One of the Decisive Games

After some delay, we are going to look at the games from last week’s match between Schenectady A and the team from Albany. To begin, the game Chi - Howard:

CDCL Match Schenectady A v Albany

White: Patrick Chi, Schenectady

Black: Dean Howard, Albany

Date: 17 June, 2010

1.d4 e6 2.c4 d5 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bg5 Be7 5.Nf3 h6 6.Bh4 0–0 7.e3 b6 8.Be2 Bb7

Very, very much mainstream theory. A quick look in the databases shows Kasparov, Karpov, Kramnik, Topalov and others of the 2600+ ilk on the White side and much the same line up on the Black side.

9.Bxf6 Bxf6 10.cxd5 exd5 11.b4..

This is not an opening I have much experience with. During the game this move surprised me. It turns out it is standard and preferred by that list of world champions and contenders above.

11..., Be7?

The top flight players do not, however, like this move at all. The is only one example in the databases, Guilev - Mamedov, Dubai, 1999, a couple of 2300/2400 players where White won in 36 moves. The elite guys play 11... c5, and sometimes 11..., c6. Interestingly, Rybka finds nothing wrong with the game move even after given some time to think about it.

12.Qb3 Nd7!?

This rather normal looking move is not the computer’s choice. It much prefers 12.. Qd6. There is a trick or two in the position. If 13 0-0, then 13..., Qxb5 is met by 14 Nxd5. So it seems that White can offer the b-pawn for a move or two and complete his development before having to take time to defend b4. The evaluation given by Rybka is only slightly in favor of White after the text.

13.0–0 Nf6 14.Rfc1..

We may have come to the end of Patrick’s theoretical knowledge. The principled and theoretical move 14 b5 is one of the ideas behind 11 b4. The notion is for White to obtain a favorable pawn formation on the Q-side and pressure down the c-file on the backward c-pawn. That seems to be the idea of the text also, but now Black can play ..,c7-c6; without his d-pawn becoming isolated.

14..., a5 15.a3!?...

White passes a second time on the chance to advance to b5. The game is dead even now.

14.., c6 16.Na4 axb4 17.axb4 Ne4 18.Ne5 b5

The continued pressure on the Q-side pawns produces an ugly move. The computer does not give White any significant edge after the text, but to this human, the Black position is not attractive at all.

19.Nc5 Nxc5 20.bxc5 Qc7 21.Qd3 Bf6 22.f4

White has now switched his sights to the K-side. He is undertaking an attack there with only a marginal advantage of force in the sector; Q+B+N versus a lone B. There is a rather large but in this assessment; the Black Queen can be brought to the aid of her monarch quickly and there are no glaring weaknesses in the pawn structure. The plan just may be over-optimistic.

Both players had used a considerable amount of clock time by now. Patrick and Dean tend to use time in the early phases of the game attempting to truly understand the nature of the position. Most often they then are able to survive a scramble in time pressure relying on this understanding to see them through. When two such players meet, the concluding moves of a game can be made in a flurry of hands faster than Ping Pong. Rybka still says the game is even.

22..., Rxa123.Rxa1 Ra8 24.Rf1?!..

This is a gamble. Probably the best play is 24 Rxa8 Bxa8 25 Qf5 Bxe5 26 fxe5 b4 when the question is; is the really terrible Black Bishop on a8 offset by the passed b-pawn? Holding on to the b-pawn keeps the Black pieces tied down, but if the White Queen has to blockade the b-pawn from b3, the chances for a win by White are remote.

24..., Ra2

Safer is first 24..., Bc8; guarding the light squares on the K-side.

25.Bh5 g6 26.Bd1 Qa5!?

Black is going for gold also. The infiltration of the Black major pieces down the a-file looks dangerous, it is however not quite as quick as the sacrificial assault White has in mind. Once more safer is 26..., Bc8.

27.Nxg6 fxg6??

In a game score that Bill Townsend shared with me this move was given the double query, and that is accurate. In a sharp position Dean either miscalculated or miscounted. Maybe he thought his Queen and Rook could make threats along the 2d rank that would require defensive moves by White. The computer gives White a winning advantage after the text move.

Black has chances to hold with 27..., Ba6, after which things get very tactical immediately. Play, according to Rybka goes; 28 Bc2 and if 28..., Bxf1 29 Qf5 Bxf1 30 Qxf6 gxf6 31 Qxg6+ Kf8 32 Qxh6+ and the White Queen and Bishop hunt down the Black King. Or if 30..., Rxc2?? 31 Qh8 mate. Best play according to the computer is; 27... Ba6 28 Bc2 b4 29 Qf5 Qd8 30 Rb1 Bc8 31 Ne7+! Qxe7 (If 31..., Bxe7 32 Qh7+ and mate the next.) 32 Qxc8+ and there is a perpetual on c8 and g4 for White. The alternative try in this line of 29..., Rxc2 30 Qxf6 fxg6 31 Qxg6+ Kf8 32 Qxh6+ leads to a draw also but with much accuracy required of both parties to get there. With time running down for both players they have to go on intuition. Calculating all the complexities after 27..., Ba6; is no easy job in time trouble. This time intuition fails Dean.

28.Qxg6+ Bg7 29.f5!..

A nice idea leading to a forced win with limited risk. During the game I spent a good deal of time calculating 29 Qe8+ Bf8 (If 29..., Kh7 30 Bh5 wins) 30 Bg4 which also winning but quite so neatly as the game continuation.

29..., Qd2 30.f6 Qxe3+

There is no real hope in 30..., Qxg2+; because after giving up the Exchange the Bb7 is useless and the c-pawn doomed in the long run. Any advance of the b-pawn, although necessary to get some life for the Bb7, loses it. All-in-all, not a position worth playing. The text offers an exchange of Queens, but White has calculated the precisely.

31.Kh1 Qg5 32.f7+ Kf8 33.Qd6+ Qe7 34.Qb8+ Resigns.

Even when the Black Queen throws herself onto the bonfire it is mate the next move. A very nice win by Patrick Chi. The end came so soon we, the spectators, were not treated to time scramble we expected. This victory cemented the match win for the Schenectady A team and first place in this year’s CDCL contest.

More games tomorrow. I have completed the analysis of Michelman - Sells and hope to have Leisner - Rotter also. The big game, Aaron - Katrein, will the last posted for a big finish!