Game number 6 - and after some discussion between team captains (as both the B team and the D team were playing on the same night) it was decided I should play board 1 for the D team against Woodseats B. AH
1.e4
d5
The Centre-counter... - something my dad always used to play against me when I was learning how to play.
AH
2.exd5
Nf6
3.c4
c6
4.dxc6
Nxc6
5.Nf3
e5
It is unusual for me to think much during the opening - but I did a bit here. I want to prevent 6. ... e4 if possible but the only way I could see to do it meant blocking my white-squared bishop in.
AH.
6.d3
e4
7.Ng5
h6
8.Nxe4
Nxe4
9.dxe4
I'm two pawns up at this point - both of which are centrally developed. At this point, I was thinking that Bill had very little compensation for these.
AH.
9...Qxd1+
10.Kxd1
Bg4+
11.f3
0-0-0+
12.Nd2
A genuine sacrifice, two pawns for rapid development and an awkward white king position. BW.
12...Be6
The situation has changed somewhat - now Bill has castled, developed a bishop and pinned my knight to my king. I can also see it's going to be even harder than I thought to get my white-squared bishop into the game - and as a consequence, my king's rook. However, my pawn structure is more secure after 11. f3. So if I can stave off an attack, I should be able to make something of this.
AH.
13.a3
To stop the bishop coming to b4. AH.
13...Nd4
Preventing Kc2, Ke2 and Ke1 because of Nc2ch. BW.
14.b4
f5
(I was also looking at Nb3 here) BW.
15.Ra2
taking ef allows Bf4 or Nf4 but not taking allows...BW.
15...fxe4
16.fxe4
Bg4+
17.Ke1
Nb3
Couldn't resist it! Black is forced to take. BW. When I first saw this, I thought Bill had overlooked that after 18. Nxb3 Rd1+ my knight is protecting the bishop on c1 so the sacrifice is in vain. As it turns out, I was completely wrong and the next few moves had to be precise to avoid being mated or subject to a whirlwind attack.
AH.
18.Nxb3
Rd1+
19.Kf2
Bd6
(threatening Rf8ch. (Ke3 Bf4ch.))
20.Ke3
Rf8
There were a lot of available moves here - but none seemed to strike the right balance. 21. g3? loses to ... Rf3+ when black picks up both the knight and the bishop on f1. 21. Rd2 loses to ...Bf4+ when the rook is skewered and the bishop on f1 will also come off. 21. Nd2 gives up the bishop on c1 for no compensation, whilst leaving my bishop on f1 still pinned to my rook on h1. So....
21.Bd2
(good defence, after Bf4 ch. Kd3 /d4 Rd8 ch. looked to run of steam.
I decided to take the piece back but as often happens gave back the initiative.)
Bill. This seemed to solve my problems. I have to give the piece back, one way or the other, but this way limits the damage and I still seem to come out 2 pawns up. There might be a better continuation for Bill than the move he plays, but if so, neither of us saw it!
21...Rfxf1
22.Rxf1
Rxf1
f1 bishop and h1 rook, between them, got one move in! But that's OK - the less material Bill has, the less likelihood there is I'll be mated and now it's my turn to go on the offensive.
23.h3
Be6
24.Rc2
Rg1
25.Nd4
(It's slipping away) Bill
25...Bd7
26.c5
Be5??
A blunder. Sadly, so is my next move. 27. Nf3 forks rook and bishop and could be enough to win the game (albeit that I will be giving my two pawns back as compensation)
27.Bc3??
[27.Nf3
]
27...Bxd4+
(I grabbed the knight as soon as possible! Black is still two pawns down but the opposite coloured bishops could give drawing chances.)
28.Kxd4
Rf1
29.Ke5
Ba4
30.Rd2
Rc1
I didn't look far enough ahead here - the exchange of rooks that is coming meant that I had to go after the kingside pawns immediately, despite this meaning sacrificing my e-pawn. After the text moves, 33. Kf5 would be a better attempt I think. 33. ... g6+ 34. Kxg6 Bxe4+ 35. Kxh6 Bxg2 36. h4 gives me an all new passed pawn and nothing for black to blockade with on the white squares.
31.Bb2
Rc2
32.Rxc2
Bxc2
and despite white's better position the bishops did indeed ensure a draw in 51 moves. Bill
33.Kd5
g6
34.e5
Kd7
35.Bc1
Bb3+
36.Kd4
h5
37.Kc3
Bd5
38.g3
Bc6
39.Kc4
a6
40.Kd4
Ke6
41.Bf4
Ba4
42.Kc4
Bd1
I thought this move might have given me a way in - but as it turns out, there's still no way I could see to force my way through.
43.c6
bxc6
44.Kc5
Ba4
45.Kb6
Bb5
46.Kc7
Ba4
47.Kd8
Bb5
48.h4
Ba4
49.Ke8
Bb5
50.Kf8
Ba4
51.Kg7
Bc2
Draw agreed. There's no way for me to get through. Overall, a slightly disappointing result for me - I felt as if I defended out of the opening very well, seeing a number of moves that weren't necessarily particularly obvious, and that my two pawn advantage should have told. When Bill's attack had dried up, I think I was guilty of relaxing a little bit and missed the knight fork, just relieved to have been back in a position to act rather than react to threats. However, I was ill (again) so I have my excuse for some muddled thinking. And Bill did beat Andy George convincingly last time Woodseats played Nomads so at least I fared a little better - sorry Andy, but felt I should put that in for the record ;-) 1/2-1/2