And I was correct in my initial assessment that black needed to reverse the
bishop-queen battery. Didn’t think that h4 could be an entry point for her!
Should have figured though, for as in my last annotated game (slippery), I
discussed the manoeuvre in some Sicilian lines of queen from C7 stepping back
onto d8 and then h4 for an attack. Common themes and all of that!
Cheers,
Chris
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of mordue andrew ;(Redacted
sender "tyson.mordue" for DMARC)
Sent: 30 May 2018 22:12
To: usbca_chess <usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: [usbca_chess] One idea further - Simms-Mordue
Hello folks
This is the promised article on seeing one idea further as opposed to one move
further. The point will become apparent in due course.
As far as I'm aware I have not posted this game on the USBCA group before. It
is possible that readers from other mutual groups may have seen it previously.
The fun begins after Black's 24th move so I will give the game score up to that
point with a few relevant observations along the way. However, I don't want to
go too deeply into the opening which is well-established theory. However, this
was a correspondence game, as opposed to an OTB game, so the players had
considerable time for reflection before playing a move. You are encouraged to
do the same.
Game 1: Simms-Mordue, Correspondence 1983-4,
1 e4 c5
2 Nf3 d6
3 d4 cxd4
4 Nxd4 Nf6
5 Nc3 a6
6 Be2 e6
{I consider the line 6...e5 to be too committal.The text is one of many ways of
transposing into the Scheveningen variation.}
7 0-0 Be7
8 a4 0-0
9 Be3 Qc7
10 f4 Nc6
11 Nb3 b6
12 Bf3 Rb8
{This is a fairly typical set-up for both sides in a Scheveningen. Variations
include White playing Kh1, or Bd3, and/or Qe1-g3, and omitting a4 and/or Nb3.}
13 Qe2 Na5!?
{This is a manoeuvre which is specifically aimed against the a4 and Nb3
formation.}
14 Nxa5 bxa5
{For the wrecking of his Queenside Pawn structure Black has the open b-file,
pressure on White's Queenside and, as becomes apparent, a useful outpost on b4
and pressure on e4. It’s difficult for White to prove that the doubled Pawns
are weak, indeed they secure the b4 outpost and deny White the corresponding
one at b5.}
15 Rab1 Rb4
16 Rfd1 Bb7
17 Bd2 d5
{When Black can safely play this move in the Scheveningen, or any line of the
Sicilian Defence for that matter, then he's doing well.}
18 exd5
{18 e5 is playable but White feels he can get better play in an open position.}
18... exd5
19 Kh1 Re8
{Black threatens 20... Bd6 winning the Pawn on f4. It’s possible that 19...Bc5
or 19...d4 are better moves. White now tries to break out by tactical means.}
20 Nxd5!? Bxd5
21 Bxd5 Nxd5?!
{Deep Rybka suggests that Black may keep a small advantage by playing 21...Bf8
first. It certainly picks up a tempo on the White Queen before it gets to take
on a6 as in the game.}
22 Bxb4 Nxb4
23 c3 Nc6
24 Qxa6 Bd6
The position is currently:
White: King h1, Queen a6, Rooks b1 and d1, Pawns on a4, b2, c3, f4, g2 and h2.
Black: King g8, Queen c7, Rook e8, Bishop d6, Knight c6, Pawns a5, f7, g7 and
h7.
This is a good moment to take stock. White has obtained Rook and two Pawns for
Knight and Bishop but Black is possibly more active. Deep Rybka assesses this
position as roughly equal.I should emphasise that equal is not the same as
drawn. Here both sides are striving to maximise the activity of their pieces.
Black has one more piece than White but, in turn, White would like to play
b2-b4 and get his Queenside Pawns rolling.This is where his plus is.Indeed 25
b4 is a candidate move.
White could defend the Pawn on f4 directly by playing 25 g3. All the
experienced players that I've shown this position to agree that while this is
an apparently solid move, they are all concerned by the weakening effect on the
h1-a8 diagonal.. For example, switch the Black Queen to e4 and White is in
trouble.
However, White chose not to directly defend the f4 Pawn. He played a move which
seems to deter Black from taking there. This was based on an idea. Your first
task, if you wish to study this position, is to find the move and hence the
idea that follows from it. I will post again in a few days with a further
insight into this position.
Regards,
Tyson
