Skype coaching session, 19 June 2016.
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 game 47 moves) is given with annotations
and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated game.
White: C. Egan, approx. 1900.
Black: M. Ulfarsson, 2290.
Event: European Club Cup, Panormo Greece 2001.
Result: 0-1 in 47 moves.
Opening: London System, Indian Game, A46.
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6
3. Bf4 b6
4. e3 Bb7
5. Bd3 Be7
6. h3 c5
| Preparing a possible, cxd4, when white will prefer the recapture, exd4,
creating a central pawn structure imbalance. Black can then later organise a
further central pawn challenge of, pawn e5, and white can no longer attempt to
block the centre with, pawn e4. ||
7. c3 d6
| Another part of the fight for control of the dark squares and vacating the d7
square for the b8 knight. Over the next few moves both players continue with
their own plans in preparation for the time when the forces will finally meet
in the middlegame. ||
8. Nbd2 O-O
9. Qe2 Nbd7
10. Bh2 Rc8
11. O-O cxd4
| The planned central pawn exchange finally appears after the black development
is completed. This intended delay has also forced white to commit pieces to a
particular development pattern without knowing if black is actually going to
play, cxd4. ||
12. exd4
| The alternative, 12. cxd4, creates a symmetric pawn structure but white has
already committed to a plan where such a structure offers little play. In such
a symmetric pawn formation it is likely that all rooks will be exchanged on the
c-file, possibly queens as well. These exchanges would produce a complex ending
of many minor pieces, just the type of game a higher rated opponent would seek
in order to test the lower rated player. ||
12. ... Qc7
| Black is preparing the central, pawn e5, challenge. White now finds a plan to
try and hold the centre while seeking piece exchanges. ||
13. Ng5
| White could instead continue with the waiting game strategy by centralising
both rooks. In particular, 13. Rfe1, would also vacate the f1 square for a
minor piece to strengthen the defences, either knight or bishop as appropriate.
By continuing to avoid committing to a plan white is waiting for black to be
the first player to reveal what the middlegame intentions might be. ||
13. ... Rfe8
| The necessary support for, pawn e5, continues. ||
14. f3
| The point of, 13. Ng5, is revealed. White wishes to reduce the activity of
the black b7 bishop while also using the e4 square as a method to start
exchanging pieces. ||
14. ... Bf8
15. Qf2
| Avoiding the x-ray attack of the black e8 rook and perhaps with some rather
optimistic ideas of, Qh4, seeking kingside pressure. ||
15. ... h6
| Forcing the white g5 knight back and so relieving any potential pressure
which could have come to the h7 pawn. ||
16. Nge4 e5
| Black finally achieves the desired, pawn e5, which now allows a possible,
Nf4, advance into the white kingside. ||
17. Nxf6+ Nxf6
18. Ne4
| Another minor piece challenge threatening a further set of exchanges. If
black is not careful there could be a third exchange if white can organise,
Be4, challenging the black b7 bishop. These simplifying trades will be
acceptable for the lower rated player and undesirable to the higher rated
player who wishes for a complicated middlegame. ||
18. ... Nd5
| Black avoids immediate further piece exchanges while manoeuvring for a, Nf4,
advance. There is now also the black, pawn f5, advance gaining a kingside
initiative to be considered. ||
19. g4
| White prevents the black, pawn f5, advance but in doing so creates some
weaknesses on the dark squares. ||
19. ... Nf4
| Forking the unprotected white d3 bishop and h3 pawn. Had white played, Rfe1,
then this fork could be answered with, Bf1. This will not be the first time
that the usefulness of the f1 square for a white minor piece will receive a
comment. ||
20. Bxf4 exf4
| Black gains the bishop pair, fixes the white kingside and takes control of a
couple of dark squares in the white position. ||
21. Rae1
| Instead centralising the other rook with, 21. Rfe1, which would vacate the f1
square for a white minor piece was advisable. Black now finds a plan to invade
into the heart of the white position with the queen. As impossible as it might
seem at the moment, black will soon be jumping into the white kingside with,
Qg3+. Take some time to find a way to achieve this invasion. ||
21. ... d5
| The black light square bishop did not have much of a future due to the white
f3 pawn closing the a8 - h1 diagonal. So black instead uses the d-pawn to open
up the e-file to allow an important piece entry. ||
22. Nd2 Re3
| Giving white an awkward decision. ||
23. Rxe3
| Instead retreating with, 23. Bb1, might allow black a plan along the lines
of, Rce8, Bd6, R8e7, and finally place the queen on e8. This tripling of heavy
pieces firing up a file is known as, "Alekhine's Gun". ||
23. ... fxe3
24. Qxe3 Qg3+
| The necessary line-opening has been achieved. This black queen dark square
invasion can only be repulsed at considerable cost and effort. ||
25. Kh1 Qxh3+
26. Kg1 Qg3+
27. Kh1 Bd6
| Threatening mate with, 28. ... Qh2+. While white can easily stop this threat,
finding a means to break the black dominance of the dark squares will cost
white much time and effort. ||
28. Qf2
| Instead, 28. Rf2 Bc6, and black is ready to take control of the e-file with,
29. ... Re8. ||
28. ... Qh3+
29. Kg1 Bf4
| The attack on the white d2 knight is purely incidental. Black is going to use
this bishop and the queen to fix the white kingside pawns in preparation of a
kingside assault. ||
30. Rd1
| At last the f1 square is vacated permitting a minor piece access in order to
assist the defence. ||
30. ... Bg3
31. Qg2 Qh4
| The impending black grip on the white kingside dark squares is going to be
very strong. Given time, black will bring the c8 bishop and c8 rook into the
game, planning to break open the white kingside pawn formation with pawn
advances. ||
32. Nf1 Bf4
33. Qf2 Qg5
| Some of the pressure has been relieved but the black grip on the dark squares
still limits white from creating any counterplay. Now the game becomes a race
of different plans. White will try to reduce the black kingside grip while
black regroups planning to open up the white kingside. ||
34. Re1 Bc6
35. Kg2
| The start of a bold imaginative plan to trade queens. Unfortunately, the
black counter-plan of a kingside assault can still proceed whether queens are
present or not. Black to play must find a means of getting the c8 rook into the
most favourable location to support the kingside attack. Clue: Think of how the
white kingside is going to be challenged. This will indicate where the black
rook needs to be located to ensure the challenge hits as hard as possible. ||
35. ... g6
| Planning to lift the king off the back rank. ||
36. Kh3
| Planning to force a trade of queens. ||
36. ... Bd7
| Targetting the white kingside pawns. ||
37. Qh4 Qxh4+
38. Kxh4 Kg7
| It might appear that white has relieved the pressure, but as we know,
appearances can be deceptive. The white king is in a potential mating net, and
the only means of escape will have him entering into a light square pin on the
c8 h3 diagonal. Moreover, white has neither piece activity nor plan of action
which could deflect black from his attack. ||
39. Re2 Rh8
| The black plan of rook re-location is complete and the white plan to force
queens off the board has also been achieved. Some might consider removing
queens will relieve the pressure. Beware: Removing queens from the board does
not automatically mean removing all dangers from the game. The time taken here
by white has permitted black to mount a dangerous kingside initiative leading
to a potential mating net now that the rook has found that most favourable
location on h8. The black plan is to advance with, pawn h5, and produce a
discovered mate with the capture, hxg4. A king on the edge of the board is
vulnerable to many types of mating patterns. ||
40. Kh3 h5
| The white king runs away from the potential mating net but unfortunately
leaves the light square kingside pawns without a defender. ||
41. Kg2 hxg4
42. fxg4 Bxg4
| Black is now winning. The combined factors of the bishop pair, the active
rook, and the connected kingside passed pawns will prove too strong in the
endgame. ||
43. Re7
| The active rook cannot create sufficient problems by itself. White must
mobilise the queenside pawn majority as rapidly as possible and hope for the
best. ||
43. ... Bb8
44. c4
| White is in the process of missing an important black trick which shortens
the game considerably. ||
44. ... Be6
| A double purpose move. The protection of the d5 pawn is obvious. Perhaps less
obvious is a potential danger to the white rook? It no longer has a retreat
down the e-file and might now be in danger of being trapped inside a cage
created by the black bishops and pawns. Instead, 44. ... dxc4 45. Bxc4, is
undesirable as this would needlessly give white some pressure against the black
f7 pawn. ||
45. c5
| The best chance under the circumstances, asking black to find the correct
plan for a quick finish to the game. Instead, 45. cxd5 Bxd5+ 46. Kf2 Bxa2, and
without a queenside pawn majority to mobilise white will be unable to create
counter-confusion. ||
45. ... bxc5
46. dxc5 d4
| It is not the advance of the passed d-pawn which is important here, it is the
vacated d5 square which black wishes to use. ||
47. a3
| Instead, 47. Kf2, removing the king from the danger on the h1 - a8 diagonal
could be answered with, 47. ... Rc8 48. b4 Kf6 49. Rb7 Bd5 50. Rb5 Bxa2, and
black will slowly advance the kingside pawns with the support of the king. The
white queenside pawns will not be able to make progress. A long term win for
black requiring only careful play. ||
47. ... Kf6
White resigns, 0-1
| If, 48. Rb7 Bd5+, the black bishop takes advantage of the vacant d5 square to
skewer the white king and rook. ||
* * *
## Unannotated game.
White: C. Egan, approx. 1900.
Black: M. Ulfarsson, 2290.
Event: European Club Cup, Panormo Greece 2001.
Result: 0-1 in 47 moves.
Opening: London System, Indian Game, A46.
1. d4 Nf6
2. Nf3 e6
3. Bf4 b6
4. e3 Bb7
5. Bd3 Be7
6. h3 c5
7. c3 d6
8. Nbd2 O-O
9. Qe2 Nbd7
10. Bh2 Rc8
11. O-O cxd4
12. exd4 Qc7
13. Ng5 Rfe8
14. f3 Bf8
15. Qf2 h6
16. Nge4 e5
17. Nxf6+ Nxf6
18. Ne4 Nd5
19. g4 Nf4
20. Bxf4 exf4
21. Rae1 d5
22. Nd2 Re3
23. Rxe3 fxe3
24. Qxe3 Qg3+
25. Kh1 Qxh3+
26. Kg1 Qg3+
27. Kh1 Bd6
28. Qf2 Qh3+
29. Kg1 Bf4
30. Rd1 Bg3
31. Qg2 Qh4
32. Nf1 Bf4
33. Qf2 Qg5
34. Re1 Bc6
35. Kg2 g6
36. Kh3 Bd7
37. Qh4 Qxh4+
38. Kxh4 Kg7
39. Re2 Rh8
40. Kh3 h5
41. Kg2 hxg4
42. fxg4 Bxg4
43. Re7 Bb8
44. c4 Be6
45. c5 bxc5
46. dxc5 d4
47. a3 Kf6
White resigns, 0-1
* * *
