Thursday 7 December 2017
White: J. Anstead (164) - Black: K. Nevols (157)
1. f4
This is known as Bird's Opening, named after the 19th century player, Henry Bird. The idea is to control the e5 square, and White's following two moves add to this.
1. ... d5
2. b3 Nf6
3. Nf3 e6
4. e3 c5
Not knowing a great deal about this set-up I decide to position a sort of reverse-Dutch.
5. Bb2 Nc6
6. Be2
Continuing development with Bd6 or Be7 might be sensible here, but I could not resist putting a spoke in the wheel.
6. .... d4!?
7. exd4 cxd4
My idea was to hold up White's development and just to be annoying.
Best for White is now 8. Bb5 Bc5 and he could think about 9. b4!? or 9. Qe2. Instead White brings his knight into the action with four consecutive moves.
8. Na3 Bc5
9. Nc4 O-O
The computer recommends 9. .. Nc5 10. g3 f6 or even the fun line 10. ... d3 11. Bxd3 Nxf4 12. Bxh7 Rxh7 13. gxf4 leading to a position where both sides could have chances.
.
10. Nce5 Qb6
11. Nd3 Rd8
I was quite content with my position building up around the d4 pawn, although the bishop on c8 looks like it could be a problem.
12. O-O Nd5
13. Kh1 Ndb4?!
It might be a mistake to exchange off this well-placed knight and 13. .. Be7 or 13. Bd6 may have been better, but I was concentrating on the initiative.
14. Nfe5 Nxd3
15. Bxd3
Of course my eyes were now on my kingside defences. If, for example, 15. .. Nb4 then White wins with 16. Bxh7+ Kxh7 17. Qh5+ Kg8 18. Qxf7+ and then 19. Rf3 - or 16. ... Kf8 17. Qh5 Qc7 18. Nxf7.
So I decide to block the diagonal and relocate the bishop to add to the defences, while also offering to exchange the other bad bishop.
15. ... g6
16. Qe2 Bd7
17. Rf3 Bf8
18. c4
This move surprised me. I had been concerned about a possible g4-f5 attack but instead White opens a front over the other side. I had continually avoided Nxe5 because I did not like the idea of fxe5 which would open the f-file and give White some good squares on f6 and d6 to consider.
18. .... Bg7
19. Ba3 Qc7
20. Nxd7 Rxd7
Exchanging his well-placed knight for my bad bishop was a deal I was pleased with. However the computer rates it as White's best move.
21. b4 a5
Active defence. I wanted to swap off one more bishop before I could feel safe.
22. b5 Nb4
23. Rb1 Nxd3
The computer prefers 23. .. Bf8 and then 24. Bxb4 axb4 25. Rb2 Bd6 which opens the a-file and centralises the bishop.
24. Qxd3 Re8!
I was quite pleased with this. White's position is slightly un-co-ordinated and a counter offensive in the centre could make some progress.
25. b6 Qc6
26. Qf1
A sign that White was running out of ideas. 26. Kg1 preparing g4 is an option. 26. Bb2 can't be played as it loses the b-pawn. It is also difficult for White to attack the black pawn on a5. 26. Rb5, for example, is met by 26. .. e5 27. fxe5 Rxe5.
The queen drop back is to allow the pawn on c4 to be defended by another pawn.
26. .... e5
Grabbing the initiative.
27. fxe5 Rxe5
28. d3
28. ...... Re3?
Although, at the time, I liked this move, it is a mistake. 29. Rxe3 fxe3 30. Qf4! and the tables are turned with the threat of Qb8+. Black must play 30. .. Rd8 and then 31. Qxe3. Black can get the pawn back by 31. .. Qd7 (32. Re1 Qa4 wins a piece) but any winning chances would be with White.
Black should play 28. ... Qa4!. If 29. Qc1 then 29. ... Re2 exploits White's un-co-ordination. If 29. Rb3 Black can choose between 29. .. Bf8 30. Bxf8 Qxa2 31. Rb5 Rxb5 32. cxb5 Kxf8 - where he is a clear pawn up and a passed-a pawn - or the difficult move to see, the computer move, 29. ... Rd8 planning Rde8 and threats along the top two ranks.
Fortunately White overlooks 29. Rxe3 and my initiative continues.
29. Bc1? Rxf3
30. Qxf3 Qxf3
31. gxf3 Re7
Black is now better and intends the invasion. White decides to counter by queenside play.
32. c5 Re1+
33. Kg2
While 33. ... Bh6? looks like it will win a piece, White has 34. c6! and Black will have to bail out with 34. .. Bf8 35. c7 Re2+ 38. Kh3 Rc2 39. Bf4 - and White has the advantage.
Short of time, I had not considered Bh6 and always intended to use the following tactic to pick up the dangerous pawn.
33. ..... Re2+
34. Kg3 Rc2
35. Bf4
At the time, I was not sure what to do after 35. Ba3 but Black can defend with to do 35. .. Rxa2 and 36. Bb2 Be5+ or 36. c6 Rxa3 with either 37. cxb7 Be5+ or 37. c7 Re3.
35. ....... Rxc5
36. Rc1
Offering a bishop ending a pawn up. Black can decline with 36. .. Rc3 but then 37. Re1 gives White some counterplay.
White could have played 36. Re1 with 36. .. h5 37. Re8+ Kh7 38. Re7. Then Black has the great resource 38. ... g5 (which is not possible in the above line after 36. .. Rc3 as the g-pawn would not then be defended) 39. Bd2 Kg6 when 40. Rxb7 Rc2! places the white King in a mating net.
Confident that I would not lose this position, I enter the ending.
36. .... Rxc1
37. Bxc1
Black is a pawn up and White has isolated pawns. I was not sure I could win but decided to advance the king and see how we go.
37. .. Bf8
38. Bd2 a4
39. f4?
A mistake - not only blocking the routes for White's bishop but putting it on a square where Black can attack it.
39. .... Bc5
The computer recommends fixing the f-pawn with 39. .. f5 but I wanted to force his bishop to a poor square.
40. Ba5 Kg7
41. Kg4 Kf6
42. h4
Delighted to see another pawn on a black square. It was not clear how White intended to defend all these pawns.
42. ..... h5+
43. Kf3 Kf5
44. Kg3 Ke6
45. Kf3 f5
Taking a chance. By closing down the queenside, I stopped any avenues for his king but also any way forward for my own.
46. Ke2 Kd5
47. Kd1 Kc6
48. Kc2 Kb5
49. Bd2 Kxb6
50. Kb2 Kb5
Now two pawns up I had to find a way through.
51. a3 Bb6
52. Bb4 Bd8
53. Be1 Ba5
54. Bf2 Kc5
55. Ka2 Bd2
56. Bg3
OK, a bit of jigging about and I have forced his bishop out of the game. Time to advance the other pawn.
56. ..... b5
57. Kb2 b4
58. axb4 Kxb4
59. Kc2
Does 59. ... a3 win? I gave a lot of thought to that question .... and the answer is yes. 60. Kxd2 a2 or 60. Kb1 Kb3.
But the other way is good enough too.
59. ..... Bc3
60. Bf2 Ka3
No, that's not right. Go back and try again.
61. Bg3 Kb4
62. Bf2 a3
That's right. White now resigned to end a tough battle.
Rochester v Tunbridge Wells
Keith Hyde (166) 1/2-1/2 C Lucjan Karpinski (164)
Keith Nevols (157) 1-0 Jerry Anstead (164)
Vytautas Gedminas (130) 1/2-1/2 Robin Wilson (163)
David Page (122) 1/2-1/2 David Tidmarsh (132)
Tyrone Jefferies (116) 0-1 Thomas Stevens (128)
Aurimas Liuberskis (110) 1/2-1/2 Richard Woodfield (123)
Rochester 3-3 Tunbridge Wells
