20 June 2019 - Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Seven

Swale Club Chess Championship - Final Group - Round Seven

Thursday 20 June 2019

White: Rob Woolacott (142) - Black: Keith Nevols (163)

Dutch Defence

The last game of the championship. I was 1.5 points behind the two leaders so I knew I could not win the title. I had however played one game less so if I could win this one then I would at least have some bragging rights.

My opponent had defeated me earlier this season - my only loss - so I was keen for revenge.

1. Nf3 f5
2. d4 Nf6
3. c4 e6
4. Nc3 Be7
5. Bf4 d6
6. h3

A curious move, perhaps thinking of g4. As White will, presumably, not be fianchetto-ing his bishop then often in the Dutch defence, Black will aim to do so. This though is a mistake.

The engine recommends 6. .. Ne4 7. Nxe4 fxe4 8. Nd2 d5.

6. …. b6
7. e3 Bb7
8. Be2

8. Ng5! gives White the advantage. Black could retract with 8. .. Bc8 when 9. g4 looks good, or play 8. .. Qc8 when 9. d5 follows and the knight will be arriving on e6. It might have been wiser for Black to castle last move.

8. …. Ne4
9. O-O O-O



10. Nxe4

10. c5!? is an interesting temporary pawn sacrifice. After 10. .. bxc5 11. Qb3, White again zones in on the e6 pawn, meeting 11. .. Qc8 with 12. Bc4 (12. .. d5? 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Bxd5+ Bxd5 15. Qxd5+ and Qxa8) or 10... Bc8 11. Bc4.

Blacks best might be 10. .. Nxc3 11. bxc3 bxc5.

10. …. fxe4

Taking with the bishop is an alternative but after 11. Nd2 Bb7 12. Bf3 I did not see the point. An open f-file with a well-placed pawn gives chances of attack.

11. Nd2 Nd7
12. Bg3

Missing the chance for 12. Bg4 which again would put Black in a pickle.

12. ….. Nf6
13. b4!

However, White finds a good plan. He uses his advantage in space to create a queenside attack.

13. …...Qe8

Meanwhile, Black is thinking of a kingside attack!

14. a4 a5
15. b5 Qg6
16. Nb3

Zoning in on the c5 spot.

16. ...… Rad8
17. Qc2 Nh5

Hoping to exchange one of the bishops to ease the queenside pressure.

18. Bxh5 Qxh5
19. c5!

White makes his move and opens the c-file.

19. …. Bd5

If I had allowed c6 then the bishop would look very silly.

20. cxb6 cxb6
21. Rac1



Now the crucial moment. White prepares to invade down the c-file. The recommendations are 21. .. Bh4 to try to exchange off a bishop pair, or 21. … Rb8 to defend the b6 square and meet 22. Qc7 with 22. .. Rb7.

Instead I make the calamitous decision to exchange the queen for the two rooks, and my position collapses with alarming speed.

21. …. Rc8??
22. Qxc8

For some reason I thought that White would not play this.

22. ..... Rxc8
23. Rxc8+ Kf7
24. Rc7!

A clever way to entice Black into another blunder. Black ought to move the king next when White will follow with 25. Nd2.

24. …..Bxb3?
25. Bxd6 Bxa4

I had hoped to be able to use the a-pawn for some counterplay but there is not the time for this.

26. Bxe7

26. Rxe7 is stronger although Black can resign now.

26. …. Ke8
27. Rfc1 Bxb5
28. Bd6 Bd7
29. Rb7 Qd5

This was the point of my ramshackle defence, thinking if I can hold on for the next few moves, then maybe I can get something going with the two queenside pawns.



30. Rb8+ Kf7
31. Be5 g5
32. Rc7 Kg6
33. Rd8

With the demise of the bishop, and the pairing up of the rooks on the seventh rank, I resigned.

13 June 2019 - Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Six

Swale Club Chess Championship - Final Group - Round Six

Thursday 13 June 2019

White: Andrew Gillard (105) - Black: Keith Nevols (163)

Scandinavian Defence

1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. d4 Nf6
5. Bd2 Bf5?

Oops! Straight away a mistake. 5. .. c6 should have been played.

6. Qf3!

I had overlooked this. 6... c6 7. b4 loses a piece and so Black's move is forced and already he is losing time.

6. ……. Bc8
7. Bc4 c6
8. Nd5 Qd8
9. Nxf6+ exf6



10. Ne2

10. Qb3! was the move that worried me. After 10. .. Qe7+ 11. Kf1! and a devastating Re1 is on the way, whereas 10. .. Be6 11. Bxe6 fxe6 12. Qxb7 Nd7 13. Qxc6 and White is two pawns up.

Grovelling with 10. .. Bd6 11. Bxf7+ Kf8 and taking the one pawn loss is one way, or 10. … Qd7 11. O-O-O and White continues a huge attack.

10. ..... Bd6
11. Qb3 Qc7
12. O-O-O O-O

Phew! Now I felt a little safer, although White still has a large advantage and Black is yet to develop.

13. Rhe1 b5!

I was pleased with this move which allows me to develop with tempo and perhaps start an attack towards the white king.

14. Bd3

White told me afterwards that he had considered 14. Bxb5?! cxb5 15. Qxb5 but I think I am better after 15. .. Bd7.

14. …. Be6
15. c4 a5

15. .. Na6 preparing Rfb8 is another way, but I just wanted to put White under some pressure.

16. Qc2

I now considered 16. .. Bxc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Qxc4 Nd7 but it looked equal, and, given the state of the Black pawns, difficult to build an attack.

But after 16. .. Bxc4 White has 17. Bxh7+! Kh8 18. Qe4 building up a tremendous attack. (18. .. g5 19. Bf5 or 19. h4).

16. .... g6
17. c5

After 17. cxb5 I had intended to sacrifice a pawn with 17. .. Qb7 and after 18. bxc6 Nxc6 and a rook coming to the c-file I would have had a good game.

17. ….  Be7
18. Bf4

I was worried about 18. Nf4! If 18. .. Bc8 then 19. Bxb5! wins a pawn (19. … cxb5? 20. Nd5) or 19. d5 is also strong. Whereas if 18. .. Qc8 then 19. Nxe6 fxe6 20. Bxg6 or 20. Bh6 Re8 21. Bxg6.

Perhaps Black must play 18. .. Bxa2 19. b3 Bxb3 20. Qxb3 with two pawns for the piece.

18. ..... Qd7

I did wonder if White would sacrifice a pawn here with 19. d5 Bxd5 20. Be4 but I saw that 20. .. Na6 might hold on.

19. Be4

With those strong bishops then 19. h4! would have given Black several headaches.

19. ..... Na6
20. a3 Nc7

I am still grovelling but have spent the whole game on the ropes.



21. Bxc7?

One headache removed as White exchanges one of his bishops. 21. Bh6 Rfd8 22. Nf4 might have been better. 21. h4 is still interesting or 21. Kb1 defending.

21. ..... Qxc7
22. d5 cxd5
23. Bxd5 Rac8?

After a grim, and fortunate, defence, Black blunders. He must play 23. .. Bf5 and if 24. Qc3 then 24. .. b4 and the pawn on c5 becomes had to defend. Or 23. .. Bxd5 24. Rxd5 b4.

24. Bxe6 fxe6
25. b4 axb4

25. . Qa7 is more accurate but we transpose.

26. axb4

Although the engine rates this as equal, I thought that White remains on top. The only chance for Black was that the White king is much more open than Black's.

26. ...…. Qa7
27. Kb2 f5?

Another mistake. The intention was to get the black Bishop into the game but this is too weakening. 27. .. Bxc5 28. bxc5 Rxc5 considerably improves Black's drawing chances.

White uses the weakness of the Black e6 pawn to build up a winning attack.

28. Nc3 Qa6
29. Qb3 Rc6
30. Ra1 Qb7?

30. .. Qc8 is better but the game is lost anyway. I was worried about 31. Nxb5 and 31. Ra7.

31. Rxe6 Rxe6
32. Qxe6+ Kg7



33. Nxb5???

I looked to the ceiling and thought thank you. I had seen 33. Ra6 or 33. Qb6 but the winning move is 33. c6 after which Black can resign. 33. .. Qc7 34. Nd5 Bf6+ 35. Qxf6+ Rxf6 36. Nxc7 Rxc6 37. Nxb5 and White is a piece and a pawn up.

But it was my lucky day. White has blundered.

33. …..  Bf6+
34. Nc3 Qxb4+

White had overlooked this move which will lose the knight on c3 with check, and the rook as well. White resigned and I sat back with a sigh of relief. Never has the expression 'got out of jail' been more appropriate.

9 June 2019 - Tunbridge Wells Congress - Major - Round Five

Tunbridge Wells Chess Congress - Major - Round Five

Sunday 9 June 2019

White: C. Mann (148) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Irregular Opening

This was played on board three. I am on 2.5 out of 4 and a win might be enough to squeeze me into the prizes.

1. Nf3 f5

The Dutch defence .. or so I thought.

2. e4!?

But what's this? I had not seen this before. Later research reveals this is the Lisitsin Gambit, played by a Soviet player, Georgy Lisitsin, in 1931.

I was not sure what to do here. 2. … e5 transpose to the Latvian Gambit about which I had some knowledge but have never played in a serious game. I could see that 2. .. fxe4 3. Ng5 Nf6 4. d3 did not look like much fun, nor did 3. .. d5 4. d3.

Instead I decided on a cautious route, as I reasoned this was one of those openings where Black could lose in 12 moves if he is not careful.

2. .. d6
3. d3

3. exf5 Bxf5 4. d4 or 3. Nc3. The text blocks the white bishop from coming to c4.

3. ….. e5

I did not play 3. .. Nf6 as I was concerned about 4. Bg5.

4. d4

A second move of the d-pawn is a bit of an inaccuracy, but I was not to know that.

4. ..... fxe4
5. Ng5 Be7

I decided that my plan should be to keep material level, return material if necessary, and try to get through to the middle game where I might have a positional advantage. For this reason, I rejected 5. .. exd4 here.

6. h4!?



Another surprise. 6. dxe5 is probably best. After 6. .. dxe5 7. Qxd8 Bxd8 8. Bc4 Black could play 8. .. Nc6 and meet 9. Nf7 with 9. .. Na5, so White might prefer 9. Nxe4.
Or Black could counter sacrifice with 6. … Nc6 7. exd6 Qxd6 8. Qxd6 cxd6 9. Nxe4 although this looks a bit messy.

6. …. exd4
7. Qxd4

This has the merits of diverting his queen away from the h5 square.

7. …. Bf6

Better is 7. .. Nf6 8. Nxe4 d5! But, as I said, my plan was to just get through the opening.

8. Qxe4+ 

White could play 8. Qd5 Qe7 9. Bc4 but Black can hold with 9. .. c6 10. Qf7+ Qxf7 11. Nxf7 d5.

8. ......  Qe7
9. Qxe7 Nxe7

With the disappearance of the queens, I was now confident that I am not heading for a quick defeat and can get back to the main principles of development. White has only one developed piece.

10. Bd3 Bf5
11. Ne4 Bxe4
12. Bxe4 Nbc6
13. Nc3 O-O-O

The position is now almost equal. I think White has the tiniest of edges, with the two bishops and a pawn majority on the kingside.



14. Bg5 Bxg5?!

I wanted to exchange off one of the bishops and put up a defence based around the f-file, but this is too passive. The engine recommends 14. .. Bxc3+ 15. bxc3 h6 followed by … d5 and some central pressure.

15. hxg5 g6

The problem now is that I cannot move the rook on h8.

16. O-O-O Rdf8
17. f3 

I am beginning to get outplayed and struggling for things to do.

17. ....Nd8?!

A bizarre defence plan. I wanted to play c6 to protect the d5 square, but, in order to do that, I need to defend the d6 pawn and can do that with Kd7, but I can't play c6 and Kd7 without Nd8 first to defend the b-pawn.

Better moves would be 17. .. Ne5 planning to come to f7 to hit the g5 pawn, or 17. .. Nf5 looking at the g3 and d4 squares.

18. Rde1 Kd7
19. Nd5?! 

Allowing the exchange of this knight reduces the White advantage.

19. .... Nxd5
20. Bxd5 c6
21. Bb3



At this stage I had a big think. I wanted to improve the position of my knight and considered various plays around Nf7 and then Ne5 or d5 and Nd6. I did not want to play 21. ….d5 straight away as I feared 22. c4 which would open up the centre while my King was stuck there.

Suddenly a light bulb moment hit me when I realised that I could take the g-pawn pawn and free the h-pawn. It is odd how you often overlook the most obvious moves. White gets some activity for it but I was confident I could hold.

21. …. Rf5
22. Re2 Rxg5
23. Rhe1 h5
24. Re7+ Kc8
25. R1e2

My pawn advantage is offset by the fact that his bishop has a much happier life than my knight. But if I can exchange off the kingside pawns then I would have a draw in hand. Also the knight on d8 does a fine defensive job against White putting the two rooks on the seventh rank.

25. …. h4
26. c3 h3
27. gxh3 Rxh3



28. Be6+?

A mistake. 28. Rf2 or 28. R7d3 would keep the f-pawn, but White not only helps me out by exchanging his good bishop for my bad knight but he also gives me a passed pawn.

28. …. Nxe6
29. R2xe6 Rxf3?

Too eager!! Black should play 29. .. Rg2! threatening Rhh2.

30. Rg7 Re5
31. Rxd6 Re2
32. Rd2 Rxd2
33. Kxd2 Rf2+
34. Kc1 Rg2

Black is now a pawn up in a rook and pawn ending but I was not sure how to win this. I start off fine. The first step is to advance the passed pawn.

35. a3 g5
36. Kb1 g4
37. Ka2 Kb8?

I am too worried about his king advancing. I should get on with pushing the pawn. So 37. .. g3 is best.



In this sort of ending (I discovered afterwards) Black needs to push his passed pawn as far as he can, and then try to get exchanges and push the c-pawn. White is restricted by the need to keep the king from rook checks.

38. Kb3 a6
39. c4 Ka7
40. c5 a5
41. Kc3 

The point is that this move would not have been possible if the rook was on g1 and the pawn on g2.

41. ..... Ka6
42. b3 g3

At last but too late.

43. a4 Rg1
44. Kb2 g2

I later concluded this was a mistake, as if my King has to get over there, it needs a hiding hole, and the g2 square would have sufficed. But that would have given White time to sweep up on the queenside. The mistakes have already happened.

45. Rg3 b6
46. cxb6 Kxb6
47. Rg5 c5
48. Rg6+ Kc7
49. Ka2 Kd7
50. Kb2 Ke7
51. Rg5 Kf6
52. Rg8 Kf5



And here we agreed a draw. I could not see how my King could hide from any checks, and, so long as the White king stays on a2 or b2, then the rook cannot do anything useful either.

I played the ending all wrong and think there were several ways I could have improved.

My final score was three out of five - two wins, two draws and one loss - and I finished fourth equal in the Major section - just outside the prizes.

9 June 2019 - Tunbridge Wells Congress - Major - Round Four

Tunbridge Wells Chess Congress - Major - Round Four

Sunday 9 June 2019

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Richard Bedwell (138)

Ruy Lopez

I arrived for the second day in a better mood. Despite three lost games, two of which were saved, I still had an outside chance of a prize if I won both of today's games.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 Nf6

The Berlin defence, best known for its use by Vladimir Kramnik in his world championship match with Gary Kasparov in 2000. I adopt the quieter line.

4. d3 d6
5. h3

Not in theory but simply to prevent a Black Bg4.

5. ….  Be7
6. O-O O-O
7. c3

I was not attracted by 7. Bxc6 and played the text partly to give the bishop a safe square after a6 and b5, and also to prepare d4.

7. … Bd7
8. Re1 Na5?!

Black forces the exchange of the white squared bishops. With my pawns on white squares, this suits me.

9. Bxd7 Nxd7



10. Nbd2

The first of four consecutive knights moves. 10. b4 Nc6 11. a4 would give White space and the initiative.

10. …. Bf6

I did not understand this move, as it stops Black from any f5 options, but the engine recommends it. I guess it was to keep an eye on White's options of playing d4. Instead I continue my knight tour.

11. Nf1 Nc6
12. Ne3 g6
13. Nd5 Bg7

Tour complete. The knight has a good square.

14. Bg5 f6

Opening the a2-g8 diagonal towards the Black king, and I spot the chance of a tactic.

15. Be3

15. Bh4 might be considered to be more precise, as the Bishop remains on an active diagonal and the knight has a retreat square if it needs it. Now Black needs to play 15. .. Kh8. After which, 16. Qb3 Nb6 is a waste of time and so 16. d4 is worth some consideration.

15. .....Ne7?

I tried hard to see what Black would get for this pawn sacrifice and could not see that he gets enough. My queen will not get trapped. However, my opponent explained afterwards that he had simply overlooked the loss of the b-pawn.

16. Nxe7 Qxe7
17. Qb3+ Qf7
18. Qxb7 Nb6
19. Qc6 Rad8



20. a4!

Exploiting the fact that Black cannot play a5, which would lose a pawn after Bxb6.

20. …. Qd7
21. Qxd7

And exploiting the fact that Black cannot retake with the knight, as if 21. .. Nxd7 then 22. Bxa7 c5 23. a5 will save the bishop from getting trapped, and White will be two pawns up.

21. …. Rxd7
22. a5 Nc8

Black's pieces are not very well placed. The bishop is blocked, the rooks are not connected, and the knight is on the back rank. However, it would not take long to sort these out so White needs to keep up the initiative.

23. b4

My opponent said he was concerned about 23. Ra3 and coming down to b7. I had not considered this, but Black does get counterplay with 23. .. d5. (24. Bc5 dxe4! 25. dxe4 Rfd8). Instead my plan was to gain space on the queenside and try to squash his pieces.

23. …. c6
24. Rab1 a6

I decided to improve the position of my knight, but 24. c4 would be better, trying to get a passed pawn on the queenside. Instead Black begins his counterplay while I waste some time.

25. Nd2?! f5
26. Nb3

The knight should have been left where it was. On the b3 square it is in the way.

26. ..... f4
27. Bd2 Ne7
28. c4

Now comes some shuffling of pieces as I try to find a way through.

28. …..  Rc8
29. Rb2 Rb7
30. Reb1 Rd8



31. f3

Closing down the kingside, so I can concentrate on how I can break through on the queenside.

31. …. Bf6

Planning to come to h4 and use the open h4-e1 diagonal.

32. Nc1 d5
33. Ne2

Black has made his counterpush but White should not have been afraid of it. 33. cxd5 cxd5 34. b5 dxe4 and then 35. fxe4 axb5 36. Rxb5 (or 35. dxe4 Rxb5 36. Rxb5 axb5 37. Nc3) and there is the passed pawn that I wanted.

33. ...  dxc4
34. dxc4 Rbd7

This looks OK and I began to worry, but I wonder if 34. .. Nc8 is an improvement, coming to d6 to attack the c4 pawn and cover the b5 square.

35. Bc3 Bg7

White was threatening to win a pawn with Nf4 - hence this retreat.

36. Nc1!

I saw the nice c5 square and decide to re-route my knight there. 36. b5 will again force a passed pawn but I was not sure I could get it through. Black seemed to have the resources to hold it up.

36. ..... Kf7
37. Nb3 Rd3
38. Rc2 Bf6?

Black decides to stake on a counter attack. But I thought I had everything covered. 
38. .. Ra8 or 38. .. R3d7 39. Nc5 Ra7 holds on.



39. Nc5 Rd1+
40. Rxd1 Rxd1+
41. Kf2 

41. Kh2?? would have led to 41. .. Bh4 42. g4 Bg3+ 43. Kg2 g5! with Ng6 to follow and suddenly it is White facing defeat.

41. ...…. Bh4+
42. Ke2 Rg1
43. Kd3

When playing 39. Nc5, I had seen this position and that my King could escape via the d3 square, and if 43. .. Rd1+ then 44. Rd2 Rb1 45. Kc2.

43. ...… Rf1

Why not grab a pawn?

44. Bxe5 g5
45. Nxa6

Black is lost but one final mistake.

45. .....Bf2?
46. Ke2

Black will lose a piece and so he resigned.

I was very pleased with this game and, although my play could have been better, was satisfied that I had controlled the game well.

8 June 2019 - Tunbridge Wells Congress - Major - Round Three

Tunbridge Wells Chess Congress - Major - Round Three

Saturday 8 June 2019

White: Robert Fisher (121) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Dutch Defence

With half out of two for today, I faced this game with a mixture of confidence and nervousness.

1. d4 f5

2. g3 Nf6

3. Bg2 e6

4. Nd2

Unusual. Presumably to keep c4 options open. Black now could play 4. .. d5 to keep control over the e4 square and meeting 5. c4 with 5. .. c6, or 4. .. c5 to be followed by .. Nc6.

4. …..  d6?!

The problem with this move is demonstrated by White's next.

5. e4

Where possible, Black needs to meet a White e4 with pawn to e5 - so I prepare that move.

5. …. Nc6

6. c3 e5

7. Ne2

At the time, I thought this was dubious, but the engine states it as the best move.

7. …. Be7

8. Qb3!

Preventing Black from castling. Black ought to now play .. Qd7 followed by Na5 and then castle. Instead, with White threatening exf5, I decide to reduce the tension in the centre.

8. ….  fxe4

9. Nxe4 



9. … Nxe4??

Black overlooks a tactic and brings the White bishop to the centre. 9. .. Qd7 was more solid.

10. Bxe4 Bf6?

This was the point of my sequence - to apply some pressure to the centre and give some space for my pieces.

But the queen on b3 had become a pain, and White could now have exploited that with 11. Bxh7!, grabbing a pawn, following with Bg6+ to dislodge the king, and wrecking the Black kingside.

11. Be3? Qe7?

Both of us were overlooking the Bxh7 tactic.

12. d5

This is still good enough for a sizeable lead.

12. …. Nd8

I did not see at all the possibility of 12. .. Nd4 but White can get the advantage with 13. cxd4 exd4 14. Bxd4 Qxe4 15. f3.

(There is a fascinating exchange sacrifice here - instead of 15. f3, he could try 15. Bxf6!? Qxh1+ 16. Kd2 Qe4 (16. .. Qxa1?? 17. Qe3+ will mate) 17. Bxg7 Rg8 and then either 18. Nf4 Kf7 19. Re1 Qf5 20. Bc3 - White will have a knight and a pawn for a rook, and both kings are in the open - or 18. Re1 Rxg7 19. Nf4 Qxe1+ 20. Kxe1 and White has a queen and a pawn for the two rooks).

13. Qc2 g6

14. h4!

Now I was worried. I am a long way from castling queenside, and not brave enough to castle kingside. So, I deal with a threat at a time, move-by-move. First, there was the threat of h5 to deal with.

14. ….  Qg7

Providing further defence to h8 and g6 and thinking of meeting 15. h5 with 15. .. g5.

15. O-O-O Nf7

Taking a piece off the back row and planning to move to f5 to add to the defence.

16. Rdg1 Nh6

Preventing a White g4.

17. f3 Nf5

Got there. If 17. .. Bxf5 then 18. g4 Bxe4 19. Qxe4 (threatening g5) Be7 20. Qa4+ and the king has to move.

18. Bd2 Bd7??

In a difficult position, White blunders a piece. But it is hard to give advice. 18. .. Ne7 19. g4 and White is on top. (19. .. Qf7 to give the bishop some space against 20. g5 but a White 20. h5 gives his problems and answering with 20. .. g5 looks very wobbly).



While White was thinking, I had one of those heart stopping moments where you see a winning move for your opponent. I saw 19. g4. The knight has to retreat - 19. .. Ne7 - and White then traps the black bishop with 20. g5. If 19.. Nxh4 20. g5 Nf5 21. gxf6 Qxf6 then Black will have two pawns for the piece, but then 22. Bg5! and Black's king is still stuck in the centre.

19. Kb1?

Phew!! I got away with it for the second game running. Now to quickly make some space for those pieces.

19. ….. Ne7

20. g4 Qf7

21. f4

Not as good as 21. h5 or even 21. c4 planning to open another front.

21. ….  O-O-O

With relief. Although I was not out of the woods yet, I had got the king further away from the danger zone and thought, if I could hold on the kingside and exchange a few pieces and pawns, that I could get a draw out of this.

22. c4!

White finds the right plan now opening another front of attack.

22. ….  exf4

23. Nxf4 Kb8

Putting the king further away and freeing the c8 square in case I need to put a rook there.

24. Qb3 c6?!

An unnecessary gamble weakening the d-pawn. 24. .. b6 is more solid.

25. Rf1 Qg7

Obviously not 25. … Bxg4?? 26. dxc6.

26. dxc6

White is going to simplify the position, and when you have the better game, this is a mistake.

26. …. Nxc6

27. Bxc6?

White sacrifices his active bishop for a passive knight and in turn grants me an active bishop. The game has turned around.

27. ….  Bxc6

28. Ne6

This was the point of White's sequence.

28.  …..Qd7

But Black should have played the more accurate 28. .. Qe7!

29. Nxd8 Bxh1

30. Rxh1?

Better was 30. Nxb7 Bxb7 31. Rxf6 Qxg4 and a draw seems likely.

But the point of my earlier note - had I played 28. .. Qe7 then I could now play Qe4+ and pick up the rook on h1.

30. ….  Rxd8

31. g5 Qf5+

32. Ka1 Be5

Now I am thinking of shaking hands and going home.

33. Ba5?

A mistake .. but I do not yet see it.

33. ….  Rf8

While White was pondering his 34th move, I saw that I had missed Bxb2+ picking up the bishop on a5 and kicked myself again.

34. a3?

I am not going to miss it twice.

34. …   Bxb2+

35. Qxb2 Qxa5

36. Rb1 Qc7

37. Qb4 Rf4



My clock was down to less than five minutes so I could not write down the moves, due to spending so much time earlier on trying to stay alive.

A pawn up, I managed to activate my pieces, pick up the c-pawn, and push the d-pawn. With very little time remaining, I was not sure if I had time to win, but he resigned as I was working it out.

After the first day of the Congress, I had one and a half out of three. A bad loss and two get out of jails, so I could easily have been going home with three losses. I drove home and resolved to put in a better showing for the two games tomorrow.

8 June 2019 - Tunbridge Wells Congress - Major - Round Two

Tunbridge Wells Chess Congress - Major - Round Two

Saturday 8 June 2019

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Paul Ritchie (138)

Sicilian Defence

After a shocker of a start, I was in a low mood, so resolved to play cautiously and carefully.

1. e4 c5

2. Nc3 e5

An unusual way to meet my closed Sicilian. Research reveals that White's best plan would be Bc4, d3, f4, Nf3 and castles with a nice advantage. I usually play the bishop to e2 and do so here.

3. d3 Nc6

4. f4 exf4?!

Surprising. Breaking Black's stonewall and saddling him with a backward pawn on d6.

5. Bxf4 d6

6. Nf3 Nf6

7. Be2 Be7

8. O-O O-O

I was concerned about 8. .... Qb6 and decided to meet it with 9. Rb1 but instead 9. Nd5 would have been better. One line being 9. ... Nxd5 10. exd5 Nd4 11. Nxd4 cxd4 12. b3 with Bf3 to come. The half-open c-file might have become an issue however.

9. Kh1

Investing a tempo so I did not have to worry about such tricks. My confidence was still low after the previous defeat.

9. ....   Re8

I did not quite understand this upcoming rearrangement of pieces so decided to get on with the attack.

10. Qe1 Bf8

11. Bg5 Be6

12. Qg3

An excellent square for the queen, opposite the king and also keeping an eye on the d6 pawn.

12. ........ Be7

Now it was time for a big think to come up with a plan.

I considered 13. h3 followed by Nh2. I also thought about 13. Qh4 but then a Black h6 forces exchanges.

And I looked at 13. Nh4 planning to come to the f5 square. If 13. ... Nh5 then 14. Bxh5 Bxg5 15. Nf5 Bxf5 16. Rxf5 Bf6 17. Nd5 with Raf1 to come.

But after 13. Nh4 I could not see a way to meet 13. ... Nd4. If 14. Bd1 Nh5 15. Bxh5 Bxg5 16. Nf3 (16. Nf5? Bxf5 and then Nxc2) Bf6 and Black is OK.

So I looked to the other side of the board to see if I could profit from the d6 weakness and threaten Bxf6. The upcoming sequence I had foreseen.

13. Nb5 Nh5

14. Qh4 Bxg5

15. Nxg5 h6

16. Bxh5 hxg5

17. Qg3

This was the position I had in mind after 13. Nb5. Although material is equal, Black has a double g-pawn and the weakness on d6 is still there. But I had under-estimated the next move.

17. .......  Ne5!

....and now Black is better. He threatens Qb6 winning a pawn. White must play 18. d4 cxd4 19. Nxd4 but I overlooked an obvious trap.

18. Nc3 g4

18. .. g6 might be better with 19. Be2 f5 and Black has quite an initiative going. But for now I have to mount a rescue mission for the trapped bishop.

19. h3 Qg5

Black cannot trap the bishop so 19. .. Qb6! would cause White greater problems with either 20. Rab1 gxh3 or 20. b3 Qb4.

20. Bxg4 Nxg4!?

More accurate would be 20. .. Bxg4 21. hxg4 as the knight stands well and covers the d6 pawn. But Black has a plan.

21. hxg4 Bxg4

White can play 22. Rf4 here, or even a safer 22. Kg1, but, I saw a free pawn and lunged.

22. Qxd6?

... and then.... 

22. ........  Re6

Cripes!! We know where that's going. 

23. Qf4 Rh6+

24. Kg1 Qh5

And now I had an epic think for twenty minutes or so. I saw 24. …. Qh1+ 25. Kf2 Rf6 (and did not see that 26. Rxh1! Rxf4+ 27. Kg3 g5 28. Nd5 wins material). Or 24. … Qh1+ 25. Kf2 Qh4+ but 26. Ke3 seems to be OK - or just returning 26. Kg1 for the draw. But I could see all sorts of lines where Black's rook coming to f6 would end the day.

I also had visions of trying to explain to myself how, when I was the highest seeded player in the section, I had started on 0/2.

It took a while before I saw the best move - which would cover the f6 square as well as keep an option of a check if I needed it.

25. Nd5 Re8

Reinforcements.

26. Ne3

26. Qg3 is the best move. Black cannot play 26. .. Be2 because of 27. Nf6+ and if 26. .. Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Qh5 then 28. Rh1.

After the text, Black can force a draw with 26. ... Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Qh4+ 28. Kg1 (28. g3??? Qh2+ 29. Ng2 Bh3 30. Qf3 Bxg2 31. Qxg2 Rf6+) Qh4+ etc.

26. ........ Be6

But Black knows he has the initiative and wants to play on.

27. Rae1 b5

I did not fear 27. ... Bxa2 where I could choose between 28. b3 or 28. Nf5.

28. b3 c4!?

Interesting. Black decides to sacrifice a pawn to open lines on the queenside while he has White tied down to the kingside. I did not like that prospect so I decided to create a passed pawn instead.

29. d4 cxb3

30. cxb3

If 30. axb3 I did not like the idea of a weak pawn on the c-file and the possibility of a Black passed pawn with a5-a4. (I am also relieved to still be on the board).

30. .....  Rc8

31. Nf5??

31. d5 or 31. Rf3 would have been better. This is a simple blunder. 31. .... Bxf5! will now win at once.

(i) 32. Qxf5 Qh2+ 33. Kf2 Rf6 wins the queen.

(ii) 32. exf5 Rc2! and Qh1 mate can only be stopped by sacrificing the queen.
(iii) 32. Rc1 and White is just a piece down.

31. ...... Qh1+??

Phew!! He missed it.

32. Kf2 Rc2+

33. Re2?

Missing 33.Ke3 which would have won material as Black's queen and rook are attacked at the same time.

33. ........Rxe2+

34. Kxe2 Qh5+

35. g4

Forcing the exchange of queens.

35. ......  Qh2+

36. Qxh2 Rxh2+

37. Rf2 Rh3

An internal sigh of relief as the realisation that I should not lose this, and unaware (although suspecting it) that we had both missing winning chances.

I was not sure how to defend the extra pawn so decided to give it up in exchange for swapping off the pieces. But I probably did not need to. 38. d5 would keep the edge.

38. Ne3 Rg3

39. d5

39. Rf4 would have kept the pawn although limiting the mobility of the rook.

39. .....  Bxg4

40. Nxg4 Rxg4

41. Kf3

41. Kd3 would have been more accurate.

41. .......  f5!

42. exf5 Rd4

43. Rc2 Rxd5

44. Ke4 Rd7

45. Rc5 Rb7

My last chance of a win was to get the king active, although I needed to keep an eye on my f-pawn.

46. Kd5 b4

47. Kc6 Rb6+

48. Kc7 Ra6

49. Rb5 Rxa2

50. Rxb4 Rf2

51. Rb5 a6

OK, this will be a draw so we just went through the motions.

52. Ra5 Rf3

53. Kd6 Rxb3

54. Rxa6 Rb5

55. Ke6 Rb3

56. Ke5

Draw Agreed.