Game 108 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Final Group - Round Two

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Two

Thursday 24 May 2018

White: K. Nevols (161) - Black: D. Simpson (105)

1. e4 d5

Always strange to play against my own opening, but at least I know how to play the most aggressive line.

2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qd8

I always play 3. ... Qa5 to try to hinder White's development.

4. Nf3 Nf6
5. Bc4 e6

I thought this was a mistake as it blocks in the Black queens' bishop, but Black has other plans for that piece.

6. O-O Be7
7. d4 O-O
8. Bg5 a6

Nothing to say yet - I am still bringing the pieces in.

9. Qe2 b5
10. Bd3 Bb7
11. Rfe1



Now 11 .. Nc6 and the position is even. Black instead plays slightly inaccurately which gives me a small initiative.

Of course 11. .. Bxf3 does not win a pawn because of the loose rook on a8. (11. ... Bxf3? 12. Qxf3 Nbd7 13. a4 or 12. .. c6 13. a4 Qxd4 14. axb5)

11. ....  c5
12. dxc5 Bxc5
13. Ne4 Be7
14. Rad1

This move looks quite natural, centralising a piece and threatening the Black queen.

However 14. a4 looks better, taking the initiative on the queenside. Another idea is 14. Nxf6 Bxf6 15. Bxf6 Qxf6 16. Ne5 (16. ... Nc6?? 17. Qe4). Moving the rook away removes any prospect of action on the left wing.

14. ....   Nbd7?!

14. .. Qc7 is better preparing Nc6. I could see a sequence to open some spaces around the Black king.

15. Nxf6+ Bxf6
16. Bxf6 Qxf6

If 16. ..gxf6 then 17. Bxh7+ Kxh7 18. Qd3+ and White will win a pawn.

17. Bxh7+ Kxh7
18. Rxd7 Bxf3
19. Qxf3 Qxb2
20. Rxf7 Rxf7
21. Qxf7 Qxa2



This was the position I had foreseen back on move 15. Material is even but I can get the e6 pawn. Even better, I can surround the Black king - but first a necessary precaution.

22. h3

I considered 22. h4 but then I thought I might need the h4 square for the rook.

22. ...  Qd5

If 22. .. Qxc2? then 23. Re5 wins on the spot.

23. Rxe6 Rd8
24. Qg6+ Kg8
25. Rxa6 Qd1+
26. Kh2 Qe2

Two pawns up - 27. Qe6+ forces the exchange of queens but a lot of work still needed.

27. Ra7 Qe5+
28. Qg3 Qd4

But Black dodges the exchange.

29. Rb7 b4
30. Qb3+ Kh8
31. Qxb4

And another pawn. They think it's all over. if now 31. .. Qxf2 then 32. Qg4 Qf6 33. Rxg7 (33. ... Qxg7 34. Qh4+).

31. ...  Qe5+
32. g3 Rf8??

The position is lost anyway.

33. Qxf8+

Black resigned. I was very pleased with this position which meant I had caught up half a point and was now only half a point behind the championship leader.