Game 109 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Final Group - Round Three

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round Three

Thursday 31 May 2018

White: K. Nevols (161) - Black: K. Hyde (166)

The big one. My match against the defending champion. I was half a point ahead but having played a game extra. And another closed Sicilian.

1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. f4 g6
4. Nf3 Bg7
5. d3 d6
6. Be2 e6
7. O-O Nge7
8. Qe1 O-O

This is the answer to my first question - where will Black put his king?



9. Qg3

A nice square to prepare for an attack based around an f5 pawn push.

9. ....  Nd4
10. Bd1

This is my usual reply to ... Nd4 but the computer prefers 10. Nxd4 Bxd4+ 11. Be3 or 10. ... cxd4 11. Nb1. All down to taste, I guess.

10. ....  Nec6

Re-enforcing the d4 point but I now use the usual set up to expel the d4 knight, which has the added effect of moving the bishop to a better square.

However, 11. f5!? is interesting with 11. .. exf5 12. Bf4 but Black's best reply is 12. .. Qb6!

11. Ne2 d5
12. c3 Nxf3+
13. Qxf3

I gave some thought to 13. gxf3 with perhaps getting something down the g-file, but the white squared bishop looks silly, and I wanted to keep open the option of playing a pawn to g4.

13. ....  dxe4

13. .. f5 is slightly better, setting up a stonewall defence which is difficult to break down.

14. dxe4

The position is equal, with no piece having a happy time. But a draw was no good to me. My opponent - half a point behind me in the championship - had two games left, whereas I had one to play but against a difficult opponent.

14. ....  Bd7
15. Bc2

I still want to play pawn to f5.

15. .....  Qe7
16. Qg3 Rfe8

I did not understand this move, unless it is to move out the way of a potential Bh6. Time to advance the pawns. Before playing f5, I wanted to weaken the kingside slightly more.

17. h4 h5

The computer recommends 17. e5 with Be3 and Be4 but still rates that as dead equal. As equal is no good to me, it was time to get on with it.

18. f5?! exf5
19. Bg5

I tried to see if I could sacrifice the knight with 19. exf5? Qxe2 20. fxg6 but 20. .. f5 puts a stop to all that.

19. ....  f6
20. Bf4

20. Be3 would have been a better square, keeping an eye on the c5 pawn and keeping the f-file half open.

20. .... Qf7

A good defensive move, holding g6 and being ready to met Bb3 with Be6. White should now play 21. Be3 but after 21. .. b6 Black is still better.



21. Qf3?

Blunder. I had played this move with the intention of freeing up the g3 square for the knight.

21. ....  fxe4

The point is that, after 22. Bxe4 Black has 22. .. Bg4 23. Qd3 Bxe2 24. Qxe2 f5 winning a piece.

22. Qe3 Ne5

Black returns a pawn to get a dominant knight. 22. .. Bf8 23. Ng3 f5 is also good for Black.

23. Qxc5 Nd3

With this move, and in a far better position, Black surprised me with a draw offer. A pawn down and the position collapsing, I really had no choice but to accept.

In the next two weeks, my opponent won his final two games to seal the championship.

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.

Game 107 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Final Group - Round One

Swale Club Championship - Final Group - Round One

Thursday 17 May 2018

White: A. Gillard (107) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

So we were into the final group, and I had finished with nine wins, two draws and one loss - one point behind the leader. Four more games now and a chance to catch up.

1. e4 d5

The old faithful. As we have seen, my opponent is a dangerous attacking player who likes to sacrifice pieces, so I decided to be solid and try to outplay him.

2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Nc3 Qa5
4. d4 Nf6
5. Nf3 Bf5
6. Bd2 c6
7. Ne4!?

White plays the system which doubles Black's pawns and does not allow the strongpoint of d5 to be set up (by pawns on c6 and e6). On the other hand, the pawn which is about to appear on d6 does a good job of keeping the White kings' knight at bay.

7. ...  Qc7
8. Nxf6 exf6
9. Bc4 Bd6
10. c3 O-O
11. O-O Nd7



The plan is to gradually get space in the centre and take the e-file. White's queen's bishop is a little short of black squares.

12. a4 Nb6
13. Ba2 Rfe8

I briefly considered 13. ... Be6 to try to straighten the pawns out but 14. Bxe6 fxe6 and White will get an initiative with a choice of a5 or Qb3.

14. Be3 Nd5
15. Qd2 Nxe3

The computer likes 15. .. Be4 or even 15. ... g5!? but I liked the idea of half blocking the e-file and giving me a target to attack.

16. fxe3 Re7
17. c4 c5

I liked this move. After 18. d5 the pawn is well blockaded and I can continue with 18. ... Rae8 adding some pressure.

18. dxc5 Bxc5
19. Nd4 Bg6
20. b4 Bd6



I felt that I must be better here. The bishops are well placed although in different directions, the queen and bishop form a good battery towards the king, and the White e-pawn is lonely and backward.

21. Nf3?

A mistake. White needed to play 21. g3 which Black could meet with 21. ... Be5

21. ....  Rd8
22. Qc3 Be4

Not seeing the strong 22. ... a5!. If 23. bxa5 then Rxe3! followed by Bc5 with great pressure , or 23. b5 Rxe3 24. Qb2 Ba3! and the white queen is running out of squares. Anything else and simply 23. ... Bxb4. I did not see any of that.

The point of 22. ... Be4 is obviously to take on f3 and then h2 but this move blocks the e-file. For that reason, 22. .. Bh5 would have been an improvement.

23. Rad1 Bxf3
24. Rxd6?!

You see what I mean about my comment at the start. This was quite a shock, especially as by now I only had 11 minutes left for 11 moves. After I calmed down, I saw it was not a problem.

24. ....  Rxd6
25. Rxf3

I had planned to meet 25. gxf3 with 25. ... Red7 coming down the d-file. But now I am going to pick up the h-pawn anyway.

25. .....  Rd1+
26. Rf1 Rxf1+
27. Kxf1 Qxh2
28. Qd3 Qe5

Centralising to keep an eye on the back rank.



29. Bb1 g6
30. Ke2 Re6

To avoid any Qd8+ threat and also to secure it's position while the black Queen can go wandering about.

31. c5 Qb2+

With the white b-pawn about to go, White decided to resign.

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.

Game 105 - club match. Lewisham v Swale

Lewisham vs Swale - Harvey Cup - Board One

Sunday 22 April 2018

White: M. Stewart (166) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

This was the semi-final of the Harvey Cup, and a Sunday afternoon trip to Lewisham. Playing Black against a better opponent, and a good team, I would have been content with a draw. So it was an outing for the Scandinavian.

1. e4 d5
2. exd5 Qxd5
3. Qf3

Unusual. I did not like 3. .. Qxf3 4. Nxf3 and decided to seek a queen exchange without loss of tempo.

3. ...  Qe5+

Next time I might try 3. ... Nf6.

4. Qe3 Qxe3
5. dxe3 Nc6

Aiming for that c2 point.

6. Nc3 Nb4
7. Bd3 Nxd3+
8. cxd3 Bd7

To prevent Nb5 and prepare castling.

9. Nf3 O-O-O
10. O-O



Now it was time to think of a plan, as the position is dead even. 10. .. Nf6 is the most sensible, but I decide to try to create an initiative. Also I was concerned about the vulnerability of the f7 point and did not want to play Nh6 with the pawn on h7.

10. .... h5?!

As I played this I regretted it. White has time to complete development and I should have done likewise.

11. d4 Nh6
12. b3!

White sensibly decides to utilise his main plus - the half open c-file.

12. .. g6
13. Ba3 Re8

To protect the e7 pawn and allow Bg7.

14. Rac1 Kb8
15. Rc2 c6

An ugly move that I did not like but I was struggling to see how I could take the initiative.

16. Rfc1 Bg7
17. h3 Nf5
18. Na4?!

18. Ne4 is better which would have prevented my next move.

18. ....  Nd6
19. Nc5 Bf5

Now with a grip on the e4 square, I felt more comfortable and thought I could see a way to force some exchanges.

20. Rd2 Ne4
21. Nxe4 Bxe4
22. Ng5 Bd5



White could now play 23. e4. The reply 23. ... Be6 24. Nxe6 fxe6 looks ugly but hold-able. Or Black could try 23. .. Bh6 24. h4 Bxg5 25. hxg5 Bxe4 26. Re2 Bf5 27. Bxe7 with an even position but White having a slight edge.

Another idea would be 23. f4 and then Ng5-f3-e5.

23. h4 Bf6

I decided I wanted this knight to go. Now 24. e4 Bxg5 transposes to the above variation.

The computer recommends 23. .. f6 24. Nh3 e5 with some energy.

24. f3 Bxg5
25. hxg5 f5

To keep an eye on the e4 square, give the bishop a square to drop back to, and hopefully move the backward e-pawn.

26. gxf6 exf6
27. e4 Bf7
28. Bd6+ Ka8

White's plus is the majority in the centre and he now seeks to get that going.

29. d5 cxd5



30. exd5

30. Rc7! is the best move upsetting Black's defensive lines and giving White a clear advantage.
30. ... Be6 31. exd5 Bc8 32. Be7! or 30. ... Bg8 31. exd5 and White is better.

30. ..... Rd8

Now 31. Rc7 can be met by 31. .. Rxd6 32. Rxf7 Rhd8 and everything is in place.

31. Be7 Rxd5
32. Rxd5 Bxd5
33. Bxf6 Re8
34. Kf2 a6

Defending the back rank and placing the last pawn on a white square.

35. Rd1

With this move White offered a draw, with an even position and opposite coloured bishops, which I accepted.

The match was very close and went all the way to a tie. However we lost on board count as they won on boards 3 and 5 to our 4 and 6.


Lewisham v Swale

Martin Stewart (166) 1/2-1/2 Keith Nevols (157)
David Brown (152) 1/2-1/2 Rob Woolacott (130)
Gokhan Kizilay (139) 1-0 Vytautas Gedminas (130)
David Moss (99) 0-1 Tyrone Jefferies (116)
Angelo Jara Nata (100) 1-0 Andrew Gillard (107)
Cristiano Marchettini (92) 0-1 Barry Sawyer (83)

Lewisham 3-3 Swale (Lewisham win on board count)

Game 104 - Swale Club Championship 2017-18 - Round Eleven

Swale Club Championship - Round Eleven

Thursday 12 April 2018

White: D. Simpson (113) - Black: K. Nevols (157)

My main rival for the championship had drawn with my opponent here, so I was keen to win to gain a half point.

1. d4 f5
2. Nc3

An off shoot blocking the c-pawn but getting quick piece play.

2. .... Nf6
3. Nf3

If 3. Bf4 then Black should play 3. .. a6.

3. .... e6
4. Bg5 Be7
5. Bxf6!?

A surprise. White exchanges off the bishop in order to get e4 in.

5. ....  Bxf6
6. e4 O-O

I did not like 6. .. fxe4 7. Nxe4 Be7 8. d5! with some energy. Also 7. ... O-O 8. Nxf6 Qxf6 is dead even.

If White now played 7. exf5, I was giving thought to an interesting pawn sacrifice - 7. ..d5!? 8. fxe6 Bxe6. For the pawn, Black gets an open e-file and active bishops. I don't know if it is any good but it might be fun to play.

However White decided to develop.

7. Be2 d5
8. e5 Be7
9. O-O b6

I am planning to remove the white squared bishops, as my pawns are on those squares, but this just weakens my queenside. 9. .. c5 is a better move.

10. a3 Ba6
11. Bxa6 Nxa6
12. Qe2 Nb8

White is better now and could start operations on either side.



13. b4 g5!?

Charge! I cannot play on the queenside and so decide it is time to advance on the kingside. White now does a strange manoeuvre with the knight. The computer recommends 14. h3 but it is understandable if White is reluctant to move pawns in front of the king. Perhaps 14. Qe3 and ask Black what his plan is, or 14. b5 with a4-a5 coming up.

14. Na4 Qe8
15. Nb2 Qg6

Here 16. c4 is interesting - which I had assumed was the point of White's play. I may have answered with 16. .. c6 17. cxd5 cxd5 where 18. Rac1 or 18. Rfc1 would cause Black to think. Answering 16. c4 with 16. .. g4 17. Nd2 Nc6 is perhaps an improvement.

16. Nd3?!

I was pleased to see this. White does not intend to counter but to defend.

16. ....  Nc6

By now White has 32 minutes left for 19 moves whereas I had 36 minutes.

17. Qd2 g4
18. Nfe1 Bg5
19. Nf4?

The d-pawn has to be protected but 19. Qc3 Qe8 and the game is rated as equal. This self-pinning move hands Black a clear initiative.

19. ....   Qh6
20. g3 Ne7
21. Neg2

21. Ned3 is an alternative which would also put the brakes on any Black ideas of c5. But placing the knight in front of the king has quite a psychological effect of strengthening the defence.

21. .....  Ng6



22. b5

With nowhere to go on the kingside, White reasons correctly that I might try something on the queenside. 22. f3 is a good little move which could reduce Black's initiative. Black would probably double up on the f-file.

22. .....  Rac8
23. Rac1 c5

23... c6 is also an option but risks 24. a4 cxb5 25. axb5 and White has the a-file half open to attack.

24. c3 Qg7

After some thought, I decide to give the h-pawn a run. The relief of the pin frees White up a little so 24. .. Rf7 planning Rc7 might have been a better idea. 24. ... cxd4 25. cxd4 leads to equality.

25. Qd1 Qe7
26. a4

The queen is unable to retake on f4, and White cannot avoid doubled pawns, so here we go!

26. .....  Nxf4
27. Nxf4 Bxf4
28. gxf4 h5

The computer rates this as dead equal, and recommends 29. Qb3 considering c4 and opening up the centre.

29. Qd3?!

... and Black could now play 29. ... cxd4 30. cxd4 Qb4! threatening Qxa4 and answering 31. Qd1 with 31. ... Rxc1.. But White would get the c-file as compensation, especially if a piece landed on c6. But I did not see this - my eyes were on the kingside.

29. ....  Rf7

I was always aware that White could play c4 to open up the centre, and considered whether I should play c4 myself to shut it down.

Here 30. c4 would give me a difficult decision. I don't want to allow cxd5 where I have to retake with the pawn so 30. ... Qd8 is an option. If then 31. dxc5 Rxc5 32. cxd5 Rxd5 33. Qb3 gives Black the question of how to defend the e6 pawn. Or 31. cxd5 Qxd5 32. Qc4.

30. c4 could lead to a liquidation of tension in the centre leading to equality. Fortunately this was a decision I did not have to consider.

30. Kh1

With the king on h1, then any calculations regarding a White c4 have to include a black Qb7 and the opening of the long diagonal.

30. ...  h4
31. h3

I inwardly cheered thinking this was a mistake. But it is not.

31. ...  Kh8
32. Rg1 Rg8
33. Qe3 Qf8
34. f3 c4

Finally shutting down the centre and pleased with the slow gradual progress I had made. Also just wanting to make the game simpler for my now tired brain.

35. fxg4 fxg4 36. Rxg4 Rxg4 37. hxg4 Rxf6 38. Qh3 keeps equal.

35. Ra1

Time for another big think and I foresaw the following sequence and the move at the end .. which I thought was winning.

35. .....  Qh6
36. Raf1

36. a5 is probably worth a try.

36. ......  gxh3
37. Rxg8+ Kxg8
38. Rg1+ Rg7
39. Rxg7+ Qxg7



40. Qg1 Qg3!

This was it. I thought this must be winning. If 41. Qxg3 hxg3 42. Kg1 Kg7 43. Kh1 Kh6 44. Kg1 Kh5 45. Kh1 Kh4 46. Kg1 g2 47. Kh2 g1(=Q)+ 48. Kxg1 Kg3 and then mopping up the White pawns. There are other ways to win.

41. Qf1

White sees the problem and avoids the exchange. I did not like Qxf4 until I had improved the position of the king.

41. ......  Kh7
42. Qe2 Kh6
43. Qf1 Kh5
44. Qe2 Qxf4
45. Kg1 Qg3+
46. Kh1 h2

46. .. Qf4 is another way. My plan is to let the pawns go to exchange queens and infiltrate with the king.

47. f4+ Qg4
48. Qxh2 Qd1+
49. Qg1 Qxg1+
50. Kxg1 Kg4

And White resigned to end a tough fight.

Game 103 - club match. Rochester v Rainham

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