23 January 2020 - Swale Club Championship - Round Eleven

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Eleven

Thursday 23 January 2020

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Dennis Simpson (134)

Queen's Gambit Declined

My opponent here is famed in the club for his defensive skills so I knew it would be a struggle. I decided to open on the 'left' and play a Queen's Gambit Declined in the hope of gaining a positional advantage.

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. Nc3 d5
4. Bg5 Be7
5. e3 O-O
6. Nf3 a6!?

An interesting plan. 6. .... h6 is considered to be best putting the question to the White bishop. The recommendation for White is now 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bd3 taking the b1-h7 diagonal. This is proof of my unfamiliarity with this opening.

7. Be2?! dxc4
8. Bxc4 b5
9. Be2 Bb7

Black has equalised and is ready to expand on the queenside.

10. O-O Nbd7
11. a3 c5
12. Qb3?

White has to play 12. dxc5 Nxc5 and then choose between 13. b4, 13. Rc1 or 13. Qxd8. I was keen to put a rook on d1 but the queen is misplaced here.

12. .... cxd4
13. exd4?! 

13. Nxd4 is better as now this pawn is isolated and easy to blockade.

13. ....... Nb6

Throughout Black has been reluctant to play .. h6 and here 13. .. h6 could be followed by Rc8.

14. Rfd1 Nbd5
15. Bxf6 

Part of a plan to neutralise the bishop on b7.

15. .......Nxf6
16. Ne5 Rc8
17. Bf3 Bxf3
18. Nxf3 Qb6!

Despite the exchange of the b7 bishop, Black is better now. However the game looks colourless and I still could not see how I could get an advantage. My queen is still misplaced and Black has no clear weaknesses.

19. Rd2 Rfd8
20. Re1 

With my eye on the e6 square and aiming to get the queen in the game.

20. ..... h6
21. Rde2 Nd5
22. Re4? Nf6?

Missing 22. .. Nxc3 23. bxc3 Qa5 winning a pawn. It is possible that White was concerned about 24. Rxe6 (24. .... fxe6 25. Qxe6+ Kh8 (25. ... Kf8??? 26, Ne5 mates next move) 26. Ne5 which should force a draw) but Black can answer with 24. .. Rxc3!.

23. Re2 

This time 23. Rxe6 works. 23. .... fxe6 24. Rxe6 Qc7 25. Rc6+ Kh8 26. Rxc7 Rxc7 but there is still a lot of work to do.

23. ......Nd5
24. Rd2 Rc4?

24. .. Nxc3 25. bxc3 Qa5 still wins a pawn.

25. Red1 Nf6?
26. Re1 Nd5
27. Nxd5

Breaking the tension and eliminating the much overlooked Nxc3 option.

27. ..... Rxd5
28. Rc2 Rxc2
29. Qxc2 Bf6
30. Rd1 Qd8

And, to my surprise, Black offered a draw which I grabbed.

Black can win a pawn with the immediate threat of e5 and the use of White's weak bank rank. 

For example, if 31. Qe4 e5 or if 31. g3 Bxd4 32. Nxd4 Rxd4 33. Rxd4 Qxd4 34. Qc8+ Kh7 35. Qxa6 Qxb2 - Black is a pawn up but has work to do while White would face a grim defence.

18 January 2020 - County U-160s - Middlesex v Kent

County Under-160s match - Middlesex v Kent

Saturday 18 January 2020

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: S Walsh (158)

Sicilian Defence

A long drive over to Brent for this one but, although I made it on time, my intended opponent did not. After an hour there was no show. It was the same for my team mate on a neighbouring board and so the two captains agreed that I would play his opponent.

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 

Another outing for my favourite closed Sicilian.

2. .........Nc6

3. f4 e6
4. Nf3 d5
5. Be2 

5. Bb5 threatening to double the black c-pawns is an alternative. I was attracted by the more modest bishop development with which I have had some good games.

5. ......dxe4
6. Nxe4 Be7
7. O-O Nf6
8. d3 O-O

The opening is over and now that Black has decided where to put the King, I can open up an initiative.

9. Qe1 Nd4
10. Bd1 b6
11. Ne5 Bb7
12. c3?! 

This is the cause of White's later problems - the loose pawn on d3. Although I later regretted it, the engine states it is the best move. 12. a4 holding up Black's queenside play is offered as an alternative.

12. ....Nc6

13. Bf3 Rc8
14. Qe2 

Overprotecting the pawn. My concern was for a Black d-file initiative.

14. ......Qc7

15. Nxf6+? 

Reducing the tension in the centre by some exchanges but easing Black's task to equalise. The best move might be the calm 15. Bd2 followed by Rae1. I did not see that Black could not take the pawn on e5 because it would leave his Bishop on b7 undefended,

For example, 15. Bd2 Nxe5 16. fxe5 and then 16. .......Qxe5?? 17. Nxf6+ Bxf6 18. Qxe5 Bxe5 19. Bxb7 or 16. ....Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Bxe4 18. Qxe4 and the game is equal

15. .......Bxf6
16. Nxc6 Bxc6
17. Bxc6 Qxc6

Some smoke has cleared. Black now tidies up on the kingside and then starts his d-file initiative.

18. Qg4 g6
19. Be3 Bg7
20. Rad1Rcd8!
21. Rd2 Rd6
22. Rfd1 Rfd8
23. Bf2 Qd5
24. a3 h5!
25. Qe2 Qf5

The last few moves has put Black in a dominant position.

26. Be3 Bh6
27. Qf1? 

27. g3 is obvious and better. If Black had followed up with 27. .. h4 then simply 28. g4.

27. ...........e5

And of course now White cannot take on e5 as he has removed the defence of the bishop.

28. g3 h4
29. Kg2 hxg3
30. hxg3 exf4

Now it is Black's turn to relieve some tension, but his aim is to liquidate to a winning ending. 30. ... Re6 is an interesting suggestion preparing to control the e-file.

31. Bxf4 Bxf4

32. gxf4? 

32. Qxf4 is a stiffer defence. Black has a pleasant choice of ways to win. 32. ... Qg4+ is one way and another is .... 

32. ....Kg7!

33. Qf3 Rh8
34. Rh1 Rxh1
35. Kxh1 Rd8
36. Kg1 Rh8
37. Rh2 Rxh2
38. Kxh2 g5!

The point of Black's play. He will now win a pawn.

39. Kg3 gxf4
40. Qxf4? 

40. Kf2 is better, keeping the d3 pawn.

40. ....... Qxd3+

41. Kg4 

I later thought that perhaps I should have played 41. Kf2 moving away from the Black king. My only hope is with some sort of perpetual but keeping the King in the open gives Black better chances of finding cross checks to force off the queens - as he does now.

41. ...   Qg6+

42. Kf3 Qf6
43. Ke4 Qxf4
44. Kxf4 Kf6!
45. b4 Ke6
46. c4 a5
47. bxa5 bxa5
48. a4 f5
49. Resigns

An easy win for Black. It was uncomfortable at how easily I was outplayed and my mood was worsened by getting stuck in traffic on the long journey home.

16 January 2020 - Swale Club Championship - Round Ten

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Ten

Thursday 16 January 2020

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Andrew Gillard (109)

Queen's Gambit Declined

1. d4 

Back to my youth - a game from the left hand side for a change.

1. ......... Nf6
2. c4 Nc6

An unusual opening with some odd names - the Kevitz-Trajkovic defence, or the wonderful Black Knight's Tango! The point is to strike into the centre with e6 and d5. I knew nothing about this so developed normally.

3. Nf3 d5?!

3. ... e6 is best because now White has 4. cxd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 or 4. ....Nxd5 5. e4 Nf6 6. d5.

However, I decide to keep cautious and convert to a Queen's Gambit Declined opening, where Black's inability to play c5 might work in my favour.

4. e3?! e6

5. Be2 b6
6. Nc3 

6. cxd5 exd5 would set some weak squares on Black's queenside. 6. .. Nxd5 7. e4 or 6. .. Qxd5 7. Nc3 are also ideas.

6. .......dxc4
7. Bxc4 Bd6
8. O-O 

Missing 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. e4 with a pleasant initiative. But my caution remained. Get castled, and then think of a plan!

8. ........Bb7
9. Re1 

I am planning to push in the middle but 9. e4 was possible straight away.

9. ..........Nd5

10. Nxd5 exd5
11. Bd3 

Of course 11. Bxd5 is met by 11. .. Bxh2+ but then 12. Kxh2 Qxd5 13. e4 Qh5+ 14. Kg1 O-O and White has possibilities of Bf4, Rc1, d5 etc. On the other hand, I did not want to leave an h-file open with a queen standing there.

11. ......  Nb4

12. Bb1 Qd7
13. a3 Nc6
14. Bd3 

Still trying to develop but this piece has now moved five times. I am waiting for that eternal question - where will Black put his king?

The engine recommends 14. Qd3, which stops Black castling on the kingside, but I wanted to get the a-rook onto the c-file, so need to move those two bishops out of the way.

14. .........O-O-O

... and the question is answered! Black's plan is to make use of White's slow development and attack on the kingside. I, in turn, need to get moving quickly to take some initiative and exploit any queenside chances.

15. Bd2 Kb8
16. Qb3 

My plan is to exchange the black bishop on d6 to reduce some pressure against the white king. With my pawns on black squares, my bishop would not be able to do much anyway.

16. b4! is an energetic plan to follow with b5 and a4.

16. ........... Rdg8

A typical move from my opponent. Stand by for the pawn change.

17. Bb4 g5

18. Bxd6 Qxd6
19. Rac1 

The engine states that White now has a small edge but it's clear that the initiative is with Black,

19. ........ f6
20. Qa4 

Defending the d4 pawn to prepare for the following advance.

20. .......h5
21. e4?!

Several moves too late but the advance happens. My aim is to break through the centre, but this can work both ways. The computer prefers doubling rooks on the c-file.

21. .........Ne7?

And, fortunately for me, Black goes wrong.

It is understandable that Black would not like 21. ... dxe4 22. Bxe4 but after 22. ... g4! 23. Bxc6 gxf3 24. g3 h4! and White is in serious trouble.

After 22. .. g4, White would have had to find 23. Rxc6! Bxc6 24. Bxc6 gxf3 25. Bxf3, where White has a pawn for the exchange and some holding chances.

22. e5! fxe5
23. Nxe5 Rg7
24. Qc2 

To stop Black playing Ng6.

24. .........g4
25. Re3 h4
26. Rce1

Some pressure down the e-file. I am hoping to exchange some more pieces, as my calculations are that if we go into an ending, my chances of exploiting the advanced black pawns, might make me better. On the other hand, White has an isolated d-pawn and a timely c5 from Black would put me on the back foot.

26. .........g3

I had calculated how I could hold this.

27. h3 gxf2+

28. Qxf2 Rhg8
29. Ng4 

29. Bf1 was a better defence.

29. ........ Bc8

For some reason, I had completely overlooked this move. It is always the backwards moves that we struggle to see. 

With time running out, I had a think and .....

30. Be2?

....made the wrong move. 30. Bf1 Bxg4 31. hxg4 Qd7 and the engine states this is even but White is uncomfortable.

30. ........ Ng6?

Phew! Black is attracted by the prospect of his knight on f4, but, in looking at it, he overlooked the White d-pawn was undefended, so 30. .. Nc6 or 30. .. Nf5 would place White in difficulty.

31. Bf3 

Defending the g2 pawn and preparing to exchange off a set of rooks.

31. ........ Rf8

32. Re8 Nf4?

32. .... Rxe8 or 32. ... Rgg8 and a set of rooks come off with an equal game. But now White can grab a pawn.

33. Rxf8 Qxf8

34. Qxh4 Ng6

A great line from our electronic friend begins 34. ..... c5 35. dxc5 Nxh3+! 36. Qxh3 Qxc5+ and either 37. Kh1 Qc7! with Rh7 to come, or 37. Kf1 Ba6+ 38. Re2 Bxe2+ 39. Bxe2 Rf7+.

The best move now is 35. Qf6 exchanging off the queens. White will have escaped immediate defeat and can concentrate on moving those kingside pawns. Instead I chose to consolidate.

35. Qf2 Nf4
36. Qe3 Rf7
37. Ne5 Rg7
38. Bg4 Bxg4
39. Nxg4 

Black can play 39. .... Kb7 or 39. . Ng6 and try to hold the ending a pawn down. It would have been difficult for me to win this ending without allowing Black a lot of activity. But thankfully Black makes an error and loses a piece.

39. .........Rg8??
40. Rf1 Nxg2
41. Rxf8+

And Black resigned. 

A tough game where my failure to find some initiative nearly cost me. Back to the e-pawn openings, I think.

9 January 2020 - Swale Club Championship - Round Nine

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Nine

Thursday 9 January 2020

White: David Page (145) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Scandinavian Defence

A tough game expected against the current club champion.

1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. Bc4 Nf6
5. d3 c6
6. Bd2 Qc7
7. Qe2 Bf5

In our last game I had played 7. .. Bg4. This had allowed my opponent to gain tempi by hitting the bishop with f3 and g4 and then build up an attack with h4. Hence the more reserved position of the bishop this time round.

8. f3 e6

The engine thinks 8. .. h5!? is worth a thought to prevent g4, in which case the pawn on f3 might obstruct White's development.

9. g4 Bg6
10. Nh3 

White changes his plan from our last game. The h-pawn takes a back seat for the moment.

10. ....... Bd6

As White is now unlikely to castle kingside, Black could have taken some initiative with 10. .. b5 22. Bb3 Nbd7 intending a5.

11. f4 O-O
12. O-O-O Nbd7

This is usually the last minor piece to develop in this system, so I am keen to get it into the action. However, 12. .. b5! 13. Bb3 a5 is a more energetic way to play. (14. a4 Nbd7! 15. axb5 a4).

13. Rdf1 Nb6?

A mistake, handing over the initiative, and blocking the b5 plan mentioned above. In the haste to get a knight to d5, I have blocked the b-pawn.

14. Bb3 h6?

And another error. White has a number of ways to forge a clear advantage.

 

15. Ne4

According to the engine, 15. f5 is best. 15. .... exf5 16. gxf5 Bh5 17. Qg2 and Black is in trouble. 15. Qg2 immediately is also good, while 15. Kb1 tucking the king away is also worth a mention.

15. ......Nbd5

16. Nxd6 

16. Rhg1 adds pressure.

16. .......Qxd6

17. Qf3? 

Fortunately for me, White has avoided adding pressure to the g-file with 17. Rhg1 and I now get a chance to exchange some pieces and breathe.

17. ....... a5

18. Bxd5 Qxd5
19. Qxd5 Nxd5
20. Nf2 b5

Without queens, the position is not so dangerous for me. I have to keep an eye on that f5 move though.

21. h4 c5
22. g5?! 

White's last chance to play a rook to g1. Now I can close that section of the board.

22. ......h5

Now the f5 square screams for the arrival of my knight.

23. Ne4 c4

24. Nc5?

It is getting difficult for White. Here the engine recommends 24. f5 Bxf5 25. Nd6 Bg6 26. dxc4 bxc4 27. Nxc4. Black has a pleasant position but it is not a big advantage.

24. ......cxd3

24. .... Rfc8 25. d4 b4 is another idea for Black. I did not like the idea of the knight being on c5 when I could not get rid of it, nor the prospect of it moving around to d7 and e5. However if 26. Nd7 now then I can open some lines with 26..... c3.

25. Nxd3 Bxd3

The plan - to give White an isolated d-pawn which I can attack, and also to ensure my knight stays on f5 without disruption. 

25. ... Be4 is another idea followed by Rfc8 and either b4 and/or doubling rooks on the c-file.

26. cxd3 

26. ..........Ne7
27. Kb1 Rfd8
28. Rf3 Nf5

I had also considered 28. .. b4 to restrict the bishop and defend the a5 pawn. In retrospect, it would also have prevented the bishop from getting to the e5 square.

This was the set-up I had been aiming for. White has two weaknesses which I can attack - the pawn on h4 and the pawn on d3.

29. Bc3 Rd5
30. Be5 

The bishop stays here for the rest of the game and becomes an inconvenience.

30. ......... Rc8

I ruled out 30. .. Rad8 because I thought 31. Bc7 lost a pawn. It does not do so as Black has 31. .. Rxd3 32. Rxd3 Rxd3 33. Bxa5, but then after 33. . Rf3 34. Bc7, although White is tied down, I am not sure how I can advance and White has an extra pawn over on the queenside.

31. Rfh3 Rdc5
32. d4 Rc4
33. b3 Rc2
34. R3h2 Rxh2

I decided that the removal of one pair of rooks would increase my advantage as the other is tied to h4.

35. Rxh2 Rd8
36. Rd2 Rd7

White threatened Bc7. 

I did not play 36. ... Nxh4 as I now saw 37. Rh2 Nf5 38. Rxh5 but I did not go on to see 38. .. Nxd4 39. Bc7 Ra8 and Black is simply a pawn up.

37. Kc2 

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

The blunder that throws any advantage away. This strengthens the power of the white bishop and weakens the black bank rank, and White is quick to pounce on the error.

There was a better way to defend the h5 pawn and that is 37. .. Kh7! to come to g6 next. 

38. Kd3 Nxh4
39. Rc2 Rd8
40. Rc5 Nf3?!

Another mistake. I figured removing the white bishop was my only chance of survival. But 40. .. Nf5 41. Rxb5 h4 42. Rxa5 Rc8! might be enough to get the h-pawn home.

41. Rxb5 Nxe5
42. fxe5 Rc8
43. Ke4

Here White offered a draw. Material is even and the black a-pawn is weak, so I accepted. The engines have the final position as equal.

2 January 2020 - Swale Club Championship - Round Eight

Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Eight

Thursday 2 January 2020

White: Keith Nevols (157) - Black: Nick Pollard

Philidor's Defence

After a month's break, the first game of 2020.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 Nc6

An unusual set-up. White could force the exchange of queens with 4. dxe5, but, coming to this game with only a win and a draw out of my last four games,  I wanted a clear victory.

4. Bb5 a6?

4. ..... exd4 or 4. .. Bd7 is essential.

5. Bxc6+ bxc6
6. dxe5 

Winning a pawn straight away.

6. .......Bg4
7. O-O d5
8. exd5 cxd5
9. h3 Bxf3
10. Qxf3 

Some early satisfaction. I am a pawn up and the queen is in an active spot. Black needs to get castled and developed as soon as possible.

10. ..... Bc5

11. Qg3 g6

Sacrificing the pawn with 11. .. Ne7 might be interesting. I am not sure I would have taken the pawn but 12. Qxg7 Rg8 13. Qxh7 Qd7 with queenside castling and suddenly Black, three pawns down, might have an attack on the White king.

12. Qc3 Qe7??

Black had to retreat the bishop. Now I can force the win of material.

13. b4 Bxb4
14. Qc6+ Qd7
15. Qxa8+ Qd8
16. Qxa6 

Now I am a rook and pawn ahead.

16. ........ Ne7??

And the bishop goes too.

17. Qb5+ c6
18. Qxb4 

The rest of the moves are just for completion. My opponent has not played chess for long.

18. ......... O-O
19. Bg5 f6
20. Bxf6 Kf7
21. Bxe7 Qxe7
22. Qxe7+ Kxe7
23. Nd2 Rf5
24. Nf3 g5
25. a4 g4
26. hxg4 Rf4
27. a5 Rxg4
28. a6 h5
29. a7 Rg8
30. a8 (Q) Rxa8
31. Rxa8 Ke6
32. Rb1 Kf5
33. Rb4 c5
34. Rh4 Ke6
35. Rxh5 Ke7
36. Rh6 Kf7
37. Ra7+ Kf8
38. Rh8 mate