[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.02.27"]
[Round "10.3"]
[White "Cook, P."]
[Black "Bak, C."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B00"]
[Annotator "Chris Bak"]
[PlyCount "71"]
[EventDate "2017.??.??"]
[SourceDate "2017.02.27"]
[WhiteTeam "Hebden Bridge 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Todmorden 'A'"]

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 {White has three options in this position. (1) Transpose to
the Scotch with 3. Nf3. (2) Gain space with 3. d5, entering a Two Knights
Tango setup. (3) Capture on e5 and try to prove an advantage with the extra
central control. All options are quite appealing. The Scotch is part of my
repertoire, so it would be sensible to go with that option, but I've played
plenty of Scotch games before and I'll play plenty in the future, so I thought
I'd try something different.} 3. dxe5 Nxe5 4. Nf3 Bb4+ 5. c3 Nxf3+ 6. Qxf3 Bc5
{This is as far as I got at home. I don't like to prepare very deeply.
Reciting memorisation at the board takes most of the fun out of the game. In
theory, white has a small advantage because of the extra space taken by the
e4-pawn. After the game I concluded that black has little trouble equalising.
If white wants to find an advantage in this line, 4. f4 is his best shot (or
an earlier deviation).} 7. Bd3 {7. Bc4 is the more natural move, but I
reasoned that black could neutralise the threat on f7 easily and then
challenge the bishop quickly with d6 and Be6. I preferred to keep more pieces
on the board. My opponent went into a long think, so at least he was also
unfamiliar with this position.} (7. Bc4 Qf6 8. Bf4 d6 9. O-O {In fact it's not
so easy for black to play Be6. Still, after} Ne7 (9... Be6 $4 10. e5 $1 Qe7 11.
Qxb7 $18) 10. Nd2 Ng6 11. Bg3 Qxf3 12. Nxf3 Be6 {Black has a reasonable if
slightly passive position, similar to what could have occurred in the game.})
7... d6 8. Bf4 {I believe this is imprecise because of the plan black employs
over the next three moves.} ({However,} 8. O-O Qf6 9. Qe2 {is nothing special
either.}) 8... Qf6 9. Nd2 Ne7 10. Qg3 Ng6 {I intended 11. Bg5, missing the
tactical reply 11..Bxf2+!, winning a pawn. Funnily enough I had seen that
trick in another line but overlooked it in this position.} 11. Be3 Bxe3 12.
Qxe3 {Black is definitely fine now. He has exchanged a pair of minor pieces
and cost white some time in the process.} O-O (12... Nf4 {worried me. I was
considering the sad-looking but reasonable 13. Bf1. Stockfish recommends the
more precise} 13. Bb5+ c6 14. Bf1 {where the inclusion of c6 favours white.})
13. O-O Qf4 14. Rae1 Re8 15. g3 {There's no need to rush the queen exchange.
White has ways to improve his position, such as the prophylactic Bc2 or
doubling on the e-file.} Qxe3 16. Rxe3 Ne5 17. Bc2 Be6 {Phil offered a draw in
a completely equal position. We had lost one board and I didn't see any
advantage on the other boards so I felt compelled to play on. Alas, I chose to
do so in a way that only gives black winning chances.} 18. Bb3 ({My original
plan was} 18. b3 {followed by f4. But I started seeing ghosts based on black
pushing the a-pawn.} a5 19. f4 {19. a4 is also possible.} Ng4 20. Re2 a4 {
White can just ignore this.} 21. Nf3 axb3 22. axb3 Ra2 23. Nd4 $11 {It's equal,
but I quite like white's position. He has more space and the better knight.
Black has his trumps too, but I'd be happy if I reached this position.}) 18...
Bxb3 19. Nxb3 $6 {A very short-sighted decision. I saw black's next move but
failed to look beyond that.} Nc4 20. Re2 {Only now did I realise what was
coming.} f5 {Black is going to win a pawn. White has to find the best way to
get compensation.} 21. Rfe1 {So far, so good. If black grabs the pawn in the
obvious way, white's rook will become active on the 7th rank.} Ne5 $1 {A
strong move that poses the most problems for white.} (21... fxe4 22. Rxe4 Rxe4
23. Rxe4 Nxb2 24. Re7 {White's active rook gives him sufficient compensation
for the pawn.}) 22. Rd1 $2 {Black's advantage becomes serious after this move.}
(22. Nd4 {is best, but I didn't even see that this was an option.} Nd3 23. Rd1
fxe4 24. Nb5 {It looks like white is winning the pawn back, but black has a
crafty response.} Re7 $1 {The only move to keep an advantage.} 25. c4 {
Creating the threat of Rxd3.} (25. Rxd3 $4 exd3 26. Rxe7 {The point is that
this doesn't come with check.} d2 $19) 25... Nc5 {Black remains a pawn up, but
it's unclear if this endgame is winning. It's hard for black to support the
e4-pawn.}) 22... fxe4 23. Kg2 Nd7 24. Rd4 Nf6 25. Na5 b6 26. Nc6 {The knight
can't be kicked. I hoped that this would clog black's position up enough to
stop him from making progress.} Re6 27. c4 a5 28. b3 {Slowly working the pawn
to b5. Fortunately white has enough time to do this before the black king
reaches the knight.} Kf8 29. a3 Ke8 30. b4 axb4 31. axb4 Kd7 32. b5 Ra4 33. Kf1
Ra1+ 34. Kg2 Ra4 35. Kf1 Ra1+ 36. Kg2 {I breathed a sigh of relief as my
opponent took the draw. I'm pretty sure black is winning, but it will take a
long time to convert and Todmorden were already 3-0 up at the time. I won't be
repeating this line!} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Calderdale League 1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2017.02.27"]
[Round "10.4"]
[White "Shapland, D."]
[Black "Clarkson, A.A."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B08"]
[WhiteElo "1953"]
[BlackElo "2005"]
[Annotator "Andrew Clarkson (AC) and Dave Shapland (DS)"]
[PlyCount "72"]
[EventDate "2017.02.27"]
[WhiteTeam "Hebden Bridge 'A'"]
[BlackTeam "Todmorden 'A'"]

1. e4 {DS: I agonised all weekend about which opening and variation I would
play against Andrew should I find myself pitted against him.} d6 {DS: This is
the fourth time I've played against Andrew's Pirc Defence and the games have
all followed a similar pattern. I get a reasonable position from the opening
but then get slowly outplayed and either manage to save myself with some
trickery when he gets into time trouble to hold a draw, which has happened
twice, or just lose the game, which was the result of our first encounter.} 2.
d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. Nf3 {DS: Sticking to the move order and variation I played
last time around. I've also tried the immediate 4.Be3 - the so-called
Argentinian Attack - and 4.Be2 with 5.g4 - I think that's called the Bayonet
Attack. Anyway, this move order is designed to persuade Black to get on with
castling. Sometimes in the other lines Black waits in the centre in order to
avoid an early king's side onslaught.} Bg7 5. Be3 {DS: Chessbase defines this
as the Classical Variation because I've played 4.Nf3. I'd say this was the 150
Attack which is a sort of hybrid of the Classical and Argentinian variations.
It's flexible and it pays to be flexible against the Pirc in my view.} O-O 6.
Qd2 c6 {DS: We reached this position in my last outing with White against
Andrew. In that game I played 7.0-0-0 and I think that was an inaccurate move
order as Black's queen's side attack will be at least as swift, if not swifter,
than White's king's side advance. This time I'd remembered the move I analysed
after the last game and believe to be the most precise.} 7. Bh6 b5 {DS: This
is the response I had expected from Andrew. Black has a range off options here
I think. 7...Nbd7, 7...Qa5 and 7...Bg4 are all reasonable. The game move is
very much in line with way Andrew likes to play the Pirc. Swift expansion on
the queen's side at the expense of development. The prinicpled strategic
response by White must be to get development completed and then counter-attack
in the centre or on the king's side. In this game I chose the centre.} 8. Bxg7
Kxg7 9. Bd3 {DS: Now that Black has declared his intentions with 7...b5, it
seems a sensible idea not to castle long. That said, I think 9.0-0-0 here is a
viable option. White can also play 9.a3 but I don't believe in that move too
much as it merely encourages Black to play 9...a5 in response when I can't see
how moving the a-pawn could be considered a useful move.} b4 $5 {DS: Time to
switch the engine on! I must admit this move surprised me a little bit. It's
perfectly logical but very commital. Shold Black really be rattling the sabre
llike this when his entire queen's side is still dozing in bed? The result of
this game would suggest that he can afford the luxury of a lie in!} 10. Ne2 {
DS: 10.Nd1 intending to go to e3 with the knight was also possible. I decided
that I wanted to redeploy this piece to f4 or g3 however.} a5 {DS: Again a
logical follow up and consequential play. As Andrew himself has put it 'If
Black says 'A' then he must also say 'B'' but I think this might have been
over-doing it. Fritz suggests an interesting pawn sacrifice...} (10... Bg4 11.
Qxb4 Nbd7 {... and White has a difficult choice to make about where to locate
his king. Going long with a half open b-file looks risky but casting short
immediatly will allow Bxf3 and a doubling of his f-pawns. This is tricky.}) 11.
h3 {DS: There's nothing much wrong with this move. White often plays it sooner
to prevent Bg4 or Ng4 but in this instance, with Black being so far behind in
development I fear this is rather too timorous. White can, and probably should
strick in the centre at once with...} (11. e5 Nd5 {... and now for example, a
line like...} 12. h4 h5 13. O-O Bg4 14. Ng5 dxe5 15. f3 Bd7 16. dxe5 {...
looks challenging for Black.}) 11... Ba6 {DS: The logical consequence of my
last move which sort of renders it meaningless. But this is why the Pirc is a
tricky opening to face. It's very flexible and adaptable, especially in the
hands of an expert like Andrew who has a very keen sense of how far he can
push with the provocation.} 12. O-O {DS: Having played h3 last move, this is
now the logical follow up.} Qc7 {AC: There was no risk in playing...} (12...
Bxd3 13. Qxd3 {or...} (13. cxd3 {DS: ...is what I would have played and I
think White is a tiny bit better here.} Nbd7) 13... Nbd7 14. e5 Nd5 $11) 13. e5
{DS: This felt like the only realistic way for me to try for an advantage.
It's thematic and looks dangerous for Black. The engine points out a slower
and mmore positional approach in the form of...} (13. Bxa6 Nxa6 14. Ng3 Rfd8
15. Rfe1 e6 16. h4 {and here the silicone beast considers White to have a
modest advantage. To be sure he is better coordinated and has more space in
the centre and on the king's side but Black's position looks solid. This kind
of position is not really my style.}) 13... Nd5 14. Rfe1 {DS: I spent quite a
while looking at the higly thematic pawn sacrifice...} (14. e6 {... but as
Andrew points out in this instance it's not so effective.} fxe6 15. Ng5 Qc8 $11
{White probably has just enough for the pawn here but nothing more.}) 14... f6
$6 {DS: This move really surprised me. I guessed it was intended to prevent
Ng5 but as we've just seen, the e6 and Ng5 idea is not really effective here.
All Black has succeeded in doing here is creating a bigger weakness on e6. As
Andrew points out in his analysis, more sensible would have been...} (14...
Bxd3 15. Qxd3 (15. cxd3 {DS: I'd planned on opening the c-file if Andrew
swapped bishops. Especially with his queen on c7.} Nd7 16. Ng3 h6 17. h4 f5 $11
{DS: I'd rather be White here. It looks to me like he can stir up some trouble
against the Black king and the half-open c-file looks enticing too.}) 15... Nd7
16. Qe4 dxe5 $11) 15. Nf4 {AC: Dave chooses a very tricky move, which on the
face of it will allow ... fxe5 with a tempo attack on the White queen. However,
White can gain the advantage with...} (15. exf6+ exf6 16. Be4 {DS: I agree,
this is more than a bit of an edge for White.}) 15... Nxf4 16. Qxf4 {DS: This
is a key position in the game. My idea was to encourage fxe5 and then gain
time for the Nf3-g5-e6 maneouvre.} Bxd3 {AC: To reduce material before the
capture on e5, but Fritz is laughing at me saying that White is better now. It
was at this point I realised how handicapped I was by the Knight on b8. I had
to consider...} (16... fxe5 $2 17. Qg3 {DS: This was my intended continuation.
Ng5 is a big threat now but it can't be played at once as...} (17. Ng5 $6 {DS:
I spent a long time analysing this variation but it doesn't quite work...} Rxf4
18. Ne6+ Kf6 $1 19. Nxc7 Ra7 20. dxe5+ dxe5 21. Nxa6 Nxa6 {DS: ... and
although the position looks messy Black is a pawn up and, once he coordinates
himself he should be a bit better. I'd reached this point in my analysis at
the board but couldn't manage to assess it at such long range.}) (17. Qe4 {DS:
I didn't consider this but Andrew obviously looked at it as this line appears
in his analysis.} Rf4 18. Qe3 Bxd3 19. cxd3 Nd7 20. dxe5 dxe5 21. d4 e4 22. Ng5
{asking a serious question about the e6 square.}) 17... Rxf3 $1 {DS: This is
the engine's choice.} (17... exd4 $2 {DS: To illustrate why Andrew was worried
about this line let's see what happens if Black goes pawn hunting at once
instead of giving up the exchange.} 18. Ng5 Bc8 19. Nxh7 $3 {DS: This is the
point of Qg3.} Rf5 20. Re4 $1 e5 {Still not...} (20... Kxh7 $2 21. Qh4+ Kg7 22.
Rxe7+ Qxe7 23. Qxe7+ Rf7 24. Qxd6) 21. Rh4 {... with a winning attack.}) 18.
Qxf3 exd4 19. Qg4 e5 {... and Fritz thinks White has a tiny edge.}) 17. cxd3 {
AC: I now used up a considerable amount of time as I realised just how fragile
my position was and what a good idea 15.Nf4 had been.} Qd7 {AC: Fritz also
advocates this after a long think! I was desperate to induce 18.e6... .} (17...
fxe5 $2 18. Qg3 {... and Black is in big trouble. Amongst other things just
look at the hole on e6.}) 18. Qe4 {DS: This is a bit of a nothing move but I
couldn't see how to improve my position. I calculated the pawn exchanges on d6
and f6 but couldn't find anything that I considered to be tangible in terms of
an advantage. AS: At the board I epxected...} (18. exf6+ exf6 19. Re2 {... but
now I see...} (19. d5 $1 {With the idea of...} cxd5 20. Nd4 {... and White is
better here.}) 19... Rf7 20. Rae1 Na6 {DS: This does indeed look compelling
for White.}) 18... Na6 {DS: When this move is the best Black has I guess you
can suppose something has gone a little awry.} 19. Rac1 {AC: Also possible was.
..} (19. exf6+ exf6 {... but Black is more comfortable than he was.}) 19...
Rac8 20. e6 {AC: Exactly what I had hoped for when playing 17...Qd7. I had
been fully aware that I would have to be alert to White playing Nxd6 at a
critical moment from now on. DS: Yes, I played this a little reluctantly but I
couldn't find anything I thought was better so I thought I'd settle for some
space and try to exploit the disharmony of Black's position. A better try
would have been...} (20. exf6+ exf6 21. Qe6 Rf7 22. Nd2 {DS: Is not much but
it's better than the game.}) 20... Qb7 {DS: From this point, and for a few
moves I lost the thread of the game somewhat and Andrew plays accurately and
gains an advantage.} 21. Nd2 $6 {DS: Continuing the series of sub-optimal
moves. I had to start thinking more about Andrew's counter play. If I had I
would have found...} (21. b3 {DS: Keeping the queen out of a4.} Qb5 22. Nd2 {
DS: The game is dead equal but perhaps Black's position has become easier to
play.}) 21... Qb5 22. Re3 {DS: Trying to get on the front foot again but the
advantage has already disipated.} Qd5 {AC: Fritz is happy to go pawn grabbing
with...} (22... Qa4 $5 {DS: Black wins the pawn for nothing}) 23. b3 {AC: Dave
prevents the pawn grab on a2, but any advantage has swung to Black. Dave
refrains from the unwise...} (23. Qxd5 $6 cxd5 24. Ree1 Nc7 25. Nf1 (25. Rc6
Nb5 26. Ra6 Nxd4 27. Rxa5 Rc2 28. Rxd5 Rxd2 29. Rxd4 Rxb2 30. Rc4 f5 31. Rc7
Kf6) 25... Nb5 26. Ne3 Nxd4 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 28. Nxd5 Kf8 {... and Black's
position is preferable.}) 23... f5 {AC: Good enough. I felt I was on top, but
as always in my games against Dave, my time was evaporating quickly.} (23...
Nc7 $1 {AC: This seems to allow...} 24. Rxc6 {but} Qxe4 (24... f5 $1) 25. Rxe4
Nd5 26. Rc4 Nb6 27. Rxc8 Rxc8 {... and Black has the advantage.}) 24. Qf4 {DS:
I did consider...} (24. Qh4 {... which seems appealing at first glance but
it's illusory as after...} Rf6 25. Nc4 Rb8 {... Black is on top.}) 24... Rf6 {
AC: Alternative moves, such as...} (24... Nc7 {all required long calculations.
I did not have the time.} 25. Nc4 Nxe6 26. Qh4 Rc7 27. Nb6 Qxd4 28. Qxd4+ Nxd4
29. Nd5 {... and Black should still be okay.}) 25. Nc4 {AC: ... and the long
anticipated ...Nxd6 is arriving.} Qb5 {AC: Setting a 'trap', but I hate that
term. DS: I had a feeling that Andrew wanted me to sacrifice the knight on d6
because I'd seen he had a straightforward way to prevent any trickery with...}
(25... Rb8 {DS: ... and it's difficult to see how White can proceed in
constructive fashion.}) 26. Nxd6 $6 {AC: A worthy attempt that I fully
expected from Dave. DS: Continuning a running theme in y games with Andrew.
One of us willing enters into a murky and complicated variation that the other
is willing to acquiese with as they consider their adversary could well be
wrong. Meanwhile on the sidelines the engines gigle and point at us saying how
stupid we are. I guess that's just part and parcel of chess today. The
computer will always tell you afterwards that you were wrong but at the board
it's always much harder to prove it. On this occasion Andrew had a very nice
defence in hand.} (26. h4 {AC: This would have kept the result in the balance.}
) 26... Qb8 $1 {AC: An only move that none of the spectators had forseen. Not
only is White's knight lost under favourable circumstances for Black, but Dave
has lots of ways to choose in which way to lose material. DS: This move I
overlooked. If Andrew saw his Qd5-b5-b8 in advance of my knight sacrifice then
that is most impressive as I consider it to be quite an obscure defence to
find even if he'd decided in advance that I was likely to sacrifice on d6.} (
26... exd6 $4 {AC: Everybody, including Dave, was expecting...} 27. Qxd6 {Dave
had believed that...} Qb7 {... saved Black but it might not.} (27... Nb8 $4 {
... loses to...} 28. Qe7+) 28. d5 $1 c5 (28... Nb8 {DS: This is no better for
Black either} 29. Rc4 $1 {DS: Looks compelling.}) 29. Qe5 {DS: This is winning
for White I think.}) 27. Nxc8 $5 {AC: This did not surprise me. Dave has
sacrificed his Queen against me before....and won! DS: Another theme in my
games with Andrew who has also sacrificed his queen against me, gained a
winning advantage, but later drawn in time trouble. In fact we were both up
against it in on the clock here. I did look briefly at the alternatives but
this line seemed the most difficult to assess and I realised I need to throw
the cat amongst the pigeons.} (27. Nxf5+ {DS: Formally, this is the best the
engine can find for White. But of course it shouldn't be enough.} Rxf5 28. Qxb8
Nxb8 29. g4 Rd5 30. Re4 {DS: Black is winning here. I guess if he were to
allow rooks to be exchanged on c5 then he might have trouble activating his
extra knight but I can't see how that is going to save White in the long run.})
27... Qxf4 {AC: Both players had less than five minutes to make their 36th
move at this point. Any result was possible and the spectators were enjoying
the action, even if myself and Dave weren't.} 28. Rxc6 {AC: I am very pleased
with my next move which was played under considerable pressure. If you check
with an engine you will find other moves do not cut the mustard.} Qxd4 $1 {DS:
Yes, this is almost the only move that wins for Black. Again, impressively
accurate play by Andrew under extreme pressure.} (28... Nb8 {AC: After the
game Pete Mulleady suggested this move but...} 29. Rc4 {... and White is not
worse.}) (28... Qb8 {DS: This move is also winning for Black but he loses much
of his advantage after...} 29. Nxe7 f4 30. Re4 Qb5 31. d5 Qxd3 32. f3 {DS:
With a very odd and complicated postion}) 29. Nxe7 (29. Rxa6 {AC: This fails
to...} f4 30. Re1 (30. Rf3 Qc5 31. Na7 Qd5 {collects the dangerous e-pawn.})
30... Qc3 {... hitting e1 and c8.}) 29... f4 30. Re1 Qxd3 {AC: Fritz points
out...} (30... f3 $1 {... and what can White do? You can look but you will not
find anything. For example...} 31. Rxa6 $4 fxg2 32. Re3 Qb2 {winning.}) 31. Nc8
{AC: Both players are under time pressure. If...} (31. Nf5+ Qxf5 32. e7 Rxc6
33. e8=Q Rf6 34. Re5 Nc7 $17 {... we see the same material advantage for Black
that we have in a later variation.}) 31... Qd8 $2 {AC: Black can win with...} (
31... Qd2 $1 32. Ra1 (32. Rf1 Qe2 33. e7 Rxc6) 32... Qe2 {stopping the advance
of the e pawn.}) 32. e7 {AC: Here White can obtain an advantage with...} (32.
Nd6 $1 {Yes, it is 'easy' to find when you have more than a minute, which is
all myself and Dave had left.} Qe7 33. Rxa6 Rf8 (33... Rxe6 34. Nf5+ gxf5 35.
Raxe6 Qc5 36. Re7+ Kf8 37. R7e5 Qc2 38. Rxa5 $16) 34. Nc4 f3 35. g3 Rc8 36. Re3
$16 {DS: Needless to say none of this really entered my head as we were both
pretty much playing 'by hand' to get to move 36.}) 32... Qe8 33. Rxf6 {AC:
After the match...} (33. Nd6 {... was suggested, but Fritz confirms my
thoughts at the time that...} Qxc6 34. e8=Q Qxd6 35. Re7+ Kh6 36. Rd7 Qf8 37.
Qe2 Nc5 38. Ra7 Re6 39. Qg4 Qf6 {... and Black is fine.}) 33... Kxf6 34. Nd6
Qxe7 35. Rxe7 Kxe7 36. Nc4 {AC: When I saw this hit, as we approached the time
control, I was quite put out as I thought I had defended well only to lose an
important pawn. However on the move, with my flag about to fall, I quickly
found an adequate equaliser.} a4 {DS: Andrew offered me a draw here and, with
the match decided, I saw no reason to continue. White can't keep the pawn if
he takes on a4 and I was pretty exhausted. A draw seemed fair and I think we'd
knocked the stuffing out of one another. One more very interesting and
exciting game for Andrew and I to add to our growing canon! AC: Draw agreed
upon my proposal with the match already at 3.5-1.5 in Todmorden's favour.
Black can also fight on with...} (36... Nc5 37. Nxa5 Nd3 38. Nc4 Nc1 39. Nb2
Kd6 40. Kf1 Kc5 41. Ke1 g5 42. Kd2 Nxa2 43. Nd3+ Kd4) 1/2-1/2

