22 February 2020 - County U-180s - Kent v Middlesex

 County Under-180s match - Kent v Middlesex

Saturday 22 February 2020

White: A. Hayler (166) - Black: Keith Nevols (157)

Scandinavian Defence

1. e4 d5

2. exd5 Qxd5

3. Nc3 Qa5

4. d4 Nf6

5. Nf3 Bf5

6. Bc4 e6

7. O-O c6

8. Bd2 Bb4

9. a3 Bxc3

10. Bxc3 Qc7

The main line - a very familiar position.

11. b4!? 

But this is new. 11. Re1 is more usual and better.

11. ........O-O

12. Re1 Nbd7

13. h3 

According to the engine, the position is now level and Black should take advantage with 13. .. b5 and Ne4, or 13. .. Ne4 at once.

13. ........Nb6

But I decide that occupying the d5 square is more solid.

14. Bb3 Nbd5

15. Bd2 Rad8

The usual strategy in this position is to go after the White d-pawn.

16. Ne5 Ne4

This is also the computer choice, although I was not so certain about waving knights around.

17. Bc1 

17. c4 gains space for White but the text defends the d-pawn. In response to 17. c4 I did not see the brilliant counter 17. .... Qb6! 18. dxe5 Qxd4 which will regain the piece.

17. ....... Ndc3?

This is just a waste of time. 17. .. h6! with the intention of Ng5 continues the attack. 

18. Qf3 Qb6

I did not like 18. .. Rxd4 19. Bb2 Qxe5 20. Bxc3.

19. Be3 Nd5??

A blunder. This is what comes of aimlessly moving pieces around. Again, Black had to play 19. ...h6 to give a square to the knight.

20. g4 

Of course! White wins a piece.

20. ........Nxe3

21. Qxe3 Nd6

22. gxf5 Nxf5

23. Qc3 Rxd4

This was the position I had foreseen after move 20. I have two pawns for the bishop.

24. Re2 

24. Nxf7! is good. 24. ... Kxf7 25. Rxe6! and curtains.

24. ....Rfd8

25. Rae1 Rf4

26. Nxf7 

White has seen it at last.

26.     .....Kxf7

27. Qe5 

Demolition on e6 and the rook is attacked, so time to end an awful game.