The Dark Night Returns

***UPDATE: We will be meeting in Room 2 of Aberystwyth University Students' Union this Tuesday, 8th October, at 7.15. ***

With the onset of dark nights and chilly weather, the new chess season is under way, and the Aberystwyth team duly arrived at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Monday 30th September for the first match of the season, away to Cardigan B. Aber were the higher graded team on paper, but the match was much tougher than the gradings suggested. On top board Rudy van Kemenade struggled to get an advantage with Bird's Opening against a well-prepared Tony Haigh, but eventually entered a double rook ending a pawn up. Tony had active pieces, though, and Rudy, who was not playing as rapidly as usual, went wrong under the pressure, dropping his passed pawn to leave a losing position. New member Roger Bennett, playing Board 2, was hemmed in against Ben Brewer's Reti, unable to get his light-squared bishop into play; trying to prevent a White incursion on to the vulnerable second rank, he walked into a knight fork that soon decided the game. My Vienna Game against Joshua Brewer took an unfamiliar path and reached a middlegame with opposite castled positions. Black never completed his development, and I broke through against the queenside-castled king with a rook sacrifice. I have an uncomfortable feeling that this is my first win in a rated game in 2019. James Cook had to weather an uncharacteristically aggressive attack from Awne Osinga in a Queen's Pawn Game. Awne's Greek Gift sacrifice was probably sound, but not at all easy to play, and James struck back to force mate. A 2-2 draw was not the result Aber wanted but there's a long season ahead.

The Club will be meeting in Aberystwyth University Students' Union at 7.15 every Tuesday from next week. Thanks to our friends in the Aberystwyth University Chess Club for arranging this. Anyone may attend, and there is no charge, but if you haven't been before, please leave a message on the blog before attending for the first time. We will probably be in Meeting Room 2 or 3 at the Union, but I don't know for certain yet, and will update when I know. It shouldn't be difficult to find us anyway.

[Event "DyfedLeague:CardiganB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.09.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Haigh, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A03"] [WhiteElo "2040"] [BlackElo "1767"] [PlyCount "126"] [EventDate "2019.10.01"] 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 (2... Nf6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. d3 e6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Qe1 O-O 8. e4 {Van Kemenade-Haigh, Dyfed Closed 2012,1-0}) 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 c6 (4... c5 5. d3 Nh6 6. O-O Nf5 7. c3 d4 8. Qe1 Nc6 9. Na3 O-O {Van Kemenade-Haigh, Dyfed League 2012,1/2-1/2}) (4... Nf6 5. d3 c6 6. O-O Qb6+ 7. e3 Ng4 8. d4 O-O 9. Qe2 Nd7 10. c4 dxc4 11. Qxc4 Ndf6 12. Nc3 {Van Kemenade-Haigh,Dyfed League 2018,1-0 }) 5. O-O Nd7 6. d4 (6. Nc3 {main} Ngf6 (6... e5) 7. d3) 6... Nh6 (6... Ngf6 { main} 7. Ne5 Ne4 8. Nd2 Nd6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Qb6 12. Kh1 O-O 13. c3 {Van Kemenade-Marusenko, S Wales International 2007,1-0}) 7. h3 $5 (7. Ne5 Nf5 8. Qd3 O-O 9. c3 Nf6 10. Nd2 Nd6 11. e3 Bf5 $17 {Zaitsev-Muravyev, RUS ch corr 1997,0-1}) (7. c3 Nf5 (7... f5 8. Na3 O-O 9. Nc2 Nf7 10. b3 Nd6 11. Bb2 Nf6 12. Ne3 Be6 13. Qc2 Bf7 14. c4 {Thiering-Rickers, GER ch corr 1999,1/2-1/2} ) 8. Qd3 (8. e4 dxe4 9. Ng5 Nf6 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 h5 12. Na3 Nd6 13. Bf3 Be6 14. Be3 Bd5 15. Re1 Qd7 $15 {Dette-Gheng, Staufer op, Schwaebisch Gmuend 2018,0-1}) 8... Nf6 9. Ne5 Nd6 10. e3 O-O 11. Qe2 Bf5 12. Nd2 {Katona-Bodo,HUN ch tm 2002,1/2-1/2; cf Zaitsev-Murayev}) 7... O-O (7... Nf5 8. Kh2 (8. g4 Ng3 9. Re1 Nf6 10. Nc3 h5 11. g5 Nfe4 $17) 8... h5 $17 {Komodo13}) 8. g4 $11 f6 9. Qd3 (9. Nc3 b5 10. a3 f5 11. g5 Nf7 12. Ne5 Bb7 13. e3 $11 {Komodo13}) 9... Nf7 (9... e5 {Komodo13} 10. fxe5 fxe5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Rxf1+ 13. Bxf1 Bxe5 14. Nd2 (14. Bxh6 {what both players had seen, is no threat} Bxb2 $19) 14... Qb6+ 15. e3 Nf7 $17) 10. c4 (10. f5 {Komodo13; considered} gxf5 11. gxf5 Nb6 12. Nh4 (12. b3) 12... e5 13. Nc3 e4 14. Qg3 Nc4 $11) 10... Kh8 (10... dxc4 11. Qxc4 Nb6 12. Qd3 e5 13. f5 gxf5 14. gxf5 e4 15. Qxe4 Nd6 16. Qh4 Bxf5 17. Nc3 Qd7 18. e4 Bg6 19. Re1 Rfe8 20. b3 $11 {Komodo13}) 11. Nc3 (11. cxd5 cxd5 12. Nc3 (12. f5) 12... Nb6 13. a4 a5 (13... f5 14. g5 Nc4 15. b3 Na5 16. Rb1 Be6 17. Ne5 $14) 14. b3 Nd6 15. Ba3 $14 {Komodo13}) 11... dxc4 12. Qxc4 e5 13. Rd1 Nb6 14. Qb3 (14. Qd3) 14... Qc7 15. fxe5 (15. a4 exf4 16. a5 Nd7 17. Qc2 Bh6 18. d5 Nde5 19. Nxe5 fxe5 20. Ne4 $11 {Komodo13; but the extra f4 pawn looks a longterm assett for bL}) 15... fxe5 16. Be3 exd4 (16... Qe7 17. d5 Nxd5 18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Qxd5 Be6 20. Qc5 Qxc5 21. Bxc5 Rfc8 22. Be3 Rc2 23. Rd2 Rac8 24. Bxa7 Bh6 25. Rxc2 Rxc2 26. b3 Rxe2 $11 {Komodo13}) 17. Bxd4 Bxd4+ (17... Ne5) 18. Nxd4 (18. Rxd4 Bd7 19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Rc1 $14 {Komodo13}) 18... Qe5 19. Rd3 ( 19. Ne4 Nd5 20. Rac1 Nf4 21. Qb4 Be6 22. Nxe6 Qxe6 23. Qc3+ Qe5 24. Ng3 Qxc3 25. Rxc3 Ne5 $11 {Komodo13}) 19... Ng5 20. h4 $5 {loosens the K side , Wh trying to force matters & get some piece action before the Bl QB & QR get into action} (20. Nf3 Qc5+ 21. Kh1 Be6 22. Qd1 Nxf3 23. exf3 Rae8 24. Qg1 Qxg1+ 25. Kxg1 Bg8 26. Rad1 $11 {Komodo13}) 20... Ne6 21. Rad1 $6 (21. Nf3 Qg7 22. Re3 Nf4 23. g5 (23. Rd1 $5) 23... Bf5 $17 (23... Bg4 $17)) 21... Nxd4 (21... Nc5 22. Qa3 Bxg4 {Wh had forgotten that this protects the R on f8} 23. Nf3 Rxf3 24. Rxf3 Bxf3 25. Bxf3 Nc4 26. Qb4 Qg3+ 27. Kh1 (27. Bg2 Ne3 $19) 27... Qxh4+ 28. Kg1 b6 $19 {Komodo13}) (21... Nf4 22. Rg3 Nh5 23. Rf3 Bxg4 24. Rxf8+ Rxf8 25. Ne4 Nf4 $19 {Komodo13}) 22. Rxd4 Be6 23. Qc2 Qf6 (23... Qe3+ 24. Kh2 (24. Kh1 Qg3 25. g5 $2 Rf2 $19) 24... Qf2 25. g5 Rae8 26. Qd2 Nc4 27. Qe1 Ne3 28. Qxf2 Rxf2 29. Rg1 Kg7 $17 {Komodo13}) 24. g5 {after some thought} (24. Ne4 $11 { Komodo13} Qxh4 25. Qc3 {considered by Wh} Kg8 26. g5 Nd5 27. Qd2 Rf4 28. Nf6+ Kg7 29. Rxf4 Qxf4 30. Nxd5 Qxd2 31. Rxd2 cxd5 32. Bxd5 Kf7 33. Bxb7 Rb8 34. Bc6 Bxa2 35. Rd7+ Ke6 36. Rxh7 Rxb2 37. Rxa7 Rxe2 38. Be8 Kf5 39. Ra5+ Kg4 40. Bxg6 Bc4 $11 {Komodo13}) 24... Qf2+ 25. Kh1 Nd5 (25... c5 $17 26. Qe4 (26. Re4 Bf5) 26... cxd4 27. Qe5+ Kg8 28. Qxe6+ Qf7 29. Qxf7+ Rxf7 30. Rxd4 Kg7 $17 {Komodo13 }) 26. Qe4 {the saving move,because of the e5 ch} Qe3 (26... Rae8 27. Qe5+ (27. Rf1 {also with some complications} Qxf1+ (27... Qe3 28. Rxf8+ Rxf8 29. Qxe3 Nxe3 30. Re4 Nxg2 31. Kxg2 Re8 32. Kf2 Re7 33. b3 $14) 28. Bxf1 Nxc3 29. Qe5+ Kg8 30. bxc3 Rxf1+ 31. Kh2 Bd7 32. Qa5 Rxe2+ 33. Kg3 Re3+ 34. Kh2 (34. Kg2 Bh3+ 35. Kh2 Rf2+ 36. Kg1 Rg2+ 37. Kf1 Rxa2+ 38. Kg1 Re1#) 34... Re2+ 35. Kg3 Re3+ $11 {Komodo13})) 27. Nxd5 Qxe4 28. Bxe4 cxd5 29. Bxd5 Rae8 (29... Bxd5+ 30. Rxd5 Rae8 31. R1d2 Rf4 32. Kg2 Rxh4 33. Rd8 Rhe4 34. Rxe8+ Rxe8 35. Kf3 Rf8+ 36. Kg4 Re8 37. Rd7 b5 38. Rxa7 Rxe2 39. b3 Rg2+ $11 {Komodo13}) 30. Bxe6 (30. e4 Bxd5 31. exd5 Re2 32. R4d2 (32. R1d2 Rf1#) 32... Rf1+ 33. Rxf1 Rxd2 34. Rf8+ Kg7 35. Rb8 b6 36. Rb7+ Kg8 37. Rxa7 Rxb2 38. d6 Rd2 39. d7 Kf8 40. Ra8+ Ke7 41. d8=Q+ Rxd8 42. Rxd8 Kxd8 43. Kg2 $18 {Wh wins the K ending because of the clamp on Bl's K side} Kd7 44. Kf3 Kd6 45. Ke4 Ke6 46. Kd4 Kd6 47. Kc4 Kc6 48. Kb4 {Komodo13 is carefully avoiding pawn moves, so as to gain a crucial tempo later} Kc7 49. Kb5 Kb7 50. a3 Kc7 51. Ka6 Kc6 52. a4 Kc5 (52... Kc7 53. Ka7 Kc6 54. Kb8) 53. Kb7 b5 54. axb5 Kxb5 55. Kc7 Kc5 56. Kd7 Kd5 57. Ke7 Ke5 58. Kf7 Kf5 59. Kg7 Kg4 60. Kxh7 Kh5 61. Kg7 Kxh4 62. Kxg6 {Komodo13}) (30. Bf3 Bxa2 31. Ra1 Bg8 32. Rxa7 b5 33. Rb7 Rb8 34. Kg2 Bc4 35. Rxb8 Rxb8 36. Kg3 $16 { Komodo13}) 30... Rxe6 31. R1d2 (31. e4 $1 {Komodo13} h6 (31... Rfe8 32. Re1) 32. Rd8 Ree8 33. Rxe8 Rxe8 34. Rd4 (34. Rd7 Rxe4 $11) 34... hxg5 35. hxg5 Re5 36. Rd8+ Kg7 37. Rd7+ Kg8 38. Rxb7 Rxe4 39. Rxa7 Re1+ (39... Rb4 40. b3 Rb5 41. a4 Rxb3 {Komodo13 judges this to be a Wh win, but Lomonosov tablebases indicate a draw}) 40. Kg2 Re2+ 41. Kf3 Rxb2 {but this one is a Wh win, mate in 42, because the WH K can enter to attack g6 or support the a pawn}) (31. Rd8 Kg8 32. Rxf8+ Kxf8 33. Rd8+ Kf7 (33... Ke7 34. Rh8 Rxe2 35. Rxh7+ Ke6 36. Rxb7 Kf5 37. Rxa7 Rxb2 38. Ra4 $16 {and Wh can make little headway}) 34. Rd7+ Kg8 35. Rxb7 Rxe2 36. a4 a5 37. b3 Re3 38. Kg1 Rh3 39. Rb5 Kf7 40. Kg2 Re3 41. Kf2 Rh3 42. Ke2 Ke6 43. Kd2 Kd6 44. Kc2 Rh2+ 45. Kc3 Rh3+ 46. Kb2 Rxh4 47. Rxa5 Kc6 48. Re5 Kd6 49. Rb5 Kc6 50. b4 h5 51. gxh6 Rh2+ 52. Kc3 Rh3+ 53. Kd4 Rh4+ ( 53... Rxh6 54. Rc5+) 54. Ke5 Rh5+ 55. Kf6 Rxh6 56. Rc5+ (56. Kg7 Rh5 57. Rb8 Kc7 58. Kxg6 Ra5 $11) 56... Kb6 57. Re5 $18 {Komodo13} (57. a5+ {Lomonosov is 4 moves quicker in 41 moves})) 31... Rfe8 32. Kg1 Kg7 {a mistake that Wh could have exploited, which Wh had looked at, but thought could wait} (32... R8e7 $11 ) 33. Kf2 (33. Rd7+ $1 R8e7 (33... Kg8 34. Rxb7 Rxe2 35. Rxe2 Rxe2 36. a4 a5 37. b3 Re3 38. Kf2 Rh3 39. Rb5 Kf7 {though is still not easy to win, if at all. } 40. Rxa5 Rxb3 41. Ra7+ Ke6 42. Rxh7 Ra3 43. Ra7 Kf5 $11 {eg}) 34. Rxe7+ Rxe7 35. Kf2 Rc7 $16 {but with only one R the Wh K is much safer to advance.}) 33... R8e7 34. Kf3 Rf7+ (34... Re3+ {expected} 35. Kf4 (35. Kf2 R3e6 36. Ke1 Re3 37. Kd1 R3e6 38. e4 Rxe4 39. Rxe4 Rxe4 40. Rd7+ Kg8 41. Rxb7 a5 42. Ra7 a4 $11) 35... h5 36. Rd7 R3e4+ 37. Kf3 Re3+ 38. Kf2 Rxe2+ 39. Rxe2 Rxd7 $11 {simplest, as agreed by Komodo13}) 35. Rf4 Rfe7 36. e4 $16 Ra6 37. b3 (37. a3 {might be better}) 37... Rc6 38. Ke3 (38. Kg4 Rc1 39. Rdf2 Re1 40. Kf3 Rc1 41. Re2 Rc3+ 42. Kg4 Rc5 $16 {Komodo13, but it's unclear as to how Wh can make progress}) 38... Rc1 39. Rd5 Re1+ 40. Kd2 {given by Komodo13- playing for a trap; but the K needs to try & get through via the centre} (40. Kd4 Rc1 {though seems to hold } 41. e5 Rd1+ 42. Ke4 Re1+ 43. Kf3 h6 $11 (43... R1xe5 $11)) 40... Rh1 (40... R1xe4 41. Rxe4 Rxe4 42. Rd7+ Kg8 43. Rxb7 {would give excellent winning chances, so Bl keeps his R active}) 41. a4 Rc7 42. Rd3 {Trying to secure pawns & move the K up though the centre. |But it's a mistake that forces Wh into risky play to avoid an immediate draw.} (42. e5 $1 {Komodo13} Rh2+ 43. Kd3 Rh3+ 44. Ke4 Rxb3 45. Rd4 Re7 46. Kd5 Re8 47. e6 {gives good winning chances} a5 48. Rfe4 Kf8 49. Rc4 b5 50. Rc7 Kg8 51. axb5 Rxb5+ 52. Kd6 Rbb8 53. e7 (53. Ra7 Red8+ 54. Kc6 Rbc8+ 55. Rc7 Ra8) 53... Ra8 54. Kd7 Kf7 55. Rf4+ Kg8 56. Rc6 Reb8 (56... a4 57. Rcc4 a3 58. Ra4 Rab8 59. Rxa3 $18) 57. Re4 Rb7+ 58. Ke6 Re8 59. Kf6 Ra7 60. Rd6 Raa8 61. Red4 $18 {Komodo13}) 42... Rh2+ 43. Ke3 Rh3+ 44. Rf3 {round about here both players were down to about 14 minutes left; which Iolo had never before seen from Rudy.} Rxh4 45. Kd4 (45. Rd5 {saves g5, however } Re7 46. Rf4 Rh3+ 47. Rf3 $11 {losing the b pawn now is too much} (47. Kd4 Rxb3 48. Kc5 Rb6 $15)) 45... Rd7+ (45... Rg4 {expected by Wh} 46. Rg3 Rd7+ 47. Kc3 Rxg3 48. Rxg3 Kf7 49. Rd3 Rc7+ 50. Kd4 Ke6 51. Rf3 Rd7+ 52. Ke3 Rc7 53. Kf4 Rc1 $11) 46. Kc5 Re7 47. Rfe3 h6 {Wh, who expected to have to give up the g pawn, was relieved by this. Though it appears the draw margin has not been breached yet} (47... Rg4 48. e5 Kf7 49. Kd6 Re6+ 50. Kc7 Rxg5 51. Rd7+ Kg8 52. Kxb7 Rgxe5 53. Rxe5 Rxe5 54. Kxa7 g5 $11 55. b4 Re4 56. b5 Rxa4+ {Lomononosov tablebases agree this is drawn} 57. Kb8 (57. Kb7) (57. Kb6) 57... Rb4 58. Rd5 g4 59. Kc7 g3 60. b6 Kf7 61. Rg5 Rc4+ 62. Kd6 Rb4 63. Kc7 Rc4+ $11) 48. gxh6+ Kxh6 $2 {but this is a mistake that should lose- the K is needed to stop the e pawn} (48... Rxh6 49. e5 g5 $11 {Komodo13}) 49. e5 $18 Rh5 50. Kd6 Re8 51. Kd7 $2 {Wh in turn goes wrong} (51. e6 $1 Kg5 (51... Rd8+ 52. Kc7 Rg8 53. e7 Re8 54. Rd8 $18) 52. Kd7 Rhh8 53. e7 Kf4 54. Re6 g5 55. Rd4+ Kf3 56. Rf6+ Ke3 57. Rg4 $18 {Komodo13}) (51. Rc3 {it appears also wins}) 51... Rhxe5 52. Rxe5 { still half in hope of getting somewhere near the Bl Q side pawns, but perhaps keeping both Rs on might have given some holding chances} (52. Rh3+ Kg7 53. Rhg3 Rf8 54. Kc7 Rf7+ 55. Kd6 Ref5 56. Rd4 g5 57. Rg1 Kh6 58. Rdg4 b6 59. b4 R7f6+ 60. Kd7 Rd5+ 61. Ke7 Kg6 62. b5 Rff5 {and Wh has to allow a R swap , as Bl is threatening mate, Komodo13}) 52... Rxe5 53. Kd6 Rf5 54. Rh3+ Kg7 55. Ke6 Rc5 56. Kd6 Rc6+ 57. Kd7 (57. Ke5 Rf6 {cuts the K off from the g pawn}) 57... g5 58. Re3 Kf6 59. b4 {Bl can just ignore this demonstration & push the g pawn through} Rc4 60. b5 Rxa4 61. Kc7 Rb4 (61... b6 {is fine}) 62. Kxb7 Rxb5+ 63. Kxa7 g4 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.09.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Bennett, Roger"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E14"] [WhiteElo "1573"] [BlackElo "1992"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2019.10.01"] 1. Nf3 b6 2. c4 Bb7 3. e3 e6 4. d4 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Bxd2+ 6. Nbxd2 Nf6 7. Bd3 d5 ( 7... d6 {more frequent}) 8. O-O Nbd7 (8... O-O 9. Rc1 {main}) 9. b4 (9. Rc1 O-O {main} 10. cxd5 (10. c5) (10. b4)) 9... Ne4 (9... a5 10. b5 Ne4 11. Qc2 Nxd2 12. Nxd2 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Nf6 14. a4 O-O 15. Nf3 Nd5 16. Ne5 Nb4 17. Nc6 Bxc6 18. bxc6 Qd5 19. Rfc1 Rfd8 20. Be2 Rd6 21. Bf3 Qg5 22. h3 {Dub-Farago, Budapest FSIM 2002, draw agreed}) 10. c5 $16 O-O (10... f5 {Komodo13}) 11. Qc2 Ndf6 ( 11... Nxd2 12. Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Nxd2 $16 g6 14. Bxg6 fxg6 15. c6 Ba6 16. cxd7 Bxf1 17. Rxf1 Qxd7 18. Qxg6 $16 {Komodo13}) 12. c6 (12. Rab1) 12... Nxd2 13. Nxd2 ( 13. cxb7 Nxf3+ 14. gxf3 Rb8 15. Ba6 Ne8 16. Rfc1 Qh4 17. Kh1 $14 {Komodo13}) 13... Bc8 14. a4 $16 {Bl has a cramped position , with very little play} Qd6 15. Rfb1 {not the best way to aim for a Q side breakthrough} (15. a5 b5 (15... Qxb4 16. axb6 cxb6 17. Rfb1 Qd6 18. Rxb6 $18) 16. Qc3 a6 17. Rac1 $16 {Komodo13 }) 15... a6 (15... a5 16. bxa5 (16. b5 e5 17. dxe5 Qxe5 18. Nf3 Qe7 $14) 16... Rxa5 17. Nb3 Ra8 18. a5 Ba6 19. axb6 Bxd3 20. Qxd3 Rxa1 21. Rxa1 Qxc6 22. bxc7 Qxc7 $11 {Komodo13}) 16. Nf3 (16. a5 b5 17. Nf3) 16... g6 (16... a5) 17. h4 { changing plans- if there is to be a K side attack the R on b1 is needed on the K side} Kg7 18. Rb3 h5 (18... Ng4 19. Rd1 (19. e4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 e5 $11 { Komodo13}) 19... e5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Qxe5 22. a5 b5 23. Be2 Bf5 24. Qc3 Qxc3 25. Rxc3 Rad8 26. g4 Be6 27. Rd4 $14 {Komodo13- the d pawn is vulnerable , but then the c6 pawn may be lost in return}) 19. e4 (19. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 20. Ne5 Ne4 {other moves lead to a collapse of the K side} 21. f3 Qd8 22. fxe4 Qxh4 23. exd5 Rf6 24. d6 cxd6 25. Nf3 Qg4 26. e4 $16 {Komodo13}) 19... Qf4 (19... dxe4 20. Bxe4 Nxe4 21. Qxe4 f6 22. Re1 Qd5 23. Qc2 Qf5 24. Qc3 Rd8 25. b5 axb5 26. axb5 Ra5 27. Ra1 Rxa1+ 28. Qxa1 Qd5 29. Qa3 Re8 30. Qb2 $16 {Komodo13; but it will still be a struggle to open up the Bl position}) 20. Re1 (20. e5 { Komodo13. Surely! It cements in Bl's position- that QB & QR will never get out so that Bl will be playing 2 pieces down on the K side where Wh will gradually open up lines.}) 20... Ng4 21. Bf1 (21. e5) 21... f5 (21... dxe4 22. Rxe4 Qd6 $14 {and Bl lives in hope that someday e5 will be possible for him}) 22. exd5 ( 22. e5 {still good, but Komodo13 now prefers to open up the position}) 22... exd5 23. g3 (23. a5 $1 Qd6 (23... b5 24. Qc5 Qd6 25. Re7+ Rf7 26. Rxf7+ Kxf7 27. Qxd6 cxd6 28. Ng5+ Ke7 29. f3 Nf6 30. Nh3 $18) 24. axb6 cxb6 25. Rc3 Qc7 26. Bd3 $18 {Komodo13}) 23... Qd6 24. Ng5 f4 {at last the B sees an exit, but it is all too late, as Wh can launch an immediate invasion} 25. Qc3 {too defensive, giving Bl time} (25. Qe2 $1 $18 Ra7 (25... Bf5 26. Qe7+ Qxe7 27. Rxe7+ Kg8 28. Rxc7) 26. Qe7+ Qxe7 27. Rxe7+ Kg8 28. Bg2 Rd8 29. Bxd5+ Rxd5 30. Re8+ Kg7 31. Rxc8 Rd6 (31... Rxd4 32. Ne6+) 32. Rf3 Rxc6 33. Rxf4 Rf6 34. Re4 { and Bl will lose material soon-Komodo13} c5 {eg} 35. Ree8 Rff7 36. Rh8 Kf6 37. bxc5 bxc5 38. Rc6+ Kf5 39. Rxc5+ Kf6 40. Rc6+ Kf5 41. Nxf7 Rxf7 42. f3) 25... fxg3 (25... Bf5 {Bl should seize the chance of freedom} 26. Nh3 fxg3 27. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 28. Rxg3 Rae8 $11 {Komodo13}) 26. Qxg3 Qxg3+ (26... Rxf2 {grabs a pawn as compensation, Rudy & Komodo13, though} 27. Qxd6 cxd6 28. Re8 Rf8 29. Re7+ Kg8 30. c7 Bf5 31. b5 a5 32. Bg2 Nf6 33. Rbe3 $18 {is vile for Bl, to use a Speelman expression}) 27. fxg3 (27. Rxg3 {is also strong} Rxf2 28. Re7+ Kg8 29. Bg2 {and Bl suffers from a multitude of weak points}) 27... Kf6 $2 {trying to prevent a r entry, but there is not much in the way of alternatives} (27... Bf5 28. Re7+ Kg8 29. Bg2 $18 (29. Rxc7 $18)) 28. Nh7+ Kf7 29. Nxf8 Kxf8 30. Bg2 ( 30. Bd3) 30... Bf5 31. Rf3 (31. Bxd5 Rd8 32. Bc4 Rxd4 33. Bxa6 Kg7 34. Bf1 { and the exchange & Q side wins-Komodo13}) 31... Rd8 32. Bh3 Rd6 33. b5 a5 34. Bxg4 hxg4 35. Rf2 Kf7 {(draw?)} 36. h5 g5 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.09.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Brewer, Joshua"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C25"] [WhiteElo "1664"] [BlackElo "1488"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2019.10.01"] {[%evp 0,5,25,19,19,11,28,30]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5 (2... Nf6) (2... Nc6 {main}) 3. Nf3 (3. Bc4 {preferred in some theory books}) (3. f4 {in others. It is dangerous for Bl to accept the h pawn with} Bxg1 4. Rxg1 Qh4+ (4... exf4 5. d4 Qh4+ 6. g3 fxg3 7. hxg3 (7. Rxg3)) 5. g3 Qxh2 6. Rg2 Qh1) (3. Na4 Bxf2+ { Lead to an entertaining draw by repetion , with the Wh K dodging a B on b5 & c6 in Hampe-Meitner, Vienna 1873,1/2-1/2. The sacrifice is not quite sound though that hasn't stopped some 50 odd players simply repeating those moves in order to get round the 'no agreed draw under 30 moves' rule in tournaments!} 4. Kxf2 Qh4+ 5. Ke3 Qf4+ 6. Kd3 d5 7. Kc3 Qxe4 8. Kb3 Na6 9. a3 Qxa4+ 10. Kxa4 Nc5+ 11. Kb4 a5+ 12. Kxc5 Ne7 13. Bb5+ Kd8 14. Bc6 b6+ 15. Kb5 Nxc6 16. Kxc6 Bb7+ 17. Kb5 Ba6+ 18. Kc6 Bb7+ 19. Kb5) 3... d6 4. Na4 (4. d4 {main}) 4... Nd7 (4... Bb6 {main}) 5. Nxc5 (5. d3 Ngf6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Nxc5 Nxc5 9. Ne1 d5 (9... Ne6 10. c3 d5 $11 {Tseitlin & Glazkov 1995}) 10. exd5 Qxd5 11. c3 { Paulsen-Von Bardeleben, DSB Kongess , Bresslau 1889,1-0}) 5... Nxc5 $11 6. d3 ( 6. d4 {main} exd4 (6... Nxe4 7. dxe5 {looks risky for Bl}) 7. Qxd4 {4 Wh wins, 1 draw,2 Bl wins}) 6... f5 (6... Nf6 {main, looks sensible; 1 Wh win, 1 draw, 2 Bl wins}) 7. exf5 (7. b4 fxe4 8. bxc5 exf3 9. Qxf3 Nf6 10. cxd6 cxd6 11. Be2 O-O 12. O-O Qb6 13. Qe3 Qxe3 14. fxe3 Bg4 $11 {Barta (2235) -Lazar (2245), Szolnok 1997,0-1}) (7. d4 $14 {Komodo13}) 7... Bxf5 8. d4 exd4 9. Nxd4 Qe7+ ( 9... Qf6 $5 {Komodo13} 10. Nxf5 Qxf5 11. Bb5+ c6 12. Be2 $14) (9... Bd7 10. Bc4 $16 {Komomodo13}) 10. Be2 Bd7 11. O-O O-O-O 12. Be3 (12. Re1 Re8 13. Be3 Nf6 14. Nb3 Kb8 15. Bf3 $16 {Komodo13- the Wh K is a little safer & Wh has a bit more space & 2 Bs}) 12... a6 {it is seldom a good idea to make pawn moves on the side where you are under attack, especially in a K position, unless forced to do so. It helps the other side to open lines} (12... Nf6 13. Re1 Rhe8 { looks sensible development}) (12... Kb8 {if it is felt a7 needs protection}) 13. b4 $18 (13. Re1 {looks at the Q} Ne4 14. c4 Ngf6 15. Rc1 Rhe8 16. Qc2 $16 { Komodo13}) 13... Ne4 (13... Na4 $5 14. Qd2 Nf6 15. b5 $18 {Komodo13}) 14. Qd3 c6 {another weakening move, that delays b5, but actually increases its strength when it does arrive} (14... Ngf6 {must be better , though} 15. Rab1 $18) 15. a4 (15. Qa3 $1 Ngf6 (15... c5 16. b5 $18) (15... Kb8 16. Rab1 Qf6 ( 16... Ngf6 17. Bxa6) 17. Bxa6 $18) 16. Bxa6 $18 {Komodo13, the Bl pieces are miles away, so it's not really a saacrifice}) 15... Kc7 {attempting to cove the holes selfcreated} (15... c5 16. bxc5 Nxc5 17. Qc4 Nf6 18. Bf3 Be6 19. Nxe6 Qxe6 20. Qd4 Rhe8 21. Rab1 Rd7 22. Rfd1 $18 {the Bl pieces are huddled together, waiting for wh to force his way in}) 16. f3 (16. b5 Ra8 (16... c5 17. bxa6 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Nc5 19. Bf4 Nxa6 20. Bxa6 $18) (16... Nc5 17. Qd2 Nf6 18. Rfe1 Nd5 19. Bg5 Qf7 20. bxc6 Bxc6 21. Nxc6 bxc6 22. Qa5+ Nb6 23. Bxd8+ Rxd8 24. Rab1 Ncd7 25. Bg4 $18) 17. bxc6 bxc6 18. Bd2 Kd8 19. Ba5+ Ke8 20. Rae1 $18 {Komodo13}) 16... Ng5 17. b5 axb5 (17... Re8 18. Bf2 Nf6 19. bxc6 Bxc6 20. Rab1 (20. Nxc6 Qxe2 21. Qb3 b5 22. Nd4 Qc4 23. axb5 Qxb3 24. cxb3 Ra8 25. bxa6 $18) 20... Bd5 21. Qd2 h6 22. Qb4 Kd8 23. Bxa6 $1 Qc7 (23... bxa6 24. Qb8+ Kd7 25. Qa7+ Kc8 26. Rb8#) 24. Bxb7 Bxb7 25. Qxb7 Qxb7 26. Rxb7 Nd7 27. Ra7 $18 { Komodo13}) 18. axb5 c5 (18... cxb5 19. Qc3+ Kb8 20. Qa3 {and Komodo13 starts giving up the Bl Q}) 19. b6+ $1 Kxb6 (19... Kb8 20. Ra8+ Kxa8 21. Qa3+ Ba4 22. Qxa4+ Kb8 23. Qa7+ Kc8 24. Qa8+ Kd7 25. Bb5#) 20. Rfb1+ Kc7 21. Rxb7+ $1 { Bl is playing a N & a R down anyway} Kc8 22. Ra8+ Kxb7 23. Qa6+ Kc7 24. Qa7# 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganB-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.09.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Osinga, Awne"] [Black "Cook, James"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "1309"] [BlackElo "1487"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2019.05.21"] [TimeControl "60/120:0"] {[%evp 0,64,19,22,25,34,28,13,27,-7,-14,-12,14,8,5,-18,-18,-11,-2,30,19,27,90, 50,75,121,110,59,53,-68,0,0,-13,0,0,-42,0,-112,-21,-220,-203,-159,0,-383,-422, -426,-329,-361,-424,-447,-355,-503,-495,-519,-518,-498,-525,-606,-326,-572, -358,-1324,-751,-29993,-29994,-29999,-30000]} 1. d4 (1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. d4 Nf6 5. h3 Nc6 6. c3 Bf5 7. Nbd2 h6 8. Bb5 {Osinga-Cook,Dyfed League 2019,1/2-1/2}) 1... Nf6 2. Nf3 (2. e3 g6 3. c4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. Rb1 c5 8. d5 a6 9. O-O {Osinga-E Llywelyn,Dyfed League 2018,1-0; the only other game on the record with a d4 move for Awne.}) (2. c4 {main}) 2... e6 3. e3 {the Colle} (3. Bf4 {has become very fashionable of late, at all levels}) 3... c5 (3... b6) 4. c3 (4. Bd3) 4... Nc6 5. Bd3 b6 (5... d5 {main}) 6. O-O Bb7 7. Re1 (7. Nbd2 {main}) 7... d5 {strangely enough a new move at this point#} ( 7... Be7) 8. Nbd2 {however back to known paths now} Bd6 (8... Be7 {main}) 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 (10... cxd4 {0-3}) 11. Bxe4 Qc7 (11... O-O {transposes to 14 games, in 9 of which} 12. Bxh7+ $18 {occurred. This was Colle's (another famous Belgian) original idea from the 1930's and should be winning here; although 4 players managed to lose their game as Wh. It might be noted that if the B were on e7 rather than d6, then Bl could prevent the Ng5ch followup.}) 12. d5 {Cloud Engines} Nd8 (12... O-O-O 13. dxc6 Bxh2+ 14. Nxh2 Rxd1 15. cxb7+ Kb8 16. Rxd1 $18 {Weiler-Lakat, Budapest FS03 FM 2007,1-0}) (12... exd5 13. Bxd5+ Be7 14. Bxc6+ (14. Qa4 O-O 15. Bxc6 Bxc6 16. Rxe7 Qxe7 17. Qxc6 $16) 14... Bxc6 15. Ne5 O-O 16. Nxc6 Bf6 17. Qf3 Rac8 18. Nxa7 Qxa7 19. Bf4 $16) 13. c4 (13. dxe6 Nxe6 (13... O-O 14. Bxb7 Nxb7 15. Ng5 $18 {Komodo13}) 14. Bxb7 Bxh2+ 15. Nxh2 Qxb7 $18 {James}) 13... O-O 14. Bxh7+ {Rudy didn't think the sacrifice was sound on the return journey, but Komodo13 thinks it should gain something; Stockfish10 let loose on the position instantly decides it's a win. And Deep Hiarcs14 doesn't; even being asked after the sacrifice it only considers it equal.} (14. dxe6 Bxe4 (14... fxe6 15. Bxb7 Nxb7 16. b3 {Komodo13, winning the e pawn at leisure} (16. Rxe6 Qf7 17. Qe2 Rae8 18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. Qd3 Rd8 20. Qc2 Bc7 21. Bg5 $16)) 15. exf7+ Nxf7 16. Rxe4 $16 {Komodo13}) 14... Kxh7 15. Ng5+ Kg8 (15... Kg6 16. h4 $1 (16. Qg4 f5 17. Qh4 $18 {Stockfish10- a more usual response to Kg6 in other lineups}) 16... f5 17. h5+ Kf6 18. Qd3 e5 19. f4 $1 (19. Qh3 Ke7 20. h6 gxh6 21. Qxh6 f4 {was Komodo13's first claim for a Wh win, & , after some dithering about it, it still seems that Bl just does not have the time to activate his pieces} 22. Re4 $1 Nf7 23. Nxf7 Rxf7 24. Bxf4 Rg8 25. Bg5+ Rxg5 26. Qxg5+ Kd7 27. f4 exf4 28. Qg6 Rf8 29. Rae1 Qd8 30. Re6 Kc7 31. Qg7+ Kc8 32. Rxd6 Qxd6 33. Re7 Qd8 34. Rxb7 Rg8 35. Qf7 Rf8 36. Qe7 Qxe7 37. Rxe7 {and the d pawn wins for Wh- Komodo13}) 19... e4 (19... Ke7 20. fxe5 (20. h6 gxh6 21. fxe5) 20... Bxe5 21. Bf4 Nf7 22. Ne6 Qd6 23. Qxf5 $18) 20. Rxe4 fxe4 21. Qxe4 Qc8 22. Bd2 Ne6 23. Qg6+ Ke7 24. Re1 $18 {Komodo13}) 16. Qh5 Re8 {usually in these Greek gift games, f7 is unprotected, so Wh gets in there, & then picks up g7 with a ch} 17. Qh7+ (17. g3 $1 {is the unlikely move that Komodo13 comes up with. Again, Stockfish10 gets there quicker, as it is built with a high 'contempt' factor, always looking for the quickest tactical win possible.} e5 (17... Kf8 18. Bd2 Ke7 19. Rad1 g6 20. Qh3 Be5 21. Bc3 $18 { Stockfish10}) 18. Qh7+ Kf8 19. Bd2 Ba6 20. b3 b5 21. Qh8+ Ke7 22. Qxg7 Kd7 23. Ne4 Kc8 24. Qf6 Nb7 25. b4 $18 {it seems to be the case that the Bl pieces have little activity, if any. Perhaps Wh can even win by pushing the h pawn to the 8th!}) (17. Bd2 {also seems to work, though again it takes Komodo13 a while to establish this.} Bxh2+ 18. Kh1 Be5 19. Rad1 exd5 20. Bf4 d4 21. Qh7+ Kf8 22. Qh8+ Ke7 23. Qxg7 Kd7 24. Bxe5 Qc6 25. Ne4 Re6 26. Qg4 a5 27. Kg1 Ra7 28. f3 Ba6 29. b3 Kc8 30. Nd6+ $18 {Komodo13. It seems that there is no immediate forced win, but that the Bl pieces simply do not cooperate long into the game. A similar result can be found in the game Llewellyn-Fathallah, WCPL 2018, 1-0 from a Bg5 vs the Dutch; featured in this year's WCU Yearbook (also to be found in the Website Games.}) 17... Kf8 18. Qh4 (18. Ne4 Ke7 19. Qxg7 Bxh2+ 20. Kh1 Be5 21. Bg5+ Kd7 22. Bf6 {is the way to a win; Komodo13- again after a pause for thought; Stockfish10 immediately}) (18. g3 {will also do} Ke7 19. Qxg7 Kd7 20. Nxe6 Rxe6 21. dxe6+ Kc8 22. exf7 Qxf7 23. Qxf7 Nxf7 24. Bf4 Bxf4 25. Re7 Ne5 26. gxf4 Nf3+ 27. Kg2 Nd4+ 28. f3 Bxf3+ 29. Kf2 $18 { Komodo13- a very mysterious set of final moves; and agreed to by Stockfish10}) 18... Bxh2+ 19. Kf1 {preferred by Stockfish10} (19. Kh1 $16 {is better , Komodo13}) 19... Be5 $11 20. Nf3 (20. Bd2 $5 $11 {Komodo13; chosen by Stockfish10.}) 20... Bf6 (20... Bd6 21. Ng5 Be5 $11 {Komodo13}) (20... f6 $11 { both Engines} 21. Rxe5 fxe5 22. d6 Qxd6 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Qxe8+ Qf8 26. Qxf8+ Kxf8 27. Nxe5 $11 {Stockfish10}) 21. Qg4 (21. Bg5 $18 {James & both Engines}) 21... exd5 $19 22. Bf4 (22. Rxe8+ {James, is better, but Bl is still winning now}) 22... Rxe1+ (22... Qc6 23. Qh5 {James} Rxe1+ 24. Rxe1 Ne6 $19 { Komodo13}) (22... Qc8 {James} 23. Bd6+ Be7 24. Qh5 Kg8 25. Bxe7 Ne6 26. Ng5 Nxg5 27. Qxg5 Qc6 $17 {Komodo13}) 23. Rxe1 Qc6 24. Qh5 Kg8 (24... Ne6 $1 { Komodo13}) 25. Ne5 Bxe5 26. Bxe5 dxc4 {it does have a threat-Stockfish10} ( 26... Ne6 {James-perhaps slightly better than the text-Komodo13}) 27. f3 Ne6 28. Re4 Nd4 29. Rf4 (29. Bxg7 $5 {both Engines}) 29... Qg6 30. Qh3 (30. Qxg6 fxg6 31. Bxd4 cxd4 32. Rxd4 Ba6 $19 (32... Bc8 $19 {James})) 30... Bc8 (30... Qd3+ 31. Ke1 (31. Kg1 Qe3+ 32. Kh2 Ne2 (32... Qxe5) 33. Qf5 Qg1+ 34. Kh3 Qh1+ 35. Kg4 Qxg2+ 36. Kh5 g6+ 37. Kh6 gxf5 38. Rg4+ fxg4 39. Kh5 gxf3 40. Kh4 f2 41. Bg3 f1=Q 42. Bc7 Qfh1+ 43. Bh2 Qhxh2# {Komodo13}) 31... Qe2# {James}) 31. Qh2 (31. Qh4 Qd3+ {James} 32. Kg1 Ne2+ 33. Kh2 Nxf4 {Komodo13}) 31... Qd3+ 32. Ke1 (32. Kg1 Qd1+ 33. Kf2 Qe2+ 34. Kg3 Qe1# {demonstrated by James after the game finished}) 32... Qe2# 0-1