Game 25 - Swale Club Championship 2015-16 - Round Ten

Swale Club Championship - Round Ten
Thursday 31 March 2016
White: K. Nevols (132) - Black: B. Sawyer (87)

Having now secured my place in the top group, I needed to get a draw from my final game to finish the first round in third place.

1. e4 g6
2. d4 Bg7

2. .. Nf6 would take us into the Pirc. Now I decide to take us into the Kings Indian defence, an opening I know much better (although usually as Black).

3. c4 d6
4. Nc3 e6

I think I'd prefer 4. e5.

5. Nf3 Ne7

An unusual placement for the knight. The usual thoughts in this opening have to be slightly adjusted by the fact the bishop on g7 is now not blocked by the knight which usually sits on f6. I made a mental note to keep an eye out for tactics revolving around c5, Qb6 and any attacks on the b2 square.

6. Bg5

With the intention to cause a weakness around the kingside. If now 6. .. h6 my plan was to play 7. Be3.

6. ... O-O
7. Qd2

And now h6 cannot be played.

7. ... Kh8?!

A surprise. I had expected c5, Nc6 or Na6. I can only guess the plan is to play the knight to g8 and then h6 but this is too slow. The knight is still pinned at the moment.

8. h4!



I decide to punish the last move and go straight on to the attack. I was in two minds here. Part of me was saying I ought to play it safe and play Be2 and castle, while the other said go for it. I analysed both 8. .. e5 to which I planned 9. d5 closing down the centre, and 8. .. h5 to which I thought about 9. Be2 with possibly Nh2 and g4, or 9. Bh6. I also saw Black's next move and gave some thought to a piece sacrifice.

8. ... f6

The move I gave a lot of thought to was 9. h5?! - inspired by a Kasparov game many years ago. However I decided against it for three reasons - firstly, I am not Kasparov (!), secondly, there is no need to take risks at his early stage when I am (allegedly) the stronger player and, thirdly, I was not sure if it would work. 9. ..  fxg5 10. hxg6 Nxg6 11. Nxg5 h6 was as far as I got. Instead I stuck to the more sensible move.

9. Be3 Qe8

This defends against h5 but leaves the c7 pawn open. However, 10. Nb5 does nothing against 10 .. Na6 and then 11. .. c6 would show the whole idea is a waste of time.

9. .. e5 would have been better to meet 10. d5 with 10. .. Bg4 and 10. h5 gxh5 11. Rxh5 again with 11. ... Bg4. (10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Qxd8 Rxd8 and White keeps an edge in development but no danger yet).

10. Be2 Nbc6?

But this gives me the chance to now deflect the queen and get h5 in.

Computers usually like pawn pinching and this one is no exception - recommending 11. d5 Ne5 12. Nb5 Qd8 13. Nxa7. I didn't see this but I am not sure I would have gone for it - it would give Black time to play for plans involving a counterattack in the centre around f5.

11. Nb5 Qd7

Now the above sequence is improved by the blocking of the bishop. 12. d5 Ne5 13. Nxe5 fxe5 14. Nxa7 and Nxc8 to come.

12. h5 g5?

Black sacrifices a piece!! I had looked at 12. .. gxh5 13. Rxh5 planning to castle queenside and double up on the h-file.

13. h6 Ng6
14. hxg7+ Qxg7
15. O-O-O

So now I am a piece for a pawn up. The next job is to double the rooks on the h-file.

15. ... a6
16. Nc3 Kg8

Preparing to defend the h-pawn. The other option I had looked at was 16. ... Rg8 17. Rh2 Nf8.

Now I could not decide between Rh2 and Rh5. The former looked wimpy - one gets a sense of manliness when one shoves the pieces into the opponent's face! - but after Black had played Kf7 and Rh8 I knew there might be a chance of Bd7-e8 which would get a tempo. Also, on h2, the g2 pawn is defended - which might be useful.

17. Rh2 Kf7
18. Rdh1 Rh8

OK, where next? My eye went to the g5 pawn. If I could undermine it and somehow get the knight or bishop there I would further increase my advantage.



19. e5!

The variation I looked at first ran basically like this. 19. ...  dxe5 20. dxe5 Ncxe5 21. Bxg5? fxg5 22. Rxh7 Rxh7 23. Rxh7 Qxh7 24. Nxg5+ Kg7 25. Nxh7 Kxh7. That would leave my with a queen and a pawn for a rook and a knight. But I decided against that as it was giving up too much material just to get the queen. Remember - I am already a piece for a pawn up.

And then I saw the beautiful - 21. Nxe5+ Nxe5 22. Bh5+ Ke7?? 23. Bc5 checkmate! So Black would have to play 22. .. Ng6. I pondered about 23. Ne4 and also 23. Bxg6+ Kxg6 24. Qd3+ (24. .. f5 25. Bd4 e5 doesn't go very far) but then decided this was all too far into the future, I must have got something wrong somewhere, and my head was hurting.

So I decided to play e5 anyway on instinct - the worst that could happen was losing a second pawn for the piece I was up.

19. ...  h6

Instead Black decides to protect the g-pawn resulting in the following sequence.

20. exf6 Kxf6
21. Ne4+ Ke7
22. Rxh6

So that 22. .. Rxh6 23. Rxh6 Qxh6 24. Bg5+ or 23. Bg5+.

22. ....  Bd7
23. Bxg5+ Kf7
24. Bf6!



I was pleased to find this move which opens the diagonal for the queen to join in. The end is nigh!

24. ... Rxh6
25. Rxh6 Qg8
26. Nfg5+ Ke8

If 26. ... Kf8 then 27. Nh7+ with Bh5 next.

27. Bh5 Nce7
28. Rh8 Resigns

A nice touch to finish off - pinning two Black pieces.

Game 24 - club match. Weald of Kent vs Swale

Weald of Kent vs Swale - Board One
Monday 21 March 2016
White: H. Cove (159) - Black: K. Nevols (132)

Back to Cranbrook Library - it really is a pleasant place to play chess but quite a drive to get there. However I was not too pleased to see I was Black against a player graded far higher than me (my record this season against players graded over 150 - two draws and five losses) and, as he sat at the board, a young chap full of confidence, I knew this would be a tough night.

1. d4 d5

After my recent disaster with the King's Indian, I decide to give up the Indian openings for a while and fight it out in the centre.

2. c4 e6
3. Nf3 Be7

The idea of playing this move before Nf6 is to avoid the pin after 3. .. Nf6 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5. It usually transposes anyway, or White could play 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 with e3.

4. g3

But this takes us into the Catalan opening - another opening I know nothing about, other than Kramnik used to be fond of it. Now Black could take on c4 and spend the rest of the game trying to defend it, but I did not like the idea of the open diagonal, nor playing an unfamiliar system so instead I go into my shell.

4. .. Nf6
5. Bg2 O-O
6. O-O c6

White delays developing his queen's knight which I found unusual. Now the main problem I have is what to do with my queen's bishop.

7. Qc2 Nbd7
8. Nbd2 Re8

I could see he was now playing for an e4 break so I prepared myself to meet it.

9. e4 dxe4
10. Nxe4 Nxe4
11. Qxe4 Nf6
12. Qc2



Neither side has achieved a great deal but White has the edge on better development. Black's set up is similar to what I have often got with the Scandinavian defence but not with the bishop on c8 so a bit of shuffling is called for.

12. ... h6
13. Rd1 Qc7
14. Bf4 Bd6

Here I was worried about 15. Ne5 but 15. .. c5 seems to be an adequate reply

15. Bxd6 Qxd6

Now 16. c5 Qc7 17. Ne5 with Nc4 and Nd6 concerned me. I would have had to play Ne8 at some point and maybe I could hold.

16. Ne5 c5

So I thought I had to get this move in quick. Of course this opens up the bishop for the diagonal but I could not see much else - and the computer seems to agree with me.

17. Qc3 Rb8?

A blunder. 17. .. Qc7 would have been better. Now 18. Qa3 simply wins a pawn. Maybe then I would have played 18. .. a6 19. Qxc5 Qxc5 20. dxc5 so his extra pawn is doubled, but the position is horrible. Compare White's pieces to Black's!

18. dxc5?

Phew, he doesn't see it.

18. ...  Qxc5
19. Rd2!

Strong. White builds up his strength, preparing to double on the d-file. I decide the first thing to do is to get rid of that knight on e5.

19. ...  Nh7
20. Rad1 f6



Now White has the crushing 21. Rd8! and after Rf8 (21. .. Rxd8 22. Rxd8+ Nf8 23. Ng6) 22. Ng6! Rxd8 23. Rxd8+ Kf7 24. Nh8+ Ke7 25. Rg8! Nf8 26. Rxg7+ Ke8 27. Qxf6 it is well and truly goodnight.

Fortunately (again) he does not see this. And, to be fair when your pieces are attacked, you do tend to focus on defending them.

21. Nd7?

But I was glad to see this as I can exchange my duff bishop for his active knight.

21. ..  Bxd7
22. Rxd7 Re7
23. b4 Rxd7

A useful intermezzo - offering the queen for two rooks - but it is the only move.

24. Rxd7 Qc8

The computer favours the more active 24. .. Qf5 with Ng5 to follow, but I am in grovelling mode and wanted to keep the queen on the base line. He has 3v2 on the queenside, and very active pieces, so although I had escaped twice, it was still looking gloomy.

25. Qd3 Nf8

The knight does a great defending job on this square - holding on to the e6 pawn and guarding the d7 square as well as shielding the back rank.

26. Rd6 Qc7

Preparing my next move.

27. c5 a5
28. a3 axb4
29. axb4 Ra8

Now I have exchanged off one pair of pawns and now the a-file to at least wave in the direction of a counter attack. Swapping another pair of pawns with 29. .. b6 might have been an improvement.



30. Qd4 Qe7
31. h4 Rb8

I'm not doing anything really, just moving pieces about and giving White the question of how he will advance - which he does. The computer now suggests 32. Rb6 and then moving the queen to f3 to try to pick up the b7 pawn.

32. b5 Qc7
33. b6 Qe7

Now good for White would be to relocate the bishop via e4 or f1.

34. c6 bxc6



Now I was expecting 35. Rxc6 and thinking what should I do next. 35. .. e5 perhaps? 35. .. Rd8 maybe. Or 35. .. Qd7. But my thoughts were interrupted by ...

35. Bxc6?

Wow! For nearly three hours I had sat in my chair, defending like crazy, moving pieces around on the back line, escaped defeat on probably a dozen occasions - but I was going to get away with it. White has blundered a pawn to a one move tactic.

35. ...  Rxb6

Now White has nothing. I did feel some sympathy for White (we've all been there - a win thrown away with a careless move) - but huge relief as well.

36. Qxb6 Qxd6
37. Qb7 Qd1+

With this move I offered a draw. Yes, I have an extra pawn but his bishop is a better piece than my knight, and it is 4v3 on one side. He is also graded far higher than me and a draw with Black would be a feather in the cap. I guessed his feelings of disappointment would make him accept straight away - but that was not quite right.

38. Kg2

He declines.

38. ..    Qd8

So back I go. And how exactly, a pawn down, do you plan to win this?

39. Be4 Qd7
40. Qb3 Qd6
41. Qb7 Qd7

And now he re-offered the draw and I accepted.

As predicted, a tough battle, but this evening, lady luck was with me.

Game 23 - Swale Club Championship 2015-16 - Round Nine

Swale Club Championship - Round Nine
Thursday 17 March 2016
White: K. Nevols (132) - Black: A Fletcher (93)

With two rounds to go in the club championship, I had calculated that a half point would be enough to see me in the top five and hence a place in the final group. I considered that I would be favourite here but grades can have a psychological effect. When you play someone of a lower grade, there is a temptation to blast them off the board - only to go down in flames.

So I aimed to play calmly, develop pieces, build up in the centre, and try to spot any weaknesses. However, for much of this game, I am fighting for the initiative.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 g6

The Pirc Defence

4. Bg5

This was a system used by the American grandmaster Robert Byrne. The idea is to put some early pressure on the kingside and follow up with a Qd2 battery.

4. ....  Bg7

Playing 4. .. h6 might be better. There are now lots of moves for White to chose from here. Qd2, e5, f4, Nf3, f3, Bc4 etc. I choose a more quiet plan of development.

5. Be2 h6
6. Bh4 Nc6?!

In these sort of positions Black usually plays 6. .. c6. Here the knight obstructs Black countering with the c-pawn.

7. Nf3 b6

Black decides to fianchetto both bishops and attack the centre from afar. I now considered 8. d5 then if 8. ... Ne5 9. Nxe5 dxe5 Black has doubled pawns and a blocked in bishop. Also if 8. ... Nb8 intending to relocate to d7 then 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7 Nxd7 11. Nd4 could put Black under some early pressure. And 8. .. Na5 and the knight is dim on the rim.

I rejected the move for fear of opening the diagonal and instead decided to deflect the Black bishop away from the b7 square it was intending to occupy.

8. Bb5 Bd7

Again I considered 9. d5 but then after 9. .. Ne5 10. Nxe5 dxe5 (or 10. Bxb5 11. Nxb5 dxe5 12. Nc3) 11. Bxd7 Qxd7 it all looked too equal and boring. I did not notice that now I should play 12. f3 with the aim of bringing the bishop back into the game.

9. Qd2

Instead I decide to play some pressure on the kingside and dissuade Black from castling. If now 9. O-O then 10. Bxf6 exf6 - although this does not look too bad for Black who could now base a plan around f5.

9. .....  a6
10. Be2

Job done. The bishop returns to the centre. However 10. Ba4 moving to b3 was probably more accurate.

10 ... b5

Threatening b4 with an eye on White's e-pawn.

11. a3 b4!




Black plays a plan which I underestimated. At first my eyes were immediately drawn to that pawn on a6 which will now be weak. But the knight which will now arrive on b4 proves surprisingly difficult to shift.

12. axb4 Nxb4

Black has 56 minutes left for 21 moves. The time control, as ever, is 35 moves in 75 minutes with 15 more minutes for the rest of the game.

13. O-O

I had considered 13. e5 dxe5 14. dxe5 Nh7 15. Ne4 a5 but the move that worried me was 13. e5 Bf5. I can now see it comes to nothing after 14. exf6 Nxc2+ 15. Kf1.

13. ... Qb8!

A good way to develop the queen, protect the knight and place pressure on the queenside. I had overlooked this move.

The pressure on my centre was concerning me and I could not see anything with e5 or d5 which I liked. Certainly Bf5 after e5 was very worrying. I wanted to defend my e-pawn so I could move the knight and play c3 which would both kick the knight out and strengthen d4 - and to this end the computer recommends 14. Bxf6 Bxf6 15. Nd1. However, I did not like the sight of those two bishops.

14. Bc4

I now have 40 minutes left for 21 moves. As I played this move, I saw 14. .. Nxe4!? 15. Nxe4 d5 then 16. Bxd5 Nxd5 17. c3 Bb5 and Nb6. I had a quick look at 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. Nxe4 but then 16. Rc8 brings his rook into the game! And the computer suggests 16. c3 dxe4 17. Qf4!? with 17. ... f5 18. Ne5 Nc2 19. Bf7+ Kd8 20. Nxg6 Nxa1 21. Bxe7+ Kc8 22. Nxh8 - not a position I would like to play.

14. ...  Qb6

Instead Black develops the queen and hits d4.

15. Rfe1

Now with 34 minutes for 20 moves I was getting concerned over my position and the clock. But now I had achieved the first objective - the e-pawn is defended. And there are no longer any Nxe4 tricks.

15. ... g5
16. Bg3 O-O

I now gave a thought to whether I could exploit the loose bishop on d7 with 17. e5 - but could not see anything. Simply 17. ... Nh5 does the job.

17. Na2

So back to the plan. If now 17. .. Nc6 then I intended 18. c3? but I now see that 18. Na5 causes problems. If 19. Qe2 then Nxe4 and if 19. Qd3 then Qxb2. So maybe 18. Rab1 or just 18. Nc3 is better.

17. ... a5

Fortunately for me Black chooses a weaker plan.



18. c3 Nxa2

I think 18. ... Nc6 might have been better and asking White what is he going to do with that knight, although the computer thinks White can then take the initiative with 19. d5 Na7 20. Nd4.

19. Rxa2 Nh5
20. Qe2!

Now with 24 minutes for 15 moves, I was pleased to find this multi-functional move. It stops Bb5, defends e4 and prepares Rea1. For the first time, I was beginning to feel comfortable with the position (but our electronic friend now says Black is better).

20. ...  Nxg3
21. hxg3 c5
22. dxc5 Qxc5
23. Rea1

I felt the simplification of the position is to my benefit as I can now concentrate on attacking the weak a-pawn but 23. .. Rfb8 with a4 to come is difficult to answer.

23. .... Rfc8?

Phew! Wrong square. I now win a pawn.

24. Ba6! Rcb8
25. Rxa5

A pawn up and I was happy - although my extra pawn was the doubled g-pawn so still a lot of work to do. Now 25. .. Qb6 keeps some pressure on.



25. ..   Rxb2!?!

And this was a shock! I was blasted from my chair (not literally!) Black had chosen to play tactics with my time running out.

26. Qxb2 Bxc3

OK, so what do we do? 27. Rxc5 Bxb2 28. Rca5 Bxa1 29. Rxa1 Bc8 and Black will be a pawn up! So I must not play Rxc5 but move the queen. Where to? Qa2? But then Bxa5 28. Qxa5 Qxa5 29. Rxa5 Bc8 and again I will be a pawn down.

So the queen had to go somewhere where it was threatening something - as well as threatening Rxc5 - and there was only one square.

27. Qb7!

Now if 27. .. Bxa5 then 28. Qxa8+ and I am a rook up. I also looked at 27. ... Bc6 28. Qxa8 Bxa8 29. Rxc5 dxc5 30. Rc1 Bb4 - also a rook up.

27. ...  Qc6
28. Qxc6 Bxc6
29. Rc1

Right, I am going to get out of this alive. After 29. .. Bxa5 30. Rxc6 I will be a piece for a pawn up. But there was still a lot of work to do. I have doubled g-pawns and the opposite coloured bishops give Black chances of counter attack play against f2, for example.

However, much to my relief .... 

Black resigned.

Game 22 - Swale Club Championship 2015-16 - Round Eight

Swale Club Championship - Round Eight
Thursday 3 March 2016
White: I. Lappin (132) - Black: K. Nevols (132)

Having lost four of my last five games, my confidence was still low. However I had not been playing too badly in the club championship and, with three games to go, stood a good chance of qualifying for the final group.

This was one of my main rivals, a top club player, with an equal grading. A tough but eventful game was expected - as so it proved.

1. g4

The Grob! Many years ago I had looked at this with an old Michael Basman audio chess cassette. It is one of those openings which makes you scoff at first but get sucked into complications. It must be treated with respect.

1.  ... c6

The theory of the Grob involves a bishop on g2 and pawns hitting the centre - so I decide a cautious first move to solidify the diagonal.

2. h4

The Basman system uses 2. h3.

2. ....  d6

Playing with d5 and e5 might be more accurate but I'm being cautious against any plans of Bg2, c4 and Qb3/a4.

3. g5

Now I am not sure what is happening but was mindful of my earlier game at Hastings (Game 7) where I got squashed by pawn advances. The computer now recommends 3. .. h6 but I want to develop a piece.

3. ....   Bg4
4. d4 h6

In the Hastings game I mentioned earlier, I got in a right mess trying to develop my kingside pieces - especially the knight - and so I now aim to solve that issue. 5. Bh3 might be good for White here.

5. Bg2 Qa5+

The plan is to get my king castled as soon as possible by developing and also attempting to disrupt White's development.

6. Bd2 Qb6
7. Bc3 e6



I am now thinking of sorting out the kingside and using the e7 square to move pieces about.

8. b3

Planning to drop the bishop back to b2 and play c4 but it is noticeable that no-one's knights have yet been touched.

8. ....   hxg5
9. hxg5 Rxh1
10. Bxh1 Ne7

Planning to come to g6 to think about the h4 square.

11. Qd2 Ng6?!

White now could play 12. Ba5 where I had in mind maybe 12. ... Qb5 and then off to Qf5. However the pieces could be pushed back by a well-timed f3 and e4. So 12. .. Qa6 keeps things with White marginally better.

12. Na3 d5
13. Bb2

The computer now makes Black clearly better and agrees with my forthcoming plan to hit the kingside with Bd6-f4.

13. .    Bd6

At this stage I was quite satisfied with how things were standing. My pieces were better developed and I had in mind moves like Nbd7, Ke7, Rc8 or Rh8. White might be thinking about castling but at the moment 14. O-O-O results in 14. .. Bf4 15. e3 Bxd1.



14. f3?!

A surprise. Blocking in both knight and bishop - and also presenting me with a chance to dislodge his king before it disappears into the queenside. 14. e3 may have been better.

14. .. Bg3+
15. Kd1 Bh5

I begin to regret this and think I should have played 15 ... Bf5. The idea was to prevent White from playing 16. e4 and this is the correct plan.

16. e3

This clears the second rank for the queen to move over but I noticed it opened up the a6-f1 diagonal.

16. ...  Bd6
17. c3 Be7?

Completely overlooking White's next move. I can't explain why I didn't play 17. .. Qa6. After 18. Nc2 Nd7 I'm looking good.

18. Qh2

It was now with horror that I remembered the bishop! There is no way to protect it! I had a grim ponder and played the move I had seen earlier.

18. ...  Qa6

With the double threat of taking a piece on a3 and checking on the f1 square, which would look good if I had no forgotten that my bishop was on an undefended square with nowhere to go.

If now 19. Nc2 then Qd3+ 20. Qd2 Qf5! (not sure if I saw this move) or 20. Kc1 Bxg5 21. Qxh5 Bxe3+ 22. Nxe3 Qxe3+ 23. Kb1 Qxg1+ (or 23. Kc2 Qf2+) with Black having much the better position. White finds the best move.

19. Kc2 Bxa3

The computer spots an interesting sequence with 19. .. Nd7!? 20. Qxh5 O-O-O with Rh8 to come.

20. Bxa3 Qxa3
21. Qxh5 Nd7

Now the h-file is in my thoughts. If now 22. Qh7 then 22. .. Ke7! as 23. Qxg7 is answered by 23. .. Rh8 coming down to h2.

22. f4 O-O-O




Although both my bishops had gone, I still had the feeling I must be better here, due to a safe king, and so I intend to now open up the centre so my knights could get more involved.

23. Qd1 Rh8
24. Nf3 c5?!

Opening up the centre as planned although 24. ... Ne7 planning to come to the f5 square should be first.

25. Qc1 Qa6

No intention of exchanging queens with an attack on its way.

26. Qe1 cxd4
27. cxd4 Kb8

Opening up the c-file for the rook. However, the computer now thinks that Black has lost his advantage.

28. Kb2 Ne7
29. Bg2 Nf5
30. Bf1 Qb6
31. Bd3 Nd6

Three consecutive bishop moves has considerably improved its position.

32. Rc1

And now White is on the front foot.

32. ....  a5

I quite like this move making his king slightly less safe and displaying intentions that I have not given up playing for the win.

33. a4 Ka8

My plan now is to redeploy my pieces where they might be more useful. The king moves out of the way for the knight to reach c6. White now guards the second rank before advancing the knight.



34. Rc2 Nb8
35. Ne5 f6

Much as I loved this active defence I think 35. .. Nc6 might be better. After all, that was the whole point of Ka8.

36. Ng6 Re8
37. gxf6 gxf6
38. Rh2

38. Qh4! is stronger. If 38. .. f5 then 39. Ne5. If 38. ... Qd8 then 39. Qh7 adds to the pressure although 39. .. Qd7 might be able to hold.

38. ...   Nc6
39. Rh8?

I was pleased to see this move. By exchanging rooks and temporarily exiling the knight, Black gets a chance to counter.

39. ...  Rxh8
40. Nxh8



40. ...  f5?

And goes the wrong way. 40. ... e5! is far stronger opening up the centre and the queen's diagonal towards the e3 pawn. One line is 41. fxe5 fxe5 42. dxe5 Nxe5 with the threat of Nc4, or 41. dxe5 fxe5 42. Ng6 e4 43. Bf1 Nf5. White will not be able to defend the pawns on b3 and e3 at the same time.

This is a missed opportunity. The game is now even - but neither of us are ready to take the draw just yet!

41. Ng6 Nb4
42. Ne5 Nxd3
43. Nxd3 Ne4

Dead even! Now 44. Ne5 Qc7 45. Qc1 Qxc1+ would make it time to shake hands.

44. Qc1 Kb8
45. Nc5!?

But no! White decides to unbalance the game - and off we go again!

45. ...  Nxc5
46. dxc5 Qa6
47. Qd2 Kc7

Bringing the king into the centre to take on the advancing queen.

48. b4?!

I now thought of Yuri Averbach, the great endgame expert, and wondered if he was now turning in his grave (actually Averbach is still with us aged 94!). White provocatively sacrifices a pawn and separates his queenside pawns.

48. ...   axb4
49. Qxb4 Qe2+
50. Kb1

By now we were both very short of time. I could see that if I took the pawn on e3 White has 51. Qa5+ and I could not see if I could avoid White forcing the draw. I tried a few moves about.

50 .    Qd1+
51. Ka2 Qc2+
52. Ka1 Qc1+
53. Ka2 Qc4+?

This was based on a quick count to see if my king could advance. Actually it could very well lead to a loss. With best play Black can hold a draw but I was nearly down to my last five minutes.

54. Ka3?

Fortunate. Had White gone all in with 54. Qxc4, as I said, I am not sure if I could have held.

54. ...   Qc1+
55. Ka2 Qxe3

What the hell, I thought. Lets' grab the pawn and see what happens.

56. Qa5+ Kd7
57. Qb5+ Ke7
58. Qxb7+ Kf6

The plan. By tucking the king away, I hoped I could avoid the checks.

59. Qb2+ d4
60. Qh2

I had one free move.

60. ...   Qe4

So I decided to improve the position of the queen, where it could check White's king and hopefully block some checks.

61. Qh6+ Ke7
62. Qg7+ Kd8
63. Qh8+ Kc7



Well, dear reader, here is where we leave it. Why? My clock was now down to less than five minutes for the rest of the game, and when you get down that low, you no longer have to write down the scores.

White continued checking with the queen and my king moved forward - eventually I was able to stop the checks. My queen picked up his a-pawn with check, the c-pawn was gobbled up and eventually I forced the exchange of queens. With three pawns against one, and into the last seconds White resigned.

A happy victory after an entertaining game.