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.

Game 69 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Final Group Round Three

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Three
Thursday 25 May 2017
White: K. Hyde (167) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

If I was going to win the club championship, I really had to win this game. My opponent, graded far higher than I, was 1.5 points ahead of me and we each had three games left.

1. d4 f5
2. g3 Nf6
3. Bg2 e6
4. Nf3 Be7
5. O-O O-O
6. c4 d6
7. Nc3

The standard position of the Leningrad Dutch. I decided to follow the recommendation of GM Simon Williams.

7. ....  a5

The idea being to hold up any White queenside play.

8. Re1 Ne4

To prevent e4.

9. Nxe4 fxe4
10. Nd2 d5
11. f3 exf3
12. Nxf3



Believe it or not, this is all theory - and it s here where my memory ran out.

I considered two moves and chose the wrong one. Black should play 12. .. c5, an active move to hit the centre and meet 13. Be3 with 13. .. Nbd7. But I wanted to play the knight more directly into the centre, to hit d4 with pieces and follow with Bf6.

The computer recommends 12. .. dxc4 but this just looks ugly - opening up the bishop diagonal from g2 and leaving Black with a backward isolated pawn on e6. 13. Qc2 could regain the pawn with advantage (13. ..b5 14. Ng5) unless Black tries 13. .. Qd5 and White could consider 14. Rd1 or 14. Bf4 with Rad1, or even 14. e4 and should get enough play for the pawn.

12.  ...  Nc6
13. Bf4

The move 13. .. g5 attracted me with 14. Be3 g4. I will come back to this idea.

13. .... Bf6

The time limit was 35 moves in 75 minutes and then 15 more minutes for the rest of the game. By now, White had 48 minutes for 22 moves while I had 40.

14. Rc1

White is targeting the c7 point. I considered shoring up the d5 point with 14. .. Ne7 but instead decided to advance and see what happens.

14. ..... g5

I later discovered that the computer recommended this as the best move and classed the game as equal.

15. Be3 g4
16. Ne5

16. Nh4 is the main alternative, although it does keep the knight out of play.

16. ...   Nxe5
17. dxe5 Bxe5
18. cxd5 Bxb2
19. Rc2 Be5

The bishop is very well placed here and we are still equal.



20. Bh6 Rf7

20.  .. Re8 might have been more accurate but I wanted to keep some pressure down the f-file. The clock was becoming a major factor here - I was down to 15 minutes for 15 moves - my opponent had 30 minutes.

21. dxe6 Bxe6
22. Bxb7

22. .. Qf6? got my attention but there is nothing after 23. Bxa8 Qf2+ 24. Kh1.

22. ....   Rb8
23. Bg2

With seven minutes left, do I take the queen and play for the draw - or do I go for the attack and play for the win? Well, I had to win the game so why not?

23. ...  Qf6
24. Be3 Rd8

24. .. Rd7 might have been a wiser move, keeping some control of the b-file.

25. Qc1 Bd4

By now, I was thoroughly enjoying myself and wished I had more time to work out the complexities. I was convinced there was a win somewhere.

26. Rf1



After the game, a colleague asked us about the remarkable queen sacrifice - 26. ...Bxe3+ 27. Qxe3+ Qxf1+!?! 28. Bxf1 Rd1. If 29. Qxe6 then Black can force a draw with 29. .. Rxf1+ 30. Kg2 Rf2+.

White could try 29. Qg5+ Kh8 30. Qe5+ Kg8 31. Kg2 Rdxf1 32. e4 and should be able to hold off the attack and win the game.

26. ...   Qe5

This is best though. Keeping up the pressure.

27. Bxd4 Rxf1+
28. Bxf1 Qxd4+
29. e3

Had White played 29. Qxf1 then he would not have had this option.

I considered 29. .. Qd1 30. Rxc7 Qxc1 31. Rxc1 Bxa2 32. Ra1 and then Rxa5. White is a passed pawn ahead and may well go on to win. Even 29. ... Qe4 keeps some pressure on to concern White.

Instead, very low on time, I blunder - a shame as I had fought quite well so far.

29. ......   Qb6???
30. Rc6

Now I knew the game was up. White comfortably finishes off.

30. ...  Qb7
31. Rxe6 Qf3
32. Qc4! Kh8
33. Qe2 Qf5
34. Rc6 Rf8
35. Qb2+ Kg8
36. Bc4+ Resigns

A very well played game by my opponent who, as far as I can see, made no mistakes.
My unbeaten run of 19 games over three months had come to an end.

Game 68 - County U-140 Championship - Quarter Final - Kent vs Middlesex

Kent v Nottinghamshire - Board Three
Saturday 20 May 2017
White: N. Wright (134) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

A long drive to Milton Keynes for the county championship quarter final. This took place at the Open University buildings.

1. e4 d5

Nice to get a Scandinavian in - not many people play 1. e4 these days!

2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. Bc4 Nf6

For a moment, I thought of 4. .. Qg5?! which looked odd - but 5. Qf3 and White is already in trouble.

5. Nge2

White was playing his moves quite slowly so I got the impression that he was not familiar with this opening. 5. Nf3 or 5. d4 are better.

5. ...    Bf5
6. d3

Again this is quite passive. White needs to play d4 to challenge the centre.

6. ....   c6
7. Bf4

I now gave some thought to 7. .. e5. The system usually places the pawn on e6 and places a blockade on d5. Instead I decided to continue development and keep options open.

7. ....   Nbd7
8. Qd2

Perhaps thinking long term about any tactics placed around Nb5 (not yet possible due to Qxd2+). Again I gave some more thought to 8. .. e5 9. Bg3 but decided to stick with what I know. He has a possibility of d4 and I did not like the idea of opening up the centre files while I was still developing.

8. ....   e6
9. Nd4 Bg6



Now both of us went into deep thought. I was trying to see if he had any chances about sacrifices on e6.
For example: 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. Bxe6 - I think I could be OK with Bb4, Bf7 or even O-O-O.
If 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. Nxe6 then 11. .. Kf7 12. Ng5+ Kg8 with h6 or Re8 to follow looked awkward but holding.

But it was 10. Qe2 that I was mostly concerned with. How should I reply?
If 10 ... Nd5 and then 11. Nxe6 fxe6 12. Qxe6+ Be7 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14. Qxd5 Kf7. White has three pawns for the piece.
So I settled on the more cautious 10. .. Be7.

It seems in the sacrificial lines that White could get two pawns for the piece and quite a dangerous attack, but I had enough resources to hold. I think White came to the same conclusion.

10. N3e2

I was pleased to see this move. Now I could take the queens off and have nothing to fear. At least a draw was in hand.

10 ....   Qxd2
11. Bxd2 Nd5

It was this or 11. .. Bd6 which I rejected because of 12. Nf4 (overlooking the simple 12. .. e5). I did not want to exchange my black squared bishop for a knight, and leave his black squared bishop on the board.

The computer here suggests a curious pawn sacrifice. 12. h4 N7f6 13. g4?! Nxg4 14. h5 Bf5 15. Nxf5 exf5 16. Ng3 with Bg5 and O-O-O to follow. I'm not sure White has enough. And I would have probably answered 12. h4 with 12. .. h6.

12. a3

I took this to mean that White was considering a plan based around b4-b5. I also did not want to play 12. .. Bd6 in case of 13. Bxd5 cxd5 14. Nb5.

12. ....    N7f6

My plan was now to meet 13. b4 with 13. .. a6 as White would be unable to play a4.

13. h3

I am waiting to see what White will do with his king. I have a number of plans but need to know on which side of the board I will be playing.

13 .....  Bd6

The f4 square is now covered and development continues. I wondered if White would now play 14. f4.

14. Nf3 O-O
15. Nh4 Nh5

I was not worried about 16. Nxg6 hxg6 to give a pawn structure I have had on numerous occasions. Instead I am thinking of occupying the f4 square, which White prevents.

16. g3 Rfe8

Now getting bored of waiting for White to do something, I now wave a vague hand in the air at the idea of e5-e4. I could see that White could not play 17. Nc3 and so I now expected 17. Nxg6 and then castling, at which point I could consider a plan. If White castled queenside, for example, I had ideas of b5 and then a5.



17. Nc3?

But what's this? I had ruled this out because of my next move. After checking any traps ('checks and captures' as I once saw Nigel Short advise), I hoovered up the pawn.

17. ....    Nxg3

The point is, of course, that if 18. fxg3 then Bxg3+ gets the piece back with two pawns extra. White's best move is 18. Rg1 when I intended just bringing the knight back with 18. ... Nh5. Black is a pawn up but there is still a lot of work to do. For some bizarre reason, White now goes to pieces.

18. Bxd5??

A blunder. Now I win clear material

18. ....   exd5+

I expected 19. Be3 Nxh1 20. Kd2 and tied to see if I could win more with 20. .. Nxf2 21. Bxf2 Bf4+ 22. Kd1 Bh5+ - which does win. Although White could play 21. Nxg6 hxg6 (21. .. Nxd3!?) 22. Bxf2 and be the exchange and two pawns down.

But after 20. Kd2 a better line is 20. .. d4! 21. Bxd4 Bf4+ 22. Be3 Bxe3 23. fxe3 Nf2 staying a clear rook ahead.

19. Kd1 Nxh1
20. Be3 Ng3

A wonderful tactic I had seen at the last second. Now a rook down, White could resign, or just throw everything at the Black king. He exchanges two pieces and it then just becomes a case of my pieces moving forward.

21. Nxg6 hxg6
22. Bxa7 Rxa7
23. fxg3 Bxg3
24. Kd2 Bf4+

Just to block his development and give me time to sort out the rook stuck on a7.



25. Kd1 Re3
26. Ne2 Bg5
27. Ng1 Ra8
28. c3 Rxd3+
29. Kc2 Re3
30. Rd1 Rae8
31. Kb3

For a moment, I thought of 31. .. Re1 but then saw 32. Rxe1 Rxe1 33. Nxf3 winning a piece back (but then 33. .. Re3 34. Nxg5 f6 traps the knight).

31. ....  Bf6
32. Rd2 R8e5
33. Kc2 Rg5
34. Rd1 Rg2+
35. Kb3 Reg3

And with the knight now doomed, White turned over his king.

We narrowly lost the quarter final by 8.5-7.5 - and the campaign came to an end! But my final record for Kent Under-140s read Played 5 Won 4 Drawn 1 Lost 0 - and overall my unbeaten run ran now to 19 games.

Game 67 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Final Group Round Two

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Two
Thursday 11 May 2017
White: K. Nevols (134) - Black: A. Gillard (113)

With four games to go, I was 1.5 points behind the two leaders, so this was a must-win game.

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3

Another Closed Sicilian. I had won my last four games with this opening.

2. ...  e6
3. f4 d6
4. Nf3 Nc6
5. Be2

I had lost interest in the Bb5 system and now prefer to keep this bishop for the moment.

5. ...   a6

If I knew anything about the Najdorf I could play 6. d4 here and try to exploit the delay in development of the king's knight. But I don't - so I stick to what I do know.

6. O-O Qc7
7. d3 Bd7

An unusual place to put the bishop. I had expected b5 and Bb7.

8. Qe1 Nf6



Now I enter that age-old question - where will Black put his king? The beauty of this system is that I can attack on either side of the board, but I did not want to start an attack if his king then disappears off somewhere else.

9. Kh1 Nb4
10. Bd1 Be7
11. Qg3

Time to get going. Not only does this threaten Qxg7 but I have some nice prospects with e5, or f5 and maybe Bf4.

11. ....  Nh5
12. Qg4

12. Qh3 would be more accurate as I would then have the option of g4.

12. ...  g6
13. Ng5

Basically I am trying to force Black into making a commitment with his king, so I can then think of a plan. The computer now rates 13. .. Bf6 and says the game is level.

13. ...   h6



14. Nxf7!? caught my eye with 14. .. Kxf7 15. f5.

I decided not to risk it but this actually is not bad. 15. .. exf5 16. exf5 Bxf5 17. Rxf5+ gxf5 18. Qxh5+ Kg7 19. a3! Nc6 20. Nd5 Qd7 21. Bd2! with an attack for the exchange. I did not get as far as 19. a3 and could not see anything more so decided I did not need to take the chance.

14. Nh3 O-O-O

My question is answered. Time to retreat the queen.

15. Qf3 Rdg8

And Black makes his intention clear. He is going to go for me on the kingside.

16. Qf2 f5?!

This surprised me. I could now see a nice square on d5 to place my knight.

17. a3 Nc6
18. exf5 Nd4

Black sacrifices a pawn! After 18. .. exf5 19.Nd5 Qd8 the knight looked good and White could consider 20. Nxe7 Bxe7 21. Bd2 with Bc3, or even 20. b4!? launching an attack on the king.

Now I rejected 19. fxg6 Nf6 straight away as I did not want the g-file open and instead went the other way.

19. fxe6

I had 34 minutes left for 15 more moves, my opponent had 42 minutes.

19. ..  Bc6
20. Be3 Nxe6



A big think now but I could not see any obvious tactics for Black. I thought I had enough defensive resources.

21. Bg4!

Pinning the knight. 22 minutes left for 14 moves.

21. ...  Ng7
22. Rae1?

Grabbing the open file. However 22. d4! is more energetic, exploiting the pin on the knight and threatening d5. If 22. .. cxd4 23. Bxd4 and the multitude of pins will ensure White wins material. If 22. ..Bd7 then 23. Nd5 Qd8 24. Nxe7 Qxe7 25. Rfe1 is good followed by dxc5 and Rad1.

An interesting idea could be for Black to sacrifice another pawn with 22. . d5!? 23. dxc5 Nf5.

As played, Black is given some time to unwind.

22. ...  Kb8
23. Bf3 Nf5
24. Nd5 Qd8

Black is now going to play the g5 break and arguably has compensation for the pawn. Certainly I was getting uncomfortable here. Exchanging on e7 and then c6 may have been best to remove two of the Black pieces.

25. g3 g5?

White should now play 26. Nxe7. If 26. .. Qxe7 27. Bxc6 bxc6 28. g4 and the knight is short of squares. 28. .. Nxe3 29. Qxe3 will win a piece. 28. .. Ng7 29. f5 Rf8 30. Qg3! with all sorts of threats, or 28. .. Nh4 29. f5 Rf8 30. Bd2.

A better move for Black would have been 25. .. Re8 or even 25. .. Rh7 both adding to the defence.

I did not see 26. Nxe7 and just closed the barricades.

26. Bg2 g4
27. Ng1 h5

28. .. h4 looks very uncomfortable so it is time (belatedly) to get rid of some pieces.

28. Nxe7 Qxe7
29. Bxc6 bxc6
30. Qg2?

Eight minutes left for five moves. At the time, I was quite pleased with this move, but afterwards discovered that 30 .. h4! and it is nearly all over. 31. Bf2 hxg3 32. Bxg3 Rh7. (31. Qxc6?? hxg3).

Better is 30. Ne2 or 30. Bd2.

30. ...  Kc7
31. Qe4

I did not see 31. Bxc5 dxc5 32. Qe4 which looks winning but Black can bash out 32. .. Nxg3+! 33. hxg3 h4 and White must play 34. Ne2 hxg3+ 35. Kg1 (35. .. Qh4 36. Qg2 hangs on and the position is equal).

The text move just looked right - centralising the queen.

31. ...   Qf6
32. Bf2

32. Bd2 might have been more accurate but I was still worried about the defence of g3 and h4.

32. ....  Kd7

Again 32. .. h4! is strong.

33. Kg2

Although Black is a pawn down, and has doubled pawns, he still has a strong attack. The computer recommends 33. b4 to open up the pawn cover around the Black king but my plan here was to get the King out of the corner and get a rook to h1.



But now 33. .. Ned4! is very strong - nearly winning. The threat is Re8 trapping the queen. If 34. Bxd4 cxd4 35. Qe2 Ne3+. White's only move is to retract the last move with 34. Kh1 to free up the g2 square and after 34. .. Re8 35. Qg2 Nxc2 Black has his pawn back with a dominant position - Ne3 is coming.

33. ...  h4?

There is some irony in that Black finally plays this move but too late.

34. Ne2 hxg3
35. hxg3

I made the time control with two minutes spare.

35. ....   Rh6
36. Rh1

With this move, and the h-file defended, I breathed a sigh of relief.

36. ....   R8h8
37. b4

Again a belated plan - to break up the pawn cover around Black's king.

37. ....    Re8?

I suddenly saw 37. .. Ned4 and wondered if the queen would be in trouble but 38. Nxd4 is simple enough. Black should play 37. .. Rxh1 before any ideas of Re8. Now White can win material.



38. Rxh6 Nxh6
39. Qc4 Qf5
40. bxc5 Nf7
41. Nd4

White counter attacks in the centre and Black seeks a desperate swindle.

41. ...  Nxf4
42. gxf4 Qxf4
43. Rxe8

If now 43. .. Kxe8 then 44. Qe6+ wins more material.

43. ....  d5
44. Qxa6 Kxe8
45. Qxc6

Black now resigned to end a very tough game.

Game 66 - club match. Swale v Lewisham

Swale v Lewisham - Fuller Cup Semi-Final - Board One
Thursday 4 May 2017
White: M. Wood (139) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

From one cup semi-final to another cup semi-final - and again we had an arbiter.

1. e4 d5

The old faithful.

2. d4

The Blackmar-Diemer Gambit. I don't know a lot about this so might as well take the pawn.

2. ....  dxe4
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. f3 exf3

Many years ago - in the early 1990s - I had two devastating defeats in this line. I could not remember anything about it so just decided to develop normally.

5. Qxf3?!

But this is unusual. 5. Nxf3 is the main line where I was considering 5. .. Bg4 or 5. .. c6. Instead White offers a second pawn. Apparently this is called the Ryder Gambit. After 5. ... Qxd4 6. Be3 Black must consider where to put the queen and White can build up play with Rd1 and Nb5.

I did not like the look of all this and so decide to be discreet and defend both the h1-a8 diagonal and protect against Nb5.

5. ....  c6
6. h3

White insists I take the pawn - OK, I say to myself, if this is a mistake you will have to show me why.

6. ....  Qxd4




7. Be3 Qd8

I decide on a gentle retreat - now that I have the d8-a5 diagonal open to escape if necessary.

8. Bc4 e6

This blocks the bishop but it can't get to g4 or f5 and I want to get developed and set up a defence as soon as possible. After all, I am two pawns up and, if I can survive the opening and middle game, I would have good chances in the ending.

9. Nge2 Bd6
10. O-O-O Qe7
11. g4

White must move quickly to show compensation for the sacrificed material. Castling kingside did not look very safe at the moment and so I decide to continue development and keep my options open.

11. ...  Nd5
12. Bd2 Nd7
13. Rhe1?

13. Ne4 is an improvement but then 13. .. Ne5 would allow White to exchange some pieces. But this move is a mistake as Black can dance the knights around to gain some more material.

13. ....   Ne5
14. Qe4 Nf6
15. Qd4 Nf3
16. Qd3 Nxe1
17. Bxe1



I am now the exchange and two pawns up - and begin to get very nervous. I ought to be able to win from here but White has well developed pieces - whereas four of mine are still on their starting squares. He must now launch an attack while I finish bringing my guys into action.

17. ...   Nd5
18. Ne4 Be5
19. Bf2 b6

To protect the c5 square from any intruders. I did not want Bc5 and then a future Nd6.

20. Bb3 Bb7
21. a3 O-O

Castled at last. Now I was feeling a bit more content.

22. c4 Nf4
23. Qe3 Nxe2+
24. Qxe2 Bf4+
25. Kb1 c5

Closing the diagonal of the white bishop and opening that of my own.



26. Bc2 Rfd8

26. .. Bxe4? 27. Qxe4 loses a piece. So grabbing a file can't be bad.

27. Rf1 Qc7
28. Be1!

Planning to come to c3 and making my king feel uncomfortable. I was a bit concerned about how White's pieces were nicely circling for an attack.

28. ...  Rd7
29. Qf2

I gave some thought here to 29. ... Bxe4 30. Bxe4 Rd1+ 31. Kc2 Rad8 and should have played it, but I overlooked that after 32. Qxf4 I had 32. .. Qxf4 33. Rxf4 Rxe1. I would have exchanged off another set and activated another piece. But White's pressure was beginning to nerve me.

29. ..... e5?!
30. Qh4 h6?

Better was 30. .. Qd8. This just weakens the kingside. White sacs another pawn.

31. g5?! Bxe4
32. Bxe4 Bxg5
33. Qg4 Rad8

Now the exchange and three pawns up but Blacks bishop moves to an excellent square.



34. Bd5

This more or less forces me to give the exchange back but I would be four pawns up.

34. ....  Rxd5
35. cxd5 Rxd5
36. Bc3

The time control had passed and the move 36. .. Bd8 caught my eye. Instead it is time for the blunder of the season.

36. ...... Bf4???
37. Rxf4

Of course! I had simply not seen that the e5 pawn was pinned against the g7 square. I had been uneasy about this game ever since I was well ahead and my fears had proved to be well grounded. I had four pawns for a bishop and am fighting for the draw.

37. ....   Qd6
38. Re4

38. Rf1 might have been more ambitious. I am now able to force a draw.

38. ....   Rd1+
39. Kc2 Qd3+
40. Kb3



With perpetual check I can force a draw with Qd5+ and Qd3+. Playing Ka4 would lose to b5+. However in this four board match I heard we were 2-0 down so I had to win - hence I sac a pawn to try to get the king out in the open.

40. ..  f5
41. Qxf5 c4+
42. Kb4 Qd6+
43. Kxc4 Qd5+
44. Kb4

My time was running low. I was playing over various lines in my head but could not see how I could trap the King into a mating net.

44. ..... a5+
45. Ka4 Qc6+
46. Kb3

We were now 3-0 down so the match was lost. I decide to take the draw.

46. ....  Qd5+
47. Ka4 Qc6+
48. Kb3 Qd5+
49. Kc2 Qd3+
50. Kb3 Qd5+
Draw

I felt I may have missed a win with those moves at the end but having gone through with the computer I see that is not the case. My unbeaten run was now 17 games and three months - but this was not a game I was happy with.

Game 65 - Swale Club Championship 2016-17 - Final Group Round One

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round One
Thursday 27 April 2017
White: I. Lappin (125) - Black: K. Nevols (134)

And so into the final group - five more games and there were three of us in the hunt.
My opponent was well known for his unusual opening play so I had no idea what to expect.

1. g3 f5

So I decide to convert the game into a Dutch defence

2. d3 Nf6
3. Bg5 e6
4. Nc3 Be7
5. h3 Nc6

With a white pawn on d4, this move can be difficult to make - but no problems here.

6. a3 d6
7. Bg2 O-O
8. Bc1



A few tempi ahead, it was time to think of a plan. I decide to advance on the kingside - although it may have been wiser to see where White will be putting his king. So perhaps d5 with d4 and e5 advancing in the centre would have been an idea.

8. ....  Qe8
9. b3 Qg6
10. e3 e5
11. Nge2 a6

This was to prevent Nb5 but with White shadow boxing from a distance I was already getting frustrated.

12. Bb2 Be6
13. Qd2 Qf7

To consider options of g5 and/or e4 (after d4) without allowing Nf4.

14. O-O-O Rab8



White has set up a sort of reverse hedgehog defence - the pawns looking very spiky - and has castled so I can start to think of a plan. However 14. ... Rab8 was not the best move. It was played to allow me to move the knight - but 14. .. d5 is more energetic. The game is now equal and we now go into some exchanges.

15. d4 exd4
16. Nxd4 Bd7
17. Nde2 Ne5
18. Nd5 Nxd5
19. Bxd5 Be6
20. Bxe6 Qxe6



21. Qc3! is good - hitting the c7 pawn and threatening f4. Black has to play 21. ... Qf7 22. Qxc7 Rfc8 23. Qa5 Qxb3 getting the pawn back. After 24. Qd5+ Qxd5 25. Rxd5 he has the advantage.

21. Qd5 Qxd5
22. Rxd5

The position is level but White now has the option of a kingside initiative. My pieces are not so well placed so I decide to make some adjustments.

22. ...  c6
23. Rd1 Kf7
24. f4 Nd7
25. Nd4 g6
26. g4!

White's intention is to open up the kingside for his rooks to oppose the black king.

26. ....  c5
27. Nf3 Ke6

A case of active defence - by getting the king out of there - and connecting the rooks along the eighth rank.

28. g5 b5

Now trying some active play of my own.

29. h4 Rg8
30. Rde1!



The computer prefers 30. h5 (although that is coming) but this move is strong, threatening e4 and to make play against the king. I thought that things are now getting grim and I've got to get those bishops off. First, e4 must be prevented.

30 .    d5
31. h5 Bf8
32. hxg6 hxg6
33. Rd1 Bg7

I was relieved to regain some control of the h8 square and maybe some thoughts of using the h-file myself.

34. Rh2 Bxb2
35. Kxb2 Rbe8
36. Rhd2 Nb6
37. Ne5

I was getting some sense of hanging on a cliff. The position is just about holding.

37. ...   c4
38. Rh2 Nc8

39. Rh6 Ne7 40. Rdh1 was a worry, but could I open a counter attack against White's king?

39. Nc6 Ne7
40. Nd4+ Kd6
41. Rh6 Ref8

I considered 41. .. Rh8 42. Rdh1 Rxh6 but 43. gxh6 and a later h7 was a concern. The text was to defend the f5 pawn and allow the knight to move.



42. Nf3 Rh8
43. Ne5 Ke6??

In time trouble, and after balancing on the ledge for so long, at last Black cracked. 43. .. Rxh6 was the only move, although, as I said, 44. gxh6 worried me.

But now pawns topple and the game is lost.

44. Nxg6 Nxg6
45. Rxg6+ Ke7
46. Rxd5 cxb3
47. Kxb3

So down to the last hope. If I can get the rooks buzzing around the white king, there would be a small chance of perpetual check. There would also be a bigger chance of Black getting checkmated.

47. ...     Rh3
48. Re5+ Kd7
49. Rxa6 Rc8
50. Rae6 Rh2
51. Re7+ Kd6
52. R5e6+ Kd5



53. c3?!

After 53. Rf6 then 54. Re5 mate is unstoppable.

53. ...   Rh1
54. Re5+ Kd6
55. Re8 Rc4
56. Rxb5 Rc6
57. Ree5 Kc7

Both of us were low on time and now in my last five minutes I could stop writing down the moves. My rooks kept buzzing to the king, and White carefully guarded against the perpetual. Several moves later, we got to the following position.



White now defended the threat against the c-pawn with Rb3 - and, to my general amazement, I played Re4 checkmate.

A very fortunate victory.