All,
A fascinating game that clearly shows the power of the initiative over material.
However, I'm vaguely surprised that there was no discussion of 21 Qxc4+ Nxc4 22
Bxg7 when White has two Rooks for his Queen. Black's position is still much
better developed but I think this may give White a fighting chance. Certainly
White can activate his King's Rook via h3 which may keep the ...d4-d3 and
...f4-f3 breaks under observation. Food for thought.
Regards,
Tyson
On 27 November 2018 at 03:26 Paul Benson <paul.benson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Skype coaching session, 17 June 2018.
The game discussed (29 moves) is given below with annotations and without
annotations.
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
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated Game.
White: J. Christiansen, 2385.
Black: S. Bromberger, 2521.
Event: Qatar Masters Doha 2015.
Result: 0-1 in 29 moves.
Opening: Reti Opening, Advanced Variation, A09.
1. Nf3 d5
2. c4 d4
3. b4
| Black needs a supporter for the advanced d4 pawn, the white f3 knight
inhibits, pawn e5, and now the white b4 pawn can trade off the black c-pawn
should it advance.
Black to play has several options here, the game choice is far from popular
but will surely make an unprepared opponent think. ||
3. ... g5
| Why is black seeming to break some of the, "Unwritten Rules", of how to
play in the opening?
You know the ones:
"Don't move the same unit twice." - And yet the d-pawn did just that.
"Don't weaken your kingside." - And yet the g-pawn places itself en prise.
There is method in this madness which strongly hints the, "Unwritten Rules",
are in fact guidelines to be followed until your understanding of chess has
advanced sufficiently to know just when and where one can overrule them.
Here it is all about black getting in that vital, pawn e5, support to the d4
pawn.
The other choices in order of declining popularity are:
(A). 3. ... f6, virtually forcing the advance of, pawn e5.
(B). 3. ... g6, intending, Bg7, which then supports, pawn e5.
(C). 3. ... c5, which will support d4 should white push past with, 4. b5, or
should white capture with, 4. ... bxc5, then black can reply, 4. ... Nc6, and
the knight supports, pawn e5, with the added advantage that the c6 knight
cannot be deflected from c6 by any white pawn.
(D). 3. ... Bg4, intending to trade, Bxf3, allowing the safe advance, pawn
e5.
(E). 3. ... a5, when if white captures with, 4. bxa5, then, 4. ... c5,
achieves the desired support with the plus that after a later, Nc6, this
knight cannot be deflected from c6. If the game instead runs, 3. ... a5 4. b5
c5 5. bxc6 Nxc6, black is again ready for pawn e5.
Essentially this is a battle for dark squares, as hinted at when white
started of with, 1. Nf3. ||
4. Bb2
| The immediate, 4. Nxg5, according to my limited database has yet to be
tested.
The fianchetto of the bishop to b2 forces the black reply, while, 4. Nxg5,
permits black much flexibility, the most likely response being, 4. ... e5,
and the black d8 queen is attacking the white g5 knight.
Other 4th move white choices are, pawn h3, pawn d3, Qa4+, Qb3, all
insufficiently tested to draw conclusions. ||
4. ... Bg7
| The only move to maintain the black d4 pawn.
Instead the careless, 4. ... g4 5. Nxd4, simply blunders away the central
black clamper as, 5. ... Nc6 6. Nxc6, leaves black with the d8 queen and h8
rook both under attack, serious material loss of resignable proportions for
black. ||
5. Nxg5
| Limited database reports all players with white play this capture here,
there are some pretty chunky Elo ratings (2 of them 2590+) making this move,
so perhaps suggesting different moves here is inadvisable. ||
5. ... e5
6. Ne4 f5
| So black takes the big pawn centre associated with the white side of some
Benoni variations. ||
7. Ng3
| The alternative, 7. Nc5, is known, but needs much more testing before it
can be announced as superior to the game move. ||
7. ... Nf6
8. d3 h5
| Still pursuing the now severely-restricted white g3 knight. ||
9. h4 Ng4
A double purpose move.
Firstly, this knight is going to be a nuisance in the white defences, in
particularly the f2 pawn will need continuous guarding.
Secondly, the black g7 bishop is released to again influence the central dark
squares.
There is also a cheeky black plan of, 10. ... Bf6, ganging up on the singly
defended white h4 pawn to be neutralised. ||
10. Nd2
| If required so to do, this knight can now defend the h4 pawn with, Nf3.
Black in the game to play can find many moves which do no harm, but there is
a really cute idea waiting to be found here which seems to get a good grip on
the white position. ||
10. ... e4
| When the black e-pawn advanced it vacated the e5 square for someone else,
but who?
Well, e5 is a great central location, just ideal for a knight, right?
Having considered the strategic rationale behind, pawn e4, there were of
course tactical consequences in need of calculation to determine the value of
the sacrifice before committing to such a move. ||
11. dxe4
| Probably forced.
If left alone, the black e-pawn might advance with, 11. e3, when, 12. fxe3
Nxe3 13. Qb3Nxg2+, establishes material equality but far from positional
equality.
Black in the game must be accurate here or the central initiative will simply
dissipate. ||
11. ... f4
| The best move of the game so far.
Black yet again kicks the wandering white knight around, it has only one
flight square.
And as if that were not enough, black now has a massive clamp on the e3
square as well as inhibiting any later white ideas of, pawn g3, to develop
the kingside. ||
12. Nf5 Bxf5
| Sometimes giving up bishop for knight needs virtually no analysis.
Here a 5-times moved dangerously-posted white knight is eliminated for the
price of just one tempo. ||
13. exf5
| This pawn will be permanently weak and should fall as the game proceeds,
there is no need to eliminate it now, there are far better ideas for black to
pursue first. ||
13. ... Nc6
| At last the point of, 10. e4, is revealed.
This knight is heading for an excellent e5 outpost from where it will
dominate light squares on the white 4th and 3rd ranks.
An accountant might point out white has 2 pawns advantage, but what use are
they if much of the white pawn formation is cursed with immobility? ||
14. b5 Nce5
15. Qc2
| While the white queen defends 2 white pawns she is denied options of
finding activity elsewhere, not a bad trade for the sacrificed black
material, right?
A quick glance across the board reveals that white is actually a development
tempo ahead.
Fine as far as the accountant pronounces, however matters in chess are rarely
so simple.
While development is undeniably important, there is the coordination of the
active units to be considered along with the development prospects of those
yet to influence the game.
So, the big question here is, who has coordination, and who can get their
undeveloped units into the game? ||
15. ... c6
| Black is going to create an open line somewhere on the queenside, jut which
line opens is for white to decide. ||
16. bxc6
| Instead, just ignoring the black c-pawn leaves black the option of, 16. ...
cxb5 17. cxb5 Rc8, with black making a development tempo gain on the white c2
queen.
There was also the possibility of, 16. ... c5, when black has sneaked the
c-pawn into a permanent supporting role of the clamping d4 pawn by taking 2
moves to shuffle the pawn to c5.
Had black pushed boldly with, 15. ... c5, white might have immediately
decided such a pawn formation will not be allowed and capture with, 16. bxc6,
en passant. ||
16. ... bxc6
| Instead, 16. ... Nxc6, would be a retrograde move, and besides which, the
newly-born black c-pawn is now ready to offer support to the d4 pawn. ||
17. Nb3
| Looks like we are about to have one of those ticklish, "Tactical
Event-Horizon", situations when each player feels there is something they
have noticed in the tactics and that they believe the opponent has missed
what they have spotted.
In essence, one player will have calculated further than the other, the only
question here is who has seen the further?
Instead of the game move, 17. Nb3, the coaching session discussed in some
length the strategic, 17. c5, aimed at preventing black from anchoring the d5
pawn with, pawn c5.
It is not possible to reproduce all the analysis here, but suffice it to say,
finding how both players should handle the position provoked a very useful
analytical work-out.
The conclusion was, 17. c5 Qd5, left the game nicely balanced, meaning
chances were there for both players to make tiny errors for the opponent to
detect and exploit.
After missing, 17. c5, the game begins to spin out of control from the white
perspective. ||
17. ... c5
18. Ba3
| White is clearly not falling into, 18. Nxc5 Qa5+, picking up the loose
white c5 knight.
This is an example of defending with a tactic, that is the threatened unit is
not defended directly but left unguarded, simply waiting for an unwary
opponent to snatch the bait, after which the tactic, here a fork of white
knight and king, is produced as punishment for carelessness.
Now that the black c5 pawn is doubly attacked and totally undefended it is
over to black to show us how to avoid losing more material. ||
18. ... O-O
| "In for a penny, in for a pound!"
Black is willing to make development gains for the price of a 3rd pawn.
There of course must be a limit to the amount of generosity one can make
during a game, but until white gets both rooks active, then such small
investments should not be feared too much. ||
19. Bxc5
| Remember that brief discussion over, "Tactical Event-Horizons"?
Well, tactical event-horizons vary from player to player.
Not only in depth of analysis but in accuracy as well.
Someone here is about to find out their judgement of what they can get away
with was too optimistic, but who? ||
19. ... Rc8
| Hopefully played with the nonchalance usually reserved for placing a cup of
coffee on a coaster. ||
20. Bxf8
| White had to do something to avoid the threatened, 20. ... Rxc5 21. Nxc5
Qa5+ 22. Qd2 Qxc5, after which the black g7 bishop will more or less rule the
dark squares as the game proceeds.
This, Bxf8, sacrifice gains an exchange but loses the dark squares, though to
be fair, there was little to encourage white to do anything other than take
more material.
Some ideas white must have considered and rejected run:
(A). If, 20. Ba3 Rxc4 21. Qd2 Re8 22. e3 fxe3 23. fxe3 Nxe3 24. Bxc4+ N5xc4
25. Qd3 Nc2+ 26. Kf2 N4xa3 27. Rc1 Re3 28. Qa6 Qc7, threatening to invade on
f4, white isn't actually dead yet, but who would volunteer themselves to take
over here?
(B). Or if, 20. Ba3 Rxc4 21. Qd2 Re8 22. e3 fxe3 23. fxe3 Nxe3 24. Bxc4+
N5xc4 25. Qb4 Nc2+ 26. Kf2 Nxb4 27. Bxb4, black has won the white queen for a
rook and the white position is still very unpleasant.
(C). Or if, 20. Ba3 Rxc4 21. Qb2 d3, with all sorts of horrors involving the
black e5 knight moving discovering an attack on the white b2 queen, not nice.
These lines hardly scratch the surface of retreating with, 20. Ba3, many more
plans for black to be explored, and very little to inspire white.
There is another material-snatch to be explored, 20. Bxd4 Rxc4, and white
must choose between, 21. Bc3, 21. Qb2, 21. Qd2, 21. Qd1, when black has many
choices to consider as a follow up to the 4 white queen moves.
(D). Or if, 20. Bxd4 Rxc4 21. Qd2 Rxd4 22. Qxd4 Nf3+ 23. gxf3 Bxd4 24. Nxd4
Qxd4 25. Rd1 Qxd1+ 26. Kxd1 Nxf2+ 27. Kd2 Nxh1, leaves black a rook up for 2
pawns, but white does not have to fall into this catastrophe.
(E). Or if, 20. Bxd4 Rxc4 21. Qd2 Rxd4 22. Nxd4, and though there are lots of
tricks involving the h8 - a1 diagonal for black, they all seem to just
liquidate down to a lost ending, so it seems the black, Rxd4, tactic is too
optimistic.
(F). Or if, 20. Bxd4 Rxc4 21. Qd2 Re8, keeps the tension and gives white a
chance to start unravelling in the face of the black superior development,
not easy, but possibly the best of all options available to the white bishop
when sitting on c5.
Lastly, another pawn-snatch needs consideration:
(G). Or if, 20. Bxa7 Rxc4 21. Qd2 Re8, sets up lots of juicy ideas involving
the pinned white e2 pawn with black thrusts of, pawn f3, or, pawn d3, this is
the sort of position which could fall apart in 4 or 5 moves. ||
20. ... Rxc4
21. Qd2 Bxf8
| With a threat of, Bb4, pinning and winning the white queen. ||
22. e3
| Challenging the apparently unchallengeable, but what else is there?
Perhaps, 23. e4, but black still hits hard with, 23. ... d3, after which, 24
a3 Rd2 25. Qd1 Nxf2 26. Qxh5 Nxh1, black wins a rook, but note that there are
other powerful options available for black instead of snatching on h1. ||
22. ... d3
| Black avoids the blunder of, 22. ... Bb4, when, 23. Bxc4+, removes the
defender of the black b4 bishop with check, so that after, 23. ... Nxc4 24.
Qxb4, black would have lost a rook.
White must now both cope with being behind in development while stopping the
further advance of the black passed d-pawn, and don't forget that threatened
black, Bb4. ||
23. a3 fxe3
24. fxe3 Rc2
| Every black piece is better than every white piece, this game will not last
much longer. ||
25. Qd1
| The only developed white piece is the b3 knight, it is now only a question
of how black chooses to finish white off. ||
25. ... Nxe3
| Aiming ultimately for a mating attack.
Instead, 25. ... Nf2 26. Qxh5 Nxh1, picking up a rook is also winning but
less satisfying. ||
26. Qxh5
| Lone queens do not have sufficient power to inflict mate on their own, but
if black gives white sufficient time to play, Rh3, and, Rg3+, who knows what
might happen? ||
26. ... d2+
27. Kf2
| Avoiding, 27. Ke2 d1=Q+ 28. Kxe3 Qxh5, losing the queen. ||
27. ... d1=Q+
28. Be2
| This saves the h5 queen, white has an exchange and 3 pawns for the extra
black d1 queen, not enough, black now closes in for the kill. ||
28. ... N3g4+
| Attacking Force Count = Black d1 queen, c2 rook, g4 knight, e5 knight, with
the d8 queen ready to leap in on to action if required.
Defending Support Count = white e2 bishop.
Now it is just a self-imposed task for black to find the quickest finish. ||
29. Kg3
| Black to play, there is a mates in 2 moves, and 2 mates in 3 moves,
depending on how white replies. ||
29. ... Q8d3+
White resigns, 0-1
| To have 1 queen en prise is unfortunate, to have 2 queens en prise smacks
of carelessness.
The 3 forcing finishes are:
(A). If, 30. Kf4 Qe3+ mate.
(B). Or if, 30. Bxd3 Qxd3+ 31. Kf4 Qe3+ mate.
(C). Or if, 30. Bf3 Q1xd3+ 31. gxf3 Qxf3+ mate. ||
* * *
## Unannotated Game.
White: J. Christiansen, 2385.
Black: S. Bromberger, 2521.
Event: Qatar Masters Doha 2015.
Result: 0-1 in 29 moves.
Opening: Reti Opening, Advanced Variation, A09.
1. Nf3 d5
2. c4 d4
3. b4 g5
4. Bb2 Bg7
5. Nxg5 e5
6. Ne4 f5
7. Ng3 Nf6
8. d3 h5
9. h4 Ng4
10. Nd2 e4
11. dxe4 f4
12. Nf5 Bxf5
13. exf5 Nc6
14. b5 Nce5
15. Qc2 c6
16. bxc6 bxc6
17. Nb3 c5
18. Ba3 O-O
19. Bxc5 Rc8
20. Bxf8 Rxc4
21. Qd2 Bxf8
22. e3 d3
23. a3 fxe3
24. fxe3 Rc2
25. Qd1 Nxe3
26. Qxh5 d2+
27. Kf2 d1=Q+
28. Be2 N3g4+
29. Kg3 Q8d3+
White resigns, 0-1
* * *
