[Event "Sherwood House v Grantham"] [Site "?"] [Date "1994.05.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Burke, Steven J"] [Black "Birtwistle, Nigel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A45"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "79"] [EventDate "1994.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4 c5 4. d5 h6 5. Bf4 Qb6 6. Nd2 Nxd2 7. Bxd2 e5 ( 7... Qxb2 8. e4 {is the critical test, e.g.} e6 9. Rh3 Qe5 (9... Qf6 10. Bc3 Qe7 11. Bc4) 10. Re3 Qf6 11. Bc3 Qxh4 (11... e5 12. Qg4 h5 13. Qh3) 12. Nf3) 8. Bc3 d6 9. f4 e4 10. Qd2 Bf5 11. Qe3 (11. e3 Nd7 12. Ne2 {intending to follow up with 13.Ng3 and 14.0-0-0}) 11... Na6 12. g4 { The start of a series of speculative (and objectively unsound) sacrifices leading up to a4!!} (12. O-O-O) 12... Nb4 13. Bxb4 Qxb4+ 14. c3 Qxb2 15. Rd1 Bxg4 16. Qxe4+ Kd7 ({Black starts to go wrong,} 16... Be7) 17. Bh3 Qxc3+ 18. Kf2 Bxh3 (18... h5) 19. Rxh3 Qf6 (19... Qa5 20. Rb1 b6 21. Re3 Kc7) 20. Qa4+ Kc7 21. Rb3 Qxh4+ (21... Rb8 22. Nf3 Be7 23. Rdb1) 22. Kf1 Rb8 ({This forces white to find the only winning line, but black may have a better chance to survive with} 22... Qd8 { but white is still winning,} 23. Rxb7+ Kxb7 24. Qc6+ Kb8 25. Rb1+ Qb6 26. Rxb6+ axb6 27. Qxb6+ Kc8 28. a4 Be7 29. a5 Bd8 30. Qc6+ Kb8 31. Qxd6+ Bc7 32. Qxc5 Rxa5 33. Qb4+ Ka7 34. Qe7 Kb8 35. d6) 23. Rdb1 Qe7 24. Qxa7 ({ Better than} 24. Qc6+ bxc6 25. Rxb8 cxd5 26. R1b7+ Kc6 27. Rxe7 Bxe7 28. Rxh8 {when the strange material imbalance (R v 4Ps) will make it difficult for white, but he should win.}) 24... Kc8 25. Rb6 Qc7 26. a4 Be7 (26... c4 27. a5 c3 28. a6 c2 29. Rc1 Be7 30. Rxb7 Rxb7 31. axb7+ Kd7 32. Rxc2 Qb8 33. Qa4+ Kd8 34. Qa5+ Kd7 35. Qb5+ Kd8 36. Qb6+ Kd7 37. Qc6+ Kd8 38. Qc8+ Qxc8 39. bxc8=Q#) 27. a5 c4 (27... Bd8 28. a6 Qxb6 29. Rxb6 Bxb6 30. Qxb6) 28. a6 Qc5 29. axb7+ (29. Rc6+ Kd7 30. Rxb7+ Rxb7 31. Qxb7+ Ke8 32. Rxc5) 29... Kd7 30. Qa4+ Kd8 31. R1b5 Qd4 32. Rc6 Bh4 33. Qa5+ Ke8 34. Rc8+ Ke7 35. Qc7+ Kf6 36. Qxd6+ Kf5 37. Qc5 Qxf4+ 38. Nf3 Re8 39. Rxe8 Rxe8 40. Qc8+ {(Best game prize for the Notts League)} 1-0 [Event "Ashfield v West Bridgford"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.01.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Thompson, Brian"] [Black "Burke, Steven J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A08"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "80"] 1. Nf3 d5 ({Now that I have started playing the Sicilian and Benko Gambit again, it would probably make more sense to start here with} 1... c5) 2. g3 c5 3. Bg2 f6 ({This is only possible if you like playing the Samisch in the King's Indian.} 3... Nc6 {allows a Reversed Grunfeld with} 4. d4 Bf5 ({Even the main line with} 4... cxd4 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. c4 {is apparently playable, but somehow this seems a bit risky to me.}) 5. c4 Nf6 6. O-O { , which is objectively fine for black, but not a line I enjoy playing}) ({After } 3... Nc6 {if white caries on with a King's Indian setup,} 4. O-O e5 5. d3 { black is already better on Houdini, and can play any of the usual "white" King's Indian plans.}) 4. O-O ({Probably the best white can do is play into a Reversed Anti-Grunfeld system with} 4. d4 cxd4 (4... Nc6) 5. Nxd4 e5 6. Nb3 Ne7 7. O-O Nbc6 {Black is hampered by the blocked in bishop, but it's white counterpart isn't pulling up any trees either!}) 4... e5 5. d3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 ({ This is a line that Spassky played against Andersson and Petrosian, scoring three draws. I assume it is relatively rare as it can't be played agaisnt all white's ways of getting into a KIA (via French, Sicilan e6 or Caro Kann) so players stick to their preparation when faced with a "pure" KIA. White arrives at a true King's Indian Reversed position and, despite the extra tempo, doesn't have an obvious way to continue! To be fair, Nbd2 is the most often played move here, but scores only 38% in my database. Having come this far, he should probably strike out immediately with} 6. c4 d4 7. a3 Bd6 8. e3 {but it's nothing special.}) 6... Nh6 ({This is a relatively new idea in these sort of positions. Previously} 6... Nge7 {was played at some point. This would cover the d5 square but the knight does get in the way sometimes. Now it will sit happily on f7 and help with both defence and attack.}) 7. e4 ({ Generally I find that Benoni structures offer white more chances here, but black has at least equalised after} 7. c4 d4 8. a3 Be7 9. Rb1 O-O) 7... d4 { I like playing these pawn structures, but here there is no decent alternative. Anything else is good for white.} 8. a4 Bg4 9. h3 ({This gives white a weak pawn in place of the weak square on h3. However the other sort of plan is also pleasant for black.} 9. Nc4 Nf7 10. Bd2 Qd7 11. Qe1 Nd6 12. b3 Be7 13. Nh4 O-O) 9... Be6 10. Nc4 Nf7 11. b3 {There are lines in the King's Indian where black sets up this kind of structure. However it is generally after white has castled kingside and is aimed at bolstering the queenside before attacking on the other flank. Here it just leaves white with no obvious active play.} Qd7 12. Kh2 O-O-O ({I was originally going to play} 12... g5 13. h4 g4 14. Nfd2 O-O-O {but was struggling to see how to make progress.}) ({ Another decent plan is} 12... Be7 13. Nh4 g6 14. Bd2 O-O {although I discounted this as giving white at least the appearance of some active play.}) 13. Bd2 ({Natural, and best, is still} 13. Nh4 {Not so much to play f4, but to meet} g5 {with} 14. Nf5 {This makes it difficult for black to get an attack going, particularly as taking the pawn simply rebounds on me after} Bxf5 $6 15. exf5 Qxf5 16. a5 a6 17. Nb6+ Kb8 18. Be4 Qe6 19. Qf3) 13... g5 14. Na5 Nxa5 ({This seemed the most clearcut, but there are other options, such as} 14... h5 15. Nxc6 Qxc6 16. a5 a6) 15. Bxa5 b6 ({I could just move the rook,} 15... Re8 16. Be1 h5 17. Nd2 Bd6 18. Nc4 Bc7 {but I preferred to snuff out any chance of a white queenside advance - or so I thought!}) 16. Bd2 a5 17. Ng1 ({Houdini likes the following knight tour as white's best defence,} 17. Bc1 h5 18. Nd2 Bd6 19. Nc4 Bc7 20. Bd2) 17... Bd6 ({I was too concerned about white pushing his f-pawn, so slightly more accurate would be} 17... h5 {preventing white from putting his queen on that square.}) 18. Qf3 ({White's only active plan seemed to be} 18. f4 {but this turns out to be even worse than I thought at the time, e.g.} exf4 19. gxf4 Rdg8 20. Kh1 gxf4 21. Bxf4 Be5 22. Rf2 Rg6 23. Bxe5 fxe5) 18... Qe7 ({ I looked at} 18... h5 {when} 19. Qxf6 {is bad,} Rh6 20. Qf3 (20. Qg7 Bf8 21. Qg8 Be7 22. Qg7 Bf6) 20... Bg4 {, but I didn't see the real difference to my move and thought they would be equally effective}) 19. c3 ( {I thought white now needed to sit tight and see if I can drum up anything serious by way of an attack. However, I hadn't realised how tricky it is to attack after} 19. Qh5 {Luckily he didn't fancy that, and tried to get some queenside play.}) 19... dxc3 20. Bxc3 h5 21. Qe2 Bc7 22. Rab1 g4 23. h4 ({ I was more concerned about the best way to meet} 23. f3 gxh3 (23... h4 24. fxg4 hxg3+ 25. Kxg3 Rh7 26. Nf3 Nh8 27. Rh1 Ng6 {looks promising, but it is a pawn sacrifice}) (23... Qd7 24. Rfd1 gxh3 25. Bxh3 h4 26. g4 Ng5 { with a big bind on white's position}) 24. Bxh3 Ng5 25. Bxe6+ Qxe6 (25... Nxe6 26. Nh3 Rh7) 26. Rfd1 (26. f4 exf4 27. gxf4 Qg4) 26... h4 27. g4 h3 $17 {All these lines look promising (+0.8 on Houdini) but I hadn't decided which to play.}) 23... Rhg8 24. d4 {It's hard to know how to mark this move. It is objectively the point where white's game goes from bad to lost, so it would get a ?? However, it does have a shock value, avoids a long passive defence of white's kingside and also has more than a few traces of vanom, so I've gone with !? Perhaps !?? would be most accurate, but ChessBase doesn't have that option!} ({Probably best is} 24. Qc2 {but black has at least two good plans. Probably best is to pile up on the backward pawn with} Rd7 ({ Alternatively,} 24... f5 25. exf5 Bxf5 26. Be4 Nd6 {looks very tricky to defend for white, particularly as Houdini says white's only good move is the less than obvious} 27. Bc6 {when I'm only about half a point up.}) 25. Rfd1 Nd8 26. Rd2 Nc6 27. Ne2 Rgd8 {and I assume that at some point f5 will come with a decisive breakthrough.}) 24... exd4 ({I had to calculate white's counter-attack very carefully here. I did have a "safe" alternative} 24... cxd4 25. Qa6+ Kb8 26. Bd2 Rc8 {with a solid extra protected passed pawn, but the game continuation is much stronger - and more fun!}) 25. Qa6+ Kb8 ({ The principled choice, not fearing any ghosts. Although black has good winning chances with the odd-looking king march,} 25... Kd7 26. Qb5+ Kd6 27. b4 (27. e5+ Nxe5 28. Bxa5 Qd7 29. Qxd7+ Bxd7 30. Bd2 Rge8) 27... Qd7 28. bxc5+ bxc5 29. Bxa5 Qxb5 30. Bxc7+ Kxc7 31. Rxb5 Kd6 {if I'd wanted such a position, I'd have captured on d4 with the c-pawn, with a lot less danger to me than this line.}) 26. e5 Bd5 ({When going in for this line, it was vital to see that I can block the diagonal here. Also possible is the "flashy"} 26... Rd5 {as white can't really take the exchange. But I was concerned that the rook can't move for a while. Houdini agrees that the game move is better.}) 27. Bxd5 Rxd5 28. exf6 (28. Bd2 Nxe5 29. b4 cxb4 {is getting nowhere.}) 28... Qxf6 29. Bxa5 Qxh4+ 30. Kg2 Qd8 31. Bd2 ({I thought he might try to open up the queenside with} 31. Bxb6 Bxb6 32. b4 (32. a5 Ba7) {but my pieces co-ordinate pefectly and it doesn't work after} 32... c4 33. a5 (33. Ne2 d3 34. Nc3 Ne5 35. Nxd5 Qxd5+ 36. Kh2 Nf3+ 37. Kh1 Bd4) 33... Ba7 34. b5 Qc8 35. Qxc8+ (35. Qf6 Rf5 36. Qe7 Bc5 37. Qe4 Re8) 35... Rxc8 ({Also winning, but more complex, is} 35... Kxc8 36. b6 Bb8 37. a6 d3 38. a7 Kb7 39. axb8=Q+ Kxb8) 36. b6 d3 37. bxa7+ Kxa7 38. Rfe1 Ne5) 31... h4 32. a5 Rf5 {The most accurate, keeping white's kingside pieces locked away, and vacating d5 for the entry of my queen to the attack.} ({It was still possible to lose, for example, a quick capture} 32... bxa5 {allows white to completely turn the tables with } 33. b4 cxb4 34. Bxb4 axb4 35. Rxb4+ Bb6 36. Rxb6+ Qxb6 37. Qxb6+ {and black is mated.}) 33. Qc4 ({No better is} 33. axb6 Qd5+ 34. Nf3 Qxf3+ 35. Kg1 Bd6 36. Qa7+ Kc8 37. Ra1 hxg3 38. b7+ Qxb7) 33... Qd6 34. axb6 Qc6+ 35. f3 ({I thought white's best chance with the last move before the time control was } 35. Nf3 Qxf3+ 36. Kg1 {although I would then have plenty of time to work out that white is mated after} Bxg3 37. fxg3 (37. Qa6 Bh2+ 38. Kxh2 g3+ 39. Kg1 gxf2+ 40. Kh2 Qg2#) 37... Qxg3+ 38. Kh1 Qh3+ 39. Kg1 g3 40. Rxf5 Qh2+ 41. Kf1 g2+ 42. Ke1 g1=Q+ 43. Qf1 (43. Rf1 Qhf2+ 44. Kd1 Qgxf1+) 43... Re8+ 44. Kd1 Qe2+ 45. Kc2 d3+ 46. Kb2 (46. Kc3 Qd4#) 46... Qxd2+ 47. Ka3 Qa5+ 48. Kb2 Qd4+ 49. Kc1 Re1+ 50. Qxe1 Qxe1#) 35... gxf3+ 36. Rxf3 (36. Nxf3 Rxg3+ 37. Kh2 Rgxf3+ 38. bxc7+ Qxc7+ 39. Kh1 Rh3+ 40. Kg2 Qg3#) (36. Kf2 Bxg3#) 36... Rxg3+ 37. Kh1 (37. Kh2 Rh3+ 38. Kxh3 Rxf3+ 39. Kg2 h3+ 40. Nxh3 Rg3+ 41. Kf1 Qh1+ 42. Ke2 Qf3+ 43. Ke1 Rg1+ 44. Nxg1 Bg3#) 37... Rh3+ 38. Kg2 (38. Nxh3 Qxf3+ 39. Kg1 Qg3+ 40. Kh1 Qh2#) 38... Rh2+ 39. Kf1 Rxf3+ 40. Nxf3 Qxf3+ {and it's mate next move. This game was awarded the Notts Chess Association's Best Game Prize for the season - on the 20th Anniversary of my other BGP win!} 0-1 [Event "R&B 1 v Gambit 4"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.10.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Bonnello, Chris"] [Black "Padvis, Derek"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "134"] [BlackElo "127"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J & Hill,Maurice"] [PlyCount "36"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] {[%evp 0,36,28,-23,51,2,10,1,29,33,48,11,39,37,47,30,57,43,41,41,49,49,251,244, 246,-63,-63,-71,-98,-105,-87,-451,-467,-508,-510,-495,-513,-29999,-30000] Winner of the U140 Best Game Prize, 2015.} 1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Nc3 c6 4. Bg2 d6 5. e4 Nd7 6. Nge2 Ne5 {Totally against normal opening principles but causes some surprising difficulties for White! (MH)} 7. d3 {Defending the c-pawn like this is easy to see, but subsequent play leads into problematic tactical waters. (MH)} Bg4 8. f4 ({Hmm} 8. h3 Bf3 9. O-O {would have been my choice which would have kept things level. (MH)}) ({After} 8. h3 {I guess white may have been worried about} Bf3 {but after} 9. O-O {he will get in his f-pawn break anyway,} Bxg2 (9... a6 10. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 11. Kg2 Ne5 12. f4) 10. Kxg2 a6 11. f4) 8... Nf3+ {Probably forced since retreating the knight to d7 risks a serious pawn rush by White on the king's side and possibly losing the bishop in the process. (MH)} 9. Kf2 {Komodo 9 suggests this move is dubious.} (9. Kf1 {was essential to avoid the crossfire that now ensues. Your computer might rate these two moves equally, but after Kf1 a human would find the going much easier than after Kf2. (MH)}) 9... Qb6+ 10. Be3 Bd4 {It looks very good, but is tactically flawed, and should lose.} ({The computers give} 10... Nd4 {, extricating the knight, as best but I am not sure that the human being playing a League match would be inclined to analyse in this fashion and throwing yet another piece into the attack seems so much more straightforward - the "pile on the rabbit" response! (MH)}) 11. Nxd4 ({This is the trickier way to play it. Simpler is} 11. Qc1 Bxe3+ 12. Qxe3 Qxe3+ 13. Kxe3 {which also wins, as the knight is trapped behind enemy lines!}) 11... Nxd4 12. Qxg4 {Leads to some serious difficulties. (MH)} ({White didn't spot the tricky} 12. Na4 {which wins at least two pawns, e.g.} Bxd1 13. Nxb6 axb6 14. Bxd4 e5 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 f6 17. Bc7 Bg4 18. Bxb6) 12... Qxb2+ 13. Ne2 Nf6 {A useful intermezzo that gives white more problems. (MH)} 14. Bxd4 Nxg4+ 15. Kf3 {It was difficult to see, when in the throes of playing an awkward game, that going the other way was better. (MH)} ({The only hope was} 15. Ke1 Qb4+ 16. Bc3 Qa3 17. Bxh8 f6 18. Bf3 Qa5+ 19. Kf1 h5 {but it's a thin one.}) 15... Qc2 16. Bxh8 Qxd3+ 17. Kxg4 Qxe2+ 18. Kh3 (18. Bf3 { would only have prolonged the agony. (MH)}) 18... Qh5# {This game has mistakes but it should help all those who think they cannot win against a good graded player. (DP)} 0-1 [Event "University v Gambit"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.11.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Walker, Andrew N"] [Black "Hayward, Brian M"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J & Walker, Andrew N"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] {[%evp 0,53,19,31,41,46,51,29,33,33,50,42,52,50,54,34,38,38,65,56,56,33,54,43, 43,44,34,45,64,76,53,54,47,25,85,62,62,84,102,109,166,171,173,175,227,301,297, 312,312,315,319,319,29989,29990,29993,29994]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Be7 5. Nf3 Nd7 6. Bd3 Ngf6 7. O-O (7. Nxf6+) (7. Qe2) 7... O-O 8. c3 c5 ( 8... b6) 9. Qc2 (9. Qe2) 9... Nxe4 (9... h6) 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bg5 {Maintaining a very slight edge into the late middlegame.} Nxe4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qxe4 Rd8 14. Rad1 cxd4 15. Rxd4 (15. Nxd4 Qd6 16. Rd2 Qb6 17. Rfd1 Bd7 {and White's advantage remains minimal.}) 15... Rxd4 (15... f6 16. Rfd1 Re8 17. R4d3 e5 18. Nh4 Be6 19. Nf5 Bxf5 20. Qxf5 Rad8 21. Rd7 (21. h3 Rxd3 22. Qxd3) 21... Rxd7 22. Qxd7 (22. Rxd7 Rd8) 22... Kf8) 16. Nxd4 a6 ({Better is} 16... Qc7 17. Nb5 Qd7 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Rd1 Bd7 20. Nd6 Bc6 {and Black has freed himself, tho' White still has a tiny edge.}) (16... Bd7 17. Qxb7) 17. Rd1 Qc7 ({Or} 17... Qd6 18. Rd3 Bd7 19. Nf5 exf5 20. Rxd6 fxe4 21. Rxd7 b5 22. Kf1 g6 23. Ke2 f5 24. Ke3) (17... g6 18. h4 {with attacking chances.}) 18. Nf5 Bd7 ( 18... f6 19. Ne3 Rb8 (19... Bd7 20. Nd5) 20. Qc4 Qxc4 21. Rd8+ Kf7 22. Nxc4 Ke7 23. Rh8 b5 24. Na5 Ra8 25. Rxh7 Kf7 26. Rh8 {and should win.}) (18... g6 19. Qe5) 19. Nxg7 Bc6 (19... Kxg7 20. Qd4+ Kg8 21. Qxd7 Qxd7 22. Rxd7 { and should win.}) 20. Qg4 Kh8 ({Or} 20... Kf8 21. Qg5 Qe7 22. Qh6 Kg8 23. Nh5 f5 24. Rd6) 21. Qg5 (21. Nh5 Rg8 22. Qh4 {also wins:} h6 (22... Rxg2+ 23. Kf1 Rg6 (23... Bd5 24. Rxd5) 24. Rd8+) 23. g3 e5 24. Qf6+ Kh7 25. Qf5+ Kh8 ( 25... Rg6 26. Rd7 Qxd7 27. Nf6+) 26. Nf6 Rg6 (26... Rg7 27. Rd6 Qe7 28. Rxc6) 27. Nd7 Bxd7 28. Rxd7 Qc4 29. Rxf7) 21... Bd5 (21... f6 22. Nxe6 (22. Qxf6 Qxg7 23. Rd8+) 22... Qe7 (22... Qf7 23. Nd8) 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Nd4 ) (21... Rg8 22. Qf6 Rxg7 23. Rd8+) 22. Nh5 (22. Qf6 Qd8 23. Qd4 f6 24. Nxe6 Qe7 25. Qxd5 {also wins, but more slowly.}) 22... f5 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Rd3 Rf8 (24... Qf7 25. Rg3+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Ke8 27. Rg7) 25. Qh6 Qf7 (25... Rf7 26. Rg3+ Kh8 27. Nf6 Qb8 28. Nxh7) (25... f4 26. Nf6+ Rxf6 27. Qxf6) 26. Rg3+ Kh8 27. Rg7 1-0 [Event "University 1 v Ashfield 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.12.10"] [Round "?"] [White "Khandelwal, Ankush"] [Black "Molyneux, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "222"] [BlackElo "188"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "72"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] {[%evp 0,72,38,-12,8,14,17,6,2,5,5,5,6,8,12,12,12,-20,29,19,29,29,45,45,61,30, 33,4,4,10,11,20,29,29,29,5,5,-17,-17,-74,-56,-56,-56,-180,-110,-269,-179,-206, -168,-201,-155,-155,-148,-148,-155,-219,-168,-299,-299,-299,-299,-674,-492, -1138,-2,-29989,-29990,-29991,-1348,-1348,-1367,-29997,-29998,-29999,-30000] Joint winner of the Best Game Prize, 2015.} 1. f4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 b6 4. Bg2 Bb7 5. O-O e6 6. d3 Bc5+ 7. e3 O-O 8. Qe1 d5 9. b4 Be7 10. Bb2 a5 11. b5 c5 12. bxc6 ({All this has been pretty much equal sparring between the players, but here Komodo thinks it's better to keep the black knight restricted with} 12. Nbd2 a4 13. Rd1) 12... Nxc6 13. Nbd2 Rc8 14. a3 h6 ({This turns out to be unnecessary, so a more active move like the immediate} 14... Ba6 { is possible.}) 15. Qe2 Ba6 16. Nb3 Qd7 17. Ne5 ({This looks like the wrong idea here, allowing the white pawns to be broken up.} 17. Nbd4 {, activating the other knight, seems good here.}) 17... Nxe5 18. fxe5 ({White could keep his pawn formation with} 18. Bxe5 {but after} a4 19. Nd4 Ng4 20. Nf3 Nxe5 21. Nxe5 Qd6 {black has the bishop pair and pressure on the c-file.}) 18... Ne4 19. c4 ({This is the first serious mistake of the game, albeit not easy to see why.} 19. Nd4 Nc3 20. Bxc3 Rxc3 21. g4 {is suggested by Komodo.}) 19... dxc4 20. dxe4 Qa7 {I guess we have to assume white missed this nice move, as otherwise white is doing well.} 21. Qh5 ({Komodo says that the best try now is to sacrifice the exchange with} 21. Nd4 c3 22. Qc2 Bxf1 23. Bxf1 cxb2 24. Qxb2 Bg5 25. Nxe6 Bxe3+ 26. Kh1 Rf7) 21... cxb3 22. exf5 {White chooses a different way to sacrifice the exchange.} (22. Rf2 {saves the exchange, but leaves white a pawn down with a very bad position,} Bc5 23. Re1 fxe4 24. Bxe4 Rxf2 25. Kxf2 Rf8+ 26. Kg1 Qd7) (22. Qg6 {is the computer's best move, but black is winning,} Bc5 23. Qxe6+ Qf7 24. Qxf7+ Rxf7 25. Rfe1 f4) 22... Bxf1 23. Rxf1 Rc2 ({Most roads lead to Rome, but this one makes the journey harder. Perhaps the strongest here is} 23... Bc5 24. f6 Bxe3+ 25. Kh1 Rc2) 24. Bd4 ({An entirely understandable attempt to hold the centre together, but it seems that white should try the more aggressive option} 24. f6 Bc5 25. Bd4 Bxd4 26. exd4 b5 27. Qg6 {though black should probably still win.}) 24... Rxg2+ {Black gives back the exchange to remove white's potentially troublesome bishop and take over the long diagonal hinself.} 25. Kxg2 Qb7+ 26. Kg1 exf5 27. Qg6 Bc5 $1 28. e6 ({Presumably both players saw that the pawn cannot be taken,} 28. Rxf5 Rxf5 29. Qxf5 Bxd4 30. exd4 Qc6 {and the b-pawn cannot be stopped, e.g. } 31. e6 Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Qc2+) 28... Bxd4 29. exd4 Qe4 30. Rf2 Rc8 31. Qf7+ Kh7 {This gives white a chance to escape!} (31... Kh8 {finishes things off smoothly, e.g.} 32. Qxf5 (32. Rf1 b2 33. e7 b1=Q 34. e8=Q+ Rxe8 35. Qxe8+ Qxe8 36. Rxb1 Qe3+) (32. e7 Rc1+ 33. Rf1 Qxd4+ 34. Kg2 Rc2+ 35. Kh1 Qe4+ 36. Rf3 Qxf3+ 37. Kg1 Rc1#) 32... Rc1+ 33. Rf1 Qxf5) 32. e7 ({Apparently white has an amazing "save" here with} 32. Qxf5+ Qxf5 33. Rxf5 {Black's best try seems to be to hold the b-pawn with} a4 ({The immediate} 33... b2 { is met by} 34. Rb5 Rc1+ 35. Kf2 b1=Q 36. Rxb1 Rxb1 37. e7 Rb2+ 38. Ke3 Rb3+ 39. Kd2 (39. Kf4 g5+) 39... Rb2+ 40. Kd3 {In fact white is one file away from winning here}) (33... Rc1+ 34. Kf2 b2 35. Rb5 b1=Q {is the same}) 34. Rb5 {and stop the e-pawn with the king,} Kg6 35. Kf2 {and now activate the rook,} Rc2+ 36. Kf3 Kf6 {It's probably 50/50 if black can win this.}) 32... Rc1+ 33. Rf1 Rxf1+ 34. Kxf1 b2 35. e8=N b1=Q+ 36. Kf2 Qbe1# 0-1 [Event "West Nottingham 2 v West Nottingham 3"] [Site "Bramcote Hall"] [Date "2015.09.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Sangha, Karam"] [Black "Willow, Hambel"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B13"] [WhiteElo "139"] [BlackElo "127"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2015.09.07"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. c3 Bg4 ({Black usually plays} 6... Bf5 {in the Exchange Variation of they have the chance.}) 7. Be2 {This justifies black's last move.} (7. Nbd2 Z0 {intending} 8. Qb3 { is more challenging.}) (7. Qb3 {immediately is also interesting.}) 7... e6 8. Nbd2 Bd6 9. Ne5 Bxe2 10. Qxe2 Qc7 11. Ndf3 O-O 12. O-O Nd7 13. Bg3 Ndxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Rfd8 17. Rad1 Qb6 18. Kh1 Rac8 19. Rd4 (19. Rd2) 19... Rc4 20. Rfd1 (20. Rxc4 dxc4 21. Rd1 (21. Qxc4 Qxb2 22. Qc7 Qd2 23. Qxb7 Qxf2) 21... Rxd1+ 22. Qxd1 h6) 20... Rdc8 21. h3 Qa6 22. Qg4 {Enterprising, but too optimistic here.} ({White is only slightly worse after} 22. Rxc4 Rxc4 23. a3) 22... Qxa2 23. f4 Rxd4 24. Rxd4 Rc4 ({ This should be winning, but quicker would be} 24... Qxb2 25. f5 Qxc3 26. fxe6 ( 26. f6 Qe1+ 27. Kh2 Qxe5+) 26... Qe1+ 27. Kh2 Qxe5+) 25. Rxc4 Qxc4 26. Qg3 h6 27. Qe3 a6 28. Kg1 b5 29. b4 Qc7 30. Kf2 a5 31. Kf3 (31. bxa5 Qxa5 32. Qd2) 31... axb4 32. cxb4 Qc4 33. Qe1 Kh7 34. Qb1+ g6 35. Qe1 Kg7 36. g3 Qd3+ 37. Qe3 Qf1+ ({Black avoids the tempting queen exchange, when white can actually draw a pawn down,} 37... Qxe3+ 38. Kxe3 g5 39. fxg5 hxg5 40. Kd4 f5 41. exf6+ Kxf6 42. h4 gxh4 43. gxh4 Kf5 44. h5 Kg5 45. Kc5 Kxh5 46. Kxb5 Kg5 47. Kc5 Kf6 48. b5 Ke7 49. Kc6 Kd8 50. Kb7 d4 51. b6 d3 52. Ka7 d2 53. b7 d1=Q 54. b8=Q+ {with a tablebase draw, though I suspect white still has to be careful.}) 38. Kg4 ({Stepping into a mating net, but after} 38. Qf2 Qxf2+ 39. Kxf2 {the extra tempo means the ending is won for black,} g5 40. fxg5 hxg5 41. Ke3 f5 42. exf6+ (42. Kd4) 42... Kxf6 43. Kd4 Kf5 44. h4 gxh4 45. gxh4 e5+ 46. Kxd5 e4 47. Kd4 Kf4 48. h5 e3 49. Kd3 Kf3 50. h6 e2 51. h7 e1=Q 52. h8=Q Qd1+ 53. Kc3 Qa1+ {picking up the new white queen.}) ({If black still doesn't want to risk the pawn endings, there is} 38. Qf2 Qh1+ 39. Ke2 Qe4+ 40. Qe3 Qxb4) 38... Qd1+ 39. Qf3 h5+ 40. Kg5 Qxf3 41. g4 Qxh3 42. gxh5 Qxh5# 0-1 [Event "West Bridgford 1 v West Nottingham 3"] [Site "Willow Tree Inn"] [Date "2015.10.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Willow, Jonah "] [Black "Richmond, Robert"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C18"] [WhiteElo "181"] [BlackElo "190"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2015.10.05"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4 f5 ( 7... Ne7 {is by far the most popular here, leading to very complex variations.} ) 8. Qg3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Ne7 10. Ne2 O-O 11. c3 b6 ({Deep analysis by Stockfish gives the best try as} 11... Ng6 12. h4 f4 13. Qd3) 12. Nf4 Qd7 13. a4 Ba6 14. Bb5 Bxb5 15. axb5 Rf7 16. h4 a5 (16... Qxb5 17. Nxe6 Ng6 18. h5 Nf8) 17. h5 Nc8 ({Black can struggle on with} 17... Qxb5 18. Nxe6 Qc4) 18. h6 Kh8 ({White's point being} 18... g6 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Qxg6+ Kh8 21. Bg5) 19. hxg7+ Rxg7 20. Qh4 Rf7 21. Nxe6 Ra7 ({If} 21... Qxe6 22. Qd8+ Kg7 23. Bh6+ Qxh6 24. Rxh6) 22. Qh6 Qxb5 23. Ng5 Qc6 24. Nxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qxc6 Nxc6 26. Rh6 N8e7 27. Rb1 1-0 [Event "Grantham v Mansfield"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.29"] [Round "?"] [White "Cumbers, Paul"] [Black "Burnett, Jim"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C00"] [WhiteElo "200"] [BlackElo "195"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [EventType "team"] {[%evp 16,73,20,0,50,11,34,-11,0,-2,11,0,0,0,0,0,0,-6,0,-22,110,59,204,191,215, 162,286,144,208,212,223,127,226,140,466,306,282,225,1118,1118,1116,1012,1012, 1012,873,873,25000,25000,2557,2439,25000,25000,2062,2062,2062,2062,25000,25000, 25000,2118]} 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4 cxb4 5. a3 Nc6 6. axb4 Bxb4 7. c3 Be7 8. d4 f6 9. Bd3 Qc7 (9... fxe5 {is the engines choice (equal) and by far the most often played in my database, e.g.} 10. Nxe5 Nf6 11. O-O O-O 12. Nd2 Nxe5 13. dxe5 Nd7 14. Qh5 g6 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Qxg6+ Kh8 17. Ra4 Rf5 18. Qh6+ Kg8 19. Qxe6+ Rf7 20. Rg4+ Bg5 21. Qxd5 Kf8 22. e6 Rg7 23. Ba3+ Be7 24. Qf5+ {1-0 (24) Berg,E (2604)-Eriksson,J (2401) Vasteras 2011}) 10. O-O fxe5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 {The position is equal.} 12. Nxe5 Qxe5 13. Re1 Qc7 14. Qh5+ Kf8 15. Qf3+ Nf6 16. Na3 ({Predecessor:} 16. Bf4 Bd6 17. Bxd6+ Qxd6 18. c4 { 1/2-1/2 (49) Dannevig,O (2333)-Lahlum,H (2211) Oslo 2007}) 16... Bd7 17. c4 d4 $2 {This ambitious move turns out badly.} (17... Kg8 18. Nb5 Qb6 19. Be3 Bc5 $11) 18. Nb5 { White takes the initiative.} Bxb5 (18... Qb6) 19. cxb5 e5 20. Bd2 {White has strong compensation with the active pieces and exposed black king. Despite being two pawns down, Komodo gives white +1.7} Bc5 21. Rac1 ({The most killing move was} 21. b6 {but that's difficult,} Qc6 (21... axb6 22. Rxa8+) (21... Qxb6 22. Rxe5) (21... Bxb6 22. Bb4+ Bc5 23. Rac1) (21... Qb8 22. bxa7 Rxa7 23. Rxa7 Qxa7 24. Qf5) 22. Rxe5 Qxf3 23. gxf3 Bd6 24. Re6) 21... Qe7 (21... Re8 {was necessary.}) 22. g4 { Strongly threatening g5.} h6 23. Bg6 (23. h4 { would renew the threat immediately.}) 23... Rd8 (23... Bd6 {was worth a try.}) 24. h4 Kg8 {[%mdl 8192] It's natural to get out of the pin, but this is the decisive error.} ({Black could try} 24... d3 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5) 25. g5 hxg5 26. hxg5 Nd7 27. Qd5+ Kf8 {White now makes the final breakthrough.} 28. Rxc5 Nxc5 29. Qf3+ Kg8 {} 30. Rxe5 Rh1+ (30... Qxe5 31. Qf7#) 31. Kxh1 Qxe5 {White had to have seen the winning plan here.} 32. Bf7+ Kf8 33. Bc4+ Ke7 34. Qf7+ Kd6 35. Bf4 Qxf4 36. Qxf4+ Ke7 37. Qe5+ { A very impressive sacrificial display by white, giving up two pawns for an attack and then seeing a long winning line starting with an exchange sacrifice. } 1-0 [Event "Gambit 5 v West Bridgford 5"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2017.04.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Harper, Mick"] [Black "Milford, Michael"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B25"] [WhiteElo "116"] [BlackElo "102"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "80"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%evp 15,80,-11,5,-13,0,-27,-9,-34,-26,-41,0,-20,4,-36,-4,-32,-6,-78,-67,-66, -54,-134,-123,-144,-116,-136,-125,-149,-134,-178,-178,-282,-258,-273,-219,-258, -162,-231,-178,-186,-159,-199,-165,-357,-269,-492,-465,-525,-412,-413,-224, -756,-773,-782,-655,-774,-774,-1066,-950,-922,-767,-1295,-1138,-2448,-1566, -29993,-29994]} 1. e4 c5 2. Ne2 d6 3. Nbc3 Nf6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O Nc6 7. d3 a6 8. h3 O-O 9. Rb1 (9. Be3 e6 10. Qd2 Re8 11. Bh6 Bh8 12. f4 Nd4 13. Bg5 Qa5 14. Rad1 Rb8 15. e5 Nd5 16. Nxd4 cxd4 17. Nxd5 Qxd2 18. Rxd2 exd5 19. exd6 {0-1 (53) Chovanec,V (2100)-Cerveny,M (2375) Pardubice 2014}) 9... Rb8 10. Qe1 $6 {This is usually played to follow up with Qh4 and/or Nd1, but neither seems approriate here.} ({Predecessor:} 10. Bd2 Be6 11. a3 b5 12. Nf4 Bd7 13. Re1 Qc8 14. Kh2 e5 15. Nfd5 Re8 16. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {1-0 (41) Attaya,J-Bloch,H Flint 1993}) 10... b5 11. Be3 b4 12. Nd5 Nxd5 (12... Nd7 {with more complications.} 13. Bg5 h6 14. Bd2 e6 15. Ne3 a5) 13. exd5 Ne5 14. Nf4 Nd7 15. Ne2 Nb6 16. d4 {This destabilizes white's position, which black exploits well.} (16. a3) 16... Bb7 17. dxc5 Nxd5 18. cxd6 ({White should try} 18. Nf4 Nxf4 19. Bxf4 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 e5 21. Be3) 18... Nxe3 ( {But not} 18... Qxd6 19. Rd1) ({And not} 18... exd6 19. Bd4) 19. fxe3 (19. dxe7 Qxe7 {doesn't help,} 20. fxe3 Bxg2 21. Kxg2 Qxe3) 19... Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Qxd6 21. Nf4 Qc6+ 22. Kg1 (22. e4 {keeps fighting.} Qxc2+ 23. Rf2 Qa4 24. b3 Qb5 25. Rd1 {but is just a pawn down.}) 22... Qxc2 23. Nd5 Qc5 24. Nf4 Rfd8 25. Qe2 a5 26. Rbc1 Qe5 27. b3 Rd6 28. Kh2 Rbd8 { White is under strong pressure.} 29. Qf3 Rd2+ 30. Ne2 f5 { Blocking white's pressure on the f-file.} 31. Rf2 Qb2 32. Rcf1 e5 ({Komodo prefers the more complex} 32... Qxa2 33. e4 fxe4 34. Qxe4 Qxb3 35. Qxe7 a4 { but black's decision is more practical for us humans.}) 33. Ng1 ({This hastens the end, but white should not survive} 33. Qg2 Qxa2) 33... e4 34. Qg2 Qxa2 35. Ne2 Qxb3 36. Nf4 Rxf2 37. Qxf2 Be5 38. Qe2 Bxf4 39. exf4 e3 { Threatens to win with ...Rd2.} 40. Rd1 Rxd1 {Black took advantage of all white's errors and gradually built up an overwhelming position.} 0-1 [Event "Ashfield v West Bridgford"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.09.13"] [Round "85"] [White "Richmond, Robert"] [Black "Burke, Steven J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B00"] [WhiteElo "188"] [BlackElo "167"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "88"] 1. d4 ({I expected Robert to play} 1. c4 {as in our two most recent encounters.}) 1... d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 ({This is the clear third most popular move I've faced on the internet, after} 3. Nc3 {and Bd3. So I've looked at a few ideas to meet it.}) 3... d5 {This is likely to transpose to a French, where both sides lose one tempo. I was hoping Robert might be less familiar with these lines.} ({Not being an e4 player, I expected that} 3... g6 {was quite likely to head into a Samisch King's Indian, e.g.} 4. c4 Bg7 5. Nc3 $11) ({This can also happen after} 3... Nbd7 4. c4 e5 5. d5 {Although in these lines black can choose the alternative bishop development.} Be7) 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 ({I could, of course, go directly to the French,} 6... e6 {but there are possible benefits to delaying this here.}) 7. e6 {I was sure that this was some level of mistake here, but finding the best line against it proved tricky!} ({White should really compromise his position slightly with} 7. Ne2 Qb6 8. f4 e6 (8... g6)) ({The point of this is that} 7. f4 {is a pawn sacrifice where white gets less compensation than in similar lines} cxd4 8. cxd4 Nxd4 9. Be3 Nc6 10. e6 Nf6 11. exf7+ Kxf7 12. Nf3 g6 (12... Ng4) 13. Ne5+ Kg8) 7... fxe6 8. f4 ({I was expecting something like} 8. Qc2 Qb6 9. dxc5 Nxc5 10. Bxh7 Ne5 11. Nh3 Qa6) 8... Nf6 $15 ({White is threatening mate in three,} 8... Z0 9. Qh5+ g6 10. Qxg6+ hxg6 11. Bxg6#) ({I dropped 20 minutes behind on the clock over the opening phase, and here eventually chose the "safe" move over} 8... g6 9. Nf3 Qb6) 9. Nf3 cxd4 {I had decided to play g6 if possible, and thought I needed to have a target on d4.} 10. cxd4 Bd7 ({Here I could play} 10... g6 11. Nc3 ({I was worried about missing something fatal after} 11. Qc2 Bg7 12. Ne5 Qb6 { but the sacrifice doesn't work,} 13. Bxg6+ hxg6 14. Qxg6+ Kd8 15. Nf7+ Kc7 16. Nxh8 Bxh8) 11... Bg7 12. O-O O-O {and white doesn't seem to have enough compensation for the pawn. At least black is okay, and has an easier position to play than I had in the game.}) 11. Nc3 g6 12. Qe2 Qb6 (12... Bg7 {is probably better, but I wanted white to block some of his pressure down the e-file.}) 13. Be3 Bg7 14. h3 ({This came as a pleasant surprise. Better is} 14. Ne5) 14... Nh5 15. Qf2 Rf8 ({With white not having committed his king yet, I couldn't persuade myself to play} 15... O-O {but this is actually strong for me,} 16. g3 Nb4 17. Bb1 Qa6 {and Komodo says that white has no compensation for the pawn.}) 16. g3 O-O-O ({I was also looking at the immediate} 16... Nb4 17. Bb1 Bb5 18. Rg1 Bd3) 17. O-O Nb4 $2 {Too late - now this is not good and white is better!} ({The best here is} 17... g5 {but I couldn't make this work after} 18. Nxg5 Bxd4 19. Bxd4 Nxd4 20. Bxh7 (20. Kh2 h6 21. Nh7 Rh8 22. g4 Nf6 23. Nxf6 exf6) {What I missed was} 20... Nxg3 21. Rfc1 Kb8 22. Kg2 Nh5 {and black is winning!}) 18. Bb1 Qa6 ({Following my faulty plan. Better is} 18... Kb8 { with a finely balanced game.}) 19. Rd1 Kb8 20. a3 Rc8 (20... Nc6 21. Bd3 Qb6 22. Na4 Qc7 23. Rac1) 21. Kg2 ({I had simply miscounted the pieces after} 21. axb4 Qxa1 22. Ba2 Qxd1+ 23. Nxd1 {when white should win, but there is still plenty of play left before he does that. After the game Robert said that he wanted more than this material advantage.}) ({In that case, he could have tried} 21. Ng5 h6 22. Bxg6 Nc6 23. Nge4 dxe4 24. Bxh5 $16 {with material equality, but a big positional advantage.}) 21... Nc6 22. Bd3 Qb6 ({Komodo has a preference for} 22... Qa5 23. b4 Qd8) 23. Na4 Qc7 24. Nc5 Ka8 25. Qd2 b6 26. Nxd7 ({Much better than} 26. Na6 Qb7 27. Nb4 Nb8 28. a4 a5 29. Nc2) 26... Qxd7 27. Bb5 Qd6 28. b4 {This seems to be unnecessary, though very natural - and still good for white.} ({Komodo gives a line similar to the game,} 28. Rac1 Nf6 29. Ne5 Ne4 30. Qd3 Nb8 31. Nf7 $3 Rxc1 32. Nxd6 Rxd1 33. Qxd1 Nxd6 34. Bd3) 28... Nf6 29. Rac1 Ne4 30. Qd3 h6 {At this point I had about 11 minutes (plus 10 second increments) against about 30 minutes. So I decided that I had to try to force something, and couldn't see a direct refutation of this.} ({Objectively better is} 30... Nb8 31. Ne5 Rc7 {when white has 1.5 points of compensation - but I still have the extra pawn!}) 31. Ne5 Bxe5 32. dxe5 Nxe5 ({I thought this typical sacrifice gave me good compensation, but it's pretty well forced anyway in view of} 32... Qd7 33. Qxe4 {Whatever the objective merits of this line, it had the desired effect on the clock as white started to use lots of time around here.}) 33. fxe5 Qxe5 34. Rxc8+ ({Komodo also gives the forcing line} 34. Bf4 Qb2+ 35. Qe2 Qxe2+ 36. Bxe2 Rxc1 37. Rxc1 g5 38. Be3 {I have three pawns for a piece, but white's bishop pair should give good winning chances.}) 34... Rxc8 35. Bf4 {Aiming another piece at the black king, but this is not the most accurate, though it should still be good enough.} ({Better is} 35. Bd4 $1 {keeping my queen out of the white camp.}) 35... Qb2+ {After this I thought that I was in good shape and white sank into deep thought and went below my 4 minutes on the clock.} 36. Bd2 ({In fact white has just one good move,} 36. Qe2 {I thought that this lost to} Rc2 {and possibly Robert did too, but he has} 37. Bc6+ {winning on the spot.}) ({White should be winning after} 36. Qe2 Qxe2+ 37. Bxe2 Rc2 38. Kf3 Ra2 39. Bc1) 36... Rc3 ({ I thought that I was now winning after either the game move or} 36... Rc2 $19 {winning a piece, but the game might remain complex with my weak king.}) 37. Qf1 Nxd2 38. Qf8+ Kb7 39. Qxe7+ Rc7 40. Ba6+ ({Here white has the amazing saving resource} 40. Bc6+ Kxc6 41. Qxe6+ Kb7 42. Qxd5+ Ka6 43. Rxd2 $1) ({Instead, after} 40. Bc6+ Ka6 41. Qxc7 Ne4+ 42. Kh1 {I cannot win the rook, as I could in the game, because white threatens mate on the move. So I have to play} Nf2+ 43. Kg1 ({White cannot escape with} 43. Kg2 Ng4+ 44. Kf3 Qf2+ 45. Kxg4 Qf5+ 46. Kh4 Qh5#) 43... Nxh3+ 44. Kh1 Nf2+ { I have to repeat here, and white does too, as he cannot run away,} 45. Kg2 Nxd1+ 46. Kh3 ({We still have the mutually forced perpetual after} 46. Kg1 Qf2+ 47. Kh1 Qf1+ 48. Kh2 Qf2+ 49. Kh1) 46... Nf2+ 47. Kg2 (47. Kh4 Qf6#) 47... Ne4+ 48. Kg1 (48. Kh3 Ng5+ 49. Kg4 Qe2+ 50. Kh4 Qh5#) 48... Qf2+ 49. Kh1 Nxg3+ {and white only escapes mate by giving up his queen.}) 40... Kxa6 41. Qxc7 Ne4+ 42. Kf3 ({Black has a massive material advantage after} 42. Kh1 Nf2+ 43. Kg1 Nxh3+ 44. Kh1 Nf2+ 45. Kg1 Nxd1 {and white does not have a perpetual check here.}) 42... Qf2+ 43. Kg4 Qf5+ 44. Kh4 Qh5# 0-1 [Event "West Bridgford 3 v Gambit 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Roper, Keith"] [Black "Fraser, Chris A"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E11"] [WhiteElo "126"] [BlackElo "121"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 Bb4+ 4. Bd2 Qe7 5. Nc3 b6 6. e3 Bb7 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O a5 9. Ne5 d6 10. Bf3 Bxf3 11. Qxf3 Na6 12. Nc6 Qd7 13. a3 Bxc3 14. Bxc3 d5 15. Ne5 Qd6 16. Rac1 Ne4 17. cxd5 Nxc3 18. Rxc3 Qxd5 19. Qxd5 exd5 20. Nc6 Rfe8 21. Rfc1 g6 22. Kf1 f5 23. b4 axb4 24. axb4 b5 25. Ra1 Re6 26. Ra5 f4 27. Ke2 fxe3 28. fxe3 Rf6 29. Ne7+ Kf7 30. Nxd5 Rd6 31. Rxb5 Rc8 32. e4 Ke6 33. Rf3 c6 34. Rf6+ Kd7 35. Rb7+ Ke8 36. Re7+ Kd8 37. Rf8# 1-0 [Event "Ashfield v West Nottingham"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.04.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Scott, Simon"] [Black "Burke, Steven J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "142"] [BlackElo "175"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "72"] 1. e4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 ({Komodo suggests a sacrifice that might be worth a punt in a RP or Blitz game,} 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. O-O g6 6. c4) 3... e5 {My choice here.} (3... c5 {is a Sicilian}) (3... g6 {is a Pirc}) 4. Bc4 Be7 5. O-O (5. d4 Nbd7 {would transpose to a main line Black Lion.}) 5... O-O ({ As white hasn't played d4. perhaps it would be a good idea to prevent this completely with} 5... c5 {but I preferred to stay in more familiar territory.}) 6. h3 {Preventing a pin by Bg4.} (6. d4 Nbd7 {would again be "back to normal".}) 6... c6 {Threatening b5.} (6... c5 {is still a perfectly playable alternative.}) 7. Bb3 Nbd7 8. d3 Nc5 9. Be3 Qc7 ({ I had intended to take immediately} 9... Nxb3 {but after} 10. axb3 {white gets pressure down the a-file as compensation for the bishop pair.}) 10. Re1 a5 { I decided to force white to give up one of his bishops.} ({Again I could play} 10... Nxb3 11. axb3 a6 12. Na4 c5 13. c4 b5 14. Nc3) 11. a4 {This need not be disastrous, but does allow me to create a permanent weakness in the white camp.} (11. a3 {might be simpler to play if giving up the white-squared bishop, e.g.} Nxb3 12. cxb3 c5 {as white will still have an option to break up the queenside with b4 at some point.}) (11. Bxc5 dxc5 12. a4 {is Komodo's choice.}) 11... Nxb3 12. cxb3 c5 {This is a big step positionally, but as Bobby Fischer famously said, you have to give something to get something.} ( {A completely different game would result from} 12... Rd8 {intending} 13. Z0 d5 {which is also fine for black, but in the tense circumstances I chose to go for the long term bind. The white pawns on d3 and particularly b3 will remain vulnerable to attack, and if I can't win one as things are, I think that b5, with correct preparation, would open up the b-file for my rooks to increase the pressure.}) 13. Rc1 ({The position is still balanced and white has several decent ideas, including the intersting} 13. Nh4 {trying to take advantage of the white squares.}) 13... Qd8 14. Nh2 ({The first little error. White should probably play for} 14. Nd2 Z0 15. Nc4 {covering his pawn weaknesses.}) 14... Ne8 {Getting on with my "master plan".} ({Komodo goes for the tactical solution with} 14... Be6 {I didn't want to allow} 15. f4 {but Komodo shows} exf4 16. Bxf4 d5 17. e5 Nd7 {which does look good for black.}) 15. Nd5 ({I thought that white could try a kingside pawn storm, starting with} 15. f4) 15... Be6 16. Nxe7+ ({The retreat} 16. Nc3 $17 {just gives me two free tempi, and a big advantage.}) 16... Qxe7 17. f4 b6 {This allows white to gain some time for a kingside attack, and temporarily misplace my bishop, but I didn't think it would matter in the long run.} ({Komodo prefers} 17... f6 {but after} 18. fxe5 {I have to recapture with } fxe5 {which didn't fit with my plans.}) 18. f5 Bd7 19. Ng4 {White heads for an attack with pieces rather than pawns.} ({Komodo doesn't like it, but I would have seriously considered} 19. g4 {when we would have a sort of King's Indian situation - white playing for a mate before I win his queenside.} ) 19... f6 20. Qf3 Ra7 ({I need to get the knight into play and can't do this immediately, because if} 20... Nc7 21. d4 {will make my queenside play much more difficult.}) 21. Qg3 Kh8 {Avoiding knight checks, and freeing up g8 for a piece.} 22. Bd2 Nc7 ({Komodo prefers} 22... Qf7 {with the idea} 23. Rc3 d5 {which might be a quicker way to win a pawn, but my plan was to put the bishop on that diagonal. We were beginning to run down the clocks, and I had managed build up about 10 minutes extra, so I wanted to play quickly and keep the pressure on white to find moves.}) 23. Re3 ({White plays consistently for activity. The best defence might be} 23. Ne3 Z0 24. Nc4 { but trying to defend that position with only the 10 secomd increment and a few minutes on the clock would not be easy.}) 23... Be8 24. Qe1 Bf7 25. Qd1 Bg8 26. Rg3 Ne8 {Safety first, and simply asking white to find a move, but there was no need for this.} ({I could start breaking through immediately with} 26... d5) 27. Ne3 Qf7 {One slightly dubious move is followed by another, though white's position is permanently weak, so no real harm is done.} ({I should have rectified my inaccurate previous move with} 27... Nc7) 28. Nd5 ({ Perhaps} 28. Nc4 {trying to block, but now after} Rb7 29. Z0 d5 {is coming.}) 28... Rb7 29. Qg4 Nc7 30. Nc3 {With any potential serious attack on my king dealt with, it's time to start realising my queenside pluses.} Rd8 31. Rf1 d5 32. exd5 ({With less than a minute on the clock, it is virtually impossible to find the best defences, and even Komodo's best effort} 32. Be1 { is -1.4}) 32... Nxd5 33. Nxd5 (33. Ne4 {would keep more pieces on the board and so extend the game, but white's main problem is that there is no real counterplay.}) 33... Qxd5 34. Qh4 Qd4+ 35. Qxd4 Rxd4 36. Bc3 Rd8 {Material is still level, but won't be for long. The white pawn weaknesses will soon come home to roost, so white gives up the fight.} 0-1 [Event "Notts. League 18/19, div.1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Cumbers, Paul"] [Black "Molyneux, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B26"] [WhiteElo "199"] [BlackElo "200"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "55"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [EventType "team"] [WhiteTeam "Grantham 2"] [BlackTeam "Ashfield 1"] {[%evp 0,55,16,28,46,45,95,22,32,32,18,19,24,14,24,12,12,10,12,-2,40,37,35,-10, 1,13,13,-24,59,14,39,23,47,47,33,33,157,-16,105,-11,21,-31,-19,-329,140,153, 149,161,161,161,1225,1577,29991,29992,29993,29994,29995,29996]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5. d3 d6 6. Be3 e5 7. Qd2 Nd4 8. f4 Ne7 9. Nce2 Nxe2 10. Nxe2 exf4 11. gxf4 Bxb2 12. Rb1 Bg7 13. O-O O-O 14. f5 gxf5 15. Bh6 fxe4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 17. Ng3 f5 18. Nh5+ Kg8 19. Qh6 Rf7 20. Bxe4 d5 21. Kh1 dxe4 22. Rg1+ Ng6 23. Rxg6+ hxg6 24. Rg1 Rh7 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Nf6 Rxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Qc7+ 28. Kh1 1-0 [Event "Lincs v Notts U140"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.01.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Nelder, Allan"] [Black "Neil, Graham"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "122"] [BlackElo "128"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "47"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 g6 2. d4 e6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 Ne7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bc4 c6 ({I think that Neil could have played} 6... d5 {followed by?} 7. Z0 Nbc6 {This would be better than 6...c6 when it is difficult to develop his Q-side.}) 7. a4 d5 8. Bb3 Nd7 9. Be3 Qc7 10. Qd2 b6 {Having had much the better of the opening, it is now time for White to attack. I do not need to castle long just yet.} 11. g4 Bb7 12. f5 {Sacrificing a pawn for a crushing attack.} exf5 13. Bf4 {Utilising Black's dark square weaknesses.} Qd8 14. gxf5 Kh8 {Moving the king off the g-file. Other moves do not help much.} 15. O-O-O {Time to unite the rooks. There is no rush to proceed with the attack.} dxe4 {A mistake, allowing my white squared bishop into the game - but what else? (My? chess engine did actually choose this as the optimum move - Ed)} 16. Ng5 Nd5 17. Bd6 Bh6 18. Ncxe4 {The attack is overwhelming now.} Kg7 19. Bxf8+ Qxf8 (19... Nxf8 { might have been better.}) 20. fxg6 hxg6 21. Rhf1 {Which rook tomove to f1? Is the King's rook needed to support h4-h5? Probably not. Plus the text move takes it off the a8-h1 diagonal where Black's dark squared bishop? lurks. The Queen's rook may be required to defend d4 if the queen comes into? play. However, as it happened I did not need the queen!} Qd8 ({This is a? terrible blunder. If the queen stays put on f8 I cannot take on f7 yet as I lose a R because the g5N is pinned. If for? example} 21... Bxg5 22. Nxg5 N7f6 {and White is easily winning.}) 22. Rxf7+ Kg8 23. Rxd7 Qc8 24. Nf6+ { Any king move is mate next move. This was a pretty finish which I was quite pleased with. It is one of the best games I have played for a long time. It is not often that you see? a mating net with rook and two knights.} 1-0 [Event "Gambit 2 v Mansfield"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.26"] [Round "85"] [White "Swain, John"] [Black "Ackley, Peter JE"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A04"] [WhiteElo "161"] [BlackElo "192"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2018.04.22"] 1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 e5 3. d3 f5 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. c3 c6 7. b4 O-O 8. Nbd2 Qe8 9. Nc4 Na6 10. a4 Nc7 11. Rb1 Bd7 12. Nfd2 Qh5 13. e3 Qf7 14. Na5 Rab8 15. c4 d5 16. b5 e4 17. d4 Ne6 18. Qb3 Bd6 19. Ba3 Qe7 {I rejected the draw offered at this point as the team was already 2.5 - 0.5 down.} 20. Bxd6 Qxd6 21. c5 Qc7 22. Qc3 ({The start of my troubles. I should have played} 22. b6 { with a balanced position resulting from} axb6 23. Qxb6 Qxb6 24. Rxb6 Ra8 25. Nxb7 Rxa4) 22... cxb5 23. axb5 b6 24. Nc6 Bxc6 25. bxc6 Qxc6 26. Ra1 bxc5 27. Rxa7 Qb6 28. Rfa1 cxd4 29. exd4 Nxd4 30. Bf1 Rfc8 31. Qa3 Qb4 32. Qxb4 ({ I would have liked to have kept the Queens on, playing for vague threats with} 32. Qe3 {but this loses immediately to} Qxd2) 32... Rxb4 33. Bh3 Rb2 34. Nf1 Nf3+ 35. Kg2 Rcc2 36. Ra8+ Kf7 ({Black was getting short of time, down to just two or three minutes plus the ten seconds increment. He was threatening mate starting with Rxf2+ followed by Rxh2 and could have even played} 36... Ne8 37. Rxe8+ Kf7 {White has a Rook en prise as well as the threat of mate.}) 37. R1a7+ Kg6 38. Bxf5+ {The match was now lost so I was free to throw in a hopeful draw offer, which Black naturally rejected. The best reply now was 38. …Kh6 rather than taking the Bishop.} Kxf5 39. Ne3+ Kg6 40. Nxc2 Rxc2 41. Re7 {Trying to keep the e pawn restrained.} Nd4 ({This is a sophisticated manoeuver, aiming to play Nf5 to protect g7 against my anticipated doubling on the seventh rank and then push e3. However, the Caveman} 41... Ng4 42. Ra6+ Kh5 {is brutal and effective.}) 42. Raa7 Nf5 43. Re6 h5 44. Kf1 {Unpinning the f pawn. What else?} d4 45. Raa6 Kg5 46. h4+ Kg4 47. Kg2 {Setting a monstrous trap.} e3 48. Re4+ ({After} 48. Re4+ Nxe4 {it's mate in two} 49. Rg6+ Ng5 50. Rxg5#) 1-0