Skype coaching session, 24 May 2015. 

The following game was examined, the game 32 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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## Annotated game. 

White: So, 2788. 
Black: Giri, 2790. 
Event: 2nd Gashimov Memorial 2015. 
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves. 
Opening: English Opening, Adorjan Defence, A10. 

1. c4 g6 
2. e4 

| Perhaps played to stop black from entering the Dutch Defence with, 2. ... f5, which could arise after white playing any of, Nc3, Nf3, d4, or, g3 on move 2. || 

2. ... e5 

| The Adorjan Defence. Transpositions to the King's Indian Defence are still possible, providing both players do not wish to stamp any individuality on the game. || 

3. d4 Nf6 

| More common is, 3. ... d6, when white can choose between, Nf3, Ne2, Nc3, or, d5 on move 3. || 

4. dxe5 

| White plays for a pawn structure imbalance which can not be maintained. Instead, 4. Nf3 dxe4 5. e5 Ne4 6. Qxd4 Bb4+ 7. Nbd2 Nxd2 8. Bxd2 Nc6 9. Qf4 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Qe7 11. O-O-O b6, 12. Bd3 Bb7 13. Be4 O-O-O, occurred in Svidler - Carlsen Norwegian blitz 2014, 0-1 in 37 moves. || 

4. ... Nxe4 
5. Bd3 

| Instead, 5. Qd5 f5 6. exf6 Nxf6 7. Qd1, is known from the 70s. Also, Nf3, or, Qd4, have been played. There is not much theory on this system compared to other English Opening options. || 

5. ... Bb4+ 

| And the examples become even fewer. Korchnoi - Timman Leeuwarden Match 1976 produced, 6. Nd2 d5 7. exd6 Nc5 8. Bc2 Qxd6 9. a3 Bxd2+ 10. Qxd2 Nc6 11. b4 Nd4 12. cxb5 Qe5+ 13. Kf1 Be6, black had sacrificed a piece for activity, but 1-0 in 35 moves after some complications. White in this game produces a new move. || 

6. Kf1 

| A novelty which causes confusion in the black camp. The white king will be safe on f1, it is just a question of how to develop the h1 rook. || 

6. ... Nc5 

| Instead, 6. ... d5 7. cxd5 Qxd5 8. Qf3, gives black problems on how to save the e4 knight. If, 8. ... Bf5 9. g4 Bxg4 10. Qxe4, white is winning. || 

7. Nf3 

| With an unsubtle threat of, Bg5, when the black queen is lost. The black bishop on b4 is also becoming uncomfortable. || 

7. ... Ne6 

| This knight has cost 4 moves to arrive on a square from which it contributes little. || 

8. a3 Be7 

| Perhaps, 8. ... Bf8, intending an immediate, Bg7, could be tried. However, if this occurs then how is black to eliminate the cramping white e5 pawn? || 

9. Nc3 d6 

| To rid himself of the white e5 pawn. However more tempi are expended by the wandering black bishop. || 

10. exd6 Bxd6 
11. b4 

| White claims space on the queenside. This will be followed up with some central square control, and if this is not enough, some kingside activity to further increase the pressure on black. || 

11. ... Bf8 

| After 4 moves the bishop returns home planning to develop where it was originally intended. || 

12. Qe2 

| Pinning the black e6 knight, a hint about what white is planning. || 

12. ... Bg7 
13. Bg5 

| Probing to create weaknesses. The unprotected c3 knight needs defending soon, Any ideas of how white can do this while maintaining pressure? || 

13. ... Bf6 
14. Bxf6 

| The black bishop has spent 6 moves against the white bishop's 2 moves, and all there is to show for it are some holes on the kingside and an awkwardly placed black queen. || 

14. ... Qxf6 

| Important move for white now, get thinking how the c3 knight is to be defended. || 

15. Qd2 

| Not only defending the knight but thinking of later possible invasions on the dark squares. The queen had done her job on the e2 square, and so can be released to perform a different job elsewhere. A developed piece can always be considered for moving again, providing there is good reason. || 

15. ... O-O 
16. Re1 


| Some vague threats are becoming available, starting with, Nd5. These are sufficient to scare black into another undesirable homecoming. || 

16. ... Qd8 

| Another important move for white, and another challenge to those general principles of how to play chess. || 

17. Rd1 

| The e1 rook is given another tempo while the h1 rook has yet to join in. Surely this goes against the apparent rule of not moving the same piece twice unnecessarily before completing development? The rook now on d1 is performing an important task or two. It is part of an overprotection policy to the d3 bishop, and the more obvious x-ray attack on the black queen. So, be aware that the same piece can be kept moving provide there is a good reason. Keeping a piece on a square just because it has been moved there is not a law. || 

17. ... a5 

| Black is seeking some open lines for activity, but it will not lead anywhere. White now turns to probing on the kingside to soften up the black defences. || 

18. h4 axb4 
19. axb4 Nd7 
20. h5 Nf6 

| Black is hoping this new arrival on the kingside will strengthen the defences. It will definitely assist in preventing any attempted brutality from white, but white has a more subtle plan in mind than simply going for the black king. Important move for white now, get thinking. || 

21. c5 

| If this did not occur to you, take some time to work out why the c-pawn advanced, the winning plan is about to reveal itself. || 

21. ... b6 

| Black must not capture, 21. ... Nxh5, as the almost-routine exchange sacrifice seems to give white good play. After, 22. Rxh5 gxh5 23. Qh6 f5 24. Bxf5, threatens mate and has discovered an attack from the d1 rook onto the black queen. Play would continue, 24. ... Qxd1+ 25. Nxd1 Rxf5 26. Ne3, and while material is equal the position is not. The white queen will be able to roam across the whole board with threats, assisted by the pair of knights. The open nature of the black kingside will create difficulties for the black pieces to find defences, which is why many attacking opening systems try to eliminate as much opposing pawn cover as possible. || 

22. hxg6 fxg6 

| Clearly capturing, hxg6, simply lets white in for a quick win with, 23. Qh6, the h1 rook finally contributing to the game. White must resist seeking play along the h-file, the real black weakness is centrally placed. || 

23. Qe3 

| Another queen shuffle, transferring attention back onto the e-file, while maintaining options of kingside invasion should black permit. || 

23. ... Qe7 

| So the departed black bishop, e6 knight, and queen have now cost 13 moves and the position is close to falling apart. It just requires white to keep piling onto the weakness until black is helpless. || 

24. Bc4 bxc5 

| White must be careful here. || 

25. b5 

| White must not play, 25. bxc5, which allows the liberating, 25. ... Ba6, when the e6 knight is protected with a tactic. If, 26. Qxe6+ Qxe6, the white c4 bishop is pinned to the king on f1, white would have just lost the queen. || 

25. ... Rb8 

| Attempting desperately to provide defences for the weakness. Yet again, white must get the next move correct, time to think. || 

26. Re1 

| The rook no longer needs to be on the d-file, so it can be given a new job on the e-file, it's all about that weakness. || 

26. ... Rb6 

The score of attackers against defenders is equal, so the black e6 knight is not yet lost. If white can make the score 4 - 3, it will fall. How can this be done? || 

27. Na4 Rd6 
28. Nxc5 

| The pressure on e6 is now too much. Black lashes out for a few moves, but it is not enough to save the game. || 

28. ... Ng4 
29. Qe4 

| Black to play and slightly randomise the position. || 

29. ... Nxf2 

| Instead, 29. ... Nf6 30. Qe2, the white queen is safe from further annoyance. If then, 30. ... Re8 31. Ng5, a 5th white attacker hits the unfortunate black e6 knight, white would be winning a piece. After black sacrifices the knight on f2 all white must do is avoid blundering. || 

30. Kxf2 Rd2+ 

| Careful here, it is so easy to play casually and throw away all the previous good work. || 

31. Kg3 

| Instead, 31. Kg1 Qxc5+, and black is fighting. Or, 31. Kf1 Qxc5, and white must defend against the threatened mate on the f2 square. Black now tries more desperation. || 

31. ... Rxf3+ 
32. gxf3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

| Black does not bother with, 32. ... Qg5+ 33. Qg4 Qxc5 34. Bxe6+ Bxe6 35. Qxe6+, when the extra white rook and activity is too much. || 

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## Unannotated game. 

White: So, 2788. 
Black: Giri, 2790. 
Event: 2nd Gashimov Memorial 2015. 
Result: 1-0 in 32 moves. 
Opening: English Opening, Adorjan Defence, A10. 

1. c4 g6 
2. e4 e5 
3. d4 Nf6 
4. dxe5 Nxe4 
5. Bd3 Bb4+ 
6. Kf1 Nc5 
7. Nf3 Ne6 
8. a3 Be7 
9. Nc3 d6 
10. exd6 Bxd6 
11. b4 Bf8 
12. Qe2 Bg7 
13. Bg5 Bf6 
14. Bxf6 Qxf6 
15. Qd2 O-O 
16. Re1 Qd8 
17. Rd1 a5 
18. h4 axb4 
19. axb4 Nd7 
20. h5 Nf6 
21. c5 b6 
22. hxg6 fxg6 
23. Qe3 Qe7 
24. Bc4 bxc5 
25. b5 Rb8 
26. Re1 Rb6 
27. Na4 Rd6 
28. Nxc5 Ng4 
29. Qe4 Nxf2 
30. Kxf2 Rd2+ 
31. Kg3 Rxf3+ 
32. gxf3 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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