Back to bxa6

Aberystwyth faced our toughest test yet against Steynton A in the third round of the Welsh On-line League on Tuesday 13th October, outgraded on all boards by the strongest team in the U1800 section. In an unusual Dutch Defence with both players castled queenside, I walked into a strong attack as David Pinch threw forward the pawns in front of his king. He had only to play 21.bxa6 and my position would fall apart; instead he took extra time securing his own king's position and succumbed to my desperate counter-attack. Julie van Kemenade lost a pawn to a tactic against Martin C. Jones's Caro-Kann, but had reached a middle game where there was still plenty of play when he won the exchange, finishing the game soon after. Mark Paffard against James Cook was another win for the Caro-Kann; this time White could have won a piece in an exchange combination early on. Instead it was James, with his active piece play, who triumphed in the tactics. The longest game was on Board 4, another Dutch, where Tom Gunn held the advantage against Scott Hammett for most of the time, and continued to do so after giving up his queen for two rooks. In a complex struggle he missed several wins, including the beautiful 46.Rf1!, which I suspect very few club players would have found, and in the end had to settle for a draw. It was still a good result against a much higher graded player, and ensured that Aber won the match 2½-1½.

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.10.13"] [Round "?"] [White "David Pinch"] [Black "Matthew Francis"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A80"] [WhiteElo "1798"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. d4 {David Pinch,1798} e6 {A40 Horwitz Defense; Matthew Francis, 1648} 2. Nf3 f5 $6 {(0.09 ? 0.74) Inaccuracy. d5 was best.} (2... d5 3. c4 Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 Bd6 6. Bxd6 Qxd6 7. Qc2) 3. Bg5 $6 {(0.74 ? -0.05) Inaccuracy. g3 was best.} (3. g3 {[main, but the text is an interesting option, played by Korchnoy amongt others-R]} Nf6 4. Bg2 Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. O-O Ne4 7. Qc2 Nc6) 3... Nf6 4. Nbd2 h6 $6 {(0.00 ? 0.85) Inaccuracy. Be7 was best.} (4... Be7 {[feels safer, & has elite GM supporters-R} 5. e3 O-O 6. c3 c5 7. Bd3 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nc6 9. O-O) 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e4 {[71% for Wh- Bl's pawn structure looks cumbersome-R]} d6 (6... d5 {[looks worth a try to keep a closed position; 1-2-R]}) 7. Bd3 (7. exf5 exf5 8. Bc4 {[2-0; Stockfish12 now tries the very optimistic ...g5- but Bl is getting way behind in development-R}) 7... Be7 $2 { (0.00 ? 1.10) Mistake. g5 was best.} (7... g5 {[ I suppose so, but very risky-R]}) 8. e5 $6 {(1.10 ? 0.14) Inaccuracy. O-O was best.} (8. O-O Nc6 9. c3 O-O 10. Re1 Kh8 11. exf5 exf5 12. Nf1 Qf7 13. Qb3 Qxb3 14. axb3 Bd7) 8... Qf7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. c3 Bd7 {[keeps options open; Stockfish12 seems onsessed with ... g5-R]} 11. O-O-O $6 {(0.36 ? -0.20) Inaccuracy. O-O was best.} (11. O-O { [Well I would go for Stockfish12's ..g5 now-R]} O-O 12. Rae1 g5 13. h3 Qg7 14. b4 g4 15. hxg4 fxg4 16. Nh2 h5 17. a4 Nd8) 11... O-O-O $11 (11... g5 $11 { [Stockfish12]}) 12. exd6 cxd6 13. Rhe1 Bf6 {[ this looked like an inaccuracy at the time, yet Stockfish12 second option, =-R]} (13... g5 $15 {(stockfish12]} ) (13... Rhe8 {[looks sensible-R]}) 14. Nc4 Be7 $2 {(0.01 ? 1.48) Mistake. Kc7 was best.} (14... Kc7 $11 {[Stockfish12]} 15. Bc2 g5 16. Kb1 Bc8 17. g3 Kb8 18. Ne3 Ne7 19. Nd2 Rhe8 20. Ba4 Bd7 21. Bxd7) 15. Qc2 $4 {(1.48 ? -0.31) Blunder. b4 was best.} (15. b4 {[given as winning by Stockfish12-R]}) 15... Kb8 (15... g5 $15 {[Stockfish12 is certainly consistent-R]}) 16. b4 $2 {(-0.21 ? -1.29) Mistake. Kb1 was best.} (16. Kb1 g5 17. Qe2 Rhf8 18. Nfd2 h5 19. f3 Rc8 20. g3 d5 21. Ne5 Nxe5 22. Qxe5+ Ka8) 16... Ka8 $4 {(-1.29 ? 1.94) Blunder. b5 was best.} (16... b5 $17 17. Na3 Nxb4 $15 {Stockfish12}) (16... Rc8 {considered by Rudy, looking at Q & K on same file (similar to b5 variation0 can lead to great complexities} 17. b5 Nd8 (17... Nb4 18. cxb4 Bxb5 19. Kb1 Bxc4 20. Bxc4 d5 21. Qa4 dxc4 22. Ne5 Qe8 23. Nd7+ Kc7 24. Qa5+ Kxd7 25. d5 e5 26. Rxe5 Qd8 27. Qb5+ Kc7 28. Rxe7+ Qxe7 29. d6+ Qxd6 30. Rxd6 Kxd6 31. Qxb7 $11 { Stockfish12-R}) 18. a4 Qf8 $15 (18... g5 $15 {both Stockfish12-R})) 17. b5 $18 Nb8 18. Qa4 a6 $2 {(2.01 ? 3.65) Mistake. Na6 was best.} (18... Na6 19. Qa5 Qe8 20. Kd2 Bxb5 (20... d5 21. Nce5 $18) 21. Rxe6 Bxc4 22. Bxc4 Qd7 23. Rde1 Bf6 24. Bxa6 bxa6 25. Qxa6 $18 {Stockfish 11 & !2}) 19. Nb6+ {Stockfish12} (19. Qa5 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 19... Ka7 20. Nxd7 Rxd7 21. Kb2 $2 {(2.65 ? 1.24) Mistake. bxa6 was best. [Worried about a Bg5 ch, not a real problem, but Wh needs the b file-R]} (21. bxa6 b6 (21... Nxa6 22. Bxa6 bxa6 23. Qxd7+ {is check, so Bl has no time to insert a Bg5 ch}) 22. Bc4 Rc7 23. Bxe6 Qe8 24. Qxe8 Rxe8 25. Kb2 $18 {Stockfish12-The Bl structure is a positional mess-R}) (21. Bc4 {Stockfish12} Qg6 (21... d5 22. Ne5 Qe8 23. bxa6 $18) 22. bxa6 (22. Bxe6) (22. Rxe6) 22... b6 23. Rxe6 (23. Bxe6) 23... Qxg2 24. Bd5 Rc8 25. c4 Qxf2 26. Kb1 Rdc7 27. Rde1 Bf6 28. R6e2 {wins the Q-Stockfish12-R]}) (21. Kc2 {[should still be fine for Wh-R]}) 21... Bf6 22. Qb3 (22. Rb1 $18 {Stockfish12}) 22... Re7 (22... d5 $16 { best try- Stockfish12}) 23. Nd2 $6 {(1.37 ? 0.54) Inaccuracy. Re3 was best.} ( 23. Re3 g6 (23... Rc8 $16 {gives Bl survival chances-Stockfish12}) 24. Rb1 b6 25. bxa6 Nc6 26. Ka1 Rb8 27. Qa3 d5 28. Qd6 Na5 29. Bb5 Nc4) (23. bxa6 Nxa6 24. Rb1 e5 25. Bc4 Qe8 26. Bd5 Qb8 27. Kc2 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 23... d5 24. Nf3 Rc8 $14 {Bl is over the worst} 25. c4 (25. Rb1) 25... Nd7 $11 (25... g5 $11 { Stockfish12- consistent}) 26. Kb1 $6 {(0.73 ? -0.14) Inaccuracy. cxd5 was best. [Stockfish12 has this as first option, content now with =-R]} (26. cxd5 exd5) 26... e5 $11 (26... g5 $11 {of couse, as well- Stockfish12}) 27. Bxf5 $4 { (-0.24 ? -2.15) Blunder. dxe5 was best.} (27. dxe5 Nxe5 28. Nxe5 Rxe5 29. Rxe5 Bxe5 30. cxd5 Qf6 31. b6+ Kb8 32. Rc1 Rxc1+ 33. Kxc1 Bd6 $11) 27... dxc4 $19 28. Qa3 $2 {(-2.03 ? -3.38) Mistake. Qa4 was best.} (28. Qa4 exd4 29. Rxe7 Qxe7 30. Re1 Nb6 31. Rxe7 Nxa4 32. Bxc8 Bxe7 33. Nxd4 Bf6 34. Nf5 axb5 $19) 28... c3 $4 {(-3.38 ? -0.12) Blunder. exd4 was best.} (28... exd4 $19 29. b6+) 29. Kc2 $4 {(-0.12 ? -1.86) Blunder. dxe5 was best.} (29. dxe5 Bxe5 30. g4 Rc5 31. b6+ Kxb6 32. Nxe5 Nxe5 33. Ka1 Nc6 34. Rb1+ Rb5 35. Qxc3 Rxb1+) (29. bxa6 {also draws- Stockfish12}) 29... exd4 $19 30. Bxd7 $4 {(-2.02 ? -6.44) Blunder. Qb3 was best.} (30. Qb3 Qe8) 30... Rxd7 31. Rd3 Qc4 32. Ne5 $6 {(-5.19 ? -8.10) Inaccuracy. Qb3 was best.[Stockfish12 disagrees, thinks the text best try- but Wh is lost anyway-R]} (32. Qb3 Qc5) 32... Bxe5 33. Rxe5 Rd5 34. Re7 Rxb5 { Time forfeit Black wins on time.} 0-1 [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.10.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Julie van Kemenade"] [Black "Martin C. Jones"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B10"] [WhiteElo "1641"] [BlackElo "1725"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,90,62,9,128,68,27,-6,40,-5,5,-19,16,-18,-9,-19,-36,-20,0,-37,-29,-26, -10,-17,-17,-2,-2,4,-1,-3,-5,-32,-23,-28,56,16,16,-32,6,3,27,20,20,-3,-6,-78, -23,-124,-97,-72,-72,-87,-91,-126,-100,-110,-100,-146,-100,-96,-68,-70,-80,-81, -87,-109,-99,-99,-86,-138,-130,-163,-120,-145,-154,-394,-394,-407,-409,-409, -409,-409,-417,-1567,-2409,-2843,-29972,-29973,-29974,-29997,-29998,-29999, -30000]} 1. e4 {Julie Van Kemenade, 1641} c6 {Martin C Jones, 1725} 2. d3 { B10 Caro-Kann Defense: Breyer Variation} d5 3. Qe2 Nd7 (3... dxe4) (3... g6) ( 3... e6 {main lines; lichess comments have been kept; sceptical remarks are labelled -R]}) 4. g3 (4. Nf3) (4. f4 {have been played-R}) 4... e5 $6 {(-0.05 ? 0.75) Inaccuracy. dxe4 was best. [Top choice of Stockfish12-R]} (4... dxe4 5. dxe4 e5 6. Bg2 Ngf6 7. Nf3 Bc5 8. O-O O-O 9. c4 Re8 10. h3 a5 11. Rd1) 5. Nf3 $6 {(0.75 ? 0.00) Inaccuracy. exd5 was best.} (5. exd5) 5... Bd6 6. Bg2 Ngf6 7. O-O $6 {(0.00 ? -0.60) Inaccuracy. exd5 was best.[ too dogmatic -R]} (7. exd5 cxd5 8. c4 O-O 9. cxd5 Nc5 10. O-O Bf5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Qxe5 Bxd3 13. Rd1 Bc2) (7. Nh4 O-O 8. Nf5 Bb4+ 9. c3 Ba5 10. O-O Bb6 11. b4 Re8 12. Nd6 Re6 13. Nxc8 Rxc8 14. Nd2 $14 {Haub-Vesterli, Copenhagen Challenge Ballerup 2012,1-0}) 7... O-O 8. Re1 (8. Nbd2 {transposes to 51 games in database}) 8... Qc7 $2 {(-0.82 ? 0.36) Mistake. Re8 was best.[ looks OK-R]} (8... Re8) 9. c4 $2 {(0.36 ? -0. 81) Mistake. exd5 was best.} (9. exd5 cxd5 10. c4 d4 11. Na3 a6 12. Bg5 Re8 13. c5 Nxc5 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Rac1 Qd8 $11 {(Stockfish12-R]}) 9... dxc4 (9... d4 { [ may be best, but Wh then has a King's Indian reversed setup-R]}) 10. dxc4 Nb6 {[In the end this works out in Bl's favour- but the N feels offside here somehow-R]} 11. Nc3 (11. Be3 $5 {-R}) 11... Be6 12. b3 Rad8 13. Bb2 h6 14. a3 { [This weakens the b3 square and is best avoided. In fact this turns out to be the major flaw in Wh's Q side structure in what follows-R]} (14. h3 $11 { [Stockfish12-wise precaution-R]}) 14... a5 $1 15. Qe3 $2 {(-0.16 ? -1.30) Mistake. Nd1 was best.} (15. Nd1 Nbd7) 15... Ng4 16. Qe2 Qe7 $2 {(-1.20 ? 0.00) Mistake. Bc5 was best.} (16... Bc5 {[agreed, looks like winning for Bl-R]} 17. Nd1 a4 18. b4 Bxc4 19. Qc2 Bd4 20. Bxd4 exd4 21. Nb2 Bb3 22. Qc5 d3 23. Qc3) 17. h3 Nf6 18. Nh4 Bc5 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. exf5 Rfe8 21. Ne4 Bd4 (21... Nxe4 $1 22. Qxe4 (22. Bxe4 Qg5 $19 {threats to g3 & d2-Stockfish12}) 22... Rd2 23. Re2 Rxb2 24. Rxb2 Bd4 25. Rba2 Bxa1 26. Rxa1 Nd7 $15 {Stockfish12- The Bl N is better than the B-R]}) 22. g4 $2 {(0.00 ? -1.34) Mistake. Nxf6+ was best.} (22. Nxf6+ Qxf6 23. Rad1 Bxb2 24. Rxd8 Qxd8 25. Qxb2 Nd7 26. Re3 Qb6 27. Qc3 Qc7 28. Qe1 Qb6 $11) 22... a4 $6 {(-1.34 ? -0.48) Inaccuracy. Nxe4 was best.} (22... Nxe4 23. Bxe4 a4 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. b4 Qh4 26. c5 Nc4 {and Wh is struggling to cling on} 27. Kg2 Red8 28. Red1 Nd2 29. Bc2 h5 $19 {[Stockfish12-R]}) 23. Qc2 $2 {(-0.48 ? -2.01) Mistake. Nxf6+ was best.} (23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. Bxd4 Rxd4 25. Rad1 Rxd1 26. Qxd1 Rd8 27. Qb1 Rd4 $19 {[Wh's Q side is collapsing-R]}) 23... axb3 24. Qxb3 Nxc4 25. Nxf6+ (25. Qxc4 Bxb2 26. Rab1 Bxa3 {[Wh has lost the Q side-R]}) 25... gxf6 (25... Qxf6 {[leaves b7 loose-R]}) 26. Bxd4 Rxd4 27. a4 Ra8 28. Qc3 Qd8 29. Reb1 Qc7 $2 {(-2.17 ? -0.78) Mistake. Na5 was best.} (29... Na5) (29... Qd7 $19 {preferred by Stockfish12-R]}) 30. Rb4 Na5 (30... b5 $19 { Stockfish12-R]}) 31. Rab1 $6 {(-1.44 ? -2.28) Inaccuracy. Rxd4 was best.} (31. Rxd4 exd4 32. Qxd4 Nb3 33. Qxf6 Nxa1 34. Qxh6 f6 35. Qxf6 {Wh nearly has a perpetuual} Qg7 36. Qd6 Rf8 $1 (36... Rxa4 37. f6 $11) 37. Qd3 {[and, amazingly, though Bl is a R up, Stockfish12 considers this a level position- Wh has dangerous pawns, a lurking B & the Bl N is miles away-R]}) 31... Rad8 $19 {Bl controls the centre & Wh is unable to break through to b7-R]} 32. Qc2 Rxb4 (32... c5) 33. Rxb4 Qd6 $6 {(-2.48 ? -1.84) Inaccuracy. Qe7 was best.} ( 33... Qe7) 34. Rb1 Kg7 35. Kf1 $6 {(-1.96 ? -3.20) Inaccuracy. Qc3 was best. [yes, but Wh is losing anyway-R]} (35. Qc3 Qd3) 35... Rd7 $6 {(-3.20 ? -2.36) Inaccuracy. Qa3 was best.} (35... Qa3) 36. Qc3 Qd4 37. Qxa5 $4 {(-2.39 ? -11. 50) Blunder. Qxd4 was best.} (37. Qxd4 Rxd4 38. Ra1 h5 {is scarcely appealing either-R]}) 37... Qd3+ 38. Kg1 Qxb1+ 39. Kh2 Qd1 40. Qb4 Qd2 41. Qb6 $2 { (-7.66 ? Mate in 11) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Qxd2 was best.} (41. Qxd2 Rxd2 {[and Wh can resign-R]}) 41... Qf4+ 42. Kg1 Rd1+ 43. Bf1 Qc4 44. a5 $6 { (-67.77 ? Mate in 2) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Kh2 was best.} (44. Kh2 Qxf1 45. Kg3 Rd3+ 46. Qe3 Rxe3+ 47. fxe3 Qe2 48. e4 Qxe4 49. Kf2 Qxa4 50. Ke2 Qc2+) 44... Qxf1+ 45. Kh2 Qg1# {Normal Black wins by checkmate.} 0-1 [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.10.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Mark Paffard"] [Black "James Cook"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B15"] [WhiteElo "1608"] [BlackElo "1476"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,52,39,19,59,49,69,32,32,36,28,35,31,40,40,-1,-7,3,18,-6,4,13,19,1,16, 4,7,-15,-9,-10,-6,-26,23,94,248,7,0,-115,-148,-148,-131,-253,-260,-260,-261, -253,-259,-498,-522,-511,-511,-533,-537,-1245,-1247] Mark Paffard 1608} 1. e4 c6 {James Cook, 1476} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5. Nxf6+ exf6 {B15 Caro-Kann Defense: Tartakower Variation} 6. Nf3 (6. c3 {main} Bd6 7. Nf3 Qe7+ ( 7... O-O) 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Bg4 10. h3 Bh5 11. g4 Bg6 12. Nh4 Be4 13. f3 Bg6 14. Nxg6 hxg6 {Narayan-Taylor vs Cook, Dyfed League 2019,1-0}) (6. h3 Bf5 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Bd6 9. Qe3+ Kd7 10. Qb3 Qe7+ 11. Ne2 Re8 12. Qxb7+ Bc7 13. Be3 {Llywelyn-Cook, Dyfed League 2012,1-0}) 6... Bd6 7. Be2 (7. Bd3) 7... O-O 8. O-O Re8 {still in elite GM territory} 9. Bd2 (9. Re1) (9. Be3 {main lines}) 9... Bf5 (9... Bg4 {0.5-3.5}) 10. Re1 Nd7 11. c4 Qc7 (11... Nf8 {Stockfish12; aiming for f4}) 12. h3 (12. g3) 12... Be4 13. Be3 Rad8 14. Bd3 Bb4 (14... f5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 15. Rf1 (15. Bxe4 Bxe1 16. Qc2 Ba5 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Bd3 c5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 15... Nb6 {cuts off the B} (15... f5 $15) 16. c5 $18 Bxf3 17. Qxf3 (17. cxb6 {Stockfish12; a difficult move to see & calculate accurately } Qg3 18. Qxf3 Qxf3 19. gxf3 axb6 20. a4 {and Wh remains a piece up}) 17... Nd5 $11 18. a3 $2 {not looking at Bl's possibilities} (18. Rad1 {holds everything}) 18... Nxe3 19. fxe3 Bd2 $19 20. Qf5 (20. e4 Rxd4 $19 {is better than what follows}) 20... Bxe3+ 21. Kh1 g6 22. Qxf6 Bxd4 23. Qg5 (23. Qh4 Bxb2 24. Rad1 Rd7 $19) 23... Be3 24. Qf6 Rxd3 {the attacker has turned intobeing a target} 25. Rf3 Bd4 26. Qg5 (26. Qd6) 26... Rxf3 {Normal White resigns.} (26... Rxf3 27. gxf3 Re2) 0-1 [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.10.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Tom Gunn"] [Black "Scott Hammett"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A80"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1590"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,117,61,42,52,77,63,63,57,31,38,28,28,12,7,-11,-6,-34,19,0,25,35,47,59, 71,3,105,105,108,108,127,127,127,127,127,132,135,101,70,87,121,73,115,38,38,29, 31,17,36,-2,40,36,36,19,41,38,43,33,458,516,516,537,545,397,397,248,269,61,46, 87,110,48,57,-12,78,112,112,-89,19,-163,-82,-56,-36,-35,-57,-80,71,170,128,243, 243,234,308,451,437,305,29989,664,29989,488,29981,1058,29985,29986,29987,29984, 29985,29303,29987,1137,29999,1078,1724,1724,29983,1155,2169,29982,29985,1181]} 1. d4 {Tom Gunn,1398} f5 {Scott Hammett, 1590 A80 Dutch Defense} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 {Has been played at elite GM level} (3. g3 {main}) 3... e6 4. Bd3 {main, fighting for control over the e4 square, which Ben's Be2 doesn't immediately do in the note below.} (4. c4 Be7 5. Be2 O-O 6. O-O b6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. b3 a6 9. Bb2 d6 10. Nd2 Nc6 11. Bf3 Rb8 12. d5 $16 {B Brewer-Hammett, Dyfed League 2018, 1-0}) 4... b6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 {Stockfish12} (7. Re1) (7. Qe2 { main lines}) 7... O-O 8. Qc2 Na6 {main, & scores 1-4; though in the game the N remains offside here} (8... c5 {main, challenges the centre}) 9. a3 d6 { Too slow. Worse even in that it undermines support for the e6 pawn, which in turn supports f5,With this pawn structure Bl is better having the N on d7 rather than a6. Stockfish12 pounces} (9... c5 {though is indicated- it prevents b4 & adds pressure to the centre. It succeeds in practical play 1-3 to Bl, though Stockfish12 awaits events with} 10. Re1 $14 (10. d5 Nc7 11. e4 $14 {also possible-Stockfish12; Wh will not be able to advance much further & the position will settle down to something like a Benoni blocked centre.} Nh5 12. g3 g6 13. Re1 Ng7 14. Rb1 b5 15. b3 fxe4 16. Bxe4 exd5 17. cxd5 d6 $11 { Stockfish12- with play for both sides})) 10. Re1 {even after this natural move by Wh, Stockfish12 has trouble finding moves for Bl that it doesn't assess as losing,} (10. e4 $18 {Stockfish12} fxe4 11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 Bxe4 13. Qxe4 Qd7 14. Re1 {and e6 falls without compensation}) (10. b4 $18 {may be even stronger-Stockfish12- the Wh pawn advances will create holes in Bl's structure} d5 (10... c5 11. bxc5 bxc5 12. d5 {destroys the centre} exd5 13. Bxf5 Nc7 14. Ng5 h6 15. Be6+ Nxe6 16. Nxe6 $18) 11. c5 c6 12. Nb3 Qc7 13. Ng5 Qc8 (13... Bc8 14. Nxe6 Bxe6 15. Bxa6 $18) 14. Bb2 h6 15. Nf3 Qe8 16. Qe2 Nb8 17. Rfc1 { and Wh will soon break through on the Q sidelong before there is any hope of K side counterplay by Bl}) 10... Qe8 (10... d5 {at least holds up e4 for the moment, though} 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. Ne5 Bf6 13. Ndf3 $18 {Stockfish12- the Wh pieces infiltrate the Q side, while both c7 & e6 are targets}) 11. b4 $18 { developing , but Wh can cause more immediate problems for Bl with} (11. e4 $1 $18 {Stockfish12; opens up lines against the Q, and, as in an earlier note, e6 drops off soon. Rudy was expecting this move, which is the whole basis of Wh's Colle type setup.}) 11... Qg6 $6 {this looks at Wh's K, but then there is a B looking at the Q.} (11... Qh5 {is better, but still} 12. e4 $18) 12. Bb2 (12. d5 $1 $18 {Rudy & Stockfish12, breaks up Bl's co-ordination} exd5 (12... Rae8 13. e4 fxe4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15. Bxe4 Qh5 16. dxe6 Bxe4 17. Qxe4 {and Wh is a clear pawn up with Bl's N in trouble}) 13. Bxf5 Qh5 14. Nf1 Ne4 15. Be6+ Kh8 16. cxd5 $18 Bxd5 $2 17. g4 $18 {Stockfish12}) 12... Bxf3 (12... Be4 { Stockfish12-is a better way to prevent Wh's e4, as it removes the terrible Wh B, though} 13. h3 Nb8 14. d5 e5 15. Bxe4 fxe4 16. Nh2 {is still in Wh's favour- There is no real threat against the Wh K, while Wh prepares to open the Q side with c5.}) 13. Nxf3 Ne4 14. c5 $18 Nb8 15. cxd6 (15. cxb6 {is more accurate, leading to a Q side invasion} cxb6 16. Qc7 Qe8 17. Rec1 Rf7 18. Qb7 Nd7 19. Bb5 Bf8 20. Rc7 Nef6 21. d5 $1 e5 22. Ng5 Re7 23. Bc6 $18 {and the Bl pieces are just sitting bunched in a puddle}) 15... Bxd6 16. Ne5 Bxe5 17. dxe5 c5 18. Bxe4 (18. f3 Ng5 19. Kh1 $18 {Stockfish12- the 2 Bs, especially the wh one are far superior to the Ns & Wh will son invade the wide open Q side.}) 18... fxe4 19. bxc5 bxc5 (19... Rc8 20. Qa4 bxc5 21. Rac1 {keeps the pawn, but what will Bl's N do?}) 20. Qxc5 (20. Qa4 $1 $18 {even stronger-Stockfish12}) 20... Qf5 21. Qc2 (21. Rf1 {is preferable as the Wh Q is very well placed where she is- the R may look passive, but is holding up a Q & R}) 21... Nd7 $16 22. Rac1 (22. Rf1) 22... Rac8 (22... Nc5 $11) 23. Qd2 Nc5 24. Rc3 Nd3 (24... Rcd8 25. Qe2 Nd3 26. Rf1 Qg6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 25. Rf1 (25. Rxc8 {relieves a bit of pressure}) 25... Rb8 (25... Rcd8) 26. Rc2 Rfd8 (26... Rf7 $11) (26... g5 $11 {both Stockfish12}) 27. Bd4 $16 {Wh's Q is now free to roam again} Nxe5 28. Qc3 Rdc8 $2 (28... Nd3 29. Bxa7 $16 {the a pawn is now a major player}) 29. Qxc8+ Rxc8 30. Rxc8+ $18 Kf7 31. Rc7+ (31. Rc5 {seen by Rudy-wins the N- there is no perpetual, & the 3 pieces plus a pawn win comfortably.} Nf3+ 32. gxf3 e5 (32... Qh3 33. Rc7+ (33. fxe4 $2 Qg4+ {and Bl escapes with a perpetual}) 33... Ke8 34. Rxg7 {covers the g file})) 31... Kg6 32. Rxa7 (32. h3 {Stockfish12- a cool move, prevents Qg4 & encourages the N to move away.} Kh6 33. Bxe5 (33. Rc5 {still works, but a little trickier now} Nf3+ 34. gxf3 Qxh3 35. Be5 exf3 36. Bf4+ Kg6 37. Rg5+ Kf6 38. e4 {prevents ...Qf5} Qh4 39. Be3 Qxe4 40. Re1 { and the 3 pieces will combine against the K-Stockfish12}) 33... Qxe5 34. Rxa7 Qc5 35. Ra6 Qc4 36. Rb6 {and the Rs willcome together and nurture the a pawn to its destination, while the Wh K structure remains intact}) 32... Qg5 33. Rb1 (33. Bxe5 Qxe5 34. a4 $18 {simplest; the text gives Bl more chances}) 33... Nf3+ $16 34. Kh1 Nxd4 35. exd4 Qd2 36. Rab7 (36. Ra6 Kf5 37. Kg1 $16) 36... Qxd4 (36... Qxf2 37. Ra1 Qxd4 38. Rbb1 {the Rs have been driven to passivity, and the Bl e4 pawn may just hold in many lines, Bl holds up the a pawn, harasses the rear R when they become seperated in search of activity, & concentrates on opening up the Wh K side} Qd2 39. a4 Qa5 40. Rb3 Kf6 41. Rf1+ Ke7 42. Rb7+ Ke8 43. Ra1 e3 44. Rbb1 e2 45. Re1 Qa6 46. Ra2 h5 47. h3 Qc4 48. Rexe2 Ke7 49. a5 g5 50. a6 Qc1+ 51. Kh2 Qc7+ 52. g3 h4 53. Rg2 hxg3+ 54. Rxg3 Qc4 55. Rga3 Qf4+ $11 {and the Wh K has been opened to a perpetual- Komodo14 Endgame}) 37. R7b4 (37. R7b2 $16) 37... Qxf2 38. a4 $16 e3 39. Rg1 $6 (39. Ra1) 39... e2 (39... Qa2 {Bl should get behind the pawn, with thanks}) 40. Rbb1 h5 41. a5 h4 42. h3 Kf5 (42... Qa7 43. Ra1 Qa6 $11 {Komodo14 Endgame}) 43. a6 $18 Kf4 44. Ra1 Qa7 45. Rge1 Kg3 (45... Ke3 46. Ra2 $18 {in this line of play the Q can no longer protect the advanced e pawn}) 46. Rxe2 (46. Rf1 $1 {the Engine finds the lovely tactic- endgames are not just about slow manouevres, but ashould be a rich source of tactical opportunities.Mate is threatened, so Bl loses the Q} exf1=Q+ 47. Rxf1 Qa8 48. Rf3+ Qxf3 49. gxf3 Kxh3 50. a7 Kg3 51. a8=Q) 46... Kf4 47. Rxe6 Kg3 48. Re7 {this is still winning- Bl cannot take the R, however} (48. Rf1 $1 {threatens mate in 2 different ways. The Bl K is in a awkward spot, but then trying for a mate was Bl's only chance of holding the game against the steady progression of the a pawn} Qf2 49. Rxf2 (49. Rg6+ { wins a Q, but getting a new Q wleads to a faster mate})) 48... Qd4 49. Rae1 ( 49. Rf1) 49... g5 50. a7 Qd5 51. R1e3+ Kf2 52. Re2+ (52. Rf3+ Qxf3 53. gxf3 { and it's over}) 52... Kg3 53. R7e3+ (53. Re8) 53... Kf4 54. Re4+ (54. Rf3+) 54... Kg3 (54... Kf5 55. Re5+ Qxe5 56. Rxe5+ Kxe5 57. a8=Q) 55. Re8 (55. Rg4#) 55... Qd1+ 56. Re1 Qd5 57. R1e2 (57. a8=Q {protects g2}) 57... Qd1+ 58. Re1 Qd5 59. R1e2 {Normal The game is a draw. Qd1 will repeat the position 3 times. Normally the player needs to claim, here the lichess engine does it.} 1/2-1/2