Phillips Wins the SCC Title!

Well, Schenectady ended its Championship in one sense last night. John Phillips won his game from Alan Le Cours. The victory gave Mr. Phillips a 4 ½ - ½ score that no one in the event can match and his first Schenectady title. The event is not entirely over. Several players have games to make up to settle the lower order of finish. The pace of play in this event, even with some rescheduling, was quick; Mr. Phillips played every week for five weeks, and behold; the event is done, mostly that is.

How John Phillips got this year’s title was by playing well. In most of his games he sought the dynamic solution to the problems a position presented. That was his preference, mostly. In his game against the youthful Zack Calderone Phillips took a less dynamic path and thereby gave up his only draw in the tournament.

Calderone, Zack - Phillips, John [E14]
SCC Finals 2012 Schenectady, NY, 02.02.2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.c4 c5 3.e3 e6 4.Nc3 b6 5.Nf3 Bb7 6.Be2 Be7 7.0–0 0–0

This opening has a long history in the upper levels of Grandmasters. Back before WWII it was a leading edge and topical debut. Here is how it was treated by two not well known but very strong Soviet players;

(20629) Panov, Vasily N - Yudovich, Mikhail M [A30]
11th USSR Championship, Leningrad (10), 1939
1.Nf3 d5 2.c4 e6 3.b3 Nf6 4.Bb2 Be7 5.e3 0–0 6.Be2 c5 7.0–0 Nc6 8.d3 b6 9.Nbd2 Bb7 10.a3 Nd7 11.cxd5 exd5 12.Re1 Bf6 13.d4 Rc8 14.Nf1 Re8 15.Rb1 Qe7 16.Ng3 g6 17.Qd2 Red8 18.Bd3 Qf8 19.h4 Qh6 20.dxc5 Bxb2 21.Qxb2 Nxc5 22.Red1 Qg7 23.Qxg7+ Kxg7 24.Bb5 Ne6 25.Rbc1 Na5 26.Rb1 Rc3 27.Rd3 Rxd3 28.Bxd3 d4 29.Nxd4 Nxd4 30.exd4 Rxd4 31.b4 Nc4 32.Bxc4 Rxc4 33.h5 Rc3 34.hxg6 hxg6 35.Ra1 Bd5 36.Ne2 Rc2 37.Nd4 Rd2 38.Nb5 a5 39.bxa5 bxa5 40.Rc1 Be6 41.Rc7 ½–½

Almost fifty years later it was still a useful tool in the hands of a Grandmaster, but by this time it had become a reliable way to get to a draw without undue risk.

(171987) Ivkov, Borislav (2525) - Kortschnoj, Viktor (2635) [A13]
Cannes (7), 1986
1.Nf3 Nf6 2.c4 e6 3.b3 c5 4.Bb2 Nc6 5.e3 Be7 6.Be2 0–0 7.0–0 d5 8.cxd5 Nxd5 9.Nc3 Bf6 10.Qc1 b6 11.Nxd5 Bxb2 12.Qxb2 Qxd5 13.a3 a5 14.Rfd1 Bb7 15.Ne1 Rfd8 16.Bf3 Qd6 17.Nc2 Qd3 18.Rac1 e5 19.Ne1 Qf5 20.d3 Qe6 21.b4 axb4 22.axb4 cxb4 23.Bxc6 Bxc6 24.Qxb4 b5 25.Rc5 Rd5 26.Rdc1 Rxc5 27.Qxc5 Bd7 28.Nf3 Rc8 29.Qa3 Rxc1+ 30.Qxc1 Bc6 31.e4 Qd6 32.h4 f6 33.Qc3 h6 34.Ne1 Bd7 35.Nc2 Kh7 36.Nb4 Be6 37.Kh2 Kg6 38.Nc2 Kf7 39.Nb4 Ke8 40.Kg1 Kd7 41.Kf1 Qc7 42.Qxc7+ Kxc7 43.Ke2 Kb6 44.Kd2 Ka5 45.Kc3 ½–½

For those of us not Grandmasters, the Queen’s Indian Defense is a way to make a fight without entering the sharpness of the King’s Indian Defense or the subtle complexity of the Queen’s Gambit Declined.

8.Bd2 d6

Black is reluctant to play this pawn to the 5th rank. If he does there is usually a general clearance is the center and exchanges that can wring a lot of tension out of the game. Mr. Phillips, higher rated, leading the event and wanting to get the most out of the game, is not interested in steering towards a draw. For his part, Mr. Calderone, a first time participant in the Finals with a rapidly improving rating, is happy to keep things tense.

9.Rb1,..

Information for the new players out there; this move has a long tradition of being a reasonable try. It prepares a space grab on the Q-side by advancing the pawn to the 4th rank. That is not a bad idea if you have no other burning issue to address.

9..., Ne4

Black delays deciding what to do with his Nb8 in the interest of making a stand in the center. If Black is too lackadaisical, White may get a bind in the center.

10.Bd3!?,..

A tempo is not critical in closed games, but this is not quite as closed as it appears. Until the center is fixed by the advance of the White d-pawn to d5, an opening of lines in the middle of the board may change this from a closed type position to an open battle rife with tactics. Instead of moving this piece a second time, White could play the standard 10 d5, setting up the typical QID argument about can White hold the blocking pawn on d5 or not.

10..., f5 11.Qc2,..

Black staked his claim to some say in the center, and with this move White agrees to let his dark squared Bishop go for the Knight and a tempo. Rybka suggests; 11 Be1 Qe8 12 Nd2 Nxc3 13 bxc3 Nc6 14 f3, when the game takes on similarities to the Dutch and the Nimzo-Indian Defenses. The game probably is more like a Dutch because the Black dark squared Bishop is on the board. White’s dark squared Bishop appears to be a supernumerary where it is deployed. If it stays where it is, the communications between the White Rooks will be a problem long term, and the selection of alternate posts; f2, g3 and h4, look suspicious or are foreclosed. Tarrasch’s dictum: If one piece is badly placed, then your whole position is bad, is illustrated in this line. Black is slightly better according to the computer. What would worry me playing the White side is; if a way to improve the White position quickly can’t be found, then there is every chance his situation will get worse.

11..., Nxd2 12.Nxd2?,..

Much better is 12 Qxd2.

12..., Nc6

The point; Black hit’s the d-pawn. Responding to that threat leaves no time to avoid the move 13..., Nb4; attacking both the Qc2 and the Bd3 setting the stage for two Bishops versus two Knights.

13.Ne2 Nb4 14.Qb3 e5 15.d5 Qd7 16.Bc2 Nxc2 17.Qxc2 a5

We now arrive at an interesting point. Michael Mockler had dropped in this evening to deal with some arrangements for the upcoming Eastern Amateur Team Championships in New Jersey and to watch a few games. Just before he had to leave the club rooms, he pointed out the move 17..., b5; to me. The question; is this not a better try to make some open lines on which the Bishops can work? The line of play; 17..., b5 18 cxb5? Bxd5; is clearly very favorable for Black. However White is under no obligation to make that doubtful capture. If White just plays 18 b3, the mighty Deep Rybka says Black has a slight edge after 18..., b4; or the game is completely even after 18..., bxc4 19 bxc4 Rab8 20 e4, when the solid block in the center seems to damp down the Bishop’s activity.

Rybka, unfortunately, does not give us a narrative about why things are good, bad or ambiguous. It just reports the order of choice the algorithm delivers and numeric scores for the choices. The users have to find the words to describe the story the scores capture. At this point the story is typical of the QID; there is not much on which to make a case for either side having some big advantage. The game will confined to the K-side with the possibility of some central squares being involved. Very specific tactical shots can have a significant influence on results, and both parties have to stay alert tactically.

18.a4!?,..

Mr. Phillips must have looked at the above and been unimpressed with Black’s chances. Instead of opening lines he throws up a barrier on the Q-side narrowing the board to play on the K-side for the most part.

18..., Rae8 19.f4 e4 20.Rbe1 Kh8 21.Nb1 Bc8 22.Nbc3 Bf6

Black has gone about organizing his forces logically. If there is to be a try for victory, then getting the Black Rooks into play against the White King via f6 and h6 with g6 as a possible intermediate post seems to be one possible plan. The position does not favor the Bishops because of the pawn obstructions. Whatever way Black decides to go, he must keep a weather eye out for changes in the pawn structure that will give the White Knights strong posts on which to stand. Tarrasch and Lasker taught chess players that the way to fight against Knights is to deny them outposts to fight from. No strong points and the Knights cut a sorry figure on the board. It seems to me, John Phillips had the Traasch/Lasker wisdom in mind as he thought about his moves.

23.b3,..

There is absolutely nothing wrong with this move, but my own chess philosophy rails against doing something like this in a closed position. There is no reason to foreclose the use of the b3 square by the White Queen. If Black takes on “tunnel vision” and continues the slow motion migration of his heavy pieces towards the K-side, there may come a moment when the Queen steps on b3 to attack b6 and threaten to invade via b5, or the Knight may be sent on a foray through b5 and c7 to land on e6 putting a crimp in the Black attack. A good principle to use in closed position is the retention of options. The more options available to you the more your opponent must think about them. If nothing else you can cost him clock time by keeping your options many.

23..., Qe7 24.g3 g5

Mr. Phillips throughout this year’s Championship did not quietly agree to draws without trying active play. He apparently did not care for maneuvering clumsy Rooks in front of his pawn in the restricted quarters on the K-side. The alternate then is to make a pawn break. The problem is then squares are freed for Knights, remember Lasker and Tarrasch!

25.fxg5 Bxg5 26.Nf4 Bxf4

The better of Black’s none too great Bishops has had to go off otherwise a Knight on f4 is a problem for Black.

27.Rxf4 Rg8 28.Ref1 h5 29.Nb5 Rg4 30.Rxg4

Understandably after holding the tournament leader and strong Class A player even for a good part of the game, Mr. Calderone is happy to head for a draw.

30..., hxg4 31.Qf2 Rf8 32.Qb2+ Kh7 33.Rf4 Kg6 ½–½

White has occupied the several key points. There are no maneuvers left for Black to undertake that can shift the balance. The draw was offered and accepted. A reasonable outcome from the QID. This concession of a draw by Mr. Phillips in his dominating run through the Preliminaries and the Finals of Schenectady Championship hardly slowed him down.

We now come to Phillips’ last round game against Mr. Le Cours. This was clearly the crucial game of this year’s event. A draw and Philip Sells would have good chances to tie for first and a playoff for the title. A win by Mr. Le Cours and all kinds of possible ties and playoffs are possible. And finally, a win by Mr. Phillips secures the title going away from the field.

Phillips, John - Le Cours, Alan [D20]
SCC Championship Finals, Schenectady, NY, 10.02.2012

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5

For a long time 3 e4, was thought to be no problem for Black. He was supposed to equalize easily with 3..., e5. Nowadays 3 e4, is played with some success. Here is an example between a couple of elite players.

(1191849) Onischuk, Alexander (2663) - Nisipeanu, Liviu Dieter (2693) [D20]
Foros Aerosvit (11), 29.06.2007

1.d4 d5 2.c4 dxc4 3.e4 e5 4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Nc6 6.0–0 Be6 7.Bb5 Bc5 8.b4 Bb6 9.a4 a6 10.Bxc6+ bxc6 11.a5 Ba7 12.Bb2 Nf6 13.Nxd4 Bxd4 14.Bxd4 Nxe4 15.Re1 Qd5 16.Qd3 c5 17.Rxe4 cxd4 18.Nc3 Qb3 19.Rxd4 0–0 20.Qd2 c5 21.bxc5 Rab8 22.h3 Qb7 23.Nd5 Rbc8 24.Rc1 Bxd5 25.Rxd5 Rc6 26.Rd6 Qc7 27.Qd5 Rxd6 28.Qxd6 Qxa5 29.Rb1 g6 30.c6 Kg7 31.c7 Rc8 32.Rc1 Qg5 33.Rc6 h5 34.f4 Qa5 35.Kh2 h4 36.Qf6+ Kg8 37.Qxh4 Qd5 38.Qf6 Qd7 39.h4 a5 40.h5 Qf5 41.Qd8+ Kg7 42.Qd4+ f6 43.g4 Qxg4 44.Qxf6+ Kh6 45.Qxg6+ Qxg6 46.hxg6 a4 47.f5 a3 48.Rc2 a2 49.Rxa2 Rxc7 50.Kh3 Kg5 51.Rg2+ Kf6 52.Kg4 Rc1 53.Rh2 Rf1 54.Rh8 Rg1+ 55.Kf4 Rf1+ 56.Ke4 Re1+ 57.Kd3 Re7 58.Rh7 1–0

4.Nf3 exd4 5.Bxc4 Bb4+ 6.Bd2 Bxd2+ 7.Nbxd2 Ne7?

A early mistake. I, like Alan, did not recognize this move as an error when it was played. The book gives 7..., Nc6; as the mainline. The alternatives; 7..., c5; is sharp but probably favors White after; 8 Ne5, and 7..., Qf6 8 0-0 Nc6; leading to complicated play where Black has found some resources. For the Grandmasters the Accepted Queen’s Gambit is considered a sound way to get to a draw. For us lesser lights, there is a considerable body of theoretical knowledge to master.

From my own experience, some of it sad, I learned Mr. Le Cours knows well the Grunfeld Defense/ KID complex. Why he went for the QGA here is a mystery. Maybe it was a try to defeat an opponent’s preparation. The problem presented by trying something you are not so familiar with is things can wrong early.

8.0–0?,..

A slip in return. With 8 Ng5, White obtains big lead in development and the makings of a ferocious attack on the Black King.

8..., 0–0 9.Nb3 Nbc6 10.Nbxd4 Bg4

Black has survived the opening with White having no more than his usual first move plus.

11.Nb5?!,..

Steady is 11 h3. Then after 11..., Nxd4 12 hxg4 Nxf3+ 13 Qxf3, White has a Bishop versus Knight ending for only a slight disturbance of his pawn formation. The small advantage White has in this line is nothing to write home about true enough, but he will be just a little bit ahead of Black in getting the White Rooks into action. A Bishop versus a Knight and a step ahead in development; victory has come from less.

12..., Qc8?!

Black thinks routinely. It is enormously difficult to discover when you should let your imagination run and when routine methods should be used. Black is concerned about White trading Queens on d8 leaving his c-pawn undefended. Except for the potential looseness of c-pawn, Black would have naturally played 12..., Ng6. It threatens jumping the Knight to e5 building pressure on the pinned Knight at f3. So the question is; what happens should White win(?) the pawn on c7? Consider this line; 12..., Ng6 13 Qxd8 Raxd8 14 Nxc7 Nce5. Black strikes at f3, and if 15 Be2 Rd2; will recover the pawn easily. Black’s game is superior. His Knights have e5 and f4 as nice outposts and a Rook on the 2nd rank. If the Bishop does not retreat to e2 on the 15th turn, the Bishop and the Knight are dangerously placed on the c-file ripe for a skewer by a Rook on c8. Tactics around the delicate position of these pieces will allow Black recovery of the pawn. White of course can improve by not grabbing the c-pawn with 12..., Ng6 13 Bb3, but after 13..., Qe7; Black is better, not winning by any means, but better. He is going to put a Rook on the d-file before White can, and that is annoying. The Knight hanging out on b5 will cost White some time to bring back home. Those two factors together provide Black with the initiative and superior piece coordination.

12.Be2?!,..

White in his turn thinks safety first. He plays a series of moves gathering his pieces together and organizing a defense. The move played passes on the chance to fight for equality immediately with 12 h3, or 12 Qd3, and it grants Black the initiative for the next phase of the game.

12..., a6 13.Nc3 Rd8 14.Qc1 Bxf3 15.Bxf3 Nd4 16.Bd1 c6!?

Black was controlling the pace of play for the last several moves, while White reorganized his forces. After the game, the participants both thought 16..., c6; was probably wrong for Black. I wasn’t quite so sure. The pawn on c6 does contribute to taking away potential squares from the White Bishop. Working over the position with Rybka confirmed the players were right and kibitzer probably wrong. Grabbing space with either 16..., c5; or 16..., b5; leading to a possible passed pawn for Black on the Q-side is a more forceful way to go. A case of very active play offering more than somewhat passive play.

17.Qg5,..

An interesting and illuminating moment. Mr. Phillips takes an opportunity to undertake active operations. Both players treated the game so far with a certain extra care. They knew the game’s importance for the sporting results of the contest. One reason for Phillips’ success this year was his willingness to take reasonable risk when the chance to do so appears. The move presents Black with the sudden possibility of tactics aimed at his King.

17..., f6?!

Keeping some small advantage with 17..., Qc7; is best. The text weakens the diagonal a2-g8 which plays a role in the final outcome of the game.

18.Qc5 Qc7 19.Ne2!?,..

Once more the sporting importance of the contest causes a cautious approach by one or the other participants. A more active option is 19 Bg4!?, at least it looks active. Making sense of how the move is followed up is not easy. There is quite a mess of tactical possibilities in the struggle for central squares in this line.

19..., Nxe2+ 20.Bxe2 Kh8?

This time caution goes too far. Black had fallen behind on the clock when he completed this move with 26 minutes remaining to John’s 58 minutes. Concerned about some check coming on a2-g8 diagonal, Alan moves his King away. Useful prophylactic thinking has an important role to play in modern chess. Just see the considerable work Mark Dvoretsky has published on the subject. It is, however, a delicate piece of judgment to decided if the preventative move is more important than getting on with something active. Here, since the diagonal check does not have any specific tactical point yet, Black can do some useful work with 20..., g5 21 Rfd1 Ng6 22 b3 Kg7; giving him quite a bit to say about the control of e5; it is a potential post for the Knight. Remember the comments of Lasker and Tarrasch about Knights needing secure posts from the proceeding game? Played this way keeps the game balanced. Handing over the tempo as the text does begins to allow White take greater control of the board.

21.Rad1 Ng6?!

This move would have a real point if it were proceeded by .., g7-g5; as mentioned in the note above.

22.g3 Re8!

As things get tough in the position, Mr. Le Cours finds his “mojo”. He apparently shifts his attention to the e-file and the White pawn there. The really important thing this move does is make way for the Ra8 to get into the game. The move does not change the balance in the favor of Black, but it does set problems for White to solve, and that is why the exclamation mark. Before the situation gets out of hand, Black takes praiseworthy steps to make the best resistance possible.

23.Rd4 Re5?

Did Alan change his mind at the last moment? I don’t believe he did not consider 23..., Rad8; it is too logical. By bringing the last piece onto the field, Black has good chances to hold everything together. The path taken leaves Black very much on the defensive. The back rank weakness will work to make some sort of capture by the lead Rook on e4 problematical. If something along those lines can’t be done, the doubled White Rooks on the d-file are monsters.

24.Qc2 Qb6 25.Rfd1 Rae8 26.Rd7!?,..

Sensibly cautious is 26 Kg2, getting off a potentially dangerous diagonal while preparing the principled strategic advance in the center. It is prophylactic thinking again, only this time the King move has a point beyond avoiding an awkward check; it prepares the push f2-f4 routing the Black Rook from e5. Compare the two situations; Black’s 20th and White’s 26th . In the first, a general, unspecific worry was addressed; in the second, a very specific follow-up is available. That is certainly one way to evaluate the merits of a prophylactic move. The game move has more immediate evil intentions with some attendant risks.

26..., Nf8 27.Rf7!?,..

Bravely sending the Rook into tight quarters. Black should have met this ambitious attempt straight forwardly with 27..., R5e7; getting rid of one of the active White Rooks. Time trouble was really beginning to bite now for Le Cours. He was down to just 7 minutes. Phillips had about 26 minutes left. The move 26..., Nf8; cost Mr. Le Cours 5 minuets, it took away another 2 ½ minutes to find 27..., c5. And, I thought the Queen on b6 was there to hold back f2-f4? Time pressure often erodes the notions and concepts we have used to get to some point in a game.

27..., c5 28.Qd3 Qc6 29.f4 R5e6?

Black used 3 ½ of his remaining 4 ½ minutes to find this second best move. Required is 29..., R5e7; and if 30 Rxe7 Rxe7 31 Qd8 Re8; and Black is worse, but he can fight on. Now there was a desperate flurry of moves that quickly ran the Black clock down to seven seconds.

30.Bg4 c4 31.Qd5 Qb6+ 32.Kg2 Rc6 33.Rd2 Rc5 34.Qd6 1–0

We will draw the curtain over the final moves leading to the Black flag falling. This tense battle, with all its ups and downs, was worthy of deciding this year’s Schenectady Championship. The opponents gave their all. To the end they strove to win the game. More can not be asked of tournament players.

This is the first title John Phillips has won at Schenectady. My congratulations on a fine performance; 6 - 0 in the Preliminaries and 4 ½ - ½ in the Finals. I will not be surprised to see John’s rating go just over 2000 with this result.

More soon.