Skype coaching session, 16 October 2016.
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 were examined:
The Philidor position is reviewed (on mp3 audio only).
Study position #3 from practical play.
Guest game, 54 moves with brief notes and without notes.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Study position #3 from practical play.
White to play.
White: Kg5, Rf4, Pg4.
Black: Ke7, Rd6, Pg6.
Material is equal but white has two positional plusses. The white king is
placing pressure on the black g6 pawn and the white rook is preventing the
black king from crossing the f-file to defend the g6 pawn. Black should
anticipate losing the g6 pawn and search for a means of preventing the white
g-pawn from being promoted. Knowledge of drawn or decisive rook and pawn
endings should dictate to black how to continue. There will also be occasions
where knowledge of drawn or decisive king and pawn endings will be called upon.
White has only one sensible means of making progress and so plays, 1. Kh6, with
the plan of, Kg7, pawn g5, Rf7+, and, Rf6, winning the black g6 pawn, which
will be a winning position for white.
If the black king is to defend the g6 pawn, then the f-file must be challenged.
This means black must now calculate the consequences of a potential king and
pawn ending. Black does some analysis and reckons the king and pawn ending is
safe and so plays, 1. ... Rf6, challenging for control of the f-file. It is now
up to white to calculate the consequences of an exchange of rooks.
White plays, 2. Ra4. White correctly backs off. The king and pawn ending is not
a win for white, so keep the position as difficult for the opponent as
possible. The analysis runs:
(A). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. g5+ Kf5, white is in zugzwang. In fact, both kings are
in zugzwang. Any king move by either player loses their g-pawn. This position
of both kings attacking and defending the head-to-head pawns is worth
committing to memory. Once this formation arises then whoever has to make a
move will lose their pawn.
(B). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. Kh7, should draw as, 3. ... Kg5 4. Kg7, and while the
black king is attacking the white g4 pawn, it must also defend his own g6 pawn.
So if, 4. ... Kxg4 5. Kxg6.
(C). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. Kh7 Kf7, a bad mistake by black. White can now win
with, 4. g5, the black king must retreat from the f7square and the defence of
the g6 pawn disappears. White converts after, 4. ... Kf8 5. Kxg6 Kg8 6. Kh6 Kf8
7. Kh7, and the g-pawn promotes. The black king can vary in this losing
variation.
(D). If, 2. Rxf6 Kxf6 3. Kh7 Kf7, losing, 4. g5 Kf8 5. Kxg6 Kg8 6. Kh6 Kh8 7.
g6 Kg8 8. g7, the advancing pawn has arrived on the 7th rank without giving
check and so will promote after, 8. ... Kf7 9. Kh7.
Black now gets the king into action by playing, 2. ... Kf7, defending the
vulnerable g6 pawn. But could there be another gain made as the king crosses
the f-file? There was an alternative for black to consider here, giving the
g-pawn away to reduce the activity of the white king. Some sample lines are:
(A). If, 2. ... g5+ 3. Kxg5 Kf7, and black is about to lose the rook, 4. Ra7+
Ke6 5. Ra6+ Kf7 6. Rxf6+.
(B). If, 2. ... g5+ 3. Kxg5 Rb6, keeping control of the 3rd rank, 4. Rf4. The
black king is again cut off from the g-file and white plans, Kh5, pawn g5, pawn
g6, Kh6, and Kg7, to be followed by attaining the Lucena position and a win for
white.
(C). If, 2. ... g5+ 3. Kxg5 Rf1, keeping control of the f-file, 4. Ra7+ Kf8 5.
Kg6 Rg1 6. g5 Rg2 7. Ra8+ Ke7, and the black king is forced out onto the long
side, 8. Kh6, and the white pawn will arrive on the g6 square, allowing, Kg7,
and white then plays for the Lucena position and wins.
White now has only one move to make progress and so plays, 3. g5. Now it is for
black to call on previous knowledge of how to hold the position when the
Philidor position is not available.
Black plays, 3. ... Rf1, following the principles of holding the attacking pawn
from the rear, though as it happens this is not necessary here, while also
setting a cute trap.
White plays, 4. Ra7+, disrupting the cheeky black mating threat which could
have happened with the alternative, 4. Ra6 Rh1+ mate. Vigilence is vital at all
times.
Black plays, 4. ... Kg8, which leaves the black g6 pawn undefended but the
black king is now occupying the promotion square of the white g-pawn.
White finally makes a material gain by playing, 5. Kxg6 and also sets up a
threat of, Ra8+, which will force a trade of rooks on the f8 square, which in
turn will permit the white king to advance to the h7 square, winning. Black can
easily prevent this.
Black plays, 5. ... Rf8, and has achieved a known drawn position. The black
rook now simply slips sideways along the black back rank, the squares of c8 and
b8 are the most favourable locations on which to shuffle. This shuffling
defence is waiting for white to advance the passed g-pawn to the attacking 7th
rank. When this happens, the black rook will advance to give check on the
defending 3rd rank, forcing the attacking king back, it is an easy draw.
Condensed drawing line.
1. Kh6 Rf6 2. Ra4 Kf7 3. g5 Rf1 4. Ra7+ Kg8 5. Kxg6 Rf8.
* * *
## Annotated Guest Game.
White: Jim Slagle, 1674.
Black: Curtis Cockayne, 895.
Event: FTP Ladder 2016.
Result: 1-0 in 54 moves.
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Colle System, D02.
1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. e3 a6
| Unusual, perhaps wishing to permanently rule out any white, Bb5, pins. ||
4. Bd3 Nc6
5. Nbd2
| Careless. This knight will almost definitely develop to d2, but simply
playing moves that fit the plan in any order can lead to occasions where
problems will arise. Instead, 5. c3, fits in well with the general plan of
preparing for the middlegame and also prevents the annoying manoeuvre now
available to black. ||
5. ... Nb4
| And black manages to eliminate the potentially strong white light squared
bishop. ||
6. O-O
| White had to let the bishop be eliminated, it was simply a question of how.
Perhaps, 6. Qe2 Nxd3+ 7. Qxd3, when white still controls the e4 square with
pieces was an idea worth considering. The retreat, 6. Be2, is a disaster as
black has, 6. ... Bf5, doubly attacking and winning the c2 pawn. ||
6. ... Nxd3
7. cxd3 Bf5
8. Ne5
| White has a dynamic plan in mind which requires this knight being on the e5
square. ||
8. ... e6
| White to play and give black a surprise. ||
9. g4
| Very bold. I believe the Chinese pictogram for the word, "crisis", is a
combination of, "danger with opportunity". White is prepared to create what
some people might regard as weaknesses in the belief the confusion must work in
favour of whoever is ahead in development. This is probably generally so, but
there will always be exceptions. Such a style of play will yield a healthy plus
score for those who can find tactics in a position. There will however be
occasional catastrophes. Win many, lose a few? ||
9. ... Nxg4
| Meeting a surprise with a counter-surprise. Surely that white g4 pawn is
protected by the e5 knight and the d1 queen? ||
10. Nxg4 Bxd3
| Missing an opportunity to justify the previous shock reply. Instead, 10. ...
Qg5, placing a double attack on the white g4 knight wile also pinning it to the
white king, creating some enjoyable tactics seems to give good prospects. White
could choose between either, 11. f3, or, 11. h3, both protecting the g4 knight,
but does nothing to break the pin, which means black can play the zwischenzug,
11. Bxd3, attacking the white f1 rook. If white moves the rook, then black can
continue with, 12. ... h5, regaining the piece at some point. Matters are far
from clear who will emerge with the better position, both players would find
themselves cast into a crisis of their own making. ||
11. Re1
| Despite black having missed the complications arising from, 10. ... Qg5, an
intriguing imbalance has still arisen. Black has a very strong light square
bishop which will be difficult to challenge. White has a piece for two pawns, a
material advantage which should be decisive, but as the phrase goes: "Many a
slip betwixt cup and lip". Won games do not win themselves, a certain patience
is going to be needed here. Black has no obvious weaknesses to attack while
white will always have to be careful about the self-created space around his
king. ||
11. ... Bd6
12. f4
| In chess it is important to know when to punch and when to duck. If time has
to be taken to defend the position, then take the time earlier rather than
later, there might not be a later available to you later. ||
12. ... Qh4
13. Ne5 Bb5
14. a4
| White is hoping to trade the e5 knight for the black light square bishop, and
then be able to use the queen to fight for control of the light squares. For
instance if, 14. ... Bd7 15. Nxd7. This is good strategy, but unfortunately
black is not going to be so compliant. ||
14. ... f6
| Black must find some means of complicating the position before white
completes development, starts to coordinate the presently uncoordinated forces,
and slowly but surely sets about reducing the material to produce a won
endgame. ||
15. axb5
| Attempting to win a piece by retreating the threatened e5 knight with an
attack tempo on the black queen does not succeed. If, 15. Nf3, black has, 15.
... Qg4+, a vital zwischencheck. Play might continue with, 16. Kh1 Bd7 17. Rg1
Qh5 18. Rxg7 O-O-O, and while white is a piece ahead for a pawn, black is about
to break up the centre with pawn play, tricky. ||
15. ... fxe5
16. dxe5
| White snatches a pawn back. Perhaps capturing the other way with, 16. fxe5,
was a better method to seek reduction of material. With the elimination of the
black light square bishop white now has control of the f1 square again, which
allows a doubling of the white rooks on the f-file. This would initially
strengthen the defence, safety first, and can then soon offer some attacking
chances. Black dare not seek exchanges of all rooks on the f-file, as such an
ending would be a clear loss. ||
16. ... Bc5
| Attacking a weak point, the e3 pawn, which would not be possible had white
chosen, fxe5, on the previous move. When material ahead it is important to
reduce the activity of your opponent. Do not let them think they can still keep
fighting with the hope of finding something. Sure, white is still winning, but
why give the opponent play unnecessarily? ||
17. Kh1
| Sensible and probably necessary. The black c5 bishop was pinning the white e3
pawn to the white king, which means once black castles kingside there would be
the threat of, Rxf4. Again, when ahead in material do not let your opponent
have unnecessary activity. If the position demands you play patiently to win in
another 40 moves, then make the necessary 40 moves. ||
17. ... O-O
18. bxa6 bxa6
19. Nf3 Qh6
20. Qe2 Bb4
21. Rg1 c5
| The black d5 and c5 pawns control a few useful centre squares but they cannot
make any further progress. The only active plan for black is to try and get a
rook into the white kingside and hope something turns up. White on the other
hand has several plans which will improve the position, but which is the best?
One could spend a long time sifting and not finding a line which is
dramatically better than the rest. So white should rely on general principles
here and complete development, Bd2, challenging the black b4 bishop and
connecting rooks. ||
22. Qg2
| White seeks to trade queens. Instead, 22. Rxa6, converting the material
advantage into a full piece should be fairly safe. ||
22. ... Ra7
23. Qg5 Qh3
24. Qg4 Qh6
25. Qg5 Qh3
26. Qg4 Qh6
| White has been making moves quickly to gain time on the clock. There is now
the little matter of finding a different move to avoid a claim of three-fold
repetition. ||
27. Rg3 Rf5
28. Rh3 Qg6
29. Qxg6
| The white objective of seeking a trade of queens has come to pass, with the
bonus of weakening the black kingside pawn structure. ||
29. ... hxg6
30. Rg3 Rh5
| Instead, 30. ... Kf7, avoids losing the g6 pawn. White is now going to be a
piece ahead but converting this position to a win is going to take time.
Patience is a virtue. Careful re-grouping while keeping everything protected
followed by slow infiltration is the sensible means to take the point. ||
31. Rxg6 Kf7
32. Rg5 Rh6
33. Bd2 Bxd2
34. Nxd2 Ra8
35. Rag1
| White chooses to make the kingside into the battlefield. Black seems able to
defend this region with his king and h-file rook. So perhaps swinging the
action over to the queenside with, 35. Rgg1, followed by doubling rooks up the
a-file to win the a-pawn was worth a try. ||
35. ... g6
36. Nf3 Rb8
37. Ra1
| White judges that any activity black obtains with the queenside rook can soon
be neutralised and that the gains of a white 7th rank rook will prove
advantageous. A quieter approach of keeping it under control with the plan,
R1g2, Rc2, Rg1, Ra1, and Ra5, using both rooks to target the black queenside
pawns seems to make gains without offering black any counterplay. ||
37. ... Rxb2
38. Rxa6 Rh3
39. Ra7+ Kf8
| With the black king confined to his back rank, thoughts of finding a mating
net with the double white rooks are always in the air. However, black is not
without threats if white becomes too ambitious. The only real weak point for
white is the h2 pawn, the double black rooks must not be allowed to gang up on
this defender. ||
40. Rg3 Rh6
41. h3
| With a possible re-grouping plan, Ng5, defending the h3 pawn, Rg2, and then
the white king can begin to join in. Instead, 41. h4, intending, Rg2, when
black should not exchange rooks, then Kh2, Kg3, and swinging the g2 rook over
to the a-file, is another plan. ||
41. ... c4
42. Rc7 Rb3
43. Ng5
| Combining defence and attack with one move. Black dare not let the e6 pawn be
captured with check, and now that the h3 pawn is permanently secure, the white
g3 rook can drift over to the queenside with ideas of creating a mating net. ||
43. ... Rb6
44. Kg2 Ke8
45. Kf2 Rh4
46. Ke1
| The white king will be better placed in the centre of the board, the
particular route chosen does not really matter. ||
46. ... Kd8
47. Rc5
| Perhaps, 47. Ra7, keeping the rook on the 7th rank to restrict the black king
to his back rank was more efficient. ||
47. ... Ke7
48. Nf3
| Perhaps white should keep the knight on the g5 square, backwardly guarding
the h3 pawn. The white g3 rook could then re-group with, Rg2, Ra2, with ideas
of either, Ra7, or, Ra8, depending on where the black king is located. ||
48. ... Rh8
49. Rc7+ Kd8
| The black king is again restricted to his back rank, again white can now
think about re-locating the g3 rook via g2 and a2, aiming for a mating net. ||
50. Ra7 Rh6
51. Nd4 Kc8
52. Kd2 Kb8
53. Re7 Rb2+
54. Kc3
Black resigns, 1-0
| There are several ways for white to win more material. Perhaps, Nxe6,
creating a strong passed e-pawn. Or maybe, Rg7, followed by, R7xg6. Providing
the black c4 pawn is not allowed to advance there are no threats for white to
fear. White went a piece ahead for two pawns as the middlegame began. It took
about forty more moves to take the full point. Patience reaps rewards. ||
* * *
## Unannotated Guest Game.
White: Jim Slagle, 1674.
Black: Curtis Cockayne, 895.
Event: FTP Ladder 2016.
Result: 1-0 in 54 moves.
Opening: Queen's Pawn Opening, Colle System, D02.
1. d4 d5
2. Nf3 Nf6
3. e3 a6
4. Bd3 Nc6
5. Nbd2 Nb4
6. O-O Nxd3
7. cxd3 Bf5
8. Ne5 e6
9. g4 Nxg4
10. Nxg4 Bxd3
11. Re1 Bd6
12. f4 Qh4
13. Ne5 Bb5
14. a4 f6
15. axb5 fxe5
16. dxe5 Bc5
17. Kh1 O-O
18. bxa6 bxa6
19. Nf3 Qh6
20. Qe2 Bb4
21. Rg1 c5
22. Qg2 Ra7
23. Qg5 Qh3
24. Qg4 Qh6
25. Qg5 Qh3
26. Qg4 Qh6
27. Rg3 Rf5
28. Rh3 Qg6
29. Qxg6 hxg6
30. Rg3 Rh5
31. Rxg6 Kf7
32. Rg5 Rh6
33. Bd2 Bxd2
34. Nxd2 Ra8
35. Rag1 g6
36. Nf3 Rb8
37. Ra1 Rxb2
38. Rxa6 Rh3
39. Ra7+ Kf8
40. Rg3 Rh6
41. h3 c4
42. Rc7 Rb3
43. Ng5 Rb6
44. Kg2 Ke8
45. Kf2 Rh4
46. Ke1 Kd8
47. Rc5 Ke7
48. Nf3 Rh8
49. Rc7+ Kd8
50. Ra7 Rh6
51. Nd4 Kc8
52. Kd2 Kb8
53. Re7 Rb2+
54. Kc3
Black resigns, 1-0
* * *
