[Event "Dorset League"]
[Site "Highcliffe CC"]
[Date "2019.10.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Weatherlake, John"]
[Black "Westrap, Christian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "Christian Westrap"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2019.10.14"]
1. Nc3 {An unusual first move which goes by the name of The Dunst Opening.
Dorset FM Mike Waddington plays this often as well, with success. I think the
main ideas are to either get a favourable transposition into a main line
system or to get black 'out of book' and hope to capitalise on being in a more
familiar position.} d5 2. d4 {John transposes back to a Queen's Pawn game.} (2.
e4 dxe4 3. Nxe4 {is an independent line although this could easily transpose
to a main line e4 opening after} Bf5 4. Ng3 Bg6 5. d4 c6 {for example. White
could try to avoid playing d4, and staying out of book, but I don't see any
great benefit in doing so.}) 2... Nf6 3. Bf4 {The Jobova System. A recent
addition to white's arsenal. Previously this was thought to be an inferior
version of the London System.} c6 {I was aiming for a 'Reversed London System'
set-up with Bf5 and e6 to follow. This is very solid for black and will
equalise easily if white plays solidly too since the Knight on c3 is not well
placed. John has other ideas though...} 4. e3 Bf5 5. f3 e6 6. g4 $5 {Sharp,
but consistent. This aggressive set-up is the idea behind the Jobova Attack.}
Bg6 7. h4 h5 (7... h6 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 $13 {was also playable
with similarities to a classical Caro-Kann. Black will stand very well if he
can avoid getting blown off the board since the white position has many
weaknesses.}) 8. g5 {Gaining space but also closing the kingside. Black will
now look for counterplay with the c5 break and try to exploit the weak squares
white has created by making so many pawn moves in the opening.} Nfd7 9. Nge2
Qb6 10. a3 {Over the next few moves it was possible to take on b2 but I wanted
to get in the c5 break and develop my Queen's Knight first.} (10. Rb1 {keeping
the pawn was more prudent but I don't think John was in a prudent mood!} c5 11.
Bh3 cxd4 12. exd4 Nc6 {and I prefer black but the position remains very
complicated.}) 10... c5 11. Bh2 {White wants Nf4 but this all seems very slow.}
cxd4 12. exd4 Nc6 13. Bh3 (13. Nf4 Bf5 {is good for black although I was a bit
worried about sacrifices on d5. I felt I had a good position but that it was
very dangerous for me!} 14. Nfxd5 exd5 15. Qe2+ Be7 {is fine for Black though
due to the queen-check on a5.}) 13... Rc8 14. Kf1 $2 {this move doesn't make
much sense as the king is no safer here than on e1} Qxb2 15. Qe1 $6 {this
should lose to the capture on d4. I saw the capture immediately but decided it
was time to try and be clever!} (15. Kg2 Qxc2 16. Qxc2 Bxc2 17. Rac1 {is
objectively better but dismal for White so John's choice is very practical!})
15... Nb6 $4 {The only explanation I have for this move is that I was being
lazy and trying to play Nxd4 a move later but without having to calculate
anything. I thought I will over protect d5 and then capture on d4. I knew Rb1
was harmless as I can capture on c2...} (15... Nxd4 16. Nxd4 ({if} 16. Nxd5
Nxf3 $19) 16... Qxc3 $19 {wins for Black and would have been the end of a good
night for me!}) 16. Ra2 $1 $18 {Oh dear! I missed this one and, surprisingly,
the queen is lost. John actually apologised shortly after making this move,
not for the move itself, I'm sure, but for the look on my face about 5 seconds
after he made it!! The knight on b6 blocks the queen's only retreat square and
the rook protects c2 'through' the queen - which is why I missed this rather
clever move.} Bxa3 17. Rxb2 Bxb2 18. Nb5 {I felt like resigning but thought
the position was still difficult and my pieces were active so I decided to
play on.} O-O 19. Qb1 $2 {This move loses time and gave me fresh hope.} (19.
Nf4 {looks better}) 19... Nc4 20. Kf2 Nb4 21. Bd6 Bxc2 22. Bxb4 $6 {
Understandable as Black's activity is getting scary. The computer recommends} (
22. Qg1 Nd3+ 23. Kg2 {but I can understand John not wanting to play this line
due to the poor position of his pieces. He would keep his extra queen though!})
22... Bxb1 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Rxb1 a6 25. Nd6 Nxd6 26. Rxb2 g6 {With 3 pawns
for the piece the game has reached a balanced ending. I think we were both a
bit exhausted though after the complications of the middle game and so after}
27. Rb6 Ke7 28. Nf4 Rc4 29. Ke3 {we agreed a draw!} 1/2-1/2