Swale Club Chess Championship - Final Group - Round Five
Thursday 6 June 2019
White: Kevin French (95) - Black: Keith Nevols (163)
English Opening
This was an eventful and tough game, but endgame enthusiasts should look away now.
1. c4 e5
2. g3 d6
3. Nc3 f5
4. e3 Nf6
Into my favourite Dutch-like defence against the English Opening which I have been playing for longer than I have played the Dutch. I got it from a book many years ago called 'A Repertoire for the Aggressive Player'.
Into my favourite Dutch-like defence against the English Opening which I have been playing for longer than I have played the Dutch. I got it from a book many years ago called 'A Repertoire for the Aggressive Player'.
5. Bg2 Be7
6. d3
6. d4 is more common, to try to open up the centre and make space for pieces, while Black is still under-developed.
6. .....O-O
6. d4 is more common, to try to open up the centre and make space for pieces, while Black is still under-developed.
6. .....O-O
7. Qc2 Nc6
8. a3 a5
To prevent b4 and hold up White's play on that wing.
To prevent b4 and hold up White's play on that wing.
9. b3 Qe8
The engine recommends 9. .. e4 or 9. .. f4 but I wanted to develop the pieces a little more before making such commitments. I still do not know where White plans to move his king.
The engine recommends 9. .. e4 or 9. .. f4 but I wanted to develop the pieces a little more before making such commitments. I still do not know where White plans to move his king.
10. h3 Bd8
Again 10. .. f4 is better, but the text removes a piece between my queen and his king.
Again 10. .. f4 is better, but the text removes a piece between my queen and his king.
11. Bb2 f4
A little late, but better late than never. White's best might now be to castle queenside but this is coming soon.
A little late, but better late than never. White's best might now be to castle queenside but this is coming soon.
12. Nge2 fxe3
12... Nh5 would keep the tension but I rejected this as it moved a knight away from the centre and I could see now in which direction his king would be going.
12... Nh5 would keep the tension but I rejected this as it moved a knight away from the centre and I could see now in which direction his king would be going.
13. fxe3 Qg6
14. Ne4?!
This hands the initiative back to Black. Castling immediately would make Black struggle for a plan and White could bring the rooks to the f-file. 14. O-O-O Qh6 15. Kb1!? Qxe3 16. Rhf1 gets rid of a weak pawn for some pressure. Black's rooks are not yet connected.
14. ..... Bf5
14. .. Qh6 is stronger. 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. e4 Bg5 is good whereas 15. O-O-O Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bg5! also adds pressure. However, I was keen to get the bishops into the action.
This hands the initiative back to Black. Castling immediately would make Black struggle for a plan and White could bring the rooks to the f-file. 14. O-O-O Qh6 15. Kb1!? Qxe3 16. Rhf1 gets rid of a weak pawn for some pressure. Black's rooks are not yet connected.
14. ..... Bf5
14. .. Qh6 is stronger. 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 16. e4 Bg5 is good whereas 15. O-O-O Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Bg5! also adds pressure. However, I was keen to get the bishops into the action.
15. O-O-O Nxe4
16. dxe4
If 16. Bxe4 I had intended to play 16. … Bxe4 17. dxe4 Rf3.
16. ..... Be6
If 16. Bxe4 I had intended to play 16. … Bxe4 17. dxe4 Rf3.
16. ..... Be6
17. Rdf1 Bg5
The rooks are connected, the bishops are active, and there is pressure in the centre. All is well with the world.
Black could also have played 17. .. Bh4!? or 17. .. a4!, neither of which I saw.
The rooks are connected, the bishops are active, and there is pressure in the centre. All is well with the world.
Black could also have played 17. .. Bh4!? or 17. .. a4!, neither of which I saw.
18. Qd3 Qh6
18. .. a4 is also good, with 19. b4 weakening the c4 point if Black can get his queen to f7.
18. .. a4 is also good, with 19. b4 weakening the c4 point if Black can get his queen to f7.
19. Kd2 b6
The purpose of this move was to defend the pawn on a5 and protect against a possible c5 by White, but it opens the long diagonal and gives White some tactical chances.
The purpose of this move was to defend the pawn on a5 and protect against a possible c5 by White, but it opens the long diagonal and gives White some tactical chances.
20. Bc1
White could have played 20. h4 Be7 21. Rf5!. If Black plays 21. .. Bxf5? this leads to 22. exf5 d5 - the only way to defend the knight on c6 - 23. cxd5 Rad8 24. g4 with an attack.
But 21. … Nb8 or 21. .. g6 are simple enough and Black would have to retreat the rook or capture on f8.
With 20. Bc1 White is adding x-ray protection to the e3 pawn which will take effect after the king moves.
20. ..... Qg6
Again, I miss 20. .. a4!. If 21. b4 Black could play 21. … Nd4! with a lot of compensation for the pawn after 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Qxd4 Bf6.
The truth is that I could not see a way forward and thought I would give myself the option of h5.
White could have played 20. h4 Be7 21. Rf5!. If Black plays 21. .. Bxf5? this leads to 22. exf5 d5 - the only way to defend the knight on c6 - 23. cxd5 Rad8 24. g4 with an attack.
But 21. … Nb8 or 21. .. g6 are simple enough and Black would have to retreat the rook or capture on f8.
With 20. Bc1 White is adding x-ray protection to the e3 pawn which will take effect after the king moves.
20. ..... Qg6
Again, I miss 20. .. a4!. If 21. b4 Black could play 21. … Nd4! with a lot of compensation for the pawn after 22. Nxd4 exd4 23. Qxd4 Bf6.
The truth is that I could not see a way forward and thought I would give myself the option of h5.
21. h4 Be7
22. h5 Qg5
23. Kc3
23. Rf5! equalises the game. White would be better after 23. .. Bxf5 24. exf5 Nd4 25. h6! or 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. g4!. So Black would have to play 23. .. Qh6 and White can think about moving the King, g4, or Rhf1.
Neither of us saw this move. How did we manage before computers?
I now exchange rooks on f1, while White is unable to re-take with his other rook, and my other rook can come into play taking the f-file.
23. …... Rxf1
23. Rf5! equalises the game. White would be better after 23. .. Bxf5 24. exf5 Nd4 25. h6! or 25. Bxa8 Rxa8 26. g4!. So Black would have to play 23. .. Qh6 and White can think about moving the King, g4, or Rhf1.
Neither of us saw this move. How did we manage before computers?
I now exchange rooks on f1, while White is unable to re-take with his other rook, and my other rook can come into play taking the f-file.
23. …... Rxf1
24. Bxf1 Rf8
25. Bd2 Kh8
Insurance against any future Qd5 tactics, although 25. .. Qf6 prepares for invasion down the f-file.
26. Be1?! Rf3
Insurance against any future Qd5 tactics, although 25. .. Qf6 prepares for invasion down the f-file.
26. Be1?! Rf3
27. Bd2 Nd4
At last I got this flashy move in. 27. .. a4 28. b4 Qf6 is another way to continue the attack.
At last I got this flashy move in. 27. .. a4 28. b4 Qf6 is another way to continue the attack.
28. Kb2 Nxe2
29. Bxe2 Rxg3
Hurrah! At last, a pawn. I thought this game will soon be won, although his bishops, while passive, are a pain.
Hurrah! At last, a pawn. I thought this game will soon be won, although his bishops, while passive, are a pain.
30. b4
This I did not mind. Although it opens the a-file, I thought he was unable to exploit that, whereas there was a chance I could use the fact that the c4 pawn has lost its main defender.
30. …. axb4
This I did not mind. Although it opens the a-file, I thought he was unable to exploit that, whereas there was a chance I could use the fact that the c4 pawn has lost its main defender.
30. …. axb4
31. axb4 Rg1
32. Rxg1 Qxg1
33. Bf3 Qg5
Planning to round up the h-pawn.
34. Qe2 Qf6
… and now planning Qf7 to get the c-pawn. I was beginning to enjoy myself!
Planning to round up the h-pawn.
34. Qe2 Qf6
… and now planning Qf7 to get the c-pawn. I was beginning to enjoy myself!
35. Kb3?
It is difficult anyway but White needed to play 35. Bg4 Bg8 36. b5 Qf7 37. Kc3 to retain the c-pawn. I might then see if I could get the queen over to the a-file.
35. …... b5
It is difficult anyway but White needed to play 35. Bg4 Bg8 36. b5 Qf7 37. Kc3 to retain the c-pawn. I might then see if I could get the queen over to the a-file.
35. …... b5
36. Kc3 Bxc4
37. Qg2 Qf7
37. .. d5 is better, as White cannot play 38. exd5 due to 38. .. e4+, but I did not see this. I am two pawns up and should not have any problems from here.
37. .. d5 is better, as White cannot play 38. exd5 due to 38. .. e4+, but I did not see this. I am two pawns up and should not have any problems from here.
38. Be2 c5
39. bxc5 dxc5
Also, there is 39. … b4+ 40.Kxb4 Ba2 or 39. .. Ba2 40. Bd1 dxc5.
40. Qf3 Bf6
I think I should have exchanged queens and then advanced the king.
41. Qf1
41. ...... Bxe2?
Missing 41. .. Ba2! 42. Bd1 b4+ 43. Kb2 Qa7 and White will have to sacrifice a bishop.
Also, there is 39. … b4+ 40.Kxb4 Ba2 or 39. .. Ba2 40. Bd1 dxc5.
40. Qf3 Bf6
I think I should have exchanged queens and then advanced the king.
41. Qf1
41. ...... Bxe2?
Missing 41. .. Ba2! 42. Bd1 b4+ 43. Kb2 Qa7 and White will have to sacrifice a bishop.
42. Qxe2 Qd7
43. Kc2 c4
44. Bb4 Be7
45. Bxe7 Qxe7
46. Qd2 g5?
No, no, no. I was worried about the bank rank but should have played 46. .. h6.
No, no, no. I was worried about the bank rank but should have played 46. .. h6.
47. h6!
Now I see, after missing several ways to win, that the win would not be so easy. I need to get my king out of the corner and thought I had to give up one of the pawns.
47. ...….Kg8?
Losing a pawn at once. 47. .. Qf6 is best and try to come in, via a check, down the f-file. But I was beginning to grow despondent over a lost win.
48. Qd5+ Kf8
Now I see, after missing several ways to win, that the win would not be so easy. I need to get my king out of the corner and thought I had to give up one of the pawns.
47. ...….Kg8?
Losing a pawn at once. 47. .. Qf6 is best and try to come in, via a check, down the f-file. But I was beginning to grow despondent over a lost win.
48. Qd5+ Kf8
49. Qxb5 Qc7
50. Qd5 g4
I thought the only hope was to get the pawn going, but 50. .. Ke7 51. Qg8 Kf6 is more accurate.
I thought the only hope was to get the pawn going, but 50. .. Ke7 51. Qg8 Kf6 is more accurate.
51. Qe6
After saying for the last 25 moves, how far ahead I am, the computer now says we are equal. A series of woeful moves has allowed me to blow the advantage and I will have to win the game all over again (or at least hold the draw).
51. ..... g3
After saying for the last 25 moves, how far ahead I am, the computer now says we are equal. A series of woeful moves has allowed me to blow the advantage and I will have to win the game all over again (or at least hold the draw).
51. ..... g3
52. Qg4?!
52. Qf6+! forces a draw.
(i) 52. .. Ke8?? allows 53. Qh8+, 54. Qxh7+ and 55. Qxc7 Kxc7 56. h7 g2 57. h8(Q) g1(Q) 58. Qxe5+.
(ii) 52. .. Kg8 53. Qg5+ takes the pawn on g3.
(iii) 52. … Qf7 53. Qh8+ and either Ke7 54. Qxe5+ or 53. … Qg8 54. Qf6+ Ke8 55. Qxe5+.
52. ..... Qd6
52. Qf6+! forces a draw.
(i) 52. .. Ke8?? allows 53. Qh8+, 54. Qxh7+ and 55. Qxc7 Kxc7 56. h7 g2 57. h8(Q) g1(Q) 58. Qxe5+.
(ii) 52. .. Kg8 53. Qg5+ takes the pawn on g3.
(iii) 52. … Qf7 53. Qh8+ and either Ke7 54. Qxe5+ or 53. … Qg8 54. Qf6+ Ke8 55. Qxe5+.
52. ..... Qd6
53. Qf3+
With the draw in hand, fortunately for me, White uses a series of queen checks to force my king up the board.
53. ……. Ke8
With the draw in hand, fortunately for me, White uses a series of queen checks to force my king up the board.
53. ……. Ke8
54. Qh5+ Kd7
55. Qg4+ Kc6
56. Qxg3
Now the King is out of the corner and out of danger. But my two pawn advantage is gone.
56. ...... Qd3+
Now the King is out of the corner and out of danger. But my two pawn advantage is gone.
56. ...... Qd3+
57. Kc1 Qxe4??
Unnecessarily flashy. There was no need to waste time and take this pawn. 57. .. c3 was better.
Unnecessarily flashy. There was no need to waste time and take this pawn. 57. .. c3 was better.
58. Qg5 Kb5
59. Qg1?
59. Qg1?
59. Kb2! makes things level again. Black's queen has no checks and has to defend e5. 59. .. Kb4 60. Qe7+ draws. 59. .. Ka4 60. Qg7! and the White queen should be able to force a draw through checks as well.
59. ….. Kb4
60. Qe1+ c3
61. Qe2 Qh1+
62. Kc2 Qe4+
63. Kc1 Qc4??
Unable to see a way through, Black blunders again. Yuri Averbach, the endgame expert, would have fainted by now.
The correct way is 63. .. Qh1+ 64. Kc2 Qd5 (threatening Qa2+) 65. Kc1 Qe4. Now the White king cannot move. If 66. Qe1 Qg2 67. Kd1 Kb3, or if 66. Qf2 Qh1+ 67. Kc1 Qxh6 (covering the f8 check).
Unable to see a way through, Black blunders again. Yuri Averbach, the endgame expert, would have fainted by now.
The correct way is 63. .. Qh1+ 64. Kc2 Qd5 (threatening Qa2+) 65. Kc1 Qe4. Now the White king cannot move. If 66. Qe1 Qg2 67. Kd1 Kb3, or if 66. Qf2 Qh1+ 67. Kc1 Qxh6 (covering the f8 check).
64. Qd1?
64. Qf3! saves the draw. Black has no checks and his king has no hidey-hole. If 64. .. e4 65. Qf8+.
64. …. e4??
And again, we enter draw territory. Black needed to cover the d6 square, so either Kc5 or Qe6 would have done. The point of my move was to get the queen onto d3 but White can now force the draw.
65. Qd6+ Qc5
64. Qf3! saves the draw. Black has no checks and his king has no hidey-hole. If 64. .. e4 65. Qf8+.
64. …. e4??
And again, we enter draw territory. Black needed to cover the d6 square, so either Kc5 or Qe6 would have done. The point of my move was to get the queen onto d3 but White can now force the draw.
65. Qd6+ Qc5
66. Qb8+ Kc4
67. Qg8+??
Phew! The draw is simple. 67. Kc2! and again there are no checks for Black. If 67. .. Qxe3 68. Qc7+ and Black cannot escape the checks. (He will also have to be careful about a queen exchange as after Kxc3 White can even win).
67. …... Kd3
Now White's only check - 68. Qd8+ - gives Black's king the hiding hole he needs.
68. Qb3 Qxe3+
69. Kb1 Qe1+
70. Ka2 Qd2+
71. Kb1 Qb2+
After 72. Qxb2 cxb2 73. Kxb2 Kd2, the e-pawn rolls home, so White resigned.
An eventful roller coaster game where I had so many chances to win and White had so many chances to draw.
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