[Event "Competitors' League"] [Site ""] [Date "2023.04.13"] [Round ""] [White "P Brooks"] [Black "P Ruszelak"] [Result "1-0"] [EventDate "2023.04.13"] 1.d4 b5 {The Polish defence - a tricky opening for both sides.} 2.e4 a6 3. Nd2 Bb7 4.Ngf3 e6 5.a4 b4 6.Bd3 Nf6 7.Qe2 ( 7.e5 Nd5 8.Nb3 {followed by castling leaves white with a solid advantage.} ) 7...c5 8.c3 d5 9.e5 {Paul has allowed Piotr to advance his central pawns, leading to a fairly equal position.} 9...Nfd7 10.cxb4 {A mistake, but Piotr doesn't capitalise on it.} 10...cxd4 ( 10...c4 11.Bb1 Nc6 {with a blocked French-type position where black's pieces have a better chance of finding good squares.} ) 11. Nxd4 Bxb4 12.O-O Nc5 13.Bc2 h5 {Piotr was worried about Qg4, but the cure is worse than the disease. Now white can take advantage of weaker kingside squares like g5.} 14.Kh1 Nc6 15.N2f3 Qc7 16.Bf4 f5 {Black tries to block up the kingside, hoping to take advantage of the unprotected bishop on f4. } 17.exf6 {But Paul sacrifices it!} 17...Qxf4 18.Nxe6 {Paul didn't calculate too far, trusting that this move would at least give him good compensation.} 18...Nxe6 19.Qxe6+ Kf8 20.Qd7 {This wins the piece back with a pawn extra and a large advantage, but the computer suggests} ( 20. fxg7+ Kxg7 21.Qg6+ Kf8 22.Ng5 Ne5 23.Ne6+ Ke7 24.Nxf4 Nxg6 25.Nxg6+ { winning the exchange too, but this was a bit too complicated for Paul.} ) 20...Qxf6 21.Qxb7 Ra7 ( 21...Rb8 22.Qxa6 Rh6 {at least gets some pieces out. Now Piotr's position remains congested.} ) 22.Qc8+ Nd8 23.Rad1 Bd6 24.Rxd5 Rc7 {A counter-attack but Paul has it under control.} 25.Qxa6 Nf7 26.Qa8+ Ke7 {hoping that the simultaneous threats to the queen and bishop will pay dividends, but....} 27.Re1+ Kd7 {Here} ( 27...Be5 28.Rdxe5+ Qxe5 29.Rxe5+ Nxe5 30.Qxh8 {wins easily.} ) 28.Bf5+ {The computer says that} ( 28.Qa5 Rxc2 29.Rf5 Qg6 30.Nh4 {was more clinical, but Paul spotted a transition into an easily won endgame.} ) 28...Qxf5 29.Rxf5 ( 29.Qxh8 {was again more clinical} 29...Nxh8 ( 29...Qxd5 30.Qe8# {is mate! - Paul missed this.} ) 30.Rxf5 {and white has an extra exchange as well as the pawns.} ) 29...Rxa8 30.Rxf7+ Kc6 31.Rxc7+ Kxc7 {This ending is easily won, and after a few more moves Piotr resigned.} 32.Nd4 Kb6 33.b3 Rc8 34.g3 Bc5 35.Re4 Rd8 36.Ne6 Rd1+ 37.Kg2 g6 38.Nxc5 Kxc5 39.Re5+ Kd6 40.Rg5 1-0

[Event "Competitors' League"] [Site ""] [Date "2023.04.13"] [Round ""] [White "A Brusey"] [Black "T Thynne"] [Result "1-0"] [EventDate "2023.04.13"] 1.e4 c5 2.c3 g6 3.d4 cxd4 4.cxd4 d5 5.exd5 Qxd5 6.Nc3 Qd8 7.Bc4 Bg7 8.Nf3 Nf6 9.O-O O-O 10.Re1 Bg4 11.d5 Nbd7 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Qxf3 Rc8 14.Bb3 Nc5 15. Bc2 Re8 16.Be3 Nfd7 17.Rad1 a6 18.Bd4 Bxd4 19.Rxd4 Nf6 {The position is balanced - Alan grabs a bit more space on the queenside, and continues to take space over the next few moves.} 20.b4 Ne6 21.Rd3 Ng7 22.g4 Qd6 { Fighting back with 22...h5 might be better.} 23.a3 Rc4 24.Bb3 Rc7 25.Qe3 Rd7 26.Red1 Red8 27.Na4 {Alan's space advantage is starting to cause problems for Trefor - the knight finds a good outpost.} 27...Rc7 28.Nc5 Kf8 29.f4 ( 29.Ne6+ {is a surprising shot.} 29...fxe6 ( 29...Kg8 30.Nxd8 Qxd8 31.d6 exd6 32.Rxd6 Qe7 33.Qxe7 Rxe7 34.Rxf6 {is even worse.} ) 30. dxe6 {forces black to give up his queen.} ) 29...Kg8 30.Kg2 ( 30.Ne6 {is still strong.} ) 30...h5 31.g5 Nf5 32.Qf2 Nd7 {Trefor has fought back well, but this move causes his queen some issues.} ( 32...Ne8 33.Ne4 Qd7 { is better. The knights will provide a strong blockade for the d-pawn.} ) 33.Ne4 Qb6 34.d6 Qxf2+ 35.Kxf2 exd6 36.Nxd6 Nxd6 37.Rxd6 {Trefor has landed in an awkward pin.} 37...Kf8 38.Ba4 b5 39.Bb3 Ra7 40.h4 Ke7 41.f5 Rf8 ( 41...gxf5 42.g6 fxg6 43.Re6+ Kf8 44.Rxg6 Rb8 45.Re1 {sets up a mating net and black is forced to give up his knight by } 45...Nf6 46. Rxf6+ Kg7 47.Rxf5 ) 42.f6+ Kd8 43.Bd5 Kc7 44.Bg2 Ne5 45.R6d5 Re8 46.Kg3 Re6 47.Rc1+ Kb6 48.Re1 ( 48.Rxe5 {is even better.} 48...Rxe5 49.Rc6+ Kb7 50.Rc5+ Kb8 51.Rxe5 {wins a clear piece.} ) 48...Nc6 49.Rxe6 fxe6 50.Rd6 Rc7 51.Rxe6 a5 52.Rxc6+ {After all the pieces are exchanged, white will queen his f -pawn.} 1-0