John Thorley v Chris Carpenter (Margate)

[Event "Sandwich v Margate (Millar Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.04.30"] [Round "?"] [White "John Thorley"] [Black "Chris Carpenter"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1592"] [BlackElo "1594"] [EventDate "2024.04.30"] [ECO "E61"] [PlyCount "41"] {The new "2nd Earl of Sandwich" continues his rich vein of form in Sandwich's 5-2 Millar Cup victory over Margate...} 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.f3 $5 {Rare, and evidently John's trademark move here} 4...O-O 5.e3 $5 ( {Usual is} 5.e4 {and now e.g.} 5...d6 6.Be3 c5 7.Nge2 Nc6 8.d5 Ne5 9.Ng3 e6 10.Be2 exd5 11.cxd5 a6 12.a4 Bd7 13.h3 b5 14.f4 Nc4 15.Bxc4 bxc4 16.O-O Rb8 17.e5 $10 ) 5...c5 6.Bd3 d6 7.Nge2 a6 8.O-O Nc6 9.a3 Rb8 10.d5 Ne5 11.f4 $6 ( {More solid is} 11.e4 Nfd7 {and only now} 12.f4 Nxd3 13.Qxd3 {when Black should continue by pressing on the queenside:} 13...b5 $1 14.cxb5 axb5 15.b4 c4 $15 ) 11...Nxd3 12.Qxd3 Bd7 $6 {Passing on an early chance to take control of the game} ( 12...b5 $1 {This is not a sacrifice, but rather it wins a pawn.} 13.cxb5 axb5 14.Nxb5 $6 Nxd5 $1 15.Qxd5 Rxb5 $17 ) 13.Ng3 $2 ( 13.a4 $1 {preventing 13...b5.} ) 13...b5 $1 {Better late than never!} 14.b3 bxc4 $6 ( 14...Nxd5 $1 {With this bravura sacrifice Black uncorks a savage pin along the h8-a1 diagonal to win the white rook:} 15.cxd5 ( 15.Qxd5 Bxc3 $17 ) 15...b4 16.axb4 cxb4 17.Nce2 Bxa1 $17 ) 15.bxc4 Rb3 16.Bd2 ( 16.Rb1 $1 Rxb1 17.Nxb1 {resolves matters before Black can cause any more trouble in this corner of the board.} ) 16...Qc7 17.Rac1 $6 Rbb8 $2 {An odd retreat} ( {The obvious continuation is} 17...Rfb8 ) ( {but even better is the simple pawn grab:} 17...Rxa3 $1 18.Ra1 Rxa1 19.Rxa1 a5 $1 $17 ) 18.f5 $5 ( {Best now for White was} 18.Rb1 {but, considering the error it prompts, it's hard to criticise John's choice, which threates to tear to the top off Black's kingside pawns.} ) 18...e5 $2 19.Nce4 $5 {White declines to take en passant and instead tries to fish out the strong f6-knight.} ( {Black must have expected the en passant capture} 19.dxe6 fxe6 {but clearly White should decline a further exchange on e6 and instead continue with his intention of hacking at the black king's defences:} 20.fxg6 $1 hxg6 21.Qxg6 $14 ) 19...Nxe4 20.Qxe4 Bxf5 21.Nxf5 gxf5 22.Qxf5 $14 Qc8 {Black is sufficiently alarmed by recent events to offer an exchange of queens.} 23.Qg5 {Meanwhile, White is sufficiently encouraged to turn him down!} 23...f6 24.Qg3 Qe8 25.e4 Qg6 {Black is desperate to achieve this trade.} 26.Qe1 {White is equally desperate to avoid it!} ( 26.Qxg6 hxg6 27.Rb1 f5 {is a logical continuation but looks drawish.} ) 26...f5 $1 27.Rc3 f4 28.Kh1 Kh8 29.g3 Rb7 $6 ( {What Black needs here is some good old-fashioned counterplay, with rook to the seventh:} 29...Rb2 $1 30.Rcf3 Rc2 31.gxf4 exf4 32.Rxf4 Rxf4 33.Rxf4 Rxc4 34.Qf1 Rc2 35.Rf8+ Bxf8 36.Qxf8+ Qg8 $10 {and a perpetual check beckons.} ) 30.Rcf3 Rbf7 $6 ( 30...Rb2 $10 $1 ) 31.gxf4 $1 Qh5 $2 ( 31...exf4 32.Rxf4 Rxf4 33.Bxf4 Re8 $14 {looks as if it could be held by Black.} ) 32.f5 $1 {Exactly. This is why the pawn had to be taken.} 32...Rf6 $2 33.Qg3 Rg8 $2 {Black just can't get his defences arranged properly.} 34.Rg1 Qf7 $2 ( 34...Rff8 {is hardly much better now:} 35.Bg5 Qf7 36.f6 Bh6 37.Bxh6 Rxg3 38.Rfxg3 Rd8 39.Rg5 a5 40.Rf5 a4 41.Rg7 {Ouch!} 41...Qf8 42.Rd7 $1 Rxd7 43.Bxf8 $18 ) 35.Bg5 $1 {To quote John himself, "Game over!"} 35...Rh6 36.Bxh6 Bxh6 37.Qxg8+ Qxg8 38.Rxg8+ Kxg8 39.Kg2 Bf4 40.Rb3 Kf7 41.Rb7+ Kg8 42.Rd7 {Black resigns.} 1-0

Peter McGill (Margate) v Robert Starley

[Event "Sandwich v Margate (Millar Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.04.30"] [Round "?"] [White "Peter McGill"] [Black "Robert Starley"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1908"] [BlackElo "2151"] [EventDate "2024.04.30"] [ECO "C44"] [Annotator "Robert Starley"] [BlackTeam "Sandwich"] [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventType "team"] [WhiteTeam "Margate"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"] {Having successfully defended his "Black-and-White" title, Robert also leads by example in Sandwich's 5-2 win at home to Margate in the Millar Cup, bravely diving into the murky waters of the Göring Gambit Accepted. Robert annotates his own play. C44: Ponziani Opening and Scotch Gambit} 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 exd4 4.c3 dxc3 5.Bc4 cxb2 {The best way to refute a gambit is to accept it, so I happily take both of the pawns offered.} 6.Bxb2 Bb4+ 7.Nc3 Nf6 8.O-O O-O 9.Nd5 ( 9.e5 {is the other main option here, when White has decent compensation for the sacrificed pawns, but probably not quite enough if Black plays accurately.} ) 9...Be7 ( {Not} 9...Nxe4 $2 10.Qc2 Re8 11.Bd3 $16 ) ( 9...Nxd5 $6 10.exd5 $14 {would also play into White's hands somewhat.} ) 10.e5 $6 {This is not as good as it would have been on the previous move, as now the knight can escape from the pawn by simply capturing on d5.} ( 10.Qc2 d6 $15 ) 10...Nxd5 $17 11.Bxd5 d6 12.Be4 $6 ( 12.Qb3 $142 $5 $17 ) 12...Nxe5 $19 13.Nxe5 dxe5 14.Qc2 $5 ( {Understandably, White wanted to avoid trading queens when two pawns down.} 14.Bxe5 Qxd1 15.Rfxd1 c6 $19 ) 14...Bd6 {I decided that I would rather keep the e-pawn than the h-pawn, so the long diagonal stays closed.} ( {Another option I considered was} 14...f5 $1 15.Rfd1 Bd6 16.Bd5+ Kh8 17.Rd2 $19 {which probably would have been even better, keeping all the pawns at the cost of slightly weakening the kingside and blocking in my light-squared bishop.} ) 15.Rad1 $2 {Now I can hold onto all three extra pawns without any problem.} ( 15.Bxh7+ Kh8 16.Be4 $19 ) 15...Qh4 16.Rfe1 Rb8 17.Bd5 Qh5 18.Bf3 Bg4 $5 {I decided to give a pawn back in order to complete development and trade both bishops. After all, a two-pawn advantage should be enough to easily win the endgame.} ( {It was also possible to be greedy and keep all three extra pawns with} 18...Qg5 19.Re3 $19 {but then I still haven't completed development and White would retain some initiative.} ) 19.Bxg4 Qxg4 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Rxe5 Rfe8 22.Rde1 $6 ( 22.f3 Qf4 23.Red5 $19 ) 22...Rxe5 23.Rxe5 Rd8 24.Re1 Qb4 25.Rb1 Qd2 {Now the queen trade will be forced, as back rank mate is threatened if the queen moves away from guarding d1.} 26.Qxd2 ( 26.Qa4 Qd4 27.Qxd4 ( 27.Qb3 Qd3 28.Qxd3 Rxd3 $19 ) 27...Rxd4 $19 ) 26...Rxd2 {Now I have the simple task of winning a rook ending with 2 extra pawns} 27.g3 b6 28.Rc1 c5 29.a4 Ra2 30.Rc4 Kf8 31.Re4 Rb2 32.Re5 Rb4 33.a5 Ra4 34.axb6 axb6 35.Kf1 Ra7 36.Rd5 ( 36.Ke2 {would be met with} 36...Re7 $19 {forcing the rooks off.} ) 36...Ke7 37.Rd1 b5 38.Rb1 b4 39.Ke2 Kd6 40.Kd2 Kc6 41.f4 Ra2+ 42.Kd3 Rxh2 43.Kc4 Rc2+ {White resigned.} ( 43...Rc2+ 44.Kd3 Rc3+ 45.Ke4 Rxg3 $19 ) 0-1

David Marsden (Broadstairs) v Jon Hunt

[Event "Broadstairs v Sandwich (Steele Cup)"] [Site "The Bradstow Mill"] [Date "2024.04.29"] [Round "?"] [White "David Marsden"] [Black "Jon Hunt"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1409"] [BlackElo "1501"] [EventDate "2024.04.29"] [ECO "B21"] {This game just goes to show that it's always worth throwing in an opening trap when it costs you nothing to play!} 1.d4 c5 2.e4 cxd4 3.Nf3 {White was banging out moves very fast, considering the standardplay time controls, and so it seemed sensible to play the trappy move here.} 3...e5 $1 4.Nxe5 $4 Qa5+ {Winning the knight} 5.Nd2 Qxe5 6.g3 Nf6 7.Bg2 Bb4 $6 ( {A piece up, I should be aiming to play more solidly, e.g.} 7...Bc5 8.Nb3 d6 9.Bf4 Qh5 $1 10.Nxd4 {and Black develops into his win with} 10...O-O $1 11.c3 Bxd4 12.cxd4 Qxd1+ 13.Kxd1 $19 ( 13.Rxd1 $6 Nxe4 14.Bxe4 Re8 ) ) 8.O-O O-O 9.Nc4 Qc5 10.b3 ( {I expected the immediate} 10.e5 Qxc4 11.exf6 {when} 11...g6 $1 {is the answer I couldn't quite find in my calculations. Perhaps it would have occurred to me if we had reached this position.} ) 10...Nc6 11.a3 Bc3 $1 12.Nb2 $2 ( 12.Rb1 $2 {is hardly any better.} ) ( 12.Bb2 $1 Bxb2 13.Nxb2 ) 12...b5 $6 ( 12...Qe7 $1 {After all, White can't even play Re1 now.} ) 13.Nd3 Qb6 14.Bb2 Bxb2 15.Nxb2 Bb7 16.b4 $6 ( 16.a4 $1 {seemed to me a much more useful move for White here:} 16...b4 17.a5 Nxa5 18.Na4 ) 16...a5 17.Rc1 $6 {At this point, I had the sense that White was really bluffing. I couldn't see how advancing the c-pawn would help his position, and the pawn dropping on b4 seemed real. It was!} 17...axb4 18.axb4 Nxb4 19.Re1 Na2 $1 {Bravo, Jon! This excellent move was a brave choice.} 20.Ra1 ( 20.Rb1 $2 Nc3 {drops the exchange.} ) 20...Nc3 21.Qd3 Rxa1 22.Rxa1 Ra8 $6 ( {I was right to notice after 22...Ra8 that I had missed the chance to win the pawn on e4:} 22...Bxe4 23.Bxe4 Ncxe4 ) 23.Re1 Ra2 $1 {Bravo again, as this was a doubly brave decision! Black's point is that the white knight has nowhere to go but the back rank.} 24.Nd1 Ra1 $1 25.e5 $1 {The crucial last roll of the dice by White} 25...Nfd5 26.Kf1 $2 Rxd1 $6 ( 26...Nxd1 $1 27.Rxd1 Nb4 $1 28.Qd2 Bxg2+ 29.Kxg2 Qc6+ 30.Kg1 Rxd1+ 31.Qxd1 Nxc2 {wins.} ) 27.Rxd1 Nxd1 28.Qxd1 Nc3 29.Qd3 Qa6 $1 {Making a direct mate threat} 30.Bxb7 ( 30.Qxd4 $4 Qa1+ 31.Qd1 Qxd1# ) 30...Qxb7 31.f3 Qd5 $1 32.Kg2 Qxe5 33.Kh3 {Time was short now - on my clock, at least! - and so I'll excuse myself suboptimal moves now, so long as they win!} 33...g6 {I was just glad to give my king some luft, before White could conjure up any back-rank tricks.} 34.g4 h5 35.Qf1 $2 ( 35.gxh5 Qxh5+ 36.Kg2 Qe5 ) 35...hxg4+ 36.fxg4 Qe3+ 37.Kh4 Qe5 38.Kh3 Ne4 39.Qa1 Ng5+ 40.Kg2 Qe4+ 41.Kf1 ( 41.Kf2 {avoids the back-rank skewer but still leads to mate:} 41...Nh3+ 42.Kg3 Qe3+ 43.Kh4 ( 43.Kg2 Nf4+ 44.Kh1 Qe4+ 45.Kg1 Qg2# ) 43...g5+ 44.Kh5 Kh7 45.Qf1 Qe6 46.Qd3+ Qg6+ 47.Qxg6+ fxg6# {A remarkable finish!} ) 41...Qh1+ {White resigned, since 42...Qxa1.} 0-1

Michael Micklethwaite (Margate) v Robert Starley

[Event "Sandwich v Margate (Steele Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.03.12"] [Round "?.1"] [White "Micklethwaite, Michael"] [Black "Starley, Robert"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1675"] [BlackElo "2210"] [EventDate "2024.03.12"] [ECO "C89"] [PlyCount "120"] [BlackTeam "Sandwich II"] [BlackTeamCountry "ENG"] [EventCountry "ENG"] [EventType "team"] [WhiteTeam "Margate III"] [WhiteTeamCountry "ENG"] {It's nice to see Robert get into trouble every once in a while...and even nicer to see him get out of it again to score us the full point just when we need it for a 2-2 draw against Margate! Like all the greatest works of art, it's unfinished, so you'll just have to use your imagination as to how he got there from the final position...} 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bb5 a6 4.Ba4 Nf6 5.O-O Be7 6.Re1 b5 7.Bb3 O-O 8.c3 d5 9.d4 $5 ( 9.exd5 {is more usual:} 9...Nxd5 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.Rxe5 c6 12.d4 Bd6 13.Re1 Qh4 14.g3 Qh3 {This appears to be a well known position in this Ruy Lopez line, with fairly even chances to judge from results at high level.} ) 9...dxe4 $5 10.Nxe5 Bb7 $6 {Here Robert perhaps goes wrong, since this move, though frequently played, has resulted in many a win for White.} ( {He might have preferred} 10...Nxe5 11.dxe5 Qxd1 12.Bxd1 $1 Nd5 13.Rxe4 {where Black could argue that White is behind in development for the extra pawn.} ) 11.Bf4 $146 {We are totally out of book now.} ( 11.Nd2 {is the continuation with which White appears to have caused trouble in this line.} ) 11...Na5 12.Bc2 Qd5 $6 ( {Better is} 12...c5 $1 {threatening to open the d-file (I see this a lot in my Scandinavian lines), e.g.} 13.dxc5 Bxc5 14.Nd2 {(unless White wants to exchange queens, of course)} 14...Nd5 15.Nxe4 Bxf2+ $1 16.Nxf2 Nxf4 17.Be4 Bxe4 18.Rxe4 Ne6 $10 ) 13.Qe2 b4 $6 {Leaving the c-pawn at home is looking like a very odd decision now.} 14.Nd2 $1 e3 $2 {This sets up a "cheapo".} 15.fxe3 ( 15.Qxe3 $4 Qxg2# ) ( 15.Bxe3 $4 Qxg2# ) 15...Nh5 $4 {Robert is still fishing for mate on g2. However, he has reckoned without Mick's next move.} 16.Bxh7+ $1 {Greek Gift sacrifice!} ( {And not, of course} 16.Qxh5 $4 Qxg2# ) 16...Kxh7 17.Qxh5+ Kg8 18.Qf3 $2 {Luckily for Robert, Mick doesn't find the best way to sort out the cheapo.} ( 18.e4 $1 {is game over.} 18...Qd8 19.Re3 Bc8 20.g4 f6 21.Ng6 $18 {and it's goodnight from him.} ) 18...Qb5 19.Qg3 Rfe8 $6 20.Bh6 ( 20.c4 $1 {is a tricky little exercise in decoying:} 20...Qb6 21.Nxf7 $5 Kxf7 22.Bxc7 Qh6 23.Bxa5 $18 ) 20...Bf8 21.c4 $1 Qb6 22.Bf4 Qe6 23.b3 Rac8 $2 24.d5 $1 {This shuts Black's light-squared bishop out of play.} 24...Qf5 25.e4 $1 Bc5+ 26.Kh1 Qh5 27.Ndf3 Bd6 28.Nd3 Bxf4 $5 {I'm sure it's White who should want to exchange off the pieces here, not Black! (White is two pawns up.)} 29.Qxf4 c5 30.Nfe5 Red8 31.Re3 f6 $2 32.Ng4 ( 32.Rh3 $1 {Whither is the queen to fly?} 32...Qe8 $4 ( 32...Qe2 $4 33.Qh4 {ditto.} ) 33.Qh4 {and mate swiftly ensues.} ) 32...Rf8 ( {The engine requires} 32...Qg5 {but what's the use after an exchange of queens?} 33.Qxg5 fxg5 34.Nge5 $18 ) 33.Rg3 Kf7 $2 {My HIARCS engine scores this position at +26.85 to White. We're going to have to nickname Robert "The Human Houdini" after this game...} 34.Rf1 ( 34.Nxf6 $1 {finishes things fast, since} 34...gxf6 {is effectively forced, and now} 35.Qd6 {is a deadly infiltration.} ) 34...Ke7 35.Qe3 $2 Kd6 36.Qf3 Ba8 {This is another move HIARCS hates, but Black has to be practical. The bishop is entombed, but the knight is still breathing...just.} 37.Ne3 $6 ( 37.Qf4+ $1 {and HIARCS can see its way to mate.} ) 37...Qxf3 $1 {Black is only too glad to keep exchanging into that two-pawns-down ending and trying his luck with a 500+ points rating lead!} 38.Rfxf3 g5 39.e5+ fxe5 40.Rxf8 Rxf8 41.Rxg5 e4 $5 {HIARCS would put a piece on b7 now, but there's no doubt that human players understand the hypnotic effect of a passed pawn on the move...} 42.Rg6+ Kc7 43.Nxc5 Rf2 $2 {Yes, you read the notation right. Rook on the seventh is bad for Black in this position.} 44.Nxa6+ ( {Here's why:} 44.d6+ $1 Kb8 ( 44...Kd8 $4 45.Rg8+ Rf8 46.Rxf8# ) ( 44...Kc8 $4 45.Rg8+ Rf8 46.Rxf8# ) 45.d7 Rd2 46.Rg8+ Ka7 47.d8=Q Rxd8 48.Rxd8 $18 ) 44...Kc8 45.Nxb4 Re2 46.Nf1 e3 {The rook isn't even the right side of the passed pawn! HIARCS is unimpressed and rates White about +12.} 47.h4 $2 {Mick falls under the baleful influence of Robert's hypnotic pawn.} ( 47.Kg1 $1 ) 47...Re1 $1 48.Kg1 e2 $1 {You might like to consider how you would evaluate the position now that Black's passed pawn has made it to the seventh rank. HIARCS has knocked about 9 points off its rating of two moves ago.} 49.Rf6 Nb7 ( 49...Rd1 50.Nc2 Rc1 51.h5 $1 {Making a silk purse out of a sow's ear!} 51...Rxc2 52.Re6 exf1=Q+ 53.Kxf1 {and Black is still losing, so once again I can't prefer HIARCS' suggestion over what Robert is playing.} ) 50.h5 {The ear moves a step closer to pursedom.} 50...Rc1 ( {HIARCS' line} 50...Rd1 51.Nc2 Rc1 52.h6 {still doesn't seem any better to me.} ) 51.Nd3 $1 Nc5 $5 {By now I had finished my own game and was glued to this one. I was as hypnotised as Mick by the tactics surrounding the defence of e1, and I certainly didn't see that White can ignore everything Black is threatening!} 52.Rf8+ ( 52.h6 $3 {It's so hard to force yourself to analyse lines where you let your opponent queen first!} 52...Nxd3 53.h7 $1 e1=Q 54.h8=Q+ Kd7 55.Rf7+ Kd6 56.Qf8+ Ke5 57.Re7+ Kd4 58.Rxe1 Rxe1 59.Qxa8 $18 ) 52...Kc7 53.Nxc5 $4 {The engine swings to -1. Advantage Black!} 53...e1=Q 54.Ne6+ Kd6 55.Rf3 Bxd5 $2 $10 {0.0 (HIARCS). This sac is rather cavalier, and probably underestimates the power of the queen - funny, considering how much heavy lifting she was left to do on her own in the game!} ( 55...Qh4 $1 56.Rh3 Qe7 57.Kf2 Rc2+ 58.Kg1 Qf7 59.Rf3 Qxh5 60.Ne3 Rxa2 $17 {Black has queen for knight and four pawns, and this is probably winning for Black now.} ) 56.cxd5 Kxd5 $4 ( 56...Rc3 57.Rf2 Kxd5 {is fine.} ) 57.Nf4+ $1 {The knight heads for the fork Robert has missed.} 57...Ke4 58.h6 $2 ( {Mick misses the win one last time:} 58.Nd3 $1 Qd2 59.Nxc1 Qxc1 $18 ) 58...Qh4 59.Nd3 Qxh6 60.Nxc1 Qxc1 {A tantalising place for the notation to stop. The position is almost certainly a theoretical draw, with HIARCS scoring it at +0.3 to White (nothing more than his opening advantage). It's perhaps no surprise then that from here the stronger player managed to overpower his opponent into conceding a queen-versus-rook ending which Robert was eventually able to convert.} 0-1

League Competitions, March - June 2024

[Updated 12th March] League Secretary and Club President Kit Blundell has announced the dates and venues of four league competitions in March-June 2024. These are as follows:

Wednesday 20th March - Individual Buzzer
Location: Margate Chess Club
Time: 7:30 PM
To express interest in participating in this individual event, please contact John Clarke at jlclarke9@yahoo.co.uk.

Friday 19th April - Individual Quickplay
Location: Sandwich Chess Club
Time: 7:30 PM
To register interest in this fast-paced event, reach out to Kit Blundell at friendlyfox44@gmail.com

Tuesday 4th June - Team Buzzer
Location: Bridge Chess Club
Time: 7:30 PM
For team events, it is highly recommended that teams register in advance. Please send your team's player names to Kit Blundell at friendlyfox44@gmail.com.

Tuesday 25th June - Jamboree
Location: Bridge Chess Club
Time: 7:30 PM
Gather your team and join us for this thrilling team event! Clubs, please ensure your Club's Jamboree Team Captain contacts Graeme directly at graemeboxall@talktalk.net