Annotated chess game: ........... comes a Ray of Hope

ANNOTATED GAME

........... comes a Ray of Hope
jstevens1 (1833) vs. dynamic_dv (2066)
Annotated by: jotheblackqueen (1200)
Chess opening: Three knights (C46), Steinitz, Rosenthal variation

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1. e4 e5	Hi everyone! I have had my share of heartache against the Experts - indeed there have been cases where I have got into an endgame or late middlegame with an Expert, in fact, let's throw in the Master Mater as well where I have had at least some drawing chances and then I make a critical wrong decision and blow it big time. Here are some of those names where I have tasted this kind of heartache on at least one occasion. Easy19, Ionadowman, Therealjimfriar, Marinvucusik, Chrisobee, Leo_London and Dynamic_Dv. This time, however, I manage to hold my nerve and the position and gain a 5.8 point reward. This latest Expert Draw, my 6th has ended a 5 match losing run against Dynamic_Dv. It gives me a real ray of hope against the abovementioned players. Anyhow, on with the game. I depart again from my usual Ruy Lopez and have a go at The Three Knights Opening. I kick off with 1. e4.



2. Nf3 Nc6 3. Nc3 g6	3....... g6 - this move, intending to fianchetto his dsb ensures that this opening is the Three Knights Opening because 3 of the four knights have developed one after the other.



4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4	5. Nxd4 - transposes into a kind of Scotch Opening.



5... Bg7 6. Be3	6. Be3 - out of his home church comes Fou Lenoir, supporting Henry's steed.



6... Nf6 7. Nxc6 bxc6	7. ........ bxc6 - bishop for knight trade to disrupt black's queenside.
	1 comment nyctalop (2166) on 19-Sep-09: Black's position looks pretty dynamic here.


8. Bc4 O-O 9. e5 d5	9. ....... d5 - here Dave departs from the database. After careful calculation I decide to take on f6.
	2 comments nyctalop (2166) on 19-Sep-09: 10.Be2 looks very tempting to me. After the probable continuation 10...Ne4 11.Nxe4 dxe4 12.Bf4 Rb8 13.Qxd8 Rxd8 14.b3 Re8 15.0-0-0 Bf5 16.g4!, White has an enduring edge. therealjimfriar (1200) on 20-Sep-09: Instead of 8.Bc4 ....... 8.e5 wheres the knight going? There's no Bishop to hit with d5?


10. exf6 Bxf6 11. Bb3	11. Bb3 - preserving Fou Leblanc.
	1 comment nyctalop (2166) on 19-Sep-09: Did you consider 11.Nxd5? Play could have continued 11...cxd5 12.Bxd5 Bxb2 13.Bxa8 Ba6 (threatening Bxc3+!) 14.Qxd8 Rxd8 15.f4 (making room for the King) Bxa1 16.Kf2 Bd4 with an equal position.


11... d4	11. ...... d4 - I anticipated this fork. Now the queens are traded after Fou Lenoir gives his life for the d4 pawn.



12. Bxd4 Qxd4 13. Qxd4 Bxd4 14. O-O	14. 0-0 - after the tactical stouche on the kingside Henry decides to castle kingside. The rooks are now connected and at least I can meet Re8 with Re1. Dave develops his lsb to f5. A strong move putting pressure on c2.
	1 comment nyctalop (2166) on 19-Sep-09: The c2 pawn is securely defended, Black is just developing. The position is imbalanced but still equal.


14... Bf5 15. Rfe1 Rfe8 16. Rxe8+ Rxe8	16. ..... Rxe8 - rook trade.



17. Kf1 h5 18. Re1	18. Re1 - on my 17th move, Henry moves back towards the centre to support a neutralisation of the e column. Dave elects to trade. At least the trade brings Henry further towards the centre, a good thing as we are now in a 2 piece endgame as early as move 19!



18... Rxe1+ 19. Kxe1 c5 20. f3	20. f3 - this pawn avoids the black dsb and shuts off a diagonal of the white lsb. This allows Henry to come out to the second rank.



20... h4 21. h3	21. h3 - to halt the advance of the h pawn.



21... c4 22. Bxc4 Bxc2	22. ....... Bxc2 - pawn trade.
	1 comment nyctalop (2166) on 19-Sep-09: After 21...Bxc3+, Black would have had the theoretical good Bishop, but it's still not enough to play for a win.


23. Kd2 Bf5 24. b3	24. b3 - supporting Fou Leblanc on a long diagonal. Maintains a pin on f7 pawn.



24... Kg7	24. ...... Kg7 - breaking the pin.



25. Ne2	25. Ne2 - this move seems passive but I see it as a precaution. Note that infiltration routes of the BK via f4 - g3 on the kingside and d4 on the queenside are now blocked off as it is illegal for a king to walk into a check! Note that the knight is untouchable by the black dsb and it is extremely difficult for the knight to be assailed by the white dsb. During my coffee break at work this morning, as I stir my cup, I put the question to the black lsb next move and also one to my opponent as I feel confident that I can keep it out - do you want a draw Dave? In my lunch hour Dave logs on, although I feel confident that I have kept hime out, Dave is an expert and he might see something I haven't. That proved not to be the case. Dave accepted my draw offer. At least I have managed to get into an endgame with an Expert and not make the wrong decision this time. To this opponent I lost 5 games on the bounce so it is nice to end that losing run. So, to the Experts listed in my intro note and Master Freddy it gives me a real ray of hope of ending a losing run with them. I now play Dave as black and hope I can do OK this time. Ah well, bye for now - Joanne
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 20-Sep-09: Good pragmatic move, leaving Black with almost no prospect of a breakthrough anywhere.


25... Bb6 26. Bd3
	1 comment archduke_piccolo (2334) on 20-Sep-09: Solid result. The policy White adopted here - of sucking the life out of the position - does carry the risk of being ground down in what appears to be an even endgame. But if you can reach an even endgame, you at least have a good chance of holding the draw. The opponent sometimes has to take risks if he wants to achieve more. Against 2000+ players on GK, Joanne has arrived at a drawish endgame before now. It was just a matter of time before she held one.