GAME 020 vs Dominik Tunks , January 2007

Dominik Tunks vs Edward Davies
Portsmouth vs Emsworth Rapid League

1.Nf3 d5 [1...Nf6 is less committal and a bit more common.] 2.b3 semi off-beat, though still a commonly played system. Tony Miles was the loyalest Grandmaster to this line, with 5 games in the Fritz database, in the 4 games against 2500+ rated opposition he never lost (+1, =3). Other noteworthy games: David Norwood beat Sofia Polgar with white, Korchnoi gave it a try in 2003, Radjabov beat Beliavsky with it in 2002, and Smyslov used it in 1973. Conquest played this in 1998, though this is no surprise given Conquest's reputation for playing just about every opening under the sun. Sokolov beat Blatny against it in 1997 with black, and Ivanov beat Bezgodov against it in 1997 with black. [2.d4; 2.g3; 2.c4] 2...Nf6 [equally popular: 2...Bg4 ; and: 2...c5 ] 3.Bb2 Bf5 [3...Bg4 4.e3 e6 5.h3 (5.Be2 Nbd7 6.d3 Bd6 7.Nbd2 c6 8.Nh4 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 0–0 10.g3 Re8 11.0–0 Qa5 12.a3 Rad8 13.e4 e5 14.Kh1 Qa6 15.f3 Bf8 16.Rae1 g6 17.Qg2 Bg7 18.g4 Nf8 19.f4 exf4 20.Rxf4 Nxe4 21.Bxg7 Nxd2 22.Rxe8 Rxe8 23.Qxd2 Ne6 24.Bf6 Nxf4 25.Qxf4 c5 26.Nf3 d4 27.Kg1 Qe6 28.Ne5 h6 29.h4 Kh7 30.Kf2 b5 31.Kg3 a5 32.g5 h5 33.Qf3 Kg8 34.Qc6 Qxc6 35.Nxc6 Ra8 36.Kf4 Ra6 37.Nb8 Re6 38.Be5 a4 39.bxa4 bxa4 40.Nd7 Rc6 41.Nf6+ 0–1, Blatny - Sokolov, 1997. I assume either white lost on time here, or Fritz has the wrong result, as white is winning.) 5...Bxf3 6.Qxf3 Be7 7.g3 c5 8.Bg2 Nc6 9.0–0 0–0 10.d3 Nd7 11.Qe2 Bf6 12.c4 Bxb2 13.Qxb2 Nf6 14.cxd5 exd5 15.Nd2 Rc8 16.Nf3 Qb6 17.Rfd1 Rfd8 18.Rac1 Rc7 19.d4 c4 20.Ne5 cxb3 21.Qxb3 Qxb3 22.axb3 Rdc8 23.Nd3 Ne7 24.Rxc7 Rxc7 25.Ra1 b6 26.b4 Ne4 27.Nf4 g5 28.Nxd5 Nxd5 29.Bxe4 Nxb4 30.d5 Rd7 31.Rd1 Rd6 32.Bg2 f5 33.g4 fxg4 34.e4 Nc6 35.Ra1 Ne5 36.Rxa7 gxh3 37.Bxh3 g4 38.Bg2 Rd7 39.Ra8+ Kf7 40.Bf1 Rc7 41.Bb5 Rc5 42.Be8+ Kf6 43.Kg2 Rc4 44.Rb8 Rxe4 45.Rxb6+ Kf5 46.Rh6 draw, Smyslov - Savon, 1973; 3...c5 4.e3 e6 5.d4 Bd6 6.Nbd2 0–0 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.a3 Qe7 9.c4 cxd4 10.exd4 b6 11.0–0 Bb7 12.Re1 Rfd8 13.h3 Rac8 14.Qe2 dxc4 15.bxc4 Qf8 16.Ng5 Re8 17.Nde4 Nxe4 18.Qxe4 g6 19.Qh4 h6 20.Ne4 Be7 21.Nf6+ Bxf6 22.Qxf6 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.d5+ Kg8 25.dxc6 Bxc6 amazingly Beliavsky plays on instead of resigning to Radjabov 26.Rac1 Rcd8 27.Bf1 f5 28.Rcd1 Kf7 29.Be2 Be4 30.Rxd8 Rxd8 31.Rd1 Rxd1+ 32.Bxd1 Bc6 33.f3 Ke7 34.Be5 Kf7 35.Kf2 a6 36.Ke3 b5 37.Kd4 bxc4 38.Kxc4 Bb5+ 39.Kb4 Bf1 40.g3 Bxh3 41.Be2 Bg2 42.Ka5 g5 43.Kxa6 h5 44.a4 Kg6 45.a5 f4 46.gxf4 1–0, Radjabov vs Beliavsky, 2002, in this ridiculous case of disrepect to Radjabov; 3...c6 4.e3 Bg4 5.h3 (5.Be2 Nbd7 6.d3 e6 7.h3 Bxf3 8.Bxf3 Bd6 9.Nd2 Qe7 10.0–0 Ba3 11.Qc1 Bxb2 12.Qxb2 0–0 13.c4 Rfd8 14.Be2 h6 15.Rac1 Rac8 16.Rc2 e5 17.cxd5 cxd5 18.Rfc1 Rxc2 19.Rxc2 Nb8 20.b4 a6 21.a3 Nc6 22.Nb3 d4 23.exd4 exd4 24.Bf1 h5 25.Nc5 Ne5 26.Re2 Qc7 27.Qd2 Ned7 28.Nxd7 Qxd7 29.g3 Qa4 30.Qc1 Re8 31.Rxe8+ Qxe8 32.Bg2 Qe2 33.Qc8+ Kh7 34.Qf5+ Kg8 35.Bxb7 h4 36.g4 Qb2 37.g5 Nh5 38.Kg2 g6 39.Qe5 1–0, Miles - Godena, 1999) 5...Bxf3 6.Qxf3 Nbd7 7.d4 e6 8.Nd2 Qa5 9.Bd3 Bb4 10.Qe2 0–0 11.a3 Bc3 12.b4 Bxd2+ 13.Qxd2 Qc7 14.c4 Nb6 15.Rc1 Nxc4 16.Bxc4 dxc4 17.Rxc4 a5 18.0–0 axb4 19.Rxb4 Nd5 20.Rb3 f5 21.Re1 Rf6 22.Bc3 Rg6 23.Qb2 b5 24.Bb4 Qd8 25.Qe2 Nxb4 26.Rxb4 Rxa3 27.Rb2 Qd5 28.f4 Rc3 29.Rc2 Rxc2 30.Qxc2 b4 31.Kh2 b3 32.Qb2 Qe4 33.g3 Qd3 34.Qe2 Qc3 35.Rd1 Rf6 36.Qd3 Qb2+ 37.Rd2 Qc1 38.Rd1 b2 39.g4 Rf8 40.Qb3 b1Q 41.Qxb1 Qxe3 42.Qd3 Qxf4+ 43.Qg3 fxg4 44.hxg4 Qxg3+ 45.Kxg3 Rd8 46.Re1 Kf7 47.Re4 Rd5 48.Rf4+ Ke7 49.Kf3 e5 0–1, Taimanov - Tunik, 1995; 3...e6 4.e3 Be7 (4...c5 5.c4 Nc6 6.cxd5 exd5 7.Bb5 Bd6 8.0–0 0–0 9.Bxc6 bxc6 10.d3 a5 11.Qc2 Ba6 12.Re1 Re8 13.Nbd2 Rb8 14.e4 Bxd3! So starts a tactical sequence leaving a queen for 3 minor pieces imbalance. 15.Qxd3 dxe4 16.Bxf6 Bxh2+ 17.Nxh2 Qxd3 18.Bg5 h6 19.Be3 a4 20.Nhf1 axb3 21.axb3 Ra8 22.Rac1 Re5 23.Bf4 Rf5 24.Rxe4 Ra2 25.Be3 white has to hope his pieces coordinate in the small space available; admittedly it is easy for me to say this knowing the result of the game 25...Rc2 26.Rxc2 Qxc2 27.Rc4 Qd3 28.Bxc5 Re5 29.Be3 Qd7 30.Nf3 Rd5 31.N1d2 f5 32.Ra4 c5 33.Rc4 Qd6 34.Bf4 Qe6 35.Rc1 g5 36.Be3 Qd6 37.Re1 g4 38.Nc4 Qf6 39.Nfd2 f4 40.Ne4 Qf5 41.Bc1 Rd4 42.Ncd2 Qe6 43.Kf1 f3 44.Re3 Qa6+ 45.Kg1 Qe2 46.Kh2 Qd1 47.Rc3 Rxe4 48.Nxe4 Qf1 49.Kg3 fxg2 50.Kf4 g1Q 0–1, Bezgodov - Ivanov, 1997. An awesome game.; 4...Bd6 5.c4 0–0 6.d4 c5 7.cxd5 exd5 8.dxc5 Bxc5 9.Be2 Nc6 10.0–0 Bb6 11.Na3 Ne4 12.Nb5 Re8 13.Nbd4 Qd6 14.Rc1 Bg4 15.Nxc6 bxc6 16.Nd4 Bd7 17.Bg4 c5 18.Bxd7 Qxd7 19.Ne2 Rad8 20.Qd3 Qf5 21.Rcd1 Bc7 22.f3 Qh5 23.Nf4 Bxf4 24.exf4 Nf6 25.Bxf6 gxf6 26.Qb5 Rc8 27.b4 Qf5 28.bxc5 Rb8 29.Qd3 Qxd3 30.Rxd3 Rb2 31.Kh1 Ree2 32.Rg1 Rec2 33.Rxd5 Rxa2 34.h4 Kg7 35.Kh2 Ra5 36.Kh3 Raxc5 37.Rd8 R2c4 38.Ra1 a5 39.Kg3 a4 40.Ra8 Rf5 41.R1xa4 Rfxf4 42.R4a7 Rxh4 43.Re8 Ra4 44.Rb7 draw, Kortschnoi - Sadvakasov, 2003) 5.d4 Ne4 (5...0–0 6.Nbd2 (6.Bd3 b6 7.0–0 Bb7 8.Nbd2 Nbd7 9.Ne5 Ne4 10.Nxd7 Qxd7 11.c4 Nxd2 12.Qxd2 dxc4 13.Bxc4 c5 14.Qe2 Qc6 15.Qg4 Bf6 16.Rfd1 Rfd8 17.Rac1 Qe8 18.Bf1 draw, Miles - Nogueiras, 2001) 6...b6 7.Bd3 Bb7 8.0–0 c5 9.Ne5 Nc6 10.a3 cxd4 11.exd4 Nxe5 12.dxe5 Ne4 13.Qe2 draw, Miles - Luther, 2000) 6.Bd3 f5 7.Ne5 0–0 8.f3 Bb4+ 9.Ke2 Nd7 10.Nxd7 draw, Miles - Slobodjan, 1999] 4.e3 [4.g3 e6 5.d3 Be7 6.Nbd2 0–0 7.Nh4 Bg4 8.h3 Bh5 9.g4 Nfd7 10.Ng2 Bg6 11.e3 e5 12.Qf3 c6 13.h4 h6 14.Qg3 Re8 15.Be2 Bb4 16.a3 Bxd2+ 17.Kxd2 c5 18.f4 exf4 19.Nxf4 Nf8 20.g5 hxg5 21.hxg5 d4 22.exd4 cxd4 23.Qh2 Bh7 24.g6 fxg6 25.Bf3 Re5 26.Bxb7 Nc6 27.Bxc6 Rc8 28.Qg2 g5 29.Bd5+ 1–0, David Norwood - Sofia Polgar, 1995] 4...e6 5.Ne5 Be7 According to Fritz, black is easily equal. 6.f4?! [F1: 6.Bb5+ Nbd7 7.0–0; 6.Bd3 Bxd3 7.Nxd3 c5] 6...Nbd7 7.Be2 [Again, Fritz prefers: 7.Bd3 ] 7...c6 This isn't bad, opening a path for the queen and keeping a good pawn structure, but it is hardly the most ambitious. [F1: 7...Nxe5 8.fxe5 Nd7 9.0–0 0–0] 8.0–0 [8.g4 is interesting 8...Be4 9.0–0 Nxe5 10.Bxe5 h6 11.d3 Bg6 12.Bd4 c5 13.Bb2 Qd7 14.Qd2] 8...h6 Anticipating g4. [8...Nxe5 9.Bxe5 Bd6 10.Bb2 Bg6] 9.d3 [9.Nf3 0–0] 9...Qc7 Preparing 0–0–0. 10.Nd2 [10.g4 Bh7 11.Nxd7 Nxd7 12.Bxg7 Rg8 looks quite good for black] 10...Nxe5 11.Bxe5 [11.fxe5 Nd7 12.Nf3 0–0 13.c4 dxc4 14.bxc4 Rad8] 11...Bd6?! inaccurate according to Fritz [11...Qb6 12.Bd4 Bc5 13.Nf3 Bxd4 14.Nxd4 Fritz seems to like trading pieces and simplifying. 14...0–0] 12.Bxf6? A bad positional blunder according to Fritz. [12.e4 Bg6 13.Bxd6 Qxd6 14.e5 Qc5+ 15.Rf2 Nd7 =; 12.Nf3 Bxe5 13.Nxe5 g5 14.d4 =] 12...gxf6 13.e4? Another positional blunder just as serious as the last according to Fritz. [13.Nf3 0–0–0 14.c4 Rhg8 15.cxd5 exd5 16.Nd4 Bh3 17.Bf3 Bc5 18.Kh1 Bxd4 19.exd4 Bf5 A typical line for Fritz, where black is a pawn up and may have some winning chances with considerable technique.] 13...Bh7 14.g3 [Fritz opts to try and get counterplay 14.c4 dxe4 15.Nxe4 Bxe4 16.dxe4 Bxf4 17.h3 Be3+ 18.Kh1 Qe5 black has great piece dominance in the centre.] 14...Bc5+ [F1: 14...0–0–0 15.Qc1 Bc5+ 16.Kh1 Be3 17.exd5 cxd5 18.c3 Kb8] 15.Kg2 [15.Kh1] 15...0–0–0 16.exd5 exd5?! The incorrect way to recapture. Black is still well over a pawn up in evaluation, but it is clear that forcing through the white kingside is not going to be as easy with this pawn structure as with the pawn structure after cd. I instinctively wanted to keep my c pawn as pawn cover for the king, but this was naive as the clump of pawns that could be utilised to rip open the white kingside easily outweigh this factor of pawn cover for the black king, and black's initiative against the enemy king is much greater than any initiative white has against the black king. Also the black king still looks quite well covered just by the a and b pawns in the resulting position after cd. As is often the case, the key moves in a game are those committal pawn moves quite deep into the middlegame which dictate the resulting strategy of the game. [16...cxd5! Black's king is still a long way from being in danger of enemy counterplay in the immediate future, and black has superb chances to tear open the centre with advantage.] 17.Nf3?! [17.Rb1 Bb4 18.a3 Bc3 19.b4] 17...Be3 I assume this felt positionally strong to me at the time, but it seems a bit planless. [17...Bb4 is a good idea, planning to blockade the queenside counterplay due to white's lack of dark square force. 18.Nd2 Rhe8 19.a3 Bc3 20.b4] 18.Nh4 [18.c3] 18...Rhg8 [18...d4 in hindsight it is not difficult to see how natural it is to play this move, cementing the intefering bishop on e3.] 19.Bg4+ Kb8 20.Qf3 [20.Bf5 Bg6 21.d4 c5 22.dxc5 Qxc5 23.Nxg6 fxg6 24.Be6 Rh8 25.Qd3 d4 things still looks very good for black, but white is having a good go at defending] 20...d4 I don't miss my opportunity to play d4 this time. 21.Bf5 Bg6 22.c4 [22.b4 Rde8 23.Kh1 Bd2 24.Be4 Bxe4 25.dxe4 Bxb4; 22.Nxg6 fxg6 23.Be6 Rge8 24.f5 gxf5 25.Bxf5 Qa5 26.Bg6 Qd2+ 27.Kh1 Re6] 22...Qa5 23.Bxg6?! [23.b4 Qxb4 24.Rab1 Qc5 25.Nxg6 fxg6 26.Be4 Rd6] 23...fxg6 24.Kh1 Rde8 [24...f5 was better, preparing g5 25.Rae1 Qd2 26.Qe2 Qc3 27.Qd1 Rd7 28.Ng2 Re8 29.Re2 Rde7 30.Qc2 Qb4 31.Qb2 h5] 25.Ng2 Re7?! A bit of a do-nothing kind of move, which doesn't really put my opponent under any pressure. Even though I didn't see the benefit of Qd2, something like f5 would still be better, making concrete action on the kingside. [25...f5 26.Rae1 Bd2 27.Re2 Bb4 28.Nh4 Qd8 29.Qf2 Rxe2 30.Qxe2 Re8 31.Qc2 Qd6 32.Nf3 Re3 33.Qd1 Bc3 34.Ne5 g5 35.Qh5 Qe6 36.Qf7 Qxf7 37.Nxf7 gxf4 38.Rxf4 Rxd3 39.Rxf5 Rd1+ 40.Kg2 Ra1 41.c5 b6 42.Rf6 bxc5 43.Rxc6 Rxa2+ black has a much superior endgame] 26.Qd1 [26.f5 g5 27.Qh5] 26...Qd2 Not bad, depending on what plan black has. [26...Qc3 27.a3 Rge8 28.b4 f5] 27.Re1 Qxd1?! Black still almost a pawn advantage according to Fritz, but the technical exercise is not trivial. [27...Qc3 28.Rc1 Qb4 29.Nxe3 dxe3 30.d4 Rd8 31.Qf3 Rxd4 32.Rxe3 black is still a bit better, but winning is another thing; 27...Qb4 this looks to be the best choice for black 28.Nxe3 Rxe3 29.Rxe3 dxe3 30.Qe2 Qc3 31.Rf1 Re8 32.Kg2; 27...Rgg7 28.Nxe3 dxe3 29.Re2 Qc3 black has all but lost his advantage] 28.Raxd1 Rge8 29.Re2 c5! This is definitely not the right move, basically gifting white the lever b4 and making no active play. [29...g5 this is much better, increasing options and tension on the kingside and prophilactically restricting the knight from h4 and g6] 30.Rde1 Kc7? This really is poor. g5 here would keep an advantage for black. Now the position is about equal, although black has to be careful and white may get a slight advantage. [30...g5 31.a3 b6 32.f5 Kc7] 31.Nxe3 Rxe3? I was aware that I would drop a pawn with dxe as well, so this wasn't so obviously to me as being a blunder, but it is. [31...dxe3 32.Kg2 b6 33.g4 (33.Kf3 Rd7 34.Rd1 (34.Rxe3 Rxd3! 35.g4) 34...Rd4 35.Rxe3 Red8) 33...f5 34.gxf5 gxf5 35.Kf3 Rd8; Fritz points out that 31...Kc6 can be played first 32.Kg2 dxe3] 32.Rxe3 dxe3 At around this point my opponent was in severe time trouble, whereas I still had a good few minutes, and having a bad position, inevitably going a pawn down when the white king walks to f3, I made the sporting decision and offered my opponent a draw, which he gladly accepted, (and with a look of surprise, or almost perplexion, as though he was certain he was going to lose on time). I would rather not win a game in such a way, as I am confident enough in my abilities to win by playing good moves. Draw agreed.

GAME 018, 019 vs Humphrey Lwambula, Emsworth Rapid

GAME 1:

Edward Davies - Humphrey Lwambula

1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 b6 A generally incorrect plan. 5.Nc3 Nb4 [F1 5...Nf6 6.Bd2 Bc5 7.Qg3 0–0 8.0–0–0 Qe7] 6.Bd3 [F1 6.Qd2 white's position here is very good according to Fritz, but it was very difficult for me to see this at the time as it seems naturally bad for me to hem in the dark squared bishop by moving the queen a second time. 6...Bb7 7.a3 Na6 (7...Nc6 8.Nf3 Bc5 9.Bc4 Nf6 10.e5 white's position is very good) 8.Bc4 Nc5 9.Nf3 white doesn't immediately attend to the development of the bishop and completes castling before this, with a good position.] 6...Ba6 7.a3? A ridiculous blunder. I think I was trying to match the speed of my opponent to avoid later time trouble, but it didn't help by prompting this blunder which I noticed almost immediately after playing the move. 7...Nxd3+? Much to my relief, my opponent overlooked the opportunity. [7...Bxd3 obviously pawn takes bishop loses instantly, so white is forced to play pawn take knight, losing a pawn 8.axb4 Bxc2 9.Nf3 white has lost a pawn and has weak queenside pawns. However I now believe my opponent was fully aware of this variation but was worried about the lag in development he might be subject to in bringing his bishop back to safety. 9...Bxb4 10.0–0 a5] 8.cxd3 g6 fritz isn't too keen on this. It seems like a reasonable plan to me though. [preferring instead 8...Bc5 9.Qg3 The black position is difficult here though.; 8...c6 after further calculation, fritz goes with this 9.Nf3 Bc5 10.Qe2] 9.Nge2 Bg7 10.0–0 Ne7 11.Bd2 [F1 11.Qf3 0–0] 11...d6 fritz prefers and immediate castling [11...0–0 12.Rae1 c5 13.Qg3 =] 12.Rad1 [it's probably better to play 12.f4 immediately] 12...0–0 13.b4 [F1 13.Qh3 ] 13...c5 [f1 13...d5 14.Qg3 d4 15.Nb1 c5 16.bxc5 bxc5 17.Bf4 f5 18.Nd2 fxe4 19.Nxe4 Nf5 20.Qh3 slightly better for black] 14.b5 [or 14.Rfe1 ] 14...Bb7 15.f4? A critical error. The strength of the pawn push d5 for black has just been strengthened by the bishop on b7 so the centre pawns must be contested. [15.d4 very important. e.g.: 15...cxd4 a) 15...c4 16.a4 is bad for black 16...d5 17.f3; b) 15...d5 16.Bc1 b1) 16.dxc5 d4 17.Qg5 f6 (17...dxc3 18.Bxc3 f6 19.Rxd8 fxg5 20.Rd7 Bxe4 21.Rxe7 Bxc3 22.Nxc3 Bf5 23.c6 is winning for white, however this line is very complex) 18.Qg3; b2) 16.exd5? Nf5 17.Qd3 cxd4 18.Ne4 Qxd5 19.f3 the position completely falls apart for white; b3) 16.Nxd5? Nxd5 17.Qb3 (17.exd5 Re8 18.Qd3 Qxd5 19.Nf4 Qxd4 Again the position dissolves for white.) ; 16...Rc8 b1) 16...cxd4 17.Nxd4 is perfectly fine for white; b2) 16...dxe4 17.dxc5 is simple and wins for white 17...Qc8 18.c6; b3) 16...Bxd4 17.Nxd4 cxd4 18.Qxd4 f6 (18...dxe4 19.Qf6 Nd5 20.Nxd5 Bxd5 21.Qe5 the bishop is lost 21...Re8 22.Qxd5) ; 17.dxc5 accuracy is still greatly required 17...Rxc5 18.Rfe1 Qa8; c) 15...Bxd4 16.Nxd4 cxd4 17.Qxd4 is very good for white; 16.Nxd4 Qd7 is fine for white] 15...d5! the correct move 16.Nxd5? this is a poor move in that it resolves the situation and black will have a big advantage.. it was better to keep the game complicated. However, for some reason I was happier playing a move I knew was clearly bad but which I could understand fully than to play a muddy move which I suspected was also bad. That is a bad habit which I will have to get out of.. in this case the muddy option was far preferable in a game, (perhaps especially as it was a rapid game). [16.d4 the position now has so many variations due to the central pawn tension, that it isn't likely to be easy for black, despite his advantage. 16...dxe4 (16...cxd4 17.Nxd4 dxe4 18.Bc1 Qc7 19.Bb2) 17.dxc5 Nf5 18.Qf2 bxc5 19.Qxc5 Qh4] 16...Nxd5 17.exd5 Bxd5 The critical part of the game is over and black has won it. The rest of the game is perhaps irrelevant. 18.Rde1 Re8 19.Qg3 f5 20.Kh1 Qd7 21.Ng1 Qxb5 22.Ne2 Qb2 23.Bc1 Qc2 24.Rf2 Bd4 25.Nxd4 Rxe1+ 0-1

GAME 2:

Humphrey Lwambula - Edward Davies

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.Bd3 This move is harmless, as I had recently read in Karpov's book on the Caro-Kann advance. Nimzowitsch discovered the plan of Qa5+ - Qa6. Quoting from the book: "It has been shown that White has nothing to counter this plan; moreover very often it is Black who seizes the initiative". 4...Bxd3 5.Qxd3 Qa5+ The right idea, but e6 should be played first. [5...e6 e.g. 6.f4 Qa5+ 7.c3 Qa6] 6.c3 back to the main line [6.Nc3 was the test of black's inaccurate move order.] 6...Qa6 7.Qf3 a decent enough continuation, avoiding the queen trade [the usual moves: 7.Qxa6 Nxa6 8.Be3 e6 9.Nd2 Ne7 etc] 7...e6 8.Ne2 Ne7 9.0–0 Ng6 [F1 9...Nd7 ] 10.Nd2 [F1 10.Bg5 Nd7] 10...Be7 11.g3?! this doesn't convince. I had no intention of occupying f4 or h4 with my knight, and now the white king's light squares look severely weaker. [11.Re1 Nd7 12.Nb3 Nb6] 11...Nd7 12.h4 h5 13.a4?! Perhaps this is dubious. [13.Re1 f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Nf4 Nxf4 16.Qxf4 e5 is about equal and fine for black (or more ambitiously (note how this matches Karpov's words; one option is no trouble for black, and the other might give him an initiative). 16...c5 17.Nf3) 17.dxe5 fxe5] 13...f6 14.exf6 gxf6 15.Re1 e5 not the most accurate according to fritz, which prefers 0–0–0 [15...0–0–0 16.b4 Rhg8] 16.Qf5 fritz doesn't like this, and prefers b4 [16.b4 the position is very, if not extremely, hard to judge.. probably the kind of position only play testing between two good players would give a verdict to, but unfortunately, two good players aren't likely to get into this position.] 16...Rg8 17.b4 after the time spent on Qf5, fritz gives up on this move [17.Qxh5 0–0–0] 17...0–0–0 18.Kh2 Kb8 [maybe better is 18...Qb6 ] 19.Nb3 Bd6 20.Ba3 Fritz isn't keen on this move [20.Be3 e4 21.Qxh5 Nb6 the position remains very complicated] 20...Nxh4 according to Fritz, black is still better after this sacrifice. It prefers 20..Bf7 however. [20...Bc7 21.b5 cxb5 22.axb5 Qxb5 23.Rab1 Qc6 maybe it is a matter of preference because this looks like anything but a simple position.] 21.gxh4 exd4+?! definitely dubious [21...Qxa4 although it feels anti-instinctive to grab such a pawn, it isn't always bad to take material in front of your king even if it opens lines for enemy rooks] 22.Ng3! objectively incorrect [22.Kh1 dxc3 23.b5 cxb5 24.axb5 Qb6] 22...Bxg3+? The worst inaccuracy yet by either side. As in the previous game, I have an unhealthy habit of seeking resolution even if it is to my disadvantage. This is definitely the key theme I have taken away from these two rapid games against Humphrey. This is essentially the losing move, as it leads to some clarity and resolution where white is better and black has insufficient compensation; I white needed to avoid resolution unless it is beneficial. [22...Qc4! this appears to be the only move.. Fritz says black is objectively better here, (–0.95) 23.Nxd4 Qxc3 24.Nde2 Qb3 25.Kh3 Qxa4] 23.fxg3 Qc4 At last I make the right move, but the position is now bad for black. 24.Qf4+ Ka8 [f1 24...Ne5 25.cxd4 Qxb3 26.dxe5 fxe5 27.Qxe5+ Ka8 28.b5 needless to say, black is dead lost] 25.Nxd4 it is obvious that black no longer has compensation for his sacrifice. It seems obvious to me now that the uncertainty and 'muddiness' of a position must be kept by the the side who has sacrificed material, and that resolution should only EVER be made is there is a certain advantage, or a certain drawn position, otherwise it is essential from a practical point of view to retain the complexity. 25...Qxc3 26.Qe3 Qxe3 27.Rxe3 Ne5 28.Kh3 1-0

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.ed cd 4.Bd3

I recently had a frustrating rapid game in this variation and decided to look into the theory of it. It turns out that I didn't play the key move in this initial position: 4..Nc6, instead playing 4..Nf6 and not challenging white's opening, resulting in formulaic development with a lasting advantage to white.

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.Bd3 Nc6 The key move, immediately attacking the d pawn and prompting c3, which isn't a very useful move for white in the attempt to get an advantage. [4...Nf6 5.c3 Bg4 6.Qb3 Qb6 7.Qxb6 axb6 8.Na3 slightly better for white (NCO)] 5.c3 Nf6 [5...g6 6.Bf4 (6.Nf3 Nh6 7.h3 Bf5 8.Bxh6 Bxh6 9.Bxf5 gxf5 10.Nbd2 Qc7 = (NCO)) 6...Bg7 7.Nf3 Nf6 8.Nbd2 Nh5 (8...Bf5 9.Bxf5 gxf5 10.Qb3 Qd7 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 0–0 unclear (NCO)) 9.Be3 Qd6 10.0–0 Nf4 11.Bxf4 Qxf4 equal (NCO); 5...Qc7 This move appears to be in its infancy and is being tried a lot at grandmaster level, with many new ideas being tried by both sides. Lordachescu lost to the quite substantially lower rated Anna Zatonskih. Baadur Jobava drew against Zhang Pengxiang. Vallejo Pons had trouble, losing to Degraeve. Sasikiran beats a much lower rated player. In a heavyweight clash, Dreev loses to Svidler. Dreev beats Semeniuk. There is a 1994 win by Anand with black. 6.Ne2 (6.h3 e6 7.Ne2 Bd6 8.Bg5 Nge7 9.Nd2 f6 10.Be3 Nf5 11.0–0 e5 12.Bxf5 Bxf5 13.c4 Nb4 14.c5 Bc2 15.Qc1 Be7 16.a3 Bd3 17.axb4 Bxe2 18.Re1 Bh5 19.Nb1 0–0 20.Nc3 Bf7 21.Nb5 Qb8 22.dxe5 fxe5 23.Bf4 Bf6 24.Bg3 Rd8 25.Ra3 a6 26.Nd6 Rxd6 27.cxd6 Qxd6 28.Rc3 Qe6 29.Rc7 e4 30.Rxb7 d4 31.Qf4 Re8 32.Rb8 Bg6 33.Rc1 h6 34.Rxe8+ Qxe8 35.Qb8 Qxb8 36.Bxb8 Bg5 37.Rc6 Bf7 38.Ba7 d3 39.Be3 Bb3 40.Bxg5 hxg5 41.Rd6 Kf7 42.Kf1 Ke7 43.Rd4 Kf6 44.Ke1 Ke5 45.Rd8 g4 46.hxg4 Kf4 47.Kd2 1–0, Deraeve (2557) - Vallejo Pons (2677), 2005; 6.Nd2 I would like to find out if Svidler is the first to play this. 6...g6 7.h3 Bg7 8.Ngf3 Nh6 9.0–0 Bf5 10.Be2 0–0 11.Re1 Bd7 12.Nf1 Nf5 13.Bd3 Rfe8 14.N1h2 Nd6 15.Ng4 Bxg4 16.hxg4 Qc8 17.g5 Qg4 18.g3 Nc4 19.b3 Nd6 20.Bf4 Rac8 21.Rc1 Qd7 22.Kg2 Nf5 23.b4 a6 24.a4 f6 25.b5 axb5 26.Bxb5 Nd6 27.Bxd6 Qxd6 28.Qb3 Red8 29.Re3 Na5 30.Qb1 Rc7 31.Rce1 Kf8 32.Re6 Qa3 33.Rh1 Kg8 34.gxf6 exf6 35.Nh4 Qb3 36.Qe1 Qxc3 37.Re8+ Rxe8 38.Qxe8+ Bf8 39.Bd7 Qb4 40.Nxg6 Kg7 41.Nxf8 1–0, Svidler (2733) - Dreev (2689), 2004 This was a blitz game in the final of the 2004 ACP blitz. The ACP seems to have been another grandmaster chess association that has faded away. The most up to date Wikipedia entry is: "As of March 2005, the ACP's President is French Grandmaster Joel Lautier. Its secretary is Bartlomiej Macieja, its Treasurer Almira Skripchenko, and its Deputy Treasurer Pavel Tregubov. Also on the ACP board are Igor Glek, Anna Hahn, Vladimir Kramnik, Peter Heine Nielsen and Yannick Pelletier. It has over two hundred other members, including such prominent players as Viswanathan Anand, Péter Lékó, and Judit Polgar, but not including Garry Kasparov. Ruslan Ponomariov and Veselin Topalov were once members, but withdrew in December 2004 saying "we disagree with the politics and most of the decisions of the ACP Board."" It was apparently intended as a trade union for players, but with Kramnik on the board, this seems impossible given the level of manipulation at world championship level.; 6.Bg5 Nf6 7.Nd2 Bg4 8.Ngf3 e6 9.Bh4 Bd6 10.Bg3 Bh5 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.0–0 0–0 13.Re1 Rab8 14.a4 Qc7 15.Qb1 a6 16.Ne5 Rfe8 17.h3 Bg6 18.Bxg6 hxg6 19.Qd3 Nxe5 20.dxe5 Nd7 21.Qd4 Rec8 22.Re3 Qb6 23.Qxb6 Nxb6 24.h4 Kf8 25.g3 Ke7 26.b3 Rc7 27.a5 Nd7 28.c4 Rbc8 29.Kg2 Nb8 30.Ra4 Rd8 31.f4 Nc6 32.Rd3 Rcd7 33.c5 f6 34.Nf3 d4 35.exf6+ gxf6 36.Nd2 e5 37.Ne4 Rd5 38.fxe5 Rxe5 39.Nd6 Rxc5 40.Nxb7 Rc2+ 0–1, Illescas Cordoba (2590)- Anand (2715), 1994) 6...Bg4 7.Qb3 a) 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6 9.Bf4 Qd7 10.f3 e6 11.h4 Bd6 12.Bxd6 Qxd6 13.h5 Bxd3 14.Qxd3 Nge7 15.Nd2 0–0 16.0–0–0 Rab8 17.Kb1 b5 18.h6 g6 19.Qe3 Nc8 20.Qf4 Qe7 21.Nc1 Nb6 22.Nd3 Rfc8 23.Rhe1 a5 24.g5 Qf8 25.Rc1 Nd7 26.Nb3 Rd8 27.Re2 a4 28.Nbc5 Nxc5 29.Nxc5 Ne7 30.Qc7 Rbc8 31.Qb6 Rb8 32.Qc7 Rbc8 33.Qb6 Rb8 34.Qc7 Rbc8 35.Qa7 Qe8 draw, Pengxiang (2613) - Jobava (2601), 2005; b) 7.f3 Bd7 8.Bf4 e5 9.Bg3 (9.dxe5 Nxe5 10.0–0 Bd6 11.Kh1 Ne7 12.Na3 a6 13.Nc2 0–0 14.Ned4 Rac8 15.Ne3 Nxd3 16.Bxd6 Nxb2 17.Qb3 Qxd6 18.Qxb2 b5 19.Rfe1 Rfe8 20.Rad1 h6 21.Re2 Qc5 22.Rd3 Ng6 23.Nb3 Qe7 24.g3 Ne5 25.Nxd5 Qd6 26.Rd4 Bc6 27.Nf4 Bxf3+ 28.Kg1 Qb6 29.Rf2 Bb7 30.Nd2 Qc6 31.Nd5 Ng4 32.Rf3 Re1+ 33.Nf1 Rce8 34.Qd2 Qc5 35.Rf5 R1e5 36.Rxe5 Nxe5 37.Qg2 Nc6 0–1, Sameniuk (2456) - Dreev (2639), 1999) 9...Bd6 10.Na3 a6 11.Nc2 Nge7 12.0–0 h5 13.dxe5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.f4 Bd6 16.Ncd4 h4 17.Kh1 Rh6 18.b4 Kf8 19.Qd2 Re8 20.f5 Ng8 21.Nf4 Nf6 22.Rac1 b5 23.a3 Kg8 24.Bb1 Bc8 25.Bd3 Bb7 26.h3 Re5 27.Rf2 Qe7 28.Rcf1 Bc7 29.Re2 Ne4 30.Bxe4 dxe4 31.Qe3 Bb6 32.Rd2 Bxd4 33.Rxd4 Rxf5 34.Rfd1 Qg5 0–1, Gonzalez (2423) - Sasikiran (2668), 2004; 7...Bxe2 8.Bxe2 e6 9.Na3 a6 10.Bf4 Qd7 11.Nb1 Na5 12.Qc2 Bd6 13.Bg3 Ne7 14.Nd2 Rc8 15.Nf3 Ng6 16.0–0 Nc6 17.Qd2 Qc7 18.Bd3 Nf4 19.Bc2 Nh5 20.Rfe1 0–0 21.Qg5 Nf6 22.Qh4 h6 23.Ne5 Rfd8 24.Rac1 Qe7 25.Qh3 Qf8 26.Bf4 Rc7 27.Re3 g5 28.Bg3 Qg7 29.Ng4 Nxg4 30.Qxg4 Bxg3 31.Qxg3 Rdc8 32.Rd1 b5 33.f4 b4 34.fxg5 hxg5 35.Bd3 bxc3 36.bxc3 Nb8 37.Rf1 Re7 38.Qg4 f5 39.Qe2 Rce8 40.Re1 1–0, Zatonskih (2432) - Iordachescu (2603), 2006] 6.Bf4 [6.Bg5 Bg4 7.Ne2 e6 8.Qc2 Bxe2 9.Qxe2 h6 10.Bh4 Qb6 11.Bg3 Be7 12.0–0 0–0 13.b3 Rac8 14.Nd2 a6 15.a4 Qd8 16.Rac1 Re8 17.Kh1 Bd6 18.f4 Ne7 19.Nf3 Nf5 20.Ne5 Be7 21.Rc2 g6 22.Be1 h5 23.h3 h4 24.Bxf5 exf5 25.Bxh4 Ne4 26.Be1 Bh4 27.g4 fxg4 28.hxg4 Kg7 29.f5 Rc7 30.Kg2 Bxe1 31.Qxe1 Qg5 32.Qc1 Qxc1 33.Rcxc1 gxf5 34.Rxf5 f6 35.Nd3 Rxc3 36.Rxc3 Nxc3 37.Nf4 Re4 38.Kf3 Kh7 39.Rxf6 b5 40.Rxa6 Rxd4 41.Ra7+ Kg8 42.a5 Rb4 43.g5 Rxb3 44.Ne6 b4 45.Kf4 Ne2+ 46.Ke5 Re3+ 47.Kf6 Rf3+ 48.Kg6 Nf4+ 49.Nxf4 Rxf4 50.Ra8+ Rf8 51.Rxf8+ Kxf8 52.a6 b3 53.a7 b2 54.a8Q+ 1–0, Topalov (2640) - Ivanchuk (2710), 1994] 6...Bg4 [6...g6 Stellwagen tried this against Timman quite recently. 7.Nd2 (7.Nf3 Bf5 8.Bxf5 gxf5 9.Qb3 Qb6 10.Qxb6 axb6 11.Na3 Rg8 12.Nb5 Kd7 13.0–0 e6 14.b3 Be7 15.Rfd1 Rgc8 16.Ne5+ Nxe5 17.Bxe5 Ne4 18.Rd3 h5 19.a4 h4 20.g3 hxg3 draw, King - Speelman, 2003. This is not the only time they appear to have used this variation as a lever for a draw.) 7...Bg7 8.Ngf3 Nh5 9.Be3 Qd6 10.0–0 0–0 11.Re1 Rb8 12.Nb3 b5 13.Qd2 b4 14.Bh6 bxc3 15.bxc3 Bxh6 16.Qxh6 Qf6 17.Ne5 Rb6 18.g3 Ng7 19.f4 Nf5 20.Bxf5 Bxf5 21.g4 Bc8 22.h3 Nxe5 23.Rxe5 Qc6 24.Nc5 Qb5 25.Rae1 Qc4 26.Nb3 Qxc3 27.R5e3 Qb4 28.Rxe7 Be6 29.Qh4 Ra6 30.f5 gxf5 31.Qg5+ Kh8 32.Re2 Qc3 33.Qf6+ Kg8 34.gxf5 Bxf5 35.Qxa6 Bxh3 36.R7e3 1–0, Timman (2607) - Stellwagen (2524), 2005] 7.Qb3 Qd7 [7...Qc8 8.Nd2 e6 9.Ngf3 Be7 10.0–0 0–0 (10...Bh5 11.Ne5 Nxe5 12.Bxe5 0–0 13.Rfe1 Bg6 14.Bf1 Nd7 15.Bg3 Nb8 16.a4 Rd8 17.a5 and the old geezers call it a day in King - Speelman 2004 Staunton Memorial.) 11.Ne5 Bh5 12.Bg5 (12.Qc2 Bd6 = (NCO); 12.Rfe1 Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nd7 14.Qc2 Bg6 = (NCO)) 12...Nd7 13.Bxe7 Nxe7 14.f4 f6 15.Nef3 Bf7 16.Rae1 Qc7 = (NCO); 7...Na5 this interesting looking alternative worked for GM Leitao against GM Kritz 8.Qa4+ Bd7 9.Qc2 g6 10.Nf3 (10.Nd2 Bg7 11.Ngf3 Nh5 12.Be3 Qc7 13.0–0 0–0 14.Rfe1 Nc6 15.Qb3 e6 16.a4 h6 17.Qd1 Rad8 18.Rc1 Nf4 19.Bf1 g5 20.h4 f6 21.g3 Ng6 22.hxg5 fxg5 23.c4 Qd6 24.cxd5 exd5 25.Qb3 Kh8 26.Qxb7 Rb8 27.Qa6 Rb6 28.Qd3 Rxb2 29.Qc3 Ra2 30.Bb5 Nce7 31.Ne5 Bxb5 32.axb5 Nxe5 33.dxe5 Bxe5 34.Bd4 Bxd4 35.Qxd4+ Kg8 36.Ne4 Qg6 37.Nc3 Raxf2 38.Rxe7 R2f5 39.Rce1 h5 40.Nxd5 h4 41.R7e3 Kh7 42.Ne7 1–0, Morozevich (2718) - Grischuk (2702), 2002) 10...Bg7 11.Nbd2 Rc8 12.h3 0–0 13.0–0 Nh5 14.Be3 Nc4 15.Nxc4 dxc4 16.Be2 Nf6 17.Ne5 b5 18.Nxd7 Qxd7 19.a4 a6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Qd2 Nd5 22.Bh6 e6 23.Ra5 Ra8 24.Rfa1 Bxh6 25.Qxh6 Qb7 26.Qc1 Rxa5 27.Rxa5 Ra8 28.Qa1 Rxa5 29.Qxa5 h5 30.Bf3 Kg7 31.g3 h4 32.Qd8 hxg3 33.fxg3 Qa7 34.Bxd5 Qa1+ 35.Kh2 exd5 36.Qxd5 Qxb2+ 37.Kh1 Qc1+ 38.Kg2 Qd2+ 39.Kf1 Qxc3 40.Qe5+ Kh7 41.Qd5 Kg8 42.Qxb5 Qf3+ 43.Ke1 Qxg3+ 44.Ke2 Qd3+ and white resigns as black will take the d4 pawn and retain his c4 pawn: Krtiz (2534) - Leitao (2564), 2004] 8.Nd2 e6 9.Ngf3 Bxf3 [9...Bd6 10.Bg3 Bxf3 11.Nxf3 Bxg3 12.hxg3 a6 13.Kf1 Qc7 14.Re1 Na5 15.Qc2 Nc4 16.Kg1 h6 17.b3 Na5 18.c4 Nc6 19.c5 Rd8 20.a3 Rd7 21.b4 Re7 22.Qb2 Nd7 23.Bc2 0–0 24.Rh4 Rfe8 25.Bb3 Nf6 26.Ne5 Nxe5 27.dxe5 Nd7 28.Ba4 Rf8 29.Bxd7 Qxd7 30.Qd4 f5 31.exf6 Rxf6 32.Rf4 Ref7 33.Rxf6 Rxf6 34.f4 Qc6 35.g4 Qd7 36.Re5 Qf7 37.g3 Kh8 38.Kg2 Qg6 39.Qd1 Qf7 40.Qd3 Qc7 41.Qd4 Qf7 42.a4 Kg8 43.b5 axb5 44.axb5 Qd7 45.Qd3 Kh8 46.Re1 Rf8 47.g5 Rf5 48.gxh6 d4 49.hxg7+ Kxg7 50.Re4 Rd5 51.g4 Kg8 52.Kg3 Qh7 53.c6 bxc6 54.bxc6 Qh1 55.Rxe6 Qg1+ 56.Kh3 Qh1+ 57.Kg3 Qg1+ 58.Kf3 Qh1+ 59.Ke2 Qg2+ 60.Ke1 Qg1+ 61.Kd2 Qf2+ 62.Qe2 Qxf4+ 63.Kd1 Rd8 64.c7 Qxc7 65.Rg6+ Kh8 66.Qe6 1–0, Short (2660) - Ehlvest (2610), 1998] 10.Nxf3 Bd6 11.Bxd6 Qxd6 12.0–0 [12.Qxb7 Rb8 13.Qa6 0–0 with compensation for the material (NCO)] 12...0–0 13.Rae1 Rab8 [13...Nd7 14.Qc2 g6 15.Re3 Qf4 16.Rfe1 Rab8 17.Qe2 Rfc8 18.h3 Rc7 19.Nh2 Ne7 20.Ng4 Kg7 21.Rf3 Qg5 22.Bb5 Nc6 23.Rxf7+! Interesting chess. This leads to a long and torturous death for black. 23...Kxf7 24.Qxe6+ Kg7 25.Qd6 Qd8 26.Bxc6 Rxc6 27.Qe7+ Kh8 28.Qf7 Rc7 29.Re7 Qg8 30.Qf4 Qf8 31.Rf7 Qg8 32.Nh6 Qd8 33.Qe3 Rbc8 34.Re7 Qf8 35.Nf7+ Kg8 36.Qe6 Rc6 37.Nd6+ Kh8 38.Rxd7 1–0, Yudasin (2538) - Benjamin (2563), 2005] 14.Ne5 b5 unclear position (NCO).

GAME 017 - Internet Training Game, Caro Kann Fantasy Variation

Plantagenet - Ridvan79
Rated game, 30m + 15s Main Playing Hall, 12.08.2007

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.f3 dxe4 4.Bc4 [All the good players play: (with one exception) 4.fxe4 e5 5.Nf3 Be6 6.c3 Nf6 7.Bd3 Nbd7 8.0–0 Bd6 9.Kh1 Qc7 (9...0–0 10.Bg5 Qc7 11.Nbd2 Rae8 12.Qe1 h6 13.Be3 Ng4 14.Bg1 f5 15.exf5 Bxf5 16.Bxf5 Rxf5 17.Qe2 Ngf6 18.Rae1 exd4 19.Qc4+ Rd5 20.Rxe8+ Nxe8 21.Nxd4 Ndf6 22.Nf5 b5 23.Qe2 Qd7 24.Nxd6 Nxd6 25.Nf3 Nde4 26.Bd4 a6 27.Kg1 c5 28.Bxf6 Nxf6 29.Re1 Rd6 30.b3 Qf5 31.c4 Qd3 32.Qf2 bxc4 33.Ne5 Qd2 34.Nxc4 Qxf2+ 35.Kxf2 Rd4 36.Re6 Ne4+ 37.Ke3 Nc3 38.Rxa6 Rd1 39.Ra5 Ra1 40.a4 Ra2 41.Rxc5 Rxg2 42.a5 Rxh2 43.a6 Rh3+ 44.Kd4 Ne2+ 45.Ke5 1–0, Morozevich (2732) - Bareev (2714) , Amber Blindfold 2004) 10.Be3 c5 11.Nbd2 cxd4 12.cxd4 exd4 13.Rc1 Qb8 14.Nxd4 Bg4 15.Be2 Bxe2 16.Qxe2 0–0 17.Nf5 Re8 18.Qf3 Be5 19.Nc4 Re6 20.Nd4 Re8 21.Rcd1 Bxh2 22.Nf5 Ne5 23.Nh6+ Kh8 24.Nxe5 Bxe5 25.Nxf7+ Kg8 26.Nxe5 Qxe5 27.Bd4 Qh5+ 28.Kg1 Ng4 29.Qh3 Qxh3 30.gxh3 Nh6 31.Bc3 Rad8 32.Kf2 Nf7 33.Ke3 Nd6 34.e5 Nf5+ 35.Kf4 g6 36.Rxd8 Rxd8 37.e6 Rd5 38.Rc1 Ne7 39.Re1 Kf8 40.Re5 Ke8 41.Kg5 Rd3 42.h4 Nf5 43.Re4 Nd6 44.Re2 Nf5 45.Bf6 Re3 46.Rxe3 Nxe3 47.Bd4 Nf5 48.Bc5 b6 49.Bb4 Nd4 50.Kh6 draw: Movsesian (2666) - Stohl (2578), 2001; The only exception I could find to a strong player (since the year 2000) playing fe is this (by Grandmaster Zvjaginsev): 4.Be2 Nf6 5.fxe4 Nxe4 6.Nf3 Bf5 7.0–0 e6 8.Nc3 Nd7 9.Bd3 Nxc3 10.bxc3 Bxd3 11.Qxd3 Be7 12.Rb1 b5 13.a4 a6 14.c4 bxc4 15.Qxc4 c5 16.d5 Nb6 17.Qg4 Nxd5 18.Qxg7 Bf6 19.Qh6 Rb8 20.Rxb8 Qxb8 21.c4 1–0 , Zvjaginsev (2675) - Belozerov (2518) , 2006] 4...Nf6 [F1: 4...e5 5.Nc3 b5 6.Bb3 exd4 7.Nxe4 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7] 5.fxe4 Nxe4 6.Qf3 [6.Nf3 better than the game move according to Fritz 6...Bf5 7.0–0 e6 8.Bd3 Nd7 9.c4] 6...Nf6 [F1 6...Nd6 7.Bd3 Na6 8.c3 Be6] 7.Qd3 avoiding Bb4 [F1 7.Ne2 Nbd7 8.0–0 Nb6 9.Bb3 h5 seizing the g4 square 10.Nbc3 Bg4 11.Qf2 e6 12.Bg5] 7...Bg4 [7...a5 8.a4 e6 9.Nf3 Nbd7 10.0–0 Nb6 11.Nbd2] 8.Nf3 missing an interesting idea [8.Qb3 attacking b7 and f7 8...Nd5 9.Nc3 e6 10.Qxb7 Nd7 11.Nge2 Nb4 12.0–0] 8...e6 [F1 8...Bxf3 9.gxf3] 9.Nbd2 [9.0–0 Nbd7 10.Bf4 Qb6 11.Nbd2 Bf5 12.Qe2 Be7] 9...Be7 10.Ne4 [10.0–0 Nbd7 11.Ne4 0–0 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.c3 Nb6 14.Bb3 Bf5 15.Qe2] 10...Nbd7 11.Bd2 weak according to Fritz [11.0–0] 11...0–0 12.Qe3 a mistake yet again according to Fritz [F1 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.0–0 it's important that white castles.. it was procrastinated in the game and eventually led to being essential at not necessarily a good moment 13...Nb6 14.c3 relinquishing the bishop pair but solidifying the pawn structure 14...Nxc4 15.Qxc4 Re8] 12...Nxe4 13.Qxe4 Nf6 missing the tactic [13...Bf5 14.Qe2 Bxc2 15.0–0 Nb6 16.Bf4 white is now two pawns down without compensation] 14.Qf4 [F1 14.Qe3 ] 14...Bd6 the reason Qf4 is weaker than Qe3 I expect 15.Ne5 Bh5 my opponent decides to prevent me from castling queenside. Fritz prefers immediate Bf5 [15...Bf5 16.0–0–0 Qc7 17.Rde1 Rad8 18.g4 Nxg4 19.Rhg1] 16.h3 preparing g4 and queenside castling.. I am hopeful here that I will have good play on the kingside against the opponent's king after queenside castling.. but this is a mistake according to Fritz. Fritz prefers castling kingside right away [16.0–0 Qb6 17.b4 Ng4 18.Kh1 Nxe5 19.dxe5 Bxb4] 16...Bxe5 lets white off the hook a little bit [16...Qb6 17.0–0 Qxb2 18.Bd3 c5 19.c3 cxd4 20.cxd4 Bxe5 21.dxe5 Nd5 22.Qf2 Bg6 the position is totally hopeless for white] 17.dxe5 [F1 17.Qxe5 Bg6] 17...Nd5 18.Qf2 [F1 18.Qg5 Bg6 19.Qxd8 Raxd8 20.0–0–0 b5 21.Be2] 18...Nb6 I wasn't convinced by this. [F1 18...Qc7 ] 19.Bd3 Qd5 quite weak according to Fritz.. this seems to want to justify Nb6 the move before [19...Na4 better justifies the Nb6 20.Rb1 Bg6 21.0–0 Bxd3 22.cxd3 Qxd3 23.Bb4 c5 24.Bxc5 Nxc5 25.Qxc5 b6 26.Qc3 maybe there is still hope for white in this position just 1 pawn down] 20.Bc3 I should have dumped the notion of queenside castling and taken the opportunity to castle kingside [20.0–0 Qxe5 21.Bc3 Qg5 22.Bd2 Qd5] 20...Rad8 [F1 20...Na4 damaging the white pawn structure and losing white the bishop pair, this is a good continuation for black 21.Qe3 Nxc3 22.bxc3 f6] 21.b3 I pass up yet another opportunity to castle kingside 21...Rd7 very inaccurate according to Fritz, and the evaluation drops from over a pawn to black to just about equal. At the time I also found this plan of piling up the heavy pieces on the d file for black to be unconvincing, mainly because it is fronted by the queen.. plans based around f6 or f5 seem better to me, or some pawn advances on the queenside rather than tripling heavies in the existing pawn structure 22.0–0 finally I castling kingside and at a good moment 22...Rfd8 this is incorrect.. Fritz evaluates the positon as over a pawn advantage to white, and it must be for tactical reasons.. [F1 22...c5 23.Qh4 Bg6 24.Rad1] 23.g4 Bg6 [F1 23...Na4 24.bxa4 Bg6 25.Bxg6 hxg6 white is clearly winning.. so why does fritz give up a piece like this?] 24.Be2 missing the tactical opportunity completely [24.Rad1! look how close the queen is to having trapped itself.. this is the theme. In fact I did notice the theme of queen traps around this part of the game, looking at Bc4, which after Rfe1, were it not for the b6 knight, would trap the queen. However I saw no way to apply the tactics to the immobile black queen. 24...Rf8 (24...f6 25.exf6 Qg5 a crazy variation follows 26.Bxg6 Rxd1 27.f7+ Kf8 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7 29.f8Q+ Rxf8 30.Qxf8+ Kxg6 31.Qg8+ Kh6 32.Qxe6+ Qg6 33.Qxg6+ hxg6 34.Rxd1 again, a simple endgame for white) 25.Bb4 Qd4 26.Qxd4 Rxd4 27.Bxg6 Rxd1 28.Rxd1 hxg6 29.Bxf8 Kxf8 with a simple endgame for white] 24...c5? a mistake that leads to another total shift in the evaluation from black's favour to white's favour [F1 24...Bxc2 25.Rac1 Bg6] 25.Bf3 Be4 26.Rad1 great, I got the moves right this time 26...Qxd1 [26...Qc6 is no good: 27.Bxe4 Qxe4?? 28.Qxf7+! Rxf7 (28...Kh8 29.Qf8+ Rxf8 30.Rxf8#) 29.Rxd8+ Rf8 30.Rdxf8#; F1: Fritz points out that getting a bishop and rook for the queen is the best option: 8 material points to 9 isn't worth resigning over 26...Bxf3 27.Rxd5 Bxd5] 27.Bxd1 [27.Rxd1? Rxd1+ 28.Bxd1 Rxd1+ 29.Kh2 leaves the positon roughly equal] 27...Rxd1 28.Rxd1? [I was low on time here but I'm anoyed I didn't get in this obvious move 28.Qxf7+ Kh8 29.Qxe6 Rxf1+ 30.Kxf1 Nd5] 28...Rxd1+ the position is objectively about equal again, though I have a confident feeling due to the unexpected turn of events starting a few moves earlier (and only a couple of minutes in time). 29.Be1 [Fritz prefers 29.Kh2 but it doesn't make a big difference] 29...Nd5 [F1 29...Bxc2 30.Kh2 Bg6 31.Bc3 Rd5 32.Kg2 Nd7 33.Qf4] 30.Kh2 missing a chance [30.Qe2 Bf3 31.Qb5 h5 (31...Rxe1+? is wrong 32.Kf2 Re2+ 33.Kxf3 Re3+ 34.Kf2 g6 preventing mate on e8 35.Qe8+ Kg7 36.c4 threatening to remove the attacked rook's only defender 36...Rxh3 37.cxd5 easy win for white) 32.Kf2 hxg4 33.hxg4 Bxg4 34.Qxb7 Bf5 35.Qxa7 Bxc2 36.Qxc5 Bf5 37.a4 f6 38.a5 Rb1 39.Qb5 Be4 40.Bd2 Rb2 41.Ke1 white should win without difficulty] 30...Rc1 31.Kg3 wrong [F1 31.c4 Rc2 32.Bd2 Nc3 still doesn't look fun, especially in time trouble] 31...Rxc2 32.Bd2 Rxa2 this gives white a chance for counterplay [32...b6 it is very hard now for white to generate counterplay] 33.Qxc5 threatening Qc8 # 33...g6 the wrong way to avoid mate.. actually this leads to a forced mate in 4 but I didn't see it [33...h6 is the correct way] 34.Bh6 actually this is still a forced mate in 7 moves [#4: 34.Qc8+ Kg7 35.Bh6+ Kxh6 36.Qf8+ Kg5 37.h4#] 34...Rg2+ this gave me a bit of a shock as all the moves were made in time trouble, and for a second I had the sinking feeling I may be walking into a mate myself, however it turns out to be safe 35.Kh4 g5+ 36.Kxg5 f6+ 37.Kh4 Kf7 [Fritz suggests 37...Rxg4+ but it obvious is programmed to prolongue the game for the maximum number of moves, however absurd they are 38.hxg4 Kf7 39.Qf8+ Kg6 40.Qg7#] 38.Qf8+ Kg6 39.Qg7# 1–0

GAME 016 VS Simon Roberts

Edward Davies - Simon Roberts
Rapid Game 30 0

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 d6 3.g3 Nc6 4.Bg2 Bd7 5.Nge2 Qc8 6.0–0 [6.d4 cxd4 7.Nxd4 Nf6 8.0–0 g6 (8...Bh3 9.Be3 Bxg2 10.Kxg2 Ne5 11.Nf3 Nc4 12.Qd3 (12.Qe2 Qc6 13.Nd4 Qc5 14.Kh1 Nxe3 15.Qxe3 e6 16.f4 Be7 17.Qd3 0–0–0 (17...0–0 18.f5 e5 19.Nb3 Qc7 20.Rad1 Rac8 21.Rf2 Qb6 22.Rdd2 Rfd8 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Qxd5 Bg5 25.Rde2 Be3 26.Rf3 Bg5 27.Rff2) 18.Rad1 (18.f5 e5 19.Nb3 Qc6 20.Rad1 Kb8 21.Na5 Qc5 22.b4 Qc7 (22...Qxb4?? 23.Nxb7 Rc8) 23.Nd5 Nxd5 24.Qxd5 Rhf8 25.Rd3) 18...d5 (18...g6 19.Qe2 h5 20.Nb3 Qb6 21.a4 a6 22.Rd4) 19.e5 Nd7 20.Nb3 Qb6 21.Nb5 a6 22.N5d4 Qc7 23.Rc1) 12...Nxe3+ 13.Qxe3 e6 14.Qg5 h6 15.Qa5 Be7 16.Rad1 0–0 17.Rfe1 Rd8) 9.Nxc6 (9.Be3 Bg7 (9...Ng4 10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bc1 (11.Bg5 Bg7 12.f3 Ne5 13.Rb1 Qb7 14.h3 Qb6+ 15.Kh1 h6 16.Bc1) ) 10.Nd5 (10.Nxc6 bxc6 11.Bd4 0–0 12.f3 Bh3 13.Qd3 Qe6 14.Ne2 Bxg2 15.Kxg2 Rab8 16.b3 c5 17.Nf4 Qd7 18.Bc3) 10...Ng4 11.Nb5 Nxe3 12.Nbc7+ Kf8 13.fxe3) 9...bxc6 10.a4 a) 10.Ne2 Bg7 11.Be3 0–0 12.Qd2; b) 10.Bf4 Qb8 11.Qd2 Bg7 (11...Qxb2? 12.e5 (12.Rab1 Qa3 13.e5) 12...Nh5 13.Rfb1 Qa3 14.Rb3 Qa5 15.Rab1) 12.Rab1; c) 10.e5 dxe5 11.Re1 Qc7 12.Qe2 Bg7 13.Bf4 Ng4 14.Rad1; 10...Bg7 11.f4 0–0 12.e5] 6...Bh3 7.d3 [7.d4 Bxg2 8.Kxg2 cxd4 9.Nxd4 e6 10.f4 (10.f3 Nf6 11.Ndb5 Qd7 12.Bf4 Rd8 (12...e5? 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Bxf6 gxf6 (14...Bxf6 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Nxd6+ Ke7 17.Nxb7 Rab8 18.Nd5+ Kf8 19.Nc5) 15.Nd5 0–0) 13.Be3 a6 14.Nd4 Be7) 10...Nxd4 11.Qxd4 Nf6 12.Be3 Be7 13.Qd3 0–0 14.Rad1 Qc6 15.f5 Rad8 (15...exf5 16.Rxf5 b6 17.Bd4 Rac8 18.Rd2) 16.Bd4 exf5 17.Rxf5 d5 18.Bxf6 (18.Nxd5 Nxd5 19.Rxd5 Rxd5 20.exd5 Qxd5+ 21.Qf3 Qxa2 22.Qxb7 Qe6 23.Qf3; 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.Nxd5 Rxd5 20.Rxd5 Qxd5+ 21.Qf3 Qxa2 22.Qxb7 Qe6 23.Qf3) 18...dxe4 19.Qxe4 Bxf6 20.Rxd8 Rxd8 21.Nd5 Kf8 22.Nxf6 Rd2+ 23.Kh3 (23.Rf2 Rxf2+ 24.Kxf2 Qxf6+ 25.Ke1 Qxb2 26.Qxh7 g6) 23...gxf6 24.Qxc6 bxc6 25.Rc5] 7...Bxg2 8.Kxg2 e6 [8...Qd7 9.d4 cxd4 10.Nxd4 Nf6 11.h3 (11.Re1 e6 12.Be3 Be7 13.f4 0–0 14.Qf3 Qc7 15.Rad1 Rad8) 11...e6 12.f4 Be7 13.Be3 Rc8 14.Qf3 0–0 15.Rad1 Qc7 16.Ndb5 Qb8] 9.d4 [9.f4 Nf6 10.d4 cxd4 11.Nxd4 Be7 12.Be3] 9...cxd4 10.Nxd4 Qd7 [10...Nf6 11.Ndb5 Qd7 12.Be3 Be7 13.f4 0–0 14.Qf3 Rfd8 15.Rad1 Qc8 16.g4 a6 17.Nd4 d5] 11.Be3 [11.f4 Nxd4 12.Qxd4 Nf6 13.Be3 Be7 14.Rad1 0–0 15.h3 Qc7 16.f5 b6 (16...e5 17.Qd3 Rfc8 18.Rf2 a5 19.Rdd2 a4 20.a3 Rd8 21.Qb5 Rdc8 22.Nd5 Nxd5 23.Rxd5 Bf6 24.Rdd2 Ra5 25.Qb4 Ra6 26.Rd5 (26.g4 Be7 27.Qb5 (27.Rd5 Rc6 28.Qxa4 Rc4 29.Qb3 Rxe4 30.Rfd2 h6 31.R5d3) 27...h6 28.Qd5 Ra5 29.Qd3 Rd8 30.Rfe2) 26...Rc6 27.c3 Ra8 28.Qb5 h5 29.Qe2 Rc4 30.Qd3) 17.Qa4 (17.g4 d5 18.exd5 Nxd5 19.fxe6 (19.Nxd5 exd5 20.Qxd5 Rad8 21.Qe4 Bh4 (21...Rfe8 22.Bf4 Qc5 23.Rxd8 Rxd8 24.Be3 Qd6 25.g5) 22.Bf4 Qc8) 19...Nxe3+ 20.Qxe3 Qc6+ 21.Qf3 Qxf3+ 22.Rxf3 fxe6 23.Rd7 Bf6 24.Ne4 Bxb2 25.Rxf8+ Kxf8 (25...Rxf8 26.Rxa7 Rc8 27.c4 Bd4 (27...Rxc4 28.Ra8+ Kf7 29.Nd6+) ) 26.Ng5 Re8 27.Nxh7+ Kg8 28.Ng5) 17...Rad8 18.Qb3 d5 19.fxe6 fxe6 20.exd5 Qb7] 11...Nf6 12.f3 [12.f4 Be7 13.Qf3 0–0 14.g4!? Qc7 15.Rad1] 12...Be7 13.Qd2?! [13.f4] 13...0–0 [13...Ne5! 14.Nde2 0–0 15.Rad1 Nc4 16.Qc1 Rfc8 17.Bd4 Qc7 18.b3 Ne5 19.Qd2] 14.Rfd1?! [14.Nxc6 bxc6 15.b4 (15.Ne2 Qb7 16.c4 Nd7 17.Rad1 Ne5 18.b3) 15...Qc7 16.Rab1] 14...Ne5 15.Qe2 [15.b3 Rfc8 16.Nce2 d5 17.exd5 Nxd5 18.Bf2] 15...a6 16.h3?! [16.f4 Ng6 17.g4 h6 18.g5 hxg5 19.fxg5 Nh7 20.Qh5 Rac8] 16...Rac8 17.Qe1 [17.Rab1 Nc4 18.Qd3 Rfd8 19.f4 b5 20.a3 Qc7 21.Bd2] 17...Nc4 18.b3 [18.Rab1 b5 19.a3 Qc7 20.Qe2 Rfe8 21.Qd3] 18...Nxe3+ 19.Qxe3 Qc7 20.Nce2 Nd7 [20...Qc5 21.c4 Nd7 22.a3 Bf6 23.f4 Rfe8 24.Qf3] 21.c4 [21.f4 Bf6 22.c3 Rfe8 23.Rf1 (23.Rac1 b6 (23...Qc5 24.Nc2 Qc7 25.Ncd4 b5 (25...b6 26.Nf3 Red8 27.Ned4 Nc5) ) 24.Nf3 Red8 25.Ned4 Nc5) 23...Nc5 24.Rad1 b6 25.Nf3 Red8] 21...Bf6 22.Rac1 [22.f4 Qc5 23.Qf3 Nb8 24.Rd3 Rcd8] 22...Rfe8 23.f4 [23.b4 Ne5 24.c5 dxc5 25.Rxc5 Qb8 26.f4 Nc4 27.Qf3 Be7 28.Rxc8 Rxc8 29.b5 axb5 30.Nxb5 Rd8] 23...g6 24.Qf3?! [24.Nf3 Bb2 25.Rc2 Ba3 26.e5 Red8 27.Rcd2 Bc5 28.Qe4 Nb6 29.exd6 Rxd6 30.Rxd6 Bxd6 31.g4] I stopped writing down my moves here. I don't recall the result of the game, but Simon definitely outplayed me in this Sicilian.

GAME 015 - VS Brian Cochran, Closed Sicilian

Davies,Edward - Cochran,Brian

27th December 2006

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 d6 4.Bg2 e5 5.d3 Nf6 6.Nge2 Bd7 7.Bg5 [Committing to castling was worth considering. 7.0–0 ] 7...Be7 8.Bxf6 Bxf6 9.Nd5 a6 Unconstructive use of time. 10.Nxf6+ Unable to decide what to play, this move is not very good. 10.c3 is suggested by fritz. [10.c3 Be6 11.0–0 b5 12.f4] 10...Qxf6 [10...gxf6 I considered this recapture, with play down g file, but white can simply castle q-side and f pawns are weak. e.g: 11.Nc3 Qa5 12.Qf3 0–0–0 13.0–0–0 with an advantage to white.] 11.Qd2 g5 This is an active move but black has many pawn weaknesses now, together with the c5,e5 already played. 12.Nc3 Nd4 Bad for black, by allowing Nd5. Ne5 should be prevented, e.g. 12...Be6 [12...Be6 13.Nd5 Bxd5 14.exd5 Nd4 15.0–0–0 0–0–0 16.c3 Nf3 17.Qe3 g4 18.Bxf3 gxf3 for example.] 13.Nd5 According to the computer, a definite plus for white. 13...Qd8 Parrying Nf6+ & Nc7+ 14.c3 natural 14...Bh3 Tactically incorrect. My guess is this is an attempt to complicate things in an uncomfortable position. 15.cxd4 White retains an advantage with this clear line, but there was a MUCH better move, giving three times the advantage. Fritz gives 15.f4 [Naturally not 15.Bxh3 Nf3+; 15.f4 Bxg2 Only move to avoid losing a piece. 16.Qxg2 Ne6 17.fxe5 dxe5 18.0–0 Material is even but fritz approximates this as E2.5. Black's pawns are very weakened, and white has fantastic play down the f file in coordination with his knight.] 15...Bxg2 16.Rg1 Bf3 17.dxe5 [17.dxc5 is exactly the same as black has nothing better than 17...dxc5] 17...dxe5 18.Qe3 g4 A better defence existed, avoiding loss of exchange but still leaving black with a difficult position. [18...Bg4 19.Qxc5 Rc8 the point is, now Nc6+ is no longer a threat as after Qxc6, Qxc8+ is impossible because of Bg4's defence of Rc8 20.Qb4 Be6 21.Qxb7 Bxd5 22.exd5 0–0 23.f4 a human might prefer something more solid (e.g. 23.Kf1 Rb8 24.Qxa6 Qxd5 25.Qc4 Qd6 26.Kg2 Rb4 27.Qc1 Qd5+ 28.f3 g4 29.Qg5+ Kh8 30.Qf6+ Kg8 31.Rgf1 Rxb2+ 32.Kh1 Rc8 33.Qg5+ Kf8 etc. fritz considers it a likely draw, probably due to likely perpetuals by defending side etc) 23...exf4 24.gxf4 Re8+ 25.Kf1] 19.Qxc5 f5 Definitely an error. This opens the board more for a killing attack by white. 20.Nc7+ Kf7 21.Qc4+ I was most happy with this move out of all in the game. I couldn't see a simple solution to convert the advantage: e.g. 21.Nxa8 right away, 21...Qxd3, with threat of mate on e2. However, it occured to me after looking at my options for some time just to play Qc4+, improving my position before taking the exchange. 21...Kg6 22.Qe6+ [22.exf5+ was more accurate, making life even worse for the white king. e.g.: 22...Kxf5 23.Nxa8 Bd5 24.Qc5 Bf3 25.Nb6 Qxd3 26.Qc4 Rd8 27.Qxd3+ Rxd3 28.Rc1 h6 29.a4 a5 30.Rf1] 22...Qf6 23.Qxf6+ This time my inoptimal move could have thrown away the game. After 23.ef+ there is no chance for white, but now there is a chance of holding. [23.exf5+ Kg5 24.Nxa8 Rxa8 25.Qxf6+ Kxf6 26.Kd2 Kxf5 27.Rac1 Rd8 This was better, but almost the same position occured in the game anyway.] 23...Kxf6 24.Nxa8 Rxa8 25.exf5 The critical reply is apparantly Rd8 25...Kxf5 [25...Rd8 26.Kd2 e4 27.Ke3 Rxd3+ 28.Kf4 Rd5 29.Rac1 Rxf5+ 30.Ke3 Rd5 31.Rc3 Rb5 32.Rc2 It's still unconvincing that black can hold.] 26.Kd2 Rd8 27.Ke3 Rd4 28.h3 h5 29.Rac1 Be4?? A blunder in a bad position. 30.hxg4+ 1–0

Analysis of awful bullet chess endgame.

Plantagenet- Winkelhaus [B26]
Rated game, 2m + 1s Main Playing Hall, 31.07.2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 Nc6 3.g3 g6 4.Bg2 Bg7 5.d3 a6 6.Be3 d6 7.Nge2 Rb8 8.Qd2 h5 9.0–0 Bh6 10.Bxh6 Nxh6 11.f4 Ng4 12.h3 Nf6 13.Nd1 0–0 14.Ne3 b5 15.c3 b4 16.e5 dxe5 17.Bxc6 exf4 18.Nxf4 Bb7 19.Bxb7 Rxb7 20.Rae1 Ne4 21.Qg2 f5 22.dxe4 fxe4 23.Qxe4 Rd7 24.Qxg6+ Kh8 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Ng6 Rf6 27.Qh8+ Kf7 28.Qxd8 Rxd8 29.Rxf6+ exf6 Now starts an ending where white has two knights. White conspires to draw this ending, which is atrocious even in time trouble of around one second per move. I am interesting in observing how a series - ranging from major to minor - of many errors over many moves in an ending can eventually change the evaluation of the position so much that the result of the game then changes, (I use result in the endgame sense). 30.Nf4 bxc3 31.bxc3 Rd2 The first point where a real plan needs to be made for white. The a2 pawn is hanging. Two knights cannot mate a king so pawn trades should be as few as possible. After taking a2 black has a passer on a6. Knights are very poor at blockading a passer, particularly on the side of the board. This is felt during the game. 32.a4 [for a start, an obvious idea is: 32.Nxh5 white has a passed pawn on the h file. Black's a6 pawn is more powerful though as it is an outside passer (across the board from the kings) and knights are very bad at blocking an a or h pawn. 32...Rxa2 33.Rf1 doubling up on f6.. if f6 falls, white has connected passer on the g-h files] 32...Ra2 33.Nd3 [33.Nf5 fritz puts the evaluation much higher than otherwise for white (although it is obviously many pawns as the position should be totally won). There must be a mate threat as the computer goes mad playing Ra1. Supposing Rxa4.. 33...Rxa4 With a couple of second at most for each move, I didn't see such a mating net.. I was looking for ways of capturing enemy pawns and attempting to trade rooks. 34.Re7+ Kg8 (34...Kf8 35.Ng6+ Kg8 36.Nh6#) 35.Nh6+ Kf8 (35...Kh8 36.Ng6#) 36.Ng6#] 33...Rxa4 34.Nxc5 Ra3 35.Rc1 I am adamant to avoid pawn trades. [35.Nd5 an obvious move, defending with knight and bringing the knight to a more active square, and making the knights more coordinated etc etc 35...a5 36.Rf1] 35...a5 36.Nc4? [36.Nd5 this was again much better 36...a4 37.Rf1] 36...Ra2 37.Nd6+? [37.Rf1 a4 38.Ne4 Kg7 39.Nxf6 h4 40.gxh4] 37...Ke7 38.Nf5+ [38.Rd1 a4 39.Nde4 Kf7 (39...Ra3 40.Rd7+ Kf8 41.Ne6+ Kg8 42.Nxf6+ Kh8 43.Rh7#) 40.Rd7+ Kg6 41.Rd6 Kf5] 38...Kf7 39.c4 [39.Rd1 Kg6 (39...a4 40.Rd7+ Kg8 (40...Kg6 41.Nh4+ Kh6 (41...Kg5 42.Rg7+ Kh6 43.Nf5#) 42.Ne6 Rc2 43.Nf5+ Kg6 44.Ned4 Rc1+ 45.Kf2 Rc2+ 46.Kf3 Rxc3+ 47.Kf4 Rf3+ 48.Nxf3 h4 49.N3xh4+ Kh5 50.Rh7#) 41.Rg7+ Kh8 42.Ne4 Ra1+ 43.Kf2 Ra2+ 44.Ke3 Ra3 45.Nxf6 Rxc3+ 46.Kd4 Rd3+ 47.Kxd3 h4 48.Rh7#) 40.Nh4+ Kh6 41.Ne6 Ra4 42.Rd8 Rxh4 (42...Ra3 43.Rh8#) ] 39...a4 40.Nd6+ [40.Ne4 keeping the knight close to the enemy king for the mate themes etc 40...Ke6 (40...a3 41.c5 Ke6 (41...Rb2 42.Ned6+ Ke6 43.c6 Rb8 44.c7) 42.Ng7+ Ke5 43.c6) 41.Ng7+ Kd7] 40...Ke7 41.Nc8+?! poor move; pointless [41.Nb5; 41.Nde4] 41...Kd8 42.Nb6 a3 43.Nb3? really bad, losing a knight [43.Ne6+ the knights are working together well 43...Ke7 44.c5! this passer is big trouble, whereas black's rook is in no position to promote his own pawn, sitting directly in front of it 44...Kxe6 45.c6 the computer goes beserk here as there is nothing to do 45...Kd6 46.c7 Ra1 47.c8Q] 43...Rb2 44.Nd4? very bad. The remaining knight is poor, whereas after Nd5, the remaining knight is much better [44.Nd5 Rxb3 white's concern is the black pawn on a3.. the knight cannot really help with this 45.Ra1 immediately is inferior to Kg2 as (45.Nxf6?? this is terrible.. black wins the game 45...a2 46.Nxh5 Rb1) 45...Rxg3+ 46.Kf2 Rb3 though black has no way of making threats of promoting the pawn so the position is probably easy for white here] 44...Rxb6 45.Ra1 correct, getting in front of the enemy passer 45...Ra6 46.Nb5? very poor even if the evaluation doesn't drop much.. why allow the a pawn to advance to a2? [the correct move is naturally 46.Ra2 Ra4 47.Nf5 (47.Nb5 looks like a reasonable plan, though now there are just two pawn left on each side so a draw is a greater risk 47...Rxc4 48.Rxa3 I will analyse this position in some depth as it certainly seems an instructive position 48...Kd7 49.Rd3+ Ke7 50.Kf2 Rc2+ 51.Kf3 Kf7 52.Nd4 Rc4 53.Ne2 h4 54.g4 Rc5 55.Nf4 the knight locks itself in with the pawns where it belongs in this sort of position 55...Rb5 56.Rd7+ Ke8 57.Rh7 f5 . (57...Rb3+ 58.Ke4 the knight is defending the h3 pawn) 58.g5 keeping the pawn count to two each (58.gxf5 surely riskier to trade pawns as now the position is more technical with one pawn each on the h file 58...Rxf5 59.Kg4 Rf7 60.Rxf7 Kxf7 61.Kxh4 Kg7 62.Kg5 in this case there is no problem) 58...Rb3+ 59.Ke2 Rb2+ 60.Kd3 Kf8 61.g6 Rb6 62.Kd4 Kg8 63.Rxh4 Rd6+ 64.Ke5 Rd1 the position is resolved) ] 46...Ra4 47.Rxa3? stupid.. let me reiterate that this game was played with a 1 second increment, which I think was roughly how much time I had [obviously 47.Nxa3 defending the c4 pawn] 47...Rxc4 The remaining position must be played with care: two pawns each on the same side of the board, a rook each, and a knight for one side, which at the moment is well offside 48.Ra6 [restricting the black king to his back rank 48.Ra7 h4 49.gxh4 Rxh4 50.Kg2 Rh5 51.Nd4 Ke8 52.Ne6 Re5 53.Ng7+ Kf8 54.h4 Rb5 55.Kf3 Kg8 56.Kg4 Rc5 57.Nf5 Kf8 58.h5 Rc4+ 59.Kf3 Rc3+ 60.Ke4 Rh3 61.h6 Kg8 62.Kd5 Rh2 63.Ke6 Kh8 64.Ra8+ Kh7 65.Kxf6 Rb2 66.Ra7+ Kh8 67.Rf7 Rb6+ 68.Kg5 Rb1 69.Rd7 Rg1+ 70.Kf6 Rb1 71.Rc7 Rb6+ 72.Kg5 Rb5 73.Rd7 Rb2 74.Ne3 Rb1 75.Ng4 Rg1 76.Kf5 Rg2 (76...Rf1+) 77.Ra7 Rg3 78.Nf6 Rf3+ 79.Kg6 Rg3+ 80.Kf7 Ra3! clever trick 81.Rd7 (81.Rc7?? Ra7 draw 82.Ke6 Rxc7 83.Ng4 Kh7 84.Kf6 Rc4 85.Ne3 Rc6+ 86.Kf7 Rxh6 draw(86...Kxh6 draw; 86...Rf6+ 87.Kxf6 Kxh6 draw) ) 81...Rd3 82.Rc7 fritz plays this, and appears to have lost the plot.. 82...Rc3 83.Re7 Rc7 84.Nd7! instead it turns out fritz is playing a flawless endgame manouvre.. see the notes to see why he doesn't play Rc3 right away on move 81 84...Kh7 (84...Rc8 85.Kg6 Rc6+ 86.Nf6 Rxf6+ (86...Ra6 87.Rh7#) 87.Kxf6 Kg8 88.h7+ Kh8 89.Re8+ Kxh7 90.Rf8 Kh6 91.Rh8#) 85.Nf8+ Kxh6 86.Rxc7] 48...Rb4 49.Rxf6? this is a weak decision and I knew it at the time but I probably had to make a move with no time to delay [49.Nd6 Ke7 50.Nf5+ Kf7 51.Ra7+ Kg6 52.Ne7+ Kh6 53.Ra6 Kg7 54.Nd5 Rb1+ 55.Kg2 Rb2+ 56.Kf3 Rb1 57.Ra7+ Kg6 58.Nf4+ Kh6 59.Ra6 Rb3+ 60.Ke4 Rxg3 61.Rxf6+ Kh7 62.Rf5 Rg1 63.Rxh5+ Kg7 64.Kf5 Rf1 65.h4 Rf3 66.Kg4 Re3 67.Rd5 Re1 68.Rd7+ Kh6 69.Rd6+ Kg7 70.Ne6+ Kf7 71.Ng5+ Ke7 72.Ra6 Rg1+ 73.Kf5 Rh1 74.Ra7+ Kd6 75.Rh7 Rf1+ 76.Kg6 Rc1 77.h5 Rc8 78.h6 Kc5 79.Rg7 finally black is forced to sacrifice his rook to prevent the pawn promoting 79...Rc6+ 80.Kh5 Rxh6+] 49...Rxb5 now the position really does take some serious technique to win 50.Kf2 [50.Rf7 fritz immediately prioritises cutting off the black king as much as possible] 50...Ke7 51.Rf4 Ke6 52.Kf3 Rb3+ 53.Kf2?! makes no sense other than to gain time on the clock if that is what white is doing; please don't ask me to remember [53.Kg2 Rb1 54.Rf2 Ke5 55.Rf8 Rb2+ 56.Kg1 Rb3 57.Re8+ Kf5 58.Kg2 h4 59.g4+ Kg5 60.Rh8 Rg3+ 61.Kh2 Rc3 62.Rh5+ Kf4 63.Rf5+ Ke3 64.Kg2 Rc2+ 65.Kg1 Rc1+ 66.Rf1 Rc2 67.Kh1 Rc3 68.Kg2 Rc2+ 69.Kg1 Rd2 70.Kh1 Rd3 71.Kg1 Rd2 draw] 53...Ke5? poor as this gives white a good chance [53...Rb5 54.Kg2] 54.Rf3? misses any chance [54.Rh4! Rb2+ 55.Ke1 Rg2 56.Rxh5+ now white should win 56...Ke4 57.Rg5 Ra2 58.h4 Kf3 59.g4 Ke3 60.Kd1 Kd3 61.Kc1 Rc2+ 62.Kb1 Rh2 63.h5 Ke4 black has done what he can and left my king away from the pawns 64.Rg6 Rh1+ 65.Kb2 Rh2+ 66.Kb3 Rh3+ 67.Kb4 Rh4 68.h6 Ke5 69.Kc5 Rh1 70.g5 Rc1+ 71.Kb6 Rb1+ 72.Kc6 Rh1 73.Rg7 Kf5 74.h7 Rxh7 (74...Rh2 75.g6 Kf6 76.Rg8 Rh1 77.h8Q+) ] 54...Rb2+ 55.Ke3 apparently bad as it allows Rh2 55...Rb3+ [55...Rh2 56.h4 Rg2 57.Kd3 Rb2 58.Kc4 Rg2 59.Kb5 Ke4 60.Rc3 just from superficial looking at this position, it is obvious from the king positions that in no way can white win 60...Kf5 61.Rc5+ Kg4 62.Rg5+ Kh3 63.Rxh5 Rxg3 64.Rh8 Kg4 65.Rh7 Rh3 66.h5 Rxh5+ 67.Rxh5 Kxh5] 56.Kf2 Rb2+ 57.Kg1 Ke4 58.Rf2 [apparently better: 58.Rf4+ Ke3 59.h4 Rb5 60.Kg2 Rb2+ 61.Kh3 Rb5 62.Ra4 Kf3 63.Ra3+ Ke4 64.g4 Kf4 65.Rg3 hxg4+ 66.Rxg4+ Kf3 67.Rg1 Rf5 68.Rg5 Kf4 69.Rg4+ Kf3 70.Rg2 Kf4 71.Rh2 Ke5 72.Kg4 Kf6 73.h5 Rg5+ 74.Kf4 Rb5 75.h6 Rb8 draw 76.h7 Kg7 77.Kg5 Rh8 78.Rh6 Rxh7 79.Rxh7+ Kxh7] 58...Rb3 59.Kg2 Ra3 60.g4 hxg4 [60...h4 secures the draw] 61.hxg4 fritz at first thought this gave white a chance to play for a win but soon evaluates it as a draw 61...Ra8? this give white another chance to win [61...Ke5 62.Rf1 Ke6 63.Rf5 Ra7 64.Kg3 Rf7 65.Rb5 (65.Rxf7 Kxf7 66.g5 Ke6 67.Kg4 Kf7 68.Kh4 draw) 65...Kf6 draw] 62.Kg3 Ra3+ [62...Ra1 63.g5 Rg1+ 64.Kh4 Ke3 65.Rf7 Rh1+ 66.Kg4 Rg1+ 67.Kh5 Ke4 68.g6 Ke5 69.Kh6 Rh1+ 70.Kg7 Ke6 71.Kg8 Rd1 72.Rf3 Rh1 73.g7 Ke7 74.Rf7+ Ke8 75.Rf5 Ke7 76.Re5+ Kd6 77.Kf7 Rf1+ 78.Ke8 Kxe5 79.g8Q now white must win this technical ending in 50 moves 79...Rf6 80.Qg3+ Kf5 81.Kd7 Ke4 82.Qg2+ Kf5 83.Qf3+ Kg5 84.Qe3+ Kg4 85.Qe4+ Rf4 86.Qg6+ Kf3 87.Qd3+ Kf2 88.Kc6 Rf6+ 89.Kd5 Kg2 90.Ke4 Rf2 91.Qe3 Kf1 92.Qh3+ Kg1 93.Qg4+ Rg2 94.Qd1+ Kh2 95.Qh5+ Kg1 96.Qc5+ Kh2 97.Qe5+ Kg1 98.Qd4+ Kh2 99.Kf3 Rg3+ 100.Kf2 Rg2+ 101.Kf1 Kg3 102.Qd6+ Kf3 103.Qd5+ finally] 63.Kh4 the evaluation is a win for white 63...Ra1 64.Kh5 [fritz suggests 64.g5 but the text is still alright] 64...Rh1+ 65.Kg6 Rg1 66.g5 Ke3 67.Rf5 Ke4 68.Kf6 Rg4 69.g6 Rg3 70.Re5+ Kf4 71.Rf5+? repeating moves for no reason, which is risky [71.Re8 Rg4 72.g7 win] 71...Ke4 72.Ke6?? huh? I don't expect the endgame to be played perfectly in bullet chess, but this was probably the final straw that prompted me to analyse the whole ending [72.Re5+ Kf4 73.Re8] 72...Rg4?? what?? [72...Rxg6+ draw] 73.Kf6 [73.Rf6 avoids threefold repetition 73...Kd3 74.Kf7 and wins] 73...Rg3 draw by threefold repetition. A horrifically played ending from start to finish by both sides, but the analysis has proven interesting. ½–½

GAME 014 - Fierce blitz attack.

In the following 5 0 blitz game played on the Playchess server I am white. White clearly gets the better position out of the opening but makes a poor pawn push in opposite side castling. This is followed by a very questionable (and objectively unsound) knight sacrifice, but my opponent doesn't defend correctly and the sacrifice is made justified.

Plantagenet (1730) - Ukdragon (1690) [B07]
Friendly Game, 5m + 0s Main Playing Hall, 30.07.2007

1.e4 d6 2.Nc3 possibilities of transposing into a closed sicilian etc 2...b6?! an odd move; there are no instances of this on the Fritz 10 database. I might add that I do not cricise my opponent or myself to trying dubious or strange ideas out as this is an informal blitz game. Fritz puts the evaluation to 0.9. A possible benefit is that c5 is very well supported. Perhaps though the downside is that d6 doesn't sit well with a queenside fianchetto. 3.g3 I choose to setup in a closed sicilian style structure, but Fritz doesn't like it and finds more critical replys to black. [3.Nf3 addressing black's lag in development 3...Nf6 (fritz doesn't like the immediate 3...Bb7 4.Bc4 Nf6 this doesn't seem to me to make much difference. 5.0–0 offering a pawn due to the lead in development 5...e6 (5...Nxe4? 6.Nxe4 Bxe4 7.Bxf7+! Kxf7 8.Ng5+ Kg8 9.Nxe4 white is much better) 6.Re1 Be7 7.Qe2 c5 8.d4) 4.d4 e6 5.Bd3 Bb7 6.0–0 Be7 7.Re1 0–0 white has a classically very decent game] 3...Bb7 4.Bg2 Nd7 seems logical enough to me as it covers c5 and e5 [F1: 4...Nf6 5.Nge2 Nbd7 6.d4 e6 7.Qd3 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 black has a solid position] 5.Nge2 [Fritz opts for 5.d4 Ngf6 6.Nge2 e6 7.0–0 Be7 then white has many pawn moves to choose from] 5...c6?! a passive move, but none-the-less solid and part of a double edged plan to castle queenside. 5..c5 is probably worse; black plays tightly with 5..c6 and maintains control of b5 and d5. [Fritz opts for the sensible option: 5...e6 6.0–0 Ngf6 7.f3 Be7 8.d4 0–0 9.Be3 c5 black is doing pretty well here] 6.d3 [more critical would be 6.d4 Ngf6 7.0–0 Qc7 kingside castling is probably too slow 8.h3 e6 9.f4 having had time to prepare a post for his dark squared bishop, now black is obliged to castle queenside in view of the threat to by white to tear open the centre 9...0–0–0 white must have the best chances in this opposite castling game, having much more space 10.a4] 6...Qc7 [F1: 6...e6 as before, fritz likes to make space for his bishop while he has time 7.d4 embarassingly this is maybe the best idea, showing the passivity of d3] 7.0–0 0–0–0 [F1: 7...Ngf6 8.d4 e6 9.d5 Be7 10.Nd4 cxd5 11.exd5 0–0 12.dxe6 Bxg2 13.Kxg2 Nc5 14.exf7+ Rxf7 black's only compensation for the pawn is trading white's important defensive bishop. The isolated d6 pawn can't be good news.] 8.Be3 on the plus side the bishop is developed and on a good square possibly aiding attack and defence.. on the minus it is probably better to charge forward immediately with a4 [now that battle lines are drawn, Fritz recommends immediate action: 8.a4 a5 it is noteworthy that all of black's king's pawn cover are 1 square forward.. this will make them easier to latch onto in a pawn storm 9.d4 h5] 8...Kb8 tempos are worth a lot in these positions so unsurprisingly it was at least a bit better to charge immediately with h5 [8...h5 9.a4 a6 10.d4 these are just example moves] 9.a4 h5 both players play the natural moves 10.b4 for the first few second fritz put 10.d4 as the first choice, but naturally in such strategic situation not involving immediate calcuation but rather a long term vision of attack, computers are not at their strongest (yet), and after suggesting to it b4 and waiting a while, it changes its mind in favour of this move which is visually natural for a human player. 10...h4 11.a5? incorrect. I was aware that this was weak at the time due to b5, so I can only blame the blitz time control, (though this is still a quite shocking move at any time control).. I soon try to justify it with a piece sac [11.b5 the natural and obvious move, e.g. 11...cxb5 12.axb5 a computer need a long time to come to a decision in these positions 12...Ngf6 eventually it opts for this but on further processing I wouldn't be surprised if it changed its mind 13.h3 hxg3 14.fxg3 g5 15.Qc1 g4 16.h4] 11...b5 12.Nxb5? A mad move. Fun none-the-less in a blitz game. [a sound move was: 12.g4 Ngf6 13.h3] 12...cxb5 13.c4 I see the potential pressure my pawns can cause and as my bishops are keyed right in for an attack, I am likely to at least give my oppoenent defensive headaches [Fritz gives as objectively best: 13.h3 but of course I am going to try and justify my sacrifice] 13...Rc8? this allows white to create a blob of advanced pawns to tear open the king position, and now white's sacrifice is justified [13...bxc4 14.b5 Nc5 15.dxc4 black blocks the white attack somewhat and gives a little material away, and now makes a bid for play of his own 15...hxg3 16.Nxg3 e6 17.b6 axb6 18.axb6 Qxb6 white apparently doesn't have enough for the sacrificed material and stands 1.5 pawns down in evaluation according to fritz] 14.cxb5 f5?! an opportunity is missed to take much danger out of white's attack [14...Qc2 15.h3 Qxd1 16.Rfxd1 the position is very imbalanced and on the surface about equal] 15.b6 for a long time fritz favours Rc1, but eventually the evaluation of b6 keeps rising until fritz puts it as its first move. This is another instance of a human being able to see the obvious long term strength of an attacking move and it being beyond the computer's initial horizon. 15...axb6 16.axb6? This is weak compared to at least one alternative [16.Qa4! horrible tactical threats now surround the black king 16...Qc2 17.Qxd7 Bc6 (17...Qxe2?? 18.a6 quickly leads to mate) 18.Qxf5 Qxe2 now black regains the piece up; this is surely his only hope in such a position 19.Bh3! is very potent] 16...Nxb6 some tension is relieved and white now stands just a little better according to fritz 17.Nd4! I think this deserves a ! as it is correct in this position to bring the knight into the game.. fritz preferred Nf4 for a while but changed its mind to the game move.. naturally the knight is closer to the action on d4 17...Qd7 [F1: 17...hxg3 ] 18.b5! with the idea of Nc6 and furthering the onslaught [18.Nxf5 was much better apparently, e.g. 18...hxg3 19.fxg3 g6 20.Nxe7! Nxe7 21.Bxb6 Bg7 22.d4 Rcf8 23.Rxf8+ Rxf8 24.Ba7+ Kc8 25.Qd3 Kd8 26.b5 fritz evaluation of 1 pawn to white] 18...Kc7? very bad due to what it allows [18...fxe4 19.Bxe4 Bxe4 20.dxe4 hxg3 21.fxg3 Nf6 black is in real trouble; 18...g6 19.Nc6+ Bxc6 20.bxc6 Rxc6 21.exf5 d5 22.Qb3] 19.Qb3! I believe that black is busted in this position whatever he does... the black kingside pieces are pleasing to the eye for white... his queen, bishop pair, knight, and rook pair assist in the attack, whereas only about 4 black pieces are in positions to defend and they do not have much space 19...Kd8 [19...Kb8 is no better 20.Ne6 a classic octopus style knight, e.g. 20...fxe4 21.Bxb6 Nf6 22.Qa4 Bd5 23.dxe4 Rc4 24.Qa7+ Qxa7 25.Bxa7+ Kb7 26.exd5] 20.Ne6+ not the best [20.Qf7 e.g. 20...hxg3 21.fxg3 in no rush 21...Qe8 22.Ne6+ Kd7 23.Qxf5 the threats are ridiculous 23...Qh5 24.Nxf8+ Kc7 (24...Ke8 25.Qxh5+ Rxh5 26.Ra7 Rb8 27.Bxb6 Rxb5 28.Ne6 Rxb6 29.Rf8+ Kd7 30.Rxb8 Kxe6 31.Rxg8; 24...Kd8 25.Bxb6+ Rc7 26.Qd7#) 25.Rfc1+ Kd8 26.Rxc8+ Bxc8 27.Ne6+ Kd7 28.Ra7+ Bb7 29.Rxb7+ Kc8 30.Rc7+ Kb8 31.Qf8+ Qe8 32.Qxe8+ Nc8 33.Qxc8#] 20...Ke8 21.Bxb6 Nf6 [F1: 21...Nh6 is no better 22.Ra7 d5 23.exd5 Nf7 24.d4 almost sarcastic; white plays patiently and black has all of his piece squashed on the back two ranks] 22.Ra7 not bad, but fritz prefers Rfc1 [22.Rfc1 fxe4 23.dxe4 hxg3 24.hxg3 d5 25.Rxc8+ Qxc8 26.Nc7+ Kf7 27.e5 Nh5 28.Bxd5+ Bxd5 29.Qxd5+ Kg6 30.Ne6 Qc2 31.g4 Nf6 32.exf6 gxf6 33.Be3 Qc3 34.Nxf8+ Kg7 (34...Rxf8 35.Qh5+ Kg7 36.Bh6+ Kh8 37.Bxf8+ Kg8 38.Qg6+ Kxf8 39.Ra8+ Qc8 40.Rxc8#) ] 22...Rb8?! the position should already be doomed, but there was more tenacious. This allows the horrible Nc7+ [22...h3 23.Bh1 fxe4 24.dxe4 d5 25.Nxf8 Kxf8 26.e5 Rh5 (26...Ne4 27.e6 Qxe6 28.Rxb7) 27.e6 Qxe6 28.Rxb7] 23.Nc7+ Kd8 24.Na6+ [24.Rc1 hxg3 25.Qf7 Qc8 26.Ne8+ Kd7 27.Rxc8 Rxc8 28.fxg3 Rc1+ 29.Bf1 f4 30.Rxb7+ Kc8 31.Nxd6+ exd6 32.Rc7+ Kb8 33.Rxc1 Be7 34.Qa2 fxg3 35.Qa7#] 24...Ke8 25.Nxb8 Qc8 26.Nc6 [F1: 26.Na6 d5 27.exd5 hxg3 28.fxg3 Bxa6 29.d6 Bxb5 30.Qxb5+ Kf7 31.d7] 26...Bxc6 [F1: 26...Nd7 27.Be3 f4 28.gxf4 h3 29.Bf3 g5 30.Rc1 Nc5 31.Bxc5 gxf4 (31...dxc5 32.Ne5 gxf4 33.Bh5+ Kd8 (33...Rxh5 34.Qf7+ Kd8 35.Qxf8+ Kc7 36.Qxe7+ Kb6 37.Rxb7+ Ka5 38.Nc6+ Ka4 39.Ra1+ Kb3 40.Qf7+ Qe6 41.Qxe6+ Rd5 42.Qxd5+ c4 43.Qxc4+ Kb2 44.Qc1+ Kb3 45.Ra3#) 34.Nf7+) 32.Bxd6 Rh7 33.Bxf4 Rg7+ 34.Kh1] 27.bxc6 e6 28.Rfa1 [28.Rc7 Qxc7 (28...Qb8 29.Qxe6+ Be7 (29...Kd8 30.Rc8#) 30.Qxe7#) ] 1–0

GAME 013 - VS Jamie Wilson

Wilson,Jamie - Davies,Edward [B18]
Portsmouth vs Chichester,

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Bc4 An interesting and popular sideline. 6...Nf6 This has been played a few times but is not considered very good. [The usual move is 6...e6 then typically 7.N1e2 and black has a choice of two main moves 7...Nf6 (7...Bd6 8.Nf4 Nf6) 8.Nf4 (8.Bb3 Qc7 (8...Nbd7) ) 8...Bd6] 7.N1e2 [7.Nf3 has been quite successful in the few games played] 7...e6 we are now back to the main track of this variation 8.0–0 [8.Nf4 is equally popular, e.g. 8...Bd6 9.c3 Qc7 10.Qf3] 8...Bd6 9.f4 This is the main move; my opponent appears to be prepared in this opening. 9...0–0?! this may be a bad move, in view of the next white move f5 [9...Bf5 acknowledging the importance of preventing f5 10.Nxf5 exf5 11.Ng3 g6 12.Re1+ Kf8 13.Qf3 these moves occur in all instances of this game, and now black has to choose 13...h5 this is the most played but least successful for black(black has done well in: 13...Nbd7 ; and done well in 13...Qc7 for both 13..Nbd7 and 13..Qc7, Fritz superficially assesses the position as over a pawn advantage for white, but practice has shown these to be ok for black.) ; 9...Qc7 has been played quite a few times, but has scored quite badly (30%). Perhaps this is because it doesn't counter f5. 10.f5 exf5 (10...Bxf5 may be better 11.Nxf5 exf5 12.Rxf5 Nbd7 13.Kh1 0–0 this looks quite solid for black) 11.Nxf5 Bxh2+ 12.Kh1 Nh5 (12...0–0 13.Qe1 Bd6 14.Nxg7! a brilliant combination 14...Kxg7 15.Rxf6 Nd7 (15...Kxf6 16.Qh4+ Kg7 17.Bh6+ Kg8 18.Qf6 Be5 19.dxe5 Qxe5 20.Qxe5 Nd7 21.Qg7#) 16.Qh4 Rfe8 17.Bh6+ Kh8 18.Raf1 Qd8 19.Bg5 and white won) 13.Qe1 0–0 14.Qh4 Bd6 15.g4 Bxf5 16.gxf5 g6 17.fxg6 hxg6 18.Qg5 Qe7 19.Qxg6+ and black lost; Maybe the most promising move is 9...Qd7!? This has only been played once in the Fritz opening book, but it was successful (black won). It addresses the problem of 10.f5, which may be a key factor. I believe I am not the first player to underestimate the strength of f5 in this line. There are very few games to go by in looking at this position, but I will look at what is available, and get Fritz to do some work as well. 10.Bd3 was played unsuccessfully (10.Bb3 Na6 11.c4 Nc7; Fritz presses on with 10.f5 anyway. 10...exf5 11.Bf4 Ne4 12.Nxe4 fxe4 Black seems to be fine in this variation 13.Qd2 0–0 14.Qe3 Na6 15.Bxa6 bxa6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Rf4 Rab8) 10...Bxd3 11.Qxd3 g6 12.b3 Na6 13.Bb2 Be7 14.c4 Nc7 15.Qf3 0–0 16.Nc1 Nce8 17.Nd3 Ng7 18.Ne5 Qc7 19.h3 Rad8] 10.f5 After the previous analysis, I would say 9..Qd7 is the best move for black. 10...exf5 11.Nxf5 Bxf5 12.Rxf5 Nbd7 13.Qd3 [A grandmaster game (average rating 2583) went: 13.h3 Qc7 14.Qf1 Nb6 15.Bd3 Nfd7 16.Qf2 Nd5 17.Qh4 and white went on to win. I have checked on Fritz's database and found out this is the game Sadvakasov (2568) - Adianto (2598) Liepaja rapid 4th August 2001. The game continued: 17...g6 18.Bh6 Rfe8 19.Raf1 Re7 20.Nc3 Nxc3 21.bxc3 b5 22.Bg5 Bh2+ 23.Kh1 Bg3 24.Qh6 Rae8 25.Bxe7 Rxe7 26.R5f3 Nb6 27.Qg5 Bd6 28.Re3 Rxe3 29.Qxe3 Nd5 30.Qe8+ Kg7 31.c4 bxc4 32.Bxc4 Nf4 1 - 0] 13...Qc7 Fritz agrees with everything so far 14.Qh3 [F1: 14.Bf4 Bxf4 15.Rxf4 Rad8 16.Qh3] 14...Rfe8 15.Bg5 Everything so far is more or less Fritz's first move 15...b5? This is a critical mistake according to Fritz. This pawn push does nothing for black; it generate no counterplay, and it actually pushes the white bishop to a great square to join in the attack. [Apparently the break 15...c5 was essential, e.g. 16.d5?! In view of the analysis below, I think it is fair to say this move is bad (16.b3 cxd4 17.Nxd4 h6 18.Bh4 Re4 19.Bf2 a6 20.Rf1 Rae8 black is standing his ground) 16...Ne4 17.Nc3 After further computation, Fritz resigns itself to Nc3 (Fritz changes its mind to 17.Bc1 but this is bad due to 17...Bxh2+ 18.Qxh2 Qxh2+ 19.Kxh2 Nd6 white's pieces are loosely defended by each other 20.Ng3 Nxc4 21.b3 Nce5 22.Rf1 black is better here) 17...Nxc3 (17...Nxg5) 18.bxc3 Nb6 black is better here] 16.Bd3 c5? Critical error number two. That is more than enough to destroy the game for black. [16...Ne4 is essential here to try to discoordinate white's attack and maybe trade some pieces and open the way for more black pieces over to defend etc 17.Raf1 Nxg5 18.Rxg5 Nf8 19.Ng3 Ng6 20.Nf5 Bf8 this is probably black's most tenacious attempt to defend, but it doesn't look pleasant. However it is certainly preferable to the game continuation.] 17.Bxf6 Nxf6 I knew what was coming. The exchange sacrifice leads to a clear win for white. 18.Rxf6 gxf6? The position is already dismal, but if I am going to play on I may as well look for the best continuation, and Bxh2 was better. [18...Bxh2+ 19.Kh1 h6 (19...gxf6 20.Qxh7+ Kf8 21.Re1 Be5 (e.g. 21...Bd6 22.Qh6+ Kg8 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.Be4+ Kg8 25.Qh7+ Kf8 26.Nc3 white can casually anihilate black) 22.dxe5 Qxe5 23.Bxb5 this is obviously dead lost) 20.Rf2 c4 21.Qxh2 Qxh2+ 22.Kxh2 cxd3 23.cxd3 an easy endgame win for white] 19.Qh6? A shocking revelation that this is a great enough inaccuracy for the evaluation to drop from over 3 pawns to white to drawn if black plays the necessary reply 19...Rad8? which he doesn't. [19...f5! amazingly this stops white's attack from working 20.Bxf5 (I believe one of the main points of f5 is the threat Rd6, coordinating a defence well. Supposing white ignores this, e.g.: 20.Rf1 Re6 21.Qh4 Bxh2+ 22.Kh1 Rae8 23.Bxb5 Rxe2 24.Bxe8 Rxe8 25.Qg5+ Kf8 26.Qh6+ Ke7 27.Rxf5 cxd4 black is fine, maybe better) 20...f6 21.Nc3 Qg7 22.Qxg7+ Kxg7 23.Nxb5 Bf4 24.Rf1 Be3+ 25.Kh1 Rab8 26.Nc7 Re7 27.Nd5 Ree8 28.dxc5 Bxc5 29.b3 the position now looks like an objective draw] 20.Bxh7+ Kh8 So surely it's over... 21.Ng3? Unbelievably, the position is again drawn. [21.Bd3+ was a way to win 21...Kg8 22.Ng3 Bxg3 23.Bh7+ Kh8 24.hxg3 cxd4 25.Kf2 very cool play by white. Now the plan of Rh1 with mate to come is insatiable and Fritz doesn't know what to suggest for black] 21...Bf4! the correct move 22.Qh5 Bxg3 23.hxg3 Black has played correctly and should draw 23...Qxg3?? Walks into a mate. Apparently the game had been tough for me and I was too worn out to analyse the following simple forced variations. Had I been aware of a draw being a strong possibility, (probably due to white's only active attacking pieces being queen and bishop, which may not be enough if black defends correctly), I surely would not have just played this. I don't remember being in chronic time trouble; it looks like a case of giving up. [23...Kg7! and white has nothing 24.Qg4+ Kh8 25.Qh5] 24.Bg6+ In conclusion, there were many more drawing resources in this game than I believed. My opponent played very stronly in the opening, but even in such a difficult position as arose (after two critical mistakes from black), there were still defensive resources, and at least two points where white's attack could have been refuted. I was reluctant to analyse this crushing loss, but it is all the more important to analyse such games. It can be painful to look in detail at such losses, and this may explain why it is six months later that I analyse this game. 1–0

GAME 012 - VS P. Barson, Emsworth Rapidplay

Davies,Edward - Barson,P
Emsworth Rapidplay 30 0,
1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Qxd4 Nc6 4.Qe3 Nf6 5.Nc3 d6 . [The main line is: 5...Bb4 6.Bd2 0–0 7.0–0–0 Re8 8.Qg3] 6.Bd2 Be7 7.h3 Over-cautious according to Fritz. Apparently longside castling is ok here. After investigating Fritz's initial move 0–0–0 further, I am doubtful of it being safe, and still prefer h3. A subsequent suggestion of Nf3 is made however, and I'll have a look at this. [7.0–0–0 0–0 (I was worried about variations involving: 7...Ng4 usually with the bishops setup as they are, I have had trouble when allowing black the g4 square in these sorts of positions. 8.Qg3?? This was my concern, and is indeed wrong, but there is a playable move: Qf4 (8.Qf4 0–0 a) One potentially worrying variation: 8...g5 9.Qg3 h5 threatening to further harass the white queen 10.Nd5 Bf6 (10...h4 11.Qc3 Rg8 12.Nh3 white has navigated out of the threats advantageously) ; b) 8...h6 with a strong threat of Bg5 9.Kb1 a good double barrel move, removing thematic threats and improving the king position b1) 9.Nf3? this is wrong 9...Nxf2 10.Ne5 (10.Ng5 Bxg5 11.Qxf2 Bxd2+ 12.Qxd2 Be6 again, white has nothing for the pawn) 10...Nxe5 11.Qxf2 0–0 white probably has nothing for the pawn objectively, though he can attempt an attack on the kingside; b2) 9.Bb5 after taking some time to think about it, Fritz changes its mind to this 9...0–0 10.Kb1 Nd4 11.Nh3 things don't look great for white; 9...Be6 I doubt white has compensation for the pawn; ) ) 8...Bh4 9.Qf4 Nxf2 –+) ) ; 7.Nf3 Ng4 (7...d5 8.exd5 Nxd5 9.Qe4 Nf6 10.Qa4 0–0 11.0–0–0 this looks like a very interesting starting point for a game; 7...0–0 8.0–0–0 Be6 a quite typical position) 8.Qe2 0–0 9.0–0–0 this actually looks quite playable for white 9...Be6 10.h3 Nge5] 7...0–0 8.0–0–0 Re8 my opponent is playing good opening moves; I can see I am not playing a novice 9.f4? this is a mistake.. I wish to advance immediately on the kingside, but the analysis doesn't add up after my opponent's critical reply [9.Bc4 is the move given by Fritz. In the context of this game, this move is good for more than one reason: it is an active piece development, and importantly, it adds another defender against the d5 push. 9...a6 10.Nge2 a double-edge sicilian style battle begins 10...b5 11.Bd5 Bb7 12.Nd4] 9...d5! the key move. I can't fault my opponent so far in the opening. 10.exd5 at this point Fritz seems to have trouble deciding between Nx and the sharper Nb4. I'll look at the non-game continuation first. 10...Nxd5 [10...Nb4 11.Bc4 Bf5 12.Bb3 a5 13.a4 Nfxd5 14.Qf3 c6 Black has much better attacking chances than white I think] 11.Qf3 [11.Nxd5?! is no good 11...Qxd5 12.c4 e.g. (12.Qb3 Be6 13.Qxd5 Bxd5 and black has a great lead in development) 12...Qc5 13.Qxc5 Bxc5 14.g4 f5 15.Bd3 g6 (15...fxg4 also seems to be good for black 16.hxg4 Bxg4 17.Bxh7+ Kf7 18.Rf1) 16.gxf5 Bxf5 17.Bxf5 gxf5 18.Nf3 Re4 is good for black though maybe it will be hard to improve the position enough to win 19.b3 Rae8 20.Rhe1 a6 21.Kc2 Bf2 22.Rf1 Bb6 23.a3 h6] 11...Nxc3 [11...Be6 this move gives black the best chances 12.Nge2 Nxc3 13.Bxc3 (13.Nxc3?! this concedes the d4 square, and as a result: 13...Nd4 this knight is undoubtedly strong 14.Qf2 c5 15.Bd3 Bh4 16.g3 Bf6 after these example moves, Fritz still calls the position about equal) ] 12.Bxc3 Bd7 this doesn't look very encouraging for black. [12...Bd6 is preferred by Fritz 13.Qg3 f6 14.Nf3 Re4 15.Bd2 Nb4 16.Re1 Rxe1+ 17.Qxe1 c5 (naturally not 17...Nxa2+?? 18.Kb1) ] 13.Bc4 a natural developing move [F1: 13.Qg3 Bf8 (13...Bf6? 14.Rxd7) 14.Nf3 Qc8 white has the better attacking chances here] 13...Bb4?! This allows a tactical trick [F1: 13...Qc8 14.a3 Be6 15.Bd3] 14.Bxb4 [F1: 14.Qh5 Qe7 15.Qxf7+ Qxf7 16.Bxf7+ Kxf7 17.Rxd7+ Re7 18.Rxe7+ Kxe7 19.Ne2 Rd8 20.Bxb4+ Nxb4 21.Nc3 after a flurry of trades, white has an endgame with very good winning chances a pawn up.] 14...Nxb4 15.Qb3 attacking knight and f7. I recognised that there was a defence to this: Qe7, and I wasn't sure of the ramifications 15...a5? I think my opponent overlooked the threat to f7 altogether as he was visibly surprised at the following move [15...Qe7 this is the best move, but it allows a tradeoff just like the one previously given 16.Bxf7+ Qxf7 17.Qxf7+ Kxf7 18.Rxd7+ Kf6 19.a3 Na6 20.Nf3 Rad8 21.Rhd1 Rxd7 22.Rxd7 white naturally has a very promising endgame] 16.Bxf7+ Kh8 17.Bxe8?! I played this move without much hesitation. However I underestimated my opponent's chances of generating counterplay after this. [probably better was 17.Nf3 Re7 18.Ne5 with a very strong position for white. 18...Nc6 19.Nxd7 Rxd7 of course the computer now snaps up the b7 pawn without hesitation. 20.Qxb7 Nd4 21.Qe4 c5 22.Bc4 Re7 23.Qd3 Qb6 24.Rhe1 Rxe1 25.Rxe1 Rb8 26.Qc3 a4 27.a3 Qf6 28.g3 Qf5 29.h4 Qc8 30.Re5 Qc6 31.Kb1 Qh1+ 32.Qe1 Qxe1+ 33.Rxe1 Nf5 34.Re5 white should win easily] 17...Qxe8 18.Nf3 Be6 I wasn't at all happy when this move was played. [F1: 18...Ba4 fritz 'recommends' returning the exchange but with an extra pawn in the endgame 19.Rhe1 Qxe1 20.Nxe1 Bxb3 21.axb3 white has very good winning chances] 19.Qe3? I accepted that there would be complications (and risks) and walked into them. This move is not so great though. [19.Qa3 this is the move I kept looking at though didn't like for some reason.. it is clearly a solid move and less risky than the alternatives] 19...Qg6 missing the good opportunity of Nxa2, which I believe I expected [F1: 19...Nxa2+ 20.Kb1 Nb4 21.b3 Qg6 (21...a4 black has a great bit of attacking initiative. The main point is how the black light squared bishop which black has instead of a rook is a very good attacker. All black pieces can be used in the attack and it is not nice for white.) ] 20.Nd4 covering the mate threat [Fritz prefers 20.Qc5 ] 20...Bxa2 Fritz first suggests 20..Re8 then 20..Nxa2, but eventually agrees with my opponent: 20..Bxa2 21.f5 neither player has a lot of time left (though neither is in critical time trouble) and we are not going to get close to analysing the position thoroughly. I play this to cut off the queen's attack down the diagonal, to make e6 an outpost for my knight, and to offer the g2 pawn to the black queen. All this I do to try and shift the initiative a bit and get some decent counterplay. Also, as I have the material advantage, I can opt to give away some material in the process without risk. [at first Fritz suggests: 21.Qe5 but changes its mind to my move 21.f5 .. now both me and my opponent have outsmarted the computer ; ) (at least for the first couple of seconds of its analysis)] 21...Qxg2? My opponent takes the bait. According to Fritz, the evalation shifts from two pawns in white's favour to about 3 1/2 [F1: 21...Nd5 e.g. 22.Qa3 Qh6+ 23.Rd2 Bc4 24.Ne6 things have calmed down considerably and white has a much better position] 22.Rhg1 the complications are now very interesting 22...Qd5? the evaluation drops dramatically, but I only give this one ? because of the complexity of the position, the lack of time both players have, the lack of obviousness of the refutation, and the fact that I didn't refute it [F1: 22...Qh2 23.f6 g6 24.Rxg6 Nd5 (24...hxg6 25.Qh6+ Kg8 26.Qg7#) 25.Qh6 Qf4+ 26.Qxf4 Nxf4 27.Rg7 Nd5 white has a much better endgame] 23.Qg5? [23.Rxg7! this objectively anihilates black 23...Rg8 24.Rxc7 Rg7 (24...Qd6 25.Ne6 Qxc7 (25...Qa6 26.Qd4+ Rg7 27.Qxg7#) 26.Nxc7 Nd3+ 27.Rxd3 Rg7 28.Rd8+ Bg8 29.Qe5 a4 30.Ne6 a3 31.Qxg7#) 25.Rxg7 Qd6 (25...Kxg7 26.Ne6+ (or even better 26.Qe7+ Kh6 (26...Kh8 27.Qf6+ Kg8 28.Rg1+ Qg2 29.Rxg2#) 27.Rg1 Qg2 28.Rxg2 Nd3+ 29.cxd3 Bf7 30.Qg5#) ) 26.Rdg1 Nd3+ 27.cxd3 Qc5+ 28.Kd1 Qd6 29.Qe8+ Qf8 30.Qxf8+ Bg8 31.Qxg8# (31.Rxg8#) ] 23...g6? this is surely the end [F1: 23...Qg8 24.Ne6 Bxe6 25.fxe6 +-] 24.Qf6+ Kg8 25.Rxg6+! the ! is slightly biased, as Fritz doesn't like this move. However, the evaluation is still hugely in white's favour (13 pawns instead of 20) so it is more a matter of taste than anything, and I was happy to rip open the position with this rook sacrifice. I had calculated the possibilities to a few moves and was satisfied enough that it worked. [there is a forced mate in this position: 25.Ne6 Qxe6 only way to parry Qg7# threat 26.fxe6 Bxe6 27.Qxe6+ Kh8 28.Qe5+ Kg8 29.Rd7 Nd3+ 30.cxd3 Rf8 31.Qg7#] 25...hxg6 forced 26.Qxg6+ Kf8 [26...Kh8 27.Rg1 Nd3+ 28.Kd2 Qf7 29.Qh6+ Qh7 30.Qf6+ Qg7 31.Qxg7#] 27.Ne6+ Ke7 28.Rxd5? Although this still wins easily, I'm not happy with it as black has a rook and piece for the queen so in principle is not so far different in force [28.Qg7+ much neater 28...Ke8 (28...Kd6 29.Qxc7#) 29.Nxc7+ Kd8 30.Nxd5 Bxd5 31.Qf8+ Kc7 32.Qxa8] 28...Bxd5 [after 28...Nxd5 although winning by a mile, white still has a technical task to do, and this takes some of the joy out of the rook sacrifice] 29.Qg7+ Now it is a forced mate 29...Kd6 [29...Ke8 more tenacious 30.f6! nice move, creating the mate threat on e7 30...Na2+ 31.Kb1 Nc3+ 32.Ka1 (32.bxc3 Ba2+ 33.Kxa2 b5 34.Qe7# takes 1 more move : )) 32...Bxe6 33.Qe7#] 30.Qxc7# 1–0