[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Parsons, M."]
[Black "Broadbent, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D96"]
[Annotator "Shapland,David"]
[PlyCount "55"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2014.01.21"]
[WhiteTeam "Hebden Bridge 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Brighouse"]

1. Nf3 {Matthew has been moving into what he describes as "phase 2" of his
opening repertoire development. Basically that seems to mean that he won't
just be playing the London System but also the complex of English/Catalan/
Queens Gambit opening lines. These of course are highly flexible and could end
up becoming any number of different systems. Here the players end up in a
Grunfeld.} Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. d4 Bg7 4. Nc3 d5 {Of course this is a slightly
unusual move order for a Grunfeld. In the mainline Black normally hasn't
played Bg7 before he's advance in the centre with d5 and White hasn't usually
developed his king's knight. This does mean that White has eliminated the
option of playing some of the Grunfeld lines where the king's knight does not
go to f3.} 5. Qb3 {Is this called the Smyslov Variation? I can't remember.} c6
$2 {This has to be recorded as a mistake. Robert chooses a path that avoids
the main idea in this line of the Grunfeld which is to capture on c4, cede the
centre to White but then endeavour to undermine this set up from the flanks,
for example after} (5... dxc4 6. Qxc4 O-O 7. e4 Bg4 8. Be3 {With the game move
Robert's trying to steer towards a Slav-type set up but in this position it
just doesn't work out very well.}) 6. cxd5 Nxd5 $6 {Did Robert get his ideas
mixed up? This is the continuation Black plays if White chooses to exchange
pawns on the 5th move. In this situation, with the White Queen already on b3
and the Black pawn on c6, its not very effective at all.} 7. e4 Nxc3 8. bxc3
O-O {It's at this point where we can see why Black's play is not as effective
as it could be. The point is that one of the main thematic ideas for Black in
the Grunfeld is to take aim at the White centre with the break c5. In this
position that would be a waste of a tempo and so Black has already limited his
capabitlities. Matthew, quite correctly appreciates that he has effectively
gained a tempo on the normal lines of the Grunfeld and he elects to use that
tempo in the most aggressive way he possibly could.} 9. h4 {Attack!
Subjectively, this may not be the best move available but, over the board,
it's an excellent choice. Despite apparently being safe behind his barracades
the Black king is about to become the subject of a withering attack.} Qc7 {
This pretty much amounts to being a red rag to a bull. It was possible to
swallow his pride, accept the lost tempo and play c5 here but that is a hard
move to play having already played c6. More plausible was the other
alternative which would have been 9...Bg4} 10. h5 $1 {Quite right too! Matthew
is going to be able to open the h-file because Robert's f-pawn is pinned.
Fritz still wanted Black to play c5 and counter attack in the centre. White
certainly doesn't have enough pieces developed to kill Black's king just yet
so why help him along?} Kh8 $2 {So, Robert unpins it! But this must be too
slow, it's certainly highly provocative.} 11. hxg6 fxg6 {The computer already
assesses White's advantage as being more than +4.00!!} 12. Ng5 {This is good
but} (12. Nh4 $3 {The other mating threat is even more compelling} Rf6 13. e5
Re6 14. Nxg6+ Rxg6 15. Qf7 Nd7 16. Bc4 e6 17. Qxg6 Nf8 {Is utterly horrendous})
12... h5 {Pretty much the only move but this is all rather ugly.} 13. Be2 $1 {
A nice 'quiet' move} Bf6 {The light squared weaknesses on the king's side
already spell doom for Black. Fritz suggests} (13... e6 {trying to shore
things up but it's ugly... and futile. Simply} 14. g4 {is winning}) 14. Nf7+
Kh7 15. Bxh5 {Who wouldn't go striaght for the jugular here? There is nothing
wrong with this move at all. Of course Fritz finds another, even more clinical
option in the form of} (15. e5 $1 {accentuating the bind even further} c5 {if}
(15... Bg7 {then} 16. Ng5+ Kh8 17. Bxh5 {is vile}) 16. exf6 exf6 17. Nh6 cxd4
18. cxd4 {and White is a piece up and still maintains all the pressure}) 15...
gxh5 16. e5 {Very strong. Now Robert feels compelled to give back the piece.}
e6 17. Rxh5+ Kg6 18. Rh6+ Kxf7 19. Rxf6+ Ke8 $2 {I guess Robert must have been
feeling pretty desperate hereabouts so it's natural to go towards the centre
where his undeveloped queen's side might yet offer some protection. Incredibly
the computer fancies his chances better going in the other direction.} (19...
Kg8 {and now White has nothing better than} 20. Rg6+ Kf7 21. Rh6 Rg8 {and in
fact White, though he has much the easier game to play only has two pawns for
his piece and the flow of the attack has been staunched. Fritz only awards
White a half-pawn's advantage.}) 20. Rxf8+ Kxf8 {It's amazing how human and
silicone opinion can differ in this kind of position. Both players doubtless
thought that White was winning comfortably here. The computer says it's level
so the must be ways for Black to defend himself from here.} 21. Ba3+ Ke8 22.
O-O-O {Of course Black's big problem here is development his queen's side
pieces can't get out in any way that appears helpful.} Qf7 23. Rh1 Qg7 $2 {
This natural attempt to keep the White rook out of h8 turns out to be the
critical mistake. There was a brief opportunity for Robert to go on the
counter-attack.} (23... Qf4+ $1 24. Kb1 Qe4+ 25. Ka1 Na6 {and it's not so easy
for White to proove an advantage here.}) 24. Qb4 $1 {A pretty finesse. Now the
white rook can go to h8 and will be invulnerable there.} Nd7 $2 {Admittedly
it's the easiest to spot but Robert had one last chance to shore up his
defences and minimise his losses.} (24... c5 $1 {It's very interesting to see
the in the engine analysis how many times this move was given as Black's best
option despite the fact that he'd already played c6! In this case it's not
being suggested to challenge the White pawn centre, the time for that is long
gone, in this case it's a sacrifice to allow the Black knight to reach c6.
From this square it can hold e7 and suddenly Black is defending the mate
threates again although White still has a big advantage with his three pawns
for his knight.} 25. Qxc5 Nc6 26. Kb2) 25. Rh8+ {The point of his previous
move. Now it's all over.} Kf7 26. Qe7+ Kg6 27. Qh4 a6 (27... Nf6 {holds out a
little longer but Black will still be mated after, for example} 28. Bf8 Kf7 29.
Bxg7 Nd7 30. Qh5+ Ke7 31. Qe8# {[%eval 32750,16]}) 28. Qh5# {It was very
generous of Robert, who must have ben feeling pretty bleak, to allow Matthew
to deliver the checkmate. A nice game from Matthew who put Robert under
enourmous pressure right from the off.} 1-0

[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Leonard, P."]
[Black "Bendall, B."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B24"]
[WhiteElo "156"]
[BlackElo "152"]
[Annotator "Leonard,Pete"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Hebden Bridge 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Brighouse"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nc3 e6 3. g3 Nc6 4. Bg2 b6 {IMHO, once you've played e7-e6 in
these lines, you need to follow with d7-d5, or at least d7-d6, ASAP, or get a
horrible hole on d6.} 5. Nge2 Nge7 6. O-O g6 {Already too late for} (6... d5 7.
exd5 Nxd5 8. Nxd5 exd5 9. Nf4 {and wins a pawn, or even more:} Be6 10. Re1 Qd6
11. Bxd5 O-O-O 12. Nxe6 fxe6 13. Bxe6+ $18) 7. d4 cxd4 {He can't counter with}
(7... d5 8. exd5 {Fritz 14 (a late Christmas present to myself) finds the
superior} (8. Bg5 Bg7 9. exd5 exd5 10. Nxd5 Bh3 11. Bxh3 Qxd5 12. Bxe7 Kxe7 (
12... Nxe7 13. Bg2 $18) 13. Re1 $16) 8... Nxd5 9. Nxd5 exd5 10. Nf4 {I'd only
seen} (10. dxc5 Bxc5 {when} 11. Bh6 {is better than} (11. Qxd5 Qxd5 12. Bxd5
Bb7 {though White is still a healthy pawn up.})) 10... Bg7 11. Re1+ {and 12.
Bxd5.}) 8. Nxd4 Bg7 9. Ndb5 O-O {He can't move his d pawn without losing it,
so does best to get his king out of the way.} 10. Re1 {I felt pleased with
myself for this move - I'm easily pleased - as my instinct was to develop the
QB, but I saw that he was planning to play ...Ba6, exchange a knight and then
he can play d7-d5. Fritz's answer to this was} (10. a4 Ba6 11. Re1 {then if he
takes on b5} Bxb5 12. axb5 {and his a pawn has also become a target.}) 10...
Ba6 11. Nd6 {Now he really can't play d7-d5! Fritz still prefers 11.a4.} Bxc3 {
I never thought he'd do this; doubled c pawns are a small price to pay for all
those weak black squares in his position. I do think this warrants a ?!} 12.
bxc3 Ne5 $2 {Eyeing c4 as an outpost, and to challenge my knight; presumably
he didn't see that this loses the exchange.} 13. Bh6 Qc7 14. f4 {Fritz
marginally favours} (14. Bxf8 Rxf8 15. Qd4 Nc4 16. e5 Nc6 17. Bxc6 Qxc6 18.
Rad1 Nxd6 19. Qxd6 Bb7 (19... Qf3 20. Re3 Qf5 (20... Qa8 21. Qxd7 Bb7 22. Qd3
$18 {and he can't prevent 23.f3, blocking the diagonal.}) 21. Qxd7 Qxc2 22.
Ree1 $18) 20. Qxc6 Bxc6 $16 {In an uncharacteristically unmaterialistic manner,
I valued my bishop higher than his rook.}) 14... Nc4 15. Qd4 {Fritz prefers
the more simple} (15. Nxc4 Bxc4 16. Qd4 f6 17. Bf1 Bxf1 18. Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Rxf1
$16) 15... e5 {Pretty well forced.} 16. fxe5 Nc6 17. Qd5 $6 {Fritz rightly
prefers} (17. Qf2 f6 (17... Nxd6 18. exd6 Qxd6 19. e5 Qe7 20. Rad1 $18) 18.
Bxf8 Rxf8 19. Nxc4 fxe5 $18) 17... Ne7 {Bruce offered me a draw; I played on,
saying I hoped I didn't have cause to regret it. I repeated once more, just in
case he chickened out.} 18. Qd4 Nc6 19. Qd5 Ne7 20. Qd3 {I don't see that his
knight can do my queen any harm; she's on her way to the f file.} Rfd8 {Fritz
prefers} (20... Nxe5 21. Qd4 {I'd actually been thinking of the inferior} (21.
Qxa6 Qxd6 22. Bxf8 Kxf8 $11) 21... N7c6 22. Qd5 Kh8 23. Bxf8 Rxf8 24. a4 f6 $16
) 21. Qf3 $6 {Fritz prefers any of 21.Bg5, 21.Bf4 or 21.Rad1, aimed at
supporting the knight on d6. I was in too much of a hurry to move my queen off
his bishop's diagonal.} Nxd6 (21... Nxe5 $4 22. Qf6 {and he's being mated.})
22. exd6 (22. Qf6 {doesn't work:} Qc5+ 23. Be3 (23. Kh1 $2 Ne8 $19) 23... Qxc3
24. Qxd6 Nc6 $17) 22... Qxd6 23. Rad1 {Focussing on his d pawn, as I think my
mating chances have evaporated. Better was} (23. e5 Qe6 24. Rad1 Nf5 25. Bg5
Rdb8 26. Qd5 Bb7 27. Qxd7 Bxg2 28. Qxe6 fxe6 29. Kxg2 $14) 23... Qe6 24. Qf4 {
Better than 24.e5, which lets his knight out.} Nc6 25. Rd6 $2 {Obvious, but} (
25. e5 {was much better:} Qf5 26. Qxf5 gxf5 27. Bg5 $18) 25... Qe5 26. Qd2 $6 {
I was too anxious to keep the queens on and missed the simple} (26. Bg5 Re8 27.
Rxd7 Bc4 28. Bf6 Qxf4 29. gxf4 Bxa2 30. e5 Rac8 31. Rb7 Be6 $14) 26... Qc5+ $6
{Missing} (26... Bc4 27. Bg5 Re8 28. Rxd7 {when any of 28... Qc5+, 28...Ba2
and 28...Be6 gives equality, according to Fritz.}) 27. Kh1 $2 {In my turn,
missing} (27. Be3 Qe5 28. Bg5 {followed by 29.Bf6.}) 27... Ne5 {Fritz now
gives a very slight preference to Black; so much for my thinking I had him
under the cosh throughout!} 28. Rd5 Qe7 29. Qd4 $6 (29. Bf4 f6 30. Qd4 d6 31.
Rd1 Bb7 32. Rxd6 Nf7 33. Rd7 Rxd7 34. Qxd7 Re8 {maintains a slight edge, for
Black!}) 29... f6 {Blocking the diagonal, but better was} (29... d6 30. Rd1 Bc4
31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Qxd6 Qxd6 33. Rxd6 Bxa2 $15) 30. Bf4 Nc6 31. Qa4 Bb7 32. Red1
$6 {Funny that I went to some trouble to get this bishop on to the a3-f8
diagonal, a few moves later, when I could simply have played} (32. Bd6 Qe6 33.
e5 Nxe5 34. Qb3 Kg7 35. Bxe5 Qe7 36. Qb4 Qxb4 37. cxb4 Bxd5 38. Bxd5 fxe5 39.
Bxa8 Rxa8 40. Rxe5 $11) 32... Rac8 {I expected him to play} (32... Ne5 33. Rd6
Bc6 34. Qd4 Rac8 $11) 33. Rd6 g5 34. Bc1 {I was pleased to spot this, thinking
a change of perspective by this bishop might help me. We were both quite short
of time, which accounts for the plethora of less than perfect moves.} Rc7 $6 (
34... Ne5 35. Qxa7 Bc6 36. Qxb6 Nc4 37. Qb3 Bxe4 38. Bxe4 Qxe4+ 39. Kg1 Qe7 $11
) 35. Ba3 Qe5 $2 (35... Ne5 {is better, even though it allows} 36. Rxb6 Qf7 37.
Rb3 Bc6 {and Black's pieces are better co-ordinated, while White has many weak
pawns.}) 36. Bb2 $2 {At the time, I thought I was being crafty, giving him
something to think about, on the last move before the time control, with only
two minutes left. In any event, I saw that 36.Qb3+ followed by 37.Bb2 laid me
open to 37...Na5. What I didn't see was that} (36. Qc4+ {is much better than
36.Qb3+, as the knight is now pinned. After the king moves, say by} Kg7 37.
R1d5 Qe7 38. Rf5 {threatens 39.Rxc6; e.g.} b5 39. Qxb5 Re8 40. Rfxf6 Ne5 (40...
Qxf6 41. Rxf6 Kxf6 42. Qf5+ Kg7 43. Bd6 Rcc8 44. Qxd7+ {and 45.Qxb7 wins.}) 41.
Rde6 Qxf6 42. Rxf6 Kxf6 43. Bd6 {and again his bishop falls.}) 36... a5 $4 (
36... Na5 37. Rxd7 Rdxd7 38. Rxd7 Nc4 39. Rxc7 Qxc7 40. Bc1 $11 {and I may be
a pawn up, but they are horrible pawns.}) 37. Qb3+ {and Bruce resigned, as the
roof falls in after 38.c4. It's always a sobering experience, entering a game
in an engine; all the time I thought I was well on top I was, yet again,
skating on thin ice!} 1-0

[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.20"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Shapland, D."]
[Black "Grandage, R."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C41"]
[Annotator "Shapland,David"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Hebden Bridge 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Brighouse"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 d6 {This was what I'd been expecting from Ron. The Philidor is
one of those opening lines that can be reached by a whole range of move orders
and both players have to consider the nuances of each one in order to try and
reach the position they are after. I must say that this particular move order
does not have me quaking in my boots.} 3. Bc4 {3.d4 is also possible but I had
a good idea Ron would take the pawn and therefore I decided to get another
developing move in before I advanced in the centre.} h6 $6 {This feels too
slow to me. 3...Nf6 or 3...Nd7 would be more in keeping with the ideas in the
Philidor.} 4. d4 {Now I was happy to play this move. My idea was to offer a
Scotch Gambit type position but where Black has played d6 and h6 instead of
Nc6 and Nf6. Needless to say the two knight moves would be rather more useful
for Black.} exd4 5. c3 {5.0-0 was also possible but why not offer the gambit
pawn when Black is at such a disadvantage compared to 'normal' Scotch Gambit
positions?} Bd7 $6 {This is provocative. I'm guessing that Ron wanted to play
Bc6 at some point but he's too far behind with his development to expect to
have time for that. At this juncture I suspect he really had to take the pawn
and then try and defend himself against the onslaught.} (5... dxc3 6. Nxc3 (6.
O-O {This would lead to a Danish Gambit which personally I feel is less
dangerous than the Scotch Gambit if Black gives back some of his material
advantage he can usually defend through simplification.} cxb2 7. Bxb2 Nc6 8.
Re1 Be6 {looks playable for Black}) 6... Nc6 7. O-O Nf6 8. Qb3 {and White has
plenty of compensation for the pawn}) 6. O-O $5 {Objectively this isn't the
best move. White can cash in at once with 6.Qb3. However, after a bit of
reflection I decided that, although Qb3 would have given me a fine advantage,
I wanted to play for more. If White is going to go directly for mate then
continue to accelerate his development.} (6. Qb3 $1 {Fritz awards White as
much as a 2.00 point advantage after} Be6 7. Bxe6 fxe6 8. Nxd4 {and Black
can't defend both the e and b-pawns.}) 6... Nc6 7. cxd4 {Black has forsaken
the gambit pawn in order to get himself developed, the problem is that now
White has total control of the centre. It will be tough for Black to complete
his deployment now.} Nf6 8. Nc3 {The immediate} (8. e5 {was also possible, but
again, this leads to a simplified position where Black can stir up some
trouble for example after} dxe5 9. dxe5 Ng4 10. Qe2 Bc5 {and White is
certainly better but Black has counter-play. I figured I didn't need to offer
Black this opportunity.}) 8... a6 $2 {I think this is probably the final nail
in Black's coffin. For better or worse he must surely complete his development
with Be7 and 0-0 as quickly as possible. Now there is a chance that the Black
king will become trapped in the centre.} 9. Re1 {Again, taking the patient
option (unusual for me I guess!) Once more the immeidate central advance is
also possible and possibly better.} (9. e5 dxe5 10. dxe5 Nh7 11. Qc2 Be7 12.
Rd1 {Is the line Fritz likes. Black is almost completely incapacitated as if
he castles he'll come under a ferocious attack with moves like Qg6, Bxh6 and
h4 all possible continuations.}) 9... Be7 10. e5 {Finally! There are no more
useful preparatory moves so now is the time.} dxe5 11. dxe5 Nh7 {A rather
humiliating retreat but what else was there?} (11... Ng4 12. h3 {and Black
must sacrifice the knight on f2 which will certainly not grant him sufficient
compenstion.}) (11... Nh5 {also lands Black in hot water after} 12. Nd4 Nxd4
13. Qxd4 Be6 14. Qe4 Bxc4 15. Qxc4 {and now the natural} O-O $2 {loses to} 16.
g4 $1) 12. Qc2 {Played after a fairly long think. White's trump card now is
the weakness of the light squares on the Black king's side. I wanted to
threaten to advance again with e6 without having to worry about the queens
being exchanged off after wards. This move also prepares a huge attack should
Black now castle.} Qc8 $2 {Ron saw the danger on the light squares and is
preparing to get his bishop to e6 from where it will significantly boleter the
defence. However, he doesn't really have time for this. Instead Fritz suggest
that he should brazen it out and go ahead with castling whereupon my intended}
(12... O-O {whereupon my intended} 13. Bxh6 $6 {is probably unsound although
Black would have to find some accurate defensive moves to stay in the game.
Instead of sacrificing the piece the computer gives White a big advantage after
} (13. h4 Bg4 14. Bd3 f5) 13... gxh6 14. Qg6+ Kh8 15. Bxf7 Be8 {This is the
key to the defence} 16. e6 Bxf7 17. exf7 Bb4 {and White may not have enough
for his piece}) 13. e6 $1 {Opening up the position to get at the Black king.
Now the g6 square is the critical point of entry} Bxe6 14. Bxe6 fxe6 15. Qg6+
Kf8 16. Bxh6 $1 {This is best but it took me quite a while to convince myself
of that. I couldn't calculate all the possible variations so, whilst this
'felt' correct, I couldn't empirically prove it to myself. That didn't used to
bother me in days gone by but in recent years (probably as a result of playing
better players) I've demanded a higher level of confidence in my sacrificial
play, and as a result I've made fewer mistakes but also won far fewer games of
this nature. The other main option up for consideration was} (16. Rxe6 {but
this isn't nearly so strong as now Bla ck has time to bring his knight back
into the defence and gain a tempo on my rook after} Nf6 17. Re2 {White is
winning here but it's not so convincing}) 16... Bf6 $2 {This final error
spells disaster for Ron though of course the defensive task was quite tricky.
Once again he needed to take the provocative approach and grab the material
with} (16... gxh6 17. Rxe6 Bf6 18. Rxf6+ Nxf6 19. Qxf6+ Kg8 20. Qg6+ Kf8 21.
Re1 {and now White only has a pawn for the exchange but the Black king is
horribly exposed and his heavy pieces remain undeveloped so White's advantage
is very significant}) 17. Bxg7+ $2 {I didn't spot how massively crushing the
move} (17. Ng5 $1 {is. The main point is that 17... Nxg5 allows 18.Qxf6 and
the g-pawn is pinned. On this basis Black is forced to play} Qe8 18. Nxh7+ Rxh7
19. Qxh7 gxh6 20. Rad1 {and the Black position is decimated}) 17... Bxg7 18.
Rxe6 Nf6 {Neither player spotted that Black can defend himself perfectly
acceptably after} (18... Qd7 $1 {and the queen holds everything together. Now}
19. Rae1 Qf7 20. Qc2 {and White has compensation for the piece but the
position is level again.}) 19. Ng5 {This was my point! White can defend the
rook and threaten mate.} Rh6 $2 {A final error which brings the game to an
abrupt halt although the White attack is in any case devastating. Now the
queen can't defend because White has an extra attacker covering that crucial
f7 square and so} (19... Qd7 20. Rd1 $1 Rh6 21. Rxf6+ Bxf6 22. Qxh6+ Bg7 23.
Qg6 {is overwhelming}) 20. Qf7# {It's been a while since I've had a game like
this} 1-0

[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "Todmorden"]
[Date "2014.01.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Clarkson, A A."]
[Black "Kerrane, J."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C16"]
[WhiteElo "1990"]
[BlackElo "1730"]
[Annotator "Clarkson,Andrew"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2014.01.20"]
[WhiteTeam "Todmorden 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Hebden Bridge 'B'"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 Qd7 5. a3 Bxc3+ 6. bxc3 b6 7. a4 Ba6 8. Bxa6
Nxa6 9. Qd3 Nb8 10. Nf3 c5 {Not the best. I rather expected} (10... h6 {as
White really is looking hard at the h7 pawn.}) 11. Ng5 c4 $6 {I expected either
} (11... Nc6 $5 $11 {or}) (11... h6) 12. Qh3 Ne7 13. O-O {Should White take on
h7 ?} (13. Nxh7 Ng6 14. a5 bxa5 15. O-O Nc6 16. f4 {and Fritz says there are
chances for both sides, but I am worried about the Knight on h7.}) 13... Ng6
14. f4 {Surprisingly Fritz is still happy to play} (14. Nxh7) 14... h6 15. Nf3
{I spent at least 15 minutes examining} (15. Nxf7 $5 {Then we have} Qxf7 {Best.
} (15... Kxf7 $2 16. Qh5 $1 Qe8 (16... Nc6 $2 17. f5 exf5 18. Rxf5+ Kg8 19.
Qxg6) 17. g4 {and Black is struggling. Or}) 16. f5 exf5 {When play might go}
17. e6 Qxe6 18. Ba3 Nc6 19. Rae1 Nge5 20. Qxf5 Qxf5 21. Rxf5 Kd7 22. dxe5 {
There are plenty of ways for Black to trip up after 15.Nxf7... but enough to
hold on too.}) 15... Nc6 16. g4 O-O-O {Black might have ventured} (16... h5 17.
gxh5 Nge7 18. f5 Nxf5 19. Bg5 Nce7) 17. f5 Nf8 (17... Nge7 18. Nh4) 18. Ba3 {
John was quite concerned now. I also considered} (18. Ng5 f6 19. Nxe6 Nxe6 20.
fxe6 Qxe6 21. exf6) 18... Re8 (18... g6 19. f6) 19. Rfb1 (19. Ng5 $1 Nd8 20. a5
b5 21. a6 exf5 22. gxf5) 19... Nh7 20. Bd6 Ng5 21. Nxg5 {Beware of} (21. Qg2 $2
Ne4 $1) 21... hxg5 22. Qg3 {g2 turns out to be a better square for the Queen.
Here are the best moves} (22. Qg2 Na5 23. Bb4 exf5 24. gxf5 Rh4 25. Bxa5 Reh8 (
25... bxa5 26. Rb5 $16) 26. Bb4 Rxh2 27. Qxh2 Rxh2 28. Kxh2 Qxf5 29. Rf1 $11)
22... Nd8 $2 {I guess John thought his attack with doubling Rooks on the h
file might even produce a win. Black is fine after} (22... Na5 23. Bb4 Nc6 $11)
23. a5 b5 {Is Black's last chance} (23... Kb7 24. axb6 a6 25. Ra5 (25. Ra2 Nc6
26. Rba1 a5) 25... Nc6 26. Rc5 $14) 24. a6 exf5 25. gxf5 {It was also good to
play the direct} (25. Ra5 Rh4 (25... f4 26. Qf3 Rh4 27. h3 Reh8 28. Raxb5) 26.
Raxb5 Qxb5 27. Rxb5 Rxg4 28. Qxg4 fxg4 29. Rc5+ Kd7 30. Rc7+ Ke6 31. Rxa7)
25... Qxf5 26. Rxb5 Rh3 {Black also had to look at} (26... Rh4 27. Rf1 Qxc2 28.
Rc5+ Kd7 29. Rc7+ Ke6 30. Rxa7) (26... Ne6 27. Rb7 Rh3 28. Qg2) 27. Qg2 {A
cool move which will secure the full point.} Reh8 {White only has} (27... Qf3
28. Qxf3 Rxf3 29. Rc5+ Kd7 30. Rc7+ Ke6 31. Rxa7 Nc6 (31... Rxc3 32. Rc7) 32.
Rc7) 28. Rc5+ Kd7 29. Rc7+ Ke8 30. Rf1 Qh7 $2 {A help mate move.} ({If} 30...
Rxh2 31. Rxf5 Rxg2+ 32. Kxg2 {White has won a Rook.}) 31. Re7+ {And White will
mate with 31...Kf8 32.Re6+ Kg8 33.Re8++} 1-0

[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2014.01.20"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wright, A."]
[Black "Bamford, N."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A23"]
[WhiteElo "1920"]
[BlackElo "1505"]
[Annotator "Clarkson,Andrew"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2014.??.??"]
[WhiteTeam "Todmorden 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Hebden Bridge 'B'"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. g3 c6 4. Bg2 d5 5. cxd5 cxd5 6. a3 a5 $6 {The simple
and sensible} (6... Nc6 {is advocated by all the engines.}) 7. Qb3 e4 8. Nh3
Ra6 {Interesting improvisation with the Rook by Black.} 9. O-O Nc6 10. Nf4 Rb6
11. Qc2 Nd4 $2 {Pointless.Black had to try} (11... g5 12. Nh3 h6) 12. Qa4+ Nc6
13. d3 Bf5 $2 {For better or worse Black must try} (13... g5 14. dxe4 d4 (14...
gxf4 $4 15. exd5 fxg3 16. hxg3)) 14. dxe4 dxe4 (14... Bxe4 15. Bxe4 dxe4 16.
Rd1 {is also very good for White.}) 15. Rd1 Qe7 {This should lose lots of
material and in trying to limit that loss Black loses his King. The best Black
can do is} (15... Qc8 16. Ncd5 Nxd5 17. Nxd5 Bc5 18. Nxb6 Bxb6 19. Bxe4 O-O 20.
Bf4 {but Black has no compensation for the material defecit.}) 16. Ncd5 Nxd5
17. Nxd5 Qd8 18. Bf4 Bd7 19. Nc7+ Ke7 20. Qxe4+ Ne5 21. Qxe5+ Re6 22. Qc5+ Kf6
23. Qg5# 1-0

