Game 65 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Final Group Round One

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round One
Thursday 27 April 2017
White: I. Lappin (125) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

And so into the final group - five more games and there were three of us in the hunt.
My opponent was well known for his unusual opening play so I had no idea what to expect.

1. g3 f5

So I decide to convert the game into a Dutch defence

2. d3 Nf6
3. Bg5 e6
4. Nc3 Be7
5. h3 Nc6

With a white pawn on d4, this move can be difficult to make - but no problems here.

6. a3 d6
7. Bg2 O-O
8. Bc1



A few tempi ahead, it was time to think of a plan. I decide to advance on the kingside - although it may have been wiser to see where White will be putting his king. So perhaps d5 with d4 and e5 advancing in the centre would have been an idea.

8. ....  Qe8
9. b3 Qg6
10. e3 e5
11. Nge2 a6

This was to prevent Nb5 but with White shadow boxing from a distance I was already getting frustrated.

12. Bb2 Be6
13. Qd2 Qf7

To consider options of g5 and/or e4 (after d4) without allowing Nf4.

14. O-O-O Rab8



White has set up a sort of reverse hedgehog defence - the pawns looking very spiky - and has castled so I can start to think of a plan. However 14. ... Rab8 was not the best move. It was played to allow me to move the knight - but 14. .. d5 is more energetic. The game is now equal and we now go into some exchanges.

15. d4 exd4
16. Nxd4 Bd7
17. Nde2 Ne5
18. Nd5 Nxd5
19. Bxd5 Be6
20. Bxe6 Qxe6



21. Qc3! is good - hitting the c7 pawn and threatening f4. Black has to play 21. ... Qf7 22. Qxc7 Rfc8 23. Qa5 Qxb3 getting the pawn back. After 24. Qd5+ Qxd5 25. Rxd5 he has the advantage.

21. Qd5 Qxd5
22. Rxd5

The position is level but White now has the option of a kingside initiative. My pieces are not so well placed so I decide to make some adjustments.

22. ...  c6
23. Rd1 Kf7
24. f4 Nd7
25. Nd4 g6
26. g4!

White's intention is to open up the kingside for his rooks to oppose the black king.

26. ....  c5
27. Nf3 Ke6

A case of active defence - by getting the king out of there - and connecting the rooks along the eighth rank.

28. g5 b5

Now trying some active play of my own.

29. h4 Rg8
30. Rde1!



The computer prefers 30. h5 (although that is coming) but this move is strong, threatening e4 and to make play against the king. I thought that things are now getting grim and I've got to get those bishops off. First, e4 must be prevented.

30 .    d5
31. h5 Bf8
32. hxg6 hxg6
33. Rd1 Bg7

I was relieved to regain some control of the h8 square and maybe some thoughts of using the h-file myself.

34. Rh2 Bxb2
35. Kxb2 Rbe8
36. Rhd2 Nb6
37. Ne5

I was getting some sense of hanging on a cliff. The position is just about holding.

37. ...   c4
38. Rh2 Nc8

39. Rh6 Ne7 40. Rdh1 was a worry, but could I open a counter attack against White's king?

39. Nc6 Ne7
40. Nd4+ Kd6
41. Rh6 Ref8

I considered 41. .. Rh8 42. Rdh1 Rxh6 but 43. gxh6 and a later h7 was a concern. The text was to defend the f5 pawn and allow the knight to move.



42. Nf3 Rh8
43. Ne5 Ke6??

In time trouble, and after balancing on the ledge for so long, at last Black cracked. 43. .. Rxh6 was the only move, although, as I said, 44. gxh6 worried me.

But now pawns topple and the game is lost.

44. Nxg6 Nxg6
45. Rxg6+ Ke7
46. Rxd5 cxb3
47. Kxb3

So down to the last hope. If I can get the rooks buzzing around the white king, there would be a small chance of perpetual check. There would also be a bigger chance of Black getting checkmated.

47. ...     Rh3
48. Re5+ Kd7
49. Rxa6 Rc8
50. Rae6 Rh2
51. Re7+ Kd6
52. R5e6+ Kd5



53. c3?!

After 53. Rf6 then 54. Re5 mate is unstoppable.

53. ...   Rh1
54. Re5+ Kd6
55. Re8 Rc4
56. Rxb5 Rc6
57. Ree5 Kc7

Both of us were low on time and now in my last five minutes I could stop writing down the moves. My rooks kept buzzing to the king, and White carefully guarded against the perpetual. Several moves later, we got to the following position.



White now defended the threat against the c-pawn with Rb3 - and, to my general amazement, I played Re4 checkmate.

A very fortunate victory.

Game 64 - club match. Swale v Beckenham

Swale vs Beckenham - En Passant Cup - Semi-final - Board Three
Thursday 20 April 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: M. Maurant (129)

The semi-final, and we were at home. This is the first time I had played in a match with an arbiter present!

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 d6

This is known as the Ruy Lopez Old Steinitz Defence - a solid defence - and the second consecutive time I had faced it. So this time I try a different line.

4. d4 exd4
5. Nxd4 Bd7
6. Nc3

Not knowing much about this opening I decide to develop calmly. It didn't look too threatening to me.

6. ...  g6

I gave some thought an immediate 7. Be3 with the idea of Qd2 and castles queenside, but decided to just play naturally.

7. O-O Bg7
8. Be3 Nge7



Throughout Black had avoided the usual Ruy Lopez move ... a6. It was time to think of a plan. Aware of my seeming inability to win dull even positions, I decided to mix it up a bit by throwing the f-pawn forward - a move which is becoming very common in my games. The computer recommends 9. a3 to wait and see and also to protect against a future excursion with Nb4.

9. f4

Castling for Black now makes for an even game. Instead we go into some exchanges.

9. ......  Nxd4
10. Bxd7+ Qxd7
11. Bxd4 Bxd4
12. Qxd4 O-O

This reminded me of the story where the great Victor Korchnoi asked an arbiter in a match if he could castle when his rook is being attacked. He said it had never come up before. Well, the answer is yes and here is an example.

No bishops on the board and some spaces around the black king. I figured I had a small edge so it was time to try to unsettle my opponent.

13. Rf3!

I quite like this move showing aggressive intent. But time trouble strikes again - I am now down to 41 minutes for the next 22 moves. (The time control is 75 minutes for 35 moves and then 15 more minutes each for the rest of the game). I think the problem could be that I am so concerned about being blasted away in 20 moves that I spend too much time examining the early positions.

13. ....  Nc6

Now where shall I put Her Majesty? The c4 seemed best but a little exposed. I decided to retreat while I thought about what to do next.

14. Qd2 Rae8

I considered 15. f5 with the idea of a later Qg5 or Qh6 but did not want to give up the e5 square for a black knight. Instead I went for the best looking move, a good square for the knight and to threaten a fork. But now only 31 minutes left to reach move 35.

15. Nd5 f6?!

Better is 15. .. Qd8. This allows a slight weakness.

16. Qc3 Qg7
17. Qc4

17. Qb3 winning the pawn on b7 is an option but it also gives up the pawn on e4.

17. ....   Kh8



The computer recommends 18. Re1 and regards the position as being completely equal. I agreed and decided to try for an advantage by unsettling that knight on c6.

18. b4??

After I played this, I saw with horror that the rook on a1 was undefended and Black could now take over the initiative with 18. .. f5. Grumbling internally I set to work to find a rescue mission.

18. ...   f5

I thought there was only one move but another idea is 19. e5?! dxe5 20. Rd1 although Black has the pleasant choice of 20 ... e4 or 20. .. exf4 - remaining a pawn up either way.

19. Re1

I examined 19. .. Qd4+ 20. Qxd4 Nxd4 21. Rf2. Black has 21. .. Rxe4 and I cannot bag a pawn with 22. Rxe4 fxe4 23. Nxc7 - not because of 23. .. Rc8 (when White could play 24. Rd2! evening up the game) - but because of 23. .. e3! and White is close to resignation.

Much to my relief, Black did not play the winning move and, by then defending the d4 square, we were back to equality.

19. ...  Rf7?
20. c3 Nd8
21. Rfe3

With 13 minutes left for 12 moves (my opponent had 23 minutes left) I was feeling a bit happier and could see this petering out to a draw - probably a fair result considering my earlier blunder.

21. ...  c6
22. exf5

Black must now play 22. .. Rxe3 23. Nxe3 gxf5. Then 24. Qd3 and White can win a pawn either with 24. .. Qf8 25. Qd4+ and Qxa7 or 24. ... Qf6 25. Nxf5! Qxf5 26. Qxf5 Rxf5 27. Re8+ Kg7 28. Rxe8.

Somewhere along the line, Black miscalculates and blunders.



22. .... cxd5??
23. Rxe8+ Rf8

24. Qc8 wins the game. Instead, stunned by the sudden turnaround of events, I decide to consolidate to a smaller but durable lead.

24. Rxf8+ Qxf8
25. Qd4+ Kg8
26. Qxd5+ Kg7
27. fxg6 hxg6
28. g3

Insurance against any perpetual check accidents.

28. ....  Qf6
29. Qc4 Nc6
30. b5 Ne7
31. Qc7 Kf8

Simple from here. Remove the black queenside pawns and then sacrifice the exchange to get down to a winning king and pawn ending.



32. Qb8+ Kf7
33. Qxb7 d5
34. Qxa7 Qd6
35. Qxe7+ Qxe7
36. Rxe7+ Kxe7
37. a4

Black now resigned.

We lost the match by 2-4 and our good tournament run was complete.

Swale v Beckenham

Keith Hyde (167) 1/2-1/2 Alan Sands (173)
Trefor Owens (167) 1/2-1/2 Jon Griffiths (147)
David Page (135) 0-1 Adrian Davey (138)
Keith Nevols (134) 1-0 Malcolm Mourant (129)
Ian Lappin (125) 0-1 Tony Foreman (128)
Dennis Simpson (105) 0-1 AJW Davey (125)

Swale 2-4 Beckenham

Game 63 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Round Eleven

Swale Club Championship - Round Eleven
Thursday 6 April 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: D. Marsh (99)

The final round of the championship. My place in the final group was secure but I needed a win to keep pace with the top two. My opponent had to win to achieve his own place in the final group.

1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. Bb5 d6

This is the Ruy Lopez Old Steinitz Defence. Black intends to develop one bishop by blocking in the other. A very solid but unambitious defence based on 3. .. d6 which was popularised by Steinitz (hence the name).

Now 4. d4 is the most common move. Black could reply with 4. .. exd4 5. Nxd4 Bd7 and White can choose between 6. Nc3 or 6. O-O but the most popular Black response is 4. .. Bd7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. O-O. There is a small trap here with 6. .. Be7 7. Re1 O-O when 8. Bxc6 Bxc6 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qxd8 and then 11. Nxe5 wins a pawn.

White's second most common move is the one I play.

4. O-O Nf6
5. Re1

Another option is 5. d4 but in unfamiliar waters I did not want to open things up before everything is protected. I also did not like 5. Nc3 blocking the prospect of a c3-d4 centre attack.

5. ....  a6
6. Ba4 b5
7. Bb3 Be7
8. h3

To defend against Bg4.

8. ...  O-O



Now my next few moves are just to develop slowly.

9. c3 Bb7
10. d3 h6
11. Nbd2 Na5
12. Bc2 Nc6

It might have been more in the system of the Ruy Lopez to play 12. .. c5 as I have gained two tempi. I continue the knight on its journey.

13. Nf1 Nh7!?
14. Ne3 Ng5

Black's plan seemed to be to exchange pieces.

15. Nf5 Nxf3
16. Qxf3 Bg5

Now the knight is quite well-placed

17. Qg3 Qf6



Now I gave some thought to the move 18. f4 - the aim being to open the f-file while his queen was standing there and to exploit my slight advantage in space. After 18. .. exf4 19. Bxf4 Bxf4 20. Qxf4 I could not see how I could take further advantage.

I also looked at 18. Bd1 to answer 18. .. Bc8 with 19. Bg4 but after 19. .. Bxc1 20. Raxc1 Be6 Black is doing fine.

The best move might have been 18. Bb3 and then if 18. . Na5 to strike with 19. f4. Then 19. .. exf4 20. Bxf4 Bxf4 21. Qxf4 Bxb3 22. axb3 Bc8 23. Rf1 Bxf5 24. Qxf5 Qxf5 25. Rxf5 with an even position.

I had in mind my previous championship game where I could not get out of an even position and drew, and so I needed to mix this up somehow. So I decided to prepare f4.

18. Rf1 Bxc1
19. Raxc1 Ne7
20. Nxe7 Qxe7
21. f4

More pieces had gone and already I was thinking this could be a draw.

21. .......exf4
22. Rxf4 Qg5
23. Qf2

Avoiding the exchange of queens. I figured that my only chance of a win was to build up on the only open file.

23. ....   Bc8
24. Kh1

The white bishop needs to come into the game. With this in mind, then 24. h4 Qe7 25. d4 is an improvement.

24. ...  Be6
25. Rf1 Qh5

Of course, after 25. .. Bxa2 the bishop is trapped by 26. b3. Black can get two, or even three pawns for the piece, but that gives White time to attack on the f7 point.



Now I get the time to settle and advance slowly and hope something comes up.

26. Bd1 Qg6
27. a3 f6
28. Be2 Kh8
29. d4 Rfe8
30. Re1 Bc4
31. Rg4

31. Bg4 might have been more accurate. I want to try and make use of those white squares around the Black king and continue to move pieces about.

31. ...  Qf7
32. Bf3 Be6
33. Rh4 Qf8
34. Bh5 Re7
35. Bg6 Bf7



I am preparing to call it a night. Black is set up well and I could not see a way to break through. Indeed a well-timed pawn to c5 could isolate or weaken my pawn on e4 and pass the initiative over to Black.

36. Bxf7 Qxf7
37. Rf4 Qe8
38. Re3 d5
39. Qe2

Black could play 39. .. Rd8 and offer the draw - which I might have accepted.

Instead, aware of the fact that he needs a win, he lashes out and gambles.

39. ....  g5?

A surprise. Now comes seven captures in a row which end with me a pawn up and the better position.

40. Rxf6 Rxe4
41. Rxe4 Qxe4?
42. Qxe4?

An oversight. 42. Qh5! wins very easily. Black should have retaken on e4 with the pawn.

42. ....   dxe4
43. Rxh6+ Kg7
44. Re6 Rf8
45. Kg1 Rf4



46. g3?!

The curse of the rook ending. 46. Rxa6 is simply better.

46. ...  Rf3
47. Kg2 Rd3

Black would have had better chances of saving the game with 47. .. Re3 hanging on the e-pawn.

48. Rxe4 Rd2+
49. Kf3 Rxb2
50. Re7+ Kf6
51. Rxc7 Rb3
52. Rc6+ Ke7



As I now had less than five minutes on my clock, I stopped writing down the moves - as the rules allow. With my two pawn lead I managed to advance in the centre and win the game.