[Event "Event 1 - Reykjavik Open 2024"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.03.21"]
[Round "9"]
[White "1 - Moussard, Jules"]
[Black "Wadsworth, Matthew J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C54"]
[WhiteElo "2621"]
[BlackElo "2450"]
[Annotator "matth"]
[PlyCount "82"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.08.16"]

1. e4 e5 {In our previous meeting, I played 1...c5 and lost quite badly in a
sharp line of the Taimanov. This time, I decided to go for something a little
more solid.} 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 {Historically, Moussard had played 3.Bb5 and 3.
Bc4 about equally. In my preparation, I had spent most of my time on the
Spanish, but I had a couple of ideas here as well.} Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. O-O d6 6.
c3 a5 7. Re1 Ba7 {This move, given by Gawain Jones in his recent course on 1.
e4 e5 (which I highly recommend!) is quite trendy at the moment. The idea is
to delay castling, and potentially save a tempo by avoiding a later ...h6.} 8.
Nbd2 O-O 9. Nf1 Ne7 {A fairly standard manoeuvre for black in these positions
- on g6 the knight protects e5, eyes the f4 square and gets out of the way of
the c7 pawn.} (9... Be6 {was Gawain's recommendation, which also looks good
for black.}) 10. Ng3 Ng6 11. h3 c6 {I prepare to break in the centre with ...
d5 next move. I could even consider ideas like ...b5 and ...a4 if white allows
it.} 12. Bb3 {White wisely retreats his bishop.} d5 {[#] Quite a risky move,
but I was confident at the time that everything held together and afterwards I
was very happy to see that it had been played before by Kramnik, Firoujza and
Karjakin, among others.} 13. Bg5 {The move I was expecting - white develops
his last piece and prepares to remove a key defender of the d5 square.} (13.
exd5 Nxd5 14. Nxe5 $2 {White does not win a pawn here, because of the nice
tactic} Nxe5 15. Rxe5 Bxf2+ $1 16. Kxf2 Qf6+ {and black picks up the loose
rook.}) 13... h6 14. Bxf6 Qxf6 15. d4 $1 {an important move, creating a tricky
central situation.} (15. exd5 {looks natural and had been played in every game
to reach this point. However, black has the very strong intermezzo} a4 $1 {
and white is barely holding on. After} 16. Bxa4 cxd5 {white is a pawn up, but
black's position is overflowing with compensation, with a strong centre, good
development, the bishop pair and excellent attacking chances on the kingside.
I am not at all surprised that black has won in all 3 games to get to this
position.}) 15... dxe4 $2 (15... exd4 {was the correct recapture. I was
worried about} 16. e5 {but after} Qe7 17. cxd4 Nh4 $1 {black creates strong
pressure against the white centre.}) 16. Rxe4 $2 (16. Nxe4 {is just very
strong for white. In the game, I intended} Qf4 {but white has a fantastic
position after} 17. g3 Qf5 18. Nd6 Qxh3 19. Nxf7 $1 Rxf7 20. Nxe5 Nxe5 21. Rxe5
Bg4 22. Qd3 Raf8 23. Rae1 {and I am completely lost, despite the extra piece.
White's pin on the a2-g8 diagonal is simply too powerful and ties down my
entire position.}) 16... exd4 17. cxd4 {[#] the more natural recapture - white
accepts an IQP, but his active pieces should give him good attacking chances
on the kingside. On the other hand, I have the bishop pair and a static
weakness to aim at, so was relatively happy at this point.} Nf4 {heading for
the blockading square d5.} (17... Bb8 {was perhaps stronger, keeping control
of the e5 square.}) 18. Qd2 Nd5 (18... Nxh3+ $2 {does not win material, as the
black queen gets trapped after} 19. gxh3 Qxf3 20. Rf4) 19. Ne5 Be6 20. Rae1
Rfd8 21. Kh2 $2 {[#] I was very surprised by this move - this does not seem
like the sort of position where such a quiet move would be effectively.
Additionally, I am not convinced that the king is better on h2 than g1, which
the rest of this game shows in great detail.} ({The slightly counterintuitive
retreat} 21. Nf3 {was best, and white keeps some annoying pressure on the
kingside.}) 21... a4 $1 {a nice tactic that allows me to take over the
initiative.} 22. Bc4 (22. Bxa4 Bb6 {is the point - I threaten Rxa4 and Ba5.
White does not necessarily lose material, but he must seriously contort his
position.}) 22... Bb6 23. R1e2 Ba5 {this manoeuvre seemed logical, even
without the skewer. White's queen is ideally placed on d2, so forcing it away
should be to my benefit.} 24. Qc1 a3 $1 {more tactics - white cannot take on
a3 because of Nc3 forking the two rooks. Objectively, white is still fine here,
but I have all of the momentum in the position and white needs to play quite
carefully to avoid disaster.} 25. f4 {white secures the knight on e5, but at
the cost of weakening his kingside structure. We were both beginning to run
low on time at this point.} axb2 26. Rxb2 Nc3 (26... b5 {was correct, but the
position remains very unclear.}) 27. Bxe6 Qxe6 28. f5 Qf6 29. Rg4 {[#]} (29.
Qe3 $1 {is a very strong exchange sacrifice, which I had completely overlooked.
The key line is} Nxe4 30. Nxe4 Qxf5 31. Rf2 {and white picks up the f7 pawn,
with fantastic compensation for the exchange.}) 29... Rxd4 $1 {I have always
loved playing exchange sacrifices, and have often been guilty of forcing them
in positions where they were unsuitable. However, this one seemed fairly
obvious and black's compensation is very clear.} 30. Rxd4 Qxe5 {In return for
the exchange, I have a pawn, well-placed pieces, but most importantly a very
unpleasant pin on the h2-b8 diagonal. I can ratchet up the pressure on that
knight very quickly, with ideas like Ne4, Bc7 and h5-h4, and it is not
immediately apparent how white can hold on.} 31. Rd3 Ne4 32. Re2 {white's only
hope is in tactical defence. From here on, the game gets extremely sharp, but
the pressure is definitely more on white than black to find accurate moves.}
Bc7 {Strengthening the pin on the knight, so that Rxe4 can simply be met by
Qxe4.} 33. Qb1 $2 {a nice tactical idea - white threatens Rxe4 Qxe4 Rd8+ with
a discovered attack on my queen. Unfortunately, b1 is the wrong square,
however natural it may look to attack the b7 pawn.} (33. Qc2 $1 {it was
crucial for white to keep control of the c5 square, to prevent Qc5+ in certain
lines. Covering the a4 square is another important detail} Re8 34. Kg1 {
and I have nothing better than the amusing repetition after} Bb6+ 35. Kh2 Bc7)
33... Re8 (33... Ra4 $1 {was the correct way to defend the knight. The main
difference is that the rook does not get pinned on the e file, which will
allow black to capture on g3 a move sooner.}) 34. Qxb7 h5 {now that all of my
pieces are perfectly placed, the h pawn joins the attack. White cannot
tolerate this pawn getting to h4, so his move is essentially forced.} 35. h4 {
However, h4 now becomes an additional point of weakness which I can target.}
Qf4 {[#]} 36. Qxc6 $4 {the losing blunder.} (36. Kg1 $1 {a theme seen before,
was the only holding move. I can either play a repetition with Qc1+ Kh2 Qf4,
or go for a murky-looking endgame after} Rb8 37. Qxb8+ $1 Bxb8 38. Rxe4 Qc1+
39. Kh2 Kh7 {where I wouldn't particularly want to play either colour!}) 36...
Re7 $1 {after this calm move, white is simply lost, as there is no good
defence to Qxh4+, Nxg3 and the mating net that concluded the game.} 37. f6 Nxg3
{other moves win, but this is the most immediate.} 38. fxe7 Qxh4+ 39. Kg1 Qh1+
40. Kf2 Qf1+ 41. Ke3 Qf4# {[#] Moussard sportingly played this out and allowed
this picturesque final position to be reached.} 0-1

[Event "Event 2 - Menchik Memorial 2024"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.03.26"]
[Round "?"]
[White "2 ex1 - Marta Garcia Martin"]
[Black "Ketevan Arakhamia-Grant"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[PlyCount "168"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. b3 d6 4. d4 cxd4 5. Nxd4 Nf6 6. Nc3 a6 7. Bb2 b5 8. Bd3
Bb7 9. O-O Nbd7 10. Qe2 Be7 11. a4 b4 12. Na2 Qb6 13. c3 bxc3 14. Bxc3 d5 15.
a5 Qa7 16. e5 Ne4 17. Bxe4 dxe4 18. Rad1 Rd8 19. Nb4 Qc5 20. Rc1 O-O 21. Nxa6
Qa7 22. Nc7 Nc5 23. Ndb5 Ba6 24. Nxa6 Qxa6 25. Bb4 Nxb3 26. Bxe7 Nxc1 27. Rxc1
Rc8 28. Re1 Rfe8 29. Bh4 Rc5 30. Nd4 Qxe2 31. Nxe2 Rxe5 32. Ra1 Ra8 33. a6 Rb5
34. Nc3 Rb6 35. Nxe4 Raxa6 36. Rd1 h6 37. f3 Rb2 38. Bg3 Raa2 39. Nf2 g5 40.
Rf1 f5 41. f4 Kf7 42. h4 g4 43. h5 Rd2 44. Rb1 e5 45. Rb7+ Ke8 46. Rb8+ Kd7 47.
fxe5 f4 48. e6+ Kxe6 49. Rb6+ Kd5 50. Rd6+ Kxd6 51. Bxf4+ Ke6 52. Bxd2 g3 53.
Be1 gxf2+ 54. Bxf2 Kf5 55. Be3 Ra6 56. g3 Kg4 57. Bf4 Kxh5 58. Kf2 Kg4 59. Ke3
h5 60. Bc7 Rc6 61. Bb8 Rb6 62. Bc7 Rb2 63. Bd6 Rg2 64. Bc7 Rxg3+ 65. Kf2 Rb3
66. Bd6 Kh3 67. Kg1 Rb1+ 68. Kf2 Rb6 69. Be5 Re6 70. Bc7 Rg6 71. Kf1 Rg4 72.
Kf2 Kh4 73. Bd8+ Kh3 74. Bc7 Rc4 75. Be5 Rc1 76. Bd6 Kg4 77. Kg2 Rc2+ 78. Kg1
Kh3 79. Be5 Rg2+ 80. Kf1 Rg5 81. Bc7 Rg7 82. Bd6 Rg6 83. Be5 Kg4 84. Bc7 Kf3 {
0-} 0-1

[Event "Event 2 - 8th Menchik Memorial"]
[Site "Hammersmith, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2024.03.25"]
[Round "8.3"]
[White "2 ex2 - Subramanian, Anusha"]
[Black "Steil-Antoni, Fiona"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C44"]
[WhiteElo "1997"]
[BlackElo "2154"]
[PlyCount "91"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. g3 Bc5 4. Bg2 d6 5. c3 Nf6 6. d3
O-O 7. b4 Bb6 8. O-O a6 9. Nbd2 Be6 10. Re1 Ng4 11. Re2 f5 12. h3 Nf6 13. Ng5
Qe8 14. d4 Bd7 15. exf5 Bxf5 16. Nc4 Ba7 17. Qb3 Kh8 18. dxe5 Bd3 19. Bxc6 bxc6
20. Rd2 Bxc4 21. Qxc4 Qxe5 22. Qh4 h6 23. Rc2 Qe1+ 24. Kg2 Ng4 25. Bf4 Qxa1 26.
hxg4 Qe1 27. Nf3 Qe4 28. Rc1 Rae8 29. g5 Qg6 30. gxh6 Rxf4 31. Qxf4 gxh6 32.
Rh1 Kg7 33. Rh4 Kh7 34. Rg4 Qe6 35. Rh4 Kg7 36. Nd4 Qd5+ 37. Kh2 Bxd4 38. Qxh6+
Kf7 39. Rxd4 Qe5 40. Qh7+ Kf6 41. Rf4+ Kg5 42. Rh4 Qe2 43. Qh6+ Kf5 44. Rf4+
Ke5 45. Qf6+ Kd5 46. Rd4# 1-0

[Event "Event 2 - 8th Menchik Memorial"]
[Site "Hammersmith, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2024.03.25"]
[Round "8.4"]
[White "2 ex3 - Hunt, Harriet V"]
[Black "Navrotescu, Andreea-Cristiana"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C65"]
[WhiteElo "2307"]
[BlackElo "2200"]
[PlyCount "113"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Nf6 4. d3 Bc5 5. c3 d5 6. Qe2 dxe4 7. dxe4 O-O 8.
O-O Qe7 9. Bxc6 bxc6 10. Bg5 a5 11. Nbd2 Ba6 12. c4 Qe6 13. Be3 Be7 14. Ng5 Qc8
15. Nb3 h6 16. Nf3 Nxe4 17. Nxe5 Bf6 18. Nxc6 a4 19. Nbd4 Qe8 20. Rae1 Nd6 21.
b3 Bb7 22. c5 Ne4 23. Bf4 Nxc5 24. Qb5 Bxc6 25. Nxc6 Ne6 26. bxa4 Kh8 27. Be3
Qc8 28. f4 Qa6 29. f5 Ng5 30. Bc5 Rfc8 31. h4 Nh7 32. Re4 Qxb5 33. axb5 Rxa2
34. Rfe1 Raa8 35. Kh2 Nf8 36. Bf2 Nd7 37. Bg3 Nc5 38. Rc4 Nd3 39. Re3 Nb2 40.
Rc2 Ra4 41. Ne5 Bxe5 42. Rxe5 Rb4 43. Rd5 Na4 44. Rxc7 Rxc7 45. Bxc7 Rxh4+ 46.
Kg3 Rb4 47. Ba5 Rb3+ 48. Kf4 Nb2 49. Bc7 Kg8 50. b6 Kf8 51. Rd8+ Ke7 52. Rg8
Nc4 53. Rb8 Kd7 54. Rd8+ Ke7 55. Rb8 Kd7 56. Rd8+ Ke7 57. Rb8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Event 3 - 4NCL Spring APA"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.03.18"]
[Round "9.1"]
[White "3 ex1 - Harvey, Marcus R"]
[Black "Gumularz, Szymon"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2468"]
[BlackElo "2590"]
[Annotator "matth"]
[PlyCount "115"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.08.22"]

1. c4 {Marcus had been playing exclusively 1.c4 in the tournament, most likely as a way to
reduce his preparation workload and get his opponents into unfamiliar
territory.} e5 2. g3 c6 {Gumularz response is one of the trendier ways to play
against the English nowadays. Black plans a quick d7-d5 to dominate the centre,
in the style of the Alapin Sicilian. In fact, Marcus had himself won with 2...
c6 against Koby in Round 6.} 3. Nf3 e4 4. Nd4 d5 5. cxd5 Qxd5 6. Nc2 Nf6 7. Nc3
Qe5 {[#] all of these moves are standard and have been played in dozens of
super-GM games in the last couple of years.} 8. Ne3 $6 {a rarely played move
order, that doesn't seem to work out well for white.} (8. Bg2 {is standard; it
does seem more logical to develop a new piece than move the knight for a
fourth time!}) 8... Bc5 9. Qc2 O-O 10. Bg2 Re8 {white's problem here is a lack
of space - the e4 pawn is very annoying and well defended, while undermining
it with d3 or f3 is inadvisable due to the knight's position on e3.} 11. b3 Na6
12. a3 Bxe3 {quite a committal decision - black spoils the white pawn
structure while also giving up the bishop pair.} 13. dxe3 (13. fxe3 {the other
recapture was also fine for white, but I prefer black after} Bf5) 13... Bf5 14.
b4 Qe6 15. Qa2 Qd7 {Black wants to retain the queens here to allow for
attacking ideas on the kingside.} 16. O-O {[#] finally white gets castled, but
black has retained a small advantage. Gumularz plays the next few moves very
ambitiously, looking to start an attack on the white king. I'm sure that
Marcus was happy to see this, as an unbalanced position was likely to give him
some chances too.} Bh3 17. Rd1 Qf5 18. Qd2 Nc7 19. Qe1 Bxg2 20. Kxg2 Ne6 (20...
Re6 $1 {might have been even stronger, with the idea of swinging the rook to
h6 at the right moment.}) 21. h3 h5 22. Bb2 a5 {the kingside situation is
stable for the moment, but now black starts putting pressure on the queenside.}
23. Rab1 axb4 24. axb4 Red8 25. Qf1 Ng5 $1 {[#]} 26. h4 (26. Qh1 {is
recommended by the engine but, aside from being a hideous move to have to make,
was not in Marcus' plans considering Qf1 was played just one move previous.})
26... Ne6 $1 {a nice manoeuvre by black, forcing the weakening h4 move before
returning to e6. White's position is really hanging by a thread here.} 27. f3
$5 {Changing the (admittedly dire) kingside situation - a decent practical try,
although not the best move in the position.} Qg6 ({Black can enter a very
promising endgame with the following line.} 27... Rxd1 28. Rxd1 exf3+ 29. exf3
Qc2+ 30. Qe2 Qxe2+ 31. Nxe2 Nd5 {and the double attack on e3 and b4 will net
black a pawn and good winning chances.}) 28. Ra1 Nc7 $2 (28... exf3+ {followed
by Qc2 was still the correct plan for black.}) 29. Nxe4 $1 {Suddenly, white is
the one with some nice tactical ideas.} Nxe4 30. fxe4 Qxe4+ 31. Qf3 Qxf3+ ({Not
} 31... Qxb4 $6 32. Rxa8 Rxa8 33. Rd7 Qxb2 34. Qxf7+ Kh8 35. Qxh5+ Kg8 36. Qf7+
Kh8 37. Rxc7 Qxe2+ 38. Kh3 Rg8 39. Re7 Qd1 $1 {which holds but is very scary.})
32. Kxf3 (32. exf3 {repairing the pawn structure would be preferable, if not
for} Rxd1 33. Rxd1 Ra2 {and the pin on the second rank puts white in serious
difficulties.}) 32... Rxd1 33. Rxd1 Ne6 {[#] Marcus has done very well to
reach an approximately equal ending from a difficult middlegame position. He
tries his best over the next 25 moves, but unfortunately 2590 GMs have pretty
good defensive technique!} 34. Rd7 b5 35. Rd6 Rc8 36. Be5 Kf8 37. Rd7 Ke8 38.
Ra7 Rd8 39. Ra6 Rd5 40. Ke4 Kd7 {an excellent defensive setup that holds
black's position together.} 41. Ra7+ Ke8 42. Ra8+ Kd7 43. Ra7+ Ke8 44. Bd4 g6
45. Bf6 Rd2 46. Ke5 Rd5+ 47. Ke4 Rd2 {black is happy with the repetition at
this point, but Marcus keeps pressing} 48. Ra3 $1 Rxe2 49. Ke5 Rd2 50. e4 {
sacrificing the e2 pawn has allowed white to make some progress.} Kd7 51. Ra7+
Nc7 {[#]} 52. Be7 $1 {a nice tactical idea, looking to bring the bishop to c5
or king to f6.} (52. Bg5 Rd6 53. Be3 {was an alternative way to proceed,
however} Re6+ 54. Kf4 c5 $1 55. Bxc5 Ra6 56. Rxa6 Nxa6 57. Bf8 Ke6 {holds very
comfortably.}) 52... Kxe7 {black responds correctly. Other moves also drew,
but would allow white to retain some winning chances. Despite white's active
king, the rook ending should be a draw.} 53. Rxc7+ Kf8 54. Rxc6 Rb2 55. Kf6
Rf2+ 56. Ke5 Rb2 57. Kf6 Rf2+ 58. Ke5 {This time the repetition is unavoidable
for both sides. A shame for Marcus to not get the win or norm, but he was able
to put black under significant pressure in the second half of the game.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Event 3 - 4NCL Spring APA"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.03.18"]
[Round "9.5"]
[White "3 ex2 - Royal, Shreyas"]
[Black "Makkar, Rajat"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D46"]
[WhiteElo "2457"]
[BlackElo "2434"]
[Annotator "matth"]
[PlyCount "106"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1.d4 d5 {Rajat needed to win his final game with black - a daunting task against
Shreyas, whose white repertoire is very dangerous.} 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3
e6 5. e3 Nbd7 6. Qc2 Bd6 7. Be2 O-O 8. O-O dxc4 9. Bxc4 b5 10. Bd3 {[#] By
transposition, the game has reached a key tabiya of the Open Meran. Both
players were well prepared, and the moves kept coming quickly.} Bb7 11. a3 {
A standard idea - white wants to go b2-b4 to prevent black's natural c6-c5
break.} Rc8 (11... a5 {is the main line here, but Rc8 is fully playable as
well.}) 12. b4 a5 {black's goal is to pile pressure on the b4 pawn, with moves
like Qe7 to come.} 13. Qb3 {This rare move came as a surprise to Rajat.} (13.
Rb1 {is the main move, where black is required to remember the key idea} c5 $1
{black blasts open the position, with full compensation for the sacrificed
material. Most likely, the game will end in a repetition, for example after}
14. bxc5 Bxf3 15. gxf3 Nxc5 16. dxc5 Rxc5 17. Rxb5 Nd5 18. Rxc5 Qg5+ 19. Kh1
Qh5 20. f4 Qf3+ 21. Kg1 Qg4+ $11) 13... Ra8 (13... e5 {should equalise for
black, although the text move is also fine.}) 14. Rb1 Qe7 15. e4 e5 {The
obvious response to e3-e4 by white. The tension in the position makes the next
few moves crucial for the direction of the game.} 16. Ne2 axb4 {[#]} 17. dxe5
$6 {an unnecessary intermezzo.} (17. axb4 {was simplest and best, although
black definitely gets some play after} Ra4 18. Bd2 Rfa8) 17... Bxe5 (17... Nxe5
{was even stronger, for example} 18. Nxe5 Bxe5 19. axb4 Rfd8 {with Bc8-e6 next,
and black is taking over the position.}) 18. axb4 c5 {leading more or less by
force to the ending we see in the game.} 19. bxc5 Nxc5 20. Ba3 $1 {an
important tactic, otherwise white is simply losing.} Nfxe4 21. Bxe4 Bxe4 (21...
Bxh2+ $1 {was an unexpected chance to aim for more} 22. Kh1 (22. Kxh2 Qc7+ $19
{black gets out of the pin with tempo and wins the queen next move}) 22... Bxe4
23. Bxc5 Qxc5 24. Kxh2 Bxb1 25. Qxb1 b4 {white should hold this endgame, but
it will not be an easy defence.}) 22. Bxc5 Qxc5 23. Qxb5 Qxb5 24. Rxb5 {
[#] From first glance, white really should not be losing this endgame, with
equal material and so few pawns left. However, there is a lot of heavy
material still left on the board, and black's bishop pair allows him to make
white's life seriously uncomfortable. This is doubly so when your opponent is
playing for a GM norm and can press the position forever!} Bf6 25. Rb3 Rfd8 26.
h3 h5 27. Re1 Bc2 28. Rb5 g6 {Black takes his time, first improving his
kingside structure.} 29. Nf4 Ba4 30. Rc5 Bb3 {[#]} 31. g4 $2 {a move
indicative of the pressure white was under.} (31. h4 {followed by g3 and Ng5
looks like it should hold for white, but even here black keeps some pressure.})
(31. Rb5 Ba4 32. Rc5 $11 {was another decent direction, intending Nd5 with
some activity. Had Shreyas found this idea, Rajat said he would probably have
had to settle for a draw.}) 31... hxg4 (31... Ra4 {first was more precise, but
either way black is winning a pawn.}) 32. hxg4 Ra4 33. Re3 Bd1 34. Nd5 Rxg4+
35. Kf1 Kg7 {objectively white is still holding, but black has made very real
progress over the last 10 moves, which is psychologically difficult to deal
with at the board.} 36. Nxf6 Kxf6 37. Ne5 Rf4 38. Rd3 $1 {white should
definitely get some material off the board, so that his king feels slightly
safer.} Rxd3 39. Nxd3 Re4 40. Kg2 Be2 41. Nc1 (41. f3 {might be a better setup,
looking to retreat the knight to f2 rather than c1.}) 41... Rg4+ (41... Bc4 {
Rajat was surprised that trapping the Knight on c1 wasn't enough to win: in
fact, it made White's life easier, whereas if the rooks were off the board the
endgame would be resignable.} 42. f3 Rh4 43. Kf2 Ke6 44. Ke3 Kd6 45. Rc8 $11 {
white will be able to extricate the knight, with excellent drawing chances.})
42. Kh3 Rc4 $1 43. Nb3 {an only move for white.} (43. Rxc4 Bxc4 {is hopelessly
lost, as the knight is trapped on c1.}) 43... Rf4 44. Kg2 g5 {now black can
simply push his kingside pawns and force white to find increasingly tough
defensive moves.} 45. Rc3 Kg6 46. Nc5 Bc4 47. Re3 (47. f3 {again, I think
white's defence is easiest with the pawn on f3 rather than f2. This was the
setup that Rajat was expecting to face; during the game, he was optimistic of
his winning chances even here. It is very easy to look at this position after
the fact with an engine and conclude that white should hold easily. However,
during a game, in the final round of a tough tournament, and with your clock
rapidly ticking towards zero, this would be an absolute nightmare for white to
defend.}) 47... Rg4+ 48. Kf3 Rf4+ (48... f5 {was Rajat's initial idea but} 49.
Nd7 Bd5+ 50. Ke2 {allowed the white king to escape the bottom right corner,
where it would be subject to several mating ideas.}) 49. Kg3 f5 {[#]} 50. Re8
$2 {the losing mistake, as black can create a deadly mating net seemingly out
of nothing.} (50. f3 {once again should hold theoretically, but black can play
this kind of position forever. Even if Shreyas defended perfectly from here,
he may still have to be on the defensive end of rook and bishop versus rook
for the second time in two days!}) 50... Bd5 $1 {and the threats of Rg4+ and
Rf3+ are too much to stop.} 51. Rd8 Rf3+ (51... Rg4+ {Rajat surprisingly
missed a relatively simple mate in 3 here, but what he played was also good
enough for the win.} 52. Kh3 Rh4+ 53. Kg3 f4#) 52. Kg2 Rd3+ 53. Kh2 Rd1 {
There is no way to save the white king from the mating net without giving up
the f3 pawn, so Shreyas resigned.} 0-1

[Event "Event 4 - Southend Masters"]
[Site "Southend, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2024.03.30"]
[Round "6.3"]
[White "4 ex1 - Royal, Shreyas"]
[Black "Petrov, Martin"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E20"]
[WhiteElo "2457"]
[BlackElo "2518"]
[PlyCount "61"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. f3 c5 5. d5 b5 6. e4 O-O 7. e5 Ne8 8. f4 exd5 9. cxd5 d6 10. Nf3
c4 11. a4 dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd7 13. Be2 Nb6 14. Bd2 Bb7 15. d6 f6 16. Nxb5 Bxd2+
17. Qxd2 fxe5 18. a5 Bxf3 19. Bxf3 e4 20. Be2 Nd7 21. O-O-O Kh8 22. Nc7 Nc5 23.
Qd5 Nd3+ 24. Bxd3 Nxc7 25. Qxc4 exd3 26. dxc7 Rc8 27. Rhf1 Qg5+ 28. Kb1 Rxf1
29. Rxf1 Qe7 30. Qf7 Qd6 31. Qf5 1-0

[Event "Event 4 - Southend Masters"]
[Site "Southend, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2024.03.31"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "4 ex2 - Gumularz, Szymon"]
[Black "Fernandez, Daniel Howard"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D15"]
[WhiteElo "2590"]
[BlackElo "2532"]
[PlyCount "157"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. d4 d5 2. c4 c6 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Nc3 a6 5. e3 b5 6. b3
Bg4 7. a4 bxc4 8. bxc4 e6 9. c5 a5 10. h3 Bxf3 11. gxf3 e5 12. dxe5 Nfd7 13. f4
Bxc5 14. Bg2 Bb4 15. Qc2 f6 16. exf6 Qxf6 17. Bb2 d4 18. exd4 O-O 19. O-O Qxf4
20. Nd5 Qd6 21. Nxb4 axb4 22. Qc4+ Kh8 23. a5 Nf6 24. Qc5 Qxc5 25. dxc5 Nd5 26.
Rfe1 Kg8 27. Rad1 Nc3 28. Rd4 Na4 29. Ba1 Rxa5 30. Rxb4 Nxc5 31. Rg4 g6 32. Bf1
Rf3 33. Bc4+ Kf8 34. Be5 Nbd7 35. Bd6+ Kg7 36. Re7+ Kh8 37. Rf4 Rxf4 38. Bxf4
h5 39. Be3 Ra1+ 40. Kg2 Rd1 41. Bh6 h4 42. f4 Rd5 43. Bg7+ Kg8 44. Bxd5+ cxd5
45. Kf3 Nb8 46. Bd4 Nb3 47. Bf6 Nc6 48. Rg7+ Kf8 49. Rxg6 Kf7 50. Rh6 d4 51.
Bxh4 d3 52. Rf6+ Kg7 53. Rxc6 Nd4+ 54. Ke3 Nxc6 55. Kxd3 Nb8 56. Ke4 Nd7 57. f5
Kf7 58. Bf2 Nf6+ 59. Kf4 Nh7 60. Bd4 Nf8 61. Kg5 Nh7+ 62. Kh5 Nf8 63. Kh6 Nd7
64. h4 Nf8 65. h5 Nd7 66. Kg5 Nf8 67. h6 Kg8 68. Bg7 Ng6 69. Kg4 Ne7 70. Kf4
Nc6 71. Kg5 Kh7 72. Kf6 Nd8 73. Bf8 Kg8 74. Bd6 Kh7 75. Bf4 Nc6 76. Be3 Kg8 77.
Ke6 Nd8+ 78. Ke7 Nc6+ 79. Ke8 1-0


[Event "Event 4 - Southend Masters"]
[Site "Southend, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2024.03.30"]
[Round "6.4"]
[White "4 ex3 - Kirk, Ezra"]
[Black "Hollan, Martin"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A37"]
[WhiteElo "2407"]
[BlackElo "2347"]
[PlyCount "88"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. Nf3 c5 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 Nc6 5.
O-O d6 6. Nc3 e6 7. a3 Nge7 8. b4 O-O 9. e3 cxb4 10. axb4 Nxb4 11. Ba3 Nbc6 12.
d4 a6 13. Nd2 b5 14. Bxd6 Qxd6 15. cxb5 Bd7 16. Nce4 Qc7 17. bxc6 Bxc6 18. Qc2
Rfc8 19. Rfc1 Qd8 20. Qb2 Rcb8 21. Qc3 Bd5 22. Bf1 a5 23. Nc5 Rc8 24. Qa3 Bf8
25. Ba6 Rxc5 26. Rxc5 Rxa6 27. Qd3 Ra8 28. Qc3 Nc6 29. e4 Nxd4 30. Qxd4 Bxc5
31. Qxc5 Bb7 32. Qb5 Qxd2 33. Qxb7 Qd8 34. Qb5 a4 35. Qb4 Qa5 36. Qxa5 Rxa5 37.
Kf1 a3 38. Ra2 f5 39. exf5 exf5 40. Ke2 Kf7 41. Kd3 Ke6 42. Kc4 Ke5 43. f3 h5
44. h3 h4 0-1

[Event "Event 4 - Southend Masters"]
[Site "Southend, United Kingdom"]
[Date "2024.03.31"]
[Round "7.9"]
[White "4 ex4 - Gallagher, Daniel Gh"]
[Black "Jackson, James P"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E94"]
[WhiteElo "2219"]
[BlackElo "2371"]
[PlyCount "107"]
[EventDate "2024.??.??"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. d4 O-O 6. Be2 Nbd7 7. O-O e5 8. Be3 Qe7 9.
Qc2 c6 10. d5 Ng4 11. Bg5 f6 12. Bd2 Nh6 13. b4 f5 14. Ng5 Nf6 15. dxc6 bxc6
16. b5 c5 17. Nd5 Qd8 18. Bd3 f4 19. Nf3 g5 20. Ne1 Nxd5 21. cxd5 g4 22. a4 Rf6
23. Ra3 Nf7 24. Bc4 Rh6 25. g3 Rh3 26. Bc1 f3 27. Nxf3 gxf3 28. Rxf3 Nh6 29.
Rb3 Qe8 30. f3 Qg6 31. a5 Nf7 32. b6 axb6 33. axb6 Nd8 34. Bb5 Nb7 35. Bc6 Rb8
36. Qa2 Bh6 37. Qa7 Rxg3+ 38. Kh1 Bh3 39. Qxb8+ Bf8 40. hxg3 Bxf1 41. g4 Na5
42. Ra3 h5 43. Rxa5 Qf7 44. f4 Qg6 45. Kg1 Bh3 46. Ra8 Qxg4+ 47. Kf2 Qg2+ 48.
Ke3 exf4+ 49. Kd3 Qf3+ 50. Kc2 Qxe4+ 51. Kb2 Qe2+ 52. Ka1 Qe5+ 53. Bb2 Qe1+ 54.
Ka2 1-0

[Event "Event 5 - London"]
[Site "London"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "1"]
[White "5 ex1 - Chandler, Murray G"]
[Black "Vaganian, Rafael A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C18"]
[WhiteElo "2535"]
[BlackElo "2645"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[PlyCount "73"]
[EventDate "1986.03.??"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "13"]
[EventCountry "ENG"]
[EventCategory "13"]
[SourceTitle "MCL"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1999.07.01"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 c5 5. a3 Ba5 {This line has been a
favourite with Vaganian for decades. While theory prefers the standard 5...
Bxc3+, the Armenian grandmaster has had many successes with the line, which
came to prominence as a result of the Fischer-Tal draw from the 1960 Leipzig
Olympiad.} 6. b4 {The theoretical recommendation.} cxd4 (6... cxb4 7. Nb5 {
is risky for Black. He wins a pawn, but releases the pressure against d4 and
gives the white knight access to d6.}) 7. Nb5 {The other main lines are 7.bxa5
and 7.Qg4. It's hard to say which is the best option for White.} Bc7 8. f4 {
This is one of White's more solid plans. He just supports the e5-pawn and
leaves regaining the pawn on d4 for later.} Bd7 9. Nf3 {Murray decides to
allow Black to take on b5. The alternative is} (9. Nxc7+ Qxc7 {and now 10.Nf3
or 10.Bb2, which should also give White some advantage.}) 9... Bxb5 {It looks
natural to swap off the bad bishop and this also makes it harder for White to
favourable regain the pawn, but he can take comfort in the acquisition of the
two bishops.} 10. Bxb5+ Nc6 11. O-O Nge7 12. Bd3 {The most accurate line,
which prevents castling due to the standard Bxh7+ sacrifice. White forgoes any
chance of winning back the pawn and instead plays for a direct attack on the
kingside based on f5.} a6 13. Kh1 h6 $6 {This move misses the point. Black is
still thinking about vastling and wishes to rule out the bishop sacrifice, but
playoing ...h6 does nothing to hold up White's f5 plan.} (13... g6 {was better.
}) 14. Qe2 Qd7 (14... O-O $2 {is still bad, this time due to} 15. g4 {followed
by f5. When White adopts this plan Black really misses his light-squared
bishop.}) 15. Bb2 Bb6 {Black doesn't want to surrender his extra pawn, but
this move releases the pressure against e5 and makes f5 easier to achieve.} 16.
Rae1 {Most fuman plaers would go for this, but the computer suggests the
interesting plan of} (16. Rfb1 $5 Qc7 17. Bc1 {followed by a4. The idea is
that ...0-0 is always bad due to g4 and f5, but leaving the king in the centre
exposes it to danger if White opens lines on the queenside.}) 16... Rc8 $6 {
Too slow.} (16... g6 {or}) (16... O-O-O $6 {is also dubious due to} 17. Rb1 $1
{followed by Ba1 and a4, so Black should have played either}) (16... Nf5 {
with the aim of holding up f5.}) 17. g4 $2 $40 {The right idea but the wrong
execution.} (17. Nh4 $1 {was correct, and only after} g6 {pushing the pawn with
} 18. g4 {. This transposes into the game but denies Black the resource
mentioned in the following note.}) 17... g6 $2 {Now everything runs smoothly.}
(17... h5 $1 {was correct and after the long tactical line} 18. f5 hxg4 19. Ng5
g3 20. Nxf7 Rxh2+ 21. Qxh2 gxh2 22. Nd6+ Kd8 23. fxe6 Qxe6 24. Rf8+ Kd7 25.
Nxc8 Bc7 {a totally unclear position arises.}) 18. Nh4 {Now Black cannot
prevent f5. White could also have played} (18. Qf2 {followed by Qh4,
increasing the pressure on Black's weakened dark squares.}) 18... h5 19. f5 $1
{White is prepared to sacrifice a piece to achieve the long-awaited
breakthrough.} hxg4 20. fxg6 Rxh4 ({Objectively speaking,} 20... Nxg6 {would
have offered better chances, although the ending after} 21. Nxg6 fxg6 22. Qxg4
Kd8 23. Rf6 Kc7 24. Qxe6 {is miserable for Black as White's h-pawn will become
very dangerous.}) 21. gxf7+ Kf8 22. Bc1 $1 {Threatening 23.Bg5 followed by
Qxg4 with a decisive attack.} Nf5 (22... g3 23. Bg5 {doesn't help since} Rxh2+
24. Qxh2 gxh2 25. Bh6# {mates.}) 23. Bxf5 d3 $5 {Black attempts to activate
the b6-bishop. The alternatives} (23... exf5 24. e6 Qd6 25. Bf4 Qe7 26. Qd2 {
and}) (23... g3 24. Bd3 Rxh2+ 25. Qxh2 gxh2 26. Bh6+ Ke7 27. f8=Q+ Rxf8 28.
Rxf8 {are clearly winning for White.}) 24. Bxd3 (24. Qxd3 exf5 25. e6 Qc7 26.
Bf4 {is also winning.}) 24... g3 25. Qg2 $1 {It's not often that a player
forces his opponent to win a queen!} Rxh2+ 26. Qxh2 gxh2 27. Bh6+ Ke7 28. Bg5+
{Murray gains time on the clock before closing in for the kill. Sometimes
computers suggest amazing lines. Here the machine likes} (28. b5 $1 axb5 29.
f8=Q+ Rxf8 30. Rxf8 d4 31. Be4 Nxe5 32. Rg8 $1 {but why is this better than
playing 28.f8Q+ immediately? The answer is that by blocking b5 White prevents .
..Qb5 at the end of this line and so leaves Black's queen without any
reasonable square. Congratulations to anyone who could see that.}) 28... Kf8
29. Bh6+ Ke7 30. Bg6 $1 {Threatening} Bc7 (30... d4 31. f8=Q+ Rxf8 32. Bg5+ Rf6
33. exf6+ Kd6 34. f7 {and}) (30... Z0 31. f8=Q+ Rxf8 32. Bg5+) (30... Qd8 31.
Bg5+ Kf8 32. Bxd8 Rxd8 33. Re2 {are also olost.}) 31. Bg5+ Kf8 32. Bh6+ Ke7 33.
f8=Q+ Rxf8 34. Bxf8+ (34. Bg5+ Rf6 35. exf6+ Kd6 36. f7 {is also effective.})
34... Kd8 35. Rf7 {Trapping Black's queen.} Qe8 36. Bg7 Nxe5 37. Bf6+ (37. Bf6+
Kc8 38. Rxc7+ {leaves White a rook and piece up.}) 1-0

[Event "Event 6?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.04.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex1 - Bare king 1"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "7k/R7/7K/8/8/1b6/8/8 b - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "3"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#] A rook is essentially a superior piece to a bishop, and becomes more so
once play opens up. On a wide open board a rook will have influence on a
greater number of squares (in the first diagram it's fourteen compared to the
bishop's nine).   In order to learn a few fundamentals, the first position to
consider is the following one. Black's king is stuck in a corner, but he is
able to save the game because of Stalemate.} 1... Bc4 {(waiting)} 2. Ra8+ Bg8 {
and, with Stalemate threatened, White cannot make progress.  If we know about
this resource, then the defender, if pushed from a more central situation,
should steer for either of the corners that are the opposite colour of his
bishop.} *

[Event "Event 6 ?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.04.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex2 - Bare kings 2"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/3R4/6K1/8/8/8/8/6b1 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "11"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} 1... Kf8 2. Kf6 Bb6 $1 {and despite White being seeminly on the verge of
delivering mater, Black can successfully resist.} (2... Ke8 3. Ke6 Kf8 4. Rf7+
Kg8 5. Kf6 {and Black is stuck in the 'wrong corner'}) 3. Rb7 Bd4+ 4. Ke6 Kg8 {
moving away from the other monarch.} 5. Kf5 Kf8 6. Kg6 Ke8 {etc.} *

[Event "Event 6 ?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.04.11"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex3 - bare kings 3"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/5R2/6K1/8/3b4/8/8/8 b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "12"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#] On the other hand, the corners that are the same colour as the bishop are
fraught with danger. Here Black cannot escape from the mating net, even if he
first cunningly seeks to hide his bishop.} 1... Bg1 2. Rf1 $1 ({A mistake that
inexperienced players often fall for is} 2. Rc7 {threatening mate, but then}
Kf8 3. Kf6 Bd4+ {and Black can thwart White's efforts.}) 2... Bh2 3. Rf2 Bg3 4.
Rg2 {Now Black has to come out into the open.} Bd6 (4... Bf4 5. Kf5+) (4... Bh4
5. Kh5+) 5. Rd2 Be7 (5... Bf8 6. Rd8 {and mate next move.}) 6. Ra2 $1 {and
here Black's king can't escape as after} Kf8 7. Ra8+ {the bishop gets in the
way.} *

[Event "Event 6 USSR Ch"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1952.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex4 - Moiseev"]
[Black "Botvinnik"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2B5/8/8/6kp/8/6K1/6P1/7r b - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {In the case of both sides having one pawn, the result will depend on a
number of factors, but if the defender is tied down with certain soft spots
where the opponent can penetrate there can be good winning chances.} 1... h4+
2. Kf3 Rc1 3. Bd7 Rc2 $1 (3... Rc3+ 4. Ke4 Rg3 5. Bh3 $22) 4. Be6 Rc7 $1 5. g4
(5. Bh3 Rc3+ 6. Ke4 Rg3 $22 7. Ke5 Re3+) (5. Ke4 Re7 6. Ke5 Re8 $1) (5. Bd5
Rc3+ 6. Ke4 Kg4 7. Ke5 Kg3 8. Bb7 Rc2) 5... Rc3+ 6. Kg2 h3+ 7. Kh2 Kh4 8. g5
Rc2+ 0-1

[Event "Event 6 (analyse après une partie)"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1969.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex5 - Fischer"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/8/6k1/7p/8/4BKP1/r7/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "42"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {I really like the following analysis of Fischer's showing how Black can
win, as there are several clever ideas required to make progress step by step.
} 1. Bf4 (1. g4 h4) (1. Ke4 Kf6 2. Bd4+ Ke6 3. Kf4 Ra4 4. Ke3 Kf5) (1. Kf4 Ra5
$1 2. Bd2 Rf5+ 3. Ke4 Kf6 4. Bf4 Ra5) 1... Kf5 2. Bd6 Rb2 3. Bf4 Rb3+ 4. Kg2
Kg4 5. Bd6 Rb2+ 6. Kg1 Kh3 7. Be5 Rb4 $1 8. Bc7 (8. Bf4 h4) (8. Kf2 Rg4 9. Kg1
h4) 8... Rg4 9. Kf2 (9. Kh1 Rc4 10. Bb6 Kxg3) 9... Kh2 10. Be5 Kh1 11. Kf3 Rg8
12. Bf4 Rf8 13. Kf2 (13. Ke3 Kg2) 13... h4 14. Kf3 h3 15. Kf2 h2 16. Kf1 Ra8
17. Kf2 Ra2+ 18. Kf1 Ra3 19. Kf2 Rf3+ $1 20. Kxf3 Kg1 21. Be3+ Kf1 0-1

[Event "Event 6 - French League N2:A v Agen"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2009.10.17"]
[Round "2"]
[White "6 - ex6 - Flear, G."]
[Black "Favarel, J."]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A68"]
[WhiteElo "2497"]
[BlackElo "2299"]
[Annotator ",Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/3B2k1/8/6p1/3K4/7P/1r6/8 w - - 0 57"]
[PlyCount "111"]
[EventDate "2009.08.27"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#] In this case I was able to draw despite having certain unfavourable
factors (weak squares on f4 and h4). My 'active' king was able to frustrate my
opponent's attemps to get his king to one of the key squares under the right
circumstances.} 57. Ke5 Rb4 58. Bg4 Kg6 59. Bd7 Kh5 60. Kf6 Rb6+ ({Although} 
60... Kh4 {may seem like an achievement the counter-attack against g5 keeps
White afloat, so he can wait with} 61. Bc8 {etc.}) 61. Ke5 Kg6 62. Be8+ Kh6 63.
Bd7 Rb7 64. Bf5 Rb2 65. Bg4 Rf2 66. Ke6 Kg6 67. Ke5 Rf1 68. Ke4 Kf6 69. Bc8
Rf4+ 70. Kd5 Rf3 71. Ke4 Rc3 72. Bg4 Rc4+ 73. Kd5 $5 ({Passive defence has its
drawbacks:} 73. Kf3 Ke5 74. Kg3 $2 (74. Bd7 {would still be OK}) 74... Rc3+ 75.
Bf3 Kf5 {White is forced back.} 76. Kg2 Kf4 77. Bg4 Rc2+ 78. Kg1 Kg3 79. Kf1
Rh2 80. Kg1 Rxh3 $19) 73... Ra4 74. Bd7 Ra1 75. Bg4 Re1 76. Kd4 Ke7 77. Kd5 Ra1
78. Ke5 Ra5+ 79. Ke4 Kd6 80. Bc8 Re5+ 81. Kf3 Rc5 82. Ba6 Ra5 83. Bc8 Ra4 84.
Kg3 Ke5 85. Bd7 Rd4 86. Bc8 Rd8 ({The position of the bishop is notable (i.e.
not going to g4) in that} 86... Rd3+ {can be met by} 87. Kg4) 87. Ba6 Kf5 88.
Be2 Rd2 89. Bg4+ Ke5 90. Bc8 Rd8 91. Ba6 Rd4 92. Bc8 Kf6 93. Ba6 Kg6 94. Be2
Rd2 95. Ba6 Kh5 96. Bb5 Rb2 97. Be8+ Kh6 98. Bd7 Re2 99. h4 gxh4+ 100. Kxh4 Rg2
101. Bg4 Kg6 102. Bf3 Rg1 103. Be4+ Kf6 104. Bb7 Rg7 105. Ba6 Kf5 106. Bd3+ Kf4
107. Kh5 Rg5+ 108. Kh6 Rd5 109. Bc2 Rg5 110. Kh7 Ke5 111. Kh8 Kf6 112. Bd3
1/2-1/2

[Event "Event 6 ?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex7 - Fine"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/kp6/p1b5/2K5/8/7R/PP6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#] The question of potential entry squares comes up when there are two pawns
each on the same wing. The next position illustrates the importance.} 1. Kd6
Kb8 (1... Kb6 2. Rb3+ Ka7 3. Kc7) 2. Rh8+ Ka7 3. Kc7 Bf3 4. Rh6 Be4 5. Rb6 {
Well, the white pieces have found nice outpsots deep in the black camp, and
now he can advance his pawns with decisive effect.} Bd5 6. a3 Bf3 (6... Bc6 7.
Rxc6 bxc6 8. Kxc6 {is straightforward win as the a6-pawn is soon lost.}) 7. b4
Be4 8. a4 Bf3 9. b5 axb5 10. axb5 Be4 11. Re6 Bd5 (11... Bd3 12. Ra6+ $1 (12.
b6+ {is winning, but less elegant}) 12... bxa6 13. b6+ Ka8 14. b7+ Ka7 15.
b8=Q#) 12. Re3 {and mate follows.} *

[Event "Event 6 ?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex8 - Fine 2"]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1k6/1pb5/p7/3K4/7R/PP6/8 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "18"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {In this case Black has set up a tough-looking fortress and White is
unable to penetrate to any effect.} 1. Ke5 Kc7 2. Rh7+ Kb8 3. Kd6 Bf3 {That's
as far as White's king will be able to go for now, so he can try and advance
his pawns.} 4. a4 Be4 5. Rf7 Bg2 {(waiting)} 6. Rf4 Kb7 7. b4 axb4 8. Rxb4 Ka6
9. Kc7 {Finally the king can approach the pawn, but now Black switches plan.}
Ka5 {and now the counter-attack on a4 earns the draw.} *

[Event "Event 6 ?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1941.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex9 - Averbakh etc."]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k6/p5R1/1p1K4/8/4b3/8/PP6/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "59"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#] In practical games, I advise the defender to take particular care of the
pawn structure. Avoid holes indeed, but also being squeezed! With Black to
move he should continue with 1...a5 obtaining some breathing space (and
heading towards the set-up in the previous example). White to play can punish
Black's lack of space as follows:} 1. b4 $1 Bf3 ({It's too late for} 1... a5 {
as after} 2. bxa5 bxa5 {the a-pawn is loose and there are weaknesses on c5 and
b6. The simplest way to exploit these factors is perhaps} 3. Kc5 a4 4. Rg4 Bc2
5. Kb6 $18) 2. a4 Be4 3. a5 bxa5 4. bxa5 {White threatens a5-a6 with a mating
net.} a6 ({One can't stop the a-pawn advance for long with the bishop:} 4...
Bd3 5. Kc6 Be4+ 6. Kc5 Bd3 7. Rg3 Be2 8. Kc6 {and the only way to resist for
any length of time is to play} a6 {anyway.}) 5. Kc5 Bd3 6. Kb6 Kc8 {[#] The
technique for winning this position involves pushing the black king
sufficiently far away from the pawns so that White can then seek a pure King
and Pawn endgame.} 7. Rc7+ Kd8 8. Kb7 Be2 9. Kb8 Bf1 10. Rc1 Be2 11. Rc2 Bb5
12. Rd2+ Ke7 13. Kc7 Ke6 (13... Bc4 14. Rd4 Bb5 15. Re4+ {etc.}) 14. Rd4 Ke5
15. Rd6 Be2 16. Kc6 Bb5+ 17. Kc5 Bf1 18. Rd1 Bb5 19. Re1+ Kf6 20. Kd6 Bd3 21.
Re3 Bb5 22. Rf3+ Kg7 23. Kc5 Be2 24. Rf2 Bb5 25. Kb6 Kg8 26. Rb2 Bc4 27. Rc2
Bb5 28. Rc8+ Kf7 29. Ra8 Ke7 30. Rxa6 *

[Event "Event 6 ?"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.04.03"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex10 - ex 1 Philidor, 1777."]
[Black "?"]
[Result "*"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/2b5/4k3/8/3PK3/8/8/3R4 w - - 0 1"]
[PlyCount "15"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#] This might look like an easy win, and it is, but only if White uses the
d5-square for his king and not his pawn.} 1. Rh1 ({Instead after} 1. d5+ $6 Kd7
{The winning process is highly complex because to make progress White would
have to use either c5 or e5 for his king and these squares can both be
attacked by the opposing bishop. So all sorts of intricate manoeuvring would
be needed and in a practical game it might not be possible to find a way
through. By the way, this particular position was thought to be a draw for
nearly a century before a win was found!}) 1... Bg3 2. Rh6+ Kd7 3. Kd5 Bf2 4.
Rh7+ Kd8 5. Ra7 Bg1 6. Kd6 Ke8 7. Ra8+ Kf7 8. d5 {and the result is not in
doubt. So always think about how the advance of the passed pawn will be
supported and if your king can help out or not.} *

[Event "Event 6 Lille cat VII"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1986.07.01"]
[Round "5"]
[White "6 - ex11 - Flear, G."]
[Black "Giffard, N."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A65"]
[WhiteElo "2485"]
[BlackElo "2385"]
[Annotator "FLEAR,GLENN"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "1k1b4/4q3/8/p2Q4/1p3P2/8/7P/6RK b - - 0 68"]
[PlyCount "17"]
[EventDate "1986.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {The power of passed pawns is an important factor.} 68... Qb7 69. Qxb7+
Kxb7 70. Rd1 $2 {A sloppy move that soon gets punished.} (70. Kg2 $1) 70... b3
$1 71. Rd3 (71. Rxd8 b2 72. Rd1 a4 73. Rb1 a3 74. Kg2 Kc6 75. Kf3 a2 $19) 71...
a4 72. Rd4 Be7 73. Rd7+ Kc6 74. Rxe7 b2 75. Re6+ Kd5 76. Re5+ Kc4 0-1

[Event "Event 6 Kislovodsk"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1960.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "6 - ex12 - Byelov"]
[Black "Utyatsky"]
[Result "1-0"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pk1/3pp3/p3b1p1/P3P3/2P5/2R1K3/8 w - - 0 0"]
[PlyCount "39"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {In this example, Black has the potential to get matters moving on the
kingside, so immediate action is required. White was able to create a strong
passed pawn with a neat sequence:} 1. c4 Bd4 2. e5 $1 Bxe5 (2... dxe5 3. c5 {
is clearly inadequate for Black.}) 3. c5 dxc5 4. Rxc5 Kf6 5. Rxa5 {White's
passed a-pawn is going to be fast, but one should still be vigilant on the
kingside.} Bd4 6. Rb5 Kg6 7. a5 f5 8. Rb4 Bg1 9. a6 g4 10. Rb7 f4 11. a7 Bxa7
12. Rxa7 {[#] Club players are often afraid of such situations, but with the
white king surveying the neighbourhood, the black pawns can be kept from being
too dangerous.} e5 13. Kd3 g3 14. Ke4 Kh6 15. Ra8 Kg7 16. Ra1 Kf6 17. Rh1 Kg5
18. Rh8 Kf6 19. Re8 Kg6 20. Re6+ (20. Re6+ Kf7 21. Rxe5 g2 22. Rg5 $18) 1-0

[Event "Event 6 Exeter open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1983.03.18"]
[Round "1"]
[White "6 - ex13 - Flear, G."]
[Black "Boyne, A."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E91"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/1R2pk1p/3p4/p1pPbp2/P1P5/6PP/5P2/6K1 b - - 0 34"]
[PlyCount "30"]
[EventDate "2006.11.23"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {To break through White will need to create threats on both wings. Black
has no counterplay so White can take his time.} 34... Bc3 35. Kf1 Bb4 36. Ke2
Kf6 37. g4 fxg4 38. hxg4 h6 39. Kf3 Kf7 40. Ke4 Bc3 41. Kf5 Bf6 42. f4 Bh4 43.
Ra7 Be1 44. g5 {The third weakness (a5, e7 and now a passed g-pawn) appears!}
hxg5 45. fxg5 Bc3 46. g6+ Kf8 47. Kg5 Bd2+ 48. Kh5 {Zugzwang.} Ke8 49. Ra8+ 1-0

[Event "Event 6 Pau open"]
[Site "Pau"]
[Date "1988.07.29"]
[Round "7"]
[White "6 - ex14 - Berthelot, Yannick"]
[Black "Flear, Glenn C"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C30"]
[WhiteElo "2320"]
[BlackElo "2470"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/4k3/1pR5/2bp1p2/P7/6P1/4K3/8 w - - 0 38"]
[PlyCount "27"]
[EventDate "1988.??.??"]
[EventType "swiss"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 97"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "1996.11.15"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} {If the opponent is tied down, a little patience can be required to get
the best out of one's chances. Instead, my opponent opted to force matters:} 
38. a5 $2 ({Here the calm} 38. Kf3 $1 {threatening Kf4 is unpleasant for Black
e.g.} Bd4 39. Kf4 Bf2 40. Rc2 Bc5 41. Kxf5) 38... Kd7 39. Rf6 bxa5 40. Rxf5 Ke6
41. Rf1 a4 {Now Black has enough counterplay to save himeself.} 42. Kd3 a3 43.
Kc2 Ke5 44. g4 Ke4 45. g5 d4 46. g6 d3+ 47. Kb3 Bd4 48. Kxa3 d2 49. Kb3 Kd3 50.
Rh1 Be5 51. Rd1 {As a general rule in all endgames, if the opponent can only
wait, you should try and optimalize your forces before committing yourself or
seeking a breakthrough.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Event 6 - Hastings Masters"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.12.31"]
[Round "4"]
[White "6 - ex15 - Kalaiyalahan, A."]
[Black "Flear, G."]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E04"]
[WhiteElo "2160"]
[BlackElo "2428"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "2B4k/6pp/5p2/4p3/P7/4P1P1/1r3P1P/6K1 b - - 0 34"]
[PlyCount "43"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {In this case, White's passed pawn is not dangerous and Black will have
to time to bring up his king. Then the superiority of having the rook becomes
evident.} 34... Ra2 35. Bd7 g6 36. g4 Kg7 37. Kg2 Kf8 38. Kg3 Ke7 39. Bb5 g5
40. h3 Kd6 41. Kf3 Kc5 42. Bd7 h6 43. Be8 Kb4 44. Bd7 Kc3 45. Bb5 Rb2 46. Bc6
Kd2 47. Ke4 Ke2 48. a5 Kxf2 49. a6 Ra2 50. Bb7 Ra5 51. Bc8 Ra3 52. Bb7 Ra5 53.
Bc8 Ra4+ 54. Kf5 Kxe3 55. Kxf6 Kf4 0-1

[Event "Event 6 - Aix-les-bains"]
[Site "Montpellier FRA"]
[Date "2011.03.27"]
[Round "6"]
[White "6 - ex16 - Smeets, J."]
[Black "Flear, G."]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "D52"]
[WhiteElo "2660"]
[BlackElo "2498"]
[Annotator ",Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "6k1/p4pp1/3bp2p/8/2K4P/8/R4PP1/8 w - - 0 49"]
[PlyCount "23"]
[EventDate "2004.01.30"]
[EventType "team"]
[EventRounds "7"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.03.28"]

{[#]} {With more pawns on the board, one can sometimes hold with all the pawns
on the same wing, but only if one can organize a fortress.} 49. h5 $1 {This
stops any ideas of ...g6 and ...h5.} Bc7 50. Kc5 $1 ({Better than the routine} 
50. Rxa7 Bb6 51. Ra8+ Kh7 52. f3 g6 {when Black would retain hope.}) 50... f5 (
50... Bb6+ 51. Kd6 Kf8 52. Rc2 {and Black will have to move one of his
kingside pawns anyway.}) 51. Rxa7 Bh2 52. g3 Bg1 53. Ra2 f4 54. g4 Kf7 55. Kd4
Kf6 56. Ke4 f3 57. Kxf3 Bh2 58. Ra5 Be5 59. Ke4 Bc3 60. Rb5 (60. Rb5 Be1 61. f4
Bd2 62. Rb6 Kf7 63. Rc6 {and Ke5 follows.}) 1-0

[Event "Event 6 - Marseille Christmas IM"]
[Site "Marseille FRA"]
[Date "2021.12.30"]
[Round "9.3"]
[White "6 - ex17 - Flear, G."]
[Black "Ivanovic, Marko"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E11"]
[WhiteElo "2424"]
[BlackElo "2317"]
[Annotator "Flear,Glenn"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "8/5pk1/6p1/2r4p/4PK1P/5P2/6P1/3B4 b - - 0 55"]
[PlyCount "5"]
[EventDate "2021.12.26"]
[EventType "tourn"]
[EventRounds "9"]
[EventCountry "FRA"]
[EventCategory "6"]
[SourceTitle "The Week in Chess 1419"]
[Source "Mark Crowther"]
[SourceDate "2022.01.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2022.01.17"]
[SourceQuality "2"]

{[#]} 55... f6 56. Bb3 Kh6 57. Bd5 Ra5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Event 6 - WchT U26 03rd"]
[Site "Graz"]
[Date "1981.08.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "6 - ex18 - Speelman, Jonathan S"]
[Black "Kasparov, Garry"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A30"]
[WhiteElo "2520"]
[BlackElo "2630"]
[Annotator "ChessBase"]
[SetUp "1"]
[FEN "5k2/5p1p/6p1/8/2B5/6PP/5PK1/3r4 w - - 0 44"]
[PlyCount "54"]
[EventDate "1981.08.17"]
[EventType "team-swiss"]
[EventRounds "11"]
[EventCountry "AUT"]
[SourceTitle "EXT 2020"]
[Source "ChessBase"]
[SourceDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceVersion "1"]
[SourceVersionDate "2019.10.17"]
[SourceQuality "1"]

{[#]} 44. h4 Rc1 45. Bd5 Rc5 46. Bb3 Ke7 47. Ba2 h6 48. Bb3 Rc7 49. Ba2 Kd6 50.
Kh3 Ke5 51. Kg4 Ra7 52. Bb3 Rb7 53. Bd1 Rb2 54. Kf3 Kd4 55. Be2 Rb3+ 56. Kg2
Kc3 57. Bf3 Rb5 58. Bc6 Rc5 59. Be8 Rc7 60. Kf1 Kd2 61. Ba4 Rc1+ 62. Kg2 Ke1
63. Bb3 Rc7 64. f4 Ke2 65. Bd5 Ke3 66. Ba8 f6 67. Kg1 Rg7 68. Kg2 g5 69. hxg5
hxg5 70. fxg5 Rxg5 0-1

[Event "Event 7 - Blitz"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2024.01.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "7 ex1 - Banerjee, Supratit"]
[Black "Bryakin, Mikhail"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B13"]
[Annotator "plitt"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[EventDate "2022.??.??"]

 1. e4 g6 2. d4 Bg7 3. Nf3 c6 4. Bd3 d5 5. exd5 cxd5
6. O-O Nc6 7. c3 Bg4 8. h3 Bxf3 9. Qxf3 Nf6 10. Re1 O-O 11. Bf4 a6 12. Nd2 e6 {
Rather passive} (12... Nh5 $5 13. Bh2 Re8 14. g4 e5 $1 $14 15. Bf1 e4 16. Qg2
Nf6 17. f3) 13. Nb3 Ne7 14. Nc5 Ra7 15. Bg5 Nc6 16. Bh4 h6 $2 (16... Nb8 17.
Be2 b6 18. Nd3 Nbd7 19. a4 $16) 17. Bxg6 $1 fxg6 18. Nxe6 Qe7 $2 (18... Qd6 19.
Nxf8 Kxf8 20. Re2 b5 21. Rae1 $16) 19. Nxf8 Qxf8 20. Bxf6 Qxf6 $6 (20... Bxf6
21. Qxd5+ Kg7 $18) 21. Qxd5+ Kh7 22. Re8 Ne7 23. Qd7 Nf5 24. Rae1 Qg5 25. Qf7
h5 26. Rg8 Kh6 $4 27. f4 $2 (27. Qxg7+ Nxg7 28. Rh8#) 27... Qxf4 $2 (27... Qf6
28. Qxf6 Bxf6 29. g4 $18) 28. Rxg7 Qg3 29. Rh7+ Kg5 30. Re6 Kh4 31. Qf6+ Qg5
32. Re4+ 1-0

[Event "Event 8 - Lugano Open"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "1986.??.??"]
[Round "?"]
[White "8 ex1 - Plaskett, Harold James"]
[Black "Miles, Tony"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A21"]
[Annotator "plitt"]
[PlyCount "63"]
[SourceVersionDate "2024.01.25"]

1. c4 e5 2. e3 d6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 Ne7 6. d4 O-O 7. Nge2 Nd7 8. O-O
f5 9. dxe5 (9. b3 e4 10. Bb2 $14) 9... dxe5 10. b3 c6 11. Ba3 (11. Qd6 Rf6 12.
Qd2 Rf7 13. Rd1 Qf8 14. Ba3 $16) 11... Qe8 (11... f4 $5 12. exf4 exf4 13. gxf4
Re8 14. Ne4 $16) 12. f4 (12. Qd6 Rf7 13. f4 Kh8 $14) 12... e4 13. Qd6 (13. g4
$5) 13... Rf7 14. Rad1 Nf8 15. Rd2 $6 (15. Nd4 Bd7 16. Bb2 Rd8 17. Qa3 $14)
15... Ne6 $11 16. Bh3 g5 $1 17. fxg5 Ng6 $6 (17... Bf8 $1 18. Qe5 Ng6 19. Qa5
b6 20. Qa4 Nxg5 21. Bg2 Ne5 $17) 18. Bxf5 Bf8 19. Nxe4 $6 (19. Bxg6 Rxf1+ 20.
Kxf1 hxg6 21. Qe5 Qf7+ 22. Kg1 Bxa3 23. Nxe4 Qc7 24. Qxc7 Nxc7 25. Nf4 $15)
19... Bxd6 20. Nxd6 Qd8 (20... Qe7 21. Nxf7 Qxa3 22. Nh6+ Kh8 23. Bxg6 hxg6 24.
h4 Qe7 25. Kh2 $44) 21. Rd3 Rxf5 (21... Qf8 22. Nxc8 Qxc8 23. Nd4 Rxf5 24. Nxf5
Nxg5 25. Rd6 $11 Nh3+ 26. Kh1 Qe8 27. Nh6+ Kg7 28. Nf5+ Kf7 29. Rd4 Qe6 30.
Nh6+ $11) 22. Nxf5 Qxg5 $2 (22... Qxd3 23. Nh6+ Kh8 24. Bb2+ Ng7 25. Nf7+ Kg8
26. Nh6+ $11) 23. h4 Qh5 (23... Nxh4 24. Ne7+ Kg7 25. e4 Qg4 26. Rf2 b5 27.
Bb2+ Kh6 28. Rh2 Kg5 29. e5 $1 Nf4 30. Bc1 Nhg6 31. Nxg6 Kxg6 32. Nxf4+ Kg7 33.
Nh5+ Kf7 34. Rf2+ Bf5 35. Rd7+ Ke6 36. Rd6+ Kxe5 37. c5 $1 $18 Qxh5 38. Bb2+
Ke4 39. Rf4+ Ke3 40. Bc1+ Ke2 41. Rf2+ Ke1 42. Bd2+ Kd1 43. Bh6+ Bd3 44. Rxd3+
Ke1 45. Rf1+ Ke2 46. Rd2#) 24. g4 $1 Qxg4+ 25. Neg3 $18 Qh3 (25... Ne5 26. Nh6+
Kg7 27. Nxg4 Nxd3 28. Rf6 Bd7 29. Be7 h5 30. Nf5+ Kg8 31. Ngh6+ Kh7 32. Rf7+
Kg6 33. Bg5 Ndc5 34. Ne7#) 26. Nh6+ Kg7 27. Nhf5+ $2 (27. Ngf5+ $1 Kf6 28. Bb2+
Ne5 29. e4 $1 Qxd3 30. Ng4+ Kf7 31. Nxe5+ Ke8 32. Nxd3 $18) 27... Kf6 $2 (27...
Kf7 28. Nh6+ Ke8 29. Nh5 c5 30. Nf6+ Ke7 31. Nfg8+ Ke8 32. Nf6+ Kf8 33. Nh5+
Ke8 34. Nf6+ $11) 28. Nh5+ Ke5 29. Nfg3 $18 Nef8 $2 (29... Qxf1+ 30. Kxf1 Nef8
31. Rd4 $18 Ke6 32. Ne4 Kf7 33. Kf2 Be6 34. Ng5+ Kg8 35. Rd6 $40) 30. Bb2+ Ke6
31. Ng7+ Ke7 32. Ba3+ {32...c5 33.Bxc5#} 1-0