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.