[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.11"] [Round "1"] [White "Cook, Patrick"] [Black "Sullivan, Paul"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1537"] [BlackElo "750"] [ECO "A01"] [Opening "Nimzowitsch-Larsen: 1...e5 2.Bb2"] 1.b3 {A new player. He told me he was a bit rusty...Let's see if he knows the Larsen! (P.C.)} e5 2.Bb2 Nf6? 3.Bxe5 Ng4 4.Bb2 Nxf2? 5.Kxf2 Bc5+ 6.e3 O-O 7.Qg4 Re8?? 8.Qxg7# {Definitely rusty...!! (P.C.)} 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.11"] [Round "1"] [White "Douglas, Kalen"] [Black "Loveband, Rob"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "813"] [BlackElo "1611"] [ECO "A45"] [Opening "Indian: 2.Bf4"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 g6 3.Nc3 Bg7 4.e4 d6 5.Qd2 O-O 6.O-O-O c6 7.h4 b5 8.a3 a5 9.Bh6 b4 10.Bxg7 bxc3 11.Qxc3 Kxg7 12.d5 Kg8 13.f3 cxd5 14.exd5 Bb7 15.Bc4 Nbd7 16.g4 Rc8 17.Qb3 Qc7 18.Rd4 Nb6 19.g5 Nh5 20.Bd3 Qc5 21.c3 Qxd4 {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Ballarat Chess Club"] [Date "2021.02.11"] [Round "1"] [White "Oppenheim,Tom"] [Black "Stewart, Scott"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1076"] [BlackElo "1707"] [ECO "B54"] [Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...d6, 4...a6"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 a6 5.Nc3 Nf6 6.h3 e6 {Already I am out of book, not familiar with h3 I went for a more flexible mini-centre, wait and see how things develop.} 7.Bd3 Be7 8.O-O Qc7 9.Be3 b5 {Placing a claim on c4 and opening the long diagonal for deployment of the Light Squared Bishop.} 10.a3 {I think a4 would be better than a3. directly contesting Black's control of c4. the passive a3 holding off the move .10...b4. is not really doing much, Black is not threatening to win the e4 pawn by chasing away the c3 knight. Black is happy to keep the pawn on b5 holding the key c4 square .} Bb7 11.f4 Nbd7 12.f5 e5 13.Nf3 Nb6 {I thought I was ready to play d5, probably I should castle sooner rather than later as well.} 14.Qd2 {White really needs to get their king off the g1 a7 diagonal,. Possibly consider KS pawn expansion and deployment of his pieces to the King Side. Kh1, Ke1} d5 15.Bg5 {Stockfish says this was a blunder though I missed it in the game.} Rd8 (15...Bc5+ 16.Kh2 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Nh4 f6 19.Be3 Nc4 {winning a piece, but easy to miss :)}) 16.Bxf6 Bxf6 17.Qe2 Nc4 {Better was O-O here, with correct play White can return the game to equality} 18.Nxd5 (18.Bxc4 dxc4 (18...Qc5+ 19.Kh2 dxc4 {and Black is only slightly better})) 18...Bxd5 19.exd5 Nxb2 20.Be4 Nc4 21.Rfd1 O-O 22.Rd3 {White is still best served getting his King off the g1 a7 diagonal, thought his position is much worse now. Black's pieces are better placed and his pawns have no weaknesses.} Rfe8 23.Ra2 Nb6 24.Nd2 Nxd5 25.Qf3 Nf4 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Nf1 Qc4 {The rook is gone, undefended pieces have a tendency to drop off the boardand combined with the check available on the a7 g1 diagonal there is no saving the rook} 28.Ne3 Qxa2 29.Ng4 Qa1+ 30.Kh2 Rd1 31.g3 Rd2+ {All in all not a bad game at all from my lower rated opponent.} {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [Round "2"] [White "Goodison, Leonard"] [Black "Cook, Patrick"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1107"] [BlackElo "1537"] [ECO "C02"] [Opening "French: Advance, 5.Nf3 Qb6"] 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.Be2 Nh6 7.O-O cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Nc3 Nfxd4 10.Nxd4 Qxd4 11.Qxd4 Nxd4 12.Be3 Nxe2+ 13.Nxe2 Bd7 14.Rac1 Bb5 15.Rfe1 Bb4 16.Nc3 Bc6 17.a3 Bxc3 18.Rxc3 O-O 19.Bc5 Rfc8 20.Bd6 Bd7 21.Rb3 b6 22.h3 Rc2 23.Ree3 Rac8 24.Bb4 Ba4 25.Rbc3 R2xc3 26.Rxc3 Rxc3 27.Bxc3 Kf8 28.Kf1 Ke7 29.Ke2 Kd7 30.Ke3 Kc6 31.Kd4 Bc2 32.Bb4 g6 {#d} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Ballarat Chess Club"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [Round "2"] [White "Dao, Paul "] [Black "Harrison, Harrison"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "537"] [BlackElo "1677"] [ECO "B12"] [Opening "Caro-Kann: 2.d4"] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 h6 3.Nc3 b6 4.Bd3 a6 5.a4 Bb7 6.Be3 d6 7.Nf3 Nd7 8.e5 c5 9.e6 Ndf6 10.exf7+ Kxf7 11.dxc5 bxc5 12.Nh4 g5 13.Ng6 Kg7 14.Nxh8 Kxh8 15.Rg1 Qb6 16.Rb1 Qc7 17.g3 d5 18.Bd2 e5 19.f4 e4 20.fxg5 hxg5 21.Bxg5 exd3 22.Qxd3 Qe5+ 23.Be3 d4 24.Nd1 dxe3 25.Qxe3 Qxe3+ 26.Nxe3 Re8 27.Kf2 c4 28.h3 Bc5 {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "?"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [Round "2"] [White "Loveband, Rob"] [Black "Lyons, Nick"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1611"] [BlackElo "1100"] [ECO "D06"] [Opening "QGD: Marshall Defence, 3.cxd5 Nxd5"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.cxd5 Nxd5 4.e4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Bg4 6.f3 Bh5 7.Be3 e5 8.Qa4+ c6 9.dxe5 b5 10.Qb3 Nfd7 11.Rd1 Qe7 12.Nge2 Nxe5 13.Ng3 g6 14.a4 a6 15.Be2 Bg7 16.O-O O-O 17.axb5 axb5 18.Rd2 Nbd7 19.Rfd1 Nc5 20.Qc2 Ne6 21.b3 Rfd8 22.Rxd8+ Rxd8 23.Nb1 Rxd1+ 24.Qxd1 Bf6 25.Nxh5 gxh5 26.f4 Ng6 27.f5 Nef4 28.fxg6 Nxe2+ 29.Qxe2 hxg6 30.Nd2 Bc3 31.Qd3 Bxd2 32.Bxd2 Qc5+ 33.Be3 Qb4 34.Kf2 Qe7 35.g3 Qf6+ 36.Ke2 Qb2+ 37.Bd2 Qf6 38.Bc3 Qg5 39.Qd4 f6 40.Qd8+ Kf7 41.Qd7+ Kg8 42.Qe8+ Kh7 43.Qf7+ Kh6 44.Bd2 {#r} 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [Round "2"] [White "Brotheridge, Jamie"] [Black "Douglas, Kalen"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1518"] [BlackElo "813"] [ECO "D02"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: 2.Nf3 e6"] 1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 Nc6 5.c3 Qb6 6.Qb3 cxd4 7.exd4 Nge7 8.Nbd2 Ng6 9.Qxb6 axb6 10.Bc7 Be7 11.Bxb6 O-O 12.Nb3 e5 13.dxe5 Ncxe5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.a3 {rush move} Nc4 16.Bxc4 dxc4 17.Nd2 Be6 18.O-O Ra6 19.Bd4 Bd5 20.Rfe1 Rg6 21.Rxe7 Bxg2 22.Re3 Bd5+ 23.Rg3 Rxg3+ 24.fxg3 Re8 25.Kf2 f6 26.Nf1 b5 27.Ne3 Bc6 28.Ke2 Kf7 29.Rf1 Re6 30.Kd2 Kg6 31.Nf5 Bd5 32.Ne3 Kg5 33.Rf2 Rd6 34.a4 Bc6 35.axb5 Bxb5 36.Rf5+ Kg6 37.Rxb5 {#r} 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [Round "2"] [White "Perrin, Kevin "] [Black "Coffey, Ruari"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1531"] [BlackElo "1701"] [ECO "E20"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian Defence"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3 Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 c5 {I was hoping to completely ruin white's pawn structure and then play against tripled, isolated pawns but am also fine with a pawn near the centre. (R.C)} 6.e3 O-O 7.Bd3 Nc6 8.Nf3 d5 9.cxd5 exd5 10.O-O {Interestingly enough, this is a mistake and allows black to take initiative on the position. White had to do something about the centre of the board first. (R.C)} c4 11.Be2 Ne4 12.Bb2 Na5 13.a4 Nb3 14.Ra2 Bf5 {Trying to discourage Qc2 as an idea and then using the bishop to destroy blacks' hold in white's camp. (R.C)} 15.Ne5 Qa5 16.Qe1 Rfc8 {I knew that Ba3 was going to be played at some point but wasn't sure if I could entice giving the exchange or if white will plant the bishop on b4. I also had the idea of playing b5 at some point to open some more lines. (R.C)} 17.f3 Ned2 18.Rf2 f6 19.e4 fxe5 20.exf5 exd4 21.cxd4 c3 {I had already decided on this move whilst walking about and completely forgot that the queen is undefended. Nxf3+ wins the queen. (R.C)} 22.Bc1 Qb4 {Perhaps Rd8 was more accurate but I was trying to focus on my passed pawn and attempting to reduce the rooks presence on f2 with a pin} 23.Bb5 Qxd4 24.Ba3 {Suddenly, white's bishops are alive and looking scary, pointing towards the black king. All for the price of a pawn as well. (R.C)} Qf6 25.Bd7 Rc5 {I figured the knights and pawns were fair enough for the exchange down but something had to be done about the bishops. (R.C)} 26.Be6+ Kh8 27.Bxc5 Nxc5 28.Rfxd2 cxd2 29.Rxd2 {The material is know even with white's position looking nicer than during the opening. The rest of the game is a matter of endgame technique. (R.C)} d4 30.a5 Re8 31.Qf2 Nxe6 32.fxe6 Qxe6 33.h3 {Creates a bit more breathing room for the king but perhaps gives black just that extra move. (R.C)} Qa6 34.Qxd4 Qxa5 35.Qd7 {White offered a draw. I figured though, if any side was to push for a win, it was black. (R.C)} Rg8 36.Rc2 Qd8 {If the queens are traded, black will definitely win. There is also the tactic of Qd1+ with an attack on the rook as well so the queen has very few safe squares that do the job. (R.C)} 37.Qa4 b5 38.Qb3 Qb6+ 39.Kh2 a5 40.Re2 Qc7+ 41.Kh1 Qc4 42.Qb2 b4 43.Re4 Qd5 44.Re5 Qd1+ 45.Kh2 Qd6 46.f4 a4 47.Re4 Rb8 48.Qe2 Qf8 {Blacks pieces are more passive but those pawns are almost rolling down the board. (R.C)} 49.f5 b3 50.f6 gxf6 {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.25"] [Round "3"] [White "Cook, Patrick"] [Black "Perrin, Kevin"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1537"] [BlackElo "1531"] [ECO "E32"] [Opening "Nimzo-Indian: Classical, 4...O-O"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.Qc2 O-O 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.Qxc3 d5 7.Nf3 dxc4 8.Qxc4 b6 9.Bg5 Ba6 10.Qc2 h6 11.Bxf6 Qxf6 12.g3 Rd8 13.Bg2 Bb7?! 14.Qxc7 Rd7 15.Qe5 Qg6 16.Nh4 Qc2 17.Bxb7 Qxb2? {this loses a piece...(P.C.)} 18.O-O Rxb7 19.Qe4 Nc6 20.Qxc6 Rab8 21.e3 b5 22.Rfc1 Qe2 23.Qc2 Qh5 24.Qe4 Qe2 25.Rc2 Qh5 26.Rc5 Qe2 27.Rac1 Kf8 28.Rc8+ Ke7 29.Rxb8 Rxb8 30.Qc2 {finally!...White is able to force an exchange of Queens (P.C.)} Qxc2 31.Rxc2 Rb7 32.Nf3 a5 33.Ne5 Kd6 34.Rc5 f6 35.Nd3 b4 36.Rxa5 b3 37.Nb2 Rc7 38.Rb5 Rc3 39.a4 Kc6 40.Rb4 Kd5 41.Kg2 e5 42.a5 exd4 43.exd4 Rc6 44.Rxb3 Ra6 45.Ra3 Kxd4 46.Kf3 g5 {Black offered a draw...!(P.C.)} 47.Kg4 Ke5 48.Nd3+ Kd4 49.Nb4 Ra8 50.a6 Kc4 51.Nc6 Kc5 52.Ne7 Kb4 53.Ra1 Kc5 54.a7 Kb6 55.Kf5 Kc7 56.Kxf6 Kd7 57.Nf5 Ke8 58.Nxh6 Kf8 59.Kxg5 Kg7 60.f4 Kh7 61.f5 Kh8 62.f6 Kh7 {62...Rxa7 might have been played here, since 63.Rxa7...would be stalemate!, but 63.f7!... would be a nice follow-up.(P.C.)} 63.Ra6 Kh8 64.Kf5 Kh7 65.Ng4 Kg8 66.Ne5 Kh8 67.f7 Kg7 68.Ke6 Kf8 69.Nd7+ Kg7 70.Ke7 Kh7 71.Nf6+ Kh8 72.Ne8 Kh7 73.f8=Q Rxe8+ 74.Qxe8 {Not 74.Kxe8...stalemate! (P.C.)} {#r} 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.18"] [Round "2"] [White "Stewart, Scott"] [Black "Feinberg, Julian"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1707"] [BlackElo "1500"] [ECO "B21"] [Opening "Sicilian: Smith-Morra, 3.c3"] 1.e4 c5 2.d4 cxd4 3.c3 d6 {Morra declined, but instead of proving the gambit the tables are turned and Black has to prove it's justified handing over the centre.} 4.cxd4 a6 5.Nf3 e6 6.Nc3 Nc6 7.Be2 Nf6 8.Bg5 Be7 9.O-O O-O 10.a4 Bd7 11.Qd2 Rc8 12.Rfd1 Na5 {Wanting to fork on b3} 13.Rab1 (13.Ra2 {I think this would be an improvement}) 13...Nc4 14.Qd3 h6 15.Bc1 d5 16.b3 {When I played b3 I thought d6 was not available, but on a deeper inspection Black could have seized a slight edge here} Nb6 (16...Nd6 17.e5 Nfe4 18.exd6 Rxc3 19.dxe7 Qxe7 {Whites Queen is trapped}) 17.e5 Nh7 18.a5 Na8 19.b4 {I wasn't overjoyed with the position, I want to get a knight to c5 but it is looking very difficult. a4 is not available and b3 block's the defence of b4. My problem was solved with Black's next move however} Rc4 20.Ba3 Ng5 21.Nd2 Rc8 22.Nb3 Nc7 23.Nc5 Bxc5 24.bxc5 {White has gained a target in the weaknes of b7 on b7} Nb5 25.Bb4 Re8 26.h4 Nh7 {I thought Ne4 was a better. Black's pieces are coming to life and whites d4 pawn is exposed and becomes a target} (26...Ne4 27.Nxe4 dxe4 28.Qxe4 Bc6 29.Qf4) 27.g3 Nxc3 28.Qxc3 Nf8 29.Ba3 Bc6 30.Bc1 Nd7 31.Bf4 f6 32.exf6 Nxf6 33.f3 Rf8 34.Bd3 Ne8 35.Re1 {This was a blunder, I squandered most of my advantage. As soon as I moved the rook my heart sank. I saw it instantly and I had to sit there for several minutes poker face on.} Qf6?? (35...Rxf4 {lovely timely exchange sac missed...ouch} 36.gxf4 Qxh4 37.Rb3 {Now white has to deal with an exposed king and can boast only a slight edge.}) 36.Re3 Rd8 37.Rbe1 Bd7 {Black is running out of moves} 38.Qb4 Bc8 39.Be5 Qe7 40.Qb1 Kh8 {Just shuffling left now for Black as White slowly but surely tightens his grip on the position} 41.Bg6 Rg8 42.Rb3 {Clearing the c1 h6 diagonal for the use of my Queen} Qf8 43.Qc1 Qe7 {oops, now was not a time for shuffling but the best move Nf6 only fights on for a while longer.} (43...Nf6 44.g4 Qe7 45.g5 Nh7 46.gxh6 {and the end was nigh}) 44.Qxh6# 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.02.25"] [Round "3"] [White "Harrison, Harrison"] [Black "Stewart, Scott"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1643"] [BlackElo "1707"] [ECO "A04"] [Opening "Reti: 1...c5"] 1.Nf3 c5 {I thought I would at least invite a Sicilian} 2.a4 {Out of book, but really what is the book other than the application of opening principals. We shouldn't be alarmed when faced with unprincipled play} Nc6 3.Ra3 e5 {d5 is better than this as e5 allows e4 and cedes the d5 square, but that's not how play continues} 4.Nxe5 {Not the best continuation for white but definately the move that makes Ra3 look like it has purpose} Nxe5 5.Re3 Qc7 6.f4 f6 {Objectively d6 is a bit better than this, White is actually better here for a while and I felt under a lot of pressure but I appreciate the open f file later in the game} 7.fxe5 fxe5 8.d4 d6 9.dxe5 dxe5 10.Qd5 {Black is struggling to consolidate, I only have only moves at the moment.} Bd6 {else I lose a pawn} 11.Rd3 Be7 {else I lost the Boshop} 12.Nc3 Nf6 {with tempi which helps} 13.Qc4 Bd7 {I liked Bd7 as it gave some uncertainty to the position, will my King duck to the Queenside? I didn't know I was keeping my options open as I have yet to secure a Kingside exit.} 14.Nb5 {I don't like this move for white at all. the knight has no future here and Whites Kingside development needs attention.} Qc6 {and the knight is doing nothing} 15.Bg5 {Again another tempi spent on not much ignoring the White Kingside development} a6 16.Nc3 Be6 {The queen has only 1 square and is doing very little on h5} 17.Qh4 h6 {I missed c4 here according to stcokfish, I believe h6 was not a necessary move and just wastes time and weakens the Kingside} (17...c4 {Getting busy straight away is the stronger continuation}) 18.Bxf6 Bxf6 19.Qh5+ (19.Qe4 {is an improvement and what I was expecting in the game but Black is still better in both lines}) 19...Bf7 {Now Black's position is beautiful, I am ready to embark on my middle-game with my opponents King in the centre with no prospects to remedy this situation} 20.Qg4 c4 {Putting the question to the rook, given the sitiation of the white king a brave man might play Rf3 the best move but if I was white I probably wouldn't vacate the d file here} 21.Rd1 O-O 22.e4 Be6 23.Qe2 Rad8 {At first site Rd8 seemed natural, but I after the expected Nd5 I was a little spooked by the counter-play White got on the g8 a2 diagonal. I wasn't convinced White couldn't find time to develop his Kingside pieces after all so I swallowed humble pie after Nd5} 24.Nd5 Rc8 (24...Bxd5 25.exd5 Rxd5 (25...Qb6 {I was fine after Qb6 whites pieces are painful to look at}) 26.Qxc4 {But I saw I couldn't win this darned pawn and changed plans} Qxc4 (26...Kh8) 27.Bxc4 {This pin is a killer}) 25.Qd2 (25.c3 {is better}) 25...Bd8 {Still a bit rattled I decided to preserve the Dark Square Bishop on the g1 a7 diagonal, Stockfish thinks Kh8 was stronger getting off the g8 a2 diagonal} 26.Qc3 {A huge mistake but one Harrison has made many times this game, He had time to develop his Kingside again and didn't, he is stoill worse but not dead lost. The rest of the game we bare witness to the total collapse of Whites position} (26.Be2) 26...Bxd5 27.Rxd5 Qxa4 28.b3 cxb3 29.Qxb3 Qxe4+ 30.Kd1 Kh8 {Finally my King is on h8 :) and not a moment too soon} 31.Bd3 Qxg2 32.Re1 Bg5 {I am fully apreciating my Dark Square Bishop now} 33.Be2 Rfd8 34.c4 Rxd5+ (34...Qxd5+ {pity I never saw this, it's just prettier} 35.Kc2 Qd2+ 36.Kb1 Qxe1+ 37.Ka2 Qxe2+) 35.Kc2 (35.cxd5 Rc1# {But this is pretty too}) 35...Rd2+ {Was a nice game, he plays stupid chess l have nothing against the man but if he played by book he would play better and he would be come a strong good who is he trying to play like tal lmao} {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Loveband, Rob"] [Black "Cook, Patrick"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1611"] [BlackElo "1537"] [ECO "A45"] [Opening "Indian: 2.Bf4"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Bf4 d6 3.Nf3 g6 4.Nc3 Bg7 5.e4 O-O 6.Be2 Nbd7 7.Qd2 c5 8.d5 a6 9.Bh6 b5 10.Bxg7 Kxg7 11.Qe3 Ng4 12.Qc1 b4 13.Nd1 Nde5 14.Nxe5 Nxe5 15.f4 Ng4 16.h3 Nf6 17.Nf2 e6 18.dxe6 fxe6 19.O-O Bb7 {#d} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Brotheridge, Jamie"] [Black "Harrison, Harrison"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1518"] [BlackElo "1677"] [ECO "A40"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn: 1...c6"] 1.d4 c6 2.e4 a6 3.Nf3 f6 4.Bd3 Ra7 5.Be3 g6 6.c4 b6 7.a4 Bg7 8.Nc3 Nh6 9.h3 Nf7 10.Ra3 O-O 11.O-O d6 12.Nh2 e5 13.d5 cxd5 14.Nxd5 Nd7 15.a5 Rb7 16.axb6 Nxb6 17.Nxb6 Rxb6 18.Bxb6 Qxb6 19.Qb3 Qa7 20.Rfa1 Kh8 21.Nf1 Ng5 22.Ne3 Bh6 23.Ng4 Bg7 24.Qb4 f5 25.exf5 gxf5 26.Ne3 e4 27.Bc2 Be5 28.Rd1 Rg8 29.Rxd6?! {kf1 is better l rushed this move jb} Nxh3+ 30.Kf1 Qe7 31.c5 {frizt16 like this move jb} f4 32.Qxe4 Ng5 33.Nd5 {should have took the draw l played fast and forgot the knight was on g5} (33.Nf5 Qxd6 34.Nxd6 Nxe4 35.Bxe4 Bxd6 36.cxd6) 33...Qg7 34.Qe2 {qd3 is better jb} Nf7 35.Rb6? {l rushed again cant help myself thats why l lose} Qxg2+ 36.Ke1 Qh1+ 37.Kd2 Qxd5+ 38.Qd3 Rd8 39.Qxd5 Rxd5+ 40.Rd3 Rxc5 41.Bb3 Kg7 {cant understand why we lose to hurrison he would be a much better player if he played by book jb} {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.11"] [Round "5"] [White "Cook, Patrick"] [Black "Dao, Paul"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1537"] [BlackElo "1450"] [ECO "A01"] [Opening "Nimzowitsch-Larsen: 1...d5 2.Bb2"] 1.b3 d5 2.Bb2 Nc6 3.e3 Bd7 4.Nf3 e6 5.a3 Nh6 6.Be2 Rg8 7.h3 f5 8.d3 Be7 9.Nbd2 Nf7 10.c4 Bf6 11.d4 Ne7 12.cxd5 Nxd5 13.Rc1 c6 14.O-O g5 15.Nh2 Qb8 16.Qc2 Rh8 17.Bd3 h5 18.e4 Ne7 19.e5 {White offered a draw...(P.C.)} Bg7 20.g3 Nd5 21.Rfe1 Ne7 22.b4 Rg8 23.Nb3 b6 24.Qe2 g4 25.h4 Bh6 26.Rcd1 f4 27.Qc2 Nd5 28.Bc1 fxg3 29.fxg3 Bxc1 30.Rxc1 {Black offered a draw...(P.C.)} Ne7 {I insisted he make a move first...(P.C.)} {#d} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Spielvogel, 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.11"] [Round "5"] [White "van Riel, Bas"] [Black "Coffey, Ruari"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1644"] [BlackElo "1701"] [ECO "A05"] [Opening "Reti: KIA"] 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Bg2 O-O 5.O-O c6 6.d4 d5 7.cxd5 cxd5 8.Nc3 Nc6 9.e3 Bf5 10.a3 Ne4 11.Nh4 Nxc3 12.bxc3 Bc8 13.Qb3 e6 {(BvR) The intention of 13.Qb3 was to restrict black's white-bishop and making it weak. This became the theme of the game until the end. However, in the short term, it allows black to post a powerful knight on c4. When I played Qb3, I had spent about 10 minutes to work out the pros and cons, and convincing myself that it was worthwhile trying...} 14.Re1 Na5 15.Qc2 Bd7 16.a4 Bc6 17.Nf3 Nc4 18.Nd2 Rc8 19.Nxc4 dxc4 20.e4 f5 21.f3 {(BvR) 21.d5 is tempting, exd5; 22.exd5, Bxd5?; 23.Rd1 is winning for white. I could not work out the complications of my disconnected passed d-pawn after 22...Be8} Rf7 22.Be3 b5 23.axb5 Bxb5 24.Red1 Rd7 25.d5 exd5 26.exf5 gxf5 27.Bxa7 {(BvR) Bh3 instead} Ra8 28.Bf2 f4 29.Rxa8 Qxa8 30.Bd4 fxg3 31.hxg3 Bxd4+ 32.Rxd4 Qa1+ 33.Kh2 Qa6 34.Qf5 Qd6 35.Bh3 Kh8 36.Qg5 Qe7 37.Qd2! Rd6 38.Rxd5 Rxd5 39.Qxd5 Qe2+ 40.Bg2 Qe8 41.f4 Kg7 42.Qg5+ Kh8 43.Qf6+ Kg8 44.Bd5+ {#r} 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.04"] [Round "4"] [White "Stewart, Scott"] [Black "Coffey, Ruari"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1707"] [BlackElo "1701"] [ECO "C42"] [Opening "Russian Game: Classical"] 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nf6 {In previous games, Scott had outplayed me in my current opening repertoire so an addition needed to be added. The Petroff seemed like a good place to start OTB. (R.C)} 3.Nxe5 d6 4.Nf3 Nxe4 5.d4 {More common is d3 to kick the knight before d4 but white chooses a slightly more tricky line. (R.C)} d5 6.Bd3 Bg4 7.h3 Bh5 8.g4 Bg6 9.Ne5 Qf6 10.Qe2 Qe6 {This manoeuvre was played to allow the development of the dark squared bishop but there is potential for the discovered attacks after moves like f3 after Nxg6. Luckily, this was solved for me later (R.C)} 11.Bf4 Nd6 12.Nc3 Bxd3 13.Nxd3 Qxe2+ 14.Kxe2 {white's king is now in the centre and will be the focus of blacks attack. The king could walk to g2 later after Re1 or via f3. (R.C)} Nc6 15.Be3 {keeping solid before trying any tricks. white hopes to cover their weaknesses and then target blacks. (R.C)} O-O-O 16.Nxd5 Nb5 17.c4 Nbxd4+ 18.Bxd4 Nxd4+ 19.Kd2 c6 20.Ne3 Ne6 {Trying to find better squares for the knight and open the rooks sight. maybe g6 was also playable just to help develop the bishop/ (R.C)} 21.Ke2 Bd6 22.Rad1 g6 23.Kf3 h5 24.Kg2 Bf4 {Misses a better idea, in my opinion. Bc7 threatening Rxd4 followed by Nf4+, provides more problems for white and with the kingside opening soon, the king will definitely feel a draught. (R.C)} 25.Nxf4 Nxf4+ 26.Kf3 Ne6 27.Rxd8+ Kxd8 28.Rd1+ Ke7 {with fewer pieces of the board, the king becomes more active. With just a rook and knight on each side. the kings aren't in so much danger anymore so need to be used. (R.C)} 29.Kg3 hxg4 30.Nxg4 Rh5 {keeping the rook and trying to switch it to attack the queenside pawns. (R.C)} 31.f4 Ra5 32.Ne5 {white is going for the black king by infiltrating on the 7th. (R.C)} Nf8 33.a3 f6 34.Nd3 Nd7 35.c5 {Enticing what looks to be a free pawn but b4 will provide the counterplay. Oh well (R.C)} Ra4 36.Rc1 Rd4 37.Rc3 Ke6 38.b4 Kf5 39.Nb2 Rxf4 40.Nc4 Ne5 {The idea is to sac the b-pawn and prevent a perpetual check on f7-d6. (R.C)} 41.Nd6+ Kg5 42.Nxb7 Rd4 43.Nd6 f5 44.b5! {I thought this unplayable but the more I looked the more I realised by pieces, though close, were too slow. Thus the c-pawn became an annoyance to deal with. (R.C)} f4+ 45.Kf2 Kf6 46.bxc6 Nxc6 47.Kf3 {White offered a draw. I felt that with the placement of my pieces I can enter a winning pawn endgame with some minor pieces/rooks. (R.C)} Ke5 48.Nf7+ Kd5 49.Ng5 Ne5+ 50.Ke2 Kc6 {A switcheroo of pieces to stop the pawn seemed needed. Once the c-pawn is gone, the game looked like it would be easier to manage. (R.C)} 51.Ne6 Re4+ 52.Kf2 Nf7 {Discovered attack on the knight but only to a few squares seemed like it works. (R.C)} 53.Nf8 g5 54.Kf3 Re8 {Hoping to trap the knight. (R.C)} 55.Ng6 Ne5+ {Trading white's trickiest piece and going into a rook+pawn endgame} 56.Nxe5+ Rxe5 57.h4 {breaking black's pawn structure and is probably white's best try. (R.C)} gxh4 58.Kxf4 Rxc5 59.Rh3 Rc4+ 60.Ke5 Kc5 61.Rb3 a5 62.Rb8 Rg4 63.Rh8 Kb5 64.Kd5 Ka4 65.Ra8 Rg5+ 66.Kc4 Rh5 {And black's position is winning. Both pawns are protected and black's king is free to roam about for the moment. (R.C)} 67.Rd8 h3 68.Rd1 h2 69.Rh1 Rh4+ {Unnecessary. Rh3 and white has not too many moves. (R.C)} 70.Kc3 {For a very brief moment, I was going to take the pawn but then realised that would be mate so... (R.C)} Rh3+ 71.Kb2 Rb3+ 72.Kc1 {I missed this. (R.C)} Rh3 73.Kb2 Kb5 74.Kb1 Kc4 75.Kb2 Kd3 {My plan is to just march my king over to g2 and force the rook away. a4 was probably a move beforehand but oh well. (R.C)} 76.Kb3 Ke2+ 77.Kc4 Kf2 78.a4 Kg2 {and the rook is forced away. White is one tempo too slow and will not be able to take the black a-pawn in time. Overall, a fun game. (R.C)} {#R} 0-1

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.18"] [Round "6"] [White "Cook, Patrick"] [Black "Harrison,Harrison"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1537"] [BlackElo "1643"] [ECO "A40"] [Opening "Queen's Pawn Game"] 1.d4 h5 {Harrison is a strong player, but he handicaps himself in the opening with his faith-based moves. I haven't seen this one before. (P.C.)} 2.c4 g6 3.Nf3 h4 4.h3 e6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Qd2 Bxg5 7.Qxg5 Qxg5 8.Nxg5 b6 9.Nc3 a6 10.Nf3 Bb7 11.e4 d6 12.Bd3 Nf6 13.O-O-O Nbd7 14.Ng5 c6 15.Rhe1 b5 16.d5 {Here, Harrison pondered his response for over half an hour...!(P.C.)} bxc4 17.dxe6 cxd3 18.exd7+ Nxd7 {Black offered a draw...(P.C.)} 19.Rxd3 {The "drawmeister" declined! An ominous sign for Harrison. (P.C.)} f6 20.Nf3 Ne5 21.Nxe5 dxe5 22.Red1 Rh7 23.Na4 c5 24.Nxc5 Rc8 25.Rc3 {25.b4...is met by 25...Bxe4! (P.C.)} Ba8 26.f3 Rhc7 27.b4 Kf7 28.Kb2 Kg8 29.Rcd3 Kh7 30.Rd7+ Kh6 31.Rxc7 Rxc7 32.Nxa6 Ra7 33.Rd6 Kg5 34.b5 Rf7 35.Nc5 Kf4 36.a4 Kg3 37.Rd2 f5 38.b6 Bc6 39.Rd6 Kxg2 {Black offered another draw...!(P.C.)} 40.Rxg6+ Kxf3 41.Rxc6 fxe4 42.b7 Rxb7+ 43.Nxb7 e3 44.a5 e2 45.Rc1 Kf2 46.Nc5! {now if 46...e1=Q 47.Nd3+...picks up the Queen for free. (P.C.)} Kg2 47.a6 e4 48.Nxe4 Kf3 49.Nc5 Kg2 50.a7 Kh2 51.a8=Q e1=Q {hoping for stalemate tricks. (P.C.)} 52.Rxe1 Kg3 53.Re3+ Kh2 54.Re2+ Kg3 55.Qe4 Kxh3 56.Qg2# 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.18"] [Round "6"] [White "Goodison, Leonard"] [Black "Brotheridge, Jamie"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1107"] [BlackElo "1518"] [ECO "B33"] [Opening "Sicilian: Open, 2...Nc6"] 1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 g6 6.Be3 Bg7 7.Bc4 d6 8.Bb3 a6 9.O-O O-O 10.a4 Ng4 11.Nxc6 bxc6 12.Qd2 Be5 13.h3 Nxe3 14.Qxe3 c5 15.Kh1 Bd7 16.Rab1 Rc8 17.Rfd1 c4 18.Ba2 Bxc3 19.Qxc3 Bxa4 20.Bxc4 Qc7 21.b3 Bb5 22.Ra1 Bxc4 23.bxc4 Qxc4 24.Qxc4 Rxc4 25.Rxa6 {should have taken on e4 and l should be winning [jb]} Rxc2 26.Ra7 Re8 27.Kg1 Kg7 28.Rb1 Kf6 29.Rbb7 Rc1+ 30.Kh2 Rc4 31.f3 h5 32.h4 Ke6 33.Kg3 Rc5 34.Kf4 Kf6 35.Kg3 Re5 36.Kf4 g5+ 37.hxg5+ Rxg5 38.g3 Rg7 39.Rd7 Rg5 40.Rxe7 Rxe7 41.Rxe7 Rc5 42.Rd7 Ke6 43.Rd8 Ke7 44.Rg8 Kf6 45.Ra8 Re5 46.Ra6 Ke6 47.Ra8 Kf6 48.Rd8 Ke7 49.Rh8 Kf6 50.Rh6+ Ke7 51.Rh8 Kf6 52.g4 hxg4 53.Kxg4 Ke7 54.Rh6 Rc5 55.Kf4 Rb5 56.Rh1 f6 57.Rh7+ Ke6 58.Rc7 f5 {#d} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.25"] [Round "7"] [White "Stewart, Scott"] [Black "Cook, Patrick"] [Result "1/2-1/2"] [WhiteElo "1707"] [BlackElo "1537"] [ECO "C02"] [Opening "French: Advance, 4.Nf3"] 1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.Bd3 cxd4 6.O-O Nge7 7.Bf4 Ng6 8.Bg3 Be7 9.Nbd2 Qb6 10.Nb3 Bd7 11.Re1 Rc8 12.h4 h5 13.Bxg6 fxg6 14.Qd3 Kf7 15.a3 Na5 16.Nxa5 Qxa5 17.Nxd4 Rhf8 18.Re3 Qd8 19.Rf3+ Kg8 20.Rxf8+ Kxf8 21.Qxg6 Bxh4 22.Nxe6+ Bxe6 23.Qxe6 Bxg3 24.fxg3 {After the game, Scott suggested 24.Qf5+... first, protecting the c2 pawn and avoiding the Q swap, is probably winning. (P.C.)} Qb6+ 25.Qxb6 axb6 {Black offered a draw...(P.C.)} 26.Rd1 Rxc2 27.b4 Rc3 28.Rxd5 Rxa3 29.Kf2 Ke7 30.Rb5 Ke6 31.Rxb6+ Kxe5 32.Rxb7 g6 33.b5 Rb3 34.b6 Kf6 35.Rb8 Kg5 36.b7 Kg4 37.Rg8 Rb2+ 38.Kg1 {#d} 1/2-1/2

[Event "Spielvogel 2021"] [Site "Mechanics Institute"] [Date "2021.03.18"] [Round "7"] [White "Brotheridge, Jamie"] [Black "Block, Nigel"] [Result "1-0"] [WhiteElo "1518"] [BlackElo "560"] [ECO "D06"] [Opening "QGD: Marshall Defence"] 1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nf6 3.e3 e6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.Bd3 O-O 6.O-O c6 7.Nc3 Nbd7 8.a4 b6 9.e4 Re8 10.e5 Nh5 11.cxd5 cxd5 12.Ng5 g6 13.h4 f6?? 14.Nxe6 {#r} 1-0

[Event "Spielvogel memorial 2024"] [Site "Ballarat Chess Club"] [Date "2024.02.08"] [Round "1"] [White "Anna Yates"] [Black "Scott Stewart"] [Result "0-1"] [BlackElo "1682"] [ECO "A48"] [Opening "Neo-King's Indian"] 1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 g6 3.c4 Bg7 4.Bf4?! O-O 5.e3 d6 6.Nc3 Nbd7 7.Qb3 Re8 8.Be2 e5 9.Bg3 b6?! 10.O-O Bb7 11.d5 Nc5 12.Qc2 a5 13.a4 Bc8 14.e4 Nfd7 15.h3 Na6 16.Rac1 Nb4 17.Qb1 Nc5 18.Nd2 f5 19.f4 exf4 20.Bxf4 fxe4 21.Ncxe4 Bf5 22.Bf3 Nbd3 23.Bg5 Qd7 24.Rcd1 Bd4+ 25.Kh2 Qg7 26.Nb3 Qe5+ 27.g3 Nxe4 28.Bxe4 Qxe4 29.Nxd4 Qxd4 30.Qc2 Qxb2 31.Qxb2 Nxb2 32.g4 Re2+ 33.Kg3 Nxd1 34.gxf5 Ne3 35.Bxe3 Rxe3+ 36.Kg4 Re4+ 37.Kg5 gxf5 (37...gxf5 38.Kxf5 Rxc4 39.Ke6 Rf8 40.Rg1+ Kh8 41.Ra1 Rg8) {#R} 0-1

[ECO "B15"] [Opening "Caro-Kann: 4.Nxe4 Nf6"] 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Ng3 e5 6.Nf3! e4 7.Ne5 Bd6 8.Bf4 O-O 9.Qd2 Be6 10.Be2 Qe7 11.O-O c5 12.c3 Re8 13.Rfd1 Nbd7 14.Nxd7 Bxd7 15.Bxd6 Qxd6 16.Qe3! Qc6 17.dxc5 Rad8 18.Rd6 Qc7 19.Rad1 Bc6 20.b4 b6 21.Nf5 Re5 22.Qg5! Rxf5 23.Qxf5 Re8 24.Bc4 bxc5 25.Qxc5 h6? {25...Rc8; 26.Ba6, Bd7; 27.Bxc8, Qxc8; 28.bxc5 and 29.Rd8+etc} 26.Qxc6 *

[Event "Spielvogel"] [Site "BCC"] [Date "2024.03.07"] [Round "5"] [White "Stickland, Peter"] [Black "van Riel, Bas"] [Result "0-1"] [WhiteElo "1503"] [BlackElo "1829"] [ECO "B07"] [Opening "Pirc: 3...g6"] 1.e4 d6 2.d4 Nf6 3.Nc3 g6 4.f3 Bg7 5.Be3 O-O 6.Qd2 c6 7.Bd3 Qc7 8.O-O-O Bd7 9.g4 b5 10.h4 h5 11.gxh5 Nxh5 12.Nce2 c5 13.dxc5 dxc5 14.c3 Be6 15.Kb1 Qa5 16.Nc1 c4 17.Bc2 Nc6 18.Nge2 Ne5 19.Nd4 Rad8 20.f4 Nf3 21.Qf2 Nxd4 22.Bxd4 Bxd4 23.Rxd4 f5 24.Rg1 Kh7 25.exf5 Bxf5 26.Bxf5 Rxf5 27.Qe3 Qc7 28.Re4 Re8 29.Re6 Qxf4 30.Rxe7+ Rxe7 31.Qxe7+ Rf7 32.Qc5 Qf5+ 33.Qxf5 gxf5 34.Ne2 f4 35.Rf1 f3 36.Ng1 f2 37.Nh3 Rf3 38.Nxf2 Nf4 39.Re1 Rxf2 40.Re7+ Kg6 41.Rxa7 Nd3 42.b3 cxb3 43.axb3 Rb2+ 44.Ka1 Rxb3 45.Ra6+ Kh5 46.Rc6 Kxh4 {#R} 0-1