Hi Anthony,
Chris Ross is a chess master who belongs to the Braille Chess
Association of the UK. He is also a Senior Consultant/Contributor to our
USBCA. As far as we know, he is the strongest totally blind player in
the world. He regularly shares annotated games with us, from which you
can learn a lot. I certainly have.
Jay
On 10/3/2015 3:48 PM, Chris Ross wrote:
Anthony,
I’m from the UK.
Searching through the archives, I’m sure you will find an abundant amount of annotated games. Maybe Alan can send you them too, as I think he keeps copies.
Maybe somebody else on here can tell you about me. I’m a bit too modest to do so!
Take it easy
Chris
*From:*usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *anthony borg
*Sent:* 03 October 2015 14:59
*To:* usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [usbca_chess] Re: So long...
Hello chris
Thank you very much for your email.
Can you please tell me from which association or club are you belonging to?
I really like chess very much and I’m always glad to have new contacts, so can you please send me more details.
Best wishes
Anthony
*From:*usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx] *On Behalf Of *Chris Ross
*Sent:* Saturday, October 3, 2015 2:31 PM
*To:* c.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
*Subject:* [usbca_chess] So long...
All,
A neat little game to demonstrate that being obstinate to one philosophy during a game is not always the best choice. Adaptability and versatility is essential for success during a game. Despite Capablanca’s maxim that you should always have a plan, even if it is a poor plan, is well founded, but if alteration is required, one should not fear an amendment. Indeed, continuing that thread, if sufficient justifications can be found to amend a plan, then they should be weighed up and balanced out to see if they overwrite the instinctive compulsion. Such an example of this lies with white’s 18^th move. Finally, there is a significant illustration here of the principles of pawn structures and pawn breaks. All of which, aids in the decision making on move 18.
Interestingly, the first 14 moves of this game is sheer theory. A position that I have studied, thought about and prepared for a number of years now, having first discovered the concept in August 2011 whilst preparing for International Master Dietmar Kolbus in the British Championships in Sheffield. Several successes later, the position serves me well. It is only fitting that the remainder of the game is played out in a few more moves than the first 14, which were trotted out with 2 minutes on the clock, giving me a substantial 45 minutes advantage on the clock before I even had to consider how to proceed. The departure from theory on move 14 is poignant...
Enjoy!
[Event "L&DC League Matches 2015-2016"]
[Site "Shirley, ENG"]
[Date "2015.09.21"]
[Round "2.1"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Long, Matt"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B19"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "57"]
[EventDate "2015.09.21"]
[WhiteTeam "Daventry A"]
[BlackTeam "Shirley A"]
{B19: Caro-Kann, Classical variation}
1. e4 c6
2. d4 d5
3. Nd2 dxe4
4. Nxe4 Bf5
5. Ng3 Bg6
6. h4 h6
7. Nf3
{There is little need to comment on this main-line opening, which has been around for a very long time now. Here, 7. Nf3 offers black to go slightly wrong with 7... Nf6 when 8. Ne5 is slightly annoying for him, as the light-squared bishop on g6 will have to drop back in any case to avoid major damage to the black pawn structure. This will give white the option of keeping his pawn on h4 instead of pushing it onto h5.}
7... Nd7
8. h5 Bh7
9. Bd3 Bxd3
10. Qxd3 e6
11. Qe2
{Once again, offering black the chance to be “move-ordered”. This move order by white gives black the opportunity to play 11... Qa5+ and if 12. Bd2 black can respond with 12... Bb4. Although black is losing tempi, white does not necessarily want to advance his C-pawn.}
11... Ngf6
12. Bd2 Be7
{The point of white’s 11th move becomes apparent. Not only does the queen step off the more vulnerable D-file and prevents black from breaking with a possible e6-e5 at some future stage, but now, 12... Bd6 is not available, which would be a more aggressive placement for the dark-squared bishop. In the position. 13. Nf5 would be a rather irritating move for black to respond to and 13... Bf8 is forced. Although not disastrous, this only aids white in an endeavour, which becomes apparent after his 14^th move in the game itself.}
13. O-O-O O-O
{The scene is now set. Opposite-side castling has occurred, which will mean that momentum, initiative and activity become vital. In such positions, a pawn-storm is inevitable. Castling queen-side for black in this sort of position is possible, but I’ll leave how to tackle that for a different occasion.
There are a few immediate observations that need to be made about this important position.
1. The white king maybe perceived as slightly more vulnerable than his black counter-part, due to the lack of minor pieces surrounding him and the loose nature of the a2 pawn, which may become a tactical liability.
2. Keeping a2 in mind, a common idea for black in this sort of position is for him to play Qd8-d5, thereby attacking a weak a2 pawn and eyeing up the g2 pawn, though stealing this would be a very brave adventure. Indeed, a plan for black in that way then would play the queen from d5 into e4, encouraging an end-game where the dangerous attacking white queen has been eliminated. F2 could become weak for white then, if the black steed on f6 hops into e4 – after an exchange of queens say – or into g4. White’s dark-squared bishop may find activity rather difficult then, especially so, if he is hindered by his own D-pawn.
3. The d5 square is very much black’s. Landing a knight, queen or rook on that square, will afford black some considerable activity. Black can undermine the d4-pawn by c6-c5 if he considers liquidation advantageous, especially so, if this opens up lines down the C-file to attack the white king.
4. In the “race” for the pawn-storm, white already has a pawn on h5, which technically, is two tempi up on black’s initial advance, that being c7-c6.
5. Black’s advance of his pawns is unhindered, where white has two minor pieces – the knights on f3 and g3 – sat in the way of any potential storm.
6. The white’s king’s position does not have any “anchors” to enforce a pawn-break. Whereas, black has already a target, that being on h6. The attack of that “anchor” is illustrated on move 18. This is an important factor in the conquering of this position.
These are the most pertinent points to initially consider. The fundamental plan is assured – pawn-storm black. How then, to resolve some of the points described above and initiate the basic plan?}
14. Nf1
{Sadly, I cannot claim to have conceived of this plan. Many good players have now attempt this well-founded plan. Personally, I saw some article by Grandmaster Alexander Morrozevich, who gave some details on it. I then saw a game by GM Francisco Vallejo Pons who gave it a go in 2010. Since then, I have adopted this plan with a high-level of success.
The grounding for the move is simple enough, yet, it shows that “retreat” moves are not that difficult to justify. Here, the white knight steps out of the way for the advance of the G-pawn. An easy and somewhat crude facilitation of the plan. Intriguingly though, the knight is destined for the e3 square, where it supports in the control of the d5 square, thus preventing Qd8-d5-e4. Even if black gets in Qd5/Qe4, the knight on e3 will block any potential queen exchange. Again, the knight may assist in a d4-d5 thrust if black challenges the D-pawn with c6-c5 and the knight can hop into g4 and target the anchor pawn on h6.
There are lots of justifications for the plan. The major draw-back to the move is that it does temporarily disconnect and uncoordinated the white rooks. How important that is, one may state, is still under trial.}
14... Ng4?
{Black, clearly never having seen this position or plan before, reacts to stave off the obvious launch of the G-pawn. Opening references can be viewed at the bottom of this article.
Several attempts have been made here to continue for black. Undoubtedly, tactics become abundant in many of the variations and with all pawn-storms, material often has to be deposited to gain momentum and the initiative. If the reader wishes to take on this variation, I would encourage careful contemplation of the position and may go far as to punt that 14... c5 may be black’s best option for counter-play.}
15. Ne5
{An easy enough reply to find to black’s wayward venture from the theory. White solves another major issue for him, the clearance of the second minor piece to permit the pawn storm. The blockading knight on g4 is immediately challenged and by this simple exchange, white rids himself of his annoying D-pawn, thus obtaining the “grip”. This is seen when a player has a pawn on the rook-5 square, the central 5^th -rank square and then the middling two pawns supporting directly below on the 4^th -rank, creating two breaking possibilities. Challenging this “grip” will often lead to a misadventure tactically or result in a serious positional weakness.}
15... Ngxe5
16. dxe5 Qc7
{Black develops by unpinning the knight on d7. This also gains time by attacking the e5 pawn, but as it can be seen, the tempi lost by black is beginning to become insurmountable. It soon becomes apparent to black that he is so behind with any advancement of his pawns, that his own pawn-storm is doomed to fail and consequentially, attempts to attack with pieces is his only course to proceed. During that build up though, white achieves his ultimate objectives in rapid time.}
17. f4 Nc5
{A very critical point of the game has now been reached. How white now proceeds is of quintessential importance. He must now both continue with his own goals, but prevent black in his. The balancing of these is very challenging.
Finally, what is also vital to appreciate and to realise, is the feature of the pawn-structure, the “anchor” and the previously mentioned “grip”. That comprehension of what is required, how to target it and how to proceed with the execution of it, founds the platform for the continuation of the white plan. If nowhere else in the game, this position deserves some very deep consideration.}
18. Nh2!
{A surprising move for many, I am sure, but one that is superior than the more natural 18. G4. This is yet another example of where a human’s reasoning will always outstrip that of a chess engine’s calculations. Despite the engine being able to calculate monstrous amounts of variations and gives the position as a plus for white, it does not have the capability to foresee why a plan is made, altered and such, implemented.
There is a seemingly logical plan of playing g2-g4-g5, getting on with the simple process of pawn-storming the black king and targeting the “anchor”.
The challenge of this “anchor” now has to be considered. For instance, if white manages to get g4-g5 in, black may take this with h6-g5. White can re-capture this with a pawn or piece. He then continues, presumably, with h5-h6 to strike at the next pawn. Black can then, in certain circumstances play g7-g6 and despite this giving white a passed H-pawn, white has no further obvious way through, unless sacrifices can be enforced. Indeed, he has to be very careful that the H-pawn does not become extremely weak in an end-game.
So, if the obvious g2-g4-g5 pawn break does not seemingly force some structural concession, how is white to proceed?
The answer lies in the basic principles of pawn chains. The “anchor” is actually a piece of a small, but important, pawn-chain, that being g7-h6. The “base” of pawn chains should be targeted, for once they collapse, the rest of the chain often falls as a domino effect. Here then, it is the g7 pawn that requires targeting and the h5 pawn is used to prevent g7-g6 occurring, easing black’s woes.
Following this line of thought then, it is not g4-g5 that is the break, but instead, f4-f5-f6, which will be permissible once the “grip” has been formed.
This is a very significant feature that many players do not correctly execute.
Now comes the question of the consequences of the break f4-f5-f6, as this will leave weaknesses behind it. Those are namely e5 and g5.
Firstly, the e5 pawn of white’s will be left tactically vulnerable if the white F-pawn advances. This will need protection then before an advance can occur.
Additionally, the g5 square needs some focus as black cannot be permitted to play Be7-Bg5, in an attempt to blockade the position, even if this is a temporary arrangement.
The fourth justification for the text-move is again simple enough. The white rooks are connected and are permitted to coordinate harmoniously once again.
Finally, and importantly, black’s counter-play down the D-file is in the main ceased. Black can cause considerable difficulties if he is permitted to play a rook to d8 and then down into d4. This black rook can then swing onto e4, causing annoyances to the white queen, or jump into the queen-side to support in an attack.
For all of these reasons, the white knight is re-located to its ultimate position, that being f3. Once all of the above reasons are weighed up, calculated and analysed, the text-move has to be correct and the white plan can proceed without too many hitches. After all, black has not even commenced his pawn-storm, so there is no tempi lost in this re-arrangement of the white steed.}
18... Rad8
{It is difficult to criticise black for this, as it appears to be the correct rook, the f8 rook potentially being required for the defence of the king-side. Annoyingly for black though is that the f8 square is required as a flight for the dark-squared bishop.}
19. Nf3 Na4
{Black, having now been neutralised down the D-file, is frightened of the advance of the white G-pawn. As the pawn-storm by black is far too slow, he makes an attempt to find tactics with his pieces.
19... Qb6 is a direct threat that white has to take precautions with. White does not wish to play b2-b3 likely, as this may permit a Ba3+ check, Kb1, Rxd2 and nasty forks on c3 by the black knight. This is speculative, but caution is required not to slip up here for white.}
20. Qe4
{Gaining tempo on the loose knight on a4. Black can defend this knight easily enough, but b7-b5 is not in his interests, as this blocks the B-file and prevents the black major pieces from supporting the attack. Black has little option but to retreat.}
20... Nc5
21. Qe3
{Avoiding the repetition of moves and guarding the third rank, allowing a queen switch across if things become intolerable for the white king.
All of the white pieces are now ideally placed and the temporary arrangements of re-locating his pieces concluded. The execution of the plan will now commence.}
21... Qb6
{Black is intent on trying to attack the white king or to force an exchange of queens, oblivious of the inherent fragility of his position.
20... f6 may appear to be very radical, but extreme measures are now required to salvage black’s position. Concrete positional weaknesses will inevitably occur for black, such as a backward E-pawn, but survival is his principal objective now, not material or strategic considerations.}
22. g4 Na4
{Although this does indeed force the exchange of queens, it does not, unfortunately, alleviate black’s difficulties. White is in no need of his queen to carry out his plan. In this sense then, black has been dogmatic in his aim of attacking or reaching for the end-game. White has shown some flexibility by re-locating his pieces to their optimal positions, before initiating his own offensive with the pawn-chain, thereby demonstrating a certain amount of restraint and an aptitude of versatility and adaptability.}
23. Qxb6 Nxb6
{It could be argued that re-capturing on b6 with the pawn is a thought, as the black knight may find a way back via c5 into e4. This is a rather ponderous aspiration though.}
24. f5
{The correct pawn-break as described previously. It is instructive how quickly black collapses from herein. This may have been a surprising method to break down the black king’s defences.}
24... Rd5
25. f6 Bd8
{Capitulating without any further resistance. 25... gxf6 has to be the only move, though white can take on h6 at leisure and the open king-side will soon prove devastating for black.}
26. b3
{Taking time out to limit the black knight and to control light-squares around the white king. C2-c4 has now been made possible, controlling that all-important d5 square.}
25... Bc7
{Sadly, black does not have the time to target the white E-pawn. Momentum against the black king is too time-consuming for him. A simple tactic is now apparent.}
27. fxg7 Kxg7
{If black does not re-capture this pawn, white can take on h6 and the connected passed pawns on the G & H files will soon roll home.}
28. c4 Rd3?
{losing immediately.
The rook is evicted out of the one and only asset for black, the d5 square. The black rook has no option but to retreat backwards, after which, white can target that “anchor” with g4-g5, forcing an exchange, the opening up of the G-file, creating a passed H-pawn, and importantly, allowing Bxg5 controlling d8 and permitting Bf6, when mating nets down the G-file will soon become available.
All in all, a wonderfully constructed plan and a simple and smooth execution of a game objective.}
29. Bxh6 + 1-0
Opening references
A.
[Event "98th British Championships"]
[Site "Sheffield, ENG"]
[Date "2011.08.05"]
[Round "11"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Kolbus, Dietmar"]
[Result "1/2-1/2"]
[ECO "B06"]
[WhiteElo "2234"]
[BlackElo "2335"]
[PlyCount "129"]
[EventDate "2011.08.05"]
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. Nd2 dxe4 4. Nxe4 Bf5 5. Ng3 Bg6 6. h4 h6 7. Nf3 Nd7 8. h5 Bh7 9. Bd3 Bxd3 10. Qxd3 e6 11. Bd2 Ngf6 12. Qe2 Be7 13. O-O-O O-O 14. Nf1 c5 15. g4 cxd4 16. g5 hxg5 17. Bxg5 Qa5 18. Kb1 Rfe8 19. Rg1 e5 20. Ng3 Bf8 21. Nf5 Kh8 22. N3h4 Qa6 23. Qf3 Qc6 24. Qh3 Nh7 25. Ng6+ fxg6 26. hxg6 Qxg6 27. Bh6 Qxg1 28. Rxg1 gxh6 29. Nh4 Ndf6 30. Ng6+ Kg7 31. Nxe5+ Ng5 32. f4 Rxe5 33. fxe5 Ng8 34. Qd7+ Be7 35. Qxd4 b6 36. a3 Rd8 37. Qa4 a5 38. Qc6 Kh8 39. Rh1 Kg7 40. Rg1 Kh8 41. Rf1 Bc5 42. c3 Rd2 43. Qg6 Rd7 44. e6 Rg7 45. Qf5 Ne7 46. Qe5 Ng6 47. Qd5 Kh7 48. Rh1 Ne7 49. Qd3+ Ng6 50. Qf5 Be7 51. Rd1 h5 52. Ka2 Kh6 53. b4 axb4 54. axb4 h4 55. Kb3 Rg8 56. Qf2 Rb8 57. Qe3 Bf6 58. Rf1 Be7 59. Rf5 b5 60. Rd5 h3 61. Qg3 Rb6 62. Qg4 Rb8 63. Qg3 Rb6 64. Qg4 Rb8 65. Qg3 1/2-1/2
B.
14... c5 15. g4 cxd4 16. g5 Nd5 17. gxh6 Qb6 18. Rg1 Ba3 19. Rxg7+ Kh8 20. bxa3 Nc3 21. Bxc3 dxc3 22. Rh7+ Kg8
23. Rg7+ Kh8 24. Rh7+ Kg8 25. Rg7+ Kh8 26. Rh7+
1/2-1/2 Balogh,C (2644)-Vallejo Pons,F (2695)/Legnica POL 2013}
C.
17... f6 18. exf6 Bxf6 19. Qxe6+ Kh8 20. Ng3 Nc5
21. Qc4 Qb6 22. b3 Qb5 23. Qxb5 cxb5 24. Be3 b6 25. Rd5 Rac8 26. Rhd1 Rfe8 27. Bd4 Bxd4 28. R5xd4 Re3 29. Nf5 Re2 30. Rd8+ Rxd8 31. Rxd8+ Kh7 32. g4
Kryakvin,D (2591)-Charochkina,D (2303)/St Petersburg RUS 2010/1/2-1/2 (58)})
Chris Ross
October 2015
