Skype coaching session, 30 April 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 32 moves is given with annotations
and then again without annotations.
Paul Benson.
* * *
Annotated game.
White: Anand, 2788.
Black: Svidler, 2754.
Event: Tal Memorial 2009.
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves.
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, D85.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5
5. Bd2
| A solid line. White can now recapture on c3 with a bishop when the thematic
central advance of, pawn e4, is played. This system avoids all of those sharp
lines where black breaks with, pawn c5, and generates activity against whatever
pawn centre white chooses to construct. ||
5. ... Bg7
| Instead, 5. ... Nb6, opens up an attack on the white d4 pawn from the d8
queen. White should answer with, 6. Bg5, opening up a protection from the d1
queen. ||
6. e4 Nb6
| Instead, 6. ... Nxc3 7. Bxc3, and the white bishop is ready to counter any
activity black might hope for on the h8 - a1 dark square long diagonal. ||
7. Be3
| The most favoured reply by white. Instead, 7. Nf3 Bg4, and black scores well.
||
7. ... O-O
8. h3
| Again the most favoured reply by white. The idea is to play, Nf3, while not
allowing black the joys which can arise from the pinning, Bg4. One might think
such a slow approach in the opening should receive stern punishment. Experience
shows that not only does white survive, but actually maintains a comfortable
position in almost all counter-systems tried by black. All part of the strategy
adopted as early as move 5 when white put the c1 bishop on the d2 square. Black
is not going to be allowed to have a dynamic middlegame plan of undermining a
white central pawn formation so often found in the mainlines where white hits
on move 5 with, pawn e4. Instead, 8. Bb5, or, 8. Be2, score well for white,
while, 8. f4, scores about level. Choose whichever variation creates a
piece-pawn formation with which you feel most comfortable. ||
8. ... e5
| This logical dynamic central break seems to be the most solid reply for black
here. Instead, the aggressive, 8. ... f5, gives fighting chances for both
players, though take care, white gets better results than black. Challenging in
the centre with, 8. ... Nc6, might seem appealing, but white scores well. The
Gruenfeld Defence can be a powerful weapon in the hands of a player willing to
offer white a big pawn centre. It seems however that the psychological battle
is being won by white in many of the variations arising after, 5. Bd2. All
those wonderful, enjoyable, sharp counter-attacking lines found in the
mainlines of, 5. pawn e4, are no longer available. Black must find other means
to create tactics, and history is suggesting they are not easy to find. ||
9. Nf3 exd4
| Instead, 9. ... Nc6 10. d5 Ne7, and white scores rather heavily. ||
10. Bxd4
| White is more than happy for the dark square bishops to be removed from play.
||
10. ... Bxd4
| Instead either, 10. ... Nc6, or, 10. ... Qe7, lead to many drawn games.
Perhaps a question is arising in the minds of some readers? Just what are the
ambitions of white when choosing the, 5. Bd2, and the further, 8. pawn h3,
system? Perhaps white simply wishes to avoid defeat while giving the opponent
some chances to strike out in a position which might not fully justify such
counter-measures. Club players with white might not like to admit to playing
systems designed to avoid defeat, Grand Masters are a more pragmatic bunch. ||
11. Qxd4
| Further indications that white is willing to simplify the game, black is not
of a similar mind. Perhaps tournament standings dictate that black needs a win
from this game to overtake white in the points table. A position which even the
humblest of club players will find themselves at some time in their chess
career. Setting out to play for a draw against an opponent who is in a must-win
situation is almost always destined to fail. Instead, selecting variations
which lead to quiet middlegames with a slight pull on the white side is an
ideal plan. Hand all those critical judgement calls over to your opponent while
you sit on your slight advantage. ||
11. ... Qe7
| Instead, 11. ... Nc6, has been tried here but examples are too few to draw
inferences. ||
12. Qe3
| White breaks the pin on the e4 pawn while also placing the queens in a mutual
x-ray attack. Perhaps, 12. Be2, is worth consideration, but spends a move with
the light square bishop when it is not yet clear where this piece should be
placed. ||
12. ... Nc6
| About the only other move for consideration here is, 12. ... f5, creating
some weaknesses in the hope the imbalances produce opportunities for tactics as
the middlegame proceeds. ||
13. Bb5
| White will be very happy to trade this bishop for the black c6 knight, any
double black pawns on the c-file would surely be problems in the endgame. ||
13. ... Nb4
| Black enters into a dance of knight and bishop on the queenside. The end
result seems to be a gain of a tempo for the white bishop, but this is far
better than allowing white the positional gain of, Bxc6. Ah, and don't forget
that quiet positions can contain venom. That apparent avoidance of doubled
pawns also threatened a crushing royal fork of, Nc2+. ||
14. Rc1 Be6
15. b3
| A double purpose move. White takes control of the c4 square while blocking
the combined attack of black minor pieces on the a2 pawn. ||
15. ... a6
| Designed to force the white bishop back which then permits the somewhat
stranded b4 knight to return to the c6 square, as well as reclaiming the e8
square for a rook. ||
16. Be2 Nc6
| So, the knight and bishop dance has resulted in the black knight spending two
moves to land back where it was, while the white bishop has spent two moves and
improved it's location from f1 to the e2 square. That is why when white chose
to block the e-file back on move 12, it was the queen who was selected for the
job. ||
17. O-O f6
| Black creates a retreat square for the e6 bishop while also preventing the
white knight from attacking it with, Ng5. ||
18. Rfe1 Rad8
| Analternative plan for black was to advance with, pawn a5, and, pawn a4,
intending to give white a queenside pawn weakness to defend. ||
19. Bf1 Bf7
| While the two bishops might have indicated an unwillingness to fight, the
white bishop does not interfere with the coordination in the white position.
The same cannot be said for the black f7 bishop. ||
20. Nh2
| A lovely example of retreating in order to advance. The white knight intends
to probe on the kingside, black feels this should not be allowed. ||
20. ... Be6
| Ah, so black intends to meet a probing, Ng4, with the trading, Bxg4. White is
not going to be so easily frustrated. An order then comes down from above -
There shalt be a probing, Ng4. Fine, but how? ||
21. f4
| O.K., white has finally made a committal move. While this might seem contrary
to the initial strategy of seeking a calm game, it is based on good strategic
judgement. Black has a 3 versus 2 queenside pawn majority, but this is not easy
to mobilise. White on the other hand, has a central / kingside 4 versus 3 pawn
majority which can be mobilised. Combine these factors with some black kingside
piece-congestion problems along with those black knights relaxing over on the
queenside, and the scene is set for white to start kingside activity in
earnest. ||
21. ... Nd4
| Perhaps, 21. ... Rd7, waiting for white to continue with the commitment of,
22. f5 Bf7 23. Ng4, when now, 23. ... Ne5, leaves white deciding whether the
centralised black knight should be allowed to stay on the board, was
preferable. ||
22. f5
| White judges the dynamic opportunities will outweigh the positional
weaknesses following this pawn advance. ||
22. ... Bf7
| Those mutual queen x-ray attacks up the e-file are beginning to look rather
one-sided. Black must avoid, 22. ... gxf5 23. exf5 Nxf5 24. Qxe6+, when white
wins a piece for a pawn. ||
23. Ng4 gxf5
| Black chooses to start a tactical fight from an inferior position, though
sitting back and waiting for white to increase the kingside pressure was
equally unappetising. ||
24. Nh6+ Kh8
| White to play must find the next move or the initiative will be allowed to
drift. ||
25. Qf2
| One of those quintuple purpose moves one just happens to flick in now and
again.
Firstly, The white queen steps out of the glare of the black queen along the
e-file.
Secondly, the white e1 rook now takes over the x-ray attacking duties against
the black e7 queen.
Thirdly, despite retreating, the white queen maintains pressure on the black d4
knight.
Fourthly, the white queen creates pressure up the semi-open f-file, which will
increase should black decide to capture with, fxe4.
Fifthly, the white king is still shielded from any random black queen checks
should the black d4 knight move away. ||
25. ... fxe4
| Having started the fun with, 23. ... gxf5, black feels honour-bound to
continue with the tactics, even if it appears that matters could be taking a
turn for the worse. Perhaps pushing past with, 25. ... f4, with the previously
mentioned plan of placing a knight on the e5 square with, Nc6, and, Ne5, was
worth considering. ||
26. Rxe4 Qd6
| Black dare not block the e-file with, 26. Ne6, as white takes advantage of
the unprotected state of the black queen with, 27. Qe3, with the immediate
threat to undermine the black e6 knight with, Nxf7+, leading to the win of the
e6 knight. After, 26. ... Ne6 27. Qe3, black can try, 27. ... Rfe8, but then,
28. Re1 Rd6 29. Nf5, and white wins an exchange. As if that were not enough,
black must also take care to guard the f6 pawn from a potential, Qxf6+, which
would be mate. ||
27. Rd1
| Who says centralised knights are an asset? The black d4 knight is under a
powerful triple attack and is running short of defenders. ||
27. ... c5
| White is going to undermine the black d4 knight but there is an important
zwischenzug to be found first to ensure the tactics favour white in all
variations. ||
28. Nxf7+
| A double purpose move.
Firstly, the unprotected white h6 knight might have become a target as the
tactics unwind. If it is not on the board, then it cannot be drawn into any
desperate tricks from black.
Secondly, the black f8 rook is dragged forward and as such the black d8 rook is
now vulnerable to captures with check. ||
28. ... Rxf7
29. b4
| A classical case of undermining. If the black c5 pawn is either removed from
the board or deflected from important defensive duties, then the black d4
knight will be triply attacked and only doubly defended. ||
29. ... f5
| Black is desperately flailing around to find a tactrickal escape route. There
isn't one to be found, it is now simply a case of testing if white can find the
correct plan leading to victory. Instead, 29. ... cxb4 30. Rexd4, wins large
amounts of material for white. Black, if succumbing to unnecessary masochistic
tendencies, would then have to choose between:
(A). If, 30. ... Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rxd4 32. Qxd4 bxc3 33. Qd8+ Kg7 34. Qxb6, white
has a queen and bishop versus the lone black rook.
(B). Or if, 30. ... Qxd4 31. Rxd4 Rg8 32. Rxb4, white again has a queen and
bishop advantage over a black rook.
(C). Or if, 30. ... Rfd7 31. Rxd6 Rxd6 32. Rxd6 Rxd6 33. Ne4, again, white has
queen and bishop advantage over a black rook. ||
30. bxc5 fxe4
| Black must play for tactricks.
Instead, 30. ... Qxc5 31. Rexd4 Rxd4 32. Qxd4, and white has won a piece for a
pawn while keeping everything under control.
Or if, 30. ... Qxc5 31. Rexd4 Rg8 32. Ne4, and again the white pieces,
including the extra bishop skulking on f1, will soon take command of the
position. ||
31. Qxf7
| Black to play has one last throw of the dice. ||
31. ... Nf3+
| Desperation. This is known amongst Grand Masters as a 50% move. That is, it
either wins immediately, or if the opponent notices and avoids the trick, then
it essentially demands immediate resignation. Why is black trying this 50 - 50
gamble? The black queen is overloaded in a position where the black forces are
uncoordinated. Other options gave zero chance of victory:
(A). If, 31. ... Qxc5, setting up a nasty discovered check, black loses much
material to, 32. Qf6+ Kg8 33. Qxd8+ Kf7 34. Qxd4.
(B). Or if, 31. ... Qe6 32. Qxe6 Nxe6 33. Rxd8+ Nxd8 34. cxb6, black has lost a
piece. ||
32. Qxf3
Black resigns, 1-0
| That was the 50% move which black was hoping white would miss. Instead the
50% move for the alternate result was, 32. Kh1 Qh2+ mate. Black chose
resignation as the best option.
Instead if, 32. ... exf3 33. Rxd6 Rxd6 34. cxd6 fxg2 35. Bxg2, black is simply
a piece down.
Or if, 32. ... Qe7 33. Rxd8+ Qxd8 34. Qxe4, again black is a piece down for no
compensation. ||
* * *
## Unannotated game.
White: Anand, 2788.
Black: Svidler, 2754.
Event: Tal Memorial 2009.
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves.
Opening: Gruenfeld Defence, Exchange Variation, D85.
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 d5
4. cxd5 Nxd5
5. Bd2 Bg7
6. e4 Nb6
7. Be3 O-O
8. h3 e5
9. Nf3 exd4
10. Bxd4 Bxd4
11. Qxd4 Qe7
12. Qe3 Nc6
13. Bb5 Nb4
14. Rc1 Be6
15. b3 a6
16. Be2 Nc6
17. O-O f6
18. Rfe1 Rad8
19. Bf1 Bf7
20. Nh2 Be6
21. f4 Nd4
22. f5 Bf7
23. Ng4 gxf5
24. Nh6+ Kh8
25. Qf2 fxe4
26. Rxe4 Qd6
27. Rd1 c5
28. Nxf7+ Rxf7
29. b4 f5
30. bxc5 fxe4
31. Qxf7 Nf3+
32. Qxf3
Black resigns, 1-0
* * *