U14:
Benny |
Aarv |
Niranjana |
Suhayl |
Charlie |
Nathan |
Caleb |
Toby |
Alfie |
Tom |
Josh |
Roman |
U18: Nicky | Isaac | James | Bradley | Evan | Oliver |
Click [...] for the other rounds
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Headlong, Georgia"]
[Black "Bacon, Benny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C48"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A good fighting game, but White found ways to keep pulling ahead.} 1. e4 e5 2.
Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 {It's hard to believe this is best.} Nf6 4. Bb5 {[#]} d6 {
That can't be best either, however solid.} (4... Bc5) (4... Bb4) (4... Nd4 {
is my recommendation, offering a pawn for active play, which might fit with
your Two Knights' choice. TIP: choose openings that fit together in style.}) (
4... a6) 5. d4 {[#] last book move} a6 $2 {Black forces White to win a pawn.} (
5... exd4) (5... Bd7) 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 7. dxe5 Nd7 8. exd6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 8.
Bg5 {[%eval 106,0]}) 8... Bxd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Re1 Re8 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bh4 Ne5
13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Qxd8 Rxd8 15. Rad1 Be6 {Black has some compensation with the
centralised Bishop pair, and can hope that White has an accident.} 16. a3 $2 {
[#] Accident-prone.} (16. Na4 $1) 16... Rab8 $6 (16... Rdb8 $1 $11) 17. Na4
Rxd1 18. Rxd1 {[#] Now there is a difficult sequence which I expect neither
side saw all of!} Bxb2 19. Rb1 $1 {[#] TACTIC: pin} Rd8 $1 {TACTIC: back rank
mate} 20. Nxb2 Rb8 $1 {[#] TACTIC: pin} 21. f3 Ba2 22. Rd1 Rxb2 23. Rd8+ Kf7
24. Rd7+ Kg6 25. c3 {[#]} Rb3 (25... Rb1+ $1 {This is often a pointless check,
but here it has a point of stopping Be1:} 26. Kf2 Rc1 27. Rxc7 Rc2+ 28. Ke3
Rxc3+ 29. Kf4 $11) 26. Be1 Rxa3 27. Rxc7 Bc4 28. Rxc6 {[#] White is a pawn
ahead again, but Black has chances to hold.} Ra1 $6 (28... Bb5 29. Rc7 Ra1 30.
Kf2 Ra2+ 31. Kg3 h5 $11) 29. Kf2 $6 (29. Rxc4 $1 {[%eval 9,0]}) 29... Ra2+ 30.
Kg3 Bb5 (30... Bf1 $1) 31. Rc7 Ra4 $6 (31... h5 {is a nice threat}) (31... Bf1
{is too}) 32. h4 Rc4 33. Ra7 {[#]} Ra4 (33... h5 $1 {[%eval 129,0] is now an
essential preventative move}) 34. Kh3 (34. h5+ $1 {[%eval 64,0]} Kxh5 35. Rxg7
{and Black stands badly, as in the game.}) 34... Ra1 35. Bd2 Ra2 36. Be3 Bf1 (
36... h5 {[%eval 526,0] last chance!}) 37. h5+ Kxh5 38. Rxg7 Rc2 39. Rxh7+ {
The next moves are hard to reconstruct!} (39. Bd4 {and Black is in a mating
net.}) 39... Kg6 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bacon, Benjamin"]
[Black "Kan, Toby"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A60"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A nice crunching win, where you looked deeper and got your reward.} 1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 (2. Nf3 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. Nxd5 {is the better move order, with
chances of a plus}) 2... c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. Nxd5 {[#] If you want to
use this plan of keeping d5 free for a piece, you shouldn't play c4.} d6 (5...
Nxd5 6. Qxd5 Nc6 {and Black can annoy the Queen, with equality.}) 6. Bg5 (6. e4
$1 Nxe4 $2 7. Qe2) 6... Nbd7 7. Nf3 h6 8. Bh4 g5 9. Bg3 Nxd5 10. cxd5 Nf6 11.
h4 g4 12. Nd2 {[#]} Bf5 {Hoping to prevent e4, but White sees further.} (12...
Nh5 {[%eval 108,0]}) 13. e4 $1 Bxe4 $4 (13... Bd7 {[%eval 529,0]}) 14. Nxe4 (
14. Qa4+ {[%eval 361,0] first is even better TIP: if you see a good move,
hesitate: there may be a better one!}) 14... Nxe4 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 14... Qa5+
{[%eval 601,0]} 15. Nc3 O-O-O {is bad, but not the worst}) 15. Qa4+ Ke7 (15...
Qd7 $4 16. Bb5) 16. Qxe4+ Kf6 17. O-O-O Qd7 18. Qf4+ Kg7 19. Be2 f5 $6 {
Black needs piece activity} (19... Rg8 {[%eval 910,0]}) 20. Bd3 Kg6 $2 ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 20... Qf7 {[%eval 1816,0]}) 21. h5+ {but what you played made
Black resign anyway!} (21. Bxf5+ $1 {[%eval 1270,0] is a nice trick,} Qxf5 22.
h5+ Kf6 23. Bh4+ {TACTIC: undermining}) 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Smith, Ellison"]
[Black "Bacon, Benny"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{In a gambit opening, you never got back the pawn down and White exchanged
into a better endgame.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 {
[#] I am pleased to see this move played so often.} 6. Bxb5 Qxd5 7. Bxc6+ Qxc6
8. Qf3 {[#]} Qxf3 $2 {A gambit pawn down, you want to keep Queens on} (8... e4
$1 {TIP: keep pieces on when you're losing; keep queens on when you play a
gambit!}) 9. Nxf3 Bf5 (9... e4 $1 {keeps White off-balance}) 10. d3 Bd6 11. Nc3
Rb8 12. O-O O-O {[#]If White can finish develeoping without accident, they
will stand better} 13. b3 e4 14. dxe4 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. Nd4 Be5 {[#]
Trying to produce an accident, but it's tricky} 17. c3 c5 18. Re1 $1 cxd4 19.
Rxe4 Rfe8 {[#] TACTIC: skewer} 20. Bf4 (20. Rxe5 $1 {[%eval 47,0]} Rxe5 21. Bf4
Ree8 22. Bxb8 Rxb8 23. cxd4 {and with two pawns, White should win without
trouble.}) 20... Bxf4 21. Rxf4 dxc3 22. Rc4 Rbc8 23. Rxc8 Rxc8 24. Rc1 Kf8 {
Black has chances to draw this, but must expect to lose the c-pawn and
eventually went down in the endgame.} 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Paul, Aarv"]
[Black "Fields, Ernie"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D85"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A nice positive and solid performance as White; with a little more refinement
you could have expected to win.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 (4. Nf3
Bg7 5. Qb3 {is the steady line} (5. Bf4 {is also played.})) 4... Nxd5 5. Nf3 (
5. e4 {is the main line.}) 5... Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 7. Bf4 O-O 8. e3 c5 9. Be2 {
[#] reaching a position from the 5.Bf4 variation.} Nc6 (9... Qa5 10. Qd2 Nc6
11. O-O Rd8 {is a logical continuation, where Black is putting maximum
pressure on the White centre.}) 10. O-O cxd4 11. cxd4 Bf5 {That bishop belongs
on b7 or g4; it's a target here for e3-e4} 12. Qb3 (12. Rc1 Rc8 13. a3 Be4 14.
Qb3 h6 15. Rfd1 Bd5 16. Qb1 g5 17. e4 gxf4 18. exd5 Qxd5 19. Qxb7 Qe6 20. Bc4
Qd6 21. Bb5 Nxd4 22. Rxc8 {1-0 ( 22 ) Stremavicius,T ( 2444 ) -Grib,R ( 2445 )
Panevezys 2018}) 12... b6 $2 (12... Be4 $1) (12... Qb6 $5 {[%eval 81,0]}) 13.
Rac1 Na5 14. Qa3 {[#] Rather than trying to push their extra central pawn,
White is trying to turn their space into attack.} Bf6 15. Rc3 (15. Ne5 $1)
15... Rc8 16. Rfc1 (16. Rxc8 Qxc8 17. Rc1 Qa8 $16 {is more forceful}) 16...
Rxc3 17. Rxc3 Qd7 $2 {[#] Making a target of itself.} (17... Qd5) 18. Rc7 $1 (
18. Ne5 $5 {also hits the Queen, with advantage}) 18... Qd5 19. Rxa7 (19. h3)
19... Be6 {[#]} (19... Rc8 $5 {[%eval 143,0]}) 20. Ra6 $6 {Doesn't throw away
the win, but there were better lines} (20. Rc7 $1 Qxa2 21. Qxa2 Bxa2 22. g4 $1
$18 {and White's space is giving Black pain.} (22. Ne5 $5)) (20. Qb2 $1 {
improves with pressure}) 20... Qxa2 21. Qxa2 Bxa2 22. Rxb6 Rc8 23. Rb8 (23. g4
$1 {is the magic formula again}) 23... Rxb8 24. Bxb8 {[#] White is a healthy
pawn up and could happily play on.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Postans, Harrison"]
[Black "Paul, Aarv"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{I like to see people play main lines, but this is a notoriously dangerous one
to pick, and you were shot to pieces without doing anything obviously wrong.
The only way to avoid this is to learn more or play a safer line! But do you
win more than you lose? Then maybe you're OK as you are.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3.
d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2 {[#] White is
heading for the sharpest line against the Dragon, the Yugoslav attack, where
White plays a well-established plan. Black's best defence is different against
each line!} (8. Bc4 Nc6 9. Qd2 Bd7 $1 {is the main line} 10. O-O-O (10. h4 h5
11. O-O-O Rc8 12. Bb3 Ne5 13. Bg5 Rc5 (13... Nc4)) 10... Rc8) 8... Bd7 {
It's too early to commit to this.} (8... Nc6 9. O-O-O (9. g4 {and now} Be6 {
is thought to equalise}) 9... d5 $1) 9. g4 Nc6 10. O-O-O {[#] Black has
stumbled into a line where their pieces may not be on the best squares, which
can be deadly in such a sharp line. It's as if White says, "Oh, I can see
checkmate in 10 moves" and you have to prove them wrong!} Rc8 11. h4 (11. Kb1
$5) 11... Ne5 {This position has been reached in 500 games, and White has
scored about 7/10!} (11... h5) 12. h5 {last book move} (12. Kb1 {scores best
of all}) 12... Nc4 {[#] This is a better idea in the h2-h4, h7-h5 lines; here
it seems too slow, as White hasn't touched the Bf1 yet.} (12... Qa5 {[%eval
229,0] is essential.}) 13. Bxc4 {A knight that has moved three times
disappears.} Rxc4 14. hxg6 fxg6 {[#] TACTIC: mating attack/pin} 15. Bh6 (15. e5
$1 dxe5 16. Ne6 $1 {and White is winning. In the game, White hits on the idea
a little later.}) 15... Rf7 (15... Bxh6 {[%eval 260,0]}) 16. Bxg7 Rxg7 17. e5
$1 dxe5 (17... Ne8 18. Nf5 gxf5 19. Qd5+) 18. Ne6 $1 {Now it's even better!}
Qa5 (18... Qc8 {[%eval 714,0]}) 19. Nxg7 Kxg7 {[#] TACTIC: undermining} 20. g5
$1 Be6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 20... Rxc3 {[%eval 2466,0]}) 21. gxf6+ Kxf6 22. Ne4+
{[#] Ah well, you have to put up with a few of these when you play the
Sicilian, but probably a few more than usual if you play this line. Have a
look at Isaac's game in the Accelerated Dragon; that might be a more practical
choice.} 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Paul, Aarv"]
[Black "White, Oliver"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D31"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You were gifted a piece early on and converted smoothly, striking tactically
when you needed to. Good stuff!} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 {A bit early for
this.} 4. Nf3 {[#]} h6 $6 {And that's a clear waste of time.} 5. Bf4 (5. Qb3 $1
$14) (5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 (6. Bd2)) 5... Nf6 6. a3 $6 {That too is a waste of
time here. It can be played if you want to force the issue and follow up with
f3 and e4, but your Nf3 and Bf4 don't fit that plan.} (6. e3) 6... Ba5 $4 {
But this game will not be decided by strategic plans...} (6... Bxc3+ $1 {
[%eval 311,0]}) 7. b4 Bb6 {[#] TACTIC: net} 8. c5 Nc6 9. e3 O-O 10. Bd3 a5 (
10... Nh5 {[%eval 468,0]}) 11. cxb6 cxb6 12. b5 Na7 {[#] That looks very
awkward.} 13. O-O Bd7 14. a4 Rc8 15. Rc1 Nh5 {[#]} 16. Bg3 (16. Bd6 $1 Re8 17.
Ne5 Nf6 18. Ba3 {with a huge bind and an extra piece}) 16... Nxg3 17. hxg3 Qe7
18. Ne5 Rfd8 {[#] The rest of the game is a nice example of the winning plan:
"take care, swap and win"} 19. Nxd7 (19. Bb1 {[%eval 339,0]}) 19... Qxd7 20.
Qd2 Qe7 21. Rc2 Rc7 22. Rfc1 Rdc8 23. Ne2 Rxc2 24. Rxc2 Qa3 25. Qc1 Qxd3 (25...
Qxc1+ {[%eval 575,0]}) 26. Rxc8+ Nxc8 27. Qxc8+ Kh7 {[#]} 28. Nc3 (28. Nf4 $1 {
is best}) 28... Kg6 (28... Qd2 {[%eval 455,0]}) 29. Kh2 {[#] TACTIC: fork} Qc2
$2 (29... Kh7 {[%eval 664,0]} 30. g4 {[%eval 441,23]}) 30. Nxd5 $1 {Excellent}
Qd1 (30... Qxc8 {[%eval 1257,0]} 31. Ne7+ Kf6 32. Nxc8 $18) 31. Nf4+ Kf6 {
Now it's mate [#] TACTIC: mating attack} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 31... Kh7 {[%eval
32758,0]}) 32. Qxb7 (32. Qd8+ $1 {[%eval 723,0]}) 32... Kf5 (32... g5 {[%eval
32764,0] grovels on a while longer}) 33. Qxf7+ Ke4 (33... Kg4 34. Qh5#) 34.
Qxe6# 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Acharya, Kandara"]
[Black "Narayanan, Niranjana"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A good account from both players: you played the opening with a lot of
aggression but allowed White chances against your King. Yet you held off the
attack and even stood a little better at the end.} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3
Qa5 4. Nf3 {[#]} e5 {I like the attitude! Might be a bit ambitious though:
you're trying to equalise too quickly.} 5. h3 {Can't be right!} Bf5 (5... Nf6 {
Knights before Bishops, as a rule}) 6. Bc4 Nd7 (6... Nf6) 7. O-O (7. Nh4 $1)
7... Bg6 8. Nh4 Nh6 (8... Ngf6 {and castling short is realistic. You're trying
for a very ambitious set-up here!}) 9. d3 O-O-O 10. Bxh6 gxh6 11. Nxg6 fxg6 12.
a3 c6 13. b4 Qc7 14. Ne4 Bg7 (14... Be7 {central is better}) 15. a4 {[#]} b6 $2
{Creating weaknesses where White wants to attack!} 16. Ba6+ (16. a5 $1 {when}
b5 {is pretty rough but best}) 16... Kb8 17. Rb1 (17. a5 $1 b5 18. c4 {and
White's attack is a tidal wave}) 17... Nf6 18. Nxf6 $2 Bxf6 19. Qf3 Rhf8 20. b5
$2 c5 {[#] With the closing of the Queen's-side, White's attack is at an end.
Both sides seem to be playing some sort of draughts, but the relevant thing is
that White has to do without their Bishop.} 21. Qc6 Qe7 $2 {Again, I like the
attitude, but you're being brave with all those pieces pointing at your king.}
(21... Rd4 22. Ra1 $15) (21... Qxc6 22. bxc6 Kc7 23. Bb7 Rd4 24. a5 Ra4 25.
axb6+ axb6 26. Rfe1 $17) 22. Rfe1 (22. a5) 22... Rd6 23. Qe4 Rd4 24. Qc6
1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Narayanan, Niranjana"]
[Black "Szakmany, Bence"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[Annotator "Regis,Dave"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You played a sharp gambit line but wasted time trying to arrange a check on
h6. You were allowed to build up the attack again, but when the moment came to
strike, you stumbled. Deserved a better fate!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 (3.
Bb5) 3... Bc5 4. c3 Nf6 5. d4 exd4 6. cxd4 (6. O-O) (6. e5) 6... Bb4+ 7. Nc3
Nxe4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. d5 {[#] Nice to see this old attacking line played again}
Na5 {last book move} 10. Qe2 O-O 11. Qxe4 Re8 12. Qd3 (12. Qc2 {[%eval -61,0]})
12... Nxc4 (12... Bf6 {[%eval 30,0]}) 13. Qxc3 (13. Ng5 {[%eval -33,0]}) 13...
Nb6 14. Qd3 d6 {[#] White is a pawn down and will lose an endgame, so should
attack with all speed} 15. h3 {That is not all speed! Black should be able to
untangle and win from here.} Nd7 (15... Qf6 {[%eval -69,0]}) 16. Ng5 {Better!}
g6 {Weakening, and should have pleased White; the game is about equal now.} (
16... Nf6 {[%eval -10,0]}) 17. Qg3 {Fidgeting with the Queen loses important
time.} (17. Bd2 {is best, bringing in another piece, connecting Rooks...})
17... Nf8 {A passive move, which again should be encouraging to White} (17...
Nf6 $1 $17) 18. h4 h5 19. b3 (19. Bd2) 19... Nh7 (19... f6 {[%eval 70,0]}) 20.
Nxh7 (20. Bb2 $16) 20... Kxh7 {[#] I think you had a concrete idea to make a
check on h6, but in the end it's just a one-move threat. You could play with a
more general optimism, assuming that with some positive moves, like Bb2 and
Rae1, something will turn up.} 21. Qf4 (21. Bb2 $16 Bf5 22. Rae1 Rc8 23. Qc3
Rg8 24. Re3 $16 {and it's easier to arrange threats with more pieces in play!})
21... Bf5 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23. Qf4 {Now Black takes over} (23. Bb2 $11 {[%eval -72,
0] is still the best idea}) 23... Re4 24. Qh6 Qf6 {[#] And suddenly White
looks very outgunned. But it's not over...} 25. Rb1 $6 {The rook is not much
safer here!} (25. Bg5 Qg7 {and White is worse but far from dead}) 25... Re2 26.
Bg5 Qg7 27. Rbc1 f6 $4 {[#] TACTIC: mate/undermining I am sure you smelled a
tactic here, and you were right! But sadly the one you played didn't work.} 28.
Rxc7 $4 (28. Qxg7+ $1 Kxg7 29. Rxc7+ {with a big advantage} Kf8 30. Bxf6 Rae8
31. Rxb7 Rxa2 32. Rc1 Rc2 33. Ra1 a6 $1 $18 34. Bg5 $1 (34. Rxa6 $2 Bc8 $1))
28... Qxc7 29. Bxf6 Qh7 30. Qf4 Rae8 31. Qxd6 Qd7 32. Qc5 Rd2 33. Qxa7 Rxd5 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Narayanan, Niranjana"]
[Black "Pilton-Brandes, Bentley"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A powerful attacking performance and a nice win to go home with.} 1. e4 c5 2.
c3 (2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. Bxc6 {and White hobbles the black pawn structure})
2... g6 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 {[#]} Bg7 ({Oddly enough, the right move here is}
4... d5 5. exd5 (5. e5 Nc6) 5... Nf6) 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Bb5 $6 {This isn't even a
pin, so the only point can be Bxc6, but that gives up the bishop pair for not
much in return (compare the variation with 3.Bb5 above)} Qb6 {[#] TACTIC: fork
Black has mighty pressure on d4} 7. Bxc6 $11 {This looks forced, but is not!} (
7. Nc3 $1 Nxd4 (7... Bxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Qe2 $16) 8. Nd5 $1 $18 {[#] TACTIC:
fork} Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 Qd8 10. Bf4 {and White has huge compensation for the pawn})
7... bxc6 $6 {Towards the centre is usually the right capture} (7... dxc6 $1 {
is better here, releasing the Bishop.}) 8. O-O Nf6 9. Nc3 d5 $2 {[#] Black
creates a backward pawn on an open file} 10. e5 Nd7 11. b3 $16 (11. Re1) (11.
Na4) 11... e6 $2 $18 {and this nervous-looking move allows White to seize the
diagonal} 12. Ba3 $1 c5 $2 {[#] TACTIC: fork} 13. Na4 $1 Qa5 14. dxc5 $6 (14.
Bxc5 $1 $18 {[%eval 40,0] is right here}) 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Bxe5 {[#]} 16.
Re1 $2 {Bold, but not necessary, so maybe too bold} (16. Rc1 $1 {[%eval -45,0]}
) 16... Bc3 $2 (16... Bxa1 $1 {[%eval 534,0]}) 17. Nxc3 $1 Qxa3 {[#] TACTIC:
pin} (17... O-O {[%eval 771,0]}) 18. Qxd5 $1 Rb8 {[#] TACTIC: fork} (18... Bb7
{[%eval 978,0]}) 19. Qe5 $1 {That's a fine idea, unusual too!} O-O 20. Qxb8
Qxc5 21. Ne4 Qe7 22. Qf4 Bb7 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Ng4 Kg8 (24... f6 {[%eval 1091,0]
}) 25. Rac1 Rc8 (25... e5 {[%eval 1482,0]}) 26. Qe5 Qf8 27. Rcd1 ({Stockfish 8
64:} 27. Rxc8 $1 {[%eval 949,0]} Bxc8 (27... Qxc8 28. Nh6+ Kf8 29. Rd1 {mates})
28. Rc1 Ba6 29. Nf6+ Kh8 30. Rc7 h6 31. Rxa7 {with unstoppable threats like
Nd7+ and Ra8}) 27... Bc6 (27... Qg7 {[%eval 1570,0]}) 28. Re3 Rd8 {[#] TACTIC:
mate} 29. Rde1 (29. Nh6+ {[%eval 1133,0] mates}) 29... Rd5 30. Nf6+ Kg7 31.
Nxd5+ f6 32. Qxe6 Bxd5 33. Qxd5 h5 34. Qd2 Kf7 35. Re7+ Qxe7 36. Rxe7+ Kxe7 37.
Qd4 a6 38. Qa7+ Ke6 39. Qxa6+ Ke5 40. b4 g5 41. b5 f5 42. b6 g4 43. b7 h4 44.
b8=Q+ Kd4 45. Qe6 Kc5 46. Qbd6+ Kb5 47. Qc8 Ka5 48. Qdb8 Ka4 49. Qa6# {Nice to
go home with a win!} 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Griffiths, Steffan"]
[Black "Abdalla, Suhayl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C28"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You found yourself manoeuvred into an Old Stodge position and fell foul of
White's simple plan. You had more optimism than science!} 1. e4 Nc6 2. Nc3 {[#]
} (2. Nf3 d5) 2... e5 {If you're going to agree to an e4/ e5 position, you
might as well play 1...e5!} (2... Nf6 {keeps it independent} 3. d4 {is best,
when one idea is} d5 $5 4. e5 Nd7 $5 5. Nxd5 Ndb8 $1 6. Ne3 Qxd4 $1 $11) 3. Bc4
Bc5 4. d3 (4. Qg4 $1 {is the right approach} Qf6 5. Nd5 $1 Qxf2+ 6. Kd1 Kf8 7.
Nh3 {and Black is in big trouble.}) 4... Nf6 {# We're approaching the sadly
familiar territory here of Old Stodge. White has better ideas to go forward.}
5. Bg5 {That's one of them! White can follow up with Nd5, but right now, Nd5
can be met with Be7} (5. f4 $1 {keeps a more lively game}) 5... O-O {Perhaps a
bit early.} (5... h6 $1) 6. Nf3 {[#]} d6 $6 {Now Be7 is impossible} (6... h6 {
first was important.} 7. Bh4 d6 8. Nd5 g5 {has to be played, but there are
risks, showing the bad side of castling} 9. Nxg5 $5 hxg5 $2 (9... Nxd5 $1 10.
Bxd5 hxg5 11. Qh5 gxh4 (11... Qf6 12. Bxg5 Qxf2+ 13. Kd1 Be6 $11) 12. Qg6+ {
is a draw}) 10. Bxg5 $1 {and White should win}) 7. Nd5 $1 {and this is now
very strong} Bg4 8. Nxf6+ gxf6 9. Bh6 Re8 {# Black is in some trouble, but no
need to panic.} 10. h3 Bxf3 $2 {Once the White Queen gets into the penalty
area, Black is dead.} (10... Be6 {[%eval 280,0]} 11. Nh4 Kh8 12. Qh5 Rg8 {
is still pretty rough but Black is alive}) 11. Qxf3 {# Now it's time to panic..
.} Nd4 $4 {That's too much panic...} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 11... Kh8 {[%eval
32764,0]}) 12. Qg3+ Kh8 13. Qg7# 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Abdalla, Suhayl"]
[Black "Ashraf, Zoha"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Overall, a nice positional attack on the Queen's-side, which you could have
played on to win. There were some tactics under the surface but neither player
spotted them!} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 f5 3. Bf4 Nf6 4. Nc3 d5 {[#] White has the
perfect position to play against the Stonewall.} 5. e3 Be7 6. Be2 ({The most
dangerous plan is} 6. Bd3 c6 7. Qc2 O-O 8. Nf3 Ne4 9. g4 fxg4 10. Ne5 {and
Black has big problems.} Nf6 11. h3 g3 12. fxg3 Nbd7) 6... O-O 7. Nf3 c6 {[#]}
8. Ne5 (8. Qc2 {keeps castling long in mind}) 8... Nbd7 9. O-O Nxe5 10. Bxe5 (
10. dxe5) 10... Bd7 11. f3 {That's a good idea, but not so easy to carry out.}
Be8 12. Bxf6 (12. Qb3 {[%eval -31,0]}) 12... Bxf6 {[#] TACTIC: discovery} 13.
e4 $2 (13. f4 {[%eval -191,0] is better}) 13... Rc8 (13... dxe4 $1 {[%eval 4,0]
discovers an attack on d4}) 14. e5 $1 Be7 15. c5 b6 16. b4 a5 17. Na4 {[#]
White has a strong initiative on the Queen's-side.} (17. a3) 17... axb4 18.
Nxb6 $1 Rb8 19. Na4 $2 {Heading backwards for no very good reason. Were you
spooked by Black sacrificing the exchange? That may be their best idea but you
should welcome it!} (19. a3) (19. Rb1) 19... f4 (19... Qa5 {[%eval 86,0]}) 20.
a3 (20. Bd3) 20... bxa3 21. Rxa3 Bg6 22. Bd3 Bxd3 23. Qxd3 Rf5 24. Qa6 (24.
Rfa1 {is also strong}) 24... Qc7 25. Nb6 {[#] TACTIC: fork} Rbf8 ({Stockfish 8
64:} 25... Rxe5 $1 {[%eval 112,0] is an amazing idea, but obvious once you see
it!} 26. Qa7 $11 (26. dxe5 $4 Bxc5+ 27. Kh1 Bxa3 28. Nxd5 cxd5 29. Qxa3 Qxe5 {
[#] with a crushing position for Black})) 26. Rfa1 {[#] You could have played
on happily here with little danger of losing.} (26. Na8 {and}) (26. Qa7 {
are even better}) 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ahmed, Bilal"]
[Black "Abdalla, Suhayl"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You got caught early on when White pinned a piece to your King. Again, you
were too optimistic and not enough paranoid!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4.
O-O Bc5 ({Black can get away with} 4... Nxe4 {, after which} 5. d4 Nd6 6. Bxc6
dxc6 7. dxe5 Nf5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Nc3 Ke8 {is fashionable and OK for Black}) 5.
c3 Nxe4 $6 {This is very risky here.} (5... O-O {is much safer}) (5... Bb6 {
may be OK too}) 6. Qe2 {[#]} (6. d4 $1 $16 {and White already stands better.})
6... d5 (6... Bxf2+ {is often played, I see. I thought it was probably digging
the hole deeper, but Black may get enough with two pawns and play against the
King.} 7. Kh1 d5 8. d3 Ng3+ 9. hxg3 Bxg3 $16) 7. Nxe5 $6 {White jumps at this
chance, but it's not the most accurate.} (7. d3 Nf6 8. d4 Bb6 9. Qxe5+ $16)
7... Bd7 $4 {[#] TACTIC: pin} (7... O-O $11 {[%eval 256,0] It's essential to
get out of the pins}) 8. Nxd7 Qxd7 9. d3 {And White has won a piece by simple
means.} O-O-O 10. dxe4 dxe4 11. Be3 Bxe3 12. Qxe3 b6 $2 {Needlessly weakening}
(12... Kb8) 13. Qxe4 Kb7 14. Na3 a6 15. Ba4 b5 16. Bb3 Rde8 17. Qf3 Re7 (17...
Re5 {[%eval 741,0]}) 18. Bd5 Rhe8 19. Rad1 {[#] White has a huge bind and an
extra piece, although the Na3 is pretty irrelevant at the moment.} Kb8 $2 {
Abandons c6} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 19... Re6 {[%eval 1335,0]}) 20. Bxc6 Qxd1 $2 {
A last hope? But you have to expect White to play the best move.} (20... Qe6 {
[%eval 1980,0]}) 21. Qxd1 (21. Rxd1 $4 Re1+ 22. Rxe1 Rxe1#) 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Lawrence, Alex"]
[Black "Hill, Charlie"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B56"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{I fear White knew what they were doing and you did not! I like that you want
to play proper grown-up openings but you need to your way around them.} 1. e4
c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Nf3 ({The main lines start} 6.
Ndb5) 6... Be7 {[#] Black has a backward pawn on d6. This used to be thought
bad for Black, but there are dynamic chances which compensate. This makes the
Be7 a bad Bishop, and White has a Knight outpost on d5. White can hope to
attack d6 and/or swap off everything that could swap off a Knight on d5. Black
can defend d6 well enough and hope to make a nuisance on the wings. In the
game, White carried out their plan without much opposition. TIP: you must know
the ideas in the openings you play.} (6... Nc6) 7. Bc4 O-O 8. O-O {# last book
move} b6 (8... a6 9. Bg5 b5 {is a more aggressive stance on the Queen's wing})
({Stockfish 8 64:} 8... Be6 {[%eval 237,0]}) 9. Bg5 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 9. Bd5 {
[%eval 50,0]}) 9... Ba6 (9... Nbd7) 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. Bxf6 Bxf6 {[#] White has
got the swaps they were looking for.} 12. Qe2 Nb4 13. a3 Nc6 14. Nd5 Rc8 15. c3
g6 {[#] Black creates some more targets for White and the poor Bishop will be
over-stretched.} 16. Rad1 Bg7 {d6 is now defended by only the Queen, which is
always the worst choice of defender.} 17. Rd2 f5 {This is definitely the right
sort of plan but not the right moment.} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 17... Na5 $1 {
[%eval 108,0] is more to the point here}) 18. Rfd1 fxe4 19. Qxe4 Qd7 ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 19... Bh6 {[%eval 225,0]}) 20. Ne3 Rf6 21. Nc4 $1 {[#]} Rf4 (
21... Bf8 {was unattractive but had to be tried.}) 22. Qd5+ Kh8 23. Qxd6 ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 23. Nxd6 {[%eval 224,0]}) 23... Qxd6 (23... Qe8 {might hold
out more hope}) 24. Nxd6 Rcf8 25. h3 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 25. Ng5 {[%eval 186,0]}
) 25... e4 26. Ng5 {[#] TACTIC: fork} Ne5 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 26... Bh6 {
[%eval 488,0]}) 27. Ne6 e3 {I understand the desire to hit back and create
some sort of accident for White, but you actually make things worse here.} 28.
fxe3 Rh4 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 28... R4f6 {[%eval 581,0]}) 29. Nxf8 Rxh3 30. gxh3
Nf3+ 31. Kg2 (31. Kf2) 31... Nxd2 32. Rxd2 Bxf8 33. Nb5 Kg7 34. Rd7+ Kh6 35.
Rxa7 Kh5 36. Rxh7+ Bh6 37. e4 g5 38. e5 Kh4 39. Rxh6# {1-0 (39) Hill,C-NN
Chepstow 2020} 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hill, Charlie"]
[Black "Trethaway, Nathanael"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Black gradually worked their way into the heart of your position, and some
'active' moves by you actually made your position weaker.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 Nf6 {[#]} 4. e3 {That is unkind to the Bc1} (4. Bg5) (4. Bf4) 4... Bd6 5.
Nf3 O-O {last book move} 6. c5 Be7 {[#]} 7. Ne5 {A bit of a leap in the dark
here.} (7. b4 $1 {supports the pawn chain before Black can undermine it}) 7...
Nbd7 8. f4 Nxe5 9. fxe5 Ne4 10. Bd2 (10. Nxe4 {[%eval -72,0]}) 10... Nxd2 11.
Qxd2 b6 $1 12. b4 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 12. c6 {[%eval -156,0]}) 12... a5 13. Na4
(13. b5 {[%eval -356,0]}) 13... axb4 14. Qxb4 {[#]} c6 $2 (14... f6 $1) (14...
Bd7 $5) 15. Bd3 (15. Nxb6 $1 $14) 15... b5 16. Nc3 Qa5 17. Qxa5 Rxa5 18. a4 b4
19. Ne2 Ba6 {[#]} 20. Bc2 (20. Nf4 $1 {[%eval -141,0]}) (20. Bxa6 Rxa6 21. Nc1
Rfa8) 20... Bg5 {Black is well-mobilised but White can hang on.} (20... f6 $1
$17 {[%eval 0,0]}) 21. e4 $2 {It looks nicely active, but White cannot afford
another non-developing, loosening move.} (21. Kd2 $1 $11 {[%eval -187,0]})
21... Be3 22. Rd1 {Overloading the Bc2} dxe4 23. Bxe4 (23. Rf1 {[%eval -384,0]}
) 23... Rxa4 24. Bxc6 Ra2 25. Nc1 $4 (25. Bf3 {[%eval -32765,0]}) 25... Bf2#
0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hill, Charlie"]
[Black "Wynn, Jacob"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Your will to win saw your attack through to success, although there were
wobbles along the way.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 (3. cxd5 Nxd5 4. Nf3 Bf5 5.
Nbd2 Nb6 6. b3 e6 7. e4 Bg6 8. Bb2) 3... e6 4. Bf4 {Better!} c5 5. e3 Nc6 {[#]}
6. Bd3 (6. Nc3 {is more usual: the Knight nearly always goes to c3, but the
Bishop can wait, especially if you think Black might take on c4.}) 6... cxd4 7.
exd4 Bb4+ 8. Nc3 O-O 9. O-O Qa5 {[#]} (9... dxc4 $11 {[%eval 50,0]}) 10. Qc2 (
10. c5 $1 {and you will get the Bishop pair} Bxc3 11. bxc3 Qxc3 12. Bd6 Rd8 13.
Re1 $16) 10... Rd8 $4 (10... dxc4 $1 $16 {[%eval 129,0]}) 11. Be5 (11. cxd5 $1
$18 {[%eval 19,0] wins a pawn: it's obvious after Nxd5, but exd5 is worth
following closely:} exd5 (11... Nxd5 12. Bxh7+ $18) 12. Nb5 {(threat Bc7)} Rd7
13. a3 Bf8 14. Ne5 Re7 15. Nxc6 bxc6 16. Qxc6 Bb7 17. Qc3 $18) 11... dxc4 12.
Bxc4 Qb6 13. Ne2 $6 {Going backwards} (13. Bxf6 {[%eval -48,0]} gxf6 {[%eval
46,20]} 14. a3 Be7 15. d5 $1 $14) 13... Ng4 $6 14. Qe4 (14. Bf4 $11) 14...
Ngxe5 15. dxe5 Bc5 16. Bd3 {[#] White has finally organised a battery against
h7} Qxb2 $2 {That's very optimistic!} (16... g6 {[%eval 516,0]}) 17. Qxh7+ Kf8
18. Qh8+ $6 {A check that creates more problems for White than for Black! But
White is still OK...} (18. Rfb1 $1 {[%eval 248,0]}) 18... Ke7 {[#] Now White
has pieces attacked on h8 and d3} 19. Qxg7 $2 {Too bold -- hang on to that
Bishop!} (19. Qh4+ $1 $18 {[%eval 0,0]} Ke8 20. Rab1) 19... Rxd3 20. Ng5 $2 $19
{and hang on to that Knight!} (20. Nf4 $1 $13 {[%eval -566,0] and White has
about enough attack for the piece}) 20... Nxe5 (20... Qxe2 $5 {is also OK for
Black}) 21. Kh1 {I thought that was far too slow but you were right} Qxe2 {
[#] Now White is attacking with only two pieces, which is rarely enough, so
bring up the reserves.} 22. Rae1 $1 Qb2 $4 {[#] Exactly the wrong square!} (
22... Qh5 {[%eval 49,0]}) 23. Rxe5 $5 $11 {Hard to criticise, but not the most
accurate.} (23. Nxf7 $1 $16 {and White's attack flares back into full heat})
23... Bd4 $6 $18 (23... Qd4 $1 {[%eval 455,0] covers the Queen against
discoveries.}) 24. Qxf7+ Kd8 $2 ({The Black King had to flee with} 24... Kd6 {
[%eval 32758,0]}) 25. Qf6+ (25. Rxe6 $1 {[%eval 0,0] mates in 5} Bd7 (25...
Bxe6 26. Nxe6+ Kc8 27. Qc7#) 26. Rd6 Qb5 27. Ne6+ Kc8 28. Qe8+ Bxe8 29. Rd8#)
25... Kc7 26. Nxe6+ $2 (26. Qe7+ $1 $11 {[%eval -168,0] with perpetual check})
26... Bxe6 $19 {White's attacking team is down to two pieces again} 27. Rc5+ $2
(27. Qxe6 {[%eval -955,0]}) 27... Bxc5 $4 (27... Kd6 $1 {[%eval -116,0] and
Black should win}) 28. Qxb2 {[#] Great! But it's still about equal.} Rad8 $2
$18 (28... b6 {[%eval 372,0]}) 29. h3 $2 $19 {[#] TACTIC: fork} (29. Qe5+ $1 {
picks up a Bishop and should win for White.}) 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ng, Nathan"]
[Black "Ashworth, Jaime"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Some loose play against the French led to a lot of trouble, but Black blinked
at the wrong moment and you pounced on your chance!} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5
4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Bd7 {[#]} 6. b3 $6 ({The moves known to work here are} 6. Be2
{[%eval -56,0] and}) (6. a3) ({The tricky} 6. Bd3 {can also be tried.}) 6...
Qb6 {[#]} (6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Rc8 $15) 7. c4 {Again, too ambitious,
especially with only one piece developed,.} (7. Bb2 {[%eval -157,0]}) 7... cxd4
8. Nxd4 $4 (8. cxd5 $1 {[%eval -659,0]}) 8... Qxd4 (8... Bb4+ {is even better})
9. Qxd4 Nxd4 10. cxd5 $4 {[#] TACTIC: fork} Nc2+ {Oh dear} 11. Kd1 Nxa1 12. Bb2
Nxb3 13. axb3 exd5 14. g3 {[#] Same as last game: Black should aim to avoid
accidents, swap and win! White's task is to keep active, avoid piece swaps,
and keep looking for chances to hit back} Bc5 {Setting up an accident...} (
14... Rc8 {[%eval -465,0]}) (14... Ne7) 15. e6 $1 f6 (15... Bxe6 16. Bxg7 f6
17. Bxh8 {[#] TACTIC: net} Kf7 {and Black will be more than a piece ahead
after catching the bishop.}) 16. exd7+ Kxd7 17. Bh3+ Kd6 {[#] This is still
pretty good for Black...} 18. f4 (18. Re1 {[%eval -368,0]}) 18... Ne7 19. Re1
Rhe8 20. Nc3 Nc6 $4 {[#] TACTIC: mate} (20... Ng6 {[%eval 32766,0]}) 21. Nb5# {
And there's that accident!} 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Zeng, Jonathan"]
[Black "Ng, Nathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A fine vigorous display of chess in a gambit line. Next time, try and keep
the Queens on; your activity is even more dangerous with a full army.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 b5 {[#] I do like this move} 6. Bxb5
Qxd5 {[#] For the sake of a pawn, Black has active pieces and easy development}
7. Bxc6+ Qxc6 8. Qf3 {This seems to be today's idea!} Qxf3 (8... e4 $1 {
still must be right, retaining Queens}) 9. Nxf3 e4 {last book move} 10. Nh4 $4
{"Wozu?" (where to?) asked Alekhin in a terse note.} (10. Ne5 {[%eval -320,0]})
10... g5 $1 11. d3 gxh4 12. dxe4 (12. Bg5 {[%eval -363,0]}) 12... Nxe4 {
[#] Great! Black is winning. Time to change gear: develop, swap and win the
endgame, all the while avoiding accidents.} 13. O-O Rg8 {Looking for more? It
could have cost a piece!} 14. Re1 $1 Bb7 15. h3 (15. f3 $5 {does win a piece,
but Black's position is so good, it doesn't matter!} O-O-O 16. fxe4 h3 17. g3
Bc5+ 18. Be3 Bxe3+ 19. Rxe3 Rd1+ 20. Kf2 Rh1 {[#] With level material but a
massive advantage to Black}) 15... Bc5 16. Be3 Bxe3 (16... O-O-O) 17. Rxe3
O-O-O {[#] TACTIC: back rank mate} 18. f3 (18. Rd3 {[%eval -32755,0] was sadly
necessary}) (18. Na3 $2 Rd2 $1 {is crushing}) 18... Rd1+ {mates} 19. Kh2 Nf2 (
19... Ng3 {[%eval -2006,0]}) 20. Re2 (20. g4 {[%eval -32765,0]}) 20... Rh1# 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ng, Nathan"]
[Black "Choudhury, Anish"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Loose against the French again, and while Black won their pawn as the should,
they didn't follow up accurately, and you got some chances. However, a bit
more loose play let a piece go, and this time Black made no mistake in
finishing off.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. Nf3 {[#] This move is usually
played with a eye to sacrificing the d-pawn} Qb6 {last book move} (4... cxd4 5.
Bd3) (4... Nc6 5. Bd3 cxd4 6. O-O Bc5 7. Nbd2 Nge7 8. Nb3 Bb6 9. Bf4 Ng6 10.
Bg3 O-O 11. h4 {with some pressure for the pawn}) 5. b3 Nc6 6. Bb2 Nh6 7. Qd2
Nf5 {[#] White has defended the pawn chain and can make life awkward for Black.
} (7... cxd4 {[%eval -16,0]}) 8. c4 {This is too ambitious: the d-pawn must
fall (attacked 4 times) and White gets not much in return.} (8. dxc5 {[%eval
-146,0]} Bxc5 9. Nc3 {idea Na4} Be7 10. Bd3 $14) 8... cxd4 9. Qf4 (9. Ba3 $5 {
[%eval -236,0]}) 9... dxc4 (9... Bb4+ $5 {[%eval -95,0]}) 10. Bxc4 Bc5 11. O-O
Bd7 $6 (11... O-O $1) 12. Bd3 $1 Nb4 $6 13. Rd1 (13. Bxf5 {[%eval -126,0] and
White gets the pawn back, with a fairly level position, but it only just works}
exf5 14. Bxd4 $11 Nc2 $5 15. Bxc5 Qxc5 16. Rc1 $1) 13... O-O-O (13... Nxd3 {
[%eval 34,0] is consistent and good for Black}) 14. Na3 $4 (14. Bxf5 {[%eval
-132,0] is still best}) 14... Nxd3 15. Rxd3 {[#] TACTIC: fork} Qa6 $6 (15...
Bxa3 {[%eval 0,0] is the right move order} 16. Bxa3 Qa6) 16. Rdd1 $2 (16. Nc4
$1 $17 {[%eval -172,0] saves the piece, with fair chances to hold the game.})
16... Bxa3 17. Bxd4 $2 (17. Qc1+ {[%eval -545,0] saves the piece in a
different way, but with a worse position} Kb8 18. Bxa3 Bc6 19. Nd2 Bd5 $19)
17... Nxd4 18. Rxd4 Bc6 19. Rad1 Qb6 20. Qxf7 Bc5 21. Qxe6+ Kb8 22. Rxd8+ Rxd8
23. Rxd8+ Qxd8 24. Ng5 $4 {[#] TACTIC: back rank mate} (24. h4 {[%eval -32765,
0] is pretty hopeless}) 24... Qd1# (24... Qxg5 {should win too!}) 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Donohue, Toby"]
[Black "Caleshu, Caleb"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A49"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A long murky period of play started to turn in your favour, when White got
caught with a skewer.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. O-O O-O 6.
Nc3 Nbd7 7. b3 Re8 {last book move} 8. Re1 c6 9. Bf4 $6 {Walks into ...e5} (9.
e4 {[%eval -73,0]} e5 $11) 9... Qc7 10. e4 e5 11. Be3 Ng4 12. Bg5 (12. d5 {
[%eval -169,0]}) 12... f6 (12... exd4 {[%eval 37,0]}) 13. Bd2 Rf8 14. h3 Nh6 {
[#]} 15. Qc1 (15. Be3 {and Black lacks active play; White can follow up with
a4, Qd2, Rad1}) 15... Nf7 16. g4 (16. a4 $5 {takes ...b5 away from Black.})
16... Nb6 17. d5 $6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 17. dxe5 {[%eval -88,0]}) 17... Qd7 (
17... cxd5 $1 {[%eval 0,0]} 18. exd5 f5 $1 {and Black's position has come alive
}) 18. Nh2 Qc7 19. a4 a5 20. Be3 Nd7 (20... cxd5 {is still right}) 21. Nf3 {
White is struggling to find a set-up, let alone a plan.} (21. Nf1 {and Ng3 is
better}) 21... Nc5 22. Nh4 (22. Nd2 {[%eval -40,0]}) 22... Qe7 23. Qd2 Rd8 24.
Nf3 (24. Rad1) 24... Bd7 25. g5 (25. Nh2 {is the right plan}) 25... f5 26. Bxc5
{That's too useful a bishop to let go in this structure} (26. exf5 {[%eval -69,
0]}) 26... dxc5 27. Re3 {[#]} (27. h4 {[%eval -134,0]}) 27... f4 $1 $17 {
Black's position is starting to come together.} 28. Rd3 Be8 (28... Nxg5 $1 {
[%eval -25,0] is simple and best}) 29. Rd1 Rd6 (29... Nxg5 $1 {[%eval 70,0]})
30. dxc6 $1 Rxd3 31. Qxd3 Bxc6 32. Nd5 $2 {White has missed a couple of
tactical points, and collapses.} (32. Qc4 $1 $16 {[%eval -133,0]}) 32... Bxd5 {
[#] TACTIC: fork, skewer} 33. Qxd5 {If White had seen Black's next, they would
have preferred the other capture} (33. exd5 {[%eval -464,0]} e4 $1 {and White
can't wriggle out} 34. d6 Qe6 35. Qe2 Qf5 36. Nd2 f3 $1) 33... Rd8 $1 34. Qd3 (
34. Qxd8+ {[%eval -614,0]}) 34... Rxd3 35. Rxd3 Nxg5 36. Nxg5 Qxg5 37. Rd5 (37.
Kf1 {[%eval -32759,0]} c4 {[%eval -595,21]}) 37... f3 38. Kf1 Qxg2+ 39. Ke1
Qg1+ 40. Kd2 Qxf2+ 41. Kc3 Qe1+ 42. Kc4 Qb4+ 43. Kd3 f2 44. Rd8+ Bf8 45. Ke3
Qe1+ 46. Kf3 f1=Q+ 47. Kg4 Qxe4+ 48. Kg3 Qfg2# 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Caleshu, Caleb"]
[Black "Gilbert, Harri"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C07"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A wild game where Black did well to create enough confusion to get a draw,
although standing back you might kick yourself for not winning this one.} 1. e4
e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 {[#]} 4. c3 {last book move} ({The main lines start} 4.
exd5 exd5 (4... Qxd5 {and White has more space after} 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6
7. O-O Nf6 8. Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Nxd4 a6 11. Re1 Qc7 12. Qe2) 5. dxc5 {
and you can play against the IQP}) ({If you want a less committal move here,}
4. Ngf3 {is best}) 4... Nd7 $6 $14 (4... Nc6) 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 (6. Nxd4 {
avoids an IQP}) 6... Bb4 (6... dxe4 7. Nxe4 $11 {and Black can play against a
white IQP}) 7. Bb5 (7. e5 $1 {[%eval -59,0] and Black's pieces are on the
wrong squares for this structure}) 7... dxe4 $1 $15 8. Ne5 Ngf6 (8... a6) (8...
Ne7) 9. O-O O-O (9... a6) 10. a3 Bd6 11. Nxd7 Bxd7 {[#]} 12. Be2 $2 e5 $6 {
A bit greedy} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 12... Bc7 {[%eval -77,0] and Black has a pawn
and the better position.}) 13. Nc4 Qe7 14. Bg5 {Creating some useful tension}
h6 $2 {Black doesn't appreciate the dangers in this position.} (14... exd4 $1 {
[%eval 68,0]} 15. Qxd4 Bc7) 15. Bxf6 gxf6 {[#] TACTIC: discovery} 16. dxe5 $2 (
16. Nxd6 $1 {[%eval -16,0] is the right move order} Qxd6 17. dxe5 Qe6 18. exf6
Rfd8 19. Qd4 Bb5 20. Qe3 $16) 16... fxe5 $4 (16... Bxe5 $1 {[%eval 412,0]
ecapes}) 17. Nxd6 {[#] White is a clear piece up, but now Black does a good
job in playing a losing position actively.} Kh8 18. g3 $2 ({Stockfish 8 64:}
18. Qd2 {[%eval 261,0] keeps all of White's advantage.}) 18... Bh3 19. Nxe4
Bxf1 20. Qxf1 f5 21. Nc3 f4 22. Bd3 Qg5 23. Ne4 Qg7 {[#]} 24. Qh3 (24. Qe2 {
central is better}) 24... f3 (24... Rf7 {[%eval 435,0]} 25. Nc5 {[%eval 318,21]
}) 25. Kf1 (25. Nc5 {[%eval 272,0] targeting e6; White can't go passive.})
25... Rad8 26. Rd1 (26. Bc2 {[%eval 147,0]}) 26... Rd5 (26... Qg6 {[%eval 339,
0]}) 27. b4 {Not on point.} (27. Nc3 {[%eval 0,0] or}) (27. Bc2 {reorganise
your pieces}) 27... b6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 27... Rfd8 {[%eval 343,0] looks more
constructive}) 28. Ke1 {[#] Nearly brilliant} Rf4 $5 (28... Rfd8 {[%eval 1064,
0]} 29. Bc2 {[%eval 353,22]}) 29. Qc8+ (29. gxf4 $1 {is actually fine, both
sides must have been seeing ghosts!} Qg1+ 30. Bf1 $1 $18 {and White has it in
the bag} ({even after} 30. Kd2 Rxd3+ 31. Kxd3 Qxd1+ {and Black can't pick off
the Knight} 32. Nd2 $1 $18 (32. Kc3 $2 Qc1+ 33. Kd3 Qb1+ {is perpetual check})
(32. Kc4 Qe2+ 33. Kd5 Qd3+ 34. Kxe5))) 29... Rf8 30. Qh3 (30. Qc6 {[%eval 0,0]}
) 30... Qg6 31. Qh4 (31. Bc2 {[%eval 251,0] untangles and should win}) 31...
Rd4 32. h3 {again a bit off the pace} 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Hidouci, Naila"]
[Black "Caleshu, Caleb"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A sharp variation led to some early wobbles, but you played a fine attack
once the game settled down.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3
Bb4 $2 {[#] I like the atttitude, but you shouldn't play trappy variations
where your opponent has a path to advantage. I think I caught you doing this
last year too!} 6. Bd3 {last book move} (6. e5 $1 Nd5 7. Qg4 $1 {and White has
a winning game, even if Black has counterplay See https://www.youtube.com/
watch?v=TvipCjxqGiM}) 6... Qa5 $2 {Probably trying a bit hard} (6... d6 {
covers e5}) 7. Bd2 a6 $2 {Too slow for this position!} 8. O-O (8. a3) 8... Nc6
9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. a3 {[#] TACTIC: discovery} Bd6 $4 (10... Bf8 $5 $16 {[%eval
335,0] is ugly but survivable}) 11. Re1 (11. Nb5 $1 $18 {[%eval 16,0] wins})
11... Qe5 {[#] Active, but at this stage of the game, just a target. We now go
through an odd phase where White gives Black lots of chances to play Qxh2+ and
Black declines.} (11... Qc7 $1 $14 {[%eval 183,0] hangs on}) 12. Qf3 $2 (12. f4
$1 $18) (12. g3 $5 $16 {[%eval -33,0]}) 12... g5 $2 (12... Qxh2+ $1 $15 {
[%eval 128,0]}) 13. Be3 (13. g3 $1 $18 {[%eval 0,0]}) 13... g4 $2 $16 (13...
Qxh2+ $1 {[%eval 98,0]}) 14. Qd1 $4 (14. Qg3 $1 $16 {[%eval -217,0]}) 14... Qh5
({Stockfish 8 64:} 14... Qxh2+ $1 {[%eval 99,0]}) 15. Kf1 (15. g3 $1 $16) 15...
Rg8 $17 (15... Qxh2 $1 $19 {[%eval -64,0]}) 16. Bd4 e5 17. Be3 Qxh2 {[#] At
last!} 18. Bd2 $4 {No idea what that was supposed to achieve.} (18. g3 {
[%eval -503,0]}) 18... g3 $1 19. fxg3 {[#] TACTIC: mate} (19. Ke2 {[%eval
-1545,0]}) 19... Qh1+ {The most accurate move was the most obvious one.} (19...
Rxg3 $1 {[%eval -306,0] and White has to play} 20. Qf3 {to avoid mate}) 20. Kf2
Ng4+ (20... Qh2 $1) 21. Kf3 (21. Qxg4 $1 {[%eval -297,0]}) 21... Qh5 22. Ke2 {
[#]} (22. Rh1 {[%eval -1013,0]}) 22... Qh2 (22... Ne3+ $1 {[%eval -279,0] wins
the Queen or the King} 23. Kxe3 Bc5#) 23. Kf3 (23. Rg1 {[%eval -2459,0]}) 23...
Rg6 (23... Ne3) 24. Bc4 (24. Qb1 {[%eval -1997,0]}) 24... Rf6+ {[#] The poor
white king is bullied until it's mated.} 25. Ke2 (25. Bf4 {[%eval -32757,0]})
25... Qxg2+ 26. Kd3 Nf2+ 27. Ke3 Nxd1+ 28. Raxd1 Qf3# 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Page, Toby"]
[Black "Liu, Jerry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Some vague early play led to some carelessness by Black, and you seized your
chances very well.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bd7 5. O-O e6 {
[#] White is playing 'normal' moves, which usually leads to trouble as Black
and equality at best for White. But Black is playing the Sicilian, which is
the most accident-prone of defences...} 6. d3 Nge7 {Unnecessarily cramping the
Bishop.} (6... Be7) (6... Nf6) 7. Be3 g6 $4 {[#] Black now has targets on d6
f6 and h6, and can hardly defend them all. This is the trouble with the
Sicilian; Black is often tempted to lots of pawn moves, and that can be
dangerous.} (7... a6 {[%eval 136,0] and Black has hopes of a plus}) 8. d4 $1 {
Good timing!} b6 $2 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 8... a6 {[%eval 248,0] or}) (8... cxd4
9. Bxd4 e5 {should have been tried}) 9. d5 $1 Na5 (9... exd5 $1 {[%eval 327,0]}
10. Bg5 $1 d4 11. Nd5 {threatening mate!} Qb8 12. c3 {is winning for White})
10. dxe6 (10. Ng5 $1 {is even better}) 10... fxe6 11. Qxd6 Bxb5 (11... Nec6 {
[%eval 429,0]}) 12. Qxd8+ (12. Nxb5 $1 {[%eval 198,0] keeps up the pressure}
Qxd6 13. Nxd6+ Kd7 14. Rad1 $18) 12... Rxd8 13. Nxb5 Nec6 14. Rfd1 Rxd1+ 15.
Rxd1 Nc4 16. Nc7+ Ke7 (16... Kf7 {[%eval 671,0]}) 17. Bg5+ Kf7 18. Rd7+ Kg8 {
[#] I often say, you won't get mated in the endgame, but White's attack
persists after the Queen swap.} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 18... Be7 {[%eval 905,0]})
19. Nxe6 N4e5 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxa7 Nf7 22. Bf6 (22. Ra8 $1) 22... Nh6 23.
Bxh8 b5 (23... Kxh8 {[%eval 5305,0]}) 24. Nxf8 Kxh8 25. Rxh7+ Kg8 26. Rxh6 Kxf8
27. Rxg6 {[#] And White won without further incident.} c4 28. e5 Kf7 29. Rf6+
Ke7 30. Rb6 c3 31. bxc3 Kd7 32. e6+ Ke7 33. f4 Kf8 34. Rb7 Ke8 35. e7 b4 36.
cxb4 Kf7 37. e8=Q+ Kf6 (37... Kxe8 {might as well!}) 38. Qe5+ Kg6 39. Rb6+ (39.
Rg7+ Kh6 40. Qg5#) 39... Kf7 40. Qc7+ 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Swamy, Anshul"]
[Black "Page, Toby"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "87"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A fairly level opening led to a fairly level endgame, when you were tempted
to try an idea that had previously worked, but now led to disaster.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 {[#]} Bb4 {This has been played but is believed to
be bad for Black.} (4... exd4 {is best, when} 5. Nxd4 Bb4 {is the main line})
5. dxe5 $6 Nxe4 6. Bd2 {[#] TACTIC: pin} Nxd2 (6... Bxc3 7. Bxc3 Nxc3 8. bxc3 {
makes a mess of White's pawns, then} Qe7 {should win the e-pawn}) 7. Qxd2 d6 8.
exd6 Qxd6 9. Qxd6 cxd6 {[#] Sadly for Black, they end up with the messier
pawns!} (9... Bxd6) 10. Bd3 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 {More mess; the mess and the
position are abot equal.} Bg4 12. Nd4 O-O 13. O-O g6 14. Rab1 Rab8 15. Rb2 {[#]
} Nxd4 (15... Rfc8) (15... Ne5) 16. cxd4 d5 17. Rfb1 Rfe8 18. h3 Bc8 19. c4
dxc4 20. Bxc4 {[#] White has managed to make a passed pawn, but it's still
equal.} b6 21. d5 Rd8 22. Rd1 Be6 $5 {Tricky! [#] TACTIC: pin} 23. Rbd2 Bf5 24.
Bb5 Rd6 25. Rc1 Rbd8 26. Rcd1 Be4 27. Bc6 Kg7 28. f3 Bf5 {[#] White's game
looks good, but it has reached a peak and can't go forward easily.} 29. g4 Be6
$4 {It worked then but not now!} (29... Bd7 {[%eval 658,0]}) 30. dxe6 $1 Rxd2 (
30... Rxe6 {[%eval 847,0]}) 31. Rxd2 Rxd2 32. e7 {[#] and White goes a piece
up, not an exchange down.} Re2 33. e8=Q (33. Be4 {[%eval 380,0]}) 33... Rxe8
34. Bxe8 Kf8 35. Bb5 a5 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 35... Ke7 {[%eval 654,0]}) 36. Kf2
Ke7 37. Ke3 Ke6 38. Kd4 Kd6 39. Bc4 f6 40. f4 h6 41. h4 g5 42. fxg5 fxg5 43.
hxg5 hxg5 44. Ke4 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Page, Toby"]
[Black "Kumar, Ishaan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B28"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You were a bit vague early on, and while you kept coming up with ideas, it
was hard to make them stick. But two weakening moves by Black made you sit up
and notice, and in the end Black allowed a back rank mate.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 (2.
c3 {is my recommendation.}) 2... a6 {[#] O'Kelly's variation, which has a
cunning plan.} 3. Bc4 (3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 $1 6. Nf3 Bb4 $1 {
and Black is doing very well}) (3. c3 {or}) (3. c4 {ask harder questions, like,
how does ...a6 help Black now?}) 3... Nc6 4. Nc3 d6 {[#] 'Normal' moves again;
you need a proper system! You now waste time getting rid of your fine Bishop.}
5. Bd5 Bd7 6. Bxc6 Bxc6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 Nf6 9. Nxc6 bxc6 10. Bg5 e5 {
Creating a backward pawn on d6.} (10... e6 {[%eval 70,0]}) 11. Qf3 (11. Qd3 Be7
12. O-O-O $16 {and Black has problems.}) 11... Be7 12. Bxf6 Bxf6 13. Rd1 O-O
14. Qd3 Be7 $14 15. Qc4 (15. O-O {is natural and good}) 15... c5 $4 {[#]
Suddenly this is perfect for White, with a monster Knight against a bishop not
much better than a pawn.} (15... Qb6 {[%eval 106,0]} 16. b3 {[%eval 10,21]})
16. Nd5 {No rush!} Re8 17. Nxe7+ {If that doesn't win a pawn, you should keep
the Knight.} (17. O-O $16 {[%eval 28,0]}) 17... Rxe7 18. Qd5 Rb8 19. Qxd6 {
[#] TACTIC: back rank mate} Qxd6 $2 (19... Qa5+ {[%eval 139,0]} 20. Qd2 (20. c3
Ree8 {and Black gets back a pawn}) 20... Qxa2 21. Qd8+ Re8) 20. Rxd6 Rxb2 $4 (
20... f6 {[%eval 32764,0]}) 21. Rd8+ 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Sequeira, Alfie"]
[Black "Rathkey, Nia"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A fair start to a game but a premature conclusion!} 1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3
Bf5 4. Nf3 (4. c4) 4... e6 5. Nbd2 {last book move} (5. c4 Bxb1 6. Rxb1 Bb4+ 7.
Ke2) 5... Nc6 {[#] I would keep the c-pawn free; put your Knight on d7, or
move the c-pawn to c5 first. That way, your Rc8 might have a proper job!} (5...
Nbd7) 6. c3 Bd6 7. Ne5 {[#] We saw lots of these 'leaps into the dark' in
Chepstow; usually they lost a pawn, or risked doing so, like this one!} Nd7 (
7... Bxe5 $1 {[%eval 18,0]} 8. dxe5 (8. Bxe5 Nxe5 9. dxe5 Nd7 10. f4 $17 Qe7)
8... Nd7 9. Nf3 (9. Bb5 $1) 9... Be4) 8. Nxd7 (8. Nxc6 $1 {is best, making a
mess of Black's pawns.}) 8... Qxd7 9. Bxd6 Qxd6 10. g3 O-O-O 11. Bg2 g6 {
[#] Making many weaknesses and risking leaving the Bishop in a net!} (11... e5)
12. O-O h5 13. Nf3 Bg4 14. Qc2 Bxf3 15. Bxf3 {[#] White's Bishop is
theoretically 'good' but is actually very blocked in. So Black is a little
better, but has spent too much time on the clock to want to try and win it.} (
15. Bxf3 h4 (15... f5) (15... e5)) 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Miles, Elliot"]
[Black "Sequeira, Alfie"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C00"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Black got hold of this game nicely and White was tempted to unsound means to
continue, and found themselves losing. But you let them off when you agreed a
draw in time trouble.} 1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 c5 {This can be risky, as
lines open up when you're behind in development. ...c5 is a move to be played
after the centre is closed with e4-e5, or maybe after an awkward move like Nd2}
(3... Nf6) 4. d4 {[#] Correctly opening the centre} Nc6 5. Bb5 (5. Bf4 $1 $16)
5... a6 6. Bxc6+ bxc6 {This swap has strenthened the Black position and made
it easier to hold files at least half-closed.} 7. Be3 Nf6 $2 (7... cxd4 $1 {
[%eval 58,0]} 8. Bxd4 c5 9. Be5 d4 10. Ne2 $17 {Black has no development, but
it doesn't matter, as their mighty centre cannot be got around.}) 8. Qd3 (8.
dxc5 $1 $16 {[%eval -35,0] is awkward for Black}) 8... c4 (8... cxd4 $5) 9. Qe2
Bb4 {[#] TACTIC: pin} 10. a3 $2 {Forcing Black to carry out their threat!} ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 10. e5 {[%eval -163,0]}) 10... Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxe4 12. Bf4 Qa5
(12... Nxc3 {is fine too}) 13. O-O O-O 14. Qe3 Qxc3 15. Qc1 Bd7 {[#]} 16. Bh6
$4 {White must have had a rush of blood to the head.} (16. Re1 {[%eval -593,0]}
) 16... gxh6 17. Ne5 (17. Qxh6 f6 {and White has no attack.}) 17... Rfd8 (17...
Rad8 18. Qxh6) 18. f3 Qxd4+ 19. Kh1 Qxe5 20. fxe4 Qxe4 21. Qxh6 Qg6 22. Qf4 Kf8
{That's probably not the right way to run} ({even} 22... f6 {is nice for Black,
daring White to take the pawn and swap Queens}) 23. Qd6+ Ke8 {[#] Drawn again
for want of time. I expect you are fretting over small differences early on,
which are too small to affect the result of the game, and then getting very
short of time, which does affect the result!} 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Godfrey, Benjamin"]
[Black "Sequeira, Alfie"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{This came together nicely in the last round, when you played positively and
soundly and got a good win to go home with.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4.
Bf4 (4. e4 {[%eval -15,0]}) 4... d5 {[#] We have ended up in a blocked d-pawn
position where both c-pawns are blocked by Knights. I ask both players the
same question: along which file will you develop your Queen's Rook?} 5. e3 Bb4
6. a3 Ba5 (6... Bxc3+ {makes more sense; the bishop might get buried on b6}) 7.
b4 (7. Bb5 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. Ne5) 7... Bb6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Ne5 a5
{[#] This is pretty good for White; Black's pieces lack scope.} 11. b5 $4 {
Drops a pawn and releases Black's bishops} (11. O-O {[%eval -48,0]}) 11... cxb5
12. Nxd7 Qxd7 13. Qd3 c6 14. O-O Bc7 15. Bxc7 Qxc7 16. a4 b4 17. Ne2 {[#]
Quite a transformation!} O-O 18. Rab1 Rab8 (18... c5 $1 {finally opens the
c-file (and gets rid of the backward pawn)}) 19. Qa6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 19. c3
{[%eval -304,0]}) 19... Qb6 (19... c5 $1 {[%eval -151,0]}) 20. Qxb6 Rxb6 21.
Nc1 Ne4 22. Nb3 Rc8 23. Rfd1 $2 {[#] TACTIC: fork} (23. f3 {[%eval -315,0]})
23... Nc3 24. Re1 Nxb1 25. Rxb1 Ra8 26. Nc5 {[#] That's a fine square for the
Knight, and Black's rooks are still looking for a file to work on.} Re8 $1 {
That will help!} 27. Nd7 Rb7 28. Nc5 Rbe7 29. c3 (29. f4 {[%eval -427,0]
doesn't really help:} f6 $1) 29... bxc3 30. Rc1 e5 $1 {[#]} 31. Rxc3 $2 ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 31. dxe5 {[%eval -638,0]} Rxe5 32. Rxc3 (32. Kf1 d4) (32. Nd3
Re4 33. Rxc3 Rxa4) 32... d4 $1) 31... exd4 $1 32. Rd3 dxe3 33. Rd1 (33. Kf1 {
[%eval -852,0]}) 33... e2 34. Re1 Rb8 35. Nd3 c5 36. g3 c4 37. Nf4 {[#]} Rb2 (
37... d4 $1 {is crisp:} 38. Rxe2 (38. Nxe2 d3) 38... Rxe2 39. Nxe2 d3 40. Nc3
Rb3) 38. Nxd5 Rd7 39. Nc3 Rdd2 40. Kg2 Rbc2 {[#] Something must give.} 41. Nb1
Rd1 42. Rxe2 Rxe2 43. Nc3 Red2 44. Ne4 Rd4 45. Nc5 c3 46. Nb3 c2 47. Nxa5 c1=Q
48. Nb3 Rg1+ 49. Kh3 Qh6# 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Bracey, Tom"]
[Black "Nukalapati, Sarthak"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C68"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{There were some minor points to note early on but the big events were some
threats that you overlooked.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 bxc6 {
[#] That's the worse capture.} (4... dxc6) 5. Nxe5 (5. d4 {is best, ignoring
the chance to grab the e-pawn, as you can't hang on to it.}) 5... Qe7 (5... Qg5
{is also OK}) 6. d4 {[#]} f6 (6... d6 {is more often played:} 7. Nxc6 Qxe4+ 8.
Qe2 Qxe2+ 9. Kxe2 Bb7 10. d5 Bxc6 11. dxc6 Ne7 $11) 7. Nf3 Qxe4+ 8. Be3 d5 9.
Nc3 (9. Nbd2 {is a little more accurate}) 9... Bb4 {[#]} 10. Nd2 $2 {
retreating and losing a pawn! Even if the Queen went away to g6, this is still
a worse spot for the Knight, so at best this is a one-move-deep idea that is
better for Black. As it happens, though, Black can make lots of trouble for
you.} (10. Qd2 {[%eval -197,0] and White has a whisper of a plus}) 10... Qxg2
11. Qf3 Qxf3 12. Nxf3 Ne7 {[#] TACTIC: pin} 13. O-O-O $2 ({Oddly, the best
move might be} 13. Nd2) 13... Bg4 14. Ne2 $4 {Digging the hole deeper! [#]
TACTIC: fork} (14. Nh4 {[%eval -775,0]}) 14... Bxf3 15. c3 Bxh1 16. Rxh1 {
[#] White is a rook down with no active play.} Ba5 17. Nf4 Ng6 18. Ne6 Kf7 19.
Nc5 Bb6 20. Nd7 Rad8 21. Nc5 Bxc5 22. dxc5 Ne5 23. f4 Nc4 24. Bd4 Rhe8 25. b3
Ne3 26. Kd2 Nf5 27. Bf2 d4 28. c4 d3 29. Rf1 Re2+ 30. Kd1 Ne3+ 31. Bxe3 Rxe3
32. Kd2 Re2+ 33. Kd1 Rxa2 34. Re1 {[#]} Ra1+ (34... Rb8 {mates}) 35. Kd2 Rxe1
36. Kxe1 g5 37. f5 h5 38. Kd2 g4 39. Ke1 d2+ 40. Kd1 h4 41. b4 g3 42. b5 g2 43.
b6 g1=Q+ 44. Kc2 Qc1+ 45. Kb3 d1=Q+ 46. Kb4 Qb2+ 47. Ka5 Qda1# 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Matthews, Rhys"]
[Black "Bracey, Tom"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "118"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Again, you missed something important! You fought back well and hard but you
had a mountain to climb, and in the end it was too much to recover.} 1. e4 e5
2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. d4 {[#]} Bb4 {last book move} (4... exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 {
is the right approach.}) 5. Bg5 Nxe4 $4 {Hard to understand how you missed
what comes next!} (5... exd4 {[%eval 495,0] is OK}) 6. Bxd8 Bxc3+ ({Stockfish
8 64:} 6... Nxc3 {[%eval 799,0]}) 7. bxc3 Nxd8 8. Qd3 d5 9. Nxe5 Bf5 10. Qe3
O-O 11. Bd3 f6 12. Nf3 Re8 13. O-O Nf7 14. c4 Ng3 15. hxg3 Rxe3 16. fxe3 Be6
17. cxd5 Bxd5 18. Kf2 c6 19. Rh1 h6 20. c4 Be6 21. Rac1 Nd6 22. Rh5 Bg4 23. Rh4
Bf5 24. Bxf5 Nxf5 25. Rf4 Nd6 26. d5 c5 27. Nd2 g5 28. Rxf6 Nf7 29. Ne4 Re8 30.
Kf3 Ne5+ 31. Ke2 Ng4 32. Re6 Rf8 33. d6 b6 34. Rd1 Rd8 35. d7 Kf8 $2 {Bad, but
for a reason that was hard to see coming.} 36. Nd6 Rxd7 37. Re8+ Kg7 {[#]
TACTIC: discovery} 38. Nf5+ Kf6 $2 (38... Kf7 39. Rxd7+ Kxe8 40. Rxa7) 39. Rxd7
Kxf5 {Stockfish tells me it's mate in 12 from here.} 40. Kf3 Kf6 41. Rf8+ ({
Have I got the moves right? If so,} 41. Kxg4 {looks best!}) 41... Kg6 {[#]
TACTIC: fork} 42. e4 Ne5+ 43. Ke3 Nxd7 {You've got a bit of the way back, but
it's very tough; I don't think either player missed anything important for the
rest of the game.} 44. Rf1 a6 45. Kd3 Ne5+ 46. Kc3 b5 47. Rf5 Nd7 48. Rd5 Nf6
49. Rd6 b4+ 50. Kb3 Kf7 51. e5 Ne4 52. Rd3 Ke6 53. a3 bxa3 54. Kxa3 Kxe5 55.
Ka4 Nd6 56. Rd5+ Ke6 57. Rxc5 Ne4 58. Rc6+ Ke5 59. Rxa6 Nxg3 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Bracey, Tom"]
[Black "Ryan, Tabitha"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You were a little on the back foot and keen to win back a pawn when you
overlooked a back rank mate.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Bg5 (
5. Be3 {is an easy system to try}) 5... Nc6 {last book move} 6. Bb5 Bd7 7. d5
Ne5 8. Bxd7+ Qxd7 9. Qd2 (9. Nxe5 {[%eval -37,0]} dxe5 10. f3 {and White has
much the better bishop.}) 9... Qg4 10. O-O-O (10. Nxe5 Qxg2 11. O-O-O dxe5 12.
Rhg1 Qh3 13. Kb1) 10... Qxg2 11. Nxe5 dxe5 12. Rdg1 (12. Rhg1 {or}) (12. Qe3 {
would be better}) 12... Qh3 13. Rg3 Qd7 {[#] White is a pawn down and needs
some active plan.} 14. Bh6 $2 {Swaps a good bishop for a pretty duff one.} Bxh6
15. Qxh6 O-O-O 16. Qe3 Kb8 17. Qc5 Qd6 18. Qa5 Qb6 {[#] TACTIC: fork Black
correctly seeks a Queen swap.} 19. Qa3 (19. Qxb6 {[%eval -201,0] was better})
19... Qxf2 20. Qxe7 Qf4+ 21. Kb1 Nxe4 22. Nxe4 Qxe4 {[#] TACTIC: back rank mate
} 23. Qxf7 (23. Rc1 {[%eval -32761,0]}) 23... Qxh1+ 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Keay, Joshua"]
[Black "Ryan, Tabitha"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{I don't think you knew what to do against Black's system, but while that's
confusing, there were a couple of bad misses in your thinking.} 1. e4 d6 2. d4
Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 {[#] Oh dear, this again!} 4. Bc4 {Not a bad system} Bg7 {[#]} 5.
Bg5 (5. Qe2 Nc6 6. e5 Nxd4 7. exf6 Nxe2 8. fxg7 Rg8 9. Ngxe2 Rxg7 10. Bh6 Rg8
11. O-O-O {[#] is an amazing line; White is worse on paper but on the board
their many pieces will coordinate better than Black's} e6 12. h4 Qf6 13. Ne4
Qe5 14. N2c3 d5 15. Bxd5 $1 exd5 16. Nxd5 f5 17. Nef6+ Kf7 18. Rhe1 Qxe1 19.
Rxe1 Be6 20. Nxc7 Rac8 21. Nxg8 Rxc7 22. Bf4 {1-0 ( 22 ) Bagrationi,A ( 2485 )
-Skorchenko,D ( 2487 ) Dombai 2014}) 5... Nc6 6. d5 {That's not kind to the
view of your Bishop.} Ne5 7. Bxf6 (7. Be2 {[%eval -66,0]}) 7... Bxf6 {[#]} 8.
Nf3 $4 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 8. Bb3 {[%eval -420,0]}) 8... Nxc4 9. Qd3 Nxb2 $2 10.
Qb5+ $1 Qd7 (10... c6 {[%eval -156,0]}) 11. Qxb2 Qg4 {[#]} 12. h3 $2 {Having
dug your way out of one hole, you jump down another!} (12. O-O {[%eval -263,0]}
) 12... Qxg2 (12... Qxe4+ {[%eval 89,0]}) 13. Rg1 $4 (13. Ke2 {[%eval -784,0]})
13... Qxf3 14. Qb5+ (14. Rg3 {[%eval -2044,0]}) 14... Bd7 15. Qxb7 (15. Qe2 {
[%eval -32757,0]}) 15... Rd8 (15... Bxc3+ {[%eval -1363,0]}) 16. Rd1 $4 (16.
Ne2 {[%eval -3204,0]}) 16... Bxc3+ 17. Rd2 Bxd2+ 18. Kxd2 Qxf2+ 19. Kc1 Qxg1+ {
[#] Black has been given a winning position.} 20. Kb2 Qb6+ 21. Qxb6 axb6 22.
Kb3 Bxh3 23. a4 Ra8 24. c4 Bg2 25. Kb4 Bxe4 26. Kb5 Kd7 27. c5 dxc5 28. d6 Bc6+
29. Kc4 Rxa4+ 30. Kb3 {[#] I can't follow the rest; the score gives Nh4 but 7.
Bxf6 and Qxb2 removed the Knights!} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Cummins, Thomas"]
[Black "Keay, Josh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C57"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "33"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Another blunder, but not as painful as White's!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Nf6 4. Ng5 d5 5. exd5 Nxd5 $2 6. O-O $2 (6. Nxf7 $5 {and}) (6. d4 $5 {are both
dangerous for Black}) 6... Qxg5 7. Bxd5 {[#] TACTIC: discovery Black should
step out of the way of the Bc1} Be6 $6 (7... Qg6) 8. d4 Bxd5 $4 (8... Qf5 $1 {
[%eval 754,0]}) 9. Bxg5 exd4 10. Re1+ Be7 $2 11. Nc3 (11. Bxe7 Nxe7 12. Qg4)
11... Bc4 $4 (11... Be6 $1 {[%eval 1016,0]}) 12. Na4 (12. Rxe7+ $1 {[%eval 655,
0] is more direct} Nxe7 13. Qxd4 Be6 14. Qxg7 Rg8 15. Qf6 Nc6 16. Re1) 12...
O-O 13. Rxe7 b5 14. Nc5 Rfd8 15. Rxc7 Re8 16. Rxc6 Be2 17. Qd2 {[#] White has
a crushing advantage here, but I believe a back rank mate undid the expected
result.} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Keay, Josh"]
[Black "Matthews, Rhys"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Black did all the right French things early on, and got a winning game, but
took some terrible risks in picking fights with a smaller gang. So there was one glorious moment when you could have turned things around, and even after that you had chances to tie things up. Seize the carp!}
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 {last
book move} 6. Nbd2 {(# Now we see the variation where Black grabs the pawn}
cxd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Kxd7 {(#} 11. Qf3 ({
White must race to develop and attack, or they will just lose the endgame} 11.
O-O) 11... Ke8 ({There was no harm in} 11... Qxe5+) 12. Nb3 (12. Qe2 {[%eval
-191,0]}) 12... Qxe5+ 13. Be3 Bb4+ 14. Kf1 Rc8 15. Rc1 (15. Bd4 {[%eval -218,0]
}) 15... Rxc1+ 16. Nxc1 {Now Black is winning, the main thing is to avoid
accidents, and that suggests a knight move and castling} Qxb2 17. Nd3 Qb1+ 18.
Bc1 Ba3 (18... h5 {[%eval -205,0]}) 19. Ke2 (19. g3 {[%eval -401,0]}) 19...
Qxa2+ 20. Bd2 Qc4 (20... Nf6 {[%eval -79,0]}) 21. Rd1 {(#} Bc1 {is 'attacking'
but it's really two against four. Bc5 That's one fake attack too many! (#
TACTIC: skewer} ({Qg3 2.55} 21... Ne7 {[%eval -356,0]}) 22. Be3 (22. Rxc1 {
[%eval -258,0] wins for White}) 22... Bxe3 23. Qxe3 Qa2+ (23... Qe4 {[%eval
-134,0]}) 24. Kf3 (24. Rd2 {[%eval -353,0]}) 24... Qa4 25. Rc1 {(#} Qb5 ({
If you’re ever in the same position, please get your king safe!} 25... Ne7) 26. Qxa7 (26. Rc8+ {[%eval -735,0] and
White stands better as Black is tied up}) 26... Qxd3+ 27. Kf4 (27. Qe3 {
[%eval -1995,0]}) 27... Qe4+ (27... e5+ {[%eval -870,0]}) 28. Kg3 Qe5+ (28...
Qg6+) (28... Nh6 {[%eval -530,0]}) 29. f4 {(# and Black won.} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mokhovik, Roman"]
[Black "NN"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A bit of a home-made system against the French left you defending a poor
position, when further errors are easy to make.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4.
c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 Qb6 {(# TACTIC: interference} 6. Nbd2 {This unusual move is
effectively a gambit, as it reduces the defences of the d-pawn} Bd7 {last book
move} (6... cxd4 7. cxd4 Nxd4 8. Nxd4 Qxd4 {grabbing the pawn accepts that
White can nudge the King out of being able to castle} 9. Bb5+) 7. Qb3 (7. Nb3 {
[%eval -81,0]}) 7... Qxb3 (7... cxd4 {[%eval -2,0]}) 8. Nxb3 cxd4 9. cxd4 Bb4+
10. Bd2 Bxd2+ 11. Nfxd2 Nge7 {(# TACTIC: discovery This is about equal, but
your next move allows Black to win a pawn after all.} 12. Bb5 (12. Nf3 {
[%eval -95,0]}) 12... O-O (12... Nxe5 {[%eval -19,0]}) 13. Nc5 {That undefends
d4} Bc8 14. b4 (14. Nf3 {[%eval -227,0]}) 14... Nxd4 15. Bd3 a5 (15... Nec6 {
[%eval -158,0]}) 16. Rb1 (16. bxa5 {[%eval -251,0]}) 16... b6 17. Ncb3 Nxb3 18.
Rxb3 Ba6 (18... axb4 {[%eval -120,0]}) 19. Bxa6 Rxa6 20. b5 Raa8 {(# Black is
a clear pawn up, and it's passed, too. White needs to find some threats, fast.}
21. a4 {Too slow!} (21. Nf3 {[%eval -245,0]}) 21... Rac8 22. O-O (22. Ke2 {
In an endgame, you won't get mated, so use your King to fight!}) 22... h6 23.
f4 Nf5 24. Rd3 Rfd8 25. Nb3 (25. g4 {[%eval -282,0]}) 25... Rc4 26. g4 Nh4 27.
Rc1 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 27. Nd4 {[%eval -487,0]}) 27... Rdc8 {(# Things have
got worse} 28. Rxc4 Rxc4 (28... dxc4) 29. Nd4 {(# TACTIC: decoy} ({Stockfish 8
64:} 29. Rh3 {[%eval -920,0]}) 29... Rxd4 30. Rxd4 (30. Rc3 {[%eval -1754,0]})
30... Nf3+ 31. Kf2 Nxd4 {(# Black is winning} 32. Ke3 Nb3 33. f5 Nc5 34. Kd4
Nxa4 35. fxe6 fxe6 36. Kd3 Nc5+ 37. Kd2 Nb3+ 38. Kc3 Nc5 39. Kd4 a4 40. Kc3 Nd7
41. Kb4 Nxe5 42. h3 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ryan, Tabitha"]
[Black "Mokhovik, Roman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Some back-and-forth play settled down with Black pressing hard, and you won
nicely in the end.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 Bg4 4. e3 {last book move} g6 (
4... e6 {[%eval 83,0]}) 5. c3 Bg7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. Be2 {(# A solid position for
both sides and it's about equal. It's not clear what either player should be
trying to do.} Ne4 {But that just leads to trouble.} ({I'd be happy to grab
the Bishop pair with} 7... Nh5) 8. Nxe4 dxe4 9. Nd2 Bf5 10. O-O Qd7 {(# TACTIC:
undermining} (10... Nd7 {[%eval 197,0]}) 11. Be5 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 11. g4 {
[%eval 0,0] wins a pawn}) 11... Bxe5 12. dxe5 Nc6 13. Nc4 Qxd1 14. Rfxd1 Rad8
15. h3 Be6 {(# Now Black undermines White's forward pawn!} 16. Re1 (16. Nd2 {
[%eval -177,0]}) 16... Bxc4 17. Bxc4 Nxe5 {(#} 18. Bd5 (18. Bb3 {[%eval -566,0]
}) 18... Nd3 ({Have I got this position right?} 18... Rxd5 {was simple enough})
19. Re2 (19. Bxe4 {[%eval -586,0]}) 19... Rxd5 20. c4 Rd7 21. Rd2 Rfd8 22. f3
exf3 23. gxf3 c6 24. Rad1 Ne5 {(# It's grim for White, but it's even worse
with no pieces left to fight with.} 25. Rxd7 Rxd7 26. Rxd7 Nxd7 27. Kf2 Nc5 28.
b4 Na4 29. a3 b6 30. Ke2 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Lewis, Wynn"]
[Black "Mokhovik, Roman"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C47"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A blunder put you ahead early on. White did have one brief moment to turn
things around, but happily they missed the chance!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4
Nf6 4. Nc3 (4. d4 {or}) (4. Ng5 {are much better}) 4... Nxe4 {[#] A standard
trick to equalise.} 5. Nxe5 $4 (5. Nxe4 {[%eval -347,0] is equal}) (5. O-O {
is a gambit, if you like gambits} Be7 $1 {avoids any risks}) 5... Nxe5 {
attacking the Bishop, and so winning a piece} 6. Nxe4 Nxc4 7. O-O Nd6 8. Qe1
Nxe4 9. Qxe4+ Qe7 10. Re1 (10. Qf3 {White should keep Queens on}) 10... d5 $4 {
[#] TACTIC: discovery Look at every check...} (10... Qxe4 $1 {[%eval 107,0]
shoud win simply enough}) 11. Qxe7+ $4 (11. Qa4+ $1 {[%eval -435,0] discovers
an attack from the Rook, winning the Queen.}) 11... Bxe7 {The moment has
passed, and there's no much more White can do.} 12. d4 Bf5 13. Bg5 f6 14. Bf4
Rc8 15. Rac1 Kf7 16. Re2 Rhe8 17. b3 Bb4 18. Rxe8 Rxe8 19. g3 c6 20. h3 Re1+ $1
21. Rxe1 Bxe1 22. g4 g5 23. Bb8 Bxc2 24. Bxa7 Bc3 25. Kg2 Ke6 26. Kf3 Kd6 27.
Ke3 Kc7 28. a4 b6 29. a5 bxa5 30. Ke2 Bxb3 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "MacDonald, Duncan"]
[Black "Bacon, Nicky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A27"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{I thought you were making it up in the opening but that was White, and it was
going very well for a while. But going for d3 was ambitious for a player with
only one piece in play, and an oversight brought the ceiling down.} 1. c4 e5 2.
Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 f5 4. d4 e4 {[#]} 5. Ne5 {Unusual: White normally plonks
something on g5} (5. Ng5) (5. Bg5) 5... Nxe5 6. dxe5 {last book move} d6 7. Qd4
(7. Bf4 {[%eval -41,0] is best, with equality}) 7... Be6 {not very pointed,
but turns out well} (7... Ne7 $1 {[%eval 23,0] threatens to go to c6, and
Black has an edge}) 8. Bf4 (8. g4 {is better, undermining Black's set-up.})
8... c5 $2 {Now Black is very loose.} 9. Qd2 $2 (9. Qe3 {[%eval -53,0] is
better, with chances of a plus for White}) 9... dxe5 $1 10. Bxe5 Qxd2+ 11. Kxd2
O-O-O+ 12. Kc2 {[#] Black is better coordinated} Bxc4 (12... Ne7 $1 {Again,
the transfer to c6 is best}) 13. b3 Ba6 (13... Be6 $1 {TIP: centralise your
pieces}) 14. e3 (14. g4 $1 {starts to break up Black's pawn structure}) 14...
Bxf1 15. Rhxf1 Ne7 16. Rad1 Rxd1 17. Rxd1 Nc6 18. Bg3 {[#] Black has a
comfortable extra pawn, but needs to finish development.} Nb4+ $6 {The start
of a mistaken plan.} 19. Kb1 Nd3 $2 {This solo adventure ends badly.} (19...
Be7 $17 {[%eval 10,0] keeps Black on top}) 20. Nd5 {Making it awkward to
develop.} (20. f3 $1 {wins back the pawn, with equality}) 20... g5 (20... h5 $1
) 21. f3 Bg7 $4 {[#] TACTIC: fork, pin} (21... h5 {[%eval 525,0] is still right
}) 22. Ne7+ {Not just winning a pawn by a fork, but a Knight by a pin.} Kd7 23.
Nxf5 {Black cannot save the bishop without dropping the knight.} Ke6 24. Nxg7+
Kf6 25. fxe4 Rd8 26. Nf5 {[#] White faces no problems in winning from here.}
1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bacon, Nicolas"]
[Black "Fowler, Hugo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C30"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A terrific build-up was largely unopposed early on and you got serious
winning chances very quickly (again) despite some lack of urgency. A misstep
taking on d4 lost your momentum, which you never got back.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Bc5
3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Nf6 {[#]} 5. h3 {That's rather slow for this
nineteenth-century opening!} (5. Bc4 $1 {and now} Ng4 {is no threat:} 6. d4 {or
} (6. Qe2 {give White a fine game})) 5... O-O 6. Bc4 Nc6 7. d3 a6 8. f5 $5 (8.
a3 $1 {Perhaps a similar move to the one I just criticised, but White needs
that Bishop to attack with.}) 8... h6 {[#]} 9. Bd2 {That move doesn't offer
the Bishop more squares, and only castling long justifies it.} ({White has
done well with} 9. g4 $1 Kh7 (9... b5 10. Bb3 Nd4 11. g5 Nh7 12. gxh6 Qf6 13.
Nd5 Qd8 14. Rg1 Nxf3+ 15. Qxf3 Bxg1 16. Qg4 Ng5 17. Bxg5 Qd7 18. Nf6+ Kh8 19.
hxg7+ Kxg7 20. Bh4+ Kh8 21. Qg5 {1-0 ( 21 ) Zizka,P ( 1429 ) -Vaskova,M
Hrdonov 2012}) 10. Bd2 b5 11. Bb3 Nd4 12. g5 Nxb3 13. axb3 Ng8 14. Qe2 Bb7 15.
O-O-O c6 16. gxh6 gxh6 17. Ng5+ Kh8 18. Qh5 Qf6 19. Nf3 d5 20. d4 exd4 21. Ne2
dxe4 22. Nfxd4 b4 23. Be3 Rfd8 24. Rhg1 Kh7 25. Bg5 Qe5 26. Bxd8 Bxd4 27. Rxd4
{1-0 ( 27 ) Siemes,R ( 1955 ) -Gillmann,W ( 1667 ) Duesseldorf 2002}) 9... Re8
{I don't understand that move.} 10. g4 {Much easier to appreciate!} Nh7 $2 {[#]
} (10... Na5 $1 {[%eval 243,0] should hang on}) 11. h4 $5 {Good, but} (11. g5
$1 {is more or less winning.}) 11... Nd4 12. Nxd4 {Masters sometimes say "To
take is a mistake", and it's true here. You lose a couple of moves for the
attack, when you need to be urgent.} (12. g5 $1 {is still the right way
forward.}) 12... exd4 13. Ne2 c6 {[#] Only the Bc4 looks aggressive, and it's
about to get d5 in its face, which also suddenly makes sense of the Re8 move.}
14. Bf4 $2 a5 (14... d5 $1) 15. a4 ({d5 can hardly be stopped, but your attack
is actually good enough to try} 15. Bxf7+ Kxf7 16. g5 {It's probably -/+ but
what you played is -+}) 15... d5 $1 16. exd5 {[#]} cxd5 ({Stockfish likes}
16... Nf6 $5 {re-animating the mummified Knight.}) 17. Bb3 {Another retreat.} (
{Stockfish 8 64:} 17. Bb5 {[%eval -196,0]} Bd7 18. Kf1 {and White doesn't
stand too badly.}) 17... Bb4+ (17... Nf6 $1 {[%eval -123,0]}) 18. Bd2 (18. Kf2
$5) 18... Qd6 19. Kf1 Bxd2 ({At risk of repeating itself, Stockfish prefers}
19... Nf6 $1) 20. Qxd2 Re3 $6 {[#] TACTIC: undermining} 21. Rg1 $4 (21. Nxd4 $1
{[%eval -427,0] is not easy to see to the end:} Qf4+ 22. Qf2 Qxd4 23. Rh3 Qxb2
24. Rxe3 Qxa1+ 25. Re1 Qa3 (25... Qf6 $2 26. Re8+ Nf8 27. Qc5) 26. Re8+ Nf8 27.
Qf4 {and Black is in a bind, despite the extra piece.}) 21... Qe5 (21... Qh2)
22. c3 (22. Rg2 {[%eval -402,0]}) 22... dxc3 23. bxc3 {[#]} Bd7 (23... Bxf5 $1
{is more to the point} 24. gxf5 Qxf5+ 25. Ke1 Rae8 26. Ra2 Nf6 {and the Knight
saunters in to finish off}) 24. Bc2 (24. Bxd5 {[%eval -452,0]}) 24... Re8 25.
Rg2 Nf6 26. d4 Qd6 27. Re1 (27. Kg1 {[%eval -658,0] is less rough, but still
bad}) 27... Rf3+ (27... Nxg4 $1 {[%eval -288,0]} 28. Rxg4 Qh2 $19) 28. Kg1 Ree3
29. Rf1 Rxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Rf3+ 31. Kg1 Ne4 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Stubbs, Oliver"]
[Black "Bacon, Nicky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You never got to grips with White's fashionable opening and you were caught
out on the c-file.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 Nc6 {[#] I'm never fond of
developing a knight in front of the c-pawn; which file do you plan to open for
your Rooks?} 4. e3 Bg4 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Be2 Ne4 8. Rc1 {[#]} Qe7 9. O-O
Nxc3 (9... Bxc3 $5 {[%eval 127,0] is more consistent; your knight has used up
a lot of moves.} 10. bxc3 dxc4 11. Bxc4 e5 $1 {and your Knight on c6 is
suddenly a hero!}) 10. bxc3 Bd6 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Qb3 Rb8 {[#]} (
13... O-O {[%eval 127,0]}) 14. c4 $1 {The last of the once-doubled pawns
advances to wipe out your stake in the centre.} dxc4 15. Qxc4 O-O 16. Rfd1 {
[#] White's centre is ready to roll and c7 is vulnerable.} Rfd8 $2 {Missing (
or ignoring ) the threat.} (16... Rfc8 $16 {is still pretty good for White,
but you're still on your feet} 17. h3 Bh5 18. e4) 17. d5 $1 $18 Bxf3 18. Bxf3
Ne5 19. Qxc7 Nxf3+ 20. gxf3 Qf6 21. Kg2 {[#]} Qg5+ 22. Qg3 Qxg3+ {The endgame
will be nothing but pain, so keep Queens on.} 23. hxg3 Rd7 24. e4 f6 25. Rc2
Kf7 26. Rdc1 Rbd8 27. f4 Ke7 28. Kf3 $2 {[#]} (28. f3 $1 {[%eval 110,0]}) 28...
Kd6 $2 (28... f5 $1 {[%eval 256,0] exploits a moment's wobble in the White
set-up.}) 29. a4 (29. Ke3 {[%eval 183,0]}) 29... a6 (29... f5 {[%eval 315,0]
might still be best: get some pawns off.}) 30. g4 (30. a5 $5) 30... h6 (30...
Ke7 {[%eval 358,0]}) 31. Ke3 {[#] It's hard to give Black advice.} Rh8 32. Kd4
Re8 33. Re2 Rde7 34. f3 g5 35. Rh1 Rh7 36. e5+ Kd7 37. fxg5 fxe5+ {[#]} 38.
Rxe5 (38. Ke4 $1 {might be smart, keeping the pressure down the h-file.}) 38...
Rxe5 39. Kxe5 Re7+ 40. Kf6 hxg5 41. Rb1 Kd8 42. Kxg5 Re5+ 43. Kf6 Rxd5 44. Rxb7
Rd4 45. Ke5 Rxa4 (45... Rc4 $5 {[%eval 2356,0]}) 46. f4 Ra5+ 47. Kf6 {[#]} Rb5
$4 {Some counting should have shown this as suicidal. Didn't I catch you doing
this last year too?} (47... Ra4 {[%eval 32738,0]}) 48. Ra7 $2 (48. Rxb5 $1 axb5
49. g5 b4 (49... Ke8 50. g6 Kf8 51. g7+ Kg8 52. Kg6 b4 53. f5 b3 54. f6 b2 55.
f7#) 50. g6 b3 ({it's too late} 50... Ke8 51. g7) 51. g7 b2 52. g8=Q+ Kc7 53.
Qa2) 48... a5 49. f5 Kc8 50. g5 Kb8 51. Re7 a4 52. Re2 a3 53. Ra2 Ra5 54. g6
Ra6+ 55. Kg5 Kc7 56. g7 Ra8 57. Kg6 (57. Rxa3 {is no better but lets Black
know who's winning}) 57... Kd7 58. Kf7 Ra5 59. g8=Q Rxf5+ 60. Kg6 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kennedy-Bruyneels, Isaac"]
[Black "Smith, Callum"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Your home-made system didn't give you any pressure and an attempt to get some
with Nd5 led to trouble.} 1. e4 d6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bc4 {# It feels
like you're making this up as you go along, playing moves that are 'normal'
against They might not be good against non-standard replies, and you should be
playing with a definite system in mind.} Bg7 {last book move} 5. d3 a6 6. a4
O-O 7. Be3 c5 {# The position is now more like a Sicilian.} 8. Qd2 Nc6 9. h3
Be6 10. Nd5 $2 {# TACTIC: outnumbered/fork White loses a pawn through this
move, although it's not obvious how if you recapture with the bishop} (10. Bxe6
$14 {[%eval -75,0] is a fair choice, muddling the Black pawns.}) 10... Bxd5 11.
exd5 (11. Bxd5 Nxd5 12. exd5 Nb4 13. c4 Bxb2 $1 14. Qxb2 $4 Nxd3+) 11... Nb4
12. Bg5 Nbxd5 {[#]} 13. Bxf6 {I don't like giving up the Bishop pair without
good reason.} (13. O-O {[%eval -151,0]}) 13... Nxf6 14. O-O d5 15. Bb3 Qd6 16.
c3 b5 {[#]} 17. c4 $6 {This is unkind to the remaining bishop.} ({Stockfish 8
64:} 17. Rfe1 {[%eval -256,0] is natural and better}) 17... dxc4 (17... bxc4 $1
{[%eval -144,0] first is better} 18. dxc4 d4 {when Black has a passed pawn and
White's Bishop needs re-positioning.}) 18. dxc4 Qxd2 19. Nxd2 Rfd8 20. Rfd1 b4
21. Bc2 Rd6 22. Nb3 Rc6 23. Rab1 {[#] There is plenty of game left but Black
won in the end.} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Smith, Madeleine"]
[Black "Kennedy-Bruyneels, Isaac"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C55"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You didn't really know this variation but it didn't seem to matter, as you
got a fine position, winning at one stage and still better when you drew.} 1.
e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nf6 4. d4 exd4 5. e5 d5 6. Bb5 {(#} Nd7 (6... Ne4 {
has been the main line for a century, after which hundreds of games have
continued} 7. Nxd4 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6) 7. O-O Be7 {[%eval 30,0]} 8. Bxc6 bxc6 {
[%eval 31,0]} 9. Nxd4 {last book move} Bb7 {(# That rather side-tracks the
Bishop} 10. e6 {Enterprising, but White doesn't have enough development to
make this hurt.} Nf6 11. Qe2 O-O 12. Nc3 c5 13. Nf5 {(#} g6 $2 {weakening} ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 13... fxe6 {[%eval 163,0] or}) (13... d4 {give Black a small
edge.}) 14. exf7+ (14. Nh6+ {[%eval 34,0]}) 14... Kxf7 15. Nh6+ Kg7 16. Re1 Bd6
17. Bg5 {[#] Both players get the next bit wrong.} d4 $2 $18 (17... Qd7 $15 {
[%eval 84,0] is fine for Black}) 18. Na4 $2 (18. Nb5 $1 $16 {[%eval -291,0]
and White is pressing hard}) 18... Qe8 $17 {asks a hard question of the Knight:
where are you going next?} (18... Qd7 $1 $19 {[%eval -204,0] is even better,
connecting the rooks and keeping the Queen for ammunition.} 19. b3 Ne4 $1 {
wins a piece}) 19. Qc4 (19. Qxe8 {[%eval -406,0]}) 19... Qc6 {# TACTIC: net
This is now great for Black, not because of the mate threat, but because the
Knight is trapped.} 20. f3 Qd5 {Rather cautious} (20... Ba6 {[%eval -66,0]
wins a piece, as the Queen cannot stay in touch}) 21. Qxd5 Bxd5 {[#] White is
horribly uncoordinated.} 22. Ng4 $2 (22. b3 {[%eval -161,0]}) 22... Nxg4 23.
fxg4 Rfe8 {That Rook was OK where it was.} (23... Rae8) (23... Bc6 24. b3 Bxa4
25. bxa4 Rab8) 24. b3 c4 25. Nb2 {# This is quite good for Black, with a pawn
majority supported by the bishop pair, but drawn.} 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Gao, Ian"]
[Black "Kennedy-Bruyneels, Isaac"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B34"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A tricky defence was tailor-made to thwart your intended set-up, and you got
a slightly worse game that rather withered as it went on.} 1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6
3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 (4. Qxd4 {is not a bad approach, against this line and many
others -- theory has little to say and you can develop in a way you are
familiar with.}) 4... Nc6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 {[#] The Accelerated Dragon
does not permit White to set up the Yugoslav Attack. You get into one of the
types of trouble that can happen if you try to insist on it.} 7. Qd2 {last
book move} (7. Bc4 $1 O-O 8. f3 $6 (8. Qd2 Ng4) 8... Qb6 $1 9. Bb3 Nxe4 $1) (7.
f3 O-O 8. Qd2 d5 $1) 7... O-O (7... Ng4) 8. O-O-O (8. Rd1 d5) 8... Ng4 $1 {
Black gains the bishop pair, and the Dragon bishop will breathe fire.} 9. Nxc6
bxc6 10. Kb1 (10. Bg5) 10... Nxe3 11. Qxe3 {# At a glance, this position might
be thought equal, but I believe all the long-term chances are with Black, who
has two Bishops and a file open against the enemy king.} Qb6 {I'd prefer to
play for the attack with Qa5 and Rb8} 12. Qxb6 axb6 13. Bc4 Bxc3 14. bxc3 {
[#] Black has given up the dark-squared Bishop to make a mess of white's pawns}
d6 15. h4 b5 16. Bb3 Be6 17. f4 c5 18. Bd5 Bxd5 19. exd5 h5 20. Rhg1 (20. Rhe1)
20... f5 (20... Kg7 {[%eval -79,0]}) 21. Rge1 Kf7 22. Kb2 (22. Rd3 {[%eval
-156,0]}) 22... Ra4 {Black makes good use of the half-open file} 23. g3 Rfa8
24. Ra1 Rc4 (24... b4 {[%eval -72,0]}) 25. Re2 (25. a3 {[%eval -156,0]}) 25...
Raa4 26. Rae1 Re4 {[#] Both sides need to weigh their chances in the endings
with two four or no rooks.} 27. Rxe4 (27. Kc1 {[%eval -260,0]} e6 {[%eval -181,
29]}) 27... Rxe4 (27... fxe4 {[%eval -148,0]}) 28. Rxe4 (28. Rd1 {[%eval -285,
0]}) 28... fxe4 {[#] That was actually the worst outcome for White: the passed
pawn makes the endgame a win for Black. With the c3 pawn on b3, White would
even win.} 29. c4 b4 30. c3 (30. Kc1 {[%eval -1711,0]}) 30... Kf6 31. cxb4 cxb4
32. Kc2 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 32. Kb3 {[%eval -2462,0] was the consistent move,
but it's all too slow} Kf5 {[%eval -1383,25]}) 32... Kf5 33. Kd2 Kg4 34. Ke3
Kxg3 35. Kxe4 Kxh4 36. Kd3 (36. f5 {[%eval -5302,0]}) 36... Kh3 37. Ke4 Kg4 {
0-1 (37) Kennedy-Bruyneels,I-NN Chepstow 2020} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Evans, James"]
[Black "Gibbs, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Two tactical mistakes, one of which White missed, and the other you rather
called attention to!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. O-O Nf6 5. d3 {last
book move} h6 6. Be3 {[#]} Bxe3 (6... Bb6 {avoids doing White any favours.}) 7.
fxe3 {With doubled pawns? But d4 is covered and the f-file half-open, so
that's pretty good for White.} Ng4 $2 {A one-move-threat that cannot be good,
even if White didn't have a tactic. [#] TACTIC: decoy} (7... O-O $11 {[%eval
221,0]}) 8. Qe2 (8. Bxf7+ $1 {[%eval 30,0]}) 8... d6 (8... O-O $1 {[%eval 225,
0]}) 9. d4 (9. Bxf7+ $1 {[%eval 29,0] still works}) 9... O-O $11 {Whew} 10. c3
Qe7 11. Nbd2 {[#]} exd4 {straightens out White's pawns.} 12. exd4 Bf5 $4 (12...
Bd7 {[%eval 357,0]}) 13. exf5 Qxe2 14. Bxe2 {Black must have missed this
backwards move. Sadly White is now a piece ahead and has no problems.} Ne3 15.
Rf2 Rfe8 (15... Ng4 {[%eval 424,0]}) 16. Bd3 Re7 17. Nf1 Rae8 18. Nxe3 Rxe3 19.
Rd1 a6 20. Rdd2 Kf8 21. Rfe2 Na5 22. Kf2 b5 23. Rxe3 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Gibbs, James"]
[Black "Smith, George"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You started with a lot of bounce and energy, which, had you kept it going,
could have given quick rewards. But you got a bit sidetracked and Black was
able to break with your King embarrassed to be caught in the centre.} 1. d4 (1.
e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. c3 cxd4 5. cxd4 dxe4 6. Nxe4) 1... d5 2. c4 e6 3.
Nc3 c6 {[#]} 4. cxd5 (4. e4 {is the right time for this move, which usually
leads to a gambit} dxe4 5. Nxe4 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Qxd4 7. Bxb4 Qxe4+ 8. Be2 (8. Ne2))
4... cxd5 (4... exd5 {makes more sense}) 5. e4 dxe4 6. Nxe4 {[#] We normally
arrive at this position from the French Defence} Nc6 (6... Be7) 7. Nf3 g6 {
Black is playing draughts! There are now too many dark-square holes for one
bishop to cover.} (7... Nge7 {[%eval 77,0]}) 8. Bb5 (8. Bd3 $1) 8... Bg7 (8...
Qa5+ {[%eval 133,0]}) 9. Be3 (9. Bf4 $1 $16 {[%eval 0,0] targeting d6 with a
big plus}) 9... Nge7 10. Rc1 O-O 11. Qd2 a6 $6 12. Bxc6 Nxc6 13. Rd1 {Castling
is best} (13. O-O $1 $11) 13... Re8 (13... Ne7 {or}) (13... b6 {are more in
keeping with the anti-IQP plan}) 14. Bg5 f6 15. Bh6 b5 {[#]} 16. Nc5 (16. Bxg7
{[%eval -76,0]} Kxg7 17. O-O {and White's structure is no worse than Black's})
16... Rb8 (16... e5 $1 $17 {[%eval 42,0] catches White with their King in the
middle}) 17. h4 (17. O-O $1 $14) 17... Qd5 $2 (17... e5 $1 $15 {[%eval 51,0]})
18. a3 $2 {No idea what that was supposed to achieve.} (18. Bxg7 $1 {[%eval
-86,0]} Kxg7 19. O-O $14 e5 $2 {is sharp but losing} 20. dxe5 $1 Qxc5 21. exf6+
Kh8 22. Rc1 $1 Qb4 23. Qh6 $18) 18... e5 $1 $17 {[#] At last! And it's very
good for Black} 19. Bxg7 $2 {Irrelevant here} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 19. O-O {
[%eval -182,0]}) 19... exd4+ $19 20. Kf1 Kxg7 21. Nd3 (21. Rc1 {[%eval -223,0]}
) 21... Bg4 22. Nf4 Qc4+ 23. Qd3 (23. Nd3 {[%eval -414,0]}) 23... Ne5 (23...
Bf5 {[%eval -284,0] is brutal}) 24. Qxc4 (24. Nxe5 {[%eval -695,0]}) 24... bxc4
25. Re1 d3 26. Nxe5 Rxe5 27. f3 Rxe1+ 28. Kxe1 Re8+ (28... Rxb2 $1 {[%eval
-172,0] is more accurate.}) 29. Kd2 Bd7 30. Rb1 Ba4 31. Rc1 Bb3 32. g4 (32. Re1
{[%eval -200,0]}) 32... h6 (32... Kf7 {[%eval -125,0]}) 33. h5 $2 {It's pretty
hopeless, but you shouldn't force your opponent to find the right plan!} (33.
Rh1 {[%eval -584,0]}) 33... g5 34. Nd5 (34. Nxd3 {[%eval -1015,0]}) 34... Re2+
35. Kc3 d2 36. Rb1 Re1 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Tye, Jack"]
[Black "Gibbs, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C65"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Rather a messy start, with mistakes on both sides, led to an endgame position
where your pawn structure was a freakshow. You dropped a pawn, but it only
started looking important after you played a 'safe' retreat.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3
Nc6 3. Bb5 {As we know, not a threat to win a pawn.} Nf6 4. O-O Bc5 5. d3 {
[#] NOW it's a threat to win a pawn.} O-O $2 (5... Nd4 {or}) (5... d6 {are
better}) 6. Bg5 $2 (6. Bxc6 $1 dxc6 7. Nxe5 $16 Qd6 8. Nf3 Bg4 $16) 6... a6 {
Black forces White to find the right idea.} 7. Bxc6 bxc6 8. Nxe5 Re8 (8... Bd4
$1) 9. d4 Bd6 {[#]} 10. Nxc6 $2 {Clever, but just hands back the pawn. Black
is best advised not to take it, however.} (10. f4 $1 {[%eval 68,0]}) 10... dxc6
11. e5 Bxe5 12. dxe5 Qxd1 13. Rxd1 Rxe5 {Hard to resist.} (13... Ng4 $5) 14.
Bxf6 gxf6 {[#] Black's pawns are a mess.} 15. Rd8+ Kg7 16. Nc3 c5 17. Nd5 Bb7
18. Rxa8 Bxa8 19. Nxc7 Bb7 20. c4 Re2 21. b3 Rd2 22. Kf1 f5 23. Ke1 {[#]} Rd7 {
Retreating can't be right. TIP: Playing safe is dangerous!} (23... Rc2) (23...
Rb2) 24. Nd5 Rd6 $6 (24... Bxd5 25. cxd5 Rxd5 {Had to be worth a try}) 25. Rd1
{[#] Now White has very good chances to convert the extra pawn.} Rh6 (25...
Bxd5 {[%eval 205,0]}) 26. h3 Kg6 27. Rd3 Kh5 28. Rg3 Rg6 $2 {[#] TACTIC: fork}
29. Nf4+ Kh6 30. Nxg6 fxg6 31. Kf1 Be4 32. Rc3 Kg5 33. a3 a5 34. f3 Bb1 35. Kf2
Kf4 36. g3+ Kg5 37. Ke2 f4 38. gxf4+ Kxf4 39. Re3 h5 40. Re7 Bc2 41. Rc7 Bxb3
42. Rxc5 a4 43. Rc8 Bc2 44. Rf8+ Ke5 45. Ke3 Bb3 46. f4+ Ke6 47. Kd4 Bc2 48. c5
Ke7 49. Ra8 Kd7 50. Kd5 Kc7 51. Ra7+ Kb8 52. Re7 Kc8 53. Kd6 Bf5 54. c6 Bxh3
55. Re8# 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Holland, Bradley"]
[Black "Chung, Joel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D06"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{How nice to win a piece, but how horrible to have it all fall apart! Never
mind, there are some easy lessons to learn from this one.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6
$6 3. cxd5 $1 Nxd5 {[#]} 4. e4 (4. Nf3 $1 {is the right move here}) 4... Nf6 5.
Nc3 e6 $6 (5... e5 $5 {is Marshall's trick which was thought to equalise and
is worth avoiding.} 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Ng4 $1) 6. Nf3 Bb4 {last book move}
7. Qc2 Nc6 8. Bb5 Bd7 9. O-O a6 10. Ba4 Qe7 11. Bg5 O-O-O $6 {[#] TACTIC:
attack a pinned piece} (11... h6 {was essential, although White still stands
very well} 12. Bd2 $16) 12. e5 $1 h6 13. exf6 gxf6 14. Be3 {[#] Black now
plays the attack with verve, as though material is equal -- quite the right
approach if you are losing.} Rdg8 15. a3 Bd6 16. Ne4 f5 17. Nxd6+ Qxd6 {[#]}
18. Bxc6 $2 {Generally, exchanges favour the winning side, but this just
points an unopposed black bishop at White's king!} (18. Rac1 {[%eval -30,0]})
18... Bxc6 {Black is already better: White must return the piece to avoid mate.
} 19. Qe2 Qd5 20. Kh1 {[#] TACTIC: mating attack} (20. Bf4 {[%eval -919,0] or})
(20. g3 {were required here}) 20... Rxg2 $1 {Very good} 21. Kxg2 Rg8+ (21...
Bb5 {[%eval -214,0]}) 22. Kh3 (22. Kh1 Qxf3+ 23. Qxf3 Bxf3#) 22... f4 ({In fact
} 22... Bb5 {[%eval 0,0] is best here, since} 23. Qd1 Bxf1+ 24. Kh4 Qe4+ {
forces mate}) 23. Ne5 $4 (23. Rg1 $1 {[%eval -32763,0] saves White's hide.})
23... Qg2+ 24. Kh4 Qxh2# 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Stevenson, Neil"]
[Black "Holland, Bradley"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{Your choice of defence made me blink a bit but most of the rest made me smile.
You played with focus and energy and got a well-deserved win.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3
e5 {[#] A risky approach, weak on the light squares.} 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bc4 Be7 $1
5. O-O (5. d4 {must be right}) 5... Nf6 6. d3 O-O {[#]} 7. Be3 d5 $1 8. exd5
Nxd5 9. Bb5 {Black has a fine game.} Bd6 (9... f6 {[%eval 6,0]}) 10. d4 (10.
Nbd2 {[%eval -149,0]}) 10... cxd4 11. cxd4 {[#] Black has a fine game.} Bg4 {
Black is still doing well after this} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 11... e4 $1 {[%eval
-89,0] is the best way forward, knocking back the white pieces} 12. Nfd2 Nxe3
13. fxe3 Qh4 $1) 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Nbd2 Nxe3 14. fxe3 Bxb2 15. Rb1 Bc3 16. Qc2
Bxd2 17. Nxd2 Rc8 {[#]} 18. Qe4 $2 (18. Rf2 {[%eval -200,0]}) 18... Bh5 (18...
Qxd2 19. Qxg4 Qxe3+ $19) 19. Nf3 $2 {[#] TACTIC: skewer} (19. Rb2 {[%eval -336,
0] and Black is still very much in the driving seat.}) 19... Bg6 20. Qa4 Bxb1
21. Rxb1 Qf6 {[#] White now chases an unimportant pawn} 22. Bxc6 Qxc6 23. Qxa7
Qd5 (23... Qe4 $5) 24. Qd4 Qxa2 {[#] TACTIC: back rank mate} 25. Rxb7 $4 (25.
Qb2 {[%eval -32761,0]}) 25... Rc1+ 26. Ne1 Rxe1# 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Holland, Bradley"]
[Black "Mullaney, William"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D85"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You were always on the back foot in this game; with a better worked-out
opening you could press, but your centre crumbled and you lost the thread of
the endgame a pawn down.} 1. d4 (1. e4) 1... Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5
Nxd5 5. e4 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Bg7 {[#]} 7. Nf3 (7. Bc4 c5 8. Ne2 {was the main line
when I was starting out, but now lots of other ideas have been tried}) (7. Rb1)
(7. Bg5) (7. Be3) 7... O-O 8. Bc4 {This fits better with Ne2} (8. Be2) 8... c5
9. O-O Nc6 10. Be3 Bg4 {[#] This pin is the trouble; White can't hold on to
the centre. But White has plenty of mobility and might get the pawn back.} 11.
e5 Bxf3 12. Qxf3 cxd4 13. cxd4 Nxd4 {[#]} 14. Qxb7 {That's swapping an
important pawn for an unimportant pawn.} (14. Qe4 {makes it a gambit: White's
centre is half-broken but you have compensation for the pawn in space and
activity.} Rc8 15. Rac1 Nc6 16. f4) 14... Bxe5 {You're still a pawn down but
without the centre or activity to show for it.} 15. Qe4 Qd6 16. Rad1 Rfd8 17.
f4 Bg7 18. Rd2 {[#] TACTIC: undermining} Qc6 (18... Rab8 {[%eval 339,0]}) 19.
Qxc6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 19. Rxd4 $1 {[%eval -31,0] wins on the spot}) 19...
Nxc6 20. Rfd1 Rxd2 21. Rxd2 Rc8 {[#] Normal service is resumed: Black is a
pawn up against the Bishop pair, and White has little to fear.} 22. Bb5 Bc3 23.
Re2 {Over-thinking it?} (23. Rd7 $1 {should be fine}) 23... Nd4 24. Bxd4 Bxd4+
25. Kf1 Rc1+ 26. Re1 Rxe1+ 27. Kxe1 {[#] Normally, the opposite-coloured
Bishops are a strong drawing factor, but Black is allowed to round up one more
pawn.} Bg1 28. h3 (28. g3 $1 Bxh2 $2 29. Kf2 $1 {nets the Bishop}) 28... Bh2
29. Kf2 (29. f5 {The pawn is going anyway, so make a mess}) 29... Bxf4 30. Kf3
Bd6 31. Ke4 e6 32. g4 Kg7 33. Kd4 f5 34. gxf5 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 34. Be2 {
[%eval -296,0]}) 34... gxf5 {[#] Now Black has connected passed pawns, you
need a miracle to draw.} 35. Bc4 Kf6 36. Bd3 (36. h4 {[%eval -376,0]}) 36...
e5+ 37. Kd5 Bc7 38. Kc6 (38. h4 {[%eval -436,0]}) 38... Bb6 39. a4 (39. Kd5 {
[%eval -1589,0]}) 39... e4 40. Be2 f4 (40... Ke5 $1 {[%eval -895,0]} 41. Bf1 {
[%eval -1439,30]}) 41. Kb5 (41. Kd5 {was worth a try:} e3 $2 {and White can
dream again of drawing} (41... f3 $1 {wins})) 41... f3 42. Bc4 (42. Bd1 {
[%eval -32731,0]}) 42... e3 43. a5 e2 {Good night, nurse.} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Leggett, Neirin"]
[Black "McMullan, Evan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B20"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{The players go to and fro about who is going to be a pawn up, and eventually
get into a drawn endgame (which Black, however, lost)} 1. e4 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3.
Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Nge7 {# White's system has no name} 5. g3 ({although} 5. d4 {
would return us to known ground.}) 5... d5 6. cxd5 exd5 7. exd5 Nxd5 {[#]
White must now face life with an isolated Queen's pawn, but their pieces are
not on the right squares to harmonise with it.} 8. Bg2 Nxc3 {That mends
white's pawn formation.} (8... Ndb4 $5) (8... Qe7+ $1 {pushes for an endgame
where the IQP will be weak.}) 9. bxc3 Qe7+ {Good idea, wrong moment!} 10. Qe2
Qxe2+ 11. Kxe2 Be7 12. Re1 Be6 13. Kf1 O-O 14. d4 cxd4 (14... Rad8 {keeping
the tension is better}) 15. Nxd4 Nxd4 16. cxd4 {[#]White now threatens b7,
which Black seems to forget about} Bc4+ (16... Bb4 17. Re3 $1 $11 (17. Rd1 Bc3
$1)) 17. Kg1 Bb4 18. Re3 {Now Black must rescue the b-pawn.} Rfe8 (18... Rad8 {
[%eval 100,0]}) 19. Bxb7 $1 Rab8 20. Rxe8+ Rxe8 21. Be3 Rb8 22. Rc1 {A
'counterattack' which returns the pawn} (22. Bc6 $1 {[%eval 3,0]}) 22... Bxa2
23. d5 (23. Bc6 {[%eval -70,0]}) 23... Rxb7 24. Rc8+ {[#] TACTIC: back rank
mate Black can grovel out of this one by returning the stolen bishop, but can
go a pawn ahead.} Bf8 25. Bc5 Rb1+ 26. Kg2 Bxd5+ 27. f3 Rb2+ 28. Kf1 {[#] The
White king is unable to join the fight} Bc4+ {Puts the Bishop in danger} (28...
h5) 29. Ke1 Rb1+ {But that move releases the trapped King} 30. Kd2 h6 31. Rxf8+
Kh7 32. Bxa7 Rb7 33. Bd4 Rb3 34. Bc3 Rb7 35. f4 Rd7+ {[#]} 36. Kc2 {The King
is cut off on the empty Queen's wing, at least for now.} (36. Ke1) 36... Bd3+
37. Kc1 $6 {I still don't think there is any reason for White to lose this one,
though.} (37. Kd2 $1 {returns the King to the relevant wing.}) 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "McMullan, Evan"]
[Black "Goodfellow, Sam"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A bit of a slugfest which could have gone either way but in the end you get
in the knockout punch. The devil is in the details: many moves turned out to
be critical, and the advantage swung from side to side.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.
Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Bc5 6. c3 O-O {last book move} 7. Re1 {# A fairly
standard Lopez} (7. d4 {is the plan, so play it!}) 7... Ng4 $5 {I thought:
this just forces White to carry out their plan, and is a bad move, but my
computer saw further} 8. d4 exd4 9. cxd4 {(# TACTIC: mating attack} (9. h3 {
[%eval -118,0]}) 9... Bb6 (9... Nxd4 $1 {[%eval 136,0]} 10. Nxd4 Qh4 11. Be3
Qxh2+ 12. Kf1 Qh1+ 13. Ke2 Qxg2 {and Stockfish thinks that Black has more than
enough attack for the piece. Not a very human line!}) 10. Nc3 (10. Bg5 {
[%eval 58,0] is even better}) 10... Qf6 $2 {# I like the attitude but Black
can be driven back} (10... Nxd4 {[%eval 309,0] is still best, but White keeps
a plus} 11. Nxd4 Qh4 12. Be3 Qxh2+ 13. Kf1 d6 14. Nf3 Qh1+ 15. Ke2 Qxg2) 11. e5
$5 (11. Nd5 $1 {is even better, taking out the Bb6}) 11... Qf5 12. Bc2 Qh5 13.
h3 d6 14. Ne2 (14. hxg4 Bxg4 15. Be4 Nxd4 {gets White into unnecessary bother,
although it's clearly better for you}) 14... dxe5 (14... Nxd4 {[%eval 611,0]})
15. Ng3 Nxf2 {# TACTIC: mating attack} 16. Qe2 (16. Kxf2 {[%eval -156,0] is
best; Black is bluffing}) 16... Nxh3+ 17. Kf1 $2 {This 'safe' move is a
disaster!} ({Stockfish 8 64:} 17. gxh3 {[%eval -411,0]}) 17... Qg4 18. Qe4 {
A solid threat but Black is all over the White position like a rash} (18. Qd3 {
[%eval -647,0]}) 18... f5 19. Qd5+ Kh8 20. Nxe5 {# TACTIC: mating attack} Qxg3
(20... Nxe5 $1 21. Rxe5 Qxg3 {with a crushing advantage for Black}) 21. Re2 {
# TACTIC: fork, mate} (21. Nf7+ {[%eval -808,0] is the right move, but you get
another chance...}) 21... Nf4 {A very tempting fork, but it's mate!} (21...
Nxe5 {wins for Black} 22. Qxe5 f4 {and Black has an extra piece and a strong
attack.}) 22. Nf7+ $1 {[#]} Rxf7 {Too cooperative!} (22... Kg8 {would have
forced you to explore} 23. Nh6+ Kh8 {and now you should know...} 24. Qg8+ (24.
Nf7+ {is perpetual check}) 24... Rxg8 25. Nf7# {... but did you?!}) 23. Re8+
Rf8 24. Rxf8# 1-0
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Goodhew, Finn"]
[Black "McMullan, Evan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "40"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{White played a solid opening rather too solidly, and your greater energy and
determination gave you a crisp attacking win.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Bf4 Bg7
4. Nbd2 O-O 5. e3 {# White is playing with extreme caution: usually a recipe
for trouble!} Nc6 (5... d6 {might fit better, and now I think ...c5 is more
trusted than ...e5}) 6. c4 {A flicker of ambition} d5 {This gives up the
centre more than it hits back there} (6... d6 {[%eval 59,0] is more of a
King's Indian move}) 7. h3 Bf5 {#} 8. Qb3 (8. Rc1 $1 {and White has some
unpleasant pressure down the c-file}) 8... Rb8 9. cxd5 Nxd5 10. Bg3 Nf6 {[#]}
11. Bc4 (11. Be2 $1 {[%eval 0,0] keeps a pleasant plus for White}) 11... Na5 $1
{Of course! Now White may struggle, facing the Bishop pair.} 12. Qc3 Nxc4 13.
Qxc4 {# TACTIC: outnumbered Black's natural capture has brought another piece
to attack c7} Ne4 $2 (13... Rc8 {[%eval 182,0]}) 14. Qc1 (14. Bxc7 $1 {[%eval
-93,0]}) 14... Rc8 {Better late than never! [#] Black looks better now} 15.
Bh2 $2 {Much too passive.} (15. Be5 {[%eval -281,0]}) 15... c5 $1 {Excellent,
hitting the centre and embarrassing the queen.} 16. d5 Qxd5 17. Rb1 (17. O-O {
[%eval -486,0]}) 17... Qd3 $1 {# Now the King is unhappy too} 18. Nh4 (18. Nc4
{[%eval -1001,0]}) 18... Be6 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 18... Nxd2 {[%eval -475,0]})
19. b3 {# TACTIC: mating attack That's a shocking move, creating holes in a
position already very wobbly} (19. Nxe4 {[%eval -1393,0]}) 19... b5 {rather
off the point} (19... Rfd8) (19... Nxd2 {[%eval -641,0]} 20. Qxd2 Qxb1+) (19...
Nc3 20. Qd1 Nxd1) 20. Nf1 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 20. Nxe4 {[%eval -32757,0]}) 20...
Bc3+ {# TACTIC: mate It's mate in four} 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Mortimer, Oliver"]
[Black "Twohig, Tycho"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D35"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{You were unlucky here: clearly winning at one stage, you slipped on some of
the steps to a win, and from the drawing path slipped again from safety.} 1. d4
d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bf4 Bd6 5. Bxd6 Qxd6 {last book move} 6. Nf3 Nc6 {
# Black makes it hard to develop the Queen's-side smoothly.} 7. e3 O-O 8. Bd3
h6 9. O-O b6 {# White stands comfortably while Black is still trying to get
sorted out.} 10. cxd5 exd5 11. Rc1 a6 12. Re1 Re8 (12... Bg4 {[%eval 113,0]})
13. Qc2 (13. e4 {[%eval 0,0]}) 13... Nb4 {Good: Black should be pleased to get
rid of White's strong bishop} 14. Qd2 Bg4 15. Be2 Ne4 16. Nxe4 (16. Qd1 {
[%eval -21,0]}) 16... dxe4 {The game now enters a murky stage, dominated by
tactical chances. # TACTIC: pin} 17. Ne5 Rxe5 18. Bxg4 Nxa2 {Looking for
trouble?} (18... Rg5) 19. Rxc7 (19. Rc6 {[%eval -81,0] is a little better})
19... Qxc7 20. dxe5 Qxe5 (20... Rd8 {[%eval 303,0]}) 21. Ra1 f5 22. Bd1 Qe6 23.
b3 Nc3 24. Qxc3 Qf6 {# Black got the trouble they deserved! Now White can swap
off and win, but instead gets into trouble of their own by pushing for more.}
25. Qc4+ (25. Qxf6 gxf6 26. Kf1 {is a simple enough win for White}) 25... Kh7
26. Rxa6 b5 {Suddenly, White is walking a tightrope of 'best' or 'only' moves}
27. Rxf6 $1 bxc4 {[#] I peered at this game from a distance, not sure what was
going on!} 28. Rd6 {best! well done} c3 29. Bc2 {Not the best, but you can
hang on and win from here} (29. f3 $1 {resolving to give up the Bishop avoids
the difficulties of the game} Ra2 30. fxe4 c2 $1 (30... fxe4 31. Bh5) 31. Bxc2
$1 Rxc2 32. exf5 {with three pawns instead of a piece -- a good transformation
in an endgame!}) 29... Ra2 30. Kf1 $2 {That lets the win slip: it's now equal}
(30. Bb1 $1 {[%eval 0,0]} c2 (30... Rb2 31. Rd1) 31. Bxc2 Rxc2 32. g3) 30...
Rxc2 31. Rc6 Rc1+ 32. Ke2 Rc2+ 33. Kd1 {but that is 'playing for the loss'} (
33. Kf1 {[%eval -208,0]} Rc1+ {offers a draw, in effect}) 33... Rxf2 34. Rxc3
Rxg2 35. Rc2 (35. b4 {[%eval -1139,0]}) 35... Rxc2 36. Kxc2 Kg8 {Black is
winning, but that looks like the start of a mistaken idea} (36... Kg6 37. Kc3)
37. Kc3 {[#]} (37. Kc3 {That's as far as we know, but if Black chose here} Kf8
$2 {White can now draw with} (37... Kf7 $1 $19 {[%eval -8,0]}) 38. Kd4 Ke7 39.
Ke5) 0-1
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Phillips, Rhys"]
[Black "Mortimer, Oliver"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E91"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A rather rambling start, where the advantage passed back and forth, was
followed by some clear chances for White which were not taken, and you
deserved your draw.} 1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 {
# A standard King's Indian beginning, and the starting point for thousands of
games.} e6 {An unusual choice!} (6... Na6) (6... e5 {is the main line, as} 7.
dxe5 {offers White nothing:} (7. O-O) 7... dxe5 8. Qxd8 Rxd8 9. Nxe5 (9. Bg5
Re8) 9... Nxe4) 7. O-O Nc6 8. Be3 e5 9. d5 Ne7 {# By a curious route, we have
a standard sort of position, but Black is behind with their plan.} 10. c5 Bd7
11. h3 {That's a poor choice, creating a weakness and wasting time.} Ne8 12. b4
a6 {Much the same might be said about this move!} 13. b5 axb5 14. Bxb5 f5 {
# Definitely a good plan to consider in this position, but Black is too far
behind in development to make it work} 15. Bxd7 Qxd7 16. cxd6 {This allows
Black to get sorted out} (16. Qb3 {[%eval 2,0]} Qc8 17. Ng5 {and White stands
much better}) 16... Nxd6 17. Qc2 fxe4 18. Nxe4 (18. Ng5 {[%eval -141,0] was
better}) 18... Nxd5 (18... Nxe4 {[%eval -35,0] was better} 19. Qxe4 Ra4 20. Qc2
(20. Nxe5 Qe8 21. Nc4 Bxa1) 20... Nxd5) 19. Bc5 (19. Nxd6 {[%eval -97,0]})
19... Ra6 (19... Rxf3 20. gxf3 Nf5 {with advantage to Black: your pieces are
very active}) 20. Rfd1 {[#]} Ne7 {There is not much point to this retreat} (
20... Nf4 $11 {[%eval 87,0]}) 21. Rd3 ({Stockfish 8 64:} 21. Qb3+ {[%eval -45,
0]} Kh8 22. Rac1 $16 {and White stands very well}) 21... Nec8 (21... Qa4 $1 $15
{[%eval 48,0] starts to put pressure on White}) 22. Qb3+ (22. Nfg5 $11 {
[%eval -23,0]}) 22... Kh8 (22... Qf7 $11 {[%eval 68,0]}) 23. Rad1 Qe7 (23...
Qa4 $11 {[%eval 106,0]}) 24. Nfd2 {# White's pressure on d6 is enormous, but
perhaps will yield only a pawn, and Black has plenty of chances to hit back} ({
Stockfish 8 64:} 24. Nfg5 $1 $16 {[%eval 20,0]}) 24... Rd8 25. Nc4 Bf6 {
# TACTIC: pin This brings a piece into range of the knights, and White can
strike a deadly blow.} (25... Bf8) (25... h6 {[%eval 435,0]}) 26. Qb4 {White
misses the chance} (26. Nxf6 {[%eval 120,0]} Qxf6 27. Nxe5) 26... Qe6 ({
Black should have repaired things with} 26... Bg7 {when white is better but
not winning}) 27. Ncxd6 Nxd6 (27... cxd6) 28. Nxd6 (28. Bxd6 {[%eval 75,0] is
much better for White, if Black tries to hang on to material, White gets to
the King!} cxd6 29. Nc5 dxc5 30. Rxd8+ Bxd8 31. Rxd8+ Kg7 32. Qxb7+ Kh6 33. Rh8
) 28... cxd6 29. Rxd6 (29. Qxb7 {[%eval 18,0]}) 29... Raxd6 30. Rxd6 Rxd6 31.
Bxd6 Qxa2 (31... Qd5 {[%eval 81,0]}) 32. Qxb7 Qe6 33. Qb8+ {# TACTIC: mate I
might have these moves out of order but if not} Kg7 $4 (33... Qg8 {[%eval
32766,0]}) 34. Bf8+ (34. Qf8# $1 {[%eval 35,0] mates!}) 34... Kf7 {# Drawn
after a lot of excitement!} 1/2-1/2
[Event "WWoE2020"]
[Site "Chepstow"]
[Date "2020.01.11"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mortimer, Oliver"]
[Black "Seymour, Daniel"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[Annotator "DrDave"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]
{A nice game, showing the sunny side of the Queen's Gambit -- or two sunny
sides, winning a pawn on the Queen's-side, then a very pretty mate on the
other wing!} 1. d4 e6 2. c4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bf4 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e3 b6 {#} 7.
cxd5 $6 {Releasing the tension.} (7. Rc1) (7. Be2) 7... Nxd5 8. Bg3 {White has
hopes of a plus} Bb7 9. Bd3 {# TACTIC: fork} Nd7 $6 (9... c5 {[%eval 64,0]})
10. Nxd5 exd5 $2 11. Qc2 $1 {Hitting c7 and h7} Nf6 12. Bxc7 Qd7 13. Bf4 Rac8
14. Qe2 Bb4+ 15. Kf1 Ne4 {Black is hitting back but it doesn't come to anything
} 16. a3 Be7 17. Ne5 Qd8 18. f3 Nf6 19. Kf2 Nh5 20. Bg3 Nxg3 (20... g6 {
[%eval 278,0]}) 21. hxg3 {# Black has the bishop pair but the attack on h7
comes alive again} Bd6 (21... h6 {[%eval 32750,0]} 22. f4 {[%eval 276,21]}) 22.
Bxh7+ Kh8 23. Bf5+ (23. Qd3 {[%eval 627,0] is a faster way to mate: threat Bg8+
}) 23... Kg8 24. Qf1 Bxe5 {Black is oblivious # TACTIC: mate} (24... g6 {
[%eval 32760,0] is horrible but had to be tried}) 25. Rh8+ Kxh8 26. Qh1+ {
Finish of the day!} 1-0
