Game 106 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Twelve

Swale Club Championship - Round Twelve

Thursday 3 May 2018

White: K. Nevols (157) - Black: D. Page (135)

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. Be2 e6
6. O-O Nge7

So far so normal, although sometimes Black places the king's knight on f6.

7. Qe1 Nb4
8. Bd1 b6
9. d3 Bb7

Black has not yet castled so I think about a plan. The first step is to take the knights away from the defence of d5.

10. a3 Nc6



The computer recommends 11. e5 here, followed by Ne4, but I did not want to end the tension so soon and give his knights the squares d5 and f5.

11. Nb5

This is a bluff really. A knight coming to d6 looks impressive but after 11. ... O-O 12. Nd6 Ba6 does White have anything against Nf5 (considering Nxd6 and Qb8)? 13. e5 Nf5 14. Nxf5 gxf5 and a Black d5 is coming.

However, Black does not take any chances.

11. .....  Nc8
12. f5

This was the point I had been working towards - to try to take some initiative.

12. ....  a6
13. Nc3 Nd4
14. Ng5

14. fxe6 would have been better, slightly breaking up the pawn cover in the centre.

14. .. O-O
15. fxg6 fxg6

Obviously not 15. .. hxg6?? when 16. Qh4 wins on the spot. If 16. Qh4 now then .. h6 picks up a piece. Seeing no way to break through, I decide to make some exchanges.

16. Ne2 Nxe2
17. Bxe2 Bd4+
18. Kh1 Rxf1+
19. Qxf1 Qf6
20. Qxf6 Bxf6
21. c3

Already there are signs of a draw, but I needed the win and had to consider how I could press for any advantage.



21. ...  Ne7
22. Be3 Nc6
23. Rf1 Rf8
24. Nf3 e5

This make my ears prick up. Is it a mistake? Can I get my bishop on to the a2-g8 diagonal and control the d5 square? Is the d6 now weak for a knight? The computer prefers consolidating with 24. .. Be7.

The best move now for White would be 25. b4! and then Bd1 and on to Ba4 or Bb3. However I decided to try to improve the knight.

25. Nd2 Bd8
26. Rxf8 Kxf8
27. Nc4 Bc7

Another opportunity to play b4 but instead I opt to improve another piece - this time the bishop.

28. Bg4 d6
29. Be6 b5
30. Nd2 Nd8
31. Bb3 Bc8



Magnus Carlsen might be able to win this position but I was not convinced I could. My senses told me that White was slightly better - a view which the computer agrees with, scoring +0.43 - but I could not see how I could convert that into a winning advantage. As I said, maybe I should have tried b4 earlier.

32. Nf3 Be6
33. Bd1

The computer recommends 33. Bd5 but after 33. .. Bxd5 34. exd5 I did not want to risk the pawn getting cut off.

33. ....  Nf7
34. Kg1 Kg7
35. Kf2 Nh6
36. h3 Nf7
37. d4

At last. a pawn break. But anther opportunity to play b4 gone.

37. ....  c4
38. Ne1?!

38. d5 would have kept the slight advantage. Now Black could play 38. .. d5 to take the initiative and open up the centre.

38. ....  Bd8
39. Nc2 a5
40. Bd2 Ng5!

Good move, forcing the exchange of one of the bishops, as after 41. Ke3, my pieces just get in a tangle.

41. Bf3 Nxf3
42. Kxf3 Bb6

42. .. h5 is worth a thought, limiting White on the kingside.

43. dxe5 dxe5
44. Ne3 Bxe3
45. Bxe3 a4



The position is now dead level and so we agreed a draw.