Hubris

In last week's post I remarked that it has been the draws that have done the damage to Aberystwyth's chances in this season's Dyfed League. Before the away match against Cardigan A at the Emlyn Cafe, Tanygroes on Monday 2 March, we had only lost one match, to Cardigan B, and the draw we managed against the A team in the previous fixture had in fact been a creditable result. But any mood of complacency was quickly dissipated in the return match. On top board, Rudy van Kemenade seemed to have secured a comfortable middlegame with his Bird's Opening but Howard Williams invaded on the white squares of the queenside and centre, winning the exchange and a pawn. It looked as if Rudy could still hold out in the complex game that followed, but a tactical blow finished him off. Julie van Kemenade's game against Iolo Jones was another invasion, as her queenside castled position in a Philidor proved full of holes, though her resignation two pawns down was perhaps a bit premature. A miscalculation cost me a pawn in an exchange French against Tony Haigh after which I was always struggling against his superior endgame technique. Amazingly, though, a possible win suddenly turned up for me; it was not difficult to see, but at that stage I had become so accustomed to the fact that I was losing that I didn't stop to think, and missed my chance. Tom Gunn got an asymmetrical but level position with rook and pawn for two pieces in a Queen's Pawn Game against Ben Brewer. It looked drawish till he got his rook trapped and lost the exchange, leaving him a piece down, after which defeat soon followed. A 4-0 win to Cardigan A.

[Event "Dyfed League:CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.03.02"] [Round "?.1"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "1943"] [BlackElo "2333"] [PlyCount "104"] [EventDate "2020.03.03"] {[%evp 0,10,19,-30,0,9,23,-34,-15,-30,-22,-22,-27]} 1. f4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. c4 (5. O-O) (5. d3) 5... Nf6 (5... e6) 6. Nc3 d5 (6... O-O) ( 6... d6) 7. cxd5 (7. Ne5 Nxe5 8. fxe5 Ng4 {Bondar-Sanakoev, RUS ch Seniors Odintsovo 2008, draw agreed} 9. Nxd5 $11) 7... Nxd5 8. Ne5 $146 (8. O-O { main, 2 Wh wins, 4 draws, 5 Bl wins}) (8. Nxd5 Qxd5 9. O-O {0.5-1.5}) 8... Nxe5 9. Bxd5 (9. fxe5 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxe5 (10... Qa5 11. O-O O-O $17 {Stockfish11}) 11. Qa4+ Bd7 12. Qe4 Qc7 13. Qxb7 Qxb7 14. Bxb7 Rb8 15. Bf3 O-O 16. Kf2 Be6 17. Ba3 Rfc8 18. Rhb1 $11 {Stockfish11}) (9. Nxd5 Nc6 10. d3 Be6 11. Nc3 O-O $17 { Stockfish11}) 9... Nc6 10. Bg2 (10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. O-O {didn't look like a good idea-ceding 2 Bs & a weakened K structure} Bh3 (11... h5 12. h4 O-O $19 { Stockfish11}) 12. Rf2 h5 $17) 10... O-O 11. O-O Be6 12. b3 (12. d3) 12... Rc8 ( 12... Qd4+ 13. e3 Qd7 14. Bb2 Rac8 $17 {Stockfish11}) 13. Bb2 Qd7 (13... c4 $17 {Stockfish11}) 14. Qc1 (14. d3 h5 15. Qd2 h4 16. gxh4 (16. Ne4 h3 17. Bh1 b6 18. Nf2 Bxb2 19. Qxb2 Rfd8 $11) 16... Bh3 17. Rf2 Qg4 18. Raf1 $11 {Stockfish11 }) 14... b6 15. Ne4 (15. d3) 15... Nd4 16. Re1 c4 17. b4 Bg4 18. Kf1 (18. Kf2 { had to be tried, but Wh wanted the N on this square} Rfd8 19. Bc3 (19. e3 f5 $19 20. Ng5 (20. Bxd4 Bxd4 21. exd4 fxe4 22. Rxe4 Bf5 23. Re3 Qxd4 $19) (20. h3 Nf3 21. Bxg7 fxe4 22. hxg4 Nxe1 23. Kxe1 Kxg7 $19) 20... Nc2 $1 $19 { Stockfish11})) 18... Nxe2 19. Rxe2 Qd3 20. Nc3 Bxc3 21. Qxc3 Bxe2+ (21... Qxe2+ 22. Kg1 f6 {Stockfish11-looks better , keeping Qs as Wh's K could still be vulnerable}) 22. Kf2 Qxc3 23. Bxc3 {Wh is now hoping for a bl square barricade, that almost comes off} Bg4 24. Re1 (24. a4) 24... Rfe8 25. Re5 f6 26. Re3 Bd7 27. Bb7 Rc7 28. Bd5+ e6 (28... Kg7 $5) 29. Bf3 Kf7 30. Be2 (30. g4 $5) 30... b5 {Wh needs to take care not to lose the a pawn now} 31. Bd4 Bc6 32. g4 (32. Ra3 Rd8 33. Ke3 Rcd7 34. Bc3 h6 35. Ra6 Rc7 36. Bd4 Rb8 37. Bc5 Ra8 38. a4 Bb7 39. Ra5 a6 40. axb5 {otherwise Wh's R is stuck} axb5 41. Rxb5 Ra3+ 42. Kf2 Ra2 43. Bxc4 Rxd2+ 44. Ke3 Rxh2 $19 {and Bl's Rs have open lines}) 32... Rd7 33. Bc3 e5 {looks ok at first , but it does allow Wh to close things up in various ways ( though Wh was angling to get in g5 with control over e5} 34. fxe5 fxe5 35. Ke1 (35. g5) (35. a4 {are Stockfish suggestions that were considered}) 35... e4 { does nothing much for Bl's remaining B, & gives Wh a free run on the bl squares } (35... g5 36. Bxe5 h6 $19 {is Stockfish11}) 36. a4 {opportunistic} a6 (36... bxa4 {should probably be tried- a passed pawn is useful , even necessary , when an exchange up.} 37. Bxc4+ Ke7 (37... Bd5 $2 38. Bb5 {gives Wh recovery chances}) 38. Be5 Kf8 39. Bf4 Rd4 40. Rc3 e3 41. Bxe3 Rdd8 (41... Rxg4 42. Be2 $11) 42. Kd1 Bd5 43. Bxd5 Rxd5 44. Bh6+ Kf7 45. Be3 a5 46. bxa5 Rxa5 47. Bc5 Rc8 48. d4 Ke6 $19 {Stockfish11 nudged}) 37. axb5 {Stockfish11- Wh was unsure of this; the idea is to weaken b5, lure the Bl Rs onto the a file then use the Wh R to break in via the K side. However} (37. a5 {closes up the Q side,but then Bl can react on the K side- another consideration that lead Wh to the exchange} g5 {and Bl gets the f file}) (37. g5 bxa4 38. Bxc4+ Bd5 39. Bxa6 (39. Bb5 {is no longer an option}) 39... Ra8 40. Be2 a3 {and the a pawn will win}) 37... axb5 38. g5 Ra7 (38... Rd5 39. Rg3 Rf5 $19 {Stockfish11}) 39. Rh3 (39. h4 Ke6 40. Rh3 e3 41. Rxe3+ Kf5 42. Rxe8 Bxe8 43. Kf2 Kf4 $19 {Stockfish11}) 39... Kg8 40. Kf2 Bd7 (40... Rf7+ 41. Bf6 (41. Ke3 Rf3+ 42. Bxf3 exf3+ 43. Kf2 Re2+ 44. Kf1 Be4 $19 {Stockfish11}) 41... Ra8 42. Ke1 h5 43. Re3 Ra4 44. Bc3 Rf5 $19 {Stockfish11}) 41. Rg3 Bf5 (41... e3+ {anticipated by Wh} 42. Rxe3 Rxe3 43. Kxe3 Kf7 {returns a pawn to liberate the B}) 42. Ke3 Ra2 43. h4 Rd8 44. Rg1 Kf7 45. Rf1 Ke6 46. Rh1 {(draw?)} (46. h5 gxh5 47. Bxh5 Rd3+ 48. Kf4 Ra7 (48... Rdxd2 49. Bxd2 Rxd2 50. Be8 Rb2 51. Bxb5 Rxb4 52. Ba6 Bg6 $19 {with 2 pawns up, is enough for a human, even if Engines don't rate it as high as keeping the exchange.}) 49. Rh1 Rd8 50. Rh2 Rad7 51. Be2 Rf7 52. Ke3 Rd5 {the problem is that Stockfish11 seems to be involved in high-level obscure moves, seeking to maximise slowly & keep advantage going, without seemingly getting anywhere.}) 46... Kd5 47. Rf1 Ke6 {well at least the same position twice} 48. Rh1 Rda8 49. Rf1 {Wh had seen the possibility of a R getting to c2, & could have tried preventing it} (49. Rc1 {pm analysis} R8a3 50. h5 Kd5 51. hxg6 hxg6 52. Bf1 { but Bl then comes in the other side} Ra7 (52... Rb2 53. Ke2 Rxc3 54. Rxc3 Rxb4 {looks even simpler, though not high in Stockfish11 options}) 53. Bg2 Rh7 54. Rg1 Rh2 55. Bf1 Ra7 56. Bg2 Rah7 57. Bf1 R7h4 58. Bf6 Bh3 59. Be2 Bg2 60. Bc3 R4h3+ 61. Kf4 Bh1 62. Bd1 Rf2+ 63. Kg4 Rhh2 {Stockfish11}) (49. h5 {part of Wh's original idea when exchanging on b5 had to be played now} gxh5 50. Rxh5 Rc2 51. Rh6+ Bg6 52. Bh5 Kf5 53. Bxg6+ hxg6 54. Rh7 Rd8 55. Rf7+ Kg4 {so far pm analysis, mirrored by Stockfish11} 56. Rf1 (56. Rb7 {pm analysis} Rc1 (56... Rd3+ 57. Kxe4 Rc1 58. Ke5 (58. Rxb5 Re1#) 58... Kxg5 59. Ke6 Re1+ 60. Kf7 Rd5 $19 {Stockfish11}) 57. Bd4 Re1+ 58. Kf2 Rh1 59. Be3 Rf8+ 60. Ke2 c3 $1 61. dxc3 Rh2+ 62. Ke1 Kf3 63. Bd4 e3 $19 {Stockfish11}) 56... Rd3+ 57. Kxe4 Ra2 58. Rf4+ Kg3 (58... Kxg5 $2 59. Bf6+ Kh6 60. Rh4#) 59. Rf6 Ra8 60. Rxg6 Re8+ 61. Be5+ Kg4 62. Rb6 Rxd2 63. Rxb5 Red8 (63... c3 $19 {also, somewhat like this reached in pm analysis}) 64. Bf4 Re2+ 65. Be3 Rd3 $19 {Stockfish11}) 49... Rc2 50. Rh1 (50. Re1 Kd5 51. h5 Raa2 52. Rd1 Ra3 53. Kf4 Rb3 54. Re1 Rcb2 55. Bxb2 Rxb2 56. hxg6 hxg6 57. Ke3 Rxb4 $19 {Stockfish11}) 50... Ra3 51. h5 gxh5 (51... Raxc3+ { Stockfish11 ignores the K side diversion} 52. dxc3 Ke5 (52... Rxc3+ 53. Kd4 Rb3 54. Kc5 Rb2 55. hxg6 hxg6 56. Re1 Rd2 57. Kxb5 c3 $19 {but Wh can spin things out for a bit}) 53. Kf2 Rxc3 {and b4 falls as well.} (53... gxh5)) 52. Rxh5 Raxc3+ {and Wh resigned because disaster strikes for a second time on e2} ( 52... Raxc3+ 53. dxc3 Rxe2+ (53... Ke5 {Stockfish11 thinks it has an even stronger idea} 54. Rh4 Rxc3+ 55. Kf2 Rb3 56. Rh1 Rxb4 {getting 2 distant pawns, }) 54. Kxe2 Bg4+ {but this line it comes to recognize as best}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.03.02"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Jones, IC."] [Black "Van Kemenade, J."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "2210"] [BlackElo "1691"] [PlyCount "41"] [EventDate "2020.03.03"] {[%evp 0,24,36,32,59,59,59,50,55,55,80,66,147,66,57,47,55,44,66,49,78,71,71,71, 73,71,64]} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nd7 (2... Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Qc7 5. h3 e5 (5... h6 6. Bf4 e6 7. Qd2 Nbd7 8. Bh2 b5 9. a3 a6 10. e5 {Jones-Van Kemenade; Dyfed League 2014,1-0}) 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. Be3 h6 8. Qd2 Be7 9. O-O Nf8 10. Rfe1 (10. Rad1 Rg8 11. Nh2 g5 12. Ng4 {Jones-Van Kemenade,,Dyfed League 2012,1-0}) 10... Rg8 11. Nh2 g5 12. Ng4 {Jones -Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2013,1/2-1/2}) 3. Nf3 (3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 Qc7 5. Be3 e5 6. d5 c5 7. Be2 Ngf6 8. O-O a6 9. a4 Be7 10. Nd2 O-O 11. f4 exf4 {Haigh-Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2019,0-1}) 3... e5 4. Bc4 h6 {a dangerous move order aspointed out afterwards by Rudy, though some GMs have either not noticed or decided against the most incisive line} (4... c6 { main}) 5. O-O (5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Nxe5+ {has a high success rate} Kf6 8. Nc3 $1 $18 {endorsed by the Engines} (8. Qd5 Bb4+ (8... Qe8 $17) 9. c3 Ne7 10. Qf7+ Kxe5 11. Bf4+ Kxe4 12. Nd2+ Kd3 13. Qc4+ {Rublevsky-Kismatullin, RUS ch blitz, Sochi 2019,1-0 as} Kc2 14. cxb4+ Kxb2 15. Qc1# {is mate (showing that even GMs forget their theory in rare lines)})) 5... Be7 $2 {another error, that should lead to a rapid disaster} 6. Nc3 (6. dxe5 $1 {Theory & Rudy} Nxe5 ( 6... dxe5 7. Qd5 {is even worse}) 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8. Qh5 g6 9. Qxe5 {9 Wh wins, 1 draw}) 6... Ngf6 7. Qe2 (7. Re1) 7... c6 {back to mainline Philidors} 8. Rd1 Qc7 9. a4 Nf8 10. dxe5 (10. h3 g5 {also played}) 10... dxe5 11. Nh4 g6 12. Nf3 (12. h3 {main, 3 Wh wins, 1 draw, 3 Bl wins}) 12... Be6 (12... g5 13. Be3 Ng6 14. a5 g4 (14... Rg8 15. Ne1 Nf4 16. Qd2 Rg6 17. Nd3 Ng4 18. Ne2 {Cherner-Van \Neijhof, ICCF email 2005,0-1}) 15. Nd2 Nh5 16. g3 Bg5 17. Bb3 $18 { Strikovic-Garcia Carbo, Pontevedra 1992,1-0}) 13. b3 (13. a5 {Stockfish11} Bxc4 14. Qxc4 Ne6 15. b4 Bd6 16. Ne2 Qe7 17. Bb2 Ng5 18. Nxg5 hxg5 19. a6 $18 { Soule- Dessens, IECG email 2001,1-0}) 13... g5 (13... a5 $11 {Stockfish11}) 14. Bb2 Bxc4 {brings the Q to an active square} (14... N6d7 15. a5 h5 $14 (15... O-O-O $14 {Stockfish11})) (14... Ng6 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16. Qc4 Kf7 17. Ne2 Rad8 18. h3 a6 $14 {Stockfish11}) 15. Qxc4 Ng6 16. Nd5 Nxd5 17. exd5 O-O-O (17... O-O 18. dxc6 Rac8 (18... bxc6 19. h4 $18) 19. cxb7 Qxb7 20. Qe2 e4 (20... Rfe8 21. g3 h5 22. Ne1 h4 23. Qg4 hxg3 24. hxg3 Rc7 25. Rd2 $16 {Stockfish11}) 21. Nd4 Bf6 22. Rab1 Nf4 23. Qb5 Qxb5 24. Nxb5 Bxb2 25. Rxb2 Rfd8 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Rb1 a5 28. Na3 $16 {Stockfish11}) (17... Rc8 18. Qe2 O-O 19. Nxe5 Nf4 20. Qe3 cxd5 21. g3 Ne6 22. Ng4 Qxc2 23. Qe5 d4 24. Bxd4 Nxd4 (24... Kh7 25. Bxa7 $16) 25. Rxd4 Qc7 26. Qe2 Kg7 27. Rc4 $18 {Stockfish11- Bl has weak wh squares aound his K}) 18. dxc6 (18. Qg4+ {preferred by Stockfish11} Qd7 19. Qxd7+ Rxd7 20. dxc6 bxc6 21. Rxd7 Kxd7 22. Nxe5+ $18) 18... bxc6 (18... Qxc6 19. Qxc6+ bxc6 20. Nxe5 $18) 19. Qxf7 $18 Rhg8 20. Qe6+ Kb7 21. Rxd8 (21. Nxe5 { preferred by Stockfish11}) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.03.02"] [Round "?.3"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Haigh, A."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1689"] [BlackElo "1797"] [PlyCount "102"] [EventDate "2020.03.03"] {[%evp 0,18,28,28,41,25,46,30,30,32,16,3,35,29,43,7,-4,2,2,-14,-14]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 (4... Nc6 5. Bd3 h6 6. O-O Bd6 7. Re1+ Nge7 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Nb5 Bb4 10. c3 Ba5 {Francis-Reynolds, Dyfed Closed 2019,1/2-1/2}) 5. Bd3 (5. c4 {frequent ly played by Normuns Miezis}) 5... c5 (5... Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 c6 8. c3 Bg4 9. h3 Bh5 10. Nbd2 Nbd7 11. Qc2 Bg6 {Francis-Miller, Dyfed League 2019,1-0}) 6. Qe2+ (6. O-O) (6. dxc5) (6. c3) 6... Qe7 $146 (6... Be7 7. dxc5 O-O {166 games, Wh scores 30%}) 7. dxc5 (7. Bb5+ Nc6 8. Be3 $14 { Stockfish11}) 7... Qxe2+ 8. Bxe2 (8. Kxe2 Bxc5 9. Re1 O-O 10. Kf1 $11 { Stockfish11}) 8... Bxc5 9. O-O {transposed back, 2 draws, 2 Bl wins} O-O 10. Nbd2 Bf5 (10... Re8 {0-2}) 11. Nb3 (11. c3 Re8 {0-2}) 11... Bb6 12. Nbd4 (12. Nfd4 Bg6 13. Bg5 Ne4 14. Bf4 Nc6 15. Rad1 Rad8 16. c3 Rfe8 17. Bb5 $11 { Broomfield-Watts, England op 1994,1-0}) 12... Be4 13. c3 (13. Bg5 Bxf3 14. Nxf3 Ne4 15. Bf4 Nc6 16. a3 f5 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Rd3 h6 {Schulz Dobrick-Ollenberger, Rheinhessen ch 2000,1/2-1/2}) 13... Nc6 14. Bg5 Bxf3 15. Nxf3 Ne4 16. Bf4 d4 ( 16... Rfe8 $11 {Stockfish11}) 17. cxd4 (17. c4 $5 {Rudy}) 17... Nxd4 (17... Rad8) 18. Nxd4 Bxd4 19. Bf3 Rfe8 20. Rad1 (20. Rac1 $11 {Stockfish11} Bxb2 21. Rc4 f5 22. Rb4 Be5 23. Bxe5 Rxe5 24. Rxb7 Nd2 25. Rd1 Rae8 26. h3 (26. h4 Nxf3+ 27. gxf3 R8e7 $11) 26... Re1+ 27. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 28. Kh2 Nf1+ $11) (20. g3 g5 21. Bxe4 gxf4 22. Bf3 fxg3 23. hxg3 Bxb2 24. Rab1 Bd4 25. Rxb7 Rab8 $11 { Stockfishh11}) 20... Bxb2 21. Rb1 (21. Be3 Bf6 22. Rd7 b6 23. h3 h6 { Stockfish11- considers Wh has enough play for the pawn} 24. Rc1 $11) (21. h3 Bc3 22. Rd5 a6 23. a4 h6 24. a5 Re7 25. Rb1 Bf6 26. Rd3 Nc5 27. Re3 Rd7 $11 { Stockfish11- compensation}) 21... Bd4 22. Bxe4 (22. Rxb7 {Stockfish11 is undeterred} Nxf2 {Matthew didn't like the look of this} 23. Rd7 Nh3+ 24. Kh1 Nf2+ 25. Kg1 $11) (22. Rb4 Rad8 23. Bc7 Rd7 24. Rxb7 Nxf2 25. Bc6 Nh3+ 26. Kh1 Nf2+ $11 {likewise}) (22. g3 b6 23. Kg2 Rad8 24. Rbc1 Nc5 $15 {Stockfish11}) 22... Rxe4 $17 23. Bg3 b6 $17 (23... Re2 $17 {Stockfish11}) 24. Rfe1 Rae8 $19 ( 24... Rxe1+ 25. Rxe1 Rc8 $19) 25. Rxe4 Rxe4 26. Kf1 Be5 (26... Bc5 27. f3 Ra4 28. Rb2 h5 $19 {Stockfish11}) 27. Bxe5 (27. f3 {puts up more of a fight} Re3 28. Rc1 f6 29. f4 Bd6 30. Rc6 Bc5 31. Rc8+ (31. Bf2 Ra3 (31... Rc3 32. Rc8+ Kf7 33. Rc7+ Kg6 34. Bxc5 bxc5 35. Rxa7 h5 $11) 32. Bxc5 bxc5 33. Ke2 Rxa2+ 34. Kf3 Ra5 35. g4 Kf7 36. h4 $11 {Bl's R is engaged in purely defensive work- Stockfish11}) 31... Kf7 32. f5 a5 $19) 27... Rxe5 28. Rb2 {Rs should not be passive it at all possible} (28. Rc1 g6 29. a4 Re4 30. a5 bxa5 31. Rc7 a4 32. Rxa7 {and Wh has good holding chances}) (28. Rb4 Kf8 29. a4 Ke7 {Wh has gained some space, but Bl's task is easier}) 28... f6 (28... Ra5 $19 {Stockfish11}) ( 28... Kf8 $19) 29. f3 Kf7 30. Kf2 Ke6 31. Rd2 b5 32. Rc2 Kd6 33. Kf1 b4 34. Rc4 a5 35. Kf2 Rc5 36. Rd4+ Rd5 {Wh can scarcely avoid the R exchange as his Q side disappears} (36... Kc6 37. Rd2 Kb5 {forces through a b pawn in the absence of the Wh K}) 37. Ke3 Rxd4 (37... Kc5 38. Rh4 h6 39. Rg4 g5 40. Ke2 Rd4 41. Rg3 a4 {is a Stockfish11 preference}) 38. Kxd4 f5 $19 39. f4 g6 (39... h5 { prevents any pawn breaks by Wh, then} 40. g3 Kc6 41. Kc4 Kb6 {runs Wh out of pawn moves , to then advance the Q side pawns, & finally polishing off Wh's entire K side}) 40. g3 Kc6 41. Kc4 Kb6 42. h3 Kc6 (42... h5) 43. g4 fxg4 { carries some risk, so needs careful calculation} (43... h5 {is much safer, closing the K side}) (43... Kb6 44. g5 Kc6 45. h4 Kb6 46. Kb3 Kb5 {is also logical}) 44. hxg4 {Bl is still winning, but} h5 $2 {not this way} ({a)} 44... Kd6 45. g5 (45. f5 gxf5 46. gxf5 h5 $19) (45. Kd4 h5 $19) 45... Kc6 $19) ({ b) similar to previous} 44... Kd7 $19) ({c)} 44... h6 45. f5 gxf5 46. gxf5 Kd6 $19) ({d)} 44... g5 {more convoluted} 45. f5 Kd6 46. Kb5 Ke5 47. Kxa5 h5 48. gxh5 g4 49. h6 Kf6 $19) 45. f5 $1 $18 {the cross-lever (Kmoch's useful term)} gxf5 ({a)} 45... hxg4 46. fxg6 g3 47. g7 g2 48. g8=Q {Wh gets in first}) ({b)} 45... h4 46. fxg6 h3 47. g7 h2 48. g8=Q h1=Q 49. Qa8+ $18 {picks up the new Q}) ({c)} 45... g5 46. gxh5 g4 47. h6 g3 48. h7 g2 49. h8=Q g1=Q 50. Qe8+ Kc7 51. Qe5+ Kd7 52. Kb5 Qg5 53. Qe6+ Kc7 54. Kxa5 $18 {and Wh will be able to push the f pawn through}) 46. gxh5 f4 47. h6 f3 48. h7 $2 {but now Wh misses the win that was gifted} (48. Kd3 {pointed out by Tony} f2 49. Ke2 f1=Q+ 50. Kxf1 a4 51. h7 b3 52. axb3 axb3 53. h8=Q {and the last pawn goes no futher than one more square}) 48... f2 49. h8=Q f1=Q+ 50. Kb3 (50. Kd4 Qa1+ {wins the Q}) 50... Qb1+ 51. Qb2 (51. Kc4 Qc2+ (51... Qxa2+ {should be enough, though Wh has chances of a perpetual}) 52. Kd4 Qc3+ {collects the Q}) 51... a4+ 0-1 [Event "Dyfed League:CardiganA-Aberystwyth"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.03.02"] [Round "?.4"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E14"] [WhiteElo "1641"] [BlackElo "1422"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2020.03.03"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 (3... d5) (3... Bb4) (3... c5 {main lines}) 4. d4 O-O (4... d5 {main line, Queen's Gambit Declined}) 5. e3 (5. e4 {takes the centre, 76% for Wh}) 5... b6 (5... d5 {gives Bl a good, older version of the Queen's Gambit, pre Pillsbury (1900s) where the Wh QB is behind the pawns}) 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O d6 (7... d5) 8. e4 Nbd7 9. Re1 e5 10. d5 (10. Bf1 {7 Wh wins,1 draw}) 10... a5 (10... Nc5 11. Bc2 a5 {2 Wh wins, 2 draws}) 11. h4 {a bit unusual- here Wh has a space advantage & the natural line of play is to work for b4 followed by c5 to break through on the Q side. The Bl position is an Old Indian, where Bl needs to get in some play on the K side & the h pawn can become weak} (11. a3 Nc5 12. Bc2 Bc8 13. Rb1 {2 Wh wins, 1 draw eg Malaniuk-Asadi, Fajr op, Mashhad 2010,1-0 continued} Bg4 14. b4 axb4 15. axb4 Ncd7 16. Qd3 Ne8 17. h3 Bh5 18. Ne2 Bh4 19. g4 Bg6 20. g5 f5 21. Nxh4) 11... Nc5 (11... Ng4 12. g3 Nc5 13. Bc2 Bc8 14. Qe2 f5 (14... g6 15. Ng5) 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Bxf5 Rxf5 17. Rf1 Qe8 $11 {and the wh squares around Wh's K are a little sensitive}) 12. Nh2 {Wh has K side plans, but these may be a little over-ambitious} (12. Bc2 c6 $11) 12... Bc8 (12... Nxd3 13. Qxd3 Bc8 14. Bg5 Nh5 15. Bxe7 Qxe7 16. g3 f5 $17 {Bl launches an attack on the weakened K side}) 13. Re3 (13. Bc2 $11) (13. Bf1 Ne8 14. g3 g6 15. Bh6 Ng7 {a standard sequence for Bl in this line, who is now ready for f5} 16. Na4 Nxa4 17. Qxa4 f5 18. Bg2 f4 $15 {Stockfish11}) 13... Nxd3 (13... Nfd7 14. g3 (14. Bc2 Bxh4 $17) 14... Nxd3 15. Rxd3 f5 $15 {Stockfish11}) 14. Rxd3 Qd7 {seeking exchanges it appears} ( 14... Nd7 15. g3 Nc5 16. Rf3 f5 $15 {the consistent move to go for, to pair up with e5 & also open the f file for piece activity}) 15. Rg3 h5 $15 {Stockfish11 } (15... Kh8 $5 16. h5 h6 17. Qe2 Qe8 18. Bd2 Nh7 $11 {Stockfish11}) 16. Nf1 Ng4 (16... Qd8 17. Bg5 Bg4 18. Qd2 Nh7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. f3 Bd7 21. f4 f5 $17 { the R could become a target rather than an attacker} 22. fxe5 f4 23. exd6 cxd6 24. Rd3 Qxh4 25. Nh2 Qf6 26. Nf3 Rae8 $19 {Stockfish11- Bl has all his pieces poisedto attack, & the possibility of a g5-g4 pawn storm as well}) 17. f3 (17. Rh3 {Stockfish11} Qd8 (17... f5 $11) 18. f3 Nf6 19. Rh2 Nh7 20. Ne3 g6 21. g3 f5 $11 {means here that both sides have chances}) 17... Bxh4 (17... Nf6 18. Ne3 g6 19. Nf5 Nh7 20. Bh6 Bf6 (20... Re8 21. Nxe7+ Qxe7 22. Qe1 $11) 21. Bxf8 Nxf8 22. Qd2 Kh8 23. Qh6+ Nh7 24. Rxg6 fxg6 25. Qxg6 Ba6 26. Qxh5 Bxc4 27. g4 Qe8 $11 {Stockfish11}) 18. fxg4 Bxg3 19. Nxg3 Qxg4 20. Qxg4 Bxg4 $11 21. Nb5 g6 ( 21... Rac8 22. Na7 (22. Nf5 Bxf5 23. exf5 f6 $11) 22... Rcd8 23. Nb5 Rd7 $11 { Stockfish11}) 22. b3 (22. Nxc7 Rac8 23. Nb5 Rxc4 24. Nxd6 Rc2 25. Nf1 Rd8 26. Nb5 Be2 27. Na3 Rc7 28. Bg5 Rd6 29. b3 $18 {there are now several weak Bl pawns for the pices to target, while the Bl Rs have no entry squares}) 22... Rac8 23. Na7 Rce8 $2 (23... Ra8 24. Nb5 Rac8 $11 {looks like Bl's best}) (23... Rcd8 24. Bh6 Rfe8 25. Bg5 Ra8 26. Nb5 Rec8 27. Bf6 {and Bl's Rs have very little activity, whereas the Wh pieces can decide at leisure on their best squares}) 24. Bh6 $18 f5 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Rf1 (26. exf5 gxf5 27. Nb5 Rf7 28. Nf1 $18 {sooner or later Bl will have to make a pawn move or two, & then the pieces will be ready to occupy the gaps created, First blockade, then destroy.} ) 26... f4 27. Nh1 g5 28. Nb5 Rf7 $16 29. Nf2 Be2 $2 {the B is on its own here} (29... Bc8 $14 {retreats, yet remains in support of possible pawn advances. Maybe even equal as the Wh Ns have nowhere they can fasten onto} 30. Rb1 g4 31. Nd3 h4 32. Ne1 g3 (32... Kf8 33. b4 axb4 34. Rxb4 Ke8 35. Rb3 Kd8 36. Ra3 Bb7 37. Nd3 Kc8 38. Nf2 Rg7 {and Wh has not got much further})) 30. Re1 $18 f3 ( 30... Bg4 31. Nxg4 hxg4 32. g3 Kg7 33. Re2 Kg6 34. Rh2 $18) 31. Nc3 {and Bl loses on of his valuable pawns} g4 32. Nxe2 fxe2 33. Rxe2 g3 34. Nh3 h4 35. Re1 (35. Re3 Rg7 36. Kf1 Rg4 37. Ke2 Kg7 38. Kd3 Kf6 39. Rf3+ Ke7 40. a3 Rg7 41. Rf5 {and Bl is being forced back more & more}) 35... Rg7 36. Rf1 (36. Kf1) 36... Rg4 37. Re1 Kf7 38. Kf1 Ke7 39. Re3 Kd7 40. Ke2 c6 41. Kf3 Rg6 42. Rc3 c5 43. Ke3 Ke7 44. Rc1 Rf6 45. Rh1 (45. Ke2) 45... Kf7 {there is little else for Bl to do} (45... Kf8 46. Ke2 Ke8 47. Rf1 Rg6 48. Rf5) 46. Ng5+ Kg6 47. Nf3 Kh5 48. Rxh4+ 1-0