Another Game From Last Thursday

If you have not been following the Melody Amber tourney in Nice, it it over! Ivanchuk and Carlsen tied for first in this almost for fun event of Rapid and Blindfold games. Ivanchuk did it by not losing a single game in twenty-two rounds of play against the best in the world. In a contrasting style, Carlsen won thirteen out of twenty-two while losing six. There was some amazing chess demonstrated by all, including some errors in the blindfold portion that show even among the best human frailty is present.

A correction to my recent long post about the last round of the Consolation Swiss. John Barnes won his game against Alan Le Cours. It was not drawn as I mistakenly noted at the end of the game score. My apologies for poor proof reading.

Here is one more game from last Thursday. Jeff Capitummino, a Schenectady member who returned to competition thus year, takes on Ray Alguire, a long time Saratoga member who is expanding his chess horizons in recent years by playing Thursdays in Schenectady.

Consolation Swiss
Date: 3/18/2010
White: Capitummino, J
Black: Alguire, R

1. d4 Nf6
2. c4 c5
3. d5 b5
4. cxb5 a6
5. b6 Qxb6
6. Nc3 g6
7. e4 d6
8. f4? ….
Quite an interesting choice of opening. I was not aware Ray had taken up the Benko. That cheers me for the Benko was a favorite of mine ’way back in the 1980’s. I don’t have a reason why I drifted away from it, a change of fashion maybe.

Up to this point Jeff has done fine. The game move, however, is just too loosening for White. His King will never find a truly secure home now. Standard is 8 Nf3, and castling.

8.… Bg4?!
Provoking exchanges when your opponent has compromised his King’s safety is not a good idea in general. If there is opportunity to attack the insecure King, trading material reduces forces that can be useful in the assault. Reasonable is 8.…, Bg7; getting on with development while waiting to see exactly where the chances lie.

9. Be2 Bxe2
10. Ngxe2 Bg7
11. Qc2 O-O
12. Rb1 a5
13. b3 Na6
14. a3 Rfb8?!
This is doubtful. White has been reluctant to castle, which understandable for the Black Queen and Knight on f6 look dangerous. Black seems to be following a prescription often quoted in books about the Benko; put both Rooks on the a & b-files and use the Rooks and the Bg7 to concentrate pressure on White’s Q-side. That is pretty true when White has accepted the a-pawn on move 5. When White does not grab that pawn, the single open file, as opposed to the two adjacent open files, is less powerful. This is mostly because it will take Black a couple moves to double his Rooks on the b-file giving White time to organize a defense there.

A more active and principled approach for Black is the plan beginning with 14..., e6’ threatening to open the e-file. White would have to play 15 dxe6; then he will have dangers coming at him down the f-file, from a possible expansion by Black in the center (…, d6-d5;), as well as some kind of switch to the b-file if the other threats don’t pan out.

15. Bd2 Nd7
16. Na4 Qc7
17. Bc3 Bxc3+
18. Qxc3 Nb6
Black is focused on the b-file plan without regard to exact facts on the board. In the Benko, Black has to be ready switch fire to targets of opportunity. The whole notion behind the idea of offering the Q-side pawns is to grab open lines. Open lines are exploited only with dynamic play. A key element of dynamics in chess is attacking simultaneously, or in rapid succession the opponent’s vulnerable points.

19. Nxb6 Qxb6
20. Kd2 Ra7
21. Rb2 a4
22. Rhb1 Rab7
23. Nc1 axb3
24. Rxb3 Qc7
25. Rxb7 Rxb7
26. Rxb7 Qxb7
27. Qb3 Qc7
The last few moves were more or less routine and leading to a drawn position. Neither side came up with something creative to upset the balance. White probably had to be satisfied with that because of the looseness he introduced to his formation early on. Ray, on the other hand may not have had enough experience in the opening variation to easily find creative alternatives.

28. Kd3 Nb8
29. Ne2 Nd7
30. Nc3 Nb6
31. Kc2 Qa7
32. Nb5 Qa6
33. Kd3?? ….
After conducting a very creditable middle game holding off a more highly rated opponent, Ray is rated over 1650 and Jeff is under 1300, Capitummino makes a hasty move losing on the spot.

33 White resigned before Black moved.

I liked Ray’s choice of an aggressive opening and think Jeff did a good job of meeting the opening surprise not withstanding a mistake on the 5th move. Even though Jeff lost the game, his play was very good through the middle of the game. Blunders happen to all chess players. As Boris Spassky said forty years ago; “Chess is a terribly negative game, we remember our losses far more than our victories.” Blunders make defeats even more painful. That is the fate of chess players, to seek out the rare thrill of playing better than our skill even at the cost of discouraging errors.

Another round tonight at Schenectady and more games soon.