News - Newton Abbot Chess Club

[Event "Rated Classical game"] [Date "2020.12.17"] [White "Paul Brooks"] [Black "Josh Blackmore"] [Result "1-0"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.e3 Bb7 5.Bd3 d5 6.O-O Bd6 7.b3 Nbd7 8.Bb2 O-O 9.Ne5 {In this gentle version of the Queen's Indian defence, both players try to attack on the kingside. The question is, who gets in first?} 9...c6 $6 {This is too slow. Black is going to play c5 anyway, and the pawn on c6 just weakens his control of e4.} 10.Nd2 Qc7 11.f4 Rad8 12.Qf3 c5 13.Qh3 { The manouevre with f4 and Qf3-h3 is typical of this structure. White has the initiative.} 13...dxc4 14.Nexc4 Be7 15.Rac1 g6 {This blunts white's bishop on d3, but creates black squared weaknesses near black's king. Maybe 15...h6 was more circumspect.} 16.Ne5 Nh5 17.g4 Ng7 18.Ndc4 Nf6 19. g5 {The g pawn advance will support white's pieces on the dark squares. At the moment the weaknesses created in white's kingside aren't as important.} 19...Nfh5 20.Ng4 h6 $2 {A blunder which gives away a pawn for nothing.} ( 20...f6 21.Be2 Nf5 22.dxc5 bxc5 23.Nh6+ Nxh6 24.gxh6 {is better but still leaves white well ahead.} ) 21.Nxh6+ Kh7 22.Ne5 f5 {Black tries to block the kingside.....} 23.gxf6 {.....but it doesn't work.} 23...Bxf6 24.Nhg4 $2 {24.Qg4 is much more precise. If 24....Kxh6 25.Qxg6 is mate! } 24...Bxe5 25.Nxe5 Nf5 26.Be2 Rg8 27.Kf2 Ng7 28.Rg1 Be4 29.Bg4 Qe7 { White's last few moves have not been the best (eg 29. Rg5 was much better) and now he has to worry about counterplay. } 30.Bf3 Bf5 31.Bg4 Be4 32.Nf3 Bxf3 33.Bxf3 cxd4 34.Bxd4 e5 35.fxe5 {White again sees 'ghosts'. 35.Bxe5 was the right move not worrying about a check.} ( 35.Bxe5 Rd2+ 36.Ke1 Qd7 37.f5 Nxf5 38.Bxh5 gxh5 39.Qxh5+ Nh6 40. Rxg8 {wins easily. } ) 35...Rgf8 36.Qg4 Kh8 $2 37.Qxg6 Qh4+ 38.Ke2 Qxh2+ ( 38...Rxd4 {was the last chance for a swindle: if} 39.exd4 Nf4+ {and 39.Bxh5 Qf2 mate is even worse. White would have to find 39.Qh6+ Kg8 40.Rxg7+ Nxg7 41.Bd5+ Rxd5 42.Qxh4 which is winning but still complicated. It just goes to show how easily the tables can be turned!! } ) 39.Rg2 Ng3+ 40.Qxg3 1-0