An Endgame Fight from AACC

Somewhere along the line in all I have written in recent months on this site I said something about a renaissance in the local chess scene in the Capital District. Here is one more indicator of how things are moving forward for chess. Peter Henner has been for some time one of the better local players. He recently began writing a chess column in The Altamont Enterprise & Albany County Post, a weekly newspaper focused on the doings in Guilderland and the Hill Towns of Albany County. In the columns I have seen so far, Peter has been exploring chess history and presenting some classic chess problems. In a brief conversation at the Albany Area Chess Club (AACC) a week or two ago, Henner said he was thinking about putting some local games in the column. That is a good idea I think.

How many medium sized metro areas such as the Capital District have two chess columns; Townsend’s in the Gazette and Henner’s in the Enterprise? Additionally, there are six active chess clubs or groups; Schenectady, AACC, Saratoga, Troy, RPI and the Friday night Guilderland Library group. Two things really have driven this resurgence: Brother John’s ongoing “Make the Right Move” scholastic program teaches kids chess and introduces them to competition, and the recent few years when we had out own local GM, Ronen Har-Zvi in residence. The “Make the Right Move” program has provided youthful new club members for the established clubs, and Har-Zvi inspired the return to more active participation a number of older players. Together these have generated more widespread chess activity than I can remember in the sixty years I have been playing the game locally, except for that brief period 1970-72, the “Fischer Boom”.

We have an interesting game today from the AACC Preliminaries. In it Jason Denham, a player new to USCF chess who has a provisional rating in the upper 1600s, battles Glen Perry, a strong Class B player poised to go over 1800 into Class A. A rating such as Denham’s is unusual. Provisional ratings, based on a few games - I think Jason has played in only one or two events - does not tell much about a player’s true strength. In this case we have an adult coming to rated chess a bit later in life, and adults typically don’t obtain this sort of rating right away. His success here against Mr. Perry hints we have new player who can make a mark for himself locally.

Denham, Jason - Perry, Glen [A20]

AACC Ch Prelim 2 Guilderland, NY, 08.12.2010

1.c4 e5 2.g3 Nf6 3.Bg2 d5 4.cxd5 Nxd5

I don’t know what this line may be called. English/Catalan/ KIA/Reversed Sicilian are all terms that come to mind.

5.Nf3 Nc6

Of course, 5.., e4 6 Qa4+, collects the e-pawn.

6.0–0 Be7

We have under consideration another game where the locals are sticking with the practice of the best players. This position has been contested by Topalov and Korchnoi as White against Karpos and Timman.

7.d4 e4 8.Ne5 Nxe5

Up to here we have been following Topalov - Timman, Wijk ann Zee, 1999, a win for White in 36 moves. That game continued 8..., f5 9 Nxc6 bxc6 10 Qa4 Qd7. Perry’s move is an error. It permits White to pocket a pawn without compensation. Timman’s 8..., f5; is superior.

9.dxe5 Bf5 10.Bxe4 Bxe4 11.Qa4+ c6 12.Qxe4,..

White has the pawn but it is not all that secure. Black sets to work to recover the material. A reasonable plan for White is; Nb1-c3, and Bc1-e3, getting his forces into play and tempting Black to trade off his well place Nd5. White has a measurable advantage, not quite winning but significant.

12..., Qc7 13.Bd2 0–0 14.Nc3 Rad8 15.Nxd5?,..

This trade helps Black even though the well placed Nd5 is no more.

15..., Rxd5 16.Bf4?

Better is 16 Bc3. The move played allows Black to recover the material for only a slight compromise on the K-side. After 16 Bc3, the extra pawn is secured, but Black has all the say on the d-file as solace for that. Deep Rybka sees the position as slightly in favor of White. This probably because an extra pawn has to mean something in its electronic brain. I see Black as having the initiative. He gets to make threats while White is on his “back foot” for a long time. Still-in-all, the onus is on Black to find moves to recover the material or improve his compensation.

15..., g5 17.Rac1 Rfd8 18.Be3 Qxe5 19.Qxe5 Rxe5 20.Rfd1 Red5 21.Rxd5 Rxd5

Material recovered and the Black pieces are somewhat more active than are their White counterparts letting Black continue to hold on to the initiative. The game now favors Black by just a little bit. Normal play would go; 22 Bxa7 Ra5 23 Bd4 Rxa2 24 Kg2 f6 25 g4 Ra4; when Black’s advantage is minimal.

22.Rc2,..

White decides to remain passive until he sees what Black has in mind. Glen has ambitions in this game to snag the full point, and he strives to achieve that end.

22..., c5?!

But this move is too optimistic. Better 22..., f4.

23.Bd2?!,..

Missing a chance to devalue the Black Q-side with 23 b4!? Of course, White would have to know a great deal of endgame theory, have a refined positional judgment and calculate very accurately to make such a move. The primary line of play is; 23 b4 cxb4 24 Bxa7 and a) 24..., Rb5 with the following possibilities: a1) 25 Rc8+ Kg7 26 Bd4, counting on piece activity to offset the weak a-pawn. a2) 25 Rc7 Bf6 26 Be3 b3 27 axb3 Rxb3 h4 h6 trying to make an attack using the time required for Black to make his remaining b-pawn dangerous. a3) 25 Bd4 f5 26 h3, a “waiting” kind of approach with underlying ideas similar to a1) above. And b) 24..., f5!? when White has to make a difficult choice among; b1) Be3, b2) Rc7, b3) h3, b4) Bb6, and b5) e3. Without pasting on a bunch of lines Rybka generated to further clutter this document, we can easily grasp the position is devilishly complex. Jason’s decision in such a situation understandable; he wants not to drastically change the position and selects a move to wait for Black to make a direct threat.

23..., f5

Black has some kind of edge now and the initiative as well.

24.e3?,..

Not fatal but this move is just too passive. Active is 24 f4, or 24 Be3, contemplating b2-b4

24..., g4

Locking down a space advantage on the K-side at a cost of losing some flexibility in the pawn formation there. Also possible is 24..., b6; securing the c-pawn before centralizing the King and shifting the Bishop to the a1-h8 diagonal.

25.Bc3,..

A sensible alternative is 25 h3, to safely eliminate the potentially weak h-pawn. If Black does not capture on h3, White takes on g4 and then moves his King towards the center.

25..., b5 26.a3 c4,..

A reasonable try is; 26...Rd1+ 27.Kg2 Kf7 28.h3 h5 29.hxg4 hxg4 30.e4, when a rather technical Rook and pawn ending that with perfect play is likely drawn. The “fly in the ointment” is the need for very accurate play. The game would resolve itself into a race by passed pawns on the opposite sides of the board where there is a premium on getting the pawns down the board most efficiently.

Black has in mind trying to win the game based on the space advantage his advanced pawn formation gives him. To win in that way he will need to find an entry point for his King in the long run. Activating the King requires that the Rooks to be exchanged.

Rd2?,..

An error that should have cost White the game. By volunteering the Rook trade, White aids Black in the realization of his plan. Better 27 e4, taking the opportunity to break up the aggressive placement of the Black K-side pawns. The text gives Black a chance obtain a near winning edge.

27..., Rd3?

But not this way. Necessary is 27..., Rxd2; then 28 Bxd2 Bf6 29 Bc1 Kf7 30 Kf1 Ke6 31 f3 Kd5 32 Ke1 Kd5 33 Ke2 a5. Black is close to winning and I do not see a viable scheme for White to oppose the creation of an outside passed pawn and the eventual penetration of the Black King via e4.

28.Kf1?,..

Failing to take advantage of Glen’s mistake. With 28 Rxd3, White will easily win the race of the Kings to the center and pick up the pawn on d3. The game is then not clearly won for White, but he would have the extra pawn and most of the winning chances. Black immediately recognizes his error and acts to size the advantage.

28..., Rxd2 29.Bxd2 Bf6 30.Bc3 Kf7 31.Ke2 Bxc3 32.bxc3 Ke6 33.f3 h5?

An unnecessary move that throws away some of Black’s advantage. The best move is 33..., Ke5; closing in on the vital entry point, e4. A second more educational point is the text move wastes a “reserve move” in a pawn ending. The second World Champion, Lasker articulated long ago that in all endings, and in particular pawn endings, preserving “reserve moves” is crucial to winning many positions. Here Black has four reserve moves: two possibilities for the h-pawn, h7-h6 & h7-h5 and two similar moves for the a-pawn, while White but one: the f-pawn captures on g4 or advances to f4. Both of the White f-pawn moves gives up control of e4. Take the simplest line; 33..., Ke5 34 fxg4 fxg4 35 Ke1 Ke5 36 Ke2, and after 36..., a6; White must give way allowing the Black King entry on d3 or f3 winning.

34.e4!?,..

This move shows excellent fighting spirit and it is the best try for White in a difficult position

34..., fxe4 35.f4 Kf5?

This move gives White the advantage. The only path to the win for Black is 35..., a5; setting the stage for pushing the Q-side pawn majority. Then, 36 Ke3 Kd5 37 f5 Ke5 36 f6 Kxf6 37 Kxe4 Ke6 38 Kd4 Kd6 39 Ke4 Kc5; and Black will win

36.Ke3 a6 37.Kd4h4 38.Ke3 hxg3 39.hxg3 a5 40.Kd4 Kf6?

The best move to keep the fight going is 40..., a4; setting up the tactic .., b5-b4 to leash the White King. After the text, the best Black can hope for is Queen ending where White has a pawn extra. Such endgames very difficult. Victory for the side with the pawn depends on great patience, good calculation and the position of the defending King. Here the c-pawn is not far advanced. I don’t know enough about such endings to judge how good or bad the Black King stands.

41.Kxe4 Ke6 42.Kd4 Kd6 43.f5 Ke7 44.Kc5 Kf6 45.Kxb5 Kxf5 46.Kxa5 Ke4 47.Kb4 Kf3 48.a4 Kxg3 49.a5 Kf2?

A final fatal slip. Necessary is 49..., Kf4; to avoid a check that forces off the Queens.

50.a6 g3 51.a7 g2 52.a8Q g1Q 53.Qa7+ 0–1

The ending was interesting and illustrated how difficult it is to play that sometimes neglected part of chess well. I am certain Glen was disappointed at not getting the win when it seemed so near at hand. Credit must be given Jason for maintaining his composure and for finding testing ideas in a difficult position. More soon.