Chris and everyone.
Well, this game shows why leaving a critical piece so locked in a
corner for so long hampers solid defense. Black never developed his
queen's bishop, often leaving him blocked by a stagnant d6. And along
with that the queen's rook also was kept from entering the fray.
Hence, to use an analogy from wrestling or the martial arts, black
tried fighting with one arm tied behind his back while white employed
the use of arms, hands, fingers and feet to his full advantage.
The half-open e-file for white's attack, even prior to the rook lift
in late middlegame always threatened maximal mobility, and to his
peril, black never took the opportunity to counter-attack.
Nicely played, Chris, and as always a great lesson for us.
All the best in chess,
David
On 1/13/19, mordue andrew <dmarc-noreply@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Chris et al,
Very nice and instructive. Open lines and local superiority count for a
lot.
Tyson
On 11 January 2019 at 18:27 c.ross@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:
All,
A rare find indeed. I’m not known for my attacking prowess, but
occasionally I can whip up a fairly devastating king-side attack. This is
one of those finer moments.
Be aware that from move 18, there are some complex variations to consider.
It will be wise to play through them on a second board.
It is, however, instructive how some of the attacking themes appear in
each of the sub-variations repeatedly.
Enjoy!
[Event "Bedfordshire League Matches 2018-2019"]
[Site "Milton Keynes, ENG"]
[Date "2019.01.10"]
[Round "4.1"]
[White "Ross, Chris"]
[Black "Borrowdale, Graham"]
[Result "1-0"]
[ECO "B06"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "49"]
[EventDate "2019.01.10"]
[WhiteTeam "Northampton"]
[BlackTeam "Open University"]
{C00: French Defence}
1. e4 e6
2. e5
{My current pet line against the French. This is not a refutation to the
French defence and indeed, I am becoming somewhat disenchanted with the
variation, for I believe it gives white equality at best. However, as a
surprise psychological weapon against an unexpecting opponent, it is
invaluable. With due preparation and an awareness that the variation is
probable, black can set himself up satisfactory to meet this unusual
Steinitz variation. In league situations, with quick time-controls, the
complexities of the variation gives an opponent pause for thought, gaining
precious time on the clock.
Fundamentally, the variation chosen switches black from a 1. E4 opening to
an 1. D4 structure, thereby taking black out of his comfort zone and
altering the complexion of the game entirely. Adaptability is an essential
asset in a player’s make-up and those who can adapt the quickest and best,
will inevitably thrive.}
2... d6
3. exd6 cxd6
{There are pros and cons for all three captures for black. This and 3...
Qxd6 are certainly the top 2. Surprisingly, 3... Bxd6, which appears to be
the more natural recapture, is positionally the most inferior, as the
bishop stands on a poor square and the freeing idea of c7-c5 and future
pins with Bg5 are all problematic for black. The dark-squared bishop on d6
will normally have to retreat to its more natural Be7 square, thereby
losing a full tempo.}
4. d4 Nf6
{White has successfully switched to a 1. D4 opening, where black is
usually less familiar with the pawn formation than his standard setup.
This structure is certainly not inferior for black, but players not
expecting such structures, will often find it challenging to formulate
constructive plans.}
5. Nf3 Nc6
{A natural looking development move for black, but actually, this knight
has very little effect on c6. The sole purpose of placing it on c6 is to
attempt to break with e6-e5, but this central thrust is fraught with such
complications, that it has to be calculated very carefully indeed. If the
push e6-e5 is not intended or even played, then the knight’s placement on
c6 is just a waste of time. Again, for the unexpecting opponent,
appreciating such minor subtleties in a short time-control is
unfathomable.}
6. Bd3 Be7
7. O-O O-O
8. Re1
{Black’s principal counterplay in such a structure is to play e6-e5. White
hastens to hinder this and to activate his king’s rook. The f1-square is
facilitated for the retreat of the light-squared bishop were Nb4 to be
flicked in by black. Akin to ideas of the Ruy Lopez, the white queen’s
knight is also given a pathway towards the king-side.}
8...Qc7
{With the distinct threat of Nb4, eliminating the white light-squared
bishop, which cannot be permitted. E6-e5 is also boosted.}
9. c3 Re8
{An innocuous move, which achieves little for black’s endeavours. Here is
the first hint that black is floundering in an unfamiliar structure. The
bishop on e7 could potentially be a tactical loose piece, so protection is
offered for this. However, whilst black has enough pieces on the
e5-square, he should take his opportunity to play e6-e5. White, naturally,
has specific ways to prepare and react to this thrust, but unless this
central push is attempted, then the black pieces, such as Nc6 and Qc7 are
redundantly placed. See opening reference example below.}
10. Bg5
{The natural square for the bishop.
10. Bf4 is possible, but this bishop is undefended and vulnerable to Nd5
ideas. In any case, the idea of Bxf6, and then a queen-bishop battery on
the b1-h7 diagonal with Qxh7+ is initiated. Although a long way off, this
is a potential concept.
The other very important idea behind the move is if black were to play
e6-e5, white would have an option of Bxf6 and after black recaptures with
Bxf6, the push with d4-d5 is possible. This would turn the structure into
a delayed King’s Indian Defence setup. Whether this is an advantageous
variation for white or not is uncertain, but the option is there for white
if necessary.}
10... h6
{It is lamentable to how many times PR3 moves have to be criticised. Here,
it is seemingly irrelevant to the structure that the PR3 has, but how this
move will come back to haunt black and is, ultimately, his downfall.
PR3 moves should only ever be played with a deeper intent in mind, such as
placing a pawn on a desired coloured square, giving a flight square from
the back rank and other such essential intensions. Playing it for the
sakes of it should never be undertaken. Black’s idea here is to enable an
exchange of dark-squared bishops and essentially weaken the f4-square, but
this intermezzo move is not required to achieve it. The PR3 is not just an
anchor to be targeted in the future, but importantly, it weakens some
critical squares in the black king-side.}
11. Bh4 Nd5
{Initiating exchanges in the hope to ease the pressure on the cramped
black position. Once again, black demonstrates his lack of familiarity
with the structure. Black should be concentrating his focus on completing
development, by either a6/b5/BB7 or just b6/BB7. However, the following
moves illustrate black’s mind-set on establishing a defensive posture,
where the white advances can be fended off. Such defensive attempts though
often empower an attacker to find creative ways to find chinks in the
defence.}
12. Bxe7 Rxe7
{The rook recapture leaves the piece on a very precarious position. This
is a tactical liability, which will inevitably lead to black’s demise.
Another weakness on d6 is created and this pawn will require defence for
the remainder of the game.
White need not rush with his plan. Certain perfections need to be
addressed before any actual probing needs to be attempted. The closed
nature of the position and the unthreatening nature of the structure
affords white time to position pieces in the most accurate way.}
13. Bc2
{Cleverly re-positioning the pieces to advance the notion of creating the
Qxh7+ theme. The d3-square is vacated for the white queen, but critically,
the advance e6-e5 is prevented.
13... e5 14. Dxe5 will discover an attack on the loose knight on d5.
13. c4 Nf6 14. Nc3 is certainly playable, but loosens up the white pawn
structure and care will need to be taken on the queen-side. The d4-pawn
will require defence and there is no direct way in which white can create
tension in the black camp. By the text-move approach, white keeps options
open and allows black to go astray.}
13... Nf6
{Yet another sign that black is defensively minded. The knight is
retreated to safeguard the king-side and to facilitate a possible e6-e5
break without having it left loose on d5.
13... Nf4 14. g3 Nh3+ 15. Kg2 will only leave the knight loosely placed
despite the light-square weaknesses in the white king-side.}
14. Nbd2
{An important stage of the middle-game has been reached. Both sides need
to complete development to offer any hope of creating tension and
opportunities for improvement. White has to decide to where his queen’s
knight is to be developed. A3 and d2 are the only options. Although
attractive on a3, the knight does not have any “natural” pathways onwards.
Although Nb5 may gain a tempo on the black queen, it does little else from
the b5-square and there are no other options from there.
Na3/Nc4 is also possible, with Ne3 ideas to follow and from c4, the knight
controls the e5 thrust. However, once again, the knight is loosely placed
on c4 and can be driven away by a b7-b5 thrust.
Developing the queen’s knight via d2 has the unfortunate disadvantage of
blocking the white queen’s protection of the D-pawn, not allowing it to
advance with d4-d5, driving away the knight on c6 to a much poorer square.
The upturn to the development on d2 though is that the knight can attack
the black king’s knight, which has become unnaturally defended following
the dark-squared bishop exchange.
Black’s next plan is critical to how his game will now enfold. The
decision needs to be made, to do or not to do.}
14... Nb8
{Played after some considerable thought. A clear indication that black’s
not willing to take the position on in an ambitious manner. This meek
retreat categorically demonstrates that black’s set to dig in for the long
haul. Such passive play is only deserving of a sharp retort.
It is at this point where black had to make the clinching decision whether
to play e6-e5 or not. Since there are no immediate tactical refutations to
the move, black had to decide to whether the long-term tension of the
e5-pawn would lead to any future prospects for him.
One critical line goes
14... e5 15. Ne4 Nxe4 16. Bxe4
when the light-squared bishop is powerfully placed on e4. There may be
quick-snap captures on c6, leaving the e5-pawn vulnerable and even ideas
of Nh4/Nf5. D4-d5 could be supported and captures on d4 by black will only
leave the d6-pawn isolated and vulnerable.
White would have the positional concept of playing dxe5 and after d6xe5,
playing Qe2, securing the queen and then playing for an end-game advantage
with a 3 VS 2 pawn majority on the queen-side.
There is still a lot of play in the game and there are many obstacles to
be overcome to reach such an end-game, but white would have a distinctive
plausible objective to aim for.
The text-move by black intends to re-route the hindered queen’s knight
back to support its counterpart in the defensive duties of the king-side.
This seemingly negative retreat not only loses valuable tempi, but
importantly, permits white to bring yet another piece to bare on the
king-side.}
15. Nf1
{Since black has lost tempo by un-developing his queen’s knight, white can
afford to keep pieces on the board. The advance to e4 would only enable
black to exchange and then justify the queen’s knight to re-join the fun
with Nd7 and Nf6. The white queen’s knight has a more important role to
now play.}
15... Nbd7
16. Ng3 Nf8
{So, the black queen’s knight has now found its way to the king-side to
defend the h7-square against future white Qd3 batteries. Commendable, but
at a large cost of tempo. This alone would be perfectly acceptable, had
not 10.. h6 been played. That PR3 move way back then has not allowed this
knight now to land on g6, pressuring the f4 square, as captures with Bxg6
would not allow hxg6 exchanges. F7xg6 would be forced irreparably damaging
the black pawn structure. So inconsequential did 10... h6 appear, but it
comes to show how such innocuous moves cannot be taken likely.}
17. Qd2
{Developing the white queen and protecting the f4-square, the only weak
point in the white camp. Black is not able to occupy this weak square
easily as Ng6 has been ruled out. The white rooks are connected and the
question is put to black to how he is going to complete development. White
has a simple plan of either Rad1, Rac1, Re2 with Rae1 and other such
ideas. Even a Qd3, Nd2/Ne4 and Nh5 to undermine the two black knights to
create weaknesses. The white plan is obvious, easy and fluid. Black’s
strategy and plan is not so.
Black to play and either seal his doom or make a fighting go of it.}
17... Bd7
{Black amazingly implodes. In an endeavour to get developed, black fails
to see the immediate danger that white has cunningly disguised in his
simple development.
The one single essential factor that the text-move prevents, is the black
queen’s defence of the second rank and her inability to protect the h7
square. This may seem farfetched, but it is actually the hinge point to
why black now loses the game in such a dramatical manner. With the black
queen being shut off from the defence of the black king-side, some very
careful calculation now needs to take place. Having spent 15 minutes on
the clock to reach this position, some deep thought now needs to take
place to consider and appreciate the nuances of the position. I spent 20
minutes here figuring out the various lines of calculation, points of
penetration, and there are some very challenging aspects to the variations
that are very complex. I strongly urge the reader to take an consider
these lines now very carefully and do not rush in intuitively, as there
are some difficult defensive lines that black can put up to resist and
impromptu attack. Instinct tells one that white has a strong attack now,
but the small print needs to be read before venturing onto such a foray.}
18. Nf5
{The first demonstration of the black queen’s inaccessibility of the
second rank. The black rook on e7 has suddenly become undefended, allowing
this idea. Black can’t capture the knight and leaving the rook on e7 would
only drop the exchange with check.
Interestingly, 18. D5 is also another neat way to exploit the loose rook
on e7.
18... Nxd5 19. C4 Nf6
(19... Qxc4 20. Bb3 and captures on d5 doesn’t allow black to recapture
with e6xd5 due to the pin on the e7-rook)
20. Nf5 and then captures on d6 leave black very awkwardly placed.}
18... Ree8
{White can still opt out now if he so wishes.
19. Ne3 would be a perfectly acceptable retreat and the game can go on.
However, after due calculation, white can tear into the black camp.}
19. Nxh6+
{Not played lightly. Begin the calculations for this is make or break for
either side now.}
19... gxh6
{Black has no option. Declining the offered knight would only allow the
f7-pawn to fall with N7g5+ to follow. Yet another example of the black
queen’s inability to defend the second rank.}
20. Qxh6
{Reaching this position is absolutely fine and easy enough to calculate,
but now comes the variety of defensive alternatives that black has.
Calculating them when beginning this process took time and patience and
with a certain degree of intuition.}
20... N6h7
{OK, so here begins the fun with the variations. Black has a lot to handle
here and naturally, this took a lot of time on the clock for him. If he
can’t defend, then, he’s going to go down quickly, as the black forces are
not coordinated.
There’s a constant theme throughout the variations that now follow and
continue to the end of the game. To bring to bare the white forces as
quickly as possible for the final attack, however much it costs.
Some sample lines:
A. 20... Ng4 21. Qg5+ and the loose knight on g4 falls.
B. 20... Nd5 21. Ng5 and with Bh7+ Re4 in the air, black will collapse
quickly.
C. 20... N8h7 21. Ng5 Nxg5 22. Qxg5+ Kf8 23. Qxf6 with a two pawn
advantage.
D. 20... N8h7 21. Ng5 Nf8 22. Re3 – 22. Qxf6 wins the piece back too - and
with Rg3 coming, black has little hope
E. 20... Qd8 which appears to put up the most resistance.
White annoyingly has the stunning 21. Ne5! As a beautiful way to continue
the attack. Re3/Rg3 is facilitated.
21... dxe5 22. Rxe5 N6h7 23. Bxh7 Nxh7 24. Rh5 Qf6 25. Qxh7+ Kf8
and it is seemingly all over with the white attack having ran out of
steam. White has, however, netted two pawns and can actually grab a third
on b7.
26. Re1 is essential to pin the e6-pawn, for after 26... Ke7 27. Qe4 will
pick up the b7-pawn.
27... Bc6 not possible due to 28. D5 and the e6-pawn is pinned.
This last variation is very difficult to conceive but the experience to
realise that the black king is so exposed affords white all the fun in
such an open position. Finding this optimal defence in such league short
time-controls is highly unlikely, so the probability factor to play into
such a variation favours white.
So, the text-move of 20... N6h7 is black’s second best response to fortify
the black king. To break this resistance somewhat goes against the grain
of continuing the attack and one that is not easy to initially to
appreciate. White must follow the attack up now very carefully, otherwise,
black can consolidate.}
21. Bxh7+
{A counter-intuitive way to continue the attack. However, there are two
elements to appreciate with this. The black knights are defending each
other and by doing so, are creating a barrier that is not breechable. By
snapping that bind, white loosens the sole remaining knight’s defensive
power. Also very importantly, is that black has the possibility of playing
f7-f5, thereby cutting out the power of the white light-squared bishop. If
it is to be cut out, then, why not trade it for a potential defender. The
thrust f7-f5 needs to be played to give the black queen access to the
defence of the second rank.}
21... Nxh7
22. Re4
{Naturally, white needs to bring the rook into the attack to finish off
proceedings. The rook lift is slightly complex though, for should it go to
e3 or e4, a challenging choice.
22. Re3 is certainly playable, but would inevitably lead to that scenario
where white has to snatch pawns for the sacrificed piece.
22... Qd8 is black’s best when the thematic
23. Ne5! Comes back into play.
23... Qf6 is the only move again for black to hold the position, when play
would go
24. Rg3+ Kh8 25. Qxf6+ Nxf6 26. Nxf7+ Kh7 27. Nxd6
with a lot of pawns for the bishop.
With Rg4+ coming, how does black now defend.}
22... Nf8
{Sadly, black capitulates very meekly, a sad reflection of the true
fascination of the complexity.
Here is the main variation that I had calculated when venturing out with
18. Nf5.
22...f5
23. Qg6+ - an important check to force the king onto the H-file.
23... Kh8 24. Rh4
pinning the knight and allowing a possible Qf6+ depriving a black rook
from reaching the g8 square
24.. .Bc6 25. Ng5 Re7
and here I reckoned that I could calmly play 26. Re1 and simply snaffle
the e6-pawn.
It is important to realise that 26... Rg8 is not possible due to
27. Qf6+ Reg7 28 Rxh7 mate!
So, yes, I had seen this position after move 26. Re1 and deemed it better
for white.
I also saw ideas of Rh6, Qf6+ with Rg6 and even Nxe6 captures, all of
which didn’t need calculation, but experience and intuition told that all
of these were possible when starting out on this attack.
A final thought on how black could have attempted to defend.
22... e5 23. Ng5 Bf5
[23... Nxg5 24. Qxg5+ Kf8 25. Rh4 f6 26. Qxf6+ Kg8 27. Rh8#)
24. Nxh7 Bxh7 25. Rg4+ Bg6 26. Rh4 and to avoid mate, black must move the
F-pawn, allowing white to regain the piece on g6 with check and have a
devastating attack against an exposed black king.
All of these variations just go to prove how ineffectual the black queen
is in defending along the second rank with the light-squared bishop
blocking her on d7!}
23. Rg4+ Ng6
{Again, if absolutely nothing else at all, white can capture on g6 and
gain a perpetual check.
However, annoyingly for black, there’s another subtle mate that he has not
foreseen, that being on h8!}
24. Nh4
{Simply removing the last defender around the black king. There’s no
salvation now.}
24... Bc6
{Sadly for black, 24... e5 to hit the rook doesn’t work, due to 25. Nxg6
Bxg4 26. Qh8 mate!
A neat twist to end the tale of a decisive and calmly calculated attack.}
25. Nxg6 1-0
Opening references
A.
9... e5 10. Na3 Bg4 11. Nb5 Qd7 12. d5 Nxd5 13. Bxh7+ Kxh7 14. Qxd5 a6 15.
Na3 Qf5 16. Re3 Qg6 17.
h3 Be6 18. Qd1 f5 19. Qc2 e4 20. Nd4 Nxd4 21. cxd4 f4 22. Re1 d5 23. f3
Rac8 24. Qf2
San Claudio Gonzalez,F (2245)-De la Villa Garcia,J (2450)/Spain 1990/EXT
1997/0-1})
Chris Ross
January 2019
