More on SCC A v RPI CDCL Match

Carlos Varela, the first board for the RPI team in the CDCL, has shown up here so far only in losses. This is not to pick on Mr. Varela, it’s just he plays first board and faces tough guys in every match, and Carlos usually makes a fight worthy of note. This time he is successful in staying in a game against the new and youngest ever Schenectady Champion only through the opening.

Chi, Patrick - Varela, Carlos [E24]

SCC A v RPI CDCL Match Schenectady, NY, 31.03.2011

Board 1

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 Bb4 4.f3,..

Back in the 1950s Lilenthal, A and Chistiakov, Soviet GMs, and Szabo the Hungarian GM used this slightly offbeat line frequently. In the recent past about its only adherent at the top level has been GM Sagalchik, G. This year the line has made a couple of appearances in top flight events and has been mentioned in some chess magazines. The old adage: Everything old can be new again, may apply once more.

4..., d5 5.a3 Bxc3+ 6.bxc3 c5 7.e3 0–0 8.Bd3,..

The alternative 8 cxd5, can be tried here also.

8..., b6

More active is 8..., Qc7; making the small threat 9..., cxd5; and 10..., dxc4; picking up a pawn. This is easily met true enough, but Black gets to dictate the course of events for awhile.

9.cxd5 exd5 10.Ne2 c4?!

This move may indicate Black is on unfamiliar ground. No surprise since the 4 f3, line is not terribly popular. White is planning e3-e4 sometime soon. If Black then captures on e4 with the d-pawn, White is left with a supported passed pawn in the center. If Black does not capture so, the White e-pawn very likely will go to e5 at some point pushing the Nf6 off a good square for the defense of the Black King. Probably best is 10..., Ba6; working to get rid of one White support for pushing the e-pawn to e4.

11.Bc2 Nc6 12.0–0 Re8 13.Ng3 Ne7?

After this move saving the game for Black is difficult. The plan for White is obvious; e3-e4, and he has been working towards it right along. I can not understand just what Black has in mind here. The simplest explanation is Mr. Varela is outside of his opening preparation, and he is seeking answers over the board.

Logical is 13..., h5; intending if 14 e4 h4; and if 15 Nf5 Bxf5; with plenty of complications. White should try 15 Nh1, then the game gets very complicated after 15..., dxe4 16 fxe4 Bg4 17 Qe1 h3 18 Bg5 Qd7 19 Bxf6 hxg2 20 Kxg2 Bh3+. White seems to come out on top, but the position is full of difficult tactical shots and mistakes happen even for young Experts. Things now go bad for Black and then get worse in short order after the game move.

14.e4 dxe4 15.fxe4 Bb7 16.Bg5 Ng6?

A little better is 16..., Nd7; but Black’s chances are vanishingly small to say the least. He would have to give up some material to avoid mate after 17 Qg4.

17.e5 Qd5 18.Qd2 Rxe5?!

Black can not play 18..., Nd7; because the Bb7 is lost to 19 Be4. The other try 18..., Ng4; is met with 19 Be4 Qd7 20 Bf5, winning the Ng4. The move played has the right motivation but it is too expensive. Better is 18..., Nxe5; then 19 dxe5 Rxe5; and Black has collected two pawns for the piece with chances to make a fight of it. White may improve in this line. Instead of 19 dxe5, he can play 19 Bxf6! After 19..., gxf6 20 Be4 Qd7 21 Bb7 Qxb7 22 dxe5, and Black can not play 22..., fxe5; because 23 Qg5!, begins a devastating attack that wins several pawns and can lead to a quick mate. So, Black has to play 22..., Rxe5; when 23 Rxf6, leaves Black with only a single pawn for the piece and an all but lost game.

Black may have miscalculated thinking there was a chance to clip the c-pawn. He finds out that is not going to happen in the next few moves.

19.dxe5 Nxe5 20.Qxd5 Nxd5 21.Rae1 Nd3 22.Bxd3 cxd3 23.Rd1 Ba6 24.Bd2,..

Efficiently guarding the c-pawn and putting an end to what dreams Black had of getting three pawns for the piece. The game winds up quickly.

24..., Re8 25.Rde1 Rc8 26.Nf5 Kf8 27.Nd6 Rd8 28.Nxf7 1-0

The coming discovered check is too hard to live with and Black resigned shortly. More soon.