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P.S.N.Kendall, Beverley C - T.Turner, Beverley D [C06]
4 Board League, 25.10.2017.
Annotated by Paul Kendall.
One of the joys of playing a friend or club-mate is deciding in advance what they might play. Tim's choice of a French was a good one, as my play against
the French is a work in progress as the line was new to me.
1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 {The alternative for Black is 3...c5 which I was probably better equipped for.}
4. e5 Nfd7 5. Ngf3 c5 6. c3 Nc6 7. Bd3 cxd4 {Here, or on the next move I had expected ...Qb6. White sacrifices a pawn for a kingside attack. Something similar happens in the game, but Black has a key alternative in mind.}
8. cxd4 g6
{This was the unexpected move. Black is playing to undermine the pawns with ...f6 supported by the bishop on g7. Moreover, the configuration hampers Whites kingside attack. When I got home I found that Lev Psakhis's book on 3. Nd2 recommends this approach and quotes a game where Svidler gets into difficulties because his opponent took this approach. (Svidler-Brynell Torshavn 1997).}
9. O-O Bg7 10. Re1 O-O 11. a3 Qb6 12. Rb1 {An awkward move that I don't want to play, but of course 12.b4 cannot be played because after Black takes the pawn and knights are exchanged the Queen attacks the rook. Also, if I defend with 12.Nb3, after 12...a5 I am virtually forced to play 13.a4 when b4 looks a good square for his knight. The advantage is already slipping away from White.}
12... Nxd4 13. Nxd4 Qxd4 14. Nf3 Qb6 15. Qc2 Qc5 16. Qe2 {This little pirouette by the queens is standard in the other variation (i.e. without the fianchettoed bishop. Now White's 'normal' idea is to get a rook on the c file, lift it to c3 and move across to the kingside. These thoughts govern my play over the next stage.}
16... Re8 {I was surprised by this, assuming that the rook belongs on f8. But Tim's setup is quite ingenious. He intends to support f6 with the Queen.}
17. Bf4 Qf8 18. Rbc1 a6
{Black offered a draw here. I probably should have accepted, but the match was dodgy; and we would have missed the coming excitement! Fellow club mates will be surprised to see that I don't always accept early draws!}
19. b4?! {Im not sure that this is correct. White does not have the time to play on both wings. An interesting move I considered, to try to take advantage of the rather artificial placing of the Black queen is 19.Bd2!?} (19. Bd2 Nc5 20. Be3 b6 21. b4 Nxd3 22. Qxd3 Rb8 23.h4)
19... f6! 20. Rc7!? {This is daring. It would probably have been wiser to do something about the loose bishop of f4. Or to take on f6 straightaway.
Fritz suggests 20. h4 but I am not sure that I believe it.}
20... fxe5 21. Bxe5 Nxe5 22. Nxe5 Qd6 (22... Qf4 23. g3 Qxe5 24. Qxe5 Bxe5 25. Rxe5 Rd8 $11)
23. Rxg7+ {Forced.}
23.... Kxg7
24. Qd2 {Not necessary, but I thought if I covered Black squares as well he might be a bit confused. I was beginning to get into panic mode hereabouts, running short of time.} (24. Qg4 Qc7 25. Bxg6 hxg6 26. Qxg6+ Kf8 27. Qf6+ {with perpetual check.})
24... Bd7 25. Bxg6! hxg6 26. Qg5 Qe7 27. Qxg6+ Kf8 28. Re3 Qg7
{And Black offered a draw again. This time I should have accepted - but our silicon friend thinks I am winning with 29. Nxd7+ as the following analysis shows:
29. Nxd7+ Kg8 30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Qh5! Qxf6
a) 31... Ke7 32. Qxd5
b) 31... Rec8 32. h4 Rc1+ 33. Kh2 Ke7 34.Nxd5+ Kd6 35. Rd3 Rh8 36. Nf4+ Ke7 (36... Kc6 37. Qf3+ Kb5 38. g3 Qc7 39. Kh3 Rc4 40. Nd5 exd5 41. Rxd5+ Ka4 42. Ra5+ Qxa5 43. bxa5 +-) 37. Ng6+
32. Rf3 Qxf3 33. Qxf3+ Ke7 34. h4)}
29. Rf3+?! Kg8 30. Qh5?? (30. Qxg7+ Kxg7 31. Rf7+ Kg8 32. Rxd7 Rac8 33. g3 {and its not an easy ending for either side, but Fritz thinks it is equal.})
30... Rec8! 31. h4?? {Of course, Black was threatening mate, but this is the last blunder. 31.h3 leaves room for the queen on h4 and White still has play with the queen and rook against the king.}
(31. h3 Be8 32. Qh4 Qxe5 33. Qh6 Bf7 34. Rg3+ Qxg3 35. fxg3 a5 -+ 36. g4 axb4 37. g5 Be8 38. axb4 Rc1+ 39. Kh2 Ra2 40. g6 Rc7 41. h4=)
31... Be8-+ {Nowhere to go except home.} 0-1
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