Thursday 4 January 2018
White: K. Nevols (157) - Black: M. Horner (108)
1. e4 e6
2. Qe2
My standard anti-French.
2. .... b6
3. Nc3 Bb7
4. d3 Be7
5. f4 h6?!
Black delays the development of the knights. Not sure why.
6. Nf3 d6
7. g3 Nbd7
8. Bg2
I gave some thought to 8. Bh3 with f5 in mind to try to take advantage of the lead in development. But the opposing bishop on b7 might give some tactical opportunities for Black and that concerned me.
8. ..... h5!?
The second move of the h-pawn and Black shows his hand - he intends to attack the open position on the White kingside. I had seen this interesting plan after my own move, and had decided that I would try to get the king over the other side quick.
9. h3
In order to meet 9. .. h4 with 10. g4.
After playing this, I did wonder if 9. Be3 might have been better, preparing to drop back to f2 if necessary. Black could follow with 9. .. Bf6 and 10. .. Ne7 - so the bishops would be well placed even if the knights are not.
The computer knows no fear and recommends 9. O-O and meeting 9. .. h4 with 10. Nxh4 Bxh4 11. e5. But in principle I do not like castling when the opponents' h-pawn is halfway down the board.
9. .... Nf8
This reminded me of the earlier game against Rainham where Black placed his knights on the back rank prior to a kingside pawn storm. Time to continue development.
10. Bd2
My preference to Be3 - this defends the knight against any Bf6 plans - and I could get the option to play Bc3 myself.
10. .... c5
We are now in a sort of closed Sicilian position that I like.
11. O-O-O
By now I had used up 27 minutes and had 48 for the next 24 moves - the next two White moves invest thirteen more minutes as I try to find a plan.
11. .... Bc6
12. d4 Nf6
My problem is how to attack. I could base plans around d5, e5 or f5 but could not decide.
- 13. e5 dxe5 14. dxe5 Nd5 did not look much.
- 13. d5 exd5 14. exd5 Nxd5 is a pawn sacrifice but with nothing to show for it - although White could throw in 15. Ne5!? dxe5 16. Nxd5 (16. .. Bxd5? 17. Bc3) with some pressure for the pawn. (I did not see this at the time).
13. f5 exf5 14. exf5 opens up some diagonals and after 14. .. Qd7 there is 15. dxc5 bxc5 16. Bf4! and White has a strong initiative.
Being unable to choose between three plans, I decide to choose none of them.
13. Rhe1
The computer now recommends 13. .. Ng6 to get some play and try to castle, or 13. .. a6 to prevent a future Nb5.
13. .... N6d7
I am well-positioned to open up the centre and so get on with it.
14. d5 Bb7
15. e5! dxe5
16. dxe6
Opening up the d-file although 16. Nxe5 might be stronger, with threats around Nxf7 and/or Nb5. Then 16. .. Nxe5 17. fxe5 Qc8 (to defend the bishop and get off the d-file) 18. d6 Bd8.
16. ..... Nxe6
17. Nxe5 Bxg2
After 17. .. Nd4 there is 18. Qf2 with Be3 to come.
18. Qxg2 Nxe5
19. Rxe5
The rook is well-placed here to come to d5 or threaten an f5 push. Black decides to sacrifice a pawn to get some king safety - although 19. .. Kf8 might have been better towards this objective. If Black plays 19. .. Bf6 then White keeps a big advantage 20. Rd5 Qc8 (20. .. Qc7? 21. Rxc5) 21. Qe2 Kf8 22. Rxh5 Rxh5 23. Qxh5 g6 24. Qd5.
19. ... O-O?!
20. Be3 is a good alternative but I like to grab a pawn when I see it.
20. Rxh5 Bf6
21. Qe4
Never any harm to threaten mate in one.
21. .... g6
22. Rd5 Qe7
23. Qf3?!
23. f5 is much better. If 23. .. Ng5 then 24. Qxe7 Bxe7 25. f6 picks up the knight on g5, and 23. .. gxf5 24. Rxf5 Ng7 25. Qxe7 Bxe7 and White consolidates his pawn lead. I did not want to change queens at this point.
23. .... Rad8
Black wants to exchange off the active rook. 23 .. Nd4 or 23. .. Nc7 might have been an improvement.
24. Rxd8 Rxd8??
24. .. Qxd8 is required with Nd4 coming up. But this move loses material.
25. Nd5 Rxd5
26. Qxd5 Nd4
At last, Black reaches this square but with less pieces it lacks the firepower and the knight now becomes a target for attack. Having said that, Black is now down a pawn and the exchange so advice is difficult.
27. Re1 Qc7
28. c3 Ne6
29. f5 Ng5
The final mistake. 29. .. gxf5 30. Qxf5 would have stayed on the board. My first thought was 30. fxg6 Nxh3 or Qxg3 and then I saw Bf4. I also noticed that the queen is now short of squares. After 30. Bf4 it can only go to c8. (30. .. Qd8 31. Qxd8+ Bxd8 32. Re8+) but then I could see how I could take the c8 square away from the queen.
30. Re8+ Kg7
31. Bf4
With his queen now trapped, Black resigned.
Swale v Weald of Kent
Keith Hyde (166) 1/2-1/2 James Hart Dyke (140)
Keith Nevols (157) 1-0 Mark Horner (108)
David Page (122) 1-0 David Warrick (107)
Tyrone Jefferies (116) 0-1 Oleg Lyakh (104)
Kevin French (98) 1/2-1/2 Julian Squiers (90)
Barry Sawyer (83) 1-0 Geoffrey Broadhead (75)
Swale 4-2 Weald of Kent
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