[Event "S Hams v Bishops"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.11.13"] [Round ""] [White "D Archer"] [Black "P Brooks"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2025.11.13"] [FlipB "1"] 1.d4 d5 2.Nc3 Nf6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 a6 {This is a fairly effective antidote to the Jobava London System. Paul plays to avoid giving Dave targets.} 6.h3 Nc6 7.Nf3 e6 8.a3 Bd7 9.Bd3 Qb6 {Dave sacrifices a pawn, as both the d and b-pawns are attacked, but gets some compensation.} 10.Na4 Qa5+ 11.c3 ( 11.Nc3 Qb6 {would be a repetition.} ) 11...Nxd4 12.Nxd4 Bxa4 13.Qe2 Be7 14.O-O O-O 15.g4 Qd8 16.Rfe1 Re8 17.Qf3 Rc8 ( 17...Nd7 {is suggested by the computer, with} 18.b3 Bc6 19.Nxc6 bxc6 {to follow. White doesn't have much for his pawn.} ) 18.Re2 Bd6 19.Bg5 e5 ( 19...h6 20.Bxf6 ( 20.Bh4 g5 21.Bg3 {worried Paul because he only considered swapping the bishops here. Instead} 21...e5 {is excellent for black.} ) 20...Qxf6 21. Qxf6 gxf6 {is good for black.} ) 20.Bxf6 Qxf6 21.Qxf6 gxf6 22.Nf5 Bf8 23. f3 Bd7 24.Ng3 Be6 25.Nh5 Bg7 ( 25...Be7 {keeping the bishop looks a bit better.} ) 26.Nxg7 Kxg7 27.a4 Rc5 28.Kf2 Rec8 29.g5!? {Dave looks for complications.} 29...d4 30.gxf6+ Kxf6 31.cxd4 exd4 32.Bxh7 Bxh3 33.Be4 R8c7 34.Kg3 Bf5 35.Rd1 Rd7 36.Kf4 d3 {Maybe a bit premature.} ( 36...Bxe4 37.Rxe4 Rc2 38.Rexd4 Rxd4+ 39.Rxd4 Rxb2 {might be black's best hope.} ) 37.Red2 Rc4 38.b3 Rb4 ( 38...Rcd4 {is the computer's recommendation. Paul thought that white would regain the pawn after } 39.Ke3 ( 39.Rc1 {looking for counterplay is better.} ) 39...Bxe4 40.fxe4 {missing} 40...Ke5 {and if } 41.Rxd3 Rxe4+ 42.Kf2 Rxd3 43.Rxd3 {is a good ending for black.} ) 39. Rxd3 Rxd3 40.Rxd3 Bxe4 ( 40...Be6 {is the last hope, but after } 41.a5 { it's not straight forward.} 41...Bxb3 42.Rd7 Be6 43.Rxb7 {and it should be drawn.} ) 41.fxe4 Ke6 1/2-1/2

[Event "S Hams v Bishops"] [Site ""] [Date "2025.11.13"] [Round ""] [White "T Thynne"] [Black "J Schofield"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [EventDate "2025.11.13"] 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 Qc7 12.Nbd2 Re8 13.Nf1 Nc4 14.Ng3 g6 {James tries to stop the knight reaching f5 but in the process weakens his dark squares.} 15.b3 Nb6 16.Bg5 Nfd7 17.Bxe7 Rxe7 18.Qd2 Kg7 19.Rac1 f6 20.Nh4 Nf8 21.d5 c4 22.b4 a5 23.a3 axb4 24.axb4 Re8 25.Rf1 ( 25.f4 {now is the computer's suggestion. eg} 25...Bd7 26.Rf1 Qd8 27.Rf2 Re7 28.Rcf1 {and white can build a big kingside attack.} ) 25...Qe7 26.Qe3 Ra6 27.f4 Bd7 28.Ra1 ( 28.f5 {is possible. Maybe Trefor thought that James would block the position with} 28...g5 {but} 29.Nf3 Qf7 30.Bd1 {still gives prospects of penetrating down the h-file.} ) 28...Rea8 29.Rxa6 Rxa6 30.fxe5 {This releases the tension too early.} 30...fxe5 ( 30...dxe5 {is better for black. He can post his knight on d6, when he also has the better bishop and control of the a-file. Now it's pretty even and the players soon agree a draw.} ) 31.Nf3 h6 32.Qf2 Ra2 33.Qxb6 Rxc2 34.Qe3 1/2-1/2