Games played by club members in the 2023-24 season

There follows games played by Bedford Chess Club members between October 2023 and June 2024. Clicking on the links in the heading of each game accesses the source post for context.

Dominic Bartram v Callum Shields

   [Event "MK B v Bedford C, board 2"] [Date "2024.04.25"] [White "Dominic Bartram"] [Black "Callum Shields"] [Result "1-0"]   Nf3 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. e4 Nb6 5. d4 g6 6. h3 Bg7 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be3 e6 9. g4 Nc6 10. Qd2 f5 11. gxf5 exf5 12. e5 f4 {creatively buying space} 13. Bxf4 Bf5 14. O-O-O {very brave $1} 14… Nb4 15. Bg5 Qd5 $1 {great stuff, White's knight cannot leave the defence of a2} 16. Ne1 (16. Nxd5 Nxa2#) 16… Qxa2 (16… Qxh1 {is also winning but a bit scary.  Callum is king hunting in any event} 17. Bg2 Qg1) 17. Bd3 Qa1+ 18. Nb1 a5 19. Qe2 Na2+ 20. Kc2 Na4 21. Kb3 b5 Na3 $2 Nc1+ ({Callum decides to cash in his advantage, tragically \"forgetting\" about the bishop on g5.  Instead he could have announced mate in 9 $3 This is the longest line, which involves a queen sac on the fifth move - good luck calculating that $1} 22… Be6+ 23. Bc4 bxc4+ 24. Nxc4 (24. Kxa4 Bd7+ Nb5 Nc3#) 24… Rab8+ 25. Kc2 Rxb2+ 26. Kd3 (26. Nxb2 Qxb2+ 27. Kd3 Qb3+ 28. Ke4 Bd5#) 26… Qxd1+ $3 27. Qxd1 Nb4+ 28. Ke4 Nc3+ 29. Ke3 Nxd1+ 30. Ke4 Bd5# {and the board is showered with gold coins $1}) 23. Rxc1 Qxc1 $4 ({sadly} 23… Be6+ {still wins but you're not going to see that bishop on g5 now!}) 24. Bxc1 {the game lasted a little longer but the damage is done - an immortal missed} 1-0

Paul Habershon v Graham Smith

   [Event "Beds. League"]     [Date "2024.04.11"]     [White "Habershon, Paul"]   [Black "Smith, Graham"]   [Result "1-0"]   [Annotator "Paul Habershon"]   [PlyCount "67"]   [WhiteTeam "Bedford A"]   [BlackTeam "Milton Keynes B"]   1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d3 d5 5. g3 d4 6. Ne2 Be7 7. Bg2 e5 8. O-O Be6   9. Nd2 g5 10. f4 gxf4 11. gxf4 f6 12. Nf3 Qd7 13. fxe5 Nxe5 $2 ({Big advantage   swing here from Black to White; better is} 13... fxe5 14. Ng3 Nf6) 14. Nf4 ({   Computer finds the surprising} 14. Nexd4 $1 cxd4 15. Nxe5 fxe5 16. Qh5+ Kd8 17.   Qxe5 {so Black cannot play 14...cxd4}) 14... Bg4 15. Qe1 O-O-O 16. Nd5 h5 17.   Bf4 Bd6 18. Kh1 $2 {I thought this was rather clever but apparently Black is   now slightly better after 18...Nxf3} {but} Kb8 $2 19. Nxf6 $1 Nxf6 20. Bxe5   Bxf3 21. Bxd6+ Qxd6 22. Rxf3 Ng4 23. Qg3 Ne5 24. Rf5 Rde8 25. Raf1 h4 26. Qf4   h3 27. Bf3 Re6 28. Rg1 Kc7 29. Rgg5 Rhe8 30. Bg4 c4 31. dxc4 d3 {Desperately   seeking counterplay but White has everything covered} 32. cxd3 Qxd3 33. Bxh3   Qxh3 34. Rxe5 1-0

James Garner v Dominic Bartram

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Bf5 7. Qf3 Bg6 8. Bxf6 gxf6 9. h4 h5 10. Qd1 Qb6 11. Qd2 Nd7 12. O-O-O a5 13. Bd3 a4 14. Nge2 a3 15. b3 Bb4 16. Qc2 Rg8 17. g3 Qa5 18. Kb1 Rc8 19. Rc1 Nb6 20. Nf4 c5 21. Bxg6 cxd4 22. Qf5 Rxg6 23. Ncxd5 Rc5 24. Qe4+ Kd7 25. Qe7+ Kc6 26. Qc7+ Kb5 27. Rxc5+ Bxc5 28. Rc1 Bb4 29. Qxb6+ Qxb6 30. Nxb6 Kxb6 31. Nxg6 {I was particularly pleased to find queen f5 on move 22, even stronger than bishop takes f7. But not pleased with the finish which I’d like to have ended in a checkmate! (I think 29.Qxb7! forces mate in 4 but not sure many sentient beings are finding it - Ed)}

Brian Valentine v Steve Ledger

[Event "Bedford A v Leighton Buzzard B, board 1"] [Date "2024.03.21"] [White "Brian Valentine"] [Black "Steve Ledger"] [Result "0-1"]    1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. d3 Bg7 6. h3 Nf6 7. Nc3 O-O 8. Be3 Nd7 9. O-O e5    {Opening theory, of sorts, so far. Black has the bishop pair but also a dodgy looking c pawn. W now needs to decide whether to target the weak c pawn or attack on the kingside. Brian seemed to try a bit of both !  .... Black wants to untangle his pieces and head his knight for d4 !}   10. a4 Qe7 11. a5 Rd8 12. Nd2 Nf8 13. f4 exf4 14. Bxf4 Ne6 15. Bg3 Nd4    {Mission accomplished !   I think Black is fine now although moving the f file rook away when White has his rook on the open-ish file gave me a small cause for concern.}   16. Nf3 Be6 17. e5 c4 18. Nxd4 Rxd4 19. Ne2 Rd5 20. d4 c5 21. c3 cxd4 22. cxd4 Rad8 23. Qe1 Bh6 24. Bf4 Bxf4    {23 .... Bh6 was a poor move and gives away most of Black's advantage. Stockfish gets on with Rb5, as it's happy to meet Bh4 with g5 .... which I wasn't.  }   25. Rxf4 Rb5 26. Nc3 Rxb2 27. Ne4 Kg7 28. Nf6 h6    {I thought Brian would try 26. Nc3, as I've stupidly swapped off my dark squared bishop, as his Q side pawns are very loose otherwise. I judged (hoped!) I could just about survive White getting a knight to f6 ..... and the metal monster agrees. }   29. Rh4 Qb4 30. Rd1 ( 30. Qc1  Qd2 ! )Qxe1+ 31. Rxe1 c3 32. d5 Bxd5 33. Rd4 c2 *     0-1

James Garner v Adrian Matthews

   [Event "Bedford A v Leighton Buzzard B, board 2"] [Date "2024.03.21"] [White "James Gardner"] [Black "Adrian Matthews"] [Result "1/2-1/2"]   d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nf3 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 Bc5 6. N5c3 (6. Nd6+) 6… e4 e3 O-O 8. Be2 Qe7 9. a3 a5 10. Nb5 (10. Nd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 d6 12. Nc3) 10… Na6 11. N1c3 Rd8 12. O-O d6 (12… d5 13. cxd5 Nc7 14. d6 Bxd6 15. Nxd6 Rxd6 16. Qc2 Bf5 17. b3) 13. Rb1 Bf5 14. b3 Rac8 15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. Qxd5 Bg6 (16… Bd7) Bd2 (17. Bb2) 17… Bb6 18. b4 Rc5 $6 {creative but not best - Ed} (18… axb4 19. axb4 Nc5 20. Nc3 Nd3 21. Qb5) 19. bxc5 dxc5 20. Nd6 $2 (20. Nc3 $1 Rxd5 21. Nxd5 Qd8 Rxb6 {gives White a lot of pieces for the queen}) 20… Rxd6 21. Rxb6 Rxb6 (21… Rxd5 22. cxd5 Nb8 23. Rfb1 {and White is in control} 23… Nd7 24. Rxb7 h6 25. Bb5 Bf5 26. Bxa5 Qd6 27. Bc6 Ne5 28. Bc7 Qe7 29. Bxe5 Qxe5 30. a4) 22. Bc3 (22. Bxa5 Rd6 23. Qxd6 Qxd6 24. Rd1 Qe7 25. Rd8+ Qxd8 26. Bxd8) 22… Rd6 Qe5 Qxe5 24. Bxe5 Rd2 (24… Rb6 25. Rd1 f6 26. Bc3 a4) 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Bxd1 f6 27. Bd6 Kf7 (27… Bf7 28. Bc2 f5 29. f3 exf3 30. gxf3 g6 31. Bd3 Be6 Kf2 Kf7 33. Kg3 Ke8 34. Kf4 Kd7 35. Ke5 b6 36. h4 Bg8) 28. Ba4 Ke6 29. Bf8 Kf7 30. Bd6 Ke6 31. Bf8 Kf7 32. Bd6 {White's bishops are too strong for Black to make anything of the extra pawn} 1/2-1/2

Paul Habershon v Fred Dorn

[Event "Bedford A v Leighton Buzzard B, board 4"] [Date "2024.03.21"] [White "Paul Habershon"] [Black "Fred Dorn"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. Bd3 Nf6 5. Bf4 Nc6 6. c3 e6 7. Nf3 Bd6 8. Bxd6 Qxd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 h6 11. Nbd2 Nd7 12. Qe2 a6 13. a4 b6 14. Rad1 Bb7 15. Ne5 Ndxe5 16. dxe5 Qe7 17. Nf3 a5 18. Rc1 f5 19. Qe3 Qd8 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 Qe7 22. Bb5 Rac8 23. f4 g5 24. fxg5 Qxg5 $4 (24… hxg5 $14) 25. Qxg5+ hxg5 26. Bd7 Kf7 $2 (26… Rxc1 27. Bxe6+ Kg7 28. Rxc1 {but Black losing now anyway}) 27. Bxc8 Bxc8 28. Rc7+ Kg6 29. Rec1 Ba6 30. Re7 f4 31. Rxe6+ Kf5 32. Rxb6 Bc4 33. b3 Bd3 Rf6+ Rxf6 35. exf6 Kxf6 36. Rc5 Be4 37. Rxa5 g4 38. Kf2 Ke6 39. b4 Bd3 40. b5 1-0

Ian Woodward v Callum Shields

  [Event "Bedford C v Leighton Buzzard B, board 3"] [Date "2024.03.14"] [White "Ian Woodward"] [Black "Callum Shields"] [Result "0-1"]   c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 e5 4. Nf3 Bc5 5. Bg2 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. d3 Bf5 8. Nh4 Bg4 9. Nf3 Qd7 10. Bg5 Ne8 11. Nd5 f6 12. Be3 Bxe3 13. Nxe3 Bh3 14. Qb3 Rb8 15. Nc2 Kh8 16. Nb4 Bxg2 17. Kxg2 b6 18. Qa4 b5 19. cxb5 Nxb4 20. Qxb4 Rxb5 21. Qc3 c5 22. Kg1 Nc7 23. Rac1 Rfb8 24. b3 Ne6 25. e3 h6 26. Qc2 Qb7 27. Qe2 a5 28. Nh4 d5 29. Qg4 Nf8 30. Rc2 Rb4 31. Qf5 a4 32. Rxc5 axb3 33. axb3 Rxb3 34. Rfc1 Rb1 Qg4 Rxc1+ 36. Rxc1 Kg8 37. Nf5 Kh7 38. Qf3 Ne6 39. Qg4 Qd7? {probably the first inaccuracy of the game} 40. Nh4? ({missing} 40. Nxg7 $1 Qxg7 41. Qxe6) 40… Rb7 41. Qf5+ Kg8 42. Ra1 Nf8 43. Qf3 Qb5 44. Qf5 Kf7 45. Qc8 Qd7 46. Qc3 Ne6 47. Ra5 $2 {the rook cannot neglect it's defensive duties} 47… Ng5 $2 ({right idea but} 47… Rb1+ $1 48. Kg2 Ng5 {would cost White a rook at least}) 48. Qc2 Rc7 49. Rc5 Ra7 50. Qb2 e4 51. d4 (51. dxe4 {looks pretty even, the move played makes White's position almost impossible to defend}) 51… Qh3 ({again, the move played is strong but} 51… Nf3+ 52. Nxf3 exf3 53. Kf1 Qh3+ 54. Ke1 Qxh2 {looks compelling}) 52. f3 Nxf3+ 53. Nxf3 exf3 Rc1 Ra3 55. Qf2 (55. Re1 {is a better try but things look grim for White in any event}) 55… Rxe3 56. Rc2 Re4 57. Rd2 Ke6 58. Rc2 Kf5 59. Rd2 Re7 60. Ra2 Rc7 61. Ra1 Rc3 62. Rf1 Re3 63. Qc2+ Re4 64. Rxf3+ Kg4 $2 (64… Kg5 {maintains an edge}) 65. Qc8+ $2 (65. Rf4+ Rxf4 66. Qg6+ Kf3 67. Qd3+ Kg4 68. Qg6+ {gives White a rather cute draw $1}) 65… Kxf3 $1 {and Black's rather cavalier king has managed to magic all the pieces from the board leaving an easily winning pawn ending} Qxh3 Re1+ 67. Qf1+ Rxf1+ 68. Kxf1 Ke3 69. Ke1 g6 70. Kf1 Kxd4 71. Ke2 Kc3 Kd1 Kd3 73. Ke1 Ke3 0-1

Steve Pike v Gary Kenworthy

  [Event "Bedford C v Leighton Buzzard A, board 2"] [Date "2024.03.07"] [White "Steve Pike"] [Black "Gary Kenworthy"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nc3 d6 4. Be3 a6 5. Nge2 Nf6 6. f3 O-O 7. Qd2 b5 8. Bh6 Nbd7 9. h4 e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Ng3 Be6 12. h5 b4 13. Nd5 Bxd5 14. Bxg7 Kxg7 15. exd5 {nobody's done anything too terrible yet, and White's caveman approach isn't very subtle, but Black already needs to guard against giving him a free hand …} 15… Qe7 16. O-O-O Rfb8 17. Re1 Qf8 18. Qg5 {… and suddenly Black's position is very uncomfortable} 18… Ned7 19. hxg6 fxg6 20. Bd3 ({note to self - don't play your usual flashy rubbish like} 20. Re7+ Kh8{which just helps Black}) 20… Ne5 ({Black can't afford to ignore this e.g.} 20… a5 $2 21. Rxh7+ $1) 21. Be4 (21. Bxg6 hxg6 22. f4 {is apparently best but my move is good enough i think}) 21… Kh8 22. f4 Neg4 23. Bxg6 Rb5 {bit late for the rooks to be relevant $1} 24. Bxh7 Nxh7 25. Rxh7+ Kxh7 26. Rh1+ Nh6 27. Nf5 {and mate is inevitable} 1-0

Mike Botteley v Steve Ledger

  [Event "Bedford C v Bedford A, board 1"] [Date "2024.02.25"] [White "Mike Botteley"] [Black "Steve Ledger"] [Result "0-1"] [PlyCount "43"]   d4 Nf6 2. e3 c5 {Mike seems to vary his openings quite a bit so isn't the easiest to prepare against, so I'm glad I didn't bother trying if he's going to go 2.e3 $1} 3. c3 e6 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. f4 Be7 {aha, the good old Dutch Stonewall. I used to play this myself when I was a junior, seem to remember that when I started playing better players I always used to end up with a bad dark squared bishop stuck behind a wall of pawns ( $1) I also recollect that trying for d6 and e5, at some point, was a good way to break up the Stonewall, hence we'll go d6 rather than d5.} 6. Nf3 d6 7. O-O O-O 8. Bc2 b6 {Not sure about 8. Bc2 seems a bit slow to me, presumably the idea is to meet e5 with d5. Black (should) get to complete his development first now.} 9. a4 Ba6 10. Re1 Qc7 11. Na3 Rac8 12. Nb5 Qb8 {Stupid idea from me going Ba6, his R wants to go to e1 and with my Q stuck on b8 I've squandered my early advantage.} 13. e4 cxd4 14. Nfxd4 Rfd8 15. Qf3 Bb7 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Nd4 Bb7 18. Qh3 d5 19. e5 Ne4 {A critical point. Mike had a lengthy think now, presumably analyzing Nxe6 ( as was I $1 ). I guess we both concluded that after Ne6 fe6 Qe6+ Kf8 then white has 2 pawns and a check but no more pieces to join the attack. This is also what a few of us concluded in the bar afterwards. However, Stockfish takes a whole nanosecond to follow up with Rxe4, when after dxe4, The W-squared bishop becomes a bit deadly. e.g Bb3 Ke8 Qf7+ Kd7 when white is doing very well albeit a rook down for now.} 20. Be3 ({I guess we both concluded that after} 20. Nxe6 fxe6 21. Qxe6+ Kf8 {then white has 2 pawns and a check but no more pieces to join the attack. This is also what a few of us concluded in the bar afterwards. However, Stockfish takes a whole nanosecond to follow up with Rxe4, when after dxe4, The W-squared bishop becomes a bit deadly. e.g} 22. Rxe4 dxe4 23. Bb3 Ke8 24. Qf7+ Kd7 25. Be3 {when white is doing very well albeit a rook down for now.}) 20… Bc5 21. Rad1 a6 22. Nf3 Qc7 Bd4 h6 24. g4 Qe7 25. Re2 Bxd4+ 26. Nxd4 Rc4 27. Bb3 Rc5 28. Rf1 b5 29. Rg2 Rdc8 {I have to say I was a bit concerned around this point as W suddenly has 2 rooks joining in the attack. Thought I better try and get something going on the Q-Side to distract him at least. This seems to work as W now goes on the defensive …… suspect he should have gone f5 or g5 instead around here.} 30. axb5 axb5 ({my engine thinks} 30… Rxc3 31. bxc3 Rxc3 32. Rf3 Rc1+ 33. Rf1 Rc3 {is a draw but it looks a bit far-fetched to me $1 - Ed}) 31. Rf3 b4 32. Rc2 bxc3 bxc3 Ra5 34. Kg2 Ba6 35. Re3 Bc4 36. Bxc4 Rxc4 37. Qf3 Qa7 38. Qe2 Nxc3 {38. Qe2 sets the little trap of threatening Rxe4 but, sadly for W, it's me who has the little trick now with Nxc3.} 39. Rexc3 Rxc3 40. Rxc3 Qxd4 41. Qe3 Qd1 {Normally I'd whip the Qs off and happily be a pawn up in a R ending but W's king is much more exposed than mine so we'll keep them on for now.} 42. Kh3 Ra4 (42… Qf1+ {wins for Black now but I missed how strong it was and let W force Qs off anyway now.}) 43. Rc1 Qd4 44. Qxd4 Rxd4 45. Kg3 g5 {At first glance I wasn't convinced the R ending was that easy to win but once I found 45….. g5 I think it is pretty straightforward.} 46. Rc8+ Kg7 47. f5 Re4 48. fxe6 fxe6 49. Rc7+ Kg6 0-1

Nick Collacott v Alex Potts

  [Event "Bedford C v Bedford A, board 4"] [Date "2024.02.22"] [White "Nick Collacott"] [Black "Alex Potts"] [Result "0-1"]   d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. c4 g6 4. cxd5 Nxd5 5. e4 Nb6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. Be3 O-O 8. h3 c6 9. Be2 Be6 10. O-O Nc4 11. Bc1 Nb6 12. Bf4 Bc4 13. Bxc4 Nxc4 14. Qb3 Nb6 15. Rfd1 N8d7 16. a4 a5 17. d5 Qc8 18. Rac1 Ra6 19. Be3 ({the comp likes this mad line $1} 19. Nb5 Nxa4 20. Qxa4 cxb5 21. Qxb5 Rb6 22. Qxa5) 19… Qb8 20. dxc6 bxc6 Ne2 Rc8 22. Ned4 c5 23. Nb5 (23. Ne6 $1 {perhaps.. $2}) 23… c4 24. Qa3 Ne5 25. Bd4 Nd3 {Black has fought back well here and is now asking tricky questions} 26. Rc2 Bxd4 27. Nbxd4 e5 28. Nb5 Nb4 29. Rcd2 c3 {not really best but mixing things up nicely $1} 30. Re2 $2 (30. Qxc3 $1 {would have wrested back control but not easy to analyse in time trouble}) 30… c2 31. Rc1 Rd8 32. Rexc2 Nxc2 33. Rxc2 Rd1+ 34. Kh2 Nd7 35. Qe7 Re6 36. Qh4 Nf6 37. Rc7 Qa8 $2 {seems a bit misplaced,} (37… Qb6 {looks better}) 38. Ng5 Rc6 39. Rxf7 Nh5 40. g4 $2 (40. Rxh7 {looks hard to meet}) 40… h6 41. Re7 $2 (41. gxh5 hxg5 42. Qg3 $1 Kxf7 43. Qb3+ Kg7 44. Qxd1 {and it's hard to choose a side $1}) 41… Rcc1 42. gxh5 hxg5 43. Nc7 Rh1+ 44. Kg2 Rcg1+ 45. Kf3 Qf8+ 0-1

Andy Tinker v Rob Walker

  [Event "Leighton Buzzard A v Bedford B, board 4"] [Date "2024.02.20"] [White "Andy Tinker"] [Black "Rob Walker"] [Result "0-1"]   d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nge2 O-O 6. Ng3 e5 7. d5 a6 8. Be2 Ne8 h4 h5 10. Bg5 f6 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Qd2 Qf7 13. O-O-O f5 14. exf5 Bxf5 15. Nxf5 Qxf5 16. Bd3 Qf7 17. Ne4 Bf6 18. f3 Ng7 19. g4 Nd7 20. Rdf1 b5 21. Ng5 Bxg5 22. hxg5 bxc4 23. Bxc4 Nb6 24. Bb3 a5 25. a3 c5 26. Ba2 Rfc8 (26… hxg4 {looks necessary}) 27. f4 Qe8 28. f5 Qb5 29. f6 c4 30. Bxb6 (30. Qf2 {is much better.  After the move played, White is still better but Black can make it complicated which Rob does with alacrity $1}) 30… Qxb6 31. fxg7 c3 32. bxc3 Qc5 33. Rf8+ Rxf8 34. gxf8=Q+ Rxf8 35. Re1 {this pretty much throws the advantage away,} (35. Kd1 {is a better try}) 35… Rf2 36. Re2 Rf1+ 37. Kc2 Qxa3 38. Kd3 Qc5 39. Qe3 Qb5+ 40. c4 Qa4 41. gxh5 ({no time for this,} 41. Rf2 {keeps things tight}) 41… Qa3+ 42. Kc2 Qxa2+ 43. Kc3 Qa3+ 44. Kc2 Qa4+ 45. Kc3 Qb4+ 46. Kd3 Rb1 47. Qf2 Rb3+ 48. Kc2 Qxc4+ 0-1

Ramsey Dairi v Callum Shields

  [Event "Bedford B v Bedford C, board 3"] [Date "2024.02.08"] [White "Ramsey Dairi"] [Black "Callum Shields"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. b4 {now Ramsey just has a lot of fun for the rest of the game $1} 4… Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4 exd4 7. Qb3 dxc3 $2 (7… Qe7 {pretty much required here}) 8. Bxf7+ Kf8 9. O-O c2 $2 (9… Nf6 {and grovel maybe}) 10. Bxg8 Rxg8 $6 (10… Qf6 {still loses but poses a few questions at least}) 11. Ng5 $1 d5 12. Qf3+ Ke7 13. Qf7+ Kd6 14. Qxd5+ Ke7 15. Qf7+ Kd6 16. Na3 Nb4 $2 17. Bf4+ Kc6 18. Qc4+ Kd7 19. Qe6# (19. Rfd1+ {is what Captain Evans would have  played but it's probably bad form $1}) 1-0

Gary Kenworthy v Paul Habershon

[Event "Beds. Chess League Div 1"]   [Date "2024.01.18"]   [White "Kenworthy, Gary"]   [Black "Habershon, Paul"]   [Result "1-0"]   [Annotator "Paul Habershon"]   [PlyCount "57"]   [WhiteTeam "Leighton Buzzard A"]   [BlackTeam "Bedford A"]   1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. Be2 c6 6. c4 Nb6 7. exd6 exd6 8. O-O   Be7 9. Nbd2 O-O 10. h3 Bh5 11. b3 N8d7 12. Bb2 d5 13. Re1 Re8 14. Bd3 dxc4 15.   bxc4 Qc7 16. Qc2 Bg6 17. Bxg6 hxg6 18. Ne4 Nf6 19. Neg5 Nbd7 20. Nxf7 $2 {   White has maintained an edge out of the opening and I was expecting/dreading   this sacrifice. Fritz says it's unsound (and Gary thought it probably was   unsound too) but my defence was not up to it.} Kxf7 21. Ng5+ Kg8 22. Qxg6 Nf8   $2 {Going wrong already. 22...Bf8 maintains equality.} 23. Qf7+ Kh8 24. d5 Bd6   25. Bxf6 Rxe1+ 26. Rxe1 Qxf7 27. Nxf7+ Kg8 28. Nxd6 gxf6 29. Nxb7 1-0

Nick Collacott v Stephen Law

   [Event "Beds. Chess League Div 1"]   [Date "2024.01.18"]   [White "Nick Collacott"]   [Black "Stephen Law"]   [Result "1-0"]   [PlyCount "57"]   [WhiteTeam "Leighton Buzzard A"]   [BlackTeam "Bedford A"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. h3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. Bg5 Na6 9. g4 Nc5 10. Nd2 c6 11. Be2 Qb6 12. Qc2 Nfd7 13. Be7 Re8 14. Bxd6 cxd5 15. Bxc5 Nxc5 16. Nxd5 Qd6 17. O-O-O a4 18. Nf1 Qc6 19. Nfe3 Bh6 20. Kb1 Bxe3 21. fxe3 Kg7 22. Rhf1 Be6 23. Rf2 Bxd5 24. exd5 Qd6 25. Rdf1 Re7 26. g5 Qd8 27. h4 Qd7 28. h5 Ra6 29. e4 Qh3 30. Bf3 Qh4 31. Rg1 Qf4 32. Rg4 Qe3 33. Qd2 Qxd2 34. h6+ Kf8 35. Rxd2 Ke8 36. Rg1 Kd7 37. Kc2 Kd6 38. Rf1 b6 39. Rdf2 Raa7 40. Bg2 Na6 41. Rf6+ Kc5 42. Rc6+ Kd4 43. Rd1+ Ke3 44. Rf6 Rec7 45. Rd3+ Ke2 46. Bf1+ Ke1 47. Re3# {Nick - I was a bit inspired by James' game at the recent county match when he played this opening and thumped his opponent. The game wasn't as bad as I thought immediately afterwards though I did make a meal of converting it. An entertaining assisted suicide by the black king as it took a long road from g7 to its eventual demise on e1.}

Steve Ledger v Brian Valentine

  [Event "Leighton Buzzard B v Bedford A, board 1"] [Date "2024.01.09"] [White "Steve Ledger"] [Black "Brian Valentine"] [Result "1-0"]   d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e3 d6 4. Bd3 Be7 5. Nf3 h6 6. Bh4 O-O 7. O-O Nfd7 {I wasn't entirely convinced by the idea of  this followed by e5 and f5 as this allows me to get a monster $146 onto d5 and opens up his K for a bit later on.} 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. c4 e5 10. Nc3 f5 11. dxe5 Nxe5 12. Be2 Be6 13. Nd5 Qd7 14. Qc2 Nbc6 Rfd1 Qf7 16. Nd4 Nxd4 17. Rxd4 Rab8 18. Rad1 Rfc8 {I reckon I'm maintaining a decent edge, especially if Black has to resort to moves like this and the previous move.} 19. b3 Kh8 20. Qc3 Nc6 21. Rh4 Kg8 22. Nf4 Re8 $2 23. Bh5 {Ironically, this was probably going to be my next move anyway, with or without Black's blunder} 23… Qe7 24. Bxe8 Rxe8 25. Nxe6 Qxe6 26. c5 d5 27. Qd3 Ne7 28. Ra4 a6 29. g3 c6 30. Rb4 Qd7 31. h4 Ng6 32. Kg2 Ne5 33. Qc2 Qf7 34. Rdd4 Re7 35. Rf4 g6 36. h5 Kg7 37. hxg6 Qxg6 38. Qxf5

Ramsey Dairi v Stephen Law

  [Event "Leighton Buzzard A v Bedford C, board 3"] [Date "2024.01.09"] [White "Ramsey Dairi"] [Black "Stephen Law"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 c5 2. Be2 Nc6 3. d3 Nf6 4. f4 d6 5. Nf3 g6 6. O-O Bg7 7. c3 c4 8. Kh1 Qb6 Na3 cxd3 10. Bxd3 O-O 11. Qe2 d5 {this looks like the start of Black's troubles …} 12. e5 Ng4 13. h3 Nh6 14. Be3 Qc7 15. Nb5 Qb8 16. Nbd4 Bf5 17. Nxf5 Nxf5 18. Bxf5 gxf5 19. Nh4 Qc8 20. Qh5 e6 21. g4 Ne7 22. Rg1 {should really have opened the file first, the move played is good but allows Black a squeak} 22… Kh8 {no time for this, Black must put something (N or P) on the g file} gxf5 exf5 24. Rxg7 $1 {never going to miss that - excellent!} 24… Kxg7 25. Qg5+ Ng6 26. Nxf5+ 1-0

Gary Kenworthy v Steve Pike

  [Event "Leighton Buzzard A v Bedford C, board 2"] [Date "2024.01.09"] [White "Gary Kenworthy"] [Black "Steve Pike"] [Result "1-0"]   e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qa5 7. Bd2 Qa4 8. Rb1 a6 9. Nf3 Nc6 10. h4 cxd4 11. h5 dxc3 12. Bxc3 Nh6 13. Rh4 Qxa3 14. Rb3 Qc5 15. Bd3 Nf5 (15… b5) 16. Ra4 $6 {Going for complications, chopping the knight looks safer} 16… Bd7 17. g4 Nh6 ({its been fairly mad up to here, White trading pawns for activity which ultimately wins out but} 17… d4 $1 {here would be great (if a little tricky for my modest brain to compute at the board $1)}) 18. Qa1 d4 {not as, but still good} 19. Bxd4 Qd5 {had every intention of playing} (19… Nxd4 20. Rxd4 (20. Qxd4 Qxd4 21. Rxd4 Bc6) 20… Bc6 21. Rc4 Qd5 {which looks fine but I suddenly noticed the queen move and convinced myself it was better - idiot $1}) 20. Be2 Nxg4 {just going wrong now, all complications favour White} (20… b5 {and castles maybe playable}) 21. Bb2 (21. Rb5 {even better but the move played leaves me with no good choices}) 21… Ngxe5 22. Nxe5 {+1.01} 22… Nxe5 23. Bxe5 Bxa4 24. Qxa4+ Kf8 (24… b5 {is better but I couldn't see that the a8R is now defended}) 25. Qb4+ Kg8 26. Bb2 (26. Bxg7 Kxg7 27. Rg3+ Kf6 28. Qh4+ Ke5 {is fun but White's played move just leaves a world of pain}) 26… b5 {terrible but everything loses now, the kingside is undefendable} 27. Bf3 1-0

Thomas O’Brien v Ramsey Dairi

  [Event "Bedford D v Luton A"] [Date "2023.12.14"] [White "Thomas O'Brien"] [Black "Ramsey Dairi"] [Result "0.5-0.5"] [WhiteElo "2133"] [BlackElo "1821"]   d4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Bg5 d5 4. Bxf6 exf6 5. e3 Bb4 6. Bd3 O-O 7. Ne2 Re8 8. O-O c6 9. a3 Bd6 10. Qd2 Qc7 11. g3 Nd7 12. Bxf5 Nf8 13. Bxc8 Qxc8 14. Kg2 Ne6 15. Ng1 Ng5 16. f4 Ne4 17. Nxe4 Rxe4 18. Rac1 Qe6 19. Rf3 Re8 20. Re1 c5 21. c3 c4 22. Nh3 Qd7 23. Nf2 R4e7 24. Qc2 f5 25. h3 b5 26. g4 g6 27. gxf5 gxf5 28. Rg3+ Kh8 29. Kf3 a5 30. Rg5 Rf7 31. Reg1 Qe7 32. Nd1 Qe6 33. Rh5 Rg8 34. Rxg8+ Kxg8 35. Rg5+ Kh8 36. Qg2 Qe4+ 37. Ke2 Qxg2+ 38. Rxg2 Rg7 39. Rxg7 Kxg7 40. Kf3 Kg6 41. Nf2 *

Peter Taylor v Alex Potts

  [Event "Bedfordshire League Division 1"] [Site "Leighton Buzzard Chess Club"] [Date "2023.12.12"] [Round "?"] [White "Peter Taylor"] [Black "Alex Potts"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1833"] [BlackElo "1689"] [WhiteUrl ""] [WhiteCountry ""] [WhiteTitle ""] [BlackUrl ""] [BlackCountry ""] [BlackTitle ""]   e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nf3 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8. bxc3 Nc6 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Be2 O-O 12. cxd5 exd5 13. O-O Na5 {maybe developing the rook or bishop is better but no harm done and this actually distracts White's queen} 14. Ne5 Bf5 15. Qa4 Nc6 16. f4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Qg5 18. Qd1 Be4 19. Rf2 Rac8 20. Qc1 Rc6 {Black's more active moves have completely turned this around} 21. Qxg5 {this just crystalises Black's advantage, Bf3 would be a better try} 21… hxg5 22. Bf3 Rxc3 23. Bxe4 dxe4 24. Re2 e3 25. Rd1 Rd8 g4 {too late for active moves now $1} 26… Rxa3 27. Kg2 Ra4 28. Rxe3 Rdxd4 {Black has played the last dozen moves very accurately - White now resigns, a little prematurely perhaps, but his fate is pretty much settled and he's not going to enjoy it $1} 0-1

   Ramsey Dairi v Adrian Matthews   [Event "Leighton Buzzard A v Bedford C v Luton A"] [Date "2023.12.12"] [White "Ramsey Dairi"] [Black "Adrian Matthews"] [Result "0.5-0.5"]   e4 c5 2. Be2 Nc6 3. d3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. c3 d6 6. Nf3 Rb8 7. O-O b5 8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 Qb6 10. e5 dxe5 11. fxe5 Nh6 12. Nc3 a6 13. a4 b4 14. Nd5 Qd8 15. Ne3 O-O 16. Nc4 Be6 17. Ne3 Nf5 18. Nxf5 Bxf5 19. Bxa6 Nxe5 20. Nxe5 Bxe5 21. dxe5 Qb6+ *

Dominic Bartram v Richard Bodily

  [Event "MKB v Bedford B"] [Date "2023.11.30"] [White "D Bartram"] [Black "RT Bodily"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A09"] [Annotator "Bodily,Richard"] [PlyCount "65"] [SourceVersionDate "2023.12.01"]   Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. e3 c5 4. b4 dxe3 {Never seen this before, so no idea what to do} 5. fxe3 cxb4 6. d4 Nf6 7. Bd3 e6 8. O-O Nc6 9. Bb2 {Somewhere around here, all I could see was a tremendous kingside & central attack for white and I didn't see how I could castle} b6 10. Ne5 Bb7 11. Qa4 Rc8 12. d5 exd5 13. cxd5 Nxd5 {If Qxd5, Bc4 looked winning to me. Now if Nxf7 maybe I have chances with Qe7, my opponent thought the same, hence} 14. Bb5 a6 15. Bxa6 Bxa6 16. Nxf7 Bxf1 {I thought this the best practical chance} 17. Nxd8 Kxd8 18. Kxf1 Nxe3+ 19. Kg1 Bc5 20. Kh1 Rf8 21. Nd2 Rf2 22. Bc1 Kc7 23. h3 Rcf8 { Not the best, maybe Rd8 or Re8?!} 24. Ne4 Rf1+ 25. Kh2 Bd4 26. Bxe3 Bxa1 { Final mistake, white is now much better, Rxa1 keeps me in it} 27. Qb5 Be5+ 28. g3 Bd4 29. Bxd4 Nxd4 30. Qe5+ Kc6 31. Qxd4 Kb7 32. Kg2 Rc1 33. Qxg7+ 1-0

James Gardner v Stephen Orton

[Event "County Chess"] [Site "Newmarket"] [Date "2023.12.03"] [Round "?"] [White "James Gardner"] [Black "Stephen Orton"] [Result "1-0"]   1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 e5 7. d5 a5 8. g4 Na6 9. Nge2 Nc5 10. Ng3 h6 11. Be2 Nh7 12. h4 Nxe4 13. Ncxe4 f5 14. gxf5 gxf5 15. Nh5 fxe4 16. Qd2 (16. Rg1 Rf7 17. Bxh6 Qxh4 18. Bxg7 Qxf2+ 19. Kd2 {Got to here and got a bit spooked by ideas of e3+ and Bf5 coming, but really should have just played this}) 16... Rf7 17. O-O-O Bf5 18. Rdg1 Kh8 19. Rg2 Bf6 (19... Bf8 20. Rhg1 Nf6) 20. Bxh6 e3 (20... Bxh4 21. Bg7+ Rxg7 22. Nxg7) 21. Qxe3 Qd7 {ideas of counterplay with Queen a4 so played to shut it down straight away although doubling rooks straight away stronger} 22. Bd3 (22. Rhg1 Qa4 23. Bd3 Bxd3 24. Qxd3 Qxa2 25. Qg6 Qxc4+ (25... Qa1+ 26. Kc2 Qa4+ 27. Kb1) 26. Kb1) 22... Re8 23. Rhg1 b5 {desperate for counterplay} 24. cxb5 (24. Nxf6 Nxf6 25. Bg7+ Rxg7 26. Qh6+ Rh7 27. Qxf6+ Rg7 28. Rxg7 {saw all these ideas but didn't put them together at right moment}) 24... Bxd3 25. Qxd3 e4 26. Nxf6 Nxf6 (26... exd3 27. Rg8+ Rxg8 28. Rxg8# {I believe this is called the Arabian checkmate $1}) 27. Qd4 (27. Qe3 {stronger, looking for Qh6+ later}) 27... Qf5 28. Rg6 {Now the idea is bg7+, winning the exchange, or if Kh7, then mate in 2 starting with Rh6+, also leaves the bishop covering f4} (28. Bg7+ Kh7 29. Qe3 {I missed Queen e3 in this line, was only looking at follow up rook moves}) 28... Re5 (28... Kh7 {missed this strong defensive idea but white remains better}) 29. Bg7+ Rxg7 30. Rxg7 Nxd5 (30... Rxd5 31. Rg8+ Kh7 32. R1g7+ Kh6 33. Qe3+ Kh5 34. Rh8+ Nh7 35. Rhxh7+ Qxh7 36. Rxh7+ Kg4 37. Qg3+ Kf5 38. Qg5+ Ke6 39. Re7# {would have been a nice finish, was hoping he'd fall for the trick of taking with the rook}) 31. R7g5 Qf4+ 32. Kb1 {Black resigned as rh5# is threatened and if you prevent it with the Queen then white liquidates in the centre with winning advantage} *

Mike Botteley v Rob Walker

  [Event "Beds CC Div 1"] [Date "2023.11.23"] [White "Mike Botteley"] [Black "Rob Walker"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A45"] [Annotator "Tactical Analysis 5.2 (11s)"] [PlyCount "80"]   {[%evp 9,80,34,33,29,29,31,33,8,10,-22,39,7,20,-1,1,-44,-26,-18,0,-56,-40,-109, -62,-92,-68,-54,-17,-19,-66,-66,-17,-190,-115,-216,-89,-266,-440,-456,-266, -232,-195,-365,-363,-540,-533,-526,-416,-419,-492,-404,-565,-543,-430,-467, -454,-463,-464,-492,-456,-472,-480,-452,-476,-629,-643,-608,-431,-585,-486, -485,-488,-491,-413]} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Bf4 d6 3. e3 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. Qd2 O-O 6. O-O-O Nc6 7. Nf3 a6 8. d5 {White is slightly better.} Na7 {[%cal Oa7b5]} 9. Kb1 (9. Bg5 $142) 9… b5 (9… Nb5 $11) 10. a3 (10. Bg5 $14) 10… c5 $11 11. dxc6 Nxc6 12. Nd4 (12. Bg5 $11) 12… Nxd4 13. exd4 Qb6 14. f3 (14. Bg5 $11) 14… Bd7 15. g4 ({Better is} 15. Bg5 $1 $15) 15… b4 ({Black should play} 15… a5 $1 $17 {aiming for …b4.} 16. g5 b4 $1 17. gxf6 bxc3 18. Qxc3 Bxf6) 16. axb4 $15 Qxb4 17. Ne4 Qb6 (17… a5 $15 {was preferrable.} 18. Nxf6+ Bxf6) 18. Nxf6+ $11 Bxf6 19. h4 Rab8 $40 {[%mdl 128] Black is up to no good.} (19… Rfc8 $15   Qd3 Rab8) 20. c3 $2 {[#] Black keeps a firm grip on the game.} (20. b3 $11 {and White stays safe.}) 20… Ba4 (20… Qb3 $1 $19 {Threatens to win with … Rfc8.} 21. Re1 Be6 22. Rxe6 fxe6) 21. Bd3 (21. Re1 $17) 21… Bb3 (21… Bxd1 $19 {is more deadly.} 22. Rxd1 Bxh4) 22. Rde1 $2 (22. g5 $17 {only move.} Bg7 Rde1) 22… Qa5 $19 23. Re4 Bd5 ({But not} 23… e5 $2 24. dxe5 dxe5 25. g5 ) (23… Qa2+ $142 24. Kc1 Qa1+ 25. Bb1 Rfc8) 24. b4 Bxe4 25. Bxe4 Rfc8 { White must now prevent …Rc4.} 26. Be3 (26. g5 $142 Bg7 27. Kb2) 26… Qa3 27. Rc1 a5 {[%cal Ba6a5,Ba5b4,Bb4a3][%mdl 32]} 28. Qb2 axb4 29. Qxa3 bxa3+ 30. Ka2 {Black is clearly winning.} Rc7 {And now …Rb2+ would win.} 31. Rc2 Rbc8 32. g5 Bg7 33. Kb3 a2 34. Kxa2 Rxc3 35. Rxc3 Rxc3 {KRB-KB} 36. Bf2 e6 {[%cal Be7e6, Be6e5][%mdl 32]} 37. Kb2 Rc8 {Hoping for …Rc4.} 38. Be3 d5 39. Bd3 e5 40. Bd2 f5 {Weighted Error Value: White=0.47/Black=0.43} 0-1

James Gardner v Paul Habershon

  [Event "Bedford Division 1"] [Date "2023.11.09"] [White "James Gardner"] [Black "Paul Habershon"] [Result "1-0"]   d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nc2 Be7 7. g3 O-O 8. Bg2 d6 O-O Bd7 10. b3 Qc7 Bb2 Rac8 12. h3 Rfd8 13. e4 a6 14. Qe2 Ne5 15. Nd4 Qa5 16. Rfc1 Nc6 17. Nc2 (17. Nxc6 Bxc6 18. Nd5 {is interesting}) 17… Ne8 18. a3 Bf6 19. b4 Qc7 20. Bf1 Qb8 21. Kg2 Ne5 22. Ne3 Nc6 23. Ng4 Be7 Rd1 h5 25. Ne3 g6 26. f4 Bf6 27. Rd2 b5 28. Qd1 Qb6 (28… Ne7 29. Rc1 Bc6 {looks like a better plan for Black}) 29. c5 (29. Ncd5 {works well now, it causes the win when played later but Black had opportunities}) 29… dxc5 30. Ncd5 exd5 31. Nxd5 Qb7 (31… Bxh3+ Kxh3 Rxd5 33. exd5 Bxb2 34. Rxb2 Nd4 {leaves everything in the balance}) 32. Nxf6+ Nxf6 33. Bxf6 Bxh3+ (33… Nd4 {is a better try}) 34. Kxh3 {and now White finishes off with consummate efficiency} Rxd2 Qxd2 cxb4 36. f5 Kh7 37. axb4 Ne7 38. Bg2 Ng8 39. Bb2 Rc4 e5 Qc8 41. Rf1 Nh6 42. e6 Nxf5 43. Qd7

Richard McMorran v Lucian Cox

    [Event "Bedford Division 2"] [Date "2023.11.09"] [White "Richard McMorran"] [Black "Lucian Cox"] [Result "0-1"]   Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. Bg2 Bg7 d4 d6 5. c4 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Nc3 e5 8. d5 a5 e4 Nc5 10. Re1 Ne8 11. Be3 Na6 12. Qd2 f5 13. exf5 Bxf5 14. Ng5 Bh6 15. h4 Nb4 Be4 Bxe4 17. Ncxe4 Ng7 18. a3 Na6 19. Qd1 Qe7 20. Rc1 Nf5 Bd2 Nd4 22. Rb1 Nc5 23. Nxc5 dxc5 24. Bf4 Bxg5 25. hxg5 (25. Rxe5 Nf3+ Qxf3 Qxe5 27. Bxe5 Rxf3 28. hxg5 {is an interesting alternative}) 25… e4 f3 Qd7 27. Rxe4 Rae8 28. Kg2 Rxe4 fxe4 Re8 30. Qd3 Qg4 Re1 Rf8 32. Qe3 $2 {a moment's madness?} (32. Rf1 {… swap the bits off and push the pawns should work}) 32… Nc2 33. Qd2 Nxe1+ Kf2 Nf3 35. Qe3 Ne5 36. Kg2 Rxf4 37. Qxf4 Qxf4 38. gxf4 Nd3 (38… Nxc4 {might have saved time but Lucian knows what he's doing (I think!)}) 39. f5 Kf7 40. f6 a4 Kf3 Ne5+ 42. Kf4 Nxc4 43. e5 c6 44. e6+ Ke8 45. Ke4 cxd5+ Kxd5 Nxb2 47. Kxc5 b6+ 48. Kc6 Nc4 49. Kb5 (49. f7 Ke7 50. f8=Q Kxf8 51.Kd7 {looks scary but the knight can defend})  Nxa3+ 50. Kxa4 Nc2 e7 Nd4 52. Kb4 Ne6 53. Kb5 Nxg5 54. Kc6 Ne4 *

Steve Pike v Ramsey Dairi

Division 2 contenders meet early season.

   [pgn]   [Event "Bedford Division 2"] [Date "2023.11.17"] [White "Steve Pike"] [Black "Ramsey Dairi"] [Result "*"]   1.e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4.Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 a6 7. O-O Nge7 8. Bg5 f6 9.Be3 b5 10. Bb3 Ng6 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Rfd1 O-O $2 {bit careless but Black defends well from here} 13.Bxe6+ Kh8 14. Rac1 (14. Bf5 {might have saved a lot of problems for me later although the move played is sound enough}) 14… d6 15. Bb3 Na5 16. Bd5 Bb7 17. Nd4 (17. Bxb7 Nxb7 18. Nd5 {is simple and strong}) 17… Qd7   18.Be6 Qd8 19. Nd5 Nc4 20. Nxe7 Qxe7 21. Bxc4 bxc4 22. f3 {and I have thrown the advantage away in 3 moves!} d5 23. Nf5 Qe6   24.Nd4 Qe5 25. exd5 Bxd5 26. Bf2 {floundering badly} Nf4   27.Qd2 Nd3 28. Rc2 Rfe8 29. Qc3 Qg5 30. b3 Nf4 (30… Nxf2 {better}) 31. Bg3 cxb3 32. axb3 Rac8 $2 (32… h6 {solves the problem that Ramsey's move highlights}) 33. Qxc8 Rxc8 34. Rxc8+ Bg8   35.Re1 Qd5 36. Bf2 Nd3 37. Ree8 Ne5 38. Rxg8+ Qxg8 39. Rxg8+ Kxg8   40.Kf1 Kf7 41. Ke2 Ke7 42. Ke3 Kd7 43.  Ke4 Ng6 44. Bg3 *

A Jusufi v Steve Ledger

  [Event "European Team Championships"] [Date "2023.10.02"] [Round "2"] [White "A Jusufi"] [Black "Steve Ledger"] [Result "0-1"]   e4 c5 2. Nc3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 3. f4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} g6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 4. Bb5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nd4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 5. Nf3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Bg7 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 6. Bc4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} e6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 7. O-O {I think White's starting to drift from here, probably e5 is necessary to shut stuff down - Ed[%clk 0:00:00]} Ne7 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 8. Ne2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nxf3+ {[%clk 0:00:00]} 9. Rxf3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} O-O {[%clk 0:00:00]} 10. c3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} d5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 11. Bd3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} b6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 12. Qe1 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Bb7 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 13. e5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} d4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 14. Rh3 {Rg3 is better but Black is definitely on the front foot anyway[%clk 0:00:00]} Qd5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 15. Qf2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} c4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 16. Bb1 {[%clk 0:00:00]} d3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 17. Nd4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Nf5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 18. Nxf5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} exf5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 19. b3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} b5 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 20. Ba3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Rfe8 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 21. Re3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} f6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 22. bxc4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} bxc4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 23. exf6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Bxf6 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 24. Bb2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Re4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 25. a4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Rxf4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 26. Rxd3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} cxd3 {[%clk 0:00:00]} 27. c4 {[%clk 0:00:00]} Rxf2 {[%clk 0:00:00]} *