Game 102 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Ten

Swale Club Championship - Round Ten

Thursday 29 March 2018

White: K. Hyde (166) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

An important match against the club's highest graded player, former club champion, and the strong favourite to win the title.

1. Nf3 f5
2. d4 Nf6
3. Bf4 e6
4. e3 Be7

So we get a form of the Dutch where White is delaying c4.

5. h3

At the time, I did not understand this but it is the beginning of a good plan.

5. ....  b6
6. Nbd2 Bb7
7. Bd3 O-O

So far, so equal. I just had one piece to develop before my intention to go on to the attack.



8. g4!?

A startling pawn move and White uses the delay in castling to go on the attack.

8. .. fxg4 9. hxg4 Nxg4 10. Bxh7+was obviously out .. and I did not like the thought of 9. .... h6 10. g5 - nor 9. ... g6 10. Bh6.

The computer recommends 8. ..Nd5 and then 9. gxf5 Nxf4 10. exf4 exf5 placing Black marginally better. Instead I decided to block the centre diagonal

8. ....  Ne4
9. gxf5 exf5
10. Rg1 Kh8

And back to our computer friend which recommends 10. .. d5 - more in the spirit of the opening and preparing Nd7-f6.

11. Qe2

White prepares to castle queenside and bring the other rook into the game.

11. .....  a5?

The beginning of a bad plan. I wanted to develop the knight but went completely the wrong way about it. Black should play either 11. .. d5 or 11. .. Bd6.

12. O-O-O Na6?

The knight is out but on a completely useless square. b4 is easily covered and the dim knight stays on the rim for the rest of the game.

13. c3 Bf6
14. h4 d6
15. Ng5 Qe8
16. f3?!

A slight mistake, or perhaps a pawn sacrifice, from White. 16. Bb5 c6 17. Bd3 keeps White's edge.



Black could now play 16. ... Nxd2 17. Rxd2 h6 18. Nh3 Bxh4 winning a pawn. But White still has compensation with the more active pieces and now a half-open file against the king.

Note how the queen-bishop lined up against a6 manages to paralyse the whole Black queenside. Neither the rook nor bishop can move.

16. ..   Bxg5
17. hxg5 Nxd2
18. Rxd2 Qc6

I foresaw the following sequence

19. g6 hxg6
20. Qh2+

20. e4! - which neither of us saw - is very strong.

20. .....  Kg8
21. Rxg6 Qxf3?

Grabbing a pawn - but 21. ..Nb4 is better, exploiting the pin down the c-file and, at last, getting the knight into the game, maybe with Ba6 to follow. White is still better though.



Here 22. Bc4+! wins at once. 22. .. d5 is forced and then after 23. Bd3!, the Black queen is trapped and there is no good answer to the threat of Rg3.

22. Rdg2 Rf7
23. Qg1 Kf8

Doing a runner. I was hoping that if I could exchange some pieces off then I might have a chance to grovel to safety. However the game is already lost. I could now see a sequence but White wins a piece.

24. Rxg7 Rxg7
25. Rxg7 Qh1
26. Rg8+ Ke7

Now I expected 27. Qxh1 Bxh1 28. Rxa8 Bxa8 29. Bxa6 but White had a long think instead. I could not see why.

27. Bg5+ Ke6
28. Bc4+ Kd7
29. Bb5+ Ke6
30. Bc4+ Kd7

A slight moment of hope - as I could not see how I could be checkmated. But, darn it ...

31. Qxh1 Bxh1
32. Rxa8 Resigns

A very good attack by White on the kingside using his pieces very effectively while Black's could not get into the game - one of them never moved and another got stuck on a6.

Game 101 - County U-180 Championship - Kent v Surrey

Kent v Surrey - Board Ten

Saturday 24 March 2018

White: A. Collard (152) - Black: K. Nevols (161)

My debut for the Kent Under-180s was the last match of the season and the team needed to win to qualify for the national quarter finals.

1. d4 f5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 e6
4. c4 d6
5. Nc3 Be7
6. Nh3!?

An interesting development of the knight with the option of coming to f4 as well as keeping the diagonal of the bishop open.

6. ....  O-O
7. O-O

Remembering an earlier game where I got in trouble with a g2 bishop and a White attack on the queenside, I considered c6. Instead I decided to keep to Dutch principles and attack in the centre.

7. .....  e5
8. dxe5 dxe5
9. Qxd8 Rxd8



10. Nd5

An earlier c6 would have avoided this - White's knight is on a good square and I gave a lot of thought. 10. .. Bd6? falls to 11. c5 winning material. 10. .. Rd7 just looks ugly. So I went for the only other option.

10. .....  Nxd5
11. Bxd5+

At this stage I was aware of a rumpus in the hall, and the opposing team's captain, who was on an adjacent board was called away. Someone had walked off after an argument and he was asked to get them back.

This does not excuse the mistake.

11. ....  Kf8?!

Of course I should have played 11. .. Kh8 but I was concerned about 12. Ng5 and getting smothered. Also, without queens, moving the king towards the centre seemed harmless.

After 11. .. Kh8 12. Ng5 Black could play 12. .. c6 and then 13. Nf7+ Kg8 14. Nxd8 cxd5 15. Nxb7 Bxb7 16. cxd5 Bxd5 .... or 15. cxd5 Bxd8 ...  and Black should be OK.

11... Kh8 12. Bg5 might be better for White.

12. Ng5

White plays this anyway. I did not like the idea of the knight coming to either h7 or e6.

12. .....  Bxg5
13. Bxg5 Re8

Now we are getting uncomfortable. White has two very good bishops whereas Black's queenside is still asleep.

14. Rad1 c6

At last! The first step towards sorting out a defence.

15. Bg2 Be6

Somewhere around here I went for a walk and could not resist drifting over to the board where the dispute took place. Eight moves had gone, the clocks were stopped, and the game abandoned. I could not see what the problem was. By now, the opposing team captain had returned to his seat, and his own game, so the players must have gone home.

16. b3 a5

16. .. Nd7 and then Nf6 is a better defence but I was getting fed up of grovelling and wanted some activity.

17. e4!

A good move. I could see the plan was to follow up with f4 and try to open the f-file while the Black king was on f8.

17. ....  fxe4
18. Bxe4

18. f4 is an interesting pawn sacrifice .. 18. .. exf3 e.p. 19. Bxf3 Kg8 20. Bh5 g6 21. Bf3. White has weakened the Black centre, and could play down the e-file. Black might be able to hold with a few concerning moments.



18. ....  Kg8

I was still concerned about 19. f4 and whether 19. .. exf4 20. Bxf4 Nd7 holds.

19. Rd6

White agrees with my view and decides to power up on the d-file.

19. .......  Nd7
20. Rfd1 Nc5

Thinking of that queenside offensive. 20. .. Nf6 is another, perhaps safer, option.

21. Bc2 a4
22. Be3

22. b4 Na6 23. b5 cxb5 24. cxb5 Nc7 and Black should pick up one of the pawns.

My strategy is to exchange the queenside pawns to improve my chances of holding a draw.

22. ....   axb3
23. axb3 Na6
24. Bb6 Nb4
25. Be4 g6

Planning the bishop to come to f5 to aid the defence.

26. Rd8 Kf7
27. Kg2



The computer recommends 27. Rxa8 Rxa8 28. Bc7 Kf6 or 28. .. Re8! The two bishops can dance around but it is not clear if White can get the necessary firepower to finish off the game.

However White has been better throughout and so I was relieved when he offered a draw which I quickly accepted to end what was, to an on looker, quite a dull game.

AGREED DRAW

As for the 'incident', it was put to one side to see if it would affect the match result. Unfortunately the 16 board match finished 7.5-7.5 with the one abandoned game and so, as both sides needed to win, it went to whoever decides this sort of thing.

Usually we are told to switch our mobile phones off during a match - if it rings, you are given a warning, unlike professional chess where you get an instant forfeit. The Kent player was given permission to keep his phone on to give directions to a team mate who was running late - but the phone was on silent. After the game had started, the Kent player did indeed receive a call - at which point the Surrey player objected, said he was distracted, and walked off. Subsequent discussions could not persuade him to return to the board.

Kent claimed the game on the grounds that the Surrey player had walked off and gone home. Surrey claimed the game on the distraction of the Kent player having his phone left on and then ringing (albeit silently). The judgement was ... in favour of Surrey ... who thus won the match 8.5-7.5.

Game 100 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Nine

Swale Club Championship - Round Nine

Thursday 22 March 2018

White: D. Marsh (100) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

1. d4 f5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. c4 e6
4. Nc3 d6
5. h3

An unusual move which will make it difficult for White to fianchetto - and where White does not fianchetto his bishop against the Dutch, then Black can do so.

White could also be thinking of playing g4 at an opportune moment.

5. ...  Be7
6. e3 b6
7. Be2

As per the last note, 7. g4! is interesting. 7. .. fxg4 8. hxg4 Nxg4 9. Qd3 puts Black on the back foot (9. .... Nh6 10. Qe4! c6 11. d5 - 9. .. Nf6 10.Ng5). Perhaps, instead of taking the sacrifice, 8. ... Bb7 is better.

7. ....  Bb7
8. O-O O-O

I was relieved to see both sides castle so I could get on with an attack.

9. Nh2

White elects to oppose the fianchetto bishop. The computer prefers 9. d5 to meet 9. .. e5 with 10. Ng5.

9. ......Qe8
10. Bf3 Ne4!

A good square. Now I just need to develop the other knight and I think I have equalised.

11. Qc2 Qg6
12. Nb5

I gave some thought to 12. ... Na6 but decided the knight would be out of the way over there.



I also considered a pawn sacrifice with 12. ... Nd7 13. Nxc7 Rac8 14. Nb5 d5 15. b3.
Black could play 15. ... Ng5 and White could try 16. Nxa7 Ra8 17. Nb5 Nxf3+ 18. Nxf3 dxc4 19. Kh1 cxb3 20. Qxb3 Bd5 .. or 16. Kh1 Nxf3 17. Nxf3 dxc4 18. bxc4 Bd5!

And I looked at 12. .. Nd7 13. Nxc7 Rac8 14. Nb5 a6 15. Na3 b5?! but this is not very good. White gets a good advantage with 16. Qb3.

Eventually I decided I did not want to take chances and so will stick to the kingside.

12. .... Bd8
13. Re1 a6
14. Nc3 Bh4

I could not resist this flashy move but 14. .. Nc6 or 14. .. Nd7 developing is better.

15. Rf1 Nd7
16. Bd2!?

This is an interesting idea. White decides to add the bishop to his baseline defence. Unambitious perhaps but difficult to break down. To develop the bishop, 16. b3 is a good alternative.

16. ....... N7f6

Securing the e4 point but risking leaving the bishop cut off from the centre and limited in squares.

17. Be1 Bg5
18. Ne2 Nh5?!

Aimless wandering. Now 19. g3 and the position is equal.

Black should have played 18. .. e5 opening up the position.

19. Bd2 Rad8
20. Qd1 e5!

At last. Not well timed but I am fortunate that White has just been drifting as well.

21. d5 Nxd2

Time to remove a defender. 22. Bxh5! would now be a good defence for White. Without either knight it would be hard for Black to sustain an attack.

22. Qxd2 Nf6
23. g3 Ne4
24. Qe1

At the time I thought this was a mistake. 24. Bxe4 fxe4 and I could not see a win. Black would have to find a way to get the bishops in, as well as try to use the f-file. He should not lose but White could succeed in keeping the position closed.



I gave a lot of thought here as to how to continue, as I could not see a breakthrough, and, as usual, was running low on time - so I decided to withdraw the knight to avoid White exchanging it away.

24. ....  Nf6
25. Bg2 Bc8

Got to get the bishop in there somehow.

26. Nf3 Bh6
27. Nh4 Qh5
28. Bf3 Qf7

I am glad now that I put the bishop is on c8 as it can protect the f5 pawn.

29. Bg2 g5!

Had to be done. White has helpfully pushed my pieces back so that this pawn can have a march.

30. Nf3 Qh5

There must be a way through somewhere.

31. Nh2 Rde8

My mind is gravitating towards an f4 push - although I could have played it here. But I did not want to allow a g4 reply - so decide to try my own g4 first and then f4.

32. Qd1 g4

This is partly bluff. If White plays 33. hxg4 fxg4 I am again finding it difficult to see a way through.

33. h4? f4
34. gxf4 Qxh4



35. fxe5?

Was I glad to see this? If White just sat tight with 35. Qd2 then, although Black is better, there is still some work to do. But this move allows me to bring my rook into play.

35. .....  Rxe5
36. Ng3 Bxe3
37. fxe3 Qxg3

So I have won a pawn. I expected here 38. Qe1 when I intended 38. ... Qxe3+ to pocket a second pawn and try to win the ending with two extra pawns.

38. Qe2?

Fortunately White overlooks my next move which wins instantly.

38. ..... Rh5
39. Rf4 Qxh2+
40. Kf2 Ne4+

I like this. The two pieces that can capture the knight are both pinned in different directions.

41. Kf1 Ng3+

White now resigned.

This was a tough game where I had to work hard and hope that the breakthrough would happen.

Game 99 - club match. Maidstone v Rochester

Maidstone v Rochester - Stephenson Cup - Board Two

Wednesday 21 March 2018

White: K. Nevols (157) - Black: D. Munford (169)

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2

Again preferring a quiet development of the bishop. 5. Bc4 might be more aggressive.

5. ......e6
6. O-O Nge7

One of the questions I face in this system is where will Black put his king's knight? Nf6 is most common but sometimes, like here, Black likes to keep the bishops' diagonal open and take the sting out of a possible e5 from White.

7. Qe1

The other question I face is where will Black put his king? This move prepares Qh4 if it goes to the kingside, stays opposite if it stays in the centre, and also frees up the d1 square to meet Nd4 with Bd1.

7. .....d5
8. d3

The other option is 8. e5 but I did not want to concede central squares yet.

8. ......d4
9. Nb1

I prefer this to Na4 as I am planning Nd2. The position is level.

9. .......Qc7
10. Qh4

Now the queen has moved from d8 I can play this. My intention is to encourage Black to commit his king so I can then prepare an attack.

10.  .....Bd7

... and I think his king is going over there, hence my next move.

11. a3

I took some time to look at 11. Nd2 but decided to keep that in reserve for now.

11. ....... O-O-O

And now Black offered a draw! This was quite a surprise as we were only half an hour or so in. I pondered a while and glanced at the board next to me - board three - where I could see we were losing. As I had a plan of attack, I decided to play on.



Castling kingside would have been safer for Black as he has sufficient defensive resources there. Now the computer recommends 12. Ng5 Rdf8 13. Nxh7?! I did not see this but, if I had, I would not have played it. There is a danger that the offside knight would get trapped.

12. b4!

This was the point of a3 - to open lines should he decide to castle queenside. Had Black castled kingside, well, the a3 pawn would have been useful in protecting the b4 square.

My intended follow ups include Nd2-c4, Bd2, Qe1, Rooks over and so on.

12.   ......Qb6

A red rag to the knight.

13. Nd2

It is coming to c4 and then maybe  to d6.

13. ......Be8

Already Black is feeling the pinch. 13. .. cxb4 might not look attractive but it makes some space. My next move is obvious.

14. Nc4

I now looked at 14. .. Qc7 15. e5, 15. Bd2 or just 15. bxc3 - and also  14. ... Qa6 15. e5? (a mistake - 15. .. Nf5 16. Qe1 Nxb4), or 15. bxc5.

14. ..... Qb5??

Can I trap the queen? The answer is yes.

15. a4 Qxb4
16. Bd2

The trapped queen has to sacrifice herself.



16. ..... Qxc4
17. dxc4 d3
18. Bxd3 Bxa1
19. Rxa1

OK, so now I have a queen for a rook. I sometimes find the hardest games to win are those which are winning, so I settled down for a grim struggle. I planned to consolidate my pieces and try to get some exchanges.

19. ........ Nd4??

And this was a surprise.

20. Qxe7

Now it is queen and bishop versus rook and so Black resigned.

Maidstone v Rochester

Cliff Chandler (204) 1-0 Keith Hyde (166)
David Munford (169) 0-1 Keith Nevols (157)
George Hollands (155) 1-0 Vytautas Gedminas (130)
Robert Thompson (146) 1/2-1/2 Rob Woolacott (130)
Ian Clark (134) 1/2-1/2 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
Stefan Sainiuc (120) 1-0 Andrew Gillard (107)

Maidstone 4-2 Rochester

Game 98 - club match. Medway v Swale

Medway vs Swale - En Passant Cup - Board One
Monday 19 March 2018
White: C. Marshall (151) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. Bc4 Nf6
5. d3

d3 is solid enough but I think d4 is more aggressive.

5. ......c6
6. Bd2 Qc7

The third queen move in six - not what they teach us, and probably 6. .. Bg4 is better, but I did not want to take any chances with the discovered attack.

7. Nge2 Bf5
8. Ng3

I did wonder if White was planning 8. Bf4 and I debated the merits of meeting this with 8. .. e5 - this system usually has the pawn on e6. As White has opted not for the Nf3-g5 option, then the f7 pawn might not need to be so defended.

8. ..... Bg6

The bishop is not well placed here but then the White knight on g3 is not too pretty either.

9. O-O e6



I am still quite behind in development and White could try to take an advantage here with 10. h4 h5 11. Qf3. I might answer with 11. ... Bd6 or 11. Nbd7 with an eye on Ne5.

10. Nge4 Nbd7
11. a4 Be7

One move away from development and I can then see what White's plan will be.

12. Qe1

I have to confess that I did not understand this move, unless White is thinking of sacrificing a bishop on e6.

12. ..... O-O
13. f4 Nd5!

I'm always pleased to grab this square for a piece in this opening.

14. Kh1 N7f6

The computer prefers 14. ... a5 with Bb4 to follow. Now it rates the game as completely equal.

15. Bxd5?!

Dubious - White gives up the bishop pair and now I have the centre.

15. ..... cxd5
16. Nxf6+ Bxf6
17. Rac1

To defend the c-pawn. White has to do some organising. He has exchanged off two good pieces - admittedly for my two knights - and I have some space.

17. ....  Qc6!

A great square for the queen and I have an idea for an initiative.

18. b3 Rfc8
19. Nd1 h5!

And this is it. If I could march that pawn down to h3, I could weaken the squares around his king - which would be useful with my queen on the long diagonal.



20. Qe2 h4
21. Qf3

Puts an end to that plan. 21. h3 is an alternative but White does not want to weaken that corner.

21. .....b5

Switching wings to make space on the queenside.

22. axb5 Qxb5
23. Ne3

The knight reaches a very good defensive square.

23. ......Bb2
24. Rb1 Bd4

Just to be annoying. I was not sure how to proceed from here and thought White might play 25. c4, which is perhaps best met by 25. .. Qd7, or 25. f5 when Black could play 25. .. Bxe3 (a risky White might go for a piece sacrifice with 26. fxg6?! Bxd2 27. Qxf7+).

25. Rbc1 Qd7

Another good square for the queen which puts an end to any f5 ideas - but 25. .. a5 would be more in getting on with things. I felt the position seemed more equal now, and that we would be a few exchanges away from a draw.

26. c3?

Weakens White pawns - 26. f5 would have been better.

26. .... Bxe3
27. Qxe3 Bf5

27. .. Qb5 would have won a pawn, but I still had the idea of playing my pawn to h3.

28. Ra1



At this point, White offered a draw. But I saw the move I had missed one move earlier, and, with the opportunity of gaining some time, decided to play on to see what happens.

28. ..... Qb5!
29. Rxa7 Rxa7
30. Qxa7 Qxd3
31. Qf2 h3!

Now I was confident that I was winning. I needed to get my rook into the action. White should play 32. gxh3.

32. g3? d4?!

32. .... Ra8 will win very quickly with Ra2 coming up and Bg4 or Be4.

33. cxd4?

33. Kg1 dxc3 34. Rc1 but Black is still winning.

33. ....  Rc2

I was sure it was game over. I looked at 34. Rd1 Bg4, 34. Qf3 Be4 or Qxd2, but White played a move I did not expect.

34. Qe3 Qxd2?

Yes, in my haste to grab the piece, I completely overlooked 34. .. Qxf1+ which mates next move. I was quite unhappy to discover this after the game. Fortunately it does not lose the win although spoiling the finish.

35. Qxd2 Rxd2

I expected 36. Rd1 to stop 36... Be4 although 36. .. Be4 wins anyway (37. Rxe4 Rd1+) so it would be 37. Kg1 Rg2+ with mate to follow.

36. Kg1 Rg2+

White resigned. Despite the ending, I was quite pleased with this game. I was never in any danger myself and found a good way to get some initiative.


Medway v Swale

Chris Marshall (151) 0-1 Keith Nevols (157)
Paul Foster (136) 1-0 Vytautas Gedminas (130)
Constantine Tucker (117) 1-0 Rob Woolacott (130)
Roger House (110) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
David Langford (103) 1/2-1/2 Aurimas Liuberskis (110)
Barry Hampton (91) 1/2-1/2 Duncan Marsh (100)

Medway 3-3 Swale

Game 97 - County U-160 Championship - Kent v Essex

Kent v Essex - Board One

Saturday 10 March 2018

White: C. Ramage (163) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

1. e4 d5
2. d4

The Blackmar-Diemar Gambit. I have faced this before and remember two crushing defeats.

2. ..... dxe4
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. f3

With those defeats in mind, I decided to decline the sacrifice and hope that the pawn on f3 would restrict his development. But 4. ... exf3 5. Nf3 Bf5 might be better with 6. Ne5 e6 7. g4 Bg6.

I later discovered that my move is one of the weaker options to face this opening - as it gives the pawn back but does not slow down the initiative.

4. ....  e3?!
5. Bxe3 Bf5
6. Bd3 Bg6
7. Nh3!

Of course - White can just develop the knight another way and think about coming to f4.

7. .... e6
8. O-O c6
9. Qd2

9. Nf4 is stronger and more active.

9. .....  Bxd3
10. Qxd3 Nbd7
11. Rfe1 Be7
12. Ne4

This sets a crafty trap which I walk into. Black should just castle now.



12. .......Nd5
13. Bg5

And another chance for Black to castle, but I was worried about a knight coming to the g5 square - and overlooked one that could come to a different square.

13.  ....h6?

As I played the move, I saw 14. Nd6+ straight away. Ouch!! Inwardly muttering darkly, I tried to see what I could do.

14. Nd6+ Kf8
15. Nxb7

15. .... Qb6 16. Bxe7 Kxe7 17. Qa3+ looked awful. 

15. .....  Qc7
16. Bxe7 Nxe7
17. Nc5 Nxc5
18. dxc5 Rd8



So I am a pawn down and the queenside is a mess - on the other hand, White's extra pawn is doubled.. This is now just a case of grimly hanging on for the next few moves and see if I can get back in the game. First, I need to get the other rook involved.

19. Qc4 Nd5

White slowly improves his position and there is not a lot I can do other than straighten things out a bit.

20. Re4 Ke7
21. Rae1 Rhe8
22. Nf2

The knight is heading for e5. 22. Nf4 is also good.

22. .....  Nf6
23. R4e2 Rd7
24. Nd3 Red8
25. Ne5 Rd5
26. b4 Nd7

Hoping to exchange some pieces to ease the defence. I was quite pleased with how I was co-ordinating everything.

27. Nd3

27. Qh4+ Ke8 28. Nc4 Nf6 29. Nd6+ looks nasty  (27. .... g5 28. Ng6+! is quite attractive).

27. .....   Nf6
28. Qb3 Kf8
29. a4 Nd7
30. Re4 Nf6



31. Re5!

White allows one exchange.

31. ......  Rxe5
32. Nxe5 Rd5
33. Nd3

Better is 33. Qe3 where White can then think about either c4 or Nc4.

33. .....  Rh5

I felt my only chance to save the game would be to try to open up the area around his king.

34. g3 Rg5
35. f4 Rd5

Mission accomplished - the rook moves back to the centre.

36. b5 cxb5
37. axb5 Nd7

I did not see the possible 37. ... Qa5. Now 38. Qa3! is best with 38. .. Kg8 39. c4 Rf5 and White can win the exchange with 40. g4 or push on with 40. c6.



38. c6 Qb6+
39. Kf1 Nc5
40. Nxc5?!

40. Qb4 Kg8 41. Ne5 keeps the pawn advantage.

40. .....  Qxc5
41. Re5

White decides to give back the pawn in order to get the rooks off the board.

41. ....  Rxe5
42. fxe5 Qxe5

The computer now rates the game as equal - and I have not done too badly in holding on. However the pawn on c6 gives White a big advantage.

43. Qd3 Kg8?

43. ... g6 is better ....

44. Qd8+ Kh7
45. c7

... and this is why. If Black plays 45. ... Qxb5+ then 46. Qd3+ forces the exchange and wins. If Black had played 43. ... g6 44. Qd8+ Kg7 then 45. c7 would result in perpetual check.

As White played 45. c7 he said 'well, I can't lose'. That is correct - but can I draw?



45. ....  Qf5+

46. Ke1 Qe4+
47. Kd2 Qb4+
48. Ke3 Qc5+
49. Kd2 Qb4+
50. c3

If only I had the f4 square free to use.

50. .....  Qb2+
51. Ke3 Qc1+

If 51. .. Qxc3+ then 52. Qd3+ wins straight away.

52. Qd2 Qg1+
53. Kd3 Qc5

This will win a pawn. And we are still equal.

54. Qf4 Qxb5+
55. Qc4 Qb1+
56. Kd4 Qb6+
57. Ke4 f5+?



The fatal mistake. This just gives White's king a path to get closer to the pawn. 57. .. Qb1+ or 57. Qb7+ was necessary.

58. Ke5 Qe3+
59. Kd6 Qd2+
60. Kc6 Qg2+
61. Kd7 Qb7
62. Qc6

And here I resigned.

Game 96 - club match. Snodland v Swale

Snodland vs Swale - En Passant Cup - Board Two

Thursday 8 March 2018

White: R. Thompson (146) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

1. d4 f5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. Bf4

This is our second encounter with the Dutch and White plays the Bf4 and e3 system again.

3. ....e6
4. e3 Be7
5. Nbd2 b6

Last time I played d6 and Bd7. This time I decide to fianchetto the queen's bishop. Usually I would wait to see what White does with his king's bishop but thought I would just get on with it.

6. Be2 O-O
7. O-O Bb7

With a firm grip on e4.

8. h3 Ne4
9. c3



I gave a lot of thought here to 9. ... g5 and rejected it on the basis that it did not feel right. I am behind in development and ought to continue. 9. .. Nc6 perhaps.

Surprisingly the computer likes 9. .. g5 with 10. Bh2 d5 but not 10..... g4 11. hxg4 fxg4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 (12. ... gxf3 13. Bxf3) 13. Nd2 winning a pawn.

Instead I play 9. .. d6 to defend the pawn on c7 and free the queen for action.

9.   ....d6
10. Qb3

Developing with a threat. The computer knows no fear by recommending 10. g4 - an energetic move perhaps with an attack down the h-file in mind.

10.    .....  Rf6

I considered 10. .. Qd7 but did not like the passive position of the queen - I want it to attack the king.
10. .. d5 is another idea which makes for a solid centre but I was unhappy about leaving the e5 square as it is. My choice was aimed at combining attack - with an eye on Rg6 or Rh6 - and defence.

11. Rad1 Nc6

At last bringing the last piece into the game. White now has a forced sequence to grab the initiative.

12. Nxe4 fxe4
13. Ng5 d5
14. Bg4 Bc8

14. .. Qc8 with Ba6 might have been more accurate but placing the queen on the bishop diagonal looked tactically suspect.

15. h4

Forced to get an escape square for the knight.

15. ......  h6
16. Nh3 Bd6
17. Qc2 Ne7

I was finding spaces for my pieces and feeling a bit happier, but 17. .. Ba6 would have been better.



White now has 18. Be5! If Black takes 18. .. Bxe5 19. dxe5 Rf7 20. Nf4 Nf5 21. c4 and Black is feeling the pressure. And if Black does not take the bishop with 18. .. Rf7/f8 then again 19. Nf4 Nf5 20. c4.

Another point to note is that I was down to my last 25 minutes for the next 18 moves.

18. Bxd6 Qxd6
19. c4 Nf5

19. ... Ba6 20. b3 Nc6 is worth a thought.

20. Bxf5 Rxf5
21. cxd5 exd5
22. Rc1

The computer says that Black is better - well, it did not feel like that at the time. I could see that White was planning an initiative down the c-file.

22.   ...    Rf7

I now expected 23. Qc6 forcing the exchange of queens and, with time running low, bringing us closer to a draw.

23. Nf4?!

This allows me to develop an initiative against the White king.

23.   ...  g5!
24. hxg5 hxg5
25. Ne2

I had intended 25. Nh3 Bxh3 - which may be double edged as my own king is now quite exposed - but now my heart leapt as I got the chance to threaten checkmate.

25.    .....Rh7

Will White see it? Well, of course he does. 26. Ng3 can now be met by 26. .. Qh6 or 26. ... Ba6 and the net around the White king is tighter.

26. f3 Qh2+

26. ... Ba6 coming to d3 is also good but I planned to move the bishop down the other diagonal.

27. Kf2 Bh3
28. Ke1

28. Qc6 looks good for White if Black decides to go wrong with 28. ... Qxg2+? 29. Ke1 Qxf1+ 30. Kd2 Qxc1+ 31. Kxc1 Rd8 with an even position - but 28. .. Rd8 holds.



28. .......  Bxg2
29. Rg1 exf3
30. Qg6+ Rg7
31. Qe6+ Kh8?

Missing 31. .. Rf7 32. Qg6+ Kf8 and the checks run out forcing 33. Rxg2 fxg2 34. Kd2 Rf1 and the other Black rook will soon enter the game.

32. Qe5

With time running out, I tried hard to see if there was a forced win here.

32. ......  Qh4+
33. Ng3

33. Kd2 was better although Black can still open up the position with 33. .. c5. After more thought, I decide that there is no way to win at once - or if there was, I could not see it - and so I just decide to go into an ending three pawns up.

33. .....  Qh2
34. Ne2 Qxe5
35. dxe5 Re8
36. Nd4 Rxe5



37. Kf2 g4
38. Rxg2 fxg2
39. Kxg2 c5
40. Ne2 Rxe3

With the exchange and three pawns up, with some time spare now, I continue to advance and try to consolidate.

41. Nf4 d4
42. b4 Rc3
43. Rh1+ Rh7
44. Re1 Re3
45. Rc1 g3
46. Nh3 Re2+
47. Kf3 Re3+
48. Kg2 Rc7
49. b5 c4

And White now resigned.

Snodland v Swale

George Hollands (155) 1/2-1/2 Keith Hyde (166)
Robert Thompson (146) 0-1 Keith Nevols (157)
David Lettington (143) 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (136)
Paul Shevlane (143) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
Peter Hickey (122) 1/2-1/2 Andrew Gillard (107)
Hugh Broadbent (96) 1-0 Barry Sawyer (83)

Snodland 2-4 Swale