Skype coaching session, 08 March 2015. 

The following game was examined, the game 41 moves) is given with brief notes and then again without notes. 

Paul Benson. 

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## Game with brief notes. 

White: Bellon Lopez, 2440. 
Black: A. J. Walton, 2190. 
Event: Gibraltar 2008. 
Result: 1-0 in 41 moves. 
Opening: English Opening, Porcupine Variation, A10. 

1. c4 f5 
2. Nc3 Nf6 
3. e4 fxe4 

| Early opening: White temporarily offers a pawn to divert black from whatever standard defensive pattern was planned, the opening is being dictated by white now. The pawn can eventually be regained with a simple plan, unless white wishes to make a true gambit opening by challenging with, pawn d3, at some point. Such a sacrifice will give good activity for a pawn but tactical awareness will be needed to make the best of the position. || 

4. g4 g6 
5. Bg2 Bg7 
6. g5 Nh5 
7. Nxe4 Nf4 
8. Bf1 d5 
9. cxd5 Qxd5 
10. d3 O-O 

| Mid Opening: Black has gained a lead in development but can not coordinate against any white weak points. || 

11. Bxf4 Rxf4 
12. Ne2 Qa5+ 
13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 

| Late opening: White begins to catch up in development. Black chooses to play for a queen trade when keeping queens on the board would have led to a much more tactical middlegame. || 

14. Kxd2 Rf8 
15. Bg2 c6 

| Early middlegame: White plays, Bg2, for the 2nd time, creating some threats down the long light square diagonal. || 

16. Kc2 Na6 
17. a3 Nc7 
18. Rae1 Nd5 
19. Rhf1 Be5 
20. N4c3 Nxc3 
21. Nxc3 Bxh2 

| Mid middlegame: The e-file becomes fully open, black prepares for piece exchanges to aim for the endgame. || 

22. Rxe7 Bd6 
23. Ree1 Bf5 
24. f4 Rad8 
25. Ne4 Bxe4 
26. Rxe4 Rde8 

| Late middlegame: Black reduces material to a rook and opposite colour bishops each. White has a kingside space advantage but the pawns are targets on the dark squares. The white king has better activity than the black king. Are these factors enough for a win? || 

27. Rxe8 Rxe8 
28. Kd2 Rf8 
29. Ke3 Rf5 
30. Bh3 Rb5 

| Early endgame: Black chooses to find activity for the rook. The alternative of staying on the defensive with the rook, keeping pressure on the vulnerable white f4 pawn was also worthy of consideration. Sometimes attack is the best form of defence, but sometimes defence is the best form of defence. || 

31. Be6+ Kg7 
32. Rf2 h6 
33. d4 c5 
34. gxh6+ Kxh6 
35. d5 

| Mid endgame: The white bishop becomes entrenched in the black position, supported by the potentially threatening passed d-pawn, the black queenside activity is only preventing the white rook from becoming active. The white king is edging up the board. The opposite bishops favour white who is attacking, effectively a piece up. The black bishop will only be a defender. The presence of rooks makes a drastic difference, without which the game would be easily drawn by black. || 

35. ... Kg7 
36. Ke4 Kf6 
37. Rh2 Rb3 
38. Rh7 g5 
39. Rf7+ Kg6 
40. f5+ Kh6 

| Late endgame: The black kingside has opened up, the white rook invades and mating patterns begin to emerge. Black must lose the g-pawn, the white king or f-pawn can enter, the black position has collapsed. This win did not happen by force, white simply tried to accumulate small positional gains, making the game difficult for black, and only needed to be alert to punishing inaccurate moves. || 

41. Rf6+ 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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## Game without notes. 

White: Bellon Lopez, 2440. 
Black: A. J. Walton, 2190. 
Event: Gibraltar 2008. 
Result: 1-0 in 41 moves. 
Opening: English Opening, Porcupine Variation, A10. 

1. c4 f5 
2. Nc3 Nf6 
3. e4 fxe4 
4. g4 g6 
5. Bg2 Bg7 
6. g5 Nh5 
7. Nxe4 Nf4 
8. Bf1 d5 
9. cxd5 Qxd5 
10. d3 O-O 
11. Bxf4 Rxf4 
12. Ne2 Qa5+ 
13. Qd2 Qxd2+ 
14. Kxd2 Rf8 
15. Bg2 c6 
16. Kc2 Na6 
17. a3 Nc7 
18. Rae1 Nd5 
19. Rhf1 Be5 
20. N4c3 Nxc3 
21. Nxc3 Bxh2 
22. Rxe7 Bd6 
23. Ree1 Bf5 
24. f4 Rad8 
25. Ne4 Bxe4 
26. Rxe4 Rde8 
27. Rxe8 Rxe8 
28. Kd2 Rf8 
29. Ke3 Rf5 
30. Bh3 Rb5 
31. Be6+ Kg7 
32. Rf2 h6 
33. d4 c5 
34. gxh6+ Kxh6 
35. d5 Kg7 
36. Ke4 Kf6 
37. Rh2 Rb3 
38. Rh7 g5 
39. Rf7+ Kg6 
40. f5+ Kh6 
41. Rf6+ 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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