Opening Index...
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Alekhine's Defence
Benoni Defence
Bogo-Indian Defence
Budapest Gambit
Caro Kann Defence
Clarendon Court Defence
English Opening
French Defence
Irregular Opening
King's Gambit
King's Indian Attack
King's Indian Defence
Nimzovitch-Larsen Attack
Queen's Gambit
Ruy Lopez
Scandinavian Defence
Sicilian Defence
Sokolsky-Orangutan Opening
Alekhine's Defence
Kirby - McKay: Alekhine's Defence, B04
Coppin - McKay: Alekhine's Defence, B04
Coppin - McKay: Alekhine's Defence, B04 [Best Game Prize]
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Patrick Kirby
BLACK: Geoff McKay
EVENT: Kingston Whig-Standard Open 2001
OPENING: Alekhine's Defence B04
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.c4 Nb6 4.d4 d6 5.exd6 cxd6 6.Nf3 g6 7.Be3 Bg7 8.Nbd2 Nc6?!
[I 'invented' the plan of Be3 and Nbd2 for this game. I think it is quite logical since the Knight supports f3 and c4. 8... 0-0 9.Rc1 e5 (9... Bg4 10.Qb3 is also interesting.) 10.Be2 f5 11.Bg5 Qe8 12.c5 Is one of the positions I had on the board prior to the game. 10... f5 may be a bit extreme, but I think 9... e5 is where Black should start looking, if he is expecting to play me in a future tournament.]
9.d5 Ne5 10.Nxe5 Bxe5
[10... dxe5 Is playable too. But this is not the way to defend the integrity of your favourite opening... 11.Qb3 Bf5 12.Be2]
11.Qb3 ...
[White is definitely slightly better here. Black has no active plan. On the other hand, it is also hard to see a plan for White. Okay, Be2, Rc1, 0-0, but where's the checkmate?]
11... 0-0 12.Bd3!? ...
[The correct move. But I forgot about Black's reply, so it was giving me headaches before I noticed 13.Bc2 and 14.a4! (12.Be2 with the following possibilities. 12...Bf5 ((12...e6 13.0-0 exd5 14.cxd5 Qf6 15.Bxb6 axb6 16.Nc4)) 13.Nf3 Bg7 14.0-0 Nd7 15.Nd4 Nc5 16.Qd1 Bd7 17.b4 Ne4 18.Rc1 e5 19.dxe6 fxe6 20.Bf3 Nf6 21.Qd2 e5 22.Nb3)]
12... Nd7
[12...e6 This move weakens the d6-pawn. 13.0-0 exd5 14.cxd5 Qf6 15.Rae1!? Bf5 (15...Bxb2 16.Ne4 Qg7 17.Nxd6) 16.Bxf5 Qxf5 17.Bxb6 axb6 18.Nc4]
13.Bc2 f5?!
[This doesn't deserve the dubious sign -- it's as good as anything else. But Qa5 looked scarier to me. (13...Qa5 14.a4! Nc5 15.Qa3)]
14.f4 ...
[A mechanical move. Even though this probably keeps a slight edge anyway, it should not be played. No master should play this way, look at the Be3. (14.Bh6 Rf7 15.0-0 Nc5 16.Qa3 And White has a fine position.; 14.Nf3 f4 15.Bd2 Nc5 16.Qa3 Bg7 17.Bc3 Is also pleasant for White.)]
14...Bg7 15.0-0 Nc5 16.Qa3 e6 17.Rad1?! ...
[The rook ends up not doing much on d1. (17.Rae1; 17.Rac1 In either case, White has a slightly better version of the game continuation.)]
17... exd5 18.cxd5 Re8 19.Rfe1 Bd7 20.b4 Ne4 21.Nxe4 fxe4
[The position has become roughly equal. You might say that White is better, because of the pawn on e4, but there is no way to win this pawn.]
22.Bf2 Bf5 23.Ba4 Re7 24.h3 h5 25.Rc1 a6 26.Kh2 Bf6 27.Bc2 Rc8 28.Bb1 Kf7 29.Qb3 Qe8 30.Qe3 Rec7 31.Rxc7+ Rxc7 32.Qb6 ...
[32.Bxe4 Bxe4 33.Qxe4 Qxe4 34.Rxe4 Rc2 is no worse for Black.]
32... Re7 33.Bd4?! ...
[If White is trying to win, why not snatch a pawn? 33.Qxd6 e3 34.Bxf5 gxf5 35.Bg1 Of course, it's just a mess, any result is possible, but White DOES have an extra pawn.]
33... Qh8 34.Be3 Rd7 35.Bc2 Bd8 36.Qd4 Qxd4 37.Bxd4 Rc7 38.Bb3 Bf6 39.Bxf6 Kxf6
40.Re3?! ...
[White is getting into trouble. 40.g4 hxg4 41.hxg4 Bxg4 42.Rxe4 And it is hard to imagine any result but a draw.]
40... h4 41.Kg1? ...
[Now the game is over. I didn't sense any danger at all. (41.g4)]
41... g5 42.fxg5+ Kxg5 43.Kf2 Kf4 44.g4 hxg3+ 45.Rxg3 Rc1 46.Rg7 e3+ 47.Ke2 Rh1 48.Rf7 Rh2+ 49.Kf1 e2+ 50.Ke1 Ke3 0-1
[Notes: P. KIRBY]
WHITE: Wayne Coppin
BLACK: Geoff McKay
EVENT: Kingston Club Championship 2001
OPENING: Alekhine's Defence, B04
1.e4 Nf6
It is easy to prepare for Geoff. He almost always plays the Alekhine's. The bad news for his opponents is that he knows it inside and out.
2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 Nb6 6.Bb3 Bg7 7.Qe2 Nc6 8.0-0 0-0
Now that Black has castled, he threatens 9...,Bg4
9.h3 de 10.de Nd4 11.Nxd4 Qxd4 12.Re1 a5 13.a4 Be6!?
Up to White's 13th we have been following Short-Timman, Tilburg 1991. In that game Timman met White's strong threat to push the e-pawn by playing 13...,e6. However that move weakens the dark squares. Short won with a direct mating attack. Geoff chooses the other reasonable way to prevent 14.e6!
14.Bxe6 fe 15.Nd2 Rf5?!
Black disconnects his Rooks in order to consistently hammer on White's restricting e5 pawn. As a result, White is able to play to take control of the d-file. Black gets no effective play on the f-file and, as we will soon see, White can hold the e-pawn.
16.Nf3 Qc4 17.Qd1 ...
If the Rf5 was still on f8, White would almost be forced to swap the Ladies, leaving the e5 pawn undefendable, because Qd1 could be met strongly by Rad8. Instead, White begins to increase his control of the board while finding tactical resources to defend the mighty pawn on e5.
17... Raf8 18.b3 Qd5 19.Be3! ...
Black cannot swap Queens with White prepared to chop the Nb6 and plant a Rook on d7. Once the minor pieces are gone, even pawn down endings are easily won for White.
19... Nd7
Grabbing the pawn is not a good idea here: 19... Bxe5? 20.c4!, Qxd1 21.Raxd1,Bc3 22.Re2,c5 23.Rd3,Bg7 24.Bd2+/- illustrates Black's difficulties. Instead, Geoff continues to lean on e5.
20.Bd4 ...
Black still dares not scoop the button: 20...,Bxe5 21.Bxe5,Nxe5 22.Qxd5,Nf3+ 23.Qxf3,Rxf3 24.gf with advantage or 20...,Nxe5 21.Bxe5,Bxe5 22.Qxd5,Bxa1 (22...,Bh2+ 23.Kxh2,ed 24.Rxe7) 23.Qxe6+ also winning.
20... Rd8?
Running short of time (30/90), Black hopes to contest the critical d-file. Instead, he is victimized by a nasty pin.
21.c4 Qc6 22.Bc3 Qb6 23.Re3 c5 24.Rd3 Qc7 25.Qe2 ...
The e5 pawn still continues to lead a charmed life, so Black seizes his chance to escape the pin. However White has gained considerably in the position by securing uncontested control of the only open file.
25... Ra8 26.Rad1 Nf8
Black's "Alekhine's Knight" has toured from one side of the board to the other and back seeking a good square. The Critter is destined to rest on f8 for the remainder of the game.
27.Qe3! g5 28.g4 Rxf3
The alternative was just as hopeless: 28...,Rf7 29.Nxg5,Bh6 30.Nxe6,Bxe3 31.Nxc7,Bxf2+ 32.Qg2,Rc8 33.e6,Rf4 34.Be5+/-
29.Qxf3 Bxe5
Finally, Black succeeds in collecting the e-pawn but the price has been too high.
30.Bxe5 Qxe5 31.Qxb7 Rb8 32.Qxe7 1-0
White threatens Re3 and Black is helpless.
[Notes: W. Coppin]
WHITE: Wayne Coppin
BLACK: Geoff McKay
EVENT: Whig-Standard Open Swiss (5)
OPENING: Alekhine's Defence, B04
Often when we are reviewing the notes of the winner to game of chess, we are left with the impression that it was all inevitable. This is an illusion more often than not. The reality is that chess is an imperfect human struggle as Lasker has noted. Fortunes change throughout the course of a game and victory usually goes to the player making the second last mistake. This game is a great illustration.
1.e4 Nf6 2.e5 Nd5 3.d4 d6 4.Nf3 g6 5.Bc4 c6
For the main alternative, 5...,Nb6, see the previous Coppin-McKay game annotated in this section. Since Geoff had also tried this idea in a meaningless game last year (agreed drawn after some fireworks fun), I was more or less expecting it.
6.h3 Bg7 7.0-0 0-0 8.a4 ...
I am not sure about this natural looking move. Probably better is 8.exd6,Qxd6 9.Nc3,Nxc3 10.bxc3 and Black will have a much more difficult time finding a safe haven for the Bc8. So why, you might ask, did I not have something specific prepared for this game? Two reasons- first of all, I don't prepare specific opening moves but instead seek general ideas that offer promising middlegame chances and secondly, I was house sitting that week for a friend and did not have access to my computer!
8... Be6 9.Bb3 ...
Again- 9.exd6 seems more rational. White's plan to play c4 will leave b3 ripe for exploitation.
9... dxe5 10.Nxe5 ...
10.dxe5 allows Black to pile up on the e-pawn.
10... Nd7 11.c4?! ...
This may or may not be an outright error. The saner plan was to swap Knights, play c3 and hunker down for a long even game. The text is simply asking for trouble. Geoff soon obliges.
11... N5b6 12.Qe2?! ...
For better or worse, White probably should have tried the more consistent 12.d5!? here. The complications would be enormous with both sides walking the edge between winning and losing. An example- 12.d5!?,Nxe5 13.dxe6,Qxd1 14.exf7+, Rxf7 15.Rxd1 when Black cannot grab the c-pawn with either Knight. In any case, the game would be decidedly unclear. After the text, Black has a clear plan to win material by exploiting the weakened b3.
12... Nxe5 13.dxe5 Nd7 14.f4 Qb6+
Exploiting b3 as indicated. Now my brain finally kicked into gear and play becomes quite trappy.
15.Qe3 Nc5 16.Rf3! ...
Sac'ing the a-pawn was the main alternative with reasonable play after 16.Ba2,Nxa4 17.b3 etc. However White could not realistically expect more than a draw after a long defence. Embarrased by my own previously weak play, I played the text in an attempt to actually create winning chances! OK, a note of caution- Don't try this at home, kids. :-) While one should not make a habit of handing very strong players an advantage in the opening, this game certainly illustrates that opening preparation tends to be overrated by club strength players. Now the middlegame fight that Lasker was talking about really begins.
16... Nxb3 17.Qxb6 axb6 18.Rxb3 b5 19.Nd2 Rfb8
Clearly 19...,bxc4 (or 19...,bxa4) 20.Rxb7 favours White.
20.Rb4 bxc4 21.Ne4! ...
Clearly 21.Nxc4?,c5 is losing however now White has reasonable compensation for the pawn. eg: 21...,Bd5 22.Nc5 followed by Nc5-d7-b6, Ra3 and Be3 in any appropriate order. Black thinks he sees a better way and prevents Nc5 first.
21... b6
In chess, as in life, nothing is ever entirely free. Black has alertly exploited White's dubious opening play and been rewarded with an extra pawn. However, While Black was harvesting that pawn, White was improving his development. Now b6 is a target to exploit.
22.a5 ...
Both players admitted after the game to having no idea how to accurately assess this position. Now 22...,b5 frees up c5 and gives White a solid passed pawn. But is it winning? Who knows?! The problem of the trapped Rook can be solved by a later b3. Rather than struggle with the positional problems posed by such an unclear line, and probably mesmerized by the apparently trapped Rook, Black moves quickly and falls for a particularly nasty trap. The use of "psychology" is a weapon in every experienced tournament player's repetoire.
22... c5
Now 23.Rb5,Bd5 24.Nc3,Bc6 or 23.Ra4,b5 is What Black was probably expecting... winning in either case. However there is a third option.
23.Rxb6! ...
Such are the capricious fortunes of war! White offers a Rook and Bishop but they cannot be taken: 23...,Rxb6 24.axb6! Rxa1 25.b7! and White Queens. Note that White has Ng5 in reply to Black's otherwise winning ...,Bh6. While Black will have just about material equality, the discoordinated pieces, exposed King and weak pawns all offer reasonable winning chances while virtually ensuring at least a draw. Due to the tournament situation, Black must play for a win so Geoff is forced to decline the offer. Now before the enthusiastic crank up their Fritz or Chessmaster seeking some objective assessment of the sacrifice, I remind everyone that a tournament hall, with the clock ticking, is not the comfort of your study. Just as the late World Champion M. Tal used to play for messy (and occasionaly unsound) positions, I too could care less if my opponent "wins" the post mortem. Black "won" the opening, but the middlegame and ending are not yet so clearly decided. This fight is going to be decided over the board and apparently the ghost of Lasker was whispering in my ear.
23... Bd5 24.Rxb8+ Rxb8 25.Nc3 ...
Obviously White now has an advantage due to the passed pawn but the position is EXTREMELY delicate. The superficially attractive 25.Nxc5 would actually help Black by freeing the trapped Bg7 after 25...,e6 followed by ...,Bf8.
25... Bc6 26.a6 ...
Passed pawns must be pushed goes the convential chess wisdom and White needs no engraved invitation.
26... f6
This is the only other way to activate the Bg7 but White has calculated that it takes too long.
27.a7 Rd8
Active defence is Black's best try. 27...,Ra8? 28.Be3,fxe5 29.Bxc5,exf4 30.Na4,Bxa4 31.Rxa4,Bxb2 32.Rxc4 threatening 33.Rb4 is winning easily for White.
28.Be3 fxe5 29.Ra6 Ba8 30.Rb6 Kf7
Forced.
31.Rb8 Ke8 32.Nb5 Kd7
Forced again.
33.Bxc5 exf4 34.Bb6?! ...
Not an outright blunder, but most certainly an inaccuracy. The immediate 34.Nc7 does the trick since 34...,Kxc7 35.Bb6+ is lights out. After the text, Black has a resource that could have extended the game considerably, as Dilip Panjwani quickly pointed out after the game.
34... Rc8 35.Nc7 Bc6
As Dilip pointed out, White's win after 35...,Bd4+! is much harder. eg. 36.Bxd4,Kxc7! 37.Be5+,Kd7 38.Bxf4 and White will have to inch his King into the battle. While it is probably a technical win, it could easily take 100 moves or more and every move would have to be precise. Fortunately for White, Black chooses the other way to save his light squared Bee.
36.Ne6! 1-0
A problem like knockout! White threatens the Bg7 and the devestating check on c5. Taking the Knight fails equally quickly: 36...,Kxe6 37.Rxc8,Bd5 38.Rxc4! and its all over.
[Notes: W. Coppin]
Benoni Defence
Hum - Brice: Modern Benoni Defence, A64
¶ All Openings Index
The Kingston Chess Club would like to thank International Master Deen Hergott of Ottawa, for giving his kind permission to use his notes to the game Peter Hum - Ron Brice, from round 3 of the 2002 Kingston Open. IM Hergott writes an excellent chess column, every Saturday in the Ottawa Citizen newspaper, where this game first appeared (Feb. 16, 2002). For the latest chess news and fine games from around Eastern Ontario, around Canada, and around the world, read Deen's column!! - Frank Dixon
WHITE: Peter Hum (Ottawa)
BLACK: Ron Brice (Hamilton)
EVENT: Kingston Open 2002 [3]
OPENING: Modern Benoni A64
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Bd3!? ...
[A very popular line these days. A more common piece deployment is Nf3 and Be2. White's long-term strategic plan is to advance the central majority, culminating in an eventual e4-e5, usually assisted by pressuring the weak d6-pawn. In contrast, Black aims to advance his queenside pawns with active play on the long diagonal and half-open e-file.]
7... Bg7 8.h3 0-0 9.Bg5 h6 10.Be3 ...
[10.Bf4, attacking d6, looks more accurate.]
10... Re8 11.Nf3 a6 12.a4 Nbd7 13.0-0 Rb8 14.Bf4 Qc7 15.Qd2 Kh7 16.Rfe1 Nh5 17.Bh2 c4?!
[Double-edged. This activates the queenside pawns, but cedes the important d4-square to White. Black should really be better developed before making such a bold advance.]
18.Bc2 b5 19.axb5 axb5 20.g4 Nhf6?
[For better or worse, Black must try 20...b4 to drive an attacker away from the b5- pawn. 21.gxh5 bxc3 22.hxg6+ wins a pawn, but this is minor compared to the game continuation.]
21.Nd4 Qc5 22.Nc6 Rb6 23.Bf4! ...
[The simple threat of 24.Bf4-e3 cannot be adequately met.]
23... Rxc6 24.Be3! Qb4 25.dxc6 Ne5 26.Kg2 Nxc6 27.f3 ...
[With an extra Exchange, White need only consolidate his position to reel in the full point.]
27... Nd7 28.Rab1 Re6 29.Red1 Nc5 30.Qf2 Nb3 31.Nd5 Qa5 32.Bb6 Qa4 33.Qg1 Qa2 34.Nc7 Re7 35.Nxb5 Bxb2 36.Qf2! ...
[Black shouldn't have grabbed the b-pawn, but the writing was already on the wall.]
36... Bg7 37.e5! ...
[Threatening the Queen with 38.Bxg6+.]
37... Nb4 38.Bxb3 cxb3 39.Qxa2 bxa2 40.Rxb4 Bxe5 41.Bd4! ...
[The end.]
41... Bf4 42.Nc3 Be6 43.Rb8 g5 44.Rh8+ Kg6 45.Rg8+ 1-0
[Notes: D.HERGOTT]
Bogo-Indian Defence
Voloaca - Kirby: Bogo-Indian Defence, E11
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Mihnea Voloaca
BLACK: Patrick Kirby
EVENT: Kingston Open 2002 [3]
OPENING: Bogo-Indian, E11
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 Bb4+ 4.Bd2 Qe7 5.Qc2 d5? 6.a3 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 0-0 8.Rc1 c6 9.e4 dxe4 10.Nxe4 Nbd7 11.Bd3 h6 12.0-0 c5 13.Rfd1 cxd4 14.Nxd4 Rd8 15.c5 Ne5 16.Nxf6+ gxf6!?
[16...Qxf6 17.Be4 Qe7 18.g3± (18.f4 Ng4)]
17.Be2 Bd7 18.f4 Nc6 19.Nb5 Rab8 20.Rd3 b6 21.Nd6 bxc5 22.Qxc5 e5!?
[The best practical chance.]
23.fxe5!? ...
[23.Ne4 Kg7 24.Qxe7 Nxe7 25.Rc7 Bf5 26.Rxd8 Rxd8 27.Rxe7 Bxe4 28.fxe5 fxe5 29.Rxe5±]
23... Nxe5
[23...Qxe5 was also possible. White retains a serious advantage in the ending, with more active pieces and a better pawn structure, but at least Black doesn't have to worry about getting mated in time pressure.]
24.Rg3+ Kf8 25.Rd1 ...
[with the idea of Qc1]
25... Ng6 26.Qh5 Kg7 27.Bc4 Be6??
[Black's active defense would have paid off after 27...Bg4! I had looked at this idea on the previous move, where it didn't work, but here it was the best chance. 28.Qxg4 Rxd6 29.Rxd6 Qxd6 30.b4 Rd8 and White is only slightly better, at best.]
28.Bxe6 Qxe6 29.Rgd3! ...
[White almost blundered with 29.Nf5+?? Qxf5 30.Qxf5 Rxd1+ 31.Kf2 Rxb2+ when Black is no worse.]
29... Nf4?
[29...Rxd6 30.Rxd6 Qe3+ 31.Kh1 Rxb2 And White is winning.]
30.Nf5+ Qxf5 31.Qxf5 Nxd3 32.Rxd3 Rxd3 33.Qxd3 Rxb2 34.Qa6 Rb1+ 35.Kf2 Rb2+ 36.Kf3 Rb3+ 37.Kg4 Rb2 38.Kh3 1-0
[Note: P. KIRBY]
Budapest Defence
Hamilton - Dixon: Budapest Defence, A52
Southam - Dixon: Budapest Defence, A52
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Robert Hamilton
BLACK: Frank Dixon
EVENT: Kingston simul 1991
OPENING: Budapest Gambit, A52
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
The Budapest Gambit dates from the game Adler - Maroczy, Budapest 1896. Chess tradition for naming opening variations often follows the place where the game using the variation for the first time was played. It gained widespread popularity after Black's victory in the famous game Rubinstein - Vidmar, Berlin 1918. This line contains a few tricky traps, and has a more tactical flavour than many queenside openings, but also is based on a firm positional footing, as GM John Nunn noted in his book Nunn's Chess Openings (NCO), published in 1999. Books analyzing the variation have been published by Vasconcellos, Staker, and Borik. Although often derided as 'coffee-house chess', the line has been adopted by many strong GMs in recent years on an occasional basis, including Nunn, Short, Speelman, A. Ivanov, Rogers, Illescas, Svidler, Korchnoi, Epishin, Malaniuk, Ree, Hodgson, Ljubojevic, Shabalov, and Hort. In more historic times, the Budapest has been played by GMs such as Keres, Bisguier, Tartakover and Szabo.
3.dxe5 Ng4
The Fajarowicz variation has 3...Ne4, which is not as strong. But this line too is not without its points. There is one notorious trap which White must watch out for, shown in the game Marinelli - Osmanbegovic, Cannes Open 1993: 4.Nf3 Nc6 5.a3 d6 6.exd6 Bxd6 7.g3?? Nxf2! 8.Kxf2 Bxg3+ 0-1.
4.Nf3 ...
This is the most solid variation, but Black recovers his pawn. Former World Champion Alexander Alekhine favoured 4.e4 here, originating in the game Alekhine - Seitz, Hastings 1926. If White wishes to retain his pawn, he can play 4.Bf4 (Rubinstein's move) Nc6 5.Nf3 Bb4+ 6.Nc3 (the Keininger trap, another nasty one, goes 6.Nbd2 Qe7 7.a3 Ngxe5 8.axb4?? Nd3 mate) Bxc3+ 7.bxc3 Qe7 8.Qd5 f6 9.exf6 Nxf6, where Black has some compensation for his pawn minus.
4...Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Nc3 0-0 7.Be2 Ngxe5 8.0-0 Nxf3+ 9.Bxf3 Ne5 10.Be2 a5
This interesting move was popularized in the 1980s, the idea to shift the queen rook to the kingside for attacking chances. Black can also play the more solid 10...d6 with an acceptable game.
11.b3 Ra6 12.Bb2 Re8 13.Qc2?!
So far both players have followed the best recommendations of theory, and after some slight transpositions, have arrived at the main tabiya for this variation. Alternatives here are 13.Ne4 and 13.Na4. The real test here is 13.Qd5!, with recent games showing that Black has some challenges in justifying his somewhat unusual strategy. After 13...Ba7 (if 13...Bf8 White retains a positional advantage, but Black's position is solid enough) 14.c5! Rh6 15.f4!?, the N/e5 could be in some danger, although White has also loosened his own position along the g1-a7 diagonal. The second edition of Batsford Chess Openings, edited by GMs Kasparov and Keene, and published in 1989, gave a footnote here with 15...Qh4 16.h3, with White holding a slight advantage. The game Remlinger - Svidler, Peer Gynt 1991, saw 14...Rae6 15.Ne4 Qe7 16.Rac1 Bb8, and Black won, but according to analysis by GM Nunn, White gets the advantage by 17.Ng3 c6 18.Qd1. Black has to find improvements after 15...Nc6 16.Nb5! Qh4 17.h3 Rxe3 18.Bc4! Re7 19.Nxa7 Rxa7 20.Rae1 Kf8 21.Qg5, where White won quickly in B.Lalic - Mukic, Yugoslavian Championship 1988. One idea might be to combine the BCO II line after 16.h3 with 16...c6!? hitting the White Queen, with Black preparing to sacrifice the knight for some dangerous kingside attacking chances.
13...Rh6 14.h3 d6 15.Na4 Ba7 16.c5 Qh4! 17.Bxe5 Rxe5 18.Qc4 Re4!
Gaining a tempo on the Queen and posting the rook on a strong central square.
19.Qb5!? Bxh3!
The attack intensifies, although Black must also watch his own back rank. The Master took a good look at me after I played this sacrifice here!
20.Qxb7 Bd7!
Simultaneous attack (threatening a discovered checkmate along the h-file) and defence (protecting Black's back rank against mate after 21.Qa8+ Re8!, since the bishop guards the e8-square allowing the rook to retreat to block the check. White doesn't have time to grab the free bishop with 21.Qxa7.
21.f3 Rxe3! 22.Bc4 ...
If 22.Qxa7 Rxe2! threatens mate on both h2 and h1.
22...Qd4!
Setting up a deadly discovery on the g1-h7 diagonal. White's reply is forced, and he does achieve the exchange of queens, but even this cannot save him.
23.Qd5 Qxd5 24.Bxd5 Bxa4! 25.bxa4 Bxc5! 0-1
White, already down two pawns, must now lose at least a piece because of the threatened discovered check. This was the only loss by FIDE Master Robert Hamilton, ranked at the time about 15th in Canada, during his weekend displays at the Frontenac Mall in Kingston, covering more than 150 games. Robert awarded me a chess set to honour my victory over him!
WHITE: Todd Southam (2420)
BLACK: Frank Dixon
EVENT: Toronto Active 1995
OPENING: Budapest Gambit, A52
Notes by F. Dixon
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e5
In several previous friendly games with Todd, an FM with one IM norm, and 1987 Canadian Junior champion, I was destroyed quickly when I tried my normal King's Indian, so I decided to try something a bit more unusual against such a renowned theoretician.
3.dxe5 Ng4 4.Nf3
The two main alternatives are 4.Bf4 (GM Rubinstein) and 4.e4 (GM Alekhine); interesting also is 4.e6!? (recommended by GM Euwe), which does not cause Black any problems with correct response. One very nasty trap to beware is 4.Qd4?! d6! 5.exd6 Bxd6 6.Qxg7?? Be5!, winning the queen.
4...Bc5 5.e3 Nc6 6.Be2 0-0 7.0-0 Re8 8.Nc3 Ngxe5 9.Nxe5 Nxe5 10.b3 a5 11.Bb2 Ra6
This funky-looking rook lift idea, planning to swing the rook to the kingside for attacking prospects, revitalized the Budapest in the 1980s. Prior play had seen the solid 10...d6, championed by the Hungarian IM Kaposztas, with White usually retaining a small edge.
12.Qd5
So far, so book. Todd proves to be fully up to date with the latest theory in this variation. Black equalizes against other White responses such as 12.Qc2, 12.Nd5, 12.Ne4, and 12.Na4.
12...Ba7
The more conservative 12...Bf8 is a playable alternative.
13.c5 Rh6
The Russian GM Peter Svidler, several times Russian champion, tried 13...Rae6 against IM Remlinger at Peer Gynt 1991, and won the game, which continued 14.Ne4 Qe7 15.Rac1 Bb8, but analysis by GM Nunn now claims an edge for White after 16.Ng3 c6 17.Qd1.
14.f4
Looks very strong, since the knight must retreat from its nice central post, opening up the a1-h8 diagonal. But, as we shall see, this advance also loosens the pawn cover around White's king, and gives Black chances on the g1-a7 diagonal.
14...Qh4!?
This audacious invasion, thematic to the variation, was suggested in the second edition of Batsford Chess Openings, by GMs Kasparov and Keene, published in 1989. I had done some analysis of this move, but here was the first time I had a chance to actually try it in a game situation. Known to cause trouble for Black is the alternative 14...Nc6 15.Nb5! Qh4 16.h3 Rxe3 17.Bc4! Re7 18.Nxa7 Nxa7 19.Rae1 Kf8 20.Qg5, and White won brilliantly in B.Lalic -- Mukic, Yugoslav Ch. 1988.
15.h3
Todd, meeting the queen move for the first time, rejected the immediate win of a piece with 15.fxe5 because of dangerous variations such as 15.fxe5 Qxh2+ 16.Kf2 Rxe5 17.Rh1 Rf6+ 18.Bf3 Rxd5 19.Rxh2 Rd2+ regaining the piece with a big advantage for Black.
15...c6!? 16.Qe4
Not the best, although the pin on the knight against the R/e8 looks very tempting. After the game we established in analysis that the immediate 16.Qd4! causes Black more problems, since, as it turns out, he must sacrifice his knight under conditions which allow the exchange of queens. For example, 16...d6 17.fxe5 Bxc5 18.Qxh4 Rxh4 19.Nd1 dxe5, with some advantage to White, although Black has decent compensation for the sacrificed piece, with two pawns, a development edge, and some looseness in White's position.
16...d5! 17.Qd4
Todd was going to capture en passant, he said later, but at the last minute saw the vicious variation which I had planned: 17.cxd6? Nf3+! 18.Qxf3 (18.Bxf3 Rxe4 19.Bxe4 also leaves Black on top) Rxe3! 19.Qf2 Rxh3! 20.gxh3 (20.Qxa7 Rh1 mate) Qxh3, and White is powerless to stop mate, despite being ahead by two pieces. What a pity that I didn't get the chance to play this line. Other queen moves leave Black at least equal.
17...Nd7! 18.Nb5
Todd said later that he thought at the time I had simply overlooked this move, which does win a piece (the B/a7) due to the mate threat on g7. The variation given in the last note convinced Todd that this bishop was Black's most dangerous piece, so he was happy to eliminate it, before it could transfer to b8, away from the now-blocked g1-a7 diagonal. However, I had entered the variation with 14...Qh4, planning to sacrifice a piece, and in fact, was able to preserve the knight, which later plays a very important role in the attack. As we shall see, there is a lot more to the position than meets the eye on an immediate glance, so the variation is proven useful, at least for a 30-minute time control.
18...Nf6 19.Nxa7 Bxh3!
A double bishop sacrifice with a new twist. The N/a7 is now trapped, and remains out of play as the storm gathers around White's king. A look of concern emerged on Todd's face starting about now!
20.Bf3
White cannot accept the sacrifice because of quick mate: 20.gxh3? Qg3+ 21.Kh1 Rxh3 mate.
20...Bxg2!
Again! White has little choice but to accept now, since 21.Rf2 allows 21...Qh1 mate.
21.Bxg2 Qh2+ 22.Kf2 Ne4+!
Black certainly needs to be careful, since by moving his knight from the f6-square, he is hanging a mate for White on g7, but has seen that he will win the B/g2 in time to defend that square.
23.Ke1
Or 23.Kf3 Qg3+! 24.Ke2 Qxg2+, amounting to much the same thing.
23...Qxg2!
Black now has a won position, but must still exercise some caution.
24.Rd1 Rh2! 25.Qxg7+
Black's dominance has left White, who was extremely short of time, with little choice to avoid an even worse fate, with a mate looming on e2 and his B/b2 weak.
25...Qxg7 26.Bxg7 Kxg7 27.Rg1+ Kf6 28.a4 Ra8!
Finally rounding up the trapped knight!
29.Nxc6 bxc6 30.Rc1 Rb8 0-1.
Todd told me afterwards he was very impressed with my play in this game, which remains my biggest upset, in terms of rating difference (over 400 points!). Receiving a compliment from such a strong player, who was definitely not a poor sport despite losing the game, gave me perhaps the best feeling I have ever had in chess!
Caro Kann Defence
Dixon - Garrison: Caro-Kann, B15
Dixon - Letourneau: Caro-Kann, Modern Smyslov-Karpov, B17
Sibbald - Hutchison: Caro-Kann, Advance
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Frank Dixon
BLACK: Stephen Garrison
EVENT: Queen's University Winter Active, Kingston 1998
OPENING: Caro-Kann Defence, B15
Notes by F. Dixon
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Bc4 ...
This gambit variation is not especially well-regarded by the chess theoreticians, but it does contain a few dangerous attacking ideas, giving up a pawn for the open f-file and a lead in development, so is worth a try on occasion. The variation is not listed in popular opening guides such as Nunn's Chess Openings, so it has some surprise value. The Caro-Kann tends to be a defence chosen by defensive-minded players, and this line forces Black to be very careful with his defence, right from the start of the game.
4... Bf5 5.f3!? exf3 6.Nxf3 Nf6 7.0-0 Nbd7 8.Ng5!? ...
Probably not completely sound, but it does contain swindling potential. The move threatens both mate on f7 and the bishop on f5. The Caro-Kann is somewhat notorious for the number of top Grandmasters who have been defeated in miniature games in drastic style over the years. Here are a few examples. 1) Botvinnik - Spielmann, Moscow 1935: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 cxd5 4.c4 Nf6 5.Nc3 Nc6 6.Bg5 Qb6 7.cxd5 Qxb2 8.Rc1 Nb4 9.Na4 Qxa2 10.Bc4 Bg4 11.Nf3 Bxf3 12.gxf3 1-0. 2) Reti - Tartakower, Vienna 1910: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Qd3 e5 6.dxe5 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qxe5 8.0-0-0 Nxe4 9.Qd8+ Kxd8 10.Bg5+ 1-0. 3) Nunn - Georgiev, Linares 1988: 1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7 5.Ng5 h6 6.Ne6 Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qb6 8.Bd3 fxe6 9.Qh5+ Kd8 10.Ba5 winning Black's Queen.
8... e6?
Black's only mistake, but it is enough to lose the game. Just shows how tough a game chess can be. Black had to play 8...Bg6 here, to safeguard both his bishop and the f7 square. He thought his method does that job as well, while providing a chance for his B/f8 to develop. But White now has a devastating Exchange sacrifice which rips the game open. After 8...Bg6 9.Qe2, Black still must be careful, since 9...h6?! 10.Nce4!, and now not 10...hxg5? 11.Nd6 mate; nor 10...Bxe4? 11.Bxf7 mate, so Black should play 10...e6, and now White can try 11.Nxf6+ Nxf6 12.Bxe6!? with a sharp position. If 10...Nxe4 11.Qxe4, hoping for 11...Bxe4? 12.Bxf7 mate. Black's safest reply is 9...e6 first, when White has some compensation for the pawn.
9.Rxf5! exf5 10.Bxf7+ Ke7 11.Qe2+ Ne4 12.Ncxe4 fxe4
Whatever Black chooses leads to much the same thing. Here if 12...Qb6 (hoping to use the d8 square for the King's escape), then White mates with 13.Nc5+ Kd8 (if 13...Kf6 14.Qe6 mate; if 13...Kd6 14.Qe6+ Kc7 15.Qxd7+ Kb8 16.Bf4+ mates) 14.Qe8+ Kc7 15.Qxd7+ and mates, and other lines are similar. On 12...Nf6, then 13.Nc5+ Ne4 14.Nxe4 Qxd4+ 15.Be3 Qxb2 16.Bc5+ Kc7 17.Ne6+ Kb8 18.Rd8 mate.
13.Qxe4+ Kd6 14.Bf4+ Ne5 15.Qxe5+ Kd7 16.Qe6 mate 1-0
The final position illustrates the value of gambits, since four of Black's pieces (both rooks, Queen, and bishop) remain on their original squares, and never participated during the game.
WHITE: Frank Dixon
BLACK: Ryan Letourneau
EVENT: Kingston Chess Club 2003
OPENING: Caro-Kann Defence, Modern Smyslov-Karpov, B17
Notes by F. Dixon
1.e4 c6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Nd7
This variation has been around for a long time, but was popularized by former World Champion, GM Anatoly Karpov, starting in the late 1980s. It is known for its soundness and solidity. Black usually maneuvers cleverly to exchange pieces, often playing for the endgame, which suits Karpov's patient positional style.
5.Ng5 ...
Another move which has been known for many years. It became trendy about 1988 because of several games by GM Garry Kasparov, at the time World Champion.
5... Ngf6
Not 5...h6? 6.Ne6! Qa5+ 7.Bd2 Qb6 8.Bd3 fxe6? 9.Qh5+ Kd8 10.Ba5, winning Black's Queen, in Nunn - Kir. Georgiev, Linares 1988.
6.Bc4 ...
Kasparov himself suffered a catastrophe on the Black side of this line, in his second match against the IBM computer program Deep Blue. In game six, New York 1997, the moves were 6.Bd3 e6 7.N1f3 h6?! 8.Nxe6 Qe7 9.0-0 fxe6 10.Bg6+ Kd8 11.Bf4 b5 12.a4 Bb7 13.Re1 Nd5 14.Bg3 Kc8 15.axb5 cxb5 16.Qd3 Bc6 17.Bf5 exf5 18.Rxe7 Bxe7 19.c4 1-0. Just shows how tough chess can be. However, this game has always mystified me, especially when viewed against the rest of Kasparov's amazing career. But Kasparov was under extraordinary stress in this match. He resigned a position in game two which was later shown to be drawn with best play. The IBM team was refusing to release printouts of Deep Blue's 'thinking process', which Kasparov believed he was entitled to view after games. Following Kasparov's loss, IBM's stock price rose spectacularly the next day on world markets.
6... e6 7.Qe2 Nb6 8.Bb3 ...
8.Bd3 is equally playable.
8... Be7
Not 8...Qxd4? 9.N1f3, followed by 10.Ne5 wins.
9.N1f3 ...
More common here is 9.N5f3, followed by Ne5 and N1f3. But this alternative develops faster. While it is true that the N/g5 will have to retreat to h3 or e4 (where it could be exchanged) after Black plays ...h7-h6, this need not be a drawback. From h3 the knight can move to f4 where it hits important light squares like e6, g6, d5, and h5; the knight could also return to g5 as part of a kingside pawn storm.
9... 0-0 10.Bd2 h6 11.Nh3 c5 12.dxc5 Bxc5 13.0-0-0!? ...
Somewhat risky play by White, since he castles long with the c-file open to Black. This long castling is quite rare in this particular variation, presenting a different strategic pattern. The position actually somewhat resembles an Open Sicilian, where White's e-pawn has been exchanged for Black's d-pawn.
13... Qe7 14.Rhe1 Bd7 15.Ne5 ...
Occupying this central square after Black has moved his bishop to d7, a square from which either Black knight could have challenged White's N/e5, which will now take additional time.
15... Rac8 16.Kb1 Rfd8?! ...
This rook should have stayed where it was, to protect f7, as will be soon shown.
17.f4 ...
Having completed his development, White can begin his kingside pawn storm.
17...Bd4 18.g4 Ba4 19.g5 hxg5 20.fxg5 Nh7?
Disastrous. My young opponent had played very well to this point. But the game is about to turn tactical, after a positional beginning, and every move counts double when this happens. Either here or on the previous move, Black had to play the absolutely essential move 20...Bxb3! to exchange White's dangerous bishop. One point is that 21.gxf6? doesn't work because of 21...Bxc2+! 22.Ka1 Qxf6, with Black on top. So after 21.cxb3 (capturing away from the centre to remove the c2-pawn as a target) Nfd5 leaves White only a bit better.
21.g6! ...
Winning. If now a) 21...Nf6 22.gxf7+ Kh7 (if 22...Kf8? or 22...Kh8?, then 23.Ng6+ wins the Queen) 23.Ng5+ Kh6 24.Nxe6+ Kh7 25.Qd3+ mates; or b) 21...Nf8 22.gxf7+ Kh8 23.Qh5+ Nh7 24.Ng6 mate; or c) 21...Ng5 22.Nxg5 f6 23.Qh5 wins, for example c1) 23...fxe5 (or 23...fxg5) 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Qh8 mate; c2) 23...Qc7 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Nxe6+ wins the Queen; c3) 23...Qd6 24.Qh7+ Kf8 25.Qh8+ Ke7 26.Qxg7+ mates.
21... fxg6 22.Nxg6 Qf6 23.Qxe6+ Qxe6 24.Bxe6 mate 1-0
WHITE: Peter Sibbald (1999)
BLACK: Rob Hutchison (1781)
EVENT: Kingston Grand SNAFU 2003
OPENING: Caro Kann- Advance
Notes by Peter Sibbald.
1. e4 c6 2. d4 d5 3. e5 Na6?!
This rare move came as a surprise. It has appeared a few times in top level play.
4. c3
Not 4. Bxa6 Qa5+
4... Nc7 5. Bd3
To prevent ...Bf5
5... b6?!
The "normal" move is 5..g6. The game move attempts to trade the bad QB by eventually playing it to a6. Should white ever castle kingside, then black can play Ba6 because the B on d3 is pinned to f1
6. Bf4 e6 7. Nh3 Ne7 8. Bg5
This violation of opening principles, (moving a piece twice) is justified because black has played e6. I wanted to either restrain f6 or provoke h6. Black is in a bit of a bind.
8... Qd7 9. O-O Ba6 10. Bxa6 Nxa6 11. Nd2
The N on a6 is badly placed. In return, I have lost my nice white B.
11... h6 12. Be3 Nf5 13. Qe2 Nc7 14. a4
Why? Black must either stay in the middle or castle kingside. I decide to pick up some space on the queenside so that black cannot devote all his defensive effort to the kingside.
14... Be7 15. Nf4 g6 16. b4 O-O 17. Qg4 Kh7
Otherwise, white plays Nxg6.
18. Nb3 Rg8 19. Bd2
The question of whether black should have exchanged off this B is interesting. His f5 knight is strong, and B is bad but I now decided that because it could help attack h6, it should be preserved.
19... c5 20. bxc5 bxc5 21. Nxc5 Bxc5 22. dxc5 Na6 23. Nd3 Rac8 24. Qh3
Threatening g4 followed by Qxh6.
24... h5 25. g4! Ng7 26. Qe3 g5?
Rh8 is necessary to make room for the black King.
27. Qxg5 Nf5 28. Qxh5+ Kg7 29. gxf5 Kf8+ 30. Kh1 d4
The h1-a8 diagonal is very weak for white. I have to take care and avoid getting mated.
31. Bh6+?!
Rg1 is better.
31... Ke8 32. fxe6 Qxe6
And only now do I observe that if black plays Rh8 I lose the B on h6. Further, the d4 pawn after capturing on c3 could become dangerous. So, in a fit of terrible technique I play...
33. Bd2 Qd5+ 34. f3 dxc3 35. Qf5 Rd8 36. Bxc3
The last several moves have been inaccurate for both sides. I played Bxc3 because it will get the Qs off and the ending is won for white.
36... Qxd3 37. Qxd3 Rxd3 38. Be1 Nxc5 39. Bf2 Nb3 40. Rab1 a6 41. Bg3 Ke7 42. Rbd1 Rc3 43. Rd6
Much stronger than I realized. I was just hitting the a6 pawn but then I noticed that mate was in the air!
43... a5 44. Bh4+ Ke8 45. Rd8# 1-0
44... Kf8 45. Bf6 Rc8 46. Rfd1 is also winning. Instead of 43. a5 black had to try f5!?
Clarendon Court Defence
Profit - Coppin: Clarendon Court Defence, A43
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Brian Profit
BLACK: Wayne Coppin
EVENT: Kingston Chess Club 2003
OPENING: Clarendon Court Defence, A43
Notes by W. Coppin
1.d4 c5 2.d5 f5!?
British IM J. Levitt recommends this rare offshoot of the Old Benoni if Black wants to play for a win. He calls it the Clarendon Court Defence. Most GMs and IMs dismiss it as unsound although as far as I know, there has been no direct tactical refutation. Among the strong players willing to play it are GM Elvhest, GM Tukmakov, GM Spraggett, IM Hergott and many British titled players.
3.c4 ...
Of all the ways to meet the defence, this is perhaps the most "responsible". As IM Levitt writes:
"White has a number of different approaches to this position - I split them into three:
- attempts to smash the opening flat; e.g. 3 e4, 3 h4 and 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 f3
- the sharp main line: 3 Nc3 Nf6 4 Bg5 Qb6, as in Alburt - Levitt
- positional lines with g3 (with or without c4)
(Levitt continues) In these lines play can resemble the Leningrad Dutch - Black often gets a weakness on e6, but has active and aggressive piece deployment to compensate. In my experience so far, the positional approach has been the most common (but usually only after a 20 min think)."
It would take a small book to attempt to assess all of White's options, making it fruitful ground for those seeking double-edged ideas.
3... g6 4.Nc3 Nf6 5.g3 d6 6.Bg2 Bg7 7.Nh3 ...
Black's "hybrid" system is not easily cracked. From the Benoni, Black gets the strong Bg7 and the plan to play ...,b5 while from the Lennigrad Dutch Black gets play around e4 and the chance for aggressive kingside attacks using the f-file. White takes dead aim at the weakness of e6, a sound strategic plan.
7... Na6
Depending upon how the opening unfolds, Black's critter may go to b4 pressuring c2 and d5 or it may slip back to c7 overprotecting e6 and supporting a later b5.
8.0-0 0-0 9.Re1?! ...
The combination of g3 and e4 does not go well together because of the delay in development and the exposed Nh3. Now Black usually plays 9...,Nc7 10...,a6 11...,Rb8 and 12...b5. In light of White's obvious (and dubious) plan to play e4, I decided to offer a pawn in hopes of confusing the position even more.
9... Rb8 10.Nb5 ...
After a long think, White decided to accept the challenge.
10... Bd7 11.a4 ...
The hasty 11.Nxa7 allows 11...,Qb6 when Black recovers the pawn with huge play against b2 and d5.
11... Nb4
The aggressive b4 outpost is just the start of Black's compensation.
12.Nxa7 Ne4!
Now White cannot contest e4 either. Meanwhile, the move prepares a nasty trap by taking d2 away from White's Bc1.
13.Nb5 Qa5
White has successfully grabbed the booty but Black has the kind of active piece position that Clarendon Court players dream about.
14.f3?? ...
This is the "natural" move in the position and it loses immediately. During the hasty post mortem White suggested the nonintuitive 14.Rf1 as a winning improvement. Indeed, the move is not easy to meet! However, after staring at the board for a couple of hours at home I finally turned to 14...,e6. It was the only move that we did not seriously consider after the game because White can drive the Ne4 with f3 and simply gobble up d6. However the more I looked, the better I liked Black. I then ran the position past Chessmaster for a reality check and the machine coughed up all kinds of tactics leading to at least a small Black advantage. At the board, I believed that the awkward 14.Be3 was White's best chance to try to consolodate but I have not run that past the silicon servant yet.
14... Nc2!
Much stronger than the attractive 14...,Bxb5 15.cxb5,Nc3 when White simply plays 16.bxc3,Bxc3 17.Bd2 and laughs all over the dark squares.
15.Qxc2 Qxe1 16.Bf1 Nxg3!
Temporarily returning the material to expose White's King is the quickest way to win.
17.hxg3 Qxg3+ 18.Bg2 f4
Now White either coughs up another ex. or gets mated.
19.Nxf4 ...
Or 19.Bxf4 Rxf4 and Black's Killer Bees and the open f-file will soon decide.
19... Qe1+ 0-1
Black has any number of ways to win from here, depending upon White's reply, including the obvious 20...,Rxf4
English Opening
Towers - Dixon: English, Botvinnik, A36
Shoraka - Dixon: English, Symmetrical Variation, A30
Bokhout - Dixon: English Opening, Black Knights Tango, A00
Hutchison - Dixon: English-Reti Opening, A12
Towers - Dixon: English Opening, Botvinnik System, A24
Dixon - Danilov: English Opening, Symmetrical, A37
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Jeff Towers
BLACK: Frank Dixon
EVENT: Kingston Championship 1995 (4)
OPENING: English, Botvinnik, A36
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 c5 3.e4 Nc6
Jeff adopts his favourite Botvinnik variation in the Symmetrical English, which I had been expecting. This is playable with either colour, and was developed by GM Mikhail Botvinnik, world champion for all but two years between 1948 and 1963. White can get an unpleasant grip if it is not countered carefully.
4.d3 g6 5.g3 Bg7 6.Bg2 Nge7 7.Be3 Nd4
This move is an essential part of Black's strategy, occupying the hole at d4 with a knight, to try to slow down White's expansion plans, in which the advances f2- f4 and b2-b4 play important roles.
8.Nge2 a6 9.Rb1 Nec6 10.0-0 Rb8 11.f4 b5!?
Usually Black has castled by this time in this variation, based on previous games. But delaying castling, and thus saving time, was part of Black's plan to try for active counterplay from an early stage, to avoid a prolonged maneuvering battle in a closed position, which is to Jeff's liking. Black's King is not in danger remaining in the centre for a while longer. Neither of the two major sources available at the time this game was played, the Encyclopedia of Chess Openings nor the book 'Symmetrical English', second edition, by IM John Watson, deal with this possibility.
12.e5 d6!
The only move but it does hold Black's game together. Both players had played fairly quickly so far, but now Jeff went into a long think in this complex position.
13.Bxc6+ ...
Here, 13.Qd2 would retain the tension and force Black to justify his unusual strategy, since White has completed his development and is poised to begin operations on the kingside or in the centre. Black's best reply is probably 13...dxe5, since if 13...0-0, strong is 14.Ne4! Complex play results from 13...dxe5 14.Bxc6+ Nxc6 15.fxe5 Nxe5 16.Bxc5 bxc4. Black could be in some trouble if he tries to win a pawn after 13...dxe5 14.fxe5 Nxe5 15.Bg5! Qc7 16.Ne4 0-0 17.Nf6+ Kh8 18.Nxd4 cxd4 19.Qf4! So best is likely 13...dxe5 14.fxe5 0-0 15.Ne4 Qb6!?, with an unclear position.
13... Nxc6 14.exd6 Bd4!
This is the key move which makes the variation work for Black, gaining a tempo on the undefended bishop. If Black were forced to reply right away with 14...Qxd6, then White follows with the strong 15.Ne4! winning the c-pawn with the much better game.
15.Bxd4 ...
Here, 15.Qd2 keeps more options for White.
15... cxd4 16.Ne4 f5!
Driving the knight away from the protection of the d6-pawn.
17.Ng5 Qxd6
Black recovers his pawn with the better game. The absence of White's light- squared bishop will become important, and Black's d4-pawn controls key squares and cramps White's position. White's pieces are passive and uncoordinated. In addition, Black now had a lead on the clock of over half an hour.
18.cxb5 Rxb5! 19.Re1 0-0 20.Nc1 e5!
Black's better development and greater space indicate that he should try to open up the position to increase his advantage.
21.fxe5? ...
White should keep the position closed for the next few moves, until he can defend the immediate threats on the long diagonal, and redeploy his pieces to better positions. For example, 21.Qd2 Qd5 22.Kf2 Bb7 23.Rg1 exf4 24.gxf4 Re8 25.Nb3 Re3 26.Rbe1 h6!? 27.Rxe3 dxe3 28.Qxe3 hxg5 29.Qe8+ Kg7 30.Rxg5 offers some active chances for survival. This variation would have been tough to find over the board.
21... Nxe5 22.Nb3 Qd5!
Black creates strong threats on the long diagonal. White is curiously helpless to do much about it, and his flag was now hanging.
23.a4? ...
A blunder in grave time trouble in an already lost position. But even on the better 23.Qe2 Bb7, White must give up a piece to prevent mate, since 24.h3 Qh1+ 25.Kf2 Qg2 mate; or 24.Rec1 Qh1+ 25.Kf2 Ng4+ 26.Qxg4 Qxh2+ wins the Queen. So, after 23.Qe2 Bb7 24.Ne4 fxe4 25.dxe4 Qd6, Black is simply a piece up for no compensation.
23...Bb7! 24.Ne4 Rxb3 0-1
This win was sweet since not only did it come against Jeff's favourite system, but also because Jeff had finished half a point ahead of me to win the Kingston Whig-Standard title a few months before, where the difference came down to our head-to-head game, in which I had held the advantage right into the endgame only to let him off the hook for a draw.
WHITE: Mohammad Shoraka
BLACK: Frank Dixon
EVENT: Queen's University Chess Club, 2004
OPENING: English Opening, Symmetrical Variation, A30
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.c4 b6 2.Nc3 Bb7 3.b3 f5!? 4.Bb2 Nf6 5.Nf3 c5 6.g3 Nc6 7.Bg2 e6 8.0-0 Be7 9.Qc2 d6 10.Rfe1 0-0 11.Rad1 Qd7 12.e3 e5 13.Nh4 g6 14.Bh3 e4!? 15.Nxe4!?
After an original, comparatively placid opening, this shot opens up a whirlwind of tactical possibilities for both sides.
15...Nxe4 16.Qxe4 Ne5!
A powerful reply, perhaps overlooked or underestimated by White, who is doing well after 16...fxe4 17.Bxd7.
17.Qc2
Not 17.Qf4?, which loses quickly to 17...Nd3, or to 17...Bxh4 followed by 18...Nf3+.
17...Bxh4! 18.Bxe5!
Absolutely essential, or else White gets crushed after 18.gxh4 Nf3+. A sample variation is 19.Kf1 (if the King goes to g2 or h1, then Nxe1+ wins the Queen) 19...Nxh2+ 20.Kg1 (if 20.Ke2 Bf3+ 21.Kd3 Be4+ wins the Queen) Nf3+ 21.Kf1 Nxe1, with an Exchange up and a continuing initiative.
18...dxe5 19.gxh4 Qc6!
Threatening mate on h1.
20.e4 fxe4 21.Bg2
Clever, but Black's initiative continues.
21...Qf6!
A nice double attack on f2 and h4.
22.d3! exd3 23.Rxd3
Forced.
23...Bxg2 24.Kxg2 Rae8!
Black has an edge, although the previous play has opened up the game for White's rooks on the central files. White has defended very well for the past ten moves. The game would be almost equal after 24...Qxh4?! 25.Rxe5.
25.Rh3
White decides to save the doubled h-pawn.
25...Qc6+ 26.Kg1 Rf3!? 27.Rxf3 Qxf3 28.Qe4 Qxe4 29.Rxe4 Kf7 30.f4 Kf6
White assessed the coming pawn endgame as drawn, but Black has just enough of an edge to win.
31.Kf2 Kf5 32.Rxe5+ Rxe5 33.fxe5 Kxe5 34.Ke3
Black has the opposition, and can force White to give way in the centre with his King by running him out of moves, as will be shown. This winning method in the pawn endgame is very instructive.
34...a6 35.a3 a5 36.a4 h6 37.h3 h5 38.Kf3
Now his King must give way, due to zugzwang, as he has no more useful moves. This is the best chance, since 38.Kd3 Kf4 is hopeless, with Black queening much sooner.
38...Kd4 39.Kf4 Kc3 40.Kg5 Kxb3 41.Kxg6 Kxa4!
Capturing this one, in order to queen the a-pawn, which will stop White also queening his h-pawn.
42.Kxh5 Kb4 43.Kg6 a4 44.h5 a3 45.h6 a2 46.Kg7 a1=Q+ 47.Kg8 Qf6 48.h7 Qg6+ 49.Kh8 Kxc4 0-1
A hard-fought game!
WHITE: Peter Bokhout (2084)
BLACK: Frank Dixon (1979)
EVENT: Ontario Open (2), Kingston 2003, May 18
OPENING: English Opening, Black Knights Tango, A00
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.d4
[I served as the TD and co-organizer, and also filled in a few rounds as the odd player, all but one with Black, to avoid giving byes to other players. I also announced that I was not competing for prizes. This looked like a tough game for me, as Peter had won the 1999 North Bay International, U2000 section, with a monster score of 7.5/8 and a performance rating over 2300. But this was his first tournament in a while.]
1...Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Nc6!?
[I have played this line for several years now, generally scoring pretty well. It is not covered in either of IM Georgy Orlov's two books on the Black Knights' Tango, or in any other source that I have found. The somewhat surprising idea is to allow White to play 4.e2-e4, usually a cardinal sin in this type of position, and then to counter with d7-d5, obtaining a new central structure. It is a bit like the Flohr-Mikenas line in the English Opening, 1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 e6 3.e4, to which it could transpose. IM Tom O'Donnell told me a few years ago that my move order was better than the regular Black Knights' Tango, which is usually 1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 Nc6, with quite a completely different style of play. There are also some similarities, and sometimes possible transpositions, to the Guimard line in the French Tarrasch (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nd2 Nc6), another unusual French line (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d6 3.Nc3 Nc6), the MacCutcheon Variation of the French (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Bb4), to an unusual line, often played by Tartakower, in the Classical French (1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.e5 Ne4!?), the Nimzovich Defence to 1.e4 (1.e4 Nc6), Chigorin's Defence to the Queen's Gambit (1.d4 d5 2.c4 Nc6), and to two lines in the Nimzo-Indian Defence, the Taimanov (1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e3 Nc6) and Milner-Barry (4.Qc2 Nc6) Variations. I should also add that I have played all of the above variations at one time or other!]
4.e4
[The most popular reply, after which NCO gives +/= ending its coverage. I have also faced 4.a3, 4.Bg5, 4.e3, 4.Nf3, 4.g3, 4.Bf4, and 4.d5.]
4...d5 5.cxd5
[This gives the game a bit of the flavour of the Exchange Variation of the Queen's Gambit. I have also met 5.Bg5 and 5.exd5, but the most popular continuation is 5.e4 Ne4. This is not the proper forum for a detailed analysis of the alternatives early in the game. I may put together an article in the future outlining my experiences with this variation, along with some analysis of other possibilities. Help from a strong master with this project would be appreciated!]
5...exd5 6.e5 Ne4 7.Nf3 Bb4 8.Qc2 f5 9.Bd3 Be6 10.0-0 Be7 11.a3 0-0 12.b4 a6
[White begins his minority attack on the queenside, as in the Queen's Gambit. Black has good development of his minor pieces, but needs to react precisely to meet White's plan.]
13.Na4 Qd7 14.Bb2
[If 14.Nc5 Bxc5 15.bxc5 Na5. White could also try 14.b5 Na5!?]
14...b5!? 15.Nc3!
[White threatens 16.Nxb5 axb5 17.Bxb5 winning!]
15...Rab8 16.Ne2 g5!?
[This advance often proves necessary in the variation, which is not for the faint-of-heart. Black cannot let the White knight get to f4.]
17.Bc1
[Perhaps better is 17.Rfc1 Rb6, but then how does White continue!? He could try 18.a4!? with complications. For example, 18...Nxb4 19.Qxc7? Qxc7 20.Rxc7 Nxd3 21.a5 (21.Rxe7 Nxb2 22.a5 Rc6 wins) Bd8! 22.axb6 Bxc7 23.bxc7 Nxb2 wins. Slower plans on move 18 are met by 18...Rc8 (to guard c7) followed by ...Nd8 relieving the c-file pressure. For example 18.Rab1 Rc8 19.Ba1 Nd8 =.]
17...f4!? 18.Nd2
[If 18.Bxe4 dxe4 19.Qxe4 Bf5! 20.e6 Bxe6 threatens 21...Bf5 trapping the Queen.]
18...Rf7 19.f3
[The game is getting quite complicated! Interesting is a): 19.Nb3, planning to trap the N/e5 with 20.f3, but I had intended 19...f3! with great complications. a1): 20.Nc3 or 20.Ng3, then 20...fxg2. a2): 20.gxf3 Rxf3 a21): 21.Ng3 Bh3! a211): 22.Nxe4 dxe4 23.Bxe4 Qg4 and mates; a212): 22.Bxe4 dxe4 23.Rd1 Qg4 24.Qxc6 (or 24.Qxe4) Rxg3+!, and Black is doing well. a22): 21.Bxe4 dxe4 22.Qxe4? Rxb3 wins. Also possible is b): 19.Nxe4 dxe4 20.Bxe4 Nxd4 b1): 21.Nxd4 Qxd4 22.Bb2 Qb6; b2): 21.Qd3 Nxe2+ 22.Qxe2 Bc4 23.Rd1! Qe6 24.Qb2 f3!. Both these lines look promising for Black.]
19...Nxd2 20.Bxd2 Nd8 21.Nc1 c6 22.Nb3 Nb7 23.Rfc1 Rc8 24.a4 g4!? 25.axb5 axb5 26.Ra7 gxf3!
[Time to get the counterattack rolling, now that White's pieces are all on the queenside!]
27.gxf3?!
[Interesting is a): 27.Na5 Rc7 a1): 28.Rxb7 Rxb7 29.Nxb7 Qxb7 30.Qxc6 Qxc6 31.Rxc6 Rg7, leading to an interesting endgame! (Hans Jung); a2): 28.Nxc6!? Bh4!! (good for Black); White wins after 28...fxg2 (28...Kh8 also seems to fall short) 29.Nxe7+! Qxe7! 30.Qxc7 Qxc7 31.Rxc7 Rxc7 32.Bxf4! (32.Kxg2 Rg7+ is not as good for White) Rg7 33.Bxb5; a3): 28.Bxb5 Nxa5 (if 28...f2+!? {hoping for 29.Kxf2 Bh4+! followed by cxb5 since the second rank is now defended by the R/f7} 29.Kf1!) a311): 29.Rxa5 (a312): 29.Rxc7 Qxc7 30.bxa5 fxg2 a321): 31.Kxg2 f3+; a322): 31.Qxc6 Qxc6 32.Rxc6 Bd7 33.Rb6 Bxb5 34.Bxb5 f3!; a3112): 29.Rxa5 f2+ 30.Kf1 f3! 31.g3 Bf5 32.Qc3 Bd3+!! 33.Qxd3 Qh3+ 34.Kxf2 Qg2+ a31121): 35.Ke3 Bg5 mate; a31122): 35.Ke1 f2+ 36.Kd1 f1Q+ crashes through.]
27...Rg7+ 28.Kh1
[If a) 28.Kf1 Bh3+ 29.Ke2 Rg2+ 30.Kd1 Bxb4! If b) 28.Kf2 Bh4+ 29.Ke2 Rg2+ b1): 30.Kf1 Bh3!; b2): 30.Kd1 Rg1+ 31.Ke2 Qg7! (31...Rg2+ is a perpetual check if Black wants) 32.Rxg1 Qxg1 33.Ra8+ Nd8! 34.Bxb5!? (creating space for the King on d3) Rg7! 35.Bxc6? Rg2+ 36.Kd3 Bf5+ wins the Queen; this line is not forced but it does illustrate White's problems.]
28...Bh3 29.Bf1?
[If a): 29.Bxf4 Bg2+ 30.Kg1 Qh3 31.Bg3 Bxf3 threatens Rxg3+ and Rf8. If b): 29.Rg1!, White may be able to hold the game, and even win if Black is not very careful: 29...Rxg1+ 30.Kxg1 Bh4! 31.Bxf4 Qg7+ b1): 32.Bg3! Bxg3 33.hxg3 Qxg3+ 34.Kh1 Qxf3+ 35.Kh2! may hold because of the weakness of h7, since 35...Rc7?! {intending 36...Rg7} allows 36.Ra8+! Kg7 37.Bxh7! Kh6 38.Rg8!! winning for White because of the pending mate on g6; b2): 32.Kh1 Rf8 33.Bg3 Bxg3 34.hxg3 Rxf3 35.Nc5!? Rxg3! 37.Rxb7 Rg1+ 38.Kh2 Qg3 mate (again, not forced, but it is a plausible variation).]
29...Bxf1 30.Rxf1 Qh3!
[White is now in deep trouble. He finds the only defence giving up the Exchange for a pawn, allowing him to stay in the game.]
31.Rf2 Bh4! 32.Bxf4 Bxf2?
[Wins the Exchange, but misses an immediate win with 32...Rf8! (Hans Jung). This is clear after 33.Bh6 Rxf3! or 34.Bg3 Rxg3!]
33.Qxf2 Rf8 34.Bg3! Qf5 35.Nd2!
[I had missed this move, which defends both f3 and b1, when I hastily played my 32nd move. Now White may be able to survive, although Black is certainly much better. Both players were in some time pressure.]
35...Nd8! 36.Rxg7+?
[His last chance was a retreat with 36.Ra1 with some drawing chances. Now Black's pieces become much too active against White's unsafe King.]
36...Kxg7 37.Bh4 Ne6 38.Bf6+ Kf7
[Black's King will be perfectly safe here. White's pieces are now separated and uncoordinated, and the many open lines allow for a quick conclusion.]
39.Qe3 Ra8 40.Qc3 Qh3 41.Qd3 Ra1+ 42.Nb1 Nf4!
[White's Queen is overwhelmed with royal duties. She cannot simultaneously defend the squares b1, f1, f3, and g2.]
0-1.
[An original, hard-fought game, not without its mistakes, but with many memorable moments.]
WHITE: Rob Hutchison 1775
BLACK: Frank Dixon 1940
EVENT: Kingston Club Championship 2004
OPENING: English/Reti, New York System, A12
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1. Nf3 d5
[Beforehand, this game had me quite concerned, since Rob, playing Black, had defeated top seed Raja Panjwani (2207), the tournament's defending champion, in round one, an upset of about 450 rating points. Although I have done very well against Rob in previous games, only losing once in serious games over a ten-year period, our most recent game from February had me in some trouble, as Rob surprised me in the opening and played much faster than he had in our previous encounters, avoiding the clock trouble which had plagued him. I had to agree to a draw by perpetual check while I was up the Exchange, since my King was under some serious fire. I decided to be first with the opening surprise this time.]
2. c4 c6 3. g3 Nf6 4. b3 Bf5
[This posting of the bishop characterizes the New York System, named from the tournament there in 1924 which featured most of the world's best players. I decided to give my favorite King's Indian Defence the night off, to try something different, for a change, because Rob and I have played several games in the King's Indian in previous events. This decision proves to be double-edged, since Rob knows his pet lines very well, and I walked right into one of them! This caused me a few anxious moments. But I believe that trying out new systems under the pressure of tournament play can only be beneficial in the long run for a player's development. Of course, it is optimal to try out any new systems which are under consideration, in a few friendly games beforehand, against other opponents, to get a feel for their intricacies.]
5. Bb2 h6
[To provide a retreat for the B/f5.]
6. Bg2 e6 7. O-O Nbd7 8. d3 Bd6
[A bit of an audacious post; safer is 8...Be7.]
9. Nbd2 O-O
[Likely better are 9...Qe7, 9...e5, and 9...Bh7, but this move has also been played in a few Master games. This line did very well for White when it started being played in the 1920s, but more recent games have balanced the chances. Euwe -- Fontein, Holland 1925, had 9...Qe7 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 Bg4 13.e5 Nxe5 14.Bxe5 Bxe5 15.Re1 Nd7 16.Qc2 Bxa1 17.Rxe7+ Kxe7 18.Qe4+ Be6 and White won. A.Neilson -- Spielmann, Stockholm match 1924, had 9...e5 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 Bh7 12.Qe2 0-0 13.Rad1 Qe7 14.Nh4 Ba3 16.Ba1 Rfe8, and again White won. Bogolyubov -- Staehelin, Bern 1932, saw 9...0-0 10.cxd5 exd5 11.e4 Bg4 12.h3 Bxf3 13.Nxf3 Re8 14.Nh4 dxe4 15.dxe4 Be5 16.Bxe5 Nxe5 17.f4 Qb6+ 18.Kh2 Rad8, with White winning again. The slower 10.Qe1 was played in Vencke -- Meyerhold, Osterroenfeld 1996: 10...Bh7 11.e4 dxe4 12.dxe4 e5 13.a3 a5 14.Nh4 Re8 15.Rd1 Qe7 16.Nb1 Nc5, with Black winning. In Kolarov -- Padevsky, Bulgarian Championship playoff match 1964, Black tried 9...Bh7 10.e4 dxe4 11.dxe4 e5! 12.Qe2 Qe7 13.a3 0-0 14.b4 b6 with Black a bit better, and winning in 50 moves. The stronger 11.Nxe4! was played in Donchenko -- Klovans, Tallinn 1965: 11...Be7 12.Nxf6+ Bxf6 13.d4 0-0 14.Qe2 Re8 15.b4 a5 16.a3 Nb6 =, and drawn in 26 moves.]
10. e4
[Rob preferred 10.cxd5 cxd5 first, and then 11.e4, in the post-mortem, pointing out that this exchange would take away a nice secure post for Black's Queen on c7, which proved handy in the game. This exchange would be a bit similar to the games Euwe -- Fontein and Bogolyubov -- Staehelin which are quoted above. GMC Jonathan Berry, commenting several years ago on a game played in this variation, noted that in these sorts of positions, the whole seems to be greater than the sum of the parts, since a small change in the position can lead to a completely different plan being most appropriate.]
10... dxe4 11. dxe4 Bg4
[This seems to be new. In Koshy -- M. Ferguson, British Championship, Dundee 1993, Black accepted the pawn sacrifice with 11...Bxe4 12.Nxe4 Nxe4 13.Nh4 Ndf6 14.Qe2 Ng5 15.Rad1 Qc7 16.Bxf6 gxf6 17.Qh5 Kg7 18.f4 Nh7, giving White very good play for the pawn; this game was eventually drawn. In Grimm -- Lemanczyk, Germany NRW League 1999-2000, White varied with 13.Re1 Ndf6 14.Nh4 Ng5 15.Qe2 Re8, also leading to a draw.]
12. h3 Bxf3 13. Nxf3
[Offering the thematic pawn sacrifice in a slightly different situation.]
13... Qc7
[I didn't like the looks of 13...Nxe4?! 14.Nd4!, or 14.Nh4!, although perhaps 14...Ndf6 is playable in either case. Black's position seemed to be too loose, and I didn't want to spend a lot of time on the clock, to delve deeper by analysis, so early in the game.]
14. Qe2 Bc5
[Threatening 15...Qxg3.]
15. e5 Nh7
[Retreating to the back rank would interfere with development.]
16. Nd2 Rae8 17. Ne4 Be7 18. f4 f5
[Here I was hoping for 19.exf6 Nhxf6 20.Nxf6 Bxf6!, defending the e-pawn with the rook, and opposing the bishop on the a1-h8 diagonal, with a roughly equal position.]
19. Nc3
[White has played excellently so far, and correctly avoids the above exchanges, which would level out the position and free Black's game. White has a clear advantage, with more space and the two bishops. But the position is original and it is not easy to find the right middlegame plan to proceed.]
19... Kh8
[Black should play 19...g6 immediately, for reasons explained below!]
20. Kh2
[White wanted to get his King off the g1-a7 diagonal, but better here was 20.Kh1, staying out of the X-ray of Black's Queen on c7. I was concerned about 20.Qh5!, here and later, with a bind coming on Black's Kingside. As it turned out, Rob and I both noticed this move during the game!]
20... Rg8
[Again the immediate 20...g6 is likely best, although I thought this would encourage him to play 21.g4!?]
21. Rab1
[Starting to drift. This slow plan, though thematic, achieves little here since Black's Queenside is well-protected; the strike 21.Qh5! is still best.]
21... a5 22. a3 g6
[Now Black is back in the game, since he has prevented the Queen incursion, and is able to gain a bit of space for expansion on the Kingside.]
23. Bc1 Rg7 24. b4 axb4 25. axb4 Reg8
[Black has equalized the position, and is now ready to break on the g-file.]
26. Be3 g5 27. Rg1 gxf4 28. gxf4
[The correct recapture is 28.Bxf4! Bg5, and now the exchange of bishops would leave White with few problems, as analysis after the game showed. Black does gain entry on the g-file with his rooks, but careful defense will neutralize attacking chances there. Returning to the game position, Black spots the preconditions for a strong and interesting combination, which his previous play has helped to set up: 1) Undefended N/c3 which can be attacked from the e5 square, 2) B/e3 blocking the Q/e2's defence of the e5-pawn, 3) open g-file with Black rooks doubled there, 4) White's King in line with Black's Queen on the h2-b8 diagonal, blocked only by the pawns on e5 and f4. 5) White's King position checkable from g4 by a knight. So...]
28... Nxe5 29. Bd4
[Looks tempting. Losing is 29.fxe5? Qxe5+ 30.Kh1 Qxc3 with two pawns up. Likely holding the game, as found in the post-mortem, is 29.b5! Nd7 (to guard the f6 square so that 30.Bd4 is met with Bf6) 30.bxc6 bxc6, and Black cannot break through; he has to content himself with an advantage, and his e-pawn will require protection.]
29... Ng4+
[The sort of sacrificial move which is easy to miss. After all, the knight was pinned to the rook, which was itself pinned to the Black King! Now White has several ways to lose, and one way to hang on for dear life. But he responds quickly, not grasping the depth of complexity in the position.]
30. hxg4
[This loses quickly. Also losing are a) 30.Kg3? Ngf6+! a1) 31.Kh4 Qxf4+ and mates; a2) 31.Kf3 Rg3+ and mates; a3) 31.Kh2 Qxf4+ 32.Kh1 Qxd4 with a piece and two pawns up. But b) 30.Kh1! seems to present quite a tough defence! During the game I noticed this possibility, and was trying to decide between playing safely, and going for a spectacular mate with b1) 30...Qxf4? 31.Bxg7+! Rxg7 32.hxg4 Rxg4, and now Black has very good winning chances in a King hunt against any move except 33.Rgf1!! I saw this move before I played 28...Nxe5! The reason this is a problem is that this rook move attacks Black's Queen, presenting an immediate challenge to the rook-down attacker; it also defends key squares around White's King, which will have to walk out of the corner in response to checks, and most importantly it allows White's King access to e1 and escape on d1! For example, after 33.Rgf1!! Rh4+ 34.Kg1 Qh2+ 35.Kf2 Qf4+ 36.Ke1!, and the attack is essentially over, with Black lost, since his threats are exhausted, and he is a rook down for not enough compensation. So, having seen this variation, why then did I still play the nice combination on move 28!? Well, the reason is that Black has a way to avoid this line, by playing b2) 30...Ngf6!, where he remains a pawn up, and has defused White's threat of winning the Exchange on g7, by blocking the long diagonal with his knight, which is well-defended. In this position, after variation b2, Black is much better, but is not yet won. Black has a target pawn on f4, his rooks are doubled on the g-file, and his King is safe. White should probably continue 31.Be5! Bd6!, and Black will now have play against a weak g3 square, which can be hit by playing Q/c7-f7 to protect a knight moving to h5 and from there to g3. So, to sum up, the combination is sound, since against even best play by White, Black winds up with a big advantage, by exiting with 30...Ngf6!. As we will see, against weaker defence, the game is won, so the above critical decision at move 30 is avoided!]
30... Qxf4+ 31. Kh1 Qxd4 32. Nd1 Rxg4
[Everything flows together for Black, recovering his piece, with three pawns up, and his attack still continuing. He is now threatening the very strong 33...Rh4+ winning further material.]
33. Nf2 Rh4+ 34. Bh3 Rxg1+ 35. Rxg1 Ng5 36. Rg3 Bd6 37. Rd3 Qf4 38. Rxd6
[White has to surrender at least a further Exchange to prevent mate on h2.]
38... Qxd6 39. Qb2+ Kh7 40. Qf6 Qd7 41. Kg2 Nxh3
[Returning the Exchange leads to an easy Queen ending win with three extra pawns.]
42. Qxh4 Nxf2 43. Qxf2 e5 44. b5 f4 45. Qc2+ Kg7 46. b6 Qg4+ 0-1
WHITE: Jeff Towers
BLACK: Frank Dixon
EVENT: Casual Game, Ottawa 2004
OPENING: English, Botvinnik, A24
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.c4 Nf6 2.Nc3 g6 3.g3 Bg7 4.Bg2 d6 5.e4 0-0 6.Nge2 Nbd7 7.d3 e5 8.0-0 c6 9.h3 Qc7
[Hebert -- K.Spraggett, Quebec Open, Montreal 1982, continued 9...a6 10.Be3 b5 11.Qd2 Rb8 12.b3 Nc5 13.Rae1 Re8 14.Qc2 Nfd7, with Black eventually winning.]
10.f4 Rb8
[Seems to be a new move, according to chessbase.com. After 8...c6, there are 278 games listed, now we are on new ground.]
11.Be3 a6 12.Qd2 b5 13.f5 bxc4 14.dxc4 a5 15.g4 Ba6!? 16.b3
[The immediate 16.g5 would have been answered by 16...Nh5!, which seems quite good for Black. White prevents this with his next move, covering the h5-square with his knight, and forcing Black's knight to retreat to the back rank, but not before Black swings his King's rook to the Queenside.]
16...Rb4 17.Ng3 Rfb8 18.fxg6 hxg6
[Black has captured towards the centre on both pawn exchanges. The questions are, how dangerous is White's play down the open f-file, and does Black have sufficient counterplay on the queenside!?]
19.g5! Ne8 20.Rf3 a4 21.Raf1! Nf8!?
[Provocative, inviting White into f7.]
22.Rxf7 Qxf7 23.Rxf7 Kxf7
[So White has won Black's Queen and a pawn for his two rooks. Who will be better in this very interesting and yet fairly common unbalanced material situation, with many unclear possibilities for both sides!? American GM Edmar Mednis, who unfortunately died a few years ago, covers this topic in one of his popular instructional books. Black must coordinate his pieces very well in order to keep the balance, and cannot allow White's Queen to get loose.]
24.Nxa4 Bxc4 25.Qf2+ Kg8 26.Nb6 Be6 27.Bf1 Nc7 28.Nc4 Bxc4
[A difficult decision, since the immediate 28...d6-d5 came into strong consideration. But I did not want to allow this knight into d6.]
29.Bxc4+ d5 30.exd5 cxd5
[So Black has the central duo of passers, while White pins his hopes on his two bishops and passed queenside pawns.]
31.Bf1 Nfe6 32.Bd2 R4b7
[Not the immediate 32...Rf8? because of 33.Bxb4! Rxf2 34.Kxf2, where White is better.]
33.h4 Rf8!
[Now this is strong, seizing the open file which White had earlier created.]
34.Qg2 Rbb8
[This first. If 34...e4? 35.Nxe4! dxe4 36.Qxe4, creating counterplay against the undefended rook on b7, and the weak g6-pawn.]
35.b4 e4! 36.a4? Bd4+ 37.Kh1 Rf2! 38.Qh3 Rxd2 39.b5!?
[So Black has won a piece, but the game is by no means over, because there is still a lot of material on the board, and White has dangerous passed pawns on the queenside. Coordination of pieces will be a must for Black now.]
39...Rf8 40.a5 Nf4!
[A perilous possibility which had to calculated carefully, as White's Queen now invades Black's Home Counties.]
41.Qd7! Nce6! 42.a6 Rf7! 43.Qc8+ Nf8! 44.Qb8 Rb2!
[Stopping the passed pawns in their tracks.]
45.Qa8 e3! 46.Qe8 Rb1 47.Kh2 e2!
[This is too strong, breaking White's resistance.]
48.Nxe2 Nxe2 49.Bxe2 Rf2+!
[For the second time, Black invades with a rook check on this square as a prelude to winning a bishop.]
50.Kg3 Rg1+ 51.Kh3 Re1 52.Qd8 Rexe2 53.Qxd5+ Ne6!
[Guarding the bishop on d4.]
54.Qc4 Re3+ 55.Kg4 Rf4# 0-1
[All of Black's pieces cooperate to produce the final mate, which has a certain symmetrical beauty.]
WHITE: Frank Dixon (1980)
BLACK: Alex Danilov (2100)
EVENT: Smiths Falls Open, 1990
OPENING: English, Symmetrical, A37
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.c4 c5
[My opponent in this game has a very strong Kingston connection. He is the son of Dr. George Danilov, who was one of the founders of the present-day Kingston Chess Club in the mid-1950s. Dr. George Danilov won the Kingston Whig-Standard Championship several times, and he also donated the trophy which serves for the Kingston Chess Club Championship. I finally managed to win this trophy for the first time (after some half-a-dozen near misses!) in 2004. Dr. George Danilov was a National Master strength player, a Medical Doctor, while his son Alex is also a Doctor, of Science, Physics. Dr. George Danilov defeated IM Feodor Bohatirchuk in a team match, Kingston vs. Ottawa, in the 1960s. IM Bohatirchuk had defeated former World Champion GM Mikhail Botvinnik at least three times, without losing, in the Soviet Union, before Botvinnik became World Champion. Dr. George Danilov also drew a simul game with GM Alexander Alekhine in Yugoslavia in the 1930s, while Alekhine was World Champion!]
2.Nc3 Nf6 3.g3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nxd5
[A rare but seemingly perfectly playable continuation, in this reverse Sicilian Dragon position, which is not mentioned in the major sources.]
5...Qxd5 6.Nf3
[Checking a games database here gives the conclusion that the variation hasn't been played enough to yield a main line. At the time this game was played, games databases were just starting to make their way from specialized use by GMs into more general application by class players. Here are a few examples by strong players. 1) W. Ohrbach -- Reti, Bad Homburg 1927: 1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.Nc3 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5 5.Nxd5 Qxd5 6.g3 g6 7.Bg2 Bg7 8.d3 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Nd2 Qd7 11.Ne4 b6 12.Rb1 Bb7, which looks fairly even, and wound up drawn. 2) Fuchs -- Letelier, Moscow Olympiad 1956: 6...e5 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.d3 Be6 9.0-0 Qd7 10.Be3 Rc8 11.Qa4 f6 12.Rfe1 b6 13.a3 Na5 14.Qxd7+ Kxd7, also about even, and ending drawn. 3) Saidy -- Bisguier, U.S. Open, Omaha 1959: 6...e5 7.d3 Be7 8.Bg2 0-0 9.0-0 Nc6 10.Be3 Qe6 11.a3 Bd7 12.Nd2 b6 13.Ne4!? Rad8, which looks fairly even; Black won. 4) I.Raicevic -- Ninov, Dortmund Open 1989: 6...Nc6 7.Bg2 g6 8.0-0 Bg7 9.d3 Qd6 10.Nd2 b6 11.Qa4 Bb7 12.Qh4 Qd7, also even, winding up drawn.]
6...e5 7.Bg2 Nc6 8.O-O Be7
[The game has reached a form of Reversed Maroczy Bind, a common formation in the Accelerated Dragon. It turns out that Alex Danilov actually often plays this White formation when he is Black, which was unknown to me during the game!]
9.b3 O-O
[We are seemingly on new territory after this move.]
10.Bb2 Qd6 11.d3 Be6 12.Rc1 Rad8 13.Nd2 b6 14.Nc4 Bxc4 15.bxc4
[So White has obtained the two bishops, as well as being able to capture with his b-pawn towards the centre. With a slight advantage, he then goes after the e-pawn. In doing so, he gives up his good bishop, which protects his King; perhaps this is too high a price for a centre pawn!]
15...Bg5 16.Rb1 Qd7!?
[Offering the e-pawn; I decided to snap it off.]
17.Bxc6 Qxc6 18.Bxe5 Rfe8! 19.Bc3 Qe6! 20.Rb2 a5 21.e3 Qh3!
[Black certainly has some compensation for his pawn: his pieces are active, while White's position is a bit uncoordinated, as will be soon seen.]
22.f4?!?
[What else!?]
22...Rxe3!?
[An amazing idea. Black gives up a rook and a piece, then regains the piece, and winds up with a perpetual check from a disadvantageous position!]
23.fxg5 Rdxd3 24.Rd2 Rxg3+! 25.hxg3 Rxg3+
[Black needs to be very careful, as his back rank could turn into a huge liability.]
26.Kf2 Rg2+ 27.Ke1 Qe3+ 28.Re2 Qxc3+ 29.Qd2 Qa1+ 30.Qd1 Qc3+ 31.Qd2 Qa1+ 1/2
[There is no avoiding the perpetual check. White doesn't have time to enjoy his extra rook, or to mate Black on the back rank! My opponent said that this was a very lucky escape for Black, but it sure took a lot of nerve and foresight to play it.]
French Defence
Coppin - Sibbald: French - Exchange, C01
Sibbald - Panjwani: French - Winawer, C17
de la Para - Gordon: French - Advance, C02
Dixon - Smith: French Defence, Burn/Rubinstein, C11
Dixon - Profit: French Defence, Winawer, C18
Dixon - Profit: French - Winawer, C18
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Wayne Coppin
BLACK: Peter Sibbald
EVENT: Kingston Whig-Standard Open Swiss 2002
OPENING: French Defence, Exchange C01
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.exd5 ...
The Exchange Variation of the French Defence has something of a reputation for being drawish... an ironic choice of openings for two opponents playing to win in the last round. However with the exception of the horrific time trouble blunder, this game is a good illustration of how to build a winning game. White does not try to force things with unnecessary risks, but instead patiently exploits what Black gives with sound strategic moves that fit the game's pawn structure. Forget the result (trust me- I won't for a very long time). This is an instructive game.
3... exd5 4.c4 ...
The first point: I agree with the pundits that the 4.Bd3 lines do tend to be drawish. However the text introduces a dynamic tension in the centre... anything but drawish. Compare the structure to that found in the Botvinik-Panov Attack in the Caro Kann or some lines in the Nimzo-Indian. Those same pundits would surely not consider those openings to be dull or drawish. White is willing to accept the slight potential ending disadvantage of the isolated d-pawn. However as one chess wit observed, "Before the endgame, the gods have placed the middlegame." If Black swaps out of the centre, White will have two very large pluses- 1. More space in the centre (and he who controls the centre controls the game) 2. A gain of a precious tempo that can be decisive in a game featuring open lines everywhere for attack. Peter knows that I enjoy playing wild open games (probably accounting for his choice of the French rather than the Sicilian that he was playing all tournament) and thus decides to keep the tension in the centre.
4... Nf6 5.Nc3 Bb4
This is a "book" line, but I think it is inferior to 5...,Be7. In this line, Black will be virtually forced to give up the Two Bishops giving White a small but comfortable advantage. Note also that when Black swaps on c3, White will recapture with the b-pawn- eliminating the isolani and making Queenside castling very dangerous because of the open b-file.
6.Bd3 ...
White wants to play the Ng1 to e2 in order to play against Black's Bc8 and against d5. It is an idea often seen in the games of the free thinking Americans Maurice Ashley and Josh Waitzkin. True- 6...,dxc4 is no longer a loss of tempo since White will have to move again to recapture, but then White would have the advantages of central space and open lines plus the possibility to exploit the loose Bb4.
6... Be6
This gain of tempo is actually too passive in this line in my opinion. For better or worse, I think Black should probably continue aggressively since now White gets a long positional based initiative. The line 6...,dxc4 7.Bxc4,Bf5 offers a more active piece potential. I had planned to exploit that by playing an eventual Ng1-e2-g3 followed by f2-f4-f5 gaining space on the kingside while playing against the light squared Bee. A sharp game with chances for both sides would result.
7.c5 Nc6
The problem with playing 7...,c6 (intending to provide a retreat for the Bb4) is that White gains a number of free moves to expand on the queenside. Meanwhile White's Bc1 will go to f4 and probably swap the Bees anyway meaning that White will be able to anchor a piece on e5 in support of attack on either side of the board. In short, it would be a plan that takes Black far too much time to realize. White would have a big plus.
8.Ne2 Qd7 9.Qc2 ...
Black was threatening to activate his "big pawn" by Bf5. Note that ...,Bg4? is met strongly by f3! when ...,Bh5 runs into Nf4 with advantage. White's Bc1 easily covers the weakened e3 square and Black cannot coordinate an attack on it anyway.
9... Bxc3 10.bxc3 ...
Capturing with either the Queen or the Knight to avoid the doubled pawns would be a strategic mistake here. Consider the logic- White's pieces are aggressively pointed at the kingside so Black would probably love to skip over to the queenside with his King. Now that the b-file is opened, Black accepts great risks in castling queenside.
10... h6
Since Black dare not castle queenside, he is more or less forced to play this weakening prophylactic else Bg5 would be brutal. Note that while White is attacking in this game, it is through indirect means... playing 7.c5 which virtually forced Black to give up the Two Bishops, then taking away any good squares for Black's Be6 with 8.Ne2 and 9.Qc2, and finally 10.bxc3 which discouraged Black from castling queenside and more or less forced the weakening text move in order to castle kingside. Positional chess is still attacking chess... just a bit more subtle than "sac, sac and mate". :-)
11.0-0 0-0 12.Nf4 ...
Of course. Now that g6 is weakened a bit, I inch closer while establishing a tension on Be6 (ie. I can take it when I please and there is nothing he can do about it.) I will use that tension to increase the pressure on his cramped game.
12... b6?
Whoops! Black is probably lost now. Why? Because now I can establish two separate tension points in his position and he must always be watchful of my threat to exchange on both. This will seriously reduce his defensive options.
13.Ba3 Rfe8 14.Rae1 ...
By bringing this Rook over I have another threat- 15.Nxe6 forcing ...,fxe6 (a major structural weakness) since ...,Rxe6 is met by 16.Bf5 and Black will not have 16...,Rxe1 with check... an important point.
14... Ne7 15.Nxe6...
I would have preferred to have the time to double before swapping but Black was threatening ...,Bf5 again.
15... fxe6 16.Re2 ...
Even a cursory glance at the diagrammed position is enough to reveal White's winning plan. The e6 pawn is backwards on an open file and Black has no effective way to contest the e5 square to eliminate the constricting weakness. A closer look will also show that 15... fxe6 left behind a serious light squared weakness around Black's King. My opponent is a strong player and he has seen the writing on the wall. Rather than suffer through a losing passive defence, he took a long time seeking an active way to break out of the bind.
16... Ne4!?
Peter is a practical player so this reaction was not unexpected. He pitches a pawn to eliminate my strong light squared Bee. I briefly considered kicking him out with f3 followed by f4 (after ...,Ng5) but it was too soon to lever his e6 weakness and I did not want to put another pawn on the dark squares until I was ready to push it to f5. Besides- a pawn is enough to win given that his e6 pawn is probably still a goner too.
17.Bxe4 dxe4 18.Rxe4 ...
Else c3 would be hanging after ...,Nd5.
18... Nd5 19.Rfe1 b5
Black eliminates his other tension point but it has cost him yet another tempo.
20.Bb2 ...
Toying with the idea of playing c4, but most of all it is sending Black a message- I am telling him that I do not think that he can improve his position much more than it is already. In retrospect, with time trouble looming large, I should have simply played the direct 20.Bc1 intending (among other things) 21.Bf4.
20... Nf6 21.R4e2 Re7 22.Qg6 ...
Time trouble. I should have waited.
22... Qe8 23.Qc2 ...
Unlike pawns, incorrectly moved pieces can retreat. :-) Having said that, swapping would also probably have won but the chore would be much more difficult.
23... Qc6 24.Bc1 Rae8??!!
With time running dangerously low for both players, Black uncorked this lemon instantly. It loses by force. That accounts for the "??". The "!!" are for playing what amounts to a psychological trap... now his Queen can no longer get to e8... and I glanced at my clock and the spectators gathered for the show and I moved...
25.Bxh6?? ...
... and with one careless, thoughtless move I threw away a piece, the game and the tournament. Unbelievable! After 25.Qg6 he is simply busted. Observe: 25...,Nd5 26.Bxh6,Nxc3 27.Rxe6!,Qd7 28.Bxg7!!,Rxe6 29.Bf6+,Kf8 30.Qxh6+,Kg8 31.Qh8+,Kf7 32.Qg7 mate. Other lines are just as bad if not so "pretty". As soon as I chopped the pawn I realized what I had done but it was too late.
25... gxh6 26.f4 Rg7! 27.f5 exf5 28.Rxe8+ Nxe8 29.d5 Qxc5+ 30.Kh1 Nd6 0-1
[Notes: W. Coppin]
WHITE: Peter Sibbald
BLACK: Raja Panjwani
EVENT: Kingston Chess Club 2003
OPENING: French, Winawer, C17
Notes by P. Sibbald
1.e4 e6
The first surprise! I was expecting a Sicilian. Good psychology by Raja as I am known to favour the French as black.
2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.e5 b6
Main line is 4... c5 The idea of course is to exchange the bad light squared bishop by playing it to a6. White can play Qg4 here or a3 according to NCO.
5.a3 Bf8 6.Nf3 ...
NCO prefers Bb5+ but I had no intention of falling behind in development after c6.
6... Ba6 7.Ne2 ...
This was my first hard decision. I liked the look of 7.Bxa6 Nxa6 8. Qe2 Nb8 but played the game idea of 7.Ne2 because a) it makes c3 possible b) it prevents the exchange of Bishops. The downside however is a loss of time...
7... c5 8.c3 Nc6 9.Qa4 Bb7
I was expecting Qc8, keeping the bind on the Ne2.
10.Ng3 a6 11.Be3 Qc7 12.Rc1 b5
Over the previous several moves white might have tried Bd3 followed by Bb1 with the idea of then playing Qc2 when the Q gets kicked with b5.
13.Qd1 c4
A very important decision and one that I normally agonize over as black. The idea of closing the Q-side is attractive as black then can castle long behind the pawns. However, here I think the idea is not nearly as good as when there are pawns on c2 and c3 as often occurs in the Winawer.
14.Be2 0-0-0 15.0-0 ...
Accepting the challenge. Both sides will now use their pawns to attack the opponent's kings.
15... f6 16.a4 ...
I decided that it was worth giving up the e pawn to activate the black B. i.e., 16...fxe5 17. Nxe5 Nxe5 18. dxe5 Qxe5 leaves the black king fairly well ventilated. So of course Raja avoids this.
16... h6 17.axb5 axb5 18.b3 f5 19.Qc2 ...
It was obvious that the black pawns were going to come pouring in at my king. C'est la guerre! I figured (wrongly) that I could blockade them with some knights or bishops.
19... g5 20.Nh5 Qf7 21.Ne1 Nge7
Perhaps 21... f4 is better.
22.f4 g4 23.Ng3 h5 24.Ra1 h4 25.Nh1 Kb8 26.Qa2 Qh7 27.Nc2 Nc8 28.Rfb1 g3
29.h3 ...
Chessmaster recommends leaving the pawn on h2 and playing bxc4. If ..gh Kxh2 and the K is fairly safe. I wanted to play on the Q-side.
29... N8a7 30.Bf3 ...
Why? I did not like the lines where after bxc4 black plays dxc4 opening up that white B on b7. My king is safe, only if I keep a lid the centre. (Or so I thought)
30... Rd7 31.Rd1 ...
So what's this? I dream of bxc4 dxc4, d5! Funny how the human brain fails to function. (The immediate 31.bxc4 looks winning to us but we offer no analysis to back this intuition- ed.)
31... Kc7 32.bxc4 bxc4 33.Rdb1 ...
Where it belongs in the first place.
31... Kd8 32.Ne1 agreed drawn
How are the two sides to proceed? White might try Na3 but Bxa3 is strong. Basically, all exchanges favour black because of the Nh1. So I thought I might put a N on f3 via e1 and at least gently pressure h4. Black can either move his K to the king side, oppose Rooks on the a or b files. OR black can try to recycle say a N and sac it somewhere like f4 to try to crack open the king side. Not without danger. Anyway, without a clear path to advantage I played Ne1 and offered a draw, which was accepted.
WHITE: Francisco de la Para (1778)
BLACK: Dave Gordon (1825)
EVENT: Kingston Grand SNAFU 2003
OPENING: French - Advance, C02
Notes by Dave Gordon.
1. e4 c6
Caro-Kann
2. d4 d5 3. e5 c5
French Advanced
4. c3 Nc6 5. Bb5 cxd4 6. Qxd4 e6 7. Nf3 Bd7 8. Bxc6 bxc6 9. O-O Nge7
c5 looks better
10. Be3 Ng6 11. b4 Qc7 12. Nbd2 Be7 13. Nb3 O-O 14. Rad1 f6 15. exf6 Bxf6 16. Qd2 e5 17. Bc5 Rfe8 18. c4 d4 19. Ng5 Bg4 20. f3 Bf5 21. Ne4 Be7 22. Rfe1 Rad8 23. Bxe7 Qxe7 24. c5 Be6 25. Nd6 Rf8 26. Na5 Bd5 27. Ne4 Rf4 28. Nb3
retreat
28... Nh4
attack, hoping for the cheapo 29. g3 Nxf3+
29. Nxd4 Bxe4 30. Qxf4
reaching time control, White self-destructs
30... exf4 31. Rxe4 Qg5 32. Rd2 Rxd4! 0-1
winding up with R vs Q, White resigns
WHITE: Frank Dixon
BLACK: WFM Hazel Smith (FIDE 2051, CFC 2078)
EVENT: Ontario Open, Brantford 2004 (2)
OPENING: French Defence, Burn / Rubinstein, C11
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4
[It is often difficult for Black to obtain counterplay in this line. I share an interesting pre-history with my opponent. Many years ago, as a high school student, I appeared in a musical production with the grandfather of Hazel Smith, Neil Smith, in Deep River, a small town in the upper Ottawa Valley. The show was "The Music Man", where Neil played the lead role of a musical instrument salesman visiting a small Iowa town (which was idealized as 'River City'), while I had a small part in the cast as Tommy, a local teenager. Hazel is the youngest titled player in the history of Canadian chess, on the strength of her outstanding showing at the World Youth Championship 2003 in Greece, where she challenged to win the Girls' Under 12 group. Hazel has since knocked off some strong Canadian masters, including FM Doug Bailey, in a recent tournament, and made a good result in the 2004 Canadian Ladies Championship in Toronto in April 2004. Hazel makes sure she has her lucky teddy bear sitting at boardside for all of her games!]
4.Nxe4 Nf6 5.Bg5 Be7 6.Bxf6 Bxf6 7.Nf3 Nd7
[The game has transposed into the Burn system, which is a bit better for Black than the pure Rubinstein. Although White has conceded the bishop pair, his knights control a lot of central territory.]
8.Bd3
[This slightly offbeat continuation has been played in quite a few games. It is logical and retains options of attack on either wing. Fischer -- Benko, Curacao Candidates' 1962, saw instead the more popular 8.Qd2.]
8...b6
[More thematic and accurate seems 8...c5: Holmov -- Orbaan, Szczawno Zdroj 1957, continued 9.Nxf6+ Nxf6 10.dxc5 Qa5+ 11.Qd2 Qxc5 12.0-0-0 Bd7 13.Rhe1 0-0 +/=, and eventually drawn.]
9.Qe2 Bb7 10.0-0-0 Qe7
[So far in Alexander -- Foltys, Margate 1937, which continued 11.Rhe1 0-0-0 12.Ba6 Qb4 13.Bxb7+ Kxb7, and Black held the draw.]
11.h4 0-0-0
[Seems to be the best decision, as castling Kingside would run into strong attacking prospects for White, with a bishop pointed at h7 and the h-pawn already advanced. This double Queenside castling formation seems to be quite rare in this variation.]
12.Kb1
[This seems new, according to ChessBase. Two games had reached the position after Black's 11th move, and both saw 12.Ba6 played. Aronian -- Manukian, Pasanauri 1997, went 12.Ba6 Nb8 13.Bxb7+ Kxb7 14.g4 Nc6 15.c3 Qd7 16.g5 Be7, with White winning. H.Hoffman -- M.Meyer, Germany BundesLiga 2 Nord 2000-01, went 12.Ba6 Rhe8 13.g3 h5 14.Nxf6 Qxf6 15.Ne5 Nxe5 16.dxe5 +/=, and White won.]
12...Kb8 13.g4 g6 14.g5 Bg7
[Having seized some space on the Kingside, White now centralizes his King's rook.]
15.Rhe1 Rhe8
[White has no more than a small advantage out of the opening.]
16.c3 e5 17.Qc2! Qf8
[Probably necessary, since the lineup on the e-file, which will likely open up soon, could be unfortunate for Black's Queen.]
18.Qa4 exd4
[Perhaps more accurate was 18...f5!?, with chances for counterplay.]
19.cxd4
[Retaining pawn control of both e5 and c5, making it difficult for Black to obtain activity.]
19...f5 20.Ned2 Qd6 21.Ba6! Bxa6 22.Qxa6 Qf4
[If 22...Bxd4, then 23.Nb3 regains the pawn due to the pin on the bishop.]
23.Rxe8 Rxe8 24.Qb5! Qd6?!
[Although the position looks innocent enough, Black is now getting into some difficulties, with a pin by White's Queen on the N/d7 to the R/e8. Probably better was the defensive 24...Rd8, although this does concede the open e-file to White, who would then have a clear advantage.]
25.Nc4!
[Gaining a tempo on the Queen, and preparing to jump into e5, a square which is now covered by both knights. White wants to get a knight to c6, and e5 is the perfect transit square for that operation.]
25...Qe6 26.Re1! Qf7
[Black is also in deep trouble after 26...Qxe1+ 27.Nxe1 Rxe1+, since she doesn't have enough for the Queen, and White retains dangerous chances.]
27.Rxe8+ Qxe8 28.Nfe5! Bxe5 29.Nxe5 Kc8
[A good swindling try would have been 29...Nf6!?, although White still wins after 30.Nc6+ Kb7 31.gxf6 Qe1+ 32.Kc2, as the King can avoid the perpetual check, and can also avoid lines where Black captures the knight on c6 with check and then stops the passed f-pawn with her Queen. Black clearly loses quickly after 31...Qxc6 32.Qxc6 Kxc6 33.f7 and the pawn queens.]
30.Qa6+ Kb8
[If 30...Kd8, then 31.Nc6#.]
31.Nc6+ 1-0
[It is all over after 31...Ka8 32.Qxa7#.]
WHITE: Frank Dixon
BLACK: Brian Profit
EVENT: Kingston Championship 2003
OPENING: French Defence, Winawer, C18
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4
[The famous Winawer variation, one of the most complex in chess.]
4.e5 c5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 Qc7 7.Nf3 b6
[This is a bit of a departure from the main lines, which continue with 7...Ne7 or 7...Nc6 or 7...Bd7. However, it is quite playable, and has seen use from top players recently.]
8.Bb5+
[Black seems to equalize against other tries.]
8...Bd7 9.Bd3 Ba4 10.0-0 Nc6
[In the 2003 Kingston Open, Peter Sibbald played 10...Ne7 against NM Miladin Djerkovic of Ottawa. That game continued 11.Ng5 h6 12.Qh5 Nd8 13.f4, and White won. The rest of this game will be posted on the KCC website in the future, as soon as I can find some time to get around to transcribing the rest of the gamescores. I believe that 10...Nc6 is better than 10...Ne7. However, a very interesting situation has now arisen, and not only on the board, as I will explain below. I play this line as Black myself, and I had reached this position as Black in several blitz games against Geoff McKay. He then came up with the following sacrifice, which is actually played in the game! The exceptionally funny sequel is that earlier on the evening that the current tournament game was played, Geoff and Brian played a warmup blitz game at the Club, in this very variation, where the sacrifice was played, and I didn't see this, since I was busy with my TD duties!! I only learned about this afterwards! Geoff won that game!]
11.Ng5!?
[This seems to be a novelty. Solid play would be 11.Ra2, not sacrificing the c-pawn. I had earlier played this move, in a somewhat different line in the French Winawer, against NM (now IM) Mark Bluvshtein at the PanAm Open in Toronto 1999, missing a win in time pressure and winding up with a draw. Somewhat surprisingly, there have been only five traceable games which have reached this position after Black's tenth move. In the game Vidarsson -- D.Kjartarsson, Iceland Championship, Reykjavik 1999, play continued 11.Be3 Na5 12.Ng5 h5 13.dxc5 bxc5 14.Qf3 Nc6 15.Qf4 c4 16.Bxc5 Nh6 17.Bd6 Qd7 18.Bh7 Ne7, and White eventually won.]
11...h6 12.Qh5 g6 13.Qh3 c4!
[In the post-mortem, both players agreed that this was better than 13...cxd4 14.cxd4 Bxc2 15.Bxc2 Qxc2 16.Be3, and White gets the c-file, which is why Brian avoided this way of accepting the pawn sacrifice.]
14.Be2 Bxc2 15.a4 Nge7 16.Ba3
[I am not sure if White has quite enough play for the pawn. But the position is certainly very interesting, and offers plenty of challenge to both players with the clock ticking.]
16...Kf8 17.Nxe6+!?
[This was the sacrifice which was originally played against me by Geoff McKay in blitz. I couldn't resist playing it in this tournament game, since I had had trouble against it from the Black side!]
17...fxe6
[If 17...Qd7 18.Nf4 bails White out, and he is better.]
8.Qxe6 Ke8!
[This was a bit of a surprise, although I did look at it. It is certainly better than 18...Rd8 19.Bd6! Qd7 20.Qxd5, which looks very good for White. Black gets his King out of the unpleasant pin on the a3-f8 diagonal.]
19.Bd6 Qd7 20.Qf6 Rf8 21.Qg7
[This was as far as I had seen before I sacrificed the knight, and I decided that White had decent compensation, although I was unsure what Black should do next.]
21...Qe6! 22.Qxh6 Kd7
[This looks good for Black, since he is evacuating his King, and the R/a8 should get into the game. White has only two pawns for the piece, so if Black can consolidate, he should have the advantage.]
23.Qd2 Bf5 24.Rad1!? Na5!
[Very alert play by Black, since it is preventing my intended sacrifice 25.Bxc4!, and is also heading for the hole on b3.]
25.Qb2 Nb3! 26.Qa3 Rf7 27.Rfe1
[Black was very short of time, and so White offered a draw here, which was turned down.]
27...Kc8
[I was expecting 27...Rh8 here, which I evaluated as better for Black.]
28.Bf3!?
[The critical position. After the game Brian indicated a): 28...Kb7?, but this is not good because of 29.Bxe7 Rxe7 (29...Qxe7 30.Qxe7 Rxe7 31.Bxd5+ wins) 30.Bxd5+ Qxd5 31.Qxe7, which is probably winning for White. Also to be considered was b): 28...Bc2!?, on which I intended 29.Bxe7 (planning to sacrifice the Exchange) b1): Bxd1 (if b2): 29...Rxe7, again 30.Bxd5 Qxd5 31.Qxe7 Bxd1 32.Rxd1) 30.Rxd1 Rxe7 (to be considered is 30...Rxf3!? 31.gxf3 Qh3) 31.Bxd5 Qxd5 32.Qxe7, reaching the same position, which I thought was winning for White, because Black's King position is weak, the R/a8 is out of play, and the e-pawn is very strong. So probably better is b3): 29...Qxe7 30.Qxe7 Rxe7 31.Bxd5 Bxd1 32.Rxd1 (probably better than 32.Bxa8 Bc2 33.Bd5 Na5!, picking up the a-pawn) Rb8 33.Bxc4 Na5 34.Bd3!, with four pawns for the rook. I think Black has a very tough defensive task ahead in this unusual endgame. Then, when I got home, I realized I underestimated the cool c): 28...Nc6!, which I think is clearly the best move for Black, removing the N/e7 as a target. I think White has to play 29.Re3, whereupon 29...Kb7 30.Rde1 Rh8 leaves Black better. Black has ideas such as taking on d4 with one of his knights, with the c2 square beckoning a fork. White now has no targets, and would face a difficult defensive battle to achieve a draw.]
28...Bg4??
[A deadly time pressure blunder, losing a piece.]
29.Bxg4 Qxg4 30.Bxe7 Rh7 31.Qd6! 1-0
[White has mating threats which can only be met by giving up more material.]
WHITE: Frank Dixon
BLACK: Brian Profit
EVENT: Kingston Championship 2004 Playoff Match (1)
OPENING: French Defence, C15
Notes by Frank Dixon.
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.a3
[Any move which has been played by Alekhine, Keres, Smyslov, and Fischer can't be too bad.]
4...Bxc3+ 5.bxc3 dxe4 6.f3!?
[Usual is 6.Qg4. This is the Wincklemannr Gambit, popular in German correspondence circles since the early 1990s. IM Nikolay Minev has written recently that this gambit needs more games before its true evaluation can be determined. I thought it might be a surprise for Brian, who has solid theoretical knowledge in his openings. Brian was rated 2200 a few years ago, but time constraints of career and family have limited his playing opportunities recently.]
6...Nd7!?
[Now it was my turn to be surprised, as I hadn't looked at this! Both players are now on their own at move seven! More popular are 6...e5, 6...exf3, 6...c5, 6...b6, and 6...Nf6, while 6...Qd5, 6...e3, and 6...f5?! are also seen occasionally. Black is presented with a significant choice at an early stage of the game.]
7.Be3 Ngf6 8.Bc4 b6 9.Qe2 Bb7 10.Bg5 h6 11.Bh4 Qe7 12.fxe4 Bxe4 13.Nf3 Bh7!
[Black is playing excellently.]
14.0-0 c6
[Hampering the d4-d5 advance.]
15.a4
[If 15.Rae1 Qxa3!? 16.Bxe6 0-0!]
15...0-0 16.Rae1
[On 16.Ne5 Rac8! (not 16...Nxe5? 17.dxe5 Qc5+ 18.Bf2! wins a piece) 17.Nxd7 Qxd7 18.Bxf6 gxf6 19.Rxf6 Bg6! 20.Qe3 Kh7 21.Bd3 Rg8 22.Raf1 Rcf8, White recovers his pawn, but Black has consolidated. I wanted to keep more pieces on the board.]
16...Qa3!?
[Complicating. The game seems roughly equal after 16...Rac8.]
17.Bb3 Ne4 18.Qe3 Qb2!? 19.c4 e5! 20.Rb1!
[Attempts to trap the audacious Black Queen backfire: 20.Be7? Rfe8 21.Bb4 exd4! 22.Nxd4 c5! 23.Rb1 cxd4! wins.]
20...Qc3
[White is better after 20...exd4?! 21.Qxe4! Qxb1 22.Qxh7+ Kxh7 23.Rxb1, with two pieces for the rook.]
21.Qxc3
[On 21.Qc1 exd4! 22.Be1 Qe3+ wins.]
21...Nxc3 22.Rbe1 exd4 23.Nxd4 c5 24.Nf5!
[Black's N/c3 has no squares; White now threatens 25.Rf3! winning.]
24...Bxf5 25.Rxf5 g5?
[The game is about equal after 25...Rfe8 (not 25...Rae8? 26.Be7!), but Brian was extremely short of time here.]
26.Bxg5!
[Based upon 26...hxg5 27.Rxg5+ Kh7 28.Rg3, regaining the piece.]
26...Rfe8 27.Rxe8+ Rxe8 28.Bxh6 Kh7?
[Black has drawing chances after 28...Ne2+ 29.Kf2 Nd4! 30.Rd5 Nf8!]
29.Rxf7+ Kxh6 30.Rxd7 Ne2+ 31.Kf2 Nd4 32.Rxa7 Rf8+ 33.Ke3!
[Easiest. 33.Kg3?, aiming to maintain the two Kingside passers, creates unnecessary problems, as Black's rook, knight, and King can create tactical chances against White's King.]
33...Re8+ 34.Kd3 Rg8 35.Ra6 Rxg2 36.Rxb6+ Kg5 37.a5 Rxh2 38.a6 1-0.
[After 38...Rh1 39.Ke4! Ra1 40.Kd5 Ra5 41.Kd6, White's King strolls to b7, queening the a-pawn.]
Irregular Opening
Jordan - Sibbald: Irregular, D02
Coppin - de la Para: Irregular Italian
¶ All Openings Index
WHITE: Harry Jordan (1617)
BLACK: Peter Sibbald (1999)
EVENT: Kingston Grand SNAFU 2003
OPENING: Irregular Opening, D02
Notes by Peter Sibbald.
1. Nf3 d5
This game fragment contains an encouraging lesson for all players, who like Harry, find themselves paired against a much stronger player in the first round of a Swiss. The lesson is this: anyone can screw up, just wait for it!
2. d4 e6 3. Bf4 c5
Good old ECO says that this is a D02. Helpful eh?! We are both now out of book.
4. Nbd2 Nc6 5. c3 Qb6
I thought that 4. Nbd2 was passive and decided to get an attack underway. If dxc5 the f2 pawn or b2 pawn falls. After the game Harry said that he thought that my taking the poisoned b2 pawn was bad for me so he provokes it by playing...
6. g3!? Qxb2 7. Nb3 c4?
Here is that screw up that we were waiting for! It is safer for white to exit with Qa3.
8. Bc1! Qxc3+
And here Harry could have either forced a draw with Bd2, Bc1,Bd2, Bc1... OR after 9. Bd2 Qb2 I could play Bb4+ but my Queen is very badly placed. Instead he played ...
9. Qd2? ...
And black exchanged Queens and went on to win.
The take home lesson? In all games players make mistakes. Don't assume just because your opponent is higher rat