Skype coaching session, 01 March 2015. 

The following game was examined, 55 moves. 

Paul Benson. 

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White: Smirin, 2625. 
Black: Khenkin, 2610. 
Event: Ischia 1996. 
Result: 1/2-1/2 in 55 moves. 
Opening: Caro-Kann Defence, Botvinnik-Carls Variation, B12. 

| Brief summary. 
Early opening: Black appears to be giving away a tempo by moving the c-pawn twice in order to transpose into a French Defence. There is a significant difference in that white has captured,dxc5, which is known but not particularly common in the French Advanced Variation. 
Mid opening: White chooses to give up the bishop pair. Black is not worried about being a pawn down for a while. 
Late opening: White commits to castling queenside, just where the future of the black king lies is not yet clear. 
Early middlegame: Black attempts a plan to regain the pawn and limit the activity of the white queen. The tactics set in play by black's 18th move need careful calculation, take some time over this position. 
Mid middlegame: Take time over white's 23rd move, perhaps inspiration born out of desperation, or perhaps a clever plan? The ramifications of move 23, and also white's 24th move, to open up the game are difficult to assess. White prefers a material loss to gain activity, instead of a game of material equality with some pawn structure imbalance. Hard work but good fun. 
Late middlegame: White begins to collect pawns for the offered material while the black king tries to find shelter. Black finds a potential mating plan which forces white to give up more material, however black has pawn weaknesses scattered across the board, difficult to keep hold of them all with the white queen so active. White also finds some very useful threats with the passed e-pawn to deflect black. 
Early endgame: White needs to win more pawns before heavy piece reduction takes place, black can always allow a perpetual but wants more from the game. 
Mid Endgame: Black manages to reduce the white activity by removing queens and a rook each. It is now a mass of pawns against a rook, very easy to mishandle. 
Late Endgame:The black king and rook activity is enough to hold the 3 white queenside pawns. There was never enough time for black to attack the white kingside pawns, the white queenside pawns would advance too quickly. A well fought game where each player played their part and perhaps would not feel disappointed at the result. || 

1. e4 c6 
2. d4 d5 
3. e5 c5 
4. dxc5 Nc6 
5. Bb5 e6 
6. Qg4 Qa5+ 
7. Nc3 h5 
8. Bxc6+ bxc6 
9. Qa4 Qc7 
10. Be3 Rb8 
11. O-O-O Nh6 
12. f4 Nf5 
13. Bf2 a5 
14. Nge2 Rb4 
15. Qa3 Qa7 
16. Na4 Ba6 
17. Nd4 Bb5 
18. Nb6 Bxc5 
19. Nc8 Qc7 
20. Nxf5 Bxf2 
21. Ncd6+ Kd7 
22. Nxb5 cxb5 
23. Qf3 Qb6 
24. Kb1 exf5 
25. Qxd5+ Kc7 
26. Qxf7+ Kb8 
27. e6 Bd4 
28. b3 Qc6 
29. Qxf5 Qc3 
30. Rxd4 Rxd4 
31. e7 Rd2 
32. Qxb5+ Kc7 
33. Rc1 Qe3 
34. Qxa5+ Kd7 
35. Qg5 Re8 
36. Qxh5 Rxe7 
37. g3 Qe2 
38. Qa5 Rd1 
39. Rxd1+ Qxd1+ 
40. Kb2 Qd6 
41. Qb5+ Ke6 
42. Qc4+ Qd5 
43. Qc8+ Kf7 
44. Qc3 Re4 
45. a4 Qd4 
46. Qxd4 Rxd4 
47. Kc3 Rd1 
48. Kb4 Ke6 
49. Kc5 Rd5+ 
50. Kb6 Rd2 
51. a5 Kd7 
52. b4 Rxc2 
53. a6 Rc6+ 
54. Kb5 Rc7 
55. Kb6 Rc6+ 
Draw, 1/2-1/2 

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