A Second Exciting Game From the SCC Finals

As I mentioned earlier, a close contender for the first game published from the latest round in the Schenectady contests was this exciting battle between a new finalist and a past Champion. Carlos Varela, a teacher from RPI and a stalwart of the RPI team, makes a determined effort to take the full point from Philip Sells. Bill Townsend and I were watching the game and both of us were silently hoping Carlos would play 25 Bxh6. We just wanted to see what would happen. He did and we did. It was an interesting game before and after the 25th move and worth the late night it took to see it to a finish. Enjoy!

Varela, Carlos - Sells, Philip [A46]
SCC Championship Finals Schenectady, NY, 23.02.2012

1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4

A not uncommon position from the Torre/London/Colle Systems. Opportunities to transpose into positions from other lines are many. There few games in the databases with strong players on both sides, however here is one with Topalov handling Black against Gata Kamsky from not too long ago. Kamsky had to call on his very considerable skill on the defense hold off Topalov who was challenging then for the number one spot on the FIDE rating list.

(1177976) Kamsky,Gata (2705) - Topalov,Veselin (2772) [A46]
3rd MTel Masters, Sofia (9), 19.05.2007
1.d4 Nf6 2.Nf3 e6 3.Bf4 c5 4.e3 cxd4 5.exd4 b6 6.Nbd2 Be7 7.h3 0–0 8.Bd3 Ba6 9.Bxa6 Nxa6 10.0–0 b5 11.c3 Nc7 12.a4 Ncd5 13.Bh2 a6 14.Qb3 Qb6 15.Ra2 d6 16.Rfa1 Rab8 17.axb5 axb5 18.Ra6 Qd8 19.Ra7 Nc7 20.Ne1 Nfd5 21.Nd3 Qd7 22.Nb4 Nxb4 23.Qxb4 Qc6 24.c4 Rfc8 25.cxb5 Qc2 26.Nf1 Nd5 27.Qd2 Qb3 28.Ne3 Bf8 29.Bg3 Nxe3 30.Qxe3 Qxb5 31.Qf3 f6 32.R1a6 Rb6 33.Ra1 Qxb2 34.Bf4 d5 35.Be3 Qc2 36.Kh2 Qg6 37.g3 h5 38.Ra8 Rbc6 39.R1a6 Qf7 40.Bf4 Rc3 41.Qe2 Rc2 42.Qe1 Rxa8 43.Rxa8 Qd7 44.Qb1 Rc8 45.Rxc8 Qxc8 46.Qg6 Qc4 47.Be3 e5 48.dxe5 d4 49.e6 dxe3 50.Qf7+ Kh7 51.Qxh5+ ½–½

5.exd4 Nc6

Mr. Sells takes a different road from Topalov. Also possible is 5..., Qb6; a natural sort move often played when White develops the Bishop to f4. Black has a number of choices here; 5..., h6; 5..., Be7; and others. Which way he goes depends on taste and his future intentions.

6.c3 Be7 7.Bd3 0–0 8.Nbd2 d6 9.Qc2 h6 10.0–0 b6

A feature of the London System is the dark squared White Bishop on f4 outside of his pawn s on dark squares. An idea that is often used by Black is gain time by threatening this actively placed piece. In that vein, Black could have played; 10..., Nh5 11 Be3 f5; when White would almost have to toss a pawn into the pot with 12 d5 exd5 13 Qb6, giving rise to the question; was the harassment of the Bf4 worth the damage to the Black pawn structure? Fischer, who always thought a pawn was worth some trouble, might have said yes, but Mr. Sells wanted to win this game to take clear second in the Championship. He decides to keep any transformation of the position for the future wanting to be fully prepared before opening uo the position.

11.Rfe1 Bb7 12.h3 Rc8 13.a3 Re8 14.Rad1 Bf8

Both sides have bided their time mustering forces to logical squares without really tipping their hands about future intentions. Assessing the position using Silman’s imbalances idea gives the following:

White has a bit more space due to the d-pawn on the 4th rank, but Black has two center pawns to White’s one offsetting that advantage to some extent.

Both sides are pretty much developed. The only difference here is the White Queen has more active possibilities than the Black Queen whose future prospects will be determined by how the game opens up. Initiative is undecided. White has available Nd2-e4, an energetic move that does not seem to lead anywhere right away. The White pieces and pawns point towards an attack on the K-side. This is something Black will have take into consideration when choosing a plan. If a call has to be made regard initiative, White may have greater chances to obtain it.

The pawn formation has taken on the approximate outlines of the Hedgehog formation. In such, Black counts on quietly forming up his forces to make a later break in the center or flank to open the game to his advantage. White has a barrier of pawns which he hopes will fend off the Q-side machinations Black has in mind while White attacks the King

On minor piece placement and the worst piece; the White Bishops are aimed at the Black King. Black will have to detail some units to meet any sudden sacrificial assault. They naturally are the Nf6 and the Bf8. So what is the worst piece? White’s is the Nd2, where can it go to contribute more? Black’s is s toss up between the Re8 and the Bishop and Knight guardians of the K-side. I don’t see a clear path the break up the White attacking formation, so the guardians will have stay on the defensive. This judgment leaves the Re8 as the piece needing improvement.

A look at lines and files reveals both sides have a Rook appropriately on the half-open file in their positions. White has clear diagonals for his Bishops pointing towards the Black King. The Black Bb7 is not too much a factor regards the K-side It has no supporting unit to make threats to g2 real in the face of White’s superiority there. The placement of the White Queen and the Black Rook do offer Black a great deal of control over d5. It is conceivable Black can make something interesting out of the light central squares to distract White from his obvious K-side attack. The center is not clearly defined as yet leaving the possibility open that the character of the game could change dramatically.

In sum: White must attack on the K-side. Black is somewhat constrained the need to hold back reserves to meet the attack. Black has play on the Q-side and the light central squares. This is no great revelation and very common in the Torre/London/Colle Systems complex.

15.Nf1?!,..

Mr. Varela himself was critical of this move. He thought why not go right away to e4. It is more direct but seems to lead to nothing after 15 Ne4 Nxe4 16 Bxe4 Na5; and the likely trade of Bishops has eliminated a good deals of White’s attacking potential. An idea that was not looked at in the post mortem was; 15 Nc4, intending to post the Knight at e3 fighting against the scheme Black carried out in the game of putting a Bishop on d5 and bringing the Knight to c4 via a5. White can get away with it as long as the Black Queen is on the d-file because the counter-stroke .., e6-e5; could leave her exposed to a discovered attack by Bd3-h7+ after a pawn exchange on e5. A downside to the idea is the Knight on e3 obstructs the action of the Rook on the e-file. Carlos may have been too critical of his own choice in the game. Nothing remarkably better is available.

15..., Rc7!?,..

A strange kind of move. The course of the game shows Black intends pressure on the c-file and playing on the light squares c4 and d5, but it looks awkward. White has in hand the counter 16 Ne3, fighting back over the central light squares.

16.Ng3 Kh8

Philip Sells methodically eliminates the h7 checking possibility. That told me he was thinking of the e-pawn advance making any later discovery by a move of the Bd3 far less worrisome.

17.Re2 Qc8 18.Rde1 Ba6

A change of direction. It appears now Black may want to instigate some trades to defang the potential K-side attack.

19.Ne4 Nxe4 20.Rxe4 Bb7

Black changes his mind. The line of play; 20..., Bxd3 21 Qxd3 d5 22 R4e3 Rd7; certainly reduces the chances of a successful K-side attack, but the Black Rooks look very much worse the doubled White Rooks on the e-file. Black can hold, however, winning from that position is doubtful.

White has a choice to make here; with 21 Qa4, he can offer Black a transition to the ending after 21..., Nc4; and a bunch of trades on and near c4 which result in White having a passed a-pawn with a problematical future because of the activity of the Black Rooks, or as in the game, direct K-side attack.

21.R4e3 Na5 22.Nd2 Bd5 23.Rg3,..

Everyone can see now Mr. Varela intends an assault on the Black King. One of the designated defends, the Nf6, is gone, and another attacking unit, the Rg3, has appeared on the scene. White has done a good job of bringing units to the field of battle. The only problem is the coordination of these units

23..., Nc4 24.Ne4!?,..

Superficially, one more piece to participate in the assault, but where does the Knight go from here? While watching the game, I thought something like 24 Bxc4 Bxc4 25 Qd1, or 24 Qd1?, which is unfortunately immediately countered by 24..., Nxb2; might have bettered coordinated the White units for the attack and gotten the Queen into the action.

24..., e5

Just so. Quite like how things happen from the Hedgehop formation. This time it is a center break just as White is in the midst of kicking off the direct assault.

25.Bxh6?!,..

Rybka recommends 25 dxe5, but concludes Black is better after; 25..., dxe5 26 Bxh6 f5 27 Nf6 gxh6 28 Nxd5 Rf7 29 Qb3 b5! This is a line only a computer could love. For a human being to plunge into this morass of tactics would take great confidence in his calculating ability and board sight.

I think White had played up to this point in the game intending such a sacrifice to begin the attack Playing the sacrifice is probably his best chance from a practical point of view . Other Bishop moves give Black a significant edge according to my trusty computer. Bill Townsend and I both were very interested in seeing this move played. Mr. Varela came through for us, although I’m sure not to just to please us.
The advantage now swings back and forth wildly over the next moves. When White’s 25th move was played both players had under twenty minutes remaining on their clocks with the situation on the board becoming more, not less, complicated. That is not much time for either party to calculate in the complications that follow.

25..., exd4?

Ambitious, but it should lead to trouble for Black. Better 25..., f5; and after 26 Nf6 gxf6 27 Bxf8 Rxf8 28 Bxf5 Bd6 29 Bg6 Bf7; and notwithstanding the extra piece, Black probably has to agree to a draw by repeating the dance of the Bishops. If he tries to vary creatively with 29..., Nb2? 30 Re4 Nd3 31 Rh4+ Kg8 32 Qxd3 f5 33 Be8+ Rg7 34 Rxg7+ Kxg7 35 Qg3+ Kf6 36 Qg6+ Ke7 37 Rh7+, and regardless of the material Black will have to offer up the mate is not far distant. I leave it to the readers to work along with several other variations for the alternatives to 32..., f5.

26.Qd1,..

The Queen prepares to add her heavy weight to the assault. Now point counts of material are less meaningful. What is important is the full throated attack and the devil take the straggler.

26..., Bxe4?

Bringing his game very close to dead lost. Black had to try the here the unlikely looking 26..., Qf5; The text allows; 27 Bxg7+ Bxg7 28 Qh5 Kg8 29 Bxe4 Rxe4 30 Rxe4 Ne5 31 Rh4 Ng6 32 Qh7+ Kf8 33 Rf4!, and so on with a winning attack for White. If there were plenty of time finding one’s way through that difficult line is a challenge. Mr. Varela had but fifteen minutes remaining for the entire game and Mr. Sells less. The better move; 26..., Qf5; leads to nothing easy for Black after; 27 Bxc4 Rxe4 28 Bxd5 Qxd5 29 Rxe4 Qxe4 30 Rg4 Qe6; when Black is looking at a pawn down end game with a ragged pawn formation. There is a but here. With 31 Qxd4 Qe1+ 32 Kh2 Qe5; and White probably has to play 33 Qxe5 dxe5; repairing the Black pawns and giving him hopes of holding the game. Of course time is shortening, and these rather involved lines have plenty of scope for errors.

27.Qh5,..

Pretty near winning is 27 Bxg7!+. Then 27..., Bxg7 28 Qh5+ Kg8 29 Bxe4, and White dominates the light squares around the Black King. To play this line White had to be prepared to ignore being down a piece and correctly evaluate the tactics arising out of the powerful position he created on the K-side, Amazingly the text swings the advantage to Black even though on its face the move looks very strong.

27..., gxh6

Also good is 27..., g6. Having two really good replies to the Queen’s jump to h5 indicates just how difficult the game has become. The players gave it their best shot running the clocks down to right around five minutes or less each calculating the ramifications.

28.Rxe4 Rxe4 29.Bxe4 Bg7 30.Bf5 Qe8

During the game I thought it would be better to play 30..., Qf8; right away. Rybka differs and says the text is to be preferred on the slender grounds that at e8 the Black Queen prevents the White Queen from retreating to e2. Mighty Rybka is likely correct. Under circumstances with no time pressure I am not sure a human being would make that judgment unless he was of a very high standard of play. In time pressure, my guess is Philips Sells’ intuition guided him correctly.

The players were now down to two minutes each on the clocks. The final moves were played, perforce, quickly.

31.Qg4 Qf8 32.Be4 Ne5

Critical comments about moves made in great time pressure are not useful. Blitz and time pressure play is about ideas and nerve. If you have some idea that keeps you in the game, play it. Looking for the better move easily can cost the point on time. Sells sees a way to strengthen his King’s house and takes it. Here 32..., Nd2; renders harmless 33 Qf5, by taking off the Bishop. But what if 32..., Nd2 33 Bc2? Black then has to calculate; 33..., Re7 34 Qf5 Re1+ 35 Kh2 Nf1+ 36 Kg1 Ng3+; winning. Not so hard with lots of time, and nearly impossible with seconds left. Side lines and in-between moves would have to be checked. It all takes time that is not available. I know from the conversation after the game the Rook check on e8 and the Knight check on f8 was a piece of the ideas Mr. Sells was pursuing. It’s my guess he went for what he could see clearly with out much calculation.

33.Qf5 Ng6 34.h4,..

There is not much to be done to save the game. Mr. Varela continues his direct assault by threatening 35 h5. Unfortunately for Carlos, Sells has a straight forward finish in mind.

34..., Rc5 35.Qg4 h5 36.Qd7 Qe7 37.Qh3 Qxe4 38.f3 Qe1+ 39.Kh2 Be5 0–1

A near thing for the former Champion, and by no means a bad effort for the new finalist. Carlos Varela had the right idea with the piece sacrifice. It may not have been precisely correct. It was, however, the best practical chance. While I subscribe to Har-Zv1’s rule; play the best moves you can find, don’t go in for swindles. To that rule I’ll add Little’s corollary; if all your choices are bad, take the most active option. Mr. Varela did so here giving us an entertaining game to look at, and he came very close to winning.