Games from the U14 team trip 2018

  [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.1"]  [White "MacDonald, Duncan"]  [Black "Gibbs, James"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A34"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "96"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {After an early blunder you were in trouble, but you kept it together through  a few narrow passes and missed a drawing chance towards the end. Not bad.} 1.  c4 c5 {What's your usual response to 1.d4? It can help to aim for the same  thing against all the Queen's-side openings.} 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 d5 {  [#]} 5. d3 $6 {Rather an automatic move -- normally OK, here it is mistimed.}  Bd7 $6 {That's not much of a better view for the Bishop but the move is more  importantly a failure to count to three! TACTIC: outnumbered} (5... d4 $1 {and  White doesn't have a good square to put the Knight}) (5... Nc6 {is fine of  course}) 6. Bf4 {[#]} (6. cxd5 exd5 7. Nxd5 {wins a pawn}) 6... Nc6 (6... Bc6 {  saves the pawn; I thought that was the point of moving the Bishop at all.}) 7.  cxd5 Nb4 (7... exd5 {is better}) 8. dxe6 Bxe6 {[#]} 9. Nb5 (9. Bxb7 $1 {and  Black is in dire straits.}) 9... Nbd5 $1 {The best defence} 10. Be5 Qa5+ 11.  Nc3 {[#]} Nxc3 {That gives White a free hit against the Queen.} 12. Bxc3 Qb6  13. Qc2 {[#]} Nd5 (13... Be7 {developanment is more important right now - get  castled then you can make a nuisance of yourself.}) 14. Nf3 f6 15. O-O Nb4 16.  Bxb4 cxb4 17. a3 Rc8 18. Qa4+ Bd7 19. Qb3 {[#]} Qa5 {Loses another pawn.} (  19... Be6 {asks White to come up with a better idea}) 20. axb4 Qxb4 21. Qxb4  Bxb4 22. Rxa7 Bc6 23. Rc1 {[#]} O-O (23... Ke7 {would normally better (KUFTE)  but here it loses quickly to} 24. Rxc6 Rxc6 25. Rxb7+) 24. Bh3 Rc7 25. Be6+ Kh8  26. Nd4 Bd2 27. Rc2 Bb4 28. Nxc6 Rxc6 29. Rxc6 bxc6 30. Rf7 {[#]} Re8 {It's  correct to avoid exchanges, but opposite-colored Bishops are a strong drawing  influence.} 31. Bc4 h6 32. e4 Bc5 33. Rc7 Bd4 34. Rxc6 Bxb2 {And swapping  pawns is in your favour.} 35. Kg2 Rd8 36. Kf3 Kh7 37. h4 Ba3 38. g4 Be7 39. Rc7  {#} Re8 (39... Bd6 {is less precarious}) 40. Bf7 {[#]   TACTIC: undermining  and counterattack!} Bd6 {[#]} 41. Bxe8 (41. Rd7 $1 $18 {White would do better  to keep the Rooks on -- normally swapping is good, but the opposite-coloured  Bishops give Black drawing chances -- see later!}) 41... Bxc7 42. d4 Kg8 43.  Bg6 Kf8 44. d5 {No rush for that} Ke7 45. g5 {[#]} h5 $2 (45... hxg5 $1 46.  hxg5 fxg5 47. Kg4 Kf6 48. Bf5 Bd6 {and I wonder what White's plan is! Keep  your Bishop on the b8-h2 diagonal, and if the white King comes to c6, just  play Ke7 and you have a blockade on the dark squares.}) 46. gxf6+ Kxf6 47. Bxh5  g5 48. Bg4 Bd8 {[#]   I think you must have missed a move out somewhere, as I  couldn't follow the rest -- but White can win without much trouble from here.}  1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.1"]  [White "Gibbs, James"]  [Black "Walker, Max"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D02"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "62"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]     d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 {I'm not very excited by this opening system -- it  doesn't put much pressure on Black.} Bf5 (3... c5 {is often regarded as the  best defence.}) 4. e3 Nh5 {[#]} 5. Nc3 {Not bad but not best} (5. Nbd2 {fits  in better}) (5. Bg3 Nxg3 6. hxg3 {might make Black wonder about where to park  the King 'might make Black wonderabout where to park the King'}) (5. Bg5 {  means Black must make weaknesses if they really want the Bishop}) 5... Nxf4 6.  exf4 e6 7. Bd3 Bxd3 8. Qxd3 Bd6 {[#]} 9. Ne5 $6 {blocks the attack but can be  driven away immediately} (9. f5) (9. g3) (9. Qe3) (9. Qb5+) 9... f6 $1 {[#]  TACTIC: undermining and counterattack} 10. Ng4 (10. Qb5+ $1 Nd7 11. Nd3 {is a  nifty piece of footwork to save the pawn.}) 10... Bxf4 11. g3 {'Not much point  in that -- the Bishop might want to retreat anyway.'} Bd6 12. O-O O-O 13. Rae1  Re8 {[#] You need a plan here: doubling on the half-open e-file is simplest.}   Nb5 {Swap pawns rather than pieces if you can.} (14. Re2 Nd7 15. Rfe1 c6)  14... a6 15. Nxd6 Qxd6 16. Re2 {Ah OK!} c5 17. Rfe1 (17. c3 {keeps a stake in  the centre but} cxd4 18. cxd4 e5) 17... cxd4 18. Qxd4 Nc6 19. Qc3 e5 20. f4 e4   Ne3 Rac8 {[#]} 22. Qb3 $2 {Careless} Nd4 23. Qxd5+ Qxd5 24. Nxd5 Nf3+ 25.  Kf2 Nxe1 26. Rxe1 Rxc2+ {[#]} 27. Kg1 (27. Ke3 {might be better}) 27... Rxb2   Nc7 Rc8 29. Ne6 Kf7 {[#]   Now, your opponent was playing at blinding  speed, but that's no reason for you to try and keep up.} 30. Rxe4 $4 {TACTIC:  decoy} Rc1+ 31. Re1 Rxe1# {Gibbs,J-Walker,M WWoE 2018} 0-1     [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.1"]  [White "Smith, Madeleine"]  [Black "Gibbs, James"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A00"]  [PlyCount "0"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.2"]  [White "Bacon, Oliver"]  [Black "Hamada, Muhieddin"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D02"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "59"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]     d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {I always think Black is going to struggle to get the  Rooks into play after this move.} 3. e3 (3. Bf4 {makes the point!}) 3... a6 4.  Bd3 Nf6 5. c3 Bg4 6. Nbd2 e6 {[#]} 7. e4 {That's the right idea but perhaps  the wrong time.} (7. Qc2 {or}) (7. Qe2 {is usually played first but here just  invites} e5) (7. Qb3 {prevent ...e5 for the moment}) 7... dxe4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4 9.  Bxe4 Qd7 10. Be3 O-O-O {[#]} 11. Qd3 (11. Qa4 {has more point}) 11... Bxf3 12.  Bxf3 Ne5 13. Qe4 Nxf3+ 14. Qxf3 g6 15. Bg5 Re8 16. Bf6 Rg8 {[#]} 17. Qe3 {Just  castling was fine.} (17. O-O) 17... Bg7 18. Bxg7 Rxg7 {[#]} 19. O-O-O $6 {  TACTIC: allows a fork} (19. O-O) 19... Qd5 20. Qe5 {TACTIC: A counter-fork!}  Rgg8 21. Qxd5 exd5 22. Rhe1 g5 23. Kc2 Kd7 24. Kb3 (24. Kd3) 24... Rg6 25. Rxe8  Kxe8 26. Re1+ Re6 27. Re3 Rxe3 28. fxe3 f5 29. Kb4 b6 30. c4 {[#] I think this  was all that I saw but this ought to be drawn.} 0-1     [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.2"]  [White "Kan, Toby"]  [Black "Bacon, Oliver"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C50"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "79"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {After overlooking a little tactic you seemed to lose focus and allowed White  to get away with murder!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d3 Nf6 {Oh dear,  Old Stodge!} 5. O-O {[#]} O-O (5... d6 {and ...Bg4 might give you more play}) (  {I'd really like to recommend} 5... d5 {but} 6. exd5 Nxd5 7. Re1 {is a little  awkward.}) 6. Be3 Bxe3 {This opens the f-file for White.} (6... Bb6 $5 {  invites White to open a file for you.}) 7. fxe3 d6 8. Nc3 Bg4 9. Qd2 {[#]} a6 (  9... Qd7 {Connecting the Rooks is simplest and best.}) 10. Ne2 b5 11. Bb3 {[#]}  Qb8 {A bit mysterious.} 12. Ng3 {White is just moving things over towards your  King.} g6 $2 {#0/0 [#]  TACTIC: discovery Creates a loose piece on f6} 13. Nxe5  $1 Nxe5 14. Rxf6 c5 15. Bd5 {[#]} c4 $4 (15... Ra7 {has to be tried of course})  16. Bxa8 Qxa8 17. d4 Nc6 18. Rxd6 Rd8 19. Rxd8+ Qxd8 20. c3 Qg5 21. Qf2 Nd8 22.  Qf4 Ne6 23. Qxg5 Nxg5 24. d5 {[#]  Sneaky, cutting off the Knight's only  retreat TACTIC: net} Kg7 $4 25. h4 $1 Nf3+ 26. gxf3 Bxf3 27. d6 Kf8 28. Kf2 Bg4  29. e5 Bd7 30. Rd1 Ke8 31. Rd5 Bc6 32. Rc5 Kd7 33. h5 {[#]} Ke6 $4 {Just  abandons the Bishop} 34. Rxc6 Kxe5 35. d7 Kd5 36. d8=Q+ Kxc6 37. Ne4 gxh5 38.  Qd6+ Kb7 39. Nc5+ Ka7 40. Qc7+ 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.2"]  [White "Bacon, Oliver"]  [Black "McIntosh, David"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D05"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "53"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {Another painful oversight must have been disappointing to you. I have a  couple of tips for playing the opening slighltly differently.} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3  Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Nc6 6. Nbd2 Be7 {Diagram [#] #} 7. e4 {Again, a  bit early. Also, you might want to avoid the IQP (Isolated Queen's Pawn) by  playing dxc5 first.} (7. Qe2 O-O 8. dxc5 (8. e4 $2 dxe4 9. Nxe4 cxd4 10. cxd4)  8... Bxc5 9. e4 dxe4 (9... Qc7) 10. Nxe4 $14 {and White has a little advantage  here.}) 7... cxd4 (7... dxe4 8. Nxe4 cxd4 9. cxd4) 8. cxd4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 O-O 10.  O-O {Diagram [#] #} Nd5 $6 (10... Nxd4 $1) 11. Neg5 $6 {A bit early for this.}  (11. Re1 $1) 11... h6 12. Ne4 Qb6 13. Qa4 Ndb4 {Diagram [#] #} (13... Bd7 $5)  14. Be3 $4 {Oops.} Nxd3 15. d5 Qb4 16. Qd1 Nxb2 17. Qb3 Na5 18. Qxb4 Bxb4 19.  Rab1 exd5 20. Ng3 Ba3 21. Rfc1 Nbc4 22. Rc3 Nxe3 23. Rxa3 Nec4 24. Ra4 b6 25.  Rd1 Nb2 26. Rad4 {Diagram [#] #} Nxd1 27. Rxd1 {I think we'd seen enough!} 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.3"]  [White "Leggett, Neirin"]  [Black "Raine, Kieran"]  [Result "1/2-1/2"]  [ECO "B40"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "79"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {You didn't seem sure how to handle the opening, nor which pieces to swap off  in the resulting structure, but you played well and carefully, although White  missed a huge chance at the very end.} 1. e4 c5 2. c4 Nc6 (2... e5 {is the  robust move but people never seem to play it -- I guess because it's very  drawish.}) 3. Nf3 e6 4. Nc3 Bd6 {That creates a traffic jam in your position.}  (4... Be7) (4... Nf6 5. Be2 d5) 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 e5 {#0/0 [#]  This is risky  -- you already have a 'hole' at d6 and this makes another hole at d5} 7. Nxc6 {  That solves both of Black's problems at once!} (7. Ndb5 $1 Bb8 (7... Be7 8. Nd5  ) 8. c5 $1 $18) 7... dxc6 8. Be2 Nf6 9. Bg5 {White threatens to swap off the  better Bishop!} Be7 (9... h6) 10. a3 O-O 11. b4 Be6 12. O-O h6 13. Be3 Qc7 14.  Qc2 {[#]} Bg4 {Now, that's your better Bishop and white's worse one -- keep  those two pieces on the board.} (14... Nh7 $1 {with the idea ...Bg5}) (14... a5  ) (14... Ng4) (14... Rfd8 {is simplest}) 15. Bxg4 Nxg4 16. Qe2 Nxe3 17. Qxe3  Bg5 18. Qf3 Bf4 19. Ne2 Bd2 20. h4 a5 21. Rad1 {[#]} Bf4 (21... Rad8 $1) 22.  Nxf4 exf4 {That pawn looks a bit lonely.} 23. Rfe1 Rfd8 24. Rxd8+ Rxd8 25. e5  Rd4 26. Re4 Rxe4 27. Qxe4 g5 {[#] Ooh, very weakening.} (27... axb4 28. axb4  Qe7 {forks two pawns}) 28. hxg5 hxg5 29. Qf5 Qe7 (29... Qd8) 30. bxa5 Kh8 31.  Kh2 Kg7 32. Kh3 Qxa3+ {That's good -- now you're fighting for a win!} 33. Kg4  Qxa5 34. Qxg5+ {[#]} Kh7 {[#]  That is very dangerous!} (34... Kf8 {and it's  still a fight}) 35. Kxf4 {And suddenly it's a draw!} (35. e6 $1 {TACTIC:  discovery} Qxg5+ 36. Kxg5 fxe6 37. c5 $1 {and Black is completely lost.}) 35...  Qd2+ 36. Kf5 Qxf2+ 37. Qf4 Qxg2 38. Qh4+ Kg7 39. Qf6+ Kg8 40. Qd8+ 1/2-1/2   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.3"]  [White "Raine, Kieran"]  [Black "Tye, Jack"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D12"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "74"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {An early unforced blunder was sadly the forerunner of a couple more. Black's  defence is quite popular, and you should learn a system against it.} 1. d4 d5  2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 Bf5 {[#]  That does look sensible, doesn't it? But  it's a well-known mis-step.} 5. e3 (5. cxd5 cxd5 6. Qb3 $1 {asks Black a hard  question, to which the best answer might be} Bc8 {believe it or not!}) 5... e6  6. Bd2 {That doesn't improve the view for the Bishop at all. Black's Slav  Defence is quite popular, and you should learn a system against it.} (6. Nh4)  6... Be7 {[#]} 7. Bd3 $4 {Oh dear -- game over!} (7. Qb3 $1) 7... Bxd3 8. Ne5  Bf5 9. Qb3 Qb6 10. Qa4 Qxb2 11. Qd1 Bc2 {[#] TACTIC: fork} 12. Na4 $4 {The  desire to hit back is very understandable, but this loses another piece.} (12.  Qc1 $1) 12... Bxa4 13. Qb1 Qxb1+ 14. Rxb1 b6 15. O-O Nbd7 16. cxd5 Nxe5 17.  dxe5 Nxd5 18. e4 Nc7 19. Bb4 Bxb4 20. Rxb4 Bb5 {[#]} 21. a4 $4 (21. Ra1 $1)  21... Bxf1 22. Kxf1 O-O-O 23. Ke2 Na6 24. Rc4 Nc5 25. a5 Rd7 26. axb6 axb6 27.  Rc1 Rhd8 28. Rb1 g5 29. Rxb6 h5 30. Rxc6+ {[#]} Kb7 $4 (30... Rc7 $1) 31. Rxc5  {That's one back at least!} Rd2+ 32. Ke1 Rd1+ 33. Ke2 R8d2+ 34. Ke3 Rb2 35. g3  (35. Rc3 $1) 35... Rdd2 36. f4 Re2+ {[#]} 37. Kf3 $4 {Anything else looks  pretty futile -- maybe you needed a good blunder here!} (37. Kd3 $1) 37... g4#  0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.3"]  [White "Fowler, Caspian"]  [Black "Raine, Kieran"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B22"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "107"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {Again you seemed to be making it up against a common opening system, but it  was White who mishandled it and you had a fine chance to make trouble by  bringing your Rooks into the attack. But trying to attack with just your  Knight led to its loss.} 1. e4 c5 2. c3 {[#]  This is what I recommend against  the Siciilan.} Nc6 ({the two most popular responses are} 2... Nf6 {and}) (2...  d5) 3. d4 cxd4 4. cxd4 e5 (4... d5 $1) 5. d5 Nd4 6. Be3 Bc5 7. Nc3 Nf6 8. Nf3  Nxf3+ 9. Qxf3 Bxe3 10. Qxe3 d6 11. f4 {[#]} Ng4 {A bit of a swipe in the air.  Just castle.} (11... O-O) ({or} 11... exf4 $5 {creates a backward pawn on e4})  12. Qf3 O-O 13. Be2 Qb6 14. Rb1 {White has misplayed this and can't castle.  Time to open a file!} (14. f5 {keeps things closed}) 14... Qe3 (14... f5 $1 {  [#]  and White is in trouble.}) 15. Qxe3 Nxe3 16. g3 {[#]   Now you go on a  raid which only gets your Knight stranded. You must attack with a team, not a  lonely doomed hero.} Nc2+ 17. Kd2 Nd4 18. Bd1 {[#]} exf4 $2 {Giving up your  stake in the centre makes a monster.} 19. gxf4 f5 {[#]} 20. e5 $5 {Good, but} (  20. Ke3 $1 {wins a piece TACTIC: net}) 20... dxe5 21. fxe5 {[#]  Two connected  passed pawns must be good, although} (21. Ke3 $1 {grabs the piece}) 21... Re8 (  21... f4 $1 {saves the Knight at cost of a pawn}) 22. Kd3 Ne6 23. dxe6 {[#]}  Rxe6 $4 {walks into a pin.} (23... Bxe6) 24. Bb3 Kf7 25. Bxe6+ Bxe6 26. Rhf1  Rd8+ 27. Ke3 {[#]} g6 {Not much point to that? But I wouldn't blame you for  resigning.} 28. Rbd1 Re8 (28... Rc8) 29. Ne4 Kg7 30. Nd6 Rb8 31. b3 b6 32. Rc1  a5 33. Rc7+ Kh6 34. Rb7 (34. Nb7) 34... Ra8 35. Rxb6 a4 {[#]  TACTIC: pin,  discovery} 36. Nxf5+ $1 Bxf5 37. Rxf5 axb3 38. axb3 Kg7 39. Rff6 Re8 40. Rb7+  Kh6 41. Kf4 Rd8 42. e6 Rd4+ 43. Ke3 Rd1 44. e7 Rh1 45. Rf8 Re1+ 46. Kd2 Rxe7  47. Rxe7 g5 48. Rf6+ Kh5 49. Rxh7+ Kg4 50. Rg6 Kf5 51. Rhg7 Kg4 52. Rxg5+ Kh4  53. R7g6 Kh3 54. Rh5# 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.4"]  [White "Cash, Zak"]  [Black "Smith, Ellison"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C00"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "52"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {Some awkwardness led to you losing material, after which there wasn't much  you could do, although I liked that you kept trying to find something. It's  easy to lose a pawn against the French -- follow one of the main lines.} 1. e4  e6 2. Bb5 {Well, that's original, but chess has been played for a long while,  so if your move isn't the sort of thing that is usually played, it's probably  not best! Practice a standard system or two first, then you can experiment.} c6  3. Bc4 d5 4. Bb3 {Chasing the Bishop has given Black a nice solid centre with  game of time.} Nf6 {[#]} 5. e5 Nfd7 6. d4 c5 {[#]} 7. Nf3 $2 (7. c3 $1 {is best  }) 7... Nc6 {[#]} (7... cxd4 8. Qxd4 Nc6 9. Qf4 Qc7) 8. Ba4 (8. c3 {keeps your  centre together}) 8... cxd4 9. Nxd4 (9. O-O) 9... Ncxe5 10. Bf4 Qf6 {[#]} 11.  Qd2 $4 {White's Queen is doing a lot of defensive work but can be easily  dislodged} (11. Bg3) 11... Nc4 $1 {TACTIC: overloading/undrmining} 12. Qe2 Qxf4  {[#]} 13. O-O {loses a second piece but you could hang on to it} (13. c3 Qc1+  14. Bd1) 13... Qf6 14. Qg4 h5 15. Bxd7+ Bxd7 16. Qd1 Nxb2 17. Qd2 Nc4 {[#]} 18.  Qc3 {sets up a pin -- that long diagonal is a bit tender!} (18. Qd3) 18... Bc5  {TACTIC: pin} 19. Rd1 Rc8 20. g3 {[#]} b5 (20... h4 {and White can resign}) 21.  a3 a5 22. Rd3 Bxd4 23. Rxd4 (23. Qxd4) 23... Nd6 (23... Ne5 $1) 24. Qd3 Nf5 25.  Rf4 Qxa1 26. Qf1 Rxc2 {(time)} 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.4"]  [White "Kumar, M."]  [Black "Cash, Zak"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C41"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "83"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {You battled on while a bit worse but missed a couple of tactics -- a pin and  a discovery. White missed the first but pounced on the second!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3  Nc6 3. d4 {[#]  The Scotch Game, which I quite like for White in junior play.}  d6 (3... exd4 {is the best reply.}) 4. dxe5 Nxe5 (4... dxe5) 5. Nxe5 dxe5 6.  Qxd8+ Kxd8 7. Bd3 Bc5 8. O-O {[#]} Bd4 (8... Be6 {You should just keep  developing -- even though the Queens are off, you're still in the opening  stage.}) 9. c3 Bc5 10. Nd2 Ne7 11. Nf3 Bd6 12. Be3 {[#]} b6 {A slow way to  develop the Bishop and a bit loosening.} 13. Rad1 {Setting up a pin or  discovery down the d-file.} (13. Ng5 $1 {is awkward to meet}) 13... Bb7 14. Bc2  f5 $4 {[#]   TACTIC: pin} 15. exf5 (15. Nxe5 $1) 15... e4 (15... Bxf3 16. gxf3  Rf8 {and White is likely to lose an f-pawn or two.}) 16. Ng5 Kc8 17. Bxe4 Bxe4  18. Nxe4 Nxf5 19. Nxd6+ cxd6 20. Bf4 Kc7 21. g4 Nh6 22. Rxd6 {[#]   TACTIC:  discovery} (22. Bxd6+) 22... Nxg4 $4 {Overlooking the discovery} 23. Rg6+ $1  Kb7 24. Rxg7+ Ka6 25. Rxg4 Rhg8 26. Rxg8 Rxg8+ 27. Bg3 Re8 28. f3 Re2 29. Rf2  Rxf2 30. Kxf2 Ka5 31. f4 b5 32. f5 Ka4 33. f6 a5 34. f7 b4 35. f8=Q bxc3 36.  Qa3+ Kb5 37. Qxc3 Ka6 38. Qc4+ Kb6 39. Bc7+ Ka7 40. Qc5+ Ka8 41. Qb6 a4 42.  Qb8# 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.4"]  [White "Cash, Zak"]  [Black "Postans, Harrison"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C77"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "30"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {After you allowed Black to gang up on f3, you faced a brutal attack.} 1. e4 e5  2. Bb5 {[#]  As before -- stick to the main lines until you know better!} (2.  Nf3 Nc6 {and now} 3. d4 (3. Bb5 {or}) (3. Bc4)) 2... a6 (2... c6 {is a bit  more helpful in controlling the centre.}) 3. Ba4 Nf6 4. Nc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 b5 6.  Bb3 Bc5 7. O-O d6 8. d3 {#Rather like Old Stodge, in the end! One of the  problems with Old Stodge positions is that with a closed centre, a wing attack  can be brutal, if you have castled and your opponent had not. That's what  happens here.} Bg4 {#0/0 [#]  TACTIC: pin Now, you should know that ...Nd4 is  a big threat here -- or work it out!} 9. Bd5 ({One of} 9. h3 $1 {or}) (9. Be3  $1 {was essential}) 9... Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Nd4 $1 {Ganging up on a pinned piece}  11. h3 Nxf3+ 12. gxf3 Bxh3 {# White is in huge trouble. You might be better  off giving up the exchange... and hope Black takes it! The Bishop is worth  more...} 13. Re1 Qh4 {[#]   TACTIC: mating attack} 14. Nxc7+ (14. Be3 {is a  little better but you're still lost after} Qh5) 14... Kd7 15. Nxa8 Qg3+ {[#]}  0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.5"]  [White "Choudhurri, Rishi"]  [Black "McMullan, Evan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D55"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "57"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]     d4 Nf6 (1... d5 {first is better -- you might want to play the Bc8 out  directly.}) 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bg5 Be7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. e3 {[#]} c5 {The right  idea but a bit too early -- develop a bit more first. White now isolates the  Black d-pawn, in a position when the dark-squared bishops come off -- which is  a bit better for White.} (6... h6 7. Bh4 b6 {is popular, or}) (6... Nbd7 7. Rc1  a6 {is another nice system} (7... c5 8. cxd5 Nxd5 9. Bxe7 Nxe7 10. Bd3 cxd4 11.  Nxd4)) 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. dxc5 Qxc5 11. Qd2 {[#]  So,  Black has a weak d-pawn without much prospect of attack, and the worse Bishop.  Not great, but far from lost.} Nc6 12. Rc1 Qd6 13. Nd4 Nxd4 14. Qxd4 Rd8 15.  Be2 Be6 16. O-O a6 17. a4 Rac8 18. a5 {[#]} Bf5 {I respect the desire for  activity, but this undefends d5} (18... Rc7 {with the Rooks off, it will be  very hard for White to show an advantage.}) 19. Bf3 (19. Rfd1 Be6 20. Bf3)  19... Qe6 {[#] That's where the Bishop might need to be} 20. Rfd1 (20. Rxc8 $1  {TACTIC: undermining distracts the other defender, winning a pawn.}) 20... Rxc1   Rxc1 Qd6 22. h3 h6 23. b4 Kh7 {[#]} 24. Rc5 (24. Rd1 {is stronger, in fact  -- because of the pin down the d-file.} Be6 {# TACTIC: pin} 25. e4 $1 Rc8 26.  exd5 $1) 24... Be6 25. Qd3+ Kg8 26. Qd4 Kh7 27. Qd3+ Kg8 28. Qd4 Kh7 29. e4 {  [#]} ({White still has a plus after} 29. e4 $16 Qf4 30. Rc3 Qg5 $1 {threat Bxh3  }) 1-0     [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.5"]  [White "McMullen, Evan"]  [Black "Turetskiy, Fedor"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C68"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "105"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {That was a shame -- after an early blunder, you weren't given another chance.  } 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 {[#]} (6...  h5 {#0/0 [#]  is a razor-sharp line which you have to know if you play 5.O-O!})  7. Re1 (7. g4 $1 {is best here, squashing the Bishop.} Bg6 8. Nxe5 Qh4 9. Qf3  f6 10. Nxg6 hxg6 11. Kg2 g5 12. d3) 7... Nf6 8. c3 Bc5 {[#]} 9. d4 {This is  usually the right idea in the main line Lopez, but Black has lots of piece  pressure here.} (9. g4 $5) 9... exd4 10. e5 Ng8 11. Bg5 $4 {[#]   I like the  attitude, but} Bxf3 $1 {TACTIC: undermining} 12. Bxd8 Bxd1 13. Bxc7 Bh5 14. Bd6  {[#]  If you're losing, even just a pawn, don't swap pieces, that's what your  opponent wants.} Bb6 {Black of course should swap. But it's all pretty grim  from here.} 15. cxd4 Bxd4 16. Nc3 Bxc3 17. bxc3 O-O-O 18. f4 f6 19. exf6 Nxf6  20. Bc5 Rhe8 21. Bb6 Rxe1+ 22. Rxe1 Rd1 23. Rxd1 Bxd1 24. Kf2 Ne4+ 25. Ke3 Nxc3  26. Kd2 Nd5 27. Bd4 Ba4 28. g3 g6 29. Kd3 Nb4+ 30. Ke4 Nxa2 31. Ke5 h5 32. Kf6  Bc2 33. g4 hxg4 34. hxg4 Nb4 {[#]} 35. f5 {Great fighting attitude, Evan,  which deserves a better fate!} gxf5 36. gxf5 a5 37. Ke6 b5 38. f6 a4 39. f7  Bb3+ 40. Kd6 Bxf7 41. Kc5 (41. Bc5) 41... Nc2 42. Bc3 Kb7 43. Bd4 a3 44. Be5 a2  45. Bg7 a1=Q 46. Bxa1 Nxa1 47. Kb4 Nc2+ 48. Kc3 b4+ 49. Kxc2 b3+ 50. Kb2 c5 51.  Kc3 c4 52. Kb2 Bg6 53. Kc3 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.5"]  [White "Stevenson, Neal"]  [Black "McMullan, Evan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B22"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "97"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]     e4 c5 2. c3 d5 3. exd5 Qxd5 4. d4 e5 {[#]  An interesting line! Not bad at  all.} 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. cxd4 {[#]} exd4 (6... Nc6 {gets into a more common  position.}) 7. Qxd4 (7. Nxd4) 7... Qxd4 8. Nxd4 {[#]   This shouldn't be bad  for Black.} Bc5 9. Bb5+ Bd7 10. Bxd7+ Nxd7 11. Nb3 {[#]} Ngf6 (11... Bb6 {I  like to keep the my bishops in open positions,}) 12. O-O O-O (12... O-O-O) 13.  Nxc5 Nxc5 14. Be3 Nd3 15. b3 b6 16. Nc3 Rac8 17. Nb5 {[#]  White is trying to  make trouble.} Nd5 (17... a6 {is OK}) 18. Nxa7 Nxe3 19. Nxc8 Nxf1 20. Ne7+ Kh8   Kxf1 {[#]  It's a shame about the lost pawn, but the back rank is tender  too.} Re8 22. Nd5 b5 23. Rd1 Nc5 24. Nc7 Rb8 {[#]   TACTIC: undermining} 25.  Nxb5 $1 {Now it's very tough.} h6 26. Nd6 Kg8 27. Rc1 Nd3 28. Rc8+ Rxc8 29.  Nxc8 Kf8 30. Nd6 Ke7 31. Nf5+ Kf6 32. Nd4 Ke5 33. Nf3+ Kd5 34. a3 Kc5 35. Nd2  Kb5 36. Ke2 Nf4+ 37. Kf3 Nd5 38. Ke4 Nc3+ 39. Kd3 Nd5 40. Ne4 {[#]   TACTIC:  fork} Nf4+ 41. Kc3 Nxg2 {[#]  Same again!} 42. Nd6+ Kc5 43. Nxf7 Nf4 44. Nd8  Nd5+ 45. Kb2 Nf4 46. f3 {[#]} Nd5 {TACTIC: fork} 47. Ne6+ Kb5 48. Nxg7 Ka5 49.  Nf5 1-0     [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.6"]  [White "Wilson, Quillan"]  [Black "Chung, Joel"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C30"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "70"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {That was a shame -- you did enough for at least a draw.} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 Nc6 3.  Nf3 f5 {[#]   Looks bizarre, but this relatively recent idea might be OK for  Black.} 4. d3 (4. exf5 {is most testing} e4 5. Ne5 Nf6 6. Nc3) 4... d6 5. fxe5  $6 ({I thought your set-up was too passive but then I found a top-level game}  5. Nc3 Nf6 6. g3 g6 7. Bg2 Bg7 {Ivanchuk,V-Nakamura,H/Cap d'Agde FRA 2010})  5... dxe5 6. Be2 fxe4 7. dxe4 Qxd1+ 8. Bxd1 Nf6 9. Nc3 Bb4 {[#]} 10. O-O (10.  Bd2 {and Black can gain nothing by} Bxc3 11. Bxc3 Nxe4 12. Bxe5) 10... O-O 11.  Nd5 Bc5+ 12. Be3 $1 Bxe3+ 13. Nxe3 Nxe4 {[#]} 14. c3 $1 {White is a pawn down  but with good activity -- that's the King's Gambit!} b6 15. Bc2 Nf6 16. Bb3+  Kh8 {[#]} 17. Rae1 (17. Nd5 $1 {is a nice idea here}) 17... Na5 18. Nxe5 Nxb3  19. axb3 Be6 {[#]} 20. c4 (20. b4 {is an easier formation to defend.}) 20...  Nd7 21. Nd5 Rxf1+ 22. Kxf1 Rf8+ 23. Kg1 Nxe5 24. Rxe5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 h6 26. Rd7  Rc8 27. Kf2 a5 28. Ke3 c5 $6 {[#]  Loosening} 29. Rd6 Rb8 30. Ke4 b5 31. cxb5  Rxb5 {[#]} 32. Kf5 $5 {Bold but a bit too risky here.} Rxb3 (32... c4+ $1) 33.  Kg6 Rb8 {[#]  You're active enough here to hold the ending, but with your  pieces in their best positions, you need to be careful.} 34. Rd5 $2 (34. Ra6  Kg8 35. g4 c4 36. h4 Kf8 37. Rxa5 Rxb2 38. Ra8+ Ke7 39. Kxg7) (34. b3) 34...  Rb6+ {[#]  And with check not announced, you naturally enough picked up your  Rook.} 35. Rd6 (35. Kh5 Rxb2 36. Rxc5 Rxg2 37. Rxa5 Rxh2+ {and Black should win  }) 35... Rxd6+ 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.6"]  [White "Fields, Lawrence"]  [Black "Wilson, Quillan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D55"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "71"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {Some interesting opening play was cut short when you missed a discovery.} 1.  d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 {[#]} Nf6 ({If White isn't going to support  the centre, then} 4... cxd4 {makes sense}) 5. Bg5 Be7 (5... cxd4 {again.}) 6.  e3 O-O {You're sliding into an Orthodox Queen's Gambit when you might have  played ...c5 too early -- see Evan's game.} 7. Bd3 b6 8. Qb3 Bb7 (8... Nc6) 9.  cxd5 {[#]} exd5 (9... Nxd5 10. Bxe7 Qxe7 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 $15 {and Black probably  stands a little better}) 10. dxc5 {[#]} Bxc5 {Now you have an IQP position  when your pieces are on the wrong squares.} (10... Nbd7 $1 11. cxb6 Nc5 12. Qc2  Nxd3+ 13. Qxd3 Qxb6 14. Nd4 Ba6 {when your activity fully compensates for the  missing pawn.}) 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Nxd5 Qd6 13. Bc4 Rd8 (13... Nc6 14. Qd3 Na5  15. Nc3 Nxc4 16. Qxc4 Qg6) 14. Rd1 {[#]   There is some tension down the  d-file.. .} Nd7 (14... Nc6 {idea ...Na5}) 15. Ng5 {[#]   TACTIC: discovery} Bc6  $4 (15... Ne5 {and you're fine}) 16. Nxb6 $1 {winning} (16. Nxf7 $3 Kxf7 17.  Nxb6+ {is even stronger}) 16... Qxd1+ 17. Qxd1 Nxb6 18. Bxf7+ Kf8 19. Ne6+ Ke7  20. Nxd8 Rxd8 {[#]} 21. Qb3 {Now you are losing, you should try and keep  pieces on.} Bd5 (21... Bxg2 22. Rg1 Bf3 {might make White worry a bit!}) 22.  Bxd5 Nxd5 23. Qb7+ Rd7 24. Qb3 Bb4+ (24... Rd8 {asks White to come up with a  better idea}) 25. Ke2 {[#]} Ke6 $4 {walking into a pin} 26. Rd1 Bc5 27. e4 Bb6  28. exd5+ Ke5 29. Qc3+ Kd6 30. Qc6+ Ke7 31. d6+ Ke6 32. Qd5+ Kf6 33. Rd3 Rd8  34. Rf3+ Kg6 35. Qf5+ Kh6 36. Rh3# 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.6"]  [White "Wilson, Quillan"]  [Black "Goodfellow, Dan"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C34"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "44"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {You really deserved to win this one! It shows how dangerous the King's Gambit  can be in junior play. Although you sadly let a couple of chances pass by, you  were still winning until your final move.} 1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4  d5 {[#]} 5. Nc3 (5. e5 {looks best -- Black's development feels awkward now.})  (5. exd5) 5... Be6 6. Bxf4 Nge7 {[#]   White already looks a lot better here.}  7. Bb5 Qd7 $2 {[#]} 8. O-O $6 {Not bad but you had something better.} (8. Ne5  $1 Qc8 {[#]   TACTIC: undermining, attacking a pinned piece} 9. exd5 $18 {and  White is winning!}) 8... Ng6 9. Ne5 {One move too late to be crushing!} Ngxe5  10. Bxe5 a6 {[#]   It's all a bit tense and Black is only just hanging on.} 11.  exd5 (11. Nxd5 $1 {was best of all} axb5 (11... Bxd5 12. exd5 axb5 13. dxc6  bxc6 14. Qh5 $1) 12. Nxc7+ Kd8 13. Nxa8) 11... Bxd5 12. Nxd5 Qxd5 {[#]} 13. Ba4  {A little bit meek for you!} (13. c4) (13. Qe2 axb5 14. Bxg7+) 13... b5 {Ooh,  Black doesn't want to be doing that!} 14. Bb3 Qd7 {[#]} 15. Re1 (15. Rxf7 {  just wins} Qd8 16. Bxc7 Qg5 17. Qf3) 15... Be7 $6 16. Bxg7 Rg8 17. Bf6 Rg6 18.  Bxe7 Nxe7 {#0/0 [#]  Black has a loose Rook on a8 and the traditional weak  spot on f7 -- can you join the dots?} 19. Qh5 (19. Qf3 $1 {and Black is busted.  TACTIC: fork}) 19... Qxd4+ 20. Kh1 a5 {[#]} 21. Qxh7 (21. Qf3 {still works!})  21... Qf2 {[#]   with an obvious threat, but you have a round-the-cushions  shot to win} 22. Rf1 $4 {Oh dear!} (22. Qh8+ $1 Kd7 23. Qxa8 $1 {protects g2!})  22... Qxg2# 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.7"]  [White "0"]  [Black "Virdee, Surinder"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "A00"]  [PlyCount "0"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.7"]  [White "Virdee, Surinder"]  [Black "Saunders, Aaron"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "D02"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "94"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {After an awkward start you lost a piece to a simple idea, but you kept going  long enough to get rough equality. But you missed another idea to hold your  last Queen's-side pawn, after which there wasn't much you could do.} 1. d4 Nf6  2. Nf3 g6 {[#]} 3. g3 {That's not a bad move but it's not an easy system to  play. I suggest you learn something more straightforward.} Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5.  O-O d5 {[#]} 6. Nbd2 (6. c4 {is the only way I know to put any pressure on  Black.}) 6... c5 7. e3 Nc6 {This is just equal but your position is a bit  awkward.} 8. c4 {risks being left with an IQP under poor circumstances} e6 9.  b3 Qb6 {Diagram [#] #} 10. Bb2 (10. Ba3 $1 {looks very useful!}) 10... Nd7 11.  Re1 cxd4 12. exd4 Nxd4 {Diagram [#] # Now Black has set up a big discovered  attack on the long diagonal} 13. cxd5 $4 {Asleep at the wheel} (13. Bxd4 $1  Bxd4 14. Nxd4 Qxd4 15. cxd5 exd5 16. Nf1 {and you will get the pawn back})  13... Nxf3+ $1 {TACTIC: discovery} 14. Bxf3 Bxb2 {And now you can only hope  for a bit of luck.} 15. Rb1 Bd4 16. Rf1 Ne5 17. Bg2 Nd3 18. Qe2 {Diagram [#] #}  Bxf2+ 19. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 20. Qxf2 Nxf2 21. Kxf2 {At least now you have the same  number of pieves.} Rb8 22. Kg1 Rd8 23. d6 Rxd6 24. Ne4 Ra6 25. a4 b5 26. Ra1  bxa4 27. bxa4 Bd7 $4 {Diagram [#] # TACTIC: fork} 28. Nf6+ $1 {There's that  bit of luck!} Kg7 29. Nxd7 Rb4 30. Nc5 Ra5 {Diagram [#] #} 31. Nd3 $2 (31. Rc1  $1 {and Black will have to win the game all over again!}) 31... Rbxa4 32. Rxa4  Rxa4 33. Nc5 Rc4 {Diagram [#] # Now this is very hard for you, with passed  pawns on both sides of the board.} 34. Nb3 Rc8 35. Bb7 Rb8 36. Nc5 a5 37. Be4  f5 38. Bf3 e5 39. Bd1 Rb1 40. Ne6+ Kf6 41. Kf2 Rxd1 42. Nc5 e4 43. Nb3 a4 44.  Nc5 a3 45. Nb3 a2 46. Ke2 a1=Q 47. Nxa1 Rxa1 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.7"]  [White "Griffiths, Stephan"]  [Black "Virdee, Surinder"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "B01"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "55"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {You missed another discovered attack -- they are the hardest tactics to spot,  so do practise!} 1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Bc4 Bf5 6. O-O  {Diagram [#] #} e6 (6... c6 {Black usually opens up a retreat for the Queen  here. We will see the point of this soon!}) 7. d3 Bd6 (7... c6) 8. Bg5 {  Diagram [#] #} Be7 (8... Nbd7 {keeps up development}) 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Re1 O-O  11. Ne4 Bxb2 {Diagram [#] #} 12. Rb1 {Now you have to be quite careful.} Ba3 $4  (12... Bxe4 $1 13. Rxe4 Bf6 $1 14. Rxb7 Nd7) 13. Rb5 $1 $18 Qa4 14. Nc3 Qa6 15.  Rxf5 Qc6 16. Rfe5 Bb4 17. Qd2 Nd7 18. Rg5 f6 $2 {Weakening} 19. Rxe6 $1 {  Diagram [#] # Sets up a discovered attack.} Bd6 {Diagram [#] Sadly, this  doesn't help!} (19... Qxc4 $1 20. Rxg7+ $1) 20. Rxd6+ {Good enough! TACTIC:  discovery} ({But} 20. Re7+ $1 Kh8 21. Rgxg7 {will checkmate soon}) 20... Kh8  21. Rxc6 bxc6 22. Rg3 Rab8 23. Qf4 Rfc8 24. Qg4 g6 25. Qxd7 Rd8 26. Qe7 Rf8 27.  Nh4 Rbe8 28. Nxg6+ 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.8"]  [White "Ng, Nathan"]  [Black "Twohig, Tycho"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C50"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "134"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {You had a nearly good idea which lost a piece, then a genuinely good idea to  win it back, but sadly Black could grab it back straight away, leaving you  without much hope. You must try to keep on pieces once you are losing -- just  so you have some threats that your opponent might miss!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {  Diagram [#]} 3. Nc3 {That's a bit dull! There are better moves, I think.} (3.  Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 (4. b4)) (3. Bb5) (3. d4) 3... Bc5 4. Bc4 h6 5. d3 Nf6 6. a3 a5  7. O-O O-O {Diagram [#] # So far, so safe! You now remember an idea which is  often good for Black, but doesn't work here, sad to say.} 8. Nxe5 $2 Nxe5 9. d4  Nxc4 10. dxc5 Re8 11. Qd3 Ne5 12. Qg3 Kh7 13. Qh3 {Diagram [#] #} d6 (13... d5  {wins a pawn}) 14. Qe3 Neg4 15. Qf3 dxc5 16. Rd1 Qe7 17. Re1 Ne5 18. Qf4 Nc6  19. Bd2 Bg4 {Diagram [#] #} 20. f3 {ooh, missed a trick!} (20. Nd5 $1 {is  likely to win back the piece, although the best line goes} Nxd5 21. exd5 {  Diagram [#] TACTIC: discovery} Ne5 22. Bc3 {Diagram [#] TACTIC: pin} Be2 {  Diagram [#] TACTIC: decoy} 23. Rxe2 Nf3+ {Diagram [#] TACTIC: discovery} 24.  Qxf3 Qxe2 25. Qg3 {Diagram [#] TACTIC: fork} f6 26. Qxc7) 20... Be6 21. e5 Nd5  $6 {Diagram [#] # could lead to trouble!} 22. Qe4+ $1 {Diagram [#] TACTIC: fork  } g6 23. Nxd5 Bxd5 24. Qxd5 {# and White is very unlucky to have to face} Rad8  {Diagram [#] TACTIC: skewer} 25. Qe4 Rxd2 {Boo...} 26. Rad1 Rxd1 27. Rxd1 Qxe5  {#} 28. Qxe5 (28. Qc4 {you must try to keep pieces on when you are losing})  28... Nxe5 29. Rd5 b6 30. Kf2 Kg7 31. c3 Nc4 {Diagram [#] #} 32. b4 {swapping  pawns is good} axb4 33. axb4 cxb4 34. cxb4 Re5 35. Rd7 c5 36. bxc5 bxc5 37. Rc7  Nb6 38. f4 Rd5 39. Rc6 Nd7 40. Ke3 Rd1 41. h4 Rc1 42. g4 Rh1 43. Rc7 Nf6 44.  Rxc5 Rxh4 45. g5 hxg5 46. fxg5 Nh5 47. Kf3 Rf4+ 48. Kg2 Rf5 {Diagram [#] #} 49.  Rxf5 (49. Rc7) (49. Rc4 {is a forlorn hope but swapping Rooks is like  resigning.}) 49... gxf5 50. Kh3 Kg6 51. Kh4 Ng7 52. Kg3 Kxg5 53. Kf3 Ne6 54.  Kg3 Nd4 55. Kh3 Kf4 56. Kg2 Ke3 57. Kf1 Kf3 58. Kg1 Ke2 59. Kg2 f4 60. Kg1 f3  61. Kh1 f2 62. Kh2 f1=Q 63. Kg3 Qf3+ 64. Kh4 Qg2 65. Kh5 Qg6+ 66. Kh4 Kf3 67.  Kh3 Qh5# 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.8"]  [White "Manorvel, Gaetan"]  [Black "Ng, Nathan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D06"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "71"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {You got away with making up the opening, but do learn a proper system for  next time. You did well to win a piece but handed it back when your pieces  were scattered and uncoordinated. White had plenty of threats and in the end  managed to make one stick.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 {Diagram [#] sensible enough  but you should support your centre if you aren't going to take the pawn.} (2...  e6 {is simple and good}) 3. Nc3 Bf5 (3... e6) 4. Bg5 (4. Qb3) 4... e6 {Diagram  [#] # It looks like Black is getting sorted out easily, but the Queen's Gambit  is too strong an opening to try that against!} 5. e3 {Missing a chance.} (5.  cxd5 exd5 6. Bxf6 gxf6 7. Qb3 {Diagram [#] and Black is in all sorts of  trouble. TACTIC: fork}) 5... Bb4 6. Nf3 h6 7. Bh4 g5 8. Bg3 Ne4 {#} 9. Be5 $4  Nxc3 10. bxc3 Bxc3+ {Diagram [#] TACTIC: fork} 11. Nd2 f6 {Diagram [#] #  Winning material -- well done!} 12. Rc1 $2 Bxd2+ 13. Qxd2 fxe5 14. dxe5 Nc6 15.  Be2 {Diagram [#] # Now you should just finish developing then swap off all the  pieces. Grabbing more material now is not necessary, and allows White to make  some threats.} Nxe5 (15... dxc4) 16. Qc3 Qf6 17. f4 {Diagram [#] #} Nd7 (17...  gxf4 18. exf4 Ng4 $1 {should hold things easily enough}) 18. Bh5+ Kf8 19. Qb4+  Kg7 (19... Qe7) 20. Qxb7 {Diagram [#] # Now, you're still winning, but it's  more awkward than it need have been.} Rac8 21. cxd5 {#} Nc5 $4 {Chess  blindness!} 22. Rxc5 Qa1+ 23. Bd1 Bg4 24. Rxc7+ {# It's level on pieces but  Black's army isn't working together at all, while White can create unstoppable  threats.} Rxc7 25. Qxc7+ Kg6 26. Qc2+ Kf6 {Diagram [#] #} 27. Kf2 (27. fxg5+ {  opens up the f-file against the black King}) 27... exd5 $4 {The position is  far too dangerous for this casual move!} 28. Rf1 (28. Bxg4 $1 {Diagram [#] #  and White has a mating attack TACTIC: mate!} Qxh1 29. Qc6+ Kg7 30. Qc7+ Kg6 31.  Qd6+ Kf7 32. Qd7+ Kf6 33. Qe6+ Kg7 34. Qe7+ Kg6 35. f5#) 28... Bxd1 29. Rxd1 {  Diagram [#] # and your Queen has nowhere to go! TACTIC: net} Qxd1 $4 (29... Rc8  {saves the Queen! TACTIC: counterattack} 30. Qxc8 Qxd1 31. Qf8+ Ke6) 30. Qxd1  gxf4 31. Qd4+ Kg5 32. Qxh8 fxe3+ 33. Kxe3 a5 34. Qg7+ Kh5 35. Kf4 a4 36. Qg4#  1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.8"]  [White "Ng, Nathan"]  [Black "Bridel, Nathan"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C50"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "43"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {I don't think your choice of opening is doing you any good but you played a  fine attack once you had the black King in your sights.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.  Nc3 Bc5 4. Bc4 d6 5. d3 {Diagram [#] I have spent a lot of my life trying to  banish this rotten opening system from junior play.} Bg4 6. h3 Bh5 (6... Bxf3)  7. g4 Bg6 {Diagram [#] #} 8. Bg5 (8. Be3 {is interesting here, as you have  nice pressure down the f-file if Black swaps.}) 8... Qc8 9. Qd2 h6 10. Be3 Bxe3  {Diagram [#] #} 11. Qxe3 (11. fxe3 {returns to the idea of attacking down the  f-file.}) 11... Nb4 {Diagram [#] #} 12. Qd2 {Going backwards? Sometimes you  have to, but not here!} (12. O-O-O {keeps up with development}) 12... a5 13.  Bb5+ {This doesn't have much punch} (13. O-O-O) 13... Nc6 14. O-O-O Nge7 15.  Rhg1 {Diagram [#] #} O-O {Castling into an attack! You play the rest very well.  } 16. h4 Kh8 17. h5 Bh7 18. g5 Qh3 19. gxh6 gxh6 20. Qxh6 Rg8 {Diagram [#] #}  21. Qf6+ Rg7 22. Qxg7# 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.9"]  [White "Newton, Calum"]  [Black "Bracey, Tom"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D02"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "19"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {Do learn a proper defence to White's opening -- you'll find life a lot  easier! You started OK but then let White get ahead in development, which is  dangerous -- as you saw!} 1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {#0/0 Diagram [#] Oddly enough,  I think this natural-looking move may be a mistake -- it's certainly hard to  handle, because it's not easy to open a file for your Rooks. You aren't going  to play . ..c5 now, and ...e5 can be hard after Bf4!} 3. a3 {Very weedy.} Nf6  4. Nbd2 Bf5 5. e3 {Diagram [#] # So, here you have three pieces in play to  White's two.} Ne4 {Waste of time, I think!} 6. Nxe4 Bxe4 7. c4 Bxf3 $6 8. Qxf3  {Diagram [#] # Now it's one piece in play each! So you have lost time without  anything to show for it.} dxc4 9. Bxc4 {#0/0 Diagram [#] Now it's two White  pieces to your one, and the two White pieces are ganging up on f7.} e5 {TACTIC:  mate} (9... e6 {and you can hang on.}) 10. Qxf7# {Oops} 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.9"]  [White "Bracey, Tom"]  [Black "Austin, Bethany"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "C48"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "107"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {A nice solid game with one fairly big mistake but your opponent didn't spot  it!  You could aim to put more pressure on your opponent and expect them to  make more mistakes.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 {[#]} 3. Nc3 {This move just doesn't  put enough pressure on the centre.  You should be aiming at c3 and d4 or just  d4 straight away.} (3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 (4. b4 Bxb4 5. c3 Ba5 6. d4)) (3. Bb5 d6 (  3... Nf6 4. Qe2 Bc5 5. c3 O-O 6. O-O d6 7. Rd1 Qe7 8. d4) 4. d4) (3. d4) 3...  Nf6 4. Bb5 ({It;s not too late for} 4. d4 $1 {[#]}) 4... Bd6 5. d4 {Pleased to  see that!} O-O 6. Be3 ({The tactic that you play in the game doesn't work yet,  because your king is exposed in the middle:} 6. Bxc6 exd4 7. Qxd4 dxc6 8. e5  Bxe5 $1 {TACTIC: discovery} 9. Qxd8 (9. Qxe5 Re8 {TACTIC: pin}) 9... Bxc3+ $1 {  TACTIC: intermezzo}) 6... a6 {Almost forcing white to play a tactic!} 7. Bxc6  $1 dxc6 {[#]} ({Now} 7... exd4 {doesn't work because} 8. Qxd4 dxc6 9. e5 {and  the e-file is covered}) 8. dxe5 $1 {TACTIC: fork} Bxe5 9. Nxe5 Qe7 {[#]} 10.  Bf4 (10. f4 {is more stable}) 10... Qb4 11. Nd3 Qe7 {[#] is best: stopping  nonsense on e4 and aiming at swaps} 12. Ne5 (12. Bg5) 12... Qb4 13. Nd3 (13.  Qd3 Qxb2 14. O-O) 13... Qc4 {[#]} 14. Ne5 {You're winning, so develop & swap  is your plan now.  Mixing it up can lead to trouble.} (14. O-O) (14. Qf3 Re8)  14... Qe6 15. O-O Bd7 {[#]} 16. h3 (16. Nxd7) 16... Rad8 17. Qd4 b6 18. Rad1 c5  19. Qe3 Rfe8 20. Nxd7 Nxd7 {[#]} 21. Bxc7 (21. Nd5 {might be better}) 21... Rc8  22. Bf4 Nf6 23. Rd6 Qc4 24. f3 b5 25. Rxa6 {[#]} (25. Rfd1 {fits the  develop-and-swap plan better; leaving a loose Rook lost on the side of the  board is almost asking for trouble.}) 25... b4 {[#]  TACTIC: discovery  There  is that trouble!  This isn't your opponent being lucky, you helped by leaving  your Rook undefended.  In fact, you are the lucky one, because there is a  defence.} 26. Ra4 $1 {TACTIC: pin  Well done!} (26. Qe2 {is more solid}) 26...  Nd7 {[#]  Now, having done well so far, you get distracted by trying to make  trouble for your opponent, but it should have been trouble for you!} 27. b3 $4  {Undefending c3} Qe6 $4 (27... Qxc3) 28. Nd5 Rcd8 {[#]  TACTIC: fork} 29. Nc7  $1 Qb6 30. Nxe8 Rxe8 31. Rd1 Nf6 32. Rd6 Qb5 33. c4 Qb7 {[#]} 34. Bg5 (34. Qxc5  {The pawn is not so important as the dominating position.  You can also rescue  your lost Rook with Ra7}) 34... Nxe4 35. fxe4 h6 {[#]  TACTIC: mating attack}  36. Bf4 (36. Bxh6 $1 gxh6 37. Rxh6 {Threat Qg5+ and Rh8#} f6 38. Qg3+ Qg7 39.  Rg6 {winning the Queen and mate soon follows using Ra7 or Ra8}) 36... Rxe4 37.  Qd3 Re1+ 38. Kh2 Qe7 39. Rd8+ (39. Ra8+) 39... Qe8 40. Rxe8+ Rxe8 41. Qd7 Rf8  42. Bd6 Kh7 43. Bxf8 h5 {[#]} 44. Bxc5 {You can go straight for mate here} (44.  Qxf7 $1) (44. Ra7 $1 {finally using the wandering Rook!}) 44... Kg8 45. Qd3 g6  46. Ra8+ Kg7 47. Qd4+ Kh6 {[#]} 48. Be7 (48. Qf6 $1 {is mate in one more move})  48... f6 49. Bxf6 (49. Qxf6 $1) 49... g5 {[#]} 50. Rh8+ (50. Qe4 {is mate in  one more move}) 50... Kg6 51. Bxg5 Kxg5 52. Rf8 h4 53. Qg7+ Kh5 54. Rh8# *   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.9"]  [White "Gilbert, Harri"]  [Black "Bracey, Tom"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C50"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "116"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {The pawn ending was much more exciting than it need have been to watch! Do  have a look at it again -- there's lots to learn there.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3.  Bc4 Nf6 4. Nc3 {Diagram [#] #} Bc5 ({I always think} 4... Nxe4 $1 {should be  played, with the idea} 5. Nxe4 (5. O-O {is bolder} Nxc3 6. dxc3 Be7 {and White  may struggle to show the lost pawn is worth the attack}) 5... d5 {when Black  has an easier time of it}) 5. O-O O-O (5... d6) 6. d3 d6 {Diagram [#] # Sigh.  Old Stodge is never a welcome guest at the chessboard.} 7. Bg5 h6 {Diagram [#]  #} 8. Bxf6 (8. Bh4 g5 {and now} 9. Nxg5 $5 hxg5 10. Bxg5 {might give Black  some anxious moments} Be6 11. Qf3 Kg7 12. Qg3 Rg8 13. Kh1 {with the idea of f4}  ) 8... Qxf6 9. Nd5 Qg6 $5 {Bold!} 10. Bb5 {Diagram [#] #} Qh5 ({I thought your  idea was} 10... Bh3) 11. Bxc6 bxc6 12. Ne7+ Kh8 {Diagram [#] #} 13. Nxc8 (13.  Nxc6 {makes more sense but White is playing with just one piece!}) 13... Rfxc8  14. d4 exd4 15. Nxd4 Qxd1 16. Raxd1 Re8 17. Rfe1 Rab8 18. b3 {#} Rb4 (18... Rb6  {ties up the Rook defending a measly pawn}) (18... Bxd4 19. Rxd4 a5 20. e5 $14)  19. Nxc6 {finally White grabs the c-pawn} Rbxe4 20. Rxe4 Rxe4 {Diagram [#] #}  21. a4 (21. Kf1 {keeps out the black Rook}) 21... Re2 $1 {The advantage is now  with Black.} 22. Kf1 $2 {makes things worse!} Rxf2+ {Diagram [#] #} 23. Kg1 $4  {walks into a discovery} Rd2+ 24. Kf1 Rxd1+ 25. Ke2 Rd5 26. c4 Re5+ 27. Nxe5  dxe5 {Diagram [#] #} 28. Kd3 {Now you must race your own King to the middle --  otherwise it's king versus bishop, and the king is the stronger piece.} g5 29.  Ke4 Bd6 30. Kd5 a5 31. c5 {Diagram [#] #} Bxc5 {Not necessary but you're still  winning -- just!} 32. Kxc5 c6 $4 {Diagram [#] #} (32... e4 $1 33. Kd4 f5 $19 {  and you have time to bring up your King}) 33. Kc4 (33. b4 $1 $18 {wins for  White! TACTIC: decoy}) 33... f5 34. g3 {Diagram [#] #} f4 $1 {now you're OK} (  34... e4 $1) 35. Kd3 fxg3 {Diagram [#] # This puts the win at risk again!  There's no need to give up this fine passed pawn.} (35... Kg7 {this is your  priority here!}) 36. hxg3 Kg7 $2 {Oh, isn't chess a hard game -- you've done  just what I've been telling you to do, but without a distant passed pawn, this  lets the win slip again!} 37. Ke4 (37. b4 $1 $11 {gets a passed pawn for White,  when you don't have a clear runner of your own.}) 37... Kf6 (37... c5 $1 {puts  an end to White's hopes}) 38. Kf3 (38. b4 $1 {is White's best hope.}) 38... Kf5  39. g4+ {Diagram [#] #} Ke6 {Now Black is back with everything under control.}  40. Ke4 Kd6 (40... c5 $1) 41. Kd3 Kc5 42. Kc3 e4 43. Kd2 Kb4 44. Ke3 Kxb3 45.  Kxe4 c5 46. Kf5 c4 47. Kg6 c3 48. Kxh6 c2 49. Kxg5 c1=Q+ 50. Kf5 Kxa4 51. g5  Kb4 52. g6 Qg1 53. Kf6 Qxg6+ 54. Kxg6 a4 55. Kf5 a3 56. Ke4 a2 57. Kd3 {  Diagram [#] #} a1=Q 58. Kc2 Qa3 {and mates. Your score sheet suggests you  promoted to a Rook -- don't get fancy, just get another Queen!} 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.10"]  [White "Lewis, Tom"]  [Black "Fernando, Dilusha"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D94"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "95"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {Not much wrong with that! You can learn a line against Black's unusual  opening.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 {Diagram [#] #} 3. Nc3 (3. cxd5 $1 {takes  advantage of Black's inaccuracy} Nxd5 4. Nf3 $1 $14 (4. e4 {is too early} Nf6  5. Nc3 e5 $1 {(Marshall)} 6. dxe5 Qxd1+ 7. Kxd1 Ng4 $11) 4... g6 (4... Bf5 5.  Qb3) 5. e4) 3... g6 {Diagram [#] #By an unusual route, we have a thing called  the Grunfeld Defence.} 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. e3 {That's OK if unexciting.} O-O {  Diagram [#] #} 6. Bd2 {That doesn't really help the Bishop.} ({White usually  plays} 6. b4 {or}) (6. Be2) 6... b6 (6... c6 7. Bd3 Be6 8. Qb3) 7. Bd3 Ba6 8.  Qb3 Nc6 9. Qa4 (9. Nxd5 $5 $14) 9... Nb8 10. O-O Ne8 $6 11. Nxd5 $1 c6 12. Nc3  c5 {Diagram [#] # TACTIC: net} 13. Rfe1 (13. Be4 $1 {Seize the carp!}) 13...  cxd4 14. exd4 Bxd4 15. Be4 {Aha!} Nc7 16. Bxa8 Nxa8 {Diagram [#] # Now, White  need just to swap off and win! Which is what you do.} 17. Bg5 (17. Nxd4 $1 {is  straightforward:} Qxd4 18. Bh6 $1 Qd8 (18... Rc8 19. Rxe7) 19. Rad1) 17... Qd6  $4 {Diagram [#] #} 18. Bxe7 $1 Qf4 19. Bxf8 Kxf8 20. Qe8+ Kg7 21. Qe4 Qd6 22.  Qxd4+ Qxd4 23. Nxd4 Bxc4 24. Re7 Na6 25. Rxa7 N8c7 26. Re1 h5 27. Re4 f5 28.  Nxf5+ gxf5 29. Rxc4 b5 {Diagram [#] #} 30. Rc5 (30. Rcxc7+ {keeps it simple}  Nxc7 31. Rxc7+) 30... Nxc5 {TACTIC: fork} 31. Rxc7+ Kg6 32. Rxc5 b4 33. Nd5 Kg5  34. Nxb4 (34. Ne3) 34... Kg4 35. Nd3 h4 36. h3+ Kg5 37. g4 Kg6 38. gxf5+ Kg5  39. a4 Kf6 40. a5 Ke7 41. a6 Kd6 42. Ra5 Kc7 43. a7 Kb6 44. a8=Q Kc7 45. Qa6  Kd7 46. Rb5 Ke7 47. Rb7+ Kf8 48. Qa8# 1-0   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.27"]  [Round "?"]  [White "NN, Thomas"]  [Black "Lewis, Tom"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C61"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "88"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {After winning a piece on move 4(!) you were always winning and I liked the  mate at the end. You need a third move that is always good and do try not to  lose your extra piece!} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Nd4 {Diagram [#] #This move  can lead to an amusing trap, but it really isn't very good.} 4. Ng5 $4 {Not  very observant!} (4. c3 Nxf3+ 5. Qxf3 {and White stands very well!}) (4. Nxe5  Qg5 5. Nxf7 Qxg2 6. Rf1 Qxe4+ 7. Be2 Nf3# {Diagram [#] # This line is called  Blackburne's Shilling Gambit, because he used to win games quickly with it,  having bet a shilling!}) 4... Qxg5 5. O-O {Diagram [#] #} Nf6 (5... d5 $1 {  goes for the kill} 6. d3 Qxc1 7. Qxc1 Ne2+ 8. Kh1 Nxc1 9. exd5 Ne2 {with two  extra pieces}) 6. d3 Qh4 (6... Qxc1 $1) 7. h3 Bc5 8. b4 {Diagram [#] #} Be7 (  8... d5 {keeps up the pressure}) 9. Nc3 Bxb4 10. Nb5 Nxb5 11. Bxb5 {Diagram [#]  #} a6 (11... c6 {supports ...d5}) 12. Bc4 O-O 13. Be3 Bc3 14. Rb1 d6 15. Qf3 b6  16. g3 Qxh3 17. Rb3 Ng4 18. Qg2 Qxg2+ 19. Kxg2 Nxe3+ 20. fxe3 Bd2 21. Rf2 Bxe3  22. Re2 Bd4 23. Bd5 Ra7 24. c3 Bg4 25. Re1 {Diagram [#] #} c6 (25... Bc5 {is  fine}) 26. Bxc6 Rc7 27. Bd5 Rxc3 28. Rxc3 Bxc3 29. Rc1 {Diagram [#] #} Bd2 (  29... Bd4 30. Rc6 Bc5) 30. Rc6 {Develop and swap is the golden rule!} Be2 $4 {  Again., I'm happy that you're so much ahead that this doesn't matter!} 31. Rc2  {Diagram [#] TACTIC: skewer} Bxd3 32. Rxd2 Bb5 33. Rb2 Rc8 34. Bb7 Rc4 35. Bd5  Rd4 36. Rc2 h6 37. Rc7 Rd2+ 38. Kh3 Rf2 $1 39. Rb7 Bf1+ 40. Kg4 Be2+ 41. Kh3 g5  42. Rb8+ Kg7 43. Rxb6 $4 g4+ 44. Kh4 Rh2# 0-1   [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.27"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Lewis, Tom"]  [Black "NN"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D38"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "89"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {The theme of this game, after you won a piece, was Black's tireless efforts  to make trouble for your King. And a couple of times, black's play was worth  at least a draw, sometimes a win! So you did well do hang on for the win.} 1.  d4 d5 2. c4 Nf6 {Diagram [#] #'Lots of comment on this above!'} 3. Nf3 (3. cxd5  {'!' 'should be played'}) 3... e6 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Bd2 {Diagram [#] #'Not a very  ambitious square for the Bishop!'} (5. Bg5) (5. cxd5) (5. e3) 5... Bxc3 6. Bxc3  O-O 7. e3 Nc6 8. Bd3 Ne4 {Diagram [#] #} 9. Bxe4 (9. Qc2 {gives up your worse  Bishop without losing time} Nxc3 10. Qxc3) 9... dxe4 10. Nd2 Ne7 (10... f5) 11.  Nxe4 Nf5 12. O-O Qh4 13. Qf3 Qh6 14. Rac1 Qg6 15. Nd2 Nh4 {Diagram [#] #  'Black is trying to attack with just two pieces, which shouldn't succeed  against the whole White army!'} 16. Qh3 (16. Qg3 $5) 16... Qg5 {Diagram [#]}  17. Nf3 {TACTIC: fork} Qh5 $4 {Diagram [#] #} 18. Nxh4 (18. Qxh4 {'is clearer,  offering the Queen exchange.'}) 18... e5 19. Qg3 Re8 20. dxe5 Re6 21. Rcd1 h6  22. Rd8+ Kh7 {Diagram [#] #} 23. Nf5 (23. f4 {keeps the strongest grip}) 23...  Rg6 24. Qf4 Rg4 {Diagram [#] #} 25. Qf3 (25. Nxg7 $1 {is a cute idea that my  computer found TACTIC: counterattack} Rxg7 (25... Kxg7 26. Qf6+ Kh7 27. Rh8#)  26. e6 $1 fxe6 27. Rh8+ $1) 25... Qg5 {'Black is persistent, and has created  some threats.'} 26. Rfd1 {'?!'} Bxf5 27. Rxa8 (27. R8d4) 27... Be4 {# TACTIC:  mate 'Black has done well and now White needs to put a stop to this! Happily,  you're so far ahead you can do this and hold on for the win.'} 28. h4 (28. Qg3  {'!' 'with similar play to the game.'} Rxg3 29. hxg3 Qf5 30. f3 Bc6 31. Kf2 a6  32. Rd2 h5 33. Rd4) 28... Qh5 29. Qh3 $2 {Diagram [#] #} Rxh4 $2 (29... Rxg2+  30. Qxg2 Qxd1+ 31. Kh2 Bxg2 {and you have let Black get away with too much.  1-0 (31) Lewis,T-NN}) 30. Qxh4 Qxh4 31. Rd4 {Diagram [#] #} f5 $4 (31... c5 $1  32. Rdd8 b5 33. Rab8 Qg5 34. f3 Bxf3 $19 {winning}) 32. Rxa7 (32. exf6) 32...  Qg4 33. f3 $1 Qg5 34. fxe4 h5 {Diagram [#] #And the White pieces are worth  more than the Queen.} 35. Rxb7 h4 36. Rxc7 h3 {Diagram [#] I like Black's  attitude!} 37. Rd2 Qg3 38. Re2 Qg4 39. Rf2 Qd1+ (39... Qg3 $1 {is strongest,  creating as much trouble as possible,}) 40. Rf1 {Diagram [#] #} Qxf1+ $5 {An  amusing idea! TACTIC: undermining} (40... Qg4 $1 {and White still has work to  do}) 41. Kxf1 h2 $1 42. e6 (42. exf5) (42. Kf2) 42... h1=Q+ 43. Kf2 {Diagram  [#] #} Qh6 (43... Qh4+ $1 44. Kg1 Qxe4 45. Rxg7+ Kh6 46. e7 {and White is  winning}) 44. Rxg7+ $1 Kh8 $4 45. Rg6+ 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.10"]  [White "Thet, Fiona"]  [Black "Narayanan, Niranjana"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A00"]  [PlyCount "0"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "3.10"]  [White "Harrison, Myles"]  [Black "Geldman, Findlay"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "A00"]  [PlyCount "0"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.11"]  [White "NN, Jimmy"]  [Black "Narayanan, Niranjana"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "D00"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "115"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {That was a shame -- you were doing your best to get sorted out in an  unfamiliar opening, but dropped a piece at a bad moment!} 1. d4 d5 2. Nc3 Nf6  3. Bf4 Bg4 {Diagram [#] # Rather invites White's next move.} (3... Bf5) (3...  c5) 4. f3 Bh5 5. e3 {Diagram [#] #} a6 (5... e6 {and castling is best.} 6. Nb5  Na6 {is a waste of time for White}) 6. Qd2 e6 7. a3 {Diagram [#] #} Nc6 (7...  Nbd7 {is better, leaving the c-pawn free} 8. O-O-O c5) 8. O-O-O Be7 9. Bd3 Qd7  10. Nge2 h6 11. g4 Bg6 {Diagram [#] #} 12. e4 {You're a bit squashed here, as  White is taking over the middle. If you had managed to play ...c5, White's  centre would just crumble.} O-O-O 13. e5 Ng8 14. Be3 {Diagram [#] #} f6 {  That's totally the right idea but very sadly the wrong moment! TACTIC:  undefending} (14... Bxd3 {first was important!}) 15. Bxg6 fxe5 16. dxe5 Nxe5  17. Nf4 {Diagram [#] #} d4 {Good effort but regrettably it doesn't work --  just count!} 18. Qxd4 Qxd4 19. Bxd4 {Diagram [#] #} Nxf3 $2 {Now your Rook  gets trapped.} 20. Bxg7 {TACTIC: net} Bg5 21. Rxd8+ Kxd8 22. Bxh8 Bxf4+ 23. Kd1  Ne7 24. Bf6 {Diagram [#] #} Be5 {The rest is very tough on you!} (24... Kd7 {  might keep more pieces on.}) 25. Bxe5 Nxe5 26. Bd3 Nxg4 27. Re1 Nxh2 28. Rxe6  Ng4 29. Re2 Nc6 30. Rd2 h5 31. Bf5+ Ke7 32. Bxg4 hxg4 33. Nd5+ Kd8 34. Nb4+ Kc8  35. Nxc6 bxc6 36. Rg2 Kb7 37. Rxg4 Kb6 38. Rb4+ Kc5 39. Kd2 a5 40. Rb7 Kd6 41.  Kc3 Kd7 42. b4 Kc8 43. Ra7 Kb8 44. Rxa5 Kb7 45. Rc5 Kb6 46. a4 Kb7 47. b5 cxb5  48. Rxb5+ Kc6 49. Kb4 Kd6 50. a5 c6 51. Rb6 Kc7 52. Kc5 Kd7 53. Rxc6 Kd8 54. a6  Ke7 55. a7 Kf7 56. a8=Q Ke7 57. Qb7+ Kf8 58. Rc8# 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "2.11"]  [White "Narayanan, Niranjana"]  [Black "NN, Fiona"]  [Result "0-1"]  [ECO "C65"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "74"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]     e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bd6 {Diagram [#] # Makes a bit of a  traffic jam in Black's position.} 5. Bg5 a6 6. Ba4 b5 7. Bb3 Bb7 {Diagram [#] #  } 8. Nc3 ({It's a bit more Ruy Lopez to play} 8. Nbd2 {or}) (8. c3) 8... Bb4 9.  O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Qe7 11. d4 d6 12. d5 Na5 13. Rb1 Nxb3 14. cxb3 {Diagram [#]  Good, but it makes me wonder why you played your previous move!} c6 15. c4 h6 {     Now your Bishop gets squashed} 16. Bh4 (16. Be3) (16. Bxf6 Qxf6 17. Qd3)   16... g5 17. Bg3 (17. Nxg5 hxg5 18. Bxg5 Rg8 19. h4 {isn't really good for you:  black hasn't castled}) 17... Nxe4 18. Re1 {Diagram [#] #} Nc3 {TACTIC: fork  oops! But because black hasn't castled, you have a chance to hit back!} 19. Qd2  (19. Qc1 $1 Nxb1 20. Nxe5 $1 {Diagram [#] # TACTIC: pin} O-O-O 21. Nxc6 {  TACTIC: discovery} Qc7 22. Nxd8 {and White is doing very well}) 19... Nxb1 20.  Rxb1 O-O-O 21. Qc3 f6 {Diagram [#] # Blacjk is being 'safe' but has allowed  you a quick chance on the other side} 22. cxb5 axb5 23. dxc6 Ba8 {Diagram [#]}  24. Qa5 (24. a4 $1 $16 {keeps your initiative going}) 24... Bxc6 25. Qa6+ Qb7  26. Qa3 b4 27. Qc1 h5 28. h3 h4 29. Bh2 Kd7 30. Qc2 {Diagram [#] #} Be4 {oh  dear} 31. Qc1 Bxb1 32. Qxb1 Rc8 33. Qf5+ Ke7 34. Qb1 Qc7 35. g3 Qb7 36. Qg6  Qxf3 37. gxh4 Rc1# 0-1   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.12"]  [White "Harrison, Myles"]  [Black "NN"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C24"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "49"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]     e4 e5 2. Bc4 Nf6 3. d3 Nc6 4. Bg5 {Diagram [#] # Lasker always used to say,  develop your Knights before the Bishops! Knights usually want to go to 'Bishop  Three' but Bishops have more choice.} (4. Nc3 Bc5 5. f4) 4... Nd4 {Pointless.}   Bxf6 {Also pointless, you're just developing Black's Queen.} (5. c3) (5. Nc3  ) 5... Qxf6 6. Nc3 Bc5 7. Nd5 Qg6 {Diagram [#]} 8. Nf3 $4 (8. g3) (8. Kf1) 8...  Qxg2 {Diagram [#] # Bringing out Black's Queen has led to all sorts of trouble!  } 9. Kd2 $4 {Makes things even worse} Nxf3+ 10. Kc1 O-O 11. c3 c6 12. Nc7 Rb8   d4 exd4 14. Be2 Ng5 15. Rg1 Qxf2 16. Rxg5 {Some hope maybe?} Qf4+ 17. Qd2  Qxc7 {Diagram [#] # Now, there was a chance here to force a draw, which,  seeing how many pawns you are behind, you should have taken!} 18. Rxc5 (18.  Rxg7+ Kxg7 19. Qg5+ Kh8 20. Qf6+ Kg8 21. Qg5+ $11) 18... d5 19. exd5 {Diagram  [#] # TACTIC: pin} cxd5 $4 (19... dxc3 20. Rxc3 Qxh2 {with three connected     passed pawns, which should win without too much trouble!}) 20. Rxc7 {Diagram  [#] #Now White should win easily, and does so.} Bf5 21. Bd3 Bh3 22. Qf4 h6 23.  cxd4 Rfe8 24. Qxf7+ Kh8 25. Qxg7# 1-0   [Event "WWoE"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.13"]  [Round "1.13"]  [White "Sachdeva, Robin"]  [Black "Sachdeva, Robin"]  [Result "*"]  [ECO "A00"]  [PlyCount "0"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]         [Event "?"]  [Site "?"]  [Date "2018.01.21"]  [Round "?"]  [White "Sequiera, Alfie"]  [Black "Sequiera, Alistair"]  [Result "1-0"]  [ECO "C53"]  [Annotator "Dell"]  [PlyCount "85"]  [EventDate "2018.??.??"]   {No problems for White here: there are a couple of points in the opening you  could have another look at.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. c3 d6 5. d4 exd4  {Diagram [#] So far, so good!} 6. Nxd4 ({The idea of c3 is to take over the  centre, and you can do that with a gain of time here after} 6. cxd4 Bb6 7. Nc3  $16) 6... Bxd4 {Gives White another chance to own the centre! And most Bishops  are worth a little more than most Knights} (6... Nf6) 7. cxd4 Nf6 {Diagram [#]}  8. d5 {That shuts off the Bishop's nice view.} (8. Nc3) 8... Nb8 (8... Ne5) 9.  O-O Bg4 10. Qd4 (10. f3) 10... O-O {Diagram [#] White isn't ahead in  development, so should develop and try and get some other sort of advantage  before attacking,} 11. e5 (11. Nc3) 11... dxe5 12. Qxe5 h6 (12... Re8 13. Qg3  Nbd7 {when suddenly Black is ahead in development and the d-pawn looks weak.})  13. Nc3 Qe8 {Diagram [#]} 14. Bf4 (14. Qxc7 $1) 14... Qxe5 15. Bxe5 Re8 $2 {  Diagram [#] Giving White a second chance at the c-pawn} 16. Bxc7 Na6 (16... Rc8  ) 17. Bxa6 bxa6 18. Rfe1 Rxe1+ 19. Rxe1 {Diagram [#] Now White is comfortably  in control.} Kh7 20. Be5 Re8 21. Kf1 Kg6 {Diagram [#]} 22. Bxf6 {uncovering an  attack...} gxf6 $4 (22... Rxe1+) 23. Rxe8 h5 24. Re4 Kg5 {Diagram [#]} 25.  Rxg4+ {Removing any problems.} hxg4 26. d6 a5 27. d7 Kf5 28. d8=Q g3 29. fxg3  Kg4 30. Qxa5 f5 {Diagram [#]} 31. Qxa7 ({You can go straight for the mate with  } 31. Qe5 Kg5 32. Qg7+ Kh5 33. Nd5 a5 34. Nf4#) 31... f4 32. gxf4 Kxf4 33.  Qxf7+ Ke5 34. Ne4 Kxe4 35. Qg6+ Kd4 36. Qf5 Kc4 37. Qe5 Kb4 38. Qd5 Ka4 39. Qb7  Ka5 {Diagram [#]} 40. Ke2 (40. a3 Ka4 41. Qb4#) 40... Ka4 41. Kd3 Ka5 42. Kc4  Ka4 43. Qa7# 1-0