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.