GAME 004 - Edward Davies vs Martin Newbury 2007

1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 Signifies the French Defence setup by black. This doesn't appeal to all sicilian players, but is considered a solid reply to 2.Nc3. 3.g3 d5 4.exd5 [4.d3 is a tame alternative for white, e.g. Weide-Van der Werf, Netherlands Ch, Leeuwarden 2001 : 4...Nf6 5.Bg2 dxe4 6.dxe4 Qxd1+ 7.Nxd1] 4...exd5 5.Bg2 In Fritz's opening book, this was the only move played (occuring 12 times). [Gary Lane recommends: 5.d4 e.g. 5...cxd4 6.Qxd4 Nf6 7.Bg5 Be7 8.Bb5+ Nc6 9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.Qc5 Bxc3+ 11.bxc3 Qe7+ 12.Qxe7+ Kxe7 13.0–0–0 Be6 14.Ne2 Kd6 15.Rhe1 Kc5 16.c4 dxc4 17.Bxc6 bxc6 18.Nf4 Bg4 19.Re5+ Kb4 20.Rd4 Be6 21.a3+ Kxa3 22.Nxe6 Kb4 (22...fxe6 23.Rxc4 a5 24.Re3+ Ka2 25.Ra4#) 23.Rc5 1–0 ; Lane-Nunn , Stroud 1980] 5...Nf6 6.h3?! The first questionable move. Fritz gives this a moderate warning light. I wanted to control the g4 square completely, preventing for example a g1–f3 knight from being pinned by Bg4, and meaning the pin break attempt h3 cannot be met with Bh5, where I really do not want to consider g4. I believe 6.h3 has some potential even though it is a little risky and anti-principal in not developing a piece or lines for pieces. There are three moves in Fritz's book: [6.d3 e.g.: 6...d4 7.Ne4 Nxe4 8.Bxe4 Nd7 9.Ne2 Nf6 10.Bg2 Bd6 11.0–0 0–0 12.Nf4 Re8 black is a bit better; 6.d4 e.g.: 6...cxd4 7.Qxd4 Nc6 8.Qd1 d4 9.Nce2 Bc5 10.Nf3 Bf5 11.0–0 0–0 12.Nf4 Re8 13.Nd3 Bb6 14.Bg5 h6 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.Nd2 black was better; 6.Nge2 e.g.: 6...Nc6 7.d4 cxd4 8.Nxd4 Bb4 9.0–0 0–0 10.Bg5 Bxc3 11.bxc3 h6 12.Bf4 Ne4 13.Nb5 Bf5 14.Nc7 g5 15.Qxd5 Qxd5 16.Nxd5 Kg7 17.Bc1 white did better] 6...Be7 [F1: 6...d4 7.Ne4 d3 8.cxd3 Nc6 9.Qe2 Be6 10.Nf3 Nxe4 11.dxe4 Be7 12.b3 0–0 13.Bb2 Qd7 Fritz puts black being slightly better] 7.Nge2 0–0 solid play, but fritz again think black can gain a small advantage with more dynamic play: [7...d4 8.Ne4 Nxe4 9.Bxe4 0–0 10.0–0 Re8 (10...Bxh3 very complicated line and also good for black 11.Re1 (11.Bxb7 Nd7 (11...Bxf1 12.Bxa8 Nd7 (12...Bxe2 13.Qxe2 –0.3) 13.Be4 Bxe2 14.Qxe2 Nf6 15.Bg2 Bd6 16.d3 Re8 17.Qf1 Qd7 18.Bd2 –0.3 I like the control white has of the h1–a8 diagonal.) 12.Re1 Bg4 13.f3 (13.Bxa8? this makes black's attack on the light squares around the white king far too strong 13...Qxa8 14.d3 Ne5 -5.96 ... e.g.: 15.Rf1 Nf3+ 16.Kh1 (16.Kg2?? Ne1+ 17.Kh2 Qg2#) 16...Re8 17.c4 Bf6 18.Nf4 Re1 19.Qxe1 (19.Rxe1 Nxe1+ 20.Kg1 Bxd1 0–1) 19...Nxe1+ 0–1) 13...Rb8 14.Be4 Nf6 15.Bxh7+ Kxh7 16.fxg4 Nxg4 17.Nf4 Nf6 –0.5 This position hardly looks inspirational for white.) 11...Bg4 12.Bxb7 Nd7 13.f3 Rb8 14.Be4 Bd6 –0.52) 11.Nf4 Nd7 12.Re1 Bd6 13.d3 Nf6 14.Bg2 Rxe1+ 15.Qxe1 Qd7 16.Qe2 Rb8 17.Bd2 = I think 10...Bxh3 was more interesting for black.] 8.d4 cxd4 9.Nxd4 Nc6 10.Be3 All fritz's first moves from both sides. 10...Be6 This is maybe a bit of a tame move. [F1: 10...Bb4 11.0–0 Bxc3 12.bxc3 Re8 13.Re1 Nxd4 14.Qxd4 (14.cxd4 Be6 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bf4 Qd7 17.Kh2 –0.27) 14...Be6 15.Rad1 Qa5 16.a3 Bf5 (16...Qxa3 17.c4 dxc4 18.Bxb7 Rab8 19.Bc6 Rec8 20.Bf4 Rb6 =) 17.c4 dxc4 18.Qxc4 Rac8 19.Qb4 Qxb4 20.axb4 b6 21.Ra1 Re7 22.Bd4 Rxe1+ 23.Rxe1 Rxc2 24.Re7 –0.3] 11.Qd2 apparently not the strongest [F1: 11.0–0 Rc8 12.Qd3 Nxd4 13.Bxd4 0.3] 11...Qa5 [F1: 11...Rc8 ] 12.Nce2 [F1: 12.0–0 Bb4 13.Nb3 Bxc3 14.Nxa5 Bxd2 15.Bxd2 Rfe8 =] 12...Qxd2+ 13.Bxd2 Ne5?! Fritz doesn't like this move [F1 13...Bd7 14.0–0 Rae8 15.Rfe1 Bc5 16.Be3 0.3] 14.Nf4 [or 14.0–0–0 Nc4 15.Bg5 h6 16.Bf4 Bc5 17.b3 Nd6 18.Be5 Nfe4 19.Bxd6 Bxd6 20.Bxe4 dxe4 21.Nxe6 Ba3+ 22.Kd2 fxe6 23.Ke3 Bc5+ 24.Kxe4 Rxf2 25.Rhe1 Raf8 =] 14...Bd6 Fritz doesn't like this and gives the medium warning light [14...Ne4 15.Be3 Rae8 0.7] 15.Nfxe6 fxe6 16.0–0? = This is incorrect according to Fritz. Long castling was the way. [16.0–0–0 0.89 16...Rae8 17.Rhe1 Bc5 18.Bc3 Nc6 19.Rxe6 Ne4 (19...Rxe6? 20.Nxe6 Bxf2 21.Nxf8 d4 22.Nxh7 Kxh7 23.Bxc6 dxc3 24.Bxb7 cxb2+ 25.Kxb2 Bxg3 white is easily winning; 19...Bxd4 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Bxd4 Nxd4 22.Rxd4 Re2 23.Bxd5+ Nxd5 24.Rxd5 2.19) 20.Rxe8 Rxe8 21.Nf5 g6 22.Nh6+ Kf8 23.Ng4 d4 24.Bd2 Nxd2 25.Kxd2 Kg7 white is a clear pawn up + -] 16...Nc4 17.Bg5 Kf7 [= 17...Rae8 ] 18.Rfe1 [18.b3 Nb6 (18...Ne5 19.Bf4 Rac8 20.Rae1 Nfd7 21.Be3 Bb4 22.f4 Nc6 (22...Bxe1?? 23.fxe5+ Kg6 24.Rxe1) 23.Nxc6 bxc6 24.Rd1) 19.Rae1 Rae8 20.Nb5 Nc8 21.c4 Bb4 22.Rc1 1.00] 18...Rfe8? Definitely inaccurate [18...Be5 19.c3 Bxd4 20.cxd4 Rac8 21.b3 Nd6 22.Bf4 0.19] 19.Rab1? = it was correct to dislodge the knight [19.b3 Na3 20.Rac1 Bc5 21.Nf3 Kg8 22.Ne5 0.80] 19...Nb6? Bad. Changes the evaluation from 0.00 to 0.88 [19...h6 20.Bc1 =] 20.Bxf6? = , incorrect, again changing evaluation back to zero [20.Nb5! nice positional move 20...Nc4 21.b3 a6 22.bxc4 axb5 23.Rxb5 Kg6 1.50] 20...gxf6?? Wow. An unexpected blunder! [20...Kxf6 of course] 21.Nb5 [21.Bf3! brilliant move if you can find it. Threatening Bh5+ winning exchange, King must move from defence of e6 pawn, which both it and rook are needed for. 21...Kg6 (21...Kf8 22.Rxe6; 21...Ke7 22.Rxe6+) 22.Rxe6] 21...Bb8 22.b3 a6 23.Nd4 Be5 24.Ne2 [24.Rbd1; 24.c3] 24...Rac8 25.c4 Rc7 26.f4 A little suboptimal, but not too bad. [F1: 26.a4 a5 =] 26...Bd6 approx –0.29. Here, due to confusion over the time control, my flag dropped without me even knowing about it. I was playing well against this far higher rated opponent, so that tought me the importance of being aware exactly of the time control and clock situation before starting.

GAME 003 - Dave Black vs Edward Davies - 4th April 2007

1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 Bf5 4.f4 slightly unusual/rare move 4...e6 5.Nf3 Nd7 this is one of many playable continuations [5...h5; 5...Ne7; 5...Nh6; 5...Qb6; 5...c5] 6.Be2 [last game given in opening book: 6.Be3 Qb6 7.Qc1 c5 8.c3 Nh6 9.Nbd2 Be4 10.Be2 Rc8 11.0–0 Nf5 12.Bf2 cxd4 13.Nxe4 dxe4] 6...c5 fritz gives this the warning light [6...Be7 7.0–0 Nh6 8.h3 Qb6 9.g4 Bg6 10.a4 a5 = , interesting position] 7.c3 [F1: 7.0–0 Qb6 8.a4 a5 9.Bb5 +/=] 7...Ne7? clearly a weak developing move, obstructing the DSBishop and queen until it moves again [7...Nh6 the correct way] 8.0–0 apparently white misses his opportunity to exploit the temporarily badly developed black position [8.dxc5 Nxc5 9.Nd4 a6 10.0–0 Qc7 11.Nd2 Bg6 (11...Ne4? 12.Qa4+ Nc6 13.Nxf5 exf5 14.Nxe4 dxe4 15.Be3 Be7 16.Qb3 b5 17.g4 Na5 18.Qc2 g6 19.Rad1 very unpleasant for black +/-) 12.N2f3 Nf5 13.Nxf5 Bxf5 14.Be3 Rc8 +/-] 8...Nc6 = , black has equalised 9.Be3 Be7 10.a3 fritz doesn't like this [10.Qb3 a6 11.Nbd2 b5] 10...Qb6 11.b4 c4! a tenable option still, but a more experienced player would probably take on b4 'without thinking'. These critical moments in the resolution of pawn structure are the sort of moments that seperate different strengths of players. A strong player will know how to deal with all kinds of pawn pushes and what structures - resolved or unresolved - are the best in practice, and which ones are to be avoided most of the time [11...cxb4 12.axb4 0–0 13.Bd3 Bg6 14.Na3 Rfc8 15.Bxg6 hxg6 =] 12.a4 a6? This one is unjustifiable. More space needs to be contended with a5 [12...a5 13.b5 Nb4! It was probably this point that struck me that a5 was bad, as I assumed I'd have to retreat to a7 for example, and the knight would be out of the game. Fritz plays this beautiful knight sacrifice immediately, completely confident in the compensation given 14.Ne1 (14.cxb4 axb4 15.Nbd2 Qc7 16.Qc1 Rc8 17.Bf2 = , black has full compensation) 14...Bg6 15.Nd2 Qc7 16.Bg4 Nd3 =] 13.Qd2 white should play a5 right away [13.a5 Qd8 14.Na3 0–0 15.Ng5 Rc8 +/=] 13...f6? a serious error according to fritz. [13...a5 14.b5 Nb4 etc] 14.Na3 [the punishing reply was: 14.Nh4 Bxb1 (14...g6 15.a5 Qc7 16.Nxf5 gxf5 17.Bh5+ Kf8 looks hopeless for black +/-; 14...Be4 15.f5 Nd8 16.Bh5+ Nf7 17.Bg4 h5 18.Bh3 Nf8 19.fxe6 Nxe6 20.a5 Qc6 21.Bf5 Bxf5 22.Rxf5 0–0–0 23.Ng6 Rhe8 24.Qf2 the positional pressure keeps piling up +/-) 15.Raxb1 0–0 16.Nf3 Qc7 17.a5 b6 18.axb6 Qxb6 19.f5 Na7 20.Kh1 +/-] 14...Be4? wrong as it allows a relatively brilliant combination 15.Nc2 [15.Nxc4! Qc7 (15...dxc4 16.d5 the point; revealed attack on black queen 16...Qc7 17.d6 Qd8 18.dxe7 Qxe7 19.Bxc4 0–0 20.exf6 gxf6 21.Rad1 Rad8 white is a pawn up with a better position +-) 16.f5 fritz gives crazy continuations like this 16...dxc4 17.fxe6 Nb6 18.exf6 gxf6 19.Bf4 Bd6 =] 15...Qc7 16.Rf2 Qb6 there's no way I was repeating moves to offer a draw, so I obviously had a reason for this at the time. I think with only 1 rook on the back rank, trying to break through with a5 and the queen may be a lot easier. Fritz doesn't mind 16.Qb6 17.Raf1 a reasonable option = 17...f5? very bad according to fritz. black shouldn't allow Ng5 [17...0–0 18.a5 Qc7 19.Nce1 b6 20.axb6 Qxb6 21.Bxc4! Nxb4! (21...dxc4 22.d5 Qb5 23.dxc6 Qxc6 24.Nd4 Qd5 25.f5 Nxe5 26.Nxe6 Rfc8) 22.Be2 (22.cxb4? Bxb4 23.Qa2 dxc4 24.Qxc4 a5 25.exf6 gxf6 26.Nd3 -/+) 22...Nc6 = ... And people deride the Caro-Kann as being quiet and boring?!] 18.Ng5 Dave doesn't miss this 18...Bxg5 19.fxg5 Ne7 [F1: 19...0–0 20.a5 Qc7 21.Bf3 Bxc2 22.Qxc2 b6 23.axb6 Qxb6 24.Qc1 a5 25.bxa5 Qxa5 26.Rb2 Rfb8] 20.Bf3 [F1: 20.Bh5+ Ng6 21.a5 Qc6 22.Be2 b5 23.axb6 a5 24.Ra1 Qxb6 25.Rxa5 Rxa5 26.bxa5 Qxa5 27.Nb4 0–0 28.Rf1 +/-] 20...Bxc2 this may win a pawn, but it isn't the best [F1: 20...a5 21.Bxe4 fxe4 22.Qe2 Nf5 23.b5 0–0–0 gives black a more solid position than in the game] 21.a5! fritz thinks it is better to just take on c2 immediately without this interposition [21.Qxc2 Nxe5 22.Bh5+ N5g6 23.a5 Qc6 24.Re2 b6 25.axb6 Qxb6 26.Qa4+ Qb5 27.Ra2 Qxa4 28.Rxa4 Kd8 29.Rfa1 +/=] 21...Qa7 22.Qxc2 Nxe5 23.Qd2? bad as it allows Nd3 [23.Bh5+ g6 24.Be2 Nf7 +/-] 23...Nd3 24.Re2 Qb8 25.g3 Qd6 26.Rg2? [26.Bf4! Qc6 27.Qe3 Kf7 28.Bc7! Ng6 (28...Qxc7? 29.Qxe6+ Ke8 30.Bxd5 f4 31.Bxc4 Kd8 32.Bxd3 fxg3 33.h4 ++-) 29.Bb6 Rhe8 =] 26...Ng6 27.Be2 0–0 28.Bxd3 cxd3 29.Qxd3 f4 not all that bad, but fritz prefers: [F1: 29...Qc6 e.g. 30.Bf4 b6 31.axb6 Qxb6 32.Re2 a5 33.bxa5 Rxa5 34.Rfe1 Re8 35.Qd2 =] 30.gxf4 Nxf4 31.Bxf4 Rxf4 32.Qe3 [or 32.g6 Rxf1+ 33.Qxf1 hxg6 34.Rxg6 Rf8 =] 32...Rxf1+ [F1: 32...Re4 33.Qh3 Rf8 34.Rgf2 Rxf2 35.Rxf2 Qe7 =] 33.Kxf1 Rf8+ 34.Ke2?! inaccuracy [34.Rf2] 34...Rf4 35.Rf2?? huge blunder 35...Rxf2+?? completely missed it. Even in relative time trouble, in an OTB game this should be easy to pick out at an instant. I was amazed when analysing the game to see we had both overlooked this. [35...Re4 0–1] 36.Qxf2 e5? another appauling oversight [36...Qc7 37.Kd2 =] 37.Qg3! seizing the tactical chance 37...Qg6 38.Qxe5 Qc2+ 39.Kf3 Qxc3+ 40.Kg4 Qc8+ 41.Qf5 Qc6 42.h4 g6 43.Qe5 Qd7+ 44.Kf4 Qf7+ 45.Ke3 Qd7 46.Qb8+ Kg7 47.Qe5+ Kg8 48.Qb8+ Kg7 49.Qe5+ draw

GAME 002 - Training Game FICS 22nd April 2007

perece - Garganoid [A00] 0-1

FICS 45minutes + 30sec increment

I am black in the following game.

1.a4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.d3 c5 4.Bf4 e6 5.Nc3 a6 [I wasn't sure about 5...Bd6 due to knight to b5 idea 6.Bxd6 Qxd6 7.Nb5 Qe7 8.e3 e5 but Fritz allows the knight and is not worried at all or hurried to remove it 9.Be2 0–0 10.0–0 Nc6 11.Re1 Bf5 12.a5 a6 13.Nc3 –0.75] 6.h3 looks bad [6.e3 Nc6 7.Be2 Be7 8.0–0 0–0 =] 6...Bd6 7.e3 F –0.8 [7.Bxd6 Qxd6 8.e4 e5 a) 8...dxe4 9.dxe4 Qb6 (9...Qxd1+ less good 10.Rxd1 Nc6 11.Be2 0–0 0.5) 10.Qd2 Nc6 11.0–0–0 0–0=; b) 8...Qc6 9.e5 Nfd7 10.Qe2 Qc7 11.d4 cxd4 12.Nxd4 Nxe5 13.Qh5 0–0 14.a5 Nbd7 15.Bd3 Nf6 16.Qe2 Nxd3+ 17.cxd3 black is clearly better; c) 8...Qb6 9.Qc1 dxe4 10.a5 Qc6 11.dxe4 Nxe4 12.Ne5 Qc7 13.Nxe4 Qxe5 14.Qe3 f5 15.Nxc5 Qxb2 into a chaotic position; 9.exd5 0–0 (9...Nxd5 10.Nd2 Be6 (10...Nxc3 11.bxc3 0–0 12.a5 =) 11.Qf3 Nc6 12.Nc4 Qd8 13.Nxd5 Nd4 14.Qd1 Bxd5 15.c3 Nc6 16.Qh5 Qf6 17.Nb6 Rd8 18.Nxd5 Rxd5 19.Be2 =) 10.Ne4 Qxd5 =] 7...Bxf4 8.exf4 d4 [8...Qc7 9.Qd2 0–0 10.a5 Nc6 11.Be2 the a4 a5 proves weak, e.g.: 11...Nxa5 12.Na4 c4 13.0–0 Bd7 14.Qe3 cxd3 15.Bxd3 Bxa4 16.Rxa4 Nc4 17.Bxc4 dxc4 18.Qe5 Rac8 19.Qxc7 Rxc7 F –1.35] 9.Ne2 weak [9.Ne4 0–0 10.a5 Nxe4 11.dxe4 Nc6 12.Qd2 b5 13.axb6 Qxb6 14.b3 F –0.4] 9...Nbd7 [9...0–0 10.g3 Qb6 11.c3 Qxb2 12.Rb1 Qa2 13.cxd4 cxd4 14.Bg2 (14.Nfxd4 Qd5 15.f3 white light bishop is lame 15...b6 16.Bg2 Bb7 17.0–0 (17.Rxb6?? Qa5+) ) ] 10.Ne5 Qc7 11.Nc4 Nd5 Fritz reprimands this move [11...b6 12.g3 Bb7 13.Rh2 0–0 14.Bg2 b5 15.Bxb7 Qxb7 16.Ne5 Qd5 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Rg2 Qd5 19.Kf1 Rfd8 20.Kg1 white has hardly any space and struggles to coordinate 20...Qh5 21.c3 Rac8 22.cxd4 cxd4 23.axb5 axb5 24.h4 b4 25.Ra4 Rb8 26.Ra1 Ra8 27.Rxa8 Rxa8 28.Qe1 Qc5 black's positional advantages aren't going anywhere even if white tries all those pawn move to complicate or open the board 29.Qb1 b3 30.Kh1 Rc8 31.f3 Nd5 32.Qe1 Ne3 monster knight 33.Rf2 black has a clearly winning position] 12.g3 b6 13.Bg2 Bb7 14.f3?? deserves two quesion marks both positionally and tactically [14.0–0 0–0 15.Qd2 N5f6 16.Bxb7 Qxb7 17.c3 F –0.8] 14...b5 15.axb5 axb5 16.Na3 [16.Rxa8+ Bxa8 17.Qa1 0–0 as I saw in the game, this line was more tenacious for white. Then fritz gives: 18.Na3 Ne3 19.Kf2 Qc6 20.Qg1 Nf6 white is being crushed to death into a tiny corner F -3.00] 16...Ne3 white is lost even at beginner level 17.Qc1 [more 'tenacious' is 17.Nxb5 Qc6 18.Rxa8+ Bxa8 19.Nexd4 Nxg2+ 20.Kf2 cxd4 21.Nxd4 Qd6 22.c3 Nxf4 23.gxf4 Qxf4 white still has nothing] 17...Nxg2+ 18.Kf2 Ne3 [more accurate is 18...Qc6 19.Ng1 Ne3 forcing the knight to a humiliating position first] 19.Nxb5 Qb6 20.Rxa8+ Bxa8 21.c4 0–0 22.g4 Bb7 23.Re1 Nb8 24.b4! I believe my opponent deserves an exclamation mark for this devious trap. 24...cxb4?? [24...Qd8 was fine 25.Kg3 Qf6 26.Nd6 Bc6 27.bxc5 the game sometimes doesn't flow as smoothly as you'd hope when owning a huge advantage, and concessions sometimes have to be made / patience is required at these times. And sometimes it is a tense situation even with the advantage, as this sort of very closed and crowded position with enemy knights shows. 27...e5 28.Ne4 Bxe4 29.fxe4 Na6 30.c6 Nb4 (30...Qxc6 intuitive move 31.fxe5 Qe6 32.Nxd4 Qxe5+ 33.Kf3 Rd8 34.Qxe3 Rxd4 35.Ra1 Rd6 another nasty trick and it isn't a walk in a park for white) 31.Qd2 Nxc6 32.Rg1 it is demonstrated in many of these lines that these kind of positions require a lot of care, and especially the undermining ideas threatening the e3 knight] 25.Nexd4 Fritz still evaluates –1.5, but I am so shocked and anoyed with myself for overseeing this move that I 'inevitably' fail to find a good continuation, and lose all my advantage. It is hard to adapt to such a sudden change for the worse in the game. 25...e5 I was primarily furious at this point and had spent several minutes trying to find a continuation, and finding nothing that I believe gave an advantage, here I saw the idea of attacking a piece of his with a pawn and thus 'restoring' the possibility of staying a piece up. A moment of analysis on this would show that it doesn not work, but in my anger I played this dillusional move. It seems that I simply couldn't believe there was no way I could remain a piece up, so I put my belief in this move assuming it must be the line that keep the piece. All of this is of course psychological unwillingness to accept how dangerous white's trap was. [The simple 25...Nxg4+ getting a pawn for the knight leads to black maintaining a good advantage, F approx –1.00 26.hxg4 Nd7 27.Kg2 Rd8 28.Qe3 Ra8 29.Qd2 Qd8 30.Nd6 Nc5 31.Nxb7 Qxd4 32.Nxc5 Qxc5 33.Re5 Qd4 black probably has some winning chances] 26.fxe5 Nd5 by now I had settled down and tried very hard to find the objectively best move I could find, and Fritz agrees at this is the best way [26...Nxg4+ 27.hxg4 Nc6 28.Qe3 Nxd4 more than a little relieved to crack the irritatingly strong knights 29.Nxd4 Ra8 30.Nf5 black is in trouble according to Fritz , approx –1.00; 26...Nxc4 27.dxc4 Nd7 28.Kg2 Qc5 not very nice for black either] 27.cxd5 Bxd5 28.Qc7 Qh6 29.Kg3 [apparently better was 29.Nf5 Qd2+ with a long forced line 30.Re2 Qxd3 31.Ne7+ Kh8 32.Nxd5 Qxd5 then 33.Qe7 Nd7 34.Nd6 Qd4+ 35.Kg2 Qd1 36.Rb2 Fritz puts white about half a pawn better] 29...Qd2 looking for counterplay and complications, maybe to try to upset or annoy my lower rated opponent [supposedly objectively better is this simpler move 29...Nc6 30.Nxc6 Bxc6 31.Nd4 Qd2] 30.Re2 Qxd3 31.Qc2 Qc4 not objectively the best. I wanted to trade on my terms. [31...Qxc2 32.Rxc2 b3 33.Re2 Bc4 34.Rd2 Nd7 35.Nd6 Be6 36.f4 =] 32.Qxc4 Bxc4 33.Rb2 Bxb5 34.Nxb5 Nc6 By around this time I had almost calmed down and composed myself, and I treated the position realistically, with my objective just to make sure that I drew 35.f4 Rb8 36.Nc7 Kf8 37.Na6 Rb6 38.Nc5 Rb5 39.Rc2? deadly mistake to defend the attacked piece instead of moving it. 39...Nd4 I miss the clever tactical trick [39...b3! crushing] 40.Nd3?? a very pure blunder meaning with relief I win a game I ealier had a clearly winning position in [40.Rc4 b3 41.Rxd4 (41.Na4 b2 (41...Nc2) 42.Nxb2 Rxb2 43.Rxd4) 41...b2 42.Rd1 b1Q 43.Rxb1 Rxb1 44.Nd7+ Ke7 45.Nc5] 40...Nxc2 perece resigns 0–1

GAME 001 - Ian Matthew vs Edward Davies - December 2006

1.e4 c6 2.Nc3 d5 3.Qf3!? An interesting sideline with many possibilities 3...dxe4 The usual choice. [Alternatively 3...Nf6 4.e5 if 4...Nfd7 5.d4 (if 5.e6 intuitive but not very effective 5...fxe6 (5...Nf6 inferior 6.exf7+ Kxf7 This isn't ideal, but not as bad as it looks at first. 7.d4 Qd6 8.Qf4 Bg4 9.Be2 Qxf4 10.Bxf4 Nbd7 11.f3 Bf5 12.0–0–0 c5) 6.Qg3 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.d4 0–0 9.Be2 e5 10.dxe5 Rf5 11.Bd3 Nxe5 12.Bxf5 Nxf3+ 13.Qxf3 Bxf5 14.g4 Bd7 15.Bd2 Qa5 The position is interesting and black has a decent game.) 5...e6 6.Nh3 h6 7.Be3 c5 8.dxc5 Nc6 9.0–0–0 Bxc5 10.Bxc5 Nxc5 11.Qg3 0–0 12.f4 slightly better for white] 4.Nxe4 [4.Qxe4?! isn't very convincing 4...Nf6 5.Qh4 Bf5 6.d3 Qa5 7.Bd2] 4...Nf6 [4...Nd7 is the usual move. Black appears to have natural development after this, e.g.: 5.d4 (A) (5.b3 (B) 5...Ndf6 6.Nxf6+ Nxf6 7.Bb2 Bg4 8.Qg3 e6 9.Be2 Bf5 10.Bd1 Bg6 11.Nf3 Bd6 12.Qh4 Be7 approx =) 5...Ndf6 6.c3 Nxe4 7.Qxe4 Nf6 8.Qc2 Bg4 9.Ne2 e6 10.Ng3 Qd5 11.f3 Bh5 12.Nxh5 Qxh5 13.Bf4 Nd5 14.Bg3 Qg5 15.Qd2 Be7²] 5.Bc4 A decent move, with obvious pressure on f7. Black has to play a little bit carefully. [5.Nxf6+ Is considered the main choice. The game transposes into a master game as follows: 5...exf6 with a Tartakower Variation [1e4 c6 2d4 d5 3Nc3 de 4Nxe4 Nf6 5Nxf6+ ef] pawn structure but with pawn on e2 instead of e4. This must be worse than the Tartakower Variation position, where instead of the queen on c6, the pawn is on e4. e4 affords development whereas Qc6 obstructs the knight's development to c6. (Alternatively 5...gxf6 with the equivalent Brontein-Larsen position [1e4 c6 2d4 d5 3Nc3 de 4Nxe4 Nf6 5Nxf6+ gf], again with Qc6 instead of e4. The position is nonetheless quite interesting, and white probably has a small edge. e.g.: 6.Ne2 Na6 7.d4 Nb4 8.Qb3 e5 9.Bd2 Be6 10.c4 With a very interesting position. 10...Qb6 11.a3 Na6 12.Qxb6 axb6 13.Rc1 Bg7 14.Be3 f5 15.dxe5 Bxe5 16.Rc2 (not 16.Bxb6 Bxb2 17.Rb1 Bxa3³) 16...Nc5 17.Nf4 0–0–0 18.g3 Kc7 Black's K-side pawn structure isn't pretty, but he should have some compensation in activity and piece-placement, e.g.: 19.b4 Nb3 20.Bg2 Nd4 21.Rc1 Nb3 22.Rc2 Nd4 23.Rc1 Fritz can see nothing better for white than 3 fold repetition. (e.g. 23.Bxd4 Bxd4 24.0–0 this isn't too bad for white, and he probably has full compensation for the bishop pair in black's weakened K-side pawns 24...Rhe8 25.Re1 Bd7 26.Rd1 Be5 27.Rcd2=) 23...Nb3 24.Rc2=) 6.Bc4 Bd6 7.Ne2 0–0 8.d4 Qc7 9.Bf4 Nd7 10.0–0 Nb6 11.Bb3 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.Rfe1 Rfe8 14.Rad1 e5²; 5.b3 This is flawed due to: 5...Qd4 6.Nxf6+ (6.Nc3 is unsurprisingly substandard 6...Bg4 7.Nge2 Qb6 8.Qe3 Nbd7 9.Bb2³ white's queen might be harassed by all the minor pieces) 6...Qxf6 (6...exf6 is quite interesting 7.c3 Qd8 8.Qg3 Bf5 9.d4 Qe7+ 10.Ne2 Nd7 11.Qc7 Nb6 12.Qxe7+ Bxe7 13.Ng3 Bg6 14.Be2 0–0 15.0–0 white may have an advantage due to pawn structure) 7.Qxf6 exf6 8.Bb2 Bd6 9.0–0–0 0–0 with easy equality for black] 5...g6?! Substandard. [F(1): 5...Nbd7 e.g. 6.d4 (after 6.Nxf6+ there are again the two pawn captures a). 6...exf6 b) 6...gxf6; 6...Nxf6 is slightly inferior, but not that bad 7.Ne2 Qb6 8.Qc3 Bg4 9.Ng3 Nd5 10.Qe5 Nb4 11.Qc3 Nd5 12.Qe5 Fritz recommends this repetition (12.Qb3 Qxb3 13.Bxb3 e5 14.0–0 0–0–0 15.d3 Bc5 16.Re1 Rhe8 black is a bit better; 12.Bxd5?! cxd5 13.0–0 h5 14.h4 Rc8 15.Qd3 g5µ White is in some trouble; 12.Qa3? is no good after 12...e6 13.Qb3 wasting a move) 12...Nb4 13.Qc3 Nd5=; ) 6...Nb6 (6...e6 is also playable, but... 7.Ne2 Nxe4 8.Qxe4 Nf6 9.Qf3 Bd6 10.0–0 0–0 ...maybe this isn't too good for black as he has the perennial problem of developing his Queen's bishop, as experienced in the French Defence, Classical Queen's Gambit Declined, and the Semi-Slav, etc.) 7.Bd3 Qxd4 8.Ne2 Qe5 9.0–0 Nxe4 10.Bxe4 Bd7 11.Rd1 Black experiences some stress in completing his development, but should succeed 11...Qf6 12.Qg3 keeping the pressure 12...Qe6 13.Bd3 0–0–0 14.Be3 h5 15.a4 A very interesting starting point] 6.Nxf6+ A good move. [F(1): 6.Ne2 Nbd7 7.0–0 Bg7 8.d4 0–0 9.Bg5 h6 10.Nxf6+ Nxf6 11.Bxf6! Bxf6 12.c3 Bg7 13.Nf4 Qd6 (13...Bf5? 14.g4 Bc2 (14...Bd7?? this may have been an idea to provoke weakening of white k-side pawn cover, but it is tactically wrong: 15.Nxg6+-) 15.Rac1 b5 (15...Ba4? 16.Nxg6+-) 16.Be2 e5 17.Rxc2 exf4 18.Qxc6 b4 19.Rd1 Rc8 20.Qf3 bxc3 21.bxc3+- Far from having any compensation for the missing pawn, black faces a pair of hanging passed pawns and white's weakened K-side pawn cover is not really relevant) 14.Rfe1 Bf5 15.Rad1 (15.g4? Bd7! There was no longer a tactical point to white's move, (as black queen covers g6), so black calmly retreats and white has weakened his structure. It isn't that bad for white, but an unnecessary minus.) 15...Qf6 16.Nd3 Qg5 17.Ne5 e6 18.Bd3 Bxe5 19.Rxe5 Qg4 20.Qxg4 Bxg4 21.f3 Bf5 22.Bxf5 gxf5 23.Kf2 Kg7² White has the better double rook ending, (but is it winnable?)] 6...exf6± White has a clear advantage. 7.h4?! Dubious in my opinion. [F(1) 7.Ne2± Fritz already says white has a clear advantage 7...Bd6 (if 7...Bg7 8.0–0 F(1): (Fritz at first thought 8.Qe3+ but after 8...Qe7 9.Qxe7+ Kxe7 10.d4 Re8 11.0–0 Be6 12.Bd3 Nd7 13.Bf4 Rad8 white is still clearly better, but black still has a game 14.Rfe1 Nb6 15.a4 Kf8 16.a5 Nc4 17.Bc1 Nd6 18.c3 Bb3 19.Ra3 Bd5 20.Ra4 Be4 21.Bxe4 Rxe4 22.Kf1 Ke7 23.f3 Re6 24.Rb4 Kd7 25.Bf4 Kc8²) 8...0–0 9.Re1 Nd7 10.d4 Nb6 11.Bd3 Be6 12.b3 f5 13.c4 Re8 14.Bf4 Bxd4 15.Nxd4 Qxd4 16.Rad1 Nd7 17.Bf1 Qg7 18.Bd6 White dominates the position 18...Rad8 19.Qe3 Nf6 20.Qxa7 Ne4 21.Bb4 Qf6 22.Qxb7 c5 23.Ba5 Rxd1 24.Rxd1 Qb2 25.Be1 Qc2 26.Rd3 Qxa2 27.Re3 Qa8 28.Qc7²) 8.d4 Be6 9.Bxe6 fxe6 10.0–0 Na6 11.Re1 0–0± Black can't seem to develop his Q-side pieces quickly enough so concedes to K-side castling, which doesn't look very pleasant; 7.d3 Nd7 8.Bf4 Qe7+ 9.Ne2 Ne5 10.Bxe5 fxe5 11.0–0 Bg7 12.Qe3 0–0 13.Ng3 Bd7 14.Ne4 b5 15.Bb3 Qh4 16.a4 b4 17.Qc5 a5 18.Qd6 Be8 19.Rae1 Kh8 20.Nd2 Qd8± White has a clear advantage; 7.Qb3 I consider this move quite interesting, free the f3 square for the knight and coordinating Q and B in a battery aimed at f7. However, after 7...Qe7+ 8.Ne2 (Fritz opts for: 8.Qe3 Qxe3+ 9.fxe3 Be6 10.Bxe6 fxe6 11.Nf3 Bd6 12.d3 Nd7 13.e4 h5=) 8...b5 it is clear it can't stay there for long 9.Bd3³ this doesn't look very appealing but is not necessarily a write-off 9...Na6 10.0–0 Nc5 11.Qc3 Bb7 12.b4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 Rd8 14.Nd4 Bg7 15.Bb2 0–0 16.Qc3 Rfe8 an interesting position evaluated as about even by Fritz] 7...Nd7 Developing, and aiming for Ne5 when the white queen is forced to move and perhaps the knight will trade for the bishop [7...Bf5 slightly inferior to the text 8.d3 Qe7+ 9.Qe2 Bg4 10.f3 Be6 11.Be3 Nd7 12.0–0–0 0–0–0 and one possible interesting continuation: 13.Bxe6 Qxe6 14.Kb1 Bc5 15.Bxc5 Nxc5 16.Qf2 Qc4 17.Nh3 Qb5 18.c4 Qb6 approx =; 7...Be6 is perhaps possible 8.Bxe6 fxe6 9.h5 g5 10.Ne2 Na6 11.0–0 Nb4 12.Qc3 Bd6 13.d3 Nd5 14.Qb3 Qb6 15.Qc4 this favours black slightly, but white probably has better in the preceeding moves; 7...Bc5 maybe also playable 8.Qe2+ Be7 fritz recommends this contradictory move(8...Qe7 9.h5 Qxe2+ 10.Nxe2 g5 11.d4 Bd6± Black's pawn structure will most likely haunt him) ] 8.h5 Consistent with white's previous move [F(1): 8.Qe2+ Be7 (8...Qe7 9.d3 Ne5 10.Bb3 Bg4 11.f3 Be6 12.Bxe6 fxe6 13.f4 Nf7 14.Be3 0–0–0 15.Nf3 e5 16.h5 approx =) 9.h5 g5 10.d4 Nb6 11.Bb3 Be6 12.Be3 Qd6 13.0–0–0 Bxb3 14.axb3 0–0–0 15.c4 approx =] 8...Ne5 Black continues with his plan 9.Qe2 probably the best move 9...Qe7 Prioritising development of Q-side pieces in anticipation of Q-side castling [Fritz opts for 9...Be7 10.hxg6 fxg6 11.Bb3 Qd4 12.d3 Bf5 13.Qe3 Bb4+ 14.Kf1 (naturally not 14.c3?? Bxc3+ 15.bxc3 Qxc3+ 16.Kf1–+) 14...Qxe3 15.Bxe3 Fritz marginally prefers white 15...h5 16.a3 Bd6²] 10.Kd1?? A very bad move. Black should probably plan to castle queenside and then attack the king in the centre. [F(1) 10.Bb3 white retains the advantage. I have found no other suitable moves in this position. 10...a5 11.hxg6 fxg6 12.a3 a4 13.Ba2 Bg4 14.f3 Bf5 15.d4 Nf7 16.c3 h5 17.Bf4 g5 18.Bc7 Bc2 19.Kd2 Bb3 20.Bxb3 axb3 21.Re1 Qxe2+ 22.Nxe2 Kd7 23.Bh2 g4 24.fxg4 hxg4 25.Kd3 Bh6± an example line, and white has an advantage] 10...Nxc4 A good move, but so was Bg4 [10...Bg4 11.f3 Bf5 12.g4 Bd7 13.d3 0–0–0 14.Bd2 Nxc4 15.dxc4 Be6 16.Kc1 Qd7 17.Qd3 Qxd3 18.cxd3 Rxd3 19.Kc2 Bxc4 and black is clearly winning 20.Bc3 Rd6 21.b3 Bd3+ 22.Kb2 gxh5 23.Rxh5 Be7 24.Nh3 Bg6 25.Rh6 Re6 26.Nf4 Re3 27.Rf1 Rd8 28.a4 f5 29.Rhh1 fxg4 30.fxg4 Be4 31.Rh5 c5 32.Rh3 Rxc3! 33.Rxc3 Bf6 34.Nd5 Bxc3+ 35.Nxc3 Bg6–+ and black has an easy endgame win] 11.Qxc4 Be6 The natural move. 12.Qa4?! Definitely not the best. [Fritz suggests 12.Qc3 0–0–0 13.Qa3 and then goes in for the sharp variation 13...Qd7 (perhaps 13...Qxa3 14.bxa3 is a reasonable option, leading to a fairly simplified and clearly better game 14...Be7 15.d3 Rhe8 16.hxg6 hxg6 17.Ne2 Rh8 18.Re1 much better for black, but not necessarily winning yet) 14.Qxa7 Qd5 15.Ne2 Bc5 16.Qa8+ Kc7 17.Qa5+ Kb8 18.d3 b6 19.Qe1 Qxg2 20.Rh2 Qg4 After these slightly unnecessary complications, white probably has better chances of counterplay than is necessary (20...Qxh2?? 21.Bf4+) 21.Bf4+ Kb7 22.Kc1 Bd5 23.Be3 Bd6 24.f4 Rde8] 12...Qb4?? .A terrible decision. Black believes going into a nice ending with the bishop pair will retain much of his advantage, but most of it is squandered in doing this. The queen should be kept on the board in this position to take advantage of the centralised white king. [12...Qc5 (DIAGRAM) and according to the computer, black has a crushing position 13.Qe4 0–0–0 14.Qe3 Bg4+ 15.Ne2 Qa5 16.f3 Bd7 17.d3 Bc5 18.Qf4 Rde8 19.Qxf6 Qb6 20.Qxf7 Bd6 21.Nc3 Be5 22.Qc4 Qf2 23.d4 Bf5 24.Ne4 Bxe4 25.fxe4 Rd8 26.d5 Qxg2 27.Re1 Rhf8 28.hxg6 hxg6 29.Be3 Qf3+ 30.Kd2 Rf4! 31.Qe2 (31.Bxf4?? Bxf4+ 32.Re3 Qxe3+ 33.Kd1 Qd2#) 31...Qxe4 32.Kc1 Rxd5 33.a3 Rf3 34.Kb1 Bf6 35.Bd2 Qf5 36.Bc1 Re5 white's lack of development on the queenside dooms him 37.Qd2 Rxe1 38.Qxe1 Rf2 39.Qe8+ Bd8 40.Ka2 Rxc2 41.Rb1 Qd5+ 42.Ka1 g5 43.Qh8 Re2 44.b3 Qe5+ 45.Qxe5 Rxe5 46.Bd2 Re2 47.Bc3 Bb6 48.Rh1–+] 13.Qxb4 Bxb4 14.Rh4?! Dubious according to fritz. The rook has very strong control of rank 4, but it seems the rook is needed to help defend the weak Q-side pawns f and g [F(1): 14.Ne2 Kd7 15.a3 Bd6 16.b3 Rae8 17.Bb2 Rhg8 18.Nd4 e.g. (not 18.Bxf6? Bd5 19.Rg1 gxh5 20.d3 Rg6 21.Bh4 Bxg2 22.Ng3 Be5 23.Rxg2 (if 23.Rb1? Bc3 24.Kc1 Bf3 25.b4 Rg4 26.Rb3 Bd4 27.b5 Rxh4 28.Nf5 Rg4 29.bxc6+ Kxc6 30.Nxd4+ Rxd4 31.Rg7 Rf4 32.Rb4–+ white is done for) 23...Bxa1 24.Kd2 Be5–+ with a winning position for black) 18...gxh5 19.Nxe6 Rxe6 20.g3 f5 21.Rxh5 f4 22.Rxh7 Ke7 23.c4 fxg3 24.fxg3 Rxg3 25.Kc2 Rf3 26.Rhh1 a6 with an interesting but roughly even endgame] 14...Bc5 15.hxg6 fxg6 16.Rf4µ Fritz gives an evaluation of –1.37 [Fritz opts for 16.d4 0–0–0 17.c3 h5 18.Rf4 Rhf8 19.Nf3 Bd6 20.Re4 it is clear in this line how the white rook is uncomfortable in the centre of the board and is harassed by the bishops 20...Bd5 21.Re3 Rfe8 22.b4 g5 23.a4 h4 24.Ke2 Rh8 Fritz assesses black's position as winning, so there must be some prior improvements for white] 16...f5 not the best move, but black still has a clear advantage (Fritz eval –1.09, subsequently E(–1.09) ) [16...0–0 this variation aims to show the white rook is out of place 17.Ne2 g5 18.Rf3 Bd5 19.Rf5 Bb6 20.d3 Rae8 21.Be3 e.g. 21...Bxg2 22.Kd2 Bh3 23.Rf3 Bg4 24.Rg3 Bxe3+ 25.Rxe3 Rxe3 26.fxe3 Bxe2 27.Kxe2 h5 28.e4–+ with an easily won ending for black] 17.Nh3 There are at least a couple of preferable alternatives to this flank development of the knight [(A) 17.d3 e.g. 17...g5 18.Ra4 Bd5 19.Ke2 Kd7 20.Bxg5 Rhg8 21.Be3 Bxe3 22.Kxe3 Rxg2 23.Rf4 Re8+ 24.Kd2 Be6 25.Ne2³ where black may have a small advantage; (B) 17.Nf3 e.g. 17...h6 18.d4 g5 19.dxc5 gxf4 20.Bxf4 (similarly to the game) 20...0–0–0+ 21.Kc1 Bd5µ Fritz considers black to have a clear advantage. It seems that 17.d3 was white's best choice.] 17...h6 A good move. An alternative worth considering is 0–0–0 [17...0–0–0 worth considering. e.g.: 18.d3 Bd5 19.f3 Rhe8 20.Rh4 h5 21.Bg5 Rd6 22.Kd2 Rde6 white's pieces look very badly coordinated at the queenside whereas black's pieces look harmonious 23.Nf4 Be3+ 24.Kc3 Rd6 25.Rhh1 Bf7 26.Rae1 Bd4+ 27.Kd2 Rxe1 28.Rxe1 Bxb2 29.Be7 Rd4 30.Bf6 Rxf4 31.Bxb2 Rb4 32.Kc3 Rh4 33.Re7 Bxa2 34.Rg7 Bd5 35.Rxg6 b5 36.Kd2 a5 37.Be5 a4 38.Rg7 Rh1 39.Rc7+ Kd8 40.c4 bxc4 41.dxc4 Bxc4 42.Rxc6 Bf1 43.g3 a3 44.Kc3 Be2 45.Kb3 Bxf3 46.Rf6 Re1 47.Bf4 Be4 48.Kxa3 Ke7 black probably could have done better with his advantage as he is now in an opposite bishops ending with probably no practical winning chances 49.Bg5 Kd7 50.Rh6 Rg1 51.Bf4 Bf3 52.Kb4 Ke7 53.Bd6+ Ke8 54.Rh7 Rd1 55.Be5 Kf8 56.Kc4 Re1] 18.b4 as recommended by the computer 18...g5? inferior to other options, and reducing black's potential advantage. I probably felt it was safe to take a 'tangible' advantage like the Exchange. [F(1) 18...Bd6 19.Rf3 Bd5 20.Re3+ Kd7 21.f3 f4 22.Re2 Rae8 23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Bb2 g5 25.Nf2 h5 fritz prefers this to snatching the pawn(25...Bxb4 26.Ng4 Kc8 (obviously not 26...Bf8?? 27.Nf6+) 27.Nf6 Re6 28.Nxd5 cxd5 29.Bd4 Be7 30.c3 b6 31.Kc2 Bc5 32.Bxc5 bxc5–+ and black should win the rook ending) ] 19.Bb2 [F(1): 19.bxc5 gxf4 20.Nxf4 Bd5 21.Nxd5 cxd5 22.d4 h5 23.Ke2 b6 the extra pawn together with the weakness of many of black's pawns should give white reasonable/good drawing chances] 19...0–0 [slightly better was 19...Rg8 20.bxc5 gxf4 21.Nxf4 Bd5 22.g3 Kd7 23.d4 b6 24.Nd3 Be4 25.Ne5+ Kc8 26.cxb6 axb6 27.Kd2 c5 28.a4 Ra5 29.c4 cxd4 30.Bxd4 Re8 31.f3 Bb7 32.f4 Kc7 33.Bc3 Ra6 34.g4 Rd8+ 35.Ke3 fxg4 36.Nxg4 h5 37.Nf6 h4 38.Be5+ Kc8 the passed h pawn of black's emerges to be an important factor 39.Ra2 h3 40.Ne4 Bxe4 41.Kxe4 h2 42.Rxh2 Rxa4 43.Rb2 Rxc4+ 44.Kf5 Kb7 45.Ke6 Rc6+ 46.Ke7 Kc8 47.Ra2 Rd7+ 48.Ke8 Re6+ 49.Kf8 Ree7 50.Rb2 Rf7+ 51.Kg8 Kb7 52.Rb1 Rfe7 it doesn't look like an easy technical win for black, but equally it may prove hard to hold for white 53.Kf8 Rh7 54.Kg8 Rh2 55.Kf8 Rc2 56.Ke8 Rh7 57.Rd1 Rc8+ 58.Rd8 Rxd8+ 59.Kxd8 black cleverly forces the trade of rooks, and now the ending should be easy to win 59...Kc6 60.Ke8 Kd5 61.Bc3 Ke6 62.Kd8 b5 63.Kc8 Rh4 64.Bd2 Kf5 65.Kb7 Rxf4 66.Kb6 b4 67.Kb5 b3 68.Bc3 Rf2 69.Bd4 Rc2 70.Kb4 b2 71.Bxb2 Rxb2+] 20.bxc5 gxf4 21.Nxf4 Bf7 Not the best, probably because the bishop obstructs the king here, but not too bad according to fritz [F(1): 21...Rfe8 22.d4 b6 23.Ba3 Bc4 24.f3 b5 25.Kd2 Kh7 26.Bb2³ A reasonable advantage to black, but he will need to increase his advantage in order to win] 22.Be5 A decent move. [F(1): 22.d4 Rfe8 23.Kd2 Rad8 24.Rh1 Kh7 25.a3 b6 26.Nd3 Bd5 27.Rh2 Bc4 28.cxb6 axb6 29.Rh5 Bxd3 30.Kxd3 Kg6 31.Rh3³ white has reasonable chances of holding this position] 22...Rae8?? A hideous blunder. 23.d4? Missing the opportunity. White's has totally equalised at this point nonetheless. [23.Bd6 Re4 24.f3 Ra4 25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.Nd3 Rxa2 27.Rb1 Bc4 28.Rxb7 Ra5 29.Nc1 Rxc5 30.d3 Rd5 31.Rxa7 Rd6 32.Ne2 Bf7 33.Nf4+- white should win this ending] 23...Rd8 correcting the error. In fact fritz has a better move. [F(1) 23...b6 24.cxb6 (24.Bd6 Re4 25.c3 (25.Bxf8 Kxf8 26.Nd3 Rxd4 27.cxb6 axb6 28.a4 Bd5 29.g3 which is drawish =) 25...Rfe8 26.Kd2 Bc4 27.cxb6 axb6 28.a4 Rxf4 29.Bxf4 Re2+ 30.Kc1 Rxf2 31.g3 Kg7 the opposite bishops make this one even more drawish =) 24...axb6 25.a4 Ra8 26.Rb1 Ra6 27.Kd2 Rfa8 28.Ke3 Ba2 29.Rb2 Bc4 30.g3 Kf7 31.Rb1 c5 32.c3 Rxa4 33.Rxb6 cxd4+ 34.cxd4 Ra3+ 35.Kd2 Ra2+ 36.Kc3 Rc8 37.f3 Rf2 38.Rxh6 Rxf3+ 39.Kd2 Rxg3 40.d5 Rc5 41.Rf6+ Ke7 42.Re6+ Kd7 43.Rd6+ Ke8 44.Re6+ Kd8 45.Rd6+ Ke7 Fritz wants to repeat moves(if 45...Kc8 the extremely tactical continuation ends in rook+bishop (white) vs rook, which is theoretically drawn (apart from special cases) 46.Bd4 Rc7 47.Ne6 Rg2+ 48.Kc3 Bxd5+ 49.Nxc7 Kxc7 50.Rxd5 f4 51.Kc4 Kc6 52.Rf5 Rc2+ 53.Kd3 Rc1 54.Rxf4=) ] 24.Rb1 the best move 24...b6?? Bad for black. [24...Rd7² was the right solution, and white only has a slight advantage 25.Kd2 Re8 26.Kc3 Rde7 27.Bf6 Rd7 28.a3 Re4 29.Nd3 Ba2 30.Rh1 Kh7 31.g3 Bd5 32.Rh2 Rf7 33.Bg5 Kg6 34.Bf4 Rh7 35.Bb8 h5 36.Bxa7 Rh8 37.Bb6 Ra8 38.Bc7 Rxa3+ 39.Kb4 Ra2 40.Nf4+ Kf7 41.Be5 Rxc2 42.Rxh5 Rb2+ 43.Ka3 Rxf2 44.Rh7+ Ke8 45.Nxd5 cxd5 46.Rh8+ Kd7 47.Rh7+ Ke6 48.Rh6+ Kf7 49.Rh7+ Ke6 50.Rh6+ Kd7 51.Rh7+ Kc6 52.Kb4 Rb2+ 53.Kc3 Rf2 54.Kb4 Rb2+ 55.Kc3 Rbe2 56.Rc7+ Kb5 57.Rxb7+ Ka5 58.Ra7+ Kb5 59.Rb7+ Ka6 60.Re7 R4e3+ 61.Kb4 Rb2+ 62.Ka4 Reb3 63.Re6+ Ka7 64.Bc7 Rb4+ 65.Ka3 Rb1 66.Re7 R4b3+ 67.Ka2 R3b2+ 68.Ka3 Kb7 69.Be5+ Ka6 70.Re6+ Ka7 71.Rh6 Rb7 72.Rh2 Ra1+ forcing the trade of rooks 73.Ra2 Rc1 74.Rf2 Ka6 75.c6 Rxc6 76.Rxf5 Kb5 77.Kb3 Ka5+ 78.Ka2 Kb4 79.Rf8 Rc2+ 80.Ka1 Rd2 81.Rc8 Ka3 82.Rc3+ Rb3 83.Bd6+ Ka4 84.Rc8 Rxd4 85.Ra8+ Kb5 86.Ka2 Rf3 87.Rb8+ Kc4 88.Rc8+ Kd3 89.Rb8 Rc4 90.Kb2 Rf2+ 91.Kb3 d4 92.Bb4 Rf1 93.Rb5 Rb1+ 94.Ka4 Rcxb4+ 95.Rxb4 Rxb4+ 96.Kxb4 Ke3 97.Kb3 d3 98.g4 d2 99.Kc2 Ke2 100.g5 d1Q+] 25.cxb6 axb6 26.Rxb6 white now has a winning position whatever black does 26...Rfe8 threatening Rxe5, this isn't the best move but isn't far inferior [F(1): 26...Bd5 27.a3 Ra8 28.Kd2 Ra4 29.Nxd5 cxd5 30.Rxh6 Rfa8 (not 30...Rxa3?? 31.Rh8+ Kf7 32.Rxf8+ Kxf8 33.Bd6++-) 31.Rf6 Rc4 32.Rg6+ Kf7 33.Rg7+ Ke6 34.Rg3 Kd7 35.Rf3 Rac8 36.c3 Ra8 37.Rxf5 Rxa3 38.Bf4 Ke6 (capturing the pawn with either rook is bad 38...Raxc3 39.Rxd5+ Ke6 40.Re5+ Kf7 41.Be3 Rc2++-; 38...Rcxc3 39.Rxd5+ Ke6 40.Ra5 Rxa5 41.Kxc3 Ra2 42.Be3+-) 39.Re5+ Kd6 40.g3 black cannot seem to prevent white from making progress 40...Kc6 41.Re6+ Kb5 42.Rd6 Rc6 43.Rxd5+ Kc4 44.Rg5 Rxc3 45.Rc5+ Rxc5 46.dxc5 Rd3+ 47.Ke2 Rc3 48.c6 Kd4 49.c7 Ke4 50.f3+ Kf5+-] 27.Kc1 Rc8 [or 27...c5 28.Rxh6 threatening Rh8# 28...Kf8 29.Bf6 Ra8 30.d5 Rxa2 31.d6 Ra7 32.Nd3 Rd7 33.Bg5 Re6 34.Be7+ Rdxe7 (34...Ke8?? 35.Rh8+ Bg8 36.Rxg8+ Kf7; 34...Kg7?? 35.Rxe6 Bxe6 36.Nxc5) 35.dxe7+ Rxe7 (35...Kxe7 36.Rxe6+ Kxe6 37.Nxc5+ Ke5+-) 36.Nxc5 Kg7 37.Rd6 Re2 38.Rd2 Re5 39.Nd3 Re4 40.g3+-] 28.a4 good move; push the passed pawn 28...Ra8 [28...Re7 may be a bit better 29.Nd3 Ra7 30.Rb4 Rca8 31.Nc5 Re8 32.c4 Ra5 33.f4 Rxc5 (33...Rea8 is no good 34.Kc2 Kf8 35.Bc7 R5a7 36.Bd6+ Ke8 37.Be5 Ra5 38.Kc3 Ke7 39.Rb7+ Ke8 40.Bd6 R5a7 41.Rb6 Rc8 42.Kb4 Bh5 43.Be5 Be2 44.a5 Bf1 45.g3 Bg2 46.a6 Rca8 47.Ka5 Bf1 48.Rxc6 Bxc4 49.Rxh6 Ke7 50.Rb6 Ke8 51.Rg6 Rc8 52.Kb4 Bf7 53.Rh6 Rca8 54.Kb5 Bd5 55.Rh8+ Ke7 56.Rh4 Ke8 57.Kb6 Rf7 58.Rh8+ Ke7 59.Rh5 Rff8 60.a7 Rg8 61.Rh7+ Ke8 62.Nd7 Rf8 (62...Be6 for example, allows a forced mate in 10 63.Nf6+ Kd8 64.Bc7+ Kc8 65.Bd6 Kd8 (65...Bc4 66.Rc7+ Kd8 67.Be7#; 65...Rd8 66.Rc7#) 66.Rb7 Rg7 a) 66...Rc8 67.Be7#; b) 66...Bc4 67.Rb8+ (67.Rd7+ Kc8 68.Rc7+ Kd8 69.Be7#) 67...Rxb8+ 68.axb8Q# (68.axb8R#) ; c) 66...Bc8 67.Be7#; d) 66...Rh8 67.Be7+ Kc8 68.Rc7#; 67.Rxg7 (67.Rb8+ Bc8 68.Rxa8 Rb7+ 69.Kc5 Rb5+) 67...Rxa7 68.Rxa7 Bd7 69.Rxd7+ Kc8 70.Re7 Kd8 71.Re8#) ) 34.dxc5 Ra8 35.Kc2 Kf8 36.Kd3 h5 37.Bf6 Be6 38.Bc3 Rd8+ 39.Ke3 Re8 40.Kf2 Rd8 41.a5 Ke8 42.Ra4 Rd7 white's pawn structure may give black some glimmer of hope, but + - should still be the result] 29.Rxc6 Rxa4 30.Rxh6?? A bad blunder. Now black is invited right back in the game. 30...Kf8?? Black misses the escape [30...Rxe5 31.dxe5 Rxf4 32.f3 Rc4 now the position should technically be a draw 33.g4 Kg7 34.Rf6 f4 35.Kd2 Bg6 36.c3 Kh6 37.Rd6 Rc5 38.e6 Re5 39.c4 Kg5 40.Rd5 Rxd5+ 41.cxd5 Kf6 42.Kc3 Ke5 43.Kc4 Kd6 44.Kd4 Bh7 45.e7 Kxe7 46.Ke5 Bd3 47.Kxf4 black should hold this with his good king position 47...Kd6 48.Kg5 Kxd5 49.Kf6 Be2 50.f4 Bxg4 51.f5 Bxf5 52.Kxf5 which is probably drawn] 31.Rh8+ maybe not the best, but sufficient [31.Rf6 Rc8 32.Nd5 Ra2 33.Ne3 Ke8 34.Kb1 f4 (34...Rca8 35.Nxf5+-) 35.Nf5 Rcxc2 36.Nd6+ Kd7 37.Rxf7+ Ke6 38.Rb7 Rxf2 39.Ne4 Rxg2 40.Nc5+ Kd5 41.Nd3 Ke4 42.Nxf4 Rgf2 without the pawn, the position is almost certainly drawn 43.Nh3 Rg2 44.Ng5+ Kf5 45.Nf3 Ke4 46.Ne1 Rgf2 47.Rc7 Rfb2+ 48.Kc1 Re2 49.Nc2 Rg2 50.Kb1 Ra6 51.Kb2 Re6 52.Rc3 Re2 53.Rc5 Kd3 54.Kc1 Rg6 55.Nb4+ Ke4 56.Rc2 Rgg2 57.Rxe2+ Rxe2 58.Kd1 Rb2 59.Nc2 Kd3 60.Ne1+ Ke3 61.Kc1 Re2 62.Nc2+ Kd3 63.Na3 Ra2 64.Nb5 Ra4 65.Nd6 Rxd4 white has to mate in 50 moves 66.Nf7 Rd7] 31...Bg8 32.Nd5 Rxe5 33.dxe5 Kg7 34.Rxg8+ Kxg8 35.Ne3 f4 36.Ng4 Ra1+ 37.Kd2 Rg1 38.g3 fxg3 39.fxg3 Rxg3 40.Nf6+ Kf7 41.Ne4 Ra3 draw agreed

Rook Down vs 2 Passers and Winning

The diagram below shows the winning position that was available to me in a training game played 21st April 2007. I am black. In the game my (black) king was on b4 and it was me to move. Falsely evaluating my position as lost, I quickly played a dillusional blunder: Kxb5. I was quickly punished with Bxd3+ of course. When inspecting a quick blundercheck on Fritz, to my astonishment Fritz announced black to be winning after ...Kc4 (diagram position). I intend to analyse this position deeply as it is almost hard to believe black is not only able to hold a draw but must win.

I will refer to white's first move from the diagram position as 1.

(A): 1.Rc7+ Kd4 (heading for e3 and attacking bishop). Now I will look at: 2a.Bxd3 and 2b.Kf2

2a.Bxd3 Kxd3 3.Rc1 (covering ...Bb4+ Kmoves ...e1=Q) 3...Bb4+ 4.Kf2 Kd2 (also good is the simple 4... e1=Q+ 5.RxQ BxR 6.KxB with a won pawn ending:

Diagram A 2b. 4... e1=Q+ 5.RxQ BxR 6.KxB:

6...Kc3 7.Ke2 g4 8.Kf2 Kc4 9.Kg3 Kxb5 10.Kxg4 Kc4 11.Kh5 b5 12.Kxh6 b4 13.g4 b3 14.g5 b2 15.g6 b1=Q 16.b7 Qc1+ 17.Kg6 Qc2+ 18.Kf6 Qh7 19.Kf7 Kd5 0-1

5.Rg1 (5.Re1 Bc5+ 6.Kf3 Kxe1 0-1) 5...Bc5+ 6.Kg3 (6.Kf3 e1=Q 7.RxQ (7.Rb2+ Kc3 0-1) 7...KxR 0-1) e1=Q+ 7.RxQ KxR 0-1.

2b.Kf2 Kxe4 3.Rc4+ (3.Rc8 Ba3 4.Re8+ Kd5 5.Rxe2 (5.Rd8+ Kc4 6.Rc8+ (6.Ke3?? e1=Q+ and 6.Ke1 Bb4+ #5) 6...Bc5+ 7.Ke1 (7.Kg3 e1=Q+ 0-1) 7...Kb3 8.Rxc5 bxc5 9.b6 Kc2 10.b7 d2+ 11.Kxe2 d1=Q+ 0-1) 5...Bc5+ (or just 5...dxe2 0-1) 6.Ke1 dxe2 0-1) 3...Kd5 4.Rc3 (4.Ra4 Bg7 5.Ra3 Kc4 6.Ra4+ Kxb5 7.Re4 Bc3 8.Rxe2 dxe2 9.Kxe2 0-1) 4...Kd4: a.5.Rc1 Bc5 6.Re1 Kc3+ 7.Kf3 g4+ 8.Kg3 d2 9.Rxe2 d1=Q 0-1, b.5.Rc8 Bc5 6.Re8 (6.d8 Ke4+ 7.Rd4+ (7.Ke1 Bb4+ 8.Kf2 e1=Q#) 7...Kxd4 0-1) 6...Kc4+ 7.Ke1 Bb4+ 8.Kf2 e1=Q+ 9.Rxe1 Bxe1 10.Kxe1 0-1, c.5.Rb3 Bc5 0-1.

That all goes to show that 1.Rc7 doesn't save white. Now I want to look at (B): 1.Bxd3.