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