En Passant - Hastings v Swale - Board One
Sunday 4 November 2018
White: Stephen Blewitt (162) - Black: Keith Nevols (163)
Caro-Kann Defence
A long trek to Hastings where they have a beautiful club and yet I have never yet won there! And with only 1.5 out of my last five games, my confidence was not too high.
1. e4 c6
A Caro-Kann so I enter the Ne2 variation that I have learnt a little about.
A Caro-Kann so I enter the Ne2 variation that I have learnt a little about.
2. Ne2 d5
3. e5 Bf5
Now I am thinking, will I get the chance to repeat that pawn sacrifice that worked so well for me before?
Now I am thinking, will I get the chance to repeat that pawn sacrifice that worked so well for me before?
4. Ng3 Bg6
5. h4 h6
Yes, I will!!
Yes, I will!!
6. h5 Bh7
7. e6!?
I had seen a video on a Chessbase DVD about playing Ne2 against the Caro-Kann and it mentioned this pawn sacrifice. I had tried it out once and got a good victory. Here, against tougher opposition, I thought why not try again?
7. ......fxe6
The point of the sacrifice is to restrict Black's kingside. The kings' bishop simply cannot move. On the one side there is a pawn on e7 which is blocked by a pawn on e6. On the other side, a pawn on g7 is restricted by the White pawn on h5. And if the black bishop cannot move, then the rook is also blocked in.
White must now build up quickly while Black seeks to untangle himself.
8. d4
I wonder if a good move for Black might be to immediately sacrifice back with 8. .. e5!? 9. dxe5 e6.
8. ..... Qd6
I had seen a video on a Chessbase DVD about playing Ne2 against the Caro-Kann and it mentioned this pawn sacrifice. I had tried it out once and got a good victory. Here, against tougher opposition, I thought why not try again?
7. ......fxe6
The point of the sacrifice is to restrict Black's kingside. The kings' bishop simply cannot move. On the one side there is a pawn on e7 which is blocked by a pawn on e6. On the other side, a pawn on g7 is restricted by the White pawn on h5. And if the black bishop cannot move, then the rook is also blocked in.
White must now build up quickly while Black seeks to untangle himself.
8. d4
I wonder if a good move for Black might be to immediately sacrifice back with 8. .. e5!? 9. dxe5 e6.
8. ..... Qd6
9. f4
To clamp down on the e5 square. The longer I can prevent those e-pawns from moving, the more Black will be restricted.
9. ........ Nf6
Black could try 9. ... c5 when White could consider 10. c3 or 10. Bd3.
To clamp down on the e5 square. The longer I can prevent those e-pawns from moving, the more Black will be restricted.
9. ........ Nf6
Black could try 9. ... c5 when White could consider 10. c3 or 10. Bd3.
10. Bd3 Nbd7
11. Bxh7 Nxh7
I think Rxh7 is more accurate as Black has to waste a tempo getting the knight back to the centre.
I think Rxh7 is more accurate as Black has to waste a tempo getting the knight back to the centre.
12. Qd3 O-O-O
The first time I played this opening, Black put his king on d7 and it was not that easy to get to him. The queenside looks a little more open so I was not too concerned to see the king go there. But the first thing I wanted to do was to keep the bind on the e-file with a rook on e1.
The first time I played this opening, Black put his king on d7 and it was not that easy to get to him. The queenside looks a little more open so I was not too concerned to see the king go there. But the first thing I wanted to do was to keep the bind on the e-file with a rook on e1.
13. O-O Nhf6
14. Re1
OK, job done. Now it is time to develop the queenside.
14. .... c5
OK, job done. Now it is time to develop the queenside.
14. .... c5
15. c3
The engine suggests 15. Bd2 with 15. .. cxd4 16. Qxd4 Kb8 17. Bb4, although White then has to ask himself what is that bishop doing, or 15. a4!? expanding on the queenside, with 15. . c4 16. Qe3 or 15. .. Kb8 16. Nc3.
15. .... Kb8
The engine suggests 15. Bd2 with 15. .. cxd4 16. Qxd4 Kb8 17. Bb4, although White then has to ask himself what is that bishop doing, or 15. a4!? expanding on the queenside, with 15. . c4 16. Qe3 or 15. .. Kb8 16. Nc3.
15. .... Kb8
16. Qe2
After considering 16. Na3, I decided to take the pawn back.
16. f5 is an idea I did not consider. If 16. .. e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Qf1! and Bf4 is coming, but simply 16. .. exf5 17. Nxf5 and after the queen moves away, White has a loose pawn on h5 and has helped Black to untangle.
16. ..... Rc8!
Pre-empting the opening of the c-file with the possibility of an initiative. This also stops 17. Qxe6 due to 17. .. Qxe6 18. Rxe6 cxd4.
After considering 16. Na3, I decided to take the pawn back.
16. f5 is an idea I did not consider. If 16. .. e5 17. dxe5 Nxe5 18. Qf1! and Bf4 is coming, but simply 16. .. exf5 17. Nxf5 and after the queen moves away, White has a loose pawn on h5 and has helped Black to untangle.
16. ..... Rc8!
Pre-empting the opening of the c-file with the possibility of an initiative. This also stops 17. Qxe6 due to 17. .. Qxe6 18. Rxe6 cxd4.
17. Na3 a6
If 17. ... cxd4 18. cxd4 Qb6 and the queen is well placed, but White could try 17. ... cxd4 18. Nb5! Qb6 19. Nxd4 keeping the c-file closed.
Black decides to return the pawn in exchange for keeping the knight away.
If 17. ... cxd4 18. cxd4 Qb6 and the queen is well placed, but White could try 17. ... cxd4 18. Nb5! Qb6 19. Nxd4 keeping the c-file closed.
Black decides to return the pawn in exchange for keeping the knight away.
18. Qxe6 Ne4
19. Qxd6 Nxd6
20. Nc2
The position is now equal, but Black still has the problem of his bishop on f8 to resolve. If 20. .. Re8 then 21. f5.
20. .... Nf6
White should play 21. f5 and Bf4 but it is an idea that I will come back to. I just want to resolve a bit of tension first.
The position is now equal, but Black still has the problem of his bishop on f8 to resolve. If 20. .. Re8 then 21. f5.
20. .... Nf6
White should play 21. f5 and Bf4 but it is an idea that I will come back to. I just want to resolve a bit of tension first.
21. dxc5
I have successfully avoided the opening of the c-file and now, if I can keep the pawn on e7 quiet, he also has an exposed pawn on d5 for me to have a look at.
21. ..... Nde4?!
The immediate 21. .. Rxc5 is slightly better. I am only too pleased to exchange my spectating knight on g3 with one of his which is well placed in the centre.
22. Nxe4 Nxe4
I have successfully avoided the opening of the c-file and now, if I can keep the pawn on e7 quiet, he also has an exposed pawn on d5 for me to have a look at.
21. ..... Nde4?!
The immediate 21. .. Rxc5 is slightly better. I am only too pleased to exchange my spectating knight on g3 with one of his which is well placed in the centre.
22. Nxe4 Nxe4
23. Nd4
Heading for e6.
23. .... Nxc5
Heading for e6.
23. .... Nxc5
24. f5!
Keeping the bind - the black bishop is still unable to move. Having said that, it is time my own queenside did some work too.
24. .... Ne4
Keeping the bind - the black bishop is still unable to move. Having said that, it is time my own queenside did some work too.
24. .... Ne4
25. Bf4+ Ka7
I wonder why not 25. .. Ka8 - perhaps because Black feared Ne6 and Nc7+. But on a7 I have the possibility of another hit on the king.
26. Rad1 Nf6
I wonder why not 25. .. Ka8 - perhaps because Black feared Ne6 and Nc7+. But on a7 I have the possibility of another hit on the king.
26. Rad1 Nf6
27. Ne6
Now I am clearly dominant - rooks well placed, Black still tied up on the kingside and with a weak pawn on d5.
27. .... Nxh5
Now I am clearly dominant - rooks well placed, Black still tied up on the kingside and with a weak pawn on d5.
27. .... Nxh5
28. Be3+ Kb8
29. Rxd5 g5?
Right idea but wrong timing. 29. .. Nf6 first and then Rg8.
30. fxg6 Nf6
Right idea but wrong timing. 29. .. Nf6 first and then Rg8.
30. fxg6 Nf6
31. Rd4
I was quite proud of this move which restricts the black knight and prevents Ng4. However White has 31. Rc5! with the threat of g7 winning on the spot. So 31. .. Rxc5 is forced with 32. Bxc5 and an additional treat of Nxf8 and Bxe7, or even in some lines Rd1 coming to d8.
31. .... Rg8
32. Nxf8
Goodbye sweet bishop. It was not much of a life.
32. .... Rgxf8
Goodbye sweet bishop. It was not much of a life.
32. .... Rgxf8
33. g7
Still winning but 33. Bf4+ Ka8 34. Rxe7 is stronger.
33. ..... Rfe8
Still winning but 33. Bf4+ Ka8 34. Rxe7 is stronger.
33. ..... Rfe8
34. Bxh6 e5
At last Black gets to move this pawn. I am two pawns up but Black's pieces were beginning to be better placed and my bishop on h6 seemed out of it. I was not sure how I could get the g7 pawn to the end, and began to wonder if I had blown this. If I could swap a pair of rooks, I would be happier.
35. Rd6 Ng8
At last Black gets to move this pawn. I am two pawns up but Black's pieces were beginning to be better placed and my bishop on h6 seemed out of it. I was not sure how I could get the g7 pawn to the end, and began to wonder if I had blown this. If I could swap a pair of rooks, I would be happier.
35. Rd6 Ng8
36. Bg5 Rc7
37. Rd8+ Rc8
38. Rd5
Before I seek an exchange, I might as well win another pawn.
38. .... e4
Before I seek an exchange, I might as well win another pawn.
38. .... e4
39. Rd4 e3
40. Rd3
I preferred this to 40. Rxe3 Rxe3 41. Bxe3 as I wanted to keep that knight on g8.
40. ... e2
I preferred this to 40. Rxe3 Rxe3 41. Bxe3 as I wanted to keep that knight on g8.
40. ... e2
41. Rd2 Resigns
And, to my relief, Black resigned.
After my recent run of bad form, I was delighted to get this win over a strong opponent from a strong club, and we also won the match.
And, to my relief, Black resigned.
After my recent run of bad form, I was delighted to get this win over a strong opponent from a strong club, and we also won the match.
Hastings v Swale
Stephen Blewitt (162) 0-1 Keith Nevols (163)
James Wheeler (160) 0-1 Keith Hyde (162)
Chris Hann (145) 1-0 Rob Woolacott (132)
Marc Bryant (131) 1-0 Tyrone Jefferies (119)
William Stock (117) 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (116)
Keith Hossack (111) 1/2-1/2 Andrew Gillard (113)
Hastings 2.5-3.5 Swale
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