[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.??.??"] {[%evp 0,79,27,27,34,-7,7,-14,-2,-39,31,-1,-6,-6,19,14,61,38,20,-31,37,3,30, -38,-31,-110,-76,-130,-162,-216,-217,-220,-220,-222,-100,-109,-116,-114,-60, -72,-61,-51,-76,-126,-17,0,0,0,0,0,0,-65,-96,-84,130,340,352,886,1511,735,735, 782,782,419,479,2,-6,461,461,503,516,516,516,511,434,235,286,255,435,425,425, 581]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. h4 c5 4. d5 h6 5. Bf4 Qb6 6. Nd2 Nxd2 7. Bxd2 e5 $11 (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 $44) 12. Nf3) 8. Bc3 d6 9. f4 e4 10. Qd2 Bf5 11. Qe3 (11. e3 Nd7 12. Ne2 {intending to follow up with} Z0 13. Ng3 Z0 14. O-O-O) 11... Na6 12. g4 $5 {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 "Gambit 2 v Ashfield 2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.09.24"] [Round "?"] [White "Hayward, Brian"] [Black "Taylor, Robert P"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E60"] [WhiteElo "160"] [BlackElo "149"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. b4 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. e3 O-O 5. c4 d6 6. d4 Nbd7 7. Be2 c6 8. O-O a5 9. a3 axb4 10. axb4 Rxa1 11. Bxa1 Qc7 12. Nbd2 e5 ({White has gradually built up a small advantage, and this helps him further.} 12... b6 13. Qc2 Bb7 14. Bc3 Ra8 {is almost equal.}) 13. dxe5 dxe5 14. Qc2 c5 15. b5 b6 16. Ne1 $11 (16. Bd3) 16... Rd8 17. Bf3 Nf8 18. Nd3 {A tactical slip.} (18. Bc3 Be6 19. Nd3) 18... Ng4 ({Black did not see that} 18... Qd6 { wins a piece due to the two knights on the d-file.}) 19. Ne4 (19. Bd5 $14) 19... f5 20. Ng3 ({If} 20. Bxg4 fxe4 21. Nxe5 Bxe5 22. Bxc8 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 Qxc8 24. Qxe4) 20... e4 21. Bxe4 fxe4 22. Nf4 Bxa1 23. Rxa1 Bb7 24. h3 Nf6 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Qxd1 Qd7 27. Qa1 Qd6 (27... Qd8 28. Qa7 Ba8) 28. Qa7 Bc8 29. Qa8 Bf5 (29... Be6 30. Nxe4 Nxe4 31. Qxe4 Bf7 $17) 30. Nge2 (30. Nxf5 gxf5 31. Qc6) 30... g5 31. Nd5 Nxd5 32. cxd5 Bd7 33. Ng3 Bxb5 34. Nxe4 Qe5 35. Ng3 c4 36. e4 c3 37. Qc8 Bd7 38. Qc4 b5 39. Qb3 b4 40. Nh5 g4 41. hxg4 Bxg4 42. Ng3 Qd4 43. e5 Qd1+ 44. Qxd1 Bxd1 45. e6 Nxe6 46. dxe6 c2 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.??.??"] {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 "Ashfield 3 v Ashfield 2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.10.17"] [Round "?"] [White "Woodhouse, David"] [Black "Taylor, Robert P"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C65"] [WhiteElo "137"] [BlackElo "149"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "51"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. d3 Bg4 7. Nbd2 O-O 8. h3 Bh5 9. g4 ({The only game in my database from this position went} 9. Nc4 Re8 10. Be3 Bd6 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. g4 Bg6 14. Bg3 Nd7 15. h4 f6 16. Ne3 Bf8 17. Kg2 Nc5 18. hxg5 hxg5 19. Nf5 Ne6 20. Rh1 Qd7 21. Rh3 Bxf5 22. exf5 Nf4+ 23. Bxf4 exf4 24. Nd2 Rad8 25. Qf3 Bg7 26. Ne4 Kf7 27. Rh7 Rh8 28. Qh3 Rxh7 29. Qxh7 Rh8 30. Qg6+ Kf8 31. Nxf6 Qf7 32. Nh7+ Rxh7 33. Qxh7 Qd5+ 34. f3 Qe5 35. Kf1 Qe3 36. Qh3 Bxb2 37. Re1 Qd2 38. Qh6+ Bg7 39. Qg6 Be5 40. f6 { 1-0 (40) Carlsen,M (2837)-Karjakin,S (2779) Astana 2012}) 9... Nxg4 10. hxg4 Bxg4 {This sort of position is more usually reached by white in some Italian/ Spanish lines. It is theoretically level, but the defender will have to be very careful.} 11. Qe1 Qf6 {The attacker has to be accurate too, but is more likely to get away with a suboptimal move.} ({I suspect the safest option was to take the exchange here with} 11... Bh3 12. Kh2 Bxf1 13. Nxf1 f5) ({ Interesting is} 11... f5 12. Kh1 {with a balanced position where black has many ways to proceed.}) 12. Kg2 Bh5 13. Rg1 ({White can take over the initiative after} 13. Rh1 Bg4 14. Nh4 Rfe8 15. f3 Bd7 16. Nc4) 13... Qf4 14. Qe2 f5 {Black needs to get wood into the fire.} 15. Nf1 ({ White's turn to slip up, and as mentioned, this tends to be more immediately decisive. He needed to play} 15. Kf1 {bringing the king to a safer place and opening up the rook's action on the g-file.}) 15... fxe4 {Ignoring the attack on the queen, seeing that he can immediately win back the white queen.} 16. Bxf4 exf3+ 17. Qxf3 Bxf3+ 18. Kxf3 Rxf4+ 19. Kg2 Rxf2+ {Black wins a third pawn, and mate is not far away.} 20. Kg3 Raf8 21. Rh1 R8f6 22. Nh2 e4 23. Ng4 Bd6+ 24. Kh3 R6f3+ 25. Kh4 Be7+ 26. Kh5 0-1 [Event "West Nottingham 3 v Gambit 4"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.11.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Willow, Hambel"] [Black "Thompson, Andrew"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "118"] [BlackElo "120"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "147"] [EventDate "2014.11.11"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bg5 d6 6. e3 Nfd7 {An unusual move that has been tried by at least one 2300+ player (see below) but has not met with much success.} 7. Qc2 (7. Be2 c6 8. Qc2 a6 9. O-O b5 10. a3 bxc4 11. Bxc4 c5 12. d5 (12. Qe4 {wins material.}) 12... Nb6 13. Ba2 a5 14. e4 Ba6 {1-0 (31) Khmelniker,I (2448)-Alexikov,A (2357) Pardubice 2008}) 7... f5 8. h3 Nf6 {Black reached some form of the Leningrad Dutch, but with serious loss of time.} 9. Bd3 Nbd7 (9... c6 10. O-O Na6) 10. O-O e5 11. dxe5 ({There is an interesting pawn sacrifice possible here} 11. e4 f4 12. c5 (12. dxe5 dxe5 {transposes to the game.}) 12... exd4 13. Nxd4 Nxc5 14. Bc4+ Kh8 15. b4 {and black will have to defend very carefully!}) 11... dxe5 12. e4 f4 13. Rad1 Qe8 ({Black removes his queen from the dangerous file, but first he needed to prevent another white threat with} 13... c6) 14. Bxf6 ({This is perfectly good, but even better was} 14. Nb5 $1 Qd8 15. c5 a6 16. c6 axb5 (16... bxc6 17. Qxc6 Rb8 18. Bc4+ Kh8 19. Nxc7 $18) 17. cxd7 Bxd7 18. Bxb5 Qe8 19. Rxd7 Nxd7 20. Qxc7) 14... Nxf6 15. Nd5 Rf7 16. Ng5 Rd7 17. Be2 ({Rather than this retreat, much stronger is} 17. c5 c6 18. Nxf4 ({If you don't fancy the (temporary) sacrifice here, white can get a very good position with the simpler} 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6 19. Bc4+ Kg7 20. Ne6+ Kh6 (20... Kh8 21. Rxd7 Qxd7 22. Rd1 Qf7 23. Ng5 Qe8 24. Nf7+ Kg7 25. Nd6) 21. Rd6) 18... exf4 19. Bc4+ Kf8 (19... Kh8 20. Rxd7 Bxd7 21. Nf7+ Kg8 22. Nd6+) 20. Ne6+ Ke7 21. Nxg7) 17... h6 ({ Black needs to take control of d5 with} 17... c6 {Compared to the game line, after} 18. Nxf6+ (18. Nc3 h6) 18... Bxf6 19. Nf3 {black gets in} c5) 18. Nf3 c6 19. Nxf6+ Bxf6 20. Rxd7 ({Now white has} 20. c5) 20... Bxd7 21. Rd1 {This allows black to shut down white's bishop.} (21. c5 { is still a good option here.}) (21. Qb3 Rb8 22. c5+ {is even better.}) 21... c5 $1 22. Qd2 Rd8 ({Well intentioned, but tactically flawed.} 22... Bc6 {preparing the rook move is better. Maybe black saw this, but was worried about } 23. Qd6 {but after} Qf8 {white has problems due to the weak e-pawn, e.g.} 24. Qd3 (24. Qxf8+ Kxf8 25. Bd3 Rd8) 24... Rd8 25. Qc2 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 Qd6 $15) 23. Qd6 ({A square too far! And it makes a massive difference here, } 23. Qd5+ Be6 24. Qxc5) 23... Be6 ({Black misses the vital counterattack here,} 23... Ba4 24. Qxf6 Bxd1 25. Bxd1 Rxd1+ 26. Kh2 Qf7 27. Qxe5 b6) 24. Qxc5 Rxd1+ 25. Bxd1 b6 26. Qb4 ({Much better to go forward with} 26. Qc7 Qd7 27. Qb8+ Kh7 28. Be2) 26... Qc6 27. Nd2 h5 28. Ba4 Qc7 29. Qb5 Bf7 30. Qd7 Qxd7 31. Bxd7 g5 32. Kf1 Kf8 33. Ke2 Ke7 34. Bc6 Be6 35. Bd5 g4 ({Black's compensation for the pawn is having slightly more space, but mainly the bishop pair. He should not have allowed the coming exchange - even if he had been left with a white squared bishop! So} 35... Bd7 36. b4 g4 {and the fight goes on.}) 36. Bxe6 Kxe6 37. hxg4 hxg4 38. b4 $16 ({White could make black pay for giving up his bishop immediately with} 38. Nf1 {intending} Z0 39. Nh2 {winning another pawn.}) 38... Be7 39. a3 a5 40. bxa5 {White remains a pawn up, but this gives black more drawing chances.} ({It is an important point that after} 40. c5 axb4 (40... bxc5 41. bxa5 Bd8 42. a6 Bb6 43. Nc4 Ba7 44. Kd3) 41. axb4 bxc5 {white creates an outside passed pawn with} 42. b5 {and after say,} Kd7 43. Nc4 Bf6 44. f3 { white has a won knight versus bad bishop ending.}) 40... bxa5 41. a4 Bc5 42. Nb3 Bb4 43. f3 gxf3+ ({White should probably still win after} 43... g3 $1 {but at least the white king could never enter black's camp through the kingside.}) 44. Kxf3 Kf6 45. Kg4 Ke6 46. Kg5 Be7+ 47. Kg6 Bb4 48. c5 Bc3 49. Kg5 Kd7 50. Kg4 ({Having forced her way into black's position, white starts to retreat. Better was} 50. Kf6 Kc6 51. Ke6 Kc7 52. Kd5 {intending simply} Z0 53. Nc1 Z0 54. Nd3 Z0 55. Nxe5 {Still, black is so badly placed that white's move doesn't mess things up - yet.}) 50... Kc6 51. g3 (51. Kf5 { is still crushing, with play as above, but the game move allows black the chance to save the game.}) 51... fxg3 52. Kxg3 Bb4 53. Kg4 Bxc5 (53... Bc3 54. Kf5 Kd7 55. Kf6 Kc6 56. Ke6 Bd4 57. Nxa5+ Kxc5) 54. Nxa5+ Kd7 {Blowing the game just when it was in sight!} ({Black has to play} 54... Kc7 55. Kf5 Bd4 56. Nc4 Bc3 57. Nxe5 Kb6 58. Nc4+ Kc5 {and both pawns will be stopped.}) 55. Kf5 Bb4 ({After} 55... Bd4 56. Nc4 Bc3 57. Nxe5+ {the vital difference to the previous note is that black's king can be kept at bay, e.g.} Kd6 58. Nd3 {and white will have time to push through his pawns.}) 56. Nc4 Kc6 57. Nxe5+ Kb6 58. Nc4+ Kc5 59. Nb2 {Even seemingly simple endings like this can have hidden traps, and white falls into one here.} (59. Ne3 {is a tablebase win - SB }) 59... Bc3 {Black chose the "obvious" move, which loses!} ({Somewhat amazingly} 59... Ba3 {is a stone dead draw - with perfect defence, of course! For example,} 60. Nd3+ Kb6 61. Ke6 Ka5 62. e5 Kxa4 63. Kd5 Kb5 { preventing white from blocking with} 64. Nc5 {and the pawn can always be stopped.}) 60. Nd3+ Kb6 61. e5 Bxe5 62. Kxe5 Kc6 63. Kd4 Kb6 64. Kc4 Ka5 65. Nb2 Ka6 66. Kb4 Kb6 67. Nc4+ Ka6 68. a5 Ka7 69. Kb5 Kb7 70. a6+ Ka7 71. Nd6 Ka8 72. Kb6 Kb8 73. Nb5 ({White avoids one final trap} 73. a7+ Ka8 {Draw!}) 73... Ka8 74. Nc7+ 1-0 [Event "Notts County Championships"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.11.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Collins, John G"] [Black "London, Nick J"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "150"] [BlackElo "146"] [Annotator "Collins, John G"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 d6 3. f4 Nc6 4. Bc4 g6 5. Nf3 Bg7 6. O-O e6 7. d3 Nge7 8. Qe1 Nd4 9. Nxd4 Bxd4+ ({An interesting mistake. It looks as though black gains a tempo here; but in fact, if he wants to preserve this bishop, he has to retreat it and gains nothing, so} 9... cxd4 {is correct. (JG)}) 10. Kh1 Bd7 $16 {A more serious mistake, as now his d-pawn is unprotected. White takes advantage. (JG)} ({The computers suggest that black should "bite the bullet" and play} 10... O-O {and if white goes for the attack with} 11. f5 exf5 12. Qh4 Kh8 {the game is in the balance.}) 11. Nb5 Bxb5 12. Bxb5+ Nc6 ({Black can still save his piece with} 12... Kf8 {but white is still well on top,} 13. e5 a6 14. Ba4 b5 15. Bb3 d5 16. c3 c4 17. dxc4 dxc4 18. Bd1 Bb6 19. Bf3) 13. e5 {Now the bishop is cut off and lost. Black can pick up some pawns for it, but this is not sufficient. (JG)} dxe5 14. c3 O-O 15. Bxc6 {Smashes black/^s pawn structure before capturing the bishop. (JG)} bxc6 16. cxd4 exd4 17. f5 {Opens up the black squares for the bishop. Black now has 3 pawns for the bishop but is quite lost. (JG)} exf5 18. Bh6 Re8 19. Qg3 Qf6 ({White was threatening} 19... Z0 20. Rxf5 {(JG)}) 20. Rae1 Re6 {White could just swap off Rooks here, but dithers a bit. (JG)} 21. Bg5 Qg7 22. h4 h6 23. Rxe6 fxe6 24. Bf4 Re8 25. Be5 Qf7 26. Rc1 g5 {Black cannot protect his pawns so tries Kamikaze tactics. (JG)} 27. hxg5 Qh5+ 28. Kg1 hxg5 29. Qf3 (29. Qh3 {is better. (JG)}) 29... g4 30. Qxc6 Qf7 31. Rxc5 f4 {Black just collapses, but he is lost anyhow. (JG)} 32. Bxf4 e5 33. Rxe5 Rxe5 34. Bxe5 Qe7 35. Qg6+ {Reaching the time control. (JG)} Kf8 36. Bd6 1-0 [Event "University 1 v Gambit 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2014.11.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Walker, Andrew N"] [Black "Hayward, Brian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [WhiteElo "173"] [BlackElo "160"] [Annotator "Walker, Andrew N"] [PlyCount "53"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] {Joint winner of the Best Game Prize, 2015.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 { This is black's third most popular move here. It has the reputation of being solid, but doesn't score well in the opening stats compared to Nf6 or Bb4.} 4. Nxe4 Be7 5. Nf3 Nd7 6. Bd3 Ngf6 7. O-O O-O 8. c3 c5 9. Qc2 Nxe4 10. Bxe4 Nf6 11. Bg5 {Maintaining a very slight edge into the late middlegame. (AW)} Nxe4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qxe4 Rd8 ({Better} 13... cxd4 14. Nxd4 Qc7 {and Black can disentangle. (AW)}) 14. Rad1 cxd4 15. Rxd4 Rxd4 16. Nxd4 a6 ({Black wanted to deprive the knight of b5, but it was more important to develop the queenside,} 16... Qc7 17. Nb5 Qd7 18. Qe2 Qe7 19. Rd1 Bd7 20. Nd6 Bc6 {and Black has freed himself. (AW)}) 17. Rd1 {Black's position is surprisingly difficult. His bishop is tied to the b-pawn, and the e-pawn is pinned against both the queen and a potential back-rank mate. (AW)} Qc7 {There were a couple of better choices. Though, in either case, with attacking chances for white. (AW)} (17... Qd6 18. Rd3) (17... g6 18. h4) 18. Nf5 Bd7 ({ Better is} 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 wins. (AW)}) ({But not} 18... g6 19. Qe5 {winning immediately. (AW)}) 19. Nxg7 Bc6 ( 19... Kxg7 20. Qd4+ Kg8 21. Qxd7 Qxd7 22. Rxd7 {with a won ending. Black opts for tactics instead. (AW)}) 20. Qg4 Kh8 21. Qg5 (21. Nh5 Rg8 22. Qh4 { also wins, but the text is clearer.}) 21... Bd5 ({Before playing 19. Nxg7, White had to see} 21... f6 22. Nxe6 Qe7 (22... Qf7 23. Nd8) 23. Qe3 Re8 24. Nd4 {with a technical win. (AW)}) ({If} 21... Rg8 22. Qf6 Rxg7 23. Rd8+ {wins. (AW) }) 22. Nh5 (22. Qf6 Qd8 23. Qd4 f6 24. Nxe6 Qe7 25. Qxd5 {also wins, but more slowly. (AW)}) 22... f5 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Rd3 Rf8 ({If} 24... Qf7 25. Rg3+ Kf8 26. Qh6+ Ke8 27. Rg7 {(AW)}) 25. Qh6 (25. Rg3+ Qxg3 {leaves White with work still to do. (AW)}) 25... Qf7 (25... Rf7 26. Rg3+ Kh8 27. Nf6 Qb8 28. Nxh7 {with mate in two. (AW)}) (25... f4 26. Nf6+ Rxf6 27. Qxf6 {wins easily. (AW)}) 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.??.??"] {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 $2 ({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 $17) 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+ $3 {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 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 $11 {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 "Nottingham RapidPlay, Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.01.18"] [Round "3"] [White "Kendall, Tim"] [Black "Burke, Steven J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "146"] [BlackElo "169"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [EventType "rapid"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. c4 {Typically this season, my opponent comes up with something obscure. This one, however, is theoretically dubious, as it seems black can hold on to the pawn, and white doesn't get enough compensation.} dxe4 $1 4. Nc3 Nf6 ({The computers think that} 4... f5 {is marginally better, but looks much trickier to play.}) 5. Bg5 Be7 6. Nge2 h6 7. Bf4 a6 ({ In a standard game I "might" have seen that a6 isn't needed because of} 7... Nc6 8. Nb5 O-O 9. Nxc7 e5 10. Bxe5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Qxc7 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Qc2 Bf5 {and despite material equality, black is winning. However, in Rapidplay there is no time to work out all the variations.}) 8. Ng3 Nc6 9. Be3 Bb4 ({This is the logical continuation of my plan to hold the pawn as long as possible. Komodo thinks it is better to play} 9... O-O 10. Be2 (10. Ngxe4 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 f5 12. Nc3 f4 13. Bc1 Nxd4) 10... b5 11. cxb5 (11. Ncxe4 Nxe4 12. Nxe4 f5 13. d5 Ne5 14. Nc5 f4 15. Bd4 Nxc4) 11... axb5 12. Bxb5 Nb4 13. O-O (13. Ngxe4 Nxe4 14. Nxe4 Qd5) 13... Bb7 {In the game, the battle for the pawn rages over the next ten moves. Both sides have alternatives, but no real improvements.}) 10. Be2 e5 11. d5 Bxc3+ 12. bxc3 Ne7 13. Qc2 Nf5 14. Bc5 ({I was hoping that white might go in for} 14. Nxe4 Nxe3 15. Nxf6+ Qxf6 16. fxe3 O-O) 14... Nd6 15. O-O b6 16. Ba3 g6 17. Rfe1 Bf5 18. Bf1 O-O ({More accurate is} 18... Kf8 19. Rad1 Kg7 20. Nxf5+ gxf5 21. c5 bxc5 22. Bxc5 Rg8) 19. Qd2 Kh7 20. Nxf5 ({This hopes to open up the black king, but does just the opposite. He should play} 20. c5 bxc5 21. Bxc5 Rg8 22. c4) 20... gxf5 21. Re3 (21. c5 bxc5 22. Bxc5 Rg8 23. c4 f4 24. Qc2 Rg6 25. Rad1) 21... Rg8 22. Rh3 Rg6 23. Re1 Qd7 24. Bc1 ({White should give up on ideas of attacking and play} 24. Rg3 Qa4 25. Rxg6 fxg6 26. Bb4 Rd8 {although black is a pawn up with the better position}) 24... f4 25. Kh1 Rag8 26. g3 (26. Z0 Qxh3 27. gxh3 Rg1#) 26... Qg4 ({Even better is} 26... e3 27. fxe3 Nde4 28. Qc2 fxg3 29. hxg3 Qg4) 27. Rh4 ({Forgetting my threat, but the best white has is to be two pawns down after} 27. Qe2 Qxe2 28. Bxe2 f3 29. Bd1 Nxc4) 27... Qxh4 28. f3 fxg3 29. Rxe4 Ndxe4 30. fxe4 g2+ 31. Bxg2 Rxg2 {After the disaster in Round 2, this cheered me up no end!} 0-1 [Event "Ashfield 3 v Gambit 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.01.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Cranmer, Stanley"] [Black "Harper, Michael J"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B00"] [WhiteElo "139"] [BlackElo "129"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "73"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. d4 b6 2. e4 ({White chooses to steer the game into Owen Defence territory, rather than play with} 2. c4 {leading to more Queen's Indian or Dutch type positions.}) 2... Bb7 3. f3 e6 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Ne2 c5 6. c3 cxd4 ({The engines prefer to maintain the tension with} 6... Be7 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3 O-O { and a slight edge for white.}) 7. cxd4 Nc6 8. a3 g6 {I've played the Hippopotamus myself on many occasions, but here the knights appear to be misplaced in the pawn structure. There is also the tactical issue after white's next move.} 9. Bg5 d6 ({Black needs to play} 9... Be7 {here, pointing up the problem with black's previous move.}) 10. Nbc3 {Sadly for white, although he has at least two crushing lines here, they are not obvious. So he plays a perfectly good developing move instead.} (10. Bb5 a6 (10... Be7 11. d5 exd5 12. exd5 Nxd5 13. Qxd5) 11. Bxc6+ Bxc6 12. Qc1 Rc8 13. e5 Bxf3 14. Nbc3 dxe5 15. dxe5) (10. d5 exd5 (10... Ne5 11. Bb5+ Ke7 12. f4 Neg4 ( 12... Ned7 13. e5 dxe5 14. d6+ Ke8 15. fxe5) 13. h3 Bh6 14. hxg4 Bxg5 15. fxg5) 11. Qa4 Ke7 12. Bb5) 10... Bg7 11. O-O h6 12. Bh4 g5 13. Bf2 a6 14. Rc1 O-O 15. Qd2 e5 ({This allows white to close the centre and obtain a good King's Indian position. Better was queenside play with} 15... Na5 16. Qc2 Rc8 17. b4 Nc4 18. Qa2 b5) 16. d5 Ne7 17. Ng3 Nd7 18. Nh5 Nc5 19. Bc2 Ng6 20. b4 Nd7 21. Ne2 Nf6 22. Neg3 a5 ({Black hasn't got time to create queenside play. Better is} 22... Nxh5 23. Nxh5 b5 {trying to keep things closed. Now white executes the attack relentlessly!}) 23. Nxg7 Kxg7 24. Nf5+ Kh7 25. h4 Nh5 26. hxg5 hxg5 27. Be3 f6 28. Kf2 Rh8 29. Rh1 Kg8 30. g4 { Unfortunately this natural looking move allows black a big chance to reduce white's play considerably.} (30. g3 Bc8 31. Rh2 Bxf5 32. exf5 Ng7 33. Rxh8+ Nxh8 34. g4) 30... Ng7 ({Black junps the wrong way!} 30... Nhf4 31. Rxh8+ Nxh8 32. b5 {and white is still much better, but the game would be harder to win.}) 31. Rxh8+ Kxh8 32. Rh1+ Kg8 33. Rh3 {Looking to bring the queen in behind the rook.} ({Even more aggressive was} 33. Rh6 Nh8 34. Kg3 { and now, for example,} Nxf5+ 35. gxf5 Nf7 36. Rg6+ Kf8 37. Qh2 Ke7 38. bxa5 bxa5 39. Rg7 Qh8 40. Rh7 Qg8 41. Ba4 Z0 42. Qh5 Z0 43. Qg6) 33... Nf4 34. Bxf4 Nxf5 35. gxf5 exf4 36. Kg1 Qf8 37. Qh2 ({After} 37. Qh2 {black cannot avoid losing his queen,} Qg7 38. Rh6) 1-0 [Event "Ashfield 3 v Gambit 2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.03.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Woodhouse, David"] [Black "Tassi, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "137"] [BlackElo "142"] [Annotator "Woodhouse, David"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] {John told me afterwards that he was psyched up to play someone else and was therefore rather surprised to have a complete stranger in front of him. This perhaps goes some way to explaining his rather over-cautious play. I get into boa constrictor mode and he has difficulty finding the best responses, especially under time pressure near the end. (DW)} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 d6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. d3 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. c3 O-O 8. Re1 Rb8 9. Nbd2 Bd7 10. h3 ({ This plan seems a bit slow, and the more direct} 10. e5 {seems a better bet. }) 10... b5 11. Nh2 Qc8 12. f4 e5 13. f5 {At this stage, Houdini had me slightly behind in its evaluation of the position, but I was very happy with it. Up to and including move 18 I was moving fairly fluently (65 mins down to 57 on moves 13-18), whereas John was struggling to find a plan: 58 mins down to 34 (DW)} Rd8 14. Ndf1 Be8 ({H suggested the more thematic Q-side expansion with} 14... b4 {(DW)}) 15. Ne3 Bf8 16. g4 Nd7 17. g5 f6 18. h4 Ne7 $14 {John is desperately battening down the hatches, but it all looks very passive and of course, H now is giving advantage to me. (DW)} 19. Neg4 ({ I spent some time on this, possibly also considering} 19. Nhg4 {- I can't remember- and H prefers the latter move. (DW)}) 19... Qa6 20. gxf6 gxf6 { Although both kings are bereft of pawn defences, the important difference is that my pieces are coming at him. (DW)} 21. Re3 ({Komodo prefers} 21. Bh6 Bxh6 22. Nxh6+ {but it's more commital, so you need to see a lot more, e.g.} Kg7 23. Qd2 Ng8 24. Re3 Nxh6 25. Rg3+ Bg6 26. h5) 21... d5 ({H didn't like this at all, preferring} 21... Kh8) ({or} 21... Bf7 {(DW)}) 22. Rg3 Kh8 23. Bh6 $6 ({Although not that bad,} 23. Nh6 {is much stronger. I was trying to figure out which was better and got it wrong. Here's a sample line:} Bxh6 24. Bxh6 Bf7 25. Qg4 {I had possibly analysed this and then thought that} Rg8 { would hold, but of course} 26. Bg7+ {wins!}) 23... Bh5 24. Bf3 Bxg4 ({ Better to make some progress elsewhere, e.g.} 24... c4 {and wait for white to make the play on kingside.}) 25. Nxg4 d4 ({Black should be trying to open up the centre, to make white's wing play more difficult to arrange. So} 25... c4 {is a better bet.}) 26. Kh2 Ng8 {John was now down to 10 mins for 10 moves in a tricky defensive position. I had 26. (DW)} 27. Qd2 ({This gives black a chance to escape. Better to reorganise the attack with} 27. Bc1 dxc3 28. Qg1 Qd6 29. bxc3 {Of course} Qxd3 {fails to} 30. Nxe5) 27... Qd6 $2 ({Black misses his chance to equalise with} 27... dxc3 28. bxc3 Bxh6 29. Nxh6 Nxh6 30. Qxh6 Rg8) 28. Rag1 dxc3 29. bxc3 c4 ({Black needed to play } 29... Bxh6 30. Nxh6 Qe7) 30. Bxf8 ({It's not at all obvious, but white has a crushing move here in} 30. Be3 {The black pieces are in each others way, and the threat is mate with} Z0 31. Nh6 Nxh6 32. Bxh6 Bxh6 33. Qxh6 Qf8 34. Rg7 Qg8 35. Re7 Qxg1+ 36. Kxg1 Rg8+ 37. Kh2 Nf8 38. Qxf6+ Rg7 39. Qxg7# ) 30... Rxf8 ({Again, a difficult choice with just less than 5 mins left. This is 2nd best to} 30... Qxf8 {(DW)}) (30... Nxf8 {is catastrophic. (DW)}) 31. Nh6 Nxh6 ({The decisive mistake. Remarkably,} 31... Qe7 {is a fairly successful bailout. e.g.} 32. Rg7 Qxg7 33. Rxg7 Kxg7 34. Nxg8 Rxg8 35. dxc4 Nb6 36. cxb5 { although I prefer white's chances here. Mind you, he'd have made the time control! (DW)} ({In fact} 36. Qd6 {is very good here.})) 32. Qxh6 Rg8 { One more inspired move needed. Remarkably, one of my stronger team mates didn't spot this.} 33. Rg7 1-0 [Event "West Bridgford 2 v Ashfield 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.03.18"] [Round "?"] [White "Hunter, Mike"] [Black "Woodhouse, David"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "E62"] [WhiteElo "128"] [BlackElo "137"] [Annotator "Woodhouse, David"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. Nc3 O-O 6. d4 c6 7. Be3 Nbd7 8. Qb3 $6 ({I'm not sure what the queen is doing here?} 8. O-O {seems more natural.}) 8... Qb6 ({This tends to justify white's queen excursion. So probably} 8... Nb6 {intending either d5 or the provocative Be6.}) 9. Qc2 ({White retracts the queen, but loses more time. Still} 9. O-O {must be best.}) 9... Ng4 10. O-O {Too late!} ({I ran the game through "Houdini" and it liked the plan of Ng4 and Nxe3. If white tries to avoid having his pawns doubled with} 10. Bd2 { he'll end up losing the pawn on d4. (DW)}) ({Despite dropping the d-pawn, white should bite the bullet and play actively after} 10. Bd2 Bxd4 11. Nxd4 Qxd4 12. Nd1 {aiming to gain time by pushing the black knight and queen around. }) 10... Nxe3 11. fxe3 e5 (11... Bh6 {was suggested here by H and on several other occasions afterwards. I must confess, I don't think I ever considered this, but of course, it's a good idea. (DW)}) 12. Na4 ({White is already in serious trouble, but this puts the knight offside. Maybe} 12. Ne4 exd4 13. exd4 Ne5 14. e3 Bf5) 12... Qc7 13. Rac1 ({Self-pinning the e-pawn, but it would be hard to play the immediate retreat} 13. Nc3 {even if it is the best try.}) 13... Nb6 (13... Bh6 {is particularly good here!}) 14. Nxb6 axb6 {I did this deliberately to generate some pressure down the a file. (DW)} 15. b3 Bf5 (15... Bh6 16. Qc3 exd4 17. Nxd4 Qe7 18. Nc2 Rxa2 $19) 16. Qd2 Be4 {I was beginning to get a bit behind on the clock: W 59mins left, B 46. (DW)} 17. a4 exd4 18. exd4 Rae8 19. d5 c5 20. Rfe1 Qe7 21. b4 { White tires of defending a bad position and lashes out. But as so often, this just makes matters worse.} Qf6 22. a5 Qb2 {I was pleased that H thought this was the best move! (DW)} 23. Qf4 Bxf3 (23... cxb4 {was probably best. (DW)} ) 24. Bxf3 Be5 25. Qh4 Qxb4 (25... cxb4 {would speed the new b-pawn on it's way!}) 26. axb6 Qxb6 27. Rb1 Qc7 {Well at least I've won a pawn, but I'm losing a bit more time: W 43, B20 (DW)} 28. Rb3 Ra8 29. Rbb1 ({That just seemed inconsistent to me; why not} 29. Reb1 {(DW)}) 29... Ra3 30. Kg2 Rfa8 31. Be4 Ra1 32. Rf1 Rxb1 {I'm happy to swap off, having the extra pawn but less time. (DW)} 33. Rxb1 Ra1 34. Rb3 ({When a pawn down in an ending, usually the advice is that the defender should swap off pawns and keep pieces on. But here white might have better chances of blockading the b-pawn with} 34. Rxa1 Bxa1 35. Bd3 {though it would need some help from black.}) 34... Bd4 35. Bb1 {This took me by surprise, if I remember. H thought it was the best move. (DW)} Qd7 {Time control reached: W 36, B 2mins. (DW)} 36. Qe4 Ra8 37. Rb5 Re8 38. Qc2 (38. Rxb7 {was a line I hadn't considered; it was initially looked at by H, but then dismissed. (DW)}) (38. Qf3 {looks best, but losing,} Re3 39. Qf1 h5) 38... Re3 {Quite good enough, just not the most forcing.} ({ Houdini gives} 38... Qg4 {as winning, e.g.} 39. e4 f5 40. h3 Qh5 41. Qd2 fxe4 {(DW)}) 39. Qa2 Qe7 ({Again} 39... Qg4 {is better. (DW)}) 40. Bd3 Kg7 { At this point I had 8 mins left, Mike had 45, so I knew I had to come up with something! I thought I'd tempt him into playing Qa8 (attacking the b7 pawn), as I thought I would have at least perpetual check chances, with a possible mate after some sort of king hunt. I hadn't got time at that point to work it all out. The ruse worked and although my next move wins, Rxe2 is even stronger! (DW)} 41. Qa8 (41. Rb1 {was the last vain hope. Now it will be mate soon!}) 41... Rxd3 42. exd3 Qe2+ {By now I could see the end was in sight! (DW)} 43. Kh3 Qf1+ 44. Kh4 Bf6+ 45. Kg4 {I even have a choice of mates! (DW)} Qf5# 0-1 [Event "West Bridgford 2 v Gambit 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.03.23"] [Round "?"] [White "Atiomo"] [Black "Edwards, H Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B70"] [WhiteElo "141"] [BlackElo "143"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] {This game was received too late to be included on the competition, but is worthy of inclusion here.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Be2 g6 {The so-called "Dragondorf" is an enterprising way to meet white's solid move.} 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 Ng4 9. Bxg4 Bxg4 10. f3 Bd7 ({ It looks natural to keep the bishop pair, but the bishop is ineffective here. So better is} 10... Be6 {leading to an unusual position after} 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Bd4 {is the last game in my database here,} (12. Bh6 {could lead to a quick draw with} Bf6 13. Bg5 Bg7 ({Black could avoid the draw with} 13... Bxg5 {but white retains a slight edge after} 14. Qxg5 Nc6 15. O-O-O)) 12... Bxd4 13. Qxd4 Rg8 14. Qc4 Qd7 15. Ne2 Nc6 16. Nf4 Nd8 17. O-O-O Rc8 18. Qb3 Qb5 19. Qxb5+ axb5 {1/2-1/2 (50) Popov,V (2545)-Pankov,G (2392) St Petersburg 2011} ) 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Nb3 ({I guess white was waiting for black to castle before starting a kingside attack, but if so, a better waiting move would be the useful} 12. Kb1 {rather than taking the knight away from the action.}) 12... Ne5 13. Bd4 O-O 14. f4 Nc4 15. Qd3 Bxd4 16. Qxd4 b5 17. h4 Bg4 18. Rd3 Qb6 ({Both sides had been playing well, but this tactical slip hands white the initiative. One better option was to solidify the kingside with} 18... h5) 19. Nd5 Qb7 ({Black needed to find the defensive idea} 19... Qd8 20. h5 e5 {but simply retracting your previous move is always difficult idea to spot.}) 20. Rg3 ({This is a good move, but even better was} 20. h5 gxh5 ({Of course, not} 20... Bxh5 21. Rxh5 gxh5 22. Rg3#) (20... e5 {isn't possible here due to} 21. Nf6+ Kg7 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Qf2 {with a winning attack}) 21. Rg3 f5 22. Rxh5 e5 23. fxe5 dxe5 24. Qc3) 20... h5 21. f5 Ne5 ({This allows a deep tactical shot.} 21... Kh7 22. Nd2 Ne5 {seems like the best way to set up the defences.}) 22. f6 ({An excellent move, with a big advantage, but white has an almost immediate win here with} 22. Rc3 Nc4 (22... Rfc8 23. Na5 Qd7 24. f6 Rxc3 25. Qxc3 e6 26. Nb6) 23. Na5 Qa7 (23... Nxa5 24. Rc7) 24. Qxa7 Rxa7 25. Nc6 Rd7 26. Ncxe7+ {White has an extra pawn and a big positional advantage too}) 22... Nc6 ({There is still some hope after} 22... exf6 23. Nxf6+ Kg7 24. Rf1 b4) 23. Qe3 Kh7 24. Qg5 {I guess there might have been approaching time pressure here, but this gives black a chance to play on with a little hope.} ({The most direct way to win was } 24. Rxg4 hxg4 25. h5 {with a typical winning attack} Rh8 26. Qg5 Kg8 27. fxe7 Nxe7 28. Nxe7+ Kf8 29. Nxg6+ fxg6 30. Rf1+ Kg8 31. Qxg6+ Qg7 32. Qe6+ Kh7 33. Rf7) (24. fxe7 {is equally good,} Nxe7 25. Nf6+ Kg7 26. Qd4 Kh6 27. Rxg4 hxg4 28. h5 {etcetera}) 24... e6 25. Rxg4 exd5 26. Rf4 Ne5 {There will be no escape this time!} ({After} 26... dxe4 {white has to find} 27. g4 $1 {to keep the advantage, then} Rae8 28. gxh5 Re5 29. hxg6+ fxg6 30. Qg2 Qf7 31. Rg1 {White's attack continues, but black is still hanging on by his fingertips!}) 27. Nd4 Rh8 28. Nf5 Kg8 29. Nxd6 Qb6 ({Black had one last trick to try,} 29... Nd3+ 30. Kb1 ({Less complicated is} 30. cxd3 Qc6+ 31. Kb1 Qxd6 32. Qxd5 Qxd5 33. exd5 Rd8 34. Rd4 Kh7 35. d6 Rd7 36. Rc1 {with a winning ending}) 30... Qc7 31. Qxd5 Nxf4 32. Qxa8+ Kh7 33. Qxa6 Nxg2 34. Nxb5 { and white is three pawns up!}) 30. Qxe5 Rd8 31. Nxf7 1-0 [Event "Nottingham Congress, Open"] [Site "Nottingham High School"] [Date "2015.04.19"] [Round "4"] [White "Batchelor, Francis"] [Black "Willow, Jonah B"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A29"] [WhiteElo "171"] [BlackElo "166"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2015.04.19"] 1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 d5 {This idea of playing an "Open Sicilian" as black, seems to be getting more popular.} 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. Bg2 Nb6 {Being a tempo down, black cannot go straight into normal lines.} 6. d3 Be7 7. Nf3 Nc6 8. a4 a5 9. O-O Be6 10. Be3 Nd5 11. d4 ({White plays the standard freeing pawn break, but here it seems to be too slow. Preferable is} 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. Rc1) 11... Nxc3 ({This strengthens white's central position. Better is} 11... Nxe3 12. fxe3 exd4 13. Nxd4 (13. exd4 Nb4 14. e4 O-O) 13... Nxd4 14. exd4 O-O) 12. bxc3 e4 13. Nd2 f5 14. f3 exf3 15. Nxf3 O-O 16. Qc1 ({ White should take control of the c4 square,} 16. Qd3 Bd5 17. Nd2) 16... Bc4 17. Qb2 Rb8 18. Rf2 b5 19. axb5 Rxb5 20. Qc2 Bd5 21. c4 {This encourages black to improve his pieces.} (21. Ne1 Bxg2 22. Nxg2 Qb8 23. Bf4 ) 21... Be4 22. Qc1 (22. Qa2 Rb7 23. Rc1) 22... Rb3 23. d5 Nb4 $16 {Black traps his own rook.} ({Black has the tactical shot} 23... Bf6 24. Bg5 Bxf3 25. Bxf6 Qxf6 26. Bxf3 Rc3) 24. Nd4 Na2 {Black was no doubt relying on this when playing his last move.} (24... Rxe3 25. Qxe3 Bc5 26. Bxe4 Nc6) 25. Qd2 ({Played instinctively to "save" the queen I suspect. However white is doing well after} 25. Rxa2 Rb1 26. Nc6 Rxc1+ 27. Bxc1 Qd7 28. Bxe4 Bc5 (28... fxe4 29. Nxe7+ Qxe7 30. Ba3) 29. Bf3 Bxf2+ 30. Kxf2 {White's three pieces and central pawns give him a big advantage here.}) 25... Bb4 26. Qxa2 Rxe3 27. Ne6 Qf6 28. Qa4 { White tries to say that his knight and pawn centre are strong, but there's a tactical flaw.} (28. Nxf8 Qxf8 29. Bxe4 Rxe4 30. c5) 28... Bc2 {Well spotted!} 29. Qxc2 Qxa1+ 30. Rf1 Qe5 31. Bf3 (31. Nxf8 {White might as well grab back the exchange while he can.}) 31... Rb8 32. Kg2 Bc3 33. Qa4 Bd4 34. Rd1 ({Komodo shows a very unusual idea,} 34. Kh3 h6 35. Qd7 $1 g5 ({If the white king was still on g7, black would have the tactic} 35... Rxf3 {[%csl Gg2]} 36. Rxf3 Qxe2 {winning back the exchange.}) 36. Nxd4 Qxd4 37. Qxf5 Rf8 38. Qg6+ Qg7 39. Qxg7+ Kxg7 40. Ra1 Rc3 41. Rxa5 Rxc4) 34... Ba7 $11 ({Black didn't see the winning idea} 34... Rxe2+ 35. Kh3 (35. Bxe2 Qxe2+ 36. Kh3 Qh5+ 37. Kg2 Rb2+ {[%emt 0:00:03] mate in}) 35... Rf2 36. Nxd4 g5) 35. Rb1 {Setting a trap, but otherwise missing a chance to defend successfully.} (35. Rd2) 35... Rxe2+ ({Black now sees this idea, and at the same time avoids} 35... Rxb1 36. Qe8# {From here on, the white king is hunted down mercilessly!}) 36. Kh3 Reb2 37. Rd1 Qf6 38. Nf4 g5 39. Re1 g4+ 40. Bxg4 fxg4+ 41. Kxg4 h5+ 42. Kf3 Rf2+ 43. Ke4 Qd4+ 44. Kf5 Rf8+ 45. Ke6 Qf6+ {with mate next move.} 0-1 [Event "Nottingham Congress, Minor"] [Site "Nottingham High School"] [Date "2015.04.19"] [Round "5"] [White "Sweatman, Paul"] [Black "Malec, Julia"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "90"] [Annotator "Malec, Julia"] [PlyCount "90"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Bd6 4. Bg5 ({White missed a chance to go into a good French variation here with} 4. e4) 4... f6 5. Bd2 Nd7 6. e3 f5 7. g3 ({Against the Stonewall, white needs to get pressure on the black centre with the c-pawn, so} 7. Nb5 Be7 8. c4 c6 9. Nc3 {looks right here.}) 7... Ngf6 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Ne4 10. Nxe4 {After this black is better.} ({Still white should probably try} 10. Nb5 Be7 11. c4 c6 12. Nc3) 10... fxe4 11. Ne1 b6 12. f3 Nf6 ({This is good, but black could have developed the "bad bishop" here with tempo,} 12... Ba6 {and a bigger advantage. After the game move white could hace prevented this with Qe2.}) 13. f4 c5 14. c3 cxd4 (14... Ba6 15. Rf2 Qd7 {may be an improvement, but this is okay.}) 15. cxd4 Ba6 16. Rf2 Rc8 ({This natural move allows white the opportunity to activate his queen and pretty much equalise. Better is the prophylactic} 16... Qd7 {The c-file can be occupied later.}) 17. Rc1 ({An instinctive response, missing the chance to play} 17. Qa4) 17... Rxc1 18. Bxc1 Qc8 ({Surprisingly this doesn't make too much difference, but does lose a tempo over} 18... Qd7 19. Rc2 $15) 19. Rc2 Qd7 20. a3 Bc4 21. Rc3 b5 22. Nc2 ({White's position is very difficult to play. Komodo suggests a slightly better option was} 22. Bd2 b4 23. axb4 Bxb4 24. Rc1 Rb8) 22... a5 23. b4 a4 {This move is annoying for white since most of their major pieces are on the right side of the board and have been closed off even more from moving forward. (JM)} 24. Bf1 Bb3 { It seems harsh to give this move a ? but it allows white an equalising exchange sacrifice. Any other sensible move retains black's advantage.} 25. Be2 $2 (25. Rxb3 axb3 26. Na1 {and white can block the position with} Z0 27. Nxb3 Z0 28. Nc5 {There are several ?s coming up, as both sides leave this option on the table.}) 25... Qe8 ({Black should prevent the sacrifice with something like} 25... Ra8 26. Rxb3 axb3 27. Na1 Bxb4 28. Qxb3 Qc7) 26. Qd2 (26. Rxb3 axb3 27. Na1 {as before.}) 26... Qd7 (26... Bc4) 27. Na1 ({Missing his last chance to spot} 27. Rxb3) 27... Bc4 28. Bxc4 $2 ({White should keep this bishop, as it could become very good in an ending, so} 28. Bd1 {but black is well ahead still.}) 28... bxc4 ({This is fine, but in this particular position the d5 outpost for the knight might be worth more than keeping the pawn structure intact, so perhaps} 28... dxc4 29. Qd1 Nd5 30. Rc2 c3 {and white is almost completely tied up.}) ({White could try to target the e-pawn after} 28... dxc4 29. Qe2 Nd5 30. Rc2 Qf7 31. Qg2 { but black remains well in control} Qg6 32. Rf2 c3 33. Nc2 h5) 29. Qg2 Ng4 $5 30. h3 ({White is tempted into a further weakening of his position. Better was to set about untangling the queenside with} 30. Bd2 {here.}) 30... Nh6 31. Bd2 Qf7 32. Be1 Qh5 ({More accurate would be to start the action here with} 32... g5 {as the queen doesn't really do anything on h5.}) 33. Rc1 Qg6 34. Rc2 Nf5 35. Bf2 h5 36. Kf1 h4 ({Black has many ways to win here. Even the direct assault} 36... e5 37. dxe5 Bxe5 38. g4 (38. fxe5 Nxe3+) 38... Nxe3+ 39. Bxe3 Bxa1) 37. g4 Ng3+ ({A nice pawn sacrifice, but there is an even better knight hop. Though black can be forgiven for not seeing} 37... Nxd4 38. exd4 e3 {Now, for example,} ( 38... Rxf4 {is also good}) 39. Bxe3 Qd3+ 40. Qe2 Bxf4 41. Qxd3 cxd3 42. Bxf4 Rxf4+ 43. Rf2 d2 {Fantastic stuff shown by Komodo!}) 38. Bxg3 hxg3 39. Qxg3 Qh6 ({This follow up has a hole in it though. Better was} 39... Qe8 40. Kg2 (40. g5 e5 41. dxe5 Bxe5 42. Rc1 d4) 40... g5 41. Rf2 gxf4 42. exf4 Qf7) 40. Rf2 {The play is very sharp, and this blunder is understandable - indeed black doesn't find the refutation either.} ({White could save himself here with} 40. g5 Qg6 41. Rh2 e5 42. dxe5 Bxe5 43. Nc2 $11) 40... c3 {Although this pawn breaking ranks seems premature and unnecessary it turns out to be crucial later on. (JM)} ({This is an interesting idea, but flawed, and white gets the advantage. The only (but very) good move here is} 40... g5 41. Nc2 gxf4 42. exf4 Bxf4 43. Qg2 {and now Julia's move} c3) 41. Nc2 ({The problem with black's last move was} 41. g5 {and suddenly white stands better. You will have noticed that the timing of the move g5 by either side is crucial in this position.}) 41... g5 {This is my personal favourite move of the game. It's bold, but I believe this is the deciding move in a game where black has played on the idea of attack being the best form of defence. (JM)} 42. Kg1 ({White might yet survive after} 42. Kg2 gxf4 43. exf4 Bxf4 44. Qxc3 Qh4 45. Re2 Bd6 46. Qe1) 42... gxf4 43. exf4 Bxf4 {Although it looks here that white has missed the urgency in taking the pawn on c3. A pawn thrust to the e3 square would have still proved problematic as it is a focal point for black. (JM)} 44. Qg2 ({ The difference in the white king being on g1, is that it doesn't defend the h-pawn, so after} 44. Qxc3 Qh4 45. Re2 Bd6 {white cannot play the vital defensive move} 46. Qe1 {Still he should have tried something like this, as the game move loses conclusively.}) 44... Be3 45. Nxe3 Qxe3 {White resigns here after realising that after a mass swap of major pieces the pawn on c3 cannot be stopped from being promoted. A close fought game. (JM)} 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 "Ashfield 1 v West Nottingham 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.10.19"] [Round "?"] [White "Burke, Steven J"] [Black "Levens, David G"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C77"] [WhiteElo "162"] [BlackElo "167"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "77"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. d3 ({After the normal} 5. O-O { I didn't want to get drawn into the complications of some line like the Open variation,} Nxe4 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 d5 8. dxe5 Be6 {which are fine for white, if you know them! So I had planned to play the slow anti-Berlin line here.}) 5... d6 ({Given the variation that David played in the Giuoco Piano last time we met, I expected the more aggressive} 5... Bc5 {so that was where I spent most of my preparation time. Instead we get some normal Spanish development.}) 6. c3 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Nbd2 (8. h3 {is often played, with transposition to something like} b5 9. Bc2 h6 10. Nbd2 {but I wanted to tempt black's response.} ) 8... Bg4 ({Much more popular is} 8... b5 9. Bb3 Na5 10. Bc2 c5) 9. h3 $1 Be6 ({I was expecting some standard sort of line like} 9... Bh5 10. Re1 b5 11. Bb3 Na5 12. Bc2 c5 13. Nf1 Nc6 14. Ng3) ({In fact this bishop manoeuver has been tried by several good players, but with conspicuous lack of success. This is one fairly recent example (which I haven't checked for errors) but which shows how Judit Polgar ground down one of the best players in the world!} 9... Bh5 10. Re1 Nd7 11. Nf1 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 Bg5 13. Ne3 Nc5 14. Bc2 g6 15. b4 Ne6 16. Bb3 Qf6 17. Qxf6 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Bg7 19. a4 Rfe8 20. g3 Ne7 21. Ne3 h5 22. h4 Bh6 23. Kg2 Kg7 24. a5 Ng8 25. Bb2 Nf6 26. f3 Rad8 27. d4 Bxe3 28. Rxe3 exd4 29. cxd4 d5 30. e5 Ng8 31. g4 Ne7 32. Kg3 Rh8 33. Rc1 c6 34. Rh1 Rh7 35. Rd3 Rdh8 36. Bc1 g5 37. Bxg5 Nxg5 38. hxg5 hxg4 39. Rxh7+ Rxh7 40. fxg4 Rh1 41. Rd1 Rh8 42. Bc2 Rb8 43. Rh1 Rh8 44. Rxh8 Kxh8 45. Kf4 Kg7 46. Bf5 Ng6+ 47. Kg3 Ne7 48. e6 c5 49. dxc5 Nc6 50. exf7 Nxb4 51. Bc8 Nd3 52. Bxb7 Nxc5 53. Bxd5 Nd3 54. Kf3 Nb4 55. Ke4 {1-0 (55) Polgar,J (2696)-Mamedyarov,S (2753) Geneve 2013}) 10. Re1 b5 11. Bc2 g6 {Previously h6 and d5 have been played, but not with any success.} 12. Nf1 Nh5 ({Komodo suggests a sort of Marshall Gambit with} 12... d5 13. exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bd6 16. Re1 Qh4 { but white seems to be just a pawn up with correct defence after} 17. Qf3) 13. d4 ({Black isn't actually threatening} 13. Z0 f5 {because of} 14. exf5 gxf5 15. d4 e4 16. d5 exf3 17. Qxf3) (13. Z0 Nf4 {is also well met by} 14. d4 Bc8 15. Bxf4 exf4 16. Qd2) 13... exd4 14. cxd4 Nb4 15. Bb1 d5 16. e5 ({There is a good alternative in} 16. a3 dxe4 (16... Nc6 17. Bh6 Re8 18. Ne3) 17. Bxe4 Nd5 18. Ne5) 16... c5 {I had underestimated this move, but I still thought that I must have some good attacking plan. Having spent only about 10 minutes so far, I settled down and spent about half an hour looking for it!} 17. g4 {There were several move orders available, and in the end I decided to play the most "forcing", but it wasn't the best.} ( 17. dxc5 Bxc5 18. a3 Nc6 19. Bh6 Qb6 (19... Re8 20. Qc2 Nd4 (20... Qb6 $4 21. Rc1 Na5 22. Qxc5 Qxc5 23. Rxc5 Nb3 24. Rc1 Nxa1 25. Ba2) 21. Qxc5 Nb3 22. Qb4 Nxa1 23. g4 Ng7 24. Bd3) 20. Ne3 Rfd8 21. b4 Bd4 22. Nxd4 Qxd4 23. Qxd4 Nxd4 24. Bg5) (17. a3 Nc6 18. Bh6 Nxd4 (18... Re8 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Qc2 Nd4 21. Qxc5 Nb3 22. Qb4 Nxa1 23. g4) 19. Nxd4 (19. Bxf8 Nxf3+ 20. Qxf3 Bxf8) 19... cxd4 20. Bxf8 Bxf8 21. Qxd4 Rc8 22. Ba2) 17... Ng7 18. a3 Nc6 19. dxc5 Bxc5 20. Qc2 Qb6 ({I was more worried about} 20... Nd4 $1 21. Nxd4 Bxd4 {From a distance, I had assumed that after} 22. Qd2 Bb6 23. Qh6 {I would at least be able to hold equality, but the advance of the black f-pawn is very good for black, e.g.} f5 (23... f6) 24. Bg5 Qd7) 21. Bg5 Rac8 ({Afterwards, David suggested} 21... Rfc8 {and this does indeed meet with Komodo's approval. Although 0.35 advantage, in a position like this, can vanish in the blink of an eye!}) 22. Bf6 ({Going for the jugular! I did spend some time looking at the positional option} 22. Qd2 Nd4 23. Nxd4 Bxd4 24. Bf6 Bc5 (24... Ne8 25. Be7) 25. Nh2 Ne8 26. Bh4) 22... Na5 {This looked strong, with various threats to win material, but I had a reply lined up. In fact, it takes Komodo a long time to realise that white is clearly better after this move.} ({I thought black could probably just about save himself with} 22... Ne8 {Then there are masses of variations, but one I looked at was} 23. Bh4 b4 24. Qd2 Rc7 (24... bxa3 25. Qh6 Nxe5 26. Nxe5 axb2 27. Ra4) 25. axb4 Bxb4 26. Qh6 Bxe1 27. Ng5 {where Komodo found the saving resource} f5 28. Nxe6 Rff7 29. Nxc7 Nxc7 {with a wild position that Komodo says is dead equal!}) ({Apparently} 22... Rfe8 23. Qd2 Bf8 { also holds}) 23. Qd2 Bxg4 ({David spent about half an hour looking for some defence here. At first I thought he could get away with} 23... Bxf2+ 24. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 25. Kxf2 Nb3 26. Ra2 d4 {but eventually I found} 27. a4 {amongst others}) ({The best try is definitely} 23... Ne8 {when I intended} 24. Qh6 Bxf2+ 25. Kh1 Bxg4 26. Ng5 Bf3+ 27. Nxf3 Nxf6 28. Re2 Nb3 {leads to an amazing variation} (28... Bd4 29. Ng3 Kh8 ({The threat is} 29... Z0 30. Nf5 Nh5 31. Ne7+ Kh8 32. Bxg6 {winning}) 30. Nf5 Nh5 31. N5xd4 {with material advantage and continuing attack}) 29. Ng5 Rfe8 30. Bf5 Nxa1 31. exf6 Qxf6 32. Qxh7+ Kf8 33. Rxf2 {Here black has one defensive chance} Rc4 {forcing white to find a string of "only moves" to win.} 34. Nxf7 Qxf7 35. Qxg6 Qxg6 36. Bxg6+ Ke7 37. Re2+ Re4 38. Bxe4 dxe4 39. Rxe4+ Kd8 40. Rxe8+ Kxe8 41. Kg2 { and the extra pawn should win}) 24. hxg4 Ne6 ({The best try here was still} 24... Ne8 25. Bh4 (25. Qh6 {doesn't win here because of} Nxf6 26. exf6 Qxf6 27. Kg2 Nb3 28. Ra2 Rfe8) 25... Nb3 26. Qh6 f6 27. Ba2 Nxa1 28. Bxd5+ Kh8 29. Rxa1) 25. Ba2 ({This isn't strictly necessary, but black seemed to have more chances to complicate things after the immediate} 25. Qh6 Bxf2+ 26. Kh1 Bh4 27. Qxh4 h5 28. gxh5 Rc4 29. Qg3 Nf4 30. hxg6 fxg6 31. Bxg6) 25... Nc6 26. Qh6 {After I played this, it was David's turn to spend half an hour or so searching for a move. The longer he thought, the more I realised that there is only one viable try - and he found it.} Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Bh4 {The only move to keep the game going. By the time David played this, we both had about 6 minutes left.} (27... Bxe1 28. Ng5 {mates quickly.}) 28. Qxh4 Ncd4 29. Nxd4 Qxd4 30. Rad1 Qf4 ({I was hoping for} 30... Qxb2 31. Qh6 Qxa2 32. Re3 g5 33. Rh3 Qc2 34. Rdd3 {with mate in 6}) 31. Bxd5 Rc2 32. Qg3 Qh6+ (32... Qxg3 33. Nxg3 Rxb2 34. Nf5 gxf5 35. gxf5 Nf4 36. Rg1+) 33. Qh4 Qf4 34. Re3 Rf2 { I had less than a minute left, I think, (perhaps much less) and this attack on the knight came as a nasty surprise. I was suddenly worried about the black knight coming into the attack but with 8 seconds left I followed my first instinct...} 35. Ng3 Qxe3 {After initially kicking myself severely for messing up a nice game, I took 10 seconds to settle down and started looking at the game move (which threatens mate in one on two different squares - as well as the queen) for a minute or so. I wasn't convinced, so looked for a way to simply play on with 2B v R+P, but amazingly black seemed to be winning. So I went back to the game move and, after using half my extra time, managed to fill in the ideas I had not seen initially.} 36. Nf5 gxf5 (36... Rxf5 37. gxf5 Ng7 38. fxg6 hxg6 39. Rg1 Rc8 40. Bxg7 Kxg7 41. Qf6+ Kh6 42. Bf3) 37. gxf5 h6 ({Komodo offers a strange try here} 37... Rf4 {which I never considered and might have thrown me. White is crushing with} 38. Qh2 (38. Qh5 {is the only other winning move}) 38... Rxf5 39. Rg1+ Rg5 40. Bxg5 Nxg5 41. Qh6 {but would I have found one of these? I hope so!}) 38. fxe6 Kh7 39. Be4+ 1-0 [Event "ECF Minor Counties - MCCU Prelim"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.10.31"] [Round "?"] [White "Stead, Nick"] [Black "Thompson, Brian"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "D34"] [WhiteElo "190"] [BlackElo "176"] [Annotator "Thompson, Brian"] [PlyCount "46"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Lincolnshire"] [BlackTeam "Nottinghamshire"] {This game is a short draw but does have an interesting possibility that I noticed but then decided not to play.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. g3 Nf6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 cxd4 10. Nxd4 h6 11. Be3 Be6 12. Rc1 Qd7 13. Nxc6 bxc6 14. Na4 Bh3 15. Bc5 Bxg2 16. Kxg2 Rfe8 17. Re1 Ne4 18. Bxe7 Rxe7 (18... Qxe7 19. Rxc6 Nxf2 20. Kxf2 Qe3+ 21. Kf1 Qe4) 19. Qc2 (19. Nc5 Nxc5 20. Rxc5) (19. b3 Ng5) (19. Rc2 Ng5 $15) 19... Rc8 (19... Ng5 20. f4 (20. Qxc6 Qh3+ 21. Kg1 (21. Kh1 Rxe2 22. Qxa8+ Kh7 23. Rxe2 (23. Qxd5 Rxf2) 23... Nf3) 21... Rae8 (21... Rxe2 22. Qxa8+ Kh7 23. Qxd5 (23. Rxe2 Nf3+ 24. Kh1 Qxh2#)) (21... Rd8 22. Qc3 Rde8 23. Qd3 Qg4 24. Nc3 Nf3+) 22. Qxd5 Re4 (22... Rxe2 23. Rxe2 Rxe2 24. Qd8+ Kh7 25. Qd3+ Re4 (25... g6 26. Qxe2) 26. f4) 23. Qb3 (23. Nc3 Nf3+) 23... Rxe2 24. Rxe2 Rxe2 25. Rf1 Qf5 26. Nc3 Rd2 27. Qb8+ Kh7 28. Qb7 (28. Kg2 Qf3+ 29. Kg1 Nh3#) 28... Nh3+ 29. Kg2 Nxf2 30. Nb1 Rd5 31. Qb3 Qh3+ 32. Kg1 (32. Kxf2 Qxh2+ 33. Kf3 (33. Ke1 Re5+ 34. Kd1 Qe2+ 35. Kc1 Qxf1+) 33... Rf5+ 34. Ke4 Rxf1) 32... Ng4 33. Qc2+ f5 34. Re1 Rd3 35. Qg2 Qh5 36. Nc3) 20... Qh3+ 21. Kg1 Ne4 22. e3 Rae8 23. Qg2 Qf5 24. b3) 20. Nc5 Nxc5 21. Qxc5 Qe8 22. e3 Rb7 23. b3 Rb5 {Although this is a short draw it was interesting. I have started to play the QGD Tarrasch as the King's Indian Defence was proving difficult both in terms of theory and number of ways of avoiding the main lines.} (23... Rb5 24. Qd4 (24. Qxa7 Ra8 25. Qd4 Rxa2 26. Rc3 Rb2 27. Rxc6 Qxc6 28. Qxb2) 24... Qe7) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Nottingham Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.11.21"] [Round "3"] [White "Naylor, Michael"] [Black "Pearson, Taylor"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B77"] [WhiteElo "161"] [BlackElo "152"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "57"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. h4 Rb8 11. h5 Nxh5 12. g4 Nf6 (12... Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Bxd4 14. Qxd4 Nf6 15. Qxa7 b6) 13. O-O-O Nxd4 (13... Na5 14. Bf1 Nc6) 14. Bxd4 b5 15. Bb3 a5 16. Nd5 a4 {This allows white a blistering attack. } (16... e5 17. Be3 Bc6 (17... a4 18. Bh6) 18. Qh2 Bxd5 19. Bxd5) 17. Nxf6+ exf6 18. Bd5 Qc7 19. Bxf6 Rbc8 (19... Bxf6 20. Qh6) 20. Bxg7 Kxg7 21. Qh6+ Kf6 22. Qh4+ Kg7 (22... g5 23. Qh6+ Ke7 24. Qxg5+ Ke8 25. Rd2) 23. Qxh7+ Kf6 24. Qh4+ Kg7 25. Qh6+ Kf6 26. Qf4+ Kg7 27. Rd2 Be6 28. Rh7+ Kxh7 29. Qf6 1-0 [Event "Ashfield 1 v Mansfield 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.11.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Burke, Steven J"] [Black "Burnett, Jim"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D31"] [WhiteElo "162"] [BlackElo "196"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "61"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bb4 6. g3 {Choosing some sort of Catalan.} ({White has several choices here. Perhaps the main line is} 6. e3 b5 7. Bd2 a5 8. axb5 Bxc3 9. Bxc3 cxb5 10. b3 Bb7 11. bxc4 b4 12. Bb2) 6... b5 {Surprisingly this is not good.} ({Main line is} 6... Nf6 7. Bg2 Nbd7 8. O-O O-O 9. Qc2) 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O a6 9. Ne5 ({This is the normal move here, but apparently white has an improvement in} 9. Ne4 Nf6 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 (10... Qxf6 11. Bg5 {(Pushing the queen to a poor square.)} Qf5 12. Bd2 Bxd2 13. Nxd2 Qf6 14. axb5 axb5 15. Rxa8 Bxa8 16. Qa1 O-O 17. Qxa8 Qxd4 18. Qa5 $16) 11. Bh6 Nd7 12. Qc2 {White has more than enough for the pawn.}) 9... Qc8 ({I was more worried about} 9... f6 {when I had in mind to play} 10. Ng4 ({Komodo also gives} 10. Na2 Be7 11. Ng4 Nd7 12. b3 Nb6 13. a5 cxb3 14. Qxb3 Nc4 15. Ne3 Nxa5 16. Qxe6) 10... Ne7 11. Ne3 Nd7 12. Na2 Bd6 13. b3) 10. Bd2 {Setting up a tactical blow.} ({Also good is} 10. Ne4) 10... Nd7 $2 (10... Be7 11. e3 {is Komodo's move.} ({I was looking at} 11. Ne4) 11... Nf6 12. axb5 cxb5 {This depends on the tactics after} 13. Nxb5 Bxg2 14. Kxg2 O-O (14... Qb7+ 15. Qf3 Qxf3+ 16. Kxf3 O-O 17. Na3 { White wins a pawn with a good position.}) 15. Qf3 Nd5 16. Rfc1) (10... Bxc3 11. Bxc3 (11. bxc3 Nf6 12. e4 O-O 13. Re1 {with good compensation for the pawn}) 11... f6 (11... Ne7 12. Bb4 f6 13. Nf3 Nd7 14. Bh3) 12. e4 Ne7 (12... fxe5 13. Qh5+ Kf8 14. Bb4+ c5 15. Bxc5+ Ne7 16. f4) 13. Nf3 O-O 14. Bh3) 11. Nxb5 cxb5 {The best try.} (11... Nxe5 12. Bxb4 cxb5 13. dxe5 a5 14. Bxb7 Qxb7 15. Bd6 b4 16. Qd4) 12. Bxb4 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Qb7+ 14. f3 ({I had planned to play} 14. Nf3 a5 15. Bd2 ({Actually this is also quite good if I play} 15. Bc5 b4 16. Qc2 Nxc5 17. dxc5 Qd5 18. Rac1 Qxc5 19. Qxc4 Qxc4 20. Rxc4) 15... b4 16. Qc2 Rc8 17. e4 Ngf6 18. Rfe1 O-O {but realised that this was probably better for black.}) 14... Rd8 ( {I expected} 14... Nxe5 15. dxe5 Rd8 16. Bd6 ({Even better,} 16. Qc1 Ne7 17. Qg5 Nf5 18. Rfd1 Rb8 19. e4 h6 20. Qd2 Ne7 21. axb5 axb5 22. Bd6) 16... Ne7 17. axb5 axb5 18. Qd4 Nf5 19. Qc5 Nxd6 20. exd6) 15. Nxd7 Rxd7 ({ No better is} 15... Qxd7 16. axb5 Qxb5 17. Qd2) 16. axb5 axb5 17. Bc5 Ne7 18. Ra7 Qb8 ({I was expecting} 18... Qc6 19. Rxd7 ({Komodo prefers} 19. Qa1 Rxa7 20. Qxa7 Nc8 21. Qb8 f6 22. Ra1 Kf7 23. Ra5) 19... Kxd7 20. Qc2 Nd5 21. Kf2 {which is better for me than I thought.}) 19. Rxd7 Kxd7 20. Bxe7 ({Sadly I didn't realise that I had a simple winning plan here} 20. Qd2 Z0 21. Ra1 Z0 22. Ra6 Z0 23. Rb6) ({Defending against this plan causes other issues, e.g.} 20. Qd2 Rc8 21. Ra1 Ke8 22. Ra6 Rc6 23. Qg5) 20... Kxe7 21. Qd2 Rd8 {Accurate defence.} 22. Rd1 f6 23. Qb4+ Kf7 24. e4 Qb7 { It shouldn't make much difference, but this is slightly inaccurate.} (24... Qb6 {keeps my queen less active, so we probably get this drawn ending} 25. d5 exd5 26. Rxd5 Rxd5 27. exd5) 25. Qc5 Rc8 26. Qh5+ Kg8 27. d5 Rd8 {Jim saw this was losing, but there are a lot of "slightly worse" options available and, after thinking for a long time, he just forgot that he couldn't play this one. We've all done that I'm sure!} (27... e5 28. Qg4 Re8 29. h4 b4 30. h5 c3 31. bxc3 bxc3) (27... g6 28. Qg4 f5 29. exf5 exf5 30. Qf4) (27... Qd7 28. Qg4 (28. dxe6 Qxd1 29. Qf7+ Kh8 30. e7 Qd2+ 31. Kf1 (31. Kh3 Qd7+ 32. g4 Qe8 $19) 31... Qc1+ 32. Kg2 Qxb2+ 33. Kh3 h6) 28... Rd8 29. d6 e5 30. Qxd7 Rxd7 31. Rd5 b4 32. f4 c3 33. bxc3 bxc3) (27... Qf7 28. Qh3 Re8 29. dxe6 Qxe6 30. Qxe6+ Rxe6 31. Rd8+ Kf7 32. Rb8 f5 33. Rxb5 fxe4) 28. dxe6 Qe7 ({Black could struggle on for a while with} 28... Rf8 29. Rd7 Qc6 30. Qd5 Qxd5 31. exd5 {and maybe with the clock situation it was worth trying.}) 29. Rxd8+ Qxd8 30. Qf7+ Kh8 31. Qd7 1-0 [Event "ECF Minor Counties - MCCU Prelim"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Bull, Phil"] [Black "Thompson, Brian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "167"] [BlackElo "176"] [Annotator "Thompson, Brian"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Warwickshire"] [BlackTeam "Nottinghamshire"] 1. d4 d5 2. e3 e6 3. f4 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. Nd2 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd6 8. g3 h5 {Maybe this could be labelled dubious but it attempts to change the type of position.} (8... g6) (8... O-O) 9. Ngf3 (9. Ndf3 {This would avoid the following sharp line}) 9... h4 10. Nxh4 Bxf4 11. Qf3 (11. Qe2 Qe7 (11... Bg5 12. Nhf3) 12. Rf1 Bh6 13. Ndf3 Bxc1 14. Rxc1 Bd7 15. Ne5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Qxe4 Bc6 {1-0 (34) Broughton,D-Thompson,B Nottinghamshire County Chp - Open 2012}) (11. gxf4 Rxh4 12. Nf3 Rh8 (12... Ne4 13. Qe2 (13. Nxh4 Qxh4+ 14. Ke2 Qf2#) (13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Nxh4 Qxh4+ 15. Kd2 e5))) 11... Bg5 ( 11... e5 12. gxf4 e4 13. Bxe4 dxe4 14. Qg3 Nh5 15. Qf2 Nxf4 16. Qxf4 Rxh4) 12. Ng2 {After this white's king gets caught in the centre - SJB} (12. O-O $1) 12... e5 13. dxe5 Ng4 (13... Bg4 14. Qf2 Nxe5 15. Bb5+ Kf8 16. O-O Qe7) 14. Nf4 (14. Qe2 Ngxe5 15. Nf3 Bg4 16. Bxg5 Qb6 17. Rf1 Qxb2 {with complications}) 14... Ngxe5 15. Qe3 Bxf4 16. gxf4 Rh3 17. Qxh3 Bxh3 18. fxe5 Qh4+ 19. Kd1 O-O-O (19... Bg4+ 20. Kc2 Nxe5) 20. Nf3 Qf2 21. Nd2 Nxe5 22. Be2 Re8 (22... d4 23. cxd4 (23. Nb3 dxc3+) (23. c4 d3 24. Bf1 Bxf1 25. Rxf1 (25. Nxf1 Qe2#) 25... Qe2#) 23... Rxd4 24. b3 Bg2 25. Re1 Nf3 26. Bxf3 Bxf3+ 27. Kc2 Qxe1) (22... Bg2 23. Re1 d4) 23. Bf1 Bg4+ (23... Bxf1 24. Nxf1 (24. Rxf1 Qxh2 25. Nb3 (25. b3 g5) 25... Nc4) 24... Qf3+) (23... Bf5 {Is a forced mate}) 24. Kc2 Bf5+ 25. Kb3 Qb6+ 26. Ka3 Qc5+ 27. b4 (27. Kb3 d4 (27... Be6 28. a3 d4+ 29. c4) (27... Re6 28. a3) 28. a3 (28. a4 Qd5+ 29. Ka3) 28... Qd5+) 27... Qxc3+ 28. Nb3 Qf3 (28... Nc4+ 29. Bxc4 dxc4 30. Bd2 Qh3 31. Rac1 b5 32. Kb2 Re2 33. Rhd1 Kb8 34. Nc5 Qxh2) (28... Bd3 29. Bxd3 Qxd3 30. b5 Nc4+ 31. Kb4 (31. Ka4 Re4) 31... Nd6) 29. Bb5 Qxh1 (29... Nc4+ 30. Ka4 Bd7) 30. Bxe8 Nc4+ 31. Ka4 a6 32. b5 Qe4 33. Bxf7 Nd6+ 34. Ka5 Nxf7 (34... Qc4 35. Be8 b6+ 36. Kxb6 Qc7+ 37. Kxa6 Nc4 38. Bd7+ Bxd7) 35. Ba3 Ne5 36. Rc1+ Nc4+ 37. Kb4 Qe7+ (37... Qe7+ 38. Kc3 ( 38. Nc5 b6 (38... Nxa3 39. Kxa3 b6) (38... a5+ 39. Ka4 b6 (39... Nxa3 40. Nb3+ Nc4))) 38... Qxa3) 0-1 [Event "Ashfield 1 v Gambit 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.01.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Graham, Neil"] [Black "Hayward, Brian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "146"] [BlackElo "153"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "69"] 1. d4 d5 2. e4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 e3 {It's hard to believe that spending a tempo to give back the pawn is black's best option here.} 5. Bxe3 e6 6. Bd3 Bb4 7. Nge2 c6 8. O-O O-O 9. Bg5 Nbd7 10. Ne4 Be7 11. c3 Nd5 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. Qd2 h6 14. a3 b6 15. Rae1 Bb7 16. f4 N7f6 (16... f5) 17. N2g3 Qc7 18. c4 (18. Nxf6+ Nxf6 19. f5 Rae8 20. fxe6 Rxe6 21. Rxe6 fxe6 22. Qe2 $14) 18... Nxe4 19. Nxe4 Ne7 20. Bc2 Rad8 21. Qd3 g6 (21... f5 22. Nc3 Rf6 $14) 22. Nf6+ Kg7 23. Nh5+ {Ingenious, but not fully sound.} (23. Qc3 Ng8 24. Ne4 f5 25. Nd2 Kh7 26. Re5) 23... Kh8 24. Nf6 c5 (24... Nf5 { wins the d-pawn and white's attack doesn't break through.}) 25. Qh3 ({ Even better was} 25. d5 exd5 26. Qh3 {as the open e-file cuts off any king escape runs.}) 25... Kg7 ({White still has a raging attack after} 25... Ng8 26. Nxg8 Kxg8 27. d5 Kh7 (27... exd5 28. Qxh6 d4 29. f5) 28. g4 exd5 29. f5) 26. Ng4 (26. d5 exd5 27. f5) 26... Rh8 (26... h5 27. Ne5 Rxd4) 27. Qh4 ({Again the winning move was} 27. d5 exd5 ({Now} 27... h5 {is met by} 28. Qc3+) 28. f5 Nxf5 29. Bxf5 gxf5 30. Qh4 fxg4 31. Qf6+ Kg8 32. Re7) 27... Ng8 {After this white is winning, though it needs accurate play.} ({There was no chance that either player would see through the following pretty much forced line,} 27... Rxd4 28. Qf6+ Kg8 29. Rxe6 { (sacrificing a whole rook)} fxe6 30. Ne5 Rh7 31. Qxe6+ Kh8 (31... Kf8 32. f5 gxf5 33. Bxf5) 32. Nxg6+ Nxg6 33. Qe8+ Kg7 34. Qxg6+ Kf8 35. Re1 Qf7 36. Qxh7 Qxh7 37. Bxh7 Rd2 38. Be4 Bxe4 39. Rxe4 Rxb2 {with a potentially better ending for white.}) 28. d5 exd5 29. f5 g5 30. Qh5 Nf6 (30... Rd6 {is a tougher nut to crack, and only} 31. h4 {does the trick, e.g.} gxh4 (31... Nf6 32. Nxf6 Rxf6 33. hxg5 hxg5 34. Qxg5+ Kf8 35. Qxf6) 32. f6+ Rxf6 (32... Nxf6 33. Nxf6 Rxf6 34. Qg4+ Rg6 35. Bxg6 fxg6 36. Re6 {mating}) 33. Nxf6 Nxf6 34. Qxh4) 31. Nxf6 Kxf6 32. Re6+ Kg7 (32... fxe6 33. fxe6+ Ke7 ( 33... Ke5 34. e7 Rde8 35. Re1+ Kd6 36. Qg6+ Kd7 37. Bf5#) 34. Rf7+ Kd6 35. Rxc7 Kxc7 36. Qf7+ Kb8 37. e7 Rc8 38. cxd5) 33. f6+ Kf8 34. Re7 Qc6 35. Qxf7# 1-0 [Event "West Bridgford v Gambit"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.02.15"] [Round "?"] [White "Walker, Tim"] [Black "Roper, Keith"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B10"] [WhiteElo "174"] [BlackElo "144"] [Annotator "Walker,Tim"] [PlyCount "43"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. c4 c6 2. e4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 (4. d4 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Nxd5 e6 7. Nc3 Bxd4 8. Nge2 Bb6 9. Qxd8+ Bxd8 10. Be3) 4... d6 5. Nf3 (5. d4 Qb6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Na4) 5... e5 6. d4 exd4 7. Nxd4 Nf6 8. Be2 Qc7 9. O-O O-O 10. Kh1 a6 11. Be3 Nbd7 12. b4 {Here probably my only minor slip of the game, some reason I temporarily had a complete blind spot about ....c5 - which would now about equalise- maybe because the pawn has been c6 the entire game! [Instead any of simply 12.Bf3 or 12.Nb3 keeps the definite advantage].} Re8 13. Qd3 Nb6 ( 13... c5) 14. c5 {now prevents c5 for good.} dxc5 15. bxc5 Nbd7 16. Nb3 Nf8 17. Bd4 Rd8 18. Qg3 {A decent move and classically using tactics to proceed with the strategy of advancing, as taking on e4 fails to a maximum nine move combination.} Nxe4 {Still black says prove it...} ({Komodo suggests} 18... Nh5 19. Bxh5 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 {and black is still on the board - SJB}) 19. Nxe4 Bxd4 20. Nxd4 Rxd4 21. Nf6+ Kg7 {with apologies to Keith, (who has given as good as he's got against me in recent years). I've certainly made one or two similar one-movers in the league over the last few seasons. Maybe he saw the forced sequence after ..Kh8 so ensured he sidestepped it ... the point being the nice combination} (21... Kh8 22. Qe3 Qd8 (22... Rd8 23. Qc3 {wins the queen with continuing attack}) 23. Qe5 Ne6 24. f5 Ng7 (24... gxf5 25. Rxf5 h6 26. Ng4+ Ng7 27. Rxf7 {is terminal}) 25. fxg6 fxg6 26. Nh5 gxh5 {he must give up the rook as} (26... Rd7 27. Nxg7 Rxg7 28. Rf7 Qg8 29. Bc4 {is hopeless}) 27. Qxd4) 22. Ne8+ 1-0 [Event "ECF Minor Counties - MCCU Prelim"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.02.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Marchant, Geoff"] [Black "Thompson, Brian"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B78"] [WhiteElo "178"] [BlackElo "176"] [Annotator "Thompson, Brian"] [PlyCount "74"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] [WhiteTeam "Worcestershire"] [BlackTeam "Nottinghamshire"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. Bc4 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 b5 {There are over 500 games in my database with this position, and white's next appears to be inaccurate - SJB.} 13. g4 (13. Nd5 Nxd5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. exd5) (13. Bxa7 b4 14. Ne2 (14. Nd5) 14... Qa5 15. Bd4) 13... a5 (13... b4) 14. a4 ({White should play} 14. g5 Nh5 15. Bxg7 Nxg7 16. a3 b4 17. axb4 axb4 18. Nd5 Be6 {SJB}) 14... bxa4 (14... b4 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Bxg7 Kxg7) 15. Nxa4 (15. Bxa4 Rxc3 16. Bxd7 Rxf3) 15... Bxa4 16. Bxa4 Rc4 17. Bb3 Nxe4 {A nice tactic - SJB} 18. Qe2 (18. Bxc4 Nxd2 19. Bxg7 Nxc4 20. Bxf8 Kxf8 $19) (18. Qe3 Bxd4 ({Komodo gives} 18... Rxd4 19. Rxd4 Nc5 20. Rd2 a4 21. Ba2 Qb6 {SJB}) 19. Rxd4 Rxd4 20. Qxd4 Nc5) 18... Rxd4 19. Rxd4 Bxd4 (19... Nc5 {is also good}) 20. Qxe4 Qb6 {Black could simply tretreat the bishop, but this is more forcing - SJB} 21. Rd1 (21. Qxe7 a4 22. Bxa4 Qxb2+ 23. Kd2 Qc3+ 24. Ke2 Qc4+ 25. Kd2 Qxa4) 21... e5 22. h4 a4 23. Rxd4 (23. Bxa4 Qxb2+ 24. Kd2 Qc3+ 25. Ke2 (25. Kc1 Qa3+) 25... Qc4+) 23... Qxd4 (23... axb3 24. Rb4 (24. Rd1 bxc2 25. Qxc2 Qe3+) 24... Qg1+) (23... exd4 24. Bxa4 Rb8) 24. Qxd4 exd4 25. Bxa4 Kg7 26. Kd2 Kf6 27. f4 h5 28. gxh5 (28. g5+ Kf5) 28... gxh5 29. Bd7 Rb8 30. b3 Rb7 (30... Rd8 31. Bh3 Re8 32. b4 Rb8 33. c3 Ra8 34. Bd7 Ra2+ 35. Kd3 dxc3 36. Kxc3 Rf2 37. Bc6 Rxf4) 31. Bc6 Rc7 32. Be4 Rc3 33. b4 (33. Bd3) 33... Ke6 34. b5 d5 35. Bd3 (35. b6 Rc6 36. Bf3 Rxb6 37. Bxh5 Kf5 (37... Ke7 38. Bf3 Rf6 39. Bxd5 Rxf4 40. h5 Rf5 41. Bc6 Rxh5) 38. Bxf7) 35... Kd6 36. Ke2 Kc5 37. Kf3 Rxd3+ (37... Rxd3+ 38. cxd3 Kxb5 39. Ke2 Kb4 40. Kd2 Kb3 41. Kd1 Kc3 42. Ke2 Kc2 43. f5 f6 44. Ke1 Kxd3) 0-1 [Event "University 2 v Nomads 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.03.15"] [Round "?"] [White "Grainger, Charlie"] [Black "Neil, Graham"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A05"] [WhiteElo "125"] [BlackElo "124"] [Annotator "Grainger, Charlie"] [PlyCount "99"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. Nf3 d6 2. g3 e5 3. d3 Be7 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. e4 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Be6 7. O-O h6 8. Re1 Qd7 9. c3 O-O 10. d4 Bh3 11. Bh1 (11. Qb3) 11... Bg4 12. d5 Nd8 ({If} 12... Na5 13. b4 {traps and wins the knight.}) 13. Qb3 b6 14. a4 a5 15. Qc2 Nb7 16. b4 Nh7 (16... axb4 17. cxb4 Rfc8) 17. Bb2 ({After} 17. Nc4 f5 (17... Ng5 18. Nxg5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 hxg5 20. Ne3) {white has a very nice sacrifice available,} 18. Nfxe5 dxe5 19. Nxe5 Qe8 20. Nxg4 fxg4 21. e5 {SJB}) 17... Ng5 18. Nxg5 Bxg5 19. Nf3 Be7 20. Bc1 h5 ({Black should probably be playing on the queenside, e.g.} 20... c6 21. Qb3 axb4 22. cxb4 c5 {SJB}) 21. Bg5 f6 ({Black has the chance to win a couple of pieces for a rook and pawn with} 21... Bxf3 22. Bxe7 Bxh1 23. Bxf8 Bf3 24. Qd3 Bg4 25. f3 Bh3 26. Bxg7 Kxg7 {SJB}) 22. Be3 Rf7 23. Nh4 g5 24. Nf3 (24. Nf5 $1 Bxf5 (24... Bf8 25. Bg2) 25. exf5 Bf8 26. Be4 {and white controls the whole board - SJB}) 24... Rh7 25. h4 Bxf3 26. Bxf3 gxh4 27. Kf1 { Getting the king out of the way - SJB} (27. Kg2 {would also leave the path open for white's rooks to the kingside,} hxg3 28. fxg3 Bf8 29. Rh1 h4 30. Rxh4 Rxh4 31. gxh4 {SJB}) 27... hxg3 28. fxg3 Qh3+ ({Black could activate his bad bishop here,} 28... Bf8 29. Ke2 Bh6 30. Bf2 Bg5 {SJB}) 29. Ke2 $1 Qd7 ({If} 29... Qxg3 30. Rg1 {wins the queen.}) ({Also} 29... Qh2+ { is met with} 30. Bf2 Z0 {and black must retreat the queen as} 31. Rh1 { trapping the queen, is threatened.}) 30. Rh1 Kg7 31. Kd3 {The king is heading towards b3, where it will be able to protect the a4 pawn and allow white's major pieces to move to the kingside to attack the weak black king.} Rah8 ({Black has a chance here to muddy the waters with} 31... c6 {SJB}) 32. Qe2 Qe8 33. Kc2 Bf8 34. Kb3 h4 35. gxh4 Kf7 36. h5 Ke7 37. Rag1 Bh6 38. Bxh6 Rxh6 39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. Rxc7 Qb8 41. Rd7 Qc8 42. Bg4 Qb8 43. Bf5 (43. Be6 {was probably better, controlling the g8 square.}) 43... axb4 44. cxb4 Rg8 45. Qe3 Rg5 46. Rg1 Rhxh5 47. Rxg5 Rxg5 48. Qh3 Rg8 (48... Nc5+ {was probably worth a go, but after} 49. bxc5 bxc5+ 50. Kc2 {there are no more checks and black cannot avoid mate.}) 49. Qh6+ Ke8 50. Qh5+ {Mate is coming next turn with 50...Kf8 51. Qf7#} 1-0 [Event "Ashfield 1 v Mansfield 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.03.23"] [Round "?"] [White "Taylor, Robert P"] [Black "Cantrill, Chris"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D00"] [WhiteElo "147"] [BlackElo "171"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "69"] 1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. Bd3 c6 5. c3 Nf6 6. Nd2 Nbd7 7. Ngf3 O-O 8. Rc1 Re8 9. O-O e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Rxe5 12. Nf3 Bg4 13. Bf4 Re7 14. h3 Be6 15. Re1 Qb6 16. Qc2 Rae8 (16... c5 17. b3 Rae8) 17. b4 Bc8 18. Ng5 ( 18. Bd6 Rd7 19. Bc5 Qd8 20. Bd4) 18... a5 19. a3 axb4 (19... c5 20. bxc5 Qxc5) 20. axb4 Ne4 21. Nxe4 dxe4 22. Bc4 Be6 23. Be2 f5 24. Red1 Ra8 25. Rd6 Bf7 26. Qd1 Ree8 27. Qf1 Red8 28. Bc4 Rxd6 29. Bxd6 Bxc4 (29... Bd5 30. Bc5 Qc7 31. Bxd5+ cxd5 32. Qd1) 30. Qxc4+ Kh8 31. Qe6 (31. Qf7 Z0 32. Bc5) 31... Qb5 (31... Qd8) 32. c4 Qa4 33. b5 cxb5 34. cxb5 Qxb5 35. Rc8+ 1-0 [Event "Grantham 3 v West Nottingahm 4"] [Site "Grantham"] [Date "2016.04.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Mason, Ben"] [Black "Scott, Simon"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C42"] [WhiteElo "154"] [BlackElo "120"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2016.04.27"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nxe5 d6 4. Nf3 Nxe4 5. Nc3 Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 7. Bd3 Bg4 8. Qe2 O-O (8... Nc6) 9. Qe4 f5 10. Qxb7 Nd7 11. O-O (11. Qd5+ Kh8 12. Nd4) 11... Kh8 12. Nd4 Nc5 13. Qd5 Bg5 {Objectively a mistake, but it gives white a chance to go wrong...} (13... Nxd3 14. cxd3 Qc8) 14. Bxf5 {...and he takes it!} (14. Bxg5 Qxg5 15. Rae1) 14... Bxf5 15. Nxf5 Bxc1 16. Raxc1 c6 17. Qxd6 (17. Qf3 Qd7) 17... Rxf5 18. Qxc6 Rc8 19. Rcd1 Qf8 20. Qd6 h6 ({Giving the king an escape square, but black could win a pawn with} 20... Na4 21. Qb4 Qxb4 22. cxb4 Nxb2) 21. Qxf8+ Rcxf8 22. f3 a5 ({Now black really should play} 22... Na4) 23. Rfe1 { This gives black another chance to find the best plan.} ({White could consolidate here with} 23. b3 {keeping four pawns for the knight.}) 23... Na4 24. Rb1 ({Maybe white has better chances of surviving the ending with} 24. b3 Nxc3 25. Rd7 Nxa2 26. Ree7 Rg8 27. c4 {but in the game, black now finishes it off efficiently.}) 24... Rb8 25. c4 Rxb2 26. Re8+ Kh7 27. Rxb2 Nxb2 28. Rc8 Re5 29. c5 Re2 30. c6 Rxc2 31. c7 Nd3 32. Kf1 Nb4 33. a3 Nd5 34. Re8 Rxc7 35. Ra8 Ne3+ 36. Kf2 Nc4 37. a4 Rc5 38. Rb8 Rc6 39. Rb5 Rb6 40. Ke2 Rxb5 41. axb5 a4 42. Kd3 a3 0-1 [Event "Notts v Herts, U140"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.05.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Charles, Simon"] [Black "Morgan, Philip"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "138"] [BlackElo "139"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "98"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. f4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bb5 Nd4 6. Bc4 Nh6 7. O-O a6 8. d3 e6 9. Rb1 (9. a4) 9... O-O 10. Be3 d6 11. h3 b5 ({There is an interesting possibility here,} 11... d5 12. exd5 b5 13. Bb3 Nhf5 14. Bf2 Bb7 $5 (14... Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Nd4 16. Qd1 exd5 17. Bxd5 Rb8) 15. dxe6 Bxf3 16. exf7+ Kh8 17. gxf3 Qd6 {and black has plenty of compensation for his pawns. }) 12. Bb3 Rb8 13. Qd2 Nxb3 14. axb3 f5 15. e5 Nf7 16. exd6 Qxd6 17. Qf2 Re8 18. Bxc5 (18. Ng5 Nxg5 19. fxg5) 18... Qxf4 19. Ne2 (19. b4) 19... Qc7 20. c3 Bb7 21. Be3 (21. b4 e5) 21... e5 22. Bb6 Qc6 (22... Qd6 23. Ba7 Rbd8 24. Rfd1 Bxf3 25. Qxf3 e4 26. Qf2 (26. dxe4 Qxd1+ 27. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 28. Kh2 Ng5) 26... exd3) 23. Rfd1 e4 ({Black is spoiled for choice here, but probably best is} 23... Qe6 24. Ba5 Qxb3) 24. dxe4 Qxe4 25. Ng3 Qc6 26. Qc5 (26. Bd4 Bh6) 26... Qxc5+ ({Again} 26... Qe6 27. Re1 Qxb3) 27. Bxc5 f4 28. Nf1 Bxf3 29. gxf3 Re2 30. Rd2 Rbe8 31. Ra1 ( 31. Rbd1) 31... R2e6 {An unfortunate decision to retreat the rook, although black is still solidly better.} (31... Ng5 32. Rxe2 Rxe2 33. Rxa6 Nxf3+ 34. Kh1 Rxb2) 32. Nh2 {This sidelines the knight.} (32. Rd5 Re5 33. Rxe5 Nxe5 34. Nd2 Rd8 35. Bd4) 32... h5 33. Kf1 Bf6 34. Bf2 Nh6 35. Re1 Nf5 36. Rxe6 Rxe6 37. Kg2 Kh7 38. Nf1 Nh4+ 39. Bxh4 Bxh4 40. Rd7+ Kh6 41. Nd2 Re2+ 42. Kg1 Re1+ 43. Nf1 Re2 (43... Rb1 44. Rd2 b4 (44... a5 45. Rc2 b4) 45. Rc2 Bf6 46. cxb4 Be7) 44. Rd2 Bf2+ 45. Kg2 Rxd2 46. Nxd2 Be3 47. Ne4 Bc1 48. Nc5 Bxb2 49. Nxa6 Bxc3 {At this point black took a draw that clinched the match win, though he could have played on with some practical chances to convert the extra pawn.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Notts v Norfolk, Minor QF"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.05.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Twitchell, David"] [Black "Naylor, Michael"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "164"] [BlackElo "161"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d3 d6 6. Bg5 {Usually white waits for black to castle before playing this pin.} h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Be6 9. Bxe6 fxe6 10. Qb3 (10. b4 Bb6 11. Nbd2) 10... Qd7 11. Nbd2 O-O-O 12. O-O-O (12. Qc2 a6 13. b4 Ba7 14. a4) 12... Rhf8 13. Rhf1 Nh5 14. Nc4 (14. h3) 14... g4 15. Nh4 Rf6 (15... Nxg3 16. fxg3 Rxf1 17. Rxf1 d5 18. exd5 exd5 19. Nd2 Be3) 16. f3 Nxg3 17. hxg3 Rdf8 18. Qc2 a6 19. Qe2 b5 20. Ne3 h5 21. Nc2 Qg7 22. d4 Bb6 (22... gxf3 23. gxf3 exd4 24. cxd4 Qxg3) 23. dxe5 ({Here white has} 23. f4 Kb7 24. dxe5 dxe5 25. f5) 23... dxe5 (23... Nxe5 {is well met by} 24. f4) ({However black can play} 23... gxf3 24. gxf3 Nxe5 25. Qg2 Ng6 {with great pressure on the kingside.}) 24. a4 Na7 25. axb5 (25. f4) 25... Nxb5 (25... gxf3 26. Nxf3 axb5) 26. c4 ({White had the chance here to swing over to a queenside attack,} 26. Nb4 gxf3 27. Nxf3 Qh6+ 28. Kb1 Qe3 29. Qc4 Qc5 30. Qa2) 26... Nd4 27. Nxd4 Bxd4 28. c5 (28. Rd3) 28... Kb7 { A nice idea.} 29. c6+ {White didn't spot how perilous his position has suddenly become.} ({This is too slow here,} 29. Rd3 Qd7 30. Rb3+ Ka7) 29... Ka7 30. Qc4 (30. Rd2 Rb8 31. Rc2 Qf8) 30... Rb8 31. Rxd4 exd4 32. Qxd4+ Rb6 33. e5 Rf7 34. Rd1 Qg8 35. Rd3 Qe8 {A safe option.} ({The most efficient was} 35... gxf3 {but requires a long line of play and time was probably an issue here too.} 36. Rxf3 Rxf3 37. Nxf3 Qxg3 38. Qd7 Qf4+ 39. Kb1 Qe4+ 40. Ka1 Rxc6) 36. Rc3 Rg7 37. f4 Qe7 38. f5 Qg5+ {The wrong move order.} (38... exf5 39. Nxf5 Qg5+ 40. Ne3 Re7 41. Rc5 Re6 42. Kb1 Qg6+ ) 39. Kb1 exf5 40. e6 ({White should play} 40. Rb3 f4 41. Rxb6 cxb6 42. Qxf4) 40... Re7 41. Ra3 f4 42. gxf4 Qb5 43. f5 Qxc6 (43... Re8 44. Rd3 Ka8 45. b3 Qa5) 44. Ng6 Re8 45. Rc3 Qd6 46. Qa4 {This allows black a crushing finale!} (46. Qxd6 Rxd6 (46... cxd6 47. Rc7+ { is winning}) 47. f6 Rexe6 48. f7 Rf6 49. f8=Q Rxf8 50. Nxf8 Kb6 51. g3) 46... Reb8 47. Rc2 Qd1+ 48. Ka2 Rxb2+ 49. Ka3 Qa1# 0-1 [Event "Gambit 4 v Nomads 1"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2016.10.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Padvis, Derek"] [Black "Harrison, John"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C01"] [WhiteElo "126"] [BlackElo "151"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "61"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%evp 22,61,21,-29,7,0,7,-34,0,-18,0,-43,-29,-44,0,-5,68,0,125,81,172,29,55, 16,20,-45,0,-54,-38,-37,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,0,192,0]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Bd3 Bd6 5. Nf3 Nf6 6. O-O O-O 7. Bg5 Bg4 8. Nbd2 Nbd7 9. c3 c6 10. Qc2 Qc7 11. Rfe1 Rfe8 {A symmetrical Exchange French set up.} 12. Bf5 ({ The engines suggest that white might do better to break the symmetry with} 12. h3 Bh5 13. Nh4) 12... Bh5 13. h3 (13. Bh4 Bg6 14. Bg3 Rxe1+ 15. Rxe1 Re8 16. Bxg6 hxg6 17. Rxe8+ Nxe8 18. Qd3 Bxg3 19. hxg3 Nf8 20. Qe2 {1/2-1/2 (30) Lipka, J (2441)-Hagara,E (2410) Austria 2013}) 13... Bg6 14. Bh4 ({Predecessor:} 14. Nh4 Bh2+ 15. Kh1 Bf4 16. Bxf6 Nxf6 17. Nxg6 hxg6 18. Bd3 Re7 19. Nf3 Rae8 20. Rxe7 Qxe7 21. Re1 Qxe1+ {0-1 (21) Vujnovic,M (1949)-Heged,V (2174) Topusko 2013}) 14... Bf4 15. Bxg6 hxg6 16. Nf1 {Allowing black to seize the initiative.} (16. g3 Bd6 17. Kg2) 16... Ne4 17. Re2 f6 ({The engines prefer} 17... g5 18. Bg3 Bxg3 19. Nxg3 Nxg3 20. fxg3 Qxg3 21. Rae1 Nf6 22. Qf5 Rxe2 23. Rxe2 g4 24. Qg5 Ne4 25. Qxg4 Qxg4 26. hxg4 {and black is better, but this is a long variation to see.}) 18. Rae1 Kf7 {} ({ Black should play} 18... Nf8) 19. Bg3 f5 (19... Bxg3 {keeps the balance.} 20. Nxg3 Nd6) (19... Nxg3 20. Rxe8) 20. c4 {aiming for cxd5.} Qd6 (20... Bxg3 21. Nxg3 Qb6) 21. c5 ({Missing the chance to seize a big initiative with} 21. Bxf4 Qxf4 22. cxd5 cxd5 23. Qb3 { The best defence seems to be} Nb6 (23... Qd6 24. Qxb7 Rab8 25. Ne5+ Qxe5 26. Qxd7+ Re7 27. dxe5 Rxd7 28. f3) 24. Ne5+ Kg8 (24... Kf6 25. g3 Qg5 26. Ne3 Rad8 27. Ng2) 25. Nxg6) 21... Qc7 22. b4 Bxg3 23. fxg3 ({ Better is} 23. Nxg3 Nxg3 24. fxg3 Qxg3 25. Qd3) 23... a5 24. a3 (24. b5) 24... axb4 (24... b5 {is more complex.} 25. g4 Kg8 26. Nh4 axb4 27. axb4 fxg4 28. Nxg6 Nf8) 25. axb4 Nxg3 {Although black is a pawn up, this allows mass exchanges that ay least equalise for white.} (25... Kg8 {creates tension.} 26. b5 Nf8 27. Qb3 Ne6 28. Ra2 Qd8) 26. Rxe8 Rxe8 27. Rxe8 Kxe8 28. Nxg3 Qxg3 29. Qe2+ Kf7 {The king is needed on the queenside.} (29... Kd8 $11) 30. Qe3 f4 {} (30... Qb8) 31. Qe2 {A safe draw, but missing a great chance. White played solidly against a higher rated opponent, but missed chances to win the game.} ({With the black queen trapped temporarily, white would take a decisive advantage with} 31. Qa3 g5 32. Qa8) 1/2-1/2 [Event "Newark 2 v West Nottingham 2"] [Site "Newark"] [Date "2016.11.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Ladds, Graham"] [Black "Willow, Hambel"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A52"] [WhiteElo "149"] [BlackElo "144"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "78"] [EventDate "2016.11.07"] {[%evp 11,78,29,37,0,14,-47,-18,-59,-35,-157,-18,-30,19,-36,-28,-36,-13,-26,-4, -20,15,-29,-11,-46,0,-116,-84,-98,-140,-140,31,21,22,0,36,-59,-65,-148,-73, -130,329,-95,0,-13,769,788,793,787,684,-641,-607,-681,-589,-682,-686,-683,-683, -670,-668,-668,-595,-603,-589,-643,-605,-707,-632,-730,-608]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. e4 Nxe5 5. f4 Ng6 6. Nf3 Bc5 7. Bd3 ({Better is} 7. Nc3 { and for example} d6 8. Bd3 Nc6 9. Bd2 O-O 10. Qe2 Bg4 11. O-O-O a5 12. Qe1 a4 13. Qg3 Bxf3 14. gxf3 a3 {1-0 (46) Neverov,V (2501)-Gahan,M (2295) Chennai 2015 }) ({Best of all is} 7. f5 {when white has a massive plus score and black can lose quickly, e.g.} Ne7 8. Nc3 f6 9. Bf4 d6 10. Qd2 Nbc6 11. O-O-O a5 12. g4 Bd7 13. g5 Ne5 14. Be2 N7c6 15. gxf6 gxf6 16. Nxe5 Nxe5 17. Bxe5 {1-0 (17) Nikcevic,N (2270)-Laketic,M (2115) Novi Sad 1989}) 7... d6 8. Qe2 (8. Nc3 $11) 8... Nc6 9. Nc3 (9. f5 Nge5 10. Nxe5 Nxe5 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 h6 $15 {looks a better try,}) 9... Bg4 { Strongly threatening ...Nh4.} 10. Be3 ({White probably needs to play the unpleasant} 10. Qf1 {and hang on. }) 10... Nh4 ({Black should play} 10... Bxf3 11. gxf3 (11. Qxf3 Nh4 12. Qg4 (12. Qg3 Bxe3) 12... Bxe3) 11... Qh4+ 12. Bf2 Qh6 13. Nd5 (13. f5 Nf4 14. Qf1 Nb4) 13... Nxf4 14. Nxf4 Bxf2+ 15. Qxf2 Qxf4) 11. O-O ({Predecessor:} 11. Bxc5 dxc5 12. Qf1 Bxf3 13. gxf3 Nd4 14. O-O-O Nhxf3 {0-1 (31) Debska,K (1800)-Tyda,B (1800) Leba 2004}) 11... Nd4 12. Bxd4 ({ Probably better is} 12. Qf2 {but it is very complicated,} Bxf3 (12... Ndxf3+ 13. gxf3 Nxf3+ 14. Kh1) 13. gxf3 (13. g3 Bg2 14. Bxd4 Bxf1 15. Kxf1 Ng6 16. Bxc5 dxc5 17. Rd1) 13... Ne6 14. Nd5 c6 15. f5) 12... Bxd4+ 13. Kh1 c6 14. Qd2 Nxf3 15. gxf3 Bd7 {} 16. Ne2 (16. Bc2 {is superior.} Qf6 17. Rad1) 16... Bb6 17. Rad1 Bh3 18. Ng3 ({Komodo prefers to give the exchange for the other bishop with} 18. Rfe1 Bf2 19. f5 Qh4 20. Rg1 Bxg1 21. Nxg1) 18... Bxf1 19. Bxf1 g6 20. Qc3 Rg8 {This gives white good compensation.} (20... O-O 21. c5 Bxc5 22. e5 Qb6 23. exd6 Bb4) 21. e5 $1 d5 22. cxd5 cxd5 {} 23. Bb5+ {Tempting, but not the most accurate apparently.} (23. Ne4 Kf8 (23... dxe4 24. Rxd8+) 24. Nf6) 23... Kf8 24. f5 {This seems to be too optimistic.} (24. Ne4) 24... Rc8 25. Qd2 Qh4 {[%mdl 8192]} ({The only move to keep the advantage is} 25... Kg7 { and life is bright with the king safely tucked away.}) 26. Qxd5 ({White doesn't spot his golden opportunity,} 26. f6 {and white's pieces are completely uncoordinated, e.g.} Rc5 27. Ne4 Rxb5 28. Qc3 Rc5 29. Qa3 ({ Better than the immediate} 29. Nxc5 Qc4 30. Qxc4 dxc4 {but} 31. Rd7 { is clearly winning there too.}) 29... Ke8 30. Nxc5 Qc4 31. Ne6 {winning everything.}) 26... Rd8 27. Bd7 Qe7 {[%mdl 8192] This gives white a second bite at the cherry.} (27... Kg7 {is equal because of} 28. Qxb7 Kh8 29. Qe4 Qxe4 30. fxe4 Rge8) 28. f6 {[%CAl Rf6e7]} Qc5 {} 29. Qd2 $3 {[%CAl Rd2h6] White wants to mate with Qh6+.} g5 (29... Rxd7 30. Qxd7 { is also hopeless.}) 30. f4 {[%mdl 8192] This changes a win to a loss in one fell swoop.} ({The path to victory was narrow,} 30. Ne4 Qd4 31. Qxd4 Bxd4 32. Rxd4 {and white not only has B+N v R but the white rook on g8 is effectively trapped in a cage,} g4 33. f4 g3 34. hxg3) 30... gxf4 { Suddenly the white king is fatally exposed and black is clearly winning.} 31. e6 fxe6 {And now ...Rxg3 would win.} 32. Qxf4 {} Rxd7 {Perhaps white had missed that the rook cannot be taken because of the mate on g1?} 33. Qh6+ ( 33. Rxd7 Qg1#) 33... Ke8 34. f7+ Rxf7 35. Qxe6+ Qe7 36. Qc8+ Bd8 { White must now prevent ...Rxg3!} 37. Qc4 ({The threat was} 37. Z0 Rxg3 38. hxg3 Qe4+ 39. Kg1 Qe3+ 40. Kh1 Qf3+ 41. Kh2 Qxd1) 37... Rg6 38. Qc3 Qf6 {...Qxc3 is the strong threat.} 39. Qd3 Qf3+ {A very topsy turvy game with both sides having completely won positions at times.} 0-1 [Event "Gambit 4 v Radcliffe & Bingham 1"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2016.11.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Murfet, George"] [Black "Padvis, Derek"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "141"] [BlackElo "126"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%mdl 32][%evp 11,76,43,59,8,29,0,39,-39,9,-45,7,-46,-16,-51,-16,-39,-24,-56, 36,-214,-201,-204,-179,-233,-198,-248,-228,-479,-276,-522,-409,-740,-727,-932, -937,-949,-861,-938,-880,-1019,-817,-1238,-1139,-1131,-868,-1083,-1014,-1021, -994,-1022,-951,-985,-925,-29926,-1319,-3073,-1192,-1192,-1103,-29981,-860, -29989,-29990,-29990,-29991,-29985,-29990]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 Nbd7 (4... Bf5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Qb3 Qb6 8. c5 Qxb3 9. axb3 a6 10. b4 Rc8 11. O-O Be7 12. Bf4 h6 13. h3 g5 14. Be3 Ne4 {1/2-1/2 (41) Grachev,B (2673) -Rublevsky,S (2698) Sochi 2015}) 5. O-O Ne4 6. c4 e6 7. cxd5 (7. Nbd2) 7... exd5 8. Nc3 Ndf6 9. Bg5 ({White should probably try} 9. Ne5) ({ Predecessor:} 9. Nd2 Nd6 10. Nf3 Be7 11. Ne5 Bf5 12. f3 {0-1 (44) Weber,O (1845)-Raupach,G (2026) Troisdorf 2012}) 9... Be7 (9... Nxg5 10. Nxg5 h6 $15) 10. Rc1 (10. Bf4) 10... O-O ({Still} 10... Nxg5) 11. Bxf6 (11. Nxe4 Nxe4 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 13. e3) 11... Nxf6 12. Ne5 Bf5 13. f3 Re8 14. e4 Bc8 ({Better is} 14... Be6) 15. Nxf7 {Enterprising, but apparently way to optimistic.} (15. Qb3) 15... Kxf7 16. e5 Ng8 {[%CAl Bf6g8,Bg8h6,Bh6f5]} 17. f4 Nh6 {Good defence.} 18. Qh5+ Kg8 { White must now prevent ...Bg4.} 19. f5 (19. Qe2) 19... Bg5 ({Clearly winning still, but even better was} 19... Nxf5 20. Nxd5 (20. Rxf5 g6) 20... cxd5 21. Rxc8 Rxc8 22. Rxf5 g6 23. Qg4 Rf8) 20. Rce1 {Now black simplifies the position with exchanges and is a rook up.} (20. f6 {was the best chance to stir up trouble.}) 20... Bxf5 21. Rxf5 Nxf5 22. h4 Be3+ 23. Kh2 Rf8 24. Ne2 Qe7 25. Rd1 Rae8 26. Ng1 Bxg1+ 27. Kxg1 Ne3 28. Re1 Nxg2 29. Kxg2 Qe6 30. Qd1 Re7 31. Qd2 Ref7 32. Re2 Rf3 33. Qe1 b6 34. Rd2 h6 35. Qd1 R8f7 36. Re2 Qg4 37. Qe1 {} Rxg3+ 38. Qxg3 Qxe2+ {A good exploitation of white's incorrect piece sacrifice.} 0-1 [Event "Minor Counties Notts vs Leics"] [Site "Bramcote Hall"] [Date "2017.01.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Denton, John"] [Black "Willow, Jonah"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A37"] [WhiteElo "188"] [BlackElo "188"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "52"] [EventDate "2017.01.21"] {[%evp 15,52,-18,18,-12,15,-27,35,-30,-13,-26,-13,-92,-44,-103,-79,-102,5,-43, -59,-48,-39,-109,-82,-488,-482,-491,-475,-479,-392,-701,-685,-710,-465,-2318, -2313,-2834,-2364,-1778,-2607]} 1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 e6 6. O-O Nge7 7. e4 O-O 8. d3 d5 9. exd5 {A36: Symmetrical English vs ...g6: 4 Bg2 Bg7} (9. cxd5 exd5 10. Bf4 dxe4 11. dxe4 Be6 12. Bd6 b6 13. e5 Rc8 14. Qa4 Re8 15. Nb5 Bd7 16. Rfd1 a6 17. Qxa6 Nb4 {1-0 (37) Pakhomov,E (2473) -Kolmakov,P (2254) Moscow 2017}) 9... exd5 10. Bg5 (10. Bf4 {is more appropriate.}) 10... f6 ({The engines prefer to keep the long diagional open and ask white if he was serious about attacking the knight,} 10... h6 11. Bxe7 Nxe7) 11. cxd5 {White plays for complications, but it's doubtful if this is the best here.} (11. Bf4) 11... fxg5 ({Predecessor:} 11... Nb4 12. Be3 b6 13. d4 c4 14. Nd2 Bf5 15. d6 Nec6 16. Nxc4 Bd3 {1/2-1/2 (31) Becker Bertau,F (1859)-Schuett,W (2102) Hamburg 2005}) 12. dxc6 Nxc6 13. Qb3+ $6 (13. Nd2) 13... Kh8 14. Ne4 {White's aggressive play seems to be gradually backfiring.} (14. Rae1) 14... g4 { Pushing white back.} 15. Nfd2 ({Wrong would be} 15. Nfg5 Qe7 16. Rae1 h6) 15... Ne5 { This gives white the chance to equalize.} ({Black should play} 15... Nd4 16. Qd1 Qe7 {maintaining a bind on the position.}) 16. Nc4 (16. Nxc5 { activating the bishop without allowing black's response is stronger,} Bf5 17. Nc4) 16... Nf3+ 17. Bxf3 gxf3 18. Ncd6 {} Qd7 {[%CAl Rd7h3] The only move to keep the advantage, due to the threat of Qh3.} 19. Ng5 $4 {[%mdl 8192] Giving up the two knights for a rook is not going to save white.} ({White had to try} 19. Kh1 {when black is clearly better, but still needs to prove that it's enough to win.}) 19... Qxd6 20. Nf7+ {} Rxf7 21. Qxf7 Bd7 22. Qxf3 {Out of the frying pan...!} ({It should be hopeless, but still white should try to keep the game going with something like} 22. Rfe1 Rf8 23. Qe7 Qd5) 22... Bc6 {[%CAl Rc6g2] Black is clearly winning now the diagonal is opened up.} 23. Qe2 Bd4 24. Rfe1 (24. Rae1 {makes it a little harder,} Qd5 25. Qe4 Qf7 26. Qg4 Rf8 27. h4 Bxf2+ 28. Kh2 Qd5 29. Qe4 (29. Re4 $4 Qxd3) 29... Qxa2) 24... Rf8 25. Rf1 Qd5 {[%csl Gc6][%CAl Rd5h1]} 26. Qe4 Qh5 {White has to give up the queen to postpone mate. A nice execution after white went astray.} 0-1 [Event "West Bridgford 2 vs West Nottingham 2"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2017.02.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Scott, Simon"] [Black "Fraser, Chris"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "130"] [BlackElo "119"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "49"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%evp 7,48,-19,42,-3,29,9,5,10,64,23,56,26,72,59,80,15,81,71,78,69,73,64,89, -52,295,295,299,250,387,279,694,693,659,673,687,700,700,700,700,676,1418,1411, 29999]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. f4 Bg7 4. Nf3 e6 (4... Nc6) 5. Nb5 (5. e5 $14) (5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 a6 7. Be3 Ne7 8. Qf3 Nbc6 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. g3 b5 11. Nb3 d6 12. Qf2 Bb7 {1-0 (44) Van Overdam,J (2318)-Feygin,M (2512) Belgium 2013} ) 5... d6 6. e5 dxe5 7. fxe5 Bf8 {A natural reaction to meet the threat of Nd6+, but leaves black way behind in development.} ({Better is} 7... Nc6 {as if } 8. Nd6+ {black has} Kf8 9. Qe2 Nxe5 10. Nxc8 Nxf3+ 11. Qxf3 Qxc8) 8. d3 ({Predecessor:} 8. d4 a6 9. Bg5 Qd7 10. a4 axb5 11. Bxb5 Nc6 12. d5 exd5 {1-0 (45) Crepaldi,M (1777)-Alaimo,C (1940) Nichelino 2016}) 8... a6 9. Nc3 Bg7 {Inconsistent with his 7th move, and losing more time.} (9... f5 10. exf6 Nxf6) 10. Ne4 {White is pushing.} Nc6 11. Bf4 ({This is fine, but even better would be} 11. Be3 Nxe5 12. Bxc5) 11... f6 (11... Nge7 $1 {offers better chances to equalise.}) 12. exf6 ({Logical, though again} 12. Be3 {is even better,} b6 13. Nd6+ Kf8 14. d4 cxd4 15. Bxd4 fxe5 16. Bf2 $16 {Black cannot simplify with} Nd4 {because of the tactic} 17. Nxd4 Qxd6 18. Qf3+ {winning the exchange.}) 12... Nxf6 13. Nd6+ Kf8 { Hoping for ... Nh5.} 14. Nxc8 Rxc8 15. Qe2 ({Here it was important to take control of d4 and block the long diagonal with} 15. c3) 15... Kf7 {[%mdl 8192] The losing move.} ({Active play with} 15... Nd5 {would equalise, but understandably both players seem to have a mindset that white is the attacking player.}) 16. Ng5+ Ke8 17. Nxe6 Qa5+ 18. Bd2 Nb4 ({Better, but still losing, was} 18... Qb6 19. O-O-O (19. Nxg7+ Kf7) 19... Kf7 20. Ng5+ Kf8 21. Qe6 Qc7 22. g3 {with a massive attack.}) 19. Nxg7+ Kf7 20. Qe6+ Kxg7 21. Qe7+ Kg8 22. Qxf6 Re8+ ({White was already threatening a forced mate, though I doubt either side saw this to the end.} 22... Z0 23. Qe6+ Kg7 24. Qd7+ Kg8 25. Qxc8+ Kg7 26. Qd7+ Kg8 27. Qe8+ Kg7 28. Bc3+ Kh6 29. Qe3+ g5 30. Qe6+ Kh5 31. Be2+ g4 32. Qxg4+ Kh6 33. Bg7#) 23. Kd1 Qc7 24. Bc3 Qc8 25. Qg7# {A very nicely played game by white, taking advantage of most of the black inaccuracies and finishing clinically.} 1-0 [Event "Notts. League 16/17, div.1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.29"] [Round "?.2"] [White "Cumbers, Paul"] [Black "Burnett, Jim"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C00"] [WhiteElo "200"] [BlackElo "195"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [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 "Newark 2 v West Nottingham 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Aiton, Keith"] [Black "Willoughby, Robert H"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B78"] [WhiteElo "146"] [BlackElo "127"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "72"] {[%evp 27,71,-9,44,28,54,-32,18,0,0,0,15,-385,-350,-457,-435,-449,-340,-356, -305,-456,-415,-391,-299,-351,-302,-480,-275,-448,-413,-418,-343,-340,-337, -385,-386,-405,-363,-362,-357,-895,-888,-888,-800,-795,-476,-762]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. Bc4 Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Ne5 12. Bh6 Bxh6 13. Qxh6 Rxc3 14. bxc3 Qa5 { Good opening knowledge by both players.} (14... a5) 15. Kb2 Rc8 ({ Normal development, but the engines slightly prefer} 15... Qc5 16. Qd2 a5 17. a4 Bxa4 18. Ra1 b5 {with good compensation.}) 16. Ne2 {Presumably hoping to keep attacking chances of his own, but the queen is needed for the defence.} ( 16. Qd2 Qb6 17. Ka1 Qc5 18. Rhe1 Qa3 19. Rb1 b6 20. f4 Nc4 21. Qd3 Qc5 22. Rf1 d5 23. exd5 Nxd5 {1-0 (91) Schebler,G (2486)-Stoeber,M (2294) Germany 2010} ) 16... Nc4+ ({Predecessor:} 16... Bb5 17. Nd4 Qxc3+ 18. Kb1 Nc4 19. Bxc4 Rxc4 20. Qd2 Qa3 21. Qc1 Rb4+ 22. Nb3 Qa6 {0-1 (37) Pljaskina,A-Alagulian, K Moscow 1997}) 17. Bxc4 Rxc4 18. Rd4 ({Avoiding} 18. Ka1 Ra4 19. Nc1 Be6) 18... Rc6 { Strongly threatening ...Qb5+.} ({In turn avoiding a bad move,} 18... Be6 19. Rxc4 Bxc4 20. Nc1) 19. Ra1 {[%mdl 8192] Presumably missing the simple fork.} (19. Rb4 {and White stays safe}) (19. Qd2 {defending the knight is also okay.}) 19... Qb5+ 20. Rb4 Qxe2 { Loose pieces drop off! Although white will have rook and pawn for bishop and knight, the weak king position and pawn structure seal his fate.} 21. Rxb7 Rb6+ 22. Rxb6 axb6 23. Qg5 Ba4 24. Rc1 Kg7 25. h4 h6 26. Qf4 e5 27. Qh2 (27. Qg3 {was a little better, but still losing.}) 27... Nd7 28. Qg1 Qb5+ 29. Ka1 Qc4 30. Qe3 Nc5 31. Qd2 Bd7 32. Rb1 Be6 {[%csl Ge6][%CAl Rc4a2] } 33. Kb2 Na4+ 34. Kc1 Qf1+ 35. Qd1 Qxd1+ 36. Kxd1 {I'm not sure if} Nxc3+ {was played, or if white resigned before black did so. A well played game decided by white's blunder of the knight, but nicely finished off by black.} 0-1 [Event "Nottingham Open"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.03.30"] [Round "5"] [White "Munshi, Aditya"] [Black "Dong, Bao Nghia"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [WhiteElo "167"] [BlackElo "210"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "50"] {[%mdl 128][%evp 24,50,29,9,38,14,50,11,71,66,70,56,66,25,71,51,76,0,1219,120, 517,517,1846,1821,29986,1014,995,983,943]} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. Qe2 Be7 8. c3 Ngf6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Nxe4 11. Bxe4 Bxe4 12. Qxe4 c6 13. Bf4 Bf6 {Black has achieved his aim on the Fort Knox, but remains slightly worse.} (13... Qa5 14. Ne5 Rad8 15. a4 Qd5 16. Qc2 Nxe5 17. Rxe5 Qc4 18. Ra5 Rxd4 19. Be3 Rd7 20. b3 Qg4 21. h3 {0-1 (36) Ferster,F (2144)-Gemy Vargas,J (2345) Istanbul 2012}) (13... Nf6 14. Qd3 Re8 15. Rad1 Qa5 16. Qc4 Rad8 17. b4 Qd5 18. Nd2 b5 19. Qd3 Qh5 20. Be5 Bd6 21. Nf3 Ng4 22. h3 {1-0 (48) Novak,T (1998)-Nagymelykuti,I (2140) Senta 2010}) 14. Rad1 Qb6 ({Predecessor:} 14... Re8 15. a3 Qb6 16. Rd2 g6 17. Ne5 Nf8 18. Ng4 Bg7 19. Nh6+ Bxh6 20. Bxh6 Nd7 21. h4 Qb5 22. Qf3 Qd5 23. Qf4 Rac8 24. Re5 Qd6 25. Re4 {0-1 (25) Hernandez Guerrero,Y (2228)-Cua,S (2143) Beijing 2008}) 15. Re2 c5 ({Trying to break out, but black should develop at least one rook first.} 15... Rfd8) 16. d5 {[%CAl Rd5e6]} ({Also good is} 16. Ng5) 16... exd5 17. Rxd5 Qc6 { Hoping for ...Rae8!} 18. Qf5 Qa6 (18... Rfd8) 19. Re1 Nb6 20. Rd6 ({Setting black a difficult question, though objectively better is} 20. Rdd1) 20... Bd8 {[%mdl 8192] This tees up white for a nice finish.} ({Black can equalize with} 20... Rfe8 {because the sacrifice} 21. Rxf6 {is refuted by} Rxe1+ 22. Nxe1 Qe2) 21. a3 $16 (21. Bh6 {and mate can only be delayed by giving up loads of material.} Qa4 (21... gxh6 22. Rxh6) 22. Ng5 g6 (22... Qc2 23. Qxc2 f5) 23. Qe5 f6 24. Qe6+ Kh8 25. Bxf8 fxg5 26. Qe5+ Bf6 27. Qxf6+ Kg8 28. Qg7#) 21... Qa4 { [%mdl 8192] } ({White still has to "prove it" after} 21... Qc4 22. Rdd1 Bf6) 22. Bh6 {This time white finds the winning sacrifice.} Re8 { A nice try, forcing white to find the winning move.} (22... gxh6 23. Rxh6 { as above}) (22... f6 23. Re4 Qb3 24. Bxg7 Kxg7 25. Rh4 Qg8 26. Ne5 fxe5 27. Rg4+ Kh8 28. Qxe5+) 23. Rxd8 gxh6 (23... Raxd8 24. Qg5 Rxe1+ 25. Nxe1 Kf8 26. Qxd8+ Qe8 27. Bxg7+) 24. Re7 ({Completely winning, though there was a forced mate starting with} 24. Ng5 hxg5 25. Qxg5+ Kf8 {} 26. Qf6 Kg8 27. Re7 {and even giving up the queen doesn't really help,} Qd1+ 28. Rxd1 Rxe7 29. Qxe7 {and it's still mate in 7.}) 24... Qd1+ 25. Rxd1 Rxe7 {Black didn't find the defence to white's attack, and the game was finished off with some nice sacrificial play.} 1-0 [Event "Nottingham Congress"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2017.04.01"] [Round "3"] [White "Jazdzewski, Daniel"] [Black "Taylor, Robert P"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "158"] [BlackElo "147"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "33"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%evp 3,33,-12,39,-38,14,-18,40,27,51,25,64,25,69,41,75,7,37,33,132,69,119,86, 421,421,467,461,732,675,29997,29998,29998,29999]} 1. f4 Nc6 2. Nf3 d6 3. b3 {In this particular position this is open to exploitation.} (3. e4 e5 4. fxe5 dxe5 5. Bc4 Bc5 6. d3 Nf6 7. Bg5 h6 8. Bh4 Qd6 9. Nc3 Na5 10. Bb5+ c6 11. Ba4 b5 12. Bb3 Nxb3 13. axb3 {1-0 (65) Stopa,J (2515)-Meister,J (2463) Berlin 2014} ) 3... Bf5 ({Predecessor:} 3... Bg4 4. Bb2 Bxf3 5. exf3 Nf6 6. Qe2 Qd7 7. Qe3 O-O-O 8. Bb5 Kb8 9. O-O a6 10. a4 Nd5 {0-1 (37) Deus Filho,J (2030)-Da Silva,A (1801) Curitiba 2016}) ({Black seems to be doing well if he hits out with} 3... e5) 4. d3 f6 ({If this was played to prepare} 4... e5 { it was an unnecessary loss of tempo, and weakening too.}) 5. e4 { Now white is slightly better as he takes the initiative.} Bg4 6. Be2 e5 ({ Black seems to be already on the brink and needed to find} 6... d5) 7. O-O Nge7 8. c3 Qd7 9. Be3 ({Not bad, but white should probably try to expand on the queenside too with} 9. b4 {restricting black's possible counterplay with } d5 10. b5) 9... d5 10. fxe5 fxe5 {Now black is in real trouble.} ({Black needed to find} 10... dxe4 11. dxe4 Qxd1 12. Bxd1 (12. Rxd1 Nxe5 13. h3 Nxf3+ 14. Bxf3 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Ng6) 12... Bxf3 13. gxf3 fxe5 $14 {and he's only slightly worse.}) 11. h3 Bh5 (11... dxe4 12. dxe4 ( 12. hxg4 Nd5 13. Bf2 exf3 14. Bxf3 Be7) 12... Qxd1 13. Rxd1 (13. Bxd1 Bxf3 14. Bxf3 O-O-O) 13... Bxf3 14. Bxf3 (14. gxf3 Ng6) 14... Ng6) 12. Ng5 $1 Bg6 {[%mdl 8192] Stepping over the edge!} ({White is much better, but still needs to win the game, after} 12... Bxe2 13. Qxe2 d4) 13. Bg4 Qd6 14. Ne6 {White is finding all the best moves. Threatens to win with Bc5.} b6 ({Black has no sensible moves. Maybe he could try} 14... Nd8 {hoping that white doesn't find the killing} 15. Nc5 Ng8 16. Bd7+ Ke7 17. d4 { with a fatal opening up of the centre.}) 15. Qf3 {[%CAl Rf3f8]} h5 16. Qxf8+ Rxf8 17. Rxf8+ {with mate next move after Kd7 18.Nc5# A very nice execution of the attack after black missed his chances to stay in the game.} 1-0 [Event "Nottingham, Major"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2017.04.02"] [Round "4"] [White "Jazdzewski, Daniel"] [Black "London, Nick J"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A03"] [WhiteElo "158"] [BlackElo "148"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "68"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%evp 10,68,-4,-22,15,0,22,0,44,1,19,-12,73,49,69,60,73,-26,-16,-36,6,0,20,20, 85,82,90,73,146,-74,86,-353,-291,-343,-304,-948,-901,-1117,-1073,-1027,-1027, -1270,-1115,-1301,-1105,-1046,-1008,-1014,-976,-976,-824,-899,-899,-898,-762, -29990,-29991,-29992,-29993,-29993,-29990]} 1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. b3 Bf5 4. Bb2 e6 5. e3 Be7 6. Be2 Ne4 (6... c5 7. O-O O-O 8. h3 Nc6 9. d3 Bg6 10. g4 Nd7 11. Nbd2 f5 12. g5 e5 13. h4 d4 14. fxe5 dxe3 {0-1 (49) Nepomniachtchi,I (2714)-Tomashevsky,E (2714) Sochi 2014}) 7. d3 (7. Bxg7 Rg8 8. d3 (8. Bb2 Rxg2 9. h3 (9. h4 Nf2) 9... Bh4+ 10. Kf1 Rxe2 11. Kxe2 Ng3+) 8... Rxg7 9. dxe4 dxe4 10. Qxd8+ Bxd8 11. Nd4 Rxg2) 7... Nd6 (7... Nf6 {creates tension, e.g.} 8. O-O O-O 9. Nh4 Bg6 10. Bf3 Nbd7) ({Predecessor:} 7... Bh4+ 8. g3 Bf6 9. Ne5 Nd6 10. Qd2 Be7 11. Nc3 f6 12. Nf3 c6 13. h3 Nd7 14. O-O-O {0-1 (49) Reid,V (1671)-Eldridge Smith,V (1266) Mount Buller 2005}) 8. O-O Bf6 {A little inaccurate perhaps.} (8... O-O {allows black to meet} 9. Ne5 {with} f6) 9. c3 ({Missing the chance to play} 9. Ne5) 9... Nd7 10. Nbd2 Nc5 (10... c6 {keeps the balance.}) 11. Qc2 Bg6 12. b4 { White has good play.} Nd7 13. a4 {This allows black to turn the tables.} (13. e4 {(aiming for e5)} dxe4 14. dxe4 (14. Nxe4 O-O)) 13... Nf5 14. Kf2 c6 ({Better the more aggressive} 14... c5) 15. a5 Qc7 ({Still} 15... c5 16. bxc5 Nxc5) 16. g4 Bh4+ {Enterprising play, if unfortunately not quite sound.} (16... Nd6) 17. Nxh4 { Otherwise black is winning.} Nxh4 18. Kg3 h5 19. h3 (19. Kxh4 {is forced if you want to stay better,} hxg4+ 20. Kg3 Qd8 {and now only} 21. Rh1 {keeps the advantage,} Qh4+ 22. Kg2 Qh3+ 23. Kf2 Qh4+ 24. Kg1 g3 25. Nf3) 19... O-O-O {} (19... e5 {keeps the pressure on.} 20. c4 (20. Kxh4 hxg4+ 21. Kxg4 Bh5+ 22. Kg3 Bxe2) 20... hxg4 21. hxg4 d4 {with chances for both sides.}) 20. e4 {[%mdl 8192] After this white's king is too exposed.} ({Not} 20. Kxh4 hxg4+ 21. Kxg4 (21. Kg3 Rxh3+ 22. Kf2 g3+ 23. Kg1 Rdh8) 21... Bh5+ 22. Kg3 Bxe2) (20. c4 {is necessary to claim the advantage.}) 20... dxe4 21. dxe4 { With the idea g5.} Nf6 ( {Also winning is} 21... hxg4 22. Bxg4 f5 23. c4 fxg4 24. hxg4) 22. g5 $19 {} (22. Bc1 hxg4 23. Bxg4 {doesn't help.}) 22... Rxd2 23. Qxd2 Nxe4+ 24. Kxh4 Nxd2 {Now black just needs to open up the white king.} 25. Rf2 Ne4 26. Rf3 Nd6 {[%CAl Rd6f5]} 27. Kg3 Be4 28. Rf2 Nf5+ 29. Kh2 g6 30. c4 Rd8 31. Be5 Qd7 32. Bf6 {} Qd2 {A nice finish, sacrificing of the rook in exchange for the white king!} 33. Bxd8 Qe3 {[%CAl Re3f2]} 34. Kg1 Qxh3 { with mate to follow after white runs out of pieces to throw in the way. After an exchange of inaccuracies early on, black played a speculative attack and was rewarded with a nice win when black didn't find the refutation.} 0-1 [Event "West Nottingham 1 v Newark 1"] [Site "West Bridgford"] [Date "2017.04.03"] [Round "4"] [White "Levens, David G"] [Black "Jazdzewski, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B09"] [WhiteElo "156"] [BlackElo "158"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "103"] [EventDate "2017.02.20"] {[%evp 13,103,-7,63,36,68,62,75,36,45,45,51,13,51,38,66,49,88,72,90,92,103,69, 129,116,142,114,195,171,179,155,202,166,336,251,418,403,413,413,420,414,611, 374,392,392,400,390,424,424,424,424,427,391,396,300,359,274,274,207,218,204, 436,436,579,318,476,485,479,462,597,495,495,495,703,495,539,314,533,351,414, 385,499,494,597,542,747,662,764,704,1565,780,2827,2416]} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. f4 Nf6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 (7... Qa5 8. O-O Qxc5+ 9. Kh1 Nc6) 8. e5 Ng4 9. O-O Nc6 10. Qxd8 Rxd8 11. h3 Nh6 12. Be3 ({Komodo prefers} 12. g4 {restricting the knight, though the game move is also a small plus.}) 12... b6 ({Here there is a definite preference for the more active} 12... Nd4 13. Rfd1 Nhf5 {keeping white's edge to a minimum.}) 13. g4 $36 { White fights for an advantage.} Nb4 14. Rac1 Bb7 ({Black could try to simplify with} 14... Ba6 15. Bxa6 Nxa6) ({Also a better try was} 14... f6 {mixing things up.}) 15. a3 Nd5 16. Nxd5 Bxd5 {} 17. b4 ({ Previously played was} 17. Rfd1 Bc6 18. Kf2 e6 19. Nd2 f5 20. exf6 Bf8 21. Nc4 Nf7 22. Bf3 Bxf3 23. Kxf3 Rxd1 24. Rxd1 Rd8 25. Rxd8 Nxd8 26. Ne5 { 1-0 (49) Winkels,M (2002)-Kraska,E Rhodes 2013}) 17... c4 ({Black should probably jettison a pawn to get some piece activity, e.g.} 17... f6 18. exf6 exf6 19. bxc5 Bf8 20. cxb6 axb6 21. Bxb6 Rdc8 22. c4 Bxa3) 18. Rfd1 Kf8 (18... b5 19. a4 bxa4 20. Ra1 e6 21. Rxa4 f6) 19. Rd4 b5 ({Black could simplify with} 19... Bxf3 20. Bxf3 Rxd4 21. Bxd4 Rd8 22. Rd1 f6 (22... e6 23. Bc5+ Ke8 24. Bc6+) {but white should be winning after} 23. e6) 20. Rcd1 e6 21. Ng5 Ke7 (21... Ke8 22. Nxh7 Ng8 {would be less bad for black than the game.}) 22. Nxh7 Rh8 (22... Ng8 {keeps fighting.} 23. R4d2 Ke8) 23. Ng5 f6 24. Rxd5 exd5 25. Bc5+ Ke8 26. Ne6 {} Kf7 (26... fxe5 27. Nc7+ Kf7 28. Nxa8 Rxa8 29. Rxd5 exf4) 27. Nc7 fxe5 28. Nxa8 Rxa8 29. Rxd5 exf4 30. Rd7+ Kg8 31. Bf3 Re8 32. Bd5+ Kh8 {} 33. Bxa7 { Komodo suggests that white had more accurate moves over the next few turns, but white's advantage was big enough for these not to matter.} ({Black can hardly move - but here Komodo thinks} 33. Rxa7 {is stronger.}) 33... Ng8 { and the idea ...Nf6 leaves Black hopeful.} 34. Bf7 Ra8 {Black wants to play ... Rxa7 winning the piece.} 35. Bc5 (35. Kg2 Nf6 36. Rb7 g5 37. Kf3) 35... Nf6 36. Ra7 (36. Rb7) 36... Rd8 {The second extra pawn is clearly decisive.} ({The best chance seems to be} 36... Rxa7 37. Bxa7 g5 {though white is still clearly winning.}) 37. Bxg6 Nd5 38. Be4 (38. Kf2) 38... Nc3 39. Ra8 Rxa8 40. Bxa8 Nb1 41. Kf2 Nxa3 42. Be4 Be5 43. Ke2 Nb1 44. Bc6 Nc3+ (44... Na3 45. Be4 Nb1 46. h4) 45. Ke1 Kh7 46. Kf2 Nd1+ 47. Kf3 Nc3 48. h4 Kg7 49. g5 Kg6 50. Kg4 Kg7 51. h5 Kf7 52. Kf5 {White took advantage of a series of second-best moves by black, that left his kingside pieces without any activity, to build up an overwhelming advantage.} 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 "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [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 "Notts v Kent, U140"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.05.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Fraser, Chris"] [Black "Hickey, Peter"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E63"] [WhiteElo "119"] [BlackElo "123"] [Annotator "Steve Burke with Komodo 10"] [PlyCount "63"] {[%evp 17,63,-52,36,-64,12,-13,28,0,36,0,16,-5,35,0,26,13,43,0,23,25,33,-43,36, -77,35,-447,-455,-629,-245,-274,0,0,0,0,29977,29978,29978,3207,29991,29992, 29992,29993,29995,29996,29996,29997,29997,29998]} 1. c4 g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. d4 Nc6 7. O-O a6 8. e4 e5 9. h3 {This is a move that white often plays in these fianchetto lines, but here it is incorrect.} ({ White should play} 9. d5 {or 9.exd5.}) 9... Rb8 ({Better is} 9... Nxd4 10. Nxd4 exd4 11. Qxd4 Be6 {and black has got everything he could hope for in this line.}) 10. a4 ({Again, white should preface this with} 10. d5 { and, for example,} Ne7 11. b4 c6 12. a4 cxd5 13. cxd5 Bd7 14. Bd2 Rc8 15. Re1 h6 16. Qb3 Ne8 17. b5 a5 18. b6 {0-1 (33) Iljin,A (2537)-Korobov,A (2708) Sochi 2015}) 10... Re8 ({Still} 10... exd4 11. Nxd4 {has tactical issues,} Nxe4 12. Nxc6 Nxc3 13. Qb3 Ne2+ 14. Kh2 Nd4 15. Nxd4 Bxd4) 11. d5 ( {Predecessor:} 11. Be3 exd4 12. Nxd4 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Qd3 Nd7 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. b3 Qf6 17. Kh2 {1-0 (35) Hlinka,M (2196)-Kusiak,M (2179) Slovakia 2013 }) 11... Nb4 (11... Nd4 {should be considered.}) 12. Be3 Bf8 13. Qe2 a5 14. b3 Bd7 15. Rac1 Qc8 16. Kh2 Na6 17. Nd2 Nc5 18. f4 {Strongly threatening fxe5. } exf4 19. gxf4 {This looks natural, but apparently black had a surprising retort.} (19. Bxc5 dxc5 (19... fxg3+ 20. Kg1 dxc5 21. Rxf6) 20. gxf4 { and white has an impressive centre in exchange for giving up his bishop pair.}) 19... Nh5 (19... b6 {would allow} 20. Bxc5 {to be met with} bxc5) 20. Rf2 ({Again missing the chance to grab the centre with} 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. e5) 20... Bg7 (20... b6) 21. Rcf1 {[%mdl 8192] This leaves the knight on c3 en prise.} Bxc3 22. f5 Bxd2 ({Better would be} 22... Be5+ 23. Kg1 Ng3 {but it shouldn't matter.}) 23. Bxd2 Bxf5 {Black misses the strength of white's equalizing response.} ({Black could play} 23... Nxb3 24. Bc3 Qd8 25. Qe3 Qe7 26. Bf3 Qh4) ({Another line is} 23... Qd8 24. fxg6 fxg6 25. Qe3 Re5 26. Bc3 Qg5) 24. Rxf5 gxf5 25. Qxh5 {aiming for Qg5+ and now having a good initiative for the exchange down.} Nxe4 {[%mdl 8192] A second tactical miss, after which the black king is fatally exposed.} ( 25... f6 {controling g5 and preparing to defend on the second rank holds the balance.}) 26. Bxe4 Rxe4 27. Rg1+ Kf8 (27... Kh8 28. Bc3+ Re5 29. Qh6 Qf8 30. Qf6+ Qg7 31. Qxg7#) 28. Bh6+ Ke7 29. Qg5+ Ke8 30. Qg8+ Kd7 (30... Ke7 31. Bg5+ f6 32. Bxf6+ Kxf6 33. Qg7#) 31. Qxf7+ Re7 32. Qxf5+ {with mate in two. Black allowed a good recovery, and a nice mating attack, after white dropped a piece.} 1-0 [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 "Nomads 1 v Gambit X"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.10.17"] [Round "?"] [White "Biermann, Florian"] [Black "Bhayat, Shane"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "147"] [BlackElo "150"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "64"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] {My opponent hadn't seen my get out of jail move 25.....Rb8 followed by Rb5 allowing the king walk to safety, after which the simple a5 was unstoppable without exchanging the queens into a totally lost endgame. Although the game isn't full of tactical hoops and loops I think it is interesting partly because of the unusualness of the opening,} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 c6 3. Nc3 Qc7 4. Bd3 e5 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Nge2 Be6 7. O-O Nf6 8. h3 Be7 9. f4 O-O 10. Be3 Na6 11. Bxa6 bxa6 12. Ng3 exf4 13. Rxf4 Bd6 14. Rxf6 Bxg3 15. Rf3 Be5 16. Qf1 Rab8 17. Na4 Bxb2 18. Nxb2 Rxb2 19. Qc1 Rxa2 20. Rxa2 Bxa2 21. Bh6 Be6 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Qg5+ Kh8 24. Qf6+ Kg8 25. e5 Rb8 26. Rg3+ Kf8 27. Kh2 Rb5 28. Rg5 Ke8 29. Rh5 Kd7 30. Rg5 Kc8 31. Rg8+ Kb7 32. Rg5 a5 0-1 [Event "Ashfield 1 vs. Mansfield "] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.10.18"] [Round "?"] [White "Tait, Jonathan A"] [Black "Dong, Bao Nghia"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C10"] [WhiteElo "207"] [BlackElo "215"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2017.??.??"] 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bd7 5. Nf3 Bc6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. O-O Ngf6 8. Ng3 Be7 9. b3 O-O 10. Bb2 b6 11. c4 Bb7 12. Qe2 c5 13. Rad1 Qc7 14. d5 exd5 15. Qxe7 Rfe8 16. Bxf6 Rxe7 17. Bxe7 d4 18. Rfe1 f6 19. Nf5 Bxf3 20. gxf3 Qf4 21. Be4 Re8 22. Bd5+ Kh8 23. Nd6 Rxe7 24. Rxe7 Qxd6 25. Re8+ Nf8 26. Rde1 h5 27. R1e6 Qf4 28. Rxf8+ Kh7 29. Be4+ Kh6 30. Rh8+ Kg5 31. Rg8 Kh6 32. Rh8+ Kg5 33. Rh7 Qc7 34. Re8 Qf7 35. Reh8 h4 36. Rxh4 1-0 [Event "Grantham 3 vs University 2"] [Site "Grantham"] [Date "2017.11.29"] [Round "85"] [White "Nelder, Alan "] [Black "Wright, Joe "] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "129"] [BlackElo "105"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "126"] [EventDate "29.??.??"] {Below is my entry for best swindle I had against Alan Nelder, withstood a very sustained attack, then managed to draw a tricky endgame after all that, Joe.} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Bd3 Qd7 5. Nf3 g6 6. O-O Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Bg7 8. Nbd2 f5 9. Nb3 Na6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 e6 12. h3 g5 13. Bg3 Qe7 14. c4 dxc4 15. Qxc4 h5 16. Na5 Rc8 17. Nxb7 Qxb7 18. Qxe6+ Ne7 19. Nxg5 Rf8 20. Nh7 Nc7 21. Qc4 Rh8 22. Nf6+ Bxf6 23. exf6 Ned5 24. Rfe1+ Kf7 25. Bh4 Kg6 26. Qd3 Nxf6 27. Re5 Ncd5 28. Qxf5+ Kf7 29. Rae1 Rh6 30. Qe6+ Kg7 31. Rg5+ Rg6 32. Ree5 Re8 33. Rxg6+ Kxg6 34. Qf5+ Kg7 35. Rxe8 Nxe8 36. Qxh5 Qf7 37. Qxf7+ Kxf7 38. g4 Nd6 39. Bg3 Ne4 40. h4 Nd2 41. Bd6 Nf3+ 42. Kg2 Nxd4 43. Bc5 Ne2 44. Bxa7 Nc1 45. a3 Nd3 46. b4 Nc3 47. f3 Nb1 48. a4 Nxb4 49. a5 Nd2 50. h5 Nb3 51. h6 c5 52. g5 c4 53. Kg3 c3 54. f4 c2 55. Be3 c1=Q 56. Bxc1 Nxc1 57. f5 Ne2+ 58. Kg2 Nf4+ 59. Kg1 Kg8 60. g6 Kh8 61. h7 Kg7 62. f6+ Kh8 63. f7 Nxg6 1/2-1/2 [Event "Notts County Champs, U155"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.12.02"] [Round "3"] [White "Grainger, Charlie"] [Black "Sudar, Drag"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B62"] [WhiteElo "134"] [BlackElo "151"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "59"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9. f4 ({Too impatient. Allows 9...Qb6, winning a piece since the knight is pinned. Note that f4 blocks the bishop from coming back to the defence of the knight. Better was} 9. Be3) 9... h6 ({Misses} 9... Qb6 {to win the piece. This allows the bishop to come back to defend the knight.}) 10. Bh4 Qb6 11. Bf2 Qc7 {I was expecting Drag to take on b2 here, and was relieved when he didnt.} 12. f5 ({Again, too impatient by me here. f5 needed to be prepared, starting with} 12. Bb3) 12... Nxd4 13. Qxd4 a6 14. a4 Ng4 15. Be2 ({ This loses a pawn. Better is} 15. fxe6 {but I didn't consider this since I was worried about} d5 {attacking the bishop and the h2 square. However, after} 16. e5 dxc4 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Nxe7+ Qxe7 19. Qxg4 Bxe6 {the position is equal.}) 15... Nxf2 16. Qxf2 d5 17. Kh1 {To prevent Bc5 from pinning the queen.} Bc5 ({ Drag could have won a pawn here, starting with} 17... dxe4) 18. Qh4 d4 19. f6 ( {I could have played} 19. Nd1 {here, but after much scrutiny, I couldn't see a refutation for the knight sacrifice. I thought that it was either winning outright, or if not, I should be able to force a draw via perpetual. Either way, an interesting game is sure to follow.}) 19... dxc3 20. fxg7 Kxg7 21. Qf6+ Kh7 22. e5 {Opening the diagonal for a crushing Bd3+ next move.} Be3 ({This loses. The only saving move was} 22... Rd8 {where after} 23. bxc3 {Black's position is difficult, but equal according to the engine. )}) 23. Bd3+ Kg8 24. Rf3 Bg5 25. Rg3 Qd8 26. Qxh6 {Mate is now inevitable. Drag could have resigned here, but he graciously allowed the mate to appear on board.} f5 27. Rxg5+ Kf7 28. Rg7+ Ke8 29. Qg6+ Rf7 30. Qxf7# 1-0 [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"] [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 "West Bridgford v Gambit 2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.01.08"] [Round "?"] [White "Thompson, Brian"] [Black "Adams, Tom"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A43"] [WhiteElo "180"] [BlackElo "192"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "145"] [EventDate "2017.09.01"] [EventType "team-game"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 c5 3. d5 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 (6. Be3 a6 7. a4 Ng4 8. Bd2 Nd7 9. h3 Nge5 10. Be2 Rb8 11. O-O) 6... O-O 7. O-O Bg4 (7... a6) (7... e6) 8. h3 Bxf3 (8... Bd7) 9. Bxf3 Nbd7 10. Bf4 a6 11. a4 b6 12. Qd2 Re8 13. Bh6 Bh8 14. Be2 Qc7 15. f4 Red8 16. Bg5 (16. g4) 16... Bg7 (16... c4) 17. Bf3 (17. Bc4) 17... h6 18. Bxf6 (18. Bh4) 18... Bxf6 19. e5 Bg7 (19... dxe5 20. d6 Qxd6 21. Qxd6 exd6 22. Bxa8 Rxa8 23. Rad1 exf4 24. Rxd6 Bd4+ 25. Kh1) 20. e6 Nf8 (20... Nf6) 21. f5 g5 22. Bh5 (22. Qe2) 22... fxe6 23. fxe6 (23. dxe6 Bd4+ 24. Kh1) 23... Nh7 24. Qd3 (24. h4) (24. Rf7 c4 (24... Nf6 25. Qd3 Nxh5 26. Qg6 Rf8 27. Ne4) (24... Rf8) (24... Kh8)) 24... Rf8 (24... c4 25. Qg6 Nf6 26. Ne4) 25. Qg6 (25. Rf7) (25. Bf7+) (25. Rxf8+ Rxf8 26. Qxa6 c4) 25... Rxf1+ (25... Kh8) 26. Rxf1 Rf8 27. Rf7 (27. Rxf8+ Nxf8 28. Qf7+ Kh8 29. Ne4 Qd8 30. Ng3 Nh7 31. Nf5 Bf6 (31... Qf8 32. Nxe7) 32. Bg6 Qg8 33. Bxh7 Qxh7 34. Qf8+ Qg8 35. Qxh6+ Qh7 36. Qf8+ Qg8) 27... Rxf7 28. Qxf7+ (28. exf7+ Kh8 29. Be2 (29. Nd1) (29. Qf5 Nf8)) 28... Kh8 29. Qe8+ Nf8 30. Ne4 c4 (30... b5 31. Nf6 Qa5 32. c3 Qxa4 33. Qf7 exf6 34. e7 Qf4 35. e8=Q) 31. Bg4 (31. Kh1 c3 32. b3) 31... Qb7 (31... c3 32. b3 (32. bxc3 Qc4)) (31... b5 32. Kh2 c3 (32... Qb6 33. axb5) 33. b3) 32. Nf6 b5 33. Qf7 Qb6+ 34. Kh1 (34. Kf1) 34... exf6 35. e7 Qf2 36. exf8=Q+ (36. e8=Q Qxc2 37. Qe2) 36... Bxf8 37. Qxf8+ Kh7 38. Qxd6 Kg6 39. Qb8 h5 (39... Qe1+ 40. Kh2 Kg7 (40... Qf2 41. Qg8#) (40... Qe5+ 41. Qxe5 fxe5 42. d6) 41. Qc7+ Kg6 42. d6 Qe5+ 43. g3) (39... Kg7 40. Qc7+ Kg6 41. Qe7 Qf1+ 42. Kh2 Qf4+ 43. Kg1 Qc1+ 44. Kf2 Qxc2+ 45. Qe2 Qxa4 46. Qe4+ Kg7 (46... Kf7 47. Qe6+ Kg7 48. Qe7+ Kg6) 47. Bh5 (47. Qe7+ Kg6 48. Qe4+ Kg7 49. Bh5 Kf8 50. Qe8+ Kg7 51. Qf7+ Kh8 52. Qxf6+ Kg8 53. Bf7+ Kf8 54. Be6+ Ke8 55. Qf7+ Kd8 56. Qd7#) 47... b4 48. Qe7+ Kh8 49. Qxf6+ Kg8 50. Bf7+ Kf8 51. Bg6+ Kg8 52. Qf7+ Kh8 53. Qh7#) (39... Qf1+ 40. Kh2) (39... f5 40. Qg8+ Kf6 41. Qe6+ Kg7 42. Bxf5 Qf1+ 43. Kh2 Qf4+ 44. Kg1 Qc1+ 45. Kf2 Qd2+ 46. Kf3 Qf4+ 47. Ke2) 40. Qg8+ Kh6 41. Qh8+ Kg6 42. Bxh5+ Kf5 43. Qc8+ Kf4 44. Qg4+ (44. g3+ Qxg3 45. Qb8+ Ke4 46. Qxg3) 44... Ke5 (44... Ke3 45. d6) 45. Qe2+ (45. Qe6+ Kd4 (45... Kf4 46. Qxf6+ Ke3 (46... Kg3 47. Qxg5#) 47. Qb6+ Kf4 48. Qxf2+) 46. Qb6+ Kxd5 47. Qxf2) 45... Qxe2 46. Bxe2 Kxd5 47. axb5 axb5 48. Kg1 Kd4 49. Kf2 f5 50. c3+ Ke4 51. Bf3+ Kd3 52. Bc6 Kc2 53. Bxb5 Kxb2 54. Bxc4 Kxc3 55. Be6 f4 56. Kf3 Kd4 57. Kg4 Ke5 58. Bc8 (58. Kxg5 Kxe6 59. Kxf4) 58... Kf6 59. Bb7 Kg6 60. Be4+ Kh6 61. Kf5 Kh5 62. Bf3+ Kh4 63. Kf6 Kg3 64. Kxg5 Kh2 65. h4 Kg3 66. h5 Kh2 67. h6 Kg3 68. h7 Kf2 69. h8=Q Kg1 70. Qd4+ Kh2 71. Qxf4+ Kg1 72. Qe3+ Kh2 73. Qf2 (73. Qf2 Kh1 74. g4# (74. g3#)) 1-0 [Event "Lincs v Notts, Minor Counties"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.01.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Williams, J Stuart"] [Black "Swain, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E95"] [WhiteElo "182"] [BlackElo "171"] [PlyCount "87"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Re1 exd4 9. Nxd4 Nc5 10. Bf1 Re8 11. f3 a5 12. Ndb5 Bd7 13. Be3 Bxb5 14. Nxb5 Nfd7 15. Qd2 a4 16. Rad1 Rc8 17. Bd4 Qh4 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. b4 axb3 20. axb3 Re5 21. b4 Na6 22. g3 Qh6 23. f4 Re7 24. Nc3 Kg8 25. Nd5 Ree8 26. c5 dxc5 27. Bxa6 bxa6 28. bxc5 Qf8 29. Rc1 c6 30. Ne3 Nxc5 31. Ng4 Re6 32. f5 gxf5 33. exf5 Rxe1+ 34. Rxe1 Qg7 35. Nh6+ Kh8 36. Qd6 Rf8 37. Qxc5 Qxh6 38. f6 Rd8 39. Qxc6 Qf8 40. Re7 Ra8 41. Rxf7 Qd8 42. Qc2 Qd4+ 43. Kf1 Qa1+ 44. Kg2 1-0 [Event "Ashfield 1 v Newark 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.03.05"] [Round "?"] [White "George, Andrew"] [Black "Levens, David G"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "172"] [BlackElo "152"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "76"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b4 {Already I am facing a variation I have never seen before} d5 (2... e5 3. Nxe5 Nc6 4. Nxc6 dxc6) 3. Bb2 e6 4. a3 Be7 5. e3 O-O 6. d4 c6 (6... a5 {This was probably best, but I could not see what it led to!?}) 7. Nbd2 b6 8. Bd3 Nbd7 9. O-O c5 10. bxc5 bxc5 11. c4 Rb8 12. Qc2 Ba6 13. Ne5 Rc8 ( 13... Qc7 {Fritz considered this marginally better}) 14. f4 cxd4 15. Bxd4 h6 16. Qa4 {} Nc5 17. Bxc5 Bxc5 18. Qxa6 Bxe3+ 19. Kh1 Bxd2 20. cxd5 $2 {And another error} Nxd5 21. f5 Bf4 (21... Bc3 {In the cold light of day this was clearly better}) 22. fxe6 {But this is big blunder} Bxe5 23. exf7+ Rxf7 24. Qe6 Nf4 25. Rxf4 Bxf4 26. Bg6 Rcc7 27. g3 Bg5 28. Rf1 Bf6 {By now my opponent was also getting very short of time and really could have resigned here} 29. Bb1 Qa8+ (29... Rce7 {This was clearly better than the move I played, but I was also getting short of time and the match result could well have depended on it}) 30. Be4 Qc8 31. Qd5 Rc5 32. Qd1 Qe6 33. Re1 Re5 34. Qd3 Rd7 35. Qc2 {Here, Fritz considers White to be at least 14 points ahead!!} Re7 36. Bh7+ Kh8 37. Rg1 Re2 38. Qc5 Kxh7 {White resigns. There is still a lot of improvement needed in my game, though that was definitely a step nearer to what I used to be} 0-1 [Event "Ashfield v West Nottingham"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.04.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Willow, Jonah B"] [Black "Molyneux, John"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B38"] [WhiteElo "196"] [BlackElo "200"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "76"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 { White has scored very well with this relatively modern line whatever black has played here.} g6 ({ The engines' favourite is} 5... e5 {but g6 is only +0.3}) 6. c4 Bg7 7. Nc3 Nc6 8. Be3 O-O 9. Be2 Bd7 10. O-O a6 11. Kh1 Rb8 {} 12. f4 (12. Qd2 b5 13. cxb5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 axb5 15. b4 (15. e5 dxe5 16. Bxe5 b4)) 12... b5 {Forcing the issue.} 13. cxb5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 axb5 15. e5 Ne8 {} 16. exd6 ({Mybe white has a small edge after} 16. Nd5) 16... Nxd6 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qd4+ Kg8 19. Rad1 Be6 20. Qe5 Qb6 21. b3 Nf5 22. Rd3 b4 23. Na4 Qa7 { } 24. g4 ({A brave attempt, but the safe option was} 24. Qc5) 24... Nh4 25. f5 Qa8+ {Black is better -0.7} ({There's a long and difficult variation after} 25... Bd7 26. fxg6 Qa8+ 27. Bf3 fxg6 28. Kg1 Nxf3+ 29. Rdxf3 Rxf3 30. Rxf3 Bxg4 31. Rg3 Qa7+ 32. Kg2 Bd7) 26. Bf3 Nxf3 27. Rfxf3 Rbd8 ({Another long and difficult variation after} 27... Bd7 28. Kg1 Rbc8 29. Nc5 f6 30. Qxe7 Rf7 31. Qe3 Bb5 32. Rd2 Rxc5 33. Qxc5 Qxf3 34. Qxb5 Qxg4+ 35. Rg2 Qd4+ 36. Rf2 Kg7) 28. Kg1 Bd5 29. fxg6 hxg6 30. Rh3 { } f6 (30... Qa7+ 31. Rde3 f6 32. Qxe7 Qxe7 33. Rxe7 Rf7 34. Rhe3 Rxe7 35. Rxe7 Bf3) 31. Qxe7 Rf7 32. Qe3 (32. Qxb4 Bc6 33. Nb6 Qb8 34. Qc5) 32... Re8 {} 33. Qd4 (33. Qh6 Rg7 34. Rde3) 33... Bh1 34. Rhg3 Rfe7 {This is the human move.} ({Flipping the move order would have been a clean kill,} 34... Re1+ 35. Kf2 Rfe7 { but it needs a series of exact moves after} 36. Rde3 R7xe3 37. Rxe3 Rc1 38. Rg3 Qc6 39. Ke2 Bg2 $1 {and still there are tricky lines to find.}) 35. Rd2 {A fatal mistake.} ( {Komodo says white is worse, but might not be lost after} 35. Rd1 {one line being} Re3 36. Qc4+ Kg7 37. Qc7+ R8e7 38. Qd6 Rxg3+ 39. Qxg3 Bc6 40. Nc5 Qe8 $17) 35... Re1+ 36. Kf2 R1e4 37. Qd6 g5 38. Rd4 Re2+ {[%emt 0:00:02] with mate in} 0-1 [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 "Nottingham Congress"] [Site "Nottingham High School"] [Date "2018.04.22"] [Round "4"] [White "Willow, Jonah B"] [Black "Hebden, Mark"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C48"] [WhiteElo "209"] [BlackElo "236"] [PlyCount "101"] [EventDate "2018.04.22"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bb5 Bd6 5. a3 h6 6. d3 a6 7. Bc4 Be7 8. O-O d6 9. h3 O-O 10. Ne2 Be6 11. Ng3 d5 12. exd5 Bxd5 13. Bxd5 Qxd5 14. Re1 Rad8 15. Bd2 Rfe8 16. Bc3 Bc5 17. Nd2 Bd4 18. Bxd4 Nxd4 19. Nde4 Nxe4 20. Nxe4 f5 21. Nc3 Qc6 22. Rc1 Rd6 23. Ne2 Rg6 24. Ng3 f4 25. Ne4 f3 26. g3 Rf8 27. Kh2 Qd7 28. Re3 Ne2 29. Rxe2 fxe2 30. Qxe2 b6 31. Qh5 Re6 32. Qg4 Qc6 33. Re1 Re7 34. Re2 Ref7 35. h4 Kh8 36. Qh3 a5 37. Qf1 a4 38. Qc1 Rd7 39. Qd2 Rd4 40. Qc3 Rxe4 41. Qxc6 Rxe2 42. Qxa4 Rexf2+ 43. Kh3 h5 44. Qe4 R8f5 45. a4 Kh7 46. b4 g6 47. Qc6 Rf7 48. a5 bxa5 49. bxa5 Re2 50. a6 e4 51. a7 1-0 [Event "Notts v Lancs, U160"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.05.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Giles, Alan"] [Black "Levens, David G"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A80"] [WhiteElo "158"] [BlackElo "152"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "62"] 1. Nf3 e6 2. d4 f5 3. Bf4 d6 (3... Nf6) 4. e3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Be7 6. c3 d5 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8. Nbd2 Ne4 9. Ne5 Ndf6 (9... O-O) 10. Ndf3 O-O 11. a3 a5 (11... c5) 12. c4 c5 13. cxd5 exd5 14. dxc5 Bxc5 15. Bc2 Qe8 (15... Qb6) 16. Bb3 Be6 ( 16... g5) 17. Nd4 g5 18. Bg3 Rd8 (18... a4) (18... f4) 19. Nef3 f4 20. exf4 Nxg3 21. hxg3 Bg4+ 22. Kf1 gxf4 23. gxf4 Ne4 24. Qd3 Rxf4 25. Re1 Qg6 26. Ne5 Rxf2+ 27. Kg1 Bf3 28. Qxf3 Rxf3 29. Nxg6 Bxd4+ 30. Kh2 Rxb3 {And now Black has an easy won game but Black makes it easier with his next move!} 31. Rhf1 hxg6 0-1 [Event "Notts v Essex, U180"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.05.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Levens, David G"] [Black "Kingsley, Malcolm P"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C54"] [WhiteElo "152"] [BlackElo "164"] [Annotator "Burke,Steven J"] [PlyCount "59"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. e5 d5 7. Bb5 Ne4 8. cxd4 Bb6 9. Be3 (9. Nc3 {Far better than my choice of move}) 9... O-O 10. Nc3 (10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. Qc2) 10... Bg4 11. Be2 Nxc3 12. bxc3 f6 13. O-O fxe5 14. Nxe5 Bxe2 15. Qxe2 Qe7 16. f4 Qe6 17. Rae1 Rae8 18. Rf3 (18. Qd3) 18... Rf6 19. Kh1 Ref8 20. g4 Nxe5 21. dxe5 R6f7 22. Bxb6 Qxb6 23. e6 Re7 24. f5 Qc6 25. Qg2 Qc4 26. g5 d4 27. Qg4 Qxa2 28. f6 Qd5 {Diagram } 29. Qe4 (29. fxe7 Rxf3 30. Re4 Rf1+ 31. Kg2) 29... Qxg5 30. fxe7 1-0 [Event "Nottingham 4NCL Congress (U1900)"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.09.30"] [Round "85"] [White "London, Nick J"] [Black "Towers, Brian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A80"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,69,19,30,25,8,63,70,57,69,96,46,73,41,51,47,46,23,53,50,33,27,66,-6, 27,32,23,0,50,28,59,-28,-5,-2,-9,-20,-19,-57,-21,-33,21,-32,5,3,22,-16,-9,-71, 60,19,19,20,11,-24,0,-84,-83,-84,-76,-123,-92,-73,-61,-167,1054,1560,1560,1621, 1708,1723,1852,1927]} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 d6 5. Be2 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Qe7 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. d5 Nd8 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Qc2 Bf7 13. Rfd1 Nc6 14. a3 Ne5 15. Nb5 (15. Ng5 {better, as this allows...Ne4}) 15... a6 16. Nbd4 Ne4 17. Rac1 Rac8 18. b4 Rfd8 19. Nb3 {The start of White's problems as pressure is now off f5.} g5 20. Bh2 (20. Nxe5 {is OK according to Stockfish, but Bh2 is definitely bad.}) 20... h5 21. Nbd4 Qf6 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Nf3 Re8 24. Bd3 Bg6 25. c5 g4 26. Bc4+ Kh7 27. Nxe5 {Panic reaction to my horrible situation which only makes it worse.} (27. hxg4 hxg4 28. Nd2 {is apparently OK - Stockfish}) 27... Rxe5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 29. Rd5 Qf6 30. hxg4 fxg4 ({Seems obvious to line up Bg6 against queen, but} 30... hxg4 {was safer.}) 31. Rcd1 { White is now objectively lost. This was played with awareness of the following tactic and in the hope of Black falling for the fork move. He should have played ...Re8 or ...Kh6. Now for the Swindle...} Nc3 32. Rxh5+ Bh6 33. Rd7+ Qg7 34. Rxg7+ Kxg7 35. Qxc3+ 1-0 [Event "Nottingham 4NCL Congress (U1900)"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.09.30"] [Round "85"] [White "London, Nick J"] [Black "Towers, Brian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A80"] [WhiteElo "145"] [BlackElo "158"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "69"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,69,19,30,25,8,63,70,57,69,96,46,73,41,51,47,46,23,53,50,33,27,66,-6, 27,32,23,0,50,28,59,-28,-5,-2,-9,-20,-19,-57,-21,-33,21,-32,5,3,22,-16,-9,-71, 60,19,19,20,11,-24,0,-84,-83,-84,-76,-123,-92,-73,-61,-167,1054,1560,1560,1621, 1708,1723,1852,1927]} 1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. e3 d6 5. Be2 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8. c4 Qe7 9. Nc3 Nc6 10. d5 Nd8 11. dxe6 Bxe6 12. Qc2 Bf7 13. Rfd1 Nc6 14. a3 Ne5 15. Nb5 (15. Ng5 {better, as this allows...Ne4}) 15... a6 16. Nbd4 Ne4 17. Rac1 Rac8 18. b4 Rfd8 19. Nb3 {The start of White's problems as pressure is now off f5.} g5 20. Bh2 (20. Nxe5 {is OK according to Stockfish, but Bh2 is definitely bad.}) 20... h5 21. Nbd4 Qf6 22. Nxe5 dxe5 23. Nf3 Re8 24. Bd3 Bg6 25. c5 g4 26. Bc4+ Kh7 27. Nxe5 {Panic reaction to my horrible situation which only makes it worse.} (27. hxg4 hxg4 28. Nd2 {is apparently OK - Stockfish}) 27... Rxe5 28. Bxe5 Qxe5 29. Rd5 Qf6 30. hxg4 fxg4 ({Seems obvious to line up Bg6 against queen, but} 30... hxg4 {was safer.}) 31. Rcd1 { White is now objectively lost. This was played with awareness of the following tactic and in the hope of Black falling for the fork move. He should have played ...Re8 or ...Kh6. Now for the Swindle...} Nc3 32. Rxh5+ Bh6 33. Rd7+ Qg7 34. Rxg7+ Kxg7 35. Qxc3+ 1-0 [Event "West Bridgford v Gambit"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.10.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Roper, Keith"] [Black "Walker, Tim"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E15"] [WhiteElo "136"] [BlackElo "189"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. Bg2 Bb7 7. O-O cxd4 8. Nxd4 Bxg2 9. Kxg2 Be7 10. Nc3 O-O 11. Rd1 Qc7 12. b3 a6 13. Bb2 Nc6 14. a3 Rac8 15. Rac1 Rfd8 16. Nf3 Qb7 17. Kg1 d6 18. Ne4 Nxe4 19. Qxe4 Na5 20. Qxb7 Nxb7 21. b4 a5 22. Bd4 axb4 23. Bxb6 bxa3 24. Bxd8 Bxd8 25. Ra1 Rxc4 26. Rxa3 Rb4 27. Ra8 e5 28. Rxd6 g6 29. Rdxd8+ Nxd8 30. Rxd8+ Kg7 31. Nxe5 Re4 32. Nxf7 Kxf7 33. Rd7+ Kf6 34. Rxh7 Rxe2 35. Kg2 Rb2 36. h4 Rb5 37. g4 Ra5 38. h5 gxh5 39. Rh6+ Kg7 40. Rxh5 Rxh5 41. gxh5 Kh6 42. Kg3 Kxh5 43. Kf4 Kg6 44. Ke5 Kg5 45. f4+ Kg6 46. Ke6 Kg7 47. f5 Kf8 48. Kf6 Kg8 49. Ke7 1-0 [Event "Newark 1 v Gambit 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.05"] [Round "?"] [White "George, Andrew"] [Black "Biermann, Florian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A25"] [Annotator "Andy George"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,67,15,-6,-20,-41,-43,-41,-6,-6,-6,12,3,9,8,16,16,24,35,25,34,14,30,30, 41,50,34,36,38,55,97,49,62,69,99,76,76,28,31,36,53,49,78,82,160,65,213,223,231, 232,242,245,280,294,347,382,385,406,29977,29978,29979,29980,29981,29982,29983, 29984,29985,29986,29987,29986] I wouldn't normally enter this sort of thing but the computer thinks that white's play is pretty accurate and it contains a couple of nice middle-board middlegame tactics.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. e3 {Not the computer's choice (it considers black to have already pretty much achieved equality) but I like playing these sorts of systems against black's aggressive set-up and the potential weakness on d3 doesn't last long.} d6 8. Nge2 Qe8 9. Nd5 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. Rc1 c6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 {This is almost certainly worse than recapturing with the pawn.} 14. O-O Qh5 15. Rc4 {The computer suggests that I don't have too much to worry about and to push on either b4 or d4 but I felt that this more or less forced black to sacrifice on f4 if he wants to continue with his attack.} f4 16. exf4 Bh3 17. Bxh3 Qxh3 18. Qc3 {Overly cautious and doesn't really further white's cause.} (18. d4 {is perfectly good.}) 18... Rf6 19. f3 { Vital to give the rook a defensive square on f2.} Re8 20. Rf2 d5 21. Rc5 { This looks uncomfortable for the white rook but actually there is an even better continuation available.} (21. fxe5 Nxe5 {(best)} 22. Nf4 {attacking black's queen and the rook temporarily defends the knight from a sacrificial capture by the rook before moving to safety next move.}) 21... Rfe6 22. f5 { Keeping the e-file half closed while the black d-pawn is still en prise.} d4 { Tempting but the vital mistake. It's tactics time!} 23. Qc4 Qxf5 24. Nf4 Kh8 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. f4 {Exploiting the pinned e-pawn for a second time.} (26. Qxd4 {was actually possible here too, taking advantage of the fact that the knight can't recapture without allowing back-rank mate but it seemed excessive to exploit another pin unneccessarily and, potentially, a bit risky!}) 26... Qg4 27. Rxe5 {Now the rook can't be taken by the knight for the same reason!} Rxe5 28. fxe5 h6 29. Rf8+ Kh7 30. Qg8+ Kg6 31. Qf7+ Kh7 {Now fatigue led me to exchange queens with} 32. Qf5+ ({White's best move here forces mate...} 32. Qe8 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qe2+ 34. Kh3 {and black has no more checks.}) 32... Qxf5 33. Rxf5 {and after looking at the position for a few more minutes black resigned as he can't even force the rook from the defence of the passed e-pawn.} (33. Rxf5 Kg6 34. g4) 1-0 [Event "Newark 1 v Gambit 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.05"] [Round "?"] [White "George, Andrew"] [Black "Biermann, Florian"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A25"] [Annotator "Andy George"] [PlyCount "65"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,67,15,-6,-20,-41,-43,-41,-6,-6,-6,12,3,9,8,16,16,24,35,25,34,14,30,30, 41,50,34,36,38,55,97,49,62,69,99,76,76,28,31,36,53,49,78,82,160,65,213,223,231, 232,242,245,280,294,347,382,385,406,29977,29978,29979,29980,29981,29982,29983, 29984,29985,29986,29987,29986] I wouldn't normally enter this sort of thing but the computer thinks that white's play is pretty accurate and it contains a couple of nice middle-board middlegame tactics.} 1. c4 e5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 f5 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. d3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. e3 {Not the computer's choice (it considers black to have already pretty much achieved equality) but I like playing these sorts of systems against black's aggressive set-up and the potential weakness on d3 doesn't last long.} d6 8. Nge2 Qe8 9. Nd5 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. Rc1 c6 13. dxc6 Nxc6 {This is almost certainly worse than recapturing with the pawn.} 14. O-O Qh5 15. Rc4 {The computer suggests that I don't have too much to worry about and to push on either b4 or d4 but I felt that this more or less forced black to sacrifice on f4 if he wants to continue with his attack.} f4 16. exf4 Bh3 17. Bxh3 Qxh3 18. Qc3 {Overly cautious and doesn't really further white's cause.} (18. d4 {is perfectly good.}) 18... Rf6 19. f3 { Vital to give the rook a defensive square on f2.} Re8 20. Rf2 d5 21. Rc5 { This looks uncomfortable for the white rook but actually there is an even better continuation available.} (21. fxe5 Nxe5 {(best)} 22. Nf4 {attacking black's queen and the rook temporarily defends the knight from a sacrificial capture by the rook before moving to safety next move.}) 21... Rfe6 22. f5 { Keeping the e-file half closed while the black d-pawn is still en prise.} d4 { Tempting but the vital mistake. It's tactics time!} 23. Qc4 Qxf5 24. Nf4 Kh8 25. Nxe6 Rxe6 26. f4 {Exploiting the pinned e-pawn for a second time.} (26. Qxd4 {was actually possible here too, taking advantage of the fact that the knight can't recapture without allowing back-rank mate but it seemed excessive to exploit another pin unneccessarily and, potentially, a bit risky!}) 26... Qg4 27. Rxe5 {Now the rook can't be taken by the knight for the same reason!} Rxe5 28. fxe5 h6 29. Rf8+ Kh7 30. Qg8+ Kg6 31. Qf7+ Kh7 {Now fatigue led me to exchange queens with} 32. Qf5+ ({White's best move here forces mate...} 32. Qe8 Qd1+ 33. Kg2 Qe2+ 34. Kh3 {and black has no more checks.}) 32... Qxf5 33. Rxf5 {and after looking at the position for a few more minutes black resigned as he can't even force the rook from the defence of the passed e-pawn.} (33. Rxf5 Kg6 34. g4) 1-0 [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 "Steve"] [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 "Nottingham County Chess Championships"] [Site "Nottingham"] [Date "2018.11.17"] [Round "1"] [White "Sudar, Dragoljub"] [Black "Bowers, Francis"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "163"] [BlackElo "168"] [PlyCount "98"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 exd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Bc4 Bg7 6. c3 Nf6 7. Qe2 O-O 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bh4 Ne5 11. Bb3 g5 12. Bg3 Ng6 13. Nd2 a6 14. Rad1 b5 15. a4 c5 16. Nc2 Qb6 17. Kh1 Bb7 18. axb5 axb5 19. Na3 c4 20. Bc2 Rfe8 21. Rfe1 Qc6 22. f3 Nh5 23. Bf2 Nhf4 24. Qf1 Bxc3 25. bxc3 Rxa3 26. Bd4 Bc8 27. Rb1 Nh4 28. g3 Bh3 29. Qf2 Bg2+ 30. Qxg2 Nhxg2 31. Rg1 Ne2 32. Rxg2 Nxc3 33. Rf1 b4 34. h4 Nb5 35. Bf6 b3 36. Bd1 Ra2 37. hxg5 Re6 38. e5 Rxf6 39. exf6 hxg5 40. Rh2 d5 41. Re1 c3 42. Nxb3 Rxh2+ 43. Kxh2 Qxf6 44. Nc5 Nd4 45. Re8+ Kg7 46. Nd7 Qh6+ 47. Kg2 c2 48. Bxc2 Nxc2 49. Re7 Qd6 0-1 [Event "Nottingham County Champ 80+10"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.17"] [Round "85"] [White "Biermann, Florian"] [Black "Willow, Jonah"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "173"] [BlackElo "218"] [Annotator "Biermann,Beckemeyer"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,119,26,23,66,53,45,37,37,11,27,47,27,13,60,35,34,32,32,23,21,-2,2,5,3, -15,-45,-65,35,28,27,-2,0,0,0,-23,24,17,24,-8,2,-54,-73,-78,-9,-20,86,11,229, 229,209,220,221,221,197,197,190,190,230,223,185,94,100,81,87,52,156,0,0,0,0,0, 96,78,84,67,56,46,88,48,30,43,37,39,35,17,49,0,32,0,57,32,32,32,35,0,0,0,218, 54,21,-187,55,55,0,0,0,0,0,-36,39,-166,-160,-358,-431,-604,-387,-382,-405,-416, -417,-428] "That's what I call a swindly game. My opponent makes a mistake and loses two pawns. Then he regains those pawns. And then I regain them again! And, therefore, I have two pawns more in an endgame. Yet, guess who loses the game!!" (Florian)} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Bc4 a6 5. d3 e6 6. Nge2 b5 7. Bb3 Nxb3 8. axb3 Bb7 9. O-O Nf6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Be7 12. e5 (12. f4 { I did not want to play this move because I was concerned about the Black knight ending up on e3, but this can never become reality! f4 is probably the strongest move in this position.} Ng4 (12... g5 {, which is probably a good move, was played in Mogranzini,R (2415) -Steingrimsson,H (2540) Beijing CHN 2008. However, White won in the end. He did not take on g5 but played the wise} 13. Bg3) 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qd2 {The knight on g4 is misplaced and White has a very comfortable position.}) 12... Ng4 13. Bg3 (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. d4 {is very risky.} Qg5 15. Ng3 Qh4 (15... cxd4 16. Qxd4 Nxe5 17. f4 Nc6 18. Qb6) 16. h3 Nxf2 17. Rxf2 (17. Kxf2 Qf4+) 17... Qxg3 {Black has an extra pawn, and White has no compensation.}) 13... h5 14. h3 (14. Nf4 {is more aggressive, preventing Black from playing h5-h4 and threatening to win the h5-pawn with h2-h3 in the next move. Arguably, Black is forced to play} g6) 14... Nh6 15. Nf4 h4 16. Bh2 Nf5 17. Qg4 Qc7 18. Ne4 O-O-O 19. Rfc1 Rh6 20. Ng5 Bxg5 21. Qxg5 Qc6 (21... Qxe5 {is probably too risky.}) 22. b4 Nd4 23. Kf1 cxb4 24. c4 { A turning point of the game.} Qb6 25. cxb5+ Kb8 26. bxa6 Bc6 27. Rc4 Rhh8 28. Qe7 Bb5 {The position is complex, but White is two pawns up.} 29. Qxb4 Nc6 30. Qc5 Ka7 31. Qxb6+ Kxb6 32. Rcc1 (32. Rc3 {This move is better as it protects d3 and allows the rook to move to b3.}) 32... Bxa6 33. Kg1 g5 34. Ne2 Bxd3 {I gave back my two extra pawns, but I'll regain them again!} 35. Nc3 Bb5 36. Rd1 Nb4 37. Ne4 Ra8 38. Nxg5 Be2 39. Rdc1 Nd3 40. Rcb1 Rxa1 41. Rxa1 Rg8 42. f4 Kc5 43. Nxf7 {Again, two pawns up!} Kd4 44. Ng5 Rb8 45. Ra4+ (45. f5 {would not have been so lame as my actual play:} exf5 (45... Rxb2 46. f6 Nxe5 47. Bxe5+ Kxe5 48. f7 Rb8 49. Nh7) (45... Nxe5 46. Ra4+ Kd5 47. Re4) 46. e6 Rb7 47. e7 {and the pawn on e7 is a nuisance.}) 45... Ke3 46. Re4+ Kd2 47. b4 Ra8 48. Nf3+ Kd1 49. Nd4 {The remainder of the game is a sad story... } (49. Nxh4 {Be a materialist! It not easy to see what are Black's assets in this position. Besides winning a pawn, taking on h4 was a useful move because it allows White to play Bg3 and Kh2 and untangle his position.}) 49... Bh5 50. b5 Ra1 51. g4 hxg3 52. Bxg3 Kd2+ 53. Kg2 Ra2 54. Kf1 Kc3 55. Be1+ Nxe1 56. Kxe1 Kd3 57. Ne2 Ra1+ 58. Kf2 Kxe4 59. Ng3+ Kxf4 60. Nxh5+ {and White resigned a few moves later.} 0-1 [Event "Nottingham County Champ 80+10"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.11.17"] [Round "85"] [White "Biermann, Florian"] [Black "FM Willow, Jonah"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B23"] [WhiteElo "173"] [BlackElo "218"] [Annotator "Biermann,Beckemeyer"] [PlyCount "119"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,119,26,23,66,53,45,37,37,11,27,47,27,13,60,35,34,32,32,23,21,-2,2,5,3, -15,-45,-65,35,28,27,-2,0,0,0,-23,24,17,24,-8,2,-54,-73,-78,-9,-20,86,11,229, 229,209,220,221,221,197,197,190,190,230,223,185,94,100,81,87,52,156,0,0,0,0,0, 96,78,84,67,56,46,88,48,30,43,37,39,35,17,49,0,32,0,57,32,32,32,35,0,0,0,218, 54,21,-187,55,55,0,0,0,0,0,-36,39,-166,-160,-358,-431,-604,-387,-382,-405,-416, -417,-428] "That's what I call a swindly game. My opponent makes a mistake and loses two pawns. Then he regains those pawns. And then I regain them again! And, therefore, I have two pawns more in an endgame. Yet, guess who loses the game!!" (Florian)} 1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nd4 4. Bc4 a6 5. d3 e6 6. Nge2 b5 7. Bb3 Nxb3 8. axb3 Bb7 9. O-O Nf6 10. Bg5 h6 11. Bh4 Be7 12. e5 (12. f4 { I did not want to play this move because I was concerned about the Black knight ending up on e3, but this can never become reality! f4 is probably the strongest move in this position.} Ng4 (12... g5 {, which is probably a good move, was played in Mogranzini,R (2415) -Steingrimsson,H (2540) Beijing CHN 2008. However, White won in the end. He did not take on g5 but played the wise} 13. Bg3) 13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. Qd2 {The knight on g4 is misplaced and White has a very comfortable position.}) 12... Ng4 13. Bg3 (13. Bxe7 Qxe7 14. d4 {is very risky.} Qg5 15. Ng3 Qh4 (15... cxd4 16. Qxd4 Nxe5 17. f4 Nc6 18. Qb6) 16. h3 Nxf2 17. Rxf2 (17. Kxf2 Qf4+) 17... Qxg3 {Black has an extra pawn, and White has no compensation.}) 13... h5 14. h3 (14. Nf4 {is more aggressive, preventing Black from playing h5-h4 and threatening to win the h5-pawn with h2-h3 in the next move. Arguably, Black is forced to play} g6) 14... Nh6 15. Nf4 h4 16. Bh2 Nf5 17. Qg4 Qc7 18. Ne4 O-O-O 19. Rfc1 Rh6 20. Ng5 Bxg5 21. Qxg5 Qc6 (21... Qxe5 {is probably too risky.}) 22. b4 Nd4 23. Kf1 cxb4 24. c4 { A turning point of the game.} Qb6 25. cxb5+ Kb8 26. bxa6 Bc6 27. Rc4 Rhh8 28. Qe7 Bb5 {The position is complex, but White is two pawns up.} 29. Qxb4 Nc6 30. Qc5 Ka7 31. Qxb6+ Kxb6 32. Rcc1 (32. Rc3 {This move is better as it protects d3 and allows the rook to move to b3.}) 32... Bxa6 33. Kg1 g5 34. Ne2 Bxd3 {I gave back my two extra pawns, but I'll regain them again!} 35. Nc3 Bb5 36. Rd1 Nb4 37. Ne4 Ra8 38. Nxg5 Be2 39. Rdc1 Nd3 40. Rcb1 Rxa1 41. Rxa1 Rg8 42. f4 Kc5 43. Nxf7 {Again, two pawns up!} Kd4 44. Ng5 Rb8 45. Ra4+ (45. f5 {would not have been so lame as my actual play:} exf5 (45... Rxb2 46. f6 Nxe5 47. Bxe5+ Kxe5 48. f7 Rb8 49. Nh7) (45... Nxe5 46. Ra4+ Kd5 47. Re4) 46. e6 Rb7 47. e7 {and the pawn on e7 is a nuisance.}) 45... Ke3 46. Re4+ Kd2 47. b4 Ra8 48. Nf3+ Kd1 49. Nd4 {The remainder of the game is a sad story... } (49. Nxh4 {Be a materialist! It not easy to see what are Black's assets in this position. Besides winning a pawn, taking on h4 was a useful move because it allows White to play Bg3 and Kh2 and untangle his position.}) 49... Bh5 50. b5 Ra1 51. g4 hxg3 52. Bxg3 Kd2+ 53. Kg2 Ra2 54. Kf1 Kc3 55. Be1+ Nxe1 56. Kxe1 Kd3 57. Ne2 Ra1+ 58. Kf2 Kxe4 59. Ng3+ Kxf4 60. Nxh5+ {and White resigned a few moves later.} 0-1 [Event "NCC 2018-19 Round 5"] [Site "MyTown"] [Date "2018.11.18"] [Round "?"] [White "Sudar, Drag"] [Black "Broughton, Daniel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "163"] [BlackElo "167"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "93"] [EventDate "2019.03.05"] {[%evp 0,93,26,39,75,75,75,63,163,127,185,159,183,170,170,172,185,166,194,177, 159,145,142,135,132,125,133,115,211,176,158,135,128,131,128,87,86,93,86,86,86, 86,93,67,56,33,180,94,261,135,134,134,127,113,135,84,99,79,79,96,112,74,78,60, 112,112,148,152,187,185,211,211,270,267,301,301,330,375,381,264,380,426,454, 395,564,627,924,1078,1168,1194,1237,1420,1483,1298,1274,1268]} 1. e4 d6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. dxe5 dxe5 6. Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bc4 f6 8. Be3 c6 9. O-O-O+ Kc7 10. Bc5 b6 11. Bd6+ Kb7 12. h3 Na6 {I now missed Bxe5} 13. b4 Bd7 14. a4 Be8 15. b5 Nc7 16. Rd3 Rd8 17. Rhd1 Nh6 18. Be7 Rxd3 19. Rxd3 Ng8 20. Bd6 Nh6 21. Bxc7 Kxc7 22. Be6 Nf7 23. bxc6 Nd6 24. Nb5+ Nxb5 25. axb5 a6 26. c4 Bf8 27. g4 g5 28. Bf7 Bd6 29. Bxe8 Rxe8 30. h4 h6 31. h5 Re7 32. Nd2 a5 33. Nf1 Bc5 34. Ng3 Rf7 35. f3 a4 36. Nf5 Rh7 37. Kb2 a3+ 38. Ka2 Kc8 39. Ne3 Bxe3 40. Rxe3 Kc7 41. Kxa3 Kd6 42. Kb4 Ra7 43. Rd3+ Ke6 44. c5 bxc5+ 45. Kxc5 Ra1 46. c7 Rc1+ 47. Kb6 1-0 [Event "Radcliffe & Bingham v West Nottingham"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.12.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Redburn, Barry"] [Black "Willoughby, Rob"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B76"] [WhiteElo "109"] [BlackElo "137"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "45"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8. f3 Nc6 9. Qd2 Re8 10. g4 Nd7 11. h4 Nde5 12. O-O-O Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. a3 Qa5 15. Nb5 {wins a pawn at least.} Qd8 16. Nxa7 b6 17. Bxe5 {enabling an escape route for the knight on c6 if necessary.} Rxa7 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. h5 {Throwing down the gauntlet. It's now a race to see who can get their aggro in first. I hope it's me.} Qa8 {Rob's clearly hoping I'm going to retreat, Threatening Rxa3 followed by mate,} 20. hxg6 hxg6 21. Qh6+ Kf6 22. g5+ Ke5 23. Qh2# 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 "Steve"] [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 "West Bridgford 3 v West Nottingham 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.02.18"] [Round "?"] [White "Watson, Andrew"] [Black "Garnett, Bob"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A45"] [PlyCount "92"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bh4 g6 4. Nd2 Nxd2 5. Qxd2 Bg7 6. Nf3 d6 7. e4 O-O 8. c3 b6 9. Bd3 Bb7 10. Ng5 Bh6 11. f4 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 Kg7 13. f5 Nd7 14. fxg6 fxg6 15. Bh6+ Kh8 16. Bxf8 Qxf8 17. O-O-O Qg7 18. h4 Nf6 19. Rde1 Bc8 20. e5 Nh5 21. g4 Bxg4 22. Reg1 Bf3 23. Rh3 Rf8 24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. Be2 Rf2 26. Qe3 Qf8 27. Bxh5 gxh5 28. Re1 Qf4 29. exd6 exd6 30. Qxf4 Rxf4 31. Re8+ Kg7 32. Re7+ Rf7 33. Rxf7+ Kxf7 34. Kd2 Kf6 35. Ke3 Kf5 36. Kf3 d5 37. b3 a6 38. c4 c6 39. a3 b5 40. cxb5 cxb5 41. a4 b4 42. a5 h6 43. Ke3 Kg4 44. Kf2 Kxh4 45. Kf3 Kg5 46. Kg3 Kf5 0-1 [Event "Gambit 2 v Ashfield 1"] [Site "MyTown"] [Date "2019.02.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Halfpenny, Glenn"] [Black "Sudar, Drag"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D48"] [WhiteElo "176"] [BlackElo "160"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "66"] [EventDate "2019.03.05"] {[%evp 0,66,19,8,23,29,30,-16,16,35,39,40,43,55,44,52,55,19,37,13,8,-9,10,12, 67,3,-1,-12,-16,-16,-30,-16,-1,-33,-27,-78,-168,-160,-30,-30,-30,-30,-78,-57, -83,-101,-112,-103,-67,-67,-169,-157,-240,-247,-305,-320,-320,-323,-329,-677, -677,-677,-677,-1271,-957,-29991,-29992,-29999,-30000]} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. e3 e6 5. Nc3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3 a6 9. O-O Bb7 10. e4 c5 11. d5 e5 12. a4 c4 13. Bc2 b4 14. Ne2 a5 15. Ng3 g6 16. Ng5 Bg7 17. f4 Qb6+ 18. Kh1 h6 19. fxe5 hxg5 20. exf6 Bxf6 21. Qf3 O-O-O 22. Be3 Qd6 23. Rab1 Rh4 24. Kg1 Rdh8 25. b3 c3 26. Bd3 Rxh2 27. Bb5 Be5 28. Ne2 Nf6 29. Bxg5 Nxe4 30. Qxe4 Bxd5 31. Ba6+ Qxa6 32. Qxd5 Qb6+ 33. Rf2 Rh1# 0-1 [Event "Notts v Leics"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.02"] [Round "?"] [White "Richmond, Robert"] [Black "Taylor, Robert K"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D08"] [WhiteElo "185"] [BlackElo "183"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "84"] [EventDate "2018.04.22"] {[%evp 0,84,19,31,43,-4,33,18,43,43,15,35,60,51,65,66,85,89,95,74,105,56,128, 73,76,95,69,67,69,30,80,55,79,88,74,85,130,115,115,114,102,125,151,116,116,55, 105,125,277,221,427,447,484,450,458,202,258,279,279,309,298,221,231,237,229, 252,267,236,241,243,252,252,251,233,251,266,267,267,306,359,377,389,449,458, 559,577,635]} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e5 {Albin Counter Gambit. Groan I don't think I have ever played against this in a proper match, so it's make it up as you go along.} 3. dxe5 d4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. a3 ({More usual is} 5. g3 {nd an early fianchetto - as I discovered afterwards}) 5... Bg4 6. Nbd2 Qe7 7. h3 Bxf3 8. Nxf3 O-O-O 9. Qd3 {I really like this move. It cuts out any possibility of black playing d3 and the hidden purpose is to eye a6. Sometimes - once in a blue moon - you see the whole course of the game in glorious technicolour. After black recaptures the e5-pawn and the exchange of knights the fianchettoed Bishop on g2 is going to be mega. Qd3 sets up the threat of c5-c6. So black must himself play c6 to prevent this, whereupon b5 by white will open the b-file. This is the first of three opportunities to play Bg5 effectively winning a pawn, all of which I rejected. The plan of attack on the Q-side is much better. Keep the K-side closed and white will get a big advantage without risk. My opponent said afterwards "you were supposed to play Bg5".} g6 10. g3 Bg7 11. Bg2 Nxe5 12. Nxe5 Bxe5 13. b4 c6 {Afterwards I stumbled on the game Lasker-Alekhine, St.Petersburg, 1914, which follows an almost identical path. Alekhine chooses to allow c6 and cxb7 by white, presumably on the grounds that the b7 pawn will get in the way of the white attack. He loses of course, but makes a fight of it. Is this better than being crushed in a position with no counter-play? Would you allow a BIG pawn to erupt b7?} 14. c5 Qc7 15. Bg5 { This is the start of a little ballet to prevent black getting his Knight to d5 and neutralising the Bishop on g2.} f6 16. Bd2 f5 {else f4 traps the Bishop.} 17. Rb1 h6 ({If} 17... Ne7 {immediately, then} 18. Bg5 Z0 19. Bxe7) 18. b5 Ne7 19. bxc6 Nxc6 20. h4 {With the cheeky threat of h5, undermining the f5 pawn.} Rdf8 21. a4 h5 {A positional concession, but can you see a sensible plan for black?} 22. f4 {With the K-side now firmly blockaded the game is strategically over.} Bf6 23. O-O {at last!} Rh7 24. Rb5 Rff7 25. Rfb1 Nd8 26. Ba5 Qe7 (26... Qb8 27. c6 b6 28. Rxb6) 27. Bxb7+ (27. c6 {is also possible. If} b6 28. Rxb6 ) ({So} 27. c6 Qe3+ 28. Qxe3 dxe3 29. c7 {wins the exchange.} (29. Bxd8 Bxd8 30. cxb7+ {must also win.})) 27... Nxb7 28. Rxb7 Qe3+ (28... Qxb7 29. Rxb7 Kxb7 (29... Rxb7 30. Qa6 {threatening c6 and Qxf6}) 30. Qb5+ Ka8 31. Qe8+ Kb7 32. c6+ Ka6 33. c7 {threatening Qb5mate and c8=Q}) 29. Qxe3 dxe3 30. R7b3 Rb7 ( 30... Kd7 31. c6+ {Black gets mated after} Kxc6) 31. c6 Rxb3 32. Rxb3 Bd4 ( 32... Bd8 33. Bxd8 Kxd8 34. Rb8+ Kc7 35. Rb7+ {picking up the rook}) 33. c7 Rxc7 ({The rook ending is equally hopeless after} 33... Bb6) 34. Bxc7 Kxc7 35. Kf1 Bb6 36. Ke1 Kc6 37. Kd1 Kd5 38. Kc2 Kc4 39. Rb5 Bc5 40. Rb7 Bb6 41. Rg7 Kb4 42. Rxg6 Kxa4 {Where did black go wrong? Perhaps 11...Bxe5 is better. I'm sure my opponent ended up regretting 7...Bxf3 given the way I dominated the white squares around his King.} 1-0 [Event "Nomads 2 v Grantham 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.25"] [Round "?"] [White "Neil, Graham"] [Black "Nelder, Allan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B07"] [WhiteElo "128"] [BlackElo "122"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] {[%evp 0,62,31,26,75,69,94,87,79,64,61,42,55,62,71,68,77,54,65,71,90,55,31,20, 233,219,219,219,212,204,204,229,221,241,264,198,211,206,182,182,211,114,103, 100,203,57,152,135,148,-6,-81,-109,13,-167,2,-1044,-1062,-1228,-384,-1731,-590, -2101,-1334,-29989,-29990]} 1. d4 g6 2. e4 d6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bd3 Bg7 5. c3 c6 6. h3 Qc7 7. Bf4 Nh5 8. Bh2 e5 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. O-O Nd7 11. b3 f5 {I am pretty sure I can avoid nasty forks on e6 & f7 later. Will he take the bait?} 12. Ng5 Bg8 13. exf5 O-O-O ({Not} 13... gxf5 14. Qxh5+) 14. fxg6 hxg6 15. Bxg6 Nf4 ({ I think this is better than} 15... Ndf6 {as nasty checks and fork threats come in to play.}) 16. Bxf4 exf4 17. Bf7 Nf6 18. Bxg8 Rdxg8 19. Qf3 Bh6 20. Ne6 Qd7 21. Rfe1 Nd5 22. Kf1 {removing his K from the g file but straight into a trap I was going to play without the K move.} Ne3+ ({His N on e6 cannot move. I could win it with} 22... Re8 {but the move played is better.}) 23. fxe3 fxe3 24. Ne4 Qxe6 25. Ke2 Qg6 26. Rg1 d5 27. Nf6 Qc2+ 28. Kf1 Rf8 29. Qg4+ Kc7 30. Qg3+ Kb6 {The Black K is safe and White is lost, and has been for a while now.} 31. Qf3 Rxf6 0-1 [Event "Beeston v West Bridgford 3"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.03.26"] [Round "?"] [White "Sargeant, Chris"] [Black "Milford, Michael"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A56"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [EventType "team"] 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. e3 cxd4 4. exd4 d6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bg5 g6 7. Bxf6 exf6 8. Nf3 Bg7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. O-O Bg4 11. Be2 Rc8 12. Qd3 Re8 13. a3 Na5 14. Nd2 Bxe2 15. Nxe2 f5 16. b4 Nc6 17. Nb3 b6 18. b5 Ne7 19. Rac1 Bh6 20. Rc2 Kh8 21. Rd1 Rc7 22. a4 Ng8 23. Nc3 Nf6 24. Na2 Qa8 25. d5 Nd7 26. Nb4 Ne5 27. Qd4 Bg7 28. Qf4 Qc8 29. Nd2 Ng4 30. Nd3 Re2 31. h3 Nxf2 32. Nxf2 Rce7 33. Kf1 Qe8 34. Nd3 Be5 35. Qh4 Bh2 36. Nc1 R2e3 37. Nf3 R7e4 38. Qf2 g5 39. Nxg5 Bg3 40. Qd2 Re1+ 41. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 0-1 [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 "Steve"] [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 [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 "Steve"] [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 [Event "Newark 1 v Ashfield 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Jazdzewski, Daniel"] [Black "Herrington, Jerry"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B30"] [WhiteElo "156"] [BlackElo "157"] [PlyCount "67"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [EventType "team"] 1. Nf3 c5 2. d3 Nc6 3. e4 d6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e5 7. O-O Qd7 8. Nc4 Be7 9. Ne3 Be6 10. Ng5 h6 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. c3 O-O 13. Qb3 Rae8 14. Bh3 Bd8 15. a3 Kh8 16. Qc2 Qf7 17. b4 Qh5 18. Bg2 Nd7 19. bxc5 Nxc5 20. a4 Bc7 21. Ba3 b6 22. Rad1 Nb7 23. d4 Rf7 24. dxe5 Nxe5 25. f4 Ng4 26. Nxg4 Qxg4 27. e5 d5 28. c4 Bxe5 29. fxe5 Rc7 30. Rf4 Qh5 31. Rdf1 g5 32. Bf3 g4 33. Bxg4 Qxe5 34. Bb2 1-0 [Event "Ashfield v Newark"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.04.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Burke, Steven J"] [Black "Combie, Alexander"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A16"] [WhiteElo "167"] [BlackElo "174"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "87"] {[%evp 0,87,26,-16,-1,-13,42,11,9,12,19,-17,-15,-31,-15,-14,-13,0,60,59,85,68, 52,31,59,52,37,-8,26,-16,0,-16,3,-3,149,167,167,152,167,185,185,185,175,145, 231,191,212,170,231,256,287,186,185,219,229,210,215,228,235,192,232,182,225, 180,192,192,227,215,226,220,203,185,200,222,301,341,394,394,369,397,455,428, 547,577,658,464,468,497,594,622]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Rb1 d6 6. b4 e5 7. d3 a5 8. b5 {} c6 ({A well known idea, but better here was something like} 8... Nbd7 9. Nf3 Nc5 10. Nd2) 9. Nf3 Re8 10. O-O d5 11. bxc6 bxc6 12. cxd5 cxd5 {} 13. Nd2 {Komodo gives this as equal, though we both felt that white has a nagging pressure.} ({Here Komodo really likes} 13. Bg5 {with a forcing line} Nc6 14. Qa4 Nb4 15. a3 Bd7 16. Qb3 Be6 17. d4 Nc6 18. dxe5) 13... Nc6 {} 14. Ba3 ({Again Komodo isn't impressed with this, which takes aim at some serious dark squares in the black camp, and prefers the immediate} 14. Nb3) 14... Be6 15. Nb3 Rc8 ({ Komodo's point is} 15... Nb4 {when I can't win a pawn by taking it, and thinks black is a tad better.}) 16. Nc5 {} Bf5 ({Black keeps equality with} 16... Nb4 17. Nxe6 Rxe6 18. Qd2 Rec6 19. Rfc1) 17. Nb7 Qd7 18. Nd6 Bf8 19. Nxe8 Rxe8 20. Bxf8 Rxf8 21. Qa4 Qd6 22. Nb5 Qd7 { I had been about 15 minutes up on the clock since move 5 and we were now down to about 20 minutes against 5. With the extra exchange, I am winning, but still need to convert without allowing any serious counterplay} 23. Nc3 ({I had planned} 23. Rfc1 {but now decided not to risk having missed something after} Nd4 { though actually this is also good for me.}) 23... Qd6 24. Rfc1 Bd7 25. Qd1 {Safety first!} Ne7 26. Nb5 Qe6 27. Qd2 { Attacking the a-pawn and covering some kingside dark squares.} Nc6 28. Nc7 Qd6 29. Nb5 Qe6 30. a3 { My previous two moves were played quickly to gain 20 seconds for me, while Alex took longer to consider his options. I had about 10 minutes against 2 by now and this prevents Nb4 while threatening Qa2 and Nc7.} Qe7 31. Qc3 Rb8 { } 32. a4 {With all my pieces in play, an exchange up, and with black running out of time, black's position is bound to crack soon. So, time to be solid!} ({I had planned} 32. Qc5 {but now decided not to enter complications with} Qxc5 33. Rxc5 Nd4 34. Nc3 Rxb1+ 35. Nxb1 Nxe2+ 36. Kf1 Nd4) 32... Nb4 33. Qc7 Ra8 34. Qb7 Qd8 35. Qc7 Qe8 36. Qd6 {} Bxb5 (36... Ra6 {would have made life a little more difficult, but black won't survice on 10 seconds per move.}) 37. axb5 Qe6 38. Qxe6 fxe6 39. Bh3 Re8 {} 40. Ra1 Ra8 41. Bxe6+ Kf8 42. Rc8+ Rxc8 43. Bxc8 Ne8 44. Rxa5 1-0 [Event "Notts v Devon, U160"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.05.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Dean, Alan"] [Black "Walters, Keith"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [Annotator "Steve"] [PlyCount "78"] 1. g4 {Grob's attack or the 'spike'. No-one has played it against me before.} d5 2. e3 e5 3. d3 Bd6 4. Bg2 c6 5. Nd2 Ne7 6. h3 Ng6 7. Ngf3 O-O 8. b3 Be6 9. Bb2 Nd7 10. O-O {This looks like castling into an attack. O-O-O might be better.} Qe7 11. a3 f5 12. Nh2 {looks like preparation for f4, but it's never played.} Rf7 13. e4 fxg4 14. hxg4 Rf4 15. f3 Bc5+ 16. Kh1 Raf8 17. c4 d4 18. b4 Bd6 19. Nb3 c5 20. Bc1 R4f7 21. b5 Nf4 22. Bxf4 Rxf4 23. Qe1 b6 24. a4 Qg5 { planning to get the KB to h4} 25. Nd2 Be7 26. Kg1 Qh6 27. Qg3 Bh4 28. Qh3 Qg5 29. Bh1 R8f6 30. Qg2 Bxg4 {sacrificing on g4 seems the right way to continue.} 31. Nxg4 Rxg4 32. fxg4 Qe3+ 33. Kh2 Rh6 34. Qf3 Qxd2+ 35. Kg1 Rf6 {Black has to be aware of mate threats on the f-file} 36. Qg2 Qe3+ 37. Kh2 Rh6 38. Rf3 ({ If} 38. Qf3 Be1+ 39. Kg2 Qd2+ 40. Rf2 Bxf2 {and Black remains a N and P up.}) 38... Bf2+ 39. Rh3 Qf4+ 0-1 [Event "Notts v Kent U120"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.05.11"] [Round "?"] [White "Garnett, Bob"] [Black "Langford, David"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A07"] [PlyCount "71"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 d5 4. d3 Bg4 5. Nbd2 Qd7 6. O-O Bh3 7. e4 Bxg2 8. Kxg2 e6 9. e5 Ng4 10. d4 Be7 11. c3 h5 12. h3 Nh6 13. Nb3 O-O-O 14. a4 f6 15. Re1 Rdf8 16. Qd3 f5 17. Bg5 b6 18. a5 Nf7 19. Bxe7 Qxe7 20. axb6 cxb6 21. Qb5 Qc7 22. h4 Kd7 23. c4 Rd8 24. cxd5 exd5 25. e6+ Ke7 26. exf7+ Kxf7 27. Ng5+ Kg8 28. Ne6 Qd6 29. Nxd8 Nxd8 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. Rxh8+ Kxh8 32. Qe8+ Kh7 33. Qxh5+ Kg8 34. Qxf5 Nf7 35. Rxa7 Nh6 36. Ra8+ 1-0 [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 0,36,30,-32,57,17,16,1,38,29,48,2,31,9,-7,44,58,36,49,43,57,49,229,252, 252,-105,-101,-90,-78,-98,-74,-438,-451,-464,-495,-499,-521,-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