Rochester v Rainham - Stephenson Cup - Board Two
Thursday 5 April 2018
White: K. Nevols (157) - Black: T. Owens (173)
1. e4 e6
2. Qe2 Be7
The point of 2. Qe2 against the French is to hinder Black playing 2. .. d5. The point of 2. .. Be7 is to re-open up the possibility.
3. Nc3 d5
4. f4 c5
5. Nf3 Nc6
And now we are into the Closed Sicilian once more.
6. g3 d4
7. Nb1 Qc7
8. d3 e5
Black is known for a love of mixing things up - with quite some success - and begins such a plan now. 8. .. Nf6 is an alternative, continuing to develop.
I did not like the thought of the Black bishop coming to g4, but I did like the thought of a White bishop on f4, so I began the exchanges with the knight.
9. Nxe5 Nxe5
10. fxe5
I expected 10. .. Qxe5 11. Bf4 with an equal position, but that is not what I got.
10. .... g5!?
A stunning move. With both kings still in the centre, this does guarantee an interesting game.
There is no way to hold the e-pawn so I continue to develop with a tempo.
11. Nd2 Qxe5
12. Nf3
12. Nc4 would have been better followed by Bg2. I was concerned about a future b5, booting out the knight, but then there would have been long diagonal tactical possibilities based around e5.
12. ..... Qg7
With Black's queen now forced to a bad square, I invested a lot of thought. The problem is that when someone wants to mix it up, it is contagious, you want to do the same and have some fun - although this usually leads to going down in flames. At the end of the day, we would all prefer to win a boring game.
The sensible move here is 13. Bg2 and then castles, although I had a suspicion my opponent might then throw in h5-h4. But instead I saw a crazy move that I could not resist.
13. b4!?
The idea is 13. .. cxb4 14. Bb2 Bc5 15. Qf2 and picking up the pawn on d4.
Black could try 13. .. g4 14. Nh4 cxb4 but then White might get compensation with 15. Bg2 and castles with perhaps Nf5.
I do not have much faith in my ability to calculate tactics (with good reason) but thought the worst thing that would happen would be that I would lose a pawn and Black's extra pawn would be a doubled b-pawn.
13. ...... c4!?
I did not see this move. Of course 14. dxc4 d3 is out, so I decide to threaten it and defend the pawn as well.
14. Rb1 g4
Am obvious move, the pawn is stronger here. Time to relocate the knight.
15. Nd2 c3
16. Nb3!
If now 16. .. Bxb4 then 17. Qf2 would regain the pawn on d4, followed by Bg2 and castles and White is looking good.
16. ..... Be6
17. Qf2 Bxb3
This move surprised me as the bishop was a good piece. I had expected Black to castle.
18. Rxb3
The computer recommends 18. axb3 meeting 18. .. Bxb4 with 19. Be2 h5 20. Qf5.
18. ... h5
I saw 19. Qf5! - it looked good with the Black king stuck in the centre, but I was worried about the h-pawn advance and also my lack of development. The king, rook and both bishops are still on their starting squares.
However 19. Qf5 is the best move threatening to come over to b5. A queen exchange would be in White's favour. If 19. .. h4 then 20. Qb5+ Kf8 21. Qxb7 Re8 and then not 22. Bg2 hxg3 23. hxg3 Rxh1+ 24. Bxh1 Bg5! (25. Ba3 Qh6 26. Bg2 Bc1!) but 22. gxh4 Bxh4+ 23. Kd1. However this looks quite a nervy position.
19. Bg2 h4
And again 20. Qf5 is good. The computer, which has no fear, also suggests 20. O-O - which I certainly would not have played. Instead, with Black under pressure, I simplify.
20. e5?! Qxe5
21. Kd1 hxg3
22. hxg3 Rxh1+
23. Bxh1
White will get the pawn back as 23. .. Rb8 is met by 24. Bf4
23. ...... Rd8
24. Bxb7 Bg5
And Black offered a draw. I felt I was losing the thread of this position, risked the king being trapped in the middle, was concerned about Ng8-e7-d5-e3 (this knight never got to move at all) and so I accepted.
AGREED DRAW
We went through the position afterwards. Black was concerned about a White Ra3, which to be honest I had overlooked. After 25. Bxg5 Qxg5, we could not find an answer to a Black Rd8-d6-f6. For example, 26. Ra3 Rd6 27. Rxa7 Kf8! (to meet Ra8+ with Kg7) 28. Bg2 Rf6. The computer rates this as better for Black with an idea of Ng8-e7-f5-e3.
Instead of 28. Bg2, the computer suggests 28. Ra5! Qh6 29. Rf5 and White is better.
All the same, I was satisfied with this brief but hard fought draw against a better opponent, especially when the match result was so close.
Rochester v Rainham
Keith Hyde (166) 1/2-1/2 Alistair Compton (186)
Keith Nevols (157) 1/2-1/2 Trefor Owens (173)
Vytautas Gedminas (130) 1/2-1/2 David Barnes (173)
David Page (122) 1/2-1/2 Robert Springett (133)
Tyrone Jefferies (116) 0-1 Constantine Tucker (117)
Andrew Gillard (107) 1-0 Martin Reeve (105)
Rochester 3-3 Rainham
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