(126) Donnet,M - Bassett,D [C60]
Gosford District 2007 Gosford (1), 12.06.2007
[notes by Keith Farrell]
By move 15 Matt had built quite a strong position out of the exchange variation of the Ruy Lopez but then made a few searching forays in the middlegame which led to some drifting. Stilol, it wasn't till the 21st move when he made a positional sin which led to the fatal weakness of his King.
Even so Duncan made heavy work of the final moments - perhaps relaxing and finding the 'easy' but sure moves. 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 Nge7 4.0-0 a6 5.Bxc6 Nxc6 6.d3 h6 7.a3 Bc5 8.Be3 Nd4 9.Bxd4 exd4 10.c3 dxc3 11.bxc3 d6 12.Nbd2 Bg4 13.Rb1 Ba7 14.e5!? a note to those new to reading notation - those in [ ] are variations that may have been played instead [ simply a tactical miss, but the played pawn push may open the posiyion a little too early 14.Rxb7 that 'may' have continued 14...0-0 15.h3 Bd7 16.Nd4] 14...b5 Diagram
15.Nb3 -- these 2 moves are 'fillers' 16.Na5 Qd7?! a fairly even position [ 16...Bb6 17.Nc6 Qd7] 17.d4 Bb6 18.Nb3 0-0 19.Nbd2 dxe5 20.Ne4 Qf5 21.Qc2? [ 21.Re1 Bxf3 22.Qxf3 Qxf3 23.gxf3 or; 21.Ng3 Qf4 22.dxe5 Rad8 23.Rb4 Bxf3 24.Qxf3 Qxf3 25.gxf3] 21...Bxf3 22.gxf3 Qxf3 23.dxe5 Rfe8 24.Nd2 Qh3 25.Rbe1 correctly identifying the danger or Rg8+ which would otherwise lead quickly to mate [ 25.Qe4 or; 25.Rfe1 were more playable] 25...Re6 26.Re3? but having not noticed the lurking Bishop 26...Bxe3 27.fxe3 Qxe3+ 28.Rf2 Rg6+ 29.Kf1 Qxe5 30.Qf5 Qxc3 31.Ne4 Qd3+ 32.Ke1 Qe3+ 33.Kf1 Qc1+ 34.Ke2 Qc4+ 35.Ke1 Rg1+ 36.Kd2 Qc1+ [ 36...Rd8+ Not only a sensible 'activating move' but one which initiates a forced mate in 8 moves 37.Nd6 the 1st of many 'computer' moves (those only made to extend the mate) 37...Rxd6+ 38.Ke3 Qb3+ 39.Kf4 g5+ 40.Qxg5+ hxg5+ 41.Ke4 f5+ 42.Rxf5 Re1#] 37.Ke2 Qd1+ 38.Ke3 Re1+ 39.Kf4 Qc1+ 40.Nd2 Rae8 41.Kg3 Rg1+ 42.Kh4 f6 43.Nf3 Qc4+ 44.Kh3 g6 45.Qxf6 Qg4# 0-1
(127) Van Laar,J - Clark,N
Gosford District 2007 Gosford (4), 03.07.2007
Diagram
the final position (I am uncertain as to the pawn on f5 - krf) 1-0
(1) Farrell,K - Russell,M
Gosford Casual blitz, 03.07.2007
[notes by Keith]
Diagram
final position in our final blitz game, and here I was supposed to be 'coaching' Michael in Blitz - I had been playing catchup in the game scores; only to end up level pegging with tis final mate. We had had 1 agreed draw (Michael had only 7 seconds left) 1-0
(2) Russell,M - Farrell,K
Gosford Casual blitz, 03.07.2007
[notes by Keith]
Diagram
in a 5 min blitz I had aboit a minute left and Michael about when I first offered a draw, after a few bouncing around moves had been played by Michael (I felt it would be mean-spirited to get a win on time, although I had been extending this sorry ending for the last minute or so, when he had been outplaying me during the game), I suppose I also felt that the thought of a draw would take his focus away too - also here I was supposed to be 'blitz coaching' and going to be 2 points behind in the mini-match !
Michael (rightly) turned it down but then with only 7 seconds left a draw was agreed, offered by Michael if memor serves, we then went through the way to win - with no time-pressure. 1...Kh8 2.Kf5 [ not 2.Kf6 which is a draw, of course] 2...Kg7 3.h8Q+!! Kxh8 4.Kf6 Kg8 5.g7 Kh7 6.Kf7! Kh6 7.g8Q Kh5 8.Qg3 Kh6 9.Qg6# 1/2-1/2
(66) Dorhauer,P - Matasin,D [D06]
Ettalong Autumn 2007 Round Robin, 06.2007
[notes by Keith Farrell]
1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Bd7 4.Qb3 b5 Fritz 9 is the only one of Fritx 7, 8 , 9 to prefer this AND b6 as a second choice 5.Nc3 c6 6.e4 a5 7.dxc6 Nxc6 8.d5 Nd4 9.Qd1 e5 10.Be3 Bc5 11.Bxb5?! Bxb5?! [ >=11...Nxb5] 12.Nxb5 Bb4+ 13.Nc3 Nxe4 14.Bxd4 exd4 15.Qxd4 0-0 16.Nf3 Diagram
16...Nxc3 [ 16...Bc5 after the game Damir thought that this a missed opportunity (it wasn't and is not as strong as what he actually played - although it looks a fine line to tread 17.Qxe4 a) 17.Qxe4 Re8 18.Ne5 of course the sensble block, leaving a healthy plus for white, as the e-file problems are only temporary and getting the knight back is involved (a) 18.Qxe8+ I thought even this was playable (I was trying to show that 16...Bc5 was NOT a win, as thought) 18...Qxe8+ 19.Kf1; a) 18.0-0 Rxe4 19.Nxe4) 18...f6 (a) 18...Qb8 19.0-0 Rxe5 20.Qd3 Qb7 (a) 20...Qxb2? 21.Rab1) ) 19.0-0 Rxe5 20.Qf3; b) 17.Qc4? which is the line Damir had in mind 17...Nxc3 with the vulnerability of the e-file enough to even up the game for black; 17...Re8 18.Ne5] 17.bxc3 Re8+ 18.Kd2 Bd6 19.Rhe1 Rxe1 20.Kxe1 Rb8 21.c4 Qc7 22.Kf1 h6 23.g3 a4 24.Kg2 a3 25.Nd2? and suddenly advantage swings to black [ >=25.Rc1] 25...Be5 26.d6 Qb7+ [ 26...Qxd6? 27.Qxd6 Bxd6 28.Nb3 Be5 29.Rb1 Bd4 30.Kf3+/-; 26...Bxd6 27.Qd3=] 27.Qe4 Qxe4+ [ 27...Bxa1 28.Qxb7 ( 28.c5 Qd7 29.h3 Rc8-+) ] 28.Nxe4 Bxa1 29.c5 Diagram white's pawns loom large, something concerted has to be done29...f5? [ 29...Be5 30.f4 Bxd6 31.cxd6 Rb2+ 32.Kf3 Kf8 33.Nc3 Rc2; 29...Bf6?? 30.Nxf6+ gxf6 31.c6; 29...Bd4 30.c6 Bb6 31.c7 Bxc7 32.dxc7 Rc8 33.Nd6 Rxc7] 30.c6 fxe4 31.c7 Rf8 32.d7 black resigns [ 32.d7 Bf6 33.c8Q Rd8 34.Qc4+ Kf8 35.Qxe4 Kf7] 1-0
