Skype coaching session, 02 October 2016.
Please note: Re-structuring of the sessions now offers the option for guests to
bring their own games for group discussion.
Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at:
http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm
The following were examined:
The Philidor position is reviewed (on mp3 audio only).
King and rook with a centre-file pawn against king and rook - The Philidor
position is not achievable, Defender plays accurately and draws (on mp3 audio
only).
Study position #1 from practical play.
Guest game, 32 moves with brief notes and without notes.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Study position #1 from practical play.
White to play.
White: Kf5, Rb6, Pe5, Pf4.
Black: Ke7, Rc7, Pf7.
To make progress, white must create a passed pawn. Attempting to place a double
attack on the black f7 pawn will not work. If, 1. Rf6 Ra7 2. Kg5, intending to
march the king to g7 fails to black now playing actively with, 2. ... Ra1.
White continues on with the plan, 3. Kh6, and black now places the king under
constant distant attack with, 3. ... Rh1+ 4. Kg7 Rg1+, 5. Kh7 Rh1+ 6. Kg7 Rg1+,
and the white king cannot escape the repeating checks.
So from the start position, 1. Kg5, with the idea of advancing, pawn f5, pawn
f6+. Black might try to tough it out by defending passively with, 1. ... Ra7 2.
f5 Rc7 3. f6+ Ke8. Note, black should avoid, 3. ... Kf8 4. Rb8+ mate. So after,
3. ... Ke8, white aims for a winning position of king and passed pawn on the
6th rank with, 4. e6. Black can either capture or ignore this pawn. If black
leaves it alone with, 4. Ra7 5. e7 Ra8 6. Rd6 Rb8, black is reduced to total
passivity and white heads for a winning pawn ending with, 7. Kh6 Ra8 8. Kg7 Rb8
9. Rd8+ Rxd8 10. exd8=Q+ Kxd8 11. Kxf7.
So from the start position, 1. Kg5 Ra7 2. f5 Rc7 3. f6+ Ke8 4. e6, and this
time black captures with, 4. ... fxe6. White now achieves the winning formation
of 6th rank king and passed pawn with, 5. Kg6, with the immediate threat of, 6.
Rb8+ Kd7 7. f7, with promotion next move. Black can only prevent this threat
with the retreat, 5. ... Rc8. White now takes the 7th rank with, 6. Rb7, after
which black is helpless. If black tries, 6. Kf8, then, 7. R f7+, a neat
tempo-gaining move forcing the black king to g8 in anticipation of a pawn
advance with check. Play continues with, 7. ... Kg8 8. Rh7 Rd8 9. f7+ Kf8 10.
Rh8+ Ke7 11. Rxd8 Kxd8 12. f8=Q+, white wins.
From the start position again, 1. Kg5, and now black tries an active defence.
The white plan involves advancing the f-pawn, so black places an attack on the
about to become defenceless e5 pawn with, 1. ... Rc5. If white cannot get the
f-pawn rolling then there is no means to make progress and it is a draw. So
white must be prepared to give up the e5 pawn and hope black will make a
mistake. White first tries, 2. Rb7+, giving black a test of how to defend.
Active play by the king with, 2. ... Ke6, allows, 3. f5+ Kxe5 4. Rxf7, and the
black king is prevented from reaching the f-pawn promotion square, white is
winning.
So after, 1. Kg5 Rc5 2. Rb7+, the black king must move into the kingside with,
2. ... Kf8. This might appear as if the black king is setting up a self-mate
formation, but appearances are deceptive. The black king must be able to locate
himself on the short side of the white f-pawn to hold the draw. White now
further tests black with, 3. f5 Rxe5 4. Kf6. Yet again black must understand
the principles of holding the draw and know whether to play passively or
actively. Passive defence with, 4. ... Re8, loses to, 5. Rxf7+ Kg8 6. Ra7, and
now the correct plan of active defence is too slow to save black. After, 6. ...
Re1 7. Ra8+ Kh7 7. Kf7 Rf1 8. f6, the white pawn has reached the 6th rank and
white has a mating net threat. After, 8. ... Rf2 9. Ra1, black might play, 9.
... kh6, but then, 10. Rh1+ Kg5 11. Kg7, and the passed f-pawn will promote.
Note if black tries, 11. ... Rxf6, then 12. Rg1+ Kf5 13. Rf1+, wins the black
rook.
If all this is depressing those who feel black should get a draw from the start
position, perhaps this will cheer you up? Start with, 1. Kg5 Rc5 2. Rb7+ Kf8 3.
f5 Rxe5 4. Kf6, and black must immediately play actively with, 4. ... Re1. The
black king is going to run over to the short side of the f-pawn while the rook
attacks the pawn from the rear, all according to how to draw when the Philidor
position is not available. White continues with, 5. Rxf7+ Kg8, run for the
short side, running long is wrong. If now, 6. Ra7 Rf1, attacking the pawn from
the rear, 7. Ra8+ Kh7 8. Rf8, to protect the pawn while the king attempts to
advance with, Ke7. Black now aims to give repeated check across the ranks with,
8. ... Ra1, the black rook is going to give constant distant checks on the long
side of the f-pawn. Should white try to preempt this with, 9. Re8 then black
returns to attacking the pawn from the rear with, 9. ... Rf1. White cannot make
progress, black has successfully demonstrated understanding of the drawing
method when the Philidor position is not available. Firstly, run the king over
to the short side of the passed pawn. Secondly, attack the passed pawn from the
rear. Thirdly, when all units except the defending king line up on the same
file as the pawn,
transfer the rook over to the long side to give constant distant attack along
the ranks.
Lastly, another drawing line with the option for a shock result due to careless
play, from the start, 1. Kg5 Rc5 2. Rb7+ Kf8 3. f5 Rxe5 4. Kf6 Re1, white
thinks an exchange of rooks will be beneficial. After, 5. Rb8+ Re8 6. Rxe8+
Kxe8, white invades further with, 7. Kg7 Ke7, and now white must be very
careful. There is a drawn line and a line winning for black! The draw is by
leaving the white f-pawn alone with, 8. Kg8 Kf6 9. Kf8 Kxf5 10. Kxf7. Instead
when both kings are standing on the black 2nd rank, if white advances the
f-pawn with, 8. f6+ Ke6, we have a position of mutual attack and defence. Each
king is attacking the enemy pawn while maintaining defensive contact with the
friendly pawn. Whoever has to move will lose their pawn, and here it is white
to move away from the g7 square and give black a gift of the white f6 pawn and
the full point as well.
* * *
## Annotated Guest Game.
White: Paul Benson, 2059.
Black: Ambika Prasad Singh, 1648.
Event: Tournoi Skype 20A 2016.
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves.
Opening: Sicilian Defence, English Attack, B90.
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3 Qc7
| The first move in a specific plan of queenside development. Instead there are
other variations for consideration:
Fighting for the centre with, 6. ... e5.
Trying to restrain any white central activity with, 6. ... e6.
Aiming for a serious dynamic middlegame battle with the hybrid Dragondorf, 6.
... g6.
Simple development of the b8 knight with either, 6. ... Nc6, or, 6. ... Nbd7.
||
7. f3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Bd7
| The planned black queenside pieces formation is complete. It is the d7 bishop
which is of most interest, being placed on d7 to take control of some light
squares, in particular the a4 square. ||
9. O-O-O Ne5
| This black knight is heading for the c4 square where it will either be able
to trade off the white e3 bishop or offer white the chance to trade off the f1
bishop with, Bxc4. In each case black gains the bishop pair with this knight
sortie. Instead getting on with development with, 9. ... e6, and then, 10. ...
Be7, was worth consideration, postponing committing the c6 knight for a few
moves. ||
10. Kb1
| White prefers to get a defensive retaliation in first. Removing the king from
the semi-open c-file is not actually necessary. However previous experience in
this lines has revealed the vacated c1 square can be quite useful for a
different piece other than the king. Instead carrying on with the thematic
kingside expansion with, 10. g4, was a more dynamic choice. ||
10. ... e6
11. g4 b5
12. g5 b4
| Sharp play from black. The d7 bishop is both a hero and villain all at the
same time. It prevents the white knight from drifting to the a4 square, with
further invasion options on the b6 square if desired. However, on d7 the same
bishop denies the f6 knight the most natural retreat square when the white
g-pawn advances. Win some, lose some. ||
13. Nce2
| White has no desire to gamble with creating unclear long-term positional
consequences beginning with, 13. gxf6 bxc3 14. fxg7 Bxg7 15. Qxc3, where white
wins a pawn but black will always have activity. ||
13. ... Nc4
14. Qc1
| The vacated c1 square is already proving useful. ||
14. ... Nh5
15. Ng3 Nxg3
| A trade of pluses and minuses. White now has the semi-open h-file with
pressure against the black h7 pawn. However the lack of a white h-pawn means
the usual plan of advancing it to assist in opening up the black kingside is no
longer available. ||
16. hxg3 Nxe3
17. Qxe3 g6
| Perhaps the black f8 bishop will be better posted on e7 where it will assist
in defensive duties. White now has a good plan available here, but it requires
tactical awareness to take the best that is possible. ||
18. f4 Bg7
19. f5 e5
| White to play must find the next game move or the opportunity to make a large
positional gain will be missed. ||
20. f6 Bf8
| Instead, 20. exd4 21. fxg7, white can ignore the attack on the queen as, 21.
dxe3 22. gxh8=Q+, white gets the queen back while winning a rook into the
bargain. If black tries, 20. ... exd4 21. fxg7 Rg8, then, 22. Qxd4, protects
the strong white g7 pawn and leaves black with problems of how to save the h7
pawn. ||
21. Nb3
| White now has a big plus with several good plans in mind. Perhaps a slow
manoeuvring of the b3 knight to the d5 square. There is also the slightly
materialistic doubling of rooks up the h-file to win the black h7 pawn. The
chosen game continuation seems to offer good prospects as well. Black on the
other hand has some serious problems over how to develop the kingside pieces.
||
21. ... a5
| Even though it will cost a pawn, perhaps black should play, 21. ... d5,
giving some development options to the locked-in f8 bishop. ||
22. Nd2 Rc8
| Threatening the white c2 pawn. White must defend this pawn, there are a few
options available, a hint was given earlier as how this pawn should be
defended. ||
23. Rc1
| Somewhat counter-intuitive. Surely the rook is better placed on the semi-open
d-file where it brings pressure on the black backward d6 pawn? Not really.
White very much prefers to have the black f8 bishop and h8 rook kept immobile
for as long as possible. So, white will ignore the d6 pawn and instead focus on
opening up the queenside and make use of the, "extra", two pieces. ||
23. ... Be6
24. Bb5+ Bd7
25. Bxd7+ Kxd7
| Perhaps, 25. ... Qxd7, getting the black queen off the c-file was better, but
even so black will effectively still be two pieces down. ||
26. Qb3 Ke8
27. c3
| The point of transferring the white rook from d1 to the c1 square is
revealed. The rook not only defended the c2 pawn but has now supported the
necessary queenside pawn-break to open up the position. Rooks can take up
defensive roles behind pawns with later intentions of supporting aggression. ||
27. ... bxc3
| Black will always have problems with the queenside pawns once the position
opens up. It is almost certain white will trade off all the heavy pieces on the
queenside and end up with connected passed pawns. Of course, once the white
queen departs from the c1 - h6 diagonal and the h1 rook moves over to the
queenside then black can plan a break-out with, pawn h6. It is then a question
of white holding the centre / kingside while advancing with the queenside
connected passed pawns. White should be able to convert this sort of advantage
without any real problems. ||
28. Rxc3 Qd7
| White has had it quite comfortable since the black bishop retreated to the f8
square. Now is the time for some accurate analysis to take the most from the
position. ||
29. Rhc1
| Careless. Under the circumstances this must be considered a mistake. The game
move is good enough to win, but there is a much stronger line available here
for white. It begins with, 29. Rxc8+ Qxc8 30. Rc1, and black then has to select
from:
(A). 30. ... Qd7 31. Qb8+ Qd8 32. Qb5+ Qd7 33. Rc8+, is mate.
(B). 30. ... Qg4 31. Qb8+ Kd7 32. Qc8+, is mate.
(C). 30. ... Qa8 31. Qb5+ Kd8 32. Qb6+ Ke8 33. Rc7, when white is threatening,
34. Qb5+, and mate to follow on the d7 square. Black can delay a variety of
mates by giving up the f8 bishop with, 34. ... Be7, but perhaps resignation
would be less painful. ||
29. ... Rc5
30. Rxc5 dxc5
31. Qb8+ Qd8
32. Qxe5+
Black resigns, 1-0
| Black is about to lose another pawn without gaining any play. If, 32. ... Kd7
33. Nb3, and white is targetting the weak black queenside pawns, in particular
the c5 pawn. Some sample continuations run:
(A). 33. ... Qb6 34. Nxc5+ Bxc5 35. Rxc5, when the black king is still
tremendously exposed. If now, 35. ... Re8 36. Rd5+ Kc6 37. Qxe8+, white wins a
rook with more to follow.
(B). 33. ... Qb6 34. Nxc5+ Bxc5 35. Rxc5 Qe6 36. Qc7+ Ke8 37. Re5, winning the
black queen for a rook is good enough, there will be other strong ideas to be
found instead of, 37. Re5.
(C). 33. ... Qc7 34. Nxc5+ Bxc5 35. Qxc7+ Kxc7 36. Rxc5+ Kb6 37. Re5 h6 38. Re7
hxg5 39. Rxf7 Rh3 40. e5 Rxg3 41. e6, and the connected passed pawns roll
through. ||
* * *
## Unannotated Guest Game.
White: Paul Benson, 2059.
Black: Ambika Prasad Singh, 1648.
Event: Tournoi Skype 20A 2016.
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves.
Opening: Sicilian Defence, English Attack, B90.
1. e4 c5
2. Nf3 d6
3. d4 cxd4
4. Nxd4 Nf6
5. Nc3 a6
6. Be3 Qc7
7. f3 Nc6
8. Qd2 Bd7
9. O-O-O Ne5
10. Kb1 e6
11. g4 b5
12. g5 b4
13. Nce2 Nc4
14. Qc1 Nh5
15. Ng3 Nxg3
16. hxg3 Nxe3
17. Qxe3 g6
18. f4 Bg7
19. f5 e5
20. f6 Bf8
21. Nb3 a5
22. Nd2 Rc8
23. Rc1 Be6
24. Bb5+ Bd7
25. Bxd7+ Kxd7
26. Qb3 Ke8
27. c3 bxc3
28. Rxc3 Qd7
29. Rhc1 Rc5
30. Rxc5 dxc5
31. Qb8+ Qd8
32. Qxe5+
Black resigns, 1-0
* * *
