Skype coaching session, 12 July 2015. 

Apologies for the slight delay in posting this game. Note:There is a supplementary game included this time. 

The following game was examined, the game 55 moves) is given with annotations and then again without annotations. There is a third section, a game annotated by Rod Macdonald and posted to the Blind-Chess email list on 30 March 2014. The original posting can be found at: 

http://www.freelists.org/post/blind-chess/Annotated-Game-179-Efim-Geller-Josif-Vatnikov-Kiev-1950/ 

Paul Benson. 

* * * 

Annotated game. 

White: J. Alford Phillipe, 2264. 
Black: J. Gonzalez Garcia, 2494. 
Event: Mexican Championship 2006. 
Result: 1-0 in 55 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Sozin Attack, B88. 

1. e4 c5 
2. Nf3 e6 
3. d4 cxd4 
4. Nxd4 Nc6 
5. Nc3 d6 
6. Bc4 

| The start of a plan against the black centre / kingside light squares. || 

6. ... Nf6 
7. Bb3 

| A retreat to avoid tricks involving black playing, Nxe4, and when white recaptures with, Nxe4, black regains the piece with the, pawn d5, push. White wishes to make black work harder if the light square bishop is to be removed from the game. || 

7. ... Be7 
8. O-O O-O 
9. Be3 

| White has kingside expansion plans. The d4 knight needs support before activity starts, in particular to avoid an annoying pin from a possible black, Qb6. || 

9. ... Na5 

| Designed to remove the potentially dangerous white light square bishop from exerting pressure on the black pawns. However, the absence of a black knight on either the c6 or d7 squares weakens the defence of the e5 square. Swings and roundabouts. || 

10. f4 

| The plan of central activity begins. White will have all the interesting moves to play, black must think carefully or suffer. || 

10. ... b6 

| Planning to have an unchallengeable bishop on the light squares aiming at the white kingside. White to play and start the fun. || 

11. e5 Ne8 

| Avoiding losing a pawn with, 11. ... Nd7 12. exd6 Bxd6 13. Nxe6 fxe6 14. Qxd6. 
Instead, 11. ... dxe5 12. fxe5 Nd5 13. Nxd5 exd5 14. Qh5, white will have prospects of kingside play. 
White in the game to play here and must find the thematic move to really increase the enjoyment. || 

12. f5 

| The tension increases as 2 pairs of pawns challenge each other. || 

12. ... dxe5 

| White to play and complicate or be worse. || 

13. fxe6 

| The light square strategy continues, but surely white has a knight on d4 attacked? Tactics to be calculated before moving on. || 

13. ... exd4 

| Starting a forced sequence in which black will lose a pawn but have a potential for activity with an active queen and bishop pair. || 

14. exf7+ Kh8 

| Clearly, 14. ... Rxf7 15. Bxf7+ Kh8 16. Bxd4, leaves black an exchange down. || 

15. fxe8=Q Qxe8 
16. Bxd4 Nxb3 

| Black had to trade the displaced knight for the attacking white bishop or white will simply move it and keep it. || 

17. axb3 

| White now has a semi-open a-file to work with, the black a8 rook is tied down to defending the a7 pawn. The white rook has the option of moving to the centre whenever it wishes, the black rook can only centralise and let the a7 pawn go providing there is compensation from such a centralisation. Black must now find the correct move here to keep opportunities of counterplay alive. || 

17. ... Bb7 

| It was advisable for black to first play, 17. ... Rxf1+ 18. Qxf1, to deflect the white queen from entering the kingside. || 

18. Qg4 Qg6 
19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 
20. Qxg6 hxg6 

| Black is now on the defensive, the bishop pair will not work as effectively without queens on the board. The extra white pawn seems unable to contribute, so if white is going to gain anything here it must be with piece play. || 

21. Nb5 

| Threatening to remove the entire black queenside pawn formation. White has the initiative as all 3 pieces are coordinating while the black pieces are ignoring each other. || 

21. ... Rd8 

| Defending the position with tactics and offering white an opportunity to get greedy. Instead, 21. ... a6 22. Nc7 Rd8, and white can never capture, Nxa6, as black replies, Ra8, pinning and winning the white knight. White should play, 23. c3, supporting the d4 bishop. White should avoid the temptation of, 23. Bxb6 Rd2, when the black rook combined with the b7 bishop might win up to 3 pawns on the white 2nd rank. Despite there being so few pieces on the board, both players are about to have to solve some tricky problems. || 

22. c3 

| White must avoid, 22. Rxa7 Bc6, when 2 pieces are undefended and if the knight moves the d4 bishop will be captured. If then, 23. Bxb6, attacking the black d8 rook, 23. ... Rb8, and yet again 2 white pieces are attacked. If then, 24. Nd4 Rxb6, black has won a piece. || 

22. ... a6 
23. Nc7 

| This knight is re-routing over to the kingside. Perhaps now is a good time to plan which square on which it will be most effective. || 

23. ... Bc5 

| Black must get a rook on the 7th rank to have counterplay. || 

24. Ne6 Re8 

| Important decision to be made over the future of the white knight. There are of course tactics to consider, but be careful about allowing an opposite bishop ending, which will give black good drawing chances, with or without rooks. || 

25. Ng5 

| Perhaps the best move of the game so far. Why? The knight sets up a potential back rank mate on black. This factor might not seem important yet, but once the black activity slows down that weak black back rank might be a significant factor. Hopefully no one chose, 25. Nxg7 Bxd4+ 26. cxd4 Kxg7, white loses a piece. || 

25. ... Bxd4+ 

| Black trades to avoid having shattered queenside pawns which would occur if white was allowed, Bxc5. Such isolated pawns would be easier targets for a marauding white king later on. This bishop trade does however give white a passed d-pawn, which may or may not prove useful in a knight against bishop ending. || 

26. cxd4 Re2 

| Black has fought back into the game and it is now white who must now find an accurate move. || 

27. h4 

| Essential to protect the vulnerable g5 knight. If, 27. Nf3 Rxb2, the black rook is amongst the weak white queenside pawns and the white king has no easy route from getting off the back rank, while the black king can enter the game. 
Instead, 27. Nh3 Rxg2+ 28. Kf1 Rxb2, threatening Bg2+ forking white king and knight. White can try, 29. Nf2, but after, 29. ... Rxb3, black has 2 extra connected passed queenside pawns which will give black a decisive advantage. || 

27. ... Rxg2+ 
28. Kf1 

| Allowing a windmill of, 28. Kh1 Rxb2+ 29. Kg1 Rg2+ 30. Kh1 Ra2+, costing white a rook is not advisable. || 

28. ... Rh2 

| Long comment here. 
Trying to break the grip on the kingside, but there is insufficient time due to the weak black back rank. Perhaps going for complications for both players with 28. ... Rxb2, was worth a try. 
Play could continue, 29. Re1 Bd5 30. Re8+ Bg8. White must now make full use of the passed d-pawn and 8th rank pin with, 31. d5 Rd2 32. d6, and the pawn is protected with a tactic as, 32. ... Rxd6 33. Nf7+, wins the black rook. 
White could play simply here and bring the king into the centre to support the d-pawn, though there is a fascinating alternative line as follows. 
After, 32. d6 Rd3 33. Rd8 Rd2 34. d7 Rd3 35. Nf7+ Kh7, white has the amazing, 36. Rxg8, leaving black 2 choices. 
If, 36. ... Rxd7 37. Rh8+ mate, or, 36. ... Kxg8 37. d8=Q Rxd8 38. Nxd8, white is a piece up, but is it winning? 
matters are far from clear. After white wins a piece with, 38. Nxd8 a5 39. bxa5 bxa5 40. Nc6 a4, white can only win the black a-pawn by running the king across to the a-file. However, this would allow the black king to win the white h-pawn, and only black will have winning chances. So, the white king should stay on the kingside while the white knight wastes moves on the queenside which will permit the white king to infiltrate and win the doubled g-pawns. This strategy will force the black king to run over to the queenside. Black does not try to win a piece by advancing the a-pawn, but instead keeps pushing the white knight around with the king, so if this analysis is correct it seems this leads to a draw. All very difficult to envisage at move 28 when black could have captured, Rxb2. 

However, black might try to improve on the above line. After, 28. ... Rxb2 29. Re1 Bd5 30. Re8+ Bg8 31. d5, black has, 31. ... Rxb3. Now, 32. d6 Rd3, and black has 2 connected passed queenside pawns instead of just 1 as in the above line. White does not have to comply with this improvement. After, 31. ... Rxb3 32. Ke2, preventing the black rook from sitting on the d-file. White would be a marauding king up, the white rook can cause problems from either the a8 or b8 squares, so perhaps the black queenside pawns are not so strong while the white plan of pushing the d-pawn is still valid. Again, very tricky to assess and easy to miss a judgement altering idea. 

So, the full consequences of, 28. ... Rxb2, are very tricky to assess, but perhaps it was worth a try. || 

29. Re1 Rh1+ 

| Black tries to defend a bishop against knight ending while being a pawn down, it is now only a question of technique for white. || 

30. Kf2 Rxe1 
31. Kxe1 Bd5 

| Instead, 31. ... a5 32. Kd2 Bd5 33. Kc3 Kg8 34. b4 a4, and the queenside is fixed and white can play in the centre / kingside as in the game. || 

32. b4 Kg8 
33. Kd2 Kf8 
34. Ke3 Ke7 
35. Kf4 Kf6 

| The kings cancel each other out, white puts a couple of extra moves on the scoresheet before using the knight to break the attempted black king blockade. || 

36. Nh7+ Ke6 
37. Ng5+ Kf6 
38. Ne4+ 

| The knight drifts over to the queenside to dislodge the bishop from the d5 square. || 

38. ... Ke6 
39. Nc3 Bb3 

| Black will be too slow in a king and pawn ending beginning with, 39. ... b5 40. Nxd5 Kxd5 41. Kg5 Kc4 42. Kxg6 Kxb4 43. Kxg7 Kb3 44. h5 Kxb2, when white promotes in 3 moves while black promotes in 5 moves, an easy win for the new white queen. || 

40. d5+ 

| White does not fear the king and pawn ending,it will be the same result as just given. || 

40. ... Kd6 
41. Ke4 

| The king guards the d5 pawn which allows the knight to push the blockading black king further back. The extra space gained by the advancing white d-pawn, knight and king have a specific idea in mind. Forcing the black bishop to give itself up to prevent promotion might be the obvious plan, but white has another winning plan available. || 

41. ... Bc2+ 

| The black bishop can only offer occasional light square annoyance as the white king infiltrates on the dark squares. || 

42. Kd4 Bb3 
43. Ne4+ Kd7 

| White gains another rank for the king, those vulnerable black kingside pawns are now in danger. || 

44. Ke5 Bc2 
45. Ng5 Bf5 

| A bluff intended to stop white invading with, Ne6, after which the black g7 pawn will be lost. || 

46. Ne6 Ke7 

| Instead, 46. ... Bxe6 47. dxe6+ Ke7 48. Kd5 Ke8 49. Kd6 Kd8 50. e7+ Ke8 51. Ke6 a5 52. bxa5 bxa5 53. b3, zugzwang. Black can not escape by trying for stalemate with, 53. ... g5 54. hxg5 g6 55. Kf6, and black can only push the a5 pawn which can be captured or vacate the e8 square which allows white to invade with, Kf7, and promote the e-pawn. || 

47. Nxg7 

| The loss of the black g7 pawn allows the white king access to the f6 square when appropriate, which means the black g6 pawn will be the next target. || 

47. ... Bd3 
48. Ne6 Bc2 
49. d6+ Kd7 
50. Nf8+ Ke8 

| White can shorten the game considerably here, time for some thought. || 

51. Kf6 Bb1 

| If, 51. ... Kxf8 52. d7, and the white pawn promotes. The white king and knight now combine against the black g6 pawn, the fight is over. || 

52. Nxg6 Kd7 
53. h5 Ba2 
54. h6 Bg8 
55. Kg7 
Black resigns, 1-0 

* * * 

## Unannotated game. 

White: J. Alford Phillipe, 2264. 
Black: J. Gonzalez Garcia, 2494. 
Event: Mexican Championship 2006. 
Result: 1-0 in 55 moves. 
Opening: Sicilian Defence, Sozin Attack, B88. 

1. e4 c5 
2. Nf3 e6 
3. d4 cxd4 
4. Nxd4 Nc6 
5. Nc3 d6 
6. Bc4 Nf6 
7. Bb3 Be7 
8. O-O O-O 


9. Be3 Na5 
10. f4 b6 
11. e5 Ne8 
12. f5 dxe5 
13. fxe6 exd4 
14. exf7+ Kh8 
15. fxe8=Q Qxe8 
16. Bxd4 Nxb3 
17. axb3 Bb7 
18. Qg4 Qg6 
19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 
20. Qxg6 hxg6 
21. Nb5 Rd8 
22. c3 a6 
23. Nc7 Bc5 
24. Ne6 Re8 
25. Ng5 Bxd4+ 
26. cxd4 Re2 
27. h4 Rxg2+ 
28. Kf1 Rh2 
29. Re1 Rh1+ 
30. Kf2 Rxe1 
31. Kxe1 Bd5 
32. b4 Kg8 
33. Kd2 Kf8 
34. Ke3 Ke7 
35. Kf4 Kf6 
36. Nh7+ Ke6 
37. Ng5+ Kf6 
38. Ne4+ Ke6 
39. Nc3 Bb3 
40. d5+ Kd6 
41. Ke4 Bc2+ 
42. Kd4 Bb3 
43. Ne4+ Kd7 
44. Ke5 Bc2 
45. Ng5 Bf5 
46. Ne6 Ke7 
47. Nxg7 Bd3 
48. Ne6 Bc2 
49. d6+ Kd7 
50. Nf8+ Ke8 
51. Kf6 Bb1 
52. Nxg6 Kd7 
53. h5 Ba2 
54. h6 Bg8 
55. Kg7 
Black resigns, 1-0 

* * * 

## Annotated game 179 by Rod Macdonald. 

| Note: This is game 179 of 200 Annotated Games from Rod Macdonald. How to find the other 199 games is given below this game. This game was posted to the Blind-Chess email list on 30 March 2014. The original posting can be found at: 

http://www.freelists.org/post/blind-chess/Annotated-Game-179-Efim-Geller-Josif-Vatnikov-Kiev-1950/ 

where the complete article can be found. This includes biographies of the players as well as the game. || 

White: Efim Geller. 
Black: Josif Vatnikov. 
Event: USSR Championship Semifinals, Kiev 1950. 
Result: 1-0 in 25 moves. 
ECO: B88 - Sicilian Defense, Sozin Attack. 
Notes by R.J. Macdonald. 

1. e4 c5 

| The Sicilian Defense. || 

2. Nf3 Nc6 
3. d4 cxd4 
4. Nxd4 Nf6 
5. Nc3 

| 5. Nxc6 bxc6 6. Nc3 e5 7. Be2 Bb4 8. Qd3 d5 9. 0-0 d4 10. Na4 0-0 11. c3 dxc3 offers equal chances. || 

5. ... d6 
6. Bc4 

| The characteristic move of the Sozin Attack. || 

6. ... e6 

| White also has a slight advantage after either 
^A^ 6. ... e5 7. Nf3 Be7 8. 0-0 0-0 9. h3 Be6 10. Qe2 Bxc4 11. Qxc4 Rc8 12. Bd2 Nd4; or 
^B^ 6. ... Bd7 7. Nxc6 bxc6 8. Qf3 Rb8 9. 0-0 g6 10. Rb1 Bg7 11. Bf4 Qa5 12. Rfe1. || 

7. 0-0 

| 7. Be3 Be7 8. Qe2 a6 9. 0-0-0 0-0 10. f4 Nxd4 11. Bxd4 b5 12. e5 bxc4 13. exf6 is also slightly better for white. || 

7. ... Be7 
8. Be3 0-0 
9. Bb3 

| 9. h3 Bd7 10. Qe2 a6 11. a3 Rc8 12. Nf3 Qc7 13. Rfd1 gives white a slight advantage. || 

9. ... Na5 
10. f4 b6 
11. e5 Ne8 
12. f5 dxe5 
13. fxe6 f6 

| 13. ... exd4 14. exf7+ Kh8 15. fxe8=Q Qxe8 16. Bxd4 Nxb3 17. axb3 Rxf1+ 
^ 17. ... Bb7 18. Qg4 Qg6 19. Rxf8+ Bxf8 20. Qxg6 hxg6 21. Nb5 Rd8 22. c3 a6 23. Nc7 Bc5 24. Ne6 Re8 25. Ng5 Bxd4+ 26. cxd4 Re2 27. h4 Rxg2+ 28. Kf1 Rh2 29. Re1 Rh1+ 30. Kf2 Rxe1 31. Kxe1 Bd5 32. b4 1-0 in 55 moves, as in the game P. Alford (2266) - J. Gonzalez Garcia (2494), Mexico City 2006 ^^ 
18. Qxf1 Bb7 19. Re1 Qd7 20. Rd1 Qc6 21. Qe2 Qg6 22. Rd3 Bd6 23. Re3 Rd8 24. Re6 Qf7 25. Bf2 Bc6 26. Bg3 Bc5+ 27. Kh1 Rd2 28. Rxc6 0-1, as in the game O. Renet (2520) - E. Relange (2455), Toulouse 1995. || 

14. Nf5 Nxb3 
15. Nd5 Nd4 

| Also possible are 
^A^ 15. ... Kh8 16. axb3 Nc7 17. Nfxe7 Bxe6 18. Nxc7 Qxc7 19. Nf5 Qc8 20. Ng3 f5 21. Qd6 f4 22. Qxe5 fxg3 23. Rxf8+ Qxf8 24. Qxe6 Re8 25. Qc4 gxh2+ 26. Kh1 Rxe3 27. Rf1 Qe8 28. Qb4 h6 29. Rf8+ 1-0 H. Garcia - M. Pugach, Buenos Aires 1963; 
^B^ 15. ... Bxe6 16. Nfxe7+ Kh8 17. axb3 Rf7 18. Qf3 f5 19. Bg5 Nf6 20. Rad1 1-0, as in the game B. Parma - C. Bielicki, Mar del Plata 1962.; or 
^C^ 15. ... Kh8 16. axb3 Bxe6 17. Ndxe7 Qc7 18. Nd5 Qb7 19. Nc3 Rf7 20. Qe2 Rd7 21. Ra4 Rad8 22. Nb5 Bxf5 23. Rxf5 a6 24. Nc3 Nd6 25. Rf1 b5 26. Rg4 with a winning position for white. || 

16. Ndxe7+ Kh8 

Key Move Diagram: 
r1bqnr1k/ 
p3N1pp/ 
1p2Pp2/ 
4pN2/ 
3n4/ 
4B3/ 
PPP3PP/ 
R2Q1RK1. 
Position after black's 16th move. 

17. Ng6+!! 

| A sacrifice that destroys black's position. 17. Nxd4 is a useless try: 17. ... Qxe7 18. Nf5 Qxe6 giving black a solid advantage. 17. Bxd4 is a weaker possibility: 17. ... Bxe6 18. Bc3 Qxd1 19. Raxd1 Rf7 is nonetheless very strong for white. || 

17. ... hxg6 
18. e7 Qc7 

| 18. ... Nc7 is the last chance for counterplay, but after 19. exd8=Q Rxd8 white has a very strong advantage. || 

19. exf8=Q+ 

| 19. exf8=B?! Nxf5 20. Qe2 Qc6 offers equality; 19. exf8=N?! Bxf5 20. Bxd4 Kg8 is very strong for white; 19. exf8=R+ Kh7 20. Qg4 Ne2+ 21. Kh1 Ng3+ 22. hxg3 Qc4 23. Qh3+ Qh4 24. Qxh4#. || 

19. ... Kh7 

Key Move Diagram: 
r1b1nQ2/ 
p1q3pk/ 
1p3pp1/ 
4pN2/ 
3n4/ 
4B3/ 
PPP3PP/ 
R2Q1RK1. 
Position after black's 19th move. 

20. Qh5+! 

| Decoy: h5. || 

20. ... gxh5 
21. Qxe8 Nxf5 
22. Qxh5+ Kg8 
23. Qe8+ Kh7 

Key Move Diagram: 
r1b1Q3/ 
p1q3pk/ 
1p3p2/ 
4pn2/ 
8/ 
4B3/ 
PPP3PP/ 
R4RK1. 
Position after black's 23rd move. 

24. Rxf5! 

| Deflection: c8. || 

24. ... Bxf5 

| 24. ... Bxf5 25. Qh5+ Double attack. || 

25. Qxa8 
Black resigns, 1-0 

* * *