Game 77 - County U-160 League - Middlesex vs Kent

Middlesex v Kent - Board One
Saturday 28 October 2017
White: P. Kennelly (158) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

My first match for the Kent under-160s and, through a leap in grading, I found myself on top board - feeling a bit of a fraud. The game took place at Willesden's working club, tucked away in Brent, north west London. I had been forewarned about parking problems but had not bargained for the amount of traffic after coming off the M25.

Fortunately I found a parking space quite quickly, walked rapidly to the venue, and was just five minutes late.

1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. d4

White chooses a system where he delays Nc3 and places a pawn on c4 instead of a bishop. The advantage of this is that he can consider a well-timed d5 to break up Black's centre. The disadvantage is that his king's bishop struggles to find a role.

3. ....  c6

3. .. Nc6 might have been better but I stick to the set-up I am familiar with.

4. Nf3 Nf6
5. c4 Qa5+
6. Bd2 Qc7

I glanced at 6. .. Qb6 but could not see much to get excited about after 7. Bc3. There is a neat trap with 7. c5 as after 7. .. Qxb2??? 8. Bc3 traps the queen.

7. Nc3 Bf5
8. Be2 e6



This is the defence I am familiar with and all along thinking what is the difference between a pawn on c4 and a bishop? For one thing, I can't stick a knight on d5. On the other hand, he can't defend the pawn on d4 with a pawn.

9. Bg5 Nbd7

I need to get the king castled in case of a d5 attempt to break up the centre.

10. O-O Bd6
11. Bh4

A relocation to exchange bishops.

11. ...   O-O
12. Bg3 Bxg3

I felt this was forced as I did not want to risk a piece landing on e5. But Black could try 12. .. Ne4 with 13. Bxd6 Qxd6 14. Bd3 or 13. Nxe4 Bxe4 14. Bd3 - each case looking equal.

13. hxg3 Rad8

The target is now the pawn on d4. The plan is to play the rooks into the middle - maybe double-up on the d-file.

But here, 13. .. e5 is interesting. 14. dxe5 Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Qb3 Qc7 and Black might have a slight edge. Or 14. d5 Rfe8. Or 14. Nh4 Bg6 15. Nxg6 hxg6. Perhaps the centre would get cleared and a quick draw result.

White now decides to move the queen forward to begin a slow creeping move.

14. Qd2 Rfe8

Now I am thinking of e5.

15. Nh4

I automatically drop the bishop back. I had seen 15. .. Nc5 with the possibility of coming to e4 but this just looked flashy. I did not want to end up with a loose pawn on f5.

15. ...   Bg6
16. Nxg6 hxg6
17. Qe3



Eyeing up the pawn on a7. I looked at various combinations with d5 to try to see if I could trap the queen. For example, d5 exd5; Qxa7 Nb6; Qa3 Ra8; - but could not see anything. Aware that White might play around a 'smash-and-grab' how should I defend the pawn? I did not like 17. .. b6 because 18. Bf3 looked good. Instead I went for a move to defend the pawn and also prevent d5.

17. ...  Nb6
18. Rad1

We could go into an endgame with 18. .. e5 19. dxe5 Rxe1 20. Rxe1 Qxe5 21. Qxe5 Rxe5.

18. ....  Rd7
19. Qe5 Red8

I did not want to exchange queens. 19 ... Qxe5 20. dxe5 results in a wonderful square for White.

20. b3

To free up the bishop from the defence of the c4 pawn.

20. ...    Nc8

A redeployment - and a sign that I was running out of ideas.

21. f4 Ne7
22. g4

Now I was getting a bit worried. Let's continue the build-up along the d-file.

22. ....  Rd6
23. Kf2!?

A surprise! I thought 23. Rd2 was better. White instead plans to defend the centre pawns with the king and start an attack down the h-file. An amazingly imaginative idea.

I had a big think - and saw that I could defend down the kingside with Kf8 and Ng8. Then I saw I could force his King onto e3. And then another idea hit me ... 

23. ....  Qd7
24. Ke3




This is it!! Now my question was - can I play 24. ... Nf5+? Then 25. gxf5 exf5 - with the threat down the e-file.
He has to move his king or queen.

If 26. Kf2 Re8 27. Qc5 Qe6 28. Kg3 Qe3+ and then either 29. Rf3 Qxe2! (I had overlooked that) 30 Qxa7 with equal material but good play or 29. Kh2 Qxc3 30. Qxd6 Rxe2 where Black has a pawn and an attack for the exchange.

What about the other way? I considered 26. Kd2 Re8 27. Qa5 b6 28. Qa3 Rxd4+ 29. Kc2 and nothing. But I did not consider, after 26. Kd2, the stronger 26. .. Re6 when 27. Qa5 b6 28. Qa4 Qxd4+ (a better piece to take on d4 with) 29. Qa4 Qxd4+ 30. Kc2 Rxe2+ 31. Nxe2 Qe4+ and once the knight on e2 goes, Black has two pawns and an attack for the exchange.

What if the queen moves? 26. Qa5 would be a better move. 26. .. b6 (not 26. .. Rxd4? 27. Qxd8+!) 27. Qa3 Rxd4 gets a second pawn for the piece then 28.Qc1 adds to the defence.

After much thought, I decided against Nf5+.

So what about Ned5+? After 24. .. Ned5+ 25. cxd5 exd5 26. Qg5 Re8+ 27. Kf2? Qe7, Black threatens Qe3 mate.
If 28. f5 then Qxe2+! If 28. Rd3 then 28. .. Re6 gives good pressure. And if 28. Ke1 Qe3! and White's only move would be 29. Rf3 when Black could force a draw with 29. .. Qg1+ 30. Rf1 (30. Kd2? Rxe2+ 31. Nxe2 Ne4+) Qe3.

But after 26. ... Re8+ White could play 27. Kf3! when after 27. .. Qe7 there is 28. f5 - no worries about knight forks in that line.

So, if White plays calmly, he can easily hold off the attack and come out a piece for a pawn ahead.

The computer in the above position recommends 24. .. b6 with an even position. I just decide to threaten the sacrifices.

24. .      Re8
25. Kf2

White, having also seen the sacrifice possibility, decides to discreetly retreat, so I renew the attack in the middle.

25. ....    Rd8
26. Ke3 Re8

By now a bit short of time, and with a long journey home, I decided to force the draw. A satisfactory result as my debut at such a high level.

Game 76 - club match. Snodland v Swale

Snodland vs Swale - Fuller Cup - Board One
Thursday 26 October 2017
White: G. Hollands (155) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

My opponent is a well known strong player - he is local to us and has come along to some of our quickplay events. In our simul against Matthew Sadler, he was the only one of 14 of us not to lose with a good draw.

Our swords had crossed before (Game 3) when I lost a drawn game and was outplayed in an ending. So I knew I would be up against it with a tough battle.

1. d4 f5
2. c4 Nf6
3. g3

Adopting a quiet approach against the Dutch and taking us into the main line.

3. ....  e6
4. Bg2 d6
5. Nc3 Be7
6. Nf3 O-O
7. O-O a5

The recommendation by Simon Williams GM - taking time out to hold up White's queenside counterplay. Another possibility is 7. .. Qe8 planning to come to the kingside.

8. Re1 Ne4
9. Qc2 Nxc3
10. Qxc3

All one of the main lines - Black swaps knights to delay White's e4.



Now I had used up my memory of the theory. I remembered that Black should try to meet e4 with e5.

10. ....  Bf6?!

The move Simon Williams recommends (which I had forgotten) is 10. .. Nc6 with 11. e4 e5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13. Be3 Be4 14. Nd2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 d5! 16. a3 Bf6 (Gallagher-Williams). (If 11. d5 then Bf6). My move places the bishop opposite the queen and I am thinking of moves like c5 and Nc6.

11. e4 e5
12. dxe5 dxe5
13. Qc2

White could have tried 13. Nxe5 as it is not clear if Black gets enough for the pawn. 13. .. Nc6 14. f4 Re8 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Bd2! Nb4 17. g4! Bxg4 18. Bxb7 or 13. .. Nc6 14. Bf4 g5 15. Nxc6 Bxc3 16. Nxd8 Bxe1 17. Bxc7.

I now gave some thought to 13. .. g6 with the idea of 14. exf5 Bxf5 but it did not look right. Moves such as Bh6 and Qb3 could get the king in trouble. As the White d-pawn had gone I decided to bring into play the queen's knight to hit the centre and offer a pawn sacrifice.

13. ..... Nc6
14. Rd1

If 14. exf5 Nb4 15. Qe4 Nd3 16. Rd1 Nxf2! is equal but 16. Re2 and Black is beginning to look clumsy. Fortunately for me White remains cautious.

14. ...   Nd4

Although I felt a little confident, the computer gives White a clear lead, now recommending 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. exf5. The question then is whether Black can make use of that passed pawn in the middle or whether White can round it up and use the open spaces in the centre.



15. Rxd4?

But this was a stunner. White gives up the exchange. Initially I could not see what White gets for it so had to play along with great caution.

15. .....  exd4
16. e5 Be7
17. Ne1 c6

To prevent Bd5+ and keeping protection of the d-pawn. White is planning to blockade the pawn and play around it. He has 54 minutes left for 18 moves whereas I was at 38 minutes.

At this point, the digital clock blanked out - the battery had gone! Fortunately my opponent had noted the times and knew how to set up a new one, so after a short pause, we were away again.

18. Nd3 g5!

A double functioning move - both to attack on the kingside but also to keep his knight out of the f4 square where it would have been a nuisance. I was aware of the king looking unsafe but so far those White bishops are kept well under control.

19. f4 h6

I did not like 19. .. g4 blocking the position - with a material advantage I needed to get those pieces out. I did not see much mileage in h5-h4 and opening the h-file which seemed to me to be too slow.

20. Bd2 Be6
21. b3 Kh8

To prepare for the opening of the g-file.

22. Rd1 Rc8

I now have 21 minutes for 14 moves. At this point, I was struggling to see how I could advance. The computer has consistently recommended g4 and h5-h4 but I wanted open spaces for my bishops and decided to advance on the other wing with b5. This move prepares that, and also moves the rook off the bishop's diagonal.



23. Bc1

White is planning to round up the d-pawn so I had better get going.

23. ....   b5
24. Bb2

Some thought was now given to 24. .. bxc4 25. bxc4 c5. Instead I did it the other way round - and now had 14 minutes left for 11 moves.

24. ...   c5!?

The point is whether I could play 25. cxb5 c4. This looked quite strong to me. 26. bxc4 Bxc4? would be a mistake because of 27. Bb7 Rc7 28. b6! Rxb7 29. Qxc4 Qxb6 30. Bxd4 and with a pawn for the exchange and Black's draughty king, White is back in the game.

26. .. Rxc4 with Qb6 and then bringing the other rook across to the c-file was the plan. A timely Bc6 from White at some stage could have been a nuisance. In the event, White decided to trust me.

25. Ba3 bxc4
26. bxc4 Qc7

Overprotecting the c5 pawn to prepare Rb8.

27. Bd5 Qd7

27. .. Bxd5 28. cxd5 did not look like much fun, although the computer says there is nothing to fear after 28. .. c4 29. d6 cxd3 30. Qxd3 Qc3! 31. dxe7 Rfe8 32. e6 - perhaps not, but this does not look like a position one would be confident in playing.

28. Bg2 Rfd8
29. Re1?!

A good plan for White would be Rb1 and then either Rb5 or Rb7.

29. ...    Rg8
30. Rd1 gxf4

At last!

31. Nxf4 Bg5



32. Nd3?

I was happy to see this. Either 32. Rf1 or 32. Bc1 to defend the f4 point would have been a tougher defence.

White accompanied this move with an offer of a draw, but I could see a sequence which I wanted to give a try.

32.       Be3+
33. Kh1 Qf7

This was the move White told me he had overlooked. Black threatens the c-pawn and also f4 with an attack on the king. I had two minutes left for the next two moves.

34. Nb2 f4

The computer likes the flashy 34. .. Rxg3! with 35. hxg3 Qh5+ 36. Bh3 f4! 37. Qh2 Bxh3 with Qf3+ to come. Of course I did not see any of that - my existing winning plan seemed to suffice.

35. Rf1 Bf5

If now 36. Be4 then 36. .. Bh3 and 37. .. Qh5.

36. Nd3 Qg6
37. Rd1 fxg3
38. h3 Qh5



And now White resigned. Those bishops did the job after all.
I was delighted with this result against such a good player.

Snodland v Swale

George Hollands (155) 0-1 Keith Nevols (157)
Robert Thompson (146) 1/2-1/2 Vytautas Gedminas (130)
David Lettington (143) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
Neil Miners (100) 0-1 Aurimas Liuberskis (110)
Hugh Broadbent (96) 1/2-1/2 Andrew Gillard (107)
Charlie Palmer (81) 1/2-1/2 Barry Sawyer (83)

Snodland 1.5 - 4.5 Swale

Game 75 - club match. Hastings v Swale

Hastings vs Swale - Harvey Cup - Board One
Sunday 22 October 2017
White: D. Ruane (161) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

A nice trip to the south coast. All through last season, I had not lost a single game playing for Swale. Now saddled with a high grade, I thought that things might change and how right I was - with a crushing defeat in an awful performance.


1. Nf3 f5

The Dutch defence.

2. b3

An unusual set-up so I develop normally.

2. ...  Nf6
3. c4 d6
4. d4 e6

The computer recommends 4. ... Ne4!? Curious to move the knight twice in four moves but the idea is to obstruct a White Nc3 and to reply to 5. Nbd2 with 5. . e6 and perhaps d5, or to 5. e3 with 5. .. c5 and 6. dxc5 Qa5+ or 6. Bd3 Nc6. An interesting thought in an opening I am still learning.

5. Nc3 Be7
6. Qc2

White has delayed the deployment of his kings bishop in order to get the move e4 in, but the presence of the queen on c2 allows me to develop the other knight towards the centre.

6. ...  Nc6
7. e4 fxe4?!

Maybe 7. .. Nb4 would be better but it was the following break I had in mind.

8. Nxe4 e5

The plan is to break open the centre while his king is still there. The irony is that, as we will see, it is my king which gets trapped instead.
If 8. .. O-O I was concerned about some white central play but 9. Bd3 result in 9. .. Nb4 exchanging the bishop, and 9. Neg5 h6 seems OK.



9. Bb2

White considers castling queenside.

9. ..  exd4
10. Nxd4 Nb4

Castles is better for Black. Now White picks up the initiative.

11. Nxf6 Bxf6
12. Qd2 a5
13. a3 Qe7+
14. Be2 Na6

White cannot play 15. Qxa5 because of 15. .. c5 winning a piece.

15. O-O

Last chance to castle. But White would still be better - he can bring his rooks into the middle while Black is sorting himself out.



15. ....   Nc5??

Completely overlooking White's next move.

16. Bh5+ Kd8

If 16. .. Kf8 17. Re1 and Re8+.

17. Rfe1

With the king stuck in the middle, I knew the game was up.

17. ...  Qd7

The computer suggests 17.   Qf8 18. Re8+ Qxe8 19. Bxd8 Rxe8 keeping material losses to a minimum.

18. b4!

White has his eye on a possible Ne6+. The game is now won for White.

18. ...   axb4
19. axb4 Rxa1
20. Bxa1 Bxd4

And while he was thinking,  saw the winning move - and a few minutes later he played it.

21. Qg5+



Black must resign. The only move is 21. .. Bf6 and then 22. Bxf6+ will force ruinous material loss.
A terrible game to start the county league season with.


Hastings v Swale

Brendan Ruane (161) 1-0 Keith Nevols (157)
Gary Wilson (129) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
John Kimber (119) 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (110)
Gregory Chandler (76) 0-1 Andrew Gillard (107)
Umberto Joe Jozwiak (78) 1-0 Barry Sawyer (83)
James Wheeler (159) 1-0 default

Hastings 3-3 Swale

Game 74 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Three

Swale Club Championship - Round Three
Thursday 19 October 2017
White: A. Luberskis (-) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

My third game of the season was against a new member - an unknown factor.

1. e4 d5
2. e5

White meets my Scandinavian with the 'advance' option.

2. ....  c5
3. Be2 Bf5
4. Nf3 Nc6

White chooses a quiet set up and allows Black to develop calmly.

5. h3 e6
6. Bb5

The second move of the bishop wastes time. Better is castling.

6. ....   Qc7
7. c3 Be7

The computer prefers 7. .. O-O-O attacking the pawn on e5 and then gives 8. Bxc6 Qxc6 9. d4 Qa6 or 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 10. Na3 Nc2+?! 11. Nxc2 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qxb5 13. Ne3 - which looks good for White as he has the open c-file and Black's kingside is not yet developed.

The pawn on e5 is restricting development and I intended to resolve that problem first.



8. O-O a6
9. Ba4?

9. Bxc6+ was forced. Now Black wins a pawn.

9. ...    b5
10. Bc2 Bxc2
11. Qxc2 Nxe5
12. Nxe5 Qxe5

Now Black is much better. He is a pawn up and can sort out his development.

13. d4 Qc7
14. Be3

14. a4 would be a good way to bring the rook into the game and gain some initiative. 14. .. Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Be3.

14. ....   Nf6
15. Nd2 O-O



Now I have the king in safety it is time to think of a plan. Advancing on the queenside and making play against White's centre seems to be a good plan.

16. Rae1 Nh5
17. Qd1 Nf4
18. Nf3 c4

The d3 square looks very attractive to my knight so White decides to sacrifice the exchange. 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. Ne5 is better.

19. Re2? Nxe2+
20. Qxe2 b4

Intending to open lines for the rooks.

21. Ne5 bxc3
22. bxc3 Rab8
23. Qg4! Bf6

If now 24. Bh6 I had planned to play 24. .. Bxe5 25. dxe5 Qxe5. White manages to arrange a strong kingside attack.

24. Rd1 Bxe5
25. dxe5 Qe7

Of course 25. .. Qxe5?? walks into 26. Bd4 which I thought was game over. However Black has 26. .. h5! which would save the game albeit with loss of material after 27. Bxe5 hxg4 28. Bxb8 Rxb8 29. hxg4 and Black would be a pawn up.



26. Bg5 is the best move here. 26. .. Qc7 27. Bf6 g6 28. Qg5 wins, so Black has to play 26. .. f6 27. exf6 Qf7 which looks ugly but just about holds but not without a few beads of sweat. White though misses this chance.

26. Qe2? Rb5
27. a4 Rb3
28. f4 Rxc3
29. Rb1 Qd7
30. Bd4 Rd3
31. Qb2 Qxa4

White has given up two pawns to open some lines on the queenside but I can exchange a pair of rooks.

32. Ra1 Rd1+
33. Rxd1 Qxd1+
34. Kh2 Qb3
35. Qa1 Ra8

The bishop is good for White, there are spaces to exploit, and the back rank is still weak so it is not over yet. I decide to defend the goal line before I can get those pawns going.



36. Qa5 Qb5
37. Qc7 Qe8
38. f5 Rc8
39. Qa5 Qc6
40. Qa3 Rb8
41. f6 Rb3
42. Qa5 Qc8
43. fxg7 c3

With the posts covered, it was time to get moving.

44. Qa2 c2
45. Qxb3 c1(=Q)
46. Qg3 Qh6

And now the win is straight forward. White decides to play on to mate.

47. Be3 Qxg7
48. Qf4 Qc2
49. Qf1 Qe4
50. Bf4 d4
51. Bg3 d3
52. Qb1 Qe2
53. Qb8+ Qf8
54. Qxf8+ Kxf8
55. h4 d2
56. h5 d1(=Q)
57. Bh4 Qdd2
58. h6 Qxg2 mate

Game 73 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Two

Swale Club Championship - Round Two
Thursday 28 September 2017
White: A. Fletcher (88) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

1. b3

The Larsen Opening, named after the legendary Danish player, Bent Larsen (1935-2010). The plan is to follow with Bb2 and put early pressure on the Black kingside.

1. ....  e5

I just decide to occupy the centre. 1. . d5 is also often seen.

2. Bb2 d6

2. .. Nc6 is more accurate - keeping the option open of d5. The problem now is that my Black bishop is limited in its' development - as it would be difficult to play g6 and Bg7.

3. e3 Nc6
4. Bb5 Bd7
5. Ne2 Qg5?!



As soon as I played this move, I regretted it. The plan was to punish White's quiet development by just being annoying and hitting g2. Also I was considering a quick castling queenside, and to give the option of any plans based around h5. But it achieves absolutely nothing and also hinders the move Nf6 in case the queen gets trapped.

6. Ng3 a6

If 6. .. h5 then 7. h4 Qg6 8. Bd3 - although 8. .. f5 could be fine. Nevertheless I would be lumbered with a pawn on h5 which could be tricky to defend, so let's get on with development.

7. Bd3 Nh6

Playing the knight to f6 would have blocked the line of retreat for my queen.

8. Qh5?!

This surprised me. White advances his own queen before completing development. Black could play 8. .. Qxh5 9. Nxh5 Nb4 but I decided I wanted to keep the queen on and see if I could learn from my own mistake by attacking an exposed queen.

8. ....  Qe7

The threat is now Bg4. Therefore I expected 9. h3 to which I was considering 9. .. g6.

9. Nc3??

... but White overlooks my next.

9. ...   Bg4

The White queen is trapped. I reflected on the irony that it had been my own mistake with the queen that had led White to reciprocate and get into trouble himself.



White can save his queen by losing a piece with 10. Nf5 Bxh5 11. Nxe7 Bxe7.

10. Nd5?

.. but this way to save the queen loses two pieces.

10. ..   Qd8
11. Nxc7+ Qxc7
12. Qg5 f6

The White queen has found a square but is still trapped. Now 13. Qh4 is met with g5 and so he has to jettison a second piece.

13. Bg6+ hxg6
14. Qxg6+ Qf7
15. Qd3

The White queen is saved but White is two pieces for two pawns down. Now I can just develop and hopefully get the win without any accidents.

15. ..   d5
16. f3 Be6
17. O-O-O Nb4

Picking up another pawn.

18. Qe2 Nxa2+
19. Kb1 Nb4
20. f4? Bg4

And now the exchange.

21. Qf2 Bxd1
22. Rxd1 Qc7
23. Bc3 Nc6

I recalled my earlier game where I was well ahead but managed to nearly lose. White's sole plus point is the chance of opening central lines against the king so I was keen to get the guy safe as soon as possible.



24. Kb2 Bd6
25. Nh5 O-O-O

Phew. White now completely collapses and there is no more to be said.

26. Nxg7? Qxg7
27. Qf3 d4
28. Qh3+? Ng4
29. Qg3 dxc3+
30. dxc3 Ba3+
31. Kxa3 Rxd1
32. fxe5 Qe7+
33. Kb2 Ngxe5
34. Qf4 Rhd8
35. Qf5+ Kb8
36. g4 Ra1

I quite liked that move. Of course if 37. Kxa1 Qa3+ 38. Kb1 Rd1 mate.

37. b4 Rdd1
38. Qxe5+ Nxe5
39. Resigns

Mate next move is unstoppable.