Last Thursday David Finnerman won the Schenectady Consolation Swiss with a victory over Richard Chu. Finnerman's score was 5 - 0. An excellent result for the new club member. Cory Northrup was second in the Swiss with a 4 - 1 score defeating David Connors in the last round. This was a very good result for Mr. Northrup. These games will be covered in the post.
Continuing the story of the RPI v AACC Match from last Wednesday.
Furtado, Brian - Wright, Tim [A65]
RPI v AACC CDCL Match Guilderland, NY, 23.03.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.d5 e6 4.Nc3 exd5 5.cxd5 d6 6.e4 g6 7.Bb5+ Bd7 8.Bxd7+ Nbxd7
The Modern Benoni is not popular with the top players in the world in recent years. If White knows a lot of theory he can obtain the better game according to the experts. Most non-professionals don’t have that much knowledge, and that accounts for this opening showing up fairly frequently club games and weekend Swiss events with reasonable results.
9.Bg5!?,..
This Bishop probably is better placed on f4 where it attacks the pawn on d6.
9..., Bg7 10.Nge2 0–0 11.0–0 a6 12.a4 Qc7 13.Qd2 Rfe8 14.Ng3 c4
It is a standard idea for Black to advance this pawn clearing c5 for use by a Black Knight to strike at b3, d3 and e4, or by the Queen along the g1 - a7 diagonal.
15.Bh6 Bh8 16.f4?,..
Much better is 16 f3, reinforcing e4. Black would have some advantage nevertheless. After the move played, Black has the opportunity to win a pawn in the center.
16..., Ng4?
Which he does not take. Why? All I can imagine is Tim saw the opportunity to make threats on the White King, and that tempted him away from an objective assessment of the position. With 16..., Nc5; Black hits at e4, a common target in the Benoni. Play might continue 17
Qc2 Ng4 18 Bg5 Ne3; collecting the Exchange. The alternative is 17 Qe2 Ncxe4 18 Ncxe4 Nxe4 19 Nxe4 f5; and Black has won a pawn and the battle for central control. Either way Black has a very big advantage.
17.Bg5 Qc5+ 18.Kh1 Bd4 19.Nd1,..
Deep Rybka says it is not a bad move. The only try my electronic helper finds that might be better is 19 e5, leading to some difficult tactics after 19..., h6 20 Bxh6 Bxc3 21 bxc3 Nxh6 22 Ne4 Qc7 23 Nxd6. White has two pawns for the piece and a strong center pawn mass as well as the initiative. That is good compensation, but is it enough?
19..., b5
Also worthwhile is 19..., h6 20 Bh4 b5.
20.axb5?,..
The motivating idea for White was maybe to relieve some pressure on e4. This seems to be an example of the cure being worse than the disease. True the Re8 is taken away from the e-file, however the unfettered access the Rook has on the a-file is a serious positional plus for Black. Best for White may be 20 f5, reconnecting the Bg5 with the critical sector and stubbornly waiting for Black to find a winning try. If 20..., b5 21 Rc1 Nge5 22 fxg6 fxg6 23 Ne3, and while Black is better, a clear win is not yet evident.
20..., axb5 21.Rxa8 Rxa8 22.h3,..
White is tired of having so many dangerous Black pieces hanging around his King and pushes one away. An attempt to distract Black from continuing his initiative on the Q-side is 22 Bd7!?, then if 22..., Ra1? 23 Bxd6, is strong. On 22 Bd7, Black would have to find 22..., Bf6; to keep his advantage. After the exchange of Bishops Black retains the edge.
22..., Ngf6 23.Ne2?,..
A miscalculation in a bad position perhaps, or White realized the normal try 23 Nc3 b4 24 Ne2 Be3 25 Qc2 Ra2 26 Qb1 Qa7 27 Qc2 c3 28 Nf1 Qf2; offers no real hope beyond getting to play some more moves. The end is quick now.
23..., Nxe4 24.Qxd4,..
If 24 Qc2 Qxd5; and White is in poor shape entirely.
24..., Ng3+!
The point. If now 25 Kg1 Nxe2+; forking the King and Queen.
25.Kh2 Nxf1+ 26.Kg1 Ng3 27.Qxc5 Nxc5 28.Kf2,..
If 28 Nxc3 Ra1; wins more material.
28..., Nge4+
Black has a won game. A workman like performance by Mr. Wright. The game may have gone on for a move or two more. Other games were ending at this moment and I was away getting moves to those games and did not see the resignation and handshake.
The Adomako - Perry game was the last to finish, and a hard fought game it was where both sides had chances.
Adomako, Ronald - Perry, Glen [B95]
RPI v AACC CDCL Match Guilderland, NY, 23.03.2011
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bc4,..
Once upon a time this was leading edge theory in the Sicilian Najdorf. This particular variation was often used by the late former World Champion Robert James Fischer and many other of the world elite in the 1960s and 70s. Bronstein, Averbakh, Ivkov, Olafsson, Benko, Robert Byrne, Tal and Browne all tried it out more than once during those years. In the late 1980s it began to show up less in the top flight events. I don’t know why exactly. Fashions change and the Najdorf became less the leading edge and more settled theory. The elite became interested in other lines, I guess. It still is seen at the mid-level of international events frequently.
6..., e6 7.Bg5
There are relatively few examples of this move in the databases and fewer still with top flight players trying it. Much more popular was, and is, 7 Bb3, Fischer’s patent. Here is one example of the game move with Najdorf himself conducting the Black side against Hector Rossetto, a strong IM.
Rossetto, Hector - Najdorf, Miguel [B95]
Mar del Plata Mar del Plata (1), 1962
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d4 cxd4 4.Nxd4 Nf6 5.Nc3 a6 6.Bg5 e6 7.Bc4 Be7 8.Bb3 Nc6 9.0–0 0–0 10.Kh1 Bd7 11.f4 h6 12.Bh4 Nxe4 13.Bxe7 Nxc3 14.Nxc6 Bxc6 15.Qxd6 Qxd6 16.Bxd6 Rfd8 17.Bc5 Rd2 18.Rf2 Ne4 19.Rxd2 Nxd2 20.Rd1 Nxb3 21.axb3 Rc8 22.b4 Kh7 23.Kg1 g5 24.fxg5 hxg5 25.c3 Kg6 26.Kf2 Rh8 27.h3 Rh4 28.Rd4 Rf4+ 29.Rxf4 gxf4 30.g3 fxg3+ 31.Kxg3 Ba4 32.h4 e5 33.Bd6 f6 34.Kf2 Bd1 35.Ke3 Kf5 36.Bf8 Ke6 37.Kd3 f5 38.Kc4 f4 39.Bh6 Kf5 40.Kd3 e4+ 41.Kd4 e3 42.Kd3 Bb3 0–1
7..., Be7 8.Qd2 b5 9.Bb3 0–0 10.0–0 Qb6!?
This move is out of the routine. Normal is 10..., Bb7. It is unclear just what Black hopes to get by delaying the natural development of the Bishop to b7, or by leaving the Be7 loose.
11.Rfe1?!,..
Now we see what’s gotten; confusion to the opponent. After the text Black is at least equal. Better for White is 11 Be3, opposing the Queen and very likely forcing Black to move the Lady again. If Black tries 11..., Ng4 12 Nf5 Qc7 13 Nxe7+, and White has won the so-called minor Exchange; a Knight for a Bishop. After 11 Be3, Black likely will play 11..., Qc7; and after 12 f3, White has maintained the advantage of moving first.
The standard prescription in today’s chess theory says the opening struggle is between Black seeking to equalize and White holding onto the initiative of the first move. If the beginning of the middle game is reached with White having kept the first move edge, in ECO-speak the position is most often marked as “+=“.
11..., Nbd7 12.Nd1?,..
After conceding Black equality, it is just this short step to giving him the chances for an advantage. Better is 12 Be3 Nc5 13 f3, with equality. The text reduces the protection of e4 presenting Black with an easy path to a significant plus.
12..., Bb7 13.Qd3 Nc5 14.Qe3?,..
White has misunderstood the position. He now goes down a pawn. The natural 14 f3?, loses to 14..., e5; immediately. He can try for an edge with the tactical 14 Nxe6!? If then 14..., fxe6 15 Bxe6+, threatening 16 Bxd7, taking advantage of the loose Be7. Black has his own resources here. Playing out the various lines seem to give White some lasting advantage, but the game would have entered a period rich in tactics putting a premium on alertness. It may be White was not able to work his way through the complicated lines and decided to let a pawn go with hopes of getting piece activity.
14..., Ncxe4 15.c3 Nxg5 16.Qxg5 Nd5 17.Qh5?,..
Safer is 17 Qg3.
17..., Nf6!?
Now Black shrinks from a tactical solution in his own turn. Charles Eson was watching the game and he asked the question: “Why not 17..., Nf4; hitting the Queen and g2?” My answer was: “Tactics!” I had not looked hard enough to reach a conclusion about the outcome, but the outline of variation was there; 17..., Nf4 18 Qg4 Nxg2 19 Nxe6. What happens then takes careful calculation. One line of play is; 19..., Bf6 20 Nxe1 Nxf8 21 Nd7 Qd8; and the Ne1 has his retreat secure through f3. The position after 21..., Qd8; favors Black heavily. A Bishop on the h1-a8 diagonal with a Knight landing on f3 eventually makes the position of the White King very, very dangerous. Coupled with a pawn plus, the chance to harass the White King is enough to claim a winning advantage. The game move keeps a substantial edge without much risk, but it delays the win by several moves and allows chances for Black to go wrong as we will see in the game. That is the most powerful argument for bearing down to calculate precisely tactical opportunities.
18.Qh4 d5 19.Ne3 Qc7 20.Bc2 Ne4 21.Qh5 g6 22.Qh6 Bg5 23.Qh3 Bc8?!
A questionable move that neglects the development principle. Trying to find moves on general principles without concrete calculation is rightly suspect. However, principles do provide guideposts for the search for right move and are ignored at our peril. In this instance completing development with 23..., Rad8; is sensible. The text makes the obvious threat 24 e4, winning the Ne4.
24.Nf3 e5 25.g4 Bxe3 26.Rxe3 Nf6?
With 26..., h5; Black threatens to collect a second pawn. Then White would have to follow the line; 27 Bxe4 dxe4 28 Ng5 Bxg4 29 Qg2 f6 30 Nxe4 Rad8; and Black has maintained his advantage and obtained the favorable Bishop versus Knight imbalance as well as control of the d-file.
27.Nxe5,..
Most of the advantage Black accumulated is gone. White has not quite reached equality but he is close.
27..., Re8?
This is an over-refinement. Directly 27..., d4; eliminates the weak point in the Black position and leaves a target on c3 after 28 Re1 dxc3 29 bxc3.
28.Rae1 d4?
Black fails to see the danger. Better 28..., Be6; connecting the Rooks and shoring up d5.
29.R3e2 dxc3 30.Qxc3?,..
White misses his chance. He had to play 30 Qf3!, hitting the Ra8 and the Nf6; the Queen doing that which she is best fitted to do; making multiple attacks. If then 30..., Kg7 31 g5, Nh5 32 Qxa8, and White is winning. After the text the game returns to normalcy with Black having the advantage.
30..., Qxc3 31.bxc3 Bb7?
There is no reason not to take the pawn on offer. It is true Black has a hard endgame in the offing after 31..., Nxg5 32 Bb3 Nxe5 33 Rxe5 Rxe5 34 Rxe5 Kf8; with just one extra pawn in a Bishops of the same color with Rooks ending, but there is winning potential.
32.h3?,..
By playing 32 Bb3, White would have made some headway towards full equality.
32..., Rac8 33.Bb3 Bd5 34.Re3?,..
The chess imagination of Mr. Adomako just was not working in this phase of the game. Here 34 Nd7! Rxe2 35 Nxf6+ Kg7 36 Rxe2 Bxb3 37 Ne8+ Kf8 38 axb3 Rxe8; and the pawn endgame is equal. The routine text gives Black the opportunity to force a winning pawn ending.
32..., Bxb3 35.axb3 Nd5 36.Nd7 Rxe3 37.fxe3 Rxc3 38.g5 Rxb3 39.e4 Nf4 40.Nf6+ Kg7 41.Kh2,..
Even after the better 41 h4, White is lost. That is because the White Rook can’t go to c1 due to the Knight fork on e2. The active posting of the Black pieces stifle whatever hopes White has. For this reason I saw no point to attaching a query to White’s move 41.
41..., Rxh3+ 42.Kg1 Rg3+ 43.Kh2 Rxg5 44.Nd7 Rg2+ 45.Kh1 Re2 46.Rxe2 Nxe2 47.Kg2 Nd4 48.Kg3 a5 49.Kf4 b4 50.Nc5 Ne6+ 0–1
Although there were some bobbles in the middle game, Mr. Perry played the concluding moves from move 34 with accuracy and admirable energy.
More soon.
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