More From Schenectady

Another game from last Thursday’s round at Schenectady. The preliminary qualifications are quickly reaching the end of the schedule. Games between potential contenders for a qualifying spot take on great tension at this point in the event. This is one such game.

[Event "SCC Ch Prelim B"]
[Site "SCC"]
[Date "12/10/2009"]
[White "Barnes, J"]
[Black "Lack, J"]

1. d4 e6
A favorite of Short and Ivanchuk keeping a touch of ambiguity for the moment about just what sort of game will occur.

2. c4 Nf6
3. Nc3 Bb4
4. Bg5 ….
Now we are in the Leningrad variation of the Nimzo-Indian. This was a line used by Boris Spassky in the 70s and 80s. Yusupov and Bareev championed the line in the 90s. Other ideas have been more popular at the top level in the past decade. There does not appear to be a reason for this other than a whim of fashion.

4.… c5
There are a fair number of games where Korchnoi used this move to good effect. Anything the redoubtable Victor uses frequently is worthy of serious consideration.

5. Bxf6 ….
Mr. Barnes leaves Grandmaster practice. Here the GM’s push the d-pawn to d5 as a rule. This experiment has had poor results internationally with Black winning about 75% of the games. The wins however run to the 40 to 50 move range. With no titled players trying the move, and no short victories for Black, it is hard to form a definite opinion about why the move is unsuccessful. Probably conceding the Bishop pair for no tangible benefit is the flaw.

5.… Qxf6
6. Nf3 ….
We are now completely out of theory. Even the 2100 to 2300 players who have played this way in my databases went for 6 e3, here.

6.… Nc6
7. e3 O-O
8. Bd3 cxd4
9. exd4 d5
10. c5? ….
While the position to here was not exactly mainstream theory, it has many of the characteristics of the Nimzo. White castling and Black trading on c4 gives an IQP position where White misses his dark squared Bishop, but it is normal play and the best for White. Perhaps the missing Bishop is why John gets creative here. The move is an error that should allow Black to have a definite pull.

10.… b6?
The natural reaction 10..., e5; takes advantage of the White King still being on e1 to weaken the White pawns and likely win one. Play could continue: 10..., e5; 11 dxe5, Nxe5; 12 0-0, Nxf3+; 13 Qxf3, Qxf3; 14 gxf3, Rd8; 15 Rfd1, Be6; 16 Na4, Bd7; 17 Bc2, Bxa4; 18 Bxa4, Rac8; 19 c6, bxc6; and notwithstanding the Bishops of opposite colors, the extra pawn means Black can make White suffer without a chance of losing. The game move leaves White with a decent position.

11. cxb6 axb6
12. O-O Ba6
13. Nb5 Rfc8
14. Rc1 g6
Trying active stuff with 14..., e5; seems to only help White. The text brings the game level.

15. a3 Bf8
16. Rc3 Bxb5
Maintaining the tension with 16..., Qf4; or shaking up the central position with 16..., e5; more reliably keep the balance. The move played surrenders the one thing Black was given that holds hope for an advantage, the Bishop pair. The game now rolls on towards a draw. These two players are "on the bubble" in this preliminary section. It may be they both saw a loss as too dangerous to risk. That notion makes more sense for Barnes than Lack given the tournament situation. Lack needs a win from a contender to scramble back into the race. Barnes still could hope that Phillips might make a slip, as he actually did in this round.

17. Bxb5 Na5
Not quite correct. Black should be worried about control of the c-file lest White makes a penetration down that line. Better 17..., Ne7; reinforcing c8.

18. Rxc8 …..
Does no one want to win? Better 18 Qc2. True enough Black can trade on c3 and move his Queen to f4 with sufficient counter-play to hold the game. After the game move Black has improved the placement of his Rook and is well on the way organizing his forces optimally.

18... Rxc8
19. Ne5 Qf5
Both players are making wagers about "clipping a weak button", Black’s b6 and White’s d4. Black has one more target than White; c2, as a post for a major piece. My computer likes 19..., Bg7; making the threat to d4 more real, and 19..., Nc4!?; a stirring of the pot that can be risky.

20. Qd3 Rc2
21. Qxf5 gxf5
22. Rb1 ….
If White wants to win the only try is 22 Be8, and things become complicated after 22..., f6; with both sides after loose pawns. Who comes out on top depends on very accurate calculation. The clocks were running down and the sudden-death time control has it’s impact. Working through all the variations with time trouble looming in a game that is critical for qualifying for the finals is no appetizing prospect. A move or two more, and the players agreed the draw.

22.… Bg7
23. Ba4 Rc7
If 23..., Rd2; 24 Nf3, and if Black decides to risk 24..., Rd3!?; winning the Exchange after 25 Bc2, is no guaranteed win of the game. White’s pawn are surprisingly hard to defend, and Black’s d-pawn can become a monster. Other tries such as 23..., Re2; lead again to difficult to evaluate positions where the Black Rook, while making strenuous efforts to pick off a pawn, is in some danger itself.

Draw by agreement. A reasonable outcome in a tense game