Interesting Games – shrewsburychessclub.org

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. Ne2 Nd7 6. d4 Ne7 7. h3 Bxf3 8. gxf3 Ng6 9. c3 Be7 10. Be3 Bh4 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O f6 13. f4 c5 14. Rg1 Qe7 15. f5 exf5 16. Rxg6 hxg6 17. dxc5 fxe5 18. Qxd5+ Rf7 19. Qxb7 Rb8 20. Qxa7 Qe8 21. c6 Nf6 22. Qa4 f4 23. Nxf4 exf4 24. Bxf4 Ra8 25. Qb3 Kh7 26.Bb5 Bxf2 27. c7 Be3+ 28. Kb1 Qe4+ 29. Bd3 Qxf4 30. Qxf7 Rc8 31. Bxg6+ Kh6 32.Bc2 Qg3 33. Rd8 Rxc7 34. Rh8+ Kg5 35. Qg6+ Kf4 36. Qf5# 1-0

1. e4 c6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 Bg4 4. Nc3 e6 5. Ne2 Nd7 6. d4 Ne7 7. h3!? Bxf3 8. gxf3 Ng6 9. c3 Be7 10. Be3 Bh4 11. Qd2 O-O 12. O-O-O f6 13. f4 c5 14. Rg1 Qe7 15. f5! Could also have been played a move earlier exf5 16. Rxg6!? hxg6 17. dxc5 fxe5 17… Nxe5 is perhaps better, bringing the Knight in and keeping a massive lump of Pawns in front of the King to prevent the semi-open g-file proving immediately dangerous 18. Qxd5+ Rf7 19. Qxb7 Rb8 that pawn is falling anyway, so moving the rook to the d-file to overprotect the Knight rather than attacking the King without support would perhaps be prudent 20. Qxa7 Qe8 21. c6 Nf6 22. Qa4 f4 23. Nxf4! exf4 24. Bxf4 Ra8 25. Qb3 Kh7 26.Bb5 Bxf2? [26… Ne4 27.cy Qf8 28.Be5 Rxf2 and Black has not enough for the Rook, with 29.Bc6 falling victim to the lovely 29…Qf5] 27. c7 Be3+? goes from drawing with computer-level defending to lost 28. Kb1 Qe4+ 29. Bd3 Qxf4 30. Qxf7 Rc8 31. Bxg6+ Kh6 32.Bc2 Qg3 33. Rd8 Rxc7? There are drawing chances with Qe1+ 34. Rh8+ Kg5 35. Qg6+ Kf4 36. Qf5# 1-0 Lovely game from William; an impressive demonstration of how to play against the Caro-Kann

Nathanael Paul vs David Everington

Shrewsbury A v Newport A, 8 Nov 2013

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d4 exd4 6. Qxd4 Qxd4 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Nc3 O-O-O 9. Be3 Nf6 10. f3 Bd6 11. O-O-O h5 12. Bg5 h4 13.Rhe1 Rde8 14.f4 Bb4 15. Bxf6 gxf6 16. Nf5 Bxf5 17. exf5 Bd6 18. g3 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Rh5 20. Ne4 hxg3 21. Nxd6+ cxd6 22. hxg3 Kd7 23. g4 Rh2 24. g5 fxg5 25. fxg5 Rg2 26. f6 Rxg5 27. Re7+ Kc8 28. Rxf7 Rf5 29. Kd2 b5 30. Kc3 a5 31. Kd3 Kd8 32. c4 Ke8 33.Rc7 bxc4+ 34. Kxc4 Rf4+ 35. Kb3 Rxf6 36. Rxc6 Kd7 37. Ra6 Rf3+ 38. Ka4 Rf2 39.Rb6 d5 40. Kxa5 d4 41. Rb3 Kc6 42. Kb4 Kd5 43. a4 Ke4 44. Ka3 d3 45. Rb8 d2 46.Rd8 Rf3+ 47. Kb4 Rd3 48. Re8+ Kf3 49. Rf8+ Ke2 50. Re8+ Re3 51. Rd8 Re4+ 52.Kb5 d1=Q 53. Rxd1 Kxd1 54. a5 Kc2 55. a6 1/2-1/2

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Bc6 dc 5.d4 Fischer’s 5.O-O is most popular now but this older line is also fine 5…ed 6.Qd4 Qd4 7.Nd4 Bd7 This move and the next are considered to be Black’s best plan 8.Nc3 O-O-O 9.Be3 Nf6 10.f3 Bd6 11.O-O-O h5 12.Bg5 h4 13.Rhe1 Rde8 14.f4? Bb4? Missing 14…Nh7 with a definite edge 15.Bf6 gf 16.Nf5 Bf5 17.ef Bd6? Bc3 and then Rh5 was better 18.g3 Re1 19.Re1 Rh5 20.Ne4 hg 21.Nd6+ 21.Nf6 – threatening mate – Bf4+ 22.Kd1 Rh8 gets White nowhere 21….cd 22.hg Kd7 23.g4! Rh2 24.g5! forcing Black to concede his second rank to a rook 24….fg 25.fg Rg2 26.f6 Rg5 27.Re7+ Kc8 28.Rf7 Rf5 29.Kd2 b5 30.Kc3 a5 31.Kd3 Kd8 32.c4 Ke8 33.Rc7 bc+ 34.Kc4 Rf4+ Forcing White back one rank before taking the pawn – an often overlooked idea in rook endings 35.Kb3 Rf6 36.Rc6 Kd7 37.Ra6 Rf3+ 38.Ka4 Rf2 39.Rb6 d5! White’s pieces are awkwardly placed to stop the pawn and it almost wins 40.Ka5 d4 41.Rb3 Kc6 42.Kb4 Kd5 43.a4 Ke4 44.Ka3 d3 45.Rb8 d2 46.Rd8?? This should now be won for Black, but it requires accurate play which is difficult to find in time pressure! – Matt Rf3+ 47.Kb4 Rd3 48.Re8+ Kf3? going the wrong way! The King needs to head towards the 8^th rank to prevent White’s pawns becoming his saving grace 48…Kf5 49.Rf8+ Ke6 50.Rf1 d1=Q 51. Rxd1 Rxd1 is a trivial win for Black. Unfortunately, such variations are immensely difficult to see in time trouble – Matt 49.Rf8+ Ke2 50.Re8+ Re3 and now the game is dead drawn 51.Rd8 Re4+ 52.Kb5 d1/Q 53.Rd1 Kd1 54.a5 Kc2 55.a6 and it was agreed drawn a move or two later with both of us on just about a minute left. The computer says dead even at this point which is pretty obvious.

Keith Grice vs Norman O’Connor

Shrewsbury B v Oswestry A, 18 Oct 2013

 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c5 5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4 0–0 7.0–0 d5 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 9...Bf5 10.a3 Rc8 11.Ne1 Na5 12.Nd3 b6 13.Ra2 13...h5 14.Ne5 e6 15.Bd2 Nc4 16.Nxc4 Rxc4 17.b3 Rc6 18.Re1 18...Qe7 19.Na4 Rfc8 20.b4? Bc2 21.Rxc2 Rxc2 22.e4 dxe4 23.Bg5 Qd7 24.Nc5 bxc5 25.Qxc2 cxd4 26.Qd2 Rc3 ] 27.Qb2 Qa4 28.Bc1 Qc6 29.Qa1 e5 30.Bg5 Qa4 31.Bc1 Rc2 32.Bb2 32...Qb3 33.Rb1 Qd3  34.Rd1 Qe2 35.Bxd4 exd4 36.Qxd4 Ng4 0-1

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 c5 5.c3 cxd4 6.cxd4 0–0 7.0–0 d5 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 this leads to a blocked-in dark-squared Bishop which White may have problems extracting 9…Bf5 10.a3 Rc8 11.Ne1 Na5 12.Nd3 b6 13.Ra2 is slightly passive [13.f3 Nc4 14.Ne5 might have been more ambitious] 13…h5 14.Ne5 e6 15.Bd2 Nc4 16.Nxc4 Rxc4 17.b3 Rc6 18.Re1 another passive move which allows Black to assert control over the open c-file to go with his space advantage and superior Bishop 18…Qe7 19.Na4 Rfc8 20.b4? Bc2 21.Rxc2 Rxc2 22.e4 dxe4 23.Bg5 Qd7 [23…Ra2 was possibly slightly more accurate, but this is splitting hairs] 24.Nc5 bxc5 25.Qxc2 cxd4 26.Qd2 Rc3 [again, if we’re being extremely picky, then it may have been cleaner to go with 26…e3 27.fxe3 d3 28.Rd1 Nh7 29.Bf4 e5 30.Qxd3 Qxd3 31.Rxd3 Rc1+ 32.Kf2 Rc2+ 33.Kf1 exf4 34.exf4 Bb2] 27.Qb2 Qa4 28.Bc1 Qc6 29.Qa1 e5 30.Bg5 Qa4 31.Bc1 Rc2 32.Bb2 [White’s best chance of some longevity may be to prevent Black’s Knight joining in with 32.h3 e3 33.Bxe3 dxe3 34.Rxe3] 32…Qb3 33.Rb1 Qd3 [Perhaps prettier is 33…Rxf2 34.Bxd4 (34.Kxf2 Qe3+ 35.Kf1 Ng4 36.Bxd4 Nxh2#) 34…Rxg2+ 35.Kxg2 Qf3+ 36.Kg1 exd4 , but this is taking splitting hairs to a whole new level!] 34.Rd1 Qe2 35.Bxd4 exd4 36.Qxd4 Ng4And Keith resigned, in a hopeless position with the engine informing me that there was a checkmate in 9 moves to come. Presumably both players calculated this and decided further play was futile! [37.Bf1 Qf3 38.Bg2 Bxd4 39.Bxf3 exf3 40.h3 Rxf2 41.hxg4 Rd2+ 42.Kh1 Rxd1+ 43.Kh2 f2 44.gxh5 f1Q 45.hxg6 Qh1#] 0–1

Steve Rooney v Francis Best

Church Stretton A v Shrewsbury A, 12 Feb 2013

   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 b6 5. h3 Bb7 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. c3   d6 9. g4 e5 10. dxe5 dxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxh1 12. f3 Nbd7 13. Nc6 Qe8 14. Qe2 Nd5 15.  O-O-O Nxf4 16. exf4 Bd6 17. Bxh7+ Kh8 18. Be4 Bxf4 19. Qf2 Nf6 20. Qh4+ Kg8 21.  Rxh1 Bxd2+ 22. Kb1 g5 23. Qh6 Nxe4 24. h4 Nf2 25. Qf6 Nxh1 26. Ne7+ Qxe7 27.  Qxe7 Rfe8 28. Qf6 Ng3 29. Qc6 Rad8 30. h5 Bf4 31. Qa4 Re1+ 32. Kc2 Rd2+ 33. Kb3  Ree2 34. Qxa7 Rxb2+ 35. Kc4 b5+ 36. Kd5 Rbd2+ 37. Kc6 Rxa2 38. Qd7 Re6+ 39.  Kxb5 Rae2 40. Qd8+ Re8 41. Qd3 Rb2+ 42. Kc4 Ne2 43. h6 Be5 44. Qf5 Rb6 45.  Qxg5+ Rg6 46. Qd2 Nxc3 47. Kxc5 Rc8+ 48. Kb4 Rb6+ 49. Ka5 Rb5+ 50. Ka6 Ra8# 0-1

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 b6 5. h3 Bb7 6. Nbd2 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. c3
d6 9. g4?! {Up until here, it has been fairly standard London system stuff
but this came as a bit of a surprise. The natural response to a flank pawn
thrust is a central one and here, the tactics work in black’s favour, thanks
to the exposed long h1-a8 diagonal and the unguarded bishop on d3.} e5 10. dxe5!?
{Steve manages to generate a surprising amount of tactical play with this
move. Objectively better is} (10. Bg5 e4 11. Bxf6 exd3 12. Bxe7 Qxe7 =+ {
which is what I was expecting but the position is simpler to play and white is
going to suffer for a while.}) 10… dxe5 11. Nxe5 ?! (11. g5 !? {was the
alternative but after} exf4 12. gxf6 fxe3 13. fxe7 exd2+ 14. Kxd2 Qxe7 {
white’s position is a mess, with no trace of counterplay.}) 11… Bxh1 12. f3
Nbd7 (12… Bd6 13. Qe2 Qe7 14. Ndc4 Bc7 {was probably more straight forward
but I wanted to extricate the a8 rook from the corner as soon as possible.})
13. Nc6 Qe8 14. Qe2 Nd5 {Now 15…Bh4+ is threatened, which would be
unpleasant for white, so Steve castles.} 15. O-O-O Nxf4 {The “London bishop”
bites the dust.} 16. exf4 Bd6 {Naturally, black is quite happy with an
exchange of queens.} 17. Bxh7+ {Again, the omputer doesn’t like this move,
although in practical play, I think it offers good chances to muddy the waters.
} Kh8 (17… Kxh7 {is quite playable, in fact and may be even stronger. After}
18. Qd3+ f5 19. Qxd6 Rf6 20. Qd5 Qe6 21. Ne7 Re8 22. Qxe6 Rxe6 23. Nxf5 Re1 {
the tricks are over and black is just solid material up.}) 18. Be4 (18. Bd3
Qxe2 19. Bxe2 {might have been objectively better but, again, white doesn’t
want the queens off.}) 18… Bxf4 {but the downside is that this pawn goes and
black’s bishop is pretty useful on f4.} 19. Qf2 Nf6! {anything else allows
20.Qh4+ and 21.Qh7#} 20. Qh4+ Kg8 21. Rxh1 (21. Ne7+ Qxe7 22. Bh7+ Nxh7 {
(otherwise, it’s just perpetual check)} 23. Qxe7 Bxf3 24. Rf1 Ng5 {is perhaps
a slightly better version of what happens in the game but doesn’t give black
so many chances to go wrong amidst the tactics.}) 21… Bxd2+ 22. Kb1 $5 (22.
Kxd2 Nxe4+ 23. fxe4 Qxc6 $1 (23… Qxe4?? 24. Ne7+ Qxe7 25. Qxe7 {is one way
of mucking things up!}) 24. Re1 Qh6+ -+) 22… g5! {puts the question to
the queen and gives the king a bit of breathing space in some lines involving
Ne7+} 23. Qh6 Nxe4 {The best move, to remove a key attacker but after} 24. h4!{black has to be careful.} Nf2! (24… Qe6? 25. Ne7+ $1 Qxe7 26. hxg5 f6
27. Qh8+ Kf7 28. Rh7+ Ke6 29. Rxe7+ Kxe7 30. Qh7+ Kd6 31. Qxe4 {dissipates
most of black’s advantage.}) 25. Qf6!? {Still white manages to keep the
tactics alive. Black is still totally winning but Ne7+ tricks give
opportunities for white.} Nxh1 26. Ne7+ Qxe7 {Otherwise it’s just perpetual.
I’d figured that black has plenty of material for the queen.} 27. Qxe7 Rfe8 28.
Qf6 Ng3 {Taking squares away from the queen and extricating the knight from
the corner, although} (28… Re6 29. Qf5 Rd8 30. Kc2 Ng3 {was more clinical.})
29. Qc6 Rad8 (29… gxh4 {was probably quicker, too.} 30. Qc7 Nf1 {leaves
white with very little hope.}) 30. h5 Bf4 31. Qa4 Re1+ 32. Kc2 Rd2+ 33. Kb3
Ree2 34. Qxa7 {Allows a mate – which I don’t quite manage!} Rxb2+ 35. Kc4 b5+ (
35… Nf1! {forces mate. Of course, the move played is still perfectly good
to win.}) 36. Kd5! (36. Kxc5? Be3+ -+) 36… Rbd2+?! (36… Re5+! 37.
Kc6 Re6+ 38. Kd7 Rd2+ 39. Kc8 Re8+ {is rather more efficient.}) 37. Kc6 Rxa2
38. Qd7 Re6+ 39. Kxb5 Rae2 40. Qd8+ Re8 41. Qd3 Rb2+ 42. Kc4 Ne2 {At last, the
knight enters the action.} 43. h6 Be5 (43… Re3! 44. Qd8+ Kh7 45. Qf8 Rxc3+
46. Kd5 Rd2+ 47. Kc6 Nd4+ 48. Kb7 Rb3+ 49. Kc8 Rb8+ {is again, rather more
efficient but by this time, we were both pretty short of time.}) 44. Qf5 Rb6
45. Qxg5+ Rg6 46. Qd2 Nxc3 47. Kxc5 Rc8+ 48. Kb4 Rb6+ 49. Ka5 Rb5+ 50. Ka6 Ra8#
{At this stage, I had about a minute on the clock, Steve slightly less. What
a tremendous game! With this result (the last to finish) the match was a draw.
} 0-1

White: Jonathan Newey Black: Ian Davies

Newport B – Shrewsbury B, Thursday 7th February

   1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nc3 c6 5. Bd3 Bd6 6. Be3 Ne7 7. Nge2 Bg4 8.  f3 Bf5 9. Nf4 Qc7 10. Nh5 O-O 11. Qd2 Bg6 12. Nxg7 Kxg7 13. Bh6+ Kg8 14. Bxf8  Kxf8 15. Qg5 Kg8 16. Bxg6 fxg6 17. Ne2 Nf5 18. Qd2 Nd7 19. O-O-O a5 20. h4 Nf6  21. Kb1 Re8 22. Qg5 Rxe2 23. g4 Ne3 24. Rde1 Ne4 25. fxe4 Bf4 26. Qf6 Rxc2 27.  Rxe3 Rxb2+ 28. Kxb2 Bxe3 29. Rf1 Qb6+ 30. Kc2

1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 exd5 4.Nc3 c6 5.Bd3 Bd6 6.Be3 Ne7 7.Nge2 Bg4 8.f3 Bf5 9.Nf4 Qc7 10.Nh5 The Knight may look a little misplaced, but is a useful attacking outlet as well as forcing Black to do something about the obvious threat 10…0–0 11.Qd2 Bg6 12.Nxg7 Certainly an interesting option, if somewhat unsound. 12…Kxg7 13.Bh6+ Kg8 14.Bxf8 Kxf8 15.Qg5 Kg8 16.Bxg6 Questionable. Allows Black to improve his pawn structure and offer extra protection to his King 16…fxg6 17.Ne2 Nf5 18.Qd2 Nd7 Black’s patient manoeuvring is slowly cranking up the pressure and increasing the advantage 19.0–0–0 a5 [after 19…Nb6 20.Qc3 Qe7 21.Qd3 Nc4 Black is starting to get a very strong attack going now, aligning towards White’s King. White, meanwhile, has to gradually shuffle pieces around with very few other options] 20.h4 Nf6 21.Kb1 Re8 22.Qg5? An oversight Jonathan admitted to after the game. Whilst a cursory glance would suggest that after 22…Rxe2 23. Qxf6 is reasonable, further examination shows that the Queen actually has no escape square [22.Rde1 Qb6 23.c3 Ne3 24.Nc1 Nc4 25.Rxe8+ Nxe8 26.Qe2 Ng7 And while Black is still on top, it is nowhere near as clear cut.] 22…Rxe2 23.g4 [23.Qxf6 Be7 24.Qe5 Rxe5 25.dxe5 Qxe5 26.Rhe1 Qg3 Game over] 23…Ne3 [Better is 23…Ng7 24.Rhe1 (24.h5 Ne6 25.Qxf6 (25.Qh4 g5 26.Qh3 Nf4) 25…Be7 26.Qe5) 24…Kf7 Looks strange but the Queen is now lost 25.Rxe2 (25.Qc1 Bf4) 25…Bf4 26.c4 Ne6 27.Qe5 Bxe5 28.dxe5 Nf4] 24.Rde1! The crucial move which initiated the power shift. 24…Ne4? Black didn’t want to allow White the open file by exchanging Rooks. However, whilst the open file is strong, it is not worth a piece. [24…Rxe1+ 25.Rxe1 Ng2 26.Qxf6 Nxe1 27.Qe6+ Qf7 28.Qxd6 Nxf3] 25.fxe4 Bf4 [25…Be7 26.Qe5 Qxe5 27.dxe5 Rxe1+ 28.Rxe1 d4] 26.Qf6 Rxc2? allowed 27.Rxe3 Rxb2+ 28.Kxb2 Bxe3 29.Rf1 Qb6+ 30.Kc2 and Ian resigned after realising there are now further checks. Desperately unlucky for Ian, but huge credit to both players for playing their part in a fascinating, double-edged encounter. 0–1

White: Graham Shepherd Black: Francis Best

Shrewsbury A v Church Stretton A, 26 October 2012

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bd2 Rb8 9. Rb1 b5 10. Ne2 b4 11. c4 bxc3 12. Bxc3 e5 13. Ne1 Qb6 14. Kh1 Qa6 15.Nc1 Bg4 16. Qd2 Nd4  17. Bxd4 cxd4 18. Nc2 Be6 19. b3 d5 20. f4 dxe4 21. dxe4 Nxe4 22. Qe1 Nc3 23. Ra1 Bf5 24. Rf2 e4 25. g4 Bxg4 26. Ne2 Bxe2 27. Bxe4 Rfe8 0-1

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. d3 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Bd2 Rb8 9. Rb1 b5 10. Ne2 b4 11. c4 bxc3 (11… Nd7 12. b3 Nde5 was another way of playing, looking to build up pressure against d3. However, I didn’t particularly want to close the position, as I could see some tactical possibilities. White has rather let black have things his own way and is already at a slight disadvantage.) 12. Bxc3 (12. bxc3!? was probably a better try. I had intended 12…c4! {after which white’s centre is under pressure but white is probably better than in the game.) 12… e5 Now white’s dark squared bishop is locked out of the game and black has a permanent structural advantage. The d3 square is always vulnerable e.g. to a timely …Ba6, whereas, white can’t get at d6. Also, black’s control of the centre gives another route to an advantage.12… Ba6 {was another way of playing, keeping the centre fluid for the time being.

13. Ne1?! This is probably too compliant, although white wants to try and achieve f4 as soon as possible – his only real source of counterplay. However, taking the pressure off e5 permits black further options, as we can see shortly. 13…Qb6

13… d5 {straight away was possible, although I didn’t like leaving the knight hanging on c6: LPDO -“loose pieces drop off!” as the saying goes 14. Qa4)

14. Kh1 Qa6 The queen is surprisingly effective here. As well as eyeing up a2 and d3, there is a long range x-ray attack on f1, which becomes significant in a few moves.

15. Nc1 Bg4 The bishop is not going to stay here; I wanted white to commit himself with the queen – or something else. 16. Qd2 Nd4 Now white has another problem – what to do with the powerful knight on d4.

17. Bxd4?! However, this was probably not the best solution. 17.Nc2 or 17.f3, ejecting the bishop were probably better. However, the position is already quite difficult for white. 17…cxd4 18. Nc2 Be6 This is the real intention for the bishop. Although it is attacking a2, the main benefit is that it supports …d5, when black’s central pawn majority will come into its own. 19. b3 d5 (19… Rfc8 was my other candidate move – and the one preferred by the computer. It certainly makes sense to utilise the open c-file and …d5 can be played at any time. However, the latter works pretty well straight away too.) 20.f4!? The best try, otherwise white just gets squashed. 20…dxe4 21. dxe4?

But this is a bad idea. After 21. fxe5 e3 22. Qe1 Ng4 23. Nxd4 Bxe5 black is clearly better but white is fighting.

21… Nxe4 After this, the knight wreaks havoc. It is of course immune from capture (22. Bxe4 $4 Qxf1# ) 22. Qe1 Nc3 23. Ra1 (23. Rb2 at least protects the knight on c2, although white is probably already lost by this point.) 23… Bf5 24. Rf2 (24. Ne3 dxe3 25. Qxc3 exf4 is lethal.) 24… e4 25. g4 (25. Bf1 Qc6 26. Bg2 Qc5 would do the job.) 25… Bxg4 26. Ne2 Bxe2 27. Bxe4 Rfe8 Here, Graham had had enough and resigned. 0-1

White: Peter Kitchen Black: Francis Rooney

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 d6 7. f3 Bd7 8. Bc4 a6 9. Qd2 Rb8 10. O-O-O b5 11. Bb3 Na5 12. Nd5 Nxb3+ 13. Nxb3 Nxd5 14. exd5 Rc8 15. g4 Qc7 16. Nd4 a5 17. Kb1 b4 18. Rhe1 Qc4 19. Ne2 a4 20. Rc1 Bg7 21. Bd4 O-O 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Ng3 Rfe8 24. h4 Rc5 25. Nh5+ Kh8 26. Qh6 gxh5 27. Rxe7 Kg8 28. Rxd7 Qd4 29. gxh5 a3 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. c3 bxc3 32. b3 Qd3+ 33. Ka1 Qe2 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Rg1+ Kh8 36. Qg7#

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 d6 7. f3 Bd7 8. Bc4 a6 9. Qd2 Rb8 10. O-O-O b5 11. Bb3 Na5 12. Nd5 Nxb3+ 13. Nxb3 Nxd5 14. exd5 Rc8 15. g4 Qc7 16. Nd4 a5 17. Kb1 b4 18. Rhe1 Qc4 19. Ne2 [19. Bg5 Qxd5 20. Qf4 a4 (20… Qb7? 21. Qf6; 20… Qc4 21. b3 Qc5 22. Qf6) 21. Nf5 Qxd1+ 22. Rxd1 gxf5 and White is better here; Black’s disorganised pieces and poor King position mean that the counterplay for the trade-off is non-existent.) 19… a4 20. Rc1 Bg7 21. Bd4 O-O 22. Bxg7 Kxg7 23. Ng3 Rfe8 24. h4 Rc5 25. Nh5+ this may appear unsound – indeed Peter wasn’t entirely sure – but it is acutally solid. Kh8? This position is now theoretically lost for Black. ( 25… gxh5 This might look nasty but is Black’s best response, with no win for White 26. Qg5+ Kh8 27. Rxe7 Qd4 28. Qh6) 26. Qh6 gxh5 27. Rxe7 Kg8 28.Rxd7? and White has managed to lose all advantage again. Better would have been: (28. Qg5+ Kf8 29. Qf6 Black has to sacrifice a lot to prevent the mate threat on f7 with the Qh8# preventing Black taking the rook Be6 30. dxe6 Qxe6 31. Rxe6 Rxe6 32. Qh8+) 28… Qd4 29. gxh5 at this stage, White was still better, but 29.gxh5 has allowed Black to get a draw 29…a3 30. Qg5+ Kf8 31. c3 And Black has a choice of two winning moves. However, they are difficult to spot under pressure with a shortage of time bxc3 is one of those, although less effective than a mate in 11! (31… Qd3+ 32. Ka1 axb2+ 33. Kxb2 Re2+ 34. Ka1 Rxa2+ 35. Kxa2 Qc4+ 36. Kb2 bxc3+ 37. Kc2 Qe2+ 38. Qd2 cxd2+ 39. Kb3 Qb5+ 40. Ka3 dxc1=Q+ 41. Ka2 Rc2#) 32. b3 Qd3+? Taking the Queen off the long diagonal allows White to rescue a draw with a perpetual, and also means the forced mate has been overlooked: (32… c2+ 33. Rxc2 Qb2+ 34. Rxb2 Re1+ 35. Qc1 Rcxc1#) 33. Ka1 Qe2?? So unfortunate for Francis after playing so well. Sadly, the end is now nigh on a thrilling, see-saw encounter. 34. Qh6+ Kg8 35. Rg1+ Kh8 36. Qg7# 1-0

White: Danny Griffiths Black: Dan Lockett

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. d3 Bg7 4. g3 d6 5. Bg2 Nc6 6. Nf3 Bd7 7. Bd2 e5 8. Rb1 Rb8 9. b4 Nd4 10. O-O Qc8 11. Nxd4 exd4 12. Ne4 Nxe4 13. Bxe4 O-O 14. f4 Bf5 15. Bg2 Re8 16. Rf2 Re7 17. Qc2 c5 18. Rd1 b5 19. a3 Qa6 20. bxc5 dxc5 21. cxb5 Qxb5 22. a4 Qb2 23. Rc1 c4 24. Qxb2 Rxb2 25. e4 dxe3 26. Bxe3 Rxe3 27. Rxb2 Bxb2 28. Rxc4 Rxd3 29. Be4 Bd4+ 30. Kf1

White: Richard Gillespie Black: David Everington Ruy Lopez – Marshall Gambit

1.e4 e5  2.Nf3 Nc6  3.Bb5 a6  4.Ba4 Nf6  5.O-O Be7  6.Re1 b5  7.Bb3 O-O  8.c3 d5  9.exd5 Nd5  10.Ne5 Ne5  11.Re5 Nf6  12.f3!? Bd6  13.Re2 Ng4  14.fxg4 Bg4  15.h3 Be2  16.Qe2 Qh4  17.d4 Rae8  18.Be3   Qg3  19.Qf2 Re3  20.Qg3 Bg3

1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a3 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.exd Nd5 10.Ne5 Ne5 11.Re5 Nf6 12.f3!? (New to me on the night but played in Gil – Medina, Barcelona 1942 with the same reply by Black as here) 12….Bd6 13.Re2 Ng4 14.fxg Bg4 15.h3 Be2 16.Qe2 Qh4 17.d4 Rae8 18.Be3 (forced) Qg3 19.Qf2 Re3 20.Qg3 Bg3 and Black went on to win although Richard kept finding moves to survive and it went to move 39.

One comment

William Bates says:

January 27, 2014 at 6:33 pm

Hi,
Thought I would just add some of what I thought. The first thing I think I should say is I’ve looked for the master game with the knight moved to e2 and I was wrong it wasn’t against Caro-Kann however I was lucky that the principal was roughly the same and position that occured was very simlar to what I had seen . In the game f5 could have been made a move earlier but plain and simple I had something else in mind, trying to trap the bishop and didn’t even consider it until I came up with the idea of rook for knight and opening the centre, Rook taking the knight it felt right and thought the knight would become a problem hitting e5 and f4 so had to go. Move 19. Rd8 that has to be the move, I’ve looked at this option wouldn’t have liked to play it for either side, a very messy position even now I’m not sure if it would be right to take the a pawn, my preference would be Qd5 but a lot of continuations. After Rb8 in the game just felt it was a won game just a case of proving it, f4 was clearly a mistake increasing the strength of my bishop pair although once again trading off piece for pawns. The idea for black became break the bishop pair, so Be3 was a good idea just didn’t work when it was played. David was also dramatically down on the clock and there were some very complex lines so have to allow for miscalculating. The game itself was very enjoyable but I was constantly trying to keep a check on material as it became increasingly difficult to keep a numerical count and juggle that with what ideas to play on the board. Happy with the outcome especially after David beat me at the start of the season.

William

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