Skype coaching session, 24 March 2019.
Firstly,a, "Find The Winning Tactic", position was studied.
Secondly, the game discussed (23 moves) is given below with annotations and
without annotations.
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
Paul Benson.
* * *
Find The Winning Tactic.
Movsesian - Minasian, Yerevan, 1983.
Algebraic Addresses.
White: Kg1, Qf4, Bh2, Ng5,
Pa4, Pb2, Pc2, Pe6, Pf2, Pg2, Ph3.
Black: Kg8, Qb8, Bf5, Bf8,
Pa6, Pb6, Pc5, Pd6, Pf6, Pg6, Pg7.
Fenn (White units in upper case, black units in lower case).
1q3bk1/
6p1/
pp1pPpp1/
2p2bN1/
P4Q2/
7P/
1PP2PPB/
6K1
Winning Variations.
(A). 1. e7 fxg5 2. Qc4+ Kh8 3. Bxd6 Qxd6 4. e8=Q, white has a queen vs the 2
black bishops.
(B). 1. e7 fxg5 2. Qc4+ Kh8 3. Bxd6 Bxe7 4. Bxd8, black has 2 bishops against
white queen and bishop.
(C). 1. e7 fxg5 2. Qc4+ Kh8 3. Bxd6 Qe8 4. exf8=Q+ Qxf8 5. Bxf8, white is a
whole queen up.
(D). 1. e7 Bxe7 2. Qc4+ Kf8 3. Qf7+ mate.
(E). 1. e7 Bxe7 2. Qc4+ Kh8 3. Qh4+ Kg8 4. Qh7+ Kf8 5. Qh8+ mate.
Discussion Of Tactics.
Line-Clearance with Attack Tempo: White plays, 1. e7, clearing the a2 - g8
diagonal for the white queen, this occurs with a very useful attack tempo on
the black f8 bishop.
Overloading and Deflection: In variations A, B, C, white plays, 2. Bxd6, and
the black queen has too many duties to perform, no single move meets all
defensive requirements, this is called overloading.
Variation A: Black queen captures, 3. ... Qxd6, she is defected from defending
against the e-pawn promotion on the e8 square.
Variation B: Black f8 bishop captures, 3. ... Bxe7, but the black b8 queen is
still attacked by the white bishop, she falls off.
Variation C: Black queen escapes danger, 3. ... Qe8, but white has the support
of the d6 bishop to win a piece back while promoting the e7 pawn to a new
queen.
* * *
## Annotated Game.
White: A. Bisguier.
Black: J. Littlewood.
Event: Hastings 1961-62.
Result: 0-1 in 23 moves.
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defence, D07.
1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 Nc6
| The Chigorin Defence, aiming for quick piece development combined with an
option of an early, pawn e5, break if white is willing to play along. ||
3. c4
| White takes up the challenge.
Instead, 3. g3, is a solid approach, while, 3. Bf4, keeps white in a possible
always-intended London system, and for those wishing to counter-stamp the game
with their own independence, 3. Nc3, should suffice. ||
3. ... Bg4
| Black goes, "Mainlining", within the offbeat system.
From here on in up to black move 9, both players can deviate from the game
moves, but should they do so, they will be straying from the moves chosen by
the vast majority.
This is not implying deviating is weak, it is just that players for both sides
feel there is much to be gained by following the well-trodden track.
So note very carefully how imbalances arise which set the scene for both an
interesting and testing middlegame. ||
4. cxd5
| Forcing matters.
Instead, 4. Nc3, or, 4. pawn e3, or, 4. Qa4, offer greater flexibility, while,
4. Bf4, or, 4. Nbd2, require more extensive testing before a judgement can be
made.
The game continuation about to emerge leads to a position rich in imbalance and
therefore opportunity for creativity. ||
4. ... Bxf3
| Setting up Imbalance Trade One.
Black is willing to offer the bishop pair in in return for doubling the white
f-pawns, note this is an offer, white does not have to accept it. ||
5. gxf3
| Imbalance Trade One Accepted!
Instead, 5. dxc6 Bxc6, the bishop retreats down the a8 - h1 diagonal to
maintain material equality, white is left with the problem of how to develop
the kingside. ||
5. ... Qxd5
| It is only move 5, black is 2 development tempi ahead and white must protect
the doubly-attacked d4 pawn.
Makes one wonder how so many strong players with white can find themselves
ensnared into such a position, right? ||
6. e3 e5
| The white d4 pawn is now triply-attacked and again under threat.
Moreover, the black f8 bishop is ready to spring into action.
Perhaps this black system should be renamed, "The Chigorin Attack"? ||
7. Nc3 Bb4
| Setting up Imbalance Trade Two. ||
8. Bd2
| The pin on the white c3 knight is broken, the black queen on d5 is endangered
again.
Instead, 8. a3, forces black into, 8. ... Bxc3+ 9. bxc3, when white has
thoughts of influencing the central dark squares with, Bb2, not many have
explored this idea, fresh territory for some home research here. ||
8. ... Bxc3
| Imbalance Trade Two Achieved!
Black will enter the middlegame with a pair of knights seeking good outposts,
white will be trying to keep a flexible pawn-centre capable of rolling forward
at the right moment, releasing the bishop pair to start dominating the
position.
Grand Masters find these battles intriguing, Club Players find them enjoyable
minefields in which each hopes the opponent will self-destruct.
Understanding how to handle each side of this type of position could easily
take several chapters in a middlegame book.
Perhaps a simplistic approach for the student would be to examine some games,
noting carefully how each remaining piece is deployed in order to achieve some
coordination, and taking very careful note of who makes pawn moves, where, and
why.
At Club Player level it is much about avoiding making mistakes, finding plans
which do no harm should be the approach, allow the opponent to make their own
plans and respond accordingly.
This is essentially a re-packaging of, "Get on with development while seeking
harmonious coordination". ||
9. bxc3
| On my limited database no one seems to want to experiment with a bishop
capture here.
The game choice has nothing to do with the bishop and the a1 - h8 diagonal, but
everything to do with offering the white a1 rook a semi-open b-file for
middlegame action.
Black is standing at an important fork in the road of opening theory, either
carry on forcing the pace or calmly re-group which permits white to choose from
a wide range of tries. ||
9. ... exd4
| Black chooses to keep pressuring white.
Instead the calmer, 9. ... Qd6, offers white a free hand for a move.
No less than 9 responses are available, 10. Rb1, the most popular, with, 10.
Bg2, and, 10. Qb3, jointly sharing a vastly less popular second place, other
moves need far more testing.
Having enjoyed some interactivity since move 4, each player now takes some time
to catch up on non-interactive development before settling back down to some
good old-fashioned fisticuffs. ||
10. cxd4 Nf6
11. Rb1 O-O
| Considerably safer than sending the black king queenside with, 11. ... O-O-O,
when the white queen will have immediate activity with, 12. Qa4.
On g8 the black king might seem vulnerable to some kingside pressure, but just
how is white to mount pressure on the g7 pawn without letting black create
counter-activity against the white centre-file pawns?
White is to play and work out whether black has blundered by overlooking an
attack on the undefended b7 pawn. ||
12. Be2
| Correctly resisting the greed.
Instead after, 12. Rxb7 Nxd4, the white b7 rook is exposed, so, 13. Rxc7 Nxf3+,
it looks like an indirect double-pawn trade, right?
Not so, because after, 14. Ke2 Nxd2, white is temporarily a piece down and the
h1 rook is attacked by the black d5 queen.
There are more variations beginning with, 12. Rxb7, to be found, but the play
black achieves when the line reaches, 14. Nxd2, are, unsurprisingly, wonderful
for black. ||
12. ... Rfe8
13. O-O Rad8
| Black has chosen simple developing moves, there is nothing concrete yet, but
white must now start taking care over possible looming threats to the skulking
pair of bishops on the white 2nd rank.
In return, what has white been gaining over the recent few moves?
Not much, so just what is white aiming for in this game?
Simple, if possible, exchange queens, all rooks, and settle down to
demonstrating this pawn structure should give the bishop pair great optimism of
outplaying the black pair of knights.
Combine this with white being a Grand Master and black being an untitled local
representative in the event, and the imbalance in the position drifts even
further into favouring white in a bishops versus knights ending. ||
14. a4
| Black has been correctly resisting snatching the white a2 pawn for a few
moves.
Centralising rooks and especially defending the b7 pawn with a tactic, Nxd4, is
of far greater value than removing that distant white a-pawn.
We haven't had for a while that phrase that pays: "Initiative Over Material!"
Had the black queen wandered queenside with, Qxa2, at any point, white would
have jumped in with, Rxb7, leaving black with isolated and easily targetable
queenside pawns, it is white who would then have the Initiative, and without
any investment whatsoever.
Instead of queenside activity, white might have considered a kingside
re-grouping of, Kh1, with, Rg1, to follow when appropriate.
Guess what?
That excellent Fischerism: "In chess it is important to know when to punch and
when to duck.", most often applied in opposite-wing melees, can also apply when
kings reside on the same wing. ||
14. ... Rd6
| A tripler.
Firstly, options of doubling on the e-file with, Rde6, are now available,
placing considerable x-ray pressure on the white e2 bishop.
Secondly, the c6 knight is given a little extra support, not needed yet, but
once the middlegame really gets rolling then who knows what the state of the c6
knight might be.
Thirdly, should the f6 knightmove elsewhere, then the black 3rd rank has been
cleared for a possible, Rg6+.
None of these small gains make direct threats against white, so is everything
still rosy in the white garden?
No, black is only, "Threatening To Threaten!", at the moment, as the phrase
goes: "All dressed up and nowhere to go."
But white dare not sit there treading water, sooner or later this black lead in
active development will coordinate against the white centre, forcing
concessions from white.
Chess For Tigers tells us to diagnose a difficult position early, accept
something needs doing, and do it as quickly as possible, and though this game
is played some 15 years before the book was published, those wily Grand Masters
new all about it without the helpful advice from Simon Webb. ||
15. e4
| White is offering a pawn to activate the bishops.
Black can approach this in a couple of ways.
Firstly, place head in hands and start calculating furiously, attempting to
find a set of lines where the white activity can be neutralised without losing
material along the way.
Secondly, simply accept that the Grand Master has assessed the loss of the pawn
will greatly favour the bishops in the endgame, and find some means of
declining the pawn without having the position fall apart. ||
15. ... Qh5
| An excellent reply, let the mutual testing of, "The Tactical Event Horizons",
begin.
Black is keeping the middlegame rolling, with 4 centralised pieces aimed at the
white pawn centre there should be lots of awkward questions for white to
answer.
A few sample lines of what white had in mind had black accepted the white d4
pawn run:
(A). If, 15. ... Qxd4 16. Bf4 Qxd1 17. Rfxd1, Rxd1 18. Bxd1, black must find a
means of defending both the c7 and b7 pawns, can't be done, so white will soon
have material equality with an active bishop pair.
(B). Or if, 15. ... Qxd4 16. Bf4 Rd7 17. Rxb7, the black queenside pawns have
suddenly become targets, black will be defending for a long time without any
material compensation.
Black is deliberately keeping the tension and in doing so demonstrating how
lower rated players should play against stronger players.
Maintain complications in the hope that something favourable might emerge which
neither player could have foreseen at the outset.
This is of course dangerous, but surely going down in a mass of complexity in
which the opponent could also blunder is better than slowly being squeezed off
the board?
Before closing this comment, with, 15. ... Qh5, black needed to calculate the
ramifications of white forking pieces with, 16. e5. ||
16. d5
| White needed to do something about the threatened, Rxd4, when black wins a
pawn under far more favourable circumstances.
Instead, 16. e5, gives black a powerful attack beginning with, 16. ... Rxd4,
when, 17. exf6 Rh4 18. Re1 Rxh2 19. f4 Rh1+ 20. Kg2 Qh3+ mate, is a fine
example of heavy piece coordination against a severely-undefended king.
Note also that after, 16. e5 Rxd4, white must cope with threats of, Nxe5, or,
Rxe5, or, Red8, all giving black a tremendous game, which explains why white
chooses to push with, pawn d5.
Lastly, 16. f4 Qg6+ 17. Kh1 Qxe4+ 18. Bf3 Qxd4, and black has both 2 extra
pawns and the compensation. ||
16. ... Nd4
| Despite not being anchored by a black pawn, this knight has found an
excellent outpost.
No white pawn can dislodge it, and furthermore some tactics on the light
squares are now available, showing the gains to be made from the pair of black
rooks sitting on the central files.
All the joy in the position is with black, attacking opportunities are here to
be found, and John Littlewood is an excellent tactician... ||
17. Rxb7
| White finally decides to snatch this pawn, perhaps overlooking a possible
black reply along the way?
Instead, 17. Bf4 Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Rxd5 19. Bxc7 b6, there is material equality
and more importantly, the powerfully-placed black d4 knight has exchanged
itself off, but can black improve on this?
Perhaps, 17. Bf4 Rxd5 18. exd5 Nxe2+ 19. Kh1 Nxf4 20. Rxb7 Qxd5 21. Qxd5 N6xd5
22. Rxa7 Rc8, when black has 3 attacking units to assist the advancing passed
c7 pawn, but might well struggle to cope with the white passed a4 pawn.
Black is to play and prove the Fischerism: "Tactics flow from a positionally
superior game." ||
17. ... Nxe4
| Exploiting the pin on the white f3 pawn.
One would have thought that black placing the queen on h5 would be creating
problems for the queen, not so.
Every black piece is better than every white piece, in the hands of a seasoned
tactician this game should not last long.
Other moves for black do not maximise.
Instead, 17. ... Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Nxd5 19. Kh1 Rg6 20. Rg1, and white is not
being mated.
Though, 17. ... Nxe2+ 18. Qxe2 Nxe4, still gives white problems, but the
inclusion of a trade on e2 only assists white to untangle.
By resisting exchanging on e2 black leaves white with more tactical headaches
to solve.
Lastly, when a piece moves options for others are created, here the black 3rd
rank is now cleared for the d6 rook to join the kingside assault. ||
18. Bf4
| A tripler.
Firstly, the black d6 rook is attacked by the f4 bishop.
Secondly, the black d4 knight is now attacked by the white d1 queen.
Thirdly, on f4 the white bishop has ideas of strengthening the white kingside
defences.
Instead, 18. fxe4 Nxe2+ 19. Kg2 Qg4+ 20. Kh1 Qf3+ mate, shows why black
resisted exchanging a potential target on e2.
Or trying for king safety with, Kh1, and then, Rg1, is too slow, 18. Kh1 Nxd2
19. Qxd2 Nxe2, white is a piece down and must defend against the black threat
of, Qxf3+ mate, combine this with a possible black, Rh6 threatening mate on h2,
and black is easily winning.
Black is to play, there are 3 pieces under attack, perhaps fortune does not
always favour the bold? ||
18. ... Rg6+
| Now only 2 black pieces under attack. ||
19. Bg3 Nc3
| So simple, the white dark square bishop is no longer guarding the c3 square,
black is winning at least a piece and the attack will continue. ||
20. Qd3
| Clearly, 20. Qxd4 Nxe2+ 21. Kh1 Nxd4, leaving white a whole queen down will
not occur.
The game is essentially over, the only white hope is that black will somehow
permit a back-rank mate. ||
20. ... Ncxe2+
| Is there any great reason why the black c3 knight captures on e2 rather than
the d4 knight?
Yes, with knights on e2 and d4, both can bring influence to bear on the scene
of action, the white kingside. ||
21. Kh1
| Instead, 21. Kg2 Nf4+ 22. Kh1 Nxd3, white is a whole queen down.
Black to play and close in for a remarkably quick kill. ||
21. ... Qh3
| Black Active Attacker Count = 4, queen on h3, rook on g6, knight on e2,
knight on d4.
White Relevant Defender Count = 1, bishop on g3, though the rook on f1 and
queen on d3 are in the general region, their contributions to the defence are
minimal.
The rest of the game from the black perspective is to find a clinical finish in
the quickest time possible.
Club Players might choose to leave this, "Point Of Pride", in the realm of
Masters.
Remember, a win in 25 moves only gets the same reward as a win in, 35 moves, 45
moves, 55 moves and so on.
By all means, search for a neat combination to finish a game off, but when
clearly winning do not try flashy ideas unless you are sure they genuinely
work. ||
22. Rfb1
| White can only set up snares for black to avoid.
The doubling of white rooks on the b-file does nothing by force, but an
extremely careless black move could leave the black back rank vulnerable.
While some hope is better than no hope, white must surely have been certain
that black will find the correct idea to conclude matters.
Black to play and crash through. ||
22. ... Rxg3
| The white g3 bishop was holding the white defences together, so black simply
eliminates it.
The g6 rook was selected for the task to permit the remaining black forces to
coordinate in the chase of the white king into the centre.
Furthermore, white does not have time to ignore black as, 23. ... Qg2+ mate is
threatened. ||
23. fxg3 Nxg3+
White resigns, 0-1
| Club Players would, quite reasonably in this sort of position, demand to be
shown the completion of the chase.
After, 24. Kg1 Nde2+ 25. Kf2 Qxh2+ 26. Ke1, the white king has been driven into
an x-ray attack up the e-file from the black e8 rook.
The most efficient conclusion is, 26. Nc3+, when white can only block the e8
rook discovered check by giving up the queen, perhaps, 27. Qe4, but now black
has the smooth, 27. ... Qe2+ 28. Qxe2 Rxe2+ mate, the black knights are
completely immobilising the white king while the black rook clinches the point.
A rather strange but pleasing final picture, note carefully how the pair of
black knights do not interact with each other, but separately play their own
important part in the mating weave by restricting the white king to the e1
square. ||
* * *
## Unannotated Game.
White: A. Bisguier.
Black: J. Littlewood.
Event: Hastings 1961-62.
Result: 0-1 in 23 moves.
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Chigorin Defence, D07.
1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 Nc6
3. c4 Bg4
4. cxd5 Bxf3
5. gxf3 Qxd5
6. e3 e5
7. Nc3 Bb4
8. Bd2 Bxc3
9. bxc3 exd4
10. cxd4 Nf6
11. Rb1 O-O
12. Be2 Rfe8
13. O-O Rad8
14. a4 Rd6
15. e4 Qh5
16. d5 Nd4
17. Rxb7 Nxe4
18. Bf4 Rg6+
19. Bg3 Nc3
20. Qd3 Ncxe2+
21. Kh1 Qh3
22. Rfb1 Rxg3
23. fxg3 Nxg3+
White resigns, 0-1
* * *
