[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Williams, Simon"]
[Black "Jones, Gawain"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

1. e4 c6 {No Dragon today! The Caro strikes me as a good choice against the
highly-aggressive and ever-dangerous Williams, and Gawain was actually hoping
for White's next move...} 2. Bc4 $5 {The so-called 'Hillbilly Attack' on which
Simon has previously written an article. It's not without some punch, but
whether it was really such a good choice against 2600+ opposition I'm somewhat
less sure.} d5 3. Bb3 dxe4 4. Qh5 g6 $1 {Simplest and best.} 5. Qh4 Bg7 6. Nc3
a5 $1 {[Diagram] A novelty according to my database and a move which Gawain
had spent just a couple of minutes on in his preparation - long enough,
however, to be convinced of the move's merits.} 7. Nxe4 $6 ({This cannot be
right. Gawain had only considered advances of the a-pawn here, but after, say,
} 7. a4 Na6 8. Nxe4 Nf6 {one would surely prefer to play Black as White's
pieces are being buffeted around.}) ({White would prefer not to lose time with
his queen, but if the Hillbilly is to remain a viable sideline, perhaps} 7.
Qxe4 $5 {has to be tried. After} Nf6 8. Qh4 b5 ({although} 8... Na6 $5 {could
be more problematic, focussing on c2 in the event of} 9. d4 Bf5 {.}) 9. a3 {
White is still very much on the board,}) 7... a4 8. Bc4 b5 $1 ({Waiting for an
even better moment to push the a-pawn and driving the bishop back, whereas} 
8... a3 9. c3 {might not have been so bad for White.}) 9. Be2 Nh6 10. g4 $2 ({
And this is truly disgusting.} 10. Nf3 {had to be played, even if Black enjoys
the initiative and a pleasant advantage after} Nf5 11. Qf4 Na6 12. a3 Nc7 {.
Rather than allow Black to take control of the position, Williams hopes to
battle for the initiative, but a nasty surprise lay in store for him.}) 10...
a3 11. Rb1 $2 ({It really wasn't poor Simon's day.} 11. c3 {had to be tried,
even if Black would have been doing pretty well after} Qd5 ({or} 11... f5 $5)
12. Ng3 Ra4 {,} ({but not} 12... axb2 13. Bxb2 Rxa2 $2 {on account of} 14. c4
$1 {.})) 11... Qd5 {[diagram] Ouch. Suddenly White can't defend both rooks.}
12. Nc3 Qxh1 13. Kf1 Be5 {The queen won't be trapped and, a rook ahead, Black
now wrapped things up without difficulty.} 14. Bf3 Qxh2 15. Nh3 Nxg4 $1 16.
Bxg4 Bf6 0-1

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Naylor, John"]
[Black "Adair, James"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2174"]
[BlackElo "2247"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5kp1/R6p/P3Pp2/1P6/4p1P1/3r4/5K2 b - - 0 43"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

{[diagram] A lively time scramble had led to this unbalanced ending. White's
queenside passers look dangerous, but Black is not without his trumps too. The
crowd wondered if Adair might go 43...Rf2+ 44 Ke1 g5 45 Rxh6 f4 26 gxf4 gxf4
with excellent chances to draw thanks to Black's advanced pair of passed pawns,
but he found something even stronger.} 43... h5 $1 44. Rb6 $2 ({A rather lazy
move which badly underestimates the danger. White had to avoid} 44. Rd6 $2 f4
$1 45. gxf4 h4 {when the h-pawn decides}) ({and the active attempt} 44. e6+ {
would not have been an easy draw in view of} Ke7 $1 ({after} 44... Kf6 45. Ra8
Kxe6 46. a6 Ra2 47. b5 h4 48. gxh4 f4 49. b6 {White's pawns arrive in time})
45. Ra7+ (45. b5 $2 h4 46. gxh4 f4 47. Ra7+ Kxe6 48. Ra8 Kf5 {does the
business for Black}) 45... Kxe6 {. Here it seems that White has to find} 46.
Ra8 $1 {,} ({since} 46. Rxg7 h4 47. a6 Rf2+ 48. Ke1 Ra2 49. b5 hxg3 50. Rxg3 f4
51. Rg8 Kd5 {is again winning for Black thanks to his greatly more active king.
})) ({However, the easiest way to draw the game (and the match!) was to
activate the rook with} 44. Rc6 $1 {. Then} h4 ({The second player might prefer
} 44... f4 $5 {, although after} 45. gxf4 h4 46. a6 h3 47. a7 Ra2 ({and not} 
47... h2 $4 48. Rc7+ Kg6 49. a8=Q {when the newly promoted queen covers h1})
48. Rc2 $1 Rxa7 49. Ke2 h2 50. Rc1 {it's just a draw from what I can see.}) 45.
gxh4 f4 46. Rc3 {halts the pawns, prepares Ra3 and doesn't seem to give Black
anything.}) 44... h4 $1 {There's no defence. Black's pawns will arrive first.}
45. Rb7+ Ke6 ({There's clearly no point in waiting to see} 45... Ke6 46. Rxg7 (
{or} 46. gxh4 f4 47. a6 f3) 46... h3 47. Rh7 h2 {.}) 0-1

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Sowray, Peter"]
[Black "Buckley, Simon"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B09"]
[WhiteElo "2353"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[PlyCount "37"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

1. d4 d6 2. e4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O ({The main alternative is} 
5... c5 {as occurred on an adjacent board in Adair-Pein. There White came
prepared with an idea from Andrew Greet's excellent new work 'Beating Unusual
Chess Defences: 1 e4' and after} 6. dxc5 Qa5 7. Qd4 $5 dxc5 8. Qc4 O-O 9. e5
Be6 10. Qa4 ({Greet prefers} 10. Qb5 $1) 10... Qxa4 11. Nxa4 Nfd7 12. Be3 Rc8 (
12... Nc6 $5 {is also quite critical}) 13. Ng5 Bf5 14. Bc4 e6 15. O-O-O h6 16.
Nf3 Nb6 $1 17. Nxb6 axb6 {, chances were about equal.}) 6. Bd3 Nfd7 $6 {Not
without good reason does one not find this slow retreat in James Vigus' bible,
'The Pirc in Black and White'. Black's usual moves are 6...Na6 and 6...Nc6,
supporting the ...c5 and ...e5 breaks respectively.} 7. O-O c5 ({The absence
of the knight from the kingside would also have been felt after} 7... e5 8.
dxe5 dxe5 9. f5 $1 {, as in Fischer-Jovanovac, Vinkovci 1968.}) 8. d5 {
[Diagram]} Nb6 ({This seems as good a try as anything. Instead} 8... e6 9. dxe6
fxe6 10. Ng5 Nb6 11. a4 $1 {saw White seizing a strong initiative in
Fischer-Domnitz, Netanya 1968. The 11th World Champion was certainly pretty
lucky to face this dubious sideline on more than one occasion!}) 9. f5 $1 {
Sowray is unafraid to sacrifice a pawn or two to launch an attack.} c4 10. Be2
gxf5 $2 ({Perhaps shocked by his opponent's play, Buckley panics or feels his
position was already so grim that he might as well take some material for his
suffering. That's sometimes fair enough, but here Black really had to dig in
with} 10... N8d7 {, unpleasant though his position is.}) 11. Qe1 {The queen
will soon wreak havoc on the kingside.} fxe4 12. Qg3 $1 Bf5 ({Plugging the
g-file with the bishop is the only try:} 12... Kh8 13. Ng5 f5 {failing to} 14.
Qh4 h6 15. Ngxe4 $1 fxe4 16. Bxh6 N8d7 17. Bg5+ Kg8 18. Bxe7 {when White
crashes through.}) 13. Ng5 Bg6 14. h4 $1 {[Diagram]} e5 $2 ({Black won't
survive on the kingside after this. White would have enjoyed a strong attack
after} 14... h5 15. Nxf7 Rxf7 16. Qxg6) ({or} 14... Be5 15. Bf4 Bd4+ 16. Kh1 {
, but Black had to try one of these.}) 15. h5 h6 {The point of Black's play,
but Sowray has realised that the following forcing sequence is somewhat in
White's favour:} 16. hxg6 hxg5 17. gxf7+ Rxf7 18. Rxf7 Kxf7 19. Bxg5 ({
Resignation may seem a tad early, but after} 19. Bxg5 Qh8 ({or} 19... Bf6 20.
Rf1 N8d7 21. Bh5+ Kf8 22. Qg4) 20. Nxe4 N8d7 21. Nxd6+ Kg8 22. Bg4 {Black's
days would have been numbered.}) 1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Trent, Lawrence"]
[Black "Rose, Matthew"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2433"]
[BlackElo "2282"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2k5/8/P2Q4/3p1q2/1ppP4/2P2p1P/1P3P2/6K1 b - - 0 72"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

{[Diagram] White has just pushed his a-pawn and now Rose tried a final throw
of the dice:} 72... bxc3 73. bxc3 $4 ({Oops! I'm sure we've all suffered that
sinking feeling at some point, realising too late that the opponent no longer
has any moves apart from with one piece which they're about to sacrifice for
stalemate. Instead,} 73. a7 {would have won straightforwardly after} Qg5+ ({or
} 73... Qb1+ 74. Kh2 Qa1 75. Qb8+) 74. Qg3 Qxg3+ 75. fxg3 Kb7 76. bxc3 {.})
73... Qb1+ 74. Kh2 Qg1+ $1 1/2-1/2

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Thorfinnsson, Bjorn"]
[Black "Eckersley-Waites, Tom"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[WhiteElo "2402"]
[BlackElo "2276"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/1p6/8/3P1pn1/1P4p1/6K1/P3p3/4B3 w - - 0 45"]
[PlyCount "32"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

{[Diagram] One's first thought is that Black is winning easily thanks to his
active knight and kingside pawns, but all is not as it seems.} 45. a4 $1 {
Passed pawns and potential passed pawns must be pushed!} Nf3 ({Despite the
defensively-placed bishop, White also seems to have enough to draw after} 45...
Ne4+ $5 46. Kf4 Kf7 47. b5 Nd6 48. b6 {.}) 46. Kf2 Kf7 47. b5 Nd4 ({By now it
should be clear that Black isn't better, and perhaps bringing the knight back
with} 47... f4 48. Kxe2 Ke7 49. Bb4+ Kd7 50. Bc5 Ne5 {was the easiest way to
draw.}) 48. Bc3 {Now Black even seems to be in some trouble, but
Eckersley-Waites has a keen tactical eye and is a pretty strong player these
days, as Andrew Greet had discovered to his cost the day before. The Oxford
man now found a neat piece sacrifice to save the half-point.} g3+ $1 49. Kxg3
Ke7 50. Kf2 Nxb5 $1 51. axb5 Kd6 52. b6 Kxd5 53. Bf6 Kc6 54. Bd8 Kd7 55. Bc7
Kc8 {[diagram] The point of Black's play. There's no way in for White's king
and the position is just a draw despite what your misguided engine might try
to claim.} 56. Kxe2 Kd7 57. Kf3 f4 58. Kxf4 Kc8 59. Ke5 Kd7 60. Kd5 Kc8 1/2-1/2

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Slavin, Alexei"]
[Black "Rowson, Jonathan"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2400"]
[BlackElo "2581"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r4rk1/1p2bp2/2q3pQ/p1p1p2p/2B4P/2P4P/P4P2/1K1R2R1 b - - 0 22"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

{[Diagram] White's pressure against g6 looks ominous, but Rowson had matters
in hand.} 22... Ra6 $1 23. Bxa6 Qxa6 ({This in combination with Black's next
looks good, but does allow an unexpected combination. As such, Black might
have considered} 23... bxa6 $5 24. Qxh5 Qe4+ 25. Ka1 Rb8 {, with more than
enough for the exchange in view of White's weak pawns and king position.}) 24.
Qxh5 Bf6 25. Qg4 $2 ({As he showed at the European Club Cup, where he drew an
exciting tussle with no less a player than Smirin, Slavin is a pretty
dangerous opponent these days, but here he falters and allows Black to seize a
strong initiative. White really needed to find} 25. Rd6 $1 {and after} Qb5+ $5
({avoiding the draw which arises after} 25... Qxd6 26. Rxg6+ $1 fxg6 27. Qxg6+
{as the black bishop is now pinned}) 26. Kc1 Bg7 27. Qg4 {and both players
have attacking chances.}) 25... e4 $1 {The long diagonal clears and it becomes
obvious that White faces an unpleasant defensive task.} 26. Qxe4 Bxc3 27. Kc2
Bd4 28. Qd5 Qf6 29. h5 $4 ({Far, far too optimistic. White had to cover f2,
although after} 29. Rd2 Re8 30. h5 Re5 31. Qxb7 Rxh5 {Black would have
continued to enjoy excellent play for the exchange.}) 29... Qxf2+ 30. Rd2 ({I
wonder what Slavin had missed. Clearly} 30. Kb3 {is impossible on account of}
Qb2+ 31. Kc4 Qc3+ 32. Kb5 Qb4# {mate}) ({and it's mate too after} 30. Kd3 Qe3+
{.}) 30... Qxg1 31. Rg2 Qe3 {Prudently covering the h6 square and so limiting
White's attack to just the one check.} 32. Rxg6+ Kh8 33. Rg2 Re8 0-1

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Kilpatrick, Callum"]
[Black "Griffiths, Ryan Rhys"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2315"]
[BlackElo "2310"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1r6/5B2/6pk/2b2p1p/2Pq3P/6P1/2Q1RPK1/8 w - - 0 50"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

{[Diagram] White's c-pawn is going nowhere, but never forget that
opposite-coloured bishops favour the attacker. Here Kilpatrick struck with:} 
50. Bxg6 $1 Kxg6 51. Re6+ Kg7 52. Qxf5 Qxf2+ {Desperation as there's no good
defence to the threat of check on g6 and mate on h5.} 53. Qxf2 Bxf2 54. Kxf2
Rc8 55. Re5 {Black might have continued hoping for the well-known stalemate
tricks against the g- and h-pawns, but I'm sure that a man with a GM norm in
his pocket would have known just how to convert.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Staverton Park, ENG"]
[Date "2011.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Munson, Shaun"]
[Black "Franklin, Samuel"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2201"]
[BlackElo "2179"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7r/p3Qpk1/1p1p4/3PP3/2P1nqp1/P2R1p2/5P1P/5NK1 b - - 0 49"]
[PlyCount "9"]
[EventDate "2011.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2011.12.01"]

{[Diagram]} 49... Rxh2 $1 {Concluding in style.} 50. Nxh2 g3 {Queen and knight
are notoriously strong when up against an exposed king and here Black even has
a pawn or two to help.} 51. Nxf3 {It's mate if he lets the queen in, but even
this won't keep it out for long.} gxf2+ 52. Kg2 Qg3+ 53. Kf1 Qh3+ 0-1

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.01.15"]
[Round "4.11"]
[White "Howell, David WL"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C03"]
[WhiteElo "2603"]
[BlackElo "2677"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "105"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 1"]
[BlackTeam "Guildford 1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 h6 ({I'm honestly not sure what to make of this move
that Nigel used to beat an out of form Mickey Adams at the recent London Chess
Classic. I suppose the idea is to wait for white to reveal his plans, then
play appropriately. In this game Nigel plays with ...Nf6 while avoiding the
dangerous f4 Tarrasch lines that arise after} 3... Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. f4 {. But
the text does create a slight weakness of the kingside light squares.}) 4. Ngf3
({How about} 4. c3 $5 {, responding in kind?}) 4... Nf6 5. e5 Nfd7 6. Bd3 c5 7.
c3 Nc6 8. a3 a5 9. Nf1 c4 $5 {An interesting decision. Releasing the tension
in the centre gives black an easy plan of ...b5-b4 but White will have all the
fun on the kingside. It could be argued that having played 3...h6, this plan
is positionally forced because the typical French idea of blowing up the
centre with ...f6 is not viable here due to the weakness of the g6 square.} (
9... Qb6 {is simply answered by} 10. Bc2 {and it's hard for Black to increase
the pressure on d4.}) 10. Bc2 b5 11. Ng3 Nb6 12. Nh5 Bd7 {[diag] How can White
increase the pressure on the kingside?} 13. h4 ({My computer suggests the
ridiculous-looking} 13. Ng1 $1 {, with the simple idea of bringing the queen
to the g-file. However, David is human and brings the rook there instead.})
13... Qe7 14. Rh3 O-O-O 15. Rg3 {Forcing a further weakness.} g6 (15... f6 {or
15...f5 is answered by} 16. Nf4 $1 {and that g6 square is weak again.}) 16. Nf6
Bg7 17. Nh5 Bf8 18. Nf6 Bg7 19. h5 $1 g5 (19... Bxf6 20. exf6 Qxf6 21. hxg6 {
was probably the lesser evil, but it is easy to understand why Nigel didn't
want to defend a prospectless position without his dark-squared bishop for the
rest of the game.}) 20. Nh7 $6 (20. Nxg5 $1 {was very strong immediately, but
it's not long before David executes this move anyway. A sample variation is}
hxg5 21. Bxg5 Bxf6 (21... Qf8 22. Nh7 $1) 22. Bxf6 Qe8 23. Qf3 {when White
dominates completely.}) 20... Rdg8 21. Qe2 b4 ({Perhaps Black should try} 21...
f6 {here, but} 22. exf6 Bxf6 23. Nxf6 Qxf6 {again involves giving up the
dark-squared bishop.}) 22. axb4 axb4 {[diag]} 23. Nfxg5 $1 b3 24. Bb1 hxg5 25.
Bxg5 Qe8 26. Nf6 (26. Bf6 {was also possible, but} Bh6 27. Bxh8 Rxg3 28. fxg3
Qxh8 29. g4 Qg7 {doesn't look entirely clear to me, even though the computer
prefers White. Somehow the a1 rook and b1 bishop still have to be extracted.
David's choice is more natural.}) 26... Bxf6 27. Bxf6 Qf8 28. Rxg8 Rxg8 29. g4
{White has ample compensation for a piece. The f6 bishop is a monster and it's
obvious the kingside pawns will cost black material.} Be8 30. Bh7 Rh8 31. Bb1
Rg8 32. f4 Nd7 {Nigel rushes to eliminate the bishop.} 33. g5 ({I would have
been tempted to keep the best piece on the board with} 33. Bg5 {, but Black is
still tied up after the text.}) 33... Nxf6 34. exf6 Rh8 35. Kf2 $1 {Not
rushing.} Kb7 36. Kg3 Bd7 37. h6 {[diag]} Rxh6 $6 {Nigel goes for counterplay
but objectively I think he should just sit and wait here. It's not obvious how
White wins. Often in these situations something 'turns up'. Passive defence is
not, however, in Nigel's nature.} ({Re-routing the knight to d6 with} 37... Na7
{was probably better.}) 38. gxh6 Qxh6 39. Qh2 Qxf6 40. Qh7 {Probably not the
most accurate, but it's move 40 and I assume David was in his habitual
time-trouble.} (40. Bh7 $1 {, allowing the rook to finally participate in the
game.}) 40... Ne7 41. Qh5 Nc6 42. Bh7 $1 Qg7+ 43. Kf3 Be8 44. Rh1 Qf8 45. Qg5
$1 Kc7 46. Qf6 {Now White has a bind again and Black can't avoid the exchange
of queens to ease the pressure.} Qe7 47. Qxe7+ Nxe7 48. f5 $1 {Creating a
weakness and opening lines for the rook. David had no doubt seen the finish
already.} Nxf5 $6 {Black can resist longer with other moves, but they won't
change the result.} 49. Bxf5 exf5 50. Kf4 Bd7 51. Ke5 Be6 52. Rf1 Kd7 {[diag]}
53. Rxf5 $1 {White is winning the king and pawn endgame. If Black doesn't take
the rook, the winning plan is simple: re-route the rook to the a-file, check
on a7, play Kf6 then sacrifice the rook for the bishop on e6 to enter a
similar king and pawn endgame. So Nigel resigned. A fine game by David Howell.}
1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.01.14"]
[Round "3.84"]
[White "Eggleston, David J"]
[Black "Rose, Matthew"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B66"]
[WhiteElo "2367"]
[BlackElo "2282"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/7R/1RP2k2/5p1p/K7/2r5/7P/2r5 b - - 0 38"]
[PlyCount "21"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Cheddleton 1"]
[BlackTeam "Oxford 1"]

{[diag] At first glance it's hard to know who's better here, but after Black's
next it becomes clear that he has the advantage. Both white rooks are forced
to awkward squares obstructed by the c6 pawn. White should be able to defend
this position, because, well, all rook endgames are drawn. But double rook
endgames are notoriously hard to play.} 38... Kg6 $1 39. Rc7 f4 {Passed pawns
must be pushed.} 40. Rb4 $2 (40. Rc8 $1 {was necessary and quite possibly the
only move. White must get a rook behind the f-pawn:} Rc5 ({To come to f5 in
some variations.} 40... f3 {should be a draw after} 41. Rf8 Rxc6 42. Rxc6+ Rxc6
43. Rxf3 {, but even here Black can test White's endgame knowledge for a while}
) 41. Rb4 (41. c7+ $2 Kg7 $1 {might well be winning for Black, as the f-pawn
is really dangerous, for example} 42. Rb4 f3 43. Rf4 $2 R5c4+ {and Black wins})
41... f3 42. Rf4 Rxc6 43. Rxc6+ Rxc6 44. Rxf3 {and again we have the same
endgame that White should probably hold.}) 40... f3 {Now Black is winning. The
f-pawn can't be stopped.} 41. Rbb7 ({Unfortunately,} 41. Rf4 {, which I assume
was David's intention, fails to} Rc4+ 42. Rxc4 Rxc4+ 43. Kb3 Rc1 {and Black
wins.}) 41... Rxc6 (41... f2 {was simpler: the king hides on h4 after} 42. Rg7+
Kh6 43. Rh7+ Kg5 {.}) 42. Rg7+ Kf5 43. Rg3 R6c4+ 44. Kb3 Rf4 $1 {Behind the
pawn, as all good endgame manuals will tell you.} 45. Rf7+ Ke4 46. Re7+ Kd4 47.
Rd7+ Ke3 48. Kb2 Rh1 {The second pawn falls and the rest is simple. Black won
on move 61.} 0-1

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.01.15"]
[Round "4.52"]
[White "Palliser, Richard JD"]
[Black "Turner, Matthew J"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D87"]
[WhiteElo "2448"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rr2k1/p3pp1p/6p1/1p2P3/3P4/1B2PPN1/P7/5RK1 b - - 0 24"]
[PlyCount "48"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "White Rose 1"]
[BlackTeam "Barbican 4NCL 1"]

{[diag] After various adventures in the Grunfeld, we arrive at this position,
in which I won't pretend to know what's going on. My computer says it's
roughly equal, which seems fair as both sides have their trumps. Approaching
the time control, all three results are possible.} 24... a5 $1 {The only good
move. Black must act quickly before White gets coordinated, for example, with
Ng3-e4-c5.} 25. Rb1 $1 {Another good move. The white bishop will shortly be
forced back to d1, so Palliser makes sure his rook at least is in the game
when this happens.} a4 26. Bd1 Rc3 27. Kf2 (27. Rxb5 $2 {loses a piece to} Rc1
{.}) 27... Ra3 28. Rb2 Rc8 29. Ne4 Rc1 30. Be2 Ra1 {[diag]} 31. d5 $1 {The
d-pawn is going to be hard to stop, but Black should still be ok.} R1xa2 $2 (
31... R3xa2 $1 {was called for, when after} 32. Rxb5 {Black has} Rh1 $1 {with
sufficient counterplay. For example} 33. Ng3 (33. Nc3 Rh2+ 34. Ke1 Rh1+ 35. Kf2
Rh2+ {is also a draw.}) 33... Rh2+ 34. Ke1 a3 35. Ra5 h5 $1 {leading to a
bizarre computer draw after} 36. d6 h4 37. dxe7 hxg3 38. e8=Q+ Kg7 39. Ra8
Rhxe2+ {, etc.}) 32. Rxb5 Rd3 $6 (32... Rb3 {is a better defence when White
should continue} 33. Ra5 Rb8 34. Ra7 {, still with good chances to win.}) 33.
f4 Kg7 34. d6 $6 {Strange though it may seem, this natural move is a mistake.}
(34. Rb7 {was winning immediately} Rxd5 ({or} 34... Kf8 35. Rb8+ Kg7 36. Re8
Rxd5 37. Rxe7 {reaching the same position}) 35. Rxe7 {, threatening e6. Now}
Kf8 36. Ra7 {, when White has too many threats - Nc3, Kf3 and Bc4, or a knight
move to hit the f7 pawn.}) 34... exd6 35. exd6 f5 $1 {If the knight moves, the
d-pawn falls.} 36. Rb7+ Kf8 37. Rb8+ Kg7 38. Rb7+ Kf8 39. Rb8+ Kg7 {[diag]} 40.
Nc3 $5 {I might have taken the draw here, having just made the time control
and decided that was enough excitement for one game, but on move 40(!) Richard
bravely goes for the win. A good practical decision as this is the sort of
position where one needs to stop and have a long think!} Rc2 $2 {And the
decision pays off immediately!} (40... Rxc3 $1 41. d7 Rd2 42. d8=Q Rxd8 43.
Rxd8 h5 $1 {should be fine for Black as it will be hard for white to do
anything active while keeping an eye on both outside passed pawns.}) 41. Nb5 $1
{Once this knight gets to d4, it's all over.} Rd5 (41... Rb2 {, trying to stop
the knight moving, can be answered by the calm} 42. Ra8 {.}) 42. Nd4 Rc1 43.
Rb7+ Kf6 44. d7 Ke7 (44... a3 45. Bf3 {wins the exchange as} Rd6 {may be
answered by} 46. Rb6 $1) 45. Bb5 a3 46. Ra7 Rcc5 47. Nc6+ Rxc6 48. Bxc6 {and
Richard converted the extra piece on move 66. An interesting game that does
great credit to both players.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Sunningdale, ENG"]
[Date "2012.02.12"]
[Round "6.16"]
[White "Ward, Chris G"]
[Black "Ledger, Dave J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2448"]
[BlackElo "2221"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3qr3/6k1/pp2Pn2/2pp1p2/P1B2P1n/2B1R3/1PQ3pP/6K1 w - - 0 38"]
[PlyCount "4"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 1"]
[BlackTeam "Blackthorne Russia"]

{[diag] Chris had efficiently dismantled his opponent's King's Indian but
failed to put him away, missing several quick wins on each of the last 5 moves.
Now black is back in the game.} 38. Qxg2+ {There's not an annotation symbol on
Chessbase that adequately describes this move. The closest your correspondent
has come to doing something like this was in the last round of British
Under-13 Championships, when Matthew Turner put his queen en prise to a pawn
and I failed to take it!} Nxg2 39. Rg3+ Kf8 0-1

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Sunningdale, ENG"]
[Date "2012.02.11"]
[Round "5.61"]
[White "Hawkins, Jonathan"]
[Black "Mah, Karl CC"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2480"]
[BlackElo "2419"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5r1k/7p/p2p3n/2pPp3/2P1PbqP/1R3Q2/P3N3/4B2K b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "4"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Cheddleton 1"]
[BlackTeam "Cambridge University 1"]

{[diag] Karl has defended well for the whole game and has now fully equalised,
but he blunders.} 35... Qg7 $2 36. Nxf4 $1 Rxf4 $2 (36... Kg8 $1 {keeps black
in the game.}) 37. Qxf4 1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Sunningdale, ENG"]
[Date "2012.02.12"]
[Round "6.72"]
[White "Rose, Matthew"]
[Black "Pinter, Gabor"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2282"]
[BlackElo "2360"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "69"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Oxford 1"]
[BlackTeam "Cambridge University 1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. d4 cxd4 6. cxd4 d6 7. Bc4 Nc6 8. O-O
Be7 9. a3 O-O 10. Re1 Qb6 {This seems like a funny square for the queen to me,
as it is likely to get hit by a rook after the b-file opens.} 11. Nc3 Nxc3 12.
bxc3 Bd7 13. Bd3 f6 $6 {Creating weaknesses on e6 and the kingside. There was
no need for drastic action just yet. Taking on e5 and dropping the queen back
to c7 (where it probably should have gone in the first place) was still
perfectly playable for Black.} 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Rb1 Qc7 16. Ng5 {Gaining the
two bishops.} Bxg5 17. Bxg5 Rf7 18. Re3 h6 $2 {White is better here, but this
creates further weaknesses. Matt takes advantage in style. [diag]} 19. Qh5 $1 {
Simply threatening Qg6 with a devastating attack.} Be8 {What else?} 20. Qg6 $1
hxg5 21. Rh3 {The threat is mate in two starting with Rh8+.} (21. Qh7+ Kf8 22.
Rxe6 {was also very strong.}) 21... Kf8 22. Qxe6 g6 23. Bxg6 Nd8 24. Rh8+ Kg7
25. Qxe8 Kxg6 {[diag] Now we see a good old-fashioned king hunt!} 26. Qg8+ Rg7
27. Qe8+ Rf7 (27... Qf7 28. Qe4+ Kf6 (28... Qf5 29. Rh6+ {wins the queen}) 29.
Rb5 $1 {concludes matters.}) 28. Qe4+ Kg7 29. Qh7+ $1 Kf6 30. Qh6+ Ke7 31.
Qxg5+ Kd7 32. Qg4+ Kc6 {[diag]} 33. d5+ $1 Kxd5 34. Rh5+ Kc6 35. Qa4+ {That's
ten consecutive checks and the eleventh will be mate, so Black resigned.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL"]
[Site "De Vere, Sunningdale, ENG"]
[Date "2012.02.11"]
[Round "5.82"]
[White "Galego, Luis"]
[Black "McDonald, Neil"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[WhiteElo "2481"]
[BlackElo "2457"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "62"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.03.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Jutes of Kent"]
[BlackTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 2"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 {Luis is not just relaxed off the chess board! That
doesn't mean he's not very strong.} exd5 4. Nf3 Nc6 5. h3 Nf6 6. c4 $6 {This
looks too risky to me with White's retarded development. Neil responds
energetically.} Bb4+ $1 {Of course, developing with tempo.} 7. Nc3 Ne4 8. Qc2
Qe7 9. Be3 $6 ({My computer suggests} 9. Kd1 $1 {and claims that White has a
perfectly playable position. I was reduced to something similar with White in
a game at the British Championship. When this happens, you know something has
gone wrong.}) 9... Bf5 $1 10. Qc1 Nxc3 11. bxc3 Ba3 12. Qd2 {[diag]} Nb4 $1 {
Oops. How often do you see a grandmaster completely busted with White after 12
moves of the French Exchange? To his great credit, Luis wakes up from his
horizontally relaxed state and starts setting Neil problems.} 13. cxd5 $1 {The
exclamation mark is because this is clearly the best practical chance.} Nc2+
14. Kd1 Nxa1 15. Bd3 Bxd3 16. Qxd3 O-O-O 17. Ke2 Rxd5 18. Rxa1 Rhd8 19. Rb1 f6
20. Qxh7 f5 21. c4 Ra5 22. d5 {[diag]} f4 $2 (22... Qe4 $1 {was very strong.})
23. Qf5+ Kb8 24. Nd4 $2 ({Looks natural and the kind of move to play when your
opponent is in time-trouble, but objectively} 24. Qxf4 {was stronger, when
White is probably ok.}) 24... Bb4 25. Qxf4 Rxa2+ 26. Kf1 Rf8 27. Qg3 {[diag]}
Qe4 $2 (27... Bd6 $1 {wins on the spot as the bishop on e3 is hanging after
the queen moves.}) 28. Rxb4 $1 Ra1+ 29. Ke2 Ra2+ 30. Kf1 Ra1+ 31. Ke2 Ra2+ {
and two no doubt relieved grandmasters headed for the bar.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "4NCL Division 1a"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.03.31"]
[Round "7.41"]
[White "Mestel, A Jonathan"]
[Black "Slavin, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2421"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2r2k1/1p3p1p/3ppqp1/pPn1b3/2B1P3/1P2BP2/P5PP/1R1RQ1K1 b - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2012.03.31"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "The AD's"]
[BlackTeam "e2e4.org.uk 1"]

{[DIAG] The position is roughly level - White has the two bishops, but no
obvious pawn breaks, while Black has an extra centre pawn and an excellent
bishop on e5. Slavin makes an interesting decision and goes for a kingside
attack.} 20... g5 $5 21. b6 {Fixing the b7 pawn, a potential weakness on a
light square in an endgame.} ({Other normal moves, such as} 21. Rbc1 {were
possible.}) 21... g4 22. Qe2 {Defending the f3 pawn.} Kh8 23. Kh1 $2 {Careless
and perhaps losing his sense of danger.} (23. Rf1 $1 {, threatening f4 and
forcing Black to clarify the situation on the g-file was much better.}) 23...
Qh4 $1 24. f4 g3 (24... Nxe4 {was also good, with the idea} 25. Qc2 Bxf4 26.
Bxf4 g3 $1 {winning back the piece.}) 25. h3 {Black has won a safe pawn.} Bxf4
26. Rf1 ({It was probably better to seek salvation in the opposite bishop
position after} 26. Bxc5 {, though it won't be much fun for White, especially
with his bad king.}) 26... Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Qxe4 28. Qd2 $2 (28. Qc3+ {offered
some saving chances, for example} Qe5 29. Qxe5+ dxe5 30. Rbe1 e4 31. Rxf7 {
when Black is still better but has a lot of work to do.}) 28... Qg6 {Now Black
is simply two pawns up and Slavin converted easily on move 40.} 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1a"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.03.31"]
[Round "7.38"]
[White "Lalic, Susan K"]
[Black "Bhatia, Kanwal K"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2263"]
[BlackElo "2081"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q3r1k1/5ppp/3p4/1ppR4/r1n1PPP1/2P5/PP5P/1KNQR3 b - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2012.03.31"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Guildford 1"]
[BlackTeam "Barbican 4NCL 2"]

{[DIAG] Black earlier sacrificed her a-pawn to create chances on the queenside.
Objectively, White should be able to successfully defend, but it's always more
fun to be attacking, especially in time-trouble as I assume both players were,
given the course of the game.} 27... b4 $1 {Of course. Now White has a
decision to make.} 28. cxb4 $6 (28. b3 $1 {was the best move, leading to a
draw after the tactical line} Na3+ 29. Ka1 bxc3 $1 30. bxa4 Qxd5 $1 31. exd5 (
31. Qxd5 Nc2+ 32. Kb1 Na3+ {is also a similar repetition.}) 31... Rxe1 32. Qxe1
Nc2+ 33. Kb1 Na3+ {with a repetition. A pattern worth remembering.}) 28... Rxb4
{Now Black has serious play against the white king.} 29. b3 (29. Re2 {,
defending the second rank and not creating a weakness, probably offered better
chances of a successful defence.}) 29... Na3+ 30. Kb2 Nb5 {Threatening ...Qa3+.
White is unable to hold everything together, as e4 is also hanging.} (30... c4
{was also very dangerous.}) 31. Qd2 Rbxe4 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 ({Black should flick in
} 32... Qa3+ {here, to prevent the possibility of 33. a4!}) 33. Qd3 $2 (33. a4
$1 {would have given the white king some breathing space. White is fine after}
Rd4 34. Rxd4 Nxd4 {, as the passed a-pawn compensates for the weak king and
kingside pawns.}) 33... Qa3+ {Now it should be curtains, as the black rook is
able to join the attack.} 34. Kb1 Re1 35. Qc2 {[DIAG]} Nd4 $4 {A blunder!} ({
A queen move, threatening ...Na3+, such as} 35... Qa8 {would have won on the
spot.} 36. Qd2 (36. Qd3 Qxd5 $1) 36... Rd1 $1 {exploiting the unfortunate
geometry of White's major pieces.}) 36. Qd3 $4 ({Now} 36. Rxd4 $1 {suddenly
wins for White!}) 36... Rxc1# 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.17"]
[White "Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan E"]
[Black "Townsend, M Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2434"]
[BlackElo "2255"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k1r4/1pr3p1/p3p1qp/4P3/1Q3P2/P7/6P1/KRR5 b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 1"]
[BlackTeam "White Rose 1"]

{[DIAG] Black's extra pawn should tell in the long-term, but the game ends in
surprising fashion.} 35... Rdc8 $6 (35... Qf7 {, so that the queen can help in
what should be a simple defence of the black king, was better. Now the white
queen is allowed to become dangerously active.}) 36. Qd6 $1 {Suddenly Black is
tied up and the a6-pawn is also en prise. It's surprisingly hard to find a
good move for Black here.} Qxg2 $4 (36... Qe8 $1 {defending the back rank, was
the only move. White can win back the pawn with} 37. Rxc7 Rxc7 38. Qxa6 {,
when the game should finish in a draw. Maybe Black can still claim a slight
advantage due to the weak white king.}) (36... Qf7 {now loses to} 37. Rxb7+ $1
Kxb7 38. Rb1+ Ka7 39. Qb6+ Ka8 40. Qxa6+ Ra7 41. Qxc8#) ({If Black passes, say
with} 36... h5 {, White wins with} 37. Rxc7 Rxc7 38. Rc1 Qf7 39. Qd8+ {picking
up a rook.}) 37. Qxa6 $4 ({Maybe Keti intending to take on c7 first, but} 37.
Rxc7 $1 Rxc7 38. Rc1 {just wins on the spot.}) 37... Rxc1 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.21"]
[White "Zhou, Yang-Fan"]
[Black "Williams, Simon K"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2438"]
[BlackElo "2506"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Guildford 1"]
[BlackTeam "Jutes of Kent"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g4 b5 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O {
[DIAG]} g5 $5 {??!?! I can't find this move in my database.} 9. a4 b4 10. Na2
h6 $5 {Ridicuously calm. Daring White to take a pawn, when Simon was no doubt
relying on his follow-up. Unfortunately, it fails spectacularly in a couple of
different ways!} 11. Nxb4 d5 {This is the cunning plan, but Black is so far
behind in development it can't possibly work. [DIAG]} 12. exd5 (12. Nxd5 $1 {
was even stronger, with a huge attack -} exd5 13. exd5 {when the open e-file
and knight coming to f5 mean that the black king won't last long. A sample
line is} Bxd5 ({or} 13... Bd6 14. Nf5 Nf6 15. Qd4 {when Black is completely
tied up.}) 14. Re1+ Be7 ({or} 14... Ne7 15. Nf5 {with too much pressure.}) 15.
Nf5 Bxg2 16. Rxe7+ $1 Nxe7 17. Ng7+ {winning the queen.}) 12... Bxb4 13. Nc6 $1
{Creating a huge pawn on c6 and monstrous light-squared bishop, which are more
than enough compensation for a piece. Even someone as resourceful as Simon is
unable to cope.} Bxc6 14. dxc6 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Ra7 $2 {The final mistake.} ({
Better was} 15... Ne7 {, when after} 16. c7 Nbc6 17. c3 Ba5 18. Rd6 Bxc7 19.
Bxc6+ (19. Rxc6 O-O-O $1 {with sudden surprising counterplay.}) 19... Nxc6 20.
Rxc6 Kd7 {White should win with the extra pawn, but still has plenty of work
to do.}) 16. Be3 $1 {Obvious and very strong.} Rc7 17. Bb6 Rc8 18. c7 Nd7 19.
Bc6 Ngf6 {[DIAG]} 20. Rxd7 $1 Nxd7 21. Rd1 Ke7 22. Rxd7+ Kf6 23. Bb7 1-0

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.41"]
[White "Griffiths, Ryan Rhys"]
[Black "Turner, Matthew J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2521"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Barbican 4NCL 2"]
[BlackTeam "Barbican 4NCL 1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 Bf5 8. Qd2
Nf6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. g4 Be6 {[DIAG]} 11. Nh3 $6 ({I'm no expert on the Queen's
Gambit Declined Exchange Variation, but it seems to me that} 11. h4 {-h5,
should be the natural follow-up to White's 10th.}) 11... h5 $1 {Very
uncompromising and attempting to immediately refute White's play.} 12. Ng5 Nf8
13. Be2 $2 ({White needed to do something about the hanging g-pawn, but ceding
the e4-square is not the way.} 13. Nxe6 Nxe6 14. g5 Nd7 15. h4 Nxf4 16. exf4 {
would have led to a position where Black must be better due to pawn structure,
but immediate disaster has beeen averted.}) 13... hxg4 14. Nxe6 Nxe6 15. fxg4 {
[DIAG]} Bb4 $1 {It suddenly becomes clear that White has serious problems. The
end is swift.} 16. O-O Ne4 17. Qc2 Nxf4 18. exf4 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rxh2 $1 {
Clinical by Matthew Turner.} 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1d"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.71"]
[White "Dearing, Edward J"]
[Black "Talsma, Paul A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2411"]
[BlackElo "2240"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Cambridge University 1"]
[BlackTeam "Anglian Avengers 1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. b4 d6 6. Bb2 {So far so good. [DIAG]}
e5 $6 ({I have no idea if this is theory, but seems to me to surely be
premature.} 6... O-O {I usually prefer to get castled and have everything
defended before attempting such action in the centre.}) 7. dxe5 Nfd7 (7... Ng4
{is similar to the game.}) 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. O-O Ndxe5 10. Nxe5 {[DIAG]} Nxe5 $4 {
Either other recapture was better. At least, they don't lose immediately.} 11.
f4 $1 {1-0, because of} Nf3+ 12. exf3 Bxb2 13. Qe2+ {Presumably Black missed
White's 13th in this line.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL Division 1d"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.83"]
[White "Hanley, Craig A"]
[Black "Rudd, Jack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2426"]
[BlackElo "2303"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 2"]
[BlackTeam "Bristol 1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. a3 a5 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 h5 8. h3 f5
9. d3 h4 10. Nd5 hxg3 11. fxg3 Be6 12. Be3 {[DIAG] Jack has successfully mixed
things up with h5-h4 against Craig's solid English opening and has a perfectly
playable unbalanced position, but his next is too ambitious.} Nd4 $6 {Wanting
to kick the strong d5-knight with ...c6, but it concedes the f4-square to a
white knight. With the weakness of the g6-pawn, this can not be a good thing.}
(12... a4 $5 {, taking space on the queenside, was interesting.}) 13. Bxd4 $1
exd4 14. exf5 gxf5 15. Qb3 $1 {[DIAG]} c6 $4 ({Now Black is trouble and should
attempt to grovel with} 15... Ne7 16. Nef4 {That f4 square.. .} Bc8 {which
looks horrible, but my computer only gives White a slight advantage here.}) 16.
Qxb7 $1 {The g7-bishop is hanging, which is what I assume Jack missed.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL Division 1a"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.03.31"]
[Round "7.41"]
[White "Mestel, A Jonathan"]
[Black "Slavin, Alexei"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2477"]
[BlackElo "2421"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2r2k1/1p3p1p/3ppqp1/pPn1b3/2B1P3/1P2BP2/P5PP/1R1RQ1K1 b - - 0 20"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "2012.03.31"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "The AD's"]
[BlackTeam "e2e4.org.uk 1"]

{[DIAG] The position is roughly level - White has the two bishops, but no
obvious pawn breaks, while Black has an extra centre pawn and an excellent
bishop on e5. Slavin makes an interesting decision and goes for a kingside
attack.} 20... g5 $5 21. b6 {Fixing the b7 pawn, a potential weakness on a
light square in an endgame.} ({Other normal moves, such as} 21. Rbc1 {were
possible.}) 21... g4 22. Qe2 {Defending the f3 pawn.} Kh8 23. Kh1 $2 {Careless
and perhaps losing his sense of danger.} (23. Rf1 $1 {, threatening f4 and
forcing Black to clarify the situation on the g-file was much better.}) 23...
Qh4 $1 24. f4 g3 (24... Nxe4 {was also good, with the idea} 25. Qc2 Bxf4 26.
Bxf4 g3 $1 {winning back the piece.}) 25. h3 {Black has won a safe pawn.} Bxf4
26. Rf1 ({It was probably better to seek salvation in the opposite bishop
position after} 26. Bxc5 {, though it won't be much fun for White, especially
with his bad king.}) 26... Bxe3 27. Qxe3 Qxe4 28. Qd2 $2 (28. Qc3+ {offered
some saving chances, for example} Qe5 29. Qxe5+ dxe5 30. Rbe1 e4 31. Rxf7 {
when Black is still better but has a lot of work to do.}) 28... Qg6 {Now Black
is simply two pawns up and Slavin converted easily on move 40.} 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1a"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.03.31"]
[Round "7.38"]
[White "Lalic, Susan K"]
[Black "Bhatia, Kanwal K"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C45"]
[WhiteElo "2263"]
[BlackElo "2081"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "q3r1k1/5ppp/3p4/1ppR4/r1n1PPP1/2P5/PP5P/1KNQR3 b - - 0 27"]
[PlyCount "19"]
[EventDate "2012.03.31"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Guildford 1"]
[BlackTeam "Barbican 4NCL 2"]

{[DIAG] Black earlier sacrificed her a-pawn to create chances on the queenside.
Objectively, White should be able to successfully defend, but it's always more
fun to be attacking, especially in time-trouble as I assume both players were,
given the course of the game.} 27... b4 $1 {Of course. Now White has a
decision to make.} 28. cxb4 $6 (28. b3 $1 {was the best move, leading to a
draw after the tactical line} Na3+ 29. Ka1 bxc3 $1 30. bxa4 Qxd5 $1 31. exd5 (
31. Qxd5 Nc2+ 32. Kb1 Na3+ {is also a similar repetition.}) 31... Rxe1 32. Qxe1
Nc2+ 33. Kb1 Na3+ {with a repetition. A pattern worth remembering.}) 28... Rxb4
{Now Black has serious play against the white king.} 29. b3 (29. Re2 {,
defending the second rank and not creating a weakness, probably offered better
chances of a successful defence.}) 29... Na3+ 30. Kb2 Nb5 {Threatening ...Qa3+.
White is unable to hold everything together, as e4 is also hanging.} (30... c4
{was also very dangerous.}) 31. Qd2 Rbxe4 32. Rxe4 Rxe4 ({Black should flick in
} 32... Qa3+ {here, to prevent the possibility of 33. a4!}) 33. Qd3 $2 (33. a4
$1 {would have given the white king some breathing space. White is fine after}
Rd4 34. Rxd4 Nxd4 {, as the passed a-pawn compensates for the weak king and
kingside pawns.}) 33... Qa3+ {Now it should be curtains, as the black rook is
able to join the attack.} 34. Kb1 Re1 35. Qc2 {[DIAG]} Nd4 $4 {A blunder!} ({
A queen move, threatening ...Na3+, such as} 35... Qa8 {would have won on the
spot.} 36. Qd2 (36. Qd3 Qxd5 $1) 36... Rd1 $1 {exploiting the unfortunate
geometry of White's major pieces.}) 36. Qd3 $4 ({Now} 36. Rxd4 $1 {suddenly
wins for White!}) 36... Rxc1# 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.17"]
[White "Arakhamia-Grant, Ketevan E"]
[Black "Townsend, M Paul"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C10"]
[WhiteElo "2434"]
[BlackElo "2255"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k1r4/1pr3p1/p3p1qp/4P3/1Q3P2/P7/6P1/KRR5 b - - 0 35"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 1"]
[BlackTeam "White Rose 1"]

{[DIAG] Black's extra pawn should tell in the long-term, but the game ends in
surprising fashion.} 35... Rdc8 $6 (35... Qf7 {, so that the queen can help in
what should be a simple defence of the black king, was better. Now the white
queen is allowed to become dangerously active.}) 36. Qd6 $1 {Suddenly Black is
tied up and the a6-pawn is also en prise. It's surprisingly hard to find a
good move for Black here.} Qxg2 $4 (36... Qe8 $1 {defending the back rank, was
the only move. White can win back the pawn with} 37. Rxc7 Rxc7 38. Qxa6 {,
when the game should finish in a draw. Maybe Black can still claim a slight
advantage due to the weak white king.}) (36... Qf7 {now loses to} 37. Rxb7+ $1
Kxb7 38. Rb1+ Ka7 39. Qb6+ Ka8 40. Qxa6+ Ra7 41. Qxc8#) ({If Black passes, say
with} 36... h5 {, White wins with} 37. Rxc7 Rxc7 38. Rc1 Qf7 39. Qd8+ {picking
up a rook.}) 37. Qxa6 $4 ({Maybe Keti intending to take on c7 first, but} 37.
Rxc7 $1 Rxc7 38. Rc1 {just wins on the spot.}) 37... Rxc1 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.21"]
[White "Zhou, Yang-Fan"]
[Black "Williams, Simon K"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B54"]
[WhiteElo "2438"]
[BlackElo "2506"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "45"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Guildford 1"]
[BlackTeam "Jutes of Kent"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 d6 5. Nc3 a6 6. g4 b5 7. Bg2 Bb7 8. O-O {
[DIAG]} g5 $5 {??!?! I can't find this move in my database.} 9. a4 b4 10. Na2
h6 $5 {Ridicuously calm. Daring White to take a pawn, when Simon was no doubt
relying on his follow-up. Unfortunately, it fails spectacularly in a couple of
different ways!} 11. Nxb4 d5 {This is the cunning plan, but Black is so far
behind in development it can't possibly work. [DIAG]} 12. exd5 (12. Nxd5 $1 {
was even stronger, with a huge attack -} exd5 13. exd5 {when the open e-file
and knight coming to f5 mean that the black king won't last long. A sample
line is} Bxd5 ({or} 13... Bd6 14. Nf5 Nf6 15. Qd4 {when Black is completely
tied up.}) 14. Re1+ Be7 ({or} 14... Ne7 15. Nf5 {with too much pressure.}) 15.
Nf5 Bxg2 16. Rxe7+ $1 Nxe7 17. Ng7+ {winning the queen.}) 12... Bxb4 13. Nc6 $1
{Creating a huge pawn on c6 and monstrous light-squared bishop, which are more
than enough compensation for a piece. Even someone as resourceful as Simon is
unable to cope.} Bxc6 14. dxc6 Qxd1 15. Rxd1 Ra7 $2 {The final mistake.} ({
Better was} 15... Ne7 {, when after} 16. c7 Nbc6 17. c3 Ba5 18. Rd6 Bxc7 19.
Bxc6+ (19. Rxc6 O-O-O $1 {with sudden surprising counterplay.}) 19... Nxc6 20.
Rxc6 Kd7 {White should win with the extra pawn, but still has plenty of work
to do.}) 16. Be3 $1 {Obvious and very strong.} Rc7 17. Bb6 Rc8 18. c7 Nd7 19.
Bc6 Ngf6 {[DIAG]} 20. Rxd7 $1 Nxd7 21. Rd1 Ke7 22. Rxd7+ Kf6 23. Bb7 1-0

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.41"]
[White "Griffiths, Ryan Rhys"]
[Black "Turner, Matthew J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D31"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2521"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "38"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Barbican 4NCL 2"]
[BlackTeam "Barbican 4NCL 1"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Be7 4. cxd5 exd5 5. Bf4 c6 6. Qc2 g6 7. e3 Bf5 8. Qd2
Nf6 9. f3 Nbd7 10. g4 Be6 {[DIAG]} 11. Nh3 $6 ({I'm no expert on the Queen's
Gambit Declined Exchange Variation, but it seems to me that} 11. h4 {-h5,
should be the natural follow-up to White's 10th.}) 11... h5 $1 {Very
uncompromising and attempting to immediately refute White's play.} 12. Ng5 Nf8
13. Be2 $2 ({White needed to do something about the hanging g-pawn, but ceding
the e4-square is not the way.} 13. Nxe6 Nxe6 14. g5 Nd7 15. h4 Nxf4 16. exf4 {
would have led to a position where Black must be better due to pawn structure,
but immediate disaster has beeen averted.}) 13... hxg4 14. Nxe6 Nxe6 15. fxg4 {
[DIAG]} Bb4 $1 {It suddenly becomes clear that White has serious problems. The
end is swift.} 16. O-O Ne4 17. Qc2 Nxf4 18. exf4 Bxc3 19. bxc3 Rxh2 $1 {
Clinical by Matthew Turner.} 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1d"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.71"]
[White "Dearing, Edward J"]
[Black "Talsma, Paul A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A84"]
[WhiteElo "2411"]
[BlackElo "2240"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "25"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Cambridge University 1"]
[BlackTeam "Anglian Avengers 1"]

1. d4 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. c4 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. b4 d6 6. Bb2 {So far so good. [DIAG]}
e5 $6 ({I have no idea if this is theory, but seems to me to surely be
premature.} 6... O-O {I usually prefer to get castled and have everything
defended before attempting such action in the centre.}) 7. dxe5 Nfd7 (7... Ng4
{is similar to the game.}) 8. Bg2 Nc6 9. O-O Ndxe5 10. Nxe5 {[DIAG]} Nxe5 $4 {
Either other recapture was better. At least, they don't lose immediately.} 11.
f4 $1 {1-0, because of} Nf3+ 12. exf3 Bxb2 13. Qe2+ {Presumably Black missed
White's 13th in this line.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL Division 1d"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinkley Island"]
[Date "2012.04.01"]
[Round "8.83"]
[White "Hanley, Craig A"]
[Black "Rudd, Jack"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A25"]
[WhiteElo "2426"]
[BlackElo "2303"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "31"]
[EventDate "2012.04.01"]
[Source "www.chess.co.uk"]
[SourceDate "2012.05.01"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 2"]
[BlackTeam "Bristol 1"]

1. c4 e5 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. g3 g6 4. Bg2 Bg7 5. a3 a5 6. e4 d6 7. Nge2 h5 8. h3 f5
9. d3 h4 10. Nd5 hxg3 11. fxg3 Be6 12. Be3 {[DIAG] Jack has successfully mixed
things up with h5-h4 against Craig's solid English opening and has a perfectly
playable unbalanced position, but his next is too ambitious.} Nd4 $6 {Wanting
to kick the strong d5-knight with ...c6, but it concedes the f4-square to a
white knight. With the weakness of the g6-pawn, this can not be a good thing.}
(12... a4 $5 {, taking space on the queenside, was interesting.}) 13. Bxd4 $1
exd4 14. exf5 gxf5 15. Qb3 $1 {[DIAG]} c6 $4 ({Now Black is trouble and should
attempt to grovel with} 15... Ne7 16. Nef4 {That f4 square.. .} Bc8 {which
looks horrible, but my computer only gives White a slight advantage here.}) 16.
Qxb7 $1 {The g7-bishop is hanging, which is what I assume Jack missed.} 1-0

[Event "4NCL Division 1c"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.05.06"]
[Round "10.111"]
[White "Adams, Michael"]
[Black "Paehtz, Elisabeth"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2735"]
[BlackElo "2459"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "3nknr1/pq2rp2/1p2pRp1/1P1pP1Np/P1pP1Q1P/2P2RPN/5P2/5K2 w - - 0 41"]
[PlyCount "13"]
[EventDate "2012.05.06"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 1"]
[BlackTeam "Cheddleton 1"]

{[DIAG] Mickey has had this bind for 20 moves or so and has been biding his
time until the time-control before making the decisive breakthrough. Black is
completely passive, has no activity and no pawn breaks - not really what you
want against Mickey!} 41. g4 {Finally opening lines.} hxg4 (41... Rh8 42. gxh5
gxh5 {might have resisted longer, but there was really no good choice - White
will eventually penetrate down the g-file or pick up the weak h5-pawn.}) 42.
Qxg4 Rh8 {Otherwise White plays h5 very soon and the pressure on the f7-pawn
will be too much.} 43. Nf4 $1 {The final piece joins the attack.} Nd7 {What
else? [DIAG]} 44. Nxf7 $1 {The unfortunate position of the black queen allows
an immediate breakthrough.} Rxf7 (44... Nxf6 45. Nd6+ Kd7 46. exf6 {is
terminal.}) 45. Rxf7 Nxe5 (45... Nxf7 46. Qxe6+ {wins easily.}) 46. dxe5 Qxf7
47. Nxd5 {Black is not material down, but her position is in ruins, so she
resigned.} 1-0

[Event "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Island"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.05.06"]
[Round "10.116"]
[White "Arkell, Keith CC"]
[Black "Pert, Nicholas"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D17"]
[WhiteElo "2414"]
[BlackElo "2543"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "80"]
[EventDate "2012.05.06"]
[WhiteTeam "Cheddleton 1"]
[BlackTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 1"]

1. Nf3 d5 2. c4 c6 3. d4 Nf6 4. Nc3 dxc4 5. a4 Bf5 6. Nh4 {Keith's favourite
move in this main line Slav position.} Bg4 $5 ({I've played both} 6... Bc8) ({
and} 6... e6 {here, but I wasn't aware of Nick's move, which is slightly
provocative, allowing White to expand on the kingside with tempo. A quick bit
of research tells me it has been played by, amongst others, Gelfand, Grischuk
and Akopian. This probably shows my current level of opening preparation.}) 7.
h3 Bh5 8. g4 Bg6 9. Nxg6 hxg6 10. e3 e6 11. Bxc4 Bb4 {[DIAG] The position now
resembles a 'Slow' Slav (the line starting with 4.e3) but here White has
kingside weaknesses that Nick exploits to the maximum later in the game.} 12.
Kf1 ({Carlsen has played} 12. Bf1 {here}) ({and Sokolov} 12. Qf3 {- both moves
that cover the kingside - but in general to me the whole variation looks
healthy for Black.}) 12... Nbd7 13. Kg2 Qa5 14. Na2 Be7 15. Bd2 Qc7 16. Nc3 Rd8
17. a5 O-O 18. g5 Nh5 19. h4 e5 20. d5 {[DIAG] Both sides have completed
development normally and now Nick's break in the centre prompts a tactical
skirmish.} b5 $1 21. Be2 (21. axb6 Nxb6 {is nice for Black - the c4-bishop and
d5-pawn are simultaneously hit.}) 21... b4 22. Na2 cxd5 23. Bxb4 Bxb4 24. Nxb4
{[DIAG]} d4 $1 {White pieces, in particluar the b4-knight, are strangely
coordinated and Nick opens lines towards the weak white king - the immediate
threat is 25...Qb7+, picking up the knight.} 25. Nd5 Qd6 26. e4 {Now Black's
only bad piece, the h5-knight is able to enter the game to be exchanged for
White's only good piece, the d5-knight.} (26. Bf3 {could have been tried,
though after} e4 $1 27. Bxe4 Nc5 28. Bf3 dxe3 {White is hanging on and
probably only a computer could successfully defend}) 26... Nf4+ 27. Nxf4 exf4
28. Bc4 {Attempting to activate the bishop. While it will look nice on d5, it
is striking at thin air and is no match for the black knight about to arrive
on e5. It's difficult to give good advice here though, as White's position is
full of holes in any case.} Ne5 29. Bd5 f3+ 30. Kg1 {[DIAG]} Qd7 $1 {The entry
of the queen into the White position spells the end.} 31. Kf1 Qg4 32. Rg1 Qh3+
33. Ke1 d3 34. Qd2 Qh2 35. Kf1 {[DIAG]} Rxd5 $1 {There are lots of ways to win,
but this is the prettiest.} 36. exd5 Re8 {If there was any doubt before, now
there is definitely no escape for the white king!} 37. Qe3 d2 38. Rg3 {and
Keith resigned rather than wait for} Qh1+ 39. Rg1 Qh3+ 40. Rg2 Qxg2# {A very
smooth win by Nick Pert.} 0-1

[Event "White Rose-Guildford"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2012.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Palliser, Richard"]
[Black "Stefanova, Antoaneta"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[Annotator "Palliser, Richard"]
[PlyCount "83"]
[EventDate "2012.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 {The ...a6 Slav, Stefanova's invariable
choice.} 5. c5 Nbd7 6. Bf4 Nh5 7. Bg5 $5 {Not White's most popular choice at
this juncture, but quite a fiendish little move and one which was covered by
Chris Ward in a work I was fortunate to edit, 'Dangerous Weapons: The Queen's
Gambit'.} h6 ({Black's main move. In my previous experience on the white side
I'd twice faced the inferior} 7... g6 $6 {and after} 8. e4 dxe4 9. Nxe4 Nhf6 ({
or} 9... Qa5+ 10. b4 $5 Qc7 11. Qe2 $1 e6 12. g4 Nf4 13. Qd2 Nd5 14. Bc4 {with
a bind on the position in Palliser-Arnott, Yorkshire League 2010, and here the
straightforward 10 Bd2 followed by 11 Bc4 is likely even stronger}) 10. Nc3 Bg7
11. Bc4 O-O 12. O-O b5 13. Bb3 Qc7 14. Re1 {Black was unable to free his
position in Palliser-P.Shaw, British Championship, Sheffield 2011.}) 8. Bd2
Nhf6 $6 ({To my surprise this was played after some thought. Instead} 8... e5
9. Nxe5 Nxe5 10. dxe5 Qe7 ({if} 10... Bxc5 11. e4 {again exploits the
misplaced knight on the rim}) 11. e3 Qxe5 12. Na4 {should be a little better
for White,}) ({but} 8... Qc7 $5 {, Kasparov's choice against Sasikiran back in
the 2002 Bled Olympiad, is the critical choice, albeit still a move which
gives White decent chances to emerge with the advantage in my view.}) 9. Bf4 ({
The bishop returns. Stefanova had previously faced} 9. Qc2 {, which isn't so
bad either, although after} g6 10. h3 Bg7 11. Bf4 O-O 12. e3 Ne4 $1 13. Nxe4
dxe4 14. Nd2 e5 {Black was able to free her position at the cost of a pawn in
Lomineishvili-Stefanova, Saint Vincent 2005.}) 9... Nh5 10. Be5 $1 {White
declines the chance to repeat moves and now the reason for moving the bishop
first to g5 becomes clear. Put Black's h-pawn back on h7 and she'd have no
problems after ...f6, but here 10...f6 can be met by 11 Qc2!, forcing Black
into the sub-optimal 11...Kf7.} Nhf6 ({A new move, but hardly a particularly
scary one to face. Previously Black had exchanged the bishop, not that} 10...
Nxe5 11. Nxe5 Nf6 12. e3 Qc7 $6 13. Bd3 e6 14. f4 Be7 15. O-O O-O 16. Rc1 {
left him doing anything other than suffering pretty horrendously in
Ward-Hagesaether, 4NCL 2007.}) 11. e3 g6 12. Bd3 Bg7 13. b4 ({I also spent
some time considering} 13. g4 $5 {, but why gamble on a risky if dangerous
kingside attack when there is a straightforward and strong pawn break
available on the other flank?}) 13... O-O $2 14. O-O $2 Nh5 ({Already the
third time that the knight has visited this square, but it's clear that
something has gone wrong with Black's position, since} 14... Nxe5 15. Nxe5 Nd7
16. f4 Nxe5 17. fxe5 Be6 {wouldn't be much fun either; White can build up for
b4-b5 and might monitor any counterplay on the kingside by bringing the knight
round to f4.}) 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. a4 Re8 17. Be2 {Prophylaxis. The knight will
be hit if Black advances ...e7-e5 without delay, so Stefanova is forced to
lose further time.} Nhf6 18. b5 Qa5 $5 ({Stefanova tries to thrower a spanner
in the works on the queenside. The text does place the queen in some danger,
but it's not hard to see why she wanted to avoid} 18... e5 19. bxc6 bxc6 20. a5
$1 {with an excellent reversed French position for White. If Black does
nothing White will take full advantage of the hole on b6, so} exd4 21. exd4 Ne4
{suggests itself, but White has a few good options here, including} 22. Na4 $5
{when the tactics favour him after} Qxa5 23. Nb6 Qb4 24. Nxa8 Nc3 25. Qd3 Nxe2+
26. Kh1 Qb8 27. Qd2 $1 Qxa8 28. Rfe1 {.}) 19. Qc1 {The knight must be defended
and White's queen also needs to stay in touch with the rook on a1 lest the
a-file suddenly open.} e5 20. b6 $2 ({An extremely tempting advance, cutting
off the queen's retreat, but it turns out that there is no way to trap her.
Thus I should have preferred the calm} 20. Qb2 {and after, say,} exd4 21. exd4
Qc7 22. Rab1 {Black would have remained in for a long and tough defence.})
20... exd4 21. exd4 Nf8 22. Qb2 ({Taking the b4-square away from the black
queen, while shoring up White's defences along the a1-h8 diagonal. Instead} 22.
Ne5 Bf5 $1 23. Qb2 $6 Ne6 {would suddenly have given Black strong counterplay,}
) ({while} 22. Qa3 Ne4 $1 23. Nxe4 dxe4 24. Ne5 Be6 {again sees Black's
light-squared bishop springing into life to save its queen.}) 22... Bg4 {
Cutting across my plan of 23 Nd2, 24 Rfe1 (to guard against a timely ...Rxe2)
25 Nb3 Qb4, 26 Na2! Qxa4, 27 Nc3 Qb4 and, finally, 28 Ra4 winning the queen.}
23. Ne5 {White must keep his knight if he wants to cause any problems, no
matter how strong the forthcoming exchange sacrifice might appear.} Bxe2 24.
Nxe2 Ne4 $1 ({Introducing the idea of ...Nd2-c4, while adding to the potential
pressure against the c5-pawn. Had Black played more slowly with} 24... Re7 $2
25. f3 $1 (25. Nd3 Ne4 26. Rfd1 Rae8 {gives Black sufficient counterplay})
25... Rae8 {then the queen would suddenly have run into serious difficulties
after} 26. Nc1 {, threatening 27 Ned3 followed by 28 Nb3. Admittedly} Rxe5 {
does save the lady, but after} 27. Nb3 $1 Re2 ({or} 27... Qb4 28. dxe5 {now
that c5 is protected}) 28. Qxe2 Qc3 29. Qd1 {Black would have found herself a
clear exchange in arrears.}) 25. Ra2 $5 ({Covering the d2-square and placing
the rooks as well as possible for the forthcoming kingside attack. Yes, it may
look like White is chasing a different prize on the queenside, but the
position is about to be blown open. Instead} 25. Rfd1 {arguably would have
misplaced the king's rook and after} Rxe5 $1 {(just in time!)} 26. dxe5 Ne6 {
Black again obtains good counterplay in return for the exchange.}) 25... Rxe5
$1 ({An essential move. Otherwise, after} 25... f6 26. Nd3 {the idea of
Ne2-c1-b3 would have been back on the agenda and with some effect.}) 26. dxe5
Ne6 {Wisely blocking the long diagonal before picking off the doomed pawn on
c5.} 27. Nd4 $1 {White is in danger of landing up in some trouble as his pawns
fall and Black's knights crawl all over his position. The text prepares to
swap one of them off, while freeing the major pieces to swing across the
second rank.} N4xc5 $2 ({Sensing that she was back in the game, Stefanova may
have been playing for the full point by this stage, but this asks too much of
her position. After} 27... Nc3 $1 28. Nxe6+ fxe6 {I was intending} 29. Ra3 d4
30. Qb3 $1 Qxc5 31. Qxe6 Qxa3 32. Qd7+ $5 Kh8 33. Qxb7 Rf8 34. Qxc6 {when
White's active queen and advanced passed pawns look scary, but Black can hold
the balance, most simply with} Ne2+ 35. Kh1 Rxf2 $1 {when White must force
perpetual.}) ({Alternatively, if Black wanted to keep the position pretty
unbalanced, she might have tried} 27... N6xc5 $5 {and if} 28. Ra3 Re8 $1 {,} ({
but not} 28... Nd2 $2 29. e6 $1 Kh7 30. Nf3 {.})) 28. f4 Nd3 ({It's hard to
believe that Black might get away with} 28... Nxa4 {and, indeed, she couldn't:}
29. Qa1 $1 Nxd4 30. Rxa4 (30. Qxd4 $2 Nc3 31. Rxa5 Ne2+ 32. Kf2 Nxd4 {gives
Black two pawns and a fantastic blockade for the exchange}) 30... Ne2+ 31. Kf2
Qb5 32. e6+ {exploits the temporary lack of harmony in the black position to
seize a strong initiative: for instance,} d4 33. Rxd4 $1 Nxd4 34. Qxd4+ Kh7 35.
Re1 Qf5 36. Qd7 Qxf4+ 37. Kg1 {and White's pressure is worth far more than the
two pawns he is temporarily down.}) 29. Nxe6+ fxe6 30. Qb3 {Forcing the knight
back while finally allowing the rook to carry out its desired manoeuvre.} Nb4
31. Raf2 Qxb6 32. Kh1 $2 ({Unpinning is the natural move, but throws away much
of the initiative which White has seized. I was attracted by the idea of} 32.
a5 $1 {, trying to draw the queen away from the defence of e6, with} Qxa5 33.
Qh3 Re8 34. f5 $1 {looking pretty dangerous for Black (on the excellent
yorkshirechess.org Andrew Bak gives the possible continuation} gxf5 35. g4 Rg8
36. gxf5 Kh7+ 37. Rg2 Rxg2+ 38. Kxg2 Qa2+ 39. Kg1 {when White's attack should
prove decisive),}) ({but I rejected} 32. a5 {because I couldn't see what to do
after} Qd4 (32... Qb5 33. Qh3 Re8 34. Qh4 {doesn't help Black either}) 33. Rd1
Qe4 {, missing the subtle} 34. Qc3 $1 {which is spotted instantly by the
machine: the threat of 35 Rd4 is by no means easy to meet.}) 32... a5 ({This
surprised me, but Stefanova was no doubt hoping to activate her queen and
knight after ...Qd4 and may also have been scared by the possibility of} 32...
c5 33. f5 $5 exf5 34. g4 {. It should also be said that she was down to just a
couple of minutes to reach move 40, whereas I had an extra five or so.}) 33.
Qg3 Kh7 34. f5 $5 ({Not a nice move to face when low on time, although
objectively} 34. h4 $1 {would have been even more dangerous, White keeping up
the pressure while the knight remains out of play after} Qc7 35. h5 Qf7 36. Qh3
$1 {.}) 34... exf5 ({It wasn't easy to decide which recapture was best. With
hindsight we can say that both were playable, but that} 34... gxf5 $1 {would
have led to an easier defence, at least so long as Black finds} 35. Qh3 (35.
Qh4 Qc7 36. Qf6 Re8 {keeps everything covered and White has no more than
perpetual after} 37. Rxf5 exf5 38. Qxf5+ Kh8 39. Qg6) 35... Qc7 $1 {,
counterattacking after} 36. g4 {with} Qxe5 37. gxf5 Qe4+ {, when} 38. Rg2 Rg8
39. fxe6 Rxg2 40. Qxg2 Qxe6 41. Qf2 {is likely to land up in perpetual check
by one side or the other.}) 35. e6 ({Preparing to sacrifice the rook on f5,
since if played immediately with} 35. Rxf5 gxf5 36. Rxf5 {after} Qc7 {the
e-pawn is pinned and} 37. Qf4 Nd3 {a handy defensive resource. White can
actually win the queen here, but Black should be OK after} 38. Rf7+ Kg8 39.
Qg3+ $1 Kxf7 40. e6+ Kxe6 41. Qxc7 Nc5 {with rook, knight and two pawns for it.
}) ({I might also have tried} 35. h4 $5 {when Black's best move is} c5 {after
all,} ({and most certainly not} 35... h5 $4 36. Rxf5 $1 gxf5 37. Rxf5 {when
mate follows.})) 35... Qd4 36. h4 $1 {White finds another piece to throw into
the attack, at the same time freeing an escape square for his own king.} Re8 $1
({Good defence. Again} 36... h5 $4 {would have been cleaned up by} 37. Rxf5 $1
gxf5 38. Rxf5 {, and if} Qg4 ({or} 38... Kh6 39. Rxh5+ Kxh5 40. Qg5#) 39. Qc7+
Kh8 40. Qe5+ Kh7 41. Rxh5+ Kg6 42. Rg5+ {.}) 37. h5 Rxe6 38. Qh3 $5 {Setting a
sly trap...} Qg4 $4 {...into which Black blunders badly with just a few
seconds left.} ({Stefanova also had to avoid} 38... Qd3 $2 {on account of} 39.
Rf3 Qe4 40. Re3 $3 Qxe3 41. hxg6+ Kg7 42. Qxf5 {when White's queen breaks
through with decisive effect,}) ({but the calm} 38... Kg7 $1 {would have left
me with nothing better than} 39. Qg3 (39. hxg6 Qg4 $1 {now works - don't
forget that Black is several pawns ahead!}) 39... Kh7 $1 {, when Black's
defences hold firm after} 40. Qc7+ Qg7 41. Qc8 Re7 {.}) 39. Qxg4 fxg4 40. Rf7+
{Finally the f-file is open and White's rooks proved quick to take advantage
as the remaining moves were frantically blitzed out:} Kg8 41. Rf8+ Kg7 42.
R1f7# 1-0

[Event "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Island"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.05.07"]
[Round "11.141"]
[White "Paehtz, Elisabeth"]
[Black "Short, Nigel D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[WhiteElo "2459"]
[BlackElo "2697"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2012.05.07"]
[WhiteTeam "Cheddleton 1"]
[BlackTeam "Guildford 1"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Bf5 $5 {Slightly unusual.
Black's main choices here are 5...Bg4, 5...cxd4 and 5...Nf6.} 6. Be3 Nf6 7. Na3
cxd4 8. Nb5 O-O-O 9. Nfxd4 {[DIAG]} Ng4 $1 {Nigel plays very actively in this
short game and is already at least equal. White needs an improvement earlier -
perhaps 7. Na3, though a typical move in this line, is not the most accurate.}
10. Qe2 (10. Bd2 Qe4+ 11. Be2 Qxg2 12. Rf1 Nxh2 13. Nxf5 Qe4 14. Ne3 {is my
computer's suggestion, with crazy complications. Lack of space prevents me
from including a thorough analysis of this position, so you'll have to excuse
my continuing of the computer line and telling you it's a draw after} Ne5 15.
Nd4 Rxd4 16. cxd4 Nef3+ 17. Bxf3 Nxf3+ 18. Ke2 Nxd4+ 19. Ke1 Nf3+ 20. Ke2 Nd4+
{with a repetition.}) 10... Nxe3 11. Qxe3 Nxd4 12. Nxd4 e6 {[DIAG]} 13. Nb3 $2
{I assume White wanted to stop ...Bc5, but this is taking one too many
liberties in the opening.} ({It was of paramount importance to get the king to
safety -} 13. Be2 Bc5 (13... Qxg2 {is met by} 14. Bf3 Qh3 15. Nb5 $1 {with a
dangerous attack.}) 14. O-O {was ok, but of course Black is more than fine
here.}) 13... Bc2 $1 {The most direct. The f8-bishop wants to come to c5
anyway after an exchange on b3.} 14. Be2 (14. Nd4 {If the knight goes back to
d4 then} Bc5 {and White has just lost a couple of tempi with her king still
stuck in the centre.}) 14... Bxb3 {[DIAG]} 15. Bf3 $2 (15. axb3 Bc5 16. Bf3 $1
Bxe3 17. Bxd5 {was the only way to stay in the game, but Black is still better
in the endgame after} Bxf2+ 18. Kxf2 Rxd5 19. Rxa7 Kc7 {- the e-pawn is
already passed, Black has the d-file and the white king can also be weak.})
15... Qa5 {Winning a whole piece.} 0-1

[Event "4NCL Division 1d"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.05.05"]
[Round "9.44"]
[White "Eckersley-Waites, Tom"]
[Black "Ansell, Simon T"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2267"]
[BlackElo "2370"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "r2q1rk1/1p3ppp/p1npb3/3Bp1b1/4P3/4N3/PPP2PPP/R1BQ1RK1 b - - 0 14"]
[PlyCount "29"]
[EventDate "2012.05.05"]
[WhiteTeam "Oxford 1"]
[BlackTeam "Blackthorne Russia"]

{[DIAG] White hasn't really been able to get any advantage against my trusty
Kalashnikov Sicilian. The position is roughly level.} 14... Rc8 ({I'd wanted
to play} 14... Qc7 {here, defending the b7-pawn and preparing ...Ne7 with
ideas of exchanging on e3 followed by on d5, but it fails to} 15. Bxe6 fxe6 16.
Nd5 $1 {, when Black has problems - a tactic seen in the game under less
favourable cicumstances. For the moment the Bg5 needs to be defended.}) 15.
Bxe6 $6 {Relinquishing control of the d5-square like this is usually not a
good idea in such structures, but here my opponent has a concrete idea in mind.
} (15. c3 {would be normal.}) 15... fxe6 16. Qg4 {It's slightly awkward to
defend the e6 pawn, but I'd seen this coming and was aware I could at least
play 16...Re8, which is not ideal as the rook obviously belongs on the f-file,
or perhaps 16... Kh8 - but both these moves involve concessions. 16...Bxe3
fails to the intermezzo 17.Qxe6+.} Qf6 $1 {This is the move I wanted to play ,
defending the pawn whilst staying active, but it allows White a tactical shot.
[DIAG]} 17. Nd5 $2 (17. c3 {again would have kept the balance.}) 17... exd5 18.
Bxg5 Qg6 $1 (18... Qf7 19. exd5 Qxd5 20. Rad1 {is slightly better for White.})
19. exd5 Nd4 $1 {[DIAG] White has 'won' a pawn, but suddenly has immediate
insurmountable problems - 20...h6, winning the bishop, is threatened.} 20. c3
Nf5 {And now there is no good move. If White defends the queen with 21. h3 (21.
f3), the Black h-pawn moves one square further with 21...h5 and the queen
cannot maintain the defence of the bishop. My opponent tried} 21. f4 {when I
chose} Ne3 ({over} 21... h6 {, which is possibly stronger than the text, but I
wanted to avoid all White activity after} 22. fxe5 dxe5 23. Rae1 {when there
might be vague compensation for the piece.}) 22. Qe6+ Qxe6 23. dxe6 Nxf1 24.
Rxf1 h6 25. Be7 Rxf4 26. Bxd6 Rxf1+ 27. Kxf1 Rc6 28. e7 Kf7 {Black emerges the
exchange up and I converted on move 72 without any drama.} 0-1

[Event "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Island"]
[Site "Barcelo Hotel, Hinckley Islan"]
[Date "2012.05.06"]
[Round "10.163"]
[White "Trent, Lawrence"]
[Black "Hunt, Harriet V"]
[Result "0-1"]
[WhiteElo "2433"]
[BlackElo "2454"]
[Annotator "Ansell, Simon"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2rq1rk1/1b2ppbp/p4np1/3P4/7Q/2N2N2/PP3PPP/R1BR2K1 b - - 0 16"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[EventDate "2012.05.06"]
[WhiteTeam "Wood Green Hilsmark 2"]
[BlackTeam "Blackthorne Russia"]

{[DIAG] This position arose from a 2.c4 Caro-Kann. White is close to
consolidating his extra pawn so Harriet decides to take it back now - though
this obviously involves some risk with the opposition of white rook and black
queen on the d-file.} 16... Bxd5 17. Bg5 $1 {Indirectly increasing the
pressure on d5.} Rc5 {Giving the bishop extra support.} 18. Qb4 $6 {Attempting
to immediately remove one of the bishop's defenders. The rook can't retreat,
as 18...Rc8 19. Bxf6 wins a piece and 18...Rc4 19. Qb3 with the same threat is
also problematic. So is Black in trouble? [DIAG]} (18. Be3 {also hits the rook,
but removes the pressure on f6 - so Black can retreat with} Rc8 {, when the
position is tense but balanced. White can of course repeat immediately with}
19. Bg5) 18... Qc8 $3 {I was sitting on the next board to this game and was
trying to work out why Harriet hadn't just blundered something. Eventually it
dawned on me - Black suddenly whips up a kingside attack out of nowhere!} 19.
Bxf6 ({White had to play} 19. Nxd5 Nxd5 20. Qa3 Rc2 {, but in the long-term
the pressure on the white queenside will be hard to deal with.}) 19... Bxf3 $1
20. Bxg7 (20. Bxe7 Rc4 $1 21. Bxf8 Rxb4 22. Bxb4 Qg4 {and we see why the queen
went to c8 and not c7.}) 20... Rg5 $1 {This way it's the rook that assists the
bishop in the attack. White can't defend the g2-pawn, as 21. g3 Qh3 is a mate
every Moscow taxi-driver knows.} 21. Bxf8 Rxg2+ 22. Kf1 Rg1+ $1 {Unopposed
bishops are always dangerous, even when they're pinned! Lawrence resigned
before} 23. Kxg1 Qh3 0-1

