The Under 2000 section of this year’s NYS Championship was a hard fought affair. Bob Campbell and Malik Perry tied for first place. Perry had defeated Campbell in round three. Bob had to win his last thee games to make the tie. Today’s game is Campbell’s win from round 4.

De T Chea, Nicolas (1894) - Campbell, Robert (1999) [A14]

133d NYS Championship, U2000 Section, Albany, NY, 04.09.2011

1.c4 e6 2.g3 d5 3.Bg2 Nf6 4.Nf3 Be7 5.0–0 0–0 6.b3 Nbd7 7.Bb2 b6 8.d3 Bb7 9.Nbd2,..

Probably better is 9 Nc3, putting the Knight on a more active square. White has not tried for much out of the opening other than to “develop” his pieces. That is good enough at some levels of play, it however falls short in this case.

Here is a term I coined for describing things going on in the early stages of a game; Waiting and Breaking. As Matt Katrine tried to make me understand over forty years ago, we just can’t wait around in a chess game, that is making moves lacking purpose that do not have some evil intent for our opponent. So, waiting time needs to be used to prepare something. That something is very often a break. Breaks are frequently pawn moves. The most common is the advance of the c-pawn to the fourth or fifth rank for White or Black. Another common break is the advance of the d or e-pawns to the 4th or 5th ranks, or a similar charge by the f-pawn, but that is a little less common. And sometimes, breaks can be piece sacrifices; a very annoying thing is a piece sac to the defender because whether or not he likes it, exact calculation is then demanded.

White in this game does not appear to have a break planned even when one is available. That is a bad situation when facing a strong player, and he pays a price here.

9..., Rc8

Taking space with 9..., c5; is more principled.

10.Rc1,..

Preparing the break e2-e4 with 10 Re1, makes more sense.

10..., Ba8

Again 10..., c5, is better. Mr. Campbell wanted this Bishop protected before any lines open I guess.

11.Qc2,..

Breaking with 11 cxd5, would allow White to maintain the usual plus of the first move.

11..., c5 12.Rfd1,..

White just does not seem to want to undertake anything active. Again 12 cxd5, is sensible. After the tournament ended Bob Campbell very graciously spent much time with me providing some notes for this game. Here he saw 12 e4, or 12 e3, as better choices for White. I agree with 12 e3, but 12 e4, gives Black full equality after 12..., d4; and that is not a particularly desired outcome for White.

12..., d4

Black has equalized the game. Reaching equality by the 12th move has to be counted as a success for Black

13.Nf1 Ne8 14.e3 e5 15.exd4 exd4

Not quite the best move. Campbell says 15..., cxd5 should be seriously considered. Rybka agrees giving Black a slight edge.

16.Rb1,..

The game arrives at a juncture where Black has some advantage in space. It is not hard to see the light squared Bishops are very likely going to be traded off. Neither of the remaining dark squared Bishops shows much promise. White’s may have a slightly brighter future because of all the Black pawn on dark squares. The possible outpost for White on e4 is not entirely secure because the Black f-pawn can evict a piece occupying e4. White begins an operation to activate his dark squared Bishop, and that is logical. My guess is White is thinking about Bb2/c1/f4. Black contemplates taking over space on the K-side to go along with his central advantage.

16..., Kh8

I can find no reason for this move. Maybe it is just a precaution because the Black f-pawn is going to be moved forward. Putting a Knight on d6 is a better use of the tempo.

17.b4,..

White is operating to have the b-file under his control. A laudable aim, but not really germane to what is about to happen.

17..., f5

This pawn break signals the beginning of a tactical phase of the game.

18.bxc5,..

Timing is an important aspect of breaking. The text is not necessary right now; the b-pawn is safe because the Black pawn at d4 is not well defended. It would be useful for White to have the Nf1 moved to d2 to be ready to occupy e4 with the Knight if the f-pawn is pushed forward, and equally useful is to have a Rook on e1. Either of those moves are better than the unnecessary game move. The whole game White has been overly cautious, reluctant even, to take the dynamic path. As the game enters the tactical phase, he finds his pieces are not well organized for defense. That is often the wages of an approach that is too slow.

18..., bxc5 19.Ne1 f4!?

Mr. Campbell wants to get into the tactics now. More controlled is 19..., Nd6; then 20 Nd2 Re8 21 Bxa8 Rxa8 22 Nef3 Qa5; with a positional battle preceding any tactical clash. Maybe the text is justified because White has shied away from any attempt to take the initiative giving Black no reason to expect different in a tactical fight.

20.Bxa8 Rxa8 21.Bc1 Bd6 22.Ng2?!,..

White misreads the situation. Here 22 Nd2, is better, and then 22..., fxg3 23 hxg3 Nef6 24 Ng2, is OK for White. He is getting his pieces coordinated.

22..., f3 23.Nf4?,..

Getting ambitious at just the wrong moment. It is a mistake typical of what happens when you “slow play” a position. After a period of unhappiness about how the game is developing, White becomes a bit too aggressive. Safer is 23 Ne1, planning a precise defense to the coming aggression by Black on the K-side.

23..., g5?

A tactical error overlooking a simple threat. Campbell was very critical of this move and rightly so. It is hard to determine how such an oversight comes about. Assigning it to the category of acute “chess blindness” is about right. I suspect Mr. Campbell had his attention focused on various ways to get his Queen to h3 with mate to follow, and those flights of imagination had a bad effect on the needed focus on the here and now.

Campbell pointed out; 23..., Bxf4 24 Bxf4 Rxf4 25 gxf4 Qh4 26 Kh1 Nef6; as good for Black after 27 Ne3?!, because Black gets back most of the material invested and still has virulent attack on the White King. Trying to improve for White with 27 Nd2, is less clear; 27..., Qxf4 28 h3 Ng4 29 hxg4 Qxg4 30 Nxf3 Qxf3+ 31 Kh2 Qh5+; when Black very likely has a winning attack, but there are many moves to play to the finish. An alternative try for White; 28 Rg1 Re8 29 Nf1 Re2; is unappetizing. His material plus is far more than offset by active Black pieces gathering around the White King.

24 Ne6 Qf6!?

Too simple perhaps. Black reacts inaccurately to his mistake. Better 24..., Qc8; getting on the critical line to h3. If then 25 Nxf8 Ne5; and Black is winning. A sample line here is; 26 Ne3 Qh3; and the threat of 27..., Ng4; is too strong for White to effectively resist for long. Because of the foregoing White has to pass on taking the Rf8 and play 25 Nxg5, when the game is tending towards equality.

25.Nxg5?,..

The rapidly changing circumstances have caused White to miss his chance. Correct now is; 25 Nxf8. White will have to be very accurate in the next few moves, but he has enough time to defend his King against immediate mate. Eventually the Exchange plus will tell. After the text the game is about equal. Campbell said; 25 Nxf8, is unclear and White’s best chance.

25..., h6 26.Ne4 Qe6 27.Qd2?,..

Failing the accuracy test. Now 27 Nfd2, is best. White plans to give up the Knight for the thorn at f3 netting two pawns for his piece, and after 27,.. Qh3 28 Nxf3 Rxf3 29 Qe2 Rf7 30 Rb7, his pieces are becoming quite active. The game move lets Black get in a strong move.

27..., Bf4!?

Also possible is 27..., Rf4; then 28 gxf4 Qh3 29 Ng3 Bxf4 30 Ng3 dxe3 when the threat of mate a g2 costs White dearly after 31 fxe3 Bxe3+; and 31 Qb2+ Be5; is no better.

28.gxf4,..

The fury of the attack by Black has unsettled White, and he made errors over the last few moves. Now just about everything is hopeless. Here putting the Knight on e3 does little more than avoid mate. After, 28 Ne3 Qh3 29 Qe1 dxe3 30 Qf1 Qxf1+ 31 Kxf1 e7+; wins decisive material.

28..., Qh3 29.Ne3 Rxf4 30.Bb2,..

Somewhat better is 30 Ng3, but not enough better to save the game. It does string out the losing process. The lesson that can be taken from many GM games is; if you are losing take the longest road, there is always a chance for error by the attacker. After 30 Ng3 Ne5 31 Bb2 Rh4; most of the Black pieces are poised to take part in the final assault. Even though White is up a full piece, the activity of the Black pieces gives the impression that he is ahead in material. In this line the finish could be; 32 Ngf1 Nf6 33 Kh1 Rg8 34 Ba3 Qg2+ 35 Nxg2 fxg2+ 36 Kg1 Nf6#

30..., Rh4 31.Ng3,..

Also acceptable is Resigns.

31..., Qxh2+ 32.Kf1 Qh1+ 33.Nxh1 Rxh1# 0–1

A pretty finish for Black. White did not play the game well right from the beginning. It could be he was thinking draw at all costs. To that end, white seemed to want to just keep things closed up and just refused to break open lines. When you wait around for your opponent do something, all too often he does that thing for which you are not prepared. That is what happened in this game.

Following this post is a photograph of the Section winners. This was generously provided by Phil Ferguson of ENYCA.

More soon.