All,
A recent encounter of mine and one that has the unique feature that
white had to continually obtain the advantage after squandering it a
few times. Intriguingly too, the rook-pawn ending is more complex than
first appearances. Fortune certainly paid dividend for the brave in
this game, but one should always keep in mind that “get outs” are
often possible if searched for long enough.
Enjoy!
[Event "Bedfordshire League Matches 2019-2020"]
[Site "Bedford, ENG"]
[Date "2020.03.05"]
[Round "6.1"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Pike, Stephen"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A40"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "125"]
[EventDate "2020.03.05"]
[WhiteTeam "Northampton A"]
[BlackTeam "Bedford D"]
{A40: Delayed Dutch Defence}
1. d4 e6
2. Nf3 b6
3. g3 Bb7
4. Bg2 f5
{The fight for the e4-square commences. Like with many systems of the
Queen's Indian Defence, black hopes to occupy the central e4-square.
By putting the moves in this order, black has ensured the development
of his queen's bishop.}
5. O-O Nf6
6. c4 Be7
7. Nc3 O-O
8. Qc2
{All is going as theory depicts. Both players are concentrating on the
e4-square. White will eventually play Nd2 and force through e4. Once
e4 has been accomplished, the e6-pawn will come under attack. These
are all small objectives, but having a long-term plan is certainly
helpful as a point of focus.}
8... Nc6
{The first diversion from the main theoretical plan for black. Here,
black chooses a fast way to develop his queen's knight. The idea is to
target the d4-pawn and potentially harass the white queen.
The principal 8th move is usually 8... Ne4 to occupy the central
square. If 8... Nc6 is not the more preferred method to continue,
then, there has to be a fundamental reason behind it. In such
circumstances, a player should take time to check immediate tactical
possibilities. If nothing appears to be obviously apparent, then a
deeper positional attribute must be sought.
Firstly, the obvious positional disadvantage of the move is that the
black light-squared bishop has been shut in, losing control of the
e4-square. Not so obvious, is the unprotected nature of the d5-square.
Tactically, white now has the option of e2-e4, so that has to be
calculated first. Again, if 9. e4 is not playable, then, there’s a
bigger tactical issue lurking.}
9. d5
{This has to be the critical test to the move 8... Nc6. No other moves
put the test to the unusual opening system.
9. e4 Nb4 and black will simply capture on e4 and be a pawn up for no
compensation.
With the black light-squared bishop having no further protection of
the d5-square, white takes the opportunity to disrupt the black
forces, opening up dangerous lines, not only from h1-a8, but less
obviously, b1-h7.}
9... Nb4
{The black knight will have to move in any case, so black does it
straight away before contemplating taking the offered pawn on d5.
9... exd5 will give white an option in the future tactics to snatch f5
and the white queen will have plenty of flight squares if the
f6-knight is moved to discover and attack on her.}
10. Qb3
{Creating further tension across the light-squared diagonals. This
time, the pawns along the a2-g8 diagonal are x-rayed through to the
black king, where pins may prove fatal.}
10... Na6
{Black hastens the knight back, avoiding any loose tactics on it and
aims for the c5-outpost, which was created by 9. d5. From this
outpost, the white queen is yet again harassed and protection is
offered to the e6-pawn, which is shortly coming under attack.
10... exd5 is just too dangerous.
11. Nd4 attacks the loose f5-pawn and pins the d5-pawn to the bishop
on b7, ensuring that white will regain his pawn.
White could even consider 11. cxd5 as the pawn cannot be taken due to
12. Nd4 pins.
The exploitation of the various diagonals, with subtle pins, is quite
aesthetic.}
11. Nd4
{Directly attacking e6 and providing protection for the d5-pawn. With
this white pawn spearing into the black centre, black will find it
difficult to complete development.}
11... Nc5
12. Qc2
{Having provided temporary defence to the d5-pawn, the queen reverts
back to target the e4-square, whilst keeping pressure on the f5-pawn.}
12... a5
{Black wishes to keep the outposted knight.
13. b4 was possible, with the protection of the e6-square being collapsed.}
13. dxe6
{Returning to positional considerations. White is attempting to target
the light-squares and to encumber black with a poor pawn structure.
The e6-pawn especially becomes backward. Recaptures on e6 with the
outposted c5-knight will only drop the f5-pawn.
White could ramp up the tension tactically with
13. Rd1 (threatening to take on e6 as the d7-pawn will be pinned
against the black queen) 13... Bd6 14. Rb1 with ideas of b3, a3 and
eventually b4, but black's got time to unravel.}
13... Bxg2
14. Kxg2 dxe6
{Black now has a backward e6-pawn, but if not targeted, it may advance
and give white difficulties by marching to e4.}
15. Nc6 Qd6
16. Nxe7+ Qxe7
17. b3
{Solidifying the white pawn structure and offering the dark-squared
bishop an alternative for development. There are no obviously good
squares along the c1-h6 diagonal, so a3 is chosen. From a3, the knight
on c5 is going to be pinned against a black heavy piece, restricting
black from occupying the e4-square by a knight.}
17... Qd6
18. Ba3 Rfd8
{Black has successfully unravelled his pieces, and he's ever closer to
occupying the e4-square by a knight. He is still saddled by a backward
e6-pawn, but this is not yet fatal.}
19. Rad1
{This innocuous move is white's first point where he allows the
advantage to slip. It is a very difficult aspect of chess to always
appreciate where your rooks belong. Open files are good, but when
there is only one open file, which rook belongs on it? Here,
undoubtedly, the king's rook should sit on d1. Mainly due to the game
continuation, since white has to contort himself awkwardly to grapple
for the advantage. If 19. Rfd1 had been played, white's advantage
would continue. White did not appreciate the queen's rook is needed
for the queen-side, as things over there are going to open up soon
enough. There was concern that f2 could also become a focus point were
black to get Nce4 and Ng4 in. This latter is not feasible, of course,
so the worry was unwarranted.}
19... Qc6+
20. Kg1
{20. f3 is not yet desirable and would only leave the e3-square weak.
Ng4, with the f3-pawn pinned, would threaten forks on e3.}
20... Nfe4
{Black finally occupies the e4-square!
If black can accomplish the exchanges of knights, he might even strive
for the good-knight vs. bad-bishop end-game, something that white does
not want in the slightest.}
21. Nb5
{Avoiding the exchange of knights and beginning to overload the black
queen. If the black queen can be driven from c6, white can play f3,
force the knight retreat and then shatter the black pawn structure by
capturing on c5.}
21... Nd6
{Black continues to seek exchanges and frees up the e4-square for
another piece.}
22. Nd4 Qe4
{Yearning for that end-game. The critical feature though is that the
white queen is defended.
22... Qe8 23. Bxc5 bxc5 24. Nf3
and white has shattered the pawn structure and can hope to whittle black down.}
23. Bxc5
{Choosing to damage the black pawn structure. This would be perfectly
correct, were the white rooks the other way around and the a1-rook
still at home!
23. Qxe4 Ndxe4 24. Bb2 is also possible, hoping to gradually push in
the centre with f2-f3 and a future e2-e4.}
23... Qxc2
24. Nxc2 bxc5
{So, we've arrived at the first type of ending, where white has
achieved the shattering of the black pawn structure. Were the f1-rook
on a1, white would simply play 25. f3, bring the king into the centre
and then slowly target the black pawns, especially c5 and c7. As it
is, the rook on f1 is hindering white. Some very awkward contortions
need to be carefully accomplished here to strive again for the
advantage.}
25. Ne1
{A very awkward manoeuvre, but white has calculated that tactically,
he has time for it. The obvious plan is to strike at the c5-pawn.}
25... Ne4
{The e4-square is once again occupied! This time, it is used as a
jumping off point to target some of the white pawns.}
26. Nd3
{Carefully calculating that white just about has time for this. If not, then
26. Rxd8+ Rxd8 27. Nd3 Nc3 28. Nxc5 Kf7
gives white a small plus. Black should have enough to hold it, but
whoever has the biggest nerve would prevail.}
26... Nc3
27. Rd2 Ra6
{Black protects the backward e6-pawn.
27... Nxe2+ 28. Rxe2 Rxd3 29. Rxe6 and the white rook should start
mopping up the pawns with Re5 or Rc6. White would have Ra1 were Rd2 to
be played by black, but had white played 19. Rfd1, the queen's rook
would already be stood there!}
28. Re1
{Again, slightly awkward, but the only way to defend against the
threat of Nxe2+ winning a pawn. Again, had 19. Rfd1 been played, white
could have simply played 28. Kf1 here.}
28... Rad6
{Black is overly focussed on the Nxe2+ tactic.
28... a4 with the idea of opening up the queen-side is his best option.
29. Kf1 Ne4 30. Rb2 is still a slight plus for white, but it is pretty
negligible.}
29. Kf1 Kf7
{Black wishes to protect the e6-pawn, but inadvertently steps into
potential forks with Ne5+.
29... a4 30. Rb2 is still the path black should be taking.}
30. Rc1
{Finally beginning to untangle. The tactic on e2 has now been
resolved, as white can recapture with the white king.}
30... Ne4
31. Rdc2 Kf6
{Sadly, 31... Rc6 to defend the c5-pawn runs into that aforementioned
fork with 32. Ne5+. Black must now lose a pawn.}
32. f3 Ng5
33. Nxc5 Rd2
{Avoiding the fork on b7 and attempting to create some counterplay.
Black has full control of the open file, but importantly, white is
protecting most of the squares along it, making the control of it
ineffectual.}
34. Ke1 R2d4
{Being a pawn down, black tries to keep as many pieces on the board as possible.
34... Rxc2 35. Rxc2 Nf7 36. Rd2 and white is well on the way to
converting his material advantage.}
35. Nb7
{With the last move of the time-control, white diminishes his
advantage once again. The intent of the text-move was to force a
decision out of the d8-rook. Playing NN2 is often not a great plan in
the whole generalisation aspect, but here, it just gets the knight
into troubled waters.
35. h4 driving the black knight back to a less influential square was essential.
35... Nf7 36. e3 was the way to go, as it simply wins more material.}
35... Ra8
{By forcing the d8-rook to the A-file, this only brings the concept of
a5-a4 into his mind. If black can achieve this, then a further open
file is created to create counterplay opportunities.}
36. Rd1 e5
37. Rcd2
{Too hastily played. With the desire of forcing the exchange and
occupying the D-file, white cuts off the b7-knight.
37. Nc5 had to be played, to prevent a5-a4 and to stop the black
knight from re-entering into the fight via e6. White's advantage has
now dramatically dropped from a clear pawn winning advantage, to just
about equality!}
37... Ne6
{Completely shutting in the knight on b7 and threatening to win it
with Ra7. From a hugely dominating position, white had now to sit down
and dig in to reacquire the advantage.}
38. e3 Rxd2
39. Rxd2
{Once again, white just about has enough to salvage the position.
Naturally, 39. Kxd2 would lose the knight to 39... Ra7.}
39... a4
{Finally appreciating that this pawn push creates black counterplay.
Fortunately, 39... Ra7 allows 40. Nd8 and the knight escapes.}
40. Rd5
{Desperately reaching to exchange the knights. White reasons that the
rook end-game gives him a small advantage.
40. b4 Rb8 is not desirable.}
40... axb3
41. axb3 Ra3
{The black rook challenges the white queen-side pawns. Going for the
king-side with 41... Ra2 would turn out similar to the game, but white
would have a shielding pawn on b3, making his job all that much
easier.}
42. Nc5 Nxc5
{Black cannot win a piece with 42... c6 as 43. Nd7+ is possible. White
has successfully contorted himself all through this game!}
43. Rxc5 Rxb3
44. Rc6+
{An essential zwischenzug, since the c7 pawn can be captured with tempo.}
44... Ke7
45. Rxc7+ Kf6
{Black cannot wander away from the king-side pawns, since their fall
is not sufficient compensation to stop the passed C-pawn. White has
now regained his extra pawn, got a passed pawn but his king
positioning is not supportive. Is this a winnable end-game? In theory
not, but fortunate favours the bold!}
46. Kd2 Rb2+
47. Kc3
{Yet another blemish on the white play. The idea was to keep the
D-file open, in the eventuality that the white rook needed to drop
back down it, either to cut off the black king, or to shield the white
monarch. However, this gives up too many pawns in the hope that the
C-pawn can dart home.}
47... Rxh2
48. c5 Rf2
{48... Rh3 may be better, with the idea of mopping all the pawns along
the third rank.}
49. Rd7
{With the idea previously mentioned. White has a more decisive plan
though with 49. c6.
This has the notion of 50. Rf7+ self-sacrificing itself to promote the
C-pawn. Technically, white would have the c8 queen and black a rook
and 4 connected king-side pawns. That should be winning for white, but
a long tough end-game would certainly have resulted!}
49... Rxf3
50. c6 Rxe3+
{Had 47. Kd3 been played, this position would never have arisen.
White's thrown all his chips in to promote the C-pawn. Black, in the
meantime has snaffled pawns. Has white gambled too much?
50... Rxg3 51. c7 Rxe3+ 52. Kd2
wins for white.}
51. Kd2 Re4
{Threatening to come to the C-file and win!
51... Rxg3 52. c7 Rg2+ 53. Kc1 Rg1+ 54. Kc2 Rg2+ 55.
Rd2 and white wins.}
52. Kd3 Re1
53. Kd2 Re4
{An interesting impasse has been reached. Black is two pawns ahead,
but has to hold off a promoting C-pawn. The repetition has been
offered, so white can now bail out with the draw. Often though,
victories can be obtained when the opponent has not been able to
demonstrate the drawing method, so it is frequently best to play on
and permit them to illustrate their technique...}
54. Kd3 Re1
{Amazingly, 54... Ke6 55. Rxg7 Rd4+ 56. Kc3 Kd5 holds on for black.}
55. Kc2 Re2+
56. Kb3 Re3+
57. Kb4 Re4+
{So, can the white king run up the board and successfully hide from
the black rook? Yes, but at what cost is the ultimate question.
57... Re1 58. Kc5 Rc1+ 59. Kb6 is also very draw-ish for black.}
58. Kb5 Re1
{With the idea of 59. Rd8 Rc2 60. Kb6 Rb2+ 61. Kc5 Rc2+ 62. Kd6 Rd2+
63. Kc7 which black can hold.}
59. Kb6
{Carrying on with the charge of the white king. More accurately would be
59. c7 Rb1+ 60. Kc6 Rc1+ 61. Kb7 Rb1+ 62. Kc8
when white still has winning chances.}
59... f4
{Accurately eliminating the white last king-side pawn. This should be
enough for black to draw the game.}
60. gxf4 exf4
61. c7 Rc1?
{Black blunders at the most critical time. His intension was to give
up the rook for the pawn and then march his king-side pawns. With the
white king so far away and the pawns connected, this might even be a
winning attempt by black!
Sadly though, this is not possible. The drawing technique is
61... Rb1+ 62. Kc6 Rc1+ 63. Kb7 Rb1+ 64. Kc8 h5 65. Rd6+
and now black must stop the white king from slipping onto the D-file with
65... Ke7 66. Rd7+ Kf6 67. Rd6+ Ke7 68. Rd7+ Kf6
and white cannot make progress.}
62. Rd6+ Ke7
63. Rc6
{Successfully shielding the passed pawn, permitting its promotion.
A fascinating encounter from the opening, throughout the middle game
and an extraordinary end-game!}
63... 1-0
Opening references
A.
8... Na6 9. a3 Rc8 10. Rd1 Ne4 11. d5 Nxc3 12. Qxc3 Nc5 13. Be3 Bf6
14. Qc2 Qe8 15. Rac1 Ne4 16. Nd4 Bxd4 17. Bxd4 c5 18.
dxc6 Bxc6 19. Qd3 e5 20. Be3 Qg6 21. f3 Nc5 22. Qd6 Rf6 23. Qxe5
Kaposztas,M (2315)-Chernyshov,K (2470)/Gyongyos 1996/EXT 2004/0-1 (39)
B.
9. a3 Na5 10. b3 Ne4 11. Rd1 Bf6 12. Bb2 Nxc3 13. Bxc3 Be4 14. Qb2 Nb7
15. Rac1 Qe8 16. b4 Nd6 17. Nd2 Bxg2 18. Kxg2 Qh5 19. Re1 f4 20. Qb3
Bg5 21. f3 Nf5 22. Rh1 fxg3 23. hxg3 Qg6 24. Rh3 Bxd2 25. Bxd2 Nxd4
Schachl,M-Schmitzer,K (2305)/Hessen 1998/EXT 1999/0-1 (54)})
C.
9. a3 Na5 10. b3 Ne4 11. Ne5 xc3 12.
Qxc3 Bxg2 13. Kxg2 d6 14. Nf3 c5 15. e3 Bf6 16. Bb2 Rc8 17. Qd3 Qe7 18. Rab1
Kh8 19. Nd2 e5 20. dxe5 Bxe5 21. Nf3 Qb7 22. Rfd1 Nc6 23. Qd5 Qe7
Sedlakova,I (2030)-Delahaye,R/Hradec Kralove 1992/TD/1-0 (62)
Chris Ross
March 2020
