New Year Blues

Aberystwyth have been having a tough time this season, and our first match of the New Year, at home against Cardigan B on Tuesday 21st January, continued the trend. Not that this was apparent from the play on Board 1. Rudy van Kemenade and Tony Haigh hardly seemed to have sat down when they were shaking hands for the second time, as Tony dropped a piece due to a miscalculated exchange and resigned after only thirteen moves. Julie van Kemenade had a chance to put Aber further ahead in an Italian Game against Ben Brewer, but missed the winning tactic. The middle game position that followed looked awkward with a rook offside, and even after it was exchanged, Black had pressure in the ending, winning a pawn with a knight fork and leaving her with a long and ultimately fruitless defence. I tried a new and odd-looking Philidor system against Joshua Brewer, and it seemed to be working, winning a pawn. I then thought I saw a decisive tactic, but missed the obvious defence and agreed a draw in my disappointment, although it turns out I could have retained my advantage into the endgame. Board 4 saw yet another Greek gift sacrifice - they seem to have turned up regularly this season, and it's interesting how often subsequent analysis shows them to be unsound. In this case, Tom Gunn's bishop sac in a Colle System was declined by Awne Osinga and a complex game resulted in which Black made a sacrifice of his own for a kingside counter-attack. Tom couldn't find the only move to defend against this and resigned in a position where he was theoretically winning, though the game would still have been very hard. (Awne revealed afterwards that he thought Tom was offering a draw, not resigning!) A 2½-1½ win for Cardigan B was a disappointing result for Aber.

[Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-Cardigan B"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.21"] [Round "?.1"] [White "Haigh, A."] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1797"] [BlackElo "1943"] [PlyCount "26"] [EventDate "2020.01.22"] 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 (2... Nd7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Qc7 5. Be3 e5 6. d5 c5 {Haigh-J Van Kemenade,Dyfed League 2019,0-1}) 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 (4. f4 Qa5 {main, Pribyl line}) 4... Qa5 (4... Bg4) (4... g6) 5. Bd3 {2nd most frequent} (5. Bd2 { main, preferred by Wh in pm analysis}) 5... e5 6. O-O Bg4 {maintains the tension & now Wh scores 82%} 7. dxe5 {most frequent, but ceding symmetry of pawn structure gives Bl easy equality, with Wh only getting a 29% share} (7. Be3 {keeping the tension , & now Wh scores 82%. Strangely enough the Cloud Engines prefer Wh with a definite plus after both continuations. Human Bl players are content with either position}) 7... dxe5 8. h3 (8. Bd2 {4 Bl wins, 1 draw}) 8... Bh5 {the pin is awkward , though varieties of Stockfish happily keep chasing the B regardless of the weakening of the K side that is entailed} 9. Bd2 {main, but Wh's Bs obstruct the only open file} (9. g4 Bg6 10. Nh4 Nbd7 11. Qf3 Be7 (11... Nc5) 12. a3 O-O 13. g5 Nh5 14. Nf5 Qd8 15. Qg4 Nc5 16. Rd1 Qc7 17. Be3 Ne6 18. Ne2 Bc5 {Pavlov-Rakhmangulov UKR ch tm Alushta 2003,0-1}) 9... Qc7 10. Qe2 (10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Be2 O-O-O 12. Nd2 Bg6 13. Bd3 Nc5 { Szonyi-Nagy, Budapest FSM11,2011,0-1}) (10. Ne2 {a drastic decision} Bxf3 11. gxf3 Nh5 12. Qc1 Bd6 13. Ng3 Nf4 14. Kh2 g6 15. Rg1 Nd7 $17 {Cieselski-Ozog, POL ch tm 2002,1-0}) 10... Nbd7 (10... Be7 11. Kh1 O-O 12. g4 Bg6 13. Rg1 Nbd7 14. Nh4 Nc5 15. Nf5 Ne6 16. Rg3 Nd4 $15 {Ramirez-Esplana,Peru ch U26,1997,0-1}) 11. Nd1 {the Wh pieces now begin to get in each other.s way} (11. a4 Be7 (11... a5 12. Rfd1 Bc5 13. Bc4 O-O 14. Bg5 Bd4 15. g4 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Bg6 17. Nd2 h5 { Berger-Rader,Niederbayernliga 2006,1-0}) 12. Kh1 O-O 13. g4 Bg6 14. Nh4 Nc5 15. Nf5 Rfd8 16. Bg5 Ne6 17. Bh4 Nf4 18. Qf3 Bxf5 19. exf5 N6d5 20. Bg3 Nxh3 { Gaspar-Galego, POR ch 1994,0-1}) 11... Nc5 12. Bb4 $2 {loose pieces are always at risk} (12. b4 {pm analysis & both Komodo13 & Stockfish11} Ne6 13. c3 (13. g4 {Stockfish11} Bg6 (13... Nxg4 14. hxg4 Bxg4 15. Qe3 Nf4 16. Re1 g5 $11) 14. Nb2 Rd8 $15) 13... Rd8 (13... a5 $15 {Stockfish11}) 14. Bc4 (14. Nb2 Be7 15. g4 Bg6 16. Rfe1 O-O 17. Nc4 Nd7 $11 {Stockfish11}) 14... Bxf3 $1 {Stockfish11} (14... Rxd2 15. Qxd2 Bxf3 16. gxf3 (16. Bxe6 Bxd1 $17) 16... Nf4 {gives Bl good practical chances}) 15. gxf3 Qd7 16. Bxe6 Qxe6 17. Kh2 Nh5 $15) (12. c3 Rd8 13. Bc2 {considered by Bl, when} Rxd2 (13... Bxf3 $1 14. gxf3 Qd7 15. Be3 Qxh3 $19 {is a much simpler solution by Stockfish11}) 14. Qxd2 Bxf3 (14... Ncxe4 15. Qd3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nc5 $11 {Stockfish11}) 15. gxf3 Ne6 $11 {gives chances}) 12... Nxd3 13. Bxf8 Nf4 $19 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-CardiganB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.21"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Van Kemenade, J."] [Black "Brewer, Ben"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "1691"] [BlackElo "1641"] [PlyCount "131"] [EventDate "2020.01.22"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d3 Be7 5. c3 (5. O-O {main}) (5. a3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. c3 h6 8. Bb3 {Van Kemenade-Orton, Dyfed Open 2018,1-0}) 5... O-O 6. O-O (6. Bb3) (6. Nbd2 {alternatives}) 6... d5 (6... d6 {main}) 7. exd5 Nxd5 8. Re1 Bf6 (8... Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 {main} (10. g4 $5)) 9. Bb3 (9. Nbd2 Nb6 10. Bb5 Bd7 11. Ne4 Re8 {main}) 9... Bf5 10. Bc2 Re8 11. Nbd2 Nf4 (11... Qd7 12. Ne4 Rad8 13. Qe2 Be7 14. Ba4 Bf8 15. Ng3 Bg6 16. Qd1 f6 {Verhaeren-Grkinic, LSS email ,2009, 0-1}) 12. Ne4 Bxe4 {cedes the 2 Bs} (12... Be7 13. Nxe5 (13. Bxf4 $16) 13... Nh3+ 14. gxh3 Nxe5 15. d4 Ng6 16. Nf6+ Bxf6 17. Rxe8+ Qxe8 18. Bxf5 Nh4 19. Bd3 Qe6 20. Qg4 Qe1+ 21. Bf1 Re8 22. Bg5 Qxa1 23. Bxf6 Ng6 24. Be5 Nxe5 25. dxe5 Re6 26. Qe2 Rg6+ 27. Kh1 Qc1 28. Qd3 h6 29. h4 {Gombos-Pasztor, HUN ch girls U14,Celldoemoelk 2011,1/2-1/2}) (12... g5 13. d4 $16 {Stockfish11} ) 13. Rxe4 $16 Ne6 14. Be3 Qd6 15. Qd2 (15. Qe2) 15... Rad8 16. Rd1 {the question here is whether Wh can break with a pawn to unleash the Bs} a6 17. Nh4 (17. h4 $14 {Stockfish11}) 17... Qf8 (17... Qd5 $5 {Stockfish11}) 18. Nf5 Ne7 19. Nh4 (19. Nxe7+ Qxe7 20. h4 $11) 19... Bxh4 20. Rxh4 Nf5 (20... f5) (20... Ng6) 21. Rg4 (21. Re4) 21... Nxe3 22. Qxe3 f5 (22... Nf4 23. Bb3 Kh8 24. Rg3 f5 25. Qe1 Qf6 26. Re3 Re7 $11 {Stockfish11}) 23. Rc4 (23. Rb4 b5 24. Bb3 c5 25. Rh4 h6 $15 {Stockfish11}) 23... Qd6 24. Qh3 (24. g3 Kh8 25. Rh4 $11 { Stockfish11}) 24... Nf4 $2 (24... g6 $17) 25. Qf3 (25. Qxf5 {Rudy} Re6 26. d4 e4 27. Qc5 (27. Bxe4 $2 g6 $19) 27... Rg6 28. Qxd6 Rxg2+ 29. Kf1 cxd6 30. Bxe4 Rxh2 31. Kg1 Rh6 32. Bxb7 Rg6+ 33. Kf1 Rh6 34. Ke1 Re8+ 35. Kd2 Re2+ 36. Kc1 Rxf2 $11) 25... c6 $15 26. g3 Qd5 $2 {giving Wh a chance} (26... Qg6 27. Kf1 Nd5 28. Re1 Kh8 29. Rh4 (29. a4 $15) 29... Qg5 30. a4 a5 31. Rh5 (31. Qh5) 31... Qd2 32. Qe2 Qxe2+ 33. Rxe2 g6 34. Rh4 Kg7 $15 {Stockfish11}) 27. Bb3 (27. Rxf4 $1 {seen by Bl after he had moved} Qxf3 (27... exf4 28. Bb3 $18) 28. Rxf3 {and Wh is a piece up}) 27... Nh3+ (27... Qxf3 28. Rxf4+ Qd5 29. Bxd5+ Rxd5 30. Rxf5 $16) 28. Kg2 (28. Kf1 $2 Qxf3 29. Rf4+ Qd5 30. Bxd5+ cxd5 31. Rxf5 { and now Bl is a piece up}) 28... Qxf3+ 29. Kxf3 Ng5+ 30. Kg2 Kf8 $11 31. h4 ( 31. d4 e4 32. Rc5 g6 33. h4 Ne6 34. Re5 Nc7 35. Rxe8+ Nxe8 $11 {Stockfish11}) 31... Ne6 32. d4 e4 33. Ra4 Nc7 34. Re1 (34. Ra5 g6 35. Rc5 $11 {Stockfish11}) 34... g6 $14 35. Kf1 Re7 36. Bd1 (36. f3 exf3 (36... Rde8 37. fxe4 Rxe4 38. Rxe4 Rxe4 39. Ra5 $11) 37. Rxe7 Kxe7 38. Ra5 Nb5 39. Kf2 $11 {Stockfish11}) 36... Kg7 37. g4 (37. f3 $11) 37... f4 (37... fxg4 $1 38. Bxg4 Rf8 39. Kg2 Nd5 40. c4 Nf4+ 41. Kg3 Nd3 42. Re3 (42. Re2 h5 $19) 42... Nxb2 $19 {()tockfish11}) 38. Bc2 (38. Ra5) 38... Rde8 39. c4 (39. Ra5 Nd5 40. Kg2 h6 41. g5 hxg5 42. hxg5 e3 43. Bb3 $11 {Stockfish11}) 39... e3 40. fxe3 (40. d5 $1 cxd5 41. cxd5 Nxd5 42. Bd1 a5 43. Rd4 Re5 44. Bf3 Nb4 45. Re2 Nxa2 46. Rxf4 $11 {Stockfish11} ) (40. Ra3 b5 41. c5 e2+ 42. Kg2 Ne6 43. d5 Nd4 44. Bb1 f3+ 45. Kg3 cxd5 46. Rd3 Re4 $19 {Stockfish11}) 40... Rxe3 (40... fxe3) 41. Rxe3 Rxe3 {a very unclear position, even in retrospect} (41... fxe3 42. Ra3 $11) 42. Ra3 (42. c5 Ne6 (42... Rh3 43. Rb4 Nb5 44. d5 $14 {Stockfish11}) 43. g5 Nd8 44. d5 cxd5 45. Rd4 Rf3+ 46. Kg2 Rg3+ 47. Kh2 Ne6 48. Rxd5 Rg4 49. Bd1 Rxh4+ 50. Kg2 f3+ 51. Bxf3 Rb4 52. Rd7+ Kf8 53. Rxb7 Rxb7 54. Bxb7 Nxc5 55. Bd5 $11 {Stockfish11}) ( 42. d5 cxd5 43. cxd5 Nxd5 44. Bb3 Re5 45. Kf2 g5 46. hxg5 Kg6 47. Rc4 Ne3 48. Rxf4 Kxg5 49. Kf3 h6 50. Rf7 b5 51. Rg7+ Kf6 52. Rf7+ Kg6 53. Kf4 Nc4 54. Ra7 $16 {Stockfish11}) 42... Rxa3 43. bxa3 h6 (43... Ne6 $19 44. d5 Nd4 45. Be4 Kf6 46. a4 Ke5 47. Bh1 cxd5 48. Bxd5 b6 49. g5 a5 50. Bg8 Nf5 51. Bxh7 Nxh4 $19 { Stockfish11}) 44. g5 $6 (44. Ke2 Kf6 (44... g5 45. hxg5 hxg5 46. c5 Ne6 47. Kd3 Kf6 48. Bb3 Nc7 49. Ke4 {and Wh has a blockade that should hold})) 44... hxg5 45. hxg5 Ne6 $19 46. d5 cxd5 (46... Nxg5) 47. cxd5 Nxg5 48. d6 Nf7 (48... Kf6 49. d7 Ne6 50. Be4 b5 51. Bb7 a5 52. Bc6 g5 $19 {Stockfish11}) 49. d7 Kf6 50. Kf2 g5 51. Be4 b6 (51... Ke7 $1 52. Bxb7 a5 53. Bc6 Ne5 $19 {Stockfish11}) 52. Bd5 Nd8 53. Bf3 (53. Kf3 Ke7 54. Kg4 Kxd7 55. Kxg5 Kd6 56. Bc4 b5 57. Bf1 Ke5 58. Kg4 $19 {and Wh can only hope that there are some drawing chances} Nc6 59. a4 bxa4 60. Bxa6 Nb4 61. Bc4 Kd4 62. Be6 Ke3 63. a3 f3 64. Kg3 Nc2 65. Bd7 Nxa3 66. Bxa4 f2 67. Kg2 Ke2 68. Bd1+ Ke1 $19) 53... Ke5 (53... Ke7 {Stockfish11} 54. Bg4 Nf7 55. Ke2 Ne5 $19) (53... Kf5 $19 {Rudy}) 54. Bg4 {now Wh's holding chances are increased} Ke4 (54... Kd6 55. Kf3 Nc6 56. Ke4 f3 57. Kxf3 Ne5+ 58. Ke4 Nxd7 59. Kf5 $15) 55. Bf3+ $6 {allowing the pawns to come further forward} (55. Ke2 Kd5 56. Bh3 Nf7 57. Kf3 b5 58. Kg4 Ke6 59. Kh5+ Ke7 60. Bg4 a5 61. Kg6 f3 62. d8=Q+ Nxd8 63. Bxf3 Ne6 64. Be4 a4 {looks like Wh can hold} 65. Kf5 $15) 55... Kf5 $19 56. a4 g4 57. Be2 a5 58. Bd3+ Ke5 59. Bb5 (59. Be2 Kf5 60. Bc4 Kf6 61. Bd5 Ke7 $19 {Stockfish11}) 59... Kd4 (59... Kd6 $19 {simplest} 60. Be2 g3+ 61. Kf3 Kxd7 62. Bf1 Ne6 $19) 60. Be2 g3+ (60... f3 61. Bb5 $11 { Stockfish11}) 61. Kg2 (61. Kf3 Nc6 62. Bb5 Ne5+ 63. Kg2 Nf7 64. Be2 {looks like another Wh blockade}) 61... Kc5 62. Bf1 (62. Kf3) 62... Kd6 63. Bb5 (63. Kf3 {appears to hold} Ne6 64. d8=Q+ Nxd8 65. Kxf4 Kc5 66. Kxg3 Nc6 67. Bh3 { other moves apparently lose} (67. Kf4 Nb4 68. a3 Nc2 69. Ke4 Nxa3 70. Kd3 Kb4) 67... Kb4 68. Kf4 Kxa4 69. Ke4 (69. Bd7 {both draw, other moves lose-Lomonosov tablebases})) 63... Ne6 $19 64. Kf1 (64. Kf3 Kc7 $19 (64... Nd4+ $2 65. Kxf4 Ke7 66. Kxg3 $11 Nxb5 67. axb5 Kxd7 68. Kf4 Kd6 69. a4 (69. Ke4 Kc5 70. a4 Kb4 71. Kd5 Kxa4 72. Kc6 Kb4 73. Kxb6 a4 74. Kc6 a3 75. b6 a2 76. b7 a1=Q 77. b8=Q+ $11))) 64... Kc7 65. a3 Nd4 66. Be2 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-CardiganB"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.22"] [Round "?.3"] [White "Brewer, Joshua"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1493"] [BlackElo "1689"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "54"] [EventDate "2020.01.22"] {[%evp 0,54,16,28,79,83,79,83,75,79,79,100,85,62,50,43,44,51,61,61,53,50,73,39, 65,67,70,62,84,-2,31,-36,-36,-56,-66,-66,-70,-62,-51,-104,-48,-111,-99,-101, -101,-162,-156,-153,-131,-158,-61,-67,-25,-53,-39,-126,-40]} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 dxe5 5. Qxd8+ {Wh enters what Sergey Kasparov has called the Philidor Swamp} Kxd8 6. Bc4 (6. Bg5 {most frequent}) 6... Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 { Bl's e6 pawn controls d5 & f5, & cannot easily be attacked itself} 8. Nf3 (8. f3 {main & promoted in the theory discussions}) (8. Be3 {also features}) 8... Bd6 {Wh is in slightly negative terrain here in database games} 9. O-O (9. a3 { manages a positive score for Wh}) 9... Ke7 (9... Nc6) (9... a6 {main lines}) 10. Be3 (10. Bg5 Nc6 {1 Wh win, 1 draw & 5 Bl wins}) 10... Nbd7 (10... Nc6 { main}) 11. Rfd1 $146 {Fritz16} (11. Rad1) (11. a3) 11... a6 12. a3 b5 (12... Raf8 {aiming for action on the K side-Rudy, pm suggestion,which Stockfish11 doesn't think much of} 13. h3 Rhg8 (13... Nh5 14. Nd2 Nf4 15. Nc4 $16) 14. g3 ( 14. Nd2 g5 15. Nc4 g4 16. h4 b5 17. Na5 Kf7 18. b4 Nb8 $14) 14... Nb8 15. Kg2 Nc6 $16 {Stockfish11}) 13. b4 {but this creates a target on b4 for Bl , as well as possible problems down the c file} (13. Nd2 $11) 13... Rhc8 $17 14. Ne2 {ceding a pawn} c5 {even stronger than immediate capture on e4 (though in pm pthe players suggested this was accidental)} 15. c3 Nxe4 16. Ng5 Ndf6 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. f3 Nf6 19. Ra2 {a loose piece can invite tactical chances (as on bd1)} (19. Bxc5 {Stockfish11} Bxc5+ 20. bxc5 Rxc5 21. a4 {fighting for R activity} Rac8 22. axb5 axb5 23. Ra5 e4 24. Rb1 exf3 25. gxf3 Nd5 26. Raxb5 Rxb5 27. Rxb5 Nxc3 28. Nxc3 Rxc3 $15 {probably drawn because the pawns are all on the same side}) 19... cxb4 (19... a5 $19 {Rudy & Stockfish11,exploits the a file} 20. bxc5 Bxc5 21. Bxc5+ Rxc5 22. Rb1 Nd5 23. Rab2 Rb8 24. c4 Rxc4 25. Rxb5 Rxb5 26. Rxb5 a4 27. Ra5 (27. Ng3 Rc1+ 28. Kf2 Rc2+ 29. Kg1 Nf4 $19 {gives up a doubled pawn, to wreck Wh's pawn structure while retaining dominant pieces}) 27... e4 28. fxe4 Rxe4 29. Ng3 Rc4 $19 {Stockfish11}) 20. cxb4 {gets rid of a weakness on c3, but there is still the one on b4} (20. axb4 Rc6 21. Ra3 Nd5 22. Bf2 Bc7 $17 {Stockfish11}) 20... Nd5 (20... a5 $1 $19 {Stockfish11} 21. Rb2 (21. bxa5 Rxa5 22. Bd2 (22. Bc1 b4 23. a4 Rca8 $19 (23... Rd5 24. Rxd5 exd5 $19)) 22... Rxa3 23. Rb2 Rd3 24. Kf1 Rb8 $19 {Stockfish11}) 21... axb4 22. axb4 Rc4 23. Ng3 Ra4 $19 {Stockfish11}) 21. Bg5+ Kf7 22. Rc1 (22. Bd2 Rc4 23. Ng3 Rac8 $17 { Stockfish11}) 22... Rxc1+ 23. Bxc1 Rc8 $19 (23... a5 $1 $19 {Stockfish11}) 24. Rd2 Nf4 {a tactic, but when Wh doesn't fall for it, leaves Bl with not enough advantage to win} (24... Bb8 {Rudy & Stockfish11} 25. Kf2 (25. Bb2 Ba7+ 26. Kf1 (26. Kh1 Be3 27. Rd3 Rc2 28. Bxe5 Rxe2 $19) 26... Ne3+ 27. Ke1 Nxg2+ 28. Kf1 Ne3+ 29. Ke1 Ke7 30. Bxe5 Nc4 31. Rc2 Rf8 32. f4 g5 33. Bg7 Rf7 34. Bh6 gxf4 35. Bxf4 e5 $19 {Bl is a pawn up & his pieces dominate}) 25... Rc4 26. Rd3 e4 27. fxe4 Rxe4 28. Nc3 Rc4 29. Bb2 Nb6 $19 {Bl just keeps control while nursing the extra centre pawn for later}) 25. Bb2 {other moves lose} Nxe2+ 26. Rxe2 Bb8 27. g4 (27. Kf1 {avoids pawn weaknesses} Rc4 $17 {Stockfish11}) 27... Rc4 { (draw?)} (27... Ba7+ $19 {Stockfish11} 28. Kf1 Bd4 {with the B gone, the a3 pawn is a liability , as is the f3 one} 29. Bxd4 (29. h4 Rc4 30. Ke1 Bxb2 31. Rxb2 Rf4 32. Ke2 e4 33. Ke3 Rxf3+ 34. Kxe4 Rxa3 {and Wh even has to be very careful of his K side pawns.}) 29... exd4 30. Re4 d3 (30... Rc3 31. Ke2 d3+ 32. Kd2 Rxa3 $19) (30... Rc1+ 31. Ke2 Rc2+ 32. Kd3 Rc3+ 33. Kxd4 Rxf3 34. Kc5 Rxa3 $19) 31. Ke1 Rc3 $19) (27... Rc4 {The pm analysis could find nothing conclusive for Bl after this} 28. Kg2 (28. Bxe5 Bxe5 29. Rxe5 Rc3 30. a4 bxa4 31. Ra5 Rxf3 32. Rxa4 Rf4 33. h3 Kf6 34. Kg2 a5 35. Rxa5 Rxb4 36. Ra3 { Stockfish11 has hopes of holding- a centre extra pawn is difficult to force through, though Bl can keep on trying the Wh defences for a long time. Muller & Lamprecht give similar positions as highly likely draws, provided Wh can keep activity}) 28... e4 {Stockfish11- Bl must find a way in for his pieces} 29. fxe4 Bf4 30. h4 (30. e5 Kg6 $19) 30... e5 31. Kf3 Ke6 32. Rg2 h6 33. Re2 $17 {in the long string of moves, Bl is able to make some progress, but only it seems because Bl is allowed to play Be3-d4; which Wh avoids by just moving his R bewteen e2 & g2}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed League:Aberystwyth-Cardigan B"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.01.21"] [Round "?.4"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Osinga, Awne"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D05"] [WhiteElo "1422"] [BlackElo "1297"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2020.01.23"] {[%evp 0,10,19,24,19,19,30,11,16,18,22,5,15]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 Be7 (4... c5 {main}) 5. Nbd2 Bd7 {uncommon, it's a bit early to decide where to place this B} (5... O-O) (5... Nbd7 {main lines}) 6. O-O c5 (6... O-O) 7. c3 (7. c4 Nc6 8. a3 O-O 9. Qe2 Bd6 10. dxc5 Bc7 11. b4 Be5 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. Bc2 a6 14. Bb2 Nxc4 15. Nxc4 dxc4 16. Rad1 Nd5 17. Qxc4 Bb5 18. Qd4 f6 19. Rfe1 {Dittler-Schroeder, GER ch Seniors, Berlin 2010,1-0}) 7... c4 {Often played in similar positions. Though it gains Q side space, by releasing pressure on the centre Wh is given a freehand with e4- gaining dangerous space on the K side} ( 7... O-O) (7... Nc6) 8. Bc2 Nc6 9. Re1 O-O 10. e4 dxe4 (10... b5 11. e5 Ne8 12. Re3 {Grau Peris-Espinosa Mari, Valencia Autonomica Center 2004,1-0} (12. Nf1 { 1-2})) 11. Nxe4 b5 12. Bg5 (12. Bf4 Nd5 13. Bg3 f5 14. Ned2 f4 { Mirke-Schwarzat, GER ch U12, Willingen 2005,0-1}) (12. Nfg5 {Stockfish11} Nxe4 13. Nxe4 f5 14. Ng3 f4 15. Qh5 Rf5 16. Nxf5 exf5 17. Bxf4 g6 $18 { Pereira-Garcia Perez, Rio de Janeiro Alex op 2016,0-1}) 12... Nxe4 (12... Nd5 13. Bxe7 Ncxe7 14. Nc5 Ng6 15. Ne5 (15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Ne5) 15... Nxe5 16. Rxe5 f5 17. Rxe6 {Frank-Wenzel, Hessen ch Seniors, Offenbach 2005,1-0}) 13. Bxe7 Nxe7 14. Bxe4 (14. Rxe4 Bc6 15. Rh4 h6 16. Ne5 f6 17. Nxc6 Nxc6 18. Qg4 (18. Qe2) 18... f5 19. Qg3 Qf6 20. Rh3 e5 $11 {Pucelj-Debevec, SLO ch U16, Celje 2004,0-1}) 14... Bc6 15. Bxh7+ {the standard sacrifice , but it shouldn't work here, though there are interesting complications} (15. Bxc6 Nxc6 16. Re4 a6 $11 ) 15... Kh8 (15... Kxh7 16. Ng5+ Kh6 $1 {possible because now there is no B lurking at c1} (16... Kg6 17. Qg4 f5 18. Qg3 f4 19. Qg4 Nf5 20. Nxe6+ $18) ( 16... Kg8 17. Qh5 Re8 18. Qxf7+ Kh8 19. Qh5+ Kg8 20. Qh7+ Kf8 21. Nxe6+ Kf7 22. Qxg7#) 17. Qd2 (17. Qg4 Ng6 18. Nxf7+ Rxf7 19. Rxe6 Qg5 20. Qh3+ Qh5 21. Qxh5+ Kxh5 22. Rxc6 Re8 23. Rc5+ Kh6 24. Rxb5 Re2 25. Rf1 Nf4 $17) 17... Kg6 18. Re5 Nf5 19. f4 f6 20. Nxe6 Qd7 21. Nxf8+ Rxf8 22. Rc5 Re8 $17 {Stockfish11}) 16. Be4 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 $18 Nf5 18. Ne5 (18. Re5 Rb8 19. d5 $18 {Stockfish11, making use of the extra space that Wh has in the centre}) 18... g6 19. Qf3 (19. Qg4) 19... Kg7 20. Rae1 Rh8 $5 {using the h file as an attacking mechanism, but it leaves f7 underprotected} 21. g4 (21. Nxf7 $1 {Stockfish11-Wh gets 3 pawns for the piece & an exposed K . Also Rs are bad defenders , especially the one on a8 } Kxf7 22. Rxe6 Qd7 (22... Rb8 23. Rxg6 $18) 23. d5 Rae8 (23... Kg7 24. g4 { & the N needs to stay put} Nh4 25. Re7+ Qxe7 26. Rxe7+ Kh6 27. Qf4+ g5 28. Qf6+ Ng6 29. Qg7#) 24. g4 Qc7 25. h4 Rxe6 26. dxe6+ Kf6 27. gxf5 gxf5 28. Qe3 $18 { Stockfish11}) 21... Qg5 22. Kf1 {Wh should still be winning, though} (22. Nxf7 $1 {Stockfish11 is more incisive} Kxf7 23. Rxe6 Kg7 24. R1e5 Raf8 25. Qg2 Qc1+ 26. Re1 Qg5 27. R6e5 (27. gxf5 $18) 27... a6 28. gxf5 Qxg2+ 29. Kxg2 gxf5 30. Re7+ $18 {Wh is 2 pawns up with more active pieces}) (22. h3 $18 {just holds eveything together} Raf8 (22... Rae8 23. Nxf7 Kxf7 24. Re5 $18) 23. Nd7 Rc8 24. Re5 Nh4 25. Qg3 Qd8 26. Nc5 Rc6 27. Ne4 $18 {remaining a pawn up, with a positional edge}) 22... Nd6 23. Rf4 (23. R4e3) 23... f5 (23... Raf8 {looks safer} 24. Nd7 Rd8 25. Nc5 Qe7 (25... Qh4 26. Rxe6 $18) 26. Qg3 Nb7 27. Ne4 Qh4 28. Qe3 Rdf8 (28... Qxh2 29. Ng5 Nd6 30. Qe5+ Kg8 31. Ke2 Qh6 32. Nxe6 $18) 29. Rf3 Qxh2 30. Ke2 Qc7 31. Nf6 Qh2 32. Qg5 Nd8 33. Nd7 $18 {Stockfish11- Wh has finally penetrated on the bl squares , after a great deal of complex dancing to & fro}) 24. Qg3 (24. gxf5 $1 {Stockfish11 & Komodo13} exf5 25. Qc6 Qf6 ( 25... Rad8 26. Qc7+ Kg8 27. Nxg6 $18) (25... Qxf4 26. Qd7+ Kh6 27. Qxd6 { wins a Q}) 26. Nd7 {wins a N & keeps the Bl K exposed}) 24... Ne4 (24... Raf8 25. Nd7 Rf7 26. Nc5 Qh4 27. Nxe6+ $18) 25. Qe3 (25. Rexe4 $18 {gets rid of Bl's most active piece} fxe4 26. Qe3 (26. Rf7+ Kg8 27. Kg2 Rh7 28. Rf4 Rf8 29. Rxe4 Kg7 $18 {holds for the moment, but Wh's N is a clearly superior piece than either Bl R}) 26... Qh6 27. Rf7+ Kg8 28. Qxe4 Rf8 29. g5 Rxf7 30. gxh6 Rxh6 31. Ng4 $18 {the Q & N outrun the clumsy Rs}) 25... Rh3 26. f3 (26. Qxh3 Qxf4 27. Re2 (27. Qh4 g5 28. Rxe4 Qc1+ 29. Re1 Qxe1+ 30. Kxe1 gxh4 $17) 27... a5 28. Qg2 Ra6 29. Re1 $16 {Stockfish11} b4 30. f3 Nf6 31. Qg3 Qxg3 32. hxg3 bxc3 33. bxc3 fxg4 34. fxg4 Nd5 35. Rc1 Rb6 36. Nxc4 Rc6 37. Nxa5 Ra6 38. Nb3 Rxa2 39. Re1 Nxc3 40. Nc5 Kf6 41. Rxe6+ Kf7 42. g5 Rd2 43. Rf6+ Ke7 44. Rxg6 Rxd4 45. Re6+ Kf7 46. Kg2 Rd5 47. g6+ Kg7 48. Rc6 Rd2+ 49. Kf3 Nd1 $16 { and Bl is still fighting on- if Wh gives up the rear g pawn, Bl should be able to give up his N for the other one, leaving a drawn R & N vs R ending}) (26. Nf3 $1 $18 {Stockfish11} Nd2+ (26... Qf6 27. Kg2 Ng5 (27... Rah8 28. d5 exd5 29. Qxa7+ Qf7 (29... Kg8 30. Qa8+ Kh7 31. Qxd5 $18) 30. Qxf7+ Kxf7 31. Rfxe4 ( 31. Rexe4 Rxf3 32. Rxc4 bxc4 33. Rxf3 Rb8 34. b3 cxb3 35. axb3 Rxb3 36. gxf5 g5 37. f6 $18) 31... Rxh2+ 32. Nxh2 dxe4 33. f3 $18)) 27. Kg2 Nxf3 28. Rxf3 Qxe3 ( 28... Qxg4+ 29. Rg3 Qe4+ 30. Qxe4 Rxg3+ 31. hxg3 fxe4 32. Rxe4 Kf6 33. Re5 { Wh has kept the extyra pawn with a superior pawn structure}) 29. Rfxe3 Rxe3 30. Rxe3 Kf6 31. Re5 Rb8 32. gxf5 gxf5 33. Rc5 $18 {Stockfish11}) 26... Ng3+ { an interesting sacrifice to expose the Wh K, though it shouln't work} (26... Nf6 $11 {Stockfish11} 27. gxf5 {other moves lose for Wh, who is threatened by Nd5 amongst other things} Rxh2 (27... Nd5 28. f6+ $16 Qxf6 (28... Kh7 29. Qe4 $18) 29. Qe4 Nxf4 30. Qb7+ (30. Qxa8 Rxh2 {and Wh must take a perpetual}) 30... Kg8 31. Qxa8+ Qf8 32. Qxf8+ Kxf8 33. Kg1 $16) 28. Rg4 Qxf5 29. Rxg6+ Kh7 30. f4 Rh3 31. Rg3 Rxg3 32. Qxg3 Rg8 33. Qh4+ Nh5 34. Qh1 (34. Kf2 Qc2+ 35. Re2 Rg2+ 36. Kxg2 Qxe2+ {and Bl takes a perpetual}) 34... Rg3 35. Kf2 Rh3 36. Qb7+ Kh6 37. Qe4 Rh2+ 38. Ke3 Rh3+ 39. Nf3 Qg4 40. Rf1 Nf6 41. Qe5 Nd5+ 42. Kd2 Qxf4+ 43. Qxf4+ Nxf4 44. Kc2 $11 {Stockfish11- some very complex sequences}) 27. hxg3 Rh2 (27... Qh6 28. gxf5 Rh1+ 29. Ke2 Rxe1+ 30. Kxe1 Qh1+ 31. Kd2 $18 {is a safe K position for Wh}) 28. Re2 {and it's still highly complex} (28. Nd7 $1 Qe7 (28... Rh1+ 29. Kg2 Rxe1 30. Qxe1 Kf7 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. d5 $18 {Stockfish11 }) 29. Qe5+ Kf7 30. gxf5 gxf5 31. Rxf5+ {mating}) (28. Rxf5 Qxe3 29. Rf7+ Kg8 30. Rxe3 $18 {Stockfish11}) (28. Nf7 Qf6 29. Kg1 Rh7 30. gxf5 exf5 31. Qe5 Qxe5 (31... Kxf7 32. Qd5+ Kg7 33. Qxa8 $18) 32. Nxe5 $18 {Stockfish11}) (28. Re4 Qxe3 29. R4xe3 {Stockfish11, may be the simplest}) 28... Rh1+ 29. Kf2 Rah8 { a move that induces resignation, but not the most accurate according to Stockfish11} (29... Rah8 30. Qd2 $18 {is the only move to save the game, but it works.}) (29... Qh6 $1 {Stockfish11, enables Bl to draw!} 30. Qd2 {only move } Qh2+ (30... g5 {traps a R, but allows Wh to maintain a slight advantage} 31. Ke3 gxf4+ 32. gxf4 Rf8 33. Rg2 Kh7 34. b3 cxb3 35. axb3 fxg4 36. Rxg4 Qh2 37. Qxh2+ Rxh2 38. Nd7 Rc8 39. Nc5 Rc6 40. Rg5 $14 {Stockfish11}) 31. Ke3 Qxg3 32. gxf5 exf5 33. Rxf5 (33. Rf2 Rf8 34. b3 g5 35. Rxf5 Rxf5 36. Ke4 Qf4+ 37. Kd5 $1 $11 {Stockfish11}) 33... gxf5 34. Rg2 Re1+ 35. Qxe1 Qxg2 36. Qh4 Re8 {again Stockfish11 claims equality, but a very difficult position to play accurately for both sides for both sides}) 0-1