31 October 2019 - Swale Club Championship - Round Six

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Six

Thursday 31 October 2019

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Rob Woolacott (141)

Caro Kann Defence

Last season, Rob had beaten me twice - he is a dangerous player - so I was keen for revenge.

1. e4 c6

Already a surprise - in our last game, Black had answered 1. e4 with 1. .. d6 and we went into the Pirc Defence. This was my third chance to try Ne2 with the pawn sacrifice idea which had already got me two good victories.

2. Ne2 d5
3. e5 Bf5
4. Ng3 Bg6
5. h4 h6
6. h5 Bh7
7. e6 

And here it is. I had discovered this sacrifice in a Chessbase video while trying to find something to play against the Caro Kann.

7. ...... fxe6

8. d4 

The point is that, in return for the pawn, Black will have difficulties developing the kingside. The pawn on h5 holds up the g-pawn, and the e7 pawn is blocked by its brother, which itself is restricted by the White pawn on d4, and so Black's king bishop will struggle to develop as will the Black king's rook.

In both the previous two games Black played 8. .. Qd6 which I answered with 9. f4 and 9. Bd3. Here Black plays what I thought might be the best way to play - and that is to give the pawn straight back.

8. ...... e5
9. dxe5 e6

Now the bishop can develop. White however still has more space.

10. Bd3 Bxd3
11. Qxd3 Ne7

11. ... Qc7 might have been more accurate, because now the bishop is blocked again. Black can answer 12. Qg6+ with 12. .. Qf7 and the game is even.

12. Nc3 Nd7
13. f4 Qc7
14. Be3 

Preparing to castle queenside and then Na4-c5 or Rdf1 and f5, or whatever else I can think of.

14. .....Nxe5!?

A surprise! Black sacrifices a piece to dissolve the White centre. Quite an imaginative idea.

After some thought, I decide to take the sacrifice as I think I can get the king to safety.

15. fxe5 Qxe5

16. Nge2 Nf5
17. Bf4 Qf6
18. O-O-O 

This was the position I had foreseen when taking the knight. Black has two pawns for the knight but could be dangerous if he gets co-ordinated. The e-pawn could be troublesome if it advances. 

On the other hand, White's king is now in a safer position and Black's king is still in the centre, so I need to act fast.

18. ......Bc5
19. g4 

I did not see the remarkable 19. Ne4!? dxe4 20. Qd7+ Kf8 21. Qxb7 but my move is safe enough.

19. ...... Nd6

20. Na4 

Keeping the initiative but 20. Rhf1! is stronger. Moving the queen would allow Qg6+ but there are two combinations that I did not see (and almost certainly would not have played). 

If 20. .. e5 then 21, Nxd5! cxd5 22. Qxd5 exf4 23. Qxc5 - White has given back the piece for two pawns but has either Nxf4 or Rxf4 coming and the black king will fall in the centre - or if 20 ... Nf7 21. Ne4! dxe4 22. Qd7+ Kf8 23. Bd6+ Nxd6 24. Rxf6+ gxf6 25. Rxd6 Bxd6 26. Qxd6+ - White has a queen and knight in exchange for two rooks and two pawns.

The computer recommends 20. Bxd6 Bxd6 21. Ne4! removing some pieces.

20. ..... Ne4

20. .. Nc4 is interesting (21. Nxc5??? Qb2 mate) and perhaps forcing 21. Qg6+.

21. Nxc5 Nxc5
22. Qe3 Qe7
23. Ng3 

I was concerned about the black knight planting itself on e4 and so decided to prevent it.

23. ..... Nd7

24. Rde1 Nc5?

Castling and giving up the e-pawn would have lasted longer.

25. Nf5 Qf8
26. Bd6

Winning further material so Black decided to call it a day and resigned.

24 October 2019 - En Passant - Swale v Hastings

En Passant - Swale vs Hastings
Thursday 24 October 2019

White: Henry Cove (164) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Dutch Defence

1. d4 f5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. g3 e6
4. Bg2 d6
5. O-O Be7
6. c4 O-O
7. Nc3 a5

The standard starting position as per the Simon Williams DVD. The point of 7. .. a5 is to take a time out and delay White's queenside play. Alternatives are 7. ... Qe8 - which seems to be OK for me - 7.  ... Ne4 or 7 .. Nc6?!

8. b3 Qe8

Williams' recommendation is 8. .. Ne4 with 9. Bb2 Nxc3 10. Bxc3 Qe8. But I had forgotten that and carried on with the usual plan.

9. Bb2 Qh5?!

Again, 9. .. Ne4 is better. 

10. Ne1! 

The correct move to re-deploy the knight and beat back the faint Black attack. 10. Nb5 Bd8 11. Rc1 is another way to make progress.

10. .... Ng4

With the intention of causing a weakness in front of the white King. 10. .. Nc6, 10.Nbd7 or 10. .. c6 are alternatives which each help to develop.  10. ... g5 looks fun but a bit risky with Black behind on development.

11. h3 Nf6
12. Nd3 

I had achieved the slight weakness on the kingside that I was aiming for.

12. ...... Nbd7

Blocking the defence of the e6 pawn but Black is already struggling with space.

13. Nf4 Qf7
14. d5 

White has two good alternatives. 14. Qc2 prepares both to undermine the f5 pawn by playing d5, but also to bring the rooks into the centre. Also 14. e4 - the move which Black usually tries to prevent in the Dutch - is playable with 14. .. fxe4 15. Nxe4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4 Nf6 17. Bg2 and White can get pressure down the e-file.

14. ...... Nc5

15. dxe6 Nxe6
16. Nfd5?! 

With 16. Nxe6 Bxe6 17. Nb5 (preferable to 17. Bxb7 Rb8 18. Bc6 Bxc4) or 16. .. Qxe6 17. Nd5 White would have a clear advantage.

16. .....Bd8

I felt a little more secure about things now, with everything defended. The White queen still seeks a square. 

17. a3? 

This move is a waste of time. b4 is not a threat and Ba3 is ruled out as an option.

17. ..... Qg6?

The purpose of this move was to get off the d5-g8 diagonal and move on to the g-file. However 17. .. c6 would have forced the knight off the central d5 square. (White cannot play 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Qxd6 because of 19. ... Rd8 trapping the queen).

18. Nxf6 Bxf6
19. Nd5 Bd8
20. Qc2 

Black's main hope is to get in f4 and try to attack the defences around the White king. So 20. e3 would have been a better way to prevent that move.

20. .... c6

I did not play f4 because of the queen exchange. 20. .. f4 21. Qxg6 hxg6 22. Nxf4 Nxf4 23. gxf4 Rxf4 reaches an equal position, although I would argue that the pawn structure gives White the better position.

20. .... c6 at last forces the knight to move and blocks the White g2 bishop.

21. Ne3? 

A poor square for the knight. Either 21. Nc3 or 21. Nf4 would keep it in the action. From this square, only d1 is open. I can now grasp some initiative.

21. ..... Bb6
22. Kh2 Nc5

The engine prefers 22. .. Qf7 with the plan to play f4 next, but I wanted to bring the knight to e4. White could play 23. Bd4 to prevent this and force off the exchange of a Black piece.

23. Rad1 Ne4

Now we are equal. My plan is to use the bishops and develop the other rook to see if I could get some play against the white King with f4 at the right time.

24. Bd4 Bc7
25. Kg1?! 

25. Bxe4 fxe4 26. f4! and the White kingside is a little more secure.

25. ..... Bd7
26. g4?!

Another dubious move - it looks wrong to move pawns and open lines in front of the king.

26. .....  Rae8!

27. gxf5 Bxf5

Astonishingly, 27. .. Rxf5! is better. If 28. Nxf5 Bxf5 29. Qb2 Bxh3 mates, or 29. Qd3 d5 opening up the bishop and thinking of Ng5 next.

28. Nxf5 Rxf5

To my surprise, as I was calculating ideas such as d5, Rg5 or Rh5, White resigned. 

White's best might be 29. f3 which can be met with 29. ... Ng3 30. Rfe1 Nh5 31. e3 Bd8 planning to come to h4.

Although I am better, the position is far from won, and I think the resignation might have been influenced by the fact that it was 10.30pm, everyone else had finished, and my opponent had a 90 minute drive back to Hastings.

Swale v Hastings

Keith Nevols (157) 1-0 Henry Cove (164)

Keith Hyde (149) 1-0 James Wheeler (156)

David Page (144) 1-0 Marc Bryant (139)

Rob Woolacott (141) 0-1 John Kimber (137)

Vytautas Gedminas (117) 1-0 Derek Cosens (133)

Tyrone Jefferies (114) 1-0 Martin Fletcher (92)

Swale 5-1 Hastings

17 October 2019 - Swale Club Championship - Round Five

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Five

Thursday 17 October 2019

White: Dennis Simpson (135) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Modern Defence

1. d4 Nf6

My confidence had been shaken by the awful game last week and so I sideline the Dutch temporarily and go for a stable position with the plan to win a long game.

2. Bf4 

A lot of people are playing this set-up. I wonder why.

2. ..... d6
3. e3 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2 O-O
6. Nbd2 e6?!

A rather pointless move. 6. .. c5 or 6. .. Nh5 are more active.

7. O-O Nc6

Nothing happening yet. Just shadow boxing.

8. h3 h6

Because I thought Bg5 might be an annoying pin.

9. c3 b6 

After this move, I noticed that 9. .. Nh5 10. Bh2 e5 might have been a better idea. But 11. dxe5 begins to tie Black up in knots with either 11. .. Nxe5 12. Nxe5 dxe5 13. Bxh5 or 11. .. dxe5 12. Nc4 Qe7 13. Qb3.

However, 9. .. b6 is not that great either. Either 9. .. Re8 or 9. .. Qe7 continuing to develop would be an improvement.

10. Bh2 Bb7
11. e4 Nd7

My plan is to find some good squares for the pieces and build up for a break in the centre or along the f-file.

12. Bd3?!

The engine prefers other plans - either 12. Re1 then Nf1-e3, or 12. a4 and b4-5, Qb3, or pushing the White bishop a little further with 12. Bc4 or 12. Bb5.

12. .....e5

13. d5 Ne7

White closes the centre, but this gives Black the time to take over the initiative.

14. c4 Nc5

The position is set for Black to think about either the c6 break or the f5 break. Oddly, he does neither.

15. Nb3 Nxd3

I was unsure about removing this piece which was not doing much but the exchange weakens the White centre.

16. Qxd3 Qd7?!

Connecting the rooks and bringing the queen to a slightly move active square, but 16. ... f5 would just get on with it.

17. Rab1 

Presumably moving off the diagonal, defending the b-pawn in the event of a Black f5 and e4, and preparing b4, but Rad1 would have been slightly more accurate.

17. ....   a5

This looks like a sign that I am short of ideas, and I cannot recall why I did not like f5 or c6 except for the lack of confidence I had referred to earlier and that I did not want to take any risks. I decide on a plan is to roll up the queenside and advance - especially with the white bishop tucked away on h2. 

18. Nc1 Ba6

Still crying out for 18. .. f5 - the engine makes this +1.5 for Black.

19. a4? 

A shock. White sacrifices (or blunders?) a pawn. 

19. ..... Qxa4

After some thought, I could not see what compensation White gets in exchange for the pawn and so grabbed it swiftly. 

20. b3 Qd7
21. Ne2 Rfb8

Preparing for the opening of the b-file, although Black has better moves with 21. .. b5 and 21. .. f5 is still an option.

22. b4?! 

Instead it is the a-file that gets opened and Black is able to take control of it.

22. ..... axb4

23. Rxb4 Bc8

23. ..b5! would exploit the lack of co-ordination in the White set-up. The engine gives one line as 24. cxb5 Rxb5 25. Rxb5 Bxb5 26. Qd2 f5.

The position can get messy if White just brings the other rook over and, let us not forget, I am still just being cautious in how I improve my position.

24. Qb3 Ra5
25. Nc3 Rba8
26. Rfb1 f5

At last! I could not see how I could improve on the queenside so thought I would try my luck in the centre.

27. Nd2 fxe4

27. .. f4 and g5-g4 is another plan of attack.

28. N2xe4 Nf5
29. Ne2 Qe7
30. N4g3 Kh7

Safety again - going off the line of the queen's diagonal and not taking the chance to play e4.

31. Nxf5? 

A positional error compelling White to move the bishop to a good square.

31. ....Bxf5

Black has a choice of ideas with, for example, Ra1 and R8a3, or h5 and Bh6.

32. g4?? 

Another surprise. An exchange sacrifice?

32. ......... Bxb1

Clearly not. 33. Qxb1 is met by 33. ... Ra1 winning the queen and so White resigned.

I was glad to get this win over an opponent, who has been in the past very tough to beat, and also to get back to winning ways after last time's catastrophe.

10 October 2019 - Swale Club Championship - Round Four

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Four

Thursday 10 October 2019

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Vytautas Gedminas (117)

Ruy Lopez

When we first learn to play chess, we make the most basic of beginners errors - leaving pieces en prise, overlooking forks, or walking in to mate in ones. 

As we get more experienced we make less of these beginners errors - or so we like to think. The next game is a complete disaster.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 d6

The Ruy Lopez Steinitz Defence

4. d4 exd4
5. Nxd4 Bd7
6. O-O 

All standard stuff so far. Now Black should try 6. ..Be7 or 6. .. Nf6.

6. ........ Ne5?

7. Bxd7+?

Missing 7. f4 Bxb5 8. Nxb5 Nc6 9. Be3 building up an advantage.

7. ...... Qxd7

8. Nc3 c6?

The engine recommends 8. .. Nf6 or 8. .. Be7. Now White at last finds the right move and is able to develop a strong initiative.

9. f4 Nc4
10. Qd3 Nb6
11. a4 a5
12. Be3 

Black is in some difficulties. The knight is loose on b6, the pawn on d6 does not look too clever, and the Black king is still in the centre.

12. ..... Nf6
13. Nf5 Nc8
14. Bd4! 

I was pleased with this move which indirectly prevents g6 and keeps the knight on his position. The rooks now need to come in. My problem was now that I had lots of good moves to choose from.

14. .....Ne7

15. Nxd6+ 

This wins a pawn although the engine prefers the modest retreat 15. Ne3 followed by centralising the rooks and keeping the tension. 

15. ...... Qxd6+
16. e5 Qc7
17. exf6 O-O-O!?

An astonishing idea. Black sacrifices material to get a counter attack going and the king into some safety.

18. fxe7 Qxe7

19. Qe3? 

White starts to panic. Moving either rook into the centre would begin the necessary consolidation. White is a whole piece up.

19. ........Qb4

20. Qh3+? 

The simple 20. Ne2 or 20. Bb6 would move the bishop out of trouble. I was worried about the queen and king being on the same diagonal

20. .......Kb8
21. Be5+ Ka7
22. Rfd1 Bc5+
23. Kh1 Rxd1+

And now the story behind the worst move you will ever see.

I saw 24. Rxd1 f6 25. Bc7 Qxb2 and realised that my pieces are all looking a bit un-co-ordinated and misplaced. Whereas the black bishop and queen are well placed. On the other hand, thinks I, if I take with the knight, then I am defending b2 and preparing Qc3.

I picked up the knight and instantly saw the big drawback. But it was too late. Touch move. As my knight moved to d1, my opponent pounced.

24. Nxd1????? Qe1++

Nothing more to be said.

3 October 2019 - Stevenson - Swale v Hastings

Stevenson - Swale v Hastings

Thursday 3 October 2019

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Daniel Love (193)

Ruy Lopez
 

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

The Berlin Defence, made famous by Vladimir Kramnik who used it to good effect in his match with Gary Kasparov in 2000. It has a reputation as a dull opening. 

4. O-O Nxe4 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. dxe5 Nxf5 8. Qxd8 is a common line. I decide to go for a different option to set up something solid.

4. d3 Bc5
5. h3

This was to prevent Ng4 and any accidents on f2, but 5. c3 is the main line, restricting the knight on c6. White could also castle or play 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. O-O where, although Black has the two bishops, White has a better pawn structure and the Black pawn on e5 will require defending.

5. .....Nd4
6. Nxd4 Bxd4

Black has now equalised.

7. c3 Bb6
8. Bg5 

I quite liked this move, pinning the f6 knight, exploiting the fact that the Black bishop can no longer interpose on e7, and aiming to hold back Black's lead in development.

8. ...... h6
9. Bh4 O-O

10. Nd2 

Heading for the c4 square. I was not sure about castling as Black can take the initiative with 10. O-O c6 11. Ba4 d5, or by playing 10. .. g5 11. Bg3 d6, so I continued to try to catch up on development and delay the decision what to do with my king.

10. ..... c6

11. Ba4 d6?!

This move does not look quite right. 11. .. d5 would show some energy and begin an initiative, followed by Re8 and/or developing the queen's bishop. White's pawn on d3 is looking a bit out of place.

12. Nc4?!

White should castle or play 12. Bb3 but I was still undecided where to put my king. Black's best is now 12. .. Be6. An exchange on b6 (13. Nxb6 axb6) would be good for Black while 13. Bb3 Bxc4 14. Bxc4 d5 aims to break up the centre while White's king is there.

12. ..... g5

13. Bg3 h5?

My opponent said later that he was not happy with this move, weakening the defences in front of his king, before I have castled, and with my rook still on h1. This is indeed an error. Either 13. .. Be6 or 13. .. Re8 continues to develop.

The g-pawn is now undefended and there is the prospect of an attack against some lightly defended squares, so I gave some thought to 14. Qd2 Nh7 15. h4 g4 (White can respond to 15. ... Bc7 or 15. .. Be6 with 16. Ne3 or 16. Bb3) 16. O-O thinking about f3 - although the engine likes 16. Qh6 (which I did not see) as this hits the pawns on d6 and h5. 

The move I played was not as good as 14. Qd2, but it keeps up the pressure and I considered it to be more forcing.

14. h4 

Black is obliged to move the pawn forward.

14. ..... g4

15. Qd2 

A version of the above idea although the knight is not too badly placed at f6.

15. ... Bc7

Preparing b5 and adding strength to the d6-e5 pawn centre. The fork has to be avoided so it was time to pull the bishop back onto a good diagonal which long term defends the pawn on e4 in the event of my playing d4.

16. Bc2 b5
17. Ne3 Be6

18. Nf5? 

Losing the advantage. White has a lot of good moves and fails to make any of them. 

With the bishop on c2 then 18. d4 suggests itself. 18. O-O revives the idea of f3, or even considers f4. And 18. a4 could make some play on the left hand side.

18. .... Bxf5

19. exf5 Kh7

Although White is still better, the loss of the knight, and the awkward pawn on f5, makes progress more difficult.

20. O-O-O

After making this move, I thought it had been inaccurate. The rook on h1 has no future while the rook on a1 has possible play after supporting a4, and so maybe White should have castled kingside to improve the defence of the king.  The rook on h1 though does have a future.

20. .... Qd7

Connecting the rooks are and hitting the pawn on f5. My next move is more or less forced, but it is a good one anyway.

21. d4 Rad8

I expected 21. .. e4 22. Qg5 Qe7 and overlooked that 23. Bf4! would now be strong, or that 23. Bxe4 was possible (23. .. Qxe4? 24. Rhe1! Qxg2 25. Re7).

22. dxe5? 

Nooooo!! 22. Qg5 Qe7 23. Qxh5+! (I did not see this) Nxh5 24. f6+ and then 25. fxe7 wins at once.

22. ....  dxe5

23. Qxd7? 

Missing 22. Qg5 again, although now the pawn fork of the rooks (23. .. Qe7 24. Qxh5+ Nxh5 25. f6+ Kg8 27. fxe7) would be answered by 27. .....Rxd1+ 28. Rxd1 Re8 but then 29. Rd7 keeps White on top.

23. ...... Nxd7

24. Be4 Nb8

25. f3 

This was the position I had in mind when playing 22. dxe5. I have the two bishops and wanted to try to exploit the areas around the Black king, and Black's knight is on a bad square. If I could take all the rooks off the board, then at least I thought I would not lose.

The first part of the plan was to round up a pawn.

25...... Kg7
26. fxg4 hxg4
27. Rxd8 Rxd8

28. h5 Rh8

29. Rh4 Kf6
30. Rxg4

At this point, Black surprised me by resigning. 

White threatens Bh4 mate so either 30. .. Rxh5 31. Bh4+ Rxh4 32. Rxh4 with the exchange up and a better position, or 30. .. Ke7 31. Rh4 and then improving the position of the king. White should win but can still go wrong, so I thought his resignation was a little premature.

(I was delighted to discover afterwards that my opponent was graded 193 - and thus was my highest ever defeated opponent).

Swale v Hastings

Keith Nevols (157) 1-0 Daniel Lowe (193)

Keith Hyde (149) 0-1 Tobias Stock (177)

David Page (144) 0-1 Henry Cove (164)

Rob Woolacott (141) 1-0 James Wheeler (156)

Tyrone Jefferies (114) 0-1 Mason Woodhams (132) 

Andrew Gillard (109) 0-1 Martin Fletcher (105)

Swale 2-4 Hastings