Games
[Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.03.31"] [Round "1"] [White "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Black "Miller, Nathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "1537"] [BlackElo "1617"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "63"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. c4 c5 2. Nc3 g6 3. e4 Bg7 4. f4 e6 5. Nf3 Ne7 6. Be2 d5 7. cxd5 exd5 8. Bb5+ $2 (8. e5 $14) 8... Nbc6 9. exd5 Nxd5 10. Qe2+ Nde7 (10... Be6 $15) 11. Ne5 $2 (11. Bxc6+ bxc6 12. O-O $11) 11... O-O 12. O-O Nxe5 $1 13. fxe5 Qd4+ $5 { the move i missed.} 14. Qe3 Qxe3+ $6 (14... a6 15. Bd3 Bxe5 $19) 15. dxe3 Bxe5 16. Ne4 $1 b6 17. Ng5 $6 {the threat of 18.Nxf7 Rxf7 19.Bc4 is easily parried.} Bb7 $5 18. e4 h6 $6 19. Nf3 $1 (19. Nxf7 Rxf7 20. Bc4 Raf8 21. Bxh6 Bd4+ 22. Kh1 b5 23. Be6 Bc8 $3 24. Bxf7+ Rxf7 25. Rae1 $19) 19... Bg7 $5 20. Bd2 $6 (20. Bf4 $142 $19) 20... Kh7 $6 (20... Bxb2 $1 21. Bxh6 Bxa1 22. Bxf8 Kxf8 23. Rxa1 Bxe4 $19) 21. Rae1 $6 (21. e5 $142 $19) 21... Bxb2 $1 22. e5 Nf5 $1 23. e6 $1 fxe6 24. Rxe6 Bxf3 $6 25. Rxf3 $3 Nd4 $4 $11 26. Re7+ Kh8 27. Rxf8+ {I have an escape route from all the threats of back row mate, mainly because i have two strong Bishops left.} Rxf8 28. Bxh6 $1 Nxb5 $2 (28... Rg8 29. Bd3 Nf5 30. Bxf5 gxf5 31. Rxa7 c4 32. Be3 $11 c3 $4 33. Bd4+ Rg7 34. Bxg7+ Kg8 35. a4 $18) 29. Bxf8 Kg8 30. Bh6 Bd4+ 31. Be3 $2 (31. Kf1) 31... Bf6 $2 (31... Kf8 32. Re4 Bf6 33. Bd2 Nc3 34. Bxc3 Bxc3 35. Kf2 $16) 32. Rb7 $3 {with the threat of 33.Bxc5 bxc5 34.Rxb5 or if the Knight moves away, 33.Rxa7 or if the pawn moves on the c-file then it is easily lost. So Nathan resigned.} 1-0 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.01"] [Round "2"] [White "Miller, Nathan"] [Black "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "B03"] [WhiteElo "1629"] [BlackElo "1527"] [Annotator "Llewellyn, Alan"] [PlyCount "109"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {This is my first Black against Nathan so I didn't know what to expect, i led 1 - 0 in the match before this game. I was hopping for 1 e4 so I could play my strongest opening- The Alekhine Defence but after getting a good initial position I fall for a cute refutal of a pawn grab...} 1. e4 Nf6 2. e5 Nd5 3. d4 d6 4. c4 Nb6 5. exd6 exd6 6. Nc3 Be7 7. Bd3 O-O 8. Nge2 Bg4 9. f3 Bh4+ 10. Ng3 f5 $2 $146 {a novelty of dubious character, but over the board it may be difficult to refute, the idea is to pin the knight on g3 to an attack with the f-pawn by playing f4.} 11. O-O Bxg3 12. hxg3 $2 (12. fxg4 $3) 12... Bh5 13. Qc2 Qf6 14. d5 Nxc4 $2 (14... Na6 $11) 15. Nb5 $3 a6 16. Nxc7 Ra7 $1 17. Qxc4 $6 Rc8 $1 18. Be3 b5 19. Qh4 Qxh4 20. gxh4 Raxc7 21. Bxf5 Re8 {after the dust settles I am a pawn down with Nathan also having the two Bishops which are atleast worth another pawn.} 22. Rfe1 Nd7 23. Be6+ Bf7 24. Bf4 Bxe6 25. Bxd6 Rc2 26. Rxe6 Rxe6 27. dxe6 Nc5 28. Bxc5 $6 (28. Re1 $18) 28... Rxc5 29. Rd1 $3 Kf8 30. Rd7 $6 (30. Rd8+ Ke7 31. Rd7+ Kxe6 32. Rxg7 $18) 30... Rc2 (30... Rc6 $1 $16) 31. Rf7+ Kg8 32. f4 Rxb2 33. f5 Rxa2 34. Rb7 Kf8 35. g4 Ra4 36. Rf7+ Kg8 37. g5 Rxh4 $4 (37... Rg4+ 38. Kh2 Rxh4+ 39. Kg3 Rh5 40. Ra7 Rxg5+ 41. Kf4 Rxf5+ 42. Kxf5 $18 {the threat of back row mate forces desperate measures.}) 38. f6 Rg4+ (38... gxf6 39. gxf6 Rg4+ 40. Kh2 Rg6 41. Rd7 Rxf6 42. Rd8+ $3 (42. e7 Kf7) 42... Kg7 43. e7 Rh6+ $18) 39. Kf2 Rxg5 40. Rd7 Rf5+ 41. Kg3 gxf6 ( 41... Rxf6 42. Rd8+ Rf8 43. e7 $18) 42. Rd8+ $3 Kg7 43. e7 Re5 44. e8=Q Rxe8 45. Rxe8 {the rest is a mopping up excercise I was never in this endgame from start to finish despite being 4 pawns up materially at one point. The game was lost after 14...Nxc4? and the brilliant reply 15.Nb5!!} Kg6 46. Ra8 Kf5 47. Rxa6 Ke5 48. Rb6 f5 49. Rxb5+ Ke4 50. Rb7 f4+ 51. Kf2 h5 52. Rh7 Kf5 53. Rxh5+ Kg4 54. Rh7 Kg5 55. Kf3 1-0 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.06"] [Round "3"] [White "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Black "Miller, Nathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A34"] [WhiteElo "1549"] [BlackElo "1608"] [Annotator "Llewellyn, Alan"] [PlyCount "37"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Even though I was white and the position was level in the Match 1 - 1, I did not feel confident going into this game, as I had been outplayed in the opening as White in game 1, but although again I am outplayed I feel this time I did enough to compete...} 1. c4 c5 {in the first game Nathan played a type of Grunfeld with g6 and d5, here he plays e6 instead of g6, but still gets in d5 which I was expecting.} 2. Nc3 Nc6 3. e4 e6 4. f4 Nge7 5. d4 $1 (5. d3) 5... cxd4 6. Nb5 $1 {threatening Nd6 mate.} d5 (6... Ng6 7. Nxd4 Bb4+ 8. Bd2 Bxd2+ ( 8... Qb6 $5 9. Nxc6 bxc6 $15) 9. Qxd2 $11) 7. e5 $2 Qb6 $2 (7... Nf5 $5) 8. Nd6+ $1 Kd7 9. cxd5 $2 $17 (9. Nf3 f6 10. Qc2 $11) 9... Nxd5 10. Nc4 Bb4+ $6 11. Bd2 Bxd2+ 12. Qxd2 Qb4 13. g3 Qxd2+ 14. Kxd2 Nce7 $2 $11 15. Ne2 Nf5 16. Bh3 $1 Nfe3 $2 $16 (16... b5 17. Na5 $14) 17. b3 $3 Rd8 $6 18. Nxd4 Ke7 $4 19. Nxe3 $5 {The line goes 19...Nxf4!? 20.gxf4 Rxd4+ 21.Ke2 Rxf4 and he felt that wasnt good enough for a draw though i wasn't sure.} 1-0 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.13"] [Round "4"] [White "Miller, Nathan"] [Black "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1589"] [BlackElo "1562"] [Annotator "Llewellyn, Alan"] [PlyCount "48"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {With the match still close at 2 - 1 to me I didn't know what to expect as Nathans first move but I can tell you I didnt expect 1 Nc3. Nathan all but wins this game but there is a surprise finish...} 1. Nc3 d6 {angling for a Pirc Defence after 2.e4 or even 2.d4 but Nathan seems atleast today to prefer something Hyper-Modern, which was the movement in Chess which first saw the flank openings flurish.} 2. b3 Nf6 {nobody wants to occupy the centre yet. The idea of the Hyper-Modenists is to lure your opponent to occupy the centre and attack it from all sides including the flank. This idea is expressed in Nathans actually play in this game.} 3. Bb2 e5 4. h3 b6 5. d3 Bb7 6. Qd2 Nc6 7. e3 d5 $1 {finally I am lured into a pawn centre although this is technically good for me the practicalities make that a dubious error.} 8. O-O-O Bb4 9. a3 Be7 10. f4 exf4 11. exf4 d4 12. Ne4 Nxe4 $2 $14 (12... O-O $15 {this is the best move here but i see a ploy.}) 13. dxe4 Ne5 $2 $16 14. Bxd4 Bxa3+ 15. Kb1 Bb4 $4 {in a complex position I flounder for moves.} (15... Nc6 $16) 16. Qe2 $4 (16. Bb5+ c6 17. Qxb4 cxb5 18. fxe5 $18) (16. Qxb4 c5 17. Qe1 cxd4 18. fxe5 $18 ) 16... Qe7 $4 (16... Nd7 $1 $18) 17. Bxe5 O-O 18. Qg4 f5 19. Bc4+ Kh8 20. exf5 {all appears lost but I hatch a plan...} a5 21. Nf3 a4 22. Ng5 axb3 23. Bxb3 $2 (23. Qh5 $3 {and there is great loss of material for me install.}) 23... Qxe5 $5 24. Ba2 $4 {possibly the biggest switch in fortunes of my chess career, from being down and out to being a multi-millionnaire (in methaphoric chess terms only not financial unfortunately) in one move.} Qa5 $3 {and now everything is bareing for the White King Nf7+ offers respite but only temporarily. So after Nathan resigned I was left with a 3 - 1 lead in the match. The next match is crucial 3 - 2 would be tight but 4 - 1 would see me as a strong favourite to win both this match and the grand prix series- never been favourite before lol. In the final position a possible line goes 25. Rdf1!! (to give an escape square for the King on d1) 25...Be4!! 26.Nxe4 (26. Kc1 Qxa2 27.Kd1 Qxc2#) 26...Qxa2+ 27.Kc1 Qa1#} 0-1 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.15"] [Round "5"] [White "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Black "Miller, Nathan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "1547"] [BlackElo "1604"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "82"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] 1. c4 {In this game it hinges on whether i should accept a passive position by retreating my light squared Bishop to g2 or whether i should go for a dubious attack on his uncastled King. I miss an obvious killer move by him ie Qh4 instead of gh+ that i was expecting and my position quick desintigrates} g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 3. e4 e5 4. d3 Ne7 5. g3 c5 6. Bh3 $1 Nbc6 7. Nge2 f5 8. Bg5 h6 9. Bxe7 (9. Bd2) 9... Nxe7 10. O-O h5 11. exf5 gxf5 12. Nd5 $6 $15 (12. Bg2 $142 $11) 12... Nxd5 13. cxd5 d6 $1 14. f4 $2 h4 $3 15. fxe5 $4 (15. Kg2) 15... hxg3 16. Bxf5 Bxf5 17. Rxf5 Qh4 $1 18. hxg3 Qh2+ $5 19. Kf1 $8 Qh3+ 20. Kg1 Qxf5 21. e6 Bd4+ $4 (21... Qf3) 22. Nxd4 cxd4 23. Qa4+ Kf8 24. Qxd4 $1 ({after having such good luck versus Nathan my luck runs out- I couldnt decide whether i should risk playing Rf1 and hope he didnt spot Rh1 but I chickened out and he said after the game he had spotted the refutation.} 24. Rf1 $2 Rh1+ $3 25. Kxh1 Qxf1+ 26. Kh2 Rc8 27. Qd7 Rc2#) 24... Qh7 $1 25. Rf1+ Ke8 26. Rf7 (26. Rf3 $3 $19 {this move is a subtle one that maybe only a computer or someone analysing the position fully would spot.} Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Rh2+ 28. Ke3 Qg1+ 29. Ke4 Re2+ 30. Re3 {in the game i lose the Queen because i dont have the covering move Re3.} Qh1+ 31. Kf4 Qh6+ 32. Ke4 Rxe3+ 33. Qxe3 Qg6+ 34. Kf4 Ke7 35. Qe4 Rf8+ 36. Ke3 Qxg3+ 37. Kd2 Rc8 38. d4 Qh2+ 39. Kd3 Rh8 40. Qe2 Rh3+ 41. Kd2 Qf4+ 42. Kc2 Rh2 43. Qxh2 Qxh2+ $19) 26... Qh1+ 27. Kf2 Rh2+ 28. Ke3 Qg1+ 29. Ke4 Re2+ 30. Kf3 Qxd4 31. Kxe2 Qxd5 32. Rh7 {I am only playing on for a stalemate swindle from now on.} Qxe6+ 33. Kd2 Qe5 34. g4 Qxb2+ 35. Ke3 Qe5+ 36. Kf3 Rc8 37. g5 Qxg5 38. Rh8+ Kd7 39. Rh7+ Kc6 40. d4 Rf8+ 41. Ke4 Qg6+ {no miracle swindles this time... so its 3 - 2 to me, with him cutting my lead.} 0-1 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.20"] [Round "6"] [White "Miller, Nathan"] [Black "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A01"] [WhiteElo "1619"] [BlackElo "1559"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "95"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {I didn't like to admit it but I wasn't looking forward to another Nimzo-Larsen Opening but this is what I got. With the Match tight at 3 - 2, I got totally outplayed.} 1. b3 Nf6 2. Bb2 g6 3. Nc3 Bg7 4. d3 Nd5 $5 5. Qd2 $1 ( 5. Nxd5 $6 Bxb2 $15) 5... Nxc3 6. Bxc3 Bxc3 7. Qxc3 O-O 8. e3 b6 $6 {Too slow.} (8... d5 $13) 9. h4 $3 $14 {Nathan rightly recognising that by swapping off all my Kingside pieces for his Queenside I left a King exposed.} h5 10. Be2 Bb7 11. Rh3 $3 f5 $2 (11... Bxg2 $6 12. Rg3 Bb7 13. Bxh5 $16) (11... Na6 $4 12. Bxh5 gxh5 13. Rg3+ Kh7 14. Qg7#) (11... d5 $3 12. Bxh5 d4 13. exd4 gxh5 14. d5 Kh7 15. O-O-O f6 $44) 12. Nf3 e6 13. O-O-O Bxf3 14. gxf3 $1 Nc6 15. Rg1 Qf6 $2 (15... Kh7 $3 16. Rxg6 $3 Kxg6 17. Rg3+ Kf7 18. Rg7+ Ke8 19. f4 Qxh4 $13) 16. Rxg6+ Qxg6 17. Rg3 Kh7 18. Rxg6 Kxg6 {and after the dust settles it is White (Nathan) with the won position because my King has the wind in his hair and it is about to feel decidedly windier.} 19. f4 a5 20. Bf3 Nb4 $3 21. Qxc7 Rac8 22. Qxd7 Rxc2+ 23. Kd1 Rfc8 24. Qxe6+ Kg7 25. Qe7+ Kg8 26. Qg5+ Kf8 27. Qxf5+ Kg7 28. Qd7+ Kf8 29. Qd6+ Kg7 30. Be4 Rc1+ 31. Ke2 R8c2+ 32. Kf3 Rg1 33. Qe7+ Kg8 34. Qh7+ Kf8 35. Qxh5 Rf1 36. Qf5+ Ke7 37. Qe5+ Kf8 38. Qb8+ Ke7 39. Qxb6 Rfxf2+ 40. Kg4 Rxa2 41. Qc5+ Kd8 42. Qd6+ Kc8 43. h5 Rh2 44. f5 Rad2 45. f6 Nxd3 46. Bxd3 Rdg2+ 47. Kf4 Rxh5 $6 48. Ba6# 1-0 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.21"] [Round "7"] [White "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Black "Miller, Nathan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A13"] [WhiteElo "1546"] [BlackElo "1632"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "58"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {A Massacre!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I think Nathan is under the mistaken idea he is Karpov and I am Korchnoi and its 1981 and its Merano (ie that was a well known massacre in chess).} 1. c4 e6 2. Nc3 c6 3. e4 d5 4. cxd5 cxd5 5. d4 Bb4 6. e5 { The position has transposed into a French Defence:Advance Variation:lines with early c4.} Nc6 7. a3 Ba5 8. Nf3 Nge7 9. Bb5 a6 10. Bxc6+ $6 $11 (10. Bd3 $14) 10... Nxc6 11. b4 Bb6 12. O-O O-O 13. Be3 Bd7 14. Kh1 f5 15. Ng5 $4 {The knight looks so good on that square and I was planning Qh5 and a good Kingside attack but my plan was deeply flawed.} f4 $3 16. Qh5 h6 17. h4 fxe3 18. f4 Rf5 19. g4 $5 Be8 $5 20. Nxe6 $5 Rxh5 21. Nxd8 Rxh4+ $1 {and not 21...Rxd8?? 22. gxh5.} 22. Kg2 Rxd8 23. Rf3 Rxg4+ 24. Kh2 (24. Kh3 Bd7 25. e6 Bxe6 26. f5 Bxd4 27. fxe6 Bxc3 28. Kxg4 Ne5+ 29. Kf4 Rf8+ 30. Kxe3 Rxf3+ 31. Ke2 Bxa1 $19) 24... Nxd4 25. Rxe3 Nb3 26. Rd1 Bxe3 27. Nxd5 {with the threat of 28.Ne7+ Kf7 29. Rxd8, and also the threat of 28.Nxe3 Rxd1 29.Nxd1} Bxf4+ $3 {Defends against both my threats and also Nathan creates threats of his own.} 28. Kh3 (28. Nxf4 Rxd1 $19) 28... Rg3+ 29. Kh4 $6 g5# {and now its 4 - 3 to Nathan and he must be strong favourite now.} 0-1 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.28"] [Round "8"] [White "Miller, Nathan"] [Black "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [ECO "A00"] [WhiteElo "1626"] [BlackElo "1506"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "56"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {I had lost 3 games in a row could i buck the trend, the answer is yes but only partly. I am under all sorts of pressure in this game, but I manage not to slip up and get a draw.} 1. Nc3 {This starts as a Dunst Opening and soon transposes into a Benko Opening.} g6 2. g3 Bg7 3. Bg2 Nf6 4. d3 d5 5. Bg5 c6 6. Qd2 (6. h3 d4 7. Ne4 Nxe4 8. dxe4 Qa5+ 9. Qd2 Qxd2+ 10. Bxd2 $11) 6... Qa5 $6 7. Nf3 Qb4 $6 {these are good moves by the Queen but they waste time which could be taken developing.} 8. O-O-O (8. O-O $16 Qxb2 9. a4 Ng4 10. d4 Qb6 $14) 8... d4 $1 9. Ne4 Qxd2+ $1 {it is vital I swap off Queens here or I would get murdered because I was so far behind in development.} 10. Nfxd2 Nxe4 11. Nxe4 f6 $6 $14 (11... h6 $142 $11) 12. Bd2 Na6 $1 13. e3 f5 $1 14. Ng5 h6 15. Nf3 e5 $2 (15... dxe3 $14) 16. exd4 exd4 17. Rhe1+ Kf7 18. Ne5+ $1 Bxe5 $5 19. Rxe5 Be6 20. Rde1 Rae8 21. a3 Bd7 $4 22. c3 $4 (22. Rxe8 Bxe8 23. Bf4 g5 24. Be5 Rf8 25. Bxd4 c5 26. Bd5+ Kg6 27. Re6+ Kh7 28. Be5 Bc6 29. Bxc6 bxc6 30. Rxc6 Re8 $18) 22... Rxe5 23. Rxe5 dxc3 24. Bxc3 Re8 25. d4 $2 (25. Ra5 Re2 26. Bd4 c5 27. Bd5+ Kf8 28. Kd1 Bc8 29. Bxc5+ Nxc5 30. Kxe2 Na6 $18) 25... Rxe5 26. dxe5 Nc5 27. f4 (27. Bd4 $4 Nb3+ $19) (27. b4 Nd3+ 28. Kc2 Nxf2 29. Bd4 Ne4 30. Bxa7 Ke6 31. Bd4 Ng5 32. h4 Nf7 33. Bf1 Nxe5 34. Be3 Ng4 35. Bd2 $44 {The double Bishops are compensation for the pawn because the pawn was only hampering the dark squared Bishop.}) 27... g5 28. Kc2 a6 {The computer gives an advantage to Nathan in this final position of nearly a pawn but I think it is a abbheration of the program. Personally I think it is hard to see any advantage for either side there. A draw was agreed and that left the result 4.5 - 3.5 in Nathans favour.} 1/2-1/2 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.04.29"] [Round "9"] [White "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Black "Miller, Nathan"] [Result "1-0"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "1527"] [BlackElo "1605"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "77"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Standing at 4.5 - 3.5 for Nathan, I really needed a win to get back in the match and after my thirteenth move things looked rather promising for me but an unexpected move sent me astray and almost cost me the match series of games. ..} 1. c4 g6 2. Nc3 Bg7 {this opening is an anglo-modern.} 3. e4 c6 4. f4 Qc7 5. d3 e6 6. Nf3 Ne7 7. c5 $1 d5 8. cxd6 Qxd6 9. Be2 O-O 10. O-O Rd8 11. Ne5 $3 {at first sight this appears to give away a pawn, but I fancied the position after the Bishop on g7 gives itself up for the knight on e5 because the weaknessess around the king would have been a significant weakness.} b6 12. Qb3 Ba6 13. Nxf7 $3 Kxf7 14. f5 Nxf5 $4 {its hard to see how to defend this position but this probably isnt the best way.} 15. exf5 gxf5 16. Rxf5+ $1 Kg8 17. Bg5 Kh8 18. Rf3 $1 {I was faced with a check on c5 or d4 for example 18. Rf7?? is met by 18...Qc5+ when the Bishop is lost on g5.} Rg8 (18... Qc5+ 19. Be3 $18) 19. Ne4 Bd4+ 20. Kh1 Qd5 21. Qa3 $1 Nd7 $3 {This was a superb move I couldnt believe it was playable because seemingly the Bishop on a6 is hanging but after Nc5 you undermine the Knight on e4 which is holding up my position as White. In fact 21...Nd7 is the only move I was astounded afterwards to find out Nathan played it by mistake not seeing the hanging piece, but as is often the case in chess making a mistake even if in reality it wasnt one, he didnt spot the hanging piece and that put him off.} 22. Qxa6 $2 (22. Rf7 Rxg5 23. Nxg5 Qxg5 24. Rxd7 $18) 22... Nc5 $1 23. Bf6+ Bxf6 24. Nxf6 $2 {I assumed 24... Nxa6 and missed 24...Qg5!!} (24. Nxc5 Bxb2 25. Raf1 Qg5 26. R3f2 Bd4 $4 (26... Qxc5 $11) 27. Nxe6 Qd5 28. Nxd4 Qxd4 $18) 24... Qg5 $3 $19 25. Nxg8 Nxa6 26. Nf6 Qd2 $1 27. Rh3 h6 28. Bf3 $2 (28. Bg4 Qxb2 29. Rf1 Kg7 30. Nh5+ Kh7 31. Nf6+ Kh8 32. Rxh6+ Kg7 33. Rh7+ Kf8 34. Bxe6 Rd8 35. Rf7#) 28... Qxb2 $5 29. Rxh6+ Kg7 30. Rh7+ Kxf6 31. Rf1 Ke5 32. Bxc6 Rc8 33. d4+ Kd6 34. d5 $1 exd5 35. Rh6+ Kc5 $3 (35... Kc7 $4 36. Rf7+ Kb8 37. Rb7+ Ka8 38. Rc7+ Kb8 39. Rb7+ Ka8 40. Rc7+ $11 {that would have been a draw. And i kept reffusing Nathans offers of draws because I was on a King hunt but I thought my position was iffy at best but I needed a win in the competition.}) 36. Bd7 Rf8 $3 37. Rc6+ $5 (37. Rxf8 Qc1+ 38. Rf1 Qxf1#) 37... Kb4 (37... Kb5 $4 38. Rc8+ Ka5 39. Rcxf8 $11) 38. a3+ Qxa3 $2 39. Rb1+ {The impact of the 22nd move by me impacted on this game in that Nathan felt he was going to lose and after 39...Qb3 40.Rxb3+ I stand a chance though Nathan should still win but after 39...Ka5 40.Rcc1 Nb4 41.Ra1 Na2 Black should win. But here Nathan as Black resigned, it was probably one of my altime great games so I will put it in my best game section of the website as well as in the online match section. This game left the whole Grand Prix event and the one on one match series up in the air with the match tied at 4.5 - 4.5.} 1-0 [Event "12 Match Series 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.05.05"] [Round "10"] [White "Miller, Nathan"] [Black "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A02"] [WhiteElo "1586"] [BlackElo "1565"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "62"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {Is it a bird is it a plane no its a Nimzo-Larsen Opening!!!! This game I had to win to stand any chance of winning the overall competition in the grand prix event between us. So I went out all guns blazing and quite incredibly it actually worked although for most of the game I looked a dead beat. At the start of the game the position in the match was poised at 4.5 - 4.5. It is not clear yet what Nathan needs to win the tournament (because he has a match left) but I guess he would have welcomed a few wins to finish off.} 1. f4 Nf6 2. b3 g6 3. Nf3 Bg7 4. Bb2 c5 5. d3 d5 6. Nbd2 d4 7. c3 (7. b4) 7... Nc6 8. cxd4 Nd5 $3 9. Nc4 $1 Nxf4 $4 $14 (9... Nxd4 $17) 10. Qd2 Nxd4 $4 $18 {I actually missed that the Knight on c4 defended backwards the Bishop on b2 so after 11. Nxd4 Bxd4 12.Qxf4... I thought...12...Bxb2 was good for me but after 13. Nxb2 I am completely lost.} 11. Nxd4 Bh6 {a change of plan now I threaten 12... Nxg2+ and 13...Bxd2.} 12. e3 (12. Ne6 $4 Bxe6 13. e3 $11 (13. e4 $2 O-O 14. g3 b5 $3 {the inclusion of b5 traps the wandering Knight...that is not possible in Nc6 line.} 15. Ne5 f6 16. Nf3 Bg4)) (12. Nc6 $3 bxc6 13. e4 O-O 14. g3 Nxd3+ 15. Qxd3 $18) 12... e5 $1 {the aim is to block the impossibly threatening Bishop on b2.} 13. Nxe5 Nh5 {I suriptitiously moved this but I am threatening Qh5+} 14. Ndf3 (14. O-O-O $4 cxd4 15. Bxd4 Qxd4 16. exd4 Bxd2+ 17. Rxd2 $16) 14... O-O 15. Qc3 Bxe3 $1 16. Nxg6 $6 {The important difference between this and Nc6 is that with Nc6 the Queens must come off leaving Black a full piece down for no compensation plus in this line Nathan sacrifices his piece up for 2 pawns and a King in the open but it backfires.} (16. Nc6 Bd4 (16... bxc6 $4 17. Qh8#) 17. Nfxd4 cxd4 18. Qxd4 Qxd4 19. Nxd4 $18) 16... fxg6 17. Qh8+ Kf7 18. Qxh7+ Ke6 19. Qxg6+ Nf6 20. Bxf6 $4 $13 {a mistake by Nathan that lets me back into the game, now the Bishop pair, centralised King and well placed Rook makes up for the 2 pawns the position is on a knifes edge even if the Queens are swapped off.} Qxf6 21. Qe4+ $6 $15 {swapping off was maybe wiser.} Kd6 22. d4 $5 {the rook was hanging but I could at no point have time to take it.} Bxd4 23. O-O-O Bf5 24. Qxb7 Rfb8 25. Qa6+ Rb6 26. Qc4 Ke7 27. Nxd4 cxd4 28. Qxd4 Rc8+ 29. Kb2 (29. Bc4 $4 Rxc4+ $3 30. Qxc4 Rc6 31. Rhe1+ Kf8 32. Rd8+ $3 Kg7 33. Re7+ Kg6 (33... Qxe7 34. Qxc6 Qxd8 $13) 34. Rg8+ Kh6 35. Rh8+ Kg6 36. Rg8+ $11) 29... Rc2+ 30. Ka3 $3 (30. Ka1 $4 Rc1+ $3 31. Kb2 (31. Rxc1 $6 Qxd4+ 32. Rc3 Qxc3#) 31... Rxd1 32. Qxf6+ Kxf6 $19 {I saw this at the time and cursed when he played Ka3...}) 30... Qf8 $3 31. Qe3+ $4 (31. b4 {an example of how precarious Nathans position was is given in this line.} Rbc6 32. Rd2 Rxd2 33. Qxd2 Qc8 34. Bb5 Rc3+ 35. Ka4 Bc2+ 36. Ka5 Qc7+ 37. Ka6 Qb6#) 31... Kf6+ { and mate is only at the maxinum three easy moves away. ie 32.b4 Qxb4# or 32. Rd6 Qxd6+ 33.Qf4 Qxf4+ 34.b4 Qxb4# And so Nathan resigned, and I won unexpectedly (and possibly against the form) and i go back into the lead in the match, leading, 5.5 - 4.5. The next game can decide the tournament, if I win I win the tournament because I will get a one point bye for the final round because I reached the magic 6.5 point mark, that will be enough for me to win the match and get a final grand prix score of 24.0 and surpass William Harkins score (of 23.5) and Nathan will only be able to get a maxinum of 22.5. LifeWithoutChes will probably be embarressing us all soon but for now he isnt challenging. Now If the next two games are won by Nathan then he has a chance of challenging for the grand prix title but will have to do well against an improving LifeWithoutChes. A draw and a win will not be good enough for me but if Nathan gets a draw and a win he may yet win depending how he does against the youngster. This could go to tie-breaks even after about 32 games.... William is in the club house waiting to see if he has done enough, my money is still on him.} 0-1 [Event "12 Match Seires 60 10"] [Site "Internet Chess Club"] [Date "2016.05.07"] [Round "11"] [White "Llewellyn, Alan Mansel"] [Black "Miller, Nathan"] [Result "0-1"] [ECO "A10"] [WhiteElo "1550"] [BlackElo "1601"] [Annotator "Llewellyn,Alan"] [PlyCount "46"] [EventDate "2016.??.??"] {This game was short and sweet, but not for me because I lose the grand prix event because of my loss here. I completely overlook a certain attack which came from the blue totally but in hindsight was obvious. the position was 5.5 - 4.5 to me before the game.} 1. c4 b6 2. Nc3 Bb7 3. e4 e5 4. g3 Nc6 5. Nge2 h5 $1 {a response to a closed centre stricking early is a good one.} 6. d4 $1 { Knowing my positional theory I strike to open up the centre quickly in response to the flank attack by Nathan.} exd4 7. Nxd4 Bc5 8. Be3 h4 9. Nxc6 Bxc6 10. Bxc5 bxc5 11. Qg4 Qf6 $5 (11... Nf6 $2 12. Qxg7 Rg8 13. Qh6 hxg3 14. hxg3 $16 Nxe4 15. Nxe4 Bxe4 16. O-O-O Qg5+ (16... Bxh1 17. Re1+ Qe7 18. Rxe7+ Kxe7 19. Qxh1 $18) 17. Qxg5 Rxg5 18. Re1 Re5 $18) (11... Kf8 12. O-O-O $11) 12. O-O-O {I wanted to get Nd5 in.} hxg3 13. fxg3 Rb8 14. Bg2 (14. Bh3 $4 Qh6+ 15. Kb1 Qxh3 $19) 14... Qh6+ 15. Kb1 Nf6 16. Qf5 O-O 17. Nd5 $6 $15 (17. Qxc5 $11) 17... Bxd5 18. cxd5 Rb6 $2 $14 (18... d6 $15) 19. e5 Rfb8 20. b3 c4 $1 21. exf6 Qe3 $3 22. Qf4 $4 {Spot the continuation...} (22. Qf3 $11) 22... Rxb3+ $3 23. axb3 Qxb3+ {with 24.Ka1 Qb2# or similarly 24.Kc1 Qb2#. Darn I could have kicked myself - its 5.5 - 5.5 now and the best grand prix score total, I can get is 23.0 so I cannot win now. It is between Nathan Miller and William Harkins, with Nathan needing 7 - 1 to tie with William in his match with LifeWithoutChes (the youngster from the western seaboard of America), only if he wins his final match with me. if he draws the final match with me then Nathan will need a whitewash against the youngster to win. If he loses against me then he cannot win and is playing for second place against the youngster.} 0-1