Changing Places

The last round of the Dyfed Online Closed tournament, played, mostly, on Tuesday 2nd February, saw the Aber players changing places, though Cardigan's Howard Williams continued his serene progress to the title. I got a strong attack against Bill Hewitt with my English opening, but wasn't sure how to continue. After a long think, I took the wrong option and the game changed quickly with his pieces invading the weaknesses in my position instead of the other way round. Adam Watkin-Jones had a lot of pressure against Mark Paffard's backward pawn in a Closed Sicilian, and White's pieces were so tied down to its defence that they were unable to respond when the attack switched to the king. Rudy van Kemenade emerged with a superior development from his Vienna / Bishop's Opening, and when Scott Hammett missed the threat to a piece, Black's collapse was sudden. Tom Gunn had the edge against David Pinch in a Queen's Pawn Game in which the players were castled on opposite sides. Black's attack got though first, but he missed the winning line and settled for a draw against his higher-rated opponent. Sam Holman was under pressure from Gwyn Jones in another Queen's Pawn Game, but White was unable to deal with an unexpected counter-threat, losing a piece, though the ending was still hard work for Black. Howard Williams won the tournament with 5/5, with Martin Jones second on tie-break above Bill Hewitt, both on 4. Adam was Aber's highest-placed player with 3½. Rudy and I finished on 3, Tom on 2½ and Sam on 2.

[Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.02.02"] [Round "5.2"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Hewitt, William"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A36"] [WhiteElo "1914"] [BlackElo "1949"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,80,19,-18,-9,-12,32,14,12,26,5,-13,13,-21,-25,-15,-17,-17,-4,-17,-4,1, 10,5,16,11,-15,8,12,-15,5,-7,-7,-30,-33,-27,11,10,13,25,26,10,52,38,39,58,69, 60,62,100,111,142,142,46,61,-25,-41,-167,-182,-183,-174,-170,-177,-181,-203, -328,-316,-311,-293,-318,-245,-290,-313,-1565,-395,-876,-447,-440,-453,-563, -623,-679,-861]} 1. c4 Nf6 (1... g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 d6 4. e4 Nc6 5. d3 f5 6. Nc3 Nf6 7. Nge2 O-O 8. O-O e6 9. exf5 gxf5 10. Rb1 a5 11. Nf4 Nd4 12. Nh5 Nxh5 13. Qxh5 c6 14. Bh6 Qf6 15. Bxg7 Qxg7 16. Rfe1 Bd7 {Francis-R Van Kemenade, Dyfed Closed 2014,0-1-(other notes by Bill)-R}) 2. Nc3 (2. g3 c6 3. Bg2 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Nc3 e6 7. Nf3 Bd6 8. O-O a6 9. Re1 O-O 10. e4 $5 { Francis-Leah, Dyfed Closed 2014, 0-1-R}) 2... g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 c5 {main-R} (6... e5 7. d3 h6 {1-0 (33) Morris,C (2149)-Hewitt,W (2061) WCPL: 2015}) 7. d3 (7. O-O Nc6 {½-½ (45) Heap,G (2111)-Hewitt,W (1990) Fishguard 2020}) 7... Nc6 8. O-O a6 (8... Ne8 {0-1 (47) Francis,M (1648) -Williams,A (2340) Dyfed Online Closed 2021}) 9. a3 (9. h3 {I've had before in a few rapid games [main-R]}) 9... Rb8 10. Rb1 b5 11. cxb5 axb5 12. b4 Ba6 ( 12... c4 13. dxc4 bxc4 14. h3 {1-0 (35) Chesters,G-Thomas,B (1790) Cardiff 2014 }) (12... cxb4 {main- with this and earlier variants the players are deep into elite GM practice-R}) 13. h3 Nd7 14. f4 (14. Be3 Nd4 15. f4 (15. Qd2 {main - though we are now out of the GM activity-R})) 14... Nd4 15. Kh1 {I later found games where two other moves were played [both slightly preferred by Stockfish12-R]} (15. Be3 e5 {0-1 (43) Egeli,P-Salo,H (2240) Gausdal 1991}) (15. Kh2 e6 {1/2-1/2 (32) Csom,I (2455) -Enders,P (2470) Budapest 1995}) 15... e6 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Ne2 f5 {Played to prevent f4-f5, but it just causes too many weaknesses. It's often necesary in closed Sicilian positions, but with the white queen having b3 it's a poor choice.} (17... Bb7 $15 {Stockfish12-R}) 18. exf5 gxf5 19. Qb3 Re8 {Even if black breaks the pin on the e-pawn, ...e5, fxe5 and the f5 pawn drops} (19... Kh8 {Fritz16, is interesting, it gives black an open e-file and some counterplay. What it's really saying, black is better off without that pawn on e6![Stockfish12 also gives Kh8, but slightly prefers the text- with both continuations it gives Wh a definite plus-R]} 20. Qxe6 Re8 21. Qa2 Nb6) 20. Bb2 Qb6 21. Rbc1 {White is invading on the c-file and black has weak pawns on d4 & e6. I felt here I could be quickly squashed without any play } (21. g4 {Stockfish12 decides that a K side assault is the best way to take advantage of the f5 weakening, especially since several Bl pieces are hanging around on the Q side, plus e6 ties a R up temporarily-R} Kh8 22. Rf2 $16 { Stockfish12 also starts off with Rf2 first-R}) 21... Bb7 22. Bxb7 Qxb7+ 23. Kh2 Qb6 24. Rc2 {Stockfish12, after a bit of a pause considers Wh to be winning now-R} Kh8 {Black has to create counterplay} (24... Re7 25. Ng1 {bringing the N into position as well- the Engine is maximising all of the pieces before plunging in-R} Nf8 26. Rfc1 Qa7 27. Nf3 h6 {and Bl is clinging on- according to Stockfish12. though Wh retains excellent prospects with either Rc6 or Rg2-R} ) 25. Rfc1 e5 26. Rc6 {Played after about 10 minutes thought, both c6 and c7 seem very inviting squares} (26. Rc7 $1 Rb7 (26... Nc5 27. Qf7) 27. R7c6 Qd8 28. Qd5 {I didn't like the look of this at all for black. [Stockfish12 assesses this as winning for Wh, with Rxd6 even stronger-R]}) 26... Qb7 { [and Stockfish12 now thinks it is level- whether Rc7, Qf7, Qd5 or QC2 are played} 27. Rc7 (27. Qf7) 27... Qf3 {After the game Matthew said this had surprised him and now black has some activity. We're at a critical point now where things turned surprisingly quickly. [Note how the passive N gives Bl an escape route-and how Stockfish12 in earlier variations put it into a better post before attempting R invasions-R]} 28. Qd1 {[after this retreat, Stockfish12 has Bl winning in all lines} (28. Ng1 Qf2+ 29. Kh1 {Is what I expected & I hadn't decided what to do next} exf4 {was my first choice but white can draw immediately} (29... Rbd8 {was the next thought, I wasn't too keen at the time, as white has plans such as Qf7, but Fritz says it's "equal" [ as does Stockfish-R]}) 30. R1c2 (30. Rxd7 $2 fxg3 31. Rc2 g2+ 32. Kh2 Be5#) 30... Qf1 31. Rc1 {is a draw} (31. Rxd7 Re1)) 28... Nf6 29. R7c2 Nd5 {all of a sudden the weak d5 square is a massive outpost} 30. Nc3 (30. Qh1 Qf2+ 31. Qg2 Qxg2+ 32. Kxg2 Ne3+) 30... Qxd1 31. Nxd1 exf4 32. Rc6 Re2+ 33. Kg1 Be5 34. Kf1 Rh2 (34... f3 $1 {[Stockfish12-R]}) 35. gxf4 Nxf4 36. Rxd6 Nxd3 $2 (36... Bxd6 37. Bxd4+ Kg8) (36... Rh1+ 37. Kf2 Rg8 {Stockfish12- and Wh can only delay the by giving up both Rs to make it a mate in 10-R}) 37. Rdc6 Nxb2 {simplest- Stockfish12 goes for the mate with both Rs-R} 38. Nxb2 Rxb2 39. Re6 Bf4 40. Rc5 d3 (40... Be3 {Stockfish12-R It is quite instructive to see how swiftly one inaccurate move in pursuit of the win can transform into a losing position. One just has to keep the momentum going _R}) 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.02.02"] [Round "5.4"] [White "Paffard, Mark"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B24"] [WhiteElo "1608"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,48,34,46,56,66,52,18,16,12,19,-27,-21,-36,-25,-27,-25,-38,-28,-28,1, -35,-54,-68,-55,-68,-24,-31,-34,-34,50,-35,-46,-81,-79,-74,-85,-93,-80,-78,-91, -246,-231,-292,-300,-464,-470,-560,-560,-1691,-2387]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nd5 {a bit early to be making 2nd moves with the same piece - Wh has scored only 37% with this} (5. d3 {standard, which has yielded Mark 2 wins, 4 draws & 3 losses}) (5. Nf3 e5 {Orton-Watkin-Jones, Dyfed League 2016, 0-1}) 5... e6 6. Ne3 Nge7 7. Ne2 (7. f4 $5) (7. d3 $5) 7... O-O (7... d5 { 1 draw, 2 Bl wins}) 8. O-O d5 $15 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. c3 (10. d3 {looks better}) 10... Nxe3 (10... Nde7) 11. fxe3 (11. dxe3 $15 {at least leaves the pawn structure balanced, though Bl retains a lead in development}) 11... e5 $19 12. b3 Re8 (12... Be6) 13. Ba3 Qa5 14. Bb2 c4 {Wh now suffers in a similar way to Williams-Jones in the same round with a fatally backward d pawn, providing no scope for the Wh pieces} 15. b4 Qc7 16. Qc2 Be6 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Rfe1 Rd7 19. a4 Red8 20. Nc1 Bf5 21. e4 Bg4 22. Ne2 Qb6+ (22... Bh6 {Rudy, kibitzing, also very powerful.}) 23. Kf1 Rd6 24. h3 Rf6+ {Wh has to start by giving up a N} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.02.02"] [Round "5.5"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Hammett, Scott"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C28"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "1590"] [Annotator "lichess.org"] [PlyCount "29"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,29,19,38,25,11,18,24,24,-18,23,18,26,24,34,6,20,12,18,-3,8,19,96,96, 96,96,369,376,635,716,2645,3147]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 (2. Nf3 f5 {allows Bl to play their favourite Latvian Gambit-R}) 2... Nc6 (2... Bc5 3. Nd5 $6 Nf6 4. Bc4 c6 5. Nc3 d5 {should have been fine for Bl in Hefin Jones-Hammett, Dyfed Major 2019,1-0}) (2... Nf6 3. f4 Bb4 (3... d5 {main}) 4. Nf3 (4. fxe5 $1 $16) 4... Bxc3 5. dxc3 Nxe4 6. fxe5 f5 7. Bc4 $16 {Francis-Hammett,Dyfed League 2014,1-0} ) (2... f5 3. Nf3 {transposition, 1.5-3.5 Hammett} (3. exf5 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nc6 6. Qe3+ Qe7 7. Bc4 Qxe3+ 8. Bxe3 Bb4 9. Nge2 d5 10. Bd3 { Scott-Hammett,Dyfed Major 2017,1-0})) (2... Nf6 3. Bc4 Nxe4 4. Qh5 Nd6 5. Bb3 Nc6 6. Nb5 g6 7. Qf3 f5 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Nxc7+ Kd8 10. Nxa8 b6 {is the exciting Frankenstein-Dracula variation}) 3. Bc4 Nf6 {main} 4. d3 Bb4 (4... Na5 { alternative}) 5. Nge2 {C28 Bishop's Opening: Vienna Hybrid, Hromádka Variation} d5 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. O-O (7. a3 {can lead to complex positions- Wh is trying to get the Q to h5 early-R} Nxc3 (7... Bxc3+ 8. Nxc3 Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. O-O (10. Qh5)) 8. Nxc3 Bxc3+ 9. bxc3 O-O 10. O-O (10. Qh5)) 7... Nxc3 {though the second most common move it looks like a positional inaccuracy- Wh gets a strenghtened cenre & the B has to move again-R} (7... Be6 {maintains the centre posting & can be found in elite GM practice-R}) (7... Bxc3 8. Nxc3 (8. bxc3 {looks quite playable, though Wh has 2 Bs & the standard f4 break}) 8... Nxc3 9. bxc3 O-O 10. f4 (10. Qh5 {have both been positions easier to play for Wh, with good results-R})) 8. bxc3 Be7 (8... Bd6 {main eg Nakamura-Firouzja, chess.com Bullet blitz KO Dec2020,1/2-1/2}) 9. f4 (9. Ng3 {2 Wh wins, 2 draws, 1 Bl win- infiltrates on the wh squares-R}) 9... Bc5+ {the third time the B has moved in the space of 9 moves- Bl is falling behind in development now} ( 9... O-O {2 Wh wins, 2 draws, 1 Bl win as well}) (9... Na5 {looks a good idea} 10. Bb3 Nxb3 11. axb3 exf4 12. Nxf4 O-O 13. Qf3 $11 {Garcia Blanco-Batsiashvili, Vecindario Montalvo memorial nov 2020, 0-1-R}) 10. Kh1 exf4 $2 {(0.34 ? 1.62) Mistake. O-O was best.} (10... O-O 11. f5 Na5 12. Bb3 Nxb3 13. axb3 Bd6 14. f6 $16 {Brenke-Klapp, GER corr 1991,1-0-R}) 11. Nxf4 O-O 12. Qh5 {Wh is far better developed- the Bl Q side has trouble coming to the aid of their K. Stockfish12 already considers Wh is winning-R} Qf6 $4 {(1.80 ? 6.42) Blunder. Bd6 was best. [ one needs to look at the whole board , not just one corner of it-R]} (12... Bd6 {lichess analysis} 13. d4 Qd7 14. Bd3 h6 15. h3 Ne7 16. a4 b6 17. c4 Rb8 18. a5 (18. Bd2 $18 {Stockfish12}) (18. Rf3 $18 { Stockfish12}) 18... Nf5 19. Ne2 $16 {but with pieces still stuck on the Q side, Bl is unlikely to last long-R}) 13. Qxc5 g5 {Trying to recover the piece, but fatally weakening the K side-R} 14. Ba3 Qd6 $2 {(9.56 ? Mate in 7) Checkmate is now unavoidable. Qe7 was best.} (14... Qe7 15. Qxe7) 15. Qxg5+ {Normal Black resigns.} (15. Qxg5+ Kh8 (15... Qg6 16. Nxg6) 16. Bxd6 Bg4 17. Ng6+ hxg6 18. Rxf7 Rxf7 19. Bxf7 Kh7 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Qh6# {It is , of course a series of Engine moves that provide the quickest mate. Humans would take things more slowly & simply-R}) 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.02.02"] [Round "5.7"] [White "Pinch, David"] [Black "Gunn, Tom"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A46"] [WhiteElo "1798"] [BlackElo "1398"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,64,5,5,25,25,25,13,19,-5,11,-45,35,42,59,26,29,29,29,8,14,16,6,-13,-5, -14,2,-21,-25,-32,0,5,11,-14,1,-36,-14,-59,-45,-80,-37,-96,-38,-15,-23,-18,-27, -27,-20,-24,-34,-34,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 Nf6 (1... e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bg5 Nf6 4. Nbd2 {Pinch-Francis, WCU Online U1800,2020,0-1}) 2. Nf3 { a new departure here for Wh, who has played} (2. c4 {&}) (2. Bf4) 2... e6 3. Bg5 (3. a3 Be7 4. e3 O-O 5. Bd3 d6 6. Nbd2 Nbd7 7. e4 e5 8. c3 Re8 { Thacker-Gunn, Dyfed Major 2020,0-1}) (3. c4) (3. e3 {main}) 3... h6 (3... c5 { main}) 4. Bh4 b6 (4... c5) 5. e4 $6 (5. e3) (5. Nbd2) (5. c4 {main lines}) 5... Be7 (5... g5 {wins a pawn} 6. Bg3 (6. Nxg5 hxg5 7. Bxg5 Be7 {is unsound, even though Wh managed a win & a loss}) (6. e5 gxh4 7. exf6 Qxf6 $17 {the score of 1.5-2,5 flatters Wh ( Bl gets 2 very active Bs)}) 6... Nxe4) 6. e5 (6. Bd3 Bb7 {1.5-2.5. though} 7. Nbd2 {then transposes to 53 games where Wh got over 50%}) 6... Nd5 (6... Ne4 {Deep Fritz 13 & Stockfish12}) 7. Bxe7 (7. Bg3 $16 { Stockfish12}) 7... Nxe7 $11 (7... Qxe7 8. c4 $16) 8. Bd3 Bb7 9. Nbd2 (9. Nc3 { looks more active ( & provides a securer home if 0-0-0 is being considered)}) 9... O-O 10. Qe2 d6 (10... c5 11. dxc5 bxc5 12. O-O $11 {Stockfish12}) 11. c3 ( 11. O-O-O $14) 11... dxe5 12. Nxe5 Nd7 13. Ndf3 Nd5 14. Nxd7 (14. g3 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxc3 16. bxc3 Bxh1 17. f3 c5 18. Kf2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Rc8 $11 {Stockfish12}) 14... Qxd7 (14... Nf4 {Stockfish12 finds a neat Zwischenzug (inbetweeny)} 15. Qd2 Nxd3+ 16. Qxd3 Qxd7 17. O-O Qd5 $15) 15. Ne5 Qc8 (15... Qe7) 16. Qd2 (16. O-O-O c5 17. Bc2 Rd8 18. Kb1 $11 {Stockfish12, though the Wh K could land up in a draught}) 16... Nf6 (16... c5 {holds up 0-0-0 for the moment} 17. Bc2 (17. O-O Qc7 18. Rfd1 cxd4 19. cxd4 Qe7 $15) 17... Rd8 18. O-O-O Qc7 $11 { Stockfish12}) 17. O-O-O {It is actually a bit easier for Bl to open lines because there is more space to defend on the Q side.Though Wh does havre possibilities for g4-g5} c5 {getting on with his own attack} (17... Bxg2 $2 { just exposes the Bl K} 18. Rhg1) 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. f4 (19. Rhe1 Qd5 20. g4 Qxa2 21. g5 hxg5 22. Qxg5 Qa1+ 23. Kc2 Qa4+ 24. Kb1 Ne4 25. Qc1 f6 26. Ng6 Rfd8 27. Bc2 Qc4 $11 {Stockfish12}) 19... Rfd8 (19... Qd5 $15 {gives Bl good chances, Wh must respond accurately to try and hold} 20. Rhe1 (20. Kb1 Qxg2 21. Qe3 Rad8 22. Rhg1 Qxh2 $17) (20. c4 Qxg2 21. Qe3 Rad8 $17) 20... Qxg2 (20... Qxa2 21. Bb1 Qa4 22. g4 {gives Wh chances, though} Be4 23. Bxe4 Nxe4 24. Qd4 Qxd4 25. Rxd4 Nc5 26. Kc2 $11 {though Bl remains a pawn up}) 21. Re2 Qd5 22. Kb1 Rfd8 $17 {Bl's control over the centre means Wh has no time to exploit the g file}) 20. Qe2 (20. Rhe1) 20... Rac8 $17 (20... Nd5 $19 {Stockfish12} 21. Qe4 (21. g3 Nxc3 22. bxc3 Bxh1 23. Rxh1 Qxc3+ 24. Kb1 (24. Qc2 Qa1+ 25. Qb1 Qd4 $19) 24... f6 25. Be4 fxe5 26. Bxa8 Rd4 27. Qb2 Rb4 $19) (21. Rhf1 Ne3 $19) (21. Rdf1 Nxc3 22. bxc3 Qxc3+ 23. Qc2 Qxc2+ 24. Kxc2 Bxg2 $19) 21... f5 22. Qf3 Qe3+ 23. Qxe3 Nxe3 24. Rd2 Nxg2 25. Rf1 g5 26. fxg5 hxg5 27. Rg1 Kg7 28. Rgxg2 Bxg2 29. Rxg2 Kf6 30. Re2 Rd5 $19 {Stockfish12}) 21. Rhe1 Nd5 $15 22. g3 (22. Bc2 Nxf4 23. Qf1 g5 24. g3 Bg2 25. Qa6 Rxd1+ 26. Rxd1 Nd5 $17 {Stockfish12}) 22... Nxc3 $19 23. bxc3 Qxc3+ 24. Kb1 (24. Bc2 Qa1#) (24. Qc2 Qa1+ 25. Kd2 Rxc2+) 24... Rd4 25. Bc2 Rb4+ (25... Be4 $1 {Stockfish12-is the winning sequence} 26. Qxe4 (26. Bxe4 Rb4+ 27. Qb2 Qxb2#) (26. Nc6 Bxc2+ 27. Qxc2 Qxc2+ 28. Kxc2 Rxc6+ 29. Kb3 Rcd6 {Bl is 2 pawns up with a more active R as well}) 26... Rxe4 27. Bxe4 g5 { and although Wh has 3 pieces for the Q, the Wh K remains exposed} 28. Re2 Qb4+ 29. Ka1 Qa4 30. Rdd2 Rc1+ 31. Bb1 Rd1 32. Rxd1 Qxd1 33. Rb2 gxf4 34. gxf4 Qd4 35. Nd3 h5 36. Bc2 Kf8 37. a3 h4 38. Ka2 Qd5+ 39. Ka1 b5 40. Bb1 h3 {the Wh pieces are huddled together while Bl slowly advances pawns ( however this is the kind of position where Engines are indefatigable, while humans easily lose the plot)}) 26. Bb3 Be4+ {this way guarantees a draw against a higher rated opponent} 27. Qxe4 Rxb3+ 28. axb3 Qxb3+ 29. Ka1 Qa3+ 30. Kb1 Qb3+ 31. Ka1 Qa3+ 32. Kb1 Qb3+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Dyfed Online Closed"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.02.04"] [Round "5.8"] [White "Evans, Gwyn"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A45"] [WhiteElo "1192"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "128"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] {[%evp 0,120,69,22,27,8,90,34,34,32,22,-9,-11,-15,2,-5,-6,-36,-7,-22,-11,-45, -38,-82,-47,-83,-76,-146,7,7,49,49,47,-29,78,-80,-84,-322,-311,-311,-296,-292, -275,-312,-311,-321,-317,-310,-304,-304,-260,-411,-398,-398,-282,-333,-306, -308,-289,-330,-289,-489,-510,-626,-653,-29995,-371,-383,-391,-408,-408,-449, -325,-370,-357,-365,-357,-342,-303,-342,-320,-338,-361,-383,-149,-1020,-799, -794,-212,-268,-276,-282,-283,-331,-321,-325,-284,-300,-312,-369,-359,-381, -304,-313,-350,-459,-492,-583,-511,-583,-481,-547,-614,-818,-735,-812,-972, -972,-962,-962,-993,-1003,-1013]} 1. d4 (1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 a6 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. a3 {Evans-Holman,Dyfed League 2019,0-1}) 1... Nf6 2. Nc3 {A Veresov?} g6 3. Bg5 (3. e4 {becomes a Pirc}) 3... Bg7 4. e3 {a restrained move, but it blunts the g7 B. Quite often found in main Veresov lines where Bl has played ...d5 (which of course he still could do.} (4. e4 {main, becomes a Pirc}) 4... O-O 5. Bxf6 {looks too early-Wh can at least wait for Bl to play h6(slightly weakening is g6 (& Wh has a B coming to d3). Besides a Bl B on f6 helps attack the centre with e5.} (5. Nf3 d6 {65 games} (5... d5 {325 games})) (5. Bd3) 5... Bxf6 6. Nf3 d6 {1 Wh win, 1 draw, 2 Bl wins} (6... c5 7. Ne4 Qb6 {has been reached by transposition from games where Bl committed to c5 too early, thus encoraging Wh into Bxf6.4 Wh wins, 11 draws, 2 Bl wins.}) 7. h3 (7. h4 $5 { Fritz11 SE & Stockfish12}) 7... b6 {two Bs on the long diagonals, waiting for something to move out of place.} (7... Nd7 8. Ne4 Bg7 9. c3 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Bb5 c6 12. Bc4 b5 13. Bd3 f5 14. Nd6 e4 {Yotsaphonh-Teh, Vientiane op, 2018,0-1}) (7... Bg7 $15 {Stockfish12- keeping options open}) 8. Nd2 Bg7 9. Qf3 c6 10. Bd3 Bb7 (10... d5 $17 {Stockfish12- the centre pawns will roll forward, forcing the Q to give way}) 11. g4 (11. h4 e5 12. O-O-O $11 {Stockfish12- here that does not mean level, but that both sides have chances}) 11... Qc7 (11... d5) 12. Nde4 (12. h4 c5 13. Be4 Bxe4 14. Qxe4 Nc6 15. d5 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Ne5 17. Qg2 Qd7 18. g5 f5 $11 {Stockfish12}) 12... Nd7 $19 {Stockfish12's judgement rests on the the ability of the Bl central pawn mass to surge forward under the remote support of both Bs. Thus stifling any real K threat , while at the same time threatening the Wh pieces , boxed in a little( Ns are are not at the best placed defending one another, as they need the same squares to move to- they are far more dangerous when side by side)} 13. h4 (13. O-O d5 14. Qg3 e5 15. Nd2 Rac8 $19 {Stockfish12}) 13... f5 $2 {However this is the wrong pawn advance- which gives Wh all sorts of tagets on the K side, while Bl's Q side slumbers.} (13... d5 14. Qg3 e5 15. Ng5 Rac8 16. h5 exd4 17. Qh3 Nf6 18. hxg6 hxg6 19. Ne2 dxe3 20. O-O-O exf2 $19 {Stockfish12-Wh attack has been helfd off, and the Bl pawns will resume their forward march}) 14. Ng5 $18 fxg4 15. Qxg4 Nf6 (15... c5 $5 16. Be4 (16. Qe6+ Kh8 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Qxd5 cxd4 19. Ne6 $4) 16... Bxe4 17. Qe6+ Kh8 18. Ncxe4 Rf5 19. h5 {Stockfish12- and the opening of the h file will decide (in the meantime Wh picks up an exchange as well)}) 16. Qh3 {looks ok, but gives Bl a chance to challenge before the h file breaks open } (16. Qe6+ Kh8 17. h5 {breaks through quickly} Bc8 18. Qb3 (18. Nf7+ Kg8 19. Nh6+ Kh8 {is only a draw, as if Wh tries for a smothered mate with Qg8ch, the N rather than the R can capture}) 18... d5 (18... Nxh5 19. Nxh7 {destoys all of Bl's cover}) 19. hxg6 Bg4 20. Ne2 (20. Nxh7 Bf3 21. Kd2 $18) 20... h5 21. Nf4 Kg8 22. c4 $18 {Stockfish12- Bl's position is riddled with holes, Wh's problem is which of about 10 ways will be the best}) (16. Qg2 {is also a better placing, Bl must cede the exchange at least, as} Qd7 17. Nxh7 $1 Kxh7 ( 17... Nxh7 18. Qxg6 Nf6 19. Rg1 Rf7 20. h5 Kf8 21. h6 Bh8 22. O-O-O e6 23. e4 { and Bl will have trouble with his K in the centre}) 18. Qxg6+ Kh8 19. Rg1 e6 20. Ne4 Qf7 21. Nxd6 Qxg6 22. Rxg6 Bc8 23. Ke2 a5 24. Rag1 Ra7 25. h5 Nh7 26. c3 c5 27. Nxc8 Rxc8 28. Rxe6 {Stockfish12- Wh has 4 pawns for a piece, with the Bl pieces scarcely doing anything}) 16... Qd7 $6 {this lures Wh into an error, but it is not the best according to Stockfish12} (16... Qc8 17. Qe6+ ( 17. h5 Qxh3 18. Rxh3 gxh5 (18... Nxh5 19. Nxh7 $1 Kxh7 20. Rxh5+) 19. Nce4 $14) 17... Qxe6 18. Nxe6 c5 19. Rg1 $14) 17. Ne6 $6 (17. Qxd7 Nxd7 18. h5 $18 { Stockfish12- there will soon be 5 Wh pieces joined in a K side offensive, wile Bl 's QB & R are unable to come to the aid of their K}) 17... Bc8 {difficult to have seen coming since Wh has been taking over the Q side, but there is as yet no need for Wh to panic (but humans do when there is the unexpected. The best advice is -not to answer immediately, but just take a brief walk before returning to the board- though in this case Wh spent 6 mins thinking about thee position)} 18. Qf3 $2 (18. Ng5 {Wh also has a backward move} Qxh3 19. Nxh3 {perhaps Wh missed this further retreat?} c5 $15 {the 2 Bs give Bl the dge , but it's much better than going a piece down}) (18. Nxf8 Qxh3 19. Rxh3 Bxh3 { and the N is trapped}) 18... Qxe6 $19 19. Qxc6 Bd7 20. Bc4 d5 21. Qxe6+ Bxe6 22. Be2 Bf5 (22... Ng4) 23. O-O-O (23. h5 Nxh5 24. Nxd5 Rae8 25. Nc3 Nf6 { looks a better try, though Wh only has a pawn for a piece}) 23... Rac8 24. Rdg1 h5 25. Bd3 Bxd3 26. cxd3 Kh7 27. Rg2 b5 (27... Ng4 28. Rhg1 e6) 28. a3 Ng4 29. Kd2 e6 {playing safe} (29... Nxf2 30. Rhg1 (30. Rf1 Ne4+) 30... Ng4 31. Nxd5 Bh6 32. Re1 a5 $19) 30. Nxb5 Rb8 31. Nc7 Rxb2+ 32. Kc3 Rbxf2 (32... Rfb8 { forces mate-Stockfish12}) 33. Rxf2 Rxf2 34. Nxe6 (34. e4 e5 35. exd5 exd4+) 34... Nxe3 35. Rb1 Nf5 36. Rb7 Kh6 37. Nxg7 Nxg7 38. Rxa7 Rf6 (38... Nf5 { Rudy- running the h pawn looks simplest- Stockfish12 provides a few wrinkles} 39. Rf7 g5 40. hxg5+ Kg6 41. Rf6+ Kxg5 42. Rf8 h4 43. Rg8+ Kh5 44. Rh8+ Nh6 45. Kb4 h3 46. Re8 Nf5 47. a4 h2 48. Re1 Ng3 49. Kc5 Rf1 50. Re8 Kh4 51. a5 h1=Q $19) (38... Rf8 {with sililar themes preferred by Stockfish12}) 39. Rd7 Ra6 { the a pawn is miles away from Queening- the Bl R can stop it at many points, so Bl is best getting on with eliminating the Wh h pawn & running his own} ( 39... Nf5) 40. Kb4 Nf5 41. Rxd5 Ne3 (41... Nxh4 {must surely be simplest- the Wh scattered pawns are too far back to be a danger}) 42. Ra5 (42. Rd8) 42... Nc2+ (42... Rxa5 43. Kxa5 g5 44. hxg5+ Kxg5 {and the h pawn is unstoppable}) 43. Kb5 Rd6 (43... Rxa5+ 44. Kxa5 Nxd4 45. Kb4 g5 {is simplest}) 44. Kc5 Rxd4 45. a4 Rxh4 46. Ra7 Rd4 47. a5 h4 48. a6 Rxd3 {may as well, though the pawn is harmless} 49. Rb7 Ra3 50. a7 Kg5 (50... g5) 51. Kb6 h3 52. Rh7 Kg4 53. Kb7 Rb3+ (53... g5 54. a8=Q Rxa8 55. Kxa8 Kg3) 54. Kc8 Rc3+ 55. Rc7 Ra3 56. Kb8 h2 57. Rh7 Kg3 58. a8=Q Rxa8+ 59. Kxa8 Kg2 60. Kb7 h1=Q 61. Rxh1 Kxh1 62. Kc6 Kg2 ( 62... g5) 63. Kd5 Kf3 64. Ke5 g5 {[Sam's comment-Not my best game, but I won, so that's good]} 0-1