Slow Start

Aberystwyth's slow start to the season continued in our second match on Monday 14th October when we played Carmarthen at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes. On top board, Rudy van Kemenade met Huw Morcom's 1.Nf3 in Dutch style by f5, a line that can be dangerous if you don't know what you're doing, but Rudy, as usual, was well prepared and reached a position where his knight was much stronger than White's bad bishop, eventually breaking through with his rooks. Julie van Kemenade had to give up the exchange against David Buttell's Sicilian; she had compensation, but her own vulnerable king succumbed before she could force home her attack. James Cook found himself with tripled pawns in a Caro-Kann against Robert Narayan-Taylor; despite this, the position was level for much of the game, till White was able to give up his passed h-pawn for a winning attack against the king. An h-pawn also came in useful for Tom Gunn, playing his first game for the club, against Mark Reynolds. His Colle System brought the kingside attack White tries for in this opening, and the runaway pawn provided support for the Queen to mate. A second 2-2 draw left Aber already with a bit of ground to make up on champions Cardigan.

Steynton B were the opponents at the Emlyn Cafe two weeks later, on 28 October. Rudy's Bird's Opening brought him a dominant centre, which Mark Paffard tried to break up with a bishop sacrifice. After the resulting complications, White's attack was eventually stopped but by now he had an overwhelming material advantage. Adam Watkin-Jones steered for an ending against Scott Hammett's Stonewall, but might have been better advised to keep some of the minor pieces on - he had no advantage in the king and pawn ending, and might even have lost at one point trying to force a win. My Exchange Variation against John Miller's French brought me slight but persistent pressure in the centre, and I was able to win a pawn and the resulting ending as Black played too passively. Tom Gunn, after his winning start in the first match, was brought down to earth in his second. He neglected to deal with a pinned knight when defending Jonathan Jones's Jobava London System, allowing the kingside to be ripped open. At last a win for Aber, 2½-1½.

[Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-Carmarthen"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Morcom, Huw"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "1892"] [BlackElo "2040"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "102"] [EventDate "2019.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.10.15"] 1. Nf3 (1. e4 e5 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Ngf3 Nc6 5. g3 Bc5 6. Bg2 dxe4 7. dxe4 Bg4 {Morcom-Van Kemenade, West Wales op 2007,0-1}) 1... f5 (1... Nf6 2. d3 g6 3. e4 d6 4. Be2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6. Nbd2 e5 7. c3 c5 {Morcom-B Brewer, Dyfed League 2019,1/2-1/2}) 2. d3 (2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 O-O 6. Nbd2 d6 7. e4 fxe4 8. dxe4 e5 9. c3 Qe7 10. Re1 Nc6 11. Nf1 Nd8 12. Qc2 b6 13. Bg5 Ne6 14. Bd2 Bb7 {Morcom-I White, Dyfed -Gwent 2000,0-1}) 2... d6 (2... Nf6 3. e4 {is a delayed Lisitsyn Gambit, when} fxe4 4. dxe4 Nxe4 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Ng5 { is a dangerous attack, 74% for Wh}) 3. e4 e5 4. Be2 (4. Nc3 Nf6 {is actually a Latvian Gambit, beloved of Scott Hammett, where Wh has played the rather slow d3.}) 4... Nc6 5. c3 (5. Nc3 Nf6 {is more frequent, though Wh only scores 27% from it}) 5... Nf6 6. Nbd2 a5 (6... Be7 7. O-O {main; though} (7. b4 {2-1})) ( 6... g6 7. O-O Bg7 {2 games each & 2 draws} 8. b4 {1.5-0.5}) 7. a4 (7. O-O Be7 8. a4 O-O 9. Qb3+ Kh8 10. exf5 Bxf5 11. Qxb7 Qd7 12. Qb3 Rab8 13. Qd1 d5 { Umanec-Marholev, Marianske Laszny 2014,1/2-1/2}) 7... g6 (7... Be7 8. Qb3 d5 { considered}) 8. O-O Bg7 9. Qb3 Qe7 10. Re1 (10. exf5 gxf5 11. d4 e4 12. Ng5 Bd7 13. Re1 O-O-O $11 {Komodo13; but the position is unbalanced so chances for both sides}) 10... Nd8 (10... Be6 11. Nc4 (11. Qxb7 Kd7 12. exf5 Bd5 13. c4 Rhb8 14. cxd5 Nb4 $17 {and the Q is lost}) 11... O-O-O $11 {Komodo13}) 11. Bf1 (11. d4 $5 {opening up while the Bl K is still in the centre, but Bl seems to have adequate resources} fxe4 12. dxe5 dxe5 13. Ng5 e3 14. fxe3 (14. Nde4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 exf2+ 16. Nxf2 Be6 17. Bb5+ c6 18. Bc4 O-O $11) 14... e4 15. Rf1 h6 16. Nh3 Bxh3 17. gxh3 Nf7 18. Qxb7 O-O $15 {Komodo13}) 11... Be6 12. Qc2 fxe4 { stopping d4 & also looking for longterm pressure down the f file . The Wh pieces are just not placed yet to use the d file .} 13. dxe4 O-O 14. Ra3 { to defend the K side, however the move entails making Wh's next move as well & this creates some later problems} (14. Nc4 {developing, trying for a N on d5, & Rs on the d file looks a better strategic plan}) 14... Nh5 $15 15. c4 { otherwise the R is cut off. However Wh has now weakened the bl squares & hemmed in his Wh square B, which leads eventually to the loss of the game} (15. Nc4 {now allows Bl a promising exchange sacrifice, considered} Rxf3 16. gxf3 Nf7 (16... Nf4 {also}) 17. Kh1 Ng5 18. Qd1 Rf8 $15 {Komodo13}) 15... Nc6 $17 16. Rc3 (16. Nb1 $5 Bg4 17. Bg5 Bf6 18. Bxf6 Qxf6 19. Nbd2 Nd4 $17 {Komodo13}) 16... b6 {preventing any c5 pawn breaks} 17. g3 Bh6 {so as not to left with this as a bad B} (17... h6 18. Bg2 Qd7 {does have some points}) 18. Bg2 Qg7 ( 18... Qd7 {prevents h3, but leaves a loose B}) 19. Nf1 Bxc1 20. Qxc1 Qf6 { Bl is trying to get a position with a good N vs a bad B} (20... h6) (20... Nf6 21. Ng5 Bd7 22. Nf3 Bg4 $17 {Komodo13}) 21. Qg5 Qf7 22. Ne3 Nd4 (22... Qg7 23. Nd5 Rac8 24. Qd2 Bg4 25. Rd3 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 Nd4 (26... Nf6) 27. Bxh5 gxh5 28. f4 c6 29. Nc3 Rxf4 30. Rxd4 exd4 31. Qxf4 dxc3 32. bxc3 Rf8 33. Qxd6 Qxc3 34. Qd1 h4 $11 {Komodo13}) 23. Ng4 {falling in with Bl's plans} (23. Nf5 $1 {Komodo13, holds the balance} Nxf3+ (23... Bxf5 24. exf5 Rae8 25. Qd2 Nxf3+ 26. Bxf3 Nf6 27. fxg6 Qxg6 28. Bc6 $14 {Wh's B has been liberated}) 24. Rxf3 Qd7 25. Ne7+ Kh8 26. Nd5 Kg7 $11 {the N is well-placed on d5}) 23... Bxg4 24. Qxg4 Nxf3+ ( 24... Ne6 $17 25. Rf1 Nf6 26. Qh4 Nc5 27. b3 Qg7 28. Nd2 Nfd7 $17 {Komodo13}) 25. Qxf3 (25. Rxf3 {keeping Qs on seems better for Wh}) 25... Qd7 (25... Qxf3 26. Bxf3 Nf6 27. Rf1 Nd7 28. h4 Nc5 29. b3 Rf6 $17 {is a simpler solution, but at this stage Bl was angling to put the N into d4}) 26. Qd1 Rf7 (26... Rad8 { Komodo13 prevents Wh's possibility in the next note}) 27. b3 (27. f4 $11 exf4 ( 27... Raf8 28. f5 Kh8 $11) 28. e5 Re8 29. Bd5 dxe5 30. Bxf7+ Qxf7 31. Qd5 Nf6 32. Qxf7+ Kxf7 33. gxf4 exf4 34. Rxe8 Kxe8 35. c5 $14 {Komodo13}) 27... Raf8 28. Rf1 Kh8 29. Rc2 Rf6 {allowing Wh another opportunity} (29... Nf6 30. f3 Qe6 31. Qc1 Nd7 $15 {Komodo13}) 30. Qd5 (30. c5 $1 bxc5 31. Rxc5 Qf7 32. Rxa5 Rxf2 33. Ra7 Rxf1+ 34. Qxf1 Nf6 35. Rb7 Qd7 36. Qc1 Qg4 37. Rxc7 Nxe4 38. Bxe4 Qxe4 39. Rc8 $11) 30... Qg4 {Bl is trying to get the N to e6 or d7 & preventing Wh's Bh3} 31. Qd1 Qe6 (31... Qxd1 32. Rxd1 Ng7 33. Bh3 g5 34. Bd7 h5 35. Rb2 Rd8 36. Bh3 g4 37. Bf1 Ne6 $17 {Komodo13, gets there as well}) 32. Qd5 Ng7 33. Qc6 R6f7 34. Qd5 Qg4 (34... g5) 35. Qd1 Qxd1 36. Rxd1 Ne6 37. Rf1 Nd4 $19 { and Wh 's pieces are doomed to passivity. Bl is planning to bring his K up into the Q side to finally tip the balance of forces in his favour. Komodo13 has not yet caught sight of this plan.} 38. Rb2 g5 39. Kh1 g4 40. Kg1 h5 41. h4 (41. Rd1 h4 {is a real threat} 42. gxh4 Rh7 43. Rd3 Rxh4 44. Rg3 Kh7 45. h3 gxh3 46. Rxh3 Rxh3 47. Bxh3 Rf3 48. Kg2 Rxb3 $19) 41... Kg7 (41... gxh3 { is the way to win according to Komodo13} 42. Bxh3 h4 43. Bf5 Nxf5 44. exf5 Rxf5 45. gxh4 Rg8+ 46. Kh2 Rf4 47. Kh3 Rgg4 48. h5 Kg7 49. Re2 Kh6 50. Re3 Kxh5 $19 {but thr R & p ending is more difficult than Bl's plan.}) 42. Rfb1 Rf6 (42... Kf6 {Komodo13, who now sees the plan, though doesn't yet allow that it's got to be winning}) 43. Kf1 Kf7 (43... Kg6 {Komodo13 is still keeping the K running round the K side though there are no prospects there at all}) 44. Ke1 Ke7 45. Rc1 Kd7 (45... Nxb3 $19 {wins material , but it will keep} 46. Rxb3 ( 46. Rc3 Nc5 47. Ra3 Kd7 $19) 46... Rxf2 47. Bh1 Rh2 48. Rd1 Rxh1+ 49. Kd2 Rh2+ 50. Kc3 Rf3+ 51. Rd3 Rxd3+ 52. Kxd3 Rg2 $19) 46. Rcb1 Kc6 {Komodo13 is able to see this now as a win} 47. Kf1 Kc5 48. Ke1 Kb4 49. Kf1 Ne6 (49... Kc3 50. Ra2 Nc2 {is another way to win the f2 pawn}) 50. Ke1 Nc5 51. Rd2 (51. Rd1 Kc3 52. Rbd2 Nxb3 {and Bl starts harvesting Wh pawns}) 51... Rxf2 (51... Nd3+ 52. Rxd3 Rxf2 {works, though}) (51... Kc3 52. Rc1+ Kxb3 $6 (52... Kb4 $19) 53. Rb1+ Kc3 54. Rc1+ Kb4 55. Rb1+ Kxc4 56. Bf1+ Kc3 57. Rc1+ Kb4 58. Rb1+ (58. Rb2+ { if Wh wants to play on} Ka3 (58... Kxa4 $2 59. Ra1#) 59. Rb5 Rxf2 60. Bc4 Ra2 61. Rc3+ Kxa4 62. Rb1 c6 63. Bxa2 b5 64. Re3 $16 {even a won game can easily be given away right at the last moment}) 58... Kc3 $11) (51... Rxf2 52. Rxf2 Nd3+ 53. Ke2 Rxf2+ (53... Nxf2 54. Rf1 Kxb3 {also wins as the B is useless against the a pawn}) 54. Kxd3 Rxg2 55. Rf1 Rxg3+ 56. Kc2 Rc3+ 57. Kd2 Rf3 $19 { more Wh pawns drop off.}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-Carmarthen"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, J."] [Black "Buttell, D."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B20"] [WhiteElo "1732"] [BlackElo "1874"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "91"] [EventDate "2019.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.10.15"] {[%evp 0,12,40,13,37,41,38,18,18,17,41,-4,45,45,48]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (3. g3) (3. f4 {main lines} g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bc4 e6 6. a3 a6 (6... d6 7. O-O Nge7 8. d3 O-O 9. Qe1 a6 10. Qh4 {Van Kemenade-Buttell, Dyfed League 2015,0-1}) 7. O-O Nge7 8. Ba2 O-O 9. d3 b5 10. Ne2 {Van Kemenade-Buttell, Dyfed League 2014,1/2-1/2}) 3... e6 4. Nf3 a6 5. a4 Nge7 (5... Nf6 {main}) 6. O-O (6. d4) 6... d6 (6... g6) 7. Re1 (7. d4 $16 {1-2, Stockfish10}) 7... Ng6 $146 { Stockfish10} (7... Nd4 {1-1}) 8. d3 Be7 9. Ne2 O-O 10. Ng3 d5 11. Ba2 (11. exd5 exd5 12. Ba2 $11 {Stockfish10}) 11... b5 12. c3 b4 (12... d4 $15 {Stockfish10}) 13. Bd2 a5 14. Qe2 Rb8 $15 15. Rad1 bxc3 (15... b3 16. Bb1 d4 $17 {buries the Wh B}) 16. bxc3 Rb2 17. Ra1 (17. Bb1 d4 18. cxd4 cxd4 19. Rc1 Qb6 20. Qd1 Ba6 21. Rc2 Rb8 22. Rxb2 Qxb2 $17 {Stockfish10}) 17... Ba6 (17... d4 18. cxd4 Nxd4 19. Nxd4 Qxd4 20. Bc4 Bg5 21. Rad1 (21. Red1 Rxd2 $19) (21. Bxg5 Rxe2 22. Nxe2 {may be Wh's best}) 21... Bd7 22. Nf1 Ne5 $19 (22... Rfb8 $19 {Stockfish10})) 18. exd5 exd5 19. Qd1 Nh4 (19... Bf6 20. Bb1 $11 (20. Nh5 $11)) 20. Bc1 (20. Nxh4 Bxh4 21. Bc1 Rb7 22. Ba3 $14 {Stockfish10}) 20... Rb7 21. Ba3 Nxf3+ (21... Ng6 22. Nf5 $16) 22. Qxf3 $18 Rd7 23. Nf5 Bf6 24. Rac1 {missing the reply} (24. d4 $1 $18 {seen by Bl} cxd4 (24... Nb4 25. cxb4 axb4 26. Bc1 c4 27. Bb1 $18) 25. Bxf8 Kxf8 26. Nxd4 Nxd4 27. cxd4 $18 {Stockfish10} Bxd4 28. Rad1 Bf6 29. Bxd5) 24... Ne5 25. Rxe5 {still gives Wh practical chances} (25. Qh3 {leads to a nest of complications} g6 (25... Nxd3 26. Bb1 g6 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Bxd3 $18) ( 25... Bxd3 26. Rxe5 Bxe5 27. Qxd3 $18) 26. Nh6+ Kg7 27. Bb1 Bc8 28. Bxc5 Re8 29. d4 Rc7 30. Qe3 Bg5 31. f4 Bxh6 32. Bb6 Rxc3 33. Bxd8 Rxe3 34. Rxe3 Rxd8 35. Rxe5 Bxf4 36. Rc5 Bxe5 37. dxe5 Ba6 $15 {Stockfish10}) 25... Bxe5 26. d4 Bf6 ( 26... cxd4 27. Bxf8 Kxf8 28. cxd4 Bf6 29. Qa3+ Kg8 30. Qe3 Kf8 $11 {Stockfish10 }) 27. Bxc5 (27. dxc5 {Stockfish10} Bb7 (27... Re8 28. c6 Rc7 29. Qxd5 Bc8 30. Bd6 Bxf5 31. Bxc7 Qe7 32. Qb5 Be4 33. Bxa5 Bxc6 34. Qf1 Bxa4 35. Bc4 $14 { Wh is a pawn up}) 28. Nd6 Bc6 29. Bxd5 Bxd5 30. Qxd5 Qa8 31. c4 $16 { Stockfish10; Wh is well entrenched in the centre}) 27... Re8 $19 28. g4 (28. Rb1 Re2) 28... Bg5 29. Rb1 Be2 30. Qg3 g6 (30... Re4 $1 31. f3 (31. Rb8 Rxg4 32. Rxd8+ Bxd8 33. Ne3 Rxg3+ 34. fxg3 Bf3 $19) 31... Bf4 32. Qf2 Re6 33. Re1 Bd3 34. Rxe6 fxe6 35. Ng3 Qg5 $19 {Stockfish10}) 31. h4 (31. Nd6 {looks promising , but peters out} Re6 32. Nb7 Qa8 33. Nd6 Qc6 34. Nf5 Qxa4 35. h4 Bd8 (35... Qxa2 36. Rb8+ Bd8 37. Be7 $11) 36. Bb3 Qc6 37. Bc2 Re8 $19 {Stockfish10} ) 31... gxf5 32. gxf5 h6 (32... f6 {is stronger= allows thr R to protect the K} 33. hxg5 Rg7 34. f4 fxg5 35. f6 Qxf6 36. Bxd5+ Kh8 37. f5 Qxf5 38. Rb8 Rgg8 39. Rxe8 (39. Bxg8 Rxb8 $19 40. Qxb8 Qf1+ 41. Kh2 Qf2+ 42. Kh1 (42. Kh3 g4#) 42... Bf3#) 39... Rxe8 40. Bg2 Kg8 $19) 33. Kh2 {both sides were running low on time here, Bl more than Wh} (33. f4 Qf6 $1 (33... f6 34. hxg5 Rg7 (34... fxg5 35. Rb6 Rg7 36. f6 Re3 {other moves lose} 37. Bxd5+ Qxd5 38. Rb8+ Kh7 39. Rh8+ Kxh8 40. fxg7+ Kxg7 41. Qxe3 Bc4 $11) 35. g6 Qd7 36. Rb6 Qxf5 37. Bb1 Qg4 38. Qxg4 Bxg4 39. Kf2 Rc7 40. Rxf6 Rb7 41. Bd3 Kg7 42. Rb6 Rxb6 43. Bxb6 Rf8 44. Bxa5 Rxf4+ 45. Ke3 Rf3+ 46. Kd2 $11 {Stockfish10}) 34. hxg5 Qxf5 (34... hxg5 35. Re1 Rdd8 36. Qxg5+ Qxg5+ 37. fxg5 Bf3 38. Re5 Be4 39. Be7 Rc8 40. c4 Bxf5 41. c5 Be4 42. Bd6 Rxe5 43. dxe5 Kg7 44. Kf2 $11 {Stockfish10})) 33... Bc4 (33... f6 $19) 34. Rg1 {trying to gain time for the attack} (34. Bxc4 dxc4 35. Rg1 (35. Rb6 Rd5 36. Rxh6 Rxf5 37. hxg5 Qxg5 38. d5 Qxg3+ 39. Kxg3 f6 (39... Rxd5 40. Bd4) 40. Bb6 Kg7 41. Rh4 Rxd5 42. Rxc4 Kg6 $17 {Wh has only one pawn for the exchange}) 35... f6 $19) 34... Bxa2 35. hxg5 Qc7 (35... hxg5 36. Bb6 Qf6 { and the attack runs out}) 36. f4 h5 37. Qh4 Re2+ (37... Qb8) 38. Kh3 (38. Kh1 Qb8 39. Qxh5 Qe8 (39... Bb1 {also wins} 40. Qxe2 Be4+ 41. Kh2 Qxf4+ 42. Kh3 Bxf5+ 43. Kg2 Be4+ 44. Kh3 Rb7 $19 {Stockfish10})) 38... Re3+ 39. Kh2 Qb8 40. Rg2 (40. g6 f6 $19) 40... Bb1 $1 41. g6 f6 42. Rf2 Bxf5 43. Qxf6 (43. Qxh5 Rh3+ ) 43... Bxg6 (43... Bg4 {is quite safe as well}) 44. Rg2 Rg7 45. Rxg6 (45. Bd6 Qc8 $19) 45... Qb2+ 46. Rg2 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-Carmarthen"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Narayan-Taylor, R."] [Black "Cook, James"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B15"] [WhiteElo "1423"] [BlackElo "1487"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "2019.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.10.15"] {[%evp 0,15,80,5,48,-16,81,39,41,36,43,26,25,28,13,24,20,34]} 1. e4 d5 { Centre Counter?} 2. d4 {Blackmar-Diemer Gambit?} c6 {Caro-Kann} 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 {a rather stolid line} (5... gxf6 {more frequent}) 6. c3 Bd6 7. Nf3 Qe7+ {the Q will have to move again from here} (7... O-O 8. Be2 Re8 {scores 67% for Bl}) 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Bg4 (9... Bf5 10. Re1 Qc7 11. h3 Re8 12. Nh4 Bg6 13. Nxg6 hxg6 (13... fxg6 14. Bc4+ Kf8 15. Rxe8+ Kxe8 16. Bd2 Kf8 17. Qe2 Qe7 18. Qd3 Nd7 19. Re1 Qd8 20. Qe4 {Fedor-Kormonicki, Presov op ,2002,1-0} ) 14. Bd2 Nd7 15. Qc2 Nb6 16. c4 Rad8 17. Bc3 Nd7 18. Bf3 f5 19. Rad1 Nf6 { Diego Garcia-Gonzalez Alejo, DOM ch, Santo Domingo 2019,1/2-1/2}) 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 (11... Qd7 12. gxh5 Qxh3 13. Re1 Qg4+ 14. Kf1 Qh3+ $11 {Komodo13}) 12. Nh4 (12. Re1) 12... Be4 (12... Bc7 13. Ng2 Nd7 14. Bf4 Rfe8 $15 {Komodo13}) 13. f3 Bg6 (13... Bg3 {Rudy & Komodo13} 14. Ng2 (14. fxe4 Bxh4 15. Bf3 Nd7 $11) 14... Bg6 15. Kh1 Re8 $15 {because of Wh's weakened K side}) 14. Nxg6 (14. f4 f5 15. g5 Re8 $11 {Komodo13}) 14... hxg6 15. Re1 (15. Bd3 c5 $15 {that K side}) 15... Qc7 (15... Re8 $17 16. f4 (16. Bd2 Bg3 $19) 16... f5 17. g5 (17. Bd2 Qh4 18. Kg2 Nd7 19. Bd3 Nf6 $15 {the Bl pieces are a bit more active})) 16. Bf1 Bh2+ (16... Bg3 $17) (16... Nd7 $17) (16... c5 $17 {in all of these Wh has trouble finding a good square for his QB}) 17. Kh1 Nd7 (17... Bg3) 18. Re4 Rae8 (18... f5 $17 {Komodo13}) 19. Qe2 Rxe4 20. fxe4 $11 {the Wh centre has been strengthened by the exchange} Bf4 21. Be3 g5 (21... Bxe3 22. Qxe3 g5 $15 { Bl has a better minor piece}) 22. Bg2 Re8 23. Rf1 (23. Bg1) 23... Nb6 (23... Bxe3 24. Qxe3 Nf8 25. c4 Ng6 $17 {and the N is well placed as Wh has little control over the bl squares} 26. a3 c5 27. d5 Nf4 $17 {Komodo13}) 24. b3 (24. Bxf4 gxf4 25. g5 fxg5 26. Qh5 Qe7 27. h4 $11 {Komodo13}) 24... Nc8 {missing a chance to get the N in} (24... Nd5 25. Bxf4 Nxf4 26. Qd2 Qd6 $17 (26... b5 $17) ) (24... Bxe3 25. Qxe3 Nd5 26. Qd2 Nf4 $17 {also}) 25. Bxf4 gxf4 {now the best square for the N has gone} 26. h4 $11 g5 27. h5 (27. hxg5 fxg5 28. Rf3 Ne7 29. Rh3 Ng6 30. e5 Nh4 {slightly favours Bl}) 27... Kg7 (27... Ne7) 28. Re1 Qe7 ( 28... Nd6 $11 {Komodo13}) 29. Qd3 Qe6 30. Bf3 Ne7 (30... Nb6 31. Rd1 Nd7 32. Kg2 Qd6 $11 {Komodo13}) 31. Re2 Rd8 (31... Ng8 {Rudy, to blockade on h6} 32. e5 Qd7 33. h6+ Kxh6 34. Rh2+ Kg7 35. Rh7+ Kf8 36. Rh8 f5 37. Be2 Qd5+ 38. Kg1 Qe4 39. gxf5 Qxd3 40. Bxd3 f6 41. e6 Kg7 42. Rh3 Ne7 {Komodo13- looks about level as the position is quite blocked}) 32. c4 Qe5 (32... c5 33. d5 Qe5 34. Qb1 Rh8 35. Kg1 Nc8 36. Qb2 Qxb2 37. Rxb2 Nd6 (37... Nb6 $11 {Komodo13}) 38. Kf2 b6 $14 {Komodo13- not muck play left}) 33. Rd2 Qa5 34. d5 cxd5 35. exd5 Nc8 $2 { the same N retreat as earlier, when it could have become more active. This time the retreat is fatal} (35... Nc6 36. Kg2 Ne5 {getting to a good square} 37. Qd4 Qb4 38. c5 (38. d6 b6 $11) 38... Qb5 39. Re2 Re8 $11) (35... Ng8 { looks too late now} 36. d6 (36. Qd4 b6 37. Kg2 Nh6 38. d6 Qb4 39. Kg1 Rd7 $14 { but not clear how Wh is going to get further}) 36... Qe5 37. Qe2 b6 38. Qxe5 fxe5 39. b4 Nf6 40. c5 bxc5 41. bxc5 e4 42. Bd1 e3 43. Rd4 $18 {Komodo13 as the Wh pawns are far superior} Rc8 44. Rc4 Rc6 45. Bf3 e2 46. Bxe2 Nd7 47. Kg2 Rxc5 48. Rxc5 Nxc5 49. Bb5 Nb7 50. d7 Kf6 51. Kf3 $18 {Bl has to cope with 2 passed pawns.}) 36. Re2 $18 (36. h6+ {wins quickly} Kg8 (36... Kxh6 37. Rh2+ Kg7 38. Qh7+ Kf8 39. Re2 Ne7 40. Qh6+ Ke8 41. Qxf6 Qc7 42. Qxg5 {demolishes the Bl K structure}) 37. Qd4 Re8 38. c5 $18 {Komodo13}) (36. Qd4 Qa6 37. Kg2 Ne7 38. c5 Ng8 39. a4 {and the pawns roll forward- Komodo13}) 36... Qc5 37. Qf5 {giving Bl a last chance} (37. h6+ {similar to above}) 37... Nd6 {but another N move lets it end} (37... Rh8 38. Kg2 Nd6 39. Qd3 b6 $11 {Komodo13}) 38. h6+ Kxh6 (38... Kg8 39. Qxf6 Nf5 40. gxf5 Qf8 41. h7+ Kxh7 42. Rh2+ Qh6 43. Rxh6+ Kg8 44. Rh8# {is eventually the same.}) 39. Qxf6+ Kh7 40. Rh2+ 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-Carmarthen"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Reynolds, Mark"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "1400"] [BlackElo "1200"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2019.10.12"] [SourceVersionDate "2019.10.15"] 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 d5 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 {the Colle} c4 {a natural move played in some 400 games,. However it takes the pressure off the centre, so that Wh's coming e4 will arrive with even greater force} (5... Nc6) (5... Nbd7 {main lines,await events}) 6. Bc2 Nbd7 (6... Bd6 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. O-O Nc6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 {70% for Wh}) 7. Nbd2 g6 (7... b5 {has been played} 8. e4 { 70% for Wh} (8. O-O {78% for Wh} Bb7 9. Re1 Bd6 10. e4 {4 Wh wins, 1 Bl win})) 8. O-O Bg7 9. Re1 O-O 10. e4 (10. Qe2 Qc7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Nxe4 b5 13. Bg5 Bb7 14. Ne5 Bxe4 15. Bxe4 Nxe4 16. Qxe4 Bxe5 17. dxe5 Nc5 18. Qh4 Nd7 19. Bf6 Nxf6 20. exf6 Kh8 21. Qh6 Rg8 22. Re3 {Gruschinski-Hoefer, SVR ch, Mendig 2010, 1-0; Bl cannot stop Qxh7 & Rh3 mate.}) 10... Re8 (10... b5 11. e5 Ne8 12. Nf1 { 2 Wh wins, 1 Bl win,; wh has easy attacking chances on the K side, while the BlQ, QB & QR are absent}) (10... dxe4 {looks forced} 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Qc7 13. h4 $16) 11. e5 Nh5 12. Nf1 h6 {missing the threat} (12... Bh8 13. Bg5 (13. g4 Ng7 14. h4 $18 {Stockfish10}) 13... f6 14. Bh4 (14. g4) 14... g5 15. Nxg5 fxg5 16. Qxh5 gxh4 17. Qxh7+ Kf8 18. Qxh8+ Ke7 (18... Kf7 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Bg6 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Qf6 22. exf6 h3 23. Qf7#) 19. Qg7# {Herreros Lucas -Diaz del Prado, Madrid San Viator op 2013,1-0}) 13. g4 Nhf6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. g5 Ne4 ( 15... hxg5 16. Bxg5 Qd6 17. Ne5 {is also uncomfortable}) 16. gxh6 Bf6 17. Bxe4 (17. Ne5) (17. Ng3 {are slightly preferred by Stockfish10}) 17... dxe4 18. Rxe4 Qd5 19. Qe2 (19. Rf4 {Stockfish10} Qd8 20. Rxf6 $1 (20. Qe2) 20... Qxf6 21. Ne5 {removes more bl square protection from the Bl K side, & the 3 Wh minor pieces charge in leaving Bl's 2 Rs & B as bystanders from afar}) 19... Kh7 (19... e5 $5 {at least gives a bit more breathing space}) 20. Ne5 (20. Rf4 Qd8 21. Rxf6 Qxf6 22. Ng5+ (22. Bg5 Qh8 23. Qxc4) 22... Kg8 23. Ne4 Qh8 24. Bg5 f5 25. Nf6+ Kf7 26. Ne3 {Stockfish10- the Bl pieces are in a helpless scatter}) 20... Rf8 21. Ng3 (21. Qf3 Bxe5 22. dxe5 f5 23. exf6 e5 24. Bg5 Bf5 25. Ng3 Bxe4 26. Nxe4 Rad8 27. f7 Rxf7 28. Bf6 {and it's over soon}) 21... b5 22. Qf3 (22. Rf4) 22... Bxe5 (22... Be7 23. Nxf7 Bb7 24. Qf4 Rae8 25. Ng5+ Bxg5 26. Qxg5 {and Bl has little to play for as Wh mobilizes his Q side}) 23. dxe5 Bb7 (23... f5 { had to be played} 24. exf6 Bb7 25. h4 e5 26. Bg5 Qd7 27. h5 gxh5 28. Kh2 Rg8 29. Rd1 Qe6 30. Qe3 {and the Bl position will soon collapse} Qc6 31. f3 Rae8 32. Rxe5 h4 33. Re7+ Rxe7 34. Qxe7+ Kg6 35. Ne4 Qc8 36. f7 {Stockfish10}) 24. Qf6 Qd1+ 25. Nf1 Qxc1 (25... Rg8 {clings on a bit longer} 26. Qxf7+ Kh8 27. Bg5 {and Stockfish gives up the Q to slow down the mate, since} Qxa1 28. Bf6+ Rg7 29. Qxg7#) 26. Qg7# {A first outing for the Wh player since 1994.} 1-0 [Event "DyfedLeague:SteyntonB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.28"] [Round "?.1"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Paffard, Mark"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A03"] [WhiteElo "2040"] [BlackElo "1652"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2019.10.29"] {[%evp 0,7,26,-24,-24,-21,-24,-35,-26,-78]} 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {the problem with this is, that though it fights for e5, with a consequent Bg4, that the N blocks the c pawn (which can be significant in QP openings)} 3. d4 { recommended by Henrik Danielsen.Now Bl is deprived of getting a pawn alongside his d5. Wh is conceding wh squares, but hopes at some point to gain space with c4.} (3. g3 {is quite playable though} Bg4 4. Bg2 Qd7 5. h3 (5. c4) 5... Bxf3 6. Bxf3 e5 7. d3 Nf6 8. Nc3 O-O-O {& Wh did get winning chances against the Bl K, though Van Kemenade-Malisov,World Seniors Teams 2017,0-1}) 3... Nf6 4. g3 ( 4. e3 Bf5 5. c3 {is a Dutch Stonewall, similar to Hammett vs Watkin-Jones happening on the next board.}) 4... Bf5 (4... Bg4 {2-0}) 5. a3 {aiming to keep c4 for later} (5. Bg2 e6 (5... Nb4 6. Na3 {is Ok, though it gives Bl a chance to play c5} g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. c3 Nc6 9. b4 Ne4 10. Bb2 e6 11. Qe1 O-O 12. c4 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Bxd4+ 14. Nxd4 Nxd4 15. Rd1 Nc2 16. Qc3 $2 (16. Rxd8 $18) 16... Nxc3 $19 {Klooywijk-Zootjes, Vlissingen HZ op 2000,0-1}) 6. O-O Nb4 7. Na3 c5 8. c3 Nc6 $15 {Contreras Poblete-Crnic, IECG email 1999,1/2-1/2}) 5... e6 (5... h5 $15 {Komodo13}) 6. Bg2 Be7 (6... Bd6 7. O-O Ne7 8. Be3 Rc8 9. b4 b6 10. Nbd2 c5 11. bxc5 (11. c4 {Stockfish10}) 11... bxc5 12. c4 O-O 13. Rc1 Ng4 $17 { Sedlarova-Decka, CZE ch U12 girls, Svetla nad Sazavou 1994, 0-1}) 7. O-O O-O 8. e3 {secures d4} (8. Ne5 {Fritz15}) 8... h6 {allows B retreat if neccessary} 9. Qe2 (9. b3 Nb8 10. c4 c5 $11 {Stockfish10}) 9... a6 10. c4 (10. b3 Nb8 11. Bb2 Nbd7 12. c4 c6 13. Nc3 Ne4 $11 {Stockfish10}) 10... Re8 (10... Na5 {Wh thought this could be met, & looked at in pm analysis- Stockfish10 suggests very promising for Bl} 11. Nbd2 dxc4 12. Ne5 (12. Nxc4 Nb3 13. Bd2 (13. Ra2 Bb1 $19) 13... Nxa1 14. Rxa1 Be4 $19) 12... c5 $1 {Stockfish10- fighting for the centre} (12... b5 13. Bxa8 Qxa8 {looks interesting for Bl but probably too risky}) 13. Nexc4 (13. g4 Nxg4 14. Nxg4 Bd3 15. Qd1 cxd4 16. Rf3 dxe3 17. Nxe3 Qd4 18. Kh1 Rfd8 $17 {Stockfish10}) 13... Nxc4 14. Nxc4 cxd4 15. Bxb7 Ra7 16. Bf3 Rc7 17. b3 dxe3 18. Rd1 Qb8 19. b4 Nd5 20. Bb2 Qb5 21. Rac1 Rfc8 22. Ne5 f6 23. Qxb5 axb5 24. Nd3 Nc3 25. Bxc3 Rxc3 26. Be2 g5 $19 {Stockfish10}) (10... dxc4 11. Qxc4 Na5 12. Qa4 c5 $17 {Komodo13, also looks better than the text.Even though the R looks at the Q, important in some later lines of play, it doesn't do enough to challenge Wh's attempt to take over the centre}) 11. Nc3 (11. Nbd2 Bd6 12. b3 Ne4 13. Bb2 $11 {Stockfish10}) 11... Ne4 (11... dxc4 12. Ne5 (12. Qxc4 Na5 13. Qa2 (13. Qa4 c5) 13... Bd3 14. Re1 Bc4 15. Qb1 Nb3 16. Ne5 b5 $15) 12... Nxe5 13. fxe5 Bd3 14. Qf2 Bxf1 15. exf6 Bxg2 16. fxe7 Qxe7 17. Kxg2 b5 ( 17... c5 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. e4 Qxf2+ 20. Kxf2 b5 21. e5 $11 {Stockfish10}) 18. e4 $11 {Stockfish10}) 12. Nd2 (12. Ne5 Nxc3 13. bxc3 Be4 14. Nxc6 bxc6 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16. c5 Qd5 17. Rb1 $14 {but there is little material left & Wh's B is bad} ) 12... Nxc3 13. bxc3 Qd7 {Wh now sensed that the Q could be made a target. There looked to be several possibilities here.} (13... Na5 {still seems best} 14. e4 dxe4 15. g4 Bh7 16. Nxe4 c5 $1 17. Be3 Rc8 {puts further pressure on the Wh centre} 18. Rac1 (18. Rad1 cxd4 19. Bxd4 Qc7 20. g5 $11) 18... cxd4 19. cxd4 Bxa3 20. Rc2 Bf8 21. c5 (21. g5 {Wh gets some K side play for the pawn})) 14. cxd5 (14. e4 {initial idea} dxe4 15. Nxe4 Na5 $11 16. g4 Bxe4 17. Bxe4 c5 $11) (14. g4 Bh7 15. f5 {looked attractive} dxc4 (15... Bg5 {pm suggestion, playing on the bl squares Wh has left behind} 16. cxd5 exd5 17. Nb3 { Stockfish10} b6 18. c4 Ne7 19. cxd5 Nxd5 20. e4 $16 {the Wh centre begins to look menacing}) 16. fxe6 fxe6 17. Nxc4 Rf8 $11) 14... exd5 15. c4 {fulfiiling Wh's aim from move 3, but Stockfish 10 exploits the vulnerability in the Wh centre} dxc4 (15... Bf6 $19 {Stockfish10} 16. Qf2 (16. Nb3 Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Ra2 Bb1 $19) 16... Rxe3 17. cxd5 Bxd4 18. dxc6 bxc6 19. Bb2 Bxb2 20. Nf3 Bxa1 21. Qxe3 Re8 22. Qc5 Bb2 $19 {Stockfish10}) (15... Nxd4 {Stockfish10-not quite as convincing, but still good} 16. exd4 Bf6 17. Qf2 Bd3 18. Bf3 (18. Ra2 Re2 $19) 18... Bxf1 19. Nxf1 dxc4 20. Bb2 Rad8 21. Kg2 Qb5 $19) 16. Nxc4 Rab8 { Bl is being too defensive; even though the b7 pawn may be vulnerable , it is seldom a good idea to tie Rs down to protect weak pawns. Avoid if possible.} ( 16... Be6 17. Bb2 Rad8 18. Ne5 $11 {Stockfish10}) (16... Bf6 17. Ne5 $16 { most likely- Wh had been looking at the more speculative} (17. Bb2 Nxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4 (18... Qxd4 19. Bxb7 Qc5 {positionally better as well-Stockfish10}) 19. Rad1 Rad8 (19... c5 20. Qf2 (20. Ne5 {pm analysis , thought winning for Wh, is the reverse!} Qb5 $19 {Stockfish10- unpins with a tempo}) 20... Qe6 21. exd4 Qxc4 22. dxc5 Rad8 23. Rxd8 Rxd8 24. Re1 $11 {Stockfish10}))) 17. d5 $18 { now the Wh centre begind to roll forward} Nd8 18. Bb2 (18. Ne5 Qa4 19. Bb2 Be4 20. Bxe4 Qxe4 21. Nd7 Rc8 22. Qg4 Qg6 23. Qxg6 fxg6 24. e4 $16 {Stockfish10}) 18... Qb5 {from now on Wh was looking at perhaps trapping the Q} (18... f6 { Stockfish10- considered at move 20 in pm analysis}) 19. Kh1 (19. e4 Bd6 20. Rfe1 f6 21. Rac1 Nf7 22. Qd2 Bc5+ 23. Kh1 Bh7 24. e5 $18 {Stockfish10}) (19. a4 Qb3 20. e4 b5 21. axb5 Qxb5 22. Kh1 Bb4 23. Rfb1 Bxe4 24. Bxe4 f5 25. Be5 fxe4 26. Bxc7 Rc8 27. d6 $18 {Stockfish10}) 19... Bc5 20. Be5 (20. e4 $18) (20. a4 Qb3 21. e4 $19 {both considered}) 20... Rc8 (20... f6 {pm suggestion} 21. e4 ( 21. Bxc7 Rc8 22. d6 Nf7 23. Rfd1 Nxd6 24. Bxd6 Bxd6 25. Rxd6 Be6 26. Rxe6 Rxe6 27. a4 (27. Qd1 $18) 27... Qxc4 28. Qxc4 Rxc4 29. Bd5 Rce4 30. f5 $18 { Stockfish10}) (21. a4 Qd7 22. e4 Bg4 23. Qc2 fxe5 24. Nxe5 Rxe5 25. fxe5 Bd4 26. e6 Qe7 27. Rac1 Be5 28. Qf2 Nxe6 29. dxe6 Qxe6 $11 {Stockfish10}) 21... fxe5 22. exf5 (22. a4 Bg4 23. Qd3 Qd7 24. Nxe5 Qc8 25. Nxg4 Qxg4 26. e5 Kh8 $16 ) 22... exf4 23. Qd3 Nf7 24. f6 Ne5 25. Nxe5 Rxe5 26. Qg6 Rg5 27. f7+ Kh8 28. Qe6 Rf8 29. gxf4 Rxg2 30. Kxg2 Qb2+ 31. Kh1 Qf6 32. Qxf6 gxf6 33. Kg2 $16 { Stockfish10}) 21. e4 $18 {What Wh was aiming for from the beginning ( or something like this)} Bxe4 {At the time Bl considered this a blunder, but creating a bit of chaos is a good idea before the centre advances further} ( 21... Rxe5 22. fxe5 Bd7 23. a4 Qb4 24. Rfb1 Qc3 25. Rf1 $18 {Stockfish10}) 22. Bxe4 (22. Qxe4 f6 23. Bh3 fxe5 24. fxe5 $18 {also}) 22... f6 23. Bf5 {cutting off the Q's retreat} (23. Bxf6 Rxe4 (23... gxf6 24. Qg4+ Kf8 25. Ne5) 24. Qxe4 gxf6 (24... Nf7 25. Ne5 Qe8 26. Qf5 $18) 25. Qg6+ {Stockfish10}) 23... fxe5 ( 23... Bd4 24. Rad1 fxe5 25. Bxc8 $18 {Stockfish10}) 24. a4 Qb3 25. Bxc8 (25. Bc2 Qc3 26. Qe4 {Stockfish10}) 25... e4 26. Rfb1 (26. Rad1) 26... Qc3 27. Ne5 Qd4 28. Rd1 Qb4 29. Qh5 {Wh has problems deciding which of all the possibilities to play} Re7 (29... Rf8 30. Bf5 (30. Ng6 Rf6 31. Be6+ Nxe6 32. dxe6 Bd6 33. Qd5 Kh7 34. Ne5 $18) 30... Rf6 31. Nd7 Rf7 32. Rab1 (32. Be6 $18) 32... Qa3 33. Bxe4 $18) 30. Ng6 Qc3 31. Nxe7+ Bxe7 32. Qe8+ Bf8 33. Qxe4 { simplest, though Wh had worked out there is no perpetual after taking the N.} ( 33. Qxd8 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 Qe3+ 35. Kg2 Qe2+ 36. Kh3 Qh5+ 37. Qh4) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Steynton B - Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.28"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Hammett, S."] [Black "Watkin-Jones, A."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A45"] [WhiteElo "1610"] [BlackElo "1942"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] 1. d4 (1. f4 {is more usual for Scott, but we soon get there by transposition}) 1... Nf6 (1... d6 2. e3 Nf6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 e5 {Hammett-J Van Kemenade,Dyfed League 2019,1/2-1/2}) 2. e3 g6 3. Bd3 Bg7 4. f4 d6 {Usually Scott's opponents have gone for a d5 setup. d6 was the suggestion by Rudy when the late Beryl Hughes requested advice on how to respond to Scott's f4 in a Dyfed Minor a few years ago.} 5. Nf3 O-O 6. O-O c5 (6... Nbd7) (6... Nc6 { also score well for Bl} 7. c3 e5 8. Nbd2 Qe7 {22 % for Wh eg Boot-R Van Kemenade, Wakefield-Undercliffe, 1991,0-1}) 7. c3 Nc6 8. Nbd2 {27% for Wh} e5 9. fxe5 (9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Ne4 Qe7 {main, 21% for Wh}) 9... dxe5 10. dxe5 $146 ( 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Ng4 $17 {main, 31% for Wh}) (10. Ne4 {0-3}) 10... Qxd3 $17 {Cloud Engines} (10... Ng4 $15) 11. exf6 Bxf6 $17 {leaves the e pawn as an obstruction for Wh is simplest} (11... Qxe3+ {Rudy, grabbing the pawn, is disliked by the Engines at first glance, but then it gets to equality after a bit} 12. Kh1 Bh8 $1 (12... Bxf6 13. Re1 Qd3 14. Ne4 Qxd1 15. Nxf6+ Kg7 16. Rxd1 Kxf6 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Ng5 {Bl is a pawn up, but has to suffer for it} Ke7 19. Re1+ Be6 20. Ne4 {is awkward to meet} b6 21. Rad1 f6 22. Bg7 f5 23. Ng5 Nd8 24. b4 $16 (24. Nxh7 {just gets the pawn back})) 13. Nb3 Qe6 14. Nxc5 Qxf6 15. Ne4 Qe7 16. Re1 Qc7 $11 (16... Bf5 $11)) 12. Nb3 Qxd1 (12... Qb5 {is Komodo13 at first, but then goes with the Engine consensus for the text as played} 13. Qd5 Be6 14. Qxc5 Qa6 15. Qd6 Rad8 16. Qf4 Bg7 $15 {though Wh has the extra pawn for the moment}) 13. Rxd1 Be7 14. e4 Bg4 (14... Be6 {seems better} 15. Bh6 (15. Ng5 Bg4 16. Nf3 f6 17. Be3 b6 18. Nbd2 Be6 $17) 15... Rfd8 16. Nbd2 Rd7 $15 { the Bl pieces are all just a litle bit better placed}) 15. h3 Bxf3 {this gives up on Bl's advantage, as the e pawn is no longer isolated} (15... Be6 {Komodo13 } 16. Bh6 (16. Ng5 Bc4 17. Nf3 Rfe8 18. Be3 b6 19. Nbd2 Bd3 20. e5 Kg7 $17) 16... Rfd8 $15) 16. gxf3 $11 Rfd8 17. Bf4 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Nxd8 $11 20. Kf2 Kg7 21. Nd2 g5 (21... Kf6 22. Nf1 Ke6 23. Ne3 g5 24. Bc7 Nc6 25. Kg3 Bf6 26. Kg4 Be5 27. Nd5 f6 28. h4 h6 29. f4 $11 {Komodo13}) 22. Bg3 Ne6 23. Nc4 b5 24. Nd6 (24. Ne5) 24... Bxd6 25. Bxd6 {the B is usually slightly better than a N if there are pawns on both sides of the board & that its own pawns do not obstruct the B} Nf4 26. Bxf4 {the trouble is that K & P endings are frequently very far from simple, with lots of ways to go wrong- as attested by the game continuation & accompanying analyses.} (26. b3 $11 Nxh3+ 27. Kg3 Nf4 28. Bxc5 a6 29. Be3 Ne6 30. c4 bxc4 31. bxc4 h5 32. c5 $11 {Bl has a protected passed pawn, but Wh has a distant one - & the B , unlike a N, can both assist its own pawns, while keeping an eye on the enemy ones back home}) (26. Kg3 Nd3 27. b3 Kf6 28. Bb8 a6 29. f4 $11 {Komodo13}) 26... gxf4 $17 27. h4 $2 {but this is a mistake, as it creates a vulnerable h pawn. Wh needs to sit tight, & play his K between g2 & h2. here is no way in for the Bl K via the Q side.} Kg6 $19 28. Kg2 a5 (28... Kh5 $1 {tie the K down to defend the pawn, then just run White out of pawn moves} 29. Kh3 b4 (29... a5 30. a3 a4 (30... b4 {may be even better})) 30. cxb4 cxb4 31. a4 a5 32. b3 f6 {zugzwang}) 29. a3 a4 (29... Kh5 { again forces the reply}) 30. Kh3 f5 (30... Kh5 31. Kh2 Kxh4 32. Kg2 Kg5 33. Kf2 b4 $1 {Komodo13- Wh has to deal with 2 runners.} (33... h5 {would be fine if Bl could get the pawn to h3, to deprive Wh of the g2 square, however the Wh K just moves between h2 & h3. Though the win might still be there if Wh doesn't find the most accurate defence} 34. Kg2 h4 35. Kh3 f6 36. Kh2 f5 37. e5 Kg6 38. Kh3 Kf7 39. Kxh4 Ke6 40. Kh5 Kd5 41. Kg5 Kxe5 42. Kg6 Kd5 43. Kxf5 Kc4 44. Kxf4 Kb3 45. Kg5 Kxb2 46. f4 b4 47. cxb4 cxb4 48. f5 bxa3 49. f6 a2 50. f7 a1=Q 51. f8=Q {however the Q & P ending is a draw -Nalimov tablebases- though in a game Wh could still lose if inaccurate play happens.}) 34. cxb4 cxb4 35. axb4 Kf6 36. b5 Ke5 37. Ke2 Kd6 38. e5+ Kc5 39. b6 Kxb6 40. Kd3 Kc5 41. Ke4 Kb4 42. Kxf4 Kb3 43. Kg5 Kxb2 {and Wh is way behind}) 31. e5 Kf7 32. Kg2 Ke6 33. Kf2 Kxe5 34. Ke2 Kd5 35. Kd3 b4 $2 {though taking the draw is better than handing Wh this opportunity for a win} (35... h5 36. c4+ $1 {seen by Adam, saves Wh}) ( 35... c4+ 36. Ke2 Ke5 37. Kf2 Kf6 38. Kg2 Kg6 39. h5+ $1 {and the Bl K has no entry}) (35... Ke6 36. Kd2 (36. c4 b4 37. Ke2 Ke5 38. Kd3 bxa3 39. bxa3 Ke6 { will slowly win for Bl- who wins the h pawn, then returns to enter via d4.}) 36... Kf6 37. Kd3 (37. Ke2 Kg6 38. Kf2 Kh5 39. Kg2 Kxh4 40. Kh2 Kg5 41. Kh3 Kf6 42. Kh4 Ke5 43. Kg5 h5 44. Kxh5 Kd5 {is now winning as there are 2 obstructions to clear for Wh, plus getting his K out of the way.} 45. Kg6 Kc4 46. Kxf5 Kb3 47. Kxf4 Kxb2 48. Kg5 b4 49. axb4 (49. cxb4 c4) 49... cxb4 50. cxb4 a3 51. f4 a2 52. f5 a1=Q {is a much worse position for Wh than in the note above to move 30}) 37... h6 (37... Kg6 38. c4 bxc4+ 39. Kxc4 Kh5 40. b4 $1 {speed rather than pawns is required} axb3 41. Kxb3 Kxh4 42. a4 h5 43. a5 Kg3 44. a6 h4 45. a7 h3 46. a8=Q h2 47. Qh8 Kg2 48. Qb2+ {and the game ends in a perpetual-Komodo13}) 38. Kd2 (38. c4 b4 39. axb4 cxb4 40. Kc2 h5 $19) 38... Kg6 39. b3 (39. Kd3 Kh5 $19) 39... c4 (39... axb3 40. c4 Kf6 (40... bxc4 41. a4 $1 $18) 41. cxb5 Ke5 42. Kc3 c4 43. a4 $11 {and both sides have supporting passed pawn structures (perhaps Bl can try for a mate as his pawns are further advanced, but that requires very accurate calculation as to whether it will work or not.} Kd6 {hoping to get to b4 to get the pawns through, but wh can prevent any such idea by just pushing his pawns a little further} 44. a5 (44. Kb2 Kc5 45. h5 Kb6 $11 (45... Kb4 46. b6 c3+ 47. Kc1 Ka3 48. b7 b2+ 49. Kc2 Ka2 50. b8=Q $18 {is one move too slow}) (45... Kd4 46. b6 c3+ 47. Kxb3 Kd3 48. b7 c2 49. b8=Q c1=Q 50. Qd6+ $11 Ke3 51. Qxh6 {and Bl must take the perpetual, since the h pawn is a menace})) 44... Kc5 45. a6 $11) 40. bxc4 bxc4 {and Komodo13 plays on, but a glance at the board shows Bl has no entry on the Q side anymore.}) 36. axb4 (36. cxb4 $1 $18 {worked out by Adam afterwards would win for Wh (an exception to the principle of take towards the centre with pawns)} h5 (36... cxb4 37. axb4 Kd6 38. Kd4) 37. Kc3 c4 38. b5 Kc5 39. b6 Kxb6 40. Kxc4 {and Bl loses the a pawn}) 36... c4+ 37. Ke2 h5 38. Kd2 Kc6 39. Kc1 Kb6 40. Kb1 Kc6 41. Ka2 Kb6 {and Bl can hold the a pawnby the triangulation} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League: Steynton B - Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.28"] [Round "?.3"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Miller, John S"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1664"] [BlackElo "1511"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {[%evp 0,111,26,22,47,36,33,30,32,29,25,14,41,42,48,13,41,40,41,58,50,55,62,54, 49,50,34,39,47,32,56,28,53,40,74,74,62,62,64,67,94,104,101,90,80,54,54,57,49, 44,57,51,88,71,54,60,212,105,117,117,110,99,97,98,100,102,103,110,110,115,116, 116,114,111,118,101,115,100,104,105,117,109,155,122,123,103,226,227,228,236, 241,241,246,246,251,219,316,317,324,335,335,347,380,226,187,207,183,152,949, 965,1125,1181,1223,490]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 (3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. Bd2 {Francis-Miller,Dyfed League; 2012,0-1:2014,1-0}) 3... exd5 {the Exchange variation, which has a drawish reputation, though so far John has scored 4 wins, no losses or draws against it.} 4. Nf3 (4. Bd3 {main}) 4... Nf6 5. Bd3 ( 5. c4 {has been championed by Normunds Miezis & other GMs occasinally}) 5... Be7 (5... Bd6) 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 c6 (7... Bg4 {main- still in GM teritory}) 8. c3 (8. Nbd2) 8... Bg4 9. h3 (9. Nbd2 Nbd7 10. Qc2 {main}) 9... Bh5 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Bg6 12. Bxg6 (12. Rfe1 {also played}) 12... hxg6 13. Rfe1 Re8 14. Re2 $11 {Komodo13-2 games agreed drawn at this point} Nf8 $146 (14... Nh5 {0-2} ) (14... Qc7 {0.5-1.5}) 15. Ne5 N6h7 16. Bf4 Bg5 17. Bxg5 Nxg5 18. Rae1 Nge6 19. Ndf3 Ng5 {Sometimes , pursuing exchanges too eagerly, can lead to taking up extra tempi, yet which result in enemy pieces being able to get to more active placements} (19... Qd6 20. g3 Re7 21. Kg2 Rae8 {connecting the Rs looks preferable before looking for further exchanges}) (19... Rc8 20. g3 Rc7 21. Kg2 Rce7 {is another way to counter Wh's buildup on the e file}) 20. Nxg5 Qxg5 21. Nf3 Rxe2 22. Qxe2 $16 {Wh now controls the e file & the Bl QR is struggling to get into the game.} Qf6 23. Qe7 Rb8 24. Qc7 (24. Qa3 a6 25. Re7 Qf4 26. Re3 Ne6 27. Ne5 $14 {Komodo13}) 24... Qd8 25. Qg3 (25. Re7 {gives good practical chances, though it looks as if Bl survives with careful play} Qxc7 26. Rxc7 Ne6 27. Rd7 Nf4 {the difficult Question is whether this N can be a succesful raider of the Q side, or whether it will be lost in the process.} 28. Ne5 (28. g3 Nd3 29. Ng5 Nxb2 30. Nxf7 Nd1 31. Nd8 Nxc3 32. Ne6 Re8 $11) (28. Kf1 Nd3 29. b3 f6 (29... Nc1 30. Ke1 Nxa2 31. Kd2 a5 32. Ne5 f6 33. Nxg6 $16) 30. g3 Nc1 31. Ke1 Nxa2 32. Kd2 a5 33. Kc2 Re8 34. Rxb7 Re2+ 35. Nd2 Rxf2 36. Ra7 Rg2 37. Rxa5 Nxc3 38. Kxc3 Rxg3+ 39. Kb4 Rxh3 40. Kc5 (40. Rc5 Rd3 41. Rc2 g5 42. Kc5 g4 $14 {should be ok for Wh, but in practice looks tricky with the advancing Bl pawns} 43. b4 g3 44. Kxc6 g2 45. Nf3 Rxf3 46. Rxg2 Rc3+ 47. Kxd5 Kf7 48. b5 $16 {Wh's pawns are split, but they are farther advanced}) 40... Rc3+ 41. Kd6 g5 42. Rc5 Rd3 43. Nf1 Rxd4 44. Rxc6 Rd3 45. b4 Rb3 46. Kc5 g4 $14 {Wh is down to the last pawn, while the Bl pawns are still a nuisance}) 28... f6 29. Nf7 Nd3 $11 {just holds for Bl}) 25... Ne6 {the N was ok on f8} (25... Rc8 { its the R placement that Bl needs to be more concerned about.} 26. Re3 Rc7 27. Re8 Qxe8 28. Qxc7 Qd7 $11) 26. Ne5 (26. Rxe6 $1 {Komodo13 launches a K side attack with Q & N, (often a lethal combination) while the QR still languishes offside, unable to protect its K & needing also not to be lost due to a backrank check when the Q has to come to aid her K. Stockfish10 gives the line as winning for Wh.} fxe6 27. Ng5 b5 (27... Rc8 28. Qh4 Qf6 29. Qh7+ Kf8 30. Qh8+ Ke7 31. Qxc8 Qxg5 32. Qxb7+ $18) 28. Nxe6 Qe8 29. Qc7 Rb7 30. Qxb7 Qxe6 31. Qb8+ Kh7 32. Qe5 $16 {Komodo13}) 26... Qc7 (26... Nf8 27. Qf3 Qc7 28. Nd3 Ne6 29. h4 $14 {Komodo13}) 27. Qg4 (27. Nxg6 {at once-Komodo13} Qxg3 28. fxg3 Nxd4 29. Ne7+ Kf8 30. Nxd5 cxd5 31. cxd4 Rc8 32. Kf2 f6 $14 {it's only half a pawn, but it does give Wh the possibility of an outside passed pawn at some later stage.}) 27... Qd8 (27... Nf8 {had to be tried} 28. Nd3 Rd8 29. h4 $14 { Komodo13}) 28. Nxg6 {wins a pawn, but} (28. Nxf7 $1 {destroys Bl's K side structure as well} Qf6 29. Nh6+ $1 (29. Ne5 Nf8 30. Re3 {also looks good}) 29... gxh6 30. Rxe6 h5 (30... Qf7 31. Rxg6+ Kh7 32. Rd6 Rg8 33. Rd7 Rxg4 34. Rxf7+ Rg7 (34... Kg6 35. hxg4 (35. Rxb7 Re4 36. Kf1 $18) 35... Kxf7 36. f4 $18) 35. Rxg7+ Kxg7 {is an easy K & P ending Komodo13})) 28... Qg5 29. Qxg5 Nxg5 30. Ne5 (30. Nf4 {doesn't allow the Bl R into the game yet} Ne6 31. Nxe6 Re8 32. f4 fxe6 33. f5 {gives Bl little chance of survival}) 30... Re8 31. Kf1 (31. h4 Ne4 32. Nd3) 31... f6 32. Nd3 Ne4 33. f3 Nd2+ 34. Kf2 Rxe1 35. Kxe1 Nc4 36. Ke2 (36. h4 $18 {preferred by Komodo13, though normally one should start by bringing the K up rsather than pawn moves}) 36... Kf7 (36... Nd6 $5) 37. b3 Nd6 38. Ke3 g5 {Komodo13's h4 anticipated this slight gain of Bl space} 39. f4 (39. g3 Ke6 40. Kf2 Kf7 41. h4 gxh4 42. gxh4 Nb5 43. Ke3 Nxc3 44. a4 Kg6 45. Kd2 Na2 46. a5 $18 {the Bl N is trapped after its raid}) 39... Ne4 {Draw?} 40. c4 Kg6 ( 40... Nc3 41. cxd5 cxd5 42. a4 Ne4 43. b4 b6 44. b5 $18 Nd6 45. fxg5 fxg5 46. Ne5+ Ke6 47. Nc6 Nf5+ 48. Kf3 Kf6 49. Kf2 Ke6 50. Nxa7 Nxd4 51. Nc8 $18 { Komodo13}) 41. cxd5 cxd5 42. fxg5 (42. Nb4 $18) 42... Kxg5 (42... fxg5 { keeps Wh from a passed pawn & frees f6 for a N} 43. Nb4 Nf6 44. Kf3 Kf5 45. g3 Kg6 46. a4 a5 47. Nd3 Ne4 48. Nc5 Nd6 49. h4 $16 {and Wh still has some work to do to convert}) 43. Nb4 $18 Nc3 44. Kd3 Nb5 45. Nxd5 Nd6 46. Ne3 (46. Nc3 f5 47. Ke3) 46... f5 47. g3 f4 48. h4+ Kh5 49. gxf4 (49. g4+ {Rudy- is confirmed by Komodo13 as the quickest win} Kxh4 (49... Kg6 50. Nc4 Ne8 51. Ne5+ Kg7 52. Ke4 {the connected passed pawns go through easily, plus the f pawn is dead}) 50. Nf5+ Nxf5 (50... Kxg4 51. Nxd6 {comes to about the same- the N can give itself up for the f pawn, while the Wh K gathers booty or d pawn goes through}) 51. gxf5 Kg5 52. Ke4 f3 53. Kxf3 Kxf5 54. b4 {and Bl runs out of moves} b5 55. Ke3 $18) 49... Kxh4 {but the outside pawn sacrifice lures the K away} 50. d5 ( 50. Nc4 Nf7 51. d5 (51. Ke4)) 50... Kg3 51. f5 (51. Nc4 Nf7 52. Ke4 {a little quicker}) 51... Kf4 52. Kd4 b6 53. f6 (53. a4) 53... Kg5 (53... Nb5+ {holds Wh up} 54. Kd3 Nd6 55. a4 Nf7 56. Kd4 Kg5 57. Nc4 Kxf6 58. Kc3 Ke7 59. Kb4 Kd7 60. Kb5 Kc7 61. Ka6 Kb8 62. b4 Ka8 63. d6 Nd8 64. Nxb6+ axb6 65. Kxb6 {Nalimov tablebases}) 54. Ke5 Nf7+ 55. Ke6 Kg6 56. d6 (56. Nc4) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League: Steynton B - Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.28"] [Round "?.4"] [White "Jones, Jonathan"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "1473"] [BlackElo "1400"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "27"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] {[%evp 0,27,24,24,21,22,16,13,26,15,6,-23,-19,-19,-3,7,17,-18,21,14,12,16,16, 10,404,398,416,426,659,658]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bf4 {reintoduced into GM practice by Jobava} e6 4. Nf3 (4. Nb5 Na6 5. e3 {is the GM treatment} c6 6. Nc3 Nc7 7. Nf3 {61% for Wh}) 4... Bb4 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 O-O {2 Wh wins, 5 Bl wins } (6... Ne4 {main, fastens onto the weakness} 7. Qd3 b6 {5 wins each, 1 draw}) (6... c5 {2 Wh wins,4 draws, 7 Bl wins}) 7. e3 b6 {worried about the bad B, Bl seeks exchange} (7... Nc6 {3 Wh wins, 5 Bl wins}) (7... Ne4 8. Qd3 {2 Wh wins, 1 draw, 3 Bl wins} b6 {looks ok, Chadala-Gorzkiewicz,Lubelskie ch tm 2013,0-1}) 8. Bg5 (8. Bd3 {Stockfish9} Ba6 (8... c5 $11 {Cloud Engines}) 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. O-O c5 11. Qe2 Qc8 $11 {Sjol-Mareco, Linkoping op 2013,0-1}) 8... Ba6 (8... Nbd7 9. Bb5 h6 10. Bh4 Bb7 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 12. Bxf6 gxf6 $11 {Komodo13 & Stockfish10}) (8... c5 9. Ne5 h6 10. Bh4 Qc7 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Qg4+ Kh8 13. Qf4 fxe5 14. Qxh6+ Kg8 15. Qg5+ $11 {Komodo13}) 9. Bxa6 Nxa6 10. Ne5 {a danger signal, bl must take some steps to defend f6} c5 (10... Nb8 {simplest try, as the N is out of it on a6, but Wh retains good attacking prospects} 11. Qf3 h6 12. Bh4 (12. h4 c5 13. Rh3 Kh7 (13... Qe7 14. c4 Rd8 15. Rc1 (15. O-O-O cxd4 16. exd4 Nbd7 17. Nc6 Qe8 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Nxd8 Qxd8 20. Bxf6 Nxf6 21. Re1 $16 )) (13... a6 14. dxc5 bxc5 15. Rb1 Qe7 16. c4 $16) 14. Rg3 Rg8) 12... c5 (12... g5 13. Bg3 Nbd7 14. h4 $16) 13. c4 cxd4 14. O-O g5 15. Bg3 Ne4 16. cxd5 exd5 17. exd4 Nd7 18. Ng4 Kg7 19. Qf5 $16 {Bl's K side is a litle ricketty}) (10... h6 11. Bxf6 gxf6 12. Nd3 c5 13. Qh5 Kh7 14. h4 f5 $11 {Komodo13 seems a better bet}) 11. Qf3 {gives Bl one chance to hold} (11. Ng4 $1 $18 {is more accurate than the text} Nc7 12. Nxf6+ gxf6 13. Bh6 f5 14. Qf3 Kh8 15. Bxf8 Qxf8 $16) 11... Rc8 $2 {there were 2 saving moves} (11... Nc7 12. Ng4 Nce8 13. O-O h6 $11 {Komodo13} 14. Nxh6+ gxh6 15. Bxh6 Qd6 (15... Ng7 16. Bg5 Nge8 17. Bh6 $11 { repetition}) 16. Bf4 Qd8 17. Bh6 Qd6 {repetition}) (11... h6 12. Bxf6 (12. h4 Rc8) (12. Bh4 Nc7) 12... Qxf6 (12... gxf6 13. Ng4 Kg7 14. h4 h5 15. Nh2 Rh8 $11 {Komodo13}) 13. Qxf6 gxf6 14. Nd7 Rfc8 15. Nxf6+ Kf8 16. Kd2 Ke7 17. Nh5 Rc7 $11 {Komodo13- considers Bl has enough counterplay for the pawn}) 12. Ng4 $18 cxd4 (12... Re8 13. Nxf6+ gxf6 14. Bxf6 Re7 15. Qh5 Kf8 16. Qxh7 Ke8 $18 { Komodo13- is hardly inspiring for Bl}) 13. Nxf6+ gxf6 14. Bxf6 1-0