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.

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Move	N	Result	Elo

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1.f4 d5 2.Nf3 g6 2...Nf6 3.g3 c5 4.Bg2 Nc6 5.d3 e6 6.0-0 Bd6 7.Qe1 0-0 8.e4 Van Kemenade-Haigh, Dyfed Closed 2012,1-0 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c6 4...c5 5.d3 Nh6 6.0-0 Nf5 7.c3 d4 8.Qe1 Nc6 9.Na3 0-0 Van Kemenade-Haigh, Dyfed League 2012,1/2-1/2 4...Nf6 5.d3 c6 6.0-0 Qb6+ 7.e3 Ng4 8.d4 0-0 9.Qe2 Nd7 10.c4 dxc4 11.Qxc4 Ndf6 12.Nc3 Van Kemenade-Haigh,Dyfed League 2018,1-0 5.0-0 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 0-0 13.c3 Van Kemenade-Marusenko, S Wales International 2007,1-0 7.h3!? 7.Ne5 Nf5 8.Qd3 0-0 9.c3 Nf6 10.Nd2 Nd6 11.e3 Bf5 Zaitsev-Muravyev, RUS ch corr 1997,0-1 7.c3 Nf5 7...f5 8.Na3 0-0 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 Dette-Gheng, Staufer op, Schwaebisch Gmuend 2018,0-1 8...Nf6 9.Ne5 Nd6 10.e3 0-0 11.Qe2 Bf5 12.Nd2 Katona-Bodo,HUN ch tm 2002,1/2-1/2; cf Zaitsev-Murayev 7...0-0 7...Nf5 8.Kh2 8.g4 Ng3 9.Re1 Nf6 10.Nc3 h5 11.g5 Nfe4 8...h5 Komodo13 8.g4= f6 9.Qd3 9.Nc3 b5 10.a3 f5 11.g5 Nf7 12.Ne5 Bb7 13.e3= 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-+ 14...Qb6+ 15.e3 Nf7 10.c4 10.f5 Komodo13; considered gxf5 11.gxf5 Nb6 12.Nh4 12.b3 12...e5 13.Nc3 e4 14.Qg3 Nc4= 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= 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.b3 Nd6 15.Ba3 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= 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= Komodo13 17.Bxd4 Bxd4+ 17...Ne5 18.Nxd4 18.Rxd4 Bd7 19.Ne4 Nd5 20.Rc1 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= Komodo13 19...Ng5 20.h4!? 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= Komodo13 20...Ne6 21.Rad1?! 21.Nf3 Qg7 22.Re3 Nf4 23.g5 23.Rd1!? 23...Bf5 23...Bg4 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-+ 27...Qxh4+ 28.Kg1 b6-+ Komodo13 21...Nf4 22.Rg3 Nh5 23.Rf3 Bxg4 24.Rxf8+ Rxf8 25.Ne4 Nf4-+ Komodo13 22.Rxd4 Be6 23.Qc2 Qf6 23...Qe3+ 24.Kh2 24.Kh1 Qg3 25.g5? Rf2-+ 24...Qf2 25.g5 Rae8 26.Qd2 Nc4 27.Qe1 Ne3 28.Qxf2 Rxf2 29.Rg1 Kg7 Komodo13 24.g5 after some thought 24.Ne4= 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= Komodo13 24...Qf2+ 25.Kh1 Nd5 25...c5 26.Qe4 26.Re4 Bf5 26...cxd4 27.Qe5+ Kg8 28.Qxe6+ Qf7 29.Qxf7+ Rxf7 30.Rxd4 Kg7 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 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+= 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+= 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.d8Q+ Rxd8 42.Rxd8 Kxd8 43.Kg2+- 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± Komodo13 30...Rxe6 31.R1d2 31.e4! Komodo13 h6 31...Rfe8 32.Re1 32.Rd8 Ree8 33.Rxe8 Rxe8 34.Rd4 34.Rd7 Rxe4= 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± 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= 56...Kb6 57.Re5+- 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= 33.Kf2 33.Rd7+! 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= eg 34.Rxe7+ Rxe7 35.Kf2 Rc7± 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= 35...h5 36.Rd7 R3e4+ 37.Kf3 Re3+ 38.Kf2 Rxe2+ 39.Rxe2 Rxd7= simplest, as agreed by Komodo13 35.Rf4 Rfe7 36.e4± 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± 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= 43...R1xe5= 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! 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+- 57.Re4 Rb7+ 58.Ke6 Re8 59.Kf6 Ra7 60.Rd6 Raa8 61.Red4+- 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= losing the b pawn now is too much 47.Kd4 Rxb3 48.Kc5 Rb6 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= 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= 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+= 48.gxh6+ Kxh6? but this is a mistake that should lose- the K is needed to stop the e pawn 48...Rxh6 49.e5 g5= Komodo13 49.e5+- Rh5 50.Kd6 Re8 51.Kd7? Wh in turn goes wrong 51.e6! Kg5 51...Rd8+ 52.Kc7 Rg8 53.e7 Re8 54.Rd8+- 52.Kd7 Rhh8 53.e7 Kf4 54.Re6 g5 55.Rd4+ Kf3 56.Rf6+ Ke3 57.Rg4+- 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

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White	EloW	Black	EloB	Res

Van Kemenade,R	2040	Haigh,A	1767	0–1
Brewer,B	1573	Bennett,R	1992	1–0
Francis,M	1664	Brewer,J	1488	1–0
Osinga,A	1309	Cook,J	1487	0–1

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