David et al
23 Ne7+ is the best move according to Deep Rybka. The fatal mistake is
exchanging Rooks before recapturing. White should have recaptured immediately.
Deep Rybka gives 23 Ne7+ Bxe7 24 Qxe7 Rxc1 25 Rxc1 Qxb2 26 Re1 Bc6 27 Qxa7 h6
and claims that Black is 0.7 better.
In my original suggestion 19 d5 exd5 20 Bxd5 Nd4 21 Bxd4 Rxc1 (instead of the
immediate 21...Qxd5) 22 Rxc1 Qxd5 23 Nf3 Qxa2 Deep Rybka evaluates this
position as +1.47 to Black. My choice of 21...Rxc1 over 21...Qxd5 was motivated
by the extra liquidation of material and the reduction of White's tactical
chances based on moves such as 22 Nc6 although I must emphasise that I didn't
see this particular move.
Black is better in all lines so this validates Chris's judgement. The
difference is that by not inserting the moves 21...Rxc1 22 Rxc1 he gave White a
chance to go wrong and lose the game much more quickly and that is exactly what
happened. This is not taking a risk because, as said, Black is better in all
lines.
Compare this to Simms-Mordue. With the move 26...Qe7! Black takes a big risk
because he is undefending his pinned Knight and must get all the calculation
right after 27 Rxc6. Simms took me at my word with the poor 27 Rf1? but that
simply left a Rook en prise, even if I didn't take it. Chris's finesse is more
subtle and Adams does play into it, but it still needs a touch of imagination
to see 25...Qd5! for a second time in a lengthy analysis. Once seen it is end
of game and that's worth the input.
Just a point on the amount of analysis here. Chris's lines stetch over roughly
nine moves deep and there are less of them. Mine in Simms-Mordue about last
eleven moves deep and are definitely more complex. However, this is a direct
reflection of the difference between an over-the-board (OTB) game and a
correspondence game. In the latter one has, theoretically, unlimited time to
analyse and hence avoid errors. In an OTB game there is less time and much more
pressure - will I win this before the bar closes? - and an analytical slip
could be fatal.
Then again, this is where experience plays its part. I recalled Rabiega-Ross
and the missed chance with ...Nxd4. Indeed I had a game two years ago where in
the same opening line the tactic ...Nxd4 proved fatal for my opponent because I
specifically recalled Rabiega-Ross. Hence I was already looking for it in
Adams-Ross.
This just proves that I learn from this group as well.
Regards,
Tyson
On 18 June 2018 at 09:13 David Rosenkoetter <davidrosenkoetter260@xxxxxxxxx>
wrote:
Chris,
In looking at the position after 22.Qxa2, white's next move seems to
me to be a positional blunder since, even though he gains your bishop
later, his queen is drawn way afield from the first and second ranks,
which he should be defending.
A couple questions here.
First, if 23. Ne7 is not a blunder, is it forced instead?
2. Would this make 23...Qxa2 the winning move since both material and
positional compensation is gained by black and white seems to
overextended his pieces at this point?
David
On 6/17/18, Chris Ross <c.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Tyson et al,
Yes, I had seen roughly the final finish to the game once I played 19...
exd5. Needless to say that I had been up on the clock by about 10 minutes at
that point. I realised that 19. D5? Was a very critical moment in the game
and I spent nearly 25 minutes (leaving me with 45 minutes for 21 moves). But
I knew that the following few moves would turn out very quickly. So, the 25
minutes investment didn’t perturb me at all. Suffice to say, I used 6
minutes for the remainder of the game.
Naturally, Adams had played 19. D5? And hadn’t seen the Nd4 trick. He
wandered away from the board, obviously feeling very confident about his
position. Once he returned and saw that I had calmly played 19... exd5, he
twigged that there was more in the position than initially thought. Again,
needless to say that he took nearly 15 minutes with the reply 20. Bxd5.
Which must have been a very dispiriting 15 minutes for him, for he
presumably thought that 20. Rxd5 was just crushing.
The position after 21... Qxd5 was clear to me,, and I’d worked out all the
tactics with the Nd4 idea. I spent time looking for white’s replies on move
22 and did finally see 22. Nc6 and initially thought that 22... Rfe8 was a
good refutation.
But then, I started to see ghosts with 23. Qxe8+ and decided to make things
easy for myself and to simply snatch the pawn on a2 and defend a7 at the
same time. In my initial analysis, I had exchanged a pair of rooks off on
c1, but then, the notion of the back-rank came back to me and I realised
that I didn’t have to. The tension favoured me and then the idea of the two
white rooks having to defend each other horizontally.
I guess it was then that the realisation of having a queen on d5 and the
back-rank tricks came together and the game continuation became clear. I had
seen 25... Qd5 and decided to give it a go, realising that I could back out
into a superior end-game, if nothing else.
Not to over-elaborate the point though, the game continuation played itself,
because I foresaw, planned, appreciated the whole concept of the “one idea”
and I was able to allow the position to play that out for me. The clearing
up of the h1-a8 diagonal and the exploitation of the back-rank. Very
symbolic, I thought.
Cheers,
Chris
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of mordue andrew
(Redacted sender "tyson.mordue" for DMARC)
Sent: 17 June 2018 21:33
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: One Idea Further - Adams-Ross - part 1.
Chris et al
I must admit that even I didn't get all of this. I saw the ...Nd4 ideas and
I particularly spotted 20 Rxd5?? Qxd5! 21 Bxd5 Nd4 22 Qd1 (or e1 or d2 or e3
all defending the c1 Rook) ...Rxc1 (check after other moves) 23 Qxc1 Ne2+
regaining the Queen with an extra Rook. After 20 d5 exd5 21 Bxd5 Nd4! 22
Nxd4 I was playing 22...Rxc1 first and after 23 Rxc1 Qxd5 24 Nf3 Qxa2 I was
happy with the extra Pawn and the better position. I suppose this begs the
question as to why Chris didn't swap Rooks on c1? Perhaps he had seen all
the game continuation and wondered if White would fall into a very amusing
trap. Remember, in the middle-game opposite-coloured Bishops favour the
attacker!
Well done Chris!
Tyson
On 17 June 2018 at 18:28 Chris Ross <c.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:c.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> > wrote:
All,
OK, disappointed that nobody’s had a ponder on this position. I found it
very instructive indeed and it certainly epitomises the concept of “one
idea”. There’s some very intriguing features to the position and it is very
illustrative how quickly white collapses.
So, from the main position:
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.
OK, let’s do some basic analysis of the pieces.
For white, he has active pieces and he’s managed to push his IQP, in the
hope of opening up diagonals and potential attacking possibilities.
The dark-squared bishop on g3 isn’t contributing much to white’s endeavours
though. Ideally, it should be on g5, so that it can pressurise the knight on
f6, thereby undermining the d5-square again. More importantly though, from
g5, it can retreat along the c1-h6 diagonal. And of crucial importance, it
defends the rook on c1.
All the other white pieces are reasonably OK. However, there’s two major
downfalls. The white queen on e2 is vulnerable to tactics. She appears to be
safe enough, but she isn’t.
The other very important feature are the two rooks. Each rook defend its
counterpart horizontally. Which means, they are limited to activities
horizontally, for if they wander off up the board, they are leaving their
fellow rook loose, thereby making back-rank mates possible for black.
Now, let’s study the black pieces. All the black pieces are well placed,
although the black queen is in some danger of being ensnared.
The two big factors in the black camp are the bishops. Both bishops sit on
the long diagonals, thereby bisecting the board and controlling a lot of
space.
Out of the two bishops, it is the light-squared bishop that is the clinching
factor in the position. This bishop controls the blocking square of the IQP
(d5) and it is that square that is the focus point. With this bishops power,
black has excellent mating opportunities along the h1-a8 diagonal.
How, I hear you say? There’s a knight on c6, pawn on d5 and a knight on f3
and to mate white on g2, the black queen needs to reach that long diagonal,
which is cluttered up.
So, we have the combined concept of mating white on g2 with the queen and
light-squared bishop and the exploitation of the white back-rank.
To help with the first feature, black needs to clear up the long diagonal
(h1-a8) and get the black queen on it, ideally on d5.
For the second, the white back-rank needs to be attacked. The dark-squared
bishop on g3 has neglected it’s duty to defend c1, so it is the rook on c1
that is loose. More precisely, it is the c1-square that is loose, not
necessarily the rook itself. Black has a rook on c8 already, so once the
knight on c6 has vacated the long diagonal, there are tactics with a loose
rook on c1.
Putting all of that together, the continuation of the game is perfectly
logical.
So, the game continued...
19... exd5
{Removing one obstacle off the h1-a8 diagonal.)
20. Bxd5
{White may consider just leaving this pawn, but by playing 20. Bb3, he is
simply a pawn down with no compensation.
White could play 20. Rxd5, but black would respond in a same fashion to 20.
Bxd5 and win at least an exchange.
Next step in the grand one idea concept.}
20... Nd4!
{Yet another piece removed from the h1-a8 diagonal.
The point of the move is that the knight attacks the white queen with tempo.
White does not have a zwischenzug as the queen will drop with check.
Had white played 20. Rxd5 the same response of 20... Nd4 attacks the white
queen and the loose rook on c1 (through the bishop on c4, which means Bxd5
for black or when Nxe2+ is played, the bishop cant’ recapture) , as well as
the rook on d5. Too many loose white pieces there not to lose material.}
21. Nxd4
{Another piece removed from the h1-a8 diagonal!
21. Rxd4 is not playable since the rook on d1 is needed to defend its
counterpart on c1 as discussed. 21. Rxd4 Rxc1+ loses an exchange.
White does not have another move to avoid any material loss.}
21... Qxd5
{The final piece removed from the h1-a8 diagonal and the black queen has
arrived to threaten the targeted mate on g2!
The first step in the grand plan has been successfully accomplished. All the
exchanges have left material equality but with black all the fun and the
continued attack. White must deal with the mate on g2.}
22. Nc6
{A valiant effort, but one that is equally doomed.
22. F3 just loses the knight with check with 22... Bxd4+
22. Nf3 avoids any major material loss but then 22... Qxa2 snaffles a pawn
and b2 is weak and the white forces are pretty paralysed. White decided to
complicate things instead of being slowly strangled.}
22 ... Qxa2
{The snatching of the a2-pawn gives black a pawn advantage for any future
end-game. The a7-pawn is defended and the knight on c6 is attacked as well
as the b2-pawn.}
23. Ne7+ Bxe7
24. Rxc8
{White exchanges a pair of rooks, since he calculated that 23. Qxe7 Rxc1 24.
Rxc1 Qxb2 grabs a second pawn with tempo on the loose rook on c1.}
24... Rxc8
25. Qxe7
{Now for the coup de grace. Black can exploit both of his one-idea aspects
with one wonderful swoop here!}
25... Qd5!
{Targeting the g2-square mate and attacking the white back rank. Although
the white rook has vanished from c1, the square is still there for attack.
Which means, the queen on d5 can’t be captured.
26. Rxd5 Rc1+ leads to back-rank mate.
White can’t defend the mate and save the rook at the same time.
A wonderfully fitting way to finish the game and the absolute typification
of the “one idea” notion!
Cheers,
Chris
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
<mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Ross
Sent: 17 June 2018 00:00
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto:usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [usbca_chess] Re: One Idea Further - Adams-Ross - part 1.
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>
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Ross
Sent: 09 June 2018 22:11
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <mailto: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
