Touch Wood!

Touching wood is generally all part of the game as far as chessplayers are concerned, but with competitive chess having moved online I had better make a special effort to touch some when reporting that Aberystwyth is still doing very well in the Under 1800 section of the Welsh Chess Online League In Round 4 on Tuesday 10th November we played the other leading team, North Cardiff Panthers, who were ahead of us on game points but like us had won every match. I thought I saw a quick win against Callum Smith's Pirc, but had to withdraw in confusion when it didn't work out. After that I had a long defence, tied to a weak pawn, but Black weakened his position trying to break through the solid centre and I regrouped for another unlikely win. Julie van Kemenade didn't manage to get her kingside counterplay going against Ellison Smith's queenside pressure in a Giuoco Piano, having to castle kingside not only slowed her down but left her vulnerable there too, and White overran her position. James Cook uncharacteristically sacrificed a piece early on in his Ruy Lopez against Bence Szakmany; it turned out to have been a mouse slip, but he did the right thing by keeping his pieces active, pushing his passed pawns and seeking to confuse matters, till his opponent lost his way in the complications. Sam Holman, heavily outgraded against Alun Smith, played vigorously in on the Black side of an Alapin Sicilian, and had good chances most of the way through a complex game, before the loss of a pawn allowed White to reach a won ending. A 2-2 draw means that we are still undefeated at the top of the League - touch wood!

[Round "4.1"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Smith, Callum"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1687"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "117"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 (3. Bd3 c5 4. dxc5 dxc5 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. h3 Bg7 8. O-O O-O {Cooke-Smith,WCU Online U1800 rd1, 2020,0-1}) 3... g6 4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 b6 {a bit slow} (5... O-O {second most frequent} 6. Bh6 (6. f3 Nbd7 7. Bh6 c5 8. O-O-O {Francis-Spencer, Dyfed League 2011,1-0}) 6... c5 7. Nf3 { Francis-Weston, Dyfed Open 2015,1/2-1/2}) (5... c6 {main line}) 6. f3 {69% for Wh in databases} c5 7. dxc5 (7. Nge2) (7. O-O-O {both 70% for Wh}) 7... bxc5 8. Bc4 (8. e5 $16 {3-0} dxe5 (8... Ng8 9. Qd5) 9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. O-O-O+) 8... O-O 9. Bd5 {hoping for gain} (9. Nge2 Nc6 $11) (9. h4 Nc6 $15) 9... Nxd5 10. Qxd5 ( 10. exd5 Re8 $17 {Stockfish12}) 10... Qb6 $19 {and Wh can't take the R} 11. Qb3 Nc6 {Bl has a lead in development & open lines} (11... Be6) 12. Qxb6 (12. Nge2 Qa6 13. Qa4 Rb8 14. Rb1 Nd4 15. Qxa6 Bxa6 16. Kd2 Nxe2 17. Nxe2 Bxb2 $19 { Stockfish12}) 12... axb6 13. Nge2 Nb4 (13... b5 $1 14. Nxb5 (14. Bc1 f5 15. a3 b4 16. Nd5 Ra7 17. O-O e6 18. Ne3 bxa3 19. Rxa3 Rxa3 20. bxa3 Ba6 21. Re1 Nd4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 14... Bxb2 15. Rb1 Rxa2 $19 {Stockfish12}) (13... f5 $19) ( 13... Be6 14. a3 b5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 14. Kd2 Be6 (14... f5 $19 { Stockfish12-Bl needs open lines}) (14... d5 15. exd5 Rd8 16. Bg5 Nxd5 17. Kc1 Nb4 18. a3 Bf5 19. Ne4 Bxe4 20. fxe4 Nc6 21. c3 Ra4 22. Ng3 Be5 23. Re1 f6 24. Bd2 b5 25. Kc2 Rda8 $19 {Stockfish12- Wh is under terrible pressure on the Q side}) 15. a3 Nc6 16. Nf4 Ne5 (16... Na5 $19 {Stockfish12} 17. Rab1 (17. b3 Bxb3 18. cxb3 Nxb3+ 19. Kc2 Nxa1+ 20. Rxa1 b5 21. Ra2 Bxc3 22. Kxc3 b4+ 23. Kb3 Rxa3+ 24. Rxa3 bxa3 25. Kxa3 Rb8 $19 {the mass of Bl pawns, (2 extra) keep the two pieces from getting much actovity})) 17. b3 $11 Rfd8 18. Nfd5 Bxd5 19. Nxd5 (19. exd5 $11) 19... Nc6 $17 20. Rad1 (20. Ra2) 20... b5 $19 (20... Rxa3 21. Nxb6 Rb8 22. Nd5 e6 23. Nc3 Na5 $19 24. Rb1 c4 25. Rhc1 f5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 21. Nc7 Rxa3 (21... Ra5 22. Ke2 Rd7 23. Nd5 Rxa3 $19 {Stockfish12}) (21... Rab8 22. Rb1 Rd7 23. Nd5 Ra7 24. a4 bxa4 25. bxa4 Bb2 26. Kd3 Rxa4 $19 {Stockfish12} ) 22. Nxb5 Ra2 (22... Ra5 23. Nc3 Nb4 24. Nd5 Ra2 25. Rc1 e6 26. Nxb4 cxb4 27. Kd3 Rc8 28. Bd2 Bb2 29. Rcd1 Bc3 30. Rc1 h5 $19 {Stockfish12- but this looks less convincing than earlier lines, even though Bl must be far better}) 23. Nc3 Bxc3+ 24. Kxc3 Nb4 (24... Rda8 $17) 25. Rd2 Rc8 $17 26. Rb1 Kf8 (26... f6) 27. Rb2 (27. e5 d5 28. Bxc5 Na6 29. b4 Nxc5 30. bxc5 Rxc5+ 31. Kd3 e6 $17 { Stockfish12}) 27... Rca8 (27... Ra5) 28. Rxa2 (28. e5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 28... Rxa2 29. Bh6+ (29. e5 $16 {Rudy & Stockfish12} Ke8 30. Bf2 f6 (30... Kd7 31. Bxc5 Rxc2+ 32. Rxc2 Nxc2 33. exd6 exd6 34. Bf2 Na3 35. Kb4 Nc2+ 36. Kb5 $16) 31. exd6 exd6 32. Bg3 d5 33. Bf2 d4+ 34. Bxd4 Nd5+ 35. Kc4 cxd4 36. Kxd5 d3 37. Rxd3 Rxc2 38. g4 Kd7 (38... Rxh2 39. Ke6 f5 40. g5 $18) 39. h4 $16 {Stockfish12 }) 29... Ke8 $11 30. Be3 (30. e5 {Stockfish12} Kd7 (30... dxe5 31. Be3 Na6 32. Kc4 Ra5 33. c3 $16) 31. exd6 exd6 32. Bf8 Ra6 $11) 30... f6 $17 31. Bf2 Kf7 32. Be3 e5 $6 {this weakens d6; bl needs to try and open a second front on the K side without ceding the centre} (32... h5 $17) 33. Bf2 (33. f4 $11) (33. g3 $11 ) 33... Ke6 $17 34. Be3 f5 35. Bf2 g5 36. h3 h5 {at one point Stockfish12 thinks this is winning for Bl} 37. g4 hxg4 38. hxg4 fxg4 {lets Wh off the hook as now g5 becomes exposed} (38... f4 $1 $19 {Stockfish12- It restricts the B to inactivity and leaves f3 as a target} 39. Bg1 Ra1 40. Bf2 Rc1 41. Kb2 Rh1 42. c3 Nc6 43. Rd3 Na5 44. b4 (44. Kc2 c4 45. bxc4 Rh2 46. Rd2 Nxc4 47. Re2 Rh3 $19) 44... c4 45. Rd5 Nb3 46. Bb6 Rh2+ 47. Ka3 Nd2 $19 (47... Rd2 $19 { Stockfish12})) 39. fxg4 $11 Ra7 (39... Ra1 40. Kc4 (40. Be3 Re1 41. Bxg5 Rxe4 42. Rg2 Kf7 $15) 40... Rh1 41. c3 Rc1 42. Be3 Re1 43. Bxg5 Rxe4+ 44. Kb5 Rxg4 45. cxb4 Rxg5 46. bxc5 dxc5 47. Kxc5 $11) 40. Be3 Kf6 $2 (40... Rh7 41. Bxg5 Rg7 42. Bh6 Rxg4 43. Bf8 Rxe4 $11 {Stockfish12}) (40... Ra1 41. Bxg5 Re1 42. Rg2 Rxe4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 41. Rf2+ (41. Rxd6+ $1 $18 {Stockfish12 simplest win, both sides getting short of time}) (41. Kc4 Rd7 42. c3 Nc6 43. b4 $18 { Stockfish12}) 41... Kg6 $2 (41... Ke6 {still draws, but its a tricky line of play to find even with plenty of time} 42. Bxg5 Rg7 43. Rf5 Nc6 44. Kc4 (44. Rf6+ Kd7 45. Bh6 Rxg4 46. Bf8 Rf4 47. Rxf4 exf4 48. Bg7 Ne5 49. Kd2 $11 { Komodo14 Endg}) 44... Ne7 45. Bxe7 Rxg4 46. Bxd6 Rxe4+ 47. Kxc5 Kxf5 48. b4 $11 {Stockfish12 & Komodo14 Endg}) 42. Rf5 {this looked as if it should win at the time} Ra2 {this though can be defended against} (42... Ra1 $11 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rf5+ Ke6 45. g5 {other moves also draw} (45. Rf3 Rh1 46. Kd2 Nc6 47. g5 Rh4 48. Ke2 Nd4+ 49. Bxd4 exd4 50. Rg3 Kf7 51. Kd3 Rh2) 45... Nd5+ 46. Kd3 c4+ 47. Kd2 (47. bxc4 Ra3+) 47... cxb3 48. cxb3 Ra2+ 49. Kd3 Rb2 50. Bd2 Rxb3+ 51. Ke2 Nc3+ 52. Bxc3 Rxc3 53. Rf6+ Ke7 $11 {Stockfish12}) 43. Rxg5+ Kf7 44. Rf5+ Kg6 ( 44... Ke8 {gives better chances of survival- the K guards d6, while the R gets itself behind the g pawn} 45. Rf2 Ra1 46. g5 Rh1 $16 47. Kd2 (47. Rg2 Rh3 $11) 47... Nc6 48. Rg2 Kf7 49. c3 Ne7 50. Rg3 Rh4 51. Rf3+ Ke8 52. Kd3 Nd5 { Stockfish12- Bl is still fighting}) 45. Rf2 $18 Ra7 46. g5 (46. Rd2) (46. Kc4) 46... Ra2 47. Rh2 Kg7 48. Rg2 Kg6 49. Rh2 Kg7 50. Bc1 (50. Rd2 Kf7 51. g6+ Kg7 52. Bg5 Kxg6 53. Be7 $18 {Stockfish12}) 50... Kg6 {Bl had been surviving on increments for some time now} (50... Nc6 51. Rf2 Nd4 52. Be3 $18 {Stockfish12}) (50... Ra8 51. Kb2 $18 c4 52. bxc4 Rb8 53. Ka3 Nc6 54. Bd2 Nd4 55. Bc3 Ne6 56. Rd2 Nxg5 57. Rxd6 Re8 58. Rd5 Kf6 59. c5 Nxe4 60. Ba5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 51. Rh6+ (51. Rf2 $18) 51... Kg7 52. Bb2 Ra6 (52... d5 $1 $11 {Stockfish12} 53. exd5 Nxd5+ 54. Kc4 Ne3+ 55. Kd3 Ng4 56. Bc3 Nf2+ (56... Nxh6 57. Bxe5+ Kg6 58. gxh6 c4+ 59. bxc4 Kxh6 $11) 57. Kd2 Ne4+ 58. Kd3 Nf2+ $11 {Stockfish12}) 53. Kd2 Ra2 54. Kc1 Ra6 55. Kb1 (55. Rxd6 {simplest- Stockfish12- seen by Rudy}) 55... Rb6 (55... Kf7 56. Bc3 Rc6 57. Kb2 {& Wh still has to find a way past Bl's resistence} Ra6 58. Bd2 Kg7 59. Rf6 Ra2+ 60. Kb1 Ra6 61. Bc3 Kg8 62. g6 Kg7 63. Re6 Rc6 64. Be1 Ra6 65. Bh4 Rc6 66. Be7 d5 67. exd5 Rxe6 68. dxe6 Kxg6 69. Bxc5 $18 {Stockfish12 nudged- in these kind of positions Engines often don't go for the simple kill, but spend ages maximising their advantage by minute amounts.}) 56. Bxe5+ (56. Rxd6 {again works as well}) 56... Kf7 57. Rxd6 Rb7 58. g6+ Kg8 (58... Ke8 59. g7 Rxg7 {is the Engine's last gasp}) 59. Rd8# 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.10"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Smith, Ellison"] [Black "Van Kemenade, Julie"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C53"] [WhiteElo "1714"] [BlackElo "1641"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 (3... Nf6 4. Ng5 Bc5 5. Bxf7+ Ke7 6. d3 h6 7. Bg6 hxg5 8. Bxg5 d6 {Smith-Langmaid,John Bishop minor 2018,0-1}) 4. c3 Bb6 ( 4... Nf6 5. d3 (5. d4 {main lines})) 5. d4 Qe7 6. O-O {main} (6. d5) 6... Nf6 ( 6... d6 7. h3 Nf6 8. Re1 {main}) 7. Bg5 (7. Re1) 7... d6 8. d5 (8. h3 { transposes}) 8... Nd8 {43% for Wh} (8... Nb8 {main, 39% Wh}) 9. Nbd2 h6 10. Bh4 Bg4 (10... g5 {is quite safe} 11. Bg3 {4 draws} (11. Nxg5 $6 hxg5 12. Bxg5 Rg8 13. h4 a6 $19 (13... Rxg5 14. hxg5 Ng4 (14... Nh7 15. Qh5 Nxg5 $17) 15. Nf3 f5 $19 {Stockfish12}))) 11. a4 (11. Bd3 a6 12. h3 Bd7 13. Rc1 g5 14. Bg3 Nh5 15. Bh2 Nf4 $11 {avier Bonifay-Collin, Montreal Pere Noel U1600 op, 2004,0-1}) 11... a5 (11... a6 12. a5 Ba7 13. Be2 Rg8 14. Qa4+ Kf8 15. Kh1 Bd7 (15... g5 $11) 16. Qc2 (16. Bxf6 $18) 16... g6 (16... g5 $11) 17. Ng1 g5 18. Bg3 { Magezi-Notha, Africa ch U20, Lusaka 2005,1-0}) 12. b4 g5 13. Bg3 Nh5 (13... h5 14. h3 h4 15. Bxe5 Qxe5 (15... dxe5 16. hxg4 Nxg4 17. bxa5 Bxf2+ 18. Rxf2 Nxf2 19. Kxf2 g4 20. Ng1 $16) 16. hxg4 (16. Nxe5 Bxd1 $19) 16... Qf4 17. e5 Nxg4 18. exd6 h3 19. Qe2+ Kf8 20. bxa5 hxg2 21. Qe7+ Kg7 22. Kxg2 Nf6 23. Qe5 $11 Qxe5 24. Nxe5 Bxa5 $11 {Stockfish12}) (13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 (14. Nxf3 Nxe4) (14. Qxf3 h5 15. bxa5 Rxa5 16. h4 Ng4 17. hxg5 Qxg5 $11) 14... h5 15. h4 Rg8 16. Kh1 Kf8 17. hxg5 Nh7 18. Rg1 Qxg5 19. Be2 Qf6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 14. Be2 (14. Bb5+ Kf8 15. Kh1 Nf4 16. Nc4 Ba7 (16... f6 17. Nxb6 cxb6 18. h3 Bh5 19. Be2 Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Nf7 21. Bg4 h5 22. Bf5 Kg7 23. Rb1 $16) 17. Nxa5 f5 18. exf5 h5 19. Bxf4 gxf4 20. Qe2 Nf7 21. Nb3 $18 {Stockfish12}) 14... f6 (14... Ba7 15. Kh1 O-O 16. Ne1 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Nf4 18. Bxf4 exf4 19. bxa5 f5 20. Nd3 Nf7 21. Rab1 $16 { Stockfish12}) (14... Nf4 15. Bxf4 gxf4 16. Kh1 Rg8 17. Nc4 Ba7 18. Nxa5 f5 19. Qd3 h5 20. Nb3 fxe4 21. Qxe4 Qg7 22. g3 Nf7 23. a5 Bh3 24. Qc4 Rc8 25. Nbd2 $16 (25. Rfd1 Bxf2 $19 (25... h4 $19))) 15. Nc4 Nxg3 (15... Ba7 16. Kh1 axb4 17. cxb4 O-O 18. Nfd2 Bxe2 19. Qxe2 Nf4 20. Bxf4 exf4 21. a5 Nf7 22. Rac1 $16 { Stockfish12}) 16. hxg3 Nf7 (16... Ba7) 17. Qb3 (17. Nxb6 cxb6 18. Nd2 $18 { Stockfish12}) 17... h5 (17... Ba7) 18. bxa5 Ba7 (18... Bc5 $11 {Stockfish12} 19. Qxb7 O-O 20. Qb1 Nh6 21. Qd1 f5 $11) 19. Qxb7 O-O 20. Rab1 Rfb8 {the B was intended to support this move} 21. Qc6 (21. Qxa7 $1 {Stockfish12- rather surprisingly} Rxa7 22. Rxb8+ Kg7 23. Ne3 (23. Rfb1 $18 {its initial idea}) 23... Rxa5 24. Nxg5 Nxg5 25. Bxg4 Qf7 26. Bf5 Rxa4 27. c4 $18) 21... Nd8 (21... Rc8 {preserves the Rs for the open lines to come on the K side.} 22. Qb7 (22. Qb5 h4 23. Nb6 cxb6 24. axb6 hxg3 25. a5 gxf2+ 26. Rxf2 Rxc3 27. Nh2 Rc5 28. Nxg4 Rxb5 29. Bxb5 $18 {Stockfish12- it's the rare human who goes in for variations like this one}) 22... h4 23. gxh4 gxh4 24. Kh1 Ng5 25. Ncd2 h3 $11 { Stockfish12- as so often, spending time taking a b7 pawn with a Q gives the other side K side chances}) 22. Rxb8 {other moves lose for Wh} Rxb8 23. Qa6 Bc5 24. Ncd2 $18 h4 (24... Bc8 25. Qd3 Qh7 26. Nh2 g4 27. Rb1 Ra8 28. Nhf1 $18 { Stockfish12}) 25. gxh4 gxh4 26. Nxh4 Bc8 27. Qd3 Qh7 28. Qg3+ Kf7 (28... Kf8 { may be better} 29. Bb5 $18 (29. Bg4 Qg7 30. Nf5 (30. Bxc8 $2 Qxg3 $19))) 29. Bg4 Qh6 (29... Qg7 30. Bh5+) 30. Ndf3 Ke7 {a quick exit} 31. Bxc8 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800: Aberystwyth - North C"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.10"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Cook, James"] [Black "Szakmany, Bence"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C66"] [WhiteElo "1476"] [BlackElo "1631"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Aberystwyth"] [BlackTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] {[%evp 0,103,19,29,28,25,21,14,13,16,39,-249,-249,-312,-265,-314,-307,-315, -332,-333,-265,-304,-231,-240,-224,-226,-206,-218,-165,-174,-159,-187,-143, -131,-142,-113,-100,-101,-101,-114,-120,-113,-91,-89,-99,-105,-110,-90,-68,-71, -62,-41,-27,-34,-52,-45,-47,-56,2,0,-44,-73,-61,-79,-65,-93,-87,-136,-90,-87, -9,0,0,-36,-36,-36,-18,-39,-39,-62,-65,-64,37,43,4,-58,-79,-80,-53,-113,-107, -138,-92,-108,-95,-125,-121,-121,-122,-119,-66,-100,380,573,29997,29998]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 (3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 {Dwain Jones-Szakmany, WCU online U1800 rd1, 2020,0-1}) 3... Nf6 4. O-O d6 5. Nxe5 {mouse slip} dxe5 $19 6. c3 Be7 (6... Nxe4) 7. Bxc6+ bxc6 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 O-O (9... Nxe4) 10. Nc3 Bb4 11. Re1 {too early to resign, may as well see what gives} Re8 12. f3 h6 13. Be3 Bb7 (13... c5 {opens lines for the QB, & offers to swap off a doubled pawn} ) 14. Qb3 Bxc3 15. bxc3 (15. Qxc3) 15... Rb8 16. Qa3 a6 17. Rab1 Qd6 18. Qxd6 cxd6 19. Bf4 Red8 20. Rb6 Nh5 (20... Ba8 21. Rxa6 Rb2 {activates a R}) 21. Bd2 Ba8 22. Reb1 Rxb6 23. Rxb6 Kf8 (23... a5 24. Ra6 Nf6 25. Rxa5 d5 26. e5 Nd7 27. Ra7 c5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 24. Kf2 Ke7 25. Rxa6 $17 {2 pawns for the piece and Bl has 2 pieces on the rim} Rb8 (25... Bb7 26. Ra7 Rd7 $17 {Stockfish12}) 26. Ra7+ {and with the R on the 7th , Stockfish12 rates it as =} Ke6 (26... Bb7 { might be a little better}) 27. Ke3 (27. g4 Nf6 28. a4 $11) 27... Nf6 28. a4 Ne8 (28... d5 29. e5 Ne8 $15 {Stockfish12, halts the advance of the pawns}) 29. a5 Bb7 30. c4 $11 d5 31. Kd3 {threatens Bf4, but Bl gets a bit of activity} (31. Bb4 {activates Wh's dormant B}) 31... dxc4+ 32. Kxc4 Nd6+ 33. Kd3 Bc8 (33... g5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 34. Bf4 Rb7 35. Ra8 Bd7 36. Bxd6 Kxd6 37. a6 Rb3+ 38. Kc4 Ra3 {the Bl R is well-placed; the extra B isn't} 39. Kb4 Ra2 40. a7 (40. h4) 40... Ke7 41. Kc5 Ra6 $17 42. h3 (42. g4 {Stockfish12}) (42. Rg8 {picks up a K side pawn, but as yet it's insufficient}) 42... g5 {Stockfish12, but leaves h6 very vulnerable} 43. g4 Be6 (43... Be8 {Stockfish12 gives as winning, but the followup remains unclear}) 44. Rh8 {has to be tried by Wh sooner or later} Rxa7 45. Kxc6 Bb3 $17 (45... Bc4 $19 {is winning -Stockfish, for some reason better than the text}) 46. d5 Ra6+ 47. Kc7 (47. Kb5 {because it would have prevented this move- the best according to Stockfish12} Rf6 48. Kc5 Rxf3 49. Rxh6 Rf4 50. Rb6 Ba4 51. Rb7+ Bd7 52. Kd4 f6 $19) 47... Bd1 (47... Rd6 {Stockfish12- hanging on to the h6 pawnand leaving the B to harvest the Wh pawns all on its colour} 48. Rh7 Rg6 49. Rh8 {but when it comes to it , Stockfish is very reluctant to move the B away from the centre- in fact just moving the R along the 3rd (while still saying- well, we are a B up after all, so must be winning} ) 48. e5 Ra7+ (48... Bxf3 49. d6+ Ke6 50. Rxh6+ Kxe5 51. d7 Ra7+ 52. Kc8 Ra8+ 53. Kc7 Ra7+ $11 {Stockfish12}) 49. Kb6 $11 Rd7 50. Kc5 $11 Bxf3 $2 {Bl needs to settle for a draw} 51. d6+ Ke6 (51... Rxd6 52. exd6+ Kd7 53. Rf8 $18) 52. Re8+ 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2020.11.10"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Smith, Alun"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "1651"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "127"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "North Cardiff Panthers"] [BlackTeam "Aberystwyth"] {[%evp 0,127,19,38,72,6,6,-26,-22,-12,19,19,41,69,192,1,33,-11,27,17,20,1,0,0, 0,11,-13,0,-12,-18,21,-9,69,68,67,67,61,54,22,-19,12,-9,-1,13,14,2,7,-30,9,-62, -49,-65,-12,-55,-36,-41,-20,-31,-19,-12,27,41,38,41,100,89,181,114,109,32,261, 166,225,204,530,526,539,602,802,842,1400,548,671,164,186,179,217,238,239,241, 248,237,262,271,280,220,280,184,217,213,197,237,242,252,311,266,274,311,320, 325,325,325,384,409,411,427,451,466,591,536,656,801,986,1016,986,1127,1659, 1698,1698,1747]} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 g6 (4... Nf6) (4... Nc6) (4... e6) 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. Be3 (6. Na3 {main}) 6... c4 $146 {risky as the pawn will need constant support} (6... cxd4 {main}) 7. Qa4+ {This however helps Bl considerably} (7. Nbd2 b5 8. b3 cxb3 9. Qxb3 Qxb3 10. axb3 $18) 7... b5 8. Qc2 Nd7 (8... Bf5 $11) 9. Be2 Nh6 (9... Ngf6) 10. O-O (10. a4) 10... Nf5 11. Bf4 O-O (11... Bb7 $11) 12. Nbd2 Bb7 13. a4 a6 14. Rfe1 Rfe8 {ok, but a little slow } (14... e5 {Rudy & Stockfish12} 15. dxe5 Nxe5 16. Bxe5 Bxe5 17. Bxc4 Bxh2+ 18. Kxh2 bxc4 19. Qe4 Qd6+ 20. Qe5 Qb6 $11) 15. Bf1 Bh6 (15... Nb6) (15... e5 { look simpler}) 16. Bxh6 Nxh6 17. axb5 (17. Ne5) 17... axb5 18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Ne4 (19. b3 cxb3 $11) 19... Ng4 20. h3 Ngf6 21. Nxf6+ Nxf6 22. Re5 Qd7 $11 { Bl has some K side chances with the a8 B} 23. Be2 (23. Nd2) 23... Nd5 (23... Bd5 $15) 24. Bd1 f6 25. Re1 Kg7 (25... Nf4 $17 {a perfect square for a N}) 26. Nd2 (26. Qd2 Qd6 27. g3 Qc6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 26... Nf4 $17 27. Bf3 Nd3 (27... Bxf3 28. Nxf3 Ra8 $17 {Stockfish12}) 28. Ra1 Bc6 29. b3 e5 {risky now} (29... Nf4 $11) 30. bxc4 bxc4 31. Nxc4 {finally winning the adventurous pawn} e4 ( 31... Nf4 $11 {the N belongs here}) 32. Be2 $18 {Bl has just insufficient compensation for the pawn} Qf5 (32... Bb5 33. Ne3 f5 34. Ra5 $18 {stockfish12}) 33. Bg4 (33. Ra7+ $1 Kh8 34. Bf1 $18 {Stockfish12}) 33... Qg5 (33... Qf4) 34. Qd2 (34. Ra7+ Kf8 35. Ne3 f5 36. Qb3 Re7 37. Qb8+ Be8 38. Rxe7 Qxe7 39. Be2 $18 {Wh always has the extra c pawn to win the ending, when Bl's attacking chances cease}) 34... Qd5 (34... Qxd2 {swapping Qs is now Bl's best chance} 35. Nxd2 f5 36. Be2 Nf4 37. Bf1 e3 38. fxe3 Rxe3 39. c4 Bxg2 {would be enough to hold the draw}) 35. Ne3 $18 {Wh consolidates with this move} Qb5 36. Ra7+ (36. c4) 36... Kh8 (36... Bb7) 37. Qa2 {now it's the Bl K under attack} Rf8 38. Qa3 Re8 39. Qd6 Qb1+ 40. Kh2 (40. Nf1) 40... Qb8 41. Qxb8 (41. Rc7 $18 {Stockfish12}) 41... Rxb8 42. Ra6 (42. d5) (42. Rc7) 42... f5 (42... Be8 43. Rxf6 {leaves Bl with little to play for}) 43. Rxc6 fxg4 44. Nxg4 Rf8 45. Re6 h5 46. Nf6 Nxf2 47. Nxe4 {the two connected Q side pawns win} Kg7 48. Nxf2 Rxf2 49. c4 Rc2 50. c5 Kf7 51. Rd6 g5 52. c6 Ke7 53. Rd7+ (53. Rh6) 53... Ke8 54. d5 Rc5 55. Kg3 Rc3+ 56. Kf2 Rc2+ 57. Kf3 Rc3+ 58. Ke4 Rc4+ 59. Kf5 (59. Ke5) 59... g4 60. hxg4 (60. Ke6) 60... hxg4 61. Rg7 Kd8 62. Ke6 Re4+ 63. Kd6 Ke8 64. c7 1-0