 41... f5) 39. Kd6 (39. Kd4 {perhaps}) 39... Bc4 40. Nf4 (40. Nc5 $18 {is much simpler}) 40... Kf7 41. Nd5 Be2 (41... Bd3 {holds up the pawn advance, but not for long} 42. Nc3 g5 43. f4 $18) 42. f4 $18 Bf3 43. e5 fxe5 44. fxe5 Bg4 45. Nf4 (45. Nc7 {again is more accurate, as it controls the queening square}) 45... Bf5 46. e6+ Ke8 47. Nd5 Bc2 {and Bl resigned while Wh was checking whether Nf6ch ( the N might get lost but it doesn't matter much or Nc7ch was best} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Steynton A- Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1940"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 g6 2. Bf4 Bg7 3. e3 d6 4. c3 Nd7 5. Nf3 e5 6. Bg5 {1 Wh win,6 draws & 13 Bl wins} (6. dxe5) (6. Bg3 {main lines}) 6... Ne7 {main} 7. Be2 (7. Nbd2 {main} ) 7... O-O 8. O-O {perhaps a little early, given that the Bl forces are ready to move forward in this area} (8. Na3 f6 9. Bh4 Nf5 10. Bg3 Nxg3 11. hxg3 c6 12. dxe5 Nxe5 13. Qb3+ Nf7 14. O-O-O Qe7 $11 {Wagenaar-Maes, NATO ch tm, Stetten Am Kalte Markt , 1999 ,1/2-1/2}) (8. Qc2 h6 9. Bh4 f5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nbd2 Nb6 12. h3 Be6 13. Nh2 exd4 14. cxd4 f4 $17 {Nomalungelo-Sherif, Batumi ol women 2018,0-1}) 8... h6 (8... f6 {Stockfish9 & Komodo12}) 9. Bh4 (9. Bxe7) 9... Qe8 (9... g5 10. Bg3 f5 11. dxe5 dxe5 $11 {Rudy & Stockfish9}) (9... e4 10. Nfd2 g5 (10... Qe8) 11. Bg3 f5 $11 {Komodo12} (11... Nf6)) 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. e4 g5 12. Bg3 Ng6 $11 13. Ne1 (13. Nbd2) 13... Nc5 $17 14. Qd5 Qe7 $17 { Komodo12} (14... Ne6 15. Nd3 c6 16. Qb3 (16. Qd6 b6 17. Rd1 (17. Nd2 Ba6 18. c4 c5 19. Nxe5 Rd8 $19 {Komodo12}) (17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Bxe5 Nxe5 $19 19. Qxe5 Nf4) 17... c5 $17 {Komodo12} 18. Nxe5 Nef4 19. Bxf4 Nxf4 20. Bc4 Qxe5 $19) 16... Nef4 $17 {Rudy}) 15. Nd3 Nxd3 16. Qxd3 Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 {Bl has 2 good Bs & easier deployment} 18. Nd2 Re8 (18... Rd8 19. Qc2 g4 $17 {Komodo12 & Stockfish9 }) 19. Rfe1 Be6 $17 {Komodo12} (19... Bd7 $17 {Stockfish9}) 20. Qc2 c6 (20... g4 {both Engines}) 21. Rad1 b5 {giving Wh some targets on the Q side, when Bl's advantage lies in a K side attack} (21... g4 {Komodo12}) (21... h5 { Stockfish9}) 22. c4 (22. Nb3 $11 {Komodo12}) 22... a6 (22... b4 {Stockfish9, Komodo12 reckons this is =}) (22... Qb4 $15 {Komodo12}) 23. Nb3 Red8 (23... Rad8 $15 {both Engines}) 24. Na5 Rac8 25. Rxd8+ Qxd8 $17 26. b4 {Komodo12} (26. Nb3 {Stockfish9}) 26... c5 $6 (26... Qe7 {Stockfish9} 27. c5 g4 $15) (26... Qf6 27. Rd1 g4 $17 {Komodo12}) (26... Qd4 27. Rd1 Qc3 28. Qxc3 Bxc3 29. a3 c5 $15 { Komodo12}) 27. Rd1 {both players running low on time} (27. Nb7 $1 $11 {Iolo & both Engines} Qb6 28. Nxc5 bxc4 (28... Rxc5 29. bxc5 Qxc5 30. Rc1 $16 {pm analysis}) 29. Rd1 (29. Nxe6 {Komodo12 & Rudy} Qxe6 30. h3 $11) 29... c3 30. Bxa6 Rxc5 31. bxc5 Qxa6 32. Rd8+ Bf8 (32... Kh7 33. e5+ $18) 33. Qxc3 Qxa2 34. h3 f3 $11 {Komodo12}) 27... Qb6 $17 {both Engines} 28. Qd2 (28. Nb3 {both Engines} cxb4 29. c5 Bxb3 30. axb3 Rxc5 31. Qd2 Be5 $17 {Komodo12}) 28... bxc4 (28... cxb4 29. Qxb4 Bf8 $19 {both Engines}) 29. Nxc4 {Stockfish9} (29. Bxc4 { Komodo12}) 29... Qxb4 30. Qc2 Rb8 (30... Qc3 31. Qa4 Bd4 32. Qxa6 Rb8 $19 { Komodo12, going for the K side once more}) 31. Rc1 (31. e5 $15 {Komodo12-gains a bit of space for Wh & keeps the barricade of the bl pawns} Bxc4 32. Bxc4 $14 Bxe5 $2 33. Qg6+ Bg7 34. Bxf7+ Kh8 35. Bb3 $16) 31... Bd4 $19 {both Engines} 32. Nd2 Qa3 33. Nc4 (33. Nb3 $5 {both Engines} Bxb3 34. axb3 Rxb3 35. Rb1 Rxb1+ 36. Qxb1 Kg7 $19) 33... Bxc4 34. Qxc4 Rb4 35. Qxa6 $2 (35. Qc2 Rb2 36. Qd3 Qxd3 37. Bxd3 Rxf2 38. Kh1 Rxa2 $19) 35... Qxc1+ 36. Bf1 Qe1 (36... Bxf2+ {Komodo12} 37. Kh1 (37. Kxf2 Qe3#) 37... c4 38. Qc8+ Kg7 39. h4 Bg3 40. Kg1 Rb1 {and Wh has a few spite checks left before mate.}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, J."] [Black "Miller, John S"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "1755"] [BlackElo "1629"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.11.03"] 1. e4 e6 2. d3 c5 3. g3 (3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 d6 5. Be2 {Van Kemenade-Miller,Dyfed League jan 2018,1-0}) 3... Nc6 4. Nf3 g6 {turning the French into a Closed Sicilian} 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O d6 7. Re1 Nge7 8. c3 e5 9. Nbd2 (9. a3 {to loosen the centre grip with b4}) (9. Be3 {aiming for d4}) 9... O-O 10. Nf1 h6 {main} 11. Ne3 {main} (11. Be3 f5 12. Qd2 Kh7 {& results favour Bl}) 11... Be6 12. Nh4 g5 $6 {not a good idea as it weakens f5 & other wh squares} (12... d5 $11 { main- the results favour Bl, but somehow the Bl player was also much higher rated}) 13. Nhf5 $16 Bxf5 14. exf5 d5 15. Qf3 {Fritz15} (15. Qh5 {Komodo12}) 15... e4 {hoping to distract Wh from the K side} 16. dxe4 Ne5 17. Qh5 $18 d4 18. cxd4 (18. Rd1 Qb6 19. f4 $1 {Komodo12} dxe3 20. fxe5 e2 21. Qxe2 Bxe5 22. Be3 $16) 18... cxd4 19. Ng4 (19. Rd1 Qb6 20. Ng4 $16 {Komodo12}) 19... Nxg4 20. Qxg4 Nc6 21. f4 f6 {more weaknesses on the wh squares & doesn't do much for the B} (21... d3 {Fritz15 & Komodo12- Bl must keep pushing in the centre to maintain his K side} 22. Rd1 Bxb2 23. Bxb2 Qb6+ 24. Kh1 Qxb2 25. e5 $16 Qe2 26. Bf3 Qe3 27. Qh5 d2 28. Bg2 $16) 22. Bd2 $18 (22. e5 $1 $18 {Rudy- Fritz15 & Komodo12} fxe5 23. fxg5 hxg5 24. Bxg5 Qd7 25. Be4 {Bl has no play because his bl square pawns get in the way, while Wh gets on to bring more reserves to bear onto the K eg} Rf7 26. Bd3 (26. Qf3) 26... Ne7 27. Bxe7 Qxe7 28. Bc4 (28. Rac1)) 22... Qd7 23. Qe2 (23. e5 fxe5 24. fxg5 Qxf5 25. Qxf5 Rxf5 26. gxh6 $18 {Komodo12}) (23. Bf1 d3 24. Re3 Qd4 25. Bxd3 $18 {Komodo12}) 23... Rad8 (23... d3 24. Qe3 Rfd8 25. Rad1 Bf8 26. e5 $18 (26. Qf2 $18 {Komodo12})) (23... Rfd8) 24. Qc4+ (24. Qd3 $18 {Komodo12}) 24... Qf7 25. Qxf7+ (25. Bf1 $18 {Rudy & Komodo12}) 25... Rxf7 (25... Kxf7 26. Bf1 $18) 26. Bf1 (26. Rac1 $16) (26. e5 fxe5 27. fxg5 hxg5 28. Bxg5 Bf6 29. Bd2 d3 30. Be4 $16 {Komodo12}) 26... d3 27. Re3 Rfd7 28. Rc1 Bf8 29. a3 $16 a5 (29... Bd6 {Komodo12} 30. Rxd3 gxf4 31. gxf4 Bxa3 32. Rxd7 Rxd7 33. Bc3 Bc5+ 34. Kg2 Be3 35. Rc2 Bxf4 36. Bxf6 $16) 30. Rc3 $18 gxf4 31. gxf4 Nd4 32. Rg3+ (32. Rcxd3 Bc5 33. Kh1 Nxf5 34. exf5 Bxe3 35. Rxd7 Rxd7 36. Bxe3 $18 {Komodo12- the 2 Bs normally are better than a R, but a little unclear here} Re7 37. Bb6 Kg7 38. Kg2 a4 39. Kf2 Rd7 40. Ke3 Re7+ 41. Kd3 Re1 42. Bg2 Rd1+ 43. Ke3 Rc1 44. Be4 Re1+ 45. Kd3 Rd1+ 46. Kc3 Re1 47. Bxb7 Re2 48. Bg1 Re1 49. Bf2 Re2 50. Bg3 {and Wh is slowly making progress}) 32... Kh7 33. Bxd3 (33. Rcxd3 {a little easier as Wh keeps the 2 Bs}) 33... Ne2+ 34. Bxe2 Rxd2 35. Bh5 (35. Rc7+ $18 {Komodo12} R8d7 (35... Kh8 36. Bc4 Bd6 37. Rxb7 Rc2 (37... Bxf4 38. Rgg7) 38. Bd5 Rdc8 39. Rgg7 R2c7 40. Rbxc7 Rxc7 41. Rg8+ Kh7 42. e5 fxe5 43. f6 $18 {Komodo12}) 36. Rxd7+ Rxd7 37. Kf2 Bc5+ 38. Kf3 a4 39. e5 $18 {Komodo12}) 35... Rxb2 {trying to mate while grabbing pawns} (35... Bd6 $1 {Komodo12 may hold} 36. Rb3 (36. Rgf3 Rxb2 37. Rfd3 Bc5+ 38. Kh1 Rxd3 39. Rxd3 a4 40. e5 Rb1+ 41. Kg2 Rb2+ 42. Kf3 Rb3 43. Ke4 Rxd3 44. Kxd3 Bxa3 45. Be8 Bc1 46. Bxa4 Bxf4 47. e6 Bd6 48. Ke4 Kg7 49. Kd5 Ba3 50. Kc4 Kf8 51. Kb5 Bd6 52. h3 Bc7 53. Bc2 Ke7 54. Be4 b6 55. Kc6 Bg3 56. Kxb6 Bd6 {draw- Wh cannot force the Bl K to move}) 36... b6 37. Rg2 Bxf4 38. Kf1 Bxh2 39. Rxd2 Rxd2 40. Rxb6 Be5 41. Rb7+ Kh8 42. b4 axb4 43. axb4 Rd4 44. Bf3 Rc4 45. Ke2 Rc2+ 46. Ke3 Rc3+ 47. Kf2 Bd4+ 48. Kg3 Be5+ $11 {as Wh has to stay protecting the B} 49. Kg4 $2 h5+ $19) 36. Rcd3 (36. Kh1 $1 $16 {Komodo12} Rb1+ (36... Rdd2 37. Rc7+ Kh8 38. Rc8 Kh7 (38... Rxh2+ 39. Kg1 Rxh5 40. Rxf8+ Kh7 41. Rf7+ Kh8 42. Rc3 {and Bl gets mated}))) 36... Rxd3 37. Rxd3 Bc5+ 38. Kh1 b6 {playing safe(guarding B & P) is not always the best} (38... a4 {is better according to both Engines, as it provides a support for the Bl R} 39. Rd7+ {must be played at once if Wh is to have any winning chances} (39. e5 Rb1+ 40. Kg2 Rb2+ 41. Kf3 Rb3 42. Ke4 Rxd3 43. Kxd3 Bxa3 44. Be8 Bc1 45. e6 Kg7 46. Bxa4 Kf8 {and Bl blockades as in a previous note}) 39... Kg8 (39... Kh8 40. e5 Bxa3 41. exf6 Bf8 42. Rd8 Kg8 43. f7+ Kg7 44. f6+ $18) 40. e5 Rb6 (40... Bxa3 41. Bf7+ Kf8 42. exf6 $1 Rb6 43. Be6 $18) 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. e6 Bxa3 43. Rd7+ Kf8 (43... Kg8 44. Kg2 (44. e7 Bxe7 45. Rxe7 a3 46. Bf3 Rb2 47. Bd5+ Kf8 48. Rf7+ Ke8 49. Rxf6 h5 50. Rf7 a2 51. Bxa2 Rxa2 52. Rxb7 Rf2 53. Rh7 Rxf4 54. Rxh5 Kf7 {is drawn}) 44... Bb4 45. e7 (45. Rd8+ Kh7 46. Ra8 a3 $11) 45... Bxe7 46. Rxe7 a3 47. Bf7+ Kf8 48. Rc7 Rb2+ 49. Kg3 a2 (49... b5 50. Be6 b4 51. Ra7 Ke8 52. h3 Kd8 53. Kg4 $18) 50. Bxa2 Rxa2 51. Rxb7 h5 52. Rh7 Rb2 53. Rxh5 Kg7 54. Kg4 Rb3 55. Rh3 Rb2 56. Kh4 Rf2 57. Kg3 {still looks drawn as neither the K nor thr R can get active} (57. Kg4 Rb2))) 39. Bg6+ (39. e5 Rf2 40. e6 Rxf4 41. Rd7+ Kh8 42. e7 Bxe7 43. Rxe7 Rxf5 44. Be2 b5 45. Rb7 b4 46. axb4 axb4 47. Rxb4 {and with the last pawn, wh will have great trouble winning- if Rs come off, its a draw as the B fails to control the Queening square}) 39... Kg7 40. Rd7+ Kf8 (40... Kg8 41. Rd8+ Kg7 42. e5 Bxa3 43. Rd7+ Kg8 44. exf6 $18 Rc2 45. Rg7+ Kh8 (45... Kf8 46. Rh7 Kg8 47. f7+ Kf8 48. f6 {mating net}) 46. Rh7+ Kg8 47. f7+ Kf8 48. f6 { the same}) 41. Rf7+ Kg8 (41... Ke8 {running away seems to hold} 42. Rxf6+ Kd8 43. e5 Bxa3 44. Re6 Kc7 (44... Rf2 45. Rxb6 Kc7 46. Ra6 Bb4 47. e6 Rxf4 48. Ra7+ Kb6 49. Rd7 Re4 50. Kg2 (50. Bf7 Rf4 51. e7 Bxe7 52. Rxe7 Rxf5 {will draw} ) 50... a4 51. Rd1 a3 52. Kf3 Re5 53. Kf4 Bc3) 45. f6 Rf2 46. f5 Bc5 47. Re8 a4 48. Ra8 a3 49. e6 Bd6 50. h3 Re2 51. e7 Bxe7 (51... Rxe7 52. Ra7+ Kd8 53. fxe7+ Bxe7 54. Bf7 $18) 52. fxe7 Rxe7 53. Rxa3 $18) 42. Rxf6 Be3 {trying to break the centre pawns} (42... Bxa3 {leads to all sorts of complex lines} 43. e5 Bc5 44. Rc6 Rf2 45. Rc8+ (45. e6 Be7 46. Rc7 Kf8 47. f6 Bxf6 48. Rf7+ Ke8 49. f5 $1 (49. Rxf6+ Ke7 50. Rf7+ Kxe6 51. Kg1 Rf3 52. Kg2 Rb3 53. f5+ Ke5 54. Re7+ Kf6 55. Re6+ Kg5 56. Bh7 $18)) 45... Kg7 46. Bh5 Rxf4 47. f6+ Kh7 48. Kg2 a4 49. Kg3 Rf1 50. Be2 Rg1+ (50... Rxf6 {Komodo12} 51. exf6 Kg6 52. Rc6 a3 53. Bd3+ Kf7 54. Bc4+ Kg6 55. Kf4 $18) 51. Kf4 Rg8 52. Rxc5 bxc5 53. Bd3+ Kh8 54. e6 $18 {Komodo12 nudged several times}) 43. Rc6 $18 Bxf4 (43... Bd4 44. e5 Rf2 45. e6 (45. f6 Rf1+ 46. Kg2 Rg1+ 47. Kf3 Rxg6 48. Rc8+ Kf7 (48... Kh7 49. f7 Bc5 50. Rxc5) 49. Ke4 Rxf6 50. Rc7+ Kg6 51. exf6 Bxf6 52. Rb7 Bd8 53. Rb8 Bc7 54. Rc8 $18) 45... Bf6 46. Rxb6 Be7 47. Rb7 Bh4 48. e7 Bxe7 49. Rxe7 Rxf4 50. Kg2 $18) 44. f6 (44. f6 Rb1+ {Iolo} 45. Kg2 Rc1 46. Re6 $1 {Rudy; best Komodo12} (46. f7+ Kg7 47. Rf6 Kf8 48. Rxf4 {Komodo12 also wins, but more slowly}) (46. Rxc1 Bxc1 {gives Wh winning chances as Wh has 2 passed pawns, but should be drawn with care} 47. a4 (47. Kf3 Bxa3 48. Kf4 {might just work as Wh has mating chances, but must avoid the B giving itself up for the 2 centre pawns} a4 49. e5 Bb4 50. e6 Kf8 51. Be4 Bc5 52. Ke5 a3 53. Bb1 h5 54. Kd5 h4 55. h3 Ke8 56. Ba2 (56. Kc6 a2 57. Bxa2 Bd4 58. f7+ Ke7 {draws}) 56... Kd8 57. Kc6 Ke8 { and Bl holds}) 47... Bb2 48. f7+ Kf8 49. Kf3 Be5 50. h3 b5 $1 51. axb5 a4 52. Bf5 Kxf7 53. Bd7 Ke7 54. Bc6 Kd6 55. Kg4 Kc5 56. Kh5 Bf4 $11 57. e5 $2 a3 $19) 46... Bd6 {just delays the inevitable} (46... Rc8 47. Re8+ $1 {Komodo12} (47. f7+ {Rudy} Kg7 48. Re8 Rc2+ 49. Kf3 Bd6 50. Rg8+ Kf6 51. e5+ Kxe5 52. Bxc2 Bxa3 53. f8=Q Bxf8 54. Rxf8 {is slower}) 47... Rxe8 48. f7+ Kg7 49. fxe8=Q) 47. Rxd6 Rc8 48. e5 Rf8 49. Rd7 b5 50. Rg7+ Kh8 51. Rh7+ Kg8 52. f7+ Rxf7 53. Rxf7 b4 54. e6 bxa3 55. e7 a2 56. e8=R#) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:SteyntonA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Hammett, S."] [Black "Cook, James"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "1524"] [BlackElo "1491"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "85"] [EventDate "2018.11.02"] 1. f4 Nf6 (1... d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 (2... g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Nc3 e5 5. fxe5 dxe5 6. Be2 Ne7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 b6 9. Bb2 Bb7 10. Na4 {Hammett-Haigh, Dyfed League 2016, 0-1}) 3. e3 c6 4. Be2 Nbd7 5. O-O Qc7 6. b3 e5 7. Ng5 h6 8. Nxf7 $5 {Hammett-J Van Kemenade,Dyfed League 2011,0-1}) 2. Nf3 d6 3. e3 g6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O Nc6 6. Nc3 O-O 7. b3 (7. d3 {alternative}) 7... a6 (7... e5 {Cloud Engines} 8. fxe5 (8. d3 exf4 9. exf4 Nd5 10. Bd2 Nxc3 {Magarin-Price, World Schools ch Girls U17,2012,0-1}) 8... dxe5 9. Bb2 h6 10. e4 Be6 11. d3 Nd7 12. Qe1 Kh7 13. Qg3 Rg8 {Pirker-Wolfram, AUT ch U16, Saalfelden 2005,0-1}) 8. Bb2 (8. d4 $11 { Komodo12}) 8... b5 (8... e5) 9. Nb1 Bb7 10. Nd4 (10. a4 $11) (10. c4 $11) 10... Nxd4 11. Bxd4 c5 $17 (11... e5 $17 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Bb2 (13. Bxe5 Qd5 14. Bf3 Qxe5 15. Bxb7 Rab8 $19) 13... Nd7 $17 {Komodo12}) 12. Bb2 Qd7 13. Bf3 d5 $15 ( 13... Bxf3 14. Qxf3 d5 $15) 14. d3 Rfd8 15. Nd2 Rab8 (15... d4 $5) 16. Be5 Rbc8 {Bl controls more space in the centre, but the Wh pieces can be resilient in the face of any advance} 17. Rb1 Ne8 18. Bxg7 Nxg7 (18... Kxg7) 19. Bg4 e6 ( 19... f5 20. Bh3 Qd6 $15 {Komodo12}) 20. e4 f5 (20... dxe4 21. Nxe4 (21. dxe4 Qxd2) 21... Qd4+ {avoids Nf6 ch} 22. Nf2 (22. Rf2 f5 23. c3 Qe3 $19) 22... Qxf4 $19 {Komodo12- Bl has picked up a useful pawn, & his pieces dominate}) 21. exf5 exf5 22. Bf3 Ne6 23. g3 Nd4 24. Bg2 Re8 25. Rf2 Re6 26. Nf3 Nxf3+ 27. Bxf3 Rce8 (27... d4 28. Bxb7 Qxb7 29. Qf3 Qe7 $17 {Komodo12}) 28. Qd2 Qe7 29. c4 (29. d4 {keeps the Bl B locked in}) 29... d4 {Bl dominates the e file & has a jumping off point at e3} 30. Kf1 $2 (30. Bxb7 Qxb7 31. cxb5 Qxb5 32. a4 Qc6 $17) 30... Re3 $19 {missing a chance to infiltrate even further into Wh territory, though Bl should still be winning} (30... Bxf3 31. Rxf3 Re2 32. Qd1 Rxh2 33. Kg1 Rxa2) 31. Bxb7 (31. Bg2 Bxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Qb7+ 33. Kg1 bxc4 34. dxc4 Qe4 $19 {Komodo121} ) 31... Qxb7 32. Kg1 Qe7 (32... bxc4 33. dxc4 Qe4 34. Rd1 d3 $19 (34... h5 $19) ) 33. Rd1 b4 34. Qc2 Qb7 (34... h5 {Rudy & Komodo12, to create more open lines around the Wh K}) 35. Qd2 R8e6 36. Rg2 Qe7 37. Kf1 Kf7 {(draw?)} (37... h5 $19) 38. Qf2 {Wh should have accepted} Qb7 39. Qd2 (39. Kg1 h5 40. h4 Rf3 41. Qc2 Ree3 42. Kh2 Qe7 43. Kh3 (43. Rdd2 Rxg3 $1 {mating}) 43... Rxf4 $19 {Komodo12}) 39... Rf3+ (39... Qf3+ $1 {Komodo12} 40. Kg1 (40. Qf2 Qxd1+) (40. Rf2 Qh1#) 40... Re2 41. Rxe2 Rxe2 {wins the Q or mates}) 40. Rf2 (40. Kg1 Qe7 41. Kh1 Ree3 42. Qc2 h5 $19 {Komodo12}) 40... Rxd3 (40... Rxg3 {Komodo12 is even stronger}) 41. Rg2 (41. Kg1 Rxd2 42. Rdxd2) 41... Rxd2 (41... Qf3+ $1 {Komodo12 }) 42. Rdxd2 Qf3+ 43. Rdf2 0-1 [Event "Aberystwyth Challenge"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Hardman, Dan"] [Black "Headley, Francis"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "1306"] [BlackElo "1182"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2018.11.07"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 O-O 5. Bg5 {the Smslov System, based on a restrained e3 so as not to give Bl e4 as a target} d6 6. e3 Nbd7 {main} (6... c5) 7. Bd3 (7. Be2 {doesn't obstruct the d file, so gives Wh an option of Rd1should Bl think of opening the centre}) 7... c5 (7... e5) (7... c6 { alternatives}) 8. d5 (8. O-O {main, keeping the pawns more flexible}) 8... h6 ( 8... Ng4 9. Qc2 Nde5 {main}) 9. Bh4 Ng4 (9... g5 10. Bg3 Re8 11. Nd2 Ne5 12. Bxe5 dxe5 13. O-O Bg4 14. Qc2 Qc8 15. f4 {AH Williams-RS Jones, WCPL 2012,1-0}) (9... a6 10. a4 Rb8 11. O-O g5 12. Bg3 Nh5 13. Nd2 Nxg3 14. hxg3 Ne5 15. Be2 Bf5 16. Nf3 Bg6 {Colaco-Vieira, Pan American Amateur ch, Curitiba 2015,0-1}) ( 9... Nb6 10. b3 Bg4 11. O-O Nfd7 12. h3 Bxf3 13. Qxf3 Bxc3 14. Rac1 Bg7 $19 { Letourneur-Grynblat, FRA ch tm U18, 2000,1-0!}) 10. O-O (10. h3 Nge5 11. O-O Re8 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Be4 Nxc4 {Sly-Moylan, Australian Capital City ch U18, 1993,0-1}) 10... Nge5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Be2 Qe8 (12... g5 13. Bg3 f5 {Rudy} 14. f4 Ng6 15. Bh5 Kh7 $14) (12... f5 13. Qd2 a6 $11 {Komodo12}) 13. f4 Nd7 14. e4 a6 15. a4 Nb6 {simply encourages the pawn forward} (15... b6 16. Bf2 Rb8 17. Qd3 Bb7 18. Rae1 Qd8 $14 {Bl needs to wait & see what Wh will do & then hope for a counter attack}) 16. a5 Nd7 17. Qd2 b6 18. axb6 (18. e5 dxe5 19. f5 g5 20. Bf2 Rb8 21. h4 $16 {Wh is probing various weaknesses & has e4 for his pieces}) 18... Nxb6 19. Bg3 (19. e5 $16) 19... Bd7 20. e5 Qb8 21. exd6 { clarifies the position- Bl should be pleased to see the end of a weak e7 pawn, & happy to get the e file for the Rs} (21. Bf2 dxe5 22. fxe5 Bxe5 23. Bxc5 $16 {Komodo12}) 21... exd6 $11 22. Bd3 Qc7 (22... f5 $1 {is neccessary to prevent Wh from playing there & opening up the Bl K side.It also restrains the Wh QB}) 23. Rac1 {Wh is being extra cautious, but it does give Bl time as well} (23. f5 $1 $16 Bxf5 24. Bxf5 gxf5 25. Qd3 Qd7 26. Rf3 $14) 23... Rae8 (23... f5 $1) ( 23... Rfe8 {is also a little better than using the QR}) 24. b3 a5 $2 {gives up the b5 square ( in any case, this move, with the aim of a4 , would be better (later) if it had the QR behind it} (24... f5 $1 $11) 25. f5 $18 Bxf5 (25... gxf5 26. Bf4 Kh7 27. Nb5 Bxb5 28. Bxf5+ Kh8 29. cxb5 $18 {Komodo12}) 26. Bxf5 ( 26. Nb5 {first prevents any Bd4 ch's}) 26... gxf5 27. Rxf5 $16 {this can be left till later} (27. Nb5 $18) 27... Nd7 (27... Qd7 28. Rcf1 a4 29. Nxa4 Nxa4 30. bxa4 Re4 31. Qd3 Re3 32. Qd2 (32. Qxe3 Bd4) 32... Ra3 33. Qf4 Rxa4 34. Bh4 $16 {Bl still has some resitance left & is not actually behind in material}) 28. Nb5 $18 Qd8 29. Bxd6 (29. Nxd6 {is also very strong}) 29... Qh4 30. Bxf8 Nxf8 31. Qf2 (31. Rcf1) 31... Qxf2+ 32. Kxf2 Ng6 33. d6 (33. Re1 {swapping down favours the side ahead in material}) 33... Rd8 34. Rxc5 Rxd6 $5 {but it shouldn't work anyway, even if Wh falls for it} 35. Nxd6 (35. Rc8+ {picks up a whole R}) 35... Bd4+ 36. Kf3 Bxc5 37. Ne4 (37. Nb7) 37... Bb4 38. c5 $18 Ne5+ 39. Ke3 Nc6 40. Rc4 Kg7 41. Nc3 (41. Ng3 Kf6 42. Ke4 Ke6 43. Nf5 {and Bl will be running out of good moves soon}) 41... Ne5 42. Rxb4 (42. Kd4 Nxc4 43. Kxc4 Ba3 44. Nb5 Bb2 45. Nd6 (45. c6 Be5 46. c7 Bxc7 47. Nxc7 {is good enough}) 45... Ba3 46. Kd5 Bxc5 47. Kxc5 {comes to the same}) 42... axb4 43. Nd5 Nc6 44. Kd3 Ne5+ 45. Kd4 f6 46. Nxb4 {with a comfortable win for Wh} 1-0