Wednesday evening had another full round of play at the Albany Area Chess Club. At the top of the schedule was the game Magat - Henner. In a short game these two packed in a great deal of action in just 28 moves. Mr. Henner won the game tightening up the race for first place. The game between Dean Howard and Tim Wright, after some dramatic ups and downs in Howard’s time trouble, ended with a victory for Howard. The struggle for the under-1800 title sorted itself out a bit with the results of the other two games. Art Alowitz won as Black over Jason Denham, and in game of many sudden shifts in fortune, Chris Caravaty won from Cory Northrup. Jonathan Lack had the bye this week.
The updated standings are:
1 Magat 4 - 2
2 Howard 3 ½ - 1 ½
3 Henner 3 - 1
4 Alowitz 3 - 2
5 Caravaty 2 -3
6&7 Lack 1 ½ - 1 ½
6&7 Northrup 1 ½ - 1 ½
8 Wright 1 ½ - 3 ½
9 Denham 1 - 4
No less than four players are in the hunt for first; Magat, Howard, Henner and Alowitz. Art Alowitz also is leading the race for top under-1800. Caravaty pulled into within a point of Alowitz, and the next rounds will see if he can further close the gap. The next rounds will also see, as Jon Lack makes up his delayed games, if he will challenge the leading four. The holidays are close upon us, and I don’t know if they will cause any further delayed games. Absent delayed games we will see the races begin to be more defined in the next weeks.
One of the attractions of out typical local club championship round robins is the opportunity for rising players to meet higher rated opponents. In weekend Swiss System events, if you are down the rating list, you may only see a significantly higher rated opponent in the first round. The club championship round robins guarantee the chance to play at least some of the Class A/Experts in the event. In today’s game, Zack Calderone, a pretty successful scholastic player faces Philip Sells a well established Expert and former Schenectady Champion.
Calderone, Zack - Sells, Philip [A46]
SCC Prelim A Schenectady, NY, 08.12.2011
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 Be7 4.e3 c5
This position is not at the cutting edge of current opening practice. It is, however, pretty well known. Locally, I played these opening moves against Al Lawrence, the former editor of Chess Life, in the old Hudson Valley League back in 1986. The game was a win for me when Al tried a mistaken line in the transition from the opening to the middle game.
Lawrence, Al - Little, Bill [D03]
HVCL Match Newburgh, NY, 10.05.1986
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 Be7 4.e3 c5 5.Bd3 Nc6 6.c3 h6 7.Bh4 d5 8.Nbd2 0–0 9.0–0 e5?! 10.Nxe5 Nxe5 11.dxe5 Ng4 12.Bg3 Bh4 13.Qf3 Re8 14.Bb5 Nxe5 15.Qh5? Bxg3 16.Bxe8? Bg4 17.Bxf7+ Kh8 18.Qxg4? Bxh2+ 19.Kxh2 Nxg4+ 20.Kg1 Qc7 0–1
We were both over 2000 when this game was played. I got the edge when Al allowed me to get away with the advance of the e-pawn. The game was played fairly early on a Saturday morning. He must not have had his coffee yet because after giving me freedom without extracting any cost, Al’s tactical alertness deserted him. Subsequent errors turned a small advantage into victory in just a few more moves. Mr. Lawrence got his revenge in the afternoon game using the Scandinavian to beat me neatly.
Here is a game that has some similarities to the game we are examining. It is played between two famous Grandmasters; Hort and Larsen.
(144938) Hort,Vlastimil (2585) - Larsen,Bent (2555) [A47]
Linares, 1983
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 Be7 4.e3 c5 5.c3 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.Nbd2 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nc6 9.a3 0–0 10.0–0 Nd5 11.Bxe7 Qxe7 12.Qe2 Rac8 13.Rac1 Nb8 14.Rfe1 f5 15.Qf1 Nf6 16.Rxc8 Rxc8 17.Rc1 Qf8 18.h3 Bd5 19.Bc4 Ba8 20.Ne5 g6 21.Rc2 Kg7 22.Qc1 Qd8 23.Be2 Rxc2 24.Qxc2 d6 25.Nd3 Qd7 26.Bf3 Bxf3 27.Nxf3 h6 28.Qc4 Nd5 29.Nb4 Ne7 30.Nd2 g5 31.Nb1 a5 32.Nd3 Nd5 33.Nc3 Nxc3 34.bxc3 Kf6 35.d5 Ke7 36.Qd4 exd5 37.Qg7+ Kd8 38.Qxh6 Qe7 39.h4 gxh4 40.Nf4 Qe5 41.Qf8+ Kc7 42.Qf7+ Kc6 43.Ne2 Kb5 44.Nd4+ Ka6 45.Qc7 Qe8 46.a4 f4 47.Nb5 Nc6 48.Nxd6 Qa8 49.exf4 1–0
And here is a contemporary example by a couple of very strong Frenchmen.
(610586) Vaisser, Anatoli (2540) - Lautier, Joel (2658) [A47]
French Team Ch. France (8.2), 28.04.2001
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bg5 c5 4.e3 Be7 5.Nbd2 b6 6.Bd3 Bb7 7.c3 cxd4 8.cxd4 Nc6 9.a3 Nd5 10.Bxe7 Ncxe7 11.Ne4 Qb8 12.Ne5 f6 13.Nc4 0–0 14.Qh5 f5 15.Ng5 Nf6 16.Qh3 h6 17.Nf3 d6 18.0–0 Bd5 19.Rfc1 Rc8 20.Ncd2 Qb7 21.Ne1 Rxc1 22.Rxc1 Rc8 23.Rb1 b5 24.f3 Qb6 25.Qg3 a6 26.Qf2 Bb7 27.Nb3 Bd5 28.Nd2 Rc7 29.h3 Qb7 30.g4 Qc8 31.e4 fxe4 32.fxe4 Bb7 33.Kh2 e5 34.Nef3 Ng6 35.g5 Nf4 36.Qf1 N6h5 37.dxe5 dxe5 38.Nxe5 hxg5 39.Rd1 Re7 40.Ng4 Qc7 41.Kg1 Ng3 42.Qf2 0–1
We can conclude the protagonists in today’s game have the desire for a fight by their choice of opening, and while the game will be a positional struggle at first sight, there will also be a strong vein of tactics running through it.
5.c3 Nc6 6.Bd3 b6 7.Nbd2 0–0 8.0–0 Nd5 9.Bxe7 Qxe7
The game has gone away from specific lines the Grandmasters have played, but it retains the outlines of the GM games. White embarks on the occupation of e5. He might have done better to develop his forces a bit more with 10 Qc2, and 11 Rae1.
10.Ne5 Bb7 11.Qe2 cxd4 12.Nxc6 Bxc6 13.cxd4 f5 14.f4,..
Rather than fortifying e5, White would have been better served to get the a-Rook on the c-file. A natural follow-on move would be a2-a3 to restrict the scope of the Black Knight on d5. Looking at the GM games cited above it can be seen how important this line is in this sort of game. It is not so much that the c-file is the launching pad for some penetration, as it is the base denied the opponent and from which attacks in other directions can be made.
14..., Bb7?!
This move seems doubtful to me. Moving a rook to the c-file, or 14..., Nb4; threatening the elimination of the White Bishop are more purposeful moves.
15.a3 Rac8 16.Rac1 Kh8?!
A second move that appears to lack an immediate purpose. More to the point is 16..., g5. If then 17 Rxc8 Rxc8 18 Nc4 gxf5 19 exf5, fearlessly 19..., Qg7!, and if 20 Nd6 Qxd4+; is strong for Black. Alternatively for White if he tries 20 Qe5 Nf6 21 g3 Qf8! 22 Nd6? Ng4; wins material. White’s best is probably 22 Qe2, when Black has some slight advantage, but there is a lot of fight left in the position.
17.Ba6?!,..
The mighty Rybka says this is wrong. The electronic genius suggests trading Rooks on the c-file and pushing the e-pawn to the 4th rank. The game then becomes complicated then with a premium on tactical alertness and positional understanding. The text allows, according to Rybka, Black trade Bishops on a6 and to offer up his Q-side pawns to obtain very active play against the White King. The lines are long and fraught with tactical turns only a computer could enjoy. I doubt a human being would go down that path in serious game, maybe in Blitz but not in a tournament contest.
17..., d6 18.Bxb7 Qxb7 19.Nf3 Nf6
Black has some edge, it is not anywhere near winning. He will be able to use the square e4 for his Knight while White can not use the corresponding e5-square. I thought the game about even here.
20.Ng5?!,..
This is a gesture threatening something that has not been completely thought through. What if Black ignores the attack on e6 and plays 20..., h6? Capturing on e6 leads to favorable complications for Black after; 21 Nxe6 Rfe8 22 d5 Nxd5 23 Nd4 Nxe3 24 Rfe1 Rxc1 25 Rxc1 Qe4 26 Nc6, either 26..., Qxf4; or 26..., Rc8; give Black a big advantage. After 20..., h6; White really has nothing better than retreating the Knight to f3 or h3 leaving the initiative in Black’s hands.
20..., Qd7?!
This is too cautious.
21.Qa6?,..
The chances for White are dwindling. Here the Queen abandons the critical central squares for an adventure on the Q-side. He could try the exciting but risky 21 e4!? h6 22 exf5 hxg5 23 fxg5, with great complications that Black should be able to get through safely, or eliminate a pair of Rooks with 21 Nf3 Rc6 22 Qa6 Rfc8 23 Rxc6 Rxc6 24 Qa4 Qc7 25 Rd1 Rc2 26 Qb5 Qb7 27 Ne1, and try to defend stubbornly.
21..., Kg8 22.Qe2 h6 23.Nf3 Rc7
Black will take control of the c-file, and so his advantage increases.
24.b3?,..
A move that creates the one more weakness that White does not need right now. Ginning up some counter-play with the pawn sacrifice 24 Rxc7 Qxc7 25 d5!?, offers some hope. Play might go; 25..., Nxd5 26 Nd4, and if carelessly 26..., Kf7? 27 Qh5+, and things are not so easy for Black. Black should play the better 26..., Qc8 27 Rd1 Qd7 28 g3 Nf6 29 Qb5 Qf7 30 Rc1, and White has not lost control of the c-file.
24..., Rfc8 25.Qb2 Nd5 26.Qd2 Rc3
This last operation by Black highlights the White weaknesses at b3, c3, and e3. Saving the game is now a fading hope - too many things to defend.
27.Rfe1 Rxb3 28.e4,..
The lack of options motivates White to go for activity. It is a late try but best in the circumstances.
28..., fxe4 29.Rxe4 Rxc1+ 30.Qxc1 Rc3 31.Qd2,..
If 31 Qb2, trying to hold the a-pawn, 31..., Qa4 32 Ne1 Kf7 33 Qe2 Qc4; is strong.
31..., Rxa3 32.Qe1 Nc7!?
Not bad but less forceful than is 32..., Qa4; threatening a deadly pin on the back rank.
33.f5!,..
Tough times bring out the best from Mr. Calderone.
33..., exf5?
Missing a neat little trick. Black had to play 33..., Qa4; maintaining his advantage. He will be better when the tactical tricks run out for White.
34.Re7 Qd8 35.Qc1?,..
Zack missed the shot also. Drawing is 35 Rxc7! Qxc7 36 Qe8+ Kh7 37 Ng5+, and there is no escape from the perpetual check by the Queen. Bill Townsend found this trick as he was entering the game in his database of local game and brought it to my attention.
35..., Qxe7 36.Qxa3 Nd5 37.Kf2 f4 38.Qa2 Qf7 39.Qc4 Ne3 40.Qc8+ Kh7 41.Qh3?,..
Better 41 Qc1. Once more we see one Mr. Sells’ opponents be shaken by his time trouble. Sells’ clock was getting pretty low here, but it was Zack who seemed to have trouble maintaining his composure. I have experienced similar problems when playing Sells in time trouble. With 41 Qc1, the game still would require some play from Black. After the text it is a mating combination that could cost ruinous material loss to delay.
41..., Qa2+ 42.Kg1 Qb1+ 43.Kf2 Qf1# 0–1
Another excellent performance by Philip in time trouble. I continue to be impressed with his calmness when handling clock problems.
More soon.
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