A-league
B-league
Wednesday 17 March 2010
Exciting game ends in time trouble chaos
Snodland were roundly beaten 3.5-0.5 by Weald of Kent chess club in the Tom Fuller competition. The one high point for Snodland was an exciting draw between David Lettington and Teddy Wickman in a game which could have gone either way as both players hit terrible time trouble.
Below there are some notes on the game by David Lettington.
1. e4 d5
The Scandinavian Defence, also known as the Centre Counter.
2. exd5 Nf6
The most usual move here is ...Qxd5 but Nf6 is becoming more common.
3. Nc3
I was giving away twenty grading points and was also unfamiliar with the opening. I guessed that d4 is the most common response but I didn't want to play into my opponents opening preparation and so I plumped for Nc3.
3. ... Nxd5
4. Nxd5 Qxd5
5. Qf3
This was the point behind Nc3. Now the black Queen can be challenged and it can't wreak the havoc that can occur if the Scandinavian is misplayed.
5. ... Qxf3
... Qe5+ is an alternative but it just allows white to develop another piece.
6. Nxf3
White has now only a tiny advantage (if any) but has minimised the stronger players chances of creating a quick attack.
6. ...Bf5
7. c3 e6
8. d4 Bd6
9. Bb5+ c6
Bb5+ is pretty pointless as it just encourages c6. Be2 might be a reasonable alternative but it looks pretty passive.
10. Be2 Nd7
11. 0-0 h5
White castles, but into a potential attack from the black kingside pawns. Teddy starts on this plan immediately.
12. Nh4 Bh7
13. Bg5
White cannot play Bxh5 or black replies Bd3 and wins material. I was pleased with Bg5 as it stops queenside castling unless black is prepared to play f6 which takes the square away from the black knight on d7. Castling kingside is not an option currently or the bishop can then capture on h5 after all.
14. Be3 0-0-0
15. a4
Now that black has castled, white can use his queenside pawns to start his own attacking plans, b4 was an alternative way of kickstarting a similar plan, but a4 gives the possibility of going a5 taking the b6 square away from the knight.
15. ... g5
16. Nf3 Bf4
A very interesting move. I was expecting g4 to continue the pawn attack but Teddy comes up with an alternative plan. This move allows white to ruin the black pawn structure but in return black can look to dominate the g-file with his rooks and form a battery against the white king. I made the judgement that white has enough pieces to defend against the attack.
17. Bxf4 gxf4
18. Bc4
White cannot allow black to continue with his idea and so applies some pressure to the loose pawn structure.
18. ... Bg8
I was slightly surprised by this move as I was expecting ..e5 19. Rfe1 e4 20. Nh4 when the black pawns begin to look a bit more menacing but white has options like Be6 and gets a bit more piece activity.
19. Rfe1 e5
20. Bxg8 Rhxg8
Similar to the idea above but white has manged to exchange a pair of pieces which gives black less attacking options but in return gets his rook onto the g-file where it cannot be challenged easily.
21. Rad1
It's very tempting to play dxe5 which wins a pawn and this is probably the strongest move, but I was worried about continuations like ... fxe5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 Rd2 when it looks like black will get some counterplay by attacking the white pawns and doubling rooks on the d-file. I felt that I had a slight advantage and wanted to retain it.
21. ... Rde8
Threatening to push the e pawn on, but there is no apparent way to stop it other than the dxe5 maneouvre that I had rejected on the previous move.
22. a5
Stopping the knight from coming to b6 and then on to c4 or d5, but allowing the e4 advance.
22. ...e4
Both players were now starting to get pretty short of time (around 5 minutes each left for the next 13 moves).
23. Nh4 Rg5
A good move, Rg4 doesn't work as it allows Nf5, aiming for a fork on d6, and the knight has too many squares. Rg5 also prepares to double the rooks on the g file and simultaneously attacks the a5 pawn.
24. b4 f5
25. g3
A definite mistake. Nf3 is a possibility, exploiting the pin on the e file, but it doesn't seem to gain anything. Kf1 might also work as it gets the king out of the way of the black rooks. However, it's still not clear that black can break through.
25. ... Reg8
26. Ng2 fxg3
27. fxg3 Nf6
Black's pices are moving in and I definitely think that I have lost any advantage that I may have had. The e4 pawn is beginning to worry me at this point too. By now, both players have maybe 90 seconds each for the next eight moves. Look out for the mistakes!
28. Nh4
Another mistake, c4 is better.
28. ... f4
Oh dear, here come the pawns.
29. Rf1
Hopefully preventing fxg3 because of 30. Rxf6, but with so little time to calculate then 30. ...g2 might even be playable.
29. ...f3
Black now has two connected passed pawns and it's beginning to look bad for white.
30. Rde1
I considered Nxf3 just to stop the pawns but I didn't want to throw it away and tried to defend for a bit longer. At the moment neither pawn can move, or the other one drops.
30. ...Rg4
Allowing the knight back in the game.
31. Nf5
Threatening a fork on e7 and h6. Black must play Kd7.
31. ... Kb8
Seeing one fork but missing the other. However, we both had seconds left at this point and both of us had stopped recording the moves so we had no idea if we had reached the time control.
32. Nh6 Rxg3
This isn't absolutely necessary as black can play Re8 and allow Nxg4, hxg4. In this way the pawn structure would remain strong and have good chances of threats later on. On the other hand it's veyr passive and loses the initiative with which black hopes to force a quick win.
33. hxg3 Rxg3+
34. Kf2
A mistake. If I play Kh2 here then I am probably winning.
34. ... Rg2
35. Ke3 h4
36. Nf5 h3
37. Rh1 Ng4+
38. Kf4
I thought I couldn't play Kxe4 because of Nf2, but in fact after 39. Kxf3 Nxh1 40 Rxh1 I would just be a piece up.
38. ...e3
A bad mistake that should lose. We had made the time control at this point but neither of us were aware of that because we had stopped recording the moves so we continued to bash the moves out quickly.
39. Nxe3 Nxe3
40. Kxe3 f2
41. Rfe1 Rg1
42. Rxf2
The final, and worst, mistake. Rhxg1 is completely winning; 42. ... fxg1=Q 43. Rxg1 and the h pawn cannot promote giving white a trivial win.
42. ... Rxh1
43. Kf3 h2
44. Kg3 Rc1
In a slight state of shell shock, we agreed a draw. Both of us had winning chances and it was a great fighting game. One lesson learned was to leave enough time to at least record your moves at the end!
Below there are some notes on the game by David Lettington.
1. e4 d5
The Scandinavian Defence, also known as the Centre Counter.
2. exd5 Nf6
The most usual move here is ...Qxd5 but Nf6 is becoming more common.
3. Nc3
I was giving away twenty grading points and was also unfamiliar with the opening. I guessed that d4 is the most common response but I didn't want to play into my opponents opening preparation and so I plumped for Nc3.
3. ... Nxd5
4. Nxd5 Qxd5
5. Qf3
This was the point behind Nc3. Now the black Queen can be challenged and it can't wreak the havoc that can occur if the Scandinavian is misplayed.
5. ... Qxf3
... Qe5+ is an alternative but it just allows white to develop another piece.
6. Nxf3
White has now only a tiny advantage (if any) but has minimised the stronger players chances of creating a quick attack.
6. ...Bf5
7. c3 e6
8. d4 Bd6
9. Bb5+ c6
Bb5+ is pretty pointless as it just encourages c6. Be2 might be a reasonable alternative but it looks pretty passive.
10. Be2 Nd7
11. 0-0 h5
White castles, but into a potential attack from the black kingside pawns. Teddy starts on this plan immediately.
12. Nh4 Bh7
13. Bg5
White cannot play Bxh5 or black replies Bd3 and wins material. I was pleased with Bg5 as it stops queenside castling unless black is prepared to play f6 which takes the square away from the black knight on d7. Castling kingside is not an option currently or the bishop can then capture on h5 after all.
14. Be3 0-0-0
15. a4
Now that black has castled, white can use his queenside pawns to start his own attacking plans, b4 was an alternative way of kickstarting a similar plan, but a4 gives the possibility of going a5 taking the b6 square away from the knight.
15. ... g5
16. Nf3 Bf4
A very interesting move. I was expecting g4 to continue the pawn attack but Teddy comes up with an alternative plan. This move allows white to ruin the black pawn structure but in return black can look to dominate the g-file with his rooks and form a battery against the white king. I made the judgement that white has enough pieces to defend against the attack.
17. Bxf4 gxf4
18. Bc4
White cannot allow black to continue with his idea and so applies some pressure to the loose pawn structure.
18. ... Bg8
I was slightly surprised by this move as I was expecting ..e5 19. Rfe1 e4 20. Nh4 when the black pawns begin to look a bit more menacing but white has options like Be6 and gets a bit more piece activity.
19. Rfe1 e5
20. Bxg8 Rhxg8
Similar to the idea above but white has manged to exchange a pair of pieces which gives black less attacking options but in return gets his rook onto the g-file where it cannot be challenged easily.
21. Rad1
It's very tempting to play dxe5 which wins a pawn and this is probably the strongest move, but I was worried about continuations like ... fxe5 22. Nxe5 Nxe5 23. Rxe5 Rd2 when it looks like black will get some counterplay by attacking the white pawns and doubling rooks on the d-file. I felt that I had a slight advantage and wanted to retain it.
21. ... Rde8
Threatening to push the e pawn on, but there is no apparent way to stop it other than the dxe5 maneouvre that I had rejected on the previous move.
22. a5
Stopping the knight from coming to b6 and then on to c4 or d5, but allowing the e4 advance.
22. ...e4
Both players were now starting to get pretty short of time (around 5 minutes each left for the next 13 moves).
23. Nh4 Rg5
A good move, Rg4 doesn't work as it allows Nf5, aiming for a fork on d6, and the knight has too many squares. Rg5 also prepares to double the rooks on the g file and simultaneously attacks the a5 pawn.
24. b4 f5
25. g3
A definite mistake. Nf3 is a possibility, exploiting the pin on the e file, but it doesn't seem to gain anything. Kf1 might also work as it gets the king out of the way of the black rooks. However, it's still not clear that black can break through.
25. ... Reg8
26. Ng2 fxg3
27. fxg3 Nf6
Black's pices are moving in and I definitely think that I have lost any advantage that I may have had. The e4 pawn is beginning to worry me at this point too. By now, both players have maybe 90 seconds each for the next eight moves. Look out for the mistakes!
28. Nh4
Another mistake, c4 is better.
28. ... f4
Oh dear, here come the pawns.
29. Rf1
Hopefully preventing fxg3 because of 30. Rxf6, but with so little time to calculate then 30. ...g2 might even be playable.
29. ...f3
Black now has two connected passed pawns and it's beginning to look bad for white.
30. Rde1
I considered Nxf3 just to stop the pawns but I didn't want to throw it away and tried to defend for a bit longer. At the moment neither pawn can move, or the other one drops.
30. ...Rg4
Allowing the knight back in the game.
31. Nf5
Threatening a fork on e7 and h6. Black must play Kd7.
31. ... Kb8
Seeing one fork but missing the other. However, we both had seconds left at this point and both of us had stopped recording the moves so we had no idea if we had reached the time control.
32. Nh6 Rxg3
This isn't absolutely necessary as black can play Re8 and allow Nxg4, hxg4. In this way the pawn structure would remain strong and have good chances of threats later on. On the other hand it's veyr passive and loses the initiative with which black hopes to force a quick win.
33. hxg3 Rxg3+
34. Kf2
A mistake. If I play Kh2 here then I am probably winning.
34. ... Rg2
35. Ke3 h4
36. Nf5 h3
37. Rh1 Ng4+
38. Kf4
I thought I couldn't play Kxe4 because of Nf2, but in fact after 39. Kxf3 Nxh1 40 Rxh1 I would just be a piece up.
38. ...e3
A bad mistake that should lose. We had made the time control at this point but neither of us were aware of that because we had stopped recording the moves so we continued to bash the moves out quickly.
39. Nxe3 Nxe3
40. Kxe3 f2
41. Rfe1 Rg1
42. Rxf2
The final, and worst, mistake. Rhxg1 is completely winning; 42. ... fxg1=Q 43. Rxg1 and the h pawn cannot promote giving white a trivial win.
42. ... Rxh1
43. Kf3 h2
44. Kg3 Rc1
In a slight state of shell shock, we agreed a draw. Both of us had winning chances and it was a great fighting game. One lesson learned was to leave enough time to at least record your moves at the end!
Club gets new digital clocks
Snodland has been awarded a grant from the Snodland Partnership to help us buy digital chess clocks to use in competition matches. We have decided to purchase the DGT 2010 clocks as shown below. 
Inaugural Kent Blitz is success
Snodland Chess Club organised the inaugural Kent Blitz Chess Championship, which proved to be a great success.
The event was won by FM Martin Taylor of Rainham Chess Club with an extremely impressive 8.5/9. In second place was Ian Watson of Maidstone, Andrew Mayhew of Medway was third and the top placed Snodland player was Ben Spink in fourth place.
We hope to run the event again in the future. More details can be obtained from David Lettington at david_lettington@hotmail.com
The event was won by FM Martin Taylor of Rainham Chess Club with an extremely impressive 8.5/9. In second place was Ian Watson of Maidstone, Andrew Mayhew of Medway was third and the top placed Snodland player was Ben Spink in fourth place.
We hope to run the event again in the future. More details can be obtained from David Lettington at david_lettington@hotmail.com
Great start to 2010
Snodland have had a great start to 2010 with 8 straight match wins against other Kent clubs. Some excellent performances have seen the club move into contention for the Harvey Cup, Tom Fuller Cup and Intro Cup competitions.
After a terrible start to the Stevenson Cup campaign, the team have now recorded 3 straight wins to move to 50% for the season, which is a superb comeback. Congratulations to team captain Tyrone Jefferies and the rest of the squad.
We have also progressed to the Semi-Final of the National Club Championship Minor competition with a 2.5-1.5 win over Basingstoke.
After a terrible start to the Stevenson Cup campaign, the team have now recorded 3 straight wins to move to 50% for the season, which is a superb comeback. Congratulations to team captain Tyrone Jefferies and the rest of the squad.
We have also progressed to the Semi-Final of the National Club Championship Minor competition with a 2.5-1.5 win over Basingstoke.
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