The real drama of the two matches was played out on the bottom two boards of the Geezers - Saratoga A match. The near sweep by Schenectady A in their match with Albany A was all the Geezers could have wished for, and that contest was over fairly quickly. At least it finished soon enough that the Geezers on the lower boards; Phillips, Little and Chu, had some indication of the eventual outcome. My last post detailed the excellent job done by John Phillips for the Geezers against a strong opponent.
The game on board four was preceded by a discussion of Yakov Dadashev’s age. Mr. Dadashev does not have a lot of English, but with the help of Alan Le Cours’ Russian language skill, we gathered Yakov was just about to turn 90! It is not often the Geezers’ captain Richard Chu faces someone more senior than he is. This time such was the case. All those years did not seem to weight heavily on Dadashev as he took advantage of an error or two and won the game in a decisive fashion.
Dadashev, Yakov - Chu, Richard [B06]
Geezers v Saratoga A CDCL Match Schenectady, NY, 23.06.2011
Board 4
1.e4 d6 2.d4 g6 3.Bd3 Bg7 4.Be3 Nf6 5.Ne2 0–0
The Modern Defense blending towards the Pirc.
6.0–0 Nbd7 7.h3 e5 8.c3 c6 9.f4?!,..
This is an slip. In the Modern/Pirc Black is focused on blowing up the White center. The text presents him with just the right opportunity. Better are; 9 Qc2, laying some groundwork for an eventual f2-f4/f5, and 9 Nd2, continuing to develop.
9..., exf4?
Capturing the wrong way. Much better is; 9..., exd5; if then 10 cxd5? Nxe4 11 Bxe4 Re8 12 Qd3 Qe7 13 Nbc3 d5; recovering the piece with advantage. The better alternative, 10 Bxd4, is met by 10..., Nc5 11 Bxc5 dxc5 12 Qc2 Be6; and White most likely has to play 13 c4, to prevent 13..., c5; and the game becomes level. Not a bad result out of the opening for Black. Worse than just missing the chance to wreck the White pawn center is that the text opens the f-file, a route into the heart of the Black position.
10.Bxf4 Nb6 11.Bg5 Nbd7 12.Nd2 b5?!
When Black has to resort to the .., b5; move in the Modern/Pirc it often means he hasn’t been able to detonate the White center as is the case in the present contest. Another purpose for putting a pawn on b5 is to make building a battery of the Queen and Bishop on the diagonal a2-g8 difficult. Richard is aware of the sensitivity of f7 at this moment if we believe the evidence the game move offers. As a rule in the Modern/Pirc advancing the b-pawn so is not without risk. The White center is mobile, not blocked. Some kind of timely advance there can result in the loss of a wing pawn unless Black is both alert and tactically imaginative. And, many times White has some basic straight forward operations to embarrass the laggard development by Black. Better for Black here is; 12..., Qe7 13 Qb3 b6; when White has the initiative firmly in hand, but Black has not yet been forced to make any terrible concessions.
13.Nf3?!
Overlooking the natural 13 a4. Black then likely plays 13..., Qb6; and the reasonable continuation 14 Rf2 h6 15 Bf4 d5 16 e5 Ne8; leaves White comfortably ahead.
13...Qc7 14.Bf4 Nh5?
Passing on his last chance to carry out the standard theme for Black in the Modern/Pirc; damaging on the White center. This time it is with 14..., c5. Then, if 15 Bxb5 Nxe5: and the White center is far from as imposing as it was, or if 15 a4 c4 16 Bc2 Bb2; and Black is getting things organized, or finally, 15 e5 dxe5 16 Nxe5 Qb6; and again the powerful center is evolving towards an isolated QP position. Passed though the Queen pawn will be, fighting against it with the known tactics of blockade is entirely possible. The text uncovers the tender point f7, doesn’t really disturb the Bishop much at all and wastes precious time. In the Modern/Pirc Black offers up space to lure the White central pawns forward. His fundamental plan is undermine this impressive structure with counter attacks. Black can ill afford to spend even a single move that does not work towards that goal or the lack of space can become permanent and fatal.
15.Bh2 Re8!?
I was playing close by and could see this game unfold without leaving my seat. When Mr. Chu made this move I thought it wrong. He took away a support for f7, and White has attacks immediately available on that point. Computer analysis reveals it is not so cut dried as all that. Marginally better is 15..., Bb8; or 15..., Rb8; but the text has its points also.
16.Ng5 Nhf6
Richard missed a strategic moment earlier, now he misses a tactical chance. Given how things fall apart for Black in the next few moves, taking some substantial risks here may be worth consideration. Of course, as the cliché says; hindsight is 20/20, but what about 16..., Ndf6? The Nh5 looks uncomfortable, but the situation on the K-side is rapidly becoming muddled. A line of play possible goes; 16..., Ndf6 17 Qb3 Re7; tempting White to try 18 g4?!, and after 18..., Bh6 19 Nf3? Nxe4 20 gxh5 Bxh3; Black has excellent compensation for the piece in the form a pair of pawns and a naked White King who will require some tending. White can improve in this line with 19 Nxf7, then 19..., Be3+ 20 Kg2 Be6; with a very difficult position for both sides to work out. White is probably somewhat better. There are plenty of tactics to go through and much room for mistakes.
17.c4,..
My computer likes 17 Qb3, more than this move. Playing out the line with the computer does not demonstrate any great advantage to its recommendation. White has a nicely creative idea behind the text; removing potential blockers on the a2-g8 diagonal.
17..., h6 18.Nxf7 Kxf7 19.cxb5 Kg8
A tempo that has to be used because of the creative play be White. If 19..., cxb5? 20 Qb3+ Ke7 21 e5 dxe5 22 Bxg3, and the Black King terribly placed with something bad lurking just off stage.
20.Rc1!? c5?
Up to here, Black has just about been holding his own in the complications beginning on move 15. White could have proceeded the move of the Rook to c1 with 20 e5, with some of the same ideas as in the game, and the additional notion of Qb3+ and Qf7. Black now is in trouble. The only try that keeps things going for awhile is; 20..., Nxe4; then 21 Qb3+ Kh8 22 Qf7 Bb7 23 Nf4, with a ferocious attack for White, but the complications are such that he might go astray. A thin hope, but the line chosen fails more obviously.
21.dxc5 Nxe4?
The defense collapses. The only try is 21..., Nd5; even then 22 cxd6 Qb6+ 23 Kh1 Bd7 24 Nc3, and the four pawns White has perhaps can’t all be held, but certainly enough of them will survive to make the Black game a losing struggle.
22.Bxe4 Rxe4 23.Qd5+,..
Neatly scooping up the Exchange and more material falls into White’s hands almost effortlessly. I had arrived at a position in my game with a safe central edge about here and had a few minutes to look at Richard’s game as it got worse over the next few moves. Seeing that it was clearly lost, and combining that with my mistaken view that John Phillips was no better than even with Farrell, I came to the decision to go for a win.
23..., Kh7 24.Qxe4 Qb7 25.Qxb7 Bxb7 26.c6 Bxc6 27.Rxc6 Re8 28.Rc2 Ne5 29.Bxe5 Bxe5 30.Rc7+ Kg8 31.Rxa7 Bxb2 32.Rc1,..
Simpler is 32 b6, but the text wins similarly. Such is your fate when the opponent has too many pawns.
32..., Bxc1 33.Nxc1 Re1+ 34.Kf2 Rxc1 35.b6 Rb1 36.b7 Kf8 37.Ra8+ Ke7 38.b8Q Rxb8 39.Rxb8 Kd7 40.Rh8 h5 41.Rg8 Kc6 42.Rxg6 Kc5 43.Rg5+ Kc4 44.Rxh5 1–0
Watching the 4th board loss, and knowing the first board was nearing a draw - another mistaken judgment I made - it seemed to me the Geezers were not going to succeed in wresting the title from the “Big Three” this year.
Little, Bill - Le Cours, Alan [D00]
Geezers v Saratoga A CDCL Match Schenectady, NY, 23.06.2011
Board 3
1.d4 d5 2.Nf3 Nf6 3.Nc3 h6 4.Bf4 c6 5.e3 Bf5
A rare position and one not found among the practice of the masters. On the first move I had steeled myself to face the Grunfeld once more. Alan surprised me with 1..., d5. My good friend and teammate Michael Mockler had lent me the Secrets of Opening Surprises, Volume 6 recently. In it Kogan outlined what he calls the Tarzan Attack; an early Nc3 and Bf4 in a 1 d4, opening. A little bit of study and I thought it would be an interesting way to close my serious chess career and so, we arrive at this offbeat position.
6.h3 Nbd7 7.Bd3 Bxd3 8.cxd3!?,..
A little bit suspect at the very least. Safe and sane is 8 Qxd3, taking no unnecessary risks with the pawn structure.
8..., e6 9.0–0 Be7 10.e4,..
Lots of options here for White; 10 Rc1, 10 Qc2, and so forth. The text is motivated by a wish to clarify things in the center, and find out if the capture at d3 by the c-pawn was really risky or not.
10..., 0–0 11.Qd2 Kh7
Mr. Le Cours is cautious. The potential threat on h6 is nowhere near ready. For example 11.., Qb6 12 Bxh6? Gxh6 13 Qxh6 Nh7; and neither I nor Rybka can find a way to continue the assault, therefore, 11..., Qb6; or 11..., Rc8; are probably better and more active choices.
12.Be3,..
Not a particularly inspired plan; with the Bishop not on f4, the push of the e-pawn will force the Nf6 back to e8 creating a rather cluttered position for Black. If the Knight goes to h5 in that scenario he is trapped by g2-g4. I thought those possibilities might provoke 12..., dxe4.
12..., dxe4
And it happens! Leaving White with the not great looking doubled d-pawns is better I think. 12..., a5; snagging some space on the Q-side is likely option.
13.dxe4 Bb4 14.Qc2 Kg8 15.a3 Be7
White has reached an entirely satisfactory position; he has some control in the center and his pieces are a bit more actively placed than are Black’s.
16.Rfd1 Rc8 17.Rac1 Nb6 18.Qe2 Re8 19.Ne5,..
The move covers c5 and has the notion of a sacrifice on f7 of the Knight.
19..., Bf8 20.Qf3 Qe7
Alan is guarding his points of danger very carefully.
21.Qe2?,..
I have run out of confidence. It is not that I see the position as troublesome for White, rather it is an irrational reluctance to follow the dictates of the position. White has mustered his Queen, Knight and Bishop on the K-side. Logic tells me the natural continuation is some kind of advance on the K-side. One line of play examined was; 21 Ne2 Nbd7 22 Rd3 Nxe5 23 dxe5 Nd7 24 f4, with h2-h4, and Rcd1 to follow. White would then have done something instead of fiddling around. That way there would be pressure building around the Black King, and White has some control of the d-file. Altogether not enough to claim any great advantage. It is, however, aggressive and positive. The text move is a signal of a failure of inspiration as well as confidence. That is why it is marked with a query.
21..., Nfd7 22.Nf3 Red8 23.e5,..
The defeat for the Geezers on board four had become clear now. My quick peek at board two led me to the wrong conclusion that the best we could hope for there was a draw. Mr. Mockler on board one was on the way to a draw also. The match situation had me believing we had to win this game to split the match, and that was the motivation behind this move. Rather than making a game changing decision here, I could have continued maneuvering with 23 Bf4, just keeping the pressure on waiting for the tension to perhaps provoke something.
23..., Nd5 24.Ne4 Qe8 25.Nc5?!,..
Although I did not realize it at the time, this is where the game begins to slip out of control for me. Better is 25 Nfd2, reinforcing the strong Knight on e4. Then if 25..., f5 26 exf6 (e.p.) Nxf6 27 Nxf6+ Nxf6 28 Nf3, and White has maintained a very slight edge. Nothing to write home about but a little more space in the center, and the battle remains to be decided. After the text the strong Ne4 is gone and shortly thereafter the Be3. White is then left with pawns on the same color as the opponent’s Bishop. My judgment was I could keep the Bishop restricted. Mr. Le Cours demonstrates in short order to do so requires some accuracy by White.
25..., Nxc5 26.dxc5 Nxe3 27.Qxe3 Rxd1+ 28.Rxd1 Rd8 29.Rxd8?
An error that gives Black the favorable endgame. The only try here is 29 Rd4!?, then if 29..., Bxc5? 30 Rxd8 wins. Of course I would not have expected Alan to fall into something that simple. Most likely Black would continue 29..., Qe7; then 30 b4 b6 31 cxb6 axb6 32 Rg4, and Black is just a bit better than White. There are chances for both sides, but Black has the better endgame.
29..., Qxd8 30.b4 a5?
Giving White chances he does not deserve. Better is 30..., b6.
31.Nd2?,..
And I fail to see the chance. Better is 31 Qd4, then if Black avoids the exchange of Queens with 31..., Qa8 32 Nd2 axb4 33 axb4 g5 34 Ne4, and White should have no trouble holding this position. The alternative trade of Queens is not troubling either; 31..., Qxd4 32 Nxd4 g5 33 Kf1 axb4 34 axb4 35 Nf3 f5 36 exf6 Bxf6 37 Ne1 Bc3 38 Nc2, and White marches his King to the square c4 securing everything. In fact, in this line White is marginally better than Black.
31..., axb4?!
This move is too easy on me. Superior is 31..., Qd5; because White really can not capture on a5 yet. By playing so Black would increase the activity of his pieces delaying the trade on b4 until it is necessary.
32.axb4 Qd5 33.f4 Be7 34.Ne4?,..
A final piece of imprecise play. The Knight and Queen were about as well placed as they could be to hinder a raid by the Black Queen. Going to e4 with the Knight just gives the Lady in Black space in which to rampage. Better for White is 34 Kh2, getting one of the royal pair off a dangerous diagonal. After the move played, there is no way to hold the game.
34..., Qc4 35.Qe1 Qd4+ 36.Kh1 b6!
Not a hard move to find, but a move that makes it painfully clear White is in deep trouble. The final moves were made with a sinking heart. I could see the end coming fast and had the feeling I had botched the game in some fashion. Just where the errors came were not understood until Rybka looked the game over.
Sadly, the rather reckless decisions on moves 23 and 25 kept the Geezers from even taking clear second place in the League. If we had drawn the match, our 5 ½ match points would have tied Schenectady A. They still would have the title on the game point tie break; 20 ½ to the Geezers 17 ½.
37.Qb1 bxc5 38.bxc5 Bxc5 39.Qb8+ Bf8 40.Qb1 c5 41.Qc2 c4 42.Nd6 Qa1+ 43.Kh2 c3 44.f5 Qb2 45.Qa4 c2 46.Nxf7 c1Q 47.fxe6 Qf2 48.Nxh6+ gxh6 0–1
Third place for the Geezers is about as good as the Geezers have done in the League, and there is always next year as the Brooklyn Dodgers fans used to say.
More soon.
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