Game 76 - club match. Snodland v Swale

Snodland vs Swale - Fuller Cup - Board One
Thursday 26 October 2017
White: G. Hollands (155) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

My opponent is a well known strong player - he is local to us and has come along to some of our quickplay events. In our simul against Matthew Sadler, he was the only one of 14 of us not to lose with a good draw.

Our swords had crossed before (Game 3) when I lost a drawn game and was outplayed in an ending. So I knew I would be up against it with a tough battle.

1. d4 f5
2. c4 Nf6
3. g3

Adopting a quiet approach against the Dutch and taking us into the main line.

3. ....  e6
4. Bg2 d6
5. Nc3 Be7
6. Nf3 O-O
7. O-O a5

The recommendation by Simon Williams GM - taking time out to hold up White's queenside counterplay. Another possibility is 7. .. Qe8 planning to come to the kingside.

8. Re1 Ne4
9. Qc2 Nxc3
10. Qxc3

All one of the main lines - Black swaps knights to delay White's e4.



Now I had used up my memory of the theory. I remembered that Black should try to meet e4 with e5.

10. ....  Bf6?!

The move Simon Williams recommends (which I had forgotten) is 10. .. Nc6 with 11. e4 e5 12.exf5 Bxf5 13. Be3 Be4 14. Nd2 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 d5! 16. a3 Bf6 (Gallagher-Williams). (If 11. d5 then Bf6). My move places the bishop opposite the queen and I am thinking of moves like c5 and Nc6.

11. e4 e5
12. dxe5 dxe5
13. Qc2

White could have tried 13. Nxe5 as it is not clear if Black gets enough for the pawn. 13. .. Nc6 14. f4 Re8 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Bd2! Nb4 17. g4! Bxg4 18. Bxb7 or 13. .. Nc6 14. Bf4 g5 15. Nxc6 Bxc3 16. Nxd8 Bxe1 17. Bxc7.

I now gave some thought to 13. .. g6 with the idea of 14. exf5 Bxf5 but it did not look right. Moves such as Bh6 and Qb3 could get the king in trouble. As the White d-pawn had gone I decided to bring into play the queen's knight to hit the centre and offer a pawn sacrifice.

13. ..... Nc6
14. Rd1

If 14. exf5 Nb4 15. Qe4 Nd3 16. Rd1 Nxf2! is equal but 16. Re2 and Black is beginning to look clumsy. Fortunately for me White remains cautious.

14. ...   Nd4

Although I felt a little confident, the computer gives White a clear lead, now recommending 15. Nxd4 exd4 16. exf5. The question then is whether Black can make use of that passed pawn in the middle or whether White can round it up and use the open spaces in the centre.



15. Rxd4?

But this was a stunner. White gives up the exchange. Initially I could not see what White gets for it so had to play along with great caution.

15. .....  exd4
16. e5 Be7
17. Ne1 c6

To prevent Bd5+ and keeping protection of the d-pawn. White is planning to blockade the pawn and play around it. He has 54 minutes left for 18 moves whereas I was at 38 minutes.

At this point, the digital clock blanked out - the battery had gone! Fortunately my opponent had noted the times and knew how to set up a new one, so after a short pause, we were away again.

18. Nd3 g5!

A double functioning move - both to attack on the kingside but also to keep his knight out of the f4 square where it would have been a nuisance. I was aware of the king looking unsafe but so far those White bishops are kept well under control.

19. f4 h6

I did not like 19. .. g4 blocking the position - with a material advantage I needed to get those pieces out. I did not see much mileage in h5-h4 and opening the h-file which seemed to me to be too slow.

20. Bd2 Be6
21. b3 Kh8

To prepare for the opening of the g-file.

22. Rd1 Rc8

I now have 21 minutes for 14 moves. At this point, I was struggling to see how I could advance. The computer has consistently recommended g4 and h5-h4 but I wanted open spaces for my bishops and decided to advance on the other wing with b5. This move prepares that, and also moves the rook off the bishop's diagonal.



23. Bc1

White is planning to round up the d-pawn so I had better get going.

23. ....   b5
24. Bb2

Some thought was now given to 24. .. bxc4 25. bxc4 c5. Instead I did it the other way round - and now had 14 minutes left for 11 moves.

24. ...   c5!?

The point is whether I could play 25. cxb5 c4. This looked quite strong to me. 26. bxc4 Bxc4? would be a mistake because of 27. Bb7 Rc7 28. b6! Rxb7 29. Qxc4 Qxb6 30. Bxd4 and with a pawn for the exchange and Black's draughty king, White is back in the game.

26. .. Rxc4 with Qb6 and then bringing the other rook across to the c-file was the plan. A timely Bc6 from White at some stage could have been a nuisance. In the event, White decided to trust me.

25. Ba3 bxc4
26. bxc4 Qc7

Overprotecting the c5 pawn to prepare Rb8.

27. Bd5 Qd7

27. .. Bxd5 28. cxd5 did not look like much fun, although the computer says there is nothing to fear after 28. .. c4 29. d6 cxd3 30. Qxd3 Qc3! 31. dxe7 Rfe8 32. e6 - perhaps not, but this does not look like a position one would be confident in playing.

28. Bg2 Rfd8
29. Re1?!

A good plan for White would be Rb1 and then either Rb5 or Rb7.

29. ...    Rg8
30. Rd1 gxf4

At last!

31. Nxf4 Bg5



32. Nd3?

I was happy to see this. Either 32. Rf1 or 32. Bc1 to defend the f4 point would have been a tougher defence.

White accompanied this move with an offer of a draw, but I could see a sequence which I wanted to give a try.

32.       Be3+
33. Kh1 Qf7

This was the move White told me he had overlooked. Black threatens the c-pawn and also f4 with an attack on the king. I had two minutes left for the next two moves.

34. Nb2 f4

The computer likes the flashy 34. .. Rxg3! with 35. hxg3 Qh5+ 36. Bh3 f4! 37. Qh2 Bxh3 with Qf3+ to come. Of course I did not see any of that - my existing winning plan seemed to suffice.

35. Rf1 Bf5

If now 36. Be4 then 36. .. Bh3 and 37. .. Qh5.

36. Nd3 Qg6
37. Rd1 fxg3
38. h3 Qh5



And now White resigned. Those bishops did the job after all.
I was delighted with this result against such a good player.

Snodland v Swale

George Hollands (155) 0-1 Keith Nevols (157)
Robert Thompson (146) 1/2-1/2 Vytautas Gedminas (130)
David Lettington (143) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
Neil Miners (100) 0-1 Aurimas Liuberskis (110)
Hugh Broadbent (96) 1/2-1/2 Andrew Gillard (107)
Charlie Palmer (81) 1/2-1/2 Barry Sawyer (83)

Snodland 1.5 - 4.5 Swale

Game 75 - club match. Hastings v Swale

Hastings vs Swale - Harvey Cup - Board One
Sunday 22 October 2017
White: D. Ruane (161) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

A nice trip to the south coast. All through last season, I had not lost a single game playing for Swale. Now saddled with a high grade, I thought that things might change and how right I was - with a crushing defeat in an awful performance.


1. Nf3 f5

The Dutch defence.

2. b3

An unusual set-up so I develop normally.

2. ...  Nf6
3. c4 d6
4. d4 e6

The computer recommends 4. ... Ne4!? Curious to move the knight twice in four moves but the idea is to obstruct a White Nc3 and to reply to 5. Nbd2 with 5. . e6 and perhaps d5, or to 5. e3 with 5. .. c5 and 6. dxc5 Qa5+ or 6. Bd3 Nc6. An interesting thought in an opening I am still learning.

5. Nc3 Be7
6. Qc2

White has delayed the deployment of his kings bishop in order to get the move e4 in, but the presence of the queen on c2 allows me to develop the other knight towards the centre.

6. ...  Nc6
7. e4 fxe4?!

Maybe 7. .. Nb4 would be better but it was the following break I had in mind.

8. Nxe4 e5

The plan is to break open the centre while his king is still there. The irony is that, as we will see, it is my king which gets trapped instead.
If 8. .. O-O I was concerned about some white central play but 9. Bd3 result in 9. .. Nb4 exchanging the bishop, and 9. Neg5 h6 seems OK.



9. Bb2

White considers castling queenside.

9. ..  exd4
10. Nxd4 Nb4

Castles is better for Black. Now White picks up the initiative.

11. Nxf6 Bxf6
12. Qd2 a5
13. a3 Qe7+
14. Be2 Na6

White cannot play 15. Qxa5 because of 15. .. c5 winning a piece.

15. O-O

Last chance to castle. But White would still be better - he can bring his rooks into the middle while Black is sorting himself out.



15. ....   Nc5??

Completely overlooking White's next move.

16. Bh5+ Kd8

If 16. .. Kf8 17. Re1 and Re8+.

17. Rfe1

With the king stuck in the middle, I knew the game was up.

17. ...  Qd7

The computer suggests 17.   Qf8 18. Re8+ Qxe8 19. Bxd8 Rxe8 keeping material losses to a minimum.

18. b4!

White has his eye on a possible Ne6+. The game is now won for White.

18. ...   axb4
19. axb4 Rxa1
20. Bxa1 Bxd4

And while he was thinking,  saw the winning move - and a few minutes later he played it.

21. Qg5+



Black must resign. The only move is 21. .. Bf6 and then 22. Bxf6+ will force ruinous material loss.
A terrible game to start the county league season with.


Hastings v Swale

Brendan Ruane (161) 1-0 Keith Nevols (157)
Gary Wilson (129) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
John Kimber (119) 0-1 Vytautas Gedminas (110)
Gregory Chandler (76) 0-1 Andrew Gillard (107)
Umberto Joe Jozwiak (78) 1-0 Barry Sawyer (83)
James Wheeler (159) 1-0 default

Hastings 3-3 Swale

Game 74 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Three

Swale Club Championship - Round Three
Thursday 19 October 2017
White: A. Luberskis (-) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

My third game of the season was against a new member - an unknown factor.

1. e4 d5
2. e5

White meets my Scandinavian with the 'advance' option.

2. ....  c5
3. Be2 Bf5
4. Nf3 Nc6

White chooses a quiet set up and allows Black to develop calmly.

5. h3 e6
6. Bb5

The second move of the bishop wastes time. Better is castling.

6. ....   Qc7
7. c3 Be7

The computer prefers 7. .. O-O-O attacking the pawn on e5 and then gives 8. Bxc6 Qxc6 9. d4 Qa6 or 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Nb4 10. Na3 Nc2+?! 11. Nxc2 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 Qxb5 13. Ne3 - which looks good for White as he has the open c-file and Black's kingside is not yet developed.

The pawn on e5 is restricting development and I intended to resolve that problem first.



8. O-O a6
9. Ba4?

9. Bxc6+ was forced. Now Black wins a pawn.

9. ...    b5
10. Bc2 Bxc2
11. Qxc2 Nxe5
12. Nxe5 Qxe5

Now Black is much better. He is a pawn up and can sort out his development.

13. d4 Qc7
14. Be3

14. a4 would be a good way to bring the rook into the game and gain some initiative. 14. .. Rb8 15. axb5 axb5 16. Be3.

14. ....   Nf6
15. Nd2 O-O



Now I have the king in safety it is time to think of a plan. Advancing on the queenside and making play against White's centre seems to be a good plan.

16. Rae1 Nh5
17. Qd1 Nf4
18. Nf3 c4

The d3 square looks very attractive to my knight so White decides to sacrifice the exchange. 19. Bxf4 Qxf4 20. Ne5 is better.

19. Re2? Nxe2+
20. Qxe2 b4

Intending to open lines for the rooks.

21. Ne5 bxc3
22. bxc3 Rab8
23. Qg4! Bf6

If now 24. Bh6 I had planned to play 24. .. Bxe5 25. dxe5 Qxe5. White manages to arrange a strong kingside attack.

24. Rd1 Bxe5
25. dxe5 Qe7

Of course 25. .. Qxe5?? walks into 26. Bd4 which I thought was game over. However Black has 26. .. h5! which would save the game albeit with loss of material after 27. Bxe5 hxg4 28. Bxb8 Rxb8 29. hxg4 and Black would be a pawn up.



26. Bg5 is the best move here. 26. .. Qc7 27. Bf6 g6 28. Qg5 wins, so Black has to play 26. .. f6 27. exf6 Qf7 which looks ugly but just about holds but not without a few beads of sweat. White though misses this chance.

26. Qe2? Rb5
27. a4 Rb3
28. f4 Rxc3
29. Rb1 Qd7
30. Bd4 Rd3
31. Qb2 Qxa4

White has given up two pawns to open some lines on the queenside but I can exchange a pair of rooks.

32. Ra1 Rd1+
33. Rxd1 Qxd1+
34. Kh2 Qb3
35. Qa1 Ra8

The bishop is good for White, there are spaces to exploit, and the back rank is still weak so it is not over yet. I decide to defend the goal line before I can get those pawns going.



36. Qa5 Qb5
37. Qc7 Qe8
38. f5 Rc8
39. Qa5 Qc6
40. Qa3 Rb8
41. f6 Rb3
42. Qa5 Qc8
43. fxg7 c3

With the posts covered, it was time to get moving.

44. Qa2 c2
45. Qxb3 c1(=Q)
46. Qg3 Qh6

And now the win is straight forward. White decides to play on to mate.

47. Be3 Qxg7
48. Qf4 Qc2
49. Qf1 Qe4
50. Bf4 d4
51. Bg3 d3
52. Qb1 Qe2
53. Qb8+ Qf8
54. Qxf8+ Kxf8
55. h4 d2
56. h5 d1(=Q)
57. Bh4 Qdd2
58. h6 Qxg2 mate

Game 73 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Two

Swale Club Championship - Round Two
Thursday 28 September 2017
White: A. Fletcher (88) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

1. b3

The Larsen Opening, named after the legendary Danish player, Bent Larsen (1935-2010). The plan is to follow with Bb2 and put early pressure on the Black kingside.

1. ....  e5

I just decide to occupy the centre. 1. . d5 is also often seen.

2. Bb2 d6

2. .. Nc6 is more accurate - keeping the option open of d5. The problem now is that my Black bishop is limited in its' development - as it would be difficult to play g6 and Bg7.

3. e3 Nc6
4. Bb5 Bd7
5. Ne2 Qg5?!



As soon as I played this move, I regretted it. The plan was to punish White's quiet development by just being annoying and hitting g2. Also I was considering a quick castling queenside, and to give the option of any plans based around h5. But it achieves absolutely nothing and also hinders the move Nf6 in case the queen gets trapped.

6. Ng3 a6

If 6. .. h5 then 7. h4 Qg6 8. Bd3 - although 8. .. f5 could be fine. Nevertheless I would be lumbered with a pawn on h5 which could be tricky to defend, so let's get on with development.

7. Bd3 Nh6

Playing the knight to f6 would have blocked the line of retreat for my queen.

8. Qh5?!

This surprised me. White advances his own queen before completing development. Black could play 8. .. Qxh5 9. Nxh5 Nb4 but I decided I wanted to keep the queen on and see if I could learn from my own mistake by attacking an exposed queen.

8. ....  Qe7

The threat is now Bg4. Therefore I expected 9. h3 to which I was considering 9. .. g6.

9. Nc3??

... but White overlooks my next.

9. ...   Bg4

The White queen is trapped. I reflected on the irony that it had been my own mistake with the queen that had led White to reciprocate and get into trouble himself.



White can save his queen by losing a piece with 10. Nf5 Bxh5 11. Nxe7 Bxe7.

10. Nd5?

.. but this way to save the queen loses two pieces.

10. ..   Qd8
11. Nxc7+ Qxc7
12. Qg5 f6

The White queen has found a square but is still trapped. Now 13. Qh4 is met with g5 and so he has to jettison a second piece.

13. Bg6+ hxg6
14. Qxg6+ Qf7
15. Qd3

The White queen is saved but White is two pieces for two pawns down. Now I can just develop and hopefully get the win without any accidents.

15. ..   d5
16. f3 Be6
17. O-O-O Nb4

Picking up another pawn.

18. Qe2 Nxa2+
19. Kb1 Nb4
20. f4? Bg4

And now the exchange.

21. Qf2 Bxd1
22. Rxd1 Qc7
23. Bc3 Nc6

I recalled my earlier game where I was well ahead but managed to nearly lose. White's sole plus point is the chance of opening central lines against the king so I was keen to get the guy safe as soon as possible.



24. Kb2 Bd6
25. Nh5 O-O-O

Phew. White now completely collapses and there is no more to be said.

26. Nxg7? Qxg7
27. Qf3 d4
28. Qh3+? Ng4
29. Qg3 dxc3+
30. dxc3 Ba3+
31. Kxa3 Rxd1
32. fxe5 Qe7+
33. Kb2 Ngxe5
34. Qf4 Rhd8
35. Qf5+ Kb8
36. g4 Ra1

I quite liked that move. Of course if 37. Kxa1 Qa3+ 38. Kb1 Rd1 mate.

37. b4 Rdd1
38. Qxe5+ Nxe5
39. Resigns

Mate next move is unstoppable.

Game 72 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round One

Swale Club Championship - Round One
Thursday 7 September 2017
White: K. Nevols (157) - Black: K. French (98)

And so we begin again. My third season since my 'comeback' after twenty years of inactivity. And I had a shiny new grade to protect - my highest ever.

Our two previous games had seen a win and a draw for me but my opponent was known as a good defender so I resolved to play carefully and casually to try to build up small advantages.

1. e4 e6
2. Qe2

This is an anti-French system I am trying out. The idea is that if Black plays 2. .. d5 (as French players usually do) then after 3. exd5 Black has to recapture with the queen leaving the pawn stuck on e6.

Experiments in blitz games had resulted in games often becoming like closed Sicilians where I have a good record.

2. .... d6
3. Nc3 b6

Now White could strike for the centre with 4. d4 but I have the d3 square in mind for that pawn. After 4. d4 Black has the interesting 4. .. Ba6 5. Qd1 Bxf1 6. Kxf1 delaying White development but leaving the Black queenside a bit open. Instead I stay with the Closed Sicilian idea.

4. f4 Bb7
5. Nf3 Nf6
6. d3 Nbd7

6. .. Nc6 is more active with possible plans to come to b4 or d4. From the d7 square, this knight can not do so much. I guessed that Black was thinking along the lines of a d5 break and did not want to block the bishop.

I now gave some thought to 7. Rg1. I was keen to get active as soon as possible and the plan was both to take the rook off the long diagonal and also to intend 8. g4. Black's best might be to play 7. .. d5 8. e5 Ng4 9. h3 Nh6 10. g4 Be7. Black looks solid enough and White is not yet developed.

The problem with the Qe2 anti-French system is that the queen gets in the way of the kings bishop. I could play 7. Qd1 and Be2 which is probably OK, but instead I decide to continue development before rushing in with g4.

7. g3 a6
8. Bg2 Qc8?!

Presumably this is to defend the bishop but it does limit the queen's role and take her slightly further away from where the action might be, as well as making queenside castling more difficult.

9. O-O Be7

Now what shall I do with the queens bishop? Sticking to my plan of quiet development, I rejected Be3 as I did not want to block the e-file.

10. Bd2 O-O



Now that I knew where his king was, it was time to think of a plan, and the move e5 came to me to gain the initiative in the centre. I also considered 11. Rae1, because it develops a piece and I wanted Black to show more of what he was intending, but instead I decided to push on with the attack.

11. e5 Ne8

I had calculated that 11. .. Bxf3 could be ruled out because of 12. Bxf3 Nd5 13. Nxd5 winning a pawn. Also that 11 .. dxe5 12. fxe5 was good for me as it opens up a route for the queens bishop towards the kingside.

If 11 .. Nd5 I considered 12. exd6 cxd6 with the intention of weakening the queenside but rejected that on the basis that my pawn on e5 was quite good where it is. So after 11. .. Nd5 my intention was to beef up the e-file with 12. Rae1.

Instead Black drops the knight back, which I was happy with.

Now I gave some thought to 12. Nd4 intending a pawn sacrifice after 12. .. Bxg2 13. Qxg2!? dxe5 14. Nc6. I went on with 14. .. Bc5+ 15. Kh1 exf4 16. Bxf4. For the pawn, White has a very well-placed knight and the potential for a kingside attack.

However, Black is not forced to take the bishop on g2 (an advantage of the queen being on c8 which I criticised earlier). And can answer 12. Nd4 with 12. . c5 or just 12. .. dxe5 13. fxe5 where it looks silly.

12. Rae1 d5

Black has now closed the centre and I gave some thought to another pawn sacrifice with 13. f5. My idea was 13. .. exf5 14. e6 fxe6 15. Qxe6+ Rf7. I did not see that now 16. Nxd5 gets the pawn back, nor that 16. Ng5 is quite good.

Again though I was assuming the willingness of my opponent. After 13. .. exf5 14. e6 Black could just play 14. .. Ndf6. After 15. exf7+ Rxf7 I could get some pressure with 16. Ne5 or 16. Ng5 - or play 15. Ng5 straight away (15. .. Bc5+ 16. Kh1 Nd6 or 16. Be3 Bxe3 17. Qxe3 Nd6), but is it enough for a pawn?

The computer's recommendation is 13. Nd4, clearing a path for the queen to move to the kingside, but I had rejected this as I still could not see anything after 13. .. c5 14. Nb3 which places the knight far away from where I want it to be.

Instead I decided to prepare an f5 push.

13. Bh3

At this stage, I went off to the bar to replenish my drink. Playing with the position in my head, the defence g6 came to me. Thinking this looked quite solid, I rushed back to the board to analyse it, only to discover it had already been played.

13. ...  g6
14. g4 Ng7

The attack has now ground to a halt and I began to get concerned about the spaces around my king, a Black queenside pawn advance, the possibility of Black bishops on b7 and c5, and a shortage of time - now 33 minutes left for 21 moves.

I decide to move the queen to a more active position - and opposite the enemy king is always a good idea.

15. Qf2 c5

If 15. .. Bc5 I had intended 16. d4 but this might have been unwise as Black could exploit the far off white squared White bishop by making trouble with a later a6 and Ba6. 16. Be3 would be better.

Now the computer recommends 16. f5 offering to sacrifice a pawn in return for opening the g-file (16. .. exf5 17. gxf5 gxf5 18. Bh6 Qc6!). I kept to my activate-queen plan.

16. Qg3 b5?

White can now force material gain. Better would be 16. ... d4 17. Ne4 Qc7 or 16. .. f5! 17. exf6 Nxf6 with an equal position.

17. f5

If now 17. .. exf5 18. gxf5 Nh5 19. Qg4 or 17. .. gxf5?? 18. gxf5 Kh8 (18. .. exf5 19. Bh6) 19. f6 (19. .. Rg8 20. Ng5).

17. ...  Bd8
18. f6 Ne8



I can now win the exchange - but I gave some thought. Do I want to? The bishop will be very good. I worked out some lines involving Black sacrificing a piece for the e5 and f6 pawns, playing the bishop to b6, and advancing the centre pawns.

However, I would be a rook for two pawns up, so if I was going to be under pressure, at least I would have some extra material I could offload if necessary.

19. Bh6 b4
20. Nd1

I decided against 20. Ne2 as it blocks the rook's defence of the e5 pawn.

20. ..    Qc6
21. Bxf8 Nxf8

Now I should have played 22. b3 and remain a solid exchange up. However in aiming to consolidate, I completely overlooked Black's next move.

22. Bg2 Qa4

D'oh! Black gets one pawn back. I decide the a-pawn is the best one to lose.

23. b3 Qd7?!

This surprised me - Black decides not to take the pawn. I assumed that he could see further than me and did not wish to get the queen trapped, but it seems he can get away with it. 24. Ne3 Qa5 is simple enough. I tried to see if I could get anywhere with a Nf5 sacrifice but there is nothing- those two knights on the back rank are good defenders.

24. Ne3 Bb6

This was the counter attack that had concerned me.

25. Kh1 a5

If I throw pieces at the kingside it might be a useful distraction.

26. Qh4 a4
27. Ng5

My plan now was to uplift the rook over to the h-file and pile up on h7.

27. ...   Nc7?

27. ... Bc7 would have been better. This just gives me a tempo to improve the position of the queen.



28. Qh6

However I missed 28. Nc4! Black cannot allow the knight to come into d6 and so has to play 28. .. dxc4 29. Bxb7 Ra7 30. Qh6 Ne8 31. Be4.

28. ..   Ne8
29. Nd1

This is to dull the threat of a tactic revolving around d4. I need to get a rook to join in the attack.

29. ....  Bc6
30. Rf3 d4
31. Rh3

Now we are happy. The attack is irresistible.

31. ....   Bxg2+
32. Kxg2 Qd5+
33. Re4 Bd8
34. Nxh7

And Black resigned. If 34..... Nd7 35. Ng5. A good start to the season.

Game 71- Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Final Group Round Five

Swale Club Championship Final Group - Round Five
Thursday 8 June 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: T. Owens (167)

The last game of the season - against the club champion.

This game took place on the day of the 2017 general election and, as a candidate in a safe Conservative seat where you know you will lose your deposit, there is not much you can do in the evening - hence I went ahead with the game and planned to move on to the count afterwards.

1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3

Inviting 3. .. g6 and into the Pirc defence

3. ....   Nbd7

But this was not expected.

4. Bg5

Probably too committal. 4. Nf3 keeps options open.

4. ....  h6
5. Bh4 c6

I was tempted to play 6. f4 here and blast away at the centre. Black could play 6. ... Qb6 (and I did not notice that 7. a3 prevents 7. ... Qxb2 because 8. Na4 then traps the queen). I was more conscious of the big space in front my king still a long way from castling. My opponent is a dangerous attacking player and I wanted to get the king into safety as soon as possible.

6. Nf3 Qa5
7. Qd2?

7. Bd3 is better but I wanted to move that bishop to c4 and the a2-g8 diagonal. Black now grabs the initiative.

7. ...  e5
8. Bc4 b5
9. dxe5 dxe5
10. Bd3

I had overlooked that 10. Bb3 would lose the e-pawn to b4, g5, g4. So back it went to a worse square.



10. ...   Bb7?

Black misses a chance to put White under severe pressure with 10. .. b4 11. Ne2 g5 12. Bg3 g4 13. Nh4 Nc5 and Black is advancing. I might have tried 11. Nb1 and then 11. .. g5 12. Bg3 g4 13. Nh4 Nc5 but this is not much different.

11. Bg3

11. .. b4 is still good but now lacks the follow-up punch of g5.

11. ...  Nh5
12. O-O Nxg3
13. hxg3 Qc7

Now I thought the position was equal. I had to move the rook out from the corner to allow me to drop the knight back to b1.

14. Rad1 b4
15. Nb1 Be7
16. Qe2 Nc5

At last the Black knight occupies this square it had been gazing at - but I can move the bishop now and reshuffle some pieces.

17. Bc4 a5
18. Nbd2 O-O
19. Nb3 Na4
20. Rb1 Nb6
21. Bd3 c5



And now I was uncomfortable again. Black's pieces were moving around with ease whereas mine seemed to be getting into each others way. I could not see how I could work up an initiative like this!

22. Nbd2 Rfd8
23. Nc4 Bf6
24. Nxb6 Qxb6
25. Rfd1 Qc7

Better might be 25. .. Qc6 as now my bishop is freed from defending the e-pawn and can move to a better square.

26. Bc4 Qe7
27. Bd5 Bxd5



And with this move Black offered a draw. I had not yet decided whether to re-take with the pawn or the rook but I felt I was still worse and, as it was the last game of the season, with Black graded far higher than me, I took the even result. A dull game to end with.

Thus ended the 2016-2017 season - a very good one for me with a score of Played 41 Won 25 Draw 12 Lost 4, and I was unbeaten for Swale Chess Club and for Kent Under-140s.

Game 70 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Final Group Round Four

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Four
Thursday 1 June 2017
White: P. Blundell (120) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

That last defeat put paid to any faint chances I had of the club championship. It now seemed I would be ending up third for the second time in a row.

1. e4 d5

The Scandinavian defence.

2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. Nf3 Nf6
5. Qe2

White opts for an interesting line where queens are swapped off early. Black could consider 5. .. c6 but I was concerned about d4-d5 which might mean I have to play e6 before getting the bishop developed.

5. ....  Bf5

6. b4 would be annoying. Black can't take the pawn (6. ... Qxb4 7. Rb1 and 8. Qb5+) and would have to play 6. ... Qb6. The queen could be a worry.

6. Nd4 e6?!

I rejected 6. .. Bg6 7. Nb3 Qb6 as I was worried about the queen getting kicked around. But this move allows White to take an early advantage.



7. Qb5+ Qxb5
8. Ncxb5 Kd7

The other option was 8. .. Na6 but then 9. Nxf5 exf5 10. Bc4. I did not want to tie the king down so early and saw a way to give up the pawn for a counter attack. With queens off, the king should be OK in the centre.

9. Nxf5 exf5

Now 10. Bd3 g6 11. Bc4 is good. White goes by a different route bringing the knight into the centre.

10. Nd4 g6
11. Bc4 Bc5

This was the plan.

12. Ne2 Re8

If now 13. Bxf7 then 13. .. Re7 14. Bc4 Nc6. I was hoping to build up some piece play in the centre to compensate for the pawn. White decides to continue development rather than grab the pawn.

13. O-O Nc6

14. d4! is aggressive. White cannot take because of Rd1 and so must play 14. ... Bd6 which can be met by 15. Bg5 and White is better. I was not very happy here at how one of my favourite openings had been taken apart so easily.

14. Nf4 Ng4?!

Now I had 36 minutes left for 21 moves - the old time trouble again.



14. .. Ne5 is a better move for Black, perhaps meeting 15. Bb3 with 15. ... g5 (although 16. d4! puts White back on top - the king is not as safe as I said earlier).

Once again the f-pawn is up for grabs. 15. Bxf7 Re7 16. Bc4 is fine for White, but 15. .. Nxf2!? is an interesting exchange sacrifice which exploits the bishop still being on c1 and blocking the rooks. 16. Bxe8 Rxe8 17. g3 (the only move) g5 18. Nd5 Re2. However, 19. c3! means Black will have to take the draw with 19. .. Nh3+ 20. Kh1 Nf2+ etc.

As before, White declines the pawn offer.

15. Nh3

The computer now recommends 15. .. Nge5 16. Bb3 Nd4 and states Black is better.

15. ...  Nd4
16. c3 Ne2+
17. Bxe2?!

This surprised me. I had expected 17. Kh1 when I had to decide whether to grab the bishop on c1 - which had not yet got out of bed. Now my rook is well placed and I can get the e-file and the initiative. (And the f7 pawn is finally safe).

17. ...  Rxe2
18. d4 Bd6
19. g3 Rae8

If now 20. Ng5 then 20. .. f6 21. Nxh7 Rh8 regaining the pawn. (22. h3 Rxh7 23. hxg4 fxg4).

20. Kg2

White adopts a crafty defensive plan to drop the knight to g1.

20. .....Rc2

To continue to disrupt the White development.

21. Ng1

I did not see 21. .. Re1! Of course, 22. Rxe1 Rxf2 leads to mate so White must play 22. Nh3 when Black can grab a pawn with 22. .. Rxf1 23. Kxf1 Nxh2+ or play has 22. .. Ree2 and then .. c5 to bring the bishop into the attack.




21. ... f4?
22. gxf4 g5

The aim of this pawn sacrifice is to open up lines against the White king.

23. h3 Ne3+
24. Bxe3 Rxe3

White has 22 minutes now for 11 moves while I was down to 15. Now White could think about 25. fxg5 Rg3+ 26. Kh1 Rxg5.

25. Rab1 Bxf4

Material is equal again. The attack has been beaten off. Time for a deep breath and think again.

26. Kh1 g4

And another pawn sacrifice to open up the h-file.

27. hxg4 Re6
28. Kg2 Re3
29. Kh1 Re6
30. Kg2 Rg6

... but it has closed the g-file. D'oh!



31. Kf3! Rf6
32. Ke4 Bd6

The move of the king over to the other side is very smart. Now White is simply a pawn up.

33. f3 Rf4+
34. Kd3 Rg2
35. Kc4 c5?

I'm still trying to open lines against the king - and as the king has moved then I need to open new lines - but this just loses another pawn.

36. Nh3! Rf6
37. dxc5 Bf4

Now I am two pawns down and in serious danger of losing the game. White's best is now 38. Nf2! cutting off one rook and preparing to come to e4 which, with a rook (or rooks) on the d-file, would be very dangerous.



Fortunately, for me, White withdraws his king to give material back and some breathing space.

38. Kb3 Be3
39. Rbd1+ Kc6
40. a3 Rg3

I thought this would get material back but now 41. Rd3 is good for White. 41. .. Bxc5 42. Ng5.

41. Ng1? Bxg1?

41. ... Bxc5 is better. There would still be time to pick up the White f-pawn.

42. Rxg1 Rgxf3
43. Rh1 Kxc5
44. Rxh7 Rb6+
45. Ka2 Rf2
46. Rb1 Kc4
47. Rh3 Re6
48. g5 Rg6
49. Rh4+ Kc5
50. Rg1 Rf5



The last Black attack was never going to amount to anything but White now offered the draw (!?) to which I accepted.

In the final position, any winning chances belong to White. He has 51. Re4 Kc6 52. Re7 Rgxg5 53. Rxg5 Rxg5 54. Rxf7.

I would like to think I could hold that position - but fortunately I will not need to know.