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.
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