Wednesday, the Albany Area Chess Club had some action. Three games in the unfolding preliminary battle for the Club Championship were played. In Preliminary Section 2 Peter Henner won when Glen Perry erred in what appeared to be a drawn ending. In a second game in this Section, Dean Howard benefited from an oversight by Jonathan Lack in a tough endgame, won a piece and shortly the game.
Gordon Magat faced Tim Wright in a playoff game for first place in Section 1. Gordon won in a game with lots of tactics.
The Howard - Lack game decided first place in Section 2. I think. Looking back over the information I have Dean has a lock on the prize, qualification for the title playoff. I must say my information is incomplete and uncertain. We will have to wait for the TD, Jon Leisner to publish the final cross table for this Section to be sure. This was a fighting game and there were chances for both sides.
Howard, Dean - Lack, Jonathan [C02]
AACC Prelim 2 Guilderland, NY, 19.01.2011
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Qb6 6.a3 Nge7 7.b4,..
This is not a popular way to play against the French Advanced for the best players. The only game between elite players in this line is Peng (2624) - Korchnoi (2659) in Calcutta, 2000. It was a draw in 23 moves. White usually takes a more complicated approach putting the K-side Knight on e2 and bringing the other Knight through d2 to f3 to make things as difficult as he can for Black.
7..., cxd4 8.cxd4 Nf5 9.Bb2 Be7 10.g4?!,..
Possible is 10 Bd3, because of an eventual check on b5 from Bd3 prevents the immediate win of the White d-pawn. The text risks problems for the White King.
10..., Nh4 11.Nbd2 Ng6!?
Cautious. More dynamic is 11..., h5; intending to emphasize the less than secure situation of the White King.
12.Rc1 f6 13.Bd3?,..
A better attempt is 13 h4. The text move gives Black advantage, not quite a winning edge but certainly measurable.
13..., Nf4 14.Nb3 fxe5 15.dxe5 0–0 16.Qc2?,..
Creating a hugely complex tactical situation that is not favorable for White. Somewhat safer is 16 0-0, but the game is difficult for White.
16..., Bxb4+!?
Miss-reading the possibilities. The sacrifice is tempting and incorrect, and all Black should achieve is a material imbalance with some winning chances. It releases the tension before wringing all benefit available. Better is 16..., Ng2+; then a) 17 Kg1 Ne3+! 18 fxe3 Qxe3 19 Nbd2 Rxf3+ 20 Nxf3 Qxf3+ 21 Kg1 Bd8!; recovering the Exchange with a pawn to the good. And if b) 17 Ke2 Nf4+ 18 Kf1 Nxd3 19 Qxd3 a5; and Black has a substantial advantage with a serious initiative. The game move, at best, leads to equality.
17.axb4 Nxb4?
Better is 17..., Qxb4+; then a) 18 Kf1 Nxd3 19 Qxd3 Qxg4 20 Nbd4 Qf4 21 Qe2 Bd7; and Black has three pawns plus the uncomfortable White King as compensation for the piece. His edge is small with lots of fight left in the position. The option b) 18 Ke2, leads to more troubles for White after 18..., Ng2+ 19 Ke2 Qxg4 20 Nbd2 d4; when Black is not clearly winning, but there are dangers everywhere for White.
The foregoing notes illustrate problems that often come when White chooses this line against the Advanced French. Now, after Black’s erroneous 17th move, White obtains the advantage with his next move. A guess is Mr. Lack did not value this resource for White very highly when taking on b4 with the Knight.
18.Bxh7+ Kh8 19.Qb1 Ng2+ 20.Kf1 Rxf3 21.Bd4,..
This may be the move that Mr. Lack missed in his calculations.
21..., Rxb3 22.Bxb6 Rxb1 23.Bxb1 Nf4 24.Bd4,..
It seems to me, and Rybka, that 24 Be3, is a better choice. A pair of minor pieces will be traded, and the advance of the h-pawn along with the possibility of White’s Bishop operating on the long diagonal as well as the penetration of a White Rook to the 7th bode ill for Black. White has some advantage while Black is not without his own opportunities.
24..., b6?!
This move looks suspicious. Better perhaps is 24..., Bd7; getting the Q-side pieces out discourage the sudden appearance of a Rook on c7 due to the activity the Black Bishop and two Knights can develop.
Trouble on the clocks was beginning to emerge. Mr. Howard had between four and five minutes on his, and Mr. Lack a more comfortable eighteen hereabouts.
25.Bc3?,..
In a single stroke White tosses away the advantage and soon has the worse position. Called for is 25 Rc7, maintaining the edge.
25..., Ba6+
A surprise that Dean must not have seen. Now the Bishop and Knights have their chance.
26.Kg1 Ne2+ 27.Kg2 Nxc1 28.Bxb4 Nd3 29.Bxd3 Bxd3 30.Rc1 Bc4 31.f4 a5 32.Bd6 Kg8 33.f5 Kf7 34.Bc7 Rc8?!
Black has visions of a discovered attack on the undefended Rook at c1. Unfortunately for Jonathan it was mirage. Better here is 34..., b5 35 Bd6, hoping to control the diagonal in front of the charging a and b-pawns, but 35..., d4; 36 Kf2 d3 37 Ke3? Rh1!; looks very promising for Black. This is particularly so because White now is down to less than three minutes on the clock, and a sudden change of the critical area of operations is hard to handle in time trouble.. Black had burned off some of his time edge but was still comfortable.
35.Bxb6 Bf1+? 36.Rxf1 1–0
The game went on for several moves more until Black was checkmated.
I don’t have the outcome of the Howard - Perry game that took place some weeks ago, and there is uncertainty that everything else I have in hand is correct. My best guess is this win puts Dean Howard in first place in Section 2. That brings us to the next game for today.
Magat, Gordon - Wright, Tim [B21]
AACC Prelim 1 Playoff Guilderland, NY, 19.01.2011
I failed to ask the participants if they are to play a pair of games to decide first place in Section 1. It is only a guess, but I think the playoff is just a single game, If I am correct, then the Finals will be a two game match between Magat and Howard. Both have been successful in the Prelims, and both have allowed their opponents chances here and there throughout. It will be interesting to see who is “on” when the match takes place.
1.e4 c5 2.f4 e5!?
Not too many international players have tried this move which gives a King’s Gambit flavor to the Grand Prix Attack. The Grand Prix was popular with the English Grandmasters in the 1980s but not so much in recent years. The game move was found in only four games out the two million games in my databases. That makes it an odd sideline for sure. Mr. Wright relies on his intuition and not study to get him through the opening. Most of the time he does pretty well. This game is another story entirely.
3.Nf3,..
Of course not 3 fxe5 Qh4+; the ancient shot that wins quickly.
3..., d6?!
After this move White is better. He will have the f-file on which to operate against f7, and the Bishop will go to c4 increasing the pressure there. Black has to be very accurate from this point on lest he is overwhelmed. The international players preferred 3..., exf4; here.
4.fxe5 dxe5 5.Bc4 Nc6 6.d3 Bg4 7.0–0 Bxf3?
Giving up a potential defender of f7 for the Nf6 and not getting even a pawn weakness in return. Better 7..., Nf7; and if 8 h3 Bh5. White has the advantage.
8.Qxf3 Nf6 9.g4?!,..
Forceful and mistaken. Gordon may believe Tim is unprepared for this position and tries a gamble. Simple and good is 9 Nc3, aiming to go to d5.
9..., h6 10.h4,..
White means to overwhelm Black with a pawn storm.
10..., Nd4 11.Qg2 Ne6?!
During the game Charles Eson asked why not 11..., Nxg4; because 12..., Nxc2; wins the Ra1? The problem is 11..., Nxg4 12 Bxf7+ Ke7 13 Qxg4, threatening mate at e3 giving time for White to get in 14 Na3, guarding c2 and staying a piece up.
Necessary here is 11..., Qd7; and Black is holding on. After the text his game is sliding towards the precipice.
12.Be3 Qd7 13.Nc3 a6?
A routine answer to the obvious threat 14 Bb5. The flaw is it weakens one more square, b6, something Black can’t afford. Better to deal with the threat with 13..., 0-0-0; advancing development and not weakening any squares. After this better move, the game favors White slightly, but Black has chances because the White King is not at all safe and secure.
14.Rf5 Bd6 15.g5 hxg5 16.hxg5 Nh5 17.Nd5,..
A little poke at a “bruise” at b6 that puts the White Knight on an aggressive post.
17..., g6?
Tim chooses to try for some kind of blockade on the K-side. That seems to be the wrong choice. Trying the more active approach with 17..., b5; creates a tactical mess with chances for Black to hold the game. Play could go; 17..., b5 18 Bb3 Nhf4 19 Bxf4 Nxf4 20 Nxf4 c4 21 dxc4 exf4 22 cxb5 Bc5+ 23 Kf1 Qxb5+ 24 Re1 0-0-0. Black is down a pawn with two more under threat, but the White King is wandering along the back rank giving Black good chances to make something out of that. White now carries out the plan he has been working towards.
18.Nf6+ Nxf6 19.Rxf6 0–0–0 20.Raf1 Rh7 21.Qg4?,..
A slip just as the prize is within grasp. Simply 21 Bxe6, wins the pawn on g6 and turns the problem into a technical win. The text is a try at increasing the pressure on e6. Good idea, but 21..., Nf4; crosses up those intentions leaving Black with some defensive resources after 22 Qxd7 Rxd7; and some active possibilities; the Rf6 is ever so slightly in danger. The game would be, as the Russian commentators are fond of saying, in dynamic balance.
21..., Re8?
Error answered with error. Mr. Wright was uncharacteristically defensive in his view of this game after beginning aggressively - 2..., e5. The game is now lost.
22.Bxe6 Rxe6 23.Rxe6 fxe6 24.Rf6 Qg7 25.Qxe6+ Qd7 26.Rxg6,..
Not 26 Qxd3?? Black then has 26..., Qg4+; with mate to follow. Now there is no way to stop the triumphant march of the g-pawn.
26..., Rg7 27.Qxd7+ Rxd7 28.Rg8+ Kc7 29.g6 Kb6 30.g7 Rf7 31.Bh6 1–0
A most entertaining contest. Tension right from the beginning as appropriate for the deciding game for qualification to the Finals.
Henner, Peter - Parry, Glen [B97]
AACC Prelim B Guilderland, NY, 20.01.2011
A fight for pride of place, the contenders pick the battleground of the Poisoned Pawn Najdorf Sicilian on which to struggle. This is an excellent choice to provide interesting chess.
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.f4 Qb6 8.Nb3 Nc6 9.Be2 Nd7 10.f5,..
More usual is 10 Qd2.
10..., Nde5 11.fxe6 fxe6 12.Qd2 h6
Somewhat safer is 12..., Qc7.
13.Be3 Qc7 14.0–0 Bd7
Again choosing risk over safety. With 14..., Be7; and 15..., Nf2; Black could have gotten his King away to the K-side and kept both of his Bishops on the board. Glen is looking for a fight and is willing to take chances to bring the battle to a fever pitch.
15.Na4 b5 16.Nb6 Rb8 17.Nxd7 Qxd7
White now has a significant edge; the Bishop pair and the Black King stuck in the center are the makings of a lasting advantage.
18.Nd4 Be7 19.Bh5+!?,..
Why instigate action now? Housekeeping is called for, say 19 b3 to prevent a future Ne5-c4 makes sense.
19..., Kd8?!
Another wandering King, there are echoes of the Magat - Wright game here. Playable is 19..., g6 20 Be2 Nxd4 21 Qxd4 Qc6; with a refined struggle for the initiative breaking out presenting opportunities for both sides.
20.Bf7?!,..
Seduced by temptation Mr. Henner goes for the “bright and shiny” bauble Mr. Perry has tangled in front of him, the pawn on e6. Again 20 b3, suggests itself as the way to maintain the advantage obtained.
20..., Nxd4 21.Qa5+?!,..
Both sides revel in taking risks. Keeping some advantage with 21 Bxd4, is better. Now the game should equalize.
21..., Qc7 22.Qxc7+ Kxc7 23.Bxd4 Bf6 24.c3?,..
White sees that taking on e6 leads to the line 24 Bxe6 Nf3+1 25 gxf3 Bxd4+ 26 Kg2 Bxb2 27 Rab1 Re8 28 Bd5 Bf6; and a balanced game tending towards a drawn outcome. He wants more, and so the text, but what about the loose Bishop on f7 you ask? Objectively it is best to take on e6. If risk is to be courted, then 24 Rxf6 gxf6 25 Bxe6, gives White a pawn for the Exchange and the well posted Bishop pair is perhaps enough to balance the material inequality. Leaving the Bishop hanging is just a blunder, something we all have done one time or another.
24..., Kd7??
Black just does not see it! A moment of “chess blindness” that robs logic from the outcome. Even stranger is both players having such an attack at the same time.
25.Bh5 Rhf8 26.Rad1 Ke7 27.Rf2 Rbc8 28.Be2 Nd7 29.Bxf6+ Rxf6 30.Rxf6 Nxf6 31.Bf3 Rc5 32.Kf2 Re5 33.Rd4 g5 34.g4 h5 35.h3 hxg4 36.hxg4 Kd7 37.c4,..
The game has proceeded routinely with Black having a very small edge. Here White maybe should have played 37 a4, holding the position in better fashion than in the game.
37..., Kc6 38.cxb5+ axb5 39.b4 d5 40.exd5+ exd5 41.Rd2?,..
Stronger is 41 Rd3. The text lets the minor piece exchange happen and the Black Rook is favorably placed to make the White position uncomfortable.
41..., Ne4+ 42.Bxe4 Rxe4 43.Rc2+ Kd6?,..
Better 43..., Rc4; and the endgame is won for Black. If White captures on c4 the protected passed pawn created will let Black leverage it into a win. Other moves, say 44 Rb2, drops the g-pawn making an outside passed pawn that will keep the White King occupied while the Black King and Rook plot and scheme on the Q-side.
44.a3 Rxg4 45.Rc5 Rd4 46.Rxb5 Rd2+
Black seems to be determined to try for the win. Checking along the rank admits the game the game is even.
47.Ke3 Ra2 48.Kf3,..
Time for careful consideration is in short supply for both sides. They have been under fifteen minutes for the balance of the game since move 28. I did not record the time move by move because the other two games were challenging me just to keep up getting the moves down correctly. Here 48 Kd4, threatens to capture on d5 with check subsequently eliminating the last Black pawn and all winning chances. The threat is such Black would likely repeat the position or acquiesce to the wholesale trading of all the pawns. In either case a draw is the result. The move played should also be enough for the draw just not a clearly as 48 Kd4.
48..., Kc6
Simpler is 48..., Rxa3+; eliminating very nearly all hopes for a win White may be illogically harboring.
49.Rc5+ Kd6 50.Rc3 Ra1 51.Kg4 Rg1+ 52.Kf3 Rf1+ 53.Kg4 Rg1+ 54.Rg3 Rxg3+ 55.Kxg3,..
The game is now at classic position from endgame theory; the “moving square” of pawns versus two connected passers. The idea of the moving square is two widely separated isolated pawns are not helpless against a lone King. In this game the isolated Black pawns are two files apart. If you draw square in your mind’s eye with the pawns as the base corners and extend the outline towards the Queening rank, if the forward edge reaches the Queening rank the lone King can not stop the pawns. At this moment in the game the forward edge of the “moving square” for the Black pawns reaches only the second rank. The White King can hold them both and perhaps even win them. There two big buts the theoreticians and Grandmasters always add; much depends on the exact position of the Black King relative to the two passers and how far advanced the passers are. The question for White is there some chance the Black King can delay the connected passed pawns and sneak in somehow to help the d-pawn forward?
55..., Kc6 56.a4,..
White does not want the Black King to have access to b5 because it is a path to c4, and from c4 the Black King is a great supporter of the d-pawn. At least that is what I imagined was the motivation for the text.
56..., Kb6?
Black has to play 56..., d4! Then he will be able to advance his “moving square” the requisite one rank forward putting the leading edge on the Queening rank. Play should go; 56..., d4 57 Kf3 Kd5 58 a5 g4+ 59 Kxg4 d3 60 Kf3 Kc4; and because e2 is not available to the White King simple counting shows Black Queens right after White Queens and with check, then the White b-pawn falls leaving a drawn K&Q versus K&Q ending. The moved played should lose shortly.
57.Kf3?,..
It could be Peter didn’t recall the theory of the “moving square”, or maybe he does not know it? Alternatively, it is possible he was trying for more complications in hopes that Glen did not understand the position. Winning is 57 Kg4! d4 58 Kf3 Kc6 59 Ke4 g4 60 Kxd4, when White defeats the “moving square the only way possible, by capturing one of the pawns as soon as the “moving square” reaches its goal; the forward edge reaching the Queening rank.
57..., Kc6
Black gets his king back on-side. The game is level once more.
58.a5 Kb5 59.Ke3 g4 60.Kf4 d4 61.Kxg4 d3 62.Kf3 d2?
An instinctive move at a dangerous moment. Time was quite short now and Glen did not have enough of it to see 62..., Kc4; or 62..., Kxb4; both draw the game nicely.
63.Ke2 1–0
A game with several educational moments and a few real mistakes, nevertheless very entertaining.
More tomorrow on Thursday’s game from Schenectady.
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