[Event "S Hams v Abbots B3"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01.16"] [Round ""] [White "T Thynne"] [Black "J Schofield"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2025.01.16"] 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 Na5 10.Bc2 c5 11.d4 cxd4 12.cxd4 Nc6 13.Nc3 Qc7 14.Bg5 Re8 15.Qd2 Qb7 16.Rac1 ( 16.Nd5 {is a clever way for white to increase the pressure.} 16...Nxd5 ( 16...a5 17.Bxf6 Bxf6 18.Nxf6+ gxf6 {breaks up black's pawn structure.} ) 17.exd5 Nxd4 18.Nxd4 exd4 19.Qxd4 {wins a pawn because of the pin on e7.} ) 16...Bd7 17.d5 Nb4 18.Bb1 a5 19.Nd1 Na6 20.Be3 Bd8 21.g4 b4 22.b3 Rc8 23.Nb2 h6 {This move gives Trefor a 'hook' on the g-file, making it more attractive to advance the pawn to g5. } ( 23...Nc7 { thinking about moving the knight to b5 and possibly c3 was better.} ) 24. Nc4 Qb8 25.g5 {Trefor decides to go for it.} 25...hxg5 26.Nxg5 Bb5 27.Kh2 Bxc4 28.bxc4 Bb6 29.Rg1 Re7 30.Nf3 Bxe3 31.Qxe3 Qa7 {The pressure is buiding on James' position.} 32.Qe2 Nh5 33.Nh4 Nf4 34.Qf3 ( 34.Qg4 {was better.eg} 34...f5 35.Nxf5 Qxf2+ 36.Rg2 Qxg2+ 37.Qxg2 Nxg2 38.Nxe7+ { leaves white with an extra rook.} ) 34...Rec7 35.Nf5 Rxc4 {James is trying to counterattack but this should lose.} ( 35...g6 {might lose a bit of material but was objectively better.} ) 36.Rxg7+ Kf8 37.Qg3 {This looks threatening but it's not the best. When you are attacking it's best to keep good pieces on the board, so} ( 37.Rcg1 {which also threatens mate in 1 was much better. Now } 37...Ng6 {fails to the crushing } 38.R7xg6 fxg6 39.Nxd6+ Kg7 40.Qf5 {when mate is unstoppable.} ) 37...Ng6 38.Rxc4 ( 38. Rg1 {is by far the best move. The threat of the exchange sacrifice is still very strong.} ) 38...Rxc4 39.Qxg6 {Another tempting move to which James finds a good counter.} ( 39.Rh7 {keeps a big advantage. If } 39... Rc3 40.Qh4! {with lots of threats.} ) 39...Qxf2+ 40.Qg2 Qf4+ 41.Rg3 Nc5 { James is right back in the game and Trefor's next move gives him the advantage.} 42.Nxd6 ( 42.Qe2 {is better.} ) 42...Rc1 43.Bc2 a4 {James misses a winning chance.} ( 43...Rf1 {wins the white queen.} ) 44.Nc4 b3 ( 44...Rf1 {still wins.} ) 45.axb3 axb3 46.Bxb3 Nxb3 ( 46...Nxe4 {should also give James a winning advantage.eg} 47.Qf3 ( 47.Ba2 {allows a quick mate} 47...Nxg3 48.Qxg3 Rc2+ {etc.} ) 47...Nxg3 48.Qxf4 ( 48.Qxg3 Rh1+ { wins the queen.} ) 48...exf4 49.Na5 Ne4 {is a winning endgame.} ) 47.Qb2 Qf1 {Unpinning the rook is a very bad idea (even if it does threaten mate in 1!).} 48.Qg2 {Could this be the final swing of the pendulum? - Trefor missed} ( 48.Qa3+ Nc5 49.Qxc5+ Ke8 50.Rg8+ Kd7 51.Qd6# ) 48...Qf4 49.Ne3 Nd4 50.d6 Rc3 51.Nd5 {No, there's one more chance. Here } ( 51.d7 Ke7 ( 51...Nc6 52.Qd2 Rxe3 53.d8=Q+ Nxd8 54.Qxd8# ) 52.Nd5+ {wins the queen.} ) 51...Nf3+ 52.Qxf3 Rxf3 53.Nxf4 Rxf4 {The smoke has cleared and this rook and pawn ending is drawn, if both sides are careful. } 54.Re3 Ke8 55.Kg3 Kd7 56.Rf3 Rxe4 57.Rxf7+ Kxd6 58.Rf6+ Ke7 59.Ra6 Kf7 60.Rb6 Kg7 61.Rc6 Kf7 62.Ra6 Rf4 63.Rb6 Rf1 64.Kg2 Rf5 65.Kg3 e4 66.Rb3 Kf6 67.Kg4 Rf1 68.h4 Kg7 69.Re3 Rg1+ 70.Kf5 Rh1 71.Rxe4 Kh6 72.Re8 Rf1+ 73.Kg4 Rg1+ 74.Kf3 Rf1+ 75. Kg3 Rg1+ 76.Kf2 Rh1 77.Rh8+ Kg7 78.Rh5 Kg6 79.Rg5+ Kh6 80.Kg3 Rg1+ {After 81.Kf4 Rxg5 82.hxg5 Kg6 is a drawn pawn ending. An epic encounter - both players were down to their last 2 minutes from move 30 - which no doubt added to the mistakes (and the excitement!!) } 1/2-1/2

[Event "Autumn Swiss R5"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01.16"] [Round ""] [White "I Henry"] [Black "R Brenton"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2025.01.16"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Qf6 4.Nc3 Nge7 5.O-O a6 6.Bc4 b5 7.Nd5 Nxd5 8.Bxd5 h6 9.c3 Bc5 10.d4 ( 10.Nxe5 {is a fork-trick which is worth remembering.} 10...Qxe5 11.d4 Bxd4 12.cxd4 Qd6 {leaves white with much the better development.} ) 10...exd4 11.cxd4 Bb6 12.e5 Qe7 13.Re1 Bb7 14.Be3 O-O-O 15.Qb3 Na5 16.Bxb7+ Kxb7 17.Qc2 Nc4 18.Bc1 g5 19.b3 g4 {This loses a pawn. } 20.Qe4+ c6 21.Qxg4 Na3 22.Qe4 Ka7 23.Bb2 b4 24.Rac1 Nb5 25.Kf1 Nc3 26. Bxc3 bxc3 27.Red1 Ba5 28.Ng1 d5 29.Qf3 Rhf8 30.Qf6 Qxf6 31.exf6 Rd6 32.Ne2 Rxf6 33.Nxc3 Re6 34.Re1 Rfe8 35.Rxe6 Rxe6 36.Ne2 Kb6 37.a4 Bb4 38.g4 a5 39.h3 Kc7 40.Ng3 Kd7 41.Kg2 Ke7 42.Kf3 Rf6+ 43.Ke3 Bd6 44.Ne2 Bc7 45.f4 Re6+ 46.Kf3 Kd6 47.Rc3 Bb6 48.Re3 Rxe3+ 49.Kxe3 {We have reached an ending where white has quite a big advantage - an extra pawn, plus black's pawns on the kingside are weak.} 49...Bd8 50.Ng3 c5 51.Nf5+ Kc6 52.Kd3 h5 53.g5 ( 53.gxh5 {may look odd but it wins. eg} 53...Bf6 54.dxc5 Kxc5 55.h6 Kb4 56.Kc2 d4 57.h7 d3+ 58.Kxd3 Kxb3 59.Nd6 Kxa4 60.Nxf7 Kb3 61.Ke4 a4 62.Kf5 Bg7 ( 62...Bd4 {fails to} 63.Ne5 ) 63.Kg6 a3 64.Kxg7 a2 65.h8=Q a1=Q+ 66. Kg6 {and white will win.} ) 53...Bc7 54.Ng7 ( 54.Nh6 {is much better.} 54...Bxf4 55.Nxf7 {and black will be struggling.} ) 54...Bxf4 55.Nxh5 Bxg5 {Now it's level.} 56.Ng7 Bf6 57.Nf5 Bg5 58.h4 Bf6 59.h5 Bh8 60.h6 Kd7 61. Ke3 c4 62.bxc4 dxc4 63.d5 c3 64.Kd3 Kc7 65.Ng7 Kd6 66.Kxc3 f5 {This gives white another chance.} 67.Kd3 ( 67.Kc4 f4 68.Ne6 f3 ( 68...Be5 69.h7 f3 70.Ng5 f2 71.Ne4+ ) 69.Ng5 f2 70.Ne4+ Ke5 71.Nxf2 {and with 2 extra pawns it should be easy for white.} ) 67...f4 68.Ke4 f3 69.Nf5+ Kc5 70.Ne3 f2 71.Kf3 f1=Q+ 72.Nxf1 Kxd5 {Now the black king can mop up the a-pawn and it will be a draw.} 73.Ne3+ Kc5 74.Nc2 Kc4 75.Ke2 Kb3 76.Kd3 Kxa4 77.Kc4 Bf6 78.Nd4 Ka3 79.Nc2+ Kb2 80.Kb5 Bc3 81.Ne3 Kb3 82.Nc4 a4 83.h7 a3 84.Nxa3 Kxa3 85.h8=Q Bxh8 {An epic struggle.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Autumn Swiss R5"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01.16"] [Round ""] [White "B Sturt"] [Black "M Abbott"] [Result "0-1"] [EventDate "2025.01.16"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 e5 5.Nf3 Nf6 6.Bd3 d5 7.exd5 Qxd5 8.Nc3 Bb4 9.Bd2 ( 9.O-O {avoids the coming pawn-fork. eg} 9...Bxc3 10.bxc3 e4 11.Bxe4 Qxd1 12.Bxc6+ bxc6 13.Rxd1 {and white is better.} ) 9...Bxc3 10. Bxc3 e4 {Now the piece is lost. Ben wriggles but can't escape the loss in material.} 11.Qe2 O-O 12.Bc4 exf3 13.gxf3 Qg5 14.h4 Qf4 15.Bxf6 Qxf6 16.c3 Bf5 17.O-O-O Rfe8 18.Qf1 Qh6+ 19.Rd2 {This pin allows Mark to swap off into a totally won ending.} 19...Rad8 20.Qd1 Ne5 21.Be2 Nd3+ 22.Bxd3 Rxd3 23.Re1 Rxe1 24.Qxe1 Qxd2+ 25.Qxd2 Rxd2 26.Kxd2 0-1

[Event "Autumn Swiss R5"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01.16"] [Round ""] [White "D Morgan"] [Black "L Barron"] [Result "0-1"] [EventDate "2025.01.16"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.c3 a6 5.Ba4 d6 6.d4 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.d5 b5 9. Bc2 Na5 10.b3 Ng6 {Les blocks the retreat of his bishop....} 11.g4 {... and Dave takes advantage.} 11...Nf4 12.Bxf4 Bg6 13.Bg5 Be7 14.Bxe7 Qxe7 15.Nbd2 Nb7 16.Qe2 Nc5 17.O-O-O h6 18.h4 Qd7 19.h5 Bh7 20.Nh2 {Dave moves his knight to an inactive square.} ( 20.g5 {was better.} ) 20...a5 {Les launches an attack on white's king.} 21.f3 b4 22.c4 a4 23.Kb1 axb3 24.Nxb3 Qa4 25.Nxc5 ( 25.Nc1 {keeps things under control.} ) 25...Qxa2+ 26.Kc1 dxc5 {Les misses a mate.} ( 26...Qa3+ 27.Kd2 ( 27.Kb1 Qa1# {is quicker.} ) 27...Qc3+ 28.Kc1 Ra1# ) 27.Kd2 b3 28.Ra1 ( 28.Qd3 {is still level. eg} 28...bxc2 29.Qxc2 Kd7 30.Ra1 Qxa1 31.Rxa1 Rxa1 32.Qb2 Rha8 33.Qb5+ Kd8 34. Qxc5 R8a2+ 35.Kc3 Rc1+ 36.Kb3 Rxh2 37.Qf8+ Kd7 38.Qxf7+ {and it's perpetual check.} ) 28...Qxc2+ 29.Ke3 Qc3+ 30.Kf2 Rxa1 31.Qe3 Ra2+ 32.Qe2 Qd4+ {Dave resigns as he's losing his queen and the b-pawn will probably turn into a queen soon.} 0-1

[Event "Autumn Swiss R5"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01.16"] [Round ""] [White "R Hammond"] [Black "S Santos"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2025.01.16"] 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.Nf3 Bg7 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.d5 O-O {Sergjohn gives a piece away. } ( 6...Na5 {is better.} ) 7.dxc6 bxc6 8.O-O Rb8 9.a3 c5 10. Bg5 Be6 11.Bxe6 fxe6 12.b4 Nd7 13.Ne2 Bxa1 14.Qxa1 cxb4 15.Bh6 Rf7 16.Ng5 e5 17.Nxf7 Kxf7 18.axb4 Rxb4 19.Qa2+ Ke8 20.Qg8+ Nf8 21.Qxf8+ Kd7 22.Qxd8+ Kxd8 {After the tactics Rhys has gained 2 pieces for a couple of pawns. His only problem is that he needs to queen a pawn to win, so protecting pawns is important. I think white's next move should be 23.f3.} 23.Ra1 Rxe4 24.Ng3 Rh4 25.Bg5 Rg4 26.Be3 Rc4 27.Rxa7 Rxc2 28.Ra8+ Kd7 29.Kf1 Ke6 30.Rh8 h5 31.h4 c5 {Sergjohn starts rolling his pawns forward.} 32.f4 c4 { Another white pawn disappears.} 33.fxe5 Kxe5 34.Ke1 Rxg2 {And another. Rhys decides to sacrifice his knight.} 35.Nxh5 {The computer now says this position is level.} ( 35.Bf2 {blocking in the rook might have kept some winning chances.} ) 35...gxh5 36.Rxh5+ Ke4 37.Bg5 e6 38.Rh6 Kd5 39.Rf6 e5 40.Rf2 Rg4 41.Kd2 Rg3 42.Be7 c3+ 43.Kc2 Rh3 44.Rf6 e4 45.Rxd6+ Ke5 46.Rc6 e3 47.Rxc3 ( 47.Kxc3 e2+ 48.Kd2 Re3 49.Rc1 {keeps white ahead.} ) 47...Ke6 ( 47...e2 {is best.} 48.Rc5+ Ke6 49.Kd2 Kxe7 50.Kxe2 Rxh4 {is a draw.} ) 48.Bb4 Rh2+ 49.Kd1 e2+ 50.Ke1 Kf5 51.Be7 Ke4 52.Bg5 ( 52.Bd6 {is Rhys' last chance.} 52...Rg2 ( 52...Rh1+ 53.Kxe2 Rxh4 54.Rc4+ {wins the rook.} ) 53.Rh3 {and black will struggle to stop the pawn from queening.} ) 52... Kd4 53.Re3 Rxh4 {A clever idea from Sergjohn.} 54.Rxe2 Rg4 55.Bf6+ Kd3 56. Rd2+ Ke4 57.Re2+ Kf5 58.Bd8 {Rook and bishop v rook is very difficult to win so the players agreed the draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Autumn Swiss R5"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.01.16"] [Round ""] [White "K Middleton"] [Black "E Manning"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2025.01.16"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.e3 b6 3.Nf3 e6 4.Bd3 Bb7 5.Nbd2 d5 6.O-O Nbd7 7.Ne5 c5 8.c3 Nxe5 9.dxe5 Nd7 10.f4 c4 11.Bc2 b5 12.Nf3 Be7 13.b4 cxb3 14.axb3 Qc7 15. Bb2 a6 16.Nd4 Rc8 17.b4 ( 17.Qg4 {is more flexible.} 17...g6 ( 17...O-O { is too dangerous.} 18.Bxh7+ Kxh7 19.Qh5+ Kg8 20.Rf3 {with a strong attack. eg} 20...Nc5 21.Rh3 f5 22.Qh7+ Kf7 23.Rg3 Rg8 24.Ba3 {and after the knight is taken, the e6 pawn will fall.} ) 18.h4 h5 19.Qg3 {leaves white a bit better.} ) 17...Nb6 18.Bd3 Nc4 19.Bxc4 dxc4 20.Qg4 O-O 21.Qg3 g6 22.f5 exf5 23.Nxf5 Kh8 24.Nh6 Kg7 ( 24...f5 25.exf6 ( 25.Rad1 Be4 26.Rd4 Bd3 {is also good for black.} ) 25...Qxg3 26.hxg3 Bxf6 {gives black a good position. Keith and Ellis instead decide to draw by repeating moves.} ) 25.Nf5+ Kh8 1/2-1/2