A last post about the recent conclusion of the CDCL matches. On the top board for the Geezers, Michael Mockler had the difficult task of playing Gordon Magat representing the Saratoga A team. Gordon is a tough fighter who is not easily discouraged, and he keeps searching for opportunities right to the end of the game. These opponents have met each other many times and had a pretty good idea of what to expect. Since this match was crucial for the determination of the League Champion, they both came to the board well aware of the vital nature of the outcome, and both knew the fight on the first board could set the tone for the match.
Before getting into this game, I should mention that Philip Sells posted a very interesting article on his game from the Schenectady A - Albany A match. It is a couple of posts back on the enyca blog. If you missed it, it is worth the effort to page back for a read. Mr. Sells gives a very clear explanation of his thoughts and concerns during the game. That sort of insight into what a player is thinking is most useful to the student of chess.
Mockler, Michael - Magat, Gordon [B21]
Geezers v Saratoga A CDCL Match Schenectady, NY, 23.06.2011
Board 1
1.e4 c5 2.Nc3 e6 3.f4 d5
The game is at the intersection of the 2 f4 Sicilian and the Morra Gambit, not exactly the mainstream of theory but popular on the weekend Swiss circuit.
4.Nf3 dxe4 5.Nxe4 Nf6 6.Bb5+ Bd7 7.Nxf6+ Qxf6 8.Bxd7+ Nxd7 9.d4?!,..
A little better is 9 d3, but White probably did not like the situation after the suggested move. Then, 9..., Bd6; forces 10 g3, and the development of the Black forces has proceeded rather smoothly, while White is trailing in development, and the White King will end up sheltering behind a loosened set of pawns on the K-side. Disliking that possibility, Mr. Mockler takes the route of seeking some simplification.
The next operation includes what is best for both sides and results in a position that favors Black by a small amount. From the perspective of chess theory the opening worked out well for Black and not so well for White. Theory holds White should reach this point in the game retaining his edge from moving first. If Black equalizes, he has done well. If Black has any kind of an advantage, White probably missed something.
9..., cxd4 10.Qxd4 Bc5 11.Qxf6 Nxf6 12.Ne5?!,..
Behind in development, White makes a second move with the Knight. Again, theory would condemn such. However, Mr. Mockler has most likely judged the position correctly. If he does not panic, there are resources enough in the White position to balance the game. The next operations undertaken by both sides illustrate this.
12..., Rd8 13.Nd3 Bb6 14.Ke2 0–0 15.Bd2 Ne4!?
Black returns a tempo. If he wanted to try for more, then 15..., Rd4; or 15..., Rc8; are promising. The options for Black are more promising than the text only in that they strive for a greater initiative. White has resources in these lines also. The Knight move leads to further simplification and equality. The next set of operations cooperatively eliminates more material.
16.Be3 Bxe3 17.Kxe3 Nd6 18.b3 Nf5+ 19.Ke2 h5 20.c3 Rd6 21.Rhd1 Rfd8 22.Nf2 Rxd1 23.Rxd1 Rxd1 24.Nxd1 Kf8 25.Nf2,..
The game is level. I wonder if the players disagreed in their assessment of the endgame chances for either side. The pawns are unbalanced; three to two for White on the Q-side and four to three for Black on the K-side. The Black Knight has a solid outpost on f5, but the White Knight is not dominated. He does not have a secure outpost, but so far Black has not taken away very many squares this Knight might want to use. The White King is a step closer to the center than is Black’s. In sum, there is little to suggest a plan leading to significant advantage either way.
25..., Ke7 26.Ne4 f6 27.a4 Nd6 28.Kd3 Nxe4 29.Kxe4 Kd6
The game has reached a level pawn-only endgame.
30.b4 g6?!
Weaker than 30..., b6; followed by 31..., a6; making the advance of the White Q-side pawns less dangerous. The text makes a gesture at K-side play to distract White in his exploitation of the Q-side majority.
31.c4?,..
A slip and an instructive error. Here 31 a5, is safer and a real try for the win. After 31 a5, play could go; 31..., b6 32 axb6 axb6 33 c4, establishing a potential outside passed pawn. The potential passer reduces the options Black has in position. If White can time things correctly, the passer will give him access to vulnerable points on the K-side, and since the entire White pawn formation is just enough further advanced than is Black’s, any penetration has good chances of forcing through a pawn to make a Queen. To make all this happen White has to be patient running out moves for Black to force some clarification on the K-side and opening possible lines for his King to use.
The alternative plan for Black is to stand pat avoiding any opening of lines on the K-side as long as possible. To that end play could go; 31..., Ke7 32
c4 Kd7 33 h3 h4?! 34 Kf3, and the Black h-pawn is threatened and that will result in the opening up of the K-side. If Black continues standing pat with 33..., Kd6; then 34 g4 hxg4 35 hxg4, and all the White pawns are on the 4th rank while the Black pawns are on the 6th and 7th ranks. Just that difference favors White. He threatens g4-g5 opening access to e5. Overall hangs the possible advance to the White Q-side majority. The position is quite probably won for White objectively if he pushed the a-pawn forward.
31..., b6?
Missing the chance. With 31..., a5; Black could have tried for the full point. After 31..., a5 32 bxa5 Kc5 33 Kd3 Kb4 34 Kd4 Kxa4 35 Kc5 Kxa5 36 Kd6 Kb4 37 c5 Kc4; and it is now a counting exercise that shows Black Queening just quickly enough to prevent White from Queening at all. The Black King is close enough to the f-file and its White pawn to make an eventual mate very likely even though the f-pawn can reach the 7th rank. The extra pawn moves White has in hand mean stalemate tricks are out of the question.
Both players, well aware of the importance of the match and desiring not to record a loss on the top board, seem to have decided about here a draw was the natural result of this game.
32.Kd4 Kc6
No longer will the .., a7-a5; shot work well enough to win: 32..., a5 33 bxa5 bxa5 34 c5+ Kc7; and Black wants to be able to put his King on c6 when the white King occupies c4. While there are some of tricks in the pawn endgame, careful play looks to a drawn result.
33.g3 Kd6 34.Ke4 Kc6 35.Kd4 Kd6 36.Ke4 Kc6 37.Kd3 Kd6 38.Kd4 Kc6 39.b5+!?,..
One can not fault Mr. Mockler for his fighting spirit. A safer path to the draw can be had with 39 a5, then 39..., bxa5 40 bxa5 Kd6 41 h3 a6 42 g4 hxg4 43 hxg4 g5 44 fxg5 fxg5 45 c5+ Kc6 46 Ke5, and counting out the remaining play sees both sides Queening one after another, and with normal care, the game is drawn. After the game move, White has to be accurate because the c5 square is only defended by the King with the b-pawn no longer backstopping the monarch.
39..., Kd6 40.c5+?,..
The usually cool endgame play from Michael is not evident here. He must have missed something in calculation. Better is 40 h4 e5+ 41 fxe5 fxe5+ 42 Ke4, Ke6 43 Kd3, and if the Black King heads towards the K-side with 43..., Kf5; then 44 c5, is strong for White. If Black tries for progress on the Q-side with 43..., Kd6 44 Ke4 Kc5? 45 Kxe5 Kxc4 46 Kf6, and White is just far enough ahead in the race capture pawns and make a Queen to win the game. Since both flanking attempts are bad for Black, there will be a zugswang dance that is even with care.
40..., bxc5+ 41.Kc4 e5!
It could be Mockler just overlooked the strength of this move.
42.fxe5+ fxe5 43.a5 e4
Black has a won game.
44.h4 Kc7 45.Kc3 Kb7 46.Kc4 Kc7 ½–½
The game was agreed drawn?! Mr. Magat must not have seen the tricky finish that would have taken the full point; 46..., Kc8!; then White can make no successful defense. Play may continue; 47 a6 Kc7 48 Kc3 e3!, and the charging e-pawn draws the White King like a magnet. Black ends up with distant passed pawns that guarantee victory. Another try by White is; 47 Kc3 Kd7 48 Kd2 c4; opening up the square c5 from which the Black King will eat the White Q-side pawns. The game has many moves for a game-in-105 time control. It is possible that Gordon was in some time trouble accounting for the oversight.
Instructive errors by both parties after the 30th move illustrate tension can affect even very strong players. Tension comes in two flavors in chess; technical - pieces and pawns attacking each other and that which arises out of the importance of the contest to individual or team. This game was of some sporting importance, and both team leaders convinced themselves the game was drawn before that issue was objectively decided. Reaching that conclusion, in the end was more costly to Gordon Magat, he accepted a draw in a winning position. Many, many of us have had similar, or worse experiences. A good example was my resignation to Gordon in last year’s Albany Club Championship. I don’t know of a cure for that sort of judgment error. Maybe experience and the adoption of the philosophic position that chess has a leveling kind of injustice. For all the times you drop a half, or full point, there are balancing occasions you are the better side of such outcomes, and in the broad sweep of your chess career things balance out.
More soon. A reminder to my readers; this Thursday there will be a just for fun event at the Schenectady Chess Club, game in 15, no prizes, no entry fee. Come out and play!
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