East Cheshire Chess Club Blog

This is Graham’s last game of the season against Stockport. I think Graham would admit he was not particularly motivated about this game, not much to play for really, this was until his opponent chuckled when Graham played his opening move 1…..f5. To be fair to his opponent this was not a chuckle at the move but more circumstance. Grahams opponent had prepared 1. Nf3 on the basis he might get White against Dave Newell’s Dutch. Apparently Stockport chess club keep a database and Dave is on it, seems to me this is taking chess a mite too seriously. So having not got Dave he abandoned the Nf3 preparation, played 1. c4 then got the Dutch anyway, bit of a bugger life sometimes.

Anyway on with the game.

1. c4 f5
2. Nc3 d6 (supporting e5, anf if White plays d4 then we are back into main line Dutch Leningrad)
3. g3 e5
4. d3 Nf6
5. Bg2 g6
6. Nf3 c6
7. O-O Bg7
8. Rab1 O-O
9. b4 Nh5
10. Qb3 f4

So the opening has gone OK, its not too far off a Leningrad structure, not sure if the pawn on e5 is strong or exposed but it turned out OK.

11. c5+ d5
12. e4 fxe3

Is the Ne4 then Nd6 manouvre good or not?

13. fxe3 Kh8
14. e4 half a question mark maybe
14. … d4
15. Na4 Qe8
16. Bd2 Be6
17. Qa3 cheap trick or best available?
17. … Na6
18. Ng5 Rxf1 I think this is best although other tries are available, the Queen is probably best if it can remain on e8 for the time being, lots of options from there
19. Bxf1 Bg8
20. Be2 Nf6
Wonder if immediate h6 is better, not much in it maybe, don’t believe White will want to exchange the White squared bishop for the knight, probably needs it to defend those white squares around the King if necesary

21. Bd1 h6
22. Nf3 g5
23. Nb2 Nc7
24. Bb3? Nb5
25. Qa4 (a long way from being in the game)
25. … Qh5
26. Kg2 (Graham clearly up here, Nxe5 is an interesting try)
26. … Rf8 (26. …Nf4 worth a look)
A new experience for Graham this season, bit of time trouble having been treading very carefully over the past few moves
27. Rf1 Ng4
28. h3 Ne3+
29. Bxe3 dxe3
30. g4 Qg6

31. Bd1 Nd4
32. Re1? Nxf3
Graham with not much time analized one sequence of moves giving him a position of safety and probably a win, 32…. Nxf3 is OK, but there is a winner.

33. Bxf3 Rxf3
34. Kxf3 Qf6+
35. Kxe3 Qf4+
36. Ke2 Qh2+
37. Kd1 Qxb2
38. Re2 Qa1+
39. Kd2 Qxa2

Well I think with correct play this is eventually a win for Black but its not easy against the clock and although a few more moves were played a draw was eventually agreed. Graham’s challenge for next year is to turn a few of these very good draws into wins!

Here is Grahams game from thursday against Stockport, after totally failing to get motivated for the game his opponent chuckled at Graham’s 1….f5 response to 1. c4, thus solving the motivation problem. Sadly he was not in fact laughing at the move, he had been preparing 1. Nf3 during the day expecting to maybe play Dave Newell and his dutch but then got Graham instead, apparently Dave has a game or two on the Stockport chess club database but Graham does not, so not realising his preperation for the Dutch would still be useful opened with 1. c4, losing any real chance to play some of the sharp and prepared 1. Nf3 lines. Bit of a bugger life sometimes.
Anyway on with the game.
1. c4 f5
2. Nc3 d6 trying for an early e5, if White plays d4 to stop this then we are back into main line leningrad
3. g3 e5 4. d3 Nf6 5. Bg2 g6 6. Nf3 c6 7. OO Bg7 8. Rab1 OO
Nice Leningrad like structure, Grham is I think at least level
9. b4 Nh5 10. Qb3 f4

11. c5+ d5 12. e4 fxe3 What do we think about 12. Ne4 here, is it a nuisance if it then goes to d6, anyway back to the game.
13. fxe3 Kh8 releiving pressure on d5
14. e4 (half a question mark)
14. d4
15. Na4 Qe8
16. Bd2 Be6 17. Qa3 cheap trick
17. ……Na6 18. Ng5 Interesting position with quite a lot going on and on the basis that the Queen is best remaining on d8 supporting the pawn on c6 against whites b5 then
18….. Rxf1 19. Bxf1 Bg8 20. Be2 Nf6? I have given it a question mark as I dont think its necesary to move it, an immediate ….h6 maybe

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