County Under-180s - Essex v Kent
Saturday 14 March 2020
White: C Hampton (171) - Black: Keith Nevols (161)
Dutch Defence
1. d4 f5
2. Nc3 d5
Setting up the Dutch Stonewall defence.
Setting up the Dutch Stonewall defence.
3. Bf4 a6
To prevent 4. Nb5. The other option is 3. ... Nf6 4. Nb5 Na6.
To prevent 4. Nb5. The other option is 3. ... Nf6 4. Nb5 Na6.
4. e3 Nf6
5. Nf3 e6
6. Bd3 Be7?!
The immediate 6. .. c5 is more active and energetic. My failure to get this move in early will cause problems.
The immediate 6. .. c5 is more active and energetic. My failure to get this move in early will cause problems.
7. O-O O-O
8. h3
This reminded me of a game against Keith Hyde who followed up an h3 with g4, although he had not castled and used the rook on h1 to get a good attack. I decided to block the d3-h7 diagonal as soon as possible.
8. ..... Ne4
This reminded me of a game against Keith Hyde who followed up an h3 with g4, although he had not castled and used the rook on h1 to get a good attack. I decided to block the d3-h7 diagonal as soon as possible.
8. ..... Ne4
9. Ne2!
I was a bit nervous about 9. g4 but can meet it with 9. .. c5. White adopts a good plan, to withdraw the knight and prepare c4 to hit Black's centre.
9. .. .. Bd7?
Missing another chance for ... c5. I am trying to activate the bishop by moving to e8 and h5 but do not have time for that. 9. ... Nd7 is another better move, but that comes next.
I was a bit nervous about 9. g4 but can meet it with 9. .. c5. White adopts a good plan, to withdraw the knight and prepare c4 to hit Black's centre.
9. .. .. Bd7?
Missing another chance for ... c5. I am trying to activate the bishop by moving to e8 and h5 but do not have time for that. 9. ... Nd7 is another better move, but that comes next.
10. c4 Be8
11. Ne5 Nd7
I also gave a lot of thought to 11. .. Nc6
12. f3 Nef6
I also gave a lot of thought to 11. .. Nc6
12. f3 Nef6
13. Qc2
13. Qb3 has worried me, although the engine spots the remarkable 13. .. Nxe5 14. Bxe5 b5!?
I had a long think here on how to combat the threats along the b1-h7 diagonal as well as to the d5 point and down the c-file. This was another opportunity for a Black c5. 13. .. dxc4 14. Bxc4 Nd5 allows White to win a pawn with 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Qxc7 so I decide to add some extra security to the c-file, and the c7 square, as well as think about c5.
13. .... Rc8
13. Qb3 has worried me, although the engine spots the remarkable 13. .. Nxe5 14. Bxe5 b5!?
I had a long think here on how to combat the threats along the b1-h7 diagonal as well as to the d5 point and down the c-file. This was another opportunity for a Black c5. 13. .. dxc4 14. Bxc4 Nd5 allows White to win a pawn with 15. Nxd7 Qxd7 16. Bxd5 exd5 17. Qxc7 so I decide to add some extra security to the c-file, and the c7 square, as well as think about c5.
13. .... Rc8
14. c5
I was relieved to see this, as I thought easing the tension in the centre might be to my advantage and help me defend, but in fact White has a queenside offensive planned.
I did wonder about 14. e4 but lots of exchanges and the opening of the centre is no worries. The best move for White is 14. Bh2! which frees the f4 square for the knight. Black could then try 14. .. g5 which White might meet with 15. g4
14. .... Nxe5
Gets rid of one piece and frees a square.
I was relieved to see this, as I thought easing the tension in the centre might be to my advantage and help me defend, but in fact White has a queenside offensive planned.
I did wonder about 14. e4 but lots of exchanges and the opening of the centre is no worries. The best move for White is 14. Bh2! which frees the f4 square for the knight. Black could then try 14. .. g5 which White might meet with 15. g4
14. .... Nxe5
Gets rid of one piece and frees a square.
15. Bxe5 Bd7?
Black is on the ropes so it is hard to give good advice but 15. ... Nd7 hoping for another exchange is a better move and if 16. Bg3 then 16. .. Bg5.
The text is a mistake, as it is a further waste of time. White has two options for a strong initiative. One is 16. g4, and he takes the other.
Black is on the ropes so it is hard to give good advice but 15. ... Nd7 hoping for another exchange is a better move and if 16. Bg3 then 16. .. Bg5.
The text is a mistake, as it is a further waste of time. White has two options for a strong initiative. One is 16. g4, and he takes the other.
16. a4! Qe8
Planning to counter attack on the kingside.
Planning to counter attack on the kingside.
17. b4 Qh5
18. b5 axb5
Opening the a-file is just to White's advantage, but I could see a way to defend.
Opening the a-file is just to White's advantage, but I could see a way to defend.
19. axb5
19. .... c6
20. b6?
Played immediately, but both of us had overlooked 20. Ra7. There is no way to defend the b-pawn and 20. .. cxb5 21. Rxb7 Qe8 22. Nc3 and White will roll up the position from the left.
20. ..... Rce8
Played immediately, but both of us had overlooked 20. Ra7. There is no way to defend the b-pawn and 20. .. cxb5 21. Rxb7 Qe8 22. Nc3 and White will roll up the position from the left.
20. ..... Rce8
21. Ra7 Bc8
This was the position I had foreseen when playing 17. .. Qh5. The bishop on c8 is in a shocking position. However, White cannot yet do anything about it. The position is closed, his rook on a7 is not exactly doing a great deal, and White is unable to exploit his space advantage on the queenside nor its control of the h2-b8 diagonal.
In my thoughts were how to get on the counter attack.
This was the position I had foreseen when playing 17. .. Qh5. The bishop on c8 is in a shocking position. However, White cannot yet do anything about it. The position is closed, his rook on a7 is not exactly doing a great deal, and White is unable to exploit his space advantage on the queenside nor its control of the h2-b8 diagonal.
In my thoughts were how to get on the counter attack.
22. Nc1 Nd7
First plan: exchange off or move that bishop.
First plan: exchange off or move that bishop.
23. f4 Nxe5
24. fxe5 Bg5
The bishop on c8 is now even worse, boxed in by pawns. However, my queen is well placed.
The bishop on c8 is now even worse, boxed in by pawns. However, my queen is well placed.
25. Rf3 Qh4
26. Qf2 Qh6
27. Ne2 Be7
Clearing the way for the g-pawn to advance.
Clearing the way for the g-pawn to advance.
28. Ra1 Bd7
29. Ra7 Bc8
I did not like 29. .. Rb8 30. Ba6 Bc8 31. Bd3 which moves my rook to the wrong side of the blocking bishop.
Here I expected 30. Ra1 Bd7 31. Ra7 Bc8 repeating for a draw which I would have taken.
30. Kf1 g5
In for a penny.
I did not like 29. .. Rb8 30. Ba6 Bc8 31. Bd3 which moves my rook to the wrong side of the blocking bishop.
Here I expected 30. Ra1 Bd7 31. Ra7 Bc8 repeating for a draw which I would have taken.
30. Kf1 g5
In for a penny.
31. Qg1
A poor square for the queen but anticipating the opening of the h-file and preventing Qh1+.
31. .... g4
A poor square for the queen but anticipating the opening of the h-file and preventing Qh1+.
31. .... g4
32. hxg4 fxg4
33. Rxf8+ Rxf8
34. Nf4?!
The engine prefers 34. Ke1. I might have followed with 34. .. Bg5 35. Kd2 Qh4.
The engine prefers 34. Ke1. I might have followed with 34. .. Bg5 35. Kd2 Qh4.
Now here was time for another epic think. By now, most games had finished and a crowd had gathered round.
My first thought was - does Rxf4 force a draw? I looked at 34. .. Rxf4+ 35. exf4 Qxf4+ 36. Ke2 Bg5 but then saw that White has 37. Ra2 and it is game over. (Black could fight on with 37. .. Kg7 to avoid the bishop getting pinned but he would effectively be a rook down and 38. Qf2 might well be good enough).
Having rejected that, I did not want White to play g3 himself, as that would anchor up the f4 point and I was not sure I could breakthrough.
So, the only other option, was to play it myself.
34. ........g3!
The engine thinks 34. ... Rxf4+ was the only chance to play for a draw, but I liked this move. It gives me some white squares in which I could perhaps use the queen, and also the possibility of an entry square on f2 - these two points were exactly what happened in the course ahead.
My first thought was - does Rxf4 force a draw? I looked at 34. .. Rxf4+ 35. exf4 Qxf4+ 36. Ke2 Bg5 but then saw that White has 37. Ra2 and it is game over. (Black could fight on with 37. .. Kg7 to avoid the bishop getting pinned but he would effectively be a rook down and 38. Qf2 might well be good enough).
Having rejected that, I did not want White to play g3 himself, as that would anchor up the f4 point and I was not sure I could breakthrough.
So, the only other option, was to play it myself.
34. ........g3!
The engine thinks 34. ... Rxf4+ was the only chance to play for a draw, but I liked this move. It gives me some white squares in which I could perhaps use the queen, and also the possibility of an entry square on f2 - these two points were exactly what happened in the course ahead.
35. Ke2 Bg5
36. Nh3 Qh5+
37. Kd2 Qg4
I expected 38. Ra4 after which I would have tried to free the bishop with 38. .. Bd7.
I expected 38. Ra4 after which I would have tried to free the bishop with 38. .. Bd7.
38. Ra1??
Proof that fortune favours the brave, or rather favours the fortunate.
38. ...... Qxd4
White had overlooked this.
Proof that fortune favours the brave, or rather favours the fortunate.
38. ...... Qxd4
White had overlooked this.
39. Re1 Qxe5
This is OK but 39. .. Qb2+ is another way to win.
At this point, while White was thinking, my team captain told me that we needed to win both remaining games to draw the match. No pressure, then, although I was by now sure I had a win.
This is OK but 39. .. Qb2+ is another way to win.
At this point, while White was thinking, my team captain told me that we needed to win both remaining games to draw the match. No pressure, then, although I was by now sure I had a win.
40. Nxg5 Rf2+
41. Re2 Qb2+
42. Bc2 Rxf2+
43. Kxf2 Qxd2+
My intended combination, after Rf2+ but 44. Ke1 Qc1+ picking up the queen. I had not seen that 44. Kf3 was possible but then 44. ... Qf5+ would pick up the knight. White decided to resign.
As for the other game, that was a draw, so we lost the match 8.5-7.5.
A very pleasing win, and my fourth over a 170+ player in the last three weeks. I was not to know it but, due to the coronavirus outbreak, which caused the lockdown ten days later, this was my last over-the-board game for 17 months - and thus concludes my second chess blog.
My intended combination, after Rf2+ but 44. Ke1 Qc1+ picking up the queen. I had not seen that 44. Kf3 was possible but then 44. ... Qf5+ would pick up the knight. White decided to resign.
As for the other game, that was a draw, so we lost the match 8.5-7.5.
A very pleasing win, and my fourth over a 170+ player in the last three weeks. I was not to know it but, due to the coronavirus outbreak, which caused the lockdown ten days later, this was my last over-the-board game for 17 months - and thus concludes my second chess blog.
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