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

David Erwee (Folkestone) v Jon Hunt

[Event "Sandwich v Folkestone (Steele Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2024.02.13"] [Round "?"] [White "David Erwee"] [Black "Jon Hunt"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1436"] [BlackElo "1501"] [EventDate "2024.02.13"] [ECO "A01"] [PlyCount "101"] {Sandwich enjoyed a welcome return to form in the Steele Cup with a 3.5-0.5 win over Folkestone, who sadly had to default Board 2. I renewed my acquaintance with David Erwee on Board 3. I enjoy a good record against David, but only ever by the narrowest of margins. Not for the first time, the difference came down to the last pawn on the board...} 1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nc6 $5 {I'm improvising on move 2, but apparently this defence has had good results at high level.} 3.e3 e5 4.h3 ( {David didn't try the main line by a mile in this position:} 4.Bb5 Bd6 5.f4 Qh4+ 6.g3 Qe7 7.Nf3 f6 8.Nc3 Be6 {and now White can try} 9.fxe5 fxe5 10.d4 e4 11.Ne5 Bxe5 12.Qh5+ {which is best answered by} 12...Kd7 13.Qxe5 Nf6 14.O-O Rae8 15.Bxc6+ bxc6 16.Na4 Kc8 17.Nc5 Bh3 $15 ) 4...d4 5.e4 $6 ( {I was inviting the rather more obvious} 5.exd4 exd4 6.Bb5 Ne7 7.Qe2 Be6 8.Nf3 a6 9.Bc4 Bxc4 10.bxc4 Qd7 11.d3 O-O-O $10 ) 5...Nf6 6.d3 Bc5 7.g4 $6 {It's not right, but it's a challenge to be met.} 7...h6 {A prudent choice} ( {Bolder is} 7...h5 $1 8.g5 Nh7 9.h4 Bg4 10.f3 Be6 11.Nd2 Nf8 $15 ) 8.a3 a5 $1 9.Bc1 b5 10.g5 $6 {In for a penny...} 10...hxg5 $1 11.Bxg5 Be7 $1 {A good answer to White's question} 12.Bg2 Nh5 13.Bd2 Bg5 $1 14.Nf3 Bxd2+ 15.Nfxd2 $6 ( {I expected} 15.Qxd2 {since the knight stands well on f3, but White could also have considered taking with the undeveloped queen's knight.} ) 15...Nf4 $1 $17 {The black knight finds a fine outpost.} 16.Qf3 Qg5 {I hesitated about this commital move, but it's not at all bad, since it forces the play.} 17.Bf1 Rh6 {Ditto - this adds pressure upon the h3-pawn.} 18.a4 $1 bxa4 19.Rxa4 $5 {I was wondering whether David would recapture this way in a bid for counterplay. I had already identified the right antidote.} 19...Nb4 $1 20.Na3 $2 Bd7 $1 {The rook is trapped.} 21.Qg3 $1 Qxg3 $6 ( {I should have ducked this exchange:} 21...Qf6 {and now e.g.} 22.Rg1 $2 Bxa4 23.bxa4 Rg6 $19 ) 22.fxg3 Bxa4 23.gxf4 $5 {The engine doesn't approve, but White needs to create some chances, and this is the only way on offer.} 23...Bd7 24.fxe5 {Another long pause for me, as I considered how to deal with the fact that the exchange has come at the cost of an advanced pawn on e5.} 24...a4 $1 {Dynamic, and correct!} 25.Ndc4 {Stubborn defence} 25...axb3 26.cxb3 Rha6 $1 {Another excellent find} 27.Rg1 Rxa3 ( 27...Kf8 {might have been more prudent.} ) 28.Nxa3 Rxa3 29.Rxg7 Rxb3 30.Rg3 c5 $1 $19 {The engine is screaming -6.67 to Black!} 31.h4 $1 {I found this scary. White's pawn is a passer, while Black has yet to create his.} 31...c4 32.Rg8+ $1 {Bother. I thought I had an easy win, but I'd missed this zwischenzug.} 32...Ke7 33.dxc4 Re3+ ( {There is a simple win now:} 33...Rb1+ $1 34.Kf2 d3 35.Ra8 d2 36.Be2 d1=Q 37.Bxd1 Rxd1 $19 ) 34.Kd2 Rxe4 35.h5 Rxe5 36.Be2 {White is making the most of this h-pawn.} 36...Kf6 $6 ( {I also considered the better} 36...Re4 37.Rg2 Rh4 ) 37.h6 Bf5 {Thank goodness Black still has a move!} 38.Rg7 $6 Re8 {I felt a lot safer now that the back rank was secure.} 39.Bh5 Bg6 $2 ( 39...Be6 {is better.} ) 40.Bxg6 $1 fxg6 41.Rb7 ( 41.Rd7 $1 ) 41...Nc6 $1 42.h7 Ne5 43.Rb6+ Kg7 44.Rb7+ Kh6 $2 ( 44...Kh8 $1 {I immediately regretted missing this easy win.} 45.c5 g5 $1 ) 45.Re7 $1 {A moment of panic for Black - have I blown the win?} 45...Nxc4+ $1 {Fortunately not!} 46.Kd3 Rd8 $2 {My inital idea was to push my own passed pawn after the inevitable capture of my knight now.} ( 46...Nb2+ $1 47.Kxd4 Rh8 ) 47.Kxc4 Rh8 $1 {Fortunately, I changed my mind and made a better decision in the nick of time.} ( 47...d3 $2 48.Rd7 $1 Rh8 49.Kxd3 Rxh7 50.Rd4 Re7 51.Rh4+ Kg5 52.Rh1 Kf6 53.Rf1+ Kg7 54.Rg1 $10 ) 48.Kxd4 Rxh7 49.Rxh7+ $2 {This just makes it easy for Black.} ( 49.Re8 Rf7 50.Rh8+ Kg5 51.Rh1 {at least puts up a fight.} ) 49...Kxh7 50.Ke5 Kh6 51.Kf4 {White resigned. Black can hardly play anything except ...Kh5, which will give him the opposition and the game.} 0-1

Oliver Parrish (University of Kent) v Harry Sharples

[Event "Sandwich v University of Kent (Steele Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2023.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Oliver Parrish"] [Black "Harry Sharples"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1787"] [BlackElo "1777"] [EventDate "2023.12.05"] [ECO "D35"] {Anatomy of a League Match, Board 1: The Old War-Horse} 1.d4 {It's worth noting here that not one of the four games in this match began 1.e4!.} 1...d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Nf3 a6 $5 {The wily old war-horse eschews his usual Slav Defence for a relatively obscure line of the Queen's Gambit Declined.} 5.Bg5 $6 {White should consider exchanging on d5 first, to increase the pressure of this pin on the f6-knight.} ( 5.cxd5 exd5 6.Bg5 $1 {and play might continue} 6...Be6 $1 7.e3 Nbd7 8.Bd3 Bd6 9.O-O c6 {with a level game.} ) 5...Be7 6.e3 dxc4 $5 {Often Black will delay this capture until the light-squared bishop has moved, but Harry recognises that he can force play quite effectively with the immediate capture.} 7.Bxc4 b5 8.Bd3 Bb7 9.a4 $5 {While the engine isn't so keen, this ambitious move won in its only outing in high-level play. This time it's Oliver who forces the play.} 9...b4 10.Ne2 ( {The high-level game continued} 10.Bxf6 gxf6 $1 11.Ne2 Nd7 12.Qc2 c5 13.Be4 Qc7 14.Bxb7 $6 Qxb7 15.O-O Rc8 16.Rfc1 O-O 17.Qd3 Rfd8 18.Qb3 cxd4 19.exd4 Nb6 20.Nf4 $6 Qe4 21.Nd3 Nd5 22.Nc5 Bxc5 $1 23.dxc5 Kh8 $2 $10 ( {Black should have preferred} 23...Nf4 $1 24.Rc4 Qd3 $15 ) ) 10...a5 $6 ( {Perhaps Harry didn't see that Black can get away with} 10...c5 $1 11.dxc5 Nfd7 $5 12.Bxe7 Qxe7 13.O-O Nxc5 $15 {Advantage Black!} ) 11.Rc1 Nbd7 12.Bf4 $6 Bd6 ( 12...Rc8 $1 {is a useful developing move for Black.} ) 13.Qc2 $6 {White's plan isn't so cunning...} 13...Bxf4 $1 14.Nxf4 Rc8 $1 {Now the c-pawn is transformed into a battering ram!} 15.Bb5 c6 16.Be2 c5 $1 17.O-O cxd4 $1 $17 {Black has completely turned the tables on White down the c-file.} 18.Qd3 e5 $2 19.Nh3 $2 {In allowing ...e5 (and ...e4) Oliver finds himself completely on the back foot.} ( {White can call the senior stallion's bluff here with a nice zwischenzug:} 19.Nxe5 Nxe5 20.Qb5+ $1 Ned7 21.Qxb7 O-O 22.exd4 $14 {White picks up a key central pawn.} ) 19...e4 {Harry gets his fork after all.} 20.Qxd4 exf3 21.Bb5 O-O ( {In fact White can get away with} 21...fxg2 $1 22.Qe5+ Qe7 23.Rxc8+ Bxc8 24.Qxe7+ Kxe7 25.Kxg2 Ne5 {since he's a clear piece up.} ) 22.Rfd1 Rxc1 23.Rxc1 Qb6 24.Bxd7 Qxd4 25.exd4 Nxd7 26.g3 $6 ( {White would do better to be materialistic with} 26.gxf3 ) 26...Rc8 27.Re1 Kf8 28.Kh1 Rc2 29.Nf4 Rxf2 {White resigns. Beware the war-horse!} 0-1

Dominic Blundell v Mason Ridgeley (University of Kent)

[Event "Sandwich v University of Kent (Steele Cup)"] [Site "St Clement's Hall"] [Date "2023.12.05"] [Round "?"] [White "Dominic Blundell"] [Black "Mason Ridgeley"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1691"] [BlackElo "1350"] [EventDate "2023.12.05"] [PlyCount "1"] {Anatomy of a League Match, Board 2: The Young Stallion} 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Bf4 Bf5 4.c4 e6 5.Nc3 c6 6.Qb3 Qb6 $5 {The first clash of the stallions for supremacy} 7.c5 $1 Qxb3 8.axb3 Be7 $6 ( {Established theory reckons Black must play} 8...Nbd7 {now, and e.g.} 9.b4 a6 10.b5 cxb5 11.Nxb5 Rc8 12.Nd6+ Bxd6 13.Bxd6 Ne4 14.Bg3 $14 {when Black can contemplate almost any kingside pawn push.} ) 9.e3 ( {White misses a tactic to win a pawn:} 9.Bxb8 $1 Rxb8 10.Rxa7 ) 9...O-O 10.b4 Nbd7 11.Be2 b6 $2 ( {Black needs to challenge his counterpart's aggressive stance more directly and actively, but precision is required:} 11...Ne4 $1 12.b5 g5 $1 13.bxc6 bxc6 14.Ne5 $1 gxf4 15.Nxd7 fxe3 16.Nxe4 Bxe4 17.Nxf8 exf2+ 18.Kxf2 Kxf8 $10 ) 12.Ba6 $1 {The start of a series of swift hoof kicks administered by the white stallion} 12...Nh5 $6 13.Bc7 $1 {As White's bishops have quickly demonstrated, Black's position is full of holes.} 13...Bd8 $2 14.Bd6 $1 Re8 15.Bb7 $1 Bf6 16.Bxa8 {The first permanent wound is inflicted.} 16...Rxa8 17.h3 $1 g6 $2 {This is an unsatisfactory answer to the threatened fork.} ( 17...Be4 $1 {at once restrains the g-pawn.} ) 18.g4 Be4 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Nd2 Ng7 21.Nxe4 Bh4 22.Bg3 f5 23.Bxh4 fxe4 24.Ke2 bxc5 25.bxc5 e5 26.Rhd1 exd4 27.Rxd4 Nxc5 28.Rd8+ $1 {This is a smart way to exchange into the winning ending which awaits.} 28...Rxd8 29.Bxd8 Nge6 30.Be7 Nd3 31.b4 Nc7 32.Rxa7 Nd5 33.Bc5 h5 34.gxh5 gxh5 35.Ra8+ Kg7 36.f4 Kf6 37.Rf8+ Ke6 38.f5+ Ke5 39.Bd4+ Kd6 40.Rh8 Ke7 41.Rxh5 N5f4+ 42.exf4 Nxf4+ {Proud to the end, the sole black knight makes a defiant gesture.} 43.Ke3 Nxh5 44.Kxe4 Kf7 45.Kf3 Nf6 46.Bxf6 {Black resigns. The black king alone cannot both blockade White's f-pawn and defend his own c-pawn.} 1-0