All,
Following this month's discussions on attacking chess, here is another
sparkling example of complex combinations.
In this encounter, white is an ECF graded 212 player, which is easily a ELO
2200+ standard. He is known for his extremely solid style and rarely loses.
Drawing him into complications certainly tested his resourcefulness and
here, he puts up a very valiant fight.
Enjoy!
[Event "Sheffield League Matches 2018-2019"]
[Site "Sheffield, ENG"]
[Date "2019.01.21"]
[Round "8.1"]
[White "Hackner, Oskar"]
[Black "Ross, Chris"]
[Result "0-1"]
[ECO "E70"]
[Annotator "Chris Ross"]
[PlyCount "100"]
[EventDate "2019.01.21"]
[WhiteTeam "SASCA"]
[BlackTeam "Darnall and Hansworth A"]
{E70: King's Indian Defence}
1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 g6
3. Nc3 Bg7
4. e4 d6
5. Bd3
{A curious side-line of the KID, but one that has not received a large
amount of popularity at the top level. White aims to avoid the main lines of
the KID and to steer the position into Bennoni-type structures.}
5... O-O
6. Nge2 Nc6
{6... c5 would only support white in his strategy of steering the game into
Bennoni setups. The text-move demonstrates that black wishes to remain with
his KID structure and strikes at the centre from afar. The most important
feature of 6. Nge2 is that the knight takes away the natural flight square
for the white light-squared bishop.
In that sense then, 7. D5 does not achieve anything as the black knight is
driven to e5, where it attacks the light-squared bishop, which cannot
retreat due to the loose nature of the c4-pawn.}
7. O-O Nh5
{A slightly surprising approach to the position, but this move has scored
best throughout the databases. Black attacks the d4-pawn, asking white to
make a decision on how to defend it. The text-move facilitates other black
pieces to begin merging on the white king-side and the attacking intent is
clearly displayed.}
8. Bc2
{8. Be3 has been seen through the databases, but has few positive results to
claim. The text-move removes the white light-squared bishop from the issue
of Ne5 by black, so d4-d5 is a definite possibility for him now. Black
cannot permit his E-pawn to become backward.}
8... e5
9. Be3 exd4
{Black exchanges to open up lines for his pieces. The Dragon bishop on g7 is
going to pay a significant role in the following complications. There are
similar lines in other side-lines of the KID, but in those lines, the white
light-squared bishop is on e2, performing an excellent defensive duty, both
defending c4 and critically, the g4-square. Here, black targets that lack of
support for both squares.}
10. Nxd4 Ne5
{A carefully calculated continuation. Although tempi is going to be expended
in this foray, black will create weaknesses that can be exploited in the
very near future. First, white must solve the undefended c4-pawn.}
11. b3
{A natural looking move, but one that is now fraught with much danger. The
Dragon bishop on g7 has suddenly become that more powerful. There are a lot
of undefended white pieces along the a1-h8 diagonal.
11. Bb3 might have been a necessary, if somewhat ugly, reply.}
11... Ng4
{Black must act quickly, otherwise, white can begin pushing the black forces
backward with f2-f4. Here, the white dark-squared bishop is targeted, but
importantly, the Dragon bishop is opened up. Tactics have to be carefully
calculated on both sides here.}
12. Bc1
{The only way in which white can maintain the dark-squared bishop. D2 is not
possible due to the knight on d4 hanging and the knight on h5 secures the
f4-square. This retreat makes the loose rook on a1 vulnerable.
Again, black must react quickly, otherwise the black knights are going to be
simply repelled.}
12... c5
{Again, black has to calculate carefully here. This pawn push dooms the
d6-pawn to a lost future. The text-move has the intension of opening up the
a1-h8 diagonal, but interestingly, it fights for the possession of the
d4-square. IF black can win this square, then, he would have a very
dominating central outpost.}
13. Nde2
{The only way in which the knight on c3 can be defended.
13. Ndb5 would win the d6-pawn, but lose the knight on c3.
13... a6 14. Nxd6 Bxc3 is simple.}
13... Qh4
{Once again, black rushes to bring every piece to bare on the white
king-side. Black must not rush though. Here is one complicated line.
13... Nxh2 14. Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Bg4
Which is the classical two-bishop attack on the connected knights and since
the knight on c3 is pinned against the rook, white must break the double
attack.
16. f3 Be5
Which seems quite devastating, until you see the desperate
17. Bg5 and with this cheap tactic, white just about survives.
The text-move aims to avoid such imbalanced lines and focuses energy in
creating a weakness.}
14. h3
{The only way in which the mate on h2 can be prevented.
14. Qxd6 is simply answered by 14... Be5 and h2 collapses.}
14... Ne5
{Not only retreating, but bringing the black light-squared bishop back into
contention.
Bxh3 with Nf3+ tactics are on the cards for black now. White again, has to
find a way to avoid such a crushing finish.}
15. f4
{Defending the f3-square by the rook. Moving the knight on e2 is not
possible, as it only has the g3-square, where black can simply win a pawn.}
15... Nc6
{The black queen's knight has returned to its original development point.
However, on its journey, it has forced an important anchor on h3. Having
done its duty in that regard, it now fights to conquer the d4-square. If
this knight is permitted to land on d4, Nxe2+ tactics will leave the pinned
knight on c3 tactically loose.}
16. Be3
{Fighting for the d4-square and re-developing the dark-squared bishop.
Although a noble endeavour, the loose nature of the white pieces demanded a
more meek reply.
16. Bd2 will defend all of his loose pieces and white can hope to survive.
16. Qxd6 is just too greedy and black would have a choice on how to exploit
advantages. Even 16... Ng3 with ideas of 17. Nxg3 Bxc3 are all possible.}
16... Bxh3!
{The commencement of the white demolition.
The queen's knight helpfully provided black an anchor on h3, so it is
dutifully destroyed. The stripping away of the white king's protection is
now inevitable.}
17. e5
{A resourceful attempt to hold the position. The idea is to block up the
a1-h8 diagonal and neutralise all the tactics. Sadly, this will only result
in some further aggressive rejoinders.
White cannot accept the offered bishop.
17. gxh3 Bxc3 deflects the white king's knight from the protection of g3.
18. Nxc3 Qg3+ 19. Kh1 Qxh3+ 20. Kg1 Qxe3+ followed by 21... Qxc3 and black
regains his material with pawns to boot.
Annoyingly for white too,
17. Bf2 is answered by 17... Qg4 and to avoid the mate 18. G3 is necessary,
but 18... Qf3 forces the mate on g2.}
17... Bxg2
{More of a psychological blow than absolute accuracy. Black could have
grabbed a couple of pawns for his material by the simple
17... dxe5 but the text-move causes more mental discomfort, as it is
apparent that the black attack is continuing.}
18. Kxg2 Qg4+
{The white king has had its pawn sheltered completely ripped away from him,
leaving him hopelessly exposed. The knight on h5 is doing a superb job
controlling all the important squares for the white forces, namely f4 and
g3. The loose nature of the bishop on e3 does not help white either, as
tactics have to be carefully calculated to avoid dropping it off with
check.}
19. Kh2
{Played in the hope that black would meekly perform a perpetual check on g4
and h4, a distinct possibility, were black not to have a strong
continuation.
19. Kh1 Qh3+ picks up the bishop on e3 as indicated.
19. Kf2 would force black to pick up pawns for his sacrificed bishop,
although once again, perpetual check can be achieved with 19... Qh4+ 20. Kf3
Qh3+ 21. Ke4 Qf5+ etc.
So, black would do best to play 19... dxe5 20. f5 e4! With Qf3+ and white
will find this very difficult to survive.
Black to play and hit white again with a devastating blow.}
19... Nxe5!
{Once again, completely demolishing the white pawn shelter and bringing the
queen's knight back to join in the fun. The white position is on the verge
of utter collapse now. It's credit to white that he manages to fight on, but
technique alone should convert this for black.}
20. Qe1
{Desperately attempting to liquidate the black attacking forces.
20. fxe5 Bxe5+ brings the Dragon bishop into the attack and white can only
give up further material to avoid getting mated.
21. Nf4 Qg3+ 22. Kh1 and black, having avoided the queen exchange, can
simply capture everything on f4.}
20... Nf3+
21. Rxf3 Qxf3
22. Qf2
{In his attempt to liquidate the black menacing pieces, white unfortunately
loses a fourth pawn. So, for the exchange of knight and bishop, black has
acquired a rook and four pawns, an overwhelming material gain.
22. Ng1 Qg4 23. Bd1 Qf5 kept the queens on the board and gave white some
fighting chances, but once the black rooks have emerged into the fray,
things should soon tell for him.}
22... Qxf2+
23. Bxf2 Nxf4
{Neatly exploiting the connecting defensive bind of the two white knights.}
24. Nxf4 Bxc3
25. Rd1
{White attempts to coordinate his remaining forces to exert pressure on the
black loose pawns. Some re-grouping is needed by black before he can
consolidate his material advantage.
25. Rg1 Be5 26. Bg3 Rab8 begins the process of forcing pawn breaks to create
open files for the black rooks.}
25... Be5
26. Bg3
{One of white's biggest pluses in the position is his possession of the
bishop pair. If these bishops can work in tandem with one another, it will
make black's task all that bit more challenging. Black would, of course,
like to exchange his own dark-squared bishop for his counterpart, thereby
breaking that strong potential bishop partnership.
26. Be3 f5 27. Kh3 Rae8 should be white's approach.}
26... Rfe8
{A more ponderous way to activate the rooks. Black could consider f7-f5 and
Rae8 as a possible way to begin expanding.
26... Rae8 27. Nd5 f5 for example.}
27. Kg2
{Putting the king on a light square, so that Bxg3+ is not a forced recapture
nor any tricks occurring on the h2-b8 diagonal.
27. Nd5 Rac8 achieves little for white.}
27... Rad8
{Playing it slow and offering defence to the d6-pawn.
27... Bxf4 28. Bxf4 Re2+ 29. Kg1 Rxc2
Would win an exchange and is probably the easier route to go, but white
would win the d6-pawn and c5 is left vulnerable and there could be tricks on
the black back-rank. The text-move is solid enough and gives white more to
consider.}
28. Rd2
{Defending against the aforementioned continuation.
28. Nd5 Rc8 would probably be best to stop Nc7 tricks.}
28... Kg7
{Removing the king of any potential forks with Nd5/NF6 and beginning the
very slow process of marching the passed king-side pawns. Pushing these are
inevitable, but caution must be taken as white is beginning to coordinate
his pieces.
28... f5 29. Nd5 Bxg3 30. Nf6+ Kf8 31. Kxg3 Re3+ 32. Kf2 is not quite what
black wants.}
29. Bd1
{Bringing the bishop around for defence, but also to pressurise the black
queen-side pawns. Black must be incredibly careful that his rooks don't
become entangled with one another. The two white bishops, plus the knight,
can begin to weave ensnaring webs around the rooks. Black needs to find a
good safety square for them both.
29. Kf3 f5 30. Bh4 Rd7
Is possible.}
29... Bd4
{Opening up the E-file for rook penetration, although this proves to be an
unnecessary option.
29... g5 30. Nd5 Bxg3 31. Kxg3 begins the process of pushing the pawns.}
30. Bf3 b6
31. Bc6
{Once again, white is putting up a lot of resistance. The white pieces are
attempting to entrap the rooks with one another. Black just about has enough
wriggle room to avoid this.}
31... Re7
32. Bh4 f6
33. Nd5 Rf7
{Abandoning the E-file, but finding a secure square for the rook. Being
behind the black pawn mass is no disaster though, for the rook will soon
support in their advancement.
33... Re6 34. Nc7 Re5 would be annoying for black.}
34. Re2
{Switching the rook's attention to the E-file himself, white releases the
pressure on the d6-pawn. However, black no longer needs the E-file and can
begin to push his pawns.}
34... g5
35. Bg3
{White could try to be cute here with
35. Be8 but this is simply answered by
35... Rxe8
[35... gxh4 36. Bxf7 Kxf7 37. Re7+ Kg6 38.
Rxa7 is not so good for black.]
36. Rxe8 gxh4 and although the black pawns are shattered, there are too many
of them.}
35... Be5
36. Kf3
{White tries to use his king as an offensive force. This is, however, soon
repelled and the black pawns begin their march.}
36... h5
37. Bxe5
{White had no other good squares for his dark-squared bishop, so he
exchanges it before tempi can be gained on it with h5-h4. This exchange
though irons out the black pawn structure and creates a bigger phalanx of
pawns.}
37... dxe5
38. Ke4
{White attempts to gain control of the f5-square and hinder the black pawns.
Black, naturally, cannot permit this.}
38... Kg6
39. Kf3
{Seeing that the white king cannot penetrate to f5, he meekly retreats and
allows the white rook to exert pressure on the e5-pawn. White should begin
to randomise the position now with something like 39. b4 in an attempt to
flummox black.}
39... f5
{Offering white the e5-pawn to hasten up the advance of the fellow pawns.
Their charge can't be halted.}
40. Rxe5 g4+
{More tedious would be
40... f4 41. Be8 Rxe8 42. Rxe8 g4+ 43. Kf2 f3 44. Rg8+ Kh7
When black has work still to do.}
41. Kg2 Kg5
42. Nc3
{White vacates the d5-square for his bishop. The knight also controls the e2
square were a black rook to enter onto the E-file, if the white rook goes
wandering for pawns on the queen-side. Ne4+ tactics are also on if black
foolishly plays Rf6 or even Rd6.}
42... h4
{Black should penetrate the D-file while he is able to.
42... Rd3 43. Ne2 h4 44. Kf2 is better for black.}
43. Bd5 Rff8
44. Re7
{White tries to generate some activity along the 7th rank and may even go
pawn-snatching on the queen-side. Sadly for him, he simply does not have
time even to do that. The pawns march relentlessly on.}
44... Rde8
{Challenging the E-file, but importantly controlling the e2-square,
preventing Ne2+. However, the biggest purpose of the move is to shield the
black king, as he will need a flight square on the E-file shortly.}
45. Rg7+ Kf4
{Using the king aggressively to support the pawns.
45... Kh6 46. Rd7 Re3 is also possible.}
46. Bc6
{46. Kf2 g3+ 47. Kf1 Ke3 permits the black king to penetrate deeper into
white's camp.}
46... h3+
47. Kh2
{Also pretty forcing is
47. Kf1 Re6 48. Bd5 Re3 49. Ne2+ Rxe2 50. Kxe2 Kg3
And the pawns push home.}
47... Rg8
{Challenging the white rook and gaining time to push the G-pawn. The threat
on the rook on e8 is completely irrelevant since white does not have time to
capture it.}
48. Nd5+ Ke5
{The only square for the king and hence, why a black rook was needed on the
E-file to shield him from a possible Re7+ check. Stepping onto f3 only
invited nasties with Nf6+ discoveries.}
49. Rh7
{There's nothing for white now. This last effort is met by a similar
resolution to pushing the G-pawn.}
49... g3+
50. Kg1
{50. Kxh3 g2 promotes the G-pawn.}
50... h2+
51. Kg2 Rh8
{And now the H-pawn must promote.
52. Rxh8 Rxh8 53. Kh1 g2+ and black promotes on h1 next move.
A demonstrative demolition of a king's protective shield with some neat
combinations to support the conquering of a very strong opponent.}
52. 0-1
Opening references
A.
12... Qf6 13. Nde2 Nxh2 14. Kxh2 Qh4+ 15. Kg1 Bg4 16. f3 Be5 17. Bg5 Qxg5
18. fxg4
Qe3+ 19. Rf2 Ng3 20. Qc1 Qc5 21. Nxg3 Bxg3 22. Qd2 c6 23. Rd1 Rad8 24. Kf1
Bxf2
25. Qxf2 Qg5 26. Qf3 Rfe8 27. g3
Cruz,C (2553)-Fernandez,F (2335)/Lima PER 2016/1-0 (57)}
Chris Ross
January 2019
