Kent v Surrey - Board One
Saturday 24 February 2018
White: T. Jones (156) - Black: K. Nevols (157)
This match took place at St Justus Church near Rochester.
1. c4
The English Opening. I do not face that very often. Some years ago I learnt an aggressive system of defence which was described as 'the Dutch defence with e5'. As I am now a Dutch player myself, it makes sense to try that system.
1. ..... e5
2. Nc3 f5
The idea is to play the knights to c6 and f6, the bishops to e7 and d7, castle, and then play Qe8-h5/g6 with f4 and get an attack going - hopefully against White's castled king.
3. d3 Nf6
4. Bg5 Be7
5. g3 O-O
6. Bg2 Nc6
7. e3 Qe8?!
Now that White has blocked the bishop's retreat then 7. .. h6 is better forcing 8. Bxf6 Bxf6. Then 9. Nd5 can be answered by 9. .. e4 and 9. Bd5 Kh8 isn't much.
My move is playing a reversed closed Sicilian and thinking how I can get e4 in.
8. Nge2 d6
I had delayed .. d6 up to now in case there were opportunities for Bb4, Bc5 or d5. Now having decided to play this like a reversed Sicilian it is time to develop the queen's bishop. The computer prefers 8. ... Qh5.
9. Bxf6 Bxf6
10. Nd5 Bd8
11. b4
And so we begin. White uses a three move sequence, and delaying castling, to begin an offensive - and here I used the advantage of a longer time limit than usual (35 moves in 105 minutes and then 30 moves for the rest of the game) to have an epic think.
The reason for my thoughts was the move 11. .... f4!?
I went through 12. gxf4 exf4 13. Ndxf4 Nxb4 - where 14. Qb3 Nc6 15. c5+ Kh8 16. cxd6 cxd6 leaves me with a weak pawn saddled in the middle of the board - or 14. ... c5 15. a3 Nc6 - or 12. gxf4 exf4 13. Nexf4 Nxb4 which is much the same thing with a white knight on d5 instead of e2.
I went through 12. gxf4 exf4 13. Ndxf4 Nxb4 - where 14. Qb3 Nc6 15. c5+ Kh8 16. cxd6 cxd6 leaves me with a weak pawn saddled in the middle of the board - or 14. ... c5 15. a3 Nc6 - or 12. gxf4 exf4 13. Nexf4 Nxb4 which is much the same thing with a white knight on d5 instead of e2.
If 12. exf4 exf4 13. gxf4 Nd4 looks more threatening than it actually is.
I looked at lines involving Bg4 or hitting a knight on f4 with g5, and trying to see if I could get those bishops into the action. With my pieces in the centre it is tempting to try to open up the game but I could not see any definite way to get an advantage.
The computer's best line after 11. .. f4 is 12. gxf4 exf4 13. Nexf4 Nxb4 14. O-O g5!? 15. Ne2 Na6.
But in the end I decided to remain solid. And, the last word, after 11. b4 the computer's recommendation is 11. .. a6.
11. ..... Ne7
12. Nxe7+ Bxe7
13. O-O Qg6
I am still thinking of how I can get f4 in - but perhaps 13. ... c6 is better, freeing up the bishop and blocking the long diagonal.
14. b5!
This is well timed and the grip on my queenside is to cause me many problems.
14. ..... Rb8
I gave some thought to 14. .. Bg5 here but decide I need to organise the development.
15. Nc3 Bd8
16. Qa4!
Spotting a weakness. My position is beginning to be a mess and I to think how to sort this out. For now, the only thing I could do was to admit that Rb8 was a mistake.
16. ..... Ra8
Spotting a weakness. My position is beginning to be a mess and I to think how to sort this out. For now, the only thing I could do was to admit that Rb8 was a mistake.
16. ..... Ra8
17. f4
I was pleased to see this. While it is understandable that White would seek to open the position with the Black bishops on the back row, it also opens up a diagonal which might give me some activity. Could White instead play 17. Qc2 with a4 to build up a queenside initiative?
17. ..... exf4
I was pleased to see this. While it is understandable that White would seek to open the position with the Black bishops on the back row, it also opens up a diagonal which might give me some activity. Could White instead play 17. Qc2 with a4 to build up a queenside initiative?
17. ..... exf4
18. exf4 Bf6
19. Nd5
However I had overlooked this was possible. Obviously if 19. .. Bxa1??? then 20. Ne7+.
Black could play 19. .. Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Rf7 but with just 24 minutes left for 16 moves I sounded the retreat.
19. ...... Bd8?!
White can use the open e-file and his better placed pieces to build up an initiative.
However I had overlooked this was possible. Obviously if 19. .. Bxa1??? then 20. Ne7+.
Black could play 19. .. Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Rf7 but with just 24 minutes left for 16 moves I sounded the retreat.
19. ...... Bd8?!
White can use the open e-file and his better placed pieces to build up an initiative.
20. Rfe1 Re8?
A blunder as both sides overlook a killer blow for White, but it is hard to advise Black.
If 20. ... Qf7 then 21. Nb6! will win material (21. .... cxb6 22. Bd5).
If 20. ... Bd7 then 21. Ne7+ Bxe7 22. Rxe7 Qf6 23. Rae1 and White is much better.
Perhaps Black should play the grovelling 20. ... Kh8.
A blunder as both sides overlook a killer blow for White, but it is hard to advise Black.
If 20. ... Qf7 then 21. Nb6! will win material (21. .... cxb6 22. Bd5).
If 20. ... Bd7 then 21. Ne7+ Bxe7 22. Rxe7 Qf6 23. Rae1 and White is much better.
Perhaps Black should play the grovelling 20. ... Kh8.
21. Kf1
The winning move is 21. b6! - not the easiest to see. Black is forced to play 21. .. c6 when White cashes in with 22. Qxa7!! - then 22. .. Rxa7 23. bxa7 cxd5 24. a8 (=Q).
The computer has come up with another long line - 24. Bd5+ Be6 25. Rxe6 (25. a8(=Q)??? Bb6+) Bb6+ 26. Kf1 Kf8 27. Rxg6 hxg6 28. Rb1 Bxa7 29. Rxb7 Re7 30. Rxe7 and White is two pawns up but it would be an opposite coloured bishop ending - White should win it but it would take some work.
21. ..... Kf8
The winning move is 21. b6! - not the easiest to see. Black is forced to play 21. .. c6 when White cashes in with 22. Qxa7!! - then 22. .. Rxa7 23. bxa7 cxd5 24. a8 (=Q).
The computer has come up with another long line - 24. Bd5+ Be6 25. Rxe6 (25. a8(=Q)??? Bb6+) Bb6+ 26. Kf1 Kf8 27. Rxg6 hxg6 28. Rb1 Bxa7 29. Rxb7 Re7 30. Rxe7 and White is two pawns up but it would be an opposite coloured bishop ending - White should win it but it would take some work.
21. ..... Kf8
22. Rxe8+ Qxe8
23. Re1 Qh5
I'm grimly hanging on.
I'm grimly hanging on.
24. Kg1 Qf7
25. Qb4 a5
Phew! For the last few moves, the queenside had been a vice preventing me from activating those pieces. I now had hopes of breaking out.
Phew! For the last few moves, the queenside had been a vice preventing me from activating those pieces. I now had hopes of breaking out.
26. Qa3 Qd7
27. d4 c6
28. bxc6 bxc6
29. Ne3
And 29. .. Bf6 makes the position level. With four minutes left for seven moves, I make a mistake.
29. ... Rb8?
30. Nxf5
I simply did not see that was possible. Obviously if 30. ... Qxf5 then 31. Qxd6+.
My mood was dark that I did not see that 30. ... c5 regains the pawn with 31. Nd3 cxd4, although the pawns get difficult to defend. Instead I advance the rook and get it trapped.
30. .... Rb4?
And 29. .. Bf6 makes the position level. With four minutes left for seven moves, I make a mistake.
29. ... Rb8?
30. Nxf5
I simply did not see that was possible. Obviously if 30. ... Qxf5 then 31. Qxd6+.
My mood was dark that I did not see that 30. ... c5 regains the pawn with 31. Nd3 cxd4, although the pawns get difficult to defend. Instead I advance the rook and get it trapped.
30. .... Rb4?
31. Ne3 Bb6?
32. Qd3 Kg8
If Black had played 32. .. Rb2, to meet 33. Qxh7 with Bxd4, White gets a strong initiative with 33. Be4.
And now 33. a3 Rb2 34. Nd1 forces 34. .. Rxg2. But White finds another way to pick up the rook.
32. Qd3 Kg8
If Black had played 32. .. Rb2, to meet 33. Qxh7 with Bxd4, White gets a strong initiative with 33. Be4.
And now 33. a3 Rb2 34. Nd1 forces 34. .. Rxg2. But White finds another way to pick up the rook.
33. Nc2 Rb2
34. Qc3 Rxc2
34. ... Rxa2 is met with 35. c5! Rxc2 36. Qxc2 Bd8 37. Qe4. I decided a central pawn would be worth more than the a-pawn.
34. ... Rxa2 is met with 35. c5! Rxc2 36. Qxc2 Bd8 37. Qe4. I decided a central pawn would be worth more than the a-pawn.
35. Qxc2 Bxd4+
36. Kh1 c5
White can win with 37. Bd5+ Kh8 38. Qe4 but his position is very powerful, there is another way to win.
37. Qe4 Ba6
And now I waited for 38. Qa8+ and prepared to resign. 38. .... Bc8 39. Bc6 and Re8+.
38. Qd5+?
A let-off.This check allows me to defend the e8 square.
38. .... Kf8
White can win with 37. Bd5+ Kh8 38. Qe4 but his position is very powerful, there is another way to win.
37. Qe4 Ba6
And now I waited for 38. Qa8+ and prepared to resign. 38. .... Bc8 39. Bc6 and Re8+.
38. Qd5+?
A let-off.This check allows me to defend the e8 square.
38. .... Kf8
39. Qa8+ Qc8
40. Qxc8?
And I was happy to see this. With Qd5 and Re6 White would overwhelm Black. With the queens off, although White is still winning, he now has some work to do.
40. ......Bxc8
And I was happy to see this. With Qd5 and Re6 White would overwhelm Black. With the queens off, although White is still winning, he now has some work to do.
40. ......Bxc8
41. Bc6 Bh3
41. .. Ba6 sets a crafty trap as 42. Bb5??? walks into 42. ... Bb7 and mate - but 42. Bd5 is simple enough.
42. Re8+ Kf7
41. .. Ba6 sets a crafty trap as 42. Bb5??? walks into 42. ... Bb7 and mate - but 42. Bd5 is simple enough.
42. Re8+ Kf7
43. Ra8 Bc3
44. Bd5+ Kf6
45. Rf8+ Ke7
46. Rf7+ Ke8
47. Rb7 h6
My plan is simple. Try to keep his king locked in, put the pawns on black squares, and just defend.
My plan is simple. Try to keep his king locked in, put the pawns on black squares, and just defend.
48. Rb3 Bb4
49. a3 Bd2
50. Rd3
White can force Black's king away with 50. Rb8+ Ke7 51. Rb7+ Kf6 52. Rf7+ Kg6 53. Rf8 with Be4+ to come.
50. ...... Bc1
White can force Black's king away with 50. Rb8+ Ke7 51. Rb7+ Kf6 52. Rf7+ Kg6 53. Rf8 with Be4+ to come.
50. ...... Bc1
51. a4 Bd7
52. Rd1 Ba3
53. Be4 Ke7
54. Ra1 Bb4
55. Kg2
The king has escaped!
55. ..... Kf6
The king has escaped!
55. ..... Kf6
56. Kf3 g5?!
Exchanging pawns seemed an idea but not on the side where I am a pawn down. Continuing to sit tight with 56. .. Bc3 is better.
Exchanging pawns seemed an idea but not on the side where I am a pawn down. Continuing to sit tight with 56. .. Bc3 is better.
57. fxg5 hxg5
It might now be hard to defend the g5 pawn.
It might now be hard to defend the g5 pawn.
58. Rd1 Ke7
59. Bc2 Bc3
60. g4 Bc6+
61. Ke3 Be5
By now the entire hall - which originally had 64 players in two 16-board county matches, was empty - all the sets put away, and a crowd around our game patiently waiting for us to finish. I felt I had defended well so far - the e5 bishop is well placed. But just needed to continue to hold.
By now the entire hall - which originally had 64 players in two 16-board county matches, was empty - all the sets put away, and a crowd around our game patiently waiting for us to finish. I felt I had defended well so far - the e5 bishop is well placed. But just needed to continue to hold.
62. h3 Bg2?
Any king move to a black square is better. Now White has 63. Be4 which will force the exchange of the bishops (63. ... Bxh3?? 64. Kf3 and 65. Rh1).
Any king move to a black square is better. Now White has 63. Be4 which will force the exchange of the bishops (63. ... Bxh3?? 64. Kf3 and 65. Rh1).
63. Rb1
Here I realised that I could not take the h-pawn because of the same Kf3 - trapping the bishop.
63. ... Bd4+
Here I realised that I could not take the h-pawn because of the same Kf3 - trapping the bishop.
63. ... Bd4+
64. Ke2 Ke6
65. Kd2 Bxh3
Now it is safe.
Now it is safe.
66. Bf5+ Ke5
67. Rb5 Bf1
68. Bd3 Bh3
69. Be2 d5
69. .. Kf4 70. Rxa5 Bxg4 71. Bxg4 Kxg4 and White is better although still having to work. I decide to exchange off more pawns.
69. .. Kf4 70. Rxa5 Bxg4 71. Bxg4 Kxg4 and White is better although still having to work. I decide to exchange off more pawns.
70. cxd5 Kxd5
71. Rxa5 Ke4
72. Ra8 Kf4
73. Rf8+
73. .....Ke4?
No!! After great defence I overlook the possibility of 73. .. Kg3 74. Rf5 Kh4. The position would still hinge on whether White can get that a-pawn moving, of if I could somehow sacrifice a bishop for it and get down to a rook v bishop ending.
74. Bf3+ Ke5
73. .....Ke4?
No!! After great defence I overlook the possibility of 73. .. Kg3 74. Rf5 Kh4. The position would still hinge on whether White can get that a-pawn moving, of if I could somehow sacrifice a bishop for it and get down to a rook v bishop ending.
74. Bf3+ Ke5
75. Rf5+
Not only does the g-pawn drop but the bishop remains trapped on h3. So one line is 75. .. Ke6 76. Ke2 c4 77. Rxg5 c3 78. Rh5 c2 (the only way to free the bishop) 79. Kd2 Bf1 80. Kxc2. White would be the exchange up with two passed pawns.
I could have fought on but with time running low, and my opponent did deserve the win, so I resigned. A lesson in the importance of concentrating all the way through the game.
Not only does the g-pawn drop but the bishop remains trapped on h3. So one line is 75. .. Ke6 76. Ke2 c4 77. Rxg5 c3 78. Rh5 c2 (the only way to free the bishop) 79. Kd2 Bf1 80. Kxc2. White would be the exchange up with two passed pawns.
I could have fought on but with time running low, and my opponent did deserve the win, so I resigned. A lesson in the importance of concentrating all the way through the game.
No comments:
Post a Comment