Lockdown Summer Tournament: weeks 7 - 9

With most clubs closed over the Summer months the Summer Tournament has been run for years to allow club players the opportunity to play serious slow chess. The setup allows for players to drop in and play as many or few games as they wish. Its been run by such distinguished members as Alex Beckett and Sam Moore. Players turning up on the night are paired roughly into 3 sections by rating and to give them White and Black colours on a fairly even basis. If players play 10 or more games they have qualified for the tournament and their percentage score will be what determines their position. A clever rule about playing a set number of games in the last 3 weeks:

Rules
1. Players must complete 10 games to be considered.
2. If a player does not play in two of the last three rounds they will be assumed to have played and lost 2 games. If they play only one then they will forfeit one game.
3. However if a player has played 14 or more games then they are exempt from rule 2.
4. Scores will be calculated on a percentage basis.

But if you wish to drop in and play a couple of games then thats still good.

With doing this remotely some things are different.

I email everyone who is registered to ask if they are playing tonight - I do this about 6:15pm. Then from the replies I pair players. At 7:00pm I email out the draw to all those registered. The player with White then on  Lichess challenges their opponent to a game with time controls of 90minutes and either rated or casual. The players play and email me the result.

The results for weeks 7 - 9. If you wish to play through any of the games click on the games links.

The current standings after 9 weeks, 19 players and 41 games.

Some positions and choices from my game against Robert Lavery on week8. Just some thoughts - probably me missing some good moves!

I was looking for a pushing move with the Knight Blocking the white squared Bishop and the Queen I thought let me move a central Pawn The e pawn to e5 and maybe to e6. and see what happens
The pawns are swapped and my e5 Pawn looks week so played Nd5 developing and attacking the e7 pawn. Black doesnt yet have time to take on e5. Also I am looking for a discovered attack on the en-prise Knight on g4. If the Rook moves to defend the pawn I can push e6 without fear of giving Blacks Rook an immediate open file. 10 ... Re8  11 e6 fxe6 12 Nf4 threatening the fork on e6.
Here I wasnt sure what to play. I thought push the pawns on the Queen side I played a bit quick and played c5 - and saw that Robert had Nb5 which he played threatening the Bishop and possibly winning a pawn. Ouch I thought. But so throwing caution to the wind I played c6. If taken we block the white bishop and if my Knight can get to c5 safely. Robert played 26 ... Nxa3  27. bxa3 didnt want to advance Blacks Bishop to b7.  27 ... b6 covering c5 - I did think Robert might check me with Bd4+ first. So I play 28. Ke3 Robert played e5 allowing 29 Bb3+ Ke7 30 Nd5+ Kd8 - still feel ok with Blacks position feeling cramped But not sure if I can make anything of it....
31 a4 - make a push on the Queen side 31 ... Be6 and Black might solve problem with Bishop - although worst piece is possibly the Knight. Which would look good on e6. So note to myself dont take the Bishop on e6. I continued with 32 a5 looking if possible to get Nc5 32 .... Bxd4   33 Bxd4 bxa   34 Nc5 getting my Pawn back. Final position - I was luck to trap the Knight - Robert resigned