Skype coaching session, 12 February 2017.
Please note: Re-structuring of the sessions now offers the option for guests to
bring their own games for group discussion.
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 44 moves is given with annotations
and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated Game.
White: J. Slagle, 1688 (FTP).
Black: J. Thoune, 1256 (FTP).
Event: FTP Jan. - Mar. 2017.
Result: 1-0 in 44 moves.
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, D45.
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. d4 d5
4. e3
| Openings have a habit of transposing and can take a few moves to settle down.
This game began as a Reti, wandered into and out of the English system, and due
to the black responses, has evolved into a Queen's Gambit Declined. Now it is a
matter of arguing over which variation of the QGD will be chosen as the
stepping stones to enter the middlegame. Other popular choices for white here
are, 4. Nc3, or, 4. g3, or, 4. Bg5. Less common are, 4. cxd5, or, 4. Qc2, or,
4. Nbd2. ||
4. ... c6
| Black steers the game into a SemiSlav Defence, a system very popular with the
Grand Masters because it offers early solidity with chances for
counter-attacking once the middlegame interactions begin in earnest. There are
many options for black here offering differing styles of middlegame.
Perhaps, 4. ... dxc4, for those preferring a semi-open centre.
Or, 4. ... c5, challenging in the centre and creating central tensions which
might prove disastrous for anyone not prepared for this variation.
Or, 4. ... Be7, safe and solid, postponing any decision over the future of the
c7 pawn.
Or, 4. ... a6, signalling a desire to expand with, pawn c6, and, pawn b5,
trying to clamp down on the light squares.
Or, 4. ... Nbd7, safe and solid, again postponing commitment of pawns waiting
for white to make some more development and then respond accordingly.
Or 4. ... b6, aiming to have a bishop on b7 fighting for control of the central
light squares.
Or, 4. ... Bb4+, entering the world of Bogo-Indian systems, quite useful
providing you have done your homework and know the strategic aims for black
over on the queenside.
So, which of the above choices is the best? Perhaps the wrong question.
Instead, ask yourself which of the above choices leads to middlegame piece and
pawn formations which suits your style of play, i.e., close, semi-open, or open
positions. ||
5. Nc3 Bb4
| Taking the game into a curious hybrid of a Semi-Slav and the Nimzo-Indian,
nothing wrong as such but rarely the choice of the top GMs. Again, 5. ... Nbd7,
or, 5. ... a6, or, 5. ... Bd6, or, 5. ... Be7, are much more often chosen here.
The slightly offbeat, 5. ... Ne4, is as popular as the game move and might be
worth investigating by those players who like exploring less common variations.
||
6. Bd2
| White breaks the pin before it can be exploited by black with, 6. ... Ne4.
Instead, 6. Bd3, is also popular here. ||
6. ... O-O
7. Bd3 Nbd7
8. O-O Qc7
| Black would be advised here to do something about the undefended state of the
b4 bishop. The most popular and most sensible solution is, 8. ... Qe7, though,
8. ... Bd6, or, 8. ... Be7, are known. After, 8. ... Qe7, white has tried many
moves with, 9. Ne5, being the most popular and scoring much better than the
other scattering of white choices. It is now white to play and find a lovely
tactical opportunity to take a strong hold on the game. ||
9. cxd5
| White plans a tactical surprise to make some positional gains. Instead in the
game Alekhine - F. J. Prokop, Prague 1942, the tactical genius produced, 9.
Nxd5, taking advantage of the unprotected status of the black b4 bishop. If
black replies with either pawn capture on d5, white has, 10. Bxb4, attacking
the black f8 rook, white is winning a safe pawn here. Instead after, 9. Nxd5
Nxd5, black has protected the b4 bishop, and we are now wondering what mystery
Alekhine has in mind when starting this combination. Simple, he continues with,
10. cxd5, when, 10. Bxd2 11. dxc6, and while white is a piece down, there are
two black pieces on d2 and d7 under attack. Black tried to make a fight of it
with, 11. ... Ba5, but after, 12. cxd7 Bxd7 13. Ne5 Be8 14. Rc1 Qe7 15. Qh5 f5
16. Qe2 f4 17. Be4 a6, 18. Qc2 g6 19. exf4 Rxf4 20. g3 Rf8 21. Qc5 Qxc5 22.
dxc5, black did not have any compensation for the lost pawn, white went on to
win in 46 moves. ||
9. ... exd5
10. Nb5
| White has found a neat way to simplify the game while retaining the standard
strategic option of a queenside minority attack. ||
10. ... Qa5
11. Nd6
| All part of the plan to eliminate the black c8 bishop. ||
11. ... Bxd2
12. Qxd2 Qxd2
13. Nxd2 Nb6
| Perhaps, Rd8, vacating f8 so that, Nf8 - Ne6, and perhaps, Ng5, to come in
with, Nge4, was a plan to be considered for this knight. ||
14. a4
| Taking queenside space, intending to open lines and create a black pawn
weakness. ||
14. ... Rd8
15. Nxc8 Nxc8
16. b4 a5
| Black fights for space on the queenside. Instead, 16. ... a6, intending to
respond to the white advance of, pawn b5, with, axb5, and then trying to reduce
the pawn weaknesses to a possible backward c-pawn was another idea. White would
still have lots of piece play around such a backward c-file weakness and the
black pieces would find themselves tied down to defending until the point
arrives when the defence proves to be strong or the attack wins the pawn. ||
17. b5 cxb5
| Perhaps, 17. ... Ne7, intending to recapture on c6 with the knight, after
which the b4 square would become available to this piece was worth considering.
If white does not immediately capture, then black simply keeps defending the c6
pawns with rooks. ||
18. Bxb5
White| intends to keep the b-file semi-open so the backward black b-pawn can
be a target for a rook. Black now has two pawn weaknesses on b7 and d5 to
defend. Not fatal, but some care now needs to be taken. ||
18. ... Na7
19. Bd3
| White understandably wishes to keep his bishop for the endgame. However, 19.
Rab1 Nxb5 20. Rxb5, and white has pressure on the black a5, b7, and, d5 pawns
in return for letting the bishop go. ||
19. ... b6
| Controlling the c5 square,preventing the white knight manoeuvre of, Nb3 -
Nc5. ||
20. Rfc1 h6
| Black is not worried about a possible back rank mate. This pawn is advanced
to avoid loss when the black plan of, Ne8, and, Kf8, are put into action. ||
21. Rc7
| Perhaps, 21. Rc3, immediately, as the rook cannot maintain itself on the 7th
rank without a challenge. ||
21. ... Ne8
| This knight retreat pushes the white rook back, but removes the natural
defender of the weak d5 pawn. ||
22. Rc3
| The white rook cannot stay on the 7th rank. If, 22. Rb7 Rdb8 23. Rd7 Rd8 24.
Re7 Kf8 25. Rb7 Rdb8, and white must either accept three-fold repetition or
trade rooks which would reduce some of the pressure on black. ||
22. ... Kf8
23. Nb1
| The knight has plans of, Na3, Nb5, and, Nxa7, taking control of the c6
square. ||
23. ... Rdc8
24. Rxc8
| A very serious concession. Instead supporting the c3 rook with, 24. Raa3,
ensures that black will not take control of the only fully open file on the
board. Now it is black who has the initiative and white who must shuffle to
reduce the black activity. ||
24. ... Rxc8
25. Kf1 Nd6
| Instead, 25. ... Rc1+ 26. Ke2 Nc6, to be followed with, Nb4, when appropriate
gives black good play. ||
26. Ke1 Nc4
27. Bxc4
| The black knight on c4 was having too much influence on the position, so it
is eliminated. Now both kings head for as much central activity as they can
achieve, but there is a big difference between them. The black d5 pawn is in
need of careful protection and black has no central breaks available. White has
only the a4 pawn to worry about and can organise the central break of, pawn e4.
||
27. ... Rxc4
28. Kd2 Ke7
29. Nc3
| A knight on the c3 square plays an important role during the opening / early
middlegame phases of the Queen's Gambit. Some players with the black pieces go
out of their way to eliminate this piece by employing the Nimzo-Indian Defence.
Now it is the endgame and yet again a knight on the c3 square will bring a
powerful influence to bear on the game. ||
29. ... Ke6
| The black king and rook are about to enter into an unfortunate relationship.
Instead, 29. ... Kd6, would avoid the danger in the position, but would deny
the black a7 knight a means to find activity. ||
30. Rb1 Rc6
| Compare and contrast the two rooks.
The white rook is attacking a weakness which ties the black rook down to a
defensive role. The white rook can choose between maintaining the pressure on
the black b6 pawn, or move elsewhere without any consequences to the white
position. The black rook cannot think of attacking options until the white rook
decides to move off the b-file. A case of flexibility versus inflexibility.
Such are the advantages of an attacker over a defender. White to play in the
game now has the opportunity to establish a decisive advantage. ||
31. Rb2
| White misses, 31. e4, threatening, 32. exd5+, forking the black king and
rook. Black must avoid, 31. ... dxe4 32. d5+, which again falls foul of the
same fork trick but from a different pawn. So after, 31. e4, black must move
either the king or rook to the d6 square, which simply allows, 32. Nxd5, and
white has won a safe pawn and is winning. Expect variations on this tactical
theme to remain, disappear and reappear as the game proceeds. ||
31. ... Nc8
32. Kd3
| By advancing the king to the d3 square, the tactic now becomes spoiled as
any, pawn e4, break can be answered by black with, dxe4+, and white must take
time to escape the check. ||
32. ... f5
| Black clamps down on any potential, pawn e4, break by white. ||
33. g3 Nd6
| And with this knight move black establishes a triple guard on the e4 square.
||
34. f3
| Is there luck in chess? This pawn move is clearly designed to prevent black
invading with, 34. ... Ne4. It performs the required task, but is white
accidentally stumbling toward an unexpected opportunity not originally planned?
||
34. ... g5
35. Rc2
| I ask again, is there luck in chess? White simply wishes to trade rooks and
play with single knights when black has three pawn islands while white has two
pawn islands. This is not decisive but something with which to play, ask
questions and await answers. But on c2 the white rook also performs a very
useful task if black chooses to fall in with an as of yet mutually
unappreciated idea. ||
35. ... Nc4
| With this quite natural invasive move black is setting up tactics again.
White to play, is there anything interesting available? ||
36. h4
| Tactics lurk eternal! Instead undermining the defence of the black c4 knight
with, 36. Nxd5, seems to be a safe snatch of a pawn. Some sample lines of
analysis offered in three sections run:
(A). If, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rxc4 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Kd6 40. Kxc4, an
easily won pawn ending for white.
(B). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. e4+ fxe4+ 38. fxe4+ Ke6 39. e5+, white wins at
least an exchange and is winning.
(C). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. e4+ fxe4+ 38. fxe4+ Kd6 39. Rxc4, and black
cannot avoid the trade of rooks after which white has a won pawn ending.
(D). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rf6 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Kd6 40. e5+,
white wins the black rook.
(E). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rf6 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Ke6 40. Rc6+,
and after trading rooks white has a winning pawn ending.
(F). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Kxd5 37. Rxc4 Rg6 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+ Kd6 40. d5 Kd7
41. e5, and white has a winning rook and pawn ending.
(G). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Nxe3 37. Nxe3, white is a piece up and clearly winning.
(H). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Ne5+ 37. dxe5 Kxd5 38. Rxc6 Kxc6 39. f4, white has
solidified the centre/kingside pawns, the protected passed e5 pawn guarantees a
white win.
(I). Or if, 36. Nxd5 Ne5+ 37. dxe5 Rxc2 38. Kxc2 Kxd5 39. f4, and again that
protected passed e5 pawn prevents the black king from invading with, Ke4, white
is winning.
(J). Or finally if, 36. Nxd5 Nb2+ 37. Rxb2 Kxd5 38. e4+ fxe4+ 39. fxe4+, and
the white central passed pawns are eventually going to be the decisive factor.
||
36. ... g4
37. fxg4 fxg4
38. Nxd5
| The kingside simplifications have not altered the underlying tactical theme.
||
38. ... Ne5+
| The tactical ideas given previously on move 36, when white played, 36. h4,
still apply here. There is also an important additional option for white which
was not available previously when black had a pawn on the g5 square. ||
39. dxe5
| Avoiding, 39. Kd2 Nf3+ 40. Kd1 Rxc2 41. Kxc2 Kxd5, when white is a piece down
for a pawn, black is winning. ||
39. ... Rxc2
| Instead, 39. ... Kxd5 40. e4+, and the black king must lose defensive contact
with the c6 rook which will be lost after either, 40. ... Kxe5 41. Rxc6, or,
40. ... Ke6 41. Rxc6+, white wins in both variations. In the game white now
finds an important checking zwischenzug to emerge a piece up. ||
40. Nf4+
| The white knight escapes to a safe square with check, postponing the
recapture on c2 for a move and so emerges from the brief tactical skirmish a
piece up. ||
40. ... Kxe5
41. Kxc2 Ke4
| The black king might appear to be invading in anticipation of winning some
white pawns, but as we all know, appearances can be deceptive. ||
42. Kc3
| The white king plans winning both the black queenside pawns. Fine, but isn't
the black king about to do similar liquidation over on the white kingside? ||
42. ... Kxe3
43. Kc4 Kf3
44. Nh5
Black resigns, 1-0
| The white knight backwardly protects the g3 pawn. The black king could march
to displace it with, Ke4, Kf5, Kg6, but white can simply leave it where it is!
Black must then take the knight and march back to the f3 square, the total
journey taking 8 moves. In the meanwhile white will have played, Kb5, Kxb6,
Kxa5, Kb4, and then another 4 moves with the a-pawn, ending with a promotion to
a queen with check. This is an easy win for white. Of course, when the knight
on h5 is attacked by the black king playing, Kg6, it could retreat with, Nf4+,
but where is the fun in that? ||
* * *
## Unannotated Game.
White: J. Slagle, 1688 (FTP).
Black: J. Thoune, 1256 (FTP).
Event: FTP Jan. - Mar. 2017.
Result: 1-0 in 44 moves.
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Semi-Slav Defence, D45.
1. Nf3 Nf6
2. c4 e6
3. d4 d5
4. e3 c6
5. Nc3 Bb4
6. Bd2 O-O
7. Bd3 Nbd7
8. O-O Qc7
9. cxd5 exd5
10. Nb5 Qa5
11. Nd6 Bxd2
12. Qxd2 Qxd2
13. Nxd2 Nb6
14. a4 Rd8
15. Nxc8 Nxc8
16. b4 a5
17. b5 cxb5
18. Bxb5 Na7
19. Bd3 b6
20. Rfc1 h6
21. Rc7 Ne8
22. Rc3 Kf8
23. Nb1 Rdc8
24. Rxc8 Rxc8
25. Kf1 Nd6
26. Ke1 Nc4
27. Bxc4 Rxc4
28. Kd2 Ke7
29. Nc3 Ke6
30. Rb1 Rc6
31. Rb2 Nc8
32. Kd3 f5
33. g3 Nd6
34. f3 g5
35. Rc2 Nc4
36. h4 g4
37. fxg4 fxg4
38. Nxd5 Ne5+
39. dxe5 Rxc2
40. Nf4+ Kxe5
41. Kxc2 Ke4
42. Kc3 Kxe3
43. Kc4 Kf3
44. Nh5
Black resigns, 1-0
* * *
