Hi chris,
Thanks for a very interesting game. And I am pleased to report that this one
came through. You probably already know that your messages dated 3/27 and
4/6 got bounced. Reason unknown. But Freeleists has apparently fixed the
problem.at least the one with your address.
All the best,
Jim T
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Chris Ross
Sent: Tuesday, April 12, 2016 12:32 PM
To: c.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Ozzmosis!
All,
This game, played in the Colin crouch Celebration tournament April 2016, is
an excellent illustration of the simulation of an original concept and the
working knowledge of other opening variations of the queen's pawn game.
White adopts the quiet Queen's Indian fianchettoed setup, but is forced to
re-analyse his structure when the pawn formation transposes into a QGA
style. A central concentration of open files, diagonals, at the cost of a
pawn, paralyses black to such an extent, that he must return the material
investment in order to ease his cramped position. Once the pawn has been
regained, white commences to demonstrate that the bishop-pair, working in
tandem, can exert sufficient enough pressure to avoid the player tactical
opportunities, which will often permit him to snaffle some material. The
conversion of the advantage in this encounter is simple enough and technique
alone allows white a comfortable conclusion to the game.
Marcus Osborne is a very strong English player, having deservedly raised his
ECF grade to 210. Many a player may have succumbed a lot quicker to the
intolerable restriction of the black position.
Enjoy!
[Event "Colin Crouch Celebration Congress 2016"]
[Site "Harrow, ENG"]
[Date "2016.04.10"]
[Round "9"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Osborne, Marcus"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "A20"]
[WhiteElo "2194"]
[BlackElo "2213"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "75"]
[EventDate "2016.04.10"]
{E18: Queen's Indian}
1. d4 e6
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. g3 b6
4. Bg2 Bb7
5. O-O Be7
6. c4 O-O
7. Nc3 Ne4
{All according to open theory and pre-match preparation.
The black idea is simple enough. He wishes to block up the e4-square, with
the intension of preventing white expanding through the centre. Since black
has played a restrained e7-e6 centre-pawn formation, he does not desire
white to get in e2-e4. Playing d7-d5 for black is a committal move and would
limit the scope of the light-squared bishop on b7 in many ways. In an
attempt to keep this bishop active, black aims for dark-square domination
with his pawns via d7-d6 and an eventual e6-e5. This is possibly with an aim
of establishing a King's Indian type of structure, where the dark-squared
Dragon-bishop is outside of the pawn chain and able to support a future
g7-g5 and king-side launch.}
8. Bd2
{White's dark-squared bishop has little scope in such a structure,
especially so with the outlined black pawn formation, as described above.
This bishop cannot be fianchettoed easily, with the knight on c3 being
loosely placed if b2-b3 is played. White is willing to exchange this bishop
for the strongly outposted knight on e4, as then e2-e4 would be easier to
accomplish with the liquidation of the steed.
The doubling of the C-pawns is also avoided, as black may be able to
blockade the pawn centre and focus on the doubled pawns, as with similar
systems in the Nimzo- and Bogo-Indian defences.
Furthermore, white retains the option of playing d4-d5 if black were to
force matters with c7-c5, challenging the white pawn centre.}
8... Bf6
{Black wishes to post his minor pieces as actively as possible. The pressure
along the long diagonal is slightly annoying, as the white d4-pawn may
become a tactical liability, or in many variations, fixed and vulnerable.
Black also has the idea of playing c7-c5 and then capturing on c3 twice,
thus doubling the C-pawns and striving for that pawn formation of doubled
weak pawns once again.
Tactics with Nxc3, Bxf3 and Bxd4 have to be carefully avoided.}
9. Rc1
{Preventing the damage to the pawn structure on the C-file as outlined
above. The white rook may have possibilities along the C-file were things to
become open through the centre with pawn exchanges. C7 may become a point of
penetration were queens to be exchanged at an early stage. The rook
development also discourages black from playing d7-d5, as white could
exchange on d5 and the C-file becomes half-open for the rook's operations.}
9... d6
{Black adopts the pawn centre as described above. The opening has gone all
to plan and white now needs to decide on how he will progress with his
intension of forcing in e2-e4 thrust. This is not an easy deed to achieve
and experience and opening knowledge is essential here to help with the
white plan. White cannot develop any further without compromise to his
structure and pawn formation.
If permitted, black will develop his queen's knight to d7, force through
e6-e5 and then expand on the king-side as quickly as possible with king-side
attacking ambitions.}
10. Nxe4
{Played with the idea of "loosening" up the light-squared bishop of black's.
Although the light-squared bishop will occupy the all-important e4-square,
white intends to make the loose bishop on that outpost a tactical target.
This is not so obvious to start with, for no other piece can attack the
loose bishop very easily. The natural attacker of that loose bishop would be
the knight on f3, but that is currently pinned against white's own
light-squared bishop.}
10... Bxe4
11. Bc3
{Fortifying the D4-pawn. White now has intensions of playing d4-d5 if
allowed, as this would deny the light-squared bishop on e4 a natural
retreat. If white were able to exchange the dark-squared bishops, he may be
able to attack the black pawns - which are going to be positioned on
dark-squares - in the end-game. With the white pawn on d5, an exchange with
e6xd5 allows c4xd5 and the rook on c1 comes to life targeting the c7
backward pawn. If black pushes past with e6-e5, white has the black pawn on
a dark-square, which is a desirable formation and white can expand very
quickly with b2-b4 and c4-c5, with similar ideas to the king's Indian
Defence.
Black now needs to make a conscious decision on how he wishes to play the
middle game. So far, the opening has gone reasonably well for him, but he
must resolve the loose nature of his light-squared bishop and decide on
where his pawns want to be, especially so, for the end-game.}
11... c6
{Black prevents white from playing d4-d5, effectively fixing the white
d4-pawn in its place. This is, of course, unless white can achieve e2-e4,
when d4-d5 would be a renewed concept, breaking open the position favourably
for him.
The text-move does deny the light-squared bishop a retreat along the h1-a8
diagonal though, a serious consequence. Black envisions though that this
light-squared bishop can be exchanged for white's and that he can then
follow up by placing his pawns on light-squares, thereby easing the
pawn-formation difficulties he will face in the end-game.
All of which, is perfectly valid and an acceptable approach. White though,
has an interesting twist here, which gives black a very tough decision to
contend with.}
12. Bh3
{An awkward looking move, but one designed to push black into a huge
positional decision. The light-squared bishop has little future on h3,
unless black decides to play e6-e5, when the c8 square is controlled,
allowing operations down the C-file to be more effective and the c7-pawn
will become very vulnerable indeed.
The bishop move is simply intended to avoid the exchange of light-squared
bishops. Sometimes, this can be done by putting the bishop on f1, but here,
there is not enough time for white to play Re1 and Bf1. The bishop on h3 is
not a tactical liability and does indeed stop black from retreating with
Bf5, as the resulting damage to his pawn structure may cause him grave
problems in the future.
White's direct aim now is to play Nd2 and once the light-squared bishop has
vacated the e4-square, to play e2-e4. A serious plan, which black has to
resolve quickly.}
12... Bxf3?!
{A very big positional decision and one that will now haunt black for the
next 10 moves or so.
Giving up the bishop-pair in such positions is a big decision to make and
the consequences have to be carefully calculated. Here, black does so, not
only to damage the white pawn structure, with the strict intension of
occupying the light-squares with his own pawns, permanently fixing the white
d4-pawn in the process, but also to gain some material in the process.
Although this proves to be a short-term consequence of the text-move, white
has to play dynamically now to demonstrate that this positional move has
more decisive connotations.
12... c5 is certainly an option for black, although this admits an error in
black's 12th move. Sometimes pride can be a debilitating factor in a
player's choice of move.
Other 12th moves are not so attractive for black. The retreat to g6 with the
light-squared bishop appears to achieve little. White will gain the centre
with e2-e4 eventually, either by Re1 or Nd2 and the white plan of expansion
on the queen-side can continue without any further hindrance. Black needs to
avoid from entering into a passive position, where he will simply have to
sit and wait for white to make all of the probing.}
13. exf3 d5
{With this move, black hopes to have solved all of his positional concerns.
The white d4-pawn is now fixed and a point of focus for the black pieces,
since e2-e3 can no longer be played.
White has a major decision of his own to make now, although this can be
eased by the simple knowledge and awareness of similar variations, which can
happen in the Queen's Gambit Accepted variation.
Black has constructed a solid wall of pawns on c6, d5 and e6, the breaking
down of which, will not be easy.}
14. f4!
{A strong repost to the black structure. White shows no concern for the
pawn, which is attacked on c4, realising that the capture of this pawn will
only afford black further developmental difficulties.
White needs to capture on d5 as soon as possible, since he wishes to open up
the C-file for his rook. If black can be enticed to capture with c6xd5,
white may have enough to start operations down the queen-side.
However, 14. cxd5 allows Qxd5 and the black queen stands on a very
dominating square and pressure down the D-file may prove intolerable, as the
d4-pawn is not able to make any progress to d5 and is tactically vulnerable.
In that regard then, white must re-focus his own light-squared bishop back
onto the d5-square as quickly as possible and put the bishop back onto its
most effective square. Captures on d5 will force a pawn recapture at that
point. The long h1-a8 diagonal is a very attractive proposition for that
bishop now, since black has exchanged his own light-squared bishop.
Pawn-breaks are also of vital importance in the position. Black's potential
pawn breaks are c6-c5 and e6-e5. With the text-move, white prevents the
e6-e5 break and offers him, white, the chance to further break with f4-f5,
an important feature, that will come back to haunt black. Since white has a
doubled F-pawn, f4-f5 is an advance that will not cause white any structural
damage on the king-side.
If permitted now, white will play Bg2 and then capture on d5 and give black
the undesirable choice of re-capturing with the C6-pawn, opening up the
C-file, or with the e6-pawn, opening up light-squared diagonals along b1-h7
and h3-c8 and giving himself a backward c6-pawn.}
14... dxc4
{Black cashes in. He steals the c4-pawn, with the hope that he is able to
advance his pawns to cling onto the material.
The major consequences of this capture though is that the long diagonal is
re-opened and importantly, d4-d5 has become a pawn-break for white, however,
unlikely this now appears. In essence, the fixed d4-pawn has no longer
become a permanent feature and the dark-squared bishop on c3 no longer a
pretend pawn.}
15. Bg2
{The light-squared bishop relocates back onto the long diagonal, severely
restricting the black queen-side development. The c6-pawn is a thorn in
black's side that he will find extremely challenging to rid himself off.}
15... Qd6
{Black has stolen the pawn on c4, so he must develop in a slightly awkward
manner, to ensure that he is able to retain his material gain. The queen'
development allows the black rook to swing to d8, where the pressure on the
d4 pawn becomes more intolerable.
White now needs to resolve this pressure on the D4-pawn and since the black
queen is the first line after a future Bxd4 capture, the defence of the
d4-pawn is somewhat eased.
To complete his development, white has to consider carefully now similar
structures, which can be encountered in the Queen's Gambit Accepted
variation. Having a working knowledge of those lines, even if a player does
not play them, or against them, provides a foundation on which a
continuation can be successfully constructed.}
16. b3!
{White has no interest in attempting to recover the pawn investment. Trying
for tactics to regain it will only involve his pieces becoming entangled.
The fluidity of his development must be maintained to sustain the
initiative.
16. Qa4 is the only other alternative, but this permits black to push his
queen-side pawns with tempi.
16... b5 17. Qa5 with the idea of restricting the pawns is a consideration,
since 18. Bb4 is a tactical threat. However, 17... Bd8 evicts the white
queen and forces her back to an inferior position. Black will then be able
to push his A-pawn and the queen-side pawn mass gathers momentum.
If allowed, white will capture on c4 and then the break, d4-d5 will have the
effect of blasting open the centre and increasing the scope of the
light-squared bishop. Black could permit the capture on c4 but after d4-d5,
he has no good way to blockade the centre, since e6-e5 has been prevented by
the f4-pawn. Lines must be opened up now at any cost. Black might as well
continue with his materialistic approach.}
16... cxb3
17. Qxb3
{Developing the queen and pressurising the b6-pawn, thus restraining the
black A-pawn from advancing. All files and diagonals are becoming white
dominant now. Black is struggling to develop.
The tactical threat is 17. Bb4 winning an exchange, which black must deal
with.}
17... Rd8
18. Rfd1
{Effectively defending the D4-pawn, as captures on d4 will only leave the
black dark-squared bishop fatally pinned against the black major pieces.
Indeed, white can capture the bishop immediately if a capture occurs at once
by the black queen.
This completes the white development and puts the question to black to how
he is going to complete his own. Such pressure by positional means puts a
strain on the psychology of a player, who strives to regain a degree of
equilibrium.}
18... Be7
{Since the d4-pawn is no longer a target, black regroups in an attempt to
alleviate his developmental difficulties by the search for exchanges. By
this retreat, black indicates that he wishes to invade the black queen into
b4 or a3 to offer a queen-exchange.
The final piece of the white plan now needs to be implemented. After which,
the paralysis of the black position is secured.}
19. Ba1
{Removing the bishop from any tactical possibilities and securing it out of
the way. More importantly though, is that the rook on c1 is opened up,
thereby directly targeting the c6-pawn. This pressure on the c6-pawn
prevents black from completing his development. Black's position is now
becoming untenable and he seeks exchanges as to his plan.}
19... Qa3
20. Qb1
{White does not make the task any easier for black. Exchanges will only aid
to ease his development. The pressure on the b6-pawn is maintained and at a
peripheral extent, an eye is kept on the black king-side, with Be4 as a
possibility. As it is, the black development difficulty has not yet been
resolved.}
20... Qb4
{Black seeks vehemently further for exchanges. This only drives the white
queen to her ultimate outpost though. Suggesting a better approach for black
is difficult at this stage.}
21. Qe4
{Continuing the thread of the white plan. The white queen keeps the pressure
on the light-squares, but from this powerful outpost, she introduces yet
another element to the position, that being the f4-f5 break, as the e6-pawn
is usefully pinned against the bishop on e7. Or, at least, it may be...
It is essential not to rush to re-gain any material investment. Tactical
awareness must be maintained at all times.
21. Bxc6 Qxb1 22. Rxb1 Nxc6 would not be a clever continuation.}
21... Rd6
{A desperate attempt to save the pawn on c6, however ugly the move is. Note
though, how the pawn on e6 has now actually become pinned against the bishop
on e7!
Black now hopes to develop his queen's knight and get it outposted somewhere
and hope to neutralise the white advantage.
The pawn-breaks for white are still valid, especially so d4-d5 and f4-f5.
Although the latter is useful, it does not open up the dark-squared bishop
on a1, increasing its range. In that sense then, d4-d5 is the more desirable
push, but this is not possible, since it is "pinned" against the white queen
on e4. The white queen is defended, but an exchange of queens is not on
white's radar.
An amusing continuation was
21... Qa5 22. f5 Qxf5 23. Qxf5 exf5 24. d5
When the white D-pawn becomes very potent. In this variation, note that
24.. c5 will lose material after
25. Be5 Rd8 26. d6 when the long diagonal proves black's undoing.}
22. Qe2
{Further paralysing moves are being found by white. The text-move prevents
the black knight from developing to a6 and unpins the d4-pawn at the same
time, as well as keeping the pin on the e6-pawn. From e2, the white queen
cannot be harassed by her counterpart.
A study of all the white pieces can successfully demonstrate the sheer
dominance of their placement. Black does not have an effective way to
progress with his position, despite being a pawn to the good.
22. f5 Na6 23. Rxc6
Would be one way to cash in on the position, but may give black an easier
route to play. The text-move puts the big question to black and time and
effort is exerted to find a path forwards. It is not surprising then that
black cannot tolerate the position anymore and returns the pawn without any
further resistance.}
22... Nd7
23. Bxc6
{White has now regained his pawn with a superior position to boot. The
bishop-pair will soon begin to work in tandem to cut through the long
diagonals. Again, white does not capture on c6 with the rook, as he does not
wish for exchanges. The black pieces are uncoordinated and will require some
manoeuvring to ease their predicament.}
23... Rd8?
{Black's losing move. Again, it is not shocking that black crumbles
immediately after having to return the material he had won earlier. A
distinct illustration of the pressure tolled on the position.
23... Rc8 24. d5 Nc5 is the only viable continuation for black.}
24. d5
{White relentlessly continues with his game strategy. The dark-squared
bishop is opened up, the pin on the e6-pawn is exploited and the immediate
tactics all favour white.}
24... Nf6
{Played with a draw-offer! Which, of course, was duly ignored.
Intriguingly, white has two ways here to win material. Should white win an
exchange or the black queen?}
25. Be5
{Choosing the least path of resistance and one that requires the minimal
amount of technical ability. Winning the exchange is the simple route and
does not require much calculation.
25. Rd4 Qa5 26. Bc3 Qa3 27. Bb2 Qa5 28. Ra4
Would ensnare the black queen, but she can be given up for a rook and
bishop, which may prove more challenging to convert than the game
continuation. As it is, the text-move offers black no hope for resistance.}
25... exd5
{No better is 25... Rxd5 26. Bxd5 Nxd5 27. f5
When the secondary pawn-break creates fatal weaknesses for black.}
26. Bxd6 Qxd6
27. Bb5
{Re-routing the light-squared bishop back around to the king-side. Holes on
the king-side may need plugging and the white rooks are offered a point of
penetration down the C-file.}
27... Ne4
28. Rc6 Qb4
{Since the dark-squared bishop on e7 is precariously placed, especially so
being pinned against the knight on e4, the black queen wishes to support it
from afar. Black is seeking tactical last-gasp possibilities, but as long as
white keeps cool, there is little hope.
28... Qa3 29. Bd3 Nf6 30. Qc2 will permit further penetration down the
C-file.}
29. Bd3
{Pressurising the outposted knight on e4. The bishop is removed from any
tactical liability on the side-lines. White is, naturally, seeking exchanges
now, as the material gained will provide an easy end-game.}
29... Qa4
{Again, black seeks tactical refuge.
29... Nc3 30. Rxc3 Qxc3 31. Qxe7 drops the loose dark-squared bishop.}
30. Rc2
{Best. The rook retreats to a light-square and blocks the a4-d1 diagonal.
All of the white pieces are defending each other, essentially ensuring that
there are no loose pieces to be snaffled. The black knight on e4 can no
longer move, as it is now truly pinned against the loose dark-squared bishop
on e7 with the black queen wandering away from its protection.}
30... Re8
{The final mistake, not that it matters, as black was in a hopelessly lost
position. The text-move just makes the game conclude a lot quicker than it
could have done.
30... Kf8 is the only move at black's disposal. White can then take on e4,
exchange rooks and the end-game is very trivial to convert.}
31. Bb5
{Winning yet more material. After this, the game is no longer a contest.
Black ought to resign here, but he played on for several more moves.
The remainder of the game has no intrinsic value.}
31... Qa3
32. Bxe8 Bc5
33. Qd3 Qb4
34. Bc6 Bxf2+
35. Rxf2 Qc5
36. Qd4 Qf8
37. Qxd5 Nxf2
38. Kxf2
{This victory gave me 5.5/9 in this prestigious event. I won a shared prize
for the best performance of a non-titled player.}
32... 1-0
Opening references
A.
11... Nd7 12. Ne1 Bxg2 13. Nxg2 c5 14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Bxf6 Nxf6 16. Qxd8
Rfxd8 17. Rfd1 {
1/2-1/2 Plachetka,J (2440)-Velikov,P (2465)/Trnava 1984/MCL})
B.
11... Nd7 12. Ne1 Bxg2 13. Nxg2 e5 14. dxe5 Bxe5 15. Re1 f5
1/2-1/2 Kupka,S (2385)-Gola,M (2320)/CSR 1991/EXT 2002)
C.
11... c5 12.
Qa4 Qe7 13. Rfd1 Nc6 14. dxc5 dxc5 15. Ne5 Bxg2 16. Nxc6 Bxc6 17. Qxc6 Rfd8
18.
Kg2
1/2-1/2 Olafsson,F (2555)-Unzicker,W (2530)/Munich 1979/MCD)
Chris Ross
April 2016
