Saturday 30 January 2021

Pitched Battles

Any idea that online chess is less competitive than the over-the-board equivalent was dispelled by the fourth round of the Dyfed Closed Online tournament, played between Monday 25th and Wednesday 27th January. (The online format allows this kind of flexibility.) Aberystwyth's players were involved in some exceptionally exciting games. In a Scandinavian with players castled on opposite sides Adam Watkin-Jones got his kingside attack going faster than that of Gareth Williams on the queenside, and Black was forced to defend. But with only a couple of minutes left on the clock, Adam wasn't able to calculate the winning sacrifice and settled for a draw. I had prepared for 1...e5 against Robert Lovegrove, and played weakly against his unexpected Sicilian, coming out of the opening with a much worse position. However, in his anxiety to finish me off quickly, he let me back in with a sequence that won me the exchange, after which the ending was no problem. Tom Gunn found himself with a knight against a bishop in the ending for the second week in a row, after a Nimzo-Indian. At the crucial moment he missed the chance to push his passed pawn and Joshua Brewer's pawns overwhelmed him. Rudy van Kemenade was in some trouble with his Petroff against the much-lower-rated Ray Greenwood. Losing his queen was not the worst thing that could have happened, because the resultant complications suited his style and greater experience, and he managed to turn the tables. Sam Holman played a razor-sharp line of the Austrian Attack against David Pinch's Pirc Defence. When the initial attacks on both sides had come to a halt, Black had a material advantage but there were still chances for both players. The game continued with all sorts of twists and turns, till Sam was able to stop Black's connected passed pawns with his king and bishop. With one round to go, I am on 3/4, Adam on 2½, Rudy on 2 and Tom and Sam on 1½, while the tournament's strongest player, Howard Williams, has a maximum 4.

[Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.01.27"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Black "Williams, R Gareth"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B01"] [WhiteElo "1918"] [BlackElo "1643"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,76,80,18,19,-72,7,11,119,100,92,98,124,112,115,115,80,56,62,48,52,57, 92,83,83,53,46,36,56,56,44,18,39,11,28,-17,49,2,50,41,108,153,143,119,212,212, 384,156,469,269,281,82,87,-23,22,11,103,18,46,57,71,60,127,127,136,138,311,207, 357,388,388,497,497,497,497,492,518,424,518]} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 {B01 Scandinavian Defense: Mieses-Kotroc Variation [ Standard for Gareth, no games in database for Adam-R]} 3. Nc3 (3. Nf3 {1-2 for Gareth-R}) 3... Qd8 {a slightly passive line, resembling a CaroKann-R} (3... Qa5) (3... Qd6 {more frequent-R}) 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. h3 Bxf3 7. Qxf3 c6 8. Be3 e6 9. O-O-O (9. Bd3 {a bit more frequent-R}) 9... Nbd7 $6 {(0.88 ? 1.51) Inaccuracy. Bb4 was best.} (9... Bb4 10. Ne4 {main,62% for Wh-R}) 10. Bd3 (10. Kb1 {79% for Wh-R}) 10... Be7 (10... Bb4 {main, what Bl thought in retrospect should have been played, but} 11. Ne2 {63 % for Wh-R}) 11. Kb1 O-O $6 {(1.28 ? 2.33) Inaccuracy. Nb6 was best. [ it cuts out the 0-0-0 possibility and the Bl K looks more open to attack on the K side-R]} (11... Nb6 12. Qg3 g6 13. Bh6 Rg8 14. h4 Qd7 15. Qf3 Nbd5 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Nf6 18. Rhe1 O-O-O {Huschenbeth-Glek, Bundesliga 2012,1/2-1/2-R}) 12. g4 $18 {Stockfish12-R} Nd5 13. Nxd5 cxd5 14. h4 Rc8 15. g5 Qb6 16. Bc1 a5 $6 {(2.16 ? 3.29) Inaccuracy. Rc6 was best.} (16... Rc6 17. Qh5 f5 18. Qe2 Rfc8 19. Bxf5 exf5 20. Qxe7 Nf8 21. Qe5 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) 17. Qh5 g6 18. Qe2 (18. Qg4 {Stockfish12}) 18... Qd6 $2 { (3.23 ? 5.37) Mistake. Qxd4 was best.} (18... Qxd4 19. Be3 Qb4 20. a3 Qd6 21. h5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 19. f4 {this does allow the Q to get to h2 in some lines-R} (19. h5 $1 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 19... a4 $6 {(5.12 ? 7.35) Inaccuracy. Rfe8 was best.} (19... Rfe8 20. h5) 20. h5 Kg7 21. Rde1 $6 {(10.37 ? 5.73) Inaccuracy. hxg6 was best.} (21. hxg6 Rh8 (21... hxg6 22. Rh7+ {mating, whether the sac is accepted or not} Kxh7 23. Qh2+ Kg7 24. Qh6+ Kg8 25. Rh1 a3 26. Qh8#) 22. gxh7 b5 23. Qh5 Kf8 24. f5 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 21... Rce8 $6 { (5.73 ? 12.01) Inaccuracy. Rh8 was best.} (21... Rh8 22. a3) 22. Bb5 $6 { (12.01 ? 6.24) Inaccuracy. hxg6 was best.} (22. hxg6 Rh8 23. gxf7 Rb8 24. f5 exf5 25. Qxe7 Qxe7 26. Rxe7 Rbf8 27. Rxd7 Rxf7 28. Rxd5 f4) 22... a3 $6 { (6.24 ? 9.37) Inaccuracy. Rh8 was best.} (22... Rh8 23. a3) 23. b3 $2 {(9.37 ? 4.72) Mistake. hxg6 was best.} (23. hxg6) 23... Rd8 $2 {(4.72 ? 10.26) Mistake. Rh8 was best.} (23... Rh8 24. Rh3 $18) 24. hxg6 hxg6 $2 {(9.94 ? Mate in 9) Checkmate is now unavoidable. fxg6 was best.} (24... fxg6 25. Rxh7+ (25. Bxa3 Qxa3 26. Bxd7 Rxd7 27. Qe5+ Kf7 28. Qxe6+ Ke8 29. Rxh7 Kd8 30. f5 Rxf5 31. Qb6+ Kc8 32. Qxg6 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 25... Kxh7 26. Qh2+ Kg8 27. Rh1 Kf7 28. Qh7+ Ke8 29. Qxg6+ Rf7 30. f5 $18 {Stockfish12}) 25. Bd3 $4 {(Mate in 9 ? 1.03) Lost forced checkmate sequence. Rh7+ was best.} (25. Rh7+ Kg8 (25... Kxh7 26. Qh2+) 26. Reh1 Bxg5 27. fxg5 f5 28. Rh8+ Kf7 29. R1h7+ Ke8 30. Bxa3 Ra8 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 {lichess} 32. Qxe6 Qxa3 33. Qf7# {Stockfish12-R}) 25... Rh8 26. f5 gxf5 27. Rh6 $2 {(1.07 ? 0.00) Mistake. Bxf5 was best.} (27. Bxf5 exf5 28. Rh6 Qb4 29. Qxe7 Qxe7 30. Rxe7 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 27... Qg3 $11 {Stockfish12-R} ( 27... Rxh6 28. gxh6+ Kh8 $11 {Stockfish12-R}) 28. Reh1 (28. Bxf5 Bxg5 29. Qd1 Bxh6 30. Rg1 Qxg1 31. Qxg1+ Kf6 32. Bd3 Bxc1 33. Qxc1 Ra8 34. Qf1+ $11 { Stockfish12-R}) 28... Rxh6 29. gxh6+ Kh8 30. Bxf5 Bd6 $4 {(0.00 ? 3.54) Blunder. Qc3 was best.} (30... Qc3 31. Qd3 Bb4 32. Rh3 Qe1 33. Re3 Qh4 34. Rh3) 31. Bd3 $18 Rg8 32. Qh5 $2 {(4.04 ? 2.17) Mistake. Rf1 was best.} (32. Rf1 Rf8 33. h7 Qh4 34. Rg1 Qh3 (34... Qxd4 35. Qg2) 35. Qe1 b6 36. Rf1 Qh2 37. Bb5 $18 Rc8 38. Rf2 (38. Bd3) 38... Qxh7 39. Bxd7 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 32... f5 $4 { (2.17 ? 4.61) Blunder. Rf8 was best.} (32... Rf8 33. Qe2 Nf6 34. Qf1 Ne8 35. Rg1 Qh4 36. c3 f5 37. Qg2 Qf6 38. Bg5 Qg6 39. c4 $18 {Stockfish12-Wh will eventually break through, as all the Bl pieces are passively placed -R}) 33. Qf7 Qg2 $2 {(4.27 ? 10.04) Mistake. Nf8 was best.} (33... Nf8 34. Qxb7 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) 34. Rf1 Nf8 35. Qf6+ Kh7 36. Qf7+ Kh8 37. Qf6+ Kh7 38. Qf7+ $4 {(10.00 ? 0.00) Blunder. Rxf5 was best.} (38. Rxf5 {was considered by Adam, but the shortage of time urged caution-R} exf5 39. Bxf5+ Ng6 40. Qxd6 Kh8 41. Qf6+ Kh7 42. Qe5 b6 43. Qc7+ Kh8 44. Qxb6 $18 (44. Be6 $18 {Under normal circumstances 2 Bs are certainly the equivalent of R &N (maybe a bit better since they cooperate in ways that R &N find difficult). Here, the added insecurity of the Bl K plus a continuing pawn deficit (with Bl's remaining 3 pawns greatly at risk as well), and Bl's survival chance looks like zero-R})) 38... Kh8 {Normal The game is a draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.26"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Lovegrove, Robert"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B40"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1500"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 (3. d4) (3. c3) (3. Nc3) (3. d3 {more frequent than the text-for which no data available for either player}) 3... Nc6 4. d4 { 11 games} (4. Bb2 {2,836 games}) (4. Bb5 {566 games}) 4... cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 { an odd Kalashnikov (Accelerated Sveshnikov), with b3 added in as Bl loses a tempo with the e pawn} (5... Nf6) (5... a6 {are more standard moves}) (5... Bc5 {looks fine as well}) 6. Nxc6 {well , it has been played in a Kalasknikov sequence(ignore b3), but straightening out Bl's pawns usually doesn't give Wh much.39% there. About the only thing is that ...Rb8 will not gain a tempo (though Wh has already weakened the bl squares with b3 & d4 combination.} (6. Nb5 {is the main move in the straight Kalashnikov} a6 7. Nd6+ Bxd6 8. Qxd6 Qf6 9. Ba3 {a plus for having b3 in, normally the Wh Q retreats or goes to c7} Qxd6 10. Bxd6 Nge7 11. Nc3 b5 12. Nd5 (12. a4) 12... Nxd5 13. exd5 Ne7 14. c4 (14. Bxe5 f6 15. Bd6 $18) 14... bxc4 15. Bxc4 f6 16. O-O $18 {Mrla-Krainc, CRO ch tm , 2010,1/2-1/2} (16. f4 $1 $18)) (6. Nf5 {the N is insecure here as Bl gets in d5 easily} Nf6 (6... d5 {scores well in the Kalashnikov}) 7. Ba3 $2 Bxa3 8. Nxa3 O-O (8... Qa5+ {wins a piece}) 9. Nc4 Nxe4 $19 10. Qg4 Qf6 (10... g6 11. Qxe4 d5) 11. Qxe4 d5 $19 {Holman-Allan Williams, Dyfed Major 2017,0-1 (the only 2 games in the database with this line)}) 6... bxc6 $11 7. Bb2 Qc7 (7... Bb4+ $5) 8. Bc4 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bb4 10. f3 $2 {a further weakness, which allows Bl a chance to win a piece} (10. Qd3 d5 11. exd5 cxd5 12. Bb5+ Ke7 13. O-O Be6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 10... O-O (10... d5 $1 $19 {Stockfish12} 11. a3 (11. exd5 cxd5 12. Bb5+ Ke7 {and the N is still lost}) 11... Bxc3+ 12. Bxc3 dxc4 $19) 11. O-O Bb7 (11... d5 $15 {a consequence of Wh's earlier strengthening of Bl's centre with Nxc6}) 12. Ne2 (12. a3) 12... d5 $19 13. exd5 cxd5 14. Bd3 Rfe8 (14... e4 15. Bb5 a6 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Ba4 Kh8 $19 {Stockfish12-Wh will face an overwhelming K side attack, with his pieces mostly offside on the Q side.}) ( 14... d4 15. a3 Bc5 16. Re1 Nd5 $19 {Stockfish12- Bl dominates the centre, which will quicklt translate into a K side storm}) 15. Ng3 Rad8 16. a3 Ba5 ( 16... Bf8 $19) (16... Bc5+ 17. Kh1 d4 $19) 17. b4 Bb6+ 18. Kh1 e4 (18... d4 $19 ) 19. Be2 (19. Bxf6 gxf6 20. fxe4 dxe4 21. Qg4+ Kh8 22. Be2 {allows Wh to escape the worst, though Bl retains good chances with} Rg8 $11 23. Qf5 Bd4 24. Rad1 Rg5 25. Qf4 Be5 26. Rxd8+ Qxd8 27. Qe3 Qg8 $11 {Stockfish12} (27... Qb6 $5 $11)) 19... d4 $19 20. fxe4 Nxe4 21. Nxe4 (21. Nf5 g6 22. Nh6+ Kg7 23. Nxf7 ( 23. Rxf7+ Qxf7 24. Nxf7 Nf2+ 25. Kg1 Nxd1 26. Nxd8 Nxb2 27. Nxb7 Rxe2 $19) 23... Rd7 $19 {and the N is lost-Stockfish12}) 21... Bxe4 {the B is effective from any point on the long diagonal- taking back with the R allows it direct access too the K} (21... Rxe4 $1 22. Bg4 (22. Bf3 Rh4 23. h3 Qg3 (23... Rxh3+ { also works}) 24. Rf2 Bc7 25. Qg1 Bc8 {and the K side collapses- Stockfish12}) 22... Qd6 23. Qf3 Bc7 24. Qxf7+ (24. g3 Re2 $19) 24... Kh8 {and the best Stockfish12 finds is to give up the Q}) 22. Bd3 Rd6 23. Bxe4 Rxe4 24. Qf3 Rh6 ( 24... Re3 {is also quite good} 25. Rae1 f6 26. Qg4 Qxc2 $19 {Stockfish12}) 25. g3 Re3 $2 {Bl over extends} (25... Qe7 $19) (25... Rhe6 $19) 26. Qa8+ Qd8 27. Qxd8+ Bxd8 28. Bc1 $18 Bc7 29. Bxe3 dxe3 30. Kg2 Rd6 31. Rfd1 Rf6 32. Re1 Bb6 33. c4 Bd4 34. Rad1 Rd6 35. Rxe3 (35. c5) 35... Bxe3 36. Rxd6 g6 37. c5 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.26"] [Round "4.5"] [White "Brewer, Joshua"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E20"] [WhiteElo "1481"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "105"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,105,14,14,14,-6,-6,-6,31,31,31,22,11,11,21,22,25,-4,0,-43,15,8,-1,24, 32,37,53,56,76,62,86,52,48,56,51,59,79,79,108,74,66,66,66,63,72,72,67,55,65,64, 63,59,50,30,42,32,45,39,39,0,39,0,4,12,0,0,0,-49,-59,-53,-21,-33,0,-8,0,0,0,78, 56,51,236,207,247,177,167,119,119,110,105,137,137,137,311,316,314,98,617,742, 833,858,956,992,1000,1012,1012,1022,1032,1032]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bd2 {a rather passive line} O-O 5. a3 Bxc3 {main} (5... Be7 6. e4 d6 7. Nf3 Nbd7 8. Bd3 c5 9. d5 e5 {Brewer-Gunn,Dyfed Online League rd1, 2020,1-0}) 6. Bxc3 d5 {36% for Wh} (6... Ne4 {main, not letting Wh keep the 2 Bs; 30% for Wh} ) 7. e3 b6 8. b4 {Wh may have the 2 Bs, but putting all these pawns on the same colour turns the QB into a bad one- 1 Wh win, 3 draws, 4 Bl wins} (8. Nf3 {main, more flexible}) 8... Bb7 (8... Ne4) 9. c5 (9. Nf3 Ne4 10. Bb2 c5 { breaking open the position with the Wh K still in the centre,1-3}) 9... Nbd7 ( 9... c6 10. Bd3 b5 11. Ne2 Nbd7 12. a4 a6 $18 {Gross-Koch, GER ch net qual blitz 2009, 1-0 (don't whose QB is worse)}) (9... Ne4 10. Qc2 Nd7 11. Bb5 a6 12. c6 axb5 13. f3 Bxc6 14. fxe4 Qh4+ 15. g3 Qxe4 {De Sousa-Camara Filho, Potiguar ch, Interior Santa Cruz 2019,0-1}) 10. Nf3 a5 {Stockfish12} (10... Ne4 11. Qc2 {1 Wh win, 1 draw, 2 Bl wins}) (10... a6 {2-0}) 11. Bd3 axb4 12. axb4 ( 12. Bxb4 Re8 13. O-O bxc5 14. dxc5 c6 (14... e5 $15) 15. h3 e5 $15 { McDaniel-Ruchay, LSS email 2010,1-0}) 12... Rxa1 13. Qxa1 Qa8 14. O-O $18 { Stockfish12- Wh has an e4 pawn break, to gain extra space. Bl does not have e5 in return} Re8 15. Qxa8 (15. Qb2 {even stronger- Wh gets the a file control}) 15... Rxa8 16. Ra1 Rxa1+ 17. Bxa1 bxc5 $2 {This should have been avoided- not only does it liberate Wh's QB; it also gives a Q side majotity with an outside passed pawn possibility (Bl eventually loses because of this)} 18. dxc5 $18 Ne4 19. Ne5 (19. Nd4 c6 20. Nb3 {even stronger-Stockfish12}) 19... Nxe5 20. Bxe5 c6 21. f3 Nd2 22. Kf2 Nc4 23. Bc7 Ba6 $11 {but Bl must keep the position closed} 24. e4 Bb5 25. exd5 exd5 26. g4 h6 (26... Na3 {forces off Wh square Bs, then the blockading N is superior to the QB , still restricted bt its Q side pawns and having to take care not to lose the b4 pawn, as that could endanger the c5 one as well}) 27. h4 Kf8 28. Kg3 Ke7 29. Bf5 g6 (29... Ne3 30. Bb1 d4 31. Bf4 Ke6 32. Ba2+ Nc4 33. Bb1 Nb2 34. Be4 Na4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 30. Bd3 (30. Bc2) 30... Na3 31. Bxb5 Nxb5 $15 {in a blocked position Ns are far surior to a single B, which can only operate on one colour} 32. Bf4 (32. Be5 {the B needs to come back in defence}) 32... h5 33. gxh5 gxh5 $19 34. Be3 Kf6 (34... d4 35. Bd2 Na3 36. Kf4 Nc4 37. Be1 d3 38. Kg5 d2 39. Bxd2 Nxd2 40. f4 Nf3+ 41. Kxh5 Kf6 42. Kg4 (42. b5 cxb5 {the K stops the c pawn, the N the h pawn, while the new Bl b pawn triumps}) 42... Nd4 43. h5 Kg7 44. f5 f6 {and Wh loses both K side pawns}) 35. Kf4 Nc7 (35... Ke6 $19) 36. Bd4+ Kg6 (36... Ke6 37. Kg5 Nb5 38. Bf2 d4 39. Kxh5 $11 {Bl still wins the B, but has lost a lot of time} d3 40. Be1 Na3 41. Kg5 Nc4 42. b5 cxb5 43. c6 d2 44. Bxd2 Nxd2 45. c7 Kd7 46. h5 Nxf3+ 47. Kf6 Nh2 48. c8=Q+ Kxc8 49. Kf5 Nf3 50. h6 Nh4+ 51. Kf6 Ng6 52. Kxf7 Nh8+ 53. Kg7 b4 54. Kxh8 b3 55. Kg7 b2 56. h7 b1=Q 57. h8=Q+ $11) 37. Ke5 Nb5 38. Bb2 f6+ 39. Ke6 Na7 $2 {a shortlegged N is no match for a long range B on an open board, Bl had to follow the maxim- passed pawns must be pushed to scrable a draw} (39... d4 40. f4 (40. Kd7 d3 41. Bc1 Nd4 42. Kc7 Nb3 43. Be3 Nd4 44. Bc1 Kf5 45. Kd6 Kg6 $11 {a curious stasis found by the Engine}) 40... d3 41. f5+ Kh7 42. Bc1 Kg7 43. Kd7 Nd4 44. Bd2 Kf7 {similar to above line- deviation at peril for either side}) 40. Bxf6 (40. f4 {Stockfish12-with the plan on excluding the Bl K, also works}) 40... Nb5 41. Bb2 d4 {the right plan, but too late, as Bl has managed to shed the f pawn} 42. f4 d3 43. f5+ Kh7 44. Bc1 Nd4+ 45. Ke5 (45. Kf6) 45... Nb3 46. Bg5 Kg8 47. Kd6 {and yet, even at this late stage, Bl can still achieve a draw!} (47. b5 $1 Nxc5 48. bxc6 { Stockfish12-drives through a distant pawn}) 47... d2 (47... Nd4 $1 { Stockfish12- Ns are wonderful with their twists and turns} 48. f6 Kf7 49. Bd2 ( 49. Ke5 Nf3+ 50. Ke4 Nxg5+ $19) (49. Kd7 Nf3 50. Bc1 Ne5+ 51. Kd6 Kxf6 52. b5 cxb5 53. c6 Nxc6 (53... Nf7+ {is a perpetual-Stockfish12- but few humans would risk the c pawn sneaking through}) 54. Kxc6 b4 55. Kc5 Kf5 $1 (55... b3 $2 { would still lose, due to a check on the long diagonal} 56. Kc4 d2 57. Bxd2 Kf5 58. Kxb3 Kg4 59. Bg5 {and the pawn promotion square is the right colour for the B})) 49... Kxf6 50. b5 cxb5 51. c6 Nxc6 52. Kxc6 Kf5 53. Kxb5 Kg4 54. Be1 d2 55. Bxd2 Kxh4 $11) 48. Bxd2 Nxd2 49. Kxc6 Kf7 50. b5 Nc4 51. b6 Na5+ { with a Bl f pawn and the K one move nearer this could have held} 52. Kc7 Ke7 53. b7 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed-lichess"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.01.25"] [Round "4.7"] [White "Greenwood, Ray"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C43"] [WhiteElo "1286"] [BlackElo "1999"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,76,30,31,31,-8,11,36,29,4,4,-37,53,75,82,52,51,40,50,7,79,27,132,74, 75,58,40,16,-4,-34,46,25,49,41,70,19,48,22,22,24,55,16,92,135,135,135,135,104, 152,161,159,152,129,16,115,173,214,-147,-134,-197,-204,-224,-257,-439,-518, -551,-625,-612,-1108,-1108,-1179,-1179,-1269,-1279,-1316,-1252,-1328,-1252, -1326]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {the first time the players have met & Bl had no games to see how Wh would deal with a Petroff.} 3. d4 {Most likely , since Wh plays the Scotch against 2 ...Nc6.} Nxe4 4. Bd3 {C43 Russian Game: Modern Attack, Center Variation} d5 5. dxe5 (5. Nxe5 {main}) 5... Nc5 6. Nc3 {has a poisonous threat} (6. Be2) (6. O-O) 6... c6 (6... Be7 $2 7. Nxd5 Qxd5 $2 8. Bb5+ {wins a Q}) 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 {perhaps a bit early- the B could become a target for a d pawn or an f pawn advance} (8. Nd4 {preparing f4}) (8. Re1 { main lines}) 8... O-O (8... Bg4 9. Bxc5 Bxc5 10. h3 Bh5 11. Re1 O-O 12. Bf5 Re8 13. Qd3 Bg6 14. Rad1 Na6 15. a3 Nc7 {Engfer-Menz, Steinfurt Bezirksklasse 2012, 1/2-1/2}) (8... Nbd7 9. Bf4 O-O 10. Qe2 Ne6 11. Bg3 f6 12. exf6 Nxf6 { sabatao-Hearthstones9 (Van Kemenade), playchess.com, 2012,0-1}) 9. h3 (9. Qd2 Nxd3 10. Qxd3 g6 11. Bh6 Bf5 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Nd4 Bc8 14. Rae1 Na6 15. a3 Nc7 16. f4 Bf8 {|Kaiser-Zelkind, Wld ch Seniors, Halle 2004,0-1}) (9. Nd2 $2 d4 { Krstic-Vulinovic, Belgrade Trophy 2015,0-1}) 9... Ne6 10. Ne2 f5 (10... c5 11. c3 b6 12. Ng3 g6 13. Qe2 Bb7 14. Rad1 Nd7 15. Bh6 Re8 16. c4 d4 17. Be4 Qc7 ( 17... Bxe4 $11) 18. Bd5 Ndf8 19. Qe4 $18 {Omercic-Patkovic, BIH ch tm, Lukavac nov 2020,1-0}) (10... Nd7 $14 {Stockfish12}) 11. exf6 (11. c4 $18 {opening up the centre, looks a logical response. Stockfish12 considers it winning ( as also the text played coming close)}) 11... Bxf6 12. c3 (12. c4 {is more vigorous} Bxb2 13. Rb1 Bf6 14. Qc2 g6 15. Nf4 Nxf4 16. Bxf4 Bg7 17. Bg3 Nd7 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Rfe1 $18 {though Wh is a pawn down, Bl is behind in development and Wh has lots of open lines}) 12... Nd7 13. Ng3 g6 {weakens the K side, but Wh can't be allowed to put a N on f5} 14. Qc2 (14. Bh6 Bg7 15. Bxg7 Nxg7 16. Re1 $16 {Stockfish12- Wh has an easier game & Bl has the worse B}) 14... Ng7 { Bl wanted to keep pieces on & gradually build up to K side attack down the f file} (14... Ne5 $11) 15. Rfe1 Rf7 16. Rad1 {c4 threatens again; Bl had a longish think here} Qf8 {the only saving grace for Bl is that constricted positions have a way of bouncing back when the other side opens up too quickly} (16... b5 {didn't feel right}) (16... Qa5 {puts the Q offside}) (16... Ne5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. c4 Qh4 19. Qd2 Bxg3 20. fxg3 Qxg3 21. Bf2 Qd6 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Bc2 Be6 24. b4 {Stockfish12-Bl is a pawn up, but the bl squares feel very vulnerable}) (16... Nf8 {original idea of Rf7} 17. c4 Be6 18. cxd5 cxd5 19. Ne2 $18 {Stockfish12-Wh has more space & Bl's d pawn is a nuisance}) 17. Rd2 (17. c4 {surely must be played- Wh's Rs are already placed on near perfect squares} Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. cxd5 cxd5 20. Bf1 Be6 21. Bh6 Rc8 22. Qe2 Bxg3 23. fxg3 Qc5+ 24. Kh2 Re8 25. Qd3 {and Bl's position is full of holes, though hopefully there is no immediate Wh breakthrough}) 17... Nc5 18. Rde2 Nxd3 (18... Bd7 { is more cautious} 19. c4 Nxd3 20. Qxd3 Be6 21. Qd2 dxc4 22. Ne4 Be7 23. Ne5 Rf5 24. Bd4 Bb4 25. Bc3 Rd8 26. Qe3 Bxc3 27. Nxc3 {Stockfish12- considers Wh is winning, but it's not yet all cut and dried.The builders put a high 'contempt' factor into its algorithms, so it always goes for the position that maximises its winning possibilities.}) 19. Qxd3 Nf5 20. Bf4 (20. Bg5) 20... Nxg3 (20... Bd7 {is really what Bl should have tried- but then there was the eagerness to get some play with an active B on f5 at last.}) 21. Re8 {what Wh was playing for earelier in doubling Rs} Ne4 (21... Bf5 22. Rxf8+ Raxf8 23. Qe3 Ne4 { may be a little bettewr than the text for Bl}) 22. Rxf8+ Rxf8 {objectively this must be winning for Wh. However, the Q has no immediate targets and is leading from the front. Bl has a R & B, and can still hope something will give on the K side} 23. Be5 (23. c4 {Bl must not be allowed to keep a static/solid centre} Bf5 24. cxd5 Nc3 25. Qc4 Nxd5 26. Bh6 Rfe8 27. Rxe8+ Rxe8 28. Qc5 { the Q is threatening to get even more active & Bl's attacking force has been diminished,But it is still not easy to find direct wins for Wh either,}) 23... Be7 {Bl does best to keep pieces on, to make life more difficult for the Q to find entry points} (23... Bxh3 {Stockfish12} 24. gxh3 Bxe5 25. Nxe5 Nxf2 26. Qe3 {is premature}) 24. Bd4 Bf5 25. Qe2 Rae8 26. c4 {the move desired throughout the game, now provides Bl with an extra resource, though both sides fail to find the most accurate moves ( and initial annotations here also proved to be inexact). Leaving the Q facing a R down the efile might be all right for an Engine, but perhaps just moving away is a preferable human reflex? } (26. Qd1 $18) (26. Bxa7 {Stockfish12- but the B may land up off side, & play can get complicated} c5 27. Qb5 Rd8 28. Qxb7 Rd7 29. Qb3 Rxa7 30. Qxd5+ Kg7 31. Rxe4 Bxe4 32. Qxe4 Bf6) 26... c5 (26... Bb4 {at once is a better idea, seeking control over the e file & leads to an avalanche of complications} 27. cxd5 (27. Rd1 {does no good} Ng3 {Wh now finds his Q is trapped} 28. Qxe8 Rxe8 29. fxg3 dxc4 (29... c5 30. a3 (30. Bf2 $2 d4 $19) 30... Bc2 31. Ra1 Ba5 32. Bxc5 dxc4 33. Rc1 Bd3 34. Bxa7 Bc7 $15) 30. Bxa7 Ra8 31. Be3 Rxa2 $19 {Bl has a Q side majority & powerful Bs}) (27. Ra1 {other R moves also give up the exchange or impede the Q} Nc3 28. Qxe8 (28. Qf1 Ne2+ 29. Kh1 (29. Kh2)) 28... Rxe8 29. bxc3 Bd6 $11) (27. Be3 Bxe1 28. Qxe1 dxc4 29. Qb4 Rf7 30. Qxc4 $18 {playing safe, Stockfish12 does not rate Wh as gaining as much as from the complications (Bl has regained some material) but it certainly avoids a maelstrom}) 27... Bxe1 ( 27... Nf6 {doesn't work out that well either} 28. Qc4 Bxe1 29. dxc6+ Be6 30. Qa4 Bd5 31. cxb7 Bxb7 (31... Re7 32. Bxf6 Rxb7 33. Nxe1 Rxf6 34. Qd4 Rd6 35. Nd3 Rbd7 36. Ne5 Bxa2 37. Qc5 Be6 (37... Rd8 38. Qxa7 Be6 39. Qe7 $18)) 32. Bxf6 Bxf3 33. Qd7 Rxf6 34. Qxe8+ Rf8 35. Qxe1 $18) (27... Nd6 {prevents Qc4} 28. Ne5 Bxe1 29. Qxe1 Nc4 30. dxc6 bxc6 31. Qc3 Nxe5 32. Bxe5 Be4 33. Bd4 Rf7 34. Qe3 Ree7 35. Bc3 h5 36. Qh6 Rh7 37. Qg5 Bf5 38. a3 {and Bl is clinging on, but very passively placed- in the end a Kside pawn advance will probably be decisive}) 28. Qxe1 Ng5 29. Ne5 Nf7 (29... cxd5 30. Qb4 b6 31. Qd6 Rd8 32. Ng4 Bxg4 (32... Rxd6 33. Nh6#) 33. Qe5 Ne6 34. Qh8+ Kf7 35. Qxh7+ Ke8 36. Qxg6+ Ke7 37. hxg4 Nxd4 38. Qg7+ Kd6 39. Qxd4 {after various complications, the Q and K side pawns will outrun the 2 Rs}) 30. dxc6 Nxe5 31. Bxe5 bxc6 32. Qa5 Rf7 33. Bc3 h6 $18 {but , the power of 2 Rs & the existence of opposite colour Bs (which might help the Q , or not) still leaves a long struggle ahead. All variations courtesy of Stockfish12}) 27. Be3 d4 {this does undermine the support of the N on e4, but Stockfish gives it as Bl's best try} 28. Nxd4 (28. Bh6 {Stockfish12-makes use of Bl's over-stetch on the e file} Rf6 (28... Rf7 29. Ne5 Rf6 30. g4 Bf8 31. Bf4 (31. Bxf8 Rxe5 32. f4 Ree6 33. gxf5 gxf5 34. Bxc5 Nxc5 35. Qd1 $18) 31... Bd7 32. Qxe4 $18) (28... Bf6 29. Bxf8 Kxf8 30. Nd2 Nd6 31. Qf1 Rxe1 32. Qxe1 b6 $18 {and Wh must be winning, but the protected passed pawn & the strength of the 2 Bs will take a great deal of patience}) 29. g4 {looks to be the right course, even though a protected passed d pawn remains a Bl asset}) (28. Bc1 $18 {looks sensible as well}) 28... cxd4 29. Bxd4 {the position has opened up, but for the now indirectly (Wh returned an extra piece) reinforced Bl pieces} Bb4 $19 30. Rd1 (30. c5 $5 Bxe1 31. Qxe1 Nxc5 32. Qa5 Ne6 33. Bc3 Rf7 34. Qxa7 Nf4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 30... Nc3 (30... Ng3 31. Qf3 Ne2+ 32. Kh1 Nxd4 33. Rxd4 Be4 34. Qb3 Bc5 $19 {but not as clear as the text}) 31. Qf3 Nxd1 32. Qd5+ (32. Qxd1 Re1+ $19) 32... Rf7 {Bl still needs care, but the Wh Q is reduced to a single supporter} 33. Qb5 Re1+ 34. Kh2 Bd6+ 35. g3 Be4 36. Qe8+ Bf8 37. f3 Re2+ 38. Kg1 Bxf3 {Normal White resigns.} (38... Rxf3 {also works}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.26"] [Round "4.8"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Pinch, David"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B09"] [WhiteElo "1386"] [BlackElo "1798"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "135"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,135,24,24,72,72,72,63,80,25,28,25,25,23,66,-18,26,-13,-7,0,62,78,78, 97,188,178,176,176,189,189,253,-76,-156,-156,12,-191,-199,-199,47,14,45,-218, -217,-217,-20,0,24,24,24,12,13,-30,-18,-41,-12,-53,35,12,35,28,135,131,140,140, 152,149,152,153,153,144,152,170,179,25,25,-6,-13,-13,-13,-17,-14,-30,-30,-18,0, 0,73,47,228,118,151,188,198,27,198,5,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 (4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. Be3 Nbd7 7. h3 e5 8. Qd2 Re8 9. g4 {Holman-J Greenwood, Aberystwyth ch 2016,1/21/2}) (4. Be3 Bg7 5. Qd2 a6 6. a4 b6 7. f4 Ng4 {Callum Smith-Pinch, WCU online U1800, 2020, 0-1}) 4... Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O { main} (5... c5) 6. e5 {can lead to complications} (6. Bd3 {main}) 6... Nfd7 ( 6... dxe5 {another possibility} 7. fxe5 (7. dxe5 Qxd1+ 8. Kxd1) 7... Nd5) 7. h4 c5 8. h5 cxd4 9. Qxd4 {pioneered by Bronstein; players need a good grasp of some of the complexities before entering these lines, that can be obtained via extensive book knowledge.The main theme is easy-come down the h file, but there are an enormous number of possible sidelines} (9. hxg6 {is another complex line that has overtaken the older version} dxc3 10. gxf7+ Rxf7 11. Bc4 e6 12. Ng5 Nxe5 {etc}) 9... Nc6 {known now after experience not to be the best} (9... dxe5 10. Qf2 {and now} e4 $1 (10... exf4) (10... e6) (10... Nf6 {have all been found wanting}) 11. Nxe4 Nf6 12. Nxf6+ exf6 13. hxg6 Re8+ 14. Be2 (14. Be3 hxg6) 14... hxg6 {and the position still is complicated}) 10. Qf2 (10. Qg1 $5) 10... dxe5 {main} (10... e6 {has had good results, 2 draws, 3 Bl wins, but the Bl players have always been higher graded} 11. Be3 dxe5 12. O-O-O $18 { Stockfish12, though Lai-(1826) Le (2703) Asia Ch tm 2012,0-1}) 11. hxg6 hxg6 ( 11... fxg6 {may turn out better, after complications} 12. Bc4+ e6 13. Bxe6+ Kh8 14. Ng5 Nf6 15. Nf7+ Rxf7 16. Bxf7 Bf5 17. Be3 $2 (17. Bb3 Qe7 18. O-O Rd8 19. Be3 Ng4 20. Bc5 Qe8 21. Qe1 $11 {Yeo-Rudd, London Classic 2009,1/2-1/2}) 17... Ng4 {Staruch-Dukaczewski,Grunwald cup (blind) 2005,0-1}) 12. Qh4 Nf6 (12... Re8 {is worse, 9 Wh wins & a draw} 13. Qh7+ $18 (13. fxe5 $18) (13. f5 $18)) 13. fxe5 Nh5 14. g4 Nd4 (14... Bxg4 {main} 15. Qxg4 Qa5 (15... Nxe5 16. Nxe5 Qc7 { lai-Chan, Hong Kong ch 2015,1/2-1/2} 17. Nd3 $18) 16. Rxh5 gxh5 17. Qxh5 Nxe5 18. Ng5 Rfc8 19. Qh7+ Kf8 20. Bd2 $18 {Stockfish12}) 15. Be2 {after a longish think} (15. Nxd4 Qxd4 16. gxh5 {should win for Wh} Qxe5+ (16... Qxh4+ 17. Rxh4 Bxe5 18. Kf2 {Bl is a piece down}) 17. Be2 Bf5 18. hxg6 Bxg6 19. Bf4 Qf5 (19... Qa5 20. Bd2 Rac8 21. Rg1 Qf5 22. Rxg6 fxg6 23. O-O-O {Susallek-Deissenberger, Regionalliga NW 2016,1-0}) 20. Bd3 Qe6+ 21. Ne2 {Kantans-Guerra Bastida, Pontevedra op 2015,1-0}) 15... Nxc2+ 16. Kf2 (16. Kf1 {Stockfish12-is better} Bxg4 17. Qxg4 Nxa1 18. Rxh5 gxh5 19. Qxh5 Qd7 20. Bb5 Qc8 21. Bd3 Rd8 22. Ng5 Rxd3 23. Qxf7+ Kh8 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Qf7+ (25. Qh7+ Kf8 26. Qxd3 Qg4 27. Qg6 Kg8 28. Qh7+ Kf8 29. Qg6 $11) 25... Kh8 26. Qh5+ $11) 16... Qb6+ (16... Bxg4 17. Qxg4 Qb6+ 18. Kg2 Nxa1 19. Bc4 e6 20. Rxh5 gxh5 21. Qxh5 Rfd8 22. Ne4 Qc6 23. Neg5 Qxc4 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Qh5+ Kg8 26. Qh7+ $11 {Stockfish12}) 17. Kf1 (17. Kg2 $18 {Stockfish12} Bxg4 18. Nd5 $1 Qe6 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Bf4 Rfe8 21. Ng5 Qxe7 22. Bxg4 f6 23. exf6 Bxf6 24. Bxh5 gxh5 25. Qxh5+ Kg8 26. Rhe1 $1 $18 { a domain in which Engines delight to be} Nxe1+ 27. Rxe1 Qg7 28. Rxe8+ Rxe8 29. Qxe8+ Qf8 30. Qxf8+ $18 {though Engines keep the Qs on, going for the mate rather than a simple piece up for nothing} Kxf8 31. Nh7+ Kg7 32. Nxf6 Kxf6 33. Kf3 $18 {Stockfish12}) 17... Bxg4 18. Qxg4 (18. Nd5 $1 {Stockfish12-also seems best here} Qe6 19. Nxe7+ Kh8 20. Kg2 $1 (20. Rb1 Bxe5 $19) 20... Nxa1 21. Ng5 Qxe7 22. Bxg4 Qb4 23. Qh3 Rfd8 24. Bxh5 Rd2+ 25. Be2+ Kg8 26. Qf3 Rxe2+ 27. Qxe2 Qc5 28. Qf3 Qc6 29. Qxc6 bxc6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 18... Qe6 (18... Nxa1 $19 ) 19. Qxe6 fxe6 20. Rxh5 (20. Rb1 Ng3+ 21. Kg2 Nxh1 22. Kxh1 Rf5 $11 { Stockfish12}) 20... gxh5 21. Rb1 Bxe5 $15 (21... Rxf3+ {the Engine is now also finding further complexities for Bl to exploit} 22. Bxf3 Rf8 {it is not immediately obvious, but, there really is no way for Wh to protect the B on f3 All3 moves fail to a N move.so Bl goes several pawns up.!}) 22. Kg2 Bf6 (22... Bf4 $15) 23. Ne4 Rac8 (23... Rad8) 24. b3 Nb4 (24... Rfd8) 25. a3 Nd5 26. Bc4 a6 (26... b5 $1 {Stockfish12} 27. Bxb5 Rc2+ 28. Bd2 (28. Kh1 Nc3) 28... Nc3 29. Bd3 Rxd2+ 30. Nexd2 Nxb1 31. Bxb1 Kf7 $15) 27. a4 Kf7 (27... b5 $11) 28. Neg5+ Bxg5 (28... Ke8 29. Nxe6 Rg8+ $11) 29. Nxg5+ Kf6 $2 (29... Ke8 $11) 30. Nh7+ Ke5 31. Bb2+ (31. Nxf8 Rxf8 32. Bb2+) 31... Kd6 (31... Ke4 {using the K as a raiding force to get rid of Wh's Q side pawns!}) 32. Nxf8 Rxf8 33. Ba3+ Kd7 34. Rd1 Rf5 35. Kg3 (35. Bc1 $18) 35... Ke8 (35... Rg5+ 36. Kh2 Re5) 36. Bxd5 (36. Bc1 {keeps the 2 Bs & mating possibilities for the pieces, getting rid of one of them gives Bl greater chances of survival with his pawns}) 36... exd5 { Bl has a pair of good centre pawns now} 37. Re1 e5 38. Bb2 e4 39. Re3 Kd7 40. a5 Kc6 41. Bd4 {Wh is now defending, not attacking} Rf7 (41... Kb5 42. Bc3 b6 43. axb6 Kxb6 44. Be1 Kc6 45. Kg2 Kc5 $11 {Wh is down to the last pawn}) 42. Kh4 Kd6 (42... Kb5 43. Bb6 Rd7 44. Rc3 d4 45. Rc5+ Kb4 46. Rc4+ Kxb3 47. Rxd4 Rxd4 48. Bxd4 {and Bl cannot lose- the Wh a pawn is the wrong colour for B support on the Queening square, So Bl just runs his K to a8 and refuses to budge.} Kc4 49. Bb6 Kd3 50. Kxh5 Kd2 51. Kg4 e3 52. Kf5 e2 53. Bf2 e1=Q 54. Bxe1+ Kxe1 55. Ke6 Kd2 56. Kd7 Kc3 57. Kc7 Kb4 58. Kxb7 Kxa5 {is even winning for Bl!}) 43. Kxh5 Rf3 $2 {this though could well lose as the K can't get to the b pawn. ( It does , see the next note)but maybe Bl can still hide in the corner . Engines are wonderful at long calculations, but not at this kind of longrange visualisation. Let us explore} (43... Rf1 44. Kg4 Rd1 45. Bb6 Ke5 46. Bc7+ Kd4 47. Bb6+ Ke5 48. Rh3 d4 {and, if anybody, Bl has winning chances. Round about this point Bl offered a draw, which Wh turned down}) 44. Kg4 (44. Rxf3 $18 {winning attempt} exf3 45. Kg4 Kc7 (45... Kc6 46. Kxf3 Kb5 47. Bc3 { Wh keeps the extra pawn}) 46. Kxf3 Kb8 47. Kf4 Kc7 48. Ke5 Kc6 49. b4 Kc7 50. Kxd5 Kd7 51. Kc5 Kc8 52. Be5 (52. Kb6 Kb8 53. Be5+ Ka8 54. Kc7 Ka7 55. Bd4+ Ka8 56. Be3 {ok, zugzwang, Bl needs to surrender the b pawn} b5 57. axb6 a5 58. b7# )) 44... Rxe3 (44... Rf7 {keeping Rs on for the moment feels safer}) 45. Bxe3 Ke5 46. Bc1 (46. Bb6 d4 47. Bc7+ Kd5 48. Bb6 Ke5 49. Kg3 Kd5 50. Kf4 e3 51. Kf3 Ke5 52. Bd8 Kd5 53. Bf6 Kc5 54. Ke4 e2 55. Bh4 Kb4 56. Kxd4 Kxb3 57. Kc5 $18 { the Wh K picks up both Q side pawns-Stockfish12 nudged}) 46... d4 {this looks like losing again, similar to previous note} (46... Kd4 $11) 47. Bb2 (47. Bh6 { behind the pawns, so they can't threaten it, nor the Bl K to gain a tempo} Kd5 48. Kf4 e3 49. Kf3 Ke5 50. Bg5 Kd5 51. Bf6 {as above}) 47... e3 48. Kf3 Kd5 49. b4 $2 {lets the K in to save the game forBl} (49. Ba3 Kc6 (49... Ke5 50. Bb4 Kd5 51. Kf4) 50. Bb4 Kd5 51. Kf4 Ke6 52. Ke4 Kd7 53. Kxd4 {wins easily}) 49... Kc4 $11 50. Ke2 Kxb4 51. Bxd4 Kxa5 52. Kxe3 Kb5 {Bl now tries for a win, but there is no way past with accurate play.(cf Nalimov tablebases)} 53. Kd3 Kb4 54. Kc2 a5 55. Kb2 b5 56. Bc3+ Ka4 57. Ka2 (57. Bxa5 Kxa5 58. Ka3 {is a dead drawn K & P ending}) 57... b4 58. Bb2 (58. Bxb4 axb4 (58... Kxb4 {draws}) 59. Kb2 {also}) 58... Kb5 59. Bc1 Kc4 60. Kb2 a4 61. Ka2 Kc3 62. Bb2+ Kc2 63. Bf6 Kd3 64. Bg7 Kc4 65. Bf6 Kb5 66. Bg7 Kc4 67. Bf6 a3 68. Bg7 (68. Be7 Kc3 69. Bxb4+ {is another way}) 1/2-1/2

Friday 22 January 2021

Tales of the Unexpected

Online chess is providing some unexpected results in the Dyfed Online Closed tournament, which reached its third round on Tuesday 19th January. Adam Watkin-Jones, who suffered an upset in the first round, played confidently against the much lower-rated Gwyn Evans on this occasion, however. White's King's Indian Attack had not made enough progress to justify a piece sacrifice, and Adam had the initiative as well as the extra material, keeping control throughout. Rudy van Kemenade, on the other hand, a multiple winner of the over-the-board version of the tournament, had another bad result after his defeat last week. Joshua Brewer's kingside looked vulnerable in an Italian Game, but Rudy's decision to exchange queens proved fatal when it left his knight with no escape. I had a second online win in recent weeks against the higher-rated David Pinch. I emerged from my Stonewall Dutch opening with a strong centre and the better chances, and when White dropped a pawn I was able to roll my own pawn centre forward for the win. Sam Holman was unlucky against Gareth Williams. A Dutch Staunton Gambit produced a double-edged position with queens and opposite-coloured bishops which ended abruptly when White set up an inescapable mating net. But Tom Gunn caused another upset against Paul Orton, winning a pawn in a queen's pawn game. Black should have gone for the opposite-coloured bishop ending, which was drawn, but the decision to choose bishop against knight instead cost him the game. After three rounds, Adam and I have 2, Tom has 1½ and Rudy and Sam have 1.

[Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Evans, Gwyn"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "1192"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "122"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,122,80,9,10,-34,-12,1,31,4,1,2,2,2,15,-15,-9,-45,-30,-43,-14,-42,-88, -88,-134,-137,-132,-141,-147,-147,-135,-133,-155,-224,-163,-209,-278,-274,-271, -282,-283,-240,-257,-297,-312,-335,-244,-337,-314,-480,-491,-471,-405,-407, -294,-728,-687,-687,-724,-724,-365,-356,-356,-354,-340,-371,-369,-429,-444, -1050,-332,-338,-311,-311,-314,-404,-405,-493,-585,-585,-593,-599,-359,-359, -330,-389,-331,-328,-333,-349,-352,-365,-408,-441,-406,-474,-469,-521,-533, -552,-585,-1095,-1401,-1674,-1710,-2138,-2660,-29971,-1559,-29977,-1148,-1303, -1412,-1493,-1499,-1497,-1458,-1664,-1854,-2089,-2676,-28449,-28134,-2698, -29984]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Nbd7 (4... Bg4 {main}) 5. O-O e5 6. Nbd2 Be7 (6... Bd6) 7. h3 (7. e4 {main idea in this King's Indian Reversed, yields Wh 66 % in 78 games. In this game Wh does not claim enough of the centre, so his pieces end up in each other's way}) 7... O-O 8. Nh4 $146 (8. e4 $11 {3 draws}) 8... Re8 $15 9. Ndf3 Bf8 $17 (9... e4 $17 {Stockfish12}) 10. Bg5 h6 $19 11. Bd2 Nb6 (11... e4 12. Nd4 c5 13. Ndf5 g5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 12. Qc1 g5 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Bg7 (14... Qd6 $19 {looks simplest}) 15. Bh6 Nh7 ( 15... Nh5) 16. Bd2 e4 {in what follows Bl is able to make use of the open spaces that Wh has created around the Bl K side} (16... Bf6 17. Nf3 Bf5 $19 { Stockfish12}) 17. c3 Bf6 18. dxe4 Bxh4 19. gxh4 Qxh4 $19 20. Kh2 dxe4 {Wh has no presence in the centre at all & his pieces are passive} 21. Be3 Bf5 (21... Nd5) 22. Rg1 Bg6 (22... Kh8 {prepares to have the Bl pieces invade via the g file}) 23. Qc2 Nd5 24. Raf1 Nhf6 25. Bh1 Re5 26. Rg3 Rh5 27. Rfg1 Ng4+ 28. Kg2 Ngxe3+ 29. fxe3 Rg5 (29... Nxe3+ $1 {Stockfish12- finishes things off quicker} 30. Rxe3 Rg5+ 31. Kh2 Rxg1 32. Kxg1 Qg5+ 33. Kf2 Qf4+ 34. Kg2 Qxe3 {and Bl is a R up with all Wh's pieces looking helpless}) 30. Kh2 Rxg3 31. Rxg3 Re8 (31... Kh7) 32. Qc1 Re5 33. Bg2 Rg5 34. Qe1 Rxg3 (34... Nxe3 {Stockfish12- is even better}) 35. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 36. Kxg3 Nxe3 (36... b5) 37. Bh1 (37. Bxe4 Bxe4 38. Kf4 {but Wh remains a piece down}) 37... Nd1 38. Kg4 {an error but it doesn't really matter much at this point} Nf2+ 39. Kg3 Nxh1+ 40. Kg2 Kg7 41. Kxh1 Kh6 42. Kh2 Kh5 43. Kg3 f5 44. e3 Bf7 45. b3 Kg5 46. c4 a5 47. a3 a4 48. bxa4 Bxc4 49. a5 Be2 50. h4+ Kf6 51. Kf4 c5 {quickest} 52. Kg3 c4 53. Kf2 Bd3 (53... Bh5) 54. Ke1 Kg6 (54... c3) (54... f4) 55. Kd2 Kh5 56. a4 Kxh4 57. Kc3 Kg3 58. Kb4 f4 59. exf4 Kxf4 60. Kb5 c3+ 61. Kb6 Ba6 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed Lichess"] [Site "?"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Brewer, Joshua"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "1481"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2021.01.20"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,110,23,11,42,6,17,24,48,29,81,-20,-1,1,4,8,-1,-1,14,0,31,51,47,43,43, 49,85,83,127,124,84,112,225,109,176,209,211,220,186,191,167,201,212,180,402, 197,202,188,191,143,148,-92,-88,-85,-105,-116,-116,-198,-199,-199,-211,-242, -215,-252,-235,-344,-332,-423,-402,-409,-406,-459,-462,-481,-508,-690,-397, -405,-383,-525,-486,-564,-596,-682,-596,-695,-408,-432,-458,-589,-763,-762, -388,-503,-534,-522,-558,-607,-348,-348,-341,-848,-893,-915,-902,-916,-921, -942,-942,-962,-962,-1083,-1224]} 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e5 3. Bc4 {C50 Italian Game} d6 4. c3 Nf6 $6 {(0.36 ? 1.12) Inaccuracy. f5 was best.} (4... f5 5. d3 f4 6. b4 Qf6 7. Qb3 Nh6 8. d4 Nf7 9. Nbd2) (4... Bg4 {main line-R}) (4... Be7 { main line-R}) 5. d3 $6 {(1.12 ? 0.48) Inaccuracy. Ng5 was best.} (5. Ng5 { considered by Wh -R} d5 6. exd5 Na5 (6... Nxd5 7. d4 (7. Qf3 Qxg5 8. Bxd5 Qg6) 7... Be7 8. Nxf7) 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8. Nxf7 Qh4 9. Nxe5 Bd6) 5... h6 (5... Be7) 6. O-O a6 (6... g6 {found in GM games-R}) 7. a4 (7. Bb3 {main-R}) 7... Be7 $6 { (0.25 ? 0.77) Inaccuracy. g5 was best.} (7... g5 8. Bb3 Bg7 9. Nbd2 g4 10. Ne1 O-O 11. g3 d5 12. Ng2) 8. Re1 (8. h3) (8. Nbd2 {have been played-R}) 8... Bd7 { perhaps this blocks things in a bit, 0-0 is simpler-R} 9. d4 exd4 (9... Bg4 $5) 10. cxd4 O-O 11. h3 Na5 $6 {(0.86 ? 1.44) Inaccuracy. Nb4 was best.} (11... Nb4 12. Bd2 $14) 12. Ba2 b5 $6 {(1.20 ? 2.06) Inaccuracy. c5 was best.} (12... c5 13. Nc3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. Qd3 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Rxc6 17. Qg3 Kh8 18. Rd1 Be6 19. Be3 $11 {lichess analysis} (19. e5 $16 {Stockfish12-R})) 13. Nc3 $6 {(2.06 ? 0. 97) Inaccuracy. e5 was best.} (13. e5 dxe5) 13... c6 $4 {(0.97 ? 3.89) Blunder. b4 was best.} (13... b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 c6 16. Ba2 $16 {Stockfish12- R}) 14. e5 $18 dxe5 15. dxe5 Ne8 16. Qe2 $6 {(4.27 ? 2.94) Inaccuracy. axb5 was best.} (16. axb5 axb5 17. Qc2 b4 18. Bb1 g6 19. e6 Bxe6 20. Rxe6 Bf6 21. Bxh6 bxc3 22. b4 Nb7 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 24. Ba2 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (16. Qc2 Nc7 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bxh6 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 16... Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. axb5 cxb5 20. Nd4 Qb6 21. Qg4 (21. Rxa5 $1 Qxa5 22. Nxe6 Rf7 23. Nd5 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) 21... g5 $2 {(3.93 ? 7.41) Mistake. Nc4 was best.} (21... Nc4 22. Nxe6) 22. Qxe6+ $2 {(7.41 ? 3.81) Mistake. Rxa5 was best.} (22. Rxa5 Qxa5 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Nf5 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (22. Nxe6 Qxf2+ (22... h5 23. Qe4 Qxe6 24. Qxa8 $18) 23. Kh1 Qf5 24. Nxf8 Qxg4 25. hxg4 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (22. Be3 {considered} Nc4 23. Qh5 $18 {Stockfish12} Nxe3 24. Qg6+ Ng7 25. fxe3 Qc5 26. Nxe6 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Qxe5 28. Re1 $18 {-R}) 22... Qxe6 23. Nxe6 Nb3 24. Rb1 ( 24. Nxf8 Nxa1 25. Ng6 Bb4 26. Nd5 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 24... Rf5 25. Re1 $4 { (3.46 ? -1.42) Blunder. f4 was best.} (25. f4 Nxc1 26. g4 Rf7 27. Rbxc1 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) ({considered} 25. Nd5 Kf7 26. Nb6 Ra7 27. Nd8+ Bxd8 28. e6+ Kxe6 29. Rxd8 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 25... Kf7 $19 {winning a piece in broad daylight-R} 26. g4 Rf3 27. Kg2 (27. Nxg5+ hxg5 28. Nd5 Nxc1 29. Rbxc1 Rxh3 $19) 27... Rd3 28. f4 $2 {(-1.58 ? -3.39) Mistake. Nf4 was best.} (28. Nf4 gxf4 29. Bxf4 Nd2 (29... Rad8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 30. Rbc1 Nc4 31. Bxh6 Nc7 32. Ne2 Ne6 33. Nf4 Rb3 34. h4 Rh8 $19) 28... Kxe6 29. f5+ Kf7 30. f6 $6 {(-3.29 ? -4.72) Inaccuracy. Be3 was best.} (30. Be3 Bc5) 30... Nxc1 31. Rbxc1 Bb4 32. e6+ (32. Re4 Bxc3 33. bxc3 a5 34. Rf1 Nc7 {the pawns are blockaded & the a pawn advance soon wins-R}) 32... Kxf6 33. Rf1+ (33. Ne4+ Ke7 34. Re2 {Stockfish12 -considered but Wh has no attack against the K sheltering behind the pawn-R}) 33... Kxe6 34. Rce1+ Kd7 (34... Kd6 {looks a little stronger-R}) 35. Rf7+ Kc6 36. Re6+ Nd6 {Stockfish12 prefers this, however-R} (36... Rd6 {expected-ends any Wh ideas of pushing a pawn through on the K side-R}) 37. Ne4 (37. Rxh6 $5 { Stockfish12-R}) 37... Rd8 $6 {(-9.11 ? -5.35) Inaccuracy. Kd5 was best.} (37... Kd5 38. Rfe7 Nxe4 39. Re5+ Kc6 40. R7e6+ Nd6 41. Rxh6 Rd2+ 42. Kf3 Rxb2 43. Rxg5 Bd2 44. Rxd6+) 38. Rxh6 Kd5 39. Nf6+ Kc4 40. Ra7 Rd2+ 41. Kf3 a5 42. h4 Rh2 43. hxg5 Rxb2 44. g6 $6 {(-5.64 ? -7.93) Inaccuracy. Rc7+ was best.[didn't look very promising to Wh-R]} (44. Rc7+ Bc5 45. Rh1 Rc2 46. Re1 Kb3 47. g6 Rf2+ 48. Kg3 Bd4 49. Nd7 Rc2 50. Rxc2 Kxc2) 44... Rb3+ 45. Kg2 Ne8 $6 {(-8.26 ? -5. 57) Inaccuracy. Nf5 was best.} (45... Nf5) 46. Ne4 (46. Nxe8 $2 Rd2+ 47. Kf1 Rb1# {-R}) 46... Rb2+ 47. Kf3 Rd3+ 48. Kf4 Bd2+ $6 {(-7.01 ? -5.07) Inaccuracy. Bc5 was best.} (48... Bc5 49. g7 Be3+ 50. Ke5 Rd5+ 51. Ke6 Nxg7+ 52. Rxg7 Bxh6 53. Rc7+ Kd4 54. g5 Re5+ 55. Kf7) 49. Nxd2+ Rbxd2 50. Re7 $2 {(-4.63 ? -8.93) Mistake. Rh1 was best.} (50. Rh1 Rd4+ 51. Kg3 Nf6 52. Rc1+ Kb4 53. Rb1+ Kc5 54. Rxa5 Ne4+ 55. Kf3 R2d3+ 56. Kg2 Nc3) (50. g7 {could have been tried} Nxg7 51. Rxg7 {but Bl can run a Q side pawn advance more effectively than the single g pawn} a4 52. g5 a3 53. Ra7 b4 54. g6 Rf2+ 55. Ke4 Rg3 56. g7 Rfg2 {-R}) 50... Rf2+ 51. Kg5 {a move to the e file is a quick mate} Rd5+ 52. Kh4 Rh2+ 53. Kg3 Rxh6 54. Rxe8 Rxg6 55. Re4+ Rd4 {Normal White resigns.} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A91"] [WhiteElo "1798"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,112,80,63,66,-14,46,24,38,38,38,41,82,41,47,23,37,-34,44,-11,22,4,30, 8,2,-9,18,15,18,-27,-33,-31,-33,-33,-33,-64,-69,-91,-87,-108,-71,-98,-50,-85, -87,-99,-51,-65,-70,-77,-66,-61,-63,-110,-125,-118,-75,-177,-180,-180,-162, -187,-157,-206,-155,-160,-172,-189,-129,-160,-129,-158,-149,-175,-148,-155, -165,-198,-189,-214,-234,-229,-229,-456,-582,-600,-349,-356,-356,-374,-342, -388,-320,-401,-391,-1292,-353,-367,-339,-363,-363,-1494,-456,-618,-254,-1067, -1092,-1096,-1159,-1216,-1275,-29971,-29972,-29989,-29992]} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 (2. Nf3 f5 3. Bg5 Nf6 4. Nbd2 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e4 d6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. e5 Qf7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. c3 Bd7 11. O-O-O O-O-O {Pinch-Francis,WCU Online U1800, 2020, 0-1}) 2... f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 (4... c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rb1 Nbd7 9. b4 Ne4 {T.Brown-Francis, Dyfed Open 2017,1/2-1/2}) 5. Nc3 c6 6. Nh3 { the Carlsbad Sytem , occurs in a variety of anti-Dutch sustems} Be7 (6... Bd6 { main}) 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 (8. b3) (8. Nf4 {main lines}) 8... Qe8 (8... Na6 { alternative}) 9. Bg5 $146 (9. Rb1 {1 game each}) (9. Nf4 $14 {Stockfish12}) 9... Nbd7 10. Nf4 (10. cxd5 $1 {takes advantage of Bl's lat} exd5 (10... cxd5 11. Nb5 Qf7 12. Bf4 Ne8 13. Nxa7 $18) (10... Nxd5 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 $18 { Bl has a wrecked pawn structure}) 11. Qxf5 $16) 10... Bd6 11. c5 {releases the central tension, and e5 will be coming} (11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nd3 Ne4 13. Bf4 $14 {Stockfish12}) 11... Bc7 12. Nd3 Ne4 (12... e5) 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. Nxe4 (17. e3 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Qxc3 19. bxc3 $11 { Stockfish12}) 17... fxe4 $17 {Bl has got definite K side attacking chances. Wh's normal counterplay on the Q side is non-exitent} 18. e3 $2 {concedes all the wh squares. This kibitzer kept on expecting an imminent invasion on f3, creating mating threats on g2 and/or h2} Bf5 {'developing ' a piece, but it blocks the f file, where Bl can even put a R on f3.} (18... Bg4 $19 {Rudy}) ( 18... Qh5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 19. a3 Qe7 (19... Bg4 $19) (19... Qe6 $19) 20. b4 h5 21. Rfb1 (21. h3 $17) 21... h4 $19 22. Rb2 hxg3 {releasing the tension a little early- Wh could take back with the f pawn , hoping for excanges along the f file.} (22... Rf6 $19) (22... Bg4 $17 {both Stockfish12}) 23. hxg3 (23. fxg3 $17 {gives better chances of survival}) 23... Rad8 {the R has no prospects here, other than to play ...d4, which would eradicate Bl's advantage on the K side, based upon a firm centre} (23... Rf6 24. Rf1 Raf8 25. b5 Bg4 $19 {Stockfish12}) (23... Bg4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 24. Qc3 Bg4 (24... Rf6 {also}) 25. b5 Rd7 (25... Qg5 26. Qd2 Qh5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 26. Qa5 (26. bxc6 bxc6 27. Rab1 $17 {Wh is getting a bit of undereserved Q side action}) 26... Qxc5 (26... Qe5 27. Rab1 Rdf7 28. Qxa7 d4 $19 {Stockfish12}) (26... Qg5 27. Qxa7 Rdf7 28. Rab1 Qf5 29. Qa5 Rf6 30. Qc7 Qh5 31. Qe7 Bf3 32. bxc6 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 bxc6 35. Qd6 Kh7 {Stockfish12-and Wh is getting mated}) 27. Qb4 {Wh can now swap Qs, so delaying direct mating attacks on his own K.} Qxb4 28. Rxb4 c5 29. Rb2 b6 {Bl has an extra pawn, with pawn & piece mobility greater than Wh} 30. a4 Re8 31. Kf1 Rc7 (31... Kf7 32. a5 Ke6 {Stockfish12}) 32. Rd2 Be6 (32... Rd7) 33. Rc1 Bf7 34. Ke1 Rcc8 (34... g6 35. a5 Kg7 36. Ra1 Kf6 37. Rda2 Be6 $19 {Stockfish12}) 35. Kd1 Rcd8 36. Kc2 d4 {Stockfish12 continues to prepare, but there is no reason why this is not a good continuation} 37. exd4 cxd4 38. Re1 d3+ 39. Kb2 Rd4 {the Engine starts giving up a piece here to defang the pawns paralysing Wh} 40. Ka3 Rc4 (40... Bd5 {extra security, but not required}) 41. Re3 (41. Bxe4 $5 {Stockfish12}) 41... Rc3+ 42. Kb2 Rb3+ 43. Ka1 Ra3+ (43... Rc8 ) 44. Kb1 Rxa4 45. Rb2 Bg6 46. Rd2 Rb4+ 47. Rb2 Rxb2+ (47... d2 48. Kc2 Rd8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 48. Kxb2 Re5 49. Kc1 Rc5+ 50. Kb2 Rxb5+ (50... d2) 51. Kc3 Re5 ( 51... Rc5+ 52. Kd2 Rc2+ 53. Ke1 Bh5 {Stockfish12}) 52. f3 Rc5+ 53. Kd2 Rc2+ 54. Kd1 Rxg2 55. fxe4 Bh5+ 56. Kc1 d2+ {a systematic Q side demolition, though it could have been an earlier K side demolition.} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.7"] [White "Williams, R Gareth"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A82"] [WhiteElo "1643"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,71,20,23,65,-4,12,-64,-64,-70,43,-70,-24,-29,-32,-49,-41,-55,10,-22, -6,-40,-40,-71,-40,-70,-100,-100,-108,-154,-153,-148,-154,-181,-132,-181,-169, -169,-161,-200,-192,-209,-210,-250,-197,-269,-283,-283,-187,-190,-190,-240, -217,-345,-239,-222,-40,-133,-126,-170,-170,-170,-177,-169,-114,-130,-130,-130, -103,-103,7,-13,29993,29994]} 1. d4 f5 2. e4 {Staunton Gambit} (2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. h3 h6 6. Bf4 b6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Be2 d6 9. Qd3 Nbd7 10. a3 Ne4 {E Llywelyn-Holman, Dyfed League 2017,0-1}) 2... fxe4 3. Bc4 (3. Nc3) (3. f3 { main lines}) 3... Nf6 (3... d5 $2 4. Qh5+) 4. Nc3 d5 $6 (4... e6 {main}) (4... Nc6) 5. Bb3 (5. Nxd5 $16 {yet} Nxd5 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Qxd5 Qxd5 8. Bxd5 Nc6 9. Ne2 Bg7 10. O-O (10. c3 $18) 10... Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Rd1 $11 {Calleja- De Groof, EU ch U08, Bratislava 2019, 0-1}) 5... g6 (5... Nc6 6. Bg5 $17 { transposes, but 5-2}) (5... e6 $17 {Stockfish12-stabilizes the centre}) 6. Bg5 (6. Bf4 $11) 6... c6 7. Nge2 (7. f3 $11) 7... Bg7 $17 8. Qd2 h5 {weakens the K side, especially g6} (8... Nbd7 {prepares for ...e5}) 9. h3 Na6 10. Nf4 Bf5 11. O-O-O (11. O-O $5) 11... Qd7 $17 (11... Qd6 $19 {Stockfish12}) (11... Nc7 $19 { Stockfish12}) 12. f3 exf3 13. gxf3 Nh7 $19 14. h4 Nxg5 15. hxg5 O-O-O {Wh has no real compensation for the pawn} 16. Nce2 Nc7 (16... e5) 17. Ng3 e5 (17... h4 18. Nxf5 Qxf5 19. c3 e5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Rde1 Rhe8 20. Kb1 Bd6 21. a3 Kb8 (21... Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 h4 23. Nge2 Re8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 22. Ka2 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8 $19 (23... h4 $19) 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Qe3 Ng7 26. Qd4 Qc7 ( 26... h4 27. Nge2 Qe7 $19 {Stockfish12}) 27. Nxf5 Be5 (27... Nxf5 28. Qh8+ Qc8 29. Qxc8+ Kxc8 30. Nxg6 h4 $19 {the h pawn will cost a N}) 28. Qd3 (28. Qb4 Bxf4 29. Nxg7 Bd6 30. Qd4 Be5 31. Qd3 Qxg7 $17 {Stockfish12}) 28... Bxf4 29. Nxg7 Qxg7 $19 30. c4 d4 (30... Bc1 31. Qc2 dxc4 32. Bxc4 Bxg5 $19 {Stockfish12} ) 31. Qe4 Be3 (31... Bxg5 $19) 32. Qe8+ Kc7 33. Bc2 h4 $19 (33... Bxg5 $19) 34. Bxg6 h3 {missing Wh's desparation counterchances} (34... Bxg5 $19) 35. Bf5 h2 ( 35... Qxg5 36. Qe5+ Kb6 37. c5+ Ka5 38. Qc7+ Kb5 39. Qxb7+ Kxc5 40. Qxa7+ Kd6 41. Qb8+ Ke7 42. Qe5+ Kf8 43. Qd6+ Qe7 (43... Kg7 44. Qd7+ Kf8 45. Bxh3 $18) 44. Qxe7+ Kxe7 45. Bxh3 d3 46. Bf1 d2 47. Be2 $14 {Stockfish12- but, with two passed pawns and Bl's centre pawn blockaded, Wh is most likely winning}) 36. c5 {closes the mating net.} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.8"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Orton, Paul"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D70"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1612"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,115,23,23,29,35,52,12,12,4,4,5,4,-9,21,7,51,21,-5,-28,-4,-8,-14,-39, -31,-24,-21,-27,-44,-34,14,4,11,-15,-13,-13,1,-41,-11,-33,-11,-5,-15,-24,-22, -22,4,2,17,0,0,0,-6,0,0,-8,-24,-25,-16,-15,-14,-20,-14,-2,0,-8,0,0,0,0,34,35, 62,65,58,70,94,103,96,95,99,120,103,108,101,102,109,167,280,304,304,324,358, 320,403,458,453,360,390,390,405,373,405,485,724,491,752,770,1105,1022,1229, 1269,1470,1519,29394,29970,29971,29972]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 (3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. c3 c5 7. Qb3 b6 8. Ng5 O-O 9. Be2 Bb7 10. Rg1 { Philpin-Orton, Dyfed Open 2019,1-0}) 3... Bg7 4. Bd3 O-O 5. O-O d5 (5... d6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Re1 e5 8. Nbd2 Ng4 9. h3 Nh6 10. d5 f5 11. e4 f4 {Gunn-Miller, Dyfed League 2020,0-1}) 6. Nbd2 {main} (6. c4 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 Nb4 9. Bc2 N8a6 10. Qd2 $2 Qxd2 11. Nbxd2 Nxc2 {Gunn-M Jones,Dyfed Online Closed rd1, 2021,0-1}) 6... Nbd7 7. c4 {54% for Wh} (7. c3 {main, yet 39% for Wh (original Colle setup)}) 7... c6 {main, 55 % for Wh} (7... c5 {more active and scores better for Bl than the text; 44 % for Wh}) 8. b3 e5 (8... Re8 {is slower}) 9. Nxe5 (9. cxd5 cxd5 {5 draws, 1 Bl win , an 1165 vs 1863} (9... Nxd5 {3 draws, 1 win each})) (9. dxe5 {Cloud Engines} Ng4 {2 draws, 1 Bl win}) 9... Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bb2 (11. Ba3 {Houdini3 & Stockfish12}) 11... Nxe5 12. Bxe5 (12. Be2 {Cloud Engines, though Bl gets a slight edge with} dxc4 13. bxc4 (13. Nxc4 $6 Nxc4 14. Bxg7 Nxe3 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Bf6 Rd2 17. fxe3 Rxe2 $17) 13... Nf3+ 14. Nxf3 Bxb2 {Wh has split pawns on the Q side & ceded the 2 Bs}) 12... Bxe5 13. Rb1 Qc7 (13... dxc4 14. Bxc4 Qe7 $17 {Stockfish12}) 14. Nf3 Bd6 {this feels to be the wrong direction} 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Qc2 Qxc2 17. Bxc2 $11 { the pawns are static, especially the d5 pawn- not a postion that favours the Bs } b6 18. Rbc1 Bb7 19. Nd4 a6 (19... Ba6 {looks better- the text is making Bl's QB into a bad one}) 20. Bd3 Rac8 21. a4 Rfe8 22. g3 Rc7 (22... Rc5 {looks preferable, fighting for the c file ( Rxc5 would give the B the kind of dynamic pawn structure they need)}) 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 24. Rc1 Rc8 25. Kf1 Bd6 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 27. Ke2 Kg7 28. Kd2 Kf6 29. f4 $11 h6 30. Be2 g5 31. Bf3 Bb7 32. Kd3 Bc5 33. Kc3 a5 34. Kd3 $11 Kg6 35. Nb5 Kf6 (35... Ba6 36. Bxd5 Bxb5+ 37. axb5 { and the opposite colour Bs leave a drawn position}) (35... Bc6 36. Nc7 gxf4 37. gxf4 Bd6 38. Nxd5 Bc5 (38... Bxd5 39. Bxd5 f5 $11) 39. Ne7+ Bxe7 40. Bxc6 f5 { One pawn is insufficient in these positions}) 36. Nc7 Ke7 (36... Bd6 $2 37. Ne8+ Ke7 38. Nxd6 Kxd6 39. fxg5 hxg5 40. Kd4 {and Wh will win because of a passed h pawn}) (36... Bc6 37. Bxd5 Bd7 $11 {Stockfish12 reckons the 2 Bs can still hold this- especially because Wh's extra pawn is a centre one (when the K comes to blockade it, it is not out of play , compared to having to stop an h pawn)}) 37. Bxd5 Bxd5 $2 {This loses. In this kind of position the N is far suerior to a single B, which can only function on it's own colour. It cannot protect Pawns from the N , except by putting them on the same colour, & thus worsening it's own mobility; as well as granting free access to the opposite colour squares to the N & it's K. In the end a series of N checks drive the Bl K away; thus allowing the Wh K to penetrate the defences.} (37... Kd6 38. Bxb7 Kxc7 {holds the draw}) 38. Nxd5+ Kd6 39. Nc3 f5 40. fxg5 (40. h4 {preferred by Stockfish12, with an eye to winning Bl's h pawn- getting an outside passed pawn looks simpler}) (40. Ne2 {Komodo14 Endgame}) 40... hxg5 41. h4 gxh4 42. gxh4 Ke7 (42... Ke5 {is a little bit better}) 43. e4 f4 (43... fxe4+ 44. Nxe4 Bb4 45. Kc4 {wins easily for Wh}) 44. Nd5+ Kf7 45. Nxf4 Kf6 46. h5 (46. Kc4) 46... Bf8 47. Nd5+ (47. e5+) (47. Kc4 {Wh has lots of ways forward}) 47... Kg5 48. Nxb6 Kxh5 49. Kc4 Bb4 50. Kd5 (50. Kb5 Kg4 51. Nc4 {in a blitz game getting rid of the last opponents pawn can be crucial if behind on time}) 50... Kg6 51. Ke6 Kg7 52. Nd5 Bf8 53. e5 Ba3 54. Kd7 Kf7 55. e6+ Kf8 56. e7+ (56. b4 Bxb4 57. Nxb4 axb4 58. e7+ {Komodo14 End ,-gets a Q quicker}) 56... Bxe7 57. Nxe7 Kf7 58. Nc6 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.3"] [White "Evans, Gwyn"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A07"] [WhiteElo "1192"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "122"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,122,80,9,10,-34,-12,1,31,4,1,2,2,2,15,-15,-9,-45,-30,-43,-14,-42,-88, -88,-134,-137,-132,-141,-147,-147,-135,-133,-155,-224,-163,-209,-278,-274,-271, -282,-283,-240,-257,-297,-312,-335,-244,-337,-314,-480,-491,-471,-405,-407, -294,-728,-687,-687,-724,-724,-365,-356,-356,-354,-340,-371,-369,-429,-444, -1050,-332,-338,-311,-311,-314,-404,-405,-493,-585,-585,-593,-599,-359,-359, -330,-389,-331,-328,-333,-349,-352,-365,-408,-441,-406,-474,-469,-521,-533, -552,-585,-1095,-1401,-1674,-1710,-2138,-2660,-29971,-1559,-29977,-1148,-1303, -1412,-1493,-1499,-1497,-1458,-1664,-1854,-2089,-2676,-28449,-28134,-2698, -29984]} 1. Nf3 d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 c6 4. d3 Nbd7 (4... Bg4 {main}) 5. O-O e5 6. Nbd2 Be7 (6... Bd6) 7. h3 (7. e4 {main idea in this King's Indian Reversed, yields Wh 66 % in 78 games. In this game Wh does not claim enough of the centre, so his pieces end up in each other's way}) 7... O-O 8. Nh4 $146 (8. e4 $11 {3 draws}) 8... Re8 $15 9. Ndf3 Bf8 $17 (9... e4 $17 {Stockfish12}) 10. Bg5 h6 $19 11. Bd2 Nb6 (11... e4 12. Nd4 c5 13. Ndf5 g5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 12. Qc1 g5 13. Nxg5 hxg5 14. Bxg5 Bg7 (14... Qd6 $19 {looks simplest}) 15. Bh6 Nh7 ( 15... Nh5) 16. Bd2 e4 {in what follows Bl is able to make use of the open spaces that Wh has created around the Bl K side} (16... Bf6 17. Nf3 Bf5 $19 { Stockfish12}) 17. c3 Bf6 18. dxe4 Bxh4 19. gxh4 Qxh4 $19 20. Kh2 dxe4 {Wh has no presence in the centre at all & his pieces are passive} 21. Be3 Bf5 (21... Nd5) 22. Rg1 Bg6 (22... Kh8 {prepares to have the Bl pieces invade via the g file}) 23. Qc2 Nd5 24. Raf1 Nhf6 25. Bh1 Re5 26. Rg3 Rh5 27. Rfg1 Ng4+ 28. Kg2 Ngxe3+ 29. fxe3 Rg5 (29... Nxe3+ $1 {Stockfish12- finishes things off quicker} 30. Rxe3 Rg5+ 31. Kh2 Rxg1 32. Kxg1 Qg5+ 33. Kf2 Qf4+ 34. Kg2 Qxe3 {and Bl is a R up with all Wh's pieces looking helpless}) 30. Kh2 Rxg3 31. Rxg3 Re8 (31... Kh7) 32. Qc1 Re5 33. Bg2 Rg5 34. Qe1 Rxg3 (34... Nxe3 {Stockfish12- is even better}) 35. Qxg3 Qxg3+ 36. Kxg3 Nxe3 (36... b5) 37. Bh1 (37. Bxe4 Bxe4 38. Kf4 {but Wh remains a piece down}) 37... Nd1 38. Kg4 {an error but it doesn't really matter much at this point} Nf2+ 39. Kg3 Nxh1+ 40. Kg2 Kg7 41. Kxh1 Kh6 42. Kh2 Kh5 43. Kg3 f5 44. e3 Bf7 45. b3 Kg5 46. c4 a5 47. a3 a4 48. bxa4 Bxc4 49. a5 Be2 50. h4+ Kf6 51. Kf4 c5 {quickest} 52. Kg3 c4 53. Kf2 Bd3 (53... Bh5) 54. Ke1 Kg6 (54... c3) (54... f4) 55. Kd2 Kh5 56. a4 Kxh4 57. Kc3 Kg3 58. Kb4 f4 59. exf4 Kxf4 60. Kb5 c3+ 61. Kb6 Ba6 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed Lichess"] [Site "?"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.4"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Brewer, Joshua"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C55"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "1481"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "110"] [EventDate "2021.01.20"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,110,23,11,42,6,17,24,48,29,81,-20,-1,1,4,8,-1,-1,14,0,31,51,47,43,43, 49,85,83,127,124,84,112,225,109,176,209,211,220,186,191,167,201,212,180,402, 197,202,188,191,143,148,-92,-88,-85,-105,-116,-116,-198,-199,-199,-211,-242, -215,-252,-235,-344,-332,-423,-402,-409,-406,-459,-462,-481,-508,-690,-397, -405,-383,-525,-486,-564,-596,-682,-596,-695,-408,-432,-458,-589,-763,-762, -388,-503,-534,-522,-558,-607,-348,-348,-341,-848,-893,-915,-902,-916,-921, -942,-942,-962,-962,-1083,-1224]} 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nf3 e5 3. Bc4 {C50 Italian Game} d6 4. c3 Nf6 $6 {(0.36 ? 1.12) Inaccuracy. f5 was best.} (4... f5 5. d3 f4 6. b4 Qf6 7. Qb3 Nh6 8. d4 Nf7 9. Nbd2) (4... Bg4 {main line-R}) (4... Be7 { main line-R}) 5. d3 $6 {(1.12 ? 0.48) Inaccuracy. Ng5 was best.} (5. Ng5 { considered by Wh -R} d5 6. exd5 Na5 (6... Nxd5 7. d4 (7. Qf3 Qxg5 8. Bxd5 Qg6) 7... Be7 8. Nxf7) 7. Qa4+ Nd7 8. Nxf7 Qh4 9. Nxe5 Bd6) 5... h6 (5... Be7) 6. O-O a6 (6... g6 {found in GM games-R}) 7. a4 (7. Bb3 {main-R}) 7... Be7 $6 { (0.25 ? 0.77) Inaccuracy. g5 was best.} (7... g5 8. Bb3 Bg7 9. Nbd2 g4 10. Ne1 O-O 11. g3 d5 12. Ng2) 8. Re1 (8. h3) (8. Nbd2 {have been played-R}) 8... Bd7 { perhaps this blocks things in a bit, 0-0 is simpler-R} 9. d4 exd4 (9... Bg4 $5) 10. cxd4 O-O 11. h3 Na5 $6 {(0.86 ? 1.44) Inaccuracy. Nb4 was best.} (11... Nb4 12. Bd2 $14) 12. Ba2 b5 $6 {(1.20 ? 2.06) Inaccuracy. c5 was best.} (12... c5 13. Nc3 cxd4 14. Nxd4 Rc8 15. Qd3 Nc6 16. Nxc6 Rxc6 17. Qg3 Kh8 18. Rd1 Be6 19. Be3 $11 {lichess analysis} (19. e5 $16 {Stockfish12-R})) 13. Nc3 $6 {(2.06 ? 0. 97) Inaccuracy. e5 was best.} (13. e5 dxe5) 13... c6 $4 {(0.97 ? 3.89) Blunder. b4 was best.} (13... b4 14. Nd5 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 c6 16. Ba2 $16 {Stockfish12- R}) 14. e5 $18 dxe5 15. dxe5 Ne8 16. Qe2 $6 {(4.27 ? 2.94) Inaccuracy. axb5 was best.} (16. axb5 axb5 17. Qc2 b4 18. Bb1 g6 19. e6 Bxe6 20. Rxe6 Bf6 21. Bxh6 bxc3 22. b4 Nb7 23. Rxa8 Qxa8 24. Ba2 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (16. Qc2 Nc7 17. axb5 axb5 18. Bxh6 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 16... Be6 17. Bxe6 fxe6 18. Rd1 Qc7 19. axb5 cxb5 20. Nd4 Qb6 21. Qg4 (21. Rxa5 $1 Qxa5 22. Nxe6 Rf7 23. Nd5 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) 21... g5 $2 {(3.93 ? 7.41) Mistake. Nc4 was best.} (21... Nc4 22. Nxe6) 22. Qxe6+ $2 {(7.41 ? 3.81) Mistake. Rxa5 was best.} (22. Rxa5 Qxa5 23. Qxe6+ Rf7 24. Nf5 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (22. Nxe6 Qxf2+ (22... h5 23. Qe4 Qxe6 24. Qxa8 $18) 23. Kh1 Qf5 24. Nxf8 Qxg4 25. hxg4 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) (22. Be3 {considered} Nc4 23. Qh5 $18 {Stockfish12} Nxe3 24. Qg6+ Ng7 25. fxe3 Qc5 26. Nxe6 Qxe3+ 27. Kh1 Qxe5 28. Re1 $18 {-R}) 22... Qxe6 23. Nxe6 Nb3 24. Rb1 ( 24. Nxf8 Nxa1 25. Ng6 Bb4 26. Nd5 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 24... Rf5 25. Re1 $4 { (3.46 ? -1.42) Blunder. f4 was best.} (25. f4 Nxc1 26. g4 Rf7 27. Rbxc1 $18 { Stockfish12-R}) ({considered} 25. Nd5 Kf7 26. Nb6 Ra7 27. Nd8+ Bxd8 28. e6+ Kxe6 29. Rxd8 $18 {Stockfish12-R}) 25... Kf7 $19 {winning a piece in broad daylight-R} 26. g4 Rf3 27. Kg2 (27. Nxg5+ hxg5 28. Nd5 Nxc1 29. Rbxc1 Rxh3 $19) 27... Rd3 28. f4 $2 {(-1.58 ? -3.39) Mistake. Nf4 was best.} (28. Nf4 gxf4 29. Bxf4 Nd2 (29... Rad8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 30. Rbc1 Nc4 31. Bxh6 Nc7 32. Ne2 Ne6 33. Nf4 Rb3 34. h4 Rh8 $19) 28... Kxe6 29. f5+ Kf7 30. f6 $6 {(-3.29 ? -4.72) Inaccuracy. Be3 was best.} (30. Be3 Bc5) 30... Nxc1 31. Rbxc1 Bb4 32. e6+ (32. Re4 Bxc3 33. bxc3 a5 34. Rf1 Nc7 {the pawns are blockaded & the a pawn advance soon wins-R}) 32... Kxf6 33. Rf1+ (33. Ne4+ Ke7 34. Re2 {Stockfish12 -considered but Wh has no attack against the K sheltering behind the pawn-R}) 33... Kxe6 34. Rce1+ Kd7 (34... Kd6 {looks a little stronger-R}) 35. Rf7+ Kc6 36. Re6+ Nd6 {Stockfish12 prefers this, however-R} (36... Rd6 {expected-ends any Wh ideas of pushing a pawn through on the K side-R}) 37. Ne4 (37. Rxh6 $5 { Stockfish12-R}) 37... Rd8 $6 {(-9.11 ? -5.35) Inaccuracy. Kd5 was best.} (37... Kd5 38. Rfe7 Nxe4 39. Re5+ Kc6 40. R7e6+ Nd6 41. Rxh6 Rd2+ 42. Kf3 Rxb2 43. Rxg5 Bd2 44. Rxd6+) 38. Rxh6 Kd5 39. Nf6+ Kc4 40. Ra7 Rd2+ 41. Kf3 a5 42. h4 Rh2 43. hxg5 Rxb2 44. g6 $6 {(-5.64 ? -7.93) Inaccuracy. Rc7+ was best.[didn't look very promising to Wh-R]} (44. Rc7+ Bc5 45. Rh1 Rc2 46. Re1 Kb3 47. g6 Rf2+ 48. Kg3 Bd4 49. Nd7 Rc2 50. Rxc2 Kxc2) 44... Rb3+ 45. Kg2 Ne8 $6 {(-8.26 ? -5. 57) Inaccuracy. Nf5 was best.} (45... Nf5) 46. Ne4 (46. Nxe8 $2 Rd2+ 47. Kf1 Rb1# {-R}) 46... Rb2+ 47. Kf3 Rd3+ 48. Kf4 Bd2+ $6 {(-7.01 ? -5.07) Inaccuracy. Bc5 was best.} (48... Bc5 49. g7 Be3+ 50. Ke5 Rd5+ 51. Ke6 Nxg7+ 52. Rxg7 Bxh6 53. Rc7+ Kd4 54. g5 Re5+ 55. Kf7) 49. Nxd2+ Rbxd2 50. Re7 $2 {(-4.63 ? -8.93) Mistake. Rh1 was best.} (50. Rh1 Rd4+ 51. Kg3 Nf6 52. Rc1+ Kb4 53. Rb1+ Kc5 54. Rxa5 Ne4+ 55. Kf3 R2d3+ 56. Kg2 Nc3) (50. g7 {could have been tried} Nxg7 51. Rxg7 {but Bl can run a Q side pawn advance more effectively than the single g pawn} a4 52. g5 a3 53. Ra7 b4 54. g6 Rf2+ 55. Ke4 Rg3 56. g7 Rfg2 {-R}) 50... Rf2+ 51. Kg5 {a move to the e file is a quick mate} Rd5+ 52. Kh4 Rh2+ 53. Kg3 Rxh6 54. Rxe8 Rxg6 55. Re4+ Rd4 {Normal White resigns.} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.5"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A91"] [WhiteElo "1798"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "112"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,112,80,63,66,-14,46,24,38,38,38,41,82,41,47,23,37,-34,44,-11,22,4,30, 8,2,-9,18,15,18,-27,-33,-31,-33,-33,-33,-64,-69,-91,-87,-108,-71,-98,-50,-85, -87,-99,-51,-65,-70,-77,-66,-61,-63,-110,-125,-118,-75,-177,-180,-180,-162, -187,-157,-206,-155,-160,-172,-189,-129,-160,-129,-158,-149,-175,-148,-155, -165,-198,-189,-214,-234,-229,-229,-456,-582,-600,-349,-356,-356,-374,-342, -388,-320,-401,-391,-1292,-353,-367,-339,-363,-363,-1494,-456,-618,-254,-1067, -1092,-1096,-1159,-1216,-1275,-29971,-29972,-29989,-29992]} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 (2. Nf3 f5 3. Bg5 Nf6 4. Nbd2 h6 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. e4 d6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. e5 Qf7 9. Qe2 Nc6 10. c3 Bd7 11. O-O-O O-O-O {Pinch-Francis,WCU Online U1800, 2020, 0-1}) 2... f5 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 d5 (4... c6 5. Nf3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Rb1 Nbd7 9. b4 Ne4 {T.Brown-Francis, Dyfed Open 2017,1/2-1/2}) 5. Nc3 c6 6. Nh3 { the Carlsbad Sytem , occurs in a variety of anti-Dutch sustems} Be7 (6... Bd6 { main}) 7. O-O O-O 8. Qc2 (8. b3) (8. Nf4 {main lines}) 8... Qe8 (8... Na6 { alternative}) 9. Bg5 $146 (9. Rb1 {1 game each}) (9. Nf4 $14 {Stockfish12}) 9... Nbd7 10. Nf4 (10. cxd5 $1 {takes advantage of Bl's lat} exd5 (10... cxd5 11. Nb5 Qf7 12. Bf4 Ne8 13. Nxa7 $18) (10... Nxd5 11. e4 fxe4 12. Nxe4 $18 { Bl has a wrecked pawn structure}) 11. Qxf5 $16) 10... Bd6 11. c5 {releases the central tension, and e5 will be coming} (11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nd3 Ne4 13. Bf4 $14 {Stockfish12}) 11... Bc7 12. Nd3 Ne4 (12... e5) 13. Bf4 e5 14. Bxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. Nxe4 (17. e3 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Qxc3 19. bxc3 $11 { Stockfish12}) 17... fxe4 $17 {Bl has got definite K side attacking chances. Wh's normal counterplay on the Q side is non-exitent} 18. e3 $2 {concedes all the wh squares. This kibitzer kept on expecting an imminent invasion on f3, creating mating threats on g2 and/or h2} Bf5 {'developing ' a piece, but it blocks the f file, where Bl can even put a R on f3.} (18... Bg4 $19 {Rudy}) ( 18... Qh5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 19. a3 Qe7 (19... Bg4 $19) (19... Qe6 $19) 20. b4 h5 21. Rfb1 (21. h3 $17) 21... h4 $19 22. Rb2 hxg3 {releasing the tension a little early- Wh could take back with the f pawn , hoping for excanges along the f file.} (22... Rf6 $19) (22... Bg4 $17 {both Stockfish12}) 23. hxg3 (23. fxg3 $17 {gives better chances of survival}) 23... Rad8 {the R has no prospects here, other than to play ...d4, which would eradicate Bl's advantage on the K side, based upon a firm centre} (23... Rf6 24. Rf1 Raf8 25. b5 Bg4 $19 {Stockfish12}) (23... Bg4 $19 {Stockfish12}) 24. Qc3 Bg4 (24... Rf6 {also}) 25. b5 Rd7 (25... Qg5 26. Qd2 Qh5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 26. Qa5 (26. bxc6 bxc6 27. Rab1 $17 {Wh is getting a bit of undereserved Q side action}) 26... Qxc5 (26... Qe5 27. Rab1 Rdf7 28. Qxa7 d4 $19 {Stockfish12}) (26... Qg5 27. Qxa7 Rdf7 28. Rab1 Qf5 29. Qa5 Rf6 30. Qc7 Qh5 31. Qe7 Bf3 32. bxc6 Bxg2 33. Kxg2 Qf3+ 34. Kg1 bxc6 35. Qd6 Kh7 {Stockfish12-and Wh is getting mated}) 27. Qb4 {Wh can now swap Qs, so delaying direct mating attacks on his own K.} Qxb4 28. Rxb4 c5 29. Rb2 b6 {Bl has an extra pawn, with pawn & piece mobility greater than Wh} 30. a4 Re8 31. Kf1 Rc7 (31... Kf7 32. a5 Ke6 {Stockfish12}) 32. Rd2 Be6 (32... Rd7) 33. Rc1 Bf7 34. Ke1 Rcc8 (34... g6 35. a5 Kg7 36. Ra1 Kf6 37. Rda2 Be6 $19 {Stockfish12}) 35. Kd1 Rcd8 36. Kc2 d4 {Stockfish12 continues to prepare, but there is no reason why this is not a good continuation} 37. exd4 cxd4 38. Re1 d3+ 39. Kb2 Rd4 {the Engine starts giving up a piece here to defang the pawns paralysing Wh} 40. Ka3 Rc4 (40... Bd5 {extra security, but not required}) 41. Re3 (41. Bxe4 $5 {Stockfish12}) 41... Rc3+ 42. Kb2 Rb3+ 43. Ka1 Ra3+ (43... Rc8 ) 44. Kb1 Rxa4 45. Rb2 Bg6 46. Rd2 Rb4+ 47. Rb2 Rxb2+ (47... d2 48. Kc2 Rd8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 48. Kxb2 Re5 49. Kc1 Rc5+ 50. Kb2 Rxb5+ (50... d2) 51. Kc3 Re5 ( 51... Rc5+ 52. Kd2 Rc2+ 53. Ke1 Bh5 {Stockfish12}) 52. f3 Rc5+ 53. Kd2 Rc2+ 54. Kd1 Rxg2 55. fxe4 Bh5+ 56. Kc1 d2+ {a systematic Q side demolition, though it could have been an earlier K side demolition.} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.7"] [White "Williams, R Gareth"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A82"] [WhiteElo "1643"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,71,20,23,65,-4,12,-64,-64,-70,43,-70,-24,-29,-32,-49,-41,-55,10,-22, -6,-40,-40,-71,-40,-70,-100,-100,-108,-154,-153,-148,-154,-181,-132,-181,-169, -169,-161,-200,-192,-209,-210,-250,-197,-269,-283,-283,-187,-190,-190,-240, -217,-345,-239,-222,-40,-133,-126,-170,-170,-170,-177,-169,-114,-130,-130,-130, -103,-103,7,-13,29993,29994]} 1. d4 f5 2. e4 {Staunton Gambit} (2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 4. e3 Be7 5. h3 h6 6. Bf4 b6 7. Nc3 Bb7 8. Be2 d6 9. Qd3 Nbd7 10. a3 Ne4 {E Llywelyn-Holman, Dyfed League 2017,0-1}) 2... fxe4 3. Bc4 (3. Nc3) (3. f3 { main lines}) 3... Nf6 (3... d5 $2 4. Qh5+) 4. Nc3 d5 $6 (4... e6 {main}) (4... Nc6) 5. Bb3 (5. Nxd5 $16 {yet} Nxd5 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Qxd5 Qxd5 8. Bxd5 Nc6 9. Ne2 Bg7 10. O-O (10. c3 $18) 10... Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Rd1 $11 {Calleja- De Groof, EU ch U08, Bratislava 2019, 0-1}) 5... g6 (5... Nc6 6. Bg5 $17 { transposes, but 5-2}) (5... e6 $17 {Stockfish12-stabilizes the centre}) 6. Bg5 (6. Bf4 $11) 6... c6 7. Nge2 (7. f3 $11) 7... Bg7 $17 8. Qd2 h5 {weakens the K side, especially g6} (8... Nbd7 {prepares for ...e5}) 9. h3 Na6 10. Nf4 Bf5 11. O-O-O (11. O-O $5) 11... Qd7 $17 (11... Qd6 $19 {Stockfish12}) (11... Nc7 $19 { Stockfish12}) 12. f3 exf3 13. gxf3 Nh7 $19 14. h4 Nxg5 15. hxg5 O-O-O {Wh has no real compensation for the pawn} 16. Nce2 Nc7 (16... e5) 17. Ng3 e5 (17... h4 18. Nxf5 Qxf5 19. c3 e5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. Rde1 Rhe8 20. Kb1 Bd6 21. a3 Kb8 (21... Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 h4 23. Nge2 Re8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 22. Ka2 Rxe1 23. Rxe1 Re8 $19 (23... h4 $19) 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Qe3 Ng7 26. Qd4 Qc7 ( 26... h4 27. Nge2 Qe7 $19 {Stockfish12}) 27. Nxf5 Be5 (27... Nxf5 28. Qh8+ Qc8 29. Qxc8+ Kxc8 30. Nxg6 h4 $19 {the h pawn will cost a N}) 28. Qd3 (28. Qb4 Bxf4 29. Nxg7 Bd6 30. Qd4 Be5 31. Qd3 Qxg7 $17 {Stockfish12}) 28... Bxf4 29. Nxg7 Qxg7 $19 30. c4 d4 (30... Bc1 31. Qc2 dxc4 32. Bxc4 Bxg5 $19 {Stockfish12} ) 31. Qe4 Be3 (31... Bxg5 $19) 32. Qe8+ Kc7 33. Bc2 h4 $19 (33... Bxg5 $19) 34. Bxg6 h3 {missing Wh's desparation counterchances} (34... Bxg5 $19) 35. Bf5 h2 ( 35... Qxg5 36. Qe5+ Kb6 37. c5+ Ka5 38. Qc7+ Kb5 39. Qxb7+ Kxc5 40. Qxa7+ Kd6 41. Qb8+ Ke7 42. Qe5+ Kf8 43. Qd6+ Qe7 (43... Kg7 44. Qd7+ Kf8 45. Bxh3 $18) 44. Qxe7+ Kxe7 45. Bxh3 d3 46. Bf1 d2 47. Be2 $14 {Stockfish12- but, with two passed pawns and Bl's centre pawn blockaded, Wh is most likely winning}) 36. c5 {closes the mating net.} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.19"] [Round "3.8"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Orton, Paul"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D70"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1612"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "115"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,115,23,23,29,35,52,12,12,4,4,5,4,-9,21,7,51,21,-5,-28,-4,-8,-14,-39, -31,-24,-21,-27,-44,-34,14,4,11,-15,-13,-13,1,-41,-11,-33,-11,-5,-15,-24,-22, -22,4,2,17,0,0,0,-6,0,0,-8,-24,-25,-16,-15,-14,-20,-14,-2,0,-8,0,0,0,0,34,35, 62,65,58,70,94,103,96,95,99,120,103,108,101,102,109,167,280,304,304,324,358, 320,403,458,453,360,390,390,405,373,405,485,724,491,752,770,1105,1022,1229, 1269,1470,1519,29394,29970,29971,29972]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 (3. Bf4 Bg7 4. e3 d6 5. Nbd2 Nbd7 6. c3 c5 7. Qb3 b6 8. Ng5 O-O 9. Be2 Bb7 10. Rg1 { Philpin-Orton, Dyfed Open 2019,1-0}) 3... Bg7 4. Bd3 O-O 5. O-O d5 (5... d6 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Re1 e5 8. Nbd2 Ng4 9. h3 Nh6 10. d5 f5 11. e4 f4 {Gunn-Miller, Dyfed League 2020,0-1}) 6. Nbd2 {main} (6. c4 c5 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. dxc5 Nb4 9. Bc2 N8a6 10. Qd2 $2 Qxd2 11. Nbxd2 Nxc2 {Gunn-M Jones,Dyfed Online Closed rd1, 2021,0-1}) 6... Nbd7 7. c4 {54% for Wh} (7. c3 {main, yet 39% for Wh (original Colle setup)}) 7... c6 {main, 55 % for Wh} (7... c5 {more active and scores better for Bl than the text; 44 % for Wh}) 8. b3 e5 (8... Re8 {is slower}) 9. Nxe5 (9. cxd5 cxd5 {5 draws, 1 Bl win , an 1165 vs 1863} (9... Nxd5 {3 draws, 1 win each})) (9. dxe5 {Cloud Engines} Ng4 {2 draws, 1 Bl win}) 9... Nxe5 10. dxe5 Ng4 11. Bb2 (11. Ba3 {Houdini3 & Stockfish12}) 11... Nxe5 12. Bxe5 (12. Be2 {Cloud Engines, though Bl gets a slight edge with} dxc4 13. bxc4 (13. Nxc4 $6 Nxc4 14. Bxg7 Nxe3 15. Qxd8 Rxd8 16. Bf6 Rd2 17. fxe3 Rxe2 $17) 13... Nf3+ 14. Nxf3 Bxb2 {Wh has split pawns on the Q side & ceded the 2 Bs}) 12... Bxe5 13. Rb1 Qc7 (13... dxc4 14. Bxc4 Qe7 $17 {Stockfish12}) 14. Nf3 Bd6 {this feels to be the wrong direction} 15. cxd5 cxd5 16. Qc2 Qxc2 17. Bxc2 $11 { the pawns are static, especially the d5 pawn- not a postion that favours the Bs } b6 18. Rbc1 Bb7 19. Nd4 a6 (19... Ba6 {looks better- the text is making Bl's QB into a bad one}) 20. Bd3 Rac8 21. a4 Rfe8 22. g3 Rc7 (22... Rc5 {looks preferable, fighting for the c file ( Rxc5 would give the B the kind of dynamic pawn structure they need)}) 23. Rxc7 Bxc7 24. Rc1 Rc8 25. Kf1 Bd6 26. Rxc8+ Bxc8 27. Ke2 Kg7 28. Kd2 Kf6 29. f4 $11 h6 30. Be2 g5 31. Bf3 Bb7 32. Kd3 Bc5 33. Kc3 a5 34. Kd3 $11 Kg6 35. Nb5 Kf6 (35... Ba6 36. Bxd5 Bxb5+ 37. axb5 { and the opposite colour Bs leave a drawn position}) (35... Bc6 36. Nc7 gxf4 37. gxf4 Bd6 38. Nxd5 Bc5 (38... Bxd5 39. Bxd5 f5 $11) 39. Ne7+ Bxe7 40. Bxc6 f5 { One pawn is insufficient in these positions}) 36. Nc7 Ke7 (36... Bd6 $2 37. Ne8+ Ke7 38. Nxd6 Kxd6 39. fxg5 hxg5 40. Kd4 {and Wh will win because of a passed h pawn}) (36... Bc6 37. Bxd5 Bd7 $11 {Stockfish12 reckons the 2 Bs can still hold this- especially because Wh's extra pawn is a centre one (when the K comes to blockade it, it is not out of play , compared to having to stop an h pawn)}) 37. Bxd5 Bxd5 $2 {This loses. In this kind of position the N is far suerior to a single B, which can only function on it's own colour. It cannot protect Pawns from the N , except by putting them on the same colour, & thus worsening it's own mobility; as well as granting free access to the opposite colour squares to the N & it's K. In the end a series of N checks drive the Bl K away; thus allowing the Wh K to penetrate the defences.} (37... Kd6 38. Bxb7 Kxc7 {holds the draw}) 38. Nxd5+ Kd6 39. Nc3 f5 40. fxg5 (40. h4 {preferred by Stockfish12, with an eye to winning Bl's h pawn- getting an outside passed pawn looks simpler}) (40. Ne2 {Komodo14 Endgame}) 40... hxg5 41. h4 gxh4 42. gxh4 Ke7 (42... Ke5 {is a little bit better}) 43. e4 f4 (43... fxe4+ 44. Nxe4 Bb4 45. Kc4 {wins easily for Wh}) 44. Nd5+ Kf7 45. Nxf4 Kf6 46. h5 (46. Kc4) 46... Bf8 47. Nd5+ (47. e5+) (47. Kc4 {Wh has lots of ways forward}) 47... Kg5 48. Nxb6 Kxh5 49. Kc4 Bb4 50. Kd5 (50. Kb5 Kg4 51. Nc4 {in a blitz game getting rid of the last opponents pawn can be crucial if behind on time}) 50... Kg6 51. Ke6 Kg7 52. Nd5 Bf8 53. e5 Ba3 54. Kd7 Kf7 55. e6+ Kf8 56. e7+ (56. b4 Bxb4 57. Nxb4 axb4 58. e7+ {Komodo14 End ,-gets a Q quicker}) 56... Bxe7 57. Nxe7 Kf7 58. Nc6 1-0

Friday 15 January 2021

Spring Forward, Fall Back

The second round of the Online Dyfed Closed was played on Tuesday 12 January with two Aberystwyth playerson on 1 and the other three on 0. My English Opening against Howard Williams did not give me any real attacking chances, but I held my own against a very strong opponent until I allowed my position to become too passive and he played a fine exchange sacrifice to break through in the centre with his pawns. It's strange how some players have lower-rated opponents who always cause them trouble. For me it was the late Jan Sendall, for Rudy van Kemenade it seems to be Martin Jones. In a complex position arising from a Pirc Defence, Rudy miscalculated a tactical sequence and ended up a piece down. Though he did his best to generate counterplay, there was no reprieve. So, with the two players who won last week losing this week, it was left to the others to salvage the honour of the club. Adam Watkin-Jones got a big advantage when Scott Hammett played inaccurately against White's tricky Nc3 line in the Dutch; Black never equalized and the threats quickly became too great. Tom Gunn had to negotiate a difficult knight ending against Mark Paffard after a Closed Sicilian; White's queenside pawn majority gave winning chances, but Tom managed to draw with his higher-rated opponent. Finally Sam Holman's Ruy Lopez brought a textbook kingside attack against Awne Osinga, a good recovery after his disappointingly quick defeat last week. Four Aber players are now on 1/2, with Tom on ½/2.

Congratulations to Tom, who is confirmed as Welsh Online U1500 Champion for his performance in the WCU Online League.

[Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.12"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Williams, A Howard"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A36"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "2340"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "94"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,94,36,-29,38,43,66,8,10,8,11,1,-6,-25,-29,-13,-27,-19,24,-2,13,7,19,1, 1,-15,6,16,30,22,23,20,11,-37,-26,-21,-27,-28,-12,-33,0,-7,-6,-6,15,-14,30,23, 45,46,46,-8,8,-155,-12,-8,1,-14,-4,-4,-9,-53,-19,-20,13,-109,-58,-143,-129, -104,-109,-293,-60,-60,-93,-144,-133,-165,-128,-156,-89,-162,-169,-169,-185, -160,-160,-176,-194,-169,-202,-188,-214,-249,-445,-839,-1143]} 1. c4 g6 (1... Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. g3 (3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Nd4 {Heap-Williams, Dyfed League 2014, 0-1}) 3... Bb4 {A Robinson-Williams,Dyfed League 2015,0-1}) 2. Nc3 (2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 d6 4. e4 Nc6 5. d3 f5 6. Nc3 Nf6 {Francis-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed Closed 2014,0-1}) 2... Bg7 3. g3 Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. d3 d6 (5... c6 6. e4 e5 7. Nge2 d6 8. O-O Be6 9. b3 d5 {Bevan-Williams, Dyfed Open 2014,1/2-1/2}) 6. e4 c5 { most frequent} (6... e5) 7. Nge2 Nc6 8. O-O Ne8 (8... a6 9. h3 Rb8 { alternative plan}) 9. a3 (9. Be3 Nd4 10. Rb1) 9... Rb8 10. Rb1 Nc7 11. Be3 { 2 draws, 4 Bl wins} (11. b4 {main}) 11... Nd4 (11... Ne6 12. b4 {transposes to 30 games, 58 % for Wh}) 12. b4 b6 13. Nd5 $146 (13. h3 {2 wins each, 1 draw}) 13... Nxe2+ 14. Qxe2 Ne6 15. Qd2 Nd4 $11 16. Kh1 (16. h4 $5) 16... e6 17. Nc3 Bd7 18. b5 {aiming to get in an a pawn advance ? but then Wh shifts attention to the K side} Qe7 19. Bh6 (19. a4) 19... f5 20. Bxg7 Qxg7 21. exf5 gxf5 (21... Nxf5 $5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 22. Rbe1 $14 Rbe8 23. Ne2 e5 (23... Nxe2 24. Rxe2 f4 25. Be4 Kh8 $14 {Stockfish12}) 24. Nxd4 cxd4 25. Rd1 (25. f4 $16 {the pawn mass needs to be restained} Kh8 26. a4 Bc8 27. a5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 25... f4 $11 26. Rg1 $6 {Wh is now becomin too passive} (26. Bd5+ Kh8 (26... Be6 27. Bc6 Bd7 28. gxf4 Bxc6+ 29. bxc6 Qc7 30. fxe5 Qxc6+ 31. f3 dxe5 32. Rde1 $11) 27. f3 fxg3 28. Rg1 Qf6 29. Rxg3) 26... Kh8 (26... f3 $19 {Stockfish12} 27. Bf1 Rf6 28. Re1 Bf5 $19 {Wh's pieces have no way of getting out of the K side logjam, and Bl slowly prepares a breakthrough} 29. h3 Kh8 30. g4 Rg8 31. Rg3 Bc8 32. a4 Rg6 33. Ra1 Qe7 34. Qd1 h5 35. a5 Bb7 $19 {Stockfish12}) 27. gxf4 Rxf4 28. Be4 (28. Bd5) 28... Qf6 (28... Bg4) 29. f3 Bf5 30. Rde1 (30. Bd5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 30... Rf8 (30... Bxe4 31. fxe4 Rf2 32. Qg5 Qxg5 33. Rxg5 Rd2 34. Rg3 Rg8 35. Reg1 Rxg3 36. Rxg3 h5 37. h4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 31. Re2 Bg6 32. Bd5 (32. Bxg6 hxg6 33. Re4 Qg7 34. Qg2 $11 {Stockfish12}) (32. Reg2 $11 {Stockfish12, looks a simpler method of holding on.}) 32... Rxf3 $1 $19 {the exchange sacrifice liberates the central pawn mass} 33. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 34. Reg2 Bxd3 35. Qg5 Bg6 36. Qe7 Qf6 37. Qxf6+ Rxf6 38. Re1 d3 39. Rd2 e4 (39... Rf4) 40. Re3 Rf1+ 41. Kg2 Rc1 42. Kg3 Rxc4 {Rs are good attackers} 43. Re1 {but bad defenders} Kg7 44. Kf4 Kf6 45. Rb1 d5 46. Rb4 Rxb4 47. axb4 d4 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.01.12"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Jones, Martin C"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R.."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "1725"] [BlackElo "1999"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,119,19,31,54,61,57,85,87,72,94,44,49,30,66,41,43,40,63,56,56,50,47,39, 39,20,19,21,25,10,19,5,4,27,31,31,90,1,152,144,393,397,389,400,458,466,461,460, 456,444,456,428,466,450,468,486,568,440,522,507,508,451,498,477,521,484,569, 492,507,402,437,454,454,391,418,349,353,351,354,331,331,343,327,336,441,456, 456,473,467,456,479,435,448,417,479,478,495,544,534,543,557,562,573,571,578, 584,631,648,660,631,630,684,681,693,857,858,889,836,942,677,1387,1762]} 1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {B07 Pirc Defense} (3... c6 4. Nf3 Qc7 5. Bf4 Nh5 6. Be3 Nd7 7. h3 Nhf6 8. Bd3 e5 9. Qe2 Be7 10. g4 Nf8 11. O-O-O Ne6 {Jones-J Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2016,0-1}) (3... Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. Be3 c6 6. Qd2 Be7 7. Be2 h6 8. h3 Qc7 9. O-O Nf8 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. a3 g5 {Jones-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed League 2016,1-0}) 4. Be3 (4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 O-O 6. Qd2 Bg4 7. Be2 Nc6 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Bxf3 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. O-O-O {Jones-A H Williams, Dyfed League 2017,0-1}) 4... c6 5. f3 b5 6. Qd2 b4 (6... Nbd7 {main} 7. g4 (7. O-O-O) (7. Nh3 Nb6 8. Nf2 a5 9. Rd1 Ba6 10. Nb1 Nc4 11. Bxc4 bxc4 12. c3 Rb8 13. Na3 d5 14. O-O e6 15. e5 Nd7 {G Shaw-R Van Kemenade, Merseyside-Yorkshire 1981,1/2-1/2 })) (6... Bg7) 7. Nce2 (7. Nd1 {also}) 7... a5 8. g4 {main} h5 9. g5 Nfd7 10. h4 Nb6 (10... c5 11. f4 Bb7 12. Bg2 Bg7 13. O-O-O O-O 14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Bxc5 { Meftahi-Graa, Monastir Subsidiere op 2014,1-0}) 11. Ng3 Ba6 (11... Qc7 12. Qf2 N8d7 13. f4 c5 14. f5 Bg7 15. Nh3 cxd4 16. Bxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Ne5 $15 { Schneider-Javakhishvili, BundesLiga frauen 2017,0-1}) 12. Bd3 (12. Bxa6 $11 { Stockfish12} Nxa6 13. Qf2 Bg7 14. N1e2 Nc4 15. Bc1 c5 16. Rb1 cxd4 $19 { Dirican-Ceylan, TUR ch tm 2018,0-1}) 12... Bg7 $17 {Stockfish12} (12... c5 $15 {Stockfish12}) (12... Nc4 13. Bxc4 Bxc4 14. a3 {leaves a vulnerable a5 pawn} bxa3 15. b3 Ba6 16. Rxa3 Bg7 17. Rxa5 c5 18. dxc5 Qc8 19. N1e2 Nc6 20. Ra4 O-O 21. Kf2 Rd8 22. Qc1 dxc5 23. Bxc5 Ne5 $14 {Stockfish12- the Bl pieces have lots of play- whether it is enough for two pawns though?}) (12... d5 13. N1e2 dxe4 (13... e6 $11 14. b3 Nc4 15. bxc4 dxc4 16. f4 cxd3 17. cxd3 Bg7 18. f5 c5 $11 {Stockfish12}) (13... Bg7 14. e5 e6 15. b3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 (16. cxd3 $5) 16... N8d7 17. Nf4 Qe7 18. O-O c5 $11 19. Nfxh5 {is not so good now} gxh5 20. f4 cxd4 21. Bxd4 Nc8 22. Qe2 Nb8 23. Nxh5 Nc6 24. Bf2 Kf8 $17 {Stockfish12}) 14. fxe4 Bg7 15. e5 O-O 16. Nxh5 gxh5 17. Nf4 Nd5 18. Nxh5 Qc8 19. O-O-O $16 { Stockfish12}) 13. N1e2 Qc8 {deterring 0-0} (13... c5 14. c3 O-O $17 { Stockfish12}) (13... O-O $17 {Stockfish12}) 14. Rd1 (14. f4 c5 15. c3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Qa6 17. Rd1 Qxd3 18. Rxd3 N8d7 $11 {Stockfish12}) 14... d5 $15 {Blocks any Wh action down the d file. ,With Wh having 0-0-0 instead of Rd1, the Bl Q still on d8 and the Ns on g1 & Nbd7 & B still on f8; Bl to move played e6 now in Tolnai-Chernin, AUT ch tm, , 0-1 1994. Marin 2017:244 claims a slight advantage for Bl in this position as Wh has no K real K side chances while Bl has plenty on the Q side} 15. Nf4 (15. Kf2 $5) 15... N8d7 (15... dxe4 {is an initial Engine recommendation, which just leads to messy position. Instead Bl was considering ...e6 as an alternative} 16. Bxe4 (16. fxe4 c5 17. dxc5 Na4 18. Bxa6 Rxa6 19. Nd5 Be5 20. Bf4 Nd7 21. O-O $11 {Stockfish1`12}) 16... Nc4 17. Qc1 Nd6 18. Nxg6 Nxe4 19. Nxe7 Kxe7 20. Nxe4 Re8 21. Kf2 $11 {Stockfish12}) ( 15... e6 16. O-O Nc4 17. Bxc4 Bxc4 18. Rfe1 Nd7 $11) 16. b3 {keeping Bl out of c4, but leaves a hole on c3, that Bl tries to exploit.But it contains a flaw. A recommendation when looking a tactical sequence is to try and look one move further on from the concluding point, to check out any subsequent possibility for the other side. The position now reached is highly complex} (16. e5 { is more dynamic, as Bl needs to be careful} Nc4 (16... e6 {allows a dangerous sacrifice} 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxg6+ Kd8 19. b3 $18 {Wh will push pawns on the K side}) (16... Bxd3 17. Qxd3 Nf8 (17... e6 18. Nxg6 fxg6 19. Qxg6+ Kf8 20. Nxh5 {is evemn more dangerous for Bl})) (16... Nf8 17. b3 e6 18. Rc1 Bxd3 19. Nxd3 Nfd7 20. O-O $14 {Stockfish12}) 17. Bxc4 dxc4 18. e6 Nb6 19. exf7+ Kxf7 20. c3 Nd5 21. O-O Rf8 $11 {Stockfish12}) 16... e5 (16... c5 {considered By Bl} 17. Bxa6 (17. exd5 Bxd3 18. Qxd3 c4 19. Qe4 O-O 20. O-O Qc7 $11 {In Stockfish12 eyesbut Bl has still to regain the pawn}) 17... Rxa6 18. exd5 c4 19. O-O Qa8 20. d6 exd6 21. d5 O-O $11 {Stockfish12}) (16... dxe4 17. Bxe4 (17. fxe4 c5 $17 ) 17... Nd5 18. Nxg6 (18. Nxd5 cxd5 19. Bxd5 Ra7 $11) 18... fxg6 19. Bxg6+ Kd8 20. Bxh5 N7b6 21. Bg4 Qc7 22. Kf2 Nxe3 23. Qxe3 Nd5 $11 {Stockfish12; again, not all clear- the = here is not that it's level, but that both sides have chances.}) (16... Bxd3 17. cxd3 (17. Qxd3 e5 18. dxe5 Bxe5 19. exd5 Nxd5 20. O-O Nxe3 21. Qxe3 O-O $11) 17... e6 18. O-O Qb7 19. Rde1 $14 {Stockfish12}) 17. dxe5 Nxe5 (17... Bxe5 {which Wh was expecting, leads to equality} 18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. Kf2 O-O 20. exd5 Bxf4 21. Bxf4 Nxd5 $11 {Stockfish12}) (17... Bxd3 18. Nxd3 Nxe5 19. Nxe5 Bxe5 20. Qf2 Nd7 21. f4 Bc3+ 22. Kf1 O-O 23. Kg2 $11 {Stockfish12 }) 18. Qf2 (18. Bxa6 Qxa6 19. Qe2 O-O 20. Qxa6 Rxa6 21. Kf2 Rc8 22. Rhe1 $16 { Stockfish12}) 18... d4 $2 {a combination that has a hole in it.} (18... Nxd3+ 19. cxd3 Bc3+ 20. Kf1 Nd7 21. Kg2 O-O 22. d4 $16) (18... Bxd3 19. Bxb6 (19. cxd3 d4 20. Bxd4 Nxf3+ 21. Qxf3 Bxd4 22. Nge2 Bg7 23. d4 O-O 24. O-O $14 c5 ( 24... a4) 25. Rc1 c4 26. bxc4 Nxc4 27. Rf2 Nd2 28. Qd3 Qg4+ 29. Rg2 Bxd4+ 30. Nxd4 Qxf4 31. Rxd2 Rac8 32. Rf1 Qxh4 33. Nf3 Qg4+ 34. Rg2 Qf4 $14 {Stockfish12} ) 19... Bb5 20. Bc5 Qb7 21. Qe3 O-O-O 22. Kf2 Rhe8 $11 {Stockfish12}) 19. Bxd4 Nxf3+ (19... Bxd3 20. Bxb6 Bb5 21. Bc5 $18) 20. Qxf3 Bxd4 21. Bxa6 $18 Bc3+ ( 21... Qg4 22. Qxg4 Bc3+ 23. Kf2 hxg4 24. Bb7 Rd8 25. Bxc6+ Ke7 26. Nd5+ { is not much better for Bl}) 22. Qxc3 {the reply Bl had missed when playing 16.. .e5} bxc3 (22... O-O 23. Bxc8 bxc3 24. Bb7 {is worse}) 23. Bxc8 Rxc8 24. Ke2 { and Wh is a piece up. In what follows Bl tries to eliminate as many pawns as possible, but in vain} O-O (24... Ke7 $5) 25. Rhe1 (25. Rd6) 25... c5 26. Rd6 Rb8 27. Red1 (27. Nxg6 {returning the piece for extra pawns, is Stockfish 's second recommenadation} fxg6 28. Rxg6+ Kf7 29. Rd6 Kg8 30. Nxh5 {and the Wh pieces dominate the board, as well as 3 extra pawns}) 27... c4 (27... a4 $5) 28. Nd5 Nc8 (28... Nxd5 29. R1xd5 a4 30. bxc4 Rb2 31. Kd3 Rxa2 32. Rd8 $18) 29. Nf6+ Kg7 30. Rc6 (30. Ngxh5+) 30... cxb3 31. axb3 Rb4 32. Nd5 Rb5 33. Nxc3 Re5 34. Rd5 Ne7 35. Rxe5 Nxc6 36. Rd5 Nb4 37. Rd2 Rc8 38. Nd5 Nxc2 39. Kd1 (39. Nf1 ) 39... Na1 40. Rb2 Rb8 41. b4 a4 (41... axb4 42. Rb1 {loses a N}) 42. Ra2 Nb3 43. Rxa4 Nd4 {perhaps Wh will drop an h pawn?} 44. Ra3 Nb5 45. Rf3 Nd4 46. Rf2 Re8 (46... Ra8 $5) 47. Kd2 Rc8 48. Kd3 Ne6 49. b5 Nc5+ 50. Kd4 Nb3+ 51. Ke5 Re8+ 52. Kd6 Re6+ 53. Kc7 Nc5 54. b6 Na6+ 55. Kb7 Nc5+ 56. Ka7 Rd6 57. Rc2 Rd7+ 58. Kb8 Rd8+ 59. Kc7 Rd7+ 60. Kc8 {There is no perpetual. Normal Black resigns. } 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.12"] [Round "2.7"] [White "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Black "Hammett, Scott"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A83"] [WhiteElo "1918"] [BlackElo "1590"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 e6 {a dangerous line as Bl lands up with a porous K side} (3... d5 {main} 4. e3 e6 5. Nh3 (5. Nf3 {main}) 5... Be7 6. Nf4 {IC Jones-Hammett, Dyfed League 2017,1-0}) 4. e4 (4. Bxf6 Qxf6 5. e3 d5 6. Bd3 c6 7. Qf3 Bd6 8. Nh3 O-O 9. a3 Bd7 {Chadaway-Hammett, Dyfed Major 2020, 0-1}) 4... fxe4 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. Bxf6 Bxf6 7. Qh5+ (7. Nf3 {main} O-O 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. c3 d5 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Qe2 Bd7 12. O-O {Hurn-Hammett, Dyfed Major 2020,1-0 ( 68 % for Wh from this position)}) 7... g6 8. Qh6 Qe7 9. Nxf6+ Qxf6 10. O-O-O $16 ( 10. Nf3 {more frequent}) 10... Nc6 11. Nf3 Qf8 (11... d6) (11... Ne7 {main lines}) 12. Qd2 $18 (12. Qe3 {Cloud Engines} Ne7 13. Bc4 Nf5 14. Qe2 Qh6+ 15. Kb1 O-O 16. d5 d6 17. dxe6 Ne7 18. h4 $18 {Dauner-Mertens, Baden ch , Hockenheim 1994,1/2-1/2}) 12... Ne7 13. Bc4 c6 14. Rde1 (14. h4 {also}) 14... d5 15. Bd3 Bd7 16. Ne5 {Wh controls the centre & Bl has a horribly bad B} O-O-O 17. Re3 Nf5 18. Bxf5 (18. Rf3 {is also very effective}) 18... exf5 {other captures are equally bad} 19. Qa5 Kb8 20. Ra3 a6 21. Qb6 Kc8 (21... Ka8 22. Rb3 Rb8 (22... Bc8 23. Nxc6) 23. Nxd7) 22. Rb3 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.12"] [Round "2.9"] [White "Paffard, Mark"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1608"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 d5 (3... a6 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. d3 Nf6 6. f4 d6 7. Nf3 Nd4 8. O-O {Paffard-Dwain Jones, WCU Online U1800,2020,1-0}) 4. Bg2 (4. exd5 exd5 5. Bg2 {main}) 4... dxe4 (4... Nf6 5. d3 d4 6. Nce2 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bd6 8. O-O O-O 9. c3 e5 $15 {Paffard-Rafferty,Dyfed Online League 2020,0-1}) (4... d4 5. Nce2 Nc6 {main}) 5. Nxe4 Be7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Be3 Nbd7 (7... Nd5) (7... Nxe4) 8. Ne2 (8. Nxf6+ Bxf6 9. c3 O-O 10. Nf3 Rb8 11. O-O b5 {Hild-Guichard, FRA ch tm (women) 2011,0-1}) 8... O-O 9. O-O (9. N2c3 Rb8 10. a4 Nxe4 11. dxe4 Ne5 12. Qe2 { Doelzlmueller-Nindl, SLBW 1994,1/2-1/2}) 9... Rb8 10. h3 (10. Qc1 Qc7 11. Nf4 e5 12. Nh3 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 Nf6 14. Bg2 Be6 15. Ng5 Bd5 16. Ne4 Nxe4 17. dxe4 Bc6 18. Qe1 Bb5 {Zavec-Riznar, SLO ch women 1992,0-1}) 10... b6 (10... b5 $15 { Stockfish12}) 11. c3 Bb7 12. Nxf6+ Nxf6 13. Bxb7 Rxb7 14. Qc2 Rd7 $17 15. Rad1 Qc7 (15... Nd5) 16. d4 Rfd8 (16... Nd5 17. Bc1 Rfd8 $17 {Stockfish12}) 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. Bxc5 Qxc5 19. Rxd7 Rxd7 20. Rd1 Nd5 (20... Rxd1+ $11) 21. Qd3 Qc7 22. Qb5 Nf6 (22... Kf8 $11) 23. Rxd7 Qxd7 24. Qxd7 Nxd7 $11 {Wh does have a Q side majority, but probably not enough to guarantee a winas it's a c pawn} 25. Nd4 Kf8 (25... Nc5) 26. b4 a5 {this , though ,is dangerous. It allows Wh to gain a potential passed a pawn. And Ns have the most difficulty holding R pawns} ( 26... a6) 27. a4 (27. Nc6 {gives better chances, as Bl needs to find a N sacrifice} axb4 28. cxb4 Ke8 29. a4 Nf6 30. Kg2 Nd5 31. a5 Nxb4 $1 32. Nxb4 bxa5 33. Nc2 Ke7 $11 34. Kf1 f5 35. Ke2 Kf6 36. Kd3 e5 37. Ne3 a4 38. Nc4 h5 39. f4 exf4 40. gxf4 g5 41. Ke2 g4 (41... h4 42. Kf3 gxf4 43. Kxf4 Kg6 $11) 42. h4 Ke6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 27... axb4 (27... Ne5 $11 28. Kf1 Ke7 29. Ke2 Kd6 30. f4 Nc4 31. Kd3 Kd5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 28. cxb4 Ke8 29. Kf1 $16 Kd8 30. Ke2 Kc7 (30... Ne5) 31. f4 (31. Nf3 {may be worth a try to see if the outside passed pawn can be given up to let the Wh K & N into the K side; though it looks as if Bl can hold} b5 (31... Kd6 32. Ng5 h6 33. Nxf7+ Kd5 34. Kd3 $18) (31... h6 32. Kd3 Kc6 33. Kc4 e5 34. Nh4 g6 35. Ng2 f5 36. Ne3 Nf6 37. f4 e4 38. g4 fxg4 39. hxg4 b5+ 40. axb5+ Kb6 41. Kd4 Kxb5 42. Ke5 Ne8 43. Kxe4 h5 (43... Kxb4 44. Ke5 $16) 44. g5 Kxb4 45. f5 gxf5+ 46. Nxf5 Kc5 $11 {- Nalimov endgame tablebases ( though Komodo14 still has a definite plus for Wh. In practice giving up the distant passed pawn gives Wh all sorts of winning chances with little risk of landing up with a loss.}) 32. a5 e5 33. Ng5 Nf6 34. Nxf7 Nd5 35. Nxe5 Nxb4 36. Kd2 Kb7 37. Kc3 Nd5+ 38. Kd4 Ne7 39. Kc5 Ka6 40. Kd6 Nc8+ 41. Ke6 Kxa5 {very difficult to envisage or calculate correctly- Stockfish12 says level-Komodo14 Endgame gives a definite plus for Wh} 42. h4 Kb4 (42... b4 43. Nc6+ Ka4 44. Nxb4 Kxb4 45. Kf7 Kc4 46. Kxg7 h5 47. Kg6 $18) 43. h5 Kc5 44. Kf7 g5 45. Kg8 $18 {Komodo14 Endgame}) 31... e5 (31... Nf6) 32. Nb5+ Kc6 33. Kd3 exf4 34. gxf4 {though with the Wh K side pawns split it is now the Bl N that threatens to harvest there} Nf6 $11 35. Nd4+ Kd5 36. Nf5 g6 (36... Nh5) 37. Ne3+ Kc6 38. Kd4 h5 $2 (38... b5 39. a5 Kd6 40. a6 Kc6 41. f5 Ne8 $11 (41... Kb6 42. Ke5 $18)) (38... Nd7 39. Ng4 f6 40. h4 h5 41. Ne3 Nf8 42. f5 gxf5 43. b5+ Kd6 44. Nxf5+ Kd7 45. Ng7 Kd6 46. Nxh5 Ng6 47. Nxf6 Nxh4 $11) 39. Ke5 (39. Nc4 $18 {as the f pawn is lost.} Nd7 {keeps the K out for the moment but allows a winning N swap} (39... Kc7 40. Ne5 Kd6 41. Nxf7+ Ke6 42. Ng5+ (42. Ne5 Nd5 43. Nxg6 (43. a5 {also}) 43... Nxb4 44. Kc4 Nd5 45. f5+ Kd6 46. Kd4 { Zugzwang-Komodo14 Endgame})) 40. Ne5+ Kc7 41. Nxd7 Kxd7 42. Ke5 Ke7 43. a5) 39... Nd7+ 40. Kd4 (40. Ke4 Nf6+ 41. Kd4 Nd7 42. h4 Kd6 43. Nc4+ $18 {Komodo14 Endgame}) 40... Nf6 (40... b5 $11) 41. Ke5 (41. Nc4 $18) (41. b5+ Kb7 42. Nc4 Ne8 43. Ke5 $18) 41... Nd7+ 42. Kd4 Nf6 {twice repeated position, but Wh still can win with Nc4 or b5} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.12"] [Round "2.10"] [White "Holman, Sam"] [Black "Osinga, Awne"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C66"] [WhiteElo "1386"] [BlackElo "1343"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. h3 {cautious , avoiding a B pin} (4. d4 {main} ) (4. O-O {next, Holman vs Tegwyn Jones,Greenwood, Belochkin, 3-0}) (4. c3 { next, J van Kemenade -Osinga 3-0, Leah -Osinga ,1-0; Corrigan-Osinga 0-1}) 4... Bd7 5. c3 (5. O-O) 5... Nf6 6. d3 h6 7. O-O Be7 8. Re1 O-O 9. Nbd2 {a standard slow Ruy Lopez structure} a6 10. Ba4 Qc8 {there is no real threat in a sacrifice on h3; 4 Wh wins, 1 draw} (10... Nh7) (10... b5) (10... Re8 {main lines}) 11. Nf1 Nd8 $146 (11... b5 12. Bc2 {5 Wh wins, 1 draw} Nd8) 12. Bb3 ( 12. Bc2) 12... Be6 13. Bc2 $16 {the coming Wh K side attack has lots of potential, in which the lurking wh B plays a key role,along with threats of N invasion} c5 14. Ng3 (14. d4 $16) 14... Nc6 15. Be3 {An imprecision. This B is best left looking at h6 from a distance, It is not needed to enforce d4 , & the tempo loss allows Bl to strike in the centre first} (15. d4 $14) 15... Nh7 (15... d5 $11 {and the Bon e3 itself becomes a target for a pawn advance to d4 , or after exd5, Nxd5.}) 16. d4 $16 {back on course} exd4 17. cxd4 cxd4 18. Nxd4 Nxd4 19. Bxd4 Rd8 (19... Bf6 20. Nh5 Be5 21. f4 Bxd4+ 22. Qxd4 Qc5 23. Qxc5 dxc5 24. f5 Bc4 25. e5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 20. Rc1 $18 (20. Nh5 $18 { forces weakening of the K side}) 20... Qd7 21. Qd3 (21. Nh5 {Stockfish12} g6 22. Nf4 Nf8 23. Qd2 Kh7 24. Bc3 Rac8 25. Qd4 $18 {the Bl pieces are just huddled together, while Wh brings more and more into the attack}) 21... Nf8 ( 21... Qb5 {Stockfish12} 22. Qxb5 (22. Qd2 Bf6 (22... Bxa2 23. b3 {traps the B}) 23. Ne2 Bxd4 24. Nxd4 Qxb2 25. e5 Kh8 26. Nxe6 fxe6 27. exd6 Qxa2 28. Red1 $14) 22... axb5 23. a3 $16) 22. Nf5 (22. Nh5 {is also very powerful} g6 (22... f6 23. Qg3) 23. Nf6+ Bxf6 24. Bxf6 Rdc8 25. Qd2 Kh7 26. Bc3 Qe7 27. Qd4 f6 28. a4 Kg7 29. Rcd1 $18 {the Bl position has too many weaknesses to survive for long}) (22. Bxg7 {seems to work as well. but Wh has to be playing on trust in his judgement rather than a clearcut long analysis} Kxg7 23. Nh5+ Kg8 24. Qc3 $1 { better than Qd4} f6 25. Qg3+ Kf7 26. e5 fxe5 27. Qg7+ Ke8 28. Bg6+ Nxg6 29. Qxg6+ Bf7 30. Ng7+ Kf8 31. Qxh6 Kg8 32. Rc3 Bf8 33. Rg3 Bg6 34. Rxg6 Bxg7 35. Re4 Qf7 36. Reg4 Rd7 37. Rxg7+ Qxg7 38. Rxg7+ Rxg7 39. Qxd6 {Stockfish12-and the Q with the advancing K side pawns will outweigh the Rs}) 22... Bxf5 23. exf5 f6 {the usual problem against 2 Bs- block one & the other comes in} (23... Bg5 {though seems not much better} 24. Qg3 Nh7 25. Bxg7 Kxg7 26. h4 f6 27. Bb3 Rac8 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Rcd1 Rc5 30. Bd5 Nf8 31. Qe3 Rdc8 32. Qe7+ Qxe7 33. Rxe7+ Kh6 (33... Kh8 34. Rd3) 34. Rf7 Nh7 35. Rd3 g4 36. Rd4 Rg8 37. Rxb7 $18 { the Bl pieces remain in inferior postions to their Wh counterparts}) 24. Bb6 ( 24. Qe4 Re8 (24... d5 {Stockfish12 gives up a piece as best try for Bl}) 25. Qd5+ Kh8 26. Bb3 Nh7 27. Bb6 Rac8 28. Rxc8 Rxc8 29. Qf7 Re8 30. h4 { Stockfish12- Zugzwang, a position that returns in later developments}) 24... Rdc8 25. Qd5+ (25. Qe4 Re8 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. Bb3 Nh7 28. Rc7 $18 {Stockfish12}) 25... Kh8 26. Bb3 Nh7 27. Rxc8+ Rxc8 28. Kh2 (28. Qf7 {wins quickly} Re8 29. h4 d5 30. Qxd5 {and Zugzwang- Stockfish12}) 28... Rf8 29. Rc1 (29. h4) 29... Bd8 30. Bxd8 (30. Bc5 Bc7 31. Be3 Bb8 32. Bb6 Ng5 33. f4 Nf7 34. Qe6 Qb5 35. Rc8 $18 {Stockfish12}) 30... Rxd8 31. Qe6 Ng5 32. Qd5 (32. Qxd7 Rxd7 33. Rc8+ Kh7 34. Bg8+ Kh8 35. Bf7+ Kh7 36. Bg6#) 32... Qe7 33. h4 Nh7 34. Qe6 Qf8 35. Rc7 Re8 36. Qd5 (36. Qd7 {also}) 36... b6 37. Qb7 (37. Rf7 Qg8 38. Qxd6 Ra8 (38... Rb8 39. Qc7) 39. Rb7 Qd8 40. Qg3 Qf8 41. Rxb6 $18 {Stockfish12-the Bl pieces are stationary}) 37... Rb8 38. Qxa6 d5 39. Qa7 d4 40. g3 (40. Rxg7 {overloaded Q} Qxg7 41. Qxb8+ Nf8 42. Qxb6) 40... d3 41. Rf7 Qg8 42. Rxg7 Qxg7 43. Qxb8+ Nf8 44. Qxb6 Nd7 45. Qd4 (45. Qd8+ Kh7 46. Bg8+ Qxg8 47. Qxd7+ Qg7 48. Qxd3 { Stockfish12- Wh has too many pawns for Bl to survive}) 45... Ne5 46. Bd1 (46. Qd5) 46... h5 47. Bxh5 (47. b4 {running the distant pawns}) 47... Qh6 48. Bd1 ( 48. Qd8+ Kg7 49. Qe7+ Kg8 50. Qe8+) 48... Qf8 49. f4 1-0

Friday 8 January 2021

Closed Reopens

On Tuesday 5 January five Aberystwyth players took part in the first round of the online version of the popular Dyfed Closed tournament normally held over a weekend in November. Rudy van Kemenade had an easy time against John Miller's French, regularly picking up loose material for an early victory. Adam Watkin-Jones played rather passively in a Pirc against Robert Lovegrove, and came under pressure in a queenless middlegame. resigning somewhat prematurely after dropping a pawn. Tom Gunn fell victim early on to Martin Jones's marauding knight in a Queen's Pawn Game. Sam Holman's Slav against Ben Brewer was an exciting struggle from the first, with both players making mistakes, but ended abruptly when Sam allowed a mate in one. In the longest game of the first round I had Black in a French Exchange against Awne Osinga. There was a protracted period of rather pointless manoeuvring in the middle game, but the bishop ending was more exciting, as White missed a chance to go a pawn up, then pressed too hard for a win in a dead drawn position, allowing a neat finish. Two Aber players are on 1, and three on 0.

[Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.05"] [Round "1.3"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Miller, John S"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C00"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "1549"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {an automatic move, Wh had actually prepared a different line!} 1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 (2... c5 {J Van Kemenade-Miller, 6-0}) 3. Qe2 d4 (3... Ne7 4. Nf3 c5 { J Van Kemenade-Miller, Dyfed League 2016,1/2-1/2}) (3... Nf6 {main}) 4. Nf3 (4. g3 e5 5. Nf3 Bd6 6. Bg2 Bg4 7. Nbd2 Nc6 8. h3 Be6 9. O-O f6 10. Ne1 {J Van Kemenade-Miller, Dyfed League 2019,1-0}) 4... c5 5. g3 Nc6 6. e5 {main , 72 % for Wh in databases; a position Rudy has played a number of times in internet games} (6. Bg2 e5 {47% for Wh} 7. h3 Nge7 8. Nbd2 Qc7 9. a4 f6 10. Nc4 Be6 11. Nfd2 {J Van Kemenade-Miller, N Dyfed-S Dyfed 2014,1/2-1/2}) 6... Nge7 7. Bg2 Bd7 (7... Ng6) (7... Nd5 {main lines}) 8. O-O Nd5 9. c4 {Stockfish12} (9. Re1 Be7 10. Nbd2 Qc7 $11 {though 1-3 in actual games}) 9... Nc7 {perhaps a bit passive, though it can support .. b5, often played by Bl to get Q side play} ( 9... dxc3 10. bxc3 Be7 11. c4 Nb6 12. Nc3 O-O $16 {Stockfish12; may give Bl better chances, though the B on d7 obstructs the d file for Bl}) 10. h4 (10. Nbd2 Be7 11. Ne4 O-O 12. g4 $16 {threatening g5 & a sacrifice on f6 is givenn by Stockfish12}) 10... Be7 11. a3 {in case Bl has ideas of 0-0-0, but a bit slow} (11. Bf4) 11... O-O 12. Nbd2 f5 {Stockfish12} 13. exf6 Bxf6 {leaves a number of weak squares} (13... gxf6 14. b4 cxb4 15. axb4 Bxb4 16. Nxd4 Nxd4 17. Qg4+ Kh8 18. Qxd4 $18 {Stockfish12- but at least Wh does not get the standard K side attack}) 14. Ne4 $18 e5 {drops a pawn, but, perhaps more importantly, exacerbates the wh square weaknesses} (14... Be7 15. Bf4 $18 {Stockfish12}) ( 14... b6 15. b4 $18 {Stockfish12}) 15. Nxc5 Bf5 (15... Rb8 16. Nxd7 Qxd7 17. Nd2 b5 18. cxb5 Rxb5 19. Qe4 Nd8 20. Nc4 $18 {Stockfish12- Wh is a pawn up and the f6 B is a spectator}) 16. Nxb7 Qc8 (16... Qe7 17. Ng5 {and the N on b7 escapes}) 17. Nd6 Qd7 18. Nxf5 Qxf5 19. Ng5 (19. Nd2) (19. Nh2 {keeps the N}) 19... Qd7 (19... Bxg5 {had to be tried- even though Wh keeps 2 useful Bs}) 20. Nxh7 (20. Qe4 {also, Stockfish12 slightly prefers it} Bxg5 21. Bxg5 Ne7 22. Rae1 $18) 20... Kxh7 21. Qe4+ Kg8 22. Qxc6 Qe7 23. Qe4 (23. b4) (23. Bd2) 23... Rab8 24. Bd2 {the Bs control the board} Ne6 25. Bb4 (25. Qg4 {Stockfish12}) 25... Nc5 26. Qd5+ Kh8 27. Bxc5 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.05"] [Round "1.4"] [White "Lovegrove, Robert"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "50"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,50,32,30,89,64,91,87,74,61,90,78,78,0,-5,15,-4,-4,-2,-15,-16,-2,-18,5, 9,10,28,25,27,26,43,49,51,50,43,48,62,36,85,82,80,77,107,105,91,85,97,93,88,87, 203,96,170]} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bc4 (4. Be3 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. c3 e5 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. h3 O-O 10. O-O Nh5 {Orton vs Watkin-Jones, Dyfed League 2018,0-1}) (4. Nc3 {main}) 4... c6 (4... Nf6) (4... e6) 5. Bb3 Nf6 6. e5 (6. Qe2 {main}) 6... dxe5 7. Nxe5 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bf4 $146 {no consesus about alternative moves played here} (9. Nc3 $14 {Stockfish12}) 9... Nh5 (9... Nd5 {also}) 10. Nxd7 Qxd7 11. Be3 Qf5 (11... c5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 12. Nd2 Rd8 (12... Nf4 13. c3 Nd5 14. Re1 Nxe3 15. Rxe3 e6 16. Nc4 b6 $11 { Stockfish12}) 13. c3 Be6 14. Qf3 (14. Bxe6 Qxe6 15. Re1 $14 {Stockfish12}) 14... Bd5 (14... Bxb3 15. axb3 Qxf3 16. Nxf3 Nf6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 15. Qxf5 gxf5 {the pawn structure is just a little unstable for Bl} 16. Bd1 (16. g3) ( 16. Nc4) 16... Nf6 17. Re1 Be6 18. Bc2 (18. Nf3 $14) 18... h6 19. Nf3 Nd5 20. Bd2 (20. Nh4 f4 21. Bd2 c5 22. Nf3 cxd4 23. Nxd4 Bg4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 20... Rd7 {Stockfish12} (20... a5) 21. Ne5 (21. Nh4 $16 {Stockfish12} f4 22. Nf5 (22. Ng6 c5 23. Ba4 Rdd8 24. dxc5 Nb6 25. Nxe7+ Kh8 26. cxb6 Rxd2 27. Ng6+ fxg6 28. Rxe6 Rxb2 29. Bb3 a5 30. h4 $16 {a wild Engine variation}) 22... Bf8 23. Nh4 $16 {Stockfish12}) 21... Rdd8 22. Ng6 fxg6 {Bl is best leaving this alone, even though it unites the pawns, the Wh central pressure increases} (22... a5 $14) 23. Rxe6 Kf7 24. Rae1 $16 Rd7 25. Bb3 (25. g4 $18 {Stockfish12; breaks open the K side, while Bl's QR is still AWOL}) 25... Bf6 $2 (25... Re8 26. h3 $16) (25... Bf6 26. Bxh6 {wins a pawn; resignation looks a bit early, but the B can't be trapped and Bl will continue to suffer in a passive position a pawn down} g5 27. f4 g4 28. Bc2 (28. Bg5 Rd6 29. Rxe7+ Bxe7 30. Rxe7+ Kg6 31. Re5 Rf8 32. Bc2 {Stockfish12- the 2 Bs outgun the R & N}) 28... Kg6 29. Bg5 Nc7 30. R1e5 Nxe6 31. Bxf5+ Kg7 32. Rxe6 $18 {Stockfish12}) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.05"] [Round "1.6"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Jones, Martin C"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D04"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1725"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "36"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,36,19,31,25,26,45,6,15,5,30,3,23,6,10,-16,16,-33,-33,-55,-53,-421, -435,-435,-459,-467,-371,-371,-352,-360,-348,-414,-415,-443,-467,-534,-458, -706,-736]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Bd3 O-O 5. O-O d5 (5... d6 {main} 6. c4 Nbd7 7. Re1 e5 8. Nbd2 Ng4 9. h3 Nh6 10. d5 f5 11. e4 f4 {Gunn-Millere, Dyfed League 2020,0-1}) 6. c4 (6. Nbd2) 6... c5 (6... c6 {main, is a Shlechter-Grunfeld}) 7. cxd5 (7. Nc3 {transposes to a Grunfeld line}) 7... Nxd5 8. dxc5 (8. Nc3 $11 {back to Grunfeld}) 8... Nb4 {1 draw, 3 Bl wins} 9. Bc2 (9. Be4) (9. Be2 {played}) 9... N8a6 10. Qd2 $2 (10. a3 Qxd1 11. Bxd1 Nd3 12. Nc3 Naxc5 $19 {the Wh pieces are passively placed compared with Bl's}) 10... Qxd2 11. Nbxd2 Nxc2 12. Rb1 Ncb4 (12... Nxc5) 13. a3 Nd3 14. b4 Bd7 (14... Rd8) 15. Nc4 Bb5 (15... Be6) 16. Nfd2 Rfd8 17. Rd1 Rac8 18. Nb2 Nxc1 {a N must fall} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.05"] [Round "1.7"] [White "Brewer, Ben"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D15"] [WhiteElo "1679"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "35"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,35,25,28,14,-17,20,-3,4,10,10,21,-3,-1,11,26,19,40,63,41,101,143,123, 75,163,189,182,-52,6,31,235,284,255,141,144,144,29999,-30000]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. Nf3 Bf5 {main} 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bg2 (6. Nh4 {main, a more recent fashion}) 6... Bb4 (6... Nbd7) 7. O-O dxc4 (7... O-O) 8. Ne5 Nd5 (8... O-O) ( 8... Nbd7 {are safer lines}) 9. e4 $18 {Cloud Engines} (9. Bd2 Nb6 10. e4 Bg6 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. d5 {Ambroz-Dostal,CZE ch tm 2006,1-0}) 9... Nxc3 (9... Bxc3 10. exf5 Ba5 11. fxe6 fxe6 12. Qh5+) 10. bxc3 Bxc3 11. Rb1 (11. exf5 $1 $18 { Stockfish12}) (11. Ba3 $18 {Stockfish12}) (11. Nxf7 Kxf7 12. Rb1 $18 { Stockfish12}) 11... Qxd4 (11... Bg6 {is better, though} 12. Be3 b5 13. h4 $18 { Stockfish12}) 12. Nxf7 $1 $18 {Stockfish12 top choice} (12. Ba3 $18) (12. Rxb7 $18) 12... O-O 13. Nd6 $2 {lets Bl off the hook} (13. exf5 $1 Rxf7 14. fxe6 Rxf2 15. Qxd4 Rxf1+ 16. Kxf1 Bxd4 17. Rxb7 $18 {Bl's pieces are uncoordinated (though nominally half a pawn up)}) (13. Qxd4 Bxd4 14. exf5 Rxf7 15. fxe6 Re7 ( 15... Rf6 16. Rxb7 $18) 16. Rd1 Rxe6 (16... Bb6 17. Rxb6 $18) 17. Rxd4 $18) 13... Bg6 (13... Qxd1 $19 {Stockfish12} 14. Rxd1 Bg4 15. f3 (15. Rf1 b5 $19) 15... Bxf3 16. Bxf3 Rxf3 17. Nxc4 (17. Rxb7 Rd3 $19) 17... b5 18. Nd6 Na6 19. Kg2 Rff8 {now Bl is 2 safe pawns up and ready for piece action}) 14. Rxb7 Qc5 { to hold on to the c pawn, but Bl is playing 2 pieces down} (14... Rd8 15. Qxd4 Bxd4 16. Nxc4 Nd7 $14 {Stockfish12}) 15. Be3 Qa3 16. Qc2 (16. Bh3 $18 { Stockfish12}) (16. e5 Bxe5 17. Nxc4 Qa6 18. Qb3 $18 {Stockfish12}) 16... Qxd6 17. Qxc3 Qd3 $2 {Bl has controlled the long diagonal for a long time, so forgets this is no longer the case} (17... Nd7 18. Qxc4 $18 {and the 3 isolated pawns will prove impossible to hold, even though on paper material is equal.}) 18. Qxg7# 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.01.05"] [Round "1.8"] [White "Osinga, Awne"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "1343"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "160"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,160,16,48,67,33,37,23,39,39,26,33,18,11,19,-17,3,-23,26,15,34,47,55, 55,44,10,34,37,16,14,77,71,104,54,58,20,4,-37,9,-25,-31,-22,-10,-50,-18,-12,5, -49,4,-34,-34,-50,-12,-4,-6,7,20,-6,-6,-6,6,-6,22,17,22,11,29,37,49,55,58,8,21, 27,55,1,44,50,58,2,0,-12,-11,-11,0,0,0,-85,-44,-41,-40,-51,-56,-55,-17,-19,-2, -2,20,66,69,77,78,81,78,81,99,34,67,18,41,68,71,32,11,32,32,32,0,0,0,0,0,-38, -28,-33,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-519,-515,-508,-465,-884,-881,-937,-947,-947, -990,-990,-1010,-1006,-1236,-1407,-1925,-2228,-29980,-29987,-29990,-29995, -29996,-29997,-29998,-29999,-30000]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 (4... Bd6 {main} 5. Nc3 c6 6. Bd3 Ne7 7. O-O Bf5 8. Bxf5 Nxf5 9. Re1+ Ne7 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Bf4 Bxf4 12. Nxf4 Nd7 {Osinga-Francis, Dyfed League 2014, agreed drawn on move 29}) 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 h6 (7... Bg4) 8. Bh4 c6 (8... Bg4 {main}) 9. Re1 Nbd7 10. Nbd2 Qb6 $146 (10... Qc7 11. c3 {2 Wh wins, 4 draws, 2 Bl wins}) 11. Rb1 Qc7 12. Nf1 (12. c4 $16 {Stockfish12- Bl's entire Q side lies undeveloped, so Wh can open up with tactics in the centre}) 12... b6 (12... Re8) 13. Bg3 Bxg3 14. Nxg3 Qd8 15. c3 (15. Ne5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 15... c5 16. Rc1 (16. Ne5 $16 {Stockfish12}) 16... Bb7 17. Bb1 (17. Qd2 $18 { Stockfish12- Wh has a lot of forces aimed at the K, & a N getting to f5 will presage a winning N sacrifice or two ( also the Wh Rs are ready to join in)}) 17... Re8 18. Qd2 (18. Ne5 $16 {any exchange on e5 drives away the f6 defender- in the meantime a N on e5 is a coniuous threat against f7}) 18... Qc7 19. Re2 (19. Nh4) 19... Rxe2 20. Qxe2 Re8 21. Qd3 cxd4 (21... Qf4 22. Rd1 g6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 22. Nxd4 {the d pawn is a permant weakness now, though , as usual, there is a bit of piece activity to compensate} (22. Qxd4) 22... Nc5 23. Qd1 (23. Qf3) 23... Qe5 (23... Nfe4) (23... Qf4) 24. Nf3 Qf4 25. Qc2 Nce4 26. Ne2 Qc7 27. Ned4 Ba6 28. h3 {Bl has nothing much, but at least control over e4 has held of a Wh K side assault} Nc5 29. Qd2 Nfe4 30. Qe3 (30. Re1 Kf8 31. Qd1 Qf4 32. Re3 $14 {Stockfish12}) 30... Qd8 31. Re1 Nf6 32. Qd2 Rxe1+ 33. Qxe1 Nce4 (33... Qe8 34. Qd2 Nfe4 $11) 34. Nc6 (34. Ne5 Bb7 35. f3 Nd6 36. Bd3 $14 { Stockfish12}) 34... Qc7 35. Nce5 (35. Nfd4) 35... Qd6 36. Bc2 Nc5 37. Ng4 Nce4 (37... Bd3 38. Nxf6+ Qxf6 39. Bxd3 Nxd3 40. Qd2 Qg6 41. Nd4 $11) (37... Nxg4 $2 38. Qe8+ Qf8 39. Bh7+ Kxh7 40. Qxf8 $18) 38. Nxf6+ Nxf6 39. Nh2 {trying for a Ng4 again, but it releases the d5 pawn from its ssseclusion} (39. Qe3 $14) (39. Qe5 Qxe5 40. Nxe5 $14 {looks even simpler}) 39... d4 $11 40. Ng4 (40. cxd4 Qxd4 41. Qc1 Bb7 42. Bb3 Qe4 43. Nf3 $11 {Stockfish12}) 40... d3 $5 {double-edged- the pawn might be a winning assett or a weakness that gets lost} (40... dxc3 41. Nxf6+ gxf6 (41... Qxf6 $2 42. Qe8#) 42. Qxc3 $11) 41. Nxf6+ Qxf6 42. Qe8+ Kh7 43. Qe4+ (43. Bb3 d2 44. Qd7 Qf4 45. Bc2+ g6 46. b3 Kg7 47. Bd1 Qg5 48. g3 Qf6 49. Qxd2 $16 {Engines love living on the near edge of disaster}) (43. Bd1 $11) 43... Qg6 44. Qxg6+ Kxg6 45. Bb3 d2 (45... h5 46. f3 Kg5 47. g3 h4 48. Kf2 f6 49. gxh4+ Kxh4 50. Ke3 Bb7 51. f4 Kg3 52. Bd1 Bg2 $17 {the centre pawn is sacrificed to allow K entry on the K side}) 46. Bd1 Kf5 (46... h5) 47. f3 Kf4 ( 47... h5) 48. Kf2 g5 49. g3+ Ke5 50. Ke3 Bf1 (50... Bc4 51. a3 (51. b3 Be6) 51... Be6 52. h4 gxh4 53. gxh4 Ba2 54. Kxd2 Kf4 55. b3 Bb1 56. b4 Kg3 57. h5 Kf4 58. c4 Bf5 59. Kc3 Ke5 60. Ba4 Be6 61. c5 f5 $14 {Stockfish12-possibly with holes in there somewhere}) 51. h4 $18 gxh4 52. gxh4 Kf5 53. Kxd2 (53. Bc2+ {Stockfish12} Ke5 54. f4+ Kd6 55. Kxd2 $18 {the Bl K has been driven back}) 53... Kf4 $11 54. Bb3 (54. Ke1 Bc4 55. b3 Bd3 56. Kf2 $11) 54... f6 55. Bd5 h5 (55... Kg3 56. h5 Bb5 57. b4 Be8 58. c4 Bxh5 59. c5 bxc5 60. bxc5 Bg6 $11) 56. b4 (56. Ke1 Bb5 57. Kf2 $18 {Stockfish12}) 56... Kg3 $11 {Wh has twice allowed the Bl K unnecessary activity} 57. c4 {this comes close to winning, but, it transpires, just a tempo short} Kxh4 58. c5 bxc5 59. bxc5 Ba6 (59... Kg3 60. Ke3 Bh3 61. f4 h4 62. c6 Bc8 $11 {Stockfish12}) 60. Be6 (60. Bf7 Kg5 61. Ke3 Bb5 62. Bd5 h4 63. c6 $11 {Stockfish12}) 60... Kg3 61. Ke3 Bb7 62. Bd7 h4 63. c6 Ba6 64. c7 h3 65. f4 h2 66. Bc6 Bc8 $11 67. a4 a5 68. Kd4 $2 {a final attempt at winning, but Wh , at the end of a long game, has overlooked the role of a hitherton neglected part of the board- the f pawn} (68. Bh1 $11) 68... Kxf4 $19 69. Kc5 Ke3 70. Kb6 f5 {rejoicing in its liberation} 71. Kxa5 ( 71. Ka7 f4 72. Kb8 Bf5 73. c8=Q Bxc8 74. Kxc8 f3 75. Bxf3 Kxf3 76. Kb7 h1=Q 77. Ka6 {is far too slow}) 71... f4 72. Kb6 f3 73. Bb7 Bf5 (73... Bxb7 74. Kxb7 f2 75. c8=Q h1=Q+ {also works, but needs a lot of careful calculation, best left to Engines if it can be avoided}) 74. a5 h1=Q 75. a6 Qb1+ 76. Ka7 f2 77. Kb8 f1=Q 78. a7 {2 Qs down, but , Wh is still alive} Qxb7+ {ends it all} 79. Kxb7 Qb5+ 80. Ka8 Be4# 0-1