Skype coaching session, 07 September 2014. 

The following game was examined, the game 33 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game. 

White: Nimzowitsch. 
Black: Capablanca. 
Event: San Sebastian 1911. 
Result: 0-1 in 33 moves. 
Opening: French Defence vs Old Indian Attack, C00. 

| Note: History reports that before a single pawn had been pushed Nimzowitsch voiced an opinion that Capablanca should have not been invited to this event, on the grounds that he had yet to win a Master tournament. All of the strongest players in the world of 1911, with the exception of World Champion Lasker, were present in San Sebastian, Capablanca would be regarded by most as the lowest ranked player. History was about to receive a pleasant jolt. || 

1. e4 e6 
2. d3 d5 
3. Nd2 c5 
4. Ngf3 Nc6 
5. Be2 

| Much more common here is, 5. g3, where the fianchetto bishop should find activity in the middlegame from the safe location of the g2 square. Perhaps the more-experienced white was hoping to catch out the very much lesser-experienced black. || 

5. ... Bd6 
6. O-O Qc7 
7. Re1 Nge7 

| Black has been deliberately holding back the development of this knight. There is nothing wrong with placing it on the f6 square, black has an interesting idea which requires this piece to be on the e7 square. || 

8. c3 O-O 
9. a3 

| Indicating a potential queenside expansion combined with a fianchetto of the c1 bishop. This particular development requires some patience by white, it will be some time before this piece can influence the game. || 

9. ... f5 

| Indicating a willingness to fight. Already the game is taking on the appearance of black playing with the intentions usually demonstrated by players with the first move. || 

10. Bf1 Bd7 
11. exd5 

| Choosing to release the tension in the centre. Instead, 11. b4, leave black guessing if white is intending to trade pawns. || 

11. ... exd5 
12. b4 Rae8 

| Protecting the e7 knight, as white was threatening, 13. b5, deflecting the c6 knight from the defence of e7. || 

13. Bb2 

| Instead, 13. bxc5 Bxc5, would create imbalance in the pawn structure leading to opportunities to play for an advantage in the middlegame. || 

13. ... b6 

| Black can now answer a potential white, bxc5, with the pawn recapture, bxc5, maintaining central pawn symmetry, which allows black to keep the centre closed in the future should white make a central pawn challenge. || 

14. d4 

| White feels the need to do something quickly, otherwise black will just slowly increase the grip on the position. || 

14. ... c4 

| Black takes a space advantage. White must have planned for this. || 

15. Nxc4 

| This might seem on first examination to be an act of desperation, white giving up a piece for 2 pawns. There are however some further tactics to be considered. || 

15. ... dxc4 
16. Bxc4+ Kh8 
17. Ng5 

| White has a variety of ideas here. There is the simple, Nf7+, regaining some material or if black wishes the game could conclude with 3-fold repetition if black declines giving up rook for the knight. White also has the threat of, Nxh7, with the idea, Kxh7, being answered with, Qh5+ mate. Lastly, the invasion, Qh5, is likely to end with white regaining an exchange at some point. However it is black to move, and something must be found which takes into account all these white ideas. || 

17. ... Bxh2+ 

| Is this inexperience showing or is it calm calculation? It all depends on wether white can make use of the semi-open h-file. || 

18. Kh1 Bf4 

| Very good. Black neutralises the dangerous white threats outlined previously. || 

19. Nf7+ 

| Instead, 19. Qh5 Bxg5, removes the most dangerous white attacker, black has a piece for a pawn. Or if, 19. Nxh7 Kxh7 20. Qh5+ Bh6, preventing immediate disaster and while the h6 bishop is pinned, white has no quick means to exploit it, black will regroup and push the white queen back. So white must regain some material leaving a middlegame of piece and pawn imbalances. || 

19. ... Rxf7 

| Black does not flinch. Instead, 19. ... Kg8 20. Nh6+ Kh8 21. Nf7+ Kg8 22. Nh6+, heading for the 3-fold repetition suggested previously. Or if, 19. ... Kg8 20. Nd6+ Kh8 21. Nxe8, white regains the same amount of material. || 

20. Bxf7 Rf8 
21. Bh5 

| The alternative, 21. Ba2, would give white bishops on parallel diagonals pointing into the black kingside. White feels the h1-a8 diagonal is where the future of this piece should be, giving some opportunities to both attack while making some contribution to the defence. || 

21. ... Ng8 

| Black avoids, 21. ... Nd5 22. c4, when the knight must move again, blackwishes to have a choice on what reply to make when white pushes pawn c4. By hiding on g8 this knight also offers the c6 knight a supported retreat square of e7, for when the white queenside pawns really get rolling. || 

22. c4 Qd8 

| The queen is relocating, the kingside beckons. || 

23. Qf3 

| Hhowever uncomfortable a move to play, perhaps, 23. g3, seems the better choice here. || 

23. ... Qh4+ 
24. Qh3 

| Instead if, 24. Kg1 Bb8, white will not find it easy to push the black queen away. White must also be careful of the threat, Nf6, doubly attacking the white h5 bishop which has no safe flight squares. || 

24. ... Qxf2 

| Again, is this pawn-snatching greed, or is it a material-gaining coup? Yet again, the answer depends wether or not white can make good use of the semi-open files. || 

25. Re2 Qg3 
26. Qxg3 Bxg3 

| Now a queenless middlegame has emerged, it is time to take stock. Black is effectively a pawn up, having 2 minor pieces for the rook. Each player has a mobile pawn majority, white can make use of the queenside phalanx without danger to the white king, however black will be creating open lines in front of his king should the kingside pawn majority be pushed forward. Rooks need open lines for maximum effectiveness and there is only one fully open file, and since black controls the e1 square from g3, white can not make good use of the e-file without kicking away the g3 bishop. White needs to open up a second front on the queenside, the a-file would be ideal, so both rooks can be active and so restrain the activity of some of the black pieces. || 

27. c5 

| So, the white queenside activity begins. This advance does however offer black some play with the queenside minor pieces. Instead, 27. d5 Nce7 28. Be5 Bh4 29. g3, would at least permit white to double rooks on the e-file. A different approach could be to open up the queenside with 27. a4 Nxb4 28. a5, or possibly a slower approach with, 27. Bc3, to be followed with, 28. a4. Now the white c-pawn has committed itself black takes full advantage. || 

27. ... Nce7 

| Black creates tandem knights again, and showing why the previous retreat of, Ng8, was chosen instead of trying to find activity for that knight. Some pieces can be given defensive tasks for a while. || 

28. Bf3 Bb5 

| As players of the French Defence can confirm, patience with the light square bishop is a virtue. || 

29. Rc2 

| White is seeking to make the centre pawns a strength. If white can organise the pawn push, d5, then black will be in some trouble. || 

29. ... Nf6 

| Taking control of the all-important d5 square. Now black has 3 active minor pieces while the white rooks have still to find activity. White continues to try for the queenside pawn advances to work, but the black pieces are about to show some excellent coordination. || 

30. a4 Bd3 
31. Rcc1 Ne4 
32. b5 Rf6 

| When black retreated with, 27. ... Nce7, there were 4 pieces on the first 2 ranks. Now in just 5 moves black has 4 active pieces, something must happen. || 

33. Bxe4 

| White follows the advice of removing attacking units when under pressure. Take a little time over deciding how black can respond here. || 

33. ... Bf2 

| There is nothing wrong with, 33. ... fxe4, creating a passed pawn which will be difficult to stop and likely to cost white a rook. In turn white will have advancing passed pawns to carefully consider, though this should only cost black a piece. Having a piece captured does not demand an immediate recapture, exploration of play with the remaining pieces to create a mating threat can sometimes bring great rewards. || 

White resigns, 0-1 

| Attempts to disrupt the black mating pattern all fail. If, 34. Kh2 Rh6+ is mate. Or if, 34. g4 Bxe4+ 35. Kh2 Rh6+ is mate. Lastly if, 34. Bxf5 Nxf5 35. g4 Be4+ 36. Kh2 Rh6+ is mate. None of this would have been possible if white had the defensive resource of, Bc1, available. 

The pattern of a constrained defending king to the edge of the board is called a Greco mate. It can involve other pieces other than rook and bishop. It is the king with reduced mobility which should set the mind running to explore possibilities of a quick checkmate. 

Finally, how did the newcomer to top Master chess cope with the strong opposition? He walked away with first prize with a score of 9.5 / 14 points, not bad for someone not "deserving" of a place in the top echelons. || 

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## Unannotated game. 

White: Nimzowitsch. 
Black: Capablanca. 
Event: San Sebastian 1911. 
Result: 0-1 in 33 moves. 
Opening: French Defence vs Old Indian Attack, C00. 

1. e4 e6 
2. d3 d5 
3. Nd2 c5 
4. Ngf3 Nc6 
5. Be2 Bd6 
6. O-O Qc7 
7. Re1 Nge7 
8. c3 O-O 
9. a3 f5 
10. Bf1 Bd7 
11. exd5 exd5 
12. b4 Rae8 
13. Bb2 b6 
14. d4 c4 
15. Nxc4 dxc4 
16. Bxc4+ Kh8 
17. Ng5 Bxh2+ 
18. Kh1 Bf4 
19. Nf7+ Rxf7 
20. Bxf7 Rf8 
21. Bh5 Ng8 
22. c4 Qd8 
23. Qf3 Qh4+ 
24. Qh3 Qxf2 
25. Re2 Qg3 
26. Qxg3 Bxg3 
27. c5 Nce7 
28. Bf3 Bb5 
29. Rc2 Nf6 
30. a4 Bd3 
31. Rcc1 Ne4 
32. b5 Rf6 
33. Bxe4 Bf2 
White resigns, 0-1 

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