Paul and all,
I found your analysis this week as always very helpful. It's
particularly helpful for me since I've played both sides of the board
regarding this line of the Pirc.
You mentioned 5.g4 as a novelty. I'm going to further explore it as
well. After going through your game notes, I checked out several
remarks on oline forums where many folks were seeing g4 as a great
weapon to pull out against the lion formation in general. And,
comparisons were being made between the themes arising in the
Philidor's Defense and the Pirc. 4.g4 and 5.g4 against the Philidor's
gets some attention in comments from Bauer and Negi in their recent
books about playing the white side of the board against these systems.
Also, I appreciated your comments after 7...b5, especially since you
went ahead and castled queenside anyway on the next move. I was
wondering if you've seen this particular opponent play the semiSlav.
It seemed that his formation of the c6, b5, a6 pawans along with the
move order he used reminded me of that type of play, as if he was
expecting you to play something completely different than queenside
castling, et al.
Further thoughts, anyone?
David
On 9/28/18, Paul Benson <paul.benson@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Skype coaching session, 23 September 2018.
The game discussed (28 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.
* * *
White: P. Benson, 1928.
Black: E. Gardiner, 1925.
Event: Paington Premier 2018.
Result: 1-0 in 28 moves.
Opening: Pirc Defence transposing into Philidor Defence, B07.
| My opening repertoire has undergone some curious twists during 46 years of
competitive chess.
Strangely, there is a highly-regarded system yet to appear in the databases
under my name.
It goes, 1. Nf3, known either as the Reti or the Zukertort depending on
sources.
This is a rather clever move, developing a piece without offering any
targets for the opponent to attack while influencing some central dark
squares.
Not only that, but the process of getting minor pieces off the back rank
preparing the ultimate aim of connecting rooks for the middlegame is under
way.
All this from such a simple move, it makes one wonder what might happen if
development of the king's knight was held back for a while? ||
1. e4 d6
| Aha, a slightly diluted form of Reti-Zukertort philosophy.
Black makes a developing move influencing central dark squares without
offering a target to the opponent.
The flipside of this coin is that black has made no attempt to restrict any
white ambitions of controlling the centre. ||
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 e5
| Hmm, looks like black is wheeling out a cleverly thought-through opening
move order designed to limit the white choices of variations.
This means black does not need to learn many of the variations on offer for
white in the Pirc Defence.
A neat trick, right?
The fewer variations available to the opponent means less homework study is
required for oneself.
Providing the system is not dramatically inferior to other choices, then
here is a pragmatic solution to constructing an opening repertoire.
If there is a problem at all, it is probably that once white has similarly
studied the black system and found a counter-system then black is sitting
against an opponent who is confident in how to handle the opening and early
middlegame.
The question you are all asking: "How prepared is white for this black
system?"
The shocking answer is: "Not at all, it must be more than 20 years since
this precise move order has arisen on my rusty board."
In essence, white is reduced to relying on general principles guiding
thinking processes to work out a counter-system at the board. ||
4. f3
| Not bad for a struggling, "Beginner", though the 10 minute think clearly
sent a message to black about white being unprepared.
White has decided to construct something similar to the English Attack
against the Sicilian Defence.
Sure, there must be differences with black having a Philidor Defence set-up,
but hopefully they will not prove catastrophic.
The mainline choices rejected by white are, 4. Nf3, 4. dxe5 (Note: This
queen-trading line produces a high precentage of draws.) 4. Nge2.
Less common but still perfectly acceptable are: 4. f4, 4. Bc4. ||
4. ... Nbd7
| Black continues with the general plan of development according to
whichever repertoire textbook has recommended this system.
Will white similarly follow suit? ||
5. g4
| Known in the trade as a, "Theoritical Novelty".
Searching a couple of databases reveals no one else has tried this move in
this precise position.
Of course, the advance of the white g-pawn is well-known to theory as part
of white's evolving game-plan, but just not on move 5.
Could there be anything wrong with hitting out so early?
Over to black who should have greater experience in this system, and
possibly an analysed refutation ready to pounce. ||
5. ... Be7
| Doesn't look like a refutation from here, so it appears, 5. g4, is not
mentioned as a mistake awaiting punishment.
While waiting for black to move, in fact the second my hand left the clock,
analysis of a possible mugging was furiously taking place.
The idea was, 5. ... Nxg4, when white probably has to accept with, 6. fxg4
Qh4+ 7. Ke2 Qxg4+ 8. Nf3, and while the immediate black attack has slowed,
white must take care not to lose anything more during the unravelling.
The different king-chase of, 5. ... Nxg4 6. fxg4 Qh4+ 7. Kd2 exd4 8. Nb5,
seems to force, 8. ... Kd8, when black continues with, pawn c5, pawn a6,
pawn b5, and while white is not being overrun, there is still unravelling to
go through.
Black chose not to play it, strongly suggesting the tactic is flawed and
does not produce sufficient long-term compensation for the material. ||
6. Be3 c6
7. Qd2 b5
| Aha, I assume this is to intimidate white out of castling queenside,
right? ||
8. O-O-O
| And here we re-enter theory by transposition, those more knowledgeable
with white preferring to use the move-order, Be3, Qd2, O-O-O, and only then
push kingside with, pawn g4.
Isn't it reassuring to find out one can create Grand Master theory at the
board,even if the move-order is a little dodgy? ||
8. ... a6
| Perhaps designed to protect the b5 pawn against random white, pawn d5,
thrusts, which would set off some interesting tactics.
Instead, 8. ... O-O, 8. ... Qa5, and, 8. ... a5, have been tried producing
many decisive games, such are the joys of opposite-wing castling.
Strangely, no one has yet to try, 8. ... Nb6, allowing a possible, Be6,
while also vacating d7 as a potential retreat square for the f6 knight
should white push, awn g5. ||
9. Kb1
| Safety first.
Removing the king from the c1 - h6 diagonal avoids any interfering checks on
the dark squares, this indicates white will be seeking kingside activity
irrespective where the black king chooses to reside. ||
9. ... Bb7
| It might appear at the moment that this bishop does not have much of a
future, but pawn structures can be altered as the middlegame begins to flow.
The white h1 rook is a potential target despite there being 3 interfering
pawns on the long h1 - a8 diagonal. ||
10. g5
| A commitment which sets the scene for the early middlegame, there are some
tactics in need of calculation before this pawn push can be thought safe.
White has a specific plan of development in mind, trying to show that black
holding back on, O-O, is punishable.
A quieter tactical life could have been achieved with, 10. Nge2, with a
couple of options available for this knight, defensive duty after, Nc1, or
aggressive intent with, Ng3. ||
10. ... Nh5
| Had black earlier played, O-O, then the vacated e8 square would be
available for this knight. ||
11. Bh3
| Had white experience in this variation then the following could have
occurred, Nge2 - Ng3, when black probably has to capture with, Nxg3, and
after white plays, hxg3, there would be the semi-open h-file in compensation
for the doubled pawns.
This presence of the white bishop on the h3 - c8 diagonal offers some
interesting ideas, however deserting the f1 - a6 diagonal offers black some
possibilities as well regarding the c4 square. ||
11. ... exd4
| Black must find something to cope with the white threat of, Bg4.
There is obviously, 11. ... g6, when, 12 Bg4 Ng7, saves the piece but offers
a pawn to white with, 13. Bxd7+ Qxd7 14. dxe5, and the black d6 pawn is
pinned, though whether the snatched pawn is worth trading a good bishop for
a passive knight requires careful thought.
In the game white is to play and must get the tactics correct here. ||
12. Qxd4
| Instead, 12. Bxd4 Bxg5, black hits the white d2 queen to gain an important
tempo, 13. Qf2 Bf6, and the black kingside looks a little healthier, there
are lots of white tricks going on involving, Bxd7+, trying to exploit the
black queen on d7, but are they enough for the lost g-pawn?
White suspected that releasing the tension in this way would offer black a
better position than those arising from the immediate game sequence of
moves. ||
12. ... Ne5
| When playing, 11. ... exd4, black was vacating the e5 square for this
knight, who has some ambitions on the queenside, white must be aware of a
few black tactics on the horizon.
Instead the greedy, 12. ... Bxg5, receives just reward after, 13. Bxg5 Qxg5
14. Bxd7+ Kxd7 15. Qxd6+, when black must avoid, 15. ... Ke8 16. Qd7+,
picking up the loose b7 bishop, but after, 15. Qxd6+ Kc8 16. Qd7+ Kb8 17.
Qxf7, white emerges a safe pawn to the good.
There is also, 12. ... Bxg5 13. Bxg5 Qxg5 14. Qxd6, leaving black to sort
out a defence for the triply-attacked black d7 knight, there does not seem
to be any, so this looks stronger than the previous line.
If say, 14. ... Ndf6, white jumps in with, 15. Bd7+, clearly if, 15. ...
Nxd7 16. Qxd7+, black loses the loose b7 bishop, so after, 15. Bd7+ Kd8 16.
Bxc6+ Kc8 17. Nd5, with twin threats such as, Qc7+ mate, Nb6+ mate, so black
must play, 17. ... Nxd5, but then, 18. Qd7+ Kb8 19. Qxb7+ mate.
Bobby Fischer really knew what he was talking about when he told us:
"Tactics flow from a positionally superior game." ||
13. f4
| Instead trying to exploit the offside black h5 knight with, Bg4, seems to
give black good play.
It goes, 13. Bg4 c5 14. Qd2 Nc4 15. Qd3 Nxe3 16. Qxe3 Bxg5 17. Qd3 Nf4 18.
Qxd6 Qxd6 19. Rxd6 Rd8, and black has the bishop pair along with a better
pawn structure.
Black now chooses a forcing line which doesn't quite bring relief, but
bearing in mind white is now ready for, Bg4, what else was there? ||
13. ... c5
| Notice how the h1 - a8 diagonal previously occupied with 3 pawns is now
blocked only with the white e4 pawn, the safety of the white h1 rook is in
need of careful consideration. ||
14. Qd2 Nc4
| Taking advantage of the placement of the white f1 bishop on the h3 - c8
diagonal. ||
15. Qd3
| White needed to be careful here.
Instead, 15. Qe2 g6 16. Nf3 Qa5, and black has a few tactics in the air,
these are easily avoided with, 17. Bc1, defending the b2 pawn.
However after, 15. Qe2 g6 16. Nf3 Qa5 17. Rhe1, matters are different as,
17. ... Nxb2, undermining the white c3 knight, 18. Kxb2 Qb4+ 19. Kc1 Qxc3,
black has snatched a pawn. ||
15. ... Nxe3
16. Qxe3 g6
| Anticipating white, Bg4, the black h5 knight is given a flight square. ||
17. Bg4
| A doubler - that is a double purpose move.
Firstly, the black h5 knight is forced back to g7, it would be inadvisable
to permit white to inflict doubled h-pawns on black.
Secondly, vacating the h3 square permits the h2 pawn to advance in order to
create play for the static white h1 rook. ||
17. ... Ng7
18. h4 f5
| Played after much thought.
The general principle of opposite-wing attacks warns us to avoid making
unnecessary pawn moves on the side of the board where the opponent is
attacking.
Why? Because opposite-wing activity requires pawn contact followed by
exchanges opening lines for the pieces to invade.
So if you meet attacking pawn moves with defending pawn moves contact and
exchanges will occur earlier than necessary.
There are exceptions to this guideline, some opening systems actively seek
pawn contact, but bear in mind these have been worked out over the passage
of time.
Here we have a middlegame in full flow where white is planning, Nf3,
over-protecting the g5 pawn which prepares, pawn f5, and the black kingside
is beginning to break up, so black gets his retaliation in first.
This positional reaction did however require some careful analysis regarding
the tactics, preventing a long-term disaster with a short-term one will not
suffice. ||
19. gxf6
| Trying to refute black's bold stroke with tactics fails.
The idea is, 19. exf5 Bxh1 20. f6, winning a piece back but that is about
all, black will remain an exchange up after, 20. ... Kf7 21. fxg7 Kxg7, the
white attack is faltering.
White needs the h1 rook to support the line-opening advance of, pawn h5,
with chances of activity once the h-file opens up.
Capturing with, 19. gxf6 is going to activate the black e7 bishop but white
reckons that breaking open the black kingside is of greater importance and a
bishop on f6 is a small price to pay.
There was also the positional approach of, 19. Bf3, to be considered which
would keep a dark square clamp on the black kingside, but again it comes
down to which types of positions suit one's play, white wants a bare-knuckle
fight, so the kingside must be opened up. ||
19. ... Bxf6
20. h5
| From here on in if white wishes to call off the immediate chase then, Nd5,
will prove useful, and, Nf3, would also contribute to kingside play.
Black might feel such a beastie on d5 must be eliminated with, Bxd5, but
after white recaptures, Rxd5, the struggle would then focus on the backward
black d6 pawn.
If the nerves fail totally white can consolidate the position with, Nge2,
protecting the f4 pawn and supporting the c3 knight, but having started a
kingside fight then pride dictates there shall be no backing down now. ||
20. ... O-O
| This might appear as positional suicide but further consideration of the
arrangement of the black pieces shows it is not so obvious how white can get
at the black king.
Imagine the h-file fully opening and white playing, Qh3, there is an
invasion on h7 but after the black king plays, Kf7, how does white proceed?
In fact, placing the queen on h7 in such a manner without having a tactical
follow-up runs the risk of black flicking in, Rh8, forcing off the queens
and a pair of rooks with black claiming the h-file into the bargain, totally
undesirable if white is thinking of winning this game.
So white must find something better than a simple, Qh7+, invasion.
Instead of, O-O, black could have tried, 20. ... gxh5 21. Bxh5+ Nxh5 22.
Rxh5, and because the white light square bishop no longer controls the h3 -
c8 diagonal, black should try to organise, O-O-O, as quickly as possible. ||
21. hxg6
| Make no mistake, despite the previous comment on h-file invasions, a fully
open h-file is required for a decisive attack, it is just that, Qh7+, will
be of little value unless it happens to be mate. ||
21. ... hxg6
22. Rh6
| A tripler - a triple purpose move.
Firstly, the rook escapes the glare of the black b7 bishop which releases
the e4 pawn for action if required.
Secondly, the black g6 pawn is attacked meaning the rook lift to h6 limits
the black responses.
Thirdly, white can now consider either a doubling of rooks up the h-file, or
perhaps placing the queen on h3, and with the rook being the lead unit on
the h-file the white queen is in no danger of being trapped on h7.
This is all very good, but with perhaps a little more thought about events
across the entire width of the board, white would have first played, 22.
Nd5, keeping the rook lift to h6 in hand.
Lastly, white could have got on with development with, 22. Nge2, guarding
both potential targets of the c3 knight and the f4 pawn, and once everything
is secure only then think about launching an assault on the black kingside.
||
22. ... Bxc3
| White totally overlooked this idea thinking that the correct reply to
meet, 22. Rh6, was, 22. ... Qe8, guarding the g6 pawn and setting up a
tactic involving, Bxc3, and, Bxe4, with a nasty trick involving, Bxc2+,
costing white the queen.
Also after, 22. ... Qe8, the greedy, 23. Rxd6 Bxc3 24. Qxc3 Bxe4, the
centralised black e4 bishop now backwardly guards the weak g6 pawn. ||
23. bxc3
| If white wishes to stay in the game then a weakened queenside pawn
structure must be accepted as, 23. Qxc3 Bxe4, the black e4 bishop guards
that all important black g6 pawn, not to mention the loose white f4 pawn in
need of a defence against, Rxf4. ||
23. ... Qf6
| Placing a double attack on the white f4 pawn, white should not permit this
valuable pawn to fall.
With the game plan of, Bxc3, and Qf6, black has arranged defences to all
weak 3rd rank pawns but has run into an unfortunate pin through the g6 pawn
which assists white considerably. ||
24. f5
| The best form of defence is attack, more often than not.
Instead, 24. Ne2, or, 24. Nh3, throw away the initiative as black replies,
24. ... Rae8, with some tricks such as, 25. Bf3 Nf5, and as the white e4
pawn is pinned white is losing the h6 rook.
White can avoid the worst with, 24. Nge2 / Nh3 Rae8 25. Qd3, letting the e4
pawn drop but picking up the black d6 pawn, not particularly inviting as
white feels there should be something happening on the kingside. ||
24. ... Rae8
| Building pressure on the white e4 pawn with a few nasty threats in the
pipeline.
Instead desperate tactics fail, a few sample lines:
(A). If, 24. ... Bxe4 25. Qxe4 Rae8 26. Qd5+ Rf7 27. fxg6, black is going a
piece and rook down.
(B). Or if, 24. ... Bxe4 25. Qxe4 Nxf5 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Qxf5 gxf5 28.
Rhxd6, the black passed f5 pawn is not enough compensation for the white g1
knight, but white has missed a subtlety in the trading down.
(C). Or if, 24. ... Bxe4 25. Qxe4 Nxf5 26. Bxf5 Qxf5 27. Rxg6+ Kh7 28. Qxf5
Rxf5 29. Rgxd6, and black is a whole piece down, no f-pawn to be rounded up,
white is clearly winning.
(D). Or if, 24. ... Nxf5 25. exf5 Rae8 26. Qh3 Kf7 27. fxg6+ Kg8 28. g7 Qxg7
29. Rhxd6, and white should soon make the extra piece count.
(E). Or if, 24. ... Nxf5 25. exf5 Rae8 26. Qh3 Be4 27. Rxg6+, black already
a piece down is now losing the queen for a rook. ||
25. fxg6
| There must surely be a good reason why white rejected 25. Rxg6, which not
only gains an attack tempo on the black queen but also pins the black g7
knight to the black king, there is, the reason is that it releases much of
the tension in the position while missing a great opportunity.
Some sample lines run:
(A). If, 25. Rxg6 Rxe4 26. Qxe4 Bxe4 27. Rxf6 Rxf6 white will soon lose the
f5 pawn.
(B). Or if, 25. Rxg6 Rxe4 26. Rxf6 Rxe3 27. Rfxd6 Rxc3, will the white f5
pawn be a strength or weakness as both armies focus on it?
(C). Or if, 25. Rxg6 Rxe4 26. Qh3 Qe5 27. Nf3 Qxc3 28. Ng5 Qxh3 29. Bxh3 Rf4
30. Rxd6, white has a crushing threat of, pawn f6, on the way, so perhaps,
30. ... Bc8, but now, 31. f6 Bxh3 32. Rxg7+ Kh8 33. Nxh3, white is a piece
up, black must improve.
(D). Or if, 25. Rxg6 Rxe4 26. Qh3 Qe7 27. Nf3 Rf6 28. Ng5 Rxg6 29. Qh7+ Kf8
30. Qh8+ mate.
So it appears that, 25. Rxg6, comes with a sting in the tail, leaving you
all raising a question: "Why didn't white play it?"
Simple.
Instinct pushed me into analysing, 25. fxg6, and once sufficient time had
been spent on it, the decision was taken that there is unlikely to be
anything better in the position. ||
25. ... Bxe4
| This centralised black bishop has set up a couple of threats, 26. ...
Bxc2+, exposing the black e8 rook onto the white e3 queen winning her, and
also, 26. ... Bxg6, eliminating the powerfully placed white g6 pawn, white
needs a good answer to both threats, get thinking.
Instead black had several options here:
(A). If, 25. ...Rxe4, white will reply with the same idea as shown in game,
hope you have worked it out.
(B). Or if, 25. ... Qf4 26. Qh3 (with the threat of Rh8+ mate to be
neutralised) Ne6 27. Bxe6+, winning a piece and the attack continues.
(C). Or if, 25. ... Ne6 26. g7 Qxg7 27. Bxe6+, leaving black to decide which
rook will perish to answer the check, white will then be a rook ahead.
White in the game to play and prove Bobby Fischer correct when he said:
"Tactics flow from a positionally superior game."
26. Rh8+
| When a unit moves it vacates a square for someone else. ||
26. ... Kxh8
27. Qh6+ Kg8
| And now the reason for choosing, 25. fxg6, over, 25. Rxg6, is revealed.
The pawn on g6 not only restricts the mobility of the black king but
supports that previously discussed h-file invasion. ||
28. Qh7+ mate
1-0
| If chess pieces receive a standard appearance fee for each game they play,
one wonders if the white g1 knight will bank the cheque? ||
* * *
White: P. Benson, 1928.
Black: E. Gardiner, 1925.
Event: Paington Premier 2018.
Result: 1-0 in 28 moves.
Opening: Pirc Defence transposing into Philidor Defence, B07.
1. e4 d6
2. d4 Nf6
3. Nc3 e5
4. f3 Nbd7
5. g4 Be7
6. Be3 c6
7. Qd2 b5
8. O-O-O a6
9. Kb1 Bb7
10. g5 Nh5
11. Bh3 exd4
12. Qxd4 Ne5
13. f4 c5
14. Qd2 Nc4
15. Qd3 Nxe3
16. Qxe3 g6
17. Bg4 Ng7
18. h4 f5
19. gxf6 Bxf6
20. h5 O-O
21. hxg6 hxg6
22. Rh6 Bxc3
23. bxc3 Qf6
24. f5 Rae8
25. fxg6 Bxe4
26. Rh8+ Kxh8
27. Qh6+ Kg8
28. Qh7+ mate
1-0
* * *
