Weak.ie An Irish beginner's chess blog

The last game of the season for the Bodley and the victim of an unfortunate timing mishap – our opponents, Blanchardstown chess club, had several games back to back in a short span of days and their organiser forgot our game on the original day, so this game was rescheduled for the following week after a few phone calls to sort things out. C’est la vie.

In the end it became the longest game of my Bodley season at an odd 65 moves but as the graph shows, it was also the biggest turnaround of the season for me (and it had the most interesting (read “utterly crazy and never should have worked”) hail mary play as well):

Here’s the game, with annotation:

[pgn eo=t autoplayMode=none pieceFont=alpha ss=64 ps=64 h=800 commentsDisplay=newline]
[Event “Bodley 2013”]
[Site “St.Benildus”]
[Date “2014.03.20”]
[Round “9”]
[White “Vinayak Unnithan”]
[Black “Mark Dennehy”]
[Result “0-1”]
[BlackElo “700”]
[ECO “B10o”]
[EventDate “2014.03.20”]
[Annotator “Stockfish 210214 64”]

1.e4
{+0.31

Okay, we’re playing a Caro-Kann then…}
1…c6
{+0.62}
2.Nf3
{+0.65}
2…d5
{+0.54

Ha! The apocolypse variation!}
3.d3
{+0.17

…or not…}
3…dxe4
{+0.09}
4.dxe4
{+0.08}
4…Qxd1+
{+0.08}
5.Kxd1
{+0.08

Hey, if you’re going to give me a queen exchange that loses you
castling rights, don’t expect I won’t take it…}
5…Bg4
{+0.16}
6.Be2
{-0.05}
6…Nf6
{-0.13}
7.e5
{-0.19}
7…Ne4
{+0.20

I’ll grant you, we’re out of the mainline Caro Kann by a few
kilometres at this stage, but that’s too nice a square to pass up for
the knight…}
8.Be3
{+0.39}
8…e6
{+0.27}
9.h3
{+0.13}
9…Bh5
{+0.13}
10.g4
{+0.02}
10…Bg6
{+0.01}
11.h4 D
{-0.56}
11…Nd7?? +/-
{+2.61 / -0.56}
11…h5 12.gxh5 Rxh5 13.Rg1 Bc5 14.Bd3 Bxe3 15.fxe3 Nf2+ 16.Ke2 Nxd3
17.cxd3 Nd7 18.d4
12.h5
{+2.66}
12…Bc5 D
{+2.64}
13.Nd4? += D
{+0.99 / +2.64}
13.Bxc5 Ndxc5 14.Ke1 Nxf2 15.Kxf2 Bxc2 16.Nbd2 Nd3+ 17.Ke3 Nb4 18.
Rac1 h6 19.Nc4 Rb8 20.Nd6+ Ke7 21.Bc4 Bh7 22.a3 Nd5+ 23.Bxd5 exd5 24.
Kd4 f6 25.Nf5+ Bxf5 26.gxf5 fxe5+ 27.Nxe5 +/-
13…Nxf2+?! +/-
{+2.41 / +0.99

This is messy play, but I’d rather lose the knight than the bishop…}
13…Nxe5 14.c3 O-O-O 15.hxg6 hxg6 16.Rxh8 Rxh8 17.Kc2 Rh1 18.b4 Bb6
19.Bf4 Bc7 20.Bxe5 Bxe5 21.Bf3 Re1 22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.Nf3 Bd6 24.Nbd2
Rxg4 25.Rh1 Rf4 26.Rh7 +=
14.Bxf2
{+2.26}
14…Be4
{+2.36}
15.Rf1
{+2.30}
15…O-O-O D
{+2.94

Haven’t castled long in a Caro Kann ever, but his queenside is so
broken up that it seemed to make sense.}
16.Nc3? +=
{+1.31 / +2.94}
16.Nd2 Bg2 17.Rg1 Nxe5 18.Nxe6 Bxf2 19.Rxg2 fxe6 20.Rxf2 g6 21.c3
Rhf8 22.Rxf8 Rxf8 23.Kc2 Rf2 24.Re1 Kc7 25.a3 gxh5 26.gxh5 Rg2 27.h6
Kd6 +/-
16…Nxe5
{+1.41}
17.Nxe4
{+1.50

After all that messy play earlier… but I couldn’t find a nicer way
out.}
17…Bxd4
{+1.50}
18.Kc1 D
{+1.53}
18…Rhf8?! +/-
{+2.80 / +1.53}
18…f5 19.c3 Bxf2 20.Nxf2 Rhf8 21.Kc2 g5 22.Rae1 h6 23.Bd3 Nxd3 24.
Nxd3 fxg4 25.Rxf8 Rxf8 26.Rxe6 g3 27.Rxh6 g2 +/-
19.Bxd4
{+2.82}
19…Rxd4 D
{+2.84}
20.Nc3? += D
{+0.64 / +2.84

Whoops, there goes his advantage.}
20.Ng5 Rd6 21.Nxh7 Rfd8 22.Ng5 Rd2 23.Re1 R2d4 24.b3 Rf4 25.Kb2 Rf2
26.a4 Kc7 27.Ne4 Rf4 28.Nc5 a5 29.Rf1 Rxf1 30.Rxf1 Rd2 31.Nd3 Rxe2 32.
Nxe5 Rxe5 33.Rxf7+ Kd6 34.Rxg7 +/-
20…Nc4?! +/-
{+1.96 / +0.64

Yeah, I could have swiped the g pawn, but I was going for blood at
this point.}
20…Nxg4 21.b3 Ne5 22.Kb2 Rh4 23.Rae1 Rh2 24.Rf4 Kb8 25.Rg1 Rg8 26.
Re4 f6 27.Bg4 Re8 28.Re2 Rxe2 29.Bxe2 g6 30.hxg6 hxg6 +=
21.Rd1 D
{+1.23}
21…e5? +-
{+3.27 / +1.23

Should have just doubled the rooks…}
21…Rfd8 22.Rg1 f6 23.b3 Ne5 24.g5 f5 25.Kb2 Rh4 26.Raf1 Rh3 27.Rh1
Rg3 28.h6 g6 29.Rhg1 Rxg1 30.Rxg1 Kc7 31.Rf1 Rd2 32.a3 Kd6 +=
22.Rxd4
{+3.29}
22…exd4
{+3.35}
23.Bxc4
{+3.35}
23…dxc3
{+3.32

Yeah, that just about blew that attack out of the water.}
24.bxc3
{+3.40}
24…g6
{+3.53}
25.hxg6
{+3.33}
25…fxg6
{+3.57}
26.Kb2
{+3.67}
26…Rf4
{+3.71}
27.Be6+
{+3.64}
27…Kc7 D
{+3.96}
28.Rd1?! +/-
{+2.70 / +3.96

Not sure why he’s going after the check here instead of the h-pawn.}
28.Rh1 Kd6 29.Bb3 Rxg4 30.Rxh7 b5 31.Rxa7 g5 32.Rg7 Ke5 33.c4 Rg2 34.
cxb5 cxb5 35.Rb7 g4 36.Rxb5+ Kf4 37.Rb4+ Kf5 38.Rb8 g3 39.Rg8 Kf4 40.
Kc3 Rf2 41.Bc4 Rh2 42.Bd5 +-
28…Re4 D
{+2.65}
29.Rd7+? += D
{+1.13 / +2.65}
29.Bg8 h5 30.gxh5 gxh5 31.Bh7 Rg4 32.Rd4 b5 33.Bf5 Rxd4 34.cxd4 Kd6
35.Kc3 c5 36.Kd3 a5 37.dxc5+ Kxc5 38.Ke4 h4 39.Kf4 Kb4 40.Kg5 Ka3 +/-
29…Kb6? +/-
{+2.77 / +1.13}
29…Kc8 30.Re7+ Kd8 31.Rxb7 Rxe6 32.Rxh7 Re7 33.Rh8+ Kc7 34.Rg8 Re6
35.Kb3 Kd6 36.a4 Kc5 37.g5 a6 38.Rg7 Kb6 39.Kb4 Re4+ 40.Ka3 Re6 41.Rg8
Kc5 42.Kb3 a5 43.Rg7 Kb6 44.Kc4 Re4+ 45.Kd3 +=
30.Bg8
{+3.00}
30…Rxg4
{+3.38}
31.Bxh7
{+3.69}
31…g5
{+4.12

Well, that’s the focus of the game suddenly shifted…}
32.Rg7
{+4.09}
32…Rg1
{+4.27}
33.Bf5
{+4.35}
33…a5
{+4.50}
34.Bc8
{+4.58}
34…c5 D
{+5.57}
35.Rxb7+?! +-
{+4.31 / +5.57

Awkward, but not yet fatal…}
35.Bxb7 Rg4 36.Bd5 c4 37.Bf3 Rf4 38.Rg6+ Kc7 39.Bd5 Rg4 40.a4 Kd8 41.
Rg7 Ke8 42.Ra7 Rf4 43.Rxa5 g4 44.Ra6 Kd7 45.Rg6 Ke7 46.Kc1 +-
35…Kc6
{+4.62}
36.Ra7
{+5.00}
36…g4
{+5.41}
37.Rxa5
{+6.51}
37…g3 D
{+6.99

Getting dangerous now, this pawn…}
38.Bg4?? += D
{+0.86 / +6.99}
38.Ra6+ Kc7 39.Bh3 Rh1 40.Bg2 Rh2 41.Bd5 Rh5 42.c4 Rg5 43.Rc6+ Kd7
44.Bg2 Rg4 45.Kc3 Rg5 46.a4 Re5 47.Rg6 Re3+ 48.Kb2 Kc7 49.Bd5 Kc8 50.
a5 Kb8 51.Rg7 Kc8 52.a6 +-
38…Kd6?? +- D
{+5.09 / +0.86}
38…g2 39.Bf3+ Kb6 40.Ra8 Rb1+ 41.Kxb1 g1=Q+ 42.Kb2 Qe3 43.Bd5 Qd2
44.Bc4 Kc7 45.Ra6 Kd7 46.a4 +=
39.a4?? += D
{+1.13 / +5.09}
39.Ra6+ Ke5 40.Rg6 Kf4 41.a4 Rh1 42.Be6 Rh7 43.Kb3 Rb7+ 44.Kc4 Ra7
45.Kxc5 Ra6 46.Kb5 Rd6 47.c4 g2 48.Rxg2 Rxe6 49.c5 Kf3 50.Rg7 +-
39…Rg2?? +-
{+6.13 / +1.13

Some sloppy play there from both sides.}
39…g2 40.Ra6+ Ke5 41.Bh3 Rb1+ 42.Kxb1 g1=Q+ 43.Kb2 Qh1 44.Bd7 Qb7+
45.Bb5 Qc7 46.Rc6 Qa7 47.Ka3 Kd5 48.Kb3 Ke5 49.Rc8 Qf7+ 50.Kb2 Qa7 51.
Rc6 Ke4 52.Re6+ Kf5 53.Ra6 Qb8 54.Kb3 Ke5 55.Rg6 Qa7 56.Rg5+ Ke4 57.
Bd3+ Kf4 58.Rf5+ Kg4 59.Rf6 Qb8+ 60.Kc4 Qa7 61.Rg6+ Kh5 +=
40.Ra6+
{+6.96}
40…Kc7
{+7.74}
41.a5
{+7.33}
41…Rxc2+
{+93.44

Sacrificing a rook for enough time to try to queen the g-pawn.
Stockfish does not agree with this at all, neither does common sense,
but according to the club analysis, it’s the most practical move given
that it’s the Bodley!}
42.Kxc2
{+93.46}
42…g2
{+93.46}
43.Ra7+
{+98.52}
43…Kb8 D
{+141.33}
44.Rg7?? =
{+0.00 / +141.33

Ouch! Massive blunder right there. I couldn’t believe it when I saw
the move on the board, I’d been close to resigning after the rook
sacrifice hadn’t worked.}
44.Ra8+ Kxa8 45.Bf3+ Kb8 46.Bxg2 c4 47.Bf1 Kb7 48.Bxc4 Kc6 49.a6 Kb6
50.Kd3 Ka5 51.a7 Kb6 52.a8=Q +-
44…g1=Q
{+0.00

It’s not game over yet at all, but we’re back in with a chance now…}
45.Rg8+
{+0.00}
45…Ka7
{+0.00}
46.Rg7+
{+0.00}
46…Kb8
{+0.00}
47.Rg8+
{+0.00

Hey, I’ll take a threefold repition here and not only will stockfish
agree with me, so will everyone else!}
47…Kc7
{+0.00}
48.Rg7+
{+0.00}
48…Kd8 D
{+0.00}
49.Rg8+? -/+
{-2.22 / +0.00

Ah, but there’s the chink in the armour!}
49.a6 Qg2+ 50.Kb3 Qd5+ 51.Ka3 Qc4 52.a7 Qxc3+ 53.Ka2 Qc2+ 54.Ka3 Qc3+
=
49…Ke7
{-2.50}
50.a6
{-2.15}
50…Qf2+ D
{-1.95

And she’s out of the trap and into play!}
51.Kb3?? -+
{-10.24 / -1.95

Ooops, wrong way to run, even though it’s the natural choice,
because…}
51.Kd3 Qf1+ 52.Ke3 Qxa6 53.Bf5 Qc4 54.Rg4 Qxc3+ 55.Bd3 Qe1+ 56.Kf3
Qd1+ 57.Be2 Qb3+ 58.Kf2 Qc2 59.Rc4 Qd2 60.Kf3 Kd6 61.Re4 Qc3+ 62.Kf2
Kd5 63.Bf3 Kd6 64.Be2 -/+
51…Qf7+
{-11.53

Bam. And now we’re pushing back hard.}
52.c4
{-77.07}
52…Qxg8
{-82.92}
53.a7
{-87.25}
53…Qa8
{-88.71}
54.Kc3
{-103.39}
54…Qxa7
{-89.09}
55.Kd3
{-138.74}
55…Kd6
{-93.23}
56.Ke4
{-138.74}
56…Qa2
{-138.74}
57.Kd3
{-327.24

And stockfish says it’s all over from here on. Practically it was over
as soon as the rook fell though.}
57…Qb3+
{-327.30}
58.Kd2
{-327.34}
58…Qxc4
{-327.28}
59.Be2
{-327.36}
59…Qd4+
{-327.38}
60.Bd3
{-327.44}
60…c4
{-327.45}
61.Ke1
{-327.45}
61…cxd3
{-327.46}
62.Kd1
{-327.48}
62…Ke5
{-327.46}
63.Kc1
{-327.47}
63…d2+
{-327.48}
64.Kd1
{-327.48}
64…Ke4
{-327.49}
65.Kc2
{-327.49

And that’s that. A fairly undeserved chance to win, but the taking of
that chance and the followup wasn’t very incompetent so I’m okay with
that… }
65…d1=Q# 0-1
[/pgn]

So a slightly odd opening (I was sure he’d been reading about the Apocalypse variation of the Caro Kann, which still looks like fun and which I’ve yet to see over the board, but no), then a quick early queen swap to keep his king from castling, a nice queenside attack that went horribly wrong in the middle of a longish swapping session, solid follow-on play from my opponent that deserved to win him the game, including handling a crazy-ass rook sacrifice play from me that had no right to be as successful as it ultimately was, a horrible blunder by him in the middle of that which threw the entire game away, a brief pause when by rights we should have agreed a draw, then a small weakness that I was able to poke at with a stick enough to break through and win the game on.

Like I said in the annotations, and as was extensively proven by Kevin and John in the skittles session afterwards when they showed that the one blunder my opponent made was the one move that didn’t checkmate me, I had no business getting the chance to come back; but I’m not hugely unhappy about the play after I got that chance. Not very happy about fumbling the initial attack, mind you…

The team report on the match is here on the Benildus website, with a nice bit on the rook sacrifice play that shows just how much of a hail mary play it really was.

This brings the Bodley to a close, and we took third place in the end, beaten by Gonzaga (who won as everyone and their aunt expected them to) and Drogheda (which was equally predictable). I was happy enough with my place in the points table for the group, joint 25th out of 80 with 3.5 out of 6 (and joint ninth of the people who played six games or fewer), even if I didn’t deserve quite a few of those points!