All,
This is an intriguing encounter, which aptly displays the need to balance
carefully when material should be given up for activity, when to return said
material, and critically, when the investor of the material, should strive to
regain it. That vacillating requirement to judge accurately cannot be defined
in specific terms, but has to be judged on an individual basis. However, when
considering such judgments, fundamental positional elements have to be
accounted for. Without those positional contemplations, advantages and
disadvantages can swing from one extreme to the other.
White is a very strong English player, graded at 206 (ELO about 2250), who has
a lot of experience and will prove to be a dangerous opponent.
Enjoy!
[Event "Central London League 2016-2017"]
[Site "London, ENG"]
[Date "2017.02.02"]
[Round "7.1"]
[White "Randall, Simon"]
[Black "Ross, Chris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "B26"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "139"]
[EventDate "2017.02.02"]
[WhiteTeam "King's Head"]
[BlackTeam "Kings College London"]
{B26: Closed Sicilian}
1. e4 c5
2. Nc3 Nc6
3. g3 g6
4. Bg2 Bg7
5. d3 Rb8
{My preferred side-line, although I have essayed others in the past.
The strategic point behind the move is obvious. Black wishes to remove the rook
off the dangerous h1-a8 diagonal, reducing tactical potential for the white
light-squared bishop. Secondly, since black has developed his Dragon-Bishop,
the b2-square becomes a point of focus. Black is intent on advancing down the
queen-side with his pawns as quickly as possible to open up opportunities for
the Dragon-Bishop.}
6. Be3
{There are a number of ways for white to set up here. Playing an early f2-f4
can transpose into lines of the Grand-Prix Attack.
6. Nge2 and even 6. Nf3 are also possible.
Here, white gains time on the c5 pawn and has Qd2 and Bh6 as an option, were
black to develop his king’s knight quickly.}
6... d6
7. f4
{Indirectly preventing black from expanding on the queen-side, which
temporarily puts the question to the rook on b8.
The text-move does prevent white from playing his desired Qd2 and Bh6 ideas,
thus liberating the black king’s knight to develop. Naturally, developing it to
f6 will allow e4-e5 tempo-gaining moves. Its employment to e7 is a common
feature in this structure, as white may have the plan of playing g3-g4 with
f4-f5 thrusts aspired for. Quite frequently, the f5-square becomes a focal
point for many games in this type of setup.}
7... Nd4
{A common manoeuvre in this line. The knight steps off the h1-a8 diagonal,
permitting b7-b5.
7... b5 allows 8. E5 with the knight loose on c6.
Black also blocks up the d4-square, for if white is able to play Nge2/Nf3 and
then d3-d4, he may have a better variation of the open Sicilians.}
8. Nce2?!
{Curiously, not a commonly seen move. White has lots of options here. Some of
which are demonstrated in the opening references provided at the bottom.
The purpose of the move is to enable white to play c2-c3 and evict the
outposted knight on d4. The more usual way for white to do this is to play Qd2
and once black has advanced with b5-b4, to play Nd1 and slowly build the centre
with c2-c3. With the black pawn on b4, bxc3 is possible and the rook on b8
comes to life and there is pressure and tension along the a1-h8 diagonal.
Black is slow to develop, but since the pawn structure is rather rigid in the
centre, the black king is in no immediate danger.}
8... Nxe2
{The critical test to the chosen pathway elected by white. The bate has to be
taken, otherwise black can find himself in a much inferior variation to the
structures outlined above.}
9. Nxe2 Bxb2
{Stealing the b2-pawn. An acceptance that black will now be cramped for some
time to come is duly recognised. White has sacrificed this pawn for open lines
and activity, the due price for material investment. With both of these
elements, the first tension of the imbalance of play occurs.}
10. O-O
{White offers further material for development. An exchange offer which will
snaffle the Dragon-Bishop and cramp black up much more.}
10... Bg7
{Declining the secondary material offer. A pawn has been snatched, which,
eventually, may prove sufficient to win the game, although that is a distant
prospective at this current moment. Black’s opening setup is to empower the
Dragon-Bishop to operate and exert pressure along the long diagonal. The
winning of the b2-pawn was an objective, but this has been accomplished without
having to compromise the black queen-side pawn structure.
10... Bxa1 11. Qxa1 f6 is very uncomfortable for black, as he has lost his most
influential piece and the pawn structure is very awkward for him to activate
his rooks.}
11. d4
{White opens up the position. Open lines have to be created to allow the better
developed white pieces to create tactical opportunities. If black is permitted
to develop harmoniously, the pawn investment will prove to be fatal.}
11... b6
{Exchanges do not help black here, as the white pieces will only spring into
action. Black needs to wriggle until he is able to complete development. The
pawn on c5 is solidified and the a7-pawn is protected. The white e3-bishop is
blunted against that pawn and the g1-a7 diagonal is closed down. Since b2 is no
longer a focal point, black does not have to play b7-b5. The text-move does
weaken the light squares though and especially so, the c6-square.}
12. Qd3
{Developing with ideas of tricks through the light-squares. Black has to be
wary of Qb5+ ideas and even Qa6 when the light-squared bishop is developed.
Even Qa3 could be sneaky, targeting the a7-pawn and pressurising the a3-f8
diagonal.
12. Rb1 Be6 teases the a2-pawn and encourages white to blockade the centre with
d4-d5, which releases all of the tension through the centre, enabling black to
develop without any further difficulties.}
12... Nf6
{Black has to get developed. Without full development, he is in danger of being
overran through the centre. Once black has castled, his pieces will soon find
sufficient manoeuvrability to untangle.}
13. e5
{White has no option but to enter into the complications. That need to push for
activity due to the pawn investment is still prevalent.
13. h3 O-O allows black to complete development without any fuss.}
13... Ng4
{Attempting to find enough tempo to get castled.
13... Nd7 gives white the option of playing e5-e6 at some stage, further
damaging the black pawn structure.
As pointed out earlier, the f5-square becomes critical in many of these
structures. Since black has coaxed the pawn advance e4-e5, this square has
become available. If black had developed with
12... Nh6, the knight has no freedom as the e4-pawn would have been still
restricting the knight. Hence, the enticement to advance it with tempo.}
14. Bd2
{White is not willing to give up the bishop pair. Once the centre eventually
liquidates, the bishop pair will be essential to control important diagonals.
White must have his dark-squared bishop to counter the Dragon-Bishop once
things have opened up.}
14... h5
{Attempting to hold the f5-square. The idea is also to stop the knight from
being squeezed out of the game once h2-h3 has driven the knight back to h6 and
then g3-g4 being played.
However, here, there is a very subtle zwischenzug. Black can actually
immediately collapse the centre with 14... dxe5 since 15. h3 achieves nothing.
Black would then be able to chuck in the sneaky
15... e4 gaining time on the white queen and breaking up the white pawn
structure. A neat idea.
16. Bxe4 allows the knight to retreat to f6 holding up the light squares.}
15. Bc6+
{Again, white seeks activity. He must always strive for that activity due to
the pawn investment.
15. h3 Nh6 only drives the knight back to head for the f5-square.}
15... Bd7
16. Be4
{Naturally, white does not wish to exchange, as exchanges only ease black’s
cramped position.
16. Qb5 Rc8 forces the exchange of the light-squared bishops. Black does not
mind even the queen exchange then, for the king is fine on d7 and cannot be
targeted easily.}
16... Nh6
{Black must be very wary now. Dangerous possibilities loom for white.
Sacrifices on g6 are always a possibility. Since black has already retrieved
one pawn, to give up a minor piece for a couple of pawns, white must be very
confident that his investment will give him enough play. Here, although very
tempting, sacrifices on g6 do not quite work. The knight retreat comes to cover
the f7 square, which may be important, if white sacks on g6, retakes with the
queen with check and then pushes e5-e6 with mating ideas on f7.
There, black would have time for Be8 or Qe8 defensive motives.
Secondly, black is headed to block up the f5 square.}
17. Rad1
{The time were that balancing of material and activity is coming to a critical
pivotal point. Despite all of the white potential, nothing is quite working.
Further pushing forward or sacrifices do not immediately reap the reward for
the pawn investment. All of which, can only cause frustration and tension in a
player.
17. exd6 has to be the critical test here. If black then recaptures
17... exd6 then 18. Bxg6 seems to be playable, as there will be a pawn dropping
off on d6 with check too. However, the black king can hide on g8 and because of
the control of the f5-square, white does not quite have enough to crash through.
Black does not have to go for that, of course.
17... O-O returning the pawn investment is also very good for black.
18. Dxe7 Qxe7 alleviates all of black’s problems and helps him to complete
development. A clear illustration to how the pawn investment can be returned to
obtain a better position with material equality.}
17... Qc8
{The f5-square is given more support and tactics down the D-file are avoided.
Exchanges down the D-file will not lead to the black light-squared bishop and
queen in an awkward pinned position.
17... Bh3 18. Rfe1 h4 is the aggressive route, but strictly not necessary.}
18. exd6
{White has reached that moment of critical no-turn-around. The pawn investment
is still an issue, so immediate tactics are sought to try and regain it. The
opening up of the position can only serve to free the Dragon-Bishop though.}
18... exd6
19. dxc5
{Further liquidation is sought, with the intension of creating difficulties
down the D-file. Without this, the white activity will soon trickle away.}
19... bxc5!
{A very important point.
It is counter-intuitive to recapture this way, as it offers back the pawn but
aesthetically, compromises the black pawn structure.
19... dxc5 is the more natural recapture, since then the black pawn structure
a7-b6-c5 is maintained.
However, with the text-move, the black rook on b8 is given life and there is no
immediate tactics against the black light-squared bishop on d7, which may be
attacked twice down the D-file.}
20. Qxd6
{White sees the time to recapture his pawn investment. All the tension and
activity has caused him pressure on the board and on the clock. The pawn on d6
is offered back, so it is duly taken.
A better way to regain the pawn would be
20. Bc3 O-O 21. Bxg7 Kxg7 22. Qc3+ Kg8 23. Rxd6 Re8
When the material is equal, but black has better prospects with the open lines.}
20... Rb6
{Evicting the annoying white queen, which is preventing black from castling.
Furthermore, the rook is defending along the third rank and in particular, the
g6-square, which may be a point for a sacrifice.}
21. Qd3
{Played with a draw offer!
That simple draw offer tells an opponent a great deal. White has clearly been
pushing hard to gather activity and play for his pawn investment. Now, he has
regain that material and is surmising that black has been feeling the pressure
in defending his position.
All of which, is good psychological reasoning, but does not take in the
actuality of the board. Indeed, black has had to suffer a cramped position for
a while, but has now successfully returned the pawn to obtain a better
position, thus striking that imbalance of material verses activity in a more
effective manner.}
21... O-O
{Declining the draw offer without any comment being made, thus displaying a
confidence in the position.
Amongst all of the positional factors that have been mentioned here, the one
singular telling point in the position is the king-side pawn structure. White
has played f2-f4 and black has played h7-h5. The comparison and ramifications
of those pawn moves are the key. The f4-pawn blocks in the white dark-squared
bishop and limits it in its reach. The white king is more exposed than the
black one, which can hide on h7. The f5-square is secured for black and the
black minor pieces are more mobile and secure.
The centre is collapsed and the queen-side pawns are similarly disrupted and
weak.}
22. Be3
{White sees no use in the immediate tactics. Instead, he attempts to solidify
his position and pressurises the c5-pawn, which may be weak.
22. Ba5 c4 23. Qxd7 Qc5+ 24. Nd4 Qxa5
Seems good for black. The a2-pawn is of noteworthy weakness.}
22... Bh3
{Opening up lines through the centre with gain of tempo.
22... Re8 23. Bf2 Bg4 24. Bf3
is possible, but drives the pieces around the weakened white king.}
23. Bg2
{This exchange only exposes the white king that bit more. White ought to secure
up the vulnerable E-file
23. Rfe1 Re8 24. Bf2 when black is still probing.}
23... Bxg2
24. Kxg2 Nf5
{This knight has finally found its way to the outpost on f5. Again, exchanging
it for the dark-squared bishop is a distinct possibility, since the position
has opened up to favour the Dragon-Bishop.
Checking the white king along the long diagonal achieves nothing. It is best to
conserve the check and leave the king in the open.}
25. Bg1 Rd6
{Tickling the white queen and asking her to find a secure and safe spot.
25... Rb2 would probe the white queen-side pawns, but may place the rook
off-side.}
26. Qa3
{Trying to pressurise both of the black queen-side pawns. Both c5 and a7 are
attacked.
White does best to occupy the h1-a8 diagonal to shield the white king.
26. Qf3 Rfd8 27. Rd3 is an attempt to hold the position for white.}
26... Ra6
{Defending the a7-pawn, but also attacking the vulnerable a2-pawn. In this way,
the two white queen-side pawns will be collapsing before the black ones.}
27. Qxc5 Rxa2
28. Qxc8 Rxc8
29. Rd2 a5
{Outside passed pawns should be pushed. With the support of the Dragon-Bishop,
this pawn is going to cause white all kinds of problems.
29... Rcxc2 30. Rxc2 Rxc2 31. Kf3
Is a perfectly acceptable way to continue.}
30. h3
{White sees no hope in attempting to cling onto the c2-pawn.
30. Rc1 is miserable, when black has Bb2/Ba3 ideas to win it in any case.}
30... Raxc2
31. Rfd1 a4
{Black is once again, a pawn up but this time, it is a very dangerous, marching
A-pawn, suitably supported by his rooks and the Dragon-Bishop.}
32. g4 hxg4
33. hxg4 Rxd2
{Exchanging one pair of rooks to ease the technique of the end-game.
33... Ne7 34. Kf3 a3 35. Rd8+ Rxd8 36. Rxd8+ Kh7 37. Ra8
and white may have some joy along the second rank with the knight and f7-pawn
weak. This is unlikely as the A-pawn should prove to be a sufficient enough
distraction to make this not feasible.}
34. Rxd2 Nh6
{Gaining time on the g4-pawn. The knight will re-emerge eventually, so this
slightly awkward placement of the knight is of no importance.)
35. Kf3 a3
{This is a very challenging position for white to hold, if he can at all. The
extra A-pawn is setting enough difficulties to cost white time and material.
The advancement of the white king-side pawns has only made them more
vulnerable.}
36. Bd4
{White’s losing move. Tough as the position is, white needed to find a more
resistant line.
36. Ra2 Bb2 entombs the rook and after some time, black should be able to
attack the rook with his knight or king. There is more technique required to do
that, but it is certainly possible.
With the text move, black is able to exchange his outside passed A-pawn to win
the king-side pawns.}
36... Rd8
{Black is content to exchange pieces, but at the cost of the rook exchange as
well. Which white cannot afford to do, due to the A-pawn running home. The
pinned bishop on d4 is a tactical liability.}
37. Ke4
{White surrenders the G-pawn to enable his rook to round up the outside passed
A-pawn.
37. Ra2 Bxd4 winning a whole piece, is best, as a pawn can be maintained on the
board to convert the win.
Winning two pieces for the rook with
37... Rxd4 38. Nxd4 Bxd4 39. Rxa3
Is not as accurate and may still win, but involves a lot more time and effort.}
37... Nxg4
{Keeping it simple.
37... f5+ 38. Kd3 Bxd4 39. Nxd4 fxg4
With Nf5 in the offing is probably better.}
38. Ra2 Bxd4
39. Nxd4 Nf6+
{Since the white king has to maintain protection of the knight on d4, the
winning of the f4-pawn is assured. It is a matter of how to get the black
knight around to win it.}
40. Kd3 Nd5
{The simplest way to win the f4-pawn. Nb4+ forks are threatened, so white does
not have time to save it.}
41. Rxa3 Nxf4+
[The game is now effectively over. In a time scramble to conclude the game,
white has every right to continue, to see if black messes up the technical side
of things.
There are many ways to win this and there is little purpose in demonstrating
all of the many side-lines. The fundamental approach is to secure the black
forces and slowly, and methodically, squeeze the pawns up the board. Being
connected, the job of doing this is so much easier.}
42. Ke4 Nh5
{There is no harm in putting a knight to the edge of a board in such open
positions, as it will always have opportunities of returning to active duty the
move after.}
43. Nf3 Kg7
{Before the pawns can be pushed, all of the black forces must work in tandem to
secure their protection. All the forces, which is important - the time taken to
do this is not important.}
44. Ng5
{Hoping for tricks against the f7-pawn. Of course, black is wary enough not to
allow this to occur.
44. Ra7 Nf6+ 45. Kf4 Rd7 46. Rxd7 Nxd7 needs more technique with knight
placement.}
44... Re8+
45. Kf3 Re5
{Chasing the intrusive white knight. Interestingly, the f5-square becomes
worthy of note again, as once secured on f5, the black rook defends the
backward F-pawn and supports the black forces to push the G-pawn.}
46. Nh3 Rf5+
47. Kg4 Kh6
{The black king readies the advance of the G-pawn as well as restricting the
white knight. Naturally, if black can exchange knights, the rook end-game is so
much more easier that the current version.}
48. Ra8 Nf6+
49. Kg3 Ne4+
50. Kg2
{The white king has been driven backwards.
50. Kg4 Nf2+ neatly exchanges the knights.}
50... g5
51. Ra4
{51. Re8 Nf6 52. Ra8 Nd5
With Nf4 ideas, now the f4 square has been made the current outpost – f5 having
been it previously.}
51... Nc3
{Slightly misplacing the black knight, but as with the side of the board, a
knight can return rapidly into open positions. The tempo gained on the white
rook is the sole purpose of the move.
51... Re5 is the most accurate.}
52. Ra6+ f6
{Again, the “slow” push of the pawns is perfectly acceptable. There is no rush
at all to crash both or one of them home. The time taken to convert an
advantage is of no consequence at all, as long as a player is ahead on the
clock.}
53. Nf2 Kg6
{The black forces need to support one another. Ensuring that the f6-pawn is
never loose, is a safe and solid approach.}
54. Ra8 Rf4
55. Nd3 Rd4
56. Nc5 Nd5
{Heading for the outpost on f4 and preventing Ne6 by white in the doing.}
57. Rg8+ Kf5
58. Kf3
{White’s attempt to block out the black king from advancing is futile.
58. Kf2 Rc4 59. Nb3 Rb4 squashes the loose white knight down.}
58... Rc4
59. Rc8
{An awkward move, self-pinning. This tempts black to find a tactic to win the
pinned steed, but there is no need for this, not at all. Black can simply
continue in forcing the white king back and to slowly push one of the pawns
home with the support of all the black forces.
59. Nd3 Rc3 60. Ke2 Nf4+ exchanges the knights.}
59... Rc3+
60. Ke2 Nf4+
61. Kd2 Rh3
{Shielding the black king’s advance. Also, the white king can be harassed from
afar.}
62. Nb7 Rh2+
63. Ke1 g4
{Since the black forces are hunting in a pack and the white monarch has been
driven to the back rank, it is now time to start pushing a pawn. Its march home
is inevitable.}
64. Rc5+ Ke4
65. Ra5
{Presumably played to check the black king from distance too. Since the black
forces support each other, there is little hope for white to find a way to
continually pester the black king.
65. Nd6+ Kd3 66. Ra5 Ng2+ 67. Kf2
Ne3+ 68. Kg1 Rg2+ 69. Kh1
Is also not pleasant for white.}
65... g3
66. Nd6+ Kf3
67. Ra3+ Kg4
{The black forces support one another, thus providing shields at important
times. The pawn’s advance is now cleared.}
68. Ne4
{With last desperate tactics for white.
68. Ra7 Nd3+ 69. Kd1 Rh5 70. Ra4+ Kf3
Is also possible.}
68... Rh1+
{Completely missing 68... Re2+ winning the loose white knight. It is not
disastrous since the G-pawn is crashing through in any case.}
69. Kd2 g2
70. Nf2+
{70. Rg3+ may have been a better way to check black’s nerves.
70... Kf5? 71. Rxg2! Opens up Ng3+ forks, which forces 71... Kxe4, making the
conversion of the F-pawn a rather tedious and irritating process.
70... Kh4 avoids that and the G-pawn can step home without any further tactics.
Luckily, white realised that his position could not be salvaged and that the
G-pawn is promoting either on g1 or recapturing on h1. A resignation was given
without black having to play a move.
An illustrative game and a fine victory against a strong opponent.}
70... 0-1
Opening references
A.
8. Qd2 e6 9. Nd1 Ne7 10. c3 Ndc6 11. Nf3 O-O 12. O-O b6 13. d4 Ba6 14. Re1
cxd4 15. Nxd4 Qc7
16. Bf2 Nxd4 17. cxd4 Qd7 18. Nc3 Rfc8 19. Rac1 Nc6 20. Bf1 Bxf1 21. Rxf1 d5
22. e5 b5 23. Ne2
Agustsson,G-Geller,E/Amsterdam 1954/EXT 2001/0-1 (73)
B.
8. Qd2 Qa5 9. h3 b5 10. Nf3 Bd7 11. O-O b4 12. Nd1 Nxf3+ 13. Rxf3 Bc6 14. Rf1
Qc7 15. a3 a5
16. axb4 axb4 17. d4 cxd4 18. Bxd4 Bxd4+ 19. Qxd4 Qb6 20. Qxb6 Rxb6 21. Ne3 Kf8
22. e5 Bxg2
Pogrebissky,I-Aramanovich,I/Tbilisi 1949/MCD/1/2-1/2 (52)
C.
8. Nf3 Bg4 9. O-O e6 10. Qd2 Bxf3 11. Bxf3 Ne7 12. Bg2 O-O 13. Nd1 Qd7 14. c3
Ndc6
15. Bf2 f5 16. exf5 gxf5 17. Ne3 Kh8 18. Nc2 b6 19. d4 cxd4 20. Nxd4 Nxd4 21.
Bxd4 e5 22. Bxe5 Bxe5
Romanishin,O (2615)-Stefansson,H (2500)/Luzern 1993/CBM 038/1-0 (36)
D.
8. Bxd4 cxd4 9. Nce2 Nf6 10. h3 Qb6 11. b3 O-O 12. Nf3 Bd7 13. g4 Rfc8 14. O-O
Nxe4 15.
Kh2 Nf6 16. Ne1 Bc6 17. Ng3 Bxg2 18. Nxg2 Rc6 19. Rf2 Rbc8 20. Ne1 Nd5 21. a3
Qc7 22. Qd2 Ne3
Sobik,B-Banovac,M/Germany 1995/GER/0-1
E.
8. Qc1 e6 9. Nce2 Ne7 10. c3 Qa5 11. Bd2 Nxe2 12. Nxe2 O-O 13. O-O Qa6 14. c4
b5 15. Bc3 e5 16.
b3 f5 17. fxe5 dxe5 18. Qb2 Qd6 19. Rad1 b4 20. Bd2 Be6 21. Qc1 Rf7 22. Kh1
Rbf8
Valdes Castillo,A-Jansa,V/Havana 1967/EXT 2001/0-1 (41)
Chris Ross
February 2017
