Dylan 1-0 FM

Dylan has sent in his recent win over an FM at Millfield, while Desmond has sent in a few photos from the weekend.

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Before looking at the game, it’s worth noting Fernandez had never previously lost a game at Millfield, and had gained an amazing 272 FIDE rating points in 28 games since July (!). The game itself isn’t perfect – the shortened time control wouldn’t have helped – but it does go to show even an on-form FM can go wrong if you find a couple of creative sacrifices, even if they aren’t entirely sound. And this counts double in time trouble.

Dylan Boland (1421) v Michael Fernandez FM (2301); Millfield 2014; 12 October 2014
1. c4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nf3 Nf6 4. Bf4?! dc 5. Qc2 Be6
An unusual start to the game! The gameknot.com world database has two games up to 5. Qc2. In both cases, black played 5. … b5, held on to the extra pawn and won. 5. … Be6 instead just looks strange, and it prompts Dylan to break a golden rule of the openings – don’t start an attack before all your pieces are out!

6. Ng5 Bd5 7. e4?? (D)
This almost wins material, but doesn’t – black has one reply to just win a pawn. As per usual, see if you can find out how before scrolling on.

7. … h6!
White now suffers for fair while, so we’ll fly through the next few moves.

8. PxB PxN 9. BxP cd 10. Nc3 Nc6 11. Rd1 e6 12. Be2 Qb6 13. Be3 Bd6 14. g3 0-0-0 15. 0-0 Rh3 16. f4 Rdh8 17. Rf2 g6 18. Na4 Qd8 19. Nc5!?
White still has nothing here, but no harm in trying to open up a couple of lines. Black can take the knight, but is better off consolidating his material advantage.

19. … b6 20. Qa4 Nb8?
It’s hard to know why black chose this instead of the far more logical 20. … Kc7 or 20. … Qc7, both of which keep the a-pawn. Black still has an advantage here, but white has the initiative for now, and more targets than before.

21. Qxa7 PxN 22. dc Bc7 23. BxP!? Ng4
Fritz is in two minds about this move – it initially reckons it’s a blunder, but grows to it a bit given time. On the plus side, it wins a pawn. On the down side, it allows Ng4, hitting h2, f2 and e3 at the same time.

24. c6! (D)
Black is still better, but this is the only way to continue the attack. How should black respond? Again, have a look over the position before scrolling on!

24. … Nc6??
Logical – and losing! Fritz says black had to play 24. … Qd6, allowing the king to run to safety. Now he’s in big trouble.

25. Qa6+!
The only way for white to keep the attack going again.

25. … Kd7 (D)
Again, white has a position with only one move to keep the attack going. Try spot it before scrolling on.

26. BxP!
Ignoring the hanging bishop and rook, and keeping the pressure on black, who must now be reeling from all the sacs! Of course, none of the hanging pieces can be taken or black loses a queen, but white has to be careful still.

26. … Ke7 27. Bc5+ Kf6 28. QxN NxR 29. Bd4+ Ke7 30. Bc5+ Kf6 31. BxN R8h5 32. Bd4+ Ke7 33. Qc5??
Oops! This actually lets black right back into it. Fritz gives 33. Bg2, winning an exchange – black doesn’t have time for 33. … Rxh2 due to the reply 34. Bc5+, winning black’s queen.

33. … Bd6?
33. … Qd6 was better, swapping queens and hoping to hold the endgame.

34. Qa7+ Qd7??
Black can hang on with 34. … Qc7, when the bishop protects the queen. Instead…

35. Bf6+ KxB 36. QxQ 1-0

Meanwhile, Desmond has sent in a few photos from Millfield 2014 –

Up Glastonbury Tor

Totting up scores between rounds

Not altogether sure what’s happening here tbh! I’ll assume it’s Glastonbury Abbey

The GM simul. Everyone’s tilted except Desmond for some reason

The Millfield 2014 coaching and supervision panel

GM Matthew Turner presents Ross Beatty with the prize for victory in the simul. Note – in this photo, Ross isn’t small, he’s far away.