As Webmaster noted in What's New? on 28 May, this was a match of 5 decisive games (with black winning 4-1). The match is of historic interest for Emsworth - it is the first time we have won the Cup!
Pick of the games was probably the tussle on top board where Martin Buckley scored white's only success, overcoming stubborn resistance from Keith Gregory with some fine strategy.
The four black wins came with varying
forms of assistance from the white players. My game against John Wheeler was on Board 2. I had played John in a league match on 11 April, losing the black side of a Queen's Gambit. That loss (on time) was still fresh in my mind. (If I remember correctly, I lost our previous encounter too, playing the black side of a Benko Gambit, so John was on for a Hat-trick).
John played quite quickly for the first dozen moves. This worked well,
because it pressured me to do the same (on the back of the previous
time-loss) and my opening play was not good. In the battle of the queen's bishops, John is clearly better. However his moves 13-15 (he is still
playing fast) were too hasty and I find a way to get back in the game.
John then plays a bit placidly and Black's advantage (Ne4) is not
challenged. By move 21, under the cover of the knight (pardon the pun),
black is able to move over to attack. With the clock starting to affect
both of us (30/60+15 is quite tight - and John slowed right down from move 16), errors creep in. John's 27th move is particularly poor and this has
to be due in part to the clock. After that there is no way back for him
and he can choose his moment to resign at leisure after the time control.
The whole game is an example of how easy it is to go from a good position (I haven't asked a computer but I would say he is at least +1 after my 13th move) to a bad one (through not taking his chance at move 14 and some planless play in the sequel) to a lost one. The student will get far more out of the game by looking at John's play rather than mine.
1.d4
Nf6
2.c4
e6
3.Nf3
Bb4+
Full circle. Avid readers of the website will have seen me play this
before .
I had found quite a few NimzoIndian-type games transposing to Queen's
Gambit positions (but with the B rather silly on b4) so I switched to 3
...d5 part-way through the season. With success too: I won them all -
prior to my loss to John! I had no desire for a repeat, so switched back
to the old standard for this rematch.
4.Nbd2
0-0
5.a3
Bxd2+
6.Qxd2
d6
7.b3
Re8
8.Bb2
Nbd7
9.e3
Qe7
10.Be2
e5
Aiming for the same sort of set-up as I got against Bill. But here it just
opens the diagonal for John's QB. With a bit more thought I would have
played more patiently with ...b6 (maybe even as early as move 4). I could
then also have omitted the clumsy 9..Qe7 (and indeed 7 ..Re8) - and played instead ..Ne4 and perhaps ...f5. Basically, my set-up is all wrong here. [10...b6
]
11.dxe5
Nxe5
I would prefer to try to block out John's QB with a pawn, but for some reason wanted my B on g4, although b7 still looks a better choice.
12.0-0
Bd7
Why not g4? I didn't like 13 Nxe5 in reply - although I then get a P to e5, the exchanges leave BvN for W in an approaching ending. While I thought this would be drawn, a) I wanted to play chess and b) I felt the line left W in control (I couldn't see a way for B to create play here).
Meanwhile 12 ...b6 invites 13 Nxe5 de 14 Bf3 - which looks awkward for B, so I'm left with this rather sorry-looking move for the B. [12...Bg4
13.Nxe5
]
13.Rad1
This is perhaps the most interesting move of the game. Why the a-rook? W has many advantages here - including the unopposed QB (on a beautiful diagonal), pawn breaks (c5 comes into consideration - not now but in a move or two) and better coordination. c5 would fit with Rs on c1 and d1. The only purpose I can think of in leaving the R on f1 and playing the a-R to d1 is that he's going to play Nxe5 and f4. Very aggressive stuff from John.
13...a5
Here I stood up to check out the other boards, as if to say: "you're playing too fast, John. Here's something to think about!" (A bluff of course - what could ...a5 possibly be threatening?)
(Dominic thought the computer would give him - 1 here, but it gives about -0.5 with White recommended to play Ne5 (webmaster))
14.a4
A sort of "oh no it's not" reply - played quickly (was he really hoping for another win on time?) He should carry out his plan - 14 Nxe5. After 14 ..de 15 f4 Black is under huge pressure. Perhaps he just wanted to get the P off a3 (where it is eyed by the black Q) first - but now I seize my chance to free my game. [14.Nxe5
dxe5
15.f4
Bg4
16.fxe5
Ne4
17.Qc2
]
14...Nxf3+
15.Bxf3
I should point out - 15 gf looks good (to combine pressure down the g-file with pressure down the a1-h8 diagonal - and incidentally keep the N from e4) but is problematic with the R on f1. 15 ..Bh3 threatens 16 ..Ne4 and so wins material. [15.gxf3
Bh3
16.Rfe1=/+
]
15...Bc6
Curious how neither side now wants to capture - W doesn't want to give B the b-file and similarly B could do without W having the g-file...
16.Qe2
...so this looks like a waste of time.
16...Ne4
17.Bd4
f5
18.Qc2
Rf8
19.Rc1
I think he should fight for e4 - perhaps with Be2-d3 and f3. At least he is now threatening c5 in anger - but that's (now) easy to stop.
19...b6
Finally!! Anywhere between moves 4-11 would have saved some hassle. The unprotection of the c6B is double-edged - it persuades W to keep his B on f3 and so omit the Be2/f3 manoeuvre just recommended.
20.Rfd1
Rae8
21.Ba1
Why? It was better where it stood. But bad moves come easy in bad positions - W has run out of counterplay (the pressure down the diagonal counts for nothing if he cannot persuade B to play ...g6) and he has to adopt a "show-me" attitude.
21...Qg5
22.Qb2
Re6
23.g3
Rg6
24.Qe2?
[24.Qc2
]
24...f4
We both have under 5 minutes to get to move 30. The text is played as much for the psychological effect as for any analysis that went into it.
25.exf4
Qxf4
Sad. I suspect that ...Rxf4 is harder to meet.
26.Bg2
The watching crowd expected 26 Bxe4. John avoids this because he thinks black's QB will prove better in the ending than his own. Full circle on what was going on in my head 14 moves earlier!
26...Qf5
27.f4
It is strange how prone we are to blunder the moment we get a breathing space. White has been feeling the pressure relentlessly increasing almost from move 16. Due to my inaccuracy at move 25, I now have to take a step back and John feels the pressure lift. His reaction is to step forward into the breach and... give the game away. I have seen this many times from many players - myself included.
27...Nxg3
28.hxg3
Rxg3
29.Rd5
Bxd5
Instinct said 29..Qxf4 was more accurate but I knew I was winning anyway and didn't want to spend precious seconds investigating nuances.
30.cxd5
Qxf4
31.Rxc7
h5
32.Re7
[32.Rc4
]
32...h4
33.Qb2
One way of resigning.
33...Qf1+
34.Kh2
Rxg2+
35.Qxg2
Rf2
36.Rxg7+
Kf8
37.Rg8+
Kf7
38.Rg7+
Ke8
39.Rg8+
Kd7
40.Rg7+
Kc8
41.Bc3
Rxg2+
42.Rxg2
Qf4+
43.Kh1
Qc1+
44.Kh2
Qxc3
45.Rg4
Qxb3
46.Rxh4
Qxd5
Here Keith resigned on top board so John immediately followed suit. 0-1