Match of the Day

After our defeat in the first round of the Open Section of the WCU Online League, Aberystwyth did much better against Morriston on Thursday 4th November. Rudy van Kemenade's Bird's Opening brought him no middlegame advantage against Peter Bevan, and they arrived at the ending equal. Apparently Black was distracted by the football at this stage, and went wrong, dropping a pawn and accepting an unfavourable exchange that left him with a weak bishop against a strong knight, after which Rudy was able to win comfortably. Adam Watkin-Jones's Pirc against Chris Howells quickly transposed into a King's Indian - I'm not sure whether this was intended or not, but Black's position seemed awkward and he was two pawns down when he resigned, perhaps a bit prematurely, given the opposite-coloured bishops. Against Francisco Marin Marin in a Closed Sicilian, my kingside attack was faster than Black's counter on the queenside and in the centre, and the push of the f-pawn broke open his king's position. My queen's bishop remained on its home square all game. Sam Holman's game against Duncan Williams was another King's Indian, in which Black had a dynamic position and good chances in the early stages. After locking his bishop in, though, he came under pressure, and eventually dropped a rook. A 2-2 draw was a good result for Aber.

In games for other teams, Tom got a good win against Keith Briggs's Slav Defence, exploiting Black's queenside weakness to get a passed pawn, then winning with a nice tactic, while Sam, in another King's-Indian-like opening again had a dynamic position against Gwyn Evans, but after both sides made mistakes in the ending the game was drawn.

[Event "WCU Online Open3"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.11.04"] [Round "2.1"] [White "Van Kemenade, R."] [Black "Bevan, Peter M"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A03"] [WhiteElo "1999"] [BlackElo "1929"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "111"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,111,19,-30,-33,-19,-33,-74,-40,-40,-40,-39,0,-3,-20,-67,-44,-50,16, -75,-77,-75,-68,-70,-62,-62,-51,-79,-77,-77,-44,-46,-52,-51,-65,-43,-49,-37, -46,-57,-73,-65,-46,-76,-56,-60,-93,-93,-72,-72,-92,-117,9,13,-13,-18,-33,-45, -52,-50,-42,-40,-42,-28,-35,-20,0,0,22,23,8,9,12,-20,0,0,0,-8,0,-7,0,0,79,74, 127,135,131,156,235,144,182,123,286,322,362,212,236,178,227,239,291,283,291, 339,370,398,395,405,444,473,519,572,761,992]} 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c5 4. Bg2 g6 5. O-O Bg7 6. d3 Nc6 7. Qe1 (7. c3 O-O 8. Qe1 b6 9. Na3 Ba6 10. h3 h5 11. Ng5 {Van Kemenade-Bevan, WCPL 2014,0-1}) 7... b6 8. h3 (8. e4 {3-1-1}) 8... Nd4 (8... Bb7 {1-1}) 9. Na3 (9. Nxd4 {Bl thought Wh could have played this} cxd4 10. Qf2 (10. Nd2 Bd7 11. Nf3 Qc8 12. Kh2 Qxc2 13. b3 O-O 14. Qf2 Rfe8 15. Ba3 Qc3 $11) 10... O-O 11. Qxd4 Be6 12. Qf2 Qc8 13. g4 Qxc2 $11 {KomodoDragon2} ) 9... Nxf3+ 10. Rxf3 Bb7 11. Rf1 (11. Rf2) 11... O-O $15 12. c3 (12. g4 Qd7 13. f5 {is perhaps worth a try, though KomodoDragon2 counters with} Ne8 (13... d4 $17) 14. c3 Nd6 15. Bf4 e5 $17 {though Wh retains some chances of getting some K side play}) 12... Qd7 13. e4 $6 {this should have been played earlier, or held back now} dxe4 14. dxe4 Ne8 (14... Qc6 $1 $17 {KomodoDragon2- wins the e pawn (which is why earlier the R should have gone to f2)}) 15. e5 (15. Qd1 $11) 15... Bxg2 16. Kxg2 f6 (16... Qd5+ {takes the open file, but Wh has enough resources} 17. Kh2 Rd8 18. Be3 $11) 17. Qe4 Nc7 18. Nc4 (18. exf6 exf6 19. Be3 Rae8 20. Qf3 f5 21. Rfd1 {liberates Wh's Q side}) 18... b5 {can leave c5 hanging - Wh does manage to win it in the end} (18... fxe5 19. Nxe5 (19. Re1 exf4 20. Bxf4 Nd5 21. Be5 Rad8 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Re2 Rf5 24. Rae1 $15) 19... Bxe5 20. Qxe5 Rf6 21. Qe2 Rd8 22. Be3 $11 {though Bl's N is a better piece than Wh's B}) 19. exf6 (19. Ne3 {KomodoDragon} fxe5 20. f5 $11 {bypasses the Bl B}) 19... exf6 20. Ne3 (20. Na5 {considered by Wh, is a possibility}) 20... f5 21. Qb7 $5 {succeeds in luring Bl pieces offside} Rfb8 (21... Rab8 {calls Wh's bluff} 22. Qf3 (22. Qxa7 Qc6+ 23. Kh2 Ra8 $19) 22... Rfd8 $17 {Wh has problems getting the Q side into play}) 22. Qf3 (22. Rd1 $5) 22... b4 23. Rd1 ( 23. Nc4) 23... Qf7 24. c4 {attempting to stabilize the position} Bd4 (24... Re8 $1 $19 {both lichess Stockfish14 & KomodoDragon2 think this simple development should be enough for a decisive advantage}) 25. Rb1 (25. a3 {considered may well be better} a5 26. axb4 Rxb4 27. Ra3 {Komodo Dragon2- but a human will probably be happy just to grab the b2 pawn} Bxb2 (27... a4 $17 {KomodoDragon2}) 28. Bxb2 Rxb2+ 29. Kg1 Qe6 $15) 25... Ne8 (25... Re8 $1 $19 {is again given as winning by both lichess and KomodoDragon2} 26. b3 Re4 27. Nc2 Ne6 28. Rd3 (28. Be3 Bxe3 29. Nxe3 Nd4 $19) (28. Bb2 Bxb2 29. Rxb2 Re8 30. Rd3 g5 $1 $19) 28... Qb7 29. Kh2 Re8 $19 {the Wh pieces have very little activity}) 26. b3 $11 (26. Nd5 $11 {Wh was still hoping to target the c5 pawn, so was reluctant to allow Bl to exchange off the pieces, as implied by Bl's last moves} Nf6 27. Nxf6+ Qxf6 28. Be3 Bxe3 29. Qxe3 Qc6+ {and all the heavy pieces will soon swap off as well.}) 26... Nf6 27. Nc2 (27. Bb2 $5 {KomodoDragon2} Bxe3 28. Qxe3 Re8 29. Be5 Rad8 30. Qxc5 Qb7+ 31. Kh2 Qf3 32. Rd6 Rxd6 33. Qxd6 Qf2+ 34. Kh1 Qxg3 35. Qxf6 Qxh3+ {and its a perpetual}) 27... Bc3 28. Be3 Ne4 (28... Qc7) 29. Rd5 Rd8 (29... Rc8 {allows} 30. Bxc5) (29... a5 {KomodoDragon2} 30. Bxc5 a4 (30... Nd2 31. Rxd2 Bxd2 32. Nd4 Bc3 33. Nc6 Re8 34. Ne7+ Kh8 35. Nd5 Bg7 36. Rd1 Re4 $17) 31. Rbd1 axb3 32. axb3 Ra2 33. Qd3 Re8 34. Bf2 Qe6 35. Kf1 Nxf2 36. Kxf2 Qe4 37. Rc1 Rb2 $19 {KomodoDragon2}) 30. Rbd1 Qc7 31. g4 Rxd5 (31... Kh8 {let the other side do the swapping- it usually brings pieces forward}) 32. Rxd5 $11 Rd8 33. Qd1 Bf6 34. Rxd8+ (34. Qd3 Qc8) 34... Qxd8 35. Qxd8+ Bxd8 36. a3 a5 37. axb4 axb4 38. Kf3 Kf7 39. Bc1 Bf6 40. Ne3 Bc3 {gives Wh an unnecessary edge- Bl admitted afterwards being distracted by the football} (40... Nd6) 41. gxf5 Nd2+ $2 {this leaves the rather useless B facing a Nthat can cover all of the board ( also Wh already has a more active K} (41... Nd6 42. fxg6+ hxg6 { still considered level by KomodoDragon2, which targets the b3 pawn} 43. Nc2 Nb7 44. Be3 Na5 45. Bxc5 Nxb3 46. Bxb4 Bxb4 47. Nxb4 Nd2+ 48. Kg4 Nxc4 {and with the pawns all on one side it is a drawn position}) 42. Bxd2 Bxd2 43. fxg6+ hxg6 44. Ke4 $18 Ke6 45. Ng4 (45. f5+ {KomodoDragon2}) 45... Bc1 46. Ne5 g5 47. fxg5 (47. f5+ {should also be an easy win}) (47. Nd3 $1 {KomodoDragon2} Bd2 48. Nxc5+ Kd6 49. Nd3 {-there are various ways for Wh to win}) 47... Bxg5 48. Nd3 ( 48. Ng6) 48... Be7 49. Nf4+ Kf7 (49... Kd6 50. Kf5 {and the h pawn wins}) 50. Kf5 (50. Kd5) 50... Kg7 51. Ke6 Bf8 52. Nd3 (52. Kd5) 52... Kg6 53. Kd5 Kg5 54. Nxc5 Kh4 55. Nd3 Kxh3 56. c5 {Normal} 1-0 [Event "WCU Online Open 3"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.11.04"] [Round "2.2"] [White "Howells, Chris"] [Black "Watkin-Jones, Adam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "1835"] [BlackElo "1918"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,47,16,28,79,57,56,37,35,39,56,75,69,59,59,51,73,64,114,82,66,79,83,47, 43,36,76,56,72,54,53,46,69,59,65,70,101,97,119,77,115,115,148,59,78,89,89,65, 108,110]} 1. d4 d6 {new to both players it seems} 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nc3 Bf5 {looks odd, but has been played repeatedly by Kramnik & Caruana ( & other GMs), mostly in rapid or blitz, but also eg in USa ch} 5. h3 (5. g3 {main}) (5. Nh4) (5. Qb3 {both more ambitious}) 5... h5 (5... Bg7) (5... Ne4 {main lines}) 6. Bg5 (6. Ng5 {2.5-0.5}) 6... Nbd7 (6... Bg7 7. Nh4 Bc8 8. e4 Nh7 9. Be3 e5 10. Nf3 c6 11. Be2 Qe7 12. Qd2 Nd7 13. g4 $14 {Lieb-Schmidt, GER ch Seniors 1996,1-0}) (6... Ne4 {KomodoDragon2 & Stockfish5}) 7. Nh4 Nh7 8. Bd2 Bg7 (8... Nhf6 9. g3 e5 10. Bg5 exd4 11. Qxd4 Be6 12. Bg2 $16 {KomodoDragon2}) 9. Nxf5 ( 9. e4 e5 10. Nxf5 gxf5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. exf5 $18 {KomodoDragon2}) 9... gxf5 10. e3 c5 (10... h4 11. Bd3 e6 12. O-O $16 {KomodoDragon2}) 11. dxc5 (11. Qxh5 $18) 11... Nxc5 12. Qxh5 (12. b4 Ne4 13. Nxe4 fxe4 14. Rc1 $16 {KomodoDragon2}) 12... Qd7 (12... e6 $5) 13. Qd1 Nf6 14. Qc2 Nfe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bd3 Nxd2 17. Qxd2 Qe6 18. O-O O-O-O {the K looks unsafer than its counterpart. Maybe Bl had to give up hopes of play down the g and h files, and just admit to being a pawn down? A difficult decision, though KomodoDragon2 clearly knows.} 19. Qc2 ( 19. Qa5 $1 Kb8 20. Bxf5 $18 {KomodoDragon2- and Bl may be forced into offering a Q swap to avoid an immediate forceful assault against his lonesome K}) 19... Kb8 (19... Rh5 20. c5 d5 21. Rac1 Kb8 22. Rfd1 $18 {KomodoDragon2- the Wh pieces have a far more effective co-ordination}) 20. Bxf5 Qe5 21. Qe4 (21. Rfd1 ) 21... e6 22. Qxe5 Bxe5 23. Be4 f5 24. Bf3 {Normal- Although Bl has a bit of counterplay, in the end he is simply 2 pawns down.} 1-0 [Event "WCU Online Open3"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.11.04"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Francis, Matthew"] [Black "Marin Marin, Francisco Javier"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B24"] [WhiteElo "1648"] [BlackElo "1832"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 (3. f4 Nc6 4. Nf3 d6 (4... d5 5. d3 Be7 6. Qe2 d4 7. Nd1 Nf6 8. g3 O-O 9. Bg2 {Kamath-Marin Marin, 4NCL online 2021,1-0}) 5. Bb5 Bd7 6. O-O Be7 7. d3 {Allford-Marin Marin, WCU Online Open 2020,1-0}) (3. d3 Nc6 4. Nf3 d5 5. Qe2 d4 6. Nb1 e5 7. g3 Nf6 8. Bg2 Be7 9. O-O O-O 10. Nbd2 b5 { Van Kemenade J-Marin Marin, Dyfed Open 2020,0-1}) 3... Nc6 4. Bg2 Nf6 (4... Nge7 5. d3 Ng6 6. f4 Be7 7. Nf3 a6 8. O-O O-O 9. h4 {Francis-Gozdz, Tom Weston Major Cardiff 2009,1-0}) 5. d3 d6 (5... Be7 6. f4 d5 7. e5 Nd7 8. Nf3 a6 9. O-O O-O 10. Kh1 {Francis-Bridges, Tom Weston Major, 2009,1/2-1/2}) (5... Rb8 6. f4 d6 7. Nf3 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. h3 Ne8 10. Be3 a6 {Francis-Price, Dyfed Major 2008, 0-1}) 6. f4 Be7 7. Nf3 O-O 8. O-O Qb6 {looks at the K, but obstructs the b5 advance Bl usually relies on in the Closed Sicilian} (8... a6) (8... Rb8) (8... Bd7) (8... Qc7 {main lines}) 9. h3 (9. Kh1) 9... Re8 (9... Bd7 {3-2}) 10. Rb1 ( 10. Kh2 h6 11. Nd2 Nd4 12. Nc4 Qc7 13. Be3 Rd8 14. e5 dxe5 15. Nxe5 Nf5 16. Bf2 Rb8 17. a4 {Vivas Font-Celdran Hernandez, ESP cup ICCF 2013,1-0}) (10. g4 $16 { KomodoDragon2}) 10... d5 11. e5 Nd7 12. Ne2 d4 (12... Qa6 13. a3 b5 14. g4 $14 {KomodoDragon2}) 13. g4 f6 14. exf6 Nxf6 15. Ng3 (15. Bd2) 15... Bd6 (15... Nd5 ) 16. Ne4 (16. Nd2 Qc7 17. Nc4 {KomodoDragon2}) 16... Nxe4 17. dxe4 e5 $6 { encourageous a pawn storm} (17... Rf8 18. e5 Be7 $11 {KomodoDragon2}) 18. f5 Bd7 19. Qe1 (19. g5 $18) (19. Nh4 $18 {KomodoDragon2}) 19... c4 20. Kh1 Nb4 { one of KomodoDragon2's lines for Bl, but more circumspect is} (20... Nd8) 21. Qh4 Nxc2 {but this too hopeful- just look at the Wh pieces poised near to a Bl K with all its troops elswhere} (21... Bf8 {brings 2 pieces to the defence, though} 22. g5 {leaves Bl with nothing much better than taking the pawn & hoping for the best id Wh overextends}) 22. Ng5 h6 23. f6 {the threat of f7ch is just too powerful, though the Engine thinks avoiding it is even worse} gxf6 24. Rxf6 (24. Qxh6 $1) (24. Qh5 $1 {are even stronger it is claimed, but Wh's choice is natural}) 24... Re7 25. Qxh6 {Normal} (25. Rxh6 {Rudy & lichess} Kg7 26. Rh7+ Kf8 27. Rh8+ Kg7 28. Qh6#) (25. Rg6+ Rg7 26. Qxh6 Kf8 27. Qh8+ Rg8 28. Rxg8+ Ke7 29. Qg7# {KomodoDragon2}) (25. Qxh6 Bc5 26. Nf3 (26. Rxb6 {looks simpler to a human eye}) 26... Ne3 27. Bxe3 dxe3 28. Nxe5 Rh7 29. Rg6+ Qxg6 30. Qxg6+ Rg7 31. Qh5 $18 {KomodoDragon2}) 1-0 [Event "WCU Open Online3"] [Site "lichess.org"] [Date "2021.11.04"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Williams, Duncan"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "1725"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "113"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [TimeControl "2700+15"] {[%evp 0,113,19,31,72,49,100,53,53,53,49,47,24,17,51,-4,15,-23,9,-164,-5,-15, 55,24,28,30,20,20,54,-22,14,-22,-14,-30,13,-72,-59,-78,-70,-101,-101,-120,-142, -144,-121,-132,28,0,0,0,0,0,5,-2,32,7,0,0,2,0,0,0,2,-1,0,-43,-41,0,0,0,461,470, 473,474,474,391,473,495,532,489,499,393,403,403,478,475,479,443,495,528,540, 543,662,755,29385,29984,29985,906,1794,28418,29987,29988,29989,29986,29987, 29988,29989,29990,29991,29990,29991,29992,29993,29994,29997,29998]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 (2... d6 3. f4 e6 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Qc7 6. O-O a6 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6 8. d3 Nf6 9. Qe1 Be7 10. Qg3 O-O 11. f5 {Williams-Holman,WCU Online Open2 , 2021,1-0} ) 3. f4 (3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 d6 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nge2 e5 7. O-O Nge7 8. Bg5 h6 9. Be3 O-O {Paffard-Holman, WCU Online3 U1800, oct 2021,0-1}) 3... Nc6 (3... d6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5+ Bd7 6. O-O (6. Bc4 Nc6 7. O-O a6 8. d3 Nh6 9. Qe1 O-O 10. Qh4 { Williams-Miga,WCU Online Open 2020,1-0}) 6... Bxb5 7. Nxb5 a6 8. Nc3 e6 9. d3 Ne7 10. Qe1 {Williams-Pettinger, 4NCL Online 2020,1/2-1/2}) 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5 Nd4 6. O-O e6 (6... Nxb5) (6... a6) 7. d3 (7. e5 {main}) 7... Ne7 8. a4 (8. Nxd4) (8. e5) 8... O-O 9. Ne2 (9. Bc4) (9. e5 {main lines}) 9... Nec6 (9... Nxf3+ 10. Rxf3 d5 $19 {the b5 B is in trouble- Cloud Engines; 0.5-1.5}) 10. c3 a6 (10... Nxf3+ 11. Rxf3 Na5 $15) 11. Nexd4 (11. cxd4 axb5 12. dxc5 Rxa4 13. Rxa4 bxa4 14. Qxa4 d6 $14 {Bl will recover the pawn}) 11... Nxd4 12. cxd4 axb5 13. dxc5 b6 {KomoDragon2} 14. d4 Bb7 15. Re1 (15. e5) 15... bxc5 (15... Qc7) 16. dxc5 Qe7 (16... Qc7 17. Qd6 {transposes}) 17. Qd6 (17. a5 $11) 17... Qxd6 18. cxd6 bxa4 $19 {Bl has open lines & Wh is not yet developed} 19. Re3 Rfc8 20. e5 f6 21. Bd2 Bxf3 {this should be winning as well, but the B7 B is a powerful piece, superior to the N} (21... fxe5 22. Nxe5 Rc2 $19) (21... Rc2 22. Bc3 fxe5 23. Bxe5 Bxe5 24. fxe5 Bc6 25. Rb1 Rb8 $19 {KomodoDragon2}) 22. gxf3 f5 $6 {closes in the B & hands the initative over to Wh} (22... Rc2 23. Bc3 fxe5 24. fxe5 Bh6 25. Rd3 Bc1 $19 {KomodoDragon2}) (22... fxe5 23. fxe5 Rc2 { transposes}) (22... Rc4 23. b3 Rc2 24. Bb4 fxe5 25. fxe5 Rb2 26. Bc5 Bh6 27. Rc3 Bf4 28. Rxa4 Rxa4 29. bxa4 Bxh2+ 30. Kh1 Bxe5 $17 {KomodoDragon2}) 23. Rc3 (23. Rea3 Rc4 24. b3 $18) 23... Rxc3 (23... Rcb8 24. Rc7 Rxb2 25. Bc1 Rb3 26. Kg2 a3 27. Ra2 Rd8 (27... g5) 28. Rxa3 Rxa3 29. Bxa3 Kf7 $16 {but Bl might hold the barricade, just waiting}) 24. Bxc3 Bh6 25. Bd2 $18 Bg7 (25... Rb8 26. Ra2 Rb3 27. Kf2 Rd3 28. Be3 Rb3 29. Rxa4 Rxb2+ 30. Kg3 Rb7 (30... Rb8 31. Ra7 Rd8 32. Bb6) 31. Ra8+ Bf8 {and it is not clear where Wh can break in}) 26. b4 { neat, but the solid} (26. Ra3 {wins} Kf7 27. b3 g5 28. bxa4 $18) 26... g5 27. b5 Rb8 28. Rxa4 Rxb5 29. Ra8+ Kf7 30. Rd8 Rb7 31. Kf2 h5 (31... Kg6 32. Kg3 Rb2 33. Bc1 Rc2 34. Be3 Re2 35. Bc1 (35. Bg1 gxf4+ 36. Kxf4 $2 Bxe5#) 35... Rc2 $11 {KomodoDtragon2}) 32. Ba5 (32. h4) 32... gxf4 33. Bc7 Bxe5 34. Rxd7+ Kf6 { the losing move} (34... Kg6 {In principle ,stay away from squares that the B can get to} 35. Re7 Kf6 36. Re8 Kf7 37. Re7+ Kf6 38. Re8 Kf7 $11) (34... Kf8 35. Rd8+ Kf7 36. Rd7+ Kf8 $11) (34... Kg8 35. Re7 Rb2+ 36. Kf1 Rd2 37. Rxe6 Bc3 38. Bd8 Kf7 39. Rh6 Kg7 40. Rxh5 Rxd6 41. Bc7 Rd1+ 42. Kg2 Kg6 $11) (34... Ke8 {also loses though} 35. Re7+ Kf8 36. Rxe6 Bd4+ 37. Kg2 Rb2+ 38. Kh3 Bg1 39. Kh4 Kf7 40. d7 Rd2 41. Rd6 Rxd6 42. Bxd6 Bb6 43. Kxh5 {and the h pawn wins for Wh}) 35. Bd8+ Kg6 36. Rxb7 Bxd6 {Bl carries on, there are some stalemate possibilities later; but a R is a R} 37. Bc7 Bc5+ 38. Ke2 Kg5 39. Bd8+ Kg6 40. Rb5 (40. h4) 40... Bg1 41. h3 Kf7 42. Kd3 Bf2 43. Re5 h4 44. Re2 Bg3 45. Kd4 Ke8 46. Bg5 Kf7 47. Ke5 Kg6 48. Bxf4 (48. Bf6 {mate in 9- leaving the B offside- KomodoDragon2}) 48... Kh5 49. Rg2 Be1 50. Rg5+ Kh6 51. Rg1+ (51. Kxe6) 51... Kh5 52. Rxe1 Kg6 53. Kxe6 Kh5 54. Re5 (54. Rg1 $2 {stalemate}) 54... Kg6 55. Rxf5 Kg7 56. Rg5+ Kh6 57. Kf7 {Normal} 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800 B"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.11.04"] [Round "2.3"] [White "Gunn, Tom"] [Black "Briggs, Keith"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D10"] [WhiteElo "1398"] [BlackElo "1350"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Cardigan"] [BlackTeam "Steynton B"] {[%evp 0,66,35,15,14,-16,44,29,43,47,39,12,62,62,63,70,162,167,167,40,44,31,75, 59,57,25,112,26,16,15,24,23,44,47,51,53,53,53,62,62,62,64,58,65,83,80,108,112, 112,104,94,55,153,103,169,153,203,193,245,175,352,349,349,349,349,349,349,351, 382]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 (2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. Nc3 c6 5. e3 Bd6 6. Bd3 O-O 7. O-O Nbd7 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 h6 11. Re1 Nf6 12. Bd3 c5 {Gunn-Boyd, WCU Onlone Open2, 2021,0-1}) 2... c6 3. Nc3 (3. e3 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7 8. O-O Be7 9. a3 O-O 10. b4 {Fox-Briggs, Dyfed Online League 2020,0-1}) (3. Nf3 {main}) 3... Nf6 4. e3 Bf5 {playable in Slav lines, but overall a little risky in Queens G lines, as it leaves b7 sunject to early attacks} 5. Nf3 h6 (5... e6 6. Nh4 {main}) 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. Qb3 {with pressure on b7, d5 & f7} b6 {11 Wh wins, 2 draws} (7... Bc8 {6 Wh wins, 2 draws}) 8. Bb5+ Bd7 (8... Nbd7 9. Nxd5 {5-0}) 9. O-O {missing a trick} (9. Nxd5 $18 { 7 Wh wins, 2 draws}) 9... e6 10. Bd2 Be7 11. Rfc1 O-O $14 {Wh has a pull against the weakened Q side} 12. Rc2 (12. Ne5) 12... Nc6 13. Bxc6 (13. Nxd5 $18 {agains wins an important pawn}) 13... Bxc6 14. Rac1 a5 15. a4 Rb8 16. Ne5 Be8 17. Nb5 Ne4 18. Be1 Nd6 19. Nxd6 Bxd6 20. Nc6 Bxc6 21. Rxc6 Qe7 (21... Re8 { Bl has to settle for a long passive defensive stance, which might hold}) 22. Rxb6 Rxb6 23. Qxb6 $18 Rb8 24. Qxa5 Rxb2 25. Ra1 {a simple plan- just push the a pawn} (25. g3) (25. Qa8+ Kh7 26. Qc6 Ra2 27. a5 Bb8 28. Qb6 $18 { KomodoDragon2}) 25... Qf6 26. h3 Kh7 27. Qc3 Rb8 28. a5 Qe7 29. a6 Bb4 30. a7 ( 30. Qxb4 Rxb4 31. Bxb4 Qxb4 32. a7 {also wins, as does}) (30. Qc2+ g6 31. Bxb4 Qxb4 32. a7 Ra8 33. Qc6 Qf8 34. Qc7 h5 35. Rb1) 30... Bxc3 31. axb8=Q Bxa1 32. Qb1+ g6 33. Qxa1 Kg7 1-0 [Event "WCU Online U1800 B"] [Site "Lichess"] [Date "2021.11.05"] [Round "2.4"] [White "Evans, Gwyn"] [Black "Holman, Sam"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A40"] [WhiteElo "1192"] [BlackElo "1386"] [Annotator "kemen"] [PlyCount "128"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Steynton B"] [BlackTeam "Cardigan"] {[%evp 0,128,79,15,93,102,139,30,2,3,10,6,29,5,28,15,15,10,13,13,-2,0,-22,-22, -24,-64,-56,-71,-57,-65,-61,-55,-14,-28,-6,-7,-9,-20,-15,-19,26,-5,-4,-19,-35, -21,-18,-68,-74,-60,-26,-45,-32,-13,-1,-58,-37,-80,-62,-114,-107,-90,-69,-21,0, 0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,-82,21,12,0,0,98,90,104,93,93,88,72,90,90,88,90,90,114,88,88,0, 0,-926,-429,-560,-561,-560,-632,-806,-898,-934,161,0,0,0,0,-700,-706,-982, -1011,-1011,-1022,-1032,-1032,-1032,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0]} 1. d4 g6 (1... Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bg5 Bg7 4. Nbd2 O-O 5. c3 d6 6. e4 h6 7. Bh4 Re8 8. Bd3 e5 { Evans-Holman,Dyfed Online League 2021,0-1}) 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. g3 (3. c4 {main}) 3... Nf6 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O d6 6. Bg5 (6. c4) 6... Re8 (6... Nbd7) (6... h6 { main lines}) 7. c4 h6 (7... c6 8. Nc3 Nbd7 {transposes 6-2-7 results}) 8. Bxf6 Bxf6 9. Nbd2 Nd7 (9... e5) 10. Qc2 e5 11. d5 a5 12. a4 Nc5 $17 {Bl has a solid position & 2 Bs with more chances for a pawn break than Wh has} 13. Ne4 (13. e4 $5) 13... Nxe4 14. Qxe4 Bf5 (14... Ra6 15. Nd2 Rb6 16. Ra2 Bf5 17. Qe3 Rb4 18. b3 e4 $17 {KomodoDragon2}) 15. Qe3 Kg7 16. Nd2 Qd7 (16... b6 {stops c5 ideas}) 17. Ne4 Be7 18. Qb3 b6 (18... Bxe4 19. Bxe4 f5 20. Bc2 Bg5 $15 {KomodoDragon2}) 19. Qc3 Bh3 (19... Bxe4 20. Bxe4 f5 21. Bf3 h5 22. h3 Rh8 $15 {KomodoDragon2}) 20. b3 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 f5 22. Nd2 Bf6 23. Rae1 (23. e4 $11 {KomodoDragon2}) 23... e4 24. Qc1 Re7 (24... e3 {breaks up Wh's pawn structure} 25. Nb1 exf2 26. Rxf2 Bd4 $17) 25. e3 h5 (25... g5 $5) 26. h4 Rh8 27. f4 exf3+ 28. Nxf3 Rhe8 29. Nd4 Bxd4 30. exd4 {Bl now has an effective extra pawn on the K side} Re4 (30... Re2+ 31. Rxe2 Rxe2+ 32. Rf2 Qe7 33. Rxe2 Qxe2+ 34. Kg1 Qd3 $19 {KomodoDragon2}) 31. Qd2 Kh7 (31... Qe7 $19 {KomodoDragon2-insisting on the only open file}) 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 33. Re1 $11 Qe7 34. Kf2 $2 {but this could have lost the game as bl can capitalize on the K side majority} (34. Rxe4 Qxe4+ 35. Kh2 $11) 34... Qf6 ( 34... Rxe1 $1 35. Qxe1 Qxe1+ 36. Kxe1 g5 $1 37. Ke2 (37. hxg5 Kg6 $19) 37... f4 38. Kf3 fxg3 39. Kxg3 gxh4+ (39... g4 40. Kf4 Kg6 41. Kg3 Kf5 {is also an easy win}) 40. Kxh4 Kg6 {and Bl sacs the outside pawn for extensive Qside gains}) 35. Rxe4 fxe4+ 36. Qf4 (36. Ke1 Qf3 37. Qg5 $11 {these Q exchange possibilities require both players to be very eact in their calculations of the resultant K & pawn positions- not always easy while the clock is running}) 36... Qf5 (36... Qxd4+ $19 37. Qe3 Qb2+ 38. Kg1 Qe5 {but it will still take a while as the extra pawn is a centre one- more easily stopped by a K (without getting into an offside position)}) 37. Ke3 Kg7 38. Qxe4 Qxe4+ $2 {and this should lose for Bl, since it rings Wh's K to a dominant position} (38... Qf1 $11) 39. Kxe4 $18 Kf6 40. Kf4 (40. Kd3 Kf5 41. c5 {is one of those exact calculations in which Engines excell , though not humans} Kg4 42. Kc4 Kxg3 43. Kb5 Kxh4 44. Kc6 g5 45. Kxc7 bxc5 46. dxc5 dxc5 47. d6 {when Bl has more pawns, but is lost}) 40... Kg7 41. Kg5 Kf7 42. g4 hxg4 43. Kxg4 Kf6 44. Kf4 Kg7 45. Kg5 Kf7 46. Kh6 {the Wh K strays too far} (46. h5 gxh5 47. Kxh5 Kf6 48. Kg4 Kg6 49. Kf4 Kf6 {and the systematic advance of Wh's Q side majority will win} 50. Ke4 Ke7 51. Kd3 Kd8 52. Kc3 Ke7 53. b4 axb4+ 54. Kxb4 Kd8 55. Kb5 Kd7 56. c5 $18) 46... Kf6 47. h5 {now this should be a losing move- often 'simple' K & P endings contain hidden poison} (47. Kh7 Kf7 (47... Kf5 48. Kg7 Kg4 49. Kxg6 Kxh4 50. Kf5 Kh3 51. Ke6 $18) 48. Kh6 Kf6 49. Kh7 {ensures a draw}) 47... gxh5 (47... g5 $19 48. Kh7 Kf7 (48... g4 {is simpler to calculate} 49. Kg8 g3 50. h6 g2 51. Kh7 g1=Q {Bl Qs first with a check}) 49. Kh6 g4 50. Kg5 g3 {looks pointless for Wh, unable to catch the pawn, or push his own through- let alone that Bl Qs with check}) 48. Kxh5 Kf5 $19 {Bl can just walk into the Q sidewith the Wh K on the edge of the board} 49. Kh6 Ke4 50. Kg6 Kxd4 51. Kf6 Kc5 { Bl is seeing dragons} (51... Kc3 $19 {knocks out the rear of the pawn chain} 52. Ke6 Kxb3 53. Kd7 Kxc4 54. Kxc7 (54. Kc6 Kd4 $19 (54... Kb4 $19)) 54... Kc5 (54... Kxd5 55. Kxb6 Kc4 {and Bl easily wins the pawn race}) 55. Kb7 Kxd5 $19) 52. Ke6 $11 c6 53. dxc6 Kxc6 54. Kf5 $2 (54. Ke7 $11) 54... d5 $19 55. cxd5+ Kxd5 56. Kf6 Kd6 (56... Kd4 {advancing is the simplest} 57. Ke7 Kc3 58. Kd6 Kxb3 59. Kc6 Kxa4 60. Kxb6 Kb4 {and there is no way Wh can stop the a pawn}) 57. Kf7 Kc6 (57... Kc5 {is an easy win} 58. Ke6 Kb4 59. Kd6 Kxb3 60. Kc6 Kxa4 61. Kxb6 Kb4 {as previous note}) (57... b5 58. axb5 Kc5 59. b6 Kxb6 60. Ke6 Kb5 61. Kd5 Kb4 62. Kd4 Kxb3 {and the Wh K remains offside}) 58. Ke6 b5 (58... Kc5 $19) 59. Ke5 $11 Kc5 60. Ke4 Kb4 61. axb5 (61. Kd3 $11 {is good enough}) 61... Kxb5 62. Kd3 Kb4 63. Kc2 a4 64. bxa4 Kxa4 1/2-1/2