12 March 2020 - Swale Club Championship - Round Fourteen

 Swale Club Chess Championship - Round Fourteen

Thursday 12 March 2020

White: Keith Nevols (161) - Black: Tyrone Jefferies (114)

Alekhine's Defence

1. e4 Nf6

Another Alekhine! More quiet development.

2. d3 d6

3. Nf3 e5

4. g3 Nc6

5. Bg2 Be7

6. O-O Be6

7. Re1 Qd7

8. c3 h6

9. N1d2 

9. d4 would have been a follow-up of White's last move. 

9. ...... Nh7

Black adopts a curious strategy of trying to exchange pieces, develop an initiative while keeping the King in the centre.

10. Nf1 Ng5

11. Ne3 Nh3+

12. Kf1 Ng5

12. .. h5 would have been a consistent follow-up. White should then counter in the centre with 13. d4.

13. d4 Bh3

14. dxe5 Bxg2+

15. Nxg2 

There was no reason to fear 15. Kxg2 Qh3+.

15. ......Nxf3

16. Qxf3 Nxe5

The position is now equal. Neither side has any clear weaknesses, except that Black needs to decide what to do with his King.

 

17. Qf5 

I regretted this move as I played it, as I thought 17. .. Qxf5 is good for Black. However 18. exf5 Kd7 seems to be fine. An interesting line is 19. f4 Nf3 20. Rxe7! Kxe7 21. h3 and eventually collecting the knight.

17. ...... Qb5+ 

18. Re2 g6

19. Qh3 Qd3

I was concerned about 19. .. d5 although 20. exd5 Qxd5 21. Bf4 seems to be OK. I am still struggling to get the queen back in the game however and Black's activity is rather worrying.

20. Nf4 Qf3

21. Qg2 

At last. A chance to get the queens off.

21. .....c6

22. Qxf3 Nxf3

23. Kg2 Ne5

Now I can rest a little easier. Black's slight weaknesses are the pawn on d6 and the King still in the centre. 24. a4 taking space, 24. b3 covering the c4 square and with Ba3 in mind, or 24. Be3 developing the bishop are all recommended. But I wanted to exchange the knight.

24. Rd2 h5

25. Nd3 O-O-O

26. Nxe5 dxe5

Black has successfully got rid of the weakness on d6. 

27. Rxd8 Rxd8

28. Be3 b6

The game is now dead level. I have to find a way to probe.

29. a4 Kb7

30. Kf3 g5

31. Ke2 f6

32. a5 c5

33. f3 Rd7

34. axb6 axb6

35. Rh1 Rd8

36. h4 Rh8

37. Kd3 b5

38. c4 b4

39. Kc2 Kb6

No way through there.

40. Rd1 Kc6

41. Rg1 Rg8

Obviously 42. hxg5 would be a mistake as after 42. ...... fxg5 Black has the possibility of a passed pawn on the h-file.

42. Kd2 g4

43. f4? 

A slight inaccuracy. 43. Ke2 is better.

43.. Rd8+ is now good for Black. 44. Ke2 exf4 45. Bxf4 Rd4 or 44. Kc2 b3+! 45. Kc3 f5!

43. ...... Bd6

44. Rf1 Ra8

45. Kc2 Rh8

46. fxe5 Bxe5

47. Bf4 Bd4

48. Re1 Re8

49. Re2 Kd7

The computer ranks Black as better here as a result of White's drifting.

50. Kb3 Kc6

51. Re1 Re6

52. Kc2 Kd7

53. Kb3 Re8

54. Kc2 Kc6

55. Kb3

And the players agreed a draw.

In the final position. Black has a slight advantage due to the weakness of the White pawns. However, it would be hard to break down the White defence.