[Event "Anstey 1 v Wigston 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2025.03.27"] [Round "?"] [White "Turner, Lewis"] [Black "Bray, Dave"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Lewis Turner"] [ECO "B48"] [PlyCount "35"] [GameId "2160181645770779"] [EventDate "2025.03.27"] [SourceVersionDate "2025.03.27"] {[%evp 0,9,25,16,71,48,60,52,55,31,29,37]} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3 Qc7 6. Be3 a6 7. Qf3 $5 {This is quite trendy nowadays. I saw a game where MVL beat Anand and wanted to try this.} Nf6 {Main line} 8. O-O-O Bb4 $5 {Not a move I've studied, I'm out of book here.} 9. Bf4 $5 {Over the board, inspiration. Probably not best.} Nxd4 {I was happy to see this, capturing first is normally a concession} (9... e5 $5 {I thought this was best} 10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. exd5 Nxd4 12. Rxd4 {I had calculated this with some weird complications. d5-d6 comes next and white must be for choice I felt.}) 10. Rxd4 Qa5 11. Rc4 $5 {I think this is quite an interesting concept, preparing Bc7 and making b7-b5 difficult to achieve.} (11. Rxb4 $5 {Another candidate, not sure if an exchange sacrifice is justified.}) (11. Bd2 $5 {I also considered this but not sure about going backwards!}) 11... O-O 12. Bd3 $5 {I spent 15 minutes here. I also considered a3 to gain the bishop pair, which felt like a safe option.} (12. a3 Bxc3 13. Rxc3 d5 14. Bd3 $14 {I thought this was slightly better for white but nothing special. I wanted more!}) 12... d5 $1 {This feels forced, otherwise e4-e5 happens and white is opening too many lines towards black's king.} 13. Bc7 b6 14. exd5 {Opening lines} Bb7 $2 {I did not consider this. Here I nearly played Rh4 on reflex but I slowed down to check other moves.} (14... exd5 15. Rh4 $5 {This was my intention, black's defence is not so simple...}) 15. Be5 $1 {I was very happy with this, after seeing the mating pattern. The bishop has done its job and rejoins the attack with devastating power, also lending support to the knight on c3. Black does not see the threat though in fairness I could not find a defence for my opponent.} exd5 $2 (15... Bxc3 16. Bxc3 $1 Qxd5 17. Bxf6 $1 {White wins a piece here, I calculated:} Qxf3 18. gxf3 gxf6 $4 19. Rg1+ Kh8 20. Bxh7 $1 $18 {Lights out! There is no defence to Rh4}) 16. Qxf6 $3 {Chess can sometimes be very beautiful! My opponent missed this but sportingly let me carry out the mate.} gxf6 17. Rg4+ Kh8 18. Bxf6# 1-0 [Event "Leics Div 3 Wigston 4 v Heathcote 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2024.11.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Johnson, Andy"] [Black "Watkinson, Phil"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Phil Watkinson"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "1718"] [BlackElo "1672"] [PlyCount "86"] [GameId "2162532913754044"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] [TimeControl "75+10"] 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 {The London System, playable against any defence but more effective against ... d5.} c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. e3 Qb6 6. Qb3 c4 {This variation now usually continues with 7. Qc2 but Andy has a specific idea in mind.} 7. Qxb6 axb6 8. Na3 $1 {Black has to be watchful that on a e4 pawn push by White, the reply dxe4 is met with Bxc4. So Black likes to make the move ... b5 as soon as possible. Here, 8. Na3 prevents that and also eyes up the b5 square for annoying checks on d6 or c7.} Bf5 9. Nb5 Ra5 10. a4 Bc2 11. Ng5 $2 {Faced with the loss of his a4 pawn, Andy plans Nc7+ and Nxf7} (11. Nc7+ Kd7 12. Ng5 Bg6 $17) (11. Be2 $15) 11... e6 12. Bd6 Bxa4 13. Bxf8 Rxf8 14. Nd6+ Ke7 15. Ndxf7 {White decides to swap two knights for a rook and a pawn. Materially equal but in this closed position the two knights will be a big advantage for me.} (15. Nxb7 Ra7 16. Be2 h6 17. Nf3 Rb8 $19) 15... Rxf7 (15... h6 16. Ne5 hxg5 17. Ng6+ Kf7 18. Nxf8 Kxf8 {is similar}) 16. Nxf7 Kxf7 17. f3 Bb3 18. Ra3 $6 Rxa3 19. bxa3 Na7 {White cannot save the a3 pawn.} 20. Be2 Nb5 21. Kd2 Nxa3 22. Ra1 Nb5 23. Rb1 Nd6 24. Bd1 {It looks like I will lose a pawn and White's rook will become active. Luckily there is a tactic to save me:} Nfe4+ $1 {This piece sacrifice works since the knight fork on c3 cannot be stopped. The other knight works just as well.} 25. fxe4 Nxe4+ 26. Ke1 Nxc3 27. Ra1 $2 (27. Rxb3 {The engine prefers this but the assessment is still -3.7} cxb3 28. Bxb3 Ne4) 27... Nxd1 28. Ra7 Nxe3 29. Rxb7+ Kf6 30. Kd2 Nxg2 31. Rxb6 {My plan is to centralize the knight on e4 in order to support the pawn push to c3.} h5 32. Rb8 Nh4 33. Kc3 Nf5 34. Rf8+ Ke7 35. Rh8 g6 36. Rh7+ Kf6 37. Rh8 {There is no rush} Nd6 38. Rf8+ Ke7 39. Rf4 Ne4+ {Finally the knight makes it to the best square} 40. Kb2 Bd1 {A last little detail, move the bishop in front of the pawn and place on a better diagonal.} 41. h3 c3+ 42. Kc1 c2 43. h4 Nc3 {White resigned. Na2+ is coming and the pawn will queen. My b8 knight was a workhorse in this game, moving 16 times and touching all four sides of the board on b8, d1, h4 and the anticipated a2. A knight's tour indeed!} 0-1 [Event "Wigston Handicap Blitz"] [Site "?"] [Date "2024.09.12"] [Round "4"] [White "Burrows, Martin"] [Black "Corlett, Les"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Martin Burrows"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2173"] [BlackElo "1592"] [PlyCount "49"] [GameId "2162532913758142"] [EventDate "2024.09.13"] [EventType "blitz"] {I started with 2 minutes, Les with 8, and a 3 second increment for both of us.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Bc5 5. O-O Nf6 6. c3 Nxe4 $6 {A risky pawn grab, but it is a good practical option to complicate the position when I don't have much time.} 7. d4 Ba7 ({More common is} 7... exd4 8. cxd4 Ba7 9. d5 Ne7) 8. d5 $6 (8. Qe2 f5 9. Nbd2 {is a much better option}) 8... Ne7 9. Nxe5 O-O {Now the position is roughly equal} 10. Bc2 Nxf2 $6 {Objectively not great. Trading rook and pawn for bishop and knight in the middlegame doesn't usually work out. But again it is a good practical choice.} 11. Rxf2 d6 12. Nf3 Bg4 {There is no rush to take on f2} 13. Qd3 $2 {Threatening Qxh7+ and Nd4, but it doesn't turn out well} ({I should have developed a piece with something like} 13. Na3) 13... Bf5 14. Qe2 Re8 15. Bxf5 Nxf5 16. Qc2 {The computer says the position is level, but black is having all the fun} Qh4 $1 {The point being that Nxh4 is met by Re1 mate!} 17. Kf1 $4 {I am now threatening to take the queen, and my rook can now also move} ({The computer says the only move here is} 17. Na3 {when the chances are equal}) 17... Ng3+ $3 {Les finds a nice combination to keep the attack going} 18. hxg3 Qh1+ 19. Ng1 Re1+ $1 20. Kxe1 Qxg1+ 21. Rf1 (21. Ke2 Qxf2+ 22. Kd3 Qf5+ 23. Kd2 Be3+ $1 {is crushing}) 21... Re8+ 22. Qe2 (22. Kd2 Qxg2+ 23. Kd3 Qxd5#) 22... Rxe2+ 23. Kxe2 Qxg2+ 24. Ke1 Qxg3+ 25. Kd1 {I have survived the onslaught and material is about level with Queen and 3 pawns versus 2 rooks and a knight. However my position is a complete wreck with none of my queenside pieces developed. The game went on for many more moves before I somehow escaped with an undeserved draw.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "English Championships 2024"] [Site "?"] [Date "2024.06.22"] [Round "?"] [White "Koichi, N.."] [Black "Turner, L.."] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "LewisTurner"] [ECO "B76"] [WhiteElo "2178"] [BlackElo "2093"] [PlyCount "52"] [GameId "2162532913758144"] [EventDate "2024.06.25"] [SourceVersionDate "2024.06.25"] {[%evp 0,33,16,28,97,43,91,91,95,44,49,38,119,88,101,63,63,50,37,35,62,60,60,20,39,55,89,48,59,69,69,77,77,80,80,75]} 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. O-O-O d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 e5 13. Bc5 Re8 {This is all well-known theory and one of the main tests of the dragon. White weakens the black pawn structure and plays more positionally against the dragon bishop and weakened c5-square rather than attacking on the kingside.} 14. Nxd5 $5 {My opponent spent 20 minutes on this move, which seems logical as white is winning a pawn. In fact this is a well-known risk-free approach by white though black equalises here according to my analysis.} cxd5 15. Bb5 $6 {Greedy, the rook is trapped though to be honest with the bishop pair and strong centre, a material imbalance like this does not fill a Dragon player with fear. In particular here, white's rooks are not particularly impressive with no open files on the board, their mobility is limited when compared with the pair of bishops.} (15. Qxd5 Qxd5 16. Rxd5 Be6 $11 {Theory considers this position equal thanks to the pawn targets on the queenside, black can usually regain the pawn.}) 15... Be6 $1 {Dorfman once played d4 here but he was the only grandmaster to lose this position with black! Black's score is massive here, showing how difficult this can be for white to defend.} 16. Bxe8 Qxe8 17. Qa5 Qc6 $1 {Black's play is very easy, c2 will soon become difficult to defend and pushing c3 invites d5-d4.} 18. Rd3 {White tries to defend along the 3rd rank} d4 $1 {Restricting the rook and opening up the unopposed light-square bishop} 19. Re1 $1 {White overprotects the e4 square} Bf6 $5 {This move immediately poses practical problems for white. I worked out the best try is b4 to lock down the dark squares though this gives a hook that can later be exploited. Understandably my opponent did not wish to make this concession though it is the only way for white to stay in the game.} 20. Ba3 $6 (20. b4 $1 h5 21. Ra3 Bc4 22. Bxa7 $2 Bb5 $19 {Just an illustrative line to show how tied up the white pieces are!}) 20... Rc8 21. Re2 $2 {Already the final mistake. At this point I became very excited, spotting a combination that would end the game if my opponent defended naturally.} Bf5 22. Rdd2 Bg5 23. Kb1 d3 24. Rf2 {Black to play, find the strongest move.} Qxc2+ $3 {It is a pleasure to play such moves. dxc2+ wins as well but is a lot less fun.} 25. Rxc2 dxc2+ 26. Rxc2 Rxc2 {Materially white is winning but black's co-ordination is perfect and white cannot hide from a discovered check and defend against the back rank mate. White resigns.} (26... Rxc2 27. b3 (27. b4 Rxg2+ 28. Ka1 Bf6 29. Bb2 Rg1+ 30. Bc1 e4+ 31. Kb1 exf3+ {and white is forced to give up the queen.}) 27... Rc5+ 28. Kb2 Rxa5 {This is the computer's best try. Clearly the game is over.}) 0-1 [Event "Leics Div1 Wigston 1 v Shepshed 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2024.04.11"] [Round "7"] [White "Morley, Andy"] [Black "Sheahan, Sean"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Andy Morley"] [ECO "B14"] [PlyCount "77"] [GameId "2162532913758146"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Be7 {Reaching a position I have had against Sean on many occasions.} 7. Bd3 {The main line, but one I rarely play.} O-O 8. O-O a6 {This simply loses a tempo on the main variation after white's next} (8... dxc4 9. Bxc4 {is normal here}) 9. c5 b6 10. b4 a5 11. Na4 Nfd7 12. Qc2 Nc6 13. Bxh7+ Kh8 14. b5 Nb4 15. Qb1 bxc5 16. a3 f5 ({if} 16... g6 $2 17. Bxg6 fxg6 18. axb4 cxb4 19. Qxg6 {black is cut open and, although there is no immediate win, black's open king will take a bit of defending!}) 17. Bg6 cxd4 18. axb4 Rf6 19. Bh5 g6 20. Bg5 {This had always been my plan.} ({I considered} 20. Nxd4 {but decided that after} gxh5 21. Nc6 Qe8 22. Nxe7 Qxe7 23. Bg5 axb4 24. Bxf6+ Nxf6 {black would have a mass of central pawns that could be quite dangerous}) 20... gxh5 21. Bxf6+ Bxf6 22. Re1 Qg8 23. bxa5 Rxa5 24. Qb4 Ra8 25. b6 Bb7 26. Qd6 d3 {[%emt 0:00:27] This is the moment when it starts to get unnecessarily wild. Both players were getting short of time by now, so calculation time was running out.} 27. Ra2 $2 ({I noticed by a1 rook was en prise, but I should have ignored that and just played} 27. Qxd7 Bxa1 28. Qxb7 Rxa4 29. Qd7 {with a great position for white. But, superficially, this meant giving up my hard won material and so instead I played the lame 27.Ra2}) 27... d4 {Ouch! suddenly my f3 knight is en prise and if I move it there is a mate on g2.} 28. Qf4 Qg7 29. g3 Be4 30. Rxe4 $1 ({I spotted that} 30. Nd2 $4 {driving the bishop away loses the queen to} e5) (30. Nh4 $2 e5 31. Nxf5 exf4 32. Nxg7 Kxg7 33. Rxe4 {saves the queen but still loses to} Nxb6) 30... fxe4 31. Qxe4 $2 {This throws away the advantage. I should play b7 first.} Rf8 {[%emt 0:00:35]} ({Missing} 31... Nxb6 {which equalises after} 32. Qxe6 Nxa4 33. Qc6 Ra7 34. Rxa4 Rxa4 35. Qxa4) 32. b7 Be7 33. Qxd3 e5 34. Qe4 Qf7 {both players had about 20 seconds left here, which added to the tension and excitement among the spectators. The bland computer evaluation here is that white is clearly winning. Computers have no nerves. I noticed that my rook and f3 knight are now both en pris and can't defend each other, so I lashed out with} 35. Nxe5 $1 Qxa2 36. Ng6+ Kg7 37. Nxf8 Bxf8 {[%emt 0:00:39]} ({Fortunately} 37... Kxf8 {also loses to} 38. Qf5+ Kg8 39. Qxd7) 38. Qxd4+ Kh6 39. Qxd7 {and here black lost on time.} ({The position is lost} 39. Qxd7 {as there is no perpetual check after} Qb1+ 40. Kg2 Qe4+ 41. Kh3 $1 {A nailbiter for the players and the spectators.}) 1-0 [Event "Anstey 4 vs Wigston 6"] [Site "?"] [Date "2024.01.04"] [Round "?"] [White "Chris Brown"] [Black "Jakub Milner"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Chris Brown and Andy Morley"] [ECO "B22"] [WhiteElo "1471"] [BlackElo "1360"] [PlyCount "39"] [GameId "2162532913762244"] [EventDate "2024.??.??"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] {[%evp 0,39,19,31,72,4,-4,-34,-5,0,19,19,22,-3,32,-13,44,-12,-6,8,5,-36,0,0,19,27,40,27,30,33,383,364,406,380,1164,420,1185,1331,1888,1343,1363,1367]} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Na3 {d4 is usually played on the previous move or now, but this sets up possible coordination between the knight and bishop with ideas of Nb5 threatening Nc7+.} Bg4 6. Be2 e6 (6... e5 {Might be better as it stops d4 for now.}) 7. O-O Nf6 8. d4 cxd4 9. Nb5 {This allows us to recapture on d4 with the knight, maintaining the 3 vs 2 pawn majority on the queenside.} O-O-O {This seems slightly risky as white is better developed/castled and the black king is more open. However stockfish isn't bothered.} 10. Nbxd4 Nxd4 11. Nxd4 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Bc5 {again, e5 looks a good alternative. But Bc5 does develop black's last minor piece} 13. Be3 Rhe8 14. Rfd1 Kb8 $4 {This loses a piece, black has to get the queen off the d file.} 15. Nb3 Qe5 16. Nxc5 h5 17. Qf3 {Setting up a double threat of Qxb7# and Bf4 skewering the queen and king.} Qc7 18. Bf4 e5 ({Another nice finish arises if} 18... Rxd1+ 19. Rxd1 e5 20. Bxe5 Rxe5 21. Rd8+ $3) 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. Bxe5 $1 {A nice tactical finish!} 1-0 [Event "Leics Div1 Wigston 1 v Syston 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2023.03.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Savic, Stefan"] [Black "Sharpe, Graham"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Martin Burrows"] [ECO "B12"] [PlyCount "89"] [GameId "2162532913762246"] [EventDate "2023.04.12"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 e6 8. f4 {White has played an aggresive line against the Caro-Kann and gained a large space advantage. Black will try to show that the position is over-extended.} Be7 9. f5 exf5 10. gxf5 Bxh4+ 11. Kd1 {Despite being a pawn down and having a displaced King, White is better due to the powerful pawns on e5 and f5.} Bg5 12. Qg3 f6 13. Nf3 Qb6 14. Qg4 (14. Bxg5 fxg5 15. Nxg5 $1 Qxb2 16. Ne6 Qxa1 17. Qg6+ Kd7 18. Qxg7+ Ne7 19. Nc5+ Kc8 20. Qxh8+ {is a crushing computer line}) 14... h5 {Giving back the pawn to prevent Qh5+} 15. Rxh5 Nh6 16. Qh3 Bxc1 17. Kxc1 Nd7 18. Qg3 O-O-O {This gets the king safe but black still has problems.} 19. e6 Ne5 $5 {Objectively not best, but a good practical choice to create complications.} (19... Nf8 {loses a piece to} 20. e7) (19... Nb8 20. Nc3 {and black is completely tied up}) 20. c3 $4 ({It was essential to enter the complications with} 20. dxe5 Nxf5 21. Qh3 (21. Rxf5 $2 Qe3+ 22. Kd1 Rh1+ {wins for Black}) 21... Qe3+ 22. Nbd2 {keeps control and White is a piece up}) 20... Nxf3 $2 (20... Nd3+ 21. Kc2 Qxb2+ 22. Kxd3 Qxa1 {would have turned the tables when Black is winning}) 21. Qxf3 Qc7 22. b4 Rde8 23. Nd2 {Black is completely tied down and the e6 pawn is a monster.} b6 ({Black should have tried} 23... g6 24. fxg6 Qg7) 24. Nb3 Qd6 25. a4 Kb7 26. a5 Rhg8 27. Kc2 Qc7 28. Qd3 Ra8 29. Qf3 Qd6 30. Rg1 Rae8 31. Rg3 Qf8 32. Qf4 Qe7 33. Rg6 Qc7 34. Qf3 Qe7 35. Qg2 Qf8 36. Qg3 Nxf5 {Giving up the hopeless knight to gain a couple of pawns} 37. Rxf5 Rxe6 38. Qg4 Qe7 39. Rf2 Re4 40. Qg2 Re1 41. Nd2 Re6 42. Qh2 {Now White goes after the g7 pawn} Rf8 43. Qh7 Rf7 44. Rfg2 Re2 45. Rxg7 1-0 [Event "Leics Div1 Wigston 1 v Thurnby"] [Site "?"] [Date "2023.03.02"] [Round "5"] [White "Graf, Roland_"] [Black "Robinson, Lee"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Andy Morley and Martin Burrows"] [ECO "B01"] [PlyCount "44"] [GameId "2162532913762248"] [EventDate "2023.??.??"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] {[%evp 0,44,19,31,32,29,31,32,95,36,65,51,50,48,46,-13,1,-45,85,19,111,-37,-9,-12,-29,-28,-6,50,109,69,68,-31,77,-50,-70,-63,21,-308,-261,-1018,137,-275,-275,-487,-918,-918,-1361]} 1. e4 d5 {The Centre Counter, Scandinavian defence.} 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Qxd5 5. O-O Nc6 6. d4 O-O-O {Black has developed his pieces quickly and is already exerting pressure on the d-file} 7. c4 {7 Be3 is the main alternative} Qh5 8. h3 e5 9. d5 (9. hxg4 $2 Nxg4 {and black's threats are too strong.}) 9... e4 10. Nd4 $6 (10. hxg4 {is better as} Nxg4 {can now be met by} 11. Bf4 exf3 12. Bxf3 {with an unclear position.}) 10... Bxe2 11. Nxe2 Ne5 {Black has come out of the opening well. His pieces are more active and he has pressure against the white King.} 12. Nbc3 Bc5 13. Qa4 Nf3+ 14. Kh1 (14. gxf3 $2 Qxh3 15. Nf4 Qg3+ 16. Kh1 Qh4+ 17. Kg1 exf3 18. Qc2 Ng4 {with mate on h2 to follow}) 14... Qh4 {This now looks very menacing for black. But white has threats of his own if he can get his queen into the black position.} 15. Nd1 (15. gxf3 $2 {still doesn't work} Qxh3+ 16. Kg1 exf3 17. Nf4 Qg3+ 18. Kh1 Qh4+ 19. Kg1 Ng4) (15. Bf4 $1 {is the computer's move, when the black attack is repulsed.}) 15... Ng4 16. Be3 $2 {This looks logical but meets with a neat refutation.} (16. Bf4 {was correct}) 16... Bxe3 17. fxe3 Ng5 $1 {The black attack is now irresistable.} 18. Ng1 ({Now white's attempt to get to the black king comes to nothing:} 18. Qxa7 Nxh3 19. Qa8+ Kd7 20. Rxf7+ (20. Qa4+ Ke7 21. Qb4+ Ke8 22. Qb5+ Kf8 {and the king gets to safety on the kingside!}) 20... Ke8) 18... Qg3 19. hxg4 Rd6 {another black piece enters the attack} (19... h5 $1 {was even better, bringing the h8 rook into the game.}) 20. Nf2 h5 {Bringing black's final piece into the attack. The white king is now completely trapped by his own pieces, and significant loss of material is inevitable} (20... Nf3 {was another way to wrap up the game} 21. Nxf3 (21. gxf3 exf3 22. Nxf3 Rh6+) 21... exf3 22. Rg1 Rh6+ 23. Nh3 Qxh3+ 24. gxh3 Rxh3#) 21. Qxa7 hxg4+ 22. Nfh3 gxh3 (22... gxh3 23. Nxh3 (23. gxh3 Rxh3+ 24. Nxh3 Qxh3+ 25. Kg1 Qg3+ 26. Kh1 Rh6#) 23... Rxh3+ 24. Kg1 Rh1+ 25. Kxh1 Rh6+ 26. Kg1 Nh3+ 27. Kh1 Nf2+ 28. Kg1 Rh1#) 0-1 [Event "County Major U1750"] [Site "?"] [Date "2022.09.01"] [Round "5"] [White "John Robinson"] [Black "Paul Mottram"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Paul Mottram"] [ECO "D18"] [WhiteElo "1757"] [BlackElo "1614"] [PlyCount "64"] [GameId "2162532913766346"] [EventDate "2022.09.01"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Nf3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. e3 e6 7. Bxc4 Bb4 8. O-O O-O 9. Qb3 (9. Qe2 {by far the most popular book continuation followed by Nh4}) 9... Qe7 10. Bd2 a5 11. Ne5 {first deviation from book line} Nbd7 (11... c5 {maybe best} 12. Bb5 (12. d5 $4 {managed to worry about this line by miscalculating!} exd5 13. Nxd5 Qxe5 {and white is down a piece}) 12... Na6 $11) 12. f4 Nb6 (12... c5 {as usual stupidly managed to talk my way out of c5} 13. d5 $2 (13. Rad1) 13... exd5 14. Nxd5 $2 Nxd5 15. Bxd5 Bxd2 $19) 13. Be2 Nbd5 {was aware that he could respond g4. Think I assumed he wouldn't want to open up his kingside in that way and that in any case I could retreat bishop} (13... c5 {3rd opportunity to play c5 goes begging}) 14. g4 Ne4 $2 {I thought at worst I would get the 15.Nxe4 reponse and at best gave him the opportunity to go wrong but I didn't see all the variations} (14... Bg6 {not sure why I didn't give this line more consideration} 15. f5 exf5 16. gxf5 Bxc3 17. Bxc3 Bh5 $11) 15. Nxd5 (15. Nxe4 {the line I had thought most likely and looks decent for black} Bxe4 16. Bxb4 Nxb4 $11) (15. gxf5 $4 {fails to} Nxd2 $19) 15... exd5 16. Bxb4 axb4 {wanted to avoid giving him the opportunity to get queens off} 17. gxf5 Nd2 {ironically I initially didn't grasp that the tactic that drew me to play 14... Ne4 was still on albeit now down a piece.} 18. Qd3 Nxf1 19. Bxf1 {so after the dust settles, I guess black is down 2 pieces for the rook but I felt I wasn't completely out of it and that the positioning of white's pieces and the doubled f pawns weren't ideal} f6 {additionally there was a fairly straightforward plan for black starting with kicking knight and then pressuring the e file} 20. Nf3 Rfe8 21. Kf2 b5 {thought he would push to a5 but hoped that would weaken pawn if it couldn't be supported by b4} 22. Rc1 $2 {felt like giving up c pawn for a pawn is a good deal for black} (22. a5 {is much better for white}) 22... bxa4 23. Rxc6 a3 24. Re6 $2 ({He needed to bring the knight back to deal with the a-pawn} 24. Nd2 a2 25. Nb3 a1=Q 26. Nxa1 Rxa1 $15) 24... Qa7 $2 {should have spent longer on this} (24... a2 $1 {only properly winning move} 25. Rxe7 Rxe7 26. Qb3 (26. Qd1 a1=Q 27. Qxa1 Rxa1) 26... a1=Q $19) 25. Qb5 Rxe6 26. fxe6 a2 27. Qxd5 Re8 $2 (27... a1=Q $4 {thankfully spotted this banana skin!} 28. e7+ Kh8 29. Qd8+ Rxd8 30. exd8=Q#) (27... Kh8 {the only winning move! Now I look at it it seems quite obvious to get out of the discovered check which I was aware of}) 28. Bc4 $4 (28. Bb5 {a bit of a computer line?} a1=Q 29. Bxe8 Qe7 30. Bf7+ Kf8 {For a human this is impossible to evaluate. The computer calmly calls it as 0.00.}) 28... a1=Q 29. Qd7 Qxb2+ 30. Kg3 Qxd7 31. exd7+ Kf8 32. dxe8=Q+ Kxe8 0-1 [Event "Leics County Championships (Major)"] [Site "?"] [Date "2022.07.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Dawkins, Stuart"] [Black "Curran, David"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Andy Morley"] [ECO "A38"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2162532913766348"] [EventDate "2022.07.13"] 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O c5 7. d3 a6 8. Bd2 Nc6 9. a3 Rb8 10. Rb1 {As often happens in these openings, the position is symmetrical after the opening moves. Finally the symmetry is broken by Black} e6 11. b4 Bd7 12. b5 (12. bxc5 $1 dxc5 13. Bf4 Rc8 14. Rxb7 {wins a pawn}) 12... Ne7 13. e4 axb5 14. Nxb5 Bc6 15. Bf4 e5 16. Bd2 b6 17. a4 Ne8 {Black is playing for f5 and play on the kingside} 18. Ng5 h6 19. Nf3 Nc7 20. Qc1 Kh7 21. Nh4 Nxb5 22. axb5 Bd7 23. f4 f5 24. fxe5 dxe5 25. Nf3 g5 {The position is now finally balanced and the winner will be the one who plays best!} 26. Bc3 Ng6 27. Ra1 Ra8 $4 {Having played for ... f5, black should now be bold and go for , ...f4 with an interesting position. But he is worried about White gaining control of the only open file, the a-file and decides instead to contest it with this natural looking move. It is surprising that in this equal looking position the natural Ra8 turns out to be a losing move, which Stuart exploits.} (27... f4) 28. Rxa8 Qxa8 29. exf5 {Ouch! The knight on g6 is now en prise and Nxg5+ is threatened winning the black queen thanks to the white bishop on g2. It is all over, but black stumbles on shell-shocked for a few more moves.} Qb8 30. fxg6+ Kxg6 31. Bxe5 Bxe5 32. Nxe5+ {A nice finish. After exchanges on e5 the rook on f8 is loose, so white is a piece and pawn up and black has no compensation.} 1-0 [Event "Leics Div 2 -Wigston 2 v Kirby 1"] [Site "?"] [Date "2022.04.07"] [Round "?"] [White "Dalley, Kevin"] [Black "Pike, Andrew"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Andy Morley"] [ECO "B12"] [WhiteElo "1945"] [BlackElo "1645"] [PlyCount "62"] [GameId "2162532913766350"] [EventDate "2022.02.18"] [SourceVersionDate "2022.04.20"] 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. f3 {White is playing a variation known as The Extreme Caro Kann, in which he plans to sacrifice a pawn for activity and initiative} e6 4. Nc3 c5 (4... Bb4 {is the most popular move here. But moving the c pawn for a second time is OK because white's f3 leaves him a bit cramped}) 5. Nce2 {The position after this move is not to be found in any of the 8 million games on the Mega Database 2020. The players are truly on their own!} Nc6 6. c3 b6 7. Be3 dxe4 8. Ng3 {At last white manages to sacrifice his pawn} cxd4 9. Bb5 Bd7 10. cxd4 exf3 11. Nxf3 Bb4+ 12. Kf2 Nge7 13. a3 Bd6 14. Ne4 Bc7 15. Re1 O-O {Andrew has played the position very accurately, his king is now safe and he is a pawn to the good.} 16. Kg1 a6 17. Bd3 h6 18. Nf6+ $2 {This doesn't work} gxf6 19. Bxh6 Ng6 $1 (19... Re8 {is more natural. White cannot easily generate king-side threats as black will be able to protect the b1 - h7 diagonal with .. .f5. But the computer somehow thinks it is about level after} 20. Nh4 f5 21. Qh5) 20. Bxf8 Qxf8 {With two minor pieces for a rook, black is clearly better.} 21. Rc1 Bf4 22. Rc2 Qh6 23. Be4 Nge7 24. g3 Bd6 25. d5 exd5 26. Bxd5 Rc8 $2 {This is a mistake which loses material.} (26... Rd8 {was correct although black would need to play accurately with} 27. Bxf7+ Kxf7 28. Qxd6 Bf5) 27. Bxc6 Bxc6 28. Qxd6 Bxf3 29. Rxc8+ Nxc8 30. Qd8+ $2 {This obvious move throws away the win.} ({Correct was} 30. Re8+ Kh7 31. Qd3+ ({Not} 31. Rxc8 $4 Qe3+) 31... Kg7 32. Qxf3 ({or} 32. Rxc8)) 30... Kg7 31. Qxc8 $2 ({White could still salvage a draw here with} 31. Re8 Qc1+ 32. Kf2 Bb7 $1 {after which there is nothing better than} 33. Rg8+ Kh7 34. Rh8+ Kg6 35. Rg8+ Kh7 36. Rh8+) 31... Qd2 {Ouch! Now it is black who will be a piece up in the ending after} (31... Qd2 32. Qh3 Qxe1+ 33. Qf1 Qxf1+ 34. Kxf1 {So white resigned}) 0-1 [Event "Leics Div 2 -Wigston 3 v Loughborough "] [Site "?"] [Date "2022.02.03"] [Round "?"] [White "Howell, Oliver"] [Black "Savic, Stefan"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Andy Morley"] [ECO "D03"] [WhiteElo "2032"] [BlackElo "1910"] [PlyCount "102"] [GameId "2162532913770448"] [EventDate "2022.02.18"] 1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bg5 Nbd7 4. Nbd2 c6 5. e3 h6 6. Bh4 e6 7. Ne5 Be7 8. Bd3 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. f4 a5 12. O-O O-O 13. c3 b6 14. Nf3 Nc5 {Both sides have played the opening well, but black appears to have come out at least equal} 15. Rf2 {White has to avoid 15...Nxd3 16 Qxd3 Ba6! winning the exchange} Ba6 ({An alternative is} 15... Nxd3 {retaining the white squared bishop, but the knight is well placed on c5 and is eyeing up the e4 square}) 16. Bxa6 Rxa6 17. a4 Ne4 18. Rc2 Rd8 19. Nd4 Qb7 20. b4 {An important decision. Will white's q-side pawns prove stronger than black's play in the centre?} axb4 21. cxb4 c5 22. b5 Raa8 23. Nc6 {Now white's knight has a solid outpost deep in his opponent's half} Rdc8 24. Qb1 Rxc6 $1 {A very bold and far sighted decision. White's well placed knight has gone, but what is black's compensation for the exchange?} 25. bxc6 Qxc6 26. Rb2 Rxa4 27. Rxa4 Qxa4 28. Rxb6 {So now we see that black's compensation is an extra pawn plus his wonderfully placed knight - which cannot be dislodged unless white gives back the exchange - and he never gets the chance to do this.} Qc4 {The queen is heading for e2, from where she will threaten the white e-pawn, create mating threats and support the advance of the black c-pawn.} 29. Rb8+ Kh7 30. Rf8 $2 {White decides to go for the f-pawn and try to generate some pressure on the black king. But the rook is needed on the b-file to help defend the numerous black threats.} (30. Qe1 {was necessary, but black is still much better}) 30... Qe2 31. Rxf7 Qxe3+ 32. Kh1 c4 {Black is clearly winning now, but just has to be careful of the pin on the knight on the b1-h7 diagonal.} 33. h3 c3 34. Rc7 d4 35. Qb7 Qe1+ 36. Kh2 Qg3+ 37. Kg1 Qe3+ 38. Kh1 Qc1+ 39. Kh2 Qxf4+ 40. Kg1 Qf2+ 41. Kh1 Ng3+ 42. Kh2 Nf5 43. Qb1 Qg3+ 44. Kh1 Qxe5 45. Rf7 Qd5 46. Kh2 d3 47. g4 {Finally making use of the pin - but it is much too late} c2 48. Qc1 d2 49. Qxc2 d1=Q 50. Rxg7+ Kxg7 51. Qc7+ Qd7 0-1 [Event "Blitz game at Wigston"] [Site "?"] [Date "2022.01.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Morley, Andy"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Martin"] [ECO "C54"] [PlyCount "46"] [GameId "2162532913770450"] [EventDate "2022.01.14"] [EventType "blitz"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] {5 minutes plus 3 seconds a move} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Oh dear. I was hoping for a Ruy Lopez after 3.Bb5. I can never remember these tricky Italian lines.} Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 Bb4+ 7. Kf1 $5 {I had never seen this before} d5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. a3 Be7 10. Qb3 Na5 11. Qa4+ c6 12. Bd3 {Up to this point we have been following the well known game Forgacs-Demeter from the 1907 Hungarian championship.} b5 13. Qc2 O-O {Happily giving up the h7 pawn for speedy development.} 14. Bxh7+ Kh8 15. Bd3 Bg4 16. Ne5 Be6 {Remarkably the computer approves of all our moves up to this point, and gives the position as level.} 17. b4 $2 Nb3 $1 18. Qe2 (18. Qxb3 $4 Ne3+ {wins the queen}) 18... g6 ({The calm} 18... Kg8 $1 19. Qh5 Nf6 20. Qh4 Nxc1 {would have won}) 19. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 20. Nxg6+ Kg7 {[%eval 0,0] The computer helpfully evaluates this position as 0.00} 21. Qxe6 {By this point we both had less than a minute.} Nxc1 $2 {I decided to take this rather than the rook on a1 as the bishop might otherwise join in the attack on my king.} (21... Rf6 $1 22. Qh3 Nxa1 23. Qh6+ Kf7 24. Ne5+ Ke6 25. Qh3+ Rf5 26. g4 Rxe5 27. dxe5 Qh8 {with an advantage to black. I somehow failed to find this computer line with seconds on my clock.}) 22. Ne5 $2 (22. Nxf8 Qxf8 23. Nc3 $1 ({The more natural} 23. Nd2 {is countered by} Qf4 $1 24. Rxc1 Qxd2 {White has 3 connected passed pawns and a rook against black's bishop and knight, but his h1 rook is out of play. The computer gives its favourite evaluation of 0.00. Note that white cannot play} 25. Rxc6 $4 Qd1+ 26. Qe1 Ne3+ $1 27. fxe3 Rf8+ 28. Kg1 Qxe1#) 23... Nxc3 24. Rxc1 Nd5 25. Rxc6 {wins for white}) 22... Ne3+ 23. Ke1 ({I was hoping for the beautiful mate after} 23. Kg1 Ne2#) 23... Nxg2+ {Somewhere around here Andy lost on time. The computer is giving this crazy position as +4 for black.} 0-1 [Event "Northumbria Masters"] [Site "?"] [Date "2021.08.30"] [Round "?"] [White "L Turner"] [Black "G Shenbagakumar"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Turner,Lewis"] [ECO "A34"] [PlyCount "77"] [GameId "2162532913770452"] [EventDate "2021.??.??"] [Source "ChessPublishing"] 1. Nf3 {The reti was an attempt to confuse my young opponent.} d5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O c5 {The main line, giving transpositional possiblities into a Tarrasch / Catalan} 5. c4 Nc6 $6 {Already a slight inaccuracy.} (5... d4 {is better to keep the centre closed}) 6. cxd5 $1 Nxd5 $6 {exd5 is better when I intended d4, giving white a good version of a mainline Tarrasch as Nc3 has not yet been committed to.} 7. Nc3 Nb6 8. d3 {Going for a reverse sicilian dragon set-up with black two tempi down.} e5 {Make that 3 tempi...} 9. Be3 Be6 10. Ng5 $1 {Opening up the bishop and seizing the bishop pair} Qd7 11. Nxe6 Qxe6 12. a4 O-O-O {A crazy decision for a human I feel, castling into it however the computer doesn't mind this...} 13. a5 Na8 $2 {Then again the computer sees the far from obvious Nc4 here to harass the e3 bishop and buy black time.} 14. a6 $1 {Breaking open the whole of the long diagonal} b6 15. Qa4 $1 {Attacking with tempo with the idea to transfer the queen to the long diagonal to add to the battery} Kc7 16. Nb5+ Kb8 17. Qe4 Rc8 18. b4 $1 {An excellent pawn lever. Black can't really take this with the pawn, opening the c-file and if he takes with the knight it's mate in 1! f4 was also strong.} f5 19. Qf3 Bd6 $6 {Now white opens the diagonal fully and wins material} 20. Nxd6 Qxd6 21. b5 {bxc5 is equally strong} e4 22. dxe4 Ne5 23. Qf4 g5 {Black desperately tries to divert the queen} 24. Qxg5 Rhg8 25. Qh4 Nc7 26. exf5 Rg4 27. Qxh7 Qd7 28. Qxd7 Nxd7 $18 {Getting the queens off but the attack is far from over and black has had to sacrifice 4 pawns. So this is hopeless...} 29. Bh3 Re4 30. f6 Rd8 31. Rfd1 $1 {A nasty pin} Kc8 32. f7 Ne6 33. Rd6 Nef8 34. Rad1 Re7 {Black is completely tied up} 35. Rc6+ Kb8 36. Bf4+ Ka8 37. Bg2 $1 {The long diagonal decides} Re4 38. Bxe4 Ne5 39. Rc8# {39. Rxd8# but this is prettier} 1-0 [Event "4NCL Online v Anglian Avengers"] [Site "?"] [Date "2020.11.03"] [Round "6"] [White "Morley, Andy"] [Black "Jermy, Jaden"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [Annotator "Andy Morley"] [ECO "B78"] [WhiteElo "2057"] [BlackElo "2057"] [PlyCount "123"] [GameId "2162532913774550"] [EventDate "2020.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2020.11.05"] {Time control: 45 minutes each + 15 second increment} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 {A surprise. My opponent had played 2...e6 in all the other games I could find. So my hurried preparation in the hour before the game was completely wasted.} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 {So it's a Sicilian Dragon. Haven't played one of these for a while.} 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 Nc6 8. Qd2 O-O 9. Bc4 (9. O-O-O {is also playable} d5 10. exd5 Nxd5 11. Nxc6 bxc6 12. Bd4 e5 13. Bc5 Be6) 9... Bd7 10. O-O-O Rc8 11. Bb3 Na5 12. h4 h5 {A popular and sensible way to hold up white's King side attack.} 13. Bg5 Nc4 14. Bxc4 ({I should play} 14. Qe2 {instead of this.}) 14... Rxc4 15. Qe2 $2 Rxc3 $1 {A standard exchange sacrifice in this line} 16. bxc3 Qa5 17. Qd3 Rc8 18. Kd2 {Now we are into unknown territory. A quick glance at white's position and it's no surprise that this doesn't seem to have been played before!} e5 19. Nb3 Qc7 20. Kc1 d5 21. Bxf6 Bxf6 22. exd5 Bf5 23. Qe3 b5 24. g4 {Black has messed about and I think I may be slightly better now. I should play 24.d6 which means he always has to be careful about the pawn queening. I wanted to generate some play directly against his king.} hxg4 25. fxg4 Bxg4 26. Rdf1 Bg7 27. Qg3 Bh5 28. Rh2 {Time to make sure I don't get mated on c2} b4 29. cxb4 Qc4 30. Qf2 Qxd5 {None of the moves in this phase of the game have been the best, by either side. To add to the difficulty with my position I now have less than a minute left for the rest of the game. Fortunately there is a 15 second increment} 31. Qd2 Qe6 32. Rhf2 f5 33. Kb1 e4 34. Re2 {Not the best, but the black threats are overwhelming.} Bxe2 35. Qxe2 {At least I don't have to worry about his white squared bishop now} Qe5 36. c4 Rxc4 $4 37. Qxc4+ {It's check, so I don't get mated on b2} Kh7 38. Qc2 e3 {Of course I am winning now, but I've only got 20 seconds and decided to try and stop the e pawn.} 39. Re1 (39. h5 {wins}) 39... f4 40. Rg1 (40. h5 {still wins}) 40... e2 41. Qxg6+ Kh8 42. Qc2 e1=Q+ 43. Rxe1 Qxe1+ 44. Nc1 Qxb4+ 45. Nb3 Qe1+ 46. Nc1 Qe5 47. Qc8+ Kh7 48. Nd3 Qa1+ 49. Kc2 Qxa2+ {I now find myself with about 20 seconds trying to avoid getting mated. I know I got down to a second on a couple of occasions and since my opponent finished the game with 37 minutes left he probably expected me to lose on time at some point.} 50. Kd1 Qd5 51. Kd2 f3 52. Qc2 Bh6+ 53. Ke1 Qe4+ 54. Kf2 Be3+ 55. Kf1 Kh6 56. Ne1 {Desperation} ({I should play} 56. Qc3 {with play similar to the game.}) 56... Qd5 ({He appears to be crushing me so didn't bother going for the simple} 56... Qxc2 57. Nxc2 Bb6 58. Ne1 f2 59. Nd3 a5 60. Nxf2 Bxf2 61. Kxf2 a4 {etc when my king is outside the square, so can't get to his passed a pawn in time.}) 57. Qc3 Qb5+ 58. Nd3 {Suddenly I have swindling chances.} Qf5 {Thank you!} 59. Qh8+ Qh7 ({I was quietly hoping for the instant and obvious king move} 59... Kg6 {allowing the killing} 60. Ne5+ {and I actually win}) 60. Qf6+ Qg6 61. Qh8+ Qh7 62. Qf6+ {One of the most up-and-down draws I have ever had. My opponent is graded 181 OTB - the same as me - so a draw was to be expected, I suppose!} 1/2-1/2 [Event "Wigston 3 v Kirby 2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.11.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Corlett, Les"] [Black "Walker_, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "C41"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2162532913774552"] [EventDate "2014.11.30"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Notes mainly by Andy Morley, except where stated.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 3. b3 Nf6 4. Nc3 c6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Be7 7. Qd1 {White has obtained a good position from the opening, but this is passive. The natural Bb2 is better.} h6 {This is also too passive, and gives white the time he wants to put his KB on a nice diagonal.} 8. Bd3 Be6 9. Bb2 b5 10. e5 Ng4 11. exd6 Bxd6 12. Ne4 Bb4+ 13. c3 Be7 14. O-O {Les: Just in case Martin looked at the game!} Nf6 15. Qc2 Nbd7 16. Rad1 Qb6 17. Rfe1 {White’s pieces are all nicely placed now, and pointing ominously towards the Black King.} Nd5 18. a3 O-O 19. Ng3 N5f6 20. Nf5 Bd8 21. N3h4 {This is now looking very scary for black - lots of possible threats are in the air.} Nh5 {Black wants to challenge the Knight on h4, preferably exchanging his Bishop on d8, and removing one of white’s attacking pieces. But this allows a blistering attack, although white needs to have courage to play it as it involves sacrificing material.} 22. Nxh6+ $1 {Les: I needed to break up pawn structure to expose king - thought for 10 minutes but it looked solid but not a definite mate.} gxh6 {The piece cannot be accepted, as Les demonstrates. Black must play 22….. Kh8 and battle on a pawn down and his position still precarious.} 23. Bh7+ Kh8 24. Rxe6 $1 {The best way to continue the attack.} Bxh4 ({If} 24... fxe6 25. c4+ e5 26. Ng6+ Kg7 27. Rxd7+ Rf7 28. Nxe5 Qxf2+ 29. Qxf2 {is one possibility.}) 25. Rxh6 Ndf6 ({Black must play} 25... Qxf2+ 26. Qxf2 Bxf2+ 27. Kxf2 {to stay in the game.}) 26. c4 {Les: This brings the bishop into the attack, pins the knight on f6 to the king and puts Bg8 back on the cards.} Bg5 ({The last chance to bale out with} 26... Bxf2+ 27. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 28. Kxf2 {Black has returned the material and is about to lose one of his knights as well.}) 27. Rxh5 c5 28. Bxf6+ Bxf6 ({No better is} 28... Qxf6 29. Bg8+ Bh6 30. Qh7#) 29. Bg8+ Kxg8 30. Qh7# {A very entertaining and well played attacking game by Les.} 1-0 [Event "4NCL Nottingham"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.10.06"] [Round "5"] [White "Willow, Jonah"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "C05"] [WhiteElo "2327"] [BlackElo "2153"] [PlyCount "150"] [GameId "2162532913774554"] [EventDate "2019.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {The game below is from the last round of the 4NCL tournament at Nottingham. After reaching 2.5/3 I was paired on the Sunday morning against Brandon Clarke. Brandon was a very strong junior playing for Littlethorpe around ten years ago and won the Leicestershire county championship in 2008 at the age of 12 (beating me in the last round). After several years in the US and Australia, Brandon gained the IM title and has been back playing in the UK. On this occasion I managed to pull off a big upset and beat him. This set up the final round where I was tied with Mark Hebden and John Merriman on 3.5/4, with Jonah Willow half a point behind. I have played Jonah several times in the last couple of years. The games are always interesting and hard fought, and usually one of the last to finish. This one was no exception. The draw gave me 2nd place on 4/5, with John Merriman winning his game to take 1st with 4.5/5.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. c3 c5 6. f4 Nc6 7. Ndf3 Be7 $6 (7... Qb6 8. g3 Be7 9. Bh3 cxd4 10. cxd4 O-O 11. Ne2 f6 12. Bxe6+ Kh8 13. exf6 Nxf6 14. Bxc8 Raxc8 {was the line I was trying to play. White's poor bishop on c1 and ligtht squares weaknesses give sufficient compensation for the pawn.}) 8. g3 $6 (8. Bd3 {would exploit the move order mistake}) 8... O-O 9. Bh3 f6 $5 {This idea still seems to work in this slightly different position.} 10. Bxe6+ Kh8 11. exf6 (11. Bxd5 $2 {is too greedy} cxd4 12. Bxc6 bxc6 13. cxd4 fxe5 14. dxe5 Qb6 {and the white king is in trouble.}) 11... Nxf6 12. Bxc8 Rxc8 13. Ne2 c4 $6 (13... cxd4 {was better when black has decent compensation after} 14. Nexd4 Nxd4 15. Nxd4 Bc5) 14. O-O Qd7 15. Kg2 Ne4 16. Neg1 b5 17. Nd2 Nd6 18. g4 $6 {This makes sense positionally, intending f5 when the bishop can come into the game and the extra pawn on the kingside may start to tell. However, the problem is that the white king is now rather exposed.} Rf6 $6 (18... b4 {was better, with an unclear position after} 19. f5 g6 20. fxg6 hxg6) 19. h3 Rcf8 20. Ndf3 Ne4 21. Ne5 {I have been outplayed over the last few moves, and now white is clearly better.} Qc8 22. Ngf3 g6 23. Be3 Nd8 24. Nd2 Nd6 25. Qf3 Qb7 26. a3 Ne6 27. Qg3 a5 28. h4 Bd8 29. h5 $2 {It's not easy to make progress, but this is a mistake. White wins an exchange but at the cost of giving a lot black counterplay.} gxh5 30. f5 Ng7 31. Bg5 hxg4 32. Bxf6 Rxf6 33. Nxg4 Ndxf5 {Black has a pawn for the exchange, and chances against the exposed white king.} 34. Qe5 Rf7 35. Qe2 Bg5 36. Nf3 Re7 37. Nfe5 Kg8 38. Rf2 h5 39. Nh2 Be3 $2 40. Rff1 $2 ({Missing a chance to favourably give back the exchange with} 40. Rxf5 Nxf5 41. Qxh5 Ng7 42. Qf3 Bg5 43. Nhg4 {The computer gives this as +3 for white, though its not that clear for a human.}) 40... Nh4+ ({I spent several minutes on} 40... Rxe5 $1 41. dxe5 d4+ {and rejected the line because of} 42. Nf3 (42. Kh3 Qc8 {is a complete mess} 43. Qf3 (43. Kg2 d3 44. Qd1 Qc6+ 45. Kh3 Qe6 46. Kg2 Qg6+ 47. Kh1 Ng3+ {wins}) 43... Kh8 44. Rae1 d3 {is apparently winning according to the computer.}) 42... Qe4 $1 {was the move I missed} ({I only considered} 42... Nh4+ 43. Kh2 {and there isn't a decisive follow-up.}) 43. Qe1 {to avoid a knight fork on g3 after the king is checked to h1} Qg4+ 44. Kh1 Qh3+ 45. Nh2 Ng3+ {is crushing}) 41. Kh3 (41. Kh1 Rxe5 42. dxe5 d4+ 43. Nf3 Ngf5 44. Qh2 d3 {is good for black.}) 41... Ngf5 $2 (41... Bg5 {was necessary, when the h5 pawn is still protected. This is important as is stops a knight going to g4 to block a check from the queen.}) 42. Qxh5 {The position is now incredibly tense, with both kings stripped of their pawn cover whilst most of the pieces are still on the board.} Qc8 43. Nhg4 {I had missed this, blocking the discovered check.} Qe6 44. Rg1 $2 (44. Nxe3 Nxe3+ 45. Kxh4 Rh7 46. Rg1+ Kh8 47. Ng6+ {was a clean win.}) 44... Rg7 45. Raf1 Bxg1 46. Rxg1 Ng6 47. Nxg6 Qxg6 (47... Rh7 $2 48. Qxh7+ Kxh7 49. Nf8+) (47... Rxg6 $2 48. Nf6+) 48. Qxg6 Rxg6 49. Nf6+ Kf7 50. Rxg6 Kxg6 51. Nxd5 {After all that excitement we now get an endgame with an extra pawn, which probably should be a win.} Kg5 52. Kg2 Nd6 53. Kf3 Kf5 54. Ne3+ Ke6 $2 (54... Kg5 {was better, keeping out the white king.}) 55. Kf4 Nc8 56. d5+ $2 ({Missing the win with} 56. a4 bxa4 57. Nxc4) 56... Kd6 57. Ke4 Nb6 58. Kd4 Na4 {The counter-attack against the b2 pawn saves the game.} 59. Nf5+ Kd7 60. Ng3 Nxb2 61. Ne4 Nd3 62. Nc5+ Kd6 63. Nb7+ Kc7 64. Nxa5 Kb6 65. Nc6 Nf4 {Now the c3 pawn is going to fall.} 66. Ke5 Ne2 67. Nd4 Nxc3 68. d6 Na4 69. Nxb5 Kc6 (69... Kxb5 $2 70. d7) 70. Nd4+ Kd7 71. Kd5 c3 72. Nc2 Nb6+ 73. Kd4 Kxd6 74. Kxc3 Kc5 {This is a trivial draw now.} 75. a4 Nxa4+ 1/2-1/2 [Event "Leics County Championship (Minor)"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.05.09"] [Round "5"] [White "Cooper, Barrie"] [Black "Eastlake, Charles"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D45"] [PlyCount "94"] [GameId "2162532913778652"] [EventDate "2019.05.09"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was from the last round of the Minor section of the County Championship.. Charles had to beat Barrie to overtake him and win the tournament. Notes are by Charles.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c4 c6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Be2 Qc7 7. a3 Be7 8. Qc2 O-O 9. Bd3 dxc4 10. Bxc4 Re8 11. Bd3 Nf8 12. O-O Bd6 13. Ne4 Nxe4 14. Bxe4 f5 15. Bd3 h6 16. Bd2 Qf7 17. Bc3 Qh5 18. Ne5 g5 19. Be2 g4 20. f4 Re7 21. Be1 Rg7 22. Bg3 Be7 23. Qd1 Nh7 24. Nc4 Nf6 25. Nd2 Nd5 26. Qb3 Bh4 27. Kf2 Be7 28. Nc4 b5 29. Ne5 Bb7 30. Rg1 Rd8 31. Rac1 Rc8 32. Qd1 Bd6 33. Qd3 a6 34. e4 fxe4 35. Qxe4 c5 36. Nxg4 Kh8 37. Ne5 Qe8 38. Qd3 Qf8 39. Qd2 {I think white should have played Ng6 check here but either didn’t see it or was worried about losing the f4 pawn.} ({Martin: The computer finds} 39. Ng6+ $2 Rxg6 40. Qxg6 Nxf4 41. Bxf4 Qxf4+ 42. Bf3 Qd2+ 43. Kf1 Qxc1+ {winning for black.}) 39... Bxe5 40. dxe5 Rd8 41. Bf3 Rgd7 42. Bxd5 $2 {A poor move as this allows my rooks to penetrate.} Rxd5 43. Qc3 Rd2+ 44. Kf1 Qf5 45. Re1 R8d3 46. Re3 {White has to give up the queen because black’s move Rf3+ seems devastating for white.} (46. Qxc5 Rf3+ 47. gxf3 Qh3+ 48. Rg2 Qxg2#) 46... Rxc3 47. Rxc3 Qb1+ {A strange place to resign as I think white thought it was checkmate but he has Be1 to block the check and allows him to limp on.} 0-1 [Event "Biel"] [Site "?"] [Date "2019.07.28"] [Round "6"] [White "Kamber, Bruno"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "B90"] [WhiteElo "2299"] [BlackElo "2121"] [PlyCount "146"] [GameId "2162532913778654"] [EventDate "2019.07.28"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was played at the chess festival in Biel, Switzerland. I sacrificed an exchange for positional compensation and later declined to take a whole rook, instead preferring to keep control of the position.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bd3 {Rather unusual, but these days most legal moves have been tried against the Najdorf.} e5 7. Nde2 Be6 8. O-O Be7 9. Ng3 g6 10. Nd5 Bxd5 11. exd5 O-O {We have now transposed to the main line by an unusual move order.} 12. a4 (12. c4 {is normal here, and has been played by Anand and Nakamura.}) 12... Nbd7 13. a5 Nxd5 14. Be4 $6 (14. Bxg6 hxg6 15. Qxd5 Qc7 {is a better way for white to regain the pawn.}) 14... Nc7 15. Bxb7 Rb8 16. Bc6 f5 17. f4 $6 {The black pawn centre becomes very powerful now.} Nf6 18. b3 e4 19. Be3 {This threatens to hunt down the rook on b8, and I decide to allow it.} d5 $1 20. Ba7 $6 Qd6 21. Bxb8 Rxb8 {Black has more than enough compensation for the exchange.} 22. Ba4 $17 Qc5+ 23. Kh1 Ng4 24. Qe2 Bf6 25. Ra2 $6 (25. Rab1 {was better.}) 25... Bc3 {The rook on a2 is terrible, and the bishop on a4 isn't much better.} 26. h3 Ne3 27. Rg1 d4 28. Nf1 Ned5 29. g4 $5 {A good practical option in a terrible position.} Nb4 (29... Nxf4 30. Qh2 Qd6 31. gxf5 e3 {is also good}) 30. gxf5 $5 (30. Ra3 d3 31. cxd3 exd3 {was my intention, when black has a winning position.}) 30... Qxf5 $1 ({It is very tempting to grab the rook but after} 30... Nxa2 31. fxg6 h6 32. Qxe4 {white has 3 pawns for a piece, the knight on a2 is out of play, and the position is unclear.}) 31. Qc4+ Ncd5 {Black is still an exchange down, but has a massive advantage.} 32. Bc6 Qxh3+ $2 (32... Nxc6 33. Qxc6 e3 34. Qc4 Qxh3+ 35. Nh2 Qe6 $19 {was much more convincing}) 33. Nh2 Qe6 34. Bxd5 Qxd5 35. Qxd5+ Nxd5 36. f5 Kf7 37. fxg6+ hxg6 {The position is still very good for black. The rook on a2 cannot get into the game.} 38. Rg4 $6 Re8 39. Ra4 Nb4 {Preventing the rook escaping via c4.} 40. Rf4+ Kg7 41. Rf2 Nd5 $6 {This wins material, but lets the rook on a4 into the game.} (41... e3 42. Re2 (42. Rg2 e2 43. Nf3 Re3) 42... Nxc2 $1 43. Rxc2 d3 44. Rxc3 e2 45. Nf3 d2 $1 {This is the move I missed. White is temporarily a rook and knight up but cannot stop a new queen arriving.}) 42. Rc4 e3 43. Rg2 e2 44. Nf3 Re3 ({Better than} 44... e1=Q+ 45. Nxe1 Rxe1+ {which only wins a knight.}) 45. Rc6 Nf4 46. Rc7+ Kf6 47. Rc6+ Ke7 {White has to give up a rook to stop the e-pawn queening.} 48. Rxe2 Rxe2 49. Rxa6 Rxc2 {I thought he would probably resign here, being a whole piece down.} 50. Ra7+ Kf6 51. Ra8 Nd5 $6 {A little careless} (51... Kf5 52. Rf8+ Ke4 53. Ng5+ Ke3 54. Re8+ Kd3 $19) 52. Rd8 Rc1+ 53. Kh2 Ne3 54. a6 (54. Nxd4 Rd1 55. Nc6 Be5+ 56. Nxe5 (56. Kh3 Rh1#) 56... Rxd8 {wins easily}) 54... Ra1 (54... Ba5 $1 {I saw this but was afraid I might have missed something and the a-pawn would run.} 55. Rd7 Bc7+ 56. Kh3 Rh1+ {mating.}) 55. Rd6+ Kf5 56. b4 Bxb4 57. Rxd4 Bc5 58. Nh4+ Kf6 59. Rd8 Rxa6 60. Rg8 Ng4+ 61. Kh3 Ne5 62. Rc8 Bd6 63. Rc2 Ra3+ 64. Kg2 Ra4 65. Kh3 Rf4 66. Nxg6 {An attempt to see if I could mate with bishop and knight, but with the rooks on the win is much more straightforward} Kxg6 67. Rc8 Rf6 68. Ra8 Kf5 69. Rh8 Rg6 70. Rh5+ Ke4 71. Rh4+ Kf3 72. Rh7 Nd3 73. Rh8 Bg3 {with Nf4 mate to follow} 0-1 [Event "4NCL Basingstoke"] [Site "?"] [Date "2018.05.27"] [Round "4"] [White "Munshi, A.."] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "C06"] [WhiteElo "1971"] [BlackElo "2110"] [PlyCount "42"] [GameId "2162532913782752"] [EventDate "2018.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was played at the recent 4NCL tournament against one of the talented Notts juniors.} 1. e4 {I lost the previous against him with the Sicilian, so decided to try something different.} e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. O-O Bd6 12. Nc3 a6 13. Bd2 $5 {The moves are all main line up to here. This is a reasonable, if slightly passive side line.} O-O 14. Rc1 h6 $5 {This move has two purposes: 1) To play Ng4 without running into Bxh7 tricks 2) To prepare g5 and Qg7.} 15. Re1 $2 {This fatally weakens the f2 square.} (15. Na4 {is better} g5 $5 16. Nc5 Qg7 {with chances for both sides.}) 15... Ng4 16. h3 (16. g3 Qf7 17. Be2 Nxd4 $1 {is crushing.}) 16... Bh2+ 17. Kf1 (17. Kh1 Nxf2#) (17. Nxh2 Qxh2+ 18. Kf1 Rxf2#) 17... Nxf2 $1 18. Kxf2 Qg3+ 19. Kf1 e5 $1 {This is much stronger than} (19... Nxd4 $2 20. Re3 e5 21. Be1 Qg5 22. Nxd5 Bxh3 {with a very unclear position.}) {Now there is no way for white to defend.} 20. Re3 (20. Ne2 Rxf3+ 21. gxf3 Qxf3#) (20. Qe2 Nxd4) (20. dxe5 Bxh3 21. Qe2 Rxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Qxf3#) (20. Bf4 {is the computer suggestion but it still loses after} Rxf4 21. Nxd5 Rf7 22. Ne3 Nxd4) 20... Bxh3 $1 21. gxh3 (21. Qe2 exd4 22. Be1 Qg4 {wins as the Rook on e3 has nowhere to go.}) 21... Qg1+ ({There is an alternative mate with} 21... Rxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Qg1+ 23. Ke2 Nxd4#) ({white resigned as} 21... Qg1+ 22. Ke2 Qg2+ 23. Ke1 Bg3# {is mate.}) 0-1 [Event "Wigston 4 v Heathcote 2"] [Site "?"] [Date "2017.02.02"] [Round "?"] [White "Eastlake, Charles"] [Black "Manger, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "D02"] [WhiteElo "115"] [BlackElo "144"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2162532913782754"] [EventDate "2016.04.30"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Charles Eastlake played a fine sacrifice to beat an opponent graded 29 points above him.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. c3 Bf5 4. Qb3 b6 5. e3 e6 6. Ne5 Qd6 7. Nd2 Be7 8. Qa4+ c6 9. c4 O-O 10. Be2 Qc7 11. O-O Nfd7 12. f4 dxc4 13. Qxc4 Rc8 $2 {Overlooking a neat tactic} 14. Nxf7 $1 Kxf7 15. g4 Bxg4 ({if} 15... Bg6 {then} 16. f5 {is crushing}) 16. Bxg4 {White has regained the piece and has a powerful attack} Qd6 17. f5 Ke8 18. fxe6 Nf6 19. Bh3 Qd5 20. Qxd5 $6 {It was better to keep the Queens on with the Black King stuck in the middle of the board.} cxd5 21. Rf5 Nc6 22. Nf3 Nd8 23. Rg5 Kf8 24. Bd2 Rc6 {Now the Rook gets into trouble} 25. Ne5 Rd6 26. Bb4 $1 Nxe6 27. Bxe6 $2 {This could have let the advantage slip. The rook should have been moved to a safe square e.g.} (27. Rg2 {will win the exchange as the Rd6 cannot move without losing the Ne6.}) 27... Rxe6 28. Bxe7+ Rxe7 29. Rf1 Kg8 $4 30. Rxf6 $1 {winning a piece} 1-0 [Event "Xtracon Open (Denmark)"] [Site "?"] [Date "2016.07.24"] [Round "2"] [White "Shirov, Alexei"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E15"] [WhiteElo "2674"] [BlackElo "2149"] [PlyCount "51"] [GameId "2162532913786852"] [EventDate "2016.07.24"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {One of the attractions in playing in international tournaments is the outside chance of getting to play one of the world’s best players if the pairings work out in the first couple of rounds. In this game, played at the Xtracon tournament in Denmark, I am up against Alexei Shirov, the legendary attaching player from Latvia, who was once ranked no. 4 in the world. Going into the game I set myself two objectives: 1) Avoid making a fool of myself by losing very quickly; and 2) Have an interesting game. I wanted to make the most of this once in a lifetime opportunity. I think that on these criteria the game was a success, although I did of course lose. It is far from clear when he sacrifices his rook that the attack will be successful. There are some amazing variations, found with the help of the computer afterwards.} 1. d4 {A slight disappointment. I was hoping to play a Najdorf, and had spent most of my preparation time on that.} Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. Qc2 c5 6. d5 exd5 7. cxd5 Bb7 (7... Nxd5 $4 8. Qe4+ Ne7 9. Qxa8) 8. Bg2 (8. e4 Qe7 9. Bd3 Nxd5 {wins the pawn in more favourable circumstances.}) 8... Nxd5 {This is a gambit line that Shirov has played before, so I had looked at it briefly before the game.} 9. O-O Be7 10. Rd1 Nc6 11. Qf5 (11. Rxd5 {fails to} Nb4) 11... Nf6 12. e4 {The backward d-pawn and better placed pieces give white good compensation for the sacrificed pawn.} g6 13. Qf4 Nh5 $6 ({Here I mixed up the move order.} 13... O-O 14. e5 Nh5 15. Qc4 {is the main line. After playing quickly so far, Shirov stopped to think. I began to realise that I hadn't played the "book" move. After 20 minutes he still hadn't moved, so I figured that my accidental theoretical novely couldn't be that bad. Finally after 40(!) minutes thought he moved.}) 14. Qh6 {preventing me from castling. I need to chase the Queen back.} Bf8 15. Qe3 Qe7 $6 {This leaves g7 free for the knight and gives the option of queenside castling.} (15... Bg7 {was the move I wanted to play, but I was worried about} 16. e5 O-O 17. g4 {Trapping the knight.} Re8 18. gxh5 Nxe5 {This was the position he had spent a lot of time on. Black has 2 pawns for the piece, but it isn't really enough.}) (15... Be7 {is also possible} 16. Nc3 O-O 17. Qh6 Re8 18. Ng5 Bxg5 19. Bxg5 f6 20. Bc1 {with compensation for the sacrificed pawn.}) (15... Ng7 16. Qc3 {leaves me completely tied up.}) 16. Nc3 Nb4 {I need to stop Nd5. This also threatens Nc2.} 17. Nb5 {I had overlooked this. Now Nd6+ is a big threat.} d5 {Forced.} 18. exd5 O-O-O (18... Qxe3 19. Bxe3 O-O-O {is what i want to play, but after} 20. Ne5 {I cannot defend f7.}) 19. Nxa7+ $2 (19. Qe5 {is much stronger, attacking the rook on h8 and depriving the king of the b8 square after Na7+.} Ba6 {is interesting} ({If} 19... Qxe5 {then again after} 20. Nxe5 {I cannot defend f7.}) 20. Qxh8 Bxb5 21. d6 Qd7 22. Qc3 Bg7 23. Ne5 {White has an extra exchange but the position is complex.}) 19... Kb8 20. Qa3 $5 {A remarkable idea, sacrificing a rook to continue the attack. Afterwards he said that he thought he had calculated all the lines to a win, but wasn't 100% sure.} Nc2 $6 {I looked for about 10 minutes and just couldn't see how his attack was working, so I decided to take the rook.} ({I should have played} 20... Rxd5 21. Rxd5 Bxd5 22. Nb5 {Material is level. White is a little better due to the draughty black king.}) 21. Qa4 Nxa1 22. Re1 Qd7 23. Nb5 Bxd5 $2 (23... Nc2 {was best} 24. Ne5 (24. Qxc2 $2 Qxb5) 24... Nxe1 {I have to give up the queen} (24... Qe7 25. Nc6+) (24... Qc8 25. Qa7#) (24... Qf5 25. Nc6+ Kc8 26. Qa7 Bd6 27. Nxd6+ Rxd6 28. Qb8+ Kd7 29. Qxb7#) 25. Nxd7+ Rxd7 26. Qe4 {threatening Qe8+} Bg7 27. Qxe1 {Material is roughly level (queen and pawn versus two rooks) but white is much better and the attack continues.}) ({If} 23... Bd6 24. Qa7+ Kc8 25. Qxb6 {I can't defend against the various threats. For example} Nc2 26. Bh3 $1 f5 (26... Qxh3 27. Re7 $3 Rd7 28. Nxd6+ Kb8 29. Ne5 Nd4 30. Nxd7+) 27. Re6 Bc7 28. Rc6 Bxc6 29. Na7#) (23... Bg7 24. Qa7+ Kc8 25. Qxb6 Rhe8 26. Qxc5+ Kb8 27. Bf4+ Nxf4 28. Qa7+ Kc8 29. Rc1+ {mates}) 24. Ne5 Qb7 25. Nd7+ $1 {This is what I had missed.} Qxd7 (25... Rxd7 26. Re8+) (25... Kc8 26. Bxd5 Qxd5 27. Nxb6+) 26. Bxd5 {threatening mate on a8. If} (26. Bxd5 Qxd5 27. Qa7+ Kc8 28. Qc7#) 1-0 [Event "4NCL 3 South pool D"] [Site "Telford, ENG"] [Date "2016.04.30"] [Round "9"] [White "Byron, Alan"] [Black "Freeman, Richard"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B27"] [WhiteElo "2124"] [BlackElo "2033"] [PlyCount "45"] [GameId "2162532913786854"] [EventDate "2016.04.30"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Alan Byron played this sparkling attacking game in last season’s 4NCL.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Qxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Qa4 Bg7 7. e5 Ng8 8. Bf4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Bc4 d5 11. O-O-O e6 12. Nxd5 $5 {An interesting piece sacrifice, trying to exploit white's lead in development.} exd5 $2 ({It was better to play} 12... Nxd5 $1 {to force white to exchange his white-squared bishop,} 13. Bxd5 exd5 14. Rhe1+ Kf8 15. Qa3+ Kg8 16. Qb3 {The computer gives this as about equal, with sufficient compensation for the sacrificed piece.}) 13. Rhe1+ Kf8 14. Qa3+ Kg8 15. Ng5 $1 Bf5 {This looks sensible but runs into a tactic.} ({If} 15... Bf8 {then} 16. Rxd5 $1 Nxd5 17. Qf3 $3 {is crushing, for example} Kg7 18. Bxd5 Bf5 19. Nf7) 16. Rxd5 $3 Nxd5 17. Re8+ $1 ({The only move. If} 17. Qb3 $2 {then} Nce7 18. Rd1 Kf8 {defends for black.}) 17... Qxe8 18. Bxd5+ Be6 19. Bxe6+ Qxe6 20. Nxe6 {Black has 2 rooks for a queen but is completely lost as his pieces are so badly placed.} Re8 21. Qb3 Re7 22. Ng5+ Kf8 23. Bd6 1-0 [Event "British U16 Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "1969.08.17"] [Round "?"] [White "Morley, A.."] [Black "Delnon, R.."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B99"] [WhiteElo "160"] [BlackElo "170"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2162532913790952"] [EventDate "1969.08.17"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Andy has provided a game played by a promising junior - himself in 1969! “It occurred to me while watching a recent Queen and Pawn ending that the position gets very difficult to analyse if either side has more than one queen. That triggered a memor y of a game I played in the 1969 British under 16 championships which I now give for your enjoyment! I have never played or seen a game since in which there were 4 queens on the board without one being immediately captured. The fearlessness of youth shines through! With the benefit of computer analysis it seems the game is far from the masterpiece I considered it to be at the time! My opponent had opportunities to secure an advantage – according to the computer. But at the time I remember being confident that I always had adequate compensation for my piece sacrifice. In what looks like a complicated position to the human eye, the computer evaluation swings from -8 in black’s favour to + 16 in white’s favour on move 37 – which goes to emphasise that computers don’t play the game as we real people do. They don’t make mistakes. They don’t get phased by a threatening position. Look at the game – could you identify the moment at which the game swung from being an ‘easy’ win for black to an even easier win for white?”} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Be7 8. Qf3 Nbd7 9. O-O-O Qc7 10. g4 b5 11. h4 Bb7 12. Bxf6 Nxf6 13. g5 Nd7 14. f5 e5 15. Ne6 fxe6 16. fxe6 Nc5 17. Qf7+ Kd8 18. Nd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 Bf8 20. Qf3 Rc8 21. Rh2 Qb7 22. Bh3 Rc7 23. Rf2 Re7 24. Rdf1 g6 25. Qg2 Bg7 26. Rf7 Rhe8 27. h5 gxh5 28. g6 Bh6+ 29. Kb1 hxg6 30. Qxg6 Bf4 31. Rg1 h4 32. a3 e4 33. Qh5 Bg3 34. Rgf1 e3 35. R1f6 Ne4 36. Rh6 Rxf7 (36... Be5) 37. exf7 Rf8 38. Rh8 Qe7 39. Qh6 e2 40. Rxf8+ Kc7 41. Rc8+ Kb7 42. f8=Q e1=Q+ 43. Ka2 Nc5 44. Rb8+ Ka7 45. Ra8+ Kb6 46. Qc8 Qc7 47. Qxc7+ Kxc7 48. Qg7+ Kb6 49. Qa7+ Ka5 50. b4+ Ka4 51. Qxa6+ Nxa6 52. Rxa6# 1-0 [Event "Leics Div1 v Ashby"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.11.19"] [Round "?"] [White "Burrows, Martin"] [Black "Agnew, Alan"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Burrows,Martin"] [ECO "C41"] [PlyCount "53"] [GameId "2162532913790954"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was from our recent league game against Ashby 1, and helped us get a narrow 3-2 win.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. Bc4 ({I had played the pawn sacrifice} 5. g4 {in two previous games against Alan, the second of which was an earlier annotated game.}) 5... Be7 6. O-O O-O 7. Re1 c6 8. a4 a5 9. Ba2 Qb6 $6 {The queen will come under attack after Be3, and it will be too risky to take the b2 pawn. Better was} (9... exd4 10. Nxd4 Nc5) 10. h3 h6 11. Be3 Qd8 (11... Qxb2 12. Qd2 {and the queen is in trouble.}) 12. Qd2 $16 Re8 {Black is very passive and behind in development.} 13. Bxh6 $1 {I am going to get 3 pawns and a big attack for the piece.} gxh6 (13... exd4 14. Nxd4 gxh6 15. Qxh6 Ne5 16. f4 $16) 14. Qxh6 Nf8 (14... Bf8 15. Qg6+ Kh8 16. Bxf7 Re7 17. dxe5 dxe5 18. Rad1 {completely ties up black.}) (14... Nh7 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Bxf7+ Kxf7 17. Qxh7+ {is also very good for white.}) 15. dxe5 N6h7 (15... dxe5 16. Qg5+ Kh7 17. Bxf7 Be6 18. Bxe6 Nxe6 19. Qf5+ Kh8 20. Qxe6 $18) 16. Rad1 Be6 17. Bxe6 $2 {I should take on d6 immediately} (17. exd6 Bg5 (17... Bxd6 18. e5 {is winning now as Bf8 as played in the game is not possible.}) 18. Qh5 Bxa2 19. Nxa2 {with 4 pawns for the piece, this should be winning.}) 17... Nxe6 18. exd6 Bxd6 19. e5 Bf8 {I had missed this defensive resource. Now I only have 3 pawns for the piece, and black is still in the game.} 20. Qh5 Qc7 21. Re4 Ng7 22. Rg4 Rad8 (22... Kh8 {I thought this was the best move during the game, but the computer refutes it with} 23. Rxg7 $1 Kxg7 (23... Bxg7 24. Ng5) 24. Rd4 f5 25. Rh4 Kg8 26. Qg6+ Qg7 27. Qxf5 $18) 23. Rxd8 Qxd8 24. Ne4 Kh8 $2 (24... Qd1+ 25. Kh2 Qxc2 {and black is still fighting.}) 25. Nfg5 $1 {Threatening Qxh7 mate.} Qxg5 ({If the queen is taken then} 25... Nxh5 26. Nxf7#) 26. Nxg5 Nxh5 27. Nxf7# 1-0 [Event "Leics County Minor 2015"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.08.27"] [Round "5"] [White "Vaughan, Ben"] [Black "Collins, Bob"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Vaughan,Ben"] [ECO "B87"] [WhiteElo "110"] [BlackElo "118"] [PlyCount "43"] [GameId "2162532913790956"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Ben Vaughan has annotated his last round of the County Championship. “I was facing Bob Collins. Top seed who had defaulted against me in the 3rd round. Because that game was not played, I had the opportunity to set the record straight. Two little birdies had told me that Bob plays the Sicilian Najdorf (they shall remain anonymous) so I had a line prepared. “I had looked into it already. 6. a4 (to prevent b5-b4). 6. Be2 (quiet developing move allowing Kinside castling) 6. Bg5 (main line, involving a Kingside attack, demonstrated in Andy's Victory over Martin on this website - sorry Martin!) Finally 6. Bc4 (pressurising the weak f7 square and along with f4-f5 assisting with Kingside attack) The sharpest of the variations and if Bob played passively, I would have a lot of initiative.6. Bc4 with a Kingside attack involving a later f4-f5 pawn push. Of course Bob had moves in between! “Black's plans involve Nbd7-c5 to attack Bishop on b3 as the bishop is an important part of the Kingside attack. Black's plans are usually down the Queenside with activation of Queenside pieces and pushing the a and b pawns. I'd lost many a game to Doddsy in this way. “Most of my research was from the greatest games of Bobby Fischer and he plays f4 this early but there is usually fireworks very early on. My plan involved this and hoping that he would fall for one of the many losing variations.”} 1. e4 c5 {Sicilian game, I was hopeful that a Najdorf was coming. I was ready.} 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 {All going to book (and therefore to plan) so far!} Nf6 5. Nc3 {Next move critical. 5. .. a6 is the Najdorf. Anything else and I wasn't prepared.} a6 6. Bc4 {Here goes!} e6 ({For those that are interested, b5 is not a move to be scared of:} 6... b5 7. Bb3 b4 8. Nd5 (8. Na4) (8. Nce2 {are also possible though the Knight is not as active.}) 8... Nxe4 {is a mistake because of} 9. Qf3 Nf6 $2 10. Nxf6+ gxf6 11. Qxa8) 7. Bb3 b5 8. f4 {Of course b4 is the most advisable move at any point in the game.} Bb7 9. f5 {There is now a possibilty of saccing pieces on e6.} e5 (9... b4 {is Bob's best move now. [Martin - I think that is very risky, and there is a strong attack after} 10. fxe6 bxc3 11. exf7+ Kd7 12. Be6+ {]}) 10. Nde2 Be7 {Sensible. Both sides are now ready to castle. Black still hasn't played b4.} 11. Ng3 {All fairly sensible so far. Both sides ready to castle and not quite fully developed. White has a slight space advantage but b4 probably not as good as earlier due to Nd5 and the trade offs are better for white.} Nbd7 12. Bg5 {Preparing to rid one of the Knights from the protection of the d5 square.} h6 {A bit of a nothing move. Black likes to ask the question of the Bishop but I was taking on f6 anyway.} 13. Bxf6 Nxf6 {My research here told me to play Nh5. The reason is to remove the other Knight from the defence of d5 and more importantly, remove the Knight from the defence of his King. Black is only castling Kingside here, the Queenside is too open. White can castle either side.} 14. Nh5 O-O {Not sure about this move, I felt he was castling into trouble.} (14... Nxe4 {is possible here but throws the game wide open.}) 15. Nxf6+ Bxf6 {Nxf6 was forcing as it was check so he had to do something about the check. Qg4 looks very aggressive as g4 is no longer protected with the Knight. Nd5 is a possibility but I wanted to keep the a2-g8 diagonal open. I decided to castle as with the f2 pawn up the board on f5, a rook lift to f3 and across to g3/h3 would be instantly possible.} 16. O-O Qb6+ {I thought that he might check me to announce his presence in the game. But Kh1 is a logical and easy reply.} 17. Kh1 Bg5 {Rc8 looked reasonable to develop more but I genuinely didn't see any threats from him. I felt I had the aces in hand and I had to make it count.} 18. Qg4 {Very aggressive looking move. It also allows me to play h4 if I need to because my Queen on g4 is staring right at his King.} Qc5 {I couldn't see the point of that move, but I didn't see a genuine threat he could play.} 19. f6 $1 {Who saw that move coming?} Bc8 {Missed this little move but a quick evaluation of the board means that I can play Qg3 without much change to the threat.} ({Of course} 19... gxf6 {allows} 20. h4 {and now the knights are gone, taking on e4 is not possible.}) (19... g6 {is dangerous as the pawn on f6 could support the Queen in mating and, of course, the f pawn is pinned by the bishop on b3 at the moment. [Martin:} 20. h4 {wins as when the bishop moves, Qxg6 wins as in the game.]}) 20. Qg3 g6 {The dangerous g6 move appears, time to strike!} 21. h4 Bf4 $2 {The final blunder and Bob's last move, he had to take on f6 or h4, this move loses instantly because of......} (21... Bxf6 22. Rxf6 Kh8 {gave me the initiative but I would have had to work hard. Still no b4.}) 22. Qxg6+ {Bob uttered the word 'Damn' and of course the reason for that is that innocent little monster on b3, it still pins the pawn on f7 and mate is to follow.} 1-0 [Event "Leics County Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.08.13"] [Round "5"] [White "Burrows, Martin"] [Black "Agnew, Alan"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Burrows,Martin"] [ECO "C41"] [WhiteElo "2148"] [BlackElo "2102"] [PlyCount "71"] [GameId "2162532913795054"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was played in round 5 of the County Championship. I sacrificed first a pawn, then a knight, bishop and rook. It wasn’t 100% sound but my opponent was unable to refute it over the board.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 e5 4. Nf3 Nbd7 5. g4 {A gambit introduced by Shirov.} Nxg4 6. Rg1 Ngf6 {We had gone down the same line in a league game.} 7. Bc4 h6 8. Be3 {The attack on the g7 pawn makes it difficult for black to complete his development. This gives white sufficient compensation for the pawn.} c6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qd3 Qa5 11. O-O-O b5 12. Bb3 Ba6 13. Nd2 Rd8 (13... b4 {looks dangerous, but white is fine after} 14. Nc4 bxc3 (14... Bxc4 $2 15. Qxc4 bxc3 16. Qxf7+ Kd8 17. Be6 Be7 18. Rxd7+ Nxd7 19. Qxg7 Re8 20. Rd1 $18) 15. Nxa5 Bxd3 16. cxd3 cxb2+ 17. Kxb2 c5 18. Ba4 $44) 14. Qf1 c5 {Threatening to trap the bishop with c4...} 15. Nd5 $5 {... which I decide to allow!} c4 16. Nxc4 bxc4 17. Bxc4 (17. Bd2 $2 {is interesting but the calm} Qc5 $1 (17... c3 $2 18. Bxc3 Qxd5 (18... Bxf1 19. Bxa5 Rc8 20. Rgxf1 $18) 19. Qxa6 $44) (17... cxb3 $2 18. Bxa5 Bxf1 {Black is still a piece up, but mating threats force him to give up much more than that.} 19. Nc7+ Ke7 20. Bb4+ Nc5 21. Bxc5+ Rd6 22. Bxd6+ Kd7 23. Bxf8+ Kxc7 24. Bd6+ Kc6 25. axb3 $18) 18. Ba4 Nxd5 19. exd5 Bb5 {just leaves me a piece down.}) 17... Bb7 (17... Bxc4 18. Qxc4 Nxd5 (18... Bd6 19. Rxg7 {is also possible. White has two pawns for the piece and the black king is stuck in the centre.}) 19. Rxd5 Qb4 20. Qd3 Qb7 21. Rd1 {and it is hard for black to complete development. Chances here are about level.}) 18. Nxf6+ gxf6 (18... Nxf6 19. Bb5+ Nd7 20. Qc4 $1 a6 21. Ba4 Qb4 22. Qxb4 Bxb4 23. Bb6 $16) 19. Bxf7+ $2 {I thought this was winning, but I missed the possible defence on move 21.} ({I could play a quiet move such as} 19. f3 {Chances are about level. White only has a pawn for the piece, but the black king is exposed and the rook on h8 is out of the game.}) 19... Kxf7 20. Qc4+ Ke7 (20... Ke8 21. Qe6+ Be7 22. Rg7 {with mate on e7 or f7 to follow.}) 21. Bd2 {With the threat of Bb4+ followed by Qe6+. Black has to move the queen to cover the e6 square.} Qb6 $2 (21... Qa6 $1 {was correct. The crucial difference is that after} 22. Bb4+ (22. Qb3 Nc5 23. Bb4 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 Ke8 {should be winning for black with the two extra pieces, though it could still be tricky in practice.}) 22... Ke8 {I cannot play Rd6 as in the game because my queen is attacked.}) 22. Bb4+ Ke8 23. Rd6 $1 Bxd6 $2 ({There is a defence with} 23... Bd5 $1 {deflecting my queen.} 24. Qxd5 Qxb4 25. Re6+ Be7 26. a3 Qc5 27. Rg7 Rc8 28. Qxc5 Nxc5 29. Rexe7+ Kd8 30. Rxa7 {with a draw likely.}) 24. Qe6+ (24. Rg7 $1 {would end the game immediately. The only way to stop the mate on f7 is} Rf8 {but then} 25. Qe6+ Be7 26. Qxe7#) 24... Kf8 25. Bxd6+ {Black has to give up the queen to avoid mate.} Qxd6 26. Qxd6+ Kf7 27. Qc7 {Material is about level (Q+2 pawns v R+B+N) but white is winning because the black pieces cannot co-ordinate and the king is too exposed.} Ba8 28. f3 Rhe8 29. Qc4+ Ke7 30. Rg7+ Kd6 31. Qa6+ Nb6 32. Qxa7 Nd7 33. c4 Rg8 34. c5+ Kc6 35. Rxd7 $1 {The final flourish.} Rg1+ (35... Rxd7 36. Qb6#) 36. Kc2 1-0 [Event "Leics County Minor 2015"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.07.30"] [Round "4"] [White "Carter, Andy"] [Black "Vaughan, Ben"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Vaughan,Ben"] [ECO "E61"] [WhiteElo "100"] [BlackElo "110"] [PlyCount "110"] [GameId "2162532913795056"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This is the decisive game that won the Minor County Championship for Ben Vaughan. Playing Andy Carter. Kind of knew what to expect, 1. c4 and a King's Indian.} 1. d4 {OK then 1.d4 and a King's Indian} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Bf4 {Slightly different move order to league game.} d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Qd2 {Very different move order. My plan remained the same.} c5 7. dxc5 dxc5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Rd1 Rxd1+ 10. Nxd1 {Very different indeed. I had plans for this, Kxd1 and Nh5 after the bishop and/or doubled pawns} Nh5 11. Be5 Nf6 {Rejected the idea of exchanging Bishops. One of his plans would be Nc3-b5/d5-c7. With Nxd1 I've got some time if he decides to do that.} 12. e3 Nc6 {Develop whilst hitting Bishop. Nice idea. Already I'm eyeing up the c2 square being check. Before e3 was played, Nc2 was mate! Bf5 supports Knight on c2 then Rd8 and I'm looking good.} 13. Bc3 {Knight on d1 stuck.} Bg4 {Had to think. Bf5 or Bg4? Bg4 as I'm sure he'll play Be2 anyway, whichever square my Bishop goes to. Rd8 looks good soon.} 14. Be2 Rd8 {Plan executed. Hoping to win Knight on d1 eventually but may be difficult right now. It's still stuck} 15. O-O {Ne4 or Nb4? I wanted to play Rd2 and aim for b2 pawn, looking long term maybe even trapping rook with Nd2 and Bc3...?} Nb4 16. Bxb4 cxb4 {Still control c3 square and no movement for his Knight.} 17. h3 {Take on f3 or back to f5? Decided f5 as Bxf3 Bxf3 hits b7 and controls e4} Bf5 18. Nd4 {Annoying. Didn't want doubled f pawns. Thought about Bb1 but came back to c8, keep pieces on board.} Bc8 19. Bf3 e5 {Kick the Knight. I'd worked out that it was dangerous on d4. d4-b5-c7 and there wasn't a lot after that. Hoping for Ne2 as e4 was good for me.} 20. Nb3 b6 {Prevent Knight coming to a5 and c5 and free Bishop from defence of b pawn. Planning Be6} 21. e4 {This is why I should have played e4 after e5. It did cross my mind but his d1 Knight is finally free.} Be6 22. Ne3 {Plan time. His Knight is coming to d5 and he'll have a passer on d5 but it won't go anywhere for a while. I can play Ne8-d6 and f5? Bishop should have gone to h6 earlier to prevent his Knights getting into the game.} Ne8 23. Nd5 Bxd5 24. cxd5 f5 25. Rc1 {He's going to check me on c7 I think if I come to f7 with King. His rook is better, my bishop is almost dead and so is my knight. Where did this game go?} fxe4 26. Bxe4 Nf6 27. f3 Kf7 28. Rc7+ Rd7 {Precisely the point of Nf6. Defending the check and the a pawn.} 29. Rxd7+ Nxd7 30. Nd2 Ke7 31. Nc4 Nc5 {His Knight much better than mine. My kingside pawns are dead so in my mind, I've got to kill that bishop.} 32. b3 Nxe4 33. fxe4 Kf6 34. Nd6 {Oh dear. His Knight now in the game. to c8 and a7 now. Eventually my Queenside will fall. Always have to mind d pawn too. Last shot and last hope: Bh6; Nc8 b5; Nxa7 Be3+! Hoping that he gets greedy and snaffles a7 pawn and missing Be3+} Bh6 35. Nc8 b5 36. Nxa7 Be3+ 37. Kf1 Bxa7 {I was lucky that he fell for it. Now it was just a matter of basic endgame play.} 38. Ke2 Kg5 39. Kf3 h5 40. g3 {Square control is even. He can't penetrate here. I've also got waiting moves with my Bishops that can act as 'passers' and pass the move to him. If d pawn runs, I've got bb6 to guard Queening square.} Bc5 {Pass first and see what he does.} 41. Ke2 h4 42. Kf3 hxg3 43. Kxg3 Bd6 {Pass again. h4+ leads to Kh5; Kh2 (or same as above) then Be7 wins h pawn anyway and still protects Queening square.} 44. Kf3 (44. h4+ Kh5) 44... Kh4 45. Kg2 g5 46. Kh2 g4 {Won now.} 47. hxg4 Kxg4 48. Kg2 Kf4 49. Kf2 Kxe4 50. Ke2 Kxd5 51. Kd3 e4+ 52. Ke3 Bc5+ 53. Ke2 Kd4 54. Kd2 e3+ 55. Ke2 Kc3 0-1 [Event "Leicestershire League"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.03.13"] [Round "?"] [White "Norton, Craig"] [Black "Galligan, Brian"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Craig Norton"] [ECO "D00"] [PlyCount "71"] [GameId "2162532913799154"] [EventDate "2015.02.17"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] [WhiteTeam "Wigston 3"] [BlackTeam "Syston 1"] {This week’s game is from Craig Norton, who has returned to Leicestershire chess after a gap of several years.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 {The so called "Barry Attack". The main advantage is that it avoids the King's Indian defence and completely changes the character of the game that King's Indian players are used to.} Bg7 5. e3 a6 {This was played to stop Nb5, winning in some variations. However, Black must challenge the white centre immediately. Castling was better followed by c5, Nc6, Qb6 etc.} 6. Be2 Bg4 7. Ne5 Bxe2 8. Qxe2 Nbd7 9. O-O-O e6 10. h4 h5 {This prevents the advance of the h pawn and the opening of the h file. However, it weakens g5 and the kingside dark squares. White's next few moves attempt to exploit this.} 11. Bg5 Bh6 $6 ({better was} 11... c6 12. e4 Qa5 13. exd5 cxd5 $16) 12. Bxh6 Rxh6 13. e4 $1 {Black cannot castle kingside and has a chronic dark square weakness. White also has a lead in development so must, according to Steinitz, open the position and attack.} dxe4 14. Nxe4 Qe7 15. Ng5 Nxe5 16. dxe5 Nd5 17. c4 $1 $18 {This prevents queenside castling and ensures Black's pieces remain uncoordinated.} Nb6 18. Kb1 {prophylaxis} Rh8 19. Qe4 Rb8 20. Rd4 Kf8 21. Qf3 Kg7 22. Rhd1 Rhf8 23. Ne4 $5 (23. Qf4 a5 24. Ne4 {would keep the h pawn but is of little consequence.}) 23... Qxh4 24. g3 Qe7 25. Nf6 Rfd8 (25... Rh8 26. Rd7 Nxd7 27. Rxd7 Qf8 28. Ne4 Kg8 29. Ng5 Qg7 30. Rxc7 Rf8 31. Qf4 b6 32. Rb7 $18 {Black's queenside has collapsed and the c pawn will queen.}) 26. Nxh5+ $3 gxh5 (26... Kf8 27. Nf6 Rxd4 28. Rxd4 Qb4 29. Qe3 g5 30. a3 Nxc4 31. axb4 Nxe3 32. Nd7+ Ke8 33. Nxb8 $18) 27. Qxh5 Rxd4 28. Rxd4 Rg8 (28... f5 29. exf6+ Qxf6 30. Rg4+ Kf8 31. Rf4 $18) 29. Rg4+ Kf8 30. Qh6+ Ke8 31. Rxg8+ Kd7 32. Qf8 $5 {This enters a technically won endgame where the win doesn't require much calculation. Very useful when you are down to 10 minutes on the clock.} Nxc4 33. Qxe7+ Kxe7 34. f4 a5 35. Kc2 Ne3+ 36. Kd3 {and White soon won in a quick play finish.} 1-0 [Event "Leics I v Greater Manchester I"] [Site "?"] [Date "2015.02.21"] [Round "?"] [White "Leung, Ho Yan Andrew"] [Black "Morley, Andy"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A40"] [PlyCount "54"] [GameId "2162532913827828"] [EventDate "2015.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Andy Morley won this entertaining game in the county match against Greater Manchester.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c4 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. d5 Nd4 6. Nc3 (6. Nxd4 cxd4 {is a completely different game}) 6... Nxf3+ 7. Qxf3 Nf6 8. g3 d6 9. Bg2 a6 {Not the obvious 9.... Bg4, as this simply wastes a move by forcing the white queen to move where she needs to move anyway, if white is to push for f4} 10. O-O Bd7 11. Qe2 Qc7 12. f4 Ng4 13. h3 {This plays into black's hands. 13 Bf3 may be better, giving the King a flight square on g2, but white is being forced onto the defensive.} Bd4+ 14. Kh1 h5 {Tally ho!} 15. Qf3 h4 {Even better is} (15... Nf2+ {After} 16. Rxf2 (16. Kh2 $4 {loses to} Bg4) 16... Bg4 {wins the exchange}) 16. Ne2 hxg3 17. Qxg3 (17. Nxd4 {and white may have been worried about Nh2. But in any case} cxd4 18. Qxg3 Qxc4 {is good for black.}) 17... Bg7 18. Kg1 Nf6 {Having forced weaknesses in white's kingside, the black pieces return to sensible squares.} 19. Bd2 O-O-O 20. Rab1 Kb8 21. b4 {White now scents a quick attack against the black king, but...} Bxh3 22. bxc5 {White needs something quick but 22 e5 caused more complications, even though black is still considerably better.} (22. Bxh3 Nxe4 23. Qe3 Nxd2 24. Qxd2 Rxh3 {is winning for black.}) 22... Bxg2 23. c6 {Everything else is hopeless too, e. g.} (23. Qxg2 Qxc5+ 24. Qf2 Qxf2+ 25. Kxf2 Nxe4+) 23... Bxf1 24. Rxb7+ {A fascinating variation arises after} (24. Qb3 Bxe2 25. Ba5 Qc8 26. c7+ Ka8 27. cxd8=Q Rxd8 28. Bxd8 Nxe4 $1 {with the joint threats of Qg4, Nd2 and Qxd8.}) 24... Qxb7 25. cxb7 Bxe2 26. Qb3 Rd7 27. e5 Rxb7 0-1 [Event "Leics I v Notts I"] [Site "Nottingham"] [Date "2014.12.06"] [Round "?"] [White "Mercs, Peter"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator ",Martin"] [ECO "C06"] [PlyCount "70"] [GameId "2162532913827830"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Having lost 3 times to Notts last year, it was very satisfying for Leicestershire to finally beat them. I won this sharp game on board 1.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Bd3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 cxd4 8. cxd4 f6 9. exf6 Nxf6 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. O-O Bd6 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rc1 h6 14. Bh4 Nh5 {To prevent black trading the dark squared bishops with Bg3, when the e5 square becomes weak.} 15. Bg6 Rxf3 {A standard sacrifice in these kinds of positions.} 16. gxf3 (16. Bxh5 Bxh2+ 17. Kh1 Rf8 18. g3 g5 {is another possibility, with an unclear position.}) 16... Bxh2+ 17. Kg2 Nf4+ 18. Nxf4 Bxf4 19. Bg3 Bd7 {For the sacrificed exchange, black has won a pawn and weakened the white kingside. Chances are approximately level.} 20. Bb1 Rf8 21. Qd3 {Using the weakness on the b1-h7 diagonal to create attacking chances.} Rf5 22. Rh1 Rg5 23. Qh7+ Kf7 (23... Kf8 $2 {is worse as it allows} 24. Bg6 Qd6 {with the strong threat of Qh8+ followed by Qxg7.}) 24. Rh5 $2 ({If white wants to play this way he should get a piece for the c1 rook with} 24. Rxc6 $5 Bxc6 25. Rh5 Qe7 $17) ({I was more worried about} 24. Rxh6 Rxg3+ (24... Bxg3 $2 {is too slow.} 25. Rg6 $16) 25. fxg3 Bxh6 26. Rh1 Qa5 $1 (26... Kf8 $4 {was my intention, but is loses to} 27. Rxh6 gxh6 28. Bg6 Nd8 29. Qh8+ Ke7 30. Qg7+ Kd6 31. Qf8+ Kc6 32. Qc5#) 27. f4 (27. Rxh6 $2 Qd2+ 28. Kf1 Qxh6 $19) 27... Qd2+ 28. Kf1 Nxd4 {wins}) 24... Rxg3+ $1 25. fxg3 Bxc1 26. f4 {threatening Rxh6} Qa5 $1 27. Rxh6 (27. Bg6+ {was a better practical try} Kf6 (27... Ke7 {is safer, running with the king to the queenside} 28. Qxg7+ Kd8 29. Qf8+ Kc7 30. Rxh6 Qd2+ 31. Kh3 Qxd4 {and black is better.}) 28. Rxh6 $1 Qd2+ (28... gxh6 29. Qf7#) 29. Kh3 (29. Kh1 Qd1+ 30. Kg2 Qe2+ 31. Kh1 Qf3+ 32. Kh2 Qf2+ 33. Kh1 {I thought this line was a draw, but black can win with} Bxf4 $1 34. gxf4 Qf1+ 35. Kh2 Qxf4+ 36. Kg2 Qxh6 $19) 29... Qxd4 (29... e5+ $4 30. Bf5+ gxh6 31. Qg6+ Ke7 32. Qg7+ Ke8 33. Qxd7+ Kf8 34. Bg6 {mating}) 30. Qg8 Ke7 {should be winning for black.}) 27... Qd2+ 28. Kh3 Qxd4 {g7 is defended and now black is winning.} 29. Qg6+ Ke7 30. Qg5+ Kd6 31. Rh7 Bxb2 32. Qg6 Qf6 33. Qd3 Qf5+ 34. Qxf5 exf5 35. Kg2 Bf6 0-1 [Event "Leics County Championship"] [Site "Wigston"] [Date "2014.06.20"] [Round "?"] [White "Vaja, R.."] [Black "Pourmozafari, B.."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A07"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2162532913831928"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Another game from the 2014 County Challengers tournament. A nicely played sacrificial attack by Ricky.} 1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 d5 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Bd6 {In this position, white wants to eventually play e5, the bishop is probably better suited on e7 as it may loose a tempo in some variations} 5. d3 h6 $6 {black is under developed and should probably castle, h6 weakens the kingside and is a potential future target} 6. Nbd2 c6 7. e4 Bc7 8. Re1 O-O 9. e5 Nfd7 10. Bh3 $1 {black wants to play f6 and free up the position, the bishop on h3 delays this and black will have to spend a few more moves to prepare it} c5 11. c3 Nc6 12. d4 b6 13. Nf1 cxd4 14. cxd4 b5 $6 {black wasted another tempo, he should probably delay the capture on d4 and develop his pieces first.} 15. Ne3 Bb6 16. Ng4 h5 {Its difficult for black to find a good move here. White is threatening sacrifice on h6 with white solid pawn on e5 and black pieces on the quuenside, a decisive attack should follow} (16... Bb7 17. Nxh6+ gxh6 18. Bxh6 Qe7 19. Nh4 f5 20. exf6 Rxf6 21. Bxe6+ $3 Rxe6 22. Qg4+ Kf7 23. Qf5+ {This is a very important idea! white is trying to triangulate and force the black queen to leave the e file!} Qf6 24. Qh5+ Kg8 25. Qg4+ Kf7 26. Bg5) 17. Nh6+ $3 {I spent alot of time thinking here! black has very few pieces around his king and with the weakend kingside, this sacrifice felt right!} Kh8 ({blacks best try is to take the knight altough white still has more pieces to bring into the attack!} 17... gxh6 18. Bxh6 Qe7 19. Ng5 Nxd4 20. Qxh5 {white is threatening bg7 with a forced mate!} f5 21. Qg6+ Kh8 22. Rad1 {white threatens to take the knight on d4 and then take the pawn on e6! blacks position is crumbling} Bb7 23. Rxd4 Bxd4 24. Nxe6) 18. Nxf7+ $3 {i had looked at ng6 but couldn't keep up with all the complex variations! this variation also wins although white has to play accurately!} Rxf7 19. Bxe6 (19. Ng5) 19... Qe7 20. Bxd5 Bb7 21. e6 Rf5 22. exd7 Qd6 23. Be6 Rf6 24. Ng5 g6 25. Nf7+ $4 {According to the engines, white throws away a huge advantage! luckily both me and my opponent had missed this!} Rxf7 26. Bxf7 Qf6 $4 {this is blacks final mistake!} (26... Nxd4 {white cant stop blacks perpetual checks!} 27. Be3 Nf3+ 28. Kf1 Nxh2+ 29. Kg1 Nf3+ 30. Kg2 Nxe1+ 31. Kh3) 27. Bd5 Qd6 28. Re8+ Kg7 29. Qf3 {white is threatening mate and black can no longer defend as his pieces are overloaded!} Qf6 30. Bh6+ $1 1-0 [Event "Leics County Challengers"] [Site "Wigston"] [Date "2014.05.15"] [Round "1"] [White "Harlow, Phil"] [Black "Mitchell, Rob"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B06"] [PlyCount "63"] [GameId "2162532913831930"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {A wild and entertaining game played by Phil Harlow in the first round of the 2014 County Challengers tournament. His opponent here is the player ranked number 2 in the event.} 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Be3 d6 4. Nc3 a6 5. Qd2 Nd7 6. f4 b5 7. a3 Bb7 8. Nf3 Ngf6 9. Bd3 c5 10. e5 {The question of when to play e5 for white is always crucial in this opening. In theory, this is not the best time but, from now on, the game goes mad!} cxd4 11. Bxd4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Ng4 13. e6 Ndf6 14. exf7+ Kxf7 15. Ng5+ Kg8 16. Qe2 Bc8 {Clearly the threat of Qe6 has to be dealt with. There are several occasions when ...e5! is the best move for black. But it is not an obvious move, opening yet more lines against the black king.} 17. O-O-O {A bold sacrifice.} Qxd4 18. Be4 Qe5 19. Rd8+ Bf8 20. Bxa8 Qxg5+ 21. Kb1 Qc5 {Astonishingly, in this wild and unbalanced position, Fritz gives absolute equality. If you were playing this game, the one result you wouldn't expect is a draw!} 22. h3 Nh6 (22... Qc7 {is best}) 23. Qd2 {A tempting idea, as the Nh6 is now en prise} Nf7 24. b4 Qc7 25. Rd4 Bh6 26. Qd3 Kg7 27. Rd1 Ne5 28. Qe2 Nc4 {Black seems to have solved his problems. His KR can get into the game, his pieces are active and the white king seems a bit exposed....} 29. Rd7 $3 Bxd7 {The best option was 29...Na3 after which chances are equal} 30. Qxe7+ Kg8 31. Qxf6 {Black is a piece up, but there is no satisfactory defence to Bd5} Bg7 32. Bd5+ 1-0 [Event "4NCL"] [Site "Daventry"] [Date "2014.05.03"] [Round "9"] [White "Morley, Andy"] [Black "Smart, M.."] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B03"] [PlyCount "55"] [GameId "2162532913831932"] [EventDate "2014.05.03"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Andy won this game in the 4NCL for e2e4 against runaway division winners Guildford 3.} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. f4 {The four pawns attack, which isn't played much these days} dxe5 6. fxe5 c5 {6...Nc6 is the main alternative} 7. d5 e6 8. Nc3 exd5 9. cxd5 c4 {Played to give the King's Bishop some good squares. There are also some traps based on Qh4+, eg 10 Bxc4 (so that if Nc4; 11 Qa4+ and Qxc4) Qh4+ picking up the bishop on c4} 10. Nf3 Bg4 11. Be2 N8d7 12. Bf4 Bb4 13. O-O O-O 14. Ne4 Rc8 15. Kh1 {Making sure that there are no awkward checks that could mess up the coming fireworks} Re8 16. Nfg5 Bxe2 17. Qxe2 Nf8 18. d6 ({The more direct way to win was} 18. Qh5 {e.g.} Qxd5 19. Rad1 Qc6 20. Nf6+ gxf6 21. Qxf7+ Kh8 22. exf6 {and mate to follow}) 18... f6 19. exf6 gxf6 20. Qh5 fxg5 ({everything loses from here. eg} 20... Nbd7 21. Nf7 $1 Qa5 ({Note that if the King was still on g1 black could escape with} 21... Qb6 {and Qd4}) 22. Nh6+ {+} Kh8 23. Qf7 Ng6 24. Nxf6 Nxf6 25. Qxf6#) 21. Bxg5 Rxe4 {Black is completely lost now, but both sides are short of time with 19 moves to make before the time control} 22. Bxd8 Ng6 23. Bxb6 Re5 24. Qf3 axb6 25. Qf7+ Kh8 26. d7 Ra8 27. Qf6+ Kg8 28. d8=Q+ 1-0 [Event "Thurnby 2 v Wigston 4"] [Site "Leics Div 3"] [Date "2014.04.02"] [Round "?"] [White "Dawkins, Stuart"] [Black "Pattinson, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A36"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2162532913831934"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Whilst certainly not a 'classic', I felt this game was the smoothest I have played since re-entering competitive chess. I also wanted to try out annotating a game! My positional plan was straightforward, but it worked, whilst my opponent spent too long trying to find a winning line when there wasn't one.} 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. Nf3 e6 6. e3 Nge7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 a6 {Prior to this move, the game was 'in the book', following a very drawish line.} 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Ne4 {Objectively, this move loses a tempo, but I felt black's Q-side pawns looked weak after they chase the knight away.} d5 11. cxd5 exd5 12. Nc3 O-O 13. O-O Rb8 {My loss of a tempo has resulted in a reversal of 'normal' English Opening play. Often white presses along the b-file, supported by the fianchettoed bishop; in this game black attempts a similar plan.} 14. Qd2 Qb6 15. e4 d4 {This looks logical, creating a passed pawn, but further commits black to a flawed plan: ... Be6 or taking the pawn are each better.} 16. Na4 {The key move: attacking the queen for a tempo, over-protecting black's target of b2 and preparing to put pressure on black's weak c5 square.} Qb5 17. b3 {My next 8 or 9 moves pretty much played themselves: develop the bishop, activate the rooks and use the c-file, and c5 in particular, to pressurise. My opponent spent longer and longer trying, as he admitted after the game, to find a way to break through on the Q-side.} Be6 18. Bb2 Rfd8 19. Rac1 Rbc8 20. Ba3 Rc7 21. Nc5 Nc8 22. Nd3 {I liked this move: moving the knight towards blacks king, freeing the c5 square for my rook and blockading the passed pawn. Houdini far prefers Bb4 with the threat of Ba5, tactics based on the pin on black's rook which I did not spot over the board.} Bf8 {Now well-behind on the clock, Black voluntarily exchanges his 'strong' bishop; I now felt I was winning.} 23. Bxf8 Kxf8 24. Rc5 Qb7 25. Rfc1 {My basic plan completed.} Ne7 26. Qg5 {Here Houdini far prefers Qh6+, but I could not analyse all the tactics which follow over the board, and felt I was winning anyway.} (26. Qh6+ Kg8 27. Nf4 Bg4 28. Rg5 Kh8 29. Rxg4) 26... Rdc8 27. Ne5 Qb4 {Black now has about a minute to get to move 30, and each move I make sets some tactical (if not subtle) threats - eg for mate on f7. My opponent actually said something like 'may as well try this' under his breath whilst playing this move.} 28. Qf4 Qa3 29. Bh3 f5 30. exf5 {Black lost on time whilst completing the move ... Bxf5. In truth, the game is lost anyway. (30 ... Bxf5, 31 g4)} 1-0 [Event "Wigston 1 v Loughborough 1"] [Site "Leics Div 1"] [Date "2014.04.02"] [Round "?"] [White "Smith, Stephen"] [Black "Glover, John"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B01"] [PlyCount "75"] [GameId "2162532913831936"] [EventDate "2014.04.04"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Stephen Smith stepped in to play for the 1st team against Loughborough, and won this fine game against John Glover. Stephen's opponent in this game is known for his solid play in the Centre counter defence. Plenty of 1st team regulars have struggled to find ways to beat him.} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. d4 e5 4. Nf3 exd4 5. Qxd4 Nf6 6. Bc4 {White is content to see the exchange of queens, which leaves him with a slight advantage} Qxd4 7. Nxd4 c6 8. O-O Bc5 9. Re1+ {Suddenly black finds himself in some difficulty. There is no good square for his king} Kf8 10. Nb3 Bb6 11. Be3 Bf5 12. c3 Nbd7 13. N1d2 Re8 14. Nd4 {White's pieces are heading for the misplaced black king} Bg6 15. Bb3 h5 16. Nc4 Kg8 17. Nd6 Rb8 18. Nf3 {Making sure that the King does not make his escape via h7} Nd5 19. Bxb6 N7xb6 20. c4 Nf4 21. Re7 Nd3 22. Ng5 Nc5 23. Rae1 f6 {The best defence is Rf8, giving up the b pawn. But white would still be well on top and the position would be unpleasant for black to play.} 24. Ngf7 Bxf7 25. Nxf7 Nbd7 ({The attempt to save the Rook by} 25... Rh7 {fails to the pretty} 26. Bc2 g6 27. Bxg6 Rg7 28. Re8+ {and mate next move.}) 26. Nxh8 Kxh8 27. Re8+ Rxe8 28. Rxe8+ Kh7 29. Bc2+ Kh6 30. h4 g6 31. Re7 a5 32. a3 Ne5 33. b4 axb4 34. axb4 Ncd7 35. c5 b6 36. f4 bxc5 37. fxe5 Nxe5 38. bxc5 1-0 [Event "Leics I v Notts I"] [Site "Midland County Final"] [Date "2014.03.15"] [Round "?"] [White "Barnes, Mike"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Burrows,Martin"] [ECO "E14"] [PlyCount "60"] [GameId "2162532913831938"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was played in the Midland Final of the County Championship.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 b6 4. e3 Bb7 5. Bd3 d5 6. O-O Bd6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Qe2 c5 9. b3 Nc6 10. Bb2 cxd4 11. exd4 Re8 $11 12. Rad1 Rc8 13. Nb5 Bb8 14. Ne5 $6 {This may be a mistake as the knight is missed later in the defence of the white king.} a6 15. Nxc6 Rxc6 16. Nc3 dxc4 17. bxc4 Qd6 {I wanted to provoke g3, weakening the kingside.} 18. f4 $5 (18. g3 Rcc8 $11) 18... Rcc8 ({I rejected winning the pawn because} 18... Qxd4+ 19. Kh1 Qc5 20. Ne4 Nxe4 21. Bxe4 Rc7 22. Bd4 {gives white good attacking chances with the 2 strong bishops, and my pieces are awkwardly placed.}) 19. Bc2 b5 $1 20. cxb5 axb5 21. Nxb5 Qb6 {For the sacrificed pawn I have control over the d5 square and the white bishop on b2 is restricted. I also have some tactical chances based on the d4 pawn being pinned and the loose white pieces on the queenside.} 22. Na3 (22. Bd3 e5 23. Kh1 exf4 $17) 22... Bd5 {preventing the knight coming back into the game via c4. I cannot take bishop on b2 due to Bxh7+.} 23. Bb1 e5 24. fxe5 $2 (24. Qb5 $1 {had to be tried} Qxb5 25. Nxb5 exf4 $15) 24... Bxe5 $19 25. Qb5 (25. Qd2 {doesn't save white, but is a better practical choice as the variations are harder to find than in the game.} Ng4 26. h3 Bh2+ 27. Kh1 Re3 $1 28. Bf5 (28. hxg4 Qh6) 28... Bc7 29. Bxc8 Qd6 $19) 25... Bxh2+ $1 26. Kh1 (26. Kxh2 {Taking the piece loses quickly} Qd6+ 27. Kg1 (27. g3 Ng4+ 28. Kh3 Ne3 $19) (27. Kh3 Re3+ 28. Rf3 Bxf3 $19) 27... Ng4 28. Rfe1 Qh2+ 29. Kf1 Qh1#) 26... Qxb5 27. Nxb5 Re2 28. Kxh2 (28. Nc3 Rxc3 29. Bxc3 Rxg2 $19) (28. Rc1 Bxg2+ 29. Kxh2 Bxf1+ 30. Kg1 Rxc1 31. Bxc1 Bh3 $19) 28... Rxg2+ 29. Kh3 Rxb2 30. Nd6 Rc3+ {To avoid mate white will have to give up material.} 0-1 [Event "Ashby 1 v Wigston 3"] [Site "Division 2"] [Date "2014.01.16"] [Round "?"] [White "A Pike"] [Black "R Vann"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "E12"] [PlyCount "83"] [GameId "2162532913831940"] [EventDate "2014.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Here is another game from Wigston 3’s excellent victory over a strong Ashby team. Comments are from Andrew.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. a3 {preparing for Nc3 removing black's option to pin with the bishop} c5 {Attacking white's central pawn structure} 4. e3 b6 5. Nc3 Bb7 6. Nf3 d6 7. Be2 Nbd7 8. b3 {getting ready for Bb2 anticipating Ne4} Ne4 9. Nxe4 Bxe4 10. O-O g5 {black initiating a pawn storm on the King side} 11. Bd3 Bb7 12. Nd2 Nf6 13. Bb2 Rg8 14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Qc2 {White has well placed bishops with open lines into black's king side} h5 {further development of blacks pawn storm strategy on the King's side} 16. Ne4 Nd7 17. Rad1 {Lining up the rook threatening the black queen on the potentially open d-file} f5 {Black continues with the pawn storm strategy but has now overreached......} 18. Nf6+ {This move made possible by the rook threat on the d-file} Nxf6 19. Bxf5 Qe7 $2 {(Martin: Black is still in the game after} (19... Qc7 20. Bxf6 exf5) 20. Bg6+ {forcing the exchange of rook for bishop} Rxg6 21. Qxg6+ Qf7 22. Qxf6 {White is now winning} Qxf6 23. Bxf6 g4 24. Rd2 Bc6 25. Rfd1 Be7 26. Bxe7 Kxe7 27. Rd6 {unnecessarily losing material considering what happens next} Bd5 28. R6xd5 exd5 29. Rxd5 Rh8 30. Kf1 Ke6 31. Ke2 Rh7 32. f3 gxf3+ 33. gxf3 h4 34. f4 h3 35. Kf3 {thinking about attacking black's isolated pawn} Rg7 36. Rg5 Rd7 37. Ke2 Rh7 38. Rg3 Kf5 39. Kf3 a6 40. e4+ {driving away the black king} Kf6 41. e5+ Kf7 42. Kg4 {black cannot hold the isolated pawn and resigns} 1-0 [Event "Ashby 1 v Wigston 3"] [Site "Leics Div2"] [Date "2014.01.09"] [Round "?"] [White "Dove, T.."] [Black "Wylie, S.."] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "D00"] [PlyCount "48"] [GameId "2162532913831942"] [EventDate "2013.10.10"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This week’s featured game is from the Wigston 3’s fine victory over a strong Ashby team. Comments are by Stephen.} 1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. f3 exf3 $6 {Played out of curiosity. e3 is probably better.} 5. Nxf3 Bg4 6. Bc4 e6 7. O-O c6 {Concerned to prevent d5} 8. Be3 {Didn't understand this} Bd6 $6 {Over-optimistic as I intend to castle Q-side. Never got Qc7 in} 9. Qe1 {Explains Be3. Gives latent pin on my e-pawn} Nbd7 10. Bg5 {He no longer needs to protect d4 against Bxf3} Qa5 $5 {To protect d5, but Be7 might be better} 11. Qh4 $1 O-O-O {Not very happy at this point, have used too much time} 12. Ne4 Be7 {Should have been here in the first place} 13. Bxf6 $5 Nxf6 14. Neg5 {If he takes the knight, I take his f3 knight} Rhf8 15. Ne5 $2 {At the time it felt like I was being overrun, but I think it's actually better to play c3 first} Rxd4 {Threatens Rxc4} 16. Rae1 Rxc4 $2 {In terrible time trouble now.} (16... Qc5 {(Martin: This is one of several good moves when black should be winning. The computer still likes the position after Rxc4 though.)}) 17. Nxc4 Qc5+ 18. Ne3 h6 19. Ne4 Nxe4 20. Qxg4 f5 $6 {Played on instinct.} 21. Qh3 $2 {Solves my problems. I think he can take on g7 and win. (Martin: Qxg7 should definitely be played, but the position is approximately level.)} (21. Qxg7 f4 22. Qg4 $13) 21... Ng5 22. Qh4 $4 {A stunning blunder. Only Qh5 was available, but it contains a threat to my e-pawn} Nf3+ $1 23. gxf3 Bxh4 24. Re2 Bg5 {White resigns.} 0-1 [Event "Wigston 1 v Wigston 2"] [Site "Leics Div1"] [Date "2013.10.14"] [Round "?"] [White "Harlow, Phil"] [Black "Vaja, Ricky"] [Result "0-1"] [Annotator "Vaja,Ricky"] [ECO "B22"] [PlyCount "72"] [GameId "2162532913831944"] [EventDate "2013.10.10"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This week’s featured game is from the Wigston 1 v Wigston 2 league match. Comments are from Ricky.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 d5 5. e5 {in this line blacks main idea is to undermine the pawn chain at both d4 and f6. if black can't do this, he will end up with a very cramped position.} (5. exd5 {This variation is probably better for white, both sides end up with an IQP, black should delay the capture of the d5 pawn.} Nf6 6. Bc4 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Nf3 Nbd7 9. O-O Nb6 10. Qb3 Bf5 (10... Nxc4 11. Qxc4 b6) 11. Bg5 Rc8) 5... Bg7 6. Nc3 Nc6 7. h3 {black ideally wants to exchange his "bad" bishop for the knight on f3 as this helps black to gain control of the d4 and e5 square} Nh6 {black can also develop his knight to e7 after e6 is played but this blocks in the light square bishop so with the knight on h6, black is not committed to playing e6 and has flexibility with his light bishop.} 8. f4 $6 {this move is a bit dubious, although it overprotects the e5 sqaure, white is behind in development, his king is not castled and it leaves a big hole on g3} Nf5 $1 9. Nf3 Ng3 10. Rg1 Bf5 $1 {now that the advancement of the g pawn has been blocked, the bishop finds a nice square to develop to although it is at the cost of a pawn!} 11. Qb3 {White attempts to win a pawn} O-O 12. Qxb7 $6 {Black should probably try to complete development and try and castle queen side as black as very good compensation for the pawn} (12. Qxd5 Qxd5 13. Nxd5 Nxf1 14. Kxf1 Be4 15. Nc3 Bxf3 16. gxf3 Nxd4 {black regains the pawn and has a better endgame after he plays f6.}) 12... Rc8 13. Be3 Rc7 14. Qb3 e6 (14... Na5 {black can play Na5 setting a trap if white takes the pawn on d5, but after qd1 white might be able to hold the position together.} 15. Qxd5 (15. Qd1) 15... Rxc3 $1 16. Qxd8 Rxe3+ 17. Kf2 (17. Kd2 $2 Nxf1+ 18. Rgxf1 Rd3+ 19. Ke2 Rxd8 $19) 17... Rxf3+ 18. Kxf3 Rxd8 19. Kxg3 Rxd4 $17) 15. Rd1 f6 16. Bf2 fxe5 $3 {Black offers up a piece! In exchange he opens up lines for his pieces and with the white king in the middle the position should be easier to play for black.} 17. dxe5 {This is the computers recommended move. Black is still slightly better} (17. Bxg3 {White runs into alot of trouble if he takes the piece, black gains time and initiative for the piece and has a decisive attack} Nxd4 18. Nxd4 exd4 19. Nb5 (19. Ne2 Rc2 20. Nxd4 (20. Qb4 d3 21. Nc3 Qc7) 20... Qa5+) 19... Rb7 20. Qa4 Qb8 21. Nxd4 (21. Na3 Rxb2 22. Bd3 Bxd3 23. Rxd3 Rxa2 24. Rb3 Qc7 25. Rb1 Qc3+ $19) 21... Rb4 $19) 17... Nxf1 18. Rxf1 Qe7 19. Qa4 (19. g4 Bxg4 20. hxg4 Rxf4 {Again black has compensation for the piece, the g4 and e5 pawns are weak.}) (19. Rxd5 {Probably whites best try, taking the rook leads to a decisive advantage for white} Nb4 $3 (19... exd5 20. Nxd5 Qf7 21. Nxc7 $18) 20. Rd2 Nd3+ 21. Kd1 Rb7 22. Qa3 (22. Nb5 a6 23. Nfd4 Rxb5 (23... Nxf2+) (23... Nxf4) 24. Nxb5 axb5) 22... Nxb2+ $1) 19... Nb4 {blacks light bishop and knight are co-ordinating well and white cannot defend against both the c2 and d3 squares.} 20. Nd4 Nd3+ 21. Rxd3 (21. Kd2 Nxb2) 21... Bxd3 22. Nde2 Rc4 23. Qd1 Be4 24. b3 Rc6 25. Bd4 $2 ({White had to try} 25. Nxe4 dxe4) 25... Bxg2 26. Rf2 Qh4 (26... Bxh3 {this variation is also good for black although it opens up the h file for potential counterplay for white, Qh4 pins the rook and brings another piece into the attack.}) 27. Bxa7 Rxc3 $1 {black has many paths to victory but giving back the exchange speeds up the attack!} 28. Nxc3 Rxf4 29. Qd2 Bxe5 {threatening Rf3 followed by Bg3} 30. Kd1 Rxf2 31. Bxf2 Qxh3 32. Nb5 Qg4+ 33. Kc2 Qe4+ 34. Kd1 Qb1+ 35. Ke2 Bf1+ 36. Kf3 Qe4# 0-1 [Event "Scarborough Open"] [Site "Scarborough"] [Date "2013.10.27"] [Round "5"] [White "Burrows, Martin"] [Black "Ledger, Dave"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Burrows,Martin"] [ECO "C78"] [WhiteElo "2144"] [BlackElo "2400"] [PlyCount "103"] [GameId "2162532913836042"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This game was played in the last round of the Scarborough weekend tournament.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bb7 7. d3 Bd6 $5 8. a4 O-O 9. Nc3 b4 10. Ne2 h6 11. Ng3 Re8 12. Nf5 Bf8 13. N3h4 $6 {We have reached a typical Ruy Lopez position. I was hoping to follow up with f4, opening the f file for the rook. 13.a5 was probably better.} (13. a5 $14) 13... Na5 14. Ba2 d5 $11 {Black strikes back in the centre.} 15. exd5 Nxd5 16. Qg4 Kh8 17. Bd2 c5 18. Nf3 c4 $5 19. Bg5 $5 {Taking on c4 is bad:} (19. Bxc4 $2 Nxc4 20. Qxc4 (20. dxc4 Nf6 21. Qh4 Bxf3 {wins a piece as the bishop on d2 is unprotected.}) 20... Rc8 21. Qb3 Nf4 $17 {with threats of Bd5 and Bxf3.}) {Instead I moved the bishop from d2.} 19... Qd7 {The bishop cannot be taken:} (19... hxg5 20. Qh5+ Kg8 21. Nxg5 Nf6 22. Qxf7+ Kh8 23. Nh4 $1 $18) 20. dxc4 (20. Nxh6 Qxg4 21. Nxg4 cxd3 22. cxd3 b3 {with compensation for the pawn.}) 20... hxg5 $4 (20... Nf4 21. Bxf4 exf4 $13) 21. cxd5 $2 (21. Qh5+ $2 Kg8 22. Nxg5 {doesn't work because} Qxf5 {covers h7.}) ({However, there is a win with} 21. Qh3+ Kg8 22. Nh6+ {picking up the queen on d7.}) 21... Bc8 $1 {This defends the queen on d7, and I haven't got time to play Nxg5 because black has Qxf5.} 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Ne3 $16 g6 24. Qxg5 {I am 2 pawns up, but the black king is now safe.} Bg7 25. Rad1 $6 ({I should have moved the other rook.} 25. Rfd1 {The a4 pawn cannot be taken:} Qxa4 $4 26. Bc4 $18 {and the a5 knight falls.}) 25... Qxa4 26. Bb1 b3 27. c3 Nc4 28. Nxc4 Qxc4 29. Rfe1 Qg4 30. Re4 $6 (30. d6 $1 Bd7 31. Be4) 30... Qxg5 31. Nxg5 a5 32. Rc4 Rd8 33. Rc7 Bd7 34. c4 $6 (34. d6) 34... e4 $6 35. c5 $2 (35. Bxe4 $1 Bxb2 36. d6 Rab8 37. Bd5 Be6 38. Nxe6 Rxd6 39. Ng5 $18) (35. Rd2 $2 Be5 36. d6 f5 $13) 35... Bxb2 {Now the position is a complete mess.} 36. c6 $6 Bg4 $6 (36... a4 $1 37. Rxd7 Rxd7 38. cxd7 a3 39. Ne6 $1 fxe6 40. dxe6 Bf6 41. Bxe4 Ra5 42. d8=Q+ Bxd8 43. Rxd8+ Kg7 44. e7 a2 45. g3 a1=Q+ 46. Kg2 Re5 47. e8=Q Rxe8 48. Rxe8 Qe1 $19 {is a long variation given by the computer.}) 37. f3 exf3 38. gxf3 a4 $2 39. Nxf7 $2 ({I should just take the bishop.} 39. fxg4 a3 40. Nxf7 a2 41. Nh6+ Kh8 42. Bxa2 bxa2 43. Nf7+ Kg8 44. Nxd8 a1=Q 45. Rxa1 Rxa1+ {winning easily for white.}) 39... Bh5 $2 (39... Bxf3 40. Nh6+ Kh8 41. Bxg6 Bg7 42. Nf7+ Kg8 43. Nxd8 Bxd1 $13) 40. Nh6+ Kh8 {We had now reached the time control at move 40 and got an extra 20 minutes to complete the game. I spent half of this unsuccesfully trying to work out what was going on.} 41. Rb7 $16 (41. d6 $1 {was better} Bxf3 42. Bxg6 Bg7 43. Nf7+ Kg8 44. Nxd8 Rxd8 (44... Bxd1 45. Ne6 Bf6 46. d7 $18) 45. Rxg7+ Kxg7 46. c7 $18) 41... Rf8 42. d6 Bxf3 43. Bxg6 {I thought this was winning due to the threat of Rh7 mate.} Bg7 {I had missed this defence.} 44. Nf5 Rxf5 (44... Bxd1 45. Rxg7 Rxf5 46. Rh7+ Kg8 47. Bxf5 a3 48. d7 a2 49. c7 $18 {wins because the bishop on d1 means that black doesn't promote with check.}) 45. Bxf5 Bxc6 (45... Bxd1 {is the obvious move but the pawns are too strong.} 46. c7 Rg8 47. Rb8 Bd4+ 48. Kf1 $18) 46. Rb4 $2 (46. d7 $1 Rg8 47. Kf2 Bxd7 48. Rdxd7 b2 49. Rxb2 $18) 46... Bf6 47. d7 Be7 $2 ({Black can get a draw with} 47... a3 48. Rxb3 a2 49. Kf2 Bxd7 50. Bxd7 a1=Q 51. Rxa1 Rxa1 $11) 48. Rc4 $1 Rg8+ 49. Kf2 Bh4+ $2 {The final blunder, though white should be winning anyway e.g.} (49... Rf8 50. Rxc6 Rxf5+ 51. Kg3 Rf8 52. Rc8 Bd8 53. Rc4 a3 54. Rc3 b2 55. Rxa3 $18 {but I was down to 2 minutes for the rest of the game, so it would have been difficult to find this.}) 50. Rxh4+ Kg7 51. Rg1+ Kf6 52. Rxg8 {This win got me to 4/5 and a share of 3rd place.} 1-0 [Event "Wigston 1 v Wigston 2"] [Site "Wigston"] [Date "2013.10.10"] [Round "?"] [White "Morley, Andy"] [Black "Burrows, Martin"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Burrows,Martin"] [ECO "B96"] [PlyCount "59"] [GameId "2162532913836044"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {This excellent attacking game was played in the Wigston 1 v Wigston 2 league match. Comments are from Martin.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. f4 Nc6 8. Nxc6 bxc6 9. Qf3 $5 (9. e5 h6 {is the main line I was expecting. 9.Qf3 is unusual but is a reasonable move.}) 9... Qb6 10. O-O-O Rb8 11. b3 d5 $6 {This may be too ambitious.} 12. f5 $1 {This is the critical position. White has several threats, including e5, and Bxf6 followed by fxe6.} d4 $2 (12... Ba3+ 13. Kb1 O-O {is the line I should have played.} 14. Bxf6 (14. e5 {is the move I was worried about, followed by f6 and a quick mate on g7, but I can play} Ne4 15. Nxe4 (15. f6 $5 Nxg5 16. Qg3 g6 17. Qxg5 Rd8 18. h4 Bf8 $13) 15... dxe4 16. Qxe4 exf5 $11) 14... gxf6 15. Rd3 Kh8 16. Qh5 Rg8 17. Qxf7 $16) (12... exf5 $6 {is another possibility, but white gets a big advantage after} 13. Bxf6 gxf6 (13... fxe4 14. Nxe4 $1) 14. exd5 Ba3+ 15. Kb1 O-O 16. dxc6 $16) 13. Bxf6 (13. Na4 {was the move I expected.} Ba3+ 14. Kb1 Qa5 {threatening Qxa4} 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. fxe6 Bxe6 (16... Qxa4 $2 17. Qxf6 Rf8 18. exf7+ Rxf7 19. Qe5+ {wins the rook on b8.}) 17. Qxf6 O-O 18. Be2 (18. Rd3 $4 Qe1+) 18... Qxa4 19. Rd3 Rfe8 20. Qh6 {is also very good for white, but more complex than the game.}) (13. Ne2 $2 e5 {is fine for black.}) 13... gxf6 14. fxe6 $1 {I had missed this. I could see that taking the knight would give white a big attack, but I couldn't see a decent alternative.} dxc3 (14... Bxe6 15. Qxf6 Rg8 16. Qxd4 Qxd4 17. Rxd4 Bg7 18. Rd3 {and white is 2 pawns up.}) 15. Qxf6 {threatening Qxf7 and Qxh8} Ba3+ 16. Kb1 Rf8 17. exf7+ Rxf7 18. Qe5+ {the black king is too exposed, and the extra piece doesn't help.} Be7 19. Bc4 Rf6 20. Qh5+ Kf8 21. Qxh7 {threatening Qg8 mate} Be6 22. Bxe6 Rxe6 23. Qh8+ Kf7 24. Qh7+ {repeating moves to gain time on the clock} Kf8 25. e5 $1 (25. Rhf1+ {the computer finds a mate in 9, though the move played in the game also wins quickly.} Rf6 26. Qh8+ Kf7 27. Rxf6+ Bxf6 28. Rd7+ Be7 (28... Ke6 29. Qh3+ Ke5 30. Qf5#) 29. Qh7+ Kf6 30. Qf5+ Kg7 31. Rxe7+ Kg8 32. Qf7+ Kh8 33. Qg7#) 25... c5 {there was no defence as Rf1+ is devastating now that the pawn covers the f6 square.} 26. Rhf1+ Bf6 27. exf6 Rb7 28. Qh8+ Kf7 29. Qg7+ Ke8 30. Qg8# 1-0 [Event "Leics County Championship"] [Site "?"] [Date "2013.09.19"] [Round "6"] [White "Morley, Andy"] [Black "Sharpe, Graham"] [Result "1-0"] [Annotator "Andy Morley"] [ECO "B85"] [WhiteElo "177"] [BlackElo "178"] [PlyCount "107"] [GameId "2162532913840142"] [EventDate "2013.??.??"] [SourceVersionDate "2013.10.03"] {Here is Andy Morley’s game from the last round of the county championship. Andy was leading with 4 points, with Graham Sharpe, Alan Byron and Martin Burrows half a point behind. Comments are from Andy.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Be2 e6 7. O-O Be7 8. Be3 O-O 9. Kh1 Bd7 10. f4 a6 11. Qe1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 Bc6 13. Qg3 {Indirectly defending the e pawn, due to the threat of Qxg7#} Ne8 $6 {This is passive. Getting counterplay from 13...b5 is preferable} 14. Rad1 Bf6 15. e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 (16. Bc5 {wins the exchange but hands over the initiative to black.} Qc7 17. Bxf8 exf4) 16... Be7 17. Qh3 Qc7 18. Bd3 g6 19. Qe3 $16 b5 20. Be4 $6 Ng7 21. Bxc6 $6 {white's good looking position has melted away quite quickly and the position is back level again.} Qxc6 22. Qf3 Qxf3 23. gxf3 Nf5 24. Ne4 Rfd8 25. Bb6 Rxd1 26. Rxd1 Kf8 27. c3 Rb8 28. Bf2 Rd8 29. Rxd8+ Bxd8 30. Kg1 h5 31. Ba7 Be7 32. Kf2 Ke8 33. Ke2 Kd7 34. Nc5+ $2 {Almost any other legal move is better than this one. As the 1st time control approached I saw the chance to tempt black to "concede" bishop for knight.} Bxc5 35. Bxc5 Kc6 {With the time control reached I sat back and realised that i had just relinquished my splendidly positoned knight and obtained a worse ending. I have real problems defending my e pawn now} 36. Bd4 {Passive but necessary} Kd5 $17 37. Kd3 Nh4 {The king and pawn ending after Nd4; cd4 is slightly better for white.} 38. f4 Nf3 {This looks forcing, but} (38... Ng2 $1 {is stronger. After} 39. Be3 Ne1+ {it is very difficult for white.}) 39. h3 g5 40. fxg5 Nxg5 41. b3 Nf3 {suddently black realised that his plan of winning the h3 pawn is flawed:} (41... Nxh3 42. c4+ bxc4+ 43. bxc4+ Kc6 44. Be3 {and the knight is trapped. This is the disaster that can sometimes befall knights placed on the edge of the board.}) 42. c4+ bxc4+ 43. bxc4+ Kc6 44. Ke4 Ng5+ 45. Kd3 Nh7 46. Ke4 Ng5+ 47. Kd3 Nf3 48. Ke4 Nh4 $6 {We have both gained a bit of time through the 10 second increment and black tries an alternative plan. In the context of the tournament, a draw is no good to Graham. He needs a win to force a playoff for the title. But this attempt gives white a clear advantage} 49. Kf4 Ng6+ $6 50. Kg5 h4 51. Kf6 Nf4 52. Kxf7 Nxh3 53. Be3 {This still traps the knight!} Kc7 54. Kxe6 1-0