Thanks much for that Chris.
I went through the entire game on my board here, and feel like I learned a
couple things, although the play overall was above my pay grade.
One note, I think you meant to refer to white regarding the positional
masterpiece when you said black on the note for 33.:
33. Nf6!
{Beautifully displaying tactical awareness in a positional masterpiece! Black
has played industriously to establish a substantial positional advantage and
has accumulated all of the minor plusses. The climax of that pressure is a
tactic, which rips apart black’s position. A final few positional touches and
the job is concluded aesthetically.}
Apologies if I am misunderstanding what you meant.
I look forward to any other games you might post.
Take care,
Che
-----Original Message-----
From: usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx <usbca_chess-bounce@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> On
Behalf Of Chris Ross
Sent: Tuesday, March 9, 2021 6:50 AM
To: usbca_chess@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [usbca_chess] Star performance.
All,
Here is my 5th game from the Lichtenberger Sommer tournament, which took place
in Berlin. Similar to my last performance in this tournament, I started the
tournament well, scoring 3.5/4 and had to face a titled player with the black
pieces. Three years ago, I lost an extremely instructive game against GM
Rabiega, who won the tournament this year with 7.5/9. This time around, I
scored 6/9, a satisfactory, if uninspiring score. Too many draws in the middle
part of the tournament prevented me from equalling that great score from 2010.
Once again though, my loss to a titled player proved to be very interesting. IM
Rene Stern will soon become a GM, I have no doubt and the extraordinary
patience he demonstrates in this game is worthy of annotation. The display of
calmness and the effective way in which he coolly increases his advantages,
without seeking immediate reward for his superior position is deserving of the
highest regard.
Enjoy.
[Event "12. Lichtenberger Sommer"]
[Site "Berlin, GER"]
[Date "2013.08.21"]
[Round "5"]
[White "Stern, IM Rene"]
[Black "Ross, Chris"]
[Result "1-0"]
[WhiteElo "2504"]
[BlackElo "2240"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "89"]
{E11: Bogo-Indian}
1. d4 e6
2. c4 Nf6
3. Nf3
{A surprise on move 3. In previous games in the tournament, he played 3. Nc3.
Looking through his games in the pre-match preparation, 3. Nc3 and the
Nimzo-Indian appeared to be his first choice of play.}
3... Bb4+
4. Bd2 Qe7
5. Nc3
{Which came as no surprise, as the transposition into Nimzo-Indian setups is
logical. Black was now back into the pre-game preparation. Black had studied a
couple of his games and found a line, which he had not faced before. Black also
discovered that he liked playing e2-e3 and Bd3 setups (after having played 4.
Bd2 in the Nimzo). In that sense then, black wanted to break him away from his
typical setup and force him into a king-side fianchettoed setup. Potentially,
taking him out of his comfort zone.
To do this then, black had to switch the position into a Dutch-like structure.
Since the control of the e4-square is one of the main principals of the
Nimzo-Indian Defence, this was not difficult to accomplish. Again, database
analysis helped in my construction of the desired setup.}
5... Bxc3
{Voluntarily giving up the dark-squared bishop, but ensuring that white cannot
maintain the bishop pair shortly afterwards. Black is now aiming to control the
light-squares with pieces and pawns.}
6. Bxc3 Ne4
{Thus securing back the bishop pair and controlling the all-important
e4-square.}
7. Qc2 f5
8. g3
{Having now achieved the objective, black continued with his preparation.
Computer analysis demonstrated though that the maintenance of the knight on e4
could be a problem though in this type of position. If black were to contest
the long diagonal, he had to be wary of Nd2 ideas, when the knight on e4 could
be pinned. Hence, why this knight has to be exchanged immediately and to
facilitate the light-squared bishop to replace its duty of controlling the
central square.}
8... Nxc3
9. Qxc3 b6
10. Bg2 Bb7
11. O-O
{If the black knight had still been on e4, Nd2 would have been a problem. As it
is, games had shown that black was apparently fine in this type of position.
His strategy is logical enough. The push of the E-pawn, with d6 and Nd7 and a
potential attacking possibilities on the king-side. Black will not get wiped
out quickly.}
11... O-O
{Interestingly enough, black had not gone any further in the pre-match analysis
of this particular line, as games had shown that this setup was fine. However,
there may be a slight subtlety in the move-order here. 11... d6 may be best
first, as Nd7 can be played quickly. The uncastled king is not an immediate
problem.
What black was concerned about though was white attempting to get in e2-e4 at
his earliest convenience. Once the white knight has retreated to d2, for
example, black will have to play a rapid e6-e5, to meet e2-e4 with f5-f4. When
that happens, black would like to have the option of re-capturing on f4 with
the rook.
At the board, black suddenly perceived possibilities of 11... d6 12. Nd2 Bxg2
13. Kxg2 e5 14. Qf3 which seemed to be rather problematic!}
12. Rac1
{Curiously, in all of the games black studied, the white players put their
rooks on d1 rather quickly. Either rook could stand on d1 and the concentration
down the C-file did not appear to be a plan. Possibly then, this could be the
subtlety mentioned in the move-order.}
12... d6
13. C5
{If white does not play this, black would simply play Nd7 and continue with his
plan. Black may even be able to play c7-c5 himself at some stage. The e5-square
would need protection, but black should be OK.
As it were, the International Master clearly sees that black’s slight lack of
development is causing him some considerable difficulties.}
13... Bd5?!
{The start of all black’s consequent difficulties. For essentially, this loses
a whole tempo, which should have been used to develop the final black minor
piece. Black was wanting to secure up the light-squares, and occupy the newly
weakened d5-square. Naturally, the development of the queen’s knight to d7 is
no longer possible, due to c5-c6 forks. If white does not act quickly, this
development plan would be possible, as the blockading move c5-c6 is not in
white’s interest.
White now considered for some time, clearly contemplating the deep positional
elements to this position. His approach is excellent and well thought out. The
position deserves thought here, as the correct plan of action is not easy to
find.
13... Nc6 14. cxd6 cxd6 is possibly the best plan for black.}
14. cxd6 cxd6
15. Ne1!
{Impressively, white understands that the newly weakened d5 square is the key
to the position. His opening up of the C-file is only a precursor to permit
some entry points in the future. The focus is indeed, down the D-file. White
now strives to control the d5 square and to undermine it. In effect, white is
wanting to force through d4-d5 himself, forcing either an outpost on c6 or
creating “pawn islands” for black to save in the ending. White is, effectively,
playing for the end-game!
The exchange of the light-squared bishop is only in his interest, but by doing
this, he cleverly reroutes the knight around to its most effective square, that
being f4. White ignores the natural e2-e4 break and finds the ideal outpost for
the minor piece.
This instructive demonstration of positional understanding is artistic in its
conception.}
15... Bxg2
16. Nxg2 Re8
{Black is now grovelling to find a good plan. The white major pieces are
threatening to penetrate down onto the 7th rank. Black needs to protect his
pieces and especially so, his weak e6-square. Once the white knight lands on
f4, black cannot permit Ne6 to occur with gain of tempo on the rook on f8. Nf8
needs to be a possibility for black too to evict the knight on e6.}
17. Qa3!
{Yet another excellent positional move by white. White not only pressurises the
d6-pawn, preventing the black queen from developing, but hinders black from
playing Na6, a natural and potentially, liberating developing plan. With Na6
and Qb7 as possible ideas, black may untangle his pieces. As it were now, the
black knight is practically stuck for the time being, since jumping out to d7
only allows Rc7 pinning motives. Note how the c6-square has also become a point
of entry for a white rook if the knight is developed, and with the white queen
attacking d6, the pawn would have to advance to d5 cutting out all of black’s
counter-chances in the centre of the board.}
17... a6
{Desperately attempting to develop. The queen’s rook has to be developed in an
unorthodox manner. This little pawn move just creates another weakness though,
that now being on b6.
17... b5 18. Nf4 g5 19. Nh3 did not appeal, but may be black’s best plan here.}
18. Qf3
{Slightly surprising, but logical enough in its intent. Black expected 18. d5
Nd7 when white can decide on where to penetrate, either c6 or c7.}
18... Ra7
19. d5
{White initiates the creation of black’s “pawn islands”. Black will be left
with 3 whereas white will have two. Black’s D-pawn will be sickly and his
F-pawn is advanced, creating fatal light-squared weaknesses. Black’s task now
of salvaging this position is becoming increasingly difficult to do.}
19... Nd7
20. a3
{The sheer calmness of white’s play is awe-inspiring. He appreciates his total
grip on the position and realises that there is no need to rush in the
slightest. It is black, who is seeking ways, in which to save his position. By
this quiet little move, white wipes out all possibilities of counter-play by
snatching pawns on the queen-side by the black queen.}
20... Qf6
{It was impossible to find a constructive plan here. Black simply needed to
force white into the decision of capturing on e6, giving black some hope of
counter-play along the open ranks and diagonals. 20... Ne5 21. Qe3 achieved
absolutely nothing for black and the knight may well be needed to drop into f8,
once Nf4 has been played by white. Capturing on d5 is impossible, as Nf4/Nxd5
is just too strong.}
21. dxe6 Qxe6
22. Nf4 Qf7
23. Rfd1 Ne5
24. Qd5
{Neatly demonstrating that the end-game is impossible for black in the
long-run, due to his three pawn islands and weakened light-squares.}
24... Qxd5
25. Rxd5 Rd7
26. h4
{There is no haste in this titled player. The securing of the knight outpost on
f4 is done before any more pressure is exerted onto the weak black pawns.
Absolute control is essential.}
26... g6
27. Rd2
{White vacates the d5-square, permitting the knight to land on there. That
all-important square, which has been remarkably demonstrated as the focus-point
to the white strategy. The rook’s retreat also ensures that there are no
weaknesses to the white pawns.}
27... Kf7
28. b3
{Once again, absolute control is necessary. Before pressure is piled onto the
weak D-pawn, white ensures that Nc4 is not a possibility for black, thereby
giving him some ideas of counter-play.}
28... Rb8
29. Rcd1 Ke7
30. a4
{If black was not convinced already, white puts another indication down that he
is in utter control of the position. Black can strive to open things up and
exchange, but this only weakens his position further.}
30... b5
31. a5 Nc6
{Black is just about in zugzwang now. White can switch from the D-file to the
C-File at his leisure. 31... Rbd8 32. Nd5+ Ke6 33. Rc2 is good enough.}
32. Nd5+ Kf7
33. Nf6!
{Beautifully displaying tactical awareness in a positional masterpiece! Black
has played industriously to establish a substantial positional advantage and
has accumulated all of the minor plusses. The climax of that pressure is a
tactic, which rips apart black’s position. A final few positional touches and
the job is concluded aesthetically.}
33... Re7
{33... Rdd8 34. Nxh7 Nxa5 35. Ng5+ Ke7 is nothing for black.}
34. Nxh7 Nxa5
35. Ng5+ Kg7
36. Rxd6 Nxb3
37. Ne6+ Kh7
38. Rxa6 b4
39. Kg2
{Calm to the absolute end! White removes the king off the back rank, so that
black’s hopes of pushing his B-pawn to create distractions is proven worthless.
White can now simply gang up on the pawn and not worry about any black rook
landing on the 8th rank on c1 or a1 and cause pins along the back rank.}
39... Reb7
40. Ng5+ Kg7
41. Ne6+
{Professionally calm to the finish line. The coolness of this type of play can
only be applauded.
41. Rdd6 Nc5 42. Rxg6+ Kh8 43. Rh6+ Kg8 44. Rag6+ is not conclusive. The black
king could run away and the B-pawn can cause complications. White’s 41st move
prevents the black knight from edging out to c5 immediately and Nd8+ tactics
have to be avoided. However, the irony of the move is that the knight is headed
back to its previously occupied outpost, where it can jump back to d3 and head
off the B-pawn, and add insult to injury to the double-rook attack along the
6th rank, thereby setting up mating nets.}
41... Kh8
42. Nf4 Nc5
43. Rc6
{Calm, calm, calm!}
43... Nd7
(43... Ne4 44. Nxg6+
[not 44. Rxg6 b3 which is a problem for white] 44... Kh7 45. Ne5 and that is
that.}
44. Nxg6+ Kg7
45. Ne7
{And the only thing left was for black to hold out his hand and congratulate a
very strong player on a wonderful display of attractive, excellent, correct and
well-executed display of “chess”.}
45... 1-0
Opening references
A.
12. Rfd1 d6 13. Qe3 Nd7 14. d5 e5 15. Nd4 Rf6 16. Bh3 g6 17. b4 Nf8 18. Rac1
Re8 19. Nb3 Qf7 20. Qd2 f4 21. f3 g5 22. e4 fxg3 23. hxg3 Rxf3 24. Qxg5+ Qg6
25. Qxg6+ hxg6 26. Kg2 Rf6 Reisert,W-Schmidt,R/Wuerzburg 1988/EXT 2002/1-0
(40)})
B.
12. Rad1 d6 13. Rfe1 Nd7 14. d5 e5 15. e4 f4 16. g4 g5 17. b4 h5 18. h3 hxg4
19. hxg4 Qg7 20. Nh2 Kf7 21. Bf1 Rh8 22. Rd3 Rh6 23. f3 Rah8 24. Re2 Bc8 25.
Rdd2 R6h7 26. Rc2 Qh6 Rakitskaja,M (2160)-Sudakova,I (2180)/St Petersburg
1998/EXT 2000/1/2-1/2})
Chris Ross
August 2013
