Hampstead Congress Dogfight!

Tim Valentine vs Fraser Lees, December 2020

This game is a typical example of the fighting chess played at the over the board and the online versions of Hampstead Congress. Thanks to both Tim and Fraser for sending me their thoughts about the game!

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[Event "Hampstead Congress - Open"]
[Site "https://chesscircuit.substack"]
[Date "2020.12.12"]
[Round "5.4"]
[White "Valentine, Tim"]
[Black "Lees, Fraser"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Lees,Fraser"]
[Variant "Standard"]
[ECO "B33"]
[Opening "Sicilian Defense: Lasker-Pelikan Variation, Sveshnikov Variation, Chelyabinsk Variation"]
1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e5 6. Ndb5 d6 7. Bg5 a6 8. Na3 b5 9. Nd5 Be7 10. Bxf6 Bxf6 11. c4 { Although 11.c4 is theory, I have been
much more used to seeing 11. c3 almost exclusively in recent online play. I
must confess, I was a little unsure how to react at first. } 11... O-O { I thought
that castling and gambiting the pawn on b5 for quick development and play on
the queenside might be a good dynamic practical choice. Interesting, this only
appears twice on ChessBase's online openings book. So either it is rubbish, or
rare inspiration! } 12. cxb5 Nd4 13. bxa6 Bg5?! { The silicon beast (Fritz 13
in my case) in post match-analysis doesn't like Bg5, instead preferring other
options like Be6. Qa5 also crossed my mind during the game. } 14. Be2? { I didn't like this move. I think it makes it easier to deprive the king of
castling rights by getting my Bishop to a6 with tempo against the queen on e2.
However, I didn't follow up in the best way. } 14... Nxe2?! { The computer things Qa5
is better, and I did toy with the idea at the time. } (14... Qa5+ 15. Nc3 Nxe2 16. Qxe2 Bxa6 17. Qc2 Rfc8 $17) 15. Qxe2 Bxa6 { Again, the computer thinks I
give away all my dynamic advantage not playing Qa5+ immediately. I did feel as
the game went on that any dynamic advantage I had was more the compensated for
by the static advantage of White's extra pawn. } 16. Nc4 Rc8 17. b3 Bxc4 18. bxc4 Qa5+ { As it subsequently transpired, Qa5 was too late to prevent my
opponent Tim castling by hand. } 19. Kf1 Rb8 { I wanted to make it difficult for
White to get the b file. } 20. g3 { I like the idea of castling by hand as soon
as possible, although the computer likes the a4 pawn push, at least initially. } 20... Qa3 21. Qg4!? { This move surprised me at first, but I like it as it forces me
to commit by Bishop to a less than idea square on Bd8, disconnecting my rooks.
Danny King would be proud of my opponent! I didn't like the idea of Bh6, and
any subsequent tricks with Nf6+. } 21... Bd8 (21... Rb2 { The computer suggest this,
but I didn't even consider it as an option. } 22. Qxg5?? (22. Kg2! Be3 23. Nxe3 Qxe3) 22... Qf3 23. Ne7+ Kh8 24. Ng6+ fxg6 25. Qd2 Rxd2 26. Rb1 Qxf2#) (21... Bh6) 22. Kg2 g6 { I wanted to support/threaten an f5 advance, and with
the bishop controlling the dark squares, I figured my king would be secure
enough. } 23. h4 h5?! { I am not sure this is such a great move. I was scared
of h5 ideas, opening the h file, but perhaps Rb2 is a better option. } (23... Rb2 24. Qf3 Qxf3+ 25. Kxf3 f5) 24. Qf3 Qxf3+ 25. Kxf3 f5 { DIAGRAM If I take stock
here briefly, going back to my earlier comments, I just think White has a bit
too much with the extra pawn. I feel I am going to struggle to hold the
endgame, and so it proved! The typical Pelikan knight on d5 dominates the
bishop, and delays connection of my rooks. } 26. exf5 Rxf5+ 27. Ke3 Rb2 28. f3 Rf7 29. Rhb1 { Rg2 is suggested, but I didn't like the idea at the time of
giving up the b file. } 29... Rfb7 30. Rxb2 Rxb2 31. a4! { The final offensive
begins! } 31... Rb3+ 32. Ke4 Ba5 33. g4?! { The computer doesn't like this move. My
initial thought over the board was it allows me to exchange pawns in a
disadvantageous position, which is at first sight good for me, but I am stuck
with a target pawn at g6, and White opens more lines. It wasn't clear to me
that this move allows Black to strive for equality. With the better placed
King on e5, a4 pawn with Rook pushing tying down the Bishop, and Knight on d5,
I felt I was struggling badly. } 33... hxg4 34. fxg4 Rh3? (34... Rg3 35. h5 Kg7 36. hxg6 Kxg6) 35. Nf6+ (35. c5!) 35... Kf7 36. Rf1 { I did consider Rxh4 and Bd8
as other options at the time, but my King being eyeballed by the Rook did not
appear appetising! } 36... Ke6?? 37. Nd5?! { Natural, setting up a mating net on the
Black king, but perhaps the most clinical way to proceed. Still, a good
practical choice when both of us are running short of time. } (37. Nh7! Ke7 38. Nf8 Rc3 39. Nxg6+ $18) 37... Bd8 38. Rf8 Bxh4 39. Rh8 g5?? { Perhaps
natural to alleviate the pin, but losing! } (39... Rh1 40. Kd3 Rh3+ $16) 40. a5! { Still good enough to win! } (40. Rh7!! $18) 40... Ra3?? { I think we both
lost sight of the mating net on Re7 as a result of shortage of time! } 41. a6 Bf2 42. Rh6+?! { A let-off! But still Tim keeps up the pressure on my position. } 42... Kd7 43. Rh7+ Kd8 44. Rh8+ Kd7 45. Rh7+ Kd8 46. Kf5 { Nc7 would have been
better than giving up the a-pawn. Don't get me wrong - I still think Tim is
keeping up the pressure with his better placed pieces, and my King with its
back to the wall. So I still don't feel comfortable. } 46... Rxa6 47. Ke6 $14 { Natural, threatening mate, but perhaps not the best after Kc8. } (47. Kxg5 $16) 47... Kc8 48. Rh8+ Kb7 49. Rh7+ Kc8 50. Rh8+ Kb7 51. Rh7+ Kc8 { This is
actually a three fold repetition of the position, but I didn't claim it at the
time, thinking wrongly the threefold hadn't yet occurred. One chance to save
the game gone! } 52. Rc7+ Kb8 53. Kd7 Ra7? { It turns out this move is a
mistake, but I did think at the time I might have a chance to get rid of the
rook and advance my e-pawn. It turns out Ka8 might be better, but that seemed
just counter-intuitive to me to put a piece such as my King in the corner.
Keep this theme in mind for later in the game! } 54. Rxa7 Kxa7 55. Nf6 { I am
convinced I am definitely losing now, if I didn't think so already. The Knight
covers the e4 square, my king is in a poor place, and my pawns are going to
fall like ripe apples. } 55... Bc5 56. Ne4 Kb6 57. Nxg5 Ka5 58. Ne4 Kb4 59. g5 Be3 60. g6 Bh6 61. Kxd6 { Fritz considers this natural move a a mistake and Nd6 is
better. } (61. Nxd6 Bf8 62. Nf5 $18) 61... Kxc4 62. Kxe5? { Do I at last get a
chance to draw the game here? The lichess tablebase application agrees with me. } 62... Bg7+! 63. Ke6 Kd4 64. Kf7 Bh6?? { Disaster. Remember what I said about
counter-intuitive moves. Bh8 I think saves the game. The bishop can be forced
out the corner, certainly, but how do you cover the g7 square at the same time
to ensure the pawn queens without the Bishop sacrficing itself? For example: } (64... Bh8!! 65. Kg8 Be5 66. Ng5 Kd5 67. Kf7 Bc3 68. Ne6 Ke4 69. Nf8 Kf5 70. Nd7 Bh8) 65. Nf6! { Resigns. Well played, Tim, and thanks for a dynamic game
with an interesting endgame, showing that even in some of the most desperate
situations, endgames can sometimes offer drawing chances when we least expect
them. } 1-0