Gambling

Here is an interesting game from just before the holidays. In it Brij Saran defeated the up-and-comer Zack Calderon.

Saran, Brij - Calderon, Zackary [D05]

SCC Ch Prelim A, Schenectady, NY, 16.12.2010

1.d4 c5 2.e3 Nf6 3.Nf3 e6 4.c3 d5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.0–0 Be7 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.Re1 a6!?

The Colle System, named for a Belgian chess champion from the 1920s, is popular with players that don’t have the inclination, or the time, for doing the demanding work required to master other openings. White uses a simple plan that is easy to understand: force through the e-pawn to e4. This plan has a basis in theory. It has been long known that when White begins with d2-d4, his natural aim is to play e2-e4, or in this case here, e3-e4. Years of practice have demonstrated White obtains a reasonable game if he can push the e-pawn forward. The downside is the plan delays the development of the White QR and QB for sometime.

Here is the first lesson from this game. The last move Black made is not one of the recommended paths. More usual is 8..., b6; with the aim to put the c-Bishop on b7 to continue the fight for e4. It is difficult to see this point, and because the line is far from the most popular openings; the Slavs, all the varieties of QDG and the Nimzo, there not so many examples to be found in the databases. No surprise the idea was missed.

9.e4 b5?

The next lesson is a bit more clear. This is a small but significant error. Best is 9...,dxe4; intending to give White an isolated d-pawn. Black probably should not take the risk of capturing the isolated d-pawn if offered. He needs to be concerned about the development of his Q-side lest grabbing the pawn leads to real difficulties.

10.e5,..

This is why Black most usually captures on e4. The game has now transposed into something resembling a French Defense that is favorable for White. That is not exactly what Black should be hoping for against the Colle.

10..., Ne8 11.Nf1 c4

Standard versus the Advanced French - that is where White sets up pawns on d4 and e5 - is for Black to capture on d4 with the c-pawn. The White pawn chain is just a bit closer to the Black forces where it can be attacked by Knights on c6 and f5. Jonathan Lack, a strong local player who quite likes the French says he has had nothing but bad experiences from pushing the pawn to c4. I do not know of any part of accepted theory that supports this notion, but back in the day when the French was my primary answer to 1. e4, I don’t recall liking to put a c-pawn either.

12.Bc2 a5 13.h3 b4 14.N3h2 a4!?

I am uncertain if Black is making a sophisticated positional sacrifice here, or if he just made a mistake. He eliminates White’s best attacking piece, the light squared Bishop taking a great deal of the aggressive potential out of the White position at the cost of a pawn. The extra pawn White has in hand is exposed on the a-file and is unlikely to become a factor until sometime in the later endgame, if it survives.

15.Bxa4 Bd7 16.Bxc6 Bxc6 17.Qg4 Kh8?

Why? This move inclines me to believe that the pawn lost was a mistake not a sacrifice. Natural and good is 17..., bxc3. Black should be thinking of Bc6/a4/c2/e4. Logical is; 17..., bxc3 18 bxc3 Ba4 19 Bg5 Bc2. Such would transform the “problem child” of the French, Black’s light squared Bishop, into a pain in the neck for White. On the b1-h7 diagonal, this Bishop hinders White from contesting the b-file, can disturbs the tranquility of the White Queen and probably will require White to trade one of his Knights for the cleric. As a rule all things come with good and bad mixed together. Here White gets to trade off his own bad Bishop. The late middle game favors Black if he proceeds as above.

I do not see a point to Black’s last other than to clear g8 for the Rook the reinforce g7. As things transpire White has designs on f7 not g7.

18.Nf3 Ra6 19.Ng5?!,..

White has his own schemes. More correct is 19 Bd2, and if 19..., bxc3 20 Bxc3, when most endgames are troublesome for Black - there is a distant passed pawn that will constrain his options.

19..., h6 20.Nxf7+?!,..

This idea should not work, but it has enough bite to require Black to be very accurate. White gives up a piece for two pawns and a lot of activity for his Queen.

20..., Rxf7 21.Qxe6 Rf8 22.Ng3 Bg5?!

Black is thinking too simply. When you are up material trading down is the standard wisdom. That conventional notion should here be tempered by the wish not to leave the White Queen wandering around in the Black backfield. Better to consolidate with 22..., Nc7 23 Qg4 Bd7 24 Qh5 Nb5; and the more numerous Black pieces are becoming very active, and the White Q-side Bishop and Rook has yet to do much.

23.Bxg5 Qxg5 24.Qc8 Rb6 25.cxb4 Qd2 26.b5?!,..

Both sides have Queens roaming the rear areas and danger is everywhere. Natural is 26 Re2, guarding f2. Saran must have considered that move and decided after 26..., Qxb4 27 Nf5 Bb7 28 Qd7 c3; his game was bad. Also, 26..., Qxd4; looks possible for Black. For either 26th move by Black rather long lines have to be calculated to reach an accurate conclusion. Here is a sample from the line cited in the note: after 28..., c3 29 bxc3 Qxc3 30 Rd1 Qc7 31 Qxc7 Nxc7 32 Nd6 Ba6 33 Rc2 Ne6 34 Rdd2 Rf4 35 Rb2. White abandons the d-pawn in the interest of activity for his remaining Rook along the 6th rank. Playing out this line on the computer sees White using his e-pawn and the threat of Queening to butcher the Black K-side pawns obtaining material compensation for the piece. The ending favors Black, his passed d-pawn can be held and is the factor that gives him winning chances. It is a very difficult ending indeed.

Rather than “break his head” on the complications, White elects to raise the ante with more tactics. This is not “correct” chess but a practical attempt against a less experienced opponent. It should not work.

26..., Rxf2 27.Re2 Rxe2 28.Nxe2 Bxb5?

The first dividend from the gamble on move 26. Here Black wins with 28...,

Qxe2. If then 29 bxc6? Rb2; and the threat of mate at g2 calls the White Queen back to g4. The extra piece will then tell.

29.Qc5,..

There are more tricks in 29 Qd8, the game is lost for White in either event.

29..., Rg6 30.Qf8+ Kh7 31.Qf3 c3?

This bolt does not need to be fired away so quickly. Sensible is 31..., Nc7; retaining a winning advantage. After the text, the game starts to slide away from White.

32.Nxc3 Bd3?

Now Black had to play 32..., Qxd4+; to keep some edge. The game move drops a piece and White is winning.

33.Rd1 Qg5 34.Rxd3 Nc7

In the space of two moves a won game is now lost. It seems the surprise gamble on move shook Zack’s confidence enough to let White gain the win. I am not entirely certain of the moves in the rest of the game. This is what I recorded.

35.Ne2 Ne6 36.Qf2 Qd8 37.Nf4 Nxf4 38.Qxf4 Qa8 39.Qf7 Qxa2 40.Rd2 Qb1+ 41.Kh2 Qe4 1–0

A sharp disappointment for young Mr. Calderon. Had he gained the full point as he was near doing, Zackary would have finished at 5-3 with a glimmer of hope to slip into the third qualifying spot. That would have been considerable accomplishment in his first year in the club. As it was Mr. Saran rolled the dice big time, and it paid off. Another lesson here: If you can’t work your way through difficult calculations, big risks will be forced on you. They will not always pay off. Nevertheless, it is better to try something with a drop of poison in it, than to go passive awaiting your fate.

More soon.