Skype coaching session, 28 June 2015. 

The following game was examined, the game 59 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. 

Paul Benson. 

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Annotated game. 

White: Morozevic, 2755. 
Black: Sakaev, 2634. 
Event: Russian Superfinals 2007. 
Result: 1-0 in 59 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation, D10. 

| Note: Apology. A tiring week and a hard coaching session led to confusion over the final moves of the game during the session. A misreading of the game moves on move 58 resulted in the wrong position being analysed. Consequently the final position and analysis seemed to show black holding the game. Hopefully the confusion arising from the error during the session is resolved in the annotations below. || 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 Nf6 
4. cxd5 

| The Exchange Slav. This prevents black from playing, dxc4, with could have led to a queenside pawn expansion with dynamic play and a complicated middlegame for both players. The tension has been removed from the centre and so creating pawn structure imbalances is difficult. White is going to take kingside space intending to open the kingside without black having serious counterplay. || 

4. ... cxd5 
5. Bf4 Nc6 
6. e3 a6 

| Preventing an awkward knight invasion on the b5 square. || 

7. Rc1 Bg4 

| Fighting chess. This is designed to invite white into a kingside expansion. || 

8. f3 

| Instead, 8. Qb3 Na5 9. Qa4+ Nc6, gains white nothing. || 

8. ... Bd7 

| Instead, 8. ... Bh5 9. g4, has black with the light square bishop outside an eventual pawn chain after, pawn e6, but vulnerable to assault on g6. || 

9. g4 e6 
10. h4 Be7 

| The text books tell us that a wing attack should be countered with play in the centre. O.K., but just how can black do this after white fixed the centre on move 4? Black will find no joy in queenside expansion either, so it becomes a case of preparing for when the kingside is to be opened up. || 

11. Bd3 O-O 
12. Bb1 

| White has a simple plan. Line up queen and bishop on the b1-h7 diagonal creating a threat of mate on the h7 square. Then threaten the defending black f6 knight with, pawn g5, which will win a piece. Pawn moves by black on the kingside will only make weaknesses. Black must find the precise defence to this threat. || 

12. ... Qb6 

| A gain of tempo by attacking the white b2 pawn, which is also part of a defensive regrouping to stop the blunt white threat of a mate on h7. Now white shows some ingenuity in both defending and keeping attacking options, all in 1 neat move. || 

13. Rh2 Rfc8 

| Black intends to defend the h7 pawn with a knight on the f8 square. This is a standard plan in QGD and associated Slav positions, but it is usually the b8 knight which transfers with, Nbd7, and then, Nf8, to achieve this pattern. Here black must show a little ingenuity to transfer a knight to the f8 square. || 

14. h5 Be8 

| Vacating the d7 square and also offering a little strength to the light squares in front of the king. Instead, 14. ... Na5, intending to invade on c4, was worth considering. Once the knight is played to the a5 square black also has the option of, Bd6, to challenge the active white f4 bishop. || 

15. Qd3 

| White is now threatening, 16. g5, winning at least a piece, as any knight move allows a mate on h7. The next black move must be accurate, and only 1 move will save immediate trouble. || 

15. ... Nb4 

| Breaking up the white queen and bishop battery on h7, which allows black the time to transfer the f6 knight to f8. || 

16. Qd2 

| White has made a tempo gain with, 15. Qd3, with the material winning threat which black answered with, 15. ... Nb4. The black knight will be pushed back at some point with, pawn a3, and be back where it began having spent 2 moves in doing so, while white will have spent 3 moves to have a queen on d2 and a pawn on a3. || 

16. ... Nd7 
17. Nh3 Nf8 
18. Bg5 

| Intending to trade dark square bishops and permitting the f3 pawn to advance. || 

18. ... Qd8 
19. Bxe7 Qxe7 
20. f4 f6 

| Black is choosing to defend and try to tough it out. There is a very different option for black in, 20. ... Qh4+ 21. Kf1 Qxg4, winning a pawn, and perhaps the white h5 pawn could also be taken later. Assessing the consequences of opening lines for white can not be calculated at the board. White would gain much activity, but would it prove to be decisive? Black Black decides not to risk it and is now going to have to defend for much of the game. || 

21. Kf2 Qd6 
22. Ng1 

| White relocates the h3 knight for central control while offering the h2 rook some kingside options. || 

22. ... Rc7 
23. Nf3 Rac8 

| Important strategic move about to be played by white now, perhaps take some time here. || 

24. h6 

| This will either open up the h-file or force black into fixing pawns on light squares, resulting in restricted piece movement for black. || 

24. ... g6 

| Black keeps it closed, the lesser of the 2 evils. However now the black light square bishop is going to be imprisoned behind the pawns and continually defending. || 

25. a3 Nc6 
26. e4 

| The kingside can not be opened up with advances of either the f-pawn or g-pawn, so some central commitment is required from white. || 

26. ... Qd8 

| White now finds a new target in the centre, forcing another black piece into temporary passivity. || 

27. Ba2 Ne7 
28. e5 f5 

| Now there is only 1 possible dynamic move for either player on the kingside. The restricting white dark square pawns leave the shuffling black pieces with little room to manoeuvre, but providing it does not open up black should hold the position. White now builds pressure on the black pawn chain, in particular the h7-f5 links. || 

29. Rg1 Rc6 
30. Bb1 Kh8 
31. Rhg2 fxg4 

| At last, some imbalance in the kingside pawn structure. This will allow white to manoeuvre with flexibility to create threats while black is still confined with reduced space. This is a difficult position for black demanding careful play. || 

32. Rxg4 Bf7 

| White now relocates a piece to increase pressure on the white kingside. || 

33. Ne2 

| But just where is this knight to be placed to increase the pressure? Start thinking about this now, and as the game plays out an obvious square might suggest itself. || 

33. ... Nd7 

| Black is sending this knight over to the queenside to start probing. There is also now the option for the black heavy pieces to move along the back rank into the kingside if required. || 

34. Ng5 Bg8 
35. R4g3 

| A puzzling move? Not really, this rook does not wish to be caught on the g4 square should a future option become available. So, what is the difference between sitting on g3 rather than g4? || 

35. ... Nb6 
36. b3 Qf8 

Ouch! Black is attacking the white h6 and a3 pawns. Just because you are defending does not mean opportunities for counter-attacking should be out of mind. || 

37. a4 Nd7 

| Now the black knight is shuffling to create pressure against the white queenside pawns. Again, even if you have chosen to defend, options for setting up counter-activity should be considered. || 

38. a5 R6c7 
39. Rf3 Nb8 
40. b4 Nbc6 

| Black has manoeuvred a knight from f8 to c6 to provoke white to take queenside space. || 

41. Rc1 

| Anticipating a potential black, Nf5, being answered by, Bxf5. This trade will leave the c2 square unguarded against a potential black rook invasion, so white strengthens this entry point. || 

41. ... Qxh6 

| The long term effects of offering white a semi-open h-file are difficult to assess. Now that white is a pawn down black can attempt to challenge active pieces, and with every trade an endgame becomes less desirable for white. This forces white into further investments to justify the offer of the h-pawn. || 

42. Rh3 Qf8 

| White to play, and an important move must be found here. || 

43. f5 

| Offering a pawn which can not be declined, but what is the white plan? || 

43. ... Nxf5 
44. Nf4 

| With a threat of a royal fork with, 45. Nxg6+. This is easy to prevent, so how much compensation has white for the 2 kingside pawns? || 

44. ... Qe8 

| Defending g6, but that is just the point, black is going to be defending until the end of the game now. Instead, 44. ... Nfxd4 45. Kg2 Qxb4 46. Nxg6+ Kg7 47. Qf2 Nf5 48. Nf4 Ncd4, and black seems to be holding. || 

45. Bxf5 exf5 

| Black has 3 connected passed pawns which are going absolutely nowhere, providing white can keep up the attack. || 

46. Rc5 Rd8 

| Another important idea for white to find here. || 

47. Qe3 

| The white queen is planning an entry on the dark squares if possible. This would require clearance of the e5 square with, pawn e6, but surely there is a black knight on c6 preventing the queen invasion? || 

47. ... h5 

| A potential target moves forward and in doing so offers a little more shuffle-room around the black king. || 

48. e6 Re7 

| White to play and find another important move here. || 

49. Rxc6 

| An exchange sacrifice to allow the white queen to take control of many dark squares in the black defences. || 

49. ... bxc6 

| Instead, 49. Qxb6 50. Qe5+ Rg7 51. Nxg6+ mate, is rather cute. || 

50. Qe5+ Rg7 

| A pin which reduces the g7 rook to an observer while the white e-pawn and knights start to set black serious problems. || 

51. Qf6 

| Keeping the pin on the black rook while escaping an x-ray attack from the black queen, which hints that the white e-pawn is about to become a key player. There are several threats involving white regaining the exchange, but still leaving white 2 pawns down. White ideally wishes for lines which win a whole black rook. || 

51. ... Rb8 

| Escaping from some of the tactics involving a white, Nf7+. This rook is not going to be happy here, in fact this rook is not going to find happiness anywhere. || 

52. e7 

| Protected by tactics the pawn advances and also vacates the e6 square for a white knight. White has excellent piece coordination, and as Bobby Fischer observed, tactics flow from a superior position. || 

52. ... Bh7 

| Black avoids, 52. ... Qxe7 53. Nxg6+ mate. The bishop on h7 has vacated the g8 square, offering the severely restricted black king a much-needed flight square. White to play and strengthen the position for the final push. || 

53. Re3 Kg8 
54. Qe6+ Kh8 
55. Qf6 Kg8 
56. Qe6+ Kh8 

| White is not interested in a draw by 3-fold repetition, meaning there is an important move to find for white here. || 

57. Qd6 

| Creating a tactical threat against the black b8 rook. || 

57. ... Ra8 

| It seems there are no good choices for black now, a few examples of what could happen. 
(A). If, 57. ... Rc8 58. Qf6 Kg8 59. Qe6+ Kh8 60. Qxc8 Qxc8 61. e8=Q+ Qxe8 62. Rxe8+, white has won a rook. It is then a white piece for 3 black pawns but there is too much activity for black to hold the position. 
(B). Or if, 57. ... Rb7 58. Qd8 Rbxe7 59. Qxe8+ Rxe8+ 60. Rxe8+, white has won a rook again. 
(C). Or if, 57. ... Rb7 58. Qd8 Rg8 59. Nf7+ Kg7 60. Nd6 Qxd8 61. exd8=Q Rxd8 62. Nxb7, white has a piece for 3 pawns and much activity. 
(D). Lastly if, 57. ... Rb7 58. Qd8 Rg8 59. Nf7+ Qxf7 60. e8=Q Rxe8 61. Rxe8+ Kg7 62. Ne6+ Kh6 63. Qg5+ mate. || 

58. Qc7 

| It is all about the black a8 rook which is now in zugzwang, the tactics just given are still valid. || 

58. ... Rg8 

| Here is where confusion arose during the session due to misreading the game moves. 
This rook retreat to g8 is designed to defend against the threat of, 59. Qb7, to be followed by, 60. Qxa8, and the promotion of the white e7 pawn, and white would be a piece up. However, the retreat to g8 to prevent this threat allows a white knight invasion on the e6 square, not previously possible because of the combined forces of black g7 rook and e8 queen threatening to capture the much-needed white e7 pawn. || 

59. Nfe6 

| This move was curiously misread during the session as, Qe5+, after which no win for white could be found, leading to the conclusion black had lost on time. Not so, this position with a knight on the e6 square is now a win for white. || 

Black resigns, 1-0 

| White is threatening, 60. Qe5+ Rg7 61. Qxg7+ mate. 
The only way to prevent this is, 59. ... Rg7, which allows white to continue, 60. Nxg7 Kxg7 61. Qe5+ Kh6 62. Qf6 Bg8, to prevent the white knight invading on e6 with threats of, Qg7+ mate and Qg5+ mate. 
But white simply protects the g5 knight with, 63. Rg3, which threatens, 64. Qh8+ Bh7 65. Qxh7+ mate. This can be stopped with, 63. ... Bh7, but white has, 64. Ne6, and the threats of, Qg7+ mate and Qg5+ mate can not be stopped. 
Another line is, 59. ... Rg7 60. Nxg7 Kxg7 61. Qe5+ Kg8 62. Qf6, and black has no defence to the simple plan of, Re6 - Rd6 - Rd8, winning. For example if, 62. ... Ra7 63. Re6 Rb7 64. Nxh7 Kxh7 65. Qf8 Rb8 66. Rf6 Ra8 67. Rf7+, and black must give up the queen to stop mate, and then the e-pawn costs black a rook. || 

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## Unannotated game. 

White: Morozevic, 2755. 
Black: Sakaev, 2634. 
Event: Russian Superfinals 2007. 
Result: 1-0 in 59 moves. 
Opening: Queen's Gambit Declined Slav, Exchange Variation, D10. 

1. d4 d5 
2. c4 c6 
3. Nc3 Nf6 
4. cxd5 cxd5 
5. Bf4 Nc6 
6. e3 a6 
7. Rc1 Bg4 
8. f3 Bd7 
9. g4 e6 
10. h4 Be7 
11. Bd3 O-O 
12. Bb1 Qb6 
13. Rh2 Rfc8 
14. h5 Be8 
15. Qd3 Nb4 
16. Qd2 Nd7 
17. Nh3 Nf8 
18. Bg5 Qd8 
19. Bxe7 Qxe7 
20. f4 f6 
21. Kf2 Qd6 
22. Ng1 Rc7 
23. Nf3 Rac8 
24. h6 g6 
25. a3 Nc6 
26. e4 Qd8 
27. Ba2 Ne7 
28. e5 f5 
29. Rg1 Rc6 
30. Bb1 Kh8 
31. Rhg2 fxg4 
32. Rxg4 Bf7 
33. Ne2 Nd7 
34. Ng5 Bg8 
35. R4g3 Nb6 
36. b3 Qf8 
37. a4 Nd7 
38. a5 R6c7 
39. Rf3 Nb8 
40. b4 Nbc6 
41. Rc1 Qxh6 
42. Rh3 Qf8 
43. f5 Nxf5 
44. Nf4 Qe8 
45. Bxf5 exf5 
46. Rc5 Rd8 
47. Qe3 h5 
48. e6 Re7 
49. Rxc6 bxc6 
50. Qe5+ Rg7 
51. Qf6 Rb8 
52. e7 Bh7 
53. Re3 Kg8 
54. Qe6+ Kh8 
55. Qf6 Kg8 
56. Qe6+ Kh8 
57. Qd6 Ra8 
58. Qc7 Rg8 
59. Nfe6 
Black resigns, 1-0 

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