All,
I’m going to try and write up the solution to this excellent encounter tomorrow
(Sunday) UK time.
Slightly disappointed that I haven’t’ had any major suggestions or discussions
on the position. It’s a truly remarkable position and how white suddenly
collapses is a true testament to black’s strategy, structure and aptitude!
I know Tyson’s found the immediate refutation to the white move, but any
glimmering on how quickly white crumbles?
Here’s a hint: The white rooks are defending each other...
Here again is the most critical position. The original notes are below my
sign-off.
Position after 19. D5?
White: King g1, Queen e2, Rooks d1 and c1, bishops g3 and c4, Knight f3, pawns
a2, b2, d5, f2, g2 and h2.
Black: King g8, queen a5, Rooks f8 and c8, bishops f6 and b7, knight c6, pawns
a7, b6, e6, f7, g7 and h7.
Enjoy!
Chris
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Ross
Sent: 09 June 2018 22:11
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] One Idea Further - Adams-Ross - part 1.
All,
Today, I had another excellent example of a game, where the concept of “one
idea” was the key to taking home a very impressive victory.
Tyson can vouch that David Adams is a very strong, experienced British chess
player. He’s been around for years and has nearly always maintained his ELO
grade above 2200. He’s currently 2222. To beat such a strong tactical player
within 25 moves, with the black pieces, is no easy feat, believe me.
This game today was played in our county championships semi-finals. Yorkshire
VS Middlesex.
The IQP (isolated queen’s pawn), in my opinion, is the most dynamic,
complicated and probably the most fruitful position you can tackle within the
game of chess, as of this moment. Whether the pawn is strong, a weakness, how
the player with the IQP generates activity and how the defender flitters around
it to strive for an end-game advantage. Fascinating positions arise.
Here, in the C3-Sicilian, black opts for a defensive structure against the IQP,
with the long-term objective of reaching a superior end-game. Black has
specific objectives in mind but is often thwarted by the aggressive intentions
of the white attacking endeavours.
[Event "County Championships semi-final 2017-201"]
[White "Adams, David"]
[Black "Ross, Chris"]
1. e4 c5
2. c3 d5
{My preferred way to take on the C3-Sicilian. 2... Nf6 is also a perfectly
acceptable way to challenge it. In this direct route, black gets his pieces out
and gives white little option in not obtaining an IQP.}
3. exd5 Qxd5
4. d4 e6
{Quietly accepting that black will be cramped for a few moves, but in the
meantime, white cannot easily avoid gaining an IQP.}
5. Nf3 Nf6
6. Be2
{Slightly more passive than 6. Bd3, which is playable. However white will need
time to defend the d4-pawn eventually and there is a ton of theory on both
variations.}
6... cxd4
{Now g2 is vulnerable, Nxd4 re-captures by white are not possible. White is now
saddled with an IQP or exchange queens into a slightly inferior end-game.}
7. cxd4 Nc6
{The pressure on the IQP begins. The IQP becomes the focus for the game
strategy.}
8. Nc3 Qd6
9. O-O Be7
10. Bg5 O-O
11. Qd2 b6
{Black is one move behind in development, but his structure is sound enough not
to make this an issue. White is fixed with this IQP after all.}
12. Rac1 Bb7
13. Rfd1 Rac8
{The open C-file needs to be challenged. There are potential tactics with Nb5,
Ne5 for white and the knight on c6 could be left vulnerable.
Here, black must make sure that the d8-square is left vacant for the black
queen, unless a clear an direct attack with Rd8 will win the d4-pawn.}
14. Bh4
{Retreating to make way for a future Ng5 possibly and to secure up the bishop’s
foundation. It does leave the f4-square weak though, which is a point of
exploitation for black. Also, the bishop may become entombed with a future
f7-f5-f4 and the such like.}
14... Nd5
{Occupying the blockading square in front of the IQP and offering exchanges.
Exchanges favour black, for the distant end-game will always be good for him,
as he will have an isolated pawn to target.
White needs to keep pieces on the board to generate tactics and attacking
possibilities.}
15. Bg3 Qd8
16. Nxd5
{The first of a series of moves, which puts into place a plan for white. He’s
striving for a targeted way to move forward, not realising the fundamental flaw
in the endeavour. It is a logical plan, but thwarted by the black long-term
objectives.}
16... Qxd5
{Maintaining the IQP and activating the black queen again. Although the queen
is dancing up and down the D-file, she is maintaining integrity with her fellow
forces.
Now, we’ve discussed queen-bishop batteries. I’ve had a lot of experience in
C3-Sicilians where this battery is conformed. The light-squared bishop on b7
and the queen on d5 blockading the IQP. The distant g2-square is a potential
landing spot for a juicy mate.
Pieces are in the way, of course and lots of play left, but as a long-term,
distant, but tenable plan/idea, it is there.}
17. Bc4 Qa5
{Once again, offering to exchange down into an end-game, which is only
favourable for black. The light-squared bishop would be hit on c4 at the same
time and there would be little white can do to avoid a very inferior end-game.
White must keep the queens on and try for tactics.}
18. Qe2 Bf6
{Putting more pressure on the IQP. White may have had strange sacrificial
tactics on e6 and with the white queen recapture, forces Kh8 and then d4-d5
hitting the defender of the e7-bishop, white is making things very difficult
for black, if not winning material. The targeting of the IQP is putting white
under tremendous pressure to do something about it. If black is permitted,
he’ll play Rfd8 and the combined pressure on the IQP will make it just about
undefendable.}
19. d5?
{White’s losing plan!
Such a logical and natural move to play. Everything seems to be fitting so
nicely for white and the forces are combining so neatly to give black
tremendous difficulties.
The opening up of the a2-g8 diagonal and the limited nature of the black queen
appear to give black challenges that can’t be overcome.
Now, if we strip away all the immediate tactics and possibilities, we have to
keep in mind what black is striving for, how his pieces were aimed at such
targets and how he can fit all of those together to execute his ultimate
one-idea endeavour.
A rich, wonderful position to savour. Would it be a surprise that white
resigned 6 moves later on move 25, because he was getting mated?
And a final hint to unlock the position, go back into the archives and seek out
an annotated game of mine entitled (missing a trick”, penned in August 2010,
where I learnt a great deal from an encounter with a German GM in Berlin. It
truly shows that learning from ones mistakes, remembering them, learning from
them, glimmering understanding from them and being a better player because of
them, is of quintessential importance in one’s development as a player.
I’ll give you a couple of days for perusal and thought.
Position:
White: King g1, Queen e2, Rooks d1 and c1, bishops g3 and c4, Knight f3, pawns
a2, b2, d5, f2, g2 and h2.
Black: King g8, queen a5, Rooks f8 and c8, bishops f6 and b7, knight c6, pawns
a7, b6, e6, f7, g7 and h7.
Enjoy!
Cheers,
Chris
