Members Games - Highcliffe Chess Club

Notes and comments are by Christian Westrap

[Event "Bournemouth League"] [Site "Highcliffe Chess Club"] [White "Tyler, A"] [Black "Ursell, R"] [Result "0-1"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 {The Petroff Defence.} 3.Bc4$5 {Sharper than white’s most popular choice, which is } (3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4) 3...Nc6 {Transposing to an Italian Game. More often this position is reached via the move order 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6.} (3...Nxe4$5 {challenges white’s move order and is also interesting}) 4. d4 d6 {a bit passive} ( 4...exd4 5.e5 d5$1 {is more common} ) 5.Ng5$5 {this makes for very interesting play} (5.dxe5 dxe5 6.Qxd8+ Nxd8 7.Nc3 {is less interesting but probably a bit better for white.}) 5...d5 6.exd5 Nxd4 7.c3 b5$6 {This move works excellently in the game and both players were doing their utmost to play entertaining chess. The move is sharp but white should get an advantage now.} 8.cxd4 bxc4 9.Qa4+$2 {White errs and allows black to obtain an advantage.} (9.dxe5 Nxd5 10.O-O$14 {gives white an advantage as black’s pawns are weak.} ) 9...Qd7$1 10.Qxd7+ Nxd7 11.dxe5 Nxe5 {Black’s pawn are still weak in this line but he has terrific compensation in the form of the 2 bishops and quick development. Richard plays really well from now on in to convert his advantage} 12.O-O Nd3$1 {What a knight!} 13.Nd2$6 {White is in trouble and needs to develop as quickly and actively as he can} (13.Nc3 {looks better, leaving the diagonal open for the bishop.} ) 13...Ba6 14.Rd1 Bc5 {This position must have been fun to play for Richard, all his pieces have excellent squares!} 15.Nde4 Bd4 16.Rd2 O-O 17.Nc3 Rfe8 18.Nf3 {I came over to look at the board at around this time and remember thinking, “What a great position for black to play!”} 18...Rab8 19.g3 Bf6 20.Rc2 Ne1 21.Nxe1 Rxe1+ 22.Kg2 Rbe8 23.Rb1 Bc8$1 {A good move, redeveloping the bishop to a better diagonal.} 24.Nb5$2 {losing immediately but white’s in big trouble, anyhow.} (24.Bd2 Rxb1 25.Nxb1 Bf5 26.Rc1 {is more stubborn, with some saving chances} ) 24...Bf5$19 {wins on the spot, the remaining moves were…} 25.Na3 Be4+ {ruthless!} 26.Kh3 Bxc2 27.Nxc2 R1e2 28.Na3 Rxf2 29.Bf4 Ree2 30.Rh1 Rxb2 31.Nxc4 Rxa2 32.Ne5 g5$1 {a nice finish, winning another piece.} 0-1 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

Move the pieces in the diagram by either clicking on the moves or using the arrow keys.

A really well played game and a great start to the season for Richard.

[Event "Bournemouth League"] [Site "Southbourne Chess Club"] [White "Ken Smith"] [Black "Russell Pegg"] [Result "1-0"] 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Bd3 e5 4.d5 Nbd7 5.Ne2 {White’s set-up is unusual against the Pirc Defence but quite sound.} 5...a6 6.Be3 Nc5 7.Bxc5 dxc5 8.c4 Bg4 9.f3 Bh5 10.Qa4+ Nd7 11.Nbc3 {The game is equal with both sides developing their pieces. Ken now decides to play aggressively and advance on the K-side.} 11...Bd6 12.h4 Be7 13.O-O-O Bxh4 14.g3 Bg5+ 15.f4 Bxe2 16. Nxe2 Bf6 {So black has won a pawn but white has reasonable compensation since he controls a lot more space and it is not clear where the black king will go. Russell decides to castle Q-side which is a good decision.} 17.Kb1 Qe7 18.Nc3 O-O-O 19.a3 h5 20.b4$2 {White isn’t really ready to start attacking on the Q-side and the Knight on c3 is undefended. However, the position becomes very complicated!} (20.f5 {is better}) 20...exf4 21.b5 {otherwise white is just 2 pawns down!} 21...Bxc3 22.bxa6 b6$2 {Under pressure, black blunders!} (22...Qf6 23.a7 Qb6+ 24.Qb5 Qxa7 {wins for black since he is too far ahead on material} ) 23.Qc6 Ne5 {attacking white’s queen, but…} 24.a7$1 Nxc6 25.dxc6$1 {Amazingly, there is nothing black can do to prevent mate!} 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

A brilliant start to the season for Ken, its not every game you get to sacrifice your queen!

[Event "Southampton League"] [Site "Eastleigh Chess Club"] [White "Christian Westrap"] [Black "David Holmes"] [Result "1-0"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 { The sharpest move, gaining space in the centre. } ( 3.Nf3 { is also good, transposing to a variation of the English Opening. } ) 3...b5$5 {The Benko Gambit. Black offers a pawn to open lines on the queenside for his pieces. Some alternatives are: } ( 3...e6 { which usually leads to The Modern Benoni after } 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 ) ( 3...e5$5 { is an interesting move that was played in a game against me at Southampton Uni the evening before this game was played. That game continued } 4.Nc3 d6 5.e4 Be7 6.Nf3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 Nf8 8.O-O Ng6 { and I managed to win from this, about equal, position } ) 4.Qc2 { I prefer not to accept The Benko Gambit as black usually obtains very easy play for his pieces and long-term compensation for the pawn. I wanted to make my opponent think for himself as early as possible in the game. } 4...d6 ( 4...bxc4 5.e4 d6 6.Bxc4 g6 7.Nf3 Bg7 8.O-O O-O { is the most common line here. Black doesn’t have as much activity as in the main lines of the Benko but then he hasn’t sacrificed a pawn either. Chances are about even. } ) ( 4...Na6$5 5.a3 bxc4 6.e4$13 { is interesting. Black’s knight on a6 can redevelop via c7. } ) 5.e4 g6 6.Nf3 ( 6.cxb5$1 { was probably more accurate, not allowing the capture on c4 } ) 6...Nbd7$6 { This was black’s last opportunity to take on c4. I now accepted the pawn under favourable conditions as I am able to block the a- and b-files and stifle some of black’s counterplay. } 7.cxb5$1 { Note how white’s queen is well placed on c2 to guard the e4 pawn and how the bishop on f1 attacks the b5 square. White’s position is comfortable and he can hold on to the extra pawn.} 7...a6 8.Nc3 { White’s plan is to inhibit the activity of black’s pieces on the queenside. To do this I wanted to place a minor piece on b5, supported by pawns on a4 and b3. } (8.bxa6 Bxa6 9.Bxa6 Rxa6 10.O-O$14 { also looks playable but I wanted to develop my pieces first before exchanging on a6 } ) 8...Bg7 9.a4 O-O 10.Bf4 Ng4 { A good knight move, rerouting to the e5 square. } ( 10...axb5 11.Bxb5 Ba6 12.O-O { is good for white, who may also recapture on b5 with the knight. } ) 11.Be2 Nge5 12.O-O (12.Nxe5 Nxe5 13.O-O { leads to the same thing. } ) 12...Nxf3+ 13.Bxf3 Ne5 14.Be2 h6$6 ( 14...f5$5 { was interesting and causes white more problems than in the game. After h6, the move f5 becomes less attractive for black since the b1-h7 diagonal would then become weak. } 15.f3 fxe4 16.fxe4 Ng4 17.Kh1 { is one possible continuation. I would still have been happy with white’s position but black definitely has more counter-play here. } ) 15.bxa6$16 { Finally white captures on a6 and will establish the blockade on b5 with the knight. White is better as black does not have compensation for the pawn. Black’s position is still quite solid though. } 15...Bxa6 16.Bxa6 Rxa6 17.Nb5$1 { The set-up with the knight on b5 and pawns on a4 and b3 is known to favour white in this opening as it prevents blacks rooks from becoming active on the queenside. This is an important factor in assessing his compensation for the sacrificed pawn. Just as important is the fact that black cannot easily challenge this structure. } 17...Qb6 18.Rac1 ( 18.b3 { immediately was also playable since black does not have any effective knight moves to uncover the attack on white’s rook. } ) 18...Nd7 19.b3 { White has realised his plan and stands better. Black does not have sufficient compensation for the pawn. The bishop on g7 looks great but it doesn’t really achieve much apart from taking the a1 square away from white’s rooks. } 19...g5$6 { This move weakens the kingside unnecessarily. Black should sit tight, he is a pawn down but has no obvious weakness for white to attack. White would, therefore, have to work hard to win the game. I had intended to prepare f4 to make progress but this would carry some risk as well. } ( 19...Rfa8 { is a simple move and doesn’t weaken black’s position. } ) 20.Be3 Qa5 ( 20...Qb7 21.Qe2 Rfa8 { looks more natural } 22.f4$1 { does look strong though. } ) 21.Bd2 Qb6 22.Bc3 Bxc3 ( 22...Ne5 { keeps more pieces on. } ) 23.Qxc3 Ra5$2 { In a tough position, black makes an error. My opponent said he was planning an exchange sacrifice on b5 to try and obtain some counter-play on the b-file but white now breaks through. } ( 23...Ne5 { was better, when black is struggling but still in the game. } ) 24.Qh3$1 $18 { attacking the knight and black’s weakness on h6. } 24...Nf6 25.Qxh6 Nxe4$6 { This loses tactically, although blacks position has already been breached. I was pleased to have seen the following line before playing my queen to h3. Although I could not calculate the line to checkmate I was sure white must be winning as black’s queen and rook on a5 are unable to help out in the defence of his king. } 26.Rfe1 f5 27.Qg6+ Kh8 { Black is now lost. White just needs to transfer a rook to the h-file. } 28.Rxe4$1 { This was the pretty sacrifice I had intended although } ( 28.Re3 g4 29.Rcc3$1 Nxc3 30.Rxe7 { and mates, was quicker } ) ( 28.Rc3$1 g4 29.Ree3 { also does the trick. } ) 28...fxe4 29.Rc3 g4 30.Qxg4 Rf7 { Preventing immediate mate but black is still lost since the queen may also use the c8 and e6 squares. } 31.Rh3+ Rh7 32.Qc8+ Kg7 33.Rg3+ Kf7 ( 33...Kh6 34.Qh3# ) ( 33...Kf6 34.Qe6# { both lose in one move less than in the game. } ) 34.Qe6+ Ke8 35.Rg8# 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

My favourite game of last season as I was able to find a nice win from a good position!

[Event "Knockout Cup"] [Site "Poole Chess Club"] [White "Rob Halse"] [Black "Dragi Popovic"] [Result "1-0"] 1.e4 g6 2.Nc3 a6 {I think g6 and a6 make a slightly odd combination of black’s first 2 moves in the game} (2...d6 3. d4 Bg7 {is more usual}) 3.d4 b5 4.Bf4 {Not a bad square for the bishop although} (4. Be3 {is more common. White can then continue with moves such as Qd2, O-O-O and f3 with an attack on the k-side}) 4... d6 5.e5 Bg7 6.Nf3 e6 {Black is making too many pawn moves in the opening!} 7.Be2 Ne7 8.O-O Bb7 9.Qd2 {White carries on with his development and stands well, in my opinion.} 9... O-O 10.Rad1 Nd5 11.Nxd5 Bxd5 12.b3$1 {A good move, white will play c4 and gain both time and space.} 12...Qe7 13.c4 Bb7 14.Qc2 b4 15.Qd2 a5 16.Rfe1 {White completes his development and has a great position with more space and chances to attack on the k-side.} 16...d5$2 {I think allowing the position to become closed means black will struggle for any counter-play at all} (16...Nbd7 {looks better, black can try some exchanges on e5 and then play c5 to ease his game.} ) 17.c5$1 (17.cxd5$2 Bxd5$1 {was black’s idea, I guess, when he stands ok.} ) 17...Nc6 18.Bb5 Nd8 19.Bh6 Bc6 20.Bxc6 Nxc6 21.Bxg7 Kxg7 22.h3 Ra7 23.Nh2$1 {I like this move, rerouting the knight to attack the weak dark squares around black’s king} 23...h6 {This just seems to weaken the k=side even further} 24.Ng4 Qg5 25.f4 {White wants to keep the queens on as he is preparing to attack!} 25...Qh4 26.Kh2 g5 27.g3 Qh5 28.Rf1 Ne7 29.Nf6 {I was playing on the board next to Rob during this game. Around this point I remember glancing over and thinking what a good position white has, the knight is excellently placed and the f-file will soon be open.} 29...Qg6 30.g4 gxf4 31.Rxf4 c6 32.Nh5+ Kg8 33.Rf6 {Black has completely run out of counter-play!} Qg5 34.Rxh6 Qxd2+ 35.Rxd2 Raa8 36.Nf6+ Kg7 37.Rh7+ Kg6 38.h4 Ng8 39.h5+ Kg5 40.Rg7+ Kf4 41.g5 Nxf6 42.exf6 {Not giving black the chance to attack the h-pawn} 42...Rh8 43.h6 Rag8 44.Rg2 Rf8 45.Kh3 Ke3 46.Rg4 Kf3 47.Kh4 {Rob must have been very pleased with this game as he can use his king as an attacking piece in the middle-game!} 47...Ke3 48.Kh5 Kf3 49.h7 Ke3 50.g6 fxg6+ 51.Kxg6 Kf3 52.Rh4 Kg3 53.Rh6 Kf4 54.f7 Ke4 55.Rg8 {A nice finish, black is pushed off the board!} 55...Rhxg8+ 1-0 You must activate JavaScript to enhance chess game visualization.

Rob’s best game of the season. A fine attack, with even the king joining in!