CDCL: Uncle Sam versus the Geezers

Herein are all the games from the Geezers’ match with the Uncle Sam Chess Club of Troy.

As can be seen in the notes to the games, the score could have easily been 3-1 the other way. As mentioned in my last post, Troy was short handed. This gave the Schenectady team a +1 edge before the games began.

CDCL Match Troy v Sch'dy Geezers
Site: Troy, NY
Date: 5.3.2010
White: Thomas, P
Black: Mockler, M

1. e4 e6
2. d4 d5
3. Nd2 Nc6
4. Ngf3 Be7
5. Bd3 h6?
The Tarrasch variation of the French Defense. The method Black is using is not to everyone’s taste, but Seirawan and Lputian, solid 2600 types have tired the early …, Nc6; idea with mixed success. The “but” is Black really does not want to make moves on the K-side. Just about anything done on that side of the board by Black has serious long term consequences because they become targets for White. The routine notion for Black at this point is 5..., Nb4; hitting the Bd3, followed by …, c7-c5; when Black is attacking on the Q-side while White launches his thematic space grab on the K-side. Some knowledge learned from thirty years of using the French: Don’t be in a hurry to castle short as Black once White pushes his pawn to e5. The Black King is often safer in the center than castled into the line of fire of the White Bishops. Mockler knows that.

6. c3 Nf6
7. e5 Nh5?
Much better is 7..., Nd7. It is true that the congested look of the Black forces inspires doubts, but the Knight perched out on the left wing is clearly ripe to be harassed. White has a solid advantage now. My good friend Mr. Mockler likes to play convoluted, murky positions confident in his calculating skill to navigate periods of difficult play. Many, many times this works very well and presents interesting chess. On this occasion the hunt for interesting chess goes just a bit too far.

8. Nf1?! ….
Michael’s difficult approach gets a small dividend. Better for White is 8 Nb3.

8.… g5?!
More restrained is 8..., g6. The text makes a target right where the White pieces are aimed. Black has to do something about the Nh5 because White threatens 9 g4, winning the Knight.

9. Be3?! ….
Both sides have been indulging their chess fantasy. Here the principled move is 9 h4, not fearing 9..., g4; 10 N3h2, g3; 11 Nxg3, Nxg3; 12 fxg3, Rg8; 13 Bf4, and White can attack h6 and f7 in succession with his remaining Knight. The undeveloped state of the pieces on the Q-side will take many moves to fix before Black can generate threats on the K-side open file. That is very likely time enough to win a pawn or two more for White. Two or more pawns in the pocket makes fending off any attack much easier. The error White makes with the text is not sufficient to say Black has equalized, but it does give him some breathing room.

9.… Ng7
10. Ng3 Nf5?!
Another doubtful move in period where both sides did not do their best work. The move puts the Knight in an exposed position. Here 10..., h4; is sensible. Black will still have targets to defend, but by pushing back one, or both of the White Knights he will have extra space as compensation. Then if White is not careful, the Knights can come to obstruct the smooth development of the rest of the White army allowing Back to catch up.

11. Qc2?! …..
More reasoned is 11 Nxf5, eliminating the only Black minor piece showing any signs of activity.

11.… Nxe3
12. fxe3 g4
13. Nd2 Bg5
14. Nh5! ….
It is accurate to say that Mockler’s provocative approach has paid off to some extent. Up to this moment White has not made the best use of the chances given. On this turn, White offers a pawn to get his Knight a post on f6. At first look there is no reason not to play 14 e4, keeping the material balance. Thomas must have believed he will make something out of having the Knight on f6 and I think he is correct.

14... Bd7
After going to more than a little trouble, Mockler passes on grabbing the offered pawn. As one GM or another has said; a pawn is worth some difficulties. What happens if Black just takes the pawn? A sample line is; 14..., Be3; 15 Nf6+, Kf8; 16 Nf1, Bg5; 17 Nh7+!, and 18 Ng3, when the Black K-side looks even more shaky. The Ng1 is poised to travel through g3 to h5 to be followed by a Rook showing up on f1 and nailing down control of f6 for White. To my mind, this basket of difficulties is too much for a single pawn. It would be hard to fault Black for not taking the pawn. If this analysis is correct, then the entire scheme Black has used is flawed.

15. e4 Bxd2+
Giving up the key defender of the dark squares for what advantage? I believe Michael did not care for the positions that come about after say 15..., Kf8; 16 exd5, exd5; 17 0-0, when White has all the play. The alternative 15..., Qe7; 16 0-0; 0-0-0; 17 Nf6, is not appealing either. When all the alternatives looking poor, trading the dark square guardian at least has the merit of reducing material.

16. Qxd2 Qh4+
17. Ng3 dxe4
18. Bxe4 O-O-O
19. O-O-O? ….
More logical is 19 0-0, carrying on with the theme of domination of f6 and the f-file in general. The text gives Black the chance he has been hoping for.

19.… Be8?
It isn’t often Mockler misses a tactic. Here he does so. Black needed to play 19..., Nxe5!; 20 dxe5, Ba4; 21 Qe3, Bxd1; 22 Rxd1, Rxd1+; 23 Kxd1, Kb8; 24 Nf1, Rd8+; and Black has converted a position without much hope into an ending where a Queen with pieces versus a Queen with R+P have some expectations of holding the game.

20. Qf4 Ne7
21. h3 Rg8
22. Kb1 Nd5
23. Bxd5 Rxd5
24. Ne4 Rd8
25. Nf6 ….
White is proceeding in a calm manner holding on to his edge and improving the position of his pieces while allowing nothing wild to happen.

26.… Qg5
26. Qxg5 Rxg5
27. hxg4 Rg6
28. Rdf1 Bc6
29. Rf2 Rh8
30. Kc2 Rd8
31. Kd2 Bb5
32. Ke3 Rh8
33. Rh5 Kd8
34. g3 Ke7
Black brought his King over to shore up the weak K-side. It is all he can do in a situation with almost no active possibilities.

35. Rfh2 Kf8
36. g5 Kg7
37. gxh6+ Rhxh6
38. Rxh6 Rxh6
39. Rxh6 Kxh6
40. b3 ….
The general advance of the pawns in the center spells the end for Black. Thomas’ correct belief that a Nf6 was the key to victory is neatly demonstrated.

40.… b6
41. c4 Bc6
42. d5 exd5
43. cxd5 Resigns.
The advance d5-d6, d6-d7, will win the Bishop and the game in short order.

CDCL Match Troy v Sch’dy Geezers
Site: Troy, NY
Date: 5-3-2010
White: Hill, E
Black: Phillips, J

1. d4 c5
2. dxc5 e6
3. b4 a5
4. c3 axb4
5. cxb4 Qf6!
White has fallen into a known trap in the Benoni. Taking on c5 and then trying to hold the pawn leads to serious trouble for White.

6. Bb2 ….
Maybe a little better is 6 Nc3, losing the Knight rather than the Bishop. Either way White is lost.

6.… Qxb2
7. Nd2 Nc6
8. Rb1 Qxa2
9. e3 Qa4
10. Qc1 Nxb4
11. Nb3 Nd5
12. Nf3 Qb4+
13. Nfd2 Ngf6
14. Bd3 Nc3
15. Rb2 Nce4?!
Up to here Black has held on to the substantial advantage won early on comfortably. Now he slips just a little. It is better to continue aggressively with 15..., Ra3; or 15..., Nfe4. In either case the pressure grows against the White position. The only reason for White to play on is the slightly awkward position of the Black Queen. By easing up, Black lets White keep playing.

16. O-O Nxc5?
Definitely wrong. It is much better for Black to initiate the trade of a pair of Knights with 16..., Nxd2; then 17 Nxd2, Qa3; (Not 17..., Qxc5; 18 Rc2, the trick as in the game that reduces Black’s material edge, and the development of the Black K-side remains laggard.) 18 Nb3, and either the slow, calm 18..., Be7; or the more energetic 18..., d5; keep almost all of Black’s advantage intact while beginning to get his forces out and working.

17. Nxc5 Qxc5
18. Rc2 Qa5
19. Rxc8+ Rxc8
20. Qxc8+ Qd8
21. Qxb7 ….
Very neatly played by Mr. Hill! True Black retained one extra pawn, but the threat of 22 Rc1, 23 Rc8, forces Black to play the Bishop to e7 and castle immediately allowing the White pieces to take up very active posts. The really good chess players very often are happy to surrender a pawn for piece activity. It certainly is more fun to play White than to play Black.

21.… Be7
22. Rc1 O-O
23. Ba6 ….
I am not so sure this is the right path. Another possibility is 23 Ne4, but that may lead to a trade of Knights, and if White hopes to make something significant out of the lead in development that’s not the way to do so. Perhaps there is no good way to try for an advantage. I worked on the idea beginning 23 e4, intending a further advance to e5 driving away the Black Knight from f6 clearing the diagonal of the Bd3 aiming to put pressure on h7. However, if Black alertly plays 23..., Qa8; his threats of simplifying exchanges seem to trump the notion White can build an attacking formation. If there is no way to make an assault, then trades to reduce material and counting the opposite colored Bishops to hold is the correct procedure.

23.… Qa5
24. Nb3 Qa3
25. Qb5?! ….
Safer is 25 Bf1.

25... Qb2
Black is beginning again to take over the initiative.

26. Qd3 d5?
Much more forceful is 26..., Rb8; then if 27 Rb1, Qa2; 28 Nd2, Rb1+; 29 Nb1, Bb4; when Black has the advantage. If alternatively, 27 Rc8+, Rxc8; 28 Bxc8, Ng4!; wins. The attack on f2 is very strong. For example; if 29 Nd2, Qc1+; picks up the Bc8.

27. Rb1 Qe5?!
With 27..., Qa3; Black keeps the one pawn advantage intact and can make White suffer for a long time. The text move begins to seek out complications. The Queen, a piece that likes open lines and plenty of room heads into the confined spaces of the K-side. This just may give White some tactical chance. Black must have been hoping to make some threats with his Queen, Knight and maybe the Bishop working together.

28. Nd4 Bd6?
This move cuts off the natural retreat for the Queen, better is 28.…, Bc5; 29 Nf3, Qd6; and Black is rationally organized to advance the center pawns as well as use the Bishop and Knight against the White K-side. All that remains to be done to have his forces completely coordinated is to pick a file on which to use the Rook. That maybe the b-file. In any event, Black is better organized than he has been for a number of moves with a solid extra pawn and can make White suffer particularly under the sudden-death time control.

29. Nf3 Qe4
30. Qd1 Rb8
31. Rxb8+ Bxb8
32. Bd3 Qb4
33. Nd4 Qb2
Somewhat better is 33.…, Qc3. Phillips may have been filled with regrets at letting what seemed to be a routine win after his opponent fell into a trap slip away. Although he has the pawn, having Bishops of opposite color on the board made looking for a win difficult.

34. Nc6 Bd6
35. Qa4 Qc1+
36. Bf1 g6
37. Qa6 Bxh2+??
A blunder of the first order. John just forgot the Bf1 is defended by the Queen. He thought he was winning a pawn. Black now is at serious disadvantage.

38. Kxh2 Ng4+
39. Kg3 h5
40. Ne7+ Kf8
41. Nc8? …..
Mr. Hill misses a chance to use good technique and force the exchange of Queens with 41 Qc8+. After such White would be in firm control and the win a matter of playing the ending correctly. The position still favors White

41.… Qc2
42. Be2 Nf6
43. Qd6+ Kg7
44. Bf3?? ….
Another blunder of the first order. White forgets in the same way Black did earlier, the Nc8 needs protection.

44.… Qxc8
45. Qe5 Qd8
46. Be2 Kh7?
Missing a chance to simplify by 46..., Qd6; 47 Qd6, Ne4+; recovering the Queen and remaining up two pawns.

47. Kh2 Ne4
The game went on for a just few more moves and White’s time ran out. A flawed game that illustrates how easily the 3-1 score could have been 2-2.

CDCL Match Troy v Sch'dy Geezers
Site: Troy, NY
Date: 5.3.2010
White: Chu, R
Black: Canty, S

1. c4 Nf6
2. Nc3 c6
3. Nf3 d6
4. g3 e5
5. d3 Be7
6. Bg2 Be6
7. O-O O-O
8. Qc2 Nbd7
9. b3 Rc8
10. Bg5 h6
11. Be3?! ….
Maybe this move was made to induce Black to play …., d5; and maybe it was an oversight.

11.… d5
Naturally!

12. Bd2 ….
Lest there be a pawn fork on d4.

12.… d4
13. Ne4 Nxe4
14. dxe4 f5
15. Bh3 Rf6?
In a tense and a tactically dangerous position, Black misses his chance. Better is 15..., Nc5; creating a messy situation that tends towards equality. The text drops a pawn, and worse, gets the Rook into trouble. As GM Har-Zvi is fond of saying; Rooks are poor pieces to be used in the attack early in the game. When traffic is heavy on the board, Rooks can easily become trapped.

16. exf5 Bf7
17. e4? …..
Best is 17 e3, directly striking at the Black center pawns.

17.…. dxe3?
Black could have cemented a favorable central formation with either
17..., Qc7; or 17..., c5. The text gives up that possibility.

18. Bxe3 Qa5
19. Rfe1? ….
I am not sure of what Mr. Chu intends with this Rook move. Putting a Rook on the d-file certainly would be a reasonable option to be evaluated, but the e-file? What does it do? The correct continuation is 19 Nd2, threatening 20 Ne4, collecting the Exchange. If then Black tries say 19..., c5; 20 Ne4, Rfc6; 21 f6, wins material. The trick of advancing the f-pawn after making the Rf6 move seems to pick up the Exchange in all variations taking full advantage of Black’s error on move 15.

19.… Bb4
20. Bd2 Re8?
More to the point is 20..., Rd8; it is the d-file where things will happen.

21. Bxb4 Qxb4
22. Nd2 Nc5
23. Ne4? ….
Richard is just not quite finding the right moves although he seems to have the right ideas in mind. Here 23 a3, avoids problems and maintains a positional advantage. The way White plays the position lets some of the advantage disappear.

23.… Nxe4
24. Rxe4 Rd6
25. Rd1 Red8
26. Rxd6 Rxd6
27. Rxe5 Rd2
28. a3 Qd6
29. Qc3 Ra2?
One has to admire the determination with which the Troy players try for wins. Here 29..., Rd3; levels the game and can easily lead to a repeating of moves and a draw. If White wants to try for more, he has to find 30 c5!? This move has risks attached to it for there are tricks for both sides.


30. a4 Ra3?
Still determined to win, Black passes on 30..., Rd2; with some hope to equalize.

31. Re4? ….
This move drops a pawn. It does open up the position. More accurate is 31 Re3, beefing up the defense of b3. The position now quickly becomes level.

31.… Qd1+
32. Re1 Qxb3
33. Qxb3 Rxb3
34. Bf1 Ra3
35. Re7 Rxa4
36. Rxb7 a5
37. Rc7 Be8?
The simple 37..., Bxc4; would offer chances to draw. Black may have over-valued the White pawn majority on the K-side. True White has a four to two advantage there, but with the f-pawns doubled the majority is not at full strength. Black, with care, will get a distant passer on the Q-side that could balance the game.

38. Be2 Ra1+
39. Kg2 a4?
Sylvester just has not found the correct ideas for this endgame. Best here is 39..., Re1; and 40..., Re5. White would still hold an advantage, but Black has some hope to hold the game.

40. Rc8! ….
Pinning the Bishop takes away most of Black’s options. The outcome will be the Black pawn on the a-file is lost after the Bishops are traded. Without a distant passed pawn Black will have fewer chances for activity and be reduced to passive defense.

40.… Kf7??
I have played Sylvester Canty before in a tough ending where he held the draw. Against Chu he just does not have the same solid mind set as in the our game. This error drops a piece leaving no hope to save the day.

41. Bh5+ Kf6
42. Bxe8 a3
43. Rxc6+ Ke5
44. Ra6 Ke4
45. c5 Kd5
46. c6 Resigns.
The game actually rolled on for several moves. The issue was never in doubt and he eventually resigned.

As was said at the beginning of this post, things might well have turned out very differently in this match had “chess luck” favored the Uncle Sam team just a bit. The Geezers were fortunate the breaks fell our way.

More CDCL match play still come in the next couple of weeks, and I have my game with Fineberg from the Saratoga-Geezers match.