[Event "Match (London)"]
[Date "1834"]
[White "McDonnell"]
[Black "Labourdonnais"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B32"]
[PlyCount "74"]

{No doubt the all-powerful engines would be disdainful of the sort of play exhibited here but the final sequence and position are very pretty.}

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Bc4 Nf6 7. Bg5 Be7 8.
Qe2 d5 9. Bxf6 Bxf6 10. Bb3 O-O 11. O-O a5 12. exd5 cxd5 13. Rd1 d4 14. c4 Qb6
15. Bc2 Bb7 16. Nd2 Rae8 17. Ne4 Bd8 18. c5 Qc6 19. f3 Be7 20. Rac1 f5 21. Qc4+
Kh8 22. Ba4 Qh6 23. Bxe8 fxe4 24. c6 exf3 25. Rc2 Qe3+ 26. Kh1 Bc8 27. Bd7 f2
28. Rf1 d3 29. Rc3 Bxd7 30. cxd7 e4 31. Qc8 Bd8 32. Qc4 Qe1 33. Rc1 d2 34. Qc5
Rg8 35. Rd1 e3 36. Qc3 Qxd1 37. Rxd1 e2 0-1

[Event "Match (Paris)"]
[Date "1845"]
[White "Michelet"]
[Black "Kieseritzky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C37"]
[PlyCount "61"]

{More uninhibited play form the mid-nineteenth century. The finish, with black's queen bottled up by its own pawns and unable to prevent white's king from marching up the board, is highly entertaining}

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. Ne5 Qh4+ 6. Kf1 f3 7. d4 Nf6 8. Nc3
Bg7 9. g3 Qh3+ 10. Kf2 d6 11. Nxf7 Rf8 12. Ng5 Qg2+ 13. Ke3 Bh6 14. Kd3 Nc6 15.
a3 Bxg5 16. Bxg5 Nxe4 17. Qe1 Bf5 18. Nxe4 f2 19. Qe3 Kd7 20. Bd5 Rae8 21. Raf1
Bxe4+ 22. Bxe4 Rf3 23. Qxf3 gxf3 24. Bf5+ Re6 25. d5 Ne5+ 26. Ke4 h5 27. dxe6+
Ke8 28. Bf6 h4 29. Bxe5 dxe5 30. Kxe5 hxg3 31. Kf6 1-0

[Event "Poznan"]
[Date "1931"]
[White "Tylkowski"]
[Black "Wojciechowski"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A03"]
[PlyCount "80"]

{The identical endgame combinations in this game and Ortueta v Sanz (Madrid 1933) are discussed by Tim Krabb&eacute; in <a href="https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess/rxb2.htm" target="_blank">Strangest coincidence ever or hoax?</a> on the website based on his book &quot;Chess Curiosities&quot;. Incidentally this website contains a wealth of material for those interested in some of the more unusual aspects of chess. The circunstances and controversy surrounding these games are discussed by chess historian Edward Winter in <a href="http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/index.html">Chess Notes</a>.}

1. f4 d5 2. e3 c5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. Bb5 Bg4 5. O-O e6 6. d3 Be7 7. Nc3 d4 8. Nb1
Nf6 9. e4 O-O 10. Bxc6 bxc6 11. c3 dxc3 12. Nxc3 Bxf3 13. Rxf3 Ng4 14. Kh1 Qd4
15. Qg1 Qxg1+ 16. Kxg1 Bd8 17. Be3 Nxe3 18. Rxe3 Bb6 19. Rd1 h6 20. e5 f6 21.
exf6 Rxf6 22. Rf3 c4+ 23. d4 c5 24. d5 exd5 25. Rxd5 Kh7 26. Rd7 Rd8 27. Rb7
Rg6 28. Rg3 Rxg3 29. hxg3 Rd2 30. Na4 Rxb2 31. Nxb2 c3 32. Rxb6 c4 33. Rb4 a5
34. Nxc4 c2 35. Nxa5 c1=Q+ 36. Kh2 Qc5 37. Rb2 Qxa5 38. g4 Qe1 39. g3 h5 40.
gxh5 Kh6 0-1

[Event "Madrid"]
[Date "1933"]
[White "Ortueta"]
[Black "Sanz"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[PlyCount "70"]

{The identical endgame combinations in this game and Tylkowwski v Wojciechowski (Poznan 1931) are discussed by Tim Krabb&eacute; in <a href="https://timkr.home.xs4all.nl/chess/rxb2.htm" target="_blank">Strangest coincidence ever or hoax?</a> on the website based on his book &quot;Chess Curiosities&quot;. Incidentally this website contains a wealth of material for those interested in some of the more unusual aspects of chess. The circunstances and controversy surrounding these games are discussed by chess historian Edward Winter in <a href="http://www.chesshistory.com/winter/index.html">Chess Notes</a>.}


1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. Nf3 f6 8. d4 c5
9. Nb5 fxe5 10. dxe5 Rxf4 11. c3 Re4+ 12. Be2 Ba5 13. O-O Nxe5 14. Nxe5 Rxe5
15. Bf4 Rf5 16. Bd3 Rf6 17. Qc2 h6 18. Be5 Nd7 19. Bxf6 Nxf6 20. Rxf6 Qxf6 21.
Rf1 Qe7 22. Bh7+ Kh8 23. Qg6 Bd7 24. Rf7 Qg5 25. Qxg5 hxg5 26. Rxd7 Kxh7 27.
Rxb7 Bb6 28. c4 dxc4 29. Nc3 Rd8 30. h3 Rd2 31. Na4 Rxb2 32. Nxb2 c3 33. Rxb6
c4 34. Rb4 a5 35. Nxc4 c2 0-1

[Event "Moscow Championship"]
[Date "1943"]
[White "Liublinsky"]
[Black "Botvinnik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C77"]
[PlyCount "106"]

{Analysed by Botvinnik in "One Hundred Selected Games" (Dover edition 1960), game 82, pp.214-15.
Another sacrifice of the Soviet exchange by future World Champion Botvinnik.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. Bxc6 bxc6 6. Nc3 d6 7. d4 Nd7 8.
dxe5 dxe5 9. O-O Bd6 10. Ne2 O-O 11. Ng3 Rb8 12. b3 Re8 13. Be3 g6 14. c3 a5
15. Qc2 Qe7 16. Rfd1 Nc5 17. Ne1 Ne6 18. Nd3 Nf4 19. f3 Ba6 20. c4 c5 21. Qd2
Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Red8 23. Ne2 c6 24. Nc3 Bc7 25. Qc2 Rd4 {I can't resist quoting
the beginning of Botvinnik's note to this move. "The only way of saving the
c5-pawn."} 26. Ne2 Bc8 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. Bf2 c5 29. Rf1 f5 30. Bg3 Bd7 31. Rad1
f4 32. Bf2 g5 33. g4 fxg3 34. Bxg3 Bh3 35. Rf2 h5 36. Rfd2 h4 37. Bf2 Rf8 38.
Rd3 Rf4 39. Kh1 Kh7 40. Rg1 Bd8 41. Qe2 Qf7 42. Qd1 Qh5 43. Be3 Qxf3+ 44. Qxf3
Rxf3 45. Bxg5 Rxd3 46. Bxd8 Re3 47. Bb6 Rxe4 48. Bxc5 Re2 49. Rd1 Bg4 50. h3
Bxh3 51. b4 Bf5 52. Bd6 d3 53. bxa5 h3 0-1

[Event "Candidates Tournament (Zurich)"]
[Date "1953"]
[Round "14"]
[White "Averbakh"]
[Black "Kotov"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A55"]
[PlyCount "102"]

{This game is analysed on Jim's Chess Channel on YouTube and by David Bronstein in "The Chess Struggle in Practice", game no. 96.
The 1953 Candidates Tournament was held at Zurich to find the challenger to Botvinnik in the 1954 World Championship match. It was a 15 player double-round all-play-all, featuring all the strongest players of the time except the world champion himself. Smyslov emerged as the winner by two points and went on to draw the 1954 match with Botvinnik.

This game is one of the highlights of the tournament. After a relatively quiet beginning the game explodes into life with Kotov's justly famous queen sacrifice on move 30.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 d6 3. Nf3 Nbd7 4. Nc3 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O c6 8. Qc2
Re8 9. Rd1 Bf8 10. Rb1 a5 11. d5 Nc5 12. Be3 Qc7 13. h3 Bd7 14. Rbc1 g6 15. Nd2
Rab8 16. Nb3 Nxb3 17. Qxb3 c5 18. Kh2 Kh8 19. Qc2 Ng8 20. Bg4 Nh6 21. Bxd7 Qxd7
22. Qd2 Ng8 23. g4 f5 24. f3 Be7 25. Rg1 Rf8 26. Rcf1 Rf7 27. gxf5 gxf5 28. Rg2
f4 29. Bf2 Rf6 30. Ne2 Qxh3+ 31. Kxh3 Rh6+ 32. Kg4 Nf6+ 33. Kf5 Nd7 34. Rg5
Rf8+ 35. Kg4 Nf6+ 36. Kf5 Ng8+ 37. Kg4 Nf6+ 38. Kf5 Nxd5+ 39. Kg4 Nf6+ 40. Kf5
Ng8+ 41. Kg4 Nf6+ 42. Kf5 Ng8+ 43. Kg4 Bxg5 44. Kxg5 Rf7 45. Bh4 Rg6+ 46. Kh5
Rfg7 47. Bg5 Rxg5+ 48. Kh4 Nf6 49. Ng3 Rxg3 50. Qxd6 R3g6 51. Qb8+ Rg8 0-1


[Event "USSR Championship (Baku)"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Nezhmetdinov"]
[Black "Tal"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B84"]
[PlyCount "57"]

{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel on YouTube.}
{The fearless attacking player, Rashid Nezhmetdinov (1912-74), had a combined plus score against the world champions he faced, including +3 -1 against Mikhail Tal. This is the best known of his wins against Tal.}

{The annotations to this game, by R. G. Nezhmetdinov, are from Shakhmaty v SSSR (No.3, 1962). The translation from the original Russian is by Douglas Griffin. It can be found on his excellent blog on Soviet-era chess at https://dgriffinchess.wordpress.com/ and is reproduced here with his kind permission.}

{The annotations to this game, by R. G. Nezhmetdinov, are from Shakhmaty v
SSSR (№ 3, 1962.) The translation from the original Russian is by Douglas
Griffin. It can be found on his excellent blog on Soviet-era chess at https://
dgriffinchess.wordpress.com/ and is reproduced here with his kind permission.} 
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be2 Nbd7 {One does not
question tastes, but to me more reliable appears 6...Nc6 followed by an
exchange at d4 and ...Bc8–d7–c6, which permits Black to take aim at the
important d4–square.} 7. O-O a6 ({Also possible was} 7... Nc5 {, forcing
White to transfer the bishop to f3, and thereby obstructing the path of the
f-pawn. The ex-World Champion prefers a sharper path to the struggle.}) 8. f4
Qc7 9. g4 {The idea of this move is to establish control over the central
squares e4 and d5.} b5 10. a3 ({The e4–square must be held at all costs. The
'active'} 10. g5 b4 11. gxf6 bxc3 {was clearly to Black's advantage.}) 10...
Bb7 11. Bf3 Nc5 {Intending the plan of taking control of the central squares
f4 and d4, Black loses valuable tempi and does not have time to remove his
king from the danger zone. In my opinion the plan associated with ...h7–h6
and  then ...Nd7–b6, employed against me by V. Zhilin  RSFSR Championship,
1958), deserves greater attention.} ({One may also recommend} 11... e5 {, on
which White ought to withdraw the knight to e2.} 12. Nde2 Nc5 13. Ng3 exf4 14.
Bxf4 Nfd7 15. Nf5 Ne5 16. Ne3 {a lively struggle for the centre begins, in
which White all the same has the better prospects.}) 12. Qe2 e5 ({The bold
counter-blow in the centre -} 12... d5 13. exd5 O-O-O {will not do in view of}
14. b4 {with advantage for White.}) ({B. Spassky suggested} 12... Nfd7 {which,
evidently, is better.}) 13. Nf5 g6 ({Here too} 13... Nfd7 {was necessary.
Admittedly, it must be noted that in this case after} 14. Nd5 {White's
initiative is highly dangerous.} exf4) 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Nh6 $1 {This knight
on the edge of the board soon becomes one of the main attacking pieces.} ({
Nothing is given by} 15. Bg5 {since after 15...} Ncd7 16. Ne3 Bc5 {all of the
danger for Black is  behind him.}) 15... Ne6 16. Bg2 $1 {The exchange of this
bishop cannot be permitted!} Bg7 ({After} 16... Nf4 17. Bxf4 exf4 18. e5 {
matters for Black would have been altogether bad, for example:18...} Bxh6 ({or
} 18... Nd7 19. e6 Bxh6 20. exd7+ Kf8 21. Bxb7 Qxb7 22. Qe5 Kg8 23. g5) 19.
exf6+ Kf8 20. Qe7+ $1) {Black's position has seemingly been consolidated. Now
he intends to remove his king. But at just this moment, sacrificing the
exchange, White begins the decisive attack.} 17. Rxf6 $1 Bxf6 18. Nd5 Qd8 ({In
the case of} 18... Bxd5 19. exd5 Nd4 20. Qf2 Qb6 21. g5 Ne2+ 22. Kf1 Qxf2+ 23.
Kxf2 Nxc1 24. gxf6 {White has a material advantage sufficient for victory.})
19. Qf2 Nf4 ({The variation} 19... Bxd5 20. exd5 Nf4 21. Bxf4 exf4 22. Qxf4
Qb6+ 23. Kh1 O-O-O 24. c3 Rhe8 25. g5 Be7 26. Nxf7 {was all the same the
lesser of the evils.}) 20. Bxf4 exf4 ({It was still possible to go over to the
above variation with} 20... Bxd5) 21. e5 $1 Bxe5 ({An interesting position
arose after} 21... Bh4 22. Qd4 Rf8 23. Rd1 {and Black has no useful moves.})
22. Re1 f6 23. Nxf6+ $1 {A concluding sacrifice, permanently demolishing the
defensive structure around the black king.} Qxf6 24. Qd4 {White has a rook
less, but Black is defenceless.} Kf8 25. Rxe5 Qd8 (25... Rd8 26. Re8+ $1) 26.
Rf5+ gxf5 27. Qxh8+ Ke7 28. Qg7+ Ke6 29. gxf5+ {(Translator’s note: Here an
editorial note indicates that this game was awarded a special prize, as the
best in the tournament.)} 1-0

[Event "Bled"]
[Date "1961"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Petrosian"]
[Black "Pachman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A04"]
[PlyCount "41"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. d3 e6 6. e4 Nge7 7. Re1 O-O 8. e5
d6 9. exd6 Qxd6 10. Nbd2 Qc7 11. Nb3 Nd4 12. Bf4 Qb6 13. Ne5 Nxb3 14. Nc4 Qb5
15. axb3 a5 16. Bd6 Bf6 17. Qf3 Kg7 18. Re4 Rd8 19. Qxf6+ Kxf6 20. Be5+ Kg5 21.
Bg7 1-0


[Event "Chigorin Team Cup (Rostov on Don}"]
[Site "Rostov on Don"]
[Date "1962"]
[White "Nezhmetdinov"]
[Black "Chernikov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[PlyCount "65"]

{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel on YouTube.

Rashid Nezhmedtinov 1 - 0 Oleg Chernikov (Chigorin Team Cup, Rostov on Don 1962)

The Soviet player, Rashid Nezhmetdinov (1912-74), was one of the fiercest attacking players in the history of the game. He never gained the grandmaster title, partly through not being allowed to travel outside the Soviet Union until he was in his forties. Nevertheless he was highly respected by many of the strongest players of his time, including Mikhail Tal against whom he had a 3-1 plus score and who said of him: "His games reveal the beauty of chess and make you love in chess not so much the points and high placings, but the wonderful harmony and elegance of this particular world." 

This famous game features an extraordinary queen sacrifice on move 12 for the initiative and an attack. Black was unable to find a defence. Who knows if there is one?}


1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Bb3 Ng4 9. Qxg4 Nxd4 10. Qh4 Qa5 11. O-O Bf6 12. Qxf6 Ne2+ 13. Nxe2 exf6 14.
Nc3 Re8 15. Nd5 Re6 16. Bd4 Kg7 17. Rad1 d6 18. Rd3 Bd7 19. Rf3 Bb5 20. Bc3 Qd8
21. Nxf6 Be2 22. Nxh7+ Kg8 23. Rh3 Re5 24. f4 Bxf1 25. Kxf1 Rc8 26. Bd4 b5 27.
Ng5 Rc7 28. Bxf7+ Rxf7 29. Rh8+ Kxh8 30. Nxf7+ Kh7 31. Nxd8 Rxe4 32. Nc6 Rxf4+
33. Ke2 1-0

[Event "World Championship Match (Moscow)"]
[Date "1966"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Petrosian"]
[Black "Spassky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E66"]
[PlyCount "59"]

{This game is analysed on kingcrusher's site on YouTube and by Kasparov in "My Great Predecessors vol.3 (Everyman, 2004), pp.69-74.
1966 saw Tigran Petrosian's first (and successful) defence of the title against Boris Spassky. This game, involving a double exchange sacrifice and culminating in a queen "sacrifice", does not conform to the stereotyped view of Petrosian as a dry, positional, safety-first player.}

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. g3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. O-O Nc6 6. Nc3 d6 7. d4 a6 8. d5
Na5 9. Nd2 c5 10. Qc2 e5 11. b3 Ng4 12. e4 f5 13. exf5 gxf5 14. Nd1 b5 15. f3
e4 16. Bb2 exf3 17. Bxf3 Bxb2 18. Qxb2 Ne5 19. Be2 f4 20. gxf4 Bh3 21. Ne3 Bxf1
22. Rxf1 Ng6 23. Bg4 Nxf4 24. Rxf4 Rxf4 25. Be6+ Rf7 26. Ne4 Qh4 27. Nxd6 Qg5+
28. Kh1 Raa7 29. Bxf7+ Rxf7 30. Qh8+ 1-0

[Event "Yugoslav Championship (Novi Travnik)"]
[Date "1969"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Minic"]
[Black "Rakic"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A42"]
[PlyCount "72"]

{I have a great liking for games in which a phalanx of linked pawns march down the board like the aliens in one of the primitive Space Invaders games from ancient times. This is one such game.}

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. c4 d6 4. Nc3 Nd7 5. f4 e5 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. f5 Ne7 8. Qf3
Nc6 9. Be3 Nd4 10. Qf2 Nf6 11. fxg6 fxg6 12. h3 O-O 13. Nf3 c5 14. O-O-O Qa5
15. Kb1 b5 16. Qe1 b4 17. Nd5 Qa4 18. Bxd4 exd4 19. Bd3 Nxd5 20. exd5 b3 21. a3
Bf5 22. Bxf5 Rxf5 23. Qe6+ Kh8 24. Qc6 Qxc4 25. Qxa8+ Rf8 26. Qxa7 Qc2+ 27. Ka1
d3 28. Rb1 c4 29. Nd4 Qf2 30. Nb5 Qxa7 31. Nxa7 c3 32. Rbd1 Rf2 33. d6 Rxb2 34.
d7 Ra2+ 35. Kb1 c2+ 36. Kc1 Bh6+ 0-1

[Event "European Team Championship (Kapfenberg"]
[Date "1970"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hort"]
[Black "Petrosian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C18"]
[PlyCount "96"]

{This impressive positional game by World Champion Petrosian features an exchange sacrifice on move 22 for the purpose of securing a solid structure and control of space. This theme, characteristic of Botvinnik in particular, was known as the "sacrifice of the Soviet exchange"}

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 Qc7 7. Qg4 f5 8. Qg3
cxd4 9. cxd4 Ne7 10. Bd2 O-O 11. Bd3 b6 12. Ne2 Ba6 13. Nf4 Qd7 14. Bb4 Rf7 15.
h4 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 Nbc6 17. h5 Rc8 18. Rh3 Nd8 19. Rg3 Rc4 20. h6 Ndc6 21. Nh5 g6
22. Nf6+ Rxf6 23. exf6 Nc8 24. Qd2 Rxd4 25. Rd3 Rh4 26. Rh3 Rg4 27. Kf1 Nd6 28.
Re1 Kf7 29. Bc3 Ne4 30. Qd3 Nc5 31. Qd1 Rc4 32. Bb2 Qd6 33. Qe2 b5 34. Kg1 Ne4
35. Rd3 Qc5 36. Rc1 e5 37. Qe3 d4 38. Qe2 Nxf6 39. Rdd1 e4 40. Qd2 Nd5 41. Qg5
Nc7 42. Rd2 Ne6 43. Qh4 a5 44. Rcd1 Rxc2 45. Rxc2 Qxc2 46. Rc1 Qxb2 47. Rxc6 d3
48. Ra6 Qd4 0-1

[Event "Candidates final (Buenos Aires)"]
[Date "1971"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Petrosian"]
[Black "Fischer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D82"]
[PlyCount "63"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess on YouTube.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Bf4 Bg7 5. e3 c5 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Rc1 Ne4 8. cxd5
Nxc3 9. Qd2 Qxa2 10. bxc3 Qa5 11. Bc4 Nd7 12. Ne2 Ne5 13. Ba2 Bf5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5
15. Nd4 Qxc5 16. Nxf5 gxf5 17. O-O Qa5 18. Qc2 f4 19. c4 fxe3 20. c5 Qd2 21.
Qa4+ Kf8 22. Rcd1 Qe2 23. d6 Qh5 24. f4 e2 25. fxe5 exd1=Q 26. Rxd1 Qxe5 27.
Rf1 f6 28. Qb3 Kg7 29. Qf7+ Kh6 30. dxe7 f5 31. Rxf5 Qd4+ 32. Kh1 1-0

[Event "Bristol Manor Tyres Open"]
[Date "1981"]
[White "Nunn"]
[Black "Anthony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B32"]
[PlyCount "59"]

{John Nunn annotes this game in "Secrets of Grandmaster Play" (Batsford 1987, pp.84-92
It features a mating attack by white in which he marches his king up the board to safety}

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 e5 5. Nb5 Nf6 6. N5c3 h6 7. Be3 Bb4 8.
a3 Qa5 9. axb4 Qxa1 10. Qd6 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 Qxb1+ 12. Kd2 Qxb2 13. b5 Nb4 14. Bc5
Qxc2+ 15. Ke3 Qb3+ 16. Ke2 Qc4+ 17. Kf3 Qb3+ 18. Kg4 f5+ 19. Kxf5 Qf7+ 20. Kxe5
Nc2 21. Bc4 Qh5+ 22. Kf4 Qh4+ 23. Kf3 b6 24. Qg6+ Kd8 25. g3 Qh3 26. Be7+ Kxe7
27. Qxg7+ Kd8 28. Qxh8+ Kc7 29. Qe5+ Kd8 30. Nd6 1-0

[Event "Linares"]
[Date "1991"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ivanchuk"]
[Black "Kasparov"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B51"]
[PlyCount "75"]

{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel on YouTube. A rare pasting for the World Champion in what is supposed to be a quiet line. His pieces finish in an undignified heap at the corner of the board.}

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Nd7 4. d4 Ngf6 5. O-O cxd4 6. Qxd4 a6 7. Bxd7+ Bxd7
8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxf6 gxf6 10. c4 e6 11. Nc3 Rc8 12. Kh1 h5 13. a4 h4 14. h3 Be7
15. b4 a5 16. b5 Qc7 17. Nd2 Qc5 18. Qd3 Rg8 19. Rae1 Qg5 20. Rg1 Qf4 21. Ref1
b6 22. Ne2 Qh6 23. c5 Rxc5 24. Nc4 Kf8 25. Nxb6 Be8 26. f4 f5 27. exf5 Rxf5 28.
Rc1 Kg7 29. g4 Rc5 30. Rxc5 dxc5 31. Nc8 Bf8 32. Qd8 Qg6 33. f5 Qh6 34. g5 Qh5
35. Rg4 exf5 36. Nf4 Qh8 37. Qf6+ Kh7 38. Rxh4+ 1-0

[Event "St. Petersburg Open"]
[Date "1993"]
[White "Serper"]
[Black "Nikolaidis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E70"]
[PlyCount "95"]

{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel on YouTube. A violent game featuring much sacrificing of material}

1. c4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. d4 d6 4. Nc3 Nf6 5. Nge2 Nbd7 6. Ng3 c6 7. Be2 a6 8. Be3
h5 9. f3 b5 10. c5 dxc5 11. dxc5 Qc7 12. O-O h4 13. Nh1 Nh5 14. Qd2 e5 15. Nf2
Nf8 16. a4 b4 17. Nd5 cxd5 18. exd5 f5 19. d6 Qc6 20. Bb5 axb5 21. axb5 Qxb5
22. Rxa8 Qc6 23. Rfa1 f4 24. R1a7 Nd7 25. Rxc8+ Qxc8 26. Qd5 fxe3 27. Qe6+ Kf8
28. Rxd7 exf2+ 29. Kf1 Qe8 30. Rf7+ Qxf7 31. Qc8+ Qe8 32. d7 Kf7 33. dxe8=Q+
Rxe8 34. Qb7+ Re7 35. c6 e4 36. c7 e3 37. Qd5+ Kf6 38. Qd6+ Kf7 39. Qd5+ Kf6
40. Qd6+ Kf7 41. Qxe7+ Kxe7 42. c8=Q Bh6 43. Qc5+ Ke8 44. Qb5+ Kd8 45. Qb6+ Kd7
46. Qxg6 e2+ 47. Kxf2 Be3+ 48. Ke1 1-0

[Event "Foxwoods Open, Connecticut"]
[Date "2005"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Milman"]
[Black "Fang"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]
[PlyCount "61"]

{Not much positional play in this but a nice mating combination at the end.}

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bf4 Bb4+ 12. c3 Be7 13. O-O-O Ngf6 14. Kb1 O-O
15. Ne5 c5 16. Qf3 Qb6 17. Nxd7 Nxd7 18. d5 exd5 19. Nf5 Bf6 20. Rxd5 Qe6 21.
Bxh6 Ne5 22. Qe4 Nc6 23. Qf3 Ne5 24. Qe4 Nc6 25. Qg4 Qxd5 26. Bxg7 Qd3+ 27. Ka1
Ne5 28. Ne7+ Kh7 29. Qg6+ fxg6 30. hxg6+ Kxg7 31. Rh7# 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee}"]
[Date "2013"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Aronian"]
[Black "Anand"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D47"]
[PlyCount "46"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Bd3 dxc4 7. Bxc4 b5 8. Bd3
Bd6 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 Bb7 11. a3 Rc8 12. Ng5 c5 13. Nxh7 Ng4 14. f4 cxd4 15.
exd4 Bc5 16. Be2 Nde5 17. Bxg4 Bxd4+ 18. Kh1 Nxg4 19. Nxf8 f5 20. Ng6 Qf6 21.
h3 Qxg6 22. Qe2 Qh5 23. Qd3 Be3 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee)"]
[Date "2019"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Radjabov"]
[Black "Vidit"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E10"]
[PlyCount "71"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess. A game by 21st century grandmasters in tribute to the 19th century "coffee-house" style of play.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. Nc3 Bb4 5. Qa4+ Nc6 6. e3 O-O 7. Qc2 Re8 8. Bd2
Bd6 9. h3 a6 10. a3 Bd7 11. Be2 dxc4 12. Bxc4 h6 13. g4 e5 14. g5 b5 15. Ba2
exd4 16. gxh6 dxc3 17. Bxc3 Be6 18. Bxe6 Rxe6 19. Rg1 Ne8 20. Bxg7 Nxg7 21.
Rxg7+ Kf8 22. Qh7 Qf6 23. Ng5 Rxe3+ 24. Kf1 Nd8 25. Qg8+ Ke7 26. h7 Bg3 27. Ne4
Rxe4 28. Rxg3 Rh4 29. Rd1 Rxh7 30. Re3+ Ne6 31. Qxa8 Rh8 32. Qc6 Kf8 33. Rxe6
Qxe6 34. Rd8+ Kg7 35. Qc3+ f6 36. Qxc7+ 1-0

[Event "European Team Championship (Batumi}"]
[Date "2019"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Navara"]
[Black "Ivanchuk"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 d5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bg5 c6 6. e3 Be7 7. Bd3 Nbd7 8.
Nf3 O-O 9. Qc2 Re8 10. h3 Nf8 11. Bf4 a6 12. O-O Ng6 13. Bh2 Bd6 14. Rae1 Bxh2+
15. Nxh2 b6 16. b4 Ra7 17. Nf3 Rae7 18. Na4 Bb7 19. Rd1 Ne4 20. Ne5 Nxe5 21.
Bxe4 Ng6 22. Bf5 Nf8 23. a3 g6 24. Bd3 Ne6 25. h4 Ng7 26. g3 Nh5 27. Be2 Nf6
28. Bf3 Ne4 29. Kg2 Bc8 30. Qxc6 Bd7 31. Qc2 Bb5 32. Bxe4 dxe4 33. Rg1 Rc7 34.
Nc3 Qc8 35. Rc1 Qf5 36. Qd2 Bd7 37. Rh1 Rec8 38. Na2 Rxc1 39. Nxc1 Qf3+ 40. Kh2
Ba4 41. Qe2 Qf6 42. Rf1 Bb5 43. Qg4 Rxc1 44. Rxc1 Qxf2+ 45. Kh3 h5 46. Qc8+ Kg7
47. d5 Be2 48. Qc3+ Kh7 0-1

[Event "2nd Goa GM Open"]
[Date "2019"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Mchedlishvili"]
[Black "Rathnakaran"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A27"]
[Annotator "Sagar Shah"]
[PlyCount "94"]

{Within only a few days of the appearance on the website of David Jenkins' queen sacrifice in the openng as Black against Phil James, this theme appeared in two grandmaster games. Surely this can't be mere coincidence? Clearly there are players at the higher levels who come here in search of fresh ideas! Wonderfully bold and imaginative play by black in this game against a much higher rated opponent.}

1. c4 {[%emt 0:00:00]} e5 {[%emt 0:00:00]} 2. Nc3 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Nc6 {[%emt
0:00:29]} 3. Nf3 {[%emt 0:00:34]} f5 {10 This is an active line against the
English and very much in Ratnakaran's style.} 4. g3 {[%emt 0:00:58]} Nf6 {
[%emt 0:00:16]} 5. d4 {119} e4 {[%emt 0:00:13]} 6. Nh4 {[%emt 0:00:40]} d5 {
[%emt 0:00:05]} (6... d6 {is the more popular move.}) (6... g6 {is also played.
}) 7. Bg5 {334} Bb4 {537} 8. cxd5 {114 Interestingly this position has been
reached 8 times. The highest rated black players has been 2313. All have
captured on d5 with the queen, but Ratnakaran had different ideas!} Nxd5 $3 {
689 The double exclamations are not for the objective value of the move, but
for the creativity and the risk taking ability. Truth be told, even
objectively this move could be pretty decent.} (8... Qxd5 {is the normal way
to play.} 9. Bxf6 gxf6 {Ratnakaran didn't like that the f4 square was weakened
and that his pawns were doubled.}) 9. Bxd8 {669} Nxc3 {68} 10. Qb3 {52 The
only move.} Nxe2+ $1 {618} (10... Nb5+ {was another way to play.} 11. Kd1 Nbxd4
{when we reach the same position as in the game, but white has an e2 pawn.
Ratnakaran was confused between this and taking the e2 pawn (like he did in
the game). Here White has the option of kicking the knight away at any point
with e3, while in the other case, the bishop on f1 is activated without any
effort. Not an easy choice, but Ratnakaran went for the material and stability
of the d4 square.}) 11. Kd1 {[%emt 0:00:28]} (11. Kxe2 Nxd4+ $19) 11... Nexd4 {
[%emt 0:00:06]} 12. Qe3 {[%emt 0:00:37]} (12. Qa4 {was another possibility.}
Kxd8 {leads to an interesting position. The queen here on a4 is not as well
placed as it was on e3 and hence this move is possible.}) 12... Be6 $1 {531
What a brilliant move. You have just sacrificed a queen for a piece, you are
getting another piece. Although two pieces are insufficient, still taking the
piece is the first move that comes to your mind. Instead, Ratnakaran just goes
for aggressive development.} (12... Kxd8 13. Qg5+ {and somehow Black doesn't
have the same coordination that he had.}) 13. Bg5 {84} (13. Bxc7 Rc8 14. Bf4
O-O {This is what Ratnakaran had planned. Next the rook comes to d8 and it is
all over!}) 13... h6 {529} 14. Bf6 $5 {It was now Mchedlishvili's turn to be
creative. He was clearly unhappy with the developments and he didn't want his
opponent to just play 0-0-0 without any effort and hence he decided to
sacrifice his bishop in a very unique way!} (14. Ng6 hxg5 15. Nxh8 O-O-O {is
not what you want as White.}) 14... gxf6 {84} 15. Kc1 {1334} O-O-O {[%emt 0:00:
43]} 16. Bh3 {87} Bc5 $6 {907 Maybe not the best continuation.} (16... Ne5 {
And the knight is coming to d3. Black pieces are all over White.}) 17. Bxf5 {
121} Nxf5 {307} (17... Rhe8 $5 $17) 18. Qxc5 {[%emt 0:00:16]} Nxh4 {71} 19.
gxh4 {12 The position is no longer better for Black. As it turns out it is
much easier to play as Black.} Rd4 $1 {5 Threatening Rc4 and winning the queen.
} 20. b3 {1081} Rhd8 {155} 21. Rb1 {74} (21. Kb2 {was a move that was being
considered.} Rd2+ 22. Ka3 R8d5 23. Qf8+ Kd7 {The king will soon run away from
the checks and Ra5+ will end the game.}) 21... Bg4 {495 Ratnakaran's comment
after the game was that he wanted to prevent the White queen from coming to h5
and hence played this move.} 22. Kb2 {469} Nb4 {337} 23. Ka1 {66} (23. Qxa7
Rd2+ 24. Ka1 (24. Ka3 Rxa2+) 24... Rxa2+ 25. Qxa2 Nxa2 26. Kxa2 f5 {Black is
not worse here.}) 23... b6 {[%emt 0:00:58]} 24. Qc3 {[%emt 0:00:46]} c5 {17
This is what I call being comfortable with what you have! Ratnakaran has two
pieces and a pawn for the queen and nice squares for his pieces and he is
comfortable with it. Hence he is able to play a move like c5 which creates no
real threat, but simply throws the ball back in White's court.} 25. a3 {187} (
25. Qg3 Bf3 26. Rhc1 Rd2 27. Rb2 Rd1 28. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 29. Rb1 Rd2 30. Rb2 Rd1+ {
would have ended peacefully.}) 25... Nd5 {148} 26. Qc1 {123} h5 {65} 27. Rg1 {
[%emt 0:00:28]} Rd3 {92} 28. Qc4 {119} Rd4 {[%emt 0:00:24]} 29. Qc1 {327} Rd3 {
5 Here Ratnakaran was fine with a draw, but Mchedlishvili wanted to punish his
opponent.} 30. b4 $2 {104 Over ambitious and at the same time weakening his
king's position. We can say that it was this move that led to Mikheil's loss
in the game.} (30. h3 $5 Rxh3 (30... Bxh3 31. Rg7 {is good news for White. He
has got his rook activated.}) 31. Qc4 f5 32. Rbd1 $1 {sacrificing back some
material.} Bxd1 33. Rxd1 $18 {White is well coordinated and is better.}) 30...
Nc3 {142} 31. Qb2 {164} Nxb1 {181} (31... Be6 {was also possible.} 32. Rbc1 Na4
33. Qxf6 Rxa3+ 34. Kb1 Ba2+ 35. Kc2 cxb4 $1 $19 {Black is winning here.}) 32.
Rxb1 {[%emt 0:00:03]} Rf3 {[%emt 0:00:48]} 33. bxc5 {219} Rdd3 {[%emt 0:00:24]}
34. Qb5 {[%emt 0:00:11]} Rxa3+ {[%emt 0:00:14]} 35. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Bd7 $1
{11 Ratnakaran overall doesn't like too many checks to his king and hence find
this move.} 36. Qc4 {[%emt 0:00:38]} Ra4 {[%emt 0:00:12]} 37. Qg8+ {159} Kb7 {
[%emt 0:00:19]} 38. Rd1 {94} Rxf2+ {78} 39. Kb3 {77} (39. Kc3 $1 Rf3+ 40. Kc2
$13) 39... Rf3+ {[%emt 0:00:00]} 40. Kb2 {[%emt 0:00:00]} Rb4+ {[%emt 0:00:25]}
41. Kc1 {[%emt 0:00:02]} Rc3+ {115} 42. Kd2 {[%emt 0:00:07]} Rxc5 {4 Now Black
is just winning as he has a rook and a bishop and three pawns for a queen.} 43.
Ke1 {[%emt 0:00:18]} Ba4 {76} 44. Qf7+ {[%emt 0:00:42]} Rc7 {[%emt 0:00:44]}
45. Qd5+ {[%emt 0:00:10]} Bc6 {[%emt 0:00:04]} 46. Qxh5 {[%emt 0:00:15]} Rg7 {
[%emt 0:00:07]} 47. Rd6 {143} Rb2 {74 Let's forget objectivity for a while and
let's try to truly enjoy the brilliancy that is created by Ratnakaran!} 0-1

[Event "Asian Continental Championships (Xing Tai)"]
[Date "2019"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Firouzja"]
[Black "Karthikeyan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[PlyCount "104"]

{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel. Black's 9th move deserves a !! whether it's sound or not.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 O-O 6. Be3 c5 7. Nf3 Qa5 8. Nd2
cxd4 9. Nb3 Qxc3+ 10. bxc3 dxe3 11. f3 Nh5 12. Qc1 Bh6 13. g4 Nf4 14. Kd1 Ne6
15. Kc2 Nc6 16. h4 Bf4 17. Qd1 Ne5 18. Nc1 Bd7 19. a4 Rac8 20. Ne2 Bh6 21. g5
Bg7 22. Bh3 Nxf3 23. Qd3 Ne5 24. Qxe3 Nxc4 25. Qf2 Rc5 26. Rhb1 Bc6 27. Bg2 f5
28. gxf6 Bxf6 29. Rf1 Bxc3 30. Qxc5 Nxc5 31. Rxf8+ Kxf8 32. Kxc3 Ne5 33. a5
Nxe4+ 34. Bxe4 Bxe4 35. Nd4 Bd5 36. Nb5 a6 37. Nc7 Bc6 38. Rf1+ Kg7 39. Ne6+
Kh6 40. Rf8 Kh5 41. Rh8 h6 42. Rh7 Kxh4 43. Rxh6+ Kg4 44. Nd4 Kg5 45. Rh2 Bd5
46. Re2 Kf4 47. Rf2+ Nf3 48. Re2 e5 49. Nc2 Be4 50. Ne3 d5 51. Kb4 Nd4 52. Re1
Kf3 0-1

[Event "GCT Rapid (Paris)"]
[Date "2019"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Duda"]
[Black "Grischuk"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A09"]
[PlyCount "55"]
{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel and Daniel King's PowerPlayChess on YouTube. In this rapid play (25'+10") game the two grandmasters do not hold back. Unusually wild play for a game played at the highest level.}

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 d4 3. b4 f6 4. e3 e5 5. c5 a5 6. Qa4+ Qd7 7. Bb5 c6 8. Bc4 Na6
9. exd4 e4 10. b5 Nb4 11. a3 exf3 12. axb4 Qxd4 13. d3 Qe5+ 14. Be3 fxg2 15.
Rg1 Ne7 16. Nd2 Bd7 17. bxa5 Nd5 18. d4 Qxh2 19. Nf3 Qh5 20. a6 Be7 21. axb7
Rxa4 22. Rxa4 O-O 23. Ra8 Re8 24. Kd2 Kf8 25. Rxe8+ Qxe8 26. Bxd5 Bd8 27. Bf4
Ba5+ 28. Kd1 1-0

[Event "European Team Championship (Batumi)"]
[Date "2019"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Dubov"]
[Black "Svane"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D37"]
[PlyCount "77"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess}

1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 d5 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nf3 Be7 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 b6 7. Qc2 Ba6 8. O-O-O
dxc4 9. Ng5 Nc6 10. a3 g6 11. h4 Bd6 12. g3 Qe7 13. h5 e5 14. hxg6 hxg6 15. Bg2
exf4 16. Bxc6 fxg3 17. Kb1 Rad8 18. f4 Bc8 19. Rde1 Kg7 20. Nd5 Nxd5 21. Rh7+
Kg8 22. Rxf7 Rxf7 23. Qxg6+ Kf8 24. Qh6+ Rg7 25. Bxd5 Ke8 26. Qh5+ Kd7 27. Qh3+
Ke8 28. Qh5+ Kd7 29. Be6+ Kc6 30. Qf3+ Kb5 31. Bxc4+ Ka5 32. Qd5+ Bc5 33. b4+
Ka4 34. Qg2 Bxb4 35. Qc6+ Kxa3 36. Bb3 Bd7 37. Qc1+ Kxb3 38. Qc2+ Ka3 39. Qa2#
1-0

[Event "FIDE Grand Swiss (Douglas, IOM)"]
[Date "2019]
[Round "6"]
[White "Caruana"]
[Black "Fedoseev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[PlyCount "87"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess on YouTube.}

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. O-O Bg7 5. c3 e5 6. d4 cxd4 7. cxd4 exd4 8.
Bf4 Nge7 9. Bd6 O-O 10. Nbd2 a6 11. Qa4 Ra7 12. Bd3 b5 13. Qc2 Bb7 14. a4 bxa4
15. Rxa4 a5 16. h4 Ba6 17. Bxa6 Rxa6 18. b4 Na7 19. Qc5 Nac8 20. Bc7 Qe8 21. b5
d6 22. Qc4 d5 23. Qc5 dxe4 24. Nxe4 d3 25. Ra3 Re6 26. Nfg5 Nf5 27. Nxe6 Qxe6
28. Ra4 Re8 29. b6 Qd7 30. Qxa5 Nxb6 31. Bxb6 Qc6 32. f3 d2 33. Bf2 Bh6 34. Ra3
Qc2 35. Qd5 Qc1 36. Ra7 Rf8 37. Ra1 Ne3 38. Bxe3 Bxe3+ 39. Kh1 Qc7 40. Qd3 Bh6
41. Qd4 Rd8 42. Nf6+ Kh8 43. Nd5+ Kg8 44. Ra8 1-0

[Event "8th Lorca Open"]
[Site "Lorca"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Narciso Dublan"]
[Black "Bernadskiy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E60"]
[PlyCount "56"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess and Agadmator's Chess Channel on YouTube. Here is a New Year fix for all you sacrifice junkies out there}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. f3 Bg7 4. e4 O-O 5. Nc3 c6 6. Be3 d6 7. Nge2 a6 8. c5
Nbd7 9. cxd6 exd6 10. Ng3 b5 11. Be2 c5 12. O-O cxd4 13. Bxd4 Bb7 14. Re1 Rc8
15. Bf1 Re8 16. Rc1 Ne5 17. Qb3 h5 18. Nh1 Nxf3+ 19. gxf3 Nxe4 20. fxe4 Bxd4+
21. Nf2 Qh4 22. Rc2 Rxc3 23. bxc3 Qg5+ 24. Bg2 Rxe4 25. Kf1 Qxg2+ 26. Kxg2
Rxe1+ 27. Ne4 Bxe4+ 28. Kg3 Rg1+ 0-1

[Event "Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee)"]
[Date "2020"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Dubov"]
[Black "Artemiev"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B12"]
[PlyCount "65"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess on YouTube.}

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. h4 h5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. cxd5 cxd5 8. Bd3
Bxd3 9. Qxd3 Nc6 10. Nf3 Nh6 11. Bxh6 Rxh6 12. Rc1 Kf8 13. g3 g6 14. O-O Kg7
15. Na4 Rh8 16. Nc5 Bxc5 17. Rxc5 Qd7 18. Rfc1 Rhc8 19. Qc3 a5 20. a3 a4 21.
Ne1 Qe7 22. Nf3 Qd7 23. Kg2 Rc7 24. Qc2 Qd8 25. Qd1 Rd7 26. Ng5 Ra6 27. g4 Qh8
28. Qf3 Rb6 29. gxh5 Qxh5 30. Qf6+ Kg8 31. Ra5 Qg4+ 32. Kf1 Nd8 33. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Tata Steel (Wijk aan Zee)"]
[Date "2020"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Firouzja"]
[Black "Carlsen"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[PlyCount "78"]

{This game is analysed on Daniel King's PowerPlayChess and on Agadmator's Chess. The first meeting in classical chess of the World Champion and the 15 year old rising star from Iran.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 d6 5. c3 a6 6. Ba4 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Re1
Re8 9. Nbd2 Bf8 10. h3 b5 11. Bc2 Bb7 12. d4 g6 13. a3 Nb8 14. d5 c6 15. c4
Nbd7 16. a4 Qc7 17. b3 Rec8 18. Ra2 bxc4 19. bxc4 a5 20. Nf1 Ba6 21. Ne3 Nc5
22. Nd2 cxd5 23. cxd5 Rab8 24. Ba3 Qd8 25. Qf3 h5 26. Raa1 Bh6 27. Rab1 Rxb1
28. Rxb1 Kg7 29. Nef1 h4 30. Ne3 Bf4 31. Nef1 Qc7 32. g3 hxg3 33. fxg3 Bh6 34.
h4 Qd7 35. Kg2 Nxa4 36. Bxa4 Qxa4 37. Bxd6 Qd4 38. Qf2 Qxf2+ 39. Kxf2 Bxf1 0-1

[Event "PRO League (chess.com"]
[Date "2020"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Caruana"]
[Black "Firouzja"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C65"]
[PlyCount "116"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

{This game is analysed on Agadmator's Chess Channel on YouTube.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. Bxc6 dxc6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Nc4 Nd7 8.
b3 O-O 9. Bb2 Re8 10. O-O b6 11. g3 a5 12. a4 Ba6 13. Ne3 Bc5 14. Qe2 f6 15.
Nh4 Nf8 16. Kh1 Qd7 17. Rad1 Rad8 18. Nhg2 Ne6 19. f4 Nd4 20. Qh5 Qf7 21. Qxf7+
Kxf7 22. fxe5 Rxe5 23. Rd2 Ree8 24. g4 Nxc2 25. Nxc2 Rxd3 26. Rfd1 Rxb3 27. Bd4
Bd6 28. g5 c5 29. Ba1 Rxe4 30. gxf6 gxf6 31. Rf2 Re2 32. Rxf6+ Ke7 33. Re1
Rxe1+ 34. Ngxe1 Bb7+ 35. Kg1 Rh3 36. Rf2 Bc6 37. Re2+ Kd7 38. Ne3 Bxa4 39. Ng4
Bd1 40. Nf6+ Kc6 41. Rd2 Bb3 42. Nd3 c4 43. Ne5+ Kb7 44. Kg2 Rh6 45. Rf2 b5 46.
Ne4 b4 47. Bd4 c3 48. Be3 Re6 49. Nxd6+ Rxd6 50. Kg3 Bd5 51. Nd3 b3 52. Nc5+
Kc6 53. Rf8 b2 54. Rb8 Rg6+ 55. Kf4 Rg8 56. Rb7 Rf8+ 57. Kg5 Rf1 58. Ra7 b1=Q
0-1


[Date "1898.11.16"]
[Event "Simultaneous display (Plymouth"]
[White "Emmanuel Lasker"]
[Black "Henry Adamson"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C39"]
[PlyCount "56"]
[Annotator "Martin Quinn"]

{Fifteen years before the first of his three consecutive Emigrant Cup wins, Henry Adamson, then of Plymouth faces World Champion, Emanuel Lasker, in a 31-board simul. 

Martin Quinn, Secretary of Plymouth Chess Club has written an article on Henry Adamson which is reproduced at https://www.cornwallchess.org.uk/html/archive-sundry/adamson.shtml with his kind permission.}

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. h4 g4 5. Ng5 {The Allgaier Gambit} h6 6. Nxf7
Kxf7 7. d4 {This is the Thorold Attack, although computers prefer the main
alternative., 7.Bc4+} d5 8. Nc3 Nf6 9. Bxf4 Nc6 (9... Bb4 10. Be2 (10. e5 Nh5
11. Qd2 Kg7 12. O-O-O Be6 13. Qe3 Bxc3 14. bxc3 Nxf4 15. Qxf4 Rf8 $19) 10...
Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Nxe4 $19) 10. exd5 Bd6 11. Qd2 (11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. dxc6 {leaves
the position open with both kings exposed but the computer evaluates it as
completely level.}) 11... Bxf4 12. Qxf4 Ne7 $6 (12... Nb4 13. O-O-O Qd6) 13.
Bc4 Ng6 14. Qf2 Rf8 15. h5 $11 Nh8 16. O-O-O Kg7 17. Rhf1 $2 (17. Rdf1) 17...
Bd7 18. Qg3 Qe7 19. Rde1 Qd6 20. Re5 $2 {was best but World Champions giving
simuls naturally play to win and with the queens off and the centre blocked,
attacking chances would be much reduced.Unfortunately the move played is a
mistake which Black exploits.} Nxh5 21. Qe3 Rxf1+ {When you have a significant
material advantage, exchange pieces.} 22. Bxf1 Re8 23. Bd3 Nf6 24. Nb5 {
It's hard for White to make progress but this allows Black to simplify and
come out a piece up. The best for White could have been} (24. Ne2 Nxd5 25. Qe4
Nf6 26. Qxb7 Rxe5 27. dxe5 Qxe5 28. Qxa7 {and it's a position a World Champion
might be able to hold. However, we can be sure Lasker was not interested in
playing a long and difficult endgame in the hope he might salvage a draw!})
24... Bxb5 25. Bxb5 Nxd5 26. Qe4 Rxe5 27. dxe5 Qe6 28. Be2 Ng6 {Of White takes
on g4, Black takes on e5, so White resigns. Adamson defended accurately and
deserved his win.} 0-1

[Event "Simultaneous display (Bristol)"]
[Date "1936"]
[White "Alexander Alekhine"]
[Black "Aelred Horn"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C78"]
[PlyCount "89"]

{Around the time of the great Nottingham tournament of 1936, won by Botvinnik and Capablanca, a number of the players gave a series of simultaneous displays all round the country. At the Bristol event former world champion, Alexander Alekhine, who regained the title from Max Euwe the following year, met our future president, Aelred Horn, then a teacher in the city.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O b5 6. Bb3 Bc5 7. a4 Bb7 8. c3
O-O 9. d4 exd4 10. e5 Ne4 11. cxd4 Bb6 12. d5 Ne7 13. Ng5 Nxg5 14. Bxg5 Qe8 15.
Nc3 Ng6 16. e6 fxe6 17. axb5 e5 18. d6+ Kh8 19. dxc7 Bxc7 20. Nd5 Bd8 21. Bxd8
Qxd8 22. bxa6 Rxa6 23. Rxa6 Bxa6 24. Re1 d6 25. g3 Bb7 26. Bc4 Bxd5 27. Bxd5
Qb6 28. Qd2 Ne7 29. Bg2 Nf5 30. b4 Nd4 31. Rb1 h6 32. Kh1 Nf3 33. Qe3 Qb7 34.
b5 e4 35. b6 d5 36. Bxf3 Rxf3 37. Qc5 Rf7 38. Kg1 Kh7 39. Rb5 Rf6 40. h4 Kg6
41. Qd4 Kf7 42. h5 g5 43. hxg6+ Kxg6 44. Qe5 Rxb6 45. Rxd5 1-0

[Event "Correspondence (BCCA Premier A)"]
[Date "1948"]
[White "B. Forsling"]
[Black "Arthur Busby"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D98"]
[PlyCount "82"]

{Arthur Busby moved to Cornwall from the Midlands a few years after World War II. A Chartered Accountant, he joined the Camborne office of Peat Marwick Mitchell (now part of KPMG) and eventually became senior partner there. Over a period of 30 years he was one of the leading players in the county, winning the Emigrant Cup 6 times and played on top board for Camborne / Redruth for much of that period. He donated the trophy for our main (then the only) knock-out competition and it was named after him in recognition of his great contribution to chess in the county.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. Qb3 dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8.
Be3 Nfd7 9. Be2 Nb6 10. Qd3 c5 11. dxc5 Qxd3 12. Bxd3 Bxc3+ 13. bxc3 Na4 14.
Bc2 Nxc3 15. a4 b5 16. cxb6 axb6 17. Kd2 Rc8 18. Bxb6 Nd7 19. a5 Bxf3 20. gxf3
Ne5 21. Bb3 Nxf3+ 22. Ke3 Ne5 23. Rhc1 Rab8 24. h3 Rc6 25. Bd5 Nxd5+ 26. exd5
Rd6 27. Bc5 Rxd5 28. Bxe7 Re8 29. Ke4 Rd2 30. Kxe5 Rxe7+ 31. Kf4 Rxf2+ 32. Kg3
Rd2 33. a6 Rd3+ 34. Kf4 Rde3 35. Ra4 Rxh3 36. Kg4 Ree3 37. a7 h5+ 38. Kf4 Rhf3+
39. Kg5 Kg7 40. Rh1 f6+ 41. Kh4 Kh6 0-1

[Event "WECU Under 18 Championship"]
[Date "1953"]
[White "Hedley Shirley"]
[Black "A. J. Sherlock,"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B02"]
[PlyCount "61"]

{Like his father, Max Shirley, who was a familiar figure at the Camborne club for many years, Hedley Shirley taught at Cornwall College (then known as Cornwall Technical College) at Pool, being responsible for getting a number of present-day chessplayers through their chemistry "A" Level. From the late 1950s to the early 1970s, along with Arthur Busby, he was Camborne's leading player.}

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb4 4. a3 N4c6 5. Nf3 e6 6. d4 d5 7. Nc3 dxc4 8. Bxc4
Ne7 9. Be3 c6 10. O-O Ng6 11. Qe2 Be7 12. Rad1 O-O 13. Bb3 b5 14. Bc2 Ba6 15.
b4 Bb7 16. Qd2 Qe8 17. Ng5 h6 18. Bxg6 hxg5 19. Bh5 Qd8 20. f4 gxf4 21. Bxf4
Kh7 22. Qd3+ g6 23. Bc1 Kg7 24. Rxf7+ Rxf7 25. Qxg6+ Kh8 26. Qxf7 Qf8 27. Rf1
Nd7 28. Qxe6 Qg7 29. Rf7 Nf8 30. Qxe7 Ng6 31. Qxb7 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Date "1955"]
[Round "1"]
[White "I. R. Napier"]
[Black "F. E. A. Kitto"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C67"]
[PlyCount "60"]

{A tactical battle featuring two Emigrant Cup winners. IR Napier, as well as being a strong player, was also a great benefactor to junior chess in Cornwall and a personal friend of world champion Max Euwe. There is a short piece on FEA Kitto at https://exeterchessclub.org.uk/content/characters-1950s. The return match began with bad news for the Cornish players. Four of their
team were stranded on the far side of he river, the Torpoint ferry having
ceased operating at 2 p.m. In the top board game , I.R.Napier tried an unusual
fifth move and F.E.A. Kitto replied in gambit style, sacrificing a pawn for an
open file against the enemy king. However, for a long time, his attack seemed
hardly sufficient, but the quick time limit did not allow his opponent to find
the best defence, and the Devon player achieved the following neat finish. (J.
E. Jones, cit. Dave Regis. From the Exeter Chess Club website at
exeterchessclub.org.uk/)} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Qe2 Nd6
6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Qxe5+ Be7 8. Qxg7 Bf6 9. Re1+ Be6 10. Qg3 Qd7 11. Ng5 O-O-O 12.
Nxe6 fxe6 13. d3 Rdf8 14. c3 Nf5 15. Qh3 Rhg8 16. Re4 Bh4 17. Bf4 Kb8 18. Nd2
h5 19. Rae1 Rg4 20. Qf3 Nd6 21. Nc4 Nxe4 22. Ne5 Qg7 23. Nxg4 Ng5 24. Qe3 hxg4
25. Re2 Rxf4 26. Qxf4 Nh3+ {White resigns in view of the continuation} 27. gxh3
gxh3+ 28. Kf1 Qg2+ 29. Ke1 Qg1+ 30. Kd2 Bg5 0-1


[Event "West of England Championship (Bristol)"]
[Date "1968.04.04"]
[White "Henry Trevenen"]
[Black "B. A. Heath"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B75"]
[Annotator "E. G.Walker"]
[PlyCount "53"]

{Also West of England champion in 1946, 1947 and 1949. More about him at http://www.cornwallchess.org.uk/html/archive-sundry/trevenen.shtml
.
His opponent in this game was the joint winner of the Emigrant Cup (with P Schofield) in 1970.}

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 d6 (6... Nf6 {
is more in keeping with the Accelerated Fianchetto, the main idea of which is
to get in ...d5 in one step if possible.}) 7. Qd2 Nf6 8. f3 a6 ({Threatening} 
8... d5 {which if played at once could be met by} 9. Bb5 {But ...0-0 is
probably a better way of effecting this threat.}) 9. O-O-O Bd7 (9... d5 {
loses a pawn after} 10. Nxc6 {etc. and I don't think Black gets enough
counter-play.}) 10. g4 b5 11. g5 Nh5 12. Nd5 Rb8 13. f4 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 Bg4 15.
Bxg7 Nxg7 16. Re1 ({An immediate} 16. Be2 {is better as it is not yet clear
which is the best file for the White rook.}) 16... O-O 17. Be2 Bxe2 18. Rxe2
Ne8 {To dislodge White's knight without letting it in to f6, but the whole
process weakens Black's kingside too much.} 19. h4 e6 20. Ne3 f5 21. h5 $1 {
The decisive push. Trevenen finishes forcefully.} fxe4 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Qd4
Ng7 24. Ng4 Rxf4 25. Reh2 Qxg5 26. Rh8+ Kf7 27. Qxg7+ $1 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "1976"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Mark Watkins"]
[Black "Philip Breach"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C68"]
[PlyCount "69"]

{Mark was county champion for the first time in 1976 while still at school. Here is his 4th round game against 1965 champion, Philip Breach of Falmouth.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O Bg4 6. h3 h5 7. d3 Bc5 8.
Nbd2 Qf6 9. Nb3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 Qxf3 11. gxf3 Bb6 12. f4 exf4 13. Bxf4 Ne7 14. d4
O-O-O 15. c3 f6 16. Be3 g5 17. f3 Rdg8 18. Rae1 f5 19. Kf2 g4 20. Rg1 Rh7 21.
exf5 Nxf5 22. fxg4 hxg4 23. Rxg4 Rxg4 24. hxg4 Nd6 25. Bf4 Rf7 26. Kg3 Kd7 27.
g5 Nc4 28. Re2 Re7 29. Rh2 Rg7 30. Kg4 Ke6 31. Rh6+ Kf7 32. Kf5 Nxb2 33. g6+
Kf8 34. Rh8+ Rg8 35. Bh6+ 1-0

[Event "Basingstoke Open"]
[Date "1977.07.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ian George"]
[Black "D. V.Lofts"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C15"]
[PlyCount "74"]

It was only many years later that I found out that my first-round opponent at the 1977 Basingstoke Open was a former Cornwall Champion. This is the only game of his that I know of and he told me that it was his first after a long absence from the game.}

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nge2 c5 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. Nxc3 dxe4 7. Nxe4 cxd4
8. Bf4 e5 9. Bg5 f6 10. Bh4 Be6 11. Bd3 Nc6 12. O-O Qd5 13. c4 dxc3 14. Nxc3
Qb3 15. Bc2 Qc4 16. Ne4 Qd5 17. Nd6+ Ke7 18. Nf5+ Kf7 19. Nd6+ Ke7 20. Nf5+ Kf7
21. Qxd5 Bxd5 22. Rfd1 Nge7 23. Ne3 Be6 24. Be4 g5 25. Bg3 f5 26. f3 fxe4 27.
fxe4 Rad8 28. Rf1+ Kg6 29. b4 a6 30. a4 Rd3 31. b5 Rxe3 32. bxc6 Nxc6 33. Rab1
Rb8 34. Bf2 Rxe4 35. Rfc1 Rxa4 36. Rxc6 bxc6 37. Rxb8 Ra1+ 0-1

[Event "Cornwall Under 18 Championship"]
[Date "1978"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Michael Prettejohn"]
[Black "Jeremy Menadue"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C69"]
[Annotator "Jeremy Menadue"]
[PlyCount "83"]

{An early game by Jeremy Menadue from his Truro School days, featuring the top two juniors in the county at that time.}

 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d4 exd4
7. Nxd4 c5 8. Nb3 Qxd1 9. Rxd1 Bd6 10. Be3 b6 11. a4 Ne7 12. Na3 Be6 13. Nd2
O-O 14. Nac4 Rfd8 15. b3 Ng6 16. Nxd6 Rxd6 17. Nf3 Rxd1+ 18. Rxd1 Bg4 19. h3
Be6 20. a5 Kf7 21. axb6 cxb6 22. Rd6 Rb8 23. b4 cxb4 24. Nd4 Nf8 25. Nxe6 Nxe6
26. Rxb6 Rc8 27. Rb7+ Rc7 28. Rxc7+ Nxc7 29. Bc5 a5 30. Bb6 (30. Kf1 Nb5 31.
Ke2 a4 32. Bxb4 a3 33. Bxa3 Nxa3 34. Kd3 Ke6 $17) 30... a4 $1 31. Bc5 (31. Bxc7
b3 32. cxb3 axb3) 31... b3 32. cxb3 axb3 33. Ba3 (33. Bd4 Nb5) 33... Nb5 34.
Bb2 Nd6 $19 35. e5 fxe5 36. Bxe5 Nc4 37. Ba1 b2 38. Bxb2 Nxb2 39. g4 Kf6 40.
Kg2 Nd3 41. Kg3 Ke5 42. h4 0-1

[Event "Nottinghamshire Premier"]
[Date "1983.04.16"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Ian George"]
[Black "A. J. Rolfe"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B89"]
[PlyCount "49"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Bc4 Be7 7. Be3 Nc6 8.
Bb3 O-O 9. Qe2 Bd7 10. O-O-O a6 11. f3 Qc7 12. g4 Rfc8 13. g5 Ne8 14. h4 b5 15.
g6 hxg6 16. h5 Nxd4 17. Bxd4 gxh5 18. Rxh5 Bf6 19. Rdh1 Kf8 20. Nd5 exd5 21.
exd5 Be5 22. Rxe5 Nf6 23. Rg5 Be6 24. Rh8+ Ke7 25. Qxe6+ 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Date "1987.03.27"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Maurice Smelt"]
[Black "Ian George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A80"]
[PlyCount "35"]

{Pride goeth before destruction and an haughty spirit before a fall.}

1. d4 f5 2. e3 Nf6 3. Bd3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 d6 6. O-O O-O 7. Qe1 Na6 8. c3 c5
9. Nbd2 Rb8 10. e4 fxe4 11. Nxe4 cxd4 12. Nxd4 Kh8 13. Ng5 Nc5 14. Bc2 e5 15.
fxe5 dxe5 16. Qh4 Qe7 17. Nxh7 Bh6 18. Nxf8 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Date "1988.01.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Philip Williams"]
[Black "Michael Adams"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B12"]
[PlyCount "116"]

{This is one of my favourite local games. Philip reaches move 38 in a double-rook ending confident that the position is too blocked for black to make progress. Michael then demonstates his understanding of the position by sacrificing a whole rook to turn the lack of mobility of white's rooks in the blocked position to his advantage. By move 42 black has 5 pawns and a pawn juggernaut as compensation for the rook. 18 months after this game was played Michael was British Champion.}

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. Bd3 Nd7 6. e5 Nb6 7. f4 h5 8. Ngf3 Nh6
9. Nf1 Bf5 10. Ne3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 e6 12. Ng5 Qc7 13. Bd2 Bf8 14. g3 c5 15. Nf3
Be7 16. h4 a6 17. Rc1 Qc6 18. O-O Rc8 19. Kg2 Qb5 20. Qxb5+ axb5 21. a3 Nc4 22.
Nxc4 bxc4 23. Be3 Nf5 24. Bf2 Kd7 25. Rfe1 Rc6 26. Rcd1 Rhc8 27. Rd2 Rb6 28.
Ree2 Rb3 29. dxc5 Bxc5 30. Bxc5 Rxc5 31. Nd4 Nxd4 32. Rxd4 Kc6 33. Rdd2 Kb5 34.
Kf2 Rc8 35. Ke1 Rd8 36. Rd4 Kc5 37. Kd1 Ra8 38. Red2 Raxa3 39. bxa3 Rxc3 40. f5
gxf5 41. Rf4 Rxa3 42. Rff2 Rxg3 43. Rg2 Rh3 44. Rh2 Re3 45. Rhe2 f4 46. Rf2 f3
47. Rf1 d4 48. Rdf2 Rxe5 49. Rxf3 f5 50. Re1 Rxe1+ 51. Kxe1 b5 52. Rg3 b4 53.
Rg6 b3 54. Kd1 d3 55. Kc1 c3 56. Rxe6 b2+ 57. Kb1 d2 58. Re5+ Kd4 0-1

[Event "St Just Invitation"]
[Date "1988.07.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Malcolm Grimmer"]
[Black "Jeremy Menadue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D01"]
[PlyCount "63"]

{This was played at one of the six-player all-play-all tournaments hosted by our former President, Aelred Horn at his home in St. Just. Malcolm, for many years a regular at the Emigrant Cup and for the Godolphin Club at Helston, was capable of beating anyone on his day, as this game shows.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nc3 d5 3. Bg5 Nbd7 4. f3 h6 5. Bh4 e6 6. e4 dxe4 7. Nxe4 Be7 8.
Bd3 Nxe4 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. fxe4 Qb4+ 11. c3 Qxb2 12. Ne2 e5 13. O-O O-O 14. Bc4
exd4 15. cxd4 Nb6 16. Rb1 Qa3 17. Bb3 Qe7 18. e5 Be6 19. Nf4 Bxb3 20. Qxb3 Kh8
21. e6 g5 22. Qh3 Qf6 23. e7 Rfe8 24. Nh5 Qxd4+ $2 ({The losing move.} 24...
Qxe7 25. Rf6 Qe3+ 26. Qxe3 Rxe3 27. Rxh6+ Kg8 28. Rb5 $11 {should have been
played.}) 25. Kh1 Rxe7 26. Nf6 Qh4 27. Qc3 {A sensible, practical decision by
white.} (27. Qf5 {wins even more quickly but both players were in severe time
trouble. The move played by white not only leads to clear play but was part of
a sequence that he had already planned.}) 27... Na4 28. Qa1 Kg7 29. Nd5+ (29.
Ne8+ $1 Kg6 30. Qg7+ Kh5 31. Nf6#) 29... Kh7 30. Nxe7 Rf8 31. Qf6 Qc4 32. Nf5
1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "1989.01.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Robin Kneebone"]
[Black "Malcolm Grimmer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A68"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "67"]

{Plenty of tactics with Robin on the white side of a Benoni for a change}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. f4 Bg7 8. Bb5+
Nfd7 9. Bd3 O-O 10. Nf3 a6 11. a4 Nf6 12. O-O Nbd7 13. Re1 Nb6 14. a5 Nbd7 15.
e5 dxe5 16. fxe5 Ng4 17. Bf4 Re8 18. e6 fxe6 19. dxe6 Nf8 20. e7 Rxe7 21. Rxe7
Qxe7 22. Nd5 Qf7 23. Bc4 Kh8 24. h3 Nh6 25. Ne5 $2 (25. Bxh6 Bxh6 26. Nb6 Qf4
27. Nxc8 Rxc8 28. Qd5 $18 {wins a piece}) 25... Qf5 26. Bd3 Qh5 $2 (26... Qe6
27. Nb6 (27. Nc7 Qf6 28. Bxh6 (28. Bg3 Ra7 29. Ne8 Qe7 30. Nxg7 Kxg7 $11) 28...
Bxh6 29. Nxg6+ Nxg6 (29... hxg6 30. Nxa8 $16) 30. Nxa8 Bxh3 (30... Nf4 31. Bf1
Bf5 32. Qe1 $18) 31. Bxg6 (31. gxh3 Be3+ $11) 31... Bxg2 (31... Qxg6 32. Qd8+
Kg7 33. Qc7+ Kg8 34. Qb8+ Bf8 35. Qxb7 $16) 32. Bh5 Be4 33. Ra3 Qg5+ 34. Bg4
Bg7 35. Kf1 Bxb2 36. Rh3 Bd4 $11) 27... g5 28. Nxa8 (28. Bxg5 Qxe5 29. Bxh6
Bxh6 30. Nxa8 Bxh3 31. gxh3 Qg3+ 32. Kf1 (32. Kh1 $4 Qxh3+ 33. Kg1 Be3#) 32...
Be3 33. Qc2 Qg1+ 34. Ke2 Qf2+ 35. Kd1 Qg1+ $11) (28. Bc4 Qf5 29. Bg3 (29. Nxa8
Qxf4 $19) 29... Bxe5 30. Bxe5+ Qxe5 31. Qd8 (31. Nxa8 Qxb2 (31... Bxh3 32. Qd8
(32. gxh3 Qg3+ 33. Kf1 Qxh3+ 34. Ke2 Qg4+ 35. Kd2 Qxc4 $17) 32... Qe3+ 33. Kh1
(33. Kf1 Qf4+ 34. Ke1 Bxg2 $17)) 32. Rb1 $16) 31... Bxh3 32. Nxa8 Qe3+ 33. Kh1
Bxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Qe4+ 35. Kg1 Qg4+ 36. Kf2 $18) 28... gxf4 29. Nc4 Qc6 30. Qc2 (
30. Nab6 Bd4+ 31. Kf1 Bxh3 32. gxh3 Qh1+ 33. Ke2 Qg2+ 34. Ke1 Qf2#)) {With
chances for both sides} 27. Qxh5 gxh5 28. Nc7 $2 (28. Nb6 Rb8 29. Nec4 $18)
28... Rb8 29. Bc4 Ng6 $2 (29... Bf5) 30. Nxg6+ hxg6 31. Nxa6 $2 (31. Nd5 $18)
31... Bxb2 (31... Ra8 32. Nxc5 Bd4+ 33. Kf1 Bxc5 34. Bxh6 $16) 32. Rd1 Bd4+ (
32... Ra8 33. Nc7 Rxa5 34. Rd8+ Kh7 35. Rxc8 Ra4 36. Ne6 Rxc4 37. Rc7+ Kg8 38.
Bxh6 $18) 33. Rxd4 $1 cxd4 34. Nxb8 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "1989.01.08"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Michael Adams"]
[Black "Paul Wallace"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C64"]
[PlyCount "86"]

{After securing the title with a round to spare, Michael Adams suffers a rare loss against local opposition. Irish international player, Paul Wallace, spent a year in Cornwall working as a doctor at Treliske Hospital.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. O-O Nd4 5. Nxd4 Bxd4 6. c3 Bb6 7. d4 c6 8.
Ba4 d6 9. Na3 Nf6 10. Nc4 Bc7 11. dxe5 dxe5 12. Bc2 Bg4 13. f3 Be6 14. Qe2 Nh5
15. Be3 Nf4 16. Bxf4 exf4 17. Bb3 O-O 18. Kh1 Qe7 19. Nd2 Rad8 20. Bxe6 Qxe6
21. Rfe1 Rd7 22. Nb3 Bb6 23. Rad1 Rfd8 24. Rxd7 Qxd7 25. a4 g6 26. a5 Be3 27.
g4 a6 28. Kg2 Kg7 29. Qc4 h5 30. gxh5 Rh8 31. Nc5 Qd2+ 32. Re2 Qc1 33. Rxe3
Qxe3 34. Ne6+ fxe6 35. Qxe6 Qd2+ 36. Kh1 Qc1+ 37. Kg2 Qxb2+ 38. Kh1 Qxc3 39.
Qxg6+ Kf8 40. Qd6+ Ke8 41. Qxf4 Rf8 42. Qb8+ Kf7 43. Qxb7+ Ke6 0-1

[Event "British Championship"]
[Date "1995.07.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jerermy Menadue"]
[Black "Mark Hebden"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A65"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "95"]

{Jeremy comes close to beating GM Hebden who was one of the favourites to win the tournament.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. f3 O-O 6. Bg5 c5 7. d5 a6 8. a4 e6 9.
Qd2 exd5 10. cxd5 Re8 11. Nge2 Nbd7 12. Ng3 Qa5 13. Ra3 h5 14. Be2 Nh7 15. Be3
h4 16. Nf1 Ne5 17. g4 Bd7 18. Kf2 Qb4 19. Qc2 c4 20. Nd2 Rac8 21. Rha1 f5 22.
gxf5 gxf5 23. Rg1 Kh8 24. Rxg7 Kxg7 25. a5 Nf6 26. Na2 Nd3+ 27. Bxd3 cxd3 28.
Qxc8 Qxd2+ 29. Bxd2 Rxc8 30. Nc3 fxe4 31. Nxe4 Rc2 32. Rxd3 Bb5 33. Rd4 Nxe4+
34. fxe4 Rxb2 35. Kf3 Kg6 36. Kg4 Rb3 37. Bb4 Bd7+ 38. Kf4 Rb2 39. Bxd6 Rxh2
40. e5 Rg2 41. e6 Bb5 42. Kf3 Rg5 $2 (42... h3) 43. Be7 $6 (43. Bf4 $1 {
wins. Black's rook is denied the squares it needs to combine with the bishop
to create counterplay against the white king.} Rxd5 (43... Rf5 44. d6 Bc6+ 45.
Kf2 h3 46. Kg3 Rh5 47. Kh2 $18) (43... Rh5 44. d6 $18) (43... Rg1 44. d6 $18)
44. Rxd5 Bc6 45. Ke4 Kf6 (45... Kg7 46. Ke5) 46. Kd4 $18) 43... Rg3+ 44. Kf2
Kf5 45. Bxh4 {This frees the black rook, allowing him to draw with ease.} ({
Better is} 45. Rxh4 Rd3 (45... Rc3 46. Rh5+ Kg4 (46... Kf4 47. d6 Rf3+ (47...
Rc2+ 48. Ke1 Re2+ 49. Kd1 Rxe6 50. Rxb5 axb5 51. d7 Rxe7 52. d8=Q $18) 48. Ke1
Rd3 (48... Rf1+ 49. Kd2 Rf2+ 50. Kc3 Rf3+ 51. Kd4 Rd3+ 52. Kc5 $18) (48... Re3+
49. Kd2 Re2+ (49... Rxe6 50. Rxb5 axb5 51. d7 $18) (49... Rd3+ 50. Kc2 Rd4 51.
Rxb5 axb5 52. d7 Ke5 53. Bd6+ $18) 50. Kd1 Rxe6 51. Rxb5 axb5 52. d7 $18) 49.
Rxb5 axb5 50. d7 Ke5 51. Bd6+ $18) 47. Rg5+ Kf4 48. d6 Rf3+ (48... Rc2+ 49. Ke1
Re2+ 50. Kd1 Re4 (50... Rxe6 51. Rxb5 axb5 52. d7 $18) 51. Rxb5 axb5 52. d7
Rd4+ 53. Kc2 Ke5 54. Bd6+ $18)) 46. Rh5+ Kg4 47. Rg5+ Kf4 48. Bf6 Rd2+ (48...
Rd1 49. Re5 Rd2+ (49... Rf1+ 50. Kg2 Rd1 51. e7 Be8 52. Rg5 Bb5 53. Rh5 Kg4 54.
Rh4+ Kf5 55. Bc3 Rd3 56. Rb4 Be8 57. Rc4 Rxd5 58. Rc8 Ba4 59. e8=Q Bxe8 60.
Rxe8 $18) 50. Ke1 Rd3 51. e7 Be8) (48... Rf3+ 49. Ke1 Rh3 50. Kd2 Rh6 51. Be7
Rh7 52. d6 Rxe7 53. Rxb5 Rxe6 54. Rd5 Re8 55. d7 Rd8 $18) 49. Ke1 {and black
has enough for the draw, e,g,} Rh2 50. Rg8 Ke3 51. Kd1 (51. Rh8 Rxh8 52. Bxh8
Bc4 53. e7 Bb5 54. d6 Ke4 $11) (51. Bg5+ Kd4 52. Rd8 Rg2 53. Bf4 Bc4) 51...
Rd2+ 52. Kc1 Rxd5 53. e7 Kd3 {Admittedly it is much easier to generate all
this analysis as a third party sitting at home with Fritz turned on. It's a
different matter with the clock running and a strong and determined opponent
facing you. Nevertheless 45. Rxh4 should have been played because finding the
path to equality requires a lot of accurate play from black.}) 45... Ra3 46.
Bg3 Ra2+ 47. Kf3 Ra3+ 48. Kf2 1/2-1/2

[Event "Wiltshire v Cornwall)"]
[Date "1997.10.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Andrew Law"]
[Black "Jeremy Menadue"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D13"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[Annotator "Ian George"]

{This is an efficiently played win by Jeremy on top board, demonstrating his superior knowledge of this opening trap. Despite being on the next board and having a grandstand view of this game, I still fell into the same trap eight years later against Philip Williams in the Camborne Club Championship.}

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. Nc3 Nc6 6. Bf4 Bg4 7. Ne5 Qb6 8.
Nxg4 Nxg4 9. Nxd5 Qa5+ 10. Nc3 e5 11. dxe5 $2 (11. Bxe5) 11... Qb6 12. Bg3 (12.
e3 $4 Qxb2 $19) 12... Qxb2 13. Rc1 Bb4 14. Qd2 Qa3 15. e3 Rc8 16. h3 Nd4 17.
exd4 Rxc3 18. Kd1 Qa4+ (18... Rxg3 $19) 19. Rc2 (19. Ke2 Ra3 $19) 19... Rxg3
20. Qe2 Nxf2+ (20... Rd3+ $142 21. Kc1 Ba3+ 22. Kb1 Qb4+ $19) 21. Qxf2 Rc3 22.
Qf5 O-O 23. Bd3 g6 24. Qe4 Rxc2 25. Bxc2 Qxa2 26. Rf1 Rd8 0-1

[Event "WECU Open"]
[Date "1999.04.04"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Alan Brusey"]
[Black "David Saqui"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E42"]
[PlyCount "106"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e3 d6 5. Nge2 c5 6. a3 Ba5 7. Rb1 Nc6 8. Ng3
e5 9. d5 Bxc3+ 10. bxc3 Na5 11. Bd3 b6 12. O-O Ba6 13. f4 e4 14. Nxe4 Nxe4 15.
Bxe4 Bxc4 16. Re1 O-O 17. Bf3 Qf6 18. Qc2 Rfe8 19. Bd2 Re7 20. e4 Rae8 21. g3
g6 22. Kg2 Qg7 23. h4 f6 24. Kf2 Ba6 25. Qa4 Bd3 26. Rbd1 c4 27. Qb4 Nb7 28. e5
fxe5 29. fxe5 Rxe5 30. Rxe5 dxe5 31. d6 Qf7 32. Kg2 Rf8 33. Bc6 Be2 34. Rg1
Qf2+ 35. Kh1 Bf3+ 36. Bxf3 Qxf3+ 37. Kh2 Qe2+ 38. Rg2 Rf2 39. Rxf2 Qxf2+ 40.
Kh3 Qf1+ 41. Kh2 Qd3 42. Bh6 Nxd6 43. Qa4 Qe2+ 44. Kh3 Qf1+ 45. Kh2 Qf2+ 46.
Kh3 b5 47. Qa5 Qb6 48. Qxb6 axb6 49. Be3 Ne4 50. Bxb6 Nxc3 51. Bc7 e4 52. Kg4
Kf7 53. Ba5 Nd5 0-1

[Event "Kerrier Cup (Helston)"]
[Date "2000.05.28"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Robin Horner"]
[Black "David Saqui"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[PlyCount "90"]

1. e4 d5 2. d4 dxe4 3. Nc3 e5 4. dxe5 Qxd1+ 5. Kxd1 Bg4+ 6. Be2 Bxe2+ 7. Ngxe2
Nc6 8. Bf4 O-O-O+ 9. Kc1 f5 10. exf6 Nxf6 11. Rd1 Bc5 12. Be3 Bxe3+ 13. fxe3
Ng4 14. Nxe4 Nxe3 15. Rxd8+ Rxd8 16. b3 Nd4 17. Nxd4 Rxd4 18. Nf2 Rf4 19. Nd3
Rf1+ 20. Kb2 Rxa1 21. Kxa1 Nxg2 22. Kb2 g5 23. Kc3 h5 24. Kd4 Nh4 25. Ke4 b6
26. Ne5 a5 27. h3 Kb7 28. c3 b5 29. a3 c6 30. Nf7 g4 31. hxg4 hxg4 32. Kf4 Nf3
33. Nd6+ Kb6 34. Ne4 Ne1 35. Kxg4 Nc2 36. a4 Na1 37. Nd2 Nxb3 38. Nxb3 bxa4 39.
Nc1 Kb5 40. Kf4 Kc4 41. Ke5 a3 42. Kd6 Kxc3 43. Kxc6 Kc2 44. Ne2 a2 45. Nd4+
Kb2 0-1

[Event "Cornwall Under 18 Championship"]
[Date "2001"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grant Lakeland"]
[Black "Rico Wong"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C66"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "109"]

{White tries hard to throw away the win but fails in the end! Douglas Cooke (Liskeard) was the 2001 champion. Both Grant (St Austell) and Rico (Penzance) were part of a group of players who contested some hard-fought Under 18 Championships around this time.

At the time of writing (March 2019) Grant is an Associate Professor in the Department of Mathematics at Eastern Illinois University, having moved to the United States in 2005.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 d6 4. O-O Nf6 5. Re1 Bg4 6. c3 a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bc2
Be7 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Qxf3 O-O 11. d3 Na5 12. b4 Nb7 13. a4 c5 14. bxc5 dxc5 15.
Qg3 Re8 16. Nd2 Bd6 17. Rb1 b4 18. cxb4 cxb4 19. Nc4 a5 20. Bb2 Qc7 21. Rbc1
Nc5 22. Ne3 Qb8 23. Nf5 g6 24. f4 Ncd7 25. Nxd6 Qxd6 26. fxe5 Nxe5 27. d4 Qb6
28. Kh1 Nh5 29. Qb3 Nc6 30. Rf1 Ra7 31. Rcd1 Qc7 32. Rf3 Qd6 33. Rdf1 Ree7 34.
g4 Ng7 35. d5 Ne5 36. Rf6 Qd7 $2 (36... Qc5) 37. Bd4 Ne8 38. Bxa7 Nxf6 39. Bc5
$1 Re8 40. Rxf6 Rc8 41. Bd4 Nc4 42. Qf3 Nd2 43. Qd3 Nc4 44. Bb3 Na3 45. d6 Rf8
46. Qf3 Nb1 47. Qf2 (47. Rxg6+ hxg6 48. Qf6) 47... Nc3 48. Bxc3 (48. Rxg6+ hxg6
49. Qf6) 48... bxc3 49. e5 $4 (49. Qd4 $18) 49... Qb7+ 50. Kh2 Qxb3 51. e6 Qd5
$2 (51... c2 52. Rxf7 (52. exf7+ Rxf7 53. Rxf7 Qxf7 54. Qxc2 Qf4+ 55. Kg2 Qxd6
$11) 52... Qb8 $11) 52. e7 (52. d7 Rd8 $1 53. Rxg6+ (53. e7 $4 Qe5+ $19) 53...
hxg6 54. Qxf7+ Kh8 55. Qf6+ Kh7 56. Qe7+ Kh6 57. g5+ Kh5 58. Qh7+ Kxg5 59. Qe7+
Kf5 60. Qxd8 Qe5+ $11) 52... Qxd6+ {Time trouble panic} (52... Rc8 53. Qg2 Qe5+
(53... Qxg2+ 54. Kxg2 c2 55. d7 c1=Q 56. e8=Q+) 54. Qg3 Qd5 (54... Qxf6 55. d7
Rf8 56. e8=Q c2 57. d8=Q Qxd8 58. Qxd8 Rxd8 59. Qc3 $18) 55. Rf1 $18 {also
wins but white has some opportunities to go wrong in the time scramble.}) 53.
Rxd6 Rb8 54. Rd8+ Rxd8 55. exd8=Q+ 1-0

[Event "WECU Championship (Exmouth)"]
[Date "2001.04.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jack Rudd"]
[Black "Ian George"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "85"]

{Imaginative play from Jack Rudd, featuring a positional king march to g7 in a crowded middle game position.}

1. Nc3 d5 2. e4 e6 3. d4 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. Nce2 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. f4 Qa5 8. dxc5
Qxc5 9. Nf3 Qb6 10. Ned4 Bc5 11. a3 Bxd4 $2 ({Perhaps} 11... h6 12. b4 Be7 13.
Bd3 O-O {is objectively better but, having played Jack several times before,
defending the inevitable king's side attack did not appeal. White has a clear
advantage. Later in the game black will suffer from the weakness on the black
squares.}) 12. cxd4 Ne7 13. b4 a6 14. Be3 Nf5 15. Bf2 h5 16. g3 a5 17. b5 a4
18. Bd3 Qa5+ 19. Kf1 Nb6 20. Qe2 Bd7 21. Rb1 Rc8 22. Kg2 Nc4 23. Ng5 g6 24.
Bxc4 Rxc4 25. Ne4 Qc7 26. Nf6+ Ke7 27. Rhd1 Rc8 28. Qb2 {I have no idea if
this was a blunder (I thought so at the time). Having lost material Jack's
subsequent play is impressive.} Ne3+ (28... Rc2 29. Qb4+ $18) 29. Bxe3 Rc2+ 30.
Bd2 Rxb2 31. Rxb2 Qc4 $2 ({White would like to play} 31... Kf8 {but} 32. Rc1
Qd8 33. Ba5 $1 Qxa5 34. Nxd7+ Ke8 35. Rxc8+ Kxd7 36. Rbc2 {wins for white.
After the move played the king can't go to f8 while the bishop is undefended.
This allows white to execute the winning king march to g7 unopposed. The best
move is}) (31... b6 {(preventing Ba5)} 32. f5 gxf5 33. Bg5 Kf8 {after which I
can't see a win for either side.}) 32. Kh3 b6 33. Kh4 $1 Kd8 {The black queen
does nothing useful on c4 and should be defending the bishop in order to allow
...Kf8.} 34. Bb4 Bxb5 35. Kg5 $1 Be8 36. Kh6 Qc6 37. Bd6 b5 38. Kg7 {The king
reaches its destination. White had foreseen this a few moves ago and has been
following a coherent plan, while black only saw white's idea when it was too
late to counter it. His play in the last few moves has been aimless, having
nothing to do with the demands of the position.} Qb7 39. Rdb1 Bc6 40. h3 Qa7
41. Rb4 Be8 ({Loses instantly but} 41... Ra8 42. Rc1 Qb7 43. Rb2 Rc8 44. Rbc2 {
is no better.}) 42. Nxe8 Kxe8 43. Rxb5 1-0

[Event "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2001.05.02"]
[White "Ian George"]
[Black "devilone"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B30"]
[PlyCount "35"]

It used to be fashionable in many circles to dismiss the American, Fred Reinfeld, as a mere hack writer on chess and these days his books are read very little, if at all. For many people of my generation, however, at a time when the choice of books on chess was very limited, he provided the first exposure to the richness of the game and stimulated a lifelong association with its pleasures and frustrations.
              
Soon after learning the moves, at the age of about 11, I acquired a copy of one of his books, the only chess book on sale in Redruth at the time. Everything in it was new to me including a game featuring my favourite sequence in chess, Anastasia's mate. Ever since then I've wanted to use the idea myself. The opportunity finally came over 40 years later in a five minute game on the Internet Chess Club. Not the most significant game, then, but certainly high on the list of those have given me most pleasure.

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 e6 4. O-O Nge7 5. d4 cxd4 6. Nxd4 a6 7. Bxc6 Nxc6 8.
Be3 Qc7 9. Nc3 Bd6 10. f4 O-O 11. e5 Bc5 12. Qd3 b5 13. Kh1 Qb6 14. Nxc6 Bxe3
15. Ne7+ Kh8 16. Rf3 Bc5 17. Qxh7+ Kxh7 18. Rh3# 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Date "2002.01.12"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Simon Bartlett"]
[Black "Alan Brusey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C00"]
[PlyCount "49"]

{In a perfectly decent position black eventually fails to find the answer to white's active pieces allowing Simon to finish incisively in a line he used effectively a number of times and which is sometimes referred to locally as the Simon Bartlett Memorial Gambit.}

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e5 c5 4. b4 cxb4 5. d4 Qb6 6. Bd3 Bd7 7. a3 Nc6 8. axb4
Nxd4 9. c3 Nxf3+ 10. Qxf3 d4 11. O-O dxc3 12. Nxc3 Bc6 13. Qg3 Qxb4 14. Bd2 Qd4
15. Nb5 Qd7 16. Rfb1 a6 17. Bc3 O-O-O $4 {Probably the worst move on the board
apart from leaving a piece en prise. Most of the alternatives leave white
struggling to justify the sacrifice of two pawns.} 18. Na7+ Kb8 19. Nxc6+ Qxc6
20. Bxa6 b6 21. Bb5 Qd5 22. Qg4 Nh6 23. Qa4 Bc5 24. Bc6 Bxf2+ 25. Kh1 1-0

[Event "Kerrier Cup (Carbis Bay)"]
[Date "2003.06.29"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Philip Hutchings"]
[Black "Robin Horner"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Annotator "Ian George"]
[PlyCount "95"]

{A fluctuating game from former St. Ives and Camborne player, Philip Hutchings, now resident in Suffolk and who made a welcome reappearance in Cornish chess at the 2015 congress. His opponent, the late Robin Horner, made several journeys from Newcastle to play in our summer events around this time.}

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bd3 Be7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Nc3 Nxc3 10. bxc3 d5 11. Bc2 f5 $6 (11... b6 $5 {intending ...Ba6 while
the N is still on b8.}) 12. exf6 Bxf6 13. Qd3 g6 14. Bh6 Bg7 $2 {Although
white already has some advantage, maybe the real trouble starts here. The
disappearance of this bishop allows white a firm grip of the black squares
around black's king later on.} (14... Rf7 {is better.}) 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Ne5
Qf6 17. f4 Nd7 18. Rf3 Nxe5 $2 {Further surrender of black-square control and
handing white a tempo with a winning advantage..} 19. fxe5 $18 Qe7 20. Rxf8
Qxf8 21. Rf1 Qe8 22. Qf3 Bd7 23. Qf6+ Kg8 24. Qg5 (24. h4 Qf8 (24... Bb5 25.
Rf2 Rc8 26. h5 gxh5 27. Qg5+ Kh8 28. Bxh7 Kxh7 29. Rf6 $18) 25. Qg5 Qg7 26. Rf6
Rf8 27. h5 $18) {Black's passive play has created a cramped position in which
white can execute the plan of Rf6, a4-5 virtually unopposed.} 24... Ba4 25. Bb1
Qd7 (25... Rc8 26. h4 Rxc3 27. h5 Bc2 28. Rc1 Qc8 29. Qd2 $18 (29. hxg6 $2 Bxg6
30. Rf1 Qe8 $11)) {is just as bad.} 26. Bxg6 hxg6 27. Rf6 $2 {A turning point.
This unnecessary delay hands the advantage to black. White no longer has
sufficient compensation for his piece.} (27. Qxg6+ Qg7 28. Qxe6+ Kh8 29. Rf7
$18 {wins easily.}) 27... Bc2 $1 28. h4 (28. Rxg6+ Bxg6 29. Qxg6+ Kh8 30. Qh6+
(30. Qf6+ Kh7 31. Qh4+ Kg8 32. Qg4+ Kf8 $19) 30... Qh7 31. Qf6+ Qg7 $19) 28...
Rf8 29. h5 Rxf6 30. exf6 Qf7 31. h6 Kh7 32. Qf4 Be4 $2 (32... Bf5 33. Qg5 Qf8
34. g4 Qxh6 $1 35. Qxh6+ Kxh6 36. gxf5 gxf5 $19) 33. g4 g5 34. Qxg5 Qg6 35.
Qxg6+ Kxg6 36. g5 $1 $11 {The bishop is overloaded, so the g-pawn cannot be
taken because either the f or g-pawn queens.} a5 37. Kf2 b5 38. a3 a4 39. Ke3
Kf7 40. Kf4 Bg6 41. Ke5 Bd3 42. Kd6 Bg6 43. Kc5 Bd3 44. Kc6 Kg6 45. Kd6 Kf7 46.
Kd7 Bg6 47. Kc6 Bd3 48. Kd6 1/2-1/2

[Event "East Devon Major (Exeter)"]
[Date "2005.03.05"]
[White "Jeremy Kneebone"]
[Black "D. Wood"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B00"]
[Annotator "Jeremy Menadue"]
[PlyCount "73"]

{This fine attacking game won the Cornwall "Chess Oscar" for the best game played in 2005.}

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nf3 e6 5. Bb5 Nge7 6. O-O a6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bb3
h6 9. a4 Bg4 10. c3 Na5 11. Bc2 Nc4 12. b3 Nb6 13. a5 {closing the queenside} (
{also} 13. Nbd2 bxa4 14. b4 a5 15. Bxa4+ c6 16. Ba3) 13... Nd7 14. b4 Bh5 15.
h3 Bg6 16. Nbd2 Bxc2 17. Qxc2 Nf5 18. Nb3 Be7 19. Bd2 Nh4 $2 {encouraging
white to play his main attacking idea of f4-f5,black does have to counter this}
(19... Nf8 {leaves the Be7 to cover Nc5}) (19... g5 {slows down the attack if
white wants to play g3 f4 then f4-f5}) 20. Nxh4 Bxh4 21. f4 f5 {black can not
hold the f-file} (21... g6 22. g4) 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Rae1 ({also} 23. Qg6+ Ke7
24. Rae1 Nf8 25. Qg4) 23... Kf7 24. g4 g6 25. Rf3 Qg8 {losing a tempo} ({
black can try to regain f5} 25... h5 {[%csl Gf5]} 26. g5 (26. f5 exf5 (26...
gxf5 27. gxf5 e5 28. Rfe3 e4) 27. gxf5 g5) 26... Be7 (26... Bg7 27. Rxe6 Kxe6
28. Qxg6+) 27. Rfe3 Nf8 {is passive but holds key squares}) 26. g5 Bg7 27. f5
$3 gxf5 28. Rxf5+ exf5 (28... Nf6 29. gxf6 Bxf6+ {looks clever} 30. Kh1 exf5
31. Qxf5 Re8 32. Rg1 Qh7 33. Qxd5+ {the black king has no pawn cover}) 29.
Qxf5+ Nf6 30. g6+ {(keeps the black pieces hemmed in)} Kf8 31. Nc5 Rd8 32. Ne6+
Ke7 33. Ng5+ Kf8 34. Bf4 hxg5 35. Bxc7 Rh5 36. Bd6+ Rxd6 37. Qc8+ 1-0

[Event "Friendly"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2006.07.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Childs, Barry"]
[Black "Shirov, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "1368"]
[BlackElo "2709"]
[PlyCount "46"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. b4 e5 2. Bb2 Bxb4 3. Bxe5 Nf6 4. Nc3 O-O 5. Bxf6 Qxf6 6. Nd5 Qd6 7. Nxb4
Qxb4 8. Rb1 Qa5 9. Rb2 b6 10. e3 Na6 11. Ne2 Bb7 12. Nf4 Nc5 13. Bd3 Ne6 14.
Nxe6 dxe6 15. O-O Rad8 16. Qe2 Rd6 17. f4 c5 18. Qh5 g6 19. Qd1 c4 20. Be2 Rxd2
21. Qe1 c3 22. Rb3 Rxc2 23. a3 Qd5 0-1

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.11.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Rodrigo, Jan"]
[Black "Brown, Hugh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "104"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 d6 4. d5 Nce7 5. Nc3 Nf6 6. Bd3 Ng6 7. Bg5 Be7 8. h3
Nf4 9. Nh4 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. g3 Nxd3+ 12. Qxd3 Bxh4 13. gxh4 Qxh4 14. Qg3
Qxg3 15. fxg3 O-O 16. Nb5 Bd7 17. c4 a6 18. Nc3 f5 19. Rf1 fxe4 20. Rxf8+ Rxf8
21. h4 Bh3 22. O-O-O e3 23. Ne2 Bg4 24. Re1 Rf2 25. Ng1 e2 26. Kd2 Rf1 27. Nxe2
Bxe2 28. Rxe2 Rb1 29. Kc2 Rg1 30. Re3 Kf7 31. Rf3+ Kg6 32. b3 Rg2+ 33. Kb1 Re2
34. Rf8 Rg2 35. Rf3 e4 36. Re3 Kf5 37. a4 Rf2 38. Re1 Rf3 39. g4+ Kf4 40. Kc2
Rg3 41. Rf1+ Rf3 42. Rxf3+ Kxf3 43. Kd2 Kf2 44. g5 hxg5 45. hxg5 e3+ 46. Kd1
e2+ 47. Kd2 e1=Q+ 48. Kc2 Ke3 49. g6 Qd2+ 50. Kb1 Kd3 51. c5 Kc3 52. cxd6 Qb2#
0-1

[Event "Guernsey International Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2012.10.27"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Slade, Theo"]
[Black "Von Saldern, Rudiger"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E14"]
[WhiteElo "1716"]
[BlackElo "1999"]
[PlyCount "41"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

{This was a very tough tournament for me as I was the lowest rated player in
the section, but I was doing enough to keep my head above water. In this game,
however, that changed and I played one of my best ever games to reach 50% at
the eleventh hour, which was a fantastic result. During the game I played very
quickly, which may sound odd but when playing well you do not need too much
time to think.} 1. d4 {Back in 2012 I was predominantly a 1.d4 player.} d5 2.
Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 {This got a big boo from the crowd at the Gala Dinner, but back
then I was in love with the Colle-Zukertort System, so I did not see the
problem.} e6 4. Bd3 Be7 5. O-O O-O 6. b3 b6 7. Bb2 Nbd7 8. c4 {This has been
called a, "mature decision," but to be honest I think it is very natural. If
black dispenses with ...c5 then it makes sense to gain space in the centre.}
Bb7 9. Nc3 Rc8 10. Qe2 c5 11. cxd5 {This was not a very difficult decision as
if black recaptures with a piece then I may get a pawn roller in the centre
but if he plays} exd5 {then he will eventually end up with either hanging
pawns or an IQP, neither of which are particularly favourable.} 12. Rfd1 cxd4
13. Nxd4 g6 {This does not seem to be a very good move and indeed it seems to
be the cause of black's future downfall...} 14. Rac1 Ne4 15. Ncb5 {I really
want to annotate this move as a, "!!," but it is probably best to remain
humble for the time being...!} ({Nick Pert recommended} 15. Nxe4 dxe4 16. Bc4 {
, when black is in serious trouble. It may not look like it at first sight,
but this is already very good for white- maybe even winning. White is
threatening Ne6, he has pressure on the c and d files, all of his pieces are
working together in unison and the a1-h8 diagonal is very weak. I missed this
sequence of moves, but if I had have played it then this game would not have
been a brilliancy!}) 15... a6 16. Na7 {This is the plan, taking advantage of
the c6 hole, when there are some mating motifs on the long diagonal. I can
imagine some players thinking that I'm just a misguided youth relying too much
on calculation, but as the old Russian proverb goes, "chess is a concrete
game!" Take that, Gostelow!} Rxc1 17. Rxc1 Bc5 18. Ndc6 {It looks ridiculous
to leave the knight stranded on a7, but nevertheless let's see what happens...}
Qa8 (18... Qe8 {was the only move to stay in the game, but after} 19. b4 Bd6
20. Bxa6 {white will find himself a clear pawn up with a winning position.})
19. Rxc5 {The adrenaline coursing through my veins almost caused me to drop
the rook on the wrong square, but that would not have been fair- I deserved to
win this game!} Re8 ({Of course the rook is immune:} 19... bxc5 20. Ne7#) 20.
Rc1 Ndc5 21. b4 {White will emerge a piece up once the dust has settled and
even I could win that one. :)} 1-0

[Event "AW Busby Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2012.11.05"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Smith, Richard"]
[Black "Jenkins, David R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C37"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 g5 4. Bc4 g4 5. O-O gxf3 6. Qxf3 Qf6 7. e5 Qxe5 8.
Bxf7+ Kxf7 9. d4 Qf5 10. g4 Qf6 11. Bxf4 Bd6 12. Qd5+ Ke8 13. Bxd6 Qxf1+ 14.
Kxf1 cxd6 15. Nc3 Ne7 16. Qxd6 Rf8+ 17. Kg1 a5 18. Re1 Rf7 19. Nd5 Nbc6 20.
Nc7+ Kd8 21. Nxa8 Rg7 22. Qc7+ Ke8 23. Qxc8+ 1-0

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.01.18"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Watkins, Mark"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E62"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. g3 O-O 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O a6 8. d5
Na5 9. Nd2 Ng4 10. Qc2 c5 11. Rb1 Bd7 12. b3 b5 13. h3 Nf6 14. Bb2 Rb8 15. Nce4
Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bxb2 17. Rxb2 bxc4 18. bxc4 Rxb2 19. Qxb2 Nxc4 20. Qc3 Nb6 21.
Qd2 Kg7 22. Rb1 f6 23. Nc3 Qc7 24. Qd3 Ra8 25. Kh2 Na4 26. Nxa4 Bxa4 27. Qe4
Be8 28. h4 a5 29. Bh3 c4 30. Rc1 Bb5 31. a4 Ba6 32. h5 Rb8 33. Qe3 Rb3 $4 (
33... Rb4 $17) 34. h6+ $18 Kf8 $2 ({The position is already lost, so this move
should make no difference to the result.} 34... Kf7 {at least forces white to
find the correct plan as follows:} 35. Be6+ Ke8 36. Qxb3 cxb3 37. Rxc7 b2 38.
Ra7 Kd8 39. Rxa6 b1=Q 40. Rc6 Qb7 {(Black's king cannot move, his queen must
protect c8 at all times and king's side pawn moves are pointless. White's plan
is therefore to push his pawns forward on the king's side to create a winning
pawn ending.} 41. g4 Qb8 (41... g5 42. e3 Qb8 43. f4 Qb7 44. fxg5 fxg5 45. Kg3
Qb8 46. Kf3 Qb7 47. Rc1 $1 Qa8 48. Ke4 Qa6 49. Rc8+ Qxc8 50. Bxc8 Kxc8 51. Kf5
$18) (41... f5 42. gxf5 gxf5 43. Kg3 $18 Qb3+ 44. Kf4 Qb4+ 45. Kxf5 Qb1+ 46. e4
$18) 42. f4 Qb7 43. e3 (43. e4 Qb2+ 44. Kg3 Qb3+ 45. Kh4 g5+ 46. fxg5 fxg5+ 47.
Kxg5 Qe3+ $11) 43... Qb2+ 44. Kg3 Qb7 45. Kh4 Qb8 46. e4 Qb7 47. g5 fxg5+ (
47... Qb8 48. f5 fxg5+ 49. Kxg5 gxf5 50. Kxf5 Qb7 51. Rc8+ Qxc8 52. Bxc8 Kxc8
53. Ke6 Kd8 54. Kf7 $18) 48. Kxg5 Qb8 49. f5 gxf5 50. exf5 Qb7 51. Rc8+ Qxc8
52. Bxc8 Kxc8 53. f6 $18) 35. Qxb3 cxb3 36. Rxc7 b2 37. Ra7 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.04.06"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Black "Saqui, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. d4 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Nc6 7. Be3 e5 8. Bb5
Nd7 9. Ne2 Bg7 10. c3 O-O 11. O-O Kh8 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. d5 Ncb8 14. Bd3 a5 15.
g4 Na6 16. Kg2 Nac5 17. Ng3 Nxd3 18. Rxd3 b6 19. Rdd1 a4 20. Qe2 Qh4 21. Qd2
Qe7 22. f3 b5 23. b3 axb3 24. axb3 Ra3 25. Qb2 Raa8 26. Ra1 Rfb8 27. Ra3 Rxa3
28. Qxa3 Nb6 29. Ra1 Qd8 30. Qb4 Nc8 31. Ra5 Qd7 32. c4 c6 33. dxc6 Qxc6 34.
Rxb5 Ra8 35. Ra5 Bf6 36. Rxa8 Qxa8 37. Qa4 Qb7 38. Bh6 Qe7 39. Qa8 Qc7 40. Nf1
Bg7 41. Bd2 h6 42. Ne3 Kh7 43. Nd5 Qa7 44. Qxa7 Nxa7 45. b4 Kg8 46. b5 Kf8 47.
Bb4 Ke8 48. Bxd6 Kd7 49. Bc5 Nc8 50. Nb6+ Nxb6 51. Bxb6 Bf8 52. Be3 g5 53. Kf2
Bb4 54. c5 Kc7 55. Ke2 Ba5 56. Kd3 f6 57. Kc4 Kd7 58. Kd5 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.04.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Black "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A37"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. c4 c5 2. g3 Nc6 3. Bg2 g6 4. Nc3 Bg7 5. a3 a5 6. Nf3 e5 7. d3 Nge7 8. O-O
O-O 9. Ne1 d6 10. Nc2 Rb8 {(=)} 11. Rb1 Be6 12. Ne3 Qd7 13. Bd2 Bh3 14. Ned5
Bxg2 15. Kxg2 f5 16. b4 axb4 17. axb4 cxb4 18. Nxe7+ Nxe7 19. Rxb4 Kh8 20. Rb5
f4 21. f3 fxg3 22. hxg3 Nf5 23. Ne4 Bh6 24. Bxh6 Nxh6 25. Qd2 Nf7 26. Rh1 Qe6
27. Qb4 Rfd8 28. Rb6 Qe7 29. Rb1 Rd7 30. Qa3 Kg7 31. Qa7 Rbd8 32. Rxb7 h6 33.
R1b5 h5 34. Rxd7 Rxd7 35. Qe3 h4 36. gxh4 Qxh4 37. Rb1 Rd8 38. Rh1 Qe7 39. Nc3
Rh8 40. Nd5 Qd7 41. Rxh8 Kxh8 42. Qe4 Kg7 43. Qh4 Qe6 44. Qe7 Qxe7 45. Nxe7 Kf6
46. Nd5+ Ke6 47. Kg3 Nh6 48. Ne3 Kf6 49. Ng4+ Kg5 50. Nxh6 Kxh6 51. Kg4 Kg7 52.
Kg5 Kf7 53. e3 Kg7 54. d4 exd4 55. exd4 Kf7 56. c5 dxc5 57. dxc5 1-0

[Event "AW Busby Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.06.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Black "Watkins, Mark"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. e3 c6 6. cxd5 exd5 7. Bd3 Be7 8.
Qc2 Nh5 9. Bxe7 Qxe7 10. Nf3 Nf4 11. O-O-O Nxd3+ 12. Qxd3 Nf6 13. Ne5 Be6 14.
f3 O-O-O 15. Kb1 Nd7 16. Nxd7 Bxd7 17. Rc1 Kb8 18. Na4 Bc8 19. Rc3 g6 20. Ka1
f5 21. f4 Rhe8 22. Rhc1 Rd6 23. Qd2 Re6 24. Re1 b6 25. b3 Ba6 26. Nb2 g5 27.
fxg5 f4 28. Nd1 Qg7 29. Kb1 Qxg5 30. Kc1 Qg7 31. e4 Rxe4 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 33. Rxc6
Rxd4 34. Qe1 Re4 35. Qh4 Qa1+ 0-1

[Event "World U16 Olympiad"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.07.28"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Xue, Shixuan"]
[Black "Slade, Theo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C12"]
[Annotator "Slade, Theo"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 {I/^m quite comfortable in the
MacCutcheon Variation as I understand the structures that emerge from this
opening.} 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. Bxc3 {My opponent was using a lot of time on
these opening moves and her last proves that she is inexperienced in this line.
} (7. bxc3 {is the main move and} Ne4 8. Qg4 g6 9. Bd3 Nxd2 10. Kxd2 {is what
usually follows.}) 7... Ne4 8. Nf3 c5 9. Nd2 Nxc3 10. bxc3 Qa5 {My last
highlights the weakness on c3. Usually White has a well-placed King on d2 to
accommodate for that.} 11. Qf3 c4 {I spent about twenty minutes on this move
and I/^m not sure it is best.} 12. Qg3 ({I/^m sure my opponent also missed the
amazing tactical shot} 12. Bxc4 dxc4 13. Nxc4 Qc7 14. Nd6+ Kf8 15. O-O) 12...
O-O 13. Be2 Qa4 14. Bd1 {The awkwardness of this retreat shows the lack of
harmony among the White pieces.} Qa3 15. O-O Qb2 16. Rb1 Qxa2 {Even though I
have wasted numerous tempi on winning a pawn, White does not have sufficient
counterplay to claim equality.} 17. f4 Nc6 18. Qh3 Ne7 {Although this
manoeuvre wasn/^t completely necessary, it does add one more defender to the
Kingside which is useful in some lines.} 19. g4 a5 20. Rf3 a4 {My counterplay
doesn/^t seem like much but the coming shot finishes my opponent off.} 21. Qh5
(21. g5 {was a lot better, getting on with it straight away.} hxg5 22. Qh5 g4)
21... a3 22. g5 Qxb1 23. Nxb1 a2 24. Nd2 a1=Q 25. gxh6 {White/^s counterplay
looks to have made progress but in reality nothing has been achieved.} Qxd1+
26. Nf1 (26. Kg2 Qxd2+ {is obviously worse for White.}) 26... g6 27. h7+ Kg7
28. Qg4 Ra1 (28... Kxh7 29. Rh3+ Kg7 30. Qh4 Qh5 31. Qf6+ Kh7 32. Rxh5+ gxh5
33. Qxe7) 29. h4 Nf5 {This move underlines the weaknesses of the White
Kingside at the critical moment. Now White will fall victim to many tactics.}
30. Kh2 Qe2+ 31. Kh3 Rxf1 32. Rxf1 Qxf1+ ({I hasten to add that I did see} 
32... Qxg4+ 33. Kxg4 Ne3+ {but turned it down due to mating opportunities (and
for the sake of simplicity).}) 33. Kh2 Qf2+ 34. Kh3 Qxh4+ (34... Rh8 {with a
forced mate in 7, my silicon friend tells me!}) 35. Qxh4 Nxh4 36. Kxh4 Kxh7 37.
Kg5 Bd7 38. Kf6 Ra8 39. Kxf7 Ra2 40. Ke7 Bc8 41. Kd8 Rxc2 42. Kxc8 Rxc3 43. Kd7
Re3 44. Kxe6 c3 45. Kxd5 c2 46. e6 c1=Q 47. Kd6 Qc6+ 48. Ke7 Rxe6+ 49. Kf8 Qe8#
{As you can probably tell, I am very particular in the way I finish off games
and I always like to find the fastest mate or the most aesthetically pleasing.
I hope you enjoyed my game and my conversion of Queenside pressure.} 0-1

[Event "ECF Major Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.08.06"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Dignam, Matthew"]
[Black "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2110"]
[BlackElo "2145"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "86"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 (3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 (4. Nc3 e6)) 3... Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 (
4... Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Nh4 (6. b3) 6... Bg6 7. Nxg6 hxg6) 5. Be2 {[quiet move
but White was clear in the tournament]} e6 6. O-O Nbd7 7. Qb3 Rb8 {[usually
Qb3 - Qb6 or Qc7 is automatic, here White's queen ties down the black rook!]}
8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd2 a5 {[stops Bb4]} 10. Nc3 Bd6 11. e4 $5 {[if white allows
0-0 and Re8 black is better]} dxe4 12. Ng5 O-O $1 (12... Qe7 {asking for
trouble} 13. Rae1) 13. Bxg4 Nxg4 14. h3 e3 {[retreating the knight isn't just
a draw]} (14... Ngf6 15. Ngxe4 Nxe4 16. Nxe4 Bc7 17. d5 cxd5 18. Qxd5 $16) 15.
Nxf7 Rxf7 16. fxe3 Ngf6 17. Ne4 {[big surprise - Ng5 to follow]} ({expexcted
positional} 17. e4) 17... a4 ({or simpler} 17... Nxe4 18. Qxf7+ Kh8) 18. Qc4 (
18. Qe6 Qe7) 18... b5 19. Qxc6 Nxe4 ({better} 19... Rb6 20. Qc2) 20. Rxf7 Kxf7
21. Qd5+ {[white's played some very clever moves too!]} Kf8 22. Rf1+ Ndf6 (
22... Nef6 23. Qxd6+ Kg8 (23... Qe7 $4 24. Bb4)) ({also crazy} 22... Qf6 23.
Rxf6+ Ndxf6 24. Qc6) 23. Qxe4 Kg8 24. Qe6+ Kh8 {[black's weathered the storm
but running out of time]} 25. Qf5 (25. Rc1) 25... Qe7 26. Rc1 g6 27. Qf3 Ne4
28. Be1 Rf8 29. Qg4 Ng3 30. Bf2 h5 {ok} ({diabolical} 30... Nh1 31. Kxh1 Rxf2 {
won but Nh1[!] - empty square sacrifices very hard to see}) 31. Qd1 Ne4 32. Be1
Qg5 33. Qd3 (33. Qe2 Ng3) 33... Qf5 (33... Ng3 34. Bf2 Nf5 35. Qxb5) 34. Rc6
Kh7 (34... Rf6) 35. Rb6 Bg3 $4 {[black was just trying to hang on until move
40 then get 50 more minutes to win the position]} (35... b4 {stays in control})
36. Rxb5 Bf2+ $2 37. Kh2 Bxe1 {[not good but better than losing on time]} ({
still just ahead} 37... Qd7 38. Bxf2 Rxf2 39. Re5 {saw this but not the
computer continuation} Nd6 40. Rxh5+ Kg7 $17 41. Re5 Nf7 42. Rc5 Qd6+ 43. Kg1
Qg3) 38. Rxf5 gxf5 {[strange echo of the queen sacrifice in note to move 22]} (
38... Bg3+ 39. Kg1 gxf5) 39. g4 hxg4 40. hxg4 Nf2 {[time control]} 41. Qa3 {
[=] draw agreed - both players exhausted. Dignam stayed ahead and won the
event unbeaten on 8 1/2 out of 11, JM 3rd = on 7 1/2. Most tiring event for
many years,even so roll on Aberystwyth!} Nxg4+ 42. Kg2 Re8 43. Qxa4 Rxe3 {
would probably be drawn, game suggests more time means more interesting games..
} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Ron Bruce Premier (DCCA Congress)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.09.02"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Bartlett, Simon"]
[Black "Macreamoinn, Brian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B77"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. Bc4 Re8 10. Bb3 Na5 11. O-O-O Nxb3+ 12. axb3 Bd7 13. g4 b5 14. h4 b4 15.
Nb1 a5 16. h5 Qc7 17. hxg6 fxg6 18. Qg2 a4 19. bxa4 Rxa4 20. Nf5 Bxf5 21. gxf5
Ra1 22. fxg6 b3 23. gxh7+ Kf7 24. Rdg1 Ng4 25. fxg4 Bxb2+ 26. Kxb2 Ra2+ 27. Kc1
Rxc2+ 28. Kd1 Rxg2 29. Rxg2 Rh8 30. g5 Kg6 31. Rh6+ Kg7 32. g6 Qc4 33. Nd2 Qc2+
34. Ke2 b2 35. Rh1 b1=Q 36. Rxb1 Qa2 37. Bh6+ Kxh6 38. g7 1-0

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.09.09"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hooker, James"]
[Black "Wilman, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[PlyCount "65"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. e3 b6 3. Nf3 g6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O Bg7 6. Nbd2 O-O 7. e4 d6 8. e5
Ne8 9. e6 f6 10. Nh4 c5 11. Nxg6 hxg6 12. Bxg6 f5 13. Qh5 Nf6 14. Bf7+ Rxf7 15.
Qxf7+ Kh8 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Qg6 Na6 18. Qxf5 Nc7 19. Nf3 Bxf3 20. Qxf3 Rb8 21.
Rb1 Qe8 22. Re1 Rb6 23. Bd2 Qa4 24. b3 Qg4 25. Qxg4 Nxg4 26. Re4 Nf6 27. Rh4+
Kg8 28. Ba5 Rc6 29. Bxc7 Rxc7 30. c4 Rc8 31. f3 Rf8 32. b4 cxb4 33. Rxb4 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.09.27"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Crouse, Glen"]
[Black "Jenkins, David J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B34"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 g6 5. Nc3 Bg7 6. Be3 Nf6 7. f4 O-O 8.
Qf3 d6 9. h3 Bd7 10. O-O-O Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Bc6 12. g4 Qa5 13. g5 Nd7 14. Bxg7
Kxg7 15. h4 Rac8 16. Rh2 f5 17. Bd3 e5 (17... Nc5 $5) 18. h5 fxe4 19. Bxe4 Bxe4
20. Qxe4 Rxf4 21. Qh1 Nb6 $2 (21... gxh5 $5 22. Rxh5 Nf8 23. Qxb7+ Rc7 24. Qd5
$16) 22. hxg6 $18 Kxg6 23. Rh6+ Kxg5 24. Qh5# 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Hampshire"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.10.19"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Davis, Timothy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E12"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "53"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Nf3 b6 5. Bg5 Bb7 6. e3 O-O 7. Bd3 d6 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. Nd2 Bxc3 10. bxc3 c5 11. f4 ({white has played} 11. f3 h6 12. Bh4 Qc7)
11... Qc7 (11... e5 12. fxe5 dxe5 13. Ne4) ({also transposes to} 11... Re8 12.
e4 h6 13. Bh4 Qc7 14. Qe2 Nh7) 12. Rc1 {[this is really new though]} (12. Qe1)
12... Rfe8 {black does not fall into the trap of playing active ..e5} (12... e5
13. fxe5 dxe5 14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. Rxf6 gxf6 16. Qg4+ Kh8 17. Qf5) 13. Qe1 h6 (
13... e5 14. fxe5 dxe5 15. Qg3) 14. Bh4 (14. Qh4 hxg5 (14... Nh7 15. Bxh6 gxh6
16. Qxh6 Ndf8 17. d5) 15. fxg5) (14. Bxf6 Nxf6 15. e4 e5 16. fxe5 dxe5) 14...
Rac8 (14... e5 15. fxe5 dxe5 16. Qg3 {unpleasant pinning the pe4 and ph6}) 15.
e4 {[20 mins on this move because it changes the position from f-file attack
to space advantage]} e5 16. fxe5 dxe5 17. d5 Qd6 18. Rf3 Nh5 19. Nf1 {[key
idea to get N to f5]} Nf4 20. Bc2 Ba6 21. Ne3 g6 22. Rb1 (22. g3 Nh5 23. Qf1 (
23. Ba4)) 22... Rf8 23. Kh1 Kh7 24. Qd2 {[looking at h6]} g5 $2 (24... f6 {
Fritz}) 25. Bg3 {[white has control of f5 - plan Nf5,Bxf4 and Rh3 looks
serious]} Nf6 $2 26. Bxf4 exf4 $4 {[an unfortunate blunder - perhaps black had
got used to the Bc2 being a bad piece]} ({white was only really winning a pawn
but after} 26... gxf4 27. Rxf4 Ng8 {black will struggle to save the game} (
27... exf4 28. e5+ Kh8 29. exd6 fxe3 30. Qxe3)) 27. e5+ 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.10.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Black "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E71"]
[Annotator "Kneebone, Robin"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. h3 c5 6. d5 e6 7. Bg5 Qa5 8. Bd3 (8.
Qd2 exd5 9. exd5 O-O 10. Nf3 Re8+ 11. Be2 $11) 8... exd5 9. cxd5 a6 10. a4 (10.
Nf3 b5 11. O-O O-O (11... b4 12. Nb1 c4 13. Bxc4 Nxe4 14. Re1 f5 15. Nbd2 $18)
12. e5 dxe5 13. Nxe5 $14 {according to Fritz, but looked unclear to me}) 10...
Qb4 $6 11. Bd2 (11. Nf3 Qxb2 12. Rc1 $13) 11... Qb6 (11... c4 $1 12. Be2 Nbd7
13. Nf3 O-O 14. O-O Nc5 $14) 12. Nf3 Nbd7 13. O-O O-O 14. Rb1 {starting an
incorrect plan of queenside expansion} (14. a5 Qc7 15. Re1 Re8 16. Qc2 $16)
14... Qc7 15. Bf4 Re8 16. Nd2 Nh5 17. Be3 Ne5 (17... Bd4 18. Bxd4 cxd4 19. Ne2
Ne5 20. Rc1 Qe7 21. Nc4 $13 {black has compensation, according to Fritz}) 18.
Be2 Nf6 19. f4 (19. Qc2) 19... Ned7 20. Bf3 (20. Bf2 {is sensible; watching
for cheapos took B a lot of time}) 20... Rb8 (20... Nxe4 {this doesn't work,
but the looseness of the Be3 is a constant problem for several moves} 21. Ncxe4
f5 22. Nxd6 Rxe3 23. N2c4 {the Re3 has no squares!} Re7 (23... Nb6 24. Nxb6
Qxb6 25. Nc4 Qb3 26. Nxe3 Qxe3+) 24. Nxf5 gxf5 25. d6) 21. Qe2 b6 (21... b5 $5
22. axb5 axb5 23. Ra1 $1 $14 (23. Nxb5 {intended, but perhaps I'd have noticed
it's wrong.} Qb6 24. Na3 Ba6 25. Nac4 Qb4 {at the time I thought this was
unclear; in fact black is better})) 22. Rfc1 Bb7 23. Kh2 (23. Nc4 {not sure
why I did not play this. Perhaps I had not realised he could no longer play ...
b5. But Kh2 is equally good (Fritz)}) 23... Rbc8 24. g4 (24. Nc4) 24... Re7 25.
g5 (25. Nc4) 25... Ne8 {W starts to go wrong ...} 26. Bg4 (26. Nc4) (26. h4 h5
27. b3 Qd8 28. Ra1 Rb8 29. Ra2 Ra8 30. Kg3 Rb8 31. Nc4 $16) 26... h5 27. gxh6
$2 (27. Bf3 c4 28. f5 gxf5 29. exf5 Be5+ 30. Kh1 Bd4 31. Be4 {didn't see 31
Be4 or Nde4} (31. Nd1 b5 32. axb5 axb5 $13)) 27... Bxh6 $13 28. f5 Bg7 $6 (
28... Bxe3 29. Qxe3 $14) 29. fxg6 Be5+ 30. Kh1 fxg6 31. Be6+ Kh7 32. Qg4 {
missing a good finish} (32. Rg1 Ng7 {Rxe6 is necessary, but losing} (32... Nf8
33. Rxg6 $3 {mate in 6}) 33. Rxg6 $1 Kxg6 34. Qg4+ Kh7 35. Qh4+ Nh5 36. Qxh5+
Kg7 37. Qh6#) 32... Bf6 33. Nf3 Ng7 34. Ng5+ (34. Rg1) 34... Kh8 35. Rg1 {
playing the right moves, but in the wrong order, like the Morecambe and Wise
sketch.} (35. Qh4+ Nh5 36. Bf5 Ne5 37. Bxg6) 35... Ne5 36. Qh4+ Nh5 37. Bg4 (
37. Rbf1 $18) 37... Rh7 $13 (37... Nxg4 38. hxg4 $2 Rh7 $17) 38. Rbf1 Qe7 39.
Bxc8 Bxc8 40. Kh2 (40. Qf2) 40... Nc4 (40... Nd3) 41. Bc1 (41. Qf2 Nxe3 42.
Qxe3 Bd4 43. Qd2 Bxg1+ 44. Kxg1 {edge for white, according to Fritz, but I
can't see why.}) 41... Ne5 (41... Be5+ 42. Kg2 Nf4+ 43. Rxf4 Rxh4 44. Rxh4+ Kg8
45. Rf1 $13) 42. Qf2 Nd3 43. Qd2 (43. Qf3) 43... Qe5+ (43... Be5+) 44. Kh1 Ng3+
$4 (44... Bxg5 45. Qxg5 Qxg5 46. Bxg5 Bxh3 47. Rf3 Bg4 48. Rxg4 Ne5 49. Rf8+
Kg7 50. Rb8 Nxg4 51. Kg2 $18) 45. Rxg3 Qxg3 46. Rxf6 Rxh3+ 47. Nxh3 Qxh3+ 48.
Qh2 Qxh2+ 49. Kxh2 $138 {unsure of the next moves} 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Date "2013.10.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Ian George"]
[Black "Simon Bartlett"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B31"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "127"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 g6 4. c3 Bg7 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 a6 ({Or} 6... Qb6 7.
Nc3 Nxd4 8. Nd5 Nxf3+ (8... Qc5 9. Nxd4 Bxd4 10. Be3 Bxe3 11. fxe3 Kf8 (11...
Qd6 12. O-O {White's superior development give him the advantage.}) (11... Kd8
12. Qd4 Qxd4 13. exd4 $13) 12. Qd4 Qxd4 13. exd4 $13) 9. Qxf3 Qd6 (9... Qd8 10.
Bf4 Kf8 11. Bc7 Qe8 12. Ba5 $16) 10. Bf4 Be5 (10... e5 11. Bd2 $18) (10... Qc5
11. Rc1 $18) 11. Rc1 (11. Bxe5 Qxe5 {and white does not have enough
compensaton for his pawn.}) 11... Bxf4 12. Qxf4 Qxf4 13. Nxf4 $13) 7. Bxc6 dxc6
8. h3 ({8.Be3 or 8.Qa4 are playable but not} 8. O-O $6 Bg4 $15 {. The move
played is aimed at preventing the easy development of black's QB.}) 8... Nf6 9.
Nc3 O-O 10. O-O Be6 11. Be3 a5 ({The purpose of this move is unclear.} 11...
Ne8 {is better.}) 12. a4 (12. Qc2 $5) 12... Bc4 13. Re1 Ba6 14. Qd2 b5 $2 (
14... Qb6 15. e5 Nd5 16. Nxd5 cxd5 17. Bh6 Rac8 18. Bxg7 Kxg7 19. Rac1 $14) 15.
axb5 (15. Bh6 b4 16. Bxg7 Kxg7 (16... bxc3 $4 17. Qh6 $1 $18) 17. Nd1 $16)
15... cxb5 (15... Bxb5 $2 16. Ra3 $16 (16. Nxb5 cxb5 17. e5 Nd5 $11)) 16. e5 $6
(16. Bh6 $142 $16 Bb7 (16... b4 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 (17... bxc3 $4 18. Qh6 $1 $18)
18. Na4 $14) 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qf4 $14) 16... b4 (16... Ne8 $14) 17. exf6 bxc3
18. Qxc3 Bxf6 19. Qxa5 $16 Bb7 (19... Qxa5 20. Rxa5 Bb7 21. Rxa8 Rxa8 22. Ne5 (
22. Bg5 Bxf3 23. Bxf6 exf6 24. gxf3 $16) 22... Ra2 (22... Bxe5 23. dxe5 $18 {
Despite the opposite-colour bishops the pair of rooks gives white good
prospects of extracting full value from his extra pawn.}) 23. Nd3 $16) 20. Qxd8
$1 Raxd8 $2 (20... Rfxd8 $142 21. Ne5 $16) 21. Ne5 Bxe5 $2 (21... Rd5 $142 22.
Ra7 Bxe5 (22... Bc8 23. Rc1 {intending 24.Rcc7}) 23. dxe5 Rb5 24. Bd4 $16) 22.
dxe5 $18 {The opposite coloured bishops assist white's plan of imprisoning the
black king with Bh6 (and e6 in response to ...f6) Taking advantage of the
black rook's inability to leave the back rank, he will bring up his king to
support the advance of the b-pawn. In executing this plan he must be careful
not to lose the e-pawn and he must remember that, if the bishop is on the
a8-h1 diagonal, Ra8 is not mate.} Ra8 (22... Rd5 23. Bh6 Rc8 24. Ra7 Rb5 25.
Re2 $18) 23. Bh6 Rxa1 24. Rxa1 Ra8 25. Rc1 Rc8 26. Rd1 Bc6 27. h4 f6 28. e6 Bb5
29. b3 {To prevent 29...Bc4} Re8 30. Rd4 Ba6 31. Rb4 Bd3 32. f4 {This does not
put the win at risk and is not an error. However, although it shouldn't have
made a difference, in some of the later play I wished I'd played 32.f3} Bf5 33.
Rb6 Be4 34. Kf2 f5 35. g3 Rd8 36. b4 Rd2+ 37. Ke1 Rd8 38. Ke2 Rc8 39. b5 Rd8
40. Ke1 Rc8 41. Ra6 Rc1+ (41... Bd5 42. Bg5 Rc7 43. b6 Rb7 44. Bh6 Rb8 45. Ra5
Bc6 (45... Bxe6 46. b7 $16) 46. Ra7 Rxb6 47. Rc7 Be8 48. Rxe7 Ba4 49. Kd2 $18)
42. Kd2 Rc2+ 43. Kd1 ({Afterwards Robin Kneebone and Colin Sellwood pointed
out the line} 43. Ke3 Rb2 44. Ra7 Rxb5 45. Rxe7 {This is not objectively
better as the move played wins. It is superior from a practical point of view,
though, because it reduces the scope for errors that throw away the win, a
very important consideration at our level! It is also an example of converting
one type of advantage into a clearer, the type of practical play that Fischer
was noted for.}) 43... Rc8 44. Ra7 Re8 45. Kd2 $2 ({This throws away the win.
Black's threat is to attack the e-pawn with ...Bd5, so white needs to play} 45.
Rd7 Bb1 {"threatening" 46...Ba2, renewing the attack on the e-pawn.} 46. b6 Ba2
47. b7 Rb8 (47... Bxe6 48. Rxe7 $1 $18) 48. Rxe7 Bd5 49. Rg7+ Kh8 50. e7 Re8 (
50... Ba2 51. e8=Q+ Rxe8 52. Rc7 Be6 53. Rc6 Bd7 54. Ra6 Kg8 55. Ra8 $18) (
50... Bxb7 51. e8=Q+ Rxe8 52. Rxb7 $18) 51. Kc2 Be6 (51... Bxb7 52. Rf7 $18)
52. Kc3 $18 {White's king is now free to support the b-pawn.}) 45... Bd5 46.
Kc3 (46. Ra6 Rb8) 46... Bxe6 47. Kb4 Kf7 48. b6 ({Or} 48. Bg5 $1 Bd5 49. Kc5
Be4 50. Rc7 Ke6 51. b6 $18) 48... Bd5 49. Kc5 Be4 50. b7 ({Robin Kneebone
correctly points out that} 50. Bg5 h6 (50... Rc8+ 51. Kb4 Re8 52. Rc7 Ke6 53.
Kc5 $18) 51. Bxh6 Rc8+ 52. Rc7 Rxc7+ 53. bxc7 Bb7 54. Kb6 Bc8 55. Ka7 Ke6 56.
Kb8 Kd7 57. Bg5 e6 $11 {is also a draw.}) 50... Ke6 $2 (50... Rd8 $142 51. Kb6
(51. Bg5 Rd5+ 52. Kb6 Rd6+ $11) 51... Rd6+ 52. Kc7 (52. Ka5 Rd5+ $11) 52...
Rc6+ $11) 51. Kb6 $18 Rd8 52. Bg7 (52. Kc7 $2 Rd7+ 53. Kc8 Bxb7+ 54. Rxb7 Rxb7
55. Kxb7 {takes a shorter route to the final position in the game.}) 52... Rd6+
53. Kb5 Rd5+ 54. Kb4 (54. Kb6 Rd6+ 55. Kc5 Rd8 (55... Rc6+ 56. Kd4 Rb6 57. Ra6
$18) 56. Be5 $18 {is more straightforward.}) 54... Rd1 55. Ka5 $4 (55. Bb2 $1
Rd8 (55... Rb1 56. Ka3) 56. Kb5 Rb8 57. Kb6 Rd8 58. Be5 $18) 55... Ra1+ $4 (
55... Rb1 $1 56. Ra6+ (56. Ka6 Bd3+ 57. Ka5 Be4 $11 {repeats moves.}) 56... Kf7
57. Rb6 Rxb6 58. Kxb6 Bxb7 $11) 56. Kb6 $4 {This would have three ?s if
ChessBase allowed it. As Botvinnik wrote in the notes to one of his World
Championship games against Smyslov, "Truly the two players were worthy of each
other on this occasion". I can't see anything wrong with 56 Bxa1. I had a few
minutes left and Simon's flag was horizontal, so I can't even plead time
trouble in migation, not that there would have been any valid excuse for
missing this.} Rxa7 (56... Rb1+ $11) 57. Kxa7 Bxb7 58. Kxb7 {WHITE WON ON TIME.
I believe Simon was very unlucky here. By the time we got to move 61 in the
following analysis of the final position, I would have been down to less than
two minutes. I can't be confident that I wouldn't have played 61.Ke7 rather
than the correct 61.Bh6. 61.Ke7 was the move I suggested afterwards.} Kd5 {
Forced.} (58... Kd7 59. Be5 $18) (58... Kd6 59. Kc8 Ke6 (59... Kd5 60. Kd7 {
transposes to the main line a tempo ahead.} Ke4 61. Kxe7 Kf3 62. Bh6 Kxg3 63.
Bg5 $18 h6) 60. Kc7 Kf7 (60... Kd5 61. Kd7 $18 {as above, transposes to the
main line a tempo ahead..}) 61. Be5 $18) (58... Kf7 59. Be5 $18) (58... h5 59.
Kc6 $18) 59. Kc7 Ke4 60. Kd7 Kf3 61. Bh6 (61. Kxe7 $2 Kxg3 62. Bh6 Kxh4 63. Kf6
Kg4 64. Kg7 g5 $1 65. fxg5 (65. Bxg5 h5 66. Kf6 h4 67. Bxh4 Kxf4 $11) 65... f4
66. Kxh7 f3 67. g6 f2 68. g7 f1=Q 69. g8=Q+ $11 {In the absence of special
features, of which there are none here, this pawnless ending of Q+B v Q is a
draw.}) 61... Kxg3 62. Bg5 h6 (62... e5 63. fxe5 f4 64. Bxf4+ $18) 63. Bxh6 ({
The apparent brilliancy} 63. Kxe7 $4 hxg5 64. h5 $3 {is an imaginative way of
throwing away the win. After 64...} gxh5 (64... gxf4 65. hxg6 f3 66. g7 f2 67.
g8=Q+ Kh2 $11) 65. fxg5 h4 66. g6 h3 67. g7 h2 68. g8=Q+ Kf2 69. Qh7 Kg2 70.
Qg6+ Kf2 71. Qh5 (71. Qh6 Kg2 72. Qg5+ Kf2 73. Qh4+ Kg2 $11) 71... Kg2 {
incredibly the position is drawn. White's winning plan consists of approaching
the black king with checks along the g-file. The king cannot go to h1 because,
with the f-pawn still on the board, Qg3 is not stalemate and therefore black
is mated with Qf2 and Qf1. After a check on g3, black must either play ...Kh1,
losing as discussed above, or ...Kf1, losing the h-pawn. However, in order to
reach g3, white must be able to check on g4. This is prevented by the pawn on
f5. White cannot capture this pawn because this would produce the drawn ending
of Q v RP on the 7th rank. White can therefore make no further progress.})
63... Kxh4 (63... e5 64. fxe5 Kxh4 (64... f4 65. Bxf4+ $18) 65. e6 g5 66. Bxg5+
Kxg5 67. e7 f4 68. e8=Q f3 69. Qe1 $18 {Black is one move short of the draw.})
64. Kxe7 $18 1-0

[Event "Torbay Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.11.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Batson, Adam"]
[Black "Bartlett, Simon"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D93"]
[PlyCount "66"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 5. Bf4 O-O 6. e3 c6 7. h3 Nbd7 8. Rc1
Nb6 9. c5 Nbd7 10. b4 a6 11. Qa4 Nh5 12. Bh2 e5 13. dxe5 Re8 14. g4 Nxe5 15.
Nxe5 Bxe5 16. Bxe5 Rxe5 17. gxh5 d4 18. Nd1 d3 19. Kd2 Bf5 20. Qb3 Qh4 21. hxg6
hxg6 22. Qc4 Re4 23. Qc3 Rxb4 24. f4 Rxf4 25. Bxd3 Rf2+ 26. Nxf2 Qxf2+ 27. Be2
Rd8+ 28. Qd4 Rxd4+ 29. exd4 Qxd4+ 30. Ke1 Qe5 31. Rd1 Kg7 32. Rf1 Qxc5 33. Rf3
b5 0-1

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.11.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Webb, Edward"]
[Black "Nancarrow, Richard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D10"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 h6 4. g3 Nf6 5. Bg2 Bf5 6. Qb3 Qb6 7. Qxb6 axb6 8.
cxd5 cxd5 9. Nxd5 Nxd5 10. Bxd5 Nc6 11. e4 Nxd4 12. exf5 Nc2+ 13. Ke2 Nxa1 14.
Bd2 Nc2 15. Nf3 Rd8 16. Bxb7 Nd4+ 17. Nxd4 Rxd4 18. Bc3 Rc4 19. Ba6 Rc5 20. Bd4
Rxf5 21. Bxb6 e6 {(=)} 22. Rc1 Ke7 23. Rc8 Kd6 24. b4 Kd7 25. a4 Re5+ 26. Kf3
g5 27. Rd8+ Kc6 28. Bd4 Rf5+ 29. Ke4 Rg8 30. b5+ Kc7 31. Rc8+ Kd7 32. b6 Ra5
33. b7 Rxa6 34. b8=Q Bd6 35. Qb7+ 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.11.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hassall, Mark"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C95"]
[Annotator "Kneebone, Robin"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. Re1 b5 7. Bb3 d6 8. c3
O-O 9. h3 Nb8 10. d4 Nbd7 11. Nbd2 Bb7 12. Bc2 Re8 13. Nf1 Bf8 14. Ng3 g6 15.
a4 Bg7 (15... c5) 16. Qd3 (16. Bd3 {has been played in hundreds of games.
White's Q is a bit exposed on d3}) 16... c6 17. b3 $6 {wrong plan. 17 Bg5} Qc7
18. Bb2 d5 19. dxe5 (19. Nxe5 dxe4 20. Nxe4 Nxe5 21. dxe5 Nxe4 22. Rxe4 Bxe5
$15) 19... Nxe4 20. Nxe4 dxe4 21. Qxe4 c5 (21... Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Bxe5 23. Qh4
Rad8 24. Rad1 Rxd1 25. Rxd1 c5 $17) 22. Qg4 Nxe5 23. Nxe5 Bxe5 24. Kf1 $2 Bg7
$6 $17 (24... h5 $19 25. Qg5 b4 26. Bxg6 fxg6 27. Qxg6+ Qg7 28. Qxg7+ Bxg7) (
24... b4 $19) 25. Qg3 $2 Qxg3 26. fxg3 b4 $19 {at last} 27. Bd3 bxc3 28. Ba3
Bd4 29. a5 Bc6 (29... Rad8 30. Rad1 Kg7 31. Bc2 Bc6 32. Bd3 Re6 33. Rxe6 fxe6
34. Bc4 e5) 30. Rxe8+ Bxe8 (30... Rxe8 31. Bxa6 Ra8 32. Bd3 Rxa5 33. Ra2 Rxa3 {
I missed this.} 34. Rxa3 Bb5 35. Bxb5 c2) 31. Rd1 Bb5 32. Bxb5 axb5 33. b4 Be5
$2 ({I had intended 33 ... cxb4 then got scared of ghosts.} 33... cxb4 34. Bxb4
c2 35. Rc1 Rc8 36. a6 Be3 37. Ba3 Bxc1 38. Bxc1 Ra8) 34. Rd5 $2 (34. Rc1 c4 35.
Kf2 Bd4+ 36. Kf1) 34... Bxg3 (34... Re8) 35. Rd3 cxb4 $2 (35... Be5) 36. Bxb4
Be5 37. Rd5 $2 (37. Bxc3 Bxc3 38. Rxc3 Rxa5 $19 {winning but white could
struggle on.}) 37... Bc7 $2 (37... c2 38. Rc5 (38. Bd2 Bc3 39. Ke2 b4 40. Bc1
b3 41. Kd3 Bxa5) 38... Bd6) 38. Rxb5 $2 (38. Bxc3 Bxa5 39. Bf6 Rb8 40. Ke2 Bb4
{I think this is winning; Fritz gives -1.2}) 38... c2 39. Rc5 Bd6 40. Rxc2 Bxb4
41. Rb2 Bxa5 0-1

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.11.29"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C69"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. O-O f6 6. d3 Ne7 7. d4 exd4 8.
Nxd4 c5 9. Nb3 Qxd1 10. Rxd1 Ng6 11. Be3 b6 12. Nc3 Bd6 13. Nd5 O-O 14. Nxb6
Bxh2+ 15. Kxh2 cxb6 16. f3 Ne5 17. Nd2 Be6 18. b3 Rfd8 19. Nf1 Kf7 {(=)} 20.
Ng3 g6 21. Ne2 Rd7 22. Rxd7+ Bxd7 23. Nc3 Bc6 24. Rd1 Ra7 25. Kg1 Rd7 26. Rxd7+
Nxd7 27. Kf2 Ke6 28. f4 f5 29. e5 g5 30. g3 g4 31. Ke2 Nf8 32. Kd3 Ng6 33. Kc4
Ne7 34. Bf2 Nd5 35. a4 Nxc3 36. Kxc3 Kd5 37. Kd3 b5 38. c4+ bxc4+ 39. bxc4+ Ke6
40. Bxc5 Bxa4 41. Bf2 Kd7 42. Kd4 Kc6 43. Be1 Bb3 44. Bb4 Ba2 45. e6 a5 46. Be7
a4 47. Ke5 Bxc4 48. Kxf5 Kc7 {The losing move. Correct is} (48... Kd5 {Denies
c5 to the bishop and, most importantly, e5 to the king, attacks the e-pawn so
that the white king can't take the g-pawn immediately and clears the a4-e8
diagonal for the bishop} 49. Kf6 (49. Kxg4 Kxe6) (49. Ba3 Bd3+ 50. Kf6 h5 {
transposes to the main variation}) 49... h5 {threatens 50...h4} 50. Kf7 (50.
Kg5 Kxe6 51. Kxh5 Kf5) 50... a3 51. Bxa3 h4 52. gxh4 (52. e7 Bb5 53. gxh4 (53.
f5 hxg3 54. f6 g2 55. Kg8 g1=Q 56. f7 Qe3 57. f8=Q Qg5+ $11) 53... g3 54. Bc1
Ke4 55. Ba3 Kd5 $11 {repeats moves}) 52... g3 53. Bc1 Ke4 54. Ba3 {repeats
moves} Kd5 $11) 49. Ke5 a3 50. Bxa3 Kd8 51. f5 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.11.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Black "Purry, Chris"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D34"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 c5 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Nf3 Be6 {A Chess opening principle
is to favour developing short range knights before long range bishops –
other things being equal – to preserve flexibility. Here the pawn on d5
doesn't need defending and it's too early to commit the light-squared bishop
to e6.} 6. g3 Nc6 7. Bg2 Be7 8. O-O Nf6 9. Be3 (9. Bg5 {would likely transpose
into main line theory. On e3 the bishop creates tension before black has
castled.}) 9... O-O 10. dxc5 Qa5 11. a3 Ng4 {Since the pawn is poisoned black
goes for complications.} 12. Bd4 (12. b4 Nxe3 13. Qd3 Qd8 14. fxe3 {gives
white an extra pawn and a better position – the doubled pawn can be readily
traded at an opportune moment and white's pieces are well placed. Any attempt
to open the Queenside by either a5 or b6 can be repelled by b5.}) 12... Nxd4
13. Nxd4 Qxc5 14. Rc1 (14. e3 {would consolidate a small but thematic
advantage, aiming for long term pressure against the isolated QP. Here the
retreat Nf6 plays into that plan, whereas Ne5 attempts to complicate.}) 14...
Bg5 15. Nxd5 {Taking back the initiative and leaving residual pressure against
the black queenside at the cost of the exchange.} (15. e3 {fails to} Nxe3 16.
fxe3 Bxe3+ 17. Kh1 Qxd4) (15. Nxe6 fxe6 {doesn't help} 16. e3 Nxe3 17. fxe3
Qxe3+ 18. Kh1 Rxf1+ 19. Qxf1 Qxc1) (15. f4 {is no better} Bf6 16. Ncb5 Qb6) (
15. Ra1 {has no immediate response} Ne3 (15... Rae8 {is one way for black to
apply unpleasant pressure.}) 16. Nxe6) ({What's wrong with} 15. Rc2 {keeping
the rook on the c-file? I remember rejecting it during the game, but have
forgotten my reasoning. Initially during my post-game analysis I concluded it
failed to a knight fork from e3, e.g.} Be3 (15... Nxf2 {is an alternative way
for black to try and exploit the dark square weaknesses, but after} 16. Rxf2
Be3 17. Nxd5 Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 {white is fine}) 16. fxe3 (16. Nxd5 Qxd4 17. Nxe3)
16... Nxe3 17. Nxd5 (17. Qd3 Nxc2) 17... Nxc2 {winning for black.  Thus,
subject to computer analysis showing better lines, 15. Rc2 was the best
alternative. What this emphasises though is that in (human) practice we are
continually relying on imperfect analysis and, under time pressure, our games
are typically littered with inaccuracies.}) 15... Bxc1 16. Nb3 Qb5 17. Nxc1
Qxb2 18. Qa4 Bxd5 {After this sequence we are left with an extraordinary
position, where I count no fewer than 10 candidate moves for black:} (18... a6)
(18... a5) (18... f5) (18... h5) (18... Kh8) (18... Nf6) (18... Nxf2) (18...
Qe5) (18... b5 {Playing for a middlegame showdown} 19. Qa6 Rad8 20. Nf4 Bc4 {
White is invited to nab the Pa7 but will struggle to survive in the centre.}) {
Given that both players have used considerable time getting to this point,
simplification is a practical choice for black.} 19. Bxd5 Nf6 20. Bf3 a6 {
Since the Queen is about to be evicted from b2 anyway, bringing forward Qb6 is
sensible here.} 21. Nd3 Qb6 22. Qc2 Rac8 23. Qa2 Rc7 24. a4 Qd6 25. a5 {
White can claim a small victory here, maintaining pressure on the queenside
pawns and thereby making black's task a little harder.} Rd8 26. Rd1 Qe7 {
A little 'shadow boxing' of no great consequence.} 27. Rb1 Ne4 $6 {Black
initiates a series of Knight moves here, in line with his quest for a
simplified endgame. The question mark is not so much for this move, rather the
whole sequence, omitting a prophylactic kingside pawn move to rid black of any
back rank mate threats.} 28. Rb6 Nc3 29. Qd2 Na4 (29... Nb5 {was the move I
feared during the game.}) 30. Rb1 Nc5 31. Qb4 Nxd3 32. Qxe7 Rxe7 33. exd3 Rxd3
$2 {The game continuation reveals this pawn to be poisoned. Instead} (33...
Rdd7 {temporarily holds on to the Queenside pawns, e.g.} 34. Kg2 g6 35. Rb6
Rxd3 36. Bxb7 Ra3 37. Bxa6 Rxa5) 34. Bxb7 Red7 {The a6 pawn can't be defended
because of the back rank mate threat.} 35. Bxa6 Rd1+ 36. Rxd1 Rxd1+ 37. Bf1 {
hat's the point – the bishop retreat simulanesouly blocks the check and
frees the a6 square as a safe haven for the pawn.} Kf8 38. a6 {Although black
could carry on risk free for a while if he chose to, the position with the
extra pawn is an easy draw. Without that pawn (to address the question posed
above) it should be winning. In his book 'Endgame Preparation' John Speelman
shows that with pawns on f2-g3-h4 against pawns on f7-g6-h5 black, with the
Rook, has an easy win if white's bishop is of the same colour as his pawns.
With the opposite coloured bishop, as here, he reckons after several pages of
analysis that black is probably winning with best play, but not conclusively
so!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2013.11.30"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Slade, Theo"]
[Black "Painter-Kooiman, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[PlyCount "109"]
[EventDate "2013.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Bxf6 exf6 4. e3 Bf5 5. g3 Nc6 6. a3 Qd7 7. Bg2 Bd6 8.
Nc3 Ne7 9. Bxd5 Nxd5 10. Nxd5 Be4 11. Nxf6+ gxf6 12. f3 Bc6 13. Kf2 Rg8 14. Qd3
f5 15. c4 b6 16. Ne2 Bb7 17. Nc3 h5 18. e4 f4 19. e5 Bc5 20. Ne2 O-O-O 21. Rad1
Qc6 22. Qf5+ Kb8 23. Qxf4 Be7 24. d5 Qc5+ 25. Qd4 Ba6 26. Rc1 Qxd4+ 27. Nxd4
Bc5 28. Rhd1 Rde8 29. f4 f6 30. e6 Bb7 31. b4 Bxd4+ 32. Rxd4 Re7 33. c5 Rd8 34.
Rcd1 c6 35. dxc6 Rxd4 36. Rxd4 Bxc6 37. f5 bxc5 38. bxc5 Kc7 39. Rh4 a5 40.
Rxh5 Be4 41. Ke3 Bc2 42. g4 Kc6 43. Rh6 Kxc5 44. Rxf6 Rb7 45. Rf7 Rb3+ 46. Kd2
Be4 47. e7 Bc6 48. Rf8 Rxa3 49. Rc8 Kd6 50. Rxc6+ Kxe7 51. g5 Ra2+ 52. Rc2 Ra4
53. Rc7+ Kd6 54. g6 Rg4 55. Ra7 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.08"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Watkins, Mark"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E15"]
[Annotator "Kneebone, Robin"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Nc3 c6 ({
7Nc3 is an aggressive option and already took me out my book knowledge, 7Bg2
is more common. I wrongly avoided 7 ...O-O} 7... O-O 8. e4 d5 9. cxd5 Bxf1 10.
Kxf1 exd5 11. e5 Ne4 12. Kg2 {and black scores quite well}) 8. Bg2 d5 9. cxd5
cxd5 10. b4 O-O (10... Nbd7 11. b5 Bb7 12. O-O O-O 13. Qb3 Ne4 {was
Pelletier-Sasikiran 2010}) 11. b5 Bb7 12. Ne5 {this doesn't work, and loses
tempi allowing black equality. 12 O-O is better.} Nbd7 {after 10 minutes'
thought, so I "had" to play it. I realised ... a6 might be simpler but if time
has been invested then sometimes one has to take a risk.} (12... a6 13. a4 Ne4)
13. Nxd7 (13. Nc6 Bxc6 14. bxc6 Nb8 15. Qa4 Qd6 16. Nb5 Qxc6 17. Rc1 Qd7 18.
Rc7 Qe8 $1 $15) 13... Qxd7 14. O-O Ne4 15. Rb1 Nd6 16. Bf4 Rfc8 17. Qd3 Rc4 18.
Rfc1 Rac8 {black was hoping that white would play, or be forced to play, e2-e3
trapping his own bishop. ...Nf5 may be a threat.} 19. Bxd6 Bxd6 20. e3 Bb4 $6 (
20... Ba3 {is even stronger, clearly winning, according to Fritz11}) 21. Ne2
Qxb5 22. Qb3 Qa5 (22... Rxc1+ $1 23. Nxc1 Qa5) 23. Rxc4 Rxc4 24. Nf4 Bf8 (24...
Bd6) 25. Bf1 Rc8 26. Nd3 Ba6 27. Ne5 Bxf1 28. Kxf1 Bd6 (28... f6) 29. Kg2 Bxe5
30. dxe5 h6 31. Rd1 Qc3 32. Qxc3 Rxc3 {To my surprise the silicon beast tells
me that this is not quite winning for black, so my previous few moves have
been too cautious. But the beast may be wrong.} 33. Rd2 Kf8 34. Kf1 Ke7 35. Ke2
Kd7 36. Rb2 Kc6 37. Kd2 Rc4 38. Kd3 b5 39. f4 a5 40. Rf2 b4 41. f5 Rc3+ 42. Kd4
Rc4+ 43. Kd3 Re4 $2 (43... exf5 {which I scarcely considered, is winning easily
} 44. Rxf5 Rc3+ 45. Kd2 Ra3 46. Rxf7 Rxa2+ 47. Kc1 Rxh2 48. Rxg7 a4 49. Kb1 a3)
44. fxe6 fxe6 45. Rf7 Rxe5 (45... g5) 46. Rxg7 Rf5 47. Re7 e5 48. Re6+ Kc5 49.
Rxh6 $2 {falling in with my not-so-cunning plan} (49. Ke2 h5 {is not clearly
won}) 49... Rf2 50. e4 $8 Rxa2 51. exd5 Kxd5 52. h4 e4+ 53. Ke3 Ra3+ 54. Kf4 b3
55. Rb6 a4 {The remaining moves were not recorded} 0-1

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.08"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Healey, Grant"]
[Black "Saqui, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[PlyCount "131"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 Nd7 3. e3 Ngf6 4. Bd3 c5 5. c3 Qb6 6. Qc2 e5 7. dxe5 Nxe5 8.
Be2 Ne4 9. Bf4 Ng6 10. Bg3 Bf5 11. Qa4+ Bd7 12. Qc2 Be7 13. Nd2 f5 14. Nxe4
fxe4 15. Rd1 Bc6 16. Bh5 O-O-O 17. Ne2 Bd6 18. Bxg6 hxg6 19. Nf4 Bxf4 20. Bxf4
Bb5 21. b3 Bd3 22. Rxd3 exd3 23. Qxd3 Qa6 24. Qxa6 bxa6 25. Ke2 Rhe8 26. Rc1
Kb7 27. f3 Kc6 28. c4 d4 29. e4 a5 30. Kd3 Rd7 31. Bd2 Kb6 32. Rb1 Ka6 33. g3
Rb8 34. a3 Rdb7 35. Kc2 Kb6 36. h4 Kc6 37. f4 Kb6 38. e5 a4 39. b4 Kc6 40. Kd3
Kd7 41. Ke4 Ke6 42. g4 Rf8 43. b5 a6 44. b6 Rfb8 45. Ba5 Rh8 46. f5+ gxf5+ 47.
gxf5+ Kf7 48. Kd5 Rc8 49. Rg1 Rd7+ 50. Ke4 Rb7 51. e6+ Kf8 52. h5 Rc6 53. Rb1
Ke7 54. Kd5 Rc8 55. Ke5 Rc6 56. Rg1 Kf8 57. Kd5 Rc8 58. h6 Rd8+ 59. Kxc5 d3 60.
hxg7+ Rxg7 61. Rxg7 Kxg7 62. Bd2 Kf6 63. b7 Kxf5 64. e7 Re8 65. Kd6 Kf6 66. c5
{Black lost on time} 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Black "Shaw, Meyrick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B04"]
[PlyCount "85"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. c4 Nb6 6. Bf4 Bg7 7. exd6 cxd6 8. Nc3
Bg4 9. Be2 Nc6 10. Be3 O-O 11. b3 h6 12. Qd2 Kh7 13. h3 Bf5 14. d5 Nb4 15. Rc1
Na6 16. Nd4 e5 17. Nxf5 gxf5 18. Bd3 e4 19. Bb1 Nd7 20. g4 Ne5 21. Ke2 fxg4 22.
hxg4 Nxg4 23. Rcg1 f5 24. Nxe4 Nxe3 25. Ng5+ Kh8 26. Ne6 Qf6 27. Rxg7 Rae8 28.
Rhg1 Ng4 29. Rxb7 Nc5 30. Rxa7 Nxe6 31. dxe6 Rxe6+ 32. Kd1 Qh4 33. Qd4+ Qf6 34.
Qxf6+ Rfxf6 35. f3 Ne3+ 36. Kd2 d5 37. c5 d4 38. Rd7 Rg6 39. Rxg6 Nf1+ 40. Kd3
Rxg6 41. Kxd4 Ng3 42. Rd6 Ne2+ 43. Ke3 1-0

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.24"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Pope, Martin"]
[Black "Parkin, Brian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 Nf6 3. Bf4 Nc6 4. e3 e6 5. Nbd2 Be7 6. c4 O-O 7. a3 h6 8. Qc2
Nh5 9. Bg3 Nxg3 10. hxg3 f5 11. Nb3 Bf6 12. cxd5 exd5 13. Bd3 Ne7 14. Be2 Bd7
15. Nc5 Bc8 16. Nd3 Bd7 17. Nde5 Be8 18. Bd3 Qc8 19. Qb3 c6 20. Bc2 Ng6 21.
Nxg6 Bxg6 22. g4 fxg4 23. Bxg6 gxf3 24. gxf3 Be7 25. Ke2 Rf6 26. Rag1 Qe6 27.
Qxb7 Raf8 28. Rxh6 Qd6 29. Bh7+ Kf7 30. Rxf6+ Qxf6 31. Qd7 Rd8 32. Qg4 Rb8 33.
Bg6+ Kf8 34. b4 Bd6 35. Qd7 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.01.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "David Saqui"]
[Black "James Hooker"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "94"]

{From a lost position black saves the position with a swindle, then keeps a cool head to secure the whole point.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 d5 4. h3 Bg7 5. Bg5 Ne4 6. Bf4 c5 7. e3 ({Prevents
the bishop from retreating to d2 to defend the knight and loses a pawn.} 7. Qd3
{is better.}) 7... Qa5 8. Bb5+ Bd7 9. Bxd7+ Nxd7 10. O-O Nxc3 11. Qd2 cxd4 12.
exd4 Rc8 13. Rfe1 b6 14. bxc3 Qxc3 15. Qe2 Qa3 16. Qb5 Qa5 17. Qb3 Rc4 18. a4 (
{Loses another pawn. White should play} 18. Rad1 $17) 18... Nc5 ({This lets
white back into the game. There is nothing wrong with} 18... Bxd4) 19. Qb5+
Qxb5 20. axb5 Ne6 21. Be5 $6 (21. Rxa7 $1 Rxc2 (21... Nxf4 $4 22. Rexe7+ Kf8
23. Rxf7+ Ke8 24. Rxg7 Rc8 25. Rge7+ Kf8 26. Rf7+ $18) 22. Ra8+ $11) 21... Bxe5
22. Rxe5 Rc7 23. Rxd5 f6 24. g3 Rb7 $2 ({Too passive.} 24... Rc3 {wins.} 25.
Rxa7 Nc7 26. Kg2 Rg8 27. Rc5 $8 bxc5 28. b6 (28. Rxc7 cxd4 29. Rb7 Rc4 $19)
28... cxd4 29. bxc7 (29. Nxd4 Kd7 30. Nb5 Rxc2 31. bxc7 Rc8 $19) 29... Kf7 (
29... Kd7 $4 30. c8=Q+ Kxc8 31. Ra8+ $18) (29... Rxc2 30. Nxd4 Rc1 31. Ne6 Kd7
(31... Kf7 32. Nd8+ Ke8 (32... Kg7 $4 33. Ra8 Rxc7 34. Ne6+ $18) (32... Kf8 33.
Ne6+ $11) 33. Ne6 $11) 32. c8=Q+ Kxc8 33. Ra8+ Kd7 34. Rxg8 Kxe6 35. Rg7 $11)
30. Nxd4 Rc8 31. Nb5 Rxc2 $19) 25. Re1 Nc7 26. Rd6 Nxb5 27. Rxf6 Rf8 $6 (27...
Rc7) 28. Rxf8+ Kxf8 29. c4 Nc3 $6 (29... Nd6 $11) 30. Re3 Nd1 31. Rb3 a5 32. c5
a4 $2 (32... b5 33. c6 Rc7 34. Rxb5 Rxc6 35. Rxa5 $16) 33. Rxb6 $18 Ra7 34. c6
Rc7 35. Ne5 (35. Rb8+ Kf7 36. d5 $18) 35... Nc3 36. Ra6 e6 37. Kf1 Ke7 38. Ke1
Kd6 39. Kd2 Nb5 40. Kd3 a3 $2 ({This move is a mistake, allowing the knight
fork on c4. The correct line is} 40... Ra7 41. c7+ (41. Rxa7 Nxa7 $11) 41...
Kxc7 42. Rxe6 a3 43. Re7+ Kb6 44. Rxa7 Kxa7 (44... Nxa7 $4 45. Nc4+ $18) 45.
Nc6+ Kb6 46. Nb4 $11 {Of course in that event black would have lost half a
point!}) 41. Kc4 $2 (41. Nc4+ {wins}) 41... Ra7 $8 42. Kxb5 $4 ({After having
the advantage for some time white's sense of danger deserts him and he
continues to play as though he had a winning advantage.. He needs to play} 42.
Nf7+ Rxf7 (42... Kc7 43. Rxa7+ Nxa7 44. Kb3 $11) (42... Ke7 43. c7 Kd7 44. Rxa7
Nxa7 45. Kb3 $11) 43. Kxb5 Rxf2 44. Rxa3 Rb2+ 45. Kc4 Rc2+ $11) 42... Rxa6 43.
Kxa6 Kc7 $3 {Very fine play by black. Having found a line to save the
half-point after having a lost position for some time, the natural reaction is
to snatch at} (43... a2 $4 {This is the move that everyone watching the
conclusion of the game (myself included) expected white to play...but it only
draws:} 44. Kb7 a1=Q 45. Nc4+ Ke7 46. Nb6 Qh1 47. d5 $1 exd5 48. c7 d4+ 49. Ka7
Qa1+ 50. Kb7 (50. Kb8 $4 Qa6 51. c8=Q Qxb6+ 52. Ka8 Qd8 $19) 50... Qh1+) 44.
Kb5 a2 45. Kc4 a1=Q 46. Kd3 Qe1 47. Ng4 h5 0-1

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.01"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grant Healey"]
[Black "Mark Watkins"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A45"]
[PlyCount "70"]

{A win for Mark Watkins on the way to his successful defence of the Emigrant Cup.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. f3 Nf6 5. Nc3 c5 6. dxc5 Nc6 7. a3 d4 8. Na2
e5 9. Bg5 Bxc5 10. e4 dxe3 11. Qxd8+ Kxd8 12. O-O-O+ Ke7 13. Bc4 Be6 14. Bxe6
Kxe6 15. Nc3 Rad8 16. Nge2 h6 17. Na4 Bd4 18. Bxf6 Kxf6 19. c3 Bb6 20. Nxb6
axb6 21. Rhe1 Ke6 22. Ng3 f5 23. f4 exf4 24. Nh5 g5 25. g3 Ne5 26. Re2 Rxd1+
27. Kxd1 Rd8+ 28. Ke1 Nd3+ 29. Kf1 Ke5 30. gxf4+ gxf4 31. Kg2 Ke4 32. Nf6+ Ke5
33. Nh5 Nc1 34. Re1 Rd2+ 35. Kh1 Nd3 0-1

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Theo Slade"]
[Black "Mark Watkins"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A45"]
[PlyCount "56"]

{The two remaining players on 3/3 meet in round 4.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 Ne4 3. Bf4 d5 4. e3 c5 5. Bd3 Nf6 6. c3 Nc6 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. Nbd2
e6 9. Qa4 Bxf3 10. Nxf3 c4 11. Be2 a6 12. O-O b5 13. Qc2 Bd6 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15.
Nd2 O-O 16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Qxe4 f5 19. Qc2 e5 20. dxe5 Nxe5 21. Rfd1
Qc5 22. Rd4 f4 23. Qe4 Rae8 24. Qd5+ Qxd5 25. Rxd5 f3 26. gxf3 Nxf3+ 27. Bxf3
Rxf3 28. Kg2 Ref8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Grant Healey"]
[Black "James Hooker"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D03"]
[PlyCount "91"]

{A game in Grant Healey's characteristically forthright style.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 d5 3. Nf3 Ne4 4. Bh4 h6 5. e3 g5 6. Bg3 Bg7 7. Be5 f6 8. Bg3
Bg4 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. c3 Qd7 11. Qa4 a6 12. Nbd2 f5 13. Qc2 O-O-O 14. b4 Na7 15.
Be5 e6 16. Bxg7 Qxg7 17. Ne5 Bh5 18. Nb3 Rhf8 19. f3 Nd6 20. Nc5 Qe7 21. a4 Rf6
22. Qe2 Ne4 23. Rc1 Nxc5 24. bxc5 Be8 25. Bxa6 Bxa4 26. Rb1 Bc6 27. Nxc6 Nxc6
28. Bxb7+ Kd7 29. Qb5 e5 30. Bxc6+ Rxc6 31. Qb3 exd4 32. cxd4 Re6 33. Kf2 Ke8
34. Rhe1 g4 35. Qb5+ c6 36. Qe2 Qh4+ 37. Kg1 f4 38. fxg4 Rxe3 39. Qf2 Qxg4 40.
Rxe3+ fxe3 41. Qxe3+ Kd7 42. Re1 Rg8 43. Re2 Rg7 44. h3 Qg6 45. Qe5 Qg5 46.
Qd6+ 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Mark Watkins"]
[Black "David Saqui"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A58"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

{One of the two last-round games featuring the joint-leaders.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 g6 5. Nc3 a6 6. bxa6 Bxa6 7. g3 d6 8. Bg2
Bg7 9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. O-O O-O 11. Qc2 Ra7 12. Rd1 Qa8 13. e4 Ng4 14. h3 Nge5 15.
Nxe5 Nxe5 16. b3 c4 17. Be3 Rc7 18. b4 Nd3 19. b5 Bxc3 20. Qxc3 Bxb5 21. Rxd3
Rfc8 22. Rd2 Ba4 23. Rb2 Rb8 24. Rab1 Rcb7 25. Rxb7 Rxb7 26. Rxb7 Qxb7 27. Qxc4
Qb1+ 28. Kh2 Bb5 29. Qc8+ Kg7 30. Bd4+ f6 31. Qb7 Kf7 32. a4 Qd3 33. Bxf6 Kxf6
34. Qxb5 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Grant Healey"]
[Black "Theo Slade"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A46"]
[PlyCount "122"]

{One of the two last-round games featuring the joint-leaders.}

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bg5 c5 4. e3 h6 5. Bh4 cxd4 6. Qxd4 Nc6 7. Qd1 Be7 8.
Bc4 O-O 9. O-O b6 10. c3 Bb7 11. Qe2 Rc8 12. Rd1 d6 13. Nbd2 Rc7 14. Bb3 Nb8
15. e4 Nbd7 16. e5 dxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. Qxe5 Nd7 19. Bxe7 Nxe5 20. Bxd8 Rxd8
21. Nf1 Rcd7 22. Ne3 Rd2 23. Bc2 Ba6 24. Rxd2 Rxd2 25. Rd1 Rxd1+ 26. Nxd1 Be2
27. Ne3 Nd3 28. b3 b5 29. f3 Kf8 30. Ng4 a5 31. Nf2 Nc1 32. a3 Na2 33. Ne4 f5
34. Nc5 Ke7 35. Nb7 Nxc3 36. Nxa5 Kd6 37. Kf2 Bd1 38. Bd3 Kc5 39. Ke1 Kb6 40.
b4 Ba4 41. Kf2 Nd1+ 42. Kg3 Ne3 43. f4 g5 44. fxg5 hxg5 45. Kf3 Nc2 46. Bxc2
Bxc2 47. g3 Be4+ 48. Ke3 Bd5 49. h4 gxh4 50. gxh4 e5 51. h5 f4+ 52. Kd3 e4+ 53.
Ke2 Kc7 54. h6 Bg8 55. h7 Bxh7 56. Nb3 Kd6 57. Nd4 Kd5 58. Nxb5 Kc4 59. Nd6+
Kb3 60. b5 Bg8 61. Nxe4 Bc4+ 1/2-1/2

{A fluctuating struggle from the last round of the Emigrant.}

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Ian George"]
[Black "Lloyd Retallick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C67"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "91"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. O-O Nxe4 5. Re1 Nd6 6. Bxc6 dxc6 7. Nxe5 Be7
8. d4 O-O 9. Nd2 Bg5 (9... f6 10. Nd3 Re8 {is better. When the bishop is
attacked he must either move it again or exchange it, in the latter case
weakening the defence of his king.}) 10. Ndf3 Bxc1 11. Qxc1 Qf6 12. c4 h6 ({
The purpose of this move is not clear.} 12... Re8 {is better.}) 13. Qc3 Rd8 14.
Qa5 g5 {This wekening of the pawn structure can't be a good idea.} (14... b6
15. Qa4 c5 16. dxc5 bxc5 17. Qa5 Bb7 18. b3 $16) 15. Qxc7 $6 ({No need to
hurry.} 15. Rad1 b6 16. Qa4 $16) 15... Ne8 16. Qa5 g4 17. Nd2 Rxd4 18. Ne4 Qd8
19. Qxd8 Rxd8 20. Rad1 Bf5 21. Ng3 Be6 22. b3 Nf6 23. Kf1 a5 24. Ne2 (24. a4 {
is worth considering in order to prevent black from increasing the activity of
the black rook with ...a4.}) 24... a4 25. Nf4 (25. Nd4 $5 {controlling the f5
square.}) 25... Bf5 26. Nfd3 $2 ({White is unnecessarily afraid of creating
pawn weaknesses on th the Q-side but this allows black to build up more
pressure.} 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. bxa4 Ra8 28. Ne2 Rxa4 29. Nc3 Ra5 30. Re3 {
should hold.}) 26... Ne4 27. f3 $4 {The knight is now trapped.} (27. Nc1 Rxd1
28. Rxd1 Nc3 $17) 27... gxf3 (27... Nc3 $19) 28. gxf3 (28. g4 Bh7 29. Re3 (29.
Nf4 f2 30. Rxd8+ Rxd8 31. Ra1 a3 $19) 29... axb3 30. axb3 Ra2) 28... Nc3 $19
29. Rd2 Kf8 $2 (29... axb3 30. axb3 f6 $19) 30. Rc1 axb3 (30... Nxa2 31. Rxa2
Bxd3+ 32. Kf2 $17) 31. axb3 f6 $2 (31... Ra2 32. Rxa2 Nxa2 33. Ra1 Bxd3+ 34.
Nxd3 Rxd3 35. Rxa2 Rxf3+ 36. Ke2 Rxb3 $19) 32. Rxc3 fxe5 33. Ke2 $11 e4 34.
fxe4 Bxe4 35. Nc5 Rxd2+ 36. Kxd2 Ra2+ 37. Ke3 Bh1 38. h3 b5 39. cxb5 cxb5 40.
Ne6+ Ke7 41. Nd4 b4 42. Rc4 Rh2 43. h4 Rh3+ 44. Kf2 Kd7 45. Rxb4 Rxh4 46. Kg3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Falmouth Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Marcus Pilling"]
[Black "Ian Renshaw"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B21"]
[PlyCount "60"]

{The top board game in the last round of the Falmouth Cup. With five players on 3 points, including the players in this game, a draw is no use to anyone.}

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 e6 6. Bc4 Bc5 7. O-O a6 8. e5
h6 9. Ne4 b6 10. a3 f5 11. Nxc5 bxc5 12. Be3 Na5 13. Ba2 Nb7 14. Qa4 Ne7 15.
Bxe6 Nc6 16. Bxf5 O-O 17. Qg4 Ne7 18. Bc2 d5 19. Qg3 Nf5 20. Bxf5 Bxf5 21. Bxh6
Rf7 22. Rfe1 Qb6 23. Bc1 Nd8 24. Ng5 Rf8 25. a4 Ne6 26. Nxe6 Qxe6 27. Ra3 Rf6
28. Qc3 Rg6 29. Qxc5 Rxg2+ 30. Kxg2 Bh3+ 1-0

[Event "Falmouth Cup"]
[Date "2014.02.02"]
[Round "5"]
[White "David R Jenkins"]
[Black "Martin Jones"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B12"]
[PlyCount "105"]

{One of the three games in the last round of the Falmouth Cup featuring players on 3 points: a draw is no use to anyone.}

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Bf5 4. Nc3 e6 5. g4 Bg6 6. Nf3 Nd7 7. a3 Qa5 8. Bd2 Qc7
9. h4 h6 10. h5 Bh7 11. b4 f6 12. exf6 gxf6 13. Qc1 O-O-O 14. Rb1 b5 15. a4 a6
16. axb5 axb5 17. Ne2 e5 18. dxe5 fxe5 19. Qb2 Bg7 20. Qa2 Nb6 21. g5 Bf5 22.
g6 Nf6 23. Ng3 Be6 24. Bh3 Rhe8 25. Bxe6+ Rxe6 26. Nf5 Ne8 27. Nxh6 Rf6 28. Ke2
Kd7 29. Bg5 Ra8 30. Qb3 Rf8 31. Nf7 Nd6 32. h6 Nxf7 33. gxf7 Bh8 34. Nh4 Rxf7
35. Qh3+ Kd6 36. Nf5+ Rxf5 37. Qxf5 Qd7 38. Qxd7+ Nxd7 39. Ra1 Rg8 40. Rhg1 Ke6
41. Raf1 Kf5 42. Be7 Re8 43. Bd6 Re6 44. Bc7 Rxh6 45. Rh1 Bg7 46. Rxh6 Bxh6 47.
Rh1 Bf8 48. Rh7 Nf6 49. Rf7 Bxb4 50. Bb6 Ke6 51. Rg7 Ne4 52. f3 Nc3+ 53. Kd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Simultaneous display (Slade)"]
[Site "Truro"]
[Date "2014.02.08"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Harvey, Jack"]
[Black "Slade, Theo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D79"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[TimeControl "60"]

{128MB, DFritz12.ctg, Mesh} 1. g3 g6 2. Bg2 c5 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. c3 Nf6 5. O-O O-O
6. d4 cxd4 {Now out of book (Deep Fritz 12).} 7. cxd4 d5 8. h3 Nc6 9. Be3 b6
10. Qc2 Bb7 11. Rd1 Rc8 12. Qa4 Ne4 13. h4 Na5 14. Ne5 Bxe5 15. dxe5 Rc4 16.
Qa3 (16. Qb5 a6) 16... Rc2 $2 {According to Crafty, White is approx. 4 pawns
up.} (16... Qc7) 17. Bxe4 Nc4 18. Qxa7 $18 (18. Bxc2 Nxa3 19. Nxa3 $18 {RK})
18... Nxe3 19. fxe3 (19. Bxc2) 19... Qc7 20. Bxd5 (20. Bxc2 Ra8 21. Qxb7 Qxb7
22. Nc3) 20... Rd8 (20... Qxe5 21. Qxb7 Qxg3+ 22. Kf1) 21. e4 (21. Qxb7 $2 Qxb7
22. Bxb7 Rxd1+ 23. Kf2 Rcc1 {JM} 24. Be4 Rg1 25. Kf3 Rcf1+) (21. Nc3 Qxe5)
21... Qxe5 22. Nc3 Qxg3+ 23. Kf1 (23. Kh1) 23... Rd6 ({missing} 23... Bc8) 24.
e5 Qxe5 (24... Qh3+) 25. Qb8+ (25. Qxb7) 25... Kg7 26. Ne4 $4 {Now black is
winning} (26. Qxb7 Rf6+ 27. Bf3 {Maybe scary but does defend}) 26... Rf6+ 27.
Nxf6 Qxb8 28. Bxb7 Qxb7 29. Ne8+ Kf8 30. Rd8 Qh1+ 31. Kf2 Qh2+ 32. Ke3 Qxe2+
33. Kd4 Rc4+ 34. Kd5 Qe6# 0-1

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.03.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Nancarrow, Richard"]
[Black "Brown, Hugh"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C26"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. d3 Bb4 4. Bd2 Bxc3 5. Bxc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d6 7. h3 Nc6 8.
Be2 Nd7 9. O-O Nb6 10. b3 f5 11. Nd2 f4 12. Bg4 Bxg4 13. Qxg4 Qf6 14. a4 Rf7
15. a5 Nd7 16. b4 Nd4 17. Bxd4 exd4 18. Nc4 b5 19. axb6 cxb6 20. Ra6 Ne5 21.
Nxe5 dxe5 22. Rfa1 Rc7 23. Qe2 Qg5 24. f3 Qe7 25. Qd2 Rc3 26. Rxb6 Rac8 27.
Rba6 Rxc2 28. Qd1 Rb2 29. Rxa7 Qg5 30. Qf1 Rcc2 31. Ra8+ Kf7 32. R8a7+ Kg6 33.
R7a6+ Kh5 34. g4+ fxg3 35. Qd1 Qe3+ 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Gloucs"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.03.08"]
[Round "7"]
[White "Healey, Grant"]
[Black "Denison, Phil"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bf4 c5 4. e3 Nf6 5. c3 Nc6 6. Bd3 cxd4 7. exd4 Bd6 8. Bg5
O-O 9. O-O e5 10. dxe5 Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Bxe5 12. Nd2 h6 13. Bh4 Qd6 14. h3 g5 15.
Bg3 Bxg3 16. fxg3 Qxg3 17. Rxf6 Qxd3 18. Rxh6 g4 19. Rh5 Qg6 20. Rxd5 gxh3 21.
Qf3 Qxg2+ $4 (21... Be6) 22. Qxg2+ hxg2 23. Rg5+ $1 (23. Kxg2 $2 Re8) 23... Kh7
24. Kxg2 1-0

[Event "Cornwall Under 18 Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.03.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Piper, Chris"]
[Black "Harvey, Jack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A07"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. g3 Nc6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Bg2 Bg4 4. O-O Nf6 5. d4 Qd6 6. Bf4 Qb4 7. b3 Bxf3 8.
Bxf3 Nxd4 9. Bg2 Ne6 10. Be5 Ng4 11. Bc3 Qd6 12. Bxd5 O-O-O 13. e4 c6 14. Bxe6+
Qxe6 15. Qf3 Ne5 16. Bxe5 Qxe5 17. c3 e6 18. Rd1 Rxd1+ 19. Qxd1 Bd6 20. Qd3 Rd8
21. f4 Qc5+ 22. Kg2 Bxf4 23. Qf3 Qg5 24. Qxf4 Qxf4 25. gxf4 Rd1 26. Kf3 Kd7 27.
e5 Rd3+ 28. Ke2 Rh3 29. Nd2 Rxh2+ 30. Kd3 h5 31. Rg1 Rh3+ 32. Kc4 b5+ 33. Kd4
g6 34. c4 Rh2 35. Ne4 f5 36. Nc5+ Ke7 37. cxb5 Rd2+ 38. Nd3 cxb5 39. Rxg6 Rxa2
{The remaining moves were not recorded.} 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.03.31"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Black "Smith, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C40"]
[Annotator "Kneebone, Robin"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

{Juniors will like this game as it is almost as chaotic as games in the
Cornwall Junior Championships. A game which reflects well on both players:
their trenchant approach will interest learners.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 {Diagram 
[#] Brave as a lion.} 3. d4 {there are better moves, but who learns how to
cope with 2 ... f5?} (3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5) 3... fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Be2 d6 6.
Nc4 Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Ne3 d5 9. c4 c6 10. Nc3 Be6 11. b3 {Diagram [#] White
has played solidly in the face of the Lion's roar. Position is about level, a
success for black.} Bd6 (11... Nbd7 {but normal development does interest our
hero.}) 12. Bb2 Qc7 13. h3 a6 14. Rc1 Qd7 $2 15. Ng4 {scared by the chance of
Bxh3, white goes wrong.} (15. Na4 Bxh3 16. Nb6) 15... Bf4 16. Rc2 h5 {Brave,
in the meaning of foolish. But fun.} (16... Qd6) 17. Ne5 Qe8 18. Ba3 Rf7 (18...
Nbd7 {Lionheart is attempting to mate without his queenside pieces}) 19. Nxf7 {
several other moves are winning too} Qxf7 20. Re1 {weakens f2} Qg6 {spot the
threat} 21. Kh1 Nbd7 {at last} 22. Bc1 Bd6 23. Be3 Kf7 24. Bf1 Rh8 25. Qd2 Ng4
{juniors: what happens if you take the knight hxg4?} 26. Bf4 ({find the mate
in 4 after} 26. hxg4) 26... Be7 27. cxd5 (27. hxg4 hxg4+ 28. Kg1 Qh5 29. f3
Qh1+ 30. Kf2 Bh4+ 31. Ke2 gxf3+ 32. Kd1 f2 {and the Lion rips open his
opponents' insides}) 27... cxd5 28. Na4 Qf6 29. Nc5 Nxc5 30. dxc5 g5 {Diagram 
[#]} {here the clocks were put back 30 mins instead of 15, showing how
scrambled the players' brains were.} 31. Bd6 Bd8 {exchanging is better, but
black courageously plays for more} 32. c6 bxc6 33. Rxc6 Nxf2+ 34. Kg1 d4 35.
Bc4 (35. Qxf2 {wins easily enough; the whole game is an example of how hard
chess is, especially in unusual positions}) 35... Bxc4 36. bxc4 e3 {a crowd
gathered: position chaotically level (Fritz11)} 37. Qe2 g4 38. c5 gxh3 39. Qc4+
Ke8 40. Qd5 Ng4 $2 (40... Rh6) (40... h2+ 41. Bxh2 Nh3+ 42. gxh3 Qf2+ 43. Kh1
Qxe1+ 44. Bg1 Qf1 $11 {Fritz: the position is beyond my limited powers of
calculation}) 41. Rf1 {Diagram [#]} (41. Bg3 {slaughters the lion}) {Now find
the win that black missed after 41Rf1} 41... Nf2 (41... Qf2+ 42. Rxf2 exf2+ 43.
Kf1 Ne3+) 42. Be5 h2+ {Diagram [#]} {Find the self-mate in two, as Crusher did.
} 43. Kxh2 Qh4+ 44. Kg1 Qh1# 0-1

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.03.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wilman, John"]
[Black "Moss, Barry"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B71"]
[Annotator "Wilman, John"]
[PlyCount "35"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. f4 {The Levenfish
variation to which the prescribed antidote is 6...Nc6. To borrow a phrase from
the late Douglas Adams, this line is best described as "mostly harmless".} Bg7
$6 {Despite its dubious reputation this line is actually quite playable for
black, although it does allow white to unleash some scary tactics.} 7. e5 Nh5
$1 {Most other moves tend to lose horribly.....} 8. Bb5+ Kf8 $2 ({The correct
defence for black is} 8... Bd7 9. e6 fxe6 10. Nxe6 Bxc3+ 11. bxc3 Qc8 $1 {
when a position of dynamic equality has been reached, in which the
better-prepared player is likely to prevail.}) 9. g4 Nxf4 10. Bxf4 Qb6 ({
Black's problem is that he cannot play} 10... dxe5 {because} 11. Ne6+ {would
win the queen!}) 11. Nd5 Qa5+ 12. Bd2 {This may not be the most accurate move.}
({I also looked at} 12. b4 Qa3 $1 {with the follow-up ...Qh3, threatening ...
Bg4. (Editor's note [IMG]: Fritz gives many forced wins for white after ...Qh3,
the most forceful being 13. exd6)}) (12. Qd2 {cannot be bad either. But the
quiet retreat of the bishop consolidates my extra piece, without weakening my
king, and with such a strong attack, the last thing I want to do is swap
queens. Go with the flow!}) 12... Qd8 13. Bg5 f6 14. exf6 exf6 15. O-O {
Startling castling! A rook arrives at f1 with tempo.} h6 16. Bxf6 Bxf6 17.
Rxf6+ Kg7 18. Qd3 1-0

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.04.04"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hooker, James"]
[Black "Saqui, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 e5 2. dxe5 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nge7 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 g5 6. Bg3 Bg7 7. Nc3 Nf5 8.
Qd5 g4 9. Nd2 Nxg3 10. hxg3 Nxe5 11. O-O-O c6 12. Qd6 Qe7 13. Nce4 f5 14. Qxe7+
Kxe7 15. Nc3 d5 16. f4 Nf7 17. e3 Kf6 18. Nb3 Re8 19. Kd2 b6 20. Bd3 Kg6 21.
Rh4 Bf6 22. Rxg4+ Kh5 $2 (22... Kh7) 23. Rh1+ Kxg4 24. Rh3 Bxc3+ 25. bxc3 Ba6
26. Bxa6 (26. Nd4 Nd6 (26... Re4 27. Ne2 Rxf4 28. exf4 Bxd3 29. Rh4#) 27. Nf3
Ne4+ 28. Kc1 Bxd3 29. Nh2#) 26... b5 27. Nd4 Ng5 {(=)} 28. fxg5 hxg5 29. Nxc6
f4 30. exf4 gxf4 31. gxf4 Rg8 32. Bxb5 Kxf4 33. Rf3+ Kg5 34. Ne7 Rgf8 35. Bc6
Rad8 36. Rxf8 Rxf8 37. Bxd5 Rd8 38. c4 Kf6 39. Nc6 Rd7 40. Ke3 Rb7 41. Nd4 Rb2
42. c5 Ke5 43. Bb3 Rb1 44. Nc6+ Kf5 45. Nxa7 Re1+ 46. Kd3 Re7 47. Nb5 Re5 48.
Nd4+ Kf6 49. c6 Ke7 50. a4 Kd6 51. Bc4 Rg5 52. Bb5 Rxg2 53. Kc4 Rg4 54. a5 Kc7
55. Ba6 Rh4 56. Kc5 Rh5+ 57. Kb4 Rh4 58. c3 Rh1 59. Bc4 Rb1+ 60. Kc5 1-0

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.04.11"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Dengler, Terry"]
[Black "Jenkins, David J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. b3 bxc4 5. bxc4 g6 6. Bb2 Bg7 7. e3 d6 8. h3 O-O
9. Nf3 Nbd7 10. Bd3 Rb8 11. Bc3 e5 12. dxe6 fxe6 13. O-O Bb7 14. Ng5 Qe7 15.
Nd2 d5 16. Re1 Qd6 17. Ngf3 Rbe8 18. Rb1 Bc6 19. a4 e5 20. cxd5 Bxd5 21. Nc4
Qc7 22. Ba5 Qc6 23. Ncd2 c4 24. Be2 Ne4 25. Qc2 Nxd2 26. Qxd2 e4 27. Nd4 Bxd4
28. Qxd4 Qc5 29. Qc3 Rf7 30. Rb5 Qc6 31. Rd1 Be6 32. Bb4 Qc8 33. Rd4 Nb6 34.
Qc2 Qc6 35. Rd6 Qc8 36. Rc5 Qb8 37. Rcc6 Bd5 38. Rxb6 axb6 39. Rxd5 c3 40. Qxc3
Rc8 41. Qd4 Rfc7 42. g3 Rc2 43. Qxe4 Rxe2 44. Qe6+ Kh8 45. Bd6 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.05.07"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Jenkins, David R"]
[Black "Renshaw, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C35"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. f4 exf4 3. Nf3 Be7 4. Bc4 Bh4+ 5. Kf1 d6 6. d4 Bg4 7. Nc3 Bg5 8.
Nd5 Nf6 9. Bxf4 Bxf4 10. Nxf4 Nxe4 11. Qd3 Bf5 12. Re1 Qe7 13. Qe2 O-O 14. Bd5
c6 15. Bxe4 Qxe4 16. Qxe4 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 Na6 18. c3 Rae8 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Kf2
Re4 21. g3 h6 22. Re1 d5 23. Nd2 Rxe1 24. Kxe1 g6 25. h4 Nc7 26. Nf3 Kg7 27.
Ke2 Ne8 28. Nd2 Nf6 29. Kf3 h5 30. Nd3 Nd7 31. Kf4 f6 32. c4 Nf8 33. cxd5 cxd5
34. Nb4 Ne6+ 35. Ke3 Nc7 36. a4 a5 37. Na2 g5 38. hxg5 fxg5 39. Nf3 Kf6 40. Nc3
g4 41. Nh4 Kg5 42. Ng2 Kf6 43. Nf4 Kg5 44. Nfxd5 Nxd5+ 45. Nxd5 h4 46. gxh4+
Kxh4 47. Nf4 1-0

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.05.30"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Watkins, Mark"]
[Black "George, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A58"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "77"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6. Nc3 d6 7. g3 g6 8. Bg2
Bg7 9. Nf3 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Qc2 Qa5 12. Rd1 Rab8 13. Rb1 Ng4 14. Bd2 Nge5
15. Nxe5 Nxe5 16. b3 Bc8 17. h3 Bf5 18. e4 Bc8 ({The attempt to win the pawn
back with} 18... Bxh3 $4 {fails to} 19. Na4 $18) 19. f4 {(=)} Nd7 20. Ne2 Qa7
21. Be3 Qa3 22. Bc1 Qa6 23. Be3 Nb6 24. Bf1 Qa8 25. Nc3 h5 $2 (25... Bd7 $16)
26. Nb5 (26. b4 $5) 26... Bd7 27. Qf2 $2 (27. a4 $16) 27... Kh7 $2 (27... Bxb5
28. Bxb5 Nxd5 $11) 28. a4 f5 $2 {Wins for white but black is determined to
continue taking risks in order to play for the win.} (28... Rfc8 {is
objectively better.}) 29. e5 dxe5 (29... Bxb5 30. axb5 Qa5 31. b4 cxb4 32. Rd2
$18) (29... Rfc8 30. exd6 Bxb5 31. Bxb5 exd6 32. Bc6 $18) 30. Bxc5 exf4 (30...
Nxd5 31. Bc4 Bxb5 32. Bxd5 Bc6 33. Bxc6 Qxc6 34. Bxe7 $16) 31. gxf4 $2 {
White, needing only a draw, plays cautiously but he is winning.} (31. Bxb6 $18
fxg3 32. Qc5 Rfc8 33. Nc7) 31... Nxd5 32. Bg2 (32. Nc7 Nxc7 33. Rxd7 Ne6 34.
Bxe7 Rf7 35. Bc4 (35. Re1 Rb7 36. Bg2 Rxd7 37. Bxa8 Bd4 38. Rxe6 Bxf2+ 39. Kxf2
Rfxe7 40. Rxe7+ Rxe7 {Black is the exchange up but white should not lose.})
35... Re8 36. Bxe6 Rfxe7 37. Rxe7 Rxe7 38. Re1 $16) 32... Bc6 $4 ({A blunder.
There is no win for black here but merely minimising white's advantage with} 
32... Bxb5 33. Bxd5 Bc6 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Bxe7 Rfe8 {did not appeal.}) 33. Nc7
$4 {White's turn to make a losing blunder. He has an easy win with} (33. Bxd5
Bxd5 34. Nc7) 33... Nxc7 34. Bxc6 Qxc6 35. Rbc1 Qb7 36. Bxe7 Rfe8 $2 ({Throws
away the advantage and the championship.} 36... Rfc8 {is an easy win}) 37. Rd7
Rxe7 $4 {Panic stations with less than five minutes on the clock but time
shortage is no excuse for this appalling move which hands the win back to
white,.} (37... Rec8 38. Kh2 Qxb3 39. Rdxc7 Rxc7 40. Rxc7 Qxa4 41. Bf6 Rg8 42.
Be5 Kh6 $11) 38. Rxe7 Qxb3 39. Rcxc7 {and white made a very generous draw
offer which black can hardly refuse. Botvinnik's assessment of a particularly
error-strewn game against Smyslov in one of their World Championship matches
applies here: "Truly the two players were worthy of each other on this
occasion!"} 1/2-1/2

[Event "ECF Major Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.07.25"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Hassall, Mark"]
[Black "Yiamakis, Albert"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B76"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "153"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Be3 Bg7 7. f3 O-O 8. Qd2
Nc6 9. g4 Be6 {I find it hard to believe that weakening the pawn structure in
front of the king in this way can be a good idea.} 10. Nxe6 fxe6 11. O-O-O Qa5
12. Bc4 Kf7 13. Bh6 Bxh6 14. Qxh6 Ne5 15. Bb3 Nxf3 $2 16. h4 (16. Rhf1 Qg5+ 17.
Qxg5 Nxg5 18. h4 $18) 16... g5 $2 (16... Ne5) 17. Rdf1 Nxh4 18. Rxh4 (18. Rxf6+
$1 exf6 19. Qxh7+ Ke8 20. Bxe6 Rd8 21. Nd5 $18 {, with a forced mate, is even
better..}) 18... gxh4 19. g5 (19. Rxf6+ exf6 20. Qxh7+ Ke8 21. Bxe6 Qg5+ 22.
Kb1 Rd8 23. Nd5 $18 {also wins in similar fashion to the previous note.}) 19...
Rg8 20. Rxf6+ (20. Qxh7+ $1 Ke8 (20... Rg7 21. g6+ $18) (20... Kf8 21. gxf6
Qg5+ 22. Kb1 exf6 23. Bxe6 Rg7 (23... Qg7 24. Rxf6+ $18) 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Nd5+
Kxe6 (25... Qxd5 26. Qxg7+ $18) 26. Qxa8 $18) (20... Rg7 21. g6+ Kf8 22. Qh8+
Rg8 23. Rxf6+ exf6 24. Qxf6+ Ke8 25. Qxe6+ Kd8 26. Qxd6+ $18) 21. gxf6 Qg5+ 22.
Kb1 exf6 23. Bxe6 Rg7 24. Qh8+ Ke7 25. Nd5+ Kxe6 26. Qxa8 $18) 20... Ke8 21.
Qh5+ $2 (21. Rf8+ Rxf8 (21... Kd7 22. Qxe6+ $18) 22. Ba4+ Qxa4 23. Nxa4 $16 {
wins black's queen}) 21... Kd8 22. Rxe6 (22. Rf7 $5) 22... Qxg5+ 23. Qxg5 Rxg5
24. Rh6 Rg7 25. Rxh4 Kd7 26. Rh6 Rf8 27. Be6+ Kc6 28. Bf5 Rff7 29. Ne2 e5 30.
c4 Kc5 31. b3 b5 32. cxb5 d5 33. Nc3 (33. Re6) 33... dxe4 34. Nxe4+ Kd4 35. Nd6
Rc7+ 36. Nc4 Rce7 37. a4 e4 38. Rh4 Kc3 39. Rh3+ Kd4 40. Rh4 Kc3 41. Rh3+ Kd4
42. Ne3 Rgf7 43. Kd2 Rc7 44. Rh5 Rf8 45. Nc2+ Ke5 46. Ne3 Kd4 47. Rh4 Re7 48.
Nc2+ Kd5 49. Rxh7 Rxh7 50. Bxh7 Rh8 51. Bf5 Ke5 52. Bg4 Rh4 53. Be2 Rh3 54. b4
Rb3 55. a5 e3+ 56. Nxe3 Rxb4 57. Kc3 Rh4 58. Nc2 Kd5 59. Nb4+ Kc5 60. Na6+ Kd6
61. Bc4 Rh3+ 62. Kb4 Rh1 63. Nc5 Rb1+ 64. Nb3 Rb2 65. Bf7 Rf2 66. Bc4 Rb2 67.
a6 Kc7 68. Kc5 Rb1 69. Nd4 Rc1 70. Nc6 Rh1 71. Nxa7 Kb8 72. Nc6+ Ka8 73. Nb4
Rh6 74. b6 Rh7 75. Nd5 Rh5 76. Kb4 Kb8 77. Nc7 1-0

[Event "ECF Major Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.08.01"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Kalavannan, Koby"]
[Black "Hassall, Mark"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A84"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 b6 3. c4 Bb7 4. g3 f5 5. Bg2 Nf6 6. O-O g6 7. Nc3 Bg7 8. b4 O-O
9. Bb2 {[4 fianchettoed bishops]} Qe7 10. Qb3 a5 {[slowing down white's
expansion]} 11. b5 $6 {over-extending} ({calmer} 11. a3 d6 12. Rac1 Nbd7) 11...
Ne4 12. Nxe4 Bxe4 13. a4 d6 14. Rac1 Nd7 {[white's got more space but the
piece exchange males it less useful]} 15. Rfd1 Kh8 16. Ba3 Rfd8 17. e3 {
[harsh to call this a mistake but it does help to weaken the kingside white
squares]} e5 18. h4 h6 19. Kh2 Qf7 20. Rh1 Rf8 21. Qa2 Rae8 {[black's building
a dangerous pawnwave]} 22. Qd2 exd4 {gives white a tricky decision} ({also} 
22... f4 {to use the f-file pressure} 23. exf4 (23. dxe5 $2 fxg3+) 23... exf4 {
like the game}) 23. exd4 (23. Nxd4 {stops f4 but allows} g5 24. hxg5 hxg5 {
white seems to have better chances than the game}) 23... Qf6 24. Rcd1 f4 $17 {
[Event "FIDE Olympiad"]
[Site "Tromso"]
[Date "2014.08.06"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Dizdarevic, Emir"]
[Black "Greet, Andrew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A13"]
[WhiteElo "2522"]
[BlackElo "2431"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 e6 4. b3 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Be2 Nc6 7. O-O Bd6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Qe7 10. Nf3 Be6 11. Bb2 O-O 12. Nc3 a6 13. Rc1 Rfd8 14. Qc2 Rac8
15. Qb1 Bb8 16. Rfd1 Ng4 17. h3 Nxf2 18. Kxf2 Qc7 19. Bf1 Qg3+ 20. Kg1 Ne5 21.
Nd4 Bxh3 22. Rd3 Ng4 23. Nf3 Qf2+ 24. Kh1 Bxg2+ 25. Bxg2 Rc6 0-1

[Event "South Wales International"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.08.28"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Marusenko, Petr"]
[Black "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[WhiteElo "2219"]
[BlackElo "2117"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

{White is a veteran Ukrainian IM , a regular and popular competitor at
Hastings and the South Wales International.} 1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 (3. Nc3
Nf6 4. e3 a6 (4... e6 5. Nf3 Nbd7) 5. Nf3 Bf5 6. h3 e6 7. g4 Be4 8. Nxe4 Nxe4
9. Bd3 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 O-O 11. Kg2 Qe7 12. h4 Nd7 13. a3 Bd6 14. c5 Bc7 15. Bxe4
dxe4 16. Nd2 e5 17. Nxe4 exd4 18. Qxd4 f5 19. gxf5 Rxf5 20. f4 Nxc5 21. Ng3 Rd5
22. Qc4 Qe6 23. Kf3 Bxf4 24. Ne4 Bxe3 25. Kxe3 Nxe4 {0-1 Marusenko,P (2223)
-Cooksey,P (2293)/Penarth WLS 2013/The Week in Chess 977}) 3... Nf6 4. e3 {
played to avoid immediate ..dxc4 but blocks in the Bc1} Bg4 {[probably
simplest way to play the position, get the B outside the pawn chain]} ({
more interesting and complicated} 4... Bf5 5. Nc3 e6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 Nbd7
8. O-O Bd6 9. e4 dxe4 10. Nxe4 Nxe4 11. Qxe4 O-O 12. Bg5 Be7 (12... Nf6 13. Qe2
Be7 14. Rad1 h6 15. Bh4 Qa5 16. Ne5 Rad8 17. b3) 13. Bf4 Re8 14. Rfd1 Qb6 15.
Qc2 a5 16. Rac1 Bf6 17. c5 Qd8 18. Ne5 Bxe5 19. dxe5 Qc7 20. Rd6 Nf8 {later -
1-0 Marusenko,P (2189)-Anderson,J (2195)/Hastings ENG 2013/The Week in Chess
999 (36)}) 5. Nbd2 {matter of opinion, Nc3 is the classical variation} (5. Nc3
e6) 5... e6 6. Bd3 Nbd7 7. O-O Bd6 8. b3 O-O 9. Bb2 {[to some extent the game
is now about black playing for e5 and whether white could play Ne5]} Qe7 {
flexible, considering Ba3 as well as e5 and linking the rooks} (9... Re8) 10.
h3 Bh5 (10... Bxf3 11. Nxf3 {gives white an easy plus}) 11. Qc2 e5 $5 {[Petr
looked very happy at this mistake[?] but it is still a book position - black
allows the isolated queen pawn for activity as in last week's game on the
website]} (11... a6 {maybe to play b5}) 12. cxd5 $5 {[not in bk ??]} (12. dxe5
Nxe5 13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Bxe5 Qxe5 15. cxd5 Qxd5 {gives both sides a pawn
majority and something to play for}) 12... cxd5 $2 {[too casual]} (12... Bxf3
$1 13. dxe5 Bxe5 14. Nxf3 Bxb2 15. Qxb2 Nxd5 {has to be level} (15... Nc5 16.
Bc4 cxd5 17. Be2)) {[white played the next moves very quickly and confidently]}
13. dxe5 Nxe5 14. Bxe5 Bxe5 15. Nxe5 Qxe5 16. Rac1 $14 {[with a slight bang]}
Qg5 $6 {[tactical solution to a difficult position]} ({keep calm} 16... b6 17.
Qc7 Qe6 $14) 17. Qc7 $16 {[black relies on having a few pieces in front of the
white king]} d4 {[this unusual pin creates some odd tactics]} 18. Rc5 $1 Qh6
19. g4 $6 {[white's plan for several moves now,preparing the crushing g5]} (19.
Nc4 $1 $16 dxe3 20. Nxe3 {leaves black in serious trouble}) 19... Bg6 {ready
to sacrifice} ({missed the astonishing resource} 19... dxe3 $1 20. g5 {winning
? but now the amazing move} Nd5 $3 21. Rxd5 Qc6 $3 22. Qa5 (22. Qxc6 bxc6 {
maintains a crazy balance}) 22... b6 23. Qb5 Qxb5 24. Bxb5 exd2 25. Rxd2 $11)
20. Bxg6 ({white found} 20. g5 Qxh3 21. Bxg6 Rac8 $1 (21... dxe3 22. Bf5) 22.
Bxf7+ Kh8 23. Qd6 Qg4+ {and black may take a draw}) 20... Qxg6 21. exd4 {
going for the simpler option again} (21. Qxb7) 21... Qd3 {[=] draw offered in
relief!} 22. Qf4 {white convinced he was better for general reasons, better
coordination but has kingside weaknesses} Qxh3 23. f3 Rae8 24. Re5 Rxe5 25.
dxe5 Nd5 26. Qh2 (26. Qe4 $2 Qg3+ 27. Kh1 Nf4) 26... Qxh2+ 27. Kxh2 Rc8 28. Nc4
$6 {activating the N the wrong way} (28. Ne4 $14 {may still be awkward with
the black king on the back rank} Rc2+ 29. Kg3 Rxa2 30. Rc1) 28... b5 29. Nd6
Rc2+ 30. Kg3 a6 31. Rd1 (31. Re1 $15) 31... Nc3 32. Re1 {[Draw agreed with 16
mins v 2 ! for 9 moves - black can take on a2 but e6 looked too dangerous. The
only really interesting game I played from the 9 rds ]} 1/2-1/2

[Event "WECU Jamboree"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.09.14"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Homer, Stephen"]
[Black "Healey, Grant"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qh5 5. Be2 Bg4 6. O-O Nc6 7. d3 e6 8.
h3 Bxh3 9. gxh3 Qxh3 10. Ng5 Qh4 11. Kg2 h6 12. Rh1 Qb4 13. Bd2 Qe7 14. Bf3 Qd7
15. Bxc6 Qxc6+ 16. Qf3 Qxf3+ 17. Kxf3 a6 18. Nce4 Nd7 19. Bc3 Rg8 20. Nh3 f5
21. Ng3 g5 22. Kg2 Kf7 23. Rae1 Re8 24. Kf1 Kg6 25. Ng1 Bd6 26. Nh5 e5 27. Ng3
Re6 28. d4 e4 29. Nf3 Rge8 30. d5 R6e7 31. Rxh6+ Kxh6 32. Nxf5+ Kg6 33. Nxe7+
Rxe7 34. Nd2 Kf5 35. Nc4 Bf4 36. Bb4 Re8 37. Ne3+ Bxe3 38. Rxe3 Nb6 39. c4 Nxc4
40. Rc3 Nxb2 41. Ba3 Nd3 42. Rxc7 b5 43. Be7 Nf4 44. d6 Rh8 45. Ke1 Ke6 46. Rc6
Nd3+ 47. Ke2 Nb4 48. Rc5 Nxa2 49. Rxg5 Rc8 50. Ke3 Rc4 51. Rd5 Nb4 52. Rh5 Nc6
53. Bf8 Kf7 54. Rf5+ Ke6 55. Rh5 b4 56. Rh6+ Kd7 57. Rh7+ Kd8 58. Rb7 a5 $2 (
58... Ne5 59. Be7+ Kc8 60. d7+ Nxd7 61. Rxb4 Rxb4 62. Bxb4 Nf6 $11) 59. Bg7 a4
60. Bf6+ Kc8 61. Rc7+ Kb8 62. Rxc6 Rxc6 63. d7 1-0

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.10.03"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Pope, Martin"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. d4 g6 3. c4 Bg7 4. Nc3 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. d5 Nb8 8. O-O
Na6 9. Be3 b6 10. a3 Nc5 11. Qc2 Ne8 12. Bd4 f5 13. Bxg7 Kxg7 14. e5 dxe5 15.
Nxe5 Nd6 16. b4 Nce4 17. f3 Nxc3 18. Qxc3 Kg8 19. c5 Ne8 20. Bc4 Nf6 21. d6+
Kg7 22. dxe7 Qxe7 23. cxb6 cxb6 24. Rfe1 Qb7 25. Bb3 Rd8 26. Nc6 Rd7 27. Rad1
Rxd1 28. Rxd1 1-0

[Event "500 League"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.10.10"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jenkins, David J"]
[Black "Pilling, Marcus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D05"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d5 3. e3 e6 4. Bd3 c5 5. b3 Nc6 6. O-O cxd4 7. exd4 Bd7 8. Bb2
Nb4 9. Be2 Be7 10. a3 Nc6 11. Bd3 Qc7 12. Ne5 h6 13. Nd2 Bd6 14. Ndf3 Nh7 15.
Re1 Bxe5 16. dxe5 g6 17. Rc1 Qd8 18. c4 Ng5 19. cxd5 Ne7 20. d6 Nd5 21. Bc4
Nxf3+ 22. Qxf3 Bc6 23. Rcd1 Nb6 24. Qf6 Qxf6 25. exf6 Nxc4 26. bxc4 Kd7 27. c5
Rac8 28. Bd4 a6 29. f4 h5 {(=)} 30. Re5 Bd5 31. Rde1 Rhe8 32. h3 Ra8 33. g4
hxg4 34. hxg4 Rh8 35. Rxd5 exd5 36. Re7+ Kc6 37. Rxf7 Rh3 38. a4 Rc8 39. Rc7+
Rxc7 40. dxc7 Rh8 41. f7 Kxc7 {(=)} 42. Bxh8 1-0

[Event "Somerset v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.10.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rudd, Jack"]
[Black "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C22"]
[WhiteElo "224"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. d4 exd4 4. Qxd4 Nc6 5. Qe3 Bb4 6. Bd2 O-O 7. O-O-O Re8
8. Bc4 (8. Qg3 {is another way of sacrificing the e4 pawn for a double bishop
attack}) ({too slow} 8. f3 d5) 8... d6 (8... Bxc3 {accepts the pawn sacrifice
but I wanted a quiet [!] game}) (8... Na5 {seems too drastic}) 9. Nf3 Ng4 (9...
Be6 10. Bxe6 Rxe6 11. Ng5 Re8 12. f4 h6 13. h4 $5 {may only look dangerous but
would be exactly what my opponent wanted}) 10. Qf4 {Diagram [#]} Nge5 {TN} ({
previously} 10... Nce5 11. h3 Nf6 12. Nxe5 Rxe5 13. Bd3 Nd7 14. a3 Ba5 15. Qg3
Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Qg5+ 17. Qxg5 Rxg5 $14) ({black knows about} 10... Nxf2 $4 11.
Qxf7+ Kh8 12. Ng5 Nxd1 $4 13. Qg8+ Rxg8 14. Nf7# {sure this has happened in
the odd simul!}) 11. Bb3 Be6 12. Nd5 {[another rapid move - white took 20
minutes for the whole game, not arrogance just a playing style which has
brought my opponent many fine wins]} Ng6 13. Qg3 Bxd2+ 14. Rxd2 ({also} 14.
Nxd2) 14... b5 {[black's avoiding Ba4 after Na5 immediately]} 15. h4 Na5 $6 {
[asking for trouble]} ({after} 15... h6 {Jack considered} 16. Ng5 $5 {but I'm
happy enough after} Na5) 16. h5 Nxb3+ 17. axb3 {take towards the centre} ({
here it's better to open the c-file} 17. cxb3 Nf8 {then if white plays as in
the game} 18. h6 g6 19. Nd4 Bxd5 20. exd5 a6 21. Qc3 Qf6 22. Nxb5 {really does
win}) 17... Nf8 18. h6 g6 19. Nd4 {[good but played quickly]} ({expected} 19.
e5 {and if} dxe5 20. Qxe5 {wins}) 19... Bxd5 20. exd5 a6 21. Qc3 {[threatening
the basic mate at g7 after Nd4 moves somewhere nasty]} Qf6 22. Nxb5 $4 ({
expected} 22. Qxc7 Rec8 23. Qa5 Nd7 {with some sort of counterplay}) ({soon
after the game Jack mentioned} 22. Kb1 $1 {winning but black has} Nd7 (22...
Qe5 $2 23. f4 Qxd5 $2 24. Nf5) 23. Qxc7 Nc5 {looks playable}) 22... axb5 {
[allowing 23 Qxf6 [mating] on g7 but 23.. Ra1 mate first] An odd way of
winning against an International Master but they all count - as do one or two
of my time trouble losses in previous Somerset matches.} ({even more of a
tragedy would have been} 22... Qxc3 23. Nxc3) 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.10.18"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hassall, Mark"]
[Black "Edgell, Ben"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B17"]
[Annotator "Hassall, Mark"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

{I have played Ben twice before both lopezs, both draws. We also both play for
Taunton and the same 4NCL team. I like to think I'm as good as him but the
twenty point grade difference doesnt lie.} 1. e4 c6 {a surprise I've not seen
him play this before.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Bc4 Ngf6 6. Ng5 {
First time I've played this variation.} e6 7. Qe2 Nb6 8. Bb3 h6 9. N5f3 a5 10.
a4 Nbd5 (10... c5 11. Bf4 Bd6 12. Bg3 O-O 13. Ne5 {I was aware of this, the
most often played line}) 11. Ne5 Qb6 12. Ngf3 Bb4+ 13. Kf1 {I thought i had to
play this move as bd2 didnt work You dont instinctively like it, but the more
I looked at it, it seemed fine.} ({However} 13. Bd2 Nf4 14. Qd1 {seems ok})
13... Be7 14. Bd2 O-O 15. h4 Nd7 16. Rh3 Nxe5 17. dxe5 f5 (17... Bd7 18. Rg3
Kh8) 18. h5 f4 19. Nh4 Bg5 (19... Bxh4 20. Rxh4 Bd7 21. Kg1 $14) 20. Ng6 Rf7
21. Rf3 (21. Rd1 Bd7 22. Rd3 {with pressure down d file seems better} Re8)
21... Bd7 22. Qe4 c5 {I spent half my remaining time on the next move and the
game was then completed at a fast pace.} 23. Bxf4 Nxf4 24. Nxf4 Bc6 25. Qg6
Qa6+ $2 (25... Rxf4 26. Rxf4 Bxf4 27. Bxe6+ Kh8 28. Bf5 Bxg2+ 29. Kxg2 Qxg6+
30. hxg6 Bxe5 31. c3 $11) (25... Bxf3 26. Bxe6 $18) 26. Nd3 ({he had assumed} 
26. Kg1 c4 27. Qxe6 cxb3) 26... Rxf3 27. Qxe6+ Kh8 28. gxf3 Bxf3 29. Qxa6 bxa6
30. Nxc5 Bxh5 31. Ne4 Bh4 32. Re1 Re8 33. Ng3 Bg6 34. Kg2 Bg5 35. e6 Bf6 36. c3
h5 37. Bc4 h4 38. Ne4 Bd8 39. Nd6 Re7 40. b3 (40. Nf7+ $18 {I exceeded the
time limit playing this move. Ben offered me a draw as he said he doesnt like
winning like that. He has a reputationas a sporting player. We could probably
all learn from his example.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.10.18"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Richings, Harvey"]
[Black "Cooper, Michael"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D10"]
[PlyCount "50"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nc3 Bf5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. e3 e6 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Qxd3 a6 8. a3
Nf6 9. Nf3 Be7 10. O-O O-O 11. Bd2 Nc6 12. b4 b5 13. Rfc1 Qb6 14. Ra2 Rac8 15.
Rac2 Qb7 16. h3 h6 17. e4 dxe4 18. Nxe4 Na7 19. Rxc8 Rxc8 20. Rxc8+ Qxc8 21.
Nxf6+ Bxf6 22. Qc3 Qxc3 23. Bxc3 Nc8 24. Nd2 Nd6 25. g4 g5 1/2-1/2

[Event "European Youth Chapionship"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2014.10.20"]
[Round "2.38"]
[White "Aivazian, Grigory"]
[Black "Slade, Theo"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Bb7 5. Nc3 Be7 ({the presumably now old
main line was} 5... d5 6. cxd5 Nxd5 7. e3 Be7 {Now Kasparov won a number of
games with} 8. Bb5+ c6 9. Bd3) 6. Qc2 c5 {[Qc2 looks artificial so black hits
the centre]} 7. e4 cxd4 8. Nxd4 d6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Be3 Rc8 12. f3
a6 {[black has a very good version of the Hedgehog defence, a3 is not useful
and white has to waste another move taking the Queen away from Rc8]} 13. Qd2
Rc7 14. Rac1 Qa8 15. Na4 Nc5 {[imaginative idea giving up the b6 pawn to
activate pieces]} ({less risky} 15... Rfc8 16. Qb4 Qa7) 16. Nxb6 Qa7 17. Na4 $5
{[white plays the most exciting possibility - as juniors do!]} (17. Qa5 Bd8 18.
Nb5 Qb8 19. Nxc7 Bxc7 20. Bxc5 dxc5 21. Qxc5 Bxh2+ 22. Kh1 Qf4 23. g3 Bxg3 24.
Kg2 Nxe4 {wins horribly}) 17... Nxa4 18. Nxe6 Qb8 19. Nxf8 Bxf8 20. b4 Bc8 21.
Rfd1 Nd7 22. Bf4 Rc6 23. Kh1 ({faster} 23. c5) 23... Qa7 24. Be3 Qc7 25. Bd4
Nab6 {[black's defending sensibly]} 26. Qa2 Be7 27. Qb3 Nf8 28. Qd3 Be6 {
[Event "European Youth Chapionship"]
[Site "Batumi"]
[Date "2014.10.24"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Eliseev, Egor"]
[Black "Slade, Theo"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D05"]
[WhiteElo "1690"]
[BlackElo "1880"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. e3 c5 4. Bd3 Nc6 5. c3 d5 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. O-O O-O 8. dxc5
Bxc5 9. e4 Qc7 10. Qe2 h6 11. h3 Nh5 12. Nb3 Ng3 13. Qc2 dxe4 14. Bxe4 Nxe4 15.
Qxe4 Bd6 16. Be3 f5 17. Qc4 Ne5 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. Qxc7 Bxc7 20. Rfd1 e5 21. Bc5
Rf6 22. Rd3 b6 23. Ba3 Ba6 24. Rd7 Rf7 25. Rad1 Bb5 26. R7d2 Bc6 27. Bd6 Rc8
28. Nc1 Rf6 29. Bxc7 Rxc7 30. Rd6 Kf7 31. b3 Rxd6 32. Rxd6 Bb5 33. c4 Rd7 34.
Rd3 Bc6 35. Rxd7+ Bxd7 36. Kf1 Ke6 37. Ke2 Bc6 38. f3 g5 39. a3 e4 40. fxe4
Bxe4 41. Kf2 Ke5 42. Ne2 Bc2 43. b4 {(=)} Bd3 44. c5 bxc5 45. Nc3 Kd4 46. Na4
c4 47. Nc5 c3 48. Nb3+ Kc4 49. Nc1 Be4 50. g3 c2 51. Ke3 Kc3 52. Ne2+ Kb2 53.
a4 c1=Q+ 54. Nxc1 Kxc1 55. b5 Kc2 56. a5 Kc3 57. b6 axb6 58. axb6 Bb7 59. h4
Kc4 60. hxg5 hxg5 61. g4 f4+ 0-1

[Event "Torbay Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.11.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Barton, Alan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[PlyCount "117"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]

1. d4 b6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Ne7 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 d6 9. Bd3 Nd7 10. e4 e5 11. O-O g5 12. Bg3 Ng6 13. Ne1 Nf4 14. Nc2 Nf6 15.
f3 h5 16. Ne3 h4 17. Bf2 Nxd3 18. Qxd3 Nh5 19. Rfd1 Nf4 20. Qf1 Qf6 21. c5
O-O-O 22. cxb6 axb6 23. a4 Kb8 24. a5 exd4 25. cxd4 d5 26. e5 Qe6 27. axb6 cxb6
28. Qb5 Rc8 29. Be1 Rc6 30. Bb4 Rd8 31. Qa4 Kc7 32. Ng4 Ne2+ 33. Kf2 Nc3 34.
Bxc3 Rxc3 35. Rac1 Qc6 36. Qa1 Rc2+ 37. Rxc2 Qxc2+ 38. Kg1 Ra8 39. Qc1 Qxc1 40.
Rxc1+ Bc6 41. Nf6 Kb7 42. Nh7 Ra4 43. Rd1 b5 44. Nxg5 Be8 45. e6 fxe6 46. Nxe6
Kb6 47. g4 Ra2 48. Nf4 Bf7 49. g5 b4 50. g6 Bg8 51. Rb1 Kb5 52. Nd3 Ra4 53. f4
h3 54. f5 b3 55. Rxb3+ Kc4 56. Rb4+ Rxb4 57. Nxb4 Kxb4 58. f6 Kc4 59. f7 1-0

[Event "Torbay Major"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.11.16"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Hindom, Kevin"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 e5 6. d5 O-O 7. Nge2 a5 8. O-O
Nbd7 9. f3 Nc5 10. Bc2 Nfd7 11. Ng3 Qh4 12. Be3 Bh6 13. Bxh6 Qxh6 14. Qe1 Nb6
15. Qe2 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. b3 Bd7 18. a3 Rae8 19. b4 axb4 20. axb4 Na6 21.
Rab1 Re7 22. Bd3 Rg7 23. c5 Na4 24. Nxa4 Bxa4 25. Ra1 Bd7 26. Bxa6 bxa6 27.
Rxa6 Qg6 28. c6 Bc8 29. Ra8 h5 30. Rf2 h4 31. Nf1 Kh8 32. Ne3 Rfg8 33. h3 Qf7
34. Qd2 Rg3 35. Kf1 Qg6 36. Nd1 f4 37. Nc3 Rxh3 38. Ne4 Rh1+ 39. Ke2 Rg1 40.
Kd3 Bf5 41. Rxg8+ Kxg8 42. Re2 Qg3 43. Rf2 Rd1 44. Qxd1 Qxf2 45. Qd2 Bxe4+ 46.
fxe4 Qd4+ 47. Kc2 Qxe4+ (47... Qxd2+ $4 48. Kxd2 f3 (48... Kf7 49. Ke2 Ke7 50.
Kf3 Kd8 51. Kg4 Kc8 52. Kxh4 Kb8 53. Kg5 Ka7 54. Kf6 Kb6 55. Ke7 Kb5 56. Kd8
$18) 49. Ke3 fxg2 50. Kf2 h3 51. b5 $18) 48. Kd1 Kf7 49. Kc1 Kf6 50. Kb2 Qd4+
51. Qxd4 exd4 52. Kc2 f3 53. gxf3 h3 54. b5 Ke7 0-1

[Event "Torbay MInor"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.11.16"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Constable, John"]
[Black "Spargo, Philip"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E07"]
[PlyCount "78"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. g3 e6 4. Bg2 Nf6 5. O-O Be7 6. d4 O-O 7. b3 Nbd7 8. Nc3
b6 9. cxd5 cxd5 10. Bf4 Nh5 11. Qc1 Nxf4 12. Qxf4 Ba6 13. Rfc1 f5 14. Ne5 Nxe5
15. Qxe5 Qd7 16. Nxd5 Bd6 17. Qe3 (17. Rc7 Bxe5 18. Rxd7 Rfd8 (18... Rad8 19.
Ne7+ Kf7 20. Rxd8 Rxd8 21. Nc6 $18) 19. Rxd8+ Rxd8 20. dxe5 (20. Ne7+ Kf8 21.
Nc6 Bxd4 $11) 20... exd5 21. Kf1 $16) 17... exd5 18. Bxd5+ Kh8 19. Bxa8 Rxa8
20. Qf3 Bb7 21. Qd3 f4 22. d5 fxg3 23. fxg3 Bc5+ 24. e3 $4 (24. Rxc5 bxc5 25.
e4) 24... Bxe3+ 25. Qxe3 Qxd5 26. Kf2 Rf8+ 27. Ke1 Qh1+ 28. Kd2 Qg2+ 29. Kc3
Rf3 30. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 31. Kb2 Qf6+ 32. Rc3 b5 33. b4 Qf2+ 34. Rc2 Qd4+ 35. Rc3
Qxb4+ 36. Rb3 Qd4+ 37. Rc3 b4 38. Rac1 bxc3+ 39. Rxc3 h6 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Gloucs"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.11.29"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Csuri, Mate"]
[Black "Jenkins, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A22"]
[PlyCount "89"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Bc5 4. h3 O-O 5. g3 c6 6. Bg2 a6 7. Nge2 b5 8. b3 Bb7
9. O-O d5 10. exd5 cxd5 11. cxb5 e4 12. d4 exd3 13. Qxd3 Nbd7 14. Be3 Ne5 15.
Qf5 Bxe3 16. fxe3 Qe7 17. Rfd1 Ned7 18. Qf2 axb5 19. Nxb5 Nc5 20. Nec3 Rfd8 21.
b4 Nce4 22. Nxe4 dxe4 23. Rdb1 Nd5 24. a3 Qe5 25. Nd4 Nxe3 26. Qxe3 Rxd4 27.
Rd1 Rad8 28. Rxd4 Rxd4 29. Qf4 Qe8 30. Re1 g6 31. Qc7 Rd7 32. Qc2 f5 33. Bf1
Qe5 34. Re3 Kg7 35. Qc3 Rd4 36. a4 Kf6 37. a5 Rd1 38. b5 Qxc3 39. Rxc3 Ke5 40.
Kf2 Kd4 41. Rc4+ Kd5 42. Rc7 e3+ 43. Ke2 Rxf1 44. Kxf1 Ke4 45. Rxb7 1-0

[Event "6th London CC (Super Rapidplay Open)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.12.06"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Nakamura, Hikaru"]
[Black "Slade, Theo"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[WhiteElo "2905"]
[BlackElo "1920"]
[PlyCount "101"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 d6 4. Nf3 g6 5. d4 Bg7 6. dxe5 Nxe5 7. Nxe5 dxe5 8.
Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Bc4 Nh6 10. Nc3 c6 11. O-O-O+ Kc7 12. Ne4 Bf5 13. Ng5 f6 14. Ne6+
Bxe6 15. Bxe6 Rad8 16. Rxd8 Rxd8 17. Rd1 Rxd1+ 18. Kxd1 Kd6 19. Bc4 Ng4 20. Ke2
f5 21. Ba3+ Kd7 22. f3 Nf6 23. Bf7 e4 24. c4 Kc7 25. h3 exf3+ 26. gxf3 Nd7 27.
Be6 Bf6 28. Bg8 Bg7 29. Bxh7 Nf8 30. Bg8 b6 31. Be7 Kd7 32. Bh4 Ne6 33. Bf7 Nf8
34. f4 c5 35. Kd3 Bh8 36. Bg5 Bg7 37. h4 Kd6 38. e4 fxe4+ 39. Kxe4 a6 40. f5
gxf5+ 41. Kxf5 Nh7 42. Bf4+ Ke7 43. Bd5 Bf6 44. h5 Bd4 45. h6 b5 46. Bg8 Nf6
47. Bg5 Kf8 48. Bxf6 Kxg8 49. cxb5 axb5 50. Bxd4 cxd4 51. Ke4 1-0

[Event "6th London CC (FIDE Open)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.12.10"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Wettasinha, Vasanta"]
[Black "Harari, Zaki"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[WhiteElo "1761"]
[BlackElo "2074"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "149"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Bg5 Nbd7 5. f4 h6 6. Bh4 c5 7. d5 Bg7 8. Qd2
Qb6 9. Rb1 a6 10. Nf3 Qc7 11. a4 O-O 12. Be2 Re8 13. O-O Rb8 14. Kh1 c4 15. e5
Nh7 16. e6 {[great place for a pawn]} fxe6 17. dxe6 Ndf6 ({maybe} 17... Ndf8 {
but} 18. Nd5 Qd8 19. Bxc4 Bxe6 20. Rbe1 $1) 18. Nd4 b6 19. Bf3 Bb7 20. Bxb7
Qxb7 21. Rbe1 Rbc8 22. h3 Rf8 23. f5 g5 24. Bf2 Nh5 25. Nce2 Be5 ({also subtle
} 25... Qe4 26. Nc3 Qb7) 26. Kg1 N7f6 27. c3 Ne4 28. Qe3 Nc5 29. g4 {[the key
move giving white an unbreakable pawn chain]} Nf4 30. Nxf4 Bxf4 31. Qf3 Qxf3
32. Nxf3 Nxa4 {[extra pawn doesn't seem to help, white has a strong grip on
the centre and kingside]} 33. Re2 b5 34. Bd4 Nc5 35. Nh4 Nd3 36. Ng6 Rfe8 37.
h4 $1 {[already aiming for Rh8]} Be5 38. hxg5 hxg5 39. Nxe5 dxe5 40. Rxe5 {
[right way round]} (40. Bxe5 Nxe5 41. Rxe5 Rcd8) 40... Nxe5 41. Bxe5 Rc5 42.
Bd4 Rd5 43. Kf2 Rxd4 (43... Red8 44. Ke3) 44. cxd4 b4 45. Ke3 {[king position
should win for white, otherwise black's pawns are dangerous too]} a5 46. Ra1
Ra8 47. d5 a4 48. f6 exf6 49. d6 Ra6 50. Rxa4 {[sometimes a move is
irresistible!]} ({just winning is} 50. Rd1 Ra8 51. d7 Rd8 52. e7) 50... Rxd6 (
50... Rxa4 51. d7 Ra8 52. e7 {is very funny}) 51. Rxb4 Rxe6+ 52. Kd4 Kf7 53.
Rxc4 Kg6 54. Rc5 Re1 55. Rc4 {[black should draw really]} f5 $2 56. Rc6+ Kg7
57. gxf5 Rb1 58. Rb6 Kf7 59. b4 g4 60. Ke5 g3 61. Rb7+ Kf8 62. Kf6 Ke8 63. Rb8+
Kd7 64. Rg8 Rxb4 65. Rxg3 Rb6+ 66. Kf7 Rd6 67. Re3 Rd1 68. Re7+ Kc8 69. Ra7 Rh1
70. Ra8+ Kd7 71. f6 Re1 72. Kf8 Rh1 73. Ra7+ Kd8 74. Rg7 Ra1 75. f7 {[white
played the ending very well]} 1-0

[Event "Simultaneous display (Greet)"]
[Site "Truro School"]
[Date "2014.12.22"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Csuri, Mate"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "D11"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "145"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. e3 Bg4 5. Qb3 Bxf3 6. gxf3 Qc7 7. Nc3 e6 8. e4
dxc4 9. Bxc4 Nbd7 10. Be3 Nb6 11. Be2 $14 O-O-O 12. a4 Nbd7 13. a5 a6 14. e5
Nd5 15. Nxd5 exd5 16. f4 g6 17. h4 Be7 18. h5 Rdg8 19. Bd2 Nf8 20. Qh3+ Kd8 21.
f5 gxf5 22. Qxf5 Ke8 23. Bc3 Rg5 24. Qd3 Qd7 25. f4 Rg2 26. O-O-O Ne6 27. Rdf1
(27. Bd2) 27... h6 28. Kb1 Rhg8 29. Qe3 Ng7 30. Bd3 Nf5 31. Qh3 R2g4 32. Rf3
Ng3 {black's rolled back white's advantage} 33. Re1 Rh4 34. Qxd7+ Kxd7 35. f5
Nxh5 36. f6 Bf8 37. Bf5+ Kd8 38. Ref1 {white's position looks menacing but
black has an extra pawn} Rg3 39. Kc2 Rxf3 40. Rxf3 Rf4 41. Rxf4 Nxf4 42. Bd2
Ne6 43. Kd3 Kc7 44. b4 b6 45. axb6+ Kxb6 46. Bh7 Kb5 47. Bg8 Nd8 48. Bxf7 Nxf7
49. e6 Nd6 50. Bf4 Ne8 51. Bxh6 Bxb4 52. Bg5 Nc7 53. e7 Bxe7 54. fxe7 Ne8 55.
Bc1 Kb6 56. Ba3 Kc7 57. Ke3 Kd7 58. Kf4 Nf6 59. Kf5 Ng8 ({also} 59... Ne4) 60.
e8=Q+ {This was now the last game to finish} Kxe8 61. Ke6 Kd8 {now a striking
idea - the Ng8 is trapped} 62. Bc1 {[! MC]} Kc7 (62... Ne7 63. Bg5) 63. Kf7 c5
64. Kxg8 (64. dxc5 Kc6 65. Be3 Nh6+ 66. Bxh6 Kxc5) 64... cxd4 65. Kf7 (65. Bd2
{first then Kf7}) 65... a5 66. Ke6 Kc6 67. Ke5 Kc5 68. Kf4 Kc4 69. Kf3 Kd3 $2 (
69... Kc3 {seems to win !}) 70. Bb2 a4 71. Kf2 Kd2 72. Bxd4 a3 73. Ba1 {
a fantastic struggle} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Simultaneous display (Greet)"]
[Site "Truro School"]
[Date "2014.12.22"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Stephens, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D30"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. d4 e6 3. c4 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg2 Nc6 7. O-O Be7 8.
dxc5 Bxc5 {familiar IQP position} 9. a3 O-O 10. b4 Bb6 11. Bb2 Bf5 12. Qb3 Rc8
13. Nc3 Re8 14. Rad1 d4 ({instead of passive} 14... Be6) 15. Nb5 Rxe2 16. Nfxd4
Nxd4 17. Nxd4 Bxd4 18. Rxd4 $1 Qe7 19. Rf4 {[looks very strong]} Be4 (19... Be6
20. Bxf6 Bxb3 21. Bxe7 Rxe7 $11) 20. Bxf6 gxf6 21. Rg4+ ({maybe simpler} 21.
Bxe4 Rxe4 22. Qf3) 21... Bg6 22. h4 h5 $4 (22... Kh8 {black's sort of half a
pawn down here}) 23. Rf4 (23. Rxg6+) 23... Kg7 24. Bf3 Re5 {[black has serious
pawn weaknesses but otherwise active pieces]} 25. Rd1 $4 (25. Qd1) 25... Bc2
26. Qd5 ({or} 26. Qb2 Bxd1) 26... Bxd1 {[the only win for the simul team]} 0-1

[Event "Simultaneous display (Greet)"]
[Site "Truro School"]
[Date "2014.12.22"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A65"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "121"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 e6 4. Nc3 exd5 5. cxd5 d6 6. e4 g6 7. Nge2 Bg7 8. Ng3
O-O 9. Be2 b6 10. O-O Ba6 {I think this early ... b6 and ...Ba6 plan is better
against the white move order Bd3 followed by Ng1-e2. Anyway, I got a decent
game. (RG)} 11. Bg5 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Nbd7 13. f3 a6 14. a4 Qc8 15. Rfc1 Re8 16.
Qd2 Qb7 17. Rab1 b5 18. b4 $1 c4 19. Qf4 Qb6+ 20. Kh1 Rec8 21. h4 Ne8 22. Qd2
Rab8 23. axb5 axb5 24. Ra1 {Fairly balanced (JM)} Bf6 25. Be3 Qd8 26. h5 Be5
27. Bg5 Bf6 28. Bxf6 Qxf6 29. Kg1 Ne5 30. hxg6 hxg6 31. Ra7 Qxf3 32. Nf5 gxf5
33. Qg5+ Ng7 34. Qxg7+ Kxg7 35. gxf3 Nxf3+ 36. Kf2 Ne5 37. Ke3 f4+ 38. Ke2 Rh8
39. Rf1 Rh3 40. Kd2 Rh2+ 41. Kd1 f3 42. Ra5 Rb2 43. Ra6 Rxb4 44. Kd2 Rb2+ 45.
Ke3 b4 46. Nd1 Rb3+ 47. Kf4 Rd8 48. Ne3 Ng6+ 49. Kxf3 Ne5+ 50. Kf4 Ng6+ 51. Kf3
Rh8 52. Kf2 Rb2+ 53. Kg3 Rb3 54. Kf2 c3 $2 {Black's played a great game but
can win by doubling on the seventh. (JM)} (54... Rh2+ 55. Kg1 Re2 (55... Rbb2 {
(JM) is perhaps simpler, but having passed once at this position I stayed
trying to analyse Re2. (RG)}) 56. Nf5+ {Aren't most of us allergic to knights
attacking on f5? (RG)} Kh7 57. Nxd6 Nh4 58. Rxf7+ Kg6 {Placing my king on the
same rank as the Rd6 so allowing a knight discovered check was too much for me
to cope with as I did not realise he couldn't move the N as it guards the Rf7.
(RG)}) 55. Rxd6 {White's still hoping (JM)} (55. Nf5+ Kf6 56. Nxd6 {might draw.
(JM)}) 55... Rb2+ 56. Kg3 Rbh2 $4 57. Nf5+ Kg8 58. Rd8+ Nf8 59. Rg1 (59. Ra1 {
threatens Rxf8+ (JM)}) 59... Rb2 (59... Rh1 60. Rg2 Kh7 {seems to escape the
threats (JM)}) 60. Kf4+ Kh7 {[} 61. Rg7# {Second to last game to finish: hard
work. (JM)} 1-0

[Event "Hastings Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.01.04"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Slade, Theo"]
[Black "Wallis, Ian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C72"]
[WhiteElo "1869"]
[BlackElo "2009"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bd7 6. d4 b5 7. Bb3 Nxd4 8. Nxd4
exd4 9. c3 dxc3 10. Nxc3 Nf6 11. f4 Bc6 12. Qe2 Be7 13. e5 Nd7 14. exd6 cxd6
15. Re1 Nf6 16. g4 Ra7 17. g5 Rg8 18. gxf6 gxf6+ 19. Kf1 Qc8 20. Qh5 Rg6 21.
Be3 Bd7 22. Bxa7 Bh3+ 23. Kf2 Bg4 24. Bxf7+ Kxf7 25. Qxh7+ Rg7 26. Rxe7+ 1-0

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2015.01.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Neil Robinson"]
[Black "James Hooker"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A52"]
[PlyCount "82"]

{One of James Hooker's wins on the way to regaining the Emigrant Cup and the title of county champion.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 3. dxe5 Ng4 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Nc3 Ngxe5 6. Nxe5 Nxe5 7. e3 g6 8.
Be2 Bg7 9. O-O O-O 10. Qc2 b6 11. f4 Nc6 12. a3 Bb7 13. Bf3 Na5 14. b3 Bxf3 15.
Rxf3 Qh4 16. Bd2 Rad8 17. Raf1 Qe7 18. Nd5 Qxa3 19. Bb4 Qxb3 20. Qxb3 Nxb3 21.
Bxf8 Bxf8 22. Rd1 c6 23. Nf6+ Kg7 24. Ne4 f5 25. Nd6 Bxd6 26. Rxd6 Na5 27. Rf2
Nxc4 28. Rd3 d5 29. Rc2 Ra8 30. Kf2 a5 31. g4 a4 32. Rxc4 dxc4 33. Rd7+ Kg8 34.
gxf5 gxf5 35. e4 fxe4 36. f5 a3 37. f6 a2 38. Rg7+ Kh8 39. Rg1 a1=Q 40. Rxa1
Rxa1 41. f7 Kg7 0-1

[Event "Falmouth Cup"]
[Date "2015.01.31"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Martin Jones"]
[Black "Richard Stephens"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A56"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "76"]

{The rapidly improving Richard Stephens (Penryn College), making his first appearance in a senior competition, won the Falmouth Cup in impressive style against tough opposition.}

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 d6 4. Nc3 e5 5. e4 Be7 6. Be2 O-O 7. Nf3 Bg4 8. O-O
Bxf3 9. Bxf3 Ne8 10. Qc2 Bg5 11. a3 Bxc1 12. Rfxc1 a5 13. Qa4 Na6 14. Rcb1 Nac7
15. Qc2 g6 16. Bg4 Ng7 17. Qd3 f5 18. Bf3 Qd7 19. Qd2 Rf6 20. Qg5 Raf8 21. b4
axb4 22. axb4 b6 23. bxc5 bxc5 24. Rb7 $6 (24. Rb3) 24... Qc8 $2 (24... Nce6
25. Rxd7 (25. Qxf6 Qxb7 26. Qh4 Qb2 27. Rb1 Qxc3 28. dxe6 Qxc4 29. e7 Re8)
25... Nxg5 26. h4 Nxf3+ (26... Nxe4 27. Bxe4 fxe4 28. Nxe4 $18) 27. gxf3 Ne8
28. Ra8 Ng7 (28... fxe4 29. Nxe4 Rxf3 30. Ng5 R3f4 31. Nxh7 $16)) 25. Raa7 R8f7
$4 (25... R6f7 $16) 26. Nb5 (26. Rxc7 Rxc7 27. Rxc7 Qxc7 28. Qxf6 Qa5 29. Qxd6
Qxc3 30. Qd8+ Kf7 31. Qc7+ Kg8 32. Be2 $18) 26... Nxb5 27. Rxf7 Rxf7 28. Rxf7
Kxf7 29. cxb5 c4 30. exf5 Nxf5 31. Bg4 h6 (31... c3) 32. Qc1 Kg7 33. Be2 $2 (
33. b6 $11) 33... c3 34. Bd3 Nd4 35. f4 $2 (35. b6 c2 36. Kh1 Qa8 37. Bxc2 Nxc2
38. h4 Qc8 (38... Nd4 $4 39. Qc7+ $18) 39. b7 Qxb7 40. Qxc2 Qxd5 41. Qc7+ Kf6
42. Qd8+ Kf5 43. Qf8+ Ke4 44. Qxh6 $11) 35... exf4 (35... c2 $1) 36. Qxf4 Qc5
37. Qe4 $4 Nf3+ 38. Kf1 Nd2+ 0-1

[Event "Emigrant Cup"]
[Date "2015.02.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Richard Smith"]
[Black "Grant Healey"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[PlyCount "99"]

{Plenty of mistakes on both sides but this last round game in the Emigrant provided great entertainment for the spectators}

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Qxd5 4. Nc3 Qa5 5. Bd2 Bg4 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Bb5 O-O-O
8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. b4 Qh5 10. Be3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 e5 12. Qe2 Bxb4 13. Qa6+ Kd7 14.
O-O-O Bxc3 15. dxe5+ Nd5 16. Rxd5+ cxd5 17. Qb5+ Ke7 18. Qc5+ {(=)} Ke6 19.
Qc6+ Kf5 20. Qxc3 Rd7 21. Rg1 f6 22. f4 Qe2 23. Bd4 g5 24. Qh3+ g4 25. Qh5+ Ke4
26. exf6 Kxd4 27. Qf5 Rhd8 28. f7 Qe7 29. Qd3+ Kc5 30. Kd2 Rb8 31. Qa3+ Kc6 32.
Qc3+ Kd6 33. Re1 Qxf7 34. Qe5+ Kc6 35. Qc3+ Kb7 36. Rb1+ Kc8 37. Qh8+ Rd8 38.
Rxb8+ Kxb8 39. Qxd8+ Kb7 40. Qg5 h5 41. f5 Qf8 42. f6 Qb4+ 43. Kc1 Qe1+ 44. Kb2
Qxf2 45. Qxd5+ c6 46. Qd7+ Kb6 47. f7 Qf6+ 48. Kb3 Qf3+ 49. c3 Kb5 50. a4+ 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.02.07"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Slade, Theo"]
[Black "Stephens, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B55"]
[PlyCount "93"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. f3 e5 6. Nb3 Be6 7. c4 Qc7 8. Nc3
Bxc4 9. Bxc4 Qxc4 10. Bg5 Nbd7 11. Rc1 Qa6 12. Qe2 Qxe2+ 13. Kxe2 a6 14. Rhd1
Be7 15. Na5 O-O 16. Nxb7 Rfb8 17. Nxd6 Rxb2+ 18. Kf1 Nb6 19. Bxf6 Bxf6 20. Rb1
Rxb1 21. Rxb1 Bd8 22. Nd5 Nxd5 23. exd5 Bc7 24. Nxf7 Kxf7 25. Rb7 Ke7 26. Rxc7+
Kd6 27. Rxg7 Rb8 28. Rxh7 Rb1+ 29. Ke2 Rb2+ 30. Kd3 Rxa2 31. g4 Kxd5 32. Rd7+
Ke6 33. Ra7 Ra3+ 34. Ke2 Ra2+ 35. Ke3 Ra3+ 36. Kf2 Ra2+ 37. Kg3 a5 38. Ra6+ Kf7
39. g5 a4 40. h4 a3 41. g6+ Kg7 42. Kg4 e4 43. Kf5 exf3 44. Ra7+ Kf8 45. g7+
Kg8 46. Kf6 Rg2 47. Ra8+ 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.02.07"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Healey, Grant"]
[Black "Sivrev, Plamen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A46"]
[WhiteElo "175"]
[BlackElo "176"]
[PlyCount "119"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Bg5 e6 3. e3 c5 4. c3 Nc6 5. Nf3 cxd4 6. exd4 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8.
O-O Qc7 9. Re1 d6 10. Nbd2 Nd5 11. Qc2 h6 12. Bxe7 Ncxe7 13. Rac1 Bd7 14. Qd1
Nf4 15. Bb1 {(white offered a draw)} Bc6 16. Ne4 Bxe4 17. Rxe4 d5 18. Re1 Nfg6
19. h4 Qf4 20. g3 Qg4 21. Qd3 Nf5 22. Kh2 Rfc8 23. Bc2 Nfe7 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25.
Qh7+ Kf8 26. Rxe5 Qf3 27. Kg1 Qf6 28. Qd3 a6 29. Re3 Ng8 30. Rce1 b5 31. Rf3
Qe7 32. a3 Rab8 33. Qe3 a5 $2 {(Rc6)} 34. Qxe6 Qxe6 35. Rxe6 b4 36. axb4 axb4
37. Rd6 bxc3 38. bxc3 Nf6 39. Re3 $2 {(Bf5 preventing Ng4 and taking B off c
file)} Rb2 $2 {(Ng4 draws)} 40. Ba4 Ne4 41. Rxd5 Nxf2 42. c4 Ra8 $2 {(g6 and
black has good chances of counterplay)} 43. Ra5 $1 Rc8 44. Bb5 g5 45. hxg5 hxg5
46. Ra7 Nh3+ 47. Kf1 g4 48. d5 Ng5 49. Re5 Nf3 50. Rf5 $2 {(Re2)} Rb1+ $4 {
(Nd2+ draws; if Kg1 Nf3+ etc and if Ke1 Nf3+, Kd1 Rb1+ and if Kc2 Rxb5)} 51.
Kf2 Rb2+ 52. Ke3 Re2+ 53. Kf4 Nd4 54. Rfxf7+ Kg8 55. Rg7+ Kh8 56. Rh7+ Kg8 57.
Rag7+ Kf8 58. Rxg4 Nxb5 59. Rh8+ Ke7 60. Rxc8 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.02.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Shaw, Meyrick"]
[Black "Wilman, John"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy and Wilman, John"]
[PlyCount "44"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{Notes by Jeremy Menadue (JM) and by the winner (JW).} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3.
c3 (3. d5 {is more critical (JW)}) 3... b6 4. Bf4 g6 5. e3 Bg7 6. Nbd2 {
A London system (JW)} cxd4 7. exd4 O-O 8. Bd3 Bb7 {[quiet beginning]} 9. Nc4 {
Rather committal (JW)} (9. Qe2) (9. O-O) 9... d6 10. O-O Nh5 {A typical plan
against the London (JW)} 11. Bg5 h6 12. Bd2 b5 13. Ne3 {this looks a great
square for the knight (JM)} Qd7 14. Nh4 $2 {Decentralising and weakening the
d4 square (JW)} (14. Qb3 {with double attack on g6 and b5.} Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nf4
16. Be4 Nc6 17. Qxb5 Nh3+ $16) 14... Nf4 {covering the g6 weakeness (JW)} 15.
Bc2 e5 16. Ng4 {[white seems to be building up pressure on the black king]} h5
17. Ne3 Qh3 $3 {gold coin moment! (JM). He's fallen for it (JW) as clearly the
queen cannot be taken.} 18. Nf3 Nxg2 {JW: trust me, these combinations really
do play themselves.} 19. Ng5 (19. d5 Nf4) 19... Nf4 {a memorable move (JM)} ({
black also had the dull} 19... Nxe3 20. Nxh3 Nxd1 21. Raxd1 exd4) 20. Re1 ({
white has to play} 20. d5 {but it's not nice (JM)}) 20... Qh4 {[the queen
knows when it's not wanted]} 21. Nf3 Nh3+ 22. Kf1 {of course this is wrong but
the other king moves lost and white can be forgiven for being a bit stunned} (
22. Kg2 Ng5) (22. Kh1 Nxf2+ 23. Kg1 {wins} Nh3+) {and white resigned before B
could play Qxf2 mate. Moving the King to h1 or g2 is equally hopeless as the
f3 knight is pinned and black just wins it. (JW)  This was the 2nd game to
finish and paved the way for our famous victory against opponents who usually
thrash us - a great team effort.} 22... Qxf2# 0-1

[Event "Truro Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.02"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hassall, Mark"]
[Black "Smith, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C40"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Bc4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Nf7 Qe7 6. Nxh8 d5 7. Bxd5 Bg4 8.
f3 exf3+ 9. Kf2 fxg2 10. Re1 Bxd1 11. Rxe7+ Bxe7 12. Bxb7 c6 13. Kxg2 Bxc2 14.
Bxa8 Be4+ 15. Kf2 Bc5+ 16. d4 Bxd4+ 17. Ke2 Nd5 18. a4 Nb4 19. Nc3 Bd3+ 20. Kf3
Nd7 21. Be3 Ne5+ 22. Kf4 g5+ 23. Kg3 Bxe3 24. Re1 Bf4+ 25. Kg2 Kf8 26. Ne4 h6
27. Nf6 Nc2 28. Rxe5 Bxe5 29. Ng6+ Bxg6 30. Nd7+ Ke7 31. Nxe5 Be4+ 32. Kf2 Nb4
33. Ke3 Bd5 34. Kd4 Kd6 35. Nc4+ Kc7 36. Ne5 Kb8 37. Kc5 Na6+ 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Hampshire"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.07"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Tunks, Dominic"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "52"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. f3 d5 4. exd5 ({Considered a Blackmar-Diemer gambit a
tempo up} 4. Bf4 dxe4 5. Nc3 exf3 6. Nxf3) (4. Nc3 dxe4 5. Bc4 exf3 6. Nxf3 e6)
(4. e5 Nfd7 {may become a French}) 4... Qxd5 (4... Nxd5 5. c4 Nb6 6. Nc3) ({
can transpose to a centre-counter} 4... Bf5 5. Bb5+ Nbd7 6. c4) 5. c4 Qd6 {
Brand new position !} (5... Qd8 {has happened before}) 6. Nc3 a6 {Arguably
Black's most useful move of the game} 7. Be3 Bf5 8. Qd2 (8. Nge2 {gets in the
tempo move Bf4 but looks strange}) 8... e6 9. Nge2 {He plays it anyway} Nc6 10.
g4 $5 Bg6 11. Ng3 {Hard to tell if white's overextended or black's getting
squashed.} h5 $1 12. g5 h4 $1 13. Nge4 Nxe4 (13... Bxe4 14. fxe4 Ng4 15. c5 (
15. e5 $2 Ncxe5 16. dxe5 Qxe5 17. Ke2 Bc5 18. Nd1 Nxe3 19. Nxe3 Bxe3 20. Qxe3
Qxb2+) 15... Qd7) 14. fxe4 Bh5 15. c5 Qd7 16. Bh3 $11 {I had no idea what I
was doing !} (16. Bg2 h3 17. Bxh3 Bf3 18. Bg2 Bxg2 19. Qxg2 Nxd4) 16... O-O-O {
Turning down the draw and castling into an attack} 17. d5 Ne5 18. O-O Bg4 (
18... Nf3+ 19. Rxf3 Bxf3 20. Rf1 (20. c6 bxc6 21. Bf1 (21. Qd3 Kb7) 21... Kb7
22. Qd3 Ra8) 20... Bxe4 $5 21. Nxe4 Qxd5 {looks fine as} 22. Nd6+ $6 Bxd6 (
22... Rxd6 23. cxd6 Qxd2 24. Bxd2 Bxd6) 23. Qxd5 Bxh2+ 24. Kxh2 Rxd5) 19. c6
bxc6 $6 (19... Qd6 $1 20. cxb7+ Kb8 21. Qd4 c5) 20. Bxg4 Nxg4 (20... cxd5 21.
Be2 (21. exd5 Nxg4 22. Qe2)) 21. Qe2 Nxe3 (21... Kb7 22. Qxg4 exd5 23. Qxd7
Rxd7 24. exd5 cxd5 25. Rad1) 22. Qxa6+ Kb8 23. dxc6 Qc8 24. Qb5+ Ka7 25. Qa5+
Kb8 26. Qb5+ ({I didn't see that} 26. Rxf7 {was so strong} e5 (26... Bd6 27.
Nb5 Bc5 28. Nxc7) (26... Nc4 27. Qb5+ Nb6 28. Na4) {simply} 27. Kh1 {then Nb5
and Nxc7 or just b4 then Nb5} ({Not} 27. Rf3 Nc4 (27... Qg4+ 28. Rg3 {wins the
Ne3 as} hxg3 29. Qb5+ Kc8 30. Qb7#) 28. Qb5+ Nb6)) 26... Ka7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Hampshire v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.07"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Culliford, David"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B21"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "68"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 {Morra Gambit} cxd4 3. c3 dxc3 4. Nxc3 Nc6 5. Nf3 d6 6. Bc4 e6 (
{Not falling for} 6... Nf6 7. e5 dxe5 8. Qxd8+ Kxd8 9. Ng5 Na5 10. Bxf7) 7. O-O
Be7 8. Qe2 Qc7 ({Usually} 8... Nf6 9. Rd1) 9. Rd1 ({Maybe} 9. Bf4) 9... Nf6 10.
Nb5 Qb8 11. Bf4 e5 12. Bg5 O-O 13. Rac1 Bd7 (13... Rd8) 14. Bxf6 gxf6 15. Rc3 {
White's playing the right moves - not necessarily in the right order.} ({After
} 15. Nh4 {first,black is in more trouble}) 15... Bg4 $1 16. h3 Bh5 17. g4 Bg6
{Now black has a solid defence} 18. Nh4 a6 19. Nxg6 hxg6 20. Na3 Nd4 {Unless
white can sac the exchange on d4, black is just better} 21. Qe3 Kg7 22. Nc2 Ne6
23. Ne1 (23. Bxe6 fxe6 {The Nc2 isn't much good and black still has the
Mehrbauer}) 23... Nd4 $1 {I like the way the N keeps popping up to be annoying}
24. Nf3 Nc6 {And back again} 25. Nh4 Rh8 26. Qg3 Qg8 $1 27. g5 Qh7 {Very cool!}
28. gxf6+ Bxf6 29. Nf5+ Kf8 {Black might have everything under control} 30.
Nxd6 Qh5 31. Rdc1 Rh7 32. Rf3 Bg5 33. Bxf7 $2 ({Better} 33. Nxf7 Bxc1 34. Nxe5+
Ke8) 33... Nd4 $1 (33... Bxc1 $4 34. Bxg6+) 34. Rfc3 $4 {Right square - wrong
rook!} (34. Rcc3 Ne2+ 35. Kg2 Nxg3 36. Bxg6+ {and black may well win later})
34... Ne2+ {The whole game is a happy mixture of subtlety and brutal tactics}
0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Hampshire"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.07"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Black "Young, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B90"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. h3 {[quiet reply to the
Najdorf]} g6 {[but it's a Dragon]} 7. Be3 Bg7 8. Qd2 {[White has a form of the
famous Yugoslav attack with a pawn on h3 instead of f3. Black has a6 instead
of Nc6. Good for Gary, let's call it the Polperro Variation]} Nc6 9. g4 {
[may as well but tells black it's 0-0-0 soon]} Qa5 $2 ({better} 9... O-O 10.
O-O-O Bd7) 10. Nb3 Qd8 11. g5 {[heads towards a positional game]} Nd7 12. O-O-O
Nb6 13. f4 Be6 14. Nd5 {forcing exchanges and a clear plus} Bxd5 15. exd5 Nb8
16. Bd4 Rg8 17. Bxg7 Rxg7 18. Qd4 Rg8 19. Na5 {[for a change a strong knight
on the edge]} Qc7 20. Rd3 N8d7 21. Rc3 Qb8 22. Bg2 Nc5 23. Re1 Kd7 24. Rce3 {
[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.03.27"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Smith, Richard"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B08"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bc4 O-O 6. h3 Nxe4 7. Bxf7+ Rxf7 8.
Nxe4 Bf5 9. Qe2 Rf8 10. Bg5 Qe8 11. O-O-O Nc6 12. Rhe1 e5 13. d5 Nd4 14. Nxd4
exd4 15. f3 Qa4 16. Kb1 Qa5 17. Qc4 Rae8 18. Bh4 ({The attempt to win a pawn
with} 18. Nf6+ Bxf6 19. Rxe8 Rxe8 20. Bxf6 {fails to} Qd2 $1 21. Qxd4 Bxc2+)
18... h6 19. g4 Bd7 20. Qb3 Qb6 21. Qxb6 axb6 22. Bf2 $2 (22. Nd2) 22... Rxf3
23. Bxd4 Bxd4 24. Rxd4 c5 25. Rdd1 Kg7 26. Nxd6 Rxe1 27. Rxe1 Rxh3 28. b3 Bxg4
29. Nxb7 Bf3 {In this tricky ending this move loses. Black has the advantage
after one of} (29... h5) (29... Rh5) (29... g5) (29... Kf6) 30. d6 Bc6 31. d7
Bxd7 32. Re7+ Kf6 33. Rxd7 Re3 34. Nd8 h5 35. Rb7 h4 36. Rxb6+ Kf5 37. Rb7 h3
38. Rh7 Kg4 39. Nf7 Re1+ 40. Kb2 Kg3 41. Rh6 Re6 $4 (41... h2 42. Rxg6+ Kf4 43.
Rf6+ Ke3 44. Re6+ Kd2 45. Rh6 h1=Q 46. Rxh1 Rxh1) 42. Ng5 Re5 43. Nxh3 Rh5 44.
Rxg6+ Kxh3 45. a3 Rf5 46. b4 1-0

[Event "Roberts Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jenkins, David R"]
[Black "Lingard, Geoff"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C30"]
[PlyCount "51"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. f4 d6 4. Nf3 Bg4 5. h3 Bxf3 6. Qxf3 Nbd7 7. Bc4 c6 8.
O-O Qb6+ 9. Kh1 O-O-O 10. d3 exf4 11. Qxf4 Ne5 12. Bb3 Qc7 13. Be3 Kb8 14. Qf2
b6 15. a4 d5 16. exd5 cxd5 17. Nb5 Qc6 18. Nd4 Qe8 19. a5 Bc5 20. axb6 Bxb6 21.
Bf4 Kb7 22. Rfe1 Bxd4 23. Qxd4 Nc6 24. Qc5 Qd7 25. Ba4 Ra8 26. Re7 1-0

[Event "WECU Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Slade, Theo"]
[Black "Brusey, Alan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "1962"]
[BlackElo "1991"]
[Annotator "Slade, Theo"]
[PlyCount "79"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. Bd3 c5 5. e5 Nfd7 6. c3 Nc6 7. Ne2 f6 {
Technically speaking, I'm already out of preparation as I only prepared for} (
7... cxd4 {However, my moves in the game were strongly influenced by my
preparation, so I wasn't thinking properly yet.}) 8. Nf4 Qe7 9. Nf3 fxe5 10.
dxe5 Ndxe5 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. Qh5+ Nf7 13. O-O ({I was rather embarrassed to
find out after the game that Dad found my opening improvement. It's bad enough
for an engine to point it out - worse if your move is an unintentional Novelty,
but for your own Dad to point out an error as simple as this...? I'll have to
do a bit more training!} 13. Bxh7 $1 $16) 13... g6 14. Qe2 {I arrived at this
position in my preparation, but without the pawns at c5 and c3. I was trying
to decided whether this difference was better, worse or neutral for me. It
turns out that this is a very important detail, and therefore a lot of the
moves that I had discarded, (weren't the top line of the engine!) were
actually very good for me. However, as it turned out, I was right to follow my
preparation as my opponent suddenly fell to pieces.} Qd6 $2 15. Bb5+ Kd8 {
Only now did I truly begin to think for myself. It seemed to me that I had had
a dream opening: my opponent's King is displaced, all of his Bishops and Rooks
are on the back rank, I have castled, I am one move away from completing my
development... And I'm ready to strike!} 16. Nxd5 $1 {I was extremely happy
that when I played this sacrifice, there were quite a lot of people around me,
so they were able to watch this move and "ooh" and "aah" at it. Or at least
that's what Mikhail Tal likes to think.} Bg7 $4 {So there we have it: the
modern chess player. I had stayed up very late the night before this game
preparing with multiple engines, a database, an ebook and ChessPub, all the
while trying to memorise every subvariation that I had analysed. So far I have
made just one move of my own, and the position is already winning. I was
looking at the board, then at my opponent. Finally I looked at my scoresheet
in disbelief, still unable to believe that my preparation had worked that well
for me. Then I looked at the board again. And so it continues. Eventually I
managed to actually calculate variations, and once this started to happen,
nothing could stop me.} 17. Bf4 Be5 18. Ne3 Qe7 19. Rad1+ Kc7 20. Nd5+ $1 {
The prettiest and easiest way to win.} exd5 21. Rxd5 a6 22. Rxe5 $1 {Cleanest.}
Nxe5 23. Bxe5+ Kb6 24. Bxh8 {"And the rest is a matter of technique" Or is it?
How many times have you found yourself in a position that is technically
winning, but little by little you spoil your advantage until it's no longer
winning? This is the problem with knowing that your position is winning: you
keep looking for "winning" moves, rather than the best moves, or at least
decent moves. However, over the next few moves I lost my way and nearly ruined
a very nice game.} Qf8 25. Be5 $2 (25. Bc4 Qxh8 26. Qe7 {Stockfish is saying
"+5.89" but I have no idea why. White is winning, but is it really so obvious?!
}) 25... axb5 26. Rd1 Rxa2 27. Bd6 Qf5 {I'm still winning, but the path to a
win is becoming more and more narrow.} 28. Qe3 $4 {Unsurprisingly, I miss it.
This wasn't because I'm not able to see it, but simply because I wanted to set
traps for my opponent, who was running into time trouble, rather than win the
game on the board.} Rxb2 $4 ({But the path to a draw is even narrower! Indeed
after} 28... Qd5 $1 29. Qe1 $16 {White is clearly better, and Black would have
to play amazingly well under time pressure to arrive at the time control with
a position that is not lost.}) 29. h3 $1 {Ice cool. I have learnt my lesson:
be accurate! Now there's no way back for my opponent.} Kc6 {(=) This would
have been a very reasonable draw offer, had it not been for the fact that I
have a couple of forced wins and a large time advantage. Naturally I turned it
down.} 30. g4 Rb1 {The best practical chance.} 31. gxf5 Rxd1+ 32. Kg2 Rxd6 33.
Qf3+ $1 {Once I had seen this move, I knew I was going to win.} Kc7 34. f6 $8
Rd8 35. f7 Rf8 36. Qf6 Kd7 37. Kf3 {My opponent is paralysed, so there's no
need to hurry.} (37. Qg7 Ke7 38. Qxh7 Rxf7 39. Qxg6 $18 {was my original
intention, but I also realised that I would probably have something stronger
earlier on anyway.}) 37... b6 38. Ke4 Bb7+ 39. Ke5 b4 40. Qd6+ {So he never
did get to move 40, after all! :)} (40. Qd6+ Kc8 $8 41. Qxf8+ Kd7 (41... Kc7
42. Qd6+ Kc8 $8 43. f8=Q#) 42. Qd6+ Kc8 $8 43. f8=Q#) 1-0

[Event "Bedfordshire v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.25"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Greet, Andrew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C07"]
[Annotator "Greet, Andrew"]
[PlyCount "96"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 c5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. Ngf3 cxd4 6. Bc4 Qd6 7. O-O Nf6 8.
Nb3 Nc6 9. Nbxd4 Nxd4 10. Qxd4 ({White avoids the main line of} 10. Nxd4 {
in favour of an early queen exchange. This isn't considered especially
challenging for Black, but it's not a bad option, and leads to a balanced
position where both sides can play for a win.}) 10... Qxd4 11. Nxd4 Bd7 {
Diagram [#]} 12. Be2 ({After this move I was 'out of book'. I remembered that} 
12. Bf4 Rc8 13. Bb3 Bc5 14. Rad1 O-O {was the most popular continuation, and
that was about all.}) 12... Bc5 {I spent nearly twenty minutes deciding on
this move and anticipating the likely follow-up.} 13. Nb3 Bb6 14. Bf3 ({
I was expecting} 14. a4 a6 15. Bf3 O-O-O 16. a5 Ba7 17. Re1 Bc6 18. Bxc6 bxc6 {
when the position seems about equal; Black's queenside pawns have been split,
but the king is well placed to defend them while Black's pieces are nicely
centralized.}) 14... O-O-O 15. Re1 Bc6 16. Bxc6 bxc6 {Diagram [#] This leads
to a similar type of situation as the previous note. However, with the a-pawns
on their original squares, my queenside is more stable.} 17. Be3 (17. a4 {
gives Black a choice:} Ng4 (17... a6 18. a5 Ba7 {transposes to 14.a4 above})
18. Rf1 Nxf2 $5 (18... a6) 19. a5 Nh3+ 20. Kh1 Nf2+ {forces a draw if Black
wants it.}) 17... Nd5 18. Bxb6 axb6 {The position is close to equal, but Black
has some small advantages. The extra central pawn is a useful asset, enabling
Black to gain space in the future. Black is well placed to contest the d-file,
and can consider meeting a future Rad1 with ...Rd5, when a rook exchange may
allow Black to transform the pawn structure favourably. And finally, Black's
king can advance more easily. White should be able to hold, but his position
is slightly unpleasant and there is no obvious way to simplify to a clear draw.
When playing for a win in such positions, it's important not to put pressure
on yourself to prove anything, but rather to keep playing good moves and
improving the position. Eventually, if you make enough small improvements,
they will add up to something big.} 19. a3 {Diagram [#] Otherwise ...Nb4 could
be annoying.} Kc7 $1 {A good decision.} (19... Rd6 $2 20. Nd2 $1 {is rather
awkward, as the knight is heading for c4 and e5 with tempo. Black is actually
slightly worse here.}) ({I had been planning} 19... Rd7 {, but then I noticed
that White could improve his knight with} 20. Nd4 $1 Kb7 21. Nf3 {, and once
again Ne5 will be annoying.  I therefore elected to improve my king while
defending c6, ensuring that a future Nd4 will not come with tempo.}) 20. Rad1
Ne7 {The tension along the d-file is slightly awkward for White, as he cannot
really move either rook, whereas Black always has the ...Rd5 possibility.} 21.
Nd4 {The knight was not well placed on b3. If White does not improve it, then
Black may consider ...c5 and ...Nc6.} Rd5 22. Nf3 Rhd8 23. Rxd5 Rxd5 {Diagram 
[#] Now I have control over the d-file. There's no way to invade, but it will
take White a few tempos to neutralize the active rook, which will give me time
to improve the position in some other way.} 24. Kf1 Nf5 25. Re5 ({I was ready
to meet} 25. Ng5 $2 {with} Nd6 $1 {intending} (25... Ng3+ 26. hxg3 Rxg5 {
is marginally more pleasant for Black, but it should be a draw}) 26. Nxh7 Rh5 {
and the knight will be trapped.}) 25... Rd1+ {I considered allowing him to
take on d5, when ...cxd5 would give me a strong central majority that could be
supported by my king. However, I thought that the further simplification would
increase the likelihood of a draw. Moreover, White has the potentially
troublesome possibility of creating an outside passed pawn on the a-file.} ({
By the way, I decided at this point that} 25... Rd8 {was the move I wanted to
play, but took the opportunity to repeat the position as I was down on the
clock.}) 26. Re1 Rd5 27. Re5 Rd1+ 28. Re1 Rd8 {Diagram [#] No draw thank you! 
Here's another important point regarding playing for a win from an almost
equal position. Piece exchanges are fine up to a point, especially if they
improve your pawn structure, as was the case with the bishop exchange on b6
for example. However, any further exchanges from this point in the game would
lead to a pure knight or pure rook endgame; when you only have a single piece
left, then your active possibilities become much more limited.  However, when
you have both a rook and a knight, there are many more ways to put the
opponent under pressure, by using the two pieces together to attack a weakness.
Additionally, in this particular position, my main plan for the next few moves
is to start advancing my pawn majority and perhaps even attack my opponent's
king! Clearly, in such a situation, two pieces working together are worth more
than the sum of their individual parts.} 29. Ke2 {Preparing to contest the
d-file, but blocking the e-file, thus facilitating my next move.} ({If} 29. Ng5
Nd6 30. Nxh7 Rh8 31. Ng5 Rxh2 {Black maintains a slight initiative, especially
considering that} 32. Nh3 {(intending to force a rook exchange) runs into} Rh1+
33. Ke2 Rxe1+ 34. Kxe1 Nc4 {and Black wins a pawn.}) 29... f6 30. Rd1 Re8 {
Diagram [#] Once again, no more exchanges thank you!  Here's another simple
point regarding piece simplifications. To simplify from three pieces to two 
(not including the king) is not necessarily a big deal. However, to simplify
from two pieces to one reduces your active possibilities more drastically, as
you lose all potential for the two pieces to cooperate in attacking a weakness.
Obviously there are certain situations where it makes sense to do it, but just
be aware of the significance of swapping down to just a single piece plus your
king.} 31. a4 e5 32. b3 c5 $5 {Quite a committal move, but I wanted to make my
opponent worry about ...e4 followed by ...Nd4+.} (32... h5 {is a good
alternative, gaining space without fixing the queenside structure.}) 33. g4 $5
{Ross decides to gain some space and force me to make a decision.} Nd6 {
Diagram [#]} (33... Nd4+ 34. Nxd4 cxd4 {gets nowhere after} 35. c3 $1 dxc3 36.
Rc1 {with an almost certain draw.}) 34. c4 Nb7 $6 {Sending the knight to a5 
(with tempo) followed by c6 and later d4 seems obvious, but it is inaccurate.}
(34... h5 $5 {is one good option.}) ({Alternatively, if Black wants to improve
the knight, then} 34... Kc6 {followed by ...Nf7-d8-e6 avoids the plan
mentioned in the next note.}) 35. Rd5 $6 (35. Nh4 $1 {would have enabled White
to equalize:} Na5 (35... g6 36. Ng2 Na5 37. Ne3 {followed by Nd5+ is fine for
White}) 36. Nf5 Nxb3 37. Nxg7 Rg8 38. Ne6+ Kc6 39. Nd8+ Kc7 40. Ne6+ {with
perpetual check is one possible finish.}) 35... Na5 36. Nd2 Nc6 {Diagram [#]
The time control has been reached, and White is under pressure. Black's knight
is ready to jump to d4 or b4, and his flexible pawn majority is clearly
superior to White's static queenside constellation.} 37. Rd3 $6 {At the time I
thought this was forced, otherwise the rook would be trapped after ...Nb4.
However, it is too passive.} ({White needed to resort to active defence with} 
37. Ne4 $1 Nd4+ 38. Kd3 Nxb3 39. Nd6 {followed by Nb5+, when his active
counterplay may well be enough to draw.}) 37... Nd4+ 38. Ke3 h5 $1 (38... g6 {
is also good, but opening a file for the rook seems best.}) 39. h3 (39. gxh5
Rh8 {wins back the pawn and leaves White with serious weaknesses.}) 39... hxg4
40. hxg4 Rh8 {Diagram [#]} 41. Nf3 $6 {This allows Black to simplify to a
winning pawn endgame.} (41. Nb1 {or}) (41. Nf1 {should be preferred, although
in both cases I think Black should win with correct play.}) 41... Nxf3 $5 (
41... Rh3 42. Ke4 Rxf3 43. Rxf3 Nxf3 44. Kxf3 g6 {would have reduced White's
options, but the way I did it was good enough.}) 42. Kxf3 Rh3+ 43. Ke4 Rxd3 44.
Kxd3 g6 {Diagram [#] The pawn endgame is winning for Black, but a good deal of
accuracy is required in some lines. I would be lying if I said I calculated
all of them before entering this endgame; I needed to keep some spare time on
the clock, so I calculated as much as I could and followed my instinct, which
told me that I would at least have good winning chances.} 45. f3 (45. Kc3 $2 e4
$1 46. b4 (46. Kd2 Kd6) 46... cxb4+ 47. Kxb4 Kc6 {wins pretty easily.}) (45.
Ke4 Kd6 46. f3 Ke6 {followed by ...f5+ does not change much.}) 45... f5 46. Ke3
$2 {This fails to offer any resistance at all. White could have made my task
harder with either of the following options:} (46. g5 Kb7 47. Kc3 {Diagram [#]}
Ka7 $3 (47... Ka6 $2 48. b4 $1 {only leaves Black with a choice of drawing
lines}) 48. b4 Ka6 {is a lovely example of mutual zugzwang.}) (46. Kc3 Kb7 47.
b4 cxb4+ $1 ({I must confess that during the game I was intending} 47... Ka6 $2
{, when} 48. g5 $1 {reaches the same mutual zugzwang as above, with Black to
play and draw. I'd like to think I may have spotted this over the board, but
we'll never know.}) 48. Kxb4 Kc6 {Diagram [#] Black is winning. The main line
continues:} 49. Kb3 Kc5 50. Kc3 fxg4 51. fxg4 e4 52. g5 e3 53. Kd3 e2 54. Kxe2
Kxc4 55. Ke3 Kb4 56. Ke4 Kxa4 57. Ke5 b5 58. Kf6 b4 59. Kxg6 b3 60. Kf7 b2 61.
g6 b1=Q 62. g7 Qf5+ {Black has a textbook winning endgame.}) 46... Kb7 47. Kd3
Ka6 {Diagram [#] It's all over, as White can do nothing to stop the king from
invading.} 48. Ke3 (48. Kc3 Ka5 49. g5 e4 {wins easily.}) 48... Ka5 0-1

[Event "Bedfordshire v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.25"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Botteley, Michael"]
[Black "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D36"]
[Annotator "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 {[Be7 before Nf6 to encourage early Nf3 - see
note to move 8]} 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 h6 7. Bh4 c6 8. Qc2 O-O (8...
g6 $1 {if} 9. e3 Bf5 $11) 9. e3 Ne4 {[Lasker's move, unsure if it's sound in
this position]} 10. Nxe4 Bxh4 11. Ng3 Be7 12. Bd3 Na6 $5 {[The Knight eyes b4,
leaving the Bishops to defend the Kingside - 13 Bxa6 Qa5+]} 13. a3 Qa5+ 14. Ke2
({White doesn't want to move the King but} 14. Nd2 {allows} Nb4 {JM}) 14... Bg4
15. b4 Qb6 16. h3 Be6 17. Ne5 Nc7 18. f4 Nb5 19. Nh5 Rae8 20. a4 Nxd4+ $5 {
[Partly to divert attention away from the Kingside]} 21. exd4 Qxd4 22. Nf3 $6 {
[Rhd1 is a better way to drive away the Queen, before Black can play Bh4]} Qb6
23. a5 ({White probably didn't like the look of} 23. b5 c5 24. a5 Qd6 {JM})
23... Qxb4 24. Rhb1 Qd6 25. Kf1 ({b-pawn is poisoned-} 25. Rxb7 Bc8 26. Rbb1
Bf6+) 25... Bc8 26. Qc3 Bf6 (26... d4 {buys time to kick the Knight away from
h5 before Bf6}) 27. Nxf6+ gxf6 {[Black's Kingside doesn't look pretty but the
4-1 Queenside majority is waiting - JM]} 28. Qd2 Re7 29. Re1 Rfe8 30. Rxe7 Rxe7
31. Re1 c5 32. Rxe7 Qxe7 33. Qe2 Kf8 34. Bb5 d4 35. Qxe7+ {[difficult to be
sure but exchanging Queens seems to be a strategic error]} Kxe7 36. Kf2 Kd6 37.
Nd2 f5 38. Kf3 Be6 39. Nc4+ Kc7 40. Nd2 Bd5+ 41. Kf2 Bc6 42. Bc4 f6 43. Be6 Be4
44. g4 b5 45. gxf5 ({White should take} 45. axb6+ {but after} axb6 {the tide's
still coming in - JM}) 45... Bd3 46. Nb3 Kd6 47. Bc8 {[=]} Bc2 48. Be6 Bxb3 49.
Bxb3 c4 50. Bd1 b4 51. Ke2 Kc5 52. Kd2 Kb5 53. Bf3 Kxa5 54. Kc2 Kb5 {[An
excellent game - nice mixture of tactics and technique. All notes by Lloyd
except for a few marked - JM]} 0-1

[Event "Bedfordshire v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.04.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Valentine, Brian"]
[Black "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C87"]
[Annotator "Trudeau, Gary"]
[PlyCount "108"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

{My last game at county level had been a pleasant romp but this was to be a
very different type of game!} 1. e4 Nc6 {Unconventional but fully playable.
Sensible continuations now for white include d4, Nc3, and, probably
objectively best, the move white now plays.} 2. Nf3 e5 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 {
The Steinitz Defence deferred. I like this because it's solid and a bit trappy.
Unwary players of the white pieces sometimes lose material in the opening in
this line ...} 5. O-O Nf6 6. c3 {I was expecting Re1 and was surprised by this
insouciance. After not a lot of thought I decided to stick with the closed
line rather than take on e4.} Bg4 7. Re1 Be7 8. d3 (8. d4 b5 9. Bb3 exd4 10.
cxd4 Bxf3 {and white is forced to retake with the pawn and accept some
fracturing of his King's-side.}) 8... O-O 9. Nbd2 Nb8 10. Nf1 ({Okay but} 10.
d4 {is better}) 10... Nbd7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Ng3 Bg6 13. d4 b5 14. Bb3 c5 15. a4
Qc7 16. Bg5 Nb6 {Deliberately being a bit provacative. I was hoping he might
respond to this with an injudicious 17.a5? when after the knight goes back to
d7 the a1 rook is tied to the a file for fear of dropping the a pawn if it
ever moves elsewhere.} 17. axb5 {! But no, he's too savvy for that.} axb5 18.
Qe2 c4 19. Bc2 h6 20. Bd2 Nfd7 21. Nh2 Bf6 {?. Sloppy. I have opponents on the
Internet play the knight manoeuvre Nf3 to h2 then g4 all the time in these
kind of positions and during the game was kicking myself for missing such a
stereotyped reply.} 22. Ng4 Be7 23. f4 {! This proves to be very strong.} f6 {
It is imperative that black maintain his strong point on e5.} 24. f5 Bf7 25.
Nxh6+ $1 {Approved of by Fritz. Black remains under the cosh on the kingside
for the rest of the game.} gxh6 26. Bxh6 {Black doesn't have time to save his
rook because of the impending mate in two so I quickly played} Kh7 27. Bxf8
Bxf8 {The one sliver of hope for black in this position is that losing the
exchange has transmogrified his black-squared bishop from passive to
potentially rampant!} 28. Qg4 Bh6 29. Qh4 b4 $1 {White can hardly afford to
take this pawn because then ed in reply gives black a pawn roller but if he
can't take then next move his bishop is going to be reduced to being just a
bystander for the rest of the game.} 30. Rxa8 Nxa8 {Cornerising your knight is
a necessary prerequisite for winning at chess. You mean you didn't know that?!}
31. Nh5 b3 ({Definitely NOT the tempting but instantly losing} 31... Bg5 32.
Nxf6+) 32. Bb1 {Black now has some serious positional compensation for his
material deficit!} Qd8 33. dxe5 $1 {Accurate play.} dxe5 34. Rd1 Nab6 35. Rd6 {
This constitutes the high water mark of white's initiative as, very curiously,
it's all downhill for him from now on ...} Bxh5 {Gets rid of the chief
headache for black and the long term positional factors now favour him.} 36.
Qxh5 Qg8 {Necessary to stop any white queen encroachment at g6.} 37. Re6 {
Still angling for the conclusive king-side attack; it's fortunate that black's
defensive resources are adequate.} Qg7 38. Kh1 Kg8 {White's bishop might as
well be a pawn for the prospects it has. Black, amazingly, is now winning.} 39.
Qe8+ Qf8 40. Qh5 (40. Qg6+ {looks better to me when he's still got some
drawing chances.}) 40... Qg7 41. Qd1 $2 ({Okay, after} 41. Re8+ Nf8 {he's shot
his bolt and black is threatening ...Bc1 with dire consequences but I find
this move really strange.}) 41... Bf4 $1 {With the idea 42..Qg3 and if 43.Qg4+
in reply then after the trade of queens Bc1 wins immediately.} 42. g4 $4 Qh6
43. Kg2 Qh4 (43... Bc1 {was very tempting but this threatens even greater
mayhem so was preferred without too much thought.}) 44. Qf3 Qe1 {Mopping up
time.} 45. Bd3 {Played immediately this really surprised me but is a
reasonable last-ditch try I suppose. He can't play his queen to f1 to defend
the bishop because of mate in two.} Qd2+ {I can only plead general analytical
attenuation as a consequence of battling 'flu for over two weeks by this time
for missing that this can be simply answered by the opponent electing to save
his bishop. It's just sheer good fortune for me here that black's positional
dominance is now so great that he is able to win comfortably in spite of this
boo-boo.} 46. Be2 {Yes of course!} Qxb2 47. Rd6 Qc2 {Maintaining the pin on
the e2 bishop and facilitating the further advance of the b pawn.} 48. g5 {
He might as well. Since I was comfortably ahead on the clock I spent the
necessary few minutes here just ensuring that he doesn't have any way to
weasel a draw by perpetual check on the kingside.} Bxg5 49. Qh5 b2 ({It hardly
matters any more, but for the purists, yes,} 49... Qxe4+ 50. Bf3 Qc2+ {really
was more precise. In fact this variation wins, while the move played is only
good for a draw as shown below. (Ian George)}) 50. Re6 $4 ({Now after} 50. Qg6+
Kf8 {he's got precisely zilch.}) ({But} 50. Rxb6 {is a draw} Nxb6 (50... Qxe4+
51. Bf3 Qc2+ (51... b1=Q 52. Rxb1 Qc2+ (52... Qxb1 $4 53. Bd5+ Kg7 54. Qf7+ Kh8
55. Qg8#)) 52. Be2 $11) (50... Kf8 51. Qh8+ Kf7 (51... Ke7 $4 52. Re6+ Kf7 53.
Qe8+ Kg7 54. Re7+ Kh6 55. Qh8#) 52. Qh7+ $11) 51. Qe8+ {with perpetual check. 
(Ian George)}) 50... Qxe4+ 51. Bf3 Qc2+ 52. Kg3 Qxf5 {There is no weasel for
white on the kingside here. You may analyse to your heart's content!} 53. Bg4
Bf4+ 54. Kg2 Qxh5 {And white resigned because of the impending coronation of a
new queen.} 0-1

[Event "Frome Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.05.17"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Waterfield, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A57"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 4. cxb5 a6 5. b6 {[white refuses the Benko Gambit
then steers the game into the Four Pawns Attack variation of the King's Indian
Defence]} d6 6. Nc3 g6 7. a4 Qxb6 8. a5 Qd8 9. e4 Bg7 10. f4 O-O 11. Nf3 Nbd7
12. Bc4 Ne8 {[suggested by IM Beaumont - according to JW]} 13. Qe2 Nc7 14. Bd2
Rb8 15. Ra2 {[white tries to keep the queenside stable before attacking on the
other side]} e6 {[black can't just wait for h4, or even g4 then h4]]} 16. dxe6
fxe6 17. O-O (17. h4 Bxc3 18. Bxc3 Rxf4 19. h5 {didn't look very reliable})
17... Kh8 18. Ng5 Nf6 19. e5 Nfe8 20. Bd3 dxe5 ({hoping for} 20... d5 21. Nxh7
Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Bxg6 Rf5 24. Qh7+ Kf8 25. Bxf5 exf5 {then maybe the crude
} 26. h4) 21. fxe5 (21. Nxh7 Kxh7 22. Qh5+ Kg8 23. Qxg6 Qh4 $18) 21... Qd4+ (
21... Rxf1+ 22. Qxf1 Qe7) 22. Be3 Rxf1+ 23. Kxf1 Qh4 24. Nf3 ({much better} 24.
g3 $1 {as spotted by one of the crowd}) 24... Qb4 25. Qf2 Bd7 (25... Bf8 26.
Ng5) 26. Bxc5 Qb3 27. Nd4 Qb7 28. Be4 Nd5 (28... Qc8 29. b4 {consolidates}) 29.
Bxd5 exd5 30. e6 Qc8 31. exd7 Qxc5 32. Ne6 (32. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 {looked scary in
time trouble}) 32... Qe7 33. d8=Q ({didn't play} 33. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8 34. Nd4 Rf8
35. Nf3 {fearing} d4 {but missing} 36. Nd1 $1) 33... Rxd8 34. Nxd8 Qxd8 35. Ra1
d4 36. Ne4 Qd5 37. Re1 Qb5+ 38. Kg1 Bh6 39. Qf7 (39. Ng5) 39... Qe5 {[annoying
pin]} 40. Qf3 Nd6 41. Re2 Nc4 ({if} 41... Nf5 42. Ng5 {again} ({but not!} 42.
g4 Nh4 43. Qf7 d3 44. Nf6 Qc5+ 45. Kh1 Qc1+)) 42. Ng5 {[blocking the Bishop's
route to e3 and setting up 42..Qxg5 43 Re8+ Kg7 44 Qf8#]} 1-0

[Event "British Under 10 Championship"]
[Site "Coventry"]
[Date "2015.08.02"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hussain, Adam"]
[Black "See, Tristian"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[WhiteElo "65"]
[BlackElo "130"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Bxc6 dxc6 5. Nc3 Bd6 6. h3 Nf6 7. O-O O-O 8.
d4 Qe7 9. dxe5 Bxe5 10. Nxe5 Qxe5 11. f4 Qc5+ 12. Kh1 Re8 13. e5 Nd5 14. Nxd5
Qxd5 15. Qxd5 cxd5 16. Bd2 Bf5 17. c3 c5 18. b3 b6 19. Rad1 Rad8 20. b4 c4 21.
Be3 b5 22. Bb6 Rb8 23. Bc7 Rb7 24. Bd6 Bd3 25. Rf2 Rd7 26. Bc5 Re6 27. Bd4 Rh6
28. f5 Be4 29. Kh2 Rc6 30. Rdf1 f6 31. exf6 gxf6 32. Rf4 Rg7 33. h4 Rxg2+ 34.
Kh3 Rg7 35. Rg4 Rxg4 36. Kxg4 Kf7 37. Kf4 Rc8 38. Rg1 Re8 39. h5 Bd3 40. h6
Re4+ 41. Kf3 Be2+ 42. Kf2 Bg4 43. Kf1 Bh3+ 44. Kf2 Rg4 45. Re1 Re4 46. Rg1 Re7
47. Rg7+ Ke8 48. Bxf6 Rxg7 49. hxg7 Kf7 50. Ke3 Bxf5 51. Kd4 h5 52. Kxd5 Be6+
53. Ke5 Bg4 54. Kd6 Be6 55. g8=Q+ Kxg8 56. Kxe6 Kf8 57. Bh4 Kg7 58. Kf5 Kh6 59.
a3 a5 60. bxa5 b4 61. axb4 Kh7 62. a6 Kh6 63. a7 Kh7 64. a8=Q Kh6 65. Qh8# 1-0

[Event "Fide World Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2015.09.15"]
[Round "2.2"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Laznicka, V."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[WhiteElo "2742"]
[BlackElo "2676"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 {[makes a change from 2..d6]} 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Nc3
a6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3 d5 8. O-O Nf6 {[interesting tension - black wants white
to take on d5 and white would be delighted if black took on e4 !]} 9. Qf3 {
direct chess} ({more popular} 9. Re1 Be7 10. e5 Nd7 11. Qg4 g6 {and black
leaves the king in the centre behind a strong pawn formation}) 9... Be7 10. Qg3
O-O 11. Bh6 Ne8 12. Bf4 Bh4 13. Qf3 Be7 14. Na4 $5 {New as far as I know -
assume part of the idea is to distract black from the kingside} Nf6 15. b3 Qa5
16. e5 Nd7 17. Qg3 Re8 18. h4 c5 19. c4 $1 {[giving black a tricky choice -
play d4 in the game and have many of his pieces slightly cut off on the
queenside or allow white to take on d5 - possibly white could then switch to
attacking the queenside weaknesses]} d4 20. h5 Qc7 21. Rae1 Bf8 22. Bg5 {
[Event "Cornwall v Lincolnshire"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Dorrington, Chris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E18"]
[Annotator "Greet, Andrew"]
[PlyCount "99"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 Be7 6. Bg2 O-O 7. O-O b6 (7...
c6 {is more logical. My opponent's move gives Black a slightly dodgy version
of a Queen's Indian.}) 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Nc3 Bb7 {This structure can be reached
via a Queen's Indian, as well as a 1.Nf3/2.c4 move order. In both cases, Black
usually waits for White to put his rook on e1 (threatening e2-e4) before
playing ...d5 - and even then White has decent prospects for an advantage.
Here I haven't had to waste time on Re1, so I was already more than content
with my position.} 10. Rc1 {(5)} Nbd7 {(6)} 11. Bf4 Nh5 $5 {Rather a
provocative move, but not necessarily a bad one.} ({I was expecting} 11... c5)
({or} 11... c6) 12. Be3 (12. Bxc7 $5 Qxc7 13. Nxd5 {is tempting, and I spent a
while thinking about it. The critical line continues:} Qd6 14. Nxe7+ Qxe7 15.
Rc7 Bd5 (15... Bc8 $2 16. Ne5 Qd6 17. Qc2 $16 {was great for White in Hoareau
- Hutois, Le Grand Bornand 2007}) 16. Ne5 Bxg2 17. Rxd7 Qe6 $1 18. Kxg2 f6 $1 {
Otherwise White would be two pawns up.} 19. f4 fxe5 20. dxe5 {I managed to
calculate this far and thought White could be slightly better, but I wasn't
convinced that it was worth simplifying to this degree when I already had a
pleasant game.}) (12. e3 $5 {and}) (12. Be5 $5 {were interesting alternatives.}
) 12... c6 {Black takes a defensive stance in the hope of freeing his position
later.} (12... c5 13. dxc5 Nxc5 ({Of course,} 13... bxc5 $2 {would lose the
d5-pawn thanks to the misplaced knight on h5.} 14. Nxd5) 14. Nd4 {gives White
a pleasant position playing against the IQP.}) (12... f5 {seems too loosening,
and White can develop strong pressure with} 13. b4 ({or} 13. Ne5)) 13. Ne5 {
This active move emphasises the misplaced knight on h5; if Black exchanges on
e5, then his knight will require additional time to get back into the game via
g7.} Bd6 ({When annoting the game, I found a previous encounter which
continued:} 13... Nxe5 14. dxe5 g6 15. f4 Ng7 16. Bf2 Ne6 {Baumbach - Sarbok,
Germany 1995. Here I think the best plan would have been:} 17. Qc2 {[%cal
Gf1d1] White intends Rfd1 and, after suitable preparation, an e4 pawn break.})
14. Nd3 ({The computer suggests} 14. f4 {but humans tend to be reluctant to
play such moves. After} Nhf6 {I would be a little concerned about the
long-term consequences of White's last move.}) 14... a5 {I was quite happy to
see this, as it loosens Black's queenside.} (14... Qe7 {seems like a better
way to restrain b2-b4.}) 15. Qd2 Re8 (15... f5 $5 {was worth considering.}) 16.
Rc2 Ra7 {I could be wrong, but my impression is that Chris was struggling for
a plan. He was spending quite a bit of time and his last move seemed a bit
weird.} 17. Rfc1 Nf8 {Having made all the obvious improving moves, White must
decide how to proceed. Since Black's pieces are rather uncoordinated, I
decided to strike with an exchange sacrifice.} 18. Na4 Ne6 19. Rxc6 $1 (19. f4
$5 {is an interesting alternative, preparing to plonk the knight on e5, but I
had already made up my mind about the exchange sacrifice.}) 19... b5 $5 (19...
Bxc6 20. Rxc6 {gives White more than enough for the exchange. The pieces
coordinate well, the light-squared bishop is powerful and the b6- and d5-pawns
are weak.}) 20. Nb6 {(1:07)} ({The computer prefers} 20. Rxd6 Qxd6 21. Nc3 {
; I considered this as well, but preferred to stick with the plan of
eliminating his light-squared bishop in order to target the d5-pawn.}) 20...
Bxc6 {(1:40)} 21. Rxc6 Nf6 22. Nxd5 (22. Nc8 Rd7 23. Nxd6 Rxd6 24. Rxd6 Qxd6
25. Qxa5 {also seems favourable to White, but I didn't want to let him get
active along the c-file.}) 22... Ng4 $2 {Trying to complicate the game; an
understandable decision, but it may well be the decisive mistake.} (22... Nxd5
23. Bxd5 Bf8 24. Bxe6 Rxe6 25. Rxe6 fxe6 26. Nf4 $14 {gives White two pawns
for the exchange plus a better structure, but Black has decent defensive
chances.}) 23. Bf4 Bf8 $5 {Continuing the policy of avoiding exchanges.} (23...
Nxf4 24. N3xf4 {followed by e2-e3 maintains full control for White.}) 24. e3 $1
{This leaves the f4-bishop short of squares, so it had to be calculated
carefully. When I checked the game with an engine, I was pleasantly surprised
to see that every one of my next ten moves was the best available.} g5 {
If Black plays something else, I will just go h2-h3 with a dominating position.
} 25. Qe2 $1 (25. Ne5 {and}) (25. Be5 {should both be good enough, but I think
my move was the most effective. Black does not have time to exploit the pin
along the e-file with ...Nxd4 as the g4-knight is hanging.}) 25... h5 26. Be5
f6 27. h3 {This was the idea: I lose the bishop but pick up his knight in
return. And thanks to my accurate Qe2 move, I will soon be able to gobble up
the h5-pawn as well.} fxe5 28. hxg4 exd4 29. gxh5 Rd7 (29... dxe3 $2 30. Qxe3 {
leaves both the a7-rook and e6-knight hanging.}) 30. Qf3 {(1:48)} Rf7 {(1:57)}
31. Qg4 dxe3 32. Rxe6 (32. fxe3 {should win as well, but I saw that his
counterplay would not amount to anything after I ate the knight.}) 32... exf2+
33. Kf1 ({There is no point in allowing} 33. Nxf2 Rxe6 34. Qxe6 Bc5 {-
although White is still winning here too.}) 33... Rxe6 34. Qxe6 Qd6 {Black
would love to try and use his queen to threaten my king, but my pieces control
all the important squares. He had no real choice but to exchange queens, as I
was threatening both Ne5 and Qg6+.} 35. Nf6+ (35. Qe3 {is the engine's top
choice but, considering that the endgame is clearly winning, I don't feel at
all bad about the move I chose.}) 35... Kh8 36. Qxd6 Bxd6 37. Ne4 {This was
the idea behind throwing in Nf6+. The knight combines attack and defence,
ensuring I will be able to eliminate the f-pawn.} Bc7 38. Ndxf2 (38. g4 {
was a touch more accurate but it hardly matters at this stage.}) 38... g4 39.
Ke2 Rf5 40. h6 {(1:56)} Be5 {(1:59)} 41. b3 a4 42. Nxg4 axb3 43. axb3 Bc7 {
White can win in a few ways, but the quickest method is to focus on the black
king and either develop a mating attack or force the h-pawn through.} 44. Bf3
Kh7 45. Nc3 Rc5 46. Be4+ Kh8 47. Nd5 Bxg3 48. Ne7 {The primary threat is Nf6,
intending Ng6 mate!} Rc7 ({I was expecting} 48... Rg5 49. Ng6+ Kh7 (49... Kg8
50. Nf6+ Kf7 51. h7) 50. N6e5+ Kg8 51. Nf6+ Kf8 52. h7 Kg7 53. Ne8+ {and wins}
({or} 53. Nf7)) 49. Ng6+ Kh7 (49... Kg8 50. Nf6+ Kf7 51. h7 {and Black can
resign.}) 50. Nf8+ {(2:12) Seeing that the h-pawn is unstoppable, Black
resigned.} (50. Nf8+ {The finish might have been:} Kg8 (50... Kh8 51. Nf6 {
traps the king and sets up Ng6 mate}) 51. h7+ Kh8 (51... Kg7 52. Ne6+ {picks
up the rook}) 52. Nf6 {and Ng6+.}) 1-0

[Event "WECU Jamboree"]
[Site "Taunton"]
[Date "2016.09.11"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Hassall, Mark"]
[Black "Homer, Stephen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B94"]
[Annotator "Hassall, Mark"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 Nbd7 7. f4 e5 8. Nf3
Qa5 9. Qd2 h6 10. Bxf6 Nxf6 11. Bc4 Be7 (11... Qb4 12. fxe5 Qxc4 13. exf6 gxf6
14. Nd5 $16) 12. O-O-O O-O 13. Kb1 Qc5 14. Bb3 b5 $2 15. Nd5 Bd8 16. Rhe1 exf4
17. Qxf4 Nd7 18. Nd4 Bg5 19. Qg3 Ne5 20. h4 Bd8 21. Nf5 Bxf5 22. exf5 Kh7 23.
Rf1 Ra7 24. f6 g6 25. h5 Rg8 26. Qh3 g5 27. Qf5+ Kh8 28. c3 a5 29. Bc2 Ng6 30.
hxg6 Rxg6 31. Qh3 1-0

[Event "Devon v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.10.08"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Homer, Stephen"]
[Black "Hooker, James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B40"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Bd3 Nc6 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. O-O d5 8.
Nd2 Bd6 9. f4 O-O 10. e5 Bc5+ 11. Kh1 Nd7 12. Qh5 f5 13. g4 $2 g6 14. Qh3 Bb7
15. Nf3 Bb6 16. gxf5 exf5 17. b3 Qe7 18. Bb2 c5 19. Rae1 c4 20. bxc4 Qb4 21. e6
dxc4 22. Ba3 Qxa3 23. Bxc4 Qc3 24. Bb3 Nf6 25. e7+ Rf7 26. Re6 Kg7 27. Re5 Re8
28. Bxf7 Kxf7 29. Re2 Rxe7 30. Rxe7+ Kxe7 31. Re1+ Qxe1+ 0-1

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Smith, Richard"]
[Black "Gill, Percy"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B46"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 a6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Bb4 7. a3 Bxc3+ 8.
bxc3 Nge7 9. f4 d6 10. Bd3 e5 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O f5 13. Bc4+ Kh8 14. Ng5 exf4
15. Bxf4 Qb6+ 16. Kh1 h6 17. Bxd6 Qe3 18. Bf4 Qxc3 19. Nf7+ Kh7 20. Ba2 fxe4
21. Qh5 Bf5 22. Bxh6 Bg6 23. Ng5+ Kh8 24. Bxg7+ Kxg7 25. Ne6+ 1-0

[Event "A.W Busby Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.09"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hassall, Mark"]
[Black "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C12"]
[WhiteElo "183"]
[BlackElo "153"]
[Annotator "Trudeau, Gary"]
[PlyCount "76"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 {I've noticed that members of the Cornish chessplaying elite seem to
be less comfortable playing against the French than they are against other
defences so this felt like the right option to pick against Mark with his
classical style.} 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. Bg5 Bb4 {Capablanca once wrote that
of all the variations of the French defence this one was the one that he
regarded as giving black the best chances of assuming the initiative.} (4...
Be7 {is the solid and very playable alternative.}) 5. e5 h6 6. Bd2 Bxc3 7. bxc3
{For a discussion of why making the more natural looking recapture with the
bishop is bad for white see Bobby Fischer's "My 60 memorable Games".} Ne4 8.
Qg4 Kf8 {Not surprisingly most players prefer (8)...g6 here as it goes against
the grain to voluntarily play a move that involves permanently relinquishing
k-side castling rights. I know of at least one game where Capa famously lost
as black after playing this variation but he also won others in this line so
it must be playable.} 9. h4 {Some players play thiss with a view to attacking
after some such manouevre as Rh3 then Rg3 etc. but I think a maturer
understanding of this position is that this move also stops black getting a
comfortable game quite easily after trading knight for bishop on d2 and then
following up with the queen check on g5.} c5 10. Qf4 $2 {I don't see the point
of this and it does seem a tad time-wasting.} (10. Bd3 {seems more natural.})
10... Qb6 11. Bd3 Qb2 12. Rc1 Nxd2 13. Kxd2 Bd7 {To have an answer to the
impending (14)Bg6.} 14. Bg6 Be8 15. Ne2 {Threatening to swing the rook over to
b1 and follow up with a capture on b7 that would be pretty crunching for white.
Good enough but that said I think that f3 is a better square for the knight in
this position.} Qa3 (15... Qxa2 $4 16. Ra1 Qc4 17. Bd3 $18) 16. Rb1 b6 17. Rb3
Qa5 (17... Qxa2 18. dxc5 Nc6 (18... bxc5 19. Rb7 Nd7 20. Rxd7 $18) 19. cxb6 Na5
20. Rb4 Nc4+ 21. Rxc4 Qxc4 (21... dxc4 22. b7 Rb8 23. Be4 $16) 22. Ra1 (22. b7
$2 Qxf4+ 23. Nxf4 Rb8 24. Bd3 Rxb7 $19)) 18. dxc5 Qxc5 19. Nd4 Ke7 $1 20. Bh5 {
It's hard to decide if this is dubious or not. Maybe Bd3 is but perhaps Mark
was hoping to provoke an injudicious (20)...g6?? Who knows?} Rf8 21. Re1 Nc6
22. Rb5 Qa3 23. Rb3 Qxa2 24. Be2 Na5 25. Rb4 Rc8 26. Qg3 Rg8 27. Reb1 Nc4+ 28.
Ke1 Qa5 $2 (28... Na3 $5) 29. f4 Qc5 30. f5 Bd7 31. Bxc4 dxc4 32. Qf4 Qd5 33.
f6+ Kf8 34. Rd1 $1 g5 $1 35. hxg5 hxg5 (35... Rxg5 $4 36. Nf3 $18) 36. Qe3 Qxg2
37. Ne2 {!} Qc6 38. Qd4 Qh1+ {It's not clear wh white resigned here. White is
better but the position is not an easy win.} 0-1

[Event "Torquay Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.11.11"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Wheeler, John"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D00"]
[WhiteElo "189"]
[BlackElo "174"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2016.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bg5 h6 3. Bh4 c6 4. Nf3 Qb6 5. Nbd2 Bf5 6. b3 Nd7 7. e3 e6 8. Be2
Ngf6 9. O-O Ba3 10. Rb1 Bb4 11. a4 O-O 12. Kh1 Rac8 13. Bd3 Ne4 $6 14. Bxe4
dxe4 {now a zwischenzug} 15. Nc4 Qa6 16. Nfe5 Nxe5 17. dxe5 f6 (17... g5 18.
Bg3 Rfd8 19. Qh5 Kg7 20. h4) 18. exf6 gxf6 19. Qh5 Kg7 20. Rfd1 $1 ({if} 20.
Rbd1 {and a later move by the rook down the d-file leaves the Nc4 pinned
against Rf1}) 20... Rc7 ({not the natural} 20... Rcd8 21. Rxd8 Rxd8 22. Bxf6+
Kxf6 23. Qh4+) 21. Bg3 Rcf7 (21... Bg6 22. Qh4 Re7 23. Bf4 Rh8 24. Bd6 Bxd6 25.
Rxd6 $16) 22. Bf4 Rh8 23. Ne5 $1 (23. g4 Bg6) 23... Re7 (23... fxe5 24. Bxe5+
Kg8 25. Bxh8 Kxh8 26. Qxf7) 24. g4 fxe5 (24... Qe2 25. Rg1 fxe5 26. gxf5+) 25.
Bxe5+ Kh7 26. gxf5 ({not} 26. Bxh8 Qe2 $1) 26... Rg8 27. Rd8 $1 Rgg7 {[played
with good humour]} (27... Reg7 28. Bxg7 Rxg7 (28... Rxd8 29. Qg6+ Kg8 30. Bxh6+
Kh8 31. Qg7#) 29. Rg1 {forces mate}) (27... Rxd8 28. Qg6#) 28. Qg6+ {[not the
sort of move you get to play very often]} Rxg6 29. Rh8# {[Sacrificed a pawn,
knight, rook and a queen - but sadly not a bishop to make the set ! - JM]} 1-0

[Event "County match"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.02.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C10"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. f3 Bb4 5. a3 Ba5 6. b4 Bb6 7. Be3 Nf6 8. fxe4
e5 9. dxe5 Qxd1+ 10. Rxd1 Nxe4 11. Nd5 Nc3 12. Bxb6 Nxd5 13. Bc5 Nf4 14. Be3
Ne6 15. Nf3 O-O 16. Bb5 b6 17. O-O Ba6 18. Bd3 Bb7 19. Rfe1 g6 20. Bc4 Ng7 21.
Bh6 Nc6 22. Rd7 Rac8 23. e6 Nxe6 24. Rxe6 1-0

[Event "Penwith Junior Championships"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.05.02"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Anderson, Lola"]
[Black "Strevens, Lily"]
[Result "1-0"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

1. d4 e6 2. e3 Nf6 3. c4 Nc6 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. Bd2 d5 {keeping the tension in the
position} 6. a3 Bxd2+ 7. Nbxd2 Na5 8. cxd5 exd5 9. Bd3 Nc6 10. Bb5 O-O 11. Bxc6
{doubling blacks pawns and creating some weaknesses} bxc6 12. O-O Ba6 13. Re1
Ng4 14. h3 Nf6 15. Rc1 Qe8 16. Qa4 Bb7 17. Nb3 {eyeing up the weak c5 square}
Qe6 18. Ne5 {+- whites knights begin to dominate} c5 19. Nxc5 Qc8 20. Nxb7 Qxb7
21. Nd7 Nxd7 22. Qxd7 Rfd8 23. Qxc7 Qxb2 24. Qa5 Rab8 25. Rc3 Qd2 {pinning the
rook against the queen, the game is delicately poised with black begining to
create some counterplay} 26. Rec1 h6 {stopping any back rank checkmate ideas}
27. Qa6 Qb2 {missing 27..Rb2 giving black plenty of counterplay and threats
against f2} (27... Rb2 28. Qf1 {+=}) 28. Qa4 Qd2 29. Qc2 Qxc2 30. R1xc2 Rd7 31.
Rc8+ Kh7 $2 {the fatal mistake, hanging the rook on b8} (31... Rxc8 32. Rxc8+
Kh7 {+=}) 32. Rxb8 Kg6 33. Rc6+ f6 34. Rbc8 a5 35. Rg8 Kh7 36. Rf8 g6 37. Rfxf6
Rg7 38. Rcd6 g5 39. Rxh6+ Kg8 40. Rd8+ Kf7 41. Rd7+ Kf8 42. Rxg7 {simplifying
to a won endgame} (42. Rh8+ Rg8 43. Rhh7 Rg7 44. Rdxg7 g4 45. Rxg4 a4 46. Rgg7
Ke8 47. Rh8#) 42... Kxg7 43. Rd6 Kf7 44. Kh2 {bringing the king into the
action, as every junior knows (or not!) to checkmate with a rook you have to
use your king as well} Ke7 45. Ra6 g4 46. Kg3 $1 {ignoring the pawn on g4 and
focusing on checkmate} Kf7 47. Kf4 Ke7 48. Rh6 Kf7 49. Ke5 Kg7 50. Ra6 Kh7 51.
Kf5 Kg7 52. Rb6 Kh7 53. Kg5 Kg7 54. Rb7+ Kg8 55. Kf6 Kh8 56. Kg6 Kg8 57. Rb8# {
a clinical finish by white in a closely fought game that was very well played
by both players} 1-0

[Event "Leicestershire v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.05.13"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Burrows, Martin"]
[Black "Greet, Andrew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C11"]
[WhiteElo "205"]
[BlackElo "238"]
[Annotator "Greet, Andrew"]
[PlyCount "122"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]

{The last time I played Martin, he took a draw off me with the black pieces,
so I knew this would be a tough game.} 1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 {There was
no real chance to prepare before the game, so I opted for a fairly solid line
without too much sharp theory.} 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 c5 6. Nf3 Nc6 7. Be3 a6 {
This is one of several respectable lines at Black's disposal. The idea is
obvious: Black commences queenside counterplay as quickly as possible.} 8. Qd2
b5 9. a3 (9. dxc5 Bxc5 {is the other main line.}) 9... Qa5 ({Funnily enough, I
have played the White side of this variation a few times, facing} 9... Qb6) ({
and even} 9... g5 $5 {. Clearly it's a rich position with many possibilities
for both sides; but I happen to like the move I played in the game. The idea
is to prepare ...b4 without allowing the reply axb4.}) 10. Ra2 {Other moves
are possible, but this is considered one of White's principal tries for an
advantage. With the rook now defended, White is ready to meet ...b4 with axb4.}
Qb6 $1 {Is Black losing a tempo? Not really. Rather, I'm angling for a
slightly improved version of the 9...Qb6 line, as White's rook is slightly
worse on a2 than a1, as it can't reach the centre so easily.} 11. Ne2 {A good
move, reinforcing the crucial d4-square.} Qc7 $5 {I didn't have a chance to
prepare before the game and I was nearing the limits of my exact theoretical
knowledge. I did, however, remember that this quirky queen retreat had been
covered in "Playing the French" by Aagaard and Ntirlis - a book which I
edited! It looks weird to move the queen for the third time in a row, but
Black is claiming that the free moves Ra2 and Ne2 don't really help White.} (
11... b4 12. axb4 Nxb4 13. Ra1 Nc6 {is another line covered in the
aforementioned book. I considered this as well but, since I couldn't remember
any exact theory, I thought it would be safer to keep the position more closed.
}) (11... Bb7 {is playable, but after} 12. dxc5 Bxc5 (12... Nxc5 $4 {loses to}
13. b4) 13. Ned4 {White has easy development and Black must take time out to
deal with the positional threat of b2-b4.}) 12. dxc5 {This new move is not
especially threatening, although White's position remains okay.} ({After the
game I consulted "Playing the French" and found an impressive illustrative
line:} 12. g3 cxd4 13. Nexd4 Nc5 {A similar position has been tested after 9...
Qb6 10.Ne2 Qc7 etc., where White has good chances for an advantage. The
difference here is that the rook is on a2 instead of a1, and this small detail
is enough to give Black equal chances! The key line goes as follows:} 14. Nxc6
Ne4 15. Qe2 Qxc6 16. Nd4 Qc7 17. Bg2 Bb7 18. O-O Bc5 19. c3 O-O 20. Nb3 Bxe3+
21. Qxe3 Qc4 $1 {Finally the difference becomes clear, as White must move his
knight to a passive position and then spend time rerouting his rook via a1.}
22. Nc1 Rac8 23. Ra1 (23. Kh1 $2 Nxc3 $1 24. bxc3 Qxf1+ 25. Bxf1 d4+ $19 {
is a nice variation}) 23... Qc5 24. Re1 Qxe3+ 25. Rxe3 Nc5 {With equal chances.
Obviously I had no recollection of this during the game, other than the
general point of realising that the rook was worse on a2 than a1.}) (12. c3 {
is another natural move which has been tested in a few games. I was intending
to meet this with} Na5 {, aiming at the light squares on the queenside.}) 12...
Nxc5 $1 {This is the right recapture, sending the knight towards e4. It's also
the move that reaps some benefit out of retreating the queen to c7. If the
queen was still on b6, White would win a piece with b2-b4.} (12... Bxc5 $6 13.
Bxc5 (13. Ned4 $5) 13... Nxc5 14. Ned4 {gives White easy play, as} Ne4 {
can be conveniently met by} 15. Qe3 {followed by Bd3.}) 13. Ned4 Ne4 14. Qc1 {
We've reached a typical French structure where the active knight on e4 and the
odd placement of White's queen and rook mean that Black shouldn't be worse.
It's still an interesting battle though, full of complexity and challenges for
both sides.} Bd7 (14... Bb7 {is a playable alternative, which might well come
to the same thing after an exchange on c6. On b7 the bishop provides
additional support to the knight on e4, but I decided to put it on d7 in order
to restrain f4-f5 and support the b5-pawn, in case ...a5 becomes a good option.
}) ({The computer points out} 14... g5 $5 {as an interesting possibility; I
didn't consider this at all during the game.}) 15. Bd3 Be7 16. O-O O-O 17. Nxc6
Bxc6 18. Nd4 Rfc8 ({I thought about} 18... Rac8 {but was put off by} 19. c3 {
, when I'd prefer my rook on b8 to prepare ...a5 and ...b4. My chosen move
leaves the kingside slightly short of defenders, but I decided I could afford
to take this small risk as his queen and a2-rook are not well placed to
support an attack.}) (18... Bd7 {followed by ...f6 is another possible plan.})
19. Ra1 Rab8 20. c3 a5 {Continuing with my plan of attacking on the queenside.}
(20... Bd7 {was worth considering, since} 21. f5 $6 (21. Qc2 Qb7 {looks
complex and roughly equal}) 21... exf5 22. Nxf5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 g6 {is good for
Black.}) 21. f5 $1 {White takes the opportunity to put some pressure on my
kingside.} Bd7 (21... Qxe5 $4 {loses to} 22. Bf4) 22. fxe6 ({I was planning to
answer} 22. f6 {with} Bf8 ({or perhaps} 22... Bc5) 23. fxg7 Bxg7 {when the
kingside is reasonably well defended and ...b4 is coming.}) 22... fxe6 23. Qd1
{Intending to deploy the queen on the kingside.} (23. Qc2 b4 {gives me enough
play.}) 23... b4 24. axb4 axb4 25. Rc1 $6 {This seems too passive.} ({It's
important to realize that} 25. Qg4 {doesn't really threaten Nxe6, because the
reply ...Qxe5 will defend against mate while leaving White's knight in a
deadly pin.} bxc3 26. Bxe4 dxe4 (26... Qxe5 $5 {is also good}) 27. bxc3 Qxc3
28. Qxe4 {The position is close to equal but I'd take Black with the two
bishops.}) (25. Qh5 $5 Rf8 26. c4 $5 {is a better alternative, when the
position remains balanced.}) 25... Rf8 $5 {I decided to keep some tension in
the position. My move challenges for the f-file while making ...Qxe5 into a
real threat, as White will not have the reply Bf4 available.} (25... bxc3 {
was simple and good:} 26. Bxe4 dxe4 27. Rxc3 Qb7 $15 {Black is slightly better
with the two bishops and targets on b2 and e5.}) 26. Rxf8+ Rxf8 27. Nf3 $2 (27.
cxb4 $1 {was better. I thought} Qxe5 {would leave me in a good position thanks
to the strong central pawns, but} 28. Nf3 Qxb2 29. Bxe4 dxe4 30. Qxd7 exf3 31.
Qxe6+ Kh8 32. gxf3 Qxb4 {results in equality.}) 27... bxc3 28. bxc3 Ba3 $1 {
Exploiting White's poor coordination.} 29. Rb1 Bc5 $2 ({I spent some time
looking at} 29... Qxc3 $2 30. Rb3 Qa5 {and thought I was doing well, but
eventually decided I liked the text move slightly more.}) ({For some reason I
didn't spend much time looking at} 29... Nxc3 $1 {because} 30. Qc2 {looked
annoying. However, I should really have seen that} (30. Bxh7+ Kh8 $1 {should
also win for Black} ({but not} 30... Kxh7 31. Qc2+ Kg8 32. Rb3)) 30... Ba4 $1
31. Bxh7+ Kh8 {would be winning for Black, since} 32. Qg6 {can be met by} Bc5
$1 33. Bxc5 Qxc5+ 34. Kh1 Nxb1 {and White has nothing on the kingside, as the
queen can join the defence via c1 and h6.}) 30. Qe1 Bxe3+ 31. Qxe3 Qxc3 32. Rc1
Qa3 33. Re1 $1 {Martin defends well and prepares to take on e4.} h6 $1 {
A good practical decision. I was running short of time, and this move leads to
an endgame which should be drawn, but where I can keep playing for a win
without taking the slightest risk.} (33... Nc3 {is the computer's preference,
but it loses some coordination and leaves the kingside slightly vulnerable.})
34. Bxe4 Qxe3+ 35. Rxe3 dxe4 36. Rxe4 Bc6 {With the time control reached, I
could relax and enjoy testing my opponent's defensive skills. Clearly the
endgame should be a draw, but Black has a few things in his favour:  a) The
bishop is more powerful than the knight. Moreover, it has a perfect, stable
outpost on d5, whereas it is hard to see a decent square for the knight other
than f3, where it serves a purely defensive function. b) White's pawns are
more vulnerable. The e5-pawn is a clear target, and even the g2-pawn could
become weak,especially if Black can get a rook to the second rank. c) Black
has the practical advantage of being able to simplify by taking on f3 at a
moment of his choosing, whereas White can only sit and wait. And as we will
soon see, king-and-pawn endgames are likely to be winning for Black.} 37. Re3
Kh7 (37... Bxf3 $6 {would be a mistake, as it would force White to choose the
correct defensive structure:} 38. gxf3 ({it's easy to see that the pawn ending
after} 38. Rxf3 $4 Rxf3 39. gxf3 Kf7 {would be winning for Black}) 38... Kh7
$15 {Black can march the king to f5 with good chances to win the e5-pawn, but
the ensuing rook ending with three pawns versus two should be a fairly easy
draw.}) 38. Kf2 Kg6 39. Kg3 Bd5 40. h4 {This is a sensible defensive move;
White ensures that any future attempt by me to advance my kingside pawns will
involve a pawn exchange, which will bring White closer to a draw.} Ra8 41. Rc3
Ra5 {Introducing the possibility of ...Bxf3 followed by gobbling up the
e5-pawn.} 42. Rc7 (42. Re3 {is playable but passive; I was planning to
continue with} Ra2 {, leaving him quite tied up.}) 42... Bxf3 43. Kxf3 $2 (43.
gxf3 Rxe5 {should be a fairly easy draw, as Black will have a hard time
creating a passed pawn without allowing further pawn exchanges. I suspect that
Martin recaptured with his king in order to avoid creating an additional pawn
island, but it's not too difficult to see that Black will not be able to gang
up on the h4- or f3-pawns without losing a pawn or two of his own.}) 43... Rxe5
{My guess is that the endgame is still drawn with perfect defence. However,
Black has many more winning chances with a passed e-pawn.} 44. g4 h5 $1 {
It's important to prevent his pawn from getting to h5, as this would fix my
g7-pawn as a target.} ({A continuation such as} 44... Ra5 45. h5+ Kf6 46. Rb7
g6 47. hxg6 Kxg6 {would be much worse for me than the game, as it's easier for
White to defend a pawn on g4 than on h4, while virtually any endgame involving
a lone h-pawn will be a draw.}) 45. gxh5+ {Martin opts to eliminate another
pair of pawns.} ({After} 45. g5 Ra5 {followed by ...Ra4 White risks having his
king tied to the defence of the h4-pawn. Obviously Black's king has to mind
the g7-pawn, so maybe White could hold this, but it's not pleasant.}) 45...
Rxh5 {Even though pawn exchanges bring the defender closer to a draw, I was
happy to trade off my h-pawn. The point is that certain rook endings and king/
pawn endings would be easily drawn with a lone h-pawn, but easily winning with
a lone g- or e-pawn. Moreover, this structure opens up the possibility of
attacking the h-pawn and cutting off the white king, as occurs at move 60 of
the game.} 46. Kg4 Ra5 47. Rb7 Ra4+ 48. Kg3 Kf6 {Black has to advance his king
to make progress but the g7-pawn is vulnerable, so I prepare to advance it to
g6.   When analysing this game, I did a quick Google search for '7 piece
tablebases' and was amazed to discover that the Lomonosov tablebases are
available as a free Android 'app'. So, barely five minutes after my online
search, I've downloaded the app to my phone and entered the position, and can
confirm that the position is still drawn.} 49. Rc7 e5 (49... g5 $2 50. hxg5+
Kxg5 {would be a trivial draw; if this isn't obvious to you, then look up
Philidor's Defence.}) 50. Rb7 Ra1 {By now White had a little over six minutes
to complete the game, while I had a little over five.} 51. Kg4 Rg1+ 52. Kf3 {
Obviously Martin avoids allowing his king to become cut off without a good
reason.} Kg6 {Trying to make a run for the weak h-pawn, but he attacks the
e-pawn to force my king back.} 53. Re7 Kf6 54. Ra7 Rf1+ {I stopped notating
here but have added some moves; they may not be correct in every detail, but
they are more or less what happened in the game. If any errors do exist, they
will be cases where a king or rook could choose between different squares
without changing the evaluation of the position.} 55. Kg3 Rb1 56. Kg4 Rb4+ 57.
Kg3 g6 58. Ra6+ $6 {White is still drawing after this, but I was happy to be
able to advance my king without allowing a check on f7.} ({White should have
'passed' with a move like} 58. Rc7) 58... Kf5 59. Rc6 $2 {The Lomonosov
tablebase confirms my suspicion that this was the decisive error. Martin wants
to keep my king tied to the defence of g6, but he has overlooked a trick.} ({
White should have preferred} 59. Ra8) ({or} 59. Ra5 {, or something similar.})
59... Rg4+ 60. Kh3 g5 $1 $19 {That's the point: with White's king cut off on
the h-file, I can afford to swap down to a lone extra e-pawn.} 61. hxg5 ({
After the game, someone asked me if} 61. Rf6+ Kxf6 62. Kxg4 {was possible; the
answer is that Black wins with} gxh4 63. Kxh4 Kf5 $1 64. Kg3 Ke4 65. Kf2 Kd3 {
and the active king decides the issue.}) ({The path of most resistance would
have been} 61. h5 Rh4+ 62. Kg3 Rxh5 {when Black is winning, but still has to
take some care.}) 61... Rxg5 {My memory of the remaining moves is too hazy, as
White has umpteen possible rook moves at every turn. I won easily by advancing
my pawn to e2 and king to e1 while keeping his king cut off.  For any readers
who aren't completely clear about how to force the pawn through to the
promotion square while escaping rook checks, I highly recommend looking up
Lucena's position in an endgame book.  Every player can benefit from learning
certain basic theoretical endgames. Not only does this help you get the
desired result when you reach those endgames; it's also tremendously useful to
know in advance whether certain positions will be winning or drawing, as this
knowledge will enable you to decide much more quickly and accurately whether
to exchange pieces as I did at the end of this game.} 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "Kennford"]
[Date "2018.01.20"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Black "Footner, Andrew"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nxd5 4. d4 Bg4 5. Be2 e6 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 Nb6 8.
Be3 Nc6 9. Nbd2 Qd7 10. Ne5 Nxe5 11. dxe5 Bf5 12. a4 a5 13. Nf3 c5 14. Qb3 Qc7
15. Qb5+ Nd7 16. Rfd1 Be4 17. Bf4 Bc6 18. Qb3 h6 19. Qe3 g5 20. Bg3 O-O-O 21.
Nd2 h5 22. h3 b6 23. Ne4 Qb7 24. f3 g4 25. Nd6+ Bxd6 26. Rxd6 Rdg8 27. Rxc6+
Qxc6 28. fxg4 hxg4 29. hxg4 Rg7 30. Bf3 Qc7 31. Rd1 Rgh7 32. Rd6 Nb8 33. Qb3
Rh1+ 34. Kf2 Rd8 35. Rxb6 f5 36. gxf5 exf5 37. Bb7+ 1-0

[Event "Devon v Cornwall"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.03.25"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Twine, David"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B45"]
[PlyCount "74"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nc6 5. Be3 Nf6 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 d5 {
White's unusual 5 Be3 has allowed black to quickly reach equality} 8. Nxc6 bxc6
9. exd5 {White had already taken over 30 minutes} ({If} 9. e5 {I'd intended} d4
10. exf6 dxe3 11. fxg7 exf2+ 12. Kxf2 (12. Kf1 $1 {Fritz} Rg8 13. Qg4 Bxc3 14.
bxc3) 12... Qd4+ 13. Kf1 Qxg7) 9... exd5 (9... cxd5 {is also equal. I'd made
my decision during white's long think.}) 10. a3 Be7 ({better is} 10... Ba5 11.
Bd4 O-O 12. O-O Bb6) 11. Ne2 c5 $5 {(74 minutes left)} 12. c3 a5 13. O-O O-O
14. Nf4 Ba6 (14... Rb8) 15. Bxa6 Rxa6 16. Qd3 Qa8 17. Rad1 {(35)} Rd8 {(47)}
18. Qf5 Qb7 19. Rd2 g6 20. Qc2 (20. Qe5 $4) 20... Rb6 ({Fritz initially gives} 
20... g5 {as the best move}) ({but after more thought calms down and suggests} 
20... Bd6 21. Rfd1 Rb6 {but I was concerned I'd somehow lose my d-pawn}) {(16)}
21. Rfd1 Kg7 {(26)} 22. f3 Rb3 23. Nd3 {(8)} Rc8 ({I wrongly rejected} 23... c4
24. Nc1 Rb5 $15) {And now white goes all creative, unwise when in time trouble}
24. Nb4 {(4) I noticed this as soon as I played 23 Rc8. Luckily the shock of
failing to anticipate it was over when White played it because he'd spent half
his remaining time on this idea.} Rxa3 (24... Rxb4 25. axb4 cxb4 26. Qb3 $14) (
24... Rxc3 25. bxc3 cxb4 26. axb4 axb4 27. Bd4 b3) ({Best is} 24... d4 25. Bxd4
(25. Qxb3 dxe3) 25... cxd4 26. Qxb3 axb4 $15) 25. bxa3 $2 (25. Nxd5 $1 Nxd5 26.
Rxd5 Ra1 {When playing 24 ... Rxa3 I'd misanalysed this position} 27. Rxa1 Qxd5
28. Rxa5 $16) 25... cxb4 26. Bd4 {(3)} b3 {(6)} (26... bxa3 {better, but my
move keeps a time-strapped opponent tied up}) 27. Qb2 a4 28. Re2 Bc5 29. Kf2
Bxd4+ 30. Rxd4 Qc6 {(4)} 31. Rd3 {(1)} Re8 32. Rde3 Rxe3 33. Rxe3 Qc4 34. Ke1
Nd7 {then I realised I should have played 34 ... Qf4 winning} 35. Qd2 Nf6 36.
Kf2 Qc5 37. Ke2 Qxa3 {and white lost on time} 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Devon"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.03.25"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Black "Cowley, Dennis"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A00"]
[Annotator "Trudeau, Gary"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. Nc3 {Relatively few players seem to play the four pawns
'attack' against the Alekhine any more. Chess openings theory moves on! I
think this is indicative of a certain maturity having been reached and the
consensus is apparently that whilst the four pawns is playable it doesn't
really offer white more than other meeker lines do.} Nxc3 {In my opinion
definitely black's best move here. At no cost to himself black gets to inflict
some damage upon the white pawn structure. Some players do play other moves
here - Nb6 and e6 are occasionally seen - but on general principles this piece
trade has to be the best.} 4. dxc3 ({After} 4. bxc3 {black has a comfortable
game after} d6 5. Nf3 Bg4) 4... e6 {I'm tempted to award this a question mark
but will refrain from doing so. The great majority of players play d6 here and
understandably so since that creates immediate tension. Capablanca preferred
d5. White could continue routinely here with Nf3 but I realised that after his
last move the only decent developmental move for black's f8 bishop is c5 so
let's deny him that possibility} 5. Be3 b6 6. Nf3 Bb7 7. Be2 Be7 8. O-O O-O 9.
Qd2 d5 10. Rad1 c5 11. Ne1 {To enable creating some thrust on the k-side with
his next move.} Qc7 12. f4 Nd7 {If I'd been playing black here I would have
preferred to play this knight to c6. Stockfish analysis engine gives an equal
evaluation for both moves.} 13. Nf3 Rad8 14. Qe1 c4 {Obviously done to create
c5 as a transfer point for his bishop and - especially - knight. Black's best
chance of creating good play for himself in this position consists of playing .
..f6 at the right moment but after} 15. Nd4 {he's not going to be doing that
for quite a while.} Nc5 {An excellent post for this knight.} 16. Bf3 Qc8 $2 {
Why? I don't see the point of this. 16...Na4 looks decidedly better and then
Stockfish amazingly gives Rb1 for white! As a non-silicon player I would have
preferred Bc1.} 17. g4 f5 $2 {Black was evidently having a below-par day. f6
was much better. Pushing the f pawn two squares allows white a strongly
supported passed pawn in the middle of the board.} 18. gxf5 exf5 19. Qg3 Ne4
20. Bxe4 dxe4 21. Rd2 {I was ambivalent at this stage about whether to go
whole-heartedly for a k-side attack or not. At any rate this flexible rook
move keeps options open and encourages black to show his hand.} g6 22. Rfd1 {
I was still vacillating!} Bc5 23. h4 Kf7 {I was slightly startled by this,
what? he feels he has to start evacuating his monarch already? Oh come on,
surely white's assault isn't that strong yet! Prophylaxis is one thing but
there is also exaggerated caution in chess! Black's king position on this
square proves to be his undoing.} 24. Qg5 Be7 25. Qh6 {And suddenly out of
nothing black has - according to Stockfish - a completely winning position!
The silicon gives ...Kg8 as relatively best for black here - and that would
definitely suggest something fishy with his 23rd move.} Rg8 {Sets a trap but
this is pretty transparent and sets the stage for a very elegant finish ...}
26. e6+ $1 (26. Qxh7+ $4 Rg7 27. Qh6 Rh8 $19) 26... Kf6 27. Qg5+ Kg7 28. Qxe7+
Kh6 29. Qf6 Rdf8 30. Nxf5+ 1-0

[Event "Liskeard v Newquay"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.05.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Black "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "Trudeau, Gary"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qd6 4. d4 Nf6 5. Nge2 Bg4 6. f3 Bf5 7. Bf4 Qd8 8.
g4 Be6 9. Ng3 g6 10. g5 Nd5 11. Nxd5 Bxd5 12. c4 Be6 13. d5 Bc8 14. Qd4 Rg8 15.
O-O-O Bg7 16. Be5 f6 17. gxf6 exf6 18. Bf4 f5 19. Be5 Bxe5 20. Qxe5+ Kf7 21. h4
Re8 22. Qf4 Qe7 23. Kb1 Na6 24. Qh6 Kg8 25. h5 Qg7 26. hxg6 hxg6 27. Qd2 Bd7
28. f4 Re7 29. Bg2 Nc5 30. d6 cxd6 31. Qxd6 Na4 32. Bd5+ Kf8 33. Rh2 Nc3+ 34.
bxc3 Qxc3 35. Ne2 1-0

[Event "Camborne v Falmouth"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.05.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Hooker, James"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A46"]
[PlyCount "20"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 e6 3. g3 d5 4. Bg2 b5 5. a4 b4 6. c3 Nbd7 ({Avrukh} 6... bxc3
7. Nxc3 (7. bxc3 Ba6 8. O-O Nbd7 9. Na3 c6 10. c4 Be7 11. cxd5 (11. Ne5 Rc8)
11... Nxd5 12. Re1 O-O 13. Bd2 Rb8 $11) 7... Nbd7 8. O-O Ba6 {which has almost
transposed to a ... b6-b5 QID} 9. Bf4 c6 10. Rb1 Qa5 11. Na2 Qb6 12. b4 Bc4 $13
) 7. cxb4 Bxb4+ 8. Bd2 Qe7 ({or the Bogo move} 8... c5 9. Bxb4 cxb4) 9. Qc2 Bb7
$6 (9... O-O 10. Qxc7 Ba6 11. Nc3 Rfc8 12. Qf4 Rab8 13. Qe3 Ba5 14. Nb5 (14.
Rb1 Ng4 15. Qf4 Bxc3 16. Bxc3 Rxc3 17. Qxg4 Rc2) 14... Bxd2+ 15. Nxd2 Bxb5 16.
axb5 Rxb5 17. b3 Rb7 $15) 10. Qxc7 $4 (10. a5 Bxd2+ 11. Nbxd2 Rc8 12. a6 Ba8
13. O-O c5 14. Ra3 O-O $11) 10... Rc8 {Diagram [#]} 0-1

[Event "WECU Jamboree"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.09.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Mackle, Dominic"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E13"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 b6 3. Nc3 Bb7 4. Nf3 Bb4 5. Bg5 Nf6 6. e3 h6 7. Bh4 O-O 8. Bd3
d6 9. O-O Bxc3 10. bxc3 Nbd7 11. Nd2 e5 12. f4 exf4 13. exf4 ({Too speculative
} 13. Rxf4 g5 14. Bxg5 hxg5 15. Rf5 Kh8 16. Rxg5 Rg8 17. Nf3 Qf8) 13... Re8 14.
Bf5 $17 (14. Qc2 $14 Re3 15. Rae1) 14... Re3 {[black's judged the open lines
are worth the damaged pawn structure]} 15. Bxd7 (15. Qc2 Re2 16. d5 Qf8 17. Bd3
Ree8) 15... Qxd7 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. Qh5 {[played more to stop later ..Qg4 than
an attack - yet]} Rae8 18. d5 {[white's key idea - Nd2 must reach f5 or
threaten to do so]} c6 (18... Kg7) 19. Nf3 (19. f5 Kh7 20. Rf4 Qe7 21. Rh4 Qf8)
19... cxd5 20. Nd4 Bc8 21. f5 $6 {[best may have been 21 Qxh6 drawing !]} (21.
Qxh6 dxc4 22. f5 R8e4 23. Ne6 fxe6 24. Qg6+ Qg7 25. Qe8+ {draws}) (21. cxd5 Qg4
22. Qxg4+ (22. Qxh6 Ba6) 22... Bxg4 23. Nb5) 21... Kh7 22. cxd5 Ba6 23. Rf4
Re1+ 24. Kf2 $5 (24. Rxe1 Rxe1+ 25. Kf2 Rf1+ 26. Kg3 Rxf4 27. Kxf4) 24... Rxa1
({NOT} 24... Qe7 25. Ne6 $1 Re2+ (25... Rxa1 26. Qxh6+ Kxh6 27. Rh4#) 26. Kg1)
(24... Be2 25. Nxe2 R8xe2+ 26. Kg3 Re3+ 27. Kf2) 25. Rh4 Rf1+ 26. Kg3 Re3+ $2 {
[game like this both players short of time, Black just checks from the wrong
side]} (26... Rg8+ $1 27. Kh3 Rg6 {now both players had seen} 28. g4 {but not}
Rxf5 $3 29. Qxf5 Qe8 $17) 27. Nf3 Rexf3+ 28. gxf3 Rg1+ ({still possible} 28...
Kg8 29. Qxh6 Rxf3+ $1 30. Kxf3 Qxf5+ 31. Qf4 Qxd5+ 32. Qe4 Qd1+ 33. Kf4 Qf1+
34. Qf3 Qc4+ 35. Kg3 {white has winning chances}) 29. Kf2 (29. Kh3 Bf1#) 29...
Rf1+ 30. Kg2 Kg8 31. Qxh6 {[Uncompromising struggle throughout, could have
gone either way !]} 1-0

[Event "Lerryn Club Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.10.05"]
[Round "1"]
[White "James, Phil"]
[Black "Jenkins, David R"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E30"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. Bg5 h6 5. Bh4 c5 6. d5 Nxd5 7. Bxd8 Nxc3 8.
Qc2 {The first mistake: the queen must move but should go to b3 wnere it can
survey the king-side.} Ne4+ 9. Kd1 Nxf2+ 10. Kc1 Kxd8 11. g3 Nxh1 12. Bg2 Nxg3
13. hxg3 d6 14. a3 Ba5 15. Qa4 Bb6 16. Qc2 Ke7 17. Qe4 Nc6 18. Qe3 {The queen
is reduced to passive defence, unable fo see a way to break through black's
pawn chain.} Bc7 19. Kd2 Bd7 20. Bxc6 {Probably a mistake. Although the knight
is potentially dangerous, the queen is getting increasingly lonely.} Bxc6 21.
Rf1 g5 22. Qb3 Raf8 23. Nf3 b6 24. Qd3 f6 25. b4 a6 26. Rf2 a5 27. Rf1 h5 28.
bxa5 bxa5 29. Kd1 a4 30. Rg1 Rb8 31. Nd2 h4 32. e4 h3 33. Rh1 h2 34. Ke2 e5 35.
Qc2 f5 36. Qc3 Rb3 {This exchange sacrifice wins as white is forced to take
with the knight and cede control of e4} 37. Nxb3 Bxe4 38. Rf1 axb3 39. Qxb3
h1=Q 40. Rxh1 Rxh1 41. Qc3 Rh3 42. Qe3 Kf6 43. a4 Rh2+ 44. Kf1 Rh1+ 45. Kf2 Ba5
46. Qb3 {Keeping the queen out of the game and trapping it in a net.} Rb1 47.
Qa2 Bc3 48. Qa3 Bb2 {The queen has no safe square due to the bishop check on
d4.} 49. Qa2 Bd4+ 50. Ke2 Rb2+ 0-1

[Event "Camborne v Liskeard"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.10.19"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Black "Hooker, James"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 {I ordinarily continue prosaically with the usual 3.
d4. I've played that a lot in Internet games and experience has taught me that
in the Kan it is difficult to demonstrate a workable initiative so on a  whim
I decided to try something else.} Nc6 {I don't know that 3. ...d5 is
necessarily 'better' but it does create more immediate tension in the centre
and forces white to decide whether he is going to go for a French-type setup
or not.} 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nf6 $5 6. Nc3 Bb4 7. Bd3 d6 $2 {This, in my
opinion, is where black goes astray in the opening. Instead, after the
immediate d5 he has  full equality. d6 is just too passive.} 8. a3 Ba5 9. O-O
O-O $2 10. e5 dxe5 11. dxe5 Nd5 12. Bxh7+ $1 {The stem game for this sacrifice
can be found in Capablanca - Molina (Buenos Aires 1911) which you can look up
and play through online.} Kxh7 13. Ng5+ Kg6 14. Qg4 {14.Qd3+ also came in for
serious consideration. In  choosing between the two I basically trusted
Capablanca's judgement!} Nxe5 {Of course} 15. Qg3 {16.Ne6ch. remains a
crunching threat hence black's next.} Kf6 16. Nh7+ {Only played after
prolonged thought. This dissipates much of whites attacking energy. The knight
check on e4 is unclear so I thought it best to claw back some of the material
while the going was good.} Ke7 17. Nxf8 Nxc3 18. Qxe5 Nd5 19. Nh7 Qh8 $1 {
A fine defensive resource and one I'd missed in my analysis. It's becoming
difficult to extricate the clumsily placed knight.} 20. Qe4 Bc7 $1 {Now white
may not move the knight upon pain of getting instantly mated.} 21. Rd1 {
Threatens 22.Rd5. It is very fortunate that white has this resource at his
disposal.} Nf6 22. Qb4+ Ke8 23. Nxf6+ gxf6 24. Qb5+ {and black resigned as Ke7
or f8 allows 25. Qc5ch. picking off the c7 bishop.} 1-0

[Event "Truro v Falmouth"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.11.14"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Healey, Grant"]
[Black "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bf4 c6 4. e3 Bf5 5. c4 e6 6. Nc3 Nbd7 7. Nh4 Be4 8. f3 (
8. Nxe4 Nxe4 $15) 8... Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. h3 {[the extra pawn moves give
black time for the dark square raid]} (10. Qb3) 10... Nh5 11. Bh2 Qh4+ 12. Kd2
Ng3 13. Rg1 Bd6 14. Bxg3 Bxg3 15. Bd3 dxc4 16. Bxc4 Rd8 (16... O-O-O {slows
down ..e5 as f7 unprotected}) 17. Ne4 Bc7 18. Ke2 Nb6 19. Qb3 Qe7 {[black's
idea is to open the position with the White king in the centre]} 20. f4 {
[stopping the pawnbreaks but leading black to a thematic tactic]} Rh5 21. Ng5
Bxf4 (21... Rxg5 22. fxg5 Nxc4 23. Qxc4 Qxg5 {also considered}) 22. exf4 (22.
Nxf7 Kxf7 23. Raf1 {only looks dangerous} Rf5 $1 24. exf4 Rxd4 25. Bd3 Nd5 $1
26. g3 (26. Bxf5 exf5+) 26... Rf6 {then ..e5}) 22... Rxd4 23. Bd3 Rxf4 24. Nf3
Rb4 $1 25. Qc2 (25. Qc3) 25... Nd5 26. Rad1 Qf6 27. Rd2 Re5+ ({also} 27... Nf4+
28. Kd1 Nxd3 29. Qxd3 Rd5) 28. Nxe5 $2 ({white should play} 28. Kf2 Rf4 {
still very uncomfortable but Nxe5 loses quickly}) 28... Qxe5+ 29. Kd1 (29. Kf2
Rf4+ 30. Kg3 Rf1+ 31. Kh4 g5+ 32. Kh5 Nf6#) 29... Ne3+ 30. Kc1 Nxc2 31. Rxc2 (
31. Bxc2 Qxb2+ 32. Kd1 Qa1+) 31... Qe3+ 0-1

[Event "Camborne Club Championship"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2018.11.23"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Smith, Richard"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B95"]
[PlyCount "94"]
[EventDate "2018.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bg5 e6 7. Be2 Be7 8. Be3
Qc7 9. Qd2 O-O 10. g4 b5 11. f3 Bb7 12. h4 Nc6 13. h5 Nxd4 14. Bxd4 e5 15. Be3
Rac8 16. Bd3 Rfd8 17. g5 Nd7 18. g6 Nb6 19. h6 fxg6 20. hxg7 (20. Bxb6 Qxb6 21.
hxg7 Bf6 22. Qh6 Bxg7 23. Qxh7+ Kf7 24. Nd5 Bxd5 25. exd5 Qe3+ 26. Kd1 Qxf3+
27. Kd2 Qf2+ 28. Kc1 Qf4+ 29. Kb1 e4 30. Bxe4 Qf6 31. Bxg6+ Ke7 $11) 20... Nc4
21. Bxc4+ (21. Qh2 h5 22. Qg3 Nxe3 (22... Bf6 23. Bxc4+ Qxc4 24. Qxg6 Qf7 (
24... Bxg7 25. Rxh5 $18)) 23. Qxg6 $16) 21... Qxc4 22. Bb6 Re8 23. Qh6 Kf7 24.
Qxh7 Rg8 25. Qh2 b4 26. Nd5 Bxd5 27. exd5 Qxc2 28. O-O Qf5 29. Be3 Rc2 30. Qh6
(30. Rf2) 30... Bf6 (30... Rxb2) 31. Rac1 Rgc8 32. Rxc2 Rxc2 33. Qh7 Bxg7 34.
Bh6 Qf6 35. f4 (35. Re1 Rc5 36. Re4 a5 37. f4) 35... e4 36. f5 g5 37. Bxg7 Qxg7
38. Qh5+ Kf6 39. Qe8 $4 (39. a3 a5 40. axb4 axb4 41. Ra1 Rxb2 $17) 39... Qe7 $2
(39... Qa7+ 40. Kh1 Qh7+ 41. Kg1 Qh2#) 40. Qg6+ Ke5 41. f6 Qa7+ 42. Kh1 Qe3 $4
$18 (42... Qd7 43. Qxg5+ Kd4 44. Qh5 $11) 43. Qf5+ Kd4 44. f7 $4 $19 (44. Rd1+
Kc5 (44... Rd2 45. Rxd2+ Qxd2 46. f7 Qd1+ 47. Kg2 Qd2+ 48. Kg3 $18) 45. Qc8+
$18) 44... Qg3 45. Rd1+ Ke3 46. Rd3+ Kxd3 47. Qf1+ Ke3 0-1

[Event "Devon U160 v Cornwall U160"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.03.31"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Wilson, Matthew"]
[Black "Smith, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C40"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. d4 fxe4 4. Nxe5 Nf6 5. Bg5 d5 6. Bxf6 Qxf6 7. Be2 Bd6 8.
Nc3 c6 9. Ng4 Bxg4 10. Bxg4 Nd7 11. Bxd7+ Kxd7 12. Qg4+ Kc7 13. Ne2 h5 14. Qh3
g5 15. Qe3 Raf8 16. h4 gxh4 17. Rf1 Rhg8 18. Qh3 Qg5 19. c3 Qxg2 20. Qxh4 Qg4
21. Qxg4 Rxg4 22. Kd2 Rg2 23. Rg1 Rgxf2 24. Rg7+ Kc8 25. Rh1 Rh2 26. Rxh2 Bxh2
27. Rh7 Rf5 28. a4 Bc7 29. b4 Bd8 30. a5 h4 31. a6 bxa6 32. Rxa7 Bc7 33. Rxa6
h3 34. Rxc6 h2 35. Ng3 Rf2+ 36. Ke1 Rf3 37. Nh1 Kb7 38. Rc5 Bg3+ 39. Ke2 Rf2+
40. Ke3 Rg2 41. Rxd5 Rg1 42. Kxe4 Rxh1 43. Rh5 Rf1 44. Rh7+ Bc7 0-1

[Event "Simultaneous display (Andrew Greet)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.04.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Twine, David"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 g6 3. Nbd2 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Bd3 O-O 6. O-O Nbd7 7. c3 e5 8. Re1
Nh5 9. Nc4 b5 10. Na5 c5 11. Nc6 Qb6 12. Ne7+ Kh8 13. Nxc8 Raxc8 14. d5 c4 15.
Bf1 Nc5 16. g3 Nf6 17. Nd2 Nfd7 18. Qc2 f5 19. exf5 gxf5 20. b4 Nd3 21. Bxd3
cxd3 22. Qxd3 e4 23. Qe2 Bxc3 24. Rb1 Nf6 25. Rd1 Ng4 26. Nf1 Be5 27. h3 Nf6
28. Bb2 Nd7 29. Ne3 Bxb2 30. Qxb2+ Ne5 31. Kg2 Kg8 32. Qd4 Qxd4 33. Rxd4 h5 34.
a4 bxa4 35. Ra1 f4 36. gxf4 Rxf4 37. Rxa4 Nd3 38. Rxa7 Rcf8 39. Ra2 Nxf2 40. b5
Nd3 41. b6 Ne1+ 42. Kh1 Rf1+ $2 (42... Rf3 {draws.} 43. Rxe4 Rxh3+ 44. Kg1 (44.
Rh2 $2 Rxe3 $1 $19) 44... Nf3+ 45. Kf2 Rh2+ 46. Ng2 Nd2+ 47. Rf4 Rxf4+ 48. Kg3
Rxg2+ 49. Kxf4 (49. Kxg2 Rb4 50. Rxd2 Rxb6 $15) 49... Rf2+ 50. Ke3 Rf3+ 51.
Kxd2 Rb3 $11 (51... Rf2+ $4 52. Kc3 Rf3+ 53. Kc4 $19)) 43. Nxf1 Rxf1+ 44. Kh2
Nf3+ 45. Kg3 Nxd4 46. b7 {The remaining moves are missing from the score.
Fritz gives the following line as a draw:} Ne2+ 47. Kh4 Rb1 48. Ra8+ Kf7 49.
b8=Q Rxb8 50. Rxb8 e3 {That may be correct but I would not be confident of
finding the right moves against someone as strong as Andrew, whether under
time pressure or not.} 1-0

[Event "Simultaneous display (Andrew Greet)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.04.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Pearce, Stephen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D30"]
[PlyCount "110"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c4 c5 4. cxd5 Qxd5 5. Nc3 Qd8 6. e4 cxd4 7. Qxd4 Qxd4 8.
Nxd4 a6 9. Be2 Bc5 10. Nb3 Ba7 11. a4 Nc6 12. a5 Nd4 13. Nxd4 Bxd4 14. O-O Nf6
15. Rd1 Bxc3 16. bxc3 Nxe4 17. Bf3 Nxc3 18. Rd3 Nb5 19. Be3 O-O 20. Rad1 e5 21.
Bc5 Bf5 22. Re3 Rfe8 23. Bxb7 Rad8 24. Rxd8 Rxd8 25. h3 Bc8 26. Bc6 f6 27. Bb6
Rd1+ 28. Kh2 Nd4 29. Be4 Bd7 30. Rc3 Nf5 31. Rc7 g6 32. Bc2 Rd2 33. Bb3+ Kf8
34. Ra7 Bb5 35. Rxh7 Nd6 36. Bc5 Ke8 37. Rh4 Rd3 38. Bc2 Rd5 39. Bxg6+ Ke7 40.
Bb6 Nc4 41. Be4 Nxb6 42. axb6 Rd8 43. Rh7+ Kd6 44. h4 Bc6 45. Bxc6 Kxc6 46. Rf7
Kxb6 47. Rxf6+ Kb5 48. Re6 Rh8 49. Rxe5+ Kb4 50. h5 a5 51. g4 a4 52. Re7 a3 53.
Ra7 Kb3 54. Kg3 a2 55. f4 Kb2 1-0

[Event "Simultaneous display (Andrew Greet)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.04.14"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Greet, Andrew"]
[Black "Hill, Mick"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A41"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. Nf3 d6 2. d4 b6 3. c4 Nd7 4. Nc3 Bb7 5. e4 e6 6. Bd3 c5 7. d5 e5 8. O-O Be7
9. g3 Ngf6 10. Nh4 g6 11. Ng2 Nh5 12. Be3 Ng7 13. Qd2 Nf6 14. h3 Qd7 15. Kh2 h5
16. Bg5 Bc8 17. Rh1 Qxh3+ 18. Kg1 Qd7 19. Bc2 Qd8 20. Bh6 Bf8 21. Re1 Bd7 22.
Bg5 Be7 23. f3 Nh7 24. Be3 Bg5 25. f4 Bf6 26. Nb5 Bg4 27. fxe5 Ng5 28. exf6
Nf3+ 29. Kf2 Nxd2 30. fxg7 Nxe4+ 31. Bxe4 Qf6+ 32. Bf4 Rg8 33. Nc7+ $2 (33.
Bxg6+ Kd7 34. Bc2 Qxb2 35. Ne3 Rae8 36. Rb1 Qxg7 37. Rhe1 $16) 33... Kd7 34.
Nxa8 g5 35. Bf3 Bxf3 ({or} 35... gxf4 36. Bxg4+ (36. Nxf4 Qxb2+ 37. Re2 Qxg7
38. Bxg4+ Qxg4 39. Nxh5 Qg5 $19) 36... hxg4 37. Nxf4 Rxa8 38. Rh7 Rg8 $19) 36.
Kxf3 Rxa8 $19 ({Or} 36... gxf4 37. Nxf4 Rxa8 38. Rxh5 Qxg7 $19) 37. Re4 gxf4
38. Rxf4 Qxg7 39. Rxh5 Rg8 40. g4 Qg6 (40... Kd8 41. Rhf5 Qxb2 42. Rxf7 Qa3+
43. Ne3 Re8 44. Re4 Rxe4 45. Kxe4 Qxa2 46. g5 Qh2 47. g6 Qe5+ 48. Kd3 Qg5 $19)
41. Ne3 Re8 42. Rhf5 Re7 43. b3 Qh7 44. Ke2 Qh2+ 45. Rf2 Qg3 46. R2f3 Qxg4 47.
R5f4 Qg2+ 48. Rf2 Qh3 49. R4f3 Qh6 50. Kd3 Qg6+ 51. Kc3 Qe4 52. Nf5 Qe1+ 53.
Kd3 Qb1+ {Black is winning but presumably was under time pressure.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cornwall Major (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "John Nyman"]
[Black "Anton Barkhuysen"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C87"]
[PlyCount "74"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 a6 4. Ba4 d6 5. O-O Bg4 6. c3 Nf6 7. d3 Be7 8. Nbd2
b5 9. Bc2 O-O 10. Re1 d5 11. Qe2 d4 12. Nf1 h6 13. Ng3 Nh7 14. h3 Bxf3 15. Qxf3
Bg5 16. a4 Bxc1 17. Rexc1 Ng5 18. Qg4 Kh7 19. f4 exf4 20. Qxf4 Ne6 21. Qf5+ g6
22. Qd5 Ne7 23. Qxd8 Raxd8 24. axb5 axb5 25. Ra7 Ra8 26. Rca1 Rxa7 27. Rxa7 Nc6
28. Ra6 Ne5 29. cxd4 Nxd4 30. Bb1 b4 31. Ra5 Nec6 32. Rc5 b3 33. Kf2 Ra8 34.
Ne2 Ra1 35. Nc3 Kg7 36. Ke3 Kf6 37. Rc4 Ke5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cornwall Championship (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.04"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grant Healey"]
[Black "Jeremy Menadue"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D02"]
[PlyCount "79"]

{This game, played in round 2, was in effect the decisive game in the Emigrant Cup. After this Grant maintained his lead in the contest for the trophy and emerged as Cornwall champion for the first time.}

1. g3 d5 2. Bg2 Nf6 3. c3 g6 4. d4 Bg7 5. Nd2 O-O 6. Ngf3 Nbd7 7. O-O c6 8. Re1
a5 9. e4 Nxe4 10. Nxe4 dxe4 11. Rxe4 Nf6 12. Re1 a4 13. h3 Be6 14. Qe2 Re8 15.
Kh2 Qb6 16. Ng5 Bd5 17. Bxd5 cxd5 18. Rb1 e5 19. dxe5 Rxe5 20. Be3 Qc6 21. Nf3
Ree8 22. Nd4 Qd7 23. Rbd1 Rac8 24. Qd3 Rc4 25. Nf3 Qc8 26. Re2 h5 27. Rde1 a3
28. Bd4 Rxe2 29. Rxe2 axb2 30. Rxb2 Ne4 31. Bxg7 Kxg7 32. Qxd5 Nf6 33. Qxb7 Qf5
34. Nd4 Rxd4 35. cxd4 Ne4 36. Kg2 Ng5 37. h4 Qh3+ 38. Kg1 Ne6 39. Qe4 g5 40. d5
1-0

[Event "Cornwall Major (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.04"]
[Round "3"]
[White "Anton Barkhuysen"]
[Black "Paul Jackson"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[PlyCount "111"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. Nf3 Bg7 7. Be2 O-O 8.
O-O Bg4 9. h3 Bxf3 10. Bxf3 c6 11. Bf4 Nbd7 12. Re1 Re8 13. Qc2 Nb6 14. d5 cxd5
15. cxd5 Rc8 16. Qb3 Nfd7 17. d6 Nc5 18. Qd1 exd6 19. Rxe8+ Qxe8 20. Qxd6 Bf8 (
20... Nc4 21. Qd5 Nxb2 22. Bd2 Nbd3) 21. Qe5 Qxe5 22. Bxe5 Nc4 23. Bf6 b6 24.
b3 Nd6 25. Nd5 Re8 26. Nc3 Rc8 27. Nd5 Ne8 28. Ne7+ Bxe7 29. Bxe7 Nd3 30. Rd1
Rc1 31. a3 Kg7 32. Kf1 f5 33. Rxc1 Nxc1 34. b4 Kf7 35. Bg5 Nd3 36. Bd5+ Kg7 37.
Ke2 Ne5 38. Ke3 Nf6 39. Kd4 Nfd7 40. f4 Nf7 41. Bxf7 Kxf7 42. Kd5 Ke8 43. Kc6
a6 44. Kb7 a5 45. bxa5 bxa5 46. Ka6 a4 47. Kb5 Nb8 48. Kxa4 Kd7 49. Kb5 Kc8 50.
Bf6 Kb7 51. a4 Nc6 52. a5 Na7+ 53. Kc5 Nc6 54. Bc3 Nb8 55. Bd2 Na6+ 56. Kd5 {
The remaining moves are undecipherable} 1-0

[Event "Cornwall Major (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.04"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Christopher Peacock"]
[Black "Percy Gill"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D02"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Bf5 3. e3 Nf6 4. Nf3 h6 5. h3 e6 6. Nbd2 Bd6 7. Bxd6 Qxd6 8. c3
O-O 9. Be2 Nbd7 10. O-O Rac8 11. a4 a6 12. b4 c6 13. Qb3 Rc7 14. c4 dxc4 15.
Nxc4 Qe7 16. Rfd1 Nd5 17. b5 cxb5 18. axb5 axb5 19. Nce5 b4 20. Bc4 N7f6 21. g4
Be4 22. Nd2 Bh7 23. Bxd5 Nxd5 24. Rdc1 Nc3 25. Kf1 Rfc8 26. f3 f6 0-1

[Event "Cornwall Championship (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Toby Willis"]
[Black "Brendan O'Gorman"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A44"]
[PlyCount "79"]

1. d4 c5 2. d5 e5 3. c4 d6 4. e4 Be7 5. Nf3 Bg4 6. Be2 Bxf3 7. Bxf3 Bg5 8. O-O
Bxc1 9. Qxc1 Ne7 10. Bg4 Ng6 11. g3 h5 12. Bh3 h4 13. Kg2 Nd7 14. Nc3 Nf6 15.
Qd2 Nh5 16. Bg4 Nf6 17. Bf5 Ne7 18. f4 Nxf5 19. exf5 hxg3 20. hxg3 exf4 21.
Rae1+ Kd7 22. Qxf4 Qf8 23. Re2 Re8 24. Rfe1 Rxe2+ 25. Rxe2 a6 26. Ne4 Nxe4 27.
Qxe4 Qd8 28. a3 Re8 29. Qxe8+ Qxe8 30. Rxe8 Kxe8 31. Kf3 Ke7 32. Kf4 f6 33. g4
Kf7 34. g5 Ke7 35. Kg4 b6 $4 (35... fxg5 36. Kxg5 Kf7 $11) 36. Kh5 Kf7 37. a4
a5 38. b3 Ke7 39. Kg6 fxg5 40. Kxg7 1-0

[Event "Cornwall Minor (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Tony Tatam"]
[Black "Christine Constable"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[PlyCount "54"]

1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 d6 4. Bc4 Nc6 5. Ng5 e6 6. Qf3 Nf6 7. O-O Nxd4 8. Qd3
c5 9. Rd1 d5 10. exd5 exd5 11. Re1+ Be6 12. Nxe6 Nxe6 13. Bb5+ Ke7 14. c4 d4
15. Bd2 Qd6 16. g3 Rhd8 17. Bf4 Qb6 18. Re2 Kf8 19. Be5 a6 20. Ba4 Ng5 21. a3
Qa5 22. Bd1 Qb6 23. a4 Qc6 24. h4 Nf3+ 25. Kf1 Ng4 26. Re4 Nfxe5 27. Bf3 Nxd3
0-1

[Event "Cornwall Championship (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.05"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Colin Sellwood"]
[Black "Jamie Morgan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[PlyCount "86"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Bg7 6. Na3 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nh6 8.
h3 O-O 9. Bc4 Qe4+ 10. Be2 Nf5 11. Nb5 a6 12. Nc3 Qc6 13. O-O Rd8 14. Be3 Nxd4
15. Nxd4 Bxd4 16. Rc1 Qe8 17. Qb3 Bxe3 18. fxe3 b5 19. Bf3 Be6 20. Nd5 Ra7 21.
Rfd1 Nd7 22. Qc3 Bxd5 23. Bxd5 Nf6 24. Bf3 Rad7 25. Rxd7 Qxd7 26. Rd1 Qc8 27.
Qxc8 Rxc8 28. Rd2 a5 29. Kf2 Kf8 30. Ke2 e5 31. Kf2 Ke7 32. Kf1 e4 33. Be2 b4
34. Bb5 Rc5 35. Ba4 Nd5 36. Ke2 Nb6 37. Bd1 Nd7 38. Rd4 f5 39. Kd2 Ne5 40. Bb3
Nd3 41. Bg8 h6 42. Bh7 Ne5 43. h4 Nc6 0-1

[Event "Cornwall Minor (Falmouth)"]
[Date "2019.05.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Maurice Richards"]
[Black "David Archer"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D13"]
[PlyCount "53"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. g3 e6 3. Bg2 c6 4. Nc3 Be7 5. Nf3 d5 6. cxd5 cxd5 7. d4 Nc6 8. O-O
O-O 9. Bg5 h6 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. a3 Qb6 12. Na4 Qc7 13. b4 b6 14. Rc1 Qd7 15.
Re1 Nxd4 16. Nxd4 Bxd4 17. Qxd4 Qxa4 18. Rc3 Qb5 19. e4 dxe4 20. Bxe4 Ba6 (
20... Rb8 $11) 21. Bxa8 Rxa8 22. Qe4 Re8 23. Qc6 Qxc6 24. Rxc6 Re7 25. Rec1 Kh7
26. Rc7 Re8 27. Rxa7 1-0

[Event "Cornwall U160 v Essex U160"]
[Site "Bath"]
[Date "2019.05.19"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jaszkiwskyj, Peter"]
[Black "Trudeau, Gary"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E11"]
[PlyCount "98"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 Bb4+ 4. Nbd2 {The computers regard this as the best
move for white here.} d5 5. e3 O-O 6. a3 Be7 7. Bd3 b6 {Being flexible.
Depending on what white does black will be able to either fianchetto or play
c5 forthwith.} 8. O-O c5 9. b3 Nc6 10. Bb2 dxc4 11. bxc4 {There's nothing
wrong with this of course but I would have been more concerned had he
recaptured with the knight.} Bb7 12. Rc1 Rc8 13. Bb1 Ne8 14. Qc2 g6 15. Rfd1
Bf6 $2 {Sloppy. I should have prefaced this with ...cd first. Now black
rapidly gets into difficulty.} 16. Ne4 $1 cxd4 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Nxd4 Qe7 19.
Nxc6 Bxc6 20. Qc3 Kg7 21. Qe5 {This meets with silicon approval but during the
game I was quietly amazed that a player with such a decent ECF rating didn't
automatically continue with 21 g4! This threatens to win the hapless knight
right off and if black goofs with ... 21 Bf3?? then white ignores the threat
and pushes on with 22 g5 regardless, clearly winning. If instead of the bishop
move black sensibly plays 21... h6 then obviously white continues 22 h4! and
then 22.g5 is clearly forced but black's k-side is being opened up.} Ba4 22.
Bc2 Bxc2 23. Rxc2 Rc5 24. Rd5 $1 {Clever} Rfc8 25. Rcd2 R8c7 ({And not} 25...
Rxc4 $4 {when} 26. Rd7 {is what Bobby Fischer would have called 'a shot '. On
the other hand} Rc1+ $1 27. Bxc1 (27. Rd1 R8c5 28. Qd6 Rxd1+ 29. Qxd1 Qxd7 30.
Qxd7 Rc1+ 31. Bxc1 Nxd7 $17) 27... Qxd7 28. Qa1 (28. Bb2 Qxd2 29. Qxf6+ Kf8 $19
) 28... Qe7 {gives black the advantage (Ian George)}) 26. Rxc5 Rxc5 27. Qd4 e5
28. Qd3 Qe6 29. h3 $1 {Stockfish 10 approves of this too. White's setup is so
strong that although black briefly wins a pawn now he is shortly constrained
to give it right back again.} Rxc4 30. Qd6 Rc5 {Only played after prolonged
thought.} 31. f4 $1 Rd5 32. Rxd5 Qxd5 33. Bxe5 Qxd6 34. Bxd6 Ne4 {At long last
the knight can move!} 35. Be5+ f6 36. Bd4 Kf7 37. Kf1 Ke6 38. Ke2 f5 39. Kd3
Kd5 40. Bg7 Nc5+ 41. Kc3 Ke4 42. Kd2 $2 {This loses the game. He had to play
Bd4. White had less time left on the clock than I did so this lapse is
forgivable.} Ne6 43. Bf6 b5 44. Be7 a5 45. Ke2 Nc7 46. Bc5 (46. Bd8 Nd5 47.
Bxa5 Nxe3 {and black will be making a meal out of the white k-side pawns.})
46... Nd5 47. Kd2 b4 48. axb4 axb4 49. Ke2 b3 {If white now tries 50 Bd4 to
hold up the passed pawn then 50... Nf4 ch. wins.} 0-1

[Event "Cornwall U160 v Essex U160"]
[Site "Bath"]
[Date "2019.05.19"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Morgan, Jamie"]
[Black "Wilson, Edgar"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C01"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 exd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. Bb5 Bd6 6. c4 Bg4 7. Qe2+ Be7 8.
cxd5 Qxd5 9. Nc3 Bxf3 10. Nxd5 Bxe2 11. Kxe2 Bd6 12. Bf4 O-O-O 13. Bxc6 bxc6
14. Bxd6 cxd6 15. Rac1 Kd7 16. Ne3 Rb8 17. b3 Nf6 18. Rc4 Rhe8 19. Rhc1 Rb6 20.
Kd3 Ne4 21. f3 Nf6 22. Ra4 Rb7 23. Ra6 Rc8 24. d5 c5 25. Nf5 Ne8 26. Re1 Kc7
27. Rc6+ Kd8 28. Rxc8+ Kxc8 29. Rxe8+ Kc7 30. Re7+ Kb6 31. Rxb7+ Kxb7 32. Nxd6+
1-0

[Event "Cornwall U160 v Essex U160"]
[Site "Bath"]
[Date "2019.05.19"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Reynolds, Ian"]
[Black "Smith, Richard"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C40"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 6. Nc3 c6 7. Nxe4 Qe6 8.
Qe2 d5 9. Ncd6+ Kd8 10. Ng5 (10. Bg5+ Be7 (10... Kc7 11. Bf4 dxe4 12. Nf7+ Kd7
13. Nxh8 $18) (10... Ne7 11. Nxc8 Kxc8 (11... Qxc8 12. Nd6 Qd7 13. Nf7+ Kc8 14.
Nxh8 $18) (11... dxe4 12. Nxe7 Bxe7 13. Bxe7+ Kxe7 14. O-O-O $18) 12. Nc5 $18)
11. Bxe7+ Qxe7 (11... Nxe7) 12. Ng5 Nh6 (12... Qxe2+ 13. Bxe2 Nh6 (13... h6 14.
Ndf7+ Ke7 15. Nxh8 hxg5 16. Ng6+ Kf6 17. Ne5 $18) 14. Ndf7+ Nxf7 15. Nxf7+ Ke7
16. Nxh8 $18) 13. Qxe7+ Kxe7 14. Nxc8+ Rxc8 15. Kd2 Kd6 16. Bd3 $18) 10...
Qxe2+ 11. Bxe2 Bxd6 12. Nf7+ Ke7 13. Nxh8 Nf6 14. Bd3 Be6 15. O-O Nbd7 16. Ng6+
hxg6 17. Bxg6 Rh8 18. h3 Nf8 19. Bd3 N8h7 20. Re1 Kd7 21. f4 Nf8 22. Rf1 Ne4
23. f5 Bf7 24. Bf4 Nh7 25. c3 Nhf6 26. Rae1 Be7 27. Be5 Rg8 28. Rf4 Nd6 29. b3
Nfe4 30. Bxd6 Nxd6 31. g4 Bg5 32. Rf3 Bd2 33. Rd1 Bxc3 34. Bc2 Ba5 35. Kg2 Bd8
36. Re3 Bh4 37. Re5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Camborne Club Championship 2018/19"]
[Site "Camborne"]
[Date "2019.05.24"]
[Round "5"]
[White "George, Ian"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B52"]
[Annotator "George, Ian"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. Bb5+ Bd7 4. Bxd7+ Qxd7 5. c4 e5 6. O-O Nc6 7. d3 g6 8.
Nc3 Bg7 9. Nd5 h6 10. Be3 ({As the bishop will have to soon have to retreat
anyway, it's better to save a tempo by playing} 10. Bd2 {at once.}) 10... Nge7
11. Qc1 f5 12. exf5 {Fritz rates this move as inferior to 12.Bd2 or 12.Qd1. No
doubt that's right but I prefer the looser position resulting from this to
allowing ...f4 with the kind of King's Indian set-up that Colin favours. It
shows what a waste of time 10.Be3 and Qc1 were.} gxf5 13. Rb1 $2 ({I want to
play b4 without leaving the rook vulnerable along the long diagonal after ...
e4 but} 13. Bd2 {keeps the position level.}) 13... f4 (13... Nxd5 14. cxd5 Nb4
15. Qc4 b5 16. Qb3 a5 $17) 14. Bd2 Rg8 15. Kh1 {White reasons that he will
need to put the king on h1 soon and does it now anticipating tactics along the
g-file.} Nf5 $2 (15... Nxd5 16. cxd5 Nd4 17. Nxd4 cxd4 $11) 16. Bc3 h5 17. b4
Bh8 $2 (17... cxb4 18. Bxb4 $14) (17... b6 {Not} 18. bxc5 bxc5 19. Ng5 Bh8) 18.
bxc5 Kf7 19. cxd6 $18 Rxg2 20. Rxb7 ({I thought I was being very clever in
deflecting the black queen . This wins but I was seeing shadows. In my
"analysis" the queen was already on h3 and I thought that} 20. Kxg2 Rg8+ 21.
Kh1 Ng3+ {was a win for black but after} 22. fxg3 {white is two pieces ahead
with an easy win whether the queen is on h3 or not. More tactical practice
required, I think.}) 20... Qxb7 21. Kxg2 Rb8 ({Passive but} 21... Rg8+ 22. Kh1
{is no better.}) 22. Ng5+ Kg6 23. Ne4 Qd7 24. Kh1 Nh4 25. Rg1+ Kh6 26. Nxf4 Qf5
27. Ng6+ Kh7 28. Nxh4 {One of those games that is very enjoyable at the time
but embarrassing to review afterwards when all the mistakes and poor analysis
are revealed.} 1-0

[Event "ECF Major Open"]
[Site "Torquay"]
[Date "2019.08.01"]
[Round "6"]
[White "Renshaw, Lucas"]
[Black "Hussain, Adam"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[PlyCount "114"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Ne7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 c5 7. f4 Qc7 8. Nf3
b6 9. a4 Ba6 10. Bd3 Bxd3 11. Qxd3 Nd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Ba3 Nb8 14. c4 Rd8 15.
cxd5 Rxd5 16. Qb5+ Rd7 17. dxc5 bxc5 18. Qxc5 Qxc5+ 19. Bxc5 Na6 20. Bd6 Nf5
21. Ba3 Ne3 22. Rf2 Nc4 23. Bc1 Ke7 24. Nd2 Rc8 25. Nxc4 Rxc4 26. Ba3+ Ke8 27.
Bd6 Nb4 28. f5 exf5 29. c3 Nc6 30. Rxf5 Ne7 31. Rf3 g6 32. Re1 Nf5 33. Bb4 Rd5
34. a5 Kd7 35. h3 h5 36. Kf2 Ke6 37. g3 a6 38. Rf4 Rxf4+ 39. gxf4 Rd3 40. Rh1
Ne7 41. Ke2 Rg3 42. c4 Nc6 43. Bc5 Kf5 44. Be3 Ke4 45. Bd2 Rg2+ 46. Kd1 Kd3 47.
Bc1 Nxa5 48. c5 Nb3 49. h4 Nxc5 50. Rh3+ Ke4 51. Rc3 Nd3 52. Bd2 Rg4 53. Kc2
Nxf4 54. Re3+ Kf5 55. Be1 Ng2 56. Rf3+ Rf4 57. Rg3 Nxe1+ 0-1

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.09.17"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Black "George, Ian"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A29"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. g3 Bb4 5. Nd5 Bc5 6. d3 h6 7. Bg2 d6 8. O-O
O-O 9. a3 a5 10. Rb1 Nxd5 11. cxd5 Ne7 12. d4 Bf5 13. Ra1 exd4 14. Nxd4 Bg4 15.
Be3 Qd7 16. Qd2 Bxd4 ({A quieter way of playing this is} 16... Rfe8 17. Rac1 a4
{Black chooses a more aggressive method which carries an element of risk.}) 17.
Bxd4 Bh3 18. Bxh3 (18. Rac1 Bxg2 19. Kxg2 f5 $11) 18... Qxh3 19. e4 f5 20. f3
Ng6 21. Rac1 Rac8 (21... Rf7 {gives a level position but black seeks activity
against white's king by deflecting the queen to the queen's side at the cost
of a pawn.}) 22. Qxa5 (22. Bc3 b6 23. exf5 Qxf5 24. Rce1 $14 {but white is
also playing for the win}) 22... fxe4 23. Rxc7 Rxc7 24. Qxc7 Rf7 25. Qc2 $2 (
25. Qxd6 exf3 ({With the the e6-square available to the queen the idea played
in the game} 25... Rxf3 $2 {fails to} 26. Rxf3 exf3 27. Qe6+) 26. Rf2 Qg4 27.
Be3 (27. Bc3 $2 Nf4 $19) 27... Qe4 28. Qc5 {Best. Black has no more than a draw
} (28. Qe6 $2 Ne5 29. Bf4 (29. Bc5 Kh7 $1 30. Rf1 Rf6 $19) 29... Qe1+ 30. Rf1
Qe2 31. Rf2 Qd1+ 32. Rf1 Qd4+ 33. Rf2 Ng4 34. Qe8+ (34. Qxg4 Qd1+ 35. Rf1 f2+ {
wins the queen}) 34... Kh7 35. Qe1 Re7 36. Qd2 Qxd2 37. Bxd2 (37. Rxd2 Re1#)
37... Nxf2 38. Kxf2 Re2+) 28... Ne5 29. Qd4 Qb1+ 30. Rf1 Qc2 31. Rf2 $11) 25...
Rxf3 $2 ({Allows white to equalise.} 25... exf3 {is better}) 26. Rf2 (26. Re1 {
is more challenging. Black has to negotiate his way through some tricky play,
which I probably wouldn't have had the time, or the ability, to analyse
properly} Rxg3+ 27. hxg3 Qxg3+ 28. Kf1 Qh3+ 29. Kg1 (29. Qg2 Qd3+ 30. Kf2 (30.
Qe2 Qh3+ 31. Kf2 Qh2+ 32. Kf1 (32. Ke3 $4 Qf4#) 32... Qh3+ {repeats moves}) (
30. Re2 Qd1+ 31. Re1 (31. Kf2 $4 Qxd4+) 31... Qd3+ {repeats moves}) (30. Kg1
Qxd4+ 31. Kh1 Ne5 32. Rxe4 ({or} 32. Qxe4 Qxb2) 32... Qxd5 {with 2 pawns for
the exchange}) 30... Qxd4+ 31. Kf1 Qd3+ 32. Qe2 Qh3+ {repeats moves}) (29. Ke2
Nf4+ 30. Kd1 (30. Kd2 Qh2+ 31. Kc3 (31. Kc1 Nd3+ 32. Kb1 Qxc2+ 33. Kxc2 Nxe1+
$19) (31. Kd1 Qh5+ 32. Re2 (32. Kc1 Nd3+ 33. Kd2 Nxe1 34. Kxe1 Qxd5 {with 3
pawns for the piece}) 32... Nxe2 33. Qxe2 Qxd5 {with 3 pawns for the piece})
31... Qg3+ 32. Re3 (32. Kd2 Qh2+ {repeats moves}) 32... Nxd5+ 33. Kd2 Qf2+ 34.
Kc1 Qxc2+ 35. Kxc2 Nxe3+ 36. Bxe3 {with 3 pawns for the piece. It's not clear
who would have won but no doubt it would have have produced an undignified
mutual time sgramble in the rapid play finish. Not the sort of thing you want
to evaluate with 4 moves to play in 5 minutes.}) 30... Qh5+ 31. Re2 (31. Kc1
Nd3+ 32. Kd2 Nxe1 33. Kxe1 Qxd5 {transposes to B1}) (31. Kd2 Qh2+ {tranposes
to B1}) 31... Nxe2 32. Qxe2 Qxd5 {tranposes to B1}) 29... Qg3+ $11) (26. Rc1
Rd3 27. Qc8+ Qxc8 28. Rxc8+ Kh7 29. Bc3 Ne7 30. Rc7 Nxd5 31. Rxg7+ Kh8 32.
Rxb7+ Nxc3 33. bxc3 Rxc3 {Difficult to commit to these complications as a
drawing method with 5 minutes to time control}) (26. Rxf3 exf3 {Black has
nothing to fear}) 26... Rxf2 27. Bxf2 (27. Qxf2 Qg4 {White is on the back foot}
) 27... Qg4 28. h3 Qf5 29. Qb3 Qxh3 30. Bd4 Qg4 $4 ({Lack of time is no excuse.
two minutes is plenty of time to find} 30... Nh4 $19 {which forces immediate
resignation.}) 31. Kf2 Qd7 32. Ke1 Ne7 33. g4 b5 34. Kd2 Kh7 35. Qg3 Nxd5 36.
g5 Qe6 37. gxh6 Qxh6+ 38. Kd1 {At this point Lloyd offered a draw. In a
position in which Black is two pawns up with a won position and plenty of time
left, he was saved by a Deus ex Machina in the form of the caretaker. We were
running about 15 minutes late mainly because of problems with the clock. It
was clear that the caretaker was understandably reluctant to work more unpaid
overtime. In the circumstances I decided that the wisest course was to accept
the draw offer. We want to use the excellent venue several times more in the
season. Of course it is by no means certain that I would have won in the rapid
play finish, even with a big advantage.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "Exminster"]
[Date "2019.10.05"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Black "Thurlow, Kevin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A36"]
[PlyCount "47"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 c5 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 e6 5. e4 a6 6. Nf3 d6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Qc7 9. O-O Be7 10. Be3 O-O 11. Rc1 Nxd4 12. Bxd4 e5 13. Be3 Bd7 14. Qb3 Rac8
15. Nd5 Nxd5 16. cxd5 Qb8 17. Rc3 Rxc3 18. bxc3 Rc8 19. c4 b5 20. Rb1 Qc7 21.
cxb5 Bxb5 22. a4 Bc4 23. Qc3 Bd8 24. Rc1 1-0

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "Exminster"]
[Date "2019.10.05"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Jepps, Gerry"]
[Black "Clark, Richard"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B34"]
[Annotator "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 g6 2. e4 Bg7 3. Nc3 c5 4. Nf3 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nc6 6. Nb3 Bxc3+ 7. bxc3 Nf6
8. Bd3 d6 9. O-O h5 10. Re1 Bg4 11. f3 Bd7 12. Rb1 Qc7 13. Nd4 a6 14. Be3 Ne5
15. Qe2 b5 16. Rb3 Nc4 17. Bxc4 bxc4 18. Rb4 Rc8 19. Qf2 O-O 20. Reb1 Rb8 21.
Qe1 a5 22. R4b2 Rxb2 23. Rxb2 Rb8 24. Qc1 Rxb2 25. Qxb2 d5 26. exd5 Nxd5 27.
Bf2 a4 28. a3 Qf4 29. h3 Qg5 30. Qb8+ Kg7 31. h4 Qc1+ 32. Kh2 Qxa3 33. Qe5+ Nf6
34. Nb5 Qc1 35. Bd4 Bxb5 36. Qxb5 Qf4+ 37. g3 Qxf3 38. Qxc4 a3 39. Bxf6+ Qxf6
40. Qb3 Qf2+ 41. Kh1 Qxg3 42. Qxa3 Qxh4+ 43. Kg1 Qg3+ 44. Kf1 Qf4+ 45. Kg2 Qd2+
46. Kg3 0-1

[Event "Cornwall v Somerset"]
[Site "Exminster"]
[Date "2019.10.05"]
[Round "8"]
[White "Nunn, John"]
[Black "Greenaway, Chris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A30"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 Nc6 3. b3 Nf6 4. Bb2 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Nc3 Ndb4 7. a3 Na6 8.
g3 Nd4 9. Bg2 Be6 10. Nxd4 cxd4 11. Nb5 Bd5 12. f3 e5 13. a4 Nc5 14. O-O Nxb3
15. Rb1 a6 16. Na3 Rc8 17. e4 Be6 18. d3 Nc5 19. f4 f6 20. fxe5 fxe5 21. Qh5+
g6 22. Qxe5 Rg8 23. Nc4 Bg7 24. Qd6 Bxc4 25. Qxd8+ Rxd8 26. dxc4 Nxa4 27. Ba3
Nc3 28. Rxb7 Ne2+ 29. Kf2 d3 30. Re7+ Kf8 31. Ke3+ 1-0

[Event "A. W. Busby Cup (NQY v CBN)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.10.25"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Grant, David"]
[Black "Rodrigo, Jan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. Nf3 e5 5. d5 Be7 6. h3 h6 7. Be3 c6 8. Bc4
Qc7 9. O-O Nf8 10. a4 a5 11. Qd2 g5 12. Rfd1 Ng6 13. Nh2 Rg8 14. f3 Nf4 15. Ng4
Bxg4 16. hxg4 h5 17. g3 Nh3+ 18. Kg2 hxg4 19. fxg4 Nf4+ 20. gxf4 gxf4 21. Bxf4
exf4 22. Be2 Qd7 23. Qxf4 Nxg4 24. Rg1 O-O-O 25. dxc6 bxc6 26. Kf1 Ne5 27. Ba6+
Kb8 28. Ke2 Qa7 29. Rxg8 Rxg8 30. Bd3 Rg2+ 0-1

[Event "Camborne Club Championship 2019/20"]
[Site "Camborne"]
[Date "2019.10.30"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Jones, Bryan"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[PlyCount "136"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. d4 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. Nf3 b6 4. g3 Ba6 5. b3 Bb4+ 6. Bd2 Be7 7. Bg2 c6 8. Nc3
O-O 9. O-O d5 10. Re1 Nbd7 11. e4 dxc4 12. bxc4 Bxc4 13. Qa4 b5 14. Qc2 Rc8 15.
Rad1 Re8 16. Bf4 Qa5 17. Nd2 Nb6 18. Nb3 Bxb3 19. axb3 Qa6 20. Ra1 Qb7 21. Ra2
Rcd8 22. Rea1 Nc8 23. Ne2 Nd7 {(=)} 24. e5 {Impressive play by white. A pawn
down against an opponent graded more than 40 points higher, he has confidence
in his judgment of the position and backs it it up by outplaying black to
create a winning position.} Nb8 25. Rc1 Bb4 26. Bxc6 Nxc6 27. Qxc6 Re7 $2 28.
Bg5 Qxc6 29. Rxc6 f6 30. exf6 Rf7 31. fxg7 Re8 32. Rac2 Nd6 33. Rc7 Kxg7 34.
Rxf7+ Kxf7 35. Rc7+ Kg6 36. Bf4 Ra8 37. Be5 Kf5 38. Rxh7 (38. f3 $1 Rg8 39. Nf4
Bd2 40. g4+ Kg5 41. h4+ Kh6 (41... Kxh4 42. Rxh7+ Kg3 (42... Kg5 43. Rh5#) 43.
Rh3#) 42. g5+) 38... a5 39. Rh5+ Ke4 40. Bxd6 Bxd6 41. Rxb5 Kd3 42. Kf1 a4 43.
bxa4 Rxa4 44. Rb3+ Kc2 45. Rc3+ Kd2 46. Re3 Ra1+ 47. Kg2 Bb4 48. Rxe6 Re1 49.
Kf3 Ra1 50. Nf4 Ra3+ 51. Re3 Ra4 52. h4 Bd6 53. Nd5 Rxd4 54. Nf6 Bf8 55. Ne4+
Kc2 56. g4 Rd7 57. h5 Rf7+ 58. Kg3 {From being 10 minutes ahead on the clock,
white had by now slowed down considerably and now had less 2 minutes (plus 20
second increments) for the rest of the game.} Bg7 59. f4 Bd4 60. Rf3 Re7 61.
Ng5 Kd2 62. f5 Re2 63. Ra3 Be5+ 64. Kf3 Re1 65. Ne4+ Kc2 66. g5 Rh1 67. h6 {
A blunder but white is still winning} Rh3+ 68. Kf2 Rxa3 {White lost on time}
0-1

[Event "Torbay Major"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.11.09"]
[Round "4"]
[White "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Black "Hill, Mick"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B18"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Nc5 Qc7 6. Bd3 Bxd3 7. Nxd3 Nd7 8.
Bf4 Qa5+ 9. Bd2 Qd5 10. Nf3 Ngf6 11. O-O e6 12. Bf4 Be7 13. c3 c5 14. Nfe5 cxd4
15. cxd4 Nxe5 16. Nxe5 O-O 17. b3 Rfd8 18. Nf3 Rac8 19. Re1 Nd7 20. Rc1 Ba3 21.
Rc2 Qf5 22. Bc7 Re8 23. Ree2 Nb8 24. Re5 Qf6 25. Rg5 Qe7 26. Bg3 Nc6 27. Bh4
Qd7 28. Rc4 b6 29. Qd2 Na5 30. Rxg7+ Kxg7 31. Bf6+ 1-0

[Event "County Shield"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.11.15"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Kirkman, Nigel"]
[Black "Rodrigo, Jan"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[PlyCount "97"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. c4 f5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 e5 4. Bg2 d6 5. e3 c6 6. Nge2 Be7 7. d3 O-O 8. O-O
Qe8 9. f4 Qh5 10. Bd2 Na6 11. a3 Nc7 12. Nc1 Qh6 13. h3 Qg6 14. N1e2 Ne6 15.
Kh2 h5 16. Be1 Kf7 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. b4 Bd7 19. d4 e4 20. d5 cxd5 21. cxd5 Ng5
22. Nf4 Qh6 23. d6 Bd8 24. Qb3+ Ne6 25. Ncd5 g5 26. Nxf6 Bxf6 27. Nd5 Bxa1 28.
Rxf5+ Kg7 29. Bc3+ Nd4 $1 {The only move} (29... Kh7 30. Bxe4 $18) (29... Bxc3
30. Qxc3+ Kh7 31. Nf6+ Rxf6 32. Rxf6 Qg7 33. Bxe4+ Kh8 34. Rh6+ Kg8 35. Rg6 $18
) 30. Bxa1 Rxf5 31. Bxd4+ Kf8 32. Ne7 Qe6 ({Or} 32... Rf7 33. Qd5 Re8 34. Bxe4
Qe6) 33. Qxe6 Bxe6 34. Nxf5 Bxf5 35. g4 hxg4 36. hxg4 Bg6 37. Bf1 Rd8 38. Bxa7
Rxd6 39. Bc5 Ke7 40. Bxd6+ Kxd6 41. Bc4 Be8 42. Kg2 Bd7 43. Be2 Kd5 44. Kf2 Ba4
45. Ke1 Bb3 46. Kd2 Bc4 47. Bd1 b5 48. Kc3 Bd3 49. a4 {It's not clear why
Black resigned here. After the exchange of pawns the WB has to be in two
places at once, defending the g-pawn and supporting the advance of the b-pawn.}
1-0

[Event "Roger Grime Cup"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2019.11.22"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Rescorla, Ian"]
[Black "Oates, Thomas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A80"]
[PlyCount "112"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

1. d4 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 e6 4. Nbd2 Be7 5. c3 O-O 6. Bd3 b6 7. Qc2 Bb7 8. O-O
d6 9. e4 fxe4 10. Nxe4 Nc6 $4 (10... h6) 11. Re1 $2 (11. Neg5 h6 (11... Qd7 12.
Bxh7+ Kh8 13. Nh4 $18) 12. Nxe6 $18) 11... Nxe4 12. Bxe4 h6 13. Bh7+ Kh8 14.
Rxe6 Ne5 $4 (14... Bc8) 15. dxe5 Bc8 16. Rxe7 Qxe7 17. Be4 $18 Rb8 18. exd6
Qxd6 19. Be3 Bg4 20. Rd1 Qe7 21. h3 Bh5 22. Rd5 Bf7 23. Re5 Qd6 24. Rf5 Rbe8
25. Rf4 Bxa2 26. Rxf8+ Qxf8 27. Nh4 Qf6 28. Nf5 c5 29. Ng3 Bf7 30. Qa4 h5 31.
Qc2 h4 32. Ne2 g5 33. b4 Qe5 34. f3 Bc4 35. bxc5 bxc5 36. Nd4 Qg3 37. Bf2 Qf4
38. Nf5 Rd8 39. Be3 Qb8 40. Bxg5 Bb3 41. Qb2 Rd1+ 42. Kf2 Rf1+ $1 43. Ke3 (43.
Kxf1 Bc4+) 43... Re1+ 44. Kf2 Rf1+ 45. Ke3 c4 $4 (45... Re1+ $11) 46. Bxh4 Qb6+
47. Nd4 Qh6+ 48. Ke2 Rg1 49. Kf2 Rd1 50. Ke2 $4 (50. Kg3 Qd6+ 51. f4 $18) 50...
Qxh4 51. Ke3 Qg5+ 52. f4 Qg3+ 53. Nf3 Re1+ 54. Kd4 Qg7+ 55. Ne5 Qf6 56. Bd5
Qb6# 0-1

[Event "Devon U160 v Cornwall U160"]
[Site "Camborne"]
[Date "2020.01.18"]
[Round "10"]
[White "Dean, Alan"]
[Black "Sellwood, Colin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A00"]
[PlyCount "36"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. g4 e5 2. e3 d5 3. d3 Ne7 4. h3 Ng6 5. Nd2 Nc6 6. a3 a5 7. Ngf3 Be7 8. Bg2 f5
9. gxf5 Bxf5 10. Qe2 O-O 11. c3 d4 12. exd4 Nf4 13. Qf1 Nxd3+ 14. Kd1 exd4 15.
c4 Bg6 16. b3 Bh4 17. Nxh4 Nxf2+ 18. Ke1 Nd3+ 0-1

[Event "Newquay v Falmouth"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2020.01.20"]
[Round "1"]
[White "Retallick, Lloyd"]
[Black "Kneebone, Robin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A28"]
[Annotator "Kneebone, Robin"]
[PlyCount "64"]
[EventDate "2019.??.??"]

{[%evp 0,64,19,-12,-14,-22,-30,-25,-26,-19,-24,-22,-13,-8,-5,-2,-4,17,41,14,36,
43,52,37,67,-21,17,13,15,-63,72,58,94,34,34,-56,-54,-5,-12,22,16,-14,-71,-36,
-51,-51,-57,-141,-105,-189,-175,-275,-291,-298,-292,-289,-293,-293,-292,-312,
-310,-350,-389,-391,-304,-366,-323]} 1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e5 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. g3 Bb4
5. d3 O-O 6. Bd2 Re8 7. Bg2 Bxc3 8. Bxc3 e4 9. Ng5 exd3 10. Qxd3 Ne5 ({theory
gives} 10... h6 11. Ne4 Nxe4 12. Bxe4 $11) 11. Qc2 {I'd overlooked this simple
retreat} (11. Qd4 c5 12. Qd6 (12. Qxc5 $4) 12... Nxc4 13. Qxc5 d5 $13) 11... h6
12. h4 $5 {Lloyd and I have often had interesting games, usually because of
Lloyd's original play.} (12. Ne4 {Fritz14}) 12... d6 13. O-O-O Bd7 (13... Qe7
$15) 14. Bd5 ({white avoided Bxb7, opening up the b-file. He wants to be able
to play Bxf6 without having then to defend b2.} 14. Bxb7 Rb8) (14. f4 Neg4 15.
Bxb7 Rb8 16. Bd5 Re7 17. Bxf6 Nxf6) 14... Nxd5 15. Qh7+ Kf8 16. cxd5 hxg5 17.
hxg5 (17. f4 {I had missed this when playing 14...Nxd5. Luckily, my opponent
expected more from his line.}) 17... Qxg5+ 18. f4 Qg6 19. Qh8+ Ke7 20. Qh4+ f6
21. fxe5 dxe5 22. Qb4+ ({when playing 17 hxg5 perhaps white was intending} 22.
Bxe5 {but after} Kf7 {black is winning because of threats of Rxe2 and Re4-c4+ .
}) 22... Kf7 23. Qc4 $2 (23. Qxb7 Qe4 24. Qxc7 Red8 {is what I expected, and I
had no idea who stood better. Fritz says black has an edge.} 25. g4 Rac8 26.
Qxa7 Ra8 27. Qb6 Rxa2) 23... Rac8 $17 24. Qb3 b6 25. Qa3 Qe4 $19 {This could
have been played on the previous move; the threat of ...Bf5 is decisive.} 26.
Qa6 {(=)} Bf5 27. Qd3 Qxh1 28. Qxf5 Qh6+ 29. Bd2 Qg6 30. Qh3 Rcd8 31. Bc3 a5
32. a3 Qh6+ 0-1

[Event "Devon v Cornwall"]
[Site "Plymouth"]
[Date "2020.02.15"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Levy, Steven"]
[Black "George, Ian"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C41"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. Nc3 Nbd7 4. e4 e5 5. Bc4 Be7 6. Bxf7+ Kxf7 7. Ng5+ Kg6
$11 (7... Kg8 8. Ne6 Qe8 9. Nxc7 Qg6 10. Nxa8 Qxg2 11. Rf1 exd4 12. Qxd4 Ne5
13. f3 Bh3 14. Qf2 Qxf1+ 15. Qxf1 Bxf1 16. Kxf1 Nxf3 17. Bf4 Kf7 18. Nc7 g5 19.
Kf2 Ne5 20. Bxe5 dxe5 $11) 8. f4 (8. h4 h5 $11) 8... exf4 $8 9. Ne6 Qg8 10.
Nxc7 Rb8 11. e5 (11. N3d5 Nxd5 12. Nxd5 Qd8 $11) 11... dxe5 12. Qd3+ Kf7 (12...
Kh6 $1 $19) 13. Qc4+ Kg6 14. Ne6 $2 (14. Qd3+) 14... Nb6 (14... Nc5 $1 $19) 15.
Qd3+ Kf7 16. Ng5+ Ke8 17. O-O Qc4 18. dxe5 Qxd3 19. cxd3 Nh5 20. Nge4 g5 21. b3
a6 22. Bb2 Be6 23. Rfe1 Kf7 24. Rad1 Rhd8 25. d4 Nd5 26. Na4 b6 27. Bc1 Rbc8
28. h3 Rc2 29. Nb2 Nc3 30. Nxc3 Rxc3 31. Re2 Bd5 32. Nd3 Ke6 33. Bb2 Rc7 34.
Nf2 f3 35. Ree1 fxg2 36. Ne4 Bxe4 37. Rxe4 Rc2 38. Bc1 Ng3 39. Rg4 Ne2+ 40.
Kxg2 Nxc1+ 0-1

[Event "Devon v Cornwall"]
[Site "Plymouth"]
[Date "2020.02.15"]
[Round "15"]
[White "Martin, Steve"]
[Black "Jenkins, David R"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C40"]
[WhiteElo "171"]
[BlackElo "113"]
[PlyCount "60"]
[EventDate "2020.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 {Looks odd but prevents the queen's incursion
by defending the rook.} 4. d4 d6 5. Nc4 fxe4 {The Latvian Gambit main line.
Steve playing slowly, perhaps on unfamiliar territory?} 6. Nc3 Qg6 {Vacating
f6 for the knight} 7. Nd5 {Premature? DJ} (7. f3 Be7 (7... exf3 $2 8. Qxf3) 8.
Ne3 {Ian G}) 7... Qf7 8. Nc3 Nf6 {Felt like rough equality but I need an
analysis engine here (DK) Fritz agrees (Iang G)} 9. Be2 h5 10. O-O Be6 {
I tend to be more fearful of O-O-O in the Latvian} 11. Ne3 d5 12. f3 Qd7 $2 ({
Fritz gives} 12... exf3 13. Bxf3 c6 14. Qe2 Nbd7 {Ian G}) 13. fxe4 dxe4 14. d5
(14. Rxf6 gxf6 15. Nxe4 Qe7 16. Bxh5+ {wins for white according to Fritz (Ian
G)}) 14... Bg4 {Critical attempt to open the h-file} 15. Nxg4 hxg4 16. Rxf6
gxf6 17. Bxg4 $2 (17. Nxe4 Qf5 18. Qd4 Be7 19. Be3 {Better for white according
to Fritz (Ian G)}) 17... Qh7 {The mating threat allows the subsequent ...f5,
making giving up the exchange a mistake.} 18. h3 $2 {Fritz gives} (18. Bh3 f5
19. Bf4 {as equal (Ian G)}) 18... f5 19. Be2 Bc5+ {My forces are now lining up
nicely on the white king and my development is better.} 20. Kh1 Nd7 {
Completing development and preparing to castle queen's side} 21. Bf4 O-O-O 22.
Nb5 Rdg8 {I am beginning to look for a mate via a queen sac. (DJ) The spirit
of the great Rashid Nezhmetdinov lives on! (Ian G)} 23. Bf1 $2 (23. Qf1 {
better according to Fritz (Ian G)}) 23... Nf6 24. Qd2 $4 Ng4 $4 ({White's 24th
move was a huge error which I failed to spot. The position oh White's bishop
on f1 makes g1 vulnerable to a rook if if the g-file can be opened. The forced
mate in 3 is} 24... Qxh3+ 25. gxh3 Rg1+ 26. Kh2 Ng4# {so why did I miss it?
Basically because I was lookong for a queen sac with an h-rook follow up and
could not shift my paradigm. Had the position benn offered to me as a
'problem' I bellieve I would have soved it in 10 seconds. Why, with ample time
on my clock, did I not spend more time analysing? Chess is a game that gives
you the option of spending more time on critical positions. The rest was
pretty undistinguished.}) 25. Nd4 $2 (25. Qc3 Bb6 26. Nxc7 Nf2+ 27. Kh2 {
Fritz (Ian G)} Ng4+ $11) 25... Re8 $2 (25... Qh4 26. Nxf5 Qf6 27. Ng3 e3 $19 {
Fritz (Ian G)}) 26. Rd1 Qh4 27. Nxf5 Nf2+ 28. Kh2 Ng4+ (28... e3 {wins for
black}) 29. Kh1 Nf2+ 30. Kh2 Ng4+ {Draw by repetition of moves. This time I
did think for some time. Obviously I could take the draw by repetition which
white could only avoid by giving up his queen for the pesky knight. On the
other hand I thought that, if anything, I was winning although the tactics
seemed Tal-like in their complexity. Fearing my opponent's strength I played
out the draw. My only consolation was feeling good about my Latvian Gambit (DJ)
, earning substantial brownie points from the team captain in the process! 
(Ian G)} 1/2-1/2


[Event "Cornwall v Fiji"]
[Site "Online"]
[Date "2021.01.16"]
[Round "2"]
[White "Menadue, Jeremy"]
[Black "Sikivou, Taione"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D15"]
[PlyCount "70"]
[EventDate "2021.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 {The
Slav Defense and now both sides tussle to steer the game into their desired
sub-variations.} 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {Black decides to go for the a6 slav/
Chebaneko Slav tabiya. White's 5th move is an important filtering move and
will dictate the key plans for both sides moving forward.} 5. e3 {White goes
with the solid 5.e3 with easy King's side development, quick castling and the
eventual preparation of the e4 pawn break in the center.} Bf5 {Ambitious move
trying to get the Light Square Bishop outside the chain before solidifying it
with .. e6. More typical moves for Black are 5...b5 - with immediate Queen's
side play & 5...e6 - more passive/cramped approach with long term goal of e5
or c5 break in the future.} 6. Qb3 {[%cal Gb3b7]} Ra7 {Typical idea in these
kind of Slav structures. The idea is that Black is committing less resources
defendingthe b7 square than White is using to attack it. Black Rook is not
easily attacked and can redeployed to a more useful square at ease in the
future.} 7. cxd5 $6 {Not the best move as it relieves the tension and helps
Black to breathe easily and develop comfortably.} (7. Nh4 {is recommended here
or completing development with either Bishop whilst maintaining tension in the
centre with a small positional edge.}) 7... cxd5 8. Nh4 Bg4 {Provocative move
- trying to induce weaknesses. This move is a piece of psychology &
gamesmanship than having any substantial positional merit. White had spent a
lot of time in the opening indicating that he is a deeper thinker and may be
prone to time pressure. Black henceforth adopts a strategy of playing moves
that cause problems with a multitude of ways of solving them, hoping that this
may induce a blunder in a more critical position later down the line under
time pressure.} 9. h3 Bc8 {The more human move. More intresting was Bd7 which
defends d5 by tactical means given that Nh4 is undefended. Black's
provocations has lead to h3 & Nh4 and a time advantage but he will need to
deal with lack of development ASAP to be able to capitalize.} (9... Bd7 10.
Nxd5 Nxd5 11. Qxd5 e6 {[%cal Gd8h4,Ge6d5] Discovered Double Attack on Nh4 and
Qd5. Suffice to say Black gains initiative which allows for easy development
and at least equality.}) 10. Bd3 e6 {[%csl Gh4][%cal Gd8h4] Locking in the
Light Bishop but development is much more important here. Furthermore, the
Black Queen is eyeing the loose Knight on h4 which could setup tactics in the
future} 11. Nf3 {Preventing any possible tactical combination on the
previously loose White Knight.} Nc6 12. Bd2 Bd6 13. O-O O-O {Both sides have
completed development and have safe Kings. Now it will come down to a moment
in the game whereby whichever side comes up with the better plan will triumph.
It has to be noted that the Black Queen's Bishop is locked in behind his own
pawns and therefore he must come up with an active plan for deploying it, lest
he be positionally ground out by White.} 14. Rfe1 {White has the first go at
implementing his plan. 14.Rfe1 - maybe White is preparing e4 push. Black is
not worried about this at the moment because e4 will make d4 weak and isolated.
Thus Black moves to champion his plan of Queen's side play and to get White to
abandon any of his plans in the center/King's side and react to Black's
Queen's side play. Another note is that White spent almost close to 12 minutes
on moves 14 and 15th whereby Black only used approx 3 minutes. This gave Black
an even more significant advantage on the clock.} b5 $10 {[%csl Gc4][%cal
Gc6a5,Ga5c4] A move that more or less acheives equality as it gains more
Queen's side space and allows Black's pieces to redeploy more effectively on
that side of the board. Black has plans of plonking a Knight on c4, Bb7 and
doubling Rooks on the c-file} 15. Rad1 $6 {Not the best move as it fails to
hinder any of Black's Queen's side play which will eventuate quicker than any
central operations that White can muster. Recommended is 15.e4 - accepting
weak IQP in hopes of drumming up dynamic counterplay chances.} (15. e4 dxe4 16.
Nxe4 Nxe4 17. Bxe4 Ne7 $10) 15... Rd7 {An unnecessary move. Black's idea
behind this move was to put more pressure on d4 so as to further discourage
White from playing e4. Black would have been better served by continuing with
Queen's side play of either 15...Rc7 or 15...Na5} (15... Na5 16. Qc2 Rc7) 16.
a3 (16. e4 dxe4 17. Nxe4 Nxe4 18. Bxe4 Bb7) 16... Bb7 17. Qc2 Qb6 18. Rb1 {
A bit too passive and allows Black to further take control of the initiative.
Maybe White could have tried the more active options of 18.b4 - preventing the
Na5 and Nc4 manoeuver. Or 18.Rc1 - contesting the c-file.} Rc8 19. Qd1 Na5 20.
Ne5 Rdc7 {Black's Queen's side pieces are actively developed and primed for
action to gain a decisive advantage.} 21. f4 {[%csl Rf3,Re4] weakens light
squares} Nc4 22. Nxc4 {This capture aids Black. Allowing Black to free his
Queen's Bishop and obtain a Queen's side pawn majority (3v2). It is difficult
to reccomend a move for White as Black has a positional advantage and easy
plan of action. Maybe White could have tried 22.g4 - aiming for a dynamic
Kside attack in attempts of complicating the postion.} dxc4 23. Be2 a5 {
Black now begins his plan of converting his Qside majority into a passer,
which will be duly supported by all of Black's Qside based pieces.} 24. Bf3 b4
25. axb4 axb4 26. Bxb7 (26. Na4) 26... Qxb7 {White has diminished his control
of light squares by trading off the Light Bishops. The Black Knight now
centralizes with an octopus like influence on White's position.} 27. Ne2 Ne4 {
[%cal Gc4c3] c3 is begging to pushed} 28. Qc2 Qd5 {Centralizing and preparing
to play c3 on the next move} 29. Bc1 $6 {A tough cramped position to play,
compunded by time pressure. This move is an error, not only does it remove a
defender of the c3 square but prevents the addition of a defender (via Rec1).
White needed to have played the move 29. Rec1 - stopping the immediate c3,
giving White better defensive chances.} c3 $6 {Black misses the immediate
killer blow of 29...b3 - whereby White's position just crumbles. This is still
winning and in-line with Black's earlier long term plan of creating a Queen's
side passed pawn.} (29... b3 30. Qd1 Bb4 31. Ra1 c3 $19) 30. bxc3 Nxc3 (30...
bxc3 {is a mistake as White can blockade on c2 and it will require more
precise play to convert the win.}) 31. Nxc3 Rxc3 32. Qd1 Rc2 {[%csl Gg2][%cal
Gc2g2] Black's Rooks decisively penetrate the position} 33. Re2 b3 {One step
closer to promotion and providing valuable support to the Rook on c2. Any
capture of the Rook will allow the passed pawn to be only one square away from
Promotion.} 34. Bd2 Qc4 {[%cal Gc4d3]} 35. Kh2 Qd3 {[%cal Gb3b2,Gb2b1,Yd6b4]
White Resigned. White is cramped and devoid of any good moves to stop Black's
multiple threats, the major one being the passed b-pawn.} 0-1


[Event "Simultaneous display"]
[Date "Not known"]
[White "Raymond Keene"]
[Black "David R Jenkins"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A57"]
[Annotator "David R. Jenkins"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 {In preparation for this simul I had been
wondering how to take advantage of the common knowledge that GM Raymond Keene
profoundly dislikes the Benko (Volga) Gambit and has nurtured a career-long
inclination to decline it. The way I normally play, a declined Benko Gambit
merely triggers the further offer of the Blumenfeld Gambit, but this time I
was facing the co-author with Garry Kasparov of the Batsford Chess Openings. I
reasoned that if I took him "out of the book" (but not out of the Benko) early
he might see me as a chess patzer, and concentrate his energies mercifully
elsewhere (it is well known that players in simuls quickly focus on the more
“serious’ games”). On the other hand when some time ago a famous GM
tried a similar tactic against the emerging Judit Polgar ("I thought I'd take
the little girl out of the book") he was not only humiliated in a "brevity"
but had his efforts labeled the Male Chauvinist Pig's Defense.} 4. Nf3 {
4. Nf3 is the classic and most popular way of declining the Benko Gambit,
although it is in breach of the chess truism, that the way to refute a gambit
is to accept it. This game was played in a charity simul in support of a St.
George's Hospital charity, and competitors were encouraged to attract
sponsorship on the basis of the number of moves they could survive in the
lists against the charity's GM champion. In the Benko Gambit accepted, 4.cxb5
is immediately followed by the offer of the rook's pawn with 4....a6 from
which huge complications follow.} d6 {Over many years my usual response to 4.
Nf3, declining the gambit, as indicated above, has been to enter the
Blumenfeld Gambit with 4...e6, ignoring the sacrificed pawn (which White
clearly hopes Black will grab) and counter-attacking in the centre. My plan
this time, if my fluid hopes could so be dignified, was to get out of the book
early and calculate through positions that would be broadly familiar to me
because they are associated with the Benko Gambit accepted rather than the
gambit declined, which Keene prefers. As John Fedorowicz puts it in The
Complete Benko Gambit, White in the BGD "retains the option of accepting the
gambit pawn under more favourable conditions". I wanted to encourage Keene to
accept the pawn, and lure him into "unfamiliar" territory. What a stupid
thought, I soon realized.} 5. Nbd2 {Last book move.} g6 6. e4 {Allowing such
an easy e4 is not a good idea, particularly as in the event I did not even get
around to castling.} Nbd7 7. cxb5 {With 7.cxb5, at last the gambit pawn drops
and I look around for some standard Benko Gambit tactics, hoping to play in
some order moves like a6, Qa5 or Bb7 as well as castling out of trouble.} Qa5
8. Bd3 a6 9. b6 {I was more than a little shaken by 9.b6, which I had not been
expecting although I have seen it in other lines, and which immediately put me
on the wrong end of some fine tactics.} Nxb6 {Although 9....Nxb6 is playable,
this is only because of the temporary pin and Black's position is now
distinctly fragile.} 10. O-O Nbd7 11. Nc4 Qc7 12. Re1 Bg7 13. Bd2 Ng4 14. Ba5
Qb7 15. Rb1 {Turning up the wick.} Nge5 16. Nfxe5 Nxe5 17. Nxe5 Bxe5 18. b4 Qa7
19. bxc5 {GM Keene by this move arrives nice and early at a clearly winning
position, the annotation gratis Fritz, but also my thoughts at the time. He
celebrates with a little show of stylized aggression, using his bishop like a
miniature croquet hammer to knock the pawn off its square into his cupped hand.
Fair enough. But at least I have arranged the previous exchange to give me a
long shot at h2, a square "chunking theory" might suggest could lie outside
the immediate "chunked" vision.} dxc5 20. Bb6 Qb8 21. Bxc5 Bxh2+ (21... Qc7 22.
Bd4 O-O 23. Bxe5 Qxe5 24. Qf3 {With advantage}) 22. Kh1 {I think this sudden
emergence of ostensible counter-play took him by surprise as he pondered for
over a minute to decide between 22.Kf1 and 22.Kh1. As always in these
circumstances vulture spectators appeared in order to investigate the reason
for the delay, and some stayed around waiting for tasty entrails.} Qf4 23. e5
$4 {This move, played quickly, involves an error in calculation although it
might vaguely qualify as "the kind of move we make in situations like this".
The problem is that the rook which this clearance move allows into the defense
is useless, since following 23....Qh4 the bishop can block its line at the
same time as discovering check. Not a good decision, argues Fritz explaining
the award of the double question mark, "as now the opponent is right back in
the game". Fritz offers} (23. g3 Bxg3 24. fxg3 Qxg3 25. Re3 Qh4+ 26. Kg2 $18 {
as a way of hanging on to much of the advantage.}) 23... Qh4 24. Rb4 $4 {
Keene, however, perseveres with his original plan, apparently not realizing
that the light at the end of the tunnel has become an approaching express
train. Something of White's deteriorating position might still have been
salvaged by} (24. Qf3 Bxe5+ (24... Bg4 25. Bxe7 Qh5 $19) 25. Kg1 Qh2+ 26. Kf1)
24... Bf4+ {The corpse lashes out.} 25. Kg1 Qh2+ 26. Kf1 Qh1+ 27. Ke2 Bg4+ 28.
f3 Qxg2+ {Actually, to be honest, I never got to deliver mate as GM Raymond
Keene bowed out with a smile and generous handshake just as I was reaching to
pick up the bishop to play it. Keene (this was his only loss) was an absolute
sweetie in this simul defeat, presenting me with what he considered an
appropriate signed book...} 0-1

[Event "Simultaneous display"]
[Date "Not known"]
[White "Mikhail Tal"]
[Black "Colin Searle"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C40"]
[Annotator "David R.Jenkins"]
[PlyCount "48"]

{The Chess Czar from Riga played Stratford and Warwickshire county captain
Colin Searle in the days before the health hazards of secondary smoking
attracted much critical comment, and the charismatic Latvian GM's consumption
of the weed could reach epic proportions over the three or four hours of a
full scale simul. Although it would be a tad unfair to describe Mikhail Tal as
a precursory stealth fighter coming at you suddenly out of a pall of tobacco
smoke, there is an element of truth in the scary image. Colin reports that on
occasion Tal himself would pause spluttering, taking momentary time out from
his intense concentration to blow his own smoke away. This confirmed the
general impression he gave of legendary ill health, but also of a man
preoccupied with doing well what he had come to do. Coupled with his poor
command of English, some read this as shyness. He won every game except a draw
against his host Dr. Jack Lanz, who was known to be supplying him with
medication not available in Russia, so he could not be said to have been
entirely without social skills. Tal's immediate physical presence was also
famously intimidating, not least in his reported demeanor when facing the
young Bobby Fischer. During Colin's simul encounter, Tal never once looked him,
or indeed at any other player, in the eye, or smiled, with the exception of
the moment at which our Stratford hero banged in 2....f5 and entered the
Latvian in honor of his opponent. The wicked grin would not have disgraced
Jack Nicholson's "Johnny".} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 f5 3. Nxe5 Qf6 4. Nc4 {This
immediate move of the knight without a preceding d4 enters the Leonhardt
variation of the Latvian Gambit, which has a good reputation, especially for a
player like Tal who was admired as a great improviser with a genius for
attacking middle game play. GM Tony Kosten in The Latvian Gambit Lives!
characterizes the Leonhardt variation as leaving open the possibility of d3 to
attack Black's e pawn, seeing it as favourable to tactical players who like
rapid development and piece play. One can see how it suited Mikhail Tal. In
passing, I must note how disconcerting it is for those of us who play the
Latvian Gambit that Kosten put an exclamation mark in his title. It suggests
amazement (as in Lazarus lives!) or nervous over-assertion.} fxe4 5. Nc3 Qe7 {
Sorry Colin, but 5....Qe7, although Fritz spared it an annotated question mark,
seems to me a weak move and the direct cause of much subsequent heartache, as
your Queen picks up the kind of problems that today would fall under sexual
harassment at work legislation. The proverbial "book" is undecided between the
virtues of three queen moves. Possible is 5....Qg6 or 5....Qe6, although the
best shot seems to be 5....Qf7! According to Kosten, no other move "comes
anywhere near being satisfactory". With this strange and inexplicable fifth
move Colin leaves the book, although it is fair to remind readers that this
was his first serious game with the Latvian and he was still carrying
metaphorical L plates. At least there was a first rate driving instructor on
board!} 6. Nd5 Qc5 7. Qh5+ Kd8 8. d4 {Even at this early stage Fritz awards
Tal "the full point" for a clearly won position.} exd3 {The en passant capture
is forced.} 9. Be3 $4 {I think this is a tremendous move by Tal, sacking a
knight into the attack. It was made instantly and seemingly without
calculation. The double question mark is not mine but gratis Fritz. Perhaps it
was less a matter of the notoriously materialistic Fritz not being able to
calculate far enough ahead to "justify" the sac, than the machine seeing
something better. Fritz comments in withdrawing the offer of the "full point"
that Tal has "given away a clear win" [suggesting} (9. Ne5 g6 10. Qh4+ Be7 11.
Qe4 {with a winning position]. Why settle for a clear win when you can have
serious chess fun and the promise of an unclear win, but a win all the same?
This is mischievous chess at its best, and completely fails to match Hooper
and Whyld's image of the cautious GM playing soundly in the simul whilst
awaiting opponents' errors.}) 9... Qxc4 {with, according to the greedy Fritz,
a slight advantage to Colin. I doubt it.} 10. Bxd3 {Underdeveloped or what?
One amusing feature of this position is that all of Colin's pieces are on
their original squares apart from his harassed Queen. The long-legged cranes
are about to be heading home to roost. It is obvious what will happen next:
Colin's Queen will retreat to one of the two available bad squares, either the
peripheral a4 or c6, blocking his Knight's natural development move, and Tal
will castle long, giving himself five developed pieces and joined rooks. The
sheer amusement of this position must be worth a Knight.} Qc6 11. O-O-O d6 {
Fritz shows its legendary impartiality by annotating Colin's move with a
double question mark, chiding Black for "throwing away a nice position" by
making a pawn move when dangerously "behind in development"} (11... Ne7 12. Bg5
Qc5) 12. Bg5+ {Putting GM Mikhail Tal even further ahead in development and
threatening an imminent attack.} Be7 13. Nxe7 Nxe7 14. Bb5 {This has now
become a tremendously exciting tactical game with neither player either
willing or able to make positional moves. The last and the next few moves by
Tal are a master class in deploying the decoy theme in the context of a
discovered attack. The bishop is poisoned because of 15.Bxe7+ and the
discovered attack on the Black Queen} Qc5 15. Rd5 {The decoy theme again. The
rook is untouchable for the same reason.} Qxf2 {This is an interesting and
brave move by Colin, and almost certainly the correct one. Worried about his
harassed Queen coming to a sticky end, he opts to trade it in for a pawn and a
Rook, a strategy that is not without merit since Tal has already sacked a
knight into the attack.} 16. Rf1 Qxf1+ 17. Bxf1 Nbc6 18. Bb5 Be6 19. Rd1 Ne5 {
19....Kd7 might have been better.} 20. Bf4 (20. Qh4 Re8 21. Bxe8 Kxe8 22. Bxe7
Rc8 {would perhaps have made it even easier for White}) 20... Nf7 21. Re1 Ng6
22. Rxe6 Nxf4 ({Even at this stage} 22... c6 {might offer a small chance
although} 23. Bxc6 bxc6 24. Qa5+ Kd7 25. Qf5 {is the correct response. Theme
clearance for h5-a5}) 23. Qxf7 c6 24. Rxd6+ Kc8 {Colin decides to meet fate at
the door. Not only has his position become hopeless but there is a
demonstrable mate in six. Nevertheless it takes two to make a good game and
Colin found a number of resources that kept Tal striving for his win. Both
players managed to bequeath us a game well worth studying. For those hoping to
play well against a GM in a simul, perhaps the lesson to learn here is that is
the GM may not necessarily be interested in a hazard-free game and, given the
right encouragement, might enter into the spirit of things and risk the danger
of over-reaching. But not, alas, on this occasion.} 1-0

