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
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
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
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?!
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
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
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?!
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.
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