Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Four
Thursday 17 October 2018
White: Barry Sawyer (91) - Black: Keith Nevols (163)
Dutch Defence
1. Nf3 f5
I have always thought 1. Nf3 to be an odd first move. Many years ago I used to reply with 1. .. Nc6 and then 2. d4 would take me into strange waters. Now I can just set up the Dutch.
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 e6
4. d3
4. d4 is considered more aggressive to make it difficult for Black to play Nc6.
4. .... Be7
4. d4 is considered more aggressive to make it difficult for Black to play Nc6.
4. .... Be7
5. c4 Nc6
The point is that, had White played 4. d4, then he could now play d5 to dislodge the knight and get space in the centre.
The point is that, had White played 4. d4, then he could now play d5 to dislodge the knight and get space in the centre.
6. a3 a5
Not sure why White played a3 but a Black a5 is always a useful move to prevent queenside advances.
Not sure why White played a3 but a Black a5 is always a useful move to prevent queenside advances.
7. Bd2 O-O
8. O-O Qe8
9. Nc3 d6
Another reason why the White pawn should be on d4 is to hinder Black from playing e5.
10. Nb5 Bd8
11. Bg5 Qh5
I gave a lot of thought to playing Qh5 or Qg6 but decided this was the more aggressive position.
12. Bxf6?! Rxf6
White has made a mistake - this exchange not only means that White loses his dark squared bishop but it also helps Black in the rook lift to put pressure against the White king. Something simple like 12. Re1, preparing e4, would have been better.
Another reason why the White pawn should be on d4 is to hinder Black from playing e5.
10. Nb5 Bd8
11. Bg5 Qh5
I gave a lot of thought to playing Qh5 or Qg6 but decided this was the more aggressive position.
12. Bxf6?! Rxf6
White has made a mistake - this exchange not only means that White loses his dark squared bishop but it also helps Black in the rook lift to put pressure against the White king. Something simple like 12. Re1, preparing e4, would have been better.
13. Qd2 Rh6
Forcing a weakness and allowing an attack to gather pace.
Forcing a weakness and allowing an attack to gather pace.
14. h3 e5!
The plan now is just to move pieces over to the kingside and see what happens. However I needed to sort out the queenside first. That knight can't be allowed to just sit there.
The plan now is just to move pieces over to the kingside and see what happens. However I needed to sort out the queenside first. That knight can't be allowed to just sit there.
15. Nh2 Ne7
16. f4 c6!
17. Nc3 Bb6+
A great route to bring the bishop into the game.
A great route to bring the bishop into the game.
18. e3
I had expected 18. Kh1 and wondered if White had any ideas of Rg1 and g4. The computer however agrees with White that this is the better move.
18. ..... Be6
I want to bring the other rook over. 18. .. Rg6 first would have been more accurate but I was constantly concerned over giving my pieces - in this case, the queen - a path of retreat should it become necessary.
Now if 19. Nf3 and although Black still has an edge, it is minimal.
I had expected 18. Kh1 and wondered if White had any ideas of Rg1 and g4. The computer however agrees with White that this is the better move.
18. ..... Be6
I want to bring the other rook over. 18. .. Rg6 first would have been more accurate but I was constantly concerned over giving my pieces - in this case, the queen - a path of retreat should it become necessary.
Now if 19. Nf3 and although Black still has an edge, it is minimal.
19. h4?
I am guessing White was concerned about a Black g5 but this is a weakness which allows Black to gather momentum.
19. ... exf4
The fact that White has to capture with the rook opens some spaces for Black.
I am guessing White was concerned about a Black g5 but this is a weakness which allows Black to gather momentum.
19. ... exf4
The fact that White has to capture with the rook opens some spaces for Black.
20. Rxf4
I had originally intended to play 20. .. Bc7 with the idea of d5, but now saw something better (after ruling out 20. .. Ng6?? 21. Bf3).
20. .... g5
I had originally intended to play 20. .. Bc7 with the idea of d5, but now saw something better (after ruling out 20. .. Ng6?? 21. Bf3).
20. .... g5
21. Bf3?
I had thought, as perhaps White did, that this was forced but in fact it is a mistake. 21. Rf2 would have lost a pawn but we have both overlooked something.
21. ..... Qg6?
We have both overlooked 21. .. gxf4 22. Bxh5 Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 fxe3 and Black is the exchange and pawn up. However Black is about to bag the exchange anyway.
22. hxg5 Qxg5
I had thought, as perhaps White did, that this was forced but in fact it is a mistake. 21. Rf2 would have lost a pawn but we have both overlooked something.
21. ..... Qg6?
We have both overlooked 21. .. gxf4 22. Bxh5 Bxe3+ 23. Qxe3 fxe3 and Black is the exchange and pawn up. However Black is about to bag the exchange anyway.
22. hxg5 Qxg5
23. Kg2 Ng6
24. e4 Nxf4+
25. Qxf4 Qxf4
26. gxf4 Kf7
I was confident that I just needed to consolidate by bringing the other rook into the game to bring home the point.
I was confident that I just needed to consolidate by bringing the other rook into the game to bring home the point.
27. Nf1 Rg8+
28. Ng3 Be3
29. Nce2 fxe4
30. Bxe4 Bg4
31. Bf3?
31. Rh1 but Black is still losing.
31. .... Bh3+
31. Rh1 but Black is still losing.
31. .... Bh3+
32. Kh2
32. .... Kf8
I was so worried about a White Bh5, hence dropping the king out of range, that I did not see 32. .. Rh4! which forces checkmate by 33. Bg2 (the only move to stop Bf1 mate) Bf5+ 34. Bh3 Bxh3 35. Ng1 Bf1+ 36. Nh3 Rxh3++.
But I coast home the longer way.
32. .... Kf8
I was so worried about a White Bh5, hence dropping the king out of range, that I did not see 32. .. Rh4! which forces checkmate by 33. Bg2 (the only move to stop Bf1 mate) Bf5+ 34. Bh3 Bxh3 35. Ng1 Bf1+ 36. Nh3 Rxh3++.
But I coast home the longer way.
33. Bh5 Bg4
34. Rh1 Bxe2
35. Kg2 Rxh5
36. Rxh5 Bxh5
37. Kh3 Bg4+
38. Kg2 Bxf4
39. Kf2 Bxg3
40. Kxg3 Be2+
41. Kf2 Bxd3
42. b3 h5
White resigned.
White resigned.
No comments:
Post a Comment