[blind-chess] Re: Another look at the Uwe-Alvin game
- From: Rebecca Redmile <amrywoddyddiauheulog@xxxxxxxxx>
- To: blind-chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
- Date: Mon, 10 May 2010 09:01:50 +0100
Brilliant commentary for me a beginner to read. Thank you so much.
Rebecca
On 2010-05-10, at 1:43 AM, Roderick Macdonald wrote:
> As most chess players know, there are 20 possible ways for white to
> make his first move, and black then has 20 possible ways in which
> to reply. thus there are 400 possible ways for a complete first
> move in chess. Not all of these moves are "good", but very likely
> some game, somewhere, has featured every one of the 400
> possibilities.
>
> The vast majority of chess games nowadays, at least among strong
> players, can be reduced to just four first moves for white. In
> their order of popularity they are:
>
> 1. e4
> 2. d4
> 3. Nf3
> 4. c4
>
> Most chess "experts" recommend that beginners play 1. e4, and being
> a beginner of about 60 years' duration, I usually do. This opening
> tends to lead to "open" games, with an early attempt at a clear
> advantage.
>
> When a player begins with 1. d4, it usually signifies that he is a
> "positional" player, looking for long-term strategic advantage from
> a solid position.
>
> When a player begins with 1. Nf3, it is a safe assumption that he
> is "holding back" his intentions until he sees how black will
> attempt to set up his position, and then counter it.
>
> The move 1. c4 - the English Opening - can be either sharp like an
> open game, or positional like a closed opening.
>
> This brief introduction does not mean that other moves are "bad".
> In the hands of the right player 1. g3 can be very effective.
> Napoleon liked to play 1. Nc3. But beginners like you and I should
> not waste our time on "flank openings" until and unless we really
> understand what we are doing, because these first moves are really
> used just to be "different", or to get "out of the book".
>
> So now let us take a look at the recent Uwe-Alvin game. I will
> leave their comments in place and add a few of my own.
>
> Open chess match number 1
> Uwe vs. Alvin
>
> 1. d4 ...
> Uwe: White occupies an important central square. He
> tries to control the black squares.
> Rod: In the classification of chess openings, this move
> is known as the "Queen's Pawn" opening. It invariably
> evolves into something more definitive.
>
> 1. ... d5
> Alvin: Black moves to control the center squares of the
> board. A "closed" game where both Pawns have the
> immediate protection of their respective Queen.
> Rod: The classical response to the Queen's Pawn
> opening. Black's first move leads to a symmetrical pawn
> structure in the center. Most of the time, however, one
> player or the other is going to try to disrupt this
> symmetry.
>
> 2. Nf3 ...
> Uwe: White brings his first piece into the battle. The
> knight on f3 controls the center (squares d4,e5)
> perfectly.
> Rod: As the opening evolves, we now have what is called
> the "Queen's Pawn, Zukertort Variation". White's second
> move is something of a "waiting" move. More common for
> white is 2. c4, but we'll get there.
>
> 2. ... Nf6
> Alvin: Black brings out his first piece, protecting d5
> and attacking e4.
> Rod: Black, too, is waiting to see how white sets up.
> Now it is the "Queen's Pawn, Zukertort, Chigorin
> Variation". Both sides have adopted a similar approach
> to controlling the center.
>
> 3. g3 ...
> Uwe: Controls the black squares f4,h4; developing the
> bishop to g2 from where it attacks the white squares
> along the h1-a8-diagonal (e4,d5).
> Rod: Now we have the "Queen's Pawn, Zukertort,
> Chigorin, Catalan Variation". Both 3. c4 and 3. Nc3 are
> more usual here.
>
> 3. ... e6
> Alvin: Black anticipates White's Fianchettoed Bishop
> and gives additional protection to its d5 Pawn and
> opens a path for its f8 Bishop to develop.
> Rod: Black's setup is a typical "orthodox" formation
> against the Queen's Gambit - which white hasn't
> committed to as yet. Slightly more aggressive was 3.
> ... c5,, while 3. ... Nc6 and 3. ... g6 are also lead
> to equality for black.
>
> 4. c4 ...
> Uwe: Once White decided to control the black squares,
> he should attack and occupy the white squares
> (c4,b5,d5,e4). 4. c4 occupies a white square, attacks
> d5 (indirectly e4).
> Rod: Ah, here we are - a typical Queen's Gambit, which
> is not really a gambit at all because black cannot
> capture a pawn and hope to keep it. Other possibilities
> for white include 4. Bg2, 4. Nc3, 4. Be3 and 3. Bf4.
>
> 4. ... Bd6
> Alvin: Black continues to develop and work toward
> Castling his King.
> Rod: 4. ... Nc6 would be a more natural response for
> black. If black wants to move his kingside bishop, 4.
> ... Bb4+ is more aggressive, while 4. ... Be7 seems a
> more logical resting place for the bishop. 4. ... dxc4
> and 4. ... c5 are also to be considered.
>
> 5. Bg2 ...
> Rod: An obvious choice. However, 5. Nc3 0-0 6. Bg5 Be7
> 7. cxd5 Nxd5 8. Bxe7 Qxe7 9. Bg2 Bd7 10. 0-0 Bc6 11.
> Qd3 Nd7 gives white a slight advantage.
>
> 5. ... dxc4
> Alvin: Black captures undefended soldier.
> Rod: Now we have a Queen's Gambit Accepted. While black
> captures the "unprotected" pawn, it quickly becomes
> apparent that white can recapture quite easily. the
> problem is that black, by capturing the c4 pawn, is
> giving up his claim to control in the center. Much
> better for black to continue normal development with 5.
> ... 0-0 or 5. ... Nc6.
>
> 6. Qa4+ ...
> Uwe: with the idea to recapturing on c4.
> Rod: The quickest way to recapture the pawn. But white
> should instead try for continued smooth development
> with 6. 0-0 or 6. Nbd2. For example: 6. 0-0 0-0 7. Nbd2
> Bd7 8. Nxc4 Bc6 9. Be3 Nbd7 10. Rc1 Nb6 11. Nxd6
> clearly favors white.
>
> 6. ... Nc6
> Alvin: Good move for White. Black can only block check
> on King.
> Rod: 6. ... Bd7 is slightly better. e.g.: 6. ... Bd7 7.
> Qxc4 Bc6 8. Nc3 Nbd7 9. 0-0 0-0 10. Qd3 Re8 11. Bd2 h6
> 12. Rad1 Qe7 13. e4 Bb4 with a slight edge for white.
>
> 7. Qxc4 ...
> Rod: As noted earlier, white is in no hurry to regain
> the "lost" pawn. Continuing white development with 7.
> Nc3 or 7. 0-0 should also be considered.
>
> 7. ... O-O
> Alvin: King safety is first.
> Rod: Good move. Both 7. ... h6 and 7. ... a6 are also
> good defensive moves here.
>
> 8. O-O ...
> Rod: Good move here, too. 8. Nc3 is equally good here.
>
> 8. ... a6
> Rod: Umm, while not bad, black should complete his
> piece development with 8. ... Bd7. A possible
> continuation might be: 8. ... Bd7 9. Nc3 h6 10. e4 e5
> 11. Nxe5 Nxe5 12. dxe5 Bxe5 13. Be3 b6 14. Rfd1 Qe7 15.
> f4 Be6 with a slight edge for white.
>
> 9. Bg5 ...
> Uwe: By attacking and pinning the knight, White puts
> pressure on the white squares (d5,e4,h7).
> Rod: While this is not a bad move, it is not the best
> choice here. White should probably try to get his queen
> to a more comfortable square, such as c2. 9. Nc3 and 9.
> Rd1 are also good choices. The problem with the current
> move is that if black quickly attacks the bishop with
> 9. ... h6, white must either retreat or exchange the
> bishop for the knight on f6.
>
> 9. ... e5
> Alvin: Opening a path for the c8 Bishop.
> Rod: Not a good move. 9. ... h6 10. Bxf6 Qxf6 11. Nc3
> Bd7 12. Rfd1 Qf5 13. Ne5 Nxe5 14. dxe5 Bb5 15. Nxb5
> axb5 16. Qxb5 Qxe5 regains an equal position for black.
> The right place for the c8 bishop is on d7.
>
> 10. Nc3 ...
> Rod: A good move, both completing white's piece
> development and bring pressure ont he d5 square, which
> black has just abandoned with his last move. 10. d5 and
> 10. rd1 are also quite good.
>
> 10. ... exd4
> Rod: Or 10. ... Nxd4 11. Nxd4 exd4.
>
> 11. Nxd4 ...
> Rod: This sequence of exchanges can come in various
> ways, but the result is the same...
>
> 11. ... Be6
> Alvin: Move the defending Queen.
> rod: Oh NOOOOO! 11. ... Nxd4 is necessary here. Up to
> now both players have been playing like experts, with
> only minor variations from the "best". But black's 11th
> move is a real game-loser.
>
> 12. Nxe6 ...
> Rod: Of course.
>
> 12. ... fxe6
> Not a good move, but had to recapture.
> Rod: True, a necessary evil.
>
> 13. Qxe6+ ...
> rod: Right on.
>
> 13. ... Kh8
> Alvin: Cannot capture or block Queen attack, so must
> move King.
> Rod: Yeah, forced.
>
> 14. Qb3 ...
> Uwe: Attacking b7.
> Rod: Good choice.
>
> 14. ... h6
> Alvin: Attack g5 Bishop.
> Rod: Black's best chance seems to be 14. ... Rb8 15.
> Nd5 Qe8 16. Bxf6 gxf6 17. e3 Ne5 18. Rfd1 Qb5 19. Qc2
> Qc4 20. Nc3 Qf7 , but black's position is still
> perilous.
>
> 15. Bxf6 ...
> rod: Good move. Even better is 15. Qxb7 hxg5 16. Qxc6
> Rb8 17. b3 Be5 18. Rad1 Qe8 19. Na4 Qxc6 20. Bxc6 g4
> 21. Rd3 Kg8 22. Rc1 Bd6.
>
> 15. ... Qxf6
> Alvin: but now Black will lose the b7 Pawn.
> Rod: Much better than anything else.
>
> 16. Qxb7 ...
> Rod: The obvious next move.
>
> 16. ... Na5
> Alvin: running to avoid capture.
> Rod: Yes, well, other locations would be better. e.g.:
> 16. ... Ne7 17. Ne4 Qe6 18. Qb3 Qxb3 19. axb3 Rab8 20.
> Nxd6 cxd6 21. Rxa6 Rxb3 22. Rb1 d5 23. Re6 Rf7.
>
> 17. Qd5 ...
> Uwe: Saving the queen and attacking the knight again.
> Rod: Very good.
>
> 17. ... Qe5
> Alvin: Ready to capture Queen if she captures Knight.
> Rod: At this point 17. ... Bb4 would have been better.
>
> 18. Qxe5 ...
> Uwe: White wins the exchange (bishop vs. rook) on a8.
> Rod: Sorry, Alvin, it's time to go. Black is really
> lost.
>
> 18. ... Bxe5
>
> 19. Bxa8 ...
>
> 19. ... Rxa8
> Alvin: Black is down 4 points but the game continues.
>
> 20. Rac1 ...
> Uwe: White brings his rooks into the game and attacks
> the c7-pawn.
>
> 20. ... Rb8
> Alvin: Blacks Rook ready to capture White's Pawn on b2.
>
> 21. b3 ...
>
> 21. ... Bxc3
> Alvin: a necessary sacrifice
>
> 22. Rxc3 ...
>
> 22. ... Rc8
> Alvin: Getting ready for Whites battering ram.
>
> 23. Rfc1 ...
> Uwe: Putting more pressure on the c7-pawn.
>
> 23. ... c5
> Alvin: Black can hear a fat Lady humming.
>
> 24. Rxc5 ...
>
> 24. ... Rxc5
>
> 25. Rxc5 ...
>
> 25. ... Nb7
>
> 26. Rc6
> White offers a draw. and Black accepts gratefully .
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