Author: Joe Pechie
Date: 06:31:13 10/09/02
Go up one level in this thread
[Event "ICC 2 120 u"]
[Site "Internet Chess Club"]
[Date "2002.9.28"]
[Round ""]
[White "LarryC"]
[Black "CM9000"]
[Result "0-1"]
[Eco "A04"]
[Annotator ""]
[Source ""]
1.Nf3 c5 2.e3 Nc6 3.c4 Nf6 4.d4 d5 5.cxd5 Nxd5 6.e4 {!} {
Embarking on an aggressive tactical path, considered the computers greatest
strength. A more restrained approach is, 6.dxc5 (Menacing e3-e4 and a
favorable Queen trade.) 6...Qa5+ 7.Nbd2 Qxc5 8.a3, with an advantage to White
due to the exposed Black Queen as White will develop with tempo. Larry likely
chose the text as he saw some favorable tactics in the skirmishes ahead.
Tactical play is also one of his great strengths!}
Nf6 7.d5 Nxe4 {!} {
Essentially forced, Chessmaster grabs a pawn and dares his opponent to show
compensation. If the c6-Knight moves, 7...Nb4? 8.Nc3, would give White a large
advantage as he controls the center.}
8.dxc6 {Continuing with his combinative play. White should not force the ending
by,
8.Qd3 Qa5+ 9.Nbd2 Nxd2 10.Bxd2 Nb4 11.Qb5+ Qxb5 12.Bxb5+ Bd7 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7
14.Bxb4 cxb4 15.Ne5+ Ke8 16.Ke2 Rd8 17.Rfd1 g5! As Black has the superior
chances. Playing in gambit style by, 8.Nc3 Nxc3 9.bxc3 Nb8 10.Bf4, gives White
compensation for the pawn due to his superior development. However, it is
precisely in positions like this that computers play at their best. I also
suspect that Larry thought he was winning with the text.} Qxd1+
9.Kxd1 Nxf2+ 10.Ke1 Nxh1 {
This is the position that Larry had envisioned in his mind's eye when playing
his sixth move. Mentally he had calculated that although he is an Exchange
behind, the h1-Knight is trapped in the corner and would be captured, giving
him a material advantage of two pieces for a Rook. Also, he was attracted to
this position as he could envision the speedy development of his pieces while
creating threats.}
11.cxb7 {??} {
A truly bad move, which gives away a promising initiative, worse still, it
presents the advantage to Chessmaster. White should be developing his pieces
as quickly as possible! A simple line like, 11.Nc3 bxc6 12.Be3 e6 13.Bc4,
intending Ke1-e2 followed by capturing the h1-Knight isn't effective. Black
will have three pawns and Rook for two minor pieces. White should not be so
care free with his advanced c6-pawn!^013^010
}
{Natural and best was, 11.Bb5! b6 (11...Kd8?! 12.Bf4! e6 13.Nc3 Ke7 14.Rd1, is
White's ideal as he is developing his pieces with tempo and introducing
threats.) 12.c7+ Bd7 12.Nc3 e6 (12...a6 13.Bxd7+ Kxd7 14.Bf4 causes Black
problems.) 13.Bf4, is the proper straightforward approach to the position.
White's pieces are shifting to menacing positions and the c7-pawn is a
potential game-winning hero. Simultaneously, White has the fail-safe solution
of merely picking up the h1-Knight to restore material equality while keeping a
lead in development.}
{Viewed in another light, the text develops Black's c8-Bishop, trades away the
advanced c6-pawn and gives Black the outside potential of defending his
h1-Knight, thanks to the b7-Bishop! So if this move is so bad, why did Larry
play it? I suspect he missed the sterling defensive shots coming up.}
Bxb7 12.Bb5+ Kd8 13.Ne5 Rg8 {!} {
A simple but effective way of sidestepping the f7-fork. It is an entirely
human emotion when facing a devastating fork to first move the King out of the
way. A human player is likely to err by playing 13...Kc7? 14.Bf4 Kb6 15.Nc3 a6
14.Nd7+ Ka7 15.Be3, when Black has walked his King into the line of fire. The
text lures the e5-Knight to chomp on the f7-bait, thereby reducing the threats
to the Black King.}
14.Nxf7+ Kc7 15.Kf1 g5 {!!} {
An outstanding defensive move! Up to this moment, Larry was likely optimistic
about his position. It is clear that as soon as he clears his back rank by
Nb1-c3 and Bc1-f4+, with tempo, he would possess all of the trumps. However,
this cold-blooded move, forces a different assessment. Black covers the
f4-square, preventing the c1-Bishop from developing with tempo. It also opens
the way for quick development by ...Bf8-g7 and ...Ra8-f8, rescuing the trapped
h1-Knight. If Chessmaster can keep his h1-Knight the game will be won, as Black
would have a decisive material advantage.}
16.Kg1 Bg7 17.Nc3 Raf8 18.Bc4 {
So far, things are still looking reasonable for White. Once the h1-Knight is
captured, White can settle down to completing his development and target the c5
and g5-pawns. The next move is a nasty surprise} Nf2 {!!} {
The Knight sacrifices itself most dearly. White's King is forced onto the open
f-file where Black can trade a Rook for two pieces. After this operation, Black
will be a pawn to the good.}
19.Kxf2 Rxf7+ {!} 20.Bxf7 Rf8 21.Be3 {
Unfortunately, White can't grab the g5-pawn as, 21.Bxg5? Rxf7+ 22.Kg3 Be5+
23.Kh3 Rg7, would cost White the g2-pawn, giving Black's pieces a significant
advantage over the game continuation.}
Rxf7+ 22.Kg1 Rf5 23.Rc1 {?} {
Losing an important tempo over the game. The immediate, 23.Rf1 Re5 24.Rf7, was
best as Black is now able to reposition his b7-Bishop to a better square. In
any case, after the firestorm of tactical complications, Black has won a pawn
and has good prospects of winning the game.}
Bc6 {!} 24.Rf1 Re5 25.Rf7 Rxe3 26.Rxg7 h6 27.Kf2 {White has no time to go pawn
hunting as, 27.Rg6? Rd3 28.Rxh6 Rd2, works well for Black.}
Re6 {!} {Now that Black has secured an extra pawn, the game turns to the
technical side
of chess. Is the extra pawn enough to win? Usually, it is sufficient. In
this position, White has some hope as Black's structure is in tatters with pawn
islands strewn about. If White can find a proper dark-squared blockade, he
might be able to hold.}
28.g3 Kd7 29.Rg8 Rf6+ 30.Ke2 {?!} {
A provocative move as Larry tries to lure the g5-pawn forward. Unfortunately,
the position is judged by piece play and not by subtle pawn positioning. Best
was 30.Ke3, awaiting developments. If then, 30...Ke6?! 31.Rc8 Kf7 32.Rc7,
White has successfully repositioned his Rook to a more active square.}
g4 {!} {Normally, Black would not want to put his pawns on a light square. But
this
advance allows for the possibility of ...Rf6-f5-h5, winning the h2-pawn.
Suddenly, Black has introduced a dangerous and game-winning threat!}
31.Ke3 {Larry cannot grab the g4-pawn as, 31.Rxg4?? Bf3+, wins a Rook. This
tactic will be a part of the game for moves to come.}
Rf3+ {!} {Driving White's King backwards to a more vulnerable square.}
32.Ke2 Rf5 33.Ke3 Rh5 34.Rxg4 Rxh2 35.b3 Rh5 {!} {
After successfully trading a pair of pawns, Chessmaster returns the Rook to the
fifth rank and menaces ...Rh5-g5, trading Rook's. Now, White's g3-pawn is
vulnerable to attack. Black's winning chances have increased significantly,
since this ending first arose.}
36.Rc4 Re5+ 37.Kd2 h5 {!} {
Keeping the g3-pawn tied to its vulnerable square. If White is able to trade
his g3-pawn for the h5-pawn, White would likely secure a draw, as in that case,
with all the pawns on one side of the board, the Knight is an excellent minor
piece. With the Kingside pawns still on, it is Black's Bishop that shines as
its powers keep a watchful eye on the Knight, while pressing on the Kingside as
well.}
38.Rh4 {Hoping to play g3-g4, forcing the trade of pawns. The Bishop shows its
marvelous mobility after, 38.g4? h4! 39.g5 h3! 40.Rh4 Bg2!, when the h3-pawn
will win the game.}
Rg5 {!} 39.Ne2 Kd6 {!} {
Now that White's pieces are pressed into defensive service, Black's King takes
a more active position. Chessmaster is closing in on a won position.}
40.Ke3 a6 41.Kf2 Rf5+ {!} {
Dealing with the threat of Ne2-f4 by tactical means. Less strong was, 41...e5,
reducing the maneuverability of Black's Rook and King.} 42.Ke3
Rf3+ 43.Kd2 Be8 44.g4 hxg4 {?} {
Blundering away the g3-pawn and with it the game. White had to play, 44.Rf4
Rxf4 45.Nxf4, a minor piece ending that he might lose, but had to try.}
45.Nc3 {The intended recapture, 45.Rxg4 Rf2 46.Rh4 (46.Ke3 Rxe2+ 47.Kxe2 Bh5
wins.) Bb5 wins.}
Rf4 46.Ke3 Ke5 47.Rh7 Rf3+ 48.Kd2 Rd3+ {!} 49.Kxd3 {Acquiescing to the trade of
Rooks. After, 49.Kc2 Rd7 50.Rg7 Kf5, Black will play ...Be8-g6 and advance the
g-pawn.}
Bg6+ 50.Ke3 Bxh7 51.Na4 Bb1 52.Nxc5 Bxa2 53.Nxa6 Bxb3 54.Nb4
Kf5 55.Kf2 e5 {With two pawns to the good, Chessmaster now scores an easy win.}
56.Nd3 Bc4 57.Ne1 Ke4 58.Kg3 Be6 59.Kf2 Bd7 60.Ng2 Kd3 61.Kg3
Kd2 {White resigns} 0-1
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