Thursday 4 May 2017
White: M. Wood (139) - Black: K. Nevols (134)
From one cup semi-final to another cup semi-final - and again we had an arbiter.
1. e4 d5
The old faithful.
2. d4
The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. I don't know a lot about this so might as well take the pawn.
2. .... dxe4
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. f3 exf3
Many years ago - in the early 1990s - I had two devastating defeats in this line. I could not remember anything about it so just decided to develop normally.
5. Qxf3?!
But this is unusual. 5. Nxf3 is the main line where I was considering 5. .. Bg4 or 5. .. c6. Instead White offers a second pawn. Apparently this is called the Ryder Gambit. After 5. ... Qxd4 6. Be3 Black must consider where to put the queen and White can build up play with Rd1 and Nb5.
I did not like the look of all this and so decide to be discreet and defend both the h1-a8 diagonal and protect against Nb5.
5. .... c6
6. h3
White insists I take the pawn - OK, I say to myself, if this is a mistake you will have to show me why.
6. .... Qxd4
7. Be3 Qd8
I decide on a gentle retreat - now that I have the d8-a5 diagonal open to escape if necessary.
8. Bc4 e6
This blocks the bishop but it can't get to g4 or f5 and I want to get developed and set up a defence as soon as possible. After all, I am two pawns up and, if I can survive the opening and middle game, I would have good chances in the ending.
9. Nge2 Bd6
10. O-O-O Qe7
11. g4
White must move quickly to show compensation for the sacrificed material. Castling kingside did not look very safe at the moment and so I decide to continue development and keep my options open.
11. ... Nd5
12. Bd2 Nd7
13. Rhe1?
13. Ne4 is an improvement but then 13. .. Ne5 would allow White to exchange some pieces. But this move is a mistake as Black can dance the knights around to gain some more material.
13. .... Ne5
14. Qe4 Nf6
15. Qd4 Nf3
16. Qd3 Nxe1
17. Bxe1
I am now the exchange and two pawns up - and begin to get very nervous. I ought to be able to win from here but White has well developed pieces - whereas four of mine are still on their starting squares. He must now launch an attack while I finish bringing my guys into action.
17. ... Nd5
18. Ne4 Be5
19. Bf2 b6
To protect the c5 square from any intruders. I did not want Bc5 and then a future Nd6.
20. Bb3 Bb7
21. a3 O-O
Castled at last. Now I was feeling a bit more content.
22. c4 Nf4
23. Qe3 Nxe2+
24. Qxe2 Bf4+
25. Kb1 c5
Closing the diagonal of the white bishop and opening that of my own.
26. Bc2 Rfd8
26. .. Bxe4? 27. Qxe4 loses a piece. So grabbing a file can't be bad.
27. Rf1 Qc7
28. Be1!
Planning to come to c3 and making my king feel uncomfortable. I was a bit concerned about how White's pieces were nicely circling for an attack.
28. ... Rd7
29. Qf2
I gave some thought here to 29. ... Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Rd1+ 31. Kc2 Rad8 and should have played it, but I overlooked that after 32. Qxf4 I had 32. .. Qxf4 33. Rxf4 Rxe1. I would have exchanged off another set and activated another piece. But White's pressure was beginning to nerve me.
29. ..... e5?!
30. Qh4 h6?
Better was 30. .. Qd8. This just weakens the kingside. White sacs another pawn.
31. g5?! Bxe4
32. Bxe4 Bxg5
33. Qg4 Rad8
Now the exchange and three pawns up but Blacks bishop moves to an excellent square.
34. Bd5
This more or less forces me to give the exchange back but I would be four pawns up.
34. .... Rxd5
35. cxd5 Rxd5
36. Bc3
The time control had passed and the move 36. .. Bd8 caught my eye. Instead it is time for the blunder of the season.
36. ...... Bf4???
37. Rxf4
Of course! I had simply not seen that the e5 pawn was pinned against the g7 square. I had been uneasy about this game ever since I was well ahead and my fears had proved to be well grounded. I had four pawns for a bishop and am fighting for the draw.
37. .... Qd6
38. Re4
38. Rf1 might have been more ambitious. I am now able to force a draw.
38. .... Rd1+
39. Kc2 Qd3+
40. Kb3
With perpetual check I can force a draw with Qd5+ and Qd3+. Playing Ka4 would lose to b5+. However in this four board match I heard we were 2-0 down so I had to win - hence I sac a pawn to try to get the king out in the open.
40. .. f5
41. Qxf5 c4+
42. Kb4 Qd6+
43. Kxc4 Qd5+
44. Kb4
My time was running low. I was playing over various lines in my head but could not see how I could trap the King into a mating net.
44. ..... a5+
45. Ka4 Qc6+
46. Kb3
We were now 3-0 down so the match was lost. I decide to take the draw.
46. .... Qd5+
47. Ka4 Qc6+
48. Kb3 Qd5+
49. Kc2 Qd3+
50. Kb3 Qd5+
Draw
I felt I may have missed a win with those moves at the end but having gone through with the computer I see that is not the case. My unbeaten run was now 17 games and three months - but this was not a game I was happy with.
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