[blind-chess] Re: Curtis vs Edward Ladder Game
- From: "Roderick Macdonald" <rjmacdonald@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- To: <blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
- Date: Mon, 26 Sep 2011 11:42:55 -1000
[Event "2011 Ladder Tournament"]
[Site "Blind-Chess Correspondence Tou"]
[Date "2011.09.25"]
[Round "?"]
[White "Cockayne, Curtis"]
[Black "Zolotarevsky, Edward"]
[Result "0-1"]
{Opening: "B29: Sicilian Defense, Nimzowitsch Variation"}
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. Nf3 Nf6
4. Be2 e5
5. O-O Be7
6. Nd5
(Other possibilities include (a) 6. d3 O-O 7. Nd5 d6 8. Nxe7+ Qxe7 9. c3 Ne8
10. Re1 f5 11. exf5 Bxf5 12. d4 cxd4 13. cxd4 e4 14. Bc4+ Kh8 15. Bg5 Qd7 16.
Nh4 d5 17. Bb3 h6 18. Be3 Bh7 19. Qh5 Ne7 20. g3 Nf6 - 0-1 in 53 moves, as in
the game P. Briggs (2280) - J. Wilson (2245), Hastings 1995; (b) 6. d3 d6 7. h3
h6 8. Nh2 g5 9. Be3 Be6 10. Ng4 Nd7 11. f3 Nf8 12. Qd2 Ng6 13. Bd1 h5 14. Nf2
Nf4 15. Ne2 Qd7 16. c3 Bf6 - 1/2-1/2 as in the game Z. Vecsey - H. Mueller,
Bardejov 1926; (c) 6. Bc4 O-O 7. d3 d6 8. a3 h6 9. Rb1 Be6 10. Bxe6 fxe6 11. b4
b6 12. Ne2 Qe8 13. c3 Qg6 14. Ng3 Nh5 15. b5 Nxg3 16. fxg3 Nb8 17. c4 Nd7 18.
Rb2 a5 19. bxa6 Rxa6 20. Rbf2 Nf6 1/2-1/2 in 75 moves, as in the game B. Larsen
(2520) - L. Schandorff (2510), Esbjerg 1997 (d) (6. Bc4 O-O 7. d3 d6 8. Nd5
Nxd5 9. Bxd5 Be6 10. c3 Qd7 11. Ng5 Bxg5 12. Bxg5 f6 13. Bxe6+ Qxe6 14. Be3 b6
15. f4 d5 16. f5 Qd7 17. Rf3 dxe4 18. dxe4 Rad8 19. Qe1 Rf7 20. Qh4 Qd3 21.
Bxc5 Qe2 22. Rf2 Qc4 - 0-1 in 49 moves, as in the game E. Olivier (2380) -
HydraAssasin (2406), playchess.com, Internet 2008; or (e) 6. h3 O-O, leading to
equality.)
6. ... O-O
(6. ... Nxe4 7. d4 exd4 8. Re1 gives black a slight advantage.)
7. c3
(This move secures b4+d4. 7. d3 d6 leads to equality)
7. ... Nxe4
(Black now has a slight edge.)
8. Nxe7+
(8. d4 cxd4 9. cxd4 d6 gives black a strong position.)
8. ... Qxe7
(Black now has a strong position.)
9. d3
(9. d4!? exd4 10. cxd4 gives black a slight advantage.)
9. ... Nf6
(Black's position is now very strong.)
10. Qd2
(10. Be3 d5 is very strong for black.)
10. ... d6
(10. ... h6 11. b3 is also very strong for black.)
11. h3 h6
12. Nh4
(12. Re1 Bf5 is very strong for black.)
12. ... b6
(12. ... e4 13. Qe3 is very strong for black.)
13. Qe3 d5
14. Qg3 Ne8??
(with this move Black loses his initiative. 14. ... Kh8 15. Re1 would be much
better.)
15. a3??
(White is ruining his position. Better is 15. Bxh6 and White could well hope to
play on: 15. ... Qd6 16. Be3 gives white a slight advantage.)
15. ... g5
(Black now has a moderately strong position.)
16. Nf3
(16. Bd1 Ng7 17. Nf3 f6 would be very strong for black.)
16. ... f6
(16. ... f5 17. Re1 is also very strong for black.)
17. Nh2 f5
18. c4??
(This move simply worsens the situation. Much better is 18. Re1, but black's
position is still very strong.)
18. ... f4
19. Qf3 Nd4
(Better is 19. ... Nf6, and Black has prevailed: 20. d4 Nxd4 21. Qd3 with a
very strong position for black.) 20. Qxd5+
20. ... Be6
(20. ... Kg7 21. Bf3 (The greedy 21. Qxa8?? leads to trouble for white after
21. ... Bb7 22. Re1 Bxa8) 21. ... Rb8 22. Qe4 is very strong for black.)
21. Qxe5
(21. Qxa8 Nf6 22. Qxf8+ Kxf8 23. Re1 is very strong for black.)
21. ... Nc6
(Better is 21. ... Qf6 and the result of the game is clear: Black will win: 22.
Ng4 Qxe5 23. Nxe5 Nxe2+ 24. Kh2 Nd6 and blask has a superior position.)
22. Qe4
(White now has a strong position.)
22. Nd4
23. b4
(23. Nf3 Rd8 24. b4 Nf6 25. Qg6+ Qg7 26. Qxg7+ Kxg7 27. Nxd4 Rxd4 gives white a
strong position.)
23. ... Qf7
(23. ... Nf6 24. Qg6+ Qg7 25. Qxg7+ Kxg7 26. Bf3 and both sides have equal
chances.)
24. bxc5
(24. Bg4 Nf6 25. Bxe6 Nxe6 gives white a moderate advantage.)
24. ... bxc5
(White has a cramped position.)
25. Bb2??
(White loses the upper hand. Better is 25. Bg4 Nf6 26. Bxe6 Nxe6 27. Qe5 gives
white a slight advantage.)
25. ... Rb8
(Better is 25. ... Nf6. After this move Black can relax: 26. Qe5 Nd7 27. Bxd4
Nxe5 28. Bxe5 is very strong for black.)
26. Bc3??
(what a pity, victory was in sight! 26. Bxd4!? seems better: 26. ... cxd4 27.
Qxd4 Ng7 gives white a very strong position.)
26. ... Qf5??
(an unfortunate move that relinquishes the win.
Better is 26. ... Nf6, which keeps an even firmer grip: 27. Qe5 Nd7 28. Bxd4
Nxe5 29. Bxe5 Rbd8 and a very strong position for black.)
27. Qxf5??
(overlooking an easy win: Better is 27. Bxd4. A shame that White overlooked
this excellent chance. 27. ... Qxe4 28. dxe4 cxd4 29. Rad1 is very strong for
white.)
27. ... Nxe2+
(Black now has a very strong position. 27. ... Nxf5? looks interesting, but 28.
Rab1 Ned6 29. Ng4 is very strong for white. 27. ... Bxf5? is not as innocent as
it looks because of 28. Bxd4 cxd4 29. Nf3, which is also very strong for white.)
28. Kh1 Rxf5
(28. ... Bxf5 makes it even easier for Black: 29. Be5 Rb3 30. Rab1 Rxd3 31. Rb5
and black has a very strong position.)
29. Ba5
(29. Rae1 doesn't change anything: 29. ... Nxc3 30. Rxe6 Rf6 is very strong for
black.)
29. ... Nd4
(29. ... Rb3
(might be the shorter route: 30. Rfe1 Nd4 31. Rac1 Rxd3 32. Bc3 with a very
strong position for black.)
30. Rfe1
(30. Bc3 cannot change destiny: 30. ... Rf6 31. Nf3 Bf5 32. Nxd4 cxd4 33. Bxd4
Rc6 is very strong for black. 33. ... Bxd3?! 34. Bxf6 Nxf6 35. Rfc1 gives black
a moderate advantage.)
30. ... Ra8
(Better is 30. ... Rb3!?, which makes it even easier for Black after 31.
Rad1, with a very strong position for black.)
31. Ra2?
(31. Ng4 Kh7 32. Bc3 Ng7 is very strong for black.)
31. ... Rf7
(31. ... Rf6 seems even better: 32. Bc3 Bf5 33. Bxd4 cxd4 34. Nf3 with a very
strong advantage for black.)
32. Rb2
(32. Bc3 Bf5 33. Bxd4 cxd4 34. Nf3 gives black a very strong position.)
32. ... f3
(Better is 32. ... Ng7, after which Black can relax: 33. Bc3 gives black a very
strong position.)
33. Ng4??
(Not a good move, but what else could White do to save the game? 33. Nxf3 is
better, but 33. ... Bf5 34. Nxd4 cxd4 35. Rb3 and black has a very strong
position.)
33. ... fxg2+
34. Kxg2 Bxg4
35. hxg4 Rf3
(35. ... Rf4 keeps an even firmer grip: 36. a4 with a very strong position for
black.)
36. Re5
(36. Re3 Rf4 37. f3 Ng7 gives black a very strong position.)
36. ... Rc8
(36. ... Rxd3 makes it even easier for Black: 37. Rxc5 Ne6 38. Rc6 gives black
a very strong advantage.)
37. Rb7
(37. Re3 does not solve anything: 37. ... Rf4 38. f3 Ng7 is very strong for
black.)
37. ... Rf8
(Better is 37. ... Rxd3, which secures the point after 38. a4 Ra3)
38. Bc3 Nd6
(38. ... Rf4!? 39. Ree7 with a very strong position for black.)
39. Rd7 Rfe8
(39. ... Rcd8!? 40. Ree7 Rxd7 41. Rxd7 gives black a very strong advantage.)
40. Rd5
('the rook is the rook!' 40. Bxd4!? cxd4 41. Ra5 gives black a strong
advantage.)
40. ... Nf7
(Black now has a strong position.)
41. Rxa7
(41. Bxd4!? cxd4 42. Rxd4 gives black a strong position.)
41. ... Ne5
(Black's position is now very strong.)
42. Bxd4 cxd4
43. Rxd4??
(leading to a quick end. Better is 43. Rd6 Ra8 44. Rb7 is very strong for
black.)
43. ... Rcd8
(Better is 43. ... Nc6 and the rest is a matter of technique: 44. Rdd7 Nxa7 45.
Rxa7 Red8 and black should win.)
44. Rd5?
(44. Re7! is a viable option: After 44. ... Rxe7 45. Rxd8+ Kg7 46. Kg3 black
has only a slight advantage.)
44. ... Nxd3
(Black's position is very strong.)
45. Rf5??
(a bad move in a bad position. 45. Kg3 Nf4 46. Rxd8 Rxd8 gives black a very
strong position.)
45. ... Ne5
(45. ... Nf4+ seems even better: 46. Kg3 Re2 47. Rxf4 gxf4+ 48. Kf3 is very
strong for black.)
46. a4
(46. Rf6 Rf8 47. Rxf8+ Kxf8 48. Ra6 Nxg4 49. f4 is also very strong for black.)
46. ... Nxc4
(46. ... Rd4 ends the debate.)
47. Rff7
(Both sides now have equal chances.)
47. ... Ne5
(Black threatens to win material: Ne5xf7.)
48. Rg7+ Kf8
49. Rh7
(White has a mate threat.)
49. ... Kg8
50. Rxh6
(50. Rhg7+ Kf8 51. Rh7 Kg8 offers equality.)
50. ... Rd7??
(Black threatens to win material: Rd7xa7. a transit from better to worse. 50.
... Rd4 51. Rhh7 Rxg4+ 52. Kh3 gives black a moderate advantage.)
51. Raa6??
(not a good decision, because now the opponent is right back in the game. 51.
Rxd7 was a good chance to save the game: 51. ... Nxd7 52. Rg6+ Kf7 53. Rxg5
offers equal chances.)
51... Rd4
(Black now has a decisive advantage. 51. ... Nxg4?! 52. Rhg6+ Kf7 53. Rxg5
would lead to equality.)
52. f3 Rd2+
(52. ... Nf7!? 53. Rh1 is also very strong for black.)
53. Kg3
(Black now has a moderate advantage.)
53. ... Kf8??
(throws away the game, seemingly. Better is 53. ... Kg7!? 54. Rhf6 Re7 and
black has a very strong position.)
54. Ra7
(White has a mate threat, but better is 54. Rh8+ finishes off the opponent
after 54. ... Ke7 55. Rxe8+ Kxe8 56. Re6+ Kf7 57. Rxe5 with a decisive
advantage for white.)
54. ... Kg8
(Better is 54. ... Nf7 55. Rf6 Re7 56. Rxe7 Kxe7 with a very strong position
for black.)
55. Rh5??
(weakening the position. Better is 55. Rhh7 and White is still in the game with
equal chances.)
55. ... Nf7
(Black now has a very strong position again.)
56. Rh1
(56. Rh2 Rd3 is also very strong for black.)
56. ... Ra2
(56. ... Ree2 57. Ra8+ Kg7 58. Ra7 is also very strong for black.)
57. Rb1
(Better is 57. Ra5, but black is still much better off.)
57. ... Ra3??
(This move allows the opponent back into the game. 57. ... Ree2 58. Rg1 would
give black a very strong position.)
58. Rf1??
(releasing the pressure on the opponent. 58. Rbb7 Nd6 59. Rg7+ Kf8 60. Rh7
offers equal chances. 60. Rxg5?? - capturing this pawn is a mistake: 60. ...
Ne4+ 61. Kf4 Nxg5 62. Kxg5 Rxf3 is very strong for black.)
58. ... Re4
(58. ... Ne5 59. Re1 Rxf3+ 60. Kg2 Rff8 is very strong for black.)
59. a5?
(59. Ra1 Rxa1 60. fxe4 Kf8 still gives black a very strong position.)
59. ... Rea4
(59. ... Ne5 keeps an even firmer grip: 60. Kg2 Rf4 61. Ra8+ Kf7 62. Ra7+ Ke6
63. Ra6+ Kd5 64. Rd1+ Kc4 65. Rc1+ Kd3 66. Rd6+ Ke2 67. Re6 is very strong for
black.)
60. Re1?
(Better is 60. Ra8+ Kg7 61. Ra7 gives black a moderate advantage.)
60. ... Rxa5??
(stumbles just before the finish line. 60. ... Rf4 might be the shorter route:
After 61. Kh2 black has a very strong advantage.)
61. Rb7??
(61. Rxa5 Rxa5 62. Re4 Ra3 would offer equal chances.)
61. ... Ra7??
(Black threatens to win material: Ra7xb7, but Black has let it slip away: 61.
... Re5 62. Rb8+ Kg7 63. Rxe5 Nxe5 64. Rb7+ Kf8 65. Rb8+ Ke7 66. Rb7+ Nd7 67.
Rb5 would give black a very strong position.)
62. Rb8+??
(Better is 62. Rxa7, the rescuing move. 63. Rxa7 63. Re4 would reach an even
position.)
62. ... Kg7
(Black now has a very strong position.)
63. Re7
(63. Rb5 would also result in a very strong position for black.)
63. ... Rxe7
(White resigned in view of 63. ... Rxe7 64. Kg2 Ra2+ 65. Kf1 Ne5 66. Rd8 Rc7
67. Rd1 Rcc2 68. Rd2 Rxd2 69. Ke1 Nxf3+ 70. Kf1 Rf2#)
0-1
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