The Mockler - Howard Game

Here is the Mockler versus Howard game promised. Mike forwarded a corrected and complete score that solved the problem of deciphering the carbon copy.

The back story of this game explains much. In recent times Mockler has won a number games, four I think, from Howard playing White against the French. Dean has been a dedicated French player for some long time. In this game Dean decides to try something different. The experiment does not work out too well.

SCC Finals 09-10
Date: 03/04/10
White: Mockler, M
Black: Howard, D

1. e4 e6
2. d4 b6
The Queen’s Fianchetto Defense. Not so offbeat that many examples can’t be found in the databases. Ehlvest, Miles, Larsen, Rodgers and even Spassky once, have tried this Defense. From a review of the information in the databases, only Miles and Larsen used it often is evident. Both were well known for going their own way regards to opening play.

3. Nh3!? ….
Mike shares with Larsen and Miles a desire to create new and unusual situations early on. With not so much theory around about the Queen’s Fianchetto, I could find no reference to this move. It appears to be no worse than any other move tried by White here.

3.… d6?!
This looks somewhat doubtful. In similar positions the GM’s and IM’s have liked 3..., c5. I suppose Black could have played 3..., d5; inviting a return to a more normal looking French formation, but then White may have been happy to get in e4-e5 and f2-f4 with out delay.

4. f3 Nf6
5. Be3 Be7
6. Nc3 c6
7. Qd2 a5
8. O-O-O Ba6
Black is following a rule I learned long ago when the French was my preferred opening: Don’t rush to castle on the K-side. Once the Black King settles there White knows where his target is. Without the usual d4/e5 pawn wedge on the board I am not so certain this rule applies.

9. g4 Bxf1
10. Rhxf1 Na6
11. g5 Nd7
12. f4 Qc7
There is a good deal of tension in this position. White’s initiative on the K-side has grown as his space there has expended. From the perspective of Black, there are no obvious pawn breaks that he has in hand. No breaks + a big space advantage for White on the K-side = an edge to White out of the opening.

13. f5 e5
14. Qf2 O-O-O
Black might have been better served by leaving his King in the center. Making an assessment of the position leads to no clear conclusion, yet. That is not to say there is no suspicions about Black’s chances. Trouble is on the horizon on the K-side, and the advanced pawns on the Q-side certainly leaves room for a sudden descent on the Black King. Nevertheless, it may be the on rushing Black pawns just might force some concession upon which Dean can make counter-play.

15. Qe2 Qb7
16. d5 c5
17. Nf2 ….
White could start the ball rolling here with the temporary offer of a pawn 17 f6. Mike prefers to maneuver a bit more. GM Har-Zvi thought 17 a4, clamping down on any counter-play was best.

17.… Nc7
18. Ng4 Bf8?
Black’s game is not promising, but the next two moves, just waiting for the axe to fall, sum up the situation; Dean tried an experiment because of bad results against Mockler with the French, and it turned out unfavorably. That outcome sapped his creativity. A reasonable try is 18..., f6. The resulting positions leave White with the advantage, but Black can make White maneuver for some while to make the advantage manifest. That is time in which Black can stay alert for a shot to turn the game around.

19. Bd2 …..
I don’t see a point to this move. 19 f6, getting on with the plan makes sense. By easing the pressure on Black White gives him an opportunity to stir things up with 19..., b5. White will likely get to plant his Knight on b5, an uncomfortable situation to be sure, but it is not worse than what transpires in the game.

19.… Be7
20. f6 gxf6
21. gxf6 Bf8
22. Nh6 Bxh6
23. Bxh6 Rhg8
24. Bg7 Ne8
25. Nb5 …..
Mike had this idea in mind while he maneuvered around f6 and g7. The Bg7 is indirectly protected by the threat of the forking attack on d6.

25.…. Nf8
26. Bxf8 Rxf8
27. Qh5 Qd7
28. c4 …..
Mike saw this as the best way to support the Nb5. GM Har-Zvi still thought 28 a4 is a better way to do the same thing. By supporting b5 with a2-a4, White kills off counter-play possibilities that show up later in the game.

28.… Nc7
29. Na7+ Kb7
30. Nc6 Ra8
31. Rd3 Na6
32. Ra3 Nb4
33. Ne7 b5
After a prolonged passive defense, Dean now embarks on active play. He has an interesting idea that falls short of success.

34. Qe2 Kb6
35. Kb1 bxc4
36. Qxc4 Qb5
37. Qxb5+ Kxb5
38. Rh3 Rh8
39. a3 c4?!
Dean’s point. The alternative 39..., Na6; is not at all appealing. After 40 Nf5, Rhd8; 41 Rb3+, Ka4; 42 Rb6, the game is over. Black’s hope is White will be so greedy and distracted by material to be annexed on the K-side he’ll miss some tricks around his King.

40. axb4 axb4
41. Nf5 Ra6
42. Kc2 Ra2?
To keep the fight going 42..., Kc5; is necessary. In the long run the game is hopeless for Black in any case. The balance of the game has a few tricks that are not hard to spot. Mike brings home the full point without much drama.

43. Nxd6+ Kc5
44. Nxf7 Re8
45. Ng5 c3
46. Rb1 Kc4
47. Kc1 Rg8
48. Rg3 b3
49. Rxc3+ Kb4
50. f7 Rf8
51. Kd2 Ra7
52. Rf3 Rc8
53. f8=Q+ Rxf8
54. Rxf8 Rg7
55. Rb8+ Kc5
56. Ne6+ Kc4
57. Nxg7 h5
0-1
With time nearly gone on the clock, Dean resigned. This win for Mockler coupled with the victory of Sells over Chi hint that my prediction, Mockler and Sells fighting it out for first, just might be on target. Of course, there is quite a ways to go in the Finals. I expect Chi, Rotter and Howard to make serious efforts to get back on the winning track in their next games. The second round will tell us much about this year’s story line.