Saturday 15 February 2020
White: M. Baker (158) - Black: Keith Nevols (164)
King's Indian Defence
1. Nf3
Always an annoying first move to meet. Having had previous trouble with 1. .. f5 2. e4!? and 2. d3, I opt for the King's Indian Defence.
1. .......Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. e4 d6
5. d4 O-O
6. Be2
Now into the King's Indian Defence main line.
6. .......e5
7. dxe5 dxe5
8. Bg5 c6
A sign of forgotten theory. The intention is to stop the knight getting to d5 and to tuck the queen away.
8. .... Qxd1+ 9. Rxd1 Na6 is a better way to defend.
9. O-O Qc7
10. Qc1
An interesting move to prevent a black h6.
10. .......Na6
11. Bh4?!
But this does not match the previous move. 11. Be3 is more consistent.
11. .......Nc5
12. Nd2 Ne6
13. Bg3 Nd7
Wimping out. 13. ... Nd4 and the computer gives Black the lead.
14. Nf3 f5
This was the point of my previous move - I am planning to place the knight back on f6.
15. exf5 gxf5
16. Rd1 f4
17. Bh4 Nf6?
A strategic mistake which gives up Black's advantage. 17. .. Ndc5! gives a great square for the knight, followed by a5, and then Nd4 when possible and Black begins to dominate the centre. Now White can blockade the centre and get a good square for his own knight.
18. Bxf6 Bxf6
19. Ne4 Qg7
An interesting sequence is now 20. Nxf6+ Qxf6 21. Qc3 e4 22. Qxf6 Rxf6 23. Nd2 Nc5 24. b4 f3 with some complications.
20. c5!
I thought this was a good move - not only grabbing the c5 before Black could, but also making the c4 square available.
20. ......Ng5
Aiming to exchange some pieces. I was getting a bit worried about the king's safety.
21. Nxf6
Recommended is 21. Nfxg5! Bxg5 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. Bf3 and Nd6 to follow.
21. ......Qxf6
22. Rd6 Nxf3+
23. Bxf3 Qg5
24. Qc4+ Kh8
25. Re1
White has a won game - his pieces are far more active and Black will have trouble defending the pawn on e5.
25. ........Bh3
26. Qc3 Bxg2??
26. .... Rae8 was essential.
27. Bxg2?
Fortunately for me White misses 27. Rxe5 Qg7 28. Rd7! Qf6 29. Kxg2 and curtains.
27. .......f3
28. Qxe5+ Qxe5
29. Rxe5 Rg8
30. Re3 Rxg2+
31. Kf1 Rxh2
32. Rxf3
Astonishingly I am still in the game. Although it is a dreaded rook ending, and White has the more active rooks, material is equal and I still have a chance of holding a draw.
32. ......Rh1+
33. Ke2 Rb1
34. Rb3 Re8+
35. Kd2 Rf1?
First mistake. 35. .... Re7 and the game is dead even.
36. Rf6
White misses 36. Rxb7 Rxf2+ 37. Kc3 moving the king up the board and hiding from the checks.
36. ........Kg7
37. Rbf3 Re7
Got there at last - and now the game is even.
38. R6f4 Rg1
39. Rh3 Rg5
40. b4 h5
41. Rd3 a5
Aiming to swap off some pawns.
42. a3 axb4
43. axb4 Kh6
44. Kc3 Rge5
45. Rg3 R7e6
46. Rf8 Rg6
47. Rh3 Rg7
48. f4
This was my main worry - although the game is still even, what effect will the f-pawn have?
48. ......Rd5
49. f5 Rdd7
50. Rh8+ Rh7
51. Rxh7+ Rxh7
I was glad to get one set of rooks off the board. Strangely the computer states I am now winning.
52. Kd4 Kg5
53. Rf3 Rf7
54. Ke5 Re7+
55. Kd6
55. ........ Rf7??
And Black cracks. 55. ... Kf6 was essential to be followed by Rh7. This keeps the white king at a distance and Black can advance the h-pawn and pick up the f-pawn.
56. Ke6
The point is that the white king is now in contact with the f-pawn and can shepherd it further, while freeing the white rook.
The win from here is very straight forward.
56. .......Rf6+
57. Ke5 Rf8
58. Rg3+ Kh6
59. f6 Re8+
60. Kf5 Re1
61. f7 Rf1+
62. Ke6 Re1+
63. Kf6 Rf1+
64. Ke7 Re1+
65. Kf8 Kh7
66. Rg5 Rh1
67. Ke7 Re1+
68. Kf6 Rf1+
69. Ke7 Re1+
70. Kd7 Rf1
71. Ke8 Re1+
72. Kf8 Rh1
73. Re5 Rh4
74. Ke7 Rf4
75. f8(Q) Rxf8
76. Kxf8 Kg6
77. Re7 Resigns
A very disappointing game. Although I stayed in there through a combination of luck and error, the dreaded rook ending once again got me in the end.
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