John, Author at Bedford Chess Club

Fine wins by Lucian, Callum and Gerry (game added – welcome back Gerry! – Ed), a boring draw from me, and a win on time by Toby when he dropped a pawn and Joe needed more than the 15 seconds he had left to process this fact.

More details later if I anyone can think of anything interesting to say…

John

   [Event "Bed C v Bed D"]  [Date "2018.10.18"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Walker, Robert"]  [Black "Nolan, Gerry"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "B01"]  [WhiteElo "138"]  [BlackElo "134"]  [Annotator "Nolan,Gerry"]  [PlyCount "84"]  [SourceDate "2018.10.19"]  [SourceVersionDate "2018.10.19"]   1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. c4 {An interesting variation, where White hangs onto  the pawn, but has to absorb a lot of pressure} Bf5 4. d3 c6 5. dxc6 Nxc6 {  Black is rated as equal at this point, despite being a Pawn down, because of  the piece activity. But that's only useful if Black can make something of it.}  6. Nf3 e5 7. Nc3 Bd6 {Not sure about this. Komodo recommends Bb4 as a better  option.} 8. Be2 O-O 9. O-O Nb4 10. Bg5 h6 ({I looked at this as an option, but  the end product just swaps off pieces to no real benefit} 10... Nxd3 11. Bxd3  Bxd3 12. Qxd3 e4 13. Qe3 exf3 14. Qxf3) 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. a3 Nc6 {Just shows  that Nb4 was a waste of time.} 13. Nd5 Qe6 14. Re1 Ne7 15. Nxe7+ Qxe7 16. Nd2  Rfd8 17. Qc2 Bc5 18. b4 Bd4 {This gives Black equality again, but the pawn  shortfall still nags.} 19. Rac1 a5 20. c5 axb4 21. axb4 Qd7 {Komodo prefers  Qh4, to cause KIngside trouble, but I couldn't see any future in that and was  looking to play on White's b-pawn with Rh4. Sadly White's next move puts paid  to that idea, nasty forking threats.} 22. Nc4 Qb5 23. Nd6 Qd7 24. Bf3 Be6 {  The b-Pawn is not looking healthy and defending it would tie me down forever,  so I looked for some play with the Rook to a2.} 25. Nxb7 Ra2 26. Qd1 ({A much  better option seems to be} 26. c6 Rxc2 27. cxd7 Rxc1 28. Rxc1 Rxd7 29. b5 Bf5  30. Nc5 Rc7 31. Bc6) 26... Bxf2+ 27. Kh1 Bxe1 28. Nxd8 (28. Qxe1 Rb8 29. Nd6  Ra6 30. Qxe5 Rxb4 31. d4 {is a much better option. The move played loses a  piece, or the exchange.}) 28... Bd2 29. Rc2 Bb3 30. c6 Qxd8 (30... Qxd3 31.  Rxd2 Rxd2 32. Qe1 Bd5 33. c7 Bxf3 34. Nc6 Rxg2 35. c8=Q+ Kh7 {would have won  immediately.}) 31. c7 Qxc7 (31... Qc8 32. Rxa2 Bxd1 33. Ra8 Qxa8 34. Bxa8 Bg4  35. Bb7 Bxb4) 32. Rxc7 Bxd1 33. Bd5 Bb3 34. Rc8+ Kh7 35. Be4+ g6 36. h3 Ra4 {  I wanted to play Bxb4, but Rb8 would cost a Bishop} 37. b5 Rb4 38. Rb8 Ba4 39.  b6 f5 40. Bf3 e4 41. dxe4 fxe4 42. Be2 ({Essential was} 42. Rb7+ Kg8 43. Be2  Bf4 44. g4 Bc6 {but this will be won eventually.}) 42... Rb1+ 0-1

Author: John

Bedford C ½-4½ Bedford D