Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Six
Thursday 1 November 2018
White: Keith Nevols (163) - Black: Keith Hyde (162)
Sicilian Defence
After three defeats in my last four games, there are probably better times to then play the club champion. We enter the Closed Sicilian.
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2 d6
6. O-O e6
7. Qe1 Nge7
By placing the knight here, Black keeps the bishop diagonal open and can reinforce his d4 knight via c6. The downside is that it slightly weakens Black's force on the kingside.
8. d3 O-O
9. Bd1 Nd4
10. Ne2 Nec6
11. c3
I like this set up. It expels the knight from d4, keeps the one on c6 out of range and I can relocate the bishop to c2 or d3. The downside is the slight weakness on the d3 square.
11. ...... Nxf3+
12. Rxf3 Bd7
13. Qg3
As my queen moved to her favourite spot, I was feeling comfortable, with a range of attacking plans.
Here the online engine recommends 13. ... Qb6 with an advantage to Black, meeting 14. Kh1 with 14. .. f5. Offering a pawn with 14. f5 could be met with 14. .. Ne5 or 14. .. exf5 15. Nf4 Be5.
13. ..... f5
But this is solid enough, preventing any ideas of a White f5. My reply is aiming to put pressure along the b1-h7 diagonal.
14. Bc2 e5
Again the engine prefers 14. ... Qb6 or even 14. ... fxe4.
Now with pawns facing each other, things were getting complicated. I had just seen a YouTube video with GM Danny King, where he said that one thing he was always telling his students was not to release the tension. With this in mind, I tried to see what I could do here.
Now with pawns facing each other, things were getting complicated. I had just seen a YouTube video with GM Danny King, where he said that one thing he was always telling his students was not to release the tension. With this in mind, I tried to see what I could do here.
15. fxe5 Nxe5 16. Rf1 fxe4 17. Rxf8+ Qxf8 18. dxe4 looked solid enough but then Black's bishops are near good squares where they could create pressure. Or 15. .... Bxe5 16. Qf2 Bg7 achieves nothing and 15. ... Bxe5 16. Bf4 Qb6 is good for Black.
15. exf5 Bxf5 is poor and just leaves the d3 pawn weak.
I also considered 15. h4 but then 15. ... Bf6 16. h5 Bh4 17. Qh2 (not 17. Qh3?? fxe4) fxe4 18. dxe4 Bg4 19. hxg6 hxg6 20. Re3 and things are looking awkward with 20. .. Kg7! preparing Rh8.
Instead I decided to keep the tension, as advised, and improve the position of my bishop and rook.
15. Bb3+ Kh8
16. Rf1
To nullify the threat of fxe4. If 16. Rf2 then 16. .. Bf6 forces me to move the queen.
16. ... Qe7
Black is also reluctant to ease the tension but plans to exchange off the bishops. 16. .. Qb6 is still an interesting move.
17. Bd5 Rc8
18. Bd2 Be6
19. Rae1 Qf7
20. Bxe6 Qxe6
The exchange of one pair of bishops reduces the fears either side had of opening up the position.
21. a3?!
The pawn on a2 has to be protected, but 21. b3 would have been a more accurate way of doing it. Black could now try 21. .. Qb3 with possible ideas of infiltration on the white squares.
21. ..... b5
With Black now thinking of opening up the queenside, I decoded to resolve a little tension.
22. fxe5
Black has four ways to recapture.
22. .... Bxe5 23. Bf4 Bxf4 24. Nxf4 Qb3 25.Rf2 is equal.
22. .... Nxe5 23. Nf4 Qb3 24. Bc1 is also equal.
(22. .... Qxe5 23. Bf4 loses a pawn).
(22. .... Qxe5 23. Bf4 loses a pawn).
Black chooses the fourth way ....
22. .......dxe5
....and offered a draw.
My concern now was over the half open d-file and weak pawn on d3, and so, being unable to see a way to make progress (and unwilling to risk a third consecutive defeat) I agreed.
My concern now was over the half open d-file and weak pawn on d3, and so, being unable to see a way to make progress (and unwilling to risk a third consecutive defeat) I agreed.
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