28 February 2019 - Swale Club Championship - Round Twelve

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Twelve

Thursday 28 February 2019

White: Rufus Edwards (ungraded) Black: Keith Nevols (163)

English Opening

1. c4 e5

My favourite system against the English is playing this aggressive set up, which is similar to a Dutch but with e5 already played.

2. Nc3 d6

3. g3 f5

4. d3 Nf6

5. Bg2 Nc6

6. a3 Be7

I had considered 6. ... a5 but was concerned over 7. Qb3 and whether that would hold up my development, so wanted to get the king castled as soon as possible.

7. Nf3 O-O

8. O-O Qe8

Acting as if this were a Dutch defence. The queen moves to the kingside to commence the attack. There are significant differences - Black already has a pawn on e5 and a knight on c6. However White has potential for an attack on the queenside.

Here White can consider Bb2, b4, or perhaps moves like Rb1. Instead he redeploys the kings knight, which suits me as it moves away from the defence of the White king.

9. Ne1? a5

Taking time out to hold up the queenside play which I mentioned but this precaution might not have been necessary. 9. .. Qh5 or 9. .. f4 10. gxf4 Qh5 are both moves to take the initiative.

10. Nc2 Qg6

At the moment, a White b4 is not possible so time to improve the queen's position.

11. Nd5 Bd8

12. Bd2 Ne7

12. ... f4 is an aggressive idea. If 13. gxf4 then Nxd5 14. cxd5 Nd4 15. Ne1 exf4 with a strong initiative, so White might play 13. Kh1 which could be met with 13. ... Ne7.

But I decide to just eject the knight, and solidify the diagonal.

13. Nxf6 Rxf6

Preferable to 13. .. Qxf6 as I wanted to keep the queen where it was.

14. b4 c6?!

For the last few moves, the engines have been recommending a White f4 to add some solidness to the white defence. Here it thinks that 15. f4 means that White will be better. After 15. ... axb4 16. axb4 Rxa1 17. Qxa1 Bb6+ 18. Kh1 it does not look easy to find a way for Black to break through.

15. bxa5?!

This, however, not only leaves a weak isolated pawn on a3, which could be useful for me in an ending, but also allows me to overload his bishop and get f4 in.

15. ......  Bxa5?

15. .. f4 straight away is stronger.

16. Bxa5 Rxa5

17. Nb4?

Missing White's last chance to play f4. After 17. f4 exf4 White has 18. Qd2! Ra8 19. Qxf4 and Black is beginning to look a bit shaky.

17. .....  f4

At last!

18. Qb3

18. Qd2 is an interesting defence. 

18. ...... Kh8

I could have played 18. .. Be6, 18. .. Bg4 or 18. .. Qh5, as the discovered check is not a threat, but. learning from recent hiccups, I wanted to avoid any accidents.

19. Be4

This gives me the chance to remove White's key defender in front of the king.

19. ....  Bf5

20. Bxf5 Qxf5

21. Rae1 Qd7?

An unnecessary retreat. 21. .. Qh3 or 21. . Rh6 wins at once. But I was seeking to redeploy the pieces to bring up another attack. White could play 22. Kh1 and Rg1 to hang around for a while.

22. Qc3 Ra8

22. .. Qh3 is mate in eight (!) so I am told.

23. Nc2 Raf8

24. d4 e4?

24. .. Qh3 still wins at once.

25. Rd1 

At last, I spot the move I had been overlooking all this time.

25. ......  Qh3

There is no decent defence to a Black Rh6 and so here White resigned. A nice win which I made slightly heavy weather of.

21 February 2019 - Harvey - Swale v Maidstone

Harvey - Swale v Maidstone - Board One

Thursday 21 February 2019

White: Beavis Barrington (143) - Black: Keith Nevols (163)

Dutch Defence

A bit of a grudge match. My opponent had given me two severe defeats against my Kings Indian defence, which resulted in me giving up the defence and learning the Dutch.

Let's see how he would fare against this. Rarely have I been so keen to win.

1. d4 f5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 e6
4. Nf3 Be7
5. b3

An unusual move order, delaying the decision whether to play Nc3 before or after c4.

5. .......  O-O
6. O-O

Usually in this seat up I would need to deploy the d-pawn but where to? Had White played c4 then d6 is best - if he played Nc3 before c4 then a Black d5 would hold things up.

But I did not like to play 6. .. d5, as 7. c4 would give White an advantage, and if I played 6. ..d6 then White could try 7. Nc3 and I might have to waste a tempo by playing d5 at some stage.

6. ......  Qe8

I am going to play this anyway so let's keep waiting. 6. ..c5 and 6. .. Ne4 are alternatives.

7. c4 d6

Now we are back to book.

8. Nc3

We have transposed into a position from the GM Simon Williams Dutch defence DVD. Here he recommends 8. .. Nbd7. Black needs to wait to see where White's queens bishop goes, so if 9. Bb2 then 9. .. Qh5 with one line being 10. Re1 Ne4 and if 11. Nxe4 fxe4 12. Nd2 e3!? can be interesting with 13. fxe3 Bg5 14. Nf1 Nf6, and the other line being 10. Qc2 (to get e4 in) g5!? 11. e4 f4 12. e5 dxe5 13. dxe5 Ng4 14. Ne4 Nh6.

I had forgotten all this, although the move I played seemed to be fine.



8. ....Ne4
9. Qc2 Nxc3
10. Qxc3 Bf6

Planning to put pressure on the d4 pawn but maybe this is why I should have waited for Bb2.

11. Bg5 Nd7
12. Bxf6 Nxf6

White is better now as Black still has one minor piece to develop, and the exchange of two other minor pieces has limited the Black attack options. White decides to commence an attack down the c-file.

13. Rac1 a5

I usually play this move earlier - to aim to hold up White's play on the queenside - but with this move order, I had not yet had the chance.

14. Nd2

Preparing to play e4.....

14. ...... Qg6

.. which I stop.

15. f4?!

I did not like this move. Although it does a good job in preventing any ideas of a Black kingside advance, it seemed to put up a static defence and allow some weaknesses.

Keeping to plan with 15. Rfe1 seemed a better idea. I could not play 15. ... Ne4 because of 16. Nxe4 dxe4 17. Qe3 d5 18. cxd5 exd5 19. Rxc7. However now I see that it could be met with 15. .. f4 and 16. gxf4 then 16. .. Nh5 17. e3 e5!? gives an initiative.

15. ......Re8

I am now thinking of an e-pawn breakthrough, but 15. .. h5 would be another idea for the initiative.

16. c5 Nd5

The plan was if 17. Bxd5 exd5 18. cxd6 c6 and then if White moves or defends the e-pawn, then Qxd6, but I did not see that 19. e3 Qxd6 20. Nf3 and that knight is coming to e5.

The other idea was 17. Qb2 Ne3 and getting rid of the g2 bishop.



17. Qc2?

A mistake. White loses the exchange. (I asked him afterwards if this was a sacrifice but it was not).

17. ... Ne3
18. Qd3 Nxf1
19. Nxf1 Rb8?!

Now leading on material, my plan was to swap off some pieces. But 19. .. d5 might have been better keeping the position closed. I was worried about the e5 square but I will have to let it go eventually. White exploits the opportunity for an attack. And 19. .. e5 opening up the centre is another idea.

20. cxd6 cxd6
21. Rc7

21. Qb5 is stronger before playing the room to c7.

21. ……  Qf6

Foreseeing an attack on b7 and c8, I decide to retreat the queen to help out. Here White could try 22. e4 to keep up the initiative.

22. Qc4 Qd8
23. Ne3 d5

This is more or less forced, as I cannot allow White to play d5 himself.

24. Qc5 b6
25. Qc2 Re7
26. Rc3 Bb7

I have successfully beaten off the first wave of attack and continued the plan of exchanging pieces.



27. Nd1 Rc8
28. Qd3 Rxc3
29. Nxc3 Qc8!

I quite liked this move, adding pressure to the c-file, defending the e6 pawn, and preparing to move the bishop to a better square.

30. Bf3 Ba6
31. Qe3 Kf7

31. .. Rc7 and then .. Rc6 would have been more accurate, defending the d6 pawn from a more active square.

32. Na4 Qc6
33. Kg2 Bb5
34. Nc3 Rc7
35. Nxb5 Qxb5

And another set of pieces has gone.

36. Qe5 Qd7?

This is a mistake because I have blocked the rook's route along the seventh rank and hence the defence of the e6 pawn. 36. .. Re7 or 36. .. Qc6 would have been better.



37. g4!

White can now prise open the kingside for a strong attack and I am beginning to sweat.

37. .....  g6?

I did not like 37. .. fxg4 38. Bxg4 Rc6 although that is probably sound. As played, the queen enters the far corner and I am fighting for the draw

38. Qh8 Rc8?

The engine recommends 38. .. gxf4 39. Qxh7+ Kf8 40. Qh8+ Ke7 41. Bxg4 Qe8 and gives Black a small lead. Another idea is 38. . h5 and if 39. gxh5 gxh5 (or 39. gxf5 gxf5) 40. Bxh5+ Ke7 and the king might be able to wriggle free.

The move played is a mistake and loses pawns, and possibly the game, but my plan is to try to get a counter attack down the g-file. By now, we were both very short of time.

39. Qxh7+ Ke8
40. Qg8+ Ke7
41. Qxg6 Qe8
42. Qg5+ Kd6
43. gxf5?

White now goes wrong.43. Qf6 with Qe5+ next keeps the Black king on the run.

43.  ….  Qh8

I quite liked this move, planning to bring the rook over, threatening Rg8 pinning the queen, and hitting the d4 pawn. 43. .. exf5 44. Qxf5 Qg8+ 45. Bg4 and with three pawns for the exchange, White is winning.



In the text position, White should now pay 44. Bh5! to meet 44. .. Rg8 with 45. Bg6.

44. Kf2? Qxh2+?

In my keenness to grab the h-pawn - which removal I thought had removed White's winning chances - I did not see, as my opponent pointed out afterwards - 44. .. Rg8! then 45. Qh5 Qxd4+ 46. e3 Qd2+ 47. Be2 d4 (threatening d3) and if 48. exd4 Qxf4+.

45. Bg2

One line with the engine sees is 45. Ke3 Rc3+ 46. Kd2 Rxf3 47. Qd8+ Kc6 48. Qe8+! with a draw by perpetual check.

45. .....   Qh8

Back to the previous threats.

46. f6 Rf8

And now 47 e4! forces a draw, with 47. .. dxe4 48. Qe5+ Kd7 49. Qb5+ Kc7 50. Qe5+ etc.

47. Qe5+? Kd7

If 48. e4 then simply 48. .. Qxf6 and Black is back on top.

48. Bxd5!?

A bold attempt for perpetual check. Now, done to my last five minutes, I did not want to take any chances, but taking the bishop is fine. After 48. … exd5 49. Qxd5+ Kc7 50. Qe5+ Kb7 51. Qd5+ Ka7 52. Qd7+ Ka6, the checks are stopped. Then 53. a4 Qxf6 54. Qb5+ Kb7 55. Qd7+ Kb8.

48. ....  Qxf6
49. Qxf6

49. Bf3 Qxf4 50. Qb5+ again has good drawing chances.

49. .....  Rxf6
50. Bf3 Rxf4



At this point, we both had less than five minutes left and hence there was no further recording of the game.

I advanced with the king, infiltrated with the rook round the back, kept my pawns on black squares and eventually managed to push home to win the game with much relief.



Swale v Maidstone

Keith Nevols (163) 1-0 Beavis Barrington (143)

David Page (141) 1/2-1/2 David Heath (146)

Dennis Simpson (120) 0-1 Peter Dirmauskas (135)

Tyrone Jefferies (119) 1-0 David Smith (119)

Vytautas Gedminas (116) 0-1 Louis Chamberlain (120)

Anthony Fletcher (86) 0-1 Joshua Gillespie (75)

Swale 2.5-3.5 Maidstone

13 February 2019 - Stevenson - Maidstone v Swale

Stevenson - Maidstone v Swale - Board One

Wednesday 13 February 2019

White: Keith Nevols (163) Black: Cliff Chandler (214)

Scandinavian Defence

My highest graded opponent since my 'comeback'.

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Nf6

This is the other version of the Scandinavian Defence to the 2. .. Qxd5 which I play. I knew that 3. d4 is the main line but I decide to just keep things flexible.

3. Nf3 Bg4

Black will now give up the two bishops to get the pawn back.

4. h3 Bxf3

5. Qxf3 Qxd5
6. Qxd5

Deciding to exchange queens - a risk as it makes for a boring game in which a better player (my opponent) could outplay the other. The engine recommends 6. Qb3 forcing 6. .. Qxb3 7. axb3 doubling pawns but opening the a-file. I did not consider that.

6. .....   Nxd5

7. Nc3

If 7. d4 Nc6 8. c3 e5! and Black looks good.

7. ... Nb4

8. Kd1 e6

9. d4 N8c6

10. a3 Nd5

11. Nxd5 exd5



What to make of this position? The engine says White is better but all his pieces are on the back row. 12. Be3 might be the best move here, followed by developing the other bishop and then bringing the rooks into the centre.

Instead I make what I thought afterwards to be the main strategic error, in giving up my own two bishops.

12. Bb5 O-O-O

13. Bxc6?

13. c3 followed by b4 and perhaps attempting to get an initiative on the queenside.

13. ...bxc6

Black is now better.

14. Be3 Bd6

15. b4

The point is to stop Black freeing himself with .. c5. 15. c4 might have been an improvement with 15. .. dxc4 16. Rc1 although Black might consider 16. .. Kd7 17. Rxc4 Rb8 with some counterplay.
15. Ke2 and then Kd3 could be good defending the e3 bishop after the f-pawn moves.

15. ......  f5

16. Rc1

16. c4 and 16. Ke2 were again good options.

16. ....  f4

17. Bd2 g5

18. c4

Got there at last, but time has been wasted.

18. ......  Rhe8

18. .. Rde8 would be slightly more accurate, as White could now play 19. h4 and try to get the h-file open - or precede that with 19. f3 to guard against Re4.

The idea of playing with h4 did not occur to me, as I was concerned about getting the centre sorted out.

19. cxd5? cxd5

20. f3

To prevent both Re4 and any ideas of h5-g4.

20. ...     Rd7

20. .. Kd7 is an alternative, slightly advancing the king and allowing the rooks more room to operate. But Black intends to double up.

21. Re1

The engine states that after 21. h4, the position is completely equal.

21. ......  Rde7

22. Rxe7 Rxe7

A key position. How should White play now? He should play 23. Rb1 with an idea of a4-b5, or 23. a4 with Rb1 - same plan different order.

However I wanted to advance my King and change the position of the bishop. I did not like 23. Kc2 Re2 24. Rg1. But there was no need to do this as the bishop was fine where it was.

23. Be1?

After 23. .. Re3 I had intended 24. Rc3. Without rooks, I figured I would have a good chance of holding a draw.

23. .......Kb7!

But Black hits at the right plan - to advance the King.

24. Bf2 Kb6

25. Kd2 Kb5

White is unable to prevent the penetration of the Black king.

26. Rc3 h5!

Intending to open lines on the kingside for the rook to exploit.



Now here is where I go wrong again. Just sitting tight with something like 27. Kd3 might have been better and seeing what Black would do. Instead I sacrifice a pawn to try to get some activity against the Black king.

27. Rc1 Ka4

28. Rc6?

White should go back with 28. Rc3 and see what Black intends to do.

28. ......  Kxa3

29. Ra6+ Kxb4

30. Rxa7 Kc4

31. Ra4+ Bb4+

32. Kd1

This was the position that I had envisaged at move 28.

32. ....  Kb5

33. Ra8 Bc3

The engine prefers 33. .. Kc4 although then I could just repeat with 34. Ra4.

34. Rg8 Kc4

35. Rxg5 Bxd4

35. ... Kd3! is stronger with a threat of Re2 and thus forcing 36. Re5 Rxe5 37. dxe5 Bxe5 and two passed pawns in a bishop ending.

36. Bxd4 Kxd4

37. Rxh5

While it is hard to resist taking a pawn, 37. Rf5! is better. One line is 37. . Rg7 38. Rxf4+ Ke5 39. Rh4 Rxg2 40. Rxh5 and White is still on the board, although the respective positions of the kings means that Black remains with the advantage.

37. ......  Rg7

38. Rh4 Rxg2

39. Rxf4+ Kd3

40. Kc1 c5

41. Rg4 Rc2+

42. Kd1?

Of course 42. Kb1 should have been played but by now I am reconciled to defeat and thinking that 13. Bxc6 was the key error.

42. ....  Rh2

43. Ke1 c4

44. f4 c3

45. Rg3+ Kc4

46. Kd1 d4

46. ... Rh1+ 47. Kc2 d4 48. h4 d3+ 49. Rxd3 Rh2+ is a forced win.

47. Rg8 d3

48. Rc8+ Kd4

49. Rd8+ Ke3

50. Re8+ Kf3

I could have resigned several moves ago, but I did so here. A game which I was never better and was thoroughly outplayed.

Maidstone v Swale

Cliff Chandler (214) 1-0 Keith Nevols (163)

David Munford (166) 1/2-1/2 Keith Hyde (162)

Beavis Barrington (143) 1-0 Louis Chamberlain (120)

Robert Thompson (139) 1-0 Tyrone Jefferies (119)

Peter Dirmauskas (135) 1-0 Vytautas Gedminas (116)

Stefan Sainiuc (133) 1-0 Andrew Gillard (113)

Maidstone 5.5-0.5 Swale

11 February 2019 - Harvey - Weald of Kent v Swale

Harvey - Weald of Kent v Swale - Board One

Monday 11 February 2019

White: Keith Nevols (163) Black: James Hart-Dyke (146)

Sicilian Defence

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2 a6
6. O-O d6

Black meets my closed Sicilian with a solid mixture of set ups.

7. Qe1 e6
8. d3 Nge7



So now I have prepared my troops in the familiar formation. The engine recommends 9. Be3 here, meeting 9 .. Qb6 with 10. Rb1 and considering expanding on the queenside. On the other hand, I had my eye down the f-file with Black having not yet castled.

9. Ng5

The intention is to think about (as at this stage I had no definite variations in mind) playing f5. The immediate aim was to create a further weakness in the Black kingside.

9. .....  f5

Black must have been concerned about a White f5, so he gets in first.

10. Bd1

Defending c2 to preempt Nd4 as well as slightly open the e-file towards Black's king. I need to know where he will put His Majesty so I can prepare a plan.

10. ...  h6
11. Nf3 Nd4
12. Ne2

12. e5 would have fixed the weakness on e6. Black might have replied by dropping the knight back with 12. .. Ndc6.

The point of 12. Ne2 is to follow up with c3 which will cover the d4 square, strengthen the defence along the long a1-h8 diagonal, as well as opening up the d1-a4 diagonal for the bishop.

12. ....   Nxf3
13. Rxf3 O-O
14. c3 Nc6

The engine recommends 14. .. fxe4 15. dxe4 Qb6 with an edge for Black. After 16. Kh1 Bd7 Black could create an initiative on the queenside.

15. Bc2

If Black now takes fxe4 then after dxe4, White has interesting possibilities towards the g6 square.

While White is still trying to find good squares for his pieces, Black does likewise.

15. .....  b5
16. Be3 Qe7
17. Qf2?!

A bad square for the queen.

17. ...... Bb7

17. ... g5! is an alternative and then 18. exf5 g4 19. Rg3 exf5 and White might struggle to free the rook.

18. Rg3 Kh7

18. ... fxe4 19. dxe4 Ne5! exploits the f-file pin. 20. Qe1 Nc4 21. Bc1 and Black can think about 21. .. Qe8 or 21. ... Qf6.



I gave a lot of thought to 19. e5 at this point, to undermine the support of the pawn at c5. Instead I chose an inferior plan based around advancing to d4.

19. exf5 exf5
20. d4 cxd4
21. Nxd4 Nxd4
22. Bxd4 Be4

The purpose of the exchanges were to isolate the pawn on d6 as a weakness. However the Black position is solid enough.

23. Bb3

Not 23. Bxe4 giving Black a passed pawn on the e-file.

23. .....   Rac8?!

I was slightly surprised at this and accepted the invite to open the a-file. However I must not forget that my rooks are unconnected. The piece on g3 needs to be brought back to the game.

24. a4! d5?!

A strategic error? A central pawn on the same colour as the bishop, which also blocks Black's ability to defend towards the a8 square.

25. axb5 axb5
26. Bxg7

The engine recommends 26. Ra6 Bf6 27. Qd2 adding pressure.

26. .....   Qxg7
27. Rh3?

This gives up the a-file and White's advantage. 27. Qb6 is better keeping Black on his toes.

27. .....  Ra8
28. Rd1 Rf7

The engine states that, after 28. .. Rfd8 and 29. ... Qa7, the position is equal. White can hold off the rook advances and target the weak Black pawns.



29. Qc5 Rfa7
30. Re3

Galloping back to help out, although there is nothing wrong with 30. Bxd5 but I was nervous about allowing counterplay.

30. .....  Ra1
31. Ree1 Rxd1
32. Rxd1 Qa7

I was relieved to see the rooks, and now the queens come off, as I can now win a pawn and have the better ending.

33. Qxa7 Rxa7
34. Bxd5

Black had planned to play 34. ... Rd7, but had overlooked 35. Bg8+ winning the exchange.

34. .....  Bc2
35. Rd2 Ra1+
36. Kf2

My plan is now to centralise the king and try to get those queenside pawns moving. It is difficult for the Black king to get involved due to the weakness of his second rank.



36. .....  Ba4??

A blunder.

37. Ke3??

... but in time pressure I overlook 37. b3 winning a piece. After 37. .. b4 38. bxa4 bxc3 39. Rc2 Rxa4 40.Ke3, then White can round up the Black c-pawn. However, the end will not necessarily be nigh, as if Black can exchange off the kingside pawns, then rook and bishop v rook is very hard work to win.

37. ......  Bd1
38. Kd4 b4
39. cxb4 Ba4
40. Kc5 Be8

At this stage I picked up my white Bishop and, to the nervousness of my team mates watching, placed it on c6. Before letting go, I noticed that Black could then just win the bishop with Rc1+. Deciding that would not be too clever, I lifted it and placed it elsewhere.

41. Bf3

As a result of my near blunder, Black gets a pawn back.

41. .....  Rc1+
42. Kb6 Rc4
43. b5 Rxf4
44. Kc5 Ra4
45. Bc6

Now it is safe to play this move.

45. ........  Bf7
46. Rd7 Rc4+??

The end comes quickly.

47. Kb6 Kg8
48. Rxf7

Black now resigned an interesting game.

Weald of Kent v Swale

James Hart-Dyke (146) 0-1 Keith Nevols (163)

Oleg Lyakh (116) 0-1 David Page (141)

David Warwick (109) 1-0 Tyrone Jefferies (119)

Mark Horner (103) 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (116)

Julian Squiers (86) 1/2-1/2 Andrew Gillard (113)

Geoffrey Broadhead (75) 0-1 Anthony Fletcher (86)

Weald of Kent 1.5-4.5 Swale

7 February 2019 - Stevenson - Swale v Tunbridge Wells

Stevenson - Swale v Tunbridge Wells - Board One

Thursday 7 February 2019

White: Keith Nevols (163) Black: Lucjan Karpinski (172)

Ruy Lopez

1. e4 e5

2. Nf3 Nc6

3. Bb5 Nd4

This is known as the Ruy Lopez - Bird's Defence - named after the 19th century British player, Henry Bird. Not knowing anything about this I just decided to play safe, and accidentally play a good line.

4. Nxd4 exd4

5. O-O Bc5

6. d3 Ne7

This apparently is the best line, and 7. Ba4 is recommended. I did not know this but wanted to develop the queen's knight via d2 and hence needed to get the bishop out as well.

7. Qh5 is an interesting idea which I did not discover until the next move.

7. Bg5 O-O

7. ... c6 8. Ba4 d5 is an energetic advance which I might have met with 8. Re1 or 8. Nd2.

But here I saw an idea to create a weakness in the Black kingside.

8. Qh5 b6?!

Did not understand that, so on with the advance with possible ideas of Rf3-h3.

9. f4 f6

10. Bh4 c6

11. Bc4+ d5

12. exd5?

White should play 12. Bb3 with equality.

12. ....  cxd5

13. Bb3

The difference between this and playing Bb3 a move earlier, before the exchange of pawns, is that Black now has use of the f5 square for his knight. The manoeuvre Nf5-e3 is a concern. After 13. .. Nf5 14. Bf2 a5! 15. a4 Be6 Black has the advantage.

Black chooses another way.

13. ......  Be6

14. f5

Deciding to grab the f5 square myself before the Black knight can move in, but now the e5 square is available.

14. .... Bf7

15. Qg4 Nc6

16. Bg3

This was to deter 16. .. Ne5 but that is a good move anyway. 17. Bxe5 fxe5 gives Black a centre ready to advance. Other moves leave Black with a good central knight.

16. .....  a5

17. Ba4 Na7

Again missing the chance for 17. .. Ne5. By now I was down to 30 minutes for 18 moves.

18. a3 b5

19. Bb3

Both sides now miss the chance to play a4. Here Black could play 19. .. a4 20. Ba2 Nc6 with Ne5 and this piece will be very well placed. Whereas the white bishop is out of play on a2 and the knight on b1 has not yet moved.

19. ....   Qd7

And now 20. a4 is an idea for White, although after 20. ... b4 21. Nd2 Nc6, it is still difficult to see how I can get that white squared bishop into the game.

But I hit on an idea to try to round up the pawn that is on d4.

20. Nd2 Rfe8

21. Nf3 Nc6

22. Bf2 Qa7

Missing 22. .. a4! 23. Ba2 Re2! (24. Nxd4?? Rxf2 or 24. Bxd4? Nxd4 25. Nxd4 Rxc2) and Black can follow up with a range of attractive options, such as g6, h5, Rae8, b4. 

As played, the Black queen decides on a breather and sits out for the game for a while.

23. a4 b4

The engine now rates the game as level.

24. Rae1 Kf8

25. Qh4 h6

26. Qf4 Rad8

With perhaps a plan of Bd6 at some stage.

27. Rxe8+?!

Giving up control of the e-file is a strategic mistake. Just tucking the king away with 27. Kh1 or a bit of space with 27. h3 would be better.

27. ....  Rxe8

28. Nh4?

Planning a bad pawn exchange. 28. Re1 would keep the position even.

28. .....  Ne5

29. Ng6+ Bxg6

30. fxg6 Nxg6

31. Qf3

With just six minutes left for five moves, still hanging on and getting the pawn back.

31. ....  Ne7

32. Bxd5 Nxd5

33. Qxd5 Re2

I had overlooked this move, and also overlooked that White can play 34. Re1 as if 34. .. Rxc2?? then 35. Qd8+ and mate next move.

34. Qd8+ Kf7

35. Qd5+ Kg6

36. Rc1

The engine spots an interesting play in 36. c3 Rxf2!? 37. Qe4+ Kf7 38. Kxf2 dxc3+ 39. Kf3 cxb2 and Black has two pawns for the exchange.

36. ....  Qe7

A good centralisation of the queen. White should here play 37. Qf3 and follow up with Kf1 and Re1 to contest the e-file. The same colour bishop ending does not promise anything for either side.

But I was thinking about Re1 and so picked up the king with the intention to play Kf1. As I did so, my heart sunk as I saw it was a huge blunder. Helplessly waving it about in the air, I realised I had no choice but to go ahead with the gaffe.

37. Kf1??? Rxf2+

Of course. 38. Kxf2 Qe3+ 39. Kf1 Qxc1+ 40. Kf2 Qxc2+ or ..

38. Kg1 Qe3

38.  .. Rxc2 wins at once. But this is good enough. At least I get the queens off.

39. Qe4+ dxe4

40. dxe4

And now I patiently waited for 40. .. d3 after which I intended to resign.

40. ...... Rc2???

But wait, what's this? Black blunders in return. I carefully looked at the position to see if there was something I had missed. But no, this was a second sudden turn in events.

Sometimes when you calculate a variation, you can accidentally play the second move first. After 40. .. d3 41. cxd3 Rxc2 would win.

41. Rxc2

Here after 41. .. d3+ White has 42. Rxc5 and then Rd5 rounding up the d-pawn.

41. ....  Bd6

So where are we now? I am the exchange for a pawn up and must activate my rook and king and make sure the pawns are safe.

42. g3 Kh5

43. Kg2 g5

44. b3

44. Rc6 Be5 45. Rc5 d3 46. Rxa5 Bxb2 is possible but I did not want to give any chances. Black cannot easily defend that pawn on a5.

44. ....   Kg6

45. Rc6 Be5

46. Rc5 d3

47. Rd5 d2

48. Rxd2 Kf7

49. Rd5 Ke6

50. Rxa5 Kd6

First job done. Now to keep the king away and put the pawns on white squares.

51. Kf3 h5

52. h3 Kc6

53. g4 h4

Now the pawns are safe and I can concentrate on the queenside.

54. Ke3 Bc3

55. Kd3 Kd6

56. Kc4 Ke6

57. Rb5 Be1

58. a5

And Black resigned. A game where I was outplayed until the onset of mutual blunders.

Swale v Tunbridge Wells

Keith Nevols (163) 1-0 C Lucjan Karpinski (172)

Keith Hyde (162) 1/2-1/2 Jerry Anstead (171)

David Page (141) 0-1 Russell Goodfellow (151)

Rob Woolacott (132) 0-1 Hugh Tassell (145)

Dennis Simpson (120) 0-1 Peter Champion (140)

Vytautas Gedminas (116) 0-1 Stephen Bond (124)

Swale 1.5-4.5 Tunbridge Wells