Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Thirteen
Thursday 4 April 2019
White: Duncan Marsh (95) Black: Keith Nevols (163)
Dutch Defence
Despite the relatively low grade, I knew my opponent was one that is difficult to beat. He makes very few errors, and so I settled for a long game, my plan being to hopefully get an advantage and build on that. However, as we will see, I almost fall to that old enemy - over-confidence.
1. d4 f5
2. Bf4 d5
3. c3
White adopts an unusual set-up - playing a solid system based on Black square control.
3. …. Nf6
4. Nf3 e6
5. Nbd2 Be7
6. Be5?!
The start of a puzzling manoeuvre, where White decides to exchange off his bishop.
6. ..... O-O
7. Bxf6 Bxf6
8. e3
Although Black has now equalised, he still has some development to do. I also need to know where White will be putting his king.
8. ..... Bd7?!
8. … c5 might be more energetic but this is part of a plan to move the bishop over to the other side.
9. Ne5 Be8
10. Be2
The position is equal. But I can't let that knight sit there on e5.
10. ..... Nd7
11. Nxd7 Qxd7
12. Nf3 Qd6
13. Qb3!
White now finds quite a good plan to exploit the clumsy positioning of the Black queen's bishop to build up some play on the queenside and down the c-file.
13. …. b6
I considered 13. .. Bg6 to connect the rooks and with a plan of a future f4 opening up a fine diagonal. But that will come next.
14. Rc1 Bg6
The engine recommends 14. .. c5 15. c4 Bc6 and Black would not be worse with exchanges in the centre.
15. O-O Bh5?
Not only is this a waste of a move - moving the same piece twice in a row - but I am underestimating White's plan. Again 15. .. c5 was a better move, followed by Rac8 and Rfd8 and the centre is secure.
16. Rfe1 g5
This was the point of my last move.
17. c4
Black should now play 17. .. g4 18. Nd2 c5. Instead, thinking about all sorts of things at once, he blunders.
17. ….. Rf7??
And with a heavy heart I saw 18. Ne5 which will win the exchange. The loss of material, and the initiative down the c-file, would make things very difficult for Black, although the engine spots an interesting idea of 18. ….Bg6 19. Nxf7 Bxf7 20. cxd5 e5!?
18. Qc2?
Phew, he did not see it. I could not make the next move fast enough.
18. ..... Bg6
I expected 19. cxd5 exd5 20. Qc6 Qxc6 21. Rxc6 and was not sure how to play after that. The best move would then be 21. … Re8 to meet 22. Bb5 with 22. .. Ree7 23. Rec1 f4 and Black is back in the game.
19. b3?!
I did not understand this move, but Black can now grab some initiative.
19. … g4!
20. c5?!
And another inaccuracy. Opening up the c-file would have been a trump for White. Now it can be closed and I can move back to the kingside.
20. …. bxc5
21. dxc5
Forced, as obviously 21. Qxc5 loses a piece to 21. .. gxf3.
21. ..... Qe7
22. Nd4 Bg5
A bit cautious. The immediate 22. .. f4 could be considered more ambitious.
23. Bd3 Qf6
24. Ne2 e5!
At last, I get the pawns rolling.
25. Nc3 c6
26. Rf1 f4
27. Bxg6 hxg6
Keeping the queens on with the intention of an offensive against the White king.
28. exf4 Bxf4
29. Rcd1 Bxh2+!
And now I can see how I can force the win.
30. Kxh2 Qh4+
31. Kh1 Rh7
32. Qxg6+ Kh8
33. f3 g3
White can only stop checkmate by giving up his queen and so he resigned.
As expected, a tough battle, and I was glad that White did not take his chances and my attack got through.
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