00044.6.08
Analyzed by Candidate Master Daniel Waite
1. Nf3
d5 2. d4
e6 3. c4
c64. Nc3
Nf6
5. e3 Bb4 6. Bd2
0-0 7. a3
Bxc3 8.
Bxc3 Ne4 9.
Rc1 Nxc3 10. Rxc3 Nd7
(I am
going to assume that you are familiar with the
Opening
you are playing. It is interesting that
it
has
taken so many twists. That is why I
think that 1.
d4
openings are so fun! At this point it
begins to
look
like Black does not know how to transition into a
playable
middle game. The QB is going to be a
liability. A "bad" Bishop. Black should have played
10…b6. Missing this idea insures that from here out
the
Black position will deteriorate.]
11.
Bd3 Nf6 12. 0-0 Bd7 13.
Ne5
[With
the "Bad" QB at d7 the e5 square is as secure as
it can
be in a chess game. Consider the
stronger idea
of 13.
Qc2 and building pressure along the c - file.
By
missing this, you almost allow Black into the game.
Some fancy footwork on the Kingside rescues
the game
from
oblivion. Black's passive play also
helps. On
13…Qc7,
13…Qe7, and 13…Rc8, the idea is to play Rc1
and b4
with an eye on playing e4 / c5. This
position
is
theoretically won for White. However
turning
theory
into a solid point is a different matter.]
13…Qc7 14. Qf3
Qb6
[Black
is passively straying from anything that
resembles
an idea. Time to tighten down the
thumbscrews!]
15. Rc2
a5
[Once
again Black chooses a passive move.
Personally
I think
that 15…c5 is black's last chance at gaining
an
active game at the cost of a pawn. The
fun part of
this
idea is that Black should gain a passed but
isolated
d - pawn. With the Queen's on the board
it
looks
awfully drawish. But before we awfulize
Black's
play,
remember that this is probably a matter of
personality. Personally, I'd rather fight in the open
than
get trapped like a rat in a corner.
Black does
not
give White anything to think about.
However, that
is a
strategy that almost works. It is hard
to stay
focused
when the opponent wonders aimlessly.
The test
is to
know when the opponent is "baiting" or
"shoulding." ("Oops, I SHOULD have done that, no
wait
maybe I
SHOULD do this…") You learn the
difference by
reading
the board, not by believing your opponent.]
16.
Rd1 a4 17. Qh3 Rfd8 18. Qh4
[Nice. This is a move worthy of a Master.]
18… Qc7
19. f3 h6 20. c5 Rdb8 21. Rdc1
b6
[Finally,
your opponent's lack of focus has become
your
problem. This move slyly turns the game
around
almost
instantly begins to give Black possibilities.]
22. cxb6
Rxb6 23. Qe1 Qb7
24. e4
[Ouch. O.K. you have the idea of what you want to
do
down. However there are certain concrete
consideration
that need to be checked. In this
instance
24…Rxb2 should give Black counter chances and
hope
that liquidation will bring peace. 25.
Nxd7 Rxd7
26.
Rxc6 dxe4.]
24…Be8
[A vary
Karpovian idea! I like it. The position
feels
dead even at this point.]
25.
exd5 exd5
[Interesting
choice. This position is worthy of
further
consideration and debate. I think that
Black
capture
with the "wrong" pawn.
Consideration: the
"backward"
(read weak and undefendable c - pawn), the
shattered
pawn structure, the give away of the e -
file. On the other hand Black does free the
entombed
Bishop
- it's still "bad" but it is free.
However
this is
an ugly choice for Black to make. The
other
way
would surrender the c - file and lose control of
c7
after Qa5! Which is worse? "Wisdom is proved
right
by her children."]
26.
Qe3 Rb8
[An
interesting confusion of the position can occur
after
26. Rxb2. At this point Black has no
play,
having
drifted back to passive wondering.
After the
trades,
Black has the R,B, + P - vs - Q. Did I
mention
the Bishop was "bad?"]
27. h3
Qc7 28. Re1 Bd7
[For
those who are wondering, the move 28…Bxb2 looses
to 29.
Rxb2 Rxb2 30. Ng4!]
29.
Qf2 Rb3 30. g4 Qb7 31.
Ree2 Be6 32.
Qe3 Bd7
33. Qd2 Qc7 34. g5
[Just
when Black thought he was safe…. Black blasts
the
Kingside open. Now the missing e pawn
will be
fatal.]
34…hxg5 35. Qxg5
R3b6 36. Rg2
[You
give Black the wages of playing a passive game!
Kudos. From this point on Black can only prolong
the
agony.]
36…Ne8 37. Bh7+
[Also
to be considered is the move 37. Qh6. I
try to
teach
my students to play the most forcing move.
Generally
this will be a check. You have chosen
wisely.]
37…Kf8 38. Qf4
Ke7 39. Qxf7+ Kd8 40. Rge2
Qd6 41. Bf5
[Nice,
you carefully avoid trades an build pressure.
At the
same time you are doing a bit of "baiting"
yourself. 41…Bxf5 42. Nxc6+ Qxc6 43.Rxe8+ Qxe8
44.Qc7++. I enjoy a good set up. This is the second
time
the Bishop has offered itself up to martyrdom!]
Nf6 42. Nxd7
Nxd7 43. Re8+ Kc7 44. Bxd7
Rxe8
45. Bxe8+
Kd8 46. Kg2
[Possibly
stronger is 46.Qxg7. It defends against
the
check
and sets up the Q/R mate on the back rank.
If
46…Qe7,
White enters the end game with the
overwhelming
odds of plus B and 4 pawns. If 46…Kxe8
47.
Re2+ Qe5, it's mate in three. If 47…Kd8
48. Qg8+
Kc7
50.Qf7+ and White invest the Rook for Black's
leading
lady. Here is personality at work. I prefer
to go
into crushing endgames when I get the chance.
Remember
"Chess 101." First, gain a
winning
advantage. Next, trade into oblivion. Always,
squelch
counter play. The quickest and surest
way to
do this
is to nail the opponent down to a hopeless end
game. The rest of the game is mopping up.]
46…g5 47. Qg8
Kc7 48. Qxg5 Kb7 49. Qg4
Kb8 50. Qg3
Qxg3+ 51. Kxg3 Rb3 52.
Bxc6 Rd3
53.
Bxd5 Rxd4 54. Bc6 Ka7 55. h4 Kb6
56.
h5 Ka5
57. f4 Rd3+ 58. Kg4 Rd8
59. Rc4
Rd2
60. Rb4 Rc2 61. Bxa4 Rg2+
62. Kf5 Rh2
63. Kg6
Re2 64. h6 Rg2+ 65. Kh7
Rf2 66.
Be8 Re2 67. Bg6 Rd2 68. Kg7
Rd7+ 69. Bf7
Rd8 70. Re4 Rd2 71. Re5+ Kb6
72. Re6+ Kc7
73.
h7 Rh2 74. Rh6 Rg2+ 75. Kf8
Rxb2 76.
h8=Q Rb8+
77. Be8 Rb5 78. Qg7+
Kb8 79. Bxb5
Kc8
80. Ba6+ Kd8 81.Rd6++
[Suggestion
for improvement: Tighten up the
positional
aspect of your game. You seem to have
tactics
down but you also seem to drift when nothing
tactical
is available.]