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Oswestry Chess Club
[Event "Cox Trophy"] [White "Clark, Matthew DH"] [Black "Van Kemenade, R."] [Site "?"] [Round "Rd1 Bd1"] [Annotator "Van Kemenade,Rudy"] [Result "0-1"] [Date "2024.12.12"] [ECO "C43"] [WhiteElo "1807"] [BlackElo "1896"] [PlyCount "116"] [GameId "2122308061040671"] [EventDate "2024.12.13"] 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. d4 Nxe4 4. Bd3 d5 5. dxe5 (5. Nxe5 Nd7 {main}) 5... Nc5 6. Be2 (6. Nc3 c6 (6... Be7 $2 7. Nxd5)) 6... Be7 7. O-O O-O 8. Be3 Ne6 (8... c6 9. c4 {main}) 9. c4 dxc4 10. Bxc4 (10. Qc2 $14 {Cloud Engines; 3-1}) 10... Nc6 (10... Nd7 $14 {3-0}) (10... Qxd1 {SF17} 11. Rxd1 Nd7 12. Nc3 Nb6 13. Bb3 Nc5 14. Bxc5 Bxc5 15. Ne4 Be7 16. Rac1 c6 17. Nd6 $14 {Plat-Kraus,CZE ch, Ostrava 2018,1/2-1/2}) 11. Nc3 Kh8 (11... Qxd1 12. Rfxd1 h6 $14 {SF17}) 12. Qxd8 (12. Qc2 Ncd4 13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. Qe4 c5 15. Rad1 f5 (15... Bf5 16. Qxb7 $18) 16. Qd3 f4 17. Bxd4 Bf5 18. Qf3 cxd4 19. Nb5 Bc5 20. Nd6 $18 {SF17}) 12... Bxd8 (12... Rxd8 {SF17- but Bl was looking to open the f file for some counterplay}) 13. Rad1 a6 (13... h6 $14) (13... f5 {considered} 14. exf6 (14. h4 f4 15. Bc1 a6 16. a3 Rb8 17. Rfe1 b5 18. Bd5 Ne7 19. Ba2 h6 20. Ne4 Nf5 21. Bxe6 Bxe6 22. Nc5 Rb6 23. h5 $18 {SF17- but it remains complex , which was Bl's aim in trying to avoid drawish lines}) 14... Bxf6 15. Rd2 $16 {SF17}) 14. Ne4 f5 (14... h6 $14 {SF17, pm suggestion}) 15. exf6 Bxf6 (15... gxf6 16. Bh6 Ng7 17. Rfe1 Bg4 18. h3 Bxf3 19. Rd7 Be7 20. gxf3 $18 {SF17}) 16. Nxf6 Rxf6 (16... gxf6 {SF17 preferred, but then Bl is left with no counterplay}) 17. Rfe1 h6 (17... b5 18. Bd5 Bb7 19. Bd2 Nf4 20. Be4 Rb8 21. Rc1 Ng6 22. h4 h6 23. h5 Nf8 24. Nh4 $18 {SF17}) 18. a3 (18. Bd2 $1 {seen now by Bl, improves the position of Wh's worst placed piece. Wh did not wish to obstruct the d file- so had looked at b3, Bc1 & Bb2, but the blocking is only temporary} Nf8 19. Re8 b5 20. Bc3 $1 (20. Bd5 Bb7 21. Rde1 Rxe8 22. Rxe8 Na5 23. Bc3 Bxd5 24. Bxf6 Kg8 25. Bc3 Nc6 26. Ne5 Nxe5 27. Bxe5 Kf7 28. Rc8 Ne6 29. Bxc7 Bxa2 30. Ba5 $18) 20... Rf4 21. Bb3 Kh7 22. Bc2+ Kg8 23. Ne5 (23. Bb3+ {gives Wh a draw}) 23... Bb7 24. Rxa8 Bxa8 25. Bb3+ Kh7 26. Nxc6 Bxc6 27. Rd8 Be4 28. Be5 Rf5 29. Bxc7 $18 {SF17- the two Bs and R are too powerful}) (18. h3 {considered by Wh might provide a potential target for Bl's B at some point}) 18... Nf8 19. Nd4 {Bl thought this gave him chances, but it is SF17 top line} Ne5 20. Ba2 Ng4 {not one of the top3 SF17 lines} (20... c5 21. Bd5 $1 Ng4 22. Nb3 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Be6 24. Nxc5 Bxd5 25. Rxd5 Rb6 26. Nd3 $18 {SF17}) 21. Nf3 {SF17 prefers 3 surprising replies with its superior calculating ability} (21. Bc1 c5 (21... Nxf2 22. Rd2 {The advanced Bl N has no retreat}) 22. Nb3 Be6 23. f3 Bxb3 24. Bxb3 Rb6 25. Bc4 Nf6 26. b3 $18 {SF17- the Wh pieces are all far better placed}) (21. Bd2 Nxf2 22. Ra1 Bg4 23. Bc3 Nd3 24. Re3 Nf4 25. h3 Bh5 26. g4 Bf7 27. Nf5 Bxa2 28. Bxf6 gxf6 29. Rxa2 $18 {SF17}) (21. Rc1 Nxe3 22. Rxe3 Bd7 23. Rxc7 Rd6 24. Nf3 Rb6 25. Bd5 (25. b4 a5 26. b5 Bxb5 27. h3 Bd7 28. Ne5 Be6 29. Ng6+ Nxg6 30. Bxe6 Re8 31. Bd5 Rxe3 32. fxe3 Ne5 33. Bxb7 $18) 25... Rxb2 26. h4 Rb5 27. Bb3 (27. Bxb7 Ra7) 27... Rb6 28. Ne5 Be6 29. Bc2 $18 {SF17}) 21... Nxe3 (21... Be6 22. Bb1 Nxe3 23. Rxe3 Bf5 24. Bxf5 Rxf5 25. Re7 Rb5 26. Rd2 Rc5 27. h4 $14 {SF17}) 22. Rxe3 (22. Rd8 Nxg2 23. Ree8 Bd7 24. Rxa8 Bxe8 25. Ne5 Nh4 26. Rxe8 Kh7 27. Bb1+ Nhg6 28. Rc8 c5 29. Rxc5 Kh8 $14 {SF17}) 22... Bg4 $11 23. h3 {The Engine still regards this as level with its superb defensive skills- but it is a major concession, wrecking Wh's pawn majority and leaving the f4 square for both Bl's KN & K since the B can't cover it. So, in human terms dubious} (23. Rdd3 {expected} Be6 {SF17} (23... Ng6 {planned} 24. Ne5 Nxe5 25. Rxe5 Bf5 26. Rc3 c6 27. Re7 b6 28. h4 $14 {SF17}) (23... Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. Rxf3 Rd8 {Wh was worried about this threat but} 26. Kf1 $16)) 23... Bxf3 24. Rxf3 Rxf3 25. gxf3 Re8 26. Kf1 Nh7 {Bl picked up the N to put it of g6to look at f4 and answer Rd7 with Re7, which had been the plan then realised about the skewer Bf7.Fortunately the N had another square to go to} (26... g6 {pm analysis} 27. Rd3 {SF17} Kg7 (27... Re7 28. Re3 Rd7 29. Re8 Kg7 30. h4 Rd2 31. Re7+ Kh8 32. Rxc7 Rxb2 33. Bd5 Rb5 (33... b5 34. Rc8 Kg7 35. Rc7+ Kh8 36. Rc8 $11 {repetition} (36. Rf7 Nh7 37. Be4 $16))) 28. Re3 Rxe3 29. fxe3 $11) (26... g5 27. Rd3 Re7 28. Re3 Rd7 29. f4 $1 gxf4 30. Re8 Kg7 31. Ke2 Ng6 32. Re6 {SF17- still level, but unbalanced position would be helpful to the higher rated player}) 27. Rd7 Rc8 28. h4 $14 (28. f4 $16 {Wh suggestion in pm}) 28... Nf6 (28... b5 29. Rf7 Nf8 30. h5 c5 31. Ra7 Rc6 32. Ra8 Rf6 33. Bd5 g6 34. Bb7 Kg7 35. Rxa6 gxh5 36. Rc6 Ne6 37. Bc8 Nf4 38. Rxc5 h4 39. Kg1 (39. Rxb5 Rc6 40. Kg1 Rxc8 41. Rb7+ $15 {complicated endgame probably the mating threats are enough to prevent Wh's Q side pawns fromwinning})) 29. Re7 b6 {to take on b2 without Wh getting to take on c7 & then b7} (29... b5 {preferred by SF17- but this is putting pawns at risk of the B}) 30. Bf7 {going for a mating position if R leaves the back rank} g5 (30... Ng8 31. Rd7 Nf6 32. Re7 Ng8 $11) 31. h5 $6 {however this h pawn now can easily become a target for the N} (31. hxg5 {expected} hxg5 32. Re5 Kg7 33. Bc4 (33. Be6 Rd8 34. Rxg5+ Kh6 35. Rg3 Rd2 $11) 33... Rd8 34. Rxg5+ Kh6 35. Re5 b5 36. Bb3 Rd2 37. Re2 Rxe2 38. Kxe2 Kg5 39. Ke3 Kf5 40. Bc2+ Ke5 41. f4+ Kd6 42. Be4 $11 {SF17-Wh will have difficulty going further forward with the two f pawns, while Bl has a potential passed pawn on the Q side- though the B should be able to hold it comfortably.}) 31... Rd8 (31... c5 {was the original idea, Wh was going to reply} 32. Ra7 a5 (32... Rd8) 33. Rb7 Rc6 34. Kg2 Rd6 35. f4 gxf4 36. Kf3 Nd7 37. Ke4 Kg7 38. Be8 Re6+ 39. Kxf4 Rxe8 40. Rxd7+ Kg8 41. Rb7 $11 {SF17- there is some play left but should peter out a draw}) 32. Rxc7 Rd7 (32... Nd5 33. Bxd5 (33. Rc6 Nf4 34. Ke1 Nd3+ 35. Ke2 Ne5 36. Rc7 Nxf7 37. Rxf7 Rd5 38. Rf6 Rb5 39. b4 a5 40. bxa5 Re5+ 41. Kf1 Rxa5 42. Rxh6+ {SF17 another drawn R ending})) 33. Rxd7 Nxd7 {Bl was planning on the Wh B still being bad even outside the pawn chain, but then got a bit concerned about the safety of the N. SF17 proceeds to show how} 34. Ke2 (34. Be6 Nc5 35. Bc8 a5 36. Ke2 {is more exact, the N is running out of squares} Kg7 (36... a4 37. Ke3 Kg7 38. Kd4 (38. f4 gxf4+ 39. Kxf4 Nd3+ 40. Ke4 Nxb2 41. Kd4 $18) 38... Kf6 39. Kc4 Ke5 40. Kb5 Kf4 41. Kxb6 (41. Bg4 Nd3 42. Kxa4 Nxf2 $11) 41... Nd3 42. Ka5 Nxb2 43. Bb7 Nd3 44. Ba8 Nxf2 45. Kxa4 $18) 37. b4 axb4 38. axb4 Nb3 39. Kd3 Nc1+ 40. Kc4) 34... Kg7 35. Be6 Nc5 36. Bg4 {Wh was running very short of time here. Bl considered this very dubious as the B is a big pawn here and the h pawn did not need defence.} (36. Bc8 a5 37. b4 {is critical with variations similar to earlier ones}) 36... Kf6 37. Ke3 (37. b4 $1 {SF17 is still winning} Ne6 38. Kd3 Nc7 39. Bc8 Ke5 40. Kc4 Kf4 41. Bb7 Ke5 42. a4 {and Wh breaks into the Q side}) 37... Ke5 $11 {but the position is now much easier to play for Bl than for Wh} 38. Bc8 (38. b4 Na4 39. Kd3 Nb2+ 40. Kc3 Nd1+ 41. Kb3 Nxf2 42. Bc8 a5 43. bxa5 bxa5 44. Ka4 Kf4 45. Bb7 Nd3 46. Kxa5 Ne5 47. Kb5 Nxf3 48. a4 g4 49. Bc8 g3 50. Bh3 Nd4+ 51. Kc4 Nc6 52. Kc5 Nb8 53. Kd6 Kg5 54. a5 Kh4 55. Bf1 Na6 56. Kc6 Kxh5 57. Kb6 Nb4 58. Bg2 $11 (58. a6 Nxa6 59. Kxa6 Kg4 $19) 58... Kg4 59. Kb5 h5 60. Kxb4 h4 61. a6 h3 62. Bxh3+ Kxh3 63. a7 g2 64. a8=Q g1=Q 65. Qh8+ Kg2 66. Qg7+ Kf2 67. Qxg1+ Kxg1 $11) 38... a5 39. b4 axb4 40. axb4 Nb3 {The problem for Wh is that the N has targets, while Wh just has to sit and wait. Time shortage does not help matters} 41. b5 Na5 (41... Nd4 42. Bd7 Nc2+ 43. Kd2 Nd4 44. Ke3 Nf5+ 45. Bxf5 Kxf5 {calculations by both during the game indicated that leads to a draw} 46. Kd4 Kf4 47. Kd5 Kxf3 48. Kc6 Kxf2 49. Kxb6 g4 50. Kc6 g3 51. b6 g2 52. b7 g1=Q 53. b8=Q {Bl can win the h pawn, but then there will be a perpetual}) 42. Bd7 Nc4+ 43. Kd3 Nd6 44. Ke3 Nb7 {Bl is trying to get the N to d5} 45. Bc6 Nc5 46. Be8 (46. f4+ gxf4+ 47. Kf3 Ne6 48. Kg4 Ng5 49. Be8 {SF17-also holds}) 46... Ne6 47. Bg6 $2 {the wrong direction} (47. Bf7) (47. Bd7 {both retain a return to stop Nd5}) 47... Nc7 $19 48. Bd3 Nd5+ 49. Kd2 Nf4 50. Bg6 Nxg6 51. hxg6 Kf6 52. g7 Kxg7 53. Ke3 h5 54. f4 g4 (54... Kf6 55. fxg5+ Kxg5 {also wins- Bl trades the h pawn for the f pawn and wins the b5 pawn}) 55. f3 g3 56. Ke2 Kf6 (56... h4 57. Kf1 h3 {also}) 57. Kf1 Kf5 58. Kg2 Kxf4 0-1
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Annotated by