Skype coaching session, 08 November 2015.
Recordings of some previous coaching sessions can be found at:
http://www.open-aurec.com/Skype/PaulBenson/PaulBenson.htm
The following game was examined, the games 43 moves is given with annotations
and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated game.
White: Kazhgaleyev, 2599.
Black: P. Nikolic, 2657.
Event: European Club Cup 2007.
Result: 0-1 in 43 moves.
Opening: Reti Opening, Dutch Defence, Lisitsyn Gambit, A04.
1. Nf3 f5
2. e4 fxe4
3. Ng5 d5
4. d3 Qd6
| A much more sensible way to approach the Lisistyn Gambit. The queen is now
guarding the g6 square which can be exploited by white if black becomes
careless, as shown in the session and posting for 01 November 2015. ||
5. Nc3
| The alternative of, 5. dxe4, can be met with, 5. ... h6, pushing the white g5
knight back. White has no tricks on the light squares with, 6. Qh5+ g6 7. Qh4
Bg7, and as the black h8 rook is protected the white g5 knight must retreat. ||
5. ... exd3
| Not really in the true spirit of the, 4. ... Qd6, approach which is to avoid
white having a bishop on the d3 square. Instead, 5. ... h6, is known. Play can
continue, 6. Nb5 Qc6 7. dxe4 hxg5 8. exd5 Qd7 9. Bxg5 a6 10. Nc3 e5 11. Bd3,
and black should prevent the threatened check on the g6 square with either, 11.
... Qf7, or, 11. ... Kf7. Good luck if either player wishes to try this line. A
sample of what happens if black does not prevent, Bg6+, appeared in:
J. Piket (2615) - J. van Mil (2445), Netherlands Championship 1992, 1-0 in 44
moves went:
1. Nf3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Ng5 d5 4. d3 Qd6 5. Nc3 h6
6. Nb5 Qc6 7. dxe4 hxg5 8. exd5 Qd7 9. Bxg5 a6 10. Nc3 e5
11. Bd3 Be7 12. Qf3 Nf6 13. Bg6+ Kd8 14. h3 Ne8 15. Bxe7+ Qxe7
16. Bxe8 Kxe8 17. O-O-O Qg5+ 18. Kb1 Bf5 19. g4 Bg6 20. d6 c6
21. h4 Qf6 22. Qe3 Nd7 23. h5 Bf7 24. Rhe1 Be6 25. Ne4 Qh6
26. g5 Qxh5 27. Nc5 Qh3 28. f3 Kf8 29. b3 Re8 30. Nxb7 Qf5
31. Rd2 Rh3 32. Rf2 Qf4 33. Qc3 Qd4 34. Qxd4 exd4 35. Rfe2 Bf7
36. Rxe8+ Bxe8 37. Nd8 Nc5 38. b4 Na4 39. Ne6+ Kg8 40. Nf4 Nc3+
41. Kb2 Bd7 42. Nxh3 Bxh3 43. g6 Kf8 44. Rh1, 1-0.
A novel idea for black on move 5 is found in G. Orlov - I. Glek, Moscow 1987,
0-1 in 28 moves which went:
1. Nf3 f5 2. e4 fxe4 3. Ng5 d5 4. d3 e3 5. fxe3 e5
6. e4 Nf6 7. Be2 Bc5 8. exd5 Nxd5 9. Ne4 O-O 10. Nxc5 Qh4+
11. g3 Qb4+ 12. Nc3 Nxc3 13. Qd2 Qxc5 14. Qxc3 Qf2+ 15. Kd1 Nc6
16. Qc4+ Kh8 17. Qe4 Nd4 18. c3 Bf5 19. Qe3 Qg2 20. Re1 Nxe2
21. Qxe2 Qd5 22. Be3 Bxd3 23. Qd2 Qf3+ 24. Kc1 Rad8 25. b3 Bb5
26. Qc2 Rd3 27. Bd2 Rfd8 28. Rd1 e4, 0-1. ||
6. Bxd3 Nf6
| Grand Master confuses Grand Rabbit. Surely this is cutting off the black
queen guard to the g6 square? Time to calculate the potential consequences of,
7. Nxh7. ||
7. Nb5
| Instead the tactical, 7. Nxh7 Nxh7 8. Qh5+ Kd8 9. Bxh7, gains little as white
can only break the h-file pin with, Qg6, offering a queen trade. Black could
try for more with, 7. Nxh7 Qe5+, preventing the planned white, Qh5+, 8. Kf1
Nxh7, hoping white will not find, 9. Nxd5, creating complications. Black dare
not capture with, 9. ... Qxd5, as, 10. Bg6+, the black queen is attacked from
the white d1 queen. The least painful option for black is, 10. ... Qf7 11.
Bxf7+ Kxf7, black has lost the queen for 2 minor pieces. ||
7. ... Qb6
8. Bf4 Na6
9. Qe2
| Over-protecting the b5 knight which permits the d3 bishop to move if desired.
Black to play and find an important idea. ||
9. ... Bg4
| So that if the white queen moves then a possible white, Qh5+, as part of a
tactical sequence is ruled out. ||
10. f3
| In order to block the bishop attack but in turn voluntarily ruling out any
chances of, Qh5+, should tactics start on the kingside. ||
10. ... Bd7
| Beginning to put pressure on the white b5 knight. ||
11. O-O-O Nh5
| Attempting to remove the pressure on the black c7 pawn. White is not going to
be so easily repulsed. ||
12. Be3 c5
| White should now be taking into account that if the black c5 pawn is not
pinned to the b6 queen, then the advance by black of, pawn c4, attacks the d3
bishop and leaves the b5 knight undefended. Black would be winning a piece. ||
13. g4 Nf6
14. Bf4
| Now the other Grand Master confuses Grand Rabbit. Surely the pin on the black
c5 pawn is released, meaning black can play, pawn c4, winning a piece?
Ah, perhaps the white bishop is required on the h2 - b8 diagonal to support a
potential, Nd6+, taking advantage of the pin of the black e7 pawn due to the
white queen on the e2 square. This position is getting rather difficult for
black. Take some time here, there is a very important principle to follow to
find the next black move. ||
14. ... O-O-O
| What? Surely this walks into a knight forking the black rooks on the f7
square? Correct, but this apparent madness is virtually forced on black.
Principle: Diagnose a bad position early and try to find the plan which offers
the most confusion. From a position with no activity, for the cost of the h8
rook, black will find activity. This will leave white with some problems to
solve. Every move you make in a game of chess is a test of several abilities at
once. White is winning material and is going to be questioned as to how much he
will try to keep it. In general, when ahead in material it is advisable to
reduce any opposing compensating activity by offering some of it back.
Instead, 14. ... c4 15. Nd6+, causes black some headaches. If now, 15. ... Qxd6
16. Bxd6, the e7 pawn is pinned by the white e2 queen. Or if, 15. ... Kd8 16.
Ngf7+ Kc7, the black king has walked into an x-ray attack from the white f4
bishop. White simply plays, 17. Nxc4+, winning the black queen with more
material to be taken later. ||
15. Nf7 Re8
16. Nxh8
| Just the 1 rook down then? Ah, but hang on. If black has time to play, pawn
c4, then 2 pieces are attacked at once, the d3 bishop and the now unprotected
b5 knight. So, if black can snatch back a piece he will only be an exchange
down and can try to hang on by further confusing matters. Black can indeed
push, pawn c4, but is there a better way to maximise the activity in the
position before regaining some material? ||
16. ... e5
| For the possible investment of the e-pawn the black f8 bishop is now given
some freedom. If you are going to be an exchange down there must be
compensation found somewhere. Perhaps a little reassessment is needed about the
capturing of the black h8 rook? White is indeed taking a rook. It however cost
white 2 moves to do so. Meanwhile black is gaining a large mobile pawn centre
and almost every piece is working in the position. White has a material
advantage while black has coordination in a dynamic position. Incredible as it
might seem, despite being a rook down, the activity of the rest of the black
army is about to create complications against the uncoordinated white position.
||
17. Bxe5
| They say taking a central pawn is almost always useful. However this
voluntarily enters into a pin on the queen up the e-file. Instead, 17. Bg3,
would leave black to find the best move. Variations beginning with, 17. ... c4,
winning a piece, or, 17. ... e4 18. fxe4 Bxg4, would have to be sifted through.
||
17. ... c4
| Finally cutting off the defence to the white b5 knight and attacking the d3
bishop. It is now for white to decide which variation gains most from losing /
returning material. ||
18. Bxc4
| White has planned capturing 2 pawns for the d3 bishop to open up the position
in front of the black king. A sample alternative line is, 18. Nd4 cxd3 19. cxd3
Bd6 20. f4 Bxg4 21. Qf2 Rxe5 22. fxe5 Bxe5, and white has the d4 knight and the
d1 rook attacked. There were further tactical lines for white to consider. Lots
of hard work for that black h8 rook. ||
18. ... dxc4
19. Qxc4+ Bc6
| A quick check on the material count. White is an exchange and 2 pawns up.
However the white b5 knight is doubly attacked and the e5 bishop is undefended.
White must lose another piece. Activity! Activity! Activity! ||
20. a4
| White lets the e5 bishop go in the hope there will be tactics due to the
black rook no longer protecting the back rank. ||
20. ... Rxe5
21. Nf7 Rd5
| Necessary to prevent the threatened, 22. Rd8+. The complications of pieces
coordinating unhindered by pawns are about to escalate. ||
22. g5
| Undermining the defence of the black d5 rook, the f6 knight cannot move as
simply, 23. Rxd5, wins a rook since the black c6 bishop is pinned to the king.
Black must trade rooks and then somehow block the d-file. ||
22. ... Qe3+
| Black could have traded rooks before this important invasion. Black has found
a trick to avoid loss of material. ||
23. Kb1 Rxd1+
24. Rxd1 Nd5
| O.K., the d-file is blocked again and so the threatened, 25. ?Rd8+ mate, is
prevented. However, surely the black d5 knight is undefended as the apparently
supporting black c6 bishop is pinned to the king by the white c4 queen? This is
very tricky, appearances can be deceptive. White to play, think carefully. ||
25. Nd4
| Amazingly the black d5 knight is toxic. If, 25. Rxd5 Qg1+ 26. Ka2, the
sleeping black a6 knight wakes up with, 26. ... Nb4+ 27. Kb3 Nxd5, and black is
a piece up for 2 pawns. Note that in this line black had to play, Qg1+, and
not, Qe1+, as from the g1 square the black a7 pawn is backwardly guarded by the
queen. This is however not the complete picture. After, 25. Rxd5, white is
threatening a mate with, Rd8+, due to the white b5 knight controlling the c7
square. This means white might have a neat tactical resource available. So, 25.
Rxd5 Qg1+ 26. Ka2 Nb4+ 27. Qxb4, so that, 27. ... Bxb4 28. Rd8+, is mate. Well
worth a queen, wouldn't you say? Unfortunately there is a slight flaw in this
analysis. The refutation is, 25. Rxd5 Qg1+ 26. Ka2 Nb4+ 27. Qxb4, the white
queen is no longer on the c-file, which means that the black c6 bishop is no
longer pinned. Simply, 27. ... Bxd5+. Yes, a zwischenzug check and the white
queen will be captured next move. ||
25. ... Nc5
| Every time black needs a defensive resource there seems to be one available.
The double attack on the black c6 bishop is now blocked. ||
26. Nxc6 bxc6
| The weakened black queenside pawn structure must surely allow white to invade
with threats. Perhaps so, but how? The 2 centralised black knights are not easy
to dislodge and they guard important entry squares, in particular the a6
square. If the white queen or rook cannot infiltrate then black is defensively
secure. If so, then it is the white position which needs careful consideration.
||
27. f4
| White must make use of the kingside pawn majority. When it is a rook against
2 minor pieces, the player with the rook needs to create a passed pawn to
deflect the coordination of the minor pieces from taking control elsewhere.
Instead, 27. b4, to deflect the black c5 knight loses to 27. ... Nc3+ 28. Ka1
Nxd1 29. bxc5 Qc1+ 30. Ka2 Qb2+ mate. Or equally painful would be, 27. b4 Nc3+
28. Kb2 Nxd1+ 29. Ka2 Nc3+ 30. Kb2 N5xa4+ 31. Kb3 Qb6, white is 2 pieces down
for a pawn.
Perhaps a club player might try, 27. Rxd5 cxd5 28. Qxd5, and hope to find
something against the exposed black king. At Grand Master level this will not
work, but at club level the best defences are not always found. ||
27. ... Kc7
28. f5 Qf3
| A fork of the white f5 pawn and d1 rook which also gives the black queen more
opportunities to get in amongst the white kingside pawns. ||
29. Rf1 Qh5
30. g6 hxg6
31. fxg6
| The black minor pieces, especially the 2 knights, cannot really improve their
position. This is why the black queen, the only mobile unit, moved into the
kingside. Now black must decide which pawn to capture. Time for some careful
thinking about the next black move. ||
31. ... Qxh2
| In general one might think taking the more dangerous pawn would be correct.
In general, this is probably advisable. However, once some analysis is
performed on both captures, it should become clear the g6 pawn should be left
alone. After, 31. ... Qxg6, the white knight can become active with, 32. Ne5,
attacking both the black queen and c6 pawn while exposing the black f8 bishop
to the f1 rook. Black can answer this with, 32. ... Qe8, or, 32. ... Qd6. In
either case the white pieces have gained activity. The capture of the white h2
pawn leaves the white pieces having to search for activity. Intuition can take
you so far, but sometimes it must be confirmed with analysis. ||
32. Qd4
| White cannot make progress on the queenside and must transfer to the
kingside. The black g7 pawn is now the target, which keeps the black f8 bishop
at home. ||
32. ... Qe2
| Centralising the queen and keeping options of attack or retreat to defence as
needs dictate. ||
33. Rc1
| White decides the rook is needed for defence. The alternative attacking idea
was, 33. Rh1, intending, Rh8. Perhaps white is now a little short of time and
prefers to minimise the complications by strengthening the queenside defences.
||
33. ... a5
| Permanently preventing white, pawn b4, which would displace the black c5
knight and offer chances for the white queen to invade. Now white needs to find
a plan. The g6 pawn is an asset but it cannot make progress. If only, Qxg7, was
possible. It isn't. So, is there anything which could make it possible, such as
the black bishop driven away from the f8 square? Get thinking. ||
34. Ng5
| The position at the moment is balanced. The white queen and rook are enough
to contain the black queenside activity. Black has sufficient defensive
resources to hold the kingside. Now it comes down to ambitions of the players.
Black can do little to improve the position without taking risks. White has
just one piece free to roam the board, the f7 knight. Conclusion: Black must
sit and wait for white to decide if the position merits playing for a win. ||
34. ... Kb6
| Black realises white is planning to drive the f8 bishop away and tries to
find shelter for the king. Critical move for white here, it is not the move
itself, but the consequences of the move which require very careful
consideration. ||
35. Nh7
| White is going for the win. Instead, 35. Nf7, simply keeping the position
under control would throw the ambition question back to black. It might be
advisable for white to maintain the knight on f7 and find moves which do not
alter the position, perhaps, Rg1, and then back, Rc1. Or maybe, Ka1, then, Kb1,
and so on. Let's find out what happens if the white knight is not sitting on
the f7 square. ||
35. ... Bd6
| The point. This bishop was previously an inactive defender on the f8 square.
White, seeking to win the black g7 pawn, has forced it into activity. Once the
black bishop settles on the h8 - a1 long diagonal there will be threats
emerging in front of the white king. On the other hand, white will have a
passed g-pawn racing to promote, which will surely cost black that
just-activated bishop?. So, which of the competing strategies is likely to
prove successful? ||
36. Qxg7 Be5
| This bishop could not create any play had white simply kept the knight on the
f7 square. ||
37. Qf7 Nxa4
38. g7
| The entire game now rests on this next black move. White is about to promote
the g-pawn and 2 white queens would very quickly end matters. So, is there
anything inspirational here for black? ||
38. ... Nac3+
| Well, with 3 minor pieces and a queen hovering nearby, it would be very
surprising if something was not there to try. Both white replies of, 39. Ka1,
and, 39. bxc3, must be considered. It might be worthwhile trying to work out as
much of the combination before reading the rest of this comment, as ideas of
how the game continuation will run will be revealed below.
Black had to select the correct knight here. Instead, 38. ... Ndc3 39. bxc3
Qb5+ 40. Qb3, pieces can move backwards, the white queen comes to the defence
just in time. Play could continue with, 40. ... Nxc3+ 41. Ka1 Bxg7 42. Qxb5+
cxb5 43. Rh1, leaving white an exchange up for a pawn. Black should have
sufficient resources to hold a draw, but also have many opportunities to lose
it. ||
39. bxc3
| Instead, 39. Ka1Qc4 40. b3, stops the immediate mate on the a2 square.
However, it opens up the h8 - a1 diagonal for the black e5 bishop. Play could
continue, 40. ... Qb4, threatening mate on the a3 square and so, 41. Kb2 Nd1+
42. Ka2. Black now keeps control of the b2 square while bringing up the reserve
cavalry with, 42. ... N5c3+ 43. Ka1 Qa3+ mate. ||
39. ... Qb5+
| Black now has at least a perpetual check with the queen on the b5 and a4
squares, but there might be better... ||
40. Ka2
| Instead, 40. Ka1 Bxc3+ 41. Ka2 Qb2+ mate will occur. ||
40. ... Qa4+
| Forcing the white king onto the b-file after which either the black knight or
bishop should recapture on the c3 square with a check, depending how the white
king plays. ||
41. Kb1 Nxc3+
| Of course black does actually have the luxury of, 41. ... Bxc3, and let white
play any move which is not a check, perhaps, 42. g8=Q, and then have a corner
mating position with, 42. ... Qa1+ mate. The game moves hits white with a check
each time, which demands the white king moves out of the way, and is definitely
the professional way to end the chase. Leave nothing to chance. ||
42. Kb2
| Take care over this move, it is still possible to lose everything. ||
42. ... Nd1+
| A double check which forces the attacked king to move. It is not possible to
block both checks or capture both checking pieces. These double checks are
powerful beasts indeed. The last chance to ruin it all was, 42. ... Qa2+, and
announce checkmate. There would be a slightly shocked silence as the bad news
sinks in. Then white would reach his hand across the board, pick up the queen
and with a sense of sadness play, 43. Qxa2. ||
43. Kb1 Qa1+ mate
0-1
| Yes, Grand Masters do from time to time let the opponent enjoy the
satisfaction of achieving checkmate. ||
* * *
## Unannotated game.
White: Kazhgaleyev, 2599.
Black: P. Nikolic, 2657.
Event: European Club Cup 2007.
Result: 0-1 in 43 moves.
Opening: Reti Opening, Dutch Defence, Lisitsyn Gambit, A04.
1. Nf3 f5
2. e4 fxe4
3. Ng5 d5
4. d3 Qd6
5. Nc3 exd3
6. Bxd3 Nf6
7. Nb5 Qb6
8. Bf4 Na6
9. Qe2 Bg4
10. f3 Bd7
11. O-O-O Nh5
12. Be3 c5
13. g4 Nf6
14. Bf4 O-O-O
15. Nf7 Re8
16. Nxh8 e5
17. Bxe5 c4
18. Bxc4 dxc4
19. Qxc4+ Bc6
20. a4 Rxe5
21. Nf7 Rd5
22. g5 Qe3+
23. Kb1 Rxd1+
24. Rxd1 Nd5
25. Nd4 Nc5
26. Nxc6 bxc6
27. f4 Kc7
28. f5 Qf3
29. Rf1 Qh5
30. g6 hxg6
31. fxg6 Qxh2
32. Qd4 Qe2
33. Rc1 a5
34. Ng5 Kb6
35. Nh7 Bd6
36. Qxg7 Be5
37. Qf7 Nxa4
38. g7 Nac3+
39. bxc3 Qb5+
40. Ka2 Qa4+
41. Kb1 Nxc3+
42. Kb2 Nd1+
43. Kb1 Qa1+ mate
0-1
* * *
