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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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
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.
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.
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
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
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.
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
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
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
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.
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
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