More on the First Round at SCC

Another game from the first round of the SCC Finals. In this one the participants investigate topical lines, and it must be added, very sharp topical lines at that.

Le Cours, Alan - Phillips, John [D44]

SCC Ch Finals 2011 Schenectady, NY, 03.02.2011

1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 d5 4.d4 c6 5.Bg5,..

Mr. Phillips likes these positions coming out of the Semi-Slav move order. His favorite line is the Meran Variation. I think he has prepared a bevy of lines in the Meran/Semi-Slav in which he feels comfortable. Mr. Le Cours decides to meet the preparation with the ultra sharp Botvinnik System which features lots of tactics.

5..., dxc4 6.e4 b5 7.e5 h6 8.Bh4 g5 9.Nxg5 hxg5 10.Bxg5 Nbd7 11.g3 Rg8 12.h4 Rxg5

When I first played over this game, and while watching it as it actually happened, there were doubts in my mind about this last series of moves. Even though GM Har-Zvi had given us members of his Saturday group a comprehensive overview of the Slav, Semi-Slav and the Botvinnik Variation I could not recall much time spent on 12 h4 Rxg5; or what is to be done by White subsequently. This game sent me back to the databases to find out how the best players handle the position.

In its earliest manifestations, players such as Jussapow, Knaak, Shirov and Beliavsky played this line as White and had good results. Some, Shirov primarily, were satisfied with either side in this variation. In a fashion this reminds me of certain variations in the Winawer French where the White Queen goes to g4; terrific imbalances and attacks on the opposite sides of the board almost without regard to what the opponent is doing. The tactical themes here are not quite the same as in the French, but the general ideas are very similar. The question is, to paraphrase the Confederate General Nathan B. Forrest: “Who gets there firstest with the mostest”? My review of the database information suggests the Exchange sacrifice is not entirely sound, but White is put under great pressure to find a very precise pathway through dangerous ground to prove the point.

13.hxg5 Nd5 14.g6 fxg6 15.Qg4 Qe7 16.Qxg6+ Qf7 17.Qg4!?,..

Most of the great players preferred here to exchange Queens on f7. Yannick Pelletier (2603) tried 17 Qe4, against Habu, Y. (2341) at Zurich 2005 and went on to win a very tactical ending with Bishops of the same color. That was the only example I found of avoiding the Queen exchange.

The usual line is 17 Qxf7+ Kxf7 18 Bg2, and soon the Nc3 goes to e4. White then plays to use his two Rooks down the h-file with the support of the Ne4 to attack the Black King. He will also seriously consider f2-f4 and f4-f5 to bolster the assault. Black will try for counter-play with his very dangerous Q-side pawns. In that kind of play White should not begrudge surrendering another pawn on the Q-side to make his attack more potent.

17...Bb7 18.Nxd5?,..

This is the key error. Better 18 Bg2, and if he wants to eliminate the Nd5, Bg2xd5 was preferred by the Grandmasters. The Knight has a role to play from e4. Absent the Knight there White has difficulties in finding enough activity to slow down the coming rush of pawns on the Q-side. Black now has a some advantage.

18..., cxd5 19.Bh3 Bb4+ 20.Ke2 Nf8 21.a3 Be7

Rybka suggests 21..., Ba5; is a little better.

22.Rhf1?,..

Missing the very dangerous reply John has in mind. Necessary is 22 f4, to meet 22..., Qh7; with 23 f5, and the battle is still far from decided. After the text White is in trouble because the Black Queen threatens entry in support of the Q-side pawns.

22..., Qh7 23.Rad1 b4 24.f4 c3 25.Rf3?,..

Somewhat better is 25 bxc3, keeping the fight going for just a bit longer after 25..., Ba6+ 26 Kf2 bxc3 27 Rh1 Qc2+ 28 Ke3 Qe4+ 29 Kf2 Rb8; seems to be winning for Black.

25..., Ba6+ 26 Resigns 0-1

Ruinous loss occurs after 26 Rfd3 Bxd3+ 27 Rxd3 cxb2. This game is an excellent example of how the mechanical toting up of relative piece values, a Knight equals three pawns, a Rook equals five pawns, etc., is less than useful in extra sharp positions. The tactical melee sought by Phillips and agreed to by Le Cours is a place where board-wide piece activity and specific threats are more important than who has the theoretical advantage in force. A most entertaining game.

More soon.