1.d4 c6 2.e4 d5 3.Nc3 dxe4 4.Nxe4 Bf5 I have chosen - somewhat arbitrarily - to use the classical line of the caro-kann as opposed to 4...Nf6 or 4...Nd7 systems. I'm happy with this choice but need to study all the various move orders in some detail now that I've adopted it in my repetoire. 5.Ng3 Bg6 6.Nf3 Sadly I was somewhat thrown even by such a minor difference in move order. I will have to work hard on this system, (and all of my repetoire) looking at deviations in move order. [6.h4 This is the normal move order. 6...h6 7.Nf3 Nd7 etc] 6...h6?? I played this inferior move thinking at the time it was the only choice. I feared that after 6...Nd7, Nh4 would occur, forcing the 'unfavourable' trade of my bishop for his knight. I will look into this line. 6...Nd7 is indeed the standard move. From here on, considerations of the opening will not be of interest to me and I will just look at middle-game concepts etc, as I will obviously never see this again unless it's played against me. I will take a last look at the best ways of capitalising on this slow 'ghostbuster' move. As for the ??, I feel this is a strong enough opening blunder to warrant it. After white's critical reply, (Ne5), black has a losing position whatever happens. [The correct move. 6...Nd7 What of independent lines? (7.h4 transposing back into the main line) a) 7.Bd3 e.g. 7...Ngf6 a1) 7...e6 8.0–0 Ngf6 9.c4 Bd6 10.b3 0–0 11.Bb2 c5; a2) Not 7...Bxd3 as was incidentally played AGAINST me by John Sowerby in the same event (Hastings 2007) [which was drawn but with the better chances for white]. Fritz considers this move inferior. 8.Qxd3 Ngf6 9.Bd2 e6 10.0–0–0 (10.0–0 c5 11.c4 cxd4 12.Qxd4 Bc5 13.Qc3 0–0 14.b4 Be7 15.Rfd1 Qc7 16.Rac1 Rfc8 17.Nd4 Nb6 18.c5 Nbd5 19.Qb3 Qd8 20.c6 bxc6 21.Nxc6 Qf8 22.Nxe7+ Qxe7 23.a4 h6 24.b5 Qb7 25.Ne2 a6 26.Nc3 Nxc3 27.Bxc3 Nd5 28.Bd4 axb5 29.Rxc8+ Rxc8 30.Qxb5 Qc7 31.g3 Rb8 32.Qc5 Qxc5 33.Bxc5 Ra8 34.Ra1 Ra5 35.Bd4 f6 36.Be3 Nxe3 37.fxe3 Kf7 38.Kf2 Ke7 39.Ke2 Kd7 40.Kd3 Kc6 41.Kc4 Kb6 42.Rb1+ Ka6 43.Ra1 Re5 44.Kd4 Ka5 45.e4 Rg5 46.Ra3 f5 47.exf5 exf5 48.h4 Rg6 49.Ke5 Rf6 50.Rf3 Kxa4 51.Rxf5 Rg6 52.Kf4 Rb6 53.Re5 Rc6 54.g4 g6 Edd Davies - John Sowerby (Hastings 2007) in which I should have played on to try and win due to superior king position, but which I too sportingly agreed to a draw (after my opponent's confusion about the digital clock). One of the changes in my game I have learnt from the Hastings tournament is to play on almost (or literally) to the end in endgames as there is still scope to win technically or ostensibly drawn endings.) 10...Be7 11.Kb1 c5 12.Ne4 0–0 13.Nxf6+ Bxf6 14.h4 cxd4 15.Ng5 g6 16.Nxh7 Kxh7 is the only example in the Fritz database ( + - ); 8.0–0 e6 9.c4 Bd6 10.b3 0–0 11.Bb2 c5 12.Bxg6 hxg6 13.Re1 Qc7 14.dxc5 Bxc5 15.Qc2 Rfd8 16.Ne4 Nxe4 17.Qxe4; b) 7.Nh4 This is0 the move I feared and thought necessary to sidestep. There is only one example in the database and it lost. 7...Ngf6 (7...e6 8.Nxg6 hxg6 Also perfectly ok for black. 9.Be2 Ngf6 10.c4 Bb4+ 11.Bd2 Qb6 12.0–0 Bxd2 13.Qxd2 0–0–0 As indicated by these two linse, it is natural for black to castle q-side after hg.) 8.c3 (8.Nxg6 hxg6 This isn't a problem for black.) 8...e6 9.Be2 Bd6 10.Nxg6 hxg6 11.Qd3 Qc7 12.Ne4 Bf4 13.Nd2 0–0–0 14.g3 Bh6 15.Nf3; 7...h6] 7.Bd3 Not as strong as 7.Ne5 but still strong circa E1.1–Fritz [7.Ne5 The critical refutation. Now white has a substantial advantage (circa E2) -Fritz 7...Qd6 The recommended defence (7...Nd7? 8.Nxg6 fxg6 9.Bd3 Qa5+ 10.Bd2 Qb6 11.Bxg6+ Kd8 ( + - ); 7...Nf6?! 8.Nxg6 fxg6 9.Bc4 e5 10.c3 exd4 11.0–0 b5 12.Bd3 Kf7 13.cxd4 Bb4 14.Qc2 ( + - ); 7...e6?! 8.Nxg6 fxg6 9.Bc4 Nd7 10.0–0 Qc7 11.Qd3 0–0–0 12.Bxe6 g5 13.Re1 ( + - ); 7...Bh7?! 8.Qf3 Nf6 9.Qb3 Nd5 10.c4 Nb6 11.c5 e6 12.cxb6 Qxd4 13.Nc4 ( + - ); 7...Qb6? 8.Nxg6 fxg6 9.Bd3 Kd8 10.Bxg6 ( + - )) 8.Bf4 Qb4+ 9.c3 Qxb2 10.Nxg6 fxg6 11.Bd2 Nd7 12.Bc4 0–0–0 13.Be6 ( + - ) Black's position is horrible whatever he tries after 7.Ne5] 7...Bxd3 8.Qxd3 Nf6 9.Be3 This move strikes me as a bit planless. Bf4 is a better place to put the bishop. Fritz recommends 9.0–0 [9.0–0 e6 10.Bf4 Bd6 11.Be5 Bxe5 12.Nxe5 0–0 13.f4 And black is under tangible presssure but is not losing yet.] 9...Nbd7 Perhaps slightly inferior to the developing move 9..e6, presumably preparing k-side castling. I was of course preparing q-side castling. [9...e6 10.0–0 Bd6 11.c4 Nbd7 12.Rfe1 Qc7 13.a4 0–0 This looks the safest, but instead, Fritz prefers to go in for QSK (13...0–0–0 14.Rab1 Bb4 15.Bd2 Bxd2 16.Qxd2 h5 ...) 14.Ne4 Bb4 15.Re2 Rad8 16.Rd1 In either case, white is better, (due to his lead in development afforded by the pawn move 6...h6)] 10.0–0–0 Fritz drops white's evaluation to just a 1/4 pawn [10.0–0 F(1) (fritz's 1st choice)] 10...Qc7 [10...e6 is better. 11.Bf4 Be7 12.Kb1 0–0 13.Rhe1 Qa5 14.Ne5 And black isn't doing too badly. 14...Rfd8 15.Qe2 Nxe5 16.dxe5 Rxd1+ 17.Rxd1 Nd5 18.Bd2 Qc7] 11.Rhe1 [11.Qb3 e6 12.Ne5 a5 13.f4 a4 14.Qd3 a3 15.b3 Be7 16.Nxd7 Qxd7 17.f5 0–0–0 This is an interesting position where white is slightly better.] 11...0–0–0 [F(1): 11...e6 12.Kb1 0–0–0 13.c4 Bd6 14.Ne4 Nxe4 15.Qxe4 Nf6 16.Qc2 Where white is a little better.] 12.Kb1 [12.Qa3 a6 (12...Kb8? black comes under heavy fire 13.d5 a6 14.dxc6 Rc8 15.Qa4 Qxc6 16.Bf4+ Ka8 17.Qxc6 bxc6 18.Ne4± Black's king cover is broken, his pieces less active and less developed, and his pawns weaker. Quite a list of defects!) 13.c4 e6 14.Qb3²] 12...e6 13.c4 Fritz assesses this position as a very slight plus for white, but about equal, so I have managed well in the opening after my shaky start, (and my opponent's advantage has dropped from a potential E2 to about E0.2) 13...Kb8 14.Re2 According to Fritz, the position is very nearly equal [14.Ne2 Bb4 15.Bf4 Bd6 16.Bxd6 Qxd6 17.Nc3] 14...Bd6 15.Rc2 The first time in the game the evaluation has shifted (but only marginally) into black's favour. [15.Qc3 Rhe8 16.Nd2 Ng4 17.Nde4 Bxg3 18.Nxg3 Ndf6 19.f3 Nxe3 20.Rxe3 e5 approx =] 15...Bf4 Yellow warning light. [A correct move: 15...Rhe8 16.Qb3 Ng4 17.Ne4 Nxe3 18.Qxe3 Bxh2 19.Nxh2 Qxh2 20.g3 Qh5 21.Rd3 Nb6³ White doesn't have full compensation for the pawn.] 16.b4 This apparently doesn't seize an advantage. E(–0.1) [16.Bxf4 The supposed refutation. 16...Qxf4 17.Qa3 g5 18.d5 e.g. 18...c5 19.h3 Nb6 20.Qxc5 Rc8 21.Qb5 exd5 22.c5 Qc7 23.b3 Nbd7² with strong pressure from white.] 16...Bxe3 This certainly isn't a blunder. [16...Bd6 and black is still equal, e.g. 17.Qa3 Ng4] 17.fxe3 Ng4 This is F(1). There are a couple of other playable alternatives according to fritz though. [17...e5 18.Rcd2 Rde8 19.e4 h5 approx =; 17...Rhe8 18.Qc3 h5 19.Rf1 Rh8 approx =] 18.Nf1 [18.e4 h5 19.Nf1 e5 20.Rcd2 Rde8 21.c5 exd4 22.Qc2 Nde5 23.Nxd4 b5 24.cxb6 Qxb6 25.Nf5 Qxb4+ 26.Ka1 Ka8 approx =] 18...Qb6 Playable. [F(1): 18...e5 19.d5 cxd5 20.cxd5 Qd6 21.a3 Rc8 22.Rdc1 Ngf6 23.e4 Rxc2 24.Rxc2 a5 approx =] 19.Rb2 Nde5? This is inaccurate. I probably felt I should do something about my knight on e2, but it is clear that this could be an important defensive piece and I am doing my opponent a favour by trading it with his inactive knights. 20.Qb3 [F(1): 20.Qe2 Ng6 21.c5 Qb5 22.Qc2 Qa6 23.a4] 20...Nxf3 =F(1) [At first fritz suggested the depressing 20...Ng6 e.g. 21.c5 Qa6 22.a4 b5 23.cxb6 Qxb6 24.N1d2 Ka8 25.b5 cxb5 26.axb5± How black wishes the knight was still on e2 for defence!] 21.gxf3 Nf6 It's unavoidable that white now has a lingering advantage, due to his space and pressure on the kingside. Black has a difficult defensive task ahead. 22.Ng3 One gets the feeling that accurate and probably dynamic defence is required of black to hold this position. White has the far easier position to play. [22.c5 Qa6 23.b5 Qxb5 24.Qxb5 cxb5 25.Rxb5 Black's position is unenviable, but he still has good chances of a draw: 25...Kc7 26.Kc2 e5 27.Rdb1 exd4 28.Rxb7+ Kc6 29.Rxf7 dxe3 30.Nxe3 Rhe8 31.Rd1 Rxd1 32.Nxd1 Re2+ 33.Kd3 Rxa2 and white probably doesn't have great winning chances] 22...Rhe8 23.a4 Fritz considers this inaccurate and that white doesn't have much advantage afterwards. 23...Nd7? Very accurate play is no doubt required by black though, and this move is no good. The black defence is cramped and inflexible. [23...Qc7 probably to keep dynamic options on the kingside pawns to fight against the pawn storm 24.a5 e5 The essential counterplay. 25.b5 cxb5 26.Qxb5 exd4 27.Rxd4 Rc8 28.a6 b6 29.e4 g6 30.Rbd2 Re6 Some accuract defence and Fritz assesses the position as equal.] 24.c5 Qc7 25.Ne4 [or 25.b5 Nf6 26.e4 h5 27.bxc6 Qxc6 28.Qb5 Qxb5 29.Rxb5 Kc7 30.Kc2 h4 31.Ne2 e5 32.Rdb1 Rb8± Black's position is difficult.] 25...Nf6 26.Nd6 Black's position now looks lost to the naked eye. 26...Re7 27.e4 [F(1): 27.b5 Ne8 28.Nc4 Nf6 29.e4 g5 30.a5 cxb5 31.Qxb5 Qf4 32.Nd6 Black is stuffed ( + - )] 27...Ne8 28.e5 Red7 [F(1): 28...Ka8 ] 29.b5 Nxd6 [F(1): 29...Ka8 30.Qb4 Nxd6 31.cxd6 Qb6 32.Qc4 Rc8 33.Rc1 Black is doomed nonetheless] 30.exd6 Qc8 31.Qb4 f6 [31...g5 This would give black a little more chance of counterplay 32.Rdd2 Ka8 33.Rg2 Re8 34.Rgc2 but white should certainly win of course] 32.Rd3 Rf7 33.Rdb3 Re8 34.Qd2 A weak move given that it drops the evaluation from about E2.7 to about E1.4 34...e5 I play the critical reply 35.d5 Then my opponent plays the best response 35...cxd5 36.Qxd5 [36.c6 is more accurate 36...d4 37.Rc2 Qe6 38.Qb4 Ka8 39.Qc4 Qxc4 40.Rxc4 Rb8 41.Kb2 a5 42.c7] 36...Qe6 37.Qd2 inaccurate according to fritz 37...Qc4 This tempting move actually accelerate's black's death [37...Rd8 38.Rd3 e4 39.Rd4 e3 40.Qd3 Ka8 Black is still dead though] 38.d7 best 38...Rd8 only 39.Qd6+ best 39...Ka8 only 40.c6 best 40...b6 anything is hopeless now 41.c7??–+ (DIAGRAM) This crude blunder instantly loses the game for the long-time winner [e.g. 41.a5 Qf1+ 42.Ka2 Rfxd7 43.cxd7] 41...Rdxd7 42.Qc6+ Qxc6 43.bxc6 Rxc7 44.a5? White has reasonable reason to fight on for a draw. This seals things though. [44.Rc2 Rf8 45.Rd3 Kb8 46.Kb2 Rfc8 47.Rd6 Re7 48.Kc3 Kc7 49.Rcd2 a6 50.Kc4 e4 51.fxe4 Rxe4+ 52.Kb3 Re7 53.Rd7+ Rxd7 54.Rxd7+ Kxc6 55.Rxg7 Re8 56.Rg6 Re3+ 57.Kc4 b5+ 58.axb5+ axb5+ 59.Kb4 Re4+ 60.Kb3 Kc5 61.Rxh6 Re3+ 62.Kb2 Re6 63.Rh8 Black should probably win, but white may still have some tricks.] 44...Rxc6 45.axb6 Rxb6 46.Rxb6 axb6 47.Rxb6 Rb7 48.Rxb7 Kxb7 49.Kc2 Kc6 50.Kd3 Kd5 0-1
No comments:
Post a Comment