[Event "4NCL Division 3 North"] [Site "Doncaster, ENG"] [Date "2021.11.20"] [Round "1.11"] [White "Gardiner, Eric D"] [Black "Rawlinson, Aidan M"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B06"] [WhiteElo "2069"] [BlackElo "2215"] [Annotator "Gardiner,Eric"] [PlyCount "120"] [EventDate "2021.11.20"] [WhiteTeam "Hull & East Riding Tigers"] [BlackTeam "Manchester Manticores 2"] {[%evp 0,120,38,19,96,83,87,72,73,52,83,45,46,40,45,46,68,61,31,28,40,19,25,6, 16,16,4,-6,3,-10,-17,-14,2,-22,-15,-24,62,64,51,0,2,10,10,23,23,30,30,18,42,49, 44,14,26,24,44,35,37,13,13,0,0,11,6,11,11,15,14,10,34,-22,-21,-11,-14,-21,1,-4, -14,-35,-38,-52,-45,-64,0,-9,-9,-9,13,-9,-9,-9,-9,-40,0,0,0,-22,0,0,0,-1,0,-40, 0,-54,0,-72,-66,-74,-74,-74,-93,-164,-179,-181,-181,-181,-127,-277,-305,-597, -614,-972,-992]} 1. e4 {[%emt 1:40:00]} g6 {[%emt 1:40:00]} 2. d4 {[%emt 1:40: 00]} Bg7 {[%emt 1:41:00] As predicted. Aidan starts most of his black games this way against either 1.d4 or 1.e4.} 3. Nc3 {[%emt 1:41:00]} d6 {[%emt 1:41: 00]} 4. Be3 {[%emt 1:41:00]} ({Previously I'd played} 4. f4 {against the same opponent.}) 4... a6 {[%emt 1:42:00]} 5. f4 {[%emt 1:41:00]} b5 {[%emt 1:42:00]} 6. Be2 {[%emt 1:42:00] With the idea of exchanging bishops on the h1-a8 diagonal and enjoying more space in the centre. This idea is recommended by the German IM Sielecki in his book "Keep it Simple 1.e4".} Nd7 {[%emt 1:42:00]} 7. e5 {[%emt 1:37:00] (otherwise Black will play ...e5 himself)} Bb7 {[%emt 1: 36:00]} 8. Bf3 {[%emt 1:35:00]} Qc8 {[%emt 1:35:00]} 9. Bxb7 {[%emt 1:24:00]} ( {Sielecki recommends} 9. Qe2 {here (which I forgot during the game) with the comment "White is slightly more comfortable". To some extent, it's a matter of taste. I enjoy queenless middlegames with interesting pawn strucutres so was happy to exchange pieces to get my knight to its most natural square!}) 9... Qxb7 {[%emt 1:36:00]} 10. Qf3 {[%emt 1:24:00]} O-O-O {[%emt 1:15:00]} 11. Qxb7+ {[%emt 1:19:00]} (11. a4 {threatening to open the a-file, was an interesting possibility that I didn't consider during the game. Then} b4 (11... Qxf3 12. Nxf3 {helps White's development}) 12. Qxb7+ Kxb7 13. Na2 ({After} 13. Nd5 a5 { [%CAl Ge7e6] White has to deal with the threat of ...e6}) {and now a possible line where Black thematically tries to break up White's centre while White tries to develop as quickly as possible to take advantage of open lines is} 13... c5 14. c3 bxc3 15. bxc3 cxd4 16. cxd4 dxe5 17. dxe5 f6 18. Nf3 fxe5 19. O-O exf4 20. Rab1+ $13) ({During the game I was also considering} 11. Ne4 { but unless Black weakens d6 I didn't think the knight was useful on e4.}) 11... Kxb7 {[%emt 1:16:00]} 12. Nf3 {[%emt 1:19:00]} f6 {[%emt 1:11:00]} 13. O-O-O { [%emt 1:05:00] Indirectly defending e5 because of the potential pin on the d-file.} Nh6 {[%emt 1:08:00] A critical moment in the game. Now there is a threat to win the e5-pawn. I had to decide between 14.e6 and 14.exf6.} ({ Not of course} 13... fxe5 14. dxe5 dxe5 $2 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 16. fxe5 e6 $4 17. Bg5 $18) 14. e6 {[%emt 0:49:00] This seemed like the principled decision, trying to gain more space although I was aware that the pawn might prove to be a weakness in the long term.} (14. exd6 {is similar to 14.exf6, exf6 except that Black now has the additional possibility of} cxd6 {when he has the half-open c-file to use}) (14. exf6 exf6 15. d5 Nf5 16. Bf2 h5 {is also hard to assess but Black seems to have more space than in the game}) 14... Nb6 {[%emt 1:02:00] } 15. d5 {[%emt 0:42:00]} Nc4 {[%emt 0:58:00]} 16. Rhe1 {[%emt 0:35:00]} ({ I wanted to keep the bishop but didn't think I had time, e.g.} 16. Bf2 Ng4 { [%csl Yd1,Yg2][%CAl Gg4f2,Gg4e3] utilising the weakness of the e3-square}) 16... Nxe3 {[%emt 0:57:00]} 17. Rxe3 {[%emt 0:35:00]} Nf5 {[%emt 0:57:00] Another decision point for me.} 18. Re4 {[%emt 0:34:00] Looking for play on the queenside but I didn't follow this up consistently.} h5 {[%emt 0:56:00] Preventing g2-g4.} 19. Ne2 $6 {[%emt 0:30:00]} ({Here} 19. a4 {would have been the consistent move, making use of the rook's placement on e4 before rerouting the c3-knight.}) 19... c6 {[%emt 0:54:00]} 20. dxc6+ {[%emt 0:29:00]} Kxc6 { [%emt 0:54:00]} 21. Ned4+ {[%emt 0:27:00]} (21. a4 {was still possible although Black has more flexibility on the queenside than before}) 21... Nxd4 { [%emt 0:54:00]} 22. Nxd4+ {[%emt 0:26:00]} Kb6 {[%emt 0:50:00]} 23. f5 { [%emt 0:17:00] Preventing ...f6-f5. This was the sort of position I was aiming for after playing e5-e6. I think this endgame is hard to assess. White still has more space and for now a better minor piece but Black's king is more active thanks to the ...c6-c5 break. Also Black can play on the kingside while White does not have an active plan.} ({The time has passed for queenside play, for example} 23. Nb3 f5 24. Rb4 $4 a5 $19) 23... Rdg8 {[%emt 0:47:00]} 24. Kb1 {[%emt 0:16:00] This seems necessary but as shown later in the game it magnifies how Black's king is better placed in anticipation of future piece trades.} Bf8 {[%emt 0:47:00]} 25. Re2 {[%emt 0:10:00] Keeping the other rook on the d-file to prevent Black's king from coming over.} gxf5 {[%emt 0:48:00]} 26. Nxf5 {[%emt 0:10:00]} Kc6 {[%emt 0:46:00]} 27. b3 {[%emt 0:08:00]} Rg5 { [%emt 0:46:00] Black now has the initiative.} 28. Rf1 {[%emt 0:06:00]} h4 $5 { [%emt 0:34:00] An interesting idea and perhaps the only way to make progress. Black temporarily sacrifices a pawn but is now guaranteed to win the e6-pawn if White accepts.} 29. Rf4 {[%emt 0:04:00]} Rhg8 {[%emt 0:34:00]} 30. Nxh4 { [%emt 0:05:00]} Re5 {[%emt 0:34:00]} 31. Rff2 {[%emt 0:04:00]} Kd5 {[%emt 0:34: 00]} 32. Nf3 {[%emt 0:04:00] Setting a small trap.} Rxe2 {[%emt 0:30:00] Black does not need to rush to win his pawn back.} (32... Rxe6 $4 33. c4+ {and White wins the rook on e6}) 33. Rxe2 {[%emt 0:04:00]} Rg4 {[%emt 0:31:00]} 34. Kb2 { [%emt 0:03:00]} f5 {[%emt 0:30:00]} 35. Kc3 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Bg7+ {[%emt 0:26: 00]} 36. Kd3 {[%emt 0:02:00]} Be5 {[%emt 0:27:00]} ({I was expecting} 36... Re4 {here when being short of time I might well have blundered with} 37. Nd2 $4 Rd4+ 38. Ke3 Bh6+ {! In any case this endgame looks better for Black as the bishop is now much stronger than it was a few moves ago.}) 37. g3 {[%emt 0:01: 00]} ({I rejected} 37. h3 {as Black then got the g3-square}) 37... b4 {[%emt 0: 25:00]} 38. Nxe5 {[%emt 0:01:00]} dxe5 {[%emt 0:25:00]} 39. c4+ {[%emt 0:00:00] } bxc3 {[%emt 0:25:00]} 40. Kxc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Kxe6 {[%emt 0:25:00] I thought this rook endgame should be drawn with some counterplay for me. In particular, many pawn endgames are winning for me with the outside or potential outside passed pawns so I can often offer a trade of rooks.} 41. b4 { [%emt 0:41:00]} Kd5 {[%emt 1:10:00]} 42. Rd2+ {[%emt 0:32:00]} Ke4 {[%emt 1:09: 00]} 43. Re2+ {[%emt 0:33:00]} Kd5 {[%emt 1:10:00]} (43... Kf3 44. Rxe5 Kg2 45. Re2+ {does not help Black}) 44. Rd2+ {[%emt 0:33:00]} Ke6 {[%emt 1:08:00]} ( 44... Rd4 $4 45. a4 $18 {is an example of a winning pawn ending for White}) 45. Re2 $6 {[%emt 0:33:00] Repeating the position at move 41.} ({There was no harm in playing more actively with} 45. a4 $1 {consistent with 41.b4.}) 45... Rg8 { [%emt 1:08:00]} 46. a4 {[%emt 0:32:00]} Rc8+ {[%emt 1:08:00]} 47. Kb3 {[%emt 0: 29:00] Although not a mistake objectively on reflection I think 47.Kd3 is simpler here, transferring the duties of king and rook. The rook can then prepare to support the b-pawn with Rb2 and the king keeps an eye on Black's central pawns.} ({After} 47. Kd3 {if} e4+ {then White has} 48. Kd4) 47... Kd5 { [%emt 1:06:00]} 48. Rd2+ {[%emt 0:22:00] My idea was to keep checking the king, having calculated that the king could not leave the protection of the e5-pawn. However the checking distance is not that great.} (48. Rc2 {could be played rather than first drawing Black's king forward.}) 48... Ke4 {[%emt 1:06:00]} 49. Re2+ {[%emt 0:20:00]} Kd4 {[%emt 1:06:00] This was the move I'd overlooked. Rather than going all-in with 49...Kd3, Black gradually improves his king position.} (49... Kd3 50. Rxe5 Rc3+ 51. Kb2 Rc2+ 52. Kb3 Rxh2 53. Rxf5 { and it is White with the extra pawn was what I saw so I thought Black had to go back to d5.}) 50. Rd2+ {[%emt 0:18:00]} Ke3 {[%emt 1:06:00]} 51. Rc2 { [%emt 0:17:00]} Rh8 {[%emt 1:00:00]} (51... Rxc2 52. Kxc2 f4 53. gxf4 exf4 54. b5 axb5 55. axb5 f3 {leading to a drawn queen ending was another line to check during the game. (Had Rc2 been played with Black's king less advanced the rook exchange on c2 would be winning for White.)}) 52. b5 {[%emt 0:15:00]} ({ And here I had to find a new idea involving lateral rather than frontal attacks on the pawns:} 52. Rc5 Ke4 53. Rc4+ Kf3 54. Rc5 e4 55. Rxf5+ {Even here, some more calculation is required to confirm this is a draw as Fritz is saying.}) 52... axb5 {[%emt 1:00:00]} 53. axb5 {[%emt 0:15:00]} f4 {[%emt 1:00: 00]} 54. gxf4 {[%emt 0:14:00]} exf4 {[%emt 1:01:00]} 55. b6 $2 {[%emt 0:13:00]} ({Here the best chance appears to be for White to try to give up his rook for both pawns to reach a drawn rook vs pawn ending. For example} 55. Rc3+ Kf2 56. Rc5 f3 57. Re5 Kg1 58. Rxe7 f2 59. Rf7 f1=Q 60. Rxf1+ Kxf1 {is confirmed drawn by endgame tablebases. However there are a lot of alternatives here to analyse and Black's play can be improved. For example Fritz gives 57...Re8 protecting the second pawn as an improvement.}) 55... f3 {[%emt 0:58:00]} 56. Rc3+ { [%emt 0:13:00]} Ke4 {[%emt 0:58:00]} 57. Rc4+ {[%emt 0:13:00]} Kf5 {[%emt 0:58: 00]} 58. b7 {[%emt 0:09:00]} Rb8 {[%emt 0:59:00]} 59. Rc7 {[%emt 0:08:00]} f2 { [%emt 0:58:00]} 60. Rxe7 {[%emt 0:08:00]} Kf6 {[%emt 0:58:00] A disappointing conclusion although I must acknowledge Aidan's resourcefulness and mention that he kindly offered to get me a coffee just as I needed to start working hard in the rook endgame!} (60... f1=Q 61. Rf7+ {is the last trap}) 0-1 [Event "4NCL Division 3 North"] [Site "Doncaster, ENG"] [Date "2021.11.21"] [Round "2.41"] [White "Vleeshhouwer, Douglas"] [Black "Sakic, Lorand"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C68"] [WhiteElo "2097"] [BlackElo "2013"] [Annotator "Gardiner,Eric"] [PlyCount "97"] [EventDate "2021.11.21"] [WhiteTeam "Hull & East Riding Tigers"] [BlackTeam "Bolton"] {[%evp 0,97,38,23,23,19,5,8,19,27,29,35,40,30,42,13,35,32,63,53,58,39,89,90,74, 79,81,85,71,75,76,70,78,65,59,66,66,66,77,59,59,73,78,80,84,80,85,88,83,83,131, 125,132,125,128,139,151,186,179,148,216,176,197,173,216,238,241,250,247,264, 291,294,289,285,299,229,311,309,339,335,461,437,437,465,539,467,471,595,909, 909,823,948,1000,1025,1025,1088,1088,1131,1167,282]} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Be7 6. d3 ({If} 6. Nxe5 {then after} Qd4 7. Qh5 Be6 8. d3 Nf6 9. Nf3 {the desperado move} Qxf2+ {is one way for Black to regain his pawn! This looks about equal.}) 6... Qd6 {An odd-looking move but established theory although more commonly played on move 5. The queen won't stay there forever and Black prepares to castle queenside quickly.} 7. Be3 Bg4 8. h3 { This is where Chessbase's online database goes blank although I doubt this is a novelty! White has to judge whether Black can exploit this by retreating to d7 say and a later ...h5, ...g5 and ...g5-g4 pawn storm.} Bh5 9. Nbd2 f6 10. Nc4 Qe6 $6 (10... Qd7 {is more accurate here with a strategically complex and unbalanced game. In order to make progress both sides need to consider pawn breaks. For White these would be d3-d4, f2-f4 or a combination of a4, b4, b4-b5, particularly if Black castles queenside. For Black, these would be ... h5, ...g5 and ...g4 as previously mentioned. Black might also be able to play . ..b5, ...c5 and ...c4. Black will also need a few moves to get his knight in the game - one idea would be ...g5 and then ...Nh6-f7. Alternatively he could play ...Nh6 immediately when White has to decide whether to give up his last bishop to worsen Black's pawn structure further with Bxh6. The pin of the f3-knight looks a bit annoying for White (and g2-g4 would invite trouble from . ..Bf7 and ...h5 to follow) but he could advance on the queenside in any case starting with a2-a3 while waiting to see what Black does and then retreat with Ncd2 if he wants to move his queen. In my opinion, the better player will probably win from either side from this position!}) 11. Ng5 $1 {I suspect Lorand missed this move! Black's pawn structure deteoriates.} fxg5 (11... Bxd1 $2 12. Nxe6 {wins at least a pawn since} Bxc2 $4 13. Nxc7+ Kf7 14. Nxa8 Bxd3 15. Nab6 Bxf1 16. Rxf1 {leaves White a piece up}) 12. Qxh5+ g6 13. Qg4 Qxg4 14. hxg4 {Congratulations to both players on reaching one of "my" queenless middlegame positions with an interesting pawn structure! But seriously, with two pawns on the fourth rank on the same coloured squares as his remaining bishop, Black's bishop is clearly inferior to White's.} Bf6 15. c3 {Black does not have enough active pieces to attack the d3-pawn.} O-O-O ({I don't know why Lorand didn't try} 15... h5 {here. White can set a trap with} 16. f3 hxg4 17. fxg4 {but Black does not have to fall for it:} Rh4 $4 18. Rxf6 Nxf6 19. Bxg5 { Rather than 16...hxg4, Black can now maintain the tension with 16...0-0-0.}) 16. Rad1 Nh6 17. f3 Nf7 18. d4 {Douglas gets the first pawn break.} h6 ({ Unfortunately} 18... h5 {no longer works because Black's pieces are overworked defending his weak pawns, e.g.} 19. dxe5 Rxd1 20. Rxd1 Bxe5 21. Nxe5 Nxe5 22. gxh5 {and although Black has got rid of his problem bishop he now has to play} Rxh5 {to avoid losing a pawn immediately with a clearly worse ending}) 19. g3 $1 {I like this move, preparing Kg2 in order have the use of the half-open h-file for a rook and supporting a later f3-f4.} Rhe8 20. Kg2 Rd7 21. dxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Rxd7 Kxd7 24. f4 gxf4 (24... Bf6 {was perhaps more resilient although White is still better after} 25. Kf3 {in view of his mobile e- and f-pawns}) 25. gxf4 {White has transformed his advantage of a better bishop and superior pawn structure into a passed pawn (potentially two connected passed pawns). Effectively White is now a pawn up as Black's extra pawn on the queenside is doubled and does not allow him to easily create a passed pawn for counterplay.} Bg7 26. Rd1+ Kc8 27. Kf3 b5 28. Rh1 Kd7 29. Bd4 (29. f5 { immediately was also good and if} g5 {then} 30. Bd4) 29... Bf8 30. Rd1 Kc8 31. Bf6 c5 32. e5 c4 33. f5 gxf5 34. gxf5 {Finally the connected passed pawns arrive!} a5 35. e6 a4 36. a3 {Preventing any counterplay with ...a4-a3. It does not matter much if White's queenside pawns are on the same coloured squares as his bishop now.} Bd6 37. Rg1 Rf8 38. Rg6 h5 39. Ke4 h4 { Unfortunately Black didn't have access to the h8-square to support this pawn.} 40. Bxh4 Rh8 41. Rg4 {Although not necessary, this is also good technique, blocking all entry routes for the black rook to get counterplay, rather than moving the attacked bishop.} Rh5 42. Rg8+ Kb7 43. Bg3 Kc6 44. Bxd6 Kxd6 45. Rd8+ Ke7 46. Rd7+ Kf6 47. Rf7+ Kg5 48. e7 Rh1 49. Rg7+ {A smooth performance from Douglas who kept control throughout the game.} 1-0 [Event "4NCL Division 3 North"] [Site "Doncaster, ENG"] [Date "2021.11.21"] [Round "2.43"] [White "Kilshaw, Joe"] [Black "McElvenny, Damien"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "2046"] [BlackElo "1878"] [Annotator "Gardiner,Eric"] [PlyCount "123"] [EventDate "2021.11.21"] [WhiteTeam "Hull & East Riding Tigers"] [BlackTeam "Bolton"] {[%evp 0,123,21,-11,14,23,17,-3,16,36,24,-36,6,-17,13,13,17,20,40,36,69,26,39, 26,33,-5,-1,-17,0,2,-4,-7,9,-47,-53,-54,-61,-60,-39,-81,-28,-27,-45,-48,-45, -79,-60,-60,-62,-62,-66,-56,-74,-140,-115,-132,-95,-180,-123,-156,-182,-187, -112,-86,30,-6,0,-28,60,60,385,523,958,1332,1332,1403,1443,63,121,120,129,0,0, 0,243,0,0,0,290,0,156,116,158,0,0,0,209,233,257,268,260,250,271,252,270,270, 272,270,254,279,292,290,318,318,319,374,382,361,335,386,411,425,426,411,417, 435]} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 e5 7. d3 { A Symmetrical English Opening has arisen in which both sides have adopted a pawn formation (c4-d3-e4 for White and c5-d6-e5 for Black) sometimes known as the Botvinnik System. (For any younger readers, Mikhail Botvinnik was World Champion for most of the 1948-1963 period.)} Nc6 8. O-O Be6 9. Nd5 O-O 10. h3 Qd7 11. Kh2 Nd4 {Although the near-symmetry has continued, White's minor pieces are slightly more flexibly placed. Both sides need to play for the same pawn breaks (b2-b4 and f2-f4 for White and correspondingly ...b7-b5 and ... f7-f5 for Black but White's pieces are better placed to this aim. Firstly, the f6-knight blocks the f-pawn and secondly the e6-bishop has limited mobility (indeed, if White retreats the d5-knight to e3 at some point then it is at risk of getting trapped with f2-f4-f5).} 12. Bh6 {[%CAl Yg7f6,Yg7h6] A common theme in the English Opening when Black fianchettos his dark-squared bishop and White has a knight on d5. The bishop can't be captured. Thus White forces the exchange of dark-squared bishops on g7. Although this might appear to benefit Black as his bishop was blocked by Black's central pawns, it can also benefit White as the main defender of Black's kingside dark squares has been removed. Additionally, after a later f2-f4 break met by ...exf4 the long diagonal would have opened for Black's bishop.} ({White could also leave the bishop on c1 for now and play} 12. Nxd4 cxd4 ({or} 12... exd4 13. f4) 13. f4 { when the e6-bishop is restricted and after} Bxd5 14. cxd5 {I think White is a bit better as he has the bishop pair and Black's knight has no useful outposts. White could plan to pressure Black's queenside via moves like Bd2 and possibly Bd2-b4 or Bd2-a5, Qb3 and occupying the c-file but would need to be mindful of the ...f7-f5 counterbreak (this could be prevented with f4-f5).}) 12... Bxd5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. cxd5 Nxe2 15. Qxe2 Rae8 16. f4 $2 {Thematic but I imagine Joe missed Black's 17th move.} exf4 17. gxf4 Nxd5 {Winning a pawn thanks to the pin on the e-file. However, the game has only just started and in particular White tries hard to exploit the absence of Black's dark-squared bishop and weakened king.} 18. Qd2 Nb4 19. d4 Rd8 20. d5 {[%CAl Rb4c6,Rc6d4] I like this multi-purpose move. Like its erstwhile counterpart, Black's remaning knight ideally wants to be on d4. So White makes this harder to achieve. Also White has in mind the creation of a passed d-pawn via the e4-e5 pawn break bring his bishop to life and tie Black's pieces down.} f6 {Which Black tries to prevent ...} 21. a3 Na6 22. Rad1 Nc7 23. b4 {Another thematic break. White is a pawn down but has the initiative.} b6 24. Qb2 Rde8 25. bxc5 bxc5 26. Rfe1 Qa4 ({I think} 26... Nb5 {to finally reach the hallowed d4-square was better.}) 27. Kh1 Rb8 28. Qa1 Rf7 29. Qc1 {A tempo loss as White's queen could have gone here last move but then Black's previous move was a defensive one so no harm done.} Rb3 {A lot happens over the next 10 moves. I'm not sure how much time the players had at this point to reach the time control at move 40! Of course it's easy to switch on an engine to point out the errors the players made but in this sort of messy position human players are prone to err.} 30. e5 fxe5 31. fxe5 dxe5 32. Rxe5 Qd7 {And now it is Black who has lost a tempo. The d-pawn is starting to look dangerous but ...} 33. d6 Rxh3+ {...White's pawn breakthrough has also exposed his own king!} 34. Kg1 (34. Bxh3 {loses to} Qxh3+ 35. Kg1 Qg3+ 36. Kh1 Rf2 {and White has only a couple of checks to delay the mate on h2:} 37. Re7+ Kg8 38. Qc4+ Kh8 39. Rxh7+ Kxh7 $19 {Black has queen checks on f7 or h4 covered.}) 34... Na6 ({Here Black's best chance was} 34... Rg3 35. dxc7 Rxg2+ 36. Kxg2 {when} Qg4+ {leads to perpetual check on the g- and h-files. Possibly Damien saw this but was still trying to win?}) 35. Re7 { Engines show White is winning now but the players might not have been aware of this during the game!} Qg4 36. Rxf7+ Kxf7 37. d7 Rg3 38. Rd2 ({And now remarkably} 38. Rf1+ {is the only move to win! If now} Kg7 {then} ({ Alternatively if} 38... Ke7 {trying to stop the pawn then} 39. Qe1+ {(a hard attacking move to find as the queen does not move forward!)} Kxd7 40. Rf7+ { leads to mate}) 39. Qb2+ {defends the bishop and White next queens his pawn (with the rook on d1, White wasn't able to defend the bishop with the queen because of ...Qxd1+ or ...Rxg2+ followed by ...Qxd1+)}) 38... Rxg2+ 39. Rxg2 Qxd7 40. Qf1+ Kg7 41. Qxa6 {The players would have had more time now move 40 has been passed but there's still a lot to calculate.} Qd1+ $2 ({It seems} 41... Qd4+ {is the only move to draw. Perpetual checks are easier to work out if there is a simple pattern of corresponding squares which the queen can always access for each square the defening king occupies. Here Black is aided by the possibilty of skewering the king against the rook on g2 which prevents White's king from travelling too far from the rook. This isn't the simplest example to work out though! The following line illustrates a set of corresponding squares:} 42. Kf1 Qd1+ 43. Kf2 Qd4+ 44. Kg3 Qe5+ 45. Kh3 Qh5+ 46. Kg3 Qe5+ 47. Kf3 Qd5+ 48. Kf2 Qd4+ {and now if the king tries to escape from the kingside:} 49. Ke1 ({or} 49. Ke2 Qe5+ 50. Kd1 (50. Kd2 Qd5+ {wins the rook} ) 50... Qa1+ {as in the 49.Ke1 line}) 49... Qa1+ 50. Ke2 {and now} Qa2+ { in order to meet} 51. Kf3 {with the skewer} Qd5+ {White can also try to interpose the rook on h2:} 52. Kg3 Qg5+ 53. Kh2 Qh4+ 54. Kg1 Qd4+ 55. Kh1 Qh4+ 56. Rh2 {but then Black gets another set of checking squares:} Qe1+ 57. Kg2 Qd2+ 58. Kg1 Qd4+ 59. Rf2 Qg4+ {and so on. However in this string of checks Black often has only a single check to draw. Chances are high that Black will go wrong in a practical game.}) 42. Kf2 $2 ({White can now win by bringing his queen back to the defence but it's still complicated: my engine gives} 42. Qf1 Qd4+ 43. Rf2 Qg4+ 44. Qg2 Qd1+ 45. Kh2 Qh5+ 46. Qh3 Qe5+ 47. Qg3 Qh5+ 48. Kg2 Qd5+ 49. Kg1 Qd1+ 50. Rf1 Qd4+ 51. Kh2 Qd2+ 52. Rf2 Qh6+ 53. Kg2 {and finally Black is out of (sensible) checks}) 42... Qd4+ 43. Ke1 Qc3+ $2 (43... Qa1+ 44. Ke2 Qa2+ 45. Kf3 ({or} 45. Kf1 Qa1+) 45... Qd5+ 46. Kg3 Qg5+ {draws as in the note to Black's 41st move}) 44. Ke2 Qb2+ 45. Kf3 Qc3+ 46. Kf2 Qd4+ 47. Kg3 Qe3+ 48. Kh2 Qe5+ 49. Rg3 Qh5+ 50. Kg1 Qd1+ 51. Kf2 Qd4+ 52. Re3 Qf4+ 53. Ke2 Qg4+ 54. Kd2 Qd4+ 55. Qd3 Qb2+ 56. Ke1 Qc1+ 57. Kf2 Qb2+ 58. Kf1 Qf6+ 59. Rf3 Qa1+ 60. Kg2 Qa2+ 61. Kg3 {Finally Damien runs out of road and Joe converts.} Qe6 62. Qc3+ {If now 62...Kh8 then Qe3+ forces the queen exchange when none of Black's passed pawns is dangerous whereas 62...Kg8 is met by 63.Qb3 pinning and if Black tries to prevent the exchange of queens with 63...c4 then 64.Qb8+, Kg7; 65.Qf8 is mate. A great comeback by Joe who successfully managed to complicate the game after losing a pawn!} 1-0