[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Arkell K"]
[Black "Wells JC"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A38"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "75"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. Nc3 Nc6 4. g3 g6 5. Bg2 Bg7 6. O-O O-O 7. d4 cxd4 8.
Nxd4 Qa5 9. Nc2 d6 10. e4 Bd7 (10... Bg4 11. f3 Bd7 {creates a weakness which
Black might exploit later with possible checks on the g1-b8 diagonal, and/or
the h7-h5-h4 advance.}) 11. Bd2 Rac8 12. b3 Rfe8 13. Rc1 Qh5 {This rather
plays into Keith Arkell's hands as he is one of England's best endgame players.
Maybe Jonathan was taunting him as, a few years ago, he drew an ending against
the great man.} 14. Qxh5 Nxh5 15. Ne3 Nf6 16. Rfd1 Ne5 17. h3 Nd3 18. Rb1 a6
19. a4 h6 {Black is OK, but these two rook's pawn moves are typical of not
knowing what to do. Next, Black falls for a tactic.} 20. a5 Rc7 $2 21. Ned5 $1
Nxd5 22. Nxd5 Rcc8 23. Bxh6 {Discovering an attack on the knight at d3 to win
a pawn.} Bxh6 24. Rxd3 Rc5 25. Nb6 Be6 26. Ra1 Bg7 27. Ra2 Rc7 28. h4 Kh7 29.
Kh2 f5 {Trying to exploit the two bishops, but very loosening.} 30. Re2 Bf6 $2
{Losing another pawn, this time through a pin.} 31. exf5 Bxf5 32. Rxd6 $1 exd6
33. Rxe8 Bc2 34. Nd5 Rf7 35. Nxf6+ Rxf6 36. Re7+ Kh8 37. f4 Bxb3 38. Bd5 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fogg M"]
[Black "Merry A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B17"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "124"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nd7 5. Nf3 Ngf6 6. Nxf6+ Nxf6 7. Bd3 ({
Moves that avoid Black's next are} 7. Ne5) (7. Bc4) ({and} 7. h3) 7... Bg4 8.
c3 e6 9. O-O Bd6 10. Re1 Qc7 11. h3 Bh5 12. Bd2 O-O 13. c4 Rad8 14. Bc3 Be7 15.
Qe2 Rfe8 16. Rad1 Qf4 17. Qe3 Bd6 18. Qxf4 Bxf4 19. g4 Bg6 20. Bxg6 hxg6 21.
Kg2 Nd7 22. d5 exd5 23. Rxe8+ Rxe8 24. cxd5 c5 {It makes sense for Alan, as by
far the higher graded player, to allow the passed d-pawn as it is isolated and
the alternative would leave the position an almost certain draw.} (24... cxd5
25. Rxd5 Nf6 26. Rd4 Bc7) 25. Nd2 b5 26. a3 Nb6 27. Kf3 Bd6 $6 {The same
motivation applies to this move, but it is risky to alllow the d5 pawn to live.
} (27... Nxd5 28. Ne4 Nxc3 29. bxc3 Be5 30. Rd5 f5 31. gxf5 gxf5 32. Nxc5 Bxc3
33. Rxf5 {is another very likely draw as too many pawns have been exchanged.})
28. Ne4 Nc8 29. Bd2 f5 $6 {Forcing a decision from the knight, but the pawn at
f5 is a tactical weakness which can be attacked to gain time for the white
pieces to get into good positions.} 30. gxf5 gxf5 31. Nxd6 Nxd6 32. Bf4 Ne4 ({
He cannot keep the d-pawn under wraps as} 32... Rd8 33. Bxd6 Rxd6 34. Kf4 g6 $2
35. Ke5 {forces Black to alllow the d-pawn to advance under even more
favourable circumstances.}) 33. d6 Nf6 34. Bg5 ({White can start to cash in
with} 34. Be3 $1 Nd7 (34... c4 35. Bxa7) 35. Rd5 {winning a pawn because} Re5
36. Rxe5 Nxe5+ 37. Kf4 Nd3+ $2 38. Kxf5 Nxb2 39. d7 {allows the pawn to promote
}) 34... Nd7 {The pawn is firmly blockaded and Black is reasonably safe.} 35.
Be7 Kf7 36. Kf4 g6 37. h4 Rh8 38. Bg5 Ke6 39. Be7 a5 40. Rg1 Kf7 41. b4 $2 ({
White panics. After} 41. Re1 Nf6 42. f3 $1 {Black should not play} Rxh4+ $2 (
42... Nd5+ $11 {is level}) {in veiw of the White king's invasion of the
queenside with} 43. Ke5 Nd7+ 44. Kd5 Rh8 45. Kc6 {hoovering up the queenside
pawns}) 41... axb4 (41... cxb4 42. axb4 a4 {is even better as the passed
a-pawn is dangerous and the white b4 pawn needs defending.}) 42. axb4 cxb4 43.
Rb1 Nf6 (43... Nc5 $1 44. f3 {should enable White to save the game.}) 44. Kg3
$2 {Playing an endgame in a rapidplay finish often needs quick reflexes and
nerves of steel.} (44. Rxb4 $4 {loses to} Nd5+) ({but} 44. Ke5 $1 {is much
better:} Rxh4 {draws after} (44... Nd7+ 45. Kf4 {repeats the position}) 45.
Bxf6 Re4+ 46. Kd5 Kxf6 47. Kc6 Rd4 48. d7 {forces a draw}) 44... Nd5 45. Rd1 $2
(45. Re1 {gives White a chance of survival:} Ra8 46. Re5 Nc3 $1 47. d7 b3 48.
Bb4 $1 (48. d8=Q $2 {loses very nicely to} Rxd8 49. Bxd8 b2 50. Re1 Ne2+ $1 51.
Kg2 Nc1) 48... Ne4+ {is study-like:} (48... b2 49. Re7+ Kf6 50. Re1 Ne4+ (50...
b1=Q $4 51. Bxc3+) 51. Kf3 Rd8 52. Rb1 Rxd7 53. Rxb2 {and White has some
drawing chances}) 49. Kg2 b2 50. Re7+ Kf6 51. Re8 Rd8 $3 (51... b1=Q 52. Rxa8 {
and the d-pawn queens, winning for White}) 52. Be7+ $1 (52. Rxd8 Ke6 $1 {and
Black avoids the queening of the white d-pawn while forcing his own pawn home.}
) 52... Ke6 53. Bf6+ $1 (53. Bxd8+ Kxd7 {and the black pawn queens}) 53... Kd6
$1 (53... Kxd7 54. Rxd8+ Kc7 55. Rd1 Nxf6 56. Rb1 {with a likely draw}) 54.
Bxb2 Kxd7 55. Re5 Kc6 56. h5 gxh5 57. Rxf5 Rd5 {and again White has drawing
chances in the ending.}) 45... Nxe7 46. dxe7 Kxe7 47. Rb1 Kd6 48. Rxb4 Kc5 {
The second passed b-pawn wins.} 49. Rb1 b4 50. Rc1+ Kd4 51. Rc6 b3 52. Rxg6 Rb8
53. Kf4 b2 54. Rg1 b1=Q 55. Rxb1 Rxb1 56. Kxf5 Rh1 57. Kg5 Ke5 58. f4+ Ke6 59.
f5+ Kf7 60. h5 Kg7 61. f6+ Kf7 62. h6 Rh2 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spence D"]
[Black "Elwin A"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B16"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "75"]

{An exciting game - in the notes!} 1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Nf6 5.
Nxf6+ gxf6 6. Nf3 Bg4 7. Be2 e6 8. O-O Bd6 9. Nh4 f5 10. g3 Bh3 11. Re1 Rg8 12.
Ng2 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 Nd7 14. c4 c5 $6 15. Bd3 $6 (15. d5 e5 {leaves Black's
kingside pawns rather weak.}) 15... Qf6 16. dxc5 Bxc5 17. Rb1 f4 18. Qe2 (18.
Qf3 fxg3 19. hxg3 Qxf3+ 20. Kxf3 O-O-O {is about level, but White may have
wanted to avoid simplification against his lower-graded opponent.}) 18... O-O-O
19. b4 Bd4 20. Be4 Ne5 (20... -- {Avoiding the strong} 21. Qf3) 21. Rb3 Ng4 $6
{In this sharp position, the computer comes into its own!} 22. Qf3 ({The
silicon beast points out that} 22. Bxf4 $1 {, ignoring the threat to f2, is
very strong.} e5 ({If Black tries to maintain material equality with} 22...
Nxf2 {then White crashes through with} 23. Bxb7+ $1 Kxb7 ({or} 23... Kd7 24.
Qf3 e5 25. Bxe5 Bxe5 26. Rxe5 Qxe5 27. Qxf7+ Qe7 28. Bc6+ Kd6 29. c5+ {winning
the queen}) 24. Qf3+ Kb6 (24... Kc8 25. Qc6#) (24... Ka6 25. Qc6+ Bb6 26. Ra3#)
25. c5+ Kb5 26. a4+ Kxa4 27. Ra3+ Kb5 28. Ra5+ Kxb4 29. Qb7+ $1 Kc4 (29... Kxa5
30. Bd2+ $1 Bc3 31. Ra1#) 30. Qb5+ Kd5 31. c6+ Bc5 32. Qxc5#) (22... Bxf2 {
makes little difference}) 23. Bc1 {leaves White a pawn ahead because} Nxf2 (
23... Bxf2 $2 24. Rf1 Kb8 25. h3 {wins a piece for White}) 24. Rf3 Qb6 25. Rxf2
Bxf2 26. Qxf2 Qxf2+ 27. Kxf2 {and the bishops are far too strong for a rook.})
22... e5 $1 23. Bxb7+ Kb8 ({After} 23... Kc7 24. b5 $1 Qh6 25. Qc6+ Qxc6+ 26.
Bxc6 Bxf2 {the game is still sharp and unclear despite the exchange of queens.}
) 24. Re2 $6 {An understandable defensive move with the storm clouds hangng
over the white king.} ({Better is} 24. Ba8 $1 {theatening mate and hoping to
tie down the black queen. The defence} Rd7 {can be met by two different rook
moves to the d-file:} {Safer is} 25. Rd1 $1 (25. Rd3 {is the most fun. Black
cannot capture on f2 without losing material, but Black can detonate the white
king's position with} Nxh2 $1 (25... Nxf2 $2 26. Rxd4) 26. Kxh2 Bxf2 27. Rxd7
Qh6+ 28. Kg2 Rxg3+ 29. Kxf2 (29. Qxg3 Bxg3 {and White will not be able to
avoid perpetual check}) 29... Rxf3+ 30. Kxf3 Qh3+ {, followed by capturing the
rook on d7, which is very unclear}) 25... Qh6 $1 ({Black can no longer play} 
25... Nxh2 26. Kxh2 Bxf2 27. Rxd7 Qh6+ 28. Kg2 Rxg3+ {because of} 29. Qxg3 Bxg3
30. Rxg3 {and the f4 pawn is pinned!}) 26. Rxd4 $1 Qxh2+ (26... exd4 $4 27.
Bxf4+ {forks king and queen} Kc8) 27. Kf1 exd4 28. Bxf4+ Kc8 29. Rd3 {and
White's bishops and extra pawn, along with Black's collection of isloated
pawns, give him more than enough compensation for the exchange. E.g.} Qh3+ 30.
Qg2 Qxg2+ 31. Kxg2 h5 32. Be4 Rdd8 33. Ra3 Rge8 34. Bd3 Kb7 35. Ra5 {with a
strong attack for White}) 24... fxg3 $2 (24... Qh6 $1 {is very strong:} 25. Bd5
$1 (25. h3 Nxf2 26. Rxf2 Bxf2 27. g4 (27. Kxf2 $2 fxg3+ $1 28. Kg2 Qxc1) 27...
Bd4 {and White doesn't have enough for the exchange}) 25... Qxh2+ 26. Kf1 fxg3
27. Qxf7 (27. fxg3 $4 Qg1#) 27... g2+ $1 28. Bxg2 Ne3+ $1 29. fxe3 (29. Bxe3
Qxg2+ 30. Ke1 Qh1+ 31. Kd2 Bxe3+ 32. Kxe3 Qh6+ 33. Ke4 Rd4+ 34. Kxe5 Qd6+ 35.
Kf5 Rf4#) 29... Rdf8 {wins the queen for rook, bishop and pawn and the exposed
white king gives Black the advantage. E.g.:} 30. Qxf8+ Rxf8+ 31. Ke1 Qg1+ 32.
Kd2 Rf2 33. Bd5 Rxe2+ 34. Kxe2 Qxc1 35. exd4 exd4 {and the passed h-pawn is
probably decisive.}) 25. fxg3 Qxf3+ 26. Bxf3 {White is a pawn ahead and wins
comfortably.} f5 27. Bb2 Bxb2 28. Rbxb2 e4 29. Bxg4 Rxg4 30. Rf2 Rf8 31. Rbe2
Rgg8 32. Rf4 Kc7 33. Kf2 Kd6 34. Rh4 Rf7 35. Ke3 Ke5 36. Rh6 Re8 37. Rd2 f4+
38. gxf4+ 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dempster D"]
[Black "Anderson J"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C00"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. e4 e6 2. d3 d5 3. Nd2 Nf6 4. g3 c5 5. Ngf3 Nc6 6. Bg2 Be7 7. O-O b5 8. Re1
a5 {Black resolves not to castle kingside, where White is normally able to
build up a strong attack after moving his pawn to e5.} (8... a5 {The only
disadvantage is that White has not yet advanced his e-pawn to e5 and so can
play} 9. exd5 exd5 10. c4 {to exploit the slightly weak long diagonal. Then}
Rb8 11. cxd5 Nxd5 12. d4 {opening the position for the bishops} O-O ({getting
out of the centre before it is too late; if} 12... c4 {then} 13. a4 $1 {
unhingeing the black queenisde pawns}) 13. dxc5 Bxc5 14. Qc2 Qb6 15. Nb3 Be7
16. Ng5 Bxg5 17. Bxg5 {with two bishops in an open position}) 9. h4 b4 10. e5
Nd7 11. c4 bxc3 12. bxc3 Qc7 13. Qe2 Ba6 14. Nf1 ({He may not have liked to
play} 14. c4 {because of} Nb4 {threatening the knight fork at c2 and planning
to meet} 15. cxd5 {with} Bxd3 {but after} 16. Qe3 exd5 17. e6 fxe6 18. Qxe6 {
White has play against the black king as compensation for the lost pawn.})
14... h6 15. h5 a4 16. Bf4 a3 17. Ne3 Nb6 18. Rab1 Qd8 19. Qd2 {Draw offered
and rejected. White hasn't really got a plan because he has no target.
Meanwhile, Black tries to invade on the queenside and attack the pawn at c3.}
Rc8 20. Nc2 c4 21. d4 Na4 22. Ne3 Qa5 23. Nd1 Kd7 24. Qc2 Rb8 25. Rxb8 Rxb8 26.
Bc1 Nb2 27. Nxb2 axb2 28. Bxb2 Qxa2 29. Ra1 $2 {This loses outright.} (29. Re2
{was better, buut Black can crank up the pressure with} Rb3 30. Ne1 Na7 $1 31.
Kf1 Nb5 {White cannot defend the pawn on c3, so he would have to play the
sacrifice} 32. Bxd5 $1 exd5 33. Qf5+ {when Black faces difficulties exploiting
his material advantage because of his exposed king and White's e-pawn. E.g.}
Kc6 34. Qxf7 Rxb2 35. Rxb2 Qxb2 36. Qxe7 Nxc3 37. Qc5+ Kb7 38. Qe7+ Kb8 39.
Qd6+ Ka7 40. Qc5+ Qb6 41. Qe7+ Kb8 42. Qf8+ Bc8 {No more useful check, but...}
43. e6 $1 Nb5 (43... Qxe6 44. Qb4+ {regains the piece}) 44. e7 Nc7 45. e8=Q
Nxe8 46. Qxe8 Qxd4 47. Nf3 Qa1+ 48. Kg2 Qf6 49. Qe3 {and White is only a pawn
down so his resistance continues.}) 29... Qxb2 30. Qxb2 Rxb2 31. Rxa6 Rc2 {The
c3 pawn goes and the d-pawn will follow.} 32. Kf1 Rxc3 33. Ke2 Rd3 34. Ra8 Bd8
35. Ra4 Nxd4+ 36. Nxd4 Rxd4 37. f4 Rd3 38. Ra7+ Bc7 39. g4 Rb3 40. f5 Kc6 41.
Ra4 Rb2+ 42. Kf1 Kb5 43. Ra7 Kb6 44. Ra3 Rb3 45. Ra8 c3 46. fxe6 fxe6 47. Re8
c2 48. Rxe6+ Kc5 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Coleman D"]
[Black "Moore Geoff"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C16"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "143"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. Nc3 Bb4 4. e5 b6 5. a3 Bf8 6. Bb5+ c6 7. Ba4 b5 8. Bb3 a5
9. Nce2 c5 10. c3 c4 11. Bc2 Ne7 12. Nf3 Nec6 13. O-O Be7 14. Nf4 g6 15. g3 a4
{After this we might expect trench warfare, but Black seems to harbour
ambitions on the kingside and that leads to unexpectedly open play.} 16. Be3
Na6 17. Ng2 h6 18. Qd2 g5 $5 19. h4 Rg8 20. hxg5 hxg5 21. Nh2 f5 $6 22. exf6
Bxf6 23. Rae1 Bd7 24. Bd1 Qe7 25. Bh5+ Kd8 26. Ng4 Kc8 27. Nxf6 Qxf6 28. Bg4
Kb7 29. f4 {This should have been tried earlier, because now White cannot
target the black king directly and his own pawn on g3 needs to be watched.}
gxf4 30. Rxf4 Qg7 31. Ref1 Raf8 $6 ({The best defence is rather subtle.} 31...
Rad8 $1 {defends the bishop, so that Black can not only allow the rook to come
to the seventh rank, he can also unpin the e-pawn as follows:} 32. R1f3 e5 $5 {
and now White appears to be introuble, but he can wriggle out with} 33. dxe5 $1
(33. Bxd7 Rxd7 34. dxe5 Nxe5) 33... Nxe5 34. Bd4 $1 (34. Qxd5+ $4 Bc6 {wins})
34... Nxf3+ (34... Bxg4 35. Re3 Rde8 36. Bxe5 Rxe5 37. Rxg4 $1 Qxg4 38. Rxe5
Nc7 {fizzles out to a likely draw}) 35. Bxf3 Qxg3 ({or} 35... Qg6 36. Bxd5+ Bc6
37. Bxg8 {probably level}) 36. Bf2 $1 Qg5 ({not} 36... Qg6 37. Qxd5+ Bc6 38.
Qxb5+ Kc7 39. Qb6+ Kd7 40. Bxc6+ Qxc6 41. Rd4+ {winning the queen}) 37. Bh4 Qe5
38. Bxd8 Rxd8 39. Qxd5+ {and again material is equalised with a very likely
draw.}) 32. Rxf8 Rxf8 33. Rxf8 Qxf8 34. Bf4 {Now the bishops give White a
slight edge, and he can start to lay plans to invade on the kingside and to
advance his passed g-pawn..} Nc7 35. Qe2 Qf6 36. Nh4 Qg7 37. Kg2 Qg8 38. Bh3 {
White targets the backward e-pawn.} Kb6 39. Nf3 Qh7 40. Ng5 Qd3 $5 (40... Qe7
41. Bxc7+ Kxc7 42. Nxe6+ {is clearly bad for Black who has nothing for the
lost pawn.}) 41. Kf2 $2 ({White wins a pawn with} 41. Qxd3 cxd3 42. Nf3 {
followed by approaching the d3 pawn with his king. ...Na5 (intending ...Nc4)
will be answered by Ne5, forking the bishop and the pawn. From d3, the knight
will defend the b2 pawn from attack by a knight on c4.}) 41... Qxe2+ 42. Kxe2 {
White still has a tremendous position with two good bishops and his passed
g-pawn.  However, Black has a cunning plan for counterplay up hhis sleeve
which saves him in the end.} Nd8 43. Ke3 Ne8 44. Be5 Kc6 45. Bg4 Nd6 46. Bf6
N6b7 47. Kf4 Kd6 48. Bg7 Ke7 49. Nh7 Nc6 50. Bh5 Nba5 51. Bf8+ Kd8 52. Nf6 Nb3
53. g4 Nc1 54. g5 $1 {This will mr straight through to queen unless Black
gives up hhis e-pawn to alow his bishop to gety to e6. Even then, the advance
of the pawn will win that bishop.  Black's plight looks desperate.} e5+ 55.
dxe5 Nd3+ 56. Ke3 Ncxe5 57. g6 Be6 58. g7 Nxb2 59. g8=Q Bxg8 60. Nxg8 Nc6 61.
Bc5 {White starts to fiddle, possibly believing that the win will soon fall
into his lap.} ({The immediate} 61. Bf7 {would indeed be decisive, as the
drawing combination which Black later uses would not be available against it.})
61... Nd3 62. Bb6+ Kc8 63. Bg4+ Kb7 64. Bd4 b4 $5 {Here goes! Probably both
players were quite short of time by now, so calculating the best response
would have been hard for White.} ({Black could have played more calmly with} 
64... Ne1 65. Bc5 Nc2+ 66. Kd2 Na1 67. Bd6 Nb3+ 68. Kc2 d4 {when White still
has a lot of work to do.}) 65. cxb4 Ncxb4 (65... Ndxb4 $1 {is probably better
because capturing demands great accuracy from White. After} 66. axb4 a3 67. Ba1
d4+ 68. Kd2 c3+ 69. Kd1 Nxb4 70. Ne7 Kb6 71. Ng6 Nd5 72. Be6 Ne3+ 73. Kc1 Kc5
74. Nf4 {he has the passed pawns restrained but there is the real possibility
of having to demonstrate the mate with bishop and knight against king while
short of time. Good luck with that!}) 66. axb4 Nxb4 67. Bf3 $4 {Losing the
other bishop and now the draw is trivial.} (67. Bc5 {forces the knight to
retreat and should allow White to mop up the pawns without allowing the B&N v
K endgame.}) 67... Nc2+ 68. Kd2 Nxd4 69. Bxd5+ Kb6 70. Bxc4 Kc5 71. Kc3 Nb3 72.
Bxb3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hughes M"]
[Black "Moore Graham"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E14"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "88"]

1. d4 e6 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. e3 b6 4. Bd3 Bb7 5. O-O Be7 6. c4 d5 7. Nc3 O-O 8. cxd5
exd5 9. Ne5 Nbd7 10. f4 Ne4 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Bc4 Nxe5 13. fxe5 Bd5 14. b3 f6 (
{The two games in my database that reached this position went} 14... c6 {with
one win for White and one for Black.}) 15. exf6 Rxf6 16. Bb2 Rxf1+ 17. Qxf1 Bg5
18. Qe2 Qd6 19. Rf1 (19. Ba3 $1 {releases his bad bishop from its cage and
after} Qe6 ({not} 19... Qxa3 $4 20. Bxd5+) 20. Bxd5 Qxd5 21. Rf1 {White's
f-file counterplay should be enough to hold the balance.}) 19... c6 20. Rf5 Bh6
21. Bc1 g6 22. Rf1 Bg7 23. Bxd5+ Qxd5 24. Qc4 {It still loks fairly level, but
the ending that White is aiming for has to be treated very carefully.} Qxc4 25.
bxc4 Rf8 26. Rxf8+ Bxf8 27. g4 (27. a4 $1 {avoids many of the problems that
come later.}) 27... Kf7 28. Kg2 Ke6 29. h3 a6 (29... b5 $1 30. cxb5 cxb5 31.
Bd2 b4 {and the black queenside pawn majority is very dangerous while the
white bishop is prospectess.}) 30. Kf2 b5 31. cxb5 axb5 {There is no need to
risk giving White a passed d-pawn by recapturing with the c-pawn. Black now
walks into the white position and restricts him to shuufling about. Zugswang
is not far away.} 32. Ke2 Kd5 33. Kd2 Kc4 34. Kc2 Bb4 $1 {The white king must
stay put to stop his black counterpart from entering via d3. This means that
ony he bishop can move.} 35. Bb2 Be1 36. Bc1 b4 (36... Bc3 $1 37. a3 ({or} 37.
Bd2 Bxd2 38. Kxd2 g5 39. Kc2 b4 40. Kb2 Kd3 41. Kb3 Kxe3 42. Kxb4 Kxd4 43. a4
e3 {etc.}) 37... g5 {is a very quick Zugswang.}) 37. Bb2 h5 38. gxh5 gxh5 39.
Bc1 (39. Ba1 Bf2 40. Kd2 b3 41. axb3+ Kxb3 42. Ke2 Bh4 43. Kd2 Bg5 44. Ke2 Kc2
{is Zugswang}) 39... Bc3 {Zugswang} 40. Kd1 Kd3 41. h4 Kc4 ({Even better is
the nice pawn sacrifice} 41... b3 $1 42. axb3 Bb4 {and White is in another
Zugswang.} {E,g,} 43. Bb2 Kxe3 $19) 42. Bd2 b3 43. axb3+ Kxb3 44. Bc1 Bb4 {One
final Zugswang.} (44... Bb4 45. Bd2 (45. Ke2 Kc2 {wins the bishop}) 45... Bxd2
46. Kxd2 Kb2 47. Kd1 Kc3 48. Ke2 Kc2 49. Ke1 Kd3 50. Kf2 Kd2) 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cooksey P"]
[Black "Ilett R"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A47"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "59"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 b6 3. Bg5 Bb7 4. e3 h6 5. Bh4 g5 {The players are already on
their own. The opening proceeds in very interesting fashion.} (5... e6) 6. Bg3
Bg7 7. h4 g4 8. Nfd2 h5 9. Nc3 d5 $5 10. Nb5 Na6 11. Bd3 c6 12. Na3 Nb4 13. Be2
a5 (13... c5 14. c3 Nc6 {looks a little more natural, but this isn't really a
natural position!}) 14. c3 Na6 15. f3 Bc8 ({Black gets less tied up if he
plays more aggressively with} 15... Bh6 16. Nc2 Rg8 17. Bd3 Bc8 18. Be5 gxf3 ({
or the immediate} 18... Nd7) 19. Qxf3 Bg4 20. Qf2 Nd7) 16. Be5 Rg8 17. e4 Nc7
18. Qc2 Kf8 (18... gxf3 19. gxf3 dxe4 (19... Nd7 20. Bxg7 Rxg7 21. O-O-O Nf8 {
leaves the black king looking a little awkward.}) {can be met with} 20. Rg1 $1
exf3 21. Bxf3 Ncd5 22. Bxf6 exf6 23. O-O-O {with the makings of a strong
attack the sacrificed pawn.}) 19. Nf1 {Presumably aiming at g3 and then f5 or
h5.} (19. O-O-O {was better, as now Black could prevent it for the time being.}
) 19... gxf3 20. gxf3 dxe4 $6 ({Much better is} 20... Bh6 $1 21. Ng3 {when} --
{followed by} 22. Bxf6 exf6 23. Nxh5 {leaves the knight out of play and the
white position looking a little airy, giving Black at least enough for the
lost pawn.}) 21. fxe4 Bg4 22. Ne3 Bxe2 23. Qxe2 (23. Bxf6 Bxf6 24. Qxe2 {was
quite possible as} e5 {can be met by} 25. O-O-O $1 exd4 26. Qxh5 {when Black's
poorly placed king is a real concern.}) 23... Nxe4 24. Qxh5 (24. O-O-O $1 {
soon regains the pawn with the better game.}) 24... Nd5 $2 {A blunder, losing
in short order.} (24... Bxe5 25. Qxe5 Ng3 $1 26. Rg1 f6 27. Qf4 Nd5 28. Qf3 ({
the important point is that} 28. Nxd5 $2 Qxd5 29. Rxg3 $2 Rxg3 30. Qxg3 Qh1+ {
loses the rook on a1 to}) 28... Nxe3 29. Qxe3 Qd5 {(with the same idea as the
previous bracket)} 30. O-O-O Nf5 31. Rxg8+ Kf7 $1 32. Qxe7+ Kxe7 33. Rxa8 Nxh4
{is very unclear}) 25. Bxg7+ Rxg7 26. Qh8+ Rg8 27. Qh6+ Ke8 28. Qxc6+ Kf8 29.
Qxd5 Ng3 30. Qxd8+ 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saravanan K"]
[Black "Bradbury N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B87"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 d6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 a6 6. Bc4 e6 7. Bb3 Be7 8. O-O
Bd7 {In this extremely well-known position (reached about 1500 times on my
database!) this is a very rare continuation (17 times) but it is by no means
bad.} 9. Be3 Nc6 10. Nxc6 $2 ({Helping Black to put pressure on the e4 pawn.
White should resort to the standard plan in the Bc4 variation of the Najdorf,
namely} 10. f4 Qc7 11. f5) 10... Bxc6 11. f3 {Now White's standard plan is
very difficult to set in motion.} O-O 12. Qe2 b5 13. a3 {there was no threat
in Black playing ...b5-b4 (except forcing White to re-route his knight) and
this creates a target for a black queenside pawn advance.} Qc7 14. Rad1 Qb7 {
Supporting gthe b5 pawn a second time with pieces so that he can advance his
a-pawn.} 15. Rd3 a5 16. a4 b4 17. Na2 $6 {Decentralising.} (17. Nd1 d5 18. exd5
Nxd5 19. Bd4 {is OK for White.} Nf4 $4 20. Qe5) 17... d5 $1 {A well-prepared
advance.} 18. e5 (18. exd5 Nxd5 19. Bd4 {might still be best.}) 18... Nd7 19.
f4 Rac8 20. Qf2 Qb8 (20... f6 $1 21. exf6 Nxf6 {followed by ...Ne4 pushes
White back.}) 21. Ba7 $2 (21. Nc1 Bb7 22. Rdd1 {is quite reasonable for White.
The move played is a blunder because White forgets that his a4 pawn is
vulnerable.}) 21... Qxa7 $1 22. Qxa7 Bc5+ 23. Qxc5 Nxc5 24. Rd2 Bxa4 25. Nc1 (
25. Bxa4 Nxa4 26. b3 Nc5 {is obviously great for Black, but keeping pieces on
is no help at all as White gets pushed back and the c2 pawn becomes vulnerable.
}) 25... Bb5 26. Re1 Rc7 27. Ne2 Ne4 28. Rdd1 a4 29. Nd4 axb3 30. Nxb5 Rxc2 31.
Rd4 Rxb2 32. Rxb4 Rb8 33. Rc1 Rc2 34. Rb1 b2 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pullinger S"]
[Black "Moore S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nf6 4. Bb5 d6 5. Ne2 Bd7 6. O-O Be7 7. f4 a6 8. Bxc6
Bxc6 9. c4 ({Accepting the pawn with} 9. fxe5 dxe5 10. Bxe5 $4 Qd5 {would be
embarrassing.}) 9... exf4 10. Nxf4 O-O 11. Nc3 d5 $6 {A little impatient as
the white knight is itching to get to h5.} 12. cxd5 Bxd5 (12... Nxd5 13. Ncxd5
Bxd5 {is met by} 14. Nh5 $1 {and after} g6 (14... f6 15. Qg4 g6 16. e4 Bxe4 (
16... Qc8 17. Qf4 Bxb3 (17... gxh5 18. exd5 $16) 18. axb3 gxh5 19. Rac1 c6 (
19... Bd6 20. e5 $1 fxe5 21. Qg5+ Kh8 22. Bxe5+ Bxe5 23. Qxe5+ {leaves the
black king horribly exposed}) 20. Rc3 Qe6 21. Qh6 Rf7 22. e5 $1 {gives White a
very strong attack}) 17. Qxe4 gxh5 18. Rae1 Rf7 (18... Qxd2 19. Re2) 19. Qxb7 {
and Black's ruined pawn position gives White a big advantage}) 15. Nf6+ Bxf6
16. Bxf6 {Black's kingside dark squares are very weak indeed.}) 13. Ncxd5 Nxd5
14. Nh5 $1 g6 15. Qg4 (15. e4 {secures the f6 square by forcing the knight
away from d5, because} gxh5 16. Qxh5 $1 {gives Black a gaping kingside with no
material compensation as} Bf6 {loses to} 17. Rxf6 $1 Nxf6 18. Qg5+) 15... f5 $1
{This advance seems to open up the king's position, but it can easily be
plugged and Black can now achieve some influence over the central squares.} 16.
Qd4 Bf6 $2 ({It is better to keep the defender of his dark squares.} 16... Nf6
$1 {equalises comfortably.}) 17. Nxf6+ Nxf6 18. Qc3 $1 {Now the knight cannot
move from f6 and Black can hammer away at the f5 pawn that shields it. He must
watch out for White's pawns advancing to e4 and g4.} Kf7 {Hoping that he can
capture with the knight if White plays either pawn advance...} 19. Rae1 ({...
but he is wrong!} 19. e4 $1 {would have been decisive as after} Nxe4 20. Qc4+
Ke8 21. d3 Ng5 22. Rfe1+ Kd7 23. h4 {the knight cannot move on pain of mate on
e6.  White's move avoids the necessary calculation and still leaves Black
helpless against the e4 advance.}) 19... Re8 20. g4 $1 (20. e4 $1 Rxe4 21. Rxe4
Nxe4 22. Qg7+ Ke8 23. Qxh7 Qd6 24. g4 {puts the black kingside to the sword.
Again, the move played is perfectly effective.}) 20... Re4 ({Or} 20... Nxg4 21.
Qg7+ Ke6 22. e4 $1 f4 23. Rxf4 {and the knight is lost.}) 21. h3 ({There was
no need to worry about checks to his king. He can play} 21. gxf5 $1 Rg4+ 22.
Kh1 Qd5+ {because} 23. e4 {blocks the checks for the one move needed to finish
the black king off:} Nxe4 (23... Rxe4 24. Qxf6+) 24. Qg7+ Ke8 25. fxg6 {and
the knight cannot give discovered check because it is pinned!}) 21... Nxg4 $2 {
A desperate piece sacrifice before desperation was necessary.} (21... Qd6 $1
22. Re2 (22. gxf5 {loses to} Qg3+) 22... Rg8 {suddenly gives Black a playable 
(if inferior) game, thanks to his counterattacking chances against the white
king.}) 22. hxg4 Qh4 {Hoping to block the white king's escape, but possibly
forgetting about the defensive power of White's obvious reply.} 23. Qxc7+ {
Covers g3!} Ke6 24. Re2 ({After the brave} 24. gxf5+ $1 {(apparently opening
the g-file for Black)} gxf5 25. Qb6+ Ke7 (25... Kf7) 26. Qxb7+ Ke6 27. Qc6+ Ke7
(27... Kf7 28. Rxf5+) {White probably missed the clearly winning} 28. Ba3+ {
and so went for the safe option.}) 24... Rxg4+ 25. Rg2 Rxg2+ 26. Kxg2 {Black
has very little for his piece and White still has an attack.} Qe4+ 27. Kf2 Qd5
28. Qc4 {He could play for the attack and a quicker win, but exchanging queens
leads to an easy endgame win.} Rd8 29. Qxd5+ Rxd5 30. Bc3 h5 31. Rg1 Kf7 32.
Kf3 Rd8 33. Kf4 b5 34. Kg5 Ra8 35. Rf1 Re8 36. Rf4 Re6 37. Rd4 Rb6 38. Rd7+ Kg8
39. Rg7+ Kf8 40. Rxg6 Rxg6+ 41. Kxg6 h4 42. Be5 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Turner T"]
[Black "Gregory S"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A04"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "58"]

1. b3 f5 2. Nf3 Nf6 3. Bb2 e6 4. g3 Be7 5. Bg2 O-O 6. d3 d6 7. Nbd2 e5 8. c4
Nc6 9. a3 a5 10. Qc2 Qe8 11. c5 {Giving the rather passive kinight on d2
something to do.} Kh8 12. cxd6 cxd6 13. Nc4 Be6 14. O-O Qh5 {A standard
attacking plan for Black. It's not doing much yet, but the queen hovers over
the white king awaiting its chance to pounce. The pawn advances ...f5-f4 and ..
.e5-e4 will have to enter both sides' calculations from now on.} 15. Qd2 (15.
Qd2 {Hoping to cover the ...f4 advance, but taking a square away from the
knight at c4, so that Black could now start his attack with} b5 16. Ne3 f4 {
although it exposes the h1-a8 diagonal giving White chances to strike back.})
15... h6 16. b4 axb4 17. axb4 Rxa1 18. Bxa1 e4 $5 {Somewhat double-edged,
since it gives White the d4 square, but Black has seen a way to apparently
grab the initiative.} 19. Nd4 Bxc4 20. Nxc6 bxc6 21. dxc4 Qf7 $1 22. Rc1 {draw
offered} (22. Bxf6 Qxf6 23. b5 cxb5 24. cxb5 {establshing a passed pawn, is a
possibility, but it is fairly easy to blockade and the white bishop needs to
force its way into the game somehow.}) 22... Rb8 23. f3 d5 $6 {Missing (or
deliberately ignoring) a tactic.} (23... Qe6 {avoids creating any weaknesses.})
24. c5 (24. cxd5 cxd5 25. Qf4 $1 {forks rook and f5 pawn, and after} Rxb4 26.
Qxf5 {the black central pawns are under fire, giving White a small advantage.})
24... Nd7 $4 25. Qf4 $4 {Both of these moves are inexplicable. I trust that
the scoresheets are correct.} ({With the black king on h8, White could exploit
the pin on the g7 pawn to play} 25. Qxh6+ Kg8 26. Qxc6 Rxb4 27. Qc8+ Nf8 28. c6
{winning. Instead, he puts his queen onto a square where it can be skewered to
the rook on c1.}) 25... Bg5 26. Qxb8+ Nxb8 27. f4 Bf6 28. e3 Bxa1 29. Rxa1 Qb7
0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Gerald"]
[Black "Mabbs D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A10"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. Nf3 f5 2. g3 Nf6 3. Bg2 e6 4. O-O Be7 5. c4 O-O 6. b3 Qe8 7. d4 Ne4 8. Bb2
d5 9. Nbd2 Nd7 10. Ne1 c6 11. Nd3 Rf6 {I have ten games on my database which
reached this position, and Black has tried several moves here. This logical
move, hoping to get to the h-file to support a kingside attack, is not one of
them.} 12. f3 Nxd2 13. Qxd2 Rh6 {Unfortunately, White's play makes this rook
somewhat irrelevant.} 14. e4 dxc4 (14... Qh5 15. h4 g5 {looks attractive but
fails to} 16. exd5 cxd5 17. cxd5 gxh4 (17... exd5 18. Rfe1 $1 ({much better
than} 18. hxg5 Bxg5 19. f4 Qh2+ 20. Kf2 Nf6 $1) 18... Bf6 19. hxg5 Bxg5 20. f4
{and the d5 pawn goes with check.} Qh2+ 21. Kf1 $1) 18. Bc1 $1 Rf6 (18... Rg6
19. Nf4) 19. Nf4 Qe8 20. dxe6 Nf8 21. d5 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 hxg3 23. Bh3 Rh6 24. Qg2
{and White has a virtually winning advantage.}) 15. bxc4 fxe4 16. fxe4 e5 $1 {
With his "attack" stillborn, Black limits his ambitions to gaining a stake in
the centre, and he succeeds rather better.} 17. dxe5 {It is probably better
not to capture, but a pawn is a pawn.} Nc5 18. Bd4 Nxd3 19. Qxd3 {The white
bishops are somewhat imeded by their own pawns, so Black decides that he can
ow make waves on the kingside.} Qh5 $1 20. h4 Bg4 $5 (20... Be6 {followed by
centralising the queen's rook, should fully equalise. Black prefers something
sharper but riskier.}) 21. Be3 ({More forceful is} 21. Qb3 b6 22. c5+ Be6 23.
Qc3 b5 24. a4 {but unbalancing the position in this way also carries risks.})
21... Rd8 22. Qb3 Re6 $1 23. Rf4 (23. Bxa7 Qxe5 24. Rab1 Rd7 {retains the
extra pawn, but the weak pawns and bad g2 bishop make it unlikely that he can
make any progress.}) ({White must be careful not to give Black attacking
chances, which occur in lines such as} 23. Qxb7 Qxe5 24. Bf4 Qd4+ 25. Kh2 Be2
26. Rfc1 Ba3 27. Re1 Qf2 28. e5 Rf8 {threatening} 29. -- Bf3 $1 30. Rg1 Rxf4
31. gxf4 Rh6 {and the roof falls in.}) 23... Qxe5 24. Raf1 h5 25. Qxb7 Rd3 26.
Bxa7 {White spots the opportunity to exchange wueens before Black can do too
much damage.} Rxg3 27. Qb8+ Qxb8 28. Bxb8 Bh3 (28... Bc5+ 29. Kh1 Rc3 {regains
the pawn and keeps White under some pressure.}) 29. R4f2 $2 ({The quick way to
draw was} 29. Rf8+ $1 Bxf8 30. Bxg3 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Rxe4 {and there are too few
pieces or pawns left.}) 29... Rxg2+ {Good enough for an endgame a pawn up, but
that will be hard to win with so few pawns left.} ({He can win two pawns with} 
29... Rg4 $1 30. Kh1 {(forced, to avoid a later ...Bc5 pin winning the
exchange as well)} Bxg2+ 31. Rxg2 Rxh4+ 32. Bh2 Rexe4 {and the c-pawn cannot
be saved}) 30. Rxg2 Bxg2 31. Kxg2 Rxe4 32. Bg3 Rxc4 33. Rf5 $2 (33. Kh3 Rc3 34.
Kg2 Ra3 35. Rf2 Ra4 36. Kh3 c5 37. Rc2 {is very unpleasant for White, but at
least he is only one pawn down.}) 33... Rc2+ $2 {Afraid of the passed a-pawn?
This throws away the win.} (33... g6 {wins the h4 pawn.} 34. Ra5 Bxh4 35. Bxh4
Rxh4 36. Rc5 Ra4 37. Rxc6 Rxa2+ {and the connected passed pawns win.}) 34. Kf3
Rxa2 35. Rxh5 Rc2 {With the rook on the wrong side of the passed pawn, White's
drawing task is simple.} (35... Ra3+ 36. Kf2 c5 {still gives White some
problems, although he should draw.}) 36. Re5 Bd6 37. Re3 Bxg3 38. Kxg3 Kf7 39.
Kg4 c5 40. Kg5 Rg2+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R1"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Twitchell D"]
[Black "Myall I"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C50"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "62"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bc4 Bc5 4. d4 ({It may be worth knowing that the most
successful continuation here, according to my database (which has nearly 50,
000 games from this position) is the Evans Gambit with} 4. b4 {which was
played in about 5,000 of those games with a 59% success rate.}) 4... Bxd4 $5 ({
Normal is} 4... exd4 5. O-O Nf6 6. e5 d5 {which is the Max Lange Attack, but
this is far better, reducing White's attacking chances.}) 5. Nxd4 Nxd4 6. O-O
d6 7. f4 Nf6 8. c3 Nc6 9. Qf3 Qe7 10. f5 $5 {this seems to be the best way to
attempt to justify White's play, ussing the time gained to make it dangerous
for Black to castle kingside (in which case White will follow up with a
general kingside pawn advance).} h6 (10... Bd7 11. b4 {warns Black to think
twice about castling queenside. The game would be unclear.}) 11. Na3 (11. Be3 {
is more flexible. Not only might White wish to advance on the queenside with
b4 and a4 (if Black castles that side) and this knight gets in the way on a3,
he might aslo wish to bring his knight over to the kingside via d2.}) 11... a6
12. b4 (12. Nc2 {envisages bringing the knight to e3 to cover d5, with good
chances. The text move is only good if Black castles queenside.}) 12... Bd7 13.
Be3 Na7 {Still playing safe by not castling on either side, and planning to
exchange some pieces by using the b5 square.} 14. Bf2 Nb5 $6 (14... b5 15. Bd3
c5 {gives him some activity.}) 15. Nxb5 $2 {It's a fundamental error when a
pawn down to exchange pieces unless there is something concerete to be gained.}
(15. Nc2 {followed by} -- 16. a4 {Ne3 will build up pressure in the centre.})
15... axb5 {Now White has very little for his pawn and his a-pawn is a target.}
16. Bb3 Bc6 17. Rfe1 Nh7 (17... O-O {is met by} 18. Bh4 {but now he is ready
to castle without feeling in too much danger of facing a kingside pawn
avalanche.}) 18. h4 O-O 19. Re2 Kh8 20. g4 g6 $1 {An interesting idea. Instead
of trying to use his extra pawn by advancing in the centre, Black opens the
kingside where White has possibly weakened his king's position by advancing
his own pawns there.} 21. Be3 $2 {It was necessary for White to remove his
king from the g-file.} (21. Kh2) 21... gxf5 $1 (21... Qxh4 $2 {is obviously
wrong in view of} 22. Rh2 Qe7 23. Rxh6 {but Back realises that he does not
need to defend the h6 pawn and meanwhile the h4 pawn is still en prise.}) 22.
Qxf5 (22. Bxh6 $2 Bxe4) 22... Bd7 23. Qf2 (23. Qf3 Bxg4 $1 {is even worse, as}
24. Qxg4 Rg8 25. Bg5 Nxg5 $1 {will leave White two pawns down and still facing
a killing attack. E.g.} 26. Kh1 Ne6 27. Qf5 Nf4 28. Rh2 Rg3 29. Rc1 Rag8 30.
Qxf7 Ne2 $3 31. Qf1 (31. Qxe7 Rg1+ 32. Rxg1 Rxg1#) (31. Rxe2 Rh3+ 32. Rh2 Rxh2+
33. Kxh2 Qxh4#) 31... Re3 {and the threat of} 32. -- Ng3+ {wins more material.}
) 23... Bxg4 {wins a second pawn and exposes the white king still further.
Black ran out an easy winner.} 24. Bxh6 Bxe2 25. Bxf8 Rxf8 26. Qxe2 Qxh4 27.
Qxb5 Rg8+ 28. Kf1 Qh1+ 29. Ke2 Qxa1 30. Bxf7 Qb2+ 31. Kf3 Ng5+ 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bradbury N"]
[Black "Arkell K"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E12"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e6 3. Nf3 b6 4. a3 Ba6 $1 5. Nbd2 Bb7 {This tends to score
well for Black because the knight on d2 is passively placed.} 6. g3 c5 7. dxc5
Bxc5 8. Bg2 O-O 9. O-O Be7 10. b3 d6 {we gradually get a standard type of
Hedgehog position with the white knight rather strangely placed on d2. There
are chances for both sides, as they say.} 11. Bb2 Nbd7 12. Rc1 Qc7 13. Qc2 Rac8
14. Rfd1 Qb8 15. Qb1 Rfd8 16. Bh3 Bf8 17. b4 h6 18. Nd4 Re8 19. e4 a6 20. Re1
g6 21. Ne2 Bg7 22. Bg2 h5 $5 {Having achieved a harmonious setup, Black starts
to probe.} 23. h3 Bh6 $1 24. f4 $6 (24. Red1 {and if} h4 {then} 25. g4 {is OK
for White.}) 24... e5 $1 {exploiting the pin on the f4 pawn.} 25. Rf1 (25. Qd3
h4 26. Bc3 Nh5 $17) 25... h4 $1 26. Qd3 (26. gxh4 Nh5 {regains the pawn and
leaves White with a shattered kingside.}) 26... hxg3 27. Qxg3 Nh5 28. Qh4 {An
ingenious defence, ready to counterattack on the kingside.} Qc7 $1 ({If} 28...
Bxf4 29. Nxf4 exf4 ({not} 29... Nxf4 $4 30. Rxf4 exf4 31. Qh8#) 30. Bf3 Ng7 31.
Bg4 Qc7 32. Rxf4 $1 ({and not} 32. Bxd7 Qxd7 33. Qf6 Re5 $1 34. Bxe5 dxe5 35.
Rf2 Qxh3 {and now it is Black who is attacking!}) 32... Ne5 33. Rcf1 {and
Black is under severe pressure.}) 29. Rcd1 (29. Bf3 {is met by} Ndf6 $1 (29...
Bxf4 30. Nxf4 Nxf4 31. Bg4 f6 32. Bxd7 Qxd7 33. Rxf4 exf4 34. Qxf6 Qh7 35. Nf3
Re7 36. Ng5 Qg7 37. Qxg7+ Rxg7 38. Bxg7 Kxg7 {is probably a draw}) {and White
is still under pressure. E.g.} 30. Rcd1 b5 $1 31. fxe5 Be3+ 32. Kg2 dxe5 33. c5
g5 34. Qe1 Rcd8) 29... Qd8 30. Qxd8 Rexd8 31. Nb3 ({Or} 31. f5 Be3+ 32. Kh2
Ndf6 {and Black will win the e4 pawn.}) 31... Nxf4 32. Nxf4 Bxf4 33. Rxd6 Nf8 (
{Grabbing a pawn with} 33... Rxc4 34. Rfd1 Rc7 {should be OK for Black, if a
little awkward. Of course White cannot win back the pawn with} 35. Rxb6 $4 {in
view of} Be3+) 34. Rxd8 Rxd8 35. c5 Rd3 36. Na1 (36. Rf3 {loses the exchange to
} Be3+) 36... bxc5 37. bxc5 Ne6 {A pawn drops.} 38. Nc2 Nxc5 39. Nb4 Rb3 40.
Bc1 Nd3 (40... Bxe4 41. Bxf4 exf4 42. Bxe4 Nxe4 43. Rxf4 f5 44. Nxa6 Rxa3 45.
Nb4 Rxh3 {should be a more comfortable win.}) 41. Nxd3 Rxd3 42. Bxf4 exf4 43.
Rb1 ({Or} 43. Rxf4 Rxa3) 43... Bc6 44. Rb6 Bb5 45. a4 Rd1+ 46. Kf2 Rd2+ 47. Kf3
$4 (47. Kg1 {still leaves work to do.}) 47... Bxa4 $1 48. Bf1 (48. Rxa6 Bd1+ {
forces the king to leave the bishop to its fate.}) 48... Bd1+ 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Merry A"]
[Black "Cooksey P"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B19"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "88"]

{The cut-and-thrust of the opposing attacks makes this a very exciting game.} 
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5
Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 a5 $5 {Not on my database, but has been
played in similar positions in this opening.} (11... Ngf6 {is the most popular
move.}) 12. O-O-O Bb4 {The idea is to tempt White to make a slight weakness in
his king's pawn cover. The problem is that the black king doesn't look safe on
either side of the board. Therefore, for the time being, Black decides to keep
him in the centre.} 13. c3 Be7 14. Ne4 Ngf6 15. Nxf6+ Nxf6 16. Ne5 Qd5 $6 {
Provocative, as White is lured into playing a move that, sooner or later, he
may want to make anyway.} 17. c4 Qe4 18. Qg3 $1 Qh7 {The queen remains on a
very nice diagonal, but leaves the queenisde and the centre unguarded.} 19. Qb3
$1 Bb4 (19... O-O $1 {is better, abandoning his queenside pawns for king
safety and attacking chances against the white king.}) 20. Be3 $2 {An
uncharacteristic misjudgement by Alan.} (20. Bxb4 axb4 21. Qxb4 $1 {is
tremendous for White. Black cannot castle kingside, and after} Rxa2 {The
threat to bring the knight to e4 can be prevented by} 22. f3 {and the white
king is safe.} {E.g.} Qf5 ({not} 22... Ra1+ 23. Kd2 Rxd1+ 24. Rxd1 {and the
rook can swiftly swing to the a-file with decisive threats}) 23. g4 Ra1+ 24.
Kd2 Qf4+ 25. Kc2 {and Black is effectively playing a rook down.}) 20... O-O $1
21. g4 {The attack is still strong and Black must be careful.} (21. a3 Bd6 22.
Qxb7 Rab8 23. Qxc6 {is met by the nice sacrifice} Bxa3 $1 24. bxa3 Rb1+ 25. Kd2
Ne4+ 26. Ke1 (26. Ke2 $2 Nc3+ 27. Kd2 Rb2+ $1 28. Ke1 (28. Kxc3 Qc2#) 28... Qc2
29. Rd2 Rb1+ {mating}) 26... Nc3 $1 27. Rxb1 Qxb1+ 28. Kd2 Ne4+ 29. Ke2 Nc3+ {
with perpetual check.}) 21... Bd6 22. g5 a4 23. Qxb7 ({The two alternatives,} 
23. Qc2 {, allowing the exchange of queens,}) ({and} 23. Qc3 {allowing the
knight ito e4 with gain of time, are too tame, so White grabs the pawn.}) 23...
Bxe5 $1 ({Black avoids opening lines with} 23... hxg5) 24. dxe5 Ng4 $1 25. Rhg1
({We get great complications after} 25. g6 $5 fxg6 26. Bd4 (26. Qxc6 gxh5 27.
Qxe6+ Kh8 28. Bc5 Rxf2 $1 29. Bxf2 Nxf2 {is level, as} 30. Rxh5 Nxd1 31. Kxd1
Qb1+ {wins for Black}) 26... a3 27. b3 gxh5 28. f3 {The black kinight is
trapped, but Black has very good compensation due to the exposed position of
the white king. E.g.} Qf5 29. fxg4 Qf4+ 30. Kb1 Rad8 31. Qb6 (31. Bc3 $2 Qe4+
32. Kc1 Qe3+ 33. Kc2 (33. Bd2 Qxe5 {and the mating threats win for Black})
33... Rf2+) 31... hxg4 32. Rhf1 Qe4+ 33. Kc1 g3 {and the g-pawn is also
dangerous.}) 25... Qf5 26. gxh6 a3 $1 27. Bd4 {There is a defence, but this
isn't it.} ({The game would fizzle out to adraw after the remarkable sequence} 
27. Qb3 $1 Rfb8 28. Qd3 $1 {(blocking the black queen's line)} axb2+ 29. Kb1
Rxa2 $1 (29... Qxh5 30. Rh1 Qxe5 31. hxg7 {and White's is the stronger attack})
30. Qxf5 (30. Kxa2 b1=Q+ 31. Rxb1 $1 (31. Qxb1 Rxb1 32. Rxb1 Qc2+ {with
perpetual check}) 31... Ra8+ (31... Qxd3 32. Rxb8+ Kh7 33. hxg7 {wins for White
}) 32. Qa3 Qc2+ 33. Rb2 Rxa3+ 34. Kxa3 Qc3+ {with perpetual check}) 30... Ra1+
31. Kc2 Rxd1 32. Qxf7+ Kxf7 33. Rxd1 gxh6 34. Bd4 {and it's just about level!})
(27. b3 {also leads to a loss for White:} Nxe3 28. fxe3 Qxe5 29. Rxg7+ Kh8 30.
Rd7 Qa1+ 31. Kd2 Qxa2+ 32. Ke1 Qb1+ 33. Ke2 Qc2+ 34. Kf3 a2 35. Rdxf7 a1=Q $1 {
and the rook on f7 is pinned, so White cannot play} 36. Rh7+ Qxh7) 27... axb2+
$2 (27... Rfb8 $1 {wins:} 28. Qd7 (28. Qc7 axb2+ 29. Bxb2 Qf4+ 30. Kb1 (30. Rd2
Rxb2) 30... Qxf2) 28... axb2+ 29. Bxb2 Rxa2) 28. Qxb2 Rfb8 29. Bb6 $2 {This
self-pin could have been fatal.} ({After} 29. Qc2 Nxh6 (29... Qxc2+ 30. Kxc2
Rxa2+ 31. Kd3 Nxh6 {is level}) 30. Qxf5 Nxf5 31. Rd2 Rb4 32. Rgd1 Nxd4 33. Rxd4
Rxa2 34. Rf4 Ra1+ 35. Kc2 Rb2+ 36. Kxb2 Rxd1 {Black has an edge due to the
greater vulnerability of White's pawns.}) 29... Nxh6 (29... c5 $1 {cuts off
the defence of the f2 pawn:} 30. Rd2 Ra6 31. Rd6 Ra4 $1 ({not} 31... Nxf2 32.
Qd2 $1) {and Black starts to cash in because} 32. Qe2 ({or} 32. Qb3 Qf4+) {
loses to} 32... Rb4) 30. c5 Qf4+ 31. Kb1 Nf5 32. Ka1 (32. Rd3 {anticipates
Black's next move, which would have been better played earlier.}) 32... Ra4 $1
33. Rd3 Rb4 34. Rb3 Rxb3 35. Qxb3 Qxf2 {Now it's just a matter of time.} 36.
Rc1 Ra8 37. Qb2 Qf3 38. Bc7 Kh7 39. Bd6 Qd5 40. Qb1 Ra4 {Here we go again!} 41.
h6 (41. Qc2 Rh4 $1 42. Qe2 Rd4 {and the rook gets to the seventh rank because}
43. Rc2 {allows} Rd1+ 44. Kb2 Qd4+ {etc.}) 41... gxh6 ({After} 41... Qd4+ $1
42. Qb2 g5 $1 {the pawn will advance to tie White down and the h-pawn will be
captured by the king.}) 42. Rf1 Qd4+ 43. Qb2 Qc4 {A trap.} (43... Rxa2+ 44.
Kxa2 Qc4+ 45. Qb3 Qxf1) 44. Rc1 $2 (44. Rf2 h5 {eventually wins for Black, but
now it's all over.}) 44... Rxa2+ $1 (44... Rxa2+ 45. Qxa2 Qxc1+ 46. Qb1 Qa3+
47. Qa2 Qxa2+ 48. Kxa2 h5 {and the pawn promotes.}) 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gregory S"]
[Black "Spence D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C02"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. e4 e6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5 4. c3 Qb6 5. Nf3 Nc6 6. Be2 cxd4 7. cxd4 Nh6 8. Nc3
Nf5 9. Na4 Bb4+ 10. Kf1 Qd8 11. g4 Nh6 {New, according to my database. As the
game shows, the knight is fairly dim on the rim and needs to re-route to get
back inot the game.} (11... Nh4 {is normal.}) 12. Rg1 Bd7 13. a3 Be7 (13... Bf8
{defends the knight an allows Black to play ...f6 immediately. E.g.} 14. Be3 {
(as in the game)} f6 15. exf6 gxf6 {and the knight has the f7 square.}) 14. Be3
Ng8 ({But now} 14... f6 $4 {loses to} 15. exf6 Bxf6 (15... gxf6 16. Bxh6) 16.
g5) 15. Rc1 f6 16. Rg3 fxe5 17. dxe5 Nh6 $1 {The knight returns to h6, partly
because it cannot go to e7 yet, and partly because it now has the f7 square,
from which it can add to the pressure on the e5 pawn. So White exchanges it.}
18. Bxh6 gxh6 19. Nc5 Bxc5 20. Rxc5 Qe7 21. Qc1 O-O-O $2 {faced with
unpalatable alteratives, Black castles into it.} ({Best is probably} 21... Qg7
22. b4 O-O ({and not} 22... Nxe5 $4 23. Qc3 {pinning and winning the knight}))
({The immediate} 21... O-O {invites a kingside attack starting} 22. g5 h5 23.
g6 hxg6 24. Rxg6+ Kf7 25. Rh6) 22. Nd4 Kb8 23. Nxc6+ {White's pieces are all
ready to pounce, so it is not surprising that White has a combination
available already.} ({He could play} 23. Rxc6 $1 bxc6 (23... Bxc6 24. Qxc6 $1
bxc6 25. Nxc6+ Kb7 26. Nxe7 {is winning for White because the knight can
escape:} Rhe8 27. Rb3+ Kc7 (27... Ka8 28. Bb5) 28. Rc3+ Kb7 29. Nc6) 24. Rb3+
Ka8 ({or} 24... Kc7 25. Nb5+ Kc8 26. Nxa7+ Kc7 27. Qc3 $1 Be8 28. Qa5+ Kd7 29.
Rb7#) 25. Nxc6 Rc8 26. Rb8+ $1 Rxb8 27. Nxe7 Rhe8 28. Qc5 {with a winnng
material advantage}) 23... Bxc6 24. Rb3 ({Now} 24. Rxc6 $1 bxc6 25. Qxc6 $1 {
leads to an easy endgame win:} Qb7 26. Qa4 Ka8 27. Rb3 Qc7 28. Rc3 Qb6 29. Bb5
Rc8 30. Bc6+ Rxc6 31. Qxc6+ Qxc6 32. Rxc6 {with an extra pawn and the
initiative.}) 24... Ba4 25. Rb4 Rc8 (25... b6 26. Rc3 Be8 27. Qxh6 Bg6 {gives
Black some freedom at the cost of a pawn.}) 26. Rxc8+ Rxc8 27. Qxh6 {So White
is a pawn ahead, and it now remains to be seen whther he can exploit it.} Bc6
28. Rd4 Rf8 29. Rf4 Rc8 30. b4 Be8 31. Qf8 $1 {The exchange of queens will
help White greatly.} Qc7 32. Qd6 $1 Qxd6 33. exd6 Bg6 ({After} 33... Rd8 34.
Rf6 Rxd6 35. Rf8 Rd8 36. Rh8 d4 37. Rxh7 d3 38. Bd1 d2 39. f4 {the white
kingside pawns will win, while the black d-pawn can do no damage since it
needs to be defended.}) 34. Rf6 e5 35. f4 exf4 36. Rxf4 Rd8 37. Rf6 d4 {This
pawn is more vulnerable than the white one on d6.} 38. Ke1 a5 39. Kd2 axb4 40.
axb4 Ka7 41. Bd3 {With the exchange of bishops the end is nigh.} Bxd3 42. Kxd3
Kb6 43. Kxd4 Kc6 44. Ke5 Re8+ 45. Re6 Rg8 46. Kf5 b5 47. h4 Ra8 48. Kf6 Rg8 49.
g5 Kd5 50. Kf7 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderson J"]
[Black "Pullinger S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "87"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f4 Qa5 5. e5 Ne4 6. Qf3 d5 7. Bd3 f5 $5 8. exf6
Nxf6 9. f5 $1 {This seriously restricts the black position.} Na6 10. a3 $6 {A
strnge move, because it doesn't stop the knight from coming to b4.} ({Simply} 
10. Nge2 {retains White's edge. E.g.} Nb4 11. O-O Nxd3 12. Qxd3 b6 13. Bd2 Ba6
14. Qf3 O-O-O 15. a3 {with a queenside attack in the offing.}) 10... e6 $6 (
10... Nb4 {is fine.}) 11. Bg5 {White should exchange on e6 and get castled
kingside quickly. If Black castles queenside, his more open king's position
should give White the edge. If he castles kingside he should come under quick
pressure on the e-file.} Nb4 (11... Be7 {avoids the ruination of his pawn
position.}) 12. Bxf6 $1 Nxd3+ 13. cxd3 $1 {The queen should stay where it is.}
gxf6 14. Qh5+ ({Tempting, but} 14. fxe6 $1 {was even better:} Bd6 ({not} 14...
Bxe6 15. Qxf6) (14... Bg7 15. Qh5+ Kd8 16. e7+ Kxe7 17. Nf3 {leaves the black
king horribly exposed}) 15. Qh5+ (15. Qxf6 {is greedy but good -} Rf8 16. Qh6
Qa6 $1 (16... Qb6 17. Nge2 Qxb2 18. Ra2 Qb6 19. Rf1 $1 Qc7 20. Ng3 Bxg3+ 21.
hxg3 Qxg3+ 22. Raf2 $1 {leaves the black position in ruins}) 17. Qh5+ Kd8 18.
Qxh7 Bxe6 19. O-O-O Rc8 20. Nf3 Rc7 21. Qh4+ Kc8 22. Ng5 Bg8 {and White should
be able to exploit his two extra pawns in the face of the two bishops.}) 15...
Kd8 16. Nge2 Bxe6 17. O-O {is simpler, retaining White's positional advantage.}
) 14... Kd8 15. fxe6 Bxe6 16. Nge2 Qc7 17. O-O Bg7 (17... Qg7 $1 {not only
protects the kingside pawns but it also prepares play along the g-file.}) 18.
Nf4 Bf7 19. Qg4 Rg8 20. Rae1 Qd7 21. Qh4 {avoiding simplifications, but Black
can consolidate.} ({Better is} 21. Ne6+ Bxe6 (21... Kc8 22. Qf5) 22. Rxe6 Re8
23. Rxe8+ Kxe8 24. Re1+ Kd8 25. Qg3 {although White's advantage is only slight.
}) 21... Kc7 22. Nh5 Bxh5 23. Qxh5 f5 24. Rxf5 Bxd4+ {Now it is a bit better
for Black who will have bishop for knight in an endgame.} 25. Kh1 Raf8 26. Ref1
Rxf5 27. Qxf5 Qxf5 28. Rxf5 Re8 29. Rf7+ Kd6 30. g4 Re7 31. Rxe7 Kxe7 32. Kg2
Kf6 33. h4 h6 ({Black has the edge in this endgame, but White should draw with
care thanks only to the fact that Black has the "wrong rook's pawn". E.g.} 
33... Ke5 34. Kf3 b5 35. Nd1 c5 36. g5 Kf5 37. Kg3 a6 38. Kf3 c4 39. dxc4 dxc4
40. Kg3 a5 41. Kf3 b4 42. axb4 axb4 43. Kg3 c3 44. bxc3 bxc3 45. Nxc3 $1 Bxc3
46. Kg2 Kg4 47. Kh1 Kxh4 48. Kg2 {and it will not be possible to oust the
white king from the corner.}) 34. Kf3 b5 35. Nd1 a5 36. b3 c5 37. Ne3 Bxe3 {
This should be OK, but he must watch out for White's kingside pawn majority
which may force Black to abandon his queenside pawns.} 38. Kxe3 Ke5 39. d4+ $1
cxd4+ 40. Kd3 Kf4 $4 {He didn't watch out!} (40... b4 41. axb4 (41. a4 Kf4 42.
g5 hxg5 43. hxg5 Kxg5 44. Kxd4 Kf4 45. Kxd5 Ke3 46. Kc4 Kd2 $19) 41... axb4 42.
g5 h5 $1 43. g6 (43. Kd2 {is also fine as the black king cannot chase after
the h4 pawn without allowing the g-pawn to promote}) 43... Kf6 44. Kxd4 Kxg6
45. Kxd5 Kf5 46. Kc5 Kg4 47. Kxb4 Kxh4 48. Kc5 Kg4 49. b4 {and both pawns will
promote.}) 41. g5 $1 hxg5 42. hxg5 Kxg5 43. Kxd4 a4 44. b4 {The black
queenside pawns will be wiped out.} 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Graham"]
[Black "Myall I"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "C29"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "94"]

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. f4 d5 4. fxe5 Nxe4 5. Qf3 Nxc3 6. bxc3 Qh4+ 7. g3 Qe4+
8. Qxe4 dxe4 9. Bg2 Nc6 10. Bxe4 Nxe5 11. Rb1 Bd6 12. Nf3 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 O-O
14. d3 Rb8 15. Kf2 b6 16. Re1 Bd7 17. Bd5 Rfe8 18. Bd2 Rxe1 19. Rxe1 Re8 20.
Rxe8+ Bxe8 {Looks like a draw, but someone doesn't want it!} 21. d4 Kf8 22. c4
f6 23. Be3 Bg6 24. c5 bxc5 25. dxc5 Be7 26. c3 Bd3 27. Kf3 Bb5 28. Ke4 c6 29.
Be6 Bf1 30. Kd4 g5 $2 {A hidden error.} (30... f5 31. Bxf5 Bf6+ 32. Ke4 g6 33.
Be6 (33. Bd7 Ke7 34. Bxc6 $4 Bg2+) 33... Bxc3 {removes the imbalances quite
nicely!}) 31. h4 ({White could win a pawn with} 31. Bf5 h6 32. Be4 $1 {and the
bishop cannot remaining defending the c6 pawn:} Bb5 33. c4 $1 Ba4 34. Kc3 a5
35. Kb2 $1 Bd8 36. Ka3 Bd1 37. Bxc6 $16) 31... h6 32. hxg5 hxg5 33. g4 Bd8 34.
Ke4 Ke7 35. Bb3 $4 {The penultimate move before the time control, and White
loses the g4 pawn and, with it, the game.} Be2 36. Bf2 ({The problem is that
the king cannot defend it:} 36. Kf5 $4 Bd3#) 36... Bxg4 {Now the two connected
passed pawns will be deadly.} 37. Ba4 Kd7 38. Bd4 Be6 39. a3 g4 40. Bd1 f5+ 41.
Kf4 Bc7+ 42. Kg5 g3 43. Bf3 f4 44. Bg2 Bd5 45. Bxd5 cxd5 46. Kg4 Ke6 ({It
would be quicker (if White replied correctly!) to invade on the queenside:} 
46... Kc6 47. a4 Kb7 $1 48. Kf3 Ka6 49. Bf6 Ka5 50. Be7 Be5 51. Bd8+ Kxa4 52.
c6 Kb3 {winning}) 47. c6 $4 ({After} 47. Kf3 Be5 48. Kg2 {Black must not
exchange bishops with} Bxd4 $4 49. cxd4 {because now the game is drawn as he
cannot advance his king too far withut allowing the white c-pawn to promote.
However, Black can simply retrace his steps and take his king to the queenside
in order to win. the a-pawn as in the previous note.}) 47... Bb6 {Bishops are
exchanged and the black king can capture the c-pawn.} 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mabbs D"]
[Black "Coleman D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A03"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "95"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 Bg4 3. e3 Nd7 4. Be2 Ngf6 5. d4 Bxf3 {before White can get his
other knight to d2 and recapture with it on f3.} 6. Bxf3 c6 7. Nd2 e6 8. O-O
Qb6 9. c3 Be7 10. Qb3 Qc7 11. e4 dxe4 12. Bxe4 $5 {An odd recapture. David
Mabbs clearly prefers knights to bishops. This is, after all, his better
bishop.} g6 13. g3 $6 h5 $5 (13... Nxe4 14. Nxe4 h5 {allows Black to probe the
weakened light squares.}) 14. Bg2 h4 {White's time-consuming capture on e4 has
given Black time to work up a kingsde attack.} 15. Re1 (15. Nc4 O-O-O 16. Ne5 {
can be met by} Rdf8) ({the best defence might be the surpising} 15. gxh4 $5
Rxh4 16. Nf3 {gaining time to reach e5 before Black has castled. E.g.} Rh5 17.
Ne5 Rh7) 15... hxg3 16. hxg3 Nh5 17. Ne4 O-O-O 18. Be3 Rdg8 (18... g5 $1 {
could be played at once.}) 19. Kf2 ({Defence in depth by} 19. Bf2 {was called
for.}) 19... Nhf6 (19... g5 $1 20. fxg5 Bxg5 $1 21. Bxg5 Nxg3 $1 22. Nxg3 Rxg5
23. Re3 Rhg8 {smashes through.}) 20. Rh1 Ng4+ 21. Kf3 Nxe3 22. Kxe3 Nf6 (22...
g5 {is still good:} 23. Rxh8 (23. Raf1) 23... gxf4+ 24. gxf4 Rxh8 25. Rh1 Rg8)
23. Nxf6 Bxf6 24. Rxh8 Rxh8 25. Rh1 Rxh1 26. Bxh1 Be7 27. Be4 g5 28. Qd1 gxf4+
29. gxf4 Qd8 30. Qh5 f5 31. Bd3 Qg8 32. Kf2 Kd7 33. Bc4 Qg7 34. a3 a6 35. b4 a5
36. Bb3 axb4 37. axb4 b6 38. Bc4 c5 ({Missing a tactic, but} 38... Bxb4 $1 39.
Qe2 $1 ({not} 39. cxb4 Qxd4+ 40. Kg3 Qxc4) 39... Bxc3 40. Qxe6+ Kc7 41. Qe5+
Qxe5 42. dxe5 Kd7 {should be a draw}) 39. bxc5 bxc5 40. Qh1 Bd8 $2 {This
should lose.} (40... Kc7 $1 {holds on because} 41. Ba6 (41. Qa8 Bh4+ 42. Kf1
Qe7 {is probaby a draw}) 41... cxd4 42. Qb7+ Kd6 43. Bb5 $4 {loses to} Bh4+ {
discovering an attack on the white queen}) 41. Qb7+ Bc7 42. Bb5+ Kd8 43. Qa8+
$2 {Now it's back to a draw again.} (43. d5 $1 {does the trick:} Qxc3 (43...
exd5 44. Qxd5+ Ke7 (44... Kc8 45. Ba6+ Kb8 46. Qb7#) 45. Qd7+ Kf6 46. Qc6+ {
wins the bshop (with check)}) {loses the queen to} 44. Qa8+ Ke7 45. Qe8+ Kf6
46. Qh8+) 43... Ke7 44. Qe8+ Kf6 45. Bc4 Bxf4 46. Qxe6+ Kg5 47. Qg8 Qxg8 48.
Bxg8 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hall D"]
[Black "Moore Gerald"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A41"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "68"]

1. d4 g6 2. Nf3 Bg7 3. Bf4 d6 4. e3 Nd7 {This way of forcing an early ...e5
advance against the London System scores very well for Black. The white
dark-squared bishop's action is seriously blunted.} 5. Nbd2 (5. Nc3 $1 {is
more active, because} e5 {can be met by} 6. dxe5 dxe5 7. Bg3 Qe7 8. Qd2 Nh6 9.
O-O-O {and Black probably needs to play} c6 {to prevent the knight coming to
d5.}) 5... e5 6. Bg3 Qe7 7. dxe5 dxe5 8. c3 Nh6 $1 9. e4 f6 $1 {Black is not
tempted to loosen his kingside pawn formation by preparing to play this pawn
to f5 in one jump.} 10. Bc4 Nf7 11. Qe2 Nd6 12. Bb3 Nc5 13. Bc2 O-O 14. O-O a5
{White's position is passive, and Black's excellent play continues to make it
worse...} 15. Rfe1 b6 16. Nb3 Ba6 17. Qd2 Nc4 18. Qc1 Ne6 19. Bd3 ({Now he is
driven back still further, but} 19. a4 Rad8 {still leaves Black in control.})
19... a4 $1 20. Bxc4 (20. Nbd2 Nxd2 21. Qxd2 Rfd8 22. Re3 Nc5 23. Ne1 Nxd3 24.
Nxd3 Bh6) 20... Bxc4 21. Nbd2 Bh6 22. Qc2 Bb5 23. Nf1 Rfd8 24. Rad1 Nc5 25. c4
Bc6 26. N1d2 Rd7 $1 {Turning the screw. Black will double rooks on the d-file
and then invade.} 27. Re2 Rad8 28. Rde1 Nd3 29. Ra1 (29. Rd1 a3 $1 30. b3 Nb4
31. Qc1 Rd3 32. Qxa3 (32. Ne1 Nxa2) 32... Ra8 33. Qc1 Rxa2 {followed by} 34. --
Qd6 {leaves White bound hand and foot. This is normally a fate suffered by
Dave's opponents, not himself.}) 29... Nb4 30. Qc3 Rd3 31. Qc1 Qd7 {The knight
on d2 is a goner.} 32. a3 Na6 33. Bxe5 {A desperate final throw.} Bxd2 $1 (
33... fxe5 34. Nxe5 {at least gives Whiite a little freedom (but not much).})
34. Nxd2 fxe5 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Geoff"]
[Black "Fogg M"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B50"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "126"]

1. e4 c5 2. b3 d6 3. Bb2 Nc6 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. e5 (5. Nc3 {is the most popular
choice here. The move played is not generally very successful, although it is
the computer's first choice.}) 5... Nxe5 6. Nxe5 dxe5 7. Bxe5 Bd7 {An
interesting move. It restricts the white bishop's movements (preventing Bb5+)
and prepares to move to c6. Accordingly, White should probably now place his
bishop on e2 in order to challenge the long diagonal with Be2-f3.} 8. Bd3 Bc6
9. f3 {Naturally, there is nothing wrng with this move, but it is a little
awkward.} e6 10. Qe2 a6 {Preventing Bd3-b5 and preparing ...b7-b5, especially
if White castles queenside.} 11. a4 Bd6 12. Bb2 Nd5 (12... Qc7 {is tempting,
to provoke a weakeneing pawn advance to save the h2 pawn, but White could let
the pawn go with} 13. Na3 $5 Bxh2 14. O-O-O {E.g.} Bf4 15. Nc4 h5 16. Rh4 {
preparing the nice trap} O-O-O 17. Rxf4 $1 Qxf4 18. Be5 Qg5 19. Nb6# {The move
played, threatening to come to f4, is a less risky way to provoke pawn
weaknesses}) 13. g3 Qg5 $5 14. Na3 Rd8 15. O-O-O Nb4 16. Bc4 ({Inviting a
later ...b5 advance, and allowing gthe queen to take over a useful diagonal.} 
16. Be4 {is safer.}) 16... Qf5 17. Rhf1 O-O 18. f4 Rb8 19. g4 Qe4 20. Qf2 (20.
Qxe4 Bxe4 21. f5 $1 {gives White plenty of counterplay and sets a trap:} exf5
22. gxf5 Bxh2 23. Rf2 Bg3 ({White has the better pawns after} 23... Bc7 24. Rg1
g6 25. Rg5 Rbd8 26. fxg6 Bxg6 27. Bf6 Rd7 28. Rf1 Bd8 29. Rxc5) 24. Re2 Bf3 $2
(24... Rfe8 25. Rg1 Be5 26. Bxe5 Rxe5 27. f6 g6 28. d3 {wins the pinned bishop}
) 25. Re3 Bxd1 26. Rxg3 $1 g6 27. fxg6 hxg6 28. Kxd1 {with material equality
and the lethal threat of} -- 29. Rh3 {and mate on h8.}) 20... b5 $5 {Not quite
as strong as it looks.} 21. Rde1 $1 Qg2 ({Not} 21... Qg6 22. f5 $1 {with an
attack.}) 22. axb5 ({The exchange sacrifice} 22. Qxg2 $5 Bxg2 23. axb5 $1 Bxf1
24. Rxf1 axb5 25. Nxb5 Be7 26. f5 exf5 27. Rxf5 {gives White a lot of play.})
22... Qxf2 23. Rxf2 axb5 24. Bf1 Be7 (24... Be7 {Threatening to skewer the
rooks with} 25. -- Bh4 {and so provoking another weakness.}) 25. g5 {However,
the advanced pawn's position is double-edged. It could form the spearhead for
an attack on the black king.} Rfd8 26. h4 Bd6 ({A case in point is} 26... g6 {
which prevents the f5 advannce but opens the long diagonal and invites the
response} 27. h5 $1 gxh5 28. f5 $1 {with attacking chances.}) 27. Bh3 (27. h5
$1 -- {forces Black to consider the threat of} 28. g6 {and if} hxg6 29. hxg6
fxg6 {then} 30. Rxe6) 27... Bd5 {Intending to advance his pawn to c4, but it
was very effective played at once:} (27... c4 $1 28. bxc4 bxc4 29. Nxc4 Bc5 30.
Rh2 Ba4 $1 {and c2 cannot be defended in view of} 31. Na3 $2 Nd3+ $1 32. cxd3
Bxa3 33. Bxa3 Rdc8+ {and mate next move!}) 28. Bf1 {A very sensible change of
mind!} c4 $1 29. bxc4 bxc4 30. Nxc4 (30. Bxc4 {is probably better, but White
must be careful not to fall for a hay-maker. E.g.} Rdc8 31. d3 ({not} 31. Bxd5
$4 Nd3+) 31... Na2+ 32. Bxa2 Bxa2 33. Re4 ({Black intended to double rooks on
the b-file with} 33. -- Rc7 34. -- Rcb7 {so White prepares to defend the
knight on a3}) 33... Bd5 34. Ra4 {and White can defend.}) 30... Na2+ (30... Bc5
$1 {is very strong:} 31. Rh2 (31. d4 $4 Na2+ 32. Kd2 (32. Kb1 Bxd4) 32... Bxc4
33. Bxc4 Rxb2 {wins}) 31... Bg1 32. Rh3 Bf2 33. Re2 $2 ({it may be best to
give up the exchange with} 33. Ree3) ({because} 33. Rd1 Rdc8 34. Na3 Be4 35. d3
Bf5 36. Rf3 Bxh4 {regains the pawn and the white rooks are still in trouble})
33... Bd4 $1 34. Reh2 ({because} 34. Bxd4 {allows} Na2+ 35. Kd1 Rb1#) 34...
Na2+ 35. Kb1 (35. Kd1 Bxb2) 35... Bxc4 {and Black wins a piece}) 31. Kb1 Bxc4
$2 (31... Bc5 $1 {keeps Black's advantage. E.g.} 32. Rh2 Rb4 33. Kxa2 Rdb8 34.
Ka1 Bxc4 35. Bxc4 Rxc4 36. c3 Rxf4) 32. Bxc4 {White should be able to defend
now and keep his pawn advantage.} Nb4 33. Bb3 (33. Rf3 {avoids any tricks.})
33... Bc5 $5 (33... Nd3 34. cxd3 Rxb3 35. Kc2 {is equal as White's extra pawn
is doubled and isolated.}) 34. Rg2 Nc6 35. Bc3 Nd4 36. Kb2 Nf3 37. Rh1 Ra8 (
37... Bd4 38. h5 Nxd2 39. Rxd2 Bxc3+ 40. Kxc3 Rbc8+ 41. Bc4 Rxc4+ 42. Kxc4 Rxd2
{is level!}) 38. Rh3 Nd4 39. Rd3 Ba3+ 40. Kb1 Nf5 ({After} 40... Nxb3 41. Rxd8+
Rxd8 42. cxb3 Bd6 $14 {White's is a pawn up in the ending, but there is
probably no win as his pawns are so split and exposed.}) 41. Rxd8+ Rxd8 42. h5
{Now White seems to be safe and he starts to take the initiative. But
unfortunately we are in the rapidplay finish and anything can happen.} Bd6 43.
Rf2 (43. g6 $1 {is consistent, but needs some analysis, which there was
probably precious little time for.} hxg6 (43... Bxf4 $2 {loses to} 44. gxf7+
Kxf7 (44... Kf8 45. Bxe6) 45. Rf2 {winning a piece thanks to} Bc7 {(say)} 46.
Rxf5+) 44. hxg6 Rb8 (44... Bxf4 45. Rf2 $1 (45. gxf7+ $2 Kxf7 46. Rf2 g5) 45...
Bg3 46. gxf7+ Kf8 (46... Kxf7 47. Rxf5+) 47. Re2 Nd4 48. Bxd4 Rxd4 49. Rxe6 Rd8
{with two extra pawns, although bishops of opposite colour may give Black some
chances to draw.}) 45. Kc1 Rb6 46. gxf7+ Kxf7 {White has consolidated his
extra pawn but a win looks unlikely.}) 43... Ng3 $1 {These knghts are devils
in rapidplay fisihses, aren't they? This one gains gains new horizons, eying
the loose h5 pawn.} 44. h6 (44. d3 $1 Rb8 $1 ({pinning the bishop so that it
cannot capture the e6 pawn after White makes the g5-g6 advance; instead} 44...
Nxh5 45. f5 $1 Rb8 46. fxe6 fxe6 47. Bd2 {gives White some chances for
advantage as he has the only passed pawn, and it can be supported by the two
bishops.}) 45. g6 hxg6 46. hxg6 fxg6 47. Bb2 Kf7 {looks drawn}) 44... Ne4 45.
Rf3 Nxc3+ 46. dxc3 {Forced, but making a draw extemely likely. I presume that
in the end White ran out of time, because he eventually lost. The moves that I
have are as follows.} (46. Rxc3 $2 Bxf4 {wins a pawn}) 46... Ba3 47. Rf1 Rd2
48. f5 exf5 49. Rxf5 Rd7 50. hxg7 Kxg7 51. Ka2 Bc1 52. Bc4 Kg6 53. Ra5 Bd2 54.
Bd3+ Kg7 55. Rc5 h6 56. gxh6+ Bxh6 57. Kb3 Be3 58. Rb5 Kf6 59. Kb4 Bd2 60. Kb3
Rc7 61. c4 Ke7 62. Re5+ Kd6 63. Rb5 Ra7 {and Black won} 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wells JC"]
[Black "Turner T"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "C01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "42"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 $5 3. e3 $6 {Acceptance is the only way to refute a gambit?
Well, White mnages in the end to turn it into a gambit of his own.} exd4 4.
exd4 Bb4+ 5. Nc3 O-O 6. Nf3 d5 7. Be2 dxc4 8. O-O Bxc3 9. bxc3 Be6 10. Bg5 h6 (
{I have two master games on my database that reached this position, with one
darw and Black winning one after} 10... Nbd7) 11. Bxf6 Qxf6 12. Qa4 (12. Rb1
Bd5 13. Ne5 {more-or-less forces the recapture of the pawn as Black would get
tied down trying to defend it.}) 12... Bd5 (12... Nd7 13. Qb5 (13. Bxc4 $4 {
loses the bishop to} Nb6) 13... Nb6 14. Ne5 c6 15. Qb4 Nd5 16. Qb2 Nf4 17. Bxc4
Bxc4 18. Nxc4 Qg5 {gives Black an active position.}) 13. Ne5 Qg5 14. g3 c6 15.
Qb4 b5 16. a4 Qd2 ({After} 16... f6 {White can, if he wishes, sacrifice a
piece for a central pawn phalanx with} 17. f4 Qf5 18. axb5 $1 fxe5 19. fxe5 Qc8
{and now} 20. Bxc4 {is also good, an dvery unclear in lines such as} (20. Qd6
Rd8 21. Bg4 Rxd6 22. Bxc8 Rd8 23. Bb7 cxb5 24. Bxa8 Bxa8 25. e6 $5 (25. Rxa7
Bd5 {is comfortable for Black}) 25... Bd5 26. e7 Re8 27. Rf5 Bf7 28. Rxb5 Nc6)
20... Rxf1+ 21. Rxf1 (21. Bxf1 {is OK}) 21... Nd7 22. Bb3 Bxb3 ({and} 22... Kh8
23. c4 Bg8 24. bxc6 Qxc6 25. d5 Qc5+ 26. Qxc5 Nxc5 27. Bc2 a5) 23. Qxb3+ Kh8
24. e6 Nf6 25. e7 Qe8 26. Qe6) 17. Rfe1 a5 18. Qd6 b4 19. cxb4 axb4 $6 ({It is
level after} 19... Qxb4 20. Qxb4 ({or} 20. Nxc4) 20... axb4 21. Bxc4 Bxc4 22.
Nxc4 Rd8) 20. Bxc4 Rxa4 21. Rad1 Qg5 (21... Qg5 {and a draw was agreed,
although after} 22. Bxd5 cxd5 23. Qxd5 {White has a well-centralised position
and is in control.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Elwin A"]
[Black "Twitchell D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A51"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 e5 $5 {Good Heavens! Another Budapest Gambit. In contrast to
Jonathan Wells, Adrian Elwin chooses to accept it.} 3. dxe5 Ne4 $5 ({80% of
the time, Black plays} 3... Ng4 {and generally regains the pawn soon. The
variation played is the Fajarowicz, less normally successful but certainly
sharp! If White doesn't know what he is doing, he can get into a mess.}) 4. Nf3
({Not bad, but both} 4. a3) ({and} 4. Nd2 {have bigger plus scores for White.})
4... Bb4+ 5. Nbd2 Nc6 6. Qc2 $6 (6. a3 Bxd2+ 7. Bxd2 Nxd2 (7... Qe7 8. Bf4) 8.
Qxd2 Qe7 9. Qf4 {is fine for White, who retains the cramping pawn at e5.} {E.g.
} O-O 10. O-O-O Re8 11. Rd5) 6... d5 $5 {The aggressive approach.} (6... Nxd2 {
is also good as} 7. Bxd2 Bxd2+ 8. Qxd2 Qe7 9. Qc3 ({without the pawn on a3,} 9.
Qf4 $6 {can be met by} Qb4+) 9... O-O 10. O-O-O Re8 {regains the pawn.}) 7.
cxd5 {this is OK, although it aids Black's development.} ({Black's idea was} 7.
exd6 Bf5 $1 {threatening some nasty discoveries by the night at e4.} {The
sorry retreat} 8. Qd1 {is probably best, but} (8. Qb3 Qxd6 9. a3 Ba5 ({or} 9...
Bxd2+ 10. Bxd2 O-O-O 11. Be3 Qe6 {and the white pieces are in each other's way}
) 10. Qb5 (10. Qa2 Bxd2+ 11. Bxd2 (11. Nxd2 Nd4 $1 {is horrible for White})
11... Nxd2 12. Nxd2 Nd4 {gives Black a big attack}) 10... Qf6 $1 11. Ra2 a6 12.
Qa4 Nc5 13. Qd1 O-O-O {is great for Black, who has a strong attack.}) 8... Qxd6
9. a3 Bxd2+ 10. Bxd2 O-O-O {gives Black a masive lead in development for his
pawn.}) ({White can play} 7. a3 Bxd2+ 8. Bxd2 Bf5 {, since ...Ne4xd2 is no
longer a threat with the bishop no longer at b4, but it probably involves
White allowing Black to win the exchange with Ne4-g3.}) 7... Qxd5 8. Qd3 $1 ({
Better than} 8. a3 Bxd2+ 9. Bxd2 Bf5 {with the usual threats.}) 8... Be6 9. a3
Nxd2 10. Bxd2 Bxd2+ 11. Qxd2 Qxd2+ 12. Nxd2 (12. Kxd2 $1 O-O-O+ 13. Kc3 {looks
odd, but the white king is in no danger and is better placed than in the game.
Black will regain the pawn easily enough with a level endgame.}) 12... Nxe5 13.
e4 $6 O-O-O 14. h3 f5 {The e-pawn was a target, tying down the white knight,
so liquidating it eases White's task.} (14... Rd4 {was better, and after} 15.
O-O-O Rhd8 16. Be2 Nd7 $1 17. f3 (17. b4 {is met with} a5 18. bxa5 Nc5 {
winning gthe e4 pawn because if} 19. f3 $4 {then} Rxd2 $1 20. Rxd2 Nb3+) 17...
Nc5 18. Kc2 a5 {and White is pressed to find a useful move}) 15. O-O-O fxe4 16.
Nxe4 Rxd1+ 17. Kxd1 Rd8+ 18. Kc1 Rd4 19. Nc3 Kd7 20. Be2 Nd3+ 21. Bxd3 Rxd3 22.
Re1 c6 23. Ne4 Rd5 24. g4 h5 25. f3 b6 26. Kc2 Ke7 27. f4 hxg4 28. hxg4 Bxg4 $4
{The game has been level for some time, but this blunder loses the exchange
and with it the game. Black may have thought that the endgame with a pawn for
the exchange is drawn, but he is to be rudely awakened.} (28... Kf8 29. Nc3 Rd6
{is still level}) 29. Nc3+ Kd6 30. Nxd5 cxd5 31. Re5 g6 32. Kc3 Bf5 33. Kd4 Be4
34. b4 b5 35. Re8 Kc7 36. Kc5 a6 37. Re7+ Kd8 (37... Kb8 38. Rg7 {is Zugswang.
The bishop cannot move without losing the d- or g-pawn and king moves are also
fatal:} Kc8 (38... Ka8 39. Kb6 {mating}) 39. Ra7 {winnng the a-pawn as in the
game}) 38. Ra7 a5 39. Rxa5 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ilett R"]
[Black "Dempster D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E94"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. e4 d6 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Be2 Na6 {Of all the
popular moves at this point, this is the most successful. The idea is to play .
..e5 and then secure an active berth for the knight at c5.} 7. O-O e5 8. d5 Nc5
9. Bg5 {White prevents the capture of the e4 pawn through this pin, but the
problem is that Black's reply forces the exchange of White's good bishop as
otherwise White loses that pawn.} h6 10. Bxf6 ({Not} 10. Bh4 g5 11. Bg3 Nfxe4)
10... Qxf6 11. b4 Na6 (11... Nd7 {looks better, since the knight is exposed
here and Black may need it to be available to support a kingside attack.}) 12.
Qb3 Qe7 13. Nd2 Kh8 ({If Black plays} 13... f5 {without this precaution, then
White can advance his c-pawn at once:} 14. c5 dxc5 $2 15. d6+ Qf7 16. Bc4 {
wins the black queen.}) 14. a3 f5 15. Qc2 f4 {It is normally better to wait
for White to play f2-f3 before playing this move, but there seems to be no
good way to encourage that move.} 16. f3 {This provides a target for Black's
pawn advances on the kingside. We now see a standard King's Indian queenside
attack versus kingside attack.} Bf6 {Preparing an attack with pieces. Normally,
Black would attack with pawns, but his knight is too far away to lend support.}
17. Nb3 ({White could advance at once because} 17. c5 dxc5 18. Bxa6 bxa6 (18...
cxb4 19. Na2) 19. Na2 cxb4 20. Nxb4 {leaves the black queensde in a mess for
the price of a mere pawn.}) 17... Bh4 18. Bd3 Qg5 {If White is careful, he can
allow Black to continue with his kingside attack and simply continue his own
queenside attack, but he starts to fret about "threats" like ...Bh3 and ...Bg3,
none of which can do any damage for the time being.} 19. Kh1 $6 (19. c5) 19...
Bg3 $5 20. Ne2 {There was still no threat.} (20. c5 Qh4 21. h3 {is fine for
White, as a bishop sacrifice on h3 would not bring ny great rewards with the
white queen covering the second rank.}) ({Of course, he must not accept the
sacrifice because} 20. hxg3 Qh5+ 21. Kg1 fxg3 22. Rfd1 ({not} 22. Rfe1 Qh2+ 23.
Kf1 Rxf3+ $1 24. gxf3 Bh3+ {mating}) 22... Qh2+ 23. Kf1 Qh1+ 24. Ke2 Qxg2+ 25.
Ke1 Qxf3 {gives Black a massive attack.}) 20... Qh5 21. Nxg3 (21. h3 {is fine,
because} Bxh3 $2 {can be met with} 22. Nxg3 {(attacking the black queen so
there is no winning discovered check)} fxg3 23. gxh3 Qxh3+ 24. Kg1 {and White
can continue to defend his king effectively.}) 21... fxg3 22. h3 Rf4 {the
availability of this square for the rook makes Black's attack far more
dangerous, and he hasn't had to sacrifice anything yet.} 23. Kg1 Rh4 24. Nc1 $1
(24. Nc1 {White's last two moves have been very good. Not only is the
sacrifice on h3 no longer effective (} Bxh3 25. gxh3 Rxh3 26. Qg2 {) but the
knight can also join the defence when needed. All this has been achieved at
the cost of delaying his queenside attack.}) 24... Qg5 {By defending the g3
pawn, he can now make the bishop sacrifice on h3. There is also the
possibility of a queen check on e3, forcing the king back to the h-file. This
last idea causes White to panic.} 25. f4 $5 {Not bad. This blocks the
possibility of the queen getting to e3, but that was not so dangerous:} ({was
best, but the main point is hidden:} 25. Ne2 Bxh3 {looks decisive, doesn't it?
Well, White is fine if he ignores the bishop and plays} ({after} 25... Qe3+ 26.
Kh1 Bxh3 $6 (26... Qg5 $1 27. Kg1 Qe3+ {is a draw by repetition}) 27. gxh3
Rxh3+ 28. Kg2 Rh2+ 29. Kxg3 {the White king can be defended and he is a piece
ahead. E.g.} Rh5 30. Kg2 Rg5+ 31. Ng3 h5 32. Kh3 h4 33. Nh1 Qf4 34. Qf2 Kg7 35.
Rg1 {and the attack is over.}) 26. Qc1 $1 {bringing the attack to a shuddering
stop, when Black's misplaced rook will tae a long time getting back to help in
the defence of the queenside. White will not be a pawn down for long because
the black pawn on g3 cannot be defended.} (26. gxh3 $2 Rxh3 {wins for Black
because the queen and rook, playing around the black pawn on g3, have
unfettered access to the white king})) 25... exf4 26. Ne2 Bxh3 $5 {White's
worst nightmares come true. Black makes the sacrifice and defence will be
difficult.  Black could also play more positionally. the e5 square is crying
out to be occupied, either by the black queen or, ultimately more usefully, by
the knight which can reach that square via b8 and d7.} 27. Nxf4 $2 {Panic!} ({
On} 27. gxh3 {If Black recaptures at once with} Rxh3 ({Black needn't let the
f4 pawn go. With} 27... Rf8 $1 {Black would keep his dangerous pawn wedge and
the game would pprobably end with perpetual check. E.g.} 28. Qc3+ ({or} 28. Kg2
f3+ 29. Rxf3 Rxf3 30. Kxf3 Qf6+ 31. Kxg3 Qe5+ 32. Kg2 Qxa1 {Black would emerge
the exchange ahead, although after} 33. c5 $1 Rh5 34. cxd6 Rg5+ 35. Kf3 {the
position is unclear}) 28... Kh7 29. Kg2 (29. Nd4 Rxh3 30. Ne6 Rh1+ $1 31. Kg2 (
{not} 31. Kxh1 Qh4+ 32. Kg2 f3+ 33. Rxf3 Qh2+ 34. Kf1 Rxf3+ {winning for Black}
) 31... Rh2+ {is again perpetual check}) 29... Rxh3 30. Kxh3 Qh5+ 31. Kg2 Qh2+
32. Kf3 Qh5+ {is a draw by perpetual check.}) {White has} 28. Nxf4 {after which
} g2 $1 {keeps the attack going, but rather more uncertainly.}) 27... Bg4 (
27... Bd7 {is better, keeping the knight under attack by the rook on h4:} 28.
Qc1 Kg8 $1 ({not} 28... Rf8 $4 29. Nxg6+ {winning the exchange}) 29. Nh3 ({or} 
29. Rf3 Rf8 {and the knight cannot be defended further}) 29... Qe5 $1 {and
Black will win a pawn on h3.}) 28. Nxg6+ $2 {Desperation or hallucination?} (
28. Qc1 {is necessary} Rh2 {can be met by} (28... Kh7 29. Nh3 Qe7 (29... Qe5 {
is met by} 30. Qf4 $1 {with counterchances as a major piece can reach f7}) 30.
Qe3 Bxh3 31. gxh3 Qd7 32. Qxg3 Rxh3 33. Rf7+ Qxf7 34. Qxh3 {and Black is a
pawn ahead although White has counterchances based on the slightly vulnerable
black kingside (ironic, since White has no pawns there protecting his own
king!).}) 29. Qe3 Bh5 30. e5 $3 dxe5 31. Rae1 $1 exf4 32. Rxf4 {and, with so
many black pieces scattered on the wings (only the queen is not on a rook's
file!) White has very strong threats.} -- (32... c5 33. dxc6 Rd8 34. cxb7 Rh4
35. Re4 Rxe4 36. Qxe4 Qf6) {E.g.} 33. Qd4+ Kg8 34. Re5 Qd8 35. Qe4 -- {
intending} 36. Re7 ({and} 36. Rxh5 gxh5 37. Qh7#)) 28... Qxg6 29. Qc3+ Kg8 ({
Maybe White was hoping for} 29... Kh7 $4 30. e5 {winning the queen...}) 30. Rf3
({...or maybe he forgot that} 30. e5 {can be met by the standard mating
combination} Rh1+ 31. Kxh1 Qh5+ 32. Kg1 Qh2#) 30... Bxf3 31. gxf3 Qh5 32. Kg2
Rh2+ {it wil soon be mate.} 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R2"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore S"]
[Black "Hughes M"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "77"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. Nf3 Bg4 4. Be2 Qxd5 5. d4 Nc6 6. Be3 O-O-O 7. c4 Qh5 8.
Nbd2 e5 {This seems to be a rather dubious pawn sacrifice.} 9. d5 Nd4 10. Nxd4
exd4 11. Bxd4 Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Re8 13. Be3 Bc5 14. Qxh5 Nxh5 15. Ke2 Re7 (15...
Nf4+ 16. Kf3 Bxe3 17. fxe3 Nd3 {was played in Nun -Oral, Czechia 1994, and
somehow Black won.}) 16. Kd3 (16. Kf3 {is much safer. The white king heads off
to the queenside where it can assist in promoting the extra pawn, but it is
deserting the kingside pawns.}) 16... Bxe3 17. fxe3 Nf6 $2 (17... Rhe8 {is the
way to exploit the white king's position. After} 18. e4 ({not} 18. Rae1 $4 Nf4+
$1 {and Black wins both the g2 and e3 pawns}) 18... f5 $1 {the white king's
position is sticky and the game would level after} 19. Rhg1 $1 ({or} 19. exf5
Nf4+ 20. Kc3 Re3+ 21. Kc2 Nxg2 22. Rag1 Re2 23. Kc1 R8e5 {regaining the pawn})
19... fxe4+ 20. Ke3 Nf6 21. g4 $1) 18. Rae1 Ng4 19. Re2 Rhe8 20. e4 f5 21. h3
$6 ({White misses a tactic here. He could profitably desert the h-pawn and play
} 21. Rhe1 $1 {intending} fxe4+ $2 (21... Nxh2 22. exf5 {forces off all the
rooks and leaves White with a winning knight ending}) 22. Nxe4 Nxh2 $4 23. Nd6+
$1 {winning the exchange.}) 21... fxe4+ 22. Kd4 (22. Nxe4 $4 {loses to yet
another knight fork:} Rxe4 23. Rxe4 Nf2+) 22... e3 23. hxg4 exd2 24. Rxd2 {Now
the weak g-pawns mean that White's advantage is only slight, but he outplays
his club-mate quite effectively from now on.} h6 25. Kc3 Re5 26. Rf1 Rg5 27.
Rf4 b5 $6 {encouraging the white pawn majority forward. Possibly not the best
idea!} 28. c5 Re3+ $6 29. Kd4 $2 (29. Kb4 {is quickly winning:} a6 30. Ka5 Ree5
31. c6 $1 $18 {thraetening mate on f8, so the white king will win the a6 pawn.}
) 29... Rg3 (29... Ree5 $1 30. Rf5 Rgxf5 31. gxf5 Rxf5 32. c6 {still involves
difficulties for Black, but would be better than the game.}) 30. c6 $1 R3xg4
31. Rxg4 Rxg4+ 32. Kc5 a6 {Threatening mate!} 33. d6 $5 {This wins, but
against best play it would be quite scary!} ({The main difference compared
with the previous note is} 33. b3 $1 Rg5 $2 {preventing d5-d6} (33... Rf4 {
gives up the chance to capture the g2 pawn, and so} 34. d6 Rf5+ 35. Rd5 {is an
easy win; compare the similar line in the next note}) 34. Rf2 $1 {and the rook
penetrates decisively.}) 33... cxd6+ ({The crucial line is} 33... Rg5+ $1 34.
Rd5 cxd6+ 35. Kxd6 Rxg2 (35... Rxd5+ 36. Kxd5 Kc7 37. Ke6 Kxc6 38. Kf7 g5 39.
Kg6 {is a trivial win for White because he hoovers up the black kingsde pawns
well before Black has the chance to do the same on the queenside}) 36. Rd4 $1 (
36. Re5 Rg6+ 37. Kd5 Rg5 {actually wins for Black!}) 36... Re2 (36... Rxb2 37.
Re4 $1 Rd2+ 38. Kc5 Kd8 (38... Kc7 39. Re7+ Kd8 40. Rxg7) 39. Kb6 Rc2 40. Rd4+
Kc8 41. Rd7 g5 42. Rh7 Kd8 43. c7+ Kc8 44. Rxh6 {and wins because} Rxc7 45.
Rh8+ Kd7 46. Rh7+ {wins the rook}) 37. Kc5 -- {and} 38. Kb6 {will win
comfortably. Note in all this that if the black pawn was not on b5, Black
could check the white king on the b-file and there would be no win!}) 34. Rxd6
Rxg2 35. Kb6 {Now it is all clear.} Rc2 36. Rg6 Rd2 37. Rxg7 Rd8 38. Rc7+ Kb8
39. Rh7 {A fascinating ending.} 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Arkell K"]
[Black "Gregory S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A41"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 d6 3. c4 Nc6 4. d5 Ne5 5. Nxe5 dxe5 6. Nc3 e6 7. e4 Bc5 8. Be2
b5 $5 {This is new, according to my database. Taking with the knight loses the
e4 pawn, but White can take with the c-pawn with interesting play.} 9. O-O (9.
cxb5 exd5 10. exd5 Bb7 {and White's split pawns and Black's actiive pieces
give some compensation for the pawn.}) 9... b4 10. Na4 Bd4 11. Be3 $5 Bxe3 12.
fxe3 Nxe4 $2 {An error which White fails to exploit.} 13. dxe6 ({After} 13. Bf3
$1 Qh4 {may be better, when White can choose between "winning" a piece for
several pawns with} ({Black should probably avoid} 13... Ng5 {when} 14. dxe6 {
gives White the edge:} Qxd1 {is better, but after} (14... Nxf3+ {loses to} 15.
Qxf3 Bxe6 16. Rad1 $1 Qc8 17. Qc6+ Kf8 ({not} 17... Bd7 18. Rxd7 $1) 18. Nc5
Bg4 19. Rd7 $1 Bxd7 20. Nxd7+ Ke7 ({or} 20... Kg8 21. Qd5 Qe8 22. Rxf7 $1 Qxf7
23. Qxa8+ Qf8 24. Qxf8#) 21. Qc5+ $1 Kd8 (21... Kxd7 22. Rxf7+ Ke6 23. Qd5#)
22. Nxe5 {and the threats are too strong. E.g.} Ke8 23. Qc6+ Kf8 24. Qd5 Qe8
25. Rxf7+ {mating.}) 15. exf7+ {and} Ke7 (15... Nxf7 16. Raxd1 Rb8 17. Rd5 O-O
(17... Bb7 $2 18. Rb5) 18. Rc5 {wins a pawn}) 16. Bxd1 Rf8 17. Bc2 Be6 18. b3 {
leaves some of Black's pawns rather vulnerable}) 14. g3 ({or the exchange for
a pawn with} 14. dxe6 Bxe6 15. Nc5 Nxc5 16. Bxa8 O-O 17. Bd5) 14... Nxg3 15.
hxg3 Qxg3+ 16. Bg2 Qxe3+ 17. Rf2 {when White keeps the initiative. E.g.} {
better is} O-O (17... Rb8 $6 18. d6 $1 cxd6 $2 (18... Bd7 19. dxc7 Rc8 20. c5
e4 (20... Rxc7 21. Qd6) 21. Qd6 $1 Bxa4 22. b3 Bb5 23. Rd1 Qg5 24. c6 {wins})
19. Qxd6 {wins for White}) 18. d6 e4 19. d7 Bb7 20. Qd2 Qg3 21. Re1 Qe5 22.
Qxb4 {although White must be careful that the black kingside pawns don't get
moving.}) 13... Bxe6 14. Bf3 Qxd1 15. Raxd1 f5 16. Bxe4 fxe4 17. b3 {White
will get his pawn back and the game will be level.  Keith Arkell is well-known
for keeping games going where others would agree draws. In the sequel, Black
misses several fairly clear routes to a draw (see the variatons) but ends up
losing.} Ke7 18. Nc5 a5 19. Nxe4 a4 20. Nc5 axb3 21. axb3 Rhd8 22. Rxd8 Rxd8
23. Ra1 Bf5 24. Ra4 Rd1+ 25. Kf2 Rd2+ 26. Kf3 g5 $5 (26... Kd6 $1 27. Nb7+ (27.
Ne4+ Bxe4+ 28. Kxe4 Rxg2 {is better for Black}) 27... Ke7 28. Rxb4 Bd7 $1 29.
Na5 (29. Nc5 Bc6+ 30. e4 Rd4 31. -- Kd6) 29... Ra2 30. Nb7 Bc6+ 31. e4 Rd2 32.
Nc5 Rd4 {and the e4 pawn cannot be saved without allowing a draw by repetition}
) 27. e4 Bg6 28. Rxb4 h5 (28... g4+ $1 29. Kg3 (29. Kxg4 Rxg2+ 30. Kh3 Re2 31.
Rb7 Kd6 $11) 29... Kd6 30. Rb5 Re2 {and Black regains the pawn}) 29. Rb8 g4+
30. Kg3 h4+ $2 {Now White gets to keep his extra pawn.} (30... Re2 $1 31. Rg8
Kf6 32. Rc8 Kg5 33. h4+ gxh3 34. Kxh3 ({not} 34. gxh3 $4 h4+ 35. Kf3 Bh5#)
34... Bxe4 35. Nxe4+ Rxe4 36. Rxc7 Re3+ 37. g3 Rxb3 {with level material and
too few pawns to worry Black.}) 31. Kxh4 Rxg2 32. Rg8 Bf7 33. Rxg4 Rxh2+ 34.
Kg3 Rc2 (34... Rb2 $1 35. Rg7 (35. Rg5 Kd6 36. Nb7+ Kd7 37. Na5 (37. Rxe5 $4
Rxb3+) 37... Ke6 38. c5 Be8 $14) 35... Kd6 36. Rxf7 Kxc5 37. Rxc7+ Kd4 38. Rb7
Kxe4 39. c5 Kd5 40. b4 Rb3+ 41. Kg4 e4 {and in both cases White is unlikely to
win.}) 35. Rg7 Kf6 36. Rh7 Kg6 37. Rh4 Rc3+ 38. Kg2 Kg5 39. Rh7 Kg6 40. Rh3
Rc2+ 41. Kf3 Kf6 (41... Bxc4 $1 42. Rg3+ Kf7 43. bxc4 Rc3+ 44. Kg4 Rxc4 45. Nd3
Rxe4+ {should be a draw}) 42. Rh6+ Bg6 43. Ke3 Rc3+ 44. Kd2 Rg3 45. Rh8 Rg2+
46. Kc3 Re2 $2 ({After} 46... Rg3+ 47. Kb4 Re3 48. Rf8+ Ke7 49. Rc8 Bxe4 50.
Rxc7+ Kd6 {the black e-pawn gives some counterplay.}) 47. Kd3 Rg2 (47... Ra2
48. Rc8 Ra7 49. Nd7+ {loses to} Ke6 50. Nf8+ Kf6 51. Nxg6 Kxg6 52. c5 {with
the black rook passive and his king away from the action}) 48. Rc8 Rg3+ 49. Ke2
(49. Kc2 $1 Rg2+ 50. Kc3 Rg3+ 51. Kb4 Re3 52. Rxc7 Bxe4 53. Nxe4+ Rxe4 54. Kc5
{wins for White because the b-pawn runs}) 49... Kg5 $1 50. Rg8 {The
scoresheets run out here and at some point White won.} (50. Rg8 Kf6 51. Rd8 Kg5
{would leave a lot of work still to be done for White to win with best ply -
but best play is tricky in such an endgame in the depths of a rapidplay finish.
}) 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Myall I"]
[Black "Anderson J"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B09"]
[PlyCount "24"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 g6 4. f4 Bg7 5. Nf3 O-O 6. Bd3 Na6 7. a3 c5 8. d5 Bg4
9. O-O Nc7 10. Qe1 Bxf3 11. Rxf3 Rb8 12. a4 Nd7 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Gerald"]
[Black "Bradbury N"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A30"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "98"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. c4 b6 3. g3 Bb7 4. Bg2 c5 5. O-O g6 6. Nc3 Bg7 7. d4 cxd4 8. Qxd4
Nc6 9. Qf4 O-O 10. Rd1 Rc8 11. Qh4 $5 Na5 12. b3 a6 ({With the white queen on
h4, it is worth trying} 12... Rc5 $5 {to get the rook around to h5 to drive it
back.}) 13. Bh6 Bxf3 ({He doesn't like} 13... b5 14. Ng5 $5 Bxg2 15. Kxg2 {when
} bxc4 {is met with} 16. Nd5 $1 Nh5 (16... Nxd5 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. Qxh7+ Kf6 19.
Rxd5 {gives White a crushing attack on the exposed king}) 17. Bxg7 Kxg7 18. g4
{and the black king's position will be seriously weakened.}) 14. Bxf3 b5 15.
Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Nd5 $1 Nxd5 (16... bxc4 17. Nxf6 exf6 18. b4 Nc6 19. Qxc4 Qb6 20.
a3 Ne5 21. Qd4 {is slightly better for White thanks to Black's isolated 
(although passed) d-pawn.}) 17. Rxd5 e6 18. Qd4+ Qf6 19. Rxd7 $14 e5 $2 (19...
bxc4 20. bxc4 Nxc4 21. Bb7 {leaves Black a pawn down in the ending, but it
would not be easy for White to win since the black pieces are fairly active
and the a-pawn will be hard to advance.}) 20. Qd6 bxc4 21. b4 (21. Qxf6+ Kxf6
22. Rd6+ Ke7 23. Rxa6 {wins a second pawn becuas ethe apparently dangerous
piece sacrifice} cxb3 24. Rxa5 b2 {fails to} 25. Rf1 $1 Rc1 26. Rxe5+ Kf6 27.
Rb5 {etc.}) 21... e4 $1 (21... Qxd6 22. Rxd6 {wins the knight}) 22. Qxf6+ (22.
Bxe4 $4 Qxa1+) 22... Kxf6 23. Bxe4 Nc6 24. a3 {The story of the rest of the
game is about White having a potentially winning endgame but not quite nailing
his slippery opponent. In the end he blunders to allow a draw just when he
could have pocketed the full point.} (24. Rc1 $1 Nxb4 25. a3 Ke6 (25... Nc6 26.
Rd6+) 26. Ra7 {wins a pawn and both the opposing knight and king are in the
firing line.}) 24... Ne5 (24... Nb8 {saves the second pawn.}) 25. Rd6+ Ke7 26.
Rd5 ({Here greed might have paid off:} 26. Rxa6 Rfd8 27. Ra7+ Kf6 28. f4 Ng4
29. Rc1 {targetting the c-pawn too.}) 26... f6 27. Rc1 Nd7 28. Rc3 f5 29. Bf3
Rf6 30. Kf1 Rc7 31. Ke1 Rd6 (31... Re6 {avoids the following rook exchange.})
32. Re3+ $1 Re6 33. Rxe6+ Kxe6 34. Ra5 Ne5 35. Rxa6+ Ke7 36. Kd2 Rd7+ 37. Kc2 (
37. Kc3 Nxf3 38. exf3 Rd3+ 39. Kxc4 Rxf3 40. Ra7+ Kd6 41. Rxh7 Rxa3 42. Rg7 Rf3
43. Rxg6+ Ke7 44. b5 Rxf2 45. b6 {and White's passed pawns on both sides of
the board will soon wrap up the game.}) 37... Nxf3 38. exf3 Rd3 39. b5 $1 Rxf3
40. b6 Kd6 41. a4 Kc5 42. b7 $4 (42. a5 {does the trick:} Kd4 (42... Rxf2+ 43.
Kc1 Rf1+ 44. Kd2 Rb1 (44... Ra1 45. b7 Rb1 46. Rb6) 45. Kc2 Rb5 46. Ra7 Kc6 47.
Kc3 Kc5 (47... h5 48. Kxc4) {and now the pawns can advance further:} 48. b7
Rb3+ 49. Kd2 Kd4 50. a6 Rb2+ 51. Kc1 Kc3 52. Ra8 Rxh2 53. Kd1 {and the b-pawn
promotes}) 43. b7 Rxf2+ 44. Kd1 Rb2 {fails nicely to} 45. Rb6 $1) 42... Rxf2+
43. Kc1 Rf1+ 44. Kd2 Rf2+ 45. Ke3 Rb2 46. Ra5+ Kc6 47. Rb5 Rxb5 48. axb5+ Kxb7
49. Kd4 g5 {It's a draw:} (49... g5 50. Kxc4 f4 51. gxf4 gxf4 52. Kd4 Kb6 53.
Ke4 Kxb5 54. Kxf4 Kc5 55. Kg5 Kd5 56. Kh6 Ke6 57. Kxh7 Kf7) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spence D"]
[Black "Saravanan K"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "99"]

1. e4 c5 2. c3 Nf6 3. e5 Nd5 4. d4 cxd4 5. cxd4 Nc6 6. Nf3 d6 7. Bc4 Nb6 8. Bb3
d5 9. Nh4 {This may look odd, but it is the most played - and most successful
- move in this position. White is willing to sacrifice two tempi to prevent
the development of the black queen's bishop outside the pawn chain.} e6 (9...
g6 {Still holds out ambitions for the queen's bishop. It is played less often
than the move played, but tends to be more successful for Black.}) 10. Nf3 Be7
11. Nc3 Bd7 12. O-O Rc8 13. Bc2 f5 {This is the first new move according to my
database.} 14. exf6 Bxf6 15. Ne5 Bxe5 16. dxe5 Qh4 (16... Nxe5 17. Qh5+ Nf7 {
gives White attacking chances, but a pawn is a pawn.}) 17. f4 (17. Nb5 O-O 18.
Nd6 Rc7 19. f4 {establishes the knight on d6. Black cannot displace it yet with
} Nc8 $4 {because the rook is trapped and won by} 20. Nb5) 17... O-O 18. Rf3 (
18. Rf3 -- {Threatening to win with} 19. Rh3 {followed by Bxh7+, but Black's
reply is a blunder beacsue it allows White to play the same moves in reverse.
That's always an idea worth looking out for!}) 18... Qg4 $4 (18... Qe7 {was
safe.}) 19. Bxh7+ $1 Kf7 ({Best is to give up the queen:} 19... Kxh7 20. Rh3+
Qxh3 ({not} 20... Kg8 21. Qxg4) 21. gxh3 {and naturally White should win, but
he still has a lot of work to do before Black should consider resigning.}) 20.
Nb5 $1 {Ouch! The threat to fork on d6 prompts Black to move his king again.}
Ke7 21. Qe1 $1 {White unpins the rook and threatens to bring the rook to g3,
winning the g7 pawn with check.} Nxe5 $2 (21... Nxe5 {The idea is} 22. fxe5
Rxf3 {winning material because the g2 pawn is pinned. But there is a flaw...})
22. Qb4+ $6 (22. Rg3 $1 {takes the rook out of the firing line so Black must
attack the bishop or lose a whole piece.} {But} Qh5 23. Qb4+ $1 {forces} Ke8 {
which walks into that knight fork and after} 24. Nd6+ Kd8 25. Nxc8 {the rook
on f8 is also en prise, so Black doesn't ven have time to recapture the knight
or take the bishop.}) (22. Qxe5 Bxb5 $16) 22... Ke8 23. Nd6+ Kd8 24. Nxb7+ {
Not the best of his alternatives.} (24. fxe5 {loses the queen to} Qxb4) (24.
Nxc8 {allows} Nxf3+) ({so White should consider moving his rook, but} 24. Rg3 {
allows} Qd1+ 25. Kf2 Rxc1 {which probably leads to a draw}) ({the better way
is therefore} 24. Rf1 $1 {and Black remains under severe pressure.}) 24... Kc7
25. Qd6+ Kxb7 26. Qxe5 g6 {White is a pawn ahead, but the black king is safe
and the bishop on h7 is causing some concerned. Therefore Karthik offered a
draw, which Dave declined.  Dave could well have lived to regret that decision!
} 27. Be3 Rc2 $2 ({After} 27... Nc4 $1 {(weakening the defence of the f4 pawn)}
28. Qd4 Nxe3 29. Qxe3 Bc6 $1 (29... Bc6 {threatening} 30. -- d4) 30. Qd4 Rf7
31. Rg3 Qxf4 32. Rb3+ Ka8 33. Qxf4 Rxf4 34. Bxg6 {Black has definite drawing
chances since he has two connected passed pawns of his own.}) 28. Rg3 Qe2 29.
Bd4 $2 {Both players have overlooked a tactic.} ({After} 29. Bxg6 $1 Rxb2 $2 {
can be met with} 30. Bd3 $1 {and the queen cannot maintain the defence of the
rook. Therefore the rook would have to retreat instead of capturing on b2,
leaving White two connected passed pawns ahead.}) 29... Qd2 30. Bc3 $2 (30. Bc3
{White isn't afraid of Black capturing his f4 pawn because after} Qxf4 31. Qxf4
Rxf4 32. Bxg6 Rcf2 33. h4 {the h-pawn runs decisively. But Black doesn't have
to cature with the queen, as Black's next move shows.}) 30... Qf2+ $1 31. Kh1
Rxf4 {Equalising on material and threatening mate!} 32. Qe1 $2 ({This too has
a tactical flaw. Since he cannot give hsi king air by moving the h2 pawn, sinc
his rook on g3 would be en prise, the only good defence was} 32. Rg1 {when
Black has a strong initiative and can soon think about advancing his passed
d-pawn.  But after the move played, that advance could be played immediately
and decisively.}) 32... Rf7 $2 {Unnecessarily going over to the defence.} (
32... d4 $1 {wins material:} 33. Bb4 {saves the bishop} ({it would be lost
after} 33. Qxf2 Rcxf2 {and White must attend to the threat of mate on f1}) (33.
Bxg6 Re2 $1 34. Qxf2 Rexf2 {has the same effect}) {Now the pawn marches on...}
33... d3 34. Qxf2 Rcxf2 35. Kg1 d2 $1 ({the simpler} 35... Bb5 {at once is
also decisive}) {and now} 36. Rd3 ({against the threat of} 36. -- Rf1+ $1 37.
Rxf1 Rxf1+ 38. Kxf1 d1=Q+) {doesn't stop the pawn because Black has} 36... Bb5
$1 {and if the rokk moves it is mate on f1.  What a shame!}) 33. Bxg6 Re2 34.
Qxf2 Rfxf2 35. Bd4 $2 {Time trouble?} (35. Bd3 {traps the rook on e2}) 35...
Rf4 $2 (35... Rf8 {allows the rooks to escape, although White is clearly
winning with the extra pawn and two active bishops}) 36. Bc3 $2 (36. Bd3 Rd2
37. Be3 {again wins the exchange}) 36... d4 {Better late than never! This
gives Black some drawing chances.} 37. Bb4 {The position is a tricky one to
get right. The computer says that White should put the other bishop on d3 and
only then move this bishop. But the analysis that supports this notion is
complex and rather obscure.} d3 $4 {Inexplicable, unless the players have not
realised that they have reached the time control.} ({Black could exploit White
omission by covering the d3 square with} 37... Bb5 $1 {Then, White's only way
to avoid probable equality is to avoid a black rook capturing on b2, but after}
38. Ba3 e5 {both of Black's central pawns are rolling.}) 38. Bxd3 Rxb2 39. Bc5
(39. Bc3 Rbf2 40. Kg1 $1 {allows the white h-pawn to run, since one rook cannt
capture without losing the other.}) 39... Na4 $2 {Weakens the king's position
and deserts the defence of the bishop, which have immediately catastrophic
consequences.} 40. Be3 Rfb4 (40... Rf7 {is a tougher nut to crack, but the
white bishops and rook will run amok. E.g.} 41. Bg6 Rf8 (41... Re7 42. Bg5 Rg7
43. Bf6 {loses the exchange}) 42. Be4+ Kb8 43. Rg7 Re2 ({or} 43... Rd8 44. Bf4+
Kc8 45. Rc1+ {mating}) 44. Rb1+ Kc7 45. Rc1+ Kd6 46. Bg5 Rff2 (46... -- {the
threat was} 47. Be7+) 47. Bh4 Rf4 48. Bg3 Rexe4 49. Bxf4+ Rxf4 50. Rd1+ Kc6 51.
Rgxd7) 41. Rg7 Kc7 42. Rc1+ Kd6 43. Bxa7 (43. Bg5 {is stronger, bringing more
pressure to bear on the weak king. If Black tries to save his rook against the
threatened check on e7, then we could have a pretty finish, such as} Rb7 44.
Be7+ Kd5 45. Bc4+ Ke5 46. Rg5+ Ke4 47. Rg4+ Kf5 48. Bd3+ $1 Kxg4 49. Rc4+ Kh5
50. Rh4#) 43... Bc6 44. Bf1 $2 {Giving Black another chance to make life
difficult.} Rxa2 (44... Rb1 $1 45. Rxb1 Rxb1 46. Rf7 Bb5 47. Kg1 Nc3 {ties
down the white pieces. E.g.} 48. g4 e5 49. Kg2 Ke6 50. Rf8 Bxf1+ 51. Rxf1 Rb4
52. h3 Ra4 {regaining one pawn. With best play, it's hard to say whether White
can exploit the extra pawn.}) 45. h3 Ra3 {Threatening the h3 pawn (the g2 pawn
is pinned).} 46. Kh2 Rb2 $2 ({The bishop is vulnerable at c6, but if} 46... Bd5
{then} 47. Bf2 $1 -- {threatens} 48. Bg3+ e5 49. Rg6+ Be6 50. Rd1+ Ke7 51. Bxe5
{etc.}) ({So} 46... Rc3 $1 {, blocking the c-file, is worth considering.}) 47.
Bd4 Rd2 48. Bf6 (48. Bf6 -- {Threatening} 49. Be7+ {winning the rook on a3.
Black cannot avoid his king being knocked around in the centre. The end is
nigh.}) 48... Raa2 49. Be7+ Ke5 $4 ({Leaves the bishop en prise, but} 49... Kd5
50. Bc4+ {loses the exchange on a2.}) 50. Rxc6 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Coleman D"]
[Black "Moore S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B03"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. c4 Nb6 4. d4 d6 5. f4 dxe5 6. fxe5 g6 {This is one of
the lesser played moves here, but has fared reasonably well.} 7. Be2 Bg7 8. Nc3
O-O (8... c5 $1 {at once looks very good.}) 9. Be3 c5 {Still good.} 10. dxc5
N6d7 11. Nf3 (11. e6 fxe6 12. Nf3 {seems to be a better way to give up the
e-pawn, but the pawn on c5 will still be vulnerable.}) 11... Nxe5 12. O-O Nbc6
13. Nxe5 Bxe5 14. Qe1 Bd4 $6 {Black has the superior pawn structure which, if
he is careful, should give him the better game. However, this weakens the
kingside dark squares.} 15. Bf3 Bxe3+ $6 ({Despite the loss of time,} 15... Bg7
{is better.}) 16. Qxe3 Qd4 $2 17. Rae1 $5 (17. Qxd4 Nxd4 18. Rae1 e6 (18...
Nxf3+ 19. Rxf3 Be6 20. Nd5 Bxd5 21. cxd5 Rfe8 22. Rb3 Rab8 {gives White a
strong initiative in the endgame}) 19. Nb5 $1 Nxf3+ 20. Rxf3 Bd7 21. Nd6 Bc6
22. Rd3 {is awkward for Black who cannot move his f-or e-pawns, and faces a
queenside pawn advance.}) 17... Re8 $2 {This sets up the rooks for some knight
forks...} ({It seems to be bad to capture the doubled c-pawn but after} 17...
Qxc4 18. Bxc6 bxc6 19. Rf4 Qe6 ({not} 19... Qa6 20. Qxe7 -- {intending} 21. Ne4
) 20. Re4 Qf6 21. Rf1 Qg7 22. Rxe7 Bf5 {Black is still in the game.} ({not} 
22... Be6 23. Ne4 -- {and} 24. Nf6+)) (17... e6 18. Bxc6 Qxe3+ 19. Rxe3 bxc6
20. Ne4 {is also unpleasant for Black}) 18. Nd5 $1 Qxe3+ 19. Rxe3 Rb8 {He
avoids the one on c7, but falls for one on f6.} 20. Nf6+ {the e7 pawn is
pinned.} Kf8 21. Nxe8 Kxe8 22. b3 f6 23. Bxc6+ bxc6 24. Rxf6 Kd8 25. Rf8+ Kd7
26. Rf7 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dempster D"]
[Black "Wells JC"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "56"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 g6 3. c3 d5 4. exd5 Qxd5 5. d4 Bg7 6. Be3 cxd4 7. Bxd4 {
Avoiding isolating his d-pawn.} Nf6 8. Na3 O-O 9. Be2 Nc6 10. O-O Nxd4 11. cxd4
{Now, rather oddly, White changes his mind and allows an isolated d-pawn to
appear, which must be a weakness in a coming endgame. I can only suppose that
White felt that he could build an attack from here.} (11. Qxd4 {keeps things
level.}) 11... Bf5 12. Ne5 {He could bring the other knight to e5 via c4 and
keep the d4 pawn protected.} Rad8 13. Nb5 a6 14. Bc4 Qe4 15. Re1 Qc2 16. Qxc2
Bxc2 17. Na3 ({White could change the nature of the position with} 17. Nxf7 {
but his position would remain slightly inferior after} axb5 $1 (17... Rxf7 $6
18. Rxe7 Nd5 19. Rxf7 axb5 (19... Kxf7 20. Nc3 {is fine for White}) 20. Bxd5
Rxd5 21. Rxb7 Bxd4 22. Re1 {with a fascinating position in which a rook and
two pawns probably balance the two bishops.}) 18. Nxd8+ bxc4 19. Ne6 Re8 20.
Nxg7 Kxg7 {when White has counterplay but in the long run the d-pawn still
remains vulnerable.}) 17... Be4 18. Rad1 Bd5 19. b3 e6 20. Nc2 b5 21. Bd3 Rd6
22. Ne3 Bb7 23. Be2 Rfd8 24. Bf3 Bxf3 25. Nxf3 Nd5 {This has been classic play
by Jonathan, who can probe away at the d-pawn to his heart's content. Such
prospectless positions often give rise to defensive blunders, and this is no
exception.} 26. Re2 $4 {Loses the exchange.} Nc3 27. Red2 Nxd1 28. Rxd1 Bxd4
0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Turner T"]
[Black "Hall D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A05"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "70"]

1. Nf3 Nf6 2. b3 Nc6 3. c4 e5 4. Nc3 d5 5. cxd5 Nxd5 6. Bb2 Bg4 $1 {A nice
move, which Dave played against me in a similar position several years ago.
White has a choice between allowing doubled f-pawns or accepting some other
inconvenience.} 7. g3 $6 {Rather radical. He gets little benefit out of the
two bishops as Black's knights can use the squares in front of the d-pawn.} ({
Avoiding doubled pawns with} 7. e3 {can be met with} Nxc3 {E.g.} 8. Bxc3 (8.
dxc3 {is OK, but not what White wants.}) 8... e4 9. h3 Bh5 10. g4 Bg6 11. Ne5
Nxe5 12. Bxe5 h5 {which again is OK for White, but he is accustomed in this
opening to having a weakness-free position.}) 7... Bxf3 8. exf3 Bc5 {The
positional approach.} ({The immediate direct approach was also worth
considering. E.g.} 8... Ndb4 9. d3 Nd4 10. Rc1 Qf6 11. Be2 Nxe2 12. Qxe2 O-O-O
13. Rd1 Nc6 14. Ne4 Bb4+ 15. Kf1 Qe6 16. Kg2 f5 {wuth attacking chances
similar to the game.}) 9. Bc4 Ndb4 10. O-O Nd3 {Giving White a choice of which
bishop to exchange.} 11. Bxd3 $6 {Now the light squares and the d2 pawn become
very weak. Maybe it was better to let the other bishop go.} Qxd3 12. Ne4 Bb6
13. Rc1 O-O-O 14. Kg2 $5 (14. Bc3 {defends the pawn on d2, but White would be
very passive.}) 14... f5 $1 15. Rc3 Qd5 16. Ng5 h6 (16... Qxd2 {is, of course,
playable without penalty. In typical Hall fashion, Black prefers to wind up
the pressure.}) 17. Nh3 g5 18. Qb1 Rhf8 $1 {Sensibly defending the f5 pawn and
leaving White in a hopeless mess.} 19. Ba3 Rf7 20. d3 g4 21. Ng1 Nd4 22. Rc4 ({
White realises that he cannot defend his f3 pawn because} 22. Qd1 {loses
rather more to the knight fork} Nb5) 22... Nxf3 23. Nxf3 Qxf3+ 24. Kg1 Rxd3 {
Two pawns ahead and with an attack. What more could you want?} 25. Bc5 Rfd7 26.
Bxb6 axb6 27. Rcc1 h5 28. Rce1 e4 29. Qc1 h4 $1 30. gxh4 f4 31. Qc4 R3d4 ({
Safe and sure, but there was an attractive finish here if Black had played} 
31... Qh3 $1 32. Rxe4 f3 $1 33. Rxg4 Qxf1+ $1 34. Kxf1 Rd1#) 32. Qe6 Kb8 33. h5
Qh3 34. Kh1 e3 $1 35. fxe3 Rd2 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R3"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.23"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hughes M"]
[Black "Twitchell D"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "D00"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "30"]

1. d4 d5 2. Bf4 Nf6 3. e3 c5 4. Nc3 Nc6 $2 {A common mistake.} 5. Nb5 $1 {The
threat of a knight fork on c7 more-or-less forces Black to give up a pawn.} e5
6. dxe5 Qa5+ 7. c3 ({This is fine, but} 7. Qd2 {is probably even better,
dispite the displacement of the white king. E.g.} Qxd2+ 8. Kxd2 Ne4+ 9. Ke2 Kd8
10. f3 g5 11. fxe4 gxf4 12. exf4 dxe4 13. Rd1+ Bd7 14. g3 -- {with an extra
pawn and nasrty threats such as} 15. Bh3 ({and} 15. Bg2)) 7... a6 8. exf6 (8.
Nd6+ {is also playable.}) 8... axb5 9. Qxd5 Be6 {a little too cavalier, as
White can pocket the loot and live to tell the tale.} (9... gxf6 {is better.})
10. Qg5 (10. fxg7 Bxg7 11. Qxc5 {is fine because White has two extra pawns and
after} O-O-O {he can give one back with} 12. Rc1 (12. Bxb5 $4 Rd5) 12... Qxa2
13. Qa3 $1 Qxa3 (13... Qd5 14. Qa8+ Kd7 15. Qxb7+ Ke8 16. Nf3 {is safe for
White}) 14. bxa3 {and Black has nothing for the two pawns.}) 10... gxf6 11. Qg3
(11. Qxf6 {is quite risky for White. E.g.} Rg8 12. Qh4 Bg7 13. Ne2 b4 14. Qxh7
(14. Rc1) 14... O-O-O 15. Qc2 $2 (15. Rc1) 15... bxc3 16. bxc3 Nb4 $1 17. cxb4
Qxb4+ {and Black wins.}) 11... Nb4 $5 ({This sacrifice can be declined, and} 
11... O-O-O {(preventing 12.Bc7) allows Black to develop his initiative.}) 12.
Bc7 $1 ({Black wins after} 12. cxb4 Qxb4+ 13. Ke2 (13. Kd1 O-O-O+ 14. Kc2 Qd2+
15. Kb1 Qd1#) 13... Bc4+ (13... O-O-O) 14. Kf3 Bd5+ 15. Kg4 (15. Ke2 Qxb2+)
15... Rg8+) 12... Nc2+ $2 ({The attack is stronger after} 12... Qa4 $1 13. Rd1
({not} 13. Rc1 Nxa2) ({or} 13. b3 Bxb3) 13... Nc2+ 14. Kd2 b4 {but White
should survive with} 15. Qf4 bxc3+ 16. bxc3 Qxf4 (16... Qxa2 17. Bb5+ Bd7 18.
Bxd7+ Kxd7 19. Ke2+ Kc6 20. Kf3 {is crazy but probably level!}) 17. Bxf4 Rxa2
18. Bb5+ Ke7 19. Kc1 Na3 20. Bd6+ Kd8 21. Bxf8+ Kc8 22. Rd2 (22. Bxc5 $4 Rc2#)
22... Rxd2 23. Kxd2 Rxf8 {with a slight edge to Black thanks to his lead in
development.}) 13. Kd1 $2 {It all turns on a single move. This loses.} (13. Kd2
$1 {wins!} Qa4 14. b3 Bxb3 (14... Qe4 15. Bxb5+ Bd7 16. Bd3 {wins the knight})
15. axb3 Qxa1 16. Bxb5+ Ke7 17. Qd6#) 13... Qa4 14. Bxb5+ (14. b3 {fails to
both} Qe4 ({and} 14... Bxb3 15. axb3 Qxa1+ 16. Kxc2 Ra2+ 17. Kd3 Qb1#) 15. f3 (
{or} 15. Rc1 Qd5+ $1 16. Kxc2 Rxa2+ 17. Kb1 Qxb3#) ({White is not helped much
by} 15. Bxb5+ Bd7) 15... Nxe3+ 16. Ke2 Qc2+ 17. Kxe3 Qxc3+ 18. Bd3 Qxa1) 14...
Qxb5 15. Kxc2 Bf5+ (15... Bf5+ 16. Kc1 Qf1+ 17. Kd2 Qxa1) 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Anderson J"]
[Black "Arkell K"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B14"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "29"]

1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. exd5 cxd5 4. c4 Nf6 5. Nc3 g6 6. cxd5 Bg7 7. Bc4 O-O 8.
Nge2 a6 9. a4 Ne8 $5 (9... Nbd7 10. Nf4 Nb6 11. Bb3 {is normal.}) 10. O-O Nd6
11. Bb3 Nd7 12. Bf4 Nb6 13. Bxd6 exd6 ({Or} 13... Qxd6 14. a5 Nd7 15. Ne4 Qb8
16. N2c3 {and White has the initiative and a space advantage, although his
extra pawn isn't worth much.}) 14. a5 Nd7 15. Qd2 {White is slightly better,
and so can negotiate peace with the tournament leader from a position of
strength.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Myall I"]
[Black "Cooksey P"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B10"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "112"]

1. e4 c6 2. c4 d5 3. cxd5 cxd5 4. exd5 Nf6 5. Qa4+ Nbd7 6. Nc3 g6 7. Bc4 Bg7 8.
d3 O-O 9. Nf3 a6 10. Qa3 b6 11. O-O Bb7 12. Re1 Re8 13. Ng5 Rc8 $1 ({Black
obviously knows his stuff. Ivan has scored very well as White with this
variation of the Caro Kann (I have watched him from the neighbouring board at
the 4NCL where we have been Anglian Avengers team-mates). The most popular
move here is} 13... b5 {which scores well for White, but the text move - while
marginally less popular - scores extremely well for Black.}) 14. Nce4 (14. d6 {
looks great, but after} e6 15. Bf4 Ng4 $1 16. Qb3 Be5 17. Bxe5 Ndxe5 18. d7 (
18. Nce4 {loses the bishop to} Bxe4 19. Nxe4 b5) 18... Qxg5 $3 19. dxe8=Q+ Rxe8
20. Ne4 Qf4 {Black gets a winnng attack. E.g.} 21. g3 Nf3+ 22. Kf1 ({not} 22.
Kg2 Nxe1+ 23. Rxe1 Qxf2+) 22... Nfxh2+ 23. Kg1 Nf3+ 24. Kf1 Qe5 25. Qxb6 Bxe4
26. dxe4 Rb8 27. Qxa6 Qh5 28. Kg2 Nd4 29. Rh1 Ne3+ $1 30. fxe3 Rxb2+ {mating})
14... Nxe4 15. Nxe4 (15. dxe4 $4 Rxc4) 15... Ne5 {Black regains the pawn...}
16. Bf4 ({Not} 16. Bb3 $2 Nxd3) 16... Nxc4 17. dxc4 Rxc4 18. Bg3 {...and now
White gives up another pawn.} ({Developing with} 18. Rad1 {is much better.} Rd4
(18... f5 $2 {presumably the reason for the bishop retreat, is bad because} 19.
Ng5 Rxf4 20. Ne6 Qb8 21. Nxf4 Qxf4 22. Rxe7 {is to White's advantage.}) 19.
Rxd4 Bxd4 20. Nc3 ({or} 20. d6 Bxe4 21. Rxe4 exd6 22. Qxd6 Qa8 $1 {and there
is no way to save the pawn on b2, but White has drawing chances in the queen
and bishop ending.}) 20... Bxc3 (20... b5 {first is a little better, as the
pawn will not run away}) 21. Qxc3 Qxd5 22. f3 Qxa2 23. Qc7 Qa4 24. Bd2 Qd4+ 25.
Be3 Qb4 26. Rd1 Qb3 27. Re1 Qd5 28. Qxb6 {leaves Black a pawn ahead but the
opposite colour bishops mean that White should hold the game.}) 18... Qxd5 19.
f3 Qb5 20. Nc3 Qb4 21. Qb3 Qxb3 22. axb3 Rb4 {Black wins a second pawn and
eventually converts despite White's staunch resistance.} 23. Ne4 Bxb2 24. Rab1
Bd4+ 25. Kh1 Bxe4 26. Rxe4 Bc5 27. Re2 a5 28. Be1 Rd4 29. g4 Red8 30. Kg2 Rd1
31. Rbb2 R8d5 32. b4 axb4 33. Bxb4 Bxb4 34. Rxb4 R1d2 35. Rxd2 Rxd2+ 36. Kg3
Rd6 37. Rb5 f6 38. h4 Kf7 39. h5 Ke6 40. Kf4 Rc6 41. hxg6 hxg6 42. Ke4 Kd6 43.
g5 f5+ 44. Kd3 Kc7 45. Re5 Kd7 46. f4 Rd6+ 47. Kc4 Rd1 48. Kb5 Rd4 49. Kxb6
Rxf4 50. Ra5 Rg4 51. Kc5 Ke6 52. Ra6+ Kf7 53. Kd5 Rxg5 54. Ke5 Rg4 55. Ra7 Re4+
56. Kd5 Re1 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Gerald"]
[Black "Spence D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A13"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "64"]

1. Nf3 e6 2. c4 Nf6 3. g3 a6 4. Bg2 b5 5. b3 (5. Ne5 Ra7) 5... c5 6. O-O Qb6 7.
Nc3 Bb7 8. d3 Be7 9. e4 d6 10. h3 Nc6 11. Be3 Nd4 12. Ne2 Nxf3+ 13. Bxf3 O-O
14. Bg2 Rfd8 ({This has all been played before, except here, in a couple of
gradmaster games,} 14... Nd7 {was played.}) 15. Qc2 Rac8 16. a4 $1 bxc4 17.
bxc4 {The b-file will be more use the White than to Black.} Qa7 18. Rfb1 Qa8 (
18... Nd7 {avoids White's next.}) 19. Rxb7 $1 Qxb7 20. e5 Qc7 21. exf6 Bxf6 {
White has a slight edge, but making progress is difficult.} 22. Rb1 Rb8 23.
Rxb8 Rxb8 24. d4 cxd4 25. Bxd4 (25. Nxd4 $1 {keeps the edge. E.g.} Bxd4 ({or} 
25... Rc8 26. Nc6 Qd7 27. Qe4) 26. Bxd4 Rc8 27. Bf1 {and White has a small
long-term edge with his two bishops, but I couldn't start to tell you how he
could exploit it.}) 25... Bxd4 26. Nxd4 Qb6 27. Nc6 Qb1+ 28. Qxb1 Rxb1+ 29. Bf1
Rb6 30. Bg2 Rb1+ ({The computer thinks that Black is doing well if he
centralises his king with} 30... Kf8 {It is fair to say that the white pieces
are not doing much, and the white queenside pawns may be vulnerable. Instead
we get a draw by repetition.}) 31. Bf1 Rb6 32. Bg2 Rb1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gregory S"]
[Black "Coleman D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nc3 Qa5 4. Nf3 Nf6 5. Be2 c6 6. O-O g6 7. d4 Bg7 8.
Bf4 O-O 9. Qd2 Nbd7 10. h3 Re8 11. Rfe1 Nf8 12. Rab1 $1 {White has developed
sensibly, while Black is a little passive and short of space. White now plays
to expand on the queenside.} Qd8 13. b4 Ne6 14. Be3 Nd5 15. Nxd5 cxd5 16. c4
Nc7 ({Black doesn't gain by isolating White's d-pawn because after} 16... dxc4
17. Bxc4 Nc7 {the pawn advances and estabishes a useful space advantage.}) 17.
c5 $1 {Now the c-pawn advances and White not only has a space advantge buut
also a queenside pawn majority.  The usual antidote for Black is to advance
his e-pawn but that proves hard to achieve without disadvantage.} f6 ({The
immediate} 17... e5 $2 {would obviously belong because it would involve
exchanging the bishop at g7, leaving his kingside dark squares without cover.})
18. b5 $1 b6 {Black changes tack and meets the queenside advance head-on.} ({
The problem is that the immediate} 18... e5 $2 19. dxe5 {would be met with}
fxe5 20. Bg5 $1 Qd7 (20... Bf6 {leads to the loss of the d-pawn after} 21. Bxf6
Qxf6 22. b6) 21. b6 $1 axb6 22. cxb6 Ne6 23. Bb5 {winning the exchange}) 19.
Rec1 Ne6 (19... e5 $2 {loses the b6 pawn:} 20. dxe5 fxe5 21. cxb6 axb6 22. Bxb6
) ({The immediate} 19... Rb8 {avoids that problem, but Black decides to forgo
the idea of advancing his e-pawn for the time being.}) 20. Rb3 Rb8 21. Ra3 ({
Putting immediate pressure on the a7 pawn. He could approach the task more
subtly with} 21. a4 -- {intending} 22. a5 -- ({when} 22... bxa5 23. Ra1 {will
allow White to double or treble on the a-file against the poor pawn}) {
followed, if allowed, by} 23. cxb6 axb6 24. a6 {with a mighty passed a-pawn.})
21... Rb7 22. cxb6 $6 {White's massive space advantage was based on the pawn
at c5. In order to clarify the position, White gives away most of his
advantage.} axb6 23. Bd1 {Re-routing the bishop to b3 where it will put
pressure on the black d-pawn.} (23. Qb4 {more-or-less prevents Black's next
and keeps him tied down.}) 23... Qd6 24. Qb2 ({The computer finds a lovely
response which few humans would find:} 24. Rac3 $1 Bd7 25. Rc6 $3 Bxc6 26. Rxc6
Qd7 27. Ne5 $1 {(The necessary follow-up)} fxe5 ({or} 27... Qd8 28. Rxe6 fxe5
29. dxe5 Qd7 30. Bb3 $1 Rd8 31. Rc6 Bxe5 32. Bxb6 Rdb8 33. Qe3 Bf6 34. a4 {and
the connected passed pawns -supported by the bishops - give White the
advantage despite his material disadvantage}) 28. Bg4 $1 {(The point.)} Kh8 29.
Bxe6 Qd8 30. dxe5 {and White has a pawn for the exchange, but, most
importantly, Black is very short of constructive moves.  One nice example is}
Qb8 (30... Bxe5 31. Rc8 {wins the queen and more}) 31. f4 Rd8 32. Qc3 Qa7 33.
Bxd5 $1 Rxd5 34. Rc8+ Bf8 35. e6+ Kg8 36. Rxf8+ $1 Kxf8 37. Qh8# {Not much of
the army left, but a queen and a pawn is all that White needs.}) 24... Bd7 25.
Bd2 Qb8 26. Bb3 Nc7 $2 {Getting tangled up.} ({With the white bishop on b3,
there is no threat of Bb4, so Black could play} 26... Qd6 {in safety.}) 27.
Rxc7 $5 {White sees a tactic.} (27. Bf4 $1 e6 28. Bd1 Qd8 29. Rb3 {leaves
Black very passive.}) 27... Rxc7 28. Bxd5+ Kh8 $2 ({After} 28... e6 $1 29. Ra8
({instead} 29. Be4 {gives a pawn and some White pressure for the exchange})
29... Qxa8 30. Bxa8 Rxa8 {material, and also the position, is approximately
equal.  Against the move played, White doesn't have to play his rook to a8. He
has time to ramp up the pressure.}) 29. Bf4 $1 {This wins back the exchange,
leaving White a pawn ahead, unless Black tries to break the pin, in which case.
..} e5 $2 30. dxe5 fxe5 31. Bxe5 $1 Bxe5 32. Nxe5 {Suddenly the white pieces
are beautifully placed for an attack on the black king.} (32. Nxe5 {Apart from
giving back the exchange as Black tries in the game, the only defence to mate
is to move the h-pawn and that allows a deadly disvovered check winning the
queen:} h5 (32... -- 33. Nxg6#) 33. Nxd7+) 32... Rc1+ 33. Qxc1 Qxe5 {Two pawns
up White must win, but he finishes efficiently.} 34. Bc6 $1 Bxc6 (34... Qe1+
35. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 36. Kh2 Bf5 37. Ra6 {and there is no saving the b6 pawn.}) 35.
bxc6 Qe1+ ({There is more (if very little) hope in keeping queens on, but he
could easily be mated. E.g.} 35... Qc7 36. Qc3+ Kg8 37. Qc4+ Kg7 38. g3 Rc8 39.
Ra6 $1 Qxc6 $2 40. Ra7+ Kf6 41. Rf7+ Kg5 (41... Ke5 42. f4+ Kd6 43. Rf6+ {wins
the queen}) 42. Qh4#) 36. Qxe1 Rxe1+ 37. Kh2 Rc1 38. Ra8+ Kg7 39. Rc8 h5 40.
Kg3 Rc3+ 41. Kf4 Rc2 42. Ke3 Rxa2 43. Rb8 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Hall D"]
[Black "Merry A"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A48"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "56"]

{Another disaster for the solid London System!} 1. d4 Nf6 2. Nf3 c5 3. c3 g6 4.
Bf4 Bg7 5. h3 cxd4 6. cxd4 Qb6 7. Qd2 (7. Qb3 Qxb3 8. axb3 Nc6 {is easy
equality for Black and}) (7. Nc3 Qxb2 8. Bd2 Qb6 9. e4 {is a gambit not quite
in Dave's style!}) 7... Ne4 8. Qc2 Nc6 $1 9. e3 (9. Qxe4 $4 {loses the a1 rook
to} Qxb2) ({Meanwhile the pawn on d4 is under attack, but} 9. Nc3 $1 {solves
White's opening problems because} Nxc3 10. bxc3 {protects the d4 pawn.}) 9...
d6 $1 (9... d6 {The knight still cannot be taken and meanwhile Black intends}
10. -- Bf5) 10. g4 $2 {Uncharacteristically weakening.} (10. Nc3 Nb4 11. Qc1
Bf5 12. Nh4 {gives Black a lead in development, but nothing too serious.})
10... Nb4 11. Qd1 h5 $1 {This move means that the bishop on f4 cannot
comfortably retreat to h2, so when ...Nb4-d5 comes White will have to agree to
his pawn structure being ruined.} 12. Rg1 hxg4 13. hxg4 Bd7 14. Bc4 {Avoiding
the knight coming to d5.} Rc8 15. Na3 (15. Nbd2 {doesn't defend the bishop in
an effective way. Black wins with} Bxg4 $1 16. Rxg4 Rh1+ 17. Rg1 Rxg1+ 18. Nxg1
Nxd2 19. Qxd2 Rxc4) 15... Qa5 $1 {Threatening a deadly discovered check.} 16.
Nd2 d5 17. Be2 Ba4 $1 {Another nail goes into White's coffin. Now the position
of the knight on a3 will be undermiined.} 18. b3 Nc3 (18... Bd7 {also wins})
19. Qc1 (19. Rc1 $5 {was worth a try} Nbxa2 $1 {maintains Black's dominance
and wins far more material:} (19... Nxd1 $2 {keeps White in the game after} 20.
Rxc8+ Kd7 21. Rc7+ Qxc7 (21... Kd8 22. Rc5) 22. Bxc7 Kxc7 23. bxa4 Nc3 24. Nb5+
Nxb5 25. axb5 Nxa2 {although Black should win tne endgame a pawn up}) 20. bxa4
O-O $1 {and most of White's pieces are in the firing line. E.g.} 21. Qc2 Nxc1
22. Qxc1 Nxe2 23. Qb2 Nxg1) 19... Bd7 20. Bc4 {White cannot save his
beleaguered pieces.} (20. Qb2 Qxa3 21. Qxa3 Nc2+ {is a simple illustration,
and there are more complex lines that I could have mentioned, also leading to
disaster.}) 20... dxc4 {The bluff doesn't work.} (20... dxc4 {Now} 21. Qxc3 {
loses the queen by discovered attack to} Nd3+) 21. Ndxc4 Nd3+ 22. Kd2 Nxc1 23.
Nxa5 N1xa2 (23... Ne4+ 24. Ke1 Bxg4 $1 {is also more than enough (} 25. Rxg4
Rh1+ 26. Rg1 Rxg1# {)}) 24. Nxb7 Ne4+ $1 25. Kd3 Nb4+ 26. Ke2 (26. Kxe4 {allows
} Bc6+ 27. d5 Bxd5#) 26... g5 27. Bg3 Bxg4+ 28. Kf1 (28. f3 Nxg3+) 28... Nd2+
0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Fogg M"]
[Black "Moore Graham"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B04"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "76"]

1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. Nf3 dxe5 5. Nxe5 c6 6. Bd3 Nd7 7. Nxd7 (7. Nf3
{keeps more pieces on and is more likely to allow White to use his space
advantage.}) 7... Bxd7 8. c3 Qc7 9. Qf3 g6 10. Qg3 O-O-O 11. Qxc7+ {This is
not a great way to get a draw. Black ends up with a lead in development.} Kxc7
12. Na3 e5 $1 {A very strong pawn sacrifice.} 13. Nc2 (13. dxe5 Be6 $1 ({
better than} 13... Bxa3 14. bxa3 Nxc3 15. Bg5) 14. Bc2 (14. Nc2 {is met with}
Nxc3 $1 15. bxc3 Rxd3 {and White has serious weaknesses}) 14... Bxa3 15. bxa3
Nxc3 16. Bg5 Rd5 {and again White has too many vulnerable pawns}) 13... exd4
14. Nxd4 Bg7 (14... Re8+ 15. Ne2 Bg4 16. f3 Bf5 17. Bxf5 gxf5 18. Kf2 Rg8 19.
Re1 Bc5+ 20. Kf1 h5 21. Bf4+ Kc8 22. g3 (22. Rad1 $2 Rxe2) (22. Bg3 Ne3+) (22.
Bd2 Be3 $1) (22. Bc1 h4) 22... h4 23. Nd4 Bxd4 24. cxd4 Nxf4 25. gxf4 Rd8 26.
Rad1 Rg6 $17) 15. O-O h6 ({This is a useful precaution in view of} 15... Rhe8
16. Bg5 $1 f6 17. Bh4 {when White OK.}) 16. Re1 Rhe8 17. Rxe8 Rxe8 18. Bd2 a6
19. Kf1 b5 20. Re1 $6 {Black will have the initiative in the endgame.} Rxe1+
21. Kxe1 c5 22. Ne2 c4 23. Be4 Bc6 24. Nf4 Nb6 $1 25. Bxg6 {Tempting, but the
knight will find it tricky getting back from g7.} (25. Bc2 {was safe and sound.
}) 25... fxg6 26. Ne6+ Kd7 27. Nxg7 Bxg2 28. f4 $6 {White tries to release his
knight by advancing the pawn further, but he could make life easier for
himslef by taking the h-pawn first.} ({After} 28. Bxh6 Na4 {White must not
defend the b2 pawn with his bishop because the black king will walk over and
capture the knight.} {He would do better to prepare to release the knight with}
29. h4 $1 Bf3 (29... Nxb2 30. h5 {releases the knight and draws}) {when} 30.
Bg5 $1 {prevents the black king from approaching the knight. The draw is
favourite.}) 28... Be4 29. h4 $2 ({After} 29. f5 $1 {the only way for Black to
keep any winning prospects is by} g5 $1 {allowing White a passed f-pawn} (29...
gxf5 30. Bxh6 Na4 {doesn't tie White down sufficiently because after} 31. Bc1
Nc5 32. Bg5 $1 Nd3+ 33. Kd2 Nxb2 34. h4 $1 {White's passed pawn will keep
Black fully occupied. E.g.} Nd3 35. h5 f4 36. h6 Bg6 37. Nh5 $1 f3 38. Nf4 $1 {
and opposite colour bishops will guarantee a draw.}) {Even then, a draw is
most likely because of opposite colour bishops, despite the presence of
knights. E.g.} 30. Kf2 Ke7 31. Kg3 Kf7 32. Ne6 Bxf5 33. Nc5 Bc8 34. h4 gxh4+
35. Kxh4 Kg6 {and Black can make no real progress}) 29... h5 $1 {The black
h-pawn is no longer vulnerable and the white pawns are blocked.} 30. Ke2 Nd5 $1
{Blocking the white king's path through the centre via e3. Now the black king
threatens to march over to capture the errant knight, so White will have no
choice but to give up a pawn to rescue it.} 31. f5 Bxf5 32. Nxf5 gxf5 33. Kf3
Ke6 34. Be1 Ke5 (34... Nb6 $1 {should win. Here are some random lines:} 35. Kf4
(35. Bd2 Na4 36. Bc1 (36. b3 {is  hopeless since further pawn weaknesses are
forced -} cxb3 37. axb3 Nc5 38. b4 Ne4 39. Be1 Ke5 40. Ke3 f4+ 41. Kd3 Kd5 42.
Ke2 Kc4 43. Kf3 Nxc3 44. Kxf4 Kxb4 {and the a-pawn runs}) 36... Nc5 {and} 37.
-- Nd3 {will win another pawn.}) 35... a5 36. Kg5 Na4 37. Kxh5 (37. b3 cxb3 38.
axb3 Nc5 39. c4 b4 40. Kxh5 Kf6 41. Kh6 f4 {wins for Black}) 37... Nxb2 38. Kg6
(38. Bd2 Nd3 39. a3 Ne5 40. Bf4 Nf3 41. Bc7 a4 42. Bg3 (42. Ba5 Ke5 {zugswang})
42... b4 43. cxb4 c3 44. b5 Kd5 45. Kg6 c2 46. Bf4 Ke4 47. Bc1 f4 48. h5 Ne5+
49. Kg7 f3 50. h6 f2 51. h7 f1=Q 52. h8=Q Qf7+ 53. Kh6 Qg6#) 38... Nd3 39. h5 (
39. Bd2 b4) 39... Nxe1 40. h6 Nf3 41. h7 Ne5+ 42. Kg7 Nf7 {and wins.}) 35. Bf2
f4 36. Bd4+ $2 (36. Ba7 $1 Kf5 37. Bb8 {makes progress difficult:} Nb6 38. Bxf4
Na4 39. Bc1 Nc5 40. Bg5 Nd3 41. b3 cxb3 42. axb3 Nc5 43. c4 $1 (43. b4 Ne4 {
wins a pawn again}) 43... Nxb3 (43... b4 44. Be7 Nxb3 45. Bxb4 {and White
should draw}) 44. cxb5 axb5 45. Ke3 {and White will eventually eliminate both
of the black pawns - at the cost of his bishop - and draw.}) 36... Kf5 37. b3
Ne7 $1 38. bxc4 bxc4 (38... bxc4 39. a4 Ng6 40. Bf2 Ne5+ 41. Ke2 Kg4 {and the
h-pawn goes as well.}) 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Bradbury N"]
[Black "Elwin A"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E97"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "96"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. Nf3 d6 5. e4 O-O 6. Be2 e5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d5
Ne7 9. b4 Ne8 ({Nowhere near as popular as the sharp} 9... Nh5 10. Re1 f5 11.
Ng5) 10. c5 f5 11. Nd2 (11. Ng5 h6 12. Ne6 {is a sharp alternative which
scores well for White.}) 11... f4 $6 {This is normally frowned upon in such
positions if it happens before White plays f2-f3 because White can exchange
light-squared bishops.} 12. Bg4 Bxg4 13. Qxg4 Qc8 {Having allowed the exchange
of bishops, Black's normal kingside pawn storm is likely to be less effective
than usual, because the bishop is good for defensive purposes (to stall
White's queenside invasion) and it often sacrifices intself on h3 in Black's
attack.  The standard kingside pawn storm is even less likely to succeed, one
would think, without queens on but nonetheless Black offers to exchange them.}
14. Qxc8 Rxc8 15. f3 {It is not necessary to give the black kingside pawns a
target. He could build up on the queenside without the need to bolster his
e-pawn.} g5 ({With a rook already on c8, he could consider breaking out with} 
15... c6 $5 {Instead, he sets up a kingside pawn storm as per usual.}) 16. Nc4
Rf6 17. a4 h5 18. Ba3 Bf8 19. Rac1 Ng6 20. Na5 b6 21. cxb6 cxb6 22. Nc6 {
Already, White has made inroads on the queenside.} g4 $6 {He could move or
protect his a-pawn first but prefers the usual gung-ho approach in such
positions.   Has he forgotten that the queens are off the board?} 23. Nxa7 Rc7
24. Nc6 ({This is OK but} 24. Ncb5 Rg7 25. Nc8 {mops up on the queenside
before the black rooks ahave the chance to do much damage on the kingside.
There is no real chance of White being mated.}) 24... Rg7 25. fxg4 Nh4 26. Rc2
hxg4 27. a5 g3 $5 {Black's position on the queenside is hopeless, so he throws
fuel onto the fire.} 28. hxg3 Rxg3 29. axb6 Rg7 (29... Rf7 {is better because}
30. Na5 {can be met with} Nf6 $1 31. b7 Nd7 {stopping the pawn}) 30. Rff2 {
this should win, but} (30. Na5 $1 {is more straightforward. The b-pawn cannot
be stopped without sacrificing the exchange with} Rff7 31. b7 Rxb7 32. Nxb7
Rxb7 {when White is the exchange and a pawn ahead and his king is safe.}) 30...
f3 31. Nd8 fxg2 (31... Nxg2 32. Rxg2 fxg2 33. Rxg2 Rxg2+ 34. Kxg2 Rg6+ 35. Kf2
Nf6 36. b7 Nd7 37. Nc6 {and White will emerge with two pieces and a passed
pawn for a rook, with a comfortable (if distant) win.}) 32. b7 Rh6 33. Rxg2 $1
({Not falling for} 33. b8=Q $2 Nf3+ $1 34. Rxf3 Rh1+ 35. Kf2 g1=Q+ 36. Ke2 Rg2+
37. Kd3 Qd4# {After the move played, nothing should be able to stop the pawn
from queening.}) 33... Nf3+ 34. Kf2 Rxg2+ 35. Kxg2 Ne1+ 36. Kf1 Nxc2 37. Bc1 $2
{The first move after the time control (did he know that he had reached it?)
and unnecessarily giving up a piece, although he will still be well ahead on
material.} (37. b8=Q {could be played at once because after} Nxa3 38. Ne6 $1
Kf7 39. Qa7+ {White regains that piece and remains materially miles ahead with
queen and pawn against a rook.}) 37... Rh1+ 38. Kf2 Rxc1 39. b8=Q Bh6 40. Ne6
Kf7 41. Nb5 Nf6 42. Nxd6+ Kg6 43. Nf8+ $2 (43. Qb7 $1 {threatens mate and
Black will not be able to keep all of his pieces. Now he starts to fiddle and
eventually it all goes wrong.}) 43... Kh5 44. Ne6 Ne3 45. Ke2 Nd1 46. b5 Nb2
47. b6 $4 (47. Nf5 $1 {prepares the defence} Rc2+ 48. Kf1 Rc1+ 49. Kg2 Rc2+ 50.
Kh3 Rc3+ 51. Ng3+ {(CHECK!) and it's all over}) 47... Rc2+ {Now it's perpetual
check and Black heaves a sigh of relief.} 48. Kf1 Rc1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Pullinger S"]
[Black "Mabbs D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "80"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 Nge7 4. c4 d6 5. Nc3 Ng6 {One would normaly expect
Black to fianchetto his king's bishop here, but he has other ideas.} 6. Nf3 Be7
7. Be2 f5 8. d4 O-O 9. a3 Qe8 10. Qc2 Nh4 11. Nd5 Nxf3+ 12. Bxf3 Bd8 13. O-O
Nb8 $5 {Very Steinitzian (all of his pieces are on the black rank!). Black
intends to play ...e5-e4, ...c7-c6 and possibly a later ...d6-d5.} 14. b4 ({
White has no objections to Bkack's plan and so doesn't attempt to exploit
Black's loss of time by playing} 14. dxe5 dxe5 15. e4 {possibly because} f4 {
might give Black attacking possibilities.}) 14... c6 15. Nc3 e4 16. Be2 Nd7 17.
a4 Qg6 18. b5 Bc7 19. f4 {This avoids having to play the weakening g2-g3 later
in the event of Black getting in ...d6-d5 (opening the diagonal of the bishop
on c7) and ...Qh6 threatening the pawn on h2.} Ba5 20. Nd1 Rd8 21. Nf2 Nf6 22.
Rfd1 Be6 23. Bc3 Bxc3 24. Qxc3 c5 {It's hard to keep shuffling about without
doing something concrete, but this should have given White the edge.} 25. Rd2 (
{Both players missed} 25. dxc5 dxc5 26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Qa5 $1 Ra8 28. Qc7 $1 (
28. b6 a6 29. Qxc5 {also wins a pawn for White, but after} Rc8 30. Qb4 Qf7 {it
will be very hard to exploit}) 28... Qf7 29. Qxc5 b6 30. Qd4 {Here, too, the
extra pawn is hard to exploit, because the c4 pawn is backward and blocks his
own bishop, but White has the plan of a4-a5 to keep Black tied down on the
queenside. He can also play g2-g4 at the appropriate time.}) 25... Nd7 {This
cuts out that possibility and Black is perfectly solid.} 26. Rad1 Qf6 27. g4 g6
28. g5 Qg7 29. Qc2 Qe7 30. h4 Rac8 {Black's pieces are nicely centralised and
ready to strike.} 31. Kg2 $6 ({Now was the time to block the centre with} 31.
d5 {and offer a draw!}) 31... cxd4 $1 32. Rxd4 (32. exd4 $4 {loses a piece to}
e3) 32... Nc5 {Again keeping it solid.} ({He could cause more trouble with} 
32... d5 $1 {E.g.} 33. Qa2 dxc4 34. Bxc4 Rxc4 $1 35. Rxc4 Qf7 36. Rdd4 Bxc4 37.
Qxc4 Qxc4 38. Rxc4 Nb6 39. Rc7 Rd7 40. Rxd7 Nxd7 {and this knight ending is
better for Black thanks to the vulnerable white queenside pawns and the easier
path for his king into the centre. Whether he can win with best play is
another matter.}) 33. R1d2 Bf7 34. Qd1 {White has set up "Alekhine's Cannon" 
(the queen behind two rooks) and can win the d-pawn. With the black knght on
c5, however, there is no real chance of exploiting the extra pawn.} b6 {Time
trouble indecision?} 35. Kg3 $6 ({He can hardly lose by taking the pawn. After
} 35. Rxd6 Rxd6 36. Rxd6 Nxa4 {fails to} 37. Rd7 {With the move played, White
seems to be hoping to attack down the h-file starting h4-h5. But Black is too
solid for that to work.}) 35... Nb7 {Now the d6 pawn is safe and other black
pieces (queen or rook) can use the c5 square.} 36. Qc2 $2 {the last move
before the time control. Playing to the c-file opens the possibility of ...
d6-d6 again.} Rc5 $2 (36... d5 {simply wins the c4 pawn. E.g.} 37. Qa2 dxc4 38.
Bxc4 $4 Rxc4 $1 39. Rxc4 Rxd2 40. Qxd2 Bxc4 {with a whole extra piece.}) 37.
Nd1 $1 Rdc8 ({It's too late for the d-pawn advance to be effective. E.g.} 37...
d5 38. Nc3 $1 dxc4 39. Rxd8+ Nxd8 40. Qd1 $1 Ne6 41. Rd7 {and White has been
invited too invade "for free" as he will win the a7 pawn in return for the
lost c-pawn.}) 38. Nb2 {This is unnecessarily passive.} (38. Nc3 $1 {is best
because} Bxc4 $4 {loses to} 39. Rxc4 Rxc4 40. Bxc4+ Rxc4 41. Nd5 $1 Rxc2 42.
Nxe7+ Kf7 43. Rxc2 {Black should ignore the c4 pawn but then the white knight
will come to d5 snuffing out the danger and a draw is the most likely result.})
38... h5 39. a5 $1 {A very nice idea. Apart from the tactical justification 
(see the variations below) the white knight can now use a4 to harrass the rook
on c5.} bxa5 {This way he remains a pawn ahead, but it is a fairly useless
pawn and he has no real prospect of winning from here.} ({Exploiting the pin
on the c4 pawn with} 39... Rxb5 {allows} 40. a6 $1 Na5 41. Rxd6 {with equality}
) (39... Nxa5 40. Rxd6 Rxb5 $2 {allows} 41. Rd7 {with advantage to White}) 40.
Qd1 R5c7 {Perfectly justified.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Wells JC"]
[Black "Moore Geoff"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "E72"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "85"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. Nc3 d6 6. e4 Nc6 7. Nge2 Rb8 8. O-O
a6 9. f4 {This aggressive move is surprisingly rare.} e6 {This is probably OK
here, but eventually the weakness on f6 becomes a thorn in Black's side.} (9...
Na5 10. b3 b5 {could be played right now.}) 10. h3 Nd7 11. Be3 Qe7 12. Qd2 Na5
13. b3 b5 14. cxb5 axb5 15. Rac1 {Typically patient play by Jonathan Wells.
Now Black strikes out soon regrets the weakness of his queenside pawns and the
d6 and f6 squares.} c5 $6 (15... b4 16. Nd1 c6 $1 {would give him good play.
The c-pawn would be protected by the knight on a5 and he could progress by
bringing his bishop to a6.}) 16. dxc5 dxc5 17. e5 $1 {Now f6 and d6 are
inviting squares for White's pieces.} Ba6 $2 {It is surprising that this is an
error, but Black soon finds that he has to return the bishop to its original
square.} ({Black should play} 17... Rd8 18. Ne4 b4 19. Rfd1 {and only now} Ba6
{as the bishop now has room to move.}) 18. Rfd1 Rfd8 19. Qd6 $1 Qxd6 20. Rxd6
Bc8 ({After} 20... Bb7 21. Rcd1 {the bishop must return to c8 anyway.}) 21.
Rcd1 ({The move played is fine, and positionally very good since the pin on
the d-file tied down the black pieces. However, it just so happenes that he
could win the c5 pawn at once with} 21. Bxc5 $1 {because} Bf8 {is met by} 22.
Ne4 $1 {and now} Nb7 {is even more fun:} (22... Bxd6 23. Bxd6 Ra8 ({or} 23...
Rb6 24. Bc7) {loses back the exchange to} 24. Nf6+ Nxf6 25. Bxa8) 23. Rxd7 Bxd7
({or} 23... Bxc5+ 24. Nxc5 Bxd7 25. Nxb7) 24. Nf6+ Kg7 25. Bb6 {winning back
the exchange}) 21... Bf8 22. R6d2 Be7 23. Ne4 Nb7 (23... c4 {saves the c-pawn
but loses the exchange to} 24. Ba7 Rb7 25. Nf6+) 24. N2c3 $1 {I love the way
that, one after another, the white pieces enter the game with gain of time.} f5
$5 ({After} 24... b4 25. Nb5 {White threatens to bring the knight a7 from
which square it can fork the black rooks or exchange itself for the bishop
that protects the knight at d7. Therefore the knight on d7 must move, leaving
the c5 pawn en prise. E.g.} Nb6 26. Rxd8+ Bxd8 27. Nxc5 {and the black
position is already hopeless.  Therefore Black tries to cut the Gordian knot.})
25. Ng5 ({Even better is} 25. exf6 Nxf6 26. Nxf6+ Bxf6 27. Nxb5 Rxd2 28. Rxd2 {
and the black pieces huddled in the corner will not be able to unravel in time
to avoid disaster.}) 25... Nf8 ({Black needs counterplay, and he might gain
some with} 25... Nb6 26. Nxb5 h6 27. Nf3 Nd5 $1 28. Bf2 g5 $1 {although he is
a pawn down and some other problems remain.}) 26. Nxb5 h6 (26... Rxd2 {first
is better.}) 27. Nf3 Rxd2 28. Nxd2 $1 {This knight can now re-route and cause
havoc again.} g5 29. Nc4 gxf4 30. gxf4 Bd7 31. Nbd6 Bxd6 32. Nxd6 Nxd6 33. exd6
{Extra pawn, advanced passed pawn, two bishops. What more could a player wish
for?} Ng6 {Counterattcking the f4 pawn so that White may not be tempted to
take his c-pawn.} 34. Rc1 Rc8 35. Kh2 {Preparing to defend the pawn on f4 with
his king.} Kf7 36. Bb7 Rb8 37. Bf3 $1 {A clever tempo gain.The bishop will
come to h5, eliminate the knight if necessary, and then the c5 pawn can be
captured.} e5 {Desperately seeking some play.} 38. Bh5 exf4 39. Bxc5 Kf6 40.
Bd4+ Kg5 ({Allowing a mate, but} 40... Ne5 41. Rc5 Kg5 42. Bxe5 Kxh5 43. Rc7 {
is clearly hopeless as the passed pawns will soon claim more material.}) 41.
Bf3 h5 42. Bg7 $1 (42. Bg7 -- {The threat of} 43. Rg1+ Kh4 44. Bf6# {forces
Black to give up his knight.}) 42... Ne5 43. Bxe5 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore S"]
[Black "Dempster D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "E65"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "37"]

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 g6 3. g3 Bg7 4. Bg2 O-O 5. e4 d6 6. Nge2 c5 7. O-O Nc6 8. d4
cxd4 9. Nxd4 Bg4 $5 {to weaken the a7-g1 diagonal.} 10. f3 Nxd4 $1 11. Qxd4 Be6
(11... Be6 {Threatening to win a pawn with} 12. -- Nd5 {(amongst other knight
moves)} 13. Qd3 Nxc3 14. bxc3 Rc8) 12. Qd3 Rc8 13. b3 $2 (13. Nd5 {is
necessary. E.g.} Nd7 (13... Nxd5 14. cxd5 Qb6+ 15. Be3 Qxb2 16. Bf2 (16. dxe6
$2 Rc3) 16... Rc3 17. Qb1 Qxb1 18. Raxb1 Bc8 19. Bxa7 {is about level}) 14. Qe2
Ne5 15. Bg5 $1 f6 16. Be3 Nxc4 17. Bf2 Ne5 18. f4 Ng4 19. f5 Bxd5 20. exd5 Nxf2
21. Rxf2 Qb6 {and the backward e-pawn gives White compensation for the lost
pawn.}) 13... Nd7 (13... d5 $1 {should give Black the edge. E.g.} 14. exd5 Nxd5
15. Nxd5 Bxa1 16. Ba3 ({or} 16. Bg5 Bf6 17. Nxf6+ exf6 18. Qxd8 Rfxd8 19. Bxf6
Rd2) 16... Bf6 17. Nxf6+ exf6 18. Qc3 Re8 19. Bb2 Kg7 20. g4 h6 21. h4 Qe7 22.
Qd4 $1 ({not} 22. g5 $2 hxg5 23. hxg5 Qc5+) ({or} 22. Kh2 b5 23. g5 Kh7 $1)
22... Rcd8 {and Black has plenty of activity for his rooks (the weak white
second rank) so White probably doesn't have enough for the exchange.}) (13...
b5 $5 {is less risky for Black, but also potentially less rewarding. E.g.} 14.
Nxb5 Nxe4 15. fxe4 (15. Nd4 Nc5 16. Qe3 d5 17. Bb2 dxc4 18. Rac1 Qb6 19. Nxe6
Nxe6 20. Qxb6 axb6 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. bxc4 Nd4 $15) 15... Bxa1 16. Nxa7 Ra8 17.
Be3 Be5 18. a4 Qd7 19. Nb5 {Black has retained his dark-sqaured bishop, but
White's queenside pawns give him some play for the exchange.}) 14. Bb2 $2 Qb6+
15. Kh1 Ne5 $2 ({Both sides miss (or deliberately ignore) the tactic} 15...
Bxc4 16. bxc4 Qxb2 {when} 17. Nd5 {is met by} Rfe8 18. Rab1 Qxa2 19. Rxb7 Nc5
20. Qb1 Qxb1 21. Rbxb1 e6 {when Black is a pawn ahead with a positional
advantage based on the strong knight at c5.}) 16. Qc2 Nc6 17. Nd5 Bxd5 18. Bxg7
Kxg7 19. exd5 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Twitchell D"]
[Black "Saravanan K"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B22"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "92"]

1. e4 c5 2. d4 cxd4 3. c3 Nf6 4. e5 Nd5 5. Qxd4 $5 {Taking with the pawn is
normal, as the queen can get knocked about with gain of time for Black.} e6 6.
Bc4 Nc6 7. Qe4 f5 8. Qe2 Nb6 9. Bb3 Qc7 10. Nf3 g6 {Putting extra pressue on
the e5 pawn, but weakening the kingside (and the d6 square) somewhat.} 11. Bf4
Bg7 12. Na3 a6 13. Nc4 $6 (13. O-O O-O 14. Rad1 {puts White in control.}) 13...
Nxc4 14. Bxc4 b5 15. Bb3 Na5 16. O-O Nxb3 17. axb3 Bb7 18. Rfd1 O-O 19. Nd4 h6
20. h4 Bd5 21. Re1 Qd8 $1 {Now White either has to allow ...g6-g5 or lose the
h-pawn. He chooses the latter.} 22. c4 $5 Qxh4 23. Nxf5 $5 {White sacrifices a
piece the mess up the position.} ({Probably a better way was} 23. cxd5 $1 Qxf4
24. dxe6 $5 Qxd4 25. Rad1 Qg4 26. f3 Qb4 27. exd7 {gives White two central
passed pawns for the piece.}) 23... Qxf4 24. Ne7+ Kf7 25. Nxd5 exd5 26. e6+ Kg8
({Not} 26... dxe6 27. Qxe6#) 27. e7 Rfe8 28. cxb5 a5 ({Not} 28... axb5 $4 29.
Rxa8 Rxa8 30. e8=Q+) 29. b6 {The pawn advances to its doom.} ({White could
acquire two connected passed pawns with} 29. Ra4 Qf5 30. b4 Bf6 31. Qd2 -- {
followed by} 32. bxa5 {but it is probably not enough.}) 29... Qd6 30. b7 Rab8
31. Rxa5 Rxb7 32. Ra6 Rb6 33. Ra4 Bf6 34. Rg4 Rxe7 35. Rxg6+ Kf7 36. Rxf6+ Qxf6
37. Qh5+ Kf8 38. Ra1 Ra6 39. Rc1 Qg5 40. Rc8+ Kg7 41. Qd1 Rg6 42. Qd4+ Qe5 43.
Qd3 Qe1+ 44. Kh2 Qxf2 45. Rg8+ Kxg8 46. Qxg6+ Rg7 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R4"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Ilett R"]
[Black "Hughes M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A57"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "83"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 c5 3. d5 b5 {The Benko Gambit, which has been utilised by huge
numbers of attacking players over the years. Generally, Black fianchettoes his
king's bishop and looks for pressure from his major pieces along the queenside
files against b2 and a2.} 4. cxb5 a6 5. e3 ({The idea behind this move is to
enabe White to castle, by contrast to the most popular line} 5. bxa6 Bxa6 6.
Nc3 d6 7. e4 Bxf1 8. Kxf1) 5... g6 6. Nc3 d6 7. Nf3 Bg7 8. bxa6 ({The most
popular and successful follow-up is} 8. a4 {hoping to block Black's normal
queenside counterplay by posting a piece on b5.}) 8... O-O 9. Be2 Bxa6 10. O-O
Nbd7 11. a4 {White decides to continue with the basic plan of positng a piece
on b5, but - in view of of the move order that he has chosen - he has to watch
out for the temporary vulnerability of his d-pawn and the fact that the rook
on a1 is unprotected for now, so the a4 pawn could become pinned.} Nb6 ({This
is the systematic move, but it blocks the b-file and Black might achieve more
of an initiative for his pawn with} 11... Bxe2 12. Qxe2 Qa5 13. Bd2 ({or} 13.
e4 {- to protect the d5 pawn and so allow the knight to move from c3 -} Rfb8 {
and} 14. Nb5 {is not yet possible because of the pin on the a-pawn}) 13... Qa6
$1 14. Qxa6 Rxa6 15. e4 Rb8 {and White still cannot move the knight to b5
because the e4 pawn would be en prise. Black would then have excellent play
for his rooks on the queenside.}) 12. e4 Ne8 {All according to the system. The
knight plans to come to b4 via c7 and a6. White's next move ensures that the
knight cannot get to a6 immediately.} 13. Bxa6 $1 Rxa6 14. Bd2 Nc4 (14... Qa8
$5 {is an interesting alternative. It threatens to regain the pawn (by ...Bxc3
and then capturing the a-pawn) and keeps an eye on the d5 pawn so that} 15. b3
{can be met with} f5 $5 {undermining it. It's a risky path (weakening the e6
square) but one which might suit the kind of adventurous spirit that plays the
Benko Gambit.}) 15. Qe2 Nxd2 16. Qxa6 (16. Nxd2 {is also reasonable, intending
to plant the knight on c4 and thus defend b2.   Experience in the Benko Gambit
has tended to show that the exchange of pieces often favours Black - i.e. the
side that is a pawn down - which runs counter to the usual rule. White finds
it hard to protect his vumnerable pawns on the queenside and in the centre.})
16... Nxf1 17. Kxf1 Qb8 18. Qb5 Nc7 19. Qe2 $5 ({Presumably White didn't like} 
19. Qxb8 Rxb8 20. Ra2 Na6 {coming in to b4 to attack the rook and then
probably d3 to win the b-pawn.}) 19... Qb3 20. Ra3 Qb4 21. Qc2 Rb8 22. Ra2 Qc4+
23. Qe2 Qb4 {Black invites a repetition as he is attacking c3 again.} 24. e5 $5
{Rather than mve his queen again, White decides to court complications. They
continue for many moves and his decision proves justified because, on balance,
he copes with them better than his opponent.} ({Had he protected c3 while
avoiding the repetition with} 24. Qd3 {he would be inviting yet another
typical Benko device:} c4 25. Qe3 Na6 26. a5 Nc5 {coming in to d3.}) 24... dxe5
25. Nxe5 $2 Qf4 $1 {An unexpected fork of the knight and the unprotected
h-pawn.} ({This is a lot better than the spectacular} 25... Qxc3 26. bxc3 Rb1+
27. Qe1 Rxe1+ 28. Kxe1 Bxe5 29. c4 {when, although the material is nominally
about level, the passed a-pawn probably gives White the better chances}) 26.
Nd3 (26. Nc6 {is met with} Bxc3 $1 (26... Qxh2 27. Qe4 {is OK for White}) {
because the rook cannot be captured in view of the mate following 27...Qc1+
and neither can the bishop in view of 27...Rb1+. Therefore} 27. g3 {is forced}
(27. Nxb8 Qc1+) (27. bxc3 Rb1+) {but Black has} 27... Qd6 28. Nxe7+ (28. bxc3 {
loses to} Rb1+ 29. Kg2 Qxd5+ 30. Qf3 $2 Rg1+ $1 {winning the queen}) (28. Nxb8
{is even worse because} Qxd5 {threatens the rook on a2 and mate on h1!}) 28...
Kf8 29. bxc3 Rb1+ 30. Kg2 Qxe7 {with an extra piece.}) 26... Qc4 ({Why not} 
26... Qxh2 $1 {...?} {After} 27. Qe4 (27. Qxe7 $4 {loses at once to} Re8 28.
Qxc5 Qh1#) {Black is level on material and can pile pressure onto d5 with}
27... Rd8) 27. Qe4 $2 {Ironically White is now desperate to exchange queens,
but he is going to lose his extra pawn.} Qxe4 ({A very pretty idea is the
line-closing} 27... Bd4 $1 28. -- {the threat is now the rather nice} Nxd5 {
because capturing with the queen allows Black to capture the knight on d3 with
check, and capturing with the knight leaves the rook on a2 en prise.  There is
nothing White can do to stop his d-pawn being captured (moving the rook leaves
the b-pawn en prise because the knight on d3 is pinned) so he should play 28.
g3 to give his king an escape square. After capturing the pawn, Black will
have the edge.}) 28. Nxe4 c4 29. Ndc5 ({After} 29. Ne1 Nxd5 30. a5 Bxb2 31. a6
Bd4 32. Ra4 Bb6 33. Rxc4 Nc7 {winning the a-pawn, but I doubt very much
whether the ending with an extra pawn - but all of them on the kingside - is
winnable for Black.}) 29... Bd4 $5 {Both alternative ways of winning a pawn
are also strong, but this sets up the possbility of ...f7-f5 undermining the
support of the knight at c5.} (29... Bxb2 30. a5 c3 31. Nd3 Na6) (29... Nxd5
30. a5 Rxb2 31. Rxb2 Bxb2 {However, White should be able to draw in both cases.
}) 30. a5 $2 {I suspect that time trouble affected both players hereabouts as
the complications increase. This move should lose a piece.} (30. Nd7 Rxb2 31.
Rxb2 Bxb2 32. Ke2 Nxd5 {should again be drawn with best play.}) 30... f5 31.
Nd7 Rd8 $2 ({After} 31... Rxb2 32. Rxb2 ({not} 32. Ra4 fxe4 33. Rxc4 Nb5 {
saving both pieces}) 32... Bxb2 {White must give up a piece to stop the c-pawn:
} 33. Nec5 (33. Nd2 c3 34. Nb3 c2) 33... c3 34. Nd3 c2 {etc..}) 32. Nec5 {Now
White's passed a-pawn gives him possibilities.} Nxd5 {Level at last!} (32...
Bxc5 33. Nxc5 Rxd5 34. b4 cxb3 35. Nxb3 Na6 {be drawn comfortably.}) 33. a6 {
Passed pawns must be pushed!} (33. Ra4 $5 {is a useful alternative,
threatening to go a pawn ahead again.}) 33... Ra8 {The position becomes very
difficult to calculate, just when the players lack the time to do it.} (33...
e5 {protects the bishop, which proves essential in the sequel. However, Whiite
still has chances:} 34. a7 Ra8 35. Ra5 $1 Bxb2 $5 {giving up a piece to remove
the white passed pawn and create his own} (35... Kf7 36. Na4 Rxa7 37. Nxe5+ Ke6
38. Rxa7 Bxa7 39. Nxc4 Bd4 {gives an ending a pawn up for White which may not
be winning with best play, but he can torture Black for ages.}) 36. Rb5 Rxa7
37. Rxb2 c3 38. Rc2 e4 {and the game cannot be won because the knights cannot
return home and Black threatens to round them up by bringing his king across
to attack the one at d7.}) 34. Ne6 $1 {The knight takes up this excellent
square with gain of time.} Ba7 35. Ra5 Nb6 (35... c3 {forces a useful pawn
exchange because} 36. Rxd5 $2 c2 {promotes the pawn.}) 36. Nc7 (36. Ne5 {
threatens Nc6 followed by Nc7 and gives Black serious problems. e.g.} Bb8 37.
f4 Bxe5 38. fxe5 Kf7 39. Nc7 Ra7 40. Nb5 Ra8 41. a7 Nc8 42. Ke1 e6 43. Kd2 Ke7
44. Kc3 {and the passed a-pawn will soon be joined by its brother on the
b-file.}) 36... Rd8 (36... Rc8 {may be a better chance. E.g.} 37. Nb5 Nxd7 38.
Nxa7 Rc5 $1 {but White is probably winning after} 39. Rb5 $1 Rc7 40. Nc6 $1
Rxc6 41. a7 Ra6 42. Rb8+ Kf7 43. a8=Q Rxa8 44. Rxa8 {since the black c-pawn is
still vulnerable.}) 37. Nxb6 {Now it's a draw.} (37. Ne5 {is still very good.
E.g.} Rd2 38. Nc6 c3 39. bxc3 Nc4 40. Rd5 Rxf2+ 41. Ke1 Be3 42. Ne5 Nxe5 43.
Rxe5 Ba7 44. Nb5 Bb6 45. Re2 $1 Rf4 46. Rxe7 Rg4 47. g3 Ra4 48. a7 {and Black
must give up his bishop for the a-pawn}) 37... Bxb6 38. Rd5 Rc8 39. Nb5 Ra8 40.
Rd7 Rxa6 41. Rxe7 Ra1+ 42. Re1 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cooksey P"]
[Black "Arkell K"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A39"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "51"]

1. c4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6 4. g3 Bg7 5. Bg2 d6 6. O-O Nf6 7. d4 cxd4 8. Nxd4
Nxd4 9. Qxd4 O-O 10. Qd3 Nd7 11. b3 Nc5 12. Qd2 Rb8 13. Bb2 b6 (13... a6 {
intending} 14. -- b5 {is normal. The move played seems a little restrained.
Maybe it was meant to be provocative.}) 14. h4 {White is provoked - but this
is a positive move.} h5 {Allowing the pawn to advance woud give White extra
possibilities (like exchanging on g6 or advancing to h6) but this is a little
more weakening than White's h-pawn advance.} 15. Rfd1 Be6 16. Nd5 Bxb2 17. Qxb2
b5 18. cxb5 Rxb5 19. Rac1 a5 20. Nf4 Qb6 21. Qd2 Bf5 (21... -- {Avoiding} 22.
Nxe6 {when} Nxe6 {is forced} (22... fxe6 $2 23. Qh6 Rf6 24. Be4 $1 {is
crushing in view of} Nxe4 25. Rc8+ Kf7 26. Qf8#) {allowing} 23. Rc6 Qa7 24. Bd5
{and Black is under some pressure.}) 22. Nd5 Qa7 23. Qe3 ({White could
increase his intiative with} 23. e4 $1 Be6 {allows the immediate} (23... Nxe4 {
lets the rook in:} 24. Bxe4 Bxe4 25. Rc7 Rb7 26. Nxe7+ Kh7 27. Rxb7 Qxb7 28.
Nd5 $1 {with a ermanent positional advantage}) (23... Bxe4 $2 24. Rxc5 {is a
favourable exchange for White:} Rxc5 (24... Bxg2 25. Rxb5) 25. Bxe4 {and the
two pieces are more valuable than the rook and pawn}) (23... Bg4 24. Re1 {and
White intends to break open the position with} -- 25. e5 $1) 24. e5 $1 dxe5 25.
Qe3 $1 (25. Qg5 {regains the pawn with the better game}) 25... Rc8 (25... -- {
White intends} 26. a4 {winning material as the rook defends the knight at c5} (
{or} 26. Bf1)) 26. Qxe5 -- {and White has many threats including} 27. Bh3 $1
Kh7 ({not} 27... Bxh3 28. Nxe7+ Kh7 29. Nxc8 Bxc8 30. Rd8) 28. Bxe6 fxe6 {and
the black king's position is ruined.}) 23... Be6 24. Nc3 (24. Nf4 {is also
good, but White is happy with a draw, so he goes for a repetition.}) 24... Rb4
25. Nd5 Rb5 26. Nc3 {White stands a little better so is able to negotiate the
draw from a position of strength and share first place with his opponent.}
1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Gregory S"]
[Black "Anderson J"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B45"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "42"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 e6 6. Be3 Bb4 7. Bd3 d5 $1 8.
Nxc6 bxc6 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Bd2 ({Brave souls offer a pawn (on c3) or an
apparently weakening exchange (on e3) by playing} 10. O-O {White is more
prudent than that and prefers to lose a tempo.}) 10... Qa5 ({And} 10... O-O {
is the prudent response.}) 11. a3 $6 ({Bravery is best here.} 11. O-O $1 Nxc3 (
11... O-O 12. a3 Bxc3 13. bxc3 Qc7 14. Rb1 {is fine for White}) 12. bxc3 Bxc3
13. Qf3 $1 Bd7 14. Bxc3 Qxc3 15. Rab1 {gives White good play for the pawn as
the king must stay in the centre for now because} O-O $4 {loses the queen to}
16. Bxh7+) 11... Nxc3 12. Qf3 $6 (12. Qg4 {is his best chance:} Qe5+ 13. Kf1
Nd5 14. Bxb4 Qxb2 15. Rd1 Nxb4 16. Qxb4 Qxb4 17. axb4 {and the weakness of the
black a- and c-pawns probably gives White enough compensation for the pawn.})
12... Nd5 13. Bxb4 Nxb4 14. axb4 Qxa1+ 15. Ke2 Qxh1 16. Qxc6+ Bd7 $2 {Now it's
a draw.} (16... Ke7 $1 {wins:} 17. Qc5+ (17. Qxa8 Qa1 {and White has no
compensation for his large material deficit}) 17... Kf6 $1 18. Qd4+ e5 19. Qh4+
Ke6 20. Bc4+ Kd6 {when there are no checks left and Black is two rooks ahead.})
17. Qxa8+ Ke7 18. Qxh8 Qxg2 19. Qxh7 Qg4+ 20. f3 Qg2+ 21. Ke3 Qg1+ 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Merry A"]
[Black "Moore Gerald"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. b3 e5 2. Bb2 Nc6 3. e3 g6 4. Nf3 Bg7 5. d4 d6 6. dxe5 Nge7 (6... Nxe5 7.
Nxe5 (7. Nc3 {is probably what Alan would have played}) 7... Bxe5 8. Bxe5 dxe5
9. Qxd8+ Kxd8 10. Nc3 {has scored well for White, but surely Black has nothing
to fear?}) 7. Nc3 Nxe5 8. Nxe5 Bxe5 9. f4 $5 Bg7 10. Qf3 $1 {The idea is to
castle queenside and play a kingside pawn storm.} O-O 11. O-O-O a5 {Correctly
trying to get his blow in first.} 12. a4 Bd7 {The idea is to support a
possible later ...b5 advance and to bring the bishop to c6...} 13. g4 Bc6 {...
but perhaps he should have delayed the occupation of c6 until his night has
settled on b4 (via that square).} ({E.g.} 13... Nc6 14. h4 Nb4 15. Kb1 Qc8 16.
Bh3 b5 $5 17. Nxb5 ({or} 17. axb5 a4 18. bxa4 Bxc3 19. Bxc3 Rxa4 {and Black's
attack is well under way}) 17... Bc6 $1 18. e4 Bxb2 19. Kxb2 Qb7 $1 20. Nc3
Rab8 {with play down the b-file and a possible ...Nxc2 sacrifice in the air 
(it would be followed by ...Qxb3+).}) 14. e4 f5 $6 {Logical, exploiting the
position nof the white queen, but rather weakening. White soon exploits
Black's rather open king's position.} 15. gxf5 (15. Bc4+ $1 Kh8 16. Nb5 $1 {is
very hard to meet. The idea is to bring the queen to c3. E.g.} fxg4 {is
probably best:} ({not} 16... Bxe4 $4 17. Bxg7+ Kxg7 18. Qc3+ Rf6 ({or} 18...
Kh6 19. g5+ Kh5 20. Qh3#) 19. g5 {emerging a rook ahead}) (16... Bxb5 {meets
the same fate}) (16... Bxb2+ {is quite complex:} 17. Kxb2 Ng8 (17... Nc8 {is
similar}) 18. g5 $1 h5 (18... h6 {is similar}) 19. Qc3+ Kh7 20. exf5 $1 (20.
Nd4 {is simpler and strong}) 20... Bxh1 21. fxg6+ Kxg6 22. Bd3+ Kf7 23. g6+ Ke8
24. Nxc7+ {and wins}) 17. Bxg7+ Kxg7 18. Qc3+ Kh6 (18... Rf6 19. e5 Rf5 20.
exd6+ {wins the knight}) 19. Nd4 Bd7 20. h3 $1 g3 21. Qxg3 {with a strong
attack for no material investment}) 15... Nxf5 $1 (15... gxf5 {is asking for
trouble after} 16. Rg1) 16. h4 Qf6 17. Bc4+ Kh8 18. Qd3 {White avoids a
possible queen exchange.} (18. h5 $1 {is more incisive:} Nh4 19. hxg6 $1 Qxf4+
({of course not} 19... Nxf3 20. Rxh7#) 20. Qxf4 Rxf4 21. gxh7 {and Black will
remain a pawn down because he cannot risk recapturing on h7 and exposing his
king and his minor pieces to attack after} Kxh7 22. Ne2 $1) 18... Ne7 {The
knight would defend better on h6, where it blocks the h-file. On e7, it helps
to hem in the black queen.} 19. Rdf1 (19. Rdf1 -- {Threatening to trap the
black queen with} 20. Nd1) 19... d5 $5 {Now the queen can escape across the
third rank.} ({It's probably a little more practical to exchange queens, but
after} 19... Qd4 20. h5 Qxd3 21. Bxd3 {White has a good attack without any
problems.}) 20. exd5 Rfd8 {Hoping to solve his problems tactically, but this
fails to some incisive play.} ({The best alternative seems to be to hold up
the h4-h5 thrust with} 20... Be8 {although then he is a pawn down for nothing.}
) 21. h5 $1 {Perfect timing!} Bxd5 22. h6 $1 Bxh1 ({Or} 22... Bf8 23. Ne4 {
winning the queen.}) 23. hxg7+ Qxg7 24. Qh3 {Black faces ruinous loss of
material.} (24. Qh3 {After} Nf5 25. Ne2 Nd4 26. Nxd4 Rxd4 27. Rxh1 c5 28. Bxd4
cxd4 29. f5 {White has a bishop for a pawn and still has a strong attack.}) 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Graham"]
[Black "Wells JC"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B83"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "50"]

1. e4 c5 2. Nf3 e6 3. d4 cxd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nc3 d6 6. Be2 Nc6 7. Be3 Be7 8.
O-O O-O 9. f4 Qc7 10. Nb3 $5 {This isn't played much, but it makes sense to
avoid an exchange of knights.} Na5 $6 {In a similar position (but with my
king's bishop financhettoed) I recently played ...Nb3 against Jonathan, and he
responded just like this, insisting upon the exchange of knights. He won the
game in the end, and this might have encouraged him to try the idea again. 
This time, however, White can take advantage of the omission of ...a6 (which
prevents the c3 knight coming to b5) and possibly the fact that this move
gives up control of e5.} 11. Nb5 {Hoping, as the game goes, that the two
bishops will give him good chances.} ({He could also try to exploit the e5
square. After} 11. e5 $1 dxe5 12. Nb5 $1 Qd8 13. Qxd8 Bxd8 {(he must keep the
a5 knight protected)} 14. fxe5 Nd7 (14... Nd5 15. Bxa7 {is a secure extra pawn
for White}) (14... Nxb3 15. axb3 Nd7 16. Bxa7 Nxe5 $2 {allows} 17. Bc5 Rxa1 18.
Rxa1 Re8 19. Nd6 {winning the exchange}) 15. Nxa5 Bxa5 16. Bf4 {gives White a
useful space advantage.}) 11... Qd8 12. Nxa5 Qxa5 13. Nxd6 Bxd6 ({Probably
better is} 13... Rd8 14. e5 Ne4 15. Nc4 Qc7 {when Black has some counterplay
and may even be able to regain the pawn, but White's space advantage will
remain.}) 14. Qxd6 Nxe4 15. Qe5 Qxe5 16. fxe5 b6 17. Bf3 $6 ({White should play
} 17. Rad1 $1 {first.} Rb8 {takes the rook off the long diagonal, so that Bf3
will not be a problem, but Black is rather hamstrung, because he still cannot
allow the rook to come in to d7.} ({Then if} 17... Bb7 {he can play} 18. Rd7 $1
{and either the a7 or f7 pawn will go. E.g.} Rab8 (18... Bc6 19. Rc7) 19. Bf3
-- {threatening} 20. Rxb7 Rxb7 21. Bxe4)) (17. Rf4 $5 {is also good. E.g.} Nc5
({not} 17... Bb7 18. Bf3 Nc5 19. Bxc5) 18. Rg4 {with good attacking chances,
despite the lack of queens.}) 17... Bb7 18. Rad1 Rfc8 ({He should challenge
control of the d-file with} 18... Rfd8) 19. c3 {Too slow.} (19. Rd4 $1 {
secures the seventh rank for his rook:} Nc5 20. Bxb7 Nxb7 21. Rd7 Nd8 {(to
protect the f7 pawn)} 22. Bg5 {and White can win the f7 pawn at his leisure by
exchanging off the knight}) 19... Rc7 20. Rd4 Nc5 21. Rfd1 h6 22. Kf2 Rac8 23.
Rd8+ Rxd8 24. Rxd8+ Kh7 25. Bd1 Be4 $1 {Preventing Bc2+ and so persuading
White to take the draw.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Elwin A"]
[Black "Coleman D"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "A50"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "47"]

1. d4 Nf6 2. c4 Nc6 3. Nc3 (3. d5 Ne5 4. e4 {looks tremendous for White, but
appearances can be deceptive. E.g.} e6 5. f4 Ng6 6. e5 Ne4 7. Nf3 ({better is} 
7. Qf3) 7... Bb4+ {and} 8. Ke2 {is the only way to avoid losing a pawn!}) 3...
e5 4. d5 Ne7 5. e4 Ng6 6. Be3 {Preventing the bishop from coming to the sueful
c5 square. So it goes to the useful b4 square!} Bb4 7. f3 O-O 8. Bd3 d6 9. Nge2
Nd7 10. Qd2 a5 11. O-O Bc5 {After due preparation, the bishop gets to the
useful c5 square!} 12. Rad1 Bxe3+ 13. Qxe3 Nc5 14. Bc2 Qe7 15. Ng3 Nf4 16. Qf2
$2 g6 ({Both sides miss the typical trick} 16... Bh3 $1 {winnng the pawn at g2,
because capturing the bishop loses the queen to a knight fork.} {The best way
fro White to lose material may be} 17. Nf5 Qf6 18. g3 Bxf1 19. Kxf1 Ng6 20. Nb5
{when it is hard for Black to exploit the extra exchange because the rooks
currently have no open lines, and an eventual ...c6 may lose the d6 pawn.}) {
Instead we head straight for a draw.} 17. Nce2 Nxe2+ 18. Nxe2 f5 19. exf5 Bxf5
20. Ng3 Bxc2 21. Qxc2 Rf4 22. Ne4 Nxe4 23. fxe4 b6 24. g3 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Mabbs D"]
[Black "Bradbury N"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "A03"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "52"]

1. f4 d5 2. Nf3 g6 3. e3 Bg7 4. d4 c5 5. c3 Nh6 6. Be2 O-O 7. O-O b6 8. Ne5 Ba6
{A logical attempt to exchange White's better bishop for his worse one, an
attempt which White decides to foil.} 9. Nd3 $6 ({It would go against the
grain to give up the centre with} 9. dxc5 {but Black must be very careful to
avoid disadvantage. E.g.} Bxe2 (9... bxc5 $2 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. Nc6 Qd6 12. Qxd5
$1 {winning a pawn thanks to the knight check on e7}) 10. Qxe2 bxc5 11. Rd1 e6
12. e4 f6 13. Nc4 d4 14. Nbd2 {and suddenly Black's other bishop is likely to
become "bad".}) (9. Bxa6 {forces the win of a pawn, but} Nxa6 10. dxc5 Nxc5 11.
Nc6 Qc7 $1 12. Qxd5 Rac8 13. Nd4 Rfd8 14. Qf3 f5 $1 {gives Black a big lead in
development and the white bishop us a very poor piece. Black's immediate
intention is to bast the position open with} 15. -- e5 $1) 9... Nd7 10. g4 e6
11. h3 f6 {Denying sqaures to White's pieces and giving his h6 knight a square
at f7 if needed. Black has a flexible position, while White's pieces tend to
get in each other's way.} 12. Bf3 Bb7 13. dxc5 bxc5 14. c4 Qe7 15. Nc3 Nb6 16.
Na4 $2 {White has begun to make sense of the positioning of his pieces, but
now his knights will start to trip over each other.} dxc4 17. Ndxc5 (17. Bxb7 {
may be a little better, but} Rad8 $1 (17... Qxb7 18. Ndxc5) 18. Ba6 cxd3 {wins
a pawn for Black because} 19. Nxb6 axb6 20. Bxd3 c4 {loses a piece.}) 17...
Rfd8 18. Qc2 (18. Bd2 Bxf3 19. Qxf3 Nxa4 20. Nxa4 {is met by} Qe8 $1 {
defending the rook on a8 and attacking the knight on a4. Meanwhile the bishop
on d2 is still under attack so Black wins material:} (20... Rxd2 $2 21. Qxa8+)
21. Qd1 Rxd2 22. Qxd2 Qxa4) 18... Bxf3 19. Rxf3 Rac8 {Again threatening to win
two pieces for a rook.} 20. Nxb6 axb6 21. Ne4 (21. Na4 {invites the black
queenside forward, and after} b5 22. Nc3 b4 23. Ne2 f5 24. g5 Nf7 {White's
kingside is over-extended and his queenside is squeezed for room.}) 21... f5
22. Nf2 e5 $5 {Opening the centre to exploit White's disorganised state.} ({
Also very good was} 22... c3 $1 {forcing a far-advanced passed pawn because if}
23. bxc3 ({or} 23. Qb3 c2) 23... Rxc3 24. Qe2 Qc5 $1 25. Qf1 (25. Bd2 Rc2 26.
Rd1 fxg4 27. hxg4 Qd5 {wins the pinned bishop}) 25... Qc6 26. Rg3 Rc2 27. Rb1
Rxa2 {and Black is a pawn ahead while White can hardly move anything safely.})
23. g5 Nf7 24. h4 {Rome is burning, but Nero sticks with his fiddle.} b5 (24...
c3 {is still excellent.}) 25. e4 Qb7 {Pinning the e4 pawn against the rook.} (
25... Nd6 {at once is very good.}) 26. Kg2 $2 {Protecting the rook but
inviting disaster. But his position was horrible anyway.} Nd6 $1 {Black wins
material.} (26... Nd6 27. fxe5 (27. exf5 Nxf5 {threatens a fork on h4}) 27...
fxe4 28. Re3 {(Other rook moves lose the knight on f2 to a discovered check by
the pawn.)} Bxe5 {leaves White a pawn down and facing worse}) 0-1

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Saravanan K"]
[Black "Pullinger S"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C45"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "61"]

1. e4 Nc6 2. d4 e5 {Not such a good idea! Karthik has become something of an
expert in the line of the Scotch that appears in this game.} 3. Nf3 exd4 4.
Nxd4 Nf6 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. e5 Qe7 7. Qe2 Nd5 8. c4 Nb6 9. Nc3 Bb7 10. f4 g6 {If
he wants to castle queenside he should do it at once.} 11. Be3 Bg7 12. O-O-O
O-O-O {Natural, but White's reply proves it to be dubious. By now it was
better to castle on the other side.} 13. c5 $1 Nd5 14. Nxd5 cxd5 15. c6 $1 dxc6
({In view of} 15... Bxc6 16. Qa6+ Bb7 17. Qxa7 Qe6 18. Rd2 $1 {when there is
very little that Black can sensibly do against the slow threat of} -- 19. Rc2
-- 20. Bb6 c6 21. Ba6 {Black is more-or-less forced to block in his own bishop.
}) 16. Bxa7 Kd7 {Bringing the king to the centre is risky, of couse, but he
needs to find a plan and hopes to use the open queenside files against the
white king.} 17. Qc2 (17. g3 $1 {would be a crafty move. Apparently, the only
intention is to nudge the black king with Bh3+ but in fact it sets a neat trap:
} Ra8 $2 18. Rxd5+ $1 cxd5 19. Qb5+ Kd8 (19... Kc8 $2 20. Bh3+ {froces the
king away from the defence of the bishop.}) 20. Qxb7 {and Black must return
the exchange, emerging two pawns down.}) 17... Bf8 {To prevent the clamping
Ba7-c5, and maybe threaten to trap the bishop on a7 with ...c5.} 18. Qa4 $1 {
Preventing that plan.} Ke8 19. Ba6 $1 Bxa6 {Black would prefer to give up a
pawn rather than imprison his own bishop on a8.} 20. Qxc6+ Qd7 21. Qxa6 Be7 22.
Rhe1 Kf8 {Black attempts to escape to the kingside (maybe kingside castling
was better after all!?) but it doesn't work.} ({The blockading} 22... Qe6 {was
necessary, hoping that the pawns on the same colour as White's bishop would
give Black drawing chances if White exchanges queens.}) 23. e6 fxe6 24. Rxe6 (
24. Bd4 $1 Rg8 25. Rxe6 {was even better because after} (25. Qxe6 Qxe6 26. Rxe6
{also gives White a solid advantage.}) 25... c5 26. Rde1 $1 cxd4 27. Rxe7 Qxe7
28. Rxe7 Kxe7 {the connected passed pawns are decisive.}) 24... Kf7 25. Rde1
Rhe8 26. Bd4 (26. Qd3 $1 {is the way to go.} {but he cannot harrass the white
bishop with} c5 ({Black can choose a bisop ending a pawn down:} 26... Bd6 27.
Rxe8 Qc6+ (27... Bxf4+ $4 28. R8e3) 28. Qc2 Qxc2+ 29. Kxc2 Rxe8 30. Rxe8 Kxe8
31. Be3) {in view of} 27. Qh3 $1 h5 (27... Qxa7 28. Qxh7+ Kf8 29. Rxg6 {and
mate next move}) 28. Bb6 Rb8 29. Rf6+ {winning the queen}) 26... Bd6 27. f5 $6
(27. Rf6+ Kg8 28. Be5 Bxe5 29. Rxe5 Qg4 {gives Black plenty of counnterplay}) (
27. Rxe8 Rxe8 28. Be5 Bxe5 29. fxe5 Re6 30. Qd3 {is also very hard to win})
27... gxf5 28. Qf1 (28. Qf1 {At first sight this looks a brilliant way to
break through but should simply be met with} Qxe6 $1 ({White's "point" is} 
28... Rxe6 29. Qxf5+ Kg8 30. Rxe6 {with a winning attack}) 29. Rxe6 Kxe6 $1 {
with an interesting ending with chances for both sides} ({not} 29... Rxe6 30.
Qxf5+ Ke7 31. Qxh7+ {with a winning ending}) {E.g.} 30. Qe2+ Kd7 31. Qh5 c5 32.
Qxf5+ Kc6) {Overlooking his possible escape, Black opens a crucial diagonal.}
28... f4 $2 29. Qd3 $1 Rxe6 ({It's too late to play} 29... Qxe6 {in view of}
30. Qxh7+ Kf8 31. Qg7#) 30. Qf5+ Kg8 31. Rxe6 (31. Rxe6 -- {White threatens a
nice finish with} 32. Qg5+ Kf8 33. Qf6+ Kg8 34. Qh8+ Kf7 35. Qg7+ $1 Kxe6 36.
Qf6# {and there is nothing sensible that Black can do to stop it.}) 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore S"]
[Black "Hall D"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C11"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "63"]

1. e4 e6 2. Nf3 d5 3. Nc3 Nf6 4. e5 Nfd7 5. d4 c5 6. dxc5 Bxc5 7. Bd3 Nc6 8.
Qe2 a6 9. O-O Qc7 10. Bf4 Nd4 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12. Rfe1 Bxc3 {We are still in a
known line. I must say that I would be delighted if my opponent grabbed a pawn
in this way and thereby left me with an unopposed dark-squared bishop.} 13.
bxc3 Qxc3 14. Rab1 b5 (14... O-O {looks risky in view of} 15. Qh5 {but Black
should survive. E.g.} {The immediate} f5 $1 {is better, although White gets a
promising attack for the pawn after} (15... g6 {is too weakening:} 16. Qh6 Qd4
17. Re3 f5 (17... f6 $2 18. Bxg6 $1 {wins}) 18. h4 Rf7 19. h5 Nf8 20. Bg5 $1 b5
21. c3 Qc5 ({not} 21... Qxc3 22. hxg6 hxg6 23. Bxf5) 22. Bf6 Raa7 23. Rg3 -- ({
and Back must give up the exchange with} 23... Rg7) {to avoid} 24. hxg6 Nxg6
25. Rxg6+ hxg6 26. Qh8#) 16. exf6 Nxf6 17. Qg5 Qd4 18. Bd6 Rf7 19. Re3 h6 {etc.
} 20. Qg3 {Black's decision not to castle is fraught with greater danger.}) 15.
Bd2 Qd4 16. Rb4 $1 Qc5 17. Rg4 g6 18. a4 {playing to break the position open
while the black king is still uncastled.} ({He could also continue a
dark-square domination strategy with} 18. Bb4 Qc7 19. Qd2 Bb7 ({not} 19... Nxe5
20. Qf4) 20. Bd6 {etc..}) 18... bxa4 19. Rxa4 Qc6 20. Rea1 {A trap. Now Black
should castle, but instead he realises that he can exchange that dangerous
bishop on d3...} Nc5 $4 21. Bb5 $1 {...until he realises that it will cost him
the exchange.} axb5 22. Rxa8 O-O 23. R8a5 Bd7 24. Bh6 Rc8 25. Qf3 Ne4 26. R5a2
{An unnecessary retreat.} ({He wins comfortably after} 26. Ra7 $1 {(attacking
gthe bishop so that the queen cannot capture the pawn on c2) and if} Be8 {then}
27. Qa3 {threatening mate on f8} Nc5 (27... Qc5 28. Qxc5 Nxc5 29. Ra8 {is
instantly decisive}) 28. Ra8 {etc..}) 26... Qb6 $2 {He must not let a white
rook into a8 without a fight.} 27. Ra8 $1 Qd8 28. Rxc8 Qxc8 29. Qa3 $1 Qd8 ({
After} 29... Nc5 30. Qb4 (30. Qa8 {also wins}) 30... -- {there is nothing much
that can be done against the plan to mate with} 31. Qh4 -- 32. Qf6 -- {and} 33.
Qg7#) 30. Qa8 Bc8 31. Qc6 f5 32. Ra8 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Moore Geoff"]
[Black "Hughes M"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B07"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "65"]

1. e4 d6 2. d4 Nf6 3. Nc3 c6 4. f3 Nbd7 5. Be3 e5 6. Qd2 Be7 7. O-O-O b5 8. h4
(8. g4 {is normal.}) 8... Nb6 {There is nothing wrong with this mobe, bringing
the knight to bear on the queenside and freeing his bishop on c8, but White
decides to exploit the weakening of the c5 square.} 9. dxe5 dxe5 10. Qf2 Qc7
11. h5 Nc4 $5 {Black judges that, if White exchanges on c4, the pressure on
the b-file will compensate for the weakness of the doubled isolated pawns.  
White agrees and leaves well alone.} 12. Bc5 Be6 13. h6 {consistently playing
to create dark-square weaknesses in Black's position.} g6 14. Nh3 b4 15. Nb1 ({
White could maintain his presence on c5 with} 15. Na4 Nb6 16. Bxe7 Qxe7 17. Nc5
) 15... O-O ({Black could eliminate the pressure on c5 with} 15... Bxc5 16.
Qxc5 Qb6 {but that will also be available after this safety-first move.}) 16.
Ng5 $2 {Logically occupying a weakened dark square with the threat to win the
knight on c4 by removing its defence, but this is a serious tactical error.}
Nb6 $2 ({Black should play} 16... Ng4 $1 17. Nxe6 ({or} 17. fxg4 Bxg5+ {
winning the exchange}) 17... Nxf2 18. Nxc7 Bg5+ 19. Nd2 Nxd2 20. Rxd2 Rad8 $1 (
20... Bxd2+ {is OK but this wins more easily}) 21. Bxf2 ({or} 21. Bxb4 Nxh1)
21... Rxd2 $1 22. Bh4 Be3 {and Black must mate or win material. E.g.} 23. Na6 (
23. Bc4 g5 $1 24. Be1 ({if} 24. Bg3 Rfd8 $1 25. b3 Rd1+ 26. Kb2 Bd4+ {mates}) (
{or} 24. Bxg5 Bxg5 25. Kb1 Rfd8 26. Bd3 Rxg2 {with a comfortable win}) 24...
Rd7+ 25. Kb1 Rd1#) (23. b3 Rd7+ 24. Kb2 Rd1 $1 (24... Rxc7 {wins more slowly})
25. c4 g5 26. Bg3 Rfd8 27. Nd5 cxd5 28. exd5 Rd2+ 29. Kb1 Bd4 30. Kc1 Rxa2 {
etc.}) 23... Rd3+ 24. Kb1 Rd1#) 17. Nxe6 fxe6 18. Bxe7 {With the f-file
half-open, Black is threatening to capture the pawn on e4 to exploit the
pinned f3 pawn. So White removes the threat but gives over control of c5 to
Black.} ({A better way to met the threat was with} 18. Nd2) 18... Qxe7 19. Qg3
Qc5 20. Nd2 ({Now the a-pawn advances, and White faces problems with his king.
The smart ay to continue was} 20. Ba6 $1 Qa5 21. Bd3 $1 {gaining a tempo
because the queen is now in the way of the a-pawn's advance and} Qxa2 $2 22.
Qxe5 {is clearly an exchange which is in White's favour as he reagins control
over the dark squares.}) 20... a5 21. Nb3 $6 {Walking into another pin, but
not as bad as it looks..} Qe3+ 22. Kb1 Nxe4 23. Qe1 {White uses the spare move
that his queen enjoys to exchange queens, relying on Black's doubled e-pawns
to retain the balance.} ({Instead he could go for counterplay with} 23. Qh4 $5
Ng5 ({or} 23... Rf4 24. Qe7 Rf7 25. Qxe6) 24. Re1 Qf4 25. Qf2 Nd5 26. Rh4 Qf6
27. Nc5) 23... Qxe1 24. Rxe1 Ng3 25. Rg1 Nxf1 {This way he can defend the e5
pawn.} ({Another way to defend e5 also tries to bag the h6 pawn, namely} 25...
Rf5 26. Bd3 Rh5 {although after} 27. f4 $1 a4 28. Nd2 exf4 29. Rxe6 Rc8 30. Ba6
Rb8 31. Nf3 Nf5 32. Re4 c5 33. Rxf4 Nxh6 34. Re1 {White is still fighting.})
26. Rgxf1 Nc4 {But the problem is...} 27. Re4 Rf4 28. Rfe1 $1 Rd8 29. Kc1 Kf7
$2 {Now the knight on c4 is in danger.} ({After} 29... Rd5 30. g3 Rxe4 31. fxe4
(31. Rxe4 $2 Nd6 {and the e5 pawn is defended}) 31... Rd8 32. Nc5 Kf7 33. b3
Nd6 34. Nd3 Kf6 $1 35. Rf1+ Kg5 $1 (35... Ke7 36. Nxe5 Nxe4 $4 37. Nxc6+) 36.
Nxe5 Rc8 (36... Nxe4 $4 37. Nf7+) 37. Nf7+ Nxf7 38. Rxf7 Kxh6 39. Kd2 {the
strong white rook and centralised king make it unlikely that Black can retain
his  extra pawn.}) 30. Rxf4+ $2 (30. g3 $1 Rxe4 31. Rxe4 Nd6 32. Rxe5 Nc4 33.
Rc5 Ne3 34. Nd2 Nf5 35. g4 Nxh6 36. Rxa5 {is very good for White as the black
knight is temporarily sidelined and the black pawns are vulnerable.}) 30...
exf4 31. Re4 Ne3 32. Rxf4+ Ke7 33. Nd4 {The players agreed a draw.} (33. Nd4 {
White threatens a knight fork on c6, but Black stands slightly better after}
Rd6 34. Re4 Nxg2 {because he threatens to rescue his knight without losing
back the pawn after} 35. -- Kf6 ({not} 35... Ne3 36. Nxc6+ Rxc6 37. Rxe3) 36.
-- Ne3 $1 {and ,eanwhile the white h-pawn is rather vulnerable. It is probably
not winning for Black with best lay by both sides, but it may have been worth
continuing.}) 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Twitchell D"]
[Black "Ilett R"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "39"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Nf6 3. d4 Nxd5 4. c4 Nb6 5. Nf3 g6 6. Be2 Bg7 7. O-O O-O 8.
Nc3 Nc6 9. Be3 Bg4 10. d5 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Ne5 12. c5 Nbc4 13. Bc1 c6 14. Be4 $2 (
14. Be2 {is the usual move. The text move should lose the c5 pawn.}) 14... f5 (
14... Qa5 {and the c5 pawn cannot be defended.}) 15. Bc2 cxd5 (15... Qa5 {is
still on.}) 16. Qxd5+ e6 $5 {A remarkable conception. The white queen is
invited into the black spider's parlour in two different ways...} ({The was no
need for such heroics as} 16... Qxd5 17. Nxd5 Kf7 {is fine for Black.}) 17.
Qxe6+ (17. Qxb7 {seems to run the queen into trouble, but in fact it is the
best move:} a5 18. Bb3 Qd4 19. Rd1 (19. Na4 {, keeping the extra pawn, is also
possible}) 19... Qxc5 20. Na4 Qc8 21. Qxc8 Raxc8 22. Bf4 Kf7 (22... Rfe8 23.
Rac1) 23. Rac1 {and White has a very active position}) 17... Kh8 18. Bb3 ({Or} 
18. Qd5 Qe7 {and the threat to trap the white queen will force it to abandon
the c5 pawn, leaving Black with the better game.}) 18... Na5 $6 (18... Re8 19.
Qd5 Qe7 20. Bxc4 Rad8 21. Bb5 Rxd5 22. Nxd5 Qxc5 23. Bxe8 Qxd5 {leaves White
nominally ahead on material, but Black's activity easily compensates.}) 19. Bf4
({It's all very complicated, but it seems that} 19. Nb5 {gives White the edge.
E.g.} Nxb3 (19... Rc8 20. Nd6 Rxc5 21. Bf4 Nxb3 22. axb3 Rf6 23. Nxb7 Rxe6 24.
Nxd8 Re8 25. Bxe5 Bxe5 26. Nf7+ Kg7 27. Nxe5 Rexe5 28. Rxa7+ Kh6 {and the
doubled extra pawns are probably not enough to win}) 20. axb3 Rf6 21. Qxe5 Ra6
22. Bg5 Rxa1 23. Rxa1 Bxe5 24. Bxd8 Rxd8 25. Re1 a5 26. Nc3 Bd4 27. Na4 Rc8 28.
Kf1 Rc7 29. Re8+ Kg7 30. Ra8 Bxc5 31. Rxa5 Bd4 32. Rd5 Bf6 33. Nc3 {should be
a draw}) 19... Nd3 ({Better is} 19... Re8 20. Qd6 Nec4 21. Qxd8 Rexd8 22. Rab1
Nxb3 23. axb3 Nxb2 24. Rxb2 Bxc3 {which is level.}) 20. Bd6 {The remainder of
both scoresheets is illegible. White has a clear advantage, because if he
captures the pawn on b2, his knight may not be able to escape alive. However,
the game was agreed drawn on move 37.} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Spence D"]
[Black "Myall I"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "C64"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "113"]

{A truly exciting game from the start.} 1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Bb5 Bc5 4. c3 f5
{An Ivan Myall speciality.} 5. exf5 e4 6. Nd4 ({Taking Ivan away from the
most-played (and most complex!) lines. Normal is} 6. d4 {E.g.} exf3 7. dxc5
Qe7+ 8. Be3 fxg2 9. Rg1 Nf6 10. Nd2 d5 11. cxd6 cxd6 {which is a bit of a mess.
}) 6... Nf6 7. Nb3 Qe7 8. O-O O-O 9. d4 Bb6 10. Re1 d5 11. g4 Ne8 $5 ({The
standard response to White's last move would be for Black to pretend he is
White in a King's Gambit and play} 11... h5 $5 {which leds to suitably complex
play. Black plays an apparently passive move, but it contains a deal of venom.}
) 12. f3 $6 {Given the pin on the e-file, this looks strong but it is actually
very risky.} (12. c4 {looks impressive, but Black can complicate madly with}
Qh4 $5 ({not} 12... dxc4 13. Bxc4+ Kh8 14. Nc3 {which allows White easy
development and leaves Black with a dicky e-pawn.}) ({nor} 12... a6 {when} 13.
Bxc6 bxc6 14. c5 {puts the bishop out of play, and Black is effectively
playing a piece down.}) 13. c5 Nxd4 14. Nxd4 (14. Qxd4 Qxg4+ 15. Kf1 Qh3+ 16.
Ke2 c6 17. cxb6 Bxf5 18. Kd1 cxb5 19. Be3 axb6 {and the white king is
uncomfortable in the centre.}) 14... Bxc5 15. Re3 c6 16. Be2 Qf6 17. Nc2 h5 {
and Black has a lot of play (albeit possibly insufficient) for the piece.})
12... Ne5 $6 {Neat and apparently strong, because it exploits the pin on the
d4 pawn and menaces the pawn on f3, but not best.} (12... Qh4 $1 {is strong. E.
g.} 13. fxe4 Ne5 $1 {Now it's very good!} (13... Nf6 {is also good}) 14. Be2
dxe4 15. Bf4 $1 {is best. There follows} (15. Kg2 {is met with} Nf3 $1 {and
now:} 16. Bxf3 (16. Bc4+ Kh8 17. Rxe4 {allows the excellent passive knight
sacrifice} Qxh2+ $1 18. Kxf3 Nd6 $1 {which regains the rook:} 19. Qe2 (19. Bd3
{loses to the further sacrifice} Bxf5 $1 20. gxf5 Rxf5+ 21. Rf4 Rg5 $1 22. Ke3
Re8+ 23. Be4 Rg3+ 24. Rf3 Nxe4 25. Kd3 Nf2+ {and the queen goes too}) 19...
Qh1+ 20. Qg2 Qxg2+ 21. Kxg2 Nxe4 {and Black is the exchange for a pawn ahead.})
16... exf3+ 17. Kxf3 ({not} 17. Qxf3 Qxe1) {when both} 17... Nf6 ({and} 17...
Qh3+ {give Black a winnng attack.})) 15... Nf3+ 16. Bxf3 exf3 17. Bg3 Qxg4 18.
N1d2 f2+ 19. Kxf2 Qxf5+ {when material is level, Black has the two bishops and
the white king is a little exposed.}) 13. Bf4 ({White can exploit the pin on
the e-file and break the pin on his d4 pawn with} 13. Kh1 $1 Nxf3 ({or} 13...
Nxg4 14. fxg4 c6 15. Be2 h5) 14. Qxf3 {when Black will continue to seek
chances for the sacrificed piece with the disrupting} h5) 13... c6 (13... Nd6
$1 14. Bf1 g6 $1 {keeps the kettle boiling.}) 14. Bf1 Nf6 15. Kh1 Nf7 ({
Sacrificing a piece already is possibly a bit desperate, but} 15... Nxf3 16.
Qxf3 h5 {keeps things messy.}) 16. N1d2 g6 (16... h5 $5 {again means
sacrificing a piece after} 17. g5) 17. fxe4 Nxe4 18. Nxe4 dxe4 19. fxg6 hxg6
20. Nd2 Nd6 21. Be5 Bc7 22. Nxe4 $1 {A brilliant piece of analysis.} Rxf1+ 23.
Rxf1 Nxe4 24. Bxc7 Be6 $1 {Fortunately, Black realises the point just in time.}
(24... Qxc7 {loses nicely to} 25. Qd3 Ng5 ({or} 25... Qe7 26. Rf4) 26. Rf6 $1 (
{White also wins with} 26. Qxg6+ Qg7 27. Qe8+ Kh7 28. Rf8 -- {with the threat
of} 29. Qh5+ Qh6 30. Rh8+) 26... Nh7 27. Qxg6+ Qg7 28. Qe8+ Nf8 29. Raf1 {etc.}
) 25. Be5 ({More clear-cut is} 25. Qd3 Bd5 26. Kg1 Qxc7 27. Rae1 Qe7 {and
White will emerge two pawns ahead.} 28. c4) 25... Qh4 {Now the fight-back
begins.} 26. Qe2 (26. Qd3 $1 {should be a clear win. Despite losing the g4
pawn everything is covered after} Bd5 27. Kg1 Qxg4+ ({the main point is that} 
27... Ng5 {is impossible because of} 28. Qxg6#) 28. Bg3 Ng5 29. Rf6 Nh3+ 30.
Kf1 Kg7 31. Be5 {retaining the exchange and a pawn because after} Qg1+ 32. Ke2
Qg4+ 33. Kd2 {there are no checks left. (Remember if the rook interposes, it's
discovered check!)}) 26... Bd5 27. Kg1 Ng5 $1 (27... Ng5 {Threatening} 28. --
Nh3# {So now White has to return most of the booty.}) 28. Rf6 Nf3+ 29. Rxf3
Qxg4+ 30. Qg2 Bxf3 31. Qxg4 Bxg4 {This rook and opposite-colour bishop ending
looks very hard to win, if it's possible at all.} 32. Kf2 Kf7 33. Kg3 Bf5 34.
Re1 Re8 35. c4 Rd8 36. Rd1 Ke6 37. Kf4 Bc2 38. Re1 Rf8+ 39. Kg3 Kd7 40. d5 Bd3
(40... cxd5 41. cxd5 Rc8 {looks like a clear draw. For instance, after} 42. Kg4
Rc5 43. d6 Rc4+ 44. Kg5 Re4 {rooks are exchanged and the players can shake
hands. The only possible winning chance, assuming that Black  always has a
rook handy to prevent the white rook from entering at c7 or e7, is to get the
white rook around to the h-file so that he can check on h7. I can't see how he
can force that to happen.}) 41. dxc6+ Kxc6 42. Rd1 Bf5 (42... Bxc4 43. Rd6+ Kc5
44. Rxg6 Rf1 ({not} 44... Bxa2 $4 45. Bd6+) 45. Kg2 (45. a3 $4 Rg1+) 45... Rf5
{looks like a clear draw.  The white queenside pawns are vulnerable and, if
absolutely necessary, Black can give up his bishop for the h-pawn whilst
exchanging off (or winning) the white queenside pawns.  A typical line is} 46.
Bb8 a6 47. b3 Bd3 48. Kg3 (48. Rg4 Rf1) 48... Rf3+ 49. Kxf3 Bxg6 50. Kf4 Kb4
51. Kg5 Be4 52. Bd6+ Kc3 53. b4 Bc2 54. h4 Kb2 55. h5 Kxa2 56. h6 b6 57. Kf6 a5
58. b5 (58. bxa5 bxa5 {is an immediate draw}) 58... Kb3 59. Kg7 Kc4 {and
White's last queenside pawn goes.}) 43. b4 b6 44. Rd6+ Kb7 45. Bf4 Rc8 46. Rd4
Re8 47. Kf3 Rh8 ({Black is still fine, but if he wants to prove it to White
then acivity is best, so he should play} 47... Re1 {to attack White's pawns
from behind.} {E.g.} 48. c5 Rf1+ 49. Kg3 Rg1+ 50. Kf2 Ra1 51. Rd2 bxc5 52. bxc5
Kc6 53. Be3 Bb1 {regaining the pawn.}) 48. c5 bxc5 49. bxc5 Kc6 50. Ra4 Rh7 51.
Ra5 Bd3 52. Bd6 a6 53. Kg4 Bf5+ ({Keeping the king out with} 53... Rh5 {should
draw comfortably.}) 54. Kg5 Kb7 (54... Bd3 $1 55. Ra3 Rh3 {holds comfortably
because} 56. Kg4 $4 (56. Bg3 Rh5+ 57. Kf6 (57. Kg4 Be2+) 57... Rf5+ 58. Kxg6
Rd5+ 59. Kf6 Kxc5 {and Black should hold}) {loses the rook to} 56... Bf5+ {But
I imagine that Black was getting ever shorter of time and such lines take time
to analyse, hence his totally passive stance.}) 55. Ra4 $1 Rh5+ (55... Bd3 56.
Rd4 Rh3 57. Bg3 $1 Be2 58. Rd7+ Kc6 59. Rc7+ Kd5 60. Kxg6 {is two extra pawns,
giving White winning chances.}) 56. Kf6 Rh7 57. Rb4+ {The scoresheets show
that White won, but I'm not sure when. The a6 pawn is lost, but it is still
not clear that White can win with best play.} 1-0

[Event "Norfolk Open R5"]
[Site "?"]
[Date "2016.04.24"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Dempster D"]
[Black "Turner T"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B01"]
[Annotator "LeMoir"]
[PlyCount "107"]

1. e4 d5 2. exd5 Qxd5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. d4 c6 5. Be2 e6 {Most players get their
queen's bishops into play first. This is a very passive handling of the
Scandinavian.} 6. O-O Be7 7. c4 Qa5 8. Nc3 O-O 9. Qc2 Nbd7 10. Bd2 Qc7 11. Rac1
b6 12. Rfe1 Bb7 13. Bd3 Bd6 14. Bg5 Bf4 15. Bxf4 Qxf4 16. Ne2 Qc7 17. c5 {The
black bishop is to be restricted.} bxc5 18. dxc5 a5 19. Red1 a4 $1 {Black
creates counterplay against teh c5 pawn and so forces White to allow his
queenside pawns to be split.} 20. Ned4 Ra5 21. b4 axb3 22. Nxb3 Ra7 ({Back
into passive mode.} 22... Ra4 {is more awkward for White. After} 23. Nbd4 Ra5 {
we have a possible draw by repetition, whilst otherwise the rook is on an
active rank and can be supported by the other rook to put pressure on the a2
pawn.}) 23. Ng5 h6 24. Ne4 Nxe4 25. Bxe4 Nf6 26. Bf3 Nd5 27. Bxd5 exd5 {Now
Black must beware of all endgames because his bishop is very bad. However - as
someone once wrote -  before the endgame the gods have put the middlegame, and
that is not so bad for Black.} 28. Re1 Ra4 29. Re3 Bc8 30. Rce1 Be6 31. Qd3 {
White chooses to give up his a-pawn in order to play for the attack.} Qf4 $1 {
preventing the knight from reaching d4.} (31... Rxa2 {is fine, but Black must
be careful.}) 32. g3 Qc4 33. Qxc4 dxc4 34. Nd4 Rxa2 $2 {Time trouble?} (34...
Bd5 {keeps White on the back foot. Black can put pressure on the pawn at a2
and probably win the c5 pawn if he wants to.}) 35. Nxc6 Rfa8 ({Another
possibility was} 35... Kh7 {(to avoid any forks at e7 when he puts his rook on
c8)} 36. Nd4 Rc8 {and now:} 37. Nxe6 (37. c6 Bd5 38. Rc3 (38. Re8 $4 Rxe8 39.
Rxe8 Ra1+ 40. Re1 Rxe1#) 38... Rd2 39. Nf3 Bxf3 40. Rxf3 Rxc6 41. Rxf7 c3 42.
Ree7 Rg6 43. Rc7 c2 {is drawn}) 37... fxe6 38. Re5 Ra5 39. Rxe6 Rcxc5 {which
is also an almost certain draw.}) 36. Ne7+ $6 {Running the knight into a cul
de sac.} (36. Nd4 {draws comfortably.}) 36... Kh7 $1 (36... Kf8 {allows} 37.
Ng6+ $1) 37. c6 ({The way to save the knight was by} 37. f4 $1 g6 38. g4 Bxg4
39. c6 R2a7 40. f5 $1 (40. Nd5 Be6) 40... gxf5 41. Nd5 Rc8 42. c7 f4 43. Re8
Rcxc7 44. Nxc7 Rxc7 {is a clear draw despite the uneven material.}) 37... R8a7
({Black can cause most trouble with} 37... Ra1 $1 38. c7 (38. Rxa1 Rxa1+ 39.
Kg2 Ra7 {wins the knight}) 38... c3 $1 {and now:} 39. Kg2 $1 (39. Rxa1 Rxa1+
40. Kg2 c2 41. Rxe6 c1=Q 42. c8=Q Qf1+ (42... Qxc8 43. Rxh6+ $1 Kxh6 44. Nxc8 {
reduces the material deficit and makes the draw more likely}) 43. Kf3 Qh1+ 44.
Ke3 Ra3+ 45. Kf4 Qf3+ 46. Ke5 Qe2+ 47. Kd6 Qxe6+ 48. Qxe6 Ra6+ 49. Nc6 fxe6 50.
Kd7 Kg6 {wins for Black}) 39... c2 40. Rxe6 $1 (40. c8=Q Bxc8 41. Nxc8 R8a6 $1
(41... c1=Q 42. Rxc1 Rxc1 43. Nd6 Kg6 {is tougher to win as the knight has
escaped}) 42. Rc3 Rxe1 43. Rxc2 Kg6 {and the knight is locked up, so Black
should be able to win comfortably.}) 40... c1=Q ({not} 40... fxe6 $4 41. Rxa1
Rxa1 42. c8=Q c1=Q 43. Qg8#) 41. Rxc1 Rxc1 42. Re2 Rxc7 {and Black should win
the ending (although it's very tough).}) 38. f4 Bh3 (38... g6 {is still best}
39. g4 Rxe7 40. f5 Ra6 41. fxe6 Kg7 42. c7 Rc6 43. exf7 Rxe3 44. Rxe3 Rxc7 45.
Rc3 Kxf7 {with winning chances for Black}) 39. R3e2 ({White defends against
the threatened mating attack} 39. -- Rg2+ 40. Kh1 Raa2) (39. g4 $1 {is best,
and after} Bxg4 40. f5 $1 {White has counterplay based on his passed c-pawn.})
39... c3 $2 ({He still has winning chances after} 39... Rxe2 40. Rxe2 Bg4 41.
Re1 Rc7 42. Kf2 g6 43. Nd5 $1 {(before the bishop traps the knight again by
moving back to e6)} Rxc6 {although White may save the endgame as he should be
able to blockade the pawn.}) 40. Nd5 c2 41. Rc1 Bf5 42. g4 Ra1 ({In time
trouble, no doubt, it all starts to go belly-up for Black.} 42... Bd3 43. Ree1
R2a4 44. c7 Rc4 45. Re8 Raxc7 46. Nxc7 Rxc7 {is a draw as the passed pawn ties
a white rook down.}) 43. Ree1 Rxc1 $2 {Now it gets difficult.} (43... Rb1 $1
44. gxf5 (44. c7 $2 Raa1) 44... Raa1 45. Rxc2 Rxe1+ 46. Kf2 Rec1 47. Rxc1 Rxc1
48. c7 {is a draw.}) 44. Rxc1 Be6 {draw offered} 45. c7 $1 Ra2 46. Ne3 Rb2 47.
Rxc2 Rb1+ {Desperation.} ({Unfortunately, after} 47... Rxc2 48. Nxc2 Bxg4 {
White's passed pawn wins despite equal material. E.g.} 49. Nd4 Bd7 (49... Kg6
50. f5+ $1 {wins at once}) 50. Nc6 Kg8 51. Ne7+ Kf8 52. c8=Q+ Bxc8 53. Nxc8 Ke8
54. Nd6+ Ke7 55. Nf5+ Kf6 56. Ne3 {and Black cannot force the pawn exchanges
required to draw.}) 48. Kf2 Rh1 49. Kg2 Re1 50. Kf2 Rh1 51. c8=Q Bxc8 52. Rxc8
Rxh2+ 53. Kg3 Re2 54. Kf3 1-0

