Skype coaching session, 05 June 2016.
Notes:
The Benjamin - Kramer game, English Opening A29, posted to various lists on 04
July was for the coaching session of 15 May. The reported coaching session date
of 08 May inside the email is incorrect and should instead read, 15 May 2016.
There were no coaching sessions on 22 May and 29 May 2016.
Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at:
http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm
The following game was examined, the game 30 moves) is given with annotations
and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated game.
White: Carlsen, 2844.
Black: Tomashevsky, 2728.
Event: Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee 2016.
Result: 1-0 in 30 moves.
Opening: London System, Indian Game, A46.
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6
3. Bf4 b6
| With the fianchetto of the black c8 bishop we enter into the variation known
as the Indian Game within the London System. ||
4. e3 Bb7
| If black tries to eliminate the white f4 bishop with, 4. ... Nh5, white could
try, 5. Ne5 Nxf4 6. Qf3, attacking both the black f4 knight and the a8 rook.
Black has three replies:
(A). If, 6. ... Nd5 7. Qxf7+ is mate.
(B). The greedy, 6. ... Nxg2+ 7. Bxg2, leaves black with the threatened mate on
f7 and the a8 rook still hangs.
(C). Black closes the h1 - a8 diagonal with, 6. ... d5. after which, 7. Qxf4,
gives white a slight lead in development. ||
5. h3
| Giving white the option to retreat with, Bh2, if desired. ||
5. ... Be7
6. Bd3 O-O
7. O-O c5
| A different plan for black is, pawn d6, Nbd7, as preparation to a central
challenge with, pawn c5. ||
8. c3
| White supports the d4 pawn, anticipating a possible, pawn e4, advance once
development is complete. ||
8. ... Nc6
9. Nbd2 d5
| A decision containing a balance of pluses and minuses. The d5 pawn supports a
possible, Ne4, advance and also gives black an option to exchange the white
e-pawn should it advance to the e4 square. The d5 pawn does however close down
much of the activity of the b7 bishop. Instead, pawn d6, allows the b7 bishop
to have central activity but does not fight for control of the e4 square. Which
is the better plan for black? Wrong question. It would be more accurate to ask
what type of game suits your style of play? The pawn on d5 is aiming to
restrict white while the pawn on d6 will permit white central activity which
can then be counter-attacked. It is all a question of recognising which style
of play suits you and arranging your pawn formation as required. ||
10. Qe2 Bd6
| Grand Master confuses Grand Rabbit. There might be a sound reason for this
bishop taking two moves to challenge the white f4 bishop, but it is not so
obvious from my humble burrow. ||
11. Rfe1
| White prefers to keep the tension. If, 11. Bxd6 Qxd6 12. e4 dxe4 13. Nxe4
Nxe4 14. Qxe4 f5 15. Qe3 cxd4 16. cxd4 Rf6, with roughly equal chances.
Instead, 11. Bg5 Be7, seems to gain white nothing. ||
11. ... Ne7
| Black introduces a new move to theory. This knight is heading kingside with
the intention to strengthen the defences. Instead, 11. ... Bxf4 12. exf4 cxd4
13. Nxd4 Nxd4 14. cxd4 Qd6 15. Qe3 Rac8, and while the white d3 bishop has
better prospects than the black b7 bishop, black has some play. ||
12. Rad1
| It is only move twelve and the d-file is looking rather cluttered with seven
units on it. These apparent blockages can quickly be removed if needed. Perhaps
come back in another twelve moves and matters might have improved. ||
12. ... Ng6
| Forcing white to make a decision about the f4 bishop. Instead, 12. ...Bxf4
13. exf4 Qc7, would be less troubling for black. Take some time here to find
the correct strategic plan for white. ||
13. Bxg6
| Not an easy move for some players to play. The light square bishop is the
attacking piece in the Colle, London or Zukertort systems which white wishes to
keep on the board to be part of a kingside attack. White is exchanging the d3
bishop in order to achieve a totally different strategic advantage. Take some
time here to work out just what positional gain white is now about to establish
over the next two moves. ||
13. ... hxg6
14. Bxd6 Qxd6
15. Ne5
| A potential ending of white knight against black light square bishop, with or
without queens or rooks, is on the horizon. With quite a few black pawns on
light squares the knight will have better prospects than the bishop. ||
15. ... g5
| Preventing white from strengthening the e5 knight with, pawn f4. White to
play finds a dynamic option which sets off dangerous complications resulting in
black falling into time trouble. ||
16. f4
| Just when it seemed white was settling for a positional squeeze of good
knight against poor bishop. Again, take some time here to consider how white
might reply after black makes the forced pawn trade on the f4 square. ||
16. ... gxf4
| Here is a golden opportunity for you to draw on all your chess inspiration
and play like a World Champion. Take as much time as you like here to find the
next white move. ||
17. Rf1
| White is offering a pawn for a strong kingside initiative where all the
tactical gains will be for white. Instead, 17. exf4 cxd4 18. cxd4 Rac8, would
give black a relatively comfortable game. ||
17. ... Nd7
| Black correctly decides the white e5 knight must be eliminated if possible.
Instead, 17. fxe3 18. Rxf6, creates complications, all of the white pieces are
ready for a kingside invasion. A sample continuation to show some of the
dangers is, 18. ... gxf6 19. Qg4+ Kh8 20. Qh4+ Kg7 21. Ng4 Qd8 22. Qh6+ Kg8 23.
Nxf6+, and black must give up the queen to avoid mate, with white still having
the option of a rook transfer of, Rf1, Rf3, Rg3+, creating further havoc. In
the game position white must avoid losing a pawn to the black capture, Nxe5. ||
18. Qh5 Nf6
| More precise would have been, 18. ... cxd4 19. Nxd7 Qxd7 20. cxd4. Black
could then relieve some of the kingside threats with, 20. ... f6, after which,
21. Rxf4, and white would have some play but nothing decisive. Instead, 18. ...
Nxe5 19. dxe5 Qd8 20. Rf3, intending to double rooks with, Rdf1, and then
invade up the h-file with, Rh3, would give the black king very serious
problems. ||
19. Qh4 Qd8
| Black is now short of time and decides to trade queens to relieve the
kingside pressure. Perhaps with more time black might have considered, 19. ...
Nh7, when white can have a comfortable game with, 20. exf4. If white wishes to
still push on the kingside there is, 20. Rxf4, but black can defend with the
risky looking, 20. ... g5, when, 21. Rg4 f6 22. Nf3 Qc7, and black seems to be
hanging on. ||
20. Rxf4
| The position is now critical for black. There is a saving idea available but
while the move itself is not difficult to consider, the reason why it will
avoid future difficulties is not obvious to someone short of time. ||
20. ... Ne4
| Heading for an ending to avoid kingside mating threats. This idea is correct
but black has not appreciated how holding back the simplification for a move
was necessary. Black had to first alter the central pawn formation with, 20.
... cxd4, keeping the d-file closed from a potential white invasion. White
could then play simply with, 21. exf3 Ne4, and black can follow up with, pawn
f5, or white can go for complications with, 21. Rdf1. Black must then find, 21.
... Nh7, which offers defensive resources. Instead after, 21. Rdf1 dxe3, going
for material seems to create serious problems. One sample continuation is, 22.
Rxf6 exd2 23. Ng4, intending, 24. Nh6+, with a mating attack.
Now white in the game has a forcing sequence to gain a winning ending. ||
21. Nxe4 Qxh4
22. Rxh4 dxe4
23. dxc5
| Had black earlier altered the central pawn formation with, cxd4, then this
line-opening white capture would not have been available. ||
23. ... bxc5
24. Rd7
| A rook on the 7th rank is usually considered advantageous, but here the white
d7 rook is totally dominating the black position. The b7 bishop is attacked,
the f8 rook is now tied down to defending the f7 pawn, and if the black bishop
moves then the a7 pawn is vulnerable. ||
24. ... Rab8
| White to play and keep everything under control. Take some time to consider
the changes which have occurred over the last five moves, especially with
regard to the pawn structure. ||
25. b3
| White is containing any black queenside activity before mopping up the
vulnerable black queenside pawns. ||
25. ... a5
| Black must create weaknesses in the white queenside pawn structure which
might offer chances for activity for the b8 rook. Instead, 25. ... f6, trying
to kick out the strong white knight falls into, 26. Ng6 Rf7 27. Rh8+ mate. ||
26. Rc7 a4
| Instead seeking activity with, 26. ... Rfd8, allows 27. Rh8+ Kxh8 28. Nxf7+
Kg8 29. Nxd8, hitting the b7 bishop. If then, 29. ... Bd5 30. c4 Ba8 31. Nxe6
a4 32. Nxc5 axb3 33. axb3 Rc8 34. Ra7, clearly winning for white. ||
27. bxa4 Ba8
28. a5 Rb7
| Instead, 28. ... Rb2 29. Rxc5 Rxa2 30. Rf4, intending to transfer this rook
either to the b-file or d-file, when the two extra white queenside pawns will
eventually cost black at least a piece. ||
29. Rxc5 Ra7
30. Nc4
Black resigns, 1-0
| There is no specific threat here. It is instead a miserable position for
black combined with almost no time on the clock which leads to the decision to
end the suffering. Here is just one strategic plan amongst many of how the win
could be achieved. White can take the time to transfer the h4 rook into the
queenside, perhaps the b6 square beckons, which will allow the advance, pawn
a6. After that the c4 knight can transfer to the b5 square, followed by a, pawn
a7, advance. Once this pawn hits the 7th rank the combined efforts of the two
white rooks and knight can force the material-winning promotion of the a-pawn.
||
* * *
## Unannotated game.
White: Carlsen, 2844.
Black: Tomashevsky, 2728.
Event: Tata Steel, Wijk aan Zee 2016.
Result: 1-0 in 30 moves.
Opening: London System, Indian Game, A46.
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6
3. Bf4 b6
4. e3 Bb7
5. h3 Be7
6. Bd3 O-O
7. O-O c5
8. c3 Nc6
9. Nbd2 d5
10. Qe2 Bd6
11. Rfe1 Ne7
12. Rad1 Ng6
13. Bxg6 hxg6
14. Bxd6 Qxd6
15. Ne5 g5
16. f4 gxf4
17. Rf1 Nd7
18. Qh5 Nf6
19. Qh4 Qd8
20. Rxf4 Ne4
21. Nxe4 Qxh4
22. Rxh4 dxe4
23. dxc5 bxc5
24. Rd7 Rab8
25. b3 a5
26. Rc7 a4
27. bxa4 Ba8
28. a5 Rb7
29. Rxc5 Ra7
30. Nc4
Black resigns, 1-0
* * *