All,
this game is an excellent illustration of the poisoned nature of pawns when
tactics are abundant, yet alone being another demonstration of the
precariousness of loose pieces. Despite lecturing constantly about the
necessity for the consolidation of pieces and the validity of mutual
defence, basing a strategy on the distraction of a loose figure, can
ultimately not conform to a valid foundation.
Here, black follows all of the principals of the opening and makes an
attempt to exploit whites slightly unusual move-order. Blacks idealistic
positional play is flawed though at a basic level and his misconception of a
tactical vulnerability rebounds on him with devastating effect.
Whites conduct of the king-side attack and impressive dismantling of the
black defences is worthy of acclaim.
White is a junior, clearly making huge steps in his chess development, but
the maturity he shows in the precise way he puts black to the sword, is no
less indicative of Master play.
Enjoy!
[Event "4NCL Division 2a"]
[Site "Birmingham, ENG"]
[Date "2016.01.24"]
[Round "4.241"]
[White "Asenov, Pavel"]
[Black "Ross, Chris N"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2237"]
[BlackElo "2206"]
[EventDate "2016.01.24"]
[PlyCount "67"]
[WhiteTeam "Brown Jack Witney"]
[BlackTeam "MK Phoenix 1"]
{E85: King's Indian: Sämisch}
1. d4 g6
2. c4 Bg7
3. e4 d6
4. Nc3 Nf6
5. f3 O-O
6. Be3 e5
{The Sämisch variation. Much has been written about this variation and the
principals are obvious to comprehend. White supports his centre and creates
a platform to springboard his king-side attack. If permitted, black will
blockade the king-side and proceed merrily on the queen-side in an endeavour
to elicit an advantage.}
7. Nge2
{A slightly unorthodox move-order. Usually, white will play 7. D5 to gain
space in the centre. The text-move somewhat commits the white kings knight,
which may wish to be developed via h3, to f2, to aid in the king-side pawn
advance.
Here, black attempts to transpose the opening into the main-line classical
variations of the Kings Indian Defence. This is though, without white
having played Bf1-e2. A significant omission, for black will have Ng4
options if white were to play f3-f4 to strike out at a knight outposted on
e5.}
7... exd4
8. Nxd4 Nc6
9. Qd2
{White is intent on exchanging the dark-squared bishops, in the hope that
this will weaken the black kings position. Doing this though would leave
the light-squared bishop on f1 somewhat hindered by his own pawns, giving
black aspirations of a good-knight vs. bad-bishop ending.
If black could play this and enter into the end-game, he would stand a big
chance of being better, if not winning. In this particular encounter, white
has no concepts of the end-game, as he wants the game over and done with
well before that!}
9... Nd7
{Black re-routes his knight, heading for the important outposts on c5 and
e5. The text-move also prevents white from challenging the dark-squared
bishop on g7 as the knight on d4 would be left loose.
Qh4 checks are also in the offing if white is not careful.
In that sense then, white rids himself off that annoying check on h4 and
states his intension in the most emphatic of fashions.}
10. O-O-O
{Boldly played. White trusts in his setup, in that black is going to find it
difficult to make any immediate pawn-breaks to open up the white king.
Importantly though is that white has not expended a move playing Bf1-e2,
which in many variations of the Classical KID, he has. White has, in
respect, saved a whole tempo in that regard and can begin operations
immediately without having put this move in.}
10... Nde5
{Developing to the only outpost. Outposting on c5 will only loose material
after captures on c6 and then c5, since the D6-pawn will be pinned against
the black queen, white having doubled down the D-file. A tactical
difficulty, but not unsurmountable.
Black could re-route the knight via f8 to e6, to exert pressure on the
d4-square, an ideal outpost for the knight. To do this, black will have to
waste a move by playing Re8, but it is not clear that the rook belongs on
this square. Since the white light-squared bishop is not on e2 and
vulnerable to tactics down the E-file, the black rook has little impact down
that file. Indeed, black may have to consider playing f7-f5 at some stage to
free up his position.
Black must untangle his pieces and the text-move is intended to loosen the
tension on the position, with the idea of an exchange in the centre followed
by a further re-routing of the black steed.
In order for black to complete development, he must gain time for attacking
the C4-pawn, whites only vulnerable point. The outposted knight on e5 has a
possible route into g4 if prodded by f3-f4 and if the dark-squared bishops
are exchanged on g7, that good-knight vs. bad-bishop ending is looming for
white.}
11. Be2
{White finally commits his light-squared bishop, preventing the black knight
from hopping into g4. His rooks are connected and the bishop is not a
tactical liability down the E-file since black has not played Re8 and has
voluntarily blocked up the file with Ne5.}
11... Nxd4
12. Bxd4 Be6
{All seems well for black now, having completed development and gaining an
awkward tempo on the loose c4 pawn.
White has quite a major decision to make now. Occupying the d5 outpost may
allow black to exchange his poor bishop for an excellent knight, reaching
for that desired end-game. Playing b2-b3 weakens the long Dragon-Bishop
diagonal and creates an anchor for black with a7-a5-a4.}
13. f4!!
{Exploiting neatly the tactical flaw in blacks positional reasoning!
All of blacks structures and endeavours have been well thought-out, apart
from the fundamental lapse that a loose pawn capture on c4 will, in fact,
result in a loose minor piece for black. Although tempo is gained on the
loose c4-pawn, it cannot be captured. That single disregard of the
undefended nature of a loose piece in the middle of the board is blacks
undoing.
After this active and aggressive move, whites attack gathers tremendous
momentum. Despite black putting up a stubborn defence, the initiative is all
with white and his execution of the next stage of the game should be given a
lot of merit.}
13... Nc6
{Irritatingly, black cannot snatch the c4-pawn, putting a massive dent in
his positional setup. The outpost on e5 is lost, pressure is not on the
E-pawn, as previously, it was determined that Re8 was not needed. Whites
king-side attack commences unabated.
13... Nxc4 14. Bxc4 Bxc4 15. Bxg7 Kxg7 16. Qd4+ wins the bishop on c4.}
14. Bxg7 Kxg7
15. h4
{Direct and devastating. White opens up lines on the king-side as fast as
possible.}
15... f5
{Black has to go messy now, in the hope that he can muster up a defence,
however unattractive it is. Positionally, his setup has been found wanting,
so tactical resources have to be sought to salvage a desperate position.
Black hopes to break down the white centre and if enough blockading pieces
can be put on dark-squares, that good-knight vs. bad-bishop ending is a
distant, but plausible target.}
16. h5 Qf6
17. hxg6 hxg6
18. g4
{Rightfully discarding material concerns for the sakes of momentum and open
lines. White is not worried about how many pawns he has to invest in order
to force files and diagonals wide open. Whites ruthlessness is appealing in
its intensity.
Whites threats are to take twice on f5 or to simply play g4-g5, forcing the
black queen away from the long-diagonal, allowing a future Qc3+ to be
destructive as h8 becomes a penetration square, and/or create an outpost on
h6, where the white rooks will infiltrate without any further hindrance.}
18... fxg4
{Black cannot permit the above. This capture gains a pawn, but that is far
from blacks mind here. Blockading lines is his hope, which white duly
denies.}
19. f5
{With the simple threat of penetrating on h6 with the white queen, where
mate would be impossible to avoid. Ugly as it is, black must stop the white
queens entrance.}
19... gxf5
20. exf5 Bxf5
{A second pawn is gained but at the high expense of king exposure. Black
cannot permit this pawn to stand on f5 as a flight square is now needed for
the black queen. The dark-squares around the black king are vulnerable and
Qg5+ or Qh6+ have to be prevented.
20... Qxf5 21. Qh6+ Kf7 22. Rhf1 is a clear example.}
21. Nd5
{Gaining time on the black queen, which must defend against Qg5/Qh6 ideas.
There is no option for black here.}
21... Qg6
22. Nf4 Qf7
{Again, forced. Checks on h5 by the white knight win the queen.
22... Qf6 23. Nh5+ for example.
Annoyingly too, 22... Qg5 is not possible due to 23. Ne6+ winning the black
queen.
22... Qe8 23. Nh5+ Kg8 24. Bxg4 is one rapid way to win.
Now comes an important finesse to the white play. White has all of the
cards, all of the fun. A final touch is needed to complete the black
misery.}
23. Rh5!
{Excellently played. White prepares to double rooks down the H-file, but
more importantly, realises that a check on g5 by a white major piece will
cause havoc, as the black king has nowhere to run.
Blacks last hope was to be able to get Rh8 in, which would probably hold
the position. The momentum, initiative must be maintained by white and he
finds the most effective way to maintain it.}
23... Ne5
24. Rg5+ Kh8
{Black cant run to the centre to find shelter.
24... Kf6 25. Nd5+ Ke6 and white is spoilt for choice.
26. Nxc7+ or 26. Rf1 are equally fatal.}
25. Rh1+ Bh7
26. Nd5
{Sadistically, white does not find the cleanest way to win.
26. Rgh5 Qxf4 27. Rxh7+ Kg8 28. Rh8+ Kg7 29. Qxf4 Rxf4 30. Rxa8
would win a rook cleanly and would prevent any further action.
The text-move is more than adequate, but gives black a glimmer of hope, even
if it is a forlorn one.}
26... c6
27. Ne3 Rg8
28. Rgh5 Rg7
29. Nf5
{White floods all of the pieces into the black kings position. Black has
attempted to smother the monarch, but this only leads to material loss. The
final few moves were played without too much resistance.}
29... Rag8
30. Qxd6 Nf3
31. Bxf3
{White played this quickly and without thought. There are more convincing
ways to win, but it does not matter. Simple and true and there is no need
for calculation.}
31... Qxc4+
32. Kb1 gxf3
33. Rxh7+
{Forcing mate. A befitting conclusion to a well-executed attack.}
33... Rxh7
34. Qe5+ 1-0
Opening references
A.
9... a6 10. Be2 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 Nh5 12. Bxg7 Nxg7 13. O-O-O Be6 14. h4 Qf6 15.
g4 Ne8 16. f4 b5 17. f5
Bxc4 18. Bxc4 bxc4 19. fxg6 hxg6 20. g5 Qe5 21. h5 c6 22. hxg6 fxg6 23. Rh6
Qf4 24. Rxg6+
Krumpacnik,D (2405)-Kajnih,D (2240)/Eger 1994/EXT 1997/1-0 (37)
B.
10. Be2 a5 11. O-O Nc5 12. Rad1 Bd7 13. Nd5 Ne6 14. Nb5 f5 15. Nbxc7 Nxc7
16. Bb6 Rc8 17. Nxc7 Rxc7 18. Qxd6 Be5 19. Qd5+ Rf7 20. f4 Bxb2 21. Qd6 fxe4
22. Bxc7 Qh4 23. c5 Kg7 24. Qd5 Bf5
Nguyen Minh Tuan-Nguyen Sy Hung (2013)/Ho Chi Minh City VIE 2009/1-0
C.
11... a6 12. h3 Nxd4 13. Bxd4 Be6 14. Nd5 b5 15. f4 c5
16. Bc3 b4 17. Bxe5 dxe5 18. f5 gxf5 19. exf5 Bxf5 20. Qe3 Qh4 21. g4 Rac8
22. Ne7+ Qxe7 23. gxf5 Qf6 24. Qe4 Rcd8 25. Rd5 Rxd5 26. cxd5
Mohammad,A-Balogh,T/Bratislava 1993/TD/1/2-1/2
Chris Ross
February 2016
