Skype coaching session, 13 December 2015.
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 43 moves) is given with annotations
and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated game.
White: V. Petzold.
Black: P. Benson.
Event: DESC ( German Email Chess Club) 2014 Round 2.
Result: 1-0 in 43 moves.
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation, English Attack, B90.
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3
| Setting up the English Attack where the white kingside pawns will make a
speedy advance on the black castled king. ||
6. ... e5
7. Nb3 Be6
8. f3
| Shielding the white e3 bishop from an annoying attack from the black f6
knight and supporting the advance of the g-pawn. ||
8. ... Be7
| Instead, 8. ... h5, is a different means of handling the position, intending
to stop the white planned pawn advances. In such variations the black king
often walks onto the g7 square for safety. Such games are not easy to play for
either side. ||
9. Qd2 O-O
10. O-O-O Nbd7
| Better than, 10. ... Nc6. On d7 the knight has options of, Nb6 - c4, probing
at the white e3 bishop and the white queenside pawns. Now the mutual
pawn-storming begins. ||
11. g4 b5
12. g5 b4
13. Ne2
| A good choice. The knight has possibilities of joining the attack on the
kingside or assisting in the defence of the queenside. Instead, 13. gxf6 bxc3
14. Qxc3 Nxf6, is more comfortable for black than the game continuation. ||
13. ... Ne8
| Instead, 13. ... Nh5, keeps the knight somewhat active but if it is ever in
need of retreat the g-pawn must advance to free the g7 square, after which
black will have created a target for an advancing white h-pawn. ||
14. f4 a5
15. f5
| Black is at an important crossroads of theory. ||
15. ... Bxb3
| The alternative is, 15. ... a4, leading to a brief flurry of tactics before
the manoeuvring begins again. Now it is black who takes the initiative for a
few moves and it is white who must take some time to defend before taking up
active plans again. ||
16. cxb3 a4
| Black is aiming to open up the a-file. The black b4 pawn can of course be
captured with, Qxb4, but who is brave enough to try it? ||
17. bxa4 Rxa4
18. b3
| the safe reply, the white queen offers protection to the vulnerable a2 pawn.
Instead, 18. Kb1, has been answered with, 18. ... Rxa2. Is the rook offer
sound? I do not know, most players with the white pieces prefer to not risk
taking it. Play usually continues instead with, 19. Nc1 Ra8 20. Nb3, or, 20
Bc4, leading to more draws than decisive results. ||
18. ... Ra5
19. Kb1
| Black is cramped and must find some activity quickly or the white attack will
open up lines in front of the black king. ||
19. ... d5
| A double purpose move. Clearly this offer of a pawn is to give activity to
the previously blocked-in e7 bishop. There is however a more subtle reason for
offering the d-pawn. Black wishes to use the d6 square as a route for the e8
knight to enter the queenside. ||
20. exd5 Bc5
21. Bxc5 Nxc5
| Such is the popularity of the Sicilian Defence that we are still following
theory. Black is planning, Nd6, and the black attack begins to gain momentum.
White to play now produces to my knowledge a new move. ||
22. d6
| Well that is one way of preventing the black e8 knight from joining in with
the queenside assault. ||
22. ... Qa8
| Black has much to sift through here. Here are a few sample lines to show some
of the ideas available.
(A). 22. ... Ne4 23. Qxb4 N8xd6 24. Bg2 Rb5 25. Qxb5 Nxb5 26. Rxd8 Rxd8 27.
Bxe4, white wins a piece.
(B). 22. ... Ne4 23. Qxb4 N8xd6 24. Bg2 Qa8 25. Rxd6 Rxa2 26. Qxe4 Ra1+ 27. Kc2
Qa2+ 28. Kd3 Qxb3+ 29. Nc3, the black attack is faltering, and white is 2
pieces up.
(C). 22. ... Ne4 23. Qxb4 N4xd6 24. Bg2, black has no play for the white
queenside pawns. As miserable as it is, this might have been the best try for
black.
(D). 22. ... Nxd6 23. Qxd6 Qa8, with threats of invading with, Rxa2, and the
materialistic, Qxh1. Of course, white does not have to capture the black d6
knight.
(E). 22. ... Nxd6 23. Nc1, white leaves the black d6 knight in a pin so that,
23. ... Ncb7 24. Qxb4 Qc7 25. Bg2, and black must find a queenside
break-through or the ending will be lost. ||
23. d7
| Another double purpose move. It is not just the e8 knight which is the
target, the black back rank is also being exposed as very weak. ||
23. ... Nd6
| Black is anticipating the white d-pawn will cost both knights for the white
h1 rook. Instead, 23. ... Qxh1 24. d8=Q, gives white a decisive material
advantage. ||
24. Nc1
| Instead, 24. Qxd6 Rxa2, and black has broken through with many strong threats
against the white king. ||
24. ... Qxh1
| The white c1 knight has ruled out any tricks involving the white a2 pawn, so
black must give up two knights for the advanced d7 pawn and the h1 rook. This
leaves white with an unchallengeable light square bishop. The only means to
neutralise it is for black to give up an exchange, which would leave white a
piece up. From here on to the end of the game it is now a test of technique for
white. ||
25. Qxd6 Nxd7
26. Qxd7 Qe4+
| Black is anticipating losing the b4 pawn at some point, which will give white
a won ending, the two queenside connected passed pawns will be impossible to
stop with the support of two minor pieces against a rook. So, black needs to
find counterplay on the kingside, and this means winning one of the two
advanced white pawns and then advancing pawns on the kingside to deflect white.
||
27. Qd3
| Instead, 27. Bd3 Qg4, attacks the unprotected white d1 rook and g5 pawn,
black would be back in the game. ||
27. ... Qg4
28. g6
| White finds the correct way to take the game into an endgame where black can
not make use of the kingside pawns. ||
28. ... hxg6
29. fxg6 Qxg6
| Instead, 29. ... f5, attempting to create counterplay with two connected
passed pawns allows, 30. Qc4+ Qxc4 31. Bxc4+ Kh8 32. Rd3, with no sensible way
to prevent, 33. Rh3+ mate. ||
30. Qxg6 fxg6
| Black temporarily has material equality, but the shattered kingside pawns
mean they will not be a problem to white. ||
31. Bc4+ Kh7
32. Nd3
| The passive defender now turns attacker. The black rooks can not challenge
the white minor pieces. Any attempts by black to hold the position will fail,
activity must be found quickly and hope white becomes confused. Rather
difficult when the time control is 30 days for 10 moves per player. ||
32. ... e4
33. Nxb4 Rf2
34. Re1
| Eliminating the only dangerous black unit. ||
34. ... Rxh2
35. Rxe4 g5
36. a4
| The target white a2 pawn moves which offers freedom of movement to the white
b4 knight. The black a5 rook will be helpless against the advancing white
pawns. It is now just a case of ensuring the white minor pieces are on their
best squares before the pawns start to roll. ||
36. ... Rh4
37. Nc6
| The white e4 rook is protected with a neat tactic. ||
37. ... Ra8
| White has it all under control. Instead, 37. ... Rxe4 38. Bd3, pins and wins
the black e4 rook. ||
38. Bd3 Rxe4
39. Bxe4+ Kh6
| The black king will be able to assist the g5 pawn to advance as far as the g2
square. At that point the white bishop must give itself up. Then black will
have to start advancing the backward g7 pawn in order to get the white knight
give itself up. This takes too many moves to alter destiny. ||
40. a5 g4
41. Bd5
| Setting up a blockade against the black king who now has no means to enter
the queenside. The formation of white bishop and knight deserves some
attention. They are touching on a diagonal which might hint the mobility of the
bishop is restricted. This is true, but not relevant to creating a blockade.
Examine the squares: b4, c4, d4, e4, e5, e6, e7. These 7 squares form a large
arrow-head, assuming the knight and bishop are the arrow-shaft. The arrow-head
prevents the black king entering the queenside by a quick route. This bishop
and knight formation plays an important part in the process of driving a king
to a corner of the board when it is bishop and knight against a bare king. ||
41. ... Kg5
42. b4 Kf4
43. b5 1-0
| The white queenside pawns easily win the race. For example: 43. ... Kg3 44.
b6 Kf2 45. b7 Rh8 46. b8=Q Rxb8 47. Nxb8 g3 48. a6 g2 49. Bxg2 Kxg2 50. a7 g5
51. a8=Q+. ||
* * *
## Unannotated game.
White: V. Petzold.
Black: P. Benson.
Event: DESC ( German Email Chess Club) 2014 Round 2.
Result: 1-0 in 43 moves.
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Najdorf Variation, English Attack, B90.
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3 e5
7. Nb3 Be6
8. f3 Be7
9. Qd2 O-O
10. O-O-O Nbd7
11. g4 b5
12. g5 b4
13. Ne2 Ne8
14. f4 a5
15. f5 Bxb3
16. cxb3 a4
17. bxa4 Rxa4
18. b3 Ra5
19. Kb1 d5
20. exd5 Bc5
21. Bxc5 Nxc5
22. d6 Qa8
23. d7 Nd6
24. Nc1 Qxh1
25. Qxd6 Nxd7
26. Qxd7 Qe4+
27. Qd3 Qg4
28. g6 hxg6
29. fxg6 Qxg6
30. Qxg6 fxg6
31. Bc4+ Kh7
32. Nd3 e4
33. Nxb4 Rf2
34. Re1 Rxh2
35. Rxe4 g5
36. a4 Rh4
37. Nc6 Ra8
38. Bd3 Rxe4
39. Bxe4+ Kh6
40. a5 g4
41. Bd5 Kg5
42. b4 Kf4
43. b5 1-0
* * *
