Wednesday evening saw the CDCL match between the Albany A and the Saratoga B teams at the AACC. Albany A was the heavily favored by rating and led by Expert and new club champion; Dean Howard. The final result was as predicted, Albany won 3 ½ - ½. There were moments when it seemed Saratoga B just might keep the final score close or even draw the match. Such an outcome was not to be.
Coverage begins with the board 1 game between Dean Howard and David Finnerman. Mr. Finnerman recently took over as the captain of Saratoga B. Part of his motivation in taking up the job was to find a venue where he could play against good players. Holding down the 1st board in the CDCL guarantees some tough opponents; Deepak Aaron from Schenectady A, Steve Taylor from Saratoga A and Dean Howard of AACC are examples. Dean is having a resurgence in form this year. His decisive 2 - 0 win in the AACC playoff match certainly indicates that.
In today’s game Mr. Finnerman takes an interesting path that almost disconcerted Mr. Howard. Applying his experience and his usual concentration, Dean navigated the transition from the opening to a very favorable middle game. He cashed in the point when David erred in the transition tactics.
Finnerman, David - Howard, Dean [D40]
Albany A v Sara B CDCL Match Guilderland, NY, 20.04.2011
Board 1
1.c4 e6 2.Nc3 d5 3.e3 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.d4 0–0 6.Bd3 c5
A known line in the QGD, Semi-Tarrasch variation in which the debate is about who gets the isolated d-pawn.
7.0–0 Nc6
With 7..., cxd4; Black can avoid the isolated d-pawn. Not everyone wants to avoid such. The isolated d-pawn does give its holder some better control in the center, and it can be used a battering ram to open lines.
8.a3 a6 9.cxd5 exd5 10.dxc5 Bxc5 11.Qc2?!,..
Better 11 b4, and White will be able to develop more or less normally. After the text his development lags. White has an operation in mind that is seen often when against playing computers but not frequently in human versus human games.
11..., Bg4 12.Ng5 h6
Possibly White expected 12..., g6; then 13 b4, is worth trying with a complicated middle game in the offing.
13.Nh7 Nxh7 14.Bxh7+ Kh8 15.Bf5 Bxf5 16.Qxf5 Ne7
The operation carried out was something of a surprise to Mr. Howard I think, and it did wring some of the tension out of the game through exchanges. However, the lack of development of the White pieces is a worry.
17.Qh5 Qd6
Black could play 17..., Qc7?!; sacrificing a pawn to sustained a lead in development after 18 Nxd5 Nxd5 19 Qxd5 Rfd8; but eventually White works his way out of his problems with 20 Qc4 b5 21 Qe2 Qe5 22 Ra2 Rac8 23 b4, and the extra pawn is getting to be significant.
18.Rd1 Rad8 19.b4!?,..
Consideration could be given to 19 Ne4 Qc7 20 Nxc5 Qxc5 21 Bd2 Nc6 22 Bc3, and Black has to worry about the pin on the long diagonal.
19..., Ba7 20.Bb2 Qe6 21.Rd2!?,..
The game move looks natural, but it allows Black to dissolve the isolated d-pawn and takes of the initiative. Better 21 Ne2.
21..., d4 22.Rad1?!,..
Missing a chance to stay in the battle with 22 exd4 Rxd4 23 Qe2, and Black has only a small edge.
21..., Nc6 23.Qh4?..,
White must be convinced the pin down the d-file is strong. It is his misfortune that it is not the case.
23...,dxe3 24.Rxd8 exf2+ 25.Kf1 Nxd8!
The move that apparently White evaluated incorrectly. Black now has a winning advantage.
26.Nd5?,..
A more stubborn resistance is possible with 26 Qe4 Qb3 27 Rd2 Nc6 28 Nd1, but the pawn on f2 gives Black a secure advantage that is near winning in the long term. With the text move White sets his hopes on tactics involving the long diagonal, but it is not enough to hold the position together.
26..., Re8
Threatening mate on e2 spelling doom for White.
27.Ne7 Rxe7 28.Bxg7+ Kxg7 29.Qg3+ Qg6 30.Qc3+ Kh7 31.g3 Re1+ 32.Rxe1 fxe1(R)+ 33.Qxe1 Qd3+ 34.Kg2 Be3 35.Kh3 Qf5+ 36.Kg2 Qf2+
Forcing off the Queens and any hope of resistance.
37.Qxf2 Bxf2 1-0
Up to move 21, or thereabouts, the fight looked even. Then things went wrong for Mr. Finnerman. It was a lesson about playing up; good opponents seem to get tougher when you surprise them. Painful though such lessons are, it is maybe the best way to improve one’s chess.
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