Skype coaching session, 10 August 2014. 

The following game was examined, the game 49 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game. 
White: L. Fressinet, 2708. 
Black: N. Grandelius, 2561. 
Event: 22nd Sigeman & Co. 2014. 
Result: 1-0 in 49 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Canal-Sokolsky Attack, B51. 

1. e4 c5 
2. Nf3 d6 
3. Bb5+ 

| A means of avoiding the sharper Sicilian variations, such as the heavily explored Najdorf and Dragon systems. || 

3. ... Nd7 

| The most challenging reply, black usually ends up with the bishop pair, with white having the option of a Maroczy bind pawn formation with a quick, pawn c4. Instead, 3. ... Bd7, is a less ambitious choice which does nothing to create the imbalance for which the Sicilian is selected. Lastly, 3. ... Nc6, will permit doubled c-pawns, not exactly to the taste of some players. || 

4. d4 cxd4 
5. Qxd4 

| Now that the black b8 knight has committed itself to d7, the white queen will not be exposed by this early central advance. It also annoys those players who were anticipating a fianchetto of their f8 bishop, as the white queen is not easy to dislodge without some central pawn pushing which will block the long dark square diagonal. || 

5. ... a6 

| Putting the question to the bishop, and for once black is not going to receive the popular answer. || 

6. Be2 

| Very little theory on this reply, the most popular choice here is, 6. Bxd7+, when the minor piece imbalance offers opportunities for creative middlegame play on both sides. If a move is not favoured by the Grand Masters it is usually a warning to leave it alone. However, such a natural move can hardly be wrong. Yes, white has lost a tempo with this bishop, but would black voluntarily place the b8 knight on d7 at this point in the game? Time will tell as, 6. Be2, is likely to become a trend and the usual fluctuations occur as the variation evolves and a much more considered judgement of the line becomes available. || 

6. ... Ngf6 
7. O-O e5 

| Taking some control of the centre. Instead, 7. ... e6, intending a Hedgehog formation is less ambitious for black. || 

8. Qe3 Nc5 

| Black places pressure on the white e4 pawn, an idea which will be repeated several times during this game. || 

9. Nc3 Be7 
10. b3 

| The immediate purpose of this move might not be so obvious. || 

10. ... O-O 
11. Ba3 

| White is planning to remove the black c5 knight if permitted. Perhaps this move could have been preceded with, 11. a4, simply restricting any potential black queenside expansion with, pawn b5, and allowing the bishop to remain on the a3 square if desired. || 

11. ... Ne6 

| Black keeps the knight, assessing it will have good prospects against the white e4 pawn later, once the white bishop on a3 is pushed back. || 

12. g3 Qa5 
13. Bb2 Nc5 

| The process of placing pressure on the white e4 pawn starts again, while also vacating the e6 square for the c8 bishop. || 

14. Nd2 

| The knight is relocating so it can place pressure on both of the black central pawns. || 

14. ... Be6 

| Black is planning to break in the centre with, pawn d5, at some point in the future. However, it is necessary to provide satisfactory defence to the e5 pawn first, this will take more than a handful of moves. In the meantime, white is in no hurry to find activity, and almost seems to be happy for black to organise and play for central activity involved with this break. || 

15. a4 

| White is going to clamp down on any potential black queenside pawn expansion, the black b7 pawn is going to be backward. Of course, there is a whole middlegame to be played out before such weaknesses can become targets in the endgame. || 

15. ... Rfe8 
16. Nc4 Qc7 
17. a5 

| The squeeze on the queenside black pawns is now in place. Now it is just a matter of patience, perhaps 25 moves or so, before pressure can be exerted. || 

17. ... Rad8 
18. Rfd1 

| Perhaps this rook might be more useful on the e-file, giving the white e4 pawn some extra support before it becomes necessary. || 

18. ... Qc6 

| A triple attack now hits the white e4 pawn. White has no serious attacking options here and must shuffle defensively, it is up to black to decide if central activity is desirable or to just sit on the position. || 

19. Nd2 

| If, 19. Bf3 Bxc4, inflicting doubled c-pawns on the semi-open c-file. Black would enjoy trying to exploit such weaknesses. || 

19. ... h6 

| Black is still not ready for the break, pawn d5. This takes control of the g5 square, though it is not clear yet why black should need this square covered. || 

20. Bf3 

| White over-protects the e4 pawn, which means any of the 4 defenders now have freedom to move. Before over-protecting this pawn with, Bf3, all 3 defenders would be tied down to defending it. The bishop is also contributing to controlling the d5 square, again making black work hard to organise the break, pawn d5. || 

20. ... Bf8 
21. Nf1 Bg4 

| Threatening to trade bishops which will leave the white e4 pawn with only 2 defenders and therefore lost. || 

22. Bxg4 Nxg4 
23. Qf3 Nf6 
24. Re1 

| White has slowly been losing influence over the d5 square, the removal of the light square bishops, and now this rook must move to the e-file. Black is getting closer and closer to achieving the master-plan. || 

24. ... Ne6 

| A subtle relocation for this knight. Black is not abandoning the pressure on the white e4 pawn, it is just going to occur in a different manner. || 

25. Ra4 

| The first opportunity for white to play an aggressive move. The black knight previously on c5 prevented this manoeuvre. Rook advances up their own semi-open file do not occur often and such opportunities might not easily come to mind. The rook also protects the e4 pawn, 4 defenders again. || 

25. ... Ng5 

| Black now has some kingside pressure and the white queen is being pushed to an unfavourable location. || 

26. Qg2 

| Keeping the black g5 knight from any annoying invasions on the h3 square, and setting up a challenge to the black queen along the long diagonal should the centre become open. || 

26. ... d5 

| At last, perhaps a moral strategic victory for black. Now the real activity begins. || 

27. exd5 Nxd5 
28. Rc4 

| The position is getting tricky, black has opened up the centre when it was not necessary to do so. There might be a chess maxim along the lines of, "A bad plan is better than no plan". This makes some sense when you have an awful position and are struggling to find anything. However, before black relocated the knight on c5 to g5, the position was under control, and now the white pieces have been given some play. The question which needs answering is, was the central break, pawn d5, a good or bad plan? This position has a spectacular tactic, spend some time exploring. || 

28. ... Qf6 

| Missing the amazing, 28. ... Nf4, with at least a draw, which white must probably take. There are 4 candidate moves for white to consider: 
^A^ If, 29. Qxc6, white allows a draw with, 29. ... Ngh3+ 30. Kh1 Nxf2+ 31. Kg1 Nh3+, the black knights restrain the white king and 3-fold repetition will occur. 
^B^ If, 29. gxf4, white loses material with, 29. ... Nf3+ 30. Kh1 Nxe1, both queens are still attacked. So, 31. Rxc6 Nxg2 32. Rc7 Nxf4, and white is an exchange down. 
^C^ If, 29. Rxc6, again white loses material with, 29. ... Nxg2, white has rooks on, e1, and, c6 attacked. So, 30. Kxg2 bxc6, black wins an exchange. 
^D^ Lastly, if, 29. Qh1, a horrendous blunder because, 29. ... Nh3+, with either knight, is mate. 
Instead, 28. ... Qe6 29. h4 Nh7 31. Nxd5, and white can pressure the e5 pawn. || 

29. Nxd5 Nf3+ 

| An interference to the protection of the white d5 knight, black will pick it up next move. || 

30. Kh1 Rxd5 
31. Re3 Rd1 

| Placing an attack on the f1 knight, the white queen can not be involved in both winning the black knight on f3 and protecting the f1 knight. || 

32. Qxf3 

| The most efficient form of liquidation. Instead, 32. Rxf3 Rxf1+ 33. Qxf1 Qxf3+, leaves the black queen with much activity. Removing queens from the game allows the white king to move towards the centre for the coming endgame. || 

32. ... Qxf3+ 
33. Rxf3 Rxf1+ 
34. Kg2 Rb1 

| White is now considerably better, indicating that black's central break of, pawn d5, created a headache for black. Of course, had black found, 28. ... Nf4, then white would have had to settle for a draw. || 

35. Bc3 Rc1 
36. Bd2 Rd1 
37. Rd3 Be7 

| The active black d1 rook is not enough to compensate for the 2 white rooks. If white is allowed to double rooks on the 7th rank then black will be flattened. This bishop is part of a plan to reduce material further in the hope whatever remains will not be sufficient for white to win. || 

38. Kf3 

| The white king advances, the black king sits and watches. || 

38. ... Bg5 
39. Bxg5 Rxd3+ 
40. cxd3 hxg5 
41. Ke4 

| Advancing towards the black queenside. Did anyone mention earlier that the black b7 pawn could be a weakness to be exploited later? || 

41. ... f6 

| Now the advantage of the advanced white a-pawn should soon become apparent. The further up the board a pawn is, the closer it is to promotion when the defending pawns are removed. Ah, but the opposite side of the coin should be mentioned as well. The further up the board is, the closer it is to the enemy forces, and consequently potentially easier to surround and capture. Being able to assess wether advancing a pawn will be a strength or a weakness can only be learned the hard way, either by study or painful practical experience. || 

42. Rc7 Rb8 

| Both the black king and rook are now passive, the white king and rook are very active, all it needs now is one careful calculation to take the full point. || 

43. b4 Kh7 

| Black has a plan to find queenside activity, but must lift the king off the back rank first. The idea is to break with, 43. ... b6, to activate the b8 rook and remove pawns, however with the king on g8 the following would occur, 44. b5, this counter attack will create an advanced passed pawn for white, black has 2 options, both unsatisfactory: 
^A^ 44. ... bxa5 45. bxa6 Rb6 46. a7 Ra6 47. Rc8+, and the a-pawn will cost black a rook. 
^B^ 44. ... axb5 45. a6 Ra8 46. a7, and the black b5 pawn can not advance as, 46. ... b4 47. Ke3 b3 48. Kd2 b2 49. Kc2, the b-pawn is caught. So, after, 46. a7, black can only try, 46. ... Kh7 47. Kd5 Kg6 48. Kc6, and now the b5 pawn has a free run with, 48. ... b4 49. Kb7 b3 50. Rc3 b2 51. Rb3. The b2 pawn is caught and the black rook will have to give itself up either immediately or move sideways and then capture the promoting a-pawn a move later. || 

44. Kd5 b6 

| White now produces the same idea given when the black king was vulnerable to check on the g8 square. || 

45. b5 axb5 

| The ideas given to black's 43rd move still apply here, white will attain a passed pawn on the 7th rank, the black b-pawns can not achieve promotion. || 

46. a6 Rd8+ 

| Black tries one last chance, but white always has it under control. || 

47. Kc6 b4 

| Instead, 47. ... Rxd3 48. Kb7 b4 49. a7 Ra3 50. Rc1, yet again the white rook is back in time to catch the black b-pawn. || 

48. Kb7 b3 
49. Rc3 

| White catches the black b3 pawn. If, 49. ... b2 50. Rb3 Rxd3 51. Rxb2, and black must give up the rook again for the white a-pawn. || 

Black resigns, 1-0 

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## Unannotated game. 

White: L. Fressinet, 2708. 
Black: N. Grandelius, 2561. 
Event: 22nd Sigeman & Co. 2014. 
Result: 1-0 in 49 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Canal-Sokolsky Attack, B51. 

1. e4 c5 
2. Nf3 d6 
3. Bb5+ Nd7 
4. d4 cxd4 
5. Qxd4 a6 
6. Be2 Ngf6 
7. O-O e5 
8. Qe3 Nc5 
9. Nc3 Be7 
10. b3 O-O 
11. Ba3 Ne6 
12. g3 Qa5 
13. Bb2 Nc5 
14. Nd2 Be6 
15. a4 Rfe8 
16. Nc4 Qc7 
17. a5 Rad8 
18. Rfd1 Qc6 
19. Nd2 h6 
20. Bf3 Bf8 
21. Nf1 Bg4 
22. Bxg4 Nxg4 
23. Qf3 Nf6 
24. Re1 Ne6 
25. Ra4 Ng5 
26. Qg2 d5 
27. exd5 Nxd5 
28. Rc4 Qf6 
29. Nxd5 Nf3+ 
30. Kh1 Rxd5 
31. Re3 Rd1 
32. Qxf3 Qxf3+ 
33. Rxf3 Rxf1+ 
34. Kg2 Rb1 
35. Bc3 Rc1 
36. Bd2 Rd1 
37. Rd3 Be7 
38. Kf3 Bg5 
39. Bxg5 Rxd3+ 
40. cxd3 hxg5 
41. Ke4 f6 
42. Rc7 Rb8 
43. b4 Kh7 
44. Kd5 b6 
45. b5 axb5 
46. a6 Rd8+ 
47. Kc6 b4 
48. Kb7 b3 
49. Rc3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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