Skype coaching sessions, concluded 26 April, started 12 April 2015. 

The following games were examined, the games 79 moves and 23 moves are given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Game 1 was split into 2 parts. Up to move 49 is recorded on the 12 April session and concluded on the recording of the 26 April session. 

Paul Benson. 

* * * 

Annotated game 1. 

| Game started 12 April and concluded 26 April 2015. || 

White: Cramling, 2495. 
Black: Pogonina, 2456. 
Event: FIDE Womens World Championship 2015. 
Result: 1-0 in 79 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Variation, D56. 

| The opening and middlegame offer little exciting, the real fun begins about move 30 when a single rook ending arises. Comments up to that point will be brief. || 

1. Nf3 d5 
2. d4 Nf6 
3. c4 e6 
4. Nc3 Be7 
5. Bg5 

| If you play this bishop out here then be prepared for a tension-eliminating idea from black which exchanges 2 pairs of minor pieces. || 

5. ... h6 
6. Bh4 O-O 
7. e3 Ne4 

| The advance which leads to 2 pairs of minor pieces being exchanged. If white wishes for the tension to be kept for longer, then develop the c1 bishop on b2. || 

8. Bxe7 Qxe7 
9. Rc1 c6 
10. Qc2 Nd7 

| Surely white can snatch a pawn here? No. If, 11. Nxe4 dxe4 12. Qxe4 Qb4+, followed with, Qxb2, and the white position is disrupted for no material gain. || 

11. Be2 Nxc3 
12. Qxc3 dxc4 
13. Qxc4 e5 
14. O-O e4 

| A committal move. This pawn will restrict white to some extent, but it is also a potential target. || 

15. Nd2 Nf6 
16. Qc5 Qxc5 
17. Rxc5 Be6 
18. Ra5 

| Designed to force black to advance the a-pawn, when the b6 square becomes a potential entry square for a knight. || 

18. ... Rfd8 
19. Bc4 Bxc4 

| Move 19 and the wood-chopping has reduced the game to a pair of rooks and a knight each. || 

20. Nxc4 a6 
21. Nb6 Rab8 
22. Rc1 Kf8 

| The white pieces are more active but have no weaknesses to attack. So, use the queenside pawns to attempt to create a weakness. Sometimes chess can be this simple. || 

23. b4 Rd6 
24. Re5 Re8 
25. Rec5 Red8 
26. a4 Re6 

| Black can only wait and prepare as best as possible for when white decides to open up the queenside. || 

27. h3 Ke8 
28. g4 

| White begins play on another front, this indicates the black queenside weaknesses are not going to be sufficient. || 

28. ... Nd5 

| Black offers the choice for white to enter a single rook ending where all the winning chances are for white, however difficult the task might appear. || 

29. Nxd5 Rxd5 
30. Rxd5 cxd5 
31. Rc5 Rd6 

| All white has is an active rook which ties black down to defending the d5 pawn. White does however have options of play on both wings. Black is going to be forced to defend for a very long time, not exactly misery, but hardly enjoyable either. || 

32. a5 Kd7 
33. b5 axb5 
34. Rxb5 

| Now there are 2 weaknesses in the black position, the b7 and d5 pawns. These are easy to defend, but while the black rook and king are being tied up by the white rook, the white king has options to advance into the position. In essence, white is a king up. || 

34. ... Kc6 
35. Rc5+ Kd7 
36. Kg2 g5 

| An unpleasant move to have to play, but the white king could not be allowed to advance to the f4 square. Now black has another weakness, the backward h6 pawn. It is all very good pointing out these weaknesses, it is a very different matter to exploit them. Sit back and watch a Grand Master at work, though it might take some time to show. || 

37. Kg3 Kd8 
38. f3 

| The centre must be opened up. This will permit the white king activity, remember that as far as this position is concerned, white is a king up. However, soon the black rook will no longer be forced to defend the d5 pawn, and will also be allowed activity. || 

38. ... exf3 
39. Kxf3 Kd7 
40. Kg3 Kd8 

| The time control is reached, now white must plan how to get into the black position. White chooses to send the king on a walk while considering the correct pawn locations for when the centre is broken up with the necessary, pawn e4,push. This keeps the move count mounting while the clock is ticking. So, the white king goes walkabout to fill the score sheet for the time spent on deciding the correct strategy. || 

41. Kf2 Kd7 
42. Ke2 Kd8 

| Compare the flexibility of both kings. White can wander wherever is legal, the black king is tied down to preventing the white rook invading up the c-file. || 

43. Kd2 Kd7 
44. Kd3 Kd8 
45. Ke2 Kd7 
46. Kf1 Kd8 
47. Kg2 Kd7 
48. Kg3 Kd8 

| What has white been thinking about while the king has drifted around the e3 pawn? It is an important strategic factor needed on the kingside. Take some time deciding if the h3 pawn should remain where it is, or should be pushed. The outcome of the game depends on getting this right. || 

Position at end of 12 April 2015 session. 
White: Kg3, Rc5, Pa5, Pd4, Pe3, Pg4, Ph3. 
Black: Kd8, Rd6, Pb7, Pd5, Pf7, Pg5, Ph6. 

49. h4 

| The h-pawn can not remain on the h3 square. When the centre is eventually opened up it must not be backward and a potential target for the released black rook. || 

49. ... Kd7 

| Black must not capture, 49. ... gxh4+. The white king will re-capture and then enter the centre from the f4 square after which black is coming close to zugzwang. Again, take some time here to decide what white should do with the kingside, only the correct plan will succeed. || 

50. h5 

| The most important move of the game. Stop and think why this is so. Remember, white has decided the h-pawn must not be backward when the black rook is set free. Ah, but surely this kingside pawn structure means the g-pawn is now backward, and similarly a target? Yes, it is. So, what is the advantage of having the h-pawn on the h5 square? It is all to do with the black h6 pawn. White plans capturing it, and when this occurs the h5 pawn will be protected and passed, ready to run for promotion when conditions permit. Just a little more king walkabout to put more moves on the score sheet. || 

50. ... Kd8 
51. Kf3 Kd7 
52. Ke2 Kd8 
53. Kd3 Kd7 

| White now must put one last improvement into the position to tie black down a little more, take time to think what it could be. || 

54. Rb5 

| Not specifically attacking the b7 pawn, instead planning an advance to the b6 square when appropriate. || 

54. ... Kc7 
55. e4 dxe4+ 
56. Kxe4 Rf6 

| White plans, pawn d5, which will then allow, Kf5. Black chooses activity over passive defence, the threat, Rf4+, must not be allowed. || 

57. Rf5 

| Forcing the black rook off the f-file, after which the black f7 pawn will be a new weakness. || 

57. ... Re6+ 

| Trading rooks would permit the white king to infiltrate. At the right point white will advance and give up the d-pawn, the black f7 pawn will fall, the black king will run for the white a-pawn, the white king will capture the h6 pawn, then it is a matter of who promotes their passed pawn first. It would be white by several tempi, so rooks must be retained. || 

58. Kd5 Rd6+ 
59. Kc4 f6 

| An important concession. On the f7 square this pawn prevented the white king from stepping onto the g6 square, assuming the black rook has vacated the black 3rd rank. Now the g6 square is unguarded, so the white king has a light square entry route to capture the black h6 pawn, and then that advanced white h5 pawn will become a serious threat. || 

60. Rb5 Re6 

| Threatening to get after the white backward g4 pawn, and then hope to make some advances with the g5 pawn. The active white rook on b5 is still restraining the activity of the black king, black is still effectively a king down. || 

61. Kd5 Re3 
62. Rb6 Rf3 

| Black must not lose both the f6 and h6 pawns without a fight. || 

63. Ke6 Rf4 
64. d5 

| Now the white d-pawn is becoming a threat. The idea is to put this pawn on the d7 square, capture the black b-pawn, then an 8th rank check to support promotion on d8. Black can not allow this, but how can it be stopped? || 

64. ... Re4+ 

| To disrupt the above plan, but it only gives the white king access to the black kingside. Black is defending a king down due to the white rook. || 

65. Kxf6 Rxg4 
66. d6+ Kc8 
67. Kg6 Rg1 

| If, 67. ... Rh4 68. Kxh6 g4 69. Kg5, attacks the black rook and g-pawn, the rook must move and the g-pawn is lost. So, the black rook must instead draw the g-pawn toward itself and try to find a way to vacate g1 to allow promotion. This plan will not succeed, but it will however serve as a distraction. || 

68. Kxh6 g4 
69. Kg7 

| The h-pawn is ready to advance, though there is some manoeuvring to halt the black g-pawn to be played through first. || 

69. ... g3 
70. h6 Rh1 

| Black is now threatening to advance the g-pawn to promotion. Clearly, 71. h7 g2 72. h8=Q+ Rxh8 73. Kxh8 g1=Q, is not desirable for white. White must be accurate here, take some time. || 

71. Rb2 Rh4 

| Instead, 71. ... Rh2 72. Rb1 g2 73. Rg1, the black g-pawn is stopped but the white h-pawn is not. The black rook on h4 is seeking a perpetual check from the white 4th rank. Will this plan work for black? || 

72. h7 Rg4+ 
73. Kf6 

| The white king has advanced to assist promotion of the h-pawn. The black rook is preventing this with checks down the files. To stop this the white king must shuffle towards the rook without losing the h-pawn. || 

73. ... Rh4 
74. Kg6 Kd7 

| The black rook and g-pawn can not make further progress, so the black king might as well join in. || 

75. Rxb7+ Kxd6 
76. Rb1 

| There is no hurry to promote the h-pawn. Recognising the time to defend while attacking is important. Just one careless move can throw away hours of hard work. The black king will not influence matters, and white also now has a passed a-pawn to stretch the black defences. || 

76. ... Ke5 
77. a6 g2 
78. Rg1 Rg4+ 
79. Kh5 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| The black rook has failed to prevent the h-pawn from promotion, it did not have enough ranks to mount a perpetual check on the white king. If, 79. ... Rg3 80. Kh4, and nothing sensible can stop, 81. h8=Q. || 

* * * 

## Unannotated game 1. 
| Game started 12 April and concluded 26 April 2015. || 

White: Cramling, 2495. 
Black: Pogonina, 2456. 
Event: FIDE Womens World Championship 2015. 
Result: 1-0 in 79 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined, Lasker Variation, D56. 

1. Nf3 d5 
2. d4 Nf6 
3. c4 e6 
4. Nc3 Be7 
5. Bg5 h6 
6. Bh4 O-O 
7. e3 Ne4 
8. Bxe7 Qxe7 
9. Rc1 c6 
10. Qc2 Nd7 
11. Be2 Nxc3 
12. Qxc3 dxc4 
13. Qxc4 e5 
14. O-O e4 
15. Nd2 Nf6 
16. Qc5 Qxc5 
17. Rxc5 Be6 
18. Ra5 Rfd8 
19. Bc4 Bxc4 
20. Nxc4 a6 
21. Nb6 Rab8 
22. Rc1 Kf8 
23. b4 Rd6 
24. Re5 Re8 
25. Rec5 Red8 
26. a4 Re6 
27. h3 Ke8 
28. g4 Nd5 
29. Nxd5 Rxd5 
30. Rxd5 cxd5 
31. Rc5 Rd6 
32. a5 Kd7 
33. b5 axb5 
34. Rxb5 Kc6 
35. Rc5+ Kd7 
36. Kg2 g5 
37. Kg3 Kd8 
38. f3 exf3 
39. Kxf3 Kd7 
40. Kg3 Kd8 
41. Kf2 Kd7 
42. Ke2 Kd8 
43. Kd2 Kd7 
44. Kd3 Kd8 
45. Ke2 Kd7 
46. Kf1 Kd8 
47. Kg2 Kd7 
48. Kg3 Kd8 
49. h4 Kd7 
50. h5 Kd8 
51. Kf3 Kd7 
52. Ke2 Kd8 
53. Kd3 Kd7 
54. Rb5 Kc7 
55. e4 dxe4+ 
56. Kxe4 Rf6 
57. Rf5 Re6+ 
58. Kd5 Rd6+ 
59. Kc4 f6 
60. Rb5 Re6 
61. Kd5 Re3 
62. Rb6 Rf3 
63. Ke6 Rf4 
64. d5 Re4+ 
65. Kxf6 Rxg4 
66. d6+ Kc8 
67. Kg6 Rg1 
68. Kxh6 g4 
69. Kg7 g3 
70. h6 Rh1 
71. Rb2 Rh4 
72. h7 Rg4+ 
73. Kf6 Rh4 
74. Kg6 Kd7 
75. Rxb7+ Kxd6 
76. Rb1 Ke5 
77. a6 g2 
78. Rg1 Rg4+ 
79. Kh5 
Black resigns, 1-0 

* * * 

## Annotated game 2. 

White: Baburin, 2590. 
Black: Crouch, 2425. 
Event: 4NCL 2000. 
Result: 0-1 in 23 moves. 
Opening: Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation, E32. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 e6 
3. Nc3 Bb4 

| A solid choice which offers opportunities for a tactical fight depending on how white chooses to play. || 

4. Qc2 

| To avoid doubled pawns on the c-file should black capture on c3. Strangely, some white players invite such doubling of pawns. This means both strategies are considered acceptable, it is all a matter of what suits your style of play. || 

4. O-O 
5. a3 Bxc3+ 

| Some players choose to retreat with, 5. ... Be7, here. This apparent loss of tempo has some reasoning. In taking 2 moves to end up on e7 the white queen has been drawn onto the c-file, perhaps an undesirable location as the middlegame begins, especially if black plays a rook to the c-file. || 

6. Qxc3 b6 

| This bishop will find good play down the long light-square diagonal, white has a couple of methods to try to counter this. || 

7. Bg5 

| Developing the bishop before blocking the way out with, pawn e3. Such bishops developed outside a pawn chain can however often become targets or simply chased until exchanged off. || 

7. ... Bb7 
8. e3 d6 

| A triple purpose move. It frees the d7 square for the b8 knight and supports advances of either the c-pawn or the e-pawn, depending on how white is playing in the centre. || 

9. f3 

| A committal move. White blocks the long light square diagonal with a pawn front. The alternative was to develop the g1 knight to f3, where it performs a similar task. || 

9. Nbd7 
10. Bd3 Rc8 

| Placing the rook on the same file as the white queen. There are pawns in between, but such pawn cover can disappear very quickly. White is advised to move the queen off the c-file, and probably as soon as possible. || 

11. Qb3 c5 

| White has neglected development to restrain the black b7 bishop. Black now begins a forceful challenge in the centre. || 

12. Ne2 d5 

| The central tension increases. White is behind in development and must be careful now. || 

13. cxd5 Bxd5 
14. Qa4 Bc6 

| Is black losing the a7 pawn here? No, if, 15. Qxa7 Ra8, traps the white queen. || 

15. Qd1 

| A third of the white moves so far have been played by the white queen, and she is back at home. 
Instead, 15. Qb3 Bd5, is setting up a potential 3-fold repetition. On rating grounds alone this would not be enjoyable for white. There is also team considerations, the pressure of white to play for a win combined with team aspirations, the higher rated team seeking a match victory. So, accepting a draw here for white is out of the question. Take some time over the next black move. || 

15. ... e5 

| The centre takes yet another blow. This form of counter-attacking is just the right strategy to challenge a slow approach from white. || 

16. O-O h6 

| A clever prod. Many players like to discover what white intends for a g5 bishop. That is to trade it for a potential kingside defender, or to retreat and invite a possible chase which might create weaknesses. Perhaps as black can recapture on f6 with another knight here, white chooses the chase. || 

17. Bh4 

| Is there really any difference between this bishop sitting on g5 or h4? Yes, a large difference, but the subtlety is very far from obvious. Take some time to work out how this bishop could become in danger. || 

17. exd4 

| The centre is being liquidated with black ahead in development. Remember, white is feeling pressure to win, black will feel content with a draw. Such feelings can seriously influence decision-making processes. || 

18. exd4 Qe7 

| A strange choice. Surely the queen will find herself exposed on a fully open e-file? If this is so, then black must have a plan. || 

19. Re1 

| There we go. Now she will have to move again, right? || 

19. Rfe8 

| There is nothing wrong with trying to increase tension in a position, but surely this is just giving the white e2 knight a free move? || 

20. Nc3 Qd6 

| How bizarre. The black queen invites even more aggro. White has managed to conjure up a nasty threat, take some time here to work out what it is. It is all about the undefended black queen, the white idea is to play, dxc5, and if black recaptures with, Nxc5, then simply, Bh7+, and the black queen is lost next move. Please, what am I missing here? || 

21. dxc5 

| Well, clearly recapturing with the knight is no good. Ah, of course. Recapture with, Qxc5+, and the centre has been cleared, making it very difficult for white to find a sensible means of playing for a win. So, black can now feel pleased at achieving a position where white will struggle to avoid piece exchanges, pushing the game closer and closer to a draw. Or, possibly yet again I am missing something. Take some time over the next black move. || 

21. Qd4+ 

| O.K., so this forks that unprotected white h4 bishop and the white king. White answers both threats with a simple and forced reply, but then what? || 

22. Bf2 

| Now it is the turn of the black queen to run away, and in the process white is about to win a pawn. Or, yet again am I missing something? Take some time here. || 

22. Rxe1+ 

| The white f2 bishop is pinned so the white reply is forced. || 
23. Qxe1 

| The overloaded white queen was the only defender to both the e1 rook and the d3 bishop. The rook trade on e1 with check deflected the white queen and so... || 

23. Qxd3 
White resigns, 0-1 

| Quite a tricky short middlegame. The white bishop on h4 was unprotected and vulnerable to a fork. The white rook was tempted onto the e-file for a potential gain of tempo attack on the black queen. The white queen upon returning home on move 15 became overloaded and subsequently exploited. Now you have played through the game, it might be worthwhile going through it again, trying to observe the patterns in advance of them appearing on the board. || 

* * * 

## Unannotated game 2. 

White: Baburin, 2590. 
Black: Crouch, 2425. 
Event: 4NCL 2000. 
Result: 0-1 in 23 moves. 
Opening: Nimzo-Indian Defence, Classical Variation, E32. 

1. d4 Nf6 
2. c4 e6 
3. Nc3 Bb4 
4. Qc2 O-O 
5. a3 Bxc3+ 
6. Qxc3 b6 
7. Bg5 Bb7 
8. e3 d6 
9. f3 Nbd7 
10. Bd3 Rc8 
11. Qb3 c5 
12. Ne2 d5 
13. cxd5 Bxd5 
14. Qa4 Bc6 
15. Qd1 e5 
16. O-O h6 
17. Bh4 exd4 
18. exd4 Qe7 
19. Re1 Rfe8 
20. Nc3 Qd6 
21. dxc5 Qd4+ 
22. Bf2 Rxe1+ 
23. Qxe1 Qxd3 
White resigns, 0-1 

* * *