For those of you just becoming aware of Paul Benson and his weekly coaching
session, I think you will find them very useful. Even if you can't attend in
person via Skype, you can benefit from the text below and the recording.
Enjoy,
Jim T
-----Original Message-----
From: blind-chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:blind-chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Paul Benson
Sent: Monday, September 14, 2015 5:11 AM
To: Blind Chess
Subject: [blind-chess] Skype Coaching Game - 06 September 2015, Semi-Slav
Defence, Stoltz Variation, D45
Skype coaching session, 06 September 2015.
The following game was examined, the game 67 moves) is given with
annotations and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated game.
White: N. Pogonina, 2456.
Black: M. Muzychuk, 2526.
Event: FIDE Womens World Championship 2015.
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 67 moves.
Opening: Semi-Slav Defence, Stoltz Variation, D45
1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6
3. Nc3
| The main alternative here is, 3. Nf3. The white game move offers black the
option to play a sharp gambit. ||
3. ... Nf6
| Black declines. Instead, 3. ... e5, the Winawer Gambit, leads to
complications after, 4. dxe5 d4 5. Ne4. My personal choice for white is to
adopt a reverse French Defence, with a tempo advantage by playing, 4. e3. ||
4. e3 e6
5. Nf3 Nbd7
6. Qc2
| The move which names the variation. White is taking control of the e4
square and protecting the c3 knight against a possible black assault
involving, Bb4, Qa5, and Ne4. A case of prevention before the threat
emerges. ||
6. ... Bd6
| Announcing an aggressive intent. Instead, 6. ... b6, is the other main
choice, while 6. ... Be7, is a solid alternative but seems to score poorly.
||
7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O dxc4
| Creating a pawn structure imbalance. Black will expand on the queenside
while white is allowed to advance in the centre. Ideal when both players are
fighting for the full point right from the start. Instead, 8. ... e5,
simplifies the central tension far too soon, which leads to drawish
positions where only white seems to find winning possibilities. ||
9. Bxc4 b5
10. Be2
| There is method in this apparent madness. The more obvious, 10. Bd3, might
leave the bishop exposed should the centre open up after black organises,
pawn c5. ||
10. ... a6
| Securing the b5 pawn to allow the c6 pawn to advance and create central
tension. ||
11. Ng5
| A new idea with only two other examples in the database used as a
reference for these sessions. Instead, 11. Rd1, is more popular. ||
11. ... Qc7
| The other database references are:
(A). 11. ... h6 12. Nge4 Be7 13. Rd1 Qc7 14. Bd2 c5 15. dxc5 Nxe4 16. Nxe4
f5 17. Ng3 Qxc5 18. Qb3 Qb6 19. Ba5, a surprising 1-0 miniature in, I.
Khairullin (2652) - G. Kjartansson (2474), European Individual Championship
2015.
(B). 11. ... Qc7 12. e4 h6 13. e5 hxg5 14. exd6 Qxd6 15. Bxg5 Qxd4 16. h4
Bb7 17. Rad1 Qc5 18. Qd2 b4 19. Na4 Qa5 20. b3 c5 21. h5 c4 22. Qe3 Qe5 23.
Qxe5 Nxe5 24. Nb6 c3 25. Nxa8 Rxa8 26. Bxf6 gxf6 27. f4 Nc6 28. Rd7 Na5 29.
Rfd1 Kg7 30. Rc7, 1-0 in 46 moves, I. Nepomniachtchi (2705) - A. Korobov
(2700), European Individual Championship 2015. ||
12. e4 Bxh2+
| The start of complications, almost certainly given a thorough examination
by analytical engine before appearing in this high profile situation. These
bishop captures on an unmoved h-pawn may or may not result in that piece
being snared behind a white pawn advance. ||
13. Kh1 c5
| Black does not fear having the bishop trapped. Instead, 13. ... Bf4 14. e5
Bxc1 15. Raxc1 h6 16. Nge4, leaves the long term possibility of a favourable
flexible white knight against immobile black bishop ending.
||
14. e5 cxd4
| The white c3 knight is pinned which guarantees black will regain a piece
somewhere along the line. ||
15. exf6 Nxf6
| That black bishop on h2 is still in danger of being trapped, it seems
black is losing a piece for a few pawns. ||
16. f4
| Instead, 16. ... g3 Bxg3 17. fxg3 Qxg3+, leaves the white king exposed and
black has 3 connected kingside passed pawns. ||
16. ... Bg3
| White to play and avoid being several pawns down for no compensation. ||
17. Qd3 dxc3
18. Qxg3 h6
19. Nh3
| White is saving the f3 square for a different piece. The knight is
temporarily out of play and will surely get back into action very quickly,
won't it? ||
19. ... Ne4
| Analytical engines give, 19. ... Bb7, as considerably better. The black
knight on e4 now becomes a piece to be removed by white. ||
20. Qe1 Bb7
21. Bf3 cxb2
| The tension cannot be kept forever. Black was hoping white would capture,
bxc3, at some point. ||
22. Bxb2
| This bishop creates some interesting tactical ideas up the a1 - h8
diagonal. ||
22. ... Qc2
| Attacking and defending with one move. Retreating with, 22. ... Nc5,
allows white to trade light square bishops and black will lose any thoughts
of placing pressure on the white kingside. ||
23. Bxe4
| Removing a potentially dangerous attacking knight, but simply allowing the
black light square bishop to generate threats into the white kingside. Win
some, lose some. ||
23. ... Bxe4
24. Rf2 Qd3
| Creating a cheeky threat of, Qxh3+, winning a piece. ||
25. Kh2 Rfd8
26. Rc1 Rac8
27. Rxc8 Rxc8
28. a3
| White chooses to place the a-pawn out of danger before setting about
slowly pushing black back. Black must make something with the queenside pawn
majority before this white plan happens. ||
28. ... Bd5
| White to play and take an opportunity to de-stabilise the position. ||
29. Rd2
| Opportunity missed. Instead, 29. f5, sets black some kingside problems.
If, 29. ... exf5 30. Nf4, and white is finding activity for all the pieces.
||
29. ... Qg6
| Preventing the just-missed, pawn f5, break. ||
30. Qe5 f6
| A slight weakening of the black kingside pawn formation, but now there are
no more ideas for white to find play on the dark squares. ||
31. Qe3 Rc4
| Black is planning queenside pawn activity with the rook in front of the
advancing pawns. ||
32. Rf2 Qf5
| Black simply prevents the white threatened, pawn f5, break by occupying
the square. Now it is white who must begin taking preventative strategy on
the queenside. ||
33. Bc3 Ra4
| White to play accurately here or black will gain a strong queenside
initiative. ||
34. Bd2
| An inaccuracy. Instead, 34. Qc5, was needed to restrain the black pawns.
||
34. ... a5
35. Qc5 Qd3
| The black queen escapes the 5th rank pin, gains an attack tempo on the
white d2 bishop and protects the b5 pawn. Black is about to create a distant
passed pawn while the extra white piece is relaxing on the h3 square. ||
36. Bc1 Qc4
| Black now forces either the exchange of queens or a dismal white queen
retreat. ||
37. Qxc4
| White assesses the presence of the black queen supporting a passed pawn
will be too much to contain, so queens are traded. ||
37. ... Rxc4
38. Bb2 b4
39. axb4
| Important move about to be played. How should black capture on the b4
square, and why? ||
39. ... Rxb4
| Extremely counter-intuitive. Surely the passed pawn belongs on the b-file
when the promotion square will not be under the control of the white bishop?
No, just the opposite is required here. The black plan is to advance the
pawn to a2 where it will be supported by the d5 bishop. White is likely to
be without the defensive support of king or knight, meaning the white
queenside defence must be carried out by combined efforts of rook and
bishop. White might try to hold matters with a bishop on a1 and a rook on
g1, so that black playing, Rb1, will not force out the bishop. However, this
white formation leaves the black pieces full freedom of movement, the
kingside pawns can begin to advance leaving white defending across the
entire board. Not easy and definitely not pleasant. ||
40. Bc3
| White tries for active defence rather than retreating into the previously
shown attempted fortress which is not guaranteed to work. ||
40. ... Rb5
41. Rd2 a4
42. Bb2 Rb3
| Now the black pawn is guaranteed to reach the a2 square. White must do
something quickly. ||
43. f5
| This is not trying to exploit the black e6 pawn needing to protect the d5
bishop. It instead offers the h3 knight a final chance to influence the
game. Instead, 43. Bc1 a3 44. Ra2 Rxh3+ 45. Kxh3 Bxa2 46. Bxa3, and black
can force white to defend the opposite bishop ending for a long time. ||
43. ... a3
44. Bd4
| Black can force the opposite colour bishop ending with, 44. ... a2, but
perhaps there is something trickier to be found? ||
44. ... Rb4
| Black is planning advancing the pawn to the a2 square and then capture,
Rxd4, removing the defender of the promotion square. ||
45. Nf4 a2
| White must find something dynamic here. It is now too late to set up the
attempted previous back-rank fortress of Ba1 and Rg1. ||
46. Nxd5 Rxd4
| The defender of the promotion square is removed, what is white planning?
||
47. Nxf6+
| Forced. Instead, 47. Rxd4 a1=Q, attacking the white d4 rook leaves white
losing material as, 48. Ne7+ Kf7 49. Rd7 Ke8, and the white rook and king
locations are awkward. If, 50. Rc7 Qe5+, skewers the rook. Instead, 50. Rb7
Qa8 51. Rc7 Qb8, another skewer. This means the white rook cannot stay on
the 7th rank and so the e7 knight would be lost. ||
47. ... gxf6
48. Rxa2
| It has reduced to black rook and 3 pawns against white rook and 2 pawns.
Is this enough for a black win? ||
48. ... e5
| Black avoids the greedy, 48. exf5, which will be drawn. At some point the
advanced f-pawn will trade for the white g-pawn, leaving split black pawns
on the kingside rook and bishop files. This is a theoretical draw, though it
is not easy to defend if previous study has been overlooked. ||
49. Ra8+ Kf7
| The white rook is planning to attack the black king until either the black
rook is de-activated or the black h-pawn can be rounded up without white
losing the f5 pawn. ||
50. Ra7+ Ke8
51. Ra6
| White attacks either the black king or the backward f6 pawn. Black will
have to block the attacks with the rook, which means it will never find the
time to capture the vulnerable white f5 pawn. It seems that white has
sufficient rook activity to keep black on the defensive. Is this correct? ||
51. ... Ke7
52. Ra7+ Rd7
53. Ra6 Kf7
54. Kg3
| It appears that the white rook activity is holding the position. Black to
play and find some necessary inspiration. Take as much time as you like
here, there is much to learn. ||
54. ... Kg7
| A wonderful but difficult to find opportunity has just passed. The black
king must find a means to enter the position and as the queenside is covered
by the white rook, it must be via the kingside. Instead, 54. h5, permits the
black king entry. There is now the all-important vacant h6 square for the
black king to find shelter from any sideways assaults along the open ranks.
Play might continue with, 55. Kh4 Rd2, a very important move leaving white
with 5 choices.
(A). White will not blunder into, 56. g3 Rh2+ mate.
(B). White tries activity with, 56. g4 hxg4 57. Kxg4, but now, 57. ... Rf2,
threatens, Rf4+, and then, Rxf5, a simple black win. All white can do is
give a series of sideways rook checks until the black king hides on h6, when
the planned, Rf4+, wins the f5 pawn and also guards the black f6 pawn.
(C). If white retreats with, 56. Kh3, black can win the f5 pawn with, 56.
Rf2 57. g4 hxg4+ 58. Kxg4 Rf4+ 59. Kg3 Rxf5, a simple black win.
(D). The more subtle retreat of, 56. Kg3, is met by, 56. ... Rd4,
threatening an unstoppable, Rf4, and, Rxf5. Again, sideways white rook
checks only drive the black king to the shelter of h6 and then onto g5,
where it protects the backward f6 pawn and has the option of, Kxf5.
(E). White uses the king to prevent the black king from entering with, 56.
Kxh5, but allowing, 56. ... Rxg2. White is now confronted with, Rg5+,
winning the f5 pawn and so resorts to, 57. Ra7+ Kg8 58. Ra8+ Kh7 59. Ra7+
Rg7. Black blocks the checks and as the king and pawn ending is lost, white
can only try, 60. Ra6 Rg5+ 61. Kh4 Rxf5 62. Kg4 Rg5+ 63. Kf3 Kg6, black has
a simple win. ||
55. Kg4
| White now has control of the kingside. Black still tries to make something
with the extra pawn, but the lack of the black king assistance means white
should be safe. ||
55. ... Re7
| The last try, push the passed e-pawn. How is white going to stop that one?
||
56. Ra3 Kh7
| Black is accepting the passed e-pawn will be surrounded and captured by
white. The plan is to activate the black king up the h-file and zugzwang
white out of the f5 pawn. ||
57. Ra6 e4
58. Ra2 e3
59. Re2 Rg7+
60. Kh4 Rg8
| The black tricks are running out. Here is another opportunity for white to
make life simple or difficult. ||
61. g4
| The simple way to handle it. White can afford, 61. Rxe3 Rxg2, and to allow
the f5 pawn to be captured leading to a draw. However, this could take 40 or
more unnecessary moves of having to defend correctly. Why offer the opponent
the chance to grind away at you? ||
61. ... Re8
62. Kg3 h5
| Black is about to gain king activity and perhaps test white on knowledge
of the principles of the opposition. ||
63. gxh5 Kh6
64. Kf4 Re5
65. Rxe3 Rxe3
66. Kxe3 Kxh5
67. Kf4
Draw, 1/2-1/2
| Black can win the white f5 pawn by force with, 67. ... Kh4 68. Kf3 Kg5 69.
Ke4 Kg4, zugzwang, the white king must abandon the f5 pawn. However, after,
70. Ke3 Kxf5 71. Kf3, white has the opposition and holds the draw. The rule
white must adopt here is simple: "When retreat is forced, Stay On The File
Of The Passed Pawn."
A sample line is: 71. ... Ke5 72. Ke3 f5 73. Kf3 f4, stay on the file with,
74. Kf2 Ke4 75. Ke2 f3+ 76. Kf2 Kf4, stay on the file with, 77. Kf1 Ke3 78.
Ke1 f2+ 79. Kf1 Kf3 stalemate. If the retreating white king repeatedly
strays to either file to the side of the passed pawn a loss will occur. The
passed pawn will advance to the 7th rank without giving check, which leaves
the white king a flight square to be followed by the black king advancing to
the 7th rank. ||
* * *
## Unannotated game.
White: N. Pogonina, 2456.
Black: M. Muzychuk, 2526.
Event: FIDE Womens World Championship 2015.
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 67 moves.
Opening: Semi-Slav Defence, Stoltz Variation, D45
1. d4 d5
2. c4 c6
3. Nc3 Nf6
4. e3 e6
5. Nf3 Nbd7
6. Qc2 Bd6
7. Bd3 O-O
8. O-O dxc4
9. Bxc4 b5
10. Be2 a6
11. Ng5 Qc7
12. e4 Bxh2+
13. Kh1 c5
14. e5 cxd4
15. exf6 Nxf6
16. f4 Bg3
17. Qd3 dxc3
18. Qxg3 h6
19. Nh3 Ne4
20. Qe1 Bb7
21. Bf3 cxb2
22. Bxb2 Qc2
23. Bxe4 Bxe4
24. Rf2 Qd3
25. Kh2 Rfd8
26. Rc1 Rac8
27. Rxc8 Rxc8
28. a3 Bd5
29. Rd2 Qg6
30. Qe5 f6
31. Qe3 Rc4
32. Rf2 Qf5
33. Bc3 Ra4
34. Bd2 a5
35. Qc5 Qd3
36. Bc1 Qc4
37. Qxc4 Rxc4
38. Bb2 b4
39. axb4 Rxb4
40. Bc3 Rb5
41. Rd2 a4
42. Bb2 Rb3
43. f5 a3
44. Bd4 Rb4
45. Nf4 a2
46. Nxd5 Rxd4
47. Nxf6+ gxf6
48. Rxa2 e5
49. Ra8+ Kf7
50. Ra7+ Ke8
51. Ra6 Ke7
52. Ra7+ Rd7
53. Ra6 Kf7
54. Kg3 Kg7
55. Kg4 Re7
56. Ra3 Kh7
57. Ra6 e4
58. Ra2 e3
59. Re2 Rg7+
60. Kh4 Rg8
61. g4 Re8
62. Kg3 h5
63. gxh5 Kh6
64. Kf4 Re5
65. Rxe3 Rxe3
66. Kxe3 Kxh5
67. Kf4
Draw, 1/2-1/2
* * *
