Jack
Taylor Memorial (2), 2003[Yip]
White
plays strongly against a Benko gambit and crowns his central pressure with a
queen sacrifice.
1.d4
Nf6 2.Nf3 c5 3.d5 b5 4.c4 g6 5.cxb5 a6 6.bxa6 Bxa6 7.Nc3 d6 8.e4 Bxf1 9.Kxf1 Bg7
10.g3 0–0 11.Kg2 Nbd7 12.h3 Qb6
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-trk+(
7+-+nzppvlp'
6-wq-zp-snp+&
5+-zpP+-+-%
4-+-+P+-+$
3+-sN-+NzPP#
2PzP-+-zPK+"
1tR-vLQ+-+R!
xabcdefghy
13.Re1
Rfb8 14.Re2 [14.e5?!
dxe5 15.Nxe5 Nxe5 16.Rxe5 Qb7!ƒ …¤d5] 14...Ne8 15.Bg5!?
XABCDEFGHY
8rtr-+n+k+(
7+-+nzppvlp'
6-wq-zp-+p+&
5+-zpP+-vL-%
4-+-+P+-+$
3+-sN-+NzPP#
2PzP-+RzPK+"
1tR-+Q+-+-!
xabcdefghy
White
plays an inconvenient move for black. The aim of this move is to provoke a
weakening pawn move by black. 15...Kf8 16.Rc1 Nc7 17.Rcc2!?
White
plays carefully to neutralize the pressure on b2 as well as prepare his
strategic goal of e4-e5. A superficial look at this position shows that white
has two passive rooks and black has two active rooks plus pressure on the a+b
files as compensation for the pawn sacrificed. However, black's activity is just
for show. [17.a4!? Qb4 (17...Na6 18.Nb5 Nb4 19.b3±) 18.e5 Re8 19.Bf4±]
17...Nb5
18.Nxb5 Qxb5 19.b3!± Now
it's clear that white has a large advantage. 19...Ra6 20.h4 White starts
the attack procedure on the kingside now that the queenside is secure. The best
black can do is triple on the a-file when white can defend by tripling on the
second rank. The problem with black's position is that his bishop does not have
a target to attack on the queenside making the queenside arrangement of the QRR
pointless. In the meantime, all white's pieces work well together, attacking and
defending at the same time.
20...Rba8
21.h5 Qb8 22.h6!± Now
black is short of squares for his king and the h-pawn is very close to queening
if nothing else. 22...Bf6 23.Bf4 Trading pieces would relieve the
pressure on black. 23...R8a7 24.Qd2 Qa8
25.b4!?
A
multi-purpose move. Black can allow the opening of the c-file lessen his control
over e5. White combines his strategic goal of playing e4-e5 with other threats
to improve his position. 25...cxb4 26.Qxb4 Nc5 This closes the c-file but
lessens black's hold on e5. [26...Ra4 27.Qb5 Qe8 28.Qc6 Ra8 29.e5±; 26...Rb6
27.Qd2] 27.Qd2 Ra3„
Black
tries to play actively and now has ...Rd3 in mind. 28.e5! [28.Be3! Rc7 (28...Nxe4
29.Qc1+-) 29.Qc1 Ra5 30.Bxc5 Raxc5 31.Rxc5 Rxc5 32.Rc2 Qa5 33.e5 Bh8 34.Qb1
Qc7 35.Rb2 Qd8 36.Rb8 Rc8 37.Rxc8 Qxc8 38.exd6 exd6 39.Qb6+- Qd7]
28...Rd3
Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8q+-+-mk-+(
7tr-+-zpp+p'
6-+-zp-vlpzP&
5+-snPzP-+-%
4-+-+-vL-+$
3+-+r+NzP-#
2P+RwQRzPK+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
29.exf6!
Strategically
consistent. 29...Qxd5 [29...Rxd2 is not much better. 30.Rcxd2 (30.fxe7+?
Rxe7 31.Rcxd2 Qa6=) 30...e5 31.dxe6 Nxe6 32.Bxd6+ Ke8 33.Bb4 g5 (33...Rd7?
Black has to watch out for queening combinations. 34.Rxe6+ fxe6 35.Rxd7
Kxd7 36.f7+-) 34.g4 Ra4 35.a3 Rxa3!? Nice try at a stalemate defence.
36.Rxe6+ fxe6 37.Bxa3 Qxa3 38.Nxg5 Qa5 39.f7+ Ke7 40.Rd7+ Kxd7 41.f8Q Qd5+
42.Kg3+-] 30.Qxd3! Qxd3 31.Rcd2 The key move. White wins an important
tempo before capturing on e7. 31...Qa6 32.fxe7+ Rxe7 33.Bxd6 Ne6 [33...Qxd6
34.Rxd6 Rxe2 35.Ng5+-] 34.Ng5! Ke8 35.Nxh7 Rb7 36.Nf6+ Kd8 37.h7 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-mk-+-+(
7+r+-+p+P'
6q+-vLnsNp+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+-+-+-+$
3+-+-+-zP-#
2P+-tRRzPK+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
The
little pawn has the last word. 1–0
LMH-Croatia
CC Exhibition, 2004 [Yip,Mike]
White
converts a RB-RB with an extra pawn but with opposite colored bishops.
Black helps matters by not arranging his pawns on the kingside to block
out the white bishop. The decisive factor was the cramping effect of the
advanced d-pawn and white's ability to use his king actively to support the
pawn. All of white's pieces cooperated well to support the goal of queening the
passed pawn.
1.d4
f5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 e6 4.c4 Be7 5.Nf3 d6 6.0–0 0–0 7.Nc3 Qe8 8.Re1 Nc6 [8...Qh5
9.e4 fxe4 10.Nxe4 Nxe4 11.Rxe4 Nc6 12.Bf4 Bf6 13.Qd2²] 9.e4 fxe4 10.Nxe4
Nxe4 11.Rxe4 Qh5
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+-trk+(
7zppzp-vl-zpp'
6-+nzpp+-+&
5+-+-+-+q%
4-+PzPR+-+$
3+-+-+NzP-#
2PzP-+-zPLzP"
1tR-vLQ+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
12.Bd2?
Weak
analysis. [¹12.Bf4 Bf6 (12...g5 13.Bxg5 Bxg5 14.Nxg5+-) 13.Qd2²] 12...e5
13.dxe5 dxe5 [Black can play more actively with 13...Bg4!? 14.Bf4! However this actively move demonstrates
that white is in control. 14...Qg6 (14...g5? 15.exd6 gxf4 (15...Bxd6 16.Qd5+
Kh8 17.Bxd6 Bxf3 18.Bxf8 Bxe4 19.Bxe4 Rxf8+-) 16.dxe7 Rfe8+-) 15.Re1 Rad8
16.exd6 Bxd6 17.Nh4 Qh5 18.Qd5+ Kh8 19.Qxh5 Bxh5 20.Bxd6 Rxd6 21.f4 Rd2 22.Bxc6
bxc6 23.Re7 Rfd8 24.Rxc7 Rxb2 25.Rxa7+-] 14.Nxe5 Qxd1+ 15.Rxd1 Nxe5 16.Rxe5
Bf6 17.Re2± Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8r+l+-trk+(
7zppzp-+-zpp'
6-+-+-vl-+&
5+-+-+-+-%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+-+-+-zP-#
2PzP-vLRzPLzP"
1+-+R+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
[17.Ree1+-
Bxb2 18.Bb4 Bg4 19.Bxf8 Bxd1 20.Bc5 Ba4 21.Rb1 Bc3 22.Bd5+ Kh8 23.Rxb7 c6 24.Be4
a5 25.Bd6 Bd4 26.Kg2 Kg8 27.c5] 17...Bg4 18.Bd5+ Kh8 19.f3 Bf5 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8r+-+-tr-mk(
7zppzp-+-zpp'
6-+-+-vl-+&
5+-+L+l+-%
4-+P+-+-+$
3+-+-+PzP-#
2PzP-vLR+-zP"
1+-+R+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
20.Bc1?!
Unnecessarily
passive. [¹20.Be3± c6 (20...Rae8 21.Bxb7) 21.Be4 Bxe4 22.fxe4 Rfe8
23.Bf4 It's not clear at all why I would miss seeing and playing this obvious
continuation.] 20...Rad8? [20...Rae8 21.Rxe8 Rxe8 22.Bxb7±] 21.g4! White
plays aggressively to limit the scope of black's active bishops. For the moment,
white is far from demonstrating that his extra pawn will win the game. 21...c6
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-tr-tr-mk(
7zpp+-+-zpp'
6-+p+-vl-+&
5+-+L+l+-%
4-+P+-+P+$
3+-+-+P+-#
2PzP-+R+-zP"
1+-vLR+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
22.g5?!
A
product of weak analysis skills. [22.gxf5! cxd5 23.cxd5 Rd7 24.Bf4+-] 22...cxd5
23.cxd5 Bxg5?! [¹23...h6! 24.gxf6 Rxf6±] 24.Bxg5 Rd7 25.Re3!? White
now proceeds with the technical phase by calmly eliminating all threats to his
position. First white takes his rooks the white squares. [25.h4!? h6 26.Be7 Rc8
27.Kf2] 25...h6 26.Bh4 Rc8 27.Rd2 Prophylaxis. Guarding the second rank
with a rook reduces counterplay. [27.Re2!?] 27...Rc2 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-mk(
7zpp+r+-zp-'
6-+-+-+-zp&
5+-+P+l+-%
4-+-+-+-vL$
3+-+-tRP+-#
2PzPrtR-+-zP"
1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
28.Ree2!
Again
white consistently guards the second rank. [28.Re8+?! Kh7 29.Rxc2 Bxc2 30.Rd8
Rxd8 31.Bxd8=] 28...Rxd2 29.Rxd2 Mission accomplished. The second rank is
secure and a pair of rooks has been traded off. Exchanging off a pair of rooks
reduces the counterplay chances of black. 29...Kg8 30.Kf2?!² White now
establishes his king in a dominating position. [30.Bf2 b6 (30...a6 31.Be3 g5
32.Kf2 Kf7±; 30...Be6 31.d6 Bxa2 32.Bxa7²) 31.Be3± XRd2; 30.b3 Be6 31.d6
Kf7±] 30...Kf7? [30...Be6!² 31.d6 Bxa2 32.Be7 Kf7 33.Ke3] 31.Ke3±
g6 32.Kd4 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7zpp+r+k+-'
6-+-+-+pzp&
5+-+P+l+-%
4-+-mK-+-vL$
3+-+-+P+-#
2PzP-tR-+-zP"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
32...h5?!
This
is a strategic blunder. Now the dark squares are weakened and white's bishop
controls d8. Everything is in place now for all white's pieces to support the
strategic goal of queening the pawn. [¹32...g5±] 33.Bg5 Bb1 34.a3 Ba2
35.Ke5 Using the king actively is a key part of endgame play. Here white is
consistently executing his strategic goal of queening the passed pawn. 35...Bb1
Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+-+(
7zpp+r+k+-'
6-+-+-+p+&
5+-+PmK-vLp%
4-+-+-+-+$
3zP-+-+P+-#
2-zP-tR-+-zP"
1+l+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
36.b3
Bf5 37.a4 White
cannot make any direct progress for now so he concentrates on getting useful
space. This serves to cramp black and eventually he will run out of pawns moves
and be forced to make concessions with his pieces. 37...Ke8 38.b4 [38.Re2!?]
38...Rc7 39.a5 Rc3?+- [39...Kd7 40.Be3 Rc3 41.Bxa7 Rxf3 42.h4+-] 40.Kd6!
White now enters decisively with this dominant king. 40...Rb3 41.Re2+! Checking
the king away prepares the pawns advance and allows the b4 pawn the protected
indirectly with a tactic. 41...Kf8 42.Kc7 Rxb4? [42...Rxb4 43.Be7+ Kf7
44.Bxb4 wins the rook.] 1–0
Sat
Fever (2), 2004
After
getting comfortable equality in the opening due to white's passive opening play
white opens up the position with 16.f4. However, this advance weakens e3. Black
misses a couple of chances to press the advantage (16..Nd5 and 18...Ne3) but
after 21.d4, black decides the game quickly with a few energetic moves.
1.c4
e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nc3 Nb6 6.Nf3 Nc6 7.0–0 Be7 8.d3 Be6 9.b3 A
bit passive. 9...f6 10.Bb2 0–0 11.Rc1 Qd7 12.Nd2 Nd4 13.Nce4 Rad8 14.Nc5
Bxc5 15.Rxc5 c6=
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-tr-trk+(
7zpp+q+-zpp'
6-snp+lzp-+&
5+-tR-zp-+-%
4-+-sn-+-+$
3+P+P+-zP-#
2PvL-sNPzPLzP"
1+-+Q+RmK-!
xabcdefghy
Black
has given up a bishop but this is of no consequence. For now, black has a strong
central knight and good control of the center. Both white's bishops have been
blunted by black's pawn chains. 16.f4!? Trying to open the position for
the bishops. 16...exf4?! A stereotyped decision. [Better is
16...Nd5µ And white has a problem covering e3.] 17.Rxf4 Nf5!? The
knight retreats to clear the central files for black's major pieces. 18.Qc2µ
Nd5?!³ Black keeps missing the best moves. [18...Ne3!µ] 19.Bxd5 cxd5 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-tr-trk+(
7zpp+q+-zpp'
6-+-+lzp-+&
5+-tRp+n+-%
4-+-+-tR-+$
3+P+P+-zP-#
2PvLQsNP+-zP"
1+-+-+-mK-!
xabcdefghy
20.Nf1?!
[20.Nf3
Covers d4 at least.] 20...Rc8 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+r+-trk+(
7zpp+q+-zpp'
6-+-+lzp-+&
5+-tRp+n+-%
4-+-+-tR-+$
3+P+P+-zP-#
2PvLQ+P+-zP"
1+-+-+NmK-!
xabcdefghy
21.d4
[21.e3
b6!? 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Qe2 Ne7µ] 21...b6! Kicks the rook so that black can
control the file. From here on, black makes active and energetic moves to finish
the game off quickly. 22.Rxc8 Rxc8 23.Qd2µ Nd6 24.Ne3 Ne4 25.Qb4 Bh3 Sealing
the king on the back rank and setting up mating threats. 26.Qe1 Qe6 27.Nf1
Rc2 28.Bc1–+ Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-+-+-+k+(
7zp-+-+-zpp'
6-zp-+qzp-+&
5+-+p+-+-%
4-+-zPntR-+$
3+P+-+-zPl#
2P+r+P+-zP"
1+-vL-wQNmK-!
xabcdefghy
28...Nc3
29.Bd2 Nxe2+ 30.Kf2 Nxf4 0–1
Jiang,L (1799) - Yip,M (2111) [C16]
Black makes a critical decision not to play sharply and keep the position closed against the promising Junior player Louis Jiang. I could have chosen the normal course of action and played a sharp Sicilian. But the flaw with this approach is that white in many lines can turn his brain off and play Be3, f3,Qd2 castle queenside and launch an attack. I wanted to make Louis think for himself much earlier and in general keep him from positions rich in tactics where his tendency for calculation would be well harnessed.
In
doing so, black oversteps the bounds of acceptable risk and allows a losing
position. White however was not up to the task on consolidating an extra
exchange and allowed black to gain counterplay and eventually win the game.
1.e4
e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 Qd7!? This is a rare system that
Petrosian,T and Andersson like to use. Black is willing to defend passively for
a long time for long-term prospects.
5.f4?!
Strategically
dubious. White voluntarily entombs his ¥c1. Black needs to be able to exploit
this type of positional liberty accurately in a closed position. However this
was the first sign that my opponent did not really understand what was needed in
this type of position.
A.
5.Qg4
This is a more normal continuation. 5...f5 6.Qg3 (6.exf6 Nxf6) 6...b6
7.h4 Bb7!? 8.Bd3!? Nc6 9.Nge2 (9.Nf3 0–0–0 10.Bd2) 9...0–0–0 This
is the type of position I had in mind (Yip) 10.Bd2 Nh6! 11.a3?! (11.0–0–0!?;
¹11.Bxh6! gxh6 12.Qe3 …g3,¤f4 Keres) 11...Be7! 12.Bb5 (12.Qxg7?
Ng4) 12...Rdg8 13.Qd3 Nf7 14.0–0–0 Kb8! 15.Nf4 Qc8! 16.Nce2 Ncd8!ƒ
17.Qb3?µ Losing a pawn (17.c3 c5 18.Kb1µ Clarke) 17...c6! 18.Bd3
c5 19.dxc5 Bxc5µ 20.Nh3 Nxe5 21.Bf4 Ndf7 22.Bb5 (22.Ng5 Bd6; 22.Qc3 Bd6) 22...Ka8
23.Nd4 Ng6 24.Qa4 Bxd4 25.Bd7 Qf8 26.Rxd4 e5! 27.Rb4 (27.Rxd5 Nxf4!; 27.Bc6
Qc8) 27...exf4 28.Rxb6 Nfe5 29.Rxb7 Kxb7 30.h5 Qd6 31.hxg6 Qxd7 32.Qxf4 Nxg6
0–1 Olafsson,F-Petrosian,T/Bled 1961/MCL/[Bulletin] (32);
B.
5.Nge2!?
b6 6.a3 Bxc3+ 7.Nxc3 Ne7 8.b4 Highly committal. 8...0–0 9.Bd3 c5 10.0–0 Nbc6
11.dxc5 bxc5 12.bxc5 Nxe5 13.Bxh7+ Starting an attack that will be snuffed out
by a defensive exchange sacrifice. 13...Kxh7 14.Qh5+ Kg8 15.Qxe5 f6 16.Qe2 Rb8
17.a4 Rb4 18.Rd1 Qc6 19.Nb5 Ba6 20.Qe1 Re4 21.Qa5 Rb8 22.Rb1 Ra8 23.c3 Qc8 24.c4
Nc6 25.Qd2 Rxc4 26.Nd6 Qd7 Black dumps an exchange and takes over the game.
27.Nxc4 Bxc4 28.Qf4 d4 29.Qd6 Rd8 30.Qxd7 Rxd7 31.f3 e5© 32.g4 Be2 33.Re1 Bxf3
34.h3 Kf7 35.Kf2 Bd5 36.Bd2 g5 37.a5 e4 38.a6 Ne5 39.Kg3 Nd3 40.Red1 Nxc5 41.Bb4
Ne6 42.Rbc1 0–1 Sakharov,Y-Petrosian,T/Tbilisi 1956/EXT 99 (42)
5...b6
6.Nf3
A.
6.Be3
Ba6 7.Bxa6 Nxa6 8.Qd3 Nb8 9.Nge2!? Preventing the traditional doubling of the
c-pawns. 9...Ne7 10.a3 Bxc3+ 11.Nxc3 Nbc6 12.0–0 f5 Normal blockading play.
13.b4 Nd8 14.a4 Nb7 15.Qa6 c6 16.Ra3 0–0 17.h4 Rfc8 18.Rf3 c5 19.bxc5 bxc5
20.Rb3 Rcb8 21.Rf1 cxd4 22.Bxd4 Nc6 23.Bf2 Nba5³ 0–1 Ristic,S-Voigt,M/Hamburg
1993/EXT 97 (58);
B.
6.a3
Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Ba6 8.Bxa6 Nxa6 9.Qd3 Nb8 10.g4 h5! A thematic challenge. 11.Qh3 g6
12.Ne2 Qa4 13.Kd1 Nh6 14.gxh5 Nf5 15.Ng3 Nxg3 16.hxg3 Rxh5 17.Qg2 Rxh1+ 18.Qxh1³
0–1 Bouwens,H-Timmer,R/Haarlem 1994/EXT 99 (33)
6...Bb7!?
Electing to keep the tension by not trying for ..Ba6 and a bishop trade.
[6...Ne7 7.a3 Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ba6!?
Leaving white with a "bad" ¥. 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.a4 Nb8 11.0–0 Nbc6
12.Nd2 Na5 13.Qf3 Rc8 14.Ba3 c5 15.dxc5 bxc5= 0–1 Gunnarsson,G-Antoshin,V/Reykjavik
1976/EXT 98 (62)]
7.a3
Bxc3+ 8.bxc3 Ne7 9.Bd3 Nbc6 10.0–0 0–0–0 11.Be3 Nf5 12.Bf2 h5 13.Re1 g6?!
This removes all dynamism from the
kingside based on ..f6 and gives up on the dark squares. However, black wants to
secure the ¤f5. This is a highly risky decision.
[More
to the point is 13...Nce7!? 14.c4
dxc4 15.Bxc4= The result is an open position and white has a clear plan of ¥
moves, c4+d5. 15...Ng6!? And now white is suffering from black's piece pressure.
16.a4 (16.g3?! Qc6!³) 16...Nxf4 17.a5 Kb8 18.axb6 cxb6 19.Ba6 Ba8 20.c4©
Despite his pawn minus, white has established a dynamic equilibrium
with piece pressure against black’s king and the potential central break
d4-d4.]
XABCDEFGHY
8lmk-tr-+-tr(
7zp-+q+pzp-'
6Lzp-+p+-+&
5+-+-zPn+p%
4-+PzP-sn-+$
3+-+-+N+-#
2-+-+-vLPzP"
1tR-+QtR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
Analysis Diagram.
14.Qe2
Na5 15.Nd2
The start of
an erroneous regrouping. All the defects in black’s pawn structure are on the
kingside so the knight should be on the kingside. In the maneuvering part of the
game where understanding the needs of the position are more important than brute
force tactical calculation, my opponent starts to falter. However, black is also
not conducting the game flawlessly either.
15...Qe7!?
16.Nb3
This
seems to misplace the knight more than anything. Curiously, this becomes
white’s most unproductive piece until the end of the game. Black arranges his
pawns so as to take away important squares from the knight.
16...Nc6
17.a4 a5!
Black
has to seal the queenside. Black uses the same type of play on the queenside
that are common in some lines of the Nimzo-Indian defence. Here a wide range of
experience in other openings is helping black find his way in an otherwise
unfamiliar opening. Black also fixes the a-pawn in place for the ending and just
by luck this plays a very important role in the eventual endgame conversion
phase for black.
18.Qd2
h4
My
general approach was to try to give White hard decisions during the game and
give him lots of things to think about. Here white has to address what to do
about the further threatened advance of the h-pawn.
19.h3
White further compromises
his pawn structure on the kingside. The black pawn plays a role in fixing
white’s expansion on the kingside but can also be a liability in the endgame.
In any event, black is willing a take a middlegame risk in order to generate
chances on the kingside.
XABCDEFGHY
8-+ktr-+-tr(
7+lzp-wqp+-'
6-zpn+p+p+&
5zp-+pzPn+-%
4P+-zP-zP-zp$
3+NzPL+-+P#
2-+PwQ-vLP+"
1tR-+-tR-mK-!
xabcdefghy
19...Rhg8?!
Wrong
rook. I didn't want to take the pressure of the d‘ and allow central play with
c3-c4. However, my fears were groundless.
[19...Rdg8!?
20.c4 dxc4 21.Bxc4 g5 22.d5 Nb4³ Some simple calculation would have revealed
that c3-c4 was a bluff and not a useful way for white to play.]
There
are two main battle plans in this position
Each side must make moves
that further their own plan while at the same time preventing the opponent’s
plans. Here, black is fully conscious of c3-c4 and plays to maintain the
pressure on the d-file to hold white up. However, inexact calculation leads to
an inappropriate allocation of force to do this job. This underscores the role
of calculation in support of strategic goals.
20.Kh2
g5?! Now
black is committed to blundering an exchange. 21.Bxf5 exf5 22.fxg5 Rxg5?+-
I was considering this exchange sacrifice before but did not realize it was just a blunder. Now again we see how poor calculation can affect the course of a game. Black is lulled into a losing course of action because the inability to make a long range calculation at the appropriate time.
23.Bxh4
Rxg2+ 24.Qxg2 Qxh4
The
game has been reduced to a consolidation exercise for white. His ¢ is slightly
exposed and he has to control the passed f§. This means he has to find moves
that control h3 and f4 is the most economic manner. It
is clear that black must play the role of defender. The most important thing for
black to do is keep calm and make the job as hard as possible for white.
A
deeper look at black’s position reveals some defensive resources that should
be maximized.
25.Qg3
[25.Rg1
Rh8 26.Raf1 Ne7 27.Qg3 Qh6 28.Rf3+-] 25...Qh6!?
Prophylactic
play. Black aims to stop ¤d2, re-activating the misplaced ¤. Small
details are very important in this position. Black, in formulating his plays
asks himself “what is white’s worst piece and how should he improve its
position?” The answer is the sickly knight on b3 which needs to be re-routed
back into the game via d2.
26.Rf1
Ne7 27.Rae1 Kb8 28.Qf4 Qh5 Of course a £-trade is out of the question. 29.Rg1
Rh8 30.Qg3?!
An
inaccuracy. White is not alert to the defensive resources of black’s position
and allows unnecessary counterplay. Even though black has been miscalculating,
he is not the only one making mistakes.[¹30.Re3 Ng6 31.Qg5+- Forces the
queens off and white wins easily.]
30...Bc8!©
Now
black has somewhat justified his exchange blunder. Within the span of a few
moves, black is now back in the game.
31.h4!?
An expected turn of
events has happened. White has gone from winning with a clear exchange advantage
to a defender holding off black’s tactical compensation. It is often difficult
to adjust to change in roles and this may lead to additional mistakes. White
saves himself for the moment after a long think. However, he has a better try.
[¹31.Re3!
f4 32.Qxf4 Bxh3 33.Rg5 Qh7 34.Kg1 Bf5 35.Kf1
XABCDEFGHY
8-mk-+-+-tr(
7+-zp-snp+q'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5zp-+pzPltR-%
4P+-zP-wQ-+$
3+NzP-tR-+-#
2-+P+-+-+"
1+-+-+K+-!
xabcdefghy
Analysis Diagram.
Despite
the open nature of the white ¢, there is no clear way for black to get at it.
35...Be4 (35...Bxc2 36.Nd2 Bg6=) 36.Nd2 Bxc2 37.Qf6 Ng6 38.Nf3 and white
is starting to unravel.]
31...Ng6µ
I did not think the game would last much longer. 32.Kg2 f4 33.Qd3
XABCDEFGHY
8-mkl+-+-tr(
7+-zp-+p+-'
6-zp-+-+n+&
5zp-+pzP-+q%
4P+-zP-zp-zP$
3+NzPQ+-+-#
2-+P+-+K+"
1+-+-tR-tR-!
xabcdefghy
33...Nxh4+?³
Sloppy
tactics. Chopping a pawn with check and attack seemed like the right thing to do
but I should have looked harder. Here I was over confident and overlooked a
stronger non-checking move.
[Better
was 33...Bf5!–+ Driving the £ from the third rank is key to helping the
attack. 34.Qd1 Qxh4. After the game Louis confidently pointed out this better
move. Now white has a chance to breath.
XABCDEFGHY
8-mk-+-+-tr(
7+-zp-+p+-'
6-zp-+-+n+&
5zp-+pzPl+-%
4P+-zP-zp-wq$
3+NzP-+-+-#
2-+P+-+K+"
1+-+QtR-tR-!
xabcdefghy
34.Kf2
Bf5 One move too late. 35.Qe2 Qh6?
Again,
sloppy tactics in the conduct of an attack.
[¹35...f3!
I was reluctant to play this move but a deep calculation here to move 40 would
have alleviated my fears. 36.Qa6? This was what I was trying to avoid but it
turns out that this is just a bluff as black breaks through first with mating
attack. (36.Qd2 is not much better. 36...Ng2 37.Rh1 Bh3 38.Rd1 Rg8 Slowly
building up. White is helpless. 39.Qd3? Qh4+ 40.Kxf3 Bg4+ 41.Kxg2 Be2+ 42.Qg6
Rxg6#) 36...Ng2!? (This would have been hard to see) 37.Nxa5?
XABCDEFGHY
8-mk-+-+-tr(
7+-zp-+p+-'
6Qzp-+-+-+&
5sN-+pzPl+q%
4P+-zP-+-+$
3+-zP-+p+-#
2-+P+-mKn+"
1+-+-tR-tR-!
xabcdefghy
.
37...Qh4+
In hindsight I would have been hard pressed to find his move during the game
38.Kxf3 Bg4+ 39.Kxg2 Qh3+ 40.Kf2 Qf3#]
36.Qd2
White has a bad position.
[White
can try 36.c4!? dxc4 37.Qxc4 Nf3(!) 38.Kxf3 Qh5+! And now white is lost
XABCDEFGHY
8-mk-+-+-tr(
7+-zp-+p+-'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5zp-+-zPl+q%
4P+QzP-zp-+$
3+N+-+K+-#
2-+P+-+-+"
1+-+-tR-tR-!
xabcdefghy
Analysis Diagram.
39.Kf2
(39.Kxf4? Mate in 10!. 39...Qh2+ 40.Kxf5 (40.Rg3 Qf2+ 41.Rf3 Rh4+ 42.Kg5 Qg2+
43.Rg3 Qxg3+ 44.Kf6 Rh6+ 45.Ke7 Qg5+ 46.Ke8 Rh8+ 47.Kxf7 Rh7+ 48.Ke8 Qe7#) 40...Qf2+
41.Ke4 Rh4+ 42.Kd3 (42.Kd5 Qf3+ 43.Re4 Qxe4#) 42...Rh3+ 43.Rg3 (43.Ke4
Qf3#) 43...Rxg3+ 44.Re3 Rxe3#) 39...Qh2+ 40.Rg2 Qh4+ The king is in a
precarious position. 41.Kf1 (41.Ke2 f3+ 42.Kxf3 Qxe1µ 43.Qe2 Qc3+ 44.Kf4 Bh3
45.Rf2 (45.Rg3? Rh4+ 46.Qg4) 45...Rh4+ Mate in 7.) 41...f3–+ I
don’t think I would have been able to see this during the game.]
36...Be4–+
37.Rh1 Bxh1 38.Rxh1 Qg5! Now its over. …£g2. 39.Rg1 [39.Kf1 Qg4
40.Qe2 f3 41.Qf2 Qg2+ 42.Qxg2 fxg2+; 39.Rf1 Qg2+ 40.Ke1 Nf3+ 41.Rxf3 Rh1+ 42.Rf1
Qxf1#; 39.Qe2 Qg2+ 40.Ke1 Nf3+ 41.Qxf3 Rxh1+] 39...Qxg1+ 40.Kxg1 Nf3+ 41.Kg2
Nxd2 42.Nxd2 Rg8+ 43.Kf2 Rg3 44.Nf3 Diagram
XABCDEFGHY
8-mk-+-+-+(
7+-zp-+p+-'
6-zp-+-+-+&
5zp-+pzP-+-%
4P+-zP-zp-+$
3+-zP-+Ntr-#
2-+P+-mK-+"
1+-+-+-+-!
xabcdefghy
44...Kc8
[¹44...Rxf3+
Of course this will do the job but why not centralize the ¢ first as white is
really just helpless. 45.Kxf3 b5–+] 45.Ke2 Kd7 46.Kf2 Ke6 47.Ke2 Rxf3! Transposing
down to a won pawn ending. 48.Kxf3
b5 And now the thematic breakthrough decides. [48...Kf5–+ also wins easily
of course.] 49.axb5 a4 0–1 An interesting fighting game with errors on
both sides.
Summary:
This was essentially an unprepared line where black took some risks to get winning changes.
It
is clear that
1.
The opening was played badly. See the additional games for major themes
2.
Black made some dubious decisions that were based on superficial
calculation (the exchange sacrifice for one)
3.
During the conduct of the sharp exchange down attack black also made poor
decisions (move 33 and 35) based on poor calculating ability.
4.
The technical ending R v N was well played. Black showed good technique
when the endgame presented itself.