Another Online League

With the Welsh Chess Online League having made a successful start, Aber is now involved in another such contest, the online version of the Dyfed League. Time limits and rules are the same, as for the national competition. Our first match, on Tuesday 3rd November, was against old rivals Cardigan, who as usual fielded a strong team, though sadly missing Dyfed League Director Iolo Jones, who is ill. On top board Rudy van Kemenade's King's Indian Attack against Howard Williams's Sicilian led to a sharp position with both kings exposed. Howard declined Rudy's pawn sacrifice, wisely as it turned out, and the complications eventually ended in a draw. (This game has now been updated to include Rudy's latest annotations.) My Dutch worked out well against Ben Brewer, whose premature attack left him behind in development, and the game ended abruptly when he missed a tactic that lost him his queen. Julie van Kemenade's Veresov left her position rather congested against R. Gareth Williams, and his minor pieces, two collaborating bishops and a well supported knight, were powerfully posted, leading to a win of material and a decisive attack. Tom Gunn's early retreat of his pinning bishop in a Nimzo-Indian seemed a passive approach, and his position, too, looked cramped, but he maintained equality till quite late in the game, when the weak squares around his king allowed Joshua Brewer to break through with a kingside attack. 2½-1½ is not a bad first result for Aber, considering we were outgraded on every board.

[Event "Dyfed L Online: Aberystwyth-Cardigan"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Williams, AH."] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A08"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "2340"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,72,19,38,40,41,41,18,32,6,-16,2,2,5,16,0,-10,-5,-4,-23,-21,-33,-62, -31,-21,-21,-7,-23,-23,-66,-66,-66,-41,-74,-105,-121,-88,-64,-44,-47,-47,-47, -23,-19,36,-30,-30,-1,53,4,52,27,39,22,17,17,21,9,3,0,-17,-46,-36,-40,50,-41, -8,-29,-25,-23,-23,-16,-30,-30,-30]} 1. e4 {Barcud9} c5 {Efnisien2} 2. Nf3 e6 { B40 Sicilian Defense: French Variation} 3. d3 Nc6 4. g3 d5 (4... g6 5. Bg5 { Gawain Jones} Qc7 6. Bg2 Bg7 7. c3 e5 8. O-O d6 9. Na3 Be6 10. d4 {Van Kemenade-Williams, Dyfed League 2018,0-1; Wh got a good position, but failed to find the tactics the Engines located.}) 5. Qe2 (5. Nbd2 {main}) 5... Nge7 ( 5... Nf6) 6. Bg2 g6 7. O-O Bg7 8. c3 (8. e5 {alternative}) 8... b6 (8... O-O { main}) 9. a4 {attempts to get a N to b5, but is a little slow- Gawain Jones 2011 prefers, in comparable positions} (9. Na3) (9. e5 {main}) (9. Re1 {next}) 9... Ba6 (9... h6 10. Na3 O-O 11. e5 a6 12. h4 Rb8 13. Bf4 {Djukic-Jovicevic, YUG ch , Nis 1996, draw agreed}) (9... d4 10. cxd4 cxd4 11. Na3 O-O 12. Bd2 a5 13. Rfc1 e5 14. Nc4 Rb8 {Abrahams-Merriman,Lonon Classic op 2015,0-1}) 10. e5 h6 (10... d4 11. c4 Bb7 12. Na3 h6 13. Nb5 {Fedorov-Mahjoob, Dubai op 2004,1-0} ) 11. h4 Qd7 (11... Qc7 {is where this Q normally goes to} 12. Re1 {transposes to 25 games; eg} g5 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Ng6 15. Na3 Ncxe5 16. Nb5 Qd7 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. Qf3 f6 19. Rxe5 {Sjugirov-Mista, World Open ICC, aug 2020,1-0}) 12. Bf4 (12. Nbd2 g5 13. hxg5 hxg5 14. Nxg5 Nxe5 15. c4 Bb7 16. Ndf3 Nxf3+ 17. Nxf3 Nc6 18. Bf4 O-O-O $19 19. a5 bxa5 $11 {Horvath-Kiss,Koszeg IM 1996,1-0} ( 19... e5 $19)) (12. Na3 {both moves considered by Wh} Na5 13. Qd1 c4 14. dxc4 Nxc4 15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Re1 Nc6 17. b3 Ba6 18. Ba3 $18 {Kristiansen-Kalegin, EU ch Seniors 65+ Rhodes 2019,1-0}) 12... g5 13. hxg5 Ng6 14. Re1 (14. Nbd2 $11) ( 14. a5 $11 {both Stockfish12}) 14... hxg5 (14... Nxf4 15. gxf4 hxg5 16. fxg5 O-O-O $11 {Stockfish12}) 15. Bxg5 Ngxe5 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. c4 (17. Rd1 $11 { Stockfish12}) 17... Bb7 (17... dxc4 {Stockfish12- Wh was concerned this might work for Bl} 18. Bxa8 Bb7 19. Bxb7 Qxb7 20. Qe4 Nf3+ 21. Kf1 Qxe4 22. Rxe4 Nxg5 23. Rh4 cxd3 24. Nd2 O-O 25. Rd1 $11 {Stockfish12- not that it is level, but that both sides have chances}) 18. Nc3 {after a pause for thought- at this stage Wh was about 25 minutes ahead on time} (18. f4 {looked promising, but worries about exposing the Wh K rather than the Bl K.} Nc6 (18... Nxd3 { is the Stockfish12 refutation} 19. Qxd3 Bd4+ 20. Kf1 dxc4 21. Qc2 Rh2 {and Wh is in terrible trouble} 22. Re2 Bxg2+ 23. Rxg2 Rh1+ 24. Ke2 Qc6 {and the Wh position falls apart#}) 19. cxd5 Nd4 20. Qe4 Nc2 {and this looked unclear.} 21. Nc3 (21. dxe6 {turns out to be no threat as taking with the pawn, threats against d7 & b7, releases a square for the Q to escape.} Qd4+ $19) 21... Nxa1 22. Rxa1 Bxc3 23. bxc3 Qxd5 $19 {there is not enough for the exchange}) 18... dxc4 19. dxc4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qc6+ 21. Qe4 O-O (21... Qxe4+ 22. Rxe4 (22. Nxe4 { looked at by Bl} Nxc4 23. Rab1 (23. Nf6+ Ke7 $15 {given by Howard's older Fritz } (23... Bxf6 24. Bxf6 Rh6 25. Rh1 Rxh1 26. Rxh1 Kd7 $17 {Stockfish12})) 23... Bd4 24. b3 $11) 22... O-O $11 (22... Rh5 23. f4 Ng4 24. Kf3 Rh2 25. Re2 Bxc3 26. bxc3 Rxe2 27. Kxe2 f5 28. Rd1 $11 {Stockfish12})) 22. f4 $16 (22. Rh1 { interesting, but} Qxe4+ 23. Nxe4 f6 24. Bd2 Nxc4 25. Bc3 Rad8 26. a5 $11 { Stockfish12}) 22... Qxe4+ 23. Nxe4 Ng4 (23... Nxc4 {expected by some spectators } 24. Rac1 $1 {Stockfish12} (24. Nf6+ {intended by Wh and avoided by Bl} Bxf6 25. Bxf6 Kh7 26. g4 Kg6 27. g5 {and now Stockfish12 claims that Bl must return the exchange} Rad8 $11) 24... Na5 25. Nf6+ Bxf6 26. Bxf6 Kh7 27. Re5 {the reason for driving the N away} (27. g4 Kg6 28. g5 Nc6 (28... Rad8 29. Bxd8 Rxd8 30. Rh1 $16) 29. Kg3 Rae8 30. Kg4 Ne7 31. Rh1 Ng8 32. Bc3 Rd8 33. Rh5 Rd3 34. Rch1 f5+ 35. Kh4 Rf3 36. Be5 Rd8 $11 {Stockfish12- looks a logical sequence}) 27... Kg6 28. Be7 f6 29. Rxe6 Rf7 30. Rce1 $16) (23... Nd3 {worried Wh a little when we got to this position, but then} 24. Re3 Nb4 25. Nf6+ Bxf6 26. Bxf6 Kh7 27. Re5 Kg6 28. Be7 f6 29. Rxe6 Nc2 30. Rh1 Kf5 31. Rd6 $16 { Stockfish12- Bl seems to survive the worst}) 24. Re2 (24. Kf3 {looked at} Nh2+ 25. Kg2 Ng4 {repetition}) (24. Kh3 $1 $18 {Stockfish12} Nh6 (24... f5 25. Nd6 $18 {either e6 or an exchange goes}) (24... Bxb2 25. Ra2 Bd4 26. Rae2 (26. Kxg4 f5+ 27. Kf3 fxe4+ 28. Rxe4 Kf7 29. Rae2 $16) 26... Rae8 27. Nd6 Nf2+ 28. Kg2 $18) 25. Nf6+ Bxf6 (25... Kh8 26. Rad1 Ng8 27. Nd7 Rfc8 28. Ne5 Bxe5 29. fxe5 Kg7 30. Re4 {Stockfish12- the Bl pieces have been driven into passivity}) 26. Bxf6 Kh7 27. g4 Kg6 28. Bc3 (28. g5 Ng8 29. Bc3 Rad8 $14 {is less clear}) 28... Rad8 29. Rad1 Rxd1 30. Rxd1 f5 31. g5 Nf7 32. Rd7 $18 {Stockfish12} e5 33. Bxe5 Nxe5 34. Rd6+ (34. fxe5 Kxg5 $11) 34... Kg7 35. fxe5 Re8 36. Kg3 Rxe5 37. Kf4 Re2 38. Kxf5 Rf2+ 39. Ke5 Rxb2 40. Rd7+ Kg6 41. Rxa7 Kxg5 42. a5 $18 {leads to a R P ending where the Bl K is cut off from the Q side}) 24... f6 25. Bh4 (25. Kf3 fxg5 26. Kxg4 gxf4 27. gxf4 Bh6 28. Ng5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 25... Rad8 26. a5 (26. Kh3 Nh6 27. a5 Nf5 28. axb6 axb6 29. Ra6 Nd4 30. Rg2 Rb8 31. g4 $14 { Stockfish12}) 26... Rd3 (26... Rd4 $11) 27. axb6 (27. Ra3) 27... axb6 28. Nf2 Nxf2 29. Kxf2 e5 (29... f5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 30. f5 {Stockfish12} (30. fxe5 fxe5+ 31. Kg2 $11) 30... Rfd8 31. Ra6 Rb3 (31... R8d4 32. Rxb6 Rxc4 33. Rb8+ Kh7 34. Rb7 Kh6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 32. Ra7 (32. Rxe5 {worth a try?} Rxb2+ ( 32... fxe5 33. Bxd8 e4 34. Rxb6 $18) 33. Kf3 Rd3+ 34. Re3 Rxe3+ 35. Kxe3 Rc2 $11 {Stockfish12}) 32... Rd4 33. Ra8+ Kf7 (33... Kh7 34. Ra7 Kh6 35. Rc2 $11) 34. Ra7+ Kg8 35. Ra8+ Kf7 36. Ra7+ Kg8 {Normal The game is a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "1.2"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A85"] [WhiteElo "1679"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "34"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Cardigan"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] 1. d4 e6 (1... f5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bf4 {Brewer-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2019,0-1} (5. Qc2 {Brewere-O Davies,Dyfed League 2020,0-1})) 2. c4 (2. Nf3 f5 3. Bg5 Nf6 4. Nbd2 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e4 d6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. e5 Qf7 { Pinch-Francis, WCU Online 2020,0-1 after complications}) 2... f5 3. Nc3 (3. Nh3 Nf6 4. f3 d5 {Miller-Francis, Dyfed League 2014,1-0}) (3. g3 {main} Nf6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rb1 Nbd7 {T Brown-Francis, Dyfed Open 2017,1/2-1/2}) 3... Nf6 4. Nf3 Bb4 {main} (4... d5 {alternative}) 5. Bd2 O-O 6. d5 $5 {often a good move against a Queen's Indian, even when sacrificing a pawn } (6. e3) (6. g3 {main lines}) 6... d6 7. Ng5 $6 {but now Bl gets a solid centre} (7. dxe6 {only move played here} Bxe6 8. Nd4 (8. e3 {Stockfish12-1/2-1/ 2}) 8... Bd7 {0-1} (8... Bxc4 {0-1})) 7... e5 $17 (7... Bxc3 8. Bxc3 (8. bxc3 e5 $19) 8... Nxd5 9. cxd5 Qxg5 $17 {Stockfish12}) 8. Qb3 {The Q gets a bit displaced here} (8. a3 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 h6 10. Nf3 Ne4 $17 {Stockfish12}) 8... Bxc3 (8... a5 9. g3 Na6 $19 {Stockfish12}) 9. Qxc3 c6 10. O-O-O $2 {dangerous as Bl can open a file against the Q & K on there, & can get his pices into action quickly, while the Wh K side sleeps} (10. e3) 10... cxd5 $19 11. cxd5 Ng4 ( 11... Na6 $1 12. Kb1 Nc5 13. f3 h6 14. Ne6 (14. Nh3 Nxd5 $19) 14... Nxe6 15. dxe6 Bxe6 $19 {Stockfish12}) 12. Nh3 Na6 13. f3 Nf6 14. Bg5 Bd7 (14... f4 { even more incisive} 15. Kb1 h6 16. Bxf6 Bf5+ 17. Ka1 Qxf6 18. g4 Rac8 19. Qa3 Bh7 $19 {Stockfish12- all the Bl pieces co-operate; the Wh ones are scattered about}) 15. Kb1 Rc8 16. Qa3 f4 (16... Qc7 17. Qb3 Nc5 18. Qc3 Qb6 19. Be3 Ba4 20. Rc1 Nxd5 {Stockfish12- when an Engine resorts to making unusua;l moves , it mostly means the position is very bad}) 17. Qxd6 $2 {grabbing pawns when behind in development is usually fatal, even if there is no immediate nemesis} (17. e4 {Wh badly needs to get his K side moving} fxe3 (17... Nc5 18. Bh4 Ba4 19. Rc1 Nfxe4 $1 20. Be1 (20. Bxd8 Nd2+ 21. Ka1 Ncb3+ $19) 20... Bd7 21. fxe4 Nxe4 22. Rd1 Bg4 23. Bd3 Nc5 24. Bc2 Bxd1 25. Bxd1 e4 $17) 18. Bxe3 Bf5+ 19. Ka1 h6 $17 {Stockfish12}) 17... Bf5+ 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Van Kemenade, Julie"] [Black "Williams, R Gareth"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D01"] [WhiteElo "1641"] [BlackElo "1643"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "Cardigan"] {[%evp 0,74,24,20,60,60,54,26,26,-18,-27,-36,-23,-17,-12,-14,-14,-14,-14,-12, -10,-10,22,-5,1,3,3,-28,2,-33,-39,-59,-32,-40,-43,-59,-59,-60,-60,-70,-49,-70, -57,-64,-44,-71,-64,-104,247,22,23,-129,-131,-178,-153,-143,-81,-123,41,-177, -142,-187,-140,-228,-257,-281,-281,-294,-288,-291,-274,-893,-929,-29979,-29982, -29983,-2451]} 1. d4 c6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 (3. e4 {transposes to a CaroKann}) 3... Nf6 {Now it's a Veresov} (3... Bf5) (3... h6) 4. f3 (4. e3) (4. Bxf6) (4. Qd3) (4. Nf3 {also played}) 4... h6 (4... Bf5 {main}) 5. Bh4 Qb6 (5... Bf5) 6. Qd2 Bf5 (6... Qxb2 {2.5-1.5}) 7. Na4 (7. e4 {Stockfish12} dxe4 8. fxe4 (8. Bxf6 $11) 8... Nxe4 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. c3 {Muzzi-Strayer, Dos Hermanas Internet blitz 2004,0-1}) (7. O-O-O Nbd7 {4.5-0.5 eg} 8. g4 Bh7 9. e3 e5 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Bb4 {Derjabin-Remizov,RUS ch tm rapid, 2018,1-0}) 7... Qd8 8. e3 e6 9. g4 Bg6 10. Ne2 (10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. cxd3 Nbd7 12. Nc3 Be7 13. Nge2 O-O 14. O-O b5 $15 { Stockfish12}) 10... a5 11. a3 (11. Nf4 Bh7 12. Bg3 Bb4 13. Nc3 Nbd7 14. a3 Bd6 15. h4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 11... b5 12. Nac3 Nbd7 $17 {Wh is now deterred from 0-0-0} 13. Bg2 Be7 (13... Ne4 14. Bxd8 Nxd2 15. Kxd2 Kxd8 $17 {Stockfish12- Bl's Q side pawn advance will be more effective than Wh's possibilities on the K side; but this is very much an Engine choice} (15... Rxd8 $17)) 14. Bxf6 $6 { giving Bl a lot of bl-squared pressure} (14. Bg3) 14... Bxf6 $17 {Stockfish12 is hovering between this and winning for Bl} 15. Ng3 Bh4 {Why move the B from a most effective square? It does prevent h4 by Wh, but that will not be possible for quite a while} (15... Nb6 16. b3 Qe7 $19 {Stockfish12}) 16. Nce2 Nb6 17. b3 O-O 18. O-O a4 19. e4 (19. f4 {this looks a better chance for Wh} Rc8 20. f5 Bh7 21. e4 Bg5 22. Qd3 Re8 23. Rae1 $19 {Stockfish12 still holds onto the latent power of the 2 Bs, but to a human eye Wh has gained some counterplay}) 19... axb3 (19... dxe4 20. Nxe4 (20. fxe4 c5 $19) 20... Qe7 21. Kh1 Rfd8 $19 {the Bl pieces control more possible open lines; the Wh ones lack co-ordination}) 20. cxb3 Be7 21. Qb2 (21. e5 {when in a bad position, create chaos-is Speelman's advice} Bxa3 22. f4 c5 23. f5 Bh7 24. Nf4 {and it's an Advanced variation of the CaroKann, where Wh frequently goes for a sacrificial attack. After a bit of time to reflect Stockfish12 goes to equal; not that it is level, but that both sides have chances}) 21... Rc8 (21... dxe4 22. fxe4 c5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 22. Rfc1 c5 23. dxc5 (23. e5 $5) 23... Rc7 {a mouse slip} 24. b4 {Wh had expected the pawn to be retaken, but, surprised , failed to notice the full implication} (24. cxb6 $18) 24... Nc4 $17 25. Qc3 (25. Qb3) ( 25. Rxc4 {was considered by Wh, but Stockfish12 doesn't think that there is enough compensation( Wh has several pieces on the K side sitting idly by)} dxc4 26. Rf1 Rd7 27. f4 Rd2 28. Qc3 Bh4 {and Bl controls the centre- the c pawn is unable to move, so not an asset at this stage of the game}) 25... Bf6 $19 ( 25... dxe4) 26. Qe1 (26. e5 Bxe5 27. Nd4 {saves the exchange, but Stockfish12 continues} Qh4 $19) 26... Bxa1 27. Rxa1 Ra7 (27... dxe4) 28. Qc3 Qf6 $2 { but this move throws everything open again} (28... dxe4 $19) 29. Qc1 {an exchange down, Wh tries to keep something for a K side attack. However} (29. Qxf6 $1 gxf6 30. exd5 exd5 31. f4 Bd3 32. Nc3 Ne3 33. Bxd5 Nxd5 34. Nxd5 $18 { Stockfish12- Bl has problems with his K side against the 2 Ns while the protected passed c pawn is now another asset that will keep a Bl R within bounds}) 29... Rfa8 (29... d4) 30. exd5 exd5 31. f4 Rxa3 {now the Rs sweep in} 32. Rxa3 Rxa3 33. g5 hxg5 34. fxg5 Qe5 35. Qd1 Ra1 36. Nc1 Qe3+ 37. Kh1 Rxc1 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Brewer, Joshua"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "1481"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Cardigan"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,53,39,31,31,-13,-28,-29,-16,4,33,16,43,6,29,38,41,31,43,39,61,68,72, 63,63,51,90,88,88,60,119,9,-16,-41,111,86,81,75,82,82,79,88,327,334,468,500, 670,771,740,782,782,782,969,986,986,756]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 O-O 5. a3 Be7 {playable , the line with 4 Bd2 is a bit passive for Wh, who gets 41% from this position} (5... Bxc3 6. Bxc3 Ne4 {30% for Wh} 7. Qc2 Nxc3 ( 7... f5) 8. Qxc3 b6 {28% for Wh, Brewer-Paffard, Dyfed League 2019,0-1}) 6. e4 d6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 (7... b6 {transposes to 13 games, where Wh manages a slight edge }) 8. Bd3 (8. Bf4 {0-3}) 8... c5 {Stockfish12} (8... e5 9. d5 Nc5 10. Be3 b6 11. b4 Ncd7 12. O-O Bb7 13. b5 Nc5 14. Qc2 {Filios-Peppas, Christmas op Greece 2003,1/2-1/2}) 9. d5 e5 {transposes to a Czech Benoni structure, where Wh has more space, though Bl has a solid defensive wall.} (9... exd5 10. cxd5 Ng4 11. O-O Bf6 12. Bc2 Nge5 {Bl has a bit more activity with the staticWh centre pawns. A similar line of play can be found in Haigh-J Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2019,0-1. Here, an attempt to regain control over e5 with an f4, leads to K side fragility on the Bl squares, especially since the Wh F3 N needs to remove itself from there.}) 10. O-O a6 11. b4 (11. h3 Rb8 12. Re1 Nh5 13. Bf1 Nb6 14. Nxe5 dxe5 15. Qxh5 {Tenninger-Petrov, Niedersachsen ch, Verden 2009, 1-0; it shows Bl trying to get some activity but failing}) 11... b6 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Nh4 {Wh's position is easier to play} g6 14. f4 $6 {but this opens the bl squares for Bl to exploit as in the Haigh-Van Kemenade game cited above, where Wh also played f4 against the Czech Benoni setup, though with a N on d2 rather than h4 (where it is hanging)} (14. Nf3 $16) 14... Nh5 (14... exf4 15. Bxf4 Ne5 16. Nf3 cxb4 17. axb4 Bg4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 15. g3 (15. Nf5 $1 {Stockfish12-a little tactic exploiting a 'hanging' Bl N} Bf6 16. Nh6+ Kh8 17. f5 $16 { and now Wh has got to the K side without ceding e5}) 15... Bxh4 16. gxh4 Ndf6 $6 (16... Nxf4 $17 {Bl needs to get rid of Wh's bl square B & gain e5 or else keep a pawn ifand a dangerous N near the Wh K is it doesn't it doesnt take}) 17. f5 (17. fxe5 dxe5 {looks even stronger- Wh gets an open f file, & still blocks the e5 square.} 18. Bg5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 17... Bd7 (17... cxb4 18. axb4 b5 19. Be2 Nf4 {Stockfish12- Bl must try and open some lines before all the action switches to his K side where Wh is superior.}) 18. Rf2 (18. Kh1 { Stockfish12-clears the g file for all the major pieces}) 18... Kh8 (18... b5 $11 {Wh has to distracted fom a slow buildup on the K side}) 19. Be2 Rg8 (19... Nf4 $11) (19... gxf5 20. Bxh5 f4 21. Kh1 Rg8 22. Bf3 cxb4 23. Rxb4 Bg4 $14 { not to everybody's taste, but 'creating chaos' Speelman cf also J Van Kemenade-R G Williams, same round.}) 20. Kh1 Ng7 $2 (20... Nf4 $11 {Engines are consistent}) 21. fxg6 $18 {and the Bl position falls apart} Qd8 22. Bg5 Nxe4 23. Nxe4 Qc7 24. gxh7 (24. gxf7 {also}) ({&} 24. Rxf7) 24... Rgf8 25. Bf6 Kxh7 26. Ng5+ Kg8 27. Qg1 1-0