Champions

Another double post. Aberystwyth entered the last round of the Dyfed Online League on Tuesday 20 April needing a win against Steynton A to secure the championship. Top board Rudy van Kemenade probably knows the Petroff better than anyone, at least below grandmaster level, but Martin Jones had prepared well, and a complex theoretical struggle ensued. Black's two bishops and better pawns gave him an edge, but the result was far from clear until White blundered, losing an exchange. Adam Watkin-Jones dominated throughout in a Closed Siclian against Mark Paffard, who unwisely opened the position without having castled. The middlegame had only just started when White forced a decisive win of material. On Board 4, Tom Gunn was a pawn up for much of the game against Scott Hammett's Hippopotamus, but went a pawn down as the game transitioned to an ending. It was still difficult for Black, and Tom had a chance of saving the game at the very last moment. Everything then depended on my Board 3 game against Rob Lovegrove, which was the last to finish. After a good opening with my O'Kelly Sicilian, I allowed White to break in the centre and win a pawn, and spent most of the game trying in vain to undermine his dominant queenside pawns. But as time began to run out, both of us made errors - first White allowed a knight fork, then I returned the favour, then, in trying to clinch the win, he let me escape with my extra material. The 3-1 win to Aber gained us the title. Thanks to David Pinch for organizing a very successful and enjoyable league, and, as always, to Rudy for his analysis and captaincy.

Next week we were in action again, this time in the Welsh Chess Union Open Online against Pontyfenni. Rudy's aggressive early h4 against John Waterfield's Grunfeld only led to delayed development, with White's knight stuck on g1 until well into the middlegame, but Black wasn't able to take advantage and the game simplified to a drawn king-and-pawn ending. Adam got a level position against Ian Jones's Glek Four Knights, but went wrong in the complex rook ending which followed. They say all rook endings are drawn, and he missed a chance to draw this one, just before the end. Tom seemed slightly worse in a Dutch against Anthony Hughes, but the position was very blocked and soon became impassable. The game of the round was on Board 4, where Sam Holman's Sicilian came under fierce attack from Justin Morgans. Both players missed chances in the complications but White emerged an exchange and a pawn ahead. He was well behind on the clock, though, and had problems dealing with Sam's active minor pieces. Eventually he dropped a bishop, but Sam found it equally difficult to finish him off, till White made one last blunder and resigned. The result was a 2-2 draw.

[Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.20"] [Round "10.1"] [White "Jones, Martin C"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "1725"] [BlackElo "1999"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,74,80,48,5,56,30,25,45,30,30,30,55,18,19,24,29,-9,-9,0,0,-26,-20,-28, -5,6,-12,0,10,10,14,-32,32,-1,46,-9,12,-4,-7,-7,26,26,26,39,44,43,39,27,27,-15, 2,-44,34,3,-1,-59,-59,-59,-53,-66,-66,-66,-59,-59,-50,-50,-42,-74,-23,-23,-23, -10,32,-38,-20,-379,-379]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Qe2 { a notorious drawing line; many early agreed draws result from this} Qe7 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 Be6 {a line stemming from Frank Marshall, keeping Qs and much less fashionable these days} (7... Qxe2+) (7... Nbd7 {main lines}) 8. d4 {Wh's prepared variation on the previous game played in 2017. Bl had not relooked at this as there many other opening lines Wh might have followed, and didn't think taking on a Petroff would be one of them.} (8. Nc3 {main} Nbd7 (8... c6 9. Nd4 h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Bg7 (11... Nh5 {Suba}) 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Nf5 { Suba-Van Kemenade, Scarborough 1990,1-0}) 9. O-O-O h6 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 ( 11... Bg7 12. Re1 Nh5 13. Nd5 Qd8 $15 {J Cast-Van Kemenade, 4NCL 2002,1/2-1/2}) 12. Nd4 Nxg3 13. hxg3 Bg7 14. Nxe6 fxe6 15. Nb5 Nb6 16. d4 a6 17. Na3 Rf8 18. c3 O-O-O {Jones-Van Kemenade,Dyfed League 2017,0-1 ( on move 71 after a N vs bad B , becoming K & P ending)}) 8... Nbd7 9. Nc3 h6 (9... O-O-O {3 draws}) 10. Bh4 (10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. O-O-O {1-3}) 10... g5 11. Bg3 Nh5 {Bl follows the advice of Suba given in pm to cited game above} (11... Nd5 {a plan given in Forintos & Haag 1991 & supported by Jusupov 1999} 12. Nxd5 Bxd5 13. c4 (13. O-O-O O-O-O 14. Qb5 Nb6 $15 {O'Donnell-Basanta, Vancouver inv 1987, 1/2-1/2} ( 14... c6 15. Qa5 f5 $17 {McDonald-Briggs, Hastings Masters 1995,1-0})) 13... Bxf3 14. gxf3 f5 15. f4 O-O-O {Swainston-Van Kemenade,Bradford A-Undercliffe A, 1994,1/2-1/2}) (11... O-O-O 12. O-O-O Nb6 13. Qb5 {contested in the 1920's with mixed results}) 12. O-O-O O-O-O (12... Nxg3 {at once can become tricky} 13. hxg3 g4 (13... Bg7 {Stockfish13}) 14. Nh4 d5 15. Qb5 O-O-O 16. Qa5 $1 (16. Nxd5 $2 Bxd5 17. Qxd5 Qg5+ 18. Qxg5 hxg5 {loses a N}) 16... a6 17. Bxa6 $16 { Lasker-Marshall, St Petersburg 2014,1-0}) 13. Kb1 (13. Qd2 Nxg3 14. hxg3 g4 15. Nh4 d5 16. Bd3 Qb4 17. Bf5 Be7 {Owesson-Juhl, Nordic Congress 1916,0-1}) 13... Nxg3 (13... Nb6 14. Qd2 Bg7 15. Be2 f5 16. h3 Nxg3 17. fxg3 Rde8 { Botalova-Gileva, Urals Ch (women) 2012,0-1}) 14. hxg3 d5 (14... g4 {keeps the N away from e5 after the coming ...d5, but Bl wished to retain the option of pushing the h pawn through at some later date}) 15. Qb5 {Wh-s idea behind the early d4} Nb6 {lichess dislikes this, suggesting that} (15... c6 $17 {be played, yet Wh gets attacking chances, which Engines with their precise defences are happy to wade into, but humans are wary of. Bl was reluctant to weaken the K position, remembering something of the Lasker-Marshall debacle} 16. Qa5 Kb8 17. Na4 Re8 18. Rd3 Bg7 (18... Qb4 {looks safer}) 19. Be2 (19. Rb3 g4 {wins a pawn}) 19... g4 20. Nh4 Nf6 21. Rb3 Qc7 22. Qb4 Bf8 23. Nc5 Bxc5 24. dxc5 Ne4 25. Rf1 a5 26. Qd4 Bc8 {and Stockfish13 declares this position is winning for Bl-probably because c5 must fall? Otherwise the position still looks obscure to these human eyes.}) 16. Ne5 Qb4 {Bl is content with swapping Qs, now that he has obtained the Two Bs; similar games have occurred after 8. Nc3, Nc6} 17. Bd3 (17. Qxb4 Bxb4 18. a3 {is given by Stockfish13} Bxc3 19. bxc3 Na4 20. Rd3 Rdg8 21. Rf3 g4 22. Rf4 Nxc3+ 23. Kb2 Ne4 24. Nxf7 Bxf7 25. Rxf7 c6 26. Bd3 Rf8 27. Rxh6 Rxf7 28. Rxh8+ Kd7 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Rb8 $11 {one supposes }) 17... a6 (17... Qxd4 {grabbing a pawn would lose to} 18. Nxf7 $1 {winning exchange, since taking the N loses the Q}) (17... Qxb5 18. Bxb5 c6 19. Bd3 Nd7 $11 {Stockfish13}) 18. Qxb4 Bxb4 19. Ne2 Nd7 20. f4 Nxe5 21. fxe5 h5 22. Rdf1 Rdf8 23. c3 Be7 24. Kc2 (24. Bf5 {expected by Bl} Kd7 25. Nc1 b6 26. Nd3 c5 $11 {but Wh would have to careful- in the event of open files Bl's Rs could suddenly switch into action}) 24... Kd7 (24... f6 $15 {Stockfish13, but Bl had an eye on opening the c file}) 25. b3 b6 (25... f6 $15) (25... a5 $15) 26. a4 a5 27. Bb5+ (27. Bf5 $11 {looks better}) 27... c6 28. Bd3 f6 29. exf6 Rxf6 30. Rxf6 Bxf6 31. Ng1 (31. Rf1 Be7 $15) 31... c5 (31... Kd6 32. Nf3 h4 33. gxh4 gxh4 34. Rf1 Rg8 35. Ne1 Ke7 $17 {Stockfish13}) 32. Nf3 Kd6 33. Re1 c4 { disliked by lichess analysis- but Bl hoped to be able to weaken the a4 pawn, & , in an ending, have a b5 possibility, creating a passed a pawn ( which happens to the pawn that won the Petroff encounter for Bl. Bl had assessed that b6 would not be easily attacked by Wh} (33... Rc8 {lichess} 34. Kd2 h4 $17 {Stockfish13}) (33... Bd7 {threatening c4, leads nowhere after} 34. Ne5) (33... Rf8 {a Stockfish13 line} 34. Rf1 (34. Rh1 $2 cxd4 35. Nxd4 (35. cxd4 g4) 35... Bxd4 36. cxd4 Rf2+ 37. Kc3 Rxg2 38. Rxh5 Rxg3 $19) 34... Be7 35. Bg6 h4 36. Nd2 (36. gxh4 gxh4 $19) 36... Rf6 37. Rxf6 Bxf6 38. gxh4 gxh4 39. Nf3 Bd7 $15) 34. bxc4 dxc4 35. Bf1 Bd5 (35... Bd7 {considered, the Stockfish13 analysis shows it is doubledged} 36. Bxc4 Bxa4+ 37. Kd3 Bd7 38. Ne5 b5 39. Ba2 Re8 40. Nxd7 Rxe1 41. Nxf6 a4 (41... Rg1 42. Ne4+ Ke7 43. d5 Rxg2 44. d6+ Kd7 45. Bd5 Rg1 46. Kd4 {still unclear- the Engine's equality sign here means that both sides have chances})) 36. Ne5 (36. Nd2 {looks better, as it gives Wh that extra Ne4 threat. On e5 the N can become a target} Rc8 (36... Kc7 37. Nxc4 Bc6 38. Kb3 Re8 39. Rxe8 Bxe8 $11) 37. Ne4+ Ke7 38. Nxg5+ Kd7 39. Ne4 Rf8 40. Nd2) 36... Rc8 37. Rb1 $2 {the R attacks, but it has left a square undefended. Bl had seen the threat to b6, but had planned a strike against the N. Instead, Bl realised what could be played instead} (37. Kd2 {should hold} g4 38. Rb1 Bxe5 39. dxe5+ Kc5 40. Rb5+ Kc6 41. Ke3 Re8 42. Kd4 Rd8 (42... Be6 43. Be2 Rf8 44. Rb1 Rf2 45. Bxc4 Bxc4 46. Kxc4 Rxg2 47. Re1 Kd7 48. Rh1 Rxg3 49. Rxh5) 43. Ke3 Rf8 44. Be2 $11) 37... Be4+ {Normal} (37... Bxe5 {was planned by Bl} 38. dxe5+ (38. Rxb6+ Kc7 39. Rb5 Be4+ 40. Kd2 Bxg3 $19) 38... Kc6 39. Re1 Re8 40. Kd2 Kc5 {and Wh is running out of moves-Bc6 is a real threat}) 0-1 [Event "Rated Classical game"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.20"] [Round "10.2"] [White "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Black "Paffard, Mark"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B40"] [WhiteElo "1918"] [BlackElo "1608"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "39"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,39,80,4,128,109,115,92,134,74,39,35,113,99,82,76,68,79,79,66,69,47,82, 44,111,136,136,100,194,194,370,379,379,379,376,373,367,371,378,341,634,627]} 1. e4 (1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 b6 4. e4 d6 5. d4 Bb7 6. Bd3 Be7 7. O-O O-O { Watkin-Jones vs Paffard, Dyfed League 2019,1/2-1/2}) 1... c5 2. Nc3 e6 (2... Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 e6 7. Qd2 Rb8 8. Nf3 b5 9. d4 c4 { Watkin-Jones vs Buttell, Dyfed League 2017,1-0}) 3. Nge2 (3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nge7 5. Be2 a6 6. O-O d6 7. Qe1 b5 8. d3 Bb7 9. Nd1 {Horrell-Paffard, Dyfed Open 2019,1-0}) 3... a6 4. g3 Nc6 5. Bg2 g6 {a little slow, and after the centre opens up, all of Bl's pawns are left on wh squares} (5... Nf6 6. O-O Be7 7. d4 {main}) 6. d4 {main} cxd4 7. Nxd4 Bg7 8. Be3 Nge7 9. Qd2 (9. O-O {main}) 9... Ne5 (9... O-O 10. O-O {62 % for Wh} (10. O-O-O {1-0})) 10. Qe2 {2.5 -1.5} d5 { this feels wrong, Bl seeks to mask some of his bl square weaknesses,but , behind in development & with the K in the centre, opening up is always dangerous.} (10... Qc7 $11 {though 2-0}) 11. O-O-O (11. exd5 {Stockfish13 considers that Wh can already make material gain in the centre} Nxd5 12. Bxd5 exd5 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Qxe5+ Qe7 15. Qxe7+ Kxe7 16. Nxd5+ $16) 11... Qa5 $6 { too ambitious- there are now many ways for Wh to obtain the upper hand} (11... O-O {has to be played}) 12. Nb3 (12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Nb3 {and Stockfish13 now concludes that the best Bl can hope for is to give up the Q with} Qxc3) (12. f4 Nc4 13. Nb3 Qc7 14. Bc5 Na5 15. Qf2 Nxb3+ 16. axb3 O-O 17. Bb6 Qc6 18. Rhe1 $18 {Stockfish13-the Bl pieces have scarcely any sensible moves}) 12... Qc7 13. Bc5 {Wh spent a bit of time on this and came up with what Stockfish13 considers strongest} (13. exd5 exd5 14. Nxd5 (14. Bf4 O-O 15. Rhe1 f6 16. Nxd5 Nxd5 17. Bxd5+ Kh8 18. Kb1 {lets Bl off too lightly}) 14... Nxd5 15. Rxd5 Bg4 16. Qd2 O-O 17. Rc5 Nc6 18. Bf4 Qc8 19. Bxc6 bxc6 20. Be5 $18 {is a pawn & positional advantage- if Bl exchanges blsquare Bs his remaing B still is impeded by all of the pawns on its colour}) 13... dxe4 {suicidal, opening up with the K in the middle when Wh controls almost all the open lines} (13... O-O 14. Rhe1 $18 {is not that wonderful either,however must be preferred to the text}) 14. Nxe4 O-O 15. Bd6 Qc4 {everything loses material, with more to come} 16. Qxc4 Nxc4 17. Bxe7 Bxb2+ 18. Kb1 Re8 19. Bc5 (19. Bf6) ( 19. Nbd2) (19. Nf6+ {Wh is spoilt for choice}) 19... Rb8 20. Nd6 {Normal} 1-0 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.20"] [Round "10.3"] [White "Lovegrove, Robert"] [Black "Francis, Matthew"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B28"] [WhiteElo "1500"] [BlackElo "1648"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "88"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,88,80,16,100,53,93,37,48,35,14,23,22,-8,20,14,38,-5,27,0,50,-11,-10, 25,93,7,99,99,90,84,98,94,145,100,118,104,130,121,104,83,114,67,88,71,96,105, 89,79,88,82,113,92,109,88,88,53,67,73,89,89,89,80,90,-11,-11,-120,-138,-145, -58,-286,-97,-97,-101,-106,82,68,51,61,61,-387,-398,-398,-414,-413,-437,-494, -474,-468,-475,-641,-690]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 a6 {the prelude to the O'Kelly var} 3. c3 (3. a4 Nc6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Nb3 Nf6 7. Nc3 Bb4 8. f3 d5 $17 { Bates-Francis, Dyfed Online League rd9, 2021,0-1}) 3... d5 {main} (3... e6 4. Be2 d5 5. exd5 exd5 6. O-O {Davis-Francis, Dyfed League 2018,0-1}) 4. exd5 { main} (4. e5 {has been played by Caruana} Bf5 5. d4 e6 6. Be2 h6 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bh7 {Greatorex-Francis, Dyfed Open 2011,1/2-1/2}) 4... Qxd5 5. Be2 (5. d4 {main} Nc6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 e6 8. O-O Nf6 9. Nc3 Qd8 (9... Qd6) 10. Be3 Be7 11. Rc1 O-O {Ralphs-Francis, S Wales New Year Open 2018,1-0}) 5... Nf6 6. d3 { a passive move, and we leave the elite GM world behind} (6. O-O) (6. d4) (6. Na3) 6... e5 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 (8. Nbd2 Nc6 9. Qb3 Qxb3 10. axb3 O-O 11. c4 $6 Bf5 {W. Davis-Francis, Dyfed League 2017,0-1}) 8... Nc6 9. Nbd2 Ng4 $6 { the B can side step-step, so continuing development is better development} ( 9... Bf5) (9... O-O) 10. Bg5 f6 {creates long term problems for Bl} 11. Bh4 ( 11. h3 fxg5 12. hxg4 Bxg4 13. Nc4 e4 14. dxe4 Qxd1 15. Raxd1 $14 {Stockfish13- Bl has 2 Bs, but Wh's pawn structure is superior}) 11... O-O (11... Be6 12. d4 $11) 12. h3 $18 {the N is driven out of play, & Wh takes control in the centre} Nh6 13. d4 Kh8 (13... Qf7 {is a little better} 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Ne4 Be6 18. Qd6 Qxd6 19. Nxd6 b5 20. Ne4 Rac8 21. Rfd1 $18 { Bl's q side pawns are under fire and the e4 isolani does not help.}) 14. Bc4 ( 14. dxe5 $1 {takes advantage of hanging pieces} fxe5 15. Bxe7 Nxe7 16. Nc4 (16. Bc4 Qd6 17. Ne4 Qg6 18. Re1 Bxh3 19. Nh4 Qc6 20. Qd6 Qxd6 21. Nxd6 b5 22. Rxe5 Nef5 23. Bd5 Nxh4 24. Bxa8 Rxa8 25. Rae1 Bd7 26. Rxc5 {is also a mess, but a much more human one than the main Stockfish13 continuation}) 16... e4 17. Qxd5 Nxd5 18. Ng5 b5 19. Nd6 Nf4 20. Rfe1 Nd3 21. Reb1 Nxf2 22. a4 Rb8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Bxb5 {Stockfish13- an Egine sequence, but it is certainly difficult to find good moves for Bl in all of this}) 14... Qd6 15. Ne4 Qd8 (15... Qc7 { a little better}) 16. dxc5 $16 (16. dxe5 $1 Nxe5 (16... Nf5 17. exf6 Nxh4 18. Nxh4 Bxf6 19. Nf3 $18 {a clear pawn up}) 17. Nxe5 fxe5 18. Qxd8 Bxd8 19. Bg3 Bf6 20. Nxc5 $18 {a clear pawn up , play against e5 & Bl's pieces unhappily placed}) 16... Na5 (16... Bf5 $5) 17. Be2 (17. Bd5 $1 $18) 17... Qc7 18. b4 Nc6 19. Bg3 (19. Bc4 $18) 19... Bf5 20. Ned2 $18 Rfd8 21. Qc1 (21. Qb3 {is more active, Rs not disconnected}) 21... b6 22. cxb6 Qxb6 23. a3 (23. a4) (23. Nc4) (23. Rd1) 23... Rac8 24. c4 {gives up some control of the d file} (24. Nc4 Qb7 25. Rd1 $18) 24... Be6 (24... Qb7) 25. c5 Qa7 (25... Qb7 {feels better, rather than staring at a brick wall. ( restrains b4, eyes along the wh squares, perhaps the Bl K side pawns can advance, before Wh's Q side can move forward)}) 26. Qc3 (26. Bc4 {Bl still has wh square problems because of the early f6}) 26... Nf5 27. Bh2 Nfd4 $16 {Bl is getting some hint of play} 28. Bc4 Bxc4 29. Qxc4 Qb7 30. Rfe1 Qb5 31. Qf7 $2 {a Q raid, unaccompanied by other pieces, seldom achieves much; quite often just leaves her out of action when needed elsewhere. Here it also loses an exchange} (31. Nxd4 Rxd4 32. Qxb5 axb5 33. Ne4 Rc4 34. Rad1 $18 {the protected passed pawn will win in the end. Wh needs to bring back his B, via, Kf1, f3 & Bg1( Bl's B is not doing much at the moment either}) 31... Nc2 $17 32. Ne4 Nxa1 33. Rxa1 Qd3 (33... Qe2 {is better as then Wh must retreat from e4} 34. Ng3 (34. Nfd2 Rxd2 35. Nxd2 Qxd2) 34... Qb2 35. Ra2 Qb1+ 36. Nf1 a5 $19 {Bl wins easily on the Q side, with 3 Wh pieces tangled up on the K side}) 34. Ned2 Qd5 (34... e4 {wins a N}) 35. Qxd5 Rxd5 36. Bg3 f5 $2 {loosens Bl's structure- Rs are bad defenders, & they themselves now become targets} (36... Rd3 37. Kf1 Rcd8 38. Ke2 Rc3 $19) 37. Nc4 $11 e4 38. Nb6 Rcd8 {both sides were now at just over 3 mins each} 39. Bc7 $2 (39. Nxd5 Rxd5 40. Ne1 {Bl's active pieces compensate for the pawn down}) 39... Rd1+ 40. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 41. Kh2 exf3 {and Wh is a R down} 42. g3 Bd8 43. Bf4 g5 44. Bd6 Rxd6 { Normal} 0-1 [Event "Dyfed Online League"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.20"] [Round "10.4"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Hammett, Scott"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1590"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "106"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. d4 g6 (1... f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 b6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 ( 7. a3 O-O {Gunn-Hammett, Dyfed March rapid, 2021, 1/2-1/2}) 7... O-O { Gunn-Hammett, WCU U1800 Online 2020, 1/2-1/2}) 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. e4 {no need for Wh's usual e3} d6 4. Nc3 e6 {Bl has been using the Hippopotamous a couple of time recently.} (4... Nf6 {mainline Pirc}) 5. Bd3 Nd7 6. O-O Ne7 7. Re1 (7. Be3 {main}) 7... b6 (7... O-O 8. e5 b6 9. exd6 (9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 dxe5 11. Be4 Rb8 12. dxe5 b5 13. Qd3 Qe8 14. b4 a5 15. bxa5 b4 16. a6 Bxa6 17. Qxa6 bxc3 18. a4 $14 {Rutkus-Melhorn, RCCA , ICCF, 2018,1/2-1/2}) 9... cxd6 10. Bf4 Nf6 11. Nb5 Ne8 12. Be4 d5 13. Bd3 a6 14. Na3 b5 15. c3 $16 {Plofsson-Glowatzky, Batic Sea tt, ICCF 2002,1-0}) 8. b3 {unusual, but countering the g7 B} (8. Bf4 Bb7 9. Qd2 {main,3-2-2 results}) 8... Bb7 9. Bb2 a6 (9... O-O 10. Qd2 Re8 11. Re2 Rc8 12. Rae1 c6 13. Ba3 c5 (13... Qc7) 14. Nb5 Nf6 15. Nxa7 Ra8 16. Nb5 Bc6 17. dxc5 dxc5 18. Qc1 $16 {Legradi-Totos,HUN ch tm 2002,1-0}) 10. Qe2 h6 11. Nd1 { regrouping and gaining space} O-O 12. c4 a5 (12... e5 13. d5 f5 $14 {is a King's Indian, where both sides have gained & lost a few tempi}) 13. Nc3 (13. Ne3 $5) 13... Ba6 {not sure of the intent of this; Stockfish13 thinks Wh can either respond as in the text, or seek to gain extra space with e5 himself} ( 13... e5) 14. Rad1 (14. e5 Bb7 15. exd6 cxd6 16. Nb5 Nf6 17. d5 e5 18. a4 $16 { Stockfish13}) 14... c5 15. dxc5 (15. Bb1 $16 {Stockfish13}) (15. d5 e5 16. Kh1 $16 {Stockfish13}) 15... Nxc5 16. Bc2 (16. e5 d5 17. Bc2 Ra7 18. Ba3 Nc6 19. Qe3 Rd7 $11 {Stockfish13}) 16... Qc7 17. Nb5 (17. Nd4 $16 {keeps more options , especially keeping b5 for a N}) 17... Bxb5 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. cxb5 Rfd8 $11 20. e5 d5 (20... dxe5 21. Nxe5 Rxd1 22. Rxd1 Rd8 $11) 21. h3 (21. Nd4 $16) (21. h4 $16) 21... Rd7 22. Nh2 (22. Nd4) (22. Qe3) 22... d4 23. Ng4 d3 {not really neccessary, but it is tricky to mobilize Wh's extra half pawn on the Q side after this} (23... Rad8 $15) 24. Bxd3 Nxd3 25. Rxd3 Rxd3 26. Qxd3 $14 Rd8 27. Qe2 (27. Qc4 $5) 27... Nf5 (27... Nd5 28. Qd2 g5 29. Rc1 Nf4 30. Qc2 Qxc2 31. Rxc2 Rd5 32. a4 Rd3 33. Rc6 Rxb3 34. Rxb6 Rb4 35. Nf6 Ng6 36. Nh5+ Kh7 37. Nf6+ Kg7 $11 {Stockfish13}) 28. Nf6 Nd4 29. Qc4 Qb7 (29... Qxc4 30. bxc4 Rc8 31. Nd7 Rxc4 32. Nxb6 Rb4 33. a4 $16) 30. Ne4 $16 (30. Re4 Nf5 31. Qc3 Ne7 32. Rc4 Nd5 33. Qd4 Qb8 34. Rc6 $18 {Stockfish13}) (30. a4 Qb8 31. h4 $18 {Stockfish13- since Bl's heavy pieces are passive (the N is OK) Wh can opt for a K side diversion}) (30. Ne8+ {looked at by this kibitzer on the night} Rxe8 (30... Kg8 31. Nd6 $18) 31. Qxd4 $16 {Wh controls the centre with extra space , which often leads to trouble for the opposing K} Rc8 32. Rd1 Rc5 33. Qf4 Rd5 34. Qf6+ Kg8 35. Rc1 Qb8 36. f4 Qe8 (36... Rxb5 37. Rd1 Rd5 38. Rxd5 exd5 39. e6 $18) 37. Rc3 Rxb5 38. f5 $18 {Stockfish13}) 30... Qd5 31. Qxd5 (31. Nd6 $1 $18 { a general rule, let the other person do the exchanging ( which often results in pieces coming forward)} Qxc4 32. bxc4 (32. Nxc4 Nxb5 33. Nxb6 Nc3 $14) 32... Nf5 33. Rd1 $18 {the extra pawn is an improved one now}) 31... Rxd5 {the R has been brought into play & runs riot} 32. Nc3 (32. Nd6 Nxb5 $11) 32... Rc5 33. Na4 (33. Rd1) 33... Rxb5 34. f4 (34. Rd1 Nc6 35. Rd6 Nb4 36. Nxb6 Nxa2 37. Nc4 Rxb3 38. Nxa5 $11 {getting rid of the Q side pawns needs doing against Bl's now active co-operating pieces}) 34... Rb4 35. Kf2 (35. Re4 $11) 35... Nf5 36. Rc1 $2 {actitity, but no need to give away pawns that easily} (36. g3) 36... Rxf4+ $19 37. Kg1 b5 38. Nc5 Nd4 (38... g5) (38... h5) 39. Rd1 Ne2+ 40. Kh2 Rd4 (40... Rf5 41. Nd7 h5 42. Rd2 Nc3 $19 {Stockfish13}) 41. Rxd4 Nxd4 42. Nb7 (42. Kg3 f5 43. exf6+ Kxf6 44. Kf4 Ne2+ 45. Ke3 Nc1 46. a4 bxa4 47. bxa4 Ke5 $17) 42... Nc6 $19 43. Kg3 a4 (43... Nxe5 44. Nxa5 b4 45. Kf4 Nd3+ 46. Ke3 Nc1 47. Nc6 Nxa2 48. Kd4 Kf6 49. Kc5 Kf5 $19 50. Nxb4 Nxb4 51. Kxb4 e5 $19 { Stockfish13-Bl pawns travel faster}) 44. bxa4 bxa4 45. Nc5 (45. Kf4 g5+ 46. Ke4 h5 47. g3 a3 48. Nd6 Nb4 49. Nc4 Nxa2 50. Nxa3 $15 {probably drawn in the end}) 45... a3 46. Nd3 (46. Nd7 $5) 46... g5 47. Kf2 Kg6 48. Ke3 Kf5 (48... f5 49. exf6 Kxf6 50. g4 Ke7 $19) (48... h5 49. g4 h4 $15 {turns h3 into a potential taget}) 49. g4+ $11 {the K's journey is delayed} Kg6 50. Ke4 (50. Kd2 $11 f5 51. exf6 Kxf6 52. Kc3 Ne5 (52... e5 53. Nc5 Ke7 54. Kc4 (54. Kb3 Kd6 $17) 54... Nd4 55. Kd5 Nf3 56. Ne4 Ng1 57. Kxe5 Nxh3 58. Nd2 Nf2 59. Kf5 Kf7 60. Nc4 $11 { Stockfish13})) 50... h5 (50... f6 51. exf6 Kxf6 $19 {Stockfish13}) 51. Nf2 (51. Ke3 Ne7 52. Nb4 $11) 51... Nb4 (51... h4 $17 {Stockfish13 & Rudy, keeps an extra possibility}) 52. Nd3 Nxa2 53. Nc5 (53. Kd4 $1 {leads to a very elegant dance with Ks & Ns} hxg4 54. hxg4 f5 55. exf6 Kxf6 56. Kc4 e5 57. Nc5 (57. Kb3 e4 58. Ne1 Nc1+ 59. Kxa3 Ke5 $19) 57... Nc1 58. Ne4+ Kf7 59. Kc3 Ke6 60. Nxg5+ Kd5 61. Nh3 $11 {Stockfish13}) 53... Nc1 $19 {Normal} 0-1 [Event "WCU Open Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.27"] [Round "4.1"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Waterfield, John"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "2078"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,90,19,-12,56,48,32,-10,-5,-14,16,-4,-2,-5,-15,6,1,-14,-24,-44,-29,-36, -26,-102,-62,-46,-48,-58,-76,-78,-78,-92,-84,-41,-58,-111,-67,-70,-56,-59,-59, -59,-50,-51,-57,-101,-57,-105,-68,-81,-84,-80,-72,-58,-25,-28,-23,-20,-3,-12, -21,-9,-21,-25,-29,-2,2,-7,-1,1,6,7,4,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0] } 1. c4 {most games between the 2 players have been with 1 e4} g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. h4 (3. g3) (3. d4) 3... Nf6 4. d4 d5 (4... d6) 5. cxd5 {Wh chooses the wrong formation for making use of the early h4 against the now Grunfeld setup ( new to both players)} (5. h5 {64 % for Wh} Nxh5 (5... O-O {is inferior}) 6. cxd5 $14 {elite GM practice}) 5... Nxd5 6. e4 (6. h5 {64 % for Wh,eg} c5 7. e3 cxd4 8. exd4 Nc6 9. Bb5 Qa5 10. Bxc6+ bxc6 11. Nge2 Ba6 12. Bd2 Nb4 {S Williams-C Beaumont,4NCL 1999,1/2-1/2}) 6... Nxc3 7. bxc3 c5 8. Be3 {in these lines Wh's early h4 is less effective, just a tempo down} Nc6 9. Bb5 $146 {Wh didnt want to leave this piece out of the game} (9. e5 {main, 0-3}) (9. Ne2 Qa5 10. Bd2 O-O 11. h5 Rd8 12. d5 $11 Ne5 13. Nf4 (13. Ng3 $11) 13... c4 $15 {Smith-Sun, Wld ch, ICCF 2016,0-1}) (9. d5 {considered} Bxc3+ 10. Bd2 Bxa1 11. Qxa1 Nd4 12. Qc3 Qb6 13. Bd3 Bg4 14. f3 Bd7 15. Ne2 f6 16. Be3 Nxe2 17. Kxe2 Rc8 18. h5 g5 19. e5 fxe5 20. Rb1 Qf6 {Fahnenschmidt-A Braun, Staufer op Schwaebisch Gmuend 2003,0-1}) 9... O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qa4 (11. Rc1) 11... cxd4 12. cxd4 c5 ( 12... a5 $17) 13. Rd1 (13. Ne2) 13... Bd7 (13... cxd4 14. Bxd4 Bxd4 15. Rxd4 ( 15. Qxd4 Qa5+ 16. Qd2 Qb6 17. Ne2 Ba6 18. Nc3 (18. O-O Rad8 19. Qc2 Rc8 20. Qd2 Rfd8 $19) 18... e6 $19) 15... Qb6 16. Ne2 Ba6 17. Rh3 Rac8 18. Ra3 Bb5 19. Qb3 h5 20. Qb2 Rc5 $17 {Stockfish13}) 14. Qa3 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Bxd4 (15... Bg4 16. f3 Bxd4 17. Ne2 e5 18. fxg4 Rc8 19. Nxd4 exd4 20. Qxa7 Rc2 21. O-O Qxh4 22. Qxd4 Qxg4 23. Rf2 Rxf2 24. Kxf2 Re8 $17 {Stockfish13- though with equal material, perhaps Wh has survival chances}) 16. Rxd4 Qc7 (16... Rb8) 17. Qd3 (17. Ne2 Bb5 18. Qb2 Bxe2 19. Kxe2 Rab8 20. Qd2 Rb6 $11 {Stockfish13}) (17. Qxe7 {looked far too dangerous} Qc3+ 18. Rd2 Ba4 $19) 17... Qc1+ (17... Rad8 18. Ne2 Bb5 $19 {Stockfish13} 19. Qxb5 Rxd4 20. Nxd4 Qc1+ 21. Ke2 Qxh1 $19) 18. Qd1 Qc3+ 19. Qd2 Qa1+ 20. Qd1 Qxd1+ (20... Qc3+ {and draw offer expected}) 21. Rxd1 Be6 ( 21... Bc6 22. f3 Rfb8 23. Ne2 Rb2 24. Rd2 Rb1+ 25. Rd1 Rab8 26. O-O R1b2 $15 { Stockfish13}) 22. Rd2 (22. a3) 22... Rfd8 (22... Rfb8 23. Ne2 (23. a3 Rb1+ 24. Rd1 Rab8 25. Ne2 Rxd1+ 26. Kxd1 Rb1+ 27. Nc1 Rb2 28. Nd3 Ra2 29. Re1 Bc4 30. Re3 Rxa3 $19) 23... Rb1+ 24. Rd1 Rb4 (24... Bxa2 25. Rxb1 Bxb1 26. f3 a5 $19 { looks simpler}) 25. Rd4 a5 26. a3 Rb2 27. Rd2 Rab8 $19 {Stockfish13- in all of these lines Wh keeps being a tempo behind because h4 has not led to the desired K side advance for Wh}) 23. a3 Rxd2 24. Kxd2 Rd8+ 25. Kc2 Rd4 (25... Bc4 26. f3 Bf1 27. g3 Rd3 28. Kb2 (28. a4 Ra3 29. Kb2 Rxa4 30. Rh2 Bc4 $19) 28... Bg2 {is worse} 29. Rh2 Bxf3 30. Nxf3 Rxf3 $19 {Stockfish13}) 26. f3 f5 ( 26... Ra4 27. Kb2 Rd4 28. Kc2 Rc4+ 29. Kb2 Kg7 30. Ne2 f5 31. Nc3 $11 { Stockfish13}) 27. Ne2 $11 {and Wh finally gets to develop the N} Ra4 28. Kb2 fxe4 29. Nc3 Rd4 30. Nxe4 Bd5 31. Re1 (31. Nc3 {Stockfish13} Bb7 32. Kc2 $11) 31... Bxe4 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 33. fxe4 Kf7 34. Kc3 {initially Wh thought that this ending favoured Wh, with the K one step ahead of Bl's. However some careful move counting showed that Wh was not winning if he went for the a pawn} Ke6 35. Kd4 (35. Kc4 Ke5 36. Kb5 Kxe4 37. Ka6 e5 38. Kxa7 Kf4 39. a4 e4 40. a5 e3 41. a6 e2 42. Kb8 e1=Q 43. a7 {and Wh is lost}) 35... Kd6 36. e5+ (36. a4 h6 37. a5 a6 38. g4 e5+ 39. Kc4 Kc6 {no entry either K, other than complete blunders}) 36... Kc6 37. a4 h6 38. g4 e6 39. Kc4 a5 40. Kd4 g5 41. hxg5 hxg5 42. Kc4 Kb6 43. Kd4 Kc6 44. Kc4 Kb6 45. Kd4 Kc6 {Normal} 1/2-1/2 [Event "WCU Open Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.27"] [Round "4.2"] [White "Jones, Ian R"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C47"] [WhiteElo "2007"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,95,28,16,71,23,5,31,18,-54,-9,-18,-9,-11,0,-2,16,-19,39,35,109,65,138, 47,91,50,54,46,81,34,96,63,73,65,55,47,58,39,64,55,57,58,62,62,62,45,45,30,27, 1,39,15,21,19,22,-15,-4,10,0,0,0,-33,-7,-14,0,0,0,0,0,-3,0,9,103,103,122,53,53, 38,224,270,272,121,114,118,116,101,115,102,110,102,104,96,96,99,96,109,240,241] } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 {offering a Petroff to avoid prepared lines} (2... Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 {Orton- Watkin-Jones, Dyfed Online League 2020,0-1 }) 3. Nc3 (3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. Nxe5 Nd7 6. Nxd7 Bxd7 7. O-O Qh4 {Jones-R Van Kemenade,WCPL 2015,1/2-1/2 the only other Petroff in OTB for Wh}) 3... Nc6 (3... Bb4 4. d3 d5 5. Bd2 d4 6. Ne2 Bd6 7. g3 c5 {IR Jones-IC Jones, West Wales op 1999,0-1}) 4. g3 {the Glek variation} d6 (4... Bc5 5. Bg2 d6 (5... O-O 6. O-O Re8 7. d3 h6 8. h3 d6 9. Na4 Bb6 10. Nxb6 axb6 11. a3 {Jones-Mihaylova, 4NCL online 2020,1-0 [ some resmblances to O Davies- R Van Kemenade, Dyfed League Online 2021,0-1 , except the Wh N on e2 enabling early d4].}) 6. d3 Nd4 7. h3 c6 8. Nxd4 Bxd4 9. Qf3 h6 {Jones-Young,West Wales op 2017,1/2-1/2}) 5. Bg2 Be7 6. h3 {Glek plays this move early to avoid pins} O-O 7. O-O Re8 (7... h6 8. d4 {main, 82 % for Wh}) 8. Re1 $146 (8. d4 {is more active, 71% for Wh}) (8. d3) 8... Bf8 9. d4 Nd7 10. Be3 (10. d5 Ne7 11. a4 a5 12. Nb5 Nc5 13. b3 Bd7 14. Ba3 b6 $14 {Stockfish13}) 10... g6 11. Qd2 (11. Bg5 $16 {Stockfish13} f6 12. Be3 a5) 11... Bg7 12. Rad1 Nb6 13. b3 Bd7 {Stockfish13 thinks Wh is now winning, not directly picked up in lichess analysis. Though looks unclear to this commentator.} 14. a4 (14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nd4 Nc6 16. Nde2 $18 { Stockfish13- agreed , Wh has a space advantage. But, enough for a forced win? Karpov?}) 14... Nxd4 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. Bxd4 Bc6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. f4 a5 19. g4 (19. Ne2 Kg8 20. Nd4 $18 {Stockfish13- same comments as above}) 19... h6 (19... Qh4 {seems better, both Engines}) 20. Qd4+ (20. Ne2 Kg8 21. Nd4 Qh4 22. Qc3 $18 {Stockfish13}) 20... Qf6 21. e5 (21. Ne2 $14) 21... dxe5 22. fxe5 Qe6 $11 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Qe4 Rad8 (24... Nd7 {wins the e5 pawn} 25. Qf4 Re7 26. Ne4 Qxe5 27. Qxe5+ Nxe5 $11 {Stockfish13, initially slight Bl advantage. yes, the doubled c pawns are weak, but Bl does have an extra K side pawn}) 25. Rxd8 Rxd8 26. Re2 Nd5 (26... Nd7 $15 {both Engines}) 27. Nxd5 cxd5 28. Qd4 Qb6 29. Qxb6 cxb6 $11 30. c3 Rc8 31. Re3 f6 (31... Rc5 $11) 32. exf6+ Kxf6 33. Kf2 h5 34. gxh5 gxh5 35. Ke2 Rc5 {timing in chess is crucial. What was best 4 moves ago, is now losing!} (35... Rg8 $1 {Bl has opened a file & should use it, rather than use the R to protect pawns, it needs to attack} 36. Kd3 Rg1 $11 {both Engines}) 36. Kd3 Kg5 37. Re5+ (37. Kd4 $1) 37... Kh4 38. Kd4 Kxh3 $2 (38... Rc6 {preferred both Engines} 39. Re3 Rg6 40. Kxd5 Rg3 41. Rxg3 Kxg3 42. Kc6 { is losing it seems} Kxh3 43. Kxb6 Kg3 {both Kg4 & Kg2 are inferior} 44. c4 { other moves only draw} h4 45. c5 h3 46. c6 h2 47. c7 h1=Q 48. c8=Q Qd5 { and Lomonosov tablebases proclaim mate in 64 with best play on both sides.}) 39. Rxh5+ Kg4 40. Rxd5 (40. Rh6 $1 {targets b6, & leaves d5 till later, both players wsere down to 3 mins}) 40... Rc6 41. c4 Kf4 42. c5 {typical of lichess , it gives the text move ?? just because Wh does not choose the more complex maximal winning way.} (42. Rd8 Re6 43. Rf8+ {drives the Bl K further away and makes Wh's game easier} Kg3 44. Kd5 Rh6 (44... Re3 45. Rb8 Rxb3 46. c5 $18) 45. Rc8) 42... bxc5+ 43. Rxc5 Ra6 44. Kc4 Ke4 45. Kb5 Ra8 46. Rc6 {and yet another ?? from lichess for not going for the clearly more complex alernatives below. In any case Lomonosov tablebases give the text as a mate in 42; terrible when you can have a mate in 40 or even in 36 that lichess has missed as the real best (objectively) ( but with 3 mins?)} (46. Rc3 {claimed as best by lichess- mate in 40 Lomonosov}) (46. Kc4 {Stockfish13 best- mate in 36 Lomonosov best both variations involve more R wriggling than the text,}) 46... Kd5 {a Q mark from lichess, yet} (46... Kd4 {going for the b pawn is the best bet, & then Wh has to find} 47. Rc4+ {as, almost incredibly, this is the only winning move! To mate in 41 Lomonosov tablebases.}) 47. Rb6 {now this does deserve the ?? of lichess,as Bl can save the game with} (47. Rc3 $18) (47. Rc5+ Kd4 48. Rc4+ Kd5 49. Rc3 $18 {keeping the K cut off. R & P endings are seldom simple.}) 47... Ra7 $2 {missing the chance} (47... Kd4 $1 $11 {Lomonsov table bases- basically Wh gets left with an a pawn, Wh down to 2 mins, Bl at 3.}) 48. Rb8 $18 {Normal} (48. Ra6 {also}) 1-0 [Event "WCU Open Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.27"] [Round "4.3"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Hughes, Anthony"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A85"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1942"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,61,16,28,55,56,68,54,54,25,43,33,33,20,32,22,29,20,37,39,130,58,70,48, 34,17,22,-19,9,14,23,7,9,-7,-5,-22,24,-28,-8,-39,39,-6,13,-5,-11,-25,0,-43,-48, -45,-45,-40,-13,-16,-20,-21,-15,-27,-24,-30,-30,-33,-29,-34]} 1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 (2... e6 3. Bg5 Be7 4. Bxe7 Qxe7 5. a3 Nf6 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 b6 8. Nbd2 Bb7 9. c4 d6 {Havlikova-Hughes, Wls Seniors 50 + Prague 2020,0-1}) 3. e3 (3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 d6 7. Bd3 b6 8. O-O Bb7 {Weersing-Hughes, 4NCL 2019, 1/2-1/2}) 3... e6 4. c4 (4. Bd3 b6 5. Nbd2 Bb7 6. O-O Be7 7. a3 (7. c4 O-O 8. Qc2 Na6 9. a3 d6 10. Re1 Qe8 11. b4 {Gunn-Hammett, WCU Online U1800, 2020,1/2-1/2}) 7... O-O 8. b4 Ne4 9. Bb2 {Gunn-Hammett, Dyfed March Rapid 2021, 1/2-1/2}) 4... Be7 (4... d5 {main}) 5. Nc3 b6 6. Bd3 Bb7 7. O-O O-O 8. b3 Ne4 9. Bb2 Bf6 (9... Qe8) (9... d6 {main lines}) 10. Qc2 (10. Rc1 {2-1-2 results}) 10... Nxc3 (10... d5 11. Ne5 Na6 12. a3 Nac5 13. Nxe4 Nxe4 $16 { Shubny-Prokopenko, Dvorkovich memorial, Taganrog 2014,0-1}) 11. Bxc3 Bxf3 12. gxf3 c5 13. d5 Bxc3 14. Qxc3 exd5 (14... Qg5+ 15. Kh1 Qh5 16. Rg1 (16. Be2) 16... Qxf3+ 17. Rg2 g6 18. Qe5 Na6 19. dxe6 dxe6 20. Qxe6+ Kg7 $11 {ERwich-Ahn, BEL ch tm 2007, 1/2-1/2}) (14... Qe7 $11 {Stockfish13}) 15. cxd5 d6 16. Kh1 Nd7 17. Rg1 Qf6 18. Qc2 $2 (18. Qxf6 Rxf6 19. f4 $11 {Stockfish13}) 18... Rae8 ( 18... Ne5 $1 {gives Bl a chance, that Stockfish13 judges as winning} 19. Kg2 ( 19. Qe2 f4 20. Be4 Rae8 21. exf4 (21. Raf1 Qh6 22. Rg2 g6 23. Rfg1 Rf6 { still looks unclear}) 21... Qxf4 22. Rae1 Re7 (22... Nxf3 23. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 24. Bxf3 Rxe1 25. Rxe1 Rxf3 $19) 23. Rg3 g6 $19 {Bl is definitelt better- the N is far superior to the B, but there seems no clear breakthrough as yet.}) (19. f4 Nf3 {with threats to h2 & a hanging R on a1}) 19... Qg5+ 20. Kf1 Qh5 21. f4 Qh3+ 22. Ke2 Qh5+ 23. Kf1 Ng4 24. Be2 Qh3+ 25. Rg2 Nxh2+ $19) 19. f4 Kh8 20. Rae1 {a blocked position, with neither side having much chance of a breakthrough} g6 21. Qd2 Re7 22. Re2 Qf7 23. Bc2 (23. Bc4 $1) 23... Nf6 (23... b5 {might give Bl some (later) Q side chances}) 24. Rd1 Ne4 $6 {in a blocked position Ns are better than Bs (which always run the risk of being bad)} (24... g5 {opening up the position is given by lichess analysis and Stockfish13 as Bl's lat chance} 25. fxg5 Ne4 $1 26. Bxe4 fxe4 27. Rg1 Qf3+ 28. Rg2 Rf5 29. Kg1 Rg7 30. h4 h6 $19 {suddenly the Bl heavy pieces have become dominant}) 25. Bxe4 Rxe4 (25... fxe4 26. Rg1 $15 {but Wh can rearrange his pieces}) 26. f3 Re7 27. Rde1 Qf6 28. Qd3 (28. Qb2 $11) 28... Kg7 29. Rf1 Qh4 30. Qd2 Rfe8 31. Rfe1 { Normal} (31. Qe1 Qf6 32. Qd2 $15) (31. Rfe1 Qh3 32. Rf2 b5 33. a3 a5 $15 { Stockfish13}) 1/2-1/2 [Event "WCU Open Online"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.04.27"] [Round "4.4"] [White "Morgans, Justin"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1674"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "150"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 (2... Nc6 {Morgans 0-5-1.5}) 3. f4 Nf6 (3... e6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Qc7 6. O-O a6 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6 8. d3 Nf6 9. Qe1 {Duncan Williams-Holman, rd3 WCU Online Open 2021,1-0}) (3... Nc6 {main}) 4. Nf3 a6 5. a4 Nc6 6. Be2 (6. Bc4 {main}) (6. d4 cxd4 7. Nxd4 e5 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. fxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8+ Kxd8 11. Bc4 {Carlsen-Firouzja, Magnus-Alireza Bullet blitz 2021,1-0}) 6... Nd4 $11 ( 6... e6 {main, 29 games}) 7. O-O Nxe2+ 8. Qxe2 e6 9. a5 Be7 10. d3 O-O { both sides retain flexibility with a variety of plans available} 11. Bd2 (11. e5 $5) 11... b6 12. e5 Nd7 13. Ne4 d5 14. Ng3 b5 {it is a relative to a King's Indian Attack against the French} 15. f5 exf5 16. Nxf5 {Wh has a dangerous initiative on the K side} Re8 (16... Nb8 {Bl needs to avoid Wh's next move; and be Engine accurate in defence} 17. Nxe7+ Qxe7 18. Bg5 Qa7 19. Qd2 Nc6 20. Bf6 Ne7 21. Rae1 h6 22. Nh4 Kh7 23. Re3 Rg8 $14 {Stockfish13}) 17. e6 $18 Nf6 18. exf7+ Kxf7 19. Ng5+ (19. Ne5+ Kg8 20. Nxg7 $1 Kxg7 21. Bh6+ $1 Kg8 (21... Kxh6 22. Qe3+ (22. Nf7+ {picks up a Q, but the Engine keeps the K in the frame a bit longer}) 22... Kh5 23. Nf7 Ng4 24. Qh3+ Kg6 25. Nxd8 $18) 22. Qf2 Qc7 23. Qf4 Bf8 24. Qg3+ Ng4 25. Nxg4 Qxg3 26. Nf6+ Kh8 27. Nxe8 Bxh6 28. hxg3 $18 { Stockfish13- not an easy variation to calculate}) 19... Kg8 20. Ne6 {looks Ok, & yet it should lose} (20. Nxe7+ Qxe7 21. Qf2 Qe2 22. Qf4 Qe5 23. Rae1 Qxf4 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. Bxf4 $16 {Stockfish13}) 20... Bd6 (20... Bf8 $1 $19 { Stockfish13- guards g7} 21. Nxd8 Rxe2 {and several Wh pieces are loose}) 21. Nfxg7 $18 Rxe6 22. Nxe6 Qe7 23. Rae1 Bd7 24. Nf4 Qg7 {Bl is an exchange & a pawn down now, but hopes that his Bs can manage something against the Wh K} ( 24... Qxe2 25. Nxe2 Rf8) 25. Qf3 (25. Nh5 Nxh5 26. Qxh5 {dimishes Bl counterplay}) 25... Rf8 26. Qg3 (26. Nxd5) (26. Nh5) 26... Rf7 27. Qxg7+ Rxg7 28. Ne6 Rf7 29. Bg5 (29. Nd8 Rf8 30. Bh6 Rxd8 31. Rxf6 {and with Wh in control of the centre, Bl is in trouble}) 29... Ng4 30. Rxf7 Kxf7 31. Nd8+ Kg6 32. Be7 (32. h3 {saves an important pawn}) 32... Bxh2+ 33. Kh1 Bg3 34. Re2 c4 35. dxc4 bxc4 (35... dxc4 {objectively better, but Bl is seeking imbalances. Noboy ever saved half a point by resigning, Tartakover.}) 36. Bc5 Be5 37. c3 h5 38. Bd4 Bd6 (38... Kf5 $5) 39. Ne6 Kf5 40. Ng7+ Kg6 41. Ne8 Bg3 {everything should be winning for Wh, but which is the right plan with so many to choose from?} 42. Re7 Bb5 (42... Bc8) 43. Re6+ (43. Nc7 $18) 43... Kf7 44. Re2 $2 {Wh loses the thread- with 6 mins to 23 mins} (44. Ng7 {saves the piece , and the game}) 44... Bxe8 $19 45. Kg1 Bd7 46. Kf1 (46. Bc5) 46... Bf5 47. Kg1 Bd3 48. Rd2 Ke6 49. Rd1 Kf5 50. b4 Bc2 $2 (50... Ne5) (50... cxb3 51. Rxd3 Ne5 52. Bxe5 Bxe5 53. Rxd5 b2 54. Rd1 Bxc3 $19 {Stockfish13}) 51. Rd2 $2 (51. Rf1+ $18 Ke6 52. b5 axb5 53. a6 Bb8 54. Rf8 $18 {Stockfish13}) 51... Ba4 52. Re2 Bd6 53. Re1 Bd7 54. Rf1+ Kg6 (54... Ke4) 55. Rf3 Ne5 {now that Bl has an advantage, it now up to him to work out which of the many plans will ensure victory} 56. Rg3+ Bg4 57. Re3 Nc6 58. Bh8 Bd7 (58... d4 59. Bxd4 Nxd4 60. cxd4 Bxb4 $19 {the two Bs sheperd the passed pawn through}) 59. Rf3 Be5 60. Bxe5 Nxe5 61. Rf8 Ng4 (61... d4 62. cxd4 Nd3 {wins quickly, lichess & Stockfish13}) 62. Rd8 Nf6 63. Kf1 Kf7 64. Ke2 Ke7 65. Ra8 Bb5 (65... Ne4 66. Rxa6 Nxc3+ 67. Ke1 Ne4 {Bl's two centre pawns, backed by the two pieces will win quicly}) 66. Ke3 Ne4 (66... Kd6 67. Kd4 Ne8 $19 {Stockfish13}) 67. Kd4 Kd6 (67... Ng3 68. Kxd5 Ne2 69. Rh8 Nxc3+ 70. Kd4 Na2 $17) 68. Rh8 $11 (68. Rd8+ $11) 68... Nf6 69. Rh6 Ke6 70. Rh8 Kd6 71. Rh6 Ke6 72. Rh8 Bc6 73. Rh6 Be8 74. g3 Kf7 75. Ke5 $2 {the final mistake, with 2 mins leftwhen Wh was in sight of a draw} (75. Rh8 Ke7 76. Rh6 {and Bl can make no progress}) 75... Ng4+ $19 {Normal} 0-1