Hello all,
As a participant of the tournament, I am fulfilling a requirement by annotating
a game. Please bear with me as this is my first foray into the realm of game
analysis. This is a game annotated by Paul Benson. I pasted an unannotated
version below, followed by my own analysis, and then comes the analysis by
Benson.
My approach was to play the first set move, make white’s second move and then
consider possibilities for black before reading Benson’s comments. Then I would
repeat the process for the next move for black.
Unannotated version of the game:
1. Nf3 f5
2. e4 fxe4
3. Ng5 d5
4. d3 exd3
5. Bxd3 Nf6
6. Nxh7 Nxh7
7. Bg6+ Kd7
8. Qxd5+ mate
## Bland’s Annotated game 1.
White: H. Haberditz.
Black: Hysek.
Event: Wenen 1938.
Result: 1-0 in 8 moves.
Opening: Reti Opening, Dutch Defence, Lisitsyn Gambit, A04.
1. Nf3 f5
...I am not familiar with this opening, so was taken by surprise by f5.
2. e4
...My initial question is why not take the pawn and threaten the knight because
there is no apparent threat or possibility of recapture. Other options are e6
or d5, either of which provides an opportunity for recapture. Pawn to d5 would
open the bishop diagonal though. Given that I am not familiar with this
opening, I would move d4.
Benson’s comment:..."e4 is a good tactical move" – but I am not sure why at
this point. So following black’s fxe4...
3. Ng5 for white places black in an awful predicament because from
there white can move to f7, attacking both rook and queen, with only the king
to capture f7. This would prevent castling, and expose the king. While pawn to
e6 would open diagonals for the queen and king’s bishop, d5 does more: protects
e4 and c4. The c4 would be a square to which the bishop could go if the black
king captures Nf7. The queen also protects d5.
Benson’s comment: "main choices for black are Nf6 and e5". While I see that Nf3
protects e4, I’m not sure I understand why e5 is good, because there would be
double pawns (e5 and e4, and e4 is unprotected and potentially under attack
from Ng5). So...
4. d3 My response to this move would beNf6 to cover e4 and g4 (empty
at this point with the possibility of attacking the queen with the c8 bishop).
After exd3,
5. Bxd3 In response I would move pawn to g6 to forestall the bishop
moving there or the queen moving to h5 to call check. Now I see that black
moved Nf6, which is too late in my view.
6. Bxh7 I did not expect this move from white, but now it seems the
best move for black is Nxh7, even though the white bishop covers that square.
Pawn to g6 at this point would have been futile because Bxg6 is also check. Had
g6, Bxg6+, Kd7 happened, Nxf6+ would have caused the loss of the black knight
and allowed a temporary escape.
The end result is the same.
My take-away from this game is: why would black open with f5 if it seems there
is no way to win with that opening? Perhaps there are good moves that I need to
figure out for success for black with the f5 opening.
*****
Please give me some feedback – I’m sure I missed some points that may well be
obvious, but they were not to me at the time.
Thanks.
Marilyn
1-0 Benson’s Annotated version of game 1.
White: H. Haberditz.
Black: Hysek.
Event: Wenen 1938.
Result: 1-0 in 8 moves.
Opening: Reti Opening, Dutch Defence, Lisitsyn Gambit, A04.
1. Nf3 f5
2. e4
| Puzzling. The typical player of the Reti / King's Indian / English systems is
not renowned for hand-to hand combat this early in the game. So, why is there a
gambit on offer instead of the usual quiet development? Perhaps because it
offers some really neat tricks without much risk for white. What tricks you
ask? ||
2. ... fxe4
| Options for black are limited here. Instead, 2. e5, entering into the
tactical world of the Latvian Defence is the only other serious choice. With
such a small range of replies to be studied, it becomes worthwhile for players
of, 1. Nf3, to adopt the Lisitsyn Gambit into the repertoire. ||
3. Ng5
| The alternative, 3. Ne5, seems not to be played. Undoubtedly this is because
the knight on g5 offers too many potential rewards. ||
3. ... d5
| The other main choices for black here are, 3. ... Nf6, and, 3. e5. White
almost always follows up with the offer of the gambit pawn as shown by the next
white move. Play can be very sharp and brutal in this entire system where white
lands a knight on the g5 square. If you like this sort of game for white then
some homework is necessary. If you respond to the Reti Opening, 1. Nf3,with, 1.
... f5, you will need to have a prepared line in your repertoire to combat it.
If you try to work variations out at the board you are likely to suffer badly.
||
4. d3
| White offers a gambit pawn for 2 development tempi and dangerous activity. ||
4. ... exd3
| Black takes up the fight. There is still time to steer the game in different
directions with, 4. ... Nf6, or, 4. e5. Is the white offer sound? Such a
judgement is not possible, the middlegame play, should you get there, can be
complex. Theory tells us it is very dangerous to stray into this from either
side without preparation. ||
5. Bxd3
| White has much activity on the light squares in the kingside. Is this worth a
pawn? Many players of the white pieces believe they have chances in this
position. Note the word: Chances. Black to play and strengthen those kingside
weaknesses. Take some time, there are tricks to avoid. ||
5. ... Nf6
| What? So simple? The h7 pawn is now doubly protected, the white queen has no
entry point on the h5 square. Wat is the fuss all about? Surely black has a
pawn and prevented any disasters with this easy logical development move? No.
White to play and show black precisely what this system can offer. ||
6. Nxh7
| Ouch! That was not supposed to happen. Now the light squares in the black
kingside are even weaker before the, "logical", defensive move, 5. ... Nf6. ||
6. ... Nxh7
| Resignation was a slightly quicker way to end the game here. No improvements
will be offered here for black, as it is hoped anyone venturing into this
system with black will avoid this position like the plague it is. ||
7. Bg6+
| Light squares, light squares, light squares. The more materialistic with a
sadistic streak amongst us might choose, 7. Qh5+ Kd7 8. Bxh7, regaining the
piece and the threats continue. White can do slightly better than regaining
material. ||
7. ... Kd7
8. Qxd5+ mate
1-0
