An Upset

David Finnerman is the first board and captain of the Capital Region team in the CDCL.  He has been the moving force behind this team.  Last year, while they were just getting organized, their results were not outstanding.  This year improvement was seen.  In every match this year the Capital Region guys were in the fight, and they held last year’s League Champion to a draw!  While they may finish League play ahead of only the Uncle Sam Club, it would not surprise to see them improve on that finish next year.  There is talent there.

Contributing much to achieving the draw with Albany A was Finnerman’s win from the Albany Champion, Dean Howard.  The Queens came off early.  The Queen-less middle game was quite complex, and Mr. Howard fell into time trouble, not for the last time this season.  After allowing the Queen trade a pawn was lost, and Dean used many vital minutes seeking to find a way to hold the position.  Mr. Finnerman played the resulting R+N with pawns ending very well taking the full point and halving the match.
   
Finnerman, David - Howard, Dean [A14]
CDCL Match Capital Region v Albany A,  Guilderland, NY, 04.04.2012

1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5

While this looks very much like a Hyper-modern opening, don’t be misled.  Way back in the early days of the 20th Century Blackburn as White played so against; Marco, Showalter, Leonhardt and Teichmann, all strong masters of the day.  In more recent times elite players such as; Korchnoi, Vanganian and Salov have taken the White side against; Petrosian, Spassky and Short in Candidates and World Championship contests.    

3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 c5

The game is in the mainstream of theory here.  The choices for White are:
a) 7 Bb2, and b) 7 cxd5, with a very slight pull for White.  Miles wins with excellent endgame play in the 7 Bb2, line against Geller in this game:

(108308) Miles, Anthony J (2555) - Geller Efim P (2590) [A14]
Hoogovens, Wijk aan Zee (4), 01.1977

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 c5 7.Bb2 d4 8.b4 a5 9.bxc5 Nc6 10.d3 e5 11.Nbd2 Bxc5 12.Qa4 Bd7 13.Rfb1 Qe7 14.Ng5 Bb4 15.Qd1 h6 16.Nge4 Nxe4 17.Bxe4 a4 18.a3 Bc5 19.Bc1 Ra7 20.Bd5 Na5 21.Ra2 Kh7 22.Ne4 b6 23.Bd2 Nb3 24.Bb4 f5 25.Bxc5 bxc5 26.Nd2 Nxd2 27.Rxd2 e4 28.Rdb2 exd3 29.exd3 f4 30.Rb7 Rxb7 31.Rxb7 fxg3 32.hxg3 Qf6 33.Be4+ Bf5 34.Qg4 Bxe4 35.Qxe4+ Qf5 36.Qxf5+ Rxf5 37.Kf1 h5 38.Ra7 Kh6 39.Rxa4 g5 40.Ra6+ Kg7 41.Rc6 h4 42.Kg2 hxg3 43.Kxg3 g4 44.Kxg4 Rxf2 45.Rxc5 Rd2 46.Rg5+ Kf6 47.Rf5+ Ke6 48.Rf3 Ke5 49.Rh3 Rd1 50.a4 Kd6 51.Kf4 Kc5 52.a5 Rf1+ 53.Rf3 Ra1 54.Rf2 Kb4 55.Ke4 Kc3 56.Rf5 Re1+ 57.Kd5 Re8 58.Rf3 Re3 59.Rf1 Re8 60.a6 Kxd3 61.a7 Ra8 62.Ra1 Kc3 63.c5 Kb2 64.Ra4 d3 65.Kc6 d2 1–0

Here is a game where Black exploits his chances if White captures on d5 first:

(569595) Krasenkow, Michal (2661) - Beliavsky, Alexander G (2640) [A14]
Leonid Stein Memorial, Lvov (5), 16.05.2000
1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 c5 7.cxd5 Nxd5 8.Bb2 b6 9.Nc3 Bb7 10.Nxd5 Bxd5 11.Qb1 Nd7 12.Bc3 Re8 13.Rd1 Rc8 14.Qb2 Bf8 15.d4 Qc7 16.Rac1 Qb7 17.Ne1 Bxg2 18.Nxg2 c4 19.Ne3 cxb3 20.Qxb3 Qa6 21.Rc2 Rc6 22.Rdc1 Rec8 23.Be1 Rxc2 24.Rxc2 Rxc2 25.Qxc2 Nf6 26.Nc4 Qc8 27.Qd3 b5 28.Ne5 a6 29.f3 h6 30.Qb3 Qc1 31.Kf2 Nd5 32.e4 Qa1 33.Nc6 Nb6 34.Ke2 h5 35.Nb8 Qxd4 36.Nxa6 Nc4 37.Nc7 Qg1 38.Bf2 Qg2 39.Qxb5 Nd2 40.Qxh5 Bb4 41.Nxe6 Qf1+ 42.Ke3 Nc4+ 43.Kf4 Qxf2 44.Qb5 Bd6+ 45.Kg5 Qxf3 0–1

Even this limited sampling shows why the “big guys” like these lines; tense positions and complicated play lets them show off their talent on either side of the board.

7.d4!?,..

In top level play this move is thought to be not the best.  Finding examples of this move from top level players was nearly impossible.  Here is the one game found:

(18842) Bogoljubow, Efim - Saemisch, Fritz [E06]
Bad Harzburg (8), 1938
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.g3 d5 4.Bg2 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.d4 c5 7.b3 Nc6 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.e4 Nf6 10.e5 Nd7 11.Bb2 cxd4 12.Bxd4 Nxd4 13.Qxd4 Nxe5 14.Qe4 Nxf3+ 15.Qxf3 Bf6 16.Nc3 Qa5 17.Rac1 Bd4 18.Rfd1 e5 19.Rc2 Be6 20.Ne2 Rad8 21.Nxd4 Rxd4 22.Rxd4 exd4 23.Qf4 b5 24.Rd2 Rd8 25.Rxd4 Rxd4 26.Qxd4 h6 27.Be4 g6 28.a4 bxa4 29.bxa4 Bb3 30.Bc6 Be6 31.h4 h5 32.Kg2 Qc7 33.Be4 a5 34.Bf3 Qd7 35.Qe4 Qc7 36.Qc6 Qxc6 37.Bxc6 Kf8 38.Kf3 Ke7 39.Kf4 Kd6 40.Be8 Bb3 41.f3 Kc5 42.g4 Kb4 43.Kg5 Bxa4 44.Bxf7 Bc2 45.gxh5 gxh5 46.f4 a4 47.f5 Bb3 48.Bxb3 Kxb3 49.f6 a3 50.f7 a2 51.f8Q a1Q 52.Qf7+ Kb4 53.Kxh5 Qh1 54.Qe7+ Kb3 55.Kh6 Ka4 56.Qd7+ Ka3 57.Qd6+ Kb2 58.h5 Kc1 59.Qf4+ Kd1 60.Qd4+ Kc2 61.Qf2+ Kd1 62.Kg5 Qd5+ 63.Qf5 Qg8+ 64.Kf4 Kc1 65.h6 Qg2 66.Qg5 Qf2+ 67.Ke5+ Kd1 68.Qg4+ 1–0

Even though Bogoljubov picked up the full point in the end, Black obtained a more than decent game out of the opening.  White had to take great risks to keep from being squeezed to death.  The game illustrates why White avoids the text.

7..., Nc6!?

Normal for Black is 7..., cxd4; creating a vulnerability for the Ra1, and the possibility of the Black e-pawn advancing getting a greater say in the center than Black enjoys in most openings.

8.Bb2?!,..

 The correct positional response is 8 cxd5, pretty much ensuring an isolated QP for Black because the alternative recaptures are less good for Black.

8..., dxc4 9.bxc4 Qb6 10.Qb3 Rd8

According to Rybka Black is equal now.  The initial skirmish has worked out well for Black.  Getting to equality by move ten is a good thing.

11.e3 Qa6!?

Experts like Dean Howard expect to defeat high Class B/low Class A players such as Dave Finnerman.  An equal game with the Queens off would not be a venue in which that can be done easily.  He avoids the possible trade and crafts a simple tactic; 12..., Na5; trying to win a pawn.  I doubt Dean really thought the trick would net a pawn, rather he was looking to raise the tension in the position; the more tension the greater the chances are for the opponent to go wrong

12.Nbd2 Rb8

Preparing to play against the White center with a push of the pawn to b5.  Black might be better served if he inserts ..,cxd4; before hand.

13.Rfd1 b5 14.Rab1!?,..

This move seems less good than 14 dxc5 bxc4 15 Qc2 Bxc5 16 Nxc4.  If Black then greedily snags a pawn with; 16..., Rxd1+ 17 Rxd1 Qxa2; and superficially Black looks to be threatening to win.  There is a but however.  With 18 Nfe5 Nxe5 19 Rd8+! Bf8 20 Nxe5 Qxb2 21 Qc7, White is winning.  A sample line; 21..., Qb1+ 22 Bf1 Ba6 23 Qxf7+, with mate soon.  Black can play better but White has a sizable advantage.  This dancing along the cliff’s edge explains a big part of the coming time trouble for Mr. Howard.  He starts early and, willy-nilly, has to keep the dance up for many moves.  Checking and rechecking the tactics is a time consuming process.

14..., Na5 15.cxb5 Nxb3 16.bxa6 Nxd2 17.Nxd2 Bxa6 18.Ba3 Rxb1 19.Rxb1 Kf8 20.Nb3,..

The clash of tactics grows quieter.  Mr. Finnerman has steered his game through to an endgame battle where he has a small edge.  This is just the kind of situation Mr. Howard did not want to see; no Queens on and balanced material.  The only tension remaining revolves around the Black c-pawn.  Howard is loath to clear that problem up by trading on d5, then the draw is looming.    

20..., Bd3 21.Rc1 c4 22.Bxe7+ Kxe7 23.Na5,..

Black managed to keep the c-pawn on, but defending it is less than easy.  The White pieces are well placed to threaten its existence.

23..., Rc8 24.Nc6+ Kd6 25.Nxa7,..

Retaining the c-pawn led to the loss of the a-pawn.  The Knight now gallops in and out around the uncomfortably placed Black pieces.  Fork tricks are the essence of Knights.  David uses them to make Deans defense in growing time trouble difficult.

There is a strong general feeling among chess players that Bishops are better than Knights.  Such is true in general but not always true in a specific case.  Today’s game is an example of a case where a single Knight with some decent outposts can defeat a single Bishop.  The key is having outposts that are difficult or impossible for the opponent to attack.

25..., Rb8 26.a4 Nd5 27.Nb5+ Kd7 28.Bf1,..

Renewing threats to the c-pawn.

28..., Nb4 29.Bxd3,..

A bit better is 29 Na3.  The game move is pretty good also.

29..., cxd3 30.Kf1 Ra8

Mr. Howard had only a minute and a half left on his clock now.  The game was played with a five second delay per move.  When you have much time on the clock five seconds delay per move seems like a lot.  When your are down to less than two minutes it is often just not enough of a cushion, especially if your opponent does not make things easy for you.

31.Nc3 d2 32.Rd1 Rc8 33.Ne4 Ra8 34.Rxd2 f5

I suspect Mr. Howard let go the c-pawn hoping to get the a-pawn.  The fork on c5 protects the White a-pawn.  The two pawn advantage makes the time pressure even more intolerable than it was already.

35.Nc5+,..

Securing the a-pawn, and now all has become clear.  White has twenty minuets plus on the clock.  Holding off two pawns in a Rook and Knight ending with just seconds left is an impossible task.  White plays simply soon winning a minor piece and then the game with a final fork of the Black Rook and King.

35...,  Kd6 36.Rb2 Nc6 37.Rb7 Kd5 38.Ke2 Kc4 39.Rxg7 e5 40.Rc7 Kd5 41.e4+ Kxd4 42.Rxc6 fxe4 43.Ne6+ Kd5 44.Nc7+ 1–0

A very nicely played game by Daivd Finnerman.  I looked recently at his rating information on the USCF site.  He is just over 1800 and continuing a steady climb begun back in the early 1990s when he was still in grade school.  Beginning with a rating of 1100 or 1200, a steady, but not heavy schedule of tournaments and events brought Finnermann progress.  The eight to ten years it took to get to a Class A rating is probably typical for someone starting out to learn the game.  His next intermediate goal is reaching an Expert rating I’d guess.  In an email conversation with me, David said he wants to play in one of the club championship events next season.  That is a sound first step towards Expert. It is in those events he’ll get to face most of the leading local players.  You have to play the best opposition you can find to improve your skill level and your rating.

Dean Howard, in this game, had to face one of the difficulties of having a high rating; there are games you are expected to win.  Sometimes the game develops in such a way that the opportunity for complications isn’t there.  The higher rated player has then to make a choice; take risks or let the game take its natural course to a balanced endgame where a win may not be possible.  The downside to opting for risks is your opponent just may see his way through the “smoke and mirrors” and the game is lost.  As team captain for Albany A, I can not fault Dean for trying to win.  We needed a victory as a team, and Dean, correctly put aside any personal rating considerations to go for what the team needed.  He paid a price in some rating points, and the Albany A team dropped a vital one-half match point in the League.  The saving grace is; In chess there is always the next match or the next season where results can be reversed and disappointment turned into success.

An added note:  While the bulk of the League matches have been played, we are in a hiatus.  Scheduling problems and playing site availability have worked together to delay the final few matches.  A key contest; Schenectady A versus the Geezers will not be played until sometime in June, and Albany A versus Uncle Sam will be at least two weeks into the future.  This circumstance gives me opportunity to catch up with several annotations of League games I have delayed while trying to keep up with the overall progress.  From my prospective the break in the action is not all bad.
   
More soon.          

A Game and Some News From the League

Lo, how the mighty have fallen!  Last night, Wednesday, May 2nd , Albany A had a bad result against the RPI team.  We, Albany A, lost 1 ½ - 2 ½.  The Engineers played well.  Their team, strengthened by the new first board, Jeffery La Comb, performed up to their full potential and then some.  The Albany team suffered from time trouble on a couple of boards.  That unfortunate habit has been a problem for us this year.  Time trouble is tough on the players, and it is doubly so for this old non-playing captain.  The players have the adrenalin-rush of time pressure and the focused energy of just moving the pieces to help with the tension.  Me, on the other hand, I have to sit or stand or pace, unable to even make a sound to cheer on the battlers.  When I was a player the few times I fell into time trouble it was nerve wracking.  Captaining a team when some are in time trouble is much worse.

Today’s game is a nice victory by Jeffery La Comb over the Albany Club Champion, and crucial to the result.  In a tactically difficult middle game position, Mr. Howard’s clock wound down.  When the crisis occurred he had under five minutes remaining.  It was just not enough time in which to see what had to be seen.  Mr. La Comb, with significantly more time available, saw more, played sharply keeping the pressure on, and was rewarded with a win when Dean misplayed a couple of crucial moves.  Mate followed in short order.    

Howard, Dean - La Comb, Jeffery [C02]
CDCL Match Albany A v RPI Guilderland, NY, 02.05.2012

1.e4 c5 2.c3 e6 3.d4 d5 4.e5 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4,..

Transposing from the Sicilian to a variation of the Advanced French is not unusual in the line with 2 c3.  The natural plan for Black is creating pressure on the not quite secure White pawn on d4.  Here are a couple of games illustrating that idea:

(1176643) Chadaev, Nikolay (2486) - Chebotarev, Oleg (2514) [C02]
Russian Championship, Sochi (8), 10.05.2007
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nf5 8.Bxf5 exf5 9.Nc3 Be6 10.0–0 Be7 11.Ne1 Qb6 12.Nc2 0–0 13.b3 Rac8 14.Na4 Qc7 15.Ba3 b5 16.Bxe7 Qxe7 17.Nb2 f4 18.Nd3 Qg5 19.a4 a6 20.axb5 axb5 21.Qd2 Bf5 22.Ra2 f6 23.e6 f3 24.Qxg5 fxg5 25.Ndb4 fxg2 26.Kxg2 Nxb4 27.Nxb4 Be4+ 28.f3 Rxf3 29.Rxf3 g4 30.Kg3 gxf3 31.Ra7 Re8 32.Nc6 h5 33.e7 h4+ 34.Kf2 Kf7 35.Rb7 ½–½

(521743) Minasian, Ara (2450) - Gaprindashvili, Valerian (2405) [C02]
6th Anibal Open, 6th Linares (7), 14.01.1999
1.e4 e6 2.d4 d5 3.e5 c5 4.c3 Nc6 5.Nf3 Nge7 6.Bd3 cxd4 7.cxd4 Nf5 8.Bxf5 exf5 9.Nc3 Be6 10.h4 h6 11.Ne2 g6 12.Be3 Qb6 13.0–0 Be7 14.Qd2 Na5 15.b3 Bb4 16.Qd3 Nc6 17.a3 Be7 18.b4 Qd8 19.Qd2 Bxh4 20.Bxh6 Be7 21.Bg5 Bxg5 22.Nxg5 Kd7 23.f4 Qb6 24.Rab1 a6 25.Nf3 Qa7 26.Nc1 Ne7 27.Nd3 b6 28.a4 Rhc8 29.a5 Rc4 30.axb6 Qxb6 31.Nc5+ Ke8 32.Qe1 Kf8 33.Qh4 Ng8 34.Ng5 Ra7 35.Qh8 Qb8 36.Ncxe6+ fxe6 37.Nxe6+ Ke7 38.Ng5 [38.Nc5] 38...Kf8 39.Ne6+ Ke7 40.Ng5 Kf8 41.Nh7+ Kf7 42.e6+ Kxe6 43.Rfe1+ Kd7 44.Qg7+ Kc6 45.b5+ Kb6 46.bxa6+ Ka5 47.Rxb8 Rxg7 48.Ra1+ Ra4 49.Rxa4+ Kxa4 50.Rb7 1–0


7..., Bd7!?

Finding an example of this move is not so easy.  Here is the only one I could find with reasonably strong players involved:

(411368) Salmensuu, Olli (2230) - Dos Santos, Emmanuel [C02]
World Championship, U18, Guarapuava (3), 1995
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.c3 e6 4.d4 d5 5.e5 cxd4 6.cxd4 Nge7 7.Bd3 Bd7 8.Nc3 a6 9.Be3 g6 10.h4 h5 11.a3 Nf5 12.Bg5 Be7 13.Bxf5 gxf5 14.b4 f6 15.exf6 Bxf6 16.0–0 Bxg5 17.Nxg5 Qf6 18.Ne2 f4 19.Qd2 0–0 20.Rac1 Kh8 21.Rfe1 Rae8 22.Qd3 Re7 23.Qf3 Be8 24.Rcd1 Rg7 25.g3 e5 26.dxe5 Nxe5 27.Qxf4 Qd6 28.Rxd5 Rxf4 29.Rxd6 Nf3+ 30.Nxf3 Rxf3 31.Nd4 Rf8 32.Rd8 Rgg8 33.Re7 Bg6 34.Rd6 1–0

So, is Black’s last move terrible?  No, the more committal 7..., Nf5; allows White to trade off a Bishop for a Knight, and in the typical closed center French this not thought as a bad thing for White.  Of course, White is left with the less good of his two Bishops and Black has the Bishop pair.  Many games in the Advanced French are battles about Black trying to open up lines for the Bishops and White maintaining his center bind and space advantage.  The text move defers that decision while advancing Q-side development.

8.0–0!?,..

White goes his own way also.  The theme here is the security of the d4-pawn, if master-play guides us.  To that end, the natural move is 8 Nc3, preparing Nc3-e2 as an alternative if and when Black puts a Knight on f5.

8..., Nb4!?

More improvisation.

9.Nc3!?,..

And answered by improvisation.  A logical approach is; 9 Be2 Rc8 10 Nc3 Nf5 11 a3 Nc6 13 Be3, and both sides have developed reasonably, and White has no appreciable advantage, but he is not worse either.  Giving up the light squared Bishop does no immediate harm to White’s chances, but it is a longer term concern.  Earlier I said trading this Bishop for a Knight on f5 was possible.  In that case the Black pawn structure is to some extent weakened.  Agreeing to this trade on e3 does not have that added benefit.

An idea GM Har-Zvi brought up often in his lessons was about decisions regarding Bishops; which color to retain, which color to trade off and when to do so.  If I remember correctly, his thesis was how this decision was handled told the observer much about the eventual outcome of a game.  This contest now has the outlines of a typical Advanced French; if the game opens up the Black Bishops may carry the day, and if White maintains the blocked center, his Knights can be a match for the Bishops.

9..., Nxd3 10.Qxd3 a6 11.Ng5!?,..

This move is strategically risky.  White’s plan is to advance the f-pawn per the standard canon: in the French, f2-f4-f5 goes with e3-e4-e5.  White, no doubt is already considering the advance of the g-pawn to oust the Black Knight from f5 when it gets there.  All this is very much normal play in the French; White must attack on the K-side and Black on the other side..  Mr. La Comb however has early in his career learned that most valuable lesson about defending with the French; K-side castling can usefully be delayed or foregone for Black.  Why put your King in the obvious target area?  Without a Black King to threaten, the natural White K-side attack begins to look questionable.  If it breaks through, lines open for the Black Rooks on the White King, and maybe the Bishop pair will find things to do.

11..., Nf5 12.f4 Be7 13.g4 Bxg5!?

Things now get interesting quickly.  The White attack is becoming dangerous, and the Black decision not to castle short, while strategically sound has tactical risks attached; there is pressure on f7 and the Black King is some moves away from being ready to castle long.  Alternatives here for Black are; a) 13..., Nh4; which may be best.  Then 14 Qg3 Bxg5 15 fxg5 Ng6 16 h4 Qb6 17 Qf2 Rf8 18 b3, with a tough fight looming in a Bishops of opposite color middle game.  Don’t mistake that situation as having a high likelihood of a drawn outcome.  Sacrificial attacks in such situations are particularly potent for either side.  The opponent has a hard time defending squares attacked by the other Bishop.  And b) 13..., Nh6; when a murky tactically loaded position comes about after; 14 h3 Rc8 15 Nxh7 Bb4; threatening to capture on c3 followed by .., Bb4.  This way Black has compensation.  If White tries 16 Rf3, to defuse the .., Bb4; threat, Black can play; 16..., Qh4! 17 Ng5 Nxg4; when Black has made a lot of progress.  White is facing serious danger to his King.

With the complications outlined above, it is understandable decision to capture the White Knight on g5.  The text offers White chances to go wrong.          

14.gxf5?,..

Which he promptly does so.  Deciding which piece to capture is by no means an easy choice.  Taking off the Nf5 reduces potential pressure on d4, a laudable accomplishment, but it is primarily defensive in intent.  Instead, capturing the Bg5 opens the f-file.  That would be an asset for continuing the thematic K-side attack by White.  Play could go; 14 fxg5 Nh4 15 Qg3 Ng6 16 h4, when the pressure on the Black K-side continues.  Unanswered is the question; does Black have the resources to fend off the problems?  Neither Deep Rybka nor I can find a decisive breakthrough for White here.  It would have been a brave decision for White to play as recommended if he reached the same conclusion.  Sometimes chess players have operate by the principle of exclusion; if one line calculated does not lead to some measurable  advantage, the choice then becomes one of a positional nature.  Doing a useful thing, reducing pressure on d4 makes sense; continuing the attack lacking a breakthrough idea is a gamble.    

14..., Be7 15.Qg3 Qb6

Black is unafraid of allowing White to take as many of the Black K-side pawns as he wants.  Open files bearing on the White King are serious compensation.

16.Be3,..

Turnabout is fair play.  White offers the b-pawn, and willingly more if Black wants them, to open Q-side files anticipating the Black King will castle long.  Black declines for many of the same reasons that motivated White to do so earlier.

17..., 0–0–0 17.fxe6 fxe6 18.f5 Rdf8 19.Rac1 Kb8

Black sees clearly that 20 f6?, is no real threat because; 20..., gxf6 21 exf6+, is met by 21..., Bd6 22 Qxd6+ Qxd6 23 Bf4 Rhg8+ 24 Kh1 Qxf4 25 Rxf4 Rg6 26 Rcf1 Kc7; and Black is slightly ahead.  Principally, this is ture because it’s hard to find anyway to improve the position of the Nc3, and the Black King will be much more active than White’s for some time to come.  Both players have been performing at a pretty sophisticated level.  

20.fxe6?!,..

Subtly wrong perhaps.  Rybka suggests; 20 a3, offering up the b-pawn to make f5-f6 a workable threat.  The game has arrived at a critical point.  We chess players often think of critical moments in a game as when some ferocious attack is about break over a position.  Sometimes the critical moment is when both sides have mobilized, strong and weak points have been established, but the tension is not overwhelming.  Now decisions have to be made about the long term direction to pursue.  In some ways it is easier to decide things in the face of immediate threat.  Here threats there are for sure, however, nothing that needs immediate attention.  The choices are about the general direction the game will take for the next several moves.

My guess is Mr. Howard chose the text reasoning that having a protected passed pawn on e5 can not be a bad thing for White.  Protected passed pawns are certainly an important asset, if they can advance.  If that advance is not possible they become “a pebble in your shoe”, annoying but not decisive.

Dean had once more arrived at a critical moment fully armed with ideas and chances lacking only that vital resource; time on the clock to work out the details.  His clock showed a bit more than ten minutes at this point.

20..., Qxe6 21.Qg2 Bc6 22.Ne2?,..

Now with less than five minutes remaining, Mr. Howard thinks about transferring the Knight to g3 to shore up defenses on the g-file. This move however relieves pressure on d5 and opens b5 for the Black Bishop.

Trying to eliminate the Black dark squared Bishop makes more sense.  Better 22 Bg5, if then 22..., Bb4 23 a3 Bxc3 24 Rxf3 Bb5 25 Rff3, and while enough material remains on the board that opposite color Bishop based attacks can’t be ruled out, White has held the balance so far.  The problem is lacking time to double check for tactical surprises means you have to go on instinct and intuition.  Sometimes that is enough and sometimes not.

22..., g5 23.Rxf8+ Bxf8 24.Rf1 Bg7?!

Mr. La Comb was doing well up to here.  Concerned about the possibility of the White Rook landing on f6, he prevents that and offers the g-pawn.  This is an interesting idea.  It is probably not quite correct.  If 25 Qxg5 Rg8 26 Ng3, the relocation of the Knight shores up the defenses of the White King just in time.  The activity of the White Queen may force a trade of the Ladies after which the extra protected passed pawn swings the balance to White.  Better for Black is; 24..., Be7 25 Ng3 Bb5 26 Rf2 Bd3; activating his worse Bishop and keeping the tension high in the position.

25.Bxg5?!,..

Not quite so good as capturing with the Queen.  The Bg5 is not as anchored as the Ng3 would have been, and it is more easily attacked if pinned than a Ng3 by the h-pawn.  White has a pawn, and now is playing “Blitz” chess.  Black, by way of contrast, has about 40 minutes on his clock, time enough to think about finding good moves that are tough to meet.  That is the formula for exploiting an opponent’s time problem.  A key ingredient is maintaining your own cool while doing so.  Mr. La Comb does an admirable job not getting reckless as Mr. Howard struggles to stay ahead of the clock.

25..., Bb5 26.Rc1 Bxe2 27.Qxe2 Rg8!?

Not quite winning is; 27..., Qg3 28 Qg2 Rg8 29 h4 Bf8 30 Rf1 Be7 31 Rf2 Qe6 32 Qf3 h6 33 Qf7, when the activity of the White Rook that eventually lands on the 7th gives him chances in the ending.  The line would have been very testing for Howard to meet in his time pressure.  The text does ratchet up the level of difficulty for White.  How should he react to the threat to the Bg5?  White is ahead in this position, the extra pawn can’t be forgotten, but he has only about one minute left to finish the game.

28.Kh1 Qf5 29.Bh4?,..

Unrelenting pressure pays off, and White makes an almost inevitable error.  Here he would have done well to play 29 Rg1, then if 29..., h6? 30 Bf6!, and the potential pinner becomes the pinned and White is winning.  Black’s best seems to be; 29..., Bh6 30 Bxh6 Rxg1+ 31 Kxg1 Qg6+ 32 Qg2 Qb1+; looking for refuge in the end game with Queens.  That is a very hard end game to play even with lots of time on the clock.

29..., Bh6?

A sign perhaps that Dean’s time problems have had a bad effect on Jeffery’s judgment.  The best move is; 29..., Qf4; hitting the Bishop and the Rook.  It is just what Queens do very well; attacking two or more things at the same time.  It could be he worried about 29..., Qf4 30 Bg3,.. but 30..., Qxc1+ 31 Kg2 Rc8 32 e6+ Ka7 33 e7 Re8; is winning for Black.

30.Rf1?,..

Theoretically White was still better before this move was played.  However it allows a quick end to the game by way of a pretty combination.  White retains the advantage with 30 Rg1, but time is needed to make the moves regardless of the position.  Lacking time, now or soon, White appears doomed to falter; he had about 48 seconds now.

30..., Be3!

Neatly done!  If the Rook takes the Queen, it is mate at g1, and if the Queen takes the Bishop, the Black Queen captures on f1 with mate to follow.

31.Bg3 Rxg3 32.hxg3 Qh3+ 0–1

Quite a nice finish.  La Comb kept his wits about himself during most of Howard’s time pressure.  When he slipped up it was only after the time trouble had progressed to an absolutely critical stage.  I have watched the four local time pressure “stars”; Taylor, Michelman, Sells and Howard do amazing things with virtually no time remaining on their clocks.  But, we shouldn’t forget there are times the clock beats even the guys that are really good at handling blitz play.  Taking all things into account, the “stars” I am sure would have liked a few more minutes on the clock many times.

More news from last week:

Thursday the Albany team continued a flurry of activity playing the always crucial match with the Schenectady A team at Schenectady.  After falling behind 1 - 2, the Albany board 3, Peter Henner rescued a result by defeating John Barnes in a time influenced ending.  As with the Illinois - Ohio State football rivalry, a CDCL season can be saved for Albany, or Schenectady, by a good outing against the historic rival.  So it was Thursday.  While we will not challenge for the title this year, we did hold our major rival to a draw.  That is something, not a lot, but something to cheer the team until next year.

In the early going Glen Perry obtained a promising position against Dilip Aaron on board 4.  Mr. Perry maintained his advantage and won the game.  Thereafter the situation for Albany got worse on boards 1 and 2.  Playing quickly Patrick Chi obtained a good position against Dean Howard, but had to carry the game into a Knight versus Bishop and pawns ending.  This time the Bishop just could not hold, and Patrick with the Knight won.  In a complicated affair on board 2, Gordon Magat seemed to have a reasonable position at first sight.  In an ordinary looking position, however, his Queen just could not find a comfortable post.  Mr. Magat tried mightily to repair that defect but was unable to do so.  The Queen problem led to tactics that Philip Sells exploited in excellent style scoring a vital point.

The defeats on boards 1 and 2 were recorded in quick succession, the ol’ Cap’n turned his hopes to board 4.  A little earlier, before everything went bad on the top two boards, Mr. Henner had asked me if a draw was acceptable in his game.  He thought he could get that result fairly easily.  At the time, with a possible win on board 4 and things unclear on the top boards, I agreed a draw would be good for our team.  Now I had to tell Peter a win was needed.  It was said with a  sinking feeling.  On board 3 both players were now into time difficulties, Peter had been angling for a point split, and a change of direction from holding a draw to going for a win is always difficult.  Making that sort of change with little time to weigh up the possibilities is very risky.  Sharp play ensued and Mr. Henner found a way to win in a tricky ending with several pieces on the board. and I for one, am grateful for Peter Henner’s terrific effort.

This victory tied the match 2 -2, taking the first match points against the thus far undefeated Schenectady team.  This was a good result for the Albany team that has struggled this year.  The League standings are:

Team Match Points Game Points
1 Schenectady A                     3 ½ 11 with 1 to play
2 RPI                                   2 ½ 12 done
3 Albany A                           2 8 ½ with 1 to play
4 The Geezers                       2 7 ½ with 2 to play
5 Capital Region                    1 ½ 6 done
6 Uncle Sam                           ½               5 with 2 to play

The Schenectady Geezers with two matches to play have the possibility of overhauling Schenectady A.  Their head-to-head meeting is still to be played.  That contest could well decide the final standings at the top of the table.  A win for the Geezers leaves them in reach of their first League title.  A drawn result, or a win for Schenectady A makes Schenectady A Champion this year.  The competitive situation will make that match even more tense than it is usually.  I am not certain of the date of the Geezers - Schenectady match.  I believe it will take place in the next couple of weeks.

More soon.    

Tulip Fest CHESS!

For our third time, ENYCA will host a chess tent as part of both days of the Tulip Fest in Albany's Washington Park.  This coming weekend, May 12 & 13, enjoy playing some fun games of chess from 11 am to 6pm on either Sat or Sun.  Located up the hill from the food vendors next to the family area.  Special events:  Sat 1-4pm current and 3 time NY State High School Champion Deepak Aaron will play 20 opponents at once.  Deepak represented the US at the World Junior Chess Championship in India last year.  So come over, have a seat, and bring your A game.  Sun 1-4pm learn some fun variations of the game of chess.  Like Kriegspiel, where you play without knowing what your opponent is doing.  Great fun for the audience too!  We provide the boards and chess sets.  See you there!

The Henner v Le Cours Game Decides the Match

The last game to finish in the Albany A - Geezers CDCL match was on board 3.  There two solid Class A and sometime Expert players had the fate of both teams in their hands.  Alan Le Cours by this point understood only a win would salvage a result for the Geezers.  A drawn match would have solidified the Geezers lead in the League competition.  Such was not to be, and Albany A’s victory has to be credited to Mr. Henner’s good effort.

Henner, Peter - Le Cours, Alan [A05]
CDCL Match; Albany A versus Geezers, Guilderland, NY, 25.04.2012

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.g3 g6 3.Bg2 Bg7 4.d3 d6 5.e4 c5

In my youth this was very popular.  It is classified as the Reti Opening, but the formation, with a Black pawn on c5, is also related to the Closed Variation of the Sicilian Defense.

Some classically oriented writers back in the 1950s said playing this way was a sort of rearrangement of the pieces before getting on with the game. It may be called a kind of Fischer-Random chess long before Bobby floated his idea about refreshing chess.

The position can be reached by various move orders:

(67532) Botvinnik, Mikhail - Van den Berg, Carel Benjamin [A05]
Noordwijk (6), 1965
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.d3 g6 4.g3 Bg7 5.Bg2 Nf6 6.0–0 0–0 7.c3 Nc6 8.Nbd2 Rb8 9.Re1 b5 10.d4 b4 11.d5 bxc3 12.bxc3 Na5 13.Bf1 Nd7 14.Qc2 Nb6 15.Nb3 Nac4 16.a4 a5 17.Nfd2 Nxd2 18.Bxd2 Bd7 19.Nxa5 Nxd5 20.exd5 Qxa5 21.Rxe7 Rb7 22.Ree1 Rfb8 23.Ra2 h5 24.h4 Be5 25.c4 Qd8 26.Bc3 Bxc3 27.Qxc3 Rb3 28.Qa1 Bf5 29.Rae2 Rb1 30.Qc3 Rxe1 31.Rxe1 Rb4 32.a5 Ra4 33.Ra1 Rxa1 34.Qxa1 Qa8 35.Qa4 Kg7 36.a6 Qa7 37.Qc6 Bd7 38.Qb7 1–0

In the above game, the Sicilian move order led to the same position as in our game.  The former World Champion Botvinnik elected to proceed thematically by preparing the center expansion with 7 c3.  Black countered with a standard plan; an attempted Q-side space grab via 9..., b5.

The following game tracks more closely to today’s game.  Black obtains a better central position out of the opening and converts that to a win.

(229485) Averbakh, Yuri L (2470) - Gruenfeld, Yehuda (2530) [A05]
GMA Baleares Open, Palma de Mallorca (4), 1989
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 Nf6 4.d3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0–0 0–0 7.e5 dxe5 8.Nxe5 Nfd7 9.Nc4 Nb6 10.Ne3 Nc6 11.Nc3 f5 12.f4 Be6 13.Bd2 Qd7 14.b3 Bf7 15.Rb1 Rad8 16.Kh1 h5 17.Ne2 Bf6 18.Ng1 Kg7 19.Nf3 Rh8 20.Be1 Nd5 21.Qe2 Qc7 22.Nxd5 Bxd5 23.Bf2 Nd4 24.Bxd4 cxd4 25.Rfe1 Rc8 26.Rbc1 Qa5 27.a4 Rc7 28.Rcd1 Rhc8 29.Rd2 Rc3 30.Ne5 Rxc2 31.Nc4 Rxd2 32.Qxd2 Qxd2 33.Nxd2 Bxg2+ 34.Kxg2 Rc3 35.Kf2 Rxd3 36.Ke2 Rc3 37.b4 h4 38.gxh4 Bxh4 39.Rh1 g5 40.fxg5 Re3+ 41.Kf1 Bxg5 0–1

In the following game, Black tries fortifying the center with a stonewall-like pawn formation.  White attacks it head-on and destroys it.  The wreckage of the Black center left weak pawns.  This allowed White to find a transaction leading to the material imbalance of two Rooks plus a pawn versus a Queen.  Sometimes a Queen can do very well in such situations.  This time the Queen had too many weaknesses to defend and the Rooks were well coordinated.

(668262) Sutovsky, Emil (2656) - Dominguez, Lenier (2594) [A05]
10th Valle d'Aosta Open, Saint Vincent (7), 15.02.2002
1.e4 c5 2.Nf3 d6 3.g3 Nf6 4.d3 g6 5.Bg2 Bg7 6.0–0 Nc6 7.Re1 0–0 8.c3 e5 9.Nbd2 h6 10.a3 Be6 11.b4 a6 12.Nb3 c4 13.dxc4 Bxc4 14.Nfd2 Be6 15.c4 Nd7 16.Bb2 Rc8 17.Rc1 Nb6 18.Bf1 Nd4 19.Na5 Qd7 20.Bxd4 exd4 21.Ndb3 Na4 22.Nxd4 b6 23.Nxe6 fxe6 24.Nb3 Qf7 25.Rc2 Nb2 26.Qxd6 Nxc4 27.Bxc4 Rxc4 28.Qxf8+ Qxf8 29.Rxc4 Qf3 30.Re3 Qd1+ 31.Kg2 Qd7 32.Nc1 b5 33.Rc2 Qd1 34.Rc8+ Kh7 35.Rd3 Qe1 36.Rd7 1–0

So what does all this history mean?  Very strong players have taken both sides of the debut, and there are several different reasonable plans for both Black and White.  There are some Grandmasters that hold the early placement of a Knight on f3 is fundamentally flawed for White in openings that are Q-side oriented.  The Knight move foregoes too soon the possibility of using the f-pawn to support an eventual advance of the White e-pawn.  And, there are others that have a very different view; see the above games.  Which view is correct is very probably determined by the style of the player making the choice.  Some, those viewing an early Nf3 as a bad idea, prefer laying out their games on broad strategic lines.  The others see chess as so full of possibilities that many roads lead to rich positions.  They count on their creativity to see them through to success.

Returning to the game:    

6.e5,..

As in Averbakh - Gruenfeld.

6..., dxe5 7.Nxe5 0–0

Both sides have opened the lines of their fianchettoed Bishops.  Effectively dealing with mutual threats to the b-pawns will be a concern for both players.

8.0–0 Nbd7 9.Nc4 Nb6 10.Nxb6 Qxb6 11.Nc3 Be6 12.Qf3 Rab8 13.Bf4!?,..

White plows straight ahead.  At this point things can become tactical after; 13..., Qxb2 14 Bxb8 Rxb8 15 Qf4 Rd8 16 Qd2 Nd7; and Black has several threats for the Exchange.  One line is; 17 Nd5 Bxd5 18 Bxd5 Ne5 19 Bg2 b6; when Black has only a pawn for the Exchange, but the activity of his pieces offers hope for equality.  The line offers temptation for White.  He could easily go wrong if he is greedy with say; 19 Rfb1?  This error is answered by 19..., Rxd5!, and then 20 Rxb2 Nf6+; wins for neatly for Black.

A more careful approach for White is 13 a4, aiming to kick the Qb6, relieving some pressure on b2.    

13..., Bg4 14.Qe3 Rbd8

Black does not take the b-pawn.  Maybe he was worried about how poisonous it might be, or he was not willing to invest material for nebulous positional benefits and potential tactical tricks.

15.Na4!?,..

Sending the Knight to the “rim” is a risk.  White wants the c-pawn and he hopes for benefit if Black takes the b-pawn in return.  A direct defense of b2 with Rab1, is better.  The net result of the transaction carried out is the Knight is parked on b3 where it is not very effective for a long time.

15..., Qb5 16.Nxc5 b6 17.Nb3 Nd5

The cost of winning the c-pawn is now paid.  White has to surrender the Bishop pair.

18.Bxd5 Qxd5 19.f3 Bh3 20.Rf2 Rfe8

Not 20..., Bxb2? Because 21 c4, gives White a sizable advantage.

21.Qe2?!,..

This is doubtful.  Getting the Ra1 into play with 21 Re1, has to be a better choice.

21..., h5!?

Why not right away 21..., g5; driving back the Bf4, or 21..., Qf5; making real the threat to capture on b2?  Both alternatives are more forceful than the text.

22.Re1 g5 23.Be5 f6 24.Bc3 e5

Black is betting on some kind of pawn rush to compensate him for the pawn minus.  Three things are wrong with this idea; the Bg7 is not an active participant in the plan, carrying out the preliminaries has allowed White’s Bishop to take up a much more active post; c3 versus f4, and there is a lingering danger that the Bh3 may be surrounded if White can safely play g3-g4.  This latter nagging concern appears to be behind next sequence for Black.    

25.Qe4 Qf7

Also, 25..., Qd7; could be tried.  The text keeps the White Queen out of g6.

26.g4 f5?

This turns a level struggle into a mopping-up operation.  Keeping the fight going with 26..., Qd7; probably requires White to play; 27 gxh5, then; 27..., Bf5 28 Qc4+ Be6 29 Qa6 Bf8; and Black has not let White obtain a clear advantage.  It is true White has two extra pawns, but the Bishops are beginning to show signs of life and the White K-side will take some careful tending lest some of these scattered pawns fall.

I believe Black had decided a few moves earlier to mix things up with the f-pawn charge, probably around the time he played; 23..., f6.  Down a pawn and not liking how the game was unfolding, Mr. Le Cours may have been discouraged about his long term chances and decided going down swinging was a better option than long struggle promising only a draw with best play by both sides.  He was also aware the Geezers were trailing by a point, and a draw was not good enough to split the match point.  Playing as part of a team in chess can often put you in such circumstances; risks have to be taken to achieve a team result that might be avoided in an individual contest.  

27.Qxf5 Qxf5 28.gxf5 Bxf5 29.Rfe2!,..

Exactly!  The e-pawn is very difficult to defend.

29..., Rc8

Making a threat on the c2-pawn that is not really a threat.  If 30 Bxe5 Bxe5 31 Rxe5, there is no time available for Black to capture on c2; too many threats by White.

30.d4?,..

White believes the threat, or he is just be extra careful.  I don’t know which, but the move lets slip some of the advantage.

30..., g4 31.fxg4 Bxg4

The Black Bishop pair now have room in which to work.  Fortunately for White and the Albany A team, Peter has enough time remaining to see his way through the dangers.

32.Re3 Bf6 33.dxe5 Bg5 34.Rd3 Bh4  35.Re4,..

If 35..., Bf5? 36 Rxh4 Bxd3 37 cxd3, and the h-pawn is doomed after 37..., Rcd8 38 Nc1, making the material advantage a full three pawns.

35...,  Rf8

I had a momentary hallucination that this move threatened mate, but no, everything is covered.

36.Rd2?,..

A slip at the final moment nearly spoiling a good effort.  The move 36 Nd2, preserves the win.

36..., Bg5?

And here is a an error in return.  A reward for risk taking could be had with 36..., Bh3.  That is a mate threat now.  White would then have to play 37 Rg2+, I think.  After 37..., Bxg2 38 Kxg2, Black is just slightly better than  White.  Not much reward for all those risks taken you say?  Well, pulling up equal or a tad better is no mean feat.  The position after 38 Kxg2, offers Black some winning chances, and that was the justification for the pawn charge on the K-side I supposed.  In defense of Mr. Le Cours, it must be said he used considerable time searching for these ideas in a tough position.  His clock was now down to less than two minutes remaining.  Time for the required accuracy was no longer to be had, and White finds a tactical solution.

37.Rg2 Rf3 38.Rexg4 hxg4 39.Rxg4 Rf5 40.h4 1–0

The Bg5 is lost, and clock for Black is hanging by a thread while White has enough time left to bring the game to a finish.  This was a sparkling fight where both sides gave their best efforts for their teams.  It was an entertaining game to watch, and I am sure, a tough game to play.  We, the chess fans, appreciate such endeavors.    

More soon.