30 November 2019 - County U-180s - Kent v Essex

County Under-180s match - Kent v Essex

Saturday 30 November 2019

White: J. Davenport (166) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Larsen Opening

1. Nf3 

Well, here's a new one.

1. ...... e6

Caution. Hoping to meet 2. d4 with 2. .. f5 and into the Dutch. I did not enjoy my previous experience of playing 1. .. f5 straight away and White has either 2. d3 and 3. e4 or 2. e4 at once.

But 1. .. Nf6 is the recommended reply.

2. b3 

This is the Nimzo-Larsen Attack. White intends to build up slowly to take over the centre.

2. .......d5

3. Bb2 Nf6

4. e3 c5

I was puzzled but felt OK. Just got to develop normally and see what happens.

5. Bb5+ Bd7

With pawns on e6 and d5, I would be quite happy to exchange the light squared bishops. Unfortunately, it doesn't work out that way.

6. Qe2 Nc6

6. ..Bxb5 would be more accurate. 7. Qxb5+ Qd7 8. Qxd7+ Nbxd7 (the engine prefers Nfxd7 so the queen's knight can still go to c6) and I don't think either side has anything to fear.

7. Bxc6 Bxc6

8. Ne5 Qc7

9. O-O Bd6

10. f4 

White secures the e5 square. Recommended now is 10. ... Bxe5 11. Bxe5 Qe7 or 11. fxe5 Nd7. But I decided on a plan of attack. With my bishops looking towards the white king, and some empty spaces in that area, I wanted to see if I could take over the initiative.

10. ....... h5?

But this is a poor plan. As we see, the attack never gets going and White soon has a strong initiative over the other side.

10. ... Bxe5 11. Bxe5 Qe7 or 10. .. a6 threatening Bb5 were more sensible. Castling king side would allow 10. .. O-O 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bxf6 gxf6 13. Qh5 and things look a little awkward.

11. a4 O-O-O

Some hesitancy already. Pushing on with 11. .... h4 is better but I was keen to get my pieces in that area of the board.

12. d3 

12. Na3! with the intention of coming to b5 gives Black a headache. 12. .. a6 is simply met by 13. Nb5! and 12. .... Kb8 13. Nb5 Bxb5 13. axb5 and White has a clear advantage.

12. ........ Rdg8

13. Nd2 

Again there was the option of 13. Na3 but White decides to firm up the e5 point.

13. ......Be8

To defend the f7 pawn and liberate the queen. Also to prepare f6 expelling the knight without allowing Ng6. But this is a long time-wasteful plan.

14. Ndf3 Nh7?!

15. d4! 

Good timing. While Black's pieces are poorly placed. White begins to open up the position.

15. ........f6

16. dxc5 Bxc5

17. Nd3 Bd6

18. c4! dxc4

19. Rfc1! 

Much better than 19. bxc4. Black is almost lost now.

19. ........... Qe7

20. Rxc4+ Kb8

21. Nd4 Bf7

To allow the rooks back to help the defence and dreaming of tactics based around e5. Note the poor placement of the knight on h7 and all of Black's pieces in a far away corner of the board.

22. Nb5 Rc8

23. Nxd6 Qxd6

24. Ba3 

Neither of us saw 24. Ne5! - a fun move that wins on the spot (24. ..... fxe5?? 25. Bxe5). Rxc4 25. Nxf7 Qc7 26. Nxh8 Rc2 27. Qd3! Rxb2 28. Qxh7. 

24. ......... Qd5

25. Nb4 Qa5

26. Rac1 Rxc4

27. Qxc4 Qb6

28. Rc3 

Calmly defending the e3 pawn, although 28. a5! wins. If 28. .... Qxa5 29. Na6+ is mate in four (29. ... Qxa6 30. Qc7+ Ka8 31. Qc8+ Rxc8 32. Rxc8 mate) and if 28. ... Qxe3+ 29. Kh1 and Black can only stop mate by giving up the queen.

28. ........   Rd8

29. Nc2 

29. a5! wins again but White can't be criticised for being cautious in a winning position.

29. .........    g5

A vain attempt to get the knight back into the game.

30. Nd4? 

An inaccuracy by White!! 30. Be7 is best.

30. ........gxf4??

But I miss my chance. 30. .. e5! 31. Qxf7 exd4 and suddenly Black is back in the game.

31. Bc5 

White now forces the win of material.

31. .......Qa6

32. Qxa6 bxa6

33. Nc6+ Kc7

34. Nxd8 Kxd8

35. Bxa7 fxe3

36. Bb6+ Ke8

37. h4! 

Keeping the knight locked in.

37. .....   f5

38. Rc8+ Ke7

39. Rc7+ Kf8

40. Bxe3 Nf6

At last, the knight is back but too late.

41. Ra7 e5

42. b4 Bc4

43. Rb7 Nd5

44. Bc5+ Kg8

45. Bd6 e4

46. b5 axb5

47. axb5 e3

48. b6 e2

49. Kf2 Ne3

50. Re7

Time to call it a day. 50. .... e1(Q) 51. Kxe1 Nxg2+ 52. Kf2 Bg5 53. b7 Bxb7 54. Rxb7 Nxh4 would have given White a little more work to do but the result would not be in doubt.

With the exception of one inaccuracy, a well-played game by White and a poor game by Black.

20 November 2019 - Harvey - Medway v Swale

Harvey - Medway vs Swale

Wednesday 20 November 2019

White: Paul Shevlane (139) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Dutch Defence

1. d4 f5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Bf4 e6
4. Nbd2 Be7
5. h3 

White adopts an odd set-up against my Dutch defence. The bishop on f4 can combine well if White can push with Rc1 and c4-c5. As White will not be fianchettoing on the h1-a8 diagonal, I decide to do so.

5. .......b6

6. e3 Bb7
7. Bd3 

This is good - White sets out his plan to attack down the kingside. However, the immediate 7. g4 concerned me.

7. .....  Ne4

Premature. The objective was to prevent a White e4 but he can't play it yet anyway, so 7. ... O-O or 7. .. c5 would be better. Now 8. g4 or 8. Rg1 are both dangerous. White will get to these moves but wants to take his time first.

8. Qe2 O-O

9. O-O-O d5

My plan was to try to exchange some pieces to lessen the impact of any attack.

10. Rhg1 Bd6
11. Ne5 Nd7?!

The engine recommends 11. .. Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nc5 or 12. Bxe5 Nc6. I had played the knight to d7 as I wanted to keep the options open of c5 and Ndf6.

12. f3 Nxd2

I did not see the crafty 12. ... Nec5. Backward knight moves are often hard to see.

13. Rxd2 

My luck holds. 13. Qxd2 keeps the rooks connected and adds firepower down the d-file if it opens up.

13. ....Nxe5?

Black has to play 13. .. c5 to hit back in the centre.

14. dxe5 Bc5

15. g4! 

In retrospect, perfectly timed.

15. ........Kh8

Moving off the g-file seemed sensible.

16. gxf5 exf5
17. Qg2 

White has a choice of strong moves. 17. Qh2, 17. h4 (17. ... Qxh4? 18. Qg2 Qe7 19. Qh3). But it is hard to argue with any move that threatens mate in one.

17. ........Qe7

18. c3 a5

Preventing b4 trapping the bishop.

19. Qg3 

Here comes the rook.

19. ........Bc8

Setting up a grovelling defence - Be6, Rf7, maybe Rg8 and pray. To be honest, although I was very uncomfortable, I could not see a clear way for White to breakthrough.

20. Rdg2 Rf7
21. Bh6 Be6

So how should White advance? There are two ways - firstly, just nudging the h-pawn forward. 22. h4 c6 23. h5 Rg8 24. Bg5 Qa7 then perhaps a later h6. The second way would be simply 22. Kb1 - but White chose a third way and overlooking a tactic. 

22. Bxg7+? Rxg7

Here White sat back with an audible sigh. His plan had been 23. Qxg7+ Qxg7 24. Rxg7 and only now did he see 24. .... Bxe3+ (hence the idea of the Kb1 move in the last note) and picking off the rook on g1. 

However, it is not the end of the world. 25. Kc2 Bxg1 26. Rxg1 and material is even. If anything, the pawn islands and same colour bishops give White the edge.

Instead the psychological effect - which has hit us all - comes into play.  Poker players call it 'tilt'. Where you follow up one oversight with a mistake.

23. Qf4?? Rxg2

24. Rxg2 Qf7
25. h4 Rg8

Black is a piece for a pawn up and about to invade down the g-file. White throws in the towel - perhaps prematurely but angry at himself.

26. Resigns



Medway v Swale

Paul Shevlane (139) 0-1 Keith Nevols (157)

Paul Foster (130) 0-1 David Page (144)

Aram Swiatkowski (120) 1-0 Rob Woolacott (141)

Prabhath Amarasinghe 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (117)

Roher House 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (114)

Danny Gavigan (96) 1-0 Alin Popa (76)

Medway 2-4 Swale

18 November 2019 - En Passant - Tunbridge Wells v Swale

En Passant - Tunbridge Wells vs Swale

Thursday 24 October 2019

White: Jerry Anisted (172) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Bird's Opening

A long journey down to somewhere where traditionally I had not done too well. Tunbridge Wells are a strong team and I was with the Black pieces facing a higher graded opponent.

1. f4 

Already lost. I have never faced this before and had no idea how to play it, so just started with some normal developing moves.

1. ..... Nf6

2. Nf3 d5

3. b3 c5

4. e3 Nc6

5. Bb2 Bg4

Too committal. 5. ...e6 or 5. ...Bd7 were better for development.

6. Be2 e6

7. O-O h5?!

Part of an early plan. More usual would be 7. .. Bd6 or 7. .. Be7 but I came up with an idea to try and place his king under pressure. He told me afterwards that, in all his years of starting f4, no-one had attempted h5.

8. d4?!

White plays an inaccuracy in return. Black should now go 8. ... cxd4 9. Nxd4 (9. exd4 Qb6 and White's centre is under pressure) Rc8 and then Bc5. White's pawn on e3 would look awkward.

8. ........Rh6?

But I am carrying on with the plan. This moves off the Bishop b2 diagonal as well as thinking about h4-h3 and Rg6.

9. a4 h4

10. Ne5 Bxe2

11. Qxe2 Ne4

Continuing to miss the opportunity to play cxd4.

12. Nd2 Nxd2

13. Qxd2 f6

14. Nxc6 bxc6

We can say that the Black idea has not worked. The rook on h6 has nothing to do, while Black has a worse pawn structure. Having said that, all is not lost as, although White is better, it is only a small edge.

15. Ba3 cxd4

16. Bxf8 Kxf8

17. Qxd4 Qd6

Consolidating and preparing to move in the centre.

17. .... h3 would have been interesting. 18. gxh3 Rxh3 or 18. g3 Qe7 and the engine gives the position as even.

18. Rad1 

18. b4 Kg8 would prepare e5.

18. ........ c5

19. Qd3 Rb8

To prevent Qb5 and think about Rb4. White hits the centre.

20. f5 

I thought this was a good move but the engine disagrees - preferring 20. h3 or 20. e4.

20. ......... Rh5

21. e4 d4

22. Qf3 Rg5

23. Qf4? 

An error - I was certainly pleased to see the queens go. 23. Qh3 hits the h4 and e6 squares.

23. ....... Qxf4

24. Rxf4 exf5

Black should play 24. .. Ke7 bringing the king forward. 25. Rxh4 exf5 26. exf5 Rxf5 27. Re1 Kd6 and Re5 next move and Black is better.

25. Rxh4 Re8?

And White errs in return. The simple 25. .. Kf7 keeps the eighth rank.

26. Rh8+ Kf7

27. Rxe8 Kxe8

28. exf5 Rxf5

So who is better? A rook and five pawns each. So far my unorthodox play had kept an even game but rook endings are famously complicated and my instincts, having been on the back foot, told me that I was worse.

29. Rd3 Re5

30. Kf2 Ke7

31. c3 dxc3?

31. .. Re4 32. cxd4 cxd4 and Black has a passed pawn with the White king cut off.

32. Rxc3 Ke6?

I regretted this as soon as I played it as White can now force the rooks off. g5, a5, or a6 were better just edging forwards or moving the king with Kd6.

33. Re3 Rxe3

34. Kxe3 Ke5

Opposition! I thought this might now be lost as White can force a passed pawn down the h-file. Time for some grim defence.

35. Kd3 Kd5

36. a5 a6

37. g4 

37. ........g6??

Big mistake. 37. .. g5 would keep the opposition and hold the draw. Now White can win.

38. h4! 

Zugswang! If 38. ... g5 39. h5 - if 38. .. f5 39. gxf5 gxf5 40. h5. After a long think and some counting, I go after the kingside pawns and have to hope that White goes wrong.

38. ........ Ke5

39. Kc4 Kf4

40. h5 gxh5

41. gxh5 Kg5

42. Kxc5 f5

43. Kd4 Kxh5

44. Ke3??

My luck is in. 44. b4! would win in a few moves.

44. ........ Kg4

45. Kf2? 

45. b4 was again better and would lead to a queen and pawn v queen ending.

45. ........ Kf4

46. b4 

Better late than never. I was contemplating resignation.

46. ........Ke5

47. b5 Kd6

48. b6 Kc6

49. Kf3 Kb7

Wait a minute. Can I hold this?

50. Kf4 Kc8

51. Kxf5 Kd7

52. Ke5 Kc6

53. Ke6 Kb7

I have worked out how to hold. If I stick to b8 and b7, the king keeps White at bay. Even on a8, the white king can't come to c7 or c8 as that is stalemate.

54. Kd7 Kb8

55. Kc6 Kc8

56. b7+ 

After a think, White realises the draw.

56. ......... Kb8

57. Kb6 

Stalemate. Phew.

Tunbridge Wells v Swale

Jerry Anstead (172) 1/2-1/2 Keith Nevols (157)

Russell Goodfellow (146) 1/2-/1/2 Keith Hyde (149)

Hugh Tassell (138) 0-1 David Page (144)

David Tidmarsh (130) 0-1 Rob Woolacott (141)

Stephen Bond (112) 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (117)

James Robertson (106) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (114)

Tunbridge Wells 1-5 Swale