Game 62 - club match. Weald of Kent v Rochester

Weald of Kent v Rochester - Stephenson Cup - Board Four
Monday 27 March 2017
White: D. Warrick (108) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

I was called in as an emergency substitute for my fourth game for Rochester, this time back at Cranbrook Library. Having been held up by traffic. I got there with minutes to spare and was surprised to find the entire Rochester team was made up of Swale players!! Without a chance to question this surprising turn of events I seated and the game began.

1. d4 f5

Another chance to try out the Dutch. Results so far were not too bad.

2. Nf3 e6
3. Bf4

Like my last game, my opponent delays c4.

3. ...  Nf6
4. e3 Be7
5. Bd3 b6

And this time I remember the advice. If White does not fianchetto his bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal then Black should do so.

The computer now recommends 6. Ne5 and replies to 6. .. d6 with 7. Qf3 forcing 7. .. d5 and White gets tied up in knots. (8. Bb5+ Kf8 or 8. .. Bd7 9. Nxd7 Nfxd7 10. Qg3 ... or 9. ...Nbxd7 10. Bc6).

Black should reply to 6. Ne5 with 6. .. Bb7. But White continues development.

6. Nbd2 Bb7
7. O-O O-O
8. c4



The computer recommends 8. h3 as it thinks that Black can now exchange the bishop and gain an advantage with 8. .. Nh5 9. Bg3 Nxg3 10. hxg3 g5. I did not see this possibility and instead decide to develop the queenside.

8. .. a5
9. Rc1 Na6

To defend the c7 point in preparation for moving the queen.

10. a3 Qe8
11. h3 Ne4
12. Qc2 Nxd2
13. Qxd2 Qg6

I was quite comfortable with my position here. White still can't play e4 and is unable to advance anywhere.

14. Bg3 d6

Keeping the white knight out of the e5 square and preparing to advance the centre pawns.

15. Qe2 Bf6
16. Kh2 e5
17. Bc2 Rae8



Now 18. c5!? is interesting with 18. .. bxc5 19. Qb5. White has possibilities such as Qxa5 or dxe5 dxe5; Bb3+ opening up on the doubled c-pawns.

Black's best might be 19. .. Bc8 then 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Bb3+ Kh8 22. Qxa5 and then it depends on whether he sees 22. .. f4! 23. exf4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Bxb2 25. Rc2 Rxf4 26. Rxb2 Bxh3 27. gxh3 Rxf3.

So perhaps then 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. Qxa5 leaving the f-pawn pinned. Black might then play 21. .. e4 exploiting the fact that the pawn on b2 is undefended. One line could be 22. Nh4 Qh6! 23.Nxf5 Qg6 24. Bb3+ Kh8 25. Bc4 Qxf5 26. Bxa6 Bxa6 27. Qxa6 Bxb2 28. Rc2 Be5.

Instead White decides not to engage in complications and just moves the queen off the e-file.

18. Qd1

Now I considered 18. .. h5 gaining more space and threatening h4 but decided against it as I did not want a pawn on its own which I would have to defend. So instead I bring the knight into the battle. This however is a waste of time and allows White to gain space.

18. ....   Nb8
19. Rg1 Nc6
20. d5 Nd8?

This is a mistake. White can now get a big advantage with 21. Ba4! Re7 22. Nh4 Nxh4 23. Bxh4 Ref7 24.f4!
Look at the position now - White's bishops are well placed, Black's knight and rooks have literally no moves, and Black's other pieces are not happier.

Black should have played 20. . Ne7. Then 21. Ba4 Rd8.

Fortunately White does not spot the opportunity and decides to open the a-file. I note that, as it could come in useful (and indeed it does!)

21. b4 axb4
22. axb4 Nf7

Now it is White's turn to make a mistake. He should take the second opportunity to play 23. Ba4.

23. Nh4? Bxh4
24. Bxh4 Nh6??

But Black does not spot it. 24. .. Qh6 wins a piece. 25. Bg3 f4.
I completely overlooked this and was concentrating on advancing the knight and defending the f5 pawn.



I was not happy with the position now. I had taken five moves to get the knight from one edge of the board to the other! White's bishops were looking good, and a well-timed g4 from White could put my king in jeopardy. The only thing I could do was to grab the a-file.

The computer does indeed now recommend 25. g4! keeping Black on the wrong foot. Black can't play 25. .. Qf7 because of 26. g5 and so has to play 26. .. e4 then 27. gxf5 Qxf5 28. f4! and White could now put the g-file to good use and, long term, try to play Bd1-c3.

25. Qe2 Qf7
26. Bd1?!

I did not understand these moves but was grateful for the chance to grab the a-file. The bishop blocks the communication between the two rooks.

26. ....  Ra8!
27. b5 Ra5
28. f3 Rfa8

Again 29. g4 puts Black under pressure (29. .. Ra2 30. Rc2) but instead White makes the puzzling decision to exchange off one of his good bishops.

29. Bg5 Qg6
30. Bxh6?! Qxh6
31. Bc2 Bc8

At last the bishop has the chance to get back into the game.

32. Qf2 Ra3
33. e4 f4

Missing the chance to put White under pressure with 33. .. Rc3 and closing the h6-c1 diagonal. But my plan was to sac on h3 if I got the chance.

34. g4?

I thanked the heavens. This move would have been so good earlier but now it is a mistake. Lines open up against the white king.

34. ... fxg3 e.p.
35. Qxg3 Ra2

Again missing the chance for Rc3. White should now play 36. h4.

36. Rg2



While White was thinking I saw this move and that it would be a mistake. I now gave some thought into various combinations - the danger was whether White could force perpetual check. Having decided he could not, the second danger was whether I had overlooked anything. Combinations are not really my thing. Eventually I decided I had to go for it.

36. ...  Bxh3
37. Qxh3

Better (as it gets a pawn) would be 37. Qxg7+ Qxg7 38. Rxg7+ Kxg7 39. Kxh3, but Black should still win comfortably.

37. ....  Qxc1

I now saw with horror 38. Rxg7+. Does it force perpetual? 38. .. Kxg7 39. Qg4+ or 39. Qd7+Kh8 . The answer is no as Black just plays Kh8 but, before I discovered this, he played on.

38. Qe6+ Kh8

This was the position I had envisaged at move 36 and that Black now has the possibility of Qh6+.

39. Qd7 Qh6+

The move 39. .. Qf4+ would have been neater. Or simply g6 at any time in the next few moves.

40. Kg1 Ra1+
41. Kf2 Qh4+
42. Rg3 Rf1+
43. Kxf1 Qxg3

Now the advance of the rook should finish issues.

44. Ke2 Qg2+
45. Kd3 Ra3+
46. Resigns

And it is checkmate next move.

A good win but I was fortunate that White did not punish my poor play in the middlegame.

Game 61 - club match. Snodland v Swale

Snodland vs Swale - Fuller Cup - Board One
Thursday 23 March 2017
White: R. Thompson (137) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

A trip to a cricket pavilion. It is not a bad place to play chess - it is clean and quiet with parking. My opponent was the captain of the Kent under-140 team as well as my first opponent on my 'comeback' now a year and a half ago (Game One).

Both teams had qualified for the Fuller Cup semi finals - this match would decide who tops the group and thus plays at home.

1. d4 f5

A chance to play the Dutch defence. Here White avoids c4 and the fianchetto, and allows me to set up the classical Dutch defence set-up.

2. Bf4 e6
3. e3 Nf6
4. Nf3 d6

Playing 4. .. Be7 would have been more accurate. With the White bishop on f4 and pawn on e3, then it would be difficult for White to fianchetto his king's bishop - and when White does not put a bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal then Black should aim to do so. But b6 and Bb7 is harder to do after playing d6 due to the weakness of the white squares.

An idea might be 4 ... c6 with 5 .  Qb6 exploiting the fact that White's dark-squared bishop has blocked itself off from the queenside.

5. Nbd2 Be7
6. h3 Nc6

As there is no threat of White playing d5, then I can put the knight on this square.

7. Bb5 Bd7

I was now concerned by 8. Ng5 but I think Black is OK after castling. (8. .. O-O 9. Bxc6 bxc6).

8. c3 O-O
9. O-O Qe8

Now I need to think about a plan and this move is a good contribution in order to take the queen into the kingside with the intention of initialising an attack.



10. Re1

One rule of the Dutch, which I learnt from the Simon Williams DVD, is that, where possible, White must be prevented from playing e4 and opening the e-file. This move prepares that and so Black's reply stops this idea.

10. ...  Ne4

Now 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Nd2 Qg6 is quite good for Black with the possibility of attacking with a well-timed e5.

11. Bd3 Qg6
12. Qc2 Nxd2
13. Qxd2 Bf6?!

Now e4 can no longer be stopped so I go to another rule from Simon Williams - that if you are unable to prevent e4 to make sure you can reply with e5. This move prepares that. But I forgot the loose bishop on d7.

I think 13. ... Qf7 or 13. .. Qh5 is better as White cannot play 14. e4 (14... fxe4 15. Rxe4 d5).

14. e4 e5

While White was thinking my heart skipped a beat as I saw 15. dxe5 dxe5 16. Bc4+ opening an attack on the bishop on d7. However on deeper investigation I saw that this does not lose material because Black can still attack White's pieces.

15. dxe5 dxe5
16. exf5

But I was quite relieved to see this move in case I had miscalculated somewhere.

16. ...   Bxf5
17. Bc4+ Kh8

Now after 18. Nxe5 Nxe5 19. Bxe5 Black must not play 19. .. Bxe5 20. Rxe5 Bxh3?? (21. Rg5) and 19. .. Bxh3 20. Bg3 Bf5 21. Bxc7 simply loses a pawn.

Black must play 19. .. Rad8! where he can met 20. Qe3 with 20. .. Bxe5 21. Qxe5 Bxh3 regaining the pawn.



Instead White who goes wrong. He decides to leave the Black e-pawn on the board, which allows me to build up an attack around it.

18. Bg3? e4!
19. Nh2 Ne5
20. Bxe5 Bxe5

Whereas a few moves over I was worried about the two White bishops dominating the board, now it is the two Black bishops who are in charge. I want to bring my last rook into the fight.

21. Qe3 Rae8
22. Kh1 Bd6!?

A pawn sacrifice. My plan was 23. Qxa7 b6 and follow with .. Bc5. I hoped to lure his queen out of the game to gather time for an attack.

23. Nf1

OK, that didn't work.

23. ....   b6

Both protecting the a-pawn but also planning Bc5, which White now prevents.

24. b4

Now best for Black is 24. .. a5 25. a3 Bd7! taking the opportunity to re-route the bishop and clear some space for Black's rook to advance down the f-file.

24. ....   Re5

However White now has the chance to play 25. Ng3. I tried to see if I could get anywhere with 25. .. Bxh3 26. gxh3 Rf3 but there is nothing. White instead decides to cover the h5 square.

25. Be2 Bd7

Dropping back at last in order to focus down the f-file.

26. Nh2?

Better is 26. Ng3 - again blocking the g-file and hitting e4.

26. ...   Ref5

This move is visually impressive (27. Qxe4 Bxh2 28. Kxh2 Bc6) but the computer says that 26. .. Rg5. If 27 Rg1 then 27. .. Rd5 with the threat of Bf4 trapping the queen - so 28. c4 Bf4 29. Qa3!? Rd2 or 29. Qc3 Be5 30. Qc2 Rd6 and Black is beginning to dominate the board.

However I have a combination in mind and, not for the first time, made a miscalculation.



27. f3 Rg5
28. g4 Bxh2?

Bad. Black should play 28... Bc6. This gives away almost all of his advantage.

29. Kxh2

And now I realised I had miscalculated. The plan has been 29 .. dxf3 30. Bxf3 Rxf3 31. Qxf3 and then 31. .. Bc6 pinning the white queen. However I had overlooked that the last move had simply nudged the white king off that diagonal so that the queen would not be pinned.

Kicking myself again I now had to re-adapt in order to get the attack going again.

29. ....    Qd6+
30. Kg2 exf3+
31. Bxf3

And now if 31. .. Rxf3 32. Qxf3 Bc6 White simply has 33. Kg1! - and the weakness of the back rank means that Black does not have time to take the queen.

Now with the foreboding thought that today would not be my day, I had to reorganise and see what happens.

31. ...   Rg6
32. Rad1 Qe6

Forced. Now my thoughts were that the queens were now coming off and if I could get the rooks off too then it would be a drawn position and I could go home and try to find where I missed the win.

33. Qd3?

Now it is White's turn to go wrong. Like me, he seems to have thought that the queen exchange would be drawish and tries to exploit the lack of coordination amongst my pieces. However this overlooks that I could take a pawn.

33. ........  Qxa2+
34. Re2 Qf7
35. Rde1??

White blunders. He needed to play 35. Bd5.



35. ....   Rd6??

35. ..  Bb5 wins on the spot. 36. Qxb5 Qxf3+ 37. Kh2 Rh6 or 36. Qd5 Qxd5 37. Bxd5 Bxe2.
I simply did not see this possibility.

36. Qe3 Re6?

Again missing 36. .. Bb5, this time with 37. Rf2 Rd3. (38. Be4 Qxf2+ 39. Qxf2 Rxf2+ 40. Kxf2 Rxc3 and two pawns up).

37. Qf2 Rf6

OK, now onto plan B ... or is it C? To exchange everything off and run with the passed pawn on the other side.

38. Re3

The computer recommends 38. Re7! Black would have to find 38. .. Qd5 and then 39. Bxd5 Rxf2+ 40. Kg1 c6 41. Rxd7 cxd5 42. Ree7 forces a draw.

38. ....   Bc6
39. Rf1 Bxf3
40. Rxf3 Rxf3
41. Qxf3 Qxf3
42. Rxf3 Rxf3
43. Kxf3 a5



Now I had another horrible sinking feeling. Had I miscalculated? His king is closer to the centre. King and pawn endings are ferociously complicated and I consoled myself with the thought that if his king was able to round up the a-pawn then my king would have time to get over and should at least get a draw - which after all the twists and turns would have been a fair result.

My worries were allayed when he made one final mistake and allowed me to force and protect the passed pawn..

44. Ke3? a4
45. Kd3 b5
46. c4 c6

White now resigned. One continuation could be 47. Kd4 Kg8 48. cxb5 cxb5 49. h4 Kf7 50. g5 g6. White's king has to keep an eye on the a-pawn making a break for it and thus Black's king can just take the kingside pawns.

A tough battle with a lot of mistakes but I was pleased with the win which ensured we finished top of the group and avoid a trip to London.

Snodland v Swale

Robert Thompson (137) 0-1 Keith Nevols (134)
Jerry Pol (124) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
Hugh Broadbent (99) 0-1 Andrew Gillard (113)
Richard Mallery (64) 1-0 Anthony Fletcher (74)

Snodland 1-3 Swale

Game 60 - club match. Rochester v Hastings

Rochester vs Hastings - Stephenson Cup - Board Four
Sunday 19 March 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: M. Bryant (141)

My previous game against this opponent (Game 7) had resulted in a bad defeat which had led to me questioning the wisdom of my 'comeback'. Fortunately, things have moved on and my form has improved - although this was my third game for Rochester and my score to date had been 0/2.

The game took place on a calm Sunday afternoon in Sittingbourne.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 f5

The Ruy Lopez - Schliemann variation. My opponent told me afterwards that he did not know anything about this opening - well, that makes two of us - but I did recall that 4. d3 was considered to be a safe response.

4. d3

Apparently 4. ... Nf6 is best for Black with 5. Nc3 fxe4. I thought 4. .. fxe4 5. dxe4 d6 looked harmless.

4. ... d6

Now this begins to look like an upside-down-wrong-way-round Queens Gambit. I decided to just continue developing.

5. O-O f4?

But this is just a mistake. Knowing my opponent's fondness for pushing pawns all over the place, as he did against me last time, I thought he might be intending g5-g4. But I have time for a counter in the centre.

6. d4!

Undermining the f4 pawn, and threatening to win a pawn on e5. Black's best might now be 6. .. Qe7 to move off the d-file and defend the e5 pawn. If 7. d5 then 7. ... a6 so White might instead play 7. Nc3 continuing development.

6. ...  Bd7



Now I studied 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. dxe5 dxe5 9. Nxe5 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Bxe4 11. Re1 and that looked quite good (11. .. Bxc2 12. Ng6+ ..  or 11. .. Nf6 12. Nd2).

But then I saw something stronger - the idea of playing Qh5. Black's knight was not yet on f6 and so this was an option.

Could I sacrifice the knight? No. 7. Nxe5? Nxe5 8. Qh5+ Ng6 just loses a piece.
Then I looked at 7. Bxc6 Bxc6 8. Nxe5? dxe5 9. Qh5+ Ke7 10. Qxe5+ but could  not see anything after 10. .. Kf7 11. d5 Bd7 (although 12. Qxf4+ gathers a third pawn for the piece).

But I did not need to sacrifice. I went back to the earlier line with the modification of exchanging on e5 before swapping on c6.

7. dxe5 Nxe5??

This is a mistake. With 7. ... dxe5 Black is losing but still on the board.

My first thought was just to gather the booty with 8. Bxd7 Qxd7 9. Bxf4 - a clear pawn up with advantage.

But after 8. Nxe5 the follow-up move of Qh5-e5 really is a threat. I looked at 8. Nxe5 dxe5 9. Qh5+ Ke7 10. Qxe5+ and then taking on f4 would leave me two pawns up.

After checking Black's other option (8. ...  Bxb5) I went for it.

8. Nxe5 Bxb5

Black told me he allowed this move because he said I would have too many pieces en prise - and indeed there are two at the moment.

9. Qh5+ g6

I had considered 9. .. Ke7 10. Ng6+ before realising that 10. Qf7 mate would be better.

10. Nxg6

If now 10. .. Nf6 then 11. Qxb5+ c6 12. Qxb7 hxg6 13. Qc6+ and I am three pawns up.
Or 10. .... hxg6 11. Qxh8 Bxf1 12. Qxg8 Ba6 13. Qxg6+ and I am two pawns up.
or 10. ... hxg6 11. Qxb5+ and 12. Qxb7 with two pawns up.
or 10. .. hxg6 11. Qxg6+ Kd7 12. Qf5+ Kc6 13. Qd5+ Kb6 14. Qd4+ c5 15. Qxh8 Bxf1 16. Qxg8 Bb5 17. Bxf4 and it is a three pawn lead.



Just as I was debating all the options - Black makes the final blunder.

10. ....  Bxf1??

I guessed he expected 11. Nxh8+. But you cannot argue with checkmate.

11. Ne5+ Resigns

It is mate after 11. .. Ke7 12. Qf7++.

Rochester v Hastings

Keith Hyde (167) 0-1 Howard Tebbs (187)
Trefor Owens (167) 1-0 Paul Kelly (171)
Chris Marshall (143) 0-1 James Wheeler (151)
Keith Nevols (134) 1-0 Marc Bryant (141)
Jerry Pol (124) 0-1 Gary Wilson (137)
Tyrone Jefferies (116) 1-0 Jeremy Hudson (125)

Rochester 3-3 Hastings

Game 59 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Round Ten

Swale Club Championship - Round Ten
Thursday 16 March 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: D. Simpson (105)

This was my first game against Dennis who had joined our club this season.

1. e4 d5

As someone who has played this opening numerous times, I am always curious to see how others handle it.

2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qd8

Black chooses the Qd8 version. Some people play 3. .. Qd6. I prefer 3. .. Qa5. There is one line for White against 3. .. Qa5 which I have identified that puts Black under some pressure, but so far no-one has played it against me and, as no-one has also not played 3. .. Qa5 against me as Black, then I have not had the chance to try it out. Maybe one day.

4. d4 Nf6
5. Bc4 Bg4

I now realised the difference between the queen move to d8 as opposed to my usual Qa5. If now 6. Nf3 then Black has the option of 6. ... Bxf3 7. gxf3 making a mess of White's kingside while the king is still in the centre. Or maybe stronger is 6. ... Nc6.

Disliking both of these options, I decided to castle the king as quickly as I could.

6. f3 Bh5
7. Nge2 e6
8. O-O Be7

The computer likes the idea of Ng4 Bg6; Nxg6 but I did not want to open up the h-file while his rook was still on h8.

9. Be3 O-O
10. Nf4

Now it is OK to hit the bishop.

10. ... Re8!?

Better perhaps is 10. .. Bg6 or 10... Nbd7. I did not quite understand this move.



White could now play 11. Nxh5 Nxh5 12. d5! striking at the centre while he has the lead in development and Black has a knight offside. Play might follow 12. .. exd5 13. Qxd5 Qxd5 14. Nxd5 Bd6 or 13. Bxd5 c6 14. Bb3 or 13. Nxd5 Bd6. White would have his pieces in the centre and Black would have to be careful, but might have enough resources to defend with a timely Bd6 and Nf6.

Instead I continue for calm positional development which is more my style.

11. Nce2 Nbd7
12. Nxh5 Nxh5
13. Qd2

To be honest I am just moving pieces around, trying to think of a plan.

13. ...    Nb6
14. Bd3 Nf6

While he was thinking, I saw 14 .. Nd5 and wondered if it was any good. 15. c4 could be answered with 15. .. Bb4 or 15. . Nxe3. Maybe 15. c3 would have been more solid. Instead Black wisely brings the knight back in to the centre.

My plus point here is that the knight on b6 looks a bit awkwardly placed. From playing this Scandinavian system myself, I know that Black can get a strong point around d5, or attack the pawn on d4, so I move my pieces about to take care of those possibilities.

15. c4 c6

The computer now recommends 16. a3 to limit the scope of the bishop and prepare Nc3. It rates the position as 0.83 in favour of White.

16. Qc2 Nbd7
17. Rad1 Qc8?!

Moving the queen away from the d-file is wise but 17. .. Qc7 is better. 18. Bf4 is easily answered with 18. .. Bd6 and after 19. Bxd6 Qxd6 the position is completely equal.

18. Nc3

I want to move to e4 and try to get an attack going on the kingside. I also want to somehow create a weakness amongst his kingside pawns.

18. ...   e5!?

A surprise - but an interesting idea. Sometimes in the Scandinavian it is the c-pawn which moves forward while the e-pawn keeps guard on squares closer to the king. Black's idea is to gain space by exchanging pawns in the centre. Now White ought to play 19. Bf5 to grab hold of that square and then perhaps 19... Qc7 20. Ne4.



19. Rfe1 exd4
20. Bxd4 Bc5
21. Bxc5

The computer argues that 21. Qf2 is an improvement. 21. .. Bxd4 22. Qxd4 Rxe1+ 23. Rxe1 and the queen is very well placed, but I have decided that I want a black piece to be on c5 so that I can gain a tempo when I attack it with b4.

21. ...  Nxc5
22. Bf5 Qc7
23. b4 Ncd7
24. a3

A precaution against Qb6+.

24. ...   Ne5
25. Ne4 Nxe4
26. Bxe4 Ng6

Black has defended very well, we are running out of pieces, and, by now, I was getting frustrated at the lack of weaknesses in the black position.

27. h4?! is well answered by 27. .. Re5 28. g4 h5! If 27. Bxg6 then we might as well shake hands straight away. And we must not forget Black's own possibility of counterplay with .. a5.

The computer recommends 27. g3 perhaps with Kg2 and a slow advance. That might not have been a bad plan. Instead I decide to double rooks for something to do.

27. Re2 Rad8
28. Rde1 Qd7
29. Kf1 Kf8



It felt like stalemate with neither of us thinking of anything to do.
Again 30. g3 is perhaps best. Instead more pieces come off.

30. Re3

The plan was to come to d3 but of course Black does not allow that.

30. ...    Qd2
31. Qxd2 Rxd2
32. Bxg6 Rxe3
33. Rxe3 hxg6

Well, I've got the weakness - but a very tiny one.

34. Kg1 Rd7

34. .. Rd4 might have been more accurate.

At this point, Black now offered a draw. I decided I wanted to play on a little more but was ever mindful of the fact that I had blown an equal rook ending not so long ago.

The plan is to advance on the kingside and see if anything happens.

35. Kf2 b6
36. Kg3 Rd6

Again 36. .. Rd4 is better with 37. Rc3 a5 and Black could get an initiative.

37. h4 c5
38. bxc5 bxc5
39. Re5 Ra6

Still dead equal.



40. Re3 Ra4
41. Rc3 Ke7
42. Kf4 f6
43. Ke4 Ke6
44. g4 f5+
45. Kf4 Kf6
46. g5+ Ke6
47. Ke3 Ke5
48. f4+

And now I offered the draw which was agreed. The position is completely dead.

My opponent had played well but I was not happy with my play. I should have mixed it up somewhere and try to engage in open battle. Careful manoeuvring is not much good against someone who is good at defence.

Game 58 - County U-140 League - Hertfordshire vs Kent

Hertfordshire v Kent - Board Seven
Saturday 11 March 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: G. Reilly (129)

A long drive to Hemel Hempstead for this game but a nice venue to play chess, and soon we were once again into the Closed Sicilian.

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 d6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2 Nc6
6. O-O a6

Having got into trouble by playing a4 last time - in an attempt to stop the queenside advance - I decide to disregard the threat, confident that I had the resources to defend.

7. Qe1

The standard queen and bishop manoeuvre as I wait to see what Black will do with his King.

7. ....   Nb4
8. Bd1 b5
9. a3 Nc6
10. d3 Bb7



OK, so far, so good. His King is still at least two moves away from castling so I decide to force the issue. Better would have been 11. Kh1 because now Black has some tactics based around a check on d4.

11. e5 dxe5

Now a line I did not see is 12. Nxe5 Nxe5 13. fxe5 Qd4+ 14. Be3 Qxe5 15. Qf2 which looks like it wins the pawn back but then Black has 15. .. Qxe3! 16. Qxe3 Bd4.

12. fxe5 b4?!

Better would have been 12. .. Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Qd4+ transposing to the above line.

But now I was kicking myself realising that I had blundered away a pawn and so had to try to get some compensation for it. I gave a lot of thought to 13. Ne4 with a possible tactic on d6, but, probably due to my state of mind, rejected it.

However 13. Ne4 is the best move. If 13. .. Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Qd4+ then 15. Be3! Qxe5 16. Nxc5!? Qxb2 17. Nxb7 Qxa1 18. Nd6+ Kd7 19. Nxf7 Qxa3 20. Nxh8 Bxh8 and White has a great position for a pawn down.

I didn't see any of that and would have probably played the quieter 15. Qe3 Bxe5 16. Nxc5 which gets a good position after 16. .. bxa3 17. Rxa3.

I looked at 13. ... bxa3 14. Rxa3 which is OK for White.

But feeling down I played a weaker move - deciding to consolidate, take the porridge, and start again.

13. Nb1?!

The intention was to take back on a3 with the knight, or redeploy the knight to the c4 square. Black gobbles up the pawn and I at last move the king out of the way.

13. ....   Nxe5
14. Kh1

I want to make some exchanges on f3 and see if I can use the open lines against his still uncastled king.

14.      Qd6
15. Nbd2

Continuing the plan to relocate the knight and defend f3.

15. ....   Nxf3
16. Bxf3 Bxf3
17. Rxf3 Nf6



Right, so I am a pawn down. My development is not great but I have some potential for play on the queenside and am about to get the pawn back.. Black's bishop has great potential but he is still one step away from castling.

18. Nc4 Qc7

Black can't keep the b4 pawn. If 18. .. Qb8 then 19. Bf4 (19. .... Qb5??? 20. Nd6+).

19. axb4 Nd5

Centralising and freeing the bishop. 19. .. cxb4 20. Qxb4 O-O might lead White to try 21. Bf4 when Black can force the queens off with 21. .. Nd5! (22. Bxc7 Nxb4) and perhaps ease his defensive task.

20. bxc5

White misses the powerful 20. Qe4! with 20. .. e6 21. Ra5! O-O 22. bxc5 or 20. ... Rd8 21. bxc5 Qxc5 22. Rxa6.

20. ...  Qxc5
21. Ra5 Qc6

I saw 22. Rxd5 Qxd5 23. Nb6 but after 23. .. Qb7 24. Nxa8 Qxa8 (actually 24. .. O-O is better) could not see much after that. (25. Bg5 O-O 26. Bxe7 Re8). So decided it was about time to give the bishop an airing.

22. Bg5 O-O!

The computer now gives the position as a narrow edge for White. Black has at last castled, the bishop is good, his only weakness is the pawn on a6. Best is now 23. c3 to consolidate and think again. Taking the e-pawn falls again to Re8.



23. Qh4

However I still have my eye on that king. Black's best is now 23. . e6! which secures the knight and makes Black free for counterplay. The game would be completely even.

23. .... Bxb2?

But Black has a rush of blood to the head. This is an attempt to exploit White's weak back rank. After the initial shock, I managed to put together a defence.

24. Nxb2 Qxc2
25. Qf2 Qb1+
26. Qf1 Qxb2
27. Rxd5

I think this is what Black missed - the fact that his knight on d5 was still loose. However, it is not over yet - for his piece, Black has two pawns, the a-pawn could be a monster, and there is potential for strong rook play.

27. ...  f6
28. Bf4 e5
29. Bh6 Rfc8?

Another pawn goes.



30. Rxf6 Rab8
31. Rc5

I was a bit nervous about letting his rook through to the seventh rank. Of course if now 31. .. Rxc5 then 32. Rf8+ mates.

31. ....  Rd8
32. Rc7 Qb1
33. Kg1 Qxd3?

The last blunder but I would like to think that the game was won anyway.

34. Rf8+

If now 34. .. Rxf8 (the only move) then 35. Qxd3, so Black resigned.

This was a topsy turvy game where I went astray but built up an advantage and then Black defending into an equal position. It was my fortune that Black then went for an unsound combination.

Game 57 - club match. Swale v Hastings

Swale vs Hastings - En Passant Cup - Board Three
Thursday 9 March 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: D. Cosens (135)

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 d6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2 e6
6. O-O Ne7

A different deployment of the knight to the usual Nf6.

7. Qe1 Nbc6
8. d3 Nd4
9. Bd1



This is all standard stuff of the system that I play. The queen is moved to e1 to prepare to come to the kingside - the bishop drops back to d1 to protect the c2 point - and White prepares to eject the knight with Ne2 and c3. The computer now suggests 9. ...O-O with a completely equal position.

9. ....   Nxf3

A slight surprise. Black voluntarily exchanges the knight.

10. Bxf3 Rb8

The plan seems to be to advance b5-b4. Usually I would ignore this but I was concerned by the bishop on g7. Black's unusual deployment of his king's knight had kept the diagonal open and there may be threats towards b2. So I decided to prevent b5.

11. a4 O-O
12. Kh1 Nc6

I could sense this knight was replacing its colleague at d4 so I decide to pre-empt it by withdrawing the bishop. But getting on with development with 13. Be3 would have been better as Black now takes over the initiative.

13. Bd1 a6!
14. Qg3 Nd4
15. Ne2 Nc6

A crafty withdrawal, so I decide to keep an eye on both the b4 and d4 squares.

16. c3 d5!

The computer considers 16. .. f5 to be better. Nevertheless I was not happy here. My position did not look good with the pawns not doing a great deal, the d3 pawn looking especially weak, the queen stuck out on a limb, and both bishops on the back rank.



I decide to relocate the bishop with an idea of bringing a rook to d1 if the d-file gets opened.

17. Bc2 d4

The computer does not like this and now states the position as equal. It advises Bd7 and Rc8 before committing to the centre.

18. Bd2 Bd7
19. Rab1

A move which protects b2, moves the rook off the diagonal from g7, and defends along the b-file. I did not like 19. cxd4 but the exchanges lead to an equal position. (e.g. 19. .. Nxd4 20. Nxd4 Bxd4 21. Bc3 Bxc3 22. bxc3 Qa5 23. Qe1)

19. ....    b5
20. Qf2

My instinct was against opening files and after 20. axb5 axb5 21. Ra1 I was also worried about 21. .. b4 22. c4 b3 23. Bd1 breaking the connection between the rooks and having very little space. The knight in particular is gasping for air and the queen is cut off from the queenside.

Then after 23. .. Ra8 24. Rxa8 Qxa8 25. Bxb3 I saw 25. ... Rb8 getting the pawn back with pressure. (26. Nc1 Qa1).

But instead of 25. Bxb3 White has 25. Nc1! ... taking the pawn with the knight! If 25. .. Qa1 26. Nxb3 Qxb2 27. Bc1 Qxc3 28. Nxc5 - White is a pawn up. Black has some compensation, by way of White's muddled pieces, but White is better.

Bringing the queen back was aimed at deterring dxc3 because the c5 pawn would need to be defended.

20. ...    b4

I now considered 21. c4 but saw it loses a pawn to 21. ....  b3 22. Bb1 Nb4. Then 23. a5 Nxd3 24. Qg3 Nb4 25. Bxb3 Qxa5 and White is not happy. White's best move might be 21. Rfc1 - keeping the rooks connected for when the bishop has to drop back. Instead I decide to defend the a-pawn and risk letting the rook into the position.

21. Ra1 bxc3
22. bxc3 Rb2
23. Rfc1



I expected that the Black queen would now move somewhere to allow the other rook to take place behind its comrade. To my surprise, Black now abandons his queenside initiative and opens up on the other side. However he now succeeds in gaining a winning position with a deadly attack.

23. ...   f5!?
24. e5

Closing the diagonal - I was glad to get that opportunity.

24. .....   g5

24. .... Qa5 or 24. .. Qc7 would still be better. I now get the chance to ease a bit of the tension in the centre.

25. cxd4 cxd4
26. Nxd4 gxf4
27. Nxc6 Bxc6
28. Bc3

Now 28. ... Rxc2!? is interesting. With 29.Qxc2 f3! 30. gxf3 Bxf3+ 31. Kg1 - or 29. Rxc2 f3! 30. gxf3 Qxd3 - there is nothing forcing but White's king would have a very uncomfortable time.

28. ....   Rb7
29. Qxf4 Qd5



I'm a pawn up but have to tread very carefully.

30. Rg1 Kh8

Better is 30. .. Rc8 with the threat of Bxa4 and looking at the loose bishops nicely lined up.

31. Qd4

Again I was pleased with this - I thought life would be easier without the queens on the board.

31. ....   Bh6
32. Qxd5 Bxd5
33. Rge1??

A blunder in mutual time trouble. My plan was to place this rook on e2 and then allow the king to g1 to break that annoying pin. (White should have played 33. Bd4).

But 33. .. Rc8 wins a piece!! (34. Ra3 Bf8).

33. ...  Rg8??

And Black misses it - phew! He continues to focus on the g2 spot.

34. Re2 Rc7
35. Bd4

Black now wins a pawn with 35. .. Rxg2! then 36. Rxg2 Rxc2 37. Rag1 Rd2 - and with White tied up Black could keep up the pressure.

35. ..... Rcg7?

Fortunately for me Black again misses his chance. I saw 35. ... R8c8 and wondered if that won but 36. Bd1 Rc1 37. Re1 seems to hold.

36. Rg1 Rg4
37. Bb6?

The ending of errors continues - this is the wrong square. My intention was to follow this up at some stage with a5, but the correct move is 37. Bc5 with the possibility of Be7 defending the h4 square.



Black can now win the game with 37. ... Bf4! to attack the h2 pawn. (Had Black played 37. Bc5 he could now defend with Be7).

White has no defence.
- 38. Bf2 Bxg2+ 39. Rxg2 Rxg2 40. Bg3 Rxe2
- 38. Rf2 Bxh2 39. Rgf1 (39. Kxh2 Rh4 mate) Rxg2 40. Rxg2 Rxg2 41. Bb3 Bb7 and a deadly discovered check is on the way.
- 38. Bd1 Rh4 39. Rge1 Rxh4+ 40. Kg1 Bxg2 41. Rxg2 Rgxg2+.

For the third time Black lets White off the hook.

37. ....   f4?
38. Rf2

Intending to defend against Black's f3 with g3 or bringing the White bishop to f3..

38. ...   Bg7
39. Bd1! Rg5
40. d4 Bf8

Now the d8 square is available for the White bishop - but I was so focused on tightening up the defence that I did not notice. I am just trying to stay on the board.

41. Bf3 Bxf3
42. Rxf3 Rf5

So we can now breathe again. Meanwhile my team are 3-2 behind in the match so a draw is no good. I'm a pawn up and must try to play for the win, so first we activate the rook and plan to come to c6.

43. Rc1

While Black was thinking, I now saw the possible manoeuvre of the bishop to f6 via d8.

43. ....    Rfg5

I rejected 44. Rxf4 because of 44. .. Rxg2 - overlooking that 45. Rxf8 then wins a piece.
But I am heading for that f6 square.

44. Bd8 h5??
45. Bxg5

Black makes the final blunder and called it a day. Later on while going through the game, I became aware how close I was to defeat - but my luck had held. A roller coaster game but now eight games in a row undefeated.

Swale v Hastings

Keith Hyde (167) 0-1 Paul Kelly (171)
Trefor Owens (167) 0-1 James Wheeler (151)
David Page (135) 0-1 Marc Bryant (141)
Keith Nevols (134) 1-0 Derek Cosens (135)
Ian Lappin (125) 1-0 Mason Woodhams (121)
Dennis Simpson (105) 1-0 Umberton Jozwiak (78)

Swale 3-3 Hastings

Game 56 - club match. Swale v Maidstone

Swale vs Maidstone - En Passant Cup - Board Three
Thursday 2 March 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: D. Smith (132)

We needed to win this match to secure qualification from the group.

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 d6
3. f4 e5

Black decides to answer my Closed Sicilian with a rigid set up. I did not really like this for Black as it weakens the d5 square, presents a backward pawn on d6, and could close the centre. Now 4. Bb5+ is possible but I decided to keep this bishop back.

4. d3 Nf6

Of course 4. .. exf4 5. Bxf4 is good for White.

5. Nf3 Bg4
6. Be2 Bxf3?!

Exchanging this bishop so early did surprise me. Black's plan is to get his knight to the d4 square - I often get that in this system but it is relatively easy to eject.

7. Bxf3 Nc6
8. O-O Nd4

The computer now suggests 9. fxe5 dxe5. I had this option a few times but rejected it for two reasons - firstly, his pawn on d6 restricts is development and I wanted to keep it there, and, secondly, I wanted to keep open the option of a kingside attack, and f4-f5 might be useful.



9. Kh1 Qd7

The b6 square would be a much better post for the queen with the option of a queenside offensive.

10. Ne2 Nxe2
11. Qxe2 h6

Now I am asking - where is his king going? One of the beauties of this opening is that I can attack on either side of the board - but I need to know where his king will be heading for first. I continue to develop while I wait for Black to make his decision.

12. Be3 Be7
13. c3!

A move I was quite proud of. I am now thinking of d4 and opening lines towards the centre - and long term the possibility of rerouting the white squared bishop to the b3 square. In case I am thinking of opening the centre, Black decides to exit his king and answer the question I was asking.

13. ....   O-O

Now I know where his king is - I can start the attack I referred to earlier.

14. f5!

The plan is simple - g4, g5, Rg1 and move everything towards the king. If now 14. .. d5 I was going to ignore that and play 15. g4.

14. ....  Kh7?!
15. g4 g5

Black puts up the barricades. As I can't now use the g-file, I decide I will use the h-file instead.



16. Kg2 Kg7
17. Rh1 Nh7
18. Qd2 f6

Well, this is a weird way to defend. Black boxes in his own knight and weakens the white squares around his king.

For the last few moves, Black could have thought about a counter attack based around d5.

Now the earlier c3 move comes in handy.

19. Bd1!

Heading for the b3-g8 diagonal - this is getting very similar to my last game with this opening (Game 54). By now the old problem (time trouble) was resurfacing - I had 20 minutes for the next 16 moves.

19. ...    Rh8
20. h4

20. Bb3 straight away, to prevent d5, might have been more accurate.

20. ....    Rab8

This told me that he was intending to counter with b5-b5. I had better get on with my own attack.

21. Bb3 Qd8
22. hxg5 Nxg5
23. Rh5



Planning to pile up on the h-file.

23. ....   Ra8?

But what's this? I had expected 23 . .. b5 with which I intended 24. Bd5. Black told me afterwards that he thought I could never break through and so he now just shuffles his rook to-and-fro. This gives me wonderful time to build up.

24. Rah1 Rb8
25. Kg3 Ra8?

Playing b5 or even Rh7 and Qh8 was necessary.

26. Qh2 Rb8

It is now a forced win.

27. Rxh6 Qe8

If 27 .... Rxh6 then 28 Qxh6 mate.

28. Bxg5 fxg5
29. Rh7+!



I think this was the move that Black had overlooked. If 29. .. Kf8 then 30. Qh6 mate and if 29 ... Kf6 then 30. Qh6= will mate.

29. ...   Rxh7
30. Qxh7+

Black now resigns - as it is mate on either g6 or g8.

My unbeaten run had now stretched to seven, and we had a big win for the match as well.

Swale v Maidstone

Trefor Owens (167) 1/2-1/2 Robert Lane (157)
Keith Hyde (167) 1-0 David Heath (145)
David Page (135) 1-0 Ian Clark (141)
Keith Nevols (134) 1-0 Douglas Smith (132)
Peter Blundell (120) 1-0 Nigel Osina (98)
Tyrone Jefferies (116) 1-0 Robert Cox (63)

Swale 5.5-0.5 Maidstone