A Game From A Week Ago

My last post mentioned an upset win by Jeff Capitummino over Philip Sells. Here is that game.

Capitummino, Jeff - Sells, Philip [E15]

SCC Prelim A Schenectady, NY, 27.10.2011

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.Nf3 b6 4.g3 Ba6

Not the most common way to proceed in the QID. It has been quite popular with elite players over the years; Nimzovitsch used it in the 1930s, Taimanov and Bronstein in the 1950s, Keres and Smyslov in the 1960s and 70s, Karpov versus Kasparov in their 1984 match and on down to the likes of Karlakin, Ivanchuk and Adams in rapid games at Wilk aan Zee in recent years. Conclusion; it is a perfectly good way to introduce some variety into the QID formations.

5.e3?,..

But this is a not so good answer. It weakens the light squares in the White camp. More common answers used by the Grandmasters here are; 5 b3, and 5 Qc2.

5..., c6

Black plays to pressure the pawn at c4. That is reasonable, but the method selected seems slow. 5..., d5; is possible right away, or Black can try 5..., Nc6; with the Knight going to a5 soon and .., d7-d5; planned. White has the resources to support c4. Black’s intention with such operations is to reach some middle game position where he is comfortable while maintaining central tension.

6.Qc2 d5 7.b3 Nbd7 8.Bb2 Rc8 9.Nbd2 Be7

A bit more aggressive is 9..., Bd6; but Black does not want to have to worry about e3-e4 at some point and the subsequent exchange of some minor pieces. Mr. Sells, taking into account the difference in rating and experience with his opponent, prefers to avoid reducing material if he can’t see the chance for advantage.

10.Rc1 0–0 11.a3!?,..

A trifle slow. Either 11 Be2, 11 Bd3, with castling to follow is sensible.

11..., c5!

Not a hard move to find but certainly on point. White has lagged his development and Black has gotten all his pieces out. Threatening to open up the game in the middle of the board is a natural operation to begin now.

12.Qb1 Re8

Black still does not see any big opportunity coming by releasing tension in the center. He undertakes an small operation to improve the position of his pieces anticipating a later trade-off of central pawns.

13.Bd3 Bf8

Potentially more useful is 13..., h6; recognizing that White has pieces lining up to attack h7.

14.0–0 Rc7 15.Rc2 Qb8

The game is closely balanced. Neither side has nailed down the initiative and positional maneuvering is the order of the day.

16.Qa1 b5!?

Activity with some risk attached. Deep Rybka suggests 16..., h6; but I am not clear as to why that move is best.

17.Rfc1?!,..

The right idea and the wrong move order. If White wants to fight for the c-file, it is better to first play 17 cxd5, opening the file. Black can now keep the c-pawn as a target.

17..., bxc4 18.bxc4 cxd4 19.Bxd4 Rb7

Black may have been concerned about a White Rook occupying the b-file, and then, if he blocks with his own Rook on b7, a pair of Rooks will be traded making the position less complex.

20.Bf1 dxc4 21.Bxc4 Bxc4 22.Rxc4 Qd6 23.a4 Qa6 24.Kg2,..

After the game Jeff made an interesting comment. He said the purpose behind this move was to not let Black capture on the back rank with check. Implied was getting the Rook on the 8th and the Bishop going to c5 operation was somewhere in his thoughts. A pretty sophisticated approach from a young man without a great deal of chess experience.

24..., Nd5

Black logically takes aim at the exposed White a-pawn.

25.Rc8,..

White responds by forcing off some Rooks.

25..., Rxc8 26.Rxc8 N7b6!?

Eliminating the annoying pin on the Bf8 with 26..., Rb8; is the safest path.

27.Rd8 Qxa4?

White has won the a-pawn per the program. The cost is high; all the White pieces now can get into the fray while the Black pieces are tied up. Mixing things up with 27..., Rd7; may be the best way to go. White would have to try the sacrificial line 28 Rxf8 Kxf8 29 Bxg7+ if he wants to go for the win. The line is however a long calculation and tricky. The task of deciding on such an adventure might have caused the opponent bail out with 28 Rxd7, leaving Black with his threats on the a-pawn and not a bad game at all.

I had the game score and it was correct, but making sense of Philip’s resignation was difficult. Last Thursday, a week after the game was played, Sells and I had the opportunity to look at the game together. It was then the full story became clear to me. After White’s 28th , Mr. Sells grabbed his Queen to take off the hanging Black Lady on a1, only picking up his Queen did he see that it was mate on the move for him. Mr. Sells of course resigned immediately.

Interestingly, Philip was not in time trouble at this juncture, in fact his clock was looking better than his opponent’s. This momentary, acute attack of chess blindness is unusual for Sells. We have many examples of him fending off tricks with only seconds on the clock for several moves. Such happens to all chess players occasionally, The surprise is it happening to someone who rarely slips.

The game could have continued if Black had played 28..., Ne7; but White has the better game. It might have gone; 29 Qxa4 Nxa4 30 Bd6 h6 31 Nc4 Nb6 32 Nxb6 axb6 33 Ne5, heading towards d7 to win a piece. Alternatively, 28..., Ne7 29 Qxa4 Nxa4 30 Bd6 f6 31 Nd4 Kf7 32 Ne4, and if 32..., e5 33 Bxe5, and if 33..., fxe5? 34 Nd6+ Kg6 35 Nxb7 exd4 36 Rxf8 is won for White. On move 33 Black could try 33..., Ng6; but 34 Bd6 Rb6 35 Bxf8 Nxf8 36 Nf5 Re6 37 Ned6+ Kg8 38 Ne8 g6 39 Nh6+ Kh8 40 Nc7, and Black loses material.

28.Bc5 1–0 More soon.