Kings and Pawns -v- cohonas RHP 2011

1. e4 e5 2. Nf3 Nc6 3. d4 {The key move of the Scotch. Some reckon a cleaner way to get it avoiding the Petroff etc is 1.e4 e5 2.d4 exd4 3.Nf3 Nc6 } 3... exd4 4. Nxd4 Nf6 {The tepid line which I was going to insist on playing as a gag is 4...Bc5 5.Nxc6 Qf6 which has a dullish rep. Though like any opening it can explode at any given moment.} 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nc3 Bb4 {The sharpest and therefore the most analysed lines revolving around an early e5 by White are being ignored.} 7. Bd3 d5 {The last chance for White to seriously mix it with e5. 8.e5 Ng4 9.Bf4 d5 and in 45ACP -v- Iuppiter RHP 2009 White resigned. But 10.Qf3 gives White some wonderful fun. I'll show one game with that line. next.} 8. exd5 0-0 9. 0-0 cxd5 10. Bg5 c6 11. Qf3 {We are still well within opening theory for this position.} 11...Bd6 12. h3 Rb8 13. b3 {Now at last we are thinning out games in this line - well at least on my DB which is far from up to date. Most of the White players played 13.Rb1 here.} 13... Be5 {Pinning the undefended c3 Knight. at last someone is doing something!} 14. Bf4 {And this sets off a series of tactical exchanges and as far as my DB is concerned a new move. I have 14.Bd2 played in a game between two women played ages ago. The move played is more active and forcing. However I’m looking at 14.Ne2!? let Black have the unmoved Rook on a1. It’s interesting - see next game.} 14... Bxc3 15. Bxb8 Bxa1 16. Rxa1 {Black now has a free move with the c8 Bishop attacking the b8 Bishop. 16...Bxh3 winning a pawn looks tempting but 17.Bxa7 and the a-pawn has suddenly become Mr. Big.} 16... Bg4 17. hxg4 Qxb8 {The dust clears and 18.g5 looks good here. Where does the Knight go? 18...Nd7 19.Qf5 hitting the Knight and mating on h7. Alas 18.g5 Qe5! spotting the a1 Rook and the hasty g5 pawn. No exchange sacs here. 20.gxf6 Qxa1+ and 21...Qxf6} 18. Re1 {So the Rook is moved off a1 hugging the only open file and now g5 is a threat.} 18... h6 {Which is spotted and duly prevented. I like White's next move. 19.g3. A good move. Looks like the idea is Kg2 freeing h1 for the Rook then pushing the g-pawn and you have a bog standard kingside attack. Yes?} 19. g3 {No. It's wee trap. Quite good actually. White is wanting 19...Qb4 hitting the g4 pawn and the Rook on e1. 19...Qb4 20.c3! Black cannot take on c3 Bh7+ wins the Queen. 20....Qxg5 21.Qxg5 Nxg5 22.Re7 and although a pawn down White is very active and will win a pawn back with a good plus. } 19... Qd6 20. Qe3 {Another trap? If 20...Re8 then 21Qxe8+. No Centralising the Queen by hitting the a7 pawn and planning g5. Black can grab the g-pawn but the a7 pawns goes and again that passed pawn on a2 is looking pretty clever.} 20... c5 {Black is having none of it. A passed pawn in these positions is an ace up the sleeve.} 21. g5 {White cannot leave the g-pawn hanging any longer so swaps it. 21.Qe7 going into that active Rook I mentioned earlier hides a Black trick - see next variation.} 21... hxg5 22. Qxg5 g6 {A clear draw offer. Whiter can play 23.Bxg6 fxg6 24.Qxg6+ and it's a perpetual.} 23. Qd2 {And why White did not take it instead of playing this is beyond me. Perhaps planning Qa5 to pull the Queen away from e7 so the Rook can enter. Black’s next move stops that idea.} 23... Re8 24. Rxe8+ Nxe8 25. a3 {So this is the plan. White is going to prove his pawns and the Bishop are better than Black pawns and the Knight.}25... Nf6 26. b4 Nd7 {Black is saying we will both have isolated pawns and my Knight is just as good as your Bishop.} 27. c3 d4 {Black is determined to clear up the situation and force White to start the swapping of pawns.} 28. Be2 Qe5 {A nice try based on the d-pawn not being pinned! 29.Bf1 dxc3!! 30.Qxd7 c2 wins 31.Qd2 Qb2} 29. cxd4 {Black was threatening to take on c3.} 29... cxd4 30. Qd3 {White can create a passed pawn. But he has to keep an eye on Black's lone d-pawn.} 30... Kg7 31. Qc2 {Agreed drawn on White's move. So we must assume White offered the draw. It looks like it is one of those 'who ever tries to win it losses' positions.}

[FEN "5rk1/p4pp1/3q1n1p/2pp4/6P1/1P1BQ1P1/P1P2P2/4R1K1 w - - 0 1"]
{Instead of pushing the g-pawn White can play the active. 21.Qe7.} 1. Qe7 {Black cannot trade Queens and allow the Rook on the 7th. Black must hold the c-pawn. So....} 1... Qc6 {Offering the a-pawn.} 2. Qxa7 Ra8 3. Qe7 {Looking good for White. If Rxa2 then Qd8+ mates.} 3... Re8 {OOPS. Black wins. I was a finding a few of these plausible lines in the game ready to trap the clumsy and the unwary.}

1. e4 e5 2. Nc3 Nf6 3. Nf3 Nc6 4. d4 exd4 5. Nxd4 Bb4 6. Nxc6 bxc6 7. Bd3
d5 8. e5 Ng4 9. Bf4 d4 {As I said. Two lads on RHP have resigned as White here. OK now put a cushion on your lap because your jaw is about drop 2 feet..} 10. Qf3 dxc3 11. O-O-O Rb8 12. Bc4 Qe7 13. h3 Ba3 14. Bb3 Bxb2+ 15. Kb1 Nxf2 16. Bg5 Rxb3 17. Bxe7 Rb7 18. Bb4 Bd7 19. e6 fxe6 20. Qh5+ g6 21. Qc5 Rxb4 22. Qxb4 Rg8 23. Qb8+ {23....Kf7 24.Rxd7+ Black resigned.}