Live Commentary: Nicholas Chan - Evan Capel

Nicholas Chan - Evan Capel

1. c4 Nf6 2. Nc3 e6 3. Nf3 d5 4. d4 Be7 5. cxd5 exd5 6. Bg5 O-O 7. e3 b6
8. Bd3 Bb7 9. O-O

White should play Rc1 at the previous move or even now.

9... Ne4 10. Bf4 Nxc3 11. bxc3

Without the rook on c1, the pawn structure gets broken up and white does not have the open c-file to exert pressure on

11... h6 12. Ne5 Nd7 13. Bxh6!?

Interesting move! It does not seem at first glance that white has enough.

13... Nxe5

13...gxh6 14 Qg4+ and white wins back a piece on d7

14. dxe5 f5

Black is busted. He's a pawn down with a weakened king-side. White is now considering if 15. Qh5 is playable or just pull back the bishop with 15. Bh4 and an extra pawn.

15. Qh5 gxh6 16. f4 intends Rf3-g3, should be winning already for white. There are no defences to threats of Rf3 and Rg3

15. Bf4 g5 16. Bg3 Bc8

Black cannot play 16...f4 yet because 17. exf4 gxf4 18. Qg4+

17. f4 g4 18. Qb3 Be6 19. e4

Another nice shot. White gets rid of his backward e-pawn weakness. Evan might as well resign now.

19...Qd7 20. Rad1


Nicholas seems overly cautious now. 20. exf5 Bxf5 21 Rxf5 Qd1! followed by f5 (the pawn cannot be captured because of Qxg4+) seems very strong to me.

Maybe black can mix it up with 20...dxe4. What has he got to lose? 21. Bc4 , black has the saving move 21...Bc5+ 22. Kh1 Bxc4 23. Qxc4 Qf7. Perhaps Nicholas overlooked this possibility when he played 20 Rad1.

20...dxe4 21. Bc4 Bc5+ 22. Kh1 Bxc4 23. Qxc4+ Qf7

My prediction comes true. Black has regained the pawn at the cost of giving white a passed e-pawn.

24.e6 Qf6 25. Rd7 Rae8

Unfortunately, black has to give the c-pawn. 25..Bd6 26. e7+ Rf7 27 Bh4! Qxh4 (other moves allow Rd8+) 28. e8=Q+ Rxe8 29. Qxf7+


26.e7+ Rf7 27. Rxc7 Rexe7 28.Rc8+ Kg7

So far, black has managed to play accurately after his initial mistake of allowing Bxh6.

29. Rd1 Qe6!

Black pieces are better organized (see the white bishop on g3!). He will now force white to move his pieces to less optimal squares by threatening trades.

30. Qa6

White cannot afford to exchange queens as the black e-pawn will be a decider. With queens on, he can hope to exploit the open black king.

30...Rd7 31. Re1

Black already turned the tables after 20...dxe4. His passed e-pawn will now win the game for him. Possible moves now are 31.. Qf6 , 31...Qd6 , 31...Rd2 all very inviting.

31...Rf8??

Oh my god!

32. Rxc5


Again, black can now resign. I give the rest of the moves from DAT Chess Centre blog run by Mr "The Raj" Shirajuddin who I get the live moves from.

32... Rd2 33.Rc7+ Kg6 34.Qxa7 Rh8 35.Rg7+ Kf6 36.Rb7 Rxa2 37.Qxb6 Qxb6 38.Rxb6+ Kf7 39.c4 Rd8 40.Rf6+ Kxf6 41.Bh4+ Ke6 42.Bxd8 Rc2 43.Kg1 Rxc4 44.Bb6 Kd5 45.Kf2 Rc3 46.Be3 Ra3 47.Rd1+ Ke6 48.Bc5 Rc3 49.Rd6+ Kf7 50.Rf6+ Kg7 51.Rxf5 Rb3 52.Bd4+ Kh6 53.Re5 Ra3 54.Re8

I can feel Evan's pain. You cannot relax for even a second with Nicholas, this guy is one sharp shark